Paradise

- Season 1

(1988)

In the late 1800's, a female music hall singer/dancer knows she's dying, so she sends her four young children from the big cities of the east coast to the western frontier, where her estranged brother, Ethan Cord, lives as a gunfighter in a town named Paradise, which is anything but. Shootings in the streets and rowdy bar brawls are no atmosphere for little children, so Ethan, with the help of a beautiful female banker, makes a home on the outskirts of town. He tries to face up to his new-found responsibilities as a single father, even resolving to hang up his guns ...

For the safety of the children, Ethan resolves to hang up his gun and become a rancher, even taking out a loan from Mrs. Lawson's bank to buy some cattle. But when Paradise's aging marshal has problems with some outlaws, Ethan -- and the town -- find they need that gun.

After Amelia (Mrs. Lawson) kills a young man robbing her bank, she has to deal with her conflicting emotions and the man's vengeful family.

Ethan's Native American friend John Taylor is accused of murder.

Claire disappears after going on a horseback ride with a young man she met in town. While Ethan and Joseph search for her, Amelia helps deal with an anthrax outbreak at the ranch.

Amelia is hit by a stray bullet from a gunfight. Ethan has to deal with his guilt.

It's near Christmas. Claire brought her mother's angel with them from St Louis intending to carry on her mother's tradition of placing it on the town tree, only Paradise doesn't have a town tree - or any decorations. Ethan had treated the younger boys to a trip to Carson City, but coming home the bridge was washed out. In order to make it home in time for Christmas they have to cross the desert, where they find a mother and newborn baby.

The "travelling social club" arrives back in Paradise. Ethan knew the owner and her little girl in his past. The owner has arranged for her now 14 year old daughter to end her childhood that night and join the family business, but things become complicated when Claire strikes up a friendship and Joseph falls for her.

The mine has moved in to take over Paradise. Those who won't sell are burned out or their lives threatened. The marshal (Nicholas Surovy) is hunting two young runaway boys who worked in the mine and are being hidden by Claire and the boys. Ethan quits the mine payroll and opposes them when he sees how they operate, so they hire the marshal to kill him. The marshal has to decide what his friendship with Ethan means, and Amelia has to decide where her future lies if she sells the bank.

A Texas Ranger comes to Paradise to bring Ethan back. Ethan at first thinks of running but changes his mind and decides to go with the man. However along the way Ethan tries to convince him that being with the children has changed him. And they're being attacked by men who want to get Ethan.

Joseph winds up in jail after a run-in with Axelrod. He escapes with another prisoner and has to decide whether to ride with the gang.

Ethan comes across a man who is unconscious. He helps him. When he awakens he has no memory. He and Ethan become close. But when his memory returns, he remembers that he is a hired killer and his target is Ethan.

A vicious bully returns to town. He has a run-in with Ethan. That evening the bully is shot and everyone believes Ethan shot him.

A gang of men ride into town and take hostages in the hotel. The children and Amelia are among the hostages. They use Amelia to rob the bank of all its money and the town is torn between saving the hostages or storming the hotel to save the money. John Taylor is brought in to heal one of their men, meanwhile Ethan is bringing in law men in from out of town, who have been tracking this gang through three states.

A timber company decides to move their operation to Paradise. And the town is excited about it. But John Taylor opposes it and tries to stand in their way. Amelia also decides to side with him when a photographer who came to photograph the thing show her what happened to another town who gave the timber company permission.

Ethan joins in the hunt for a fugitive because he thinks the man can lead him to a man whom he has a vendetta against. Claire meets a guy, who is the son of the man Ethan is looking for. And when he learns Ethan is looking for him, he challenges Ethan even though he doesn't stand a chance. And Claire begs him not to kill him.

A ruthless businessman and big time rancher resorts to illegal means to exploit the smaller ranchers in Paradise. He even hires a famous gunslinger to further his cause. The gunslinger turns out to be a has been, a drunk, and a good friend of Ethan. (Part 1 of 2 episodes).

Ethan helps his old friend Gideon (Chuck Connors) dry out and thinks Gideon's going to help them. Gideon says he took the businessman's (Jennings) money and is honor bound to fight for him. Upon arrival at Jenning's ranch Gideon finds another gunfighter has been hired. The conflict escalates to a showdown between Gideon and Ethan. (Part 2 of 2 episodes)

Claire and Ethan are bitten by a wolf who may have rabies.

Ben finds a dead body and a map. The body disappears courtesy of an outlaw couple. Ethan is escorting Amelia to Riverton on business. Ben and George go looking for the treasure when the pair show up claiming to be searching for their friend and his map.

The Marble Creek town boss, Emory, is having Matthew Grady (John Beck) hanged for murder. Actually his guilt was paying attention to Emory's mistress, Marian, and he wants the hanging done before his wife arrives in town. Ethan intervenes to spoil the hanging. The only problem is Matthew wants to return to save Marian.

Amelia's ne'er-do-well husband returns and wants to pick up where he left off. Lawson owes a man $50,000 for defrauding him out of land in Arizona. He sells the bank out from under Amelia.