The Big Valley A Flock of Trouble (1965–1969) Online

Nick plays cards with Josiah Freeman (Milton Berle) and believes he wins some stock. The next morning Josiah pays his dues but in the form of sheep. Much to the dislike of Nick and farmers all over the valley.

When Nick gets harassed while in town, he becomes such a hot-head that he now wants to keep the sheep just to prove a point. The former friends of Nick decide to take action about the matter and ride out to run the sheep out of the valley. And in so doing injure Josiah Freeman.

Josiah tells Nick that he tricked him into placing sheep on the Barkley land and decides to take the sheep out of the valley. When Josiah rides out the farmers are waiting.

It was a rather simple plot that played out well. Nothing really remarkable about the show other than Milton Berle being in the cast. Peter Breck again does another great job of making the viewer believe he really was Nick Barkley and it showed on the screen.

Peter Breck goes into the sheep herding business when guest star Milton Berle loses them during a poker game quite deliberately. Even his lawyer brother Richard Long says that the note he signed in lieu of gambling debts is legal and binding.

After a while Berle and his little niece come to stay with the Barkleys to look after Breck's unwanted flock, but his standing among the cattle community is threatened and causing problems with Robert Fuller who is currently courting Linda Evans.

This was a nice episode and big kudos to Milton Berle who delivers a fine performance without a trace of his comic shtick.