The Ingalls' peaceful night sleep was rudely interrupted by the firing of a shotgun. Charles went to investigate and he immediately found the shooter: a jovial man named Willie O'Hara, a circus man. Seems he was trying to shoot a bobcat that had gotten into the Ingallses' yard...exactly how a tractor got there I have no idea...and so he appeals to Charles' good nature and is allowed to spend the night on the property. The next morning O'Hara shows off his disappearing egg trick and shows Mary and Laura a captive beast known as the Congrilla, who turned out to have a rather nasty temper. That night it turned on O'Hara, leaving him wounded. Despite almost everything in the wagon being trashed, that irascible ape didn't get O'Hara's top secret treasure. He shows it to the girls: it was a miracle elixir that could cure any ailment one might have. He shook some of the powder into a cup of water, drank it down and swore his broken ribs would be healed within a day. O'Hara swore the girls to secrecy, and they promised not to tell a soul... but you know they're gonna. The first person they tell is Mr. Hanson, who is suffering from a terrible headache. Apparently not questioning how Hanson found out about his miracle cure, O'Hara gives him some and in no time at all, Hanson's headache was gone. Well, sir, Doc Baker was in complete disbelief that such a medicine could exist. Disbelief, or maybe jealousy?
O'Hara seemed to think Hanson spilled his secret. After all, how could two adorable children do such a dastardly deed? Anyway, after some harsh words from Harriet, O'Hara starts to notice she isn't feeling quite up to snuff. She's got a dreadful pain in her side. Appendicitis. Perhaps O'Hara's miracle powder could cure what ailed her? Well when Doc Baker heard of this, he was P.O.'d as could be and went to Charles to vent. Baker informed O'Hara that Harriet's condition was a matter of life or death. I say let her die, but such is not popular preference. Anyway because of Doc Baker's ultimatum, O'Hara agreed to convince Harriet to have the appendectomy, assuring her it was an honor held even by royalty. So the operation was a success, but Doc Baker was still miffed. It seemed Harriet was very close to death, and he cursed O'Hara and his fake cure. Deciding to carry the burden to have to talk to him, Charles confronted O'Hara, told him of the whole situation and said it was time for him to leave. O'Hara would comply, if allowed to leave the next morning, so he wouldn't have to say goodbye to the girls. Yeah, up and leave on'em. Much classier. So the next morning, Mary and Laura are sent to Olesons. The latter brought Jack along with them, but he had to stay outside while the girls went to do their business. That's when he saw the cat and, well, being a dog, he couldn't resist. But ol' Jack just didn't see that wagon comin'... nearly turned him into a pancake. All seemed lost until Charles got the strange notion to track down O'Hara and see if perhaps he could help in some way, despite the fact everyone now knows those magic powders are bogus. Laura begged O'Hara to give one to Jack. Eh, what the hell? What have they got to lose? So, he administered the powdered placebo and all they could do now was wait. The next morning, a miracle had occurred. Jack was as good as new! Well, what the heck do you know about that? It was also then that O'Hara finally confessed about the medicine to Laura, and it seems O'Hara was speaking in an Irish brogue and acting like some high-strung circus performer just for the mere spectacle of it. He was really a very lonely man just looking for people from whom he could draw attention and make him feel better about himself. Laura was heartbroken from being deceived, and I even think Mr. O'Hara was feelin' a might bad for having deceived her. But in the end, he wasn't such a bad guy, and Charles let him know that if ever came out that way again, to stop by and visit.
However, Mr. O'Hara was never seen or mentioned on the show again; What can I say? Circus Man is a delight. Red Buttons was excellent as the eccentric Willie O'Hara. He was a great performer and this is indeed one of his finest. Also remarkable were Kevin Hagen as Doc Baker, who really despised O'Hara and it was unfortunate the two of them never made peace because Doc Baker is an otherwise easygoing person, and of course Karl Swenson as cantankerous Mr. Hanson, who certainly found the cure for what ailed him in O'Hara's fake medicine. I wonder what ol' Doc Baker would have to say about Jack's recovery? Just another coincidence? But anyway, Circus Man is not to be missed.
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