Ben Cartwright's former sweetheart Lydia (Maggie Hayes), now the wealthy and widowed Lady Lydia Chadwick, returns to Virginia City. Upon her arrival, she makes a beeline to the Ponderosa, hoping to rekindle her romance with Ben. When he resists her charms, Lady Lydia vows to ruin him financially so he'll be forced to accept her love and support (shades of Dürrenmat's The Visit!) Others in the cast include John Alderson as Montague and Dan Sheridan as Kelly. Written by William Cox and William Powell (not the film star of the same name), "The Countess" first aired November 19, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi