Sat, Jan 3, 1970
Billie Jo is bringing her new boyfriend, Jerry Roberts, to Hooterville. Based on a discussion Bobbie Jo had with Billie Jo on the telephone, she's sure that Billie Jo thinks that Jerry may be the one, and as such everyone wants to make a good impression on Jerry, showing him that they are all friendly and loving and thus would be a good family in to which to marry. Additionally, Billie Jo tells Jerry before their arrival in Hooterville that everyone is down to earth, and that they all get along. By the time Billie Jo and Jerry arrive, Uncle Joe and Sam are fighting, and Steve and Betty Jo, while putting on the face of the loving married couple to give Jerry ideas, too are feuding. And Bobbie Jo's overt efforts to push Billie Jo and Jerry together has an unexpected side effect. Billie Jo has mixed emotions about what her family is doing, and has to decide how best to make Jerry see what she really wants him to see of her family. But Jerry may thoughts of his own regardless.
Sat, Jan 10, 1970
Using a medical appointment with Janet as a pretense, Selma stops by the Shady Rest. The real reason for her visit is to spread the news that Henrietta has a potential husband. Those at the Shady Rest later learn that he is Ronnie Coleman, a helicopter pilot who Selma brought to the valley to set up a rival crop dusting business to Steve's, all in an effort to nab him as a husband for Henrietta. Despite knowing that he can't compete with Ronnie on a technological level, Steve harbors no ill will against Ronnie, but Uncle Joe does. Uncle Joe, with a little help from Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, tries to devise a plan to get rid of Ronnie to save Steve's business. But Janet ultimately makes them aware that their plan has a hurtful consequence for an innocent third party. As such, Billie and Jo and Bobbie Jo decide to help Selma indirectly, which in turn has an unexpected consequence.
Sat, Jan 17, 1970
While shopping in Pixley, Betty Jo and Steve spy Orrin in a jewelry store buying what looks to be an engagement ring. They are surprised as Orrin had told Bobbie Jo that he couldn't even contemplate getting married until he got at least one more pay raise. They can't wait to get back to the hotel to tell Billie Jo and Uncle Joe, the latter who has a less than enthusiastic response to Bobbie Jo possibly marrying Orrin. Keeping the secret from Bobbie Jo may be an issue. Later, Orrin comes by the hotel with news of his own: he got the raise that he wanted, and wants to celebrate with the entire family. The family minus Bobbie Jo put two and two together and come to the conclusion that the party night is when he will propose. Meanwhile, burly farmer Merlin Fergus comes into town looking for a wife. Uncle Joe thinks his prayers have been answered as he tries to match Merlin and Bobbie Jo together. Merlin, Bobbie Jo and Orrin may have some say in Uncle Joe's plan, but Orrin's statement isn't quite what they were all expecting.
Sat, Jan 24, 1970
Uncle Joe's latest rant against Orrin is enough for Orrin to make the decision to leave Bobbie Jo and the valley for good, which devastates Bobbie Jo. Among the family heirlooms that Orrin gives to the Bradley family as farewell gifts, Janet finds a document - a deed - which makes Orrin the owner of the entire valley. With explanations from Mayor Potts and Sam, Uncle Joe has a new appreciation of Orrin who can control what happens in the valley. It takes some time for Orrin to get accustomed to his new-found status of king of the valley - with Bobbie Jo as his potential queen - but he ultimately lets it go to his head. Further news from Janet about the deed and resulting advice from her makes Orrin take some action which could again change Uncle Joe's perception of Orrin for good.
Sat, Jan 31, 1970
Steve's Uncle George stops by the Shady Rest to visit with Steve and his family. Everyone at the hotel is excited about his visit except Steve, who says that his Uncle George is a great, charming fellow but who ends up always causing trouble by something he says or does, or just the fact of him being around. What's worse in Steve's mind is that Uncle George has no idea he is the cause of any of the commotion. Betty Jo initially has no idea to what Steve is referring as she sees nothing in Uncle George but a charming, suave man. True to Steve's word, everyone starts fighting with everyone else, with Uncle George calmly there but on the sidelines. After argument after argument, Steve decides to restore peace and order at the Shady Rest, but someone else beats him to the punch.
Sat, Feb 7, 1970
Billie Jo has been away in Chicago with Jerry for six weeks, the longest she's ever been away. She returns home with a new attitude - that of the emancipated woman, equal to any man - and a new attire of a man's suit to match. She feels that women are repressed in society and need to fight back. Steve and Uncle Joe believe Billie Jo's new outlook is hogwash, whereas Janet, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo agree with parts of it, but not its entirety. They all find out that her attitude is in part due to a disagreement with Jerry. Billie Jo soldiers on, with her attitude causing both collective and individual arguments between men and women in the valley. Only one person may ultimately make Billie Jo modify her extreme view.
Sat, Feb 14, 1970
A man by the name of Norbert E. Thompson checks into the hotel. Everyone soon learns that he is with the Highway Commission, which is planning on constructing a new road through the valley. He is there to determine its route. Steve gets Joe on the idea that there might be some land speculation based on figuring out that new route. As such, Joe, wanting in on the action, decides to try and convince all the residents of the valley to allow him to act on their behalf to get the best deal. That way, Joe will get a commission no matter where the road goes. Joe's idea doesn't quite catch the imagination of most residents. What seems to be a certainty is that the road will go through Steve and Betty Jo's property, which means that they will finally be able to unload the property and move on with their lives. But Betty Jo comes to the realization that that also means their honeymoon cottage will be torn down. Uncle Joe, who is "helping" them with the land deal, may also have something to say about the matter.
Sat, Feb 28, 1970
Selma stops by the hotel. She falls while breaking through the hammock that Joe just purchased at the church rummage sale and just erected. Although Janet can't find anything medically wrong with her, Selma feigns whiplash and a back injury which requires her to be bedridden. As Henrietta is away, the girls and Janet suggest she stay at the hotel while she recuperates. Selma is not only a demanding unpaid guest, but it looks as if she is planning on suing, which could mean the girls losing the hotel. Consulting a lawyer - the wrong lawyer - could mean even worse news for Joe. Only a miracle, or perhaps the truth, could save Joe and the girls from losing the hotel.
Sat, Mar 7, 1970
With Floyd retiring, the people of the valley have a problem in finding another engineer to run the Cannonball. Having only limited experience doing the job, Joe volunteers regardless. Joe decides to make some changes, most specifically having a rigid schedule that only makes pick-ups and drop-offs at designated stops, which is not the way most of the people in the valley operate. In turn, what that means is that Joe often runs the train without any passengers, much to the anger of the many people who missed the train or who Joe wouldn't pick-up. That may be the least of the problems as a Mr. Bellingham, a representative of the C & FW Railroad, has come to inform the people of the valley that Floyd's retirement also means the retirement of the Cannonball. The only way to save the Cannonball is to find the missing documentation that lays out the agreement between the railroad and the people of the valley as to the Cannonball's operation. While they look, everyone reminisces about what the Cannonball has meant to the people of the valley.
Sat, Mar 21, 1970
The latest idea that Billie Jo brings back to the valley from her time in Chicago is sensory awareness: touching yourself and others in different ways to understand them better and thus truly love them. Most of the men at the Shady Rest believe Billie Jo's idea, about which she is extremely passionate, is just her latest weirdo fad. Those views place a strain especially between Steve and Betty Jo, and Orrin and Bobbie Jo. The men don't want this issue to be the cause of any tension so they try and come up with a way to diffuse the issue. Beyond their plan, Janet ends up being the voice of reason.
Sat, Mar 28, 1970
Janet is getting her hair done and buying new clothes. In the mind of the Bradley girls and Uncle Joe, this can only mean one thing: a man. While Uncle Joe and his band of friends speculate on who the lucky man from town is, Janet confesses directly to the girls and Steve that the man in question is Dr. Peter Marlow, an old beau from her medical school days. Peter is coming to Hooterville to visit Janet, many thinking that Peter is coming to stay and ask Janet to marry him. They are half correct: Peter has indeed come to ask for Janet's hand, but rather than stay in Hooterville, Peter wants to whisk Janet away to his home base of Hawaii. The Bradley's initial excitement turns to panic as they think they may lose Janet. The girls' try and break Janet and Peter up - Bobbie Jo is the only one who volunteers for the task, but is unsuccessful. Then Betty Jo and Steve think that Kathie Jo may be able to sway Janet. Janet is torn between her love for Peter and her love for the lifestyle of Hooterville. As the Bradley girls finally decide to let Janet make up her own mind without prejudice, Janet does eventually make up her mind based on where her heart truly lies.
Sat, Apr 4, 1970
Steve can't sleep as he's worried about the family finances. The crop dusting business is doing well enough, but all his customers are requesting credit while his suppliers are demanding payment. He doesn't want to be heavy handed with his customers since they are all long time friends of the Bradley family and he doesn't want to create an air of conflict within the valley. Betty Jo initially tells Steve to demand payment from his customers, but changes her mind when she thinks about the personal situations of all those individuals. Even though she knows for a fact that Steve would be against the idea, Betty Jo thinks that the best way to solve their financial problem is for her to get a job. Since she's looking after Kathy Jo anyway, she figures the perfect job would be to open a daycare at the hotel. She decides not to tell Steve about this plan. On the first day, Betty Jo, with the help of her sisters, does booming business and the children under her care all seem happy. But when Steve comes home unexpectedly, Bobbie Jo quickly hides all evidence of extra babies, including the babies themselves. Steve knows that something isn't quite right as one after one pieces of evidence do arise. Steve eventually does find out about the daycare, but an extraordinary act by Kathy Jo may ultimately save her mother.