WRITTEN by JOHN T. DUGAN DIRECTED by CHARLES RONDEAU Guest Cast IRENE  TSU as JEM SING HENRY SILVA as GENERAL SHEN TI PHILIP AHN as CAPTAIN WONG LEE LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE as ROCCO CALVELLI ALLEN EMERSON as TONY SCARPITO LLOYD KINO as KAM YAN HENRY HUNTER as DOCTOR ALMIRA SESSIONS as FIRST MATRON RUTH THOM as SECOND MATRON

This episode replays a familiar male (or male TV writer) fantasy — the inadvertently acquired female slave.  Virtually every TV western had a variation on this theme with the hero either acquiring a girl while gambling or saving the life of a girl whose culture dictates that she now belongs to him.   See for example:   Wagon Train “The John Augustus Story” (10-17-62) [Augustus wins Chinese girl in poker game]; Laramie “The Perfect Gift” (1-2-62) [Slim saves life of Indian girl who by tradition now belongs to him); Bonanza “Day of the Dragon” (12-3-61) [Little Joe wins Chinese girl in poker game thinking he's playing for horse]; Cheyenne “Pocketful of Stars” (11-12-62) [Cheyenne wins Chinese girl in lottery thinking he's playing for pearl] {Peter Brown was a guest star on the Cheyenne episode - see the Peter Brown Fan Site.}

Someone with an obscure sense of humor named this episode after the 1933 Barbara Stanwyck movie, “The Bitter Tea of General Yen”.  Joe saves the life of Jem Sing, a missionary-raised Chinese girl abducted from China by the notorious General Shen Ti who is building an empire in Mexico.  She and a large cache of opium have been stolen from Ti by an enemy.  She is caught in the cross-fire.  Jem Sing begs not to be sent back to Ti, who will force her into marriage.  Addressing Joe as “Sterling One”, she insists she is now his slave.  Of course, her fetching, carrying, cleaning, cooking and groveling for Joe, gives Chad & Erik.a great source of amusement.  However, when Joe & Jem Sing are seized by General Ti, Chad & Erik are galvanized into action.  [No Reese in this episode.]  Replacing two syndicate chiefs invited to discuss the drug trade, Chad & Erik infiltrate Ti’s settlement.  They’re exposed and imprisoned to be executed with Joe after Ti marries Jem Sing.  Luckily the Chinese executioner wears a black grim reaper hood & robe capable of disguising Joe.  In the course of overcoming the Chinese gang, Jem Sing saves Joe's life, releasing her from her obligation to him.  When the Rangers go back to Laredo, Jem Sing stays to help all the people her deceased husband has exploited.

General Ti

Looking good in lavender

Chad & Erik seem amused

A little sad at losing Jem Sing

A sweet good-by