Opa Reads

Ralph has to read a legal contract in order to change his usual $25 bust price to $50.

Ralph and Lonnie head to El Paso with the intent of doing a bust for an attorney, but it sets them back two suits, luggage, and a hotel suite.

The business goes into full swing as Mabel brings customers to Ralph, and as Ralph learns to keep Lonnie busy and out of the way.

Lonnie’s enthusiastic embrace of being an artist leaves Ralph with the trouble of setting boundaries for Lonnie to stay busy within while not simultaneously ruining the artwork.

The banker approves Ralph’s clay bust, Mabel gets more orders for Ralph, and a visit to the nearby town provides the makings for plaster of Paris. Lonnie’s enthusiasm for Shiftless continues.

Ralph and Lonnie have no luck finding ranch jobs, then their car breaks down, so Ralph takes on the new enterprise of making busts of leading men in the city. He hasn’t actually made one yet, but he has his first contract with a banker.

Christmas dinner developed over the course of an entire day—from fixing the flat tire to milking a wild cow.

Ralph creates an Indian pony from clay, and they camp beside the road to make a Christmas Eve dinner…with a flat tire.

Ralph and Lonnie have a tough time getting even a few miles along the road before the limitations of vehicular travel become apparent.

Lots of work was required to put Shiftless into working condition, and that was not possible without the Larsen’s help. Ralph and Lonnie left town blessed by them!