Written by WILLIAM RAYNOR MILES WILDER Directed by DICK MODER Regular Cast TOM WOPAT JOHN SCHNEIDER CATHERINE BACH DENVER PYLE BEN JONES JAMES BEST  SORRELL BOOKE Guest Cast WILLIAM SMITH CARLOS BROWN (later ALAN AUTRY) REGIS J. CORDIC KEN HIXON

William Smith as Jason Steele

Sheriff Coltrane has been informed of a ten million dollar inheritance and the money is going to his head.  After buying a luxury squad car and a sequined uniform, he decides to indulge in his heart's desire - getting the Duke boys to violate their probation by crossing the county line.  To this end he hires the dirtiest, low downest detective in Atlanta, Jason Steele.  For  a promise of $100,000, Steele comes to Hazzard County with an assistant, a handgun and some evil schemes for taking them like Grant took Richmond.  When they resist his first scheme to get them to chase him over the county line, he figures it's going to be more fun than he figured.

The boys hear the rumor that Steele is on the way so they take the offensive and set out to look for him.  He proves elusive because he's busy figuring how to ambush them.  He's going to plant a gun on them -- another violation of their probation.  The boys foil that scheme by outrunning the sheriff to a bog where the gun can be disposed of, never to be seen again.  Steele then demands that Coltrane provide him with pictures of the General Lee taken from all angles.

When Uncle Jessie is injured trying to track Steele down, the boys decide they must "call him out."  They use a loud speaker to challenge him to a noon facedown in the middle of main street.  Steele figures he can turn this showdown into a probation violation.
 

At the last moment, Steele makes his dramatic appearance.  Steele makes it clear he's not intimidated.  But he's unsuccessful in baiting the boys into a fight that could be charged as assault and battery.

Steele faces down the Duke boys and tries to bait them into an attack.

Steele's next plan is to substitute a "twin" General Lee and then when the boys ride off, arrest them for auto theft.  The plan appears to work.  Before the boys can be shipped off to Atlanta, they escape from jail.   However, they run right into Steele and his buddy who load them into a jail van at gunpoint.  Just after they drive off, the estate attorney informs Coltrane that the ten million dollar inheritance was a computer error.  He's only inherited $10.  Now he won't be able to pay Steele.

Coltrane sets off to stop Steele.  He runs the van off the road and the boys escape only to be held at gunpoint again.  When Coltrane interrupts with the news of his reversal of fortune, Steele drives off with him.  The boys reclaim the General Lee and chase down the van.  In the fight that ensues, the scripters were realistic enough to require both Luke and Bo to combat Steele.  Not likely either one could have taken him alone.

In the end, Steele is off to the slammer for kidnapping Sheriff Coltrane.

NiteOwl Review:  Although our favorite thing about the Dukes of Hazzard was usually the Waylon Jennings title song, we loved Bill in this episode.  Bill was tough, funny and looked great.  That black leather jacket was one of his best looks, ever. Cast Note:  Alan Autry, Steeles unsung assistant, is credited here as Carlos Brown.  He went on to play Bubba Skinner in the TV series In the Heat of the Night.  He also had a reaccuring role for a season as Grace's boyfriend in the sitcom Grace Under Fire. Favorite Scene:  Our video group's favorite scene is the showdown at noon scene which starts with Bill walking out of the white courthouse doors toward the two Dukes.  But since our friend Robin was the one who knew that Alan Autry's former SAG name was Carlos Brown we'll focus on her favorite scene.  After planting a revolver in the glove box of the General Lee, Steele grabs Coltrane as he comes out of the Boar's Nest to let him know they can get the boys on a firearm possession violation.  Coltrane is beside himself with excitement and asks Steele if he can be the one to "cuff 'em 'n stuff 'em".  When Steele nods consent, Coltrane walks off to his car joyfully proclaiming, "Oh good, good.  I tell you, I love it, I love it.  You're all heart."  As he reaches his car, he adds in a lower voice, "and muscle."  As Robin notes, this is a perfect description of Bill himself, even if not quite so apt in describing Jason Steele.
 

Jason Steele gives Sheriff Coltrane the good news -- he can arrest the Dukes