About this season
Life in Crocus as seen through the eyes of a young lad, Ben, and his friend Jake. Jake and the Kid is a Canadian television drama series, which aired on the CanWest Global system of stations in the 1990s. The second (1995) television adaptation of W. O. Mitchell's 1961 short story collection Jake and the Kid the series is set in the small town of Crocus, Saskatchewan, and centres on the friendship between Ben "the Kid" Osborne (Ben Campbell), a young boy growing up on a farm with his widowed mother Julia (Patricia Harras), and Jake Trumper (Shaun Johnston), a farmhand who becomes Ben's surrogate father figure.
Episodes (13)
1. We All Live in Crocus
Aired 16 December 1995 • 60 min
When the war memorial is unveiled during the Golden Jubilee celebration, Julia is disturbed at being labelled Crocus's only war widow. Meanwhile, Jake and Ben plot to win a prize horse that is coming up for auction.
2. No Place Like Home
Aired 23 December 1995 • 60 min
Julia has a difficult decision to make after receiving a generous offer to purchase the Osborne farm. Riding his new horse Fever, Jake has a bad spill and must learn to overcome his fear if he is to continue riding.
3. Grand Plans
Aired 30 December 1995 • 60 min
A mysterious stranger arrives in Crocus just in time to save the town's struggling baseball team, but there are rumors that the talented pitcher may be an escaped convict.
4. Long Live the Queen
Aired 6 January 1996 • 60 min
Lottery fever strikes Crocus when the grand prize of its first contest is a trip to England to observe the Queen's coronation.
5. Oil Boom
Aired 13 January 1996 • 60 min
Jake becomes concerned when a slick oil-company executive, who believes that Crocus may overlie a vast new oilfield, persuades many of the locals to sell him the rights to their land.
6. Prairie Lawyer
Aired 20 January 1996 • 60 min
Repeat is sued after he cuts off the local undertaker's beard in a fit of rage. Meanwhile, Julia's Hollywood-starlet sister Donna pays a surprise visit.
7. The Smoking Gun
Aired 27 January 1996 • 60 min
Despite Julia's objections, Jake teaches Ben how to use a rifle, something he considers a necessary rite of passage for any farm boy. But then, on the first day of deer hunting season, Ben is challenged by the town bully and makes a reckless mistake.
8. Liar Hunter
Aired 3 February 1996 • 60 min
A drifter befriended by Ben and Lazarus turns out to be Professor Winesinger, an old acquaintance of Jake's, who got him out of some serious trouble when Jake was young.
9. Buying the Farm
Aired 10 February 1996 • 60 min
The whole town is concerned about the health of Daddy Johnson, a wealthy 107-year-old who has fallen seriously ill, but Jake in particular believes that Daddy's ""nurse"" Esther Goodrich is really a gold digger after his money.
10. Full Circle
Aired 17 February 1996 • 60 min
When orphans Ben and Lazarus feel left out of Saskatchewan's annual father-and-son fishing contest, Jakes and Moses invent a contest of their own. Meanwhile, Molly has a ""girls-only"" slumber party with Julia, but ill-advisedly leaves Gate to mind the store.
11. Ways of the World
Aired 24 February 1996 • 60 min
A famous hypnotist and his pretty assistant proceed to charm the town, while two mysterious businessmen from Winnipeg show an excessive interest in an old safe of Albert's.
12. Looks Can Be Deceiving
Aired 2 March 1996 • 60 min
As Crocus prepares for its major annual social event, the Snow Ball, speculation abounds regarding who will escort the town's most eligible woman, Emily Henchbaw.
13. True Confessions
Aired 9 March 1996 • 60 min
When a blizzard hits Crocus, the Sanitary Cafe is transformed into a temporary hospital and Jake tries to rescue Albert, who has had a heart attack.