The High Chaparral

John departs for a holiday, leaving Buck, Blue and Manolito to run the ranch in his absence. When he returns, he discovers an Indian uprising already in full swing, the rebellion raging across the surrounding lands and endangering the property.

Too Many Chiefs is presented as a programme in the form of an episode. The title suggests a scenario where leadership is crowded, and the format confines the story to a single, self‑contained narrative. It centres on events that unfold on a ranch, focusing on a small group of characters and their interactions throughout the episode. John decides to take a holiday, entrusting the running of the ranch to three of his men – Buck, Blue and Manolito. By leaving them in charge, he passes the responsibility for day‑to‑day operations to the trio while he is away. Their task is to maintain the ranch in his absence during that time period. While John is enjoying his break, an Indian uprising erupts on the horizon. The rebellion gains momentum quickly, reaching a point where it is described as being in full swing. This development transforms the calm that the ranch had known into a scene of active conflict and forces them to react swiftly immediately under pressure. When John returns from his holiday, he is confronted with the reality of the uprising already in full swing. The sight of the conflict unfolding on his property marks a stark contrast to the peace he left behind. His arrival places him directly into the centre of the unrest that now dominates the ranch today.