Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Julia Bulette Story - full transcript

Hyah! Hyah!

Hey!

Hey, what'd they
feed you up there

in San Francisco,
anyhow, Little Joe?

Two months, and
you're as skinny as ever.

Uh, a little uglier maybe, huh?

And a little bit smarter.

I got five dollars
more a head this year

than you did last year.

Hey, you hear that, Adam?

Now I think that
calls for a celebration.



Yeah, you know,
I think it's time

Little Joe took a look
inside Julia's Palace, huh?

Adam, I said a
little celebration.

Well, it was a fair fight.

Least as fair as it could
be with John Millain.

He's not hurt too bad.

Come on, let's get him
over to Doc Martin's.

Every day you're
more like a mad dog.

Now, you will not provoke
any more violence in my place.

Do you understand that?

It is amazing to
me, my dear Julia,

how such tender sentiments
can come from trash like you.

Well, um, welcome to
Julia's Palace, Mister, um...

Cartwright. Joe Cartwright.



Oh. One of the Cartwrights
from the Ponderosa?

Yes, ma'am.

It's a-a real nice
place you've got here.

I'm sorry I messed it up.

Oh, don't be sorry.

After all, you were
defending my honor.

I've never been here before.

Oh, you must come
back some time.

I'd like that.

As my guest.

I'm Julia Bulette.

I'd, uh... I'd like
to repay you.

With, uh, dinner
here at my place.

Tomorrow night?

Yes, ma'am.

Better get the brandy, Tom.

Ah.

We are of the same
kind, you and I, Julie.

Where men are concerned,

we are the messengers
of destruction.

You do it through the heart.

I do it with a gun.

Does it matter to you

which way it happens
to this young man, hmm?

Pa, do you think

Julia Bulette might
have known my mother?

No, I... I don't think
that's very likely.

Yeah. Why not? They
both lived in New Orleans.

Yeah, they might
just as well have lived

on opposite sides of the world.

What do you mean?

Oh, what I've been
trying to say is that...

the only thing

that Julia Bulette has in
common with your mother...

The fact that she's a woman.

Ah, she's the most beautiful
woman I've ever seen.

Yes, she's a very
beautiful woman.

Well, come on, Pa.
You better hurry up

if you want to get to that
town meeting on time.

Come on.

This is a meeting
that'll be attended

by Virginia City's
leading citizens.

Now, uh, sure you don't
want to come along?

Oh, no, thanks, Pa.

I, uh... I got some other plans.

Whoa!

May I?

Miss Bulette.

Why so formal, Ben?

It used to be Julia. Get up!

I'm sorry. Julia.

Shall we go in?

Well, I... Oh, yes,
I've been asked.

My invitation said it was
supposed to be a meeting

of the leading
citizens of Virginia City.

What did yours say?

Well, uh, mine said the same.

Shall we proceed?

Can you get the door?

Well, looks like everybody's
here that's gonna show up,

so we might as well
get things underway.

And I guess we all
know why we're here, too.

Under the ground
of Virginia City lies

the greatest bonanza
of silver known to man.

Most of what's on top, though,
is nothing more than trash.

The first thing to do
is among ourselves,

by bringing in
effective law and order.

Well, starting with
effective law and order,

we'll have to raise a
permanent city fund

to interest the kind
of men that we want.

Ben, can we expect
help from the ranchers?

Well,

the ranchers want
law and order in town

just as much as everybody else.

Of course, we'll do all we can,

but, uh... I don't
think that'll be...

that'll be enough.

Yes, I realize that.

Uh, as a matter of fact,
that brings me to, uh...

That brings you to
why I was invited here?

The, uh, kind of money
you'll need will have to come

from the people who
mostly make up this town...

The men who work in the mines.

They will listen
to Julia Bulette.

So, gentlemen, I'll take
care of raising the money,

and, uh, the moralizing
I'll leave to you.

Oh, I know you'd love
for me to stay, but...

I do have a saloon to run.

As well as an
appointment to keep.

Friends, there's a rumor around

that we have a very wicked
town here in Virginia City.

So, while the bluenoses sit
up on the hill and cry about it,

I think we down here on C
Street can do something about it.

Here. Here.

Now, the first thing
Virginia City will need

will be a little
money in its pocket.

I'm going to make
the first donation.

Tom, get me a bottle of brandy.

Mm-hmm.

A bottle of brandy.

Now how much are
you willing to give

for this fine old
Virginia City brandy?

One hundred dollars.

One hundred dollars?

This is Julia's Palace,
not another saloon.

Now, come on, let me
hear a respectable bid.

All right. $200.

Better.

$250.

$300.

$500.

Sold to Julia Bulette, $500.

Now I'm giving it right
back to Virginia City.

Who's next?

$200.

$250.

$300.

Oh, come on now.

$350.

$500.

$500. Sold to Little Joe
Cartwright of Ponderosa.

And I give it back
to Virginia City, too.

All right, that starts the
open bidding over again.

Gladys, come on up here.

Make 'em pay till it hurts.

Come on, Little Joe.

Okay, fellas.

What am I bid?

Sally, we're gonna
need something

to keep all this money in.

Oh, that's gonna
be fine. Thanks.

Let's see now. Hmm.

One, two, three, four, five.

I-I don't carry that
kind of money on me.

Could I give you a
note for it? Oh... no.

You saved my
honor, I'll save yours.

Now we're even.

Oh, your daddy forgot

to give you your allowance, huh?

Look, Millain, just 'cause
you shot up a few miners,

that makes you the
most feared man in town,

but I'm not shaking
even a little bit,

so don't get in my way.

You don't think I can make
you shake like the others, huh?

I think you only stay alive
'cause no grave will have you.

I think you'd better go.

You were going
outside, my friend?

Fine.

No, he's-he's going with me.

Monsieur?

Would you rather spend
a few minutes with him,

or an evening with me?

Some other time.

That is a promise... from me.

Make yourself comfortable.

I'll fix us a brandy.

No, thanks.

Oh, you drink so
little, gamble even less.

You know, it's a good thing

the finer side of a man
burns out in his youth,

or I'd be out of business.

I hope you stay in
business a long time.

I'd hate to see you leave here.

There are not many around
here who would agree with you.

Well, they snub you on Sunday,

and come to your
place on Monday.

The world's better off
without that kind of hypocrite.

Don't try to change
the world, Little Joe.

Enjoy it the way it is.

You'll grow older, and then,

you'll be no different
from all the others.

I'm sorry about that.

May I?

Oh, of course.

You could have your pick
of any man in Virginia City.

Why did you ask me here?

John Millain might
have killed you.

Millain?

How did you happen

to make friends
with a man like that?

It was a long time ago.

There's companionship
between us.

He's not fit to wipe your shoes.

Don't be too sure.

Julia, just to
break up a fight...

Was that the only reason
you asked me up here?

It was then.

Is anything wrong?

Uh-uh, no, quite the contrary.

You know, you remind
me of what I always pictured

my mother would look like.

Hmm?

She was part French like
you, came from New Orleans.

And she was a very
beautiful woman.

All right? Tell me
about New Orleans.

I'm afraid it wouldn't
be as your mother saw it.

From different sides, a
mountain never looks the same.

I don't understand.

You will.

Good-bye, Little Joe.

Go home where you belong.

I'm coming back.

And now for that
little promise, huh?

Just relax, Millain.

I believe I'd do like
he says if I was you.

Me and Adam had figured you boys

would be about ready
to settle something.

Now, why don't you
settle it like gentlemen?

Now, Hoss will hold your coat.

If I've told little Joe once

I've told him a thousand times

to keep those elbows in.

Joe's gotta learn to
fight a lot dirtier than that.

A couple of beers, Tom.

You know, that
kid's got lots of grit.

One of these days he's gonna
be able to whup that Frenchman.

Yeah, but this wasn't the day.

Tom. Bye-bye.

Thank you, Tom.

We'll see you. All right, Hoss.

Five hundred dollars!

I told you I'd work it out.

It's not the money, Little Joe.

I was planning to give more
than that to the fund, anyway.

It's just that I think
you're beginning

to make a fool of yourself.

Why? What's wrong with her?

Oh, nothing, nothing,
she's a fine woman.

All right, what is it, then?

Well... Well, it's just that...

Well, she's seen much more
of the world than you have, boy.

I see.

That makes her bad.

Well, Doc! Ben.

Good to see you,
come on in, now.

Well, what brings you our way?

Well, I just come down
from the mines at Gold Hill.

Oh, how are things down there?

Ran into a few cases of fever.

Fever, is it bad?

Well, it's hard to
say if they'll build up

to epidemic proportions.

So far, it's just a few

scattered cases here and there.

Oh, I'm glad of that.

You're looking well, Ben.

Feel wonderful,
never felt better.

That's good.

Come a long way.

This house, Ponderosa,
three fine sons.

Doc, a man with all
the work you've got to do

wouldn't take a long
ride just to talk old times.

Sit down.

Have a little refreshment.

Well... Hop Sing.

How about a little cool water
from that good well of yours?

All right. Yes,
sir, Mr. Cartwright.

Glass of cool water
for Doctor Martin.

Yes, sir, right away.

Now then, what's on your mind?

Well, for one thing, the
committee wanted you to know

we received a letter of
acceptance from Brad Olins.

Oh, that's fine.

Olins is one of the best. Yes.

I only hope we can keep him.

No. What's to stop us?

Well, money, for one thing.

Oh, Miss Bulette's
bottle of brandy

got us off to a fine start,

but it can't stop there.

We've gotta have the
cooperation of the people.

I sure hope we get all
the cooperation we need.

Ben, you know that

most of the people
of a community

keep in step with the leaders.

We're just beginning to
find some of our leaders.

You, for instance, Ben.

All right.

All right, Doc, keep talking.

Well...

I just don't know any
other way to say it.

People in town are talking

about Little Joe
and Ms. Bulette.

Matters concerning
my sons or myself

are nobody's
business but our own.

No longer, Ben.

It boils down to this.

If Virginia City will
keep her house clean,

she has a chance to become
an important part of this country.

If she doesn't, she'll stay

just a dirty little
town on a mountain.

I'll talk to Julia, Doc.

Thank you.

Brandy, Ben?

I promise you
it's the very best.

I'm sure it is, Julia,
but, uh, no, thanks.

I'm finding out the Cartwrights

aren't much of
a drinking family.

Well, that's true,

but, uh, very much a family.

Go on.

Well, Julia, you
know, the boy is young,

he's, uh, he's full of life.

I can understand how
he could appeal to you.

It has.

You know, with you this is, uh,

this is a passing thing.

It's different for Little Joe.

Different, how?

Did he ever tell you
about his mother?

Yes.

He never really knew her.

She died when he was very young.

You're the only other woman

of French ancestry
he's ever known.

This and the fact that you
also come from New Orleans

makes you something
special in his eyes.

But not in yours.

No, I guess not.

Have you told Little Joe
to stay away from me?

No.

I'd prefer him to
hear it from you.

And just what is it you'd
like him to hear from me?

Well, the difference
in your ages,

your ways of life.

Not to mention the fact

that the whole town
is talking about us,

and what that could do to
a young man's reputation.

Yes.

There's that, too.

Mm-hmm.

I'll think about it, Ben.

Julia, you're wonderful.

I knew I could count on you.

You know, this really
will be best for you,

for everybody.

Tom. Bye, Mr. Cartwright.

Tom.

Has Little Joe
Cartwright been around?

No, but I passed the word along

that you didn't want
to see him anymore.

I changed my mind.

But, Miss Julia...

I said I changed my mind.

Hello, Little Joe.

Where have you been?

Virginia City.

Ran into Doc Martin.

There's several more
cases of the fever.

He's getting real worried.

Oh, Joe, I've been
waiting here to talk to you.

What about?

You've been with
that woman again.

Her name is Miss Bulette.

Joe, you're a grown man,

and I, I know you'll understand
what I'm going to say to you.

I know already.

Pa, she's not the kind of
woman that people say she is...

Not anymore anyway.

Now, look, I know she,
she wears fine clothes

and she talks good
and she lives well, but...

you know, a scar
doesn't disappear

just because you wash it.

I guess that's how it
was with my mother.

You keep your
mother out of this.

I've heard you and Adam talk...

How there were
places you couldn't go,

things you couldn't
do because...

Because she was part Creole.

It was her language and
the ways of her people

that some folks didn't
understand, nothing more.

I know that,

and still there were a lot
of people that hated her.

Pa, sometimes to
see a scar, you know,

you got to be looking for it.

Little Joe, I...

No, thank you, Hop
Sing, I don't want no more.

Only one piece cake?

This dang cake's flat.

The cake is not flat.

For two days now,
whole ranch is flat.

No fun, nobody eat.

No good without Little Joe.

I just talked to Charlie;
he's been in town.

Seems the kid's having himself

quite a time with Miss Bulette.

They've been seen
just about everywhere.

She must be enjoying this.

You know, it's doing
something for Little Joe...

Defending somebody
he feels close to.

He'll get over it.

You think so?

Well, let him find
somebody else to defend.

I'm not going to have that
woman beating me over the head

with my own son.

We're going to bring
Little Joe back from town

if we have to drag him
every step of the way.

Well, he's not in there.

Let's move on.

Well, he shouldn't
be too hard to find.

Break it up.

I said break it up.

Ben, Ben.

You ought to be
ashamed of yourself.

You certainly should be.

What for?

For protecting my boy

when a whole mob is
trying to take him apart?

Well, what that mob was
doing to your boy is nothing

compared to what he did to
the inside of my opera house.

He wrecked it.

It'll take a whole week to
put it back together again,

and it was nothing but
uncalled for violence.

Uncalled for? What do you
call what you did to Miss Bulette?

Now, wait a minute.

What's all this about?

Perhaps I can explain.

I have a box loge
in this theater.

Mr. Romley had it draped

so it would be
separated from the others.

A new policy of the management.

I accepted it, but
my escort didn't.

Well, with the district
judge and new marshal

coming in a couple of weeks,

the committee... Ben,
you know what I mean.

Let's go.

Let me know how much
the damages will be.

Now, you're coming home with us.

You can make me go home,
but you can't make me stay there.

All I want is a chance to
decide a few things for myself.

I'll get the carriage.

Now, why do you have
to fight me and the town

using a boy as a weapon?

It's the only weapon I can
use against you and win.

Hmm.

It's quite a victory, isn't it?

Ben Cartwright's son defending
the honor of Julie Bulette.

It's even more of a victory.

I have the help of his father.

Ben? Oh, Ben!

The fever's not an
isolated thing any longer.

It's all over Gold Hill.

Then it is an epidemic?

It'll be in Virginia
City by morning.

Chances are, it's the water.

There's plenty of pure
water on the Ponderosa.

Adam, Hoss, get the
hands together on the ranch

and get some water down here.

Yes, sir.

All right now, folks, I'll
need all the help I can get.

Beds for the patients,
men to transport them,

and women to tend to them.

What I need is good water,
shelter and volunteers.

Now, who'll be next?

The Palace will be set up for
anything you need right away.

Well, thank you, Julia.

All right, who else?

Ye shall keep all my statutes

so the land shall
not spew you out.

Well, the Lord was talking
to Moses, not to Virginia City.

You taught me that
that meant everyone.

So what's happening to
the good people in this town?

They're about to go
to work, Little Joe.

Julia, don't bother moving
those gambling tables.

They'll do nicely as beds.

All right, Doc. Thank you.

Well, it's gonna
slosh around a little bit,

but that'll have to do.

Take her on down
and fill her up with water

and take her on into town.

Soon as it's
empty, bring it back.

Giddyap.

No, no, Hop Sing.

Let me show you.

See here?

It's easy when you know how.

You watch me, and I'll
show you how to load barrels.

You...

You can't use your back
strength and your muscles.

You got to use
your head, Hop Sing.

That's right.

You use your head your
way, I use my head my way.

Yeah.

Now, look, you rustle up enough
strength to take this medicine,

and I'll, uh, let you take
advantage of my good nature.

Well, we're saving two
for every one we're losing.

In an epidemic like
this, that's a victory.

Well, those that are
healthy are beginning

to leave this town in droves.

Just a dirty little
town on a mountain.

I guess that's all we
were meant to be.

But if to change it means
crucifying people like her,

I say it's not worth it.

Hey, Doc, I got you
three more volunteers.

Oh, good.

Oh, Pete, I thought you and
your crew were pulling out?

Well, maybe it's like
Little Joe says, Doc.

It's our mountain.

We dug right into her insides

with little more
than our bare hands.

And, well, it-it ain't decent
to let some stinkin' thing

like a fever chase us off.

Mr. Cartwright there can
show you plenty to do.

You come with me, Pete.

Joe.

I've got something for
you to do... take a break.

Well, Doc, there's still
a lot of work to be done.

That goes for Julia, too.

You two have been
working for days.

I need help, not new patients.

You do as you're told.

We've been asleep a long time.

Oh, I dreamt I was
in New Orleans.

Hmm.

Ah, it was a beautiful place.

Well, Virginia City's a
long way from New Orleans.

I'm going to go there
some day, maybe to live.

Ah, this is where you'll stay.

No, a man goes
where he wants to be.

I've watched the way
you handle people here.

A man stays where he's needed.

And you?

When a town starts to
grow, I look for a new frontier.

Julia, it doesn't have
to be this way. I could...

Your mother was French.

Do you understand the language?

Yeah, some of it.

Cela aurait dû arrivé
il y a des années.

This should have
happened many years ago?

Mm-hmm.

Someday you'll know what I mean.

You'll also know why you
must stay and I must go.

We'll be needed inside.

You know, I think
you're gonna make it.

Pa? What?

I checked most of the mines,

and there's not one
new case of fever, Doc.

And more than half the
men have gone back to work.

Ah. Good.

Then we'll move the
last of our patients

over to the meeting house.

Boys, let's move
these blankets and beds

over to the meeting house.

Well, it was a fight, Adam,

but it's the kind of
fight that's good to win.

Well, we, uh, lost one, too, Pa.

Well, what do you mean?

Well, Little Joe came back
to the ranch this morning,

and he took his things.

Now that, uh, this is over...

Julia, this, uh...

this thing with Little Joe...

I should never have interfered.

Oh, I'm disappointed
in you, Ben.

Disappointed?

A man of strength should
never let sentiment interfere

with his convictions.

I'm the same woman
I was before the fever.

Well, I haven't changed, either.

And nothing has
changed between us.

But I... I won't gamble with
something I can't replace.

If it's Little Joe's wish,

you're welcome to become
part of the Ponderosa.

That's quite an offer.

Especially since you don't
think I'm good enough for him.

Well, whether or not you're...

good enough for Little Joe is...

is something only
you can decide.

Tom!

I want some champagne.

Harry, let me have
a tune, a lively one.

As soon as the
patients are moved,

I want you to
clear out this mess

and put the gambling
tables back in their places.

I'm going to put on a night
Virginia City will never forget!

Mm-hmm.

Well, after the fever,

that should be a
great celebration.

Celebration?

Who said anything
about a celebration?

This is going to
be an execution.

Julia Bulette destroying the
sweet innocence of youth.

Julia, what's the
matter with you?

What's the matter
with me? I'm having fun.

You call this fun?
You're acting like a...

Go ahead, Little Joe, say it.

Mr. Cartwright, I
think I've told you

to stay away from Julia Bulette.

It has been a short
life for you, my friend.

Let us hope it has
been a pleasant one.

John... Listen. I listen.

I listen about this
important thing

I must do for you
in Sacramento City.

And I discover it is something

which could have
been handled by mail.

John, please! Don't, John!

Julia, are you all right?

Let me see.

It isn't a bad wound, mon cheri.

Go upstairs. I'll fix it.

Julia. Leave me alone.

Julia, I did this for you.

You want to do something for me?

This bracelet, the
necklace... They arrived today.

A present from an old friend.

They're diamonds, Little Joe.

That's all any
man can do for me.

No, you don't mean that.

Why shouldn't I?

That door you came
through, it works both ways.

I think you'd better use it.

Yes, Julie.

You destroy with the heart, hmm?

I used to wonder
why it was I'd...

send you away and then be
so happy when you came back.

Perhaps it is because we are
cut from the same piece of cloth.

Perhaps it's because,
in order to hate you,

I had to hate myself.

As you said, we
are very much alike.

One cannot change this, Julie.

One can try.

I don't want to see
you anymore, John.

You have said this before.

I never meant it before.

We have been
together too long, Julie.

We have no escape
one from the other.

Good-bye, John.

Julie...

I have little which
belongs to me...

but what I have...
no one will take away.

No one!

Go right ahead there, fellas.

Drink them down, men.

Little Joe...

we heard what happened
over at the Palace.

You shouldn't have
taken on Millain alone.

Well, I beat him, didn't I?

Little Joe, they...

they're having the
fanciest meeting

you ever seen over
at the community hall.

Everybody's patting each other

on the back for
stopping that epidemic.

Pa's right up there
on the stage with them.

He's going to make a speech.

Now, you wouldn't
want to miss Pa

making a speech, would you?

Everybody's patting
everybody on the back, huh?

Oh, it's a real fine meeting.

Come on, Joe.

You know, you're right.

I wouldn't want to
miss that meeting.

There's nobody Virginia City
has a right to thank more...

than Ben Cartwright.

Thank you, Mr. Romley.

If we've done
anything... Yes, sir, boy.

Thank you, Mr. Romley.

Joe.

Oh, and thanks to
you, too, Doc Martin.

And I want to give
a special thanks

to all you honorable citizens.

But how about giving a
little thanks to the person

who did the most to
save this stinking town?

How about some
thanks for Julia Bulette?

Oh, what's the matter?

Don't you have the guts to
admit when you're wrong?

Well, Virginia City's
fire engine company

has been needing
an honorary member.

How about it, boys?

Well, the lady
isn't going to know

anything about
it until we tell her.

Come on.

Come on, Julia. Come on.

Let's go.

There we go. There we go.

Well, Little Joe,

it was you who
got us here, so...

you ought to be
the one to say it.

Well, this isn't just
for what you did

for Virginia City
during the epidemic.

Well, it's for all the
things you've done

for everyone in this town.
- That's right.

It's not a diamond
necklace or a...

or a bottle of champagne,
but it's the best we've got.

What do you say, boys?

Three cheers for the
first honorary member

of Virginia City Fire Engine
Company Number Two!

Hip-hip! Hooray!

Hip-hip!

Hooray! Hip-hip!

Hooray!

There's no diamond necklace
that goes with this either, but...

I'd be especially proud if
you'd consent to be my wife.

Uh, what Miss Bulette
is trying to say is...

champagne on the house!

Having faith in no one carries
a special kind of security.

You and your son
have destroyed it.

I'll never forgive
you that, Ben.

Hello, Ben. George.

Ben Cartwright,
this is Brad Olins.

How do you do? Well,
howdy. Nice to meet you.

He got in with the new judge

so we swore him in right away.

Well, heard some
nice things about you.

Nice to have you with us.

This is my son,
Joseph. How do you do?

How are you?

You're about a week
early, aren't you?

Oh, a week early,
but a day late.

Oh? What do you mean?

Julia Bulette was knifed
and robbed last night.

How is she?

It's bad. Doc Martin's with her.

A couple of the miners
saw a tall, dark man

coming out of her place
just about daybreak.

John Millain.

That's the name.

We followed him up this way.

Then he's probably
headed for Lake's Crossing.

Me and Adam will show
you the way. Oh, that's fine.

We'd better get going.

Oh, Joe, Miss Bulette sent word

she'd like to see
you and your dad.

Hello, Ben.

You've been asleep a long time.

Looks like I win a
battle and lose the war.

I'm sorry.

Everyone is.

Everyone? Hmm...

If New Orleans could
only see me now, huh?

Little Joe?

He's here.

I want to see him, Ben.

Ben?

Last night, you and
the rest of Virginia City

gave me a present.

Now it's my turn.

I'm going to give
you back your son.

Get me some brandy, Joe.

I shouldn't be
giving this to you.

Oh, this is the way I live, kid.

You're going to be all right.

I don't care.

It couldn't have
happened at a better time

if I lived to be a thousand.

We beat them, Joe.

We beat the apple-knockers.

What?

The high-and-mighty bluenoses.

We took them for
the ride of their lives.

That play of yours.

Bringing them in
to lick my shoes

just when they were ripe.

They meant every word of that.

Sure they meant it.

That's what makes it so rich.

They'll hear me laugh...

Laughing every time
they pass my grave.

Don't move.

And the biggest laugh of all...

your old man.

That night you were up here,

I told you it was just
for laughs, remember?

I never intended
to see you again.

I never wanted to see you again.

Joe...

Oh... You better go, Joe.

The doctor wants me to rest.

I'm coming back.

Well, we got Millain.

He had her diamonds
in his saddlebags.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪