Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 10, Episode 18 - Erin - full transcript

Hoss is rescued from a band of hungry Paiutes rustling Ponderosa cattle after a hard winter by Erin O'Donnell, an Irish woman who was raised by the Sioux and revered by the tribes as a medicine woman and mystic.

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I saw her come in this way.

Yeah. This must be the tenth
time that little heifer's run off.

- I'll find her.
- No, you go on back and rest.

I may get her and cook
her for supper. Not too little.

- Chuck wagon's sure gonna look good!
- Yeah.

- OK.
- See you.

Little Wolf. Red Eagle.

That's Ponderosa stock.
You know that brand.

Drop your gun.

Get off the horse.



Look, I don't know
what the problem is,

but I'm sure we can solve
it without... using these.

It would be a mistake
to kill that man there.

Woman, do not get in the way.

You know the winter was hard.

We need food, not a
woman's foolish talk.

I don't speak as a squaw.

I've dreamed of the wolf, and the great
prophet of the Paiute knows my name.

We were sent to find the horses
that graze these mountains.

Two of us are on foot already.

I left the herd a
day's ride to the north,

and I have spare horses.

Those two are broken
to the white man's taste,

but they're yours
if you'll have them.



The last one isn't broken yet,

but I'd like to trade him
to you for that heifer.

Well, that's not a very good
trade, but you got a deal.

Do you know, are we
near Cartwright land?

You're on it, ma'am.
I'm Hoss Cartwright.

Well, I've heard that the
Cartwrights are honorable men

and friends of the Paiute.

I was on my way to your
ranch to sell my horses.

I did not know who you were.

No harm done.

Would you trade more beef
for the horses that they'll catch?

Absolutely. You get them, send
word to me at our round-up camp

and I'll meet you back here
and we'll discuss the details.

I am called Bear Hunter.

You are welcome
at our camp any time.

I... I wonder if you'd mind if
we'd rest here for a moment.

My shoulder's gone a bit sore.

Why, not at all.

How'd you injure that
shoulder, anyhow?

Well, to tell you the truth,

I got a bit careless trying to break
that horse. I got myself thrown.

It's just a cut, but I think it
might be trying to get infected.

You know, we might ought to
have a doctor take a look at that.

Oh, no, that won't be necessary.
I'm sure it's going to be all right.

Well, it ain't gonna hurt nothing.
And the nearest one's in Virginia City.

Well, I don't... I don't think I
could make it that far right now.

We can't camp here, that's for sure. It'll
be freezing here in another hour or so.

We can go on down to the low country. I
know a good place to camp down there.

Well, I'll be grateful to you for
the company, Mr. Cartwright.

Miss O'Donnell...
my name is Hoss.

Erin.

Here, you rest a spell. I'll go fill
this canteen and we'll be on our way.

Fine.

Hey, is that shoulder
bothering you?

Well, a little.

How hard did that old
pony throw you, anyhow?

Not hard enough to
break anything, but I don't

think I'll be forgetting
him for a while!

No, I imagine not. Listen,
I'll fix us something to eat.

It ain't gonna be too
tasty, but it'll be filling.

I got some jerky and
some beans back here.

Wait. Wait. Why don't I
just try to catch us a dinner?

- Like what?
- Pheasant or quail, or both.

Well, that's fine with me, but I
ain't seen nothing running or flying.

Well, it never hurts to try.

This is gonna be interesting. Is
there anything I can do to help?

Just keep your fingers crossed.

- Oh!
- Hey.

- Oh!
- Let me take a look at that shoulder.

Boy!

If that thing ain't
infected, it's sure trying.

You know, maybe we shouldn't stop.
Maybe we oughta keep going, huh?

But I don't think my horse is up to
it. I've been pushing him pretty hard.

The fact is, I...
I'm not up to it.

Yeah, well, you sure can't go out
catching any game, that's for sure.

Well, it doesn't take much
muscle to set a snare.

We're going to need a fire.

- Right.
- I'm aiming for Sioux stew.

Sioux stew? What's that?

- Rabbit.
- Oh!

Beats the deuce out
of that jerky, doesn't it?

Thanks. You know, this
is the first coffee I've had

since mine ran out last
winter, and it smells like nectar.

You said you wintered with the Paiute.
Did you live with Indians all your life?

Only the best part of it.

Did the Sioux take you
when you were a baby?

Uh... No, no, I was... I was taken
to the Sioux as a child by my father.

Well, when my mother died, he had no
idea how to go about raising a daughter.

So he raised me like a son.

I took to it like a duck to
water. I still do, I guess.

Why did your pa
take you to the Sioux?

He was looking for freedom.

And when he discovered the
Sioux, he thought he'd found it.

That's funny. I never thought of
freedom as being that hard to come by.

My parents had
to pay a price for it.

You see, they were raised in
Ireland under the British occupation.

You were born in Ireland?

Uh-uh. No. I was born on a ship.

They wanted the first land
I'd see to be a free one.

Then we came ashore
at Massachusetts.

And there was a sign in every
window saying, "No Irish need apply."

So we headed west.

How did you get with the Paiute?

And what's this thing about a
prophecy or whatever it was?

I've been talking too much.
You're good company, Hoss.

I'll just take these
down and clean them.

Here, here.

No...

Hey, you got a
fever. Come on, Erin.

- It's all right.
- You'll have to get some rest. Come on.

- It's really all right, Hoss.
- I just hope it's not too late, Erin.

I'll fix this bed down for
you. I'll get it. I'll get it.

- Just take it easy. Relax.
- Thank you.

I'll be fine. I
really will be fine.

- All right?
- Yes. Listen...

Let me get you some cover.

You're gonna have to
keep that night air off.

There, that oughta
keep the chill off.

I promise you, if it is a fever,
it'll be gone by the morning.

I hope so.

Thank you, Hoss.

You get some rest.

Erin.

Erin. It's me, Hoss.

I know you feel bad, but if I
helped you, could you stand?

The snow.

I left them in the snow.

The prophet's vision.

Victory. Glory.

Did he see this too?

There's no sense. No humanity.

Red man, white man.

Red blood.

White snow.

Erin.

Erin.

You're gonna be all right, you
hear? You're gonna be all right.

I'll get you to a doctor.

Another deer butchered.

- Boy, am I glad to see you, Pa.
- Who's she?

- Her name's Erin O'Donnell.
- What is she?

Some kind of white Indian?

- What happened to her?
- She got bucked off of her horse.

She's got a infected shoulder.
It's bad. She's running a high fever.

You figure she needs a
doctor or a medicine man?

Oh, shut up.

Give me a hand. Gotta
get her to a doctor.

- How is she?
- I'm sure she's felt better.

Is she asleep?

Have you ever tried to sleep
through having a shoulder cauterized?

She survived that. Now
she's got to beat the fever.

What do you think, Doc?

We'll know by morning,
one way or the other.

I'll send my wife out
to stay with her tonight.

- Someone should be with her.
- I'll go on up there right now.

If she gets through this,
she'll be laid up for a while.

Hello, friend.

Hello yourself.

I've caused you a
great deal of trouble.

Oh, there ain't nothing to be
sorry about it. Don't be silly.

The main thing is you get some
rest and get to feeling better.

I'd forgotten how good
linen feels next to your skin.

Hoss, I wonder if you'd
open the window just a little.

Erin, it's the fever that's
making you feel uncomfortable.

Don't think you need a draft.

It's not the fever, it's
just being closed in.

The fact is, I just don't
like being closed in.

Well, I'm afraid you're gonna
have to put up with it this time.

Hoss, if you
don't do it, I will.

Hey, wait a minute, settle
down. I'll open the window.

If that'll settle it.

I must say, you've got a
mind of your own, haven't you?

Hoss Cartwright,

what an uncommon man you are.

How have you managed to
survive in this savage world?

Ah!

- How are you feeling?
- Fine.

I brought you a little
something. Go ahead, open it.

- Do you like it?
- Like it?

I'd forgotten how it
feels to wear a dress.

If you'll excuse me,
I'll go and change.

I hope I remember
how to put this on!

Oh, come in, Mrs. Murray.

- Afternoon, Ben.
- Afternoon.

- Hoss.
- How are you? Clint.

Hoss.

I'd like you both to meet
my niece, Marybeth Johnson.

- Hi, Mary.
- I'm from Louisville, Kentucky.

Yeah, Kentucky.

Marybeth's gonna be
visiting us for a month or so.

Well, isn't that nice for
you? Sit down, ladies.

Thank you, Ben.
Come on, Marybeth.

Either of you ladies
like some coffee?

- Why, that'd be real nice, Hoss.
- Ben, I...

- Isn't Joseph here?
- No, no, he's with the round-up.

Oh, I'd so hoped Marybeth
could meet both your sons.

Ben...

Auntie says your other
son's name is Little Joe.

Why, I think
that's just darling.

Yeah, well, you'll
meet him sometime.

Right now I got to talk over
some business with Ben.

- Nothing wrong with the round-up is there?
- No, no, it's coming along fine,

and if we want it
to stay that way,

we got to decide what we're
gonna do about those Paiutes.

The Paiutes are
nowhere near here.

Besides that, they're just
after some wild horses, anyhow.

They'll come back.

They've had a taste of good beef
and they'll come back for more.

Unless we let them know
that they're not wanted.

Clint, you're making a
mountain out of a molehill.

We haven't had any Indian
trouble here for a long time.

That's what my brother thought.

Until he and his family were
wiped out at Brinker's Ford.

Oh, Erin.

Miss O'Donnell, this
is Mr. and Mrs. Murray

and their niece, Miss Johnson.

- How do?
- It's a pleasure, I'm sure.

How do you do?

I think we better
talk privately.

All right.

Come on, have a seat.

Well, that's a nice little dress.
Did you make it yourself, my dear?

No, I...

Never mind. Few little alterations
here and there and it'll do nicely.

Well, I'm afraid I
don't know how to sew.

You should be grateful
to the Cartwrights

for giving you a chance
to return to civilization.

Well, I am very grateful
to the Cartwrights.

But I came here from as old
a civilization as your own...

and an honorable one.

I suppose those shoes are...

comfortable.

Oh, yes, very. Very.

Is it true y'all have to chew the
leather soft to make 'em comfy?

Sometimes.

As it happens, these
were a gift from my uncle.

Your uncle?

Yes. Bull Buffalo. He
was a Sioux medicine man.

Oh!

It must be very difficult for a
white girl to... protect herself

among people who buy
and sell women like animals.

- Mrs. Murray...
- No, it's not hard.

When young men brought strings
of war ponies as a bride price...

my father had only to
turn them down politely.

My father never had
to depend for an income

on how many horses
he could trade for me.

How fortunate for your father.

- Come along, Marybeth.
- Yes, ma'am.

- Good day.
- Goodbye, ma'am.

Clinton, I would
like to go home.

Oh, Hoss, I'm sorry.

Yeah, so am I. For her!

I saw the way
Hoss looked at her.

She's got him wrapped
right around her little finger.

She wouldn't mind marrying one
of the Cartwrights, that's for a fact.

You probably don't mind
having a bunch of Indians

hanging around your place, but
it sure makes it hard on my family.

Well, I'm real
sorry, Mr. Murray.

But if Hoss wants it that way,
that's exactly the way it's gonna be.

Well, I'm glad you can laugh.

- You weren't upset by them?
- Oh, no!

Pa, she can take care of
herself, don't you worry about that.

"Darlin' people," my father
would have called the Murrays.

They're the kind that would have
enjoyed the Sandy Wash Massacre.

- Yeah.
- Indian women and children shot.

Bodies left in the snow.

What a needless
tragedy that was.

I turned and left the
Dakotas. I ran like a thief.

I'd best go up and rest.

- You must be tired.
- Yeah. We'll call you for dinner.

Oh, thanks again for the dress.

Oh, yeah. Well, I'm sorry
I forgot about the shoes.

I like these shoes!

What did Murray want
that was so secret?

Oh, you know Murray.

- Yeah. Sees Paiutes under every rock.
- No. No.

He just saw the whole Paiute nation
riding over the hill in full war paint.

Baloney! It was Bear Hunter
and a couple of other braves.

I know. I know. But he thinks she's
going to bring a whole lot more around.

Erin was raised with the
Sioux, wintered with the Paiutes,

so it's understandable that a
few of them may come around

to say hello or something, but Murray
can't really believe that they're gonna

- put together a war party, can he?
- Oh, yes, yes.

He believes that and he thinks
that they're gonna steal all our beef

and he just can't forget what
happened at Brinker's Ford

when he lost part of his family.
But that's only half my concern.

The other half is Erin.

Oh! She's all right, Pa.

But... for whatever reason,
she ran away from the Dakotas,

she left the Paiutes,

and now the first time she
meets anybody outside our family,

she runs into
hatred and prejudice.

You think she might try
to run away again, huh?

Well, once you start running,
it gets easier every time.

I'll tell you this...

If she tries, I'll do everything
I can to keep her from it.

I'm not surprised.

Hoss, don't you be surprised
if you wind up being hurt.

Pa, I know you're
concerned, but you needn't be.

I know how I feel and
I know what I want.

Then what's troubling you?

Well, it's not what Murray and
them like him think of her, but...

it's what she thinks
of us that concerns me.

Hey, listen, Erin, I've
whipped a lot of horseflesh,

but that little pony of yours is one
of the prettiest things I ever saw.

That is the best
horse that I ever stole.

- Stole?
- Well, I stole his mother

when she was in foal with
him from a Crows' camp.

That's when the Sioux gave me
the crow feathers that you saw,

as a sign that I had medicine.

Speaking of medicine,

you never did tell me about that
prophecy. What was that all about?

The Paiute prophet said
that I was the wolf's child...

born to fight and
die for the Indians.

Do you believe that?

When I was with
the Sioux, I did.

But now I'm not so sure.

What are you sure of?

I'm sure of one thing.

I'm tired of being a curiosity.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I'm sure you do.

When I look at you...

I see a man with wisdom,

of great strength,

who prefers to be...

gentle.

If you concentrate on moving
straight ahead instead of up and down,

you'll get where
you want to go faster.

Oh, that's funny.
That's very funny.

That may not be the meanest
jughead I've ever seen, but he'll do.

Maybe you haven't
appealed to his better nature.

Oh, is that what you did?
Just before he threw you?

You made your point.

But it did give me time
to consider my mistake.

I think I got his number now.

Oh, would you mind letting
me in on it before he kills me?

Well, you might be
able to talk me into it.

My father got along
with the Sioux very well.

Probably because he
never tried to change them.

Hmm. Well, what did you folks do when
the Sioux were moved to the reservation?

Well, my father had died by then.
And I... I started horse-hunting.

Mmm.

There's something
you've got a right to know.

I was arrested by the Army
after the Brinker's Fort raid.

They put you in jail?

Oh, no.

Into a hospital storeroom...

manacled to a cot.

No windows.

No light.

No air.

On what charge?

I never did know exactly.

I never saw a courtroom
or a jury or a judge.

Or the officer who ordered it.

I think it had something
to do with the prophecy.

- Well, they had no legal right...
- I was in no position

to argue the point,
Mr. Cartwright.

Excuse me, please.

I'm going to look in on Jughead.

It ain't hard to figure out why she
don't like being cooped up, is it?

She hardly touched her dinner.

Yeah. I reckon she can't get her
mind off the little hungry young 'uns

- in the Paiute camp.
- Yeah.

Although it's spring. There
should be plenty of game for food.

Oh, yeah, small game. But that ain't enough
to feed a tribe. Not on just rabbits.

Well, if we're that short
of food in the mountains,

- we may be in for some serious trouble.
- Well, we're that short.

They got the cattle that
they'll get from the horse trade,

but that ain't enough either.

I wish we could feed 'em all.

Yeah.

Well, I think I'll go out and see how
she's doing with that gray jughead.

The gray that she
traded you for the heifer?

- Yeah.
- Better stay away from him.

Candy says he'll
chew your arm off.

I'll go out and see
if she's all right.

You figuring on
taking a little night ride?

No, I'm just getting acquainted.

I've been working with
him a little every day.

Is music a part of your
system of getting acquainted?

- I mean, you were whistling.
- Oh, I guess it is.

Sort of a catchy
little tune. Is it... Irish?

Aye. When I was a child,

we'd sit by our
fire in the evenings

and my father used to
sing all the old songs.

And the rolling hills of Ireland
would spring up before my eyes.

That's, uh... downright poetic.

You should've heard my father.

He was a teacher
and a proper poet.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's funny. I...

I've always had a real
tough time with words. It's...

As a matter of fact, I'm having
a heck of a time right now.

- There's something I need to tell you.
- Hoss...

- What I'd like to say is...
- Hoss.

Hoss, don't be confused
by a pretty spring day.

Oh, I... I ain't confused,
and I hope you're not.

Even in a dress, I
don't fit in your world.

Erin,

let me tell you something.

You ain't exactly the best judge
in the world of how a man feels,

and particularly this one.

I think you're as pretty
as a picture in that dress.

And you would fit
in my world just fine.

I don't know, Hoss.

I just... don't know.

Maybe... Maybe I'm like
Night Wind. I've always run free.

He's never even been in a
stall before, nor on a picket line.

Erin...

I mean, not even at night. All I'd ever
have to do was waken up and he'd be there.

- Erin...
- Even when it was so dark

I could hardly see him. I think
that's why I called him Night Wind.

Erin, please.

There's something I gotta tell
you and you gotta listen to me.

I wanna protect you.

And I wanna look after
you and I wanna make sure

that nothing ever happens to you
again like happened up in the Dakotas.

I wanna... I wanna be
near you and with you.

Oh, Hoss.

Are you sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Hoss, I was looking for your pa, but
as long as you're here, I'll talk to you.

And no apology for interrupting.

What do you want, Mr. Murray?

I just saw a stinking Paiute skulking
around the round-up camp, Hoss.

I'm not gonna put up with
that kind of talk, Mr. Murray.

I invited that Indian here. We're gonna
trade him some beef for some horses.

You're a fool, Hoss!

My best advice, I think,
to you, is to go on home.

Well, maybe...

Maybe this'll interest you.

Wired a friend of mine in
the cavalry up the Dakotas

about this O'Donnell woman.

Man, she's... she's an
insurrectionist. She's a traitor.

She's worse than a squaw!

Erin.

Hoss, stop it!

The lady's gonna
be my wife, Murray.

And you best keep that
in mind from here on out.

Take me a couple of days to
cut my stock out of the herd.

Just make sure that he keeps his
pet Indians away from camp until then.

Go on, get out of here.

Well... I guess every father
wonders who his son is gonna marry,

but you... you sure found
an interesting way to tell me.

Yeah. Reckon I did at that.

Hey... you still got some of
that good French champagne?

- I think a celebration's in order, huh?
- Yeah, sure. Sure is.

Don't worry about Murray.
He's just an unpleasant man.

Unpleasant?

That's a mild word for it.

What makes him hate me?

Well, he's... irrational.

It's... It's become
a disease with him.

Are you afraid of him, Erin?

Yes. I guess I am.

Well, you don't have
to be from now on out.

The world is full of Murrays.

All my life, each time I've
met them, each place...

I've been scared of all of them.

Well, that was before.

Yeah. Come on, let's
get that champagne.

If you don't mind, I'll
be along in just a minute.

Anything you say.

It's all right.

You can come in now.

I know you're there.

They did not know.

One more reason why
you should leave them.

You are not like they are.

My father was once.

I can learn.

To live within walls...
behind locked doors...

where you cannot feel and
smell the change of the wind?

You would wither, and
choke on bitterness.

I am not an Indian.

You are more Indian
than you are white.

The men who were
just here, they know that.

And they hate you for it.

He wants to kill you
for helping the Paiute.

He would have to
kill my husband first.

You have no husband.

You must have heard what
Hoss Cartwright said to his father.

I heard.

But I did not hear you.

Then hear me now.

He is to be my husband.

Do not forget the prophecy.

Your jughead, sir.

How did you do that?

Well, the secret is that
when you talk to him,

you gotta know what to say.

Hey, how's the shoulder?
You ready to go for that ride?

- Ride?
- Yes, ride.

After two weeks
indoors, I'm raring to go.

Well, good. Let's go. Come on!

Well... we'll deliver
the cattle tomorrow.

There's a big box canyon
back up north of here.

I'll put them in there so they
won't get mixed up with your horses.

She will be your... your woman?

Yeah... my wife.

It is hard to think she
will leave my people.

Well, she won't ever
be any farther away

than she has been the
last couple of weeks.

Very far away. A
strange land to her.

She does not belong there.

She can belong there.

No. Your people hate her.

We believe she has
been touched by the spirits.

She told me all
about the prophecy,

but maybe if she's married to
a white man, it won't come true.

It will find her.

Until then... I wonder
if she would be happier

with those who dishonor her,
or with those who love her?

I love her, Bear Hunter.

Be a good time to get the cattle
together while that herd's being moved.

Mr. Cartwright!

We got big trouble. It's Murray.

He told his crew he was
gonna take some picked men,

to go get Paiutes off his...

He knows where that camp
is, Pa. I better get out there.

Candy, you and I will ride out to
Murray's place. If he's not there,

- we'll meet you at the camp.
- Right.

- I'll get my things.
- I'll get your horse.

Erin... maybe you'd
better stay here.

The Paiute wouldn't be
there, Hoss, if it weren't for me.

- How many men up there?
- I count four.

Four men, four rifles,
and bullets to waste.

Until you came, we
were three. Only two rifles.

Now we are five and
we have four rifles.

We'll have two more pretty
soon, with Pa and Candy.

If they are not here soon...

they may find only bodies.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

If they got one man
up on that high ridge

there, they'd have
us right in their sights.

They will get one there.

On the other hand, if
one of us got up there,

we'd have them in the
same position, wouldn't we?

- I'm gonna try for that ridge.
- Hoss! Hoss!

Hoss, they'll kill you.

That's what they're trying
to do now. You stay here.

Hoss!

You care for him.

Yes. I care for
him, Bear Hunter.

- I could have ridden for help.
- He would not let you do that.

I think he fears the prophecy.

I think you also fear it.

That's why you left the Sioux
and the Paiute, because of it.

No. I do not fear it. That prophecy
was an old man's muttering!

It has no more
meaning than the wind.

I'm going to divert their fire.

Erin, go back!

Hold it!

Drop those guns!

Ain't no Paiute squaw
gonna tell me what to do.

Murray, drop it!

He wants my weapons...
to be buried with me.

Well, he... he's gonna
have to wait a long time,

cause you're gonna
be all right, you hear?

Don't waste precious time.

I'm gonna take you
back home, you hear?

I can't... I can't go
back there without you.

I can't go back alone.

Oh, no, Hoss...

we will never be alone.

Not either of us.

I was afraid she was
gonna run off and leave me.

And now I wish to God she had.