Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 10, Episode 24 - The Deserter - full transcript

The following program is brought
to you in living color on NBC.

Hey!

Wait a minute. Come back
here! I'm not gonna hurt you.

You can drop the ordnance, boy.

Nanata.

- Put both hands on top of your head.
- You're making a mistake, Mister.

Don't cost near as
much as you making one.

Now get down off of that horse.
Move inside, real gentle-like.

I'll decide who's
making the mistakes.

Ah, just what the
doctor ordered.

You need more than food,
Samuel. You have the look of fever.



I'm all right. Now,
don't you worry.

Hey, boy, you hungry?

Uh...

No. No. No. Thanks.

You don't know what you're
missing. Nanata here's one fine cook.

If she's half as good as she is
with this rawhide, I believe you.

I suppose I could've told
her not to wet that rawhide.

That's a Shoshone for you. A
thing worth doing is worth doing right.

Look, you gotta be hungry.

Give me your word you won't
try nothing while we're eating,

I'll have her free your hands
so you can try some of this stew.

And when I'm finished?

I'll be finished first.

You get any ideas about
dessert... that's up to you.



You're sure, Samuel?

It's all right, Nanata.

Ah!

Thanks.

Mmm!

You're right, it is good.

After two days of chasing
strays, I can appreciate it.

- Then you work here, this place?
- Yeah.

You're not one who
hunts for the bounty?

Nanata!

We'll need more wood.

- She speaks good English.
- Yeah. Sometimes just a little too much.

She didn't say
anything I couldn't read.

First off, you're hiding
in a Cartwright line shack.

Second, that's a McClellan saddle
sitting on that barrel out there.

Generally only one kind
steals cavalry horseflesh...

and then rides it so
hard it folds under him.

If that's true, boy, you
know what comes next.

Yeah, maybe.

You're running, all right. And that
may be an Army bullet in your shoulder.

Non-coms don't
usually go over the hill.

What did you say, boy?

Your boots.

They're not standard issue, and
yet they're not expensive enough

to be an officer's. I'd say sergeant,
not less than 12 years in grade.

Maybe sergeant-major.

The only thing I can't figure
out is... is what outfit you're with.

Henry repeaters haven't been
issued west of Fort Kearny.

Just how far from the
flagpole was you born, boy?

I'd say just a little bit farther
than your desk, Sarge.

But not too far to know if you're
running, you're gonna need help.

With no supplies and no
horses. I can get 'em for you.

Now, let me get this straight.
You volunteering to help me?

Mm-hm. You're gonna
have to trust somebody.

And that wound is not gonna give
you too much time to pick and choose.

Tell him, Nanata.

He speaks the truth. The look
of fever is strong. By tonight...

By tonight, I'll be back with
medicine and all the help you need.

No. I got all the help
I need right here.

Please, Samuel,
if he brings no one.

No. I'm not giving up. Not yet.

- What do you think you're doing?
- Let's say I'm trying to give you a chance

to prove one of us is right.

You're playing a
fool's game, boy.

I'll be back by nightfall. I
give you my word I'll be alone.

Iodine... iodine...

Yeah, here it is. Knew we had it
somewhere. Not much left, though.

Oh, that's enough. Just a couple of
calves got caught in the north fence.

Not enough to
trouble a vet, though.

If the Lord gives them
doggies more brains,

there'd be a lot less
trouble for everyone.

Yeah.

- Hello, Ed. Candy.
- Hello, Sheriff.

Candy, are you headed
back out to Ben's place?

Not before morning. I've
gotta chase some strays.

That's soon enough to
save me a ride out there.

Wire came through from
Baker's Station. Seems a deserter

busted out of their stockade.
Figure he headed this way.

Oh, yeah? We'll keep
an eye out for him.

Good. There'll be a cavalry patrol
through. Might want some help.

Since Ben's got the most men, I
thought he might help out with a couple.

- I'll tell him.
- All right. Shouldn't take too long.

Man alone in this kind of
country has got all the chance

of a three-legged horse.

Yeah.

Help you, Captain?

- Ben Cartwright?
- Yes, sir.

Captain Arnholt
from Baker's Station.

I'm afraid I'll be putting
you to a little trouble

- the next few days, Mr. Cartwright.
- How's that, sir?

I never like to bivouac my men in a
town. Sheriff suggested your place.

Of course we'll pay for any
food or staples that we require.

You're welcome to
anything you need, Captain.

What brings you to
this part of the country?

We're after a deserter,
Mr. Cartwright.

Sheriff said he told your
man. Candy, I believe he said.

I haven't heard from
Candy in three days.

Doesn't matter. All we need from you
is some food, grain, base of operations.

That's quite a search you're
mounting for just one man.

A very dangerous
man, Mr. Cartwright.

- A coward, a thief, a deserter.
- A murderer?

Yes. He killed Lieutenant
Jamison, one of my best men.

We found him shot in the
back the night Bellis escaped.

I mean to see that
he pays for that.

Whoa.

Does he feel any better?

I heard what you said. And I'm plenty
good enough to work this weapon,

in case you get any ideas.

Be better off to...

start on this if you want me to
take that bullet out of your shoulder.

Wait a minute, boy. You think
I'm gonna let you put a knife to me?

You must trust him, Samuel.
He's brought us a horse.

So you can either ride him out
of here or go out tied across him.

It's your choice.

Boil some water.

All right, get a move
on. Let's put it in leather.

You don't get any prizes
for dragging your feet.

- Corporal Henderson?
- Yes, sir. Men are ready to move, sir.

Good. Mount up.

Now, you're sure you don't want
any of my boys to go along with you?

It can be rough country if
you're not familiar with it.

My men will manage all right.
It's what they're trained for.

Well, just thought it
might save you some time.

Sergeant Bellis' crime
is against the Army.

It's our responsibility
to apprehend him.

Good day.

Forward!

Fella like that really makes you want
to run out and join the Army, doesn't he?

Well, we still have a ranch
to run. I suggest you run it.

Yes, sir!

- Are you still here?
- Who'd you expect, the Sheriff?

Yeah, something like that.

That'd be the
whiskey. Here, try this.

How is she?

When your fever broke, I
told her to get some rest.

- She's a good woman.
- Nanata's my wife.

Well, then, you owe it to
her to tell me what's going on.

Let's just leave it
the way it is, boy.

No. Samuel, no.

You cannot leave
it the way it is.

This one has saved your life.

He's brought a horse, a chance
for us. You owe him the truth.

If you do not speak, I will.

There's no shame
in speaking the truth.

All right. All right.

But you know one thing. You
sign on, it's for the duration.

This outfit can't
afford no short-timer.

Cowardice in the face of the enemy?
That's... not a very pretty charge.

We lost seven men at Claymore
Wells. Someone had to pay.

And I had refused
to obey an order.

But you were right. A small patrol
of men with single-shot weapons

don't stand a
chance against these.

Only four of us made
it back to the fort.

Under the circumstances,
Lieutenant Jamison was willing to

reconsider the insubordination,
but the captain wasn't.

Only an insane man would believe
the Indians was equipped with Henrys.

So, Captain Arnholt decided
it wasn't superior firepower

that affected my
judgment... but cowardice.

The Lieutenant, he
tried to help Samuel.

It was he who opened
the stockade that night.

- Jamison helped him escape?
- And don't ask me to explain it.

He had the notion that together
we could prove what had happened.

So you ran from a court martial.

These stripes belong to me. I
earned them. I never shamed 'em.

Lieutenant Jamison
said we could save them.

- It was the only chance I had.
- Well, where is he?

The Lieutenant is dead.

They'll probably lay
that on my doorstep too.

The same rifle that hit me
hit him two or three times

- when we was running from the stockade.
- Where did you get these?

Lieutenant Jamison
left them with Nanata.

Check it. No markings.
No trademark.

But it's a Henry inside and out.

Did he tell her
where he got them?

No, no chance of that.

But he did leave me a name.

Leatham, in Virginia City.

Leatham. We had a... We
had a gunsmith by that name.

- But he left some time ago.
- But that can't be.

He's got it marked
right here on the map.

Sarge, you don't know
this area very well, do you?

- No, sir.
- Well, that little circle includes

ten sections of the
roughest country in Nevada.

There's absolutely nothing there

except some old
worked-out silver claims.

There's got to be
something there.

Machine shop or a place
where they make these things.

I've got to find that place.

Maybe you don't.

Sarge, there happen to be some
very good people around here.

And one of them
happens to be the Sheriff.

Now, if you think
you can sit a horse...

Look, boy, you ain't
thinking I'm turning myself in?

If you want those stripes
back, it's the only way.

No, it ain't the only way.
You're forgetting one thing.

My trouble ain't with your
Sheriff. It's with the Army.

And they didn't
believe me the last time.

But you've got the
rifles. Isn't that enough?

Lieutenant Jamison
didn't think so.

It is true. We cannot go
back until we have some proof.

- When you get proof, then what?
- The Army is his life.

He must go back.

All right... I'm going with you.

- Just like that, you cut yourself in?
- Well, I got to. You're my prisoner.

I'm your prisoner? Ain't you
forgetting who's holding this gun?

You've got more brass
than a colonel's cuspidor.

Halt!

Corporal, I see you're back in plenty
of time. There's still some daylight left.

No good to carry your mount home.
We'll keep the same pace tomorrow,

- and walk the next day.
- No luck, huh?

No. Where we rode today, a jackrabbit
would have to hunt for company.

- Mr. Cartwright.
- Yes, sir?

I'll need five fresh
remounts in the morning.

- I trust you can provide them.
- Of course.

- Good.
- Captain, may I have a word with you?

Yes, what is it?

Captain, are you satisfied with
everything we've been doing for you?

It's quite all right.

Then will you please tell me why
you act as if I were your enemy?

- Enemy?
- Yes, sir.

That's a strong word.

Well, it's a valid one, just
the same, though, isn't it?

Mr. Cartwright, you have
to remember, I'm a soldier.

You and I see
things differently.

Yes, that's true enough.

It's not only because
you're in uniform and I'm not.

And it's not only me. You
seem to resent all civilians.

Oh, but you forget. It's wealthy,
influential citizens like you

who pay my salary, buy my
clothes, put a roof over my head.

I couldn't resent
you. You support me.

We support the government.
The government supports you, sir.

Yes, it does, doesn't it?

But not quite the same style.

Good day.

Let's head up this way.

All right.

Do you think we ought to
give these horses a rest?

Look, recruit, I know horses.

If it's this shoulder of mine you're
worried about, you can forget it.

It's "recruit" now? Is that a
rank higher or lower than "boy?"

Depends on what
outfit you're in.

Wanna get down, sweetheart?

There's your gun.

Sarge,

this outfit turning out the Henrys,
how big a place do they need?

One large building, or
two or three small ones.

- They'll need a forge, lathes.
- You still got the map?

Samuel!

Good outfit. Makes a
man proud to watch 'em.

It'll be a little tougher
from here on, though.

They're bound to know
we need feed and water.

It's the first thing
they'll cut off.

And sooner or
later, they'll move in

- and find our tracks.
- Yep.

Well, we better get moving.

We sure ain't looking
for mine shacks, either.

What they need is a
building big enough,

with a floor strong enough
to support that machinery.

- Do you have any ideas?
- No.

Wait a minute. Wait a
minute! Wait a minute.

There was a place
like that. It was...

south of Garner Falls.

A man named Coffer there sold machinery
to the mines until they played out.

Recruit... you just might do.

Thanks.

Last I knew, there was a fire
there. We may find other men ahead.

- Let me give you a hand with that.
- Thank you.

OK.

There you go.

Oh, and I guess I could
get you to sign for this.

All right. What do you
have, six bales there?

Yeah. They're
gonna need it tonight.

Captain drives the animals
as hard as he does the men.

- Pretty hard man, huh?
- Yeah, the way he's pushing,

he's gonna have them
shooting at shadows before long.

Course I guess most of the
troopers would just as leave do that

if it comes to firing
on the sergeant.

You mean Bellis? I thought
he was a deserter, a killer?

That's what they say. But
there's plenty of troopers

that'd take a bullet for that
man. Some of them have.

- Well, thank you kindly.
- My pleasure. Take care.

- Where are you off to?
- I just thought I'd go on out

and help Candy with the strays a little
bit. Keep him out of trouble, you know.

Oh, you volunteered
to round up strays?

No, to be honest with
you, I'm volunteering

to get away from Captain Arnholt.
He's not exactly a barrel of laughs.

No, that's a fact. He's
a bitter man, isn't he?

- What's he so bitter about?
- Well, Joe, his Army career

hasn't been exactly spectacular.

Command either comes to
a man or it passes him by,

and it must have passed him
by an awfully long time ago.

If it's all right with you, until he
leaves, I'd like to stay over the hill.

- Yeah, you go ahead.
- Thanks, Pa.

- Take it easy.
- Right.

Captain, there ain't
no sign up ahead.

A man can't cross this country
without leaving his mark.

All right.

Then we'll turn east, work
our way back to the Ponderosa.

But sir, if he'd have moved east,
we should've cut his trail by now.

You heard my orders, Corporal.

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

Well, there it is.

Don't look abandoned to me.

It sure don't.

Good work, recruit.

Let's go get Nanata and
work our way down there.

Yeah, come on.

Nanata!

Nanata!

She's right over here.
Drop the hardware.

I'm sorry, Samuel.

You don't need to be, Nanata. You
just saved your Sam a lot of trouble.

I was just coming
to look for you fellas.

Well, you found us.

Here, take these horses
and get them out of sight.

Come on, inside there.

I told you I didn't come
here to cause no trouble.

You tell that to Leatham.

Mm-hm. Very impressive.

With two good hands,
I can strip, clean

and reassemble a Henry
in three minutes, blindfolded.

And this rifle, you say,
led you to seek us out?

Took it off of a Shoshone.

I figured it'd be my ticket.
You see, ordnance is all I know.

It ain't often a job presents
itself to an unemployed sergeant.

Deserter, you mean.

I don't like it, Mr. Leatham.
They smell like trouble.

Would I bring her if I
was looking for trouble?

Yes, that makes some sense.

What about him?

Stockade cells empty
quick when the doors open.

You don't have to
worry. He's a good man.

All right. You're
right about one thing.

We do need good ordnance men,
but we insist on the strictest security.

Do that and do your job...

and you'll leave here rich men.

We do know regulation. You
don't have to worry about that.

I won't. However, mine is
not the last say in the matter.

Until you're cleared
by my partner...

we can't let you do
anything too important.

Denton.

I'll take your matches, flints,
tobacco, anything that burns.

A precaution, you understand.

What about her?

She goes with me. For
now, she's my hands.

All right. Later, we can find
something in the kitchen for her.

Come on, this way.

All right, hold it.

Inside.

There'll be somebody here in a
minute to show you what to do.

Careful, recruit.
You'll cut your belly.

Don't suppose there's any danger
of you doing the same, is there?

Well, I suppose I could
do as good as that.

You've got to treat wood
tender, like a woman.

Hmm!

Nanata, now, she can probably
turn out enough for both of us.

Well, that's as crooked
as a dog's hind leg.

Well, I didn't intend to make
this my life's work, you know.

Sometimes Samuel is
more loud than helpful.

- Yeah.
- Here...

I'll show you.

- There, you see?
- Yeah.

I got a feeling I'm gonna
have plenty of time to learn.

You got any ideas how we're gonna
get out of here now that we're in?

Just take it easy, recruit.

As long as they're convinced
I'm who I say, we're all right.

First we'll meet their partner.
Then we'll turn in our resignation.

Well, that last resignation
you turned in was mighty close.

Nanata, the recruit
needs convincing.

Swell!

That's what I call
conservation of fire power.

It's tactics that's
important, recruit.

Captain, we just cut across
tracks headed toward Garner Falls.

Looks like two, maybe
three horses. It could be that...

I think my orders said you were
to work north and further east.

Seems your sergeant's insubordination
has left its seed in all of you.

- No, sir.
- I'll give you a chance to prove that.

You may take the patrol,
Corporal. Your orders?

- Sweep north and east, sir.
- Very good, Corporal.

Yes, sir.

Forward. Ho-oh!

- You the one called Candy?
- It's him.

Friend of yours showed up
outside looking for you. Bring him in.

Who is he? I never seen the
likes of him before, did you?

Now, if you think we led
him here, you're dead wrong.

Somehow I just knew I was
gonna get a chance at you.

Be sure nobody
goes in... or out.

Where did you get this?

Your "ordnance expert"
had it in his sleeve.

- He was lying?
- Well, I'll let you figure that out.

I say we should
get rid of them now.

You know that I can't take
responsibility for murder.

Well, then you better get the man
who can. All our necks ride on this.

What are you saying, this is
the man the Army's looking for?

Right. Now, I know
it's hard to believe,

but Sergeant Bellis and
I are working together.

Hard to believe is putting it mildly.
Now, according to those charges,

he's done everything but burn down
the White House, including murder.

- Those charges were false.
- That's the truth, Joe.

Thank you.

All right.

I'll take your word for it.

After stumbling into this
place, I believe almost anything.

You got any bright ideas on
how we're gonna get out of here?

We did.

Captain Arnholt must be
moving his troops this way

if our trail was clear
enough for you to find us.

Yeah, from what I could see of Arnholt's
tracks, he's way, way east of here.

I'm sorry, recruit.

I'd give a furlough in New
Orleans to have that little gun back.

You still have those
two bullets, don't you?

Yeah.

Let me have them.

Sergeant, what does the manual say
when your first plan of strategy fails?

What are you driving at?

Improvise, Sergeant. Improvise.

Improvise?

You're sure this is gonna work?

If it don't, I'll give
you your money back.

Thanks a lot. Things would be better
if it wasn't for those Henrys out there.

These rifles are
Nanata's responsibility.

- How near ready are you?
- Just about there, Sarge.

- What is it?
- Somebody sure is carrying the mail.

We've been waiting for
you. We've got trouble.

You fret too much, Leatham. Trouble
anticipated is trouble solved. Come on.

Somebody's coming this way.

Captain.

Sir, you can't imagine
how glad I am to see you.

Going by your tracks, I never...

Sorry, sir. They got you too?

Take these people
outside and shoot them.

- I don't understand.
- I do.

The captain's the man
they've been waiting for.

The missing partner.

Take them outside,
let's get this over with.

- You gonna kill all of them?
- Yes.

All but Bellis will be the
innocent victims of a deserter.

A deserter that I was forced to
kill when he would not surrender.

All right, let's go.

Got them?

- Now!
- Let's go!

Hey!

What do you make
of that, Trooper?

Corporal, that could be
gunfire. But that's west.

We've already come
farther than the captain said.

I don't hear you,
Trooper. Forward, ho-oh!

Give me that gun.

Get out of the way!

It worked!

You can stay. I'm
getting out of here.

No!

Detail, halt!

Henderson, take Captain
Arnholt into custody.

- What?
- Bellis!

You're a deserter and a traitor. Do
you think these men'll listen to you?

Corporal, arrest that man.

Wait a minute, Henderson. Come
on, I want to show you something.

- Give me the gun.
- Here.

Here, take a look at this.

The same gun that cut down
our men at Claymore Wells.

You can find some more of
them just like it in that building.

- Henderson, I gave you an order!
- And I'm giving you one, Captain.

Lay down your gun and come
peaceably back to the post.

Let them decide who's guilty.

Henderson, carry
out your orders!

Bellis, can you prove
what you just said?

I've got enough
witnesses to hang him.

All right, Captain, lay down
your gun, like the sergeant said.

This is mutiny! You'll either
hang or spend the rest of your life

- at hard labor!
- I'll take that chance, Captain.

Troopers, disarm the captain.

We found some more of them around
here helping him. Better get them too.

You betcha, Sarge!

Sarge, you have the Judge Advocate
contact us here at the Ponderosa.

And we'll be there to testify
whenever you need us.

That I will do.
Thank you, Trooper.

Oh, it's "Trooper" now, huh?

Two of the best I
ever had beside me.

Well, I think the least he can
do is give us a little raise in rank.

After all, he's the one
that's gonna get the medal.

You boys don't know my colonel.

For every regulation I've broke,

I'll bend and pick, walk
and tote, run and sweat.

- I thought you loved the Army.
- Well, I do, but...

it's kinda like a good woman.
You can love them an awful lot...

but it ain't all honeymoon.

See you, Troopers.

- Take care.
- Good luck, Sarge.

Well, I think we
better report too.

Report? To who?

To General Cartwright.

I'm sure he'll have a little running
and sweating for us to do too.

Yeah, I'll bet he does. Ha!