Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 12, Episode 1 - The Night Virginia City Died - full transcript

Hey, Hoss?

Hoss, come on, we're ready.

In here, Joe.

Hey, come on, let's go, will ya?
Pa's waiting.

Those cattlemen's meetings
start on time.

What's going on?

It's not Saturday,
what are you washing your feet for?

It ain't my idea.

Mr. Hoss sprain ankle.

Oh, yeah, how'd you do that?

He slip on pencil.



- A what?
- Pencil!

I stepped on that,
it rolled under my foot.

Eh, don't worry about it,
it's only writer's cramp.

Yeah, I'm going to that dang meeting.

No meeting, you keep foot in hot water!

Oh, there ain't nothing wrong with it.

This dang pot jockey
just wants to play doctor.

- There's nothing wrong, let's-
- Ahh!

Ow!

You keep foot in hot water.

Bandage, plenty rest.

Pretty quick, ankle all right.

It is a little swollen, ain't it?

Go, you go to meeting.



Okay.

You stay here, keep foot in hot water.

Take care of yourself,
I'll tell all the guys in town

about your horrible accident.

Yeah, and give 'em my regards.

Come on, Joe!

All right, all right!

Come on, get the hose!

Clear out of there!

What are you doing here?

Now you get back, you'll get hurt.

Move.

Pump, pump, pump,

Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump...

Pump, pump...

Pump, pump, pump, pump...

Make way up front there.

Poor old Sandy.

He must've been in that hotel

seeing if he could rescue any strays
and got trapped himself.

Three fires in two months.

Too many to be accidental.

I agree with you, Mr. Tucker.

There's a barn burner lose, all right.
I know the signs.

When I was sheriff of Van Buren
County, I caught three of 'em.

I heard about that, Wall.

It's better than
our law officers can do.

Clem, any word on Sandy?

Nope, not yet.

The doc said he'd come over
as soon as he could.

What about Mrs. Lund?

Oh, she turned up all right.

Angry but safe.

Three fires in two months.

Somebody's setting 'em.

Mr. Tucker, as dry as this town is,

any chimney spark could start a fire,
and you know that.

$100,000 worth of damage and
you're talking about chimney sparks?

Well, it's a fact, isn't it?

No, it isn't.

Sheriff!

I was poking around
near where the fire started.

I found this.

Coal oil.

I knew it. It was arson.

There's more bad news.
I met the doc on the way over here.

Sandy Anderson's dead.

Now it's arson and murder.

Well, Sheriff?

- I'll investigate.
- Investigate?

We want this man caught,
tried and jailed.

Every woman in town
is scared to death.

My wife's afraid to go to bed.

Afraid the house will burn.

Three fires, no arrests?

Maybe you better step down

and let a man
who can handle the job take over.

Mr. Wall is right.

Another fire in Virginia City,

we'll get ourselves
a new sheriff and a new deputy.

Excuse me.

It wasn't your fault.

You don't know what it's like
being responsible for a man's death.

But you're not responsible.

I told a lot of people that
Aunt Roberta was in the hotel.

Sandy Anderson might've
been one of those persons.

Listen to me, Janie.

We know Sandy Anderson
was in the hotel

and on the second floor
before the fire was started.

You see... you had nothing to do
with Mr. Anderson's death.

Thank you.

Well... it's been a long night.

You two must be very tired.

I guess everybody in town is tired,
Mrs. Lund.

You two are homeless, though.

I think you better come out
with us to the Ponderosa-

No, thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

Wade Tucker has been
kind enough to lend me his home.

Oh, well, good.

We lost our clothes,
but we have a place to stay.

A very nice place.

Well, it's closer to the stores
than the Ponderosa.

Yeah.

My niece and your deputy
make a handsome couple, Sheriff.

I've noticed.

She wasn't very happy
about coming to Virginia City,

but all that's changed now.

Janie, we better be going now.
We have to be up early.

We have a lot of shopping to do.

Mrs. Lund...

was that why you went
back into the hotel,

to try to save your clothes?

No, it wasn't, Sheriff.

It was to save my jewel box.

It was in the bureau drawer.

Good night, gentlemen.

Mrs. Lund, since you're carrying that,

it might be wise
if I walked you ladies home.

That's a good idea,
if the ladies don't mind.

We'd be delighted.

Oh, Sheriff...

Wade Tucker is very angry with you.

He wants me fired.

He has powerful friends.

He's a stubborn man.

But I'll do what I can
to change his mind.

I'll appreciate that.

Good night.

Wade Tucker isn't
wasting any time, is he?

Oh, you've got a lot of friends, Roy.

Yeah, but right now
they're mostly scared

and afraid their houses
are gonna burn down.

Well, Roberta's on your side.

She's got
a lot of powerful friends, too.

Yeah.

She's got more money
than she can count.

How about a cup of coffee?

Yeah, that'd go real good.

Did you hear what she said
about that jewel case?

Yeah.

$2-300,000 worth of jewels
in a little-bitty box...

and she leaves it
in a bureau drawer in the hotel.

Here.

Ah, thank you.

She comes back from Europe,
she's gonna build a new house,

spend a fortune on it.

One more fire and more than likely
she'll change her mind.

That'll make ever merchant in town
to yell for my neck.

You getting a little spooked, Roy?

You betcha I am.

I've been wearing this badge
for a lot of years now

and I can handle robberies and rustlin'
and a lot of other things,

but... when it comes to a fire bug,
I'm, I'm just in trouble, Ben.

I could use your help.

You know you've got it, Roy.

Thanks, Ben.

I gotta investigate and...

I have no idea where to start.

Hmm...

Yeah, it's kind of hard.

The ashes from the hotel
will probably tell us something.

We'd have to wait 'til daybreak.

What about those two fires
last month?

Anything strange about them?

Well, it was nothing that I noticed.

One of them was a warehouse.

Yeah, Silver City Warehouse.

The building was locked,
cold ashes in the stove.

The place just plain exploded.

By the time
the fire department got there,

it was almost gone.

Barn burner, it had to be.

Yeah, and Sheriff Coffee
did absolutely nothing.

I'd look for a man with a grudge.

That's what pushes burners.
Grudges and hate.

And if he didn't find them, then what?

Deputize citizens to patrol the town
from dark until daylight.

A man turns burner,
he don't quit until he's caught.

Well, then he could be
out there right now,

getting ready
to burn the rest of this town.

Very easy.
There's nobody there to stop him.

Jane?

Jane?

All right, hold it!

Come on, come on, hold it!

What's this all about?

You were too busy
so we did your work for ya.

He's the fire bug.

Fire bug?

All right, Ira, let's hear it.

We found him in the alley
by the burned-out hotel.

There's no law about being there.

Saw us coming and he ran.

That's proof right there.

An honest man wouldn't have
any reason to run.

The three of you charging at him,
a man would be a fool not to.

Now, what were you doing in the alley?

Going home.

He was going to start another fire.

That's the way it is with burners.
It's one fire after another.

You know a lot about burners,
don't ya?

I should, I've caught them.

Roy.

It took us a few questions,
but we found out.

He's a night cook at the Silver Dollar.

- The name's Smith.
- Whiskey Smith.

The best cook in Nevada.

Went to work three hours
before the hotel fire started

and he worked straight through.

Bartender, waitresses, the dishwasher,
they'll all testify to that.

Told ya!

You three gentlemen
owe Mr. Smith an apology.

And if it happens again,
I'll sue the pants off ya!

And I'm still going home!

And if it happens again,
I'll jail all three of you.

It's been a long night, fellas.

- How about a beer, huh?
- Right.

The fellas are so anxious
to find a fire bug,

they'll pin it on anybody.

All that talk of barn burners
brought something to mind, Ben.

We had a barn burner in here
about eight, nine years ago

on the Rockerest ranch.

Yeah, I remember that.
The house almost went up.

There you go.

George Benson fired a hand
by the name of Tim Moss.

Now, Moss was madder than a hatter
and he swore he'd get even.

That same night,
Benson's barn went up in flames.

We never did find Moss,
but... I hear he's back now.

Yeah, he's back,
I saw him just a few days ago.

Where?

He was hunting up
around Old Squaw Creek.

Old Squaw Creek?

Well, his folks
had a homestead up there.

Mm-hmm.

Joe, I'd like to talk to him.

If... you'd ride out
and show Clem where the place is,

I'd appreciate it.

Do it first thing in the morning.

Fire!

Fire!

Here we go again.

Fire!

Fire!

Get over here!

Fire!

Let's move it down here!

Well, that's the second one tonight.

Wait a minute.

Coal oil again.

Lovely, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

We use only imported lace.

- I know.
- The finest silk.

When's the wedding, dear?

We haven't set the date.

I know how difficult it is to make plans
on a time like this.

Most people in this town
are afraid to go to bed

for fear they'll be burned to death.

May I see that?

- This?
- Mm-hmm.

Thank you.

It's a shame and a disgrace.

And something has got
to be done about it.

There's a petition going around now

to get rid of Sheriff Coffee
and his deputy.

Fire the deputy?

Yes, Clem.

You must've seen him on the street.

Yes.

We met in church.

We both sing in the choir.

He's the man I'm going to marry.

Oh, I didn't...
mean anything against Clem.

I was just telling you what I'd heard.

How long does it take you
to make a wedding dress like this?

A week.

I'll let you know.

Thank you.

Sounds like somebody's working.

Moss's cabin is right up ahead.

All right.

Let's leave the horses here,
we'll walk in.

Howdy, Moss.

Well, howdy.

Heard the chopping,
wanted to see what was going on.

You know Clem here, don't ya?

I've seen him around.

When did you get burned out?

Oh, about five weeks ago.

The first night I got back.

Bottom rusted out on my stove.

Middle of the night,
the whole place went up.

Yeah, it's a tough break.
It can happen.

Yeah, cabin stands empty,
everything rusts.

Well, the fire took
just about everything I owned.

I need a new axe,
a couple of other things.

The prices they charge in Virginia City
took just about every dime I had.

Just as well, though.

If I had the price of a room,
I'd have been in that hotel.

Oh, you saw the fire then, huh?

Yeah, I was getting ready to leave
when it broke out.

Made the one I had look like nothing.

I'm gonna have to ask you
to saddle your horse, Moss.

Sheriff Coffee wants to talk to you.

I knew this wasn't no friendly visit.

Bringing the law here.

I thought you were a friend of mine.

I am, Moss.

Just do what the man says, huh?

Well, that's 32 names
in a little less than an hour.

First thing I'm gonna do
is get rid of that deputy.

Well, it won't be long 'til you can.

Mr. Tucker's got this recall running
like a Swiss watch.

There's 16 of us
out with these petitions.

Ben, here's the file
on all the fires we've had

in the last ten years.

Here's one I remember.

West Livery Stable.

It was started by a drunk
who was trying to light a lantern.

He dropped a match into the straw.

He was here
when the hotel fire started.

Joe's at the Ponderosa, Ben.
He asked me to tell ya.

When did you get back, Tim?

Five weeks ago.

That's what he told Joe and me.

I was on my own place,
minding my own business,

when this deputy drags me in here.

What for?

Because we've been looking
for you for a long time.

I got a warrant for your arrest.

Signed by the district attorney.

Arrest?

Why?

Well, suspicion of arson,

a barn burning on the Rockerest ranch.

Barn burning?

The day you left town.

You were fired about noon.

You swore you'd get even.

The barn went up that night.

Not me.

I was past Carson then, heading south.

Well, I didn't even
know about it 'til now.

In any case, I've gotta hold you.

The warrant is still enforced,
so... let me have your valuables.

I'll keep 'em safe for you.

Little Joe, where you been?
How come you come back so late?

Fix me something to eat, will ya?

I cook dinner and wait for you!

You think I cook 24 hour
a day just for you?

Look, I said fix me something to eat!

Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that.

I just had a long night.

Just fix me a sandwich or something.

Oh...

You look beat.

Yeah, I'm tired.

When the doc came out
to look at my ankle,

he told me about the fire.

You can make that plural.

Fires, more than one.

Is that a fact?

You have any idea
who's behind all this?

Well, they got Tim Moss in jail.

I don't think he had
anything to do with it.

Well, why'd Roy arrest him?

Pressure.

He had to arrest somebody.

The whole town's on his back.

Moss was the most-likely candidate

because he was
mixed up in that barn burning

over at Benson's place
a few years ago.

There was a reason for that.

He and Benson had an argument,
Benson fired him.

No reason for him to burn
the hotel in Virginia City

or burn anything else.

Doesn't make sense.

Arresting him and putting him in jail,
that ain't the end of it.

They still gotta let him stand trial.

That's the part that worries me.

I will say
that Moss sure looked surprised.

Yes, he did.

And he admits that he was here
for the warehouse fire,

as well as the hotel fire.

He was near another fire too, Roy.

Where was that?

You know that cabin
out at the Moss homestead?

It burned after he got back.

Certainly piles up, don't it?

Mm-hmm.

But I'm still not 100% sure.

I've got some stuff
to clean up out back.

- Okay if I get it now?
- Go right ahead.

Roy?

There's one fire on this list
that we haven't talked about.

The Ross Hardcastle house.

That was seven years ago.

Poor Ross lost his life in that one.

He was half owner
in the Lucky Lund mine.

He and Lucky weren't
getting along very well.

In fact, they were yelling at each other

when Lucky Lund keeled over
with a heart attack.

Next thing you know,
Ross's house burned.

Yeah, there were some ugly rumors
at the time I remember.

Well, there's bound to be
when there's 3 or $4 million involved.

Which Roberta Lund inherited.

Yeah.

And then she went to Europe.

Then she came back
and the fires started.

Can you tell Mrs. Lund
that Sheriff Coffee

and Ben Cartwright
are here to see her, please?

What do you two want?

We've come to talk to Mrs. Lund.

She's here.

And she will be
until her house is built.

I told you we'd have a new sheriff,
and we will have.

1,200 signatures in one day.

It's your privilege.

Oh, no.

My pleasure.

He's still angry.

But I did tell you he was.

How nice to see you.

You're just the people
I wanted to see today.

Won't you sit down?

I, uh...

I've been thinking about
the man who died in the fire.

Mr. Anderson.

He's a miner I understand.

Out of work quite a bit of the time.

That's right, ma'am.

He died a hero.

His wife and children need help.

That's what I wanted to see you about.

What did you have in mind, Mrs. Lund?

I'd like to give
a big, big party to raise money.

That way, everyone in Virginia City
can contribute,

and I'm sure they'll all want to.

Oh, I'm sure they would.

I'm just wondering if this would be
the right time for it.

Next week?

Well, yeah,
I think right now most everybody

is... pretty worried
about their own homes

going up in flames,

and I don't think
they'd want to go anywhere.

I'm just wondering how many people
would show up at that party.

I hadn't thought of that.

See, as soon as
this whole thing is cleared up,

why, I think
everybody would be very happy to

pitch in and help you make this
the biggest party that ever was.

How very nice of you.

Thank you so much.

Uh...

Mrs. Lund, I, uh...

Mr. Cartwright...

I realize that I haven't asked you
why you came to see me today.

I think I can guess.

I profited by a fire in Virginia City
some years ago.

I hear there's some people
who think I set that fire.

I imagine even my name
is on your list of suspects.

Well, there is just one routine question
that I have to ask you.

Where were you on the night
the hotel fire started?

I was giving a dinner party
at the Nevada Club.

You may be right, Andy,

but I still think
it's his right fore leg.

I'll be right with you, Jane.

Come on up in here.

Whoa.

I hear you caught the fire bug.

Well, I think so.
Sheriff Coffee's not so sure.

Is he mean-looking?

Oh, I guess you could say
he's mean-looking, yeah.

What's gonna happen to him?

Prison for life if he's found guilty.

A man died in the fire.

I feel sorry for him.

You don't mind
if I feel sorry for him, do you?

No.

I don't mind.

Oh, you're a very pretty girl.

I'm a very lucky guy.

I hope you still think so
after I tell you what I did.

Oh?

Aunt Roberta wants
to have an engagement party for us.

- Oh...
- And I told her to go ahead.

All that fuss.

Isn't there someway
we can get out of it?

Women like that kind of fuss, Clem.

Besides, it's only a small party,
day after tomorrow.

Women like it, do they?

All right.

I surrender.

And I went shopping...
for a wedding dress.

I don't mind you shopping,
but we may have to wait.

Because of the petitions?

Why, sure, I may be out of a job.

Clem, I've been thinking about that.

Why wait?

I mean, you can quit your job now

and we can get married
right after the party and go away.

We can go to California
or some place.

I mean, you can find another job,
and I'll find a job.

Go away?

I, I thought you liked it
here in Virginia City.

Not really.

The only thing I've ever liked
about Virginia City is you.

Please, Clem?

I wanna get married
as much as you do, Janie,

or more... but we can't.

Not until this fire bug thing is over.

It's gonna be all right.
You just hang on.

Wait right here for me.
I've gotta see the sheriff a minute.

Get it out of here.

I don't want it.

You gotta eat something.

Why?

Is there a law that says I do?

No, but there's a law that says
I gotta put it there.

Sheriff...

if you was locked in here

and the whole town getting ready
to send you to the iron hotel...

you wouldn't eat either.

That's your choice.

Sheriff, I didn't set any of them fires.

Sheriff!

That's the truth.

I swear it.

Sheriff, you gotta listen to me!

You gotta listen, Sheriff.

Somebody's gotta listen!

Sheriff, you've gotta listen to me!

That been going on very long?

He's been like that
for three weeks now.

He insists he's innocent.

Well, most guilty men do.

The point is that there's been no fires
since Moss was locked up.

Well, Roy, you feel a little more
certain about him then?

Ben, I wasn't
until I heard that George Benson,

that's the man who fired Moss,

was at the hotel
at the time the fire started.

Motive.

Moss still trying to get even.

So that wrapped it up for me.

Well, Roy, I think there's something
you oughta hear.

Dr. Quinn and I were talking
in the Nevada Club

and he told me something that-

Well, Doc, sit down.

Well now, some of this is supposition,

but there is medical evidence
to support a lot of it.

There are people who are mentally ill
who set fires without motive.

They're not looking
for money or revenge,

they just like to see things burn.

You're trying to say
that Moss is not guilty?

No, no, no, no. I'm saying
that the mental illness does exist.

And Moss may have it?

Well, that's possible.

Those who do are moody,
depressed, withdrawn

just before they set a fire.

And happy when they watch the fire,

and fulfilled afterward.

I've seen a lot of these cases.

I paid my way through medical school
by working at an insane asylum.

Well, then you've
really seen these people.

Oh, am I interrupting?

No, no, no, Clem,
I... I've said my piece.

I'm on my way.

Well, thank you, Doctor.

Well, I thought you should know.

Oh, Roy, I'd like to come back tonight
and talk to Moss if I may?

That'll be fine, Doctor.

Thanks for coming.

- Clem.
- Bye, Doc.

Mrs. Lund is having a little party
tonight for Janie and me.

We'd both like to have you,
Joe and Hoss there.

A party? well, I...
Gee, I'm not gonna have enough time

to get to the ranch
and get back and, you know-

She knew you were gonna say that.

She told me to accept no excuses.

You can come on as you are.

I'll pick Joe up
at the hotel and we'll be there.

- Fine.
- All right.

Roy.

- See you later.
- Bye, Ben.

Here's that stuff from Sacramento.

Oh, good.

Congratulations.

To a long and happy life,

and may all your children
have wealthy parents.

Thank you, Joe.

Mmm. Just in time, I'm gonna make
an even longer toast this time.

Of course I'm delighted.

There hasn't been too much sunshine
in Janie's life.

Her mother died when she was born.

Her father could never forgive Janie
for her mother's death.

Where's he now?

Died tragically.

After that, she was
in boarding school for awhile

and passed back and forth
from one relative to another.

Then you came?

She should've been with me years ago.

Well, Clem,
you've already got your girl.

I think I better go find one for myself.

I'll see you two later.

Do we really have to wait, Clem?

Oh, Janie, I've got a job to do.

If I pick up and quit
and just walk away,

I'd have a hard time finding work
as a deputy anywhere else.

A new place.

I just think
it'd be better for both of us.

Clem, I'd like to drink
to this very happy occasion

and wish the both of ya
the best of luck.

Ah, thank you, Roy.

Yeah.

I swore in a new deputy tonight
just to keep his eye on the jail

so that I could make this celebration.

Would you excuse me
for a moment, please?

- Sure.
- Yes.

Hey, that champagne makes
a pretty good drink, don't it?

It's good.

And is everything
going to your satisfaction?

Yes, thanks to you.

Will you excuse me for a moment?

Certainly.

Uh, excuse me, where's Janie?

She was here, she excused herself.

She must be in her room.

And I understand the hardware store

- is gonna change hands.
- Hmm.

Janie?

Something was bothering her.

I guess maybe she thought
her nose was shining.

You know what I think it is, Roy?

I think she's a little nervous
about getting married to Clem here.

East Street!

Come on, feed that hose down here!

Come on, get that hose down!

Come on, Joe!

All right, start pumping!

Ho!

Pump, pump, pump!

We can't save it.

We couldn't
if we had a dozen pumpers.

We better get some water
on those other buildings

or the whole town will go!

Yeah, quick, tell 'em!

Roy...

weren't there two fires
the night the hotel burned?

Yeah.

And two the time before that.

Think there'll be another one?

Anything's possible.

With everybody down here,

someone's got the whole town
to work in.

He's right, we better start looking.

Roy, the side street and the alleys.

I'll take everything west of the jail.

All right, we'll split the rest.

You go down that way.

Stop the pump, boys,
we can't save this one!

We're going up the street!

Janie, what are you doing in here?

- A man. I saw a man.
- A man? Where?

Fire! Down here!

Fire!

Fire down here!

Down here! Fire!

Fire down here!

Clem... you all right?

Get the fire department,
get the team down here fast!

Clem?

Get those barrels!

Let's form a line!

Get some buckets back here!

Get 'em back!

Come on, form a line here!

Get in line!

Come on, pass 'em down!

Give me that empty one!

Come on, keep 'em going!

Pump, pump, pump...

Get some more of these
buckets back here!

Hey, Joe, we're losing it!

We're losing it bad!

Hey, look, Joe!

Hey!

Oh, help! No!

No!

Get those buckets up here!

Pump, pump, pump, pump,

pump, pump, pump, pump, pump...

Help! Oh, help!

Pump, pump, pump, pump,

pump, pump, pump, pump,

pump, pump, pump, pump,

pump, pump, pump...

Oh, Clem. Clem!

What... Clem?

Come to, boy, what happened?

Tell me about it.

In there, I...

I followed her in there.

- Who?
- Where's Janie?

- Janie?
- Yeah.

- In there?
- Janie?

Janie... she's in there.

She's in there, she's there still-

Oh, Clem. Clem, take it easy.

Take it, Clem, take it easy.

Clem, there's nothing you can do.

Your horse is over at the livery stable.

It's one of the few buildings
that didn't burn down.

I hope your deputy's all right.

I, uh...

I saw him with his lady a time or two.

She was mighty pretty.

Well...

things are starting to get
organized out there anyway.

Good.

The army's sending over tents.

They're gonna set up
just at the east grove there,

- just outside of town.
- Mm-hmm.

And they're gonna set up field kitchens

and food and shelter
for anybody who needs it.

Good. Most of Virginia City
burned down.

Just about everybody is gonna need it.

Yeah.

Where's Clem?

Nothing much left out there.

There's nothing left out there.

I loved her, Ben.

Why?

I don't know why.

I guess we'll... never really know.

One thing about a town...

you can always rebuild it.

You can't do that with people.

No.

No, you sure can't.

Clem...

There's gonna be
a new Virginia City out there.

And it'll have a new life.

And those of us who help rebuild it...

will have a new life with it.