Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 12, Episode 15 - A Single Pilgrim - full transcript

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Yee-haw!

Mister!

Look, I swear...
I thought it was a deer.

I've been tracking
that big buck and...

I'm gonna put you on your horse
and I'm gonna get you to Dilsey.

She'll fix you up, all right.

Dilsey!

Dilsey!

Well, I... I mistook him, is all.



I was tracking that big eight-point

and I thought I saw it
there in the brush,

only it was him.

- You done shot him?
- Hush up, gal.

- Is he dead?
- No, he ain't.

At least ways, not yet.

Well, you got yourself a big one.

A big man. Big troubles, too.

Well, I figure Dilsey can fix him up,
make him all right again.

Well, it might be a mistake.

All that saddle
cost a big piece of money.

A man sits in a saddle like that,
he figure you're nothin' but dirt.

Hmm, if Dilsey gets him on his feet
and he knows you shot him,

he'll be coming at us
to even the score.



Ain't seen a finer piece of horseflesh
since we left Virginia.

You just gonna leave him
bleed on his horse forever?

Get him in the house.
I'll fix some wrappings for him.

Okay.

All right.

You best tie off his horse
so it don't run off.

I'll be right back.

- How is he?
- How do I know?

It's mighty pretty.

A rifle like this
most do the hunting for you.

Is he gonna be all right?
I mean, did Dilsey...

If he is all right, you ain't
half tasted your troubles, boy.

This here rifle,
this horse and saddle...

Now look at 'em.

He's a rich man, sure.

You just remember mighty easy, boy,

how it was back home,
us with nothin'

and them that had it,
lording it over us.

You mean, you think
he's one like that?

It's what I'm saying, ain't it?

A man like that,
he ain't gonna ride out

and forget it was you
put those bullets in him.

Now, fetch yourself some rope

so we can rig a corral
back in the woods.

- But, Pa!
- And get yourself a branch

so you can start
sweeping out them tracks.

Go on!

You just lie still now.

Oh.

I'm Dilsey. Dilsey Brennan.

What happened?

You don't recollect?

It seems that
you was out in the brush

where Tom... my man, Tom...
Was tracking this buck,

and, well, he mistook you
for it, not meaning to.

He brung you home.

You being a clean man,

you'll be needing a cleaner
place to lay your head.

My folks are gonna
be worried about me.

I need to get word to 'em.

The Cartwrights.

We live in Virginia City,
or just out of Virginia City...

The Ponderosa Ranch.

You come a far piece.

The furthest Frank ever gets is Genoa.

Frank, he's Tom's pa.

Even Genoa is more than a trek,
and he hankers after a foot.

Turn my horse loose.

He'll find his way home.

Well, now, you just rest.

Come time, I'll bring you supper.

Thank you.

Dilsey!

How is he?

Did he come to yet?

Some. Enough to say
his name's Cartwright,

from down Virginia City way.

That's all, huh?

He's asking we send word
to his folks.

Is he holding a grudge?

Well, he don't rightly know
what happened to him yet.

You gonna fetch his folks?

We've got to find out about him first.

We gotta do that
before we do nothin' else.

Virginia City, eh?

Ain't all that many folks
name of Cartwright.

You put together some grub.

Me and Tom, we'll go
and tar what skins we got

and go to Genoa and find out.

You could bring back a doc.

Just do like you're told, gal!

And while we're off,
you keep away from him!

Ain't no good ever come
from having truck

with what you don't know!

I brought your supper.

Thanks, but I...

I don't think I could eat a single bite.

It smells real good, but I'm
just not hungry, thank you.

It's rabbit.

Well, maybe later.

Yeah.

My folks...

Land, this place is just a mess.

When are they gonna
get word to my...

My pa and my little brother?

The menfolks done
gone to Genoa to trade.

Maybe from there, mister.

Oh, good.

Little Joe and Pa
will be worried about me.

Ma'am, my name is Hoss.

That "mister" ain't necessary.

Hoss? Why, that's a hill name.

Yeah.

Why, it fits you just fine.

Thank you.

It's been a long time
since I had a book 'tween my hands.

Why, it's poetry, ain't it?

Some of it. Not all of it.

Go ahead and read it if you want.

I just used to love reading
and reciting verses,

like a fiddle to my feet
when I was back home.

I was thought
to be a pretty thing once.

When do you think
your menfolk will be back?

It just depends
on how they do with their furs.

You're just a little queasy.

It happens
when you get hit in the head.

Yeah.

You just sleep now.

Thank you.

I brung you some morning coffee.

Oh, thanks.

So, I got mistook for a deer, huh?

Well, that... that's easy to figure.

I was out, looking for some timber
we figured on buying,

and I got off my horse
and was walking through the...

Through the brush, like a dummy.

Tom sure didn't mean you no harm.

It's just that we ain't seen
a living soul out here for months,

and he didn't have no idea
there'd be a man in the brush.

Well...

I... I didn't notice
this cabin on the way up.

Well, it's a pretty fair walk
from where you was hurt.

Some pretty good looking land
on the way up.

It's fine farmland.

I used to tell Frank, but, well,
he don't take too much to plowing.

He figures that
what ain't easy to come by

is just easier done without.

Tom, well, his ways are Frank's ways.

We come from Virginia,
looking to find gold,

and just see this here place
standing empty,

and my baby was due.

He come right after
the cow run wild.

Well, I didn't have no milk for him.

Well, he was a fitful
little thing, anyhow.

I'm sorry.

Oh, no, it's been about six years,

even more, since then.

Make sense that
having a young'un around

would be too much trouble anyhow.

Don't do no good,
fighting how things are.

Yes, it does, too.

Well, you fight, but...

if you never win,

not even one time,

well, you just quit fighting.

But, Dilsey...

if you just stop fighting,

it's the same as dying,
ain't it? Huh?

Dilsey!

That'd... that'd be your menfolk.

Maybe they got word
to my... my pa.

I'm not supposed to be in here.

If he catches me,
he'll have at me for sure.

Dilsey!

I still don't see why we can't just
go out and find that bunch,

tell 'em that Cartwright's right here.

I'm tellin' you, that's a fool idea.

If he be living or dead,
they'll still wanna

get their due from you
from what you done.

Don't you never learn!

Wasn't that how it happened
with Sam Harrison

when his fool cow pushed against
our fence and broke a leg?

Same with Phineas Brown.

But we was the one that
had to pay or be run off.

Well, I ain't gonna be run off no more.

Maybe Hoss ain't like that.

Don't you go sneaking up
on me that-a-way.

What do you know about it?

Them Cartwrights own
half the State of Nevada.

We done found out
about it in Genoa.

And in Virginia City,
nobody does nothin'

without their say-so,
including the sheriff.

But there's a lot of talk
that the whole ranch crew

is out here, searching for
that guy in there.

Now, I still say that we ought to...

Never mind what you say!
Them kind are all alike!

They look at us and they see trash!

If you had any sense,
you'd be praying him dead.

How is he?

Why, sleeping, I guess.

You told me to stay away.

Well, I need some cogitating on.

Did you bring me no supplies?

Make do. You've done it
a'fore, plenty of times.

Now, Tom, you go spyin' out
them Cartwrights

and find out
where they's making camp.

Uh, Tom.

I've done some things inside...

Some cleaning and scrubbing
and fixing,

and it sure does look a lot better.

What are you going on about, gal?
Let him go!

I, uh... well,
I can't go around forever

looking like something
the cat's drug in.

Tom, I told you... move!

I gotta go now, Dilsey.
I'll be back for supper.

Dilsey!

Dilsey!

My feet are plum wore out.

Go on and take my boots off.

Oh, I told you you had to stay down.

You told me you kept away from him.

She looked after me
real good, Mr. Brennan.

- I'm grateful.
- You was lying,

and I don't cotton to that, Dilsey.

Mr. Brennan, I don't want no harm

to come to nobody, especially Dilsey.

Well, that's right kind
of you, Mr. Cartwright,

and, uh, Tom... that's my boy, Tom...

He just went out, looking
to find your people for you.

Oh!

You best leave him be, gal.

He needs help.

He come out here
by hisself, didn't he?

It's all right, Dilsey.

I'll be all right. I can make it.

Well, you two are mighty friendly,
all at once.

You was lying to me for fear.
Now, you come here, gal.

Oh.

Aah. No.

Oh!

Anybody around?

Hey, anybody home?

Howdy. My name's Joe Cartwright.

Me and my pa and some others
are up here, looking for my brother.

We saw your smoke.
I thought I'd ask you a few questions.

His name is Hoss.
He's a... he's a big man.

- You seen him?
- Nope.

Howdy, ma'am.

I was just here,
asking about my brother.

Well, like I was about to tell him,

we ain't seen nobody,
not on a half a year.

Ain't that so?

Well, we're gonna be sticking
around these parts 'til we find him.

We'll be camped just down below.

I'll check back with you later
in case he stops by.

You was gonna tell him, wasn't you?

With his brother, lying there
on the floor, half dead.

You was gonna do that to Tom.
What's got into you?

He ain't... he ain't dead, Frank.

- He's bad off, but...
- Ain't he?

Well, it could be he's so bad off,
uh, he ain't gonna pull through.

Come on!

I can't handle him alone.

Well, he'll keep.
I'm going to get his gun.

Yeah, that's a nice one. Hey.

It's Frank, shooting up
the pines with your rifle.

He's done got your handgun too.

Always did fancy
to have me a gun like this one

and a horse too.

Hey, how about getting
some rest, huh?

We don't even know

what piece of timberland
Hoss was looking at.

The kind of country this is,

he could be ten feet away,
lying helpless,

Pass him by... Not even know it.

Joe, we need more help.

What about that settler
you talked to this morning?

He should know these mountains
like the back of his hand.

Oh, he wouldn't give you a howdy,
much less any help.

I never heard so much silence
from one man in my life.

Look, don't worry. We'll start looking
first thing in the morning.

We'll find him.

He's gonna be all right.

Pa, get some rest.

I'll be along.

Pa, all you done
by turning him away

is to get us into more trouble
than we done got into already.

Us? You mean you.

You know, it ain't me
that shot his brother.

It was you.

You know, all I done was
to send that Joe off, to protect you.

Sure, Pa, I know
you done it for me, only...

Well, supposin' he don't die?

He's never gonna believe
anything I tell him now.

Well, ain't nothin' to do, seems like.

Unless, um... well, of course,
I don't like to say this,

but the fact is
that you already done shot him.

Once, twice...
What's the difference?

Dead is dead, ain't it?

I ain't never killed nobody.

Never in my whole life, I ain't.

Do you recollect those men out there?

His brother as much as
promised he'd come back.

If you don't take care of Cartwright,

they're gonna be searching out
both him and you!

No, Tom, it ain't like
what Frank thinks.

Hoss Cartwright's a good man.
He's just...

It's his doing, her coming on like this.

I guess it is, and I thank him for it.

Now, Tom, you just gotta think
for yourself this one time.

Now, you always listen to Frank,
and what good's it ever done us?

You ain't never gone starving, woman,
nor naked... neither one!

We don't need your advice!

Now, do you see?
Even she said it!

It's his doing!

You should have left him
lying out there to start with!

You think so?

I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true.

Well, I'll think on it, Pa.

You do that.

Dilsey?

Where are you?

What are you yelling for?

It's Dilsey, Pa. She's gone.

What?

Dilsey?

Oh, here.

No, he's there.

We've got to find her.

Go on, boy. Go on.

Dilsey!

Dilsey!

Git! Git! Now, go on!
Get out of here!

- My horse! It's gone!
- Cartwright's horse!

My horse!

The finest horse I ever seen in a year,

and it's gone, and it's her doing.

Oh!

Aah! Oh, no!

Oh, no, no, no, no!

I told you she done it!

Yes, I done it,
but it's 'cause I'm scared for you, Tom.

He ain't worried none about you.

He just wants them guns
and that horse, is all.

And you'd turn your own son
to killing to get 'em!

Oh! No, no, no!

Your wife.

You stand there like a whipped dog

and let him treat your wife like that.

Aah!

Frank!

You kill him, you best kill me too,

'cause I'm gonna send the law
down on you for it!

You hear that, boy?
You hear your woman now?

Come on, on your feet,
or I'll break every bone in your body!

Come on, move! Move there!

Get in there! Get in that cabin!

Move!

You shouldn't ought to talk
that way, Dilsey... not to Pa.

Now, you go on in there
and you tell him you didn't mean it!

Tom, you've been following him
your life long like a dog on a leash.

Weren't no need for us to be
run out of Virginny.

That was just laziness,
pure and simple.

But, no, you followed after him,
believing his promises.

Gold, he said.

Well, Tom, where is it?

I mean, look around this place.

There sure ain't no gold.

There ain't nothin' around here
but just a lot of ruin.

And look at me.

Well, look at me.

Frank did it.

He did it to the both of us,
but you let him.

What I said about
Hoss Cartwright and the law,

I meant every word of it.

Pa, it's Chub!

Hey!

What's that?

"Hoss at Brennan's. Hurry."

Where's Brennan's?

Now, look, he's worked
a pretty good sweat.

He's come a long way.

He came from the top
of that mountain.

That cabin I stopped at
the other day is on the other side.

I said something was funny
about those folks.

I'll bet Hoss is there.

Come on, let's ride. Come on!

Are you just gonna leave him
tied up in there forever?

We ain't decided yet.

Well, he's a big man.
Take a lot to feed him forever.

Look, I said we ain't decided yet.

Just asking.

Where's Frank?

Walking the trap line.

Well, it ain't gonna
do him much good.

He left his bait sack
in there by the hearth.

Oh, now, that's all I need...

For him to come tearing
back here to rip me up

'cause he forgot his bait meat.

Well, it ain't no surprise to me,
the way you've been carrying on lately.

Well, go on, get it!
I'll walk it out to him!

They wouldn't let me come in before.

I done tricked Tom
into going off after Frank,

so as you can get away,
but you're gonna have to hurry.

I'm not leaving here
without you, Dilsey.

I can't leave you here
to face those two by yourself.

Well, I ain't got no place to go.

You have now.

You can stay at our place 'til...

Well, until you decide what you want.

What I want?

Well, not a day goes by

I don't think to see
the green of Virginia again.

Good. Untie my hands.

Oh.

There!

Now...

- Let's go. Come on.
- Wait a minute, Hoss.

I... I... I'm not sure about me going.
There's Tom.

Yeah. Well, what about you, Dilsey?

Come on, let's go. Come on.

- Hey, Pa!
- Huh?

Pa! Hey, Pa, I brung you
your bait meat out.

I got my bait.
What are you talking about?

- But Dilsey said that...
- She set him loose!

That's what she done!

She used you
for the fool that you are

and set him loose!

- Woman!
- Dilsey!

I told you! She's gone with him!

- Now can you see it?
- What?

- Why would she go with him?
- What difference does it make?

She went, didn't she?
Now, come on.

He's gonna be back
with that bunch of his

'less we take him! Come on!

Dilsey said he wouldn't
hold no grudge.

Well, he's got a big grudge now,
on account of this.

That's his.

- You stole that, Pa?
- For you.

For all of us.
He was lying there, dying.

Of course I took it. Come on.

You're just gonna
have to sit down and rest.

You ain't ready yet.

All this rough country, running.

I'm sorry, Dilsey.

I'll be ready to go in a minute.

Oh, I brung your book.

It's yours. You can have it.

I near about read all the verses in it.

You can keep it, anyway.
It's yours.

- Hey.
- What?

My wallet and my money.

That Frank!

- What is it?
- Oh!

- Over there.
- Come on.

Pa, you'll hit Dilsey!

It'll be her fault if I do!

Tom!

Now I got 'em!

Pa!

You won't need those guns now.

For whatever mercy
you can show him,

we thank you.

Amen.

I'll be with you in a minute.

I don't know whether
you'll believe this,

but my shooting you
were an accident.

I believe you, Tom.

I believe it was an accident
about your pa, too.

You should feel no blame.

Well, I guess
you were right about Hoss.

He could have given you
a lot of trouble if he put a mind to it.

Hoss and all of them is mighty nice.

I expect that's why
you're going away with them?

Well, he asked me to.

I'll walk you down.

I ain't going.

We're family... man and wife.

It just ain't right
for family to split apart

in time of trouble and sorrow.

You're staying?

Well, I want to stay.

Besides, if I run off now,

I'd be even less than I am,
and that's little enough.

No, Dilsey. Why, you're...

Well, there ain't nobody
better than you.

No, Tom.

The way we live,

the place falling down
around our ears.

Well, it don't have to be that way.

Well, it needn't be,
but it always was.

What's gonna change it?

Me.

Dilsey, if you stay,

I'll plant you flowers and a garden,

and I'll dig you a root cellar,

and I'll stack that timber
'til it hits the roof.

Well, I'll sure believe you
'til you give me cause to doubt.

Oh, I'm gonna
have to go down the hill

because it wouldn't be mannerly
to not say bye.

I'll be right back.

I want to thank you,
but I'm gonna stay.

If that's what you want, Dilsey.

Well, I've been thinkin' on it.

I'm not too good with words,

but I found a line in this book
that you give me.

The poem's nice too,
but it's this one line.

"Life's a single pilgrim,
fighting unarmed

"amongst a thousand soldiers."

You see, well, I'd just plain give up,
but thanks to you,

I know now that, well,
we ain't supposed to give up.

We're supposed to
keep on fighting,

'cause that's the way
we like ourselves the most.

And that's what I want to do.

Yeah.

Well, I got a feeling you're gonna win.

Bye, Dilsey.