Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 12, Episode 23 - Terror at 2:00 - full transcript

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You sure make
that harmonica sing, John.

Oughta be able to.

I've been blowing through her
for 40 years.

My pappy gave me my first one.

He said
it'd keep me from chawin' tabacky.

Guess nobody can be right
about everything.

No, I guess not.

Say, we oughta be getting back to fort
by supper, don'tcha think?

Time to spare.



Guess you're kinda anxious

to get back to your wife
and son of yours, ain't you?

Oh, I hope to shout, I am.

This is the first time
I've been away from 'em this long.

You know, I'll bet that boy of mine,

I'll bet he's growed a foot
just since I've been gone.

Oh, young'uns do grow quick,

but I don't think
you're gonna notice

much difference
in a week and a half.

Let's stop up there at Wheaton Lake
to fill up the canteens.

Whoa.

You know somethin'?
That little boy of mine

is only four years old,
and he already knows

what he wants to be
when he grows up.



Let me guess, a soldier.

That's right, that's right.

Well, don't you be too disappointed
iff'n he changes his mind.

All six of my boys did.

Well, it won't hurt
to encourage him a little bit.

Hey, look what I got him
when I was down in Quentin.

He oughta get a kick out of that.

I didn't wanna get a sergeant...

But they didn't have anything else.

Very funny.

As a matter of fact,
I got the sergeant on purpose.

Don't you have something to do?

Well, then go find something to do.

Now go on, get!

Charlie, run down to the general store
and get me some more nails, will ya?

I don't want this thing to collapse
in the middle of the ceremonies.

Well, they finally got you
working, eh, Clem?

Oh, hi, Ben. What do you think?

I think you took long enough
to get it done.

Well, this treaty signin's
been postponed so many times

that we wanted to make sure
it was definite

'fore we got everything ready.

Well, just make sure
it's done by 2:00.

I just don't think the Paiute chiefs
and Army generals

are gonna feel like waiting around

while you nail on
those finishing touches.

Well, it's not even yet noon.

I got more than enough time.

Hey, Ben!

- How are ya, Clem?
- Oh, I'm fine, Sam.

Where's Jamie?

Oh, he'll be here, don't worry.

Hoss and Joe will bring him in.

He's gonna help me
with my picture-taking.

Oh, I know, I know. It's all
I've been hearing for the past week.

He's a full-fledged
newspaperman now.

Well, he could do a lot worse.

I thought you were gonna ride out

and escort Winnemucca
and the other chiefs into town.

Yeah, I am. As a matter of fact,
I'd better get going.

Ben, do you think
this treaty'll do any good?

That all depends, Sam.

On what?

On whether we break this one,
just as we've broken every other one.

Hah! Hah!

Hah! Hah!

Hah!

Hah!

Be careful with that crate.

There's a lot of
expensive equipment in there.

You two better bring it in.

All right, Ms. Hodgkiss.

Room 17.

Top of the stairs, turn right,
and all the way back.

May I help you, sir?

Yes, I have a reservation.
My name is Ganns.

"St. Louis Daily Record."

Oh, Mr. Ganns.

Why, you are a party of three.

- That's right.
- Just sign here, sir.

We have a beautiful suite for you.

I requested a room
overlooking the street.

And that's exactly what you have.

You'll be able to take some
excellent pictures from your room.

That'll be fine, thank you.

Now, Room 3.

Top of the stairs, turn left.

And, Mr. Ganz,
when you take those pictures,

where would be a good place
for me to stand?

I mean, so's I'd be sure
to be in the picture.

Oh, well, if you're anywhere out there
near that platform,

- we'll be sure to get you.
- Oh, thank you, sir. Thank you.

May I help you, sir?

Oh, that'll be fine,
just set those there.

Thank you.

- Hoss.
- Yeah?

You can stop smiling.
I already took the picture.

Oh, yeah? Hey, how'd it look?

I... I wanna...

Through there,
you looked upside-down,

but I think you'll like it.

Now, if you don't mind,
Jamie and I got some work to do.

Yeah.

Okay, Jamie, let's get everything

- packed up and ready to move.
- Yes, sir.

Uh, Sam?

You, uh... You wouldn't
wanna take another one,

just to be sure, huh?

Hoss, I'm sure.

Now, would you mind running along
and let us finish our work?

Yeah, I... I don't wanna
get in your way none.

You fellas go
right ahead with your business.

What do you want?

Sam, when ya...
When you make it,

will you make a great, big one?

Hoss, there'd be no way
to make a small picture of you.

Yeah, well, I'll... I'll see you fellas.

Perfect.

What time is it?

12:20.

All right, Hunter.

Take one of the cameras
and go down on the street.

See what you can find out.

You know, I think that we oughta
stay up here, out of sight.

How much am I paying you,
Mr. Graham?

$5,000.

$5,000 for a few days' work.

It took me ten years
to save all that money, ten years.

I think that entitles me
to give the orders.

I'm not complaining about the money.

Well, then shut up!

You let me do the thinkin'!

Well, all right.

Good.

Now, while Hunter's
checking the street,

you go down to the livery stable
and hire a rig.

Take it 'round back of the hotel
and tie it up.

Oh.

And take those down to the kids.

That'll make 'em real happy.

Will do.

And remember, if anyone asks,
you're newspapermen.

Be back in half an hour.

You take all you want, now, boys,
so's you don't run out.

Thanks, mister!

Now, you can shoot off all you want,

just make sure you save some
for the celebration.

We will!

Hey, give 'em back!

Hey, Clem, are you gonna
play chess or stand there,

lookin' at yourself
in that mirror all day?

I'm gonna play, you just
give me a minute here.

You know, if you... If you

put a feather in that hat,
everybody'd notice you.

Look, it ain't every day I get a chance
to have my picture in the paper.

I don't wanna disappoint you,
but Sam's already took my picture.

Oh, I'm not talking
about this little local paper.

I'm talkin' about
them big eastern papers.

I hear the town's full of reporters
from Denver, even St. Louis.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

I ain't seen none of 'em.

Well, maybe that's 'cause
they haven't seen you.

I hope you can
take care of that, Clem.

You kids, get away from here,
now, go on, get!

We scared the sheriff!

Those boys are sure
havin' a good time.

Yeah, well, they oughta be
locked up, that'd cool 'em off.

Can I quote you on that?

Quote me? On what?

What you said about the kids,
they oughta be locked up.

Oh, my name's Hunter.

The "St. Louis Daily Record."

- The "Record?"
- Oh, well,

uh, no, you know I was just foolin'.

I love young'uns
like they was my very own.

Let's face it,
we were all young once.

And so we were.

You, um, getting any good pictures?

Oh, yes, yes, quite a few.

I'd like to take one of you, if I could.

Well, I'm not much for picture-takin',
but, uh...

I guess news is news.

Where do you want me to stand?

Well, how about right over here?

Uh, yeah, that's good.

Now, just hold on for a second
while I set the camera up.

You did want a picture of me,
by myself?

Yes, indeed, just you.

That's what I thought.

Now just hold still while I focus.

Will the ceremony go off on schedule?

You bet it will.

It's no easy job keeping
everything runnin' smooth,

but that's what I'm paid for.

Oh, they're gonna sign the treaty

right out there in the street,
I understand.

That's right, unless it rains,
but there ain't a cloud in the sky.

You be sure and let me know
when you're gonna take that picture.

Well, we're ready right now.

Hold it!

All right. That's it.

Thank you very much, Sheriff.

Any time.

You sure that's a good one?

Oh, great shot, great shot.

Now, Mr. Hunter,
that's Clem, Clem Foster.

F-O-S-T-E-R.

Thanks, Clem.

- Right.
- I'll see you later.

Clem?

Clem, I'd like to speak to you
for a moment.

Yes, Mrs. Carruthers?

Was that a reporter
you were speaking to?

Mm-hmm, all the way
from St. Louis.

Well...

Well, as president
of the Virginia City Ladies Club,

I think it only proper

that I should be seated on the platform
during the ceremonies.

Yes, Mrs. Carruthers, well, I...

Now, we ladies have done
our best to help these Indians.

We've given them
used clothing and food.

We've even tried
to teach them our language.

Well, I think they would've
appreciated it more

if you'd've tried to learn theirs.

What?

Never mind.
I'll do my best, Mrs. Carruthers,

but I'm kind of busy right now.
Good day.

Learn their language?

Oh... Now, really!

Johnny!

It won't be long now, Johnny.

Just a little over an hour or so.

I'm sorry.

Look, I told you who I am,
and I'll pay top dollar.

I've got to have me a rig.

And I told you, mister,
I can't rent you a rig

if I ain't got one to rent.

- What about this one?
- Ain't mine.

Fine, I'll rent it
from whoever owns it.

I only need it about an hour,

and I'm gonna make it
worth his while.

It belongs to the Cartwrights,

and they don't exactly
need the money.

Maybe they'll rent it to me
as a favor, huh?

I've told you, I've got to get out there

and talk to General Thomas
before he gets to town.

Now, my paper's
gonna fire me if I don't.

Yeah, I suppose I could go ask 'em.

Would you please?

You keep an eye on things,
I'll be back.

Thank you.

What're you doin', son?

Well, answer me, boy.

Mis... Mr. Loomis,

the manager.

He told me to bring you up
some champagne.

I wasn't doin' nothing wrong.

What's your name?

Teddy Daws.

Well, Teddy Daws,

do you know how to open
a bottle of champagne?

Yes, sir.

Well, you'd better
get to opening it, boy.

Yes, sir.

How old are ya, Teddy?

I'm nine, sir.

Pretty young to be workin'.

What about school?

Uh, I had to quit after Pa died.

Ma just couldn't make do
on her sewin' money.

How many hours do you work?

Oh, usually from about
8:00 to 6:00.

Sometimes, when we're real busy,
10:00 even.

Mr. Loomis was letting me off
early today...

So's I can watch the treaty signing.

There.

Here you are, sir.

You're a fine boy, Teddy.

Thank you, sir.

I'd better be going now.

Teddy?

How'd you like to earn yourself
five dollars?

- Are you kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding.

I want you to go into that restaurant
across the street.

You mean Ms. Pickin's place?

That's right.

I want you to go there
and reserve a table for me.

That's all?

Well, after them ceremonies over,
I wanna make sure I got a table.

That doesn't seem like it's worth $5.

Sure is to me.

There you are.
That's a $5 gold piece.

Now you make sure
that you stay inside that restaurant

and watch that table.

You bet I will.

Okay, off you go now, go on.

- Hey, Joe...
- Yeah, Buck?

I hate to disturb you,
but a fella wants to borrow your rig.

Well, he can't, we need it.

Well, he's a newspaperman.

He says he needs it
so's he can get a story.

Says he'll have it back in an hour.

Says he'll lose his job
if he don't get the story.

All right, you tell him he can have it.
Make sure he has it back in an hour.

Yeah, sure thing.

Nice to have met you, ma'am.

1:00.

Think we'd better get everything
set up over at the platform.

Whatever you say.

How do you like the newspaper
business so far, Jamie?

Well, I like it just fine.

If you were gonna write a story

about this treaty signing today,
what'd you write about?

Gee, I don't know.

Well, you must think
something about it.

Huh, yeah, I guess so.

Well, what is it, then?

Well, I just think the white folks

are patting themselves
on the back an awful lot

for giving the Indians back
a little bit of land

that they used to own
in the first place.

I think you're gonna make
a good newspaperman.

Come on.

Whoa.

Hey, Fred.

I'll swear, that boy of yours
is growing like a weed.

Yeah, he sure is.

Looks like it's gonna be
a pretty good turnout.

Yeah, looks like.

And I'm surprised to see you here.

I figured you'd seen enough
of Indians for a while.

Oh, I wanted my boy to see it.

This peace is for him.

He won't have to grow up
and do any killin'.

Amen to that.

Well, we'll see you later.

Okay, bye.

Fred's a good man.

He lost that arm at Tracy Pass.

Good.
Thank you very much, Mr. Lange.

- You gonna get this set up?
- Yes, sir.

Good afternoon.

I'm Sam Dawson,
"Virginia City Star."

Hunter, "St. Louis Daily Record."

That is a beautiful
piece of equipment.

- Yeah.
- May I, uh...

Oh, sure, sure.
Come on, have a look.

I envy you.

Oh, nothing but the best
when you work on the "Record."

I got one shot of the courthouse,

and I'm through
till the signing ceremony.

Well, that'll do us.
It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr...

- Dawson.
- Dawson. Right.

Good day, sir.

All set, Mr. Dawson.

Mr. Dawson, the camera's all ready.

You know that fella
I was just talking to?

He said he was a photographer
from a big St. Louis paper.

Oh, yeah, he came all the way
out here just to get pictures.

That's what he said he's doing,

but I find that
kind of hard to believe.

How come?

'Cause it's tough to get pictures

when you don't have film
in the camera.

- No film?
- That's right.

Boy, I've only been
a newspaperman for one day,

and I know better than that.

I'm sure you do.

No, he may be a lot of things,

but he sure doesn't act like
he works for a newspaper.

What would he be pretending for?

I don't know.

But I'm gonna find out.

You stay here and watch the camera.

I'm gonna have a talk with
our reporter friend from St. Louis.

All right, but don't be too long.

It's less than an hour
to the ceremony.

Don't worry, I wouldn't miss this

for anything in the world.
Get those kids.

Hey, you kids, get out, go on, get!

My name's Dawson,
I'm from the local paper...

Oh, Mr. Hunter,
I hate to bother you like this,

but it's a rare thing to have a man
of your caliber in our town.

I was just dying
to ask you a few more questions.

Well, we're kind of busy
right now, Mr. Dawson...

Oh, nonsense, Mr. Hunter.

My name is Ganns.
I'm also with the "Daily Record."

- How do you do?
- Why don't you come in?

Thank you.

Well, it's quite an exciting day
for Virginia City.

It certainly is.

Would you like to sit down?

Thank you.

Would you care for a brandy?

No, no, thank you, I...

I'm not a Quaker,
I just have a bad liver.

Well, now, Mr. Dawson.

What questions
would you like answered?

Well, I'm interested in your camera.

What kind of film do you use?

Oh, we just use whatever
the newspaper sends us.

That's very interesting.

Why is that?

Well, the newspaper must've forgot
to send you any film.

Mr. Hunter there
was taking pictures on the street,

and he didn't have any film
in the camera.

Well, Mr. Hunter,

it appears as if your cover
didn't fool everyone.

You're quite right, Mr. Dawson.

The camera was empty.

And we do not work for a newspaper.

However, before I go on,
I must ask you to make me a promise.

I want you to swear that
what I'm about to reveal to you

will remain an absolute secret
until after the treaty is signed.

Will you do that?

If I think it's important,
and there's a reason.

That's fair enough.

Actually, Mr. Hunter and myself
work for the territorial government.

We were assigned
to look out for trouble

during the treaty's ceremonies.

We thought our guise
as newspapermen was quite clever.

I guess I'd make
a pretty bad photographer.

But you can see the need
for absolute secrecy.

Well, yeah, but...

What kind of trouble
are you worried about?

There are men
who would rather not see peace

between the Indian and the white man.

Hard to believe, but true.

They all have different reasons,
but it amounts to the same thing.

Now, I must know.

Can I trust you to keep your silence?

Well, yes, of course.

You know, I think I'm gonna
help myself to that drink.

You know, I've been in this business
quite a while,

you pick up an eye for a story.

I knew something was up, but I...

I had no idea there was anything...

I reckon that'd be that three-foot-high
bad man you got out there.

Dadburn kid!

- It's all your fault.
- How come my fault?

Well, you was out there, shootin' off
all them fireworks the Fourth.

Well, that's different.
That was the Fourth of July, Hoss.

Sorta hard to explain
to them little fellers

that it's all right
to do it on the Fourth,

it ain't all right
to do it on the Fifth.

Ahh...

Check.

Mate.

Oh, you sure learned
to play this game pretty quick.

Yeah, I was practicin'
while you was trying on hats.

- That's very funny.
- Yeah.

- Another game?
- No, thanks, I think I'll quit winner.

Yeah, well, I gotta shave.

Hey, you already shaved once today.

Well, I'm gonna
shave again, all right?

Yeah, yeah, don't get angry.

I think I'll go out and see
how Jamie's getting along.

Sure good thing
them fancy, highfalutin' reporters

don't show up every day in town,
you'd've cut your throat years ago.

Dadburn kids.

Stop tryin' to scare the sheriff.

Hey.

- What you doin'?
- Oh, hi, Hoss.

- I'm just waitin'.
- Yeah? Where's Sam?

Well, he went over to the hotel

to check on some reporters
from St. Louis.

Check on 'em about what?

Well, he doesn't think
they're really reporters.

Yeah?

He'd better get back pretty quick,

or he's gonna
miss the whole ceremony.

Eh, he'll be back.

He probably got over there

and found out
they were real reporters,

now he's probably telling 'em
how to run them big newspapers.

Hey, Hoss, I gotta watch this stuff.

Do me a favor and run over
and tell him it's almost time.

Ahh, Jamie, he'll be back.

Well, you just said it yourself.

I mean, you know the way
he is when he starts talking.

Yeah.

And besides, they might
wanna take a picture of ya.

- Yeah?
- Never can tell.

Yeah.

Well, I was... I was
goin' over there anyhow.

- So I'll just drop by and tell him.
- Oh, thanks, Hoss.

- Howdy, Charlie.
- Hiya, Hoss.

What can I do for ya?

You got some big, important
newspapermen here, huh?

Sure do. All the way from St. Louis.

Yeah. Is Sam Dawson with 'em?

Think so.

He went up about an hour ago,
and I haven't seen him come down.

Yeah, I got an idea they wanna
get a picture of me.

What room are they in?

Room 3, top of the stairs
and to the left.

Thank you, Charlie.

Howdy.

- Must be Graham.
- It's about time.

Howdy, I'm Hoss Cartwright.

I'm looking for Sam Dawson.

He's not here.

Oh, well,
the clerk said he was up here.

He was, but he left
ten minutes ago.

Well, I'm... I'm sorry,
I hope I didn't disturb you now.

Hey...

Put your other hand up
on that door.

All right, you wanted
to go in so bad, go ahead.

- What's this all about, anyhow?
- Shut up, get in the room.

Hunter, what was that noise?

The old man kicked the table over.
He won't be moving for a while.

- Anyone else in the hall?
- No, it's empty.

What took you so long?

I had a tough time getting that rig.

I got it, though, it's out back.

Sam?

So you a friend
of this nosy old man, eh?

Well, you should've learned
to be more careful

about who you pick for friends.
He's got you in a lot of trouble.

I don't know what this is all about,

but there's a lot of folks
that know where I'm at,

and they're gonna
be wondering about me.

We don't need to worry about it.
You won't be here long.

Our big friend wants to know
what this is all about.

Hunter, show him.

Magnificent weapon, isn't it?

It fires 600 rounds a minute.

Invented by a farmer named Gatling.

Made all kinds of farm machinery.

Then he did something worthwhile.

He made this.

At 2:00, I'm gonna use it

to kill everyone
in that street out there.

What time is it, Hunter?

Ten of.

I don't know what your reasons are,

but it can't be worth killin'
all them people out there.

That's where you're wrong.

It is well worth it.

This plan isn't the whim
of a madman, my friend.

I've given it
a good deal of thought.

I can't allow my fellow whites
to make this mistake.

What mistake?

The treaty.

The peace treaty.

Once it's signed,

these heathens will be free
to corrupt and destroy us.

It's my duty to God, the Creator,

to stop them
from destroying the white race.

I see.

And you're gonna do that
by killing a lot of innocent people,

both red and white, huh?

I don't expect you to understand.

You're as big a fool
as those generals out there

who came to make the peace.

Lives must be lost to save lives.

You're out of your mind.

On the contrary.

I know exactly what I'm doing.

I could've killed Winnemucca
and the other chiefs

back there in the road.

But that wouldn't accomplish
what I'm after.

Once word of this massacre spreads,

the Indians will blame the white man,
and the whites the Indians.

And that will mean war.

All-out war
until every Paiute is killed.

And that's only the beginning.

Next comes the Shoshone.

And then the Utes. And the Sioux.

Until the red man is wiped off
the face of this Earth.

The Paiutes are responsible
for the death of my son.

My Johnny.

He married a Paiute squaw.

It's not easy for a father
to kill his only son.

- Hey, Clem, you about ready?
- Yeah.

Well, the band just started.

If it didn't scare Winnemucca off,
he oughta be here in a few minutes.

- I am all set.
- Where's Hoss?

He's out there with Jamie.

Well, come on, come on,
you look beautiful, let's go.

- I'm comin'.
- Is that a new hat?

You bet, it's kinda
just right, you think?

- It looks kinda good on ya.
- You like it?

- Hey, Jamie.
- Jamie.

Oh, hi, Joe, Clem.

Hey, Joe, have you seen
Hoss or Mr. Dawson?

I thought they were with you.

- What time is it?
- Well, it's almost 2:00.

Doggone that Hoss.

I told him to go over to the hotel

and make sure Mr. Dawson
would make it in time.

What're they doing over there?

Well, Mr. Dawson
went over there to check

on some reporters from St. Louis.

Well, we've got a few minutes left,
we'll go get him.

- All right.
- Oh, thanks, Joe.

All right, Graham.

Go down, untie the rig,
and be ready to go.

Now, Clem Foster,

you know how much
the Indians owe the Ladies' Club.

Well, Mrs. Carruthers,
I do know what a wonderful job

the Virginia City Ladies Club
is doing,

and I... I can assure you,

I'll do my best to get you
up there on that platform

for the picture-taking.

Well, we have done
a lot of charitable work

where the Indians are concerned.

Mrs. Carruthers, I'll do my best.

Well, I'll be standing
right at the platform.

You won't be able to miss me.

See you then.

Boy, could anybody miss her?

We gotta be nice to her.

That Ladies Club can mean
a whole lot of votes for you.

- Why? They can't vote.
- No, but I guarantee you

they tell their husbands how to vote.

- Hey...
- What's the matter?

That's our rig parked back
over the side of the hotel.

I loaned it to a guy.

I'll go make sure he knows
to bring it back to the livery stable.

Hey, mister, you...
You through with that rig yet?

Why?

Well, it's my rig, that's why.

Thought you were gonna ride out
to see a general or something.

Well, yes, I... I did that.

Well, if you're all through,
then I'll take it back

- to the stable.
- Uh, not yet. No, I...

I still need it.

Like I said, you can have
the rig for an hour.

It's been a lot longer than that.

Now, come on. Get down, huh?

Don't move,
and don't raise your hands.

Now, you put that shotgun
on the floor of this buggy. Now.

Now we're gonna walk through
the back door of that hotel.

You're gonna walk ahead of me,
nice and easy.

Let's move.

Stay with him!

May I help you?

You have some men here
from St. Louis.

What room are they in?

You mean the newspapermen?

They happen to be from one of the...

- What room are they in?
- Room 3!

Hoss!

You all right?

Yeah.

He was gonna kill everybody with that.

He was gonna shoot
everybody down on the street with it.

They're here.

It's 2:05.

They're five minutes late.