Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 12, Episode 8 - Thornton's Account - full transcript

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- Hoss?
- Yeah?

Cash the bank draft in Carson City
and meet us at Grant's Fork.

Right.

Joe and I will go
by way of Wheeler Ridge.

I want to have a look
at that timber stand

before we make an offer.

Mighty bad trail, Pa.

How come you're not riding Buck?

Oh, I thought I'd give Cinnamon a ride,
teach him who's boss again.



Whoa.

Whoa! Whoa!

Hey.

Looks like old Cinnamon
knows who's boss.

He is.

Well, either I ride him
or he'll ride me.

Well, I'll see you at Grant's Fork
day after tomorrow with the money.

Hey, uh...

well, if you're done fixing that horse,
we can leave now.

- All right, see ya.
- See ya, Hoss.

Look at that view.

Yeah, nice country.

Want some more coffee?

Yeah.



I still think it's pretty hot.

Good.

- Howdy.
- Howdy.

Can we help you?

What are you doing here?

What's it look like we're doing?

You got business here?

We're just riding through,
looking at some timberland.

Well, as long as
you're just riding through...

just keep riding.

Hey, you don't mind
if we finish our coffee first, do ya?

I don't mind.

Joseph...

Better take his advice... Joseph.

Oh, by the way, Joseph, uh,
you make a lousy cup of coffee.

Joseph...

You know, you do make
a lousy cup of coffee.

Look good, don't they?

Yeah, fine stand of trees.

Enough timber there to shore up
every mine in Virginia City.

We sure could.

Yeah, snow did these trees
a lot of good.

Have to do some thinning over here.

Yeah.

Fine stand.

Better get along.

I sure wish we had a little time.

Wouldn't mind doing some fishing
in that lake down there.

Let's go.

Hyah.

Pa.

Pa!

Pa?

Pa, can you hear me?

Where's it hurt?

My back.

All right, take it easy. Lie still.

Can you move your head?

Just easy.

That's it.

What about your hands?

Your arms?

Oh, that's good.

Move your legs.

How about your legs?

They're numb.

There you go.

You better take it easy with that.
It's gonna have to last you a while.

How's Cinnamon?

Your horse is all right.
Well enough to run off.

Yeah.

Make a good saddle horse...

once you get it to learn who's the boss.

That's what they tell me.

I'm gonna leave the canteen here
where you can reach it.

Here's your gun.

Oh...

I know you're hurting,

but you're gonna have to lie still
and just take it easy 'til I get back.

I'll try. I think
I can make it up the hill.

I'll just rest for a little while.

Pa, there's no way
you can get up that hill,

and there's no way
I can get you up without help.

I need some men and a wagon.

There's got to be some ranches
between here and town.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Well... I'll be waiting here for you.

Sure ain't going anyplace.

- Pa?
- Hmm?

Somebody's coming.

You, just keep riding!

Hey, I need help!

You better ride, mister.

Look, if you'll just listen to me.

Get off my property now!

All right, son, let's get back to work.

Down a little.

Now up.

That's it.

Hold it.

You by yourself?

Yeah.

What's your business?

I need some help.

What kind of help?

Look, mister, believe me,
I'm not looking for any trouble.

It's-It's my pa. There was an accident.

I need a wagon,
a block and tackle, and a doctor.

There's one in Grant's Fork.

If you hurry,
you might catch him sober.

I could use that wagon and team first,
somebody to help me with it.

We can't help you, mister.

What kind of brand is that?

It's Ponderosa.
We're from Virginia City.

What about the wagon?

Where'd you say you left your pa?

At the top of Wheeler Ridge
at the bottom of a bluff.

Couldn't move him.

What happened to him?

I think it's his back.
I sure could use some help.

Back, huh?

My wagon will be too heavy
to go up Wheeler Ridge.

What you need is
a lighter wagon and a good team.

I got a team, but they're
over at Sturver's place today.

He's-He's plowing.

Could you get him?

I expect so.

How long ago did this happen?

I don't know, two hours.

You're not thinking
of helping him, are you?

Pa, you can't go!

If anything happened
to you in those hills,

it'd be weeks
before we even found you.

Look, ma'am, my father's only
eight or nine miles from here.

Look, what is this?
I'm just asking you to help him!

Now, hold on. Maybe she's right.

How do I know you're not lying to me?

You could be working
for the Dawson Cattle Company.

Look, mister, I don't know
what you're talking about,

and I don't have time to argue.

I need the wagon, and I need the team!

Now, I'll rent it from you!

How much do you want for it?

You mean you're gonna try to bring
him up the bluff all by yourself?

Well, it looks like
I don't have much choice, doesn't it?

Well, now, simmer down.

Let's see here.

Now, if it's his back...

why, it's gonna take
at least four men to bring-

Pa, you can't go!

Now, you simmer down too, honey.

You go in the house
and get some blankets

- and the medical chest.
- But, Pa-

Now, you're wasting time, Martha.

Now get.

I don't suppose you'd mind if I, uh...

kept that pistol for a while, would ya?

Be my guest.

You'll find some rope and tackle
out back of the house.

I'll go fetch the team.

I'll be back in a little while.

Thanks.

There you go, huh?

Yeah.

Tried to get Sturver
to go along with us,

but he said he saw some of Dawson's
men in the valley this morning

and he's too afraid to leave his place.

Martha?
Get down here with that medicine.

We're gonna leave.

What about this Dawson?
Why is everybody afraid of him?

Well, I never met him personally,

but, uh, he's the head
of a big cattle company.

They used to lease
this whole valley for graze

until the government
turned it over to homesteaders.

He didn't want to give it up, huh?

That's right.

He don't seem to think much
of us folks,

so he's hired himself a bunch of men
to try to run us out of here.

He's not fussy about
how he does it either.

Here, why don't you
give me that medicine?

- Let's get that wagon, huh?
- Give me a leg up.

Where do you think you're going?

- With you.
- Oh, no, you're not.

It's too dangerous.

Well, if it's too dangerous for me,
then it's too dangerous for you.

- Give me a leg up.
- Now, hold on.

You know that horse
ain't saddle-broke yet.

If you're gonna go, you'll go with him.

She sure thinks a lot like a man.

We'll stop by Boyle's place
and pick up that rig.

Maybe he and his son
will go along with us.

He's coming back.

Looks like he brought company
with him.

Wait a minute, Pa.

Ain't that Mr. Thornton
and, uh, Martha?

You're right.

Better be a little more careful.

Wouldn't want anything
to happen to her, would we?

No, sir.

Tom...

if it's true what Joe says about his pa,

it's gonna take more than us two
to get him up that mountain.

I don't mind you using the wagon, Ed,

but me and my boy are staying here.

If what he says is true.

It still could be a trick, you know.

- Dawson's got his eye on you.
- Eh, it's just talk.

Oh, no, Ed.

You know yourself most of them
cowboys that ride for Dawson

don't know nothing about cows.

All they're waiting to do is get us
out in the open somewhere

away from our homesteads,
and you especially.

That may be.

But... don't you see, Tom?

We can't just keep hiding in a hole.

We've got to come out
and face 'em sooner or later.

I prefer later.

Wagon's hitched up.
We're ready to go.

I'm not going.

What about the boy?

He ain't going either.

I need the help.

We'll still need those planks
and the block and tackle.

Well, the planks are
around the side of the house,

and that block and tackle
is over by the trees

where we was pulling stumps.

Yeah, I remember.

Pa's letting you go?

Yeah.

Ain't that kind of dangerous?

It'd be just as dangerous
to stay at the cabin by myself.

Well, there's no need for you to go.
You can stay here 'til they get back.

No, I'm going.

Why?

Because he needs me.

Besides, we can't all stay
where it's safe, Brian.

Somebody's got to go.

I'm sorry I can't help,
but it just ain't safe.

Do whatever you think is right.

Maybe they didn't tell you
about Dawson.

Yeah, they told me.

Then, you understand why I can't help.

No, I don't.

I'm going with 'em, Pa.

No, you're not.

I made up my mind.

I'm going.

It's the only right thing to do.

All right, son.

We'll both go.

Pa!

Pa!

Let go of me!

Pa, what happened?

This was Dawson's men.
Now, don't fret, honey.

Martha, we got to get him to the house.

Give him a hand, Brian.

Don't touch him!

This wouldn't have happened
if it wasn't for you.

You're trouble, mister.

I knew it from the minute I saw you.

Now, get out of here!

Go on and leave us alone.

She's right, son.

I'm sorry.

There's nothing we can do to help.

Joe...

Hyah! Go!

Hyah! Go!

Hyah!

Hyah! Come on! Hyah! Hyah!

Joseph, I thought
I told you to keep moving.

There was an accident.
My pa's hurt real bad.

Ain't that a shame.

What were you doing
with them nesters?

I was trying to get 'em to help.

Well, that'd be
too much like work for them, huh?

What about you?

Huh?

Look, I need the help.
I'll make it worth your while.

How much?

Just name your price.

Oh, say $10 a man?

You got a deal.

Hey, them's pretty good wages.
Even for you, Blue.

Well, what do you say, Frank?

Let's go, Joseph.

Pa!

Pa!

Pa!

Joseph!

Hyah!

Come on!

Come on!

Hyah! Come on!

What's the matter with you?

What are we stopping for?

When I say stop, we stop.
When I say go, we go.

Look, I told you,
I'm paying you for this.

That, uh, Ed Thornton,
he a friend of yours?

Can we talk about it on the way?

No, I think we'll talk about it now.

You, uh... you like Thornton?

Yeah, he was gonna help me.

Man said, "Do you like him?"

We got along well enough.

Well, supposing I told you that, uh-

What was his first name?

- Ed.
- Ed.

Supposing I told you that Ed Thornton
was a no-good, yellow troublemaker?

I don't know what you're getting at.

Just like to see
what sort of stuff a fella's made of.

Look, I don't want to quarrel with you.

You say what you want to say.
I don't care.

Hey, boy, don't you know
who you're talking to?

Of course he does.

Everybody in this part
of the country knows Frank Wells.

You say it now.

Ed Thornton is
a no-good, yellow troublemaker.

Go ahead.

Ed Thornton is a no-good, yellow...

No. Sing it right on.

Ed Thornton is
a no-good, yellow troublemaker.

Well, I'll tell you one thing, Joseph.

You Cartwrights
don't have much backbone.

Let's go.

All right, let's get going.

Whoa, Joseph.

This is, uh, pretty hard going.

Well, I told you it would be.

An ugly thought
just come across my mind.

Maybe you don't have any money.

Don't worry about your money.
I've got it.

Now, how do we know?

We don't know you
from a kick in the teeth.

That's right. We better see it.

All right, there's $40.
That's more than enough.

$40. Just about right.

You got yourself a deal.

Now let's go.

Let's go.

Hyah! Come on! Come on!

Go!

Pa?

Pa?

- Joe?
- Yeah.

Are you all right?

Yeah...

Now that you're here.

Don't-Don't worry. I got help.

We'll have you out of here in no time.

Yeah, good.

He doesn't look
in too good of shape, does he?

Yeah, he looked
a little better last time we saw him.

You know what?
He's a lot bigger than I remembered.

Now that you mention it...

You know, Joseph,

$40 for hauling
a man that size up this hill

sure don't seem enough money.

Look, I gave you all the money I've got.

Just funning, Joseph.

Easy, easy.

You got that rope secured?

Yeah.

Make sure that's good and secure.

Get some beef on the end of that rope.

I'll guide the sled.

All right, you ready?

Okay, start hauling him up.

Here.

You haul him up.

We done our $40 worth.

He's your old man. You get him up.

Joseph?

Joseph!

Joseph.

Joseph?

Joseph?

Joseph?

Joseph?

Joe?

Pa, they're coming.

Doc, what was that stuff
you made me drink a while back?

That tasted awful.

Well, that's a good sign.

Anybody thinks that medicine
tastes good is bound to be sick.

You did all the right things,
Cartwright.

If you'd tried to move him before
he was strapped into that board,

he might've been crippled for life.

- How's his back?
- Well, it's not broken.

He could wiggle his toes
after we got his boots off.

He jumped real good
when I stuck that pin in his leg.

Yeah, why'd you have
to stick him so hard?

Why not?

Well, it hurt him.

It's supposed to.

Same as medicine
is supposed to taste bad.

Now, don't you go telling me
how to run my business.

You run along and let that man rest.

You mind if I worry a little?

Not at all
if it'll make you feel better.

It's not gonna do him any good.

And what about Ed Thornton?
How's he getting along?

Why are you interested?

He was trying to help me
when he got shot.

Well, he'll have his arm
in a sling for a couple of days.

Then he'll be all right.

Well, whatever he owes you,
put it on our bill.

I'll put it on anybody's bill
as long as I get paid.

Don't worry, you'll get paid.

Well...

it's good to hear that doctor say
he's gonna be all right, ain't it?

Yeah. I thought
his back was broken for sure.

You should've seen
the fall he took down that hill.

Yeah, well, he's gonna
rest easy for a while now.

Whatever that doc gave him
really knocked-

Hey.

That's them.

- That's Wells.
- Wait a minute.

Gonna get me a beer.

Let's let the law
take care of this, Joe.

Come on.

- Sheriff?
- Yup?

I want to talk to you
about a man named Wells.

- Frank Wells.
- Oh, you're Cartwright.

Thornton told me all about it.

- Coffee?
- No.

Wells just rode into town.
He's in the saloon.

Well, you might
just as well sit down and relax.

Look, I've been through this before.

Them homesteaders are just
too scared to speak up in court.

You said you talked to Thornton.
What about him?

Oh, Thornton's
spunky enough to testify all right

when he's up and around.

The rest of 'em-

Who cares about the rest of 'em?

Wells shot Thornton, and Thornton's
willing to testify against him.

You saw it?

No, I didn't see it.

Nobody ever does.

Thornton was struck down mysterious

by some bullet that come
whizzing out of nowhere.

Uh, I could arrest Wells, sure.
More than happy to.

It's a waste of time.

It's Thornton's word
against Wells and his men.

Look, I've been up this road before.

Down it, across it, every which way.

Make arrests, come to trial.

Rascal gets turned loose
for lack of witnesses,

and then laughs
in my face on the way out.

Wells took $40 from me.
I'll testify against him.

All right.

He stuck a gun in your belly
and took $40 from you.

- No, he didn't stick a gun-
- He picked your pocket.

- No, he didn't pick-
- Then, what did he do, Mr. Cartwright?

Well, if you'll be quiet
for a minute, I'll tell ya.

- I gave Wells and his men some-
- Whoa, hold it.

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

First you say he stole it.
Now you say you gave it to him.

Which is it, Mr. Cartwright?

I paid Wells and his men
$40 to help me.

They didn't do it.

That is not
a criminal case, Mr. Cartwright.

That is a civil matter.

Of course,
you can take Wells into court

and try to get
your money back if you want to.

Forget it, Sheriff.

Thanks a lot, Sheriff.
You've been a big help.

Well...

I guess you was right
in the first place.

That sure was a waste of time.

Yeah.

I've got an idea. I'm gonna go
over to the saloon and talk to Wells.

You bring the sheriff over
in about five minutes.

Joe...

Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything.

I haven't got a gun.
I just want to talk to him.

Well, make sure
that's all you do is just talk.

Well, you make sure
you bring the sheriff.

May I have a bottle of whiskey?

Well, well, well...

look what the cat drug in.

How's your daddy, Joseph?

He's all right.

You see that? You didn't need us.

You managed all by yourself.

No, I got some help.

Boyle and his son came along,
gave us a hand.

Should've stuck around
to see that one.

You didn't miss anything.

You know, I'm kind of glad
you stopped in, Joseph.

I've been sitting here thinking...

wondering if maybe there's something
I forgot to take this afternoon.

I don't think so. You got all my money.

All you left me with was my boots.

What size boots you wear?

I don't know.

They look about my size.

That's a nice-looking boot.

My old boots
are getting kind of shoddy.

Why don't you take those off
and toss 'em over here?

Why don't you just
come over here and get 'em?

Why don't I take 'em off
your dead carcass?

I think you'd have
a little trouble doing that

without your two friends along.

Gonna take more
than a nice pair of boots

to make a man out of you, boy.

Well, then, you just come take 'em.

Oh, I'm gonna love this.

Got to be some kind of...

some kind of charge
for shooting a man...

that doesn't have a gun, Sheriff.

That's-that's mine
you hold in your hand.

Yeah.

We call that attempted murder.

Don't tell me you can't find a witness
that'll testify this time.

Oh, I think we can manage
this time, Mr. Cartwright.

Come on.

I thought you told me
you was just gonna talk.

Why don't you shut up
and go get the bartender?

I'll buy you a beer.

Hey, Ed. How you doing?

Whoa. Whoa, whoa! Whoa.

- Hi, Joe.
- This is my brother Hoss.

This is Ed Thornton and his daughter.

He's the fella I was telling you about.

Yeah, Mr. Thornton, Ms. Thornton,

- happy to meet you.
- Hello.

I'd like to thank you
for getting these folks to help our pa.

Well, the pleasure's mine, believe me.

How's the arm coming?

Oh... it's improved a lot,

especially since I heard
Wells is in jail.

We'd be happy to give you a hand
out at your place 'til it gets better.

Oh, don't worry about that.

Tom Boyle's son said
he'd, uh, be mighty glad

to come over and help out.

I kind of feel like I owe you.

No.

Your account is paid in full.

Look, I'm sorry about the way I acted

and those things I said.

You had a right to expect help.

Forget it.

We were both worried about our pas.

Say, how's your pa, Joe?

He's coming along fine.

Doc says we can move him today.
We're gonna be heading back.

That's sure good to hear.

Well, listen,

if you folks ever pass
through this valley,

be sure to stop in and see us.

I got a feeling this place

is gonna be
a lot friendlier from now on.

We'll do it. Take care.

Good-bye.

- Hyah!
- Giddyap.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!