Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 12, Episode 9 - The Love Child - full transcript

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Oh, you must admit
I'm a lot braver

about those blood tests
than I used to be.

I, uh... I've felt
much stronger this week.

I really have.

It's worse, isn't it?

It's worse.

Is there any chance
that it might stop?

I'd be lying
if I told you I thought so.

The white cells in your blood
are increasing



more rapidly than before.

I'm sorry.

I see.

Well, I, uh...

I have things to do. I...

I... I'd better be going.

Doctor?

A month.

Two... at the most.

Mom, I was good. I sat quiet.

Could I have an ice cream?

You said I could if I sat quiet.

Are you all right, Mama?

I'm fine, Scott.
I just love you so much.



I love you too.

Now, I have a surprise for you.

- Chocolate?
- Nope, another surprise.

Do you remember how I used to
promise that someday

we'd go out West
and we'd visit your grandmother

- and your grandfather?
- Yeah.

Well... we're gonna do just that.

Oh, good!

Will we see cowboys,
and Indians, and everything?

Yes, we'll see cowboys
and Indians and everything!

Oh, Mom, when can we leave?

Right away.

Well, just as soon
as we're packed.

I'm so glad you're my mom.

All right, now, come on, young man.

- We have a lot of things to do.
- Can I ride horses?

Well, you'll have to learn how.

Oh, I'll learn. I'll be good at it!

Okay, bet you will.

How long does it take to get there?

Not very long.

I can keep this up all night, Zach.

So can I, Ben, so can I.

I'm gonna have to...
put you down, Zach.

Go on, Ben. Go on, do it!

I hate to stop you two bulls
when you've got your horns locked,

but I need some more water
to rinse the dishes.

We'll be done in a minute, Martha.

Now, you said that
10 minutes ago, Zach.

I need the water now.

What do you say, Ben?

What do you say?

I asked you first.

Well... she needs the water.

Well... guess you're right, Ben.

A draw?

- Draw.
- Draw.

Well, it's a lucky thing
for you that...

That Martha needed that water.

Oh, lucky for me?
You mean lucky for you!

I mean lucky for both of you.

Another five minutes
and you'd have to learn

to write left-handed.

- Now go fetch the water.
- All right, my love.

But just the same, I think
I could have beat you, Ben.

- Zach.
- All right, all right, my love.

I'll be rubbing his arm
with liniment half the night.

Then he's lucky he's got
somebody to rub his arm.

Hello, Mama.

Oh... Etta.

My Etta.

Oh, why didn't you let me know
you were comin'?

I could have met the stage
and fixed a special supper...

Oh, it's better this way.

Mama...

this is Scott.

Scott, this is your grandmother.

Oh.

Oh, you're a fine lookin' boy, Scott.

Thank you, Grandmother.

Am I going to ride a horse
and be a cowboy?

Well, yes, of course you will.

Oh, oh, Ben, I'm so sorry.

- I forgot you were here.
- Oh, that's all right.

You remember my daughter, Etta?

Yes, of course.

Been a... good many years.

- About seven.
- Yeah.

It's good to see you again,
Mr. Cartwright.

Very good to see you, Etta.

Well... this is Scott!

Uh, Scott, shake hands
with Mr. Cartwright.

That's a gun.

Yes, indeed.

That sure is a gun.

Are you a goodie, or a baddie?

Scott.

Well, I, uh...

I try my best to be a goodie.

Me too.

Good!

Hey, what's so funny, huh?

Here's the water
that you're so anxious for

for the dishes, woman.

Now get busy rinsing.

Zach!

I know I promised you
a pump for the kitchen sink,

and I'll keep my promise.

Can't ask no more than that.

Hello, Papa.

You know how it is, Ben,

when you... you make a promise
to a woman.

This is Scott, your grandson, Papa.

I'm gonna take
a walk down to the spring,

and when I get back,
I don't want you or your bastard here.

Mr. Cartwright...

please take Scott outside.

But, where are we going?

You hear that?

That was a coyote.

I bet you never saw one of them.

- But I did.
- Where?

In a book.

They had pictures of lots of animals.

Well, what did the coyote look like?

A skinny dog with a pointy nose.

Why doesn't Grandfather like me?

He should like me,
he's my grandfather.

Well, your... your grandfather
didn't mean to be angry.

Why was he, then?

Well, that's the way
people are sometimes.

Did... didn't you ever get angry
at someone without knowing why?

No.

Well... some people do.

Just grandfathers?

No, not just grandfathers.

See, lots of times...

when people seem
to be angry at you...

they're really angry at themselves.

I hope Grandfather stops
being angry at himself...

'cause I sure would like him
to love me.

I just wasn't
being honest with myself.

I convinced myself...

all I had to do
was walk through that door...

and everything would be
all right again.

Now, everything will be all right.
Now, just you wait and see.

Your father is upset now,
but... he'll get over it.

Oh, please, try not to worry.

I can't help worrying, Mama.

We can't stay here now, and I'm...

I haven't been feeling well lately.

Did you see a doctor? What is it?

Oh... oh, it's nothing, really.

It... it'll be just a little while
before I, uh...

get my strength back...

before I can work again.

Don't you even try to work
'til you're all better.

Oh, and don't you worry
about a place to stay.

Why, Ben has all the room
in the world at his place.

No, Mama, I couldn't.

Yes you could, and you will.

It'll only be for a few days,
just 'til your father comes around.

All right?

All right.

Now, come on.
That grandson of mine

has had enough sadness
for one evening.

Ben, I wondered
if you could do me a big favor

and drive Etta and Scott into town.

- Oh.
- I think it would be best

if they stayed at a hotel
for a few days.

Oh, nonsense.

We have plenty of room at the ranch.

And besides,
you promised the boy horses,

and we've got plenty of those, too.

That's what I told Etta you'd say,
but I wanted her to hear it from you.

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

I'll get the buckboard hitched up.

Now, you're gonna have fun
at Mr. Cartwright's.

Soon, you'll be able to come
back and stay here with us.

I know.

Just as soon as Grandfather
stops being angry at himself.

That's right.

Now, why don't you go
and help Mr. Cartwright

- hitch up that buckboard?
- Yes, Grandmother!

"Yes, Grandmother."

That sounds so nice.

Hey, Hop Sing!

What's the matter you?

Yell, yell, yell, yell, yell,
all the time!

Hop Sing, we're out of eggs.

Chicken got no more egg.
You eat too much!

Oh, Hop Sing,
we've got to have more eggs.

You want more egg?

You go henhouse,
you squeeze chicken yourself!

Huh!

Pa, we've got to have more chickens,
that's all there is to it.

Hey, Scott, pass me the spuds,
will you?

Yes, sir.

Thanks, buddy.

Scott, you're now getting a lesson
in real western breakfast eating.

How much can you eat, Hoss?

Well, that depends.

On what?

Mmm... how much time I got.

Yeah, well, I hate to ruin
that feast of yours,

but it's time we go to work, you know.

Dadburnit, I hate to see
all this good food go to waste.

Yeah, we noticed that.

Look, nobody's ever been hurt
by my eating a lot.

What about your horse?

Learning you some
of that smart aleck talk

from my little brother there, huh?

- Come on, Joe, let's go to work.
- We'll see you.

- Have a good day.
- Good-bye.

Oh, uh, Jamie, speaking of work,

that tack room is waiting for you.

I expect it will be clean as a whistle.

Well, I was kind of hoping

Scott and I could
go fishing this morning.

Oh... well, what about
the tack room?

Well, yeah...

Well, we could get home real early

- and get it done quick.
- Yeah, Mr. Cartwright,

with two of us working, we could
get it done twice as fast and...

And fishing is always better
in the morning, hmm?

All right... off you go, both of you.

Thanks, Mr. Cartwright.

Thank you!

Hey, hey, how about
a kiss goodbye, young man?

Yeah, those two have struck up
quite a friendship

- for just a couple of days.
- No, they have.

Scott's having such a wonderful time.

Ah, he's a fine boy.

Yes, he is.

Looks so much like his father.

Did his father ever...

That's a... a difficult topic
to get into,

isn't it, Mr. Cartwright?

I... I sure wasn't trying to pry.

I know that.

His, uh... his father doesn't
even know he exists.

Along with everyone else
in Virginia City, he just, uh...

well, he thought I went away
to St. Louis to live.

Why didn't you ever tell him?

It wouldn't have done any good.

He was already married.

Uh...

I suppose I...
I could have told my parents,

if I could have lied about it, um...

said it was a mistake...

or an accident.

But it wasn't.

I wanted that baby.

I loved him so much,

and I knew I could never have him.

But I could have his baby.

A part of him...

that I could love
for the rest of my life.

Can you understand
why I wanted Scott?

Uh...

I'm, uh...

I'm not asking you to say
that it was right...

Because...

I...

I suppose I know that it wasn't.

But...

can you understand why?

Yes.

Yes, I can.

Oh.

If you were my father...

I think I could have told you.

Here you go, Scott. You're all set.

Now, all you have to do is hold
this pole nice and still, all right?

And I pull back
if the float goes down?

That's right.

How hard?

Oh, just middling.

Can you eat the fish you catch?

You bet you can!
And they're good, too.

Sure hope we catch some.

Don't you worry, we will.

Ooh, that feels good.

That feels good.

- Jamie?
- Yeah?

What's a bastard?

Um...

I think that's a kid
that doesn't have a father. Why?

That's what my grandfather
said I was.

Oh. Well, I...

It's not too nice
to call somebody a...

whatchamacallit.

Oh, he didn't mean it.

He was just angry at himself.

Oh.

- Jamie?
- Mm-hmm?

Where's your pa?

My pa died sometime back.

Oh.

So you don't have a father either.

That's right.

I guess we're both whatchamacallits.

- Hello, Ben, come in.
- Martha.

Can I get you some coffee?

Yes, thank you, thank you.

Zach just had
some cold stew for lunch.

- You're welcome to some.
- Oh, no, no, thank you.

I had a bite in town.
Coffee will be just fine.

Zach... how are you?

Fair. Middling.

Thank you.

Thought I'd stop by and see
if you'd join us for supper.

We won't.

Now, how long are you
gonna go on this way?

Ben, you saw fit
to give that girl a roof.

That's your business.

What I do and how I feel
is my business.

- She's your daughter.
- Not anymore.

Not anymore, she ain't,
not for the last seven year

when she went away to have her...

She only come back
because she needed money

and wanted a roof over her head!

I am not gonna
talk about it anymore.

I think we're gonna
have to talk about it, though.

If she had anything to say,

she'd have said it
seven years ago, but she didn't!

Would you have listened then?
Would you listen now?

Ben, don't you get
so high and mighty with me.

It's no skin off your back.

She's not your daughter.

I loved that girl once.

How did she repay me?

I didn't know we had to be paid
for loving our children.

I deserved more than
just a note on the kitchen table.

That's all there was, just a note,

saying she's "moving east,"
and that she would write.

You think that's
what she wanted to do?

Go off to some strange city
and have her baby?

Yes, because she was afraid
to face me with her sin.

Well, that's the first honest thing
you've had to say, Zach.

She was afraid to face you.

The one person she should have
been able to come to,

- and she couldn't!
- Because she sinned.

Because she made a mistake.

Even God doesn't expect us
to be perfect!

What right do you have to expect it?

What right do you have
to judge me?

Zach, please!

Just see Etta, just talk to her.

No! Go on home, Ben. Get out!

I don't want her name
mentioned in this house again.

Nice hot coffee, Miss Randolph.

Mr. Hoss gonna be sorry
he miss supper.

That is the best fish
Hop Sing cook in long time.

I caught the biggest one.

- I think it's just wonderful.
- Scott, put those bones down.

Oh, couldn't I save him?
He was the biggest one.

No, you can't save them.

Now you go on
and get ready for bed.

- You've had a big day.
- Yes'm.

Sure wish I could have saved him.

He had his head and everything.

Excuse me, I'll go and make sure
he washes behind his ears.

Thanks, Jamie.

You're, uh...

You're awfully quiet tonight,
Mr. Cartwright.

Oh. I'm sorry.

You went to see
my father today, didn't you?

- Yes.
- And?

Oh, I... I lost my temper,
and he lost his, and...

Your father is a very stubborn man.

He always was.

How was Mama?

Well, she...
tried to talk to him, but...

it was no use.

Oh.

I'd, uh... I'd like to borrow
the buckboard tomorrow, if I could.

I'd be glad to drive you.

No. No, you've got your work to do.

I, uh... I just want
to drive into town,

do some shopping.

Are you feeling well enough to?

Yes.

Yes, I'm feeling much better, really.

Well...

Uh, I think I'd better
go tuck Scott into bed.

I used to love it here
when I was a little girl.

Do you remember?

You don't have to talk to me, Papa.

I just want you to listen.

I know how you feel about me.

I'm not here
to try to change that.

It's the boy.

He... needs family.

He needs you and Mama.

He's a good boy.

Don't blame him for what
you think I did, Papa.

- Are you listening?
- I hear you.

Would you take care of the boy?

I'll not have you
living under my roof.

I didn't mean me, Papa.

Just my son.

You'd give away your own son?

Why?

I told you, he needs family.

You mean, he needs a father.

You should have thought of that
eight year ago.

Let's don't start that now, Papa.

Will you take care of my son?

If I take him...

will you promise...

that you'll never see him again?

- I promise.
- Swear it.

Swear that you'll go away
and never come back.

I swear to you on my life.

Would you leave him a note
on the kitchen table, too?

No.

No, no more notes.

It's done, then.

Papa...

Love him.

Oh!

Oh, I... sure am glad to see you.

- Well, feeling all right?
- I'm fine, Ben.

We didn't know where you were.
We were worried about you.

Oh, believe it or not,
I fell asleep by a spring.

When I woke up, it was dark.

Oh, uh, I'll get you
some hot soup, huh?

No, no, I'm not hungry.

Well, you have to have something hot.

How about some hot tea?

- No.
- No?

You know what I would really love?

- What?
- A glass of brandy.

Brandy. All right.

To celebrate.

Oh?

Well, what are we celebrating?

I went to see Papa today,
and everything's all right.

- Really?
- Yes.

I mean... just like that?

What did he say?

Oh, well, I don't remember exactly.

Just that he loves Scott and, uh...

well, everything is all right again.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Oh, that... that's...
That's wonderful!

Well, that's... with the way
he was talking the other day...

Oh, yeah, I can imagine.

Well, we really have something
to celebrate.

Here.

I'm very happy for you.

Thank you.

Mm, that's good news.

I'm going to miss it here,
Mr. Cartwright.

It's been so wonderful.

Well, don't talk as if
we're not going to see you again.

You're just gonna be down the road.

We're gonna be neighbors,

and I expect to see you here
at least once a week.

How are we gonna have
our fish dinners without Scott?

That's true.

But, uh... we will be leaving
in a couple of days.

I, uh... I have to go back
to St. Louis for a little while.

Um, just a... a few loose ends
to take care of.

Scott will be fine with my folks.

Of course he will be.
How long will you be?

Uh, not long.

Oh, you'd better go up
and see that young man of yours.

He was a little worried about you,

and he said
he wasn't going to fall asleep

until you went in
and kissed him good night.

Well, I'd better go up there, then.

I'll tell you something...

that boy is gonna be real happy

when he finds out
about his grandfather, isn't he?

You've had another big day...

my little fisherman.

And, uh... tomorrow,
we'll go for a picnic,

and we'll run in the woods.

We'll do all the things you like to do.

We'll use up...
every last moment together...

just you and me.

This way, Mom!

Oh!

Ah!

Oh!

Ah. Oh!

I surrender. You win.

You're it, Mama.

Okay. Okay, I'm it.

I'm a good runner.

Girls aren't as fast as boys.

No.

No, I don't guess we are.

I can swing on Jamie's rope.

He showed me how.
You want to see?

Yeah. Yeah, I want to see.

That's really a good sailboat.

And you're a good sailor.

It looks like
we're gonna see some rain.

Let's get back to that old shack
we passed.

But what about my boat?

Oh, we'll get it
when the rain stops.

Come on... last one to the shack
is a rotten apple!

I won again, I won again!

Oh, you did.

I told you boys were
the fastest runners!

You're more fun
to play with than anybody.

I'm sure glad you're my mom.

Hop Sing!

Hop Sing, get some coffee, will you?

- Whoo!
- Hey, what's the matter you?

You come in house all wet!

Make dirty the floor,
make mess on the rug!

- Then I work all day, I take...
- I... I do. Hold it!

It's my house, it's my rug,
get the coffee.

Your house,
you clean up mess yourself!

- I get coffee.
- Well, don't look at me.

You're the one who hired him,
you know.

Yes, hired him, but...

- I'll tell you, the...
- Hurry up!

There's something wrong with Mama!

Get Doc Martin.

Come in.

Zach.

Where's Martha?

In town.

She's not likely to come back
until the rain stops.

Zach, it's Etta...

she's very sick.

Ah, so she's sick, huh?

What is it, Ben?

I'll tell you what it is.

She's trying to get around me,

trying to make me
feel sorry for her.

- Zach...
- She said that she'd leave

the boy with us
so he could be raised proper,

she'd go away and stay.
Now she's pretending she's sick

so we'll take her in
and let her stay.

Well, she won't.
She promised she'd go away,

and this is one promise
she's going to keep.

You can tell her that from me!

She'll keep her promise, Zach.

She's dying.

I won't cry anymore.

There's nothing wrong with crying.

My mama is gonna die,
isn't she, Jamie?

What's it like in heaven?

I don't know, exactly.

It must be the prettiest place
there ever was though.

Are people happy there?

Sure they are.
Happier than they've ever been.

Did you cry when your pa died?

Yeah.

Yeah, I cried a lot.

If you knew your pa
was gonna be happier than ever,

why'd you cry?

'Cause I loved him, and...

and I never wanted him to leave me.

I always wanted him to be with me.

I guess I was...

really crying more for me
than it was for my pa.

You know what I mean?

Kind of.

But it's hard not to cry
for yourself sometimes.

She's in the room
at the end of the hall.

Martha is with her.

Papa?

What do you mean,
daughter, not...

Not telling me you were so sick?

I was afraid to, Papa.

I didn't want you to take my son
because you had to.

Because I had to?

What kind of talk is that?

He's my grandson, isn't he?

Don't...

Don't cry, Papa.

He loves me, Mama.

Grandfather!

Grandfather!