Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 13, Episode 21 - Search in Limbo - full transcript

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Come in.

Hello, Ben.

Everything ready?

All in order.

Just your signature here
and the property is yours.

Everything just like you specified.

Count it.

Well, that's not necessary.

Count it.



Your receipt.

And the Quitclaim Deed,
signed and dated.

Have a notary witness the signature.

I'll pick it up later.

I'll have it here by 3:00.

Oh, Ben, it's always
a pleasure to do business

with the Cartwrights.

3:00.

You'll take care of my horse all right?

Yes, sir, stable right out back.

Be with us long, sir?

Oh, couple of nights, I guess.

One of my... my sons will be...

arriving here sometime tomorrow.



Oh, yes, sir.

One reserved room for Wednesday.

Right this way, Mr. Cartwright.

Thank you.

5:00?

Is Langley out?

Well, ain't you heard?

- Heard what?
- About him being robbed and shot.

No, I... I didn't hear that.

Is he hurt bad?

He's still living barely.

Do you have business with him?

Yeah.

When did this happen?

Sometime last night.

Last night?

Well, at least you look
like you feel poorly.

Oh, Doctor, I...

I feel worse than I felt in a long time.

Well, it don't take a doctor to see why.

No, it's not from drinking.

I got a... I got a lump on my head

from somewhere
and I got this headache...

Oh, all right, all right, all right.

- Sit down, sit down.
- Feels like I got a fever.

There's a man for you, stoic.

Ah, you got a lump there.

Where'd you get it?

I... I don't know.

That so, not a drop, huh?

No, not a drop.

A fight maybe?

No, I don't think so.

Well, you put cold compresses
on the swelling,

take this powder I mixed for you,

see how you feel in the morning.

You staying in town?

Yeah, I'm at the hotel.

Well, you check with me
in the morning.

That'll be a dollar.

Oh...

Thank you.

It's open.

I don't suppose you're
shopping for a hat.

- No, ma'am.
- Men usually don't.

I am shopping for information.

Well, there's not much goes on
in Mountain City

I don't know something about.

Yeah.

"Gives the old biddy eyes in
the back of her head," they say.

But I don't give a hoot
what they say.

Well, ma'am, I was...

I was wondering if...

maybe you'd seen somebody,

anybody,

going up to Mr. Langley's office
last night?

I saw you go in, around midnight.

There's no doubt about that?

No.

That was the second time.

First time was yesterday around noon.

Of course you knew that already.

Was there something else
you wanted to know?

No, ma'am. I guess that's it.

Well...

Yes, there's one more thing.

What day is this?

I mean what day of the week?

Don't take no mirror to know that one.

Wednesday.

Been Wednesday all day.

Thank you, ma'am.

- Yes?
- I'm, uh...

I'm sorry to bother you, but I...

Mr. Langley was handling
a land deal for me and I...

he was to have a deed notarized.

- You're Mr. Cartwright?
- Yes, yes.

I was... I was wondering about
the Quitclaim Deed.

Yeah, it's too bad about Langley...

but everything was in order.

He came over here with it
and I notarized the signature

and he... went away with it.

When was that?

Well, yesterday, of course.

Yesterday afternoon.

Everything was in order.
I'm sure of that.

Yes, I'm sure it was.

Ben!

No, no!

Ben!

No, no!

Ben!

What's that?

Medicine. Drink it.

Well, what's on your mind this time?

It's what isn't on my mind
that's bothering me.

You got a point to make, make it.

Well, there are...

things that I...

can't remember.

A man gets a concussion,
sometimes that happens.

How long could that go on?

It depends. How long a time
you wondering about?

A day.

Mmm.

You figure you lost a whole day
somewhere, is that it?

Maybe.

Well, that's a long time.

But it is possible?

Anything's possible.

I seen it a time or two.

A man couldn't remember anything,

where he'd been,

what he'd done.

It's also possible a good night's sleep

could clear up the whole thing,

headache, remembering, everything.

I'll hope for that.

Thank you.

Yeah, a dollar.

No, no!

Ben!

No, no!

Ben!

No, no, no!

The whole thing's been...

unreal...

like a nightmare.

How you feeling this morning, Pa?

Well, the headache's gone, mostly...

but I still can't remember a thing...

except Langley's face.

You surely don't believe you shot him.

I don't know.

I guess I...

disliked Sid Langley more
than any man I've ever known.

Well, that still
don't mean you shot him.

Well, somebody shot him, that's a fact.

Somebody shot him.

And that look on his face,

that... mortal fear,

that... that was real,
that happened.

Pa, you're not just about ever

gonna convince me
that you shot Mr. Langley.

Hoss...

I hated his guts.

Well, we all did when he lived
in Virginia City,

but, well, we didn't shoot him.

But I had more reason.

And it's been long enough
for it to fester

and go into something big and ugly.

It's a possibility.

I just have to face that,
it's a possibility.

Maybe I don't understand.

Well, there was a...

girl, a young girl,

pretty as a flower.

You remember Langley...

always had a way with women.

Only this one was different.

When he was through with her,

she hanged herself one day.

I remember.

And Langley...

talked about it a lot after that,

like it was some kind of a joke.

Like she was another
trophy to hang from his belt.

Only she used a closet door instead.

Every time after that, every time I'd...

I'd sight down on a coyote
or a wolf, I'd...

I'd see Langley's face.

Sighting down on a man
is a whole lot different, Pa.

You... you'll just
never convince me that...

shooting a man just ain't your way.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Hey.

That makes that long ride worthwhile.

Sorry.

- Here.
- That's all right.

- I'm very sorry.
- Don't worry about.

It's all right, it's all right.

I'll get you a clean cup.

- Mighty pretty little girl.
- Yeah.

Seemed like you flustered her.

You think so?

Ain't you going to eat?

No, I'm... I'm not hungry.

- I'm terribly sorry.
- That's all right.

She sure upset about something.

It's like... we've
met before somewhere.

Yeah, but why would she be
afraid of you?

I went through Sid Langley's
files and desk.

I got the list right here.

Transfer papers, no receipt, no deed.

The deed's got to be there.

No. Not even a nickel of cash.

Well, it's of no value to anybody else.

Mm-hmm. Well,
now that is puzzling, ain't it?

Unless, maybe it could have been
grabbed up by mistake.

- Yeah.
- And like you say,

the only value it'd have
would be to you Cartwrights.

Unless there's something
you ain't telling me.

- What do you mean by that?
- Yeah, well, you just hold off.

He's got an awful lot
of you in him, Ben.

You always were a contentious man.

And what's that supposed to mean?

You just don't remember me, do you?

No.

I rode out to your neck
of the woods once.

I wanted to buy a herd
that was up for auction.

Wanted to start a ranch.

You got the herd, you had the cash.

I didn't.

Always remember that every time
I hear your name.

Well, I've made bids on any
number of herds in my time.

And got them all too, I'll bet.

But I've got Sid Langley in back here

and he almost comes around
every now and then.

Would you mind
stepping in there with me?

You're keeping a wounded man in jail?

Well now, you Cartwrights
just gonna have to get used to

the idea that this is a poor town.

No hospitals, nothing fancy.

We just, kind of, make do.

Right this way.

Thank you, Sharon.

Langley.

Do you hear me, Langley?

You hear me?

I've got somebody here
I want you to see.

Car...

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

Better fetch Doc Penner.

It's too bad.

For a moment there, I thought
he was going to come out of it,

tell us Ben Cartwright
put a bullet in him.

What about those fences, Pa?

Hoss, right now I don't even
know if we own the land.

Well, we're gonna
have to do something.

That sheriff ain't even gonna
take his eyes off your shadow.

- There's one thing I can do... wait.
- Yeah.

Well, we might as well make
our horses comfortable.

Hey!

Hey!

What are you doing down there?

Right at the moment, we're dodging.

No consideration anymore.

You talking about us or yourself?

You come for your horses

before I get the hay pitched down.

I ain't doing this for nothing,
you know.

Well, we're gonna
make you mighty happy.

We're not going to take
our horses out just yet.

I'd like you to curry them down

and board them
for a couple of more days.

Curry them?

That'd tire a man out, the way
you bring a horse back.

Bring him back when?

Well, like the first night
you were here.

Stiff with cold sweat, muddy.

That ain't no way to treat an animal!

You sure you're talking about me.

An old hawk's got better eyes
than a young'un.

It still doesn't mean anything.

Except I don't know what I did.

Where'd you put my saddlebags?

Over there on that there sawhorse.

You looking for anything in particular?

The deed.

I'll take that if you don't mind.

The pieces are all beginning

to fit right in place.

Mrs. Melody says you went in and out

of Sid Langley's office late that night.

The next morning he's found
shot, and then that deed.

The deed that don't mean
anything but to a Cartwright,

as you pointed out yourself...

turns up in your saddlebags.

Anybody in town could have
put that there.

And then the stableman
says you took your horse out

that very same night.

You ride anywhere in particular?

He didn't say he rode at all.

I'd appreciate it if you'd let
him answer for himself.

No recollections.

Well, I didn't think there would be.

What about the gun, Sheriff?

You check Pa's gun?

There's no need.

It was Langley's own gun.

The only puzzlement is,
why would Ben Cartwright,

with all the money in the world,

shoot Sid Langley
for a few thousand dollars?

Now that is a puzzlement.

Am I free to walk out of here, Sheriff?

Yep.

I just wouldn't walk too far,
you understand?

I understand.

Uh, Mr. Cartwright,

I understand you know
Zeena Harris pretty well?

I don't know her at all.

Oh, is that a fact?

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

How's your headache?

Comes and goes.

How do you figure the sheriff?

Oh, I think he's letting you
run on a long rope.

He's got a job to do.

I think you're being
too big-minded about it.

He's just waiting for a motive.

Like having known Langley before.

Right, and the rest,
and especially the rest.

You know, it's a strange thing...

when I was in that cell looking
down at Langley lying there...

all I could do is just
feel sorry for him.

Look, Pa,

we still got a little time
before the sheriff comes up

with something we're not expecting.
If you don't want to go with me,

why don't I ride on back and get
Little Joe and bring him here?

No, I wouldn't want that.

Well, can you think of a way
he'd rather have it?

Oh.

I... I seem to be spending

half my time getting in your way.
I'm sorry.

Or vice versa.

Haven't...

have we met somewhere before?

Oh, no.

No, I don't think so.

Well, good-bye.

Miss Harris.

I thought we might have a little talk.

About what?

Well, I don't like chatting
out here in the street.

Do you mind if we go to my office?

I guess not.

It's too bad about Sid Langley.

Yes, how is he?

Not good.

You and Sid Langley
got to be good friends

when you first rolled in here,
as I remember.

Yes, I suppose we were.

Folks suppose you were
more than good friends.

Is this what you wanted to chat about?

Sit down!

A man has been shot and robbed,

a man that you carried on with.

Now I'm going to
ask you a few questions

and I expect a few answers.

Then ask them.

What about Ben Cartwright?

What about him?

Now you and Sid Langley broke off...

it must be two months ago now...

and Ben Cartwright can buy
and sell a Sid Langley

every day for a year.

I never knew Mr. Cartwright

until he rode into this town
two days ago.

You didn't know Sid Langley either

until you rode into this town.

Now, if you want to play
little Miss Righteous,

you'd better learn
to live up to the name.

Do you have any more questions?

Just one.

Did Ben Cartwright ever
pay any social visits out to your place?

No!

Is that all?

What's got her upset?

He die on us?

Not the last time I looked.

You've been up to something.

Just trying to fit in
the pieces, that's all.

You'd have been a good surgeon.

You got a feel for carving people up.

You figure that girl
and Cartwright are in cahoots?

Well, you look at it this way-

you mix two men like
Langley and Cartwright

with a pretty girl and you're
just not surprised

when somebody
ends up like him in there.

What about the robbery?

Cartwright doesn't fit into that part.

Yeah, well, that's the puzzlement.

Make it look good.

Make it look like somebody else.

Why haven't you put him
in the other cell?

You wait at a salt lick long enough

and you're bound to get
what you're hunting.

Just patience, Doc. Patience.

What are you doing here?

Ma'am, I know, it's strange...

I just seem to...

remember this house and...

What's the matter?

Would you like to come inside?

No.

No, I'll be just fine...

sitting right here.

I got some hot broth on the stove.

Would you like some?

Oh, thank you.

Mmm.

Hot but good.

I'll get you some more.

No, no. This'll do me just fine,
thank you.

You know, a man gets so wound up

in his own troubles he...

he forgets about the little things
in life which make it all worthwhile.

A quiet place like this
and a pretty young lady, and...

and some good hot broth.

I like it here.

But...

I'll be leaving one of these days.

Are you fixing to move on?

- Someplace in particular?
- No.

Just places I've never seen before...

wear nice clothes,

eat at a table with linen and silver.

It sounds silly.

No, it doesn't sound silly.

It's just that I've never
done any of those things.

Never had a family.

I had a husband once...

when I was very young.

Touching scene for two strangers.

What do you want?

You. You're under arrest.

For what?

Murder.

Sid Langley died a half-hour ago.

I want to talk to you.

- What about?
- About a little midnight visit

you paid to Sid Langley's office.

I didn't pay any visit...

You were seen.

I'm sorry, Miss Harris.

I figure you might have a few
things you'd like to say.

That's the way it's been.

Little bits and pieces.

Things I know happened and I...
I just can't seem to put them together.

Well, at least that's a start.

I'm afraid that's about all it is.

Hello, Pa.

What are you doing here?

He joined us when we were
about halfway here, Pa.

He didn't give us much choice.

You shouldn't be here.

Would you have stayed away?

What is it?

I was riding here...

the storm had come up,

and a tree limb broke off and...

and hit me.

Don't you remember anymore?

No, I don't remember anymore.

I'm gonna try to help you
remember all of it, Cartwright.

This is as far as you go, boys.

What do you figure
on finding up there?

I'm just prospecting for the truth.

You Cartwrights can't object
to that, can you?

It'll be all right, boys.

Upstairs.

Now, Zeena, would you repeat

for Mr. Cartwright's benefit

the story you told me?

Zeena?

I was here that night.

Talking to Sid.

Mr. Cartwright came in,

he and Sid...

Mr. Langley...

they argued.

Go on.

They started fighting.

Somehow...

there was a gun...

All right.

And Mr. Cartwright shot him.

There's your truth from an eyewitness.

It could have happened that way.

It did happen that way.

That's the real truth of it.

Murder's murder,

whether a man claims
he can't remember is immaterial.

It all fits.

People saw you coming and going.

All your money isn't going to
buy you out of this one.

I'm going to see you hang,

the almighty Mr. Ben Cartwright.

And all over a pretty woman.

You and Langley fighting over her

like a couple of ranch hands
on a pay day, drunk.

He had...

Money in his hand...

a lot of money.

He was laughing.

And...

you were...

you were standing over there...

and you shot him.

What are you talking about?

That's why he called out to me.

"Ben."

That's the way it was, wasn't it?

The last couple of days
must have been as difficult for you

as they were for me...

because any minute...

I could have remembered...

that you shot him.

It's a lie.

No.

That's the way it was.

Do you hate me as much
as you hated him?

Because if... if the jury...

and the court...

and the sheriff believe...

your story...

they'll hang me.

Is that what you want?

You will have had two men
that you have killed.

No.

I didn't want to kill anybody.

I didn't mean to...

Tell him.

He promised to marry me.

I gave him all the money I had...

then later, he just laughed.

Told me to mark it up to experience.

I came here that night,

all the money was lying on the desk.

He taunted me, and we argued...

and I shot him.

I don't know how it happened,
but I shot him.

You were there,

dazed, not even knowing
who you were.

All I could think of was...

saving myself.

Later...

when you followed me
out to my place...

I put the deed in your saddlebags.

Take care of yourself.

That's the only lesson
I remember being taught.