Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 13, Episode 3 - Bushwhacked! - full transcript

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What do you think, Mr. Griswold?
Hunters, maybe?

Could be.
Maybe somebody's in trouble.

Come on!

Nice-looking horse.

Whoa. Whoa.

You know that brand?

Nah.

Blood on the saddle.

Ern...



Over there!

Get the canteen.

Pa?

Pa?

Just take it easy.

Just take it easy now.

Is he dead?

I don't know,
but he can't be very far from it.

We'll have to do whatever we can.

Don't, please...

Please...

- One last turn, then tie her off.
- Yes, sir.

Don't shoot.

Don't shoot me again.



- Don't you fret about it none.
- Please don't shoot.

Everything's gonna be all right.

Don't... Don't...

- Have her tied off, Ern?
- It's done, Mr. Griswold.

He's sure out of his head, ain't he?

He sure is.

You skedaddle on back.

Tell Mrs. Griswold I'm bringing him in.

Mrs. Griswold!

Mrs. Griswold!

Mrs. Griswold!

Found a fella up on the ridge
who's been shot.

Bushwhacked, looks like.

Mrs. Griswold! Mrs. Griswold!

What is it?

Mr. Griswold said to tell ya
he's bringing in a fella

who's been shot.

How bad?

Real bad. He's out of his head.

We know him?

No, some stranger.

Well, where was he hit?

Here, in the leg
and up here, in the back.

He's too bad hurt to ride.
We got him on a travvy.

You want me to fetch the doc?

We're not gonna pay a doctor
'til I know we need him.

You go on back
and give Mr. Griswold a hand.

Yes, ma'am.

You men, fetch me
some water from the well.

Leave that be, Julia.

I thought you wanted this sourdough
ready for the drive.

It will be.

Your pa's bringing in a man
who's been shot.

- Who is he?
- I don't know.

- We'll put him in your room.
- My room?

Last I heard,
we don't have a hotel here.

You can bed down in the sitting room.

Oh, and get those bandages we rolled
out of the hall chest.

Suppose he dies, in my bed, Ma.

Oh for heaven's sake,
don't turn queasy on me.

Gently. Gently.

Oh...

Yes, he's burning with fever.

Julia, get me some water...

From the bunkhouse pump. It's colder.

Should have
some kind of identification.

An awful lot of money here.

"Joseph Cartwright.
On behalf of Benjamin Cartwright."

Dated June 12, 1869.

Virginia City.

He's gonna need a doctor.

I'll send one of the men
into Lodge Pine.

I'll have 'em tell Sheriff Truslow, too.

Here, tuck this away someplace safe.

Don't say nothing about it.

You better wire his kin
in Virginia City.

Yeah.

Hey, Smokey,
back kind of early, ain't you?

Where's the supply wagon?

I left it in Virginia City with Bates.

Thought I'd better get here
as soon as possible.

Why, what's the matter?
Trouble of some kind?

I don't know, Mr. Cartwright.

Telegraph agent stopped me

and said he had a wire from
a rancher down in Lodge Pine.

That's right near where Joe is.

Yes, sir.

He said I oughta get that to you
as fast as I could.

Hoss!

Saddle our horses.

Two day's supply and bring them here.

Yes, sir.

Hoss!

- You Mr. Cartwright?
- Yeah.

Mr. Griswold said
you'd probably be along.

- I'm gonna show you a shortcut.
- How's my son?

Well, the doc was
working on him when I left,

but I've been out here
better than two hours.

Let's ride!

Griswold.

I'm Tom Griswold.
This is the sheriff, Bob Truslow.

Ben Cartwright. My son, Hoss.

- How is the boy?
- He's not very well off.

Come on in.

- Any idea who did it?
- Afraid not.

Doc Scully, this is the Cartwrights.

This is his dad and his brother.

How's his condition, Doctor?

It's serious, Mr. Cartwright.

Don't shoot...

Don't shoot... Don't shoot me...

Don't shoot me... again...

So tired...

I, uh...

I removed a bullet from his leg.

There's another one in his back
that's causing the infection. I'm...

I'm afraid if I probe
too near the chest cavity

in his present condition,
it might kill him.

We'll just have to wait and see.

He, uh...

He had this on him.

This is just the way we found it.

We figured that's probably
why he got shot.

The sheriff know about this?

He's the only one I told.

I wonder why anybody
would wanna kill him?

You'd, uh... You'd better
leave me alone with him now.

It's all right, son.

We're with you now.

Pa?

Pa...

Have
you been able to figure it out yet, son?

No.

Keep trying.

I'm so tired.

Do you know who shot you?

I'm too tired.

Think about it real hard.

Think about it.

I'll try.

It's a scorcher, ain't it?

This is where we found your son,
Mr. Cartwright.

It's government land, open grazing.

Whose ranches are these?

Mine, Ed Flanders, Bill Steen's.

A couple of others.

Are all those fellas outside right now?

Not all of them,
but they will be by dark.

We're moving out on the community
cattle drive in the morning.

We're headquartering here.

Have you questioned the men outside?

No.

I didn't see any need.

Why not?

Well, they'd have come talk to me

if they had seen anything
out of the ordinary.

- Did you look?
- No.

Tom told me
there wasn't much to see.

Looks to me like nothing much
of anything has been done.

That's not entirely true.

I've been looking for reasons
for the shooting.

You have any luck?

First, let me ask you,
did he have any enemies?

- No.
- Are you sure?

- Positive.
- None.

Well, then he could've
had some trouble

with that business deal.

No, it was a straight-forward deal.

We sold some horses to the army,

got paid in cash
and he was on his way home.

Then the way I see it...

It could've been an accident.

Somebody out hunting.

Accidentally shot twice?

Well, he could've been
shot by mistake.

Somebody out gunning
for somebody else.

Who?

Well, I don't know.

There hasn't been any feuding
going on around here.

No bad arguments, Tom?

We all get along just fine around here.

Where are we?

He's just about the same.

Julia, you go sit with him.

Dr. Scully might need you.

Ma, I haven't finished the dishes yet.

Oh, well, your ears must've
got in the way of your hands.

Get along.

What it boils down to, Sheriff,

is that all this time has gone by
and you haven't done anything.

Oh, now, hold on.

I figured that you were coming
so I waited to talk with you.

Well, you've talked to us.

Well, now I'll wait 'til your son
comes around and I'll talk to him.

Sheriff, that may not be for some time.

And meanwhile,
whoever it was that shot him,

isn't gonna be riding in here
with a sign across his chest

saying, "I shot Joe Cartwright."

So what are you gonna do?

Well, I'm not gonna be
badgered by you,

that's for sure.

Hoss, I'm gonna have a word
with Dr. Scully,

then I'll talk to the men outside.

Mr. Griswold, would you
have time to show Hoss

where you found Joe?

Well, we were gonna move out to
the drive camp before dark, but...

Oh, I'll see the supplies are loaded.

- He'll have time.
- Thank you.

No, uh, no great change.

His fever's up a bit,
but that was predictable.

I'm just checking to see
if I have what I might need.

Nothing will be done
without your knowledge and consent.

Do you expect the fever
to go any higher?

I do.

But how soon
and how much I can't say.

The bullet may be
the sole cause of the infection,

but bits of cloth or dirt or both

may have been driven into the wound,
adding to the problem.

You're wondering
about my competence.

In your position, if it were my son
with a bullet in his back,

I'd wonder, too.

I wish I could call on
another doctor for consultation,

but there's not one available.

Will this do?

Yes. Yes, that'll do nicely.

I'd like you to fill that with water,
put it on the stove,

and let it boil for at least 30 minutes.

Then empty it out
and bring it back to me.

- Empty it out?
- Yes.

Be sure not to touch
the inside of the basin.

Very well.

I have the usual diplomas
on my office wall,

but a diploma will only tell you
what school a man's attended.

Are you a surgeon?

I am.

I was a surgeon with the Union Army.

I served at Gettysburg
in the field hospital.

Once, Mr. Cartwright,
I operated 48 hours without stopping.

All gunshot wounds,

just about every kind
you could imagine.

You're very well qualified, Doctor.

Thank you for telling me.

Excuse me.

That's me, Pa.

Can't you see me?

It's...

Before I was shot.

I'm going somewhere, Pa.

Well, it could've been a horse
much like this one,

but he was riding a good way off.

Well, was there anybody else around?

None that I could see, no.

But there are a few draws
where someone else could've been.

Did you hear any shots?

None.

But I was over in Wet Meadow
when I saw this rider.

That's a good six, seven miles
from where your son was found.

Well, what do you think, Ed?

They'll do.

But we'll need about ten more head.

Well, you'll have 'em
by mid-afternoon.

Jim Fenton's bringing them in.

All right, come give me a hand
with the supply wagon tally.

Ed, Orv,
can you hold up a minute?

This is Ben Cartwright,
the man whose son was shot.

- Ed Flanders, Orv Pettis.
- Hi.

- Sorry about your boy, Mr. Cartwright.
- Thanks.

I'm looking for some information
that might be of some help.

If I'd have had any,
you would have had it by now.

Well... something you
might've seen or heard,

some little thing, maybe.

The big thing, Mr. Cartwright,
is I haven't seen any strangers around.

I haven't either, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, doesn't have to be a stranger.
It could be anybody.

The people around here
are all good, solid men.

No need for you to question any of us.

Somebody bushwhacked my boy.

And I hope you find out who did it.

But a man who's got
a son who's maybe dying,

he can go off half-cocked.

You just see your gun
ain't pointing in the wrong direction.

I guess maybe
he had a good reason

for being so hardnosed,
Mr. Cartwright.

Ed Flanders had a son... Nineteen.

Gunned down by a man whose brother
had been robbed and killed.

Ed's son wasn't guilty.

These tracks here
is me and Ern coming up

and this is where
we found your brother laying.

Really?

Sure fired lots of ammunition.

It's a wonder
somebody didn't hear him.

Not too many passed this way.

You did.

Well, we was just out
looking for strays for the drive,

but we might not have come
this way for six or eight months.

Yeah.

Mr. Griswold...

You say it was just
you and another fella?

That's right.

Then whose tracks are these?

I'll... try...

I'll try...

Julia... ask Mr. Cartwright
to come in, please,

and get some more cold water.

Is he gonna die?

Julia, please go.

But I... I can't get... away...

I can't get... Get away...

Don't...

Don't let it...

Can't shoot...

Name's Joe Cartwright.

On my way to Virginia City.

Ridge Trail's over there.
Top of the rise.

Kind of late for branding?

Some yearlings we did
in the spring.

Have to do them over.

Might as well have some grub,
spot of coffee.

Thanks.

If you're over Ponderosa way,
welcome anytime.

We'll do that.

Pass me the salt.

The fever is dangerously high.

The bullet will have to come out.

You said probing for the bullet
could be dangerous.

If the bullet is too deep
into the chest cavity,

it could be fatal.

Well, isn't there someway
of getting the fever down

without removing the bullet?

He's young and strong.

It's possible his body
might be able to overcome it.

But you don't think so.

I believe the odds
are gravely against it.

The bullet you took out of his leg...

How deeply did that penetrate?

Oh, not... Not too deep,
but it came to rest against a bone.

May I see it?

The tip isn't flattened.

That could mean that
Joe was shot from long range.

Maybe the bullets were
almost spent when they hit him.

Well, if... If that's true,

that might mean the bullet in his back
didn't go too deeply.

There's no way of knowing
until you start a probe.

No.

You know the risks involved.

If you want me to operate,
I'll have to have your permission.

Well, this...

This bullet didn't penetrate too deeply.

Maybe we'll be lucky again.

You have my permission.

Joseph?

You don't wanna go out there, son.

No, I don't. It's too dark.

Then come on back.

Where, Pa?

Here, son. Over here.

I don't know if I can, Pa.

I'm so tired.

You must, Joseph.

I'm so tired.

Will you miss me?

Yes, I will.

Come on, son.

You can make it.

Come on.

I can't, Pa.

Come on.

- Hi, Ed.
- Howdy, Fenton.

True you got a stranger here
that got bushwhacked?

Sure is.

- How bad hurt is he?
- Pretty bad.

Doc's still with him.
That's his pa over there.

Pa?

Pa?

How's Little Joe?

Well, the doctor's operating
on him now.

We just have to wait.

You find out anything?

Well, we saw some new tracks.

Looked like a couple of horses.

Looks to me like somebody
had been nosing around

out there after Griswold
had brought Joe in.

We tried to backtrack it, but lost it.

You know what I think?

If you bushwhacked somebody,

you might just wanna come back
and look around just to be sure...

But not if you're a stranger.

A stranger wouldn't hang around.

I sure would hate to think
it might be a neighbor of mine.

Sheriff?

Sheriff, do you have a hunting pack?

You wanna use dogs, huh?

Yeah, we can put 'em
on that back trail.

Hughie Woodson's got a pack.

I don't know, a cold trail like that
might be a waste of time.

Looks to me like enough time
has been wasted already around here.

You know, a little effort
on your part wouldn't hurt nothing.

It's sure worth a try, Sheriff.

Mr. Cartwright,
Dr. Scully wants to see you.

Yes, Doctor?

You were right, Mr. Cartwright.

It wasn't very deep.

And now?

Now it's up to your son.

Could I see him?

All right, just for a minute.

Thank you.

It's gonna be all right, Joseph.

Pa...

I'm here, son. So is your brother.

Couldn't get away.

The wheel...

The tepee...

What's that?

A wagon wheel...

Tepee...

I was too tired.

Wheel...

Everything is all right, son.

Go to sleep.

Shh...

Go to sleep.

A wheel...

A tepee...

Tepee and wagon wheel.

What does that mean, Pa?

He's...

He's still delirious.

And you... You stay here with him.

One of us should be here
when he comes to.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Cartwright.

I have to be leaving for a while.

Oh?

It's a matter of saving
a mother and a child.

Oh, yes, well,
when do you think you'll be back?

I'll be back as soon as possible.

I've given Mrs. Griswold
all the instructions necessary.

Oh, well... thank you.

- All righty, Mr. Griswold.
- All right.

Seems kind of foolish now.

I'm telling you, you're not gonna
accomplish nothing.

Somebody bushwhacked my boy,
and I'm gonna find out who and why.

Me and Mr. Cartwright,
we're riding out

to where we picked up his son.

Now, Bob, I want you
to go to Hughie's,

pick up them dogs,
and you meet 'em there.

All right, if y'all say so.

Come on.

Stubborn men, the Cartwrights.

Plain foolish, I calls it.

Well, I side with Ed here.

They ain't gonna do
no good with them dogs.

Well, there's something to be admired
in the way they protect their kin.

Well, that's their business.

We got our own work to do.

Let's get to the drive camp.

Boys are out in the South Fork,
picking up strays.

I'll go down, join him,
and meet you there.

All right, you men, let's move out!

This is where we found your son,
Mr. Cartwright.

The sheriff oughta be
along any time now.

Thank you very much.

Well, I better get to the drive camp.

Oh...

This pouch belongs to the sheriff.

I wonder if you'd mind
giving it to him for me?

Mr. Griswold?

That's your brand, right?

Yeah.

"T" for Tom, "P" for Pat.

My wife and I, we got it
registered when we got married.

The Tepee.

Yeah.

Tepee.

That's what Joe keeps saying
over and over again. Tepee.

Tepee and wagon wheel,
wagon wheel.

There a ranch around here
with a wagon wheel brand?

Yeah.

Orv Pettis and Jim Fenton.

They got the wagon wheel brand.

- They moved out.
- All of 'em?

All of 'em but the big Cartwright.
He's still there.

Be dark soon.
Don't give us much time.

- That's your Tepee brand.
- Yeah.

Now, some care
and a good, hot branding iron,

will make a wagon wheel
out of your Tepee brand.

And your son caught them at it.

He told us about the brands, didn't he?

I'm heading back to your ranch.

- I'll wait for the sheriff.
- All right.

- We'll follow you in.
- All right.

Come on. Come on.

Hyah, hyah, hyah!

All right, you stay here
'til I get over by the house.

Fire! Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Hyah, hyah!

Hoss, get inside to Joe!

Joe?

Hold it!

Ern, get in here!

Keep an eye on him.

He's all right, Pa.

It's gonna be a rough ride,

but we'll make it as comfortable
as possible for you.

I'll just be glad to get home.

We'll get that rig back to you
as soon as we can.

No hurry, Mr. Cartwright.

Me and Julia aren't going anywhere

- 'til Tom gets back from the drive.
- Yeah.

- You ready, Pa?
- Yeah, all set.

I'd like to thank you for the gaw-gaws
you made me, Mr. Cartwright.

Yeah, well, it's the least I could do
after that good nursing you gave me.

Well, uh...

I really don't know
how to say thank you enough.

Orv and Fenton could've bled us dry

if your son hadn't caught 'em
switching our brands.

So let's just say,
one hand washes the other.

Yeah, fair enough.

Ladies, we'll see you.

Good day, ladies.

So long.