Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 2, Episode 16 - The Courtship - full transcript

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Hoss, you know, I was just
thinking about something.

Uh, there's no reason why

we both have to go see
Josh Layton's widow.

Now, listen, big shorty,
you ain't about to saddle me off

to seeing some poor widow woman
all by myself.

Me being there's not gonna help
her any.

Yeah, but it's gonna help me!

Now, you're going,
and that's it!

Why?!



Well, because Mr. Layton was one
of Pa's best friends,

and we're supposed to be here
doing everything we can to help.

Besides, Pa... Pa told me to
keep an eye on you, anyhow.

Pa told you
to keep an eye on me?

What in the heck for?

To keep you from gettin' chased
all the way back

to the Ponderosa by some

hoppin'-mad daddy
with a shotgun in his hand.

And from the look in your eye,

that's just about
what's gonna happen.

Aw, Hoss, come on!

Joe, you ain't about to take off
with that pretty little filly

I seen you making eyes with
down in the lobby a while ago.

You're goin' with me,
and that's final!



Hey, Joe, come back here!

Joe! Joe!

Ladies, I-ladies, you can't go
in right now!

Oh, la-ladies, you'll...

I'm sorry, you'll have to wait
just a minute.

Now, Hoss, y-you soak yourself
real good now

till the porter brings you
something to wear.

Oh, and-and ladies, ladies,

I want to thank you very much
for your patience.

You wait right here, ladies,
and he'll be out in a minute.

Joe, I'm gonna whup you,
for sure!

Dad-gummit!

You get out of here!
I can't pay any bills!

Get out and leave me alone!

Ma'am, I ain't no
bill collector.

I-I was sent here
to help Mrs. Layton.

Who are you?

Hoss Cartwright.

Cartwright...!

Ma'am, ma'am, what's the matter?

Can I get you anything?
A glass of water?

My smelling salts.

They're, they're in there.

Ma'am, I-I sure didn't mean
to upset you like that.

Oh, forgive me.

It's just that I...
I was so touched

that, that you came
all this way for me.

You Mrs. Layton?

Yes.

I wonder if you have
a handkerchief.

Why are you looking at me
like that?

Oh, I, I'm sorry, ma'am.

I didn't mean to stare.

I just had it in my head,
I reckon,

that you was gonna be
a little... different.

Until a minute ago, I...
I was half dead.

Don't you worry, ma'am.

I'm, I'm here
to fix everything up.

Just... no wonder you feeling
so poorly.

Empty house like this would give
anybody the crawly skin.

I-I had to sell the furniture.

Ma'am, that's, that's water
all under the bridge now.

Now you go get yourself dressed.

Dressed?

Why, sure!

I ain't gonna eat by myself.

Besides, you-you got to show me
where a good place is.

I-I ain't too familiar
with Sacramento.

Now, get.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright,

I-I can't tell you how happy
you've made me

by asking me out to supper
this evening.

A pretty gal like you ought not
to have to think about nothing

but... living every minute
of every day.

I'm gonna shake up that attorney
of yours

and see what's hangin' up
that will.

Oh, it, it really isn't
his fault.

Josh had a lot of bills,

and all the creditors have filed
against the estate.

That's what's taking
so much time.

Mr. Cartwright, would you come
in for a moment, please?

I just can't get the back
of this dress hooked by myself.

Would you mind?

If that... if that lawyer
can't do the job,

we'll get somebody that can.

How long has it been since I've
heard a strong voice like that?

You Cartwrights are magnificent.

That's the only word for you.

Aw, ma'am, there, there's not
anything special about us.

Fact is, we're probably about
the orneriest bunch

you ever run into.

You can ask anybody in Virginia
City about that.

And what would they say?

Well... well, for one thing,

they'd, they'd tell you that
Hoss Cartwright was

about the meanest and hungriest
man this side of St. Jo,

and he got meaner
the hungrier he got.

Why, Mr. Cartwright,
whatever's the matter?

I-I don't know, ma'am.

Maybe it's the... the perfume?

Oh! I was in hopes
you'd like it!

Oh, I do!

What I meant
to say was, well...

Oh, there, it's all done.

That wasn't so hard now, was it?

No, ma'am.

You poor man.
You must be starved.

Why don't we go get some supper?

Good evening, Mrs. Layton!

It is so pleasant
to see you again.

Thank you.

It's good to be able to be out
among people again.

Your favorite table
in the game room?

The new roulette wheel has
arrived.

Oh, really? I must see it.

Ma'am, you feelin' poorly again?

Oh, no, no, I'm fine.

Jean...

It was, uh,
sweet of you to remember

the table I had the last time
I was here,

but I wonder if we couldn't have
something a little more private.

Of course, Madam.

Right here.

Our very best vintage--1854.

This champagne was brought all
the way from France, sir.

I'm sure you will find it
to your accustomed taste.

Mrs. Layton can vouch
for the year.

It's excellent.

Anything you say.

What's the matter?

Oh, nothing. I...

Ma'am, I'm, I'm just a cowboy.

I... I don't reckon I fit in
in a place like this very good.

Oh, I'm sorry. I...

I didn't mean
to make you unhappy.

Oh, no, ma'am, you-you didn't.

It'd take some doing to make
a man unhappy when he's,

when he's with you.

See if you like it.

Oh!

It's real good.

Ma'am, here's to a, to a whole
lot more happiness

than you've known the last
couple of months, ma'am.

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

I... I know I'll have it now.

Dang if I don't think that-that
vinegar's gonna make me sneeze.

It does tickle your nose,
doesn't it?

You think you can go on
avoiding me?

I came by to see you
this afternoon.

I was busy, Mr. Hammond.

I'll bet you were!

But I won't stand
for any more of it!

I want that ring back!

Let go of me!

Not till I get the ring!

That's just about it, buster!

Now you done it!

We'll take care of him!

I don't know what's the matter
with that man.

Ma'am, you... you're a lady,

and a lady ain't got to explain
no mean-mouth drunk.

No, he was a friend
of my husband's.

Ever since Josh died,
he's given me trouble.

He actually has
some ridiculous idea that...

that this ring Josh left me
belongs to him.

Ma'am... don't you pay
no mind to that.

Mr. Cartwright,
please take me home.

Everybody's staring at us.

Yes'm.

I guess I really messed
things up for you, didn't I?

Oh, it wasn't your fault.

He hit you first.

Yeah. Didn't hurt none.

I ain't got the manners
of a dang goat.

Mr. Cartwright, we're going to
sit down and enjoy yourselves.

And don't you worry any
about your manners.

You stood up for me--
for my honor.

You have no idea how
that makes me feel inside--

to know that someone cares.

Why, you're not only
a gentleman, Mr. Cartwright;

you're... you're wonderful.

Now, let's sit down.

I had no I-idea
how late it was, ma'am.

All that good food
and champagne.

I... I reckon I ought
to apologize to you

for keeping you out so late.

Please don't, Mr. Cartwright.

Can't we just...

just sit out here
for a minute longer?

Yes'm, if... if you like.

Do you think I...

do you think I was wrong?

About what, ma'am?

Because I... I was so happy
with you tonight.

Because for a moment, I...
I was able to forget.

Well, am I supposed
to shrivel up and die

just because my husband is dead?

No, ma'am. No, I...

I don't think that'd
be his wish at all.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright, I...

I just can't go back
into that empty house.

It's like a tomb.

And I'm still alive.

I can't go back. I...

I can't go back!

Ma'am... if you could...

if you could just manage it
one more night, I...

well, what I mean to say is,

I'll figure out some way
to get you out of there.

Well, what could you do?

Well, I'll think of something--
I promise.

♪ Jimmy crack corn,
and I don't care ♪

♪ Jimmy crack corn,
and I don't care ♪

♪ The boss man's gone away ♪

♪ Doodly, doody... ♪

♪ Doodly, doo... ♪

You have a good time
tonight, Joe?

Huh?

That you, Hoss?

Yeah, I ask you,
you have a good time tonight?

No.

No, I came right back
after I left.

Been a lot better off
if I'd have...

gone to see that old widow woman
with you.

Yeah.

Don't make no difference.

I didn't need you at all.

You feeling all right?

Yeah, I...

I ain't never felt better.

Well, you're...
you're talking kind of funny.

What'd you do tonight?

I went to supper
with Mrs. Layton.

Yeah, what's she like?

Nothing like we thought.

Oh, even worse, huh?

No, no. No.

She's... just different.

You been drinking?

Yeah, a... a little champagne.

Champagne!

1854 was a good year.

1854 was a good year for what?

Hey, Joe, you...

you ain't gonna sleep
in your boots, are you?

What's the matter...?
You didn't have no fun?

Oh, yeah, I had a great time.

Until that gal I met disappeared

and took my money pouch
with her.

Sorry to hear that.

You're sorry to hear that?

How come you're being
so doggone charitable?

I-I figured you'd pound me
when you got back here.

Pound you? Why... why would
I want to pound you for?

I ain't mad at you.

The lady, Joe...
she's a real lady.

Joe, I know what we're
going to do.

I done made up my mind.

We're going to take Mrs. Layton
back to the Ponderosa with us.

Oh, now, Hoss, come on.

Look, I know
how softhearted you are,

but Pa sent us here to help her,

not-not to adopt her
and bring her back home with us.

Joe, I...
I can't just leave her here.

Yeah, well,
you can't take her with us.

Look, you got to think about it.

We got a long trip ahead of us.

We got... we got two days
by stagecoach

just to get to Summit.

Then we take the buckboard.

It's another day
through the pass.

Now, what kind of a trip is that
for an old lady to make?

Sort of think maybe she'll
be able to stand up under it.

Yeah, well, I don't think so.

I think it's one of the nuttiest
ideas I ever heard of.

Well, don't make any decisions
till after you've met her.

We're gonna... we're gonna have
lunch together tomorrow at noon.

I done made reservations
with the garçon.

All right, where is she?

Oh, she'll be here after while.

She's probably out shopping
or something.

Pretty fancy chuckwagon,
ain't it?

Yeah, it's not bad.

Not bad at all.

What's the matter, Joe?

Take a look at the girl
over by the door.

Women like that
just don't run around loose.

Hey, Hoss, loan me 20 bucks,
will you?

Hey, second thought,
better make it 50.

Huh?

Well, look, I-I can't
impress her if I'm broke.

Come on.

Hey, look, she's smiling at me.

Give me the money.

There...

- Hi.
- Hello.

Joe...

before you... before you run off
with that other gal,

I... I'd like for you
to meet Mrs. Layton.

Ma'am, this is Joe Cartwright.

How do you do?

It's very nice
meeting you, ma'am.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Well... don't reckon

she's ever seen any country
like this before.

I guess not.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have
brought all this stuff along.

Well, for somebody
on the verge of poverty,

she sure had a lot of clothes.

Not to mention all those rings
on her fingers.

Well... a lady's got
to have clothes, Joe.

Besides, you wouldn't, uh...
you wouldn't expect her

to sell the stuff her husband
gave her, would you?

Well, if I was hungry,
I'd sell them.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright?

Is it all right if I walk up
and take a look at the lake?

Oh, sure, ma'am,
but be kind of careful.

Those... those trails
can get tricky at night.

Don't you worry.
I'll be careful.

Well, it's my turn
to fix chow tonight.

Why don't you, uh...
come take a look at the lake?

Supper's going to be ready
in a minute, Mrs. Layton.

Does the Ponderosa
look like this?

Well, ma'am, this...
this is the Ponderosa.

- It is?
- Sure.

We... we've been riding through
it for the last couple of days--

ever since we left
the stagecoach.

Oh!

Why, it's unbelievable that...

that anybody
could actually own all this.

Well, ma'am, it...

it ain't exactly owning.

I reckon the Ponderosa

holds about as much claim
to us as we do her.

It's more like a partnership.

Like we're all sort of beholden
to one another.

What I mean to say is that...

Pa won't let us cut a tree down

unless there's another tree
growing to take its place or...

...take a cup of water
out of the lake if...

if it makes the lake
go down that much.

Ponderosa's got a...
got a mighty lot to give.

Like Pa says, we ain't...

take one ounce out of her
that she can't grow back.

All my life, I... I never had
enough of anything.

My father was a drunkard,
and we were trash poor.

When I married Josh, I thought
that was all over with.

Now I... right back
where I started.

Maybe I...
I don't really understand

what it means to have enough.

But I do know one thing.

What's that, ma'am?

If anybody could
have enough, it...

it would be the Cartwrights.

Well, you're... you're kings,

and the...
the Ponderosa's your empire.

What chance has a...

a commoner...
to become a Cartwright?

It... might not be
as hard as you think to...

become a Cartwright.

Even for...

somebody like me?

Especially for somebody
like you.

Well, why haven't you kissed me?

Ma'am, I... reckon I...

figured if I ever put my arms
around you, you'd...

you'd break up like...

like one of them little...
China dolls.

Well, let's just try

and see if I do.

Hey, Joe!

Joe! Joe!

Come here!

Hoss, what's the matter?

Joe, me and Helen,
we're gonna get married.

She's gonna marry me!
Me, Hoss Cartwright!

You're-- you're joking.

No, I ain't.

We're gonna get married.

Oh! Congratulations!

Hey, congratulations,
both of you.

Geez, I can't wait to see
the look on Pa's face.

Ain't it wonderful, Pa?

Well, yes, yes.

It's, uh... uh...

Well, tell me--
tell me about it.

It all... it's so-so sudden.

Hoss, I'd like to speak to your
father alone for a moment.

Come on, Hoss,
let 'em get acquainted.

I'll get your stuff.

You don't approve
of this, do you, Mr. Cartwright?

Now, Mrs. Layton,
I haven't said anything.

I'd been led to believe

that you'd be
quite a different sort of man.

I... I'm afraid I don't know
what you mean.

What do you want me to do?

Pretend that I'm mourning
over the death of my husband?

Mrs. Layton, I wouldn't
want you to pretend anything.

I just assumed that...

And I assumed that you and I
could be honest with each other.

Honest?

I haven't the faintest idea
what you're talking about.

I'm talking about
what you and I both know.

About what Adam told you

when he returned
from the funeral.

Adam told me
about Josh's death...

nothing more.

You mean he--

he didn't tell you
the circumstances?

What circumstances?

Is there something more
that he should have told me?

Oh, of course.

Adam would want
to spare your feelings.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright.

I've been very rude.

Mrs. Layton,
tell me what it is

you think I should know.

When Josh died, he...

he wasn't the man you knew

or the man I married.

There's no other way to say it.

Josh was a drunk.

He drank himself to death.

I find that almost
impossible to believe.

So did I.

Until the debts started
piling up.

Till they started selling
the furniture out from under us.

Till I-I realized
I was married to a madman.

Adam should have told me.

Now, you realize

why these past few months
of mourning have been a mockery.

Living alone
in that empty mansion.

Keeping myself locked off
from the world.

And then Hoss came along.

He was so sweet...

so understanding.

For the first time in months,
I... I felt like a woman again.

I fell in love with him,
Mr. Cartwright.

I couldn't help myself.

I wanted to be with him, I...

I wanted to make him
as happy as he had made me.

And... well,
that's all over now.

Now, Mrs. Lay...

Helen, I...

Uh, you misunderstood. I...

Yes, I-I had reservations.

I-I didn't know...

All I want for Hoss...

is the happiness
that you want for him.

You don't hate me?

Hate you?

When I've been waiting
all these years

for a daughter-in-law?

Pa, I didn't know
you was going

to get this acquainted.

Well, after all, Hoss,

you know the way Pa is
with the ladies.

- Ah!
- I guess this means

you're going to give us
your blessing, Pa.

Hoss, when Adam gets back
we're going to put on

the biggest wedding
Nevada's ever seen.

Hyah!

Helen, this-this is a pretty
tough place.

I don't know whether
you ought to go in here or not.

Oh, what could happen to me?

I'm with you, aren't I?

Besides, it's so hot out there.

I'm just dying for
a cold lemonade.

All right.

King, ten, eight.
King high. Bet.

Is this a gambling place?

Yeah, sure it is. This...

They run one
of the biggest poker games

in the whole Comstock in here.

Really?
How exciting.

And what's this?

This is one of them
newfangled contraptions

you play with silver money.

It's just like gambling,
only you play with a machine,

instead of a dealer.

Do you think
I could play it?

Well, sure you can. Wait...

Be careful your fingers don't
stick to that crank, though.

Some folks
just can't turn it loose.

Oh, that's hard to
believe, isn't it?

I wonder
what they'll think of next.

Hey, you won first time!

Oh, Hoss, I--I really won!

How exciting.

Oh, I wonder if I could have
that lemonade now.

Yeah, I'll get it.

Howdy, Hoss.

What'll it be?

Uh...

give me a--give me
a couple lemonades, Charlie.

Lemonade?

Did you say "lemonade"?

One for the... one for the
little lady over there

and one for me.

The little lady seems to have
changed you already.

Ain't she cute?

Don't reckon she ever seen
one of them before.

Wish I'd never seen it.

Took $20 off me last week.

Oh, Hoss darling,
I'm having so much fun.

I wonder if you could give me
a little more money.

Honey, you just won
over there.

You already spent that?

Oh, but I just know I'm going
to make it pay off again.

I just know it.

- There.
- Oh, thank you, darling.

Two lemonades, Hoss.

On the house.

Thank you, Charlie.

Sort of a hungry beggar,
ain't it?

Oh, darn.

I was so sure
I was going to win again.

I don't guess Charlie's had much
experience making lemonade.

Hoss, is-is there something
you could do alone

for about an hour or so?

Yeah. I got to talk
to a couple of people

about the wedding arrangements.

But what are you going
to be doing?

Oh, silly--I'm going
to finish my shopping.

Well, I'll go with you
and talk to them later.

Well, Hoss, you know,

there are, uh... some stores
where ladies shop alone.

Yeah, I... I don't reckon
I thought about that.

You go ahead.

All right, darling.

Oh, Hoss, I...

I hate to be asking you
for money, but...

Oh, I should have done this
when we started.

How much you need?

Well, it's hard to tell. I...

Well, here, you...
You just take it all.

There's $300 there.

Get what you need,
and if that ain't enough

there's more
where that come from.

Oh, thanks, darling.
Where will we meet?

Uh, how about the mercantile
store down on the corner?

Oh, that'll be wonderful.

Now you take these packages
and put them in the buggy

and, um, I'll meet you in the
mercantile in about an hour.

Fine.

Ace... six... Jack... four.

You're high, ace. Bet.

Cost you $100 to stay, ma'am.

I'll see that
and raise you 100.

I'm afraid you don't have quite
enough money there, ma'am.

But I think the credit
of the future Mrs. Cartwright

is good enough for us.

Thank you.

Hey, hey, Adam!

Hey, Pa, Adam's coming.

Well...

nice of you
to decorate the place

to celebrate my return
from San Francisco.

Welcome home, Adam.
Good to see you, son.

Nice to have you back.
I got the message from

the telegraph office
that we'd won the case.

I didn't think
you'd be back so soon,

but I'm certainly glad you got
here when you did.

Well, I had my fill
of the big city, Pa.

Ah, what do you think
of the decorations, Adam?

What's the occasion?
Just because we won the case?

Well, that's not exactly it.
You see...

Yeah, well, if I let
Little Joe tell you

he'll string you out
all night.

Hoss is getting married.

What? -Yeah.

Yeah, wait till you see her,
Adam.

- She'll fry your eyeballs.
- See, she's a beauty.

And I'll tell him all about her.

Just get Adam's horse
back to the stable

- and have him watered down.
- Yeah, well I-I just...

Come on now. Come on,
do as I tell you.

Hey, well, hey, tell him about
that thing in the restaurant.

As a matter of fact,
I think you know the girl.

- I do?
- Mm-hmm.

Don't tell me that girl
over in Mormon's Crossing

finally got to him
with those gooseberry pies.

No, no. No, it...
it's Helen Layton.

Josh Layton's widow?

Yeah.

Quite a surprise, huh?

It's more than that.

I know how you feel.

A little unusual, so soon
after her husband's death.

As a matter of fact,
I felt the same way about it

until I... I talked to Helen

and she told me
the truth about Josh.

What'd she tell you?

Well, what's the point
of talking about it?

They're genuinely in love
with each other.

Pa...

she never loved anything
in her life

except a deck of cards.

What are you talking about?

She gambled away
every penny Josh Layton had.

She dropped $27,000 in one night
in a club in Sacramento City,

and that's what
started him drinking.

Well, she told me...

Why didn't you
tell me this before?

Last time I saw Josh,
he was dying.

Now, what good would it
have done to tell you about it?

He wasn't even cold
in his grave,

and she had found herself
another man

to buy her expensive jewelry
and dresses

and pay her gambling debts.

Adam, are... are you positive?

I am.

Gonna have to tell Hoss.

What's this going
to do to him?

I don't know.

Well, at least he
won't marry her.

Better let me handle this.

Hey, Adam,
you old hornswoggler.

Whoa.

Hey!

- Pa tell you the good news?
- Yeah. Yeah.

Come on over here and say hello.

Hello.

Helen, your beauty
always leaves me breathless.

Still the same old flatterer.

It's good
to see you again, Adam.

Were you surprised?

Oh, yes, I was surprised.

Well, listen,
let's get this buggy unloaded.

We can visit
the rest of our lives.

Uh, Hoss...

why don't you let Adam
put the buggy away?

Uh, I'd like to talk to you
about something.

Sure, Pa. What is it?

Oh, Hoss,

can't you see your father wants
to talk to you alone?

Yeah, but right now, Pa?

If you don't mind, son.

Good for you, Mr. Cartwright.

You just keep him busy
while I go in and change.

Hyah!

What's the matter, Pa?

Adam bring home some bad news
or something?

Well... in a way.

Well, what is it?

It concerns Helen.

All right.

Anything that concerns Helen
concerns me.

I want to hear it.

It's not going to be pleasant.

What is it?

Hoss...

you don't know Helen very well.

Go on and say it, Pa.

And when you're done, I...
I want you and Adam and Joe

to keep still about Helen
from now on out.

All right.

This is the news
Adam brought back:

Helen is...

Helen is a gambler,
a compulsive gambler.

Before Josh died,

she gambled away
every penny he had.

That ain't true.

Yes, it is. There's more.

Josh Layton was hardly resting
in his grave

when she began running around
with another man

to get more money
to gamble with.

Pa, you said just about enough.

I'm not finished.

Hoss... you can't think
of getting married.

She'll ruin your life.

She's no good!

Pa, don't you talk like that.

I ain't going
to listen to them lies.

Adam was there, Hoss.

He saw Josh Layton
drink himself to death over her!

Where are you going?

I'm gonna go ahead and talk
to Helen.

I'm gonna tell her what Adam's
saying behind her back.

Adam is telling the truth!

It ain't. It's a lie.

It's a dirty lie!

And I'm gonna make Adam
eat every filthy word.

Helen's got an explanation for
this, and I'm gonna get it!

Who is it?

It's me, Hoss.

Just a minute, darling.

Come in.

I just couldn't resist
putting it on.

This is what I wanted to buy
when I sent you away.

Oh, Hoss, you...
you don't like it.

Yes, I do.

It's... it's the prettiest thing
I ever saw.

Helen, I...

I got to talk to you
about something.

Oh, darling,
it's, it's so wonderful

to have someone to talk to.

But I'm afraid
I-I don't feel much

like talking right now.

Not with your arms around me
and... and this dress on.

It's been so long since
I've been happy like this.

If you only knew how miserable

those last months
with Josh were.

How he twisted the truth

until... till even
my closest friends

were telling
horrible lies about me.

Then you came along

and there were no more
yesterdays, only tomorrows.

But people will
still talk, I suppose.

They just have to be cruel

and, and twist everything
into a black, awful lie.

Yeah, I suppose they do.

You wouldn't believe them,
would you, Hoss?

You won't believe
what they tell you about me?

No.

Besides, it... it don't make
no difference

even if it were true.

It just wouldn't matter.

What's done is done.

And I don't want you worrying
about it no more, do you hear?

You're the kindest,
most understanding man

that ever lived!

Oh, Hoss, what was it

your father
wanted to talk to you about?

It was nothing.

Just forget it.

Well, son?

I know that you
and Adam mean well.

I'm sorry I lost my temper.

I didn't mean
to call Adam a liar.

As far as I know,

maybe a part of
what he says is true.

As far as I'm concerned...

Helen's and my life started
the day we met.

I ain't interested in her past.

And I don't want to hear
no more about it.

What's at stake is
your brother's happiness.

Pa, don't you think
I've considered that?

Look, I told you what kind
of a woman she is.

You told me what kind of woman
she was.

There could be a difference.

Maybe Hoss is right.

People can change.

Hey, Pa!

Yes, Joe?

Frank's here to see you.

Well, Frank, a little out
of your way, aren't you?

Mr. Cartwright, Adam.

Frank, now don't tell me

one of my boys
has gambled away the Ponderosa.

Not one of your boys, Ben.

Ben, I'm a businessman,
same as anyone else.

I took that in good faith,
figuring you'd honor it.

Well, that kind of proves
what I said, doesn't it?

I wish she hadn't lost
that much.

The way things are, I can't just
forget about $5,000.

Oh.

I'm...
I'm sorry it happened, Ben.

And, uh, I don't discuss
my customers' private affairs.

That's why I came out here.

Thanks, Frank.

Thank you very much.

You want to count it?

I don't have to count it, Ben.

Well, I guess this IOU
ought to show Hoss the truth.

Not a word of what
you've seen here.

Either one of you.

He shouldn't have torn it up.

Well, he was only
thinking about Hoss.

Well, that's all any of us
are thinking about.

We have to do something
about this.

We'll put a stop to it.

Hoss'll get hurt,
but I'd rather see that

than Pa trying
to pick up the pieces

the rest of his life.

You're right.

Now what do we do about it?

Where are we going?

Virginia City.

Virginia City? Whatever for?

I heard about
your little experience

at the Sazarac
yesterday afternoon.

Oh, yeah, you mean those
silly coin machines.

Wasn't that awful?

No, I mean the IOU for $5,000.

The, uh, dealer presented it
last night for payment.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

Pa paid it off in full.

And now you're going to ship me
out of the country

to protect your little brother,
is that it?

No, that's not it.

Hoss doesn't know
a thing about it.

Then what are you up to?

I'm gonna take you back
to the Sazarac.

I'm gonna give you a chance
to win back that $5,000.

You mean you...
that you'll stake me?

I'll stake you.

Adam Cartwright,
I like your way of thinking.

That's five, ten, pair of deuces
and a ten. Make your bet.

Your hundred and a hundred more.

King's up. Good enough.

Deuces are high. Make your bet.

Jack. Deuces are high.

Make your bet.

I'll see you that hundred
and a hundred more.

A pair of aces.

Doggone it, Joe,
you better have a good reason

for bringing me
all the way into here.

Mrs. Layton, it'll
cost you a hundred more

to see if you can improve 'em.

Cards, Mrs. Layton?

I'll stand pat on these.

Can they beat a flush, ma'am?

How much she lose, Adam?

Well, let's see.

Five...

ten...

15...

$20,000.

Don't worry, Hoss.

They're good.

I signed
for every one of 'em.

I'm sorry.

Hoss, we did it for you! I...

If there's one thing
that offends me

it's any display of violence.

Oddly enough, I was thinking
that very same thing.

I wonder if it would be
asking too much

to... to ask you to take me
out of here.

Dear lady,
nothing would please me more.

We, uh, might even have dinner
together.

Dinner? Oh, that would
be wonderful.

I can't think of anything
I'd enjoy more.

Pa, you think
Joe and I enjoyed doing it?

There was no other way.

Oh, I... I know you meant well.

Maybe there was
no other way, but...

well, Hoss is the only one
who can decide that.

You fellers gonna just sit here
and mope all day,

or are you gonna go out
and go to work with me?

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