Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 2, Episode 4 - The Mill - full transcript

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Hey, hey, Joe,
look who's coming.

Now that's what I call
a real fine-looking woman.

Yeah. You mind your manners,
'cause she's a married woman.

Howdy, Mrs. Edwards.
This is a real pleasure, ma'am.

Hello, Hoss. Hello, Little Joe.

My pleasure, ma'am.

Uh, Little Joe, why don't you
see after Mrs. Edwards' horse

while I help her down?

Yeah, well, little brother, why
don't you see after her horse



while I help her down?

Hey.

Joyce.

Ben.

- Oh.
- Oh, Ben.

Oh, it-it's so good
to see you again.

It's wonderful seeing you.

- Uh, you'll stay for supper?
- Oh...

Adam, you remember Mrs. Edwards.

Hello, Adam.

I remember her.

I just wasn't speaking
because I was so busy looking.

You Cartwrights certainly know
how to please a woman.

Uh, Joe, run and tell Hop Sing
we'll have a guest for supper.



- Right, Pa.
- Oh, uh, Ben, I...

Adam, Adam, uh, down in the
cellar by the north wall

there are two cases of Lafitte.

- Bring up a couple of bottles.
- Yes, sir.

Ben, really I...

Now, look,
you've come all this way.

Surely you can stay
for a little while.

Now we need a lady
in this house.

You know, I've got these
three grown sons,

and somebody has
to teach them manners.

Now, please come in.

All right,
but just for a little while.

I wouldn't go in there
if I was you, Mrs. Edwards.

It's nothing, Ben.

He's just our new hired hand.

He must be lost.

Pay no attention to him.

Suit yourself, ma'am.

Only, Mr. Edwards ain't
gonna like this.

Ezekiel, you can tell
Mr. Edwards

anything you want to, but
Mr. Cartwright is an old friend

and I'm going inside.

Anything you say, ma'am.

But I'll be waiting for you.

Your house is
so attractive, Ben.

It gets nicer with the years.

It's been years since you've
been in this house, Joyce.

Yes, I know.

I've missed seeing it.

I've missed seeing you.

All of us have.

How's Tom?

All right.

Just all right?

How is he, really?

He's still bitter.

He's been bitter
ever since the accident.

All day long he just follows me
around in his wheelchair,

and every night in front of
Ezekiel he-- he calls me names.

He-- he says
the most awful things.

Ezekiel--that-that man outside?
The hired hand?

He's more than just that.

Tom spends half the night
drinking and gambling

with his hired hand.

Drinking and gambling?

I thought the accident
left him incapacitated.

Only from the waist down.

Tom drinks himself
into a stupor,

and Ezekiel carries him
upstairs.

He never knocks.

He just brings him
right into the room.

And he puts him down on the bed
next to me.

And he straightens up,
and he looks at me lying there,

and he says,
"Good night, Mrs. Edwards,"

and goes.

Every night, it's this.

But last night...

Usually, Tom can't turn over,

but somehow last night
he managed to.

I woke up, and I saw him
bending over me

with a carving knife
in his hand.

He didn't move.
He just...

he just sort of smiled at me.

"You're so beautiful,"
he said.

"I can't bear to think
of my going first."

Joyce, surely you must know
Tom meant no harm.

I don't know.

He's always talking about death.

His death, my death.

I, uh, I've got to go.

Joyce, please, stay.

I can't, Ben. I...

Oh, T... Tom will be all right.

If only he could find something
to do

to take his mind off himself.

He...

Oh, I-I've got to go.

Oh, Hoss, uh, would you get
Mrs. Edwards' horse, please?

Right, Pa.

Joyce...

I don't like the idea
of his following you.

Oh, it's all right, Ben.

He'll keep his distance.

I'll ride along
part way with you.

All right.

Thank you.

Here you are, Mrs. Edwards.

Oh, thank you, Hoss.

Thank you.

See ya, Pa.

Yeah, well, I heard once
it was Pa's gun that hit him.

Well, that's a lie.

Eat your supper, both of you,
and stop talking about it.

Now look, I didn't mean
he hit him on purpose.

I meant he hit him accidental.

Well, that's two lies.

Well, that's not what
they say in town.

Well, that's Mr. Edwards, Joe.

Sure, he blames Pa.
He claims he crippled him.

Well, did he or didn't he?

He did not.

Yeah, well, how do you know?
You weren't even there.

I was there an hour later.

They were out after
wild mountain sheep.

Mr. Edwards slipped and fell
to a ledge

and Pa risked
his life trying to save him,

ain't that right, Adam?

They were climbing
up off that ledge

when they fell to another ledge,

and that's when the gun went off
getting him in the spine.

Whose gun?

Mr. Edwards' gun.

All right, then why does
he blame Pa?

Eat your supper.
It's getting cold.

Hello, boys.

- Howdy, Pa.
- Hi, Pa.

I'm sorry I opened the wine, Pa.

I didn't know she was
leaving so soon.

Well, we haven't had any of this
since Christmas.

You know, it's a miracle.

This wine, imprisoned in this
bottle for 20 years,

and each year it seems
to grow better.

Yep. I'm sorry Mrs. Edwards

couldn't make it
to dinner tonight.

But I'm sure glad to be taking
part of this wine.

Me, too.

Boys, I need your help.

What do you think
Tom Edwards could do?

What do you mean, Pa?

Well, they're out of money.

He's squandered everything
they ever had.

They owe everybody.

And he's always gambling.

That Zeke feller, does...
does he live with them?

Hmm...

I'm sorry, Pa.

I wouldn't want you to talk
with your mouth full.

He not only lives with them,
but they owe him, too.

Well, what about Virginia City?

Maybe he could clerk somewhere.

You ever talk with him?

Every time he opens his mouth
it's like poison pouring out.

Hoss, this was once
a wonderful man.

But he was struck down--
life struck him down.

Pa, I didn't mean to offend you.

They have a pretty good flow
of water

on their place, haven't they?

Who are we to say
that if we were struck down

we wouldn't be pouring
out poison, too?

Now, what were you saying
about water?

Oh, well, I was thinking that
there's no mill around,

and they have
a pretty good stream there.

We could, uh,
rig up a waterwheel,

build a small mill house.

They could grind grain.

That's a wonderful idea.

A wonderful idea!

Adam, I want to drink
a toast to you.

Hey, Pa, can we drink
to him, too?

He's a mighty bright feller.

Downright bright,

and a real pride and joy
to the Cartwrights.

Well, thank you, gentlemen.

Take care of my horse.

Anything you say,
Mrs. Edwards.

Well, did you have
a pleasant ride?

Yes.

I hope so.

At least that will compensate
a little

for all that you have
to put up with.

Darling, I know it's dreadful
of me to make such a fuss

when you go out, but you have
no idea how awful it is

for me to sit here alone
without you.

Let me kiss you.

Your skin is so lovely.

Your cheeks are pink.

Kiss?

I'm awfully tired.

I-I think I'll go up to bed.

You haven't told me
where you've been.

I, uh, went to see
the Cartwrights.

Why?

To complain about your husband?

Tom, please don't start
that again.

I love you.
I'll never leave you.

You know that.

I expect Ben received you
very warmly, didn't he?

Did you get any money
out of him?

Tom, please.

He's very rich, you're very
attractive, we need money.

Yes, I did go about money.

You know that property

that my father left me in,
in San Francisco?

Well, Ben sometimes goes
to San Francisco,

and I thought that he might
sell it for me.

Darling, what about that
property your father left you

in San Francisco?

What do you mean?

Five acres?

That should be worth quite
a lot, wouldn't it, Ezekiel?

Now, Mr. Edwards, you don't want
to go gamblin'

your wife's good land.

Oh, no, I'm doing it for her.

How's that, Mr. Edwards?

Well, she hates you.

This way, she could get
rid of you.

Now, Mrs. Edwards,
you don't want to get rid of me,

close as I've been
to your husband.

How would that get rid
of him?

I'd bet the whole five acres
against all we owe Ezekiel.

If he loses, then we don't owe
him anything, and he clears out.

Go ahead...

bet the land.

You surprise me, Mr. Edwards.

You think I stay with you
just for money?

You think I take care of you,
you think I carry you

up them stairs night after night
and put you to bed

just for money?

Now believe you me, Mr. Edwards,

I know I ain't fit
to tie your shoe.

But just living with you, sir,
and Mrs. Edwards here,

well, I've grown to you two
like it was home almost.

No, sir, no offense meant,
but I can't take that bet.

All right, all right!

I'll play you for five dollars.

Will you lend me five dollars?

You did give me
a scare, Mr. Edwards.

I thought I was going
to lose my home.

Good night, Mrs. Edwards.

Morning, Tom.

What brings you around?

Well, I was going into town,

I, uh, thought I'd drop by.

To see me, or to see my wife?

To see you both, Tom.

Sit on the porch,
if you want to.

She's picking grapes.

Good morning, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, that's a...

that's a mighty fine stream you
have here on the property.

I hear my wife paid you
a little visit yesterday.

It was good to see her.

Good to see you, Tom.

Is it?

Tom, I'll be straight-out
honest with you.

I made a definite point of
stopping by here this morning.

Got a little business
proposition

I'd like to talk over with you.

How'd you like
to make some good money?

There ain't much
Mr. Edwards can do

ailin' chronic the way he is.

Tom, I want to build something
on your property--

a moneymaking operation--

and when I get my money out
plus 15%,

then it's yours to own.

Huh? Did you hear that?

My wife goes
to see my best friend,

and suddenly I'm in business,
I'm rich.

What's the proposition,
Mr. Cartwright?

A mill.

A grain mill.

Now, there's none around
for miles,

and people around here
need a mill.

Now, you have the water.

I have a son who knows how
to put that water to work.

What are you doing,
trying to get something from me?

Tom, I said this is
a business proposition.

I'll put up the money,

and my sons and I will build
that mill for you.

What do you get, Mr. Cartwright?

Water rights forever?

I've already said what I want:

My investment back, plus 15%.

If I have that, I'm satisfied.

You mean...?

Hmm.

That sounds pretty good.

Not to me, it don't.

Would you be good enough

to let Mr. Edwards make his own
deal if he so sees fit?

Of course, sir. Excuse me.
Excuse me.

Never mind Zeke, Ben.

We've been thrown together
so much,

we're almost like partners.

My only thought, sir,
is for Mr. Edwards.

That's enough, Zeke!
Now you keep out of this!

Mr. Edwards, we have all those
people coming around.

All that excitement...

He don't hardly sleep nights
as it is.

Tom, what do you say?

Have we an agreement
or haven't we?

15%, huh?

Fifteen.

Now, you shake on that, we'll
have that mill up in a week.

- You make it ten percent?
- No.

12 and a half?

12 and a half.

I'm mighty glad, Tom.

Why, that mill will be
a great thing for everybody.

What do you think of that,
Ezekiel?

Wait till I tell Joyce!

Well, all right, Tom.

I best be getting on into town.

Oh, say, we can start bringing
the stuff in tomorrow,

if that's all right.

Oh, do that!
You do that, Ben.

Ben...

We'll be friends again?

Let me tell you, Ben,
in my heart--

when I'm not in pain, I mean--
in my heart, I never blame you.

It was my gun, my fault.

Bless you for coming.

Be by tomorrow, Tom.

Fine, Ben.

Thought you owned me,
didn't you?

Thought I couldn't even get up
to bed without you, huh?

I'll show you!

I'll take you to your wife,
Mr. Edwards.

Would you like to go pick grapes
with your wife?

I'll make me so much money,

I'll hire me a nurse
from San Francisco.

It'd be a real one, too,
not just somebody like you!

Now, I wouldn't get excited,
Mr. Edwards.

You're gonna have
another bad night.

You hope I'll have another
bad night, isn't that it?!

You hope I'll have
to call for you!

Where are you taking me?

To your wife, Mr. Edwards, I'm
gonna take you to your wife.

You forget about my wife,
you hear me?!

You get her right out
of your head!

Take me back in the house.

Yes, sir.

Ben!

Joyce! Whoa.

Ben, oh, how wonderful
to see you!

Does, does Tom know you're here?

Yes, I just talked to him.

You just talked...?

I think I have some very good
news for you.

I suggested to Tom that we build
a grist mill here

and that he run it.

What did he say?

He's all for it.
He likes the idea.

Oh, Ben!

Oh, I'm so happy!

If only this could make Tom
happy, too.

Remember the way he used to be?

I'll help you pick some grapes.

Ben...

what you're doing is the most
wonderful thing

anyone could do for us.

Now, wait a minute.

You're forgetting I'm making
a profit, too.

I know what you're doing.

Ben, about... about yesterday,

I've, I've never complained
to you before, have I?

I've never complained to anyone.

But all these years
I've been dying, too.

I know, Joyce.

Sometimes I think it would have
been better for him

if I'd left him.

My health, my...

just the sight of me seems
to infuriate him at times.

Just the sheer sight of me
just...

Just your beauty?

Oh, Ben, I forgot about that
a long time ago.

He's a cripple and I'm
a cripple, too.

How are you a cripple?

Because I don't stand up to him.

Because I take every terrible
thing he says to me.

Sometimes, he, he eyes me
like a stranger would.

He says things he shouldn't.

This may all come to an end.

You know, he was so happy
when I left him.

I think the mill may change
everything.

Oh, I hope so.

It's going to be a fine mill.

You know, Adam's very clever
with that sort of thing.

He's made some
wonderful drawings.

You're so fortunate
in your boys.

Hmm, hmm, three fine sons...

they could be half your life.

Only half?

Sons can't be everything.

Did you notice how blue the
mountains were this morning?

Yes, I... I saw them.

Well, it's starting
to look very good.

Coming along fine, Pa.

Hey, Pa, when's
Hoss gonna get here

- with those millstones?
- Should be real soon.

Well, we'll be ready
for 'em anytime now.

That's fine.

Oh, Ezekiel, glad to see
you pitching in.

I wouldn't want to give you any
wrong notions, Mr. Cartwright.

I'm just doing this
to please Mr. Edwards.

I still don't think
any good's gonna come of it.

Well, why don't you give it
a chance?

Oh, I'll give it a chance.

I'm just wondering one thing:

What's really in this for you,
Mr. Cartwright?

Hey, Pa? Pa, send me up

some more nails, will you?

Yeah, coming right up.

But it looks so complicated.

How did you ever figure it out?

Well, it's really not original.

It... the design is
actually a combination.

Some of it comes from the old
New England mills,

and some comes from the wheels
that the miners built

here in Nevada.

As you see, we've built a flume
leading to the top of the wheel.

Now, at the proper time,

we'll divert the water back
through the flume.

It'll pass over the top of the
wheel, striking the blades,

which will turn the wheel,
which will drive the shaft,

which will turn
the upper millstone,

and presto,
you're grinding wheat.

It's really quite simple

Adam, I think you're absolutely
marvelous!

Well, actually, the idea is
thousands of years old.

But imagine what it meant to man
before the steam age.

Hoss should be here soon
with the millstones.

Uh, which reminds me,

I'd better see how Little Joe's
coming along.

Oh, and I'd better see
about Tom.

- Hey, Professor.
- What?

Come here.

That's a mighty pretty assistant
you've got there.

Meaning what?

Oh, you're a sly one.

I was watching you
standing close,

bending over, sniffing her hair.

I know you bright boys.

How would you like
to shut your filthy face, huh?

Well, I'm just doin' you
a favor, friend.

Don't let her husband catch you.

He's still handy
with a rifle.

Ezekiel!

Come get me!

Excuse me, Professor.

I was so busy watching you
and Mrs. Edwards

I forgot all about
her husband.

I don't know what you're up to,

but don't make
any trouble for Mrs. Edwards.

It's about time you got here,
Professor,

- did some of the heavy work.
- Don't call me that.

What's the matter with you?

Just don't call me Professor.

Here.

Let me get that, Mrs. Edwards.

I'm perfectly capable
of doing this myself.

Anything you say, ma'am.

Wheel me down there.

I want to see
how things are going.

Yes, sir,
if you think it'd be all right.

All right?
Why shouldn't it be all right?

Come on.

I just mean
the ground's so rough

and your legs being so weak.

Must you always
remind him of that?

I didn't mean no harm, ma'am.

I was just thinking.

Come on, come on!

You know, Adam,
I got to hand it to you,

I think this thing's
going to work.

Thanks.

I, uh, I'm sorry about blowing
off all that steam a while ago.

Hey, well, that's all right.

I'm used to taking all the guff
around this family.

That's what I'm here for.

Oh, sure. You're really abused,
aren't you?

Here, put this plank up there.

See what I mean?

Got it?

Yeah. Why don't you
get some light wood, Pa?

Well, Ben,
you're really making progress.

Moving right along, Tom.

Any reason why I can't
be of some help?

Why, not at all.

As a matter of fact, I think
I've got the very thing for you.

Ezekiel, move his chair
in closer to the wheel.

Now, see these binder rods?

- Yeah.
- They need tightening.

- Uh-huh.
- Now, here's a wrench.

- Get to work.
- Fine.

Oh, Adam, isn't it wonderful
to see Tom working again?

It sure is.

What's the matter?

I just think you have
the most wonderful father.

Don't be alarmed, folks!

Just a signal!

Signal for what?

The arrival.
Look to the east.

Hoss Cartwright, charioteer...

Hyah! -...charging up
with a ton of millstones.

Come on, Hoss, drive 'em!

Get along!

Get in there!

Hyah!

Come on, get in there!

Whoa, whoa.

Whew.

- Well, how was it, Hoss?
- Fine, Pa.

Have any trouble getting
this load across the river?

No, not a bit.

Beats swimming with it.

Hey, can we get that?

Yeah, I got it. I got it.

Well, I don't know about you,
Mr. Edwards,

but I always go by the rule
you ought to lock the barn

before the horse gets away.

What are you talking about?

Oh, just a certain party
and your wife.

You know what I think
I'll do with you?

When this mill is finished,
I'll put a rope around your neck

and hang you
from one of the rafters,

just to celebrate.

Mr. Edwards, you know I'm just
protecting your interests.

Listen, you filthy snake,
I trust my wife.

And I trust Ben Cartwright.

He's my friend.

And if you ever again put one of
your rotten, suspicious thoughts

in my mind, so help me heaven,
I'll kill you.

Your friend, Mr. Edwards?

I wasn't talking about him,

I was talking about
his son Adam.

Watch your hands
down there with that, Pa.

- All right.
- Let me get this out of there.

Let's heave.

Easy, now.

- Easy.
- Easy.

Okay, let her slide down.

Easy does it.

Watch your hands, Pa.

Now let it slip.

Well, now, I ain't, I ain't
saying she did anything.

But the point is...

Look, just tell me if you saw
anything or you didn't

between her and Adam.

Mr. Edwards, I don't want you
getting excited.

Never mind about that!
Just tell me what you saw.

Well, Adam was...

Well, he was kind of...

brushing up against her
here and there.

Did he touch her?

No, not exactly. It's...

Well, it's his eyes, you know.

When she wasn't looking at him.

His eyes was--
well, you know what I mean.

They... were just kind of
touching her all over.

Course, you got to admit,
that Adam is a good-looking boy.

With a little bit of luck,

we'll have this mill
running by tonight.

Tom!

Tom, they think they'll have
the wheel going by tonight.

Isn't that wonderful?

Do you know what I think
we should have?

A party.
And let's dance,

and let's grind the first grain,
and have the neighbors in.

Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful
to have music again?

I'll bet you'd like to dance,
wouldn't you?

Well, just to hear the music
would be enough.

Bet you'd like
to dance with Adam.

I beg your pardon?

What's all this
between you and Adam?

Between me and Adam?

Ever since the mill started,

you've been
tagging each other around.

Tom, I don't understand you.

You understand me.

You're a woman, aren't you?

You're young, you're lovely.

Don't tell me you don't know
what I'm talking about!

Tom, on my word of honor,

no such thought for Adam
ever entered my mind.

Then why are you so happy?

Why have you been smiling
ever since this mill started?!

Because of you.

Because I thought it would start
your life again, and my life!

You haven't been
tagging Adam around?

No!

Brushing against him,
leaning against him?

No.

Laughing with him at me?!

No.

You have, both of you!

You've been tagging
each other around

like a couple of
simpering lovebirds!

What's going on?

I don't know.

Looks like Ezekiel
has done his work.

Ezekiel, get me out of here!

Excuse me, Mrs. Edwards.

You got him so upset,
I'd better take him inside

and lay him down for a while.

Ezekiel, do I have you
to thank for this?

No, ma'am.

I didn't tattle on you,
if that's what you mean.

If you come near my wife again,

Adam Cartwright,
I'll kill you both!

Pa, I give you my word.

It's Ezekiel; he's warped
and twisted Edwards' mind.

Pa, maybe we better
stop working the mill.

After I lugged
these-these stones in here?

We'll finish this mill.

Pa, a man as mixed-up as that's
liable to kill somebody.

Keep working.

Joyce!

Joyce! Joyce!

Joyce.

Oh, Ben, please go away
and leave me alone.

Joyce, come on, now.

Let it out.

I've never been
so humiliated, so ashamed.

I don't know what to do.

All right, now,
take it easy, Joe.

You'll ruin the whole thing.

Look, I told you
it wouldn't fit, Adam.

You made the shaft too short.

Come on, now, lift!
Now, lift, Hoss!

Dang it, Adam,
if I lift any more,

I'm gonna lift
the whole earth up!

Lift!

Ah, come on, will you, Adam?

Whew!

- Let's call it quits.
- Quit?

Yeah, quits.

We did enough work today
for ten men.

Ah, come on, Joe,
give me a few more minutes.

I'm hungry, Adam.

Adam, you give me one reason
why I ought to break my back.

Because I want to see it work.

I want to see
this mill grind wheat.

I want to eat bread
from this mill that we built!

You do?

I do.

He does?

He does.

Why didn't you say so, brother?

Come on, let's get to work.

All right, all together now!

All right, let's go!
One, two, heave!

And in she goes!

- Hey! -Hey! -Now get the other
side over there.

Hey, wait till
I get this board up.

Let's go!
One, two, heave!

Heave!

- Hey!
- Hey!

- Hey, way to go, brother!
- Hey, look, it rolls!

Hoss, get up to
the diversion gate.

When I give you the signal,
let the water in the flume.

Right.

Hey, Adam, don't you think
we ought to wait for Pa?

Pa said to get it done,
and that's what we're gonna do.

Now get up there

and let up that sluice gate
when I tell you.

Aye, aye, sir.

All right, Hoss, let her go!

Hey, it's filling up
the flume, Adam.

You all set?

Let it go.

Here she comes!

- Hey!
- Hey, boys, it's working!

- Hey! Hey!
- It's working!

- Hot dog, look at that thing go!
- Oh!

Oh, mill stone,
oh, grind our wheat!

Oh, wheat, make our bread!

And, oh, bread, make us
as bright as our brother Adam!

- Amen!
- Amen! Yeah!

- Wheat! Wheat!
- Way to go, Adam!

We got to get some wheat!

Get it!

Hot dog, look at it!

Tom?

Hey, Adam...!

Hey, maybe we better
get up there.

No. Wait.

Come on in, whoever you are!

Well, Cartwright.

What do you want?

If there's one thing
I don't want

it's people shooting at me
without a reason.

I got a reason, best reason
my wife.

Where is she?

That's right. Where is she?

Mr. Edwards here has been
worried about her.

And it ain't good
for him to worry.

How should I know
where his wife is?

You ought to know where she is.

She's with your father,
ain't she?

He run off after her.

Didn't think I knew, did you?

I know.

Ezekiel told me.

I know all about your father,
too, from a long way back.

It's not the first time
he betrayed me.

He shot me in the spine!

My father didn't shoot you,
and you know it.

I don't know any such thing.

I know it was you Cartwrights
caused all my trouble.

Mr. Edwards, you're wrong.

Real wrong.

But I didn't come here
to argue with you.

I just come to tell you
that your mill is finished.

We got it going.

You think the mill
solves everything, don't you?

You know what I'm gonna do
with your mill?

I'm gonna destroy it;
I'm gonna burn it to the ground!

Does Ben Cartwright think he can
buy my wife with a mill?

You mark my words.

Before I'll let him
steal my wife, I'll kill him!

And her, too!

Ezekiel.

If you're really his friend,

you'll get these wild ideas
out of his head.

I am his friend, Mr. Cartwright.

But what's right is right.

A man has a simple duty
to protect his home.

Ben...

I'll always remember this time
we've had together today.

It was as though we had
escaped to another world.

It's been that way for me, too.

Ben, look!

The wheel is turning!

Oh!

Oh, isn't it beautiful?

It certainly is.

Joyce, I just can't
let you go back.

Ben, please, I...

At least spend the night with us
at the Ponderosa.

Don't go back to that house--
not right now.

I'm not afraid.

Tom and Ezekiel will be so drunk
they won't even hear me come in.

Besides, with the mill and all,

perhaps it will be
different again.

I've got to give him
that chance.

Well... just to be sure
everything's all right, I'll...

I'll ride by first thing
in the morning.

Ben... thank you.

For everything.

Pa, we've been waiting for you.

Oh? Why?

I was a little worried
about you.

That's mighty
thoughtful of you, Adam,

but I have a feeling I'm old
enough to take care of myself.

I, uh, ran into some trouble
over at the Edwards' place.

What sort of trouble?

Tom took a shot at me.

- No, I can't believe that.
- Neither could I.

I went up to the ranch

to tell him that we'd finished
with the mill,

and he and that hired hand
of his were glassy-eyed drunk.

Well, what started it?
What brought it on?

I don't know.
Tom had some wild idea

about you and Joyce
being off someplace together,

and he was making threats
about killing you

if you didn't stay away
from her.

Where are you going?

Going right back to that house
as fast as I can make it.

If that man touches Joyce...

Hyah!

- Pa?
- What?

Want me to go with you?

No. You stay here.

I'll handle this alone.

Pa.

Tom's suspicion
about you and Joyce--

it isn't true, is it?

Suppose it were, Adam.

How would you feel about it?

I'd say that if there ever
was a chance,

she couldn't do any better.

I'd be happy for both of you.

Thank you for that, Adam.

That does it, Mr. Edwards.

It's my house now.

Your house.

Your money.

Your strength that packs me
upstairs and puts me to bed.

But she's my wife, Ezekiel.

You hear that? She's my wife!

That's right-- your wife.

You owe me quite a bit,
Mr. Edwards.

I've got a mill.

It'll grind flour.

I'll make money.

Ain't you forgetting something?
I won that mill.

I'll pay you some way.

I'll pay you.

Now that you mention it,
there is a way--an easy way.

You like to gamble, don't you?

What are you driving at?

I just want to make
one more bet with you--

just one cut of the cards.

If I lose,

you don't owe me anything,
Mr. Edwards-- not a thing.

You get the house back
and all the money you owe me.

If I lose--

what do I still own
you don't already have?

Well, just one cut of the cards
can prevent that, Mr. Edwards.

A gambler like you
ought to jump at the chance.

Somebody ought to kill you.

Somebody ought to stop you.

Well, maybe somebody will.

But that ain't going to be you,
is it, Mr. Edwards?

Looks like my king
beats your nine.

Ezekiel.

Would you mind bringing
Mr. Edwards up to our room now?

I don't have to do that no more,
Mrs. Edwards.

That's my room now.

That's where I'm going to sleep.

Even drunk as you are,
you know that's not true.

Isn't it?

You ask your husband.

What does he mean?

Mrs. Edwards, there
are some things going on here

I think you ought to know about.

Tom, what is he saying?

He won the bet.

What bet?

What do you mean?

Oh, you're just as drunk
as he is.

You don't even know
what you're saying.

No, he's right, Mrs. Edwards.

I won the bet.

Tom, tell him
to get away from me!

Help me!

I can't help you, Joyce.

I can't help you.

You might as well get used
to the idea, Mrs. Edwards.

From now on, there ain't going
to be nobody but...

Get away from me!

You touch me, and I'll kill you!

I don't know how I'll do it,
but I'll kill you!

Of course, she'll get over that,

soon as she calms down a bit.

Will she, Ezekiel?

Are you sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Why shouldn't I be?

You heard her.

She said she'd kill you first.

Maybe someone is going
to stop you, after all.

Hello, Mr. Cartwright.

You should knock
before you come into my home.

Ben.

Get out of here.

No, Mr. Cartwright.

Everything here belongs
to me now.

You see, I've taken
Mr. Edwards' place.

Even this chair belongs to me.

Come on, Joyce.

Oh, now,
stay right where you are,

Mr. Cartwright.

I wouldn't want
to have to hurt you.

Now, you lay your pistol belt
on that table.

Why are you sitting
in that wheelchair?

You're not crippled.

That's right--I'm not.

I just want to get
the feel of it.

I want to know
how Mr. Edwards felt

when he sat in it.

I want to know
how Mr. Edwards felt

about everything.

Come on, Joyce.

- Let's get out of here.
- No!

Now... now, you can't,
Mr. Cartwright.

She belongs to me, too,
don't you understand?

Look. Look, I-I have it
all here.

I kept track of every bet
I made with Mr. Edwards.

He gambled away everything,

and tonight,
he gambled away his wife.

Well, if you won
everything from him,

why did you kill him?

Well... well, he tried
to go back on a bet.

You-you know a man
can't do that.

Ezekiel...

You see...

You're very tired.

Why don't you rest
and we can talk about it?

Go on, Joyce.

No! No.

No. Wh-where is she going?

Just outside.

No, no. She can't, now.

Mr. Edwards told you
that if you tried

to steal his wife,
he'd kill you.

I'm the same as Mr. Edwards now,

so if you try to take her,

I'm going to have to kill you.

Oh!

Ben! Oh!

Joyce, this is, uh...
this is what you want to do?

I've had a lot of time
to think this past week,

and, uh... well,
I have friends in Denver.

I'd stay with them,
and then I'll move on east.

All right, you... you go,

and after a few weeks or...
or months,

well, then, you can decide
what you want to do.

Now, whatever you do,

don't sell the mill--
you use it.

Uh, Joyce, when you come back...

Ben...

I love you...

But I could never come back.

I need you.

Remember you told me once

that when
Little Joe's mother died

you had to get away--
had to meet new people?

Well, think of it that way.

Well, uh... I'll drive you
into Virginia City.

I'd rather we say good-bye here.

It isn't easy for me, either.

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