Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 6, Episode 33 - The Spotlight - full transcript

NARRATOR: The following
program is brought to you

in living color on NBC.

It's about time
you got here, Ben.

What's the matter?

Real trouble, inside.

[PEOPLE ARGUING]

MAN: I suggest that
this town of Virginia City...

Ladies and gentlemen,
please, please.

Well, we thought perhaps you
weren't coming, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, I'm sorry I'm
late, Mrs. Brown.

But now that I am here, would
everybody please be seated?



Speaking for the
ladies of this town,

I would like to make one
point clear, Mr. Cartwright.

We do not approve of the plans

for celebrating the town
anniversary next month.

Well, Mrs. Brown, I thought
this meeting had been called

in order to make the plans
for the anniversary celebration.

Now, how can we disapprove of
them if we haven't made them yet, heh?

Because of last year
and the year before that.

The same thing.

Riding and roping
contests in the afternoon

and a box social at night.

- It never changes. CHARLIE:
Why should it change?

[ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Everybody always has a good
time. And I don't see any reason...



Please, please, please.

Charlie, I think Mrs. Brown
has a point. Let's hear her out.

The whole point is, Ben, you
men enjoy the riding and roping

while we women spend all
our time preparing the food.

Now, we don't mind
that. We do it all the time.

But an anniversary celebration
ought to be something special,

a treat for us as
well as the men.

Don't you agree?

CHARLIE: Why should it change?
- That's right.

Everybody always
has a good time.

Look, Mrs. Brown, I
think, has a valid point.

Other towns put on
plays. They give recitals.

Perhaps we might even find a
touring Shakespearean company.

- Oh, now, enough is enough, Edna.
- Heh.

You're gonna ruin the whole
shebang with your highfalutin ideas.

Shakespeare. Ah!

That was only a suggestion.

And I suggest we keep the
celebration just like it's always been.

[ALL CHATTERING]

- I don't see any...
BEN: Order. Order.

Now, wait a minute. Let's have a
little order, ladies and gentlemen.

We have a committee
here of seven?

Mrs. Brown, would
you sit down, please?

We're seven of us here.

Let's have a vote.

All those who are opposed
to Mrs. Brown's suggestion,

put up your right hand.

All right. Now all those in favor
of Mrs. Brown's suggestion,

put up your right hand.

That's 4-to-3.

[GASPS]

Thank you, Ben.

All right, now that we've taken
up your proposition and passed it,

I think it behooves
you to go out

and get the best danged
entertainment you can find.

Me?

I don't know a soul
outside of Virginia City.

But with your contacts, well,
you're the logical one for the job.

- Me? MAN: Why not?

All those in favor of giving this
job to Ben Cartwright, stand up.

Well, now, don't feel bad, Ben.

Maybe as a last resort
you can get up on stage

and read us some of
that Shakespeare yourself.

[ALL LAUGH]

Shakespeare.

You wanna read some
Shakespeare, Buck?

AMOS: Oh, Howdy, Ben.

- How are you, Amos?
- What can I do for you?

Well, I, uh, heh, I
don't rightly know.

I, uh, I came in to see
if I might find some,

some idea for
some entertainment,

you know, for the
anniversary celebration.

Aren't we gonna have the
usual riding and roping contests?

Oh, sure, oh, sure, we're
gonna have all of that.

The entertainment committee thought
they might like to go beyond that.

You know, uh,

have something... Well, I
thought I might find some idea here

among some old
playbills or something.

Wow. We've booked about
everything you can think of.

Uh, acrobats, dog acts...

Oh, no, they were thinking of
something a little more cultural,

like, uh, you know, actors,
opera singers, something like that.

Something like that.

Well, you might look over
those old posters on the table.

- Hmm?
- Yeah.

Uh, the boys will sure be disappointed
if we don't have the riding and roping.

Oh, we're gonna have all, heh,
the riding and roping we can use

but this is, uh,
just for the ladies.

- The ladies.
- Mm-hm.

Hmm, yeah. They're always
after me to put on more opry.

Oh, you find something, Ben?

- Yeah, I might have at that.
- Huh?

Oh, that one.

Had her booked in here
three or four years ago.

Then she canceled
at the last minute.

Heh, caused me no end
of trouble replacing her.

Yeah, I remember, heh.

I was very disappointed
when she didn't get here.

She has a beautiful voice.

- Oh, you've heard her?
- Yeah.

Well, that was a long time ago.

Amos, where could I find her?

Well, the booking and cancellation
was made out of San Francisco.

San Francisco.

That's a long way.

But I might just go
there and try to find her.

Bunch of the fellows got together,
see, and that danged Charlie Caruthers,

he done and nominated Pa.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Shh.

- Hi, Pa.
- Hello, boys.

- How you doing, Pa?
- Oh, pretty good. Glad to be home.

Anything exciting
happen in town?

No, not that I can think of.

You know, we, uh, heard
that they're gonna paint

the town hall all new
for the celebration.

Of course, that's just
something we heard.

BEN: Yeah, I heard that too.

I sure hope that celebration this
year is as good as it was last year.

Hmm, it was a humdinger.

- A humdinger.
- HOSS: Hmm.

And why shouldn't it be?

Oh, no reason, Pa, uh,

I mean, I just hope I win as many of
the contests as I did last year. Yeah.

Well, there's a lot more to life

than just winning some
riding and roping contests

or vying for blue
ribbons, you know.

Well, that's for certain.

You can say that again.

Well, I mean,
there's a lot of things.

Like, Shakespeare,
Hamlet and plays.

Well, just a bunch of
things like that. Right?

Hoss, thou speakest the truth.

[ALL LAUGHING]

You heard, huh?

Well, with a little bit of luck,

we'll have the contest
and the culture.

You boys remember me talking
about, uh, Angela Bergstrom?

Why, that name is familiar.
I just can't seem to place it.

You know, that opera singer.
About 15 years ago she was

the toast of the musical world.

Beautiful face,
beautiful, gorgeous voice.

I'll tell you, she was
the only opera singer

that made a stage-door
Johnny out of me.

Oh, you're joshing.

Well, you mean you
really were stuck on her?

Ha-ha, I fell for her.

Now, look at that.

[JOE WHISTLES]

BEN: Hey.
- Mm-hm.

I'll tell you, back in St.
Louis, about 15 years ago,

I had a front row center seat
every night for two solid weeks.

And you're thinking of
inviting her to the celebration?

Heh, it's a good idea, isn't it?

Exactly what the ladies of
Virginia City ordered, exactly.

Yeah, but Pa, you ain't
seen her in 15 years.

Oh, she's still singing.

Oh, she was booked in,
uh, for the Opera House here

about 3 years ago, and then she
had to cancel out at the last moment.

But, uh, she was booked
out of San Francisco...

So you're gonna
go to San Francisco?

Yeah, thought I might.

I've sort of been
postponing that trip

to San Francisco
on business anyway,

and I thought I might just as
well kill two birds with one stone.

Well, Pa, what happens
if you can't find her?

Hoss, have you ever
considered playing Hamlet?

Oh, come on,

- Ha-ha.
- Before you get some silly idea.

HOSS: To be, or not to be.
JOE: No, we got rid of him.

[SIGHS]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[MOUTH ORGAN PLAYING]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING
AND LAUGHING]

[GIRL SINGING SCALES]

[PIANO PLAYING SCALES]

Yes?

Angela Bergstrom.

Yes, that's me.
What do you want?

I'm Ben Cartwright.

Ben!

[BOTH LAUGHING]

- Ben Cartwright.
- Yeah.

Oh, I'm overwhelmed.

For a little while I thought my
pride was gonna take a beating

but, of course, how could you
remember after so many years?

Well, it just didn't connect, I
mean, right off the street like this.

Well, I had the devil's own
time trying to find you too.

I am so sorry. I have been
moving around a lot lately.

It's very difficult to find a place
where they allow children to practice.

- Won't you come in, please?
- Thank you.

Mary Ann, um, I think it's
time for you to go home.

Now, I want you to practice.

Any great singer must
learn to accompany herself.

I don't wanna be a singer.

Ha, ha, ha, but your mother
wants you to be one, right?

- So I want to see you on
Wednesday. MARY: Yes, ma'am.

- Same time.
- Yes, ma'am.

- Practice.
- Yes, ma'am.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

- Won't you sit down?
- Thank you.

- Can I fix you some, um, tea?
- No, no thank you.

I don't have too
much time to stay.

I've been spending all this
time looking for your apartment.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

I must say, you look as
handsome as ever, Ben.

You look lovelier.

Oh, I don't know.
A little older,

- but what can you do about that?
- Oh, nonsense.

That voice of yours,
that will never get old.

Oh, the voice.
Well, it's just a voice.

You, uh, enjoy working
with the children?

Yes, I do.

It's one of my pet theories.

I think anybody who's, uh,
had a certain amount of fame

should teach the
younger generation

so they can benefit
from your knowledge.

Wait a minute, you're sounding
as if you're from the old generation.

You're too young
to talk that way.

You should be on
the stage now, singing.

Ha, ha. Well, I don't
sing too much anymore.

I'm sort of, um...

Well, I'm sort of semi-retired.

Do you know why
I came all the way

from Virginia City to San
Francisco to find you?

No. Heh.

I thought, how
wonderful it would be

if you came to Virginia
City to give a concert.

We're having an
anniversary celebration.

You were almost
there 3 or 4 years ago

but had to cancel out. I thought

wouldn't it be nice if you
were to sing for us now.

It wouldn't be like a
professional engagement,

but, you know, more
like singing before friends.

You could stay with us at the
Ponderosa, and my sons are there,

and it's so beautiful there now,
and the mountains and the fresh air

and the lake and the pine trees.

Yes, it would be nice to get
out of the city, wouldn't it?

We'll roll out the red
carpet from San Francisco

to the Ponderosa for you.

Well, I can't give
you an answer now.

I'll have to think about it.

Well, I don't want
an answer right now.

It's still three weeks to go.

Now, wait a minute,
now you think about it

and then you send me a telegram
and say that you'll be there.

Oh, just thinking of singing
gives me the butterflies.

- I promise you I will think about it.
- All right, all right.

Now, we'll be expecting
that wire from you.

And please, make it be "yes."

I'll think about it. I'll
let you know, Ben.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- Pa's as nervous as a wolf in a cage.
- Yeah.

Ever since that Angela
Bergstrom wrote him she's coming.

Of course, you might be
a little nervous too, Joe,

if you got an old
girlfriend about to show up.

Girlfriend? Come
on, will you, Hoss?

This Bergstrom woman
is no more than an artist

that Pa's imported for
the celebration, that's all.

I don't know. May be
more to it than you think.

You've been reading
too many books.

I ain't read a book
in I don't know when.

All right, heh, you've been
looking at the pictures, ha, ha, ha!

I can't understand why
that stage is so late.

Pa, the stage from
Genoa is always late.

Oh, Angela is nervous
enough about this trip

without having the added
annoyance of a late stage.

What's she so nervous about?

I thought she'd sung on
stages all over the world.

[LAUGHS]

I'm not in the mood
for any of your jokes.

MAN: Hyah!

[HOOFBEATS APPROACHING]

Hey, here it comes.

MAN: Hyah!

Oh.

ANGELA: I hope they
have a wonderful trip.

Oh, thank you, captain.

And please don't forget, now,

to give my love to General
Forbes in West Point, heh.

Remind him of our
meeting in Rome.

- Oh, Ben.
- Hello, Angela.

- Oh, heh, how marvelous to be here.
- Heh, wonderful to see you.

I have had such a trip.

I think I would have died if it
hadn't been for the captain, heh.

Now, don't forget to give my
love to General Forbes, huh?

Have a nice trip.

- Angela.
- Oh, what a quaint little town.

Oh, the mountains.

Heh, it reminds me of Spain.

It really does.

- Heh, Angela, these are my two...
- Oh, you look wonderful, heh.

I don't think I've ever
seen you dressed like this.

You've always been
so formally dressed.

Now, Angela, these are my two
boys. I want you to meet them.

- Oh.
- Little Joe and Hoss.

- Miss Bergstrom.
- How nice to meet you.

- How do you do?
- Heh.

Howdy, ma'am.

I'm gonna love it here among
those strong, beautiful men.

Heh, yeah.

Uh, boys, will you get
Miss Bergstrom's bags?

And, Jake, make sure that the
trunks are delivered to the house.

This way.

"Beautiful"?

You're just not accustomed
to cultured talk, little brother.

[SCOFFS]

That was actually my first
encounter with military life, heh.

Of course, I was
thrilled to sing in Denver.

When one is dedicated, one
has to keep working all the time.

I think I gave over a
hundred concerts in 6 months.

That's quite a lot, you know.

Well, of course, I've always
been in love with clothes.

I wonder if there is
ever a woman who isn't.

Of course, we do
dress for you men.

You know that.

But do I enjoy it!

As a matter of fact,
when I go to Paris, heh...

- More coffee?
- No, thank you.

No. One cup is enough.

I have trouble sleeping, I'm
afraid. Oh, that reminds me.

I remember when I was
in Constantinople once.

Of course, they have
marvelous coffee there.

I supposed I drank
too much, heh.

But anyhow I was
singing at the, um...

No, I was actually singing
for the Royal Court, mind you.

I didn't sleep a wink
for a whole week, heh.

Excuse me. I'm sorry
I'm late for supper, ma'am.

- But I had to fix some fences, heh.
- Oh, that's all right.

It's very nice to
meet your family, Ben.

Well, ma'am, it's sort of
nice to meet you too. We've...

[ANGELA LAUGHING]

It reminds me of
something very funny.

I knew three brothers
once in Philadelphia.

You'll have to excuse me.

And they were all, sort of,
a little bit in love with me.

You, uh, must have had

a bunch of them stage-door
johnnies around you, then.

Pa used to be one of them too.

Oh, heh.

[CHUCKLES]

Would you like to, um...

Would you like to take
a walk with me, Ben?

I love the Western nights.

I would, uh... I'd
enjoy that very much.

- Will you excuse us, boys?
- Certainly.

Certainly.

Oh, boy.

- That's quite a woman.
- Oh, yes, she's quite a woman.

She talks faster than a medicine
man with a sheriff riding behind her.

Pa don't seem to mind.

No, he doesn't.

You know, I got a hunch
he's, uh, kind of acting

the way he did sitting front
row center 15 years ago.

I don't know, Joe, most
women are pretty much alike.

They all do a lot of talking,
especially when they're nervous.

She'll be calm tomorrow.

Oh, would you like
to make a little bet?

Say, uh, $5?

[CHUCKLES]

Sure, I'll bet you. I don't wanna
take your money though, Joe.

I know women.

Ha-ha, you know women?

[LAUGHING]

Do you know, I love
this place. It's beautiful.

It reminds me of my own country,
Sweden, except for one thing.

Hop Sing, ha-ha.

That's one thing we
haven't got in my country.

- Were you ever in Sweden, Ben?
- No.

No? You really must go there.
It's really very much like here.

Do you know, I used to grow
up in a little village just like this.

Reminds me of my
first trip to Russia.

Oh, it was so exciting.

I met this absolutely
enchanting prince.

Now, what was his name again?

Oh, well, it doesn't really matter, he
was perfectly charming, anyhow, heh.

He absolutely lived on
vodka and caviar, heh.

Can you imagine?

I suppose it wasn't
so good for my voice,

but in those days,
nothing seemed to matter.

My voice could
take almost anything.

Well, it's a Spanish mantilla.
Tsk, Tsk, Tarantella, you know?

I picked it up in Madrid.

Were you ever in
Madrid, by the way, Ben?

BEN: Once.

Was she pretty?

Well, uh, I was very interested
in a bullfighter when I was there.

His name was Alfonso Rodriguez.

And he was very
interested in my singing

and I was very interested
in his bullfighting.

Well, when I did go to Paris...
Those were in the good old days.

I used to pick out the same
dress in ten different colors.

And then I would wear each dress

whenever my mood was that
color. Do you know what I mean?

I have to tell you about
my first trip to Russia.

It was really fabulous.

I met this enchanting friend.
Now, what was his name?

Oh, I guess it doesn't matter.
He was a perfect angel, anyhow.

I just can't remember his name.

Anyhow, we lived on vodka
and caviar for days, ha-ha.

[PLAYING CHORDS]

[CHUCKLES]

Well, it's a lovely hall.

It's a lovely hall, really.

Well, we had it freshly
painted just for tomorrow night.

Oh, heh.

That's the worst
thing for the voice.

Oh, I'm sorry, we
didn't think of that.

We're all looking forward to
your concert, Miss Bergstrom,

and we're so grateful to
Mr. Cartwright for bringing you here.

Oh, well, I'm
delighted to be here

and I was delighted when
Ben asked me to come.

I'm, uh, looking forward to
the concert as much as you do.

Ladies, we must be going now.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

- It was so nice meeting you.
- Very nice meeting you.

Goodbye. Goodbye, heh.

And thank you for giving me
such a lovely, warm welcome.

Bye, ladies.

You sure made a
big hit with the ladies.

Oh, they were all
so nice, Ben, really.

[ANGELA CLEARS THROAT]

I'm glad you liked them.

[COUGHS]

I hope I am not catching a cold.

- You're all right, aren't you?
- Oh, yes, I feel fine.

I love being here.
I love your town.

And I love being
with you, Ben. Ooh.

BEN: Hyah!

You smell the pine?

[SNIFFS]

It's all your land, Ben, heh.

I'm delighted that everything
has gone so well for you.

I'm especially
proud of it today.

Oh, why?

Showing it to you.

I'm gonna be real proud
of you tomorrow night.

Heh, my golly, I'm getting
so excited about that concert.

So is everybody
else in town, heh

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, don't expect too much.

My voice is not
what it used to be.

Oh, just to hear the voice
of Angela Bergstrom...

It's gonna be quite sufficient.

You're very quiet.

Well, it's about
time, isn't it? Heh.

I mean, I haven't stopped
talking since I arrived here.

Oh, heh.

I was just thinking, um,
when would you like me

to get together with
the accompanist?

What do you mean?

You mean you don't have...

You don't have an
accompanist for me?

Well, I thought you were...

I thought you were going
to accompany yourself.

Well, I couldn't do that.

Well, I guess, ugh,
I've been pretty stupid.

Well, no. No, it
wasn't stupid of you.

I should have
thought about it myself.

We've got...

We've got quite a problem
on our hands, haven't we?

Problems are made to be solved.

I'm gonna take you
back to the ranch

because I'm gonna find
an accompanist for us.

You mean, you're
gonna find a pianist here?

If there's one around here to
be found, I'm gonna find him.

Nothing's gonna stop this
concert from going on. Hyah!

You've gotta be kidding.

Couldn't you sort
of play around her?

Look, I can play five numbers,
and they all sound like this.

[PLAYING HONKY-TONK]

Now, if by any chance
that gal can sing the lyrics

to this little number,
we're in business.

[PIANO PLAYING]

[MOUTHING]

What's the matter?
Are you feeling sick?

- No, I was just reading a poem, here.
- Oh.

And what's the name of it?

It's just a poem.

Yeah, I know it's a poem.

I just wanna know
what the name of it is.

Hamlet.

[LAUGHS]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

Hey, that must be Pa.

- Hey, any luck?
- No, not a bit.

That's too bad. I'll
take care of your horse.

All right, thank you.

Wait for me.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

I understand Miss Angela
Bergstrom is staying here.

- That's right.
- May I speak to her, please?

Well, I'm afraid Miss Bergstrom
has retired for the night.

Oh, it's, uh, important
that I see her.

Perhaps you might be able to
see her first thing in the morning.

I could tell her
that you were here.

- What is your name, sir?
- Ames. Carleton Ames.

You must be, uh, Ben Cartwright.

Yes, I'm Ben Cartwright.

Mr. Cartwright, I really must
speak to her as soon as possible.

Are you, uh, a friend
of Miss Bergstrom's?

I've been with Miss
Bergstrom for years.

- You've been with her?
- Yes, sir.

I was her accompanist.

- Her accompanist?
- Mm-hm.

Mr. Ames, I want you to see
her first thing in the morning.

You're gonna stay the night here.
Uh, bring the gentleman's bag in.

Come on right in. I'm
so happy to see you.

Well, good morning.

- Morning, Pa.
- Morning, Pa.

How is everybody this morning?

- Great.
- Fine.

I'm just gonna have some coffee

because I think, uh, you boys and
I ought to go to work that east line

so we can get into town by noon.

Hey, what time do
those contests start?

Oh, uh, about 1:30.

Mm, ah! Beautiful day, huh?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Good morning to you.

Uh, Pa, me and Joe
will go saddle the horses.

You go ahead and do that.

I'm sorry I didn't wait
up for you last night.

I was exhausted. I was
simply exhausted, heh.

- I have a wonderful idea.
- Oh, you have?

- Yes.
- What is it?

I was thinking, since
I can't sing tonight,

- Yeah.
- I could give a talk for the ladies.

I could talk to them
about, uh, my travels,

about my experiences
abroad and things like that.

Well, that's a, uh,
very fine idea, Angela,

but, uh, I really think that
the ladies would love to hear

that magnificent voice of yours.

I know, but I mean if we
can't find an accompanist,

I mean, what are we going to do?

Well...

I mean, you haven't
found one, have you?

No, as a matter of
fact, I haven't found one.

Well, I didn't think that
you could out here, heh.

But I do have the most
wonderful surprise for you, Angela.

Oh, what's that?

[DOOR CLOSES]

You can come in
now. Here she is.

Hello, Angela.

[BEN CHUCKLES]

I know you and Mr. Ames are
gonna have a lot to talk about

because you wanna
get ready for that concert,

so I'm gonna let
you two go right to it.

I'll see you in a little while.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Angela.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

What do you want?

I want to help you.

Help me?

A year ago, when I really
needed you, then you deserted me.

I, uh, don't think that I can
ever forgive you for that.

It's been a long time, I know.

I can't tell you how many
times I began to write.

Well, I'm sure that's true.

But, uh...

Still, it doesn't, uh...

It doesn't help me, does it?

When I, uh...

When I heard that
you came here to sing

I thought perhaps
you would need me.

Angela, I want
to tell you that...

Well...

There's something I
can now afford to say.

I don't want to hear it.

I suppose I have changed.

But I'm very happy here.

For the first time in my life,

I realize that there is another
life outside of our musical world.

Ben has been wonderful to me.

I want you to leave me alone.

Angela, listen to
me for one minute.

ANGELA: I don't wanna hear it.

But I want you to
leave me alone.

[DOOR CLOSES]

- A lot of people in town.
- Yeah, sure are.

You gonna stay for the contest?

Oh, I thought I'd watch the
start, then head back to the ranch.

All right.

- Hey, there's Hoss.
- Yeah.

Hyah!

[HOOFBEATS APPROACHING]

HOSS: Hi, Pa.

What are you doing
here in a buckboard?

You're not gonna rope a steer
from a buckboard, are you, heh?

Well, I had to bring in that
Carleton Ames fellow this morning.

Oh, he came in to try out that
piano in the town hall, I guess?

No. That's, uh,
what I thought at first,

but I had to bring him
here to the stage line.

What?

He bought a ticket and
caught a stage out of here

about 30 minutes
ago, heading west.

Well, he can't do that.

Give me that buckboard.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

BEN: Whoa! DRIVER: Whoa!

What is this? What you after?

I gotta talk to one
of your passengers.

- Ames. Carleton Ames.
- Yes?

Why'd you run out on me?

I'm sorry, Mr. Cartwright,
I was wrong in coming.

Are you Angela's
accompanist, or aren't you?

Yes, but, uh...

Then, get out of there
and come back with me.

No, sir, I'm sorry.
My mind is made up.

Look, either you come out of
there or I'm coming in after you.

Mr. Cartwright, you're
making a mistake.

This is not worth the effort.

- Well, let me be the judge of that.
- Ahh.

Get him his bag.

Hyah! Hyah!

All right, if it's money,
how much do you want?

It isn't money.

Angela didn't want
me to stay, that's all.

She can't sing without you.

She needs you.

No, she made it perfectly clear
that she didn't need me anymore.

I just don't understand why...

You're even old
friends, aren't you?

As far as I'm concerned, it
was more than friendship.

You see, I've been in
love with Angela Bergstrom,

deeply in love,

more years than I
care to talk about.

- Well, that's fine. Let's get back to her.
- Don't you see?

Angela doesn't know.

That you're in love with her?

No.

That I went to New York
to try and prove to myself

that I had a career, a life of
my own as a concert pianist,

not just as an accompanist.

It was a long and
difficult period.

But I made it.

I've had a few recitals and
I've been booked for a tour.

Good.

So I rushed from New
York to San Francisco.

When they told me
she'd come up here,

I followed to tell
her the good news.

- What did she say?
- I didn't tell her.

When I realized how she
felt, I didn't want to interfere.

So I thought the best thing for
me is to leave the two of you alone.

Now, wait a minute. What's
that supposed to mean?

I'm talking about you and
Angela Bergstrom being in love.

[LAUGHS]

Oh, no. No, no, no.

She's not in love with me.

And I'm not in love with her,
not that way, we're old friends.

Why, I love being with her,

but let me tell you
something, Mr. Ames,

the most important thing on
my mind now is that concert.

If we're not gonna get there,
heh there isn't gonna be a concert.

Mr. Cartwright, there
never was to be a concert.

What?

Maybe Angela really
does want to sing this time,

but in the end she won't.

Just like the other times.

She lost her beautiful
voice years ago.

Hey, Pa, we was kind
of worried about you.

Hope you're not still concerned
about that pianist fellow.

It don't make a lot
of difference, no how.

- What do you mean?
- Oh, Angela can't sing anyway.

She got laryngitis, her
throat's in real bad shape.

Since there ain't
gonna be no concert,

that's why she let that
fellow go away anyhow.

Well, that's as good
an excuse as any.

What?

As soon as I change
clothes, we'll ride into town.

JOE: Angela's already dressed.

She figured she ought to make an
appearance even though she can't sing.

Well, that's very
gracious of her.

HOSS: Let's go get
the buggy. JOE: Yeah.

I'm so sorry, Ben, heh.

My voice.

Now, don't use your voice
any more than you have to.

The boys told me
about your laryngitis.

I feel terrible for you.

I'm so happy that you're
willing to come into town

to explain the situation

- to those people.
- I'd be delighted.

Shh, not another word. I'd
better go change, it's getting late.

Oh, Angela.

Might get a little chilly later.
Better take a scarf for your throat.

Yes, I will.

[PLAYING CHOPIN'S
WALTZ IN C SHARP MINOR]

Where are you going?

Away from here.

Why?

He plays beautifully. He
has become a great artist.

But I am... But I am finished.

Why do you say that?

It's all so...

It's all so humiliating.

Oh, Angela.

Angela, you're a great artist.

You've worked and struggled.

You've achieved great success

and now your voice is tired.

Isn't that right?

What do you mean?

Well, isn't that why you've been
canceling your engagements?

Why you have these
sudden attacks of laryngitis?

Is that what Carleton told you?

[PEOPLE CLAPPING]

Yes. That's what he told me.

And he told me because he
loves you and understands you

and wants to help you.

He loves me, heh.

[CARLETON CONTINUES
PLAYING WALTZ]

That's a strange
kind of loving, isn't it?

Angela, he went to New
York for more than a year,

proved himself
as a concert pianist

so that he could come back
to tell you that he loves you,

that he can take care of you.

Why don't you let him tell you?

It's all too late.

Too late?

Angela, look at me.

Look at me.

You're a beautiful woman.

You have many years,

wonderful years with
Carleton ahead of you.

It's not too late.

It's never too late.

Never.

[PEOPLE CLAPPING]

MAN 1: More!

MAN 2: More! MAN 3: More!

MAN 1: More! MAN 2: More!

MAN 3: More!

MAN 1: Bravo! MAN 2: Bravo!

MAN 1: Bravo!

MAN 3: Encore!

[ALL SHOUTING AND APPLAUDING]

MAN 1: Bravo! MAN 2: Encore!

MAN 3: More! MAN 2: Encore!

Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you very much.

Applause is always
sweet to the ear of an artist.

However, I think
that the applause

that I enjoyed most
was given to another.

For years...

Years of joy and delight for me.

I was privileged to
share in the career

of one of the great artists,

one of the great ladies
of this generation.

Miss Angela Bergstrom.

Heh, talent, as we've
all heard tonight,

is a God-given gift.

I was blessed with that
talent for many years.

It took me to, um,
many wonderful places

and I met, um, many
wonderful people.

Always at my side was Mr. Ames,

relegating his own artistry

so that I could stand
in the spotlight alone.

My spotlight has faded
and so has my talent.

Mr. Ames has
become a great artist

and still he continues to
support and stand by me.

I, um, only hope now that I
can repay him for his dedication

with my own dedication.

With my support,

if he needs it.

My loyalty, always.

And, uh, my love...

if he wants it.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, Pa, everything
turned out mighty fine.

All the ladies are happy.

Yeah, they're really pleased.

I didn't have to call on you to do
your Hamlet piece after all, did I?

[CHUCKLES]

Listen, Pa, I got three of them
soliloquies all memorized, see...

Shh, he's gonna play again.

Wait till next year.

Oh, yeah, I can hardly wait.

NARRATOR: This has
been a color presentation

of the NBC Television Network.