Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 6, Episode 4 - Thanks for Everything, Friend - full transcript

Tom Wilson saves Adam from drowning. This begins a friendship he starts to regret when Tom steals a girl from her longtime boyfriend, is found with her father's open strongbox and standing over his dead body.

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[CALF BLEATING]

[CALF BLEATS]

We'll have breakfast
a little later, unh.

Guess we better go fishing.

Hey!

[SIGHS]

[COUGHS]

Thanks.

Well...



How's the water?

Wet.

[LAUGHS]

You want coffee or whiskey?

I think I'll try a
little bit of both.

There you are.

Personally, I, uh, never
drink this early in the day.

And, of course, I, uh, never go
swimming this early in the year.

- Drink hearty.
- Thanks.

That is good whiskey.

I figure if a man's gonna
drink himself to perdition,

he might as well enjoy
himself along the way.

By the way, my name
is Adam Cartwright.

Tom Wilson.



I'm glad to meet you.

Oh, I've never been gladder to
meet anybody in my whole life.

How come I've never run
into you around here before?

I've never been around here
before. As a matter of fact,

I got just this far last night.

- What brings you out here?
- Girl.

I hope she turns out
to be worth the trip.

Well, I didn't come
out here to see her.

I came out here to
get away from her.

Oh.

Heh, it's a funny thing,

sometimes fathers are more anxious
for a girl to get married than a girl is.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'll get your clothes,
be dry by now.

- Oh, I'll get them.
- Sit right there.

You're liable to get
yourself shot in that outfit.

- Liked for an Indian or something.
- Heh.

There you go. Shirt. Pants.

So the school teacher said, "I
don't know how many toes he's got.

He never took his boots off."

[ALL LAUGHING]

Hey, pull yourself together, will
you? Before you split your seams.

"Never took his boots off."

You know, it's funny the
way fate works things out.

If Adam hadn't
fallen into the river,

we wouldn't have such an
entertaining guest for dinner.

Well, it's certainly my pleasure
meeting you and your sons.

Uh... [BEN SIGHS]

Has everybody had enough to eat?

I have. It's been a
wonderful dinner. Thank you.

[BEN CLEARS THROAT]

[HOSS SIGHS]

I think I must have eat too
much. I feel plum stuffed.

You've been stuffed
for years, heh.

Don't you get smart, little
brother, or I'll box your ears.

I wouldn't to do that. He
has very valuable ears.

- Let me see that.
- Sure.

- Here's another one.
- Heh.

Hey.

Hey, how do you do that?

Well, a good magician
never explains his tricks.

Magician? Is that
what you do for a living?

Well, that and
whatever comes to hand.

Well, I'll tell you something, Tom.
We got a little mine that's producing

about half the amount of silver
you just dug out of Joe's ears.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

No. Seriously though, we
could use, uh, a good hand.

Pay's not too bad and the
keep's pretty good. How about it?

Well, that's very kind
of you, Mr. Cartwright.

But, uh, I don't think I
wanna be a ranch hand.

Well, just as you say.

I do want you to know that our house
is yours for as long as you want it.

Well, thank you very much.

But I'm, uh, kind of
anxious to see Virginia City,

and, uh, since it's getting kind
of late, I think I'll be moving along.

BEN: What? Won't
you stay overnight?

Well, thank you, but, uh, no.

All right.

- Joe, would you get his hat and gun?
- Right, Pa.

TOM: I wanna thank you again, I'm
indebted to you for your hospitality.

We're indebted to you,
Tom, for saving Adam's life.

I gained from that.
I made a friend.

That's quite a gun. I've
never seen one like it.

Hade it made in New
York by Merwin Hulbert.

JOE: It's got beautiful balance.
TOM: Yeah, and handles pretty well.

I say there's three things you
ought to know how to handle.

A gun, a gal, and a
good poker hand, heh.

- Good night, sir.
- Good night, Tom.

- Hoss. Joe.
- Tom.

- Come back and see us.
- Thank you, I will.

I'll walk you out.

Sorry you're in such
a hurry to leave, Tom.

Well, I'll be seeing you around.

- I owe you money.
- What?

Well, uh, $50 fell out of
your wallet, it was all wet, heh.

I didn't think you'd
want wet money.

Anyway, I'll pay it back
to you one of these days.

- You need any more?
- If I did, I would have taken it.

When are you gonna be in town?

In a few days.

- Well, look me up. I'll buy you a drink.
- Where will you be?

- You'll find me.
- Heh, right.

Take it easy.

You know what the preacher said?

- No. What?
- He said, "Yeah,

but never to an
inside straight."

[ALL CHUCKLE]

I don't get it.

Well, you will, just think about it
a while. Do your mind some good.

- How about another $20?
- That's too rich for me.

Wanna have a look, friend?

Show me.

That kind of luck ain't natural.

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, cards, please.

Oh, hello, Adam. You
know everybody here?

Everybody but the lady.

Oh, uh, honey, I want you to meet a
good friend of mine, Adam Cartwright.

Adam, this is, uh... What's
your name again, sweetheart?

- Matilda.
- Matilda.

Come on and deal.

Oh, pleasure before pleasure.

Cut them.

Everybody get in.

Hold it.

Leave the gun where it is.

What are you doing, Cartwright?

Backing a crooked poker player?

- Crooked?
- Yeah.

Took that ace off the bottom.

An ace?

Right there.

I guess that finishes me.

Boys, don't run away,
the game just started.

Sit down, Adam,
I'll buy you a drink.

The best in the house
for my friend here.

Honey, why don't
you, uh, run along?

Adam and I wanna
talk over some old times.

And see if you can
find some new friends.

- Huh?
- Yeah. Go find some new friends.

They'll be a blessing
to you in your old age.

Oh, I'll see you
later though, won't I?

- You sure will.
- All right, then. Bye.

TOM: Good to see you, Adam.

Thought we were gonna
have a little trouble there.

Why? Because our friend thought

there was an ace on
the bottom of the deck?

Was there?

Heh, I wonder how he knew that.

Ace wouldn't have done
me any good, anyway?

But that six of clubs would.

TOM: Well, what do
you know. A straight.

Is Grimes right?
Were you, uh...?

Cheating?

Adam, if I wanted to
deal myself a straight,

I wouldn't waste my
time palming a card.

You're a hard one to figure.

Don't even try.

Hey, uh, what's a hard-working,
serious fella like you

doing in town in the
middle of the day?

We have a little party out
at the Ponderosa Sunday.

I thought you
might like to join us.

Well, now you're
talking my language.

Just make sure there
is plenty of pretty girls.

Right.

Bartender,

will you cash in my chips there?

So long, cheater.

[GRUNTS]

Like I was saying, Adam.

Just make sure there's
plenty of pretty girls there.

Sorry, old boy. Excuse me.

[ALL CHATTERING]

[BAND PLAYING]

Excuse me, boys.

Boy, that smells good.

It's gonna taste good too.

There's the punch,
ladies. Help yourself.

Just got a whiff of that beef,

it smells mighty good.

You stay right here
and I'll get you some.

Hey.

Told those ladies
over there I'd get us

some of this barbecued
beef, if it's all ready.

Yeah. Listen, Tom, how come
you ain't paying any attention

to some of the younger girls?

Well, I don't think, uh,
the younger girls need me,

they're getting plenty
of attention right now.

Tom believes in
spreading the fun.

Why not? I like everybody
to have a good time.

Well, now, ah...

May I carve that for
you, Mr. Cartwright?

- All right, Tom. Sure.
- Thank you.

- Well, Jerry, hello.
- Hi, Mr. Cartwright.

- I'm sorry we're late.
- Hi, Mr. Cartwright.

Sue. You're looking
even prettier than usual.

- Thank you.
- Your father's not here?

Oh, no, he's not back from his
business trip to San Francisco.

Oh, say, that will be
a big feather in his cap

if he closes that deal
he's been working on.

You say hello as
soon as he gets back.

- Thank you, I will.
- Well, have a good time, you two.

Uh, thank you.

Jerry, Sue, this is Tom Wilson.

Tom, this is Sue,
and her friend, Jerry.

TOM: How are you doing?
- How are you?

Nice to see you. How are you?

Jerry, Sue, where you two been?
You're about the last ones here.

Hi, Little Joe, heh.

Yeah, well, I was, uh,
ironing my good pants,

and I burned a hole in
them, [BOTH CHUCKLE]

so I was looking all around for
these, and they had a spot on them,

and I, uh, had to take it off,

but I just, heh...

- Heh, I thought we'd never get here.
- Heh.

Have you, uh, been in Virginia
City very long, Mr. Wilson?

Oh, uh... Just a few days.

I generally don't stay
in any one spot too long.

That's, uh, too bad.

[CHUCKLES]

Of course, that depends
upon how pretty the girls are.

Spoken like a true gentleman.

You want some punch, Sue?

Oh.

Thank you.

Well, couldn't very well, uh, get that
pretty dress all dirty now, could we?

My, you're strong.

Um...

Adam, uh, I see you have
some of that meat ready,

why don't I take it over there?

Thank you.

Hey, Tom.

Take on the
winner of this match.

- Okay, just a minute, be right back.
- Right.

Here you are, ladies,
that's a nice piece there.

You want one or two?

- There you go.
- Have a little bread.

TOM: Ah. BEN: Good
homemade bread.

Ladies and gentlemen, all of you
gather round who wanna watch this.

Tom Wilson is gonna take
on Pete Dunne, the champion.

Just took Norm, just took Chick.

Gather round if
you wanna watch it.

- Ready, fellas?
- Yeah.

On three.

One,

two,

three.

[TOM GRUNTING]

[ALL APPLAUDING]

[ALL CHATTERING]

Uh, yeah, well, that's, uh...

That's pretty good, but I bet
you couldn't whip old Hoss here.

I don't think anybody can whip Hoss.
So I'm gonna stop while I'm ahead.

- You're smart.
- Thank you, buddy.

Ah, say, would you like
to play some horse shoes?

- My, these shoes are getting heavy.
- Well, let me help you.

- We won.
- Heh.

Jerry, would you mind getting
me some more of that punch?

Yeah. Sure, Sue.

Tom. Uh, would you come with me?

There's something I'd
like to talk to you about.

Why, of course.

Well, Tom over there sure
believes in flirting with trouble.

What's he up to now?

Well, he's exercising
his charm a little bit.

BEN: Hmm?

Yeah, I have a feeling he
should be exercising his charm

- on something else.
- Like what?

Like a hard day's work.

He seems to get
along without it.

JERRY: Uh...

Sue asked me to get
her a glass of punch,

I've been looking all over for her.
Have you seen her, Mr. Cartwright?

No. I haven't.

What about you,
Adam? You seen her?

No, no, but, uh...

Mary Connors over there is just dying
to have some of that punch. Come on.

You, uh, wanted to
tell me something, Sue?

Well, I thought... Oh, please.

Don't. You mustn't. Please?

Hi, Jerry.

What's the matter with you? You
look like war was just declared.

War just might be declared.

JOE: Huh?

By me on that fancy
friend of your brother's.

- That Tom Wilson.
- What are you talking about?

I'm talking about a skunk. Him.

- You know what he's been doing?
- No.

He's been seeing Sue.

You know she's my girl.

He's been seeing her
every day of the week.

You know what I ought to do?

I ought to go into that town,

and I ought to drag
him out into the street,

and I ought to knock his
head off, is what I ought to do.

Yeah, I think I'll do just that.

Come on, Jerry, you're
no match for Tom Wilson.

- Well, he's got me mad.
- All right, he's got you mad.

You're still no match for him.

Well, what am I gonna do, Joe?

You know how I feel about Sue.

And that guy, he's
just playing with her.

Adam invites him out
here to meet your friends,

and he pulls a thing like this.

[JERRY SIGHS]

Look, I know, but go on home,
forget it for a while. I'll talk to Tom.

It's partially our
responsibility. Like you said,

Adam invited him out
here, so let me talk to him.

- All right.
- Don't worry about it, go on.

[JERRY MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY]

Where you going?

Into town to look up your
fine friend, Tom Wilson.

- What for?
- To beat his brains out.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the
fine friends you pick.

He repays our hospitality
by stealing Jerry's girl.

Oh, now, wait a minute,
Joe. In the first place,

I don't think he "stole"
her away from Jerry.

- Meaning what?
- Meaning that I somehow can't think

of Tom, as they say in polite circles,
as "forcing his attentions" on her.

- Listen, Adam...
- And in the second place,

Sue was never
Jerry's to be stolen.

I mean, he's not married
or engaged to her.

So if she's seeing Tom, I'd
say it's their business, not yours.

I'm making it my business.

You see, I have a
little sense of friendship,

a little sense of loyalty,
even if you haven't.

Good luck.

Sue is just an
impressionable kid,

and Jerry's been going
with her for a long, long time.

So just leave her alone.

Sure, Joe, sure, anything you
say. It's just like I've been telling you.

You know, the one thing I wouldn't
wanna do in this whole world is

cause any trouble for the
brother of my old buddy.

- How about a drink?
- No, thanks. I think I better go.

Oh, come on. It's
been a long dusty ride.

You owe it to your throat.

I owe it to Jerry to give him the
news, he's been pretty worried.

All right, you give
Jerry the news,

I'll see Sue today and tell her
she's back to being his property.

All right?

All right.

- Thanks.
- It's all right.

- Dad got you working, huh?
- I see you're still in one piece.

I was expecting to go up there with a
broom, sweep you up. You see him?

Sure, I saw him.

And he said that Jerry could have
Sue back with his compliments.

That ought to make
your buddy happy.

No, he's sore as a boil.

- What?
- Yeah.

I stopped by his place to
give him the good news.

Said he doesn't want her
under those conditions.

As a gift from some high
and mighty benefactor.

Wouldn't have anything to do with
her, if she was the last girl in the world.

He's gonna go over to her
place now and tell her so.

So like the proverbial
family quarrel,

little brother here almost got his
nose punched in for his trouble.

[JOE CHUCKLES]

Always knew you had
a nose for trouble, Joe.

Heh, thanks.

What's up, Pa?

ADAM: What's wrong?

Sue Miller's father
has been killed.

What?

Shot down in cold blood.

Who did it?

Tom Wilson.

No.

Young Jerry came calling on Sue,

he heard a shot,
rushed into the house,

and there was Tom
Wilson, strongbox was open.

Mr. Miller was lying
dead on the floor.

ADAM: There must
be some mistake.

The only mistake, I guess,
was introducing that fella to Sue.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright, isn't
it terrible about poor Tom?

Well, they're going to
hang him, aren't they?

GRIMES: Cartwright.

What do you think of your
fine-feathered friend now?

Be a fine day for this town
when we watch him swing.

Believe me, there will be
plenty of dry eyes in the crowd.

You can bet on that.

- Howdy, Adam.
- Can I see Tom?

- You sure can. You go right ahead.
- You think he's guilty?

Well, don't you?

I'd rather wait till
all the evidence is in.

All the evidence needed
is right here on this desk.

Now, there's the gun
that killed Mr. Miller.

And here is the strongbox
that killed him for.

All the chambers are loaded.

You and I both know he had
plenty of time to reload one cartridge.

Robbery, an open-and-shut case.

Go ahead, you want to see him.

Hey, Adam, old
buddy. How are you?

- I'm all right.
- Ah, I'm sorry I can't ask you in.

- Would you like a little drink?
- No, thanks.

- You're in bad trouble, you know.
- I've been there before.

Did you shoot Miller?

You really are worried about
me, aren't you, old buddy?

- I'd like to help you if I can.
- You sure can.

- How?
- Got a deck of cards?

Would you give me a
straight answer just for once?

- Sure, what do you wanna know?
- Did you shoot Miller?

Well, now, I think if I were to, uh,
try to answer a question like that,

I'd be a prejudiced witness.

All right, maybe I can get
some answers out of Sue.

- Don't.
- Why not? She was there too.

Leave her out of it.

Please.

ADAM: There's some things
about this case against Tom Wilson

that don't add up.

He's an intelligent man.

Wouldn't try to rob your father in
broad daylight in his own house

for the little amount of money
that was in that strongbox.

What do you want of me, Adam?

Ah, I know how hard
this must be for you,

but I'm just trying
to get at the truth.

But I told you the truth.

I heard a shot, I ran in here

and I found Jerry accusing
Tom of shooting my father.

Why did Tom come
here in the first place?

To tell me...

He promised Little Joe
not to see me anymore.

Because of Jerry.

And?

And I told him that I didn't care
about Jerry, that I loved him. Tom.

And what did Tom say to that?

At first he laughed, heh.

Then he kissed me,

told me to go to my
room, that we'd talk later.

And then you heard
the shot and ran in here.

Yes.

Adam, maybe that's why
Tom went to my father,

to talk about us.

Maybe.

But only Tom can tell us.

If he doesn't, he's going
to die for killing your father.

Oh, Adam, take me to
him. Please, I must see him.

- Sheriff?
- Yes, Miss Sue?

I have something to tell you.

Well, come right on
over here and tell us.

Go ahead.

Tom is innocent.

I shot my father.

- Heh, well, Sue, I can't
hardly... SUE: Oh, it's true.

I heard Tom ask my father
for permission to marry me.

He refused.

Offered Tom money to go away.

When Tom said he
wouldn't take the money,

my father was so angry

he pulled out his gun, he
called Tom terrible names.

He said he was
going to kill him.

Tom said he wouldn't
draw against an old man.

But my father was
so angry, I knew he...

I ran into the study.

Then what did you do?

I grabbed my father's gun,

it went off by accident.

Tom reloaded the gun,
shoved me into the other room

just before Jerry ran in.

Sheriff, Tom was only
trying to protect me.

But I can't let him die.

I guess you'd better arrest me.

Why did you do it, Adam?
What have you done to her?

Try to take it easy, Jerry. I don't
feel any better about this than you do.

But you know her, Adam.

You've known her
longer than I have.

Do you really think that Sue
could have shot her own father?

Adam, heh, I'm not the
smartest guy in the world.

But I know, as sure as I
know the sun's gonna come up,

that she couldn't have done it.

I know how you feel, Jerry,
but that's not evidence.

You're smart, Adam. You
tell me, what is evidence?

Well, it's something that
will prove that she is lying.

Lying? Of course she's lying.

Jerry, saying it
doesn't make it true.

Oh, but she is, I know she is.

Look, now, she said that
Tom pushed her out of the room

just before I came in, right?

- Right.
- Well, he couldn't have.

There's only one
door to the study.

I would have seen her come out.

Because I went in
right after the shot.

You sure? You sure, it
couldn't have been longer.

No. It's just, uh,
like I said, Adam.

- Is that evidence?
- Yeah.

Let's get over to
the Miller house.

JERRY: Wait. How can we go
out there? There's nobody's there.

If the bullet was
fired from there, uh,

it would have
gone into this wall.

- What would?
- The bullet.

The one that killed
Mr. Miller. They never found it.

There's nothing
in the wall, Adam.

Yeah, you're right.

Where is it?

It's gotta be in this
room someplace.

- Jerry.
- Huh?

Look at that.

Is that it?

Yup.

It's the bullet that
killed Mr. Miller.

But where did it come from?

What do you mean?

Well, Miller supposedly
was shot with a .45.

This couldn't have
possibly come out of a .45.

Well, where are you going?

I got Tom Wilson out of jail.

So I guess it's up to
me to get him back in.

Adam. Well, what
a pleasant surprise.

Come on in. Join the party.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Adam, you remember, uh...
What's your name again, honey?

How many times do I
have to tell you? It's Matilda.

- Matilda.
- I wanna talk to you alone.

Why are you always
so serious, old buddy?

This is serious.

All right, Grandpa.
Anything you say.

Honey, why don't you, uh, run
along and practice your needlepoint?

Huh?

No telling how many wonderful
things you could make.

Like what?

Ooh, like, uh, saddle-covers
and ankle-warmers,

three-fingered gloves,
pencil-wrappers.

There's no telling
what you could do.

Now you go ahead and run along.

- Will I see you later?
- That is a promise.

- Oh, all right, then. Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

All right, Adam, I'm all ears.

I'm gonna have to
take you back to jail.

And why would you
wanna do that, old buddy?

Murder.

Now, there's a
depressing thought.

I found the slug. You might as
well have written your name on it.

I don't know what kind of a
game you've been playing,

but, well, maybe a
jury can figure it out.

Oh, I think you could figure
it out if you really tried, Adam.

You're a bright boy. One of
the brightest friends I ever had.

I'm gonna miss you, Adam.

- I sincerely hope you'll miss me.
- Don't do it, please.

You really wouldn't like
shooting me, would you, Adam?

No. But I will if I have to.

Well, you have to do
what you have to do.

And I almost made it too.

So you killed him.

Well, he was pretty riled up
about Sue and I getting married

and I thought he
was gonna shoot me.

So I shot him.

Then I went over to fire his
gun so I could claim self-defense.

And that's when that
stupid Jerry came running in.

Why didn't you take the
money he offered you?

Chicken feed.

When I could inherit
it all as his son-in-law.

And Sue was young
enough to believe you.

Why not? She loves me.

And I like her too. I really do.

Even though she
is a little young.

But I could talk
her into anything.

Like a phony confession?

Well, I convinced her that,
uh, a jury would acquit a girl

for killing a man,
even her own father,

if it was accidental.

Then after things cooled
off, why, we could get married.

All right, now what?

Well, now I guess I'm
gonna have to tie you up.

Think that chair
will be comfortable?

Why not?

I, uh...

I suppose you'll holler,
I'll have to gag you.

That's right.

Put your hands behind your back.

This ought to hold
you for an hour or so.

It's about all the time I'll
need. I've got a good horse.

But I'll be leaving a
good friend, Adam.

So long.

Thanks for the loan
on the gun, Roy.

Now, don't you mention it,
Tom. I wish that I could go myself,

but the governor's coming
in on a stage this afternoon,

- I just gotta be here to meet him.
- I understand.

But I do believe that my deputy
and them boys out there will be

- enough of a posse for you, don't you?
- No, I can handle it myself.

I know,

but I wanna be sure that he's
taken officially. I told you that.

Right.

Looks like we've lost the trail.

Uh, Jim, you scout on up ahead.

I'll cover the river bank and
meet you at the ports, all right?

ADAM: Hold it right there, Tom.

Adam.

It's good to see you, old buddy.

I was getting a little
lonesome out here.

Just throw down
your gun belt, Tom.

Sure.

Now what?

I'm gonna have to
take you back, Tom.

[CHUCKLES]

- You don't seem very happy about it.
- I'm not.

That's the trouble with you.

You're always doing things
that make you unhappy.

I can only do what I think is right,
Tom. That's all any man can do.

Not me.

No, I guess not. Not you.
Why do you do things, Tom?

For enjoyment.

There must be
more to life than that.

Like what, Adam?

Like being of some use.

Like being of some service
to somebody besides yourself.

- Friends?
- Friends.

You're not a very good
friend, are you, Adam?

Well, I tried to be
your friend too, Tom.

No, I saved your life and
now you're trying to take mine.

We have different
ideas about friendship.

You wanted to be my friend
for the fun you got out of it.

I was your friend because
of what I could do for you.

Well, you can do
something for me right now.

- What?
- Just walk away.

No, I can't do it,
Tom. Don't ask me.

This isn't easy
for me. I liked you.

I liked you too.

Well, I think it's right around
here we had our first drink together.

Let's have another
one for old time's sake.

[CHUCKLES]

You, uh, could have killed me.

Well, you did wanna kill me.

With sorrow, Adam. With sorrow.

But dead.

Sure is a pretty river.

Beautiful.

Well, there come all the king's
horses and all the king's men.

Doing what they think is right.

Come to think of it, Adam,

I'd have been a lot better off

if I had just left you
right there in that river.

You didn't have to do that.

Thanks for everything, friend.

He was no good, Adam.

He was one of a kind.

Get him out of the water.

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