Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 7, Episode 13 - A Natural Wizard - full transcript
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♪♪
Come on, Stove, let's
go see what that is.
Hold on, little fox.
Skeeter'll get you
out of that trap.
Aah!
Help! Help!
Help!
Somebody!
Help!
Is there anybody around here?
Help! Help!
Help!
Help!
Skeeter.
- Help!
- Skeeter!
- Hoss...
- Skeeter!
Just take it easy,
buddy. Take it easy.
The more you yell and pull
on it, the worse it's gonna be.
Now just take it easy.
Now... now try to pull it out.
Oh, no, no, no.
Help him first, Hoss.
Get you to the house, though.
Help him first.
Sit down, I'll be right here.
Just take it easy, buddy.
Watch out... watch out...
Can you hobble over here?
Gonna have to swing up, Skeeter.
- All right.
- Ready?
Hang on, buddy.
Hang on, Skeeter.
♪♪
Hey, Stoney?
Stoney... wake up.
Hey.
Stoney.
Stoney. Hey, wake up.
Stoney...
Oh.
Oh...
You come for your share
of the trap money, forget it.
There ain't any.
Somebody emptied all my traps.
Every last living one of them.
It ain't the money, Stoney...
I know who it was.
That stinking Skeeter.
He thinks more of them animals
than he does of the
man who fills his belly.
Now, where is that bottle?!
Stoney, Skeeter's at
our place; he's hurt.
Oh, now, ain't
that just too bad.
He ain't hurt bad,
but I figured you'd
probably want to see him.
He's your son.
He's my stepson!
Ain't got half a brain, at that.
Oh... All right, all right.
I'll go see the little...
I'll saddle your horse.
Stinking kid.
Big bird eat more than you.
What's the matter? You
don't like Hop Sing's cooking?
Just ain't hungry, that's all.
Mr. Hoss come back with
your father pretty soon.
Skeeter, here's your pa.
You want to eat this, Mr. Hoss?
Oh, I reckon I could
manage that, Hop Sing.
Hey, why don't you,
uh, get another plate
and some coffee
here for Stoney, huh?
Yes, sir. Right away.
You emptied them
traps, didn't you?
Boy, you're gonna answer me.
You think that trap cut you up,
just wait till I get
through with you.
Now answer me!
Your pa's talking to you, son.
Answer your pa.
I'll beat some brains into you.
- Beat some brains into you...!
- No, Stoney...
Stoney! Stoney! Stoney!
Stoney.
Stoney, what are you
trying to do to that boy?
I'm not gonna do
nothin' to him anymore.
I'm getting out of here.
You hear that, boy?
You can go back to that pig
of a woman who birthed you.
You ain't got a brain,
she got no heart.
You ought to make a good match.
All right, Stoney.
Come on.
You said you were
leaving now; let's go.
Come on.
Hoss, wait a minute.
Uh, tell your father...
Stoney don't need
his charity no more.
I'm... going up north.
Where I belong.
You all right, Skeeter?
His name's Stove.
Stove and me are
going to the barn.
Come on...
How come you stuck up for me?
Well, he was
gonna hurt you, son.
You never did like him
either, did you, Stove, huh?
Yeah, I can tell when
you like somebody.
Yeah.
You like me, don't you, hmm?
If you could talk,
you'd tell me.
"Oh, Skeeter, he's the most
important person in the world,"
you'd say. Yeah.
Wish you could talk, Stove.
Skeeter, you in here? Oh.
I wasn't hurting anything.
I didn't say you was.
It's getting along
about suppertime.
You sure can't share old
Penny's supper with her.
- Hey, have you met Penny?
- No.
Come here a minute.
Skeeter, meet Ponderosa Penny.
Oh...
She's gonna have herself
a baby in about two weeks.
Broodmare, huh?
Yeah. One of the best.
Some of the best
blood in the world.
Little Joe, as a matter of fact,
won a first prize championship
with her last year, and
would have again this year
but she up and hurt that knee.
Oh.
It's swole up, must hurt.
You like animals, don't you?
Where's Little Joe?
He's back at Denver for a rodeo.
Is it okay if I sleep
in the barn tonight?
Well... I reckon that
could be arranged if...
if you'll come on to supper now.
- I'm willing.
- Come on.
Come on, Stove.
Stove, this here is
Ponderosa Penny.
She's a friend.
Gonna let him get friends, huh?
Yeah.
Come on.
Where is Mr. Hoss?
Everybody all the time late.
Oh, he and Skeeter will be
in for breakfast in a little while.
Thank you, Hop Sing.
- Oh.
- Where's Skeeter?
Well, he's gone. That's
what I come to tell you.
Just like that.
Abracadabra, he's gone.
He's a funny fella, that kid.
It's, uh... never
answers questions, he...
seems like he talks more sense
to animals than he does humans.
Well, it's not surprising,
considering everything.
You better have
yourself some breakfast.
- Hop Sing's been yelling.
- I'll eat later, Pa.
I think I better find this kid.
I'll see you.
Oh, no, Ma.
I couldn't have another helping.
Why, I'd just about bust.
It sure was a good
supper, though.
I bet Ma makes about the best
sweet potatoes in
the world, don't she?
Why, Pa, shoot.
You ain't getting fat.
No.
You're just big
and strong, I'd say.
You sure do look nice, Ma.
Pretty as a picture.
You want your pipe, Pa?
Well, stay put.
Let me get it for you.
I should be getting you
your pipe all the time now,
to pay you back for all them
peppermint sticks you bought me.
Here, let me light it for you.
Aw, shoot, I'm old enough to
handle matches now, I guess.
You taught me all about that.
Hi, Skeeter.
♪♪
It ain't no use, Skeeter.
Go away! Let me alone!
I can't do that, son.
I gotta ask you a question:
Where's your ma?
Dead. She's dead.
That ain't what Stoney
told me yesterday.
I don't want to see her.
That ain't what it
looked to me like
back there in
that cabin, either.
Stove's back there.
I gotta go.
Now you listen to me, Skeeter.
I ain't gonna let you go
on hiding with that bird.
I didn't give up
chasing you this time,
and I won't the next time.
You're gonna take me to your ma,
and you might as well
make your peace with that.
You'll see then.
You'll see.
That's her.
You wait back down
the hall, Skeeter.
Miss Dexter?
Miss Dexter?
Oh! Go away!
Miss Dexter?
- Miss Dexter?
- All right!
All right... All
right, all right.
Hoss Cartwright.
Well, who'd have thought it?
I must be moving
up in the world.
I want to talk to
you about Skeeter.
- I need to talk to you, ma'am.
- Uh, hey...
It's about Skeeter.
I got him outside, out there.
None of my concern.
Stoney looks after him.
Well, that's...
that's just it, Miss Dexter.
Mrs. Dexter.
Stoney left him.
Stoney's gone.
So?
So you're the boy's mother.
Now that I heard the sermon,
what hymn are we gonna sing?
How come you're butting in?
I'm worried about the boy.
Well, I'm worried about me.
The boy's 16 years old.
When I was his age,
I'd been carrying
him for three months.
I made it alone.
Let him do it.
He needs somebody.
Well, then why don't
you buy him a mother?
You Cartwrights.
You buy everything
else in this town.
Why don't you buy him
that, if you're so worried?
What'd he ever do to you?
He got born.
Got me married to
a man that ran off
before Skeeter ever
even drew a breath.
Got me so desperate I thought
maybe Stoney could help.
What did he do?
He got me here!
You better make
tracks before I...
start ruining your
lily-white reputation
around this town.
You can take that kid
and put him in a sack
and throw it in the
river, for all I care.
He gave me pain when I had him,
and it ain't stopped yet!
I told you, Hoss.
♪♪
Boy, I just don't understand
a woman like that.
She gives birth to that boy,
and then she hates him.
Does she?
Pa, if you'd have
seen her and heard her,
you wouldn't have
to ask that question.
She's a woman, Hoss.
No, she ain't.
She's something else.
Maybe there was a time
when she was a woman,
but not anymore.
She's filled with nothing but...
hatred and meanness.
Oh, I can't believe that.
Hoss...
a woman may say
that she hates her child.
She may even tell
the child she hates it.
But I don't think
she can ever forget
that she was once
part of a miracle,
and she was once
as close to God as...
anybody can ever get.
I don't think Skeeter's mother
can forget that,
although she may want to.
Why would she want to?
Well, when she was
just a young girl...
I guess she was no
more than about 16...
She met this fella.
He wasn't much good,
but they got married,
and Skeeter was born,
and then the fella
disappeared, lit out.
Now every time
she looks at Skeeter,
she sees the boy's father.
She hates him.
Hates Skeeter.
What are you making, anyhow?
Oh, just making a... perch...
for Skeeter's crow.
Bed?
Yeah.
Hey, Pa, I want to
show you something.
What's the matter,
the bed too soft?
That's right.
- Night.
- Night, Pa.
Hoss!
Hoss!
I'm coming, Pa! I'm coming!
Well, hurry!
What's the matter, Blake?
It's Penny, Mr. Cartwright.
What happened?
She caught her bad
leg in the stall railing.
I tried to get her out, but...
- I think it's broke.
- Yeah... I think...
Get into the house.
- Where are the other boys?
- They ain't come back yet.
She's scared crazy,
Mr. Cartwright.
I tried, but she's
gonna kill that boy.
- Skeeter!
- Get to the house.
Skeeter!
Quiet down now, Penny.
You got to quiet down.
Skeeter, get out of there.
Come on!
Skeeter, get-get-get
out of there!
Whoa, whoa, easy,
girl. Easy, Penny.
Get out of there, Skeeter.
Get over here, now,
get hold of her leg.
Hoss, move her forward.
Move forward,
move forward, Penny.
Move forward, Penny.
Now, Skeeter, this is important.
Now, listen.
We're gonna try to
move her forward.
If we do, we can
get her leg out.
But your gonna have
to guide it, understand?
What if we don't get her out?
She could lose her foal.
Come on, Hoss.
Move forward, Penny.
Penny!
You no-good-for-nothin'
fat head!
Get off of me!
You're doing it, Hoss.
Take it slow now.
Now, Pa! Now!
That's it.
Whew! Dad-burn you, Penny.
You may be a female...
but you ain't no lady,
that's for dang sure.
She ain't putting no
weight on that foot,
- that's for sure.
- She sure ain't.
Easy, girl.
Easy.
It ain't broken, but
there's a lot of stuff
tore up inside, though.
Hoss, you think
we can fix her up
with some hot water
and Epsom salts?
Maybe.
All this excitement, Pa,
I'm sure afraid she's
gonna slip that colt.
Sure as the world.
Yeah.
Well, see if you
can bed her down.
I'll get one of the boys
to get Doc Woods.
You don't need a doc.
I can take care of her.
Skeeter, she needs a doc.
Bring that pail inside.
I'll get Hop Sing to
boil up some water.
Hey, Hoss?
Will you fetch the water
so I can stay with her?
I think she's gonna
need somebody.
Don't hurt so much when
somebody's with you, you know?
Yeah, you sure you
want to do that, Skeeter?
It's three hours till sunup.
I'm sure.
Besides, Penny wants
me to stay. Don't you, girl?
Yeah, I reckon she does at that.
Easy, girl.
Back up now.
Back up.
Come on, easy... easy does it.
Easy... easy on that foot.
Easy.
There you go.
Don't worry.
That leg'll get better.
Mine is, too.
Easy, girl.
Yeah. Easy.
Don't you worry, old girl.
My leg's getting
better, and so will yours.
I want to help you. Yeah.
- Hiya, Doc.
- Hi, Hoss.
- Thanks for coming so quick.
- No problem.
- Hey, uh, how's the hand, buddy?
- Well, it's broke, Hoss.
Dad-burnit. Ain't that the luck.
Hop Sing's got some hot coffee
in there. Go in and get some.
- Thank you.
- Hey, you fix that?
I didn't know you was
a people doctor, too.
No. Doc Harris did it.
- Mare in the barn?
- Yeah.
We tried some Epsom
salts and hot water,
but that didn't seem
to do any good.
Well, keeping her
quiet's the main thing.
- Yeah. Kid's out there.
- Uh-huh.
Skeeter?
Well, where is she?
I don't know... but I'm
gonna skin that Skeeter alive.
What are you talking about?
Skeeter!
Skeeter Dexter!
Skeeter?
Is that Joy's son?
Yeah.
Now, Penny, don't
that feel better, huh?
Yeah.
You keep still till I get
the bottle set up, okay?
Hey, Stove, ain't
that beautiful?
Old Penny won't have
that mush melon leg
when I get done with her.
I guess I better go to tearing.
Hi, Hoss.
What are you doing, Skeeter?
I'm fixing Penny's leg.
Yeah... uh, Skeeter,
this is Doc Woods.
Howdy. Nice to meet you.
You the vet, ain't you?
Yup.
But, uh...
seems I'm not the
only one in the area.
Well, you're doing
a fine job, Skeeter.
You mother'd be proud of you.
- My mother?
- Yup. She's a friend of mine.
Yeah. Hey, uh, look, Skeeter,
maybe-maybe the doc
understands all you're doing here,
but I don't.
Why don't you go down
and explain it to me?
Doc, the boy's pretty
sensitive about his ma.
Nothing wrong with Joy Dexter
that a little understanding
wouldn't cure.
Hey, Hoss?
You see, I got her
in the water here,
to get some cold on that leg.
Now, I come on up here...
I put some sun on it with this.
See? Like-like starting a fire.
Then I pack that
leg up with mud,
and then I wrap it up with this.
Well, you was asleep, and I
didn't want to wake you up.
That's mighty
considerate of you.
This is really fine, Skeeter.
But you didn't have to bother
putting heat on the knee.
Just cooling her out's enough.
Fine job, anyway.
Thanks.
Doc, you mean, all the stuff
that Skeeter's been
doing here is right?
Right as rain.
But we're gonna need real
help taking her back to town.
Back to town?
What do you have to
take her to town for?
Well, we're gonna
board Penny at my place
till she drops the foal.
Look, Skeeter, Penny's
a pretty sick horse.
But you said I was
doing a good job.
Both of you said so.
Well, Skeeter, you are
doing a good job, but...
but you ain't no doctor.
You said she wanted me
to stay with her, and now,
he wants to take her to town,
and you're gonna let him go.
It's for Penny's own good.
But it ain't!
I can tend her as well
as you can. Better.
Skeeter, I'm a vet, and I...
You don't love her like I do.
I know you love
her better than I do,
but I can help her more.
Hoss, Penny wants
me to be with her.
I can sleep right
here, and I'll...
tend that leg like
anything, and...
and-and I'll read books
and-and read up on it.
Oh, Hoss, please.
Dad-burnit, Skeeter, I'd
say "yeah" just like that
if Penny was well, but,
under the circumstances, I...
I was lying, anyway.
I don't give two hoots
about that horse.
You know what I hope?
I hope she slips that
foal and dies doing it.
Come back here,
Skeeter. Let me explain.
Let the boy have her.
But, Doc, wouldn't that be
taking an awful big chance?
Maybe, but Skeeter's had a life
of people taking
things from him.
- I want to give him something.
- Yeah.
You better get on back,
tell Hoss what to do.
I think he's gonna
let you keep the mare.
Thanks, Hoss!
Hoss... Hoss, quick!
It's Penny. You both
gotta come quick.
Skeeter, you have a way of
scaring people half to death.
Now, calm-calm down, Skeeter.
You know, mares have
had colts before, son.
But-but something's wrong, Hoss.
It ain't going like it ought to.
Easy. Easy. Easy, girl.
Easy.
Easy.
What do you think, Pa?
This isn't normal labor.
She'll be all right, won't she?
I don't know, Skeeter.
Well, get Doc Woods then.
We got to get Doc Woods.
Hoss.
On my way.
Easy.
You'll be all right, Penny.
Sure, you will.
Be right there.
You're late.
It's cold outside.
Tea's ready.
That'll warm you up.
Only fair to warn you
that I'm gonna win tonight.
I'll get the cups.
How come you always forget
the scorecard when I'm ahead?
I got the tally book right here.
I'll deal.
I saw Skeeter at
the Cartwright's.
Taking real good care of him.
You're lead, Joy.
When I started coming here,
we agreed just to play cards.
I don't ask you to
talk about Bertha.
Bertha's been dead
for seven years.
Talking won't change that.
Skeeter's alive.
He's more alive and
growing every day.
He's almost a man.
Funny, I can't... think
of Skeeter as a man.
Only as a baby.
Well, that's natural
for a mother.
It's funny what you
remember about... kids.
When Skeeter was
about four years old, I...
I ask him what he wanted
to be when he grew up.
And he wrinkled his little brow,
and he looked at
me, and he said,
"I want to be a tree."
'Cause he looked around,
and he saw what people were.
He decided that
the only good thing
living was a tree.
'Cause it was a
part of the earth,
and it didn't hurt anything.
He was... silly about
things even then.
That's not silly, Joy.
I knew a boy like that once.
All he could think of
were things like that.
He turned out all right.
Marry me, Joy.
Let me love you.
We're alone.
Stoney's deserted you.
We need each other.
Skeeter needs both of us.
But why...?
Why would you want someone...?
Because I see... me in Skeeter.
And I love you.
Doc!
- Doc, you there?
- Yeah.
Oh, Doc, it's me, Hoss.
I'll be right there.
Doc, it's Penny.
She's in real bad trouble.
We need you quick.
I'll put on my coat.
I'll be right with you.
Is Skeeter out there now?
Yes'm.
He's there with my pa.
Can I go with you?
Not until you put on your wrap.
♪ You'll take the high road ♪
♪ And I'll take the low road ♪
♪ And I'll be in Scotland ♪
♪ Before you ♪
♪ But I and my true love ♪
♪ Will never meet again ♪
♪ On the bonnie, bonnie banks ♪
♪ Of Loch Lomond. ♪
That singing's
just a tonic to her.
Yeah, she, uh...
she seems to like it, all right.
- Hi, Doc.
- Ben.
We been keeping
her pretty quiet, Doc.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
Hello, Skeeter.
What's she doing here?
I brought her along to help.
Well, I can help you.
Besides, this ain't
no place for a woman.
Well, Skeeter, it might be
just the place for a woman.
Will you get me
that wheelbarrow?
All right, Doc.
This is liable to
be a long siege.
Why don't you go
get her some coffee.
That's a good idea.
Hop Sing's in the kitchen.
- He'll help you.
- All right.
Doc, want me to wrap the tail?
Yeah. Would you get on that?
Hoss, you get by her
head, hold her down.
Right, Doc.
Skeeter, will you pour
this alcohol over my hands?
Yes, sir.
Plenty on there.
That's it.
How you feeling?
- Scared?
- A little bit.
- Blood bother you?
- No, sir.
All right. You're my assistant.
I'm counting on you.
Penny, be a good mama. Lay down.
Come on now, Penny.
Down you go. That's a
good girl. That's a good girl.
All the way down.
Come on, come on. Come on.
That's a good girl.
Turn your head over. Come on.
- Come on. Lay down.
- Lay down, Penny.
That's a good girl.
There we are.
All right, Skeeter, you
finish wrapping the tail.
Easy, Penny. Easy.
- Easy, girl.
- That's a good girl.
Whoa, Penny.
Yeah, sure, you'll be fine.
It's a breech, Ben.
What's a breech?
It's where the...
it's where the foal's backwards.
You can help her,
can't you, Doc?
Yeah, if I can get to the foal.
Easy, Penny.
Come on, foal.
It's not such a bad world
that you have
to... back into it.
Relax, baby.
Come on, Penny.
Relax.
Come on, girl.
I can't get to the foal.
Ben, you'll have to
make the decision.
It's either Penny or the foal.
Mr. Cartwright...
Please...
Ben... we haven't got much time.
Both. We save both.
That's impossible.
You're the doctor. You
do something about it.
That's my decision.
She won't relax.
Well, do something to relax her.
Skeeter, there's a
black case in my bag.
Bring it and the alcohol.
All right, Penny.
Swab her neck there.
What are you gonna do?
Tracheotomy.
She can't bear down if
she can't hold her breath.
Easy.
Pour some alcohol on that.
All right.
I'm doing this your way, Ben.
We got one chance in ten.
- Now, hold her.
- Yeah.
- Grab her head...
- Easy, Penny.
I'm gonna cut now.
Hold it, hold it...
All right, keep holding.
Keep that opening clean.
Skeeter, quick.
It's all right,
girl. It's all right.
I think you're gonna be fine.
Sac's broken.
Clean that stuff away.
Come on. Quick, quick.
Quick. Clean that way.
Hurry up. That's it.
I got hold.
All right.
Come on.
Turn around.
Turn around, foal. Come on.
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Doc, look.
I know, I know. Keep working.
Here, help. Pull, pull.
Pull. Hurry up. More.
Aw, Doc, he's beautiful.
He's dead.
I'm sorry.
Foal's dead, Ma.
I'm so sorry.
Doc!
Did you see that?
Look.
Come on...
Come on, boy.
- - - SKEETER: He's breathing.
It's gonna be all right, Ben.
Yeah, he sure will.
If you wouldn't mind, uh,
hand me that pail, please.
That's the finest looking
foal I've ever seen.
Penny, you know what we're
gonna do for that boy of yours?
We're gonna feed him.
Here. Try that. Huh?
How about that... A
little bit of milk, yeah?
Can you thread
that for me, please?
Thanks.
There. Now.
Yeah... There you are.
Hey, what are we gonna name him?
How 'bout Skeeter?
After me?
Um... well, I thought the...
Cartwrights might
like to use it. It's a...
it's a good name for
a pet or... or a boy.
You're not gonna be
needing it anymore.
Skeeter, what is your real name?
I don't think you ever got
around to telling us, did you?
Charles William Dexter.
Good name for a man.
Try a little more of that.
Oh... sure...
Well, he's getting his
breakfast. What about us?
Well, I thought that
I'd, uh, take Skeeter...
uh, Charles...
and his mother into
town for breakfast.
How's that sound, Charles?
That sounds fine, but...
we just got to come back later
to see about Penny and the colt.
Well, I think that
can be arranged.
Uh, Ben, I'll stop by L.G.'s
and see about a nurse
mare for a few days.
The way this one is eating,
I don't know if you're
gonna need a nurse mare.
Well... just a few more stitches
and we'll be... on our way.
Aw, Skeeter's really
growing up, ain't he?
Yeah.
He sure is.
This has been a color production
of the NBC Television Network.
is brought to you in
living color on NBC.
♪♪
Come on, Stove, let's
go see what that is.
Hold on, little fox.
Skeeter'll get you
out of that trap.
Aah!
Help! Help!
Help!
Somebody!
Help!
Is there anybody around here?
Help! Help!
Help!
Help!
Skeeter.
- Help!
- Skeeter!
- Hoss...
- Skeeter!
Just take it easy,
buddy. Take it easy.
The more you yell and pull
on it, the worse it's gonna be.
Now just take it easy.
Now... now try to pull it out.
Oh, no, no, no.
Help him first, Hoss.
Get you to the house, though.
Help him first.
Sit down, I'll be right here.
Just take it easy, buddy.
Watch out... watch out...
Can you hobble over here?
Gonna have to swing up, Skeeter.
- All right.
- Ready?
Hang on, buddy.
Hang on, Skeeter.
♪♪
Hey, Stoney?
Stoney... wake up.
Hey.
Stoney.
Stoney. Hey, wake up.
Stoney...
Oh.
Oh...
You come for your share
of the trap money, forget it.
There ain't any.
Somebody emptied all my traps.
Every last living one of them.
It ain't the money, Stoney...
I know who it was.
That stinking Skeeter.
He thinks more of them animals
than he does of the
man who fills his belly.
Now, where is that bottle?!
Stoney, Skeeter's at
our place; he's hurt.
Oh, now, ain't
that just too bad.
He ain't hurt bad,
but I figured you'd
probably want to see him.
He's your son.
He's my stepson!
Ain't got half a brain, at that.
Oh... All right, all right.
I'll go see the little...
I'll saddle your horse.
Stinking kid.
Big bird eat more than you.
What's the matter? You
don't like Hop Sing's cooking?
Just ain't hungry, that's all.
Mr. Hoss come back with
your father pretty soon.
Skeeter, here's your pa.
You want to eat this, Mr. Hoss?
Oh, I reckon I could
manage that, Hop Sing.
Hey, why don't you,
uh, get another plate
and some coffee
here for Stoney, huh?
Yes, sir. Right away.
You emptied them
traps, didn't you?
Boy, you're gonna answer me.
You think that trap cut you up,
just wait till I get
through with you.
Now answer me!
Your pa's talking to you, son.
Answer your pa.
I'll beat some brains into you.
- Beat some brains into you...!
- No, Stoney...
Stoney! Stoney! Stoney!
Stoney.
Stoney, what are you
trying to do to that boy?
I'm not gonna do
nothin' to him anymore.
I'm getting out of here.
You hear that, boy?
You can go back to that pig
of a woman who birthed you.
You ain't got a brain,
she got no heart.
You ought to make a good match.
All right, Stoney.
Come on.
You said you were
leaving now; let's go.
Come on.
Hoss, wait a minute.
Uh, tell your father...
Stoney don't need
his charity no more.
I'm... going up north.
Where I belong.
You all right, Skeeter?
His name's Stove.
Stove and me are
going to the barn.
Come on...
How come you stuck up for me?
Well, he was
gonna hurt you, son.
You never did like him
either, did you, Stove, huh?
Yeah, I can tell when
you like somebody.
Yeah.
You like me, don't you, hmm?
If you could talk,
you'd tell me.
"Oh, Skeeter, he's the most
important person in the world,"
you'd say. Yeah.
Wish you could talk, Stove.
Skeeter, you in here? Oh.
I wasn't hurting anything.
I didn't say you was.
It's getting along
about suppertime.
You sure can't share old
Penny's supper with her.
- Hey, have you met Penny?
- No.
Come here a minute.
Skeeter, meet Ponderosa Penny.
Oh...
She's gonna have herself
a baby in about two weeks.
Broodmare, huh?
Yeah. One of the best.
Some of the best
blood in the world.
Little Joe, as a matter of fact,
won a first prize championship
with her last year, and
would have again this year
but she up and hurt that knee.
Oh.
It's swole up, must hurt.
You like animals, don't you?
Where's Little Joe?
He's back at Denver for a rodeo.
Is it okay if I sleep
in the barn tonight?
Well... I reckon that
could be arranged if...
if you'll come on to supper now.
- I'm willing.
- Come on.
Come on, Stove.
Stove, this here is
Ponderosa Penny.
She's a friend.
Gonna let him get friends, huh?
Yeah.
Come on.
Where is Mr. Hoss?
Everybody all the time late.
Oh, he and Skeeter will be
in for breakfast in a little while.
Thank you, Hop Sing.
- Oh.
- Where's Skeeter?
Well, he's gone. That's
what I come to tell you.
Just like that.
Abracadabra, he's gone.
He's a funny fella, that kid.
It's, uh... never
answers questions, he...
seems like he talks more sense
to animals than he does humans.
Well, it's not surprising,
considering everything.
You better have
yourself some breakfast.
- Hop Sing's been yelling.
- I'll eat later, Pa.
I think I better find this kid.
I'll see you.
Oh, no, Ma.
I couldn't have another helping.
Why, I'd just about bust.
It sure was a good
supper, though.
I bet Ma makes about the best
sweet potatoes in
the world, don't she?
Why, Pa, shoot.
You ain't getting fat.
No.
You're just big
and strong, I'd say.
You sure do look nice, Ma.
Pretty as a picture.
You want your pipe, Pa?
Well, stay put.
Let me get it for you.
I should be getting you
your pipe all the time now,
to pay you back for all them
peppermint sticks you bought me.
Here, let me light it for you.
Aw, shoot, I'm old enough to
handle matches now, I guess.
You taught me all about that.
Hi, Skeeter.
♪♪
It ain't no use, Skeeter.
Go away! Let me alone!
I can't do that, son.
I gotta ask you a question:
Where's your ma?
Dead. She's dead.
That ain't what Stoney
told me yesterday.
I don't want to see her.
That ain't what it
looked to me like
back there in
that cabin, either.
Stove's back there.
I gotta go.
Now you listen to me, Skeeter.
I ain't gonna let you go
on hiding with that bird.
I didn't give up
chasing you this time,
and I won't the next time.
You're gonna take me to your ma,
and you might as well
make your peace with that.
You'll see then.
You'll see.
That's her.
You wait back down
the hall, Skeeter.
Miss Dexter?
Miss Dexter?
Oh! Go away!
Miss Dexter?
- Miss Dexter?
- All right!
All right... All
right, all right.
Hoss Cartwright.
Well, who'd have thought it?
I must be moving
up in the world.
I want to talk to
you about Skeeter.
- I need to talk to you, ma'am.
- Uh, hey...
It's about Skeeter.
I got him outside, out there.
None of my concern.
Stoney looks after him.
Well, that's...
that's just it, Miss Dexter.
Mrs. Dexter.
Stoney left him.
Stoney's gone.
So?
So you're the boy's mother.
Now that I heard the sermon,
what hymn are we gonna sing?
How come you're butting in?
I'm worried about the boy.
Well, I'm worried about me.
The boy's 16 years old.
When I was his age,
I'd been carrying
him for three months.
I made it alone.
Let him do it.
He needs somebody.
Well, then why don't
you buy him a mother?
You Cartwrights.
You buy everything
else in this town.
Why don't you buy him
that, if you're so worried?
What'd he ever do to you?
He got born.
Got me married to
a man that ran off
before Skeeter ever
even drew a breath.
Got me so desperate I thought
maybe Stoney could help.
What did he do?
He got me here!
You better make
tracks before I...
start ruining your
lily-white reputation
around this town.
You can take that kid
and put him in a sack
and throw it in the
river, for all I care.
He gave me pain when I had him,
and it ain't stopped yet!
I told you, Hoss.
♪♪
Boy, I just don't understand
a woman like that.
She gives birth to that boy,
and then she hates him.
Does she?
Pa, if you'd have
seen her and heard her,
you wouldn't have
to ask that question.
She's a woman, Hoss.
No, she ain't.
She's something else.
Maybe there was a time
when she was a woman,
but not anymore.
She's filled with nothing but...
hatred and meanness.
Oh, I can't believe that.
Hoss...
a woman may say
that she hates her child.
She may even tell
the child she hates it.
But I don't think
she can ever forget
that she was once
part of a miracle,
and she was once
as close to God as...
anybody can ever get.
I don't think Skeeter's mother
can forget that,
although she may want to.
Why would she want to?
Well, when she was
just a young girl...
I guess she was no
more than about 16...
She met this fella.
He wasn't much good,
but they got married,
and Skeeter was born,
and then the fella
disappeared, lit out.
Now every time
she looks at Skeeter,
she sees the boy's father.
She hates him.
Hates Skeeter.
What are you making, anyhow?
Oh, just making a... perch...
for Skeeter's crow.
Bed?
Yeah.
Hey, Pa, I want to
show you something.
What's the matter,
the bed too soft?
That's right.
- Night.
- Night, Pa.
Hoss!
Hoss!
I'm coming, Pa! I'm coming!
Well, hurry!
What's the matter, Blake?
It's Penny, Mr. Cartwright.
What happened?
She caught her bad
leg in the stall railing.
I tried to get her out, but...
- I think it's broke.
- Yeah... I think...
Get into the house.
- Where are the other boys?
- They ain't come back yet.
She's scared crazy,
Mr. Cartwright.
I tried, but she's
gonna kill that boy.
- Skeeter!
- Get to the house.
Skeeter!
Quiet down now, Penny.
You got to quiet down.
Skeeter, get out of there.
Come on!
Skeeter, get-get-get
out of there!
Whoa, whoa, easy,
girl. Easy, Penny.
Get out of there, Skeeter.
Get over here, now,
get hold of her leg.
Hoss, move her forward.
Move forward,
move forward, Penny.
Move forward, Penny.
Now, Skeeter, this is important.
Now, listen.
We're gonna try to
move her forward.
If we do, we can
get her leg out.
But your gonna have
to guide it, understand?
What if we don't get her out?
She could lose her foal.
Come on, Hoss.
Move forward, Penny.
Penny!
You no-good-for-nothin'
fat head!
Get off of me!
You're doing it, Hoss.
Take it slow now.
Now, Pa! Now!
That's it.
Whew! Dad-burn you, Penny.
You may be a female...
but you ain't no lady,
that's for dang sure.
She ain't putting no
weight on that foot,
- that's for sure.
- She sure ain't.
Easy, girl.
Easy.
It ain't broken, but
there's a lot of stuff
tore up inside, though.
Hoss, you think
we can fix her up
with some hot water
and Epsom salts?
Maybe.
All this excitement, Pa,
I'm sure afraid she's
gonna slip that colt.
Sure as the world.
Yeah.
Well, see if you
can bed her down.
I'll get one of the boys
to get Doc Woods.
You don't need a doc.
I can take care of her.
Skeeter, she needs a doc.
Bring that pail inside.
I'll get Hop Sing to
boil up some water.
Hey, Hoss?
Will you fetch the water
so I can stay with her?
I think she's gonna
need somebody.
Don't hurt so much when
somebody's with you, you know?
Yeah, you sure you
want to do that, Skeeter?
It's three hours till sunup.
I'm sure.
Besides, Penny wants
me to stay. Don't you, girl?
Yeah, I reckon she does at that.
Easy, girl.
Back up now.
Back up.
Come on, easy... easy does it.
Easy... easy on that foot.
Easy.
There you go.
Don't worry.
That leg'll get better.
Mine is, too.
Easy, girl.
Yeah. Easy.
Don't you worry, old girl.
My leg's getting
better, and so will yours.
I want to help you. Yeah.
- Hiya, Doc.
- Hi, Hoss.
- Thanks for coming so quick.
- No problem.
- Hey, uh, how's the hand, buddy?
- Well, it's broke, Hoss.
Dad-burnit. Ain't that the luck.
Hop Sing's got some hot coffee
in there. Go in and get some.
- Thank you.
- Hey, you fix that?
I didn't know you was
a people doctor, too.
No. Doc Harris did it.
- Mare in the barn?
- Yeah.
We tried some Epsom
salts and hot water,
but that didn't seem
to do any good.
Well, keeping her
quiet's the main thing.
- Yeah. Kid's out there.
- Uh-huh.
Skeeter?
Well, where is she?
I don't know... but I'm
gonna skin that Skeeter alive.
What are you talking about?
Skeeter!
Skeeter Dexter!
Skeeter?
Is that Joy's son?
Yeah.
Now, Penny, don't
that feel better, huh?
Yeah.
You keep still till I get
the bottle set up, okay?
Hey, Stove, ain't
that beautiful?
Old Penny won't have
that mush melon leg
when I get done with her.
I guess I better go to tearing.
Hi, Hoss.
What are you doing, Skeeter?
I'm fixing Penny's leg.
Yeah... uh, Skeeter,
this is Doc Woods.
Howdy. Nice to meet you.
You the vet, ain't you?
Yup.
But, uh...
seems I'm not the
only one in the area.
Well, you're doing
a fine job, Skeeter.
You mother'd be proud of you.
- My mother?
- Yup. She's a friend of mine.
Yeah. Hey, uh, look, Skeeter,
maybe-maybe the doc
understands all you're doing here,
but I don't.
Why don't you go down
and explain it to me?
Doc, the boy's pretty
sensitive about his ma.
Nothing wrong with Joy Dexter
that a little understanding
wouldn't cure.
Hey, Hoss?
You see, I got her
in the water here,
to get some cold on that leg.
Now, I come on up here...
I put some sun on it with this.
See? Like-like starting a fire.
Then I pack that
leg up with mud,
and then I wrap it up with this.
Well, you was asleep, and I
didn't want to wake you up.
That's mighty
considerate of you.
This is really fine, Skeeter.
But you didn't have to bother
putting heat on the knee.
Just cooling her out's enough.
Fine job, anyway.
Thanks.
Doc, you mean, all the stuff
that Skeeter's been
doing here is right?
Right as rain.
But we're gonna need real
help taking her back to town.
Back to town?
What do you have to
take her to town for?
Well, we're gonna
board Penny at my place
till she drops the foal.
Look, Skeeter, Penny's
a pretty sick horse.
But you said I was
doing a good job.
Both of you said so.
Well, Skeeter, you are
doing a good job, but...
but you ain't no doctor.
You said she wanted me
to stay with her, and now,
he wants to take her to town,
and you're gonna let him go.
It's for Penny's own good.
But it ain't!
I can tend her as well
as you can. Better.
Skeeter, I'm a vet, and I...
You don't love her like I do.
I know you love
her better than I do,
but I can help her more.
Hoss, Penny wants
me to be with her.
I can sleep right
here, and I'll...
tend that leg like
anything, and...
and-and I'll read books
and-and read up on it.
Oh, Hoss, please.
Dad-burnit, Skeeter, I'd
say "yeah" just like that
if Penny was well, but,
under the circumstances, I...
I was lying, anyway.
I don't give two hoots
about that horse.
You know what I hope?
I hope she slips that
foal and dies doing it.
Come back here,
Skeeter. Let me explain.
Let the boy have her.
But, Doc, wouldn't that be
taking an awful big chance?
Maybe, but Skeeter's had a life
of people taking
things from him.
- I want to give him something.
- Yeah.
You better get on back,
tell Hoss what to do.
I think he's gonna
let you keep the mare.
Thanks, Hoss!
Hoss... Hoss, quick!
It's Penny. You both
gotta come quick.
Skeeter, you have a way of
scaring people half to death.
Now, calm-calm down, Skeeter.
You know, mares have
had colts before, son.
But-but something's wrong, Hoss.
It ain't going like it ought to.
Easy. Easy. Easy, girl.
Easy.
Easy.
What do you think, Pa?
This isn't normal labor.
She'll be all right, won't she?
I don't know, Skeeter.
Well, get Doc Woods then.
We got to get Doc Woods.
Hoss.
On my way.
Easy.
You'll be all right, Penny.
Sure, you will.
Be right there.
You're late.
It's cold outside.
Tea's ready.
That'll warm you up.
Only fair to warn you
that I'm gonna win tonight.
I'll get the cups.
How come you always forget
the scorecard when I'm ahead?
I got the tally book right here.
I'll deal.
I saw Skeeter at
the Cartwright's.
Taking real good care of him.
You're lead, Joy.
When I started coming here,
we agreed just to play cards.
I don't ask you to
talk about Bertha.
Bertha's been dead
for seven years.
Talking won't change that.
Skeeter's alive.
He's more alive and
growing every day.
He's almost a man.
Funny, I can't... think
of Skeeter as a man.
Only as a baby.
Well, that's natural
for a mother.
It's funny what you
remember about... kids.
When Skeeter was
about four years old, I...
I ask him what he wanted
to be when he grew up.
And he wrinkled his little brow,
and he looked at
me, and he said,
"I want to be a tree."
'Cause he looked around,
and he saw what people were.
He decided that
the only good thing
living was a tree.
'Cause it was a
part of the earth,
and it didn't hurt anything.
He was... silly about
things even then.
That's not silly, Joy.
I knew a boy like that once.
All he could think of
were things like that.
He turned out all right.
Marry me, Joy.
Let me love you.
We're alone.
Stoney's deserted you.
We need each other.
Skeeter needs both of us.
But why...?
Why would you want someone...?
Because I see... me in Skeeter.
And I love you.
Doc!
- Doc, you there?
- Yeah.
Oh, Doc, it's me, Hoss.
I'll be right there.
Doc, it's Penny.
She's in real bad trouble.
We need you quick.
I'll put on my coat.
I'll be right with you.
Is Skeeter out there now?
Yes'm.
He's there with my pa.
Can I go with you?
Not until you put on your wrap.
♪ You'll take the high road ♪
♪ And I'll take the low road ♪
♪ And I'll be in Scotland ♪
♪ Before you ♪
♪ But I and my true love ♪
♪ Will never meet again ♪
♪ On the bonnie, bonnie banks ♪
♪ Of Loch Lomond. ♪
That singing's
just a tonic to her.
Yeah, she, uh...
she seems to like it, all right.
- Hi, Doc.
- Ben.
We been keeping
her pretty quiet, Doc.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
Hello, Skeeter.
What's she doing here?
I brought her along to help.
Well, I can help you.
Besides, this ain't
no place for a woman.
Well, Skeeter, it might be
just the place for a woman.
Will you get me
that wheelbarrow?
All right, Doc.
This is liable to
be a long siege.
Why don't you go
get her some coffee.
That's a good idea.
Hop Sing's in the kitchen.
- He'll help you.
- All right.
Doc, want me to wrap the tail?
Yeah. Would you get on that?
Hoss, you get by her
head, hold her down.
Right, Doc.
Skeeter, will you pour
this alcohol over my hands?
Yes, sir.
Plenty on there.
That's it.
How you feeling?
- Scared?
- A little bit.
- Blood bother you?
- No, sir.
All right. You're my assistant.
I'm counting on you.
Penny, be a good mama. Lay down.
Come on now, Penny.
Down you go. That's a
good girl. That's a good girl.
All the way down.
Come on, come on. Come on.
That's a good girl.
Turn your head over. Come on.
- Come on. Lay down.
- Lay down, Penny.
That's a good girl.
There we are.
All right, Skeeter, you
finish wrapping the tail.
Easy, Penny. Easy.
- Easy, girl.
- That's a good girl.
Whoa, Penny.
Yeah, sure, you'll be fine.
It's a breech, Ben.
What's a breech?
It's where the...
it's where the foal's backwards.
You can help her,
can't you, Doc?
Yeah, if I can get to the foal.
Easy, Penny.
Come on, foal.
It's not such a bad world
that you have
to... back into it.
Relax, baby.
Come on, Penny.
Relax.
Come on, girl.
I can't get to the foal.
Ben, you'll have to
make the decision.
It's either Penny or the foal.
Mr. Cartwright...
Please...
Ben... we haven't got much time.
Both. We save both.
That's impossible.
You're the doctor. You
do something about it.
That's my decision.
She won't relax.
Well, do something to relax her.
Skeeter, there's a
black case in my bag.
Bring it and the alcohol.
All right, Penny.
Swab her neck there.
What are you gonna do?
Tracheotomy.
She can't bear down if
she can't hold her breath.
Easy.
Pour some alcohol on that.
All right.
I'm doing this your way, Ben.
We got one chance in ten.
- Now, hold her.
- Yeah.
- Grab her head...
- Easy, Penny.
I'm gonna cut now.
Hold it, hold it...
All right, keep holding.
Keep that opening clean.
Skeeter, quick.
It's all right,
girl. It's all right.
I think you're gonna be fine.
Sac's broken.
Clean that stuff away.
Come on. Quick, quick.
Quick. Clean that way.
Hurry up. That's it.
I got hold.
All right.
Come on.
Turn around.
Turn around, foal. Come on.
- Come on, come on, come on.
- Doc, look.
I know, I know. Keep working.
Here, help. Pull, pull.
Pull. Hurry up. More.
Aw, Doc, he's beautiful.
He's dead.
I'm sorry.
Foal's dead, Ma.
I'm so sorry.
Doc!
Did you see that?
Look.
Come on...
Come on, boy.
- - - SKEETER: He's breathing.
It's gonna be all right, Ben.
Yeah, he sure will.
If you wouldn't mind, uh,
hand me that pail, please.
That's the finest looking
foal I've ever seen.
Penny, you know what we're
gonna do for that boy of yours?
We're gonna feed him.
Here. Try that. Huh?
How about that... A
little bit of milk, yeah?
Can you thread
that for me, please?
Thanks.
There. Now.
Yeah... There you are.
Hey, what are we gonna name him?
How 'bout Skeeter?
After me?
Um... well, I thought the...
Cartwrights might
like to use it. It's a...
it's a good name for
a pet or... or a boy.
You're not gonna be
needing it anymore.
Skeeter, what is your real name?
I don't think you ever got
around to telling us, did you?
Charles William Dexter.
Good name for a man.
Try a little more of that.
Oh... sure...
Well, he's getting his
breakfast. What about us?
Well, I thought that
I'd, uh, take Skeeter...
uh, Charles...
and his mother into
town for breakfast.
How's that sound, Charles?
That sounds fine, but...
we just got to come back later
to see about Penny and the colt.
Well, I think that
can be arranged.
Uh, Ben, I'll stop by L.G.'s
and see about a nurse
mare for a few days.
The way this one is eating,
I don't know if you're
gonna need a nurse mare.
Well... just a few more stitches
and we'll be... on our way.
Aw, Skeeter's really
growing up, ain't he?
Yeah.
He sure is.
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