Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 7, Episode 20 - Peace Officer - full transcript

A band of rowdy young punks accidentally kill a deputy in a barroom brawl. With Sheriff Coffee out of town, the mayor sends for legendary peace officer Wes Dunn to take his place temporarily and track down the gang. But it soon becomes apparent that Dunn is totally ruthless and brutal in the methods he uses to catch them.

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Yee-haw!

Hey, Little Joe, join us.

Yeah, it's too early.
I got work to do.

Hey, how come is it I always
get the hardware to carry

and you get the light stuff?

Well, brother, I figure
you need the exercise.

After all, you got a
little weight problem.

Only weight problem I got
right now is in my two hands.

- Morning, Hoss. Joe.
- How you doing?



Morning, Bill. How's it going?

Well, all right, I guess.

Sure be glad when Sheriff
Coffee gets back from St. Louis.

Been nothing but
trouble since he left here.

Let him go!

See what I mean?

I don't know what
this town's coming to.

Yeah, I heard it was
getting sort of wild.

Wild? I haven't had a decent
night's sleep in two weeks.

You need any help, Bill?

No. That's what
I'm getting paid for.

$40 a month and meals.

See you, boys.

Hey, you think we ought to go
on and give him a hand anyway?



Ah, Bill knows what he's doing.

Needs some help,
he'll call on us.

Come on, let's get the
rest of that hardware.

I was afraid you
were gonna say that.

Yeah, right between the eyes!

Won't give us a drink, huh?

Then you won't be
needing these glasses.

And he won't be needing
his head, either, right?!

Uh, please, fellas. Hey...

Hey. Hey, it's time
to give him a free ride

like the other one, right?

- Yeah!
- Let's go!

Come on!

Oh, my God, will
you put me down?!

Break it up.

Hey, get out of the way!

- Hey, now!
- What?

Hey, keep your
nose out of this, Dep.

We're just evening the score
with this squirt here for not

- giving us any drinks, huh?
- Yeah.

They-they already had more

- than they can handle when they came in.
- Nah!

Oh, will you put me...?

Now, you're gonna cool
your heels in jail a while.

You're under arrest, Dave.

Rest of you fellas,
I'm giving you a break.

Hightail it on out of here.

Yeah!

You bet I did, huh?!

What do you think?

You bet I did, huh?
What do you think?

Right?

Now what do you have
to say about it, hmm?

Yeah, old Dep.

Why don't you wake up
and we'll talk it all over, huh?

Dave...

he's dead.

What do you mean, he's dead?

Hey, Dep.

Hey, get up!

Get up!

Help! Help!

Help!

They killed Bill Harris!

No, you don't, buddy.

- Ben.
- Hi, Jonesy.

- Mayor.
- Jonesy.

- You all alone?
- Where's everybody?

Well, Deputy Hacker... he
took, uh, Hoss and Little Joe.

They rode out about an hour
ago, try to pick up the kid's trail.

They got me from the stable
to guard a prisoner here.

Listen, uh...

- Uh, would you like to see him?
- Yeah.

You know, I've seen quiet
ones, but this boy takes the prize.

Hi, young fella.

Uh, I'm Ben Cartwright,
and this is Mayor Garrett.

We'd, uh, like to talk
to you for a minute.

You better tell us where the
rest of those boys are hiding.

Amos.

Leave me alone with
him for a bit, will you?

Cliff...

I don't think you realize how
much of a pickle you're in.

You and your
friends killed a man.

You put an end to a human life.

How do you think I
feel, Mr. Cartwright?

I ain't been able to think
of anything else since.

What about your friends?

Think of them.

How do they feel?

Hunted like animals.

What do you want from me?

Why are you here anyway?

I'd like you to tell me
who your friends are.

Look, I-I know that...

Dave Morrissey and Chuck
Wilson are implicated with you.

There were two other fellas.

Where are they?

I ain't telling you nothing,

so get out of here
and leave me alone.

I'm told that you
haven't any parents.

Is that right?

Sure like to help you.

How? By turning me into
a yellow-bellied tattletale?

By getting me to
sell out my friends?

No, I'm not trying to get
you to sell out your friends.

I'm trying to get you
to help your friends.

Look at me.

Look at me, Cliff.

Now, I know that you
fellas didn't deliberately

go out to murder a man.

I know that only one
fella struck that blow.

Well, the bartender
told us that.

So, uh, if you tell us
where the other fellas are,

we-we could bring 'em in, and...

I could promise
you a fair trial.

Leave me alone.

- Now, Cliff...
- Leave me alone!

Ain't gonna tell you anything.

Ain't gonna tell
anybody anything.

What's happened?
Who's been shot?

Hurry up and get the doctor!

Sit him down there.
I'll get his leg up.

Ben, come quick.

Easy.

Looks like it's broke, Pa.

- Sent Hoss for the doc.
- What happened?

Well, Tom tried
to talk those kids

out of the rocks
at Crown Canyon.

They shot him, and then
scattered like a bunch of quail.

I think I winged
one of 'em, Ben.

Them dang fool kids.

Whenever you put on a badge, uh,

some young
whippersnapper is bound

to try and put a bullet in you.

He's gonna be out of
commission for a while.

Well, that does it.

Beatings, robberies, hurrahing
the town, and now this.

Ben, I'm calling an emergency
session of the city council,

and I want you to be there.

With Roy Coffee away,

we need a new peace officer in
this town, and I mean right now!

The shooting of Deputy Hacker
and the death of Deputy Harris

dramatically
demonstrate our problem.

And so, I say,

if the only thing that
sweeps clean is a new broom,

then let us get that new
broom and get it fast!

With Roy Coffee
bogged down in St. Louis

until that murder trial is over,

Virginia City is in desperate
need of a new law enforcement.

The kind of law officer who
can not only maintain order,

but restore order.

Now, I'm talking about lawmen
like Bear River Tom Smitty,

Wild Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp.

I have just such a man in mind.

And in exercising
my power of office,

I wired him to
come to Virginia City

to accept the post of sheriff.

Well, who do you
have in mind, Amos?

You'll see his name on
this message of acceptance.

Wes Dunn.

Wes Dunn, gentlemen.

One of the great
lawmen of the West.

A man whose reputation

for cleaning up bad towns
has made him a living legend.

I'm convinced he's
the man we need.

Hey, Hoss, take a look at this.

Says, "Wes Dunn, the
beau sabreur of the West.

The dauntless lawman."

The beau what?

Beau sabreur.

French phrase. Means
a perfect swordsman.

A little melodramatic,
but makes a good story.

Hey, look over
here. Look at this.

Picture of Wes Dunn
with Wild Bill Hickok.

- Take a look at this, Pa.
- Hmm?

It says, "These two men

"single-handedly
cleared the trails

from Dodge City to
Abilene." Look at that.

Hey, Pa, is-is this Wes
Dunn really that tough?

Well, that's, uh...
that's what they say.

We'll find out
when he gets here.

I'm kind of anxious to meet him.

I think Mayor Garrett's right.

I think this is the kind of
man we need around town.

He's tough, aggressive;

he shoots first and
asks questions later.

That's a strange way
for you to be talking.

Well, what's so
strange about it?

Tom Hacker and Bill Harris
were friends of yours, weren't they?

Well, of course, but...

Well, what happened
was regrettable,

but you don't change a whole
method of law enforcement

because of one incident.

Well, they tried to talk
to the Morrissey bunch.

Where'd it get 'em?

Well, Joe, you...
That's the risk they took

when they decided to
become peace officers.

Well, for $40 a month and meals,

I don't think they ought
to have to take that risk.

Well, they don't have to
take it, they decided to.

Well, I think they made
the wrong decision, then.

He's pretty riled up, ain't he?

Yeah, well... whole
town is riled up.

Yeah.

Pa, what's... what's this
Wes Dunn gonna do about it?

I don't know, but it's
gonna be something.

According to this,

he's the toughest peace
officer in the country.

I so solemnly swear.

Congratulations, Sheriff.

How 'bout a few words
from our new sheriff, eh?

I'm afraid I'm not much
for words, gentlemen.

But I will tell you this.

I came here to do a job,

and to do it right, I
must have the power.

I will brook no interference,
tolerate no undue criticism.

I will do things my
way, at my own pace,

on my own grounds.

The law is the law
and will be upheld.

I hope this is
clear to everyone.

Well, that's-that's
well said, Sheriff.

I think we've got ourselves a
real lawman in Virginia City.

And I'm afraid I'm not much for
ceremonies either, gentlemen.

So I know you'll excuse me;
I've got a lot to get started on.

Oh, uh, uh, Sheriff Dunn,

I'd like to have you meet one of
our most distinguished citizens,

Mr. Ben Cartwright, owner
of the Ponderosa Ranch.

Yes, I've heard a lot
about you, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, we've heard a great deal
about you, too, Sheriff Dunn.

Uh, my son Hoss.

My son Joseph.

Yeah, I reckon we know about
everything there is to know

about you, Sheriff;
Little Joe must've read

a half a hundred
books about you.

Has he really?

- Yeah.
- Well, sort of. I...

I used to think about
being a peace officer.

Well, I'd better get some
peace officering done myself

and start earning
my keep around here.

Well, we'll get out of your way.

- Congratulations.
- Good luck.

- Good luck.
- Bye, fellas.

- So long, Mayor.
- So long, Mayor.

Now, first things
first, Mr. Mayor.

I'll want a curfew for
9:00 beginning tonight.

Curfew?

That's what I'll need

if you want me
to do the job right.

I want the riffraff
off the streets

and the citizens in their
homes where they can't get hurt.

Don't you think a
curfew is a bit extreme?

I mean, it's-it's not
good for business.

Extreme times call
for extreme measures.

I want that curfew, Mayor.

Very well, Sheriff.

I'll have an immediate
resolution drawn up

for review by the council.

Mr. Mayor...

as soon as I'm
provisioned and ready,

I'm going out to bring in the
boys that killed your deputy.

I won't have time to sit around

while the council
scratches its head.

I want you to start exercising
your mayoral powers

and start backing me up.

Yes. Yes, of course.

♪♪

I guess you heard
I'm the new law here.

Come on over here where
I can talk to you, fella.

I ain't got nothing to tell you.

Now, I haven't
got time to waste.

I want the names
of your friends.

I want to know just
where I can find them.

All right.

We'll do it any way you like.

Yoo-hoo! Come on!

Get along.

Hey, Hoss?

Yeah. Always got
to be one, ain't there?

- I'll get him.
- All right.

Ha! Come on!

Dad-burned little
critter's cut hisself.

Whoa there, little buddy.

- Whoa, little buddy.
- Don't move, Hoss.

You never saw me.

Just get out of here.

Chuck, I did see you.

I saw you real good.

No.

Buddy, you're hurt. Come on.

No, please, Hoss.

You know me.

I never meant to hurt anybody.

Chuck, the only one
you're hurting is yourself.

Now, come on.

Don't, Hoss. I ain't gonna
go back there. I mean it.

I don't want to hurt you.

I don't think you're going to.

No, I...

No, I... I didn't mean to. Uh...

Hey, Hoss?

Hoss?

Hey, Hoss?

Hoss.

Thank heaven he's strong, Ben.

Same wound in a weaker man,

he wouldn't have
any chance at all.

I want you to stay with him.

The great danger now
is from hemorrhaging.

You'll be back in the
morning, won't you?

First thing. Take
care of him though.

Night, Ben, Little Joe.

Night.

You go light the fire.

I'm-I'm gonna stay with Hoss.

- Right.
- Mr. Cartwright?

Oh, I'm sorry if I startled you.

I found the door open.

I heard in town about your son,

and I rode out, thought
maybe I could talk to him.

I'm afraid you won't be able to.

He's unconscious.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I better get to him.

Mr. Cartwright.

Maybe I can... cheer
you up a bit anyway.

I think it was one of
the Morrissey bunch

that shot your son.

Well, I caught up
with one of them.

Punk named Fred Roberts.

You know him?

Yes, I...

He's the son of
some old friends.

I caught up with him
at his mother's place.

The fool tried to
shoot it out with me.

He lost.

Are you saying he's dead?

That's right.

Oh, when your son
regains consciousness,

you'll let me know, won't you?

Mr. Dunn.

You sure it's the
Morrissey bunch, huh?

Pretty sure.

I found some
bloodstains leading away

from where your
brother was shot.

So I guess Deputy
Hacker was right.

He must have
clipped one of them.

Well, I've got work to do.

I'm going with you.

No, I don't think so.

Why not?

You want him too badly.

You're liable to
go off half-cocked.

I can't take that chance.

You're darn right I
want him badly, mister.

I got a brother lying
upstairs with a bullet in him.

I'm not gonna sit around
here and wait for the man

who shot him to get away.

Now, either I go with
you or without you...

It doesn't make
any difference to me.

You make up your mind.

Get a rifle. I'll
see you outside.

Joe, I want you to get some...

What do you think
you're gonna do?

I'm going with Wes Dunn.

I don't want you to go.

Pa, I'm not gonna
argue with you about this.

I said, I don't want you to go.

Look, when my
brother Hoss wakes up,

what do you think's
gonna mean more to him,

seeing me sitting by his
bedside or knowing I'm going out

to find the man that
bushwhacked him?

Cartwright, you coming?

We haven't got
any time to waste.

Joe.

Yeah, Pa.

No.

Be careful.

Pa.

How do you feel, son?

Little bit woozy.

I had this funny dream.

I dreamed that...
there was this woman

with long, golden hair like...

the color wheat gets
just before a harvest.

This pretty lady
came to me while I...

I was beside this stream
or river or something.

She told me a story
about the Vikings.

She said that-that a
Viking, when he died,

was put on a ship and...

they just let him
drift out to sea.

How could you know?

You were so small.

Where's Little Joe?

Well, he's, uh...
he's with Wes Dunn.

They're trying to find the...

the fella that ambushed you.

Oh, no, Pa.

I wasn't ambushed.

It was just old Chuck.

If I hadn't tried to take
his gun away from him,

I wouldn't be in the
shape I'm in right now.

You get some sleep.

Rest is the best
thing for you, son.

And have me s-some
more of that dream

about them Vikings.

They just... put 'em
on them ships and...

let 'em drift out to sea.

♪♪

All right, Cartwright,
you stay here.

I'm going in alone.

I didn't come all this
way to be left behind.

Look, Cartwright,

I brought you along so I'd
have a gun in back of me.

Not in front of me,
not to the side of me,

but in back of me.

There's a side entrance there.

Cover it, huh?

All right, you're in charge.

Went for his gun.

Which one was he?

That's Paul Curtis.

We'll send somebody
back to pick him up.

We still got work to do.

He's been sitting
there all night.

He needs his sleep, Doc.

How you feeling, Hoss?

Well, ain't gonna wrestle
no bears this morning,

but... I am hungry.

That's a good sign.

Let's take a look at that.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Well, now.

Am I gonna live?

Not over 60 or 70 more years.

Providing you
keep out of the way

of any more bullets
thrown in your direction.

Hoss, you've got the
constitution of a bull elephant.

It's amazing.

What's amazing?

What's the matter?

Your son.

He's hungry.

Ah, that's good.

What do you feel like having?

Make it something light.

Yeah, something light like

a T-bone steak about
yay long, about yay thick.

Like chicken broth.

Well, I'll, uh...

I'll have Hop Sing
wrestle something up.

Oh, Ben?

There was quite a stir
in town this morning.

Wes Dunn and Little Joe
brought in another member

of that bunch that
killed Deputy Harris.

Young Paul Curtis... Dunn
killed him in a gunfight.

What about Little Joe?

Oh, he wasn't involved.

Looks like Dunn's
setting himself up

as judge, jury and
executioner, doesn't it?

Sure does, doesn't it?

Ben, I... I heard about Hoss.

How is he?

He's gonna be all right.

Come on in.

Thank goodness.

My prayers have been answered.

I-I fixed him a
little something.

Thank you.

He'll enjoy that.

First, sit down.

Ben, I...

I had a selfish reason
for coming here.

I need some money.

Anything I can do
for you, you know that.

We've been neighbors
for a long time.

And friends.

First my husband.

Now my son.

It's been too much.

I want to go to
my sister in Ohio.

I can understand how you feel.

No, you don't, Ben.

You don't know how I feel.

When Freddy came
home that night,

he threw himself into my arms.

He was crying.

Like he was...
a little boy again.

He told me how sorry he was.

And how afraid.

We talked for a long time.

I finally convinced him that
he should give himself up.

And then we heard that voice.

Dunn's.

Ordering him out of the house.

If Freddy had agreed
to give himself up,

why did he try to shoot
it out with Sheriff Dunn?

But he didn't, Ben!

Dunn shot him down as
soon as he opened the door!

He never even gave Freddy
a chance to give himself up!

♪♪

Let's get the horses
fed and watered.

They're outside.

Why don't you go to the
hotel and get some sleep.

You've had a long night.

I couldn't sleep anyway.

I keep thinking
about Paul Curtis.

Listen, boy.

Don't you waste your
time worrying about him.

That scum got just
what he deserved.

Look, Cartwright.

You've got to
understand criminals.

Oh, they look like
us and talk like us,

but they aren't,
not by a long shot.

A different breed altogether.

Their minds work different.

More like animals than humans.

Now, when you deal
with them like I do,

you learn in a hurry.

No quarter asked, none given.

Either you kill
them or they kill you.

It's as simple as that.

I know these kids; they're
not hardened criminals.

What they did was
wrong, but they got scared.

I just wish they could've
had another chance, that's all.

Did they give Harris a chance?

Deputy Hacker?

Your brother?

Joe...

Once, I... I made a mistake.

I was deputy to a marshal
named Ned Patterson.

I was new to the job.

Ned Patterson was the
best lawman I ever knew.

I loved that old man.

But one night, I-I
picked up this kid

that was drunk and
raising Cain in town.

You know, that kid,
he-he broke down.

He cried.

I-I let him go.

I felt sorry for him.

Next night, that same kid

shot Patterson in
the back, killed him.

I never forgot that mistake.

Oh, would you mind taking
that food into the prisoner, Joe?

Yeah.

Cliff, brought you
your breakfast.

Hey, Cliff?

Just put it on the floor, Joe.

Hey, what's the matter...
You sick or something?

Tried to escape.

Jumped me when I
came in to question him.

Ain't that right, boy?

Yes.

I... I tried to jump him.

I'm going out
for a little while.

When I get back,
we've got work to do.

Hey, you know, you really
ought to try to eat something.

Make you feel better.

This beef stew's not the...

Cliff, your face.

I'll get you a doctor.

Oh, Joe, listen to me.

I got something
I want to tell you.

That guy...

that sheriff, he's-he's
out to kill all of us.

He ain't human.

Joe... I know what
we did was wrong.

We ran because we were scared.

And I'm-I'm ready to face
any punishment I deserve,

even hanging.

But it ain't right...

just killing us, is it?

No, Cliff, it ain't right.

The only reason I'm still alive

is because he thinks I know
where Chuck and Dave are hiding.

Do you know where they are?

I think so.

But I wouldn't tell him no
matter how much he beat me.

I told him where Fred
Roberts and Paul Curtis were.

I killed them.

Joe, listen to me.

I-I want to tell you.

Maybe if I tell you,

Chuck and Dave
will have a chance.

There's a place we
used to go to as kids.

It's at the north
end of a little lake.

It's called Basin
Lake. You know it?

Yeah, I know where it is.

Well, at the north
end, it's kind of wooded.

We always used to talk that

if we got in trouble,
we'd-we'd meet up there

and-and head for Oregon.

You think they're still there?

We agreed to wait
there for four days.

If all of us didn't show
up, then we'd move on.

You take it easy.
I'll get you a doc.

Joe...

find them before he
does, promise me.

I will.

Amos, Mrs. Roberts
said he murdered her son.

Ben, you only have the
word of an hysterical mother.

Now, how do you think
that's gonna stand up in court

against a man like Wes Dunn?

Well, I think that's up to
a jury to decide, isn't it?

Look, you can't let him
go around using that badge

as a license to kill!

- What do you want me to do?
- Get rid of him!

Get rid of him right
now and forever.

Turn the whole thing over
to the prosecuting attorney.

- Pa.
- Joe, what's the matter?

Wes Dunn's found out where Dave
Morrissey and Chuck are hiding.

I think he's gone
up there to kill 'em.

Mayor, you'd better get
a doctor over to the jail.

Our Mr. Dunn just
about beat Cliff to death.

Well, does that satisfy you?

Hold it, Chuck, it's me.

Where are they?

They coming?

No, they're not coming.

They're dead.

Dead?

Fred and Paul.

Fred's mother said he
tried to give himself up, see,

and just as he was
coming out of the door

with his hands in the air,
that new sheriff they brought in

cut him down right where he was.

Wes Dunn.

Y-You mean he won't
let us give ourselves up?

Chuck, that lawman
is out to kill us.

He's not out to take us in.

Now, how's your leg?

It's bad, Dave.

Well, can you ride?

I can try.

Well, you better be able
to, because we got to run

and we got to keep
running and running

till we get all the
way to Oregon.

Now come on.

Somebody's coming.

I'll go see.

It's Wes Dunn.

Come on.

We'll hide in that
brush back there.

Come on.

Boy, something's
got them stirred up.

Yeah. Is it those two
boys or is it Wes Dunn?

Well, there's only
one way to find out.

It's Wes Dunn's horse, Pa.

Looks like a campsite in there.

Dunn didn't catch
up with them here.

Hey, Pa, tracks.

One of them's dragging a leg.

They go off this way.

There's just one
set of tracks here.

I wonder if they split up.

One of them could've
gone over the rocks.

One of them could
be carried, too.

You want to split?

Yeah. I think we'd better.

I'll follow this track.

Okay, I'll take the rocks.

- Watch yourself.
- Mm-hmm.

Oh...

Come on, Chuck.

Back in here.

I can't go.

I can't go any further.

Leave me.

Leave me behind, Dave.

No, I... I ain't gonna
leave you, Chuck.

You ain't got a choice.

This is it for me, Dave.

I'm at the end of my rope.

Honest, Dave.

Dave?

Yeah?

You know,

if I could just go
back these four days...

do it all over...

Yeah, I know, I know.

But we can't, so
forget it, will you?

I'm scared.

Yeah, well, so am I.

Did you ever think of that?

Chuck, you, uh... you
got your gun, right?

Yeah.

I got it.

Listen.

I, uh...

I think it's Dunn.

Look, I got an idea.

I'll head out this way, see?

Just to pull him away from you.

You'd be safe
here, wouldn't you?

Yeah.

You do that, Dave.

Okay.

I'll, uh... I'll see you, kid.

Thank God.

Give me that gun.

I wish I'd never seen
one of them things.

I purely, honestly
do, Mr. Cartwright.

It's all over now, boy.

Scum.

Drop the gun.

Joe, I'll... I'll
give it to you.

I'll give it to you
right in the belly

if you don't stay where you are.

I told you to drop the gun.

Joe, please don't
make me shoot you.

I'm telling you,
stay where you are.

I'm giving you a choice.

You drop that gun,
or I'll kill you right now.

Joe... I swear to
you, I'll kill you!

All the way on the ground.

Joe, he-he tried to kill me.

I-I didn't have any choice.

I had to get him, I had to!

Joe, don't you see?

I'm telling you...

I didn't have one choice!

Don't you see that?!

There's a judge and
jury waiting for you.

Let's go.

This has been a color production

of the NBC Television Network.