Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 7, Episode 21 - The Code - full transcript
A gunfighter comes to Virginia City. Little Joe allows his pride to draw him into a challenge. Ben forbids him to participate. Little Joe must decide to obey his father or obey the code of the west.
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Joe, it'll take
about a half hour
to fill the rest of this order.
Yeah, that's all right,
Bob, take your time.
- I'll be back in a little while.
- Right.
It's pretty tough to
get three in a row.
Ah, that's really
remarkable shooting, though.
Well, you two fellas must be
about the best
gunhands in town, huh?
Yeah, we're pretty good.
There's one better.
Standing right over there.
Now, who's that?
His name's Joe Cartwright.
Hey, Little Joe?
Hi, Pete.
Somebody over there
I want you to meet.
Yeah, who is he?
Says he's from St. Louis.
His name's Fitts.
- How you doing, Win?
- Hi, Joe.
This is, uh, Little Joe
Cartwright, Mr. Fitts.
Well, it's a pleasure,
Mr. Cartwright.
My pleasure, nice to see you.
He'll show you
how it's really done.
He's the best in the territory.
Well, it'd be a privilege
to see you in action,
Mr. Cartwright.
That-that is if,
uh, you don't mind
going along with
an Easterner's whim.
You see, I...
I've always been
fascinated by the West.
Especially the way you
fellas handle your guns.
Yeah, go ahead, Joe.
There's still
three bottles left.
Ah, that's what I
call a real shooter.
Well, I'd appreciate it if
you'd let me buy you a drink.
All of you.
After a demonstration like that,
I feel I owe you something.
All right, you got a
deal, but I'm buying.
All right, whatever you say.
- Oh, good morning.
- Good morning.
Boy, this town sure gets
lively on payday, don't it?
Sure does. Well, payday's
a good day for everybody.
Yeah, seems like it
gets better come night.
Listen, I'd better get to
the bank before it closes.
Uh, don't forget to pick up
those spools of
new rope we ordered.
Right, right. Hey, Pa.
I'll meet you over
at the Silver Dollar.
Little Joe promised to buy us
a beer before we went home.
And I don't want
to let an opportunity
- like that get clean away.
- Neither do I.
- See you in about 20 minutes.
- All right.
Yes, sir, you boys sure
know how to handle a gun.
It was so fast, I
couldn't even see it.
Thanks, Sam.
Oh, Dan.
Excuse me.
- Whiskey all around.
- Hey, none for me, thanks.
Well, I'm not much
of a whiskey drinker.
Slows you down, huh?
Yeah, to a crawl.
I can understand how it'd be
dangerous for a man like you.
You need razor-sharp reflexes.
You find that amusing, sir?
You're a dude,
aren't you, mister?
I'm from St. Louis, yes, sir.
Well, you're from St. Louis,
I guess that does make
you a dude all right.
These young men have
been taking me in hand.
They've been showing me
how a six-gun is handled.
Mister, you don't go
to a kindergarten class
to learn about a six-gun.
Look, we're just having
a nice friendly beer
here in a public bar.
So, why don't you go
about your business, huh?
Hey, you're a real
tough kid, aren't you?
Yeah, I get by.
Go on.
Uh, show him how many
notches you've got on your gun.
Well...
that's the way
it's done, isn't it?
One notch for every
man that you've killed?
Come on, how many
notches do you have?
Go ahead, kid, show him how
many notches you've got, huh?
Hey.
Why don't you watch it, mister?
Oh, oh, you're a real tough kid.
Aren't you?
You've got a lesson to learn.
Gentlemen, gentlemen,
gentlemen, please!
Please, this-this bar is too
crowded for any gunplay.
Now, take your quarrel outside.
All right.
I'll meet you at the warehouse
at the other end of town.
Where you bottle
babies were playing.
I'll be there tomorrow
morning at 6:30.
I'll be there.
Hey, good boy, Joe.
You can take him easy.
Sure, Joe, he's just
another old saddle tramp.
Well, you've got yourself
a real gunfight
challenge, Mr. Cartwright.
Ah, but I suppose
that doesn't bother
a tough young
rooster like you, huh?
Just between the two of us,
how many notches do
you have on your gun?
Look, will you lay
off that stuff now?
Uh-huh, you don't
want to brag, huh?
Uh, you fellas tell me.
How many men has
the kid got to his credit?
Oh, how many is it
now, Joe... Ten or 11?
"Ten or 11"?
Hey, that's really something.
It's Win's idea of a joke.
"A joke"?
Oh.
Well, from the way you
fellas were talking before,
I thought... Oh, I see.
All that, uh, was
just talk, huh?
What do you mean "talk"?
You've seen Little Joe shoot.
Oh, yeah, at bottles, yes.
But it's quite a different thing
when your target
can shoot back, huh?
Isn't that right,
Mr. Cartwright?
I'm willing to lay a little bet
that Mr. Cartwright won't
even show tomorrow morning.
Why don't you shut your mouth?
What's the matter with him?
All I said was that I
was willing to bet money
that he wouldn't show at the
fight tomorrow, that was all.
Why don't you put money
where your mouth is, mister?
How's $5,000?
Can you match it?
I ain't got that kind of money.
Well, how much you got, hmm?
Order any pot.
Well... 30 bucks?
"30 bucks." Yes, sir.
Uh, what's your name, sir?
Uh, Sam Tucker's
the name, friend.
Well, I wonder if you'd
mind holding the bet,
Mr. Tucker, please?
Why not? Be glad to.
Now, that's $30 that
Little Joe doesn't show.
Or if he does,
that the other fella
takes him, hmm?
Anybody else want
to get in on the action?
Huh? I got $5,000 here.
- Hey, Fitts.
- Who wants to bet on...?
I'll take $50 on Joe Cartwright.
All right, Pete.
That's $50 on
Little Joe Cartwright.
Here you are,
Mr. Tucker. Anybody else?
- $25 on Cartwright.
- Anybody else?
All right, one at a time.
One at a time...
$20... I'll bet you $20.
Hey, Tuck?
Hi, Ben.
What's going on here?
- Ain't you heard?
- Heard what?
Little Joe's been challenged
in a gunfight in the morning.
- What?
- That fella there is taking bets
Joe won't even show up.
I don't understand it, Pa.
I left him less
than an hour ago.
How can he get in so
much trouble this quick?
I'm gonna find that brother
of yours and find out.
Gentlemen, gentlemen,
hold it, hold it!
Hold it, this is all I've
got left of the $5,000.
Mr. Tucker has all
your bets written down.
And the last of this money
goes for drinks on me.
So step up.
Don't worry, honey.
Business will pick
up later tonight.
Oh, oh, no.
I-I wasn't worrying about that.
Something else.
That fella at the bar?
Yeah.
I knew him a long time ago.
He didn't seem very
happy seeing you.
What's his name?
Dan Taggert.
I really don't know
why I should even
bother about it.
I mean, after all, it's been
a long time ago, and...
it's dead and forgotten.
But, uh,
I guess a girl never
really forgets a man
that she...
that she knew when
she was young and...
Does she, Martha?
She does if she's
got good sense.
I need a black king.
Well?
Not a thing, Pa.
Pa, it just don't make sense.
It's got to be some
sort of mistake.
Well, there's been
a mistake, all right.
It was your brother who made it.
Well, you check and see if
he's been to the general store.
I'll-I'll ask down
at the blacksmith's.
Pa, there's got to be
some sort of explanation.
Let him make it.
First of all, let's find
him. Check in there.
Pa?
What?
He ain't over there.
Reckon he could've
headed back to the ranch?
Oh, I don't know.
He's certainly got
this town in an uproar.
You know what that
blacksmith wanted to do?
What?
He wanted to give me
odds on the gunfight.
You go up to the
bank, see if he's there.
I'll check in at the warehouse.
He should've been finished
loading that wagon an hour ago.
He should've been doing a
lot of things this afternoon.
All he succeeded in
doing is getting himself
into a peck of trouble.
- I'll meet you back here.
- Yes, sir.
Well, I guess that's it, Joe.
All right.
- Thank you.
- All right.
Well.
Been looking all over for you.
Do you realize you have
this whole town in an uproar?
Do you know what's
going on at the saloon?
Yes, sir, I know.
Well?
Oh, it's just a little
misunderstanding, that's all.
Oh, "just a little
misunderstanding, that's all."
A gunfight is "a little
misunderstanding."
Now, what's it all about?
Ah, a fella over in a
bar gave me a hard time,
and I lost my temper.
You lost your temper.
I-I'll take care of it.
And how do you
propose doing that?
Well, I'll go, I'll go
over to the hotel,
and I'll apologize to him.
All right.
As soon as you've done that,
you get yourself up to the
Ponderosa and stay there.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir, that's clear.
I'll be home as soon as I can.
Maybe I ought to go
with you just to make sure.
I can apologize to
him alone, I promise.
Then I'll be home.
Hey, Joe, we've been
looking all over for you.
You ought to see the action
over at the Silver Dollar.
Old Sheriff Coffee'd
have a fit if he were here.
Everybody in town's
betting their pay on you.
Yeah, one pull of
that trigger, boy,
it's gonna make us all rich!
Why don't you two grow up?
What do you mean, "grow up"?
We bet our pay on you, Joe.
Hey, uh, I mean, you are
gonna show up, aren't you?
No, I'm not gonna show up.
You think I'm gonna have
a gunfight over nothing?
But he challenged you
and you said you'd meet him!
So what?
Well, like Pete said, we
all got our pay on you.
All right, fine, maybe you
two will know better next time.
Hey, Joe, look,
I mean, all the...
you know, all your friends,
the hands at the ranch,
the people you know,
they're all betting on you!
You don't, you don't show up,
and you know what
they're gonna say.
What? That I'm scared?
Look, I don't have
to prove anything
to the people in this town.
You still got to live here.
If you don't show up,
you know, people are gonna talk.
I mean, they're gonna
say you're a coward.
You know that that's what
everybody's gonna say.
Well, Little Joe.
You're still around.
I thought perhaps you
would've deemed it,
uh, advisable to stay away
from town for a few days.
Ah, but, uh, perhaps your
friends inside are right.
You do have courage.
Just what's your game, Fitts?
"Game"?
Oh, uh, the bets.
Yeah, "the bets."
Well, I just know a
sure thing when I see it.
A chance to pick up a little
quick money as they say.
On my life or the other man's?
Well, look, I didn't
start the fight.
You did.
Ah, this code that, uh,
you all live by out here.
It's very honorable.
Very noble.
And very stupid.
Why shouldn't someone
make a good use of it?
Well, there isn't
gonna be any fight.
Fine.
I win either way.
And you lose either way.
Yes, it's quite simple.
Tomorrow afternoon I'll be
on the stage to San Francisco,
and you'll either be
dead or disgraced.
Good day, Mr. Cartwright.
♪♪
- Joe?
- Yeah, Mr. Felger.
Is what I hear right?
Uh, you're going
to be in a gunfight?
Who told you about that?
It's all over town.
Everybody's talking about it.
I even put a few
dollars on you myself.
Yeah, you're a great
big hero now, Joe.
Look, Joe.
I got something
here you could use.
Well, I've already
got a holster, thanks.
Joe?
Not like this.
I make it up special
for some fella last year.
He never come
back to pick it up.
I think maybe he
got himself killed.
I'd let you have it
for a very good price.
No, thanks.
Joe?
This is special.
It can't grab or bind.
It's got a spring inside.
As soon as you
touch the gun, it pushes
it right up in your hand.
It'll maybe give you an edge
of half a second, Joe.
I'm not interested.
Joe, it could make all
the difference in the world
for just a few dollars!
I told you I'm not interested.
Yeah?
Mr. Taggert?
I wanted to talk to you.
All right, talk.
Look, the whole thing
that happened in the,
the bar this afternoon,
we both lost our tempers.
Why don't we just call
it that and forget it, huh?
You trying to make
a fool out of me, kid?
Look, mister, I'm trying to
square this thing, you know?
It was just a spilled
drink, nothing more.
Certainly not worth a shooting.
I made my play, boy.
In public.
I'll be at that warehouse
in the morning.
Oh, come on, this
doesn't make sense.
The whole thing is ridiculous.
Is it?
You may be willing to let this
town call you a coward, boy.
But I'm not.
Nobody calls me
a coward, mister.
You just be there.
Now, beat it.
Ah, what do you want?
To see you.
All right.
You've seen me.
Dan, may I come in?
It-It's been a long time.
Drink?
You do drink?
Or only, uh, only
professionally?
I drink when I'm
asked if I want to.
Dan?
They say that you're
going to fight that boy.
They're right.
Why?
Well, I like to fight.
Oh, what's happened to you?
Look, I didn't ask you
any questions, did I?
We're ten years older.
And 20 years wiser.
Or are we?
Why did you come up here?
To talk for the kid?
No.
Look, just drink your
drink and get out.
Forget that you
ever saw me again.
Dan, look at me!
It's too late.
Now, just get out!
Sally?
Sally, wait.
Sally, I... I'm sorry.
I-I really am sorry, Sally.
It's been so long.
I haven't forgotten a moment.
I don't,
I don't know what
you ever saw in me.
Ever.
I saw the most handsome
man I ever knew.
And the nicest.
And I... I was...
You were beautiful.
So beautiful.
I remember the first
time I ever saw you.
It was at a church social
with your ma and pa.
You were hiding behind a...
a great, big caramel fudge cake.
Remember?
That silly cake,
how could I forget?
What happened to us?
Why didn't you come back?
I was coming back, Sally.
I was coming back
with the Parsons.
Your father's three
hired guns met us.
Parson told me to, to leave.
At least until he had a
chance to talk to your pa.
Well, I rode.
I rode for two days
trying to lose him.
But they followed.
When I hit a town,
I... I got drunk.
Real drunk.
That night I killed
my first man.
After that, how
could I come back?
With a posse on my neck?
Oh, Dan, I didn't know.
I...
I-I didn't know.
I heard about you.
And how your pa
and the whole town
chased you out like you was,
like you was an animal.
Dan, that town didn't matter.
None of that mattered to me.
I-I just wanted you.
I... I looked for you.
I looked all over for you.
I... I couldn't find you.
I looked for you, too, Sally.
I looked.
And the more I couldn't
find you, the more I...
well, the more I drank
and the more I killed.
Oh, Dan, don't.
It's over.
Is it?
Then why are you here?
Why are you here like this?
Painted up like that?
Dressed like that?
Why am I here?
Don't you see what we've become?
Dan, I love you.
I've always loved you.
And I've waited.
I...
Sally, I wish, I wish
we could... No...
Oh, Sally.
Hey, Joe.
Hey, buddy, did
you talk to that feller?
Yeah, I talked to him.
Well, what'd he say?
I'd rather not talk about it.
What do you mean
you'd rather not...?!
Come on, leave me
alone, will you, Hoss?
Joe?
Joseph?
He didn't feel like talking, Pa.
He went up to bed.
Oh?
Did he talk to
that fella in town?
Yeah, but I...
don't think he had much
success from the way he acted.
Oh, well, we'll just find out.
Joseph?
Did you, uh, talk
to that fella in town?
Yeah, I talked to him.
Well, what did he have to say?
He wouldn't accept my apology.
I have no choice now.
You "have no choice"?
What does that mean?
You have no choice
except to go into town
and get yourself killed
tomorrow morning?
Yeah, that's right.
Well, what kind of
sense does that make?
Well, it doesn't make sense.
None of it makes sense.
But what do you want me to do...
Just turn and walk away from it?
Yes, just turn and
walk away from it.
That takes courage, too.
There's no dishonor in that.
I can't do that.
You can't... Do you realize
what those so-called friends
of yours are doing in town?
They're placing
money bets on your life!
Pa, that's got
nothing to do with it!
Now, you listen
to me, young man.
I don't want you to have
anything to do with it.
Just forget the whole thing.
I'm a little old to be
talked to like that.
Then act your age.
You stay here tomorrow.
He'll ride out of town and the
whole thing will be forgotten.
Is that understood?
So, what happened, Pa?
"What happened?"
There's not gonna
be any gunfight.
That's "what happened."
♪♪
Pa?
Everything's gonna be all right.
Don't worry.
Hoss?
If this was 30 years ago,
and I was Little Joe...
I know what I'd
be doing tomorrow.
Yeah.
I know what you'd
be doing, too, Pa.
And that, that's what makes
that rub so tough, ain't it?
You'd be going through with it.
Yeah, foolish as it
might be, I'd be going.
I was just up there
telling him that he couldn't go.
Five years ago, I'd have
locked the door on him.
Kept him in his room.
That's treating
him like a child.
He's a man.
And I'm afraid for him.
I'm afraid for him, too, Pa.
He's your son.
But he's my brother.
Hey, Pa?
How would it be if,
if I went up and talked to him?
You can try.
Well... I will.
Let's go get some sleep, huh?
I'll be up in a bit.
Yes, sir.
Good night, Pa.
Joe, may I come in?
Yeah, come on.
I was just downstairs
talking to Pa.
He seemed pretty upset.
Yeah, I know.
Thought I'd come up and
see if you wanted to talk.
I guess everything's been said
that there is to talk about.
Yeah.
That feller really rode
you pretty hard, huh?
Yeah, he sure did.
Well, dad-burnit, I
know how you feel.
Man just naturally
hates to get his pride hurt.
But, dad-burnit, Joe,
it ain't worth
getting killed over.
No more lectures, huh?
I'd been through
that already tonight.
Hey.
Maybe if I went into town,
got my hands on that yahoo,
he wouldn't be so happy to
get himself in a gunfight, huh?
Yeah, brother,
that's all I need...
To have you go in town
to fight my battles for me.
That'd really fix me up.
Dad-burnit, Joe, you...
you're my little brother.
If anything was to
happen to you, I'd...
Yeah, don't worry, nothing's
gonna happen to me.
You mean, you might
not go through with it?
I just don't know yet.
I got to, got to think
on it a little while.
You can see that, can't you?
Yeah, dad-burnit, I can see it.
I can understand it.
But I don't like it none.
Thanks.
For what?
For being my brother.
Don't they ever go home?
It's paynight.
What time is it?
About midnight.
Yes.
Don't.
Not yet.
Paynight is a big night, Dan.
Don't.
I don't like hearing
you talk that way.
I have to live.
Like that?
Isn't there anything
else you could do?
I took what I could get.
Oh, stop it!
I don't want you
to go down there.
With those drunken pigs!
Sally?
Don't leave.
I don't want to be alone.
Stay with me.
Oh, Dan.
Just talk to me.
All right.
I'll stay.
Listen to 'em down there.
It's the same in every town.
A Roman circus.
Give them a killing,
a hanging, a shooting.
They all turn into animals.
♪♪
♪♪
Sally?
It's daylight.
Oh, Dan.
Is it time?
Oh, Dan!
Oh!
You'd better go now.
Oh, please, Dan, don't.
I'll be leaving town
in about an hour.
One way or... or the other.
I don't want you out there.
Do you understand?
No.
No.
Oh!
You're still so beautiful.
Come on, now.
♪♪
Who's the girl?
It's none of your business.
You've been up all
night again, haven't you?
Probably boozing
it up with that...
Shut up!
What's gotten into you, Taggert?
You know, you're
getting jumpier every day.
I'll tell you what's
gotten into me.
I'm sick of you.
I'm sick of me.
Of the stinking things I do.
"Sick," huh?
Well, just remember
what you were
when I picked you up in Denver.
At least I was clean.
"Clean"?
You were a two-bit gunfighter
turning yourself
into a bottle of booze.
Someday I'm gonna put a fist
right into that mouth of yours.
Or a bullet through
that fat skull.
Now, just take it easy, Taggert.
You get everything you want.
You get all the money you need.
You got an easy life.
All I have to do is
commit murder for it.
Do you know what
it's like, killing a man?
You think it gets
easier, don't you?
You're a coward, Fitts.
You've never faced
a man in your life.
Talking to you is like,
it's like a rabbit trying to
explain speed to a snail.
That kid came
up here last night.
Trying to square it.
Came to me trying to square it.
Imagine that.
Poor kid.
He's gonna get killed.
Just to make you richer.
You'd better watch out, Taggert.
Or it might be you.
If you don't stop
belting that stuff.
Yeah, you're right.
Could be me someday.
Some night.
Some ugly morning.
I'm gonna meet some punk
kid who's gonna take me.
That'll be the end of it.
Every crummy little
town's got a Boot Hill
for bums like you and me.
Decent people, one place.
Bums in Boot Hill.
Rocks instead of flowers.
Oh, don't worry, Harry.
I'm gonna shoot that
Cartwright kid as straight
and as fast as I can.
Hey, Pa?
What?
Little Joe's gone.
Saddle the horses.
That kid.
Why did you have to
pick that Cartwright kid?
One of those other two
would've been just as good.
More like the usual
loudmouthed clod you always get.
Because that Cartwright
kid has quite a following.
It made it easier
to take their money.
Yeah, maybe a lot easier
than it'll be to take him.
You don't really think
he'll show, do you?
He'll show.
Pride.
Pride, that's what does it.
That's what roped me in.
The great code of the West.
Face your man or sell
out your self-respect.
Yeah, that's what gets us all.
Well, don't tear it down.
It's made us a lot of money.
You as well as me.
The only difference
is that I do the killing.
It's 6:10.
You'd better let me be
there for five minutes
before you show.
Good luck.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Morning, Mr. Taggert.
Well, gentlemen,
Little Joe Cartwright
has just three minutes
before he forfeits.
Three minutes, gentlemen.
Hey, Fitts, what's
he trying to do?
- What?
- That is not the same gun rig
he was wearing yesterday, pal.
You'll have to ask him, friend.
I just take the bets.
And you're about to
forfeit the whole thing.
Two and a half
minutes, gentlemen.
There he is! There's
Joe Cartwright!
♪♪
It's all there, Joe!
There's the list!
You're the winner,
you pay the boys off!
Give me my $400!
You think it was
really worth it?
♪♪
This has been a color production
of the NBC Television Network.
is brought to you in
living color on NBC.
Joe, it'll take
about a half hour
to fill the rest of this order.
Yeah, that's all right,
Bob, take your time.
- I'll be back in a little while.
- Right.
It's pretty tough to
get three in a row.
Ah, that's really
remarkable shooting, though.
Well, you two fellas must be
about the best
gunhands in town, huh?
Yeah, we're pretty good.
There's one better.
Standing right over there.
Now, who's that?
His name's Joe Cartwright.
Hey, Little Joe?
Hi, Pete.
Somebody over there
I want you to meet.
Yeah, who is he?
Says he's from St. Louis.
His name's Fitts.
- How you doing, Win?
- Hi, Joe.
This is, uh, Little Joe
Cartwright, Mr. Fitts.
Well, it's a pleasure,
Mr. Cartwright.
My pleasure, nice to see you.
He'll show you
how it's really done.
He's the best in the territory.
Well, it'd be a privilege
to see you in action,
Mr. Cartwright.
That-that is if,
uh, you don't mind
going along with
an Easterner's whim.
You see, I...
I've always been
fascinated by the West.
Especially the way you
fellas handle your guns.
Yeah, go ahead, Joe.
There's still
three bottles left.
Ah, that's what I
call a real shooter.
Well, I'd appreciate it if
you'd let me buy you a drink.
All of you.
After a demonstration like that,
I feel I owe you something.
All right, you got a
deal, but I'm buying.
All right, whatever you say.
- Oh, good morning.
- Good morning.
Boy, this town sure gets
lively on payday, don't it?
Sure does. Well, payday's
a good day for everybody.
Yeah, seems like it
gets better come night.
Listen, I'd better get to
the bank before it closes.
Uh, don't forget to pick up
those spools of
new rope we ordered.
Right, right. Hey, Pa.
I'll meet you over
at the Silver Dollar.
Little Joe promised to buy us
a beer before we went home.
And I don't want
to let an opportunity
- like that get clean away.
- Neither do I.
- See you in about 20 minutes.
- All right.
Yes, sir, you boys sure
know how to handle a gun.
It was so fast, I
couldn't even see it.
Thanks, Sam.
Oh, Dan.
Excuse me.
- Whiskey all around.
- Hey, none for me, thanks.
Well, I'm not much
of a whiskey drinker.
Slows you down, huh?
Yeah, to a crawl.
I can understand how it'd be
dangerous for a man like you.
You need razor-sharp reflexes.
You find that amusing, sir?
You're a dude,
aren't you, mister?
I'm from St. Louis, yes, sir.
Well, you're from St. Louis,
I guess that does make
you a dude all right.
These young men have
been taking me in hand.
They've been showing me
how a six-gun is handled.
Mister, you don't go
to a kindergarten class
to learn about a six-gun.
Look, we're just having
a nice friendly beer
here in a public bar.
So, why don't you go
about your business, huh?
Hey, you're a real
tough kid, aren't you?
Yeah, I get by.
Go on.
Uh, show him how many
notches you've got on your gun.
Well...
that's the way
it's done, isn't it?
One notch for every
man that you've killed?
Come on, how many
notches do you have?
Go ahead, kid, show him how
many notches you've got, huh?
Hey.
Why don't you watch it, mister?
Oh, oh, you're a real tough kid.
Aren't you?
You've got a lesson to learn.
Gentlemen, gentlemen,
gentlemen, please!
Please, this-this bar is too
crowded for any gunplay.
Now, take your quarrel outside.
All right.
I'll meet you at the warehouse
at the other end of town.
Where you bottle
babies were playing.
I'll be there tomorrow
morning at 6:30.
I'll be there.
Hey, good boy, Joe.
You can take him easy.
Sure, Joe, he's just
another old saddle tramp.
Well, you've got yourself
a real gunfight
challenge, Mr. Cartwright.
Ah, but I suppose
that doesn't bother
a tough young
rooster like you, huh?
Just between the two of us,
how many notches do
you have on your gun?
Look, will you lay
off that stuff now?
Uh-huh, you don't
want to brag, huh?
Uh, you fellas tell me.
How many men has
the kid got to his credit?
Oh, how many is it
now, Joe... Ten or 11?
"Ten or 11"?
Hey, that's really something.
It's Win's idea of a joke.
"A joke"?
Oh.
Well, from the way you
fellas were talking before,
I thought... Oh, I see.
All that, uh, was
just talk, huh?
What do you mean "talk"?
You've seen Little Joe shoot.
Oh, yeah, at bottles, yes.
But it's quite a different thing
when your target
can shoot back, huh?
Isn't that right,
Mr. Cartwright?
I'm willing to lay a little bet
that Mr. Cartwright won't
even show tomorrow morning.
Why don't you shut your mouth?
What's the matter with him?
All I said was that I
was willing to bet money
that he wouldn't show at the
fight tomorrow, that was all.
Why don't you put money
where your mouth is, mister?
How's $5,000?
Can you match it?
I ain't got that kind of money.
Well, how much you got, hmm?
Order any pot.
Well... 30 bucks?
"30 bucks." Yes, sir.
Uh, what's your name, sir?
Uh, Sam Tucker's
the name, friend.
Well, I wonder if you'd
mind holding the bet,
Mr. Tucker, please?
Why not? Be glad to.
Now, that's $30 that
Little Joe doesn't show.
Or if he does,
that the other fella
takes him, hmm?
Anybody else want
to get in on the action?
Huh? I got $5,000 here.
- Hey, Fitts.
- Who wants to bet on...?
I'll take $50 on Joe Cartwright.
All right, Pete.
That's $50 on
Little Joe Cartwright.
Here you are,
Mr. Tucker. Anybody else?
- $25 on Cartwright.
- Anybody else?
All right, one at a time.
One at a time...
$20... I'll bet you $20.
Hey, Tuck?
Hi, Ben.
What's going on here?
- Ain't you heard?
- Heard what?
Little Joe's been challenged
in a gunfight in the morning.
- What?
- That fella there is taking bets
Joe won't even show up.
I don't understand it, Pa.
I left him less
than an hour ago.
How can he get in so
much trouble this quick?
I'm gonna find that brother
of yours and find out.
Gentlemen, gentlemen,
hold it, hold it!
Hold it, this is all I've
got left of the $5,000.
Mr. Tucker has all
your bets written down.
And the last of this money
goes for drinks on me.
So step up.
Don't worry, honey.
Business will pick
up later tonight.
Oh, oh, no.
I-I wasn't worrying about that.
Something else.
That fella at the bar?
Yeah.
I knew him a long time ago.
He didn't seem very
happy seeing you.
What's his name?
Dan Taggert.
I really don't know
why I should even
bother about it.
I mean, after all, it's been
a long time ago, and...
it's dead and forgotten.
But, uh,
I guess a girl never
really forgets a man
that she...
that she knew when
she was young and...
Does she, Martha?
She does if she's
got good sense.
I need a black king.
Well?
Not a thing, Pa.
Pa, it just don't make sense.
It's got to be some
sort of mistake.
Well, there's been
a mistake, all right.
It was your brother who made it.
Well, you check and see if
he's been to the general store.
I'll-I'll ask down
at the blacksmith's.
Pa, there's got to be
some sort of explanation.
Let him make it.
First of all, let's find
him. Check in there.
Pa?
What?
He ain't over there.
Reckon he could've
headed back to the ranch?
Oh, I don't know.
He's certainly got
this town in an uproar.
You know what that
blacksmith wanted to do?
What?
He wanted to give me
odds on the gunfight.
You go up to the
bank, see if he's there.
I'll check in at the warehouse.
He should've been finished
loading that wagon an hour ago.
He should've been doing a
lot of things this afternoon.
All he succeeded in
doing is getting himself
into a peck of trouble.
- I'll meet you back here.
- Yes, sir.
Well, I guess that's it, Joe.
All right.
- Thank you.
- All right.
Well.
Been looking all over for you.
Do you realize you have
this whole town in an uproar?
Do you know what's
going on at the saloon?
Yes, sir, I know.
Well?
Oh, it's just a little
misunderstanding, that's all.
Oh, "just a little
misunderstanding, that's all."
A gunfight is "a little
misunderstanding."
Now, what's it all about?
Ah, a fella over in a
bar gave me a hard time,
and I lost my temper.
You lost your temper.
I-I'll take care of it.
And how do you
propose doing that?
Well, I'll go, I'll go
over to the hotel,
and I'll apologize to him.
All right.
As soon as you've done that,
you get yourself up to the
Ponderosa and stay there.
Is that clear?
Yes, sir, that's clear.
I'll be home as soon as I can.
Maybe I ought to go
with you just to make sure.
I can apologize to
him alone, I promise.
Then I'll be home.
Hey, Joe, we've been
looking all over for you.
You ought to see the action
over at the Silver Dollar.
Old Sheriff Coffee'd
have a fit if he were here.
Everybody in town's
betting their pay on you.
Yeah, one pull of
that trigger, boy,
it's gonna make us all rich!
Why don't you two grow up?
What do you mean, "grow up"?
We bet our pay on you, Joe.
Hey, uh, I mean, you are
gonna show up, aren't you?
No, I'm not gonna show up.
You think I'm gonna have
a gunfight over nothing?
But he challenged you
and you said you'd meet him!
So what?
Well, like Pete said, we
all got our pay on you.
All right, fine, maybe you
two will know better next time.
Hey, Joe, look,
I mean, all the...
you know, all your friends,
the hands at the ranch,
the people you know,
they're all betting on you!
You don't, you don't show up,
and you know what
they're gonna say.
What? That I'm scared?
Look, I don't have
to prove anything
to the people in this town.
You still got to live here.
If you don't show up,
you know, people are gonna talk.
I mean, they're gonna
say you're a coward.
You know that that's what
everybody's gonna say.
Well, Little Joe.
You're still around.
I thought perhaps you
would've deemed it,
uh, advisable to stay away
from town for a few days.
Ah, but, uh, perhaps your
friends inside are right.
You do have courage.
Just what's your game, Fitts?
"Game"?
Oh, uh, the bets.
Yeah, "the bets."
Well, I just know a
sure thing when I see it.
A chance to pick up a little
quick money as they say.
On my life or the other man's?
Well, look, I didn't
start the fight.
You did.
Ah, this code that, uh,
you all live by out here.
It's very honorable.
Very noble.
And very stupid.
Why shouldn't someone
make a good use of it?
Well, there isn't
gonna be any fight.
Fine.
I win either way.
And you lose either way.
Yes, it's quite simple.
Tomorrow afternoon I'll be
on the stage to San Francisco,
and you'll either be
dead or disgraced.
Good day, Mr. Cartwright.
♪♪
- Joe?
- Yeah, Mr. Felger.
Is what I hear right?
Uh, you're going
to be in a gunfight?
Who told you about that?
It's all over town.
Everybody's talking about it.
I even put a few
dollars on you myself.
Yeah, you're a great
big hero now, Joe.
Look, Joe.
I got something
here you could use.
Well, I've already
got a holster, thanks.
Joe?
Not like this.
I make it up special
for some fella last year.
He never come
back to pick it up.
I think maybe he
got himself killed.
I'd let you have it
for a very good price.
No, thanks.
Joe?
This is special.
It can't grab or bind.
It's got a spring inside.
As soon as you
touch the gun, it pushes
it right up in your hand.
It'll maybe give you an edge
of half a second, Joe.
I'm not interested.
Joe, it could make all
the difference in the world
for just a few dollars!
I told you I'm not interested.
Yeah?
Mr. Taggert?
I wanted to talk to you.
All right, talk.
Look, the whole thing
that happened in the,
the bar this afternoon,
we both lost our tempers.
Why don't we just call
it that and forget it, huh?
You trying to make
a fool out of me, kid?
Look, mister, I'm trying to
square this thing, you know?
It was just a spilled
drink, nothing more.
Certainly not worth a shooting.
I made my play, boy.
In public.
I'll be at that warehouse
in the morning.
Oh, come on, this
doesn't make sense.
The whole thing is ridiculous.
Is it?
You may be willing to let this
town call you a coward, boy.
But I'm not.
Nobody calls me
a coward, mister.
You just be there.
Now, beat it.
Ah, what do you want?
To see you.
All right.
You've seen me.
Dan, may I come in?
It-It's been a long time.
Drink?
You do drink?
Or only, uh, only
professionally?
I drink when I'm
asked if I want to.
Dan?
They say that you're
going to fight that boy.
They're right.
Why?
Well, I like to fight.
Oh, what's happened to you?
Look, I didn't ask you
any questions, did I?
We're ten years older.
And 20 years wiser.
Or are we?
Why did you come up here?
To talk for the kid?
No.
Look, just drink your
drink and get out.
Forget that you
ever saw me again.
Dan, look at me!
It's too late.
Now, just get out!
Sally?
Sally, wait.
Sally, I... I'm sorry.
I-I really am sorry, Sally.
It's been so long.
I haven't forgotten a moment.
I don't,
I don't know what
you ever saw in me.
Ever.
I saw the most handsome
man I ever knew.
And the nicest.
And I... I was...
You were beautiful.
So beautiful.
I remember the first
time I ever saw you.
It was at a church social
with your ma and pa.
You were hiding behind a...
a great, big caramel fudge cake.
Remember?
That silly cake,
how could I forget?
What happened to us?
Why didn't you come back?
I was coming back, Sally.
I was coming back
with the Parsons.
Your father's three
hired guns met us.
Parson told me to, to leave.
At least until he had a
chance to talk to your pa.
Well, I rode.
I rode for two days
trying to lose him.
But they followed.
When I hit a town,
I... I got drunk.
Real drunk.
That night I killed
my first man.
After that, how
could I come back?
With a posse on my neck?
Oh, Dan, I didn't know.
I...
I-I didn't know.
I heard about you.
And how your pa
and the whole town
chased you out like you was,
like you was an animal.
Dan, that town didn't matter.
None of that mattered to me.
I-I just wanted you.
I... I looked for you.
I looked all over for you.
I... I couldn't find you.
I looked for you, too, Sally.
I looked.
And the more I couldn't
find you, the more I...
well, the more I drank
and the more I killed.
Oh, Dan, don't.
It's over.
Is it?
Then why are you here?
Why are you here like this?
Painted up like that?
Dressed like that?
Why am I here?
Don't you see what we've become?
Dan, I love you.
I've always loved you.
And I've waited.
I...
Sally, I wish, I wish
we could... No...
Oh, Sally.
Hey, Joe.
Hey, buddy, did
you talk to that feller?
Yeah, I talked to him.
Well, what'd he say?
I'd rather not talk about it.
What do you mean
you'd rather not...?!
Come on, leave me
alone, will you, Hoss?
Joe?
Joseph?
He didn't feel like talking, Pa.
He went up to bed.
Oh?
Did he talk to
that fella in town?
Yeah, but I...
don't think he had much
success from the way he acted.
Oh, well, we'll just find out.
Joseph?
Did you, uh, talk
to that fella in town?
Yeah, I talked to him.
Well, what did he have to say?
He wouldn't accept my apology.
I have no choice now.
You "have no choice"?
What does that mean?
You have no choice
except to go into town
and get yourself killed
tomorrow morning?
Yeah, that's right.
Well, what kind of
sense does that make?
Well, it doesn't make sense.
None of it makes sense.
But what do you want me to do...
Just turn and walk away from it?
Yes, just turn and
walk away from it.
That takes courage, too.
There's no dishonor in that.
I can't do that.
You can't... Do you realize
what those so-called friends
of yours are doing in town?
They're placing
money bets on your life!
Pa, that's got
nothing to do with it!
Now, you listen
to me, young man.
I don't want you to have
anything to do with it.
Just forget the whole thing.
I'm a little old to be
talked to like that.
Then act your age.
You stay here tomorrow.
He'll ride out of town and the
whole thing will be forgotten.
Is that understood?
So, what happened, Pa?
"What happened?"
There's not gonna
be any gunfight.
That's "what happened."
♪♪
Pa?
Everything's gonna be all right.
Don't worry.
Hoss?
If this was 30 years ago,
and I was Little Joe...
I know what I'd
be doing tomorrow.
Yeah.
I know what you'd
be doing, too, Pa.
And that, that's what makes
that rub so tough, ain't it?
You'd be going through with it.
Yeah, foolish as it
might be, I'd be going.
I was just up there
telling him that he couldn't go.
Five years ago, I'd have
locked the door on him.
Kept him in his room.
That's treating
him like a child.
He's a man.
And I'm afraid for him.
I'm afraid for him, too, Pa.
He's your son.
But he's my brother.
Hey, Pa?
How would it be if,
if I went up and talked to him?
You can try.
Well... I will.
Let's go get some sleep, huh?
I'll be up in a bit.
Yes, sir.
Good night, Pa.
Joe, may I come in?
Yeah, come on.
I was just downstairs
talking to Pa.
He seemed pretty upset.
Yeah, I know.
Thought I'd come up and
see if you wanted to talk.
I guess everything's been said
that there is to talk about.
Yeah.
That feller really rode
you pretty hard, huh?
Yeah, he sure did.
Well, dad-burnit, I
know how you feel.
Man just naturally
hates to get his pride hurt.
But, dad-burnit, Joe,
it ain't worth
getting killed over.
No more lectures, huh?
I'd been through
that already tonight.
Hey.
Maybe if I went into town,
got my hands on that yahoo,
he wouldn't be so happy to
get himself in a gunfight, huh?
Yeah, brother,
that's all I need...
To have you go in town
to fight my battles for me.
That'd really fix me up.
Dad-burnit, Joe, you...
you're my little brother.
If anything was to
happen to you, I'd...
Yeah, don't worry, nothing's
gonna happen to me.
You mean, you might
not go through with it?
I just don't know yet.
I got to, got to think
on it a little while.
You can see that, can't you?
Yeah, dad-burnit, I can see it.
I can understand it.
But I don't like it none.
Thanks.
For what?
For being my brother.
Don't they ever go home?
It's paynight.
What time is it?
About midnight.
Yes.
Don't.
Not yet.
Paynight is a big night, Dan.
Don't.
I don't like hearing
you talk that way.
I have to live.
Like that?
Isn't there anything
else you could do?
I took what I could get.
Oh, stop it!
I don't want you
to go down there.
With those drunken pigs!
Sally?
Don't leave.
I don't want to be alone.
Stay with me.
Oh, Dan.
Just talk to me.
All right.
I'll stay.
Listen to 'em down there.
It's the same in every town.
A Roman circus.
Give them a killing,
a hanging, a shooting.
They all turn into animals.
♪♪
♪♪
Sally?
It's daylight.
Oh, Dan.
Is it time?
Oh, Dan!
Oh!
You'd better go now.
Oh, please, Dan, don't.
I'll be leaving town
in about an hour.
One way or... or the other.
I don't want you out there.
Do you understand?
No.
No.
Oh!
You're still so beautiful.
Come on, now.
♪♪
Who's the girl?
It's none of your business.
You've been up all
night again, haven't you?
Probably boozing
it up with that...
Shut up!
What's gotten into you, Taggert?
You know, you're
getting jumpier every day.
I'll tell you what's
gotten into me.
I'm sick of you.
I'm sick of me.
Of the stinking things I do.
"Sick," huh?
Well, just remember
what you were
when I picked you up in Denver.
At least I was clean.
"Clean"?
You were a two-bit gunfighter
turning yourself
into a bottle of booze.
Someday I'm gonna put a fist
right into that mouth of yours.
Or a bullet through
that fat skull.
Now, just take it easy, Taggert.
You get everything you want.
You get all the money you need.
You got an easy life.
All I have to do is
commit murder for it.
Do you know what
it's like, killing a man?
You think it gets
easier, don't you?
You're a coward, Fitts.
You've never faced
a man in your life.
Talking to you is like,
it's like a rabbit trying to
explain speed to a snail.
That kid came
up here last night.
Trying to square it.
Came to me trying to square it.
Imagine that.
Poor kid.
He's gonna get killed.
Just to make you richer.
You'd better watch out, Taggert.
Or it might be you.
If you don't stop
belting that stuff.
Yeah, you're right.
Could be me someday.
Some night.
Some ugly morning.
I'm gonna meet some punk
kid who's gonna take me.
That'll be the end of it.
Every crummy little
town's got a Boot Hill
for bums like you and me.
Decent people, one place.
Bums in Boot Hill.
Rocks instead of flowers.
Oh, don't worry, Harry.
I'm gonna shoot that
Cartwright kid as straight
and as fast as I can.
Hey, Pa?
What?
Little Joe's gone.
Saddle the horses.
That kid.
Why did you have to
pick that Cartwright kid?
One of those other two
would've been just as good.
More like the usual
loudmouthed clod you always get.
Because that Cartwright
kid has quite a following.
It made it easier
to take their money.
Yeah, maybe a lot easier
than it'll be to take him.
You don't really think
he'll show, do you?
He'll show.
Pride.
Pride, that's what does it.
That's what roped me in.
The great code of the West.
Face your man or sell
out your self-respect.
Yeah, that's what gets us all.
Well, don't tear it down.
It's made us a lot of money.
You as well as me.
The only difference
is that I do the killing.
It's 6:10.
You'd better let me be
there for five minutes
before you show.
Good luck.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Morning, Mr. Taggert.
Well, gentlemen,
Little Joe Cartwright
has just three minutes
before he forfeits.
Three minutes, gentlemen.
Hey, Fitts, what's
he trying to do?
- What?
- That is not the same gun rig
he was wearing yesterday, pal.
You'll have to ask him, friend.
I just take the bets.
And you're about to
forfeit the whole thing.
Two and a half
minutes, gentlemen.
There he is! There's
Joe Cartwright!
♪♪
It's all there, Joe!
There's the list!
You're the winner,
you pay the boys off!
Give me my $400!
You think it was
really worth it?
♪♪
This has been a color production
of the NBC Television Network.