Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 8, Episode 8 - Four Sisters from Boston - full transcript
Four sisters come from Boston to try to prevent a property left to them by their uncle from being auctioned due to back taxes. They arrive the day of the sale but are short the full amount due. When Ben steps in and pays off all that is due, one of the sisters wonders what's Ben's motive. But are her suspicions aimed in the wrong direction?
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(fanfare plays)
STAGE COACH DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!
Hey-oh!
Hey...!
Hey-oh! Hah! Giddup!
Hyah!
Giddup!
There you go!
Hey-ah!
Giddup...!
Hah!
Hyah!
(exhales quietly)
Gabrielle, straighten your hat.
You look a mess.
Sarah, must we go so fast?
Heather's feeling poorly.
I told you we have
to get to Virginia City
before the auction.
Heather, dear,
we'll be there soon.
Lorraine, put your dress down!
Your limbs are showing!
Hyah!
Get on! Hah!
Get on!
Get on!
Here comes old Toothless
with the noon stage.
Must be some kind of emergency.
Toothless don't
normally go that fast.
Giddup! Hee-ah! Giddup! Hee-ah!
Hee-ah!
Giddup! Giddup!
Giddup!
Hah!
Hah! Get on!
Get on!
We're going to be arriving soon
and I do not want
the Lowell girls
to look like a bunch
of dance hall tramps.
Hee-yah!
(screams)
Hey, he lost a wheel, Pa!
He sure did!
- Giddup! Giddup!
- Hoo-eh!
What is this nonsense?
(coughing): Are you
determined to kill us all?
Ladies, please,
remain in your seats.
(Sarah coughs)
We lost a wheel, ma'am.
You... you ladies
all right in there?
Lost a wheel?!
Well, I've never
heard of such a thing.
How long is it going to
take to fix this carelessness?
Don't you worry none.
I'll, I'll get it fixed
just be soon as I can.
You don't seem to understand.
I must be in Virginia
City before noon!
I told you that!
Well, I was drivin' too
fast in the first place,
to get you there
ahead of schedule,
when this dang wheel busted!
Sarah, we must be thankful.
The Lord was merciful.
Thank you.
(wagon approaching)
HOSS: Whoa!
BEN: You all right, ma'am?
SARAH: I must get to
Virginia City by noon!
How much will you
charge to convey us there?
Well, we're going
that way, ma'am.
- I'm Ben Cartwright, this is...
- How much?
Uh, well, there won't
be any charge, ma'am.
- We're going that way...
- I insist upon paying!
- But... eh... (mutters)
- I'll make it a fair price.
Meanwhile, it's my
sisters and the luggage.
BEN: Are you all right, ladies?
Young man, will you get up
there and get that luggage down?
- Driver, untie it, please.
- BEN: Let me help you out here.
BEN: Sure you're all right, now.
- Yes.
- BEN: All right.
- BEN: Here we are.
- SARAH: Please hurry!
- BEN: Watch yourself.
- TOOTHLESS: Here you go.
- BEN: It will all be fine now.
- SARAH: You all right, my dear?
BEN: There you are, ma'am.
SARAH: All right, now
come on over here...
BEN: Here, give
me a hand with that.
TOOTHLESS: There
you go. Watch it, Ben.
BEN: All right... (grunts)
TOOTHLESS: Watch
the big one here, Hoss.
Watch, it's heavy now.
BEN: Got it... (grunts)
BEN: Everything all right?
Young man, will you stop
fidgeting and get aboard.
You're making me lose time.
Ma'am, I think I'll,
uh, just ride on in
with Toothless, Pa, after
we get that wheel fixed.
- BEN: Yes.
- SARAH: Well, as you wish.
Make up your mind.
Drive on, but drive carefully.
We don't have time to be
picking up baggage all the way.
Yes, ma'am. (clicks tongue)
See you later,
Hoss. Giddyup, there!
I don't know how long
them gals are gonna
be around Virginia City,
but I'll tell you one thing...
As long as that female
sergeant-major around,
things ain't gonna be the same.
You bet.
(theme song playing)
Now, the, uh, sheriff's office
is right over there, ma'am.
Oh, apparently, we're in time.
I'll take your sisters
back to the hotel.
Thank you, sir.
Gabrielle, you register for us.
And keep in mind that we do
not need the most expensive suite.
Lorraine, you
look after Heather.
I shan't be long.
And please...
remember who you
are, and act accordingly.
♪♪
Sir?
Yes, ma'am.
Are you in charge here?
Well, that all depends, ma'am.
What of?
I'm referring to the auction.
No'm, that'll be our
Mr. Billings there,
the red-headed fella.
- Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.
My dear sir...
I understand you're
in charge here.
Charge of what, ma'am?
Of the auction, what else?
Oh, nothing else, ma'am.
Only the auction.
I'm Miss Sarah Lowell of
Boston, Massachusetts.
I'm here to inquire if property
belonging to me and my sisters
is to be auctioned
off here today.
Course 'tis.
Delinquent taxes.
Now, wasn't that that property
your uncle left you
a short while ago?
Well, the law requires that...
I wrote you as soon as I
received the sales notice,
and I told you that my
sisters and I would be out here
to operate the property.
I asked you to please
not sell it until we arrived.
You didn't acknowledge
that letter... why?
Didn't never get no such letter.
You didn't get it?
I wrote it two days after
the sale notice appeared.
That was almost a month ago.
Well, we're here now.
I suggest you strike the
property from the sales list.
You mean you got
the money to pay
all them back taxes and charges?
In my letter, I asked for
a certain amount of time.
Well, the law plainly says
that all those taxes
have gotta be paid
before auction time today.
Now, if you ain't
got all the money,
that Landcastle place
goes on the block.
But I've come all the way
from Boston, Massachusetts,
just to prevent that
from happening.
I have $1,000.
I'll pay you the rest as soon
as our home in Boston is sold.
BILLINGS: Miss Lowell, I
gotta get the auction goin'.
SARAH: You can't sell it
right out from under us like that.
It's all we have!
It's our property.
We don't even have enough
money to return East on.
I don't have nothin'
to do with that, lady.
My hands are tied.
Please, listen to me a moment.
Excuse me, Miss...
Miss, uh, Lowell,
but, uh, your sister at the
hotel asked me to come by
and tell you that Miss
Heather, well, she was...
Miss Heather? What happened?
Well, they sent for the
doctor 'cause she's been...
- The doctor?!
- Well, she fainted.
Probably from exhaustion,
you know, but she was fine...
Please, you must wait.
You must wait; my sister is ill.
I-I'll be back.
What's this about, uh, taxes?
How come you, uh, you
can't let them wait a bit?
Gone too long
already, Mr. Cartwright.
They either gotta
pay all the taxes,
or that place goes on the block.
Well, wait a minute
now, Billings, hold on now.
She had $1,000, how
much do they owe?
Mmm... about $2,800.
$2,800?!
Well, that's ridiculous.
Never heard of land
around here being more
than $200-300 a year in taxes.
That's ten times that much.
Sorry, Mr. Cartwright, I
gotta get the sale started.
Will you please keep still now.
All I want to know is how
come they owe that much?
Well, Mr. Landcastle
got behind before he died.
But ten years behind?!
Now, come on...
now, you gotta
give 'em a chance...!
Billings should have
been started by now.
It's five after.
Watch your blood pressure, Nate.
We've got a lot riding
on this, you know.
What's the matter? What's
holding things up out there?
- They're here.
- Who's here?
Them... them Lowell sisters,
all the way from Boston.
How could they be here?
The stage never came in.
I don't know how.
All's I know is that one of them
came in and tried to stop me
from selling the place, not
more than ten minutes ago.
They bring the money?
Not all of it.
Then start the sale
and get it over with.
But what if...?
What if what?
We gotta have that property.
We got 500 head of cattle
on the way in right now.
It ain't only those
women anymore.
Ben Cartwright's got
his nose in on it now, too.
Cartwright?!
What's he got to do with
the Landcastle place?
Never mind.
Those cattle'll
be here in a week,
and we've got to keep
that box canyon available.
You get out there and
get that sale started
just like nothing had
happened, you hear?
And remember, you've
got the law on your side.
But if anybody looks at
them records too-too close...
There ain't anybody
gonna look at those records.
Now get out and
do what you're told.
I'll do it.
One slip, little
man, just one slip.
MAN: Billings...
remember, 5,000's
the limit on that place.
You see we get it.
You'll... you'll get it.
(indistinct, overlapping
conversations)
- Hi, Pa.
- Hoss.
I left old Toothless over
at the blacksmith shop.
Did them highfalutin ladies
have a nice ride in the carriage?
Hoss, what do you know
about the Landcastle place?
Huh?
It's important... what do you
know about the Landcastle place?
Well, it's... about
four sections in all.
There's two of them
that are good bottom land.
There's a couple
of sections that...
Rest of it's all
good top grazing.
A little river runs through it.
Some pretty rough
canyons... Why?
What about buildings?
Reckon as good as you'd want.
There's a good main
house and then...
(gavel pounding in distance)
What's all this about anyhow?
BILLINGS: All right, folks,
the auction's ready to begin.
First piece of
property up for sale
is the old Landcastle place.
Now, you got the
description: About 2,500 acres,
back taxes and costs
come to $2,781.76.
Now, do I hear a bid?
MAN: 2,900.
$2,900.
I got a bid of $2,900...
now who'll make it a half?
$3,250.
For the Landcastle place?
It's worth five times that.
BILLINGS: $3,250's bid.
MAN 2:4,000!
BILLINGS: $4,000.
I got a bid of $4,000...
MAN 3: $4,200, U.S. money.
BILLINGS: $4,200 is bid.
We must fall back
on our faith, Sarah.
Surely something will happen.
BILLINGS: I got a bid of 4,200!
$4,200.
Who wants to raise $4,200?
Forty-five.
$4,500.
Guess that closes
the bidding. I...
MAN: 4,750!
(crowd murmuring)
4,750's the bid.
Care to raise it, Mr. Catlin?
5,000.
$5,000!
No other bids?
I declare the
property goes to...
Mr. Billings!
(crowd murmuring)
Before you close
out the bidding...
couple of questions
I'd like to ask.
Mr. Cartwright, we...
we've got an
auction to finish here.
Now, this, uh, property that
you have for sale on the block...
uh, if the owners
pay the back taxes
before it's sold,
they, uh, they get
to keep it, don't they?
Why... sure.
But the owners are
here and they can't pay.
Now, as I was saying,
I declare this
property goes to...
Billings...
in the name of the
owners, I'll pay the taxes.
(crowd clamoring)
Hold it, Lou.
We got the winning bid.
He's got no right to do that.
Not now, you fool.
Quiet!
Quiet down!
Quiet, now!
- Now, it seems to me that...
- Here's the check.
I can't take this,
Mr. Cartwright.
You ain't a Lowell.
Well, I'm acting
for the Lowells.
BILLINGS: Well, I don't know.
I, uh... The law...
Now, look, Mr. Billings,
you know very well
that I helped draft the
tax laws for this territory.
If you want to
debate them with me,
I'm ready to hear
what you have to say.
I... uh, no, sir. I...
Well, that's fine.
I'll just take this deed
and mark it "paid in full."
(crowd murmuring, exclaiming)
Will you please tell me
why you're doing this?
What do you hope to gain?
I don't expect to gain
anything, Miss Lowell.
Bless you, Mr. Cartwright.
Oh, the Lord will
surely bless you.
Gabrielle, please.
This is not a Sunday
school meeting.
I apologize for not
recognizing your prominence
when we first met.
You're obviously quite
a power in this town.
But I can't help
standing here wondering
just why you're
taking this action.
Well, Miss Lowell,
the Landcastle place
is one of the finest
properties around here.
Let's just say I
couldn't stand by
and see it go at ten
cents on the dollar.
You could have
bid on it yourself.
I don't need it, Miss Lowell.
You do.
He was trying to help, Sarah.
Why were you so cold to him?
I'll join you fellas in the
south pasture a little later on.
I'm going into town
and see the Lowells.
HOSS: All right.
LITTLE JOE: Hey, how
come you loaned them
all that money, anyway?
Well... couple of
reasons, I guess.
One of the Lowell
gals is kind of sickly.
More importantly, their
uncle, Reed Landcastle,
sure helped me out a lot
when I was starting this place.
Pa, the Lowells don't
know nothin' about ranching.
All the more reason to help 'em.
I just don't think
women can run a ranch.
Especially Boston women.
(sighs)
Son, you haven't
met Sarah Lowell yet.
That woman could run
anything she set her mind to.
Hey. Speak of the devil.
Oh, is that, uh...?
BEN: Yeah, that's them.
Hop Sing...
Make us up a pitcher
of cool lemonade
and bring out some
cookies, will you?
Yes, sir, Mr. Cartwright.
Right away.
Well, Miss Lowell, how are you?
Welcome to the Ponderosa.
Miss Lowell. Well,
how nice to see you.
Oh, you-you've, uh,
met my son Hoss...
Ladies.
- And my other son, Joseph.
- LITTLE JOE: How do you do?
This is not a social
call, Mr. Cartwright.
I have, uh, drawn a
promissory note in your favor
and I've secured
it with a trust deed.
Now, I believe you'll
find everything in order.
I trust you'll find the
terms satisfactory.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Uh, Miss Lowell, uh...
I've just had some
cool lemonade prepared.
Wouldn't you...?
It's a nice...
Joseph, would you get
the lemonade, please?
LITTLE JOE: Yeah. Sure.
And it's a... it's a long,
hot ride back into town.
Isn't that a nice
invitation, Sarah?
I'd love a cool
glass of lemonade.
Oh, it will be nice
and refreshing.
We are no longer living
in town, Mr. Cartwright.
We moved to our
new home this morning.
And we, uh, must get back.
Uh... I-I didn't realize
you'd already moved
out to the ranch.
I thought Miss
Heather was so ill.
Our sister is much
improved, thank you.
Lorraine, we have a full
day's work ahead of us.
But Sarah, Mr. Cartwright
has already sent
for the lemonade.
Ma'am, it'll be
here in just a jiffy.
Lorraine, please,
get right up here.
I'm sure the gentlemen
will excuse us.
Uh, Miss Lowell,
is there something
- we can do to help you...?
- No, thank you.
We're quite capable of
managing for ourselves, thank you.
Well, Miss Lowell,
it seems to me that...
Lorraine.
Well, it's not necessary to...
Where-where'd they go?
BEN: They didn't
want any lemonade.
We've got all this lemonade.
Who gonna drink it?
All the chicken?
Ah, give it to the cat.
The chickens had enough.
(speaking angrily in Chinese)
♪♪
Heather, that's enough now.
You better put that
down and rest a while.
Well, Sarah, I'm
just trying to help.
Well, you'll do that nicely,
dear, by regaining your health.
Well... but-but I
really feel good.
I mean, I haven't
felt this well in years.
Well, don't be a
martyr about it, dear.
Lie back and rest a while.
Lorraine, would you
finish beating that rug?
I'm going to get dinner on.
Morning, ladies!
Whoa.
Hello, Sheriff.
How do you do?
I just dropped by to see how
you ladies was getting along.
Only looking out for your
welfare, you understand.
It is the law's
job to protect you.
Well, Sheriff, you
can rest assured
if we need any help, we'll
be sure and call on you.
All right.
Uh... you ladies do have a gun
on the premises, do you not?
A gun?!
Well, maybe I should ask...
Do any of you ladies
know how to handle a gun?
No, Sheriff.
We're from Boston.
It's civilized there.
Has been for a good long while.
Well, you're a good long ways
from Boston right now, ma'am.
And it might be a good idea
if you get yourselves
a gun, just in case.
The Ten Commandments
say, "Thou shalt not kill."
Yeah, but there's
lots of mountain lions
around here from time to time.
Well, we're not
hunters, Sheriff.
We're trying to
establish a home here,
not a menagerie.
Thank you, ma'am.
But if you do need
any help in a hurry,
you can always call on
Ben Cartwright and his boys.
They're around here everywhere.
You mean the Cartwright
ranch surrounds us?
Well, practically.
Uh, your strip of land kind
of cuts into the Ponderosa
like a small finger pointing
down from the north.
Well, I better be
getting back to town.
Good day, ladies.
So that's why Ben
Cartwright was so generous.
What do you mean, Sarah?
I mean his ranch
practically surrounds us.
He holds our note.
If we can't pay it
off, he can foreclose
and get our ranch
for less than $3,000.
(sighs)
And all his talk
about Western
neighborliness and friendship...
Lorraine!
I said to beat the
rug, don't destroy it!
Got company, Catlin.
What are you two doing here?
I thought you
were with the herd.
Smokey sent us along ahead
to make sure
everything's all right.
It's a good thing he did, too.
What do you mean by that?
He means those cattle will
be arriving in two more days,
so you better have that
box canyon ready, Catlin.
And fast.
I've never let you
boys down yet,
so don't start worrying now.
If you'd have let me say
something at that auction...
And alert the whole town
by starting a fracas
with the Cartwrights?
COWBOY: Smokey and the others
ain't gonna like this hang-up.
Not after fighting
sheriffs and ranchers
all the way from Montana.
They're counting on you two
to handle them
cattle same as always.
There's near 500 head
just in that first bunch alone.
I've handled your
stolen herds for years
and made money for all of us.
I told you I'd hide this
bunch until the trail cools...
and that's exactly
what I intend to do.
Oh? Where you gonna put 'em?
Under your hat?
Listen, we need that
canyon and we need it now.
I say if those Boston
females are in our way,
let's kill 'em.
That's what I say, Catlin.
Well, I say no.
I've stayed in
business a long time,
but not by acting like a fool.
There are other ways of
getting rid of those women.
Like what?
Like using our brains.
It seems to me that it
shouldn't be too difficult
to take care of four
little lambs from Boston.
Boston...
We'll give them an
old-fashioned Boston tea party.
Yeah.
We'll scare 'em half to death.
Run them right
out of the country
and nobody'll ever be the wiser.
Oh, I love it out
here, Lorraine.
You know, I've
felt so much better
just since we've come here.
Oh, we're all glad to see
you happy again, Heather.
I just wish Sarah would
give me a chance to...
Have you seen
Gabrielle anywhere?
I've been looking
all over for her.
She's probably up in her
room, reading the Bible.
Are you all right, dear?
Oh, I'm fine, Sarah.
Well, now, as soon
as you're finished there,
you lie down and
conserve your strength.
(sighs)
Yes, Sarah.
Oh, she still treats me as if
I were a three-year-old child.
She doesn't mean to, Heather.
It-It's just that...
well, I suppose she's so
used to taking care of us,
it's just become
a habit with her.
"Heather, do this.
"Gabrielle, do that.
And Lorraine, beat
the rug, don't destroy it."
Oh, and the way she
treats other people.
Like the Cartwrights.
I mean, they're only trying
to be nice to us, Lorraine.
And I felt so sorry
for that poor Sheriff
Coffee this afternoon.
You know, did it ever
occur to you that...
that might be Sarah's
way of expressing her love?
Love?!
By acting like a
bossy old stepmother?
No.
By giving us the security
she herself never had.
By protecting us from
the outside world and...
well, even to the extent
of being unpopular
with other people,
and unhappy.
Unhappy?
Sarah?
Well, why do you
think she gave up
the life she loved in Boston
to sell everything
and move out here
to this strange environment?
Well, I... I just
thought she felt
we'd have a better chance here.
Heather...
She did it because
of me, didn't she?
Oh, Sarah loves us.
In her own way, she's
given herself to us always.
Since we were children.
I know.
You know, she was little
more than a child herself
when Father and Mother
died in... in that accident, but...
you were just a little babe,
and you wouldn't
remember anything of that.
You're not the only one
indebted to her, we all are.
Why, we're the only
family she'll ever have.
Oh, Lorraine, I'm so sorry.
We better finish the dishes
before Sarah gets back.
You know what she'll do.
Fire!
The shed's on fire!
Sarah!
Heather, stay here.
- No, I want to help!
- Stay here!
Oh, Sarah!
Gabrielle, go get
those gunnysacks.
Come on.
(grunting with effort)
Come on, we've got to get it...
(hissing)
(coughing)
(hissing)
(Sarah grunts with effort)
(grunts)
(coughs)
(coughing)
What is it?
This was no accident.
What do you mean?
I mean that bottle
had kerosene in it
and that rag was stuck in it.
It was lit and thrown in here.
You mean this fire was... Arson!
Deliberate arson.
Who would do such a thing?
Not even the Devil
could be so cruel.
I think I know who did it.
And he may well be the Devil.
(sighing) Roy, if
that fire was set,
then someone is
after the Lowell place.
I can't figure out why.
Just... can't seem
to put my finger on it.
Miss Sarah Lowell thinks
she has put her finger on it.
She claims that you're trying
to scare them off their ranch
so's you can get it
for your mortgage.
Oh, she does?
Well, isn't that
nice? (wry chuckle)
That Miss Sarah Lowell,
she's sure an orderly
woman, isn't she?
Makes everything neat and tidy,
under a nice big heading.
The trouble is, her
headings are all wrong.
But what's the right heading?
I don't know, Roy.
Sure wish I did.
But I know there's an
answer somewhere.
I'm going to try to find it.
There are Hoss and
Little Joe with the supplies.
I'll see you later, Roy.
Hoss, go over to the courthouse
and check the tax records
on the Landcastle place.
Go back five or
ten years, will you?
Yeah, all right.
Joe, as soon as we
get these supplies back,
I'd like you to go over every
inch of the Lowell place.
Somebody wants
that place so bad,
I want to find out why.
Good.
(clicks tongue)
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Cattle tracks, that's
a branding iron,
campsite... not
too old... And this...
this carving.
That carving's just like the one
that Catlin's partner had
that day at the auction.
What'd you find?
(Hoss sighs)
Well, I... I found that
old Reed Landcastle
was delinquent in
his taxes, all right.
But only in the last
year before he died.
Those taxes had been
increased nine times more
than anybody else paid
for land that same size.
I tell you, Pa, it looked to me
like those figures
had been changed.
I mean, it looked like they'd
been smudged, or something.
(knocking at door)
I'll get it.
Hey, Roy. Come on in.
Evenin', Joe.
Ben. Hoss.
HOSS: Roy.
BEN: Well, I'm glad to see you.
We were coming out
to have a talk with you.
What brings you out here?
Well, I just come out
to ask Joe a question.
Yeah? What?
Were you riding around the
Lowell sisters' place today?
Yeah.
Then I gotta arrest you.
Well, what for?
I sent him out there.
Heather Lowell took pretty
sick late this afternoon.
The doc was there
and he said that he
found their well polluted.
Well, what are you saying?
You think I polluted the well?
Joe, I've known you
since you were that high.
I know that you couldn't
possibly do anything like that.
Well, then, what are
you talking about?
Miss Sarah Lowell
signed a formal complaint,
and with Joe admitting
that he was on their land...
I have no choice.
I've gotta take him
in. That's the law.
Oh, that woman.
Heather is a pretty sick girl.
I understand that she's
never been too strong anyhow,
and the doc says
that she... might die.
Seven, eight, nine, 1,000.
There's your bail.
There's your receipt, Ben.
I'll release him into your
custody until the trial.
I'll go get Little Joe.
You know, Pa, Roy is really
taking this serious, ain't he?
Ah, you know Roy.
Letter-of-the-Law Coffee.
What is he doing
out here, Sheriff?
Why isn't he in
a cell, in chains?
He's been bailed out, ma'am.
And we don't use chains no more.
But he's responsible
for poisoning our well.
Oh, Miss Lowell,
please be reasonable.
Reasonable?
With a would-be murderer?
Miss Lowell, I'm sure
that, even back in Boston,
a man is entitled to his
freedom under proper bond.
Very well, Sheriff.
I see what civil
protection consists of here.
I shall set my
own house in order
without recourse to
your so-called law.
Please try to
understand my sister.
Gabrielle and I don't
think you're behind this.
It... It's just that Sarah's
upset over Heather.
I should like to
purchase four guns
with suitable
ammunition, please.
What was that again, ma'am?
Four guns with ammunition, sir.
Sarah, what are you doing?
My dear, Boston is behind us.
This is the uncivilized West.
We must arm ourselves
to meet it on its own terms.
Well, come on in, ladies,
and, uh... take your pick.
♪♪
You know, Pa, I tell ya,
I sure wish that Sarah
was as sweet-natured
as that sister of
hers, Lorraine.
Well, I think the time has come
to have a talk with that woman.
A real talk.
Yeah, I think you'd have
more luck talking to a mule.
Well, just the same,
before things get any worse,
I'd like to ease her mind.
Yeah, how you
figuring on doing that?
Well, Hoss, you and I
could ride out over there
and have a nice, pleasant
talk with her, that's all.
Well, wait up a minute.
I'll get my horse
and go with you.
Nah, nah, you've been
through enough today.
Only place you're going,
young fella, is home.
Oh, dear, I do wish
Sarah would come back.
Perhaps the three of us
together could have managed.
I think it'd be better if
I tried alone, Gabrielle.
BEN: Afternoon, ladies.
HOSS: Ladies.
Can I be of some help
to you, Miss Lowell?
Oh, thank you.
Let me get that
thing lined up for you.
There.
There you go.
Any time I can be of help,
you just let me know, will you?
Oh, isn't that a nice
thing to say, Gabrielle?
Indeed, it was.
Well, how are you today?
Is, uh, is your
sister Sarah around?
We'd like to talk
to her, if we may.
Well, she's gone out to
the pasture, Mr. Cartwright.
But I'm sure she'll
be back shortly.
Well... Shouldn't
we ask them in?
Why, y-yes, I suppose.
- BEN: Ah. Thank you.
- Won't you come in, gentlemen?
So, you see, by helping
you young ladles out,
we're just trying to pay off
an old debt to your uncle.
We want to help however we can.
The first thing we
gotta do is find out
who's behind all this trouble.
We already know who's
behind it, Mr. Cartwright.
I ask you to leave this house.
But, Sarah, the
Cartwrights are our guests.
My son and I just
came over as neighbors.
(cocks rifle)
I'll ask you to leave
in the same fashion.
Immediately.
Miss Lowell, you may
find this hard to understand,
but we just came
over to try to help out.
You seem determined to bury us
under deeper and
deeper obligations.
And you seem equally determined
to fight the wrong people.
You know, if you expended
half the energy on making friends
as you do on discouraging them,
I think you'd find
things a whole lot easier.
I'm gonna tell you
something, Miss Lowell,
you're going down to defeat.
You seem determined to
do that... At your own hands...
And you're gonna drag
your sisters along with you.
Well, let that be
my responsibility.
Please leave!
Good day, ladies.
Sarah, how could you?
Did you hear him?
He practically threatened me.
He did not, you're the
one who provoked him.
Why'd you have to go
and spoil everything?
Oh, stop sniveling, Lorraine!
Please, go see to Heather.
Dr. Martin said she's
to have constant care.
Sarah, will... will you
put that weapon down?
It's Lucifer's tool.
Gabrielle... we have no choice.
We must defend our land.
This is the only thing
these people understand.
Now, what did you find out?
Well, I'll tell you
what we found out.
Found out that clerk Billings
sneaked into Catlin's
office a while ago.
That ties them all together.
Yeah, it sure does, doesn't it?
They haven't been able
to drive the Lowell sisters
off that ranch,
and now I'll bet you
they're going to try
something a little more drastic.
Let's see Roy Coffee.
(hammer clicks, no bullet fires)
All right, I've taught you
how to load the guns,
and we've practiced taking
window positions four times.
And we'll do it again and again,
until we can do it in our sleep.
Sarah, I'm exhausted.
And besides, I
will not, not ever,
shoot one of those
dreadful things.
It's a question of survival.
Well, there must be other ways
for ladies to
defend their house.
Sarah?
I'm ready.
Heather, get back to your bed.
You're not well enough to fight.
But Sarah... SARAH:
Get back to your bed!
In this savage country,
even ladies must
defend their homes
against wild animals and Indians
and their neighbors,
if necessary.
But there's no need
to fight the Cartwrights.
Lorraine, I will not
have you weeping
at the mere mention
of their names.
But, Sarah, she's right.
The Cartwrights are our friends.
I will not discuss it.
All right, get your
bows and arrows.
All right, ladies, positions.
Excellent.
Now, if anyone sets foot on
our land, they'll pay the penalty.
♪♪
(screams)
(yells)
Indians! Massacre!
Sarah!
Oh!
- Oh!
- Heather!
- Come back here!
- Oh, but he's getting away!
Heather, you were wonderful!
You dropped that
Indian like a stone.
- Oh, it was easy.
- Heather, take cover.
- No, I want to fight, too.
- Don't argue!
I'm not arguing, but
I'm not a baby anymore.
And besides, who
drew first blood?
There's something
moving out there.
- Oh. -Don't panic.
- I see one.
I will not tolerate any panic.
(howling, war whooping)
- Sarah, it's an Indian.
- Shoot!
Oh, I-I-I can't.
(gunfire)
(gunfire continues)
(muttering)
Shoot! Gabrielle!
Come on, Billings.
(gunfire continues,
bullets ricocheting)
(panting)
This is more than
we bargained for.
You and your stupid ideas.
(panting)
Get some more bullets.
I'll show you how
to drive 'em out.
It won't be with any
kids' tricks either.
What are you gonna do?
What we should've
done in the first place.
All right, get rid of those
stupid bows and arrows.
Get your guns.
We're gonna settle
this once and for all.
You mean we're
gonna kill them women?
We need this land, don't we?
Now get your guns. Get going.
Come on.
They're coming back.
Yes, I see them.
They've all got guns!
Oh, I'm-I'm afraid.
I'm-I'm terribly frightened.
- Shoot.
- (gunfire)
(gunfire continues)
Get down!
Mr. Cartwright, my sisters
and I are deeply indebted to you.
I can only say, for myself,
that when one is
in strange country,
one must exercise
extreme caution.
Well, of course, Miss Lowell.
We-we can understand that.
Quiet generosity seems
to be a habit with you.
You... must come over for tea
one day this week.
A-And bring your sons, too.
There's so much th-that
we'd like to ask about ranching.
So much to learn.
Well, you, uh... you just
ask the questions, ma'am,
and we'll be glad to supply
the answers, if we can.
You know, Pa, I
just don't believe it.
Just don't believe it.
Four little ladies
from Beacon Hill
holding off that
whole Indian tribe
like-like seasoned
troopers, huh?
(Ben chuckles)
I think I know a few
people that can believe it.
Yeah, they can sure
believe that over there.
Well, ladies, time
to start supper.
- Sarah. -Sarah.
- Sarah.
Well, I suppose
seasoned Indian fighters
do deserve special
consideration.
Company dismissed.
(Ben chuckles)
Won't you come in for
some supper, gentlemen?
- We'll be happy to.
- (chuckling)
BEN: If you need any
potato peelin', Hoss will do it.
(laughter)
HOSS: I'll even
stay to eat 'em...
ANNOUNCER: This has
been a color production
of the NBC Television Network.
is brought to you in
living color on NBC.
(fanfare plays)
STAGE COACH DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!
Hey-oh!
Hey...!
Hey-oh! Hah! Giddup!
Hyah!
Giddup!
There you go!
Hey-ah!
Giddup...!
Hah!
Hyah!
(exhales quietly)
Gabrielle, straighten your hat.
You look a mess.
Sarah, must we go so fast?
Heather's feeling poorly.
I told you we have
to get to Virginia City
before the auction.
Heather, dear,
we'll be there soon.
Lorraine, put your dress down!
Your limbs are showing!
Hyah!
Get on! Hah!
Get on!
Get on!
Here comes old Toothless
with the noon stage.
Must be some kind of emergency.
Toothless don't
normally go that fast.
Giddup! Hee-ah! Giddup! Hee-ah!
Hee-ah!
Giddup! Giddup!
Giddup!
Hah!
Hah! Get on!
Get on!
We're going to be arriving soon
and I do not want
the Lowell girls
to look like a bunch
of dance hall tramps.
Hee-yah!
(screams)
Hey, he lost a wheel, Pa!
He sure did!
- Giddup! Giddup!
- Hoo-eh!
What is this nonsense?
(coughing): Are you
determined to kill us all?
Ladies, please,
remain in your seats.
(Sarah coughs)
We lost a wheel, ma'am.
You... you ladies
all right in there?
Lost a wheel?!
Well, I've never
heard of such a thing.
How long is it going to
take to fix this carelessness?
Don't you worry none.
I'll, I'll get it fixed
just be soon as I can.
You don't seem to understand.
I must be in Virginia
City before noon!
I told you that!
Well, I was drivin' too
fast in the first place,
to get you there
ahead of schedule,
when this dang wheel busted!
Sarah, we must be thankful.
The Lord was merciful.
Thank you.
(wagon approaching)
HOSS: Whoa!
BEN: You all right, ma'am?
SARAH: I must get to
Virginia City by noon!
How much will you
charge to convey us there?
Well, we're going
that way, ma'am.
- I'm Ben Cartwright, this is...
- How much?
Uh, well, there won't
be any charge, ma'am.
- We're going that way...
- I insist upon paying!
- But... eh... (mutters)
- I'll make it a fair price.
Meanwhile, it's my
sisters and the luggage.
BEN: Are you all right, ladies?
Young man, will you get up
there and get that luggage down?
- Driver, untie it, please.
- BEN: Let me help you out here.
BEN: Sure you're all right, now.
- Yes.
- BEN: All right.
- BEN: Here we are.
- SARAH: Please hurry!
- BEN: Watch yourself.
- TOOTHLESS: Here you go.
- BEN: It will all be fine now.
- SARAH: You all right, my dear?
BEN: There you are, ma'am.
SARAH: All right, now
come on over here...
BEN: Here, give
me a hand with that.
TOOTHLESS: There
you go. Watch it, Ben.
BEN: All right... (grunts)
TOOTHLESS: Watch
the big one here, Hoss.
Watch, it's heavy now.
BEN: Got it... (grunts)
BEN: Everything all right?
Young man, will you stop
fidgeting and get aboard.
You're making me lose time.
Ma'am, I think I'll,
uh, just ride on in
with Toothless, Pa, after
we get that wheel fixed.
- BEN: Yes.
- SARAH: Well, as you wish.
Make up your mind.
Drive on, but drive carefully.
We don't have time to be
picking up baggage all the way.
Yes, ma'am. (clicks tongue)
See you later,
Hoss. Giddyup, there!
I don't know how long
them gals are gonna
be around Virginia City,
but I'll tell you one thing...
As long as that female
sergeant-major around,
things ain't gonna be the same.
You bet.
(theme song playing)
Now, the, uh, sheriff's office
is right over there, ma'am.
Oh, apparently, we're in time.
I'll take your sisters
back to the hotel.
Thank you, sir.
Gabrielle, you register for us.
And keep in mind that we do
not need the most expensive suite.
Lorraine, you
look after Heather.
I shan't be long.
And please...
remember who you
are, and act accordingly.
♪♪
Sir?
Yes, ma'am.
Are you in charge here?
Well, that all depends, ma'am.
What of?
I'm referring to the auction.
No'm, that'll be our
Mr. Billings there,
the red-headed fella.
- Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.
My dear sir...
I understand you're
in charge here.
Charge of what, ma'am?
Of the auction, what else?
Oh, nothing else, ma'am.
Only the auction.
I'm Miss Sarah Lowell of
Boston, Massachusetts.
I'm here to inquire if property
belonging to me and my sisters
is to be auctioned
off here today.
Course 'tis.
Delinquent taxes.
Now, wasn't that that property
your uncle left you
a short while ago?
Well, the law requires that...
I wrote you as soon as I
received the sales notice,
and I told you that my
sisters and I would be out here
to operate the property.
I asked you to please
not sell it until we arrived.
You didn't acknowledge
that letter... why?
Didn't never get no such letter.
You didn't get it?
I wrote it two days after
the sale notice appeared.
That was almost a month ago.
Well, we're here now.
I suggest you strike the
property from the sales list.
You mean you got
the money to pay
all them back taxes and charges?
In my letter, I asked for
a certain amount of time.
Well, the law plainly says
that all those taxes
have gotta be paid
before auction time today.
Now, if you ain't
got all the money,
that Landcastle place
goes on the block.
But I've come all the way
from Boston, Massachusetts,
just to prevent that
from happening.
I have $1,000.
I'll pay you the rest as soon
as our home in Boston is sold.
BILLINGS: Miss Lowell, I
gotta get the auction goin'.
SARAH: You can't sell it
right out from under us like that.
It's all we have!
It's our property.
We don't even have enough
money to return East on.
I don't have nothin'
to do with that, lady.
My hands are tied.
Please, listen to me a moment.
Excuse me, Miss...
Miss, uh, Lowell,
but, uh, your sister at the
hotel asked me to come by
and tell you that Miss
Heather, well, she was...
Miss Heather? What happened?
Well, they sent for the
doctor 'cause she's been...
- The doctor?!
- Well, she fainted.
Probably from exhaustion,
you know, but she was fine...
Please, you must wait.
You must wait; my sister is ill.
I-I'll be back.
What's this about, uh, taxes?
How come you, uh, you
can't let them wait a bit?
Gone too long
already, Mr. Cartwright.
They either gotta
pay all the taxes,
or that place goes on the block.
Well, wait a minute
now, Billings, hold on now.
She had $1,000, how
much do they owe?
Mmm... about $2,800.
$2,800?!
Well, that's ridiculous.
Never heard of land
around here being more
than $200-300 a year in taxes.
That's ten times that much.
Sorry, Mr. Cartwright, I
gotta get the sale started.
Will you please keep still now.
All I want to know is how
come they owe that much?
Well, Mr. Landcastle
got behind before he died.
But ten years behind?!
Now, come on...
now, you gotta
give 'em a chance...!
Billings should have
been started by now.
It's five after.
Watch your blood pressure, Nate.
We've got a lot riding
on this, you know.
What's the matter? What's
holding things up out there?
- They're here.
- Who's here?
Them... them Lowell sisters,
all the way from Boston.
How could they be here?
The stage never came in.
I don't know how.
All's I know is that one of them
came in and tried to stop me
from selling the place, not
more than ten minutes ago.
They bring the money?
Not all of it.
Then start the sale
and get it over with.
But what if...?
What if what?
We gotta have that property.
We got 500 head of cattle
on the way in right now.
It ain't only those
women anymore.
Ben Cartwright's got
his nose in on it now, too.
Cartwright?!
What's he got to do with
the Landcastle place?
Never mind.
Those cattle'll
be here in a week,
and we've got to keep
that box canyon available.
You get out there and
get that sale started
just like nothing had
happened, you hear?
And remember, you've
got the law on your side.
But if anybody looks at
them records too-too close...
There ain't anybody
gonna look at those records.
Now get out and
do what you're told.
I'll do it.
One slip, little
man, just one slip.
MAN: Billings...
remember, 5,000's
the limit on that place.
You see we get it.
You'll... you'll get it.
(indistinct, overlapping
conversations)
- Hi, Pa.
- Hoss.
I left old Toothless over
at the blacksmith shop.
Did them highfalutin ladies
have a nice ride in the carriage?
Hoss, what do you know
about the Landcastle place?
Huh?
It's important... what do you
know about the Landcastle place?
Well, it's... about
four sections in all.
There's two of them
that are good bottom land.
There's a couple
of sections that...
Rest of it's all
good top grazing.
A little river runs through it.
Some pretty rough
canyons... Why?
What about buildings?
Reckon as good as you'd want.
There's a good main
house and then...
(gavel pounding in distance)
What's all this about anyhow?
BILLINGS: All right, folks,
the auction's ready to begin.
First piece of
property up for sale
is the old Landcastle place.
Now, you got the
description: About 2,500 acres,
back taxes and costs
come to $2,781.76.
Now, do I hear a bid?
MAN: 2,900.
$2,900.
I got a bid of $2,900...
now who'll make it a half?
$3,250.
For the Landcastle place?
It's worth five times that.
BILLINGS: $3,250's bid.
MAN 2:4,000!
BILLINGS: $4,000.
I got a bid of $4,000...
MAN 3: $4,200, U.S. money.
BILLINGS: $4,200 is bid.
We must fall back
on our faith, Sarah.
Surely something will happen.
BILLINGS: I got a bid of 4,200!
$4,200.
Who wants to raise $4,200?
Forty-five.
$4,500.
Guess that closes
the bidding. I...
MAN: 4,750!
(crowd murmuring)
4,750's the bid.
Care to raise it, Mr. Catlin?
5,000.
$5,000!
No other bids?
I declare the
property goes to...
Mr. Billings!
(crowd murmuring)
Before you close
out the bidding...
couple of questions
I'd like to ask.
Mr. Cartwright, we...
we've got an
auction to finish here.
Now, this, uh, property that
you have for sale on the block...
uh, if the owners
pay the back taxes
before it's sold,
they, uh, they get
to keep it, don't they?
Why... sure.
But the owners are
here and they can't pay.
Now, as I was saying,
I declare this
property goes to...
Billings...
in the name of the
owners, I'll pay the taxes.
(crowd clamoring)
Hold it, Lou.
We got the winning bid.
He's got no right to do that.
Not now, you fool.
Quiet!
Quiet down!
Quiet, now!
- Now, it seems to me that...
- Here's the check.
I can't take this,
Mr. Cartwright.
You ain't a Lowell.
Well, I'm acting
for the Lowells.
BILLINGS: Well, I don't know.
I, uh... The law...
Now, look, Mr. Billings,
you know very well
that I helped draft the
tax laws for this territory.
If you want to
debate them with me,
I'm ready to hear
what you have to say.
I... uh, no, sir. I...
Well, that's fine.
I'll just take this deed
and mark it "paid in full."
(crowd murmuring, exclaiming)
Will you please tell me
why you're doing this?
What do you hope to gain?
I don't expect to gain
anything, Miss Lowell.
Bless you, Mr. Cartwright.
Oh, the Lord will
surely bless you.
Gabrielle, please.
This is not a Sunday
school meeting.
I apologize for not
recognizing your prominence
when we first met.
You're obviously quite
a power in this town.
But I can't help
standing here wondering
just why you're
taking this action.
Well, Miss Lowell,
the Landcastle place
is one of the finest
properties around here.
Let's just say I
couldn't stand by
and see it go at ten
cents on the dollar.
You could have
bid on it yourself.
I don't need it, Miss Lowell.
You do.
He was trying to help, Sarah.
Why were you so cold to him?
I'll join you fellas in the
south pasture a little later on.
I'm going into town
and see the Lowells.
HOSS: All right.
LITTLE JOE: Hey, how
come you loaned them
all that money, anyway?
Well... couple of
reasons, I guess.
One of the Lowell
gals is kind of sickly.
More importantly, their
uncle, Reed Landcastle,
sure helped me out a lot
when I was starting this place.
Pa, the Lowells don't
know nothin' about ranching.
All the more reason to help 'em.
I just don't think
women can run a ranch.
Especially Boston women.
(sighs)
Son, you haven't
met Sarah Lowell yet.
That woman could run
anything she set her mind to.
Hey. Speak of the devil.
Oh, is that, uh...?
BEN: Yeah, that's them.
Hop Sing...
Make us up a pitcher
of cool lemonade
and bring out some
cookies, will you?
Yes, sir, Mr. Cartwright.
Right away.
Well, Miss Lowell, how are you?
Welcome to the Ponderosa.
Miss Lowell. Well,
how nice to see you.
Oh, you-you've, uh,
met my son Hoss...
Ladies.
- And my other son, Joseph.
- LITTLE JOE: How do you do?
This is not a social
call, Mr. Cartwright.
I have, uh, drawn a
promissory note in your favor
and I've secured
it with a trust deed.
Now, I believe you'll
find everything in order.
I trust you'll find the
terms satisfactory.
Thank you.
Good afternoon.
Uh, Miss Lowell, uh...
I've just had some
cool lemonade prepared.
Wouldn't you...?
It's a nice...
Joseph, would you get
the lemonade, please?
LITTLE JOE: Yeah. Sure.
And it's a... it's a long,
hot ride back into town.
Isn't that a nice
invitation, Sarah?
I'd love a cool
glass of lemonade.
Oh, it will be nice
and refreshing.
We are no longer living
in town, Mr. Cartwright.
We moved to our
new home this morning.
And we, uh, must get back.
Uh... I-I didn't realize
you'd already moved
out to the ranch.
I thought Miss
Heather was so ill.
Our sister is much
improved, thank you.
Lorraine, we have a full
day's work ahead of us.
But Sarah, Mr. Cartwright
has already sent
for the lemonade.
Ma'am, it'll be
here in just a jiffy.
Lorraine, please,
get right up here.
I'm sure the gentlemen
will excuse us.
Uh, Miss Lowell,
is there something
- we can do to help you...?
- No, thank you.
We're quite capable of
managing for ourselves, thank you.
Well, Miss Lowell,
it seems to me that...
Lorraine.
Well, it's not necessary to...
Where-where'd they go?
BEN: They didn't
want any lemonade.
We've got all this lemonade.
Who gonna drink it?
All the chicken?
Ah, give it to the cat.
The chickens had enough.
(speaking angrily in Chinese)
♪♪
Heather, that's enough now.
You better put that
down and rest a while.
Well, Sarah, I'm
just trying to help.
Well, you'll do that nicely,
dear, by regaining your health.
Well... but-but I
really feel good.
I mean, I haven't
felt this well in years.
Well, don't be a
martyr about it, dear.
Lie back and rest a while.
Lorraine, would you
finish beating that rug?
I'm going to get dinner on.
Morning, ladies!
Whoa.
Hello, Sheriff.
How do you do?
I just dropped by to see how
you ladies was getting along.
Only looking out for your
welfare, you understand.
It is the law's
job to protect you.
Well, Sheriff, you
can rest assured
if we need any help, we'll
be sure and call on you.
All right.
Uh... you ladies do have a gun
on the premises, do you not?
A gun?!
Well, maybe I should ask...
Do any of you ladies
know how to handle a gun?
No, Sheriff.
We're from Boston.
It's civilized there.
Has been for a good long while.
Well, you're a good long ways
from Boston right now, ma'am.
And it might be a good idea
if you get yourselves
a gun, just in case.
The Ten Commandments
say, "Thou shalt not kill."
Yeah, but there's
lots of mountain lions
around here from time to time.
Well, we're not
hunters, Sheriff.
We're trying to
establish a home here,
not a menagerie.
Thank you, ma'am.
But if you do need
any help in a hurry,
you can always call on
Ben Cartwright and his boys.
They're around here everywhere.
You mean the Cartwright
ranch surrounds us?
Well, practically.
Uh, your strip of land kind
of cuts into the Ponderosa
like a small finger pointing
down from the north.
Well, I better be
getting back to town.
Good day, ladies.
So that's why Ben
Cartwright was so generous.
What do you mean, Sarah?
I mean his ranch
practically surrounds us.
He holds our note.
If we can't pay it
off, he can foreclose
and get our ranch
for less than $3,000.
(sighs)
And all his talk
about Western
neighborliness and friendship...
Lorraine!
I said to beat the
rug, don't destroy it!
Got company, Catlin.
What are you two doing here?
I thought you
were with the herd.
Smokey sent us along ahead
to make sure
everything's all right.
It's a good thing he did, too.
What do you mean by that?
He means those cattle will
be arriving in two more days,
so you better have that
box canyon ready, Catlin.
And fast.
I've never let you
boys down yet,
so don't start worrying now.
If you'd have let me say
something at that auction...
And alert the whole town
by starting a fracas
with the Cartwrights?
COWBOY: Smokey and the others
ain't gonna like this hang-up.
Not after fighting
sheriffs and ranchers
all the way from Montana.
They're counting on you two
to handle them
cattle same as always.
There's near 500 head
just in that first bunch alone.
I've handled your
stolen herds for years
and made money for all of us.
I told you I'd hide this
bunch until the trail cools...
and that's exactly
what I intend to do.
Oh? Where you gonna put 'em?
Under your hat?
Listen, we need that
canyon and we need it now.
I say if those Boston
females are in our way,
let's kill 'em.
That's what I say, Catlin.
Well, I say no.
I've stayed in
business a long time,
but not by acting like a fool.
There are other ways of
getting rid of those women.
Like what?
Like using our brains.
It seems to me that it
shouldn't be too difficult
to take care of four
little lambs from Boston.
Boston...
We'll give them an
old-fashioned Boston tea party.
Yeah.
We'll scare 'em half to death.
Run them right
out of the country
and nobody'll ever be the wiser.
Oh, I love it out
here, Lorraine.
You know, I've
felt so much better
just since we've come here.
Oh, we're all glad to see
you happy again, Heather.
I just wish Sarah would
give me a chance to...
Have you seen
Gabrielle anywhere?
I've been looking
all over for her.
She's probably up in her
room, reading the Bible.
Are you all right, dear?
Oh, I'm fine, Sarah.
Well, now, as soon
as you're finished there,
you lie down and
conserve your strength.
(sighs)
Yes, Sarah.
Oh, she still treats me as if
I were a three-year-old child.
She doesn't mean to, Heather.
It-It's just that...
well, I suppose she's so
used to taking care of us,
it's just become
a habit with her.
"Heather, do this.
"Gabrielle, do that.
And Lorraine, beat
the rug, don't destroy it."
Oh, and the way she
treats other people.
Like the Cartwrights.
I mean, they're only trying
to be nice to us, Lorraine.
And I felt so sorry
for that poor Sheriff
Coffee this afternoon.
You know, did it ever
occur to you that...
that might be Sarah's
way of expressing her love?
Love?!
By acting like a
bossy old stepmother?
No.
By giving us the security
she herself never had.
By protecting us from
the outside world and...
well, even to the extent
of being unpopular
with other people,
and unhappy.
Unhappy?
Sarah?
Well, why do you
think she gave up
the life she loved in Boston
to sell everything
and move out here
to this strange environment?
Well, I... I just
thought she felt
we'd have a better chance here.
Heather...
She did it because
of me, didn't she?
Oh, Sarah loves us.
In her own way, she's
given herself to us always.
Since we were children.
I know.
You know, she was little
more than a child herself
when Father and Mother
died in... in that accident, but...
you were just a little babe,
and you wouldn't
remember anything of that.
You're not the only one
indebted to her, we all are.
Why, we're the only
family she'll ever have.
Oh, Lorraine, I'm so sorry.
We better finish the dishes
before Sarah gets back.
You know what she'll do.
Fire!
The shed's on fire!
Sarah!
Heather, stay here.
- No, I want to help!
- Stay here!
Oh, Sarah!
Gabrielle, go get
those gunnysacks.
Come on.
(grunting with effort)
Come on, we've got to get it...
(hissing)
(coughing)
(hissing)
(Sarah grunts with effort)
(grunts)
(coughs)
(coughing)
What is it?
This was no accident.
What do you mean?
I mean that bottle
had kerosene in it
and that rag was stuck in it.
It was lit and thrown in here.
You mean this fire was... Arson!
Deliberate arson.
Who would do such a thing?
Not even the Devil
could be so cruel.
I think I know who did it.
And he may well be the Devil.
(sighing) Roy, if
that fire was set,
then someone is
after the Lowell place.
I can't figure out why.
Just... can't seem
to put my finger on it.
Miss Sarah Lowell thinks
she has put her finger on it.
She claims that you're trying
to scare them off their ranch
so's you can get it
for your mortgage.
Oh, she does?
Well, isn't that
nice? (wry chuckle)
That Miss Sarah Lowell,
she's sure an orderly
woman, isn't she?
Makes everything neat and tidy,
under a nice big heading.
The trouble is, her
headings are all wrong.
But what's the right heading?
I don't know, Roy.
Sure wish I did.
But I know there's an
answer somewhere.
I'm going to try to find it.
There are Hoss and
Little Joe with the supplies.
I'll see you later, Roy.
Hoss, go over to the courthouse
and check the tax records
on the Landcastle place.
Go back five or
ten years, will you?
Yeah, all right.
Joe, as soon as we
get these supplies back,
I'd like you to go over every
inch of the Lowell place.
Somebody wants
that place so bad,
I want to find out why.
Good.
(clicks tongue)
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Cattle tracks, that's
a branding iron,
campsite... not
too old... And this...
this carving.
That carving's just like the one
that Catlin's partner had
that day at the auction.
What'd you find?
(Hoss sighs)
Well, I... I found that
old Reed Landcastle
was delinquent in
his taxes, all right.
But only in the last
year before he died.
Those taxes had been
increased nine times more
than anybody else paid
for land that same size.
I tell you, Pa, it looked to me
like those figures
had been changed.
I mean, it looked like they'd
been smudged, or something.
(knocking at door)
I'll get it.
Hey, Roy. Come on in.
Evenin', Joe.
Ben. Hoss.
HOSS: Roy.
BEN: Well, I'm glad to see you.
We were coming out
to have a talk with you.
What brings you out here?
Well, I just come out
to ask Joe a question.
Yeah? What?
Were you riding around the
Lowell sisters' place today?
Yeah.
Then I gotta arrest you.
Well, what for?
I sent him out there.
Heather Lowell took pretty
sick late this afternoon.
The doc was there
and he said that he
found their well polluted.
Well, what are you saying?
You think I polluted the well?
Joe, I've known you
since you were that high.
I know that you couldn't
possibly do anything like that.
Well, then, what are
you talking about?
Miss Sarah Lowell
signed a formal complaint,
and with Joe admitting
that he was on their land...
I have no choice.
I've gotta take him
in. That's the law.
Oh, that woman.
Heather is a pretty sick girl.
I understand that she's
never been too strong anyhow,
and the doc says
that she... might die.
Seven, eight, nine, 1,000.
There's your bail.
There's your receipt, Ben.
I'll release him into your
custody until the trial.
I'll go get Little Joe.
You know, Pa, Roy is really
taking this serious, ain't he?
Ah, you know Roy.
Letter-of-the-Law Coffee.
What is he doing
out here, Sheriff?
Why isn't he in
a cell, in chains?
He's been bailed out, ma'am.
And we don't use chains no more.
But he's responsible
for poisoning our well.
Oh, Miss Lowell,
please be reasonable.
Reasonable?
With a would-be murderer?
Miss Lowell, I'm sure
that, even back in Boston,
a man is entitled to his
freedom under proper bond.
Very well, Sheriff.
I see what civil
protection consists of here.
I shall set my
own house in order
without recourse to
your so-called law.
Please try to
understand my sister.
Gabrielle and I don't
think you're behind this.
It... It's just that Sarah's
upset over Heather.
I should like to
purchase four guns
with suitable
ammunition, please.
What was that again, ma'am?
Four guns with ammunition, sir.
Sarah, what are you doing?
My dear, Boston is behind us.
This is the uncivilized West.
We must arm ourselves
to meet it on its own terms.
Well, come on in, ladies,
and, uh... take your pick.
♪♪
You know, Pa, I tell ya,
I sure wish that Sarah
was as sweet-natured
as that sister of
hers, Lorraine.
Well, I think the time has come
to have a talk with that woman.
A real talk.
Yeah, I think you'd have
more luck talking to a mule.
Well, just the same,
before things get any worse,
I'd like to ease her mind.
Yeah, how you
figuring on doing that?
Well, Hoss, you and I
could ride out over there
and have a nice, pleasant
talk with her, that's all.
Well, wait up a minute.
I'll get my horse
and go with you.
Nah, nah, you've been
through enough today.
Only place you're going,
young fella, is home.
Oh, dear, I do wish
Sarah would come back.
Perhaps the three of us
together could have managed.
I think it'd be better if
I tried alone, Gabrielle.
BEN: Afternoon, ladies.
HOSS: Ladies.
Can I be of some help
to you, Miss Lowell?
Oh, thank you.
Let me get that
thing lined up for you.
There.
There you go.
Any time I can be of help,
you just let me know, will you?
Oh, isn't that a nice
thing to say, Gabrielle?
Indeed, it was.
Well, how are you today?
Is, uh, is your
sister Sarah around?
We'd like to talk
to her, if we may.
Well, she's gone out to
the pasture, Mr. Cartwright.
But I'm sure she'll
be back shortly.
Well... Shouldn't
we ask them in?
Why, y-yes, I suppose.
- BEN: Ah. Thank you.
- Won't you come in, gentlemen?
So, you see, by helping
you young ladles out,
we're just trying to pay off
an old debt to your uncle.
We want to help however we can.
The first thing we
gotta do is find out
who's behind all this trouble.
We already know who's
behind it, Mr. Cartwright.
I ask you to leave this house.
But, Sarah, the
Cartwrights are our guests.
My son and I just
came over as neighbors.
(cocks rifle)
I'll ask you to leave
in the same fashion.
Immediately.
Miss Lowell, you may
find this hard to understand,
but we just came
over to try to help out.
You seem determined to bury us
under deeper and
deeper obligations.
And you seem equally determined
to fight the wrong people.
You know, if you expended
half the energy on making friends
as you do on discouraging them,
I think you'd find
things a whole lot easier.
I'm gonna tell you
something, Miss Lowell,
you're going down to defeat.
You seem determined to
do that... At your own hands...
And you're gonna drag
your sisters along with you.
Well, let that be
my responsibility.
Please leave!
Good day, ladies.
Sarah, how could you?
Did you hear him?
He practically threatened me.
He did not, you're the
one who provoked him.
Why'd you have to go
and spoil everything?
Oh, stop sniveling, Lorraine!
Please, go see to Heather.
Dr. Martin said she's
to have constant care.
Sarah, will... will you
put that weapon down?
It's Lucifer's tool.
Gabrielle... we have no choice.
We must defend our land.
This is the only thing
these people understand.
Now, what did you find out?
Well, I'll tell you
what we found out.
Found out that clerk Billings
sneaked into Catlin's
office a while ago.
That ties them all together.
Yeah, it sure does, doesn't it?
They haven't been able
to drive the Lowell sisters
off that ranch,
and now I'll bet you
they're going to try
something a little more drastic.
Let's see Roy Coffee.
(hammer clicks, no bullet fires)
All right, I've taught you
how to load the guns,
and we've practiced taking
window positions four times.
And we'll do it again and again,
until we can do it in our sleep.
Sarah, I'm exhausted.
And besides, I
will not, not ever,
shoot one of those
dreadful things.
It's a question of survival.
Well, there must be other ways
for ladies to
defend their house.
Sarah?
I'm ready.
Heather, get back to your bed.
You're not well enough to fight.
But Sarah... SARAH:
Get back to your bed!
In this savage country,
even ladies must
defend their homes
against wild animals and Indians
and their neighbors,
if necessary.
But there's no need
to fight the Cartwrights.
Lorraine, I will not
have you weeping
at the mere mention
of their names.
But, Sarah, she's right.
The Cartwrights are our friends.
I will not discuss it.
All right, get your
bows and arrows.
All right, ladies, positions.
Excellent.
Now, if anyone sets foot on
our land, they'll pay the penalty.
♪♪
(screams)
(yells)
Indians! Massacre!
Sarah!
Oh!
- Oh!
- Heather!
- Come back here!
- Oh, but he's getting away!
Heather, you were wonderful!
You dropped that
Indian like a stone.
- Oh, it was easy.
- Heather, take cover.
- No, I want to fight, too.
- Don't argue!
I'm not arguing, but
I'm not a baby anymore.
And besides, who
drew first blood?
There's something
moving out there.
- Oh. -Don't panic.
- I see one.
I will not tolerate any panic.
(howling, war whooping)
- Sarah, it's an Indian.
- Shoot!
Oh, I-I-I can't.
(gunfire)
(gunfire continues)
(muttering)
Shoot! Gabrielle!
Come on, Billings.
(gunfire continues,
bullets ricocheting)
(panting)
This is more than
we bargained for.
You and your stupid ideas.
(panting)
Get some more bullets.
I'll show you how
to drive 'em out.
It won't be with any
kids' tricks either.
What are you gonna do?
What we should've
done in the first place.
All right, get rid of those
stupid bows and arrows.
Get your guns.
We're gonna settle
this once and for all.
You mean we're
gonna kill them women?
We need this land, don't we?
Now get your guns. Get going.
Come on.
They're coming back.
Yes, I see them.
They've all got guns!
Oh, I'm-I'm afraid.
I'm-I'm terribly frightened.
- Shoot.
- (gunfire)
(gunfire continues)
Get down!
Mr. Cartwright, my sisters
and I are deeply indebted to you.
I can only say, for myself,
that when one is
in strange country,
one must exercise
extreme caution.
Well, of course, Miss Lowell.
We-we can understand that.
Quiet generosity seems
to be a habit with you.
You... must come over for tea
one day this week.
A-And bring your sons, too.
There's so much th-that
we'd like to ask about ranching.
So much to learn.
Well, you, uh... you just
ask the questions, ma'am,
and we'll be glad to supply
the answers, if we can.
You know, Pa, I
just don't believe it.
Just don't believe it.
Four little ladies
from Beacon Hill
holding off that
whole Indian tribe
like-like seasoned
troopers, huh?
(Ben chuckles)
I think I know a few
people that can believe it.
Yeah, they can sure
believe that over there.
Well, ladies, time
to start supper.
- Sarah. -Sarah.
- Sarah.
Well, I suppose
seasoned Indian fighters
do deserve special
consideration.
Company dismissed.
(Ben chuckles)
Won't you come in for
some supper, gentlemen?
- We'll be happy to.
- (chuckling)
BEN: If you need any
potato peelin', Hoss will do it.
(laughter)
HOSS: I'll even
stay to eat 'em...
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