Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 9, Episode 23 - Star Crossed - full transcript

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[UPBEAT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS]

- [LAUGHTER]
- All right, that's two out of three.

You satisfied?

That's two out of three,
but I'm not satisfied.

- Pay for the drinks anyway.
- [LAUGHS]

Ain't you two ever
going to give up?

- Thanks.
- Bruno, any time Candy admits

I'm just a whole lot better
than he is, then I'll quit.

I got $5 left from last payday.

Let's Indian wrestle once
more for the whole thing.



- All right. You're on.
- Which one of you big spenders

- is gonna buy me a drink?
- Martha, we'll let you know

in just about a minute.

- Okay, let her rip.
- Left-handed, huh?

Mm-hm.

That’s the easiest
$5 I ever won.

- Are you the proprietor?
- I guess you could say so.

- What can I do for you?
- I want a job.

Miss, I think you kind of
wandered into the wrong place.

No. No, I didn't.

I sing, I dance,
I wait on tables.

I'm sorry. We’re all full up.

Look, miss, this ain't no
place for you. Now, run along.

Look, mister, I need a job bad.



I've got nothing
for you. Not a thing.

Go find the doctor.
I'll bring her over.

Right.

- Water for the miss.
- Thank you.

- Mm...
- Go on, eat.

I can't. I think
I've had enough.

Oh, come on, you
can eat more than that.

I feel so embarrassed
about this.

Why? Because you're hungry?

I guess I just didn't realize
how much it cost to travel.

- Where were you coming from?
- A small-town.

I don't think you
would have heard of it.

- Where were you heading?
- Joe, let her eat.

We don’t have to ask
her all these questions.

Thank you both for
taking me in this way.

Forget it. Now, we gotta
find you a place to stay.

What about Mrs. O'Brien's,
she's got a nice place.

- That would be great.
- Oh, I can't let you do that.

- I don't have any money.
- Well, how are you gonna stop us?

Well, there it is.
Home sweet home.

- Selected clientele?
- That's right.

You've been selected. Come on.

Oh, my, my, my, you
poor little thing, you.

You just leave everything
up to Mother O'Brien now.

And bless you boys
for bringing her here.

May I be asking
who's paying for this?

I'm a poor widow woman, you
know, I can't afford to be giving charity.

I'll give you a deposit.

Here... Here's the deposit,
and I'll stand good for the rest.

Oh!

Well...

You just don't worry about
anything. It's gonna work out fine.

Thank you, Candy.

[JOE CLEARS THROAT]

Candy, I hate to rush you, but I
think we should get back to the ranch.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

Well, it's the best of care
she'll be having here, boys.

We’re sure of that,
Mrs. O'Brien. Thank you.

- Thank you.
- Laura, we'll see you soon.

- Goodbye, Mrs. O'Brien.
- Goodbye.

Bye, Candy.

Oh, I wish I were
a young girl again.

That Little Joe Cartwright wouldn't
be remaining a bachelor for long,

I can tell you that.

Not with them good
looks and all that money.

- Isn't Candy nice?
- Him? He's a ranch hand.

Now, you take some advice from a
woman who's buried four husbands.

God rest their souls.

It's just as easy to fall for a
rich one as it is a poor one.

Now, you remember that. Come
along, and I'll show you your room.

Well, I gotta admit one thing,
you two can sure get involved.

- Look, what would you have done?
- Exactly what you did.

I'm glad you feel that
way, Mr. Cartwright.

But she's not looking for handouts.
What she really wants is a job.

That's where we
figured you could help.

Well, just a minute now. Don't
you think I ought to at least meet

this Miss Pollard before I
recommend her to anybody?

You won't be disappointed,
I promise you that.

I'm sure I won't be.

All right.

All right, I'll do what I can.

Right now, I'm gonna go to
bed. Five o'clock comes early.

- Good night, Pa.
- Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

Five o'clock does come early.

- Well...
- Mr. Cartwright, I don't know what to say.

It's the kind of job I've
always dreamed about.

And you're gonna be the finest
saleslady that Virginia City's ever had.

Oh, Little Joe and
Candy, and now you.

Wait a minute. Mrs.
Burton needed a clerk

and, well, you seemed to
fit the ticket. Simple as that.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- Let's have some lunch, shall we?
- Yes.

Do you like it?

It's just beautiful, Laura.

Mrs. Burton down at the
store gave me a discount on it.

She said I could pay it
out of my weekly salary.

It's beautiful.

Oh, there wasn't anything
wrong with this, Mrs. O'Brien.

- It's just a loose screw.
- Oh, well, thank you very much.

You know, I feel a bit foolish
keeping this in the house,

but I'm here alone
so much, you know?

Now, you young folks run
along and have a good time.

And Laura, honey,
you be home early.

I'm beginning to sound
just like I'm your mother.

I'll take real good
care of her, don't worry.

I'm sure you will.

- Candy, you rented a buggy?
- Mm-hm.

Oh, you shouldn't spend
your money like that.

Special rig for a
special girl. Come on.

Let's go.

[KNOCKING]

Excuse me. Good afternoon.

Do you realize that you could get me
fired standing in the window like that?

I thought you'd never
get rid of that woman.

- Well, she’s a good customer.
- So am I. Come on.

- Would you wait until I get my hat?
- Okay. Hurry.

Up you go.

Okay. Let's go.

[INAUDIBLE]

- More coffee?
- Please.

Little different than it was the
first time we ate here, isn't it?

I can't believe how many good
things have happened to me

in such a short time.

There's more.

Candy, you shouldn't have.

It's your birthday, isn't it?

Oh, I haven't had a birthday
cake since I was a little girl.

Well, you have now. Make a wish.

- Candy?
- Hm?

Are you sure all the
Cartwrights asked me for supper?

Every one of them,
even me. Come on.

- Have a good time, now!
- CANDY: Thank you.

- Mrs. O'Brien?
- Oh, yes?

Passmore is my name.

Well, how do you
do, Mr. Passmore?

Oh, if it's about a room,
I'm sorry, I'm all filled up.

I'd like to speak to you about
a young girl, Laura Pollard.

I wonder if I might step inside.

Well, yes, of course.

[LAUGHTER]

Joe, I'm not
saying that's a lie,

but I'm saying you sure do
know how to stretch the truth.

I'm telling you, Laura,
you better listen.

You'll find out at the dance,
wait and see. He's got two left feet.

Laura, don't you listen to either
one of them, they're both big liars.

The fact is, come
Saturday night at that dance,

you're gonna find out who
the graceful one of the family is.

[LAUGHS] You gotta be
kidding. You? Graceful?

Never mind that. Come
Saturday night at the dance, Laura,

you and I are gonna
be doing the dancing.

Laura, how about a
little game of checkers?

- What about cards? Do you like...
- How about a nice long game of chess?

- Laura and I are going for a walk.
- Oh, but...

[CANDY LAUGHS]

Oh, boy. [LAUGHS]

Would you say that our world-wise
cowhand has been smitten?

Smitten? Well,
if he hasn't been,

he's doing the best job of
pretending I've ever seen.

Joseph, would you like to
win a game of checkers?

[LAUGHS] Why not?

It's so beautiful here, Candy.

So are you.

It must be wonderful
owning a house like that

and living on all this land.

I wouldn't know,
I just work here.

Or had you forgotten?

Why do you say
a thing like that?

Just being silly, I guess.

I never owned much in my life.

Never had anything
to offer a girl.

You know something?
I ought to be insulted.

Don't be, please.

It's just that...

when I look at you, Laura...

Don't, Candy.

There's so many things
about me you don't know.

- I don't want to know.
- But you should.

Mm-mm.

I'm completely alone, Candy.
I don't have any parents.

So am I. And I didn't care much.

But now I know it's
not right to be alone.

You should have
someone to share with.

That trail town I came from, I
worked in a hotel as a chambermaid.

- Well, I wasn't ashamed of that.
- There's no reason you should be.

I hated that town.

Saloons, killings, shootings.

- I had to get away.
- I'm glad you did.

I've been in towns
like that. A lot of them.

- You just can't forget the past.
- Yes, you can.

My world began
when I met you, Laura.

No yesterdays.

Just today and a
whole lot of tomorrows.

It's getting late.

We'd better go back.

Come on.

Whoa, whoa.

- I had a wonderful time, Candy.
- Me too.

[LAUGHS] I'm not
very good at this.

Laura, there's something
I have to show you.

Something I want to tell you.

Tomorrow, after
church, I'll rent a rig.

- Will you go with me?
- Yes, I'll go with you.

I'll see you in the morning.

It's gonna seem
like a year away.

Good night.

[KNOCKING]

Oh! Laura, you look positively
radiant. Was it a nice day?

I never knew there
could be days like this.

Oh! Well, it's not over yet
either. I've got a surprise for you.

- Your cousin's here.
- My cousin?

Now, don't act so surprised.

You should have known somebody
would be worrying about you.

Now you go on into the parlor.
I'll leave the two of you alone.

Good night, Mrs. O'Brien.

Oh. Well, good
night, Mr. Passmore.

Run along, honey.

What are you doing here?

The season was over.
The trail hands all left.

And our little town found that it could
do without the services of a marshal

with my particular talents.

But you promised me,

if I left town, came here,
I did what you told me.

There. Now, you see?

I'm not as bad as you paint me.

I did let you go, didn't I?

Just as I've let others go too.

Each with a price on their
head, the same as you.

But sometimes I do
like to pay a little visit

to someone I may have
done a kindness for.

Usually, they're most
anxious to pay me back.

If they don't, there's
always the reward.

Why me?

You're worth $500 to me, Laura.

I'll pay it. So much a month.

That might work out all right.

There are those who pay
me a little here, a little there.

It all helps. But
maybe I will need more.

But you know I don't
have any more money.

What do you want with me?

I'm not quite sure just yet.

But in the meantime,
remember, I am your cousin.

Because that is what
I told Mrs. O'Brien.

Well, I'll be at the hotel.

Good night, little cousin.

[BELL TOLLING]

Yes, I thought
that was excellent.

Well, Mr. Cartwright, I can't
tell you what a pleasure it's been

to meet all you fine
people this morning.

It's been a pleasure for us too,
Mr. Passmore. A big pleasure.

Mr. Passmore, if it's all right,

I did ask Laura if she'd
go for a ride with me.

Oh, of course.

I can't just drop in
here out of nowhere

and expect to monopolize
every minute of her time.

- You young people run along.
- Thank you, Mr. Passmore.

If you're at all worried about
Candy, he's one of the best.

- I can vouch for him, Mr. Passmore.
- Yeah.

You intending to stay for any
length of time in Virginia City?

Well, it all depends,
Mr. Cartwright.

As I told you this morning, when I heard
back home that Laura was missing, I...

Well, of course I can
understand your concern,

but let me assure you,
she's doing very well here.

I hope she'll be
happy, poor child.

All alone, me, a bachelor,
traveling the way I do.

[SIGHS] I'm afraid I haven't
been much of a parent to her.

- Well, if you'll excuse me.
- Certainly.

You're not yourself
today, Laura.

Is there something
you want to tell me?

No. It's nothing, really.

It's your cousin, isn't it?

- Why do you say that?
- I don't know.

This morning when he was talking
to the Cartwrights, about himself,

about you...

It's the same story
I told you, isn't it?

Of course it was.

What I meant was, things have been
going along smooth and happy here for you,

and then someone out
of your past shows up...

and you can't help remembering
a few things you wanted to forget.

I know that feeling.
It's happened to me.

Thank you for
understanding, Candy.

Would you do me one favor?

Smile.

[LAUGHS]

Come on.

- [LAUGHS] Candy, Candy.
- Really!

It's a wonder Mr. Cartwright
hasn't thrown you out already.

The thought has
occurred to him. Come on.

Come on, pokey, I want
to show you something.

Look at that, Laura.

They're like a whole
new world to me.

Family. Kindness.

Country like this.

Sit down.

I had a dream about this
place the first time I saw it.

- Tell me about it.
- I never told anyone before.

Why haven't you?

Maybe I was afraid
somebody would laugh.

Old Candy, the drifter.

I won't laugh, Candy.

I want a home, Laura.

There's a knoll not far from
here where I'd build a cabin.

From up there you
can see forever.

Down in front there's a canyon.

That's where the dogwood
blooms in the spring.

That’s a funny dream for
somebody like me, isn't it?

No, Candy.

It's a beautiful dream.

Don't ever stop dreaming.

'Cause it'll come
true. I know it will.

I want it to come true for us.

I guess I came at you too fast.
Maybe I said too much all at once.

No.

No matter what happens
between us, don't ever think that.

Maybe I should have
just told you I love you.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Come in here. I
want to talk to you.

- Where's Mrs. O'Brien?
- She's out.

I said come in here.

That was a very tender
little scene out there.

I watched it through the window.

Why can't you leave me alone?

Because you're worth $500 to me.

- I said I'd pay it!
- Yes, you did.

But that would take an
awfully long time, wouldn't it?

- Won't you sit down, my dear.
- I have nothing to say.

I invited you to sit down.

Now, we'll have our little talk.

When I came here, I expected
that you'd be worth $500 to me.

But that was before
I met the Cartwrights,

and before I talked
with Mrs. O'Brien.

- You leave the Cartwrights out of this.
- I'll make that decision.

Everything was
going so wonderful.

It could go a lot better if
you would just listen to me.

I listened to you once, and it
was the biggest mistake of my life.

Was it now?

You could have been hanged
for murder. You still could be.

I said I'd pay you!
What more can I do?

Quite a bit more.

But you're not going
about it the right way.

- You're playing up to the wrong man.
- What are you talking about?

Mrs. O'Brien is a
very interesting person.

There's not a great deal that
she doesn't know about this town.

And one of her favorite
subjects is the Cartwrights.

I said leave the
Cartwrights out of this.

This... This Candy.

According to Mrs. O'Brien,
he's nothing but a cowboy,

not worth a penny to us.

But if you were
Mrs. Joe Cartwright...

You must be insane.

Little Joe doesn't care
anything about me.

Mrs. O'Brien tells me
he's quite a ladies' man.

I won't do it! I won't do it!

I expect you'll do just about
anything I tell you, won't you now, huh?

This Candy, this
plain little cowboy.

Well, I’ve shot cowboys in the back
before, and I can certainly do it again.

Are you sure you don't
want to listen to me?

I'll go back to Trail City
first. I'll tell them the truth.

That man dragged me into the room.
He was drunk. He was gonna kill me.

Then you shouldn't have robbed
him afterwards, should you?

He was a cattle buyer. Everyone
in town knew he had a lot of money.

When I found the body,
there wasn't a penny on it.

I didn't touch his money! I
was just trying to protect myself!

You...

You robbed him.

You robbed a dead man.

You'd have a lot of trouble
proving that now, wouldn't you?

Let's talk about
Little Joe Cartwright.

I've just decided you're
going to marry him.

Come on, I'll fill
you in on the details.

You know, I really feel
kind of sorry for you fellas.

You... you just
don't live right.

There you are sweating
over those horseshoes.

You gotta work with
them mean old horses.

Now, me, all I gotta do is
take a little grain into town,

then I got the
rest of the day off.

Got plenty of time to have
a couple of cold beers.

Better enjoy it while
you can, little brother.

Somebody's gonna have to
put them shoes on them horses.

Well, I’ll worry about
that when the time comes.

It'll be a whole lot sooner than
that. I want you back here by noon.

What do you mean by noon? I thought
you told me I had the whole day there.

- By noon.
- Mm.

Hoss, how's the new
hand working out?

- You mean Candy here?
- Is that who it is?

It's been such a long time since
I've seen him I didn't recognize him.

Yeah, it looks like him.
I think that's who it is.

I'd like to keep him around.
He's a pretty good worker.

I think I've figured
out a way how.

- Joseph?
- Hm?

Oh, did you change your
mind about me staying in town?

Never mind that. There's a
distracting influence in town

that's taking up a
whole lot of Candy's time.

Now, I've been giving
it a lot of thought.

I think I figured out a way to keep
Candy out here where the work is.

We're gonna have a picnic lunch.

Some of the neighbors
will drop by a little later.

Mrs. Burton is giving
Laura the afternoon off.

So I want you to drop
by and pick her up.

I sure will, Pa. That's
kind of a break for me.

I haven't had a chance to be
alone with Laura since she got here.

Joe?

This time it's different. We’re
not playing games, not this time.

Don't you think I
know that, old buddy?

Don't worry, I'll
bring your girl here.

[CLICKS TONGUE]

Whoa. Well, here we are,
and the food's a-waiting.

Laura, what's the matter?

You haven't said a word to me all
the way out here. What’s wrong?

There's something
I have to tell you.

- I hope you'll understand.
- Go ahead.

Candy thinks I'm
in love with him.

Well, I guess he does. I kind
of had the same idea myself.

It's wrong.

I don't love him.

I like him, of course.
And he's good and kind.

But I was just trying to be
nice and he misunderstood.

[SIGHS] Well, have you... have
you talked to Candy about it?

I've tried. But he won't listen.

I don't want to hurt him.

You wouldn't say you
encouraged him at all, would you?

Oh, no. No.

He just misunderstood.

- You believe me, don't you?
- No.

No, Laura, I don't
believe you for one minute.

- [SOBBING]
- Now, come on.

Come on. Now, why don't
you tell me what's the matter.

Come on, now, take it easy.

The best thing to
do is tell me the truth.

Candy, stop it!

Stop it!

Candy!

- Joe, Joe!
- Candy, dear God, stop it!

Let go!

Let go of me!

All right, Joseph. That's
enough now. Stop it.

- Let go!
- What’s all this about?

Ask him!

All right, what's it about?

You let go.

- Giddap!
- Laura!

Just stay here.

Get yourself into the
house and get cleaned up.

I'll talk to you later. Come on.

Candy!

Will somebody tell me
what this is all about?

I got a hunch I know, Pa.
Let's go talk to little brother.

Laura. Where’s Little Joe?

Oh, now, what is this?

Don't tell me you had a
lover's spat on your first date.

You know, your cousin told
me how you've fallen for him.

And I don't blame you a bit.

Not with all them good
looks and all that money.

It's just like I told you, it's as
easy to fall for the rich ones

as it is the poor ones.

- Howdy, Hoss.
- Bruno.

CANDY: Nobody invited you.

Well, let’s just say I
invited myself then.

Candy, you're going to listen to
me whether you want to or not.

Listen to what? What a big
ladies' man your brother is?

No, I... I ain't here
to defend Little Joe.

I do, however, believe him.

I don't think he has any interest in
Laura, other than maybe as a friend,

or maybe the woman you're
gonna someday be married to.

- You're wasting your time, Hoss.
- No.

A fella talking with a
friend ain't wasting his time.

I said you're wasting your time.

You know, Candy, if I
was in love with a gal,

I mean really in
love with her...

I think I'd want to give her
every chance in the world.

I'd want to hear her side of the
story too. Know what I mean?

- I never want to see her again.
- Come on, Candy, that's kid talk.

If that were true then you've been lying
about being in love with her all along,

hadn't you?

- She wouldn't see me anyway.
- Yeah, I think she would.

If she really loves you,
and I think she does.

I think she'd want that more
than anything in the world.

Why don't you go see her?

I want to hear it from
you, Laura. That's all.

You misunderstood me.

It was only friendship.

I never said I'd marry you.

Then answer me one question
and I'll get out of your life forever

if that's what you want.

Do you love Little Joe?

No, Candy. I love you.

I've always loved you.

Well, everything’s all right!

- No, it isn't.
- Why, what's the matter?

I killed a man, Candy.

I killed a man and ran.

Tell me about it.

It was in Trail City.

The crookedest, most wicked
town on the face of this earth.

Frank Passmore isn't my
cousin. He was the marshal there.

He's a hired killer. Even
worse than all the others.

- He's come here to take you back?
- No. That isn't it.

Laura, tell me
about the killing.

I was working in the hotel.

I was scrubbing the hall floor.

A door opened and a
man was standing there.

A cattle buyer.

He grabbed me and dragged
me back in the room with him.

He was drunk, staggering drunk.

He started to rip my clothes.

He was a madman.

I was scared.

There was a gun on the table.

I thought I could scare him off.

I don't even remember
pulling the trigger.

And there he was
on the floor, dead.

Laura... Laura,
that's self-defense.

Any jury alive would believe it.

Oh, I know that now, but
I didn't, I was so afraid.

I stood there with
the gun in my hand.

And when I looked up,

Passmore was standing in the
open doorway just looking at me.

That cattle buyer
was an important man.

The kind of man our
town depended on.

Passmore said he believed
me, but nobody else would.

He said I'd better get out
of town and come here.

And when things quieted down,
he'd tell the truth about what happened.

I was afraid, Candy!
So afraid, I believed him!

I know, I know.

The only reason he wanted me out of
that room was so he could rob that man.

He robbed a dead man.

I didn't know that
then, but I know it now.

Laura, you're gonna
have to go back and face it.

You're gonna have to
go back and tell the truth.

I can't. I'm wanted for
robbery and murder.

There's a $500
reward on my head.

But you said he wasn't
here to take you back.

He wants more than that.

He wants me to marry Little Joe.

So that he can blackmail
me for the rest of his life.

[SCOFFS]

I'll talk to him.

He'll leave you
alone or I'll kill him.

Oh, Candy, please don't! He's already
planning to shoot you in the back!

- Please, don't give him the chance!
- I'm not gonna let you

face this alone,
Laura! We’ll fight it!

Look, I'll tell the Cartwrights, they'll
stand behind you, I know they will.

Look, I don't want you to move
out of this place. Don't budge.

Promise me you'll
wait for me right here.

I promise.

Hey. I love you.

[KNOCKING]

MRS. O'BRIEN: Laura?

Oh, I was just going shopping.
Do you want to come with me?

- No, thank you.
- Mrs. O'Brien.

Oh, hello, Mr. Passmore.

I'm afraid that Laura and I have
some family matters to talk over.

Oh. Well, then I'll
just be running along.

And Laura, I hope you
appreciate how fortunate you are

to have a cousin who's
so concerned about you.

Mr. Cartwright!

All right, what
was he doing here?

You left here with Joe Cartwright.
Now, you came back without him.

- You trying to pull something, huh?
- Leave me alone, leave me alone!

You start talking. And I'd better
like what I hear, you understand?

That's the whole story, Mr. Cartwright,
just the way Laura told me.

- And I believe it.
- I believe it too.

Candy, you get back to Laura.
Don't let her out of your sight.

I'll go over to see Roy. We’ll
join you in a few minutes.

Joe.

Forget it.

You can ruin my life if you
want to! You already have!

But you can't ruin the lives
of the Cartwrights and Candy.

And just how do you
figure on changing all that?

I've told Candy everything.
He's telling the Cartwrights.

And they're gonna help me.
I'm going back to stand trial.

Don't you realize that
you murdered a man?

And you proved your guilt by running
away and then you robbed him?

You can't frighten me
anymore. You can't!

Now, you don't think you're
gonna scare me with that, do you?

Don't come near me.

Let go! Let go!

[GUNSHOT]

Laura.

Laura.

Laura.

Laura.

Laura!

LAURA: Candy, go away.

- Candy... Candy?
- Yes? Yes?

- Go away. Please.
- No. No, no.

- He's gonna kill you.
- Sh! Nobody's gonna kill me.

- Please.
- You're gonna be all right.

You're gonna be
all right. Don't worry.

Candy...

Please don't leave me.

I'm not gonna leave you.

The knoll, where we
were gonna build the cabin.

- Yeah?
- I wanted to see the canyon.

Yeah.

Where the ferns were
and the dogwood blooms.

You're gonna see it. You're
gonna see every bit of it.

Laura.

Laura.

Laura!

No!

No!

[SOBBING] No!

Oh, Laura.

Laura.

[INDISTINCT]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

BEN: Excuse me.

[SOBBING] No.

CANDY: I had a dream about
this place the first time I saw it.

LAURA: Tell me about it.

CANDY: There's a knoll not far
from here where I'd build a cabin.

From up there you
can see forever.

Down in front there's a canyon.

That's where the dogwood
blooms in the spring.

Candy.

LAURA: Don't ever stop dreaming.

No matter what
happens between us.

ANNOUNCER: This has
been a color production

of the NBC television network.