04x34 - Little Man... Ten Feet Tall

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Bonanza". Aired: September 12, 1959 - January 16, 1973.*
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Set during and after the Civil w*r, "Bonanza" is the story of Ben and his 3 sons on the family's thousand-acre spread, known as the Ponderosa, near Virginia City.
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04x34 - Little Man... Ten Feet Tall

Post by bunniefuu »

The following program

is brought to you in
living color on NBC.

- Hi, Bernie.
- Hey, Hoss.

- How about a big cool one.
- Right.

- Jeb, hi.
- Hoss.

Well, where you been?

Been waiting for
you for an hour.

Uh, old Jake lost the
stirrups for that new saddle.

It took us all
this time to find it

in all that junk
he's got over there.

That your pa's birthday saddle?

Yeah. You coming
to the surprise party?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, I already invited him,

but if you keep yapping
about it all over town,

it isn't going to be a surprise.

Oh, Adam, I... I ain't
told but 20 or 30 people.

All right, Mario,
you wait here, huh?

First I gonna find a job, and
then we go look for a room.

Papa?

Maybe I can play the guitar.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

Some day you
gonna play the guitar

in a great concert hall.

Until that time, I'm gonna
make the living for us both

with my hands, huh?

Papa, can I go in with you?

All right, we go together,
like always, huh?

Come on.

Uh, excuse me, man.

If there is some work
I can do for you, huh?

I work very hard.

Very strong. Lift bar,
clean glasses, chop wood.

Sorry, mister. We got all
the help we need right now.

Oh, please. I do anything, huh?

I got nothing, mister.

Grazie.

Can you use a guitar player?

Mario.

You play the guitar?

No. It is my son,
Mario, who plays.

This is a saloon, mister,
not a music school.

School?

Oh, no, signore.

My Mario... he's very good.

His play like an angel.

Then take him to a church.

Go on, get him out of here.

Ah, come on, Bernie,
don't be so hard-hearted.

Let the little boy play.

Yeah, maybe it'll liven
the place up a little.

Well, if you fellas
want to hear him.

Okay, kid.

Papa?

What's your name, mister?

Biancci. Nick Biancci.

Mario.

Hey, fellas,

Mario Biancci's gonna
play a little guitar for us.

I ain't never heard
no guitar like that.

Neither have I.

Hey?

Can't you play something
us Injuns can savvy?

Yeah, or... or
crow like a rooster.

Least-wise, we
can understand that.

Sounds worse than
an ungreased wheel.

All right, lay off
the kid, will you?

Maybe we don't like
the way he's playing.

That is because you
do not understand.

My son is very good.

Some day, he will
be a great artist.

Not if he keeps on making
that racket, he won't.

Papa?

What about us, mister?

Don't you want
something from us?

You do not
appreciate good music.

Sure, we do. Sure, we do.

Right, Al?

Yeah.

Papa?

Here's your money, Mario.

Come.

Please, signore,
I want no trouble.

Take it from him, Papa!

Signore, please?

Come on. Get it

That'll be about enough, Tod.

Butt out, Hoss.

I said that was about enough.

We're just trying to have a
little fun, Hoss. You know that.

Fine. Now give
him back his guitar.

Sure, Hoss, sure.

Either one of you
fellas want any more?

No, that's enough.

How much do you think
it's worth, Mr. Biancci?

I don't know.
It's, uh... very old.

Hundred dollars take care of it?

It's settled. It's a
hundred dollars. Hoss?

A hundred dollars, Hoss?

That'll clean us out.

You could use a
little cleaning out.

You heard him.

All of it.

Is that it?

That's it.

All right, now that
you've paid your fine,

let's spend a night
in jail and sober up.

That's both of you!

Won't you sit down, Mr. Biancci?

No, no, no, we-we go.

No, please, sit down a
minute. I'd like to talk to you.

You all right, little feller?

I'm Adam Cartwright.
This is my brother Hoss.

How are you, sir? There
you are, Mr. Biancci.

Buy that young boy a new guitar.

In this wild country, nobody
cares about the musica.

Only to fight, to fight.

Oh, I don't know, Mr. Biancci.

My brother Adam there, he
cares a great deal for music.

You play?

No, no, I play at it.

What I wanted to
tell you was this:

your son is welcome to my guitar

until you can get
him another one.

Oh, no, we couldn't do that.

No, no, no,
please, listen to me.

As a matter of fact,
I have a great idea.

Tomorrow, we're having
a party. Birthday party.

And I think we could use
some fine entertainment.

Hey, Adam, that is a great idea.

What about it,
Mr. Biancci, Mario?

Come on, Mario.

I'll even teach you
how we bust broncs.

These are nice people, Mario.

All right, Papa.

Then that settles it.

We'll pick you up
tomorrow afternoon.

Meantime, you take that money
and get yourself a hotel room.

Grazie, grazie.

We better get going on the
rest of those birthday presents.

You're right.

Well, Mr. Biancci,
Mario, so long.

Grazie.

Mario, I enjoyed
your music very much.

I look forward to seeing you
tomorrow night at the party.

- Thank you.
- See you, little buddy.

Well, another dull day.

Dad-burn it,

there ain't nothing
like kitchen chores

to take your appetite away.

Take away your what?

I can see this day isn't gonna
amount to much, though.

Today's the, uh, 23rd, isn't it?

No, no, Pa, I think
it's the 22nd, huh?

It's the 23rd.

I know because it's
a very special day.

Oh?

Yep. Today ends all
those kitchen chores.

Hop Sing is due back
in from San Francisco

on the noon stage.

Yeah, that's right.

For some reason or
other, I seem to think

there's something
special about this day,

the 23rd, the 23rd.

Hey, Pa, you're
absolutely right.

You know, I almost
forgot about it.

I promised Dave Stewart
I'd take you over there

to talk about building
that new dam.

Well, can't you take
care of that yourself?

No, there's only
one Ben Cartwright.

Besides, they want
to talk to you, not me.

I'm gonna go
saddle up the horses.

Well, I got a busy day in town.

Say hello to Dave and
Mark for me, will you?

- Don't you forget Hop Sing, you hear?
- Yeah.

Ah!

Well, Pa, if you'll excuse
me, I got some dishes to wash.

Happy Birthday, Ben.

Hey!

Where's Hop Sing?

He couldn't make it.

Sent us a telegraph,

said his sister was too
sick to leave her alone.

Oh, man, we're in trouble.

We got all those folks
invited to the party for dinner...

They're going to be hungry.

Yeah, I know.

I was telling Nick,
here, about our problem,

and he said he's
a pretty good cook,

and volunteered to help us out.

Yeah? Hey, that's
great, Mr. Biancci.

Thanks!

Oh, no, no, thank you.

Thank you for your kindness.

Hello, Mr. Hoss.

Hi, little buddy. Good
to see you again.

How are you?

Well, gentlemen,
shall we get to work?

- Yeah.
- Ah, sì.

Oh, I... I did not have
the chance to tell you,

but we are very grateful for
the help you give us yesterday.

Aw.

I just hope you're
as good a cook

as that boy is a guitar player.

Grazie.

Hey.

What is that smells so good?

Spaghetti.

- Spaghetti?
- Sì.

This?

What's... what's it taste like?

You never taste spaghetti?

I'm gonna give you
a taste right now.

Here.

- Taste.
- Yeah?

Ah... Take less,
and turn the fork.

- Huh? - Take... Turn the fork.

Oh, yeah. Good idea.

Spin him up on there, huh?

There you go.

Looks kinda funny, don't it?

Hey.

It tastes sorta good, though.

Joseph, I think we'd
better bed the horses down.

Yeah, wait-wait a minute, Pa.

I'll take the horses
and bed 'em down.

You had a hard day... go
in the house, take it easy.

Watch this.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Ben!

How does it feel, Ben?

Well, don't tell me
you've stopped counting.

You don't know my pa very well.

He stopped counting years ago.

When he was 40.

Yeah, that's high enough.

I thought my own sons
had forgotten how to count

this morning.

It's beautiful...
it's beautiful.

Are you, you trying to make
a dandy out of your father?

- Thank you, Adam.
- Hey, Pa, look at this.

This here is from Little Joe.

I don't know what to say, I...

All these fine gifts.

My thanks to you.

There is one thing

I want to thank you for
more than for these...

beautiful presents.

Your friendship.

I, I guess I must be the
luckiest man around these parts.

Well, I don't know
how you did it,

but, doggone, you sure
took me by surprise.

All right, everybody
take a seat,

make yourselves
comfortable, got a little surprise.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

Master Mario Biancci
will entertain us

on the classical guitar.

Ladies and gentlemen,
with your permission...

They got 'em a real
party going on, Tod.

Is he in there?

Yeah, wearing an apron
just like a hired hand.

He is, huh?

Come on, I've got an idea.

Well, little man, you didn't
expect to see us again, huh?

Now, you listen
to me, little man,

you've got almost a
hundred dollars of ours.

We want it back now.

Will you hurry up before one of
them Cartwrights come in here?

But I don't have no money.

Don't hand us that.

Hoss gave you the
money; now hand it over.

I-I gave it to Mr. Cartwright
to put in his safe.

You're lying.

Tod, the kid's coming.

Let him come in.

Papa... Papa, what's wrong?

No-Nothing, nothing, Mario.

Y-You don't have to worry.

Oh, doesn't he?

I understand you're
rather fond of this kid...

The way he plays that music.

How would you feel if
he never played again?

Oh, no.

Oh, no, please, please.

You can't do that.

Where's the money?

It's in the safe, I swear.

I swear.

We'll be back.

Now, you listen.

You have that money in
your pocket, you understand?

Sì.

You say one word to the
Cartwrights or the sheriff

about us being
here, and so help me,

that kid of yours won't be
the only one that gets hurt.

Let's go, Al.

Papa, what those men say...

Would they do that?

I cannot give them that money.

It is for your music.

Mario, don't worry
now, Mario, huh?

We will be gone
before they come back.

You mean we will run, Papa?

Sì.

Then, you are afraid, Papa?

Sì, sicura for you.

I am tired of violenza
to those that I love.

Have you forgotten
why we left Napoli,

why we came to this country?

No, Papa, I have not forgotten.

Good.

Never forget, huh?

Never forget.

Young fella, you make
sure you read the fine print.

Don't worry, Pa, whatever I
miss, the Stewarts will catch.

Remember this, little brother,

the contract's first
and the women second.

Big brother, I'm gonna be so
involved with that small print,

I just won't have
time for women.

Oh, yeah.

Get along with you.

- So long, Pa.
- Take it easy, Joe.

Well, I think I'll try
some of that good coffee.

Hey, Pa, you reckon
you could talk him

into sticking around till,
till Hop Sing gets back?

You really like
his cooking, huh?

I sure do.

All right.

- I'll talk to him.
- Yes.

Hoss.

Are you going to
train the horses now?

Yeah, I sure am.

Can I help you?

Well, I thought you was supposed
to be practicing that guitar.

Oh, I can do that later.

Can I ride the horse now?

Yeah, I reckon so.

Is it hard?

No, up you go.

There you go.

Hold on.

I have never enjoyed
music the way I did last night.

That son of yours is
a remarkable musician

for a boy his age.

No, I mean that.

- He's remarkable, just lovely.
- Grazie, grazie.

He's going to be even
better after he takes lessons

in a great music
school in New York.

Oh, are you going to
take him to New York?

- Sì.
- Ah.

That's a pretty far
distance away, isn't it?

Hmm...

Nick, aren't there
any good teachers

closer by here, like,
uh, San Francisco?

Sì, but I think we
go to New York.

I have had my taste of the West.

This is not the life
I wish for my son.

Violenza.

Hmm?

Fight, fight all
the time, violenza.

I make a mistake to come here.

Nick, out here we learn

to live with v*olence.

Yeah, but the West is no place

for a man to raise
a son like Mario.

That's why I go to New York
as soon as I can earn the fare.

Hmm.

Just had an idea.

Nick, suppose you stay here...
Just until Hop Sing comes back...

- And do the cooking around here.
- Oh, signore.

Oh, no, no, Hoss loves
your cooking, we all do.

- Sì...-No, look, you'll
be doing us a great favor

and you'll be earning some money

to get you on your
way to New York.

Huh, huh?

Grazie.

I know Mario will like it here.

He's very happy.

He can help me with my
work in the kitchen, huh?

Fine.

You know, I just think
we've made a good bargain.

Soon as I lasso us one of
them old ponies out there,

we'll have us a ride.

Did you ever get thrown off?

Sure, I have, especially
training them ol' wild'uns.

I'll learn to train
a horse, too.

It's gonna take a
heap of learning.

I'll learn to be strong and
not afraid, just like you.

Like me, huh?

That's gonna take a whole bunch

of eating and
growing, young feller.

I'd like to stay here and
work for you and your father.

You would, huh?

I don't know about that.

You talk to your pa?

I haven't asked him yet.

I think, if I was you,
I'd talk to him first.

I'll carry that for you.

All right.

Which one is yours?

Whichever one I can catch first.

You're doing a
real fine job, Mario.

I'm real proud of you.

How you like ranch work?

There's a lot to be done.

Yep.

Now, get your
lug, put it on there.

Mario, the dishes.

You have not finished them.

Papa, I can finish them later.

You will finish them now.

But Hoss will be waiting for me.

We have work to do.

Your work is with
me, here in the kitchen.

But I'm working for
Hoss; you ask him.

Mario... Papa, please.

Mario!

If your old man ain't something.

That papa of yours
can sure cook.

Yeah, but he can't
chop wood, train horses,

fix fences and wagon
like you can, Hoss.

Yeah, well, I reckon
that's not his line of work.

I like this kind of work.

My papa wants me
to be a musician.

What's your mama say about it?

She's dead.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

I reckon me and you
got quite a bit in common.

I lost my mama, too,
when I was just a little fella.

We have a lot in common, yes?

We both feel the
same, think the same.

Yeah, we sure do.

We're like partners.

Yeah, I reckon we are, at that.

Yeah.

Oh, eat up.

We got a lot of work
to do yet, partner.

Now, Mario, you must understand

that we are not guests
in the Cartwrights' house.

We work here, and
you are not a bambino.

You must help.

I do.

I work for Hoss.

This is not work.

You are only in his way.

He says nothing to you
because he's a nice man, that's all.

That's not true.

I'm his partner; he said I was.

Do not answer me back.

We will do what we must do.

Now, drink your milk and finish
your work around the kitchen.

Papa, I have the right
to be what I want to be.

You learned to talk to
me like this here, huh?

We pack our things;
we leave right away.

Why? Because
you're afraid of the men

who talked to you
at the birthday party?

What?

It's for you that
you're afraid, isn't it?

Mario... No, I'm going
to be like Hoss is.

Not a weakling like
you, washing dishes,

bowing and begging
for jobs and money.

Mario.

♪♪

You did that quite well for
a man who hates v*olence.

I'm sorry, Signore Cartwright.

I lose control.

I hate v*olence.

I hate v*olence because
I was born into it.

The vendetta in Italy.

My family lived it, I lived it,

my wife d*ed in it.

The vendetta!

The vendetta.


I have sworn an oath to
never to lift my hand again

against another human being.

Ever since my Leonora's
death, I do not fight.

I have fled from it,
from Italy to America,

around the cape
to San Francisco,

and now to New York.

I must go to New York

to find a place of
quiet and peace.

Peace.

For my son's sake.

You have sons.

You must understand.

Yeah.

Yes, I understand, Nick.

Then you understand, too,

I must take him away from here

before I lose him.

Of course you must.

You see...

my son has the genius.

And nothing must
interfere with that.

Nothing.

But I work for you.

That makes you my boss.

Well now, that's...

that's partially true, Mario,

but sometimes a
man, a working man,

discovers that he's
got more than one boss.

When he does, then he's got

to decide which one of
them he's gonna obey.

Now, your pa is
also your boss man.

But I want to be a man like you.

I want to make my own decisions.

All right, I'll tell you
how you can be a man.

You go and apologize to your pa.

You tell him you're sorry.

You think on that, little buddy.

♪♪

Hey, Pa! Pa, come here!

Nick!

How did it happen?

I don't know, Pa.

Reckon he must have
tried to ride that old mare,

and she bucked
him off or something.

Let's get him into the house.

No, don't touch him.

I wouldn't worry too
much, Mr. Biancci.

Just a few bruises,
they... They'll heal.

They'll heal?

So, you get used to it, hey?

Like you get used
to the v*olence,

to the fist, to the g*n?

Is that what you have been
teaching my son, signore?

Mario?

Mario?

Please do not
pretend to be asleep.

We must discuss this
stupid thing you have done.

You might have broken your arm,

smashed your hand,

and then what happens
to your music, huh?

That's all that's important
to you, Papa, isn't it?

The music.

You are important to me.

Your life and for you,

the music is your life.

No.

It's important for
you, Papa, not me.

Your genius is not
important to you?

You are blessed
enough to receive it.

You must use it.

Practice, take lessons... No.

I want to stay here
and be like Hoss.

Oh, you are just a little boy.

You do not know what you want.

We will do as I say.

When you are well
enough, we will leave here,

and we will go to New
York as we have planned.

I will not let you waste

what is in your soul.

Found him down by the creek.

Eyes are a little
runny, got a little fever.

I thought I'd sulfur and
turpentine him a little bit.

He sounds pretty good.

He'll be all right.

How's-how's Mario?

Fine.

I tried talking with
Nick this morning.

And he was pretty sore,

like-like he blamed me for
everything that happened.

Oh, I don't think he means to.

We fathers can be kind
of ornery sometimes.

I think Nick is afraid
he's losing his son

to something he doesn't like.

What's that?

You.

Me?

Well, not so much
you, what you stand for.

Pa, I don't understand.

You see, Hoss, Mario
kind of idolizes you.

You're everything he
thinks a father should be.

Doggone, Pa, I ain't...

I ain't done nothing on purpose
to make him feel that way.

Well, of course you haven't.

Nick asked me to
give him his money.

He wants to leave just as
soon as Mario's well enough.

Yeah...

Yeah, I reckon that...
that would be best.

Adam and I are going into town.

Anything you need?

No, thank you, Pa.

♪♪

That ought to
do it, little feller.

I thought you was
supposed to be in bed.

I'm not sick. I just got
a bump on my head.

You're not a doctor, neither.

Are you angry at me?

Is it because I tried
to rope the horse?

I'm sorry, Hoss.

Just being sorry
ain't enough, Mario.

You did something
you were told not to do.

Now that don't set well with me.

But you don't understand, Hoss.

No, Mario, it's you
that don't understand.

Now, on the ranch, till you
learn how to handle yourself,

you don't do nothing,
except what you're told to do.

Now you went on your
own, and did something

that was very foolish.

That's what my papa said.

Well, your pa's right.

Your pa's right about
a lot of things, too.

Like going back to New
York, and studying your music.

No, I want to be a
rancher, like you.

I won't disobey
again, Hoss. I promise.

Oh, yeah? Already you
want to disobey your pa.

Now what makes you think it's
gonna be so different with me?

Give me another
chance, Hoss. Please.

All right. All right.

I'll give you a chance.

Come on over here and help me.

You pump them bellows
when I get this fire started here.

- What are you gonna do?
- Don't ask so dang many questions.

- Just do what I tell you.
- Yes, Hoss.

What's that for?

It's a branding iron.

As long as I've
got that calf here,

might as well put
our mark on him.

With that?

Sure.

What else?

Won't it hurt?

Look, Mario... ranchin' is...

more than just
training wild horse,

or even greasing a wagon wheel.

It's...

sh**t' a horse
when he busts a leg,

or riding fence when
the weather's so cold

you might even lose a
couple of toes, or fingers.

And it's brandin' calves...

with red-hot irons.

Now when I hold that
calf down over there

you bring this iron and you...

stick it right down
on his hip, real firm.

I don't want to mess this up
so we'll have to do it again.

And don't mind the smell.

Come on, it's hot enough.

Well, come on.

Mario.

What you waitin' on?

Come on over here
and stick it on him.

Come on.

Mario...

you know, we brand
hundreds of calves every year.

You gonna have enough
tears to last through 'em all?

Mario... it's all my fault. I...

I been showin' you just
the fun side of ranchin'.

Your papa's right.

If you're cut out to
be a rancher then...

a rancher's what
you ought to be.

But if you're cut out
to be a musician...

then that's what you gotta be.

Where do you think
you're going, little man?

I go to look for my son.

Do you always pack a bag
when you go looking for him?

Now where's the money?

I do not have it
to give it to you.

Now, look, Hoss is the
only one that can help you,

and he doesn't
seem to be around.

Where's the money?

Where's the money?

Search him.

If I had not sworn an oath...

Now you, you run
in the house and...

tell your papa you
done changed your mind.

All right?

Papa!

- Papa.
- No, Mario.

- Papa.
- Grab the kid.

Remember what I told you
the other night about the kid?

Leave him alone!

Hoss!

Hoss.

Hoss.

Hoss, my papa,
they will hurt him.

I thought you told me
your pa was a coward.

Hoss, they'll hurt
him, b*at him.

Looks to me like he's
doin' all right, little feller.

Of course the
odds are a little bit

out of favor, ain't they?

Okay, hold it.

That's about enough.

No, no, no.

I have some more fight...

Papa.

Come on, Al, put the g*n away.

You're not gonna sh**t
a man for a few dollars.

What kind of a man is he?
Does he worship money?

It's not just the money, Tod,

but I don't reckon
you'd understand that.

Now if you two fellers
want some more action,

I'll be more than
happy to oblige you.

Let me get him in the
house. He'll be all right.

Mr. Biancci, what'd
you do with that money?

You know, with you two Bianccis
around here, we need a doctor

living right here on the
premises all the time.

Hoss... thank you.

Aw...

don't take nothin' to
look after these bruises.

What with growin' up
with a little brother like Joe,

I've had plenty of practice.

No, no, no, I mean...

thank you for not interfering.

For letting me do it... alone.

Aw, Nick, you...

every man's gotta
fight his own battle,

in his own way.

And I think Mario
understands that now, too.

I hope so.

Thank you, little... partner.

Papa, how do you feel?

Oh, I'm fine, Mario. Just fine.

I'm sorry, Papa.

Oh, no, Mario.

It is I who should be sorry.

I expect you to
understand too much.

I push you too hard.

I forget you
still... just a boy.

Papa, we will go to New
York and I will study my music.

You sure that's what you want?

Yes, Papa, and how I will study.

- Papa?
- Hmm?

Where is the money?

Yeah, Nick, I know you had it.

Look in my shoe.

In your shoe?

Sì, take it off.

Those stupid men.

Instead of to fight me,

they should've tried
to tickle my foot.

No, Mario, no! No, no, please.

No, Mario...

Well, what's going on here?

Oh, hi, Pa.

Oh, we had a little
run-in with Al and Tod.

Nick here took care
of 'em in good fashion.

He sure did.

Nick, are you all right?

Oh, sure, sure, Mr. Cartwright.

I'm fine.

Mario here has changed his
mind about ranchin', too, Pa.

Oh?

Well, the New York Music
Academy's going to get

a star pupil, huh?

Yes, sir, Mr. Adam. Yes, sir.

Yeah, but until he does,
you could, uh, starve to death.

I better go fix some supper, eh?

Oh, come on, Nick. Are
you sure you're up to it?

Oh, sure, Mr. Cartwright.

I'm fine.

Now I'm fine.

I'll help you, Papa.

Come on.

Well, that's kinda nice to
see them like that again, huh?

Now, how did you manage it?

Well, I just
pretended I was you...

teachin' one of us a lesson.

And so help me, Pa,

I can't figure out how
you've made us think

it was so rough all these years.
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