09x11 - Six Black Horses

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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09x11 - Six Black Horses

Post by bunniefuu »

[IRISH ACCENT]
Here we are. At last.

Well, it's been fine traveling
with you, gentlemen.

May our paths cross again.

- I'm sure they will, Mr. Dugan.
- Right.

We're ahead of schedule. That's
the first time that's happened in years.

- Ahead of schedule?
- Yeah.

Well, don't apologize.
These things happen.

It's been a bit of a dry trip.

Would it be imposing for
you to keep me luggage?

No, not at all.

I'll put it right over here and the
agent'll keep an eye on it for you.

Now, this agent, would
he know an inhabitant

by the name of
Benjamin Cartwright?

Everyone around here knows
the Cartwrights and the Ponderosa.

Then he wouldn't mind telling Benjamin
I'll be waiting for him in the saloon.

Thank the both of you.

Oh, Mr. Dugan.

Would you like for me to take
care of that little black bag for you?

Thank you, no.

Greetings, gentlemen, greetings.

BRUNO: Yes, sir?

I'll have something
light if you don't mind.

Light, sir?

Well, about three ounces
of whiskey'll be fine.

That's light enough not
to strain a man's arm.

[LAUGHTER]

Oh, it's a pity for me to
be drinking all by meself.

- Set 'em up for everybody, will you?
- Get the boys over there.

Welcome to Virginia City, sir.

Yes, you know, in my opinion,

a friendly saloon is the
crown of our entire civilization.

I couldn't agree with you more.

All right, gentlemen, to the health
and to the good fortune of everybody.

Right.

It's excellent. Just excellent.

I always wanted to wear
one of them fancy hats.

I'm sorry, my friend, but
this was one time the property

of the Honorable James Buchanan,

who was the 15th president
of the United States.

I captured it, as you might say,

at the great Democratic
Convention of 1856.

Is that supposed to mean that
it's too good for the likes of me?

No, not at all, at all.

It's just I have a fierce pride, you
know, in being only the second man

to wear the favorite
hat of the 15th president.

Well, let me warn you, mister,
there's going to be a third.

Ow!

- Take patience, will you?
- Nobody does that to me!

- Now, easy, Patrick.
- Nobody!

You'll hurt the little
fella! Now, you stop it!

You pick on someone your size!

Touché, as the saying is.

Now, mind your manners.

These things'll happen, lads.
Don't let it interrupt your drinking.

O'Neill.

O'Neill, sit down.

Now, just stay put. You're
drunk. Let's not get into any fights.

- Stay right where you are.
- Look at that, will you?

Look at that. Nothing's changed.

It's exactly the way
we met 25 years ago.

That's right, Ownie.

I might have known I'd find
you in the middle of a big fight.

- How are you, my boy?
- Just wonderful. It's good to see you.

Now, we're going out to the Ponderosa.
We got a lot of talking over to do.

Give me that little
black bag there, will you?

Ha-ha!

- Peace on earth, gentlemen.
- Ownie...

You're lucky you came...

I might have known he'd be a friend
of the high and mighty Ben Cartwright.

It'd be a pleasure
to k*ll them both.

Mr. Hoss! Mr. Joe!
They come! They come!

Here we are.

- Well...
- Whoa. Whoa.

- These must be your fine lads.
- Ah, yes, they are.

Mr. Owen P. Dugan of New
York City, meet my son Hoss.

- Nice to have you here.
- Little Joe.

Pleasure to have you with
us. We've heard a lot about you.

And right behind him is the
finest cook in the west, Hop Sing.

Now, I don't know if Mr. Dugan
owns Manhattan Island outright

or just holds a
long-term lease on it.

If I told you how long
I'd known your father,

you might discover he's
been lying about his age.

[ALL LAUGH]

- Hoss, get Mr. Dugan's bags.
- I'll get 'em, Pa.

It's a very impressive place.

My home is your
home. Stay a lifetime.

It' just possible I'll do that.

[LAUGHS]

Those were the wild,
wild days. It's a shame...

I tell you, lads, whenever there was
trouble and a man needed a friend,

there your father would be, like
a tiger, like a tiger in the streets.

Don't pay too much
attention to what he says.

Every second word he
utters is pure blarney.

Am I saying too much? Am I
giving away some state secrets?

No, I am surprised that
he has never told you

about his youthful
adventures, you know,

well, if only to educate
you along historic...

What's the matter?
And along cultural lines.

Come on, now.

You know, it's funny,

because Pa's always been
very quick with that cultural stuff.

- Hasn't he, Joe?
- Oh, yeah.

Of course there may have
been some cultural aspects

that happened to slip your mind, Pa,
some you didn't happen to mention to us.

BEN: Oh, well, just let
me tell you something.

I'm not going to allow myself to
be blackmailed in my own home

by a wild, imaginative,
loose-tongued Irishman.

Well, you're lucky, 'cause
we're gonna have to turn in.

- We gotta get up early.
- Yep. See you in the morning.

See you both in the morning.

- Night, Ownie.
- Good night, Pa.

Good night. I not
through with tiger in street.

[ALL LAUGH]

Those are two fine lads.

- You're a lucky man, Ben.
- Oh, I know it, I know it.

- Tell me about your daughter, Julie.
- I was hoping you'd ask.

I tell you one thing, she
is her mother born again.

- Oh?
- Isn't she?

- Hmm?
- Oh, my.

She's beautiful,
Ownie. Beautiful.

And she's living
in San Francisco?

Yes, I sent her there to school
after her mother passed away.

- That's nine years ago.
- Mmm.

St. Rose's Academy.

And now she's at the
College of Sacred Heart.

- Well...
- And she is a lady to her fingertips.

And you haven't seen
her in all this time?

No, I was all
mixed up, you know,

with my factories and steel
mills and shipping interests.

That's the way life goes, what
with one thing and another.

And that is why I'd like
to settle here in the west.

Not to be sitting on the
poor girl's doorstep exactly,

but to be reasonably near
in case she needed me.

Like this area, for example.

You know what I'd like?

I'd like to invest in a
business of some sort.

- Around here?
- Yes.

Like a racetrack in Carson City.

Or do you know what I've
always dreamed of doing?

What?

To own and operate the
biggest saloon in the world.

- [LAUGHS]
- I tell you, you'd make a fortune.

Ownie, I think your ideas are just a
little too rich for people around here.

There are some very good
investments around here,

very practical investments
that could be made.

- Are you really serious?
- You see that bag over there?

- Yeah.
- I'm at least that serious.

You don't think I carry
this bag around with me

because I'm afraid somebody'll
steal me laundry, do you?

There is $114,000 in this bag.

It's the proceeds from a
little brewery I sold in Boston.

- You're not joking?
- I never make that expensive a joke.

Won't you take this
and invest it for me?

Me, invest that for
you? Oh, wait a minute.

But I don't get the problem.
We're both businessmen.

I've been here for eight or nine
hours. I've talked with both of your sons.

It's as clear to me
as a cow in a teacup

that you are the number
one citizen of Virginia City,

and you're a man so
honest that it hurts all over,

and what is the most
important thing of all,

is after all you're my
closest and my best friend.

Well?

Now, look, Ownie, I...

I have never been comfortable
using other people's money.

Investing people's...

I couldn't do it. I
wouldn't know how to...

There's a very good thing around
here I think you might be interested in.

There's... What do
you know about lumber?

- Just that it comes from trees.
- [CHUCKLES]

Oh, no, be serious now.

No, there's a piece of land, a lumber
track, which I have an option on.

I've refrained from
exercising the option on it.

I didn't wanna
spread myself too thin.

Now, if you're really serious
about investing $100,000...

- Let's start.
- Now, wait a minute, Ownie.

This is your money we're
talking about, not mine.

You've gotta know everything
about this kind of operation.

If we were talking about entering
into a pawnshop, say in the Bowery,

well, then I'd expect
you to take my advice.

But here we are
in your territory,

and I'd be only too eager and
too proud to take your advice.

- As simple as that?
- As simple as that.

We're in business, right?

Yes, I... I guess we're
in business, right.

Right. Take it, count
it and put it in the safe.

Ownie, I... Right.

♪ Oh, what was your
name in the States?

♪ Was it Dugan,
O'Reilly or Yeats?

♪ Oh, what was your name...

Ah, good morning, Hop Sing.
I'm sorry that I'm late for breakfast.

That's all right, Mr. Dugan.

Five more minute,
you late for dinner too.

[LAUGHS]

Well, that's the wasteful,
sinful habits of a lifetime.

There's nothing you can do
about it now. Where's everybody?

Mr. Cartwright just come
back from town. He in kitchen.

Sit down. I fixing dinner.

Very good.

Well, you're not
much of a family

for lounging around in
the morning, are you, Ben?

Can't afford to. I
just came from town.

I just put you in the lumber business,
lock, stock and $100,000 worth.

- Well, I never.
- Listen, there's a telegram for you.

- For me?
- Mmm.

For heaven's sake.

It's from Julie.

She's coming
here to Virginia City.

Well, that's great news.

What's the matter,
Ownie? Aren't you pleased?

Well, course I am, it's just
that I have no recollection

of writing the lass and telling
her that I was going to stop here

on my way to San Francis...

Oh, but I did. I remember now.

I must be losing me
memory in me old age.

It's a very happy
day for me, Ben.

Well, it's a happy
day for all of us.

- HOP SING: Dinner is served.
- Come on, let's eat.

Now, Ben, after dinner,
you know what I'd like?

I'd like to take a ride up and...
and look at me investment.

- Well, I'll ride up with you.
- No, if you'll just show me the way.

I'd like to go alone. I've
suddenly got a bit of thinking to do.

All right.

There you are.

Ah, well, if it isn't the respectable
member of the organization,

Ownie himself.

Come in, come in.

Greetings, children.

Have you gotten any leads

on putting some of the
boodle into an honest business?

That's why they
sent me here, isn't it?

I'm a silent partner
in the lumber business

with an old friend,
Ben Cartwright.

Fine, fine. We've heard the name
mentioned since we've been here.

He's a respected man.

Listen, I'm going to see to it
that his name stays respected.

You'll do what you're
told, and don't forget it.

Don't thr*aten me, lad.
I've a short Celtic temper.

I'm not threatening you, Ownie.

But if you want your
daughter to find out

what you've been doing all
these years, well, that's up to you.

So it was you that
sent her that telegram.

Ah, just following orders, Ownie,
just following orders... like you will.

Am I right?

- Yes, you're right, lad.
- We'll expect another report soon.

He'll stay in line.

MAN: Timber!

[FRONT DOOR OPENS]

I do miss the city,
you know, but...

BEN: When you have
something like this?

OWNIE: Well, you know, you
get used to the dust and everything.

- Ah, it's great.
- Well, it's good for your lungs.

[BEN CHUCKLES]

OWNIE: The New York as
we once knew it is changing.

- Is it, now?
- For example, do you remember Brooklyn?

Yes, yes. Yes, certainly.

Now, there's talk of one day making
Brooklyn a part of New York City.

- Really?
- Yes.

It's as clear a case of joining a silk
purse to a sow's ear as ever I've heard.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Ah, look at that.

Ownie, get down. Down.

- Pa!
- Joe, he's behind the wagon!

[GRUNTS]

Ownie, stay down.
Stay down. All right, now.

It's all right, Pa!

Joe, hurry up and
get Doc Martin, quick!

All right, Ownie. All right.

Ownie, they've gone to get the
doctor. You're gonna be all right.

There's no need
to be lying to me.

But thanks just the same.

Any fool knows when
his time has come.

Now, you just be
quiet. Drink some of this.

It's like...

It's like the Lord told Lucifer.

You can't win 'em all.

That's not a direct
quotation, but I think it'll serve.

Now, just stop your
talking and be quiet.

No, I'm afraid
I... I have to talk.

There's something
you should know.

I am a man that is not
worth your friendship,

'cause I am a
scoundrel and a cheat.

The money I gave you...

it was never my own.

It was booty and graft
from Tammany Hall.

And it was my job, you
know, to... to invest it,

the one miserable bag of it,

with somebody
I... I could trust,

somebody who would
make it seem legitimate.

Now, don't despise me.

This is my deathbed.

You know, it's true, but if I
had my life to live over again,

I'd be a different
man, I tell you that.

It's too late.

I'd like to postpone
this, I tell you,

'cause I had grand
plans for my funeral.

You know, I used to think...

I used to think I'd
have six black horses

to haul the poor skin and
bones that was left of me

through the streets of New York.

Now, you promise me something.

You promise me there won't be
one word about my sins to... to Julie.

I promise.

Thank you.

I'll do the same
for you someday.

How is he, Doc?

He's a lucky man, Ben.

The b*llet didn't even
reach a vital area.

I think he's more
scared than hurt.

But given some
good care and rest,

I think he'll be back
on his feet in no time.

- He'll get that.
- Good night.

Good night, Doc. Thanks.

Thank you.

[SIGHS]

[KNOCKING]

Come in.

What's that for?

I think you know.

Oh, it's a terrible
and humiliating thing

for any man to survive
his deathbed confession.

[SIGHS]

Ownie, I can't use that money.

- Why can't you use it?
- Because I can't.

It's not as though
you stole it yourself.

If I used that money, it would
be exactly as if I'd stolen it myself.

Oh, Ben, for heaven's sakes.

When you thought you were dying,
I heard you say, with my own ears,

that you wished you had a
chance to live your life over again.

- I did.
- Well, you have your chance now.

How? What?

Now, I... I don't wanna
be your conscience.

But the thought occurred to me that
if you really wanted another chance,

you'd give back that money.

[LAUGHS]

You know, that is the maddest
statement that I've ever heard in me life.

Why?

Well, in the first
place, politics is politics.

And then no decent man
would ever betray his fellow thief.

And besides, it's not so
easy as all that, you know.

You can't look a crooked
dollar in the face and you say,

"Oh, this dime belongs
to that construction job

and this 15 cents
belongs to the other."

It's all mixed up. It's
all part of the system.

And then, in the long
run, what does it matter?

Well, it matters to me.

Now, Ben, look, this lumber
deal is already under way

and Hoss is up there
right this very minute.

- That's right.
- Well, you need the money.

Yes, I do.

Ben...

My... little girl Julie'll
be here in a few days.

Yes?

And you won't allow any of this

to make any difference
with Julie, will you?

Well, what do you think?

I... I think that you know she's the
only good and decent thing in me life

and that I'd sooner
die, for real, you know,

than give her one
moment of heartache.

- Miss Dugan? Miss Julie Dugan?
- Yes.

I'm Joe Cartwright.
I've come to meet you.

- You must be Ben Cartwright's son.
- That's right.

- How good of you to meet me.
- It's my pleasure, ma'am.

Where's Father?

Well, your... your father's
waiting for us at the house.

He... He had sort
of an accident.

- Is he all right?
- Oh, yeah, he's fine, he's fine.

We were a little worried
about him for a time.

He's up and around now
like a nervous rooster.

We almost had to tie him
down to keep him home.

I can hardly wait to see him.

Well, my pa's over taking
care of some business.

I'll get your luggage down and as soon
as he gets back, we'll be on our way.

Just sit over there
and rest yourself.

Hand me that bag, Charlie.

I signed this contract with you
in good faith, Mr. Cartwright.

Now, it was my understanding
that I'd get my $100,000 today.

You're absolutely
correct, Mr. Giblin.

I'm trying to explain to you, an
unforeseen circumstance has arisen

and I must ask you for
a... a slight extension

so that I can raise
the money elsewhere.

Well, I'm not happy about this
at all, not at all. Time is money.

You've already started your
lumbering operations on my land

and I'm expected
to wait for the money.

Oh, Mr. Giblin, I... I'm not
asking for... for a year's extension.

It's just a couple
of days and...

I hope that you think
that I'm good for it.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm certain of that,
Mr. Cartwright.

However, I shall expect
reasonable recompense

for allowing late delivery
of the lease money.

There'll have to be certain
alterations in our contract.

Uh, what are you suggesting?

Well, I've no wish to be
hard on you, Mr. Cartwright,

but business is business.

Shall we say... 25 percent of
your gross on the operation?

25 percent?

Mr. Giblin, I thought you
used the word "reasonable."

What you're suggesting
is highway robbery.

Take it or leave it.

Well, if that's the way you're
gonna put it, Mr. Giblin, I will leave it,

and I will leave
your land tomorrow.

You'll pay damages.

Reasonable damages, Mr. Giblin.

Reasonable damages.

♪ Did you ever fly with Riley
in his wondrous gas balloon?

♪ Up and over the lovely city
By the pale light of the moon

♪ No, I've never flown with
Riley because I can plainly see

♪ That living the life of Riley

♪ Might well be
the death of me ♪

- [LAUGHTER]
- Now, try it, will you?

- All right, everybody.
- Here we go.

♪ Did you ever fly with Riley
in his wondrous gas balloon?

♪ Up and over the lovely city
By the pale light of the moon

♪ No, I've never flown with
Riley because I can plainly see

♪ That living the life of Riley

♪ Might well be
the death of me ♪

Thank you, my darling.

When I look at you, I
feel 30 years younger.

Oh, Papa.

When I try to get up,
I feel 40 years older.

Well, old man, let me help you.

Bring on the redcoats,
I tell you. That's right.

That was fun, but I think I
could do with a breath of air.

- I was just about to suggest...
- I was just about to suggest...

Shall we go? Excuse us.

JULIE: Well, how delightful to
be escorted by two gentlemen.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, I can see why you're so proud
of her. She's beautiful, just beautiful.

Yes, she is. That she is.

- It's a lovely evening.
- Yeah.

- It's more than I deserve.
- Oh, it was a grand evening.

♪ Did you ever fly with Riley
in his wondrous gas balloon? ♪

- I meant to ask you.
- What?

How did you get along
today with that Mr. Giblin?

Oh, Mr. Giblin.
Uh, not too well.

But don't worry. Somehow
we'll work things out.

Tell me the truth.

Didn't he give you enough
time to raise the money?

Well, yes, as a
matter of fact he did,

and all he wanted in return
was 25 percent of the gross.

Why, that crook.

Yes, that's what I thought too.

You're not gonna do business
with him under those circumstances?

I'm not gonna do business
with him under any conditions.

I'm pulling my men and machines off
his place starting tomorrow morning.

That'll cost you a pretty penny.

Well, it'll be cheaper
in the long run.

Oh, it's all my fault.

Ownie, let's talk about
something pleasant, shall we?

- How about a brandy?
- All right.

All right.

Giblin. Giblin.

[HISSES]

♪ Oh, I've never flown with
Riley because I can plainly see

♪ How living the life of Riley

♪ Might well be the death of me

♪ Did you ever fly with Riley
in his wondrous gas balloon?

♪ Up and over the lovely city...

If you plunge your arm
into this little black bag,

you will find not
a snapping frog

but $114,000 in cash.

You say you're looking for
some profitable business venture

in which to invest your money?

Yes, I am.

You've come to the
right place, Mr. Dugan.

I thought I had. By the
way, will you call me Ownie?

Now, regarding my
investment, Mr. Giblin...

- Ah, call me Hubert.
- All right, Hubert.

I think that you have
a building here in town

by the name of the
Golden Horseshoe.

Yeah, that white eleph...

Oh, yes, yes, yes,
yes, a sturdy structure.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, I see you
have that rare ability

to realize the business
potential of the place.

I'm glad you see it that way.

It makes it easier for me to propose
the partnership that I have in mind.

Now, you provide the building

and I will use this entire sum

to make a grand
and elegant place.

With the proper financing, it
just might be quite a success.

With what I have in
mind, it'll be packed.

It'll take a man of vision like yourself
to make a go of a place that size.

A man of vision, yes, but better than
meself, someone more experienced.

I have a father in New York.

He's run a place, like,
twice that big for years now.

He'll be taking over.

Father, you say?

Well, no offense, but isn't
he a trifle old to be working?

[CHUCKLES]

There is no substitute
for experience, right?

[LAUGHS]

Well, you make the offer
sound most attractive.

And we'd split
the profits, 50-50?

Right down the line.

All right. I'll draw up the
partnership agreement right away.

Just one thing.

Now, I may have to loan this
money temporarily to a friend of mine

before we go into
business together.

- His name is Cartwright.
- Is that Ben Cartwright?

- Do you know him?
- Uh, we've met.

Well, then, you'll understand
that he keeps things to himself.

But I was able to find out that
he'd made a bad lumber deal.

He has to pay out an
unfair portion of his profits.

I may have to force this money onto
him in order to help him get out of it.

It just so happens that
I have some influence

with the timber interests here.

I just might be able
to prevail upon them

to be a little bit more
reasonable with Mr. Cartwright.

Well, in that case, I wouldn't
have to lend that to him, would I?

And we could proceed with
our little business agreement.

Exactly. Onward and
upward, as they say.

Ownie, you talk my language.

Hubert, I should. I've
had a lot of practice.

Well, shall we get to this
partnership agreement?

Good idea. I have
it right here with me.

Sign there.

O'NEILL: I don't know what
kind of a tree you fell out of,

but I can guarantee
you're a nut.

How can I take a
job chopping trees

if I'm going to spend
the next ten years in jail?

Well, that's an
interesting question.


Now, I've got one of me own.

What have you got
against the Cartwrights?

Oh, I don't know.
It's... It's, well...

It isn't easy to say.

Well, think deep about it.

I still don't know.

When I'm sober, I don't
seem to mind them too much.

Ah, well, why don't you try
staying sober for a little bit?

- Well, I could try.
- All right, then.

I'll withdraw the
charges against you,

I'll straighten things out
with the sheriff and the judge

and I'll arrange...
some kind of a parole.

- Do you hear what I said?
- I hear you, but I don't believe you.

Why would you do this?

Well, it's not an
easy thing to explain.

It has something to do
with balancing the books,

it has something to do
with casting the first stone,

and something
to do with the fact

that a man by the name of
Patrick O'Neill can't be all bad.

I'll drink to that.

Ownie, it was nice of you to
get Patrick O'Neill out of jail.

You know, of
course you were right,

he wasn't... he wasn't
intending to k*ll us, he was drunk.

But do you really
want me to hire him?

Well, you said yourself he was one of
the best logger foremen in the business

- when he was sober.
- Ah, exactly, when he was sober,

and he hasn't been
that in a long, long time.

He'll change. A man may
be down, but he's never out.

Well, all right, I'll hire him.

But the first time he's in trouble
on the job, I'll have to get rid of him.

I don't think he will.

But you sure are right
about people changing.

[LAUGHS]

You know yesterday,
that fella Giblin,

I wouldn't have given
a dead coyote for him.

And today he gives me all the
time I need to pay what I owe him,

no penalties attached,
all free and clear.

- He's a changed person.
- He is? Well, I never.

There you are, you see?

You give people enough time
and they'll mend their evil ways,

as my grandmother used to say.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, I gotta get
me an early start.

I'll see you in the morning.

- Help yourself.
- Oh, yes.

Oh, look at that, will you?

You know, we don't have
trees this tall in the east,

but we've got more
squirrels per square foot.

Yes, Patrick.

You know, if Ireland
had this much timber,

we'd have overwhelmed the
English with our shillelaghs.

[LAUGHS]

Ownie, Pa and Little
Joe are over here.

Aye.

Who's that popinjay?

He happens to be a very
good friend of mine, that's who.

Any more questions?

Not with the answers you give.

Well, then, let's
get on with the work.

You better have the men
clear the lower slope first, huh?

That'll make it easier to skitter
the logs down from the upper ridges.

- Ben! Ha-ha!
- Well, Ownie, how are you?

Yes, your men are as
busy as a pocket full of bees.

Yeah, they sure are.

And that Patrick, how's
he working out so far?

Oh, he's... he's doing great,
great. He's a good foreman.

I just can't figure out
how he managed to hire

every Irishman in
town since this morning.

You can't trust him.
He's from the north.

Forgive me, I've got a bit of
me own business to do in town.

- I'll see you, though.
- Right.

What kind of
business is Ownie in?

I don't know, but
with that blarney,

he's gonna get through it without
much of a struggle, I'll guarantee.

He may.

I think, however,

that he's gonna have a bit of a
struggle on his hands just the same.

- With what?
- With himself.

With himself.

- Hello, Ownie.
- It's a nice day.

It was a nice day.

The sight of you two would
chase a snake up a rope.

You don't really mean that.

We've been kind of
worried about you, Ownie.

Let's go over to the saloon
and have a little drink.

Come off of it, Tierney.

I'm here as a retired
gentleman, rich and respectable.

What would I be doing
with the likes of you?

We're simply fellow New
Yorkers you happened to meet,

interested in a little friendly
business conversation.

- Yes.
- You want to be friendly, don't you?

- I do not.
- Well, extend yourself.

Ah, for heaven's sake.

Anything you need,
Mr. Dugan, just call on me.

Thank you, Bruno.

Huh.

I must say, you're a
big man in town, Ownie.

It's royal treatment every time.

That's because I'm
not shanty Irish like you.

Bruno can sense the
royal blood in me veins.

Sure, Ownie, sure.

It may seem a bit unfriendly,
our checking up on you like this,

but the organization's a
little nervous these days.

There's a new
atmosphere back home,

what with the reformers
sticking their sharp blue noses

into everything except
a man's morning coffee.

Tweed himself was
worried about the last report.

The boys would like to check
on the current state of their...

"investments" is
the word we use.

What's that got to do with me?

Well, you took a hundred odd
thousand dollars out of New York

to invest it in some honest enterprise
with your friend Mr. Cartwright.

- That was with the boys' approval.
- What about it?

You didn't invest
it with Cartwright.

You deposited it in
the Virginia City Bank.

Not only was the
money deposited,

but you've been withdrawing
big chunks of it in bank drafts.

Why?

Well, I think you two
deserve some answers

and I'm going to
give them to you.

Now...

I'll tell you.

You recall that big
saloon on the corner,

the one with the
handsome pillars?

- You mean the one that's vacant?
- The same.

Only it won't be vacant long
because I'm taking it over,

and it'll be the
biggest in the west.

- That's your investment.
- It is.

So you see, I couldn't ask
Cartwright to go in with me

'cause he knows nothing
about it. So I went big with Giblin.

Well, I must say, Ownie,
you never did think small.

That's what the
bank drafts were for.

I sent for the equipment and it
took almost all of the $114,000.

But it was worth it.

I'm starting on the inside first
so that we can open sooner.

- Good thinking.
- I thought you'd see it my way.

I'm sorry if we appeared
to be a bit rough on you,

but, well, that's our
job, you understand.

And I... I really want to say
it, and I mean it from the heart,

I'm glad we didn't have to tell
Julie about your misguided past.

Of course I understand.

And now you can
report that Ownie Dugan

has made the smartest
investment in his life.

- Sláinte.
- Sláinte.

Sláinte.

Good day, gentlemen.

The saloon business.

The Golden Horseshoe.

Golden Horseshoe?

Ownie, when I... when I heard
that you had bought that saloon,

I could not believe my ears.

On your own deathbed

you confessed to me that
that money that you had

was stolen money,
it was tainted money,

and the moment you find out that
you're not gonna die, what do you do?

- You buy a saloon with it.
- I didn't buy anything.

- Well, whatever you did with it.
- You don't understand, Ben.

No, I don't understand.
Now, will you kindly explain?

Well, I can't do it yet. You
will have to give me one week.

Ownie, I have given...

[CLEARS THROAT] Oh... Ownie...

- [CLEARS THROAT]
- What?

Oh, darling, darling.
Ah, you should...

You should have
been in bed hours ago.

We're just talking over a
little business, Ben and I.

Nothing you'd be interested in.

You didn't hear us, did you?

Do you think in all these years I
didn't know what you were doing?

The stolen money,
the deals, the payoffs?

You must have misunderstood.

No, Papa.

I know everything.

- Everything?
- Yes.

Oh, my friend.

You may think it strange, but I
wish I'd been k*lled by that b*llet.

It'd be less painful than this.

Ow, ow.

If only I had another week.

Do you think in one week you could
make up what you've done in a lifetime?

Oh, no.

But as my grandfather
used to say... I can try.

After all, it only took six days for
the Lord to make the whole Earth.

Well, I see Ownie's missing
breakfast again this morning.

Yes, fifth day in a row.

I heard him leaving when
I was getting dressed.

Don't can understand, Mr. Dugan.

At first all-time
late for breakfast.

Now too early. Huh.

[MUTTERS]

Looks like he's gonna go
ahead with the saloon, huh?

Sure does. He's
very serious about it.

Let's eat and get up
to the lumber camp.

Ben! Ben!

- What?
- Whoa!

My week is up. I want you
to come into town with me.

- Town? For what?
- My shipment's coming in.

Now, this is the
last favor I'll ask you.

Now, you come on, will you? And
will you bring Patrick O'Neill with you?

- Will you?
- All right, all right, I'll do it.

We better get Patrick
O'Neill. Come on, let's go.

Well, today's the
big day, eh, partner?

That it is, partner. That it is.

And here she comes now.

I can hardly wait to see
our equipment, Ownie.

Undoubtedly the finest marble-top
bar, cut-crystal chandeliers,

plate-glass mirrors, piano,

and rugs as thick as bearskins.

I can't imagine an operator like
you buying second-rate furnishings.

I didn't. Be assured of that.

There we are, eh, gentlemen?

♪ Fly with Riley ♪

All right there. Hello. Take
the covers off there, will you?

- That's an altar.
- It is.

GIBLIN: What's this
all about, Mr. Dugan?

No, call me Ownie.

Well, where's the fixtures
you ordered for the saloon?

Saloon? I don't recall guaranteeing
that there'd be a saloon.

What was all that talk about your father
coming from the east to run the place?

Well, not my father. A
father. Father O'Brien.

- And a very fine man he is too.
- [LAUGHTER]

Don't you try to
cheat me, you crook.

I own half of this place.
I've got a paper to prove it.

Well, it's my investment
too, and I say it'll be a church.

It's a long way from being
a church and you know it.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a
saloon and it's going to stay that way.

And I say that
it'll be a church.

We'll see about that.

All right, see about it.

What are you staring at there?
Give him a hand, will you?

Ha! Let's go.

Oh, my darling, my darling.

It's the least I could do.

Hey!

Well, pitch in, will you?

You know, this is the church
you'll be attending from now on,

unless, of course, you
intend to go back to New York

and give Boss Tweed
a full progress report.

Hey, hey.

BEN: All right.

Well, there's a bit of equipment that's
been long time needed around here.

And I hope you'll be spending
a good deal of time in it, Papa.

I will, I promise.

O'NEILL: Cartwright!

Mr. Cartwright.

Giblin's been tearing around
town hiring every tough he can find.

Well, that doesn't
surprise me at all.

He's the type who'd steal a
dead fly from a blind spider.

I guess he intends to
make good on his threat.

Well, we're not gonna have
too much longer to find out.

Well, I told you
I'd be back, Dugan.

We'd not have been
disappointed in the least

if you'd failed to keep
your promise, Mr. Gaboon.

That's Giblin. I'm a man of
action and I'll not be cheated.

All right, men, you
know what I hired you for.

Everything goes
back in those wagons.

You're a smart man, Mr. Giblets,

and you'd be smarter still if you'd
buy these poor young men a drink

and not let them get
their heads broken.

Walk right over the top of him if
you have to. He's only one man.

Mr. Giblin.

This make any difference?

And besides me friends there,

it may interest you to know
that it wasn't for nothing

that I hired the firm of Duffy
and McGee to do me hauling.

I'll double your pay. Now,
get in there and get 'em.

Let's get 'em!

Well, now that that's over with,

is there any further business matters
you'd like to be discussing with me?

The church is all yours.

There we are.

I wanna thank you.

Didn't I tell you he
was a tiger in the street?

[LAUGHTER]

You know, how can I
ever thank you gentlemen

for the magnificent help you've
given me over the last three weeks?

- It looks wonderful.
- Here comes me father.

Oh! Father O'Brien, welcome to
the wicked west and your new parish!

You remember me daughter, Julie?

- Little Julie?
- Yes, yes.

- Oh, bless your heart.
- Hello, Father.

These are my good
friends, the Cartwrights.

- How do you do, gentlemen?
- Father, how are you?

I've got to be
admitting it, Ownie,

it's every bit like you
said it was in your letter.

Indeed it is. Now,
about the church.

We haven't even started
on the outside yet, you know.

It looks like the devil. But the
inside looks like heaven itself.

Sure, anyone can tell at a glance it's
a fine, upstanding, peace-loving town.

Which nobody can deny, my
friend, which nobody can deny.

Come along, Father.
Oh, did you ever...

[LAUGHING] Which
nobody can deny.
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