11x16 - The Big Jackpot

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Bonanza". Aired: September 12, 1959 - January 16, 1973.*
Watch/Buy Amazon  Merchandise


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.
Post Reply

11x16 - The Big Jackpot

Post by bunniefuu »

Did you ever notice, brother,

here we take turns cleaning
out these water holes,

and for some unknown reason
Candy always gets the messiest jobs?

Yeah. Just seems like some
fellas never have no luck, don't it?

Yeah.

Come payday, there's
gonna be some changes.

Changes? What kind of changes?

I'm gonna take myself
into Virginia City,

and I'm gonna get me a
brand-new set of clothes,

I mean hat, shirt,
pants, boots, the works.

And it ain't gonna be
work clothes either.

Oh.

And I'm gonna
get myself a haircut

and a shave and a four-hour
bath to get this mud out of my hide.

And I'm gonna get myself all dressed
up and I'm goin' out among 'em.

Really have some
high livin', huh?

Higher than the
courthouse flagpole, brother.

Hey, you know, a fella can't do too
much of that high livin' just on a dollar.

That's all you gonna have after
you get through buyin' all them duds.

Oh, he's not gonna
have that much.

See, I seem to recall Candy gettin' an
advance from Pa on this month's wages.

Oops.

Not gonna have enough
money for a new handkerchief,

let alone do any
of that high livin'.

Right, I forgot.

Next month. Next month.

- Well, we'll see you next month.
- Yeah.

There's gotta be an
easier way to make a livin'.

You keep diggin'.
You might strike it rich.

We'll see you, Candy.

Yeah.

Are you Mr. Canaday?

Yeah.

Did you know a Paiute
named Billy Two Biscuit?

Paiute? Yeah, I know him.

Where were you the first
week in April this year?

- What's that to you?
- Could be very important.

First week of
April... I don't know.

I was in Billy Biscuit's
cabin. That's where I was.

The south slope
of Squaw Mountain.

- How was he?
- Hurtin'. He broke his leg.

You saved his life. You found him
in a snowstorm with a broken leg.

You took him to his
cabin, nursed him, fed him.

If you know all that, what
are you askin' me for?

To make sure
you're the right man.

Billy Two Biscuit d*ed
recently of snakebite.

He made you his sole heir.
He left you his mining claim.

Poor Billy, poor Billy.

Now, I represent Nevada
Mining Incorporated.

I'm here to make you one
firm take-it-or-leave-it offer:

100,000 dollars, plus
standard royalties,

for the right to develop
and work the mine.

- 100,000 what?
- Dollars.

50 thousand in cash,

50 thousand in shares in Beulah Land
Sales and Development Corporation.

I have the cash with me.

You got something
you want me to sign?

Yes, sir, I sure
do. Here you are.

Right there, the bottom line.

- Here?
- Right, that's it.

Right.

How long is it till dinner?

Oh, I don't know. About
an hour or so, I guess.

Yay-ha-ha-ha!

Whoo!

Yippee!

Whoo-hoo!

High livin', here I come!

Yippee!

Whoo!

Goodbye, water hole! Get
the champagne ready, boys.

I'm gonna take me a bath.

Whoo-hoo!

What do you think? Sunstroke?

Could be. Locoweed, maybe.

Whoo!

- Hey, buddy, you all right?
- Yeah, I'm all right.

Have you ever seen a
whole satchel full of money?

Look at that. Look at that.

Here. Here. Have a sample.

- Whoo! Come on!
- That's real money.

Get the champagne ready, boys.

That... That's 500 dollars.

Still there.

Still real.

It's hard to believe.

I tell you, that Billy Two Biscuit
sure must have thought a lot of you.

He was kind of
a hermit, Joe. I...

Poor Bill, I don't think
he knew anybody else.

What are you gonna
do first, Candy?

The first thing I'm gonna
do is I'm not gonna worry

about what I'm gonna do first.

I'm just gonna float and enjoy.

Yeah, I don't blame you. This
Beulah Land Corporation, Candy...

Did Mr. Hornsby tell
you anything about it?

Just that the stock certificates are in
this bag, and I looked, and they are.

- That's all I know.
- I was just wondering.

- I'd never heard of them.
- I'll find out and let you know.

I want to say that every minute I've
spent here has been a pure pleasure.

I imagine the biggest one was
cleanin' out that water hole, huh?

Oh, yeah, that was fun.

Even that.

I don't quite know how to
say this, but I'm in your debt.

Oh.

Oh, I am. I am, really.

If you ever feel the
pinch for money,

all you have to do is whistle
and I'll be glad to help.

Candy, thank you.

I'm gonna have a
party, a big party.

Be a favor to me if you could spare
Hoss and Joe to help with the plannin'.

Oh, well, if you think that Hoss and Joe
are good at planning parties, of course.

- Can you leave now?
- We're halfway there. Let's go.

- Let's go.
- Hang on, millionaire.

Uh... Candy?

I forgot.

Come on, moneybags.

Extry! Cowboy inherits silver
fortune! Read all about it!

Extry! Cowboy inherits silver
fortune! Read all about it!

There he is. That's him!

Is it true? Did an Indian
give you a million dollars?

- Not a million, but...
- Let me see that paper.

Hey, yeah, it says right here, "A
fortune estimated at one million dollars."

Mr. Canaday, I'm Harriet
Caster. We've never really met.

We did once.

This is my daughter, Ruth.

We're having an open house
Sunday afternoon at two.

Just good friends, good talk, good
food. We'd be delighted if you'd join us.

- Well, I... I'd...
- Good, good. We'll see you at two.

- Come along, dear.
- Wanna be among the first.

Long had the feeling that
you'd be a man of importance.

- Hmm?
- H. Parker Smith, Mr. Canaday.

Spent my life in
the world of finance.

Be a pleasure to serve as
your investment counselor.

- Well...
- My card, sir.

Gentlemen, Mr... Mr. Canaday
has a lot of business to discuss.

- If you'll excuse us.
- Mr. Canaday, come right in.

If you'll excuse us, gentlemen.

Excuse me, gentlemen.
Mr. Williams, excuse me.

No, wait! Later, later, later.

You got popular all of a sudden.
You don't look any different to me.

Well, he's a very important
fella. You heard Mr. Smith.

Did you guys read the paper?
I'm the newest millionaire in town.

I forgot, I forgot.
How do you like it?

It's a little small,
but it'll do for now.

- For now?
- Yeah, for now.

Till I knock out a few walls or
maybe build myself a brand-new one.

- I'm gonna do a lot of entertaining.
- Oh, that's right. I almost forgot.

You're invited to
Harriet Caster's tea party.

Puts you up there
with the best of 'em.

It'll give me a chance to
discuss my new stock holdings

with some of the rest
of them millionaires.

You know, I didn't even know you knew
Harriet Caster. Where'd you meet her?

Oh, Fourth of July parade. I told
her she was standin' on my foot.

Oh, well, he really
knows her, then.

40 miles of fine
print in this thing.

Mr. Canaday? Mr. Canaday,
it's the hotel manager.

- Mr. Canaday?
- Price of fame.

It's the hotel
manager, Mr. Canaday.

Just a minute. Just a
minute. Later, later, later.

Compliments of the management.

Well, thank you, thank you.
We're a little busy right now.

Oh, yes, of course.

I just wanted to assure you that
myself and the staff are at your disposal,

stand ready to
do anything at all

to make your stay
worthwhile and enjoyable.

Special food and special...

Later, fellas.
Later, later, later!

Phew!

Beulah Land Corporation.

Mmm. These are good.

They sell land.
That makes sense.

Uh... ranches and farms in
Beulah Valley, wherever that is.

Oh, doesn't it say where?

In Nevada, that's all it says.

Here, take a look.

Beulah Valley...

Hold it, hold it,
hold it, hold it!

Hold it!

- Solid gold watches.
- We're busy.

Come right in. Be our guest.

- Mr. Canaday?
- No, ma'am.

That's him over there,
the surrounded one.

Pretty.

Yeah, I was about
to say the same thing.

I meant the money.

I'll just measure that
arm right down the side...

Thank you very much, fellas, yes.
Good day. Good day, gentlemen, ladies.

Phew!

I was gonna have
one of those apples.

- I think I did buy a suit.
- A suit?

When that tailor left here,
he was talkin' about six.

Well, a man can use six suits.

That jewelry fella had
some good-lookin' watches.

I saw a good-lookin'
watcher watching your money.

The money. The money.

Where's the money?

Hey!

You lookin' for this?

Thanks, Joe.

Why don't you be
smart, put it in the bank?

Now.

And then let's have
a nice cold beer.

What d'you mean, beer? With your
kind of money, I want champagne.

I'll take either.

You'll take both.

There you are, gentlemen.

Oh, it's your money. Virginia
City's finest. What the heck?

- What's this?
- Imported beer. The best.

Came all the way from
Europe, right around the Horn.

Here you go, my friend.

It costs a little more,

but Mr. Canaday can sure
afford it now that he's a millionaire.

- I'm not a millionaire, actually.
- You ain't changed a bit, Candy.

Now, that's the good part.

You hit it big, but you're the
same old Candy. Thank you.

You son of a g*n, you.

All right, now, we've got the
guest list. Virginia City is coming.

Now, what about... what
about music, entertainment?

We're gonna have
a lot of people.

It's gotta be a big band
or they won't hear it.

Hey, how about
the firemen's band?

They ain't very good,
but they sure are loud.

Hey, they are. They're loud.

Yeah, all right.
Make it two bands.

That way the folks
won't have to stop dancin'

when the musicians
are out gettin' a beer.

Very good, very good.
Two bands, loud. I like that.

Howdy.

Now, what about food?
Gotta have some good food.

- What do you like?
- Well...

- Canaday?
- Howdy.

- I think we'd better have...
- Name's Hare. Jim Hare.

I own the Rocker H. Ranch.

Oh, I've heard of
the brand, yeah.

Been building it for ten years.

Fighting Paiutes,
nesters, rustlers.

Got a fair spread now.
Gettin' bigger all the time.

That's great. If I wanna
buy a ranch, I'll look you up.

- Do you think two is enough?
- It's not for sale.

Three, huh?

What I'm here for, what's
this Beulah Land Company?

Says here you're a
major stockholder.

Yeah, that just happened.
I haven't gotten into it yet.

I got a brother, Little
Billy, lives in New York.

Got a wife and five kids.

He's doing fine, but
he wants to come west.

So he sold his business and bought
himself 200 acres of Beulah Valley.

Orchard land, with grass,
water, roads, bridges.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

Where is Beulah Valley?

I been in Nevada 20 years,
I never even heard of it.

Well, I don't know.
But I'll find out.

If you wanna come by the hotel
tomorrow, I'll tell you all about it.

- See me tomorrow at the hotel.
- Yeah.

Here you are, Mr. Canaday.
Finest watches in the world.

Solid gold nugget chains.

Hey, look.

I like that.

It's beautiful.

Bartender said it was
down here somewhere.

It's a brand-new office,
just opened yesterday.

Hey.

Anybody wanna
know what time it is?

You told us four times
in the last three minutes.

Hey, there it is. New sign.

What do you mean, you
don't know? You work here.

I just started yesterday.

- Who does know?
- Mr. Perry. But he isn't here.

- When will Perry be here?
- Tomorrow.

He said he'd be
here all day tomorrow.

Yeah, well, so will I.

You'd better have some
answers by then too.

Gentlemen.

Why, you're Mr. Canaday. All
that money, it must be wonderful.

When I find out,
I'll let you know.

Right now I wanna know
where Beulah Valley is.

Well, like I told that gentleman, I just
started work here. I don't really know.

Mr. Perry did say
it was east of here.

- So's New York.
- And the Mississippi.

How far east?

He didn't tell me.

Well, I've ridden all over
the eastern part of Nevada

and I never heard
of no Beulah Valley.

Maybe we can find
out at the courthouse.

My new watch says
the courthouse is closed.

Let's go and have some
more of that seasick beer.

- Hey, thanks.
- Good day.

Ah.

- Ah.
- Bring coffee now, yes?

No, later. Did you
order breakfast?

Three breakfast.

Fried eggs, ham, toast, coffee.

- Is that all?
- Plenty breakfast.

Ah Yee knows how
much three men eat.

Maybe, but Ah Yee doesn't
know Hoss Cartwright.

You been in there two hours splashin'
around. When are you gettin' out?

Been in there long
enough to grow fins.

I promised myself a long hot bath to
get that water-hole mud out of my hide

and I'm just collectin'.

Go catch him double
order of everything, boss.

- Right.
- Who's that?

Oh, that's Ah Yee. I
hired him this mornin'.

Hired for what?

I needed somebody
to fetch and carry.

- Well, everybody needs one of those.
- Of course.

We're gonna go fetch us some
breakfast. You wanna come along?

No need. Breakfast's
on its way up.

- Gee, it's nice to be rich, isn't it?
- Ah, yes.

Mmm.

I just can't hardly stand to
see good food going to waste.

We noticed.

Hey, here's one from
an old friend of yours,

a fella named Billy Martingale.

Never heard of him.

Well, anyway, he wants to
borrow 10,000 dollars from you.

- Hmm.
- He's gonna pay it back, though.

Two dollars a week.

- That's all right.
- Must come from a long lived family.

Here's one from a little
girl I went to school with...

in a town I was never in.

Oh!

Here's a beauty.

You didn't go to school with this
girl, but you know her real well.

You ever hear of a girl
named Sally Simpson?

- No.
- You don't know her?

Well, you're going to. You
better show that to your lawyer.

Hey, here's a little girl
who wants to marry me.

If I send 3,000 dollars, I don't
have to come to the wedding.

I don't blame her.

Go away, please. Nobody home.

Go away, please. Nobody home.

Mr. Canaday, Atworth Perry.
Beulah Land Development.

- I've got to talk to you.
- Perry. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, let him in.

- Mr. Perry.
- Mr. Canaday?

- Yes. Come in, come in, come in.
- Nice to meet you.

This is Joe Cartwright, Hoss
Cartwright, friends of mine.

- Cartwright, how are you?
- Would you like some breakfast?

No, thank you very much. I was
sorry to have missed you yesterday.

I always like to know
our stockholders.

Especially when their holdings
entitle them to a seat on the board.

- What?
- The board of directors.

Your 5,000 shares
entitle you handsomely.

May I change my mind
and have a cup of coffee?

- Board of directors?
- Yeah.

Coffee? Yes. Sit down,
sit down. I'll get it for you.

- Thank you.
- How do you take it?

- Just black, please.
- Ain't that somethin'?

Yesterday the only seat he
had was on board a horse.

That's how to succeed,
though, hard work,

and a fella comin' along handin'
you a satchel full of money.

You shall not go
unrewarded, my friends.

Oh, thank you.

Look, I brought a little booklet
that you might study at your leisure.

- Tells you all about the corporation.
- Mmm. Thanks.

We're always on the lookout for
capable young men, you know.

Have you ever built a bridge

or built a road or
maybe dug a well?

- Yeah, all three.
- Ought to see him clean a water hole.

- All three? Really?
- Mm-hm.

Then you're my
man. You're hired.

No, no, no, no.

Talk to me in a year or two,

because until then I'm
gonna be doin' some restin'.

Well, I may have said it badly.

What I'm offering you is a
position as vice president.

In charge of field operations.

Well, Atworth...

I'm trying to tell
you that I've retired.

Well, loafing gets to
be pretty hard work.

I think you'll find that
out in a day or two.

Mm-mm. No, knowing
him, I don't think so.

Speakin' of loafin', we
better get back to the ranch.

Pa's gonna think we retired.
Mr. Perry, pleasure to meet you.

- Nice to meet you, gentlemen.
- Ah Yee, get their hats, huh?

- Beulah Valley?
- Mm-hm.

- Where's it at?
- Why, that's right next door to heaven.

Probably easier to show
you than to tell you about it.

I'll be very happy to do
that one of these days soon.

We've been livin' here for a long
time. Just never heard of it, that's all.

Well, look, since your
friends are leaving,

why don't you come with me
and have a look at your new office?

My office? I didn't say I
was gonna take that job.

You said you were
gonna think about it.

You might as well have a look
at your new office. Come on.

Vice president.

- Ah Yee, you got my hat?
- Yeah, if it still fits.

Thank you.

Later, fellas, later, later.

Later, later, later.

Here he is!

Uh... You have
fun now, you hear?

- Yeah, we'll see you, Candy.
- Hey, wait.

I was just passing, Mr. Canaday.
How nice to see you again.

Ruth is thinking of buying
a Tennessee Walker

and she'd like to
have your advice.

With the horses I've been ridin',
I don't think I'd be much help,

but... I'd sure like to try.

Oh.

It's good to know that our new vice
president has so many important friends.

I'll be in my office. Drop
by first chance you get.

- Right.
- I've got your suit ready.

Just take a look at these
handmade beauties.

Pardon me, gentlemen. Mr. Canaday,
we were discussing this, weren't we? Yes.

Most beautiful workmanship.
They'll wear like iron.

- I'm trying to explain to this man...
- Gibson, please...

Surprise.

Yeah.

Uh, gee, I'm glad
you could come by.

Can I get you...? Oh, I
see Ah Yee already got you.

Yes, he got me some
tea. Won't you join me?

Yeah. Ah Yee?

I'm sorry, he... he stepped out.

He did what?

Stepped out. He went to
get me some cakes, cookies.

You'd want me to have
them, wouldn't you?

Oh, sure.

A whole lot of 'em if
that's what you want.

Sit down.

I just came to say hello.

You know, I was surprised there
wasn't many people in the hall.

Well, I think it's because I've
already bought everything in town.

I've met millionaires
before, but not like you.

- Is that a fact?
- Yeah.

They were all old and fat
and ugly. But you're not.

Well, I'm not old.

Or fat. Or bald.

And you're certainly not ugly.

Now that I've found you, I'm... I'm
wondering what you're gonna do.

Oh, I just remembered,
I've... I've gotta run an errand.

- Oh, this is my lucky day.
- Why?

Well, I have nothing to
do. I could go with you.

- What's all this?
- One for each of you.

- Are you serious?
- Yeah.

- Wow!
- Do you like it?

- They are beautiful.
- Like it? They're magnificent.

But why?

You got birthdays comin' up some
time. Call them birthday presents.

Well, Candy, that's
awfully nice of you.

But, you know, they're
obviously very expensive saddles,

and, well... well, they're just
too fine for working stockmen.

You don't wear working clothes to
church. These are Sunday saddles.

Every man ought to have one.

In that case, there's nothing
we can say except thank you.

- My pleasure.
- Thank you very much, Candy.

- Thank you, buddy.
- Thank you, Candy.

Hey, we got some fresh coffee inside.
Why don't you and your friend come in?

Come on in.

Thank you, but we
gotta be getting back.

Hey, Candy, did you ever find
out where that Beulah Valley was?

Not yet, but I took the job.

I'm working for Beulah Corporation
now, so I'll find out and let you know.

- Hey, you're vice president, huh?
- That's what it says on the door.

- I'll see ya.
- Hey, good luck.

- Yeah.
- With everything.

- Thank you, Candy.
- You bet. See ya.

Well, these are really
magnificent saddles.

Is something bothering you?

Yeah.

Beulah Valley?

Yeah, Beulah Valley. It just
doesn't make any sense to me.

If it's so beautiful and so marvelous,
why has nobody ever heard of it?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

- There's enough of 'em, ain't there?
- Yeah.

"I hereby sell
for one dollar..."

Boy, a lot of people
sell ranches for a dollar.

Yeah. The dollar made it legal.

And then the seller didn't have to
tell you what you was buyin' neither.

You sure of that?

- Course I'm sure.
- Course I'm sure.

If you're so smart, how come we
rode to four different county seats

before we finally came here where
all the deed transactions are recorded?

It's a nice day for ridin'.

Besides, I didn't know there
was such a place as this

till that fella in the
saloon told me about it.

Now I'm beginning to think there ain't
no such place as that Beulah Valley.

Well, it's probably
just a new name.


What we're lookin' for is a
transaction of a large piece of land

in the name of that
Atworth Perry fella.

Yeah. I'm beginning to
think he don't exist neither.

Atworth Perry.

"I do hereby sell for
the sum of one dollar..."

Sections 21, 22, 24, 26,
27, and a lot of others.

- Yeah, you found it.
- Township 12.

- Let's take a look at that map.
- Yeah.

Right, Section 21, 22...

Ah, never mind the sections,
little brother. We been there.

Yeah, we sure have.

Let's go.

- Thanks a lot.
- Thank you, gentlemen.

Mr. Canaday. Mr. Canaday, I
am certainly glad to see you.

I have some things
that you really must see.

Now, I think that
red and white would...

I think blue and gold
would be much better.

- Pretty.
- Red and white is much more effective.

Come into the dining
room and I'll show you.

Yes, ma'am.

I know exactly where
the band must go.

Over here all by yourself?

You have plenty of
help planning your party.

- You don't need me.
- Oh, yes, I do.

Mr. Canaday? Mr. Canaday,
sorry to disturb you.

But I... I can't get those suits
ready unless you come in for a fitting.

Uh, later.

I get the definite idea
you don't like parties.

You're right. I don't.

- How about a picnic?
- I like picnics.

I know a spot. I could have
somebody hitch up the buggy.

We could go down
by a little lake.

Well, what about Melody?

Let her find her own picnic.

I'll have the cook
pack us a lunch.

Candy, wanna take
a little ride with us?

Uh, later?

We wanna show you somethin',
Candy. It's kind of important.

I think they're pretty
serious about this.

You better go with them.

Well, I... I guess I have to.

But I'll see you later.

Where'd Mr. Canaday go?

Away.

What was it Jim Hare said his brother
bought from the Beulah Corporation?

200 acres? Orchard land?

Grass, water, roads?

What's that got to do with this?

You're looking at Beulah Valley.

Yeah. Used to be called Starvation
Flat. Mr. Perry changed the name of it.

- Are you sure?
- We're sure. We looked it up.

Perry bought 15,000 acres of this
paradise for Beulah Corporation.

What are you gonna do about it?

Wait a minute. Why look at me?

Why look at you? You're a
stockholder and vice president.

Candy, people back east are
spendin' every penny they got

buying up what they
think is good orchard land.

They're movin' their
whole families out here.

Beulah Valley's a lot closer
to hell than it is to heaven.

Even the lizards
can't grow out there.

Sand, alkali and rocks.

You couldn't grow anything
but a dust storm on that land.

You know you're
only partly right,

because water will
make all the difference.

And the proof is right
there in that flower pot.

Now, that's soil
from Beulah Valley,

it's water and a little fertilizer,
and it's a healthy plant.

But there's no water out there.

Death Valley's a garden spot
compared to what you're selling.

It's a completely legal operation,
yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We have not and will
not break any laws.

You told Jim Hare's brother
he was buying orchard land.

That's gotta be fraud.

Why don't you sit
down, Mr. Canaday?

I think the time has
come for me to tell you

some of the facts
about corporate life.

I'm listenin'.

Beulah Land Development
does not sell land to individuals

but only to the Beulah
Land Development Company.

Now, that's a separate
and... and individual entity.

That's a sales organization with
offices in the major cities back east.

So they do the selling
and they tell the lies.

Well, salesmen have
been known to exaggerate.

But if Mr. Hare reads
the contract he signed,

he'll find out that he got exactly
what he paid for, 200 acres of land.

What about the roads and
the good grass and the water?

Roads will be built,
wells will be dug.

It's all part of our
arrangement and our deal

with Beulah Land
Development Corporation.

- When do you start?
- We're in the planning stage right now.

As soon as our
plans are completed,

why, we'll start assembling
the equipment and the crews.

- When?
- Well, that's hard to say.

Because our vice president
in charge of field operations

has been much too
busy to talk about it.

Me?

Yes, you.

I'm supposed to dig the
wells and find the water?

That's right, Mr. Canaday.

But there's no water out
there. You and I both know that.

Well, you may believe that if you
like, but I have a little more faith.

Look, it's a dog-eat-dog world.

It's been that way
since the dawn of time.

Do you know, the Romans
even had a... a phrase for it:

caveat emptor, let
the buyer beware.

There's gotta be
a way to stop you.

Now, before you start
bucking and kicking

and spending a lot of time and
money on expensive lawyers,

you'd better stop and think
about the stock that you own.

Could make you a very rich man.

Great fortunes are
started just this way.

And remember...

it's perfectly legal.

Hi.

Well, what happened?
What'd he say?

Let's have a beer
first, huh? Ah Yee?

- Where's Ah Yee?
- Gone. Fired. Hop Sing send him away.

He cheat you blind.

Make cumshaw by every
merchant. 20 cent every dollar.

Then he double the bill.

This one he multiplied ten time.

Thanks, Hop Sing.

There's no beer. How about
some real good whiskey?

I talked to Perry.

The Beulah operation is completely
legal. The law can't touch it.

What are you gonna do?

If the law can't stop
him, what can I do?

If they sell 15,000
acres of that desert,

a lot of people
are gonna get hurt.

Mr. Perry said the Romans had a
phrase for that: let the buyer beware.

He also said all I have to do is
sit still and I'm gonna get very rich.

Somebody at the door.

Candy. Hi.

Can I come in?

Yeah, sure. Come on in.

Candy. You're just
in time. Sit down.

I'm here because I'm in
trouble. I need your help.

Well, sit down. Have
something to eat. Tell us about it.

I've been tryin' to figure
out a way to stop Perry.

I been havin' a lot of no luck.

The Beulah Land Corporation sells
only to corporations outside the state.

- Is that the trouble?
- That's right.

And they don't make any promises they
can't keep. Other corporations do that.

Mm-hm.

Have some dumplings. Hop
Sing really outdid himself.

Hop Sing, bring
another plate out here.

I'm George Thurston.

- Is Ben Cartwright here?
- Yes.

- George, come on in.
- Oh, Ben.

- You're right on time.
- I try to be.

You must be the Mr. Canaday
that Ben mentioned in his telegram.

Thank you very much for coming.

- It's part of my job.
- Sit down.

The legislators and the governor
feel that the state land commissioner

should go where he's needed.

I have to tell you, Mr. Perry
came to my attention two years ago.

A timber fraud.

He was sentenced to a year in
jail but appealed and wiggled free.

I found him to be
slippery, dishonest...

And a complete scoundrel.

Excuse my not knocking.

But a scoundrel, that's what
you called me after the appeal.

- What are you doing here?
- I heard you were in town.

Now, any documents that you might
wanna see, I have in this portfolio.

There you are, Mr. Thurston.

He's much too helpful
and much too happy,

but we might as
well get on with it.

If there are any
questions, I'll be...

Well, I'll ask 'em.

What is this?

Uh, that's the
list of landowners.

And this?

Oh, that's the map
of Beulah Valley.

Where is Beulah Valley?

Um, Beulah Valley is,
or was, Starvation Flat.

Mr. Perry renamed it.

Here are the names
and addresses.

Over 200 of them.

Men who bought
acreage in that waste.

Yeah, not from me
and not in Nevada.

They bought from
corporations in the east.

George, I bought 200 acres right
in the middle of Starvation Flat,

and I bought them
right here in Nevada.

Oh, no, you didn't,
because I didn't sell it to you.

But I did.

And I'm a vice president
of Beulah Land Corporation.

You're fired.

I'm afraid it's a bit
late for that, Mr. Perry.

George, I bought
this land yesterday.

200 acres.

Well, well.

And what were you
promised, Mr. Cartwright?

Oh, a lot of marvelous things.

Uh, deep wells,

sweet water,

fertile orchard land,

good grass.

And all in writing.

The sweetest words I ever heard.

I am not going to jail.

If you'll just take it very easy,
nobody's going to get hurt.

George, wait.

We just happened to be
passin' by the door out there

and saw this fella backin'
out with a g*n in his hand.

And how long were you out
there just passing the door?

Ever since you came in. Pa
thought it might be a good idea.

It was.

If you gentlemen just escort us,

I think we'll take a little walk
down and say hello to the sheriff.

There you are, my friend.

- Where are your glasses?
- Oh, no. No, no, not right now, Candy.

Some reporters are waiting
downstairs to talk to George and me.

They want to know all about the
Beulah Land Development Company.

The rise and decline.

Hurry back. There's
a lot more of this.

- Ruth.
- Oh, yes.

Giving away all that money,
well, I think it was just wonderful.

It wasn't all that wonderful.
I got the mining claim back.

Yeah.

- Hoss, some more champagne?
- Yeah.

Hey, stop popping around like a bug
in a bottle and relax, enjoy your party.

I will in a minute.
Not right now.

He does have a
mine and lots of credit.

Unlimited... or so they tell me.

Well, if you've got unlimited credit,
how about some more champagne?

- Coming right up.
- Right this way. That's Canaday.

- There he is, right there.
- Thank you.

- Something I can do for you?
- My credentials.

Howard Fiber, Bureau
of Indian Affairs.

I understand you recently inherited
a mining claim from Billy Two Biscuit,

a Paiute Indian, deceased.

Yeah, yeah, I... I sold
it, but I just got it back.

My duty is to inform you

that all mining claims and
properties do, under Paiute law,

honored and enforced by
the United States Government

and the Bureau
of Indian Affairs,

become the property of the Paiute
tribe upon the death of said owner.

- I didn't know that.
- You do now.

I've taken over the
claim for the Paiute tribe.

Good day, sir.

Take it back. Take it back.

Well, it was a lot of fun while it
lasted, folks, but the party's over.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask
you for immediate payment of your bill.

Six suits. I want my money.

Me first. Where's mine?

Gentlemen, I gave
back the money, you see,

and the Indians just
took back the mine.

- All I have is this...
- Wait a minute.

Look out! That's my money.

Too bad, Candy.

It's been nice.

Maybe someday somebody'll
give you another mine or something.

They missed one.

Let go, let go. Dammit, Jimpson.

Now, wait a minute!
Some of that money's mine.

- You get your own!
- It's mine!

That's funny, huh?

You know you have to pay
for everything they break?

Gentlemen, gentlemen,
please. Please. I gotta pay...

Please!

Jimpson, give me that
money! 180 dollars he owes me.

He owes me 40 dollars!

- Give me that money!
- It's not your money!

Come back here with that!

Get out of here!

He owes me that!

It's too bad.

You know, brother, that is one of the
dirtiest water holes I ever have seen.

Filthy, filthy.

Come payday...

Uh, uh, uh. Some payday.

When you get all the
rest of your bills paid back.

All right, some payday,

I'm gonna go into Virginia City
and buy me that new suit of clothes.

You're gonna have some
more of that high livin', huh?

Well, no, I've... I've had
some of that, and it's hard work.

This time I'm gonna
find a better way to go.

Hey, speaking of going, we
better get back to the ranch.

Hey, what time is it? You still got that
fancy gold watch of yours, don't you?
Post Reply