07x09 - Mighty is the Word

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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07x09 - Mighty is the Word

Post by bunniefuu »

Yeah, how much this time, Bill?

Just a half a dollar this time.

Are you sure you don't
want to go for a dollar?

Oh, come on, Bill,
don't be a piker.

It's for a good cause.

Dolly, you stay out of this.

All right, you're
on. Here we go.

- You ready? -Come on, come on.
- Ready.

Okay.

Three beers, Cosmo.

Yes, Little Joe...
You got him, Bill.

What's going on down there, Joe?

Eh, it's just a little
fund-raising campaign

for the church.

That preacher's
the best there is.

Come on, let him have it.

I think I will make myself
a little drinking money.

Now, come on, Cliff,
it's your first payday.

Why don't you save your money?

Well, you've never
seen me arm-wrestle.

Oh, you're good, huh?

The best!

All right, how'd you like
to make a little bet on it?

Well, make it easy on yourself.

- I'll take five.
- I'll take five of 'em.

You're on!

Looks like our hired man's
gonna lose his money, Joe.

Well, thanks for
the contribution, Bill.

Well, I'll try again later.

Come on, Dolly,
I'll buy you a beer.

Who's next, men?

- Takes a lot of money to build a church.
- I am!

There's ten dollars, preacher.

Take any part of it you want.

I never bet more than a dollar.

All righty!

Let's have a little...

Hey, you've got a pretty
strong grip there, Reverend.

Well, since you fellers
are already involved

here in a wrestling match, you
might as well get acquainted.

Paul, this is Cliff Rexford.

Cliff, this is Reverend
Paul Watson.

Paul Watson?

There's a gunfighter
by that name.

I'm the same Paul Watson.

Well, then you know
who I am, don't you?

Yes.

I've waited a long while
to find you, Watson.

The next time you see me,

you have that collar
off and a g*n on.

♪♪

Paul?

Paul, didn't Joe
and Hoss find you?

They came by the house.

Is there something wrong, Paul?

No, uh, nothing.

Hi, Sue.

What was that
all about in there?

What?

Oh, I just picked up
$50 for the new church.

You didn't tell
him, did you, Joe?

No, of course not.

Tell me what?

It's a surprise for our
anniversary dinner.

You know we've been
married one month today.

Hey, uh,

look, Paul, if Joe and
I can be of any help,

anything we can do...

Well, as a matter of
fact, there is, Hoss.

You can have that
lumber out at the church

bright and early
tomorrow morning.

All right, listen, we
better get on home.

Pa's leaving for
Sacramento tomorrow.

Congratulations on
your month of marriage.

- Thank you, Joe.
- I'll see you, Sue.

- Congratulations. Bye.
- Bye. -So long.

Now, what's this
surprise you got?

You just wait.

Afternoon, ma'am.

You mind moving your horse?

Why don't you go
around, Mr. Watson?

Paul, who is that man?

His name's Cliff Rexford.

He, uh, works for
the Cartwrights.

Well, somebody ought to
teach him some manners.

That Cliff sure
better watch his step.

Everything's been
going so good for Paul.

I'd sure hate to see
anything spoil it now.

Yeah, well, whether
he knows it or not,

he don't want no
part of Paul Watson.

Reverend Watson, if you
had been late for dinner

on our first month's
wedding anniversary, I...

You're a temptress, Sue.

I should be out
tending my flock.

You should be
right here with me.

Hmm, another one?

You know, for an
old married couple,

when you do that,
I-I can feel it tingle

right down to my toes.

I've noticed something
of the same feeling myself.

Will it always be
this way, Paul?

I hope so.

Now, what's for dinner?

First course... chicken.

Second course... chicken.

Third course... chicken.

Well, let me see now, chicken.

That would be Mrs. Spalding.

You are so right, Reverend.

Well, God's been
good to us, Sue.

Perhaps even
better than you think.

Look.

Our wedding present
from Adam Cartwright.

The final plans for the church.

Well, do you realize
what this means?

- Our own church.
- And that's not all.

Ben sent word that the
organ arrived in Sacramento.

He'll arrange to
have it shipped to us.

Well, I wish I could think
of a way to repay them.

Oh, Paul.

The Cartwrights
are our best friends.

Why, Ben Cartwright
practically raised me,

and Adam and-and
Hoss are like brothers.

And Little Joe?

My very first beau.

So watch your step, Reverend!

Sue, being a
preacher's wife isn't easy.

There'll be times
you won't understand

the things I feel I must do.

Anything you do I'll understand.

You're my husband, Paul.

Any regrets?

Hmm.

Not so far.

Yeah, that just about
covers everything.

Hoss, you'll be in
charge when I'm gone.

Fine.

I hope the ranch is still
here when you get back.

You just make
sure that everything

you have to do is done right.

Oh, one more thing.

Uh, those plans that Adam
drew up for the church,

I think you should take
them up to the sawmill

so they can see
exactly what's called for.

Yeah, well,
whatever's called for,

it'll be heavy, I can
promise you that.

That old church'll be around
after we've been long gone,

I'll guarantee you.

Well, you're not only
building a church,

you're helping a
man realize a dream.

Morning, Mr. Cartwright.

Morning, Cliff.

Boys tell me you're
doing a good job

with those new horses.

Well, I like working
here, Mr. Cartwright.

Well, good.

Hoss'll be in charge
while I'm away.

Yes, sir.

Well, boys,

take care of things
while I'm gone.

- All right, Pa.
- Joe.

Good luck on the trip.

- Bye.
- So long, Pa.

Well, I guess I'd
better get back to work.

Hey, uh,

do you need that g*n
for breaking horses?

As a matter of fact, yeah, I do.

Well, you never can
tell when you might run

into a snake.

Sure would like to
know what's eating him.

Yeah.

Well, we got to get
those plans to the sawmill.

Yeah, Sue said she'd
have Paul there by 9:00.

All right.

Aah, dah!

Dad-burn.

Come on, Paul.

Don't you ever get tired?

Not when I'm doing
the Lord's work.

You know, you almost
got me converted.

Well, it's said "Pride
goeth before the fall,"

but I guess I'll
have to risk it, Hoss.

I got an awful
lot to be proud of.

Hey, Hoss, give me a
hand over here, will you?

Yeah.

He mention anything about Cliff?

Not a doggone word.

He goes right on like
nothing ever happened.

Anyone ever tell you two

that idle hands are
the devil's tools?

All righty.

Bless those who toil in thy name

to erect this humble
place of worship.

Amen.

How about some fried chicken?

Help yourself, Hoss.

Chicken, my favorite meal.

Hey, would you do
me a favor and tell me

what isn't your favorite meal?

Yeah, raw fish and maple syrup.

Well, I'm not ungrateful

for the gifts from
my parishioners,

but there are times I wish
Mrs. Spalding would switch

to raising something
other than chickens.

Hey, we're gonna
butcher beef next week.

I'll send you some.

Ah, you Cartwrights have done

more than your share already.

Oh, I didn't tell you, I, uh,

raised another $50

at the Sazerac
Saloon last night.

Paul, you spend more
time in that saloon

than you do in church.

Well, I hope the Lord will
forgive me for being practical,

but I learned a long time ago,
that men are a lot more liberal

in a saloon than
they are in a church.

You know, Paul, you
got a real persuasive way

about you sometimes.

Well, that's the one part about
preaching I don't like, Hoss.

I've never quite gotten
used to holding my hand out.

What would you rather do...
Knock them down, sit on them?

I've considered it.

Now, this church
means a lot to me.

To both of us.
It's our whole life.

Yeah. I've heard you
talk about your pa.

Used to be a circuit rider.

How bad he wanted the church.

Yeah, my father was a good man.

But come on, let's eat.

We've got work to do.

Doggone it, Paul.

That's downright sacrilege.

Talking about food and
work all in the same breath.

This a private party, preacher?

Stay out of it, Joe.

You, too, Hoss.

Sit down.

You ain't got a
g*n on, preacher.

I told you.

I gave up the g*n, Cliff.

I prayed that you had.

You "prayed"?

You cheap, two-bit hypocrite.

Joe, stay out of it!

Are you just gonna
stand there and take it?

Are you gonna put on that g*n?

No, Cliff.

It's not the Lord's way.

Well, you can't hide
behind the Lord forever.

Sooner or later,

I'm gonna make
you put on that g*n.

Cliff?

Pick up your pay at the house.

That suits me fine.

I don't want you
to fire him, Hoss.

He had a right
to do what he did.

I k*lled his twin brother.

Cliff, I want to talk to you.

I'm not gonna hang around.

You can send my pay
to the hotel in town.

I'm not in the habit of nosing

in other people's
personal affairs,

but Paul Watson is a
particular friend of mine.

You sure it ain't his wife who's
a particular friend of yours?

Sue and I grew up together.

Her father was the foreman
of this ranch before he died.

Yeah, I guess you could
say she is a particular friend.

Or do you have
something else in mind?

Nothing.

Just bunkhouse talk I heard.

Look, I just came to ask if
you wanted your job back.

I don't want it.

That's fine. That's
what I thought you'd say.

But I did promise Paul
I'd ask you to stay on.

Well, he's a real
Christian, ain't he?

Well, sometime you
ask him about the time

he gunned my brother
down in Coopersville.

Ask your Christian
friend about that.

- He told me about that.
- Did he?

Did he tell you how
he used a trick holster

with a spring on it?

Oh, it made him
a real fast draw.

Dirty little trick gadget.

I've heard a lot of
stories about Paul,

but never anything like that.

Well, I've talked to
men who were there.

They saw it happen.

It's the only way he
could've beaten my brother.

The only way!

Look, Joe.

I got no quarrel with you

or with your brothers
or anyone else.

Just Paul Watson.

Now, I've been waiting
five years to find him.

And I'm gonna get him.

You know, if you spend
all your time looking at it,

we're never gonna get it done.

I can't keep my eyes off it.

Ah, when I preach from here,
it's gonna be like preaching

from a mountaintop.

Ah, we're gonna have the place

in pretty good shape
in another week.

Won't be exactly a mountaintop,

but it's gonna be a
darn good church.

Well, it's not large,

but to me it's a cathedral.

What, you mean it isn't?

What do you suppose he's up to?

Doesn't matter.

Just keep working.

What's that you're
building over there?

You know what it is.

Who do you figure's
gonna preach in that church

once you get it built?

Reverend Paul Watson.

That's too bad.

You're going to a lot
of work for nothing.

You're pretty good
with that g*n, Joe.

Yeah, I am.

Don't make me find out how good.

What did that prove?

You got to admit it's
not as noisy around here.

Well, let me handle
it in my own way.

Now, let's go back to work.

♪♪

Now, what are you
doing up so late?

Well, I was sort of
worried about you.

Yeah?

I was a little worried
about myself for a while.

Went in town looking for Cliff,

but I couldn't find him.

Want to tell him if he
wants a fight so bad,

I'll be glad to give it to him.

You do like Paul says
and stay out of this.

He's got to handle
this his own way.

Yeah, well, how much
more is he gonna take?

Don't underestimate Paul.

He can break Cliff in two...

with one hand and you know it.

Yeah.

Hoss, I just hate to see
him humiliated like that.

Yeah.

You know how much being
a preacher means to Paul.

If he puts a g*n on his hip,

the whole town'd be against him.

That'd be a fate worse
than death to Paul Watson.

Paul?

Yes?

Do you want to tell me about it?

What?

Cliff Rexford's brother?

Sue, before I came here,

and before I met
you, I was nothing.

I was less than
nothing as a man.

I guess I was about as
lonely as a man can get in life.

Well, now I have something.

Something I love very dearly.

So have I, Paul.

I have to find a
way to defend it.

Do you understand?

I want to.

The trouble is
there's still too much

of the old Paul Watson left.

When Cliff hit me,

I-I still wanted to fight back.

Why shouldn't you?

Because that's the wrong way.

It's my duty to lead him

out of that dark valley

of hatred and bitterness,
and into the light of life.

But I don't know
if I'm worthy or...

capable or... man
enough to do it.

♪♪

♪♪

Paul, we really
should take the day off.

We have too much
to do here in town.

Now, it's the first chance we've
had to see our church alone.

Now, what's wrong with that?

You're right.

We should take the day off.

Morning, Reverend.

Whoa.

May God forgive him.

"God forgive him"?

Paul, he's destroyed
our whole life!

Everything that we've
worked and saved for!

He didn't know what
he was doing, Sue.

He was trying to get at me.

Don't you see that?

Yes, I see that clearly.

Now, you must find him,
take him to Sheriff Coffee

and have him put in jail!

I can't do that.

Why?

Sue, we both know
what he did was wrong.

It was terribly wrong.

But we both have to
understand why he did it.

Well, why can't he
understand that what happened

to his brother
was not your fault?

Because he's filled with hate.

Paul, nothing is ever
going to change that.

Sue, if that's true,

then everything I've
worked for and lived for

these past five
years means nothing.

♪♪

♪♪

What happened?

Cliff Rexford, huh?

Where's Paul?

He went for a walk.

Oh, Joe, I...

I find it so hard to
try to understand him.

He just stood there and
asked God to forgive Cliff.

And then I got angry, and...

Oh, I don't know, Joe, I,

I guess I just don't
have the strength he has.

I don't think any of us do.

You love him very
much, don't you?

Very much.

But I can't stand to
see him hurt like this.

Yeah, I know.

Paul's a friend of mine.

I'd do anything in
the world for him.

But he feels that
this is his fight.

And he wants to
handle it in his own way.

All we can do is stick by him.

I guess that's what a wife
and a friend are for, isn't it?

Thank you, Joe.

I needed a friend to talk to.

Now, why don't you go on
home, and I'll wait here for Paul.

Thank you.

Don't worry.

Giddyup.

I'm gonna rebuild it, Joe.

How long you been over there?

I heard.

She had a right to be angry.

I've been out walking,

trying to fight my own anger.

Joe, our Lord suffered

all the indignities
on the Earth.

And he conquered them.

If I'm to be his minister,

I can't turn from the
path he made for us.

Those are pretty tough
footsteps to follow.

But it's our duty
to try, isn't it?

Well, let's not just stand here.

If we're gonna
rebuild this place,

let's get started.

We'll return to tonight's
story of Bonanza

in a moment.

And now the exciting
conclusion of tonight's story.

♪♪

My name's Dolly.

What's yours?

Why?


No reason.

I was lonesome.

You look lonely.

I think being alone is the
worst thing in the world.

Don't you?

Nope.

I like it.

Do you?

What do you drink?

Whiskey.

Cosmo, let us have
whiskey, huh, please?

And put it on my tab, Cosmo.

Why should we
put it on your tab?

We both might make a new friend.

You look like you
might need one.

Do you dance?

Where did you learn to dance?

My brother and I learned
together from a girl.

Oh.

We-we were just kids,

but we could really
dance up a storm.

Does your brother look like you?

We were twins.

Like a right arm and a left arm.

More than brothers really,
more like friends, you know?

Where is he?

He's dead.

Paul Watson k*lled
him five years ago.

Oh, but he's a preacher.

Not to me he ain't.

Putting a collar on a gunfighter
doesn't make him a preacher.

He's the same Paul Watson.

And I'm gonna make
him put on a g*n.

And I'm gonna k*ll him.

Thanks for the dance.

What'd you say your name was?

Dolly.

Mine's Cliff.

Hello, Cliff.

We're looking forward to
the reverend's first service

in the new church.

Well, there's
been a slight delay.

We should be ready
to have services

in about two weeks.

Please stop by for tea
when you're not busy.

Thank you for everything
you've done for us.

My pleasure.

- Bye.
- Good-bye.

Afternoon, Mrs. Watson.

I haven't seen your
husband around lately.

I figured after the improvements
I made on the church,

he'd pay me a visit.

Wait a minute, Mrs. Watson.

Too bad your husband doesn't
have that kind of gumption.

♪♪

♪♪

I'll be right there.

May I help you?

Yeah.

You sell dresses in here?

Yes.

I want a dress for my girl here.

A real expensive one.

It's all right if I buy
a dress, isn't it?

I got the money right here, see?

Well, why don't
you just look around,

and maybe you'll find something.

All right.

Here's a real pretty one.

Let's try this on.

Ooh, it's not my size.

No?

That's too bad.

Uh, Cliff?

Uh, why don't we forget it?

I want to buy you a dress.

What's wrong with that?

Here, this your size?

I don't know.

Come on, let's try it on.

See how it looks on you.

It's in there, isn't it?

- Come on.
- Cliff, please, I...

That's quite a man
you're married to.

Yes, sirree, quite a man.

What do you figure a
fella would have to do

to provoke a man
like Paul Watson, huh?

Why won't you just go
away and leave us alone?

I will.

Just as soon as that husband
of yours puts on a g*n.

Cliff, look, I'm sorry about
what happened to your brother.

And I'm sure Paul's sorry, too.

He-He's never really
told me what happened,

but-but ever since
your brother died,

Paul has been a different man.

"Different"?

How can a k*ller
like that be different?

Because he put down his
g*n, and he turned to God.

Well, he needed a place
to hide, a wall to protect him!

That's why he turned preacher!

A collar turned backwards
doesn't change a man inside.

He could k*ll a man
without batting an eye,

with-without mercy
like that... quick.

Just instincts and reflexes.

He's still like that inside.

He knows it and I know it.

All I got to do is
strip away that wall,

and he'll come out and fight.

And he'd k*ll me just

as quick as I'd k*ll him.

All I got to do...

- is strip away that wall.
- What are you doing?!

What do you think...? Stop it!

Cliff, stop it!

Oh, Dolly, let me see you.

No, I don't like that... Oh!

Why can't you...?

What is the mat...?

Stop it!

Well, I hope you
feel like a big man.

Tell your husband I'll
be over at the saloon.

He'll find me there.

Do you think this is gonna
bring your brother back to life?

Hey, let me help you.

- I'm all right.
- Honey... I'm-I'm sorry.

I didn't know what
was gonna happen.

It's not your fault.

You... you can't fight
hatred with words.

Hey, come on, let me help you.

- Hi, Mrs. Spalding, how are you?
- Hello.

Reverend, may I
see you a moment?

Certainly.

Sue, what happened?

It was nothing, Joe.

Why don't you ask Cliff Rexford?

He's in the saloon.

Joe, please.

I just came from Sue.

I want you to get out of town.

I've got no quarrel
with you, Joe.

Now, you're not
gonna provoke me, Joe.

It's that preacher I want.

Cosmo, give me a bottle.

I told you I wanted
you out of town.

All right.

Joe?

This is my fight.

I've waited a long
time for you, preacher.

Anytime you're ready.

I'm ready.

I'm gonna tell you a little
bit about your brother.

Because you remind me of
him standing there with that g*n.

Afraid.

My brother wasn't
afraid of anything.

Yes, he was, Cliff.

He was afraid every
waking moment of his life.

He died in my arms,
crying like a baby.

Are you gonna draw or are
you gonna preach me a sermon?

Your brother had a
moment just like this.

He made the wrong decision.

He died a frightened lonely man.

And you k*lled him.

Yes.

And I've paid for it
every moment since.

But not enough.

You got one more payment.

Why don't you finish it?

Go ahead.

k*ll me!

I guess no man's perfect, Joe.

We all have our breaking point.

But somewhere, somehow,

man has to conquer himself.

I guess I just did that.

Cosmo, get him a doctor.

Why didn't he k*ll me?

'Cause he's too
much of a man for that.

Need nails?

No, I got plenty.

I can use a few.

What are you doing...
Eating them things?

I'm going to in a minute
if I don't get some lunch.

It's all ready.

I just have to get
it out of the wagon.

Well, you better not
wait much longer.

My brother's liable to
wither up and blow away.

Well, what do you think of it?

It looks lovely, Paul.

Thank you, Sue.

Now, how about some lunch?

♪♪

Reverend.

Cliff.

I hear you're gonna hold
services here tomorrow.

Is that right?

That's right, I am.

I, uh, I just came
from the doctor

He said...

my ribs are in
pretty good shape.

He said I could go back
to work if I wanted to.

Glad to hear it.

What I'm trying to say is...

I'm a pretty good carpenter

if I put my mind to it.

And I figure since I
did all this damage,

it's only right if
I help rebuild it.

And I'd like to attend
services if you'd let me.

Of course.

I'll put you in the
front row if you want.

Hoss.

Cliff.

Hey, Cliff?

You think you're pretty
good with a hammer, huh?

The best.

Like to make a little
bet on it, would you?

Anything you say
up to one dollar.

You're on.

Hey, something's coming.

Something big.

It's one of the new
Chevrolet blockbusters for '66.

This year, Chevy's
got heavyweights up to

65,000 pounds, GCW.

Yes, sir, Chevy's built

for bigger and
better things in '66

with a big, new line
of work power trucks.

Big, new engines, too.

Bigger than ever, with up
to 637-cubic-inch diesels,

and do they pack a wallop.

You bet your boots, they do.

Cabs are brand-new, too.
Shorter and more maneuverable.

They'll take a longer trailer
and carry a bigger cargo.

Now, you mainland
haulers ought to like that.

Over here's little brother.

The new Chevy van for '66.

Engine's up front, so there's
plenty of space everywhere.

Space for a ton
of cargo or more.

And will this baby
save you money?

You doggone betcha it will.

I reckon all of
you know that one.

Chevy Fleetside.

Rides smooth as corn silk.

And this year, it's livelier
than ever, with a new

250-cubic-inch,
six-cylinder engine.

Course, all new '66 Chevy trucks

have got improvements
of one kind or another.

Like new a*t*matic
transmissions,

stronger frames

and new, self-adjusting brakes.

Chevy was built for bigger
and better things in '66.

Bigger big ones
than ever before.

Like this baby.

You want to know more about 'em?

See or phone
that friend of yours,

the man with the longer,
stronger line for '66.

The man from Chevrolet.
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