08x32 - Clarissa

[bunniefuu]

Are you sure you haven't bit off
more than you can chew, Ben?

No, George, I don't think I've
bitten off more than I can chew.

Timber cutting's
right on schedule.

As a matter of fact,
I'm a little ahead.

You see, it just doesn't
make good business sense

to haul that timber all
the way to the sawmill

and then haul it all
the way back again.

That's gonna cost
a lot of money.

Yes, it is. But don't
forget that Army contract

includes a stiff penalty
clause if I don't deliver on time.

And that is a lot of money,
and it's lost money. It just makes

a whole lot better business
sense to build a new mill

right where I'm
cutting the timber.

Well, I'll have to take it
up with the other directors.

And with a loan this size,

we'll have to deal direct
with the San Francisco bank.

All right, George. Thanks.

Please, do your best
to speed things up.

I need that machinery
in two weeks.

I understand, Ben.

That the stage?

You know, it's the
first time in months

that stage has been on time.

Yeah, well, you
better get out there.

You don't want your
cousin Clarissa waiting

- in that hot sun.
- No, I don't.

Now, remember, Ben, you
promised me I could meet her.

You'll meet her.

All right.

Whoa. Whoa.

Oh.

Benjamin.

I can see why you're happy here.

This is one vast,
peaceful sanctuary.

Uh-huh. That's
exactly what it is.

It's your sanctuary while
you're visiting here with us.

I'll bet you can
use the rest, huh?

You've done a lot of traveling,

the Franklins in Ohio,

John and his family in Virginia,

the Wilsons in Oregon.

You make me sound
like a wandering waif.

Hey, Cousin Clarissa.

Welcome to the Ponderosa.

You must be Joseph.

Your father said in his letters
that you were the impetuous one.

I just hope that's all he said.

Hey, you two trying to
keep her all to yourself?

- Howdy, Cousin Clarissa. How are you?
- You're Hoss.

Yes'm. Hope you
can stay a while.

What is this, a calculated
plot to acquire a housekeeper?

Now, now, now, you're
gonna be a welcome guest.

I won't be an idle
guest. You wait and see.

Come on, Ben. Show me the house.

Oh.

Absolutely charming place.

But it could use a
little redecorating.

You know, I redecorated
for the Lewises in Illinois.

Oh. Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Certainly. I remember.

Where is it?

- Where's what?
- The kitchen.

After all, a cook can't rest
till she sees the kitchen.

Well...

Oh, Benjamin, I'm gonna
have such a wonderful time

cooking for you. After all,

most women have only one
man to care for. Now I'll have three.

Oh. Welcome to
Ponderosa, Cousin Clarissa.

Oh.

My name is Hop
Sing, number one cook.

Hop Sing is almost a
member of the family.

Pretty soon I change name
to Hop Sing Cartwright.

Everybody very
happy you come here.

See?

It's not often we have
lady from East to visit.

Oh, you must be
hungry from trip.

Oh, don't go to any trouble.
Just something simple.

Oh, no trouble.

We have liver pâté,
dandelion soup,

marinated lamb, roast chicken,

nice green salad.

Ready in one hour.

Well.

Now, you're
probably a little tired.

Would you like to
rest before dinner?

- Well, I am just a little tired.
- Good.

Uh, Joseph, would you
show Clarissa to her room?

Sure thing. This way.

Oh, what a pity my
stay can't be longer.

You're welcome to stay
with us as long as you like.

Oh, I've got a ticket for
Sacramento tomorrow.

Oh, Joseph, what a lovely room.

I'm glad you like it.

All those horses.

Reminds me of Cousin John's.

They live in Virginia.

I love Virginia.

The people there are
so genteel and civilized.

I hope after all those
fancy places you don't...

you don't find us a little
too rough and ready for you.

No. You have a
lovely home, a cook,

a family.

Kind of warmth and...

security that a casual visitor

that blows in like
a leaf on the wind

can't change.

Well, I'll, uh...

I'll get some water for
you for your bath, okay?

Thank you, Joseph.

You no like dinner?

Oh. It was very good, Hop Sing.

I-I guess I was just
too tired to be hungry.

- Oh.
- Hop Sing,

the next time you
make roast lamb,

put some basil
in it or rosemary.

I-It makes it taste better.

Oh, sure, Missy Clarissa.

Basil. Rosemary.

You bet.

I declare, Cousin
Clarissa, you, uh...

you eat like a hummingbird.

Well, I guess I just don't
believe in living to eat.

Uh, would you, uh,
like a little more wine?

No. No, thanks.

It's very good for
a domestic product.

I bet you could get
some French wine

in San Francisco, hmm?

Giorgio Rossi's wine always
tasted pretty good to me.

It's chilly in this
altitude in the evenings.

Excuse me. I'll get my shawl.

- Oh, Joseph will get it for you.
- Sure.

Oh, no. He wouldn't
know where it is.

I, uh... I must say
I enjoyed the meal.

I thought Hop
Sing outdid himself.

So did I, Pa, but...

I got a feeling that
Clarissa didn't enjoy it much.

I think you're right.

Hoss, take your
foot off the table.

Yeah. Yeah, with all them
fancy Eastern relatives,

I reckon she figures we're a
little backwoodsy or something.

I bet you Hop Sing's
out in the kitchen now

trying to figure out who
Basil and Rosemary are.

I feel sorry for her though.

Kind of sad.

Ever since her father died,
she's been traveling around,

visiting with one
relative after another.

Well, how come she never did
stay no place permanent, Pa?

Don't know.

Yeah, she was saying something
about a ticket to Sacramento.

She got relatives in Sacramento?

No. No.

She told me about that when
I picked her up in Virginia City

and brought her in.

She's gonna settle
down in Sacramento

at a place called Shady Rest.

Now, I know what-what that is.

It's where people go

when they have no
place of their own to live.

She's kind of a young
gal to be spending her life

in a place like that, isn't she?

Of course she is. She's
too young to shut herself off

- from the world like that.
- Listen,

maybe she ought to stay
around here for a while.

She might learn to like it.

Lot of eligible
bachelors in Virginia City.

Well, I thought maybe,

if it's all right with you two,

we could talk to her. Be
nice to have her around.

Maybe she would
stay for a while.

That's fine with me.

Fine by me.

I'll talk to her.

Oh.

Joseph?

Hey, Clarissa,
you're all dressed up.

- You going someplace?
- Yes, shopping.

That is, if you'll hitch
up the horse for me.

I'll do you one better. I'll
drive you in town myself.

Oh, no need for that, Joseph.
I'm very good with horses.

Besides, I wouldn't dream of
taking you away from your work.

Okay, if that's what you want.

Do I have to do
everything myself?

Where are them men
you promised me?

Clarissa, this is Harry
Baker, our foreman.

He's been with us so long

he thinks he owns the place.

Well, if I did, I'd have me

enough hired hands to
finish building that sawmill.

Well, I hired the
men yesterday, Harry,

and they're gonna
be here this afternoon.

Well, they'd better
be. I ain't the boss' son.

I can't sit on my
hands the way you do.

Sit on my hands.
Why, you old coot,

you haven't done a
lick of work in 20 years

that hasn't been from
the back of a horse.

Well, you hold up your
end, I'll hold up mine.

Yeah. Well, go get
your end held up.

I got to hitch up a buggy.

Mr. Baker, just
a minute, please.

You're an employee
here, Mr. Baker.

If I ever hear you speaking
to Joseph like that again,

I shall have no choice
but to tell Mr. Cartwright

to have you discharged.

Well, I see there's a new
boss at the Ponderosa.

Ma'am.

That will be all, Mr. Baker.

Clarissa, I thought you'd be
halfway to Virginia City by now.

I would have been if I
hadn't run into your foreman.

Baker? What'd he do?

He was yelling at
Joseph out there.

As the older son, you should've
been there to cope with him.

Baker don't need no coping
with. He yells at us, we yell at him.

I just yell a little louder,
he yells faster. That's all.

That's just my point.

A hired man should
not yell at a Cartwright.

May I help you, ma'am?

Would you tell the manager

that Miss Clarissa
Cartwright is here?

- Yes.
- Oh, Miss Cartwright.

Well, this is a great pleasure.

I'm George Bristol.

Ben told me you were
gonna visit for a few days.

Benjamin has asked
me to stay on indefinitely.

Well, that's great news.

I hope we see a lot of you.

Would you please
come into my office?

Why, thank you.

Miss Cartwright,

will you have a seat, please?

Why, thank you.

Ben has told me
quite a lot about you.

- Oh?
- But after we've met,

I realize he hasn't
told me half enough.

Oh, well, thank
you, Mr. Bristol.

Now, Miss Cartwright,

what can I do for you?

I came in to open my account.

I feel that a depositor

should have complete
faith in his bank,

- don't you, Mr. Bristol?
- Oh, you certainly should.

Therefore I don't believe I'll
put all my funds in at once.

Rather, I'd like to
make a token deposit

of $30.

All right.

Here's your deposit slip.

And if you'll just
sign this card.

Your money is quite
safe, Miss Cartwright.

As you know, we
handle Ben's account.

Oh, incidentally, would
you mind telling him

that I have heard
from San Francisco and

there will be a short
delay in our transaction.

I'll give him that message.

I'm very surprised Benjamin

isn't doing business
directly with San Francisco.

Well, I've always
handled Ben's account.

Benjamin is such a kind man.

Yes.

I'm sure he tries to do business

with the local people
as much as possible.

Good day, Mr. Bristol.

Yes, good day.

Oh, uh, good afternoon, ma'am.

What can I do for you?

I'm Clarissa Cartwright.

Are you the proprietor?

I sure am.

Proprietor, owner,
clerk, all rolled up in one.

In that case, you may help me.

I'll be glad to.

Clarissa Cartwright, huh?

You must be Ben's
cousin from back East.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you. I'm looking for

some curtain material.

These are very nice, but they're

not exactly what
I'm looking for.

Well, you may order
anything you like

right from San Francisco.

- Here are the samples.
- Well.

Uh, while I'm looking at
these, have you any slippers?

Yeah, uh, what is
your size, ma'am?

Oh, they're not for me.

Gentlemen's slippers.

Yes, ma'am.

Howdy, George. You busy?

Not for you, Roy.
Come in, come in.

I got it all ready for you,
before you even ask.

Here's a campaign contribution
from the Virginia City Bank.

Oh, gee, thanks very much.

Oh, don't thank me.

It's a privilege to
help you get reelected.

Ben Cartwright has promised
to run my election campaign

for me again, same as usual.

Well, is he gonna have time,
entertaining his cousin and all?

I heard that she's here.

Have you met her?

Yes, I have.

Is she planning on,
uh, staying a while?

Well, that's what I heard.

Huh. Uh, I got a
couple of posters here.

I'd like to leave 'em with you
if you'd see your way clear,

you could put 'em in the window.

- Thanks very much for this.
- All right.

Well, you sure know
good merchandise, ma'am.

With the curtain material you
ordered, that comes to $268.

Well, you just put that

on Mr. Cartwright's
account, will you?

Well, you sure this'll
be all right with Ben?

Well, I told you I'm
a Cartwright, didn't I?

Yes, ma'am.

I'll just wrap these
things up for you.

And put this with it.

Uh, don't forget the French
Burgundy I ordered, will you?

You bet. I'll remember.

Howdy, Seth.

Oh, hi, Roy.

Oh, Miss Cartwright,
this is Roy Coffee,

the sheriff of Virginia
City. This is Ben's cousin.

Howdy, ma'am. I heard
you was paying us a visit.

Certainly is a
pleasure to meet you.

Thank you. I'll pick
those up in about an hour.

Hope to see a lot of you.

I doubt if I'll
have any dealings

with the law, constable.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

What was that she called you?

Constable.

That means sheriff
in the East, I guess.

Well, different
places, different ways.

She sure is a fine lady.

Ordered real French wine.

Biggest order
I've had in months.

Say, this is my lucky day.

Now you'll be able to
make a nice contribution

to Roy Coffee's
election campaign.

I'll leave a couple of
these posters here,

you can put 'em in the
window if you're a mind to.

Thank you, Seth.

♪♪

Hop Sing, I'd like to
speak to you for a moment.

Supper ready half
hour, Cousin Clarissa.

Oh, Hop Sing, I
am not your cousin.

Oh, sorry. Hop
Sing all time forget.

I bought some new pots and pans.

Those old ones should have
been thrown away a long time ago.

Is Hop Sing job to buy
everything for kitchen.

Nobody else touch kitchen.

You have more than
enough to do, Hop Sing,

I'm glad to be of help.

Fry pan is too small.

Mr. Hoss eat more eggs
than I can cook in this

all by himself.

Perhaps Hoss eats too much.

Dinner in 45 minutes, Hop Sing.

Supper in half hour.
Same time as usual.

Oh, your boots, Hoss.

Yes'm, what about them?

They're dirty.

Oh, yes'm, they... they
generally get that way

working around a
ranch all the time.

Yes, that's why I bought
the house slippers for you

to put on when you come indoors.

I've had Hop Sing on
his hands and knees

all day washing and

waxing and
polishing these floors.

Yeah, it looks real nice.

Much too nice for muddy boots.

Yeah.

Remove your boots, Hoss, please.

Please.

Just hold it right
where you are, Joseph.

Your boots.

Yeah, my boots. What about 'em?

They're dusty.

They're dus... They
generally do get dusty

when you work
around a ranch all...

Joseph, they're entirely too
dusty to walk on this floor.

Look at it. Hop Sing's been in
here on his hands and knees

scrubbing, waxing,
polishing, all day.

Well, what are you gonna
do, carry me upstairs?

Slippers, Joseph.

There's yours.

Slippers.

Cousin Clarissa.

That's right.

Next thing you know
she's gonna have us

wearing ties to
the dinner table.

Not me, she ain't.

Slippers.

♪♪

Well, aren't you gonna tell
me how nice the room looks?

I... I, uh, I reckon
this is what Pa meant

by a woman's touch, huh?

It is.

The room certainly needed it.

Yeah.

You... You been
kind of busy, Clarissa.

Well, if it makes you happy,

it's been a labor of love.

Now we got those extra
men, let's see if we can

- speed things up a little bit, huh?
- Yeah.

I'd first like to ride into
Virginia City or over

to the next ranch and
get some breakfast.

Breakfast? You just
had three portions.

Yeah, of porridge.

Pa, I ain't had porridge
since I was a kid.

Whatever happened to
steak and eggs, anyhow?

Well, Clarissa's just
trying to vary the menu.

Well, good, but...

she's starving me to
death while she's doing it.

Hop Sing?

Yes, Cousin... Missy Cartwright.

I found this
absolutely beautiful

sterling silver tea service

in the back room.

Seems like such
a shame to hide it.

Everybody here drink coffee.

Nobody drink tea.

So I leave in back room.

Well, I drink tea,

and at the traditional
half past three.

Sure. I fix tea.

Now, you be sure
the water's boiling

and don't fail to
preheat the pot

and let it steep.

You have some small cookies?

Got plenty cookie left over
from Little Joe birthday party.

Marvelous.

Heat pot, boil water.

Hop Sing.

Hop Sing.

Oh, howdy, Miss Cartwright,
is, uh, is Ben around?

Benjamin and the boys
have been out all day long.

Well, is there anything
I can do for you?

Well, no'm, I don't think so.

I, uh, I told Ben that I'd bring

some of these
election posters by.

He always handles my
election campaign, you know.

No, I didn't know that.

Won't you come in
and have some tea?

Well, thank you.

Say, those flowers are
beautiful, aren't they?

You sure fixed this place up.

Hop Sing. Sit down, won't you?

Thank you, ma'am.

Constable Coffee
will have some tea.

Coffee will have tea.

Is very funny.

"Reelect Roy
Coffee for Sheriff."

It's not a very
good likeness, is it?

Well, most of the folks know me.

Uh, they'll recognize it.

Tea right on time.
Half past three.

I do think tea is so
civilized, don't you?

Cream or sugar?

Well, I don't know, I-I
don't drink much tea.

Oh, I see Hop Sing
hasn't brought the lemon.

Oh, the domestic help out
in the West is deplorable,

don't you think?

Miss, I just want to...

Don't want to cause
you no bother, uh...

I am in a bit of a hurry,

and if it's all the
same with you, I'll...

I'll just be running along.

And you will tell Ben that
I left the posters, please?

Well, surely you
don't expect Benjamin

to tack up these
posters, do you?

Well, I wouldn't be
too sure about that.

- Generally...
- I can understand him

getting deeply involved
in state or national politics,

but not on a local level.

But when we talked about it
the last time, he said distinctly

that he wanted to handle
my election campaign.

Oh, I'm sure he would, if
he could spare the time.

But he said...

I'll tell you, I'll talk to him
when he returns, hmm?

You know, sometimes
I think Benjamin

is much too
generous with his time.

Maybe I better just
hang on to these posters

until after you've had a chance

to discuss the matter
with... Benjamin.

I think that would
be an excellent idea.

Good-bye, miss.

Good-bye.

Thank you, Jay.

Is that you, Benjamin?

Yes, it's me.

Too bad you weren't
here a half an hour earlier.

You missed Constable Coffee.

Oh.

- Oh, you mean Sheriff Coffee.
- Yes.

I'm sorry I missed him. Oh,
did he leave anything for me?

No. I offered him some tea,

and we discussed his
campaign for reelection.

Mm.

He seems like a very nice man.

Oh, he's a... oh,
he's one of the best.

I'm sorry I missed him.

Is something troubling you?

Well, as a matter of fact, yes.

That lumber contract
with the Army.

I can't fulfill it until I
get the new machinery,

I can't get the machinery
until the loan comes through,

it hasn't come through, and
time is running out on me.

I'll just have to go in and...

see George Bristol again.

Would you like to ride in
with me tomorrow morning?

Yes. And I can do
some more shopping.

That is, unless you think
I've run up too many bills.

Well, everything
looks... lovely.

Yes.

We'll ride in right
after breakfast.

All right.

♪♪

Uh, Clarissa, uh, you
finish your shopping,

and then we'll meet
you at the hotel for lunch.

I'd like that very much.

See you later, Joe.

Yeah, see you later, Pa.

- Hello.
- Hi, Ben.

I'm expecting a wire
from Sacramento.

Would you look to
see if one came in?

I think one came in
last night for you, Ben.

- I'll take a look for it right now.
- Good.

I simply had to come
and see you, Mr. Bristol.

Benjamin tells me
he's deeply concerned

about the delay, and so am I.

Well, I'm doing my best.

Well, it's just not enough.

Benjamin is losing valuable time

by dealing with such
a small, local bank.

Are you suggesting that he
could do better without me?

Mr. Bristol... Benjamin
is dealing with you

because you're
such an old friend.

But I think you'll agree
he's paying a great price

for that friendship.

Friendship?

Oh, Clarissa.

Well, I...

didn't, uh, didn't
know you were here.

I thought you were out shopping.

Well, I had a little
business with Mr. Bristol,

- but I'll just be leaving now.
- Oh, no, no, no, don't move.

I'll-I'll just be a moment.

- Uh, George.
- Good morning, Ben.

Uh, I just got a wire
from Sacramento.

They have the mill
machinery ready to ship,

and I was wondering what
you'd heard from San Francisco.

George?

George, I said, what did
you hear from San Francisco?

The loan has not
been approved yet.

I told you it would take time,

and after all, this is
only a small town bank.

George, you know
about my Army contract,

the-the stiff penalty clauses,
and-and the cancellation clause.

I can't wait much longer.

I understand your problem.

However, perhaps
it would be better

if you handled it yourself.

Um...

Clarissa, perhaps
it might be better

if you finished
your shopping now,

and I'll meet you
back at the hotel.

- I want to talk to George a moment.
- 'Course.

Uh... that won't be necessary.

There's nothing more to be said.

George, I don't know why
you've got your back up like this.

If you don't mind,
I have work to do.

I just don't understand
that... George.

Sometimes he gets
so danged uppity,

can't even reason with
him. "Get my own loan"!

Oh, I'll just finish
my shopping.

Oh, Roy?

- Hello, Seth.
- Ben, hi.

Roy, Clarissa told me
you came by yesterday.

I thought you were gonna leave
some of those posters for me.

What with the
mill you're building,

I figured that, uh,
you'd be much too busy

to get mixed up
in local politics.

Well, I don't even know if
I'm gonna be building a mill,

but I've been running
your campaigns before...

Don't you want
me to run this one?

Thanks just the same,
but I just couldn't take

your valuable time.

My time's valuable, too.

Well, what can I do to help?

Roy?

What's the matter with you?

You know, you're-you're as...

you're as grumpy as a
grizzly with a sore paw.

Now, I told you I was gonna
run your campaign, I'm gonna.

Well, I thought you were
all tied up with the mill.

I am tied up with the mill,
but I've built mills before

and I'll build them
again... That doesn't mean

I'm so tied up I can't help you.

Ben's right.

Yeah. I guess he is.

A little plain talk usually
straightens things out.

Pity more people
don't know that.

You... son of a g*n.

Hey. What are you
fellas doing here?

I thought you were
working up the north range.

Well, you thought
wrong, Mr. Cartwright.

Me and the boys
decided to come into town,

- have ourselves a drink.
- Oh, really?

Yeah, well, that's fine with
me, but if Pa finds out about it,

you're liable to find
yourself without a job.

Well, he's gonna be a mite late,

'cause, in case you
didn't hear, we quit.

Hey, wait a minute, what
do you mean you quit?

Quit!

When some female comes
into the men's bunkhouse,

hangs up curtains,
pours out all our whiskey,

and then starts ordering
my men around, I am through.

Through!

♪♪

Roy Coffee was no
problem... I just talked to him

and straightened
things out with him.

And Baker, well, you
know how many times

he's blown up and quit...
I can talk to him. But...

Mr. George Bristol, well,
that's a horse of another color.

He just froze up completely.

Did you ask him why?

When Mr. George
Bristol freezes up,

he's harder to get to than
the... gold in the Denver Mint.

Well, how come he turned
against you all of a sudden, Pa?

It must have been Clarissa.

She was sitting in the
office when I walked in.

She sure has a knack
of saying the wrong thing

at the right time.

She sure does.

She sure gets under my skin.

Hop Sing ain't been
the same, neither.

Oh, she... she doesn't do it
deliberately, she just does it.

Well, Pa, in that case,

how come the
relatives keep asking her

to come and stay
with them all the time?

Because they need her, they
use her... anytime they need

somebody to take care of the
baby, take care of the house,

do the housecleaning,
the cooking,

and there's no
help in the house,

they send for good ol' Clarissa,

and she goes,
because she has to.

The only way she
can pay for her keep.

Has nothing but her pride.

Took care of her father long
enough until the day he died

and left her with
nothing, an old maid.

Why do you think the relatives
are really using Clarissa?

What's that supposed to mean?

Just like when she came here.

We didn't ask her to be
the maid, the housekeeper,

the cook... That
was all her idea.

Maybe she's done
exactly the same thing

with the rest of the relatives.

That's right.

Well, you... may
have something there.

Well, she just
likes to keep busy.

I'll tell her to... stop
running our lives.

When?

Hmm?

When will you talk to her?

Oh, soon. I'll talk
to her tomorrow.

How about now?

It's still early.

Uh, think I will.

Yes?

It's Ben, Clarissa.

- May I come in?
- Of course, Benjamin.

You know...

I've been lying here thinking...

about this house.

Everybody's so good to me.

The warmth, Benjamin.

The love.

I envy you the way
you love each other.

Uh, well, we...

we manage to stick
together, we always have.

I can see it. I know.

Three against the world.

Oh, well, no, no, not-not-not
exactly, uh, Clarissa.

It's not, uh, not three
against the world.

It's... you see, we have
many good friends and...

neighbors and people who
help us along the way all the time.

It's... really what, uh...

wanted to disc... well,
to talk to you about.

Yes, Benjamin.

I know that you have, uh,
you've traveled a great deal,

met many people,
but I'll bet you

that people out here
are much more...

sensitive than the
people in the East.

Now, I know they
look hard and-and...

their hands are all
gnarled from hard work,

but their feelings are-are...

very close to the surface;
they're very easily hurt.

Are you scolding me?

Oh, no, no, of course not.

It's-it's not what...

I-I was really just
wondering whether...

whether you had said anything
to, uh, uh, George Bristol

that-that, uh, well, that he
might have misunderstood.

Oh, Benjamin,

you worry about the
most unimportant things.

Well, he's just
the local banker.

And besides, you yourself said

he had a closed
mind, now, didn't you?

Well, yes, yes, I-I... I did,

uh, but, uh, but now...

my-my foreman Harry and-and...

and the... the-the two hands
have just walked off with him.

Those three. That's
not such a loss.

You see these-these people...

They-they don't
understand that, uh...

Are you trying to
tell me that I've...

worn out my welcome?

No, Clarissa, we... we all
want you to be very happy here.

Oh, I am happy.

Everything's
absolutely marvelous.

Good.

But you can't expect me to just

sit around like a
piece of furniture and

not have an opinion.

Well, of course not, Clarissa.

No one would ever expect
that. You can't be denied that.

But I've offended your friends.

- It's-it's just...
- Oh, Benjamin, if I'm coming

between you and your friends,

then I shall simply
have to leave here.

Now, wait a minute, Clarissa.

Now, uh, uh, please, Clarissa.

No... I-I didn't come in
here for any reason like that.

No. You-you...

I had no intention of even
suggesting such a thing.

Well, if I stay, I've
got to be useful.

Well, of course
you do, Clarissa.

A woman needs to
be needed, Benjamin.

Certainly.

That's the most
important thing in her life.

Oh, Clarissa, of course it is.

Of course it is.

Now, Clarissa, you-you
must promise me something.

Now, you-you must
put out of your mind

any thought of leaving here.

Now, you-you must do that now.

Yes, I will, Benjamin.

- I'm sorry.
- Thank you. Thank you.

Now, I-I know you...
you-you must be tired, and...

Well, I'll, uh... I'll
leave you, and we'll

we'll see you in the morning.

- Yes.
- Good night.

Good night.

Oh.

How'd you make out?

Uh, well, she, uh...
she wanted to leave.

Phew.

Is she going to?

Uh, no. Uh... I-I
talked her out of it.

It's your move.

So good of you to
come, Mr. Coffee.

Well, how do you
do, Miss Cartwright?

- Miss Cartwright.
- Mr. Peterson.

Hello, Miss Cartwright. You
haven't met my wife, Elvira.

How do you do?

My, you must be
happy to be settled down

after all your wanderings.

Did Benjamin tell
you I was a gypsy?

No. It was Emily Durker.

Emily Durker?

She works in the post office.

She mentioned how your
letters to Ben always had a lot

of different return addresses.

Well, I have a very large
family, Mrs. Peterson.

I love them very dearly.

Well, come along, Elvira.

Uh, let's, uh, sample
Hop Sing's punch.

What did I say?

- Some punch, Sheriff?
- Thank you, ma'am.

What's going on here?

Maybe Roy's having a
campaign party or something.

We'll soon find out.
Take care of the horses.

- Roy.
- Ben.

Clarissa... Benjamin,
surprise, surprise.

Are you surprised?

Well, yes, as a matter of
fact, I am just a little surprised.

Now, what is all this about?

Well, last night, you said I'd
made trouble with your friends,

and I didn't want that.

So I went into town,
and I talked to them, and

now they're all here.

All your friends are here.

Well, are you pleased?

Well, uh... Yes,
Clarissa, I'm, uh...

It's-it's very nice. It's...

It was very nice of
you, Clarissa. I, uh...

Everything looks lovely.

- I, uh, better get cleaned up.
- All right.

Good evening, Miss Cartwright.

Good evening, Mr. Bristol.

Well, George.

Well... nice to see you here.

Ah, thank you.

However, I'm here

because Miss Cartwright
extended a personal invitation.

Oh, well, no matter
what the reason,

I'm still very happy
that you're here, George.

Why don't you get Mr. Bristol
some punch, Benjamin?

Uh, yeah, certainly. George,
come along, get some punch.

No, no, no, you get it.

Uh, I'll-I'll be right back.

Mmm, cookies are good.

What's the occasion?

Clarissa's idea for
patching things up.

I got to get this
punch to George.

What's the big hurry?

I don't want Clarissa
to have a chance

to say anything more to him.

Oh, stop worrying.
You've got nothing to lose.

Some of these people don't
talk to you anymore anyway.

Oh, Ben, hey, that Pete Jenkins
that's running against me...

He could get an awful lot
more votes than we first figured.

Uh, uh, what-what...
what'd you say, Roy?

Well, Pete Jenkins is
going around the county,

and making speeches, and,

uh, talking to folks, and
from what I've been hearing...

It's a very nice party,
Miss Cartwright,

but I'm wondering
why you invited me.

Well, I was hoping you'd
make it up with Benjamin.

Make it up?

A man has to be
generous, don't you think?

So, I thought maybe you
could set up some meetings

like here in Virginia
City at the town hall

and some other
towns in the county.

My cousin Benjamin's
been very good to you.

Yes, that's quite true.

And I know you're grateful
to be of service to him.

Grateful to be of service?

There! I knew you
weren't too proud

to recognize the obvious!

I thank you for setting me
straight, Miss Cartwright.

Well, I'll-I'll... I'll
talk to you about that

first thing in the morning, Roy.

- All right, fine.
- Uh, excuse... G-George?

Well, here-here's that punch.

Not now, Ben. I'm going home.

Oh, uh, George,
wait a minute now.

What do you mean, going
home? The party just started.

Well, it's over as
far as I'm concerned.

- Roy.
- Oh.

Have some more punch.
I'm going in to get cleaned up.

Oh, thanks.

Hey, Harry.

Harry, I'm glad
you could make it.

- I want my money.
- Hey, now, come on, come on.

Now, forget that money talk.

You've been with
us too long for that.

I ain't working for no female.

All right, you don't have
to work for any female.

We got that all
straightened out.

You can take the curtains
down in the bunkhouse,

and you can even keep a little
whiskey in there if you want to.

- How does that sound?
- That's fine.

All right, then,
forget about it.

Go on and get some punch.

Howdy, ma'am.

I thought I told you no drinking
for the help of the Ponderosa.

Hey, Harry, where you
going? What about that punch?

Hey. Hey, Harry, what
the heck's this all a...?

Harry!

Harry, what the...?
Harry, will you...?

Look, I'm-I'm sorry
about that, Harry.

I didn't want to hit you.

Joseph, what's going on here?

Beats the heck out of me, Pa.

Harry, you better get on
back to town and sober up.

Sober up? Heck, I can't even
get a drink of punch around here.

I want my money,
if it's all right

with that female who's
running the Ponderosa.

Oh...

Uh, Joe, get him his money.

Oh, no. Please, don't go.

Please, everyone, stay.

Oh, I didn't want to
cause any trouble.

I just wanted to help.

Ben, they're your friends.

That's the most precious
thing in the world,

and I came between you.

Please?

Clarissa, it-it...
it's all right.

No. No, it's not all right.

It's not all right until
you're-you're friends again.

Then it will be all right.

Why, I've always been
a doggone hothead,

Mr. Cartwright, you know that.

You've always been
a good foreman, Harry.

Joe, what were we
fighting about anyway?

- Ah.
- I can't remember, Harry.

I'm sorry, Ben.

I think that I could
have been more tolerant.

Well, H-Hop Sing has
made some cookies.

I'll-I'll get them.

♪♪

George.

You know, fellas, I think we
could, uh, stand some punch.

Mr. Cartwright, I leaving.

I going back to San Francisco.

Son of a g*n.

She done it again.

I'll go get him, Pa.

You know, Ben,

I think I'm beginning
to understand that lady.

Really?

Yes.

Really?

George, could I talk to
you about something?

Oh, thank you.

Benjamin, it's a beautiful room.

It's so generous of
you to give it to me.

Oh, you like it. I'm glad.

Oh, like it? I just love it!

Oh, good, good.

But, Benjamin...

Oh, now, Clarissa, come on, now.

You got to stop
worrying. Now, sit down.

You're an excellent
bookkeeper, you know that.

Well...

You'll have your own office,
it'll be peaceful and quiet.

You'll be able to do
all the work you want,

nobody to disturb you.

Oh, I do appreciate
what you're doing... but...

Hold on. It's...
it's all settled.

I've already talked
to George Bristol.

He's delighted at the prospect.

He is?

Clarissa, George
Bristol needs your help.

He... He really needs me?

Of course he does.

Oh.

You know, George Bristol
is a very nice man, isn't he?

Yes, he is. He's, uh...

he's one of the best.

It would be nice to be
independent, wouldn't it?

Now, wait a minute, Clarissa.

You're not going to get
so danged independent

you're not going to
come out to visit with us?

Oh, thank you, Benjamin.

But it'll have to
be just for a visit.

I'm going to be very busy.

Good. Well, I better
be getting along.

- See you soon.
- Yes, Benjamin, at the bank.

- Yes.
- You know, I'm beginning to have all kinds

of new ideas about banking.

I can't wait to tell
George about them.

Yeah, well...