10x04 - The Real People of Muddy Creek

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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10x04 - The Real People of Muddy Creek

Post by bunniefuu »

Hello, I'm Mitch Vogel.

Most of you know me as Jamie,

an orphan who came to live on
the Ponderosa with the Cartwrights.

But two years before
that, I played Tommy,

one of the real people
of Muddy Creek.

Grandpa ain't leaving.
He ain't gonna run.

I guess you could say it was
Bonanza's version of High Noon

with a twist ending.

Which I'm not gonna
reveal right now.

So, please enjoy a wonderful
episode, full of western action,

and one of the very first
shows I ever did for television.

Broadcast in October of 1968,

here is "The Real
People of Muddy Creek".

The following program is brought
to you in living color on NBC.

You can give me a
little of that, too, will you?

Pa, I'll tell you...

this sleeping out on the
ground ain't my idea of a picnic.

I'm gonna miss those soft beds back
at the Ponderosa, I guarantee you.

Cheer up, Hoss.

Soon as we reach the high
country and round up the herd,

and drift them back
down the winter range

you'll be back in that nice soft
bed about two weeks from now.

Hey, we got company.

- Evening.
- Evening.

I'm Carl Walker,
sheriff of Muddy Creek.

- Oh, yeah. Ben Cartwright.
- Saw your fire and smelled your coffee!

Well, there's plenty more there.
Bert, bring us some coffee, huh?

Hey, Sheriff, isn't that Luke
Harper, Cliff Harper's kid brother?

Yeah.

Coffee'd be fine, but what I really
need is a couple of fresh horses.

I think we can help
you out, Sheriff.

We have some pretty
good ones in our remuda.

We'll exchange them for yours.

If you're ever in Muddy Creek,
I'll have them waiting for you.

- Thank you.
- Hey!

Hey, how about me? I
need some coffee, too.

Hm?

Climb off of this side, Luke.

It's all right to give him a
cup. Don't get too close to him.

Hold it right there. He's
crazy enough to try something.

Sheriff, I'm gonna see
you dead, I promise you.

Luke wasn't alone when I
waylaid him at his girl's place.

The other one got away.

My brother's gonna make you
sorry you ever put a g*n on me.

- That can go for the rest of you.
- I've wired the US marshal.

He should be in Muddy Creek in
the morning with a half a dozen men.

I've got to get Luke in there
and keep him in jail till they come.

In the meantime, your fresh
horses will be help enough.

Well, let's pick them out,
Sheriff. Joe, unsaddle these two.

Right.

I told him I'd see him dead!

Now, if y'all just cut me
loose, I'll be on my way.

You're still on your
way to Muddy Creek.

Cliff's gonna k*ll you. He'll
butcher all of you like steers!

Harper, you k*lled a
lawman... not the law.

That's far enough, mister.

Now, hold it right there.

That's Harper, all right.
That's him. That's Luke Harper.

- Where's Sheriff Walker?
- This man k*lled him.

You're not bringing Luke
Harper into this town.

Look, this man's got
to go to jail. He's a k*ller.

So's his brother. So's
his brother's g*ng.

We don't want them
coming here after Luke.

All right, Jody.
I'll handle this.

- I don't know what your name is...
- Cartwright. Ben Cartwright...

All right, Mr. Cartwright.
We're not gonna argue with you.

We're gonna tell you. You're
gonna let Luke Harper go free.

Cliff Harper warned us, we lock Luke
in our jail, he's gonna burn the town.

- We're all gonna die.
- What did I tell you? That's Cliff.

- When did he warn you? How?
- Last night, telegram.

And he will, too. He'll burn this
town, take hostages and k*ll us all.

- He's done it to other towns.
- He's on his way here right now.

So is a US marshal
with six deputies.

Maybe. What if Cliff Harper
and his men get here first?

What if they do?

You got enough men and r*fles to
hold them off till the marshal gets here.

Harper's men are K*llers.
We wouldn't have a chance.

You letting an outlaw
tell you what to do?

You're talking too much.
Come on, cut me loose.

Come on!

What do you think
Cliff Harper will do

when he finds out his
brother got k*lled in this town?

We're gonna put
Luke Harper in your jail.

You can stop us if you want to,

but you're gonna have to
use those r*fles if you do.

Come on.

Go on! sh**t him!

- What are you waiting for?
- Why don't you do something?

I'm gonna k*ll all you pigs!
You wait till Cliff gets here.

He's gonna burn this town!

You're pigs!

You're all pigs! Pigs!

Got a prisoner here for you.

Luke Harper.
Where's the sheriff?

- Sheriff Walker's dead. He k*lled him.
- How'd you get him into town?

You knew what those
fellas were fixing to do.

Look, I don't want
no part of any Harper.

I just told you Sheriff Walker's dead.
That means that you're in charge here.

No sir, I ain't in charge.

This man has to be locked
up till the marshal gets here.

You mean till Cliff
Harper gets here?

Sorry, not me. You want
him locked up, you do it.

Come on!

Ten minutes after you're
gone, I'm gonna be out of here.

The people in this town are so
scared they're gonna beg me to go.

Oh, I think we'll find somebody
who won't be too scared.

Ten minutes, Cartwright. Ten minutes
after you've gone, I am out of here!

- I got a feeling he's right.
- No, he's not right.

We'll find somebody who'll
guard him till the marshal gets here.

You won't find
anyone in this town.

I'm Mrs. Walker,
Sheriff Walker's wife.

- Mrs. Walker, I'm sorry...
- You don't have to say anything.

I knew it would happen.

I tried to get him not to
go, but... but it was his job.

And he was sure there'd
be help when he needed it.

He made the same
mistake you're making.

He believed in people.

Well, there are no real
people, not in Muddy Creek.

Go ahead!

See if you can find anyone with guts
enough to help you guard that prisoner.

Find one.

- I'm afraid Mrs. Walker was right.
- I hope she wasn't.

- Where'll we start looking?
- Let's try the saloon.

Hey, mister! I know
somebody that'll help you.

- Somebody who ain't scared. Come on!
- Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

- Hold on, now.
- We got to hurry.

Everybody says the Harper
g*ng could be here just any minute.

- Where is this somebody?
- He's a real gunfighter.

He fought Indians when he was building
the telegraph. He fought gunmen, too.

Come on.

Come on!

Here he is. My
grandfather, Simon Jenkins.

Well, how are you, sir?

- Ben Cartwright. My son, Joseph.
- Mr. Jenkins.

I been telling them about
the gunfights you had.

Yes, your grandson's
very proud of you, sir.

Tommy, you shouldn't
be telling those stories.

He does exaggerate.

You did fight
Indians. You told me.

Oh, that was a long time
ago. I was a young man then.

Well, you're gonna
help, ain't you?

Well, I'm an old man now, Tommy.

Of course I want to help, but maybe
Mr. Cartwright doesn't want me to.

He does! You want him, don't
you? He ain't scared like the others.

Never met a man who hasn't
been scared at one time or another.

Grandpa's not scared.

We'll just have to let
Mr. Cartwright decide

whether or not he wants
me to help, Tommy.

I wouldn't blame him at all
if he wanted a younger man.

No.

I believe your grandfather's
absolutely right.

Yes, sir, he's absolutely right.

- Joseph, check the saloon, huh?
- Yeah.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Jenkins.

Give me a beer, will you?

Look, your sheriff's dead, the
man that k*lled him is in your jail.

He thinks his brother's
gonna turn him loose.

I need some men, some
guards to see that doesn't happen.

I'm asking for help.

Not me, mister.

Bring the cards. You can
finish that game at the jail.

We like it here.

At least you're both awake.
You're wearing a g*n. What about it?

No.

You were out on the street
with a g*n. How about you?

I guess Luke Harper was right.

He said I wouldn't find a man
in this town that would help.

Looks like I can't
even find a man.

Casey.

You get out of here. I don't want you
in my saloon. Now, you get out of here.

Not till I've finished my beer.

Give me another beer, bartender.

You can bring
that beer now, huh?

Get me a beer.

And give me a damp cloth.

- Thanks.
- Don't mention it.

You're the guy that brought
Luke Harper into town.

- You must be the young Cartwright.
- Mm-hm.

I'm Casey Collins.

Where'd everybody go?

The men?

Oh, they ran.

The truth was just more
than they could stand to hear.

Casey?

- You go on, now. Don't wait for me.
- I quit this job.

I was waiting for my pay, but
now I think I'll leave the money,

and save my life.

If you're smart, you'll
come with us now.

Go on.

How's he doing?

Oh, he's gonna be okay.

Why did he jump me?

Oh, I guess he was
trying to prove something.

Yeah? What?

That he is, at
least, one cut better

than the rest of the
spineless wonders in this town.

Mr. Cartwright, we're just
coming over to see you.

- Yeah?
- We, the property owners of this town,

thought things over, decided to
relieve you of your responsibility

and take matters
into our own hands.

They want you out of town,
so they can set that k*ller free.

- Linda, please.
- Is that what you intend to do?

It's late afternoon. If the marshal
was coming, he'd be here by now.

We're gonna turn Harper loose, and
we don't want interference from you.

To put things bluntly, Mr. Cartwright,
it's our business and not yours.

I always thought the law
was everybody's business.

We don't want our town
b*rned to the ground.

Then don't let them burn it.

Hey, I guess you
folks better read that.

The marshal's been delayed.
He won't get here till tomorrow.

Your brother's a
little late getting here.

Don't fret it. Just be sure you
wake me when he gets here.

Yeah, we'll do that.

Joe, why don't you get some
sleep? I'll take the first watch.

Yeah, that sounds good. I
feel like I haven't slept in a week.

It's not so bad
after all, though.

I get to sleep on
this nice soft couch,

while my brother Hoss has to
sleep on the cold, cold ground.

Hey, Pa!

- What?
- What time is it?

25 minutes past seven.

Hey, anybody here?

Hey, anybody here?

They can't all be asleep, Pa.

They're gone.

This whole town's deserted.

Looks like Luke Harper was
right about the people of this town.

Hoss and the boys should have
reached Aspen Meadows by now.

Get out there and bring them
back here as quickly as you can.

Wait a minute.

The marshal said he'd be here
today, but he didn't say when.

Harper and his men
can be here any time.

I'm aware of that.

You wouldn't stand a
chance against them alone.

You're wasting time. Come on,
I'll help you saddle your horse.

I'll get back as
quick as I can, Pa.

They all run like scared
rabbits, ain't they?

Well, maybe.

Go on.

Go on, sh**t him.

- No, I can't.
- k*ll him!

- He's unconscious. There's no need.
- All right, I'll do it, then.

Get the keys. Get
me out of here.

You will tell your
brother I set you free?

He'll shake your hand.
Now, come on, get the keys.

- They ain't here.
- The vest. They got to be in the vest.

What are you waiting for?

He oughtn't have interfered.

Will you get the keys?

You stupid cow head!

I'm gonna k*ll you, Cartwright!

I promise you I'll see you dead.

You've got to understand. I worked
and saved all my life to get that hotel.

I couldn't see it be b*rned. If
I lose my hotel I got nothing.

I have to start all over again.

And I'm too old to do that.

You do understand,
don't you, Mr. Cartwright?

You should have been
ready to fight for it, then.

- What are you doing here?
- I'm as big a fool as my husband was.

You'd better let me clean
up that cut on your head.

There's a pump of
fresh water outside.

Isn't too deep. It's not
bleeding badly. It'll stop soon.

Why didn't you run
away with the others?

I thought about it, and then I
decided this is where I belong.

Too bad nobody
else felt the same way.

Oh, we used to have people
like that once. Not lately.

No, not lately.

I tried to tell you that,
but you wouldn't listen.

Just wouldn't believe it. There
ought to be some people that'd stay.

Not in Muddy Creek.

We're both wrong, Mrs. Walker.

- One woman.
- A lot more than one.

Two. You need men.

Got 'em.

Two women, an old man and a little boy.
Carl would have called them liabilities.

Well, they may be
liabilities, but they stayed.

They could get k*lled, or held
hostage to force you to free Luke.

If you do what's best,
you'll send them all away.

- You all right?
- Yes, I'm fine.

- How about some coffee?
- Don't you need something stronger?

- We're having coffee.
- It's your choice, Mr. Cartwright.

I'll have coffee...

with muscle.

Good. Now, I've got some
breakfast started in the saloon.

- Oh, bacon and eggs in the hotel.
- Ladies... we don't have too much time.

Why don't you two join forces?

Well, it's all right with me,

but I'm sure she probably
wouldn't want to go into the saloon.

- I'd be happy to.
- We could all use some food.

Yeah.

I imagine your son could use
some coffee. I'll take this inside.

Ma'am, my son isn't here. He,
uh... Well, I sent him out for help.

Since I don't know when
that help is gonna get here,

you folks will just
have to leave town.

Sorry, Mr. Cartwright, but when I
came to Muddy Creek, I came to stay.

Well, I'm staying, too.

We're staying, too.

That's good. We need
all the help we can get.

- I thought I was the only stubborn one.
- You're all being just a bit stubborn.

I can't let you stay here. I don't know
who's gonna get here first, my men,

- or the marshal's or the Harper g*ng.
- It doesn't matter.

I've been run out of
a lot of towns before,

but this time I stayed and
they ran, and I kinda like that.

Mr. Cartwright, my
husband was a soldier.

He d*ed fighting
for his country.

The least I can do is
help defend our town.

Grandpa ain't leaving.
He ain't gonna run.

Yeah, well, I'm the
telegraph operator.

I have to stay and
look after the telegraph.

Well, I appreciate what you've all
been saying, and I'm grateful for it,

but you're gonna have
to get out of town anyway,

and since there
isn't very much time,

you gals better get that
breakfast going right now.

Come on, ladies, get moving.

I want you to send
some telegrams for me.

Oh, sure. Come
over to the office.

Cartwright had
better eat hearty, huh?

He won't be alive
come suppertime.

Cliff and the boys, they
weren't so far behind.

If they rode all night, they'll
be here real soon now.

Luke, you'll tell your brother

I tried to help you, so as
he won't burn my hotel?

I'll pour on the kerosene
and strike the matches myself.

I guess I shouldn't have told Tommy
all those stories, Mr. Cartwright.

- I'm no hero. I'm just an old man.
- Well...


I only did it to try to show him the
difference between wrong and right.

But he took the
stories all wrong,

and now he can't wait
to see you k*ll a man.

I tried to tell him what it's
really like, but he just won't listen.

Well, he's still young.

Well, I'd better get out those
telegrams you want sent. Where to?

Every town around here.

I want you to ask every telegrapher
you know if he's seen Cliff Harper

or the marshal, and
where and when.

Luke?

You... You didn't mean what you
said about burning my hotel, did you?

You're really worried
about that, ain't you?

Well, you couldn't have
meant it. It's senseless.

I meant every word of it.

Listen, I stayed behind.

- I tried to help you.
- Tried?

You should have k*lled
Cartwright. You had the chance.

I couldn't. I'm no k*ller.

It's like Cliff says,
k*ll or be k*lled.

What do you mean, be k*lled?

You let Cartwright live.

Cliff ain't gonna like that.

Cartwright, let me out of here!

Luke's gonna have his brother
k*ll me cause I didn't sh**t you.

You can't keep me locked up
in here till his brother comes.

What do you want me to do?

Give you a chance to hit
me over the head again?

Give me a chance
to defend myself.

I ain't a gunslinger, but I was a
soldier and I know how to use a r*fle.

You should have
thought of that before.

You're alone. You can't
stop Cliff Harper and his men.

But the two of us might.
Together we'd have a chance.

Give me a g*n.
Let me out of here.

- Why should I trust you?
- That's right.

He cheated once.
He's liable to do it again.

You think I'd sh**t the only
man has a chance to save me?

I didn't sh**t you before
when I had the chance, did I?

You're making a mistake.

You won't regret this.

I'm gonna bet you do.

Now, get out there
and keep watch.

Do you really think
he'll do like he says?

He's just like everybody else
in this town, yellow-bellied.

Mr. Cartwright, can I
see you for a minute?

From Snake Crossing. The telegrapher
says Cliff Harper and two of his men

rode through just before dawn.

That means they'll be
here in less than two hours.

- Nothing from the marshal yet?
- No. Not a word.

Little coward!

Ho, ho, ho, Cartwright!

Come on in. Nobody
in here's gonna bite you.

This is your first time
in a saloon, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

Well, it's no different.

We have tables and chairs in here,
just like you have across the street.

We even eat with
knives and forks.

- I guess I have been a little...
- Uppity?

Well, we both have.

We don't have much time left.

Are you scared?

- Terribly.
- Yeah, so am I.

Come on,

let's see if we can finish setting
these tables without breaking anything.

- Is Mr. Cartwright coming?
- Huh?

- Oh, yeah. He said he'd be right here.
- I'll go and get him.

Tommy, you stay right where...

He's not afraid, is he?

He don't know enough.
To him it's all a game.

He'll learn. We all do.

I don't want you to set
me a place. I'm not hungry.

- Now, you should eat something.
- No, I don't think I can.

I've already had my breakfast.

Sure. I understand.

There isn't a chance the marshal
will get here in time, is there?

I sure wouldn't bet on it.

It's not likely that
Mr. Cartwright's men

will get here before
that Harper g*ng, either.

What are we gonna do?

We'll just have to do
whatever Mr. Cartwright says.

Now this ought to
cheer you up a little bit.

Everything's ready.

- You'd better eat it while it's hot.
- I brought some things, too.

I got him. Here he is.

Sit down, Mr. Cartwright.
Everything's ready.

Everybody eat now. You've got to
get out of here as quickly as possible.

We want to stay. We're not
much, but we're better than nothing.

Please, I want you
to do exactly as I ask.

He means we'll hurt
more than we help.

We could be a big
help, couldn't we?

Mr. Cartwright knows
what's best, Tommy.

- But what if you need us?
- Then we'll come back on the double.

- All right, now get going quickly.
- Be careful, Mr. Cartwright.

Time's run out. Run out
just like your friends did.

Like Cliff said, a man
can't count on nobody.

Maybe you can't even
count on your brother, Cliff.

Oh, he's coming. You can
count on that much, Cartwright.

- He's coming.
- I'll be waiting.

What you doing with them r*fles?

I got something in mind.

Better be good.

It won't work. Whatever it is,
Cartwright, it ain't gonna work.

Cliff's too smart
for you, Cartwright.

It ain't gonna work.

Cartwright, you're a
bigger fool than I thought

if you think an old
bluff's gonna work.

You think all them old
r*fles gonna scare Cliff?

Oh, I don't know if that bluff is gonna
work or not. I know it's an old one.

Then why bother? Why'd
you go to all that trouble?

You ain't got that much time left,
huh? Why'd you go to all that bother...

If you hold your
tongue I'll tell you why!

That brother of
yours is a gunslinger.

I'm not.

If those r*fles can make
him hesitate just one second

that's all the time
I'm gonna need.

You'll never get no
edge on Cliff. I'll holler.

I'll yell my head off
when he comes riding in...

You just turn around, put your back to
those bars and stick your hands through.

Oh, no.

- You won't sh**t me...
- I will if I have to.

You need me alive
for the marshal.

The marshal doesn't
care if you're alive or dead.

Cartwright, you...

Move over! Do as I tell you, and
stick your hands through. Move!

I'm gonna get you, Cartwright. I'm
gonna see you dead, you hear me?

Gonna dance on your grave!

If Cliff don't get you, I will.

Oh, it's gonna be a joy.

Cartwright, I'm gonna k*ll you and
all your kids, you hear me? All that...

Sorry I run out
on you, Cartwright.

I run out on you,
just like all the others.

- Easy.
- I never used to...

I never ran out before.

I stood up. I stood
up always, to any man.

Easy now, easy now.
Let me lay you down here.

Who sh*t you?

Cliff Harper. I...

I couldn't stay away.
I had to come back.

I... I tried to ambush
him, but... he's too smart.

Oh, yeah. Just stop
talking. Don't talk.

Tell... Tell Casey I come back.

Yeah, I'll tell her, I'll
tell her. Now, lie down.

Cliff... Cliff Harper

is... is... right behind...

- me...
- Ssh.

There's always one who stays.

Yup. Always is.

Maybe more than one this time.

You should have
run like the others.

- Maybe they didn't run.
- Always do.

Not everybody. Not always.

Where's Luke?

In jail.

I warned these people what
I'd do if they put Luke in jail.

Harper, go back
where you came from.

You're completely surrounded.

There's a dozen r*fles aimed at
your backs right at this minute.

Take a look. All around you.

I'm not buying that bluff.

Unbuckle your belts.

Cliff, look out, it's a trick!

You never meant to go.

No. But we didn't want
you to worry about us.

We did it! We did it! We got
'em, Mr. Cartwright, didn't we?

I think Grandpa hit one.
He took real good aim. I bet...

Look!

It's all right, Mrs. Walker. My
two boys and some of our drovers.

We're all right now.

How about a drink?

- Yes, I would like a drink.
- Good, I'll join you.

There you go.

Cheers.

Well, we're ready
to pull out now.

Folks, the marshal's
gonna stay on in town

until his men have rounded
up the rest of the Harper g*ng.

Well, I reckon the
folks in this town

will sleep a lot better tonight
than they did last night, huh?

I wouldn't bet on it. Their
consciences will be working overtime.

I know a few people who
won't have that problem.

I don't know about the rest
of them, but I was scared.

I don't mind admitting it. I
didn't want to come back.

Well, I'll tell you
something, I was scared, too.

I want to thank you for everything.
Young fella, take good care of yourself.

- Goodbye.
- Thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Mr. Cartwright, I wish you
could have known my husband.

You're so much alike.

Well, it was an honor
just to have met him.

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

The real people of Muddy Creek.

The real people, yeah.
There are always some.

Well, they must have thought
I did something impressive

because two years later,

producer David Dortort
offered me a recurring role

as Jamie Hunter.

By the way, you may think I'm
standing in front of the Ponderosa,

well, this is actually
the Ponderosa Il.

This is a home that was
built for Lorne Greene.

It was designed
specifically for him,

based on the plans of
the actual Ponderosa

on the set at Paramount Studios.

It looks just like the real thing.
It looks pretty good, doesn't it?

Well, I'll see you all
on the Ponderosa.

I'm Mitch Vogel.
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