11x06 - To Stop a w*r

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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11x06 - To Stop a w*r

Post by bunniefuu »

Joe, you and Logan
check the herd.

OK. Let's go, Dan.

Is he gonna make it?

He's hurt bad.

Better get a doctor,
and pick a wagon up.

Frank Slater and
Jess Hill following?

Yeah, first time I've seen them
within shouting distance of each other

for a long time.

- Get moving.
- Yeah.

Saw the buzzards. Thought I'd come
over and see what the bad news was.

- Figured you'd know.
- What does that mean?

Means the nesters aren't satisfied
with one steer for the table any more.

Now they're
stealing whole herds.

Quick to blame the
nesters, aren't you, Slater?

You're not much more
than a nester yourself.

Don't call me that...

All right! That's
enough, the both of you.

Is he hurt bad?

Yeah, I sent Hoss
for a doctor, but...

We went on down the ravine. Tracks
on both sides, they split the herd.

The way I make it, there were
four of them, sometime last night.

Well, I've had enough.

Is the Cattlemen's Association
gonna do something about it or not?

Well, we'll have a meeting
tomorrow night at the Ponderosa.

Takes more than meetings, Ben.

The Association better hire
somebody to stop this rustling,

or I'm gonna do it
with my own men...

if I have to burn out
every nester in Nevada.

I'm speaking for
a lot of us, Ben,

and I'm speaking strong
because I've got a lot to lose.

I know the small
spreads are hurting, too,

but where they're losing
one head, I'm losing four.

More than 50 head a month,
and I'm losing men, too.

Now, you saw what they did to
Ryan out on the range yesterday.

If he dies, you can add
m*rder to the charge.

Now, we better do
something about it.

We've gotta bring a man in here
to stop it and I've got just the man.

- Yeah.
- Very good idea.

You fight fire with fire, Ben.

Fire is contagious.
So is k*lling.

I've seen it happen
much too often.

All right, it's been proposed
that this association

hire a range detective
to eliminate rustling.

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion carried.

Pa, you mind if I say something?

If it's all right with the
members of this association?

Yeah, sure.

You volunteering, Joe?

No, no. Not me, Mr. Slater, but I
think I've got a good man for the job.

Dan Logan.

- Dan Logan?
- Yeah. He's a good hand.

Scouted for the army, marshaled a couple
of tough towns, always uses his head.

He's one of your
own men, isn't he?

I just think Dan Logan
would be a good man.

He did a fine job in
Tucson and Wickenburg.

I don't care who you get, just
so as he works on a fee system.

That's really asking
for trouble, Frank.

$300 for every rustler
brought in, tried and convicted,

or brought in dead.

All in favor?

Dan, I wasn't expecting
you back so soon!

Anita.

What is it? Have
you been drinking?

Let me smell your breath.

Not a drop.

Are you going to stand
there and grin all day?

Well, how do I
look? Any different?

What?

- I've been deputized, range detective.
- What's that?

That's me, Miss Lavez, and you'd
better watch your step. $40 a month.

Is that all? You make
that at the Ponderosa.

- Ah, but there's a little bonus, too.
- Are you going to tell me?

I get $300 for every rustler
I arrest and they convict.

- Is it dangerous?
- It's nothing I can't handle.

Oh, take good care
of yourself, Dan.

Oh, Anita, nothing can happen
to me as long as I've got you,

except maybe get rich with all
these rustlers running around.

Oh, think of it, honey.

California, a new life. The
chance to start all over again.

Don't expect it to be any
different in California, Dan.

- I don't.
- Oh, it will be.

You'll see. Especially
if we've got money.

I don't think money
can buy what you want.

How am I gonna make wages when
I have to waste time tracking you?

Hey, you and your Indian tricks.
Where'd you learn that one?

Yeah, Apaches down White Mountain
way. A man can learn a lot from Apaches.

- I imagine. What you doing out here?
- My job.

- Picked up the trail of some cows.
- Strays?

Shod horses pushing them,
moving off Ponderosa grass.

- Well, let's go.
- That's my job, Joe.

They're my cattle,
Dan. Come on, let's go.

We'll wait here a while.

- Want some jerky?
- Yeah, sounds good.

Whatever made you give up being
a lawman, Dan? You're good at it.

The towns were
getting too rough, Joe.

And the k*lling. You k*ll a man, it
takes something out of your own life.

Yeah.

What made you
take this job, then?

Oh, it's not the same. I
don't have to k*ll to get paid.

I just bring the rustlers in and
let the jury decide what happens.

It means $300 to me
for every conviction.

I've got somebody I
want to spend it on.

I'm moving west,
Joe. Settling down.

Well, now.

What do you think?

Well, it could be somebody
warming their hands.

On their branding irons.

All right, just hold it
right like that, boys.

Joe, take a look at
the brand on that cow.

Ponderosa.

Well, now, you boys got a
bill of sale for those animals?

You know better
than that, Logan.

All right, boys.
Get your horses.

How do I look?

- Tolerable.
- Is that all?

- Well, I'm not going.
- Now wait a minute.

You're beautiful and you know
it. Haven't I told you that before?

Yes, but I am too
smart to believe you.

You don't look so bad yourself.

I love you, Anita.

- Virginia City's in for a big treat.
- You never give up, do you?

Do you want me to?

Those rustlers are in trouble.

You're the most stubborn
man I've ever seen.

You bet I am!

Look, you hang on tight.

I want everybody to
know that you are my girl.

Where are we going?

Anita, we're going
to the Palace Hotel.

We're gonna order a couple of
the biggest steaks in the house

and then a bottle of champagne,

imported French champagne.

Don't, Dan, please.

- Who does she think she is?
- It isn't her, it's me.

You ought to know that by now.

You only look at me,
Dan. She sees me.

Anita, I'm tired of
hearing you talk like that.

Don't be upset,
honey. I'm used to it.

Women... ladies always know.

I don't know how.

I'm not cut out for ice-cream
socials and sewing bees.

They know it and I know it.

So, let's go back.

You can't spend the rest of
your life in two rooms on D Street.

- Why not?
- Because I want more for you!

It won't work, Dan.
I've tried it before.

Now, we both know this
is my side of the street.

Why don't you let
me go back to work?

Don't you ever say that again!

I'm not the kind of girl
for the dreams you dream.

Oh, Anita. I don't believe
that. I don't believe that.

Listen, honey, I've got $1,200
coming, for bringing the Kels brothers in.

Let's go somewhere else
and we'll start all over again.

OK. You talk to me about
it when you get that $1,200.

It don't seem right to leave
without not thanking the jury.

Maybe we ought
to send them a cow!

Bartender, I'll buy a drink.

Fill up Mr. Logan, too.

Leave the bottle.

Too bad about that verdict.

That jury almost
picked your pocket.

The trouble is, any jury you get
around here is gonna do the same thing.

Oh, you should have brought
those boys in over their saddles.

Could have, what? $1,200 in
your pocket right now if you had.

Well, that's plain enough.

Are you speaking for the
Cattlemen's Association?

No, just wondering if
you were going out again,

or did you decide to give it up?

Well, the rustlers must be
wondering the same thing.

I'll just let you wonder, too.

Will that be all, Mr. Slater?

No, leave the bottle.
I'm just getting started.

Another hung jury!

Those rustlers were as good as
free before the trial even started.

You know, the judge didn't
even bother to thank that jury.

I guess he thought they'd get
enough thanks from the Kels brothers.

Well, what now?

I'm gonna bring in so many rustlers
they'll get tired of turning them loose.

- I didn't know there were that many.
- There is plenty.

One even got on today's
jury. It'll be different next time.

I'll have so much evidence the
jury will be afraid to let them go.

Rustlers are going to
try and k*ll you, Dan.

I know that.

And with our luck, it's
just liable to happen.

Dan.

Dan, look at me.

Take a good look. I'm
not worth getting k*lled for.

If anybody gets k*lled,
Anita, it won't be me.

Hey, boys. Right over
here. The drinks are on me.

No, thank you, Mr. Slater.

- What'll it be, men?
- Beer for me.

- Beer.
- Beer.

Three beers.

Is Dan Logan around?

He was here earlier.
Took off about an hour ago.

You got any idea where he went?

Well, he has a lady
friend up on D Street.

I didn't know there were
any ladies up on D Street.

I think I'll go look for him. He needs
some cheering up after that verdict.

- You coming back?
- Yeah. Wait for me.

- Hi, Joe.
- Mr. Hill.

- Hi, Jess.
- Candy.

- Hi, Hoss.
- Jess, how are you?

- Good!
- What'll you have?

Whiskey, please.

Well, well, Jess.

You're just the
man I want to see.

I got some business with you.

Only my friends call me Jess.

And it'll be a cold day
when I do business with you.

Well, I... I didn't say
you were gonna like it.

The fact is, I don't
think you will like it.

If there's anyone I like
less than Frank Slater sober,

it's Frank Slater drunk.

Jess, take it easy. There's
no sense in starting trouble.

Well...

I'm gonna move some of my
stock up on the West Fork range.

They need the water.

You are drunk.

I'm only telling you so that you
can move your scrubs off of there

before I move on.

I'll make soap out of
the first big T cow I see.

- That's open range, Hill.
- Slater, Slater.

The Cattlemen's Association
ain't gonna let you do that.

And I'm not, either.
I got a lease now.

Well, I'm breaking it,
you cow-stealing nester.

- Wait right there.
- Take it easy, Jess.

Yeah, both of you take it easy.

I'm tired of him
calling me a rustler.

Make your play,
Slater, or back down.

Slater.

Don't let booze do
your thinking for you.

Well, what's it gonna be?

Dan? Oh! I'm sorry.

I... I was hoping it was Dan.

- He's not here, then?
- No, he left a while ago.

Look, if he comes around, would you tell
him Joe Cartwright was looking for him?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

Mr. Cartwright, can I talk to
you a moment? It's about Dan.

Sure.

- It's the verdict.
- Yeah.

I know he's pretty
upset about it.

Can I get you something?
A drink? Coffee?

No, thank you. I...

I missed Dan after the trial. Do
you have any idea where he is?

No. He went out of here mad.

I've never seen him so angry.

- I don't know what he might do.
- I wouldn't worry about it.

- I think he'll be all right.
- Don't be so sure.

That verdict meant an awful lot
to him. He had plans, you know.

Does that mean I'm gonna get a chance to
wear my new suit and throw a little rice?

Do I look like the kind of girl
you'd bring home to Mother?

Oh, come on, Mr. Cartwright.

Don't be so uncomfortable, eh?

You'll spoil my reputation. I'm
supposed to make men happy.

Yeah, well, apparently,
you make Dan happy.

Well, let's say I, uh...
don't mean him harm.

Did... Did he tell you that he had
plans to go away and start all over?

Yeah. Yeah, we talked
about it a little bit on the trail.

It sounded like a
pretty good idea to me.

Sure, if that's what you want.

Well, you make it sound
like it's not what you want.

I've been around a long time.

It's a little bit late to
start over, don't you think?

No. I don't think so.

Dan doesn't think so, either.

You know...

He, uh... took a
look at me one day...

and saw a girl standing
by a fireplace in polka dots,

waiting for him to come home.

What he got was me.

I think you'd look real
good in polka dots.

No, I don't think it
fits my complexion.

Well, anyway, it's over.
The jury took care of that.

Maybe I ought to be doing
what the Kels brothers are doing,

rustling cattle.

You'd better be careful. Dan
will be after you. Good night.

Good night.

A little spending money, Ike?

Big T brand. Frank
Slater's not gonna like you.

Matter of fact, you boys don't
leave any brand alone, do you?

Logan, how'd you
know I was here?

I got my ways, Ike.

Won't do you any good. Jury
would just turn me loose again.

Then I'll just bring you right
back in again, simple as that.

Get these hides together.

We're gonna bring in the
evidence that'll put you away.

What's up, Logan?

I just brought Ike
Kels in. He's dead.

This has been fired three times.

He tried to take me
when my back was turned,

but his luck and his
aim were both bad.

I'll be in the saloon
if you want me.

I'm gonna k*ll you, Logan.

Get out of here, Billy, before
I turn you over my knee.

Now get this straight, Billy,
'cause I'm only gonna tell you once.

Your brother tried to k*ll me.

His g*n was out of the
holster before he was sh*t.

Don't make me k*ll you, Billy.

There's still three
of us left, Logan!

You can't take all three
of us. We'll get you!

Dan?

Dan?

Dan, what's the matter?

Honey, you don't look right.
Are you sick or something?

No, I'm fine.

Will there be any trouble?

It was self-defense.

Who was it?

Ike Kels.

Blood money.

You did what you had to do.

That doesn't make
me like it any better.

Money doesn't
care how you earn it.

I don't, either.

He drew first.

Does that make any difference?

Go! Yah! Get outta here!

- You reckon Logan saw us?
- Yeah.

Do you think
he'll take the bait?

I don't know why not.

A blind man couldn't
miss the trail we left.

Up here, boys.

Well!

They're up to their
old tricks again, Clem.

- What about Barney?
- Barney got away.

I hope you brought some evidence.
I'm tired of turning rustlers loose.

In the cell.

They got a whole herd bottled
up in a draw near Slater's place.

If that isn't enough,
they tried to ambush

a duly appointed
officer of the law.

Looks like you need a
doctor, son. And a lawyer.

I'll get you the doctor.

He never even gave us a chance.

It was a better chance
than you were giving me.

- Do you have to do that?
- Yes.

It's very annoying.

Well, you'll just have to put
up with it. I'm doing it for you.

Don't do me any favors.

Now, why do you
think I'm doing it?

Cleaning your
g*n? It must be dirty.


You know what I mean. Why
do you think I took this job?

Why?

You answer that and maybe I'll know
why you took a job hunting down men.

Because I need you, Anita.

I love you.

Love? My love
doesn't cost that much!

- Who is it?
- Frank Slater.

- Frank, I don't want to talk to you now.
- It means $1,000 to you.

Hello, Dan.

- You said £1,000?
- It's personal.

Well, I'm listening.

- Jess Hill is stealing my calves.
- Can you prove that?

See for yourself.
You're wearing a badge.

Take a run out to
the West Fork range

and look at the young
stock wearing fresh brands.

- All right. What about the money?
- Dead or alive.

Of course, there's an extra 300
from the Association if he's dead.

I'm Dan Logan. Your daddy home?

Dan Logan? You're the one that
brought in all those rustlers, aren't you?

Where's your father?

- I'm Pete Hill.
- Pete.

Hello, Dan.

I need to talk to you, Jess.
Nice to have met you, son.

- Same here.
- Go about your chores, son.

What's on your mind, Dan?

Frank Slater claims
he's losing calves.

Go on.

He says he's losing them to you.

Slater's a liar!

When do you brand
your young stock?

Roundup, same as everybody. Why?

Well, on the way over here
I saw a mother and a calf.

The mother wore Slater's big T
and the calf was a fresh tumbling K.

Now, it doesn't take much to
change a big T into tumbling K.

Are you accusing me?

I'm being paid to stop rustlers,

and I don't care if the rustlers are
members of the Association that pays me.

Now, if you're doing it, you'd
better get ready to stand trial or run...

or whatever suits you.

Pete.

Is something wrong, Pa?

Listen, Pete, I want you to
ride over to the Ponderosa.

Tell Ben Cartwright
that I gotta see him.

Tell him I'm afraid to leave.

Tell him it's important. Take my
horse. Get there as fast as you can.

You bet, Pa.

Son.

Pete.

Pete!

- Give me a hand, fellas.
- What happened, Jess?

It's my son, Pete.
He's been sh*t.

Take it easy now.

Be careful with his shoulder.

Let's turn him
around here. Okay.

Right up here.

It's all right, Pete.

You're all right,
Pete. You'll be okay.

Jess, what happened?

- My son was sh*t.
- Pete? He's just a kid.

- How is he?
- I don't know that.

- Doc wouldn't let me stay.
- How did it happen?

Dan Logan put two
b*ll*ts in my son's back.

- Did you see it?
- I didn't have to see it.

Pete was riding my palomino
and wearing my jacket.

Logan thought that
he was sh**ting at me!

Tell it from the
beginning, Jess.

Well, he came out
to my place, Logan.

And he said he'd found some
calves that had been branded.

I mean, the brands
had been changed.

And he accused
me of stealing cows.

I sent Pete to get
Ben Cartwright.

Just take your time, Jess.

If only I had gone myself!

I found him out near that
ridge on the West Fork...

ambushed.

My son was ambushed.

Now listen to me, everybody.

Dan Logan sh*t my son for $300!

Now, you all know
I don't have much,

but I'll give it all to the
man that brings him in.

I want Dan Logan in jail.

And if my son dies, God
help me, I want him to hang!

Jess, stop it. Don't you
see what you're doing?

- We're with you, Jess.
- I'm ready to ride out right now.

No one's riding
anywhere unless I say so.

Now, you break
it up. Go on home.

If I need a posse, I'll let you know.
Go on about your business, all of you.

Dan Logan never back-sh*t anybody
in his life. He'd never ambush anybody.

He has a girl in
town. You know her?

- I met her. Her name's Anita.
- You know where she lives?

Yeah.

- Oh, come in.
- You know the sheriff.

Oh. I am sorry. I'm
on my way to work.

I'm looking for Dan Logan.
Where can I find him?

I wouldn't know. He's not here.

- When will he be back?
- I don't know.

He left on business.

- What's... What's this all about?
- What kind of business?

How do I know? Business.

- Frank Slater came by.
- What did he want?

Oh, I was in the other room.

These walls are paper thin.

What did they talk about?

- I... I was asleep.
- Then how do you know he was here?

- I woke up.
- You heard them?

No. Yeah. Oh, I don't
know what I mean.

- What do you want me to say?
- Why don't you try the truth?

I'm telling the truth. Look,
Sheriff, I don't know anything.

I gotta go to work. I
don't want to be late.

You won't get there at all
unless you start cooperating.

Ask anybody, Anita cooperates.

All right, let's start all over.
Slater was here last night.

- He talked with Logan. What about?
- I don't know!

Get packed.

- What for?
- I'm gonna float you outta town.

- You got just about ten minutes.
- Why?

I don't need a reason.

Oh, look, Sheriff. Um... It was
cattlemen's business, rustling.

$1,300 doesn't grow on trees.

- Now, Dan's been trying for a long...
- How's he gonna make $1,300?

Well, isn't that what he does
for a living, bring in rustlers?

He gets paid $300 apiece.
You said 1,300. Why?

I meant 300.

Get your stuff.

Can't I stay here?

- I don't have anywhere to go?
- Tell me about last night!

I'll give you one minute
to make up your mind.

Frank Slater...

offered Dan Logan $1,000 to
stop Jess Hill from rustling his cattle.

You can go to work
now, Miss Lavez.

Anyone sees Logan,
fire three sh*ts in the air.

The rest of us will catch up.

The Cattlemen's Association's
offered $1,000 reward.

Another 1,000's been
donated by Jess's friends.

Now, all of you know what
Logan can do with a g*n,

so don't let this
reward get in your eye.

All right, let's go.

Right about where
you're standing, Joe.

That another Apache trick?

Yeah. Comes in handy when
you're back-sh**ting kids.

I don't believe that.

You're the only one who doesn't.

sh*ts came from somewhere
near the gully over there.

How is the kid?

He's got a good chance.

I hope so. Seemed like
a nice kid when I met him.

- Dan, the sheriff's looking for you.
- I know.

He's leading the posse
I've been tracking.

You got a $2,000 reward on your head.
You'll have to come into town with me.

The sheriff's a fair man.
He'll give you an even break.

He believes I did it.

With $2,000 on my head,
I'd never make it to town.

- Dan, I'm gonna have to take you in.
- You'll have to k*ll a friend to do it.

I'll catch up to you sometime.

Anita?

You're an eager one!

Come on. Come on. Give us kiss.

Come on.

Oh! I've been waiting
for that all night.

Come on, I'm trying
to open the door!

Now, that's what
I call a good time.

Wait a minute. I thought you
said we were gonna be alone.

Get outta here, Charlie.

Look, I don't know
who you think you are...

Get out.

You went back to work.

- Sheriff, he's in there!
- Come on.

Dan Logan's in my house.

Yeah, I offered him
$1,000. Why not?

I want to see this
rustling stopped.

If 300 wouldn't do it, I
figured a 1,000 would.

But I didn't tell him to sh**t anybody,
especially not an 18-year-old boy.

He thought he
was sh**ting at me.

We all know that, Jesse.

What kind of a b*llet did
you take out of the boy's body?

A .44-40, the same as Logan's.

Right, same as Logan's, same as
yours, same as mine. We've all got .44-40s.

So? What are you getting at?

Up by the ravine where the boy
was sh*t, I found these shell casings.

- .44-40s. What about them?
- Take a look at the primer.

Scarred up. Probably
a splintered f*ring pin.

How's the f*ring
pin on Logan's r*fle?

This r*fle never
fired those shells.

Take a look at this one.

f*ring pin's split almost
in half. Whose is it?

I just took it off of
Frank Slater's horse.

- Wait a minute.
- Why, you dirty...

- You tried to k*ll my boy!
- Hold it.

Hold it!

Slater, you and Logan
are gonna swap places.

What you do, Frank? Change
the brand on your own cows?

I'm sorry, Jesse.

So am I.

Thank you, Joe.

You sure you don't
want to stick around, huh?

There's a lot of places
I haven't seen yet, Joe.

- Where you heading?
- Nowhere.

- Anywhere.
- Keep in touch.

Keep looking behind you.
I'll catch up to you sometime.

Dan?

Dan, I'm sorry.
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