11x24 - Decision at Los Robles

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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11x24 - Decision at Los Robles

Post by bunniefuu »

Señorita, qué está
pasando? Qué está haciendo?

Well, do you wanna press on to San
Francisco after we water these horses,

or you wanna take it
easy and spend the night?

I think we ought to
give the horses a rest.

- Your horse didn't look too tired.
- You're forcing me to be honest, Pa.

I'm b*at. I don't know how
you stay in the saddle that long.

- You mean at my age?
- I didn't say that.

Of course you didn't.

Buenos días, amigos.
May I take your horses?

Please. Double the grain and
bed 'em down for the night, friend.

- Be happy to, amigo.
- Where's the coldest beer in town?

Right over there. It's not too
cold, but it's the only beer in town.

Thank you.

If we're gonna be good to the horses,
might as well be good to the riders.

Here we go. I think that's the
best idea you've had all day.

Two cold beers, please.

Señor, the beer is not too cold.

I think two warm
beers'll be fine.

Joseph, I notice how easily pleased
you are when the service is good.

Mr. Walker wants to sit down.

Whiskey.

Un momento, por favor.

Don't you "just a minute"
me. Whiskey, now.

Let the girl go.

What did you say?

I said let the girl go.
It's my beer you spilled.

You want a drink,
you wait your turn.

I don't think you know
who you're talking to, mister.

I know I'm not talking to you.

My name's John Walker.

Fine. Now, let the girl go.

And don't think of
siccing Goliath on me.

That'd be a big mistake.

Didn't mean to
get pushy, mister.

That's all right.
Everybody has a bad day.

Let's go, Garth.

Least I can do is
buy you a drink.

- No hard feelings?
- No feelings whatever.

Did you see the
size of the other fella?

- Mm-hm.
- And you were gonna take him on?

If I'd had to.

What do you think
would have happened?

I think he'd have kicked
the heck out of me.

- I'll go back in and get him.
- No.

You mean you're just gonna
buy him a drink and forget it?

I didn't just buy
him a drink, Garth.

I bought him his last drink.

- Well, you ready to go?
- Hmm?

I thought I might stick around here
just for a little while, if it's all right.

Yeah, I figured you'd say that.

I'll rustle up a hotel room
and get the bath water ready.

Good deal.

Pa!

Get a doctor!
Somebody get a doctor!

How bad is it, Doc?

It's bad.

I should get that b*llet out,

but he's lost so much
blood, I'm afraid to try it now.

I've got the bleeding stopped.

All you can do now is
try to keep his fever down.

What if the fever gets worse?

Then we'll have to take a
chance and dig for that b*llet.

He must be moved.

You know that.

- I know.
- What do you mean, moved? Where?

Out of Los Robles.

Look, I don't get it. First you
say my father's in bad shape.

And now you say I have to get
him out of town. What is this?

If we move him, he'll die.

If we don't move
him, he will be k*lled.

What's this all about?

The man your father
k*lled was John Walker.

My father sh*t that man in
self-defense. You told me you saw it.

I know that. But John
Walker is an important man.

He and his son Jed run this town.
Jed will never let him leave here alive.

What about the law, the sheriff?

The sheriff of Los
Robles is self-appointed.

Look, I don't care. Where is he?

Your father k*lled
him this afternoon.

Well, just don't stand there
lookin' like a fool. What is it?

Well, come on, speak up.

- Your... Your father.
- What? What does he want now?

Your father's dead. m*rder*d.

Who k*lled him?

A stranger. Man
named Ben Cartwright.

How?

He bushwhacked your pa.

They had an argument in the
saloon and he bushwhacked him.

Your pa hit him.

How bad?

I don't know. I'm not sure.

No matter.

Get my horse.

I'll get the men together.

I didn't ask you to
get the men together.

I said saddle my horse.

- Oh, Jed, you... you... you...
- Mister!

I'm Mr. Walker now!

I run this ranch now. I
run that stinkin' town.

Now, get my horse.

Yes, sir.

Whiskey.

Good whiskey, amigo.

The man that k*lled
my father, where is he?

In the hotel.

Bring him here.

He is hurt very bad.

I do not know if he can move.

Bring him here. Carry
him here. Drag him here.

Please, Señor Walker.

You got ten minutes.

I just can't believe a whole
town's afraid of one man.

You don't know the man.

And you don't know this town.

People are people.
They wanna be free.

It is as easy to get used to
sl*very as it is to freedom.

If it goes on long
enough, it seems natural.

We buy all our
supplies from him.

The water. Even the
bibles we use in the church.

At whatever price he asks.

- The money we pay is for protection.
- Protection from what?

From John Walker.

And now his son. There
will be no difference.

How long have
they run this town?

They ran it when I
got here 15 years ago.

They will always run it.
They feel they have the right.

The right to sh**t
people in the back?

Jed Walker has a lot of power.

He can easily convince
himself he is never wrong.

Because no one
dares to question him.

Wait. I'll go.

It's all right. It's Ricardo.

Jed Walker, he's in the saloon.

He wants your father.

If I do not bring him in ten
minutes, I think he will k*ll me.

- Is he alone?
- I think so. I don't know.

He's a crazy man. Por favor,
señor, don't let him k*ll me.

Keep an eye on my father, Padre.

Let there be no
more killings, my son.

Let's go, Ricardo.

- Are you Ben Cartwright?
- No, I'm his son.

I told you I wanted
Ben Cartwright.

My father's unconscious.
You wanna talk, you talk to me.

I didn't come here to talk.

Your old man m*rder*d
my father. I want him.

Your father ambushed my
pa. He sh*t him in the back.

- There were witnesses.
- That's a lie.

Ask the padre. He saw it.

I told you I didn't
come here to talk.

Now, go get your old man.

When that's empty,
I'm gonna k*ll you.

I'm sorry about your father.

Now, go home.

How is he?

No change.

I heard sh*ts. What happened?

Don't worry, Padre.
I didn't k*ll him.

Just convinced him
to go home, that's all.

Did you tell him your
father fired in self-defense?

I told him, but he didn't
feel like believing me.

I knew he wouldn't.

It doesn't matter.
It's over now.

I wish I could get
his fever down.

- He'll be back.
- What?

Jed Walker will be back.

Stop worrying about Jed Walker,
Padre. I can take care of him.

He won't come alone this time.

He'll come with
his men. Many men.

You made him lose face.

He's going to
have to k*ll you too.

I will pray for your father...

and for you too, my son.

Tell the men to get saddled
up. We're going to town.

And get me a fresh horse!

Cartwright! Do you
hear me, Cartwright?

Yeah, I can hear you.

I want your father now.

- Well, now I can't hear you.
- I got 15 g*ns out here.

Make it easy on yourself.

Send out the old
man, I'll let you live.

You want him, Walker,
you come and get him.

There's only two ways
to get in this room,

and me and Pa got
'em both covered.

What do you think?

I think if we go in there,
we'll lose a lot of men.

Cartwright, I don't want
any innocent folks to get hurt,

so I'm gonna give you
a chance to think it over.

You got 24 hours to
make up your mind.

Save yourself the wait.
My mind's made up.

Oh, I'm not finished yet.

If your old man isn't out here
in the town square in 24 hours,

I'm gonna start killin'
the citizens of Los Robles.

One an hour... until
your father comes out.

You think about that.

Oh, the town'll be surrounded,
so don't think about tryin' to leave.

Until tomorrow, Mr. Cartwright.

- Who is it?
- Padre Javier.

You don't have to
say I told you so.

I'm sorry.

So am I.

You have a difficult
decision to make.

I don't have any
decision to make, Padre.

Many innocent people will die
if you don't do what Walker said.

He's not bluffing. He will
k*ll, just as he told you.

Yeah, well, I'm
not bluffing either.

The people of this town
got themselves into this.

If they want out, they're gonna have
to come up with some guts and fight.

They have no g*ns, and even
if they did, they would not fight.

I've got two revolvers
and two r*fles.

You find me four men that know how
to use 'em and we can stop Jed Walker.

I cannot ask my people to k*ll.

Come on, Padre! Don't give me
"the meek shall inherit the earth" stuff.

That's my father lying
on that bed over there.

I'm not gonna sacrifice
him for a bunch of cowards.

Now, you go tell them that.

- What did he say?
- He says he will fight.

Do you understand?
He says he will fight.

He can't. What
kind of a man is he?

He's a son who's willing
to fight for his father.

And he doesn't care
whose blood is on his hands?

You don't seem to object
to spilling his father's blood.

But that's just one man.

So was Jesus.

Now, who will help?

What does he expect us to do?
Walker has so many men, so many g*ns.

Cartwright has g*ns. A few.

All he asks is four men.

He thinks he can stop
Jed Walker with four men.

He's crazy.

No one has ever
stopped the Walkers.

No one has ever tried.

There's no need to try.

- Hmm?
- I said there's no need to try.

What do you mean?

I knew what kind
of trouble there'd be.

It's the only way.

I left the b*llet in
Cartwright on purpose.

What are you saying?

There'll be no reason for a
son to fight for a dead father.

May God forgive you.

May God forgive all of you.

I thought I could help.

What about the others?

They will do nothing.

I'll say one thing for you,
Padre. You sure know your town.

Not as well as I thought.

They will not fight because
they know there is no need.

What do you mean, no need?

The doctor.

The doctor left the b*llet in your
father because he wants him to die.

- Where's the doctor now?
- In the saloon.

Maria, you keep putting those cold
compresses on my father, all right?

I'll get the doctor.

The town is being watched.
You wouldn't have a chance.

Don't you worry,
Padre. I'll make it.

Now, you listen to me good, Doc.

We go over to your office and
you pick up whatever you need.

Then we go to the hotel.

You make one wrong move and
you're gonna be operating on yourself.

You understand me?

All right, let's go.

Well, what do you
think of my plan, Garth?

Well, it's a good plan,
Mr. Walker. Good plan.

But I still think a couple
of sticks of dynamite'd do it.

Oh, you've got a lot to learn
about people, Garth. A lot to learn.

Why, the only thing more
dangerous than a hero is a dead hero.

I don't get you.

Well, I'm not about to
make that kid into a martyr,

'cause martyrs... make
heroes out of cowards.

I think he'll break by tomorrow.

And what if he doesn't?

Well, nobody likes to die for
somebody they don't know.

By tomorrow we
can put that dynamite

in the hands of any one of
the fine citizens of Los Robles

and they'll throw it for us.

Do you approve of
my plan now, Garth?

You know, you're John
Walker's son, all right.

Why, thank you, Garth.

Let's drink a toast to the...
fine citizens of Los Robles.

- You ready?
- I'm ready.

Well, just so you'll
do your best...

if my father dies, so do you.

You're a good man, Joseph.

Don't let hatred
destroy your soul.

You worry about saving my soul,
Padre. I'll worry about saving my father.

Keep the ether ready
in case he comes to.

We won't know for a while.

I tried not to damage too much
tissue probing for the b*llet.

What are his chances?

I think his chances are good.

I'm not much of a human
being, but I'm a good doctor.

Padre, you said some of those men over
there might fight if they had a reason.

Yes, I think so.

I want you to go to the saloon

and tell them the doc worked
on my father and he's fine.

Shouldn't we wait?

We can't wait.
It's 1:15 right now.

If we're gonna hit 'em, we're
gonna have to do it while it's still dark.

- All right. I'll do my best.
- Good.

Now, if it works out, tell them to
come in the back way one at a time.

I don't want any of Walker's
men to know what's going on.

If something should
happen, the doctor...

Don't you worry, Padre.
I'm not gonna hurt the doc.

Good luck.

The padre's been
gone about an hour.

What will you do if
the men will not help?

I don't know.

I thought I knew this morning,
but I'm not so sure now.

You would not let
them take your father.

No.

No, it's the others.

They're cowards.

Even my father's a coward.

And I hate him for it.

Well, don't.

The only difference between
a coward and a brave man

is a brave man has
something to fight for.

Don't worry. None of your
people will die tomorrow.

You should go on back home.
Your father'll be worried about you.

Buena suerte.

I cannot argue with you anymore!

There is no time!

If you want to save yourselves,
you must make a decision now.

You cannot be sure
that Cartwright will live,

or that Walker
will k*ll any of us.

I think if we help Walker,
he will let us all live.

You'd hold hands with the
devil to save your own lives.

That young Cartwright
would have us all die for him.

No, he would not.

He will die tomorrow,

but you will all be safe.

You can all go home
now and sleep well.

And if you have
trouble sleeping,

you can go to confession
and heal your guilt.

But only God knows
if you speak the truth.

Maria.

Do not tell me you do this
because you want me safe.

Why else?

Safe for what?

Safe for fear?

Safe for guilt?

Because we will all share the
guilt and we will all share the fear.

And I pray God will
not forgive any of us.

Who's with me?

No one else?

All right.

Go out one at a time
to the back of the hotel.

I'll meet you there.

Hold it.


Oh, it's you, Padre.

What are you doing wandering
around this time of night?

There's a woman inside. She's very
old. I've come to give her the last rites.

Ah.

How come you're
using the back door?

I was afraid those gunmen out there
would see me and try to sh**t me.

I didn't think you padres
was afraid of dyin'.

Oh, I'm not afraid, my son.

I would just like to delay
it as long as possible.

Well, I don't blame
you. All right, go ahead.

- Sí.
- Padre.

You better get plenty of rest.

You're liable to be
very busy tomorrow.

- Come on, let's get a drink.
- Yeah.

What happened?

Two of Walker's men
stopped me outside.

- Did they see the others come in?
- No, I'm sure they did not.

I told a very small lie
and they let me pass.

Good.

First I wanna thank
you both for coming.

Don't thank me, señor.
Thank my daughter, Maria.

She's as persuasive
as her mother was.

I just wish there
were more of us.

How many men you
think Walker left in town?

I looked around this afternoon,
and I would guess ten, maybe twelve.

They are all good with g*ns.

Twelve, huh?

Twelve to three. That's
not very good odds.

Make that four.

Thanks, Doc.

But you'll be a lot
more help up here.

You said you looked
around this afternoon.

Were Walker's men moving
around or were they in set positions?

Most of them were in positions.

They're watching all
the exits to the village.

Those two men I met downstairs
appeared to be on patrol.

They were heading
for the saloon.

Hey, Doc, you got
a pencil and paper?

Sure. How else could
I leave you a bill?

Sanchez, I want you to show
us as close as you can remember

the spots that
Walker's men are in.

Sí, amigo.

This is the plaza.

And there's the saloon here.

There are two here...

Hey, Señorita,
more whiskey, huh?

Hey!

She's sure a
good-lookin' woman, huh?

It's too bad she might
get k*lled tomorrow.

Yeah, well, that'd be
an awful waste if she did.

Yeah.

Where's all the men
tonight? Hiding in the church?

I do not know, señor.

Well, won't do 'em good anyway.

Jed Walker ain't on religion.

You know, if you
was to be nice to us,

we might talk the
boss into lettin' you go.

You know?

Please don't!

She's gonna have to be a lot friendlier
than that with us, Charlie, right?

That's right. She better get
friendly. She better get friendly.

Loosen up.

We might be the only men
left around here tomorrow.

It is not that I do
not like you, señor,

but what if someone
should come in?

I'll tell 'em to get out.

It would be easier and more
comfortable, señor, in the back, hmm?

Yes, ma'am.

I'll see you in a
little while, Charlie.

Señor Charlie, it is a shame
that you sit there alone.

Why don't you come back here?

All right, honey,
your Charlie's comin'.

Check the street.

Make sure he's tied up good.

This one won't move a muscle.

Maria, get me something
to gag these two, will you?

- To what?
- To...

To tie around their
mouths, keep 'em quiet.

Sí.

- It's all quiet out on the street.
- Good.

This one, he'll be
out for a long time.

Yeah, that was my Sunday
punch. No offense, Padre.

Yeah, that's fine.

Sanchez.

All right, two down and
ten to go. Let's move.

- Who's there?
- It's me, Padre Javier.

I thought I would bring
you some hot coffee.

The night is cold.

That's mighty friendly of you,
Father. How come you're bein' so nice?

Well, we priests were put
on earth to serve all men.

You wouldn't be trying to save
our souls, now, would you, Padre?

It would be a challenge.

You better be satisfied with warmin'
our stomachs with some of that coffee.

Of course.

Oh!

Forgive me.

The men are ready.

Oh, good.

- Garth?
- Yes, sir?

You've been with the family
for a long time, haven't you?

- Yes, sir.
- How long?

- About 12 years.
- Ah.

And in all that time you've
always been loyal to my father?

Yes, sir.

You never lied to him, did you?

No, sir.

Then why did you lie to me?

I don't know what you mean.

You know very well what I mean.

Nobody bushwhacked
my pa, did they, Garth?

Answer me, Garth! Answer me!

No, sir.

My father sh*t Cartwright in the back,
just the way his son said, didn't he?

Well, they had an
argument in the saloon.

Didn't he? My father
sh*t him in the back.

Yes, sir.

You'll never lie to me
again, will you, Garth?

No, sir.

Good.

Who should know
my father better than I?

I'm my father's son.

I'm glad we had this
little conversation.

Now we understand each other.

Do you have the dynamite?

Enough to blow up
half of Los Robles.

Well, then, let's see
who kills the Cartwrights.

He's coming to.

Joseph?

- Joseph? Joe?
- I'm right... I'm right here, Pa.

Take it easy.

Take it easy. You're
gonna be all right.

Guess we should have
passed up this place, huh?

Yeah, I guess we should have.

How bad is it?

It was pretty bad for a while,
but you're gonna be fine.

You had a good doctor.

It is time, my son.

Pa, I'm gonna be gone for
a little while. You just rest.

- Where are you...?
- No, just take it easy.

I'll be right back.

You're gonna be fine.

All right, let's go, Doc.

Padre, keep an eye
on my father, will you?

24 hours are up, Cartwright.

- Where's your father?
- He decided to sleep late.

Your funny mouth's gonna
get a lot of people k*lled.

You don't scare
anybody anymore, Walker.

There's been enough
k*lling. Drop your g*ns.

You're not only dumb,
Cartwright, you're blind.

I got g*ns all over this
town. Look around you.

I think you ought to
look around. Go on, look.

There's a man behind
every door and every window.

You don't run this town anymore,
Walker. It belongs to the people again.

The people?

I am the people.

Now, listen to me, all of you!

Come on, throw down your g*ns
and come on out. I'll let you live.

You hear me?

This is Jed Walker
talkin' to you.

I own you!

Drop your g*ns.

You coward.

You're all cowards!

You're alone now,
Walker. Drop it.

- Go on, drop it.
- Joe.

Cartwright!

He heard. I could not stop him.

Joe. Joe, you all right?

I'm fine, Pa. Everything's fine.

Garth, tell 'em
this is still my town.

It's my town, Garth.

I'm Jed Walker. This has
always been a Walker town!

Do you hear me? Do you hear me?

This is a Walker town!

I own you! I own you!

Just take it slow.

You be sure and try not to
rush things, Mr. Cartwright.

You've got a lot
of stitches in you.

Yeah, well, I'll... I'll...
I'll take care of myself.

And I'm quite sure that my young
son here'll baby me till I'm sick of it.

- Doc.
- Joe, good luck, and thanks.

- Why are you thanking me?
- For making me feel like a man again.

Take care, Doc.

- Bye, then.
- Gracias.

- Buena suerte.
- Buena suerte.

It will be a long time before
Jed Walker gets out of prison.

He'll think twice about
coming back to Los Robles.

Gracias, amigo.

Maria.

Thank you.

Go with God, my son.

Let's go home.

Hasta luego!
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