- 16 hours ago
The episode centers on a threat to the Ponderosa’s water supply. A neighboring rancher and long-time friend of Ben Cartwright, Andy McCarren, agrees to sell his property to a mining tycoon, Len Keith. This sale would jeopardize a long-standing water rights agreement between the two ranches.
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Short filmTranscript
00:12Todd McCarran. I wonder what he's up to now.
00:14Well, there's only one way to find out. Let's ask him.
00:32Why the surveying, Todd? Any law against surveying my own property line?
00:37Ever any doubt in our mind about its location?
00:39Well, maybe there will be in the mind of the new owner.
00:42You mean your father's selling out?
00:44Not my father, me. To Len Keith.
00:47Len Keith? I thought he only bought mining property. That's what he thinks this could be.
00:52Todd, we have a water rights agreement with your father on the use of this stream.
00:56If Keith uses it for mining, it'll poison out some of our best bottom land.
01:00Seems that's your worry, Ben, not mine.
01:02Now, just a minute. Let go.
01:05You cartwrights have shoved us around for the last 20 years.
01:08You're a liar.
01:10Wait a minute.
01:12There's no ways to settle this.
01:14As I see it, it's already been settled.
01:26Oh, yeah.
01:38THE END
02:04THE END
02:12THE END
02:12THE END
02:17THE END
02:19THE END
02:27Hey, where you two been?
02:29Old Hop Singh had a real good meal fixed for him.
02:32And you decided not to let it go to waste and ate it all, huh?
02:34How'd you know that?
02:36What are you doing reading a book?
02:38The care and training of dogs.
02:40Oh, a little old stray pup wandered in here,
02:42and I've been trying to figure out how to take care of it.
02:44I thought you were an expert on things like that.
02:46Oh, Paul, there's a dang many new scientific ideas
02:48that natural know-how just ain't no good no more.
02:50Well, as far as I'm concerned,
02:52you can say that about Todd McCarron, too.
02:54I thought I knew him pretty well.
02:56Why? What's the matter, Todd?
02:58I don't know.
02:58Growing pains, likely.
03:00Where's that pouch of Virginia tobacco I got?
03:02Don't look at me.
03:03I didn't smoke it.
03:04I thought you were saving us tobacco for Andy McCarron's birthday.
03:07Well, I was,
03:08but no reason a man can't have a birthday a few days early.
03:11I'm going to ride over to Andy
03:12and have a talk with him about Todd.
03:14Oh, I wish Mr. McCarron a happy birthday for me, too, will you?
03:16I will.
03:25Who is it?
03:26It's Ben, Andy.
03:28Oh, come on in, Ben.
03:29The door's not locked.
03:33Doggone, it's good to see you.
03:34Doggone, good to see you, too, Andy.
03:36It's been a long time.
03:37It has, that.
03:38How are you feeling?
03:39Oh, I'm practically stuck to this chair,
03:41but what's the difference?
03:42Good to see you.
03:43I brought you some of that good southern tobacco.
03:44Take the bite out of your pipe.
03:47Thanks, Ben.
03:49Hey, smells good.
03:53This fire of yours feels good.
03:56Ran into Todd today.
03:59Yeah.
04:00I turned the running of things over to him.
04:03I had to face up to it.
04:04I'm just not up to handling things anymore.
04:07Todd was saying you're thinking some of selling out.
04:10You know how kids are.
04:12Always trying to get ahead fast,
04:14but I figure when it comes to selling,
04:17he'll want to stay on this land as much as I do.
04:20Well, I hope you're right, Andy.
04:23I guess I got a little upset when he told me
04:27he was thinking of selling out to Len Keith.
04:30Well, I'd be surprised if he mentioned any other name.
04:32He's so sweet on Len Keith's daughter that,
04:35well, he doesn't know his own name half the time.
04:37She's a fine girl.
04:40Todd seemed pretty determined to sell.
04:42Well, that he is.
04:43Ben, you have boys your own.
04:46A man's got to let his son grow up,
04:48even if he doesn't always agree with him.
04:50Oh, you're right there.
04:52I was just thinking that if Keith ever did start
04:55mining operations on your property,
04:56it would foul up the water in that stream
04:59to where it would poison half the cattle of my range.
05:01Oh, it won't come to that, Ben.
05:04I've got cattle of my own using that stream.
05:08Well, we're getting older, Andy.
05:10We are that.
05:11I remember when you brought your family here.
05:14I figured that plan to share the water in that stream
05:17would not last both our lifetimes.
05:19It's the truth.
05:20So did I.
05:25Well, I see you didn't waste any time, Mr. Cartwright.
05:28Todd!
05:29Is that a way to behave?
05:30I don't want people talking behind my back.
05:33Ben came here to talk, not fight.
05:34It won't hurt you to listen.
05:36What for?
05:37I know what he's going to say.
05:38We're just one big happy family
05:40as long as he's the boss
05:41and we do what we're told.
05:42You've been listening to that all of your life, Pa.
05:45Todd, I've never known your father
05:47to back away from me or any other man
05:49long as I've known him.
05:51What's he doing?
05:53Talking over old times
05:54so that you won't forget
05:55the little things you might owe him
05:56so you'll feel ashamed to let me sell out?
05:58Todd!
05:59He's been doing that
06:00to some of the others around here
06:01only they haven't had the belly
06:02to stand up to him.
06:04That's enough!
06:05Ben Cartwright's the best friend
06:07we ever had and you know it.
06:08He's no friend of ours.
06:09You apologize!
06:10Andy, never mind.
06:12No, Ben.
06:13This is still my house
06:14and I won't have it shamed.
06:15Your house, your land,
06:17this wonderful land
06:18that killed Ma before a time
06:20and crippled you
06:20so you can hardly walk.
06:22All right, keep it!
06:23Love it!
06:24Run on it for all I care!
06:40Andy.
06:43I'm afraid I'll have to apologize
06:45to you myself, Ned.
06:49I figured that
06:52if I come by
06:52might help.
07:01Guess it hurt more.
07:06Andy.
07:08Now, we don't have
07:09too much ready cash
07:10in the Ponderosa
07:10this time of year
07:11and what with it
07:12being tied up
07:12in the herd
07:13and all,
07:13but
07:14well, if it's
07:15selling out
07:15that Todd
07:16is so concerned about.
07:17Ben,
07:18you know how Todd
07:19would feel
07:19about any offer
07:20coming from you?
07:22I suppose he'd just think
07:23I'd been waiting
07:24for the opportunity
07:25to buy you out.
07:27Pretty sad thing
07:28when two old friends
07:29can't discuss business
07:30without their motives
07:30being questioned.
07:31It's much deeper
07:32than that, Ben.
07:34Len Keith has no intention
07:35of using this land
07:36for ranching.
07:37He's offered Todd
07:38a partnership.
07:39He's got the boy
07:40all fired up
07:41with ideas
07:41of becoming
07:41another silver baron.
07:45Andy.
07:47Now, do you believe
07:49deep down in your heart
07:50that there's any chance
07:51of silver on this land?
07:52No, Ben.
07:53No more than you do.
07:53No.
07:54But, Len Keith
07:55is a mining man
07:56and he thinks
07:57there may be silver
07:58and he's got the boy
07:59thinking it too.
08:00Well, doesn't Todd
08:01realize that Keith
08:02is just speculating?
08:03That's what he always does.
08:04Buys up as much land
08:05as he can possibly
08:06get a hold of
08:07in the hopes
08:07that some of it
08:08will pay off.
08:09Ruins the land.
08:10He's ruined much more
08:11than land, Ben.
08:12He's ruined many men
08:13with him on his way up.
08:15And this time,
08:17it could be my son.
08:19Wouldn't want that
08:19to happen, Andy.
08:20Any more than you do.
08:21Thank you, Ben.
08:45Todd!
08:46I didn't expect you
08:47until this evening.
08:48I have to see you, Father.
08:50Is something wrong?
08:52Yes.
08:54Hello, Todd.
08:55How's my future son-in-law?
08:57Disgusted,
08:57if you want to know the truth.
08:59Oh, well,
08:59come on in,
09:00tell me about it.
09:00Maybe I can help you.
09:02What is it?
09:03Mr. Keith,
09:04I can't sell out to you.
09:06Oh, why not?
09:07Does your father feel
09:08that I didn't offer you
09:09enough for the property?
09:09Oh, it's not that.
09:11He made a water rights agreement
09:13with Ben Cartwright
09:1420 years ago.
09:15I see.
09:15The Cartwrights, eh?
09:18What's the matter with them?
09:19They feel that we're going
09:20to muddy up
09:20their pretty little stream?
09:22It's getting to be
09:23you can't make a move
09:24in this country
09:24without Ben Cartwright's permission.
09:26Well, I suppose
09:27you can't blame a man
09:29for looking out
09:29after his own interests.
09:31What about my interests?
09:32Mine and Virginia's?
09:34Where are we going
09:34to get the money
09:35to get married?
09:36Todd, you know money
09:37isn't important to me
09:38as long as we're together.
09:39My mother felt that way.
09:41She died when she was
09:4226 years old,
09:43helping my father
09:44try to make something
09:45of this land.
09:46Todd, I can always
09:47find a job for you
09:48in one of my mining companies.
09:50A man has to make it
09:51on his own, Mr. Keith.
09:52You ought to know that.
09:53It's what you did, isn't it?
09:54I certainly did.
09:57That's the way
09:57I like to hear you talk.
09:58Now, don't worry about it.
10:00I'm sure we can get
10:00your father to see
10:01it our way.
10:02Not if Ben Cartwright's
10:03doing his thinking
10:04for him, we won't.
10:05But the Cartwrights
10:06have always seemed
10:07like reasonable people
10:08to me.
10:09You just know them
10:09in a social way, Virginia.
10:11You've never dealt
10:11with them on a business level.
10:13Don't worry.
10:14I'm not going to let
10:15Ben Cartwright stand
10:16the way of the happiness
10:17of my two children.
10:24Come on, Shorty.
10:25Come on, boy.
10:26Come on, Shorty.
10:27Come on, boy.
10:28Come on, Peppy.
10:29Come on, Shorty.
10:31Come on, you pup.
10:41Nice puppy.
10:43Come on, puppy.
10:45Come on, puppy.
10:48Come on here, Shorty.
10:49I'm going to give you a bath.
10:50Get over there in that tub.
10:51Come on, puppy.
10:52Come here to me.
11:11You're going to get a bath
11:12whether you want it or not.
11:13Come on here, pup.
11:14Come here to me.
11:16Come here, pup.
11:18Hey, Shorty.
11:18Come on.
11:19Nice puppy.
11:21Come here.
11:22Nice puppy.
11:23Come on, brother.
11:25Here you go, buddy.
11:35If you ain't the beatin'est
11:36dang dog I have seen
11:38all morning,
11:38I've been tryin' to catch you
11:39just to put you in that bucket.
11:43Pull that old outfit.
11:44Don't you know
11:44this is for your own good?
11:45You load it down
11:47with them dang kicks
11:48and I'm just tryin'
11:48to get them off of you.
11:49That's all.
11:53Poor little outfit, you.
11:55Hi, brother.
11:58Hey, you still play
11:59nursemaid
11:59of that little dog
12:00you found?
12:00Well, I can't hardly
12:01help it none, Kenneth.
12:02This poor little critter
12:03hangs around.
12:04Yeah.
12:06You smell somethin'?
12:07Oh, it's me.
12:09Yeah, I was settin'
12:10some traps for the wolves
12:11that were bothering the cattle.
12:12Caught a skunk in one of them.
12:13You sure did.
12:15Look here,
12:15when I get through
12:16with old Shorty here,
12:16why don't you jump in?
12:17That's gonna take
12:18a lot more than soap
12:18and water to get me clean.
12:19Well, this here
12:20ain't ordinary soap.
12:21This here soap's
12:22got sulfur in it.
12:23I was over at Baker's
12:24flat the other day
12:24talkin' to that storekeeper,
12:26tellin' him about
12:26old Shorty's wood ticks
12:27and he told me
12:28that stuff would
12:28take anything off.
12:29Yeah?
12:30Yeah.
12:31It'd probably
12:31take my skin off, too.
12:34Yeah.
12:42Hi, Pa.
12:43You talk to Andy?
12:44Yeah.
12:44Oh, Andy is going to
12:45honor that water agreement
12:46we have with him
12:47just as I thought he would.
12:48I just can't figure out
12:49what got into Todd.
12:50I can't either.
12:51Seems like he just
12:52doesn't want to get along
12:52with anybody.
12:53Yeah.
12:53You two know
12:54what's wrong with Todd.
12:56He's in love.
12:57Well, I wish it
12:58were that simple.
13:00Anybody smell skunk?
13:02Oh, that's me, Pa.
13:03I, uh,
13:04I caught a skunk
13:05in one of the wolf traps.
13:06Well, uh,
13:07if you're gonna go
13:07to that social with us
13:08tonight, I think you,
13:09uh, better start
13:09getting cleaned up now.
13:10Yeah.
13:11What, you think
13:12somebody of mine?
13:13Yeah.
13:16Isn't Adam,
13:17if, uh,
13:18if Todd is at that social,
13:19I think he will be.
13:20Try to have a talk
13:21with him.
13:22You know, as a friend.
13:25Shorty, I know you
13:26ain't gonna never
13:26believe this, but
13:27this here is real
13:28good for you.
13:36Hey, now.
13:37If looks have
13:38anything to do with it,
13:39we sure gonna have
13:39us a time tonight,
13:40ain't we?
13:40Yeah, but you just
13:41remember what I told you.
13:42You stand on your own
13:43feet, not the ladies.
13:44Oh, you're a good one
13:45to be giving advice
13:46about the ladies.
13:47Went with, uh,
13:48Jenya Keefe for three
13:49years, now old
13:50Todd's Mariner.
13:51Well, I guess I just
13:52never got around
13:52to asking her.
13:55He sure wins
13:55a slow worker,
13:56ain't he, Paul?
13:56Three years.
13:58You through
13:59with that brush?
14:01You expecting
14:02some of it?
14:03No.
14:09Oh, hi.
14:10Buzz.
14:11Hello, Ben.
14:12Uh, Len.
14:13Not interrupting
14:14anything, am I?
14:14No, no, no,
14:15Todd, just getting
14:16ready to go to the
14:16dance.
14:17Ah, I'm taking
14:17Virginia in later
14:18myself.
14:18Uh, I wonder if I
14:21could have a private
14:22little talk with you.
14:23Yeah, let's go get
14:24the horses ready.
14:26Well, sit down, Len.
14:28Thanks.
14:33Well, what's on your
14:34mind?
14:35Well, Todd McCarron
14:36came to see me, and
14:37he's all upset about
14:38what happened between
14:39him and his father.
14:40Well, I was a little
14:41upset myself.
14:42I'm very fond of Todd.
14:44He's got a lot of
14:45character.
14:46He's extremely
14:47ambitious.
14:48Len, sometimes
14:50ambition can drive a
14:51young man in the
14:51wrong direction.
14:52But I don't think
14:53that's true in Todd's
14:54case.
14:55I consider him
14:56practically a member
14:57of the family.
14:58I'd be pretty careful
14:58of whatever opportunities
15:00I put in his way.
15:01Matter of fact, I
15:02wanted you to help me.
15:04In spite of what's
15:05happened, Todd's got a
15:07great deal of respect
15:08for your opinion.
15:09Well, perhaps that
15:11used to be so.
15:12Well, of course, he's
15:13a little high-strung,
15:14but you and I can
15:15understand that.
15:16We were young ones,
15:17too.
15:17We saw what we
15:18wanted in life, and
15:19we went out and we
15:20took it.
15:21And nowadays, a young
15:23fellow needs help to
15:24get started.
15:25I'm doing what I can
15:26for Todd.
15:28I thought you'd want
15:29to help, too.
15:32That was a very nice
15:33speech, Keith.
15:39Now, what did you
15:39really come to see me
15:40about?
15:42Well, I don't want
15:43anything for myself.
15:44I'm only here to help
15:45Todd.
15:47Old Andy McCarran does
15:49pretty much what you
15:49ask him to, now,
15:50doesn't he?
15:51Now, hold on.
15:52Andy McCarran has a
15:53mind of his own, and
15:54he's very capable of
15:55using it.
15:56Yes, but you've got to
15:56make him understand
15:57something.
15:58By holding on to that
15:59land, he's jeopardizing
16:00his son's future.
16:05Your interest and
16:06concern with Todd's
16:08future is most
16:09commendable.
16:11I've watched you
16:12over a period of
16:13years, Len, making
16:16quite a lot of money
16:18and ruin quite a bit
16:20of land and quite a
16:22few people in the
16:23process.
16:25I'm not going to help
16:25you ruin Todd McCarran.
16:27I always try reasoning
16:29first, Ben.
16:31If that doesn't work, I
16:32guess I can find some
16:33other way.
16:58little Joe, you sure do
16:59smell better than you did
17:00this afternoon.
17:01Well, thanks a lot.
17:05A few gentlemen will
17:07excuse me?
17:08Yes.
17:08Of course.
17:10Hey, well, I'm going
17:10to see if I can't
17:11rustle me up on them
17:12little fillers.
17:15Have you had a chance
17:16to talk to Todd yet?
17:17No.
17:18He's danced every
17:18dance with Virginia.
17:21Excuse me, Adam.
17:21I think I've just found
17:22my filly.
17:37Oh, Todd, you've danced
17:39my feet off.
17:40Well, I wouldn't want
17:40to do that.
17:41I can't spare any of you.
17:42Oh.
17:43How about some more
17:44punch?
17:44I'd love it.
17:48Adam, you're not
17:49dancing.
17:50I'm having too much
17:51fun watching you two.
17:52You look very beautiful
17:53tonight, Virginia.
17:54But thank you.
17:55I'm glad you approve
17:56of my future wife.
17:58Ah, you're lucky you
17:58proposed to her when you
17:59did.
18:00When are you two
18:00getting married?
18:01When your father decides
18:02to let me run my own
18:03business.
18:04Todd, that was a rather
18:05unpleasant thing to say.
18:06Well, no, he didn't mean
18:07anything by it.
18:08Didn't I?
18:10Todd, let's dance.
18:11Yes, I think that's a
18:12good idea.
18:14Don't turn your back on
18:15me, Cartwright.
18:17Look, if you're set on
18:18starting a fight, this
18:19isn't the place for it.
18:20Oh, I think it is.
18:22Todd, Dad, Mr. Cartwright,
18:25stop them.
18:25They're fighting.
18:31All right, you two.
18:32That's enough.
18:34Todd, we don't want to
18:35fight you, boy.
18:37And stay away from me,
18:38all of you.
18:41Dad, take me home.
18:42All right, Virginia.
18:54Come on, forget it, Adam.
18:58Well, let's have a little
18:59music.
19:08Dad, I shouldn't have
19:09walked out on Todd like that.
19:10Todd, I ought to go back.
19:11Well, this isn't the time,
19:13Virginia.
19:13My advice is to just let him
19:15calm down a little.
19:17Dad, sometimes I wonder
19:19if your advice for Todd and
19:20me is really any good.
19:22Virginia, what have I ever
19:25told you that hasn't worked
19:26out for you?
19:28I'm not talking about
19:29something you can put your
19:30finger on.
19:30I'm talking about the way
19:31Todd has changed, the way
19:33he looks at me, the way he
19:35acts.
19:36Well, of course he's changed,
19:38and all for the good.
19:39Todd, he's turning into the
19:40kind of a man I'd be proud
19:41to have as a son-in-law.
19:44Would I be proud to have
19:45him for a husband?
19:48Virginia, if I've done
19:50anything at all to hurt you,
19:51believe me.
19:54I'm glad you're still here.
19:56I'd like to apologize.
19:57It wasn't your fault, Adam.
20:00Well, I'm glad you feel
20:00that way.
20:01I don't think there's
20:02anything to be gained by
20:03discussing it any further.
20:04Let's go on home.
20:05Dad, I'd like to talk to
20:06Adam.
20:06Not tonight, honey.
20:27Excuse me, Mr. Keith.
20:29I've got to talk to you.
20:30Well, can't it wait
20:31till morning?
20:31No, sir, it can't.
20:33Well, go on in, honey.
20:33I'll be right in.
20:34All right.
20:37What is it, Tucker?
20:38It's about the cattle
20:39you just bought.
20:39Sun's come up.
20:40You better handle it.
20:48That's enough, Roy.
20:50After what he'd done,
20:52he could have poisoned
20:52half the men in your mind
20:53with them diseased cows.
20:55Where's the beef now?
20:56I put him up in the
20:56North Corral.
20:57I figured tomorrow
20:58I'll have him killed
20:59and buried.
21:00Came along with him
21:00if I had my way.
21:01Take him outside, Roy.
21:03And Roy, not a word
21:05about this to anybody.
21:10I suppose he claimed
21:11he didn't know
21:11the cattle were sick.
21:12What do you think?
21:13He probably rustled
21:14them 20 head to begin with.
21:15All of them diseased, huh?
21:17Well, you can't have
21:18one cow with Texas fever
21:19without them all getting it.
21:20They're crawling with ticks.
21:22In other words,
21:23you put those sick cattle
21:24in with a healthy herd,
21:25it spreads like wildfire.
21:28I see.
21:35Tucker, I want you
21:36to ride that man
21:37out of town tonight
21:37and make sure
21:38that he never comes back.
21:40Hey, sure.
21:41Mr. Keith,
21:42there's only one way
21:44I know of to make sure.
21:45I'll leave that up to you.
21:48Tucker,
21:50don't kill off
21:50any of those sick cattle
21:51until I tell you to.
21:53Well, what can you do
21:54with sick cattle?
21:55Well, I thought
21:55I might get big hearted
21:57and make a present
21:57of a couple of them
21:58to Ben Cartwright.
22:00Well, you know
22:00what Cartwright would do
22:01if he ever caught us at it.
22:02Well, don't let him catch you.
22:05Them's big stakes,
22:06Mr. Keith.
22:07Yeah, the biggest.
22:09Cartwright's always
22:10had everything his way.
22:11Let's see how he acts
22:12when he finds cattle
22:13being added to his herd
22:14instead of rustled away, huh?
22:20I know he took
22:20the first swing at you,
22:21but I don't know
22:23if that's the way
22:23to handle it, Todd.
22:24I've watched both of you
22:25grow up,
22:25and I have just as much
22:26confidence in him
22:27as I have in you.
22:29I know you have,
22:29but I don't have
22:30Len Keith telling me
22:31what to do.
22:34Well, Virginia's
22:34Keith's only daughter.
22:36I suppose you can't blame him
22:38for looking after her interests.
22:40Look, Len Keith
22:40never made a move
22:41in his life
22:42that didn't benefit
22:42Len Keith first.
22:43And I'll tell you
22:44something else.
22:44It isn't just
22:45a little piece of land
22:46he's after.
22:47He's an ambitious man.
22:48There's no question
22:49about that.
22:50The way he's extending
22:51his mining interests,
22:52it looks as if he wants
22:53to take over the whole
22:53Carson Valley,
22:55including the Ponderosa.
22:57Adam,
22:57you and I both know
22:58that the Ponderosa
22:59is one piece of land
23:00he'll never get.
23:14Dead boy.
23:16Looks like Texas fever.
23:17Texas fever?
23:18Yes, sir.
23:20We've bought Texas cattle
23:21before.
23:21They've always been clean.
23:23You check the other stock?
23:24A few more heads
23:25showed signs of sickness.
23:26We cut them out
23:27of the herd.
23:28Probably have to destroy them.
23:29There's no problem
23:30with the about it.
23:30That tick fever plague
23:31could kill every head.
23:32Not only in our range,
23:33it could kill every herd
23:34in the territory.
23:35Poor critters,
23:36they don't even know
23:36what else.
23:39Get, get, get out of here.
23:41Get, get, get out of here.
23:44Dang fool dog
23:44will have them ticks
23:45all over him.
23:46Hoss,
23:47you remember that
23:48sulfur soap
23:48he used to wash
23:49down that dog?
23:50Yes, sir.
23:51Well, I'm thinking
23:51that if that sulfur soap
23:52could wash the ticks
23:53off a dog,
23:54why not out of cattle?
23:55We can't scrub down
23:56every steer?
23:57No, but we can,
23:58we can dig a pit
23:59between the two corrals,
24:01put in some water
24:01and a lot of sulfur
24:02like a bat,
24:03run the herd
24:03through one at a time.
24:05Paul, that'd take
24:05a powerful lot of sulfur.
24:06Well, I reckon
24:08I ought to have it
24:08up at Baker's Flat.
24:09You want me to ride
24:09up there and see?
24:10Yeah, you take the buckboard
24:11and haul as much
24:12as you can carry.
24:13Joe, you'd better
24:14get back to the herd.
24:14Have the men cut out
24:15every head that even
24:16looks sick.
24:17Right, Pa.
24:18Adam, you'd better
24:20get started
24:20digging those pits.
24:25They're up to something.
24:27Nothing they can do
24:28but start killing cows.
24:30Yeah, maybe.
24:31You'd better stick with them
24:32and make sure.
25:00Virginia, you shouldn't be in here.
25:02Neither should you.
25:03Todd, I've looked
25:04all over town for you.
25:06Everybody's staring at you.
25:07Come on.
25:12Todd, what's happened to us?
25:14This just isn't like you,
25:15that fight with Adam.
25:16What are you doing?
25:18Taking sides with the Cartwrights
25:19like everybody else
25:20in this country?
25:21Sides?
25:22What sides, Todd?
25:23Don't you see
25:24what they're doing to us?
25:26Your father made me
25:27a good offer on that land.
25:28Three times as much
25:29as it was worth.
25:31Well, if I knew
25:31it was going to mean
25:32this much trouble,
25:33I'm sorry he did.
25:34That's easy to say,
25:36but it's not so easy
25:36to live with.
25:38Virginia,
25:39I want to amount
25:40to something.
25:40I want you to be proud
25:41of me,
25:42the way you are
25:42of your father.
25:44Todd,
25:45I'm proud of the man
25:46I fell in love with.
25:48A ranching man
25:49trying to build something
25:50for the future.
25:51His and mine.
25:53Now, if he starts
25:54hitting people
25:55and getting drunk
25:55the first time
25:56things don't go his way,
25:58I'll still love him
25:59because I can't
26:00help myself.
26:02But I won't be proud
26:03of him for it.
26:05I've had enough
26:05speeches, Virginia.
26:07Please go on, honey.
26:09I'll see you
26:10after a while.
26:23It's wonderful
26:24to see you, Virginia.
26:26Now that you're
26:26practically a part
26:27of the family,
26:28I never get to see you
26:29anymore.
26:30Well, I've been meaning
26:31to get out to see you
26:31for a long time.
26:32Oh, I know how it is,
26:33planning the wedding
26:34and everything.
26:36You know,
26:39it means a lot to me
26:40having you for a daughter.
26:43Virginia,
26:45are you and Todd
26:46having trouble?
26:48Yes, we are,
26:49Mr. McCarron,
26:49and I just don't know
26:50how to handle it.
26:51Now, you know
26:52that all lovers
26:53have their little quarrels.
26:54That's just the trouble.
26:56It isn't just
26:56a lover's quarrel.
26:58It's something
26:58that involves you
26:59and my father
27:00and a lot of things
27:01I just don't understand.
27:03Oh, so that's it.
27:05It's about Todd
27:06selling this place,
27:06isn't it?
27:07Why shouldn't he sell it?
27:09Why should such a simple
27:10little business transaction
27:12stir up so much trouble?
27:14It isn't a simple thing,
27:16Virginia.
27:17It involves two different
27:18ways of looking at life.
27:19It involves the Cartwrights
27:21too, doesn't it?
27:23Well, that's not the point
27:24I want to make.
27:25I'm talking about the land
27:26and a man's attitude
27:27towards it.
27:28Now, is this something
27:29to be torn up
27:31and cast aside?
27:32Or is it a place
27:33for the future?
27:34I mean a home
27:35for you and Todd
27:36and the children.
27:37I told Todd
27:38that's all I wanted.
27:40I wish my father
27:41could see it
27:42the way you do.
27:43But he never will.
27:45It's Todd
27:46that we must both
27:47be concerned about.
27:47Now, we must have
27:49faith in him
27:49and believe that
27:51he will do the right thing.
27:53You're right.
27:54And I do have
27:56faith in Todd.
28:04He's coming.
28:05Did he see you?
28:06I circled around.
28:07He's got that buckboard
28:08loaded down with bags
28:09of sulfur powder.
28:10What for?
28:11Oh, no.
28:12I asked the storekeeper
28:13at Baker Flat.
28:14He said that Cartwright
28:16that fella talked
28:16about washing his cows
28:18down with sulfur water.
28:19I don't know
28:20what good that'd do.
28:21But we better see to it
28:22that it don't happen anyway.
28:27You stay here.
28:28Get your rifle
28:29and keep down
28:30out of sight.
28:34Get out of sight.
28:47Get out of sight!
28:51Get out!
29:13Get on your gun and crawl out of there.
29:21Ah, come on.
29:41Boss, you all right?
29:44Yeah.
29:45I reckon I am now.
29:47Thanks to you coming along.
29:48Hey, come on up, give me a hand.
30:01Guys round up some strays and I heard the shots.
30:03Figured I'd better check on it.
30:06Looks to me like I've seen that fellow before, have you?
30:08Yeah, I think he works for one of the mining camps.
30:11We better get that sulfur in.
30:12There's two more cows flopped over dead.
30:14They're not from the Ponderosa.
30:16Them sick cows ain't ours?
30:18No, it looks like it's not.
30:19There's gonna be a lot of sick ones from our place, Al.
30:22Let's get him in.
30:23I'll get his horse.
30:24I tell you, Roy's dead.
30:26Did they see you?
30:27Well, yeah, but they couldn't recognize me.
30:29I can't take any chances.
30:30You saddle up my horse and get back to the bunkhouse and stay there.
30:33Keep out of sight.
30:35Dad?
30:37Your supper's getting cold.
30:38Well, I'm sorry, honey.
30:39Something's come up.
30:40I've gotta go into town.
30:41But, Dad!
30:45Do you have to go right now?
30:46I've got to.
30:47It's important.
30:48I just heard that a plague of Texas fevers hit the cattle around here.
30:51I've gotta warn Todd and the other ranchers.
30:53I'll be right back.
30:57Let's go.
30:57Come on, let's go here.
30:59Let's go.
31:02Let's go.
31:05Let's go.
31:08Let's go.
31:11Let's go.
31:14Are you drunk?
31:16If Virginia sent you drunk...
31:17No, she didn't, but something pretty important came up.
31:20I thought you ought to know about it.
31:22you want a drink now listen to me will you i just heard that the plagues infected every head
31:29of beef on the ponderosa plague texas fever cartwrights are working right now to try to
31:35save every head they can before anybody finds out about it texas fever how did it get started
31:40well who's the only outfit around here who trails in texas cattle the cartwrights that's just what
31:48i figured thing like this could be pretty dangerous couldn't it it could kill every head of cattle in
31:54carson valley is there any way of stopping it one way kill the sick stock there's no other way of
32:03protecting ourselves none that i know of unless we kill off all the cartwrights cattle well they never
32:11stand still for that no i guess not they showed that pretty plain what do you mean well a couple
32:17of my boys went up there yesterday see how bad it was and tried to help them out and the
32:23cartwright
32:23shot one of them down shot him why well that's pretty obvious isn't it they're trying to keep
32:29word of the plague from spreading does the sheriff know about the shooting the sheriff what good
32:34would that do he's afraid of the cartwrights just like everybody else around here is yeah
32:39well not me i'm not gonna stand by and watch my cattle die like flies don't do anything foolish you
32:45can't stand up to the cartwrights all alone i won't have to not this time no cattleman's gonna
32:50stand by and watch his herds die off cartwright or no cartwright well if enough of the other
32:56ranchers went in with you to stand up again they'll go in i'll see to that
33:10i've been waiting for you i've been wanting to talk to you i'm in a hurry i'm sorry i hit
33:14you
33:14there was no call for it it doesn't make any difference but it does make a difference i want
33:17to talk to you well later what are you doing we got trouble what kind of trouble i can handle
33:27it
33:28don't turn your back on me tell me about it oh i haven't got time i've got work to do
33:32does it involve the cartwrights doesn't everything in this country involve the cartwrights one way or
33:36another i have a right to know what it's all about there's tick fever on the ponderosa i've got to
33:41get
33:41to the other ranches and warn them so we can stop it from spreading to our stock tick fever how
33:46did it
33:47get started it must have come in on one of the herds the cartwrights brought up from texas did you
33:51talk
33:51to ben cartwright one of len keith's men tried to they shot him down i don't believe it
33:57i didn't expect you to todd you're declaring war ben cartwright did that when he brought in that
34:03sick herd i'm not going to let you do it pa i've got
34:17come on
34:19come on
34:22come on
34:23come on
34:46this is that bushwagger's horse we brought back take a close look at him
35:00got ticks all over him this horse was with tick infested bee before he got here and that dead man
35:06could have told us how this plague got here you find out who he was well he had a had
35:12a letter on
35:13him addressed to a roy wilkins yeah don't forget there was another man with him adam maybe you'd better
35:18get to virginia city see if he can track this other man down you can bring him out here
35:26guys clean them up hmm come on let's get back
35:30yeah
35:34all right frank
35:35get him through again
35:58hello adam give me a whiskey cosmo yes
36:08heal me out
36:09wait i'll give you a chance to get even later something on your mind
36:15you know man named roy wilkins
36:17roy wilkins sure i've seen him in here
36:20who does he work for
36:22i don't know
36:24hasn't been around very long as a matter of fact the only times i've ever seen him
36:28he's always been with a fellow named uh tucker tucker tucker works for len keith
36:34len keith
36:37thanks
36:59adam i thought it was my father
37:01evening jenny isn't he here
37:03well no he's in town listen you know man named roy wilkins
37:08wilkins there's a man named roy i know he's a friend of tucker's who's tucker
37:11well he's pa's foreman he lives in that shack on the other side of the storeroom
37:16adam what is it
37:19well it's roy wilkins and one other man maybe tucker i'm not sure tried to kill my brother this afternoon
37:25that's impossible those men work for my father
37:30excuse me
37:40hello tucker
37:42you're one of them cartwrights ain't you
37:44that's right
37:46you ain't no man named roy wilkins
37:49what do you want here cartwright
37:50i want the man who was with wilkins when they tried to ambush my brother
37:55i don't know anything about it
37:58then you wouldn't mind coming back to town with me and telling that to the sheriff huh
38:01no
38:03i wouldn't mind
38:11i thought you missed him
38:12dad
38:14adam is he
38:17yeah he's dead
38:19i wanted him alive i was hoping he could tell me something
38:22tell you what adam
38:24you think fast mr keith just like you shot fast a while ago
38:28but when this plague trouble is settled we're gonna have a talk
38:33i wish you hadn't seen this virginia
38:36i'm sorry i had to see as much as i did
38:39i had to protect adam tucker would have killed him
38:42tucker had already dropped his gun you killed him deliberately
38:46oh you're all upset now go on into the house
38:49you can't send me away like a little girl dad
38:52don't try to understand it you hear me now go on back into the house
39:02now i'm right you all know it
39:04if it was one of us had a sick herd on the range the cartwrights would be the first to
39:07yell burn him
39:07out that ain't so
39:10his heart right should have killed off his whole herd without us having to meet and talk about doing it
39:14for him you can't expect him to kill off healthy beef who's to say what's healthy and what's not
39:20now the ponderosa is rich it's got timber and enough money to restock its range
39:25most of us live on the beef we raise each year
39:28now if we lose our herds where's the money coming from to pay off the bank loans to feed our
39:32families
39:32to even get started again you really aim to ride against the ponderosa if i didn't fight for my land
39:38and what's on it i wouldn't hold myself much of a man
39:42anyone else feels the same way as welcome to ride with me we're with them ain't you men
39:47not me
39:52all right we'll meet at the north end of town just after sunup every man bring a rifle and be
39:59ready
39:59to use it that's it then
40:16todd what are they going to do well the cartwright cattle are diseased they're a danger to the whole
40:20range so we're heading out to the ponderosa in the morning to settle it one way or another
40:24you mean to fight the cartwrights it looks that way do you know how this plague got started it
40:31doesn't matter how it gets started we just can't risk a plague spreading throughout the whole
40:34territory todd i think my father brought that plague to the cartwright heard deliberately did
40:38he tell you that adam thinks so too only he can't prove it i already told you it doesn't matter
40:44who
40:44started that way todd it does matter the cartwrights aren't at fault they've been your friends for
40:50years and what they need now is help not threats virginia we have to look after our own interests
40:54that's what my father tells me for years that's what he told me every time he was doing something
41:00he was ashamed of you're beginning to sound just like him i know what i have to do yes you
41:07do
41:08but don't pretend it's to help those poor ranchers it's just a fast way to make todd mccarran a big
41:13man
41:13virginia i don't like what you're saying then stop this before it goes any further
41:20it's too late now
41:27pause is dipping doing any good it's funny i was just thinking about that i certainly hope so
41:35you know what our cash situation is if we were to lose any of our herds right now it would
41:39put in there wipe us out right on out and see how the boys are doing with that herd in
41:45the north
41:45quarter i'll give harson and little joe a hand with the other herd
41:49uh
42:13we got more trouble than plague pa what now todd mccarran len keith have got
42:18everybody around here stirred up. There's a bunch of them riding this way and they're
42:21all armed. Don't they realize we're doing everything we can? Pa, it's a mob. They're
42:25not going to stop and think. They claim they're going to kill every head of cattle on our
42:28range. Then we'd better make them stop and think. Right over to the house and get our
42:32rifles. Who is it? Virginia. Oh, come in, Virginia. Well, what are you doing away out here, lass?
42:53Mr. McCarron, you've got to do something. Todd... What's he up to? He didn't come home last night.
43:00What? They're riding on the Ponderosa, Mr. McCarron. Todd is leading them. You've got to
43:05stop him. Stop him? How can I? He's a grown man. He's got to make his own decisions. Mr. McCarron,
43:12I have no place else to turn. I love Todd. I thought you loved him too. Unless you do something,
43:19we're both going to lose him. An old man like me, how can I help him now? Now is the
43:25time that
43:26counts, Mr. McCarron. Now is when he needs your help more than any other time in his life.
43:48Good. Keep moving.
43:54Order men. Get your gun.
44:02Remember, boys, no shooting unless I say so. How do we know they want to talk? We want to talk.
44:16Morning, Todd. You suddenly become a rancher, Mr. Keat? I don't owe you any explanations, Cartwright.
44:23You're the one to do the explaining, Ben. You brought the Texas cattle in.
44:26There are no ticks in the ones we dipped. You want to ride in peaceful and sea, you're welcome.
44:30See, and a lot of wet cows don't mean they won't all fall over tomorrow.
44:35No, it doesn't. But if any of them come down with a fever, I'll kill every head that gets it.
44:40That may be too late, even if you do what you say.
44:42You doubting my Paul's word, mister.
44:44Easy, Huss. You men try to take over my herd, you know there's going to be fighting.
44:49Men on both sides. Men we've known a long time. Could get hurt. Maybe even get killed.
44:56That'll be on your head, Cartwright. Now get out of the way.
44:59Todd? You know better than trying to bluff me down.
45:03This is no bluff.
45:04Don't want anybody else move.
45:15Shut him down, Todd. We'll back you up.
45:26Todd! Stop it!
45:30You stay out of this, McCarran.
45:33Keep away, Pa. This is between Adam and me.
45:35If you're going to make a killer of yourself, you better start with me.
45:40Your son picked his side, McCarran.
45:43Now you've got no right to be here.
45:45Pa, don't you know everything we've got is at stake?
45:47I know that better than any other man here.
45:51Jameson, I passed by your spread coming here.
45:54Your stock's down with fever.
45:56Some of the others are also.
45:59Son, you better go home and take care of our herd.
46:01They're coming down with it fast.
46:04I told you what would happen.
46:06And you can blame the Cartwrights for it.
46:08Let's finish what we come here for.
46:10Yeah.
46:11Wait a minute.
46:12You can kill off every head in the Ponderosa, but what good will that do you?
46:16I tell you, that sulfur dip's working.
46:18It's saving our beef.
46:19It can do the same for yours.
46:21It's the only chance any of you have.
46:23You better take it.
46:24You still handing out orders, Cartwright?
46:25Don't back down from them.
46:26Make up your mind, Todd.
46:28Whose side are you on?
46:29Ours or the Cartwrights?
46:30You don't have a side, Dad, except your own.
46:33He doesn't care about your cattle.
46:35He's only trying to destroy you so he can take your land.
46:38We're not talking about land.
46:39We're talking about plague.
46:41So am I, Todd.
46:43My father started it.
46:44Virginia, you don't know what you're talking about.
46:47She knows what she's talking about, all right.
46:50Her father killed Jim Tucker just to keep him quiet.
46:53At him!
47:00Dad!
47:06Virginia, I...
47:10Dad?
47:13Dad?
47:14Dad?
47:17Dad?
47:19Dad?
47:19Dad?
47:19I don't know.
47:20I don't know.
47:22I don't know.
47:28I don't know.
47:35That offer still goes.
47:37Bring your healthy cattle over here and we'll run them through that sofa dip.
47:45Does that go for the McCarran family too, Ben?
47:47Of course it does.
47:49It's all right with you, Todd.
48:09Yeah, get that one turned around.
48:14That's it.
48:17Well, that's the last of the McCarran steers, Todd.
48:20Well, I'd kind of like to stay and help with the rest.
48:24Hey, what do you say we take a break for some coffee?
48:26Good idea.
48:27Hey, Hoss, come on, coffee.
48:32Well, you two are going to make mighty fine neighbors.
48:34Thanks, Ben.
49:01The House of jeans.
49:02Oh, my God.
49:02Oh, my God.
49:07Hey, Hoss!
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