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Whoa.

Drop that rifle and your gun belts.

Driver, climb down and unload the shipment.

And, you, keep your hands up.

Three minutes faster than last time.

Not good enough.

Now, put the bags back on the coach.

All right, get your hands up, all of you!

I been out hunting table venison.

Looks like I found something bigger than that.

You made a mistake, Sheriff. We're not holdup men.

We've got a claim over the hill.

We're sending ore samples to Virginia City for assay.

My name is Fillmore, Jameson Fillmore, Sheriff.

Ore? Those don't look like ore bags to me.

Reverend, kneel down and open up those bags for the sheriff. Show him.

- He's dead. - You and your rehearsals.

You fixed it this time, Fillmore. You wrecked it good.

You're getting old, Testy. You're losing your nerve.

You do exactly as I tell you.

Take the deputy, put him in the coach, tie the horse behind him.

You saw him on a lonely road

and you're taking him into Virginia City like the good citizens that you are.

That just might work.

It'll work.

You're right, that's gonna work.

But if we do get our hands on that currency shipment,

we've got the Ponderosa to cross, posses everywhere,

and the best trackers in Nevada on our trail.

You're losing faith in me, Reverend.

Oh, no, no, but I spent four years in prison,

and I'm not particularly anxious to go back.

Reverend, you're gonna go on preaching the gospel

to these poor lost souls until I tell you to stop.

For your information, there won't be any trails to follow,

because we're going straight across Lake Tahoe,

and we're going to do it in Ben Cartwright's brand-new boat.

Boat 7,000 feet in the sky

and we're going to use it on the biggest holdup ever pulled.

You hear about Sunday, Pa?

Comes once a week, I understand.

I mean next Sunday.

What about next Sunday, Julie?

Gonna be a picnic and a dance and a barn raising over at the O.B. ranch.

Candy's going, and Hoss and Joe, and... and just everybody.

I expect there'll be a few who'll miss the happy occasion.

I know you're awful busy

with freight shipments practically doubling every month, but even so...

Julie, do you realize that this is the greatest opportunity a sailor ever had?

There's room on Lake Tahoe for a whole fleet to open up this new country.

With the help of God and Ben Cartwright, we can be part of it.

- I know, but... - That's in the future.

And you're worried about the present.

Julie, I think we can go to that party.

Oh.

I'll take the wheel.

I'm sure that your social activities will take up a lot of time.

Thank you, Papa.

Captain Larson's got her right on time.

Pretty as a 40-dollar colt, ain't she?

Little bit different from some of them clipper ships you used to sail, huh, Pa?

Yeah. I'll tell you, she's gonna be all right.

Till we get some good roads,

that's the best way to carry heavy freight around here.

She'll pay her way and then some.

No passengers permitted.

Good afternoon, Captain.

When did you come aboard?

Oh, I hopped aboard just before you left the South Shore.

You were... You were busy, Nels.

Nice.

Almost as big as the place we once shared together for so long.

Cell 241.

Cell block D, in case you've forgotten.

- What do you want? - An introduction to Ben Cartwright.

I am Jameson Fillmore, lumberman from San Francisco.

Just introduce you, is that all?

- That's all. - I'll think about it. Get out.

Let me dock this ship.

I'll tell you one thing, Candy,

it's a good thing I'm running that cow camp instead of you.

Way you throw that rope, I don't think you'd catch anything but a cold.

It's not a rope, landlubber, it's a line.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Papa and I'll make a sailor out of you yet, Candy.

I wouldn't count on that, Julie. I still can't make a cowhand out of him.

Why, he handled the boat practically all by himself last three times.

Three trips, only hit the dock twice. One out of three. That's not too bad.

Don't try to explain my skills to him, Julie.

He's jealous 'cause I get to spend so much time with you.

Hey, wait for me, Captain Kidd. I'll give you a hand.

Thanks a lot.

- Julie. - Hi.

Well, Nels, have a good trip?

Fine, fine, thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

- Got the mail, huh? Good. - Yeah.

I'm afraid there's bad news in the paper.

Friend of yours, wasn't he?

Yes, he was a friend of mine.

Nels, did you hear anything around the lake?

No, sir, not a thing.

This is shocking. I tell you, this is just terrible.

I heard about this yesterday on the South Shore.

What is this country coming to

when even the officers of the law can't ride the roads in safety?

That's what a lot of people are wondering, sir.

Mr. Cartwright, this is Mr. Jameson Fillmore,

a lumberman from San Francisco.

- Mr. Fillmore. - How do you do, Mr. Cartwright?

Cartwright? Owner of the Ponderosa ranch and this fine stern-wheeler?

That's right.

That's quite an achievement, launching a ship this big so high in the mountains.

Well, Mr. Fillmore, I consider it a great achievement,

and I can say that because I had nothing to do

with the building or the launching of it.

It was brought up piece by piece on mule back,

right up the side of the mountain,

by the man who had the vision to do it.

I merely bought it from him.

You're in the lumber business, are you, sir?

Yes, I am, and I've spent a great deal of time up here in Lake Tahoe.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

Frankly, when I saw your Bear Ridge stand of timber,

I said to myself, "I have just got to have it."

So I took the liberty of bringing along two of my top timber cruisers.

Well, you don't waste any time, do you, sir?

And with your permission I'd like to have them cruise that stand of timber.

And after I get their reports,

I'd like to be able to make you an offer that you cannot refuse.

Well, I find no objection in that, sir.

Good. We'll need some pack animals and some horses and a place to camp.

No problem at all. You'll be wanting to start immediately?

Yes, we will.

Nels, now, there is an enthusiastic gentleman.

Business is picking up.

You made that introduction sound legitimate, Nels... real legitimate.

Understand one thing. I won't see Cartwright hurt.

You make one wrong move and I'll tell him

you and all your men are ex-convicts.

Well, you say anything and you'll go back for consorting with ex-convicts.

You know, I was thinking, Nels,

maybe there's some way I can help you raise enough money

to send Julie back east to school.

I remember that's all you used to talk about

when we were roommates in apartment 214.

Think about it.

Everything you've ever wanted.

At the bottom of the grade,

the reverend will be waiting in the middle of the road.

We stop the stagecoach, take out the currency.

Remember, this time it's a million dollars.

We load it into the reverend's bag

among his hymn books and his religious tracts.

Well spoken, brother.

Now, when the law hears about the holdup,

they'll block the trail,

they'll search the area, even for days.

- Yeah. - Testy, what do you do?

Go right for the North Shore boat landing across this hogback,

down this draw, 'cause that's the fastest,

and then... then that boat of Cartwright's better be there.

The Dixie'll be there, 'cause Fillmore and me are gonna make sure.

Reverend?

I ride through North Meadows.

If I meet somebody, I start thumping my Bible.

If it's a posse, I tell 'em I saw three riders

headed away from the lake into these mountains.

You're forgetting something, Reverend.

Something absolutely essential.

You do not hurry. You are a preacher with all the time in the world.

I don't sweat, I don't strain, I don't lather my horse.

And if you ever again raise your hand against me, I'll kill you.

I'll do my job and I'll make it look good.

Good? Perfect!

Every man, every move.

Timber!

Timber!

Just got the mail off the boat. Pa around?

- He's in there. Got some for me? - No, Joe, nobody loves you, I reckon.

Course, anybody that loves you couldn't read nor write nohow.

- You're funny. - Anything there from San Francisco?

No, nothing. Why, you expecting something?

Oh, I wrote to the bank in San Francisco for some references on Mr. Fillmore.

Although I don't really think we need any.

He seems to be a gentleman, and he certainly knows the lumbering business.

Maybe he knows it. I don't think too much of the fellas that work for him.

Very hard to find good workers these days.

You know, Hoss, even in the bosom of one's own family,

it's difficult to find a hard-working young man.

What's wrong, Papa?

Well, nothing's wrong. Nothing. Why do you ask?

Papa, what are you worried about?

Honey, I'm just doing some heavy thinking, that's all.

Anything I can do?

You already have.

All the time that I was in prison, I think I might have given up and died

if I hadn't known that two people on the outside believed in my innocence,

you and Ben Cartwright.

Well, Nels, we were just talking about you.

Step down. Say hello.

- What do you want? - Settle a wager.

You know, we sit up here all day

watching all the activities down on the water.

And who should we see an hour ago

getting on a horse, riding away from the dock,

but our old colleague, Nels.

And where should he be heading

but on the only road leading to Ben Cartwright's logging camp.

I work for him. I can talk to anyone I want.

But not say anything you want, Nels.

So you've finally decided to be a hero,

throw caution to the winds, warn Mr. Cartwright, huh?

No. No, sir.

No, not anything like that.

You told me that you're not planning anything.

I believe you.

I believe all of you.

Yeah, we're... we're old friends.

We've been through the mill together. Why should any one of us hurt anybody?

Where's Papa?

I haven't seen him.

Well, he was only gonna be gone an hour.

I took a nap and when I woke up, I...

Well, we're due to sail in 20 minutes, and Papa's never late.

Well, he and Ben Cartwright probably got to talking and forgot the time.

I'll ride up there and meet him if it'll make you feel better.

No, that's all right. I'll do it. You gotta get the Dixie ready to sail.

- You're the captain now, right? - Right.

Papa. I was so worried about you.

Ten minutes before sailing time and you sit here resting?

Hey, Papa.

Papa!

Please!

Papa loves the lake.

He... He'd like it here.

- Julie. - I still can't believe it.

Now, Julie...

It's gonna be hard,

and the loneliness, that'll be the hardest part.

We found plenty of tracks but lost 'em up in the shale.

Still looks like attempted robbery.

I think the killers saw him riding up the trail

and thought he was bringing you the money for your loggers.

- It's possible. - I don't think it was robbery.

Nels Larson had been carrying around a big load of trouble.

He was jumpy, nervous, not himself at all.

How long had that been going on?

- A week. - Maybe he was sick or something.

No, it was more than that.

At least, I think it was.

Do you know what he wanted to see me about?

He didn't tell me. He didn't even tell Julie.

If you hear anything, tell me or Clem.

Meanwhile, you're the skipper.

Julie, you don't have to do that. I'll take care of it.

No, I have to.

You have a lot of friends, Julie.

We'll be glad to help.

I know that.

My... My aunt says I can come and live with her in St. Louis

and... and I'll go to boarding school,

and... and I know I'll make a lot of new friends and...

and I'll hate it.

Oh, why, Candy? Why did he have to be killed?

What was it? What kind of trouble was he in?

Julie, I don't know who killed your father or why.

But I'm gonna find out... or die trying.

- Howdy. - Hi.

Do you mind if I come in?

Looks like you are in.

Hey, that's too bad about Captain Larson.

Ironic, isn't it, killed for a payroll that he wasn't even carrying?

Hey, notice you got your gun on.

Yeah, I feel kind of out of balance without it.

And a nervous little man with "banker" written all over his face

handed you a pouch at the dock.

If I were a betting man, I'd say today was payday.

Funny you should mention payroll.

When I was a kid, I used to read about robbers.

I used to try to figure out how I could do it better.

Since I've been working for Larson,

I bet I've figured a dozen different ways to steal that payroll.

Just to pass the time.

- Just to pass the time? - Yeah, sure.

Uh, stealing it'd be a cinch,

but, well, getting away with it is the tough part.

But I just might figure out a way to do it. Just to pass the time.

Well, I'll have to... I'll have to give that some thought myself.

Just to pass the time.

Hello, boy.

Come sit down, share a meal with us.

Meat's tough, the biscuits are like lead, but the coffee's hot.

Have you thought any more about what we were talking about?

Well, as a matter of fact, I have.

Well, looks like payroll day.

Bringing it this far was easy. Now you tell me how to get away with it.

- Well, what's in it for me? - Half.

Sorry. I don't trust you.

It's all too quick, too easy.

I think you're a big bag of hot air.

I think you have no idea how I can get away with that.

Your privilege, my friend.

- But I know how to do it. - Go ahead.

I need your help. A robbery. Somebody took it away from me.

- Wouldn't believe you for a minute. - I think they will.

If they find me with a lump on my head and one of the robbers beside me, dead.

And just where do you think you're gonna get yourself a dead robber?

Which one of those two can you spare?

- You're not serious? - Which one?

The one in the green coat. Houston. He drinks too much anyway.

My congratulations, boy. My sincere congratulations.

How would you like to make four times what's in that payroll bag,

with no risk at all?

- Four times? - Four times.

I'm listening very carefully.

Just take that payroll bag to the Cartwright camp like you're supposed to.

What?

Then go back to the boat, stay there, do your job until you hear from me.

All right. I guess I just have to trust you, don't I?

He's a real hard-nose one.

About as friendly as a porcupine.

How right you are, Houston. How right you are.

Wait a minute. What's this doing open?

It's all there. I opened it when I offered Fillmore half the payroll.

- You what? - Offered Fillmore half the payroll.

I think you heard him right the first time, Pa.

All right, you start talking, and you better start from the beginning.

Yeah, I better.

Julie and me done some hard thinking,

and we're sure that her dad's trouble started when Fillmore showed up.

What's that got to do with this payroll?

Fillmore's been feeling me out for a week.

I set up stealing the payroll to test him,

and I offered him half.

Well, young man, don't you think you ought to consult with me

before you start doing anything like that?

Well, as it turned out, Mr. Cartwright, there wasn't time.

If I'd have brought this up here before I went to Fillmore's camp,

he'd have known I was setting a trap.

- But he didn't take the money, did he? - No, he's after something bigger.

He offered me four times this amount

if I'd go back to the Dixie and wait for orders.

Pa, don't you think it's about time we get the law in on this?

What's the law got to do with it? There's no evidence.

All we've got is Candy's suspicions.

I wanna turn that suspicion into evidence.

I'd like to go back to the boat and wait.

All right, get going.

Candy.

- You be careful. - I'll be careful.

Drop that rifle and your gun belts.

Driver, climb down and unload the shipment.

Hurry it up.

Fillmore tell you to do that?

He told me, Reverend.

He told me we don't need 'em anymore.

Well, don't try it with me, Testy. I don't surprise so easily.

Besides, I'm much faster than you are.

Maybe, and one of these days you might just have to prove that, Reverend.

What happened, Brother Guy? You got a lame horse?

Why, no, Brother Foster. I'm just relieving him of his burden.

Same as I lift the burdens of sin from the hearts of man.

- Anything wrong? - Plenty. Stage holdup. Double killing.

Oh, there's a heap of evil loose in this world, brothers.

- That's why I preach! - Brother...

I have seen the Sodoms and the Gomorrahs of the west.

All the dens of iniquity.

Can any of you stand without shame before the Almighty?

Brother, we haven't got time for a sermon right now. No offense.

How long you been on the trail?

Well, I left Virginia City early this morning.

I just been moseying along,

enjoying God's wonders and the comfort of his word.

You see anybody? Anybody at all?

Well, I did see three riders about a hour ago.

Soon as they saw me, they lit out for that peak yonder, like...

- Thanks, Brother Guy. - All right, let's go!

Like the devil hisself was chasing 'em!

You're all invited to the big revival I'm holding down at the South Shore!

I just came from Fillmore's camp. Nobody there.

Well, they're probably out timber cruising.

Not unless they can make a boundary without a compass.

Let's ride.

- Mr. Fillmore. - Well, ready to cast off, Captain?

Be ready to go in about five, six minutes.

It'll be a little longer than that. We're waiting for some passengers.

Remember, four times the money that was in that pouch.

And today's the day you earn it.

Sorry, folks, we have engine trouble. Everybody ashore.

We'll give a whistle blast when the engine's fixed.

Shouldn't take too long.

Bless you, brothers.

Nicely done. Where's Fillmore?

Up in the wheelhouse.

All right, Captain, let's get this tub underway.

Go in reverse!

Mr. Cartwright, somebody hijacked the Dixie!

- How long ago? - About 15 minutes ago.

Let's ride.

I just stole old Ben Cartwright's boat.

Don't you think it's about time I knew what was going on?

Boy, you just became part of one of the biggest holdups

in the history of Nevada.

How much?

A million.

They can run until they drop. They'll never catch us.

Well, what do we do when we get to the South Shore?

We don't.

We turn into a cove before we get there.

There's a man waiting with saddles and pack horses.

Beyond that, the Placerville stage. Driver's bought and paid for.

From there to San Francisco,

and then a boat to Panama.

- How does that sound? - Great.

I never been to Panama.

I like your style, boy.

We're gonna get along fine.

Fillmore, you better come down. Found something you ought to see.

She was hiding.

We missed her when we run the others off.

It's the young lady's misfortune that she's here.

Of course, it's our good fortune that Tahoe is the deepest lake in the world.

1600 feet straight down.

What's that fool doing?

He's trying to run her aground.

Testy, stop the engine!

He's got the wheelhouse.

Drop the gun or the girl dies.

Houston, tell Testy to start the engines and get us out of here!

Guy, come up here!

You killed my father.

You better be careful of that thing. It may be real.

Don't move!

A little girl...

She's turning in.

Hold it.

We make a charge at that boat, we're running right into their rifle fire.

Cover me. Give me some running room.

Joe, they'll kill you the minute you set foot on that deck.

Not if I go in under the bow.

Take 'em from behind where they won't be looking.

All right, wait. Wait till I give you the word.

Hoss...

Now!

Hey, you all right?

- Yeah, thanks. - We got two more down below.

Get his gun.

All right, mister, drop it.

Stand up and drop it!

Now.

Son, I have sinned grievously.

Will you forgive me?

Will you be merciful and forgive?

Oh, Lord, help this poor sinner to repent!

Lead him back to the paths of righteousness!

Now, now, son, you can't... you can't fault a man for trying to save his neck,

now, can you?

Now, Julie, you remember, now, we have an agreement.

You have to write a letter once a week, and you have to keep your grades up,

and you have to spend your summer vacations on the Ponderosa.

Oh, I'll sure try, Mr. Cartwright.

I'll be writing too, Julie, to tell you how things are on the lake.

Oh, Hoss.

Candy.

I'm sorry you're not gonna be around to make a sailor out of me.

Hey, come on, now, you landlubbers, get ashore!

We're heading for the south end of this lake to meet the stage.

Well, that being the case, Candy,

if I'm gonna make a cowboy out of you again, we better get started.

What's the hurry? I got ten minutes left on my lunch hour.

And you got 20 miles to ride to where your work is,

so you gotta start slapping leather.

Julie. You have a good trip now.

Mm-hm.

- Bye-bye. - Bye, Julie.

- Bye. - Bye.

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