All language subtitles for Bonanza - S09E22 - The Late Ben Cartwright.eng

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Thank you.

How come you got
a small glass, Pa?

Welcome, Senator.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright.

I wonder if we might
have a few words together?

Why certainly, Mr. Endicott, I
see no reason why we shouldn't.

Uh, Mrs. Wright suggests
that we use her study.

I've wanted to meet
you for a long time.

A happy circumstance that we were
both invited to be Mrs. Wright’s guests

in her home when you and
your sons were in San Francisco.

I have the distinct feeling

that you might have
arranged for those invitations.

Yes. Well, to business.

You are aware that I own
certain parcels of land in Nevada?

Mr. Endicott, I'm
aware that you own half

of the northern part
of the state of Nevada.

I like Nevada, Mr. Cartwright.

It's young, vital, growing.

I want to help with that growth.

Which means taking an active
part in the politics of the state.

I want to ask your full and active
support for an old friend of yours.

- For what office?
- Governor.

- And your candidate?
- John Farraday, your friend.

Well, Mr. Endicott, our present
governor has served this state

capably and honestly,

and he wishes to remain in
office and he has my full support.

Farraday is counting on you.

I've known John for a long time.

And I admired him...

until he became your tame judge.

My tame judge?

Didn't you pay for all
his campaign expenses

when he ran for office in
Virginia City two years ago?

John Farraday has been a good
judge, and you cannot say otherwise.

Yes, it's true.

But so far he hasn't
had to rule on the legality

of any of your
land transactions.

That's when he begins to
earn his keep. Isn't that so?

Be careful how you
slander me, Cartwright.

I don't consider it slander
to say that a man like you

wants a governor who will come
running whenever you whistle,

and do exactly
what you tell him to.

Mr. Endicott, you
have a reputation

for corrupting
everything you touch.

Now, you want to control the
governor so you can corrupt this state.

You're not gonna do
either, I promise you that.

Is this a declaration
of war, Cartwright?

Unless you stay out
of Nevada politics.

Fighting me can be a
very unhealthy pursuit.

A number of men could confirm that,
except that they are no longer with us.

Are you threatening me?

Make of it what you will,
but don't get in my way.

Excuse me. Ben.

You've talked with Mr. Endicott.

I thought you might
have something to tell me.

No, John, I don't have
anything to tell you.

Mr. Endicott possibly has.

- Judge Farraday?
- Yes?

Mr. Endicott would
like to talk to you.

Right away.

I'll see you back in Virginia
City. Good night, gentlemen.

Judge.

Pa, what was that
all about anyhow?

Sam Endicott is increasing
his investments in Nevada.

Property or people?

Both, Joseph. Both.

I thought you said Ben
Cartwright was a friend of yours.

Well, he is a friend of mine...

- I thought he was.
- He will not support you.

Did he say why?

Ben Cartwright has
ambitions of his own.

He wants to sit in
the governor's chair.

But he's never held an
elective or appointive office.

He wants to be governor.
He asked for my support.

I turned him down. He's
too arrogant, too self-seeking.

Not the right man at all.

I never thought of him
in that way, but... yes, sir.

With Cartwright against you, it'll
be a tougher race, but you'll win.

On your way out, ask
Mr. Broome to come in.

Of course.

Thank you, Mr. Endicott.

If I do win, I'll do everything in my
power to be the kind of governor...

Never mind. Save the
speeches for the campaign.

Mr. Endicott wants to see you.

We've got a fight on our hands.

Cartwright is tougher and better
informed than I thought he could be.

It's an error in
judgment, Broome.

And Farraday, is
he still in the bag?

He'll do as he's told as long
as he can convince himself

that it is for the common good.

But that's only
half of our problem.

Cartwright is going to search for
ammunition with which to fight us.

If he digs deeply enough,

he might discover our plans
for the development company.

- If he does, we'll buy him off.
- Not a chance.

Ben Cartwright is
a highly moral man.

Well, that kind comes
a little more expensive.

We’ll make him a partner.

He wouldn't listen
to that for one minute.

Then there's only one answer.

Not so fast.

The nominating committee
meets in Carson City in 20 days.

Without Cartwright’s support, Farraday
couldn't be nominated for dogcatcher.

If Cartwright
endorses Farraday...

No contest. Farraday
wins going away.

But Ben Cartwright isn't
going to change his mind.

So we can't win without
Cartwright's endorsement.

That means we will get Cartwright's
endorsement, one way or the other.

Dead or alive.

As I said, there's
only one answer.

You will leave in the morning
for Carson City. The hotel?

Cattleman's Hotel.

You'll rent the biggest suite.
Hire whomever you need.

You start this campaign with
the biggest fan-farade possible.

Done it many times before.

Do you, uh, have a
man to take care of...?

I'll get one.

Hey, throw my bag
down, will you, friend?

Oh! Much obliged, old timer.

Any time you're in the
market for Hastings Hardware,

"Best in the West by Test,"

you remember old Welborn
White, drummer par excellence.

I can read your unspoken
thoughts, Mr. Broome.

You're thinking that I don't look
like somebody you'd hire to kill a man.

You don't look like a man
I'd hire to hold a horse.

One of my greatest assets, sir.

You just think about it for a
minute, and you'll see that I'm right.

You know something? I never go
anywhere without these catalogues.

They're my passport.

Take me anywhere I want
to go, no questions asked.

See, I sell hardware.
That's my cover.

The hardware I sell is very real.
I'll sell you one two-penny nail,

40 horse-collars or a
hundred gross of axes.

Now, I carry another little book

that I only show to special
people, like yourself.

Go ahead, open it up.

"Prominent Denver attorney
found dead. No clues."

Turn the page.

Oh, now that's a good one.

"Wyoming mourns unsolved
murder of state's attorney."

And you know something?

He never went anywhere
without a bodyguard.

Here's your advance.

That's$500.

Well, now, that's right as rain.

Plus another $2,000 payment
upon delivery, as you might call it.

Time is of the essence.

You mean hit quick and
get out of the state fast.

Quick, but not slipshod.

The, um...

customer is Ben
Cartwright of the Ponderosa.

You pick 'em big, mister.

- Not too big for you, Mr. White?
- No, sir.

They all fall down
when they're hit by a.44.

Ben Cartwright.

I'll have to have a whole new
chapter just for him in my little book.

I'll leave on the first
stage for Virginia City.

Oh, come on, relax, Mr. Broome.

I guarantee satisfaction.

As of right now, Mr. Ben
Cartwright is as good as dead.

Come in.

- Spare a few moments?
- Of course.

Court doesn't reconvene
for another ten minutes.

Part of a judge's obligation
to be available to the public.

- Thank you.
- Sit down.

John, I... I'd like to
discuss your candidacy.

Yes, I thought that would
be the subject of your visit.

- Well, I...
- Ben, would it help

if I assured you that
I did or said nothing

to influence Mr. Endicott's
choice of a candidate?

I didn't come here to
pass judgment on you.

Well, then why
did you come, Ben?

Certainly not to offer me your
congratulations or your backing.

Now, wait, I don't blame you.

If I were in your shoes, I'd
probably feel the same way.

You must have had your
heart set on that nomination.

And then to be turned down by the
man that could help you most. Well...

Believe me, I can understand
your disappointment.

Wait a minute, Judge.

I don't resent your candidacy.

It's your backing
that concerns me.

And I think it should
concern you too, John.

Let's get a couple
of things straight.

I never sought the nomination.

But if I did, Endicott would
be the last man in the world

I'd ever turn to for help.

Well, if that's your
story, Ben, I won't argue.

If you want to save
face, that's your business.

Only don't expect
me to go along with it.

All right, John.

If that's what you
want to believe.

Let's talk about
the governorship.

Now, you and Endicott...
why is he backing you?

Because he's my friend and
he knows I'll do everything I can

to be a good governor.

John, I'm gonna
lay it right on the line.

What's in it for him?

Oh, I see through you
now, Ben Cartwright.

You'd like to get at Endicott
through me. Well, it won't work!

Endicott is an honest man!

Who just happens to want to
pay all your campaign expenses.

If you have a quarrel with
Endicott, that's personal.

I have nothing to do with that.

But don't impugn
his honesty or mine!

Court convenes in two minutes.

Was there anything else
on your mind, Mr. Cartwright?

No, I guess not.

The worst part of all this is
you believe everything you said.

Well, we got plenty of
people that'll listen to us.

The problem is,
what'll we tell them?

We tell them the truth, Endicott's
trying to steal the state of Nevada.

What do we say when
they ask for proof?

Well, you tell them
what you think, Pa.

I mean, people around here have
been taking your word for things

for a long time.

You're a delegate to the convention,
you get a chance to talk then.

Oh, yes, I plan to do that.

As you said, Endicott's a smart
man, and he'll be ready and waiting.

He'll tell the convention just
what he told Judge Farraday,

that I tried to get him to back
me and he turned me down.

And then what?

You just cinch the nomination
for Judge Farraday, don't you?

Two weeks before the
convention starts, huh?

I'll try to talk to as
many delegates as I can.

Hope that I can convince them.

Little late for
calling, isn't it?

Evening. Mr. Cartwright?

Yeah, I'm one of them.
What can I do for you?

My card, sir.

"Welborn White, Hastings
Hardware. Satisfaction guaranteed."

It's a hardware salesman, Pa.

Well, have the
gentleman come in.

- Right this way, sir.
- Much obliged.

Ah, you must be
Mr. Ben Cartwright.

- That's right, I am.
- Welborn White, at your service, sir.

- You're a hardware salesman?
- Yes, Hastings.

"The Best in the West by Test."

Well, I hope you didn't come
out from town just to see us.

Well, you're the last of
four ranches in this area.

If you had, you've
made a trip for nothing.

You see, we've been buying our
hardware from a dealer in Virginia City

for some years now and, well,
actually there's no reason to change.

Oh, well, that's the fortunes
of war, as you might say.

You stick around
for a cup of coffee?

Much obliged, but I think
I'll get back into town.

You know, a city man like
me gets mighty nervous at night

out here in the
wide open spaces.

Well, it was good
meeting all of you.

You know, it's not very often you
get a chance to meet somebody

as important as Ben
Cartwright. No, siree.

- Good night, sir.
- Good night there, young fella.

- Cheerful cuss, ain't he?
- Why shouldn't he be?

He got nothing on
his mind but hardware.

I wish that's all I
had on my mind.

Well, I’d better get some rest.
I've got a lot of talking to do

in the next couple of weeks.

- Good night, Pa.
- Good night.

Pa!

- How bad is it?
- Just grazed him. He's still alive.

- See anything?
- No.

- Let's get him in the house.
- Get his feet.

Well, I...

I think there's probably some men
who might want to see me dead.

There's only one I
can think of right now.

Endicott.

That... That night
in San Francisco.

Mrs. Wright's.

He threatened me with murder.

I thought he was bluffing.

Well, from what I hear about
Endicott, he's capable of anything.

What about bushwhacking?
Will he risk a hanging?

All kinds of men you can hire to
do some bushwhacking for you.

- Well, so how do we prove it?
- "Don't get in my way."

That was the last
words he said to me.

"Don't get in my way."

I got in his way.

I got in the way of the
thing he wanted most:

Farraday's nomination.

Well, we can't let
him get away with it.

Yes we can, Joe.

We can and we will.

Hoss, that... that bushwhacker,

he wouldn't have any way of knowing
whether I was dead or not, would he?

Well, no. I don't reckon
there's any way he could.

Yeah.

All right then.

One of you will go
into Virginia City,

and you will announce my death.

What are you talking
about, your death? What for?

Now, that Dr. Wilson,

he's a man that'll help us
in our kind of fight, I think.

Talk to him first.

I'm gonna fix Endicott
once and for all.

I just can't get used to
reading my own obituaries.

All this fills me with a
great deal of respect.

I had no idea I was
such a wonderful person.

Pa, you don't suppose them
fellas might be stretching a little?

I'm sure they were, but I sure
hate to play this kind of cruel trick

on some very fine people.

Well, as soon as they
find out why you're doing it,

- they'll forgive you.
- I hope so.

Wait. Hey.

It's just Candy with
another batch of mail.

- How is he?
- Oh, he's fine.

He ate a bigger lunch than Hoss.

Does more complaining than
any corpse I ever been around.

I wish you fellas would stop
talking about me as if I weren't here.

- Sorry about that.
- There's a lot of excitement in town.

- They found the bushwhacker.
- They did?

Coffee thinks so. It's
a man named Briggs.

Briggs?

I don't know anyone
named Briggs.

That figures, a hired gun
Endicott brought in to kill you.

He may be a hired gun, but he
looks more like a saddle tramp.

His horse had a nick
in one of his shoes.

Sheriff Coffee found hoofprints
to match it near the barn.

And there was a rifle
cartridge there too.

- Has he confessed?
- Not yet.

But he had $200 in his pocket.

He admits not having
worked for three months,

but he claims he won
it in a poker game.

Well, that should be easy
enough to prove, if it's true.

Not so easy, it was a two-handed
poker game in a hotel room.

No witnesses and
the loser left town.

Convenient.

Sheriff Coffee is convinced he has
the right man, so is the prosecutor.

- The trial starts tomorrow.
- Tomorrow?

Sort of pushing
things, ain't they?

Well, Mr. Cartwright
was a very important man.

The town's in an ugly mood.
They've got a rope and a gallows

and they're looking
for somebody to hang.

That sure changes things.

Well, that convention
starts in five days anyhow.

There ain't no way they
can finish that trial up by then.

I wouldn't count on that.

All right you men, hurry it up.

So sorry you have to leave.

So now we have female delegates.

Some of the delegates
have wives and sisters.

Some of the men
have lady friends.

That happened to be one of mine.

- What else have you accomplished?
- I've spent a lot of your money.

Where I had to, I
promised state house help,

and where I could,
I... I bought the votes.

- We have votes enough?
- Almost.

And the Cartwright... $2,500.

I also had to buy you a forger.

That was another $750.

I didn't know that they
were that expensive.

I always find it wiser
to pay what they ask.

Otherwise, they might
sign your name to a check.

Aren't you gonna
invite me in, mister?

What are you doing here?
According to our agreement,

you were supposed to get
out of the state and stay out.

Mm. That was until I found
out who I was working for.

You're working for me.

Not unless your name is
Samuel Carter Endicott.

It's all right, Broome.

Perhaps this gentleman would like
to discuss matters further with me.

Well, if you're Samuel
Carter Endicott.

I am.

I'll handle this, Broome.

- You took a chance coming here.
- No moon tonight.

I left my horse three streets down
and came up the back stairway.

Nobody saw me.

- Most commendable, Mr...
- White. Welborn White.

I take it that we
are indebted to you

for all the evidence leading to
the arrest of the cowhand, Briggs?

Oh, well, you
take it right, mister.

I stole his horse
from the livery stable

and used it to ride
out to the Ponderosa.

And you know something? I
played two-handed poker with him

in my hotel room
and I lost $200 to him.

A stroke of genius.

And now you feel that you're entitled
to more than the stipulated sum?

I agree, Mr. White.

Mr. Broome is inclined to watch

the purse strings
over-carefully.

How much more
would you think is fair?

One thousand? Two?

Well, now... The
way I look at it, mister,

this ought to be worth, oh...

let's say $10,000
a year, minimum.

A year, did you say?

Are you saying that you
expect an annual honorarium?

Well, a man as important as you
have a lot of people on your payroll.

I don't imagine you got anybody
with my... particular talent.

Touché, Mr. White.

I admire your business acumen.

You obviously have...

have studied the pros and
cons, weighed them carefully,

and you have decided that I
cannot afford to turn you down.

Well, that’s about
the size of it, yes.

So you have rightly come
here without anyone seeing you

to make sure that I make
sure that you don't talk.

And it would be churlish
of me to disappoint you.

You will find his
horse and get rid of it.

As to our friend there, he will fit
very nicely into the steamer trunk

which you will ship
to San Francisco

and load aboard one of our
vessels bound for the Orient.

Fortunately, that poor devil
Briggs will pay for Mr. White’s crime.

I never seen a man convicted so
quick on circumstantial evidence before.

This town's in an ugly mood. You
saw how they were looking at the jury.

If they'd have
found him innocent,

they probably would have
tarred and feathered him.

Or worse.

Just can't imagine them
hanging him so quick. Tomorrow.

- I've never seen it set so fast.
- Well, I’m no authority on hangings,

but I don't know what else
Judge Farraday could have done.

If he'd have kept that
man in jail any longer,

they'd have burned
down the jail and him in it.

And the convention
starts tomorrow.

Well, I’m gonna get back to
the ranch and give Pa the news.

Right. I'll see you later.

I sure didn't think they'd rush
through that trial so quickly.

All we needed was
one more day. One day.

What do we do now?

- The governor.
- He could stop the hanging.

Yeah.

Yes, he would.

I'd have to show myself to him.

Then Endicott would know, one
whole day before I want him to.

The only thing I've got
going for me is the surprise

of showing up at the right time.

The convention opens
tomorrow morning. What time?

Ten o'clock.

What time is the
hanging scheduled for?

Ten in the morning.

Well, we’ll ride into
town tonight after dark

and get Judge Farraday
to issue a stay of execution.

- He's Endicott's man.
- What other choice do we have?

I thought you were a
ghost when you walked in.

- I thank God you're alive.
- So do I.

But the rest...

Ben, your accusations are
wild, totally without foundation.

Well, I’ll say it again.

Sam Endicott hired
an assassin to kill me.

All right. I believe
there was an assassin,

but I don't believe
Sam Endicott hired him.

Who else would want
to see my pa dead?

I think your father will admit that he
might have other enemies than Endicott.

But who else would want me
dead now, at this particular time,

- just before the convention.
- It's conjecture, supposition.

Ben, can you prove any
of these things in court?

- Not at this time.
- Well, then your accusations

are pure slander.

Mr. Endicott can sue you for
everything you own, and win.

I know that.

But given time, I think I can force
Mr. Endicott to expose himself.

I'll never believe Endicott
had anything to do with it.

Well, if Pa didn't believe it, why do
you suppose he pretended to be dead?

- To get even with Endicott.
- For what?

For backing me as a
candidate in place of him.

No, I told you before.

I'm not a candidate now
and I never have been.

Endicott said you came
and asked him for his support.

You've known my father a
long time, Judge Farraday.

Have you ever known him to lie?

All right, Endicott exaggerated.

John...

We've been friends. Haven't you
wondered why I refused to back you?

You made it quite clear you
thought I'd be bad for the state.

No. No, not you, Endicott.

If you're elected,
you'll be in his debt.

And then one day he'll ask you for
a small favor for one of his friends.

Oh, nothing important, just a
matter of executive prerogative.

The next favor will be
for him, only it'll be bigger.

And the one after that
will be bigger again.

Then you won't be able to
stop him, or stop yourself.

Get out!

Get out and leave me alone!

You gonna force me to
show my hand... now?

Now, John, do you really think

that I would use my own
attempted murder in self-interest?

Do you really believe that I could
play this kind of trick on all my friends?

If I'm wrong, if Sam
Endicott is innocent,

by tomorrow night I'll be
the laughing stock of Nevada,

and you'll be governor.

But suppose I'm right.
Just suppose I'm right.

I came here tonight
to show myself to you,

to save Briggs from hanging.

But if Endicott
finds out about this,

he'll announce to
the world that I'm alive

and guilty of the worst...

the dirtiest political hoax
ever pulled in this state.

If you issue that stay of execution
now, without giving any reasons,

it'll give me time to prove
to you, to everybody,

that Endicott is
everything I've said he is.

If I'm wrong, you win.

If I'm right, you lose.

But you'll have done
this state a great service.

This is the biggest
decision of your life, John.

Gentlemen.

Hey, Bob.

- How are you?
- Say hello to the wife for me, will you?

- How are you? Good to see you.
- Jack.

Good to see you again.

Jack Van Buren, delegate from
Tonopah. I used to work for him.

According to him,
Joe, it's all but over.

The floor vote's gonna
be only a formality.

- Farraday?
- That's what the man says.

That's what I heard.

Well, maybe there's
something you haven't heard,

your name being Cartwright.

Endicott and Broome are talking
to key delegates in the hotel.

- Helping them make up their minds.
- Yeah, I heard that too.

Hi, how are you? How's the
wife and the new daughter?

- Jim?
- Oh, yes.

Mr. Endicott would
like to talk to you now.

- Fine.
- Excuse me.

Jim Porter. Owns
the Bar M Ranch.

Wife named Mary.
Daughter, Penelope.

Ah, Mr. Porter. Jim.

How's the wife? No, don't
tell me. I'll remember. Mary.

It beats me how you do it.

We only had an opportunity to say
howdy, and that was six, seven months ago.

Well, a man likes to
remember his friends.

Only yesterday I was talking about
you to our next governor, John Farraday.

- Oh, well, thank you.
- Yeah. He likes you very much.

- Now, what's your pleasure?
- Oh, whatever you have.

Just a short one.

I'm complimented you picked me.

Had to pick someone
I could trust, Senator.

I only wish I could
be of more help.

I believe everything
you've told me,

but not all the delegates
know you as well as I do.

And I can't prove a word of it.

You know the man who controls the
key delegates is gonna win this battle.

Gentlemen, delegates.

Your friend and mine, the
Honorable Samuel Endicott,

would like to say a few words.

Thank you, gentlemen.

In a few minutes, the
convention will convene

and the serious business of
nominating our next governor will begin.

Before that happens, I want to
read to you a very important letter

from a very important man.

The late Ben
Cartwright was my friend.

Senator, I think it's about
time you got down there.

Thanks. Be right down.

Well?

Good luck.

I now speak for Ben Cartwright.

I read to you from a
letter that he wrote me

the day before an
assassin's bullet ended his life.

"I can think of no man
better fitted to govern Nevada

than our mutual friend,
Judge John Farraday."

Gentlemen, Ben Cartwright
never wrote any such letter.

Yes, I'm alive.

I'm very much
alive, Mr. Endicott.

I have never written a
letter to Sam Endicott.

I never put any
recommendations on paper.

I'm afraid Mr. Endicott
has lied to you.

He is not my friend.
He is not your friend.

He is certainly not the
friend of the state of Nevada.

I told him I would not
support Judge Farraday.

And when I further told him that I
would support none of his nominations,

he hired that
assassin to kill me.

I'd like to see that letter.

Of course.

This isn't even a good forgery.

This is not my signature.

Now, gentlemen, Ben
Cartwright could, or could not,

have hired the unfortunate man

who was hanged in
Virginia City this morning

to play the role of assassin.

But the blame for that
poor wretch's death

must be forever on the
conscience of Ben Cartwright.

A human sacrifice
for political gain.

Gentlemen, there was no
hanging in Virginia City this morning.

That man in jail is alive.

And the stay of execution was
ordered by Judge Farraday himself.

And now, gentlemen,
the moment of decision.

On the one hand, a
governor who has served us

honorably and well, and who
deserves our continued support.

On the other hand, a puppet,

controlled by Mr. Endicott
and Mr. Broome.

Two scoundrels who've corrupted
everything they've ever touched.

And who will stop at nothing, not
even murder, to get what they want.

The future course of our state,

the future course of
the state of Nevada,

will be decided
today in this room.

Now, gentlemen,

you can let Endicott and Broome

loot and destroy our state.

Or you can stop
them in their tracks.

Your vote is the only
weapon you need.

Hold up, Ben.

I'll be proud to walk on that
convention floor with you.

Come on.

Well, Ben, how does it
feel to win on the first ballot?

Well, the governor
was re-nominated.

Farraday sending that telegram
withdrawing his name from the convention

sure helped a lot.

How do I feel?

I'm glad it's all over.

Farraday had a lot more
integrity than I gave him credit for.

Shame it took a man
like Endicott to bring it out.

Well, our friend Endicott's
finally given up the ghost.

The hardware salesman.

Candy, get the sheriff.

This has been a color production

of the NBC television network.