All language subtitles for 29 - Bitter Water

It's Tod McKaren.

Wonder what he's up to now.

Well, there's only
one way to find out.

Let's ask him.

Let's go.

Why the surveying, Tod?

Any law against surveying
my own property line?

Never any doubt in our mind
about its location.

Well, maybe there will be
in the mind of the new owner.

You mean your father's
selling out?

Not my father. Me.

To Len Keith.

Len Keith?

I thought he only bought
mining property.

That's what he thinks
this could be.

Tod, we have a water rights
agreement with your father

on the use of this stream.

If Keith uses it for mining,

it'll poison out some
of our best bottom land.

Seems that's your worry, Ben,
not mine.

Now, just a minute.
Let go!

You Cartwrights
have shoved us around

for the last 20 years.

You're a liar.

Wait a minute.

There's better ways
to settle this.

As I see it, it's
already been settled.

(theme song playing)

Hey, where you two been?

Old Hop-Sing had a real
good meal fixed for you.

And you decided not to let it
go to waste and ate it all, huh?

How'd you know that?

What are you doing
reading a book?

The Care and Training of Dogs?

Oh, a little old stray pup
wandered in here,

and I've been trying to figure
out how to take care of it.

I thought you were an expert
on things like that.

Well, Pa, there's so dang
many new scientific ideas

that natural know-how
just ain't no good no more.

Well, as far as I'm concerned

you can say that
about Tod McKaren, too.

I thought I knew him
pretty well.

Why, what's the matter with Tod?

I don't know.

Growing pains, likely.

Where's that pouch of
Virginia tobacco I got?

Don't look at me.
I didn't smoke it.

Thought you were saving
this tobacco

for Andy McKaren's birthday.

Well, I was.

But no reason a man

can't have a birthday
a few days early.

I gotta ride over to Andy

and have a talk with him
about Tod.

Pa, wish Mr. McKaren
a happy birthday for me too, eh?

I will.

(knocking)

Who is it?

It's Ben, Andy.

Oh, come on in, Ben.
The door is not locked.

(laughing):
Doggone, it's good
to see you!

Well, doggone good
to see you too, Andy.

Been a long time.
It has been.

How you feeling?

Oh, I'm practically
stuck to this chair,

but what's the difference?

Good to see you.

I brought you some of that
good Southern tobacco

to take the bite out
of your pipe.

Thanks, Ben.

Hey, smells good.

This fire of yours feels good.

Ran into Tod today.

Yeah, I turned the running
of things over to him.

I had to face up to it.

I'm just not up
to handling things anymore.

Tod was saying you're thinking
some of selling out.

You know how kids are.

Always trying to get ahead fast.

I figure when it comes
to selling,

he'll want to stay
on this land as much as I do.

Well, I...

I hope you're right, Andy.

I guess I got a little upset

when he told me
he was thinking

of selling out
to Len Keith.

Well, I'd be surprised
if he mentioned any other name.

He's so sweet
on Len Keith's daughter

that, well, he doesn't know
his own name

half the time.

Well, she's a fine girl.

Tod, uh, seemed pretty
determined to sell.

That he is.

Ben, you have boys of your own.

A man's got to let
his son grow up,

even if he doesn't
always agree with him.

Well, you're right there.

I was just thinking
that if Keith ever

did start mining operations
on your property,

it would foul up
the water in that stream

to where it would poison
half the cattle at my range.

Oh, it won't come to that, Ben.

I've got cattle of my own
using that stream.

(chuckling):
Well...

We're getting older, Andy.

I hear that.

I remember when you,

when you brought
your family here.

I figured that plan to share
the water in that stream

would outlast
both our lifetimes.

It's the truth.
So did I.

(door opening)

Well, I see you didn't waste
any time, Mr. Cartwright.

Tod, is that
a way to behave?

I don't like people
talking behind my back.

Ben came here to talk,
not fight.

It won't hurt you to listen.

What for?

I know what he's going to say.

We're just one big happy family

as long as he's the boss
and we do what we're told.

You've been listening to that
all of your life, Pa.

Tod, I've never known
your father to back away

from me or any other man,
long as I've known him.

What's he doing?

Talking over old times
so that you won't forget

the little things
you might owe him

so you'll feel ashamed
to let me sell out?

Tod!

He's been doing that

to some of the others
around here,

only they haven't had the
belly to stand up to him.

That's enough.

Ben Cartwright's the best friend
we ever had and you know it.

He's no friend of ours.

You apologize.

Andy, never mind.

No, Ben.

This is still my house,
and I won't have it shamed.

Your house, your land.

This wonderful land that
killed Ma before her time

and crippled you
so you can hardly walk.

All right, keep it,
love it.

Rot on it
for all I care.

Andy...

I'm afraid I'll have to
apologize to you myself, Ben.

I figured that...

if I come by,
it might help.

Guess it hurt more.

Andy...

Now, we don't have
too much ready cash

in the Ponderosa
this time of year,

what with it being tied up
in the herd and all, but...

Well, if it's selling out

that Tod is so
concerned about...

Ben, you know
how Tod would feel

about any offer
coming from you.

Yeah, I supposed he'd just think

I'd been waiting for the
opportunity to buy you out.

Pretty sad thing when two old
friends can't discuss business

without their motives
being questioned.

It's much deeper than that, Ben.

Len Keith has no intention of
using this land for ranching.

He's offered Tod
a partnership.

He's got the boy
all fired up

with ideas of becoming
another silver baron.

Andy...

Now, do you believe
deep down in your heart

that there's any chance
of silver on this land?

No, Ben, no more
than you do.

No.
But Len Keith
is a mining man

and he thinks
there may be silver

and he's got the boy
thinking it, too.

Doesn't Tod realize that
Keith is just speculating?

That's what he always does.

Buys up as much land as he
can possibly get a hold of

in the hope that some
of it will pay off.

Ruins the land.

He's ruined much
more than land, Ben.

He's ruined many men
with him on his way up,

and this time
it could be my son.

Wouldn't want that to happen,
Andy, any more than you do.

Thank you, Ben.

Tod.

I didn't expect you
until this evening.

I have to see your father.

Is something wrong?

Yes.

Hello, Tod. How's my
future son-in-law?

Disgusted if you want
to know the truth.

Oh, well, come on
and tell me about it.

Maybe I can help you.

What is it?

Mr. Keith, I can't
sell out to you.

Well, why not?

Does your father feel

that I didn't offer you
enough for the property?

Oh, it's not that.

He made a water
rights agreement

with Ben Cartwright
20 years ago.

I see, the Cartwrights, eh?

What's the matter with them?
Do they feel that

we're going to muddy up
their pretty little stream?

It's getting to be you can't
make a move in this country

without Ben Cartwright's
permission.

Well, I suppose
you can't blame a man

for looking out
after his own interests.

What about my interests?

Mine and Virginia's?

Where are we going to get
the money to get married?

Tod, you know money
isn't important to me

as long as we're together.

My mother felt that way.

She died when she
was 26 years old

helping my father try to make
something of this land.

Tod, I could always
find a job for you

in one of my mining companies.

A man has to make it
on his own, Mr. Keith.

You ought to know that.

It's what you did, isn't it?

I certainly did.

That's the way I like
to hear you talk.

Don't worry about it.

I'm sure we can get your
father to see it our way.

Not if Ben Cartwright's doing
his thinking for him, we won't.

But the Cartwrights
have always seemed

liked reasonable people to me.

You just know them
in a social way, Virginia.

You've never dealt with them
on a business level.

Don't worry.

I'm not going to let
Ben Cartwright

stand in the way of the
happiness of my two children.

HOSS:
Here, Shorty.

Come on, boy.
Here, Shorty.

Come on, boy.

Come on, puppy.

Come on, Shorty.

Come, Shorty, you pup.

(whining)

Nice puppy.

Come on, puppy...

Come on, puppy.

Come over here, Shorty.

I'll give you a bath.

Get over there in that tub.

Come here to me.

(Shorty barking)

You gonna get a bath
whether you want it or not.

Come on here, pup.

Come here to me.

Come here, pup.

Here, Shorty, come on.

Nice puppy.

Nice, nice puppy.

Come on, fella.

Yes...

(barking)

If you ain't the beatenest
dang dog I ever seen.

All morning I've been
trying to catch you

just to put you in that bucket.

Pull that old outfit.

Don't you know
this is for your own good?

You loaded down
with them dang ticks

and I'm just trying to get them
off of you, that's all.

Pull that old outfit, you.

LITTLE JOE:
Hiya, brother.

You still playing nursemaid
to that little dog you found?

Well, I can't hardly
help it now, can I,

if this poor little
critter hangs around.

(sniffing):
You smell something?

Oh, that's me.

Yeah, I was setting
some traps

for the wolves that were
bothering the cattle.

Caught a skunk in one of them.

You sure did.
(chuckling)

Look here, when I get through
with little Shorty here,

why don't you jump in?

It's gonna take a lot more

than soap and water
to get me clean.

Well, this here
ain't ordinary soap.

This here soap's
got sulfur in it.

I was over in Baker's Flat

the other day talking
to that storekeeper,

telling him about
old Shorty's wood ticks

and he told me that stuff
would take anything off.

Yeah?
Yeah.

Probably take
my skin off, too.

(hoofbeats approaching)

Hi, Pa.
You talk to Andy?

Yeah. Oh, Andy
is gonna honor

that water agreement
we have with him,

just as I thought he would.

I just can't figure out
what got into Tod.

I can't either.

Seems like he just
doesn't want

to get along
with anybody.
Yeah.

Don't you two know
what's wrong with Tod?

He's in love.

I wish it were that simple.

Anybody smell skunk?

Oh, that,
that's me, Pa.

I caught a skunk
in one of the wolf traps.

Well, if you're gonna go
to that social with us tonight,

I think you better start
getting cleaned up now.

Yeah.

Why, you think
somebody'll mind?

Get out!
(laughs)

Listen, Adam,

if, uh, if Tod is
at that social,

and I think he will be,

try to have a talk with him,
you know, as a friend.

All right.

Shorty, I know you ain't gonna
never believe this,

but this here's real good
for you.

Hey, now, if looks have
anything to do with it,

we sure gonna have us
a time tonight, ain't we?

Yeah, but you just remember
what I told you.

You stand on your own feet,
not the ladies'.

Oh, you're a good one
to be giving advice
about the ladies.

What, went with Virginia Keith
for three years,

now ol' Tod's
marrying her.

Well, I guess just I never
got around to asking her.

He sure is a slow worker,
ain't he, Pa?

Three years.
(chuckles)

You through
with that brush?

(knocking)

Expecting somebody?

No.

Oh, hi.
Hoss.
Hello, Ben.

Hello, Len.

I'm not interrupting anything,
am I?

No, no, not at all.

Just getting ready
to go to the dance.

I'm taking Virginia
later myself.

Uh... I wonder
if I can have

a private little talk
with you.

Let's go get
the horses ready.

Uh, sit down, Len.

Thanks.

Well, what's
on your mind?

Tod McKaren
came to see me,

and he's all upset
about what happened

between him
and his father.

I was a little
upset myself.

I'm very fond of Tod.

He's got a lot of character.

He's extremely ambitious.

Len, sometimes
ambition can drive

a young man
in the wrong direction.

But I don't think
that's true in Tod's case.

I consider him practically
a member of the family.

I'd be pretty careful
of whatever opportunities

I put in his way.

Matter of fact,
I wanted you to help me.

In spite of what's happened,

Tod's got a great deal
of respect for your opinion.

Well, that used to be so.

Well, of course,
he's a little high-strung,

but you and I can
understand that.

We were young once, too.

We saw what we wanted in life,
and we went out and we took it.

Nowadays,
a young fellow

needs help to get started.

I'm doing what I can for Tod.

I thought you'd want
to help, too.

That was a very nice speech,
Keith.

Now what did you really come
to see me about?

Well, I don't want
anything for myself.

I'm only here
to help Tod.

Old Andy McKaren
does pretty much

what you ask him to,
now, doesn't he?

Now hold on.

Andy McKaren has
a mind of his own

and he's very capable
of using it.

Yes, but you got to make him
understand something.

By holding onto
that land,

he's jeopardizing
his son's future.

Your, uh, your interest
and concern

with Tod's future
is most commendable.

I've watched you
over a period of years, Len,

making quite a lot
of money,

and ruin quite a bit of land

and quite a few people
in the process.

I'm not gonna help you
ruin Tod McKaren.

And I always try
reasoning first, Ben.

If that doesn't work,

I guess I can find
some other way.

Boys.

(sniffs)

Little Joe, you sure do
smell better

than you did
this afternoon.

Well, thanks
a lot.

(both laugh)

If you gentlemen
will excuse me.

Of course.

Hey, Pa, I'm gonna see

if I can't rustle me up
one of them little fillies.

Have you had a chance
to talk to Tod yet?

No. He's danced every dance
with Virginia.

Excuse me, Adam.

I think I've just
found my filly.

Oh, Tod, you dance
my feet off.

Well, I wouldn't want
to do that.

I can't spare any of you.

Oh...

How about some more punch?

I'd love it.

Adam, you're not dancing.

I'm having too much fun
watching you two.

You look very beautiful tonight,
Virginia.

Well, thank you.

I'm glad you approve
of my future wife.

You're lucky you proposed to her
when you did.

When are you two
getting married?

When your father decides
to let me run my own business.

Tod, that was a rather
unpleasant thing to say.

Well, now he didn't mean
anything by it.

Didn't I?

Tod, let's dance.

Yes, I think
that's a good idea.

Don't turn your back
on me, Cartwright.

Now, look, if you're so set
on starting a fight,

this isn't
the place for it.

Oh, I think it is.

Tod. Dad, Mr. Cartwright,
stop them.

They're fighting.

Adam.

Adam.

Hold it. All right, you two,
that's enough.

Tod, we don't want
to fight you, boy.

Then stay away from me,
all of you.

Dad, take me home.

All right, Virginia.

Come on. Forget it, Adam.

Well, let's have
a little music.

(horns play)

Come on, boys.

Dad, I shouldn't
have walked out

on Tod like that.
I ought to go back.

Well, this isn't
the time, Virginia.

My advice is to just let him
calm down a little.

Dad, sometimes I wonder

if your advice for Tod and me
is really any good.

Virginia...
what have I ever told you

that hasn't worked out for you?

I'm not talking about something
you can put your finger on.

I'm talking about the way
Tod has changed:

the way he looks at me;
the way he acts.

Well, of course he's changed,
and all for the good.

He's turning into
the kind of a man

I'd be proud to have
as a son-in-law.

Would I be proud to have him
for a husband?

Virginia, if I've done anything
at all to hurt you...

I'm glad
you're still here.

I'd like to apologize.

It wasn't your fault,
Adam.

I'm glad
you feel that way.

I don't think there's
anything to be gained

by discussing it
any further.

Let's go on home.

Dad, I'd like
to talk to Adam.

Not tonight, honey.

Excuse me, Mr. Keith.

Uh, I got to talk to you.

Well, can't it wait
till morning?

No, sir, it can't.

You go on in, honey.
I'll be right in.

All right.

What is it, Tucker?

It's about the cattle
you just bought.

Something's come up.
You better handle it.

(grunts)

That's enough, Roy.

After what he done?

He could have poisoned
half the men in your mine

with them diseased cows.

Where's the beef now?

I put 'em up
in the north corral.

I figured tomorrow
I'll have 'em killed and buried.

Him along with them
if I had my way.

Take him outside, Roy.

And Roy, not a word
about this to anybody.

(man grunts)

I suppose he claimed

he didn't know
the cattle were sick.

What do you think?

Probably rustled them
20 head to begin with.

All of them
diseased, huh?

You can't have one cow
with Texas fever

without 'em all
getting it.

They're crawling
with ticks.

In other words, you put
those sick cattle in

with a healthy herd.

It spreads like wildfire.

I see.

Tucker, I want you to ride
that man out of town tonight

and make that sure
he never comes back.

Make sure?

Mr. Keith, there's...
there's only one way

I know of to make sure.

I'll leave that up to you.

And Tucker,
don't kill off any

of those sick cattle
until I tell you to.

Well, what can you do
with sick cows?

I thought I might get
big-hearted

and make a present of a couple
of them to Ben Cartwright.

Well, you know what
Cartwright would do

if they ever caught us at it.

Well, don't let him catch you.

Them's big stakes, Mr. Keith.

Yeah, the biggest.

Cartwright's always had
everything his way.

Let's see how he acts
when he finds cattle being added

to his herd
instead of rustled away, huh?

I know he took
the first swing at you,

but I don't know
if that's the way
to handle Tod.

I've watched both
of you grow up,

and I've just as much
confidence in him

as I have in you.

I know you have,

but I don't have Len Keith
telling me what to do.

Virginia's
Keith's only daughter.

I suppose you can't blame him
for looking after her interests.

But Len Keith never made a move
in his life

that didn't benefit
Len Keith first.

And I'll tell you
something else.

It isn't just a little piece
of land he's after.

He's an ambitious man.

There's no question about that.

The way he's extending
his mining interests,

it looks as if he wants
to take over

the whole Carson Valley.

Including the Ponderosa.

Adam, you and I both know
that the Ponderosa

is one piece of land
he'll never get.

Dead bull.

It looks like Texas fever.

Texas fever?

Yes, sir.

We bought Texas
cattle before.

They've always been clean.

You check the other stock?

A few more head showed signs
of the sickness.

We cut 'em out of the herd.

Probably have to destroy them.

There's no
probably about it.

That tick fever plague
could kill every head.

Not only on our range.

It could kill every herd
in the territory.

Poor critters.
They don't even know
what ails 'em.

(whines)

Get. Get. Get out of here. Get.

Scat. Get out
of here.

Dang fool dog will have them
ticks all over him.

Hoss, you remember
that sulfur soap

you used to wash
down that dog?
Yes, sir.

Well, I'm thinking that

if that sulfur soap could wash
the ticks off a dog,

why not off cattle?

We can't scrub down every steer.

No, but we can...
we can dig a pit

between the two corrals,
put in some water

and a lot of sulfur,
like a bath.

Run the herd through
one at a time.

Pa, that'd take
a powerful lot of sulfur.

Well...
But I reckon

they ought to have it
up at Baker's Flat.

You want me
to ride up there and see?

Yeah, you take
the buckboard

and haul as much
as you can carry.

Joe,

you better get
back to the herd.

Have the men cut
out every head

that even
looks sick.
All right, Pa.

Adam...

you and me better get started
digging those pits.

They're up to something.

Nothing they can do
but start killing cows.

Yeah, maybe.

We better stick with them
and make sure.

(laughter, chattering)

(men chuckling)

No, please don't...

(men laughing)

Virginia, you shouldn't
be in here.

Neither should you.

Tod, I've looked
all over town for you.

Everybody's staring at you.
Come on.

Tod, what's
happened to us?

This just
isn't like you.

That-that fight
with Adam and...

What are you doing?

Taking sides
with the Cartwrights

like everybody else
in this country?

Sides?

What sides, Tod?

Don't you see
what they're doing to us?

Your father made me
a good offer on that land.

Three times as much
as it was worth.

Well, if I knew it was going
to mean this much trouble,

I'm sorry he did.

That's easy to say.

But it's not so easy
to live with.

Virginia, I want to amount
to something.

I want you to be proud of me,
the way you are of your father.

Tod, I'm proud of the man
I fell in love with:

a ranching man trying to build
something for the future,

his and mine.

Now, if he starts
hitting people

and getting drunk the first time
things don't go his way, why...

I'll still love him
because I can't help myself.

But I won't be proud of him
for it.

I've had enough speeches,
Virginia.

Please go on, honey.

I'll-I'll see you
after a while.

It's wonderful
to see you, Virginia.

Now that you're practically
a part of the family,

I never get
to see you anymore.

Well, I've been meaning to get
out to see you for a long time.

Oh, I know how it is, planning
the wedding and everything.

You know...

it means a lot to me,
having you for a daughter.

Virginia.

You and Tod having trouble?

Yes, we are, Mr. McKaren,

and I just don't know
how to handle it.

Now, you know that all lovers
have their little quarrels.

That's just the trouble.

It isn't just a lover's quarrel.

It's something
that involves you and my father

and a lot of things
I just don't understand.

Oh, so that's it.

It's about Tod selling
this place, isn't it?

Why shouldn't he sell it?

Why should such a simple
little business transaction

stir up so much trouble?

It isn't a simple thing,
Virginia.

It involves two different ways
of looking at life.

It involves the Cartwrights too,
doesn't it?

Well, that's not the point
I want to make.

I'm talking about the land

and a man's attitude towards it.

Now, is this something to be,
to be torn up and cast aside?

Or is it a place for the future?

I mean a home for you
and Tod and the children.

I've told Tod
that's all I wanted.

I wish my father could see it
the way you do,

but he never will.

It's Tod that we must
both be concerned about.

Now, we must have faith in him

and believe that he will
do the right thing.

You're right.

And I do have faith in Tod.

He's coming.

Did he see you?

I circled around.

He's got that buckboard
loaded down

with bags of sulfur powders.

What for?
Don't know.

I asked the storekeeper
at Baker Flat.

He said that Cartwright
fella talked about

washing his cows down
with sulfur water.

I don't know what good
that'd do,

but we better see to it

that it don't
happen anyway.

You stay here.

Get your rifle and keep
down out of sight.

(gunshot)

Ya. Ya.

Whoa.

Throw down your gun
and crawl out of there.

(gunfire continues)

Ha. Come on.

(panting):
Hoss, you all right?

Yeah.

I reckon I am now.

Thanks to you coming along.

Come on up and give me a hand.

I was rounding up some strays
and I heard the shots.

Figured I'd better
check on it.

Looks to me like I've seen
that fella before. Have you?

Yeah, I think he works
for one of the mining camps.

We better get
that sulfur in.

There's two more cows
flopped over dead.

They're not from
the Ponderosa.

The sick cows ain't ours?

No, looks like it's not.

There's gonna be a lot of sick
ones from our place, though.

Let's get him in.
I'll get his horse.

I tell you, Roy's dead.

Did they see you?

Well, yeah, but they
couldn't recognize me.

Well, I can't take
any chances.

You saddle up my horse

and get back to the bunkhouse
and stay there.

Keep out of sight.

Dad?

Your supper's getting cold.

Well, I'm sorry, honey.
Something's come up.

I've got to go into town.

But Dad...

Do you have
to go right now?

I've got to.
It's important.

I just heard that a plague
of Texas fever

has hit the cattle
around here.

I've got to warn Tod
and the other ranchers.

I'll be right back.

Are you drunk?

If Virginia sent you...
No, she didn't.

But something pretty
important came up.

I thought you ought
to know about it.

You want a drink?

Now, listen to me, will you?

I just heard that
the plague has infected

every head of beef
on the Ponderosa.

Plague?

Texas fever.

The Cartwrights
are working right now

to try to save
every head they can

before anybody finds out
about it.

Texas fever?

How did it get started?

Well, who's the only outfit
around here

who trails in Texas cattle?

The Cartwrights.

That's just what I figured.

A thing like this could be
pretty dangerous, couldn't it?

It could kill every head
of cattle in Carson Valley.

Is there any way
of stopping it?

One way.

Kill the sick stock.

There's no other way
of protecting ourselves?

None that I know of.

Unless we kill off
all the Cartwright's cattle.

Oh, they'd never
stand still for that.

No, I guess not.

They showed that pretty plain.

What do you mean?

Well, a couple of my boys
went up there yesterday

to see how bad it was
and try to help them out.

And the Cartwrights
shot one of them down.

Shot him? Why?

Well, that's pretty obvious,
isn't it?

They're trying to keep word
of the plague from spreading.

Does the sheriff know
about the shooting?

The sheriff?
What good would that do?

He's afraid of the Cartwrights

just like everybody else
around here is.

Yeah...

Well, not me.

I'm not gonna stand by

and watch my cattle
die like flies.

Just don't do
anything foolish.

You can't stand up to the
Cartwrights all alone.

I won't have to,
not this time.

No cattleman
is gonna stand by

and watch his herds die off,

Cartwright or no Cartwright.

Well, if enough of
the other ranchers

went in with you to
stand up against...

They'll go in.
I'll see to that.

I've been waiting for you.

I've been wanting
to talk to you.

Well, I'm in a hurry.

I'm sorry I hit you.
There was no call for it.

It doesn't make
any difference.

But it does make a difference.
I want to talk to you.

Well, later.

What are you doing?

We got trouble.

What kind of trouble?

I can handle it.

Don't turn your back on me.

Tell me about it.

Pa, I haven't got time.
I've got work to do.

Does it involve
the Cartwrights?

Doesn't everything
in this country

involve the Cartwrights
one way or another?

I have a right to know
what it's all about.

There's tick fever
on the Ponderosa.

I've got to get to the other
ranches and warn them

so we can stop it from
spreading to our stock.

Tick fever?

How did it get started?

It's must've come in
on one of the herds

the Cartwrights
brought up from Texas.

Did you talk to
Ben Cartwright?

One of Len Keith's men
tried to.

They shot him down.

I don't believe it.

I didn't expect you to.

Tod, you're declaring war.

Ben Cartwright did that when
he brought in that sick herd.

I'm not gonna let you do it.

Pa...

I've got to.

(men shouting)

This is that bushwacker's
horse we brought back.

Take a close look at him.

Got ticks all over him.

This horse was with
tick-infested beef

before he got here.

Then that dead man
could've told us

how this plague got here.

Find out who he was?

Well, he had a letter on him
addressed to a Roy Wilkins.

Don't forget there was
another man with him.

Adam, maybe you'd better
get to Virginia City.

See if you can track
this other man down.

If you can,
bring him out here.

Hoss, clean him up, huh?

Come on. Let's get back.
Yeah.

All right, Frank.

Send them through again.

Let's send them
through, boys.

(men shouting)

Hello, Adam.

Give me a whiskey, Cosmo.
Yeah.

Deal me out, boy.

I'll give you a chance
to get even later.

Something on your mind?

You know a man
named Roy Wilkins?

Roy Wilkins...

Sure, I've seen him in here.

Who does he work for?

I don't know.

Hasn't been around
here very long.

As a matter of fact,

the only times
I've ever seen him

he's always been with
a fella named Tucker.

Tucker?

Works for Len Keith.

Len Keith.

Thanks.

(horse approaching)

Adam, I thought
it was my father.

Evening, Ginny.

Isn't he here?

Well, no, he's in town.

Listen, you know a man
named Roy Wilkins?

Wilkins?

There's a man
named Roy, I know.

He's a friend of Tucker's.

Who's Tucker?
He's Pa's foreman.

He lives in that shack on the
other side of the storeroom.

Adam, what is it?

Well, this Roy Wilkins
and one other man,

maybe Tucker, I'm not sure,

tried to kill my brother
this afternoon.

That's impossible.

Those men work for my father.

Excuse me.

Hello, Tucker.

You're one of them Cartwrights,
ain't you?

That's right.

You wouldn't know a man
named Roy Wilkins?

What do you want here,
Cartwright?

I want the man
who was with Wilkins

when they tried
to ambush my brother.

I don't know anything about it.

Then you wouldn't mind
coming back to town with me

and telling that
to the sheriff, huh?

No.

No, I wouldn't mind.

(two gunshots)

I thought you missed him.

Dad.

Adam, is he...?

Yeah, he's dead.

I wanted him alive. I was hoping
he could tell me something.

Tell you what, Adam?

You think fast, Mr. Keith.

Just like you shot fast
a while ago.

But when this plague trouble
is settled,

we're going
to have a talk.

I wish you hadn't
seen this, Virginia.

I'm sorry I had to see
as much as I did.

I had to protect Adam.
Tucker would have killed him.

Tucker had already
dropped his gun.

You killed him deliberately.

Oh, honey, you're all upset.

Now, go on in the house.

You can't send me away
like a little girl, Dad.

Don't try to understand it.
Do you hear me?

Now, go on back
into the house.

I'm right, and you all know it.

If it was one of us
had a sick herd on the range,

the Cartwrights would be the
first to yell, "Burn him out!"

That ain't so!
Yes, it is!

Cartwright should have
killed off his whole herd

without us having to meet and
talk about doing it for him.

You can't expect him
to kill off healthy beef.

Who's to say
what's healthy and what's not?

Now, the Ponderosa's rich.

It's got timber and enough money
to restock its range.

Most of us live on the beef
we raise each year.

Now, if we lose our herds,
where's the money coming from

to pay off the bank loans,
to feed our families,

to even get started again?

You really aim
to ride against the Ponderosa?

If I didn't fight for my land
and what's on it,

I wouldn't hold myself
much of a man.

Anyone else feels the same way
is welcome to ride with me.

We're with him,
ain't we, men?

(crowd murmuring in agreement)

Not me.

All right.

We'll meet
at the north end of town,

just after sunup.

Every man, bring a rifle
and be ready to use it.

That's it, then.

(crowd murmuring)

Tod, what are
they going to do?

Well, the Cartwright cattle
are diseased.

They're a danger
to the whole range.

So we're heading out
to the Ponderosa in the morning

to settle it
one way or another.

You mean to fight
the Cartwrights?

It looks that way.

Do you know how this
plague got started?

It doesn't matter
how it got started.

We just can't
risk a plague

spreading throughout
the whole territory.

Tod, I think my father
brought that plague

to the Cartwright herd
deliberately.

Did he tell you that?

Adam thinks so, too.
Only he can't prove it.

I already told you, it doesn't
matter who started the plague.

Tod, it does matter.

The Cartwrights
aren't at fault.

They've been
your friends for years

and what they need now
is help, not threats.

Virginia, we have to look
after our own interests.

That's what
my father tells me.

For years,
that's what he told me

every time he was doing
something he was ashamed of.

You're beginning
to sound just like him.

I know what I have to do.

Yes, you do.

But don't pretend it's to
help those poor ranchers.

It's just a fast way to make
Tod McKaren a big man.

Virginia, I don't like
what you're saying.

Then stop this before
it goes any further.

It's too late now.

Pa, is this dipping
doing any good?

It's funny. I was just
thinking about that.

I certainly hope so.

You know what our
cash situation is.

If we were to lose any
of our herds right now

it'd pretty near
wipe us out.

Ride on out and see how
the boys are doing

with that herd
in the north quarter.

I'll give Hoss and Little Joe
a hand with the other herd.

(men shouting, cattle mooing)

Hey, bring him on!

Come on here!

Well, we got more trouble
than plague, Pa.

What now?

Tod McKaren
and Len Keith

have got everybody
around here stirred up.

There's a bunch of 'em
riding this way,
and they're all armed.

Don't they realize
we're doing everything we can?

Pa, it's a mob.

They're not gonna
stop and think.

They claim
they're gonna kill

every head of cattle
on our range.

Well, then we better make 'em
stop and think.

Ride over to the house
and get our rifles.

(knocking)

Who is it?
Virginia.

Oh, come in,
Virginia.

Well, what are you doing
away out here, lass?

Mr. McKaren, you've got
to do something.

Tod...
What's he up to?

He didn't come home
last night.

They're riding
on the Ponderosa, Mr. McKaren.

Tod is leading them.

You've got to stop him.

Stop him? How can I?

He's a grown man.

He's got to make
his own decisions.

Mr. McKaren, I have
no place else to turn.

I love Tod.

I thought you
loved him, too.

Unless you do something,
we're both going to lose him.

An old man like me.

How can I help him now?

Now is the time that counts,
Mr. McKaren.

Now is when he needs your help

more than any other time
in his life.

(men shouting)

(cattle mooing)

That's fine. Good.

Keep moving.

(shouting)

Hold it, men.

Get your guns.

Remember, boys,

no shooting
unless I say so.

How do we know
they want to talk?

We want to talk.

Morning, Tod.

You suddenly become a rancher,
Mr. Keith?

I don't owe you
any explanations, Cartwright.

You're the one to do
the explaining, Ben.

You brought the
Texas cattle in.

There are no ticks
in the ones we dipped.

You want to ride in peaceful
and see, you're welcome.

Seeing a lot
of wet cows

don't mean they won't all
fall over tomorrow.

No, it doesn't.

But if any of them come down
with a fever,

I'll kill every head
that gets it.

That may be too late,

even if you do
what you say.

You doubting
my father's word, mister?

Easy, Hoss.

You men try to take over
my herd,

you know there's gonna
be fighting.

Men on both sides,

men we've known a long time
could get hurt,

maybe even get killed.

That'll be on your head,
Cartwright.

Now get out of the way.

Tod, you know better
than try to bluff me down.

This is no bluff.

Don't anybody
else move.

Shoot him down, Tod.

We'll back you up.

McKAREN:
Tod. Stop it.

You stay out
of this, McKaren.

TOD:
Keep away, Pa.

This is between Adam and me.

If you're gonna make
a killer of yourself,

you better start with me.

Your son picked
his side, McKaren.

You've got no right
to be here.

Pa, don't you know everything
we've got is at stake?

I know that better
than any other man here.

Jamison, I passed by
your spread coming here.

Your stock's down
with fever.

Some of the others
are also.

Son, you better go home
and take care of our herd.

They're coming down
with it fast.

I told you
what would happen.

And you can blame
the Cartwrights for it.

Let's finish
what we come here for.

Yeah.
Wait a minute.

You can kill off every
head on the Ponderosa,

but what good
will that do ya?

I tell you that sulfur
dip's working.

It's saving our beef.
It can do the same for yours.

It's the only chance
any of you have.

You better take it.

You still handing out
orders, Cartwright.

Don't back down
from 'em.

Make up
your mind, Tod.

Whose side
are you on:

ours
or the Cartwrights?

You don't have a side, Dad,
except your own.

He doesn't care
about your cattle.

He's only trying to destroy you
so he can take your land.

We're not talking about land.

We're talking about plague.

So am I, Tod.

My father started it.

Virginia. You don't know
what you're talking about.

She knows what she's talking
about, all right.

Her father killed Jim Tucker
just to keep him quiet.

Adam.

(gunshot)
(groans)

Dad...

Virginia... I...

Dad?

That offer still goes.

Bring your healthy cattle
over here,

and we'll... we'll run 'em
through that sulfur dip.

That go for the McKaren
family too, Ben?

Of course it does.

If it's all right
with you, Tod?

(cattle mooing, men shouting)

Here, get that one
turned around.

Yeah, that's it.

Well, that's the last
of the McKaren steers, Tod.

Well, I'd kinda like to stay
and help with the rest.

Hey, what do you say
we take a break
for some coffee?

Good idea.

Hey, Hoss.
Come on, coffee.

Well, you two are gonna make
mighty fine neighbors.

Thanks, Ben.