Original subtitles

The following program

is brought to you in living color on NBC.

Rider!

Ho.

Yes, sir?

Can you ride in closer, boy?

Yes, sir?

The man I was riding with left me here.

I'm looking for the Hewitt ranch.

I kinda got turned around.

Well, it's just down the road a piece, a little more than a mile.

The way you're going?

Yes, sir.

Do you have any objections if I ride along with you?

No, not at all.

Going right past there.

Lead on.

Would you like me to take one of your reins?

Just ride on, boy. I'll follow.

I've come a long way and never had to have a lead rope put on me yet.

Yes, sir.

Been a long time since I heard a black-billed magpie.

Don't have 'em back east.

You're right. That's what it is.

A black-billed magpie.

You, uh...

You ride all the way from the east by yourself?

Wished I could've.

Trains, stage, ridin' from Virginia City to where I met you.

Well, still must have been difficult.

Only trouble, people wanna talk to me when I don't want to.

Yes, sir.

Here we are.

This is it?

Yeah.

You better open the gate.

It is open.

Where's the house?

Straight ahead.

Laurie?

Laurie?

Mrs. Hewitt isn't here right now.

Her and her baby and her pa are over at the Ponderosa,

gettin' ready to move to Carson City.

Sam's here.

Well... yeah, he's here.

- He... - I know.

I got the news. I'm Sam's brother.

Where is he?

Show me.

Yes, sir.

This way.

Right here by his favorite tree.

- So, are you all hitched up? - I'm ready.

Got Laurie.

You want a woman to move on time,

you better start telling her the day before.

Well, she's got the baby to take care of

and the baby's things to pack.

Well, I'll see if I can help her.

Mr. Cartwright. Thanks for whatever's in the box.

Oh, not worth mentioning.

There's no reason to fuss.

Come on, you're dry...

You're warm...

And your tummy's full.

Now, you just go on back to sleep.

We're going to a new home.

You just about ready?

I expect Jared's straining at the bit.

Yeah, somewhat.

You want a woman to leave on time,

you better start tellin' her the day before.

Yeah, you sure do know your father.

Sam was the same way.

Whenever we were going to town,

I got ready an hour before he said it was time to leave.

You know, just now I was sittin' here, waiting,

as if I expected Sam to walk in that door.

Yeah.

When does it stop?

You bury somebody's who's closer to you than your own skin.

You know he's gone.

You can't forget.

You've been through it.

Yes.

Yes, I've been through it.

Time helps.

Time is about the only thing that does help.

You learn to accept.

Then you learn to get on with the business of living.

Yeah, I know.

But it's hard.

Well...

I guess it's better to be moving clear away.

It'll be good to be back in Carson City.

Lots more opportunities for a growing boy than a farm.

- The schools are good, too. - That's what I hear.

I hear the schools are very good.

It's a good thing to look ahead.

Absolutely right.

Now, what can I do to help?

They're still here.

Will Hewitt.

Big as life.

I wish for Laurie's sake, as well as his,

we'd be an hour gone.

- You can take this. - All right.

- Will just rode in. - Will?

No.

The operation didn't work.

I wish I could say I was glad to see him.

I'd be lying if I did.

You don't mean that.

Makes me less than I should be.

Will's kin and he's blind. And...

He came home from the war that way.

Four years he lived with Sam and me.

Four years of fetchin', carryin', doin'.

Well, I...

I heard you were very kind to him.

Not anymore.

A body gets tired.

Even if I wasn't...

It's all Pa can do to take me and the baby in.

Talking this way comes out mean and spiteful.

No, just...

Just tired and human.

When I got to Virginia City, the sheriff was gone,

the deputy was in court, I didn't want to wait, so...

All I know is what was in the letter.

Well, Hoss and I rode in the posse for four days.

- We didn't have... - Laurie will be coming out in a minute.

She's takin' Sam's death pretty hard.

I want to know where Sam was killed.

How and why.

Sure, I know, but...

Well, what I was gettin' at was that Laurie's had about all she can stand.

It'd be a kindness if you wouldn't talk about it

where she could hear.

I suspect you'll let me say hello?

Sure, Will. Sure. I didn't mean you couldn't.

I know what you meant.

- Will, it's good to see you. - Ben.

I'd know that voice anywhere.

Hello, Will.

Hi, Laurie.

Will you bring the baby over here?

Sam must have been proud of this boy.

It's a long ride to Carson City.

We gotta get started.

Laurie and young Sam

are coming away with me, Will.

You're welcome to come, too if you want.

Thanks. I got a job.

- A job? - I'm a harness maker now.

I... I learned it in blind school.

At the hospital.

I met a man on the stage

that runs a harness and saddle shop in Virginia City.

He said he'd give me a try.

I hope it works out.

Thank you.

Laurie...

You and that boy stay well.

- Have a good trip. - Oh, thanks. Thank you.

Take care of yourself.

Will, I hope you'll be staying with us.

We have plenty of room, you know.

Thanks, Ben, I'd like that,

but I've got to get to the sheriff's office in Virginia City first.

Well, that can be arranged.

It happened at Raven's Hill.

On the west slope, one mile short of the summit.

Joe told me on the way in.

He was hunting deer. Camped up there.

You sure he was hunting?

That's what he told two of his friends he was going to do.

He was shot twice?

Yeah.

In the back.

With a handgun at close range.

Pockets inside out and horse and gear gone.

Everything?

Whatever he took up there with him was gone.

Tom Keeley, uh, Jay Byran's hand found Sam and brought him in.

- Did you tell him about the rain? - Yup. Four full days of it.

It's the worst we've had in years.

Trail's a river of mud.

Posse made a sweep of the whole country, no tracks.

Nothing.

So, you stopped looking?

No, sir.

Not right then, we didn't.

Sheriff Coffee talked to every rancher

and ranch hand within 30 miles,

hoping to find someone who saw a rider

leading your brother's horse away.

No one saw anything.

What about Keeley?

We got his story in writing.

And we backtracked him to see if he was telling the truth.

He was.

He couldn't' have been within 30 miles when Sam was shot.

Did he know Sam?

He said not.

I've asked everybody else this...

Did your brother have any enemies?

Not that I ever heard about.

He was a good hunter.

Meaning what?

If Sam was hunting deer,

he would have been in the lower meadows,

where's there's sweet grass, new leaves...

Where the deer feed.

He makes sense.

Where can I find this Keeley?

Try the Gold Nugget Saloon.

He's been hanging around there.

Sam sure told a lot of people he was going hunting.

Or maybe that's what they told you.

See ya, Tom.

Two steps coming up.

Twenty paces... I remember main street as being wider.

Well, they widened the sidewalks.

- Virginia City Bank. - Right again.

You got two more steps.

- Opera. - Hey, you got a good memory.

Know this fella, Keeley?

Said hello to him... Here's a couple more steps.

Huh. No missing that smell.

Saloon's gotta be close.

Old man Thompson still own the place?

No, he died a couple of years ago.

Fella named Pat Clayton bought it from his widow.

Here's the doors.

Yeah, Keeley's here. He's over by the bar.

Tom Keeley.

- Yeah. - I'm Sam Hewitt's brother.

Howdy.

Uh, what'll it be, gentlemen?

- Whiskey. - Yeah, make it two.

Two whiskey.

I understand it rained up there the day you found my brother.

Yeah, you understand right. It come down in sheets.

Before or after you found him?

After.

I got caught in it comin' down.

Must have been tracks there.

Yeah. Yeah, there were plenty of 'em.

Boot prints. Horse tracks.

Two sets of horse tracks goin' away.

I figured one of them sets of tracks belonged to your brother's horse.

Why didn't you follow the tracks to find who was on the other horse?

Because I'm a ranch hand, mister.

I ain't a law man or a gun fighter.

Does that answer your question?

Answers one of them. I got others.

Well, you ask the sheriff the rest of 'em.

Because I told him everything I know.

Some of you know me, some don't.

I got something to say to all of you.

I'm Sam Hewitt's brother.

The law may have tried investigating Sam's death

and then they gave up.

That's the law. That's not me.

I swore on my brother's grave I'd find and I'd kill

the man who murdered him.

And, I promise you,

as sure as the sun rises tomorrow, I'll find the man.

- Thought he was blind. - He is.

Now, some may remember that before the war,

before I was blinded, I was a pretty good shot.

And I want to show you I can track a target with my ears

as well as any of you can with your eyes.

Anyone standing over there, move out fast.

Very fine, Mr. Hewitt.

What do I owe you?

Nothing, it's on the house.

I own the place... My name's Patrick Clayton.

Clayton. I believe Sam spoke of you.

It's not surprising.

Sam and I were good friends.

He used to stop here every time he came to town.

If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know.

I may take you up on that.

Whenever you're ready, Joe.

- Must be awful to be blind. - Hmm.

- Not very happy with me, are you? - Two steps.

Man gets mad, he tenses up. You can feel it in his arm.

Let me explain.

Sam gave me his savings.

Every dime.

He mortgaged his ranch

to send me to St. Louis.

Because of me, Laurie and her baby have to live with her pa.

Now, that adds up to quite a debt.

Blind or not, I wouldn't be much if I didn't try to pay it.

Joe, would you answer a question for me?

Yeah, go ahead.

When I shot at that glass, it wasn't a close miss, was it?

You missed it by a mile.

Well, who started the clapping?

I don't know. I think it was Pat Clayton.

He must have felt sorry for me.

I just came from the Gold Nugget.

We got a law against shooting up saloons in this town.

- Who is it? - Deputy.

- The owner didn't seem to mind. - I do.

If it happens again, I'll have to lock you up.

Sounds like the deputy's upset because I want Sam's killer found.

I think he's upset because you're shooting at things

you can't see, Will.

And maybe hitting an innocent bystander.

If you had a big posse out miles of riding,

talked to lots of people, you didn't tell me one thing...

You have any idea who did it?

No name, but figures to be some drifter.

Some hard case riding through.

I don't believe that any more

than I believe Sam was up there deer hunting.

Look, it might help us if you told us what you do believe.

I think someone went up there looking for him.

Someone Sam knew and thought was a friend.

What gives you that idea?

Two bullets in the back, close range.

Sam wouldn't have turned his back on a stranger.

You got a murderer here in this town. He's feeling safe.

He's sleeping easy because you stopped looking for him.

Well, he'll hear I'm looking for him now.

He'll start sweating and worrying.

He possibly might make a mistake.

And put a couple of bullets into you.

That could happen.

But this time you might just, possibly, find out who did it.

We gonna stand here all day or are we going to the Ponderosa?

Take him away.

Little Joe and me rode with that posse for four long hard days.

It rained every minute.

I know that Roy Coffee and that posse did everything that they knew how.

Yeah, for two weeks after that, they all but lived in the saddle,

making the rounds of all the ranches.

They never found Sam's horse.

No,

or his gear, or his saddle, or nothing else.

That's the part I don't swallow.

I can believe a drifter could have shot Sam

and stole his horse, and robbed him, but...

Well, they didn't find Sam for two days.

Yep, two hard days of ridin',

a man could be plum out of the territory.

Sure, but if it was a drifter going through it,

there had to be someone with camp gear.

He wouldn't burden himself with a coffee pot

and pans he didn't need.

Well, you could hide the camp gear.

Could sink it in a lake or bury it.

He could have.

And he could have shot Sam's horse and left it in a canyon,

and he could have buried Sam,

and no one would have ever known what happened.

So, what it all boils down to

is there's a lot of questions left unanswered.

I got that new strap you wanted, Mr. Hewitt.

Thank you.

It's on the tack room bench along with your bridle and the tools.

I'd appreciate it if you'd walk me out there.

Yes, sir.

Will, you may not be able to see, but you sure do think clearly.

Well, living in the dark, you have lots of time to think.

Fact is, that's all you do.

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine, 10,

11, 12, 13,

14, 15, 16...

17...

Thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven...

Thirty-seven.

Thirty-eight, 39, 40, 41,

42, 43...

What are you doing, Jamie?

Seeing what it's like to be blind?

Well... Well, sort of.

I don't know how he does it, Hoss.

I mean, he's walked

from the barn to the house twice...

and already he knows how many steps it takes.

I've paced it three times and I can't even come close.

Yeah.

Well, he's had quite a bit more practice than you have.

Nearly four years.

Yeah.

Hey, Hoss, is it true that...

if you lose your sight your other senses become better?

Yeah, that's what I hear.

He must have worked awfully hard at it.

Yeah.

- But you know something? - What?

I don't like him.

I mean, I... I know I should, 'cause of what he's up against.

And I'm ashamed of myself of it, but I just can't like him.

Yeah.

Yeah...

He used to be one of the top hands in Nevada, Jamie.

One of the best, if not the best.

I never knew a man that enjoyed living more than he did.

They didn't call him Will in those days.

He was known as Lucky. Lucky Hewitt.

Got wounded and lost his sight in the last battle of the war,

four years of darkness, and his brother found a doctor in St. Louis.

Gave him new hope.

We had a farewell party for him right here at the house.

I reckon he thought his luck was going to go back to good again.

He said he was coming back to outride and outrope

and outrun and outdance all of us.

You're not making me feel any better, Hoss.

I guess I'll just have to try harder.

Jamie, I thought you were in the tack room with Will.

Well, I was, but... But he run me out.

He said he didn't need my help anymore.

Oh.

Ben?

Yes, but how did you know?

The step was too heavy for Jamie,

too slow for Joe, and too light for Hoss.

Well, it could have been one of the hands.

Could have, but they...

They walk around me like I was some kind of poison.

You're pretty good at that.

Only fair.

Doctor had me working at it before the operation and after

while the bandages were still on.

The day he took the bandages off, I heard about Sam's death.

I've been thinking.

This, uh...

Pat Clayton...

Didn't he used to work for one of the big mining companies?

Yes, an engineer, geologist.

He, uh, quit them and then went prospecting on his own,

and doing assay work, mining surveys.

He was appointed, uh,

deputy recorder a couple of years back.

And he owns the Golden Nugget? He's a busy man.

He sure is. Too busy to prospect.

He does a lot of grubstaking.

He told me he was a good friend of Sam's.

Well, he might have been.

He was one of the men in the posse.

He didn't tell me that.

You think I'm a fool, don't you?

Trying to find my brother's killer when the law couldn't.

Well... I think you're bucking big odds.

Nothing new in that.

When do you start the job?

I don't.

That was a lie I told Laurie and her Pa

so they wouldn't have to worry about feeding me

for another five or 10 years.

Hey, Will...

Why don't you open a little leather shop?

You know, you're... You're good at that.

Why, we could help you get started.

Thanks. I'm not holding out a tin cup.

There is something you can do for me.

Sure. What?

I'd like to see the place where my brother died.

You and Joe and Hoss have a ranch to run,

but Jamie could take me up there.

Well, there's nothing up there. Just a clearing.

Just a place where a man died.

Well, tomorrow's Saturday.

No school.

How about first thing in the morning?

Thanks, Ben.

I'm sorry. I guess I got a little ahead of you.

I guess you did.

I'll get your horse.

Well, this is it.

Must be a lot of trees around here.

Well, yeah, but how...

Oh, I guess you could hear the wind in them?

Yeah, I can hear the wind.

Did the posse camp here?

No, they just looked and rode out again.

Do you see any signs of where Sam did his cooking?

Yeah, there's a pile of rocks over there.

Somebody must have built a fire.

Mr. Hewitt, all you had to do was say something.

- I'd have helped you. - All right. Do it.

Here's the camp fire right here.

Are you looking for something?

Yeah.

Proof that whoever killed Sam

was after more than his horse and worn-out saddle.

Sam was up here prospecting.

As long as I can remember, he had the fever.

Got so bad one time, Laurie had to...

She said she'd quit him unless he stuck to ranching.

He tried, but most of the times he was out hunting,

he was looking for gold, not venison.

See, he was a careful man.

Trail camp like this, he'd bury his valuables

and build a cooking fire on top of them.

Yeah.

Yeah, here we are.

Feels like Sam's.

His name should be on the back.

Samuel Hewitt.

What color is this?

- Yellow. - Gold?

Well, maybe, but I haven't seen many nuggets.

Feels like gold.

Placer nuggets.

The rough edges worn off in a stream.

Morgan Creek's just around the hill.

Uh-huh.

Well, now we know what Sam was after and what he found.

Next thing is to find out who else knew about it.

Do I get to help?

- I got no objections. - Yes, sir.

We're here.

You got it straight?

I think so, yeah.

Watch it. Two steps.

Mr. Clayton's in the assay office.

Keeley's over there playing cards.

Sit down. I'll get us a drink.

All right.

Mr. Hewitt, a whiskey?

Yeah, and something for my friend.

Oh, we got root beer or cider.

Cider, please.

Oh, okay, cider.

There, Mr. Hewitt. There it is.

Bill's on the bar.

Oh, that's, uh, 30 cents, sir. Yes, sir.

Oh.

That's a...

That's a nice nugget.

Yeah, I found it.

Think it's gold?

Jamie says it looks like it.

Sure feels like it.

Can't be certain.

Well, uh, Mr... Mr. Clayton's the one to tell you.

He's in the assaying business.

Is that so? I just might ask him.

My brother, Sam, often came in here.

When's the last time you saw him?

Let me see now. Sam...

Well, he was in here the day he went up in the hills.

More like three or four days before.

Pat Clayton, Mr. Hewitt.

I'm afraid the bartender made a little mistake.

Uh, yeah, the...

The days are all alike.

Uh, it's hard to keep track.

Mr. Hewitt's drinks are on the house.

Did I hear you say something about gold?

Aye, it's gold sure enough.

Nice little nugget.

You say you found it.

I didn't say how.

It's all in knowing where to look.

Well, I'm in the market if you want to sell.

I'm collecting nuggets for a watch chain.

I'll remember that.

This Keeley, is he here?

That story he told might satisfy the law,

but it don't satisfy me.

I'm right here, mister.

You got anything to say, say it to me.

You brought my brother's body in.

His pockets were turned inside out.

That's right. That's the way I found him.

Maybe.

Did anyone think to search your pockets?

Are you calling me a thief?

I'm asking you a question.

I don't have to answer to you.

After you brought Sam's body in, did you file a claim?

No.

I don't know what you're getting at, mister,

but if you wasn't blind, I'd break every bone in your...

An honest man's not afraid to answer a question.

Now, stop it, both of you.

I'm going to wipe up the floor with...

You go back to playing cards before you get thrown out of here.

And I can tell you, Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Keeley did not file a claim.

Don't tell me, show me.

You got the book.

Show you?

You can't read.

I got a friend here who reads.

Jamie.

Yes, sir.

So you have. This way, gentlemen.

Will ain't here, but he is in town.

A hostler saw him and Jamie ride by.

Each entry is dated.

The claims are registered in the order that they come in.

No space between registrations and no blank pages, that's the law.

Now start there.

That was about, uh, a month before Sam was...

Before he was found.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Uh, the claim owners' names are in the first column.

Yes, sir.

Smith, Perkins.

No Keeley, not from a month back up to yesterday.

I was wrong.

No hard feelings, I hope.

Oh, not on my part, Mr. Hewitt.

Mr. McKey.

Me and Laurie come back, Will.

We tried the livery stable, then we just kept looking.

Laurie'd like to talk to you.

I'll be right out.

Sure, Will. Buggy's just down the street.

Mr. Clayton?

I'm still here, Mr. Hewitt.

Nuggets.

Eleven of them.

Run an assay for me.

- It'll take a little time. - Do it. I'll be back.

Some steps.

Will, if you don't mind, me and the boy'll take a little walk.

If you want us, all you got to do is lift your hand.

Fine. Just fine.

I didn't want a lot of folks listening.

But the way I treated you at the Ponderosa,

not a decent hello or how are you,

that wasn't right.

Forget it, Laurie.

It's wrong to blame somebody for something they can't help.

It wasn't your fault that operation didn't work.

It took the ranch and all your savings,

that was my fault.

No...

Just... Hewitt luck.

Hmm.

You're kin, Will, and kin should look after their own.

Pa and me come back to say

we'd like to have you come and live with us.

I thank you, both for the thought and the offer,

but I got things I got to do here.

Here you are.

Thank you, Will.

Now, I ain't one to push,

but we'll be staying over at the hotel until tomorrow.

If you should change your mind.

I'll come and see you as soon as I can.

- Jamie? - Yes, sir.

Are you sure you didn't see Sam's name

anywhere in that claim book?

No, sir.

It is getting late, you know,

and I really should be getting back to the Ponderosa.

Do me a favor. Say that in front of Clayton.

Yes, sir.

Ah, I'm still here, Mr. Hewitt.

I must say, you do know where to look.

These assay out at 95% pure.

Will you put that in writing?

Oh, I already did.

The boy can read it for you, if you want.

No need. You already taught me to take your word.

It's, uh, getting kind of late, Mr. Hewitt.

We'd better get back to the Ponderosa.

In a minute, Jamie. I won't hold you up much.

I'm going to spend the night at the Hewitt ranch.

Alone?

One place in the world where I'm really at home.

I know that cabin like the palm of my hand.

Uh, Mr. Hewitt, here are your nuggets.

You probably guessed.

These nuggets were in the can along with Sam's watch and papers,

buried beneath the ashes of his camp fire.

Who's there?

Who is it?

Come on. Wake up.

Get up. On your feet.

In the chair. Move.

You'll have to lead me. I'm lost.

Turn left.

Straight ahead.

Sit.

Pat Clayton.

You knew my voice.

I figured you would.

I know you. You killed my brother.

All I want is that can. Where is it?

Your bartender spoke the truth.

Sam was in the Golden Nugget the day he was shot.

Where is it?

He rode back with some nuggets, he got an assay from you.

He filed a claim and then he rode back to stake it out,

and you followed him.

It had to be you because no one else knew what he had found.

Where is it?

In my bedroll.

That's too easy, blind man.

How did you manage it, Mr. Clayton?

Did you file Sam's claim in last year's books?

Look...

I don't want to hurt you.

All I want is the can.

Now, you give it to me

and I'll ride out and leave you alone.

You'll leave me alive and able to talk to the law?

I don't believe that.

I'll get it out of you...

If I have to break every bone in your body.

Got it.

You're not as smart as your brother.

Maybe I'm a little smarter.

Sam's claim receipt and the assay report

has your name on it.

You'd better ride out of here, Mr. Clayton.

They'll hang you, high and fast.

Sounds like you're going to shoot.

Want me to turn my back?

I want that receipt and that report. And I want them now.

You tell me where you've hid them or I'll put a bullet in your knee.

Where are they?

Speak up, and fast!

Next time it'll be your knee.

That dust bothers you, Mr. Clayton.

You can see.

Yes, I can see.

It was easy to pretend I couldn't since I was blind for four years.

I wanted you to feel safe, Mr. Clayton.

When the Sheriff's around, that badge shuts everyone up.

So I came home as a blind man.

No one's afraid of a blind man,

not even a killer who shoots his friend in the back.

You weren't afraid of a blind man, were you, Mr. Clayton?

There's a witness up there.

He heard everything you said.

It's Sam's fault.

I offered to buy in.

If he'd listened to me, none of this would have happened.

It's all right. You can come down now.

When I heard that gunshot, I thought for sure he'd...

Well...

I guess I ought to be mad at you.

I went through all that trouble to help you

and you didn't even tell me you could see.

I know. I thought about it, but I decided it was safer,

you know, not telling you.

Yeah.

I guess I could have given it away and spoiled the whole thing.

You did all right.

I figured I owed you folks an explanation.

I figure you're right.

Come on in.

Sit down.

I didn't risk Jamie's life, if that's what's sticking in your craw.

I wouldn't have let anything happen to him.

That's very reassuring.

You're angry at me because I played a trick on you,

along with everybody else.

Well, we...

We sort of figured you for a friend, Hewitt.

As a friend, I owed you the truth, that's right.

But I owed Sam and Laurie my sight.

And I owed it to them to find Sam's killer,

and if that's ruffled some feelings, it's too bad.

Well, all I can say is that being able to see again

sure hasn't improved your disposition none.

Can you guarantee me if I'd come to Virginia City

and everybody knew I could see,

that it would have ended the way it has?

There's no guarantee about anything.

Now, the fact is...

The fact is it worked.

I found the killer.

I've just come from signing Sam's claim over to his son.

Well, it worked, but...

You could have just as easily got yourself killed.

Don't you remember I'm lucky?

Lucky Hewitt.