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Whoa!

So you clowns made it just time. Yep.

Now, remember, Hoss, as soon as you set that deal with Turner you wire us

and we'll wire you the bank draft right away.

Pa, we've been through this three times.

Well, our statistics show that it takes an average of four reminders for you.

Hyah!

When you get a look at those big city women,

you're liable to forget everything.

Little brother, you're a wee mite jealous, ain't you, heh?

Whoa, whoa!

Hi, Toby.

I heard you was riding with me this trip, Hoss. How far you going?

All the way to Denver. Keep an eye on him for us, Toby.

Denver's a big city.

Yeah, especially around the womenfolk there, heh.

Oh, speaking of ladies, maybe I better check my women passengers,

see if they want to stretch their legs.

Hey, you got some ladies on this trip, Toby?

Yeah. All the way from San Francisco.

You, uh, ladies like to stretch your legs a mite?

Thank you, driver. It's a little cramped in there.

You'll enjoy a little walk. Fine.

Son, ahem, you're going to have to watch your language.

Yeah, I wi-- Oh, Pa. Heh.

All right, Pa, I'll see you. Have a good trip son.

Yes, sir. Take it easy, Joe, Adam. Take care of yourself, brother.

All right, ladies. Time to roll.

Come along, sister.

Ma'am.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Ah.

How far are you ladies going? All the way to Denver.

It so happens I am too. Uh, my name's Hoss Cartwright.

Horse? No ma'am not horse. Hoss.

H-O-S-S. What a lovely name it is.

I'm Sister Mary Kathleen and this is Mother Veronica,

my mother superior.

Howdy, ma'am. We're a nursing order.

Mother Veronica has just come all the way from Europe,

the order's headquarters, on an inspection trip.

We came around the horn to visit the San Francisco House.

And now we're going to Denver.

Please, Sister Mary Kathleen, must you ramble so?

I'm sorry, Mother Veronica.

All Irish are afflicted with the running of the tongue, heh.

It's my greatest affliction.

I pray about it all the time.

Yes. And now I think it is time for meditation.

Perhaps it will help your affliction. Yes, Mother.

Hyah!

If you ladies would pardon me,

I think I'll go up and meditate with old Toby a while.

Mother in heaven! I thought for sure he would fall.

He's a giant of a man.

My Uncle Mordicai was like that.

Your Uncle Mordicai.

This preoccupation with the exploits and deeds

of this worldly uncle of yours

is a weakness with you, Sister, among others.

You may do well to use the time to think on them.

Aye, but for sure he was a legend in Boston.

Hyah!

Phew.

Boy, I'll tell you, that Toby's the hardest that I ever tried to meditate with.

Ladies, I'll just put your luggage back there in your room

unless you want to keep your purses here with you.

Ha, purses! Those are our medical bags.

We're a nursing order, don't you remember?

Uh, put everything in there, please. Yes, ma'am.

At the rate you talk, Sister,

it's hard for anyone to remember anything you have said.

Ladies, I'll round up old Sam, get us some grub put together.

Be back in just a minute.

Grub? What is this grub? It means food.

It's a Western expression, I learned.

You learn many things rapidly, Sister.

Too bad they're not always the right things.

I have a, uh, question about this, uh, grub, Mr. Hostler.

Sam's the name, miss. Just call me Sam.

Oh, uh, Mr. Sam, what kind of condiments did you use?

Uh, condiment? Uh, seasonings, like salt.

Oh. oh, yes, salt, pepper, onion, things like that.

And thyme? Did you use thyme? Shucks, no.

I whipped this up in a half hour. No, Sam. That ain't what she meant.

Well, I did. Yeah, no.

But thyme is a seasoning, like salt.

Oh, some of that stuff. Yeah.

This dish is like the, uh, peasant food in Europe.

Well, uh, I'm sorry you didn't like it.

Oh, I didn't say that.

My parents were peasant farmers.

I was brought up on food like this.

It's made me nostalgic.

The dishes will be taken care of.

I'm sure you have other chores to perform.

Oh, you don't have to worry about that, ma'am.

It is woman's work. Now, don't concern yourself.

I sure wish we had more women travelers like you, Sister.

Come on, Toby. Help me feed the stock.

Sure.

Sister.

But, ma'am.

Ain't you gonna help her?

The Sister is perfectly able of doing them herself.

Oh, no, thank you, Hoss. But, ma'am I wanna help you.

No, please. I prefer to do it alone. But, ma'am...

No.

Whatever you say, ma'am.

There's a certain violent beauty about this country of yours, Mr. Cartwright.

Something bothering you about us, Mr. Cartwright?

Yes, ma'am, there is. That little Sister Mary Kathleen in there.

What about Sister Mary Kathleen?

Well, she's such a little slip of a gel to be in there doing all that work alone

like she was some son of a servant or something.

But she is. A servant of God.

And, as such, she has to learn humility and acceptance.

It is my duty to teach her that. Why?

Because she is a postulant in our order.

Do you know what that means, Mr. Cartwright?

Some son of a beginner? Sister Mary Kathleen is a beginner.

And, as a beginner, she will have time to judge herself, and to be judged,

whether she's worthy of taking the final vows

of poverty, chastity, obedience and becoming a nun.

Well, in that time, what if she decides she wants to go back to...

The worldly life?

Oh, but of course.

If she has any doubt in her mind, we would want her to do that.

And if she decides to stay?

Then she will serve her novitiate at the Denver mission

if the order judges her worthy.

Who in that order makes that decision?

Several people, Mr. Cartwright, including myself.

Well,

I hope she gets what she wants.

And I, Mr. Cartwright, hope she gets what she's worthy of.

Good night, Mr. Cartwright. Good night, ma'am.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Sam, take it easy. Safe journey.

Tob Y, 90 o - Hyah! ”-

Looks like it's gonna be another hot one.

Aye, I suppose so, Hoss.

Hyah! Hyah!

What is it? Look like bandits, ma'am.

Bandits? Yes, ma'am, bandits.

You two ladies get down on the floor and stay there.

But where are you going? I'm going up to help Toby.

Hyah! Hyah!

That's far enough.

What's with him?

He's dead. That's too bad.

But he shouldn't have tried to run.

Where are the women? There was women on the stage?

Women. Maybe we ain't gonna come out so dry after all.

This stage carrying anything valuable?

I don't know. I'm just a passenger.

Come on, Wilson, let's look through the rest of the stuff.

What's happened? Well, the stage hit a chughole.

Oh, my medical bag, please.

Uh, would you get my veil, please?

Huh? My vei-- My headdress.

Oh.

Thank you.

It's a nasty cut. I hope there's no concussion.

Where you people live?

I'm from near Virginia City.

And you, Sister? Oh, I'm from Boston.

And the other one, where's she from?

Wait a minute.

Why all the questions? What do you want, anyhow?

Well, now, we, uh, we was hoping

we'd find something worthwhile on the stage,

but they ain't carrying nothing we can use.

We figured that maybe you'd be carrying something,

like, uh, money, huh?

I got a couple of hundred dollars, that's all.

That's better than nothing.

And you, Sister, how much you got?

They don't have nothing to do with money.

It seems to me it takes money to come all the way from Boston.

How'd you pay for the tickets and such to come way out here?

Mother Veronica handled all the...

So she handled the money, huh?

Move away from her. Don't you touch her.

We don't want to mm you, so don't give us the choice.

Move away.

You ain't got no choice.

I said, we don't want to mm nobody.

Now, move away. Wait.

I'll get it. But you look away now.

Here.

Thanks.

I'll always remember you. And the, uh, other one.

Let's go.

The money. You gave them the money?

How much was in there? I don't know.

But it's hardly important.

Mother Veronica is.

Hoss. I think she's coming out of it.

Mother Veronica, there was an accident to the stage.

You had a nasty blow on your head. You take it easy.

Where's the driver?

He, uh, ahem. He was killed in the accident.

Poor man.

May God accept his soul.

And those men that were following us?

They've gone.

What did they want?

They were bandits. They took what money we had and left.

My money belt. Where is it? Well, they took it.

They took it? But how could they?

How would they even know?

Well, I'm sorry, Mother Veronica, but I gave it to them.

Mother Veronica, it wasn't her fault.

They would have taken the money anyway

and perhaps even have harmed you doing it.

And how did they know I had it?

Well, they tricked me. They tricked you?

Do you know what that money was for?

It was money for a hospital, for our mission in Denver.

Mother Veronica, how much money was in that belt?

Ten thousand dollars.

And now it's gone.

The hospital gone.

My mission a failure. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

You're sorry, Sister, for what?

The suffering and death that will occur because of no hospital?

Mother, please. Oh, spare me, Sister.

It reveals your lack of strength.

I would have died rather than give up that money.

The hospital. Died.

Well, we should be reaching another way station

by sometime tomorrow anyhow, ma'am.

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright. Good night.

Good night, ma'am.

Hey, uh, how about some more rabbit?

No, I shouldn't.

Why, sure, you should. You had a long hard day today.

Do you really think so? Sure, you should. Here.

You know anything will taste good when you're hungry enough.

I know. Except for the last few years, I think I've always been hungry.

How is that?

Well, I came over from Ireland with my parents to escape the famine.

So many other Irish did the same thing

that jobs and food were scarce in Boston.

Reckon you must have had a pretty rough life. I'm sorry.

Oh, it was hard for thousands.

I don't know what we would have done except for the church and the nuns.

They fed you?

Oh, they did more than that, they fed our souls too.

They made us feel that God had not forgotten us.

I think that was when I decided I wanted to be a nun.

Long ago, when I was a child.

What's them three things

that Mother Veronica said you was gonna have to live by?

Oh, poverty, chastity and obedience.

Poverty I know, chastity I have.

It's obedience that I can't seem to conquer.

Yeah. I know what you mean.

You know, my pa never thought me and my brothers were gonna ever learn it.

Oh, you have a big family?

Well, I got my pa and two brothers, Adam and Little Joe.

You saw them when we got there at the stagecoach.

Heh, your family is all men? Yes, ma'am, all men.

Oh, you poor souls.

Who cooks for you and takes care of you?

Well, we got Hop Sing.

We got a good life. Ranch is big and peaceful.

We get food and comfort

And on top of all that, we get each other.

Oh, that sounds like heaven.

Food and space to breathe and a-- And a family.

Mother Veronica is right. My thoughts are worldly and I enjoy them.

She is right, though. I am stupid and weak.

I don't think you are.

Thank you, Hoss.

But you won't be judging me. Mother Veronica will.

Mother Veronica. Yes, Mr. Cartwright?

Ma'am, I'd like to talk to you for a minute if I could.

What about, Mr. Cartwright?

Oh, first of all, ma'am, my name's just plain Hoss.

You know, I...

If eel like I used to when my little brother would get into trouble

and I'd have to go to my pa for him.

To plead for understanding?

Like you come to me now for Mary Kathleen?

Yes, ma'am.

And what do you plead for her, Mr. Cartwright?

Well, ma'am...

...she's so young.

But she's old enough to have strength and weakness.

Yeah.

You know, sometimes a body wants something so bad

that, well, they make a lot of mistakes just trying too hard.

Wanting something very much

does not always make it the thing you should have.

That is the purpose of the novitiate, Mr. Cartwright,

to separate those who truly want to be called from those who are truly called.

If I seem harsh with her, I'm only trying to help.

Mr. Cartwright.

It is not a disgrace to leave the order or be refused by it.

Many have faced it,

and many have done more good for the world

by becoming good wives and mothers than they ever would have as nuns.

Hey, anybody home?

Hello!

That's funny. Only one horse.

They should have a bunch of relay horses out here for the next stage.

Maybe they abandoned this particular station.

No, they wouldn't have done that. It's too far between stations like it is.

Come on, let's check.

Hmm, what do you know about that?

The hostler took the horses to Owl's Point

to report a stage that didn't arrive.

That's us. When will he return?

Says here he'll be back the day before the next stage arrives on Saturday.

That's three days. What shall we do?

Well, we're gonna stay here.

There's fresh water, at least, here, and maybe some grub.

Let's go in and check.

Hey, we're in luck.

There's some dried beans and jerky in there.

Jerky? Now, what is this? Oh, jerky is a kind of a dried beef.

It's awful tough, but it's tasty and nourishing.

Surely have strange names for food out here.

Grub and jerky.

What was that? Sounded like a mean.

Sounded like it came from this room.

Who is it? The hustler?

No, ma'am, it ain't.

Do you know him? Who is it?

He's the man who robbed us.

Where's the money?

He's out from the wound.

Looks like he and that partner of his

must have gotten in an argument over the money.

And he lost. Get some water.

I'll get the medical bags. Do as I say. Get some water.

Wait a minute. I saw some in the other room. I'll get it.

No, please.

Search him for the money.

There ain't nothing here except that empty gun belt.

Looks like that partner of his took everything he had.

Well, then he must know where the money is.

I imagine that partner of his is long gone with it.

But we won't know until he tells us. That's right.

Very well.

Where is the money?

Wilson. Don't shoot.

You can have the money.

Don't shoot.

He's delirious, ma'am, from that wound. That bullet's still in there.

If I can get the fever down he'll be coherent.

Ma'am, that bullet can still kill him.

I'll get my bag.

He's not going to die.

And he will tell me where the money is.

How is he? Oh, he seems to be breathing easier.

Cleaning the wound probably helped stop the infection and reduce the fever.

He's not conscious yet, though, huh? No, not yet.

How's Mother Veronica?

She finally dropped off to sleep out there in that big chair.

Oh, she needs the rest.

She was in here most of the night, you know.

Hey, I got a pot of coffee going out there.

Why don't you go out and get a cup?

I'll stay here and keep an eye on him. Thanks. I will.

Do you make good coffee, Hoss?

Ma'am that's one thing a bachelor learns to do right.

I bet you drink too much of it, then.

You should get yourself a good wife who can cook.

I aim to do just that one of these days.

Ma'am, wait a minute.

How do you feel?

Groggy.

Where...?

Where am I? You are at a way station.

I remember. I didn't think I'd make it.

Did you take the bullet out?

No.

You're...

That's right.

We're the folks you robbed.

I told you to call me. I was just about to call you.

I said immediately, not one minute, three minutes

after he regained consciousness.

Obedience, Sister, obedience. I'm sorry, Mother Veronica.

You are better.

Now, where is the money?

I ain't got the money.

I find it difficult to believe a man like you.

Honest.

I had a fight with my partner.

He shot me, took the money and left.

How do we know you are telling the truth?

Did you find the money on me, Sister?

Ma'am, I think he's telling the truth.

He's lying.

Come with me, Sister.

I'm afraid you're in a heap of trouble.

You mean you're gonna turn me over to law?

If you live long enough.

What do you mean by that?

You still got that bullet in you, and if we don't get it out

you're gonna die. And that pretty much depends on them.

The nuns?

What they got to do with it?

Well, they're also nurses.

They get medical bags with the right kind of instruments

to get that bullet outwith.

Then get them in here.

You forget. You robbed them.

Then you do it, mister.

Nope.

I wouldn't know how even if I had the right tools.

I could even kill you trying.

Your only chance is with them.

Then you make them do it, mister, no matter what I done.

I'll try.

What are you going to do about him, ma'am?

I have already done something about him, Mr. Cartwright.

That bullet, it's gotta come out of there, ma'am.

He might die othenNise.

Indeed, he might.

And he might die if I try to take it out.

He's got a better chance with it out.

I have done everything I can for him.

All right.

But I still say it's mighty risky business.

I wouldn't risk his life, Mr. Cartwright,

despite what he is, what he has done.

But I think it is better to wait for a doctor and proper facilities.

I think his condition is much better than he pretends

and he's lying about how he feels, just as he is lying about the money.

I'm not.

I swear it.

You've gotta help me. Please.

Easy, easy.

Oh, he's opened his wound.

Would you get my medical bag please?

What are you going to do?

I think Hoss is right, the bullet has to come out.

You trust his opinion rather than mine?

Years ago, my Uncle Mordicai came home from a fight.

Well, I took a bullet out of him.

Your Uncle Mordicai.

I told you, I think this man is pretending.

But if I think I can remove the bullet...

Then you would disobey me?

You've told me I must be strong.

Well, I'm trying to be. I think I can help this man.

Is there anything I can do to help? You'll have to hold him.

We've nothing to give him for the pain.

You know, Sister, Mother Veronica could be right.

Maybe he could make it till we could get him to a doctor.

And maybe he couldn't.

Thank you, Hoss.

But I must do what I have to do.

First, let's get the bandage off.

The bullet's deeper than I thought.

He's passed out now.

It should be easier.

Move over, Sister. I'll take over.

It's all right, child.

Will you be able to help me?

Oh, yes, of course.

Then let's get to work.

And let's hope he has a little of your Uncle Mordicai in him.

How is he? His fever's down.

I think he'll be all right.

Then you think we done right by taking the bullet out, huh?

Only because Mother Veronica stepped in when I failed.

Yeah, must have been pretty hard for her to save the life of a man

that cost her that hospital.

I know. That hospital was to be the climax of her life.

It was important, but I don't think

she thought it more important than him.

Well, as soon as that stage comes, we'll get him into a sheriff

and get the truth out of him. She may have that hospital yet.

Oh, I hope so. If only for Mother Veronica's sake.

How is she? Still asleep out there in a big chair.

Poor Mother Veronica.

She's had so many disappointments.

First, the money and now me.

Yeah.

What, uh--? What do think she'll do? About you, I mean.

She'll do what she has to do. I disobeyed.

It's obedience I can't seem to conquer.

You know, Mother Veronica told me that a lot of girls didn't make it

but that didn't keep them from living useful lives

as wives and mothers.

But I don't know what else I'd do.

I've always wanted to be a nun, ever since I can remember.

Yeah. Look, ma'am... Ma'am, you're pretty tired.

Why don't you lay down over there on that bed and try to get some sleep?

I'll try.

You did him a favor, now he can do you one.

You know...

Mary Kathleen,

if you were to decide to go back home to Boston by San Francisco,

would you come by ranch and say hello?

Oh, that would be nice.

I'd like to meet your family and see your ranch.

What do you call it? The Ponderosa.

Oh, that's a lovely name The Ponderosa.

Wouldn't your father and your brothers mind

me invading your bachelor kingdom?

Certainly not. They'd be proud to have you.

And if you do leave the order-- Oh, Hoss.

Pray that that doesn't happen.

I'll pray for whatever makes you happy, ma'am.

Mr. Cartwright!

Mr. Cartwright!

Stay right where you are.

I didn't die after all, Sister. Then you were lying.

Only a little.

My partner really did shoot me and take off with the money,

but I got the last shot and I aimed better.

Where have you had that money? He buried it by the corral.

For this much money, a man will do anything,

bullet in him or not.

But with the bullet out, I got a real chance now.

So get out of my way. Don't, big man.

Last time, you only got your head cracked

this time, you'll die.

You foolish child. Where do you hurt?

It's my chest.

The horse's hooves.

I'll get my bag, Mr. Cartwright. Oh, no. No. Hold me, Mother.

Why did you do it?

Why did you do such a foolish thing?

I had to.

For it was a question of strength, was it not?

Yes, my child.

And I was strong, wasn't I?

Yes, Sister, you were strong.

I'm sorry I won't get to see your father and your brothers, Hoss.

And that peaceful ranch. The... The Ponderosa.

Aye. Such a lovely name. The Ponderosa.

Will you make it a fine hospital, Mother?

And say a prayer for me?

Here you are, Clem.

I showed the hostler how to change the bandage.

He should be able to travel by the time the next coach arrives.

I'll see to it that he's delivered to the sheriff, ma'am.

These medical bags, I figured you probably want them down with you

instead of up on the top. Oh, yes. Thank you.

Would you like to keep Sister Mary Kathleen's?

Thank you, ma'am.

Ma'am...

...would Sister Mary Kathleen have been accepted into the order?

No, I don't think she would have. I'm sorry.

Ma'am, she got the money back for the hospital.

She had to be strong to do that.

Oh, she did a strong and magnificent thing.

But, in her case, that was not only a question of strength.

She could have never rejected the world she loved so much.

Your world suffered a greater loss than ours.

Yes.

May God always be with you, Hoss.

Thank you, ma'am.

And now we must go on.

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