All language subtitles for 5.20 Bullet for a Bride

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Now, there's its tracks.
Must be a real big one.

Looks like he's heading up for
the rocks above the old lumber road.

Hey, you see what I see?

If he gets in that brush,
we've lost him for sure.

I'll circle around, try to cut him off.
Keep on his trail.

Right.

Papa, look out!

Whoa!

Papa, I'm hit.

Papa.
You're bleeding.

Papa, my eyes.
It's all right.

Papa, my eyes. I can't see.

Papa, I can't see anything!

I can't see, Papa! My eyes!
Okay. Easy, easy.

It was you.
Papa, I can't see.

You shot my little girl.
You've blinded her.

It's all right, baby.

I can't see, Papa.

I can't.

Oh, Joe.

Now, son, you've gotta stop
blaming yourself.

It was an accident, pure and simple.
The bullet ricocheted.

Pa, I am to blame.

It was my bullet that blinded her.

It could have happened to anybody.

Yeah, but it happened to me.

Now, don't you worry, sweetheart

The doctor says
there's a very good chance

you'll see again.

You mean that, Papa?

You're not lying to me?

He's not lying to you, sis.

You're gonna be just fine.
But it's gonna take a while.

Oh, Papa,
how are we gonna manage?

You can't afford
to put me into a hospital.

We're staying with the Carlwrights.
They're gonna feet all the bills.

Can they afford it?

From what I've seen
of the size of their spread,

they can afford almost anything.

And they owe it to you.

It's the least they can do
for what they've taken away from you.

Now, Joseph, will you settle down?

You're acting as if it were
your first day out instead of hers.

I'm sorry, Pa.

I've been trying to see her
ever since the accident.

I just don't understand why her father
won't let me go near her.

Well, I think his concern is natural.

I just wanna tell her how sorry I am.

I think you'll have your chance
right now.

Papa, I'm scared.

Don't be afraid, we'll hold you.
Come on.

Where's--?
There it is.

All right.

That's fine.

Fine.

Oh, good morning.
Good morning.

One more.

Well...

Well, good morning. Good morning.

How's our lovely patient
this morning?

Who's that?
I'm Ben Cartwright.

She's feeling quite chipper.

This is the first day
without the bandages.

It feels good to get out of that room
for a change.

I'm sure it does.

Papa.

Could I maybe get a little fresh air?

Sure.

I was hoping
she might like something like that.

Who's that?

It's Little Joe, Tessa.

Look, I thought you might like
a little ride.

I've got the carriage outside,
the horse hitched up.

What's wrong, Cartwright?

You're trying to ease out
from under a guilty conscience?

Lon.

That's no way to talk.

You shouldn't turn the back
of your hand

to a generous offer.

If Little Joe would like to take her
for a ride,

I think that would be nice,
if Tessa would enjoy it.

Oh, I'd enjoy anything
that would take me out

into the fresh air for a while, Papa.

Well, guess we better get started,
then.

There's an awful lot of the Ponderosa
to see.

Ahem. Well, Tessa, uh...

See you later, Papa.
Enjoy yourself.

Whoa.

We've been riding for quite a while.

You wanna get out,
stretch your legs a bit?

Oh. I'd like that.

Oh. Be careful.

There's a log over here.
Would you like to sit down?

Yes, I would.

This way.

Turn you around.
It's right behind you.

Yes, I found it.

One of my favorite spots.

I used to come here and fish
when I was a kid.

It feels very pretty.

Tell me what it looks like.

Well, there's a lot of trees around.

Pretty big trees.

And...

Well, there's a slope over there
with some cattle on it.

Not very many of them.

And there's a little stream
running by.

There's a lot of birds and ducks.

There's a blue jay
in this tree right here.

It sounds beautiful.

Tessa, I'm so sorry.

If I could give you my eyes, I would.

It wasn't your fault.
It was an accident.

It was my fault that it happened.

No, don't blame yourself.

Let's talk about something else.
I don't wanna talk about it anymore.

Tell me about yourself.

Have you lived here all your life?

Yeah, I was born here.

I envy you.

I've been on the move all my life.

My pa doesn't seem to stay in one spot
very long.

What does your father do?

Oh. A little bit of everything.

Well, you might say
that Pa's been looking

for that pot of gold
at the end of the rainbow.

Did he ever find it?

Not yet.

But I suppose he will.
He doesn't give up too easily.

Oh.

I'm sterling to get a little cold.
Oh.

Yeah, we better
be getting back, then.

I don't wanna keep you out too long
the first day.

Okay.

Here.

Tessa, I'll cut that for you.
Oh, thank you.

You're getting too fast for me,
Little Joe.

Doesn't a father have any prerogative
in taking care of his daughter?

It's my pleasure.

Fine.

Now, there's something

that I've been wanting to say
to all of you.

You Canwrights
have been awfully good to us.

I don't know
what would have happened to us

if you hadn't have taken us in.

That was the least we could do.

Tessa, the meat's on the left
and vegetables are on the right.

Thank you.

And if I've been shod-tempered
and mean these past few days...

...why, it isn't because
of what happened to Tessa there, it's...

Well, we've had some plans,

and those plans
are pretty well gone now.

What plans?

A job out in California.

Paid well too, but I...

I had to be there by a certain time,
and the time's past now.

You sure it's too late now?

Quite sure.

But that really isn't very important.

What is important is the young man
that was waiting for Tessa.

Met him out in Missouri
about a year ago.

He was on his way to California,
he was gonna make his fortune.

He said he'd send for Tessa,
and he did.

A couple of months ago.

Papa--
Oh, it's true.

The engagement is off, Tessa.

It seems he doesn't want to marry
a blind woman.

You comfortable?

Pa.

What was all that about down there?
What do you mean?

I mean, all those lies
you were telling at dinner.

All that talk about a job for you
and a fiancé for me.

I don't understand.

Why were you lying like that?

Well, now,
were they really such terrible lies?

Maybe one day there will be a job
for me

and a fiancé for you. Who knows?

Papa.

You're not trying
to make the Canwrights feel

even more guilty, are you?

To make them look after us
even better than they do now?

Guilty.

Tessa, I'm doing this for you
and Lon.

Ever since you were little,

I promised you
that one day we'd have something.

Well, that day has come.
We've found the end of the rainbow,

and it has a name. Cartwright.

Papa, they're good, decent people.

You can't take advantage of them
that way.

No one's trying
to take advantage of them.

Aren't you forgetting
that it was Little Joe's bullet

that blinded you?

Whatever the Cartwrights
are doing for us, they owe us.

Papa, Little Joe's a nice boy.

I can't see him,
but I can feel what he's going through.

And it was an accident.

Is Little Joe beginning
to mean something to you?

No.

I just don't feel the need
to mm him anymore.

No one wants to mm him.

And, after all,
we may be doing him some good.

After all,
knowing a wonderful girl like you

shouldn't be a hardship on any man.

Now, you try to get some rest.

I'll look in on you after a bit.

Do you wanna go out for a walk
or you wanna sit around here?

Oh, I think I'd like to sit for a while.
Okay.

Right over here.

Don't get scared when you sit down.
It's a rocker.

Thank you.
Okay.

I don't know what I'd do
without my eyes.

I like being your eyes, Tessa.

Tessa, the fellow in California,
the one you were engaged to...

...I suppose you loved him
very much.

Why do you ask?

I don't know.
You just strike me as the kind of girl

who'd have to love a man very much
to marry him.

Yes, I'm that kind of girl.

Have you been able
to forget him at all?

Isn't that the best way?

I guess so.

Tessa, suppose a man
came along someday...

...and asked you to marry him.

How would you feel about it?

Well, that would depend
on why he wanted to marry me, Joe.

Because of my blindness,
he might mistake love for pity, and...

Well, I just don't think that would be
a very sound basis for marriage.

No, I guess not.

A woman has pride.

She wants a man to love her
for herself alone,

not because he feels sorry for her.

You talk as though you don't believe
a man could love you

just for yourself alone.

I don't know.

Would you take me in now?
I'm getting kind of tired.

If that's what you want.

What's so funny?

I'm just reading Dickens. Ha-ha-ha.

You must read this.

I wanted to talk to you.

You've gotta read this book, Joe.

Hey, Pa, it's kind of important.

Oh, I'm sorry, Joe.
I was so involved.

Yeah. Well, uh...

What would you say...

...if I told you I was gonna ask Tessa
to marry me?

Well, she's...

She's a fine girl, Joseph.

I think that any man would be proud
to call her his wife.

Good.

What about Tessa?
What does she feel?

I think she cares for me a lot.

Maybe as much as I care for her.

Well, of course,

there's quite a difference
between caring for a person.

And loving them.

Oh, Pa, don't you see?

It's a perfect answer
for all of her problems.

Now, who can take better care of her
for the rest of her life than a husband?

Joe.

Joe, you make me feel real good.

You have a sense of responsibility.
That's good.

But I...

I don't want to...

Make a man yr of yourself
because of an--

Pa, there is no martyrdom involved.

It would be a good marriage.
An unfortunate accident.

Her blindness is my problem.

Joe, you have a life of your own
to live.

Now, Pa,
I want you to get used to the idea,

because I'm going to ask Tessa
to marry me.

Hi, Mr. Caldwell.
Hello, Joe.

Thought I'd come early,
see if Tessa wanted to go for a ride.

Well, she's already gone riding
with her brother.

Got me worried. They should
have been back hours ago.

Which trail did they take?

Well, they went off
the north ridge there.

I'll find them.

Oh-- Lon. Lon.

Whoa.

Take the reins.
The brush is too thick here.

You're all right. Just keep coming.

Lon!

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean for you to get hurt

But I can't watch you every minute.

Okay, mount up.
No.

We gotta get back to the ranch now.
You can't walk all that way.

No, I'm scared. I don't want to.
Oh, come on, mount up.

You expect me to be your nursemaid
the rest of your life?

I'm your brother, not your husband.
Aah, Lon!

You ever hurt Tessa again
and I'll kill you.

Tessa, you all right?

Oh, yes, Joe. I'm all right.

You're the one who blinded her.

Now you take care of her.

You know, one thing your brother said
made sense.

You need a husband
to take care of you

the way
you should be taken care of.

Who'd wanna marry a blind girl?

I would if you'd have me.

Tessa, I would if you'd have me.

Mr. Cartwright?

Oh, yes, Tessa. Here I am.

Could I speak to you for a moment,
Mr. Cartwright?

Yes, of course.

Why don't you sit down over here?

There's the chair right behind you.

There.

Would you like some coffee?
No, thank you.

Mr. Cartwright...

Yes, dear?

Little Joe asked me
to marry him today. Did he tell you?

Yes. Yes, he did tell me.

He also told me that you refused
to give him an answer.

Why?

Oh, Mr. Cartwright,
if I could just look

into Little Joe's eyes
right this minute, I...

Well, if I could see that there was
love there and not just pity and guilt,

I'd say yes so fast
it would make your head spin.

He means so much?

Oh, yes.

But I can't see what's in his eyes.

That's why I've come to you.
You're his father,

and you know him better
than anyone else.

Oh, Mr. Cartwright,
please tell me what to do.

Well, that's, uh...

That's very difficult.

I don't think anyone can tell you
what to do.

But I think that...

...if two people love each other,

I mean,
truly, deeply love each other,

well, then, nothing else matters.

Does it?

Not even...

Well, not even blindness.

Because there's so many other things
that they can share together.

But how can I be sure?

Where can I find the answer?

In your head, Tessa.

In your head.

If I should say yes,

if we should get married,
you won't hate me?

You won't think I'm marrying Little Joe
just because I need him?

No, Tessa.

I don't think you're that kind of girl.

I don't think you're the kind of girl
who'd marry anyone

for selfish reasons.

Papa?

Over here.

Papa, where's Little Joe?

Oh, they all had to go into town
on business. They'll be right back.

You better hurry up
and get some breakfast

before it gets cold.
Oh, I'll be right there.

Help.

You all right?
Yes.

I should have helped you.

Papa.

Papa.

I can see you.

Yes. Papa, I can see you.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Papa, I can see everything!

I can see the blue chair and--

I can see the brown and green books
and the guns and the--

And the fireplace and--

And the Indian rug, and the fruit
and the" Papa.

Papa, I can see again.
Wonderful.

Little Joe.

Oh, Papa, this changes everything.

I've gotta tell Little Joe.

Tessa--
Papa.

I'm whole again.

I'm the way he'd want me to be.

Oh, Papa,
I can't wait till he gets back.

Tessa,
are you sure this is the right way?

Oh, Papa, he's got to know
as soon as possible.

Don't you see?
He won't feel guilty anymore.

And I'll be able to see
what's in his eyes.

Well, maybe it isn't all that easy.

What are you getting at?

Well, suppose
that Little Joe doesn't love you

the way that you think
that he'd ought?

Suppose there is a small element
of pity and guilt

in the way he feels about you?

Now, I'm not saying
that there isn't some love.

And I'm not saying
that this love doesn't grow every day

that you two are together.

But has it grown strong enough?

Maybe if you blurt out the truth now,
why, this whole thing will be over.

It'll be finished.

Papa, he loves me.

And the fact that I can see again
will only make him love me more.

Of course.

But why take unnecessary chances?

Wait until after you're married
and then tell him.

And that way,
no harm will come to anyone.

Pa's right. What's so terrible about
pretending you're blind a little longer?

Of course. And women
have been setting their caps for men

down through the ages.

And the intelligent thing to do
is to win the man first

and then tell him the truth.

Papa, it's because I love Little Joe
that I owe him the truth.

Don't you understand?
I can see again.

I don't need to marry
Little Joe anymore

unless he really loves me.

And what about Lon and me?

Don't you care what happens to us
one little bit?

Papa, you and Lon--

Do you realize what's in store for us
if we have to leave here now?

No money, no jobs. Nothing.

Papa...

Tessa.

I'm 53 years old.

All my life, I've been waiting
for something good to happen to me.

All my life,
I've been tending to you and to Lon.

Don't take this chance
away from me.

Don't take it away from all us.

Papa,
what are you asking me to do?

He's asking you not to turn
on your own flesh and blood.

I don't wanna turn against you.

Just tell me what you want me to do.

I want you to play blind...

...until after you're married
to Little Joe.

Do it for me. Do it for Lon.

You owe it to us.

Papa, I can't do that.

Tessa, it's--
Papa, I can't.

It's our last chance to get--
I can't do that!

Oh, another thing.
First thing tomorrow morning,

we go up to the north sector,
see if any calves have been dropped.

Tessa, what's the matter?
You look upset.

Tessa, what's wrong?

Nothing's happened, Little Joe, I--

I guess I'm just tired of being blind.

Take me upstairs, Papa.

Tessa.

Tessa, come on. What's the matter?

You've been avoiding me
the past few days.

I don't know.

Nothing's the matter.

Come on, now.
There is something the matter.

You're just not the same girl
anymore.

I wish I knew what kind of girl
I really am.

I know what kind of girl you are.

Now, I asked you a question
a week ago,

and I'm still waiting for an answer.

Joe, please--
Tessa, I wanna marry you.

Oh, Joe, please--
Tessa, I wanna marry you.

I wanna marry you now,

and I wanna spend the rest of my life
with you.

Are you sure
that's what you really want?

Yes, I'm sure.

It's what I want
more than anything else in the world.

Tessa, please say yes.

All right.

I'll marry you.

Pa!

Hey, Pa.

He must be in the barn. I'll get him.

You'll be all right?
Yeah, fine.

Pa, there you are.
I been looking all over for you.

Where's Tessa? I just left her here.
She just went upstairs. Joe.

Joseph, it's wonderful.

She already told you
about us getting married.

No--
Pa, I finally convinced her.

Pa, I'm gonna fill her life
with so much love

that her blindness won't matter.

I'll be her eyes for the rest of her life.
Well...

Well, come on,
aren't you gonna congratulate me?

Oh. Of course.

Of course.

You don't look too happy about it.
Well, she's...

She's a remarkable girl, Joseph.
Of course, she is.

She couldn't be
any more right for me, Pa.

Joe.

Are you sure?
Are you absolutely sure about her?

I know my own mind.

Of course you do.

I don't suppose
you've set the date yet.

No, but sooner the better.

Just give us enough time
to invite some friends and neighbors.

Don't you think it might be an idea,
after all you don't know each that well,

perhaps, if you waited a bit?

We know each other well enough.

Yes. What do you think of the idea
of maybe...?

Maybe we should take her
to San Francisco

and have a doctor
examine her eyes.

Pa, I'm not kidding myself about her.

She's blind,
and I made her that way.

I know, but they're always developing
new techniques.

I don't wanna hurt her any more
than I have already.

I love her the way she is.

Come on, Pa, don't worry.
I know what I'm doing.

Joseph, I...

You're my son.

And I just want the best for you.

The very best.

Then stop worrying.
I think I got the best.

I know I got the best, Pa.

Hey, I better go upstairs
and see her.

Hey, Pa, Little Joe find you?

Hm?
Little Joe find you?

Yes, he found me.
He told you about the wedding, huh?

Yes.

Pa, you don't seem very happy
about it.

You ain't worried
just because Tessa's blind, are you?

Hoss, she isn't blind.

She what?
I said, she isn't blind.

What are you talking about?

I'll tell you what I'm talking about.

A little while ago,
when Little Joe was looking for me,

I went in the back way,

and there she was in front
of that mirror in the living room.

Primping.

And then she ran up those stairs
like the wind.

She can see better than you or me.

Pa, that don't even make sense.
I know it doesn't.

What--? You mean she's just
been playing a game with us?

I don't know. I just don't know.

You gonna tell Little Joe?

Hoss, I don't know what to do.

I just don't know what to do.

I'll tell you something, I like that girl.

I think she likes Little Joe enough...

Maybe she even loves
Little Joe enough

to tell him the truth about herself

before this goes much further.

What if she don't?

We're gonna have to give her
that chance.

Morning, Tessa.

Good morning.

The flowers, they--

They smell beautiful.

The place is really
getting gussied up.

It's gonna look beautiful
for the wedding.

What are you doing?

Oh, I'm just straightening things up
a little bit.

Joe, I have some good news for you.
Oh, yeah? What's that?

I think my eyesight
is beginning to come back to me.

What?

It's just been
in the last couple of days. I--

But I can see a little bit of light.

But I had to be sure
before I said anything to you.

Tessa, can you see me?

No. Not clearly.

But I know I will.

Oh, thank God.

Oh, thank God
you're gonna see again.

Isn't that wonderful?
Oh, God.

And now you won't have to feel guilty
anymore.

I mean...

Now you don't have to marry me
if you don't want to.

What do you mean?

This is a perfect chance
for you to back out.

Don't say that, Tessa.

Please don't say that.

I asked you to marry me,
and I meant it.

Are you sure, Joe?

Are you very sure?

Of course I'm sure.

Of course I am.

Yes?

May a future father-in-law come in?

Certainly.

Isn't she a dream, Mr. Cartwright?

Well, she certainly is.

You've done a beautiful job,
Mrs. Partridge.

Of course, you had a beautiful subject
to work with.

Oh.

Mrs. Partridge, may I have
a moment alone with Tessa?

Why, sure.
Thank you.

Well,
I know it's a father's prerogative

to have a few moments
with his daughter

at a time like this,

but is it also a father-in-law's?

Of course.

Well, actually,
I came to wish you everything well,

to tell you what a wonderful girl
I think you really are.

That's very kind of you,
Mr. Cartwright.

Do you think I deserve all that?

Yes, I'm sure.

You know, all through the years,

I've prayed that when one of my sons
was ready to marry,

he'd choose a young woman
who was worthy,

who loved him deeply

and who knew that he loved her,

and who'd always have
his best interests at heart.

And you think I'm that kind of girl?

I know you are.

Because, you see, I think
you love and respect Little Joe enough

so that you'd always do
what's best for him...

...what's right for him...

...what's right for both of you...

...no matter what the cost.

Bless you, Tessa.

Mr. Cartwright.

Yes?

Nothing.

It was nothing.

Tears? At a time like this?

It's just my nerves, Papa.

It's just my nerves.

Well, now, they're all waiting for you.

Are you ready?

Yes, I'm ready.

Get my bouquet, Papa.

Dearly beloved,

we're gathered here together
in the sight of God

and the presence of this company

to join this man and this woman
in holy wedlock.

Joseph Cartwright.

Do you take this woman,
Tessa Caldwell,

for your lawful wedded wife,

for better or worse,
for richer or poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love, honor and cherish her
for as long as you both shall live?

I do.

Tessa Caldwell.

Do you take this man,
Joseph Cartwright,

for your lawful wedded husband,

for better or worse,
for richer or poorer,

in sickness and in health,

to love, honor and obey him
for as long as you both shall live?

I can't, Papa.

I just can't.
It's all right. It's all right.

I guess I've known all along
I was asking you to do the wrong thing.

I can't.

Tessa, you can see.

Joe, go away.

Tessa, look at me. You can see.

Yes, I've been able to for days.

Well, then, why didn't you tell me?

My papa was afraid that you'd back
out of the marriage if you knew.

That's why he made up that story
about the man

who was waiting for me
in California.

Oh, don't you see, Joe?

We've been using you,
taking advantage of your guilt.

You told me yesterday
you were getting your sight back.

Why didn't you tell me the truth then?
Why did you wait till the ceremony?

I guess because
I didn't wanna disappoint Papa.

And mainly because
I didn't want to face the truth about us.

And what is the truth?

That your feeling of love for me
was really guilt.

And that my feeling of love for you
was really fear

of being alone in the darkness.

Well, then you don't love me.
Not really.

Not enough for marriage, Joe.
Neither of us do.

Tessa, I have been so afraid
to say anything, I--

I didn't wanna hurt you any more.
I know.

That's why I had the courage
to do what I did.

You know, my pa was right about you.
You...

You're a very remarkable girl.

And you Canwrights
are a remarkable family.

I kind of hate to face the truth.

Me too.

Well, I guess I...

I better go down and tell the guests
they can all go home.

Okay.
You'll be all right?

Yes.

Tessa.

I wrote a letter to a friend of mine
in San Francisco.

Now, if you were to deliver this to him
personally,

I think he might be able to find a job
for your father and your brother.

You mean you're willing to help us
after what we tried to do to you?

Oh, Tessa. Heh, heh.
Your head wasn't in it.

Anyway, I told you,
you're just not that kind of girl.

Well, you're on your way.

Yep.

You know,
I wanna tell you something.

You are the prettiest girl
that I ever almost married.

And you're the handsomest man.
Thank you.

Good luck.
Thank you.

Well, Mr. Cartwright,
thank you for your many kindnesses.

Even though it didn't turn out
to be a pot of gold.

Oh, Papa.

Any pots of gold from now on
will be made by our own hands.

That's a depressing thing to learn
at my age.

But we'll try. Goodbye, Ben.

Marcus,
I'm glad everything turned out well.

Thank you.
Bye, Tessa.

Bye, Mr. Cartwright.
Lon.

This has been a color presentation

of the NBC Television Network.