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And then, one day...

Ah, thank you, Sam.

...everybody runs down...

José's sure spinning some fancy ones tonight.

...as far as the eye would see.

But they're sure pretty to hear.

Even if they are a bunch of lies.

Yeah.

A great fleet coming down into the Valle de San Francisco.

Everywhere sails of purple, crosses of gold.

The long flags of El Rey de Espafia

flying from every mast.

Hooray for El Rey!

Hooray for El Rey! Hooray!

And on the deck

of the first ship stands Almirante Ortega himself,

my 9 reat-g reat-g reat-g reat grandfather.

Don José, you're really going strong tonight.

Let me buy you another drink.

Gracias, muchacho. Gracias,

Viva, Don José Ortega!

Viva, Don José Ortega! Yay!

Gracias.

And for all that,

a grateful king gave to the Ortegas a great grant of land

so they could live from then on

like the grandeza of old Spain.

Yeah, yeah, we know.

And somewhere in your house,

you got a brass box full of papers

proving you own the whole blamed country.

Even the mine from which you extract my silver is mine.

Your silver?

José, you're one big lie, I think.

There is such a box

bound in brass

with a coat of arms of the Ortegas on the lid.

And inside... there are some papers...

And inside is the biggest wind this side of Chihuahua.

That's what's inside.

The Ortega family is very ancient.

In our veins flows the blood of many a king!

In your veins, old man,

flows too much cheap tequila.

I think we'll fix that.

The last person who slapped my face, old man,

was wearing a dress,

and she didn't come out too good.

Leave him alone, Muller.

Why don't you stay out of this?

The old fool asked for it!

So did you.

Gracias, muchacho.

De nada. You all right, Don José?

Ah, sure, I'm all right.

Those like him make fun of me and laugh at me,

but one of these days, they'll see.

Right. One of these days.

Right now, why don't we see if we can't get you home, huh?

That's right. Yes, I'm tired.

Morning, Pa.

Hoss, how you doing?

Fine. Morning.

How are you doing, Little Joe? Hungry as a bear.

Mmm, that looks good.

Joseph... I understand

you had a little trouble last night, in town.

How'd you know about that?

Oh, Don José came by early this morning.

Well, I guess he told you the fight wasn't my idea.

He did, as a matter of fact.

I'd watch that fella Muller, though.

He seems like the kind of man who'd carry a grudge.

Yeah, I'll keep an eye on him.

I can't help feeling sorry for Don José.

You know, all those stories he tells

about the ancient glory of his family.

Then you look at him and see how little he's ended up with.

I'm afraid most of old Don José's stories

are just big, wild dreams.

He left you this, by the way.

Oh.

Yeah, he's a nice guy.

Whew!

Look at that.

Hmm.

Old chalice.

That's pure gold.

Could be worth a lot of money.

I-I can't accept a gift like that. It's...

It's probably an heirloom

that's been in the family all these years,

and he's hung onto it, even though he's been penniless.

Maybe all old Don José's stories ain't just wild dreams

after all, huh?

Whoa.

Buenos dies, Don José.

Buenos dias.

Don José, the, uh...

the gift you sent me-- I can't accept it.

But why not?

It's for you for last night.

For being my protector, my salvador.

No. Uh-uh.

No. It's got to mean an awful lot to you.

I don't want you to give it up

just because of a little incident in a bar.

Hmm.

But I must express my gratitude somehow. Please.

All right... being your friend is gratitude enough.

Bueno.

At least come into my house and have a cup of coffee.

Now that I'll take you up on. Fine.

Bienvenido.

Please forgive my shabby house.

I no longer like to bring my American friends here.

But you are different.

GSi, Señor?

You know, Don José, if you'd have some of the folks

in Virginia City come out and take a look at this place,

you wouldn't have anybody laughing at your stories.

This is like a museum.

Even if they saw it, they wouldn't believe it.

They would still think I was lying.

Come, come, sit down, have your coffee.

Gracias.

This place is really something.

I'm glad you like it.

Oh, Joe Cartwright,

I want you to meet my sobranito.

My little nephew.

The last of the clan, my only hope, Miguel Ortega.

I guess I've only heard your uncle talk about you

a couple of hundred times.

That a fact?

And why shouldn't I?

He is a boy with great education.

And a wonderful horse wrangler, too.

He just arrived from Texas to stay with his uncle for a while.

Come, come, have your coffee.

You mind if I look around for a while?

Go ahead.

I see you're impressed.

Yeah. Who wouldn't be?

You don't believe my uncle is such a liar anymore now, huh?

Miguel!

And you apologize to him...

Please forgive him.

It's all my fault.

I told him last night What happened at the bar, and...

It's all right. It's all right. Forget it.

How people laugh at me and...

Forget it. I understand. I understand.

Thank you. No hard feelings.

Gracias. I think I better be on my way.

Thanks for showing me the place.

Nah, don't mention it.

Sf. Haste luego.

Haste luego.

Where are your manners?

You make me feel ashamed I'm your uncle.

Why?

He comes swaggering in here.

The patrén visiting the peén.

He doesn't swagger.

Yes, the Cartwrights are owners of a great big rancho.

But friends. Real friends.

When I was disabled, they gave me work.

When I was sick, they sent me their doctor,

paid my bills, sent me food.

It was to them I was going to take you

so you could work on their Ponderosa while you are here.

Wouldn't you like that?

Sure. Why not?

I haven't got any choice.

But I don't like to see my Uncle Don José Ortega

fawning and telling lies and being humbled

to the ones who stole his land and his birthright.

Tell me something, Uncle...

that story I've heard so many times

of a brass box with papers

about a big land grant for the 0rtegas--

Was that story one of the lies, too?

What difference does it make?

Even if there was such a box,

it would only hold an old man's memories.

Mementos.

Dreams of days gone by.

Stay with him, Joe!

{May bien, muchacho! {May bien!

Huh? Oh.

Buenos dias.

Hello, Don José. Oh.

Sorry I'm late. That's all right.

I want you to meet my nephew, Miguel Ortega.

Señor Cartwright.

Well, so this is your favorite nephew, is it?

Your uncle has told me a great deal about you, Miguel.

And he's the best horse wrangler in the world.

0h...! I hope you give him the job here, huh?

Please.

Well, I guess with my son Adam away,

I could use another hand.

Wonderful!

If he can handle it.

I can handle it.

Of course he can.

Show them, muchacho.

Do you mind? Let me have him.

Be my guest.

Okay, let him go.

Muchachos, siguele.

Eso es, eso es.

Ah.

Very good, very good.

Very good job of horse wrangling.

Mike, you're on.

Muchas gracias, señor patrén.

Muy agradecido, señor. Yeah. Pleasure, pleasure.

Haste luego. Gracias.

Buenos tardes, Mike. How's it going?

No complaints. You got any?

Uh...

None, other than a few achin' bones.

Drivin' them dang ornery cattle all day.

Course, it's pretty scenery out there.

What do you think of the Ponderosa, Mike?

It's beautiful.

Especially if you happen to own it.

Yeah.

Yeah. Es tierra...

hermosa, huh?

Imagine that.

You know three words of Spanish.

Yeah.

Afraid that's about all.

Dad burn it, I wish I knew that lingo.

Feel downright ignorant

when I get around some of my Mexican friends.

You mean Mexican girls.

Yeah. Yeah. Them, too.

Hey, why don't you teach me some Spanish, huh?

I hired on here as a horse wrangler, not a Spanish teacher.

You find some other peon

to tell you what to say to the muchachas.

Well, let's see-- with my brother Hoss, that makes, uh,

that make five, doesn't it?

Five what?

Five men who tried to make friends with you

and you tried to pick a fight with them.

Look, amigo,

I do my work.

But I pick my own friends and my own enemies.

You keep looking, amigo, you're gonna find 'em.

Two guesses who'd be sorry if I did.

Joseph...

You got things to do, now's the time.

Well, Mike...

I think I understand why your uncle was so worried

about you hanging on to your job.

My uncle talks too much.

Yeah, maybe.

But, uh...

I don't know the reason for your attitude,

but it might be an idea if you were to change it.

Look, Mr. Cartwright,

I do my job and I do it right.

Yes.

You do a very good job.

Well, that's all that should matter.

I don't bow and scrape and say Si, señor for anyone.

Including people named Cartwright.

Mike!

You know a lot about horses.

But you still have a lot to learn about people.

Nobody around here has to bow or scrape.

Aw, come on, you know as well as I do--

You think you're doing me a favor, letting me work here,

on the land my ancestors gave their blood and their souls for.

And now their descendants, like my poor uncle,

have to live on charity from the people who stole it.

I'm not gonna argue the point with you here, but...

unless you change your att... Don't worry.

I'm clearing out of this territory anyhow.

You can keep your job.

♪♪

To the Ortegas.

Ortegas.

♪♪

"In the name of His Most Gracious Majesty,

"Fernando, King of Spain,

and all the dominions of the New World..."

No, no, it was el Duque de Toledo

who gave the Ortegas their coat of arms,

by command of His Royal Highness King Fernando.

All right, amigos,

the entertainment's over for the night.

Miguelito, come and meet my friends.

Your friends?

All right, listen to me, all of you.

Listen to this Ortega.

Are any of you here educated enough to know about

the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Like uncle, like nephew.

Now we got to listen to a lot of fancy stuff out of him.

You're not talking to an old man now.

Well,

Mr. Cartwright.

Maybe you can tell these barflies

what the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is.

Oh, I think most of them know.

But for those of them who don't, it's the treaty that ended

the Mexican-American War.

And took away half of Mexico.

Do you know one provision of that treaty, amigos?

All legitimate grants of ranchos

are to be recognized by the American government.

Grants like this one,

to Juan Garcia Delgado Y Ortega

and his heirs.

To this land

in Nevada.

Come, Tio.

Make room for the patrén of all this territory.

And that includes your silver mine,

uh, Señor Muller.

If that's the real thing,

where's it been up till now?

Never mind where it's been.

You're looking at it now.

He's as full of wind as the old man.

Come, Tio.

Let's get you away from these barflies.

♪♪

You're a lawyer, Ira.

How serious is this?

The provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

were very specific, Ben.

All previous landholdings and grants

have to be recognized as valid under United States law.

There's no time limit on them, either.

How big a piece of the Ponderosa is this supposed to include?

All but one little corner, Ben.

What do you mean?

That-that somebody can just come along

with a piece of paper and then take away land

that people have lived and built on all these years?

That's exactly what I mean.

Now, treaty or no treaty, that's just plain robbery.

Not in the eyes of the law, it isn't.

What do we do now, Pa?

I don't know yet.

Well...

what's your recommendation, Ira?

Well, first, I'll research all the old records

and have a look at those land grant papers

before we have to go to court.

All right, then, we'll...

wait till we hear from you.

Little brother,

what happens if it goes against us in court?

I don't know-- there's all the work Pa's put in this place.

It's not fair, no matter what those Spanish grants say.

He's spent his whole life trying to build up this ranch.

I wish there was more I could do, Ben.

Appreciate you trying.

Ben, we heard Ira was coming out here

to talk things over with you.

We just couldn't wait no longer.

We got to know where we stand.

Well,

Don José's nephew is gonna write to the courts.

Courts?

Ira, do you think he's got a chance of winning?

If the grant is genuine and clear,

yes, I'd say he'd have a very good chance.

Well, that don't make sense, Ira.

All these years I spent working my place,

he come along with an old claim and take it away from me.

Well, fellas, we might as well face one fact:

with that old claim, he can take everybody's place,

including the Ponderosa.

Well, what do you plan to do about it, Ben?

Well, Harry, I guess I'd be lying to you

if I said I wasn't worried, but...

I don't see there's much you can do except wait and see

if the claim is valid.

I'm telling you something, Cartwright,

I'm not losing my Lucky Star Mine to some old souse,

legal claim or not.

I guess we all feel the same way,

but there's no point in getting riled up-- we just wait and see.

Don't you be telling me what to do, Cartwright.

It wouldn't surprise me none if you and Ira weren't cooking

something up to protect the Ponderosa.

It wouldn't surprise me at all.

I'm sorry, Ben.

Pa.

Yes.

Me and Little Joe have been doing some thinking.

What about?

Well, we decided that we ought to settle this right now,

before it goes any further.

What would you suggest?

We got to think of something.

Like what?

Well, like going over and talking to José and Miguel.

We sure can't lose anything.

Can this be true, Don Felipe,

that all this land belongs to me?

A def an te.

Ah, muchachos Cartwright. Buenas tardes, Don José.

AQué ta}? How are you?

Hi, hi. Hello. Bienvenidos.

Uh... Mike ain't here?

Oh. It's Miguel you want to see?

No, Don José, actually,

we wanted to talk to both of you at the same time.

Listen, maybe we better come back later.

No, no, no, no. He'll be back in a minute.

Uh, he went to town. Come on.

Sit down. Make yourselves at home.

Can I offer you anything? A little tequila, café?

Oh, not for me. Thank you, sir. No, me either.

Me either, Don José. Thank you.

What brings you here?

We wanted to talk to both of you

about the Spanish land grants that Miguel dug up.

Oh, yes, yes.

Miguel says that all this land belongs to me.

And to him, after I'm gone.

Well...

Don José, I-I'm afraid it ain't quite that simple.

You mean to tell me that the paper

that Miguel dug up is no good?

No, no. No, Don José.

That's-that's not what Hoss means. It's just that...

it's a matter that the courts are gonna have to decide.

Oh, I see.

The court, see, that's-that's the point--

It's got to go to court.

And, well...

well, Don José, do you reckon that if...

if our pa were to...

make you a...

a fair offer--

Out of court, mind you--

That you could see your way clear to accept it?

Well.

Ah, here is Miguelito.

My uncle is suddenly entertaining a big, big patrén.

Two patrones.

But of course! Why not?

The question is...

why do the grand patrons Cartwright

come to visit my uncle?

What, no big red apples?

No bag full of silver coins?

No papers to sign?

Now, listen, Mike...

No, you listen, young Cartwright.

I won't stand for you sneaking into this house

behind my back. First of all,

nobody snuck into this house behind your back.

And I was under the impression it was your uncle's house.

My uncle's, mine, what's the difference?

It belongs to the Ortegas.

All this belongs to the Ortegas.

Now get out.

Miguel!

I won't let you speak that way to my friends.

Your friends?

When are you going to wake up, Tio?

The only friend you've got around here

is what's in the brass box.

Now, wait a minute, Mike...

...your uncle'll bear me out in this.

Little Joe and I came here for no other reason

than to talk to your uncle about considering a...

a fair settlement, and that's all.

Sure.

We'll consider a fair settlement.

You're the one that wanted

to learn some Spanish, aren't you?

Here's an old Spanish proverb:

Vivir bien es la mejor venganza.

"To live well is the best revenge."

That's our settlement.

And after this,

my uncle will live very well.

Don José, you think about what we talked about.

When you've reached a decision...

I'll tell you right now what my uncle has decided.

He's decided to fight for his rights.

I'm leaving for Carson City today

to see about starting legal procedures.

Miguel.

Miguel...

what has happened to you?

I hardly know you.

You're behaving like a wild animal.

That's only a sample of what they'll all get

before I'm through, tio.

We'll pay them back for the way they've treated us.

All the humiliation...

all these years.

Ben, I've got some good news. Oh...

I came right over.

Oh, good, Ira, good. Come in.

I was just, uh... going over these records...

Oh, forget it, forget it.

Uh... won't be necessary now.

In going over the old records,

I came across something mighty interesting.

Hmm?

Ben, did you know

the area roughly covered by the Ponderosa

was used as Army land, temporarily,

back in the old days?

Well, yes, I had heard something about that

when I first got to the territory.

I, uh...

What about it?

Well, Ben, this is what I've been looking for.

I'll be able to drag this case on forever.

We'll go over all the old Army claims.

We'll claim public domain.

We'll drag it through the courts so long

the Ortegas'll never be able to see it through.

The cost'll keep mounting up and up,

it'll go on and on...

Forget it.

Forget it?

I don't want to crawl in

through any loopholes, tricks.

Well, I...

I'm only trying to save your Ponderosa for you, Ben.

Oh, I know that, Ira. I'm sorry, I...

I know you mean well.

Ira, if I can't win this legitimately,

then I don't want to win it at all.

What about your sons?

Their rights?

What about 'em?

All right, if, uh...

that's the way you want it, Ben.

That's the way I want it, Ira.

Thank you.

♪♪

Where you headin', Pa?

Oh, thought I'd see Don José.

Gotta come to some kind of an understanding with him.

I don't think he'll listen, Pa.

How come?

I don't know, I just...

just got a feeling he won't listen to you, that's all.

Last chance, old man.

You gonna sign this release to all your claims or ain't ya?

Even if you kill me, señores,

I'll never sign that paper.

Sign it, José.

It's for your own good.

Neven

You stupid old man.

Leave him be!

That ain't doing no good.

He won't sign that paper.

Let's get out of here.

What's the matter with you?

Are you ready to lose everything you ever worked for

because of a crazy old fool?

Well, I'm not!

Don José, will you please sign that paper?

We don't want to hurt you no more.

All we want is our land.

Don José, will you sign that paper?!

Mmm...

Take a good look, old man.

I thought that would get to you.

You're gonna sign that paper?

You're sure?

No!

No!

0h!

It's just the start, old man.

I'm gonna go inside and get your junk.

We're gonna build ourselves a fire.

We're gonna burn it, piece by piece,

until you say you'll sign.

Oh.

José!

José?

José?

Wait! José!

Here... Here, sit.

What are you doing to my uncle?

What's the matter with you?

Can't you see that he's hurt?

You did this to him.

Don't be a fool.

Now, you get on your horse, and you get a doctor here quick!

And tell Little Joe to come over here!

You better be telling the truth, Mr. Cartwright.

That should do it, José.

Main thing now is rest.

What about him?

His hands should heal soon enough,

but, uh...

a broken heart, you never know.

Who did this to you, Tio?

Tell me, who did this to you?

It doesn't matter now.

You were right.

You were right!

My nephew was right!

All of you are my enemies!

I've never done anything to you,

and you come and burn and destroy everything I have.

Not everything, Tio.

We still have the land grant.

Come, sit down.

You haven't told me.

Who are the men that did this to you?

Muller. Muller.

Joe, better go after him.

And, uh, if he goes after Muller,

you go to the sheriff.

Will do.

Miguel, don't try anything by yourself.

Let Sheriff Coffee handle it.

I don't need any help from any sheriff,

from you, from any gringo.

Look, will you listen to reason?

How do you think your uncle's gonna feel

if you get yourself killed?

Don José is an Ortega.

Whatever happens, he will accept it.

Hah!

All right, now you can tell me where Muller is.

The last time I seen him, he... he was... he was in the saloon.

You better be telling the truth.

What's going on here, Joe?

Where's Sheriff Coffee?

He's in Carson City.

I told you before--

I don't need any help from any sheriff.

Charlie, take him on down to jail.

I'll explain it to you later. All right.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Hold it, Muller.

♪♪

You saved my life.

Thank you, amigo.

Hey!

Come on, you thank me later.

Get you to a doctor.

Yeah, Doc Martin said that Miguel must've had

his lucky angel on his shoulder,

'cause the wound isn't even serious.

He's gonna be fine.

How can I ever thank you?

Well, Miguel thanked me, and that's thanks enough.

Just want you to take care of yourself

and not worry about a thing.

Pa, I'll see you at home.

Hasta luego. Hasta luego.

Here is the One we should all thank

that your son wasn't killed.

Ah, Don José.

Everything will be all right.

It'll be all right.

No, no.

So much hate.

And all on account of my foolish talk.

I wish Miguel had never found out

about that brass box.

Well, you knew what was in it.

And a man...

must stand up for his rights.

Don't you hate me for all this?

What will you do without your Ponderosa,

that you worked so hard for?

Well, I can't say that, uh,

I'm looking forward to what might happen but...

we're still friends, aren't we?

Yes, we are.

"In the name of His Most Gracious Majesty,

"Fernando, King of Spain,

and all the dominions of the New World..."

Hey, what are you...?

If it hadn't been for you and your son,

Miguel wouldn't be alive.

Yes, but what...?

Besides...

I'll tell you a secret.

The grant was no good.

My family sold it

back to the Mexican government many years ago.

So, you see? We've lost nothing.

You sure about that now?

That's what I said.

You wouldn't lie to me?

I, Don Jose Ortega Y Sequeros,

you accuse me of lying?

Don Jose Ortega Y Sequeros...

I wouldn't think of it.

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