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♪♪

Come on, Stove, let's go see what that is.

Hold on, little fox.

Skeeter'll get you out of that trap.

Aah!

Help! Help!

Help!

Somebody!

Help!

Is there anybody around here?

Help! Help!

Help!

Help!

Skeeter.

Help! Skeeter!

Hoss... Skeeter!

Just take it easy, buddy. Take it easy.

The more you yell and pull on it, the worse it's gonna be.

Now just take it easy.

Now... now try to pull it out.

Oh, no, no, no.

Help him first, Hoss.

Get you to the house, though.

Help him first.

Sit down, I'll be right here.

Just take it easy, buddy.

Watch out... watch out...

Can you hobble over here?

Gonna have to swing up, Skeeter.

All right. Ready?

Hang on, buddy.

Hang on, Skeeter.

♪♪

Hey, Stoney?

Stoney... wake up.

Hey.

Stoney.

Stoney. Hey, wake up.

Stoney...

Oh.

Oh...

You come for your share of the trap money, forget it.

There ain't any.

Somebody emptied all my traps.

Every last living one of them.

It ain't the money, Stoney...

I know who it was.

That stinking Skeeter.

He thinks more of them animals

than he does of the man who fills his belly.

Now, where is that bottle?!

Stoney, Skeeter's at our place; he's hurt.

Oh, now, ain't that just too bad.

He ain't hurt bad,

but I figured you'd probably want to see him.

He's your son.

He's my stepson!

Ain't got half a brain, at that.

Oh...

All right, all right.

I'll go see the little...

I'll saddle your horse.

Stinking kid.

Big bird eat more than you.

What's the matter? You don't like Hop Sing's cooking?

Just ain't hungry, that's all.

Mr. Hoss come back with your father pretty soon.

Skeeter, here's your pa.

You want to eat this, Mr. Hoss?

Oh, I reckon I could manage that, Hop Sing.

Hey, why don't you, uh, get another plate

and some coffee here for Stoney, huh?

Yes, sir. Right away.

You emptied them traps, didn't you?

Boy, you're gonna answer me.

You think that trap cut you up,

just wait till I get through with you.

Now answer me!

Your pa's talking to you, son.

Answer your pa.

I'll beat some brains into you.

Beat some brains into you...! No, Stoney...

Stoney! Stoney! Stoney!

Stoney.

Stoney, what are you trying to do to that boy?

I'm not gonna do nothin' to him anymore.

I'm getting out of here.

You hear that, boy?

You can go back to that pig of a woman who birthed you.

You ain't got a brain, she got no heart.

You ought to make a good match.

All right, Stoney.

Come on.

You said you were leaving now; let's go.

Come on.

Hoss, wait a minute.

Uh, tell your father...

Stoney don't need his charity no more.

I'm... going up north.

Where I belong.

You all right, Skeeter?

His name's Stove.

Stove and me are going to the barn.

Come on...

How come you stuck up for me?

Well, he was gonna hurt you, son.

You never did like him either, did you, Stove, huh?

Yeah, I can tell when you like somebody.

Yeah.

You like me, don't you, hmm?

If you could talk, you'd tell me.

"Oh, Skeeter, he's the most important person in the world,"

you'd say. Yeah.

Wish you could talk, Stove.

Skeeter, you in here? Oh.

I wasn't hurting anything.

I didn't say you was.

It's getting along about suppertime.

You sure can't share old Penny's supper with her.

Hey, have you met Penny? No.

Come here a minute.

Skeeter, meet Ponderosa Penny.

Oh... She's gonna have herself a baby in about two weeks.

Broodmare, huh?

Yeah. One of the best.

Some of the best blood in the world.

Little Joe, as a matter of fact, won a first prize championship

with her last year, and would have again this year

but she up and hurt that knee.

Oh.

It's swole up, must hurt.

You like animals, don't you?

Where's Little Joe?

He's back at Denver for a rodeo.

Is it okay if I sleep in the barn tonight?

Well... I reckon that could be arranged if...

if you'll come on to supper now.

I'm willing. Come on.

Come on, Stove.

Stove, this here is Ponderosa Penny.

She's a friend.

Gonna let him get friends, huh?

Yeah.

Come on.

Where is Mr. Hoss?

Everybody all the time late.

Oh, he and Skeeter will be in for breakfast in a little while.

Thank you, Hop Sing.

Oh. Where's Skeeter?

Well, he's gone. That's what I come to tell you.

Just like that.

Abracadabra, he's gone.

He's a funny fella, that kid.

It's, uh... never answers questions, he...

seems like he talks more sense to animals than he does humans.

Well, it's not surprising, considering everything.

You better have yourself some breakfast.

Hop Sing's been yelling. I'll eat later, Pa.

I think I better find this kid.

I'll see you.

Oh, no, Ma.

I couldn't have another helping.

Why, I'd just about bust.

It sure was a good supper, though.

I bet Ma makes about the best

sweet potatoes in the world, don't she?

Why, Pa, shoot.

You ain't getting fat.

No.

You're just big and strong, I'd say.

You sure do look nice, Ma.

Pretty as a picture.

You want your pipe, Pa?

Well, stay put.

Let me get it for you.

I should be getting you your pipe all the time now,

to pay you back for all them peppermint sticks you bought me.

Here, let me light it for you.

Aw, shoot, I'm old enough to handle matches now, I guess.

You taught me all about that.

Hi, Skeeter.

♪♪

It ain't no use, Skeeter.

Go away! Let me alone!

I can't do that, son.

I gotta ask you a question:

Where's your ma?

Dead. She's dead.

That ain't what Stoney told me yesterday.

I don't want to see her.

That ain't what it looked to me like

back there in that cabin, either.

Stove's back there.

I gotta go.

Now you listen to me, Skeeter.

I ain't gonna let you go on hiding with that bird.

I didn't give up chasing you this time,

and I won't the next time.

You're gonna take me to your ma,

and you might as well make your peace with that.

You'll see then.

You'll see.

That's her.

You wait back down the hall, Skeeter.

Miss Dexter?

Miss Dexter?

Oh! Go away!

Miss Dexter?

Miss Dexter? All right!

All right...

All right, all right.

Hoss Cartwright.

Well, who'd have thought it?

I must be moving up in the world.

I want to talk to you about Skeeter.

I need to talk to you, ma'am. Uh, hey...

It's about Skeeter.

I got him outside, out there.

None of my concern.

Stoney looks after him.

Well, that's...

that's just it, Miss Dexter.

Mrs. Dexter.

Stoney left him.

Stoney's gone.

So?

So you're the boy's mother.

Now that I heard the sermon,

what hymn are we gonna sing?

How come you're butting in?

I'm worried about the boy.

Well, I'm worried about me.

The boy's 16 years old.

When I was his age,

I'd been carrying him for three months.

I made it alone.

Let him do it.

He needs somebody.

Well, then why don't you buy him a mother?

You Cartwrights.

You buy everything else in this town.

Why don't you buy him that, if you're so worried?

What'd he ever do to you?

He got born.

Got me married to a man that ran off

before Skeeter ever even drew a breath.

Got me so desperate I thought maybe Stoney could help.

What did he do?

He got me here!

You better make tracks before I...

start ruining your lily-white reputation

around this town.

You can take that kid and put him in a sack

and throw it in the river, for all I care.

He gave me pain when I had him,

and it ain't stopped yet!

I told you, Hoss.

♪♪

Boy, I just don't understand a woman like that.

She gives birth to that boy,

and then she hates him.

Does she?

Pa, if you'd have seen her and heard her,

you wouldn't have to ask that question.

She's a woman, Hoss.

No, she ain't.

She's something else.

Maybe there was a time when she was a woman,

but not anymore.

She's filled with nothing but...

hatred and meanness.

Oh, I can't believe that.

Hoss...

...a woman may say that she hates her child.

She may even tell the child she hates it.

But I don't think she can ever forget

that she was once part of a miracle,

and she was once as close to God as...

anybody can ever get.

I don't think Skeeter's mother

can forget that, although she may want to.

Why would she want to?

Well, when she was just a young girl--

I guess she was no more than about 16--

she met this fella.

He wasn't much good,

but they got married, and Skeeter was born,

and then the fella disappeared, lit out.

Now every time she looks at Skeeter,

she sees the boy's father.

She hates him.

Hates Skeeter.

What are you making, anyhow?

Oh, just making a...

perch...

for Skeeter's crow.

Bed?

Yeah.

Hey, Pa,

I want to show you something.

What's the matter, the bed too soft?

That's right.

Night. Night, Pa.

Hoss!

Hoss!

I'm coming, Pa! I'm coming!

Well, hurry!

What's the matter, Blake?

It's Penny, Mr. Cartwright.

What happened?

She caught her bad leg in the stall railing.

I tried to get her out, but...

I think it's broke. Yeah... I think...

Get into the house.

Where are the other boys? They ain't come back yet.

She's scared crazy, Mr. Cartwright.

I tried, but she's gonna kill that boy.

Skeeter! Get to the house.

Skeeter!

Quiet down now, Penny.

You got to quiet down.

Skeeter, get out of there.

Come on!

Skeeter, get-get-get out of there!

Whoa, whoa, easy, girl. Easy, Penny.

Get out of there, Skeeter.

Get over here, now, get hold of her leg.

Hoss, move her forward.

Move forward, move forward, Penny.

Move forward, Penny.

Now, Skeeter, this is important.

Now, listen.

We're gonna try to move her forward.

If we do, we can get her leg out.

But your gonna have to guide it, understand?

What if we don't get her out?

She could lose her foal.

Come on, Hoss.

Move forward, Penny.

Penny!

You no-good-for-nothin' fat head!

Get off of me!

You're doing it, Hoss.

Take it slow now.

Now, Pa! Now!

That's it.

Whew! Dad-burn you, Penny.

You may be a female...

but you ain't no lady, that's for dang sure.

She ain't putting no weight on that foot,

that's for sure. She sure ain't.

Easy, girl.

Easy.

It ain't broken, but there's a lot of stuff

tore up inside, though.

Hoss, you think we can fix her up

with some hot water and Epsom salts?

Maybe.

All this excitement, Pa,

I'm sure afraid she's gonna slip that colt.

Sure as the world.

Yeah.

Well, see if you can bed her down.

I'll get one of the boys to get Doc Woods.

You don't need a doc.

I can take care of her.

Skeeter, she needs a doc.

Bring that pail inside.

I'll get Hop Sing to boil up some water.

Hey, Hoss?

Will you fetch the water so I can stay with her?

I think she's gonna need somebody.

Don't hurt so much when somebody's with you, you know?

Yeah, you sure you want to do that, Skeeter?

It's three hours till sunup.

I'm sure.

Besides, Penny wants me to stay. Don't you, girl?

Yeah, I reckon she does at that.

Easy, girl.

Back up now.

Back up.

Come on, easy... easy does it.

Easy... easy on that foot.

Easy.

There you go.

Don't worry.

That Ieg'll get better.

Mine is, too.

Easy, girl.

Yeah. Easy.

Don't you worry, old girl.

My leg's getting better, and so will yours.

I want to help you. Yeah.

Hiya, Doc. Hi, Hoss.

Thanks for coming so quick. No problem.

Hey, uh, how's the hand, buddy? Well, it's broke, Hoss.

Dad-burnit. Ain't that the luck.

Hop Sing's got some hot coffee in there. Go in and get some.

Thank you. Hey, you fix that?

I didn't know you was a people doctor, too.

No. Doc Harris did it.

Mare in the barn? Yeah.

We tried some Epsom salts and hot water,

but that didn't seem to do any good.

Well, keeping her quiet's the main thing.

Yeah. Kid's out there. Uh-huh.

Skeeter?

Well, where is she?

I don't know... but I'm gonna skin that Skeeter alive.

What are you talking about?

Skeeter!

Skeeter Dexter!

Skeeter?

Is that Joy's son?

Yeah.

Now, Penny, don't that feel better, huh?

Yeah.

You keep still till I get the bottle set up, okay?

Hey, Stove, ain't that beautiful?

Old Penny won't have that mush melon leg

when I get done with her.

I guess I better go to tearing.

Hi, Hoss.

What are you doing, Skeeter?

I'm fixing Penny's leg.

Yeah... uh, Skeeter, this is Doc Woods.

Howdy. Nice to meet you.

You the vet, ain't you?

Yup.

But, uh...

seems I'm not the only one in the area.

Well, you're doing a fine job, Skeeter.

You mother'd be proud of you.

My mother? Yup. She's a friend of mine.

Yeah. Hey, uh, look, Skeeter,

maybe-maybe the doc understands all you're doing here,

but I don't.

Why don't you go down and explain it to me?

Doc, the boy's pretty sensitive about his ma.

Nothing wrong with Joy Dexter

that a little understanding wouldn't cure.

Hey, Hoss?

You see, I got her in the water here,

to get some cold on that leg.

Now, I come on up here...

I put some sun on it with this.

See? Like-like starting a fire.

Then I pack that leg up with mud,

and then I wrap it up with this.

Well, you was asleep, and I didn't want to wake you up.

That's mighty considerate of you.

This is really fine, Skeeter.

But you didn't have to bother putting heat on the knee.

Just cooling her out's enough.

Fine job, anyway.

Thanks.

Doc, you mean, all the stuff

that Skeeter's been doing here is right?

Right as rain.

But we're gonna need real help taking her back to town.

Back to town?

What do you have to take her to town for?

Well, we're gonna board Penny at my place

till she drops the foal.

Look, Skeeter, Penny's a pretty sick horse.

But you said I was doing a good job.

Both of you said so.

Well, Skeeter, you are doing a good job, but...

but you ain't no doctor.

You said she wanted me to stay with her, and now,

he wants to take her to town, and you're gonna let him go.

It's for Penny's own good.

But it ain't!

I can tend her as well as you can. Better.

Skeeter, I'm a vet, and I...

You don't love her like I do.

I know you love her better than I do,

but I can help her more.

Hoss, Penny wants me to be with her.

I can sleep right here, and I'll...

tend that leg like anything, and...

and-and I'll read books and-and read up on it.

Oh, Hoss, please.

Dad-burnit, Skeeter, I'd say "yeah" just like that

if Penny was well, but,

under the circumstances, I...

I was lying, anyway.

I don't give two hoots about that horse.

You know what I hope?

I hope she slips that foal and dies doing it.

Come back here, Skeeter. Let me explain.

Let the boy have her.

But, Doc, wouldn't that be taking an awful big chance?

Maybe, but Skeeter's had a life

of people taking things from him.

I want to give him something. Yeah.

You better get on back, tell Hoss what to do.

I think he's gonna let you keep the mare.

Thanks, Hoss!

Hoss...

Hoss, quick!

It's Penny. You both gotta come quick.

Skeeter, you have a way of scaring people half to death.

Now, calm-calm down, Skeeter.

You know, mares have had colts before, son.

But-but something's wrong, Hoss.

It ain't going like it ought to.

Easy. Easy. Easy, girl.

Easy.

Easy.

What do you think, Pa?

This isn't normal labor.

She'll be all right, won't she?

I don't know, Skeeter.

Well, get Doc Woods then.

We got to get Doc Woods.

Hoss.

On my way.

Easy.

You'll be all right, Penny.

Sure, you will.

Be right there.

You're late.

It's cold outside.

Tea's ready. That'll warm you up.

Only fair to warn you that I'm gonna win tonight.

I'll get the cups.

How come you always forget the scorecard when I'm ahead?

I got the tally book right here.

I'll deal.

I saw Skeeter at the Cartwright's.

Taking real good care of him.

You're lead, Joy.

When I started coming here, we agreed just to play cards.

I don't ask you to talk about Bertha.

Bertha's been dead for seven years.

Talking won't change that.

Skeeter's alive.

He's more alive and growing every day.

He's almost a man.

Funny, I can't... think of Skeeter as a man.

Only as a baby.

Well, that's natural for a mother.

It's funny what you remember about... kids.

When Skeeter was about four years old, I...

I ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up.

And he wrinkled his little brow,

and he looked at me, and he said,

"I want to be a tree."

'Cause he looked around, and he saw what people were.

He decided that

the only good thing living was a tree.

'Cause it was a part of the earth,

and it didn't hurt anything.

He was...

silly about things even then.

That's not silly, Joy.

I knew a boy like that once.

All he could think of were things like that.

He turned out all right.

Marry me, Joy.

Let me love you.

We're alone.

Stoney's deserted you.

We need each other.

Skeeter needs both of us.

But why...?

Why would you want someone...?

Because I see...

me in Skeeter.

And I love you.

Doc!

Doc, you there? Yeah.

Oh, Doc, it's me, Hoss.

I'll be right there.

Doc, it's Penny.

She's in real bad trouble. We need you quick.

I'll put on my coat. I'll be right with you.

Is Skeeter out there now?

Yes'm.

He's there with my pa.

Can I go with you?

Not until you put on your wrap.

♪ You'll take the high road I

♪ And I'll take the low road I

♪ And I'll be in Scotland I

♪ Before you I

I But I and my true love I

I Will never meet again I

♪ On the bonnie, bonnie banks ♪

♪ Of Loch Lomond. ♪

That singing's just a tonic to her.

Yeah, she, uh...

she seems to like it, all right.

Hi, Doc. Ben.

We been keeping her pretty quiet, Doc.

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Hello, Skeeter.

What's she doing here?

I brought her along to help.

Well, I can help you.

Besides, this ain't no place for a woman.

Well, Skeeter, it might be just the place for a woman.

Will you get me that wheelbarrow?

All right, Doc.

This is liable to be a long siege.

Why don't you go get her some coffee.

That's a good idea. Hop Sing's in the kitchen.

He'll help you. All right.

Doc,

want me to wrap the tail?

Yeah. Would you get on that?

Hoss, you get by her head, hold her down.

Right, Doc.

Skeeter, will you pour this alcohol over my hands?

Yes, sir.

Plenty on there.

That's it.

How you feeling?

Scared? A little bit.

Blood bother you? No, sir.

All right. You're my assistant.

I'm counting on you.

Penny, be a good mama. Lay down.

Come on now, Penny.

Down you go. That's a good girl. That's a good girl.

All the way down.

Come on, come on. Come on.

That's a good girl.

Turn your head over. Come on.

Come on. Lay down. Lay down, Penny.

That's a good girl.

There we are.

All right, Skeeter, you finish wrapping the tail.

Easy, Penny. Easy.

Easy, girl. That's a good girl.

Whoa, Penny.

Yeah, sure, you'll be fine.

It's a breech, Ben.

What's a breech?

It's where the...

it's where the foal's backwards.

You can help her, can't you, Doc?

Yeah, if I can get to the foal.

Easy, Penny.

Come on, foal.

It's not such a bad world

that you have to... back into it.

Relax, baby.

Come on, Penny.

Relax.

Come on, girl.

I can't get to the foal.

Ben, you'll have to make the decision.

It's either Penny or the foal.

Mr. Cartwright...

Please...

Ben...

we haven't got much time.

Both. We save both.

That's impossible.

You're the doctor. You do something about it.

That's my decision.

She won't relax.

Well, do something to relax her.

Skeeter,

there's a black case in my bag.

Bring it and the alcohol.

All right, Penny.

Swab her neck there.

What are you gonna do?

Tracheotomy.

She can't bear down if she can't hold her breath.

Easy.

Pour some alcohol on that.

All right.

I'm doing this your way, Ben.

We got one chance in ten.

Now, hold her. Yeah.

Grab her head...

Easy, Penny.

I'm gonna cut now.

Hold it, hold it...

All right, keep holding.

Keep that opening clean.

Skeeter, quick.

It's all right, girl. It's all right.

I think you're gonna be fine.

Sac's broken.

Clean that stuff away.

Come on. Quick, quick.

Quick. Clean that way.

Hurry up. That's it.

I got hold.

All right.

Come on.

Turn around.

Turn around, foal. Come on.

Come on, come on, come on. Doc, look.

I know, I know. Keep working.

Here, help. Pull, pull.

Pull. Hurry up. More.

Aw, Doc, he's beautiful.

He's dead.

I'm sorry.

Foal's dead, Ma.

I'm so sorry.

Doc!

Did you see that?

Look.

Come on...

Come on, boy.

-- He's breathing.

It's gonna be all right, Ben.

Yeah, he sure will.

If you wouldn't mind, uh, hand me that pail, please.

That's the finest looking foal I've ever seen.

Penny, you know what we're gonna do for that boy of yours?

We're gonna feed him.

Here. Try that. Huh?

How about that-- a little bit of milk, yeah?

Can you thread that for me, please?

Thanks.

There. Now.

Yeah...

There you are.

Hey, what are we gonna name him?

How 'bout Skeeter?

After me?

Um...

well, I thought the...

Cartwrights might like to use it. It's a...

it's a good name for a pet or...

or a boy.

You're not gonna be needing it anymore.

Skeeter, what is your real name?

I don't think you ever got around to telling us, did you?

Charles William Dexter.

Good name for a man.

Try a little more of that.

Oh... sure...

Well, he's getting his breakfast. What about us?

Well, I thought that I'd, uh, take Skeeter...

uh, Charles...

...and his mother into town for breakfast.

How's that sound, Charles?

That sounds fine, but...

we just got to come back later to see about Penny and the colt.

Well, I think that can be arranged.

Uh, Ben,

I'll stop by L.G.'s

and see about a nurse mare for a few days.

The way this one is eating,

I don't know if you're gonna need a nurse mare.

Well...

just a few more stitches

and we'll be... on our way.

Aw, Skeeter's really growing up, ain't he?

Yeah.

He sure is.

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