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Hyah! Hyah!

Well, mister, aren't you glad to see me?

Well, mister, I'm glad to see somebody.

Hey, Sonny?

Roust out of there, Sonny.

Roust out.

Name is Cartwright, Ponderosa Ranch.

Well, I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Cartwright.

I'm Jesse Pierson.

Pierson. Now, let's have a look at this.

I tell you, it's the last time I try a shortcut

without testing it out first.

I figure we get the team off of your wagon,

hitch him up with mine, we ought to...

You were wanting me for something, Jesse?

Oh, Sonny.

This is Mr. Ben Cartwright.

My partner Sonny.

Sonny.

You know, Mr. Cartwright.

I don't think we'll have to unhitch our team.

Here, Sonny, come down here.

That's it, come along now.

Now, you get right over there,

and get a good grip on it right there.

Well... well, you're...

you're-you're not gonna have...

He-he'll try.

Now, Sonny, slow and steady.

Just lift it straight up.

Any time you're ready, Mr. Cartwright.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Whoa.

Well, he's sure a powerful young fella, isn't he?

Yes, he is.

Amazing, amazing.

Thank you, Sonny, thank you.

Is there something I can do for you fellas?

Can you give us something to eat?

You'll have to forgive

Sonny's directness, Mr. Cartwright.

But it's hard to remember manners when one is hungry.

And the truth of the matter is

we are.

Well, I'll tell you what you two fellas are gonna do,

you and Sonny.

You're gonna get in that wagon of yours,

you're gonna follow me right back to the Ponderosa.

'Cause you're gonna have supper with my sons and me.

And you're gonna have a fine supper, too.

Why, that's mighty generous of you, Mr. Cartwright.

Follow me!

Righto, we'll be as close

to you as your shadow.

Hyah! Hyah! Get!

So, we've been making the rounds from ranch to ranch

looking for work-- wranglers, farmhands,

odd jobs, uh, anything at all, you know.

Well, you know, this is a pretty tough time

of year to get any work.

With branding over

and harvest not for another couple of months,

sure ain't gonna be easy.

Yes.

Well, Sonny and I never let

a temporary streak of hard luck get us down.

Do we, Sonny?

That's right, Jesse.

Uh, excu-excuse me.

Are-are you two related?

Well, uh, not in the flesh, Mr. Cartwright.

But, uh, certainly in spirit.

We first met, uh, sometime back when we were

both traveling with the carnival in the East.

We sort of hit it off together,

and, well, we've traveled like kinfolk ever since.

Carnivals, circuses,

sideshows.

Yes, we've seen every small town

across this wide country of ours, haven't we, Sonny?

Yeah, Jesse looks after me

and I look after Jesse.

Yes, that's right.

Birds of a feather.

F-Flock together!

Yes, yes.

I mean, that sounds like a pretty exciting life though.

Traveling around like that.

Yeah, very exciting.

Yes, but, uh, well,

we-we've decided that we've had enough of it.

And-and-and we're gonna go to Oregon.

And we're gonna live off salmon for the rest of our lives.

Just salmon?

Well, Sonny became fascinated with salmon

when I told him how they swim up waterfalls.

I don't blame you, Sonny. It kind of fascinates me, too.

Yeah, we didn't like the carnival anymore.

And we're gonna go up there,

and we're gonna live all by ourselves, just Jesse and me,

and there ain't nobody that's gonna bother us no more!

Why, I-I think it's time we spread our...

bedrolls, Sonny, that is if Mr. Cartwright

doesn't mind us camping at his place tonight.

Not at all, but like I said, there's plenty of room inside.

Aw, no thanks, we'd be much happier under the stars.

So if you'll excuse us, we'll bid you all a fond good night.

And thank you again for a marvelous supper.

Oh, you're more than welcome.

J-Jesse?

Can I thank them, too?

Why, certainly, Sonny.

You go right ahead.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Good night, gentlemen.

Your hat, Sonny.

Good night now.

Good night.

We mortals live but for the day.

And with bellies full and company good,

let the morrow take care of itself.

What is it the Persian says about life, Sonny?

"Unborn tomorrow.

Dead yesterday."

Good.

Why fret about them

why life be sweet today?

What does that mean, Sonny?

Well, that means that we,

we don't bother ourselves about, uh, what's gone.

And...

and past!

And we don't fret

about what's gonna happen in the future.

Because we like it just fine with what we've got right now.

Very good, Sonny, very...

Ah, he remembers everything I tell him.

Well, you give him some beautiful things to remember.

Thank you. Hey, you boys have been

pretty busy, haven't you?

You didn't have to chop up all this wood.

Well, your cook was kind enough to supply us

with an early breakfast, and Sonny and I

were just returning the favor.

Well, that's awful nice of you.

Morning. Joe.

One of the hands just told me Darrel Brightman's

got a string of new horses over at his place.

I thought he might need a couple of hands

to help him around the stable.

Well, we certainly could use the job.

Well, I just wanted to let you know.

I got to get back to work.

Take care.

Thanks. Hey, that's an idea.

That's an idea. Listen, I'm going into town

in a little while to do some banking.

Why don't I take you two fellas along

and introduce you to Darrel?

Why, splendid.

Uh, but, um, would it, uh, be all right

if, uh, Sonny waited here while you and I rode in?

Jesse?

Can't I go with you?

Well, now, I'm just going in to talk

to the man about it, Sonny, that's all.

Mr. Cartwright, uh, could, um...

Oh, Hoss! Hoss, come on over here.

Um, oh, Hoss.

Hoss, it's a beautiful day, isn't it?

Yeah, it's a pretty day.

It's a beautiful day for fishing, isn't it?

Fishing? Yes.

And Sonny loves to fish.

Would you mind taking him along?

Mind? Of course he wouldn't mind.

Oh, it'll give me a chance to show ol' Sonny around

a little bit too, huh?

Good.

Jesse, can't I go with you?

Now, I'm only just going to talk to the man, Sonny.

And you know there's nothing I like better

than fresh-caught trout.

You suppose you could catch me a-a big one for lunch, Sonny?

You bet I can, Jesse.

I'll-I'll catch you the biggest ol' trout you ever did see.

Good.

Now, listen carefully, Sonny.

While I'm gone,

you do what Hoss tells you.

You listen to him just like it was me telling you.

You un-understand?

Sure, Jesse.

Good. I'll...

Jesse, how long you gonna be gone?

I'll be back before you even know I'm gone.

Come on, Sonny, let's don't keep them trout waiting.

Let's go get the poles.

Come on, Sonny, come on.

Well, they're a wild bunch all right.

You know, in fact, the drover I bought them from,

he was mighty glad to get shed of them.

Well, that, uh, palomino

does seem a bit antisocial.

But, well, you can't judge a book by the cover.

Yeah.

Well, you know, I'd like

to do a favor for a friend of Ben's,

but, well, the only work I got

is breaking these broncs.

Tell you the truth, uh,

you look a little light for the job.

Well, Mr. Brightman, after all, it's not so much

a matter of brawn as ability,

and I've been around horses all my life.

In fact, my mother used to say

that I could whinny before I could talk.

And by the time I was 16,

I could ride a horse standing on my head.

On your head? Yes.

That's where you're liable to wind up--

Right there on your head.

Well, uh, Mr. Brightman, after all,

every man is entitled to a chance to prove himself,

and, well, that's what I'm asking for,

that chance.

And, you know, Mr. Brightman,

the Constitution of these United States specifically says

that all men are created equal and that each is endowed

by his creator... All right.

You're gonna talk my leg off unless I see what you can do.

Well...

you go ahead.

It's your neck.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

I think I'll start by getting acquainted with that palomino.

See if his disposition matches the look in his eye.

Oh.

Uh, yes.

You've had a real good year, Ben.

Yeah, it hasn't been too bad.

Expect to have an even better one next year.

You know that north pasture?

Well, we've got it all cleared and fenced

and that means I'll be able to double my herd of feeders.

Providing, of course, you approve the loan application.

Well, you're a pretty fair risk, Ben.

Sorry bustin' in like this, boys, but, uh,

there's been an accident.

Ben, it's that fella that you brought in to Darrel,

to work in his stable.

Oh. Uh, excuse me.

Clear 'em away.

Clear 'em away!

Give him some air.

All right, back up

and give the doc some room, here.

It was that big palomino, Ben.

He pawed and stomped him

before he could even get a rope on him.

Took five of us to pull him out of there.

How is he, Doc?

Well, Ben,

it's his back, I'm afraid.

I guess I...

finally took on

a job that was too big for me.

Take it easy, Jesse.

Oh.

Mr. Cartwright.

I think I went and got myself killed.

I can't...

I can't leave Sonny.

He-he needs me to take care of...

Now, Jesse, you're gonna be all right, you hear?

Mr. Cartwright...

...tell Sonny...

...tell...

Tell him what, Jesse?

♪♪

You better bring him along.

Come on, Sonny, let's... let's go home

Yeah.

Maybe...

maybe Jesse's back there waitin' for me.

Come on.

♪♪

Sonny!

Sonny!

Sonny!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

♪♪

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Sonny. Sonny!

Sonny.

Jesse.

Where's Jesse?

Sonny...

Sonny...

listen to me.

Now, listen very carefully.

Jesse's dead.

He's gone, Sonny.

Gone?

Oh, no. No.

No, he wouldn't leave me.

He ain't never left me alone.

I ain't never been alone since I met Jesse.

Sonny...

you ain't alone now.

Look, you... you take care of me, and I'll...

I'll try to take care of you, all right?

Good. Let's go.

Come on. Come on.

Roy, he was overcome with grief and shock

and he didn't know what he was doing!

Now, Ben, I don't question that,

but the fact is that he did cause

Darrel Brightman a considerable loss.

Well, I told... Now, I told Darrel

that you agreed to stand good for the damages

and Darrel said he wouldn't press charges.

Well? But I still feel

that I've got to take Sonny into custody,

that it ain't just safe,

leaving him runnin' around loose!

He's not running around loose!

He's right here on the Ponderosa with us!

Just because he's big

and weak-minded... that's not a crime, you know.

He'll be perfectly safe right here

until we find someone who'll take responsibility for him.

And supposing you don't find nobody?

I went through Jesse's things.

I found that ticket.

That must be the carnival

that they worked at last fall.

Well, it's at least a start,

but, Ben, it's gonna take a long time to run this down.

Meanwhile, what kind of a guarantee do you have

that Sonny ain't gonna fly off the handle again

and maybe cause the kind of damage

that money can't pay fer!

Roy, he is not dangerous.

He... he's a child.

All right, Ben. I'll leave him here.

And I hope you're right.

And, Ben, I will do my best

to track down this carnival outfit.

Hope you have some luck, Roy.

♪♪

Dad-burnit.

One more time, and I'm gonna cuss out loud.

Better go on in here and talk to Sonny.

What's the matter now?

Dad-burnit, Joe, I feel sorry for him,

but confound it, I got my work to do, too.

I know, I know, but he won't listen to me.

All right, I'll talk to him.

What you doing, Sonny?

I have to go find Jesse.

He's been gone so long, I...

I just know something's happened to him.

Now just hold on a minute.

Just hold your horses.

Sonny, do you remember what Jesse told you?

'Bout me, I mean? 'Bout you listening to me

just like it was him telling you? Remember?

I remember. Yeah.

Well, good.

'Cause I'm telling you now, just like Jesse would,

don't go runnin' off nowhere.

But Jesse might need me, Hoss.

No. No, he don't.

I can tell you for sure he don't.

But I can tell you for sure I do.

I need your help right now with that wagon wheel out there.

If I help you with it,

then can I go?

Well, we'll... we'll talk about it after a while.

But right now, let's get on that wagon wheel.

Maybe you can show me what I'm doing wrong, come on.

Sonny asleep?

Yeah.

Did you have any luck

with Roy Coffee trying to find that carnival?

No, not yet.

Have a rough time?

Mm, so-so.

It's kind of rough keepin' him busy, you know.

Got him painting things that don't need to be painted

and fixing things that don't need to be fixed.

Even with it all, he ain't happy, Pa.

It's... like he ain't...

he ain't got a friend in the world.

I know.

I know, I...

But it'll work out.

I know it'll-it'll work out.

Better get yourself some rest.

Yeah. Reckon we all need a little.

Yeah. This whole thing's

kind of been upsettin', ain't it?

Night.

Good night, Hoss.

Jesse?

Is-is that you, Jesse?

Jesse, where are you?

Jesse...

Jesse...

Where are you, Jesse?

Jesse?

Jesse?

Jesse...

where are you?

Sonny.

Something wrong?

I heard Jesse's voice.

But I can't find him.

Well...

Sonny, it...

Jes-Jesse's gone.

You must have been dreaming.

Oh, he was calling to me.

Sonny, it's late.

You better get back to sleep.

I heard him just as plain as anything.

It must have been a dream, like I said.

Go on, lie down.

You all right now?

I'm not sleepy anymore.

Well, it'll be... it'll be time to get up pretty soon.

Now, you gotta get some rest.

I'm not sleepy.

Well, I guess

it's good that I'm not sleepy, either.

When is Jesse coming back for me?

Well, that's one of those, uh, unborn tomorrows

that, uh, you and Jesse don't like to think about, isn't it?

Yeah.

Oh.

Oh, it sure is peaceful and quiet, isn't it?

I can see now why you like to sleep out here.

Jesse and me don't like to be cooped up.

We want to see the stars.

Sure are bright, aren't they?

Sometimes I used to think that...

that I could just...

reach up...

and touch 'em.

Yeah.

Feels as if we could almost do it, doesn't it?

Yeah.

Sonny...

did you, uh... did you sleep outside a lot

when you were a little fella?

Did your folks let you sleep out a lot?

I can't remember.

Um, when you were a boy, uh--

I know you-you like to go fishing a lot--

Uh, do you remember wading in bare feet

in that... that cold creek,

feel that mud oozing up through your toes, huh?

Did you ever see a salmon swim up a waterfall?

Yeah. Yeah, it's, uh...

Well, that's really something, isn't it?

Sonny, don't you remember anything about your folks?

A brother or a sister or a funny uncle, anybody?

There's was this funny man at the carnival.

Scotty. He was a clown.

He-he used to paint his face all different colors,

and he'd dance around real crazy,

falling and... everything.

And used to take a penny

and make it disappear right in front of your eyes.

He was a funny man.

He used to cough a lot.

Uh, he used to sometimes, late at night, cry.

And he didn't know anybody else was awake in the tent.

But I remember... I remember his crying.

Jesse told me not to tell Scotty anything about it, and...

Why would a clown cry at night?

Huh.

Well, I don't know.

I guess maybe 'cause he had a reason to.

I suppose every man does...

some time in his life.

Well...

You get yourself some rest now.

Mr. Cartwright?

Would you read to me the way Jesse does?

"Then to the rolling heaven itself I cried,

"asking, 'What lamp had destiny

"'to guide her little children,

"stumbling in the dark?'

"'A blind understanding,'

Heaven replied."

♪♪

How's it going? Starving.

Cheese over here, beef over here.

Yeah, good.

Saves time.

Where's Sonny?

He didn't want to come in, Pa.

Reckon he ain't hungry or something.

Well, he's got to eat. Get him in here.

Pa, Hoss said he didn't want to come in. He's not...

I know what Hoss said!

Now, come on, get him in.

You're really in a good mood today, aren't you?

Oh.

I know I shouldn't have yelled that way.

I'm worried about Sonny.

I'm real worried.

That he... he knows,

deep down he knows that Jesse's dead,

sure as I'm sitting here,

but he just won't face up to it.

When he does face up to it...

I'll tell you one thing.

It's the last time we take any strays into this house.

I just...

Hey, Pa, Sonny ain't out there.

I looked all over.

You sure? Sure I'm sure.

He-he ain't no place to be found.

All right, let's start looking for him.

Oh, it's no use, Pa.

There's no telling where he might be by now.

But he couldn't have gotten very far on foot.

Pa, we don't even know what direction he went in.

No luck, huh? No.

I went all the way up the head Lee's Creek,

then back down through Mesquite Canyon.

No sign of him nowhere.

Well, he could be in the woods on the other side of the creek.

Well, if he did, it'll take more

than the three of us to find him.

Yeah, well, we better tell Roy Coffee.

Hyah.

Howdy, boys. Roy. Roy.

I was just fixing to ride out your place. Oh?

Ben, I got a telegraph from the marshal down in Arizona.

Sonny is wanted for murder.

What?

That's right.

It seems that just before they left their last carnival job,

Jesse got into a kind of a hard set-to

with the boss roustabout, and Sonny waded in to help him.

Before anybody could stop him, he broke the fella's neck.

So I have no other choice than to lock Sonny up

and hold him for extradition.

Well, Roy, you're gonna have to find him first.

What?

Sonny ran away this morning.

Bill? Ed?

Ho!

Ed? Bill?

He's down over here. Come on.

Why'd you kill him?

He didn't mean no harm.

You shouldn't have done it.

You reckon he's armed, Ben?

No, I don't think so. But he is dangerous.

Well... Look, I... I figure we ought to...

we ought to split up into three groups.

It's a good idea.

Uh, each one of us will go with... with a group.

Uh, how about, uh, you and Bill and

you and myself?

Fine. And if any of you men run into him alone,

use your own judgment.

Don't take no chances. We don't want to lose nobody.

Yeah, well, try to talk him

into giving himself up without a fight.

Jesse?

«Jesse.

What did you call me?

Is your name... Jesse?

No. It's Jamie.

What's yours?

S-Sonny.

Have you been...

wadin'?

Nope. Fishin'.

Haven't caught nothing though.

Do you like to go wadin'?

And let the mud ooze

between your toes?

Yeah, that'd be fun.

Do you live around here?

No, I...

I got to go to Oregon.

Did you ever see a salmon?

Salmon?

It's a fish.

A-And it can swim up a waterfall.

Aw, you're just joshin'.

Oh, no, no, no. It-it really can.

See...

that's why I'm going to-to Oregon.

I got to see 'em.

No luck, huh? Nothing. What about you?

No. Let's try on down by the creek.

Fine.

Hear that?

Yeah. It's coming from right over here.

Easy! My rib's busted.

We ran into a giant of a man.

Out of his mind.

Tore into us like a bear.

He grabbed ol' Ed up and flung him over there

like he was a doll.

Joe, come here.

He dead?

Yeah.

Broken neck.

Look what I found.

It's-it's a stone.

It's got all different color streaks on it.

Maybe it's gold.

Maybe it's a diamond worth trillions of dollars.

Can I have it?

Sure.

What's that?

Somebody must be hunting.

Well, what's wrong, Sonny?

Do you have to go home?

No. I have to go to Oregon.

Do you want to go with me?

Better not.

I want you to go with me.

I don't want to be alone.

Gee.

I don't think my ma would let me.

What you got there?

Something.

Something better than rocks and gold and everything else.

Gee. Could I see it? Please?

Nope.

Not Iess'n you say you'll go with me to Oregon.

All right.

I---

I'll go with you.

How far is it to Oregon anyway?

First you got to... you got to promise.

I promise to hope to kick a frog and die.

Gee. A gun.

A real gun.

Come on. Let's go.

Sonny!

Hey, Roy...

No.

What's the matter?

It's just them hunters.

Hunters?

Sure, there's lots of deer up here.

Sonny?

Let me down.

Let me down, Sonny.

I better be getting home.

My ma will worry if I don't.

Hey, do you want to come to our house for supper?

No, no. We got to go to Oregon, remember, Jesse?

Don't call me that. That's not my name.

Come on, Jesse. We got a long way to go.

Stop, Sonny. That hurts!

Oh.

You all right, Jesse?

Come on, Jesse, let's go.

I don't want to go to Oregon.

I want to go home.

Jesse, just a little ways farther

a-and we'll make camp up there.

And we'll look at the stars.

Jesse.

You know the way.

Please.

All right.

Just a little bit farther.

Gosh, Sonny, I'm tired.

Okay, Jesse.

We'll rest.

Any trace of 'em, Bill?

Nothing.

Well, it appears to me that we...

Wait a minute.

Well, Iookie yonder.

There he goes.

There he goes!

But he couldn't have left no tracks in them rocks.

Sonny,

my ma will skin me alive if I don't get home pretty soon.

Read to me, Jesse.

Read those pretty things that you always do.

How many times do I got to tell you my name ain't...

Please.

I don't read so good.

Come on, Jesse, please.

You think they're up there? Shh, shh.

That's Sheriff Coffee.

Is he looking for you?

Did you do something bad?

No, I never. No. Yes, you did.

You did something bad,

and he's gonna lock you up in jail.

No, I never did, Jesse.

I'm not Jesse! I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!

I just want to go home.

Don't worry, Jesse. Th-They're not gonna get us.

I won't let 'em get us.

Jesse,

guns scare people.

I'll scare 'em away.

He's not even shooting at us, Pa. He's firing in the air.

Yeah.

They're still there.

Jesse, they're still there.

Hey, Bill.

But he's got a gun and the kid, too.

I know.

He doesn't know how to use that gun.

Let's move up on him.

Let go of me! Let go!

No, Jesse, no. Don't leave me now, Jesse.

It's-it's just over the hill, Jesse. I know it is.

We can be there in time for sunset.

Please, just-just a little ways longer, Jesse.

Sonny?

Jesse!

Jesse, don't go.

Stay away from me!

Jesse's gone.

But he wouldn't leave me for long.

He'll come back and get me.

And then we'll-we'll watch those ol' salmon flop.

And we'll lead the good life.

Just like he always told me.

Just like he always said.

Ben,

take the boy into town, will you?

Come on, son.

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