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Evening, Dan.

Oh, evening.

Wind, uh, blew sand in my eyes.

I... was just restin' 'em for a spell.

Everything going all right?

Stock's finally gentled down for the night.

Listen, why don't you...

why don't you go get a cup of coffee.

I'll take your watch for a while.

It's my time to stand watch.

I'll get the job done.

Sure enough.

See you back in camp.

One gust of wind could fire the brush

and stampede the whole herd.

Take us a week to round 'em up.

We were careful to see it didn't happen.

You were careful.

You're supposed to be riding watch.

Not sitting around guzzling this stuff.

Well, a fella's gotta have some

to take the chill off his bones.

The orders were no drinking on this drive.

You knew that.

It's not the first time you've broken the rules,

but it's going to be the last.

All right, we owe you two weeks pay.

Here it is. Be off this ranch in an hour.

Just like that, huh?

Pack up and get out.

That's right, just like that.

You hear the man, Temple?

I heard him. Don't like it.

No man fires me and then tells me what to do.

What do you reckon we ought to do about him, Sand?

Teach him some better manners.

That's the bottle talking and it's not making much sense.

Not this time.

This is my idea.

Get him up.

Hold it.

You got ten seconds to ride out.

You don't... in 11 seconds, you'll be dead.

Thanks, Dan.

That's one I owe you.

You don't owe me anything, boy.

You'd have done the same thing for me.

What's the matter, Joe, can't you get him turned around?

I told him enough times.

You'd think he'd do it by himself now.

Why don't you try sweet-talking him, little brother,

like you do them gals on Saturday night.

Why don't you sweet-talk 'em-- they look a lot more like

the gals you dance with on Saturday night.

Dan, you want me to take him, you put the iron on him?

After 50 years, Hoss,

I think I can handle it.

Okay.

Well, that's the last of the strays.

You're doing a real good job, son.

Well, it's not finished yet.

Well, I'm proud of the way you're handling things.

Really am. Well, thank you.

I don't want to mess up my first chance of being trail boss.

Hey, there were a couple things

I wanted to talk to you about.

Yeah, oh, sure-- whenever you say.

Watch Dan.

Look at the way he turns them over, huh.

You know, he taught me to do that

when I wasn't much older than you.

He's been at it a long time.

I'll get him for you, Dan.

I don't need your help!

Get away!

Hoss!

Get you bad?

No. Just the edge of the iron caught me a bit.

Smarts a bit.

You fool.

Look what you done! I done?!

You listen to me, old man...

Dan, this isn't going to help anything.

Luke, get back to work. Come on.

Sorry, boy.

Never would've happened if that young buck hadn't jumped in.

That's all right, Dan.

I should have got out of the way.

Come on, let's get to the house, have a look at it.

All right, that's all for now.

We'll pick it up after lunch.

He can't do the job anymore.

Look, there's more to it than that, and you know it.

You saw the way he acted out there.

Why, Dan Tolliver used to be

the best-liked wrangler on this ranch.

He just doesn't get along with the men anymore.

I've been watching him the last few weeks, Pa.

He... he's tired.

He's slow to react to trouble.

The other day the herd turned into him

and his horse almost went out from under him

before he could get clear.

He did pretty good when those two had you in the hook.

He saved me from a bad beating, Pa, and I'm grateful.

Look, I'm-I'm not saying fire him,

kick him off the ranch, I...

I'm just saying find him a job he can handle.

There's lots of things he can do around here.

Dan Tolliver isn't a ranch hand, he's a wrangler--

Always has been-- one of the best.

Look, Pa, I gotta, I gotta get this drive through.

I have to get it through safe and in prime condition.

Now, the only way I'm going to do that

is by getting the best out of everyone.

I know that.

All right, today Dan got a man hurt

because he would not admit that he needed help.

Now, tomorrow he may get himself killed, or somebody else.

I... I just don't want that to happen.

Not on one of our drives.

Dan and I go back a whole lot of years together.

Long before you were born.

And I can tell you, the horses rode a whole lot easier

knowing he was at my side.

Doesn't there come a time when a man has to step down?

For his own good, Pa.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

You want me to tell him?

No. I'll tell him.

You sure got this buggy looking slick, Hoss.

Wouldn't be to take Sara Johnson riding, would it?

Well, now, it just could be, Dan.

Just could be.

Luke had no call to do what he done.

I would have got that steer down easy.

Yeah, I-I know, Dan.

Well, you take good care of that arm, now,

so as it don't infect.

Aw... will do.

Will do, Dan.

Giddup.

I'll get it.

Hello, Dan.

Come in. Come in.

It's good to see you.

Uh, I didn't take you away from anything important

on a Saturday night, did I?

Well, I'm fixin' to go into town.

Oh, well, uh, this can wait.

Why, it'll still be there an hour from now.

Yeah, sure. Come in.

Howdy, Joe.

How you doing, Dan?

The usual?

But, uh, not to the brim.

I do, it bites back at me in the morning.

I know the feeling real well.

Here's to absent friends and good memories.

What is it you want to talk to me about, Ben?

Eh, we've been friends for a good many years,

haven't we, Dan?

More years than... than we care to count, I guess.

Yeah, we... we go back a long ways together, Ben.

That's for sure.

Yeah, the years creep up on you, and...

a man begins to feel the difference in his bones.

There's nothing wrong, is there, Ben?

Your health, I mean. Oh, no, no.

No, no, no.

No, no. No, no, no, Dan.

I'm... fine. I...

But I was just thinking, the other day...

with all the men going out on the drive,

there's so many things that have to be done around here,

and I don't know if I can handle them all--

I was just wondering if you...

well, if I couldn't talk you into staying here with me

and giving me a hand with them.

You mean you want me to be a ranch hand?

Well... yes, you know.

You know, there's so many things that have to be done.

That barn needs patching up real bad.

And after that?

Well, uh... well, you know

how many things have to be done around a place like this.

I get it.

After the barn, mend the fence, clean the stables.

I'm a wrangler, Ben. I work stock.

I always have.

Now, what are you trying to say?

Come out and say it straight, Ben, the way we always talk.

Sit down, Dan.

I'm all right where I am.

Sit down. I'm all right here!

Well, Dan...

you've been working trail on the Ponderosa for the last 15 years.

I sure wish you could go on working it...

but you can't.

I'm too old-- is that what you're saying to me?

No. What I'm trying to say is that you-you got to stop driving

yourself in a line of work that's for young fellas.

I'm trying to get you to ease off.

It's the onliest trade I know,

and I got no intention of changing now.

I'll get my gear together and be gone in the morning.

You are the dad-burnest, stubbornest man I know.

I don't know how many times it's gotten you into trouble.

Now, what for? For me.

It's a line I've laid out for myself,

and that's the way I got to travel.

Well, lay yourself out another line.

I don't want you to go. I want you to stay here.

Let me change your mind.

Can I get you to change yours?

Now, don't run off like this.

There's no need for that.

Help me find the words to make you stay.

All right.

Well, there'll be a year's bonus for you.

I got 28 days pay coming to me, nothing else.

Dan...?

I just want you to know that it was my decision

to keep you off the trail.

Your decision?!

That's right.

You got no right to judge me, boy.

None whatsoever.

And you're wrong about me.

I can still work you young bucks

into the ground any time I'm a mind to.

Look, Dan, I only...

Just have my wages drawn up in the morning.

Just have them drawn up.

A bottle, Sam.

Hello, Tolliver.

You enjoying yourself?

You know, you made me look a little foolish

out there that night.

Throwing me in the dirt the way that you did.

He snuck up behind us,

and he had a rifle then, which he ain't got now.

You want a piece of me, come ahead,

but you better keep me down for good.

You don't, I'll kill both of you.

Hold on, Dan.

There's no need to get all riled up.

Suppose you and Joe Cartwright are real tight buddies now, huh?

You suppose wrong.

I ain't got any more use for Joe Cartwright than you have.

Why don't we all sit down, huh?

Me and Temple here'll, uh, share the cost

of that bottle with you.

I drink only with my friends.

I don't see any here tonight.

How come you let an old coot like that

bad-mouth you that way?

That ain't like you, Sand.

That old coot-- he's got a big anger inside him,

and I think it's against the Cartwrights.

Yeah, so what if it is?

I don't know... yet.

Flint?

Jim Flint?

Hello, Dan.

Been a heap of years since our trails crossed.

Over 16 of them. Yeah, uh-huh.

Sit down, have a drink with me.

Ah, last time we was together,

we worked trail herd on the Big Red.

With the Morgan outfit.

Remember the night

a rattler crawled into your bedroll?

Tell me about it.

First time I ever saw a bedroll climb a tree.

And the time that Apache raiding party jumped us.

You took an arrow, as I recollect.

You recollect right.

Right after, was the first time

I ever saw a wrangler ride sidesaddle.

Still troubles me some.

What are you doing in Virginia City?

Ah, just drifting through.

You signed on with any of the trail herds yet?

Naw, I give that up some time ago.

Why? You was a good wrangler.

Good as any man I knew.

Now, what would make you take a job like this?

I got to eat when I'm hungry.

It's as easy as that.

Swamper...

I pay you to clean up this place,

not to sit and bother the customers.

Thanks for the drink, Dan.

Maybe, one day, we'll get together, kick around old times?

Sure. One day, Jim.

Here. You have this, Jim.

Thanks, Dan.

Yes?

It's me, Beth.

Dan Tolliver.

Dan.

Dan, how good to see you.

Come in.

I---

was walking by, I saw the light.

I didn't mean to bother you.

I'd have been bothered if you hadn't stopped by.

Come in and sit down, Dan.

You're certain I won't be putting you out any?

Oh, no. I was just finishing up.

Kind of late to be making pies, ain't it?

Well, it's a rush order for Mrs. Grant's social tomorrow.

I have to take my work however I can find it,

no matter what the hour.

Things bad for you, Beth?

Well, sometimes, they get a little rough,

but never mind that.

You sit down at the table, and I'll warm the coffee.

You need money, Beth?

No.

No, I'll manage.

Apple pie still your favorite?

What?

Oh, yeah.

I remember other Saturday nights, Dan...

the socials... do you recall?

We used to have some high old times

at those dances, didn't we?

Yes, we did.

And as I recall, you were seldom around to see them end.

Course I was.

No, you weren't.

You used to come in all spruced up, acting the proper gentleman.

Then after a few trips around the back with the boys,

you'd come in and dance with all the pretty girls.

You was one of them pretty gals, if I recollect.

The fact that I was with another fella

never seemed to trouble you any.

Sure did trouble that other fella, though, didn't it?

Yes, and you'd both go back and settle it.

I never saw such a patched-up suit

as the one you used to wear.

Suit wasn't made to roll on the ground in.

We girls used to get so mad at you.

Why?

I thought you liked to dance with me.

We did.

You were the best dancer there,

but the worst fighter.

It was always the other fella that returned to the dance.

I never seemed to learn, did I?

You're a fine woman, Beth Riley.

Tom was mighty lucky to have found you.

I only wish it was me who'd been so lucky.

You had that chance, Dan...

or don't you remember?

It's late. I better be leaving.

Dan, you didn't have your pie and coffee.

Another time.

Thank you for everything, Beth.

Dan...

Dan, if you're ever troubled,

if you think you'd like to talk to someone,

my door is always open to you.

You're a good woman, Beth.

With all your own problems, you're helping me.

Should be the other way around.

Good night, Beth.

Come in.

Hi, Dan.

Where's your pa?

A bunch of steers got bogged down last night.

Hess and Pa rode out to see what they could do.

I'm just making out a list of supplies for the drive.

I came for my wages.

Yeah.

You got anything lined up?

I'll make do, like always.

If there's anything we can do to help...

There is.

Count out my wages.

Look, uh, Pa still wants you to take that bonus.

Just the wages.

Now, you understand something, boy...

and I want you to remember it.

I wasn't born this old; I grew into it.

And so will you one day.

And when that happens...

you'll know how I feel now.

You'll know why it don't go down easy.

♪♪

♪♪

It's open.

What do you want?

Word's out about what happened to you with the Cartwrights.

So?

Well, you're in the same boat with Temple and me now,

so we thought we'd drop by and try to cheer you up.

That's right.

Bought our own bottle to do it with.

You wasted your money.

I drink my own whiskey.

Get out of here.

You know, you...

you told me you only drank with your friends.

Well, why not give us a chance?

Tolliver, do you mind telling me what you've got to show

for 50 years' work?

Uh, beside a worn saddle and...

the clothes on your back and maybe what's in that saddlebag?

It's enough, till I sign on with another trail herd.

No. Not a chance.

When the other outfits hear that the Cartwrights let you go,

and know the reason,

you won't be able to get a job herding day-old calves.

You'll wind up cleaning stables and swamping saloons.

That's not a pretty future, is it?

Get out of here.

Sure, we'll go.

But if I can show you a way to get you enough money

to set you up for the rest of your life,

you figure that's worth a listen?

I tell you it can work.

Tonight, Little Joe and Hess will bed down with the herd,

like they've been doing.

Ben Cartwright will be alone at the house.

That's right.

Alone with all that payroll money

for the trail herd wranglers...

in the safe.

Now, if me and Temple try to break in,

they'll use a gun on us.

But all you have to do is knock on the front door,

and we'll be right behind you.

What makes you think he'd open the door for me?

30 years of friendship.

No.

No, you've come to the wrong man.

I want no part of it.

I've done some things in my time I ain't proud of,

but I ain't never stole from another man,

and I ain't aiming to start now, with someone I call friend.

You mean you call the Cartwrights your friends?

Why, it was them who threw you away.

Them who said, "You're finished old man,

go crawl in a hole and die by yourself."

That's right-- they kicked you out!

You buy that brand of friendship, Tolliver?

We do get in the house...

what makes you think Ben will open the safe for us?

He's got no choice.

He don't open it, we take him out!

Shut up, Temple.

Ben Cartwright's no fool.

He's a wealthy man--

He's not going to risk his life for money.

He'll give it to us.

There'll be no gunplay, I promise.

What do you say?

It's your last chance, old man.

♪♪

I'm in.

Come on!

Come on!

Reach for your gun.

Slow and easy.

Now...

Temple will ride out on ahead.

You follow in the wagon right behind him, and I follow you.

Let's move!

♪♪

Yes, who is it?

Dan Tolliver, Ben.

Dan, you son of a gun!

It's good to see you.

Come on in.

Well, come on in!

Don't stand outside there.

We, uh, don't usually keep the door bolted,

but, uh, with the payroll in the safe, you know,

there's no point taking any chances.

I been waiting up for Little Joe.

He went to town this morning to get some supplies.

Should've been back some time ago, but...

I guess he's, uh...

with Hoss, looking at the herd.

Like some coffee?

Dan, would you like some coffee?

No.

Well, Dan, I hope your coming back here

means that you've thought things over

and you're gonna be working with us again.

No.

What is it, Dan?

If you want Joe back...

you open up that safe and give me the money that's inside.

What's the matter with you, Dan?

We got Joe, Ben.

Me and my partners.

He ain't been hurt none, and he'll be turned loose

as soon as I get back there with the money.

Some kind of joke?

It's no joke, Ben.

We got him.

What's come over you, Dan?

Why?

Because I'm fighting for what's left of my life, that's why.

Because after 50 years' work, I... I find I'm used up.

I got nothin', Ben.

Nothin' behind me and nothin' up ahead except handout jobs.

That's not for me, Ben.

I don't aim to end up that way.

Now, you open that safe.

Put it all in there.

After I leave, don't try to follow me, Ben.

It can only cause trouble.

I'd have given you this money,

and anything else you wanted.

All you had to do was ask for it.

You mean another handout?

If Joe's back in the morning...

I won't say a word about this.

You get out of here, and good luck to you.

But if he's hurt...

in any way...

I'll come after you, Dan,

and there won't be a place on earth

far enough or dark enough to hide you.

♪♪

♪♪

When you reckon he's gonna get back?

Well, if things go the way they should, by sunrise.

What do you mean, "things go the way they should"?

Why shouldn't they? Oh, settle down, Temple.

It's going to be a long night.

The way I figure it, the old man'll

be back in the morning...

with the money.

That old man get back with the money,

what do you figure you're gonna do with your share?

Spend it.

Me, too.

I'm going to San Francisco.

And I'm gonna get me a room in one of them fancy hotels.

Then I'm gonna go down and buy me some of them

duded-up city clothes...

and I'm gonna kiss me

every pretty girl I can find.

Why don't you give him the number

of your hotel room, while you're at it?

What difference does it make if he knows where I'm at?

Ain't gonna do him no good nohow.

♪♪

♪♪

Yes, who is it?

Beth, it's me, Dan.

Dan, what's the matter?

Can I come in? I... I want to talk to you.

Of course.

I'm sorry to bother you this late,

but I don't have much time.

Well, a-are you in trouble? Is there anything I can do?

No, I'm fine.

I-I'm leaving town. I...

Chances are, I won't see you again.

Well, what-what do you intend to do?

Where are you going?

Well, I...

I ain't rightly thought about that yet, I...

There's something I wanted to do before I left.

I want you to have this.

Where did you get all that money?

Well, no matter about that. That's why I came here,

to... to give it to you. Here, take it.

Oh, I can't accept that.

Why?

Well, it doesn't belong to me.

Does it belong to you?

Yes.

It does belong to me. Maybe not the way you think, but...

but there's 50 years of my life tied up in this money.

I've earned it.

Every dollar of it.

And I want you to share it with me.

But why?

Because you won't have to stay up half the night

working for other people.

You won't have to depend on anyone for food on your table,

or a roof over your head.

What have you done?

What I've done was as much for you as for me.

No. Not for me.

If I took this money, would it ease your conscience?

Oh, Dan, don't you see, you've done a wrong thing?

This could lead to big trouble.

I can't take this money.

I earn enough to live on.

And I take pride in my work.

The way you used to.

Beth.

They kicked me out.

They called me an old man.

They said I couldn't do my work.

Well, then, I'd do something that I could do.

And no matter what,

there'd be no shame.

As long as it was honest work, I'd take pride in it.

Honest work--

like Jim Flint,

cleaning spittoons.

Dan...

...my thoughts and my prayers are with you.

Sand, wake up. It's morning.

That old man should have been here by now.

What do you think happened to him?

I'll ask him when he gets here.

Check him.

All right, lean forward, so I can see your hands.

Come on...

It's him, Sand. He's here.

Don't forget what we've got to do.

Not a chance.

Did you get it?

Did Cartwright give you the money?

Look at it, Sand.

Will you look at it?

And it's ours, it's all ours.

You make sure nobody followed you here?

No one followed me.

It was easy, wasn't it?

For you, it was easy.

We owe you a lot, Tolliver.

It might not have worked out if you hadn't come in with us.

What you fixing to do?

Cut him loose, turn him out of here.

I don't think so.

Wait a minute.

That was our understanding-- by the time he gets home,

tells them about us, we'll be long gone.

No way for 'em to catch us.

Well, maybe not this week.

But what about next week, or next month,

or next year?

No... I'm not gonna spend the rest of my life

looking over my shoulder.

I won't sit still for a killing.

I didn't think you would.

And I'm sorry.

It would've changed things if you had.

I'll take one of you with me.

No, you won't.

Shoot him, Temple!

I didn't want you hurt.

Where did it take you?

Got-Got me in the side.

I'll be all right.

What are you...

What are you waiting for?

You got all the money now.

That's w... That's what you wanted, isn't it?

No.

That's all you left me.

What you forced on me.

Oh, come on, Dan, nobody forced you in anything.

You did that all by yourself.

What do you think... what do you think,

you're the on-- the only person who ever got old?

Happens to lots of people.

The only difference is they adjust to it, they...

they find work they can handle.

Good, honest work and they take pride in it.

No, not you.

No, you're too proud to work for my father,

but you're not too proud to steal from him.

And I feel sorry for you.

You had an awful lot to offer.

So years of experience on the trail.

Something you could have passed on.

But you just, you just quit.

Well, you go on, take the money.

Try and buy yourself a friend like my father.

Here... let me help you.

Let's go home, son.

♪♪

What's the matter with you, boy?

Can't you see that horse standing there, big as life?

Well, everything's normal again.

It's good to have him back.

Yeah.

Easy, boy.

Sneak it out easy.

I said easy, didn't I?

I'm gonna make a wrangler out of you, boy,

in spite of yourself.

Go get 'em, Dan.

Oh, boy.

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