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That'll about do it, Sam.

You're short one sack of sugar.

Won't have that fill the freight wagon gets in.

Sugar, sugar, sugar. Everybody wants sugar.

Well, Christmas pies, Christmas cookies.

I'll bet Hop Sing's been baking for a week.

Merry Christmas, ma'am.

Mm-mmm, how'd you like to find that in your stocking, huh?

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

You know, I get sick and tired of hearing that.

Christmas is still two weeks away.

They're gonna wear it out before it gets here.

Next thing you know, they're gonna start celebrating

Christmas on Thanksgiving.

All the old Spirit's gone. It's getting way too commercial.

Ah, Miss Jones, you're just the one I wanted to see.

I've got a lot of dandy things for Christmas.

Hey, you know, Sam, you're right.

It's getting way too commercial.

Hey, here comes the stage.

Hope old Andy's on there. Don't worry, he'll be there.

He wouldn't miss the Christmas party.

What'd I tell you?

Hey, hey, hey! How you doing? Hey, Joe!

Hey, good to see you, buddy. Hey, Hoss.

Hey, you're looking great. You guys look good, too.

Hey, we sure want to thank you for coming down

and taking the time off from all those big jobs...

Cost us a lot of money. Yes, sir, it cost us a lot of money,

but when Andy gives his word, he always keeps it.

Ah, driver, that was a very stylish ride.

Uncle Thadeus. I-I'm gonna tell you, my boy,

and I rate you more than equal to the finest drivers in Europe.

Thank you very much, my good man.

Now, Andy, you take the luggage up to the hotel suite.

Uncle Thadeus, this is Joe and Hess Cartwright.

The Cartwright boys. Well, hello there.

Well, I've glad... Man, he's a big 'un, ain't he?

Yeah, he sure is.

You know, any friend of Andy's is a friend of mine.

This is a pleasure meeting you here.

Andy, now you go up to the hotel suite

and get your rest, you hear?

'Cause playing these benefits for free'll sap your strength

just like if you was getting money for 'em.

Yeah, uh, uh, but instead of staying at the hotel,

we figured you'd stay with us out at the ranch.

Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry,

but I always got to be near a telegraph office.

I got so many big deals on the pile for Andy.

Not only in this country but all over Europe.

Uh...

Well, where is the office, by the way?

Uh, it's right around the corner here.

Oh, oh...

Thank you very much.

I-I'll see you later, boys...

Well, you see, Uncle Thadeus has his own way of doing things.

Well, things have changed since I was here last time, fellas.

Yeah. I mean, I'm in show business now,

and, well, I've learned you have to let your manager

handle things for you. He's your manager?

Yeah, that's right. You got a ma... Son of a gun.

Hey, how about coming over to the saloon

and singin' a song for us, for old times' sake?

Old Mike's still on the piano and he ain't changed a bit.

Hey, how about it? Come on. Well, look, you guys go ahead,

and I'm gonna get this luggage up to the hotel and I'll...

Well, here, we'll help you. No, no, we'll give you a hand

with it. No, no, no, fellas, I can get it, really.

Well, all this stuff. Come on, let us give you a hand

with the luggage. No, Joe, thanks a lot. Thank you.

I'll see you over there and I'll do that song for you. Okay?

All right. See you at the saloon, now. Don't forget.

Take it easy, Andy.

Things sure changed for old Andy, hadn't they?

Yeah, they sure have.

Hey, how about a beer?

You buying?

How about getting the mail?

♪ Oh, fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ Fare thee well, I'm gone ♪

♪ Fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ I better be gettin' on ♪

♪ Old Joe Clark had a house ♪

♪ 16 stories high ♪

♪ Every story in that house ♪

♪ Was filled with chicken pie ♪

♪ I went down to old Joe's house ♪

♪ I'd never been there before ♪

♪ He slept on a feather bed ♪

♪ And I slept on the floor ♪

♪ Oh, fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ Fare thee well, I'm gone ♪

♪ Fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ I better be gettin' on ♪

♪ Old Joe Clark has a mule ♪

♪ His name is Morgan Brown ♪

♪ Every tooth that mule has got ♪

♪ Is 16 inches round ♪

♪ The higher up the cherry tree ♪

♪ The riper grows a cherry ♪

♪ The more you hug and kiss the girls ♪

♪ The sooner they will marry ♪

♪ Oh, fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ Fare thee well, I'm gone ♪

♪ Fare thee well, old Joe Clark ♪

♪ I better be gettin' on ♪

♪ Better be gettin' on. ♪

That's good, Andy, that's good.

All right, all right, that's all.

That's all.

Always leave them wanting more,

that's my motto.

You save your vocal cords, you hear?

And I don't want you wasting your talents,

because talent is a very precious commodity.

Mind if I sit down?

No, please do, Mr. Cade.

Yes, sir. Absolutely.

Oh, Uncle Thadeus,

we were just having a lot of fun.

You know, just like old times, huh, Joe?

Yeah, I'll tell you one thing:

we really missed you around here.

Hey, how long do you think you can stay?

Just long enough to play that charity benefit

that you people talked us into doing.

We got a thousand things more important than this.

Well, I was hoping we could stay a few days past Christmas.

No, I think we'll be heading for Paris

a couple days after Christmas.

Pafis?

All the way to Texas?

Paris, France.

France?

Hey, boy...

Andy, that's wonderful.

I'm beginning to see why you need a manager.

And he ain't the only one to see it.

Here.

Have my card.

"Thadeus Cade,

Im... presario."

Ah, yes.

I've been doing some big things for Andy.

You know, we just finished a two weeks' engagement

at the famous White Parrot in San Francisco.

Yeah, where we didn't get paid.

That was just a misunderstanding.

I think I explained the whole thing to you.

You know, you have to hit a couple of broken rungs

on the ladder to get to success.

Ah, yes, I'm thinking of a big European tour for Andy:

London, Paris, Rome... the works.

Uncle Thadeus, couldn't we talk about this later?

You know, Joe, Hess and myself,

well, we got a lot of visiting to catch up on.

Oh, all right.

Go ahead.

The three of you have your visit.

I'm just a thoughtless old man.

But it's because I'm so proud of you.

You understand? Go on, go on,

the three of you have your visit.

Well, Uncle Thadeus, I didn't mean for you to leave.

Oh... go on.

You visit with the boys. I...

Don't worry about me.

I-I'll be all right.

Well, he sort of gets carried away once in a while.

But in this business, well,

you sort of have to toot your own horn, I guess.

Sure you do.

You wait till you know him.

You're going to like him as much as I do.

Listen, he won't let you sing,

but it sure can't hurt your throat to have a beer.

What about it?

Hey, Cosmo, three beers!

Thanks, Hoss.

It's all right, Joe.

No sugar.

How you expect Hop Sing to make cookie?

Mr. Hoss, you try.

Mr. Hoss, you no get.

Trying, getting is a two different thing.

Joe, I-I don't care what you say,

I'm still impressed by that feller.

Yeah, I think Hop Sing's terrific.

Oh, not Hop Sing. Andy's uncle.

You know who I'm talking about.

Who?

The impresario. Andy's uncle.

Andy's mother's brother.

Yeah.

The, uh, black sheep of the family, as I recall.

There. Hey, now, did you hear that?

Hear that?

Tell him, Pa. Black sheep of the family, right?

Well, Andy's father, when he was alive,

didn't have too much use for him, as I recall.

Oh, no.

Oh, no, not now, of all times.

What's the matter? Something wrong?

No, as... well, as a matter of fact,

it's something good.

You remember that lumber contract we were negotiating?

Well, apparently, they want to close the deal.

Hey, that's great.

Sure, it's great.

Except they want me to come to San Francisco immediately

so we can complete all the necessary paperwork.

Yeah, well, you can't leave now.

Not with the charity Christmas party.

I'll be back in time for the party,

but I'm in charge of most of the arrangements,

of the collection of all the pledges...

Oh, Pa, seein' as you're the chairman of that whole shebang,

you could appoint somebody, couldn't you?

Yeah, I suppose I could.

Hey, well, how about the, uh,

how about the widow Manwaring?

Well, she's done an awful lot for the orphanage.

Well, as a matter of fact, she has.

If it hadn't been for her,

I suppose we wouldn't be building a new orphanage.

But, oh, that woman is probably

the most strong-willed woman on the face of the earth.

She's already in charge of some of the arrangements.

If I left, she'd probably take over complete control.

I--- I---

Hoss...

I want you to make sure

she doesn't take over while I'm gone.

I... I got to see to...?

How come me?

Because I've just appointed you

to be in charge of all the arrangements

for the Ponderosa party while I'm away.

Pa, I can't do that, I...

Hoss, please, don't give me any arguments.

If I pack right now,

I might still be able to make that stage this afternoon.

You can make it, Pa. But, Pa, I can't do no...

Pa, I ain't no... Don't you worry about a thing, Pa.

You picked the right man for the job.

Well, you can handle women.

Pa!

You know, my boy,

we're making a big impression in this town.

Yes, sir, a big impression.

Uncle, uh, Thadeus, I...

I meant to speak to you about that.

Why, go ahead, my boy, speak up. What's on your mind?

Well, this business of impressing everybody.

I. I know in San Francisco

how important you told me it was,

but I grew up around here

and-and I know everybody.

Mm-hmm. And they're gonna know you better.

A lot better.

That's part of my job, you know.

Well, I just wish you wouldn't

try to impress Hess and Little Joe,

because they're my closest friends.

Listen, will you leave the management to me?

And remember, it was your idea

to come down here and sing for free.

Now, you just let your Uncle Thadeus handle all these things.

Okay?

Yes, sir.

If that's what you say, yes, sir.

Listen, Hoss, uh...

after you pick up the supplies,

you'll have to go up to the Indian reservation

and talk to the, uh, talk to the agent.

Pa, I never will get all this done

before that Christmas party.

Can Joe help me? I told you.

Joe's got plenty of work to tend to at the ranch

and I got a stage to catch. Now get in.

Yes, sir.

I never will get all this done, though.

You'll manage.

Oh, listen, I've got Sam Bryant down here

for a thousand-dollar contribution.

You make sure that skinflint

doesn't give you one dollar less. Yes, sir.

Giddyap, giddyap!

Hyah!

Would you mind saying that again?

Well, I...

I said that Pa has you down for a thousand dollars, Sam.

Look, Sam, I-I ain't wanting to collect the money right now.

I just... I just want the pledge.

We'll collect the money

out at the Christmas party at the Ponderosa.

A thousand dollars?

Has Ben Cartwright lost his reasoning?

I said I'd contribute to the fund.

I didn't say that I would build the orphanage on my own.

Now, $500 and not one cent more.

$750?

$500.

$500. Thanks a lot, Sam.

♪ Oh, don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike ♪

♪ Who crossed the big mountains with her lover, Ike ♪

♪ With two yoke of cattle and a large yellow dog ♪

♪ A tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog ♪

♪ They soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out ♪

♪ And out in the sand, she lay rolling about ♪

♪ While Ike, half distracted, looked on with surprise ♪

♪ Saying, Betsy, get up ♪

♪ You'll get sand in your eyes ♪

♪ A miner said, Betsy, will you dance with me? ♪

♪ I will that, old hoss, if you don't make too free ♪

♪ But don't dance me hard, do you want to know why? ♪

♪ Doggone you, I'm chock-full of strong alkali ♪

♪ Saying good-bye, Pike County, farewell for a while ♪

♪ We'll come back again when we've panned out our pile ♪

♪ This Pike County couple got married, of course ♪

♪ And ♪ke became jealous, obtained a divorce ♪

♪ Sweet Betsy, well satisfied, said with a shout ♪

♪ Good-bye, you old lummox ♪

♪ I'm glad you backed out ♪

♪ Saying good-bye, Pike County, farewell for a while ♪

♪ We'll come back again ♪

♪ When we've panned out our pile! ♪

Howdy, Hoss.

Howdy, Roy.

Give me a beer, Cosmo.

Ain't you in town kind of late this evening?

Seems like, uh,

everyplace I went today, you was there.

Wish I'd never seen this dad-burned town.

Oh, Hoss, I hear that you're doing a fine job

with the benefit arrangements.

Well, maybe you ought to get your ears cleaned out

and do a little more hearing.

I ain't having no luck at all collecting that $20,000, Roy.

Well, if I was you,

I wouldn't be a bit discouraged.

You-You're just tired, that's all.

You're dad-burned right I'm tired.

You can bet your grandma's stockings on that.

Did you ever try to collect $20,000

from this bunch of onion heads?

What about that Christmas tree you was going to cut for me?

Did I promise to cut a Christmas tree?

Aw, come on, Roy, not you, too.

You promised to cut me a 25-foot Christmas tree.

Oh, Hoss, you losing your reasoning?

A 25-foot Christmas tree?

Out of the question.

How about a 15?

20?

15 is the absolute limit.

15.

Well, I'll see you at the party.

Uh, 15-foot tree.

Say, what's the matter there, Hoss?

You look awful down in the mouth.

Is there anything I can do to help you?

No. I don't reckon there's anything

anybody can do to help, Mr. Cade.

I-I got $20,000 to raise before Christmas Eve,

and I'm the one in charge of collecting it.

$20,000.

Well, that's a sizable amount.

But not doing so well, eh?

I ain't doing worth a hoot.

The only thing I am doing is getting blisters on my heels.

You know, Hoss, I took to you the minute I met you.

And it grieves me deeply, really,

to see you in this bad position.

What it sounds to me like is

that you're in need of professional management.

Professional management?

Well, it's just a thought, you see,

but I've handled expositions, big fairs,

benefits...

Mr. Cade, you mean that you'd volunteer to...

Well, yes... raising money is one of my particular talents.

Boy, Mr. Cade, if, if you'd help me out here, I...

Well, you put it that way, I can't refuse you.

I figure it's my duty for Andy's friends.

Now, the ten percent commission, you know,

that I get for raising the, you know,

the total amount of the funds I raise,

that seems trivial, doesn't it?

Ten percent of the total?

Doggone it, Mr. Cade,

I-I reckon I better talk to Pa about that.

But you said you were in charge.

Now, listen, what this all boils down to,

would you rather take 90% of something,

or a hundred percent of nothing?

You know, doggone it, when you put it that way,

it sort of makes sense, don't it?

Mr. Cade, you just lifted $20,000 worth of burden

off my shoulders.

Son, it's a pleasure to be of service.

Hoss, Hoss, you didn't.

Tell me you didn't.

I most certainly did.

Pa's gonna be mighty proud

he left me in charge of this outfit, too.

Oh, yes, he certainly is gonna be mighty proud

when he has to make up that ten percent

you promised to pay Thadeus Cade.

Joseph, when a man is left in authority,

he has to make decisions,

and he has to make them quick and snappy like that,

and I've made mine and I'll stand on it.

So did Napoleon at Waterloo.

Mr. Cade, I don't want you to be discouraged over Sam Bryant,

because he's probably just one of the tightest fellas

you'll ever meet in your whole life.

Pa had him down for a thousand dollars,

and all I could get him to pledge was $500.

My boy, I never seen a turnip yet I couldn't get blood out of.

Lead me to him.

Good. Come on.

You know, Miss Jones, I wish all my customers

had as good a taste as you do.

You know, you think about those carpet slippers

and that throat broach.

Christmas just comes once a year, you know.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Bryant.

Well, good morning. Hi, Sam.

Sam, I don't think you've had the pleasure

of meeting Mr. Thadeus Cade.

This is Mr. Sam Bryant, Mr. Cade.

Mr. Cade here is a professional impresario, Sam,

and I've just employed him

to sort of manage our orphanage fund.

I thought we'd gone through that.

Merely checking, Mr. Bryant, merely checking.

I've talked to your chief competitor,

uh, Herb Maxwell, I believe.

And he very generously contributed a thousand dollars.

Of course, he said your business wasn't quite up to his.

Oh, he did, did he?

That customer-stealing,

back-biting, so-called storekeeper.

I do twice the business Herb Maxwell

ever thought of doing.

Put me down for $1,500.

I knew you were a giant of commerce

the minute I saw you.

Oh, uh,

come to think of it, Mr. Maxwell,

you know, paid in cash.

Well, how do you think I'm going to pay?

You wait right there.

Uh, Mr. Cade,

did-did Herb Maxwell pay us in cash?

He will, my boy.

He will.

I'll tell you, Mr. Cade,

you-you've done a mighty good job up till now.

I feel like I got to warn you

about this next old sister you're gonna meet.

Her name is Manwaring,

Widow Manwaring.

She's probably one of the most headstrong women

you'll ever run into in your whole life.

And she ain't altogether happy

of my pa putting me in charge of this shebang.

As a matter of fact, she ain't happy

unless she's running the whole show herself.

And she's gonna try to take your job away from you.

Important lady, is she?

Yeah, and we're gonna have to put up with her.

Dad-burnit, she's sort of a social leader around here.

See, her husband made one of the biggest silver strikes

in the whole history of Virginia City.

When he died he left her

$5 million or $6 million, I reckon.

And she's pretty generous with social affairs like this,

like this orphanage fund drive now.

$6 million?

Shucks, Hoss,

she can't be all bad.

She sounds like a pillar of society to me.

Yeah. Come on.

Let's go see her. All right.

Help me out, son, will you?

I'm-I'm not the dashing young Lieutenant

that I used to be.

Is it down here? Yeah, here.

Yes? May I help you?

May you help?

Mrs. Manwaring,

after all you've done for this community...

Well, I've tried to do my part.

Your part?

Don't you think I've heard of your fame?

How much can you work,

and the way you've labored here for sweet charity.

How do you keep yourself looking

as fresh as a buttercup?

Well, it is trying at times.

Of course it is.

That's why I insisted that Mr. Cartwright

enlist some professional help.

Oh, pardon me.

I forgot to introduce myself.

My card.

"Thadeus Cade.

Impresario"?

Mm-hmm.

Now, I would like to offer my humble help,

if I may, as I suggested to Mr. Cartwright.

Especially I've heard that your fund-raising campaign

has been progressing a bit slowly.

"Slowly."

If Hoss Cartwright knew what he was doing...

I know, I know, but it's wrong to expect

professional management from him.

You mean you would take over the management

of raising the campaign fund?

Only with your approval, my dear lady.

That is a completely wonderful idea.

It's just the sort of thing I would have thought of myself.

Well, I'm-I'm glad you see it that way, Mrs. Manwaring,

but there's something else you ought to know...

Hoss Cartwright, you're interrupting.

That's simply wonderful.

Why, Mr. Cade, you don't know what this means to me.

Yeah. And to the campaign, of course.

Professional management-- it's a wonderful idea.

Thank you, my darling, for your confidence.

And now if you'll excuse me, there's work to be done.

Will you excuse me?

Thank you so much again.

Oh, mercy.

Oh, dear.

Sorry.

I'll, uh, see you in a minute, Mr. Cade.

Uh, Mrs. Manwaring,

there's still something you need to know.

You know, he-he don't work free.

Such a fascinating man.

Yeah. Yes, he is.

Ma'am, he charges a commission, ten percent.

Well, Mr. Cade is a professional manager.

He's entitled to a commission.

Well, doggone it, that's kind of the way I saw it, too,

but my little brother was all upset about...

Such a fascinating man.

Yeah, well, uh, good day, ladies.

"Fresh as a buttercup."

My!

Wonderful.

Oh, sugar!

Thank you.

Thank you, oh!

That's all right.

Keep right on singing.

Don't let me interrupt.

Uncle Thadeus, I, uh, I wanted to speak to you about something.

Well, go ahead. Feel free to speak.

What is it?

Well, it's about my singing in the saloon

last night, Uncle Thadeus.

Wonderful performance. One of your very best.

Uncle Thadeus, Mr. McBride is a friend of mine. And...

and all the people who were there were my friends.

I-I sang because I wanted to.

Your performance showed it.

What I mean is, I didn't want to be paid for it, Uncle Thadeus.

I sang because I wanted to.

You charged Mr. McBride for that performance.

Of course I did.

You're a professional, so am I.

And professional people don't offer

their services for nothing.

And is that why you're charging Hoss Cartwright

ten percent commission to handle that benefit fund?

Oh, that.

Don't you realize how that makes me feel?

Andy...

I don't expect you to understand everything I do.

Your pa couldn't understand me either.

But your ma did.

And you know something? You're a lot like her.

What a remarkable woman she was.

She was always singing and laughing.

And... well, she was a dreamer.

And so am I.

But I have to be practical like your pa was, too.

What I'm trying to say to you, Andy, is,

you realize I'm the only living relative

that you got left.

So I figure that I kind of got to fill in

for both your ma and your pa.

Do you understand that?

Yes, Uncle Thadeus.

At, at least I try to.

Of course, I'm not everything

that a uncle should be.

I... I get a little loud from time to time.

And I stretch the truth now and then and...

Well, like I said, I'm...

I'm trying to understand.

Say, that song you were humming when I came in?

That was your mother's favorite, wasn't it?

Sing it for me, will you?

For free.

No commission.

♪ When love ♪

♪ Leaves and breaks ♪

♪ Your heart ♪

♪ Your dreams ♪

♪ Simply fall ♪

♪ Apart ♪

♪ You see a world ♪

♪ Sad and blue ♪

♪ So unfamiliar ♪

♪ To you ♪

♪ You look for lips ♪

♪ That you once kissed ♪

♪ But they're lost in mist ♪

♪ Oh, it's funny ♪

♪ How nothing seems ♪

♪ Quite so clear ♪

♪ When you're ♪

♪ Looking through ♪

♪ Atear ♪

♪ The face in the crowd ♪

♪ You think is her face ♪

♪ Seem to fade ♪

♪ In a shade ♪

♪ Of lonely ♪

♪ You wait ♪

♪ For a chance ♪

♪ To catch another glance ♪

♪ But she ♪

♪ Really wasn't there ♪

♪ Her words ♪

♪ Linger in your ears ♪

♪ Good-bye is ♪

♪ All that you can hear. ♪

I don't think you want to hear anymore, Uncle Thadeus.

Thank you, Andy.

Thank you very much.

There's a walk I've been wanting to take.

Well, Ma and Pa, it's...

it's Christmas.

But it don't mean much without you being here.

I've tried to live the way you taught me.

And...

and I've tried hard

to understand Uncle Thadeus.

Oh, I know he means well and...

he's been awful good to me.

Please help me be good to him.

Hey, Joe.

Just got a telegram. Pa's gonna be on the noon stage.

Hey, that's good news. He sure cut it close,

seeing as tonight's Christmas Eve.

Yeah. Doggone.

That's gonna be some party, ain't it?

I can't hardly wait to see the expression on Pa's face

when he finds out what a good job I've done.

I just don't understand how you could do it.

I just don't understand how you could give away ten percent!

But, Pa, Mr. Cade is an impresario.

I don't care if he's the man in the moon!

This is, this is not a business deal, it's charity!

People are donating their time, their money.

Pa, he's done a marvelous job.

He's already collected $20,000.

And in cash.

Did you say "in cash"? That's right.

Where's the cash?

Well, he's got it, of course.

"He's got it, of course."

You were supposed to collect the pledges, not the cash.

The cash was supposed to be delivered here

tonight at the party.

Pa, Mr. Cade knows about these things,

and he explained it to me this way.

He said that very often people will pledge money,

but they never show up with the cash.

"They never show up with the cash."

Well, you'd just better make sure

that he shows up with the cash.

For all you know, he may be halfway

to San Francisco right now!

Oh, Pa.

He wouldn't do a thing like that.

Good gracious.

Well, he'd better not do a thing like that, Hoss.

Because, my friend, you are still in charge.

He wouldn't really do a thing like that.

Tha-Thank you, Hop Sing.

Excuse me.

Ben, I think you're worrying about nothing.

That Thadeus Cade has been working

day and night, raising this money.

I just wish he hadn't collected it all in cash.

Well, if you're worried about it, why don't you just go over

and ask him to turn it over to you?

After all, you're the chairman.

I did ask him. He didn't bring it with him.

He didn't? No, he didn't.

Well, I'll go over and take him right into town.

We'll get that money.

No, no, don't do anything like that.

Don't want to embarrass Andy.

When I get a chance maybe I'll have a word with him alone.

Good idea.

Ben?

Miss Hattie.

Ben, it's time for Andy's song.

Now, I want this party to proceed just as I scheduled it.

Mr. Cade has done so much.

Now we must do our part.

Yes, I'll introduce Andy.

Uh, ladies and gentlemen.

Boys and girls.

Well, I've been, uh, watching the weather,

and I've been hoping we'd have a white Christmas.

But it looks as if we're not gonna have

any snow this season.

But we have something even more wonderful than snow.

Yes, sir.

Virginia City's favorite singer

has come home from San Francisco to sing for us tonight.

And here he is-- Andy Walker.

♪ There's a magic in the air ♪

♪ Snow is falling everywhere ♪

♪ It's the season to be jolly ♪

♪ So they say ♪

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ On Christmas ♪

♪ Home is far too many miles ♪

♪ Away ♪

♪ I can hear the children sing ♪

♪ And the happy sleigh bells ring ♪

♪ And for everyone ♪

♪ It's quite a holiday ♪

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ On Christmas ♪

♪ And home is far too many miles ♪

♪ Away ♪

♪ I've traveled ♪

♪ Much too far ♪

♪ I've wandered ♪

♪ Night and day ♪

♪ Although ♪

♪ I haven't written ♪

♪ They know ♪

♪ I'm on ♪

♪ My way ♪

♪ Happy folks will have a go ♪

♪ Underneath the mistletoe ♪

♪ People everywhere will chase ♪

♪ Their cares away ♪

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ On Christmas ♪

♪ Home is far too many miles ♪

♪ Away ♪

♪ Home is where I want to be ♪

♪ On Christmas ♪

♪ And home is far too many miles... ♪

♪ Away... ♪

Uh, come in, come in.

Ah, Mr. Cartwright, glad you dropped in.

You know, we haven't had much of a chance to visit.

No, we haven't.

I've been looking forward to having a little talk with you.

Oh, I know what you're gonna say, and I-I want to tell you

that I appreciate your concern for my welfare.

But, you see, this work has to be done.

It just has to be done.

Efficiency, that's my middle name, you know.

Well, you have been very efficient, Mr. Cade.

I must say that.

And I-I want again to congratulate you

on the wonderful job that you've done.

Of course, the sooner you get the money to us,

the sooner we get to work on the orphanage.

That's why I figured I have to work tonight.

Now, as soon as I get all this worked up,

I'll go into town, I'll get the money,

and then I'll start reconciling the vouchers.

Sure wish you'd brought the money with you tonight.

I wouldn't pack this kind of money at night.

Road agents and brigands.

No, no.

This money is my responsibility.

I know how important it is.

Important.

That's the very word, Mr. Cade.

I'm glad you realize it, too,

because those children downstairs,

did you see their faces?

The glow of excitement.

You feel the spirit of joy in this house tonight?

And all because of what you have done.

Think of it, Mr. Cade.

You're providing food and shelter for those children.

Something that some of them have never had before.

I've given an awful lot of thought

to what this much money can do.

Now, I must get back to my paperwork

because I don't want anything to slip now.

Neither do I, Mr. Cade.

Neither do I.

Hop Sing, I think you'd better get the cookies.

Oh, Ben?

What is it, Hattie?

It's time for your story.

Isn't the party going splendidly?

It's just as I planned it.

Oh, children, why don't you get out...?

That's right, let Mr. Cartwright sit there.

Excuse me. Thank you.

You know,

the story I-I'd like to read to you...

is about, uh...

well, it's about a mean old man

whose name was Scrooge.

Hey, what are you doing out here by yourself?

Ain't nothing wrong, is there?

Oh, no, no, Joe, nothing's wrong.

I, uh...

I was just doing a little thinking, that's all.

Hey, why don't you, why don't you come on inside?

Pa's gonna start the reading.

No, no, you, uh, you go ahead.

I-I'd like to stay out here in the fresh air for a minute.

You're sure? Yeah.

Okay, I'll see you inside.

Oh, Uncle Thadeus, could I talk to you for a minute?

Um, I have to get to campaign headquarters.

I have to get the accounting finished up.

Well, it will only take a minute, Uncle.

Well, uh, just for a moment.

I-I have my responsibilities, you know.

"And poor Bob Cratchit had to bundle all up

"because Scrooge wouldn't let him buy any coal.

"And if anyone even so much as mentioned Christmas,

Scrooge would yell, 'Bah, humbug!"'

But when I saw the way you handled the benefit

and the way everybody in Virginia City took to you,

I realized I'd been all wrong about you, Uncle Thadeus.

Uncle Thadeus, I don't want to be a stone around your neck.

I know what family means to you and everything,

but I have no right to expect you to waste your talents on me.

I'm young yet

and, well, I have a lot of time ahead of me.

Really, what I'm trying to say, Uncle Thadeus, is,

I thought I understood you, but I guess I really didn't at all.

You see, I thought it was you who needed me.

Now I realize you don't need anybody.

L-Let's talk about that later.

I-I have to get to work.

I promised these people a full accounting within three days.

But that's exactly what I mean, Uncle Thadeus.

You're just like Ma.

You're always thinking about other people.

I know how anxious you are to see the orphanage started,

but can't you just take time to stay for the rest of the party?

It's Christmas Eve, Uncle Thadeus.

Just think about yourself for once.

"And so, as Tiny Tim observed,

God bless us, everyone."

Did you like that, huh? Oh, yeah.

Huh? Oh, yeah.

Was it a good story?

Did you enjoy that, huh?

Did you really enjoy that?

Well, look over there!

Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas, Uncle Thadeus.

Merry Christmas.

Holy buttercup.

I must be out of my mind.

Help me down, son.

Follow me.

Ho, ho, ho!

All right, all right, all right.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I-I've been accused many times of making theatrical entrances.

And I sincerely hope that I'm making one tonight.

In this portfolio, I have $20,000 in cash.

Now, I told Hoss Cartwright,

I says it'll take me at least three days to do my accounting

and straighten up all the odds and ends.

But, folks, that was just a ruse.

I planned all along to bring this money here tonight

to give to you at this wonderful little gathering.

Now, ain't you ashamed of yourself, Ben Cartwright?

Oh, come on, now.

Santa Claus, you've devoted your life

to doing nice things for little children.

Santa Claus, I'm going to give you a chance to do even more.

Here's a present for you, Santa Claus.

Given to you by these wonderful people from Virginia City.

And as my contribution, folks,

I want you all to know, I'm not taking out my commission.

What am I saying here?

Uh, excuse me, excuse me.

Excuse me, Hoss.

Excuse me.

Thadeus, you were just wonderful.

Wonderful, wonderful!

You know, I was wondering,

would you consider being my business manager?

My dear lady, how could I possibly say no?

Oh, dear lady,

when I look in your beautiful eyes,

I see six million... buttercups.

Oh, Thadeus.

Hattie.

May I call you Hattie?

Oh, please do.

Dear, dear manager.

Um, excuse me just a minute.

Uh, Andy, could I speak to you for just a minute?

Sure.

Andy, you know I've brought you a long ways.

Yes, sir, Uncle Thadeus, I know you have.

But as you were saying outside,

a man does have to fly on his own wings.

Now, Andy, this may come as a shock to you,

but all my life I've wanted a home.

And I-I think I've found one here.

Now, don't think I'm running out on you,

because, well, I-I'll keep in touch.

But, Uncle Thadeus, I don't want another manager.

Now, no tears, son.

Remember, you're a grown man.

Look!

Andy, it's beginning to snow!

Hey, it's snowing.

Yeah.

We're gonna have a white Christmas after all.

Mr. Cade,

Thadeus,

I want to thank you for everything you've done.

Oh, it was nothing.

No, it was a whole lot.

And I thank you for it.

Thank you.

Andy, shall we, uh...?

Well, if I don't sing something, I think I'm just going to burst.

Well, well, kids, gather around here, huh?

Santa, you dispensed all your presents?

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ All is bright ♪

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

♪ Mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant ♪

♪ So tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace... ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly ♪

♪ Peace. ♪

Merry Christmas, everybody.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Joseph.

Merry Christmas, Pa.

Merry Christmas, Hoss.

Merry Christmas, Pa.

Uh... Mr. Cartwright.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Ben.

This has been a color production

of the NBC Television Network.