All language subtitles for 8.32 Clarissa

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Are you sure you haven't bit off
more than you can chew, Ben?

No, George, I don't think I've
bitten off more than I can chew.

Timber cutting's
right on schedule.

As a matter of fact,
I'm a little ahead.

You see, it just doesn't make
good business sense

to haul that timber all the way
to the sawmill

and then haul it
all the way back again.

That's gonna cost a lot
of money.

Yes, it is. But don't forget
that Army contract

includes a stiff penalty clause
if I don't deliver on time.

And that is a lot of money, and
it's lost money. It just makes

a whole lot better business
sense to build a new mill

right where I'm cutting
the timber.

Well, I'll have to take it up
with the other directors.

And with a loan this size,

we'll have to deal direct
with the San Francisco bank.

All right, George. Thanks.

Please, do your best
to speed things up.

I need that machinery
in two weeks.

I understand, Ben.

That the stage?

You know,
it's the first time in months

that stage has been on time.

Yeah, well,
you better get out there.

You don't want
your cousin Clarissa waiting

in that hot sun.
No, I don't.

Now, remember, Ben, you promised
me I could meet her.

You'll meet her.

All right.

Whoa. Whoa.

Oh.

Benjamin.

I can see why you're happy here.

This is one vast,
peaceful sanctuary.

Uh-huh. That's exactly
what it is.

It's your sanctuary while you're
visiting here with us.

I'll bet you can use the rest,
huh?

You've done a lot of traveling,

the Franklins in Ohio,

John and his family in Virginia,

the Wilsons in Oregon.

You make me sound like
a wandering waif.

Hey, Cousin Clarissa.

Welcome to the Ponderosa.

You must be Joseph.

Your father said in his letters
that you were the impetuous one.

I just hope that's all he said.

Hey, you two trying
to keep her all to yourself?

Howdy, Cousin Clarissa.
How are you? You're Hoss.

Yes'm.
Hope you can stay a while.

What is this, a calculated plot
to acquire a housekeeper?

Now, now, now,
you're gonna be a welcome guest.

I won't be an idle guest.
You wait and see.

Come on, Ben. Show me the house.

Oh.

Absolutely charming place.

But it could use
a little redecorating.

You know, I redecorated
for the Lewises in Illinois.

Oh. Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Certainly. I remember.

Where is it?

Where's what?
The kitchen.

After all, a cook can't rest
till she sees the kitchen.

Well... Oh, Benjamin, I'm
gonna have such a wonderful time

cooking for you. After all,

most women have only one man to
care for. Now I'll have three.

Oh. Welcome to Ponderosa,
Cousin Clarissa.

Oh.

My name is Hop Sing,
number one cook.

Hop Sing is almost a member
of the family.

Pretty soon I change name
to Hop Sing Cartwright.

Everybody very happy
you come here.

See? It's not often we have
lady from East to visit.

Oh, you must be hungry
from trip.

Oh, don't go to any trouble.
Just something simple.

Oh, no trouble.

We have liver pété,
dandelion soup,

marinated lamb, roast chicken,

nice green salad.

Ready in one hour.

Well.

Now, you're probably
a little tired.

Would you like to rest
before dinner?

Well, I am just a little tired.
Good.

Uh, Joseph, would you show
Clarissa to her room?

Sure thing. This way.

Oh, what a pity
my stay can't be longer.

You're welcome to stay with us
as long as you like.

Oh, I've got a ticket
for Sacramento tomorrow.

Oh, Joseph, what a lovely room.

I'm glad you like it.

All those horses.

Reminds me of Cousin John's.

They live in Virginia.

I love Virginia.

The people there are so genteel
and civilized.

I hope after all those
fancy places you don't...

you don't find us a little too
rough and ready for you.

No. You have a lovely home,

a cook,

a family.

Kind of warmth and...

security that a casual visitor

that blows in like a leaf
on the wind

can't change.

Well, I'll, uh...

I'll get some water for you
for your bath, okay?

Thank you, Joseph.

You no like dinner?

Oh. It was very good, Hop Sing.

I-I guess I was just too tired
to be hungry.

Oh.
Hop Sing,

the next time
you make roast lamb,

put some basil in it
or rosemary.

I-It makes it taste better.

Oh, sure, Missy Clarissa.

Basil. Rosemary.

You bet.

I declare,
Cousin Clarissa, you, uh...

you eat like a hummingbird.

Well, I guess I just don't
believe in living to eat.

Uh, would you, uh,
like a little more wine?

No. No, thanks.

It's very good
for a domestic product.

I bet you could get
some French wine

in San Francisco, hmm?

Giorgio Rossi's wine
always tasted pretty good to me.

It's chilly in this altitude
in the evenings.

Excuse me. I'll get my shawl.

Oh, Joseph will get it for you.
Sure.

Oh, no.
He wouldn't know where it is.

I, uh... I must say
I enjoyed the meal.

I thought
Hop Sing outdid himself.

So did I, Pa, but...

I got a feeling that Clarissa
didn't enjoy it much.

I think you're right.

Hoss, take your foot
off the table.

Yeah. Yeah, with all them
fancy Eastern relatives,

I reckon she figures we're a
little backwoodsy or something.

I bet you Hop Sing's out
in the kitchen now

trying to figure out
who Basil and Rosemary are.

I feel sorry for her though.

Kind of sad.

Ever since her father died,
she's been traveling around,

visiting with one relative
after another.

Well, how come she never did
stay no place permanent, Pa?

Don't know.

Yeah, she was saying something
about a ticket to Sacramento.

She got relatives in Sacramento?

No. No.

She told me about that when
I picked her up in Virginia City

and brought her in.

She's gonna settle down
in Sacramento

at a place called Shady Rest.

Now, I know what-what that is.

It's where people go

when they have no place
of their own to live.

She's kind of a young gal
to be spending her life

in a place like that, isn't she?

Of course she is. She's
too young to shut herself off

from the world like that.
Listen,

maybe she ought
to stay around here for a while.

She might learn to like it.

Lot of eligible bachelors
in Virginia City.

Well, I thought maybe,

if it's all right with you two,

we could talk to her.
Be nice to have her around.

Maybe she would stay
for a while.

That's fine with me.

Fine by me.

I'll talk to her.

Oh.

Joseph?

Hey, Clarissa,
you're all dressed up.

You going someplace?
Yes, shopping.

That is, if you'll hitch up
the horse for me.

I'll do you one better.
I'll drive you in town myself.

Oh, no need for that, Joseph.
I'm very good with horses.

Besides, I wouldn't dream of
taking you away from your work.

Okay, if that's what you want.

Do I have
to do everything myself?

Where are them men
you promised me?

Clarissa, this is Harry Baker,
our foreman.

He's been with us so long

he thinks he owns the place.

Well, if I did, I'd have me

enough hired hands
to finish building that sawmill.

Well, I hired the men yesterday,
Harry,

and they're gonna be here
this afternoon.

Well, they'd better be.
I ain't the boss' son.

I can't sit on my hands
the way you do.

Sit on my hands.
Why, you old coot,

you haven't done a lick of work
in 20 years

that hasn't been
from the back of a horse.

Well, you hold up your end,
I'll hold up mine.

Yeah. Well,
go get your end held up.

I got to hitch up a buggy.

Mr. Baker,
just a minute, please.

You're an employee here,
Mr. Baker.

If I ever hear you speaking
to Joseph like that again,

I shall have no choice
but to tell Mr. Cartwright

to have you discharged.

Well, I see there's a new boss
at the Ponderosa.

Ma'am.

That will be all, Mr. Baker.

Clarissa, I thought you'd be
halfway to Virginia City by now.

I would have been if I hadn't
run into your foreman.

Baker? What'd he do?

He was yelling
at Joseph out there.

As the older son, you should've
been there to cope with him.

Baker don't need no coping with.
He yells at us, we yell at him.

I just yell a little louder,
he yells faster. That's all.

That's just my point.

A hired man should not yell
at a Cartwright.

May I help you, ma'am?

Would you tell the manager

that Miss Clarissa Cartwright
is here?

Yes.
Oh, Miss Cartwright.

Well, this is a great pleasure.

I'm George Bristol.

Ben told me you were gonna visit
for a few days.

Benjamin has asked me
to stay on indefinitely.

Well, that's great news.

I hope we see a lot of you.

Would you please
come into my office?

Why, thank you.

Miss Cartwright,

will you have a seat, please?

Why, thank you.

Ben has told me
quite a lot about you.

Oh?
But after we've met,

I realize he hasn't
told me half enough.

Oh, well, thank you,
Mr. Bristol.

Now, Miss Cartwright,

what can I do for you?

I came in

to open my account.

I feel that a depositor

should have complete
faith in his bank,

don't you, Mr. Bristol?
Oh, you certainly should.

Therefore I don't believe I'll
put all my funds in at once.

Rather, I'd like to make
a token deposit

of $30.

All right.

Here's your deposit slip.

And if you'll just
sign this card.

Your money is quite safe,
Miss Cartwright.

As you know, we handle
Ben's account.

Oh, incidentally,
would you mind telling him

that I have heard
from San Francisco and

there will be a short delay
in our transaction.

I'll give him that message.

I'm very surprised Benjamin

isn't doing business
directly with San Francisco.

Well, I've always
handled Ben's account.

Benjamin is such a kind man.

Yes.

I'm sure he tries to do business

with the local people
as much as possible.

Good day, Mr. Bristol.

Yes, good day.

Oh, uh, good afternoon, ma'am.

What can I do for you?

I'm Clarissa Cartwright.

Are you the proprietor?

I sure am.

Proprietor, owner, clerk,
all rolled up in one.

In that case, you may help me.

I'll be glad to.

Clarissa Cartwright, huh?

You must be Ben's cousin
from back East.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Thank you.
I'm looking for

some curtain material.

These are very nice, but they're

not exactly
what I'm looking for.

Well, you may order
anything you like

right from San Francisco.

Here are the samples.
Well.

Uh, while I'm looking at these,
have you any slippers?

Yeah, uh, what is your
size, ma'am?

Oh, they're not for me.

Gentleman's slippers.

Yes, ma'am.

Howdy, George.
You busy?

Not for you, Roy.
Come in, come in.

I got it all ready for you,
before you even ask.

Here's a campaign contribution
from the Virginia City Bank.

Oh, gee, thanks very much.

Oh, don't thank me.

It's a privilege
to help you get reelected.

Ben Cartwright has promised
to run my election campaign

for me again, same as usual.

Well, is he gonna have time,
entertaining his cousin and all?

I heard that she's here.

Have you met her?

Yes, I have.

Is she planning
on, uh, staying a while?

Well, that's what I heard.

Huh. Uh,

I got a couple of posters here.

I'd like to leave 'em with you
if you'd see your way clear,

you could put 'em
in the window.

Thanks very much for this.
All right.

Well, you sure know good
merchandise, ma'am.

With the curtain material you
ordered, that comes to $268.

Well, you just put that

on Mr. Cartwright's account,
will you?

Well, you sure this'll
be all right with Ben?

Well, I told you
I'm a Cartwright, didn't I?

Yes, ma'am.

I'll just wrap
these things up for you.

And put this with it.

Uh, don't forget the French
Burgundy I ordered, will you?

You bet.
I'll remember.

Howdy, Seth.

Oh, hi, Roy.

Oh, Miss Cartwright,
this is Roy Coffee,

the sheriff of Virginia City.
This is Ben's cousin.

Howdy, ma'am. I heard
you was paying us a visit.

Certainly is a pleasure
to meet you.

Thank you. I'll pick those up
in about an hour.

Hope to see a lot of you.

I doubt if I'll have
any dealings

with the law, constable.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

What was that she called you?

Constable.

That means sheriff
in the East,

I guess.

Well, different places,
different ways.

She sure is a fine lady.

Ordered real French wine.

Biggest order I've had
in months.

Say, this is my lucky day.

Now you'll be able to make
a nice contribution

to Roy Coffee's
election campaign.

I'll leave a couple
of these posters here,

you can put 'em in the window
if you're a mind to.

Thank you, Seth.

♪♪

Hop Sing, I'd like
to speak to you for a moment.

Supper ready half hour,
Cousin Clarissa.

Oh, Hop Sing,
lam not your cousin.

Oh, sorry. Hop Sing
all time forget.

I bought some new pots and pans.

Those old ones should have been
thrown away a long time ago.

Is Hop Sing job
to buy everything for kitchen.

Nobody else touch kitchen.

You have more than enough
to do, Hop Sing,

I'm glad to be of help.

Fry pan is too small.

Mr. Hoss eat more eggs
than I can cook in this

all by himself.

Perhaps Hoss eats too much.

Dinner in 45 minutes, Hop Sing.

Supper in half hour.
Same time as usual.

Oh, your boots, Hoss.

Yes'm, what about them?

They're dirty.

Oh, yes'm, they...
they generally get that way

working around a ranch
all the time.

Yes, that's why I bought
the house slippers for you

to put on when you come indoors.

I've had Hop Sing
on his hands and knees

all day washing and

waxing and polishing
these floors.

Yeah, it looks real nice.

Much too nice for muddy boots.

Yeah.

Remove your boots, Hoss, please.

Please.

Just hold it right
where you are, Joseph.

Your boots.

Yeah, my boots.
What about 'em?

They're dusty.

They're dus...
They generally do get dusty

when you work
around a ranch all...

Joseph, they're entirely
too dusty to walk on this floor.

Look at it. Hop Sing's been
in here on his hands and knees

scrubbing, waxing,
polishing, all day.

Well, what are you gonna do,
carry me upstairs?

Slippers, Joseph.

There's yours.

Slippers.

Cousin Clarissa.

That's right.

Next thing you know
she's gonna have us

wearing ties
to the dinner table.

Not me, she ain't.

Slippers.

♪♪

Well, aren't you gonna tell me
how nice the room looks?

I...

I, uh, I reckon
this is what Pa meant

by a woman's touch, huh?

It is.

The room certainly needed it.

Yeah.

You...

You been kind of busy, Clarissa.

Well, if it makes you happy,

it's been a labor of love.

Now we got those extra men,
let's see if we can

speed things up
a little bit, huh? Yeah.

I'd first like to ride
into Virginia City or over

to the next ranch
and get some breakfast.

Breakfast? You just had
three portions.

Yeah, of porridge.

Pa, I ain't had porridge
since I was a kid.

Whatever happened to steak
and eggs, anyhow?

Well, Clarissa's just
trying to vary the menu.

Well, good, but...

she's starving me to death
while she's doing it.

Hop Sing?

Yes, Cousin...

Missy Cartwright.

I found this absolutely
beautiful

sterling silver tea service

in the back room.

Seems like such a shame
to hide it.

Everybody here drink coffee.

Nobody drink tea.

So I leave in back room.

Well, I drink tea,

and at the traditional
half past three.

Sure. I fix tea.

Now, you be sure
the water's boiling

and don't fail
to preheat the pot

and let it steep.

You have some small cookies?

Got plenty cookie left over
from Little Joe birthday party.

Marvelous.

Heat pot, boil water.

Hop Sing.

Hop Sing.

Oh, howdy, Miss Cartwright,
is, uh, is Ben around?

Benjamin and the boys
have been out all daylong.

Well, is there anything
I can do for you?

Well, no'm, I don't think so.

I, uh, I told Ben
that I'd bring

some of these
election posters by.

He always handles my election
campaign, you know.

No, I didn't know that.

Won't you come in
and have some tea?

Well, thank you.

Say, those flowers
are beautiful, aren't they?

You sure fixed this place up.

Hop Sing.
Sit down, won't you?

Thank you, ma'am.

Constable Coffee
will have some tea.

Coffee will have tea.

Is very funny.

"Reelect Roy Coffee
for Sheriff."

It's not a very good
likeness, is it?

Well, most of the folks know me.

Uh, they'll recognize it.

Tea right on time.
Half past three.

I do think tea
is so civilized, don't you?

Cream or sugar?

Well, I don't know,
I-I don't drink much tea.

Oh, I see Hop Sing
hasn't brought the lemon.

Oh, the domestic help
out in the West is deplorable,

don't you think?

Miss, I just want to...

Don't want to cause you
no bother, uh...

I am in a bit of a hurry,

and if it's all
the same with you, I'll...

I'll just be running along.

And you will tell Ben
that I left the posters, please?

Well, surely
you don't expect Benjamin

to tack up these posters,
do you?

Well, I wouldn't be too sure
about that.

Generally...
I can understand him

getting deeply involved
in state or national politics,

but not on a local level.

But when we talked about it the
last time, he said distinctly

that he wanted to handle
my election campaign.

Oh, I'm sure he would,
if he could spare the time.

But he said...

I'll tell you, I'll talk to him
when he returns, hmm?

You know,
sometimes I think Benjamin

is much too generous
with his time.

Maybe I better just hang on
to these posters

until after you've had a chance

to discuss the matter
with... Benjamin.

I think that would be
an excellent idea.

Good-bye, miss.

Good-bye.

Thank you, Jay.

Is that you, Benjamin?

Yes, it's me.

Too bad you weren't here
a half an hour earlier.

You missed Constable Coffee.

Oh.

Oh, you mean
Sheriff Coffee. Yes.

I'm sorry I missed him. Oh,
did he leave anything for me?

No. I offered him some tea,

and we discussed his campaign
for reelection. Mm.

He seems like a very nice man.

Oh, he's a...
oh, he's one of the best.

I'm sorry I missed him.

Is something troubling you?

Well, as a matter of fact, yes.

That lumber contract
with the Army.

I can't fulfill it
until I get the new machinery,

I can't get the machinery
until the loan comes through,

it hasn't come through,
and time is running out on me.

I'll just have to go in and...

see George Bristol again.

Would you like to ride in
with me tomorrow morning?

Yes. And I can do
some more shopping.

That is, unless you think
I've run up too many bills.

Well, everything looks...

lovely.

Yes.

We'll ride in
right after breakfast.

All right.

♪♪

Uh, Clarissa, uh,
you finish your shopping,

and then we'll meet you
at the hotel for lunch.

I'd like that very much.

See you later, Joe.

Yeah, see you later, Pa.

Hello.
Hi, Ben.

I'm expecting a wire
from Sacramento.

Would you look
to see if one came in?

I think one came in
last night for you, Ben.

I'll take a look for it
right now. Good.

I simply had to come
and see you, Mr. Bristol.

Benjamin tells me
he's deeply concerned

about the delay, and so am I.

Well, I'm doing my best.

Well, it's just not enough.

Benjamin is losing valuable time

by dealing
with such a small, local bank.

Are you suggesting that
he could do better without me?

Mr. Bristol...

Benjamin is dealing with you

because you're
such an old friend.

But I think you'll agree
he's paying a great price

for that friendship.

Friendship?

Oh, Clarissa.

Well, I...

didn't, uh,
didn't know you were here.

I thought you were out shopping.

Well, I had a little business
with Mr. Bristol,

but I'll just be leaving now.
Oh, no, no, no, don't move.

I'll-I'll just be a moment.

Uh, George.
Good morning, Ben.

Uh, I just got a wire
from Sacramento.

They have the mill machinery
ready to ship,

and I was wondering what
you'd heard from San Francisco.

George?

George, I said, what did
you hear from San Francisco?

The loan has not
been approved yet.

I told you it would take time,

and after all,
this is only a small town bank.

George,
you know about my Army contract,

the-the stiff penalty clauses,
and-and the cancellation clause.

I can't wait much longer.

I understand your problem.

However,
perhaps it would be better

if you handled it yourself.

Um...

Clarissa,
perhaps it might be better

if you finished
your shopping now,

and I'll meet you
back at the hotel.

I want to talk to George
a moment. 'Course.

Uh...

that won't be necessary.

There's nothing more to be said.

George, I don't know why you've
got your back up like this.

If you don't mind,
I have work to do.

I just don't understand
that... George.

Sometimes he gets
so danged uppity,

can't even reason with him.
"Get my own loan"!

Oh, I'll just finish
my shopping.

Oh, Ray?

Hello, Seth.
Ben, hi.

Roy, Clarissa told me
you came by yesterday.

I thought you were gonna leave
some of those posters for me.

What with the mill
you're building,

I figured that, uh,
you'd be much too busy

to get mixed up
in local politics.

Well, I don't even know
if I'm gonna be building a mill,

but I've been running
your campaigns before--

Don't you want me
to run this one?

Thanks just the same,
but I just couldn't take

your valuable time.

My time's valuable, too.

Well, what can I do to help?

Roy?

What's the matter with you?

You know, you're-you're as...

you're as grumpy
as a grizzly with a sore paw.

Now, I told you I was gonna run
your campaign, I'm gonna.

Well, I thought you were
all tied up with the mill.

I am tied up with the mill,
but I've built mills before

and I'll build them again--
that doesn't mean

I'm so tied up I can't help you.

Ben's right.

Yeah. I guess he is.

A little plain talk
usually straightens things out.

Pity more people
don't know that.

You... son of a gun.

Hey.
What are you fellas doing here?

I thought you were working
up the north range.

Well, you thought wrong,
Mr. Cartwright.

Me and the boys decided
to come into town,

have ourselves a drink.
Oh, really?

Yeah, well, that's fine with me,
but if Pa finds out about it,

you're liable to find yourself
without a job.

Well, he's gonna be a mite late,

'cause, in case
you didn't hear, we quit.

Hey, wait a minute,
what do you mean you quit?

Quit!

When some female comes
into the men's bunkhouse,

hangs up curtains,
pours out all our whiskey,

and then starts ordering
my men around, I am through.

Through!

♪♪

Roy Coffee was no problem--
I just talked to him

and straightened things out
with him.

And Baker, well,
you know how many times

he's blown up and quit--
I can talk to him. But...

Mr. George Bristol, well,
that's a horse of another color.

He just froze up completely.

Did you ask him why?

When Mr. George Bristol
freezes up,

he's harder to get to than
the... gold in the Denver Mint.

Well, how come he turned
against you all of a sudden, Pa?

It must have been Clarissa.

She was sitting in the office
when I walked in.

She sure has a knack
of saying the wrong thing

at the right time.

She sure does.

She sure gets under my skin.

Hop Sing ain't been
the same, neither.

Oh, she... she doesn't do it
deliberately, she just does it.

Well, Pa, in that case,

how come the relatives
keep asking her

to come and stay with them
all the time?

Because they need her,
they use her-- anytime they need

somebody to take care of the
baby, take care of the house,

do the housecleaning,
the cooking,

and there's no help
in the house,

they send for good ol' Clarissa,

and she goes,
because she has to.

The only way
she can pay for her keep.

Has nothing but her pride.

Took care of her father long
enough until the day he died

and left her with nothing,
an old maid.

Why do you think the relatives
are really using Clarissa?

What's that supposed to mean?

Just like when she came here.

We didn't ask her to be
the maid, the housekeeper,

the cook--
that was all her idea.

Maybe she's done
exactly the same thing

with the rest of the relatives.

That's right.

Well, you...
may have something there.

Well, she just likes
to keep busy.

I'll tell her to...
stop running our lives.

When?

Hmm?

When will you talk to her?

Oh, soon.
I'll talk to her tomorrow.

How about now?

It's still early.

Uh, think I will.

Yes?

It's Ben, Clarissa.

May I come in?
Of course, Benjamin.

You know...

I've been lying here thinking...

about this house.

Everybody's so good to me.

The warmth, Benjamin.

The love.

I envy you
the way you love each other.

Uh, well, we...

We manage to stick together,
we always have.

I can see it. I know.

Three against the world.

Oh, well, no, no, not-not-not
exactly, uh, Clarissa.

It's not, uh,
not three against the world.

It's... you see,
we have many good friends and...

neighbors and people who help us
along the way all the time.

It's... really what, uh...

wanted to disc...
well, to talk to you about.

Yes, Benjamin.

I know that you have, uh,
you've traveled a great deal,

met many people,
but I'll bet you

that people out here
are much more...

sensitive than
the people in the East.

Now, I know
they look hard and-and...

their hands are all gnarled
from hard work,

but their feelings are-are...

very close to the surface;
they're very easily hurt.

Are you scolding me?

Oh, no, no, of course not.

It's-it's not what...

I-I was really
just wondering whether...

whether you had said anything
to, uh, uh, George Bristol

that-that, uh, well, that
he might have misunderstood.

Oh, Benjamin,

you worry about
the most unimportant things.

Well, he's just
the local banker.

And besides, you yourself said

he had a closed mind,
now, didn't you?

Well, yes, yes, I-I... I did,

uh, but, uh, but now...

...my-my foreman Harry
and-and...

and the...the-the two hands have
just walked off with him.

Those three.
That's not such a loss.

You see these-these people--

They-they don't
understand that, uh...

Are you trying
to tell me that I've...

worn out my welcome?

No, Clarissa, we... we all
want you to be very happy here.

Oh, I am happy.

Everything's
absolutely marvelous.

Good.

But you can't expect me to just

sit around
like a piece of furniture and

not have an opinion.

Well, of course not, Clarissa.

No one would ever expect that.
You can't be denied that.

But I've offended your friends.

It's-it's just...
Oh, Benjamin, if I'm coming

between you and your friends,

then I shall simply have
to leave here.

Now, wait a minute, Clarissa.

Now, uh, uh, please, Clarissa.

No... I-I didn't come in here
for any reason like that.

No. You-you...

I had no intention of even
suggesting such a thing.

Well, if I stay,

I've got to be useful.

Well, of course
you do, Clarissa.

A woman needs
to be needed, Benjamin.

Certainly.

That's the most
important thing in her life.

Oh, Clarissa, of course it is.

Of course it is.

Now, Clarissa, you-you must
promise me something.

Now, you-you must put
out of your mind

any thought of leaving here.

Now, you-you must do that now.

Yes, I will, Benjamin.

I'm sorry.
Thank you. Thank you.

Now, I-I know you...
you-you must be tired, and...

Well, I'll, uh...
I'll leave you, and we'll

we'll see you in the morning.

Yes.
Good night.

Good night.

Oh.

How'd you make out?

Uh, well, she, uh...

she wanted to leave.

Phew.

Is she going to?

Uh, no. Uh...

I-I talked her out of it.

It's your move.

So good of you
to come, Mr. Coffee.

Well, how do you do,
Miss Cartwright?

Miss Cartwright.
Mr. Peterson.

Hello, Miss Cartwright.
You haven't met my wife, Elvira.

How do you do?

My, you must be happy
to be settled down

after all your wanderings.

Did Benjamin tell you
I was a gypsy?

No. It was Emily Durker.

Emily Durker?

She works in the post office.

She mentioned how your letters
to Ben always had a lot

of different return addresses.

Well, I have a very
large family, Mrs. Peterson.

I love them very dearly.

Well, come along, Elvira.

Uh, let's, uh, sample
Hop Sing's punch.

What did I say?

Some punch, Sheriff?
Thank you, ma'am.

What's going on here?

Maybe Roy's having
a campaign party or something.

We'll soon find out.
Take care of the horses.

Roy.
Ben.

Clarissa...

Benjamin, surprise, surprise.

Are you surprised?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact,
I am just a little surprised.

Now, what is all this about?

Well, last night, you said I'd
made trouble with your friends,

and I didn't want that.

So I went into town,
and I talked to them, and

now they're all here.

All your friends are here.

Well, are you pleased?

Well, uh...

Yes, Clarissa, I'm, uh...

It's-it's very nice. It's...

It was very nice
of you, Clarissa. I, uh...

Everything looks lovely.

I, uh, better get cleaned up.
All right.

Good evening, Miss Cartwright.

Good evening, Mr. Bristol.

Well, George.

Well... nice to see you here.

Ah, thank you.

However, I'm here

because Miss Cartwright extended
a personal invitation.

Oh, well,
no matter what the reason,

I'm still very happy
that you're here, George.

Why don't you get Mr. Bristol
some punch, Benjamin?

Uh, yeah, certainly. George,
come along, get some punch.

No, no, no, you get it.

Uh, I'll-I'll be right back.

Mmm, cookies are good.

What's the occasion?

Clarissa's idea
for patching things up.

I got to get this punch
to George.

What's the big hurry?

I don't want Clarissa
to have a chance

to say anything more to him.

Oh, stop worrying.
You've got nothing to lose.

Some of these people don't talk
to you anymore anyway.

Oh, Ben, hey, that Pete Jenkins
that's running against me--

He could get an awful lot more
votes than we first figured.

Uh, uh, what-what...
what'd you say, Roy?

Well, Pete Jenkins is going
around the county,

and making speeches, and,

uh, talking to folks, and
from what I've been hearing...

It's a very nice party,
Miss Cartwright,

but I'm wondering
why you invited me.

Well, I was hoping
you'd make it up with Benjamin.

Make it up?

A man has to be generous,
don't you think?

So, I thought maybe
you could set up some meetings

like here in Virginia City
at the town hall

and some other towns
in the county.

My cousin Benjamin's
been very good to you.

Yes, that's quite true.

And I know you're grateful
to be of service to him.

Grateful to be of service?

There! I knew
you weren't too proud

to recognize the obvious!

I thank you for setting me
straight, Miss Cartwright.

Well, I'll-I'll...
I'll talk to you about that

first thing in the morning, Roy.

All right, fine.
Uh, excuse... G-George?

Well, here-here's that punch.

Not now, Ben.
I'm going home.

Oh, uh, George,
wait a minute now.

What do you mean, going home?
The party just started.

Well, it's over
as far as I'm concerned.

Roy.
Oh.

Have some more punch.
I'm going in to get cleaned up.

Oh, thanks.

Hey, Harry.

Harry, I'm glad
you could make it.

I want my money.
Hey, now, come on, come on.

Now, forget that money talk.

You've been with us
too long for that.

I ain't working for no female.

All right, you don't have
to work for any female.

We got that all
straightened out.

You can take the curtains down
in the bunkhouse,

and you can even keep a little
whiskey in there if you want to.

How does that sound?
That's fine.

All right, then,
forget about it.

Go on and get some punch.

Howdy, ma'am.

I thought I told you no drinking
for the help of the Ponderosa.

Hey, Harry, where you going?
What about that punch?

Hey. Hey, Harry, what the heck's
this all a...?

Harry!

Harry, what the...?
Harry, will you...?

Look, I'm-I'm sorry
about that, Harry.

I didn't want to hit you.

Joseph, what's going on here?

Beats the heck out of me, Pa.

Harry, you better get on
back to town and sober up.

Sober up? Heck, I can't even get
a drink of punch around here.

I want my money,
if it's all right

with that female
who's running the Ponderosa.

Oh...

Uh, Joe, get him his money.

Oh, no. Please, don't go.

Please, everyone, stay.

Oh, I didn't want
to cause any trouble.

I just wanted to help.

Ben, they're your friends.

That's the most precious thing
in the world,

and I came between you.

Please?

Clarissa, it-it...
it's all right.

No. No, it's not all right.

It's not all right until
you're-you're friends again.

Then it will be all right.

Why, I've always been
a doggone hothead,

Mr. Cartwright, you know that.

You've always been
a good foreman, Harry.

Joe, what were we fighting
about anyway?

Ah.
I can't remember, Harry.

I'm sorry, Ben.

I think that I could have been
more tolerant.

Well, H-Hop Sing
has made some cookies.

I'll-I'll get them.

♪♪

George.

You know, fellas, I think
we could, uh, stand some punch.

Mr. Cartwright, I leaving.

I going back to San Francisco.

Son of a gun.

She done it again.

I'll go get him, Pa.

You know, Ben,

I think I'm beginning
to understand that lady.

Really?

Yes.

Really?

George, could I talk
to you about something?

Oh, thank you.

Benjamin, it's a beautiful room.

It's so generous
of you to give it to me.

Oh, you like it. I'm glad.

Oh, like it?
I just love it!

Oh, good, good.

But, Benjamin...

Oh, now, Clarissa,
come on, now.

You got to stop worrying.
Now, sit down.

You're an excellent bookkeeper,
you know that. Well...

You'll have your own office,
it'll be peaceful and quiet.

You'll be able
to do all the work you want,

nobody to disturb you.

Oh, I do appreciate
what you're doing... but...

Hold on.
It's... it's all settled.

I've already talked
to George Bristol.

He's delighted at the prospect.

He is?

Clarissa,
George Bristol needs your help.

He...

He really needs me?

Of course he does.

Oh.

You know, George Bristol
is a very nice man, isn't he?

Yes, he is. He's, uh...

he's one of the best.

It would be nice
to be independent, wouldn't it?

Now, wait a minute, Clarissa.

You're not going
to get so danged independent

you're not going to come out
to visit with us?

Oh, thank you, Benjamin.

But it'll have
to be just for a visit.

I'm going to be very busy.

Good. Well,
I better be getting along.

See you soon.
Yes, Benjamin, at the bank.

Yes. You know,
I'm beginning to have all kinds

of new ideas about banking.

I can't wait
to tell George about them.

Yeah, well...

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of the NBC Television Network.