
A Good Night’s Rest Full Episode – Bonanza, Season #06, Episode #28
In A Good Night’s Rest, as Hoss’ loud snoring, Adam’s guitar melodies, and Little Joe’s romantic escapades disrupt Ben Cartwright’s sleep, he decides to seek refuge from the noise by riding to the Virginia City hotel for some peace. However, the bustling nightlife of the frontier town quickly proves to be just as lively, if not more so, than the sounds of the Ponderosa. This episode, written by Frank Cleaver and Jeffrey Fleece, premiered on April 11, 1965.
You can explore the plot’s intricacies, discover fascinating trivia, or watch the episode below.
Table of Contents
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Main Cast
A Good Night’s Rest, the twenty-eighth episode of Bonanza’s sixth season, featured some of the program’s recurring and supporting cast members. The cast of the episode includes the following:
- Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
- Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
- Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
- Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
- Eddie Firestone as Josiah Potts
- Abigail Shelton as Lucy Simms
- Jean Willes as Jenny Jenkins
- Lloyd Corrigan as Doctor
- Ray Teal as Sheriff Roy Coffee
- Robert Ridgely as Wilfred Simms
- Michael Forest as Frank Shirmer
- Jacklyn O’Donnell as Peggy(as Erin O’Donnell)
- Clegg Hoyt as Hamish Loy
- Jay Ripley as Larry Newell (uncredited)
- Bill Clark as Bill- Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Full Story Line for A Good Night’s Rest
Ben couldn’t catch a wink of sleep amidst the racket caused by his rowdy boys. Frustrated, he decides to seek refuge in the Virginia City Hotel.
However, his hopes for peace are dashed as he encounters a series of troublesome events. He finds himself dealing with a disgruntled couple, their marriage officiated by an impostor of a preacher, a dubious cowboy involved in a shooting incident, the attending physician for the wounded, and, to top it off, an erratic sleepwalker who repeatedly intrudes into his room.
Full Script and Dialogue of A Good Night’s Rest
[PEGGY & JOE LAUGHING] All the smoke in the room, clear to see, there's the dog lying there, his hair's standing up, and the guy says, "Don't look at me, it's your dog." [PEGGY LAUGHING] - Hey, Pa. You're home early. BEN: Hi. - Hello, Peggy. - Hello, Mr. Cartwright. What, the meeting break out? No, it's still going on, but I got tired. I'm bone tired. Do me a favor, will you? Put up my horse. Yeah, sure. Go on, have a rest. Be back in a minute. I got a great one. Oh, Mr. Cartwright. Is my father still at the meeting? Oh, yeah, yeah, he's still there. He'll be along after a while. Don't worry now. Oh, I'm not worried. Little Joe and I are having a wonderful time. He tells the best jokes I've ever heard. I know. Good night, Peggy. Good night, Mr. Cartwright. [ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] - Adam. - Oh, hi, Pa. How did the cattlemen's meeting go? All right, I guess. I left early. ADAM: Something wrong? Hmm? No. I'm just tired, I guess. No wonder, the way you've been driving yourself lately. As soon as I get some sleep, I should be all right. As a matter of fact I think I'll take the hay right now. Good night. [ADAM CONTINUES PLAYING GUITAR] [SNORING] [CONTINUES SNORING] Come on, boy, on your side. [GRUNTS] [SNORING] [ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] [HOSS CONTINUES SNORING AND ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] [PEGGY LAUGHING] PEGGY: Oh, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? Aah! - Aah! Aah! JOE: Here, look, look, it'll lick you! PEGGY: Little Joe, no! Aah! Oh, please, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? Aah! JOE: Here, look, look, it'll lick you! PEGGY: Oh, please, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? Aah! [HOSS CONTINUES SNORING AND ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] [HOSS SNORING AND ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] PEGGY: Oh, please, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? Aah! JOE: Here, look, look, it'll lick you! PEGGY: Oh, Little Joe! Oh, please, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? [SNORING] PEGGY: Now, will you? PEGGY: Oh, please, Little Joe! Now, cut it out, will you? Aah! JOE: Here, look, look, it'll lick you! [CONTINUES SNORING] PEGGY: No, cut it out, will you? - Hoss. Hoss. Hoss. Yeah. What's the matter? What's the matter? Could you manage to sleep a little more quietly? - What was I doing? - You were snoring. Oh, Pa, I don't snore. Whatever it was you were doing then, will you please stop it? I'll try, Pa. [PEGGY CONTINUES LAUGHING AND ADAM PLAYING GUITAR] PEGGY: No! Now, cut it out! [ADAM CONTINUES PLAYING GUITAR] Adam. If you have to play that thing, keep it down, please. Oh, sorry, Pa. JOE: Here, look, look, it'll lick you! PEGGY: Little Joe! - Oh, Little Joe, cut it out, will you? BEN: Joseph! You call me, Pa? If you have to tell stories at this time of night, tell some quiet ones! [FROG CROAKS] Shh, shh. Pa's trying to sleep. We'll be quiet, Pa. [FROG CROAKS] Think we better play checkers. [GROANS] Hoss, I... Oh, Hoss? I'm awake, Pa. I'm awake. Yeah. Well, I'm sorry I awakened you, son. Huh? You go back to sleep now. Get right back in the bed and go back to sleep. All right, Pa. Good night, son. [SNORES] I thought you'd be asleep by now. Adam, I'm sorry I asked you to stop playing that guitar. You go right ahead and play it. That's all right. I'd just as soon read. No. You play the guitar anytime you want to. You're gonna make me mad. Didn't I warn you about double jumping me? Where's the frog? Come on, frog, let's get her! Shh, shh, shh. Did we disturb you again, Pa? No, no, you kids just keep right on enjoying yourselves. JOE: Where you going? - I'm going to town. But I just put your horse up. Well, I'll just have to get him out again. I've just got to get a good night's rest. - Oh, Pa... - Joseph, someday you'll understand. [PIANO PLAYING] [WOMAN SCREAMS] BEN: What are you trying to do? Hey, cut it out! Trying to hurt some innocent bystander here? What's it to you? Why don't you mind your own business? Wait a minute. What's going on here? I don't know what beef this fellow has with the young fellow he was chasing, shooting at there, but a public street is no place to settle it. I agree with you, Ben. What's your problem, mister? That young squirt won all my money in a poker game, wouldn't give me a chance to get it back. What's your name, mister? Frank Shirmer. Well, Mr. Shirmer, I got a piece of news for you. In this town, any man can quit any game just anytime he's got a mind to. So either you get back in there and calm yourself down and play according to our rules, or you get out of this town altogether. Sure do thank you for stopping that shooting, Ben. Say, what you doing in town this time of night? Well, you know, Roy, I just couldn't get to sleep at the house, so I came into town to get a room at the hotel and get a good night's rest, and that's just what I'm gonna do right now. - I'll see you in the morning, Roy. - Good night, Ben. Good night. POTTS: Good evening, sir. Evening. I'd like a room for the night, please. Excellent. A comfy spot for a weary traveler. Isiah Potts at your service, sir. Just sign here. Good evening, Mr. Potts. Mrs. Jenkins. - I'll get your luggage. BEN: I haven't any. No luggage? No, I'll be leaving first thing in the morning. With no luggage, I'm afraid I must ask for payment in advance. Hotel rules, you know. Oh, Mr. Potts, don't be so foolish, my boy. This is Mr. Ben Cartwright of the Ponderosa. - So? - Well, so it is not at all necessary to ask for money in advance. I'm afraid I can't be expected to know everyone in the territory. After all, I've only worked here a few days, you know. Well, that's all right, as I say, I'll be leaving first thing in the morning. How much is it? One dollar a night, but perhaps it won't be necessary. That's all right. Now, what's the room number? May I have the key, please? Room number 4, but there is no key. People kept walking off with them, and the management removed the locks. Just walk right in. Number 4. Oh, Mr. Cartwright, I'm the widow Jenkins, Jenny Jenkins. And since the death of my dear husband, - I live here at the hotel. - Right. If there's anything at all I can do to help you, I'd be... Well, thank you very much. You're very kind. - Good night. - Good night. He's rich, this Cartwright? Oh, the richest, Mr. Potts, in the whole territory and without a helpmate, like me. - Mr. Potts? POTTS: Yes, Mr. Cartwright? Something wrong? Yeah, one thing. There's a fellow sound asleep up in number 4. Is it a dirty man in a filthy undershirt? Yeah, that would be about the description, I guess. Hamish Loy. Apparently, he's rented the room before. Now whenever he gets drunk, he thinks he's rented it for life. Just throw him out. Throw him out? Yes, just wake him up and tell him to get out. It's your room, you paid for it. There's no question about it. He has got to go. [SNORING] All right, Mr. Loy, up you get. Up and out. Come on, now, this ain't your bed. - Where are my boots? - Huh? Where are my boots? Always take your boots off before you go to bed. - That's manners. - Yeah. Remember that, my boy. I wouldn't think of going to bed with my boots on. - No, of course, you wouldn't. - That ain't the cultured thing to do. All right, now, let's get these boots on. Here we are. There, now, you think you can manage that one? Oh, Mr. Cartwright, is there anything I can do to help you? Uh, oh, uh... No, Mrs. Jenkins. I think everything is under control. Oh, for heaven's sakes! Well, if I can help in any way, I'd be very happy to. I'm sure you would, and I appreciate your offer. You know, I'm just up the hall in number 7. And if I can do anything at all, - I'd be very grateful to help you. - Thank you. Thank you very much. - Very kind. Good night. - Good night. Good night. All right, old man... Up we get, now. Come on. Who are you? - Oh, come on, please. - Oh, you're a good man. Yeah, look, maybe Mr. Potts will be able to find a room for you. That prissy Potts? I wouldn't ask him for the right time of day. Yeah, well, fine. Oh, by the way, what time is it? Bedtime. Bedtime. [BOTH CHUCKLE] - Good night. - Good night. [SIGHS] [WOMAN CRYING] [WOMAN CONTINUES CRYING] Oh. Ma'am, is there anything wrong? Ma'am? [WOMAN WAILING] [WOMAN CONTINUES CRYING] - Ma'am? WOMAN: Go away. Good evening, Ben. Oh, hi, doc. Are you having a little trouble with a lady friend? I got my room right here, next door, number 4 there, and I'm trying to get some sleep, and she's crying in here next door, - and I haven't been able to fall sleep. - Oh, you bachelors, you... You... What are you men doing at my door? Oh, excuse me, ma'am. Well... Doc? Ma'am, I've got the room next door here, and I've been trying to fall asleep, but I've been hearing you crying... I've got a perfect right to cry if I want, haven't I? Yes, of course, you have. I've just been trying to get some sleep. Isn't that just like a man? You hear a woman cry, but are you concerned? No. Do you offer help? No. All you can think about is your precious sleep. I'm sorry, I... Is there something I can do? No. I'm sorry I kept you awake. I'll try to see that my heart breaks quietly, so you can sleep! Oh, ma'am, that is the... Ben? Ben, come here. BEN: What? There's a cowboy in there with a bullet in his leg. Now, I need a man to hold him down while I take it out. Well, go downstairs and get Mr. Potts to hold him down. Oh, Ben. Potts, he'd faint at the sight of the blood. Now, come on. - Oh, all right. - Oh, um... What was the little lady crying about? Her heart was breaking. Oh, well, Ben, now don't you worry. If she was talking about it, you just bruised it a little. Oh, doc. Ben, this is Larry Newell. Larry, this is Ben Cartwright. You're that fellow who was dodging bullets down the street a while back. - I thought that Shirmer missed you. - No, but he didn't hit me bad enough to keep me from getting out of there. Now, look. Mr. Cartwright's gonna hold you down while I get this bullet out. I don't need anybody to hold me down. Hold him down, Ben. - This won't be bad. It isn't deep. - You just hang on tight now. [DOC GRUNTS] Ha! DOC: It's all right, I got it. I got it. Here we are. Ha, ha. That wasn't bad. That Shirmer's a pretty bad character. You're lucky he only hit you in the leg. He's a bad poker loser, that's for sure. I don't win very often myself. When I'm smart enough to win, I'm smart enough to get out with it. I need that money, my ma's got a note coming due at home. Oh, where's home? Texas. Bowie County. As soon as doc gets through here, I'm getting me a horse heading for there. There. Now, that will hold it. Oh. Tomorrow, you try to get somebody to change that for you, you understand? All right. Thanks, doc. How much do I owe you? DOC: Oh, 5 bucks. That's for taking out the bullet and forgetting that I did. Well, that's more than fair. Well, thank you. Oh, and, Ben? As for you, I think you could do with a little more rest than you've been getting. Oh, doc, I'm going to get some rest right now. Good. Well, good night, good night. You get some rest too, young fellow. Oh, Mr. Cartwright, would you do me just one more favor? Well, not if it's gonna cost me any more sleep, I won't. Well, I just want you to hold my wallet for me while I get that horse. Then if Shirmer comes after me, you could send it to my ma. Address is right here in the wallet. Well, I... I'll just take out enough money for the horse. Okay? Yeah, all right. I'd better get going and get that horse. Oh, here, I'll help you. Sure do appreciate all you're doing for me, Mr. Cartwright. You get yourself a good horse now. Bye. [WOMAN SCREAMING] What? What are you doing in here? Wilfred! What's going on in here? What's this joker doing in the room? - Well, he's a perfect stranger. WILFRED: Stranger? In your room in the middle of the night? - I just got in the wrong room. - How dare you insinuate...? [GASPS] Oh, Wilfred Simms, now look what you've gone and done. - Oh, Mr. Cartwright. - What I've done? Wait till that varmint opens his eyes. Then I'll show you what I'm going to do. - That wife-stealer. - Stop bickering! Stop it! Help me. Oh, it's Mr. Cartwright. - These are for you. - Aah! Oh, stop it! JENKINS: Here. Oh, Mr. Cartwright. (theme music playing) How could you do this to Mr. Ben Cartwright? Well, ma'am, I don't give a shucks who he is. He can't go wandering around my wife's room. I am not your wife. - Oh, now, Lucy, be reasonable. - Oh, you poor man. - Ben, are you feeling better? - What happened? Well, these barbarians here attacked you. - Who are you calling barbarians? - Yeah, what do you mean by that? Obviously, these two are in collusion. - We are? - And I assume that the actual barbaric attack was performed by that one. Don't call my husband names. - Lucy, you called me your husband. - Here, have some water. - I did not. - You did too, didn't she? You called me your husband. Oh, please, everybody, I... The whole thing was a mistake caused by my excessive drowsiness. I apologize to the young couple. I think I'll go back to sleep. Oh, if you want to file charges in the morning, I'll be very happy to testify. Very kind. Oh, and by the way, the relationship here bears investigation. - Get out. - Well. LUCY: I've had enough of your insults, now get out! JENKINS: How dare you talk to me that way? Ladies, I want to thank you very much for everything that you've done for me. Now, Mr. Cartwright, now, if you should have any more trouble... - I'll call you. Thank you very much. - You be sure you do that. - Good night. - Oh, Mr. Cartwright. Sorry, Mrs. Jenkins. I want to apologize again. I think I'll be able to find the right room this time. LUCY: Just a minute. - You too, Wilfred, out. - Oh, now, Lucy. Go, or I will call upon this gentleman to protect me. - But you're my wife. - I am not your wife. He lured me into a false marriage. I did not. I didn't know the preacher was a fake. Then you should have found out. - You're still my wife. - Protect me from this man. Look, I just don't understand what either one of you is talking about. It's very simple. Back in Kansas, he persuaded me to run away with him and get married and come to California. But on the way out, I found out that the preacher who married us wasn't a preacher at all. Because you was flirting with that fancy dude on the stage and he told you so. He was not a fancy dude, and I was not flirting, and he knew the truth, knew the preacher's name. Said he called himself anything, preacher, judge, doctor, anything just to make a dishonest dollar. Wait a minute. We got a preacher here, he's an honest-to-goodness minister. Why don't we all get some sleep tonight, and then tomorrow you can go to the minister and get yourself married all over again? Never. If I marry again, it won't be to someone so dumb he picks a fake preacher, but to someone with brains in his head and romance in his soul. - What, like that fancy dude? - Maybe. But tomorrow, I'm taking the first stage back to Kansas. Now get out! Women. How we ever gonna figure them? Well, we never do completely. Hey, why don't you try some of that romance she mentioned? - Romance? - Yeah. It worked before, didn't it? Might work again. Yeah, sure, sure. [SNORING] [LOY GASPS] [GRUNTS] [GASPS] You've changed. You ain't as nice as you was. - Wake up. - Yes, sir. What can I do for you, sir? Isiah Potts at your service. All right, just answer some questions. I'm looking for a punk kid from Texas. Is he staying here? The name, please? I don't know his name. But he's blond and skinny and was wearing a checked shirt. Oh, I'm not sure that that description fits any of our guests. What was it you wanted of him, sir? I want to invite him to a poker game. Oh, that sounds like a pleasant diversion, but at this late hour, all of our guests are asleep. Why don't you try the saloon? Room 6. Larry Newell from Texas. Well, why didn't you say so in the first place? Oh, Mr. Newell. Yes, Mr. Potts. There's a man looking for you to invite you to a poker game. Is he a mean-looking man with a gray hat? He went up to your room to look for you. [DOOR CLOSING] That must be him coming back now. Don't tell him you saw me, and I'll make it worth your while. - You will? - Real worth your while. Thank you, sir. He ain't there. Oh. Well, perhaps he went out while I was dozing. This night work is very tiring, you know? Any idea where he might be? I'm a hotel clerk, not the social editor of the paper. Any more smart words out of you, and I'm gonna shove them right down your throat. Now answer the question. I don't know. Honest. Anybody else been looking for him? The doctor. He sent for the doctor to tend a wound. So I plugged him, huh? Oh, that's good. Anybody else? Mr. Cartwright, a guest. I heard the doctor call upon him for his assistance. - Where is this Cartwright? - Oh, you can't disturb him. He's a very tired man, Mr. Cartwright, and... Room number 4. Hey, Mr. Busybody. Come on. Get up. I wanna talk to you. You wake up like that all the time? Now, what do you want? SHIRMER: Where's that Newell kid? - Who? That kid I winged for cheating me out of my money. I don't know where he is, and if I did know, I wouldn't tell you anyway, so why don't you just get out of here and let me go back to sleep, will you? I've got a feeling he'll be back, and I'm waiting for him. Not here you're not. I paid for this room... and I'm gonna catch some sleep. Now, will you please get out. Well... Shut the door, will you? [DOOR SLAMS] Mr. Potts. Well, did you see Mr. Cartwright? Yeah, I saw him. I want to see Larry Newell. Give me a room near his. We are full up. Well, in that case, I'll just have to wait in his room. Really? This is most unorthodox. And without permission, I have no authority to allow anyone to visit a guest's room. When he comes back... you won't tell him I'm waiting, now, will you? WILFRED [SINGING]: Oh, believe me If all them endearing young charms Which I gaze on so fondly today Oh, 'twas to change back tomorrow Flee from harm Back there I dream fading away Thou wouldst still be adored As this moment thou art Let thy loveliness fade as it will Wilfred, I didn't mean tonight. Each wish of my heart Wilfred Simms, what on earth are you up to? Well, I'm just trying to court you romantic-like. That's what you want, ain't it, Lucy? Romantic? Caterwauling around the hotel this time of night? Why, you've gone and wakened this nice man again. Yes, you certainly have. And a busy man like Mr. Cartwright needs his rest. Now, now, now, Mrs. Jenkins, let me handle this. - I'm only trying to help, Mr. Cartwright. - I know you are. And, Mrs. Jenkins, why don't you go back to your room JENKINS: Well, I... - And get yourself a good night's rest. I appreciate the interest that you've been taking. JENKINS: That's perfectly all right. Now, if I can be of any help, you call me. Thank you very much. Of course I will. I'm afraid that... That Wilfred's romantic tactics are a result of a talk that we had, Mrs. Simms. I am not Mrs. Simms. - Well, I'm... - Oh, call me Lucy. I don't know whether I'm miss or missus. Well, Lucy, what I'm trying to say is, I'm trying to make the point, he's trying to win back your affections the way he won them not too long ago. Yeah, and that ain't easy without repeating yourself. Well, I don't consider waking everybody up with your yowling any way to win a girl. I think it's about time that you two started listening to the facts - instead of your emotions. - What facts? One of the facts is that this young lady is going back to Kansas on the stage tomorrow, isn't that right? Now, the trouble with you two is that you've been suffering growing pains. And you'd be suffering those even if you were married. And best way to get rid of them is to talk about them. Now, it still isn't too late tonight. The moon's still shining bright. You can go outside and walk and talk. And after you've talked it all out, then you can decide whether you go to your separate ways, or whether you go to see a preacher in the morning. How about it, Lucy? Well, I guess a walk can't hurt a girl. I'll get my coat. Oh, I sure do thank you, Mr. Cartwright. Look, Wilfred, do me a favor. Don't argue with her. Save that little pleasure for after you're married. Potts. Who's up in young Newell's room, number 6? I'm sure I don't know, sir. Look, Potts, I'm tired, too tired to play games. Who is it? We didn't exchange amenities, he just said he wished to play poker with Mr. Newell. Shirmer. Is that his name? He could take some lessons in manners. Listen, I want you to get Sheriff Coffee. What? Go get Sheriff Coffee. Tell him I want to see him in my room. - I can't leave here with the safe open... - Lock the safe. Now get him. And they told me to come West. Mr. Potts, where's that Shirmer? I've been waiting outside and he ain't come out yet. What about that worthwhile talk of yours? Well, I gotta get upstairs first and get my wallet. Now, how about Shirmer? Yes, that's a mean man, all right. He sure is and he's trigger-happy too. He's the one who shot my leg. He did? He went out the back door, that's why you didn't see him. Well, that's good, and thank you a lot, Mr. Potts. Here, now get, get, get going. Move. [SHIRMER GRUNTS] [JENKINS SCREAMS] [THUDDING] [SCREAMS] ANNOUNCER: We'll return to tonight's story of Bonanza in a moment. ANNOUNCER: And now the exciting conclusion of tonight's story. POTTS: Murder. Murder in the Golden Globe Hotel. Oh, sheriff, the management will have my scalp for this. They'll blackball me all over the country. I hope you realize exactly what this is doing... Potts, will you please shut up and pull yourself together? - Now, did you get the doctor? - Of course. He'll be here as soon as he gets dressed. I told him we'd be needing him in his capacity of coroner. Coroner. I wish you'd stick to your knitting. That man ain't dead yet. Leastways he was still breathing when Ben and I carried him upstairs. POTTS: No, no, no, he's a goner for sure. Cartwright there did him in good. Oh, stop, will you? Are you accusing Ben Cartwright here of killing Shirmer? Well, they were the only two fighting, weren't they? Ben. - Ben. - Hmm? ROY: Did you hear? - Hmm? Potts here is accusing you of sticking a knife in Shirmer. Oh. What? That's ridiculous. I didn't stick a knife in anybody. - Who did that? - Shut up, will you? Now, I'll do the investigating around here. Ben, tell me exactly what happened, if you will. I had this wallet with... That the young Texan had me keep it for him because he was afraid that Shirmer was going to get the money back that he won from Shirmer in the poker game. And I knew that Shirmer was waiting for the young fellow from Texas. - Good evening, Roy. - Doc. And again to you, Ben. What are you doing up? You won't get proper rest like that. Now go to bed. Well, where's the body? Potts here tells me... ROY: Potts here is gonna have to learn to mind his own business. Now, the man is upstairs, he's alive, and has a knife stuck in his back. - For heaven's sake... ROY: And don't worry. He's being watched over by a very charming guest of the hotel here, - Mrs. Jenkins. - Oh, is that... Where is he? In room number 6. DOC: A nice woman like that. ROY: Ben. Ben. Come on, please? - What? - Now, let's get on with that story. Hmm? What happened, you know, you were telling me. Oh, yeah. Well, the young fellow, the Texas fellow, Larry, he came running back and to get his wallet, and I gave him his wallet. And, you know, Shirmer, he was hiding out in the young fellow's room. And he ran out of the room, started shooting at the young fellow. And I started wrestling with Shirmer to stop him from shooting, and suddenly, I was hanging on, and suddenly, he went limp. There was a knife in his back. - That's right. - Shut up! - This Larry, what happened to him? - Oh, yeah. Well, he... He must have skedaddled. Oh, well, then I better get a deputy on him right now. We're gonna need him. He'll never find that boy, you know. With all that money, he's long gone to Texas. Probably. That means that I'm the only witness, Mr. Cartwright. And if that man up there dies... I think you're in serious trouble. Hmm? What do you mean? Oh, simply that as the only witness, I could say anything that I want to. That you stabbed Shirmer with that knife, or that the young Texan threw the knife from down here. Anything. Yeah. Yeah. Well, what you're really trying to say to me, and correct me if I'm wrong, is that your memory is regulated by money. Oh, that's relative, my dear sir, relative. See, I'm a poor man, and what's a lot of money to me, a poor man, is to you, a rich man, a mere pittance. - Mr. Potts, Mr. Potts. - Yes? Really, I've never been so insulted in my life. I offered to help that doctor, and he pushed me, literally pushed me out of the room. And what are you two chatting about? Well, we're chatting about a very interesting subject here, Mrs. Jenkins. - Blackmail. - Oh? Yes, blackmail. Mr. Potts is trying to decide... whether he'd make more money out of me by being a witness for me or against me, in case Mr. Shirmer dies. JENKINS: Oh. Well, how dreadfully mercenary. Yes. Hey. Mrs. Jenkins, you're a witness. You saw the whole thing happen. JENKINS: Well, yes, I heard the shot, and I came out of my room in time to see that man fall down the stairs. After the fact. After the fact. Well, as a matter of fact, now that I think about it more clearly, I came out of my room before the shot. The sounds of scuffling and all, you know? Yeah. You know, Mrs. Jenkins... you're beginning to sound a little bit like Mr. Potts. Well... I got my boys trailing that young Texan. Mrs. Jenkins, how's the patient doing? Well, I really wouldn't know. That doctor ejected me from the room. - We'll just have to wait for the doc. - Sheriff. Potts. One of these days... I demand you arrest that man for murder. To have a murder, you got to have a corpse. BEN: Oh, how's he making out, doc? Well, he's still breathing, so he's no corpse. You made a good nurse. Oh. Doc, do you think he ought to be left alone like that? Oh, I cleaned the wound and I gave him something to ease the pain and make him sleep. Whether that knife caused internal bleeding, I won't be able to tell for some time, so I'll have to keep an eye on him. But right now, I would love a cup of coffee. How about it? I am not the chef. Oh, there's so many things you're not. Where is the coffee? In the office. I'll tell you one thing I am, Mr. Cartwright, that's a witness to violence, potential murder. Potts, be logical, will you? Even if Ben Cartwright did do it, it's obviously a case of self-defense. So that's the way it's gonna be. The power of the rich against the word of the poor. The influence of the mighty. Roy, how are the beds in jail? We haven't had no complaints on them. - I ain't gonna take that jasper's word... - Yeah, Roy, Roy, Roy, take me over to the jail, will you? - Well, you ain't confessing, are you? - No, no. The only thing I'm confessing to is that I'm so dog-tired I'm gonna fall asleep standing up. - Now, will you take me to the jail? - Let's go. WILFRED: Oh, Mr. Cartwright! Oh, boy, you were sure right about that moon and all. That's right. I have forgiven Wilfred and consented to marry him. First thing in the morning, I'm gonna wrestle that preacher out of bed. That's wonderful, wonderful. Good night. - Are you the sheriff? - That's right, ma'am. Well, then, you must also be a justice of the peace. That's the way it usually is. Well, like most sheriffs, I am a justice of the peace, that's right. Wilfred, as justice of the peace, he can marry us tonight. What? What? I thought you wanted a fancy wedding with all them doodads and stuff. We've had the doodads. Now all we want is to get married. Will you, sheriff? It's the middle of the night, everybody's tired and all. But that's the whole point, sheriff. Otherwise, we got to wait all that time until tomorrow and everything. Well, if you put it that way. JENKINS: Oh, a wedding! How romantic! Don't you think so, dear Mr. Cartwright? Yeah. Roy, let's go to the jail. - Oh, Mr. Cartwright, you can't do that. WILFRED: You'll be our best man. He's just got to be here. Why, he brought us together. If it weren't for him, I might have gone back to Kansas. Please, sheriff. Ben, it's up to you. Please, Mr. Cartwright. Well, I was in at almost the end of it. I guess I might as well be in at the beginning of it. Let's get lined up right over here. JENKINS: A wedding. We must have some music. All right, kids, if you... Look, I'm just gonna say the words, tomorrow morning, I'll sign the papers. If it's all right, stand over here, please. LUCY: That'll be just fine. Here's the ring, Mr. Cartwright. ROY: Doc, if you just stand right over here and give the bride away. Well, do I have to give her away? She's cute enough to keep. [LUCY & DOC CHUCKLE] Oh, ahem. You are not a coffee maker either. All right, do you...? What's your names? Oh, Simms. It sure is a pleasure to meet you, sheriff. I don't mean that. Now get back over there. Yes, sir. No, your given names, your first names. Lucy and Wilfred. - Wilfred, your hat. - Oh. Do you... Do you... [JENKINS CONTINUES PLAYING PIANO] Will you cut that out? Please, sheriff, it is sort of romantic. All right, then, go ahead and play, but keep it down. [JENKINS CONTINUES PLAYING "BRIDAL CHORUS"] Now... - Do you, Lucy, take Wilbur... - Wilfred. Do you, Lucy, take Wilfred as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and health, to love, honor and obey so long as you shall both live? I do. - Now, do you, William... - Wilfred. Do you, Wilfred, take Lucy here as your lawfully wedded wife...? Oh, I do. Not now! Do you, Wilfred, take Lucy here as your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to cherish and protect so long as you both shall live? - Now, Wilfred. - What? - "I do." - Oh, I do. Oh, I do! All right, now's the time when the best man is supposed to give you the ring. DOC: Ben, the ring. Ben? Ben, I'm sorry. - Ben, the ring. - Hmm? - They need the ring for the wedding. - Oh. Here, here, right here, here. Okay. Here you are, son. - Oh, thank you, sir. - Yeah. For you, Lucy. No, no, no. When he tells you, you put it on her finger. - Oh. - Yeah. Hey, when do I give her away? Now is as good a time as any. Well, honey, ups-a-daisy. By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you... BILL: Come right in, boy. Stand right there. Sheriff, here's your man. ROY: Yeah. Where did you find him? Just out of town, headed back. Did he just say that you were headed back this way? NEWELL: Yeah, I got to thinking. I shouldn't have thrown that knife and just run like I did. - You throwed that knife? - Well, sure. He was shooting at me, and it's the only thing I had to protect myself with. Well, doc, how is he? Oh, Shirmer's gonna live. Don't you worry about that. BEN: Shirmer's all right, I don't know about me. They were starting to accuse me of throwing that knife. Well, sheriff, that's foolish. Mr. Potts here, he saw me throw it. NEWELL: Potts. BEN: Potts! ROY: Potts. Potts, there has got to be more than a dozen things in the books that I can charge you with. Now, here, Bill, take this weasel over to the jail and lock him up. All right, Roy. Come on, Potts. POTTS: And they told me to come West. Son, I don't know what to do with you. He threw that knife in self-defense. I can testify to that. - Sure. - All right, son, you can go. - You mean I'm free? - Yeah, and get that bandage changed. - Yeah. - Well, thank you, doc, Mr. Cartwright. BEN: Away you go now. ROY: Goodbye, son. - Off you go. Be careful now. DOC: Bye. Roy, this time I'm getting some sleep for sure. Amen. This time you do it, or you're gonna become a patient. - I'll do it this time. ROY: Good night, all. Good night, good night. LUCY: Sheriff, just a minute. Are we married or not? Ben, where did I leave off, you know? - Can you remember? - Um... You left off right after I gave her away. All right. By virtue of the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. Good night. You can kiss the bride now, William. [WILFRED YELLS] [LUCY YELLS THEN LAUGHS] BEN: I didn't even get to kiss the bride. Oh, don't you just love weddings, Mr. Cartwright? - Good night, patient. BEN: Good night. Good night, Mrs. Jenkins. [SNORING] Move over. Come on, move over. [LUCY SCREAMING AND LAUGHING] [SNORING] (theme music playing) ♪♪ This is a brand-spanking-new Chevrolet Fleetside truck. My buddy Lev Davis here uses it to count the antelope here on Ben Gerhardt's West Texas ranch. Now, he tells me that this Chevrolet truck is the only one that's rugged enough and quick enough to do the job. Come along, let him show us. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Yes, sir, this Chevrolet Fleetside truck is as tough as a Texas bull, and it's a real worker, too. You check one out at your Chevrolet dealer anytime.
Behind the Scenes of A Good Night’s Rest
As Ben grapples with Shirmer at the staircase’s summit, preventing him from aiming his gun at Newell, a knife suddenly impales Shirmer’s back. Beneath Shirmer’s shirt, the distinct shape of a board is evident, and the knife strikes right at its center, leaving no doubt about its purposeful placement.
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Bonanza offers wholesome entertainment suitable for individual viewing or family gatherings. A Good Night’s Rest marks the 196th episode out of 430 in the series. Produced by NBC, Bonanza aired on their network from September 1959 to January 1973, spanning 14 seasons.
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