
Tax Collector Full Episode – Bonanza, Season #02, Episode #22
The Cartwright family, a family of four who lives at the fictional Ponderosa ranch, is the focus of the Western television series entitled Bonanza. The Tax Collector, season two’s twenty-second episode, was written by Arnold Belgard and aired on February 18, 1961.
Jock Henry (Eddie Firestone) becomes the tax collector for Virginia City at the request of a local bureaucrat. However, Jock becomes power drunk, imposing massive, unfair assessments on everyone in his path. Hence, when Jock finds himself in a series of profound personal crises, no one comes to help him—except Hoss Cartwright.
Kathie Browne portrays Ellen, while Russ Conway acts as Dave Hart. In the later episodes of Bonanza, particularly in the fifth season, Kathie Browne also played Adam Cartwright’s fiancee, Laura Dayton.
Read The Tax Collector‘s plot, including some fascinating trivia, or watch the full episode below.
Table of Contents
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Main Cast
The Tax Collector, Bonanza’s fifty-fourth episode and second season’s twenty-second, features the lead actors and some of the program’s recurring members.
The actors in the episode are as follows:
- Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
- Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright (credit only)
- Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
- Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
- Eddie Firestone as Jock Henry
- Kathie Browne as Ellen Henry
- Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing
- Russ Conway as Dave Hart
- Charles Watts as Ellery
- Florence MacMichael as Nancy Hart
- Maudie Prickett as Mrs. Ellery
- Henry Corden as Bookie
- Walter Bacon as Townsman (uncredited)
- George Bell as Townsman (uncredited)
- Arthur Berkeley as Townsman (uncredited)
- Rudy Bowman as Townsman (uncredited)
- John Breen as Townsman (uncredited)
- Jaye Durkus as Townsman (uncredited)
- Frank Ellis as Townsman (uncredited)
- Betty Endicott as Townswoman (uncredited)
- Fred Graham as Baxter (uncredited)
- Al Haskell as Townsman (uncredited)
- Michael Jeffers as Townsman (uncredited)
- Bob LaWandt as Townsman (uncredited)
- Martha Manor as Townswoman (uncredited)
- William Meader as Townsman (uncredited)
- Bob Miles as Townsman (uncredited)
- Ernesto Molinari as Townsman (uncredited)
- Joe Phillips as Townsman (uncredited)
- John Rice as Townsman (uncredited)
- Cosmo Sardo as Barber (uncredited)
- Chick Sheridan as Townsman (uncredited)
- Tom Smith as Townsman (uncredited)
- Owen Song as Townsman (uncredited)
- Jack Tornek as Townsman (uncredited)
- Sally Yarnell as Townswoman (uncredited)
Full Story Line for Tax Collector
Hoss was passing Jock Henry’s place when he heard a commotion inside the barn. He discovers from Baxter, a ranch hand, that Jock was stealing some of Ponderosa’s cut lumber. Jock reveals that he’s only taking lumber to build himself a corral, then pledges to pay them back as soon as he gets enough money. Feeling sorry for Jock, Hoss takes responsibility and asks Baxter to keep it a secret. He even assists Jock by digging some postholes for him.
Hoss asks Jock to paint the fresh lumber before Ben realizes the wood came from the Ponderosa. Ben, Little Joe, and Hop Sing pass by and stop after seeing Hoss’ hat. Hoss tells them to move along while he follows to watch the race happening in town. Jock’s wife, Ellen, comes out of the house to remind her husband to pay the taxes.
At the town race, Joe’s horse, Raven, fails to beat Gatling. Jock bet his cattle on Joe’s horse, and since he lost, he can no longer pay his taxes.
Jock informs Hoss about his situation. Hoss advises Jock to get a job, but Jock believes no one will hire him. To help his friend, Hoss tells Jock to put on his best clothing as they go to Virginia City for a job hunt.
Despite their efforts to look for work, no shopowner in Virginia City accepts Hoss and Jock. Later, Dave Hart, the tax assessor, screams to capture Jock’s attention, causing the latter to hide. However, to his surprise, Dave came to offer him a job. Hoss immediately accepts the offer for Jock, but Jock is skeptical about it. Although hesitant, Jock takes the job right after.
As the Cartwrights were eating, Little Joe and Ben were waiting for Hoss to explain the cut on his cheek. Hoss reveals he went job hunting for Jock Henry. Jock suddenly arrives, so Ben welcomes him in for breakfast. Ben asks for Jock’s job, so Hoss tells him that Jock now serves as Dave Hart’s assistant. Jock tells Ben that he owes $1647.95 in taxes. Displeased, Ben questions Jock and his skill in tax assessment, considering Ben only paid $375 the year before. Jock informs them that he gets 2% of whatever he collects, so he doesn’t overlook anything.
Apart from Ben, the people of Virginia City find Jock’s tax assessment displeasing. They go to Dave Hart to complain, but Dave stands with Jock. Seeing nothing they can do, they take their complaints with Jock personally.
Meanwhile, Jock’s assessment angers Mrs. Nancy Hart, so she goes after him. A group of women joins the chase with the same enraged feelings. His assessments enraged everyone in town, forcing him to flee back home.
The Cartwrights arrive at Jock’s place and see the townspeople complaining about his tax assessment. Ellen defends Jock, reasoning that he’s new to his job. The women feel sorry for Ellen, wanting to help her by lynching Jock. However, the situation stresses Ellen, so Jock asks them to at least think of the baby she’s carrying. They eventually leave, as per Ellen’s request.
The Cartwrights, including Hop Sing, count chickens and livestock at the Ponderosa. They discover that Jock charged them double by including their unborn livestock in his assessment. Ben dubs Jock as one of the “sorry people” who enjoy the life of idleness. On the other hand, women like Ellen pity these people to the point that they disregard their flaws and fall in love with them. However, these “sorry people” take little prosperity or authority obnoxiously, to the extent of abusing them. Hoss and Joe ask how to handle this kind of people, to which Ben replies that you must outwit them.
Ellen finally realizes the change in Jock’s behavior, thinking it’s time to do something about it. She goes to the Ponderosa to tell Ben about Jock, and Ben agrees. Ellen thinks Jock’s job has changed him, so he asks Ben to talk to Jock so he can quit his job. Ben hides his joy in doing so by inviting her into the house so they can talk some more.
Ben calls Joe for a private conversation about Jock. Ben plans to teach Jock a lesson, including Hoss, who allowed his emotions to rule over his head. He tells Joe he wants to purchase a filly from Carson City, which Joe remembers as petite and skinny but lightning quick. Realizing Jock loves to bet on horse races, Joe agrees with Ben’s plan.
Ellen returns to the Ponderosa. Ben uses his terrible stage voice to announce Ellen’s arrival, ordering Hoss to see why she arrived. As Hoss steps outside, Ben, Joe, and Hop Sing eavesdrop on them through the window.
Ellen asks Hoss to assist Sally, their mare, who is experiencing excruciating pain. Although puzzled about what’s happening, he joins Ellen in her buggy. Delighted, Ben slaps Joe’s back while Joe comments on his father’s connivance. They prepare to head to the town’s horse race, where everyone is waiting while Joe gets the filly from the barn.
Everyone in town patiently waits for the race to start. Ben purposely made a $1,000 bet to Ellery, Gatling’s owner, for Jock to see. Jock walks over to inspect both horses as Ben and Joe slyly watch him. Jock finds Ellery’s horse beautiful while feeling sorry for Ben’s filly. Ben tells Jock that he intentionally bought the filly for $500 to race against Gatling, stating his intention to pay his taxes in full. Jock offers roughly $50, but Ben tells him it’s not much compared to the $1,000 he’s wagering.
Jock doesn’t want Ben, his best friend’s father, to fool himself by racing with the filly. However, this doesn’t stop Ben from pursuing his plan. Jock initially hesitates, but Ben manages to make a bet with Jock.
Back at Jock’s place, Hoss checked on Sally’s condition and figured she wouldn’t deliver her colt today. However, when he was about to leave to fetch Jock, Sally made a sound from the barn. Hoss and Ellen find Sally on the ground. Hoss instructs Ellen to get some hot water. However, by the time she gets to the front door, she experiences discomfort, signaling her labor too.
Ben reminds Joe to win the race so the town can have a new tax collector. Joe plans to let Gatling lead for the first two laps, then overtake on the third. Ben also tells Joe that they’ll lose $1,500 if he loses, in which Joe has to pay half the bet.
Hoss gets impatient waiting for Ellen to return with the water, so he looks for her. Hoss finds Ellen on the floor in the house, then carries her to bed. Ellen informs him that she’ll also need water. Hoss offers to get Doctor Snow, but Ellen says there isn’t enough time. Hoss assures Ellen that things will be fine but immediately shifts attention when Sally makes a noise at the barn. Hoss finds himself much like in a race, running back and forth to tend to Sally and Ellen’s needs.
The horse race starts, and everyone starts betting on their pick. Gatling leads the race, making the people bet for him more. Jock approaches Ben to increase their bet, to which they both agree.
To everyone’s surprise, Joe finally overtakes Gatling and wins the horse race. Ben asks Ellery for the $1,000 he won after winning against his friend. Joe snatches the $1,000 from his father’s grasp, reminding him about half of the bet. Jock looks sullen, then attempts to flee. However, Ben gets a hold of him.
After much time, Sally and Ellen finally gave birth. When Ben, Joe, Hop Sing, and Jock return, Hoss delivers the good news to Jock. Jock is happy to see Sally with their baby and Sally with her colt.
Jock’s joy is short-lived when he remembers his bet. Ben reminds Jock that he owes him two years’ salary, which stuns Hoss. However, since it’s a wage bet, Ben subtly suggests that he doesn’t have to pay if he stops working as a tax collector. Jock thinks he can’t leave his job because Dave Hart needs him at the office. However, Ben changed Jock’s mind after reminding her that Ellen and Sally needed him more than anyone else.
In the end, everyone contributes to helping the couple with some tasks.
Full Script and Dialogue of Tax Collector
[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] here [Music] no no no baxter didn't even recognize you well i saw somebody beating up on a little jock you sure pack a mean punch horse what are you doing picking on that little fella know what that little varmint's up to ain't no telling what you done now he's stealing ponderosa lumber not the fell trees mind you the cut lumber oh no you don't come here get over here and professor was only taking me enough to build me a little bit of a corral well i don't reckon you could really blame a man for trying to fix his place up could you well your paw here's what jack's done we'll see whether he gets the blame or not i was gonna pay him back just as soon as i got me some money honest horse i'll tell you what baxter i'll take full responsibility for for all this if that's the way you want it hoss me i'm just a hired hand boxer you you keep it somebody had you here boss i sure can't tell you how much i appreciate this huh it's all right john glad to see you started fixing the old place up well yeah i i work at it all the time [Music] boss how was it you told me these post holes ought to be dug [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] awesome you sure dig pretty [Music] [Music] so [Music] hey jock you that tired yeah sure i'll tell you jack keep this up and you're gonna have a have a real nice place i'm doing it all on sally's account yeah hi and sally oh the heat bothers her you know how they are when they get this way yeah when's your time um close as i can reckon about uh three weeks come tuesday here she comes now [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] isn't she the sweetest thing ever i can't hardly wait to see that little cult of hers yeah from her looks he ain't gonna be long coming neither i better get that growl fixed where's him pose in the barn with them awful heavy boards horse yes sir this time next year i'll be racing sally training her little cult i want to make myself a regular fortune yeah it's a long time next year little jack what are you going to be doing in the meantime oh odd jobs here and there you know me horse one thing i interfered over is work you know that don't you oh yeah yeah jack i know that all right of course i uh probably could borrow against my winnings or or i might could even sell a piece of sally if i wanted to do a friend a favor yeah uh hey listen jock you you got any paint uh-huh yeah yeah i got some leftover from last year when i was gonna touch up the house because i got so busy i never did get around to it though yeah well listen i i think you ought to put a little paint over this fresh lumber before paul gets a close look at it yeah yeah hey this horse's hat [Music] boss morning mr car ride good morning i keep letting you close this lumber coming paul [Music] so this is where you've been all day mr horse i fix good dinner all get cold look every place for you i was just here helping old jock yeah so i see a poor little feller's got so much to do i don't reckon he'll ever get it done yeah well you're not forgetting i'm racing raven against gatling in town today are you oh no no no joe i ain't forgetting i was just trying to be neighborly you you you fellas going in and i'll try to get there best of luck to you joe go on go i'll try to get in okay [Music] jaw oh jack howdy miss henry you sure looks pry today nice to you to say so hoss jock's taking bets i come in ahead of sally you betting no no i was just spoofing jack you were gonna take six head of cattle into town and pay the taxes i clean forgot jock you better do that you better better i won't be going long bye oh jack if they fetch a good price will you buy me something why sure honey anything you want just the goods to make me a new sun bonnet [Music] sun's beginning to hurt me too you know what i'll do i'll buy you one already made up oh chocolate that's real sweet of you maybe she'll give me three sons someday like like you and adam and little joe well guess i better wrestle my livestock maybe i can get to town and watch little joe win that race [Music] come on [Applause] and you ought to know by now you can't beat gatlin what i need's a bigger hat i don't beat him yet hillary not with raven you won't you know you may need a bigger hat but not for our money [Music] [Applause] you'll find my your cattle down at delivery stable mister thank you friend thank you i'm never betting against that gatling again until my sally's back in condition your wife my mare mister mister do you mind letting me have two dollar you 120 now what do you want with two dollars to buy her a son bonnet your mayor my wife [Music] [Applause] it's lovely jack thank you as soon as sally's back in condition and can race again i'll buy you nothing but silk i know you will jack honey i know you will [Music] sure was pretty bunny she bought your wife jack uh-huh [Music] what's the matter with you anyhow yeah pricing them cattle was no good or what i lost them betting on raven you lost them jack that was your tax money what am i gonna do with sally in her condition and ellen and hers damn bernie jock you're gonna get a job you're gonna go to work that's what you're gonna do ain't nobody who'd hire me well we'll just see about that you think maybe your pod give me a job well jock there's there's a lot of good places in virginia city to get a job and i'll go in and help you boss i i just can't lose my place to the tax collector it's all i got to give my cult and my kid oh now look at me standing ought to be ashamed of myself interfering with your work you go right ahead jock you're going to go in there and put on your best bib and tucker and i'm going to go home clean up and we're going into town you hear that come on [Music] [Music] huh [Music] foreign [Music] uh [Music] so [Music] [Applause] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] stop jack henry tell him it isn't me tell him he made a mistake john can't keep overhanging forever that's dave hart the tax assessor he's after my tax money jack i've been looking all over for you i've been trying to find a job honest mr hart well this was true dave yes that's what's so funny he's looking for a job i'm trying to give him one i don't see what so far give me one what kind of a job well i've got more than i can handle with the mines and the business establishments in town i need someone to assess the settlers homes and ranches and make the collections well uh what's it pay 60 months for assessing first two months go to pay his back taxes but he gets two percent of his collections to pocket for himself dave you got him assistant no no wait i don't know sally the way she is and alan i'm sure i want to be away from them [Music] i guess they do need a provider if you really need me mr hart i'll take the job well i expect you to work at this now jock oh dave you'll be the best dead burn tax collector you ever had uh well you come with me and i'll give you a collector's book and i'll list the people to drop in on [Applause] [Music] oh and tell us or not who cut your lip for you i never told you i run into a broom hmm i just wondered who threw it when that uh that little scratch you got there in your cheek huh cut myself shaving that's the truth like haas if you did have a fight oh it wasn't fight but if you ask me there's one member of this family looking for a fight right now i'm sorry i'm just worrying about you that's all you must know i i was out job hunting for jack henry mr henley outside jack what you doing here well ask him to come in have something to eat we didn't find a job for him did you i sure did and i got him too good morning mr henley come in i fix you nice breakfast come in thank you hopsin sounds real nice [Music] well morning jack morning off hi jack jack when uh when you gonna start work start i've been at it since the crack of dawn now he's up i'm adam oh he's adding what's he adding i don't know was he working what kind of a job did he get he's dave hart's assistant tax assessor tax collector too mr cartwright appears you owe the virginia city treasury sixteen hundred forty seven dollars and ninety five cents sixteen hundred dollars and forty seven ninety five just one minute there mr tax assessor mr henry since when do you know anything about tax assessment last year i paid only 375 the things that dave heart must have overlooked thanks to hosser i get two percent of all i collect so i don't overlook nothing you care to uh pay up now you know i wouldn't pay now mr cartwright i know how you feel about me being lazy and shiftless and all but thanks to horse here i've changed and that's why i come here first out of gratitude mr cartwright to show you just what i think of you gratitude thank you hopsin i would like to have a few words with you yes sir [Music] all right now let's have at this problem one at a time you ellery speak up well i said no good jock henry he had the nerve to assess my livestock at fifteen thousand dollars that's the most outrageous thing i've ever heard in my life i'm backing my assistant jack henry all the way well if you feel that way about it i'll take up my complaints with your assistant personally [Music] [Applause] brooders huh mrs hart best in virginia city jock if i do say so they are they are and um about how many eggs would you say they're sitting on 97 exactly 90s that's just the count i got 97 little chicks chicks they're only eggs this is hard they're little living animals they're just as alive as the other 200 that are already running around here well whether you're right or wrong jock forget it dave always does you see the chicks are mine for a special fun uh i don't want to hear that mrs heart i don't want to hear that my boss is cheating his taxpayers why you insignificant miserable little war you dare say worry about my dave and i'll cut you to ribbons [Music] [Applause] [Music] there he is there's a little varmint get him nancy but i will there he is [Music] look at all those old bitties chasing after jackie that's my wife [Music] oh [Music] that husband of yours do you know what he's done my job why he is the most harmless gentleman and he is huh well who gets the egg money in your house you or him well we haven't any eggs mrs heart we have no chickens there's nothing running around our yard won't be until our baby's born what's this all about that no good jock henry he's he's taxing us to death that's what it's all about you're doing sexy women for going huh best favor i could do your sweet little wives to put this noose right around your neck oh now i'm sorry ladies i know my man is kind of new at his job if he's offended you i know what i'm doing oh sure you do you're hiding right behind your wife's skirts you little worm now i thank you to leave my man alone do you know he's taxing us for our unborn chicks they ain't unborn they're just unhatched there's alive as you are well if they settle this one at least we'll know which came first the chicken or the egg helen how can you stand by a man like that look at you look at the clothes he dresses you in has any you ladies a prettier son bonnet than the one jock gave me and next year he promised me a new one real silk too bought with our taxes no doubt come on girls let's do ellen a favor and lynch him i know you won't i'll scratch your eyes out oh now see what you all went and done don't get all riled up inside look at the baby think of the baby now you better have sweet thoughts at a time like this he's right for once and we're sorry ellen we'll have doc snow come out and see you i don't want doc snow i don't want anyone just you leave us alone all right girls come on [Music] it's all right mrs henry you win i'll pay his ding-blasted egg tax [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] well well pop well we're richer than i thought and and jack didn't over taxes huh well i didn't say that well then he did just about double he taxes for the unborn calves the unhatched chickens well uh i got us into this i'll get us out of it no we'll work it out together yeah with dave hartback and jock up all the way i'll see what chance you have well if anybody can talk to jock i can um i don't think so not when he's got the business teeth the trouble with jack is he's one of the sorry people sorry people what do you mean paul well he's shiftless loves the life of idleness you know women like ellen they they they they feel sorry for them they want to help them and they they fall in love with them and they marry them then they take on all the burdens are you sure right about ellen being in love with him main trouble with the sorry people though is that uh somebody throws a little prosperity their way or a little authority they're worse than ever they become obnoxious what are we gonna do one thing you can't do you can't meet the sorry people head-on if you do you you're getting deeper than a steer in a bog hole how do you handle them though gotta outwit them maybe uh connive a little bit and i think that's the line we should be [ __ ] let me think boys [Music] wait a minute good job honey you forgot your lunch me need lunch out of a paper bag ain't you forgetting my position just a little and look at this place i'm gonna move us into a fancy boarding house in town and have our baby plane in the street and and what about sally i'll put her up in the livery stable and have her baby growing up in a stall i only plan to hire her a full-time exercise boy but jack it would cost so much money money is no object and i a legally appointed full-time tax collector jack honey could you walk to work i'll need the buggy today of course my dear someday we're gonna have two buggies i'll hire myself a hack in town ugh valley something terrible has happened to papa we've just got to do something about it [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh this is henry this is a surprise oh sh should you be uh riding around with well you know i i just had to come mr cartwright it's awful important i got to talk to you oh are you feeling all right it's dark something terrible has happened what why isn't that an accident no it's much worse than that he's changed he's become a different kind of man yeah i'm i'm fully aware of that he used to be so sweet and kind he was always around the house when i needed him now i don't even know where he is half the time and not only that mr cartwright a lot of people don't seem to like him anymore oh mrs henry uh uh let me get this straight now are you suggesting that you'd be just as happy if he didn't have this tax collecting job mr cartwright do you think there's any way you could talk him into giving it up well i i sure like to help you along those lines uh look why don't you uh once you come in the house we'll uh have a cup of tea and then we can talk about it i sure would love a cup of tea but uh well i i don't think i ought to move around too much oh oh by all means by all means well i'll i'll get hopsin to get the tea ready i'll bring it out in the jiffy [Music] [Applause] joe yeah where's horse oh he's outside i'm getting here no no he might bark at this idea you know you know the way he is wrapped up in helping jock and all yeah you're probably right now haas has a lesson to learn too he's let his heart run away with his head now what's your plan do you remember that sorry little fella that took us in those match races over at carson city do i she ran as fast as a streak of lightning and then not much larger than money and skinny it's where she couldn't carry a man much less run like the wind under him [Music] bar that's right and jock can't resist the horse race that horse had made gatling look like he was standing still little joe you're pretty good at conniving yourself oh thank you bob son i want you to buy that philly hmm at the price that far asked what's the difference money's gonna be taxed away anyway go get it yes sir [Music] paul i've known you to do a lot of conniving in your life but i never knew it to take you this long to connive up something real good tonight well that's a fine thing to say to your father son of a conniver [Music] joe where'd you go last night where did i go last night dad don't answer me with a question answer me with an answer there's some mighty haywire around here anybody home why uh look who's here horse it's uh mrs henry why don't you go out and see what you want son why am i born she's your friend and besides i haven't finished my breakfast yet all right oh you know you were almost too anxious hey do you think so yeah well anyway she's more reliable than her husband she's on time i i'm sorry horace i don't mean to bother you but well sally's having terrible pains and and jock's gone out on his tax collecting and and i'm all alone and and i just got to have help poor sure i'll help you man you you just scoot over thank you hoss if i know the more i know you the more i realize what a canary you are well never mind what kind of conniver i am let's get the town hillary's going to be waiting i get the philly out of the barn lily so don't let sally feel it catch cold you keep covered with blanket got plenty money lie on him today don't i better get the horses i get my money come on man you've been standing there for 15 minutes make up your mind i think i'm about ready to make that bet now how much well i'd say uh how about your thousand dollars let's make it two thousand no uh a thousand is good enough for me all right then it's one thousand it's a bet until let's talk about the strategy of this thing now excuse me [Music] uh [Music] so [Music] fine animal isn't he beautiful ben she's what i call a sorry philly not fast enough to race too small for a full day's work and not strong enough to pull with the team what are you talking about i paid a lot of money for that horse [Music] hey the fact is jack i uh i bought it to race against gatling oh that's the trouble with these sorry philly someone's always taken them to heart sweating over them loving them going broke on them a jock i paid 500 for that horse and i intend to pay taxes on the full amount well i wouldn't assess her at 50. when i'm betting a thousand against gatling 50 you're supposed to be a horse expert give me more money you want to bet against gatlings cartwright now we're not talking about money this is a this is a grudge race hop saying that goes for you too i uh i sure hate to see horse's paw make a fool of himself but believe me mr cartwright that philly of yours ain't worth its weight in hay and you're supposed to be an assessor you better i am bet but what you don't got a penny to bet i get a good salary 60 a month chicken feed plus twelve months is seven hundred and twenty dollars you call that chicken feed no i call that a bet oh you're not backing down are ya [Music] no no wait a minute mr cartwright you're you're a horse's paw i can't do this to you i don't mind doing it to horse's best friend do i [Music] mr cartwright man gets too uppity he needs taking down a peg my sentiments exactly for your own good i'll take that bet good now let's get down to the starting line [Music] ah miss henry sally ain't likely to have that coat today are you sure hoss when i left she was standing in the corner upon a big hole in the ground she was doubt burn it i sure would hate for anything to happen sally without jock being here i think i'll better ride in town and get him horse now please wait you know you'll never find a job ma'am everything's going to be all right don't you worry hostile he just keeps going from one house to the next and from one barn to the next everything's everything's gonna be all right don't you worry [Music] ma'am you go get me some hot water in a hurry hurry run [Music] [Applause] [Music] look joe if we're going to get ourselves a new tax collector you've got to win this race yeah i'll just let him run himself out the first two laps and take him on the third you better take him on the third yeah you're out 1720. we're out seventeen hundred and twenty dollars you have half the bet [Music] we gotta win this one skinny it's gonna be all right oh you know what you're gonna be you're gonna be a brand new mother the cutest little coach you've ever seen with a brown face and big brown eyes i wish you think just like yours don't look just like you dad bernie where's that water everything's gonna be all right sally i'm gonna have to go to the house minute and see if i can get some water i'll be right back now you stay right here here be still lay right still i'll be right back you just be nice and calm like me here yeah [Music] i thought she's gonna bring that one i'm having a heck of a race that monster [Music] ma'am it's henry help me will you host awesome i i put the water on horse but i think you're going to be needing it for me oh no i'm afraid you can't stop it with words yes am i i'll run into town and get dark snow oh no no there isn't time [Music] ma'am don't you worry about nothing everything's gonna be all right you here you're gonna have a nice big old healthy youngin big blue eyes and a long bushy tail ma'am i hear silent calling i gotta run and you stay right where you are and stay calm just like me here everything's gonna be all right please hurry awesome sure got a race on my hands now death burn starts are ganging up on me [Applause] here i am back sally just like i told you [Music] all right boys i'll take your bets right up the last time [Music] you bet gatling ten to one we keep money and family very good [Applause] [Music] what you crying about teddy guys gonna be back well i'll be coming around the corner any minute now at least gatlin will be coming around the corner it's not so good for this book all right folks all right folks you saw for yourself gavin two lanes ahead answer now 20 to one okay how do you do what i can say my money to one you take gatling you take gatling we keep money in family all right all right you want to add another half year salary to that bet mr cartwright jack why don't we make it another full year that'll make it two years it's a bet everything's gonna be all right you think you got problems if henry's got a problem just as bad she's real brave about it [Music] i gotta go back in the house sally i i'll be right back uh you lay right here look out for that hot water you still i'll be right back i gotta go in the house just a minute hi you better come in here quick [Music] [Music] come on you big spenders 21-1 21-1 i give you the same odds tony we're smart you know fred we'll keep money and family all the same 21 to one gatling what you crying about them i told you i was gonna be right back dinner everything's gonna be all right silence calling ma'am i i gotta go back out the bar now don't you let nothing happen until i get back to here i'm afraid i don't have much to say about it yes well i'll be right back you you stay right here don't you go where you here i'll be right back [Music] [Applause] sally what you holding out on me for if you're gonna do something do it if you don't miss henry's gonna beat you to it she's gonna be calling me in a minute now come on [Music] come on here [Applause] i don't know what in the world happened that's the worst race gathering ever run one thousand dollars ellery what did you say that mayor's name is well her name is clementine but i think from the look on your face we gotta call her old sorry from now on it ain't funny don't feel so sad we keep all money in family hey joe have a wonderful race wonderful thank you said half the bet hey thanks [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] sally don't you do nothing i get back here don't you do nothing you just lay there i'll be right back stay calm [Music] huh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] uh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] um [Applause] [Music] [Applause] chuck where in tarnation have you been don't tell me i know you've been out collecting taxes while i'm here delivering your twins fine husband you are a fine father you're gonna make father [Music] you mean you what did you bring my twins into the world going in the house and see for yourself keep it quiet he may be asleep [Music] [Applause] there's only one where to hide my other baby where did you put it where did you where did you put them in the barn jock oh the barn you can't put my other baby in the barn [Applause] sally sally sally i i never knew it'd be like this oh you've got a fine little cult he's gonna be our pride and joy and you ought to see the boy he he's so handsome i'm gonna call him horse horse cartwright henry oh jog nope no carry on i think i'm gonna cry i think you are too [Music] [Applause] that's right mr carr right we got us the problem haven't we yes we have jack i still owe you a year's salary no two years salary two years salary yeah yeah he uh lost it on a horse race oh it was a fair bit house you see i i bet him against his two-year salary you know supposedly he was going to be working now if he wasn't going to be working mr car right are you suggesting that i quit my job no i'm not suggesting that at all i'm just saying that i didn't actually bet your money i bet against two years salary and if you're not working well i uh i sure wish i could go along with that mr cartwright but dave hart he really needs me down to tax collecting office jack i know dave needs you but ellen needs you much more now i've been talking to her she's so unhappy with you away in that tax collecting job all the time and now with sally and the colt and ellen and the baby she needs you all the more you really think so oh i know so i think you're right and you know something else when i first took that job dave told me it was only temporary temporary paula conniving and the job was only temporary [Music] thank you mr cartwright you're welcome jack [Applause] [Music] joe take your hat off [Applause] that's for the baby mr ellen family contribute for a little coat good you contribute mr horse i think i don't contribute enough to this outfit i think he has two i take to missy allen clean up house make big pot mulligan stew good good boy hop sink [Music] [Applause] [Music] so [Applause] [Music]
Behind the Scenes of Tax Collector
Cosmo Sardo acted as a barber in this episode, which he later portrayed in the 1968 episode “The Price of Salt.”
Towards the end of the episode, Hop Sing mentions making Mulligan Stew for the Cartwrights to celebrate the Henrys’ new baby. Although the show occurred sometime in the 1870s or 1880s, Mulligan Stew first emerged in hobo camps in the early 1900s.
Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?
Bonanza is an excellent Western television program produced and broadcasted by NBC from September 1959 to January 1973. There were 14 seasons for viewers and fans to watch alone or with their loved ones. The Tax Collector is the 54th episode in a series of 430 and the 22nd for the show’s second season.
You can find more about any of the 430 Bonanza episodes here>>