The Ride

EPISODE: The Ride

Season 3 Episode 84 Air Date: January 12, 1962

Guest Stars: Jan Merlin, Grace Gaynor

Written by Ward Hawkins
Directed by Don McDougall

SUMMARY:

Starts with Adam lazing back in his chair half asleep trying to persuade the station master Toby to get him more coffee (lovely close up of a relaxed Adam), hearing a horse and neither man willing to budge until a shot takes Toby’s chair leg and he falls.

Two men come in with hoods on and force Toby and Adam into the line station before stealing the money from the padlocked box. They back out of the door and when Toby goes after them with a gun, he is shot. He looks at Adam and says, “You were gonna let them get away. I never figured you for yella.”

“No point in going up against drawn guns (Adam’s logical side); anyway I knew one of them,” Adam explains. From the start, Adam had identified Bill Enders as the smaller of the pair. Toby dies and an upset Adam closes his eyes then looks after the murderers. (You know right there that he won’t let them get away with it.)

When Adam tells Roy who is involved, Roy is disbelieving, and asks “You are in business with him, aren’t you Adam?” Roy warns Adam that Bill is very good with a gun and wants to make sure that Adam is real dead sure. Adam is and is willing to face Enders right then.

Bill seems not to understand what it has to do with him, and when Roy explains, he demands to know who had identified him as Toby’s killer. Adam, standing by the door, says quietly “I did.” Bill looks at him in apparent amazement and says that he is mistaken but Adam just meets his glare and, keeping it very quiet, says that he isn’t mistaken; he had seen Bill rob and murder.

Back home, Joe and Hoss sit by quietly as Ben pushes his eldest son very hard, insisting that Adam has no real proof, no identifying marks, no motive, no record of violence and yet he is accusing Bill of robbery and murder. Adam tries to make his father see that putting a sack on Joe and Hoss, he would still be able to recognize them. In the same way, he knew it was Bill and he wasn’t going to change his mind. Eventually close to losing his temper, Adam walks outside. Hoss speaks up, not understanding why his father is being so hard on Adam. Joe agrees: “Adam’s just doing what he believes is right.” Ben tries to explain that, with trouble coming, he has to push Adam. If Adam is sure against his own father, then he will cope with arguments from everyone else. Then it’s a strong conviction -- probably a right one -- and he will hold it against anyone.

Next day, a relaxed Hoss is waiting for Adam to finish oiling an axle. Adam just tells him it’s worth taking time to do a job well but Hoss fusses. Adam says Hoss needs to work up to his job and when Hoss asks how, Adam suggests eating more so that he can lift a barn. Hoss is threatening to decapitate his brother when Roy rides in and tells Adam that he was wrong about Bill Enders. He has witnesses seeing Enders in Virginia City an hour and a half after Adam says he saw him. The witnesses are Mrs. Kramer and her daughter, very reliable, so Adam must be wrong. Ben has joined his sons and as Adam denies he’s wrong, Ben asks “Why not? You’re just human.” Adam accepts that he does make mistakes, but not in this case. If he was right and Mrs. Kramer was right, then Enders must have made the ride in an hour and a half. Hoss points out its 25 miles and hilly. It’s not possible. Roy insists Adam’s wrong but Ben knows his son better and suggests using Jim Beckett, the Pony Express rider, with his fast horses to find out. If anyone can do it, he can. Adam accepts that and next day the ride is undertaken.

Adam sits in the hotel watching the clock and waiting for the result.

Adam has a visit from Bill Enders and his wife Mary. She tries to explain that they understand his principles and that it must be hard to accuse a friend but he is wrong and eventually they will laugh about it. Adam is polite but his disbelief is written all over his face and, as though reading it, Mary takes her husband out. As they leave, Adam settles to wait again but the clock moves inexorably on and it is over two hours when his family join him. Ben wants to know how he explains the difference in time. Adam can’t but neither has he changed his mind about Enders. The pony rider comes in horse all lathered up and Adam accepts he has tried his best. However when Ben says it clears Bill Enders, Adam won’t accept it; he saw Bill murder Toby. His family recognizes the expression and knows he isn’t going to budge, but each show concern.

Adam goes for a drink in the bar and Bill comes up, asking why Adam had thought of him. He insists he had never hurt Adam or cheated him but says he wants to forget the whole thing and asks if Adam is willing to do so. Adam turns and looks intently at Bill. “Bill, I saw you and another man rob the station and I saw you fire the shot which killed Toby. I am not going to change my mind. I’m not going to forget it. I am going to carry on saying it and trying to prove it, until you stand trial or they bury me.” (Beautiful picture of a serious Adam his eyes glowing with the intensity of his feelings).

Bill accuses Adam of trying to get him hung, and asks why -- another vein of silver in their joint claim or his wife. She’s beautiful and they have been real friendly; does Adam want him out of the way so they can get together? Adam turns and backhands him. Bill asks for a gun from his friend Arch. Arch says Bill asked for it and refuses, and won’t let Sammy give him one either. He holds Bill and tells Adam to get out before he gets himself killed. Adam slowly puts his hat on, finishes his whiskey and then turns and walks out.

That night in front of the fire, Ben asks how far a man has to go to fulfill a moral obligation -- does there come a time when he can say he has done as much as he can. Adam stares into the fire and insists if the obligation was there, it has to be completed. Ben warns him that, apart from his brothers, he stands alone. Adam asks “What about my father?” Ben looks up at his son: “Do you really have to ask that question?” For the first time, Adam smiles, looking at his father and he gives a slight laugh. “No I guess not,” acknowledges Adam.

Ben tells him that everyone in town think he is wrong, honestly mistaken, but dead wrong, out to destroy a man they like and they would be glad if he quit. Adam can only agree and accepts that the moral obligation is to them. Ben asks what he is going to do and Adam stares into the flames. “I’ll think about it and maybe I’ll turn out to be a bigger coward than either of us think I am.” (Ben knows his son won’t change. He looks as though he believes Adam but is worried his son will be caught in the middle, ending up hurt either physically or emotionally)

In town Adam answers a message and goes to see Bill’s wife. She is dressed to try and seduce him, and asks for a favor for an old friend. Adam smiles gently: “I take it you’re the old friend?” She tries to explain that just because he is a Cartwright, everyone takes what he says seriously and it makes it so hard for Bill, who has worked so hard to establish himself. She might have got somewhere, but an attractive girl and confident in her ability to manipulate men, she smoothes her finger over his lips (lucky girl). She comes close, promising that they can get even closer; she knows he has always liked her. She tries to get him to kiss her but Adam gently pushes her away and tells her that it isn’t going to work; all that she has done is confirm her husband’s guilt.

Next day, Adam takes Hoss out to show him a short cut he has found, cutting off 5 or 6 miles. They go to look and find fresh tracks and then a dead horse. A shot comes, just catching Adam, “tearing his shirt and a little hide” (I’ll patch him up…Please!) Hoss gives cover and Adam moves up but it’s Hoss who gets Arch Stewart. Adam accepts Arch is the other man but hadn’t figured it to be him.

They take the body and the brand from the horse into Roy, who accepts Arch is one of the robbers. He isn’t pleased with them…they should leave the sheriff’s work to the sheriff, they were lucky not to be hurt. Meantime he is disgusted with Adam and has asked Ben in deliberately, as Mary Enders had told him what Adam had been up to with her. Roy insists he has never been so shocked. “Adam…of all people!” Adam sits calmly sipping his coffee and asks what she had said. Roy says (his voice continually rising) “She was in tears, all broke up…a decent happily married young thing. How in the world could you do such a thing Adam?”

Ben intervenes: “This is absolutely ridiculous; Adam couldn’t do such a thing.” Ben insists that he doesn’t believe a word of it, but Roy just says everyone else will and believe that Adam was lying about Bill to get a clear run at Mary.

Ben accepts the criticism of Adam’s stubbornness but not the rest. Adam denies anything happening. Roy asks if he is saying Mary is lying. Adam nods. “She is, because she knows her husband is guilty.”

Roy insists Bill is innocent. He has witnesses proving Bill was in Virginia City and what’s more he has the real culprit, Sammy Yates, in a cell. He is a sidekick of Stewart’s and with $1500 of the money in his mattress, even if he did deny the story and claim the money was planted. Adam insists that this time the prisoner is telling the truth; Bill Enders planted it.

Roy tries to make Adam see that Sammy is the right size and Stewart’s errand boy, so it makes sense, but Adam is insistent that it was Enders he saw.

Roy is about to give up on him, the most stubborn ornery critter he’d ever met,

and asks Ben to talk to his son. Ben sighs, “I can try but it won’t do any good; once Adam gets that look on his face, he won’t change. And anyway he may well be right.”

Roy gives up on them and issues an order for Adam to stay away from Mary and Bill and out of the case and suggests Ben gets him out of the county, as he is not likely to live long if he stays around Virginia City.

Father and son are glad to get out and, after that session with Roy, they want to get a drink and go to meet Hoss in the saloon. (being cowboys, they mount up and ride the hundred yards to the saloon). Hoss is halfway through a beer but before they can get one, Bill comes in. Bill says that he knows why Adam had been trying to lie him onto the gallows, know what he has been doing to Mary and wants him to step outside. Bill’s hand hovers over his gun, but Adam keeps his hand well away from his and leans back. “Not today Bill” He takes Hoss’ beer and even as he is accused of being a dirty yellowback, he just says “Nope.”

Then Bill calls him a sneaking thieving lying coward, but again, Adam says “No.”

Bill, furious, says “Stand up as a man or I’ll shoot you down where you are.”

Everyone has cleared back but Adam just shakes his head. “I am not going to draw against you, Bill.”

“I’ll count to three and then I’ll shoot.” He begins to count and Ben and Hoss are ready to defend Adam but Roy comes in and breaks it up telling Ben to get his boy out of town.

They move out onto the street and Adam can see that his brother and father think he should have stood up to Bill. Ben won’t say anything but Hoss says “It wouldn’t have been a fair fight. Bill is faster on the draw; no point in getting yourself shot.”

Adam says “You still think I should have given him a try”

Hoss does but doesn’t want to admit it. He says “Folks are gonna say that you are scared.”

Adam smiles faintly “Folks would be right but I don’t want him to get away with three killings.”

Ben queries that and Adam explains, “Toby was one. He’s faster so I’ll be number two, and then with me gone, they’ll hang Sammy Yates. That makes three. Is the family pride worth three lives?”

Hoss doesn’t know and Adam promises to let Bill have a go at him, but first he is going to prove Bill is guilty. As a start, he is going to do the ride in under an hour and a half. They head home and, despite everything, Adam still tips his hat to a lady friend.

The next day Adam sets out on the ride, while his father and Roy await his arrival in town.

Bill is scared and gets his cousin to go and ambush Adam. Mary overhears and is upset at another murder. This time she knows in advance; it’s different. But Bill just says what is she going to do, tell the sheriff and see her husband hung? Can she live with that for the rest of her life? He kisses her and asks what would she do without him.

Ben sits in the hotel lobby and waits as Adam pushes hard over rough ground. Joe is waiting for him with a fresh mount and warns he is running ten minutes behind. Adam says he’ll kick harder and sets off at a run.

The ambusher is watching the trail but Bill isn’t the only one to know a large stretch of the road is visible from the ridge. Hoss is also there. As Enders picks up his gun to line up on Adam, Hoss pushes his revolver into the mans ribs, announcing that he doesn’t miss much from this range, and orders the man to drop it.

In town, as time passes, everyone gathers. As the call comes that Adam is going to make it, Bill goes to get on his horse to try and leave. Mary runs to tell the sheriff the truth about her husband (not wanting to end up in trouble with the law, even if she would have allowed Adam to be killed to keep her way of life). Roy tells Bill to stop and Bill shoots the sheriff, but Ben shoots him.

As Adam comes in, Mary is holding onto the injured Bill while every one else is grouped round the injured sheriff. Adam is ignored even by his own father.

Hoss and Joe aren’t far behind and Joe demands to know what happened. Adam says he didn’t make it, but they knew he had made the time, and Joe demands he explain. Adam tells him that Mary had confessed Bill’s guilt before he arrived and Bill will stand trial.

Ben says, “Thanks to Adam. Thanks to what we call his stubbornness. It takes courage for a man to hold onto his convictions. A good ride, son, all the way” and he claps his son on the back. Then with a smile at his sons, Ben suggests they get home and get the ubiquitous chores done!

REVIEWS:

“This was always a great favorite of mine with Adam in various moods from relaxed to worried, some great close ups of the Man in Black. Confident in his own senses even when everyone else argues. The support his brothers give him unquestioningly, even against their father, and the way Ben tries to make sure he can cope with any opposition by pushing him.” Lyn Robinson

“The way Ben, Hoss and Joe rallied around Adam -- even when they weren't convinced he was right -- was a "snapshot" of what Bonanza was all about. The Cartwrights supported each other, right or wrong, but more often than not, they were right. "The Ride" is a true Bonanza episode.” Susan Grote

“This episode is a classic Adam ep. You get to see all aspects of his personality. His strength and determination stand out to me the most with this episode. It also is another Bonanza episode with an interesting plot. It wasn't just an episode written and thrown together. It was suspenseful; you got to see how Adam solved the crime without violence. Kind of like watching Quincy or Barnaby Jones on Bonanza. One thing I've notice about episodes featuring Adam, the writers seemed to draw on Adam's intelligence. The episode wasn't just cut and dry but made you have to think. Kind of like the intensity and intelligence of Adam's character.” Nancy

“I always thought it was intriguing that Adam recognized the killer and that he stood up fiercely for what he believed even though he had to battle the views of him being a coward. It was a great one for all, all for one type story!” Deb

“I loved this episode, as Adam acted so laid back, and despite everyone’s opinions, he remained true to his convictions. I also share your feelings about Adam being ignored as different things occurred which proved his beliefs. I did think that "Pa" did at times show true care about Adam's feelings, and although he had his own doubts, he also wanted to believe Adam. He knew he raised his sons right.” Miss Maggie

“The complexity of Adam's character is really highlighted in this story…I especially liked the family interaction scenes. It took a lot of courage and a very different tact on the part of the writers not to let Adam take up Enders' challenge in the saloon. I really thought Adam was going to take the bait. Needless to say, Pernell was looking good in this episode! It was an exciting story and one of the better episodes.” Gail (whoa bunny, bonanza)

“This is an excellent show showcasing the integrity for which the Cartwrights are famous. There is one small act in the "bar scene" that always makes me smile. When Bill Enders calls Adam out and Adam refuses to take the bait, he takes a sip from Hoss' beer...those small nuances always get to me (like the time he eats Hoss' peanuts in The Abduction, drinks Joe's beer in The Quest...etc.) I don't know whether these scenes are adlibbed or not...all I know is that they attest to a closeness between the guys.” Lillian

“One of the other themes of this episode was Adam dealing with being called a coward. As Toby died in Adam's arms, he said something about how could Adam be so yellow. And Adam saying "But I knew who the man was, I was just being logical and rational... Why did you have to go get shot?" Then Adam is called a coward when he doesn't draw in the saloon. It was almost like he had to prove Enders was the murderer or all those accusations would be true.” Robin

“I like the way he handled Bill trying to call him out in a gunfight. It was so different from the way Joe would have handled it and showed one of the differences in the two brothers. Joe would have gone off angrily facing the guy and perhaps been killed, but Adam knew there were more important things than his pride. Even though Hoss thought Adam should have faced Bill; instead of saying so, just says folks will think he was afraid. Adam, admitting that they would be right, showed maturity on his part, too, but it was mainly so that another person wouldn't die needlessly.” Leesa