Death at Dawn

EPISODE: Death at Dawn

Episode #32, Season 1, Original air date: April 30, 1960

Guest Star: Robert Middleton, Nancy Deale (who became Nancy Greene), Gregory Walcott

Written by Laurence Mascott

Directed by Charles F. Hass

SUMMARY:

The story opens with Joe walking down the sidewalk past some rough looking cowboys. The cowboys harass Joe, who initially tries to ignore them but then gets ready to take them on. Ben arrives just in time to stop Joe from getting into a fight. When Joe complains about how someone can't event walk down the street any more, Ben agrees but points out that Joe getting beat-up won't solve the problem. Grudgingly, Joe sees his father's point, and goes off to help Hoss load the supplies at the General Store. (This is obviously an early episode. In the later years, Joe would have been beaten up, Hoss and Adam would have rounded up the bad guys, and Ben and Roy Coffee would have put them in jail).

At the General Store, Hoss is loading the buckboard with sacks and stuff and Joe begins to help his brother. Inside the store, a gunman named Farmer Perkins is trying to extort money from Cameron, the store owner. Cameron tells Perkins he won't pay. Just as Cameron's wife, Beth, enters the room, Perkins pulls his gun and shoots Cameron. Joe and Hoss rush in to see what all the fuss is about. Beth Cameron screams that Perkins killed her husband, and Hoss and Joe make a "citizen's arrest" (they should have just shot the guy and saved everyone the hassle of a trial, but of course, good guys don't do that).

Farmer Perkins is hauled off to jail and locked up by a sheriff who is not Roy Coffee. The Cartwrights immediately know this guy isn't up to the job of keeping Virginia City safe (after all, he's not Roy Coffee). Sam Bryant shows up just then to bail Farmer Perkins out, and taunts the Cartwrights about being "in charge of things" as he and Perkins leave. (There's a great little bit here...as Bryant taunts the Cartwrights, Joe takes a step forward as if he's getting ready to take on Bryant, but Ben grabs him by the arm and pulls him back, keeping his son under control. I like this little "father-son" bit).

After Bryant and Perkins leave, the Cartwrights complain to the not-Roy-Coffee sheriff about the sad state of Virginia City. The sheriff agrees, and says he needs help to clean up the town. He then throws four deputy badges on his desk, and states he needs help as he looks straight at Ben and the boys (sort of "put your money where your mouth is" look). Reluctantly, Ben and his sons agree to act as deputies.

Ben goes to talk to Beth Cameron (played by the future Mrs. Lorne Greene...must have had some interesting breaks on THAT set!). At first, Mrs. Cameron is too frightened to admit she saw Perkins kill her husband, but eventually admits the truth. Ben then sends his sons over to the saloon to arrest the strangely named Farmer Perkins again. Adam, Hoss and Joe surround Perkins at the saloon, and Adam arrests the gunman, hustling him off to jail while Joe and Hoss guard his back (something symbolic about them watching Adam's back, I think).

Farmer Perkins is brought to trial, and Perkins and his pals treat the whole proceeding as a big joke. They figure everyone in town is too scared of them to testify. Perkins claims self-defense in a mocking statement on the stand. Joe and Hoss try to testify, telling the judge they know Perkins is guilty, but when they admit they didn't actually see the shooting, the judge won't allow them to offer testimony. So it's back to the only witness - Beth Cameron - who after much persuading finally comes to court and testifies she saw Perkins kill her husband.

The judge immediately sentences Perkins to hang.

Later that night, after seeing the judge off, Ben is walking back alone to the jail down a dark, deserted street (yeah, that was a smart move), and he's is grabbed by several gunman. He's taken to a barn, where Sam Bryant and two of his henchman demand Ben write a note to his sons, telling them to release Perkins or he'll be hanged by Bryant. Ben, of course, refuses, believing in truth, justice, and the power of his three sons who have guns. Bryant sends a note to the jail anyway, threatening to hang Ben if Perkins isn't released.

At the jail, Adam, Hoss, Joe and the not-Roy-Coffee sheriff try to decide what to do about Bryant's note. Adam suggests they ignore the note, causing Bryant to wonder if they got it. He points out Bryant will have to send another note to be sure, and when he does, the Cartwrights and the not-Roy-Coffee sheriff can grab the messenger and force him (i.e. beat him up until he talks) to tell them where Bryant is holding Ben. Everyone thinks this is a swell plan, and positions themselves to wait for the second message.

Sure enough, a second message is delivered by one of Bryant's henchmen. However, Adam's brilliant plan goes awry when the messenger sees the not-Roy-Coffee sheriff and shoots him. Joe, in turn, plugs the messenger with six bullets (obviously, Joe hadn't thought about just shooting the guy in the leg or something so he'd still be alive to talk). Hoss takes the not-Roy-Coffee deputy to the doctor, and then he and Joe return to the jail to see what really keen idea Adam comes up with next.

At the jail, a heated discussion erupts about what to do next. Joe wants to go out and beat up everyone he can find until someone tells him where his father is. Adam disagrees, claiming he understands Bryant (after all, he studied in college back east and probably had to take Psych 101 as a required course). Adam suggests they go ahead a hang Perkins, telling his brothers that this will cause Bryant to understand that if he harms Ben, he'll be in big trouble. Joe thinks this is a lousy plan and will get his father killed. Hoss, ever the diplomat, allows that Adam might be right, but if he's wrong, this is not a good thing. Then comes the most dramatic moment of the episode: Joe looks at Adam and says angrily, "What if you're wrong, Adam? Will you put flowers on my father's grave and tell him you're sorry?" Adam gives Joe a pained look and says in a choked voice, "He's my father, too". (good stuff!!)

Finally, Joe and Hoss agree that Adam can go ahead and hang Farmer Perkins if he wants (apparently thinking Adam has some strange ways to spend his free time), but they are going out looking for Ben. First one to find Ben wins.

Meanwhile back at the barn, Bryant is getting nervous because it looks likes Farmer Perkins is going to hang despite his threat. He accuses Ben of having sons who would risk his life rather than let a bad guy go free (obviously, Bryant has never watched an episode of Bonanza...they never let the bad guy go free!).

Ben in turn tells Bryant that his sons are doing just what he expects and he's proud of them. Two of Bryant's' henchmen - one young and one older - listen in. The older gunman figures out things are going badly and bails out. The younger one, however, thinks Bryant is just wonderful, and offers to help hang Ben if necessary (obviously, this is a guy whose elevator doesn't go to the top).

As the night wears on, Joe and Hoss continue to look for Ben, nearly causing a riot in the saloon until Adam comes to rescue them. Despite their best efforts, Joe and Hoss have no idea where their father is, and agree to go ahead with Adam's plan to hang Perkins.

The dawn breaks and events come to a climax. Adams tells Perkins he is going to hang shortly and offers to get him a preacher, but Perkins scoffs at both the offer and the idea that Adam will go through with the hanging. In the barn, Bryant has Ben on a wagon with a noose around his neck. Once more, Bryant begs Ben to tell his sons to release Perkins but Ben refuses. With a sense of desperation, Bryant sends his young gunman to see if the Cartwright boys have let Farmer Perkins go.

As the sun rises, Adam stands in the yard behind the jail and watches as Farmer Perkins is hanged. Out in the street, Joe and Hoss grab Bryant's young gunman, who is initially stunned as he realizes Perkins has been hung. Then the young henchman starts bragging that Bryant has hanged Ben. Suddenly, Bryant comes down the street, walking Ben toward the jail. Bryant calls to the Cartwright boys that their father is fine, and that he hasn't harmed Ben (except for terrorizing him and costing him a night's sleep!). Adam's analysis of Bryant has proven to be correct - Bryant is releasing Ben because he's worried that he will have to face the consequences if he doesn't. (Adam, it should be noted, refrains from saying smugly to his brothers, "I told you so").

However, the young gunman (who, as earlier noted, is one can short of six-pack) is appalled that Bryant, his hero, has caved in and released Ben. The gunman grabs a rifle and shoots at Bryant, narrowing missing Ben (who was thinking, "Dang, I almost get hung and now I almost get shot!"), and killing Bryant. The Cartwright boys in turn kill the young henchman (saving the cost of a trial and another hanging). Then Adam, Hoss and Joe rush up to their father, who wearily thanks them. Then Ben put his arm around Joe, and the Cartwrights walk off into the sunset (or in this case, the sunrise), ready to save Virginia City from itself on yet another day.

REVIEWS:

“This is one of the earlier episodes I like primarily because of the interaction between the Cartwrights. Ben demonstrates a fatherly affection and protection with Joe. Adam, Hoss, and Joe fuss at each other as they desperately try to save their father, but in the end the boys stand united. This episode also is part of the first season’s effort to show each of the character’s personalities – Joe’s volatility, Adam’s reasoned calm, Hoss’ desire to keep everyone happy, and Ben’s confidence in his sons’ ability to both “do the right thing” and save him as well.” Susan Grote

“I love the way Pa stops Joe from fighting in the beginning and how he watches over Joe, even in the courtroom. Little Joe at his best in this one. Hot headed and mad yet the vulnerability showing. It was a show that really let us in on the personalities of all the characters!” Deb

“I like the first father/son moment near the beginning and the way Ben appears so quickly from across the street--he knows Joe well and realizes that a fight will ensue if he doesn't intervene and diffuse the situation. Joe is a little upset at the interference at first, until Ben points out that there were other men ready to back up the bullies who were trying to start something. I also like the way the brothers stand together, even though they may disagree with what methods to use, in the end, they stick with one another to try to save their father. Ben's pride in his sons is also moving--it seems he never had any doubt that his sons would do the right thing and not release Farmer, no matter what.“ Leesa

“I like the way Adam has to stand on his own but then his brothers come back to support him even before they know Ben is okay.” Lyn

I do like this ep, as I think it does a lot to define the characters of all the Cartwright's. Hoss and Joe might not agree with Adam, but they go along with his plan to call Bryant's bluff, even though they are gambling with Ben's life, and this shows that when Pa is absent, they do look to Adam to lead them. My favorite bit is the end when Ben says that the boys sure look good to him and they all walk down the street together.” Lynne (Little Joe forever)

“When Adam apprehensively admits that he took into consideration the possibility that he might be wrong was a powerful profession of his primal fear - not being the "perfect" son who can resolve any situation. I thought this was an excellent "family" episode.” Lillian

“I do agree, this was an early character defining episode. What I liked about it though, was the emotional realism... We get to see Joe's impulsiveness, depth of feeling, surging anger. Adam shows suppressed coolness, wisdom and undying faith in justice. I always had a soft spot for Joe and Adam, but this episode really helped me to see inside the boys’ hearts and souls. All of it surrounded by a love for their Father, Ben Cartwright. What a gift! You get to witness Ben's faith and love for his sons unconditionally and his trust in them that they will do the right thing. That's what sticks with me in this episode oh and of course the Cartwright's once again saving the day!” Nancy

“I also love the "He's my father too." part...each son responds to their crisis with their "trademark" behaviors...Joe leaps in with both fists flying...Hoss using both heart and muscle... Adam being logical and appearing cool and calm but really also seething....and all three desperately devoted to Pa. Adam automatically is the leader and the others follow, even if they disagree, Adam got final vote.” Robin

I love that bit where Ben pulls Joe back when Joe is being goaded and I like how Ben goes rushing over there but pretends that Joe must have not heard him call so that Joe won't be embarrassed. I have an article where Michael is talking about when they filmed part of this episode: “In one scene I was supposed to be stalking an outlaw. He was hiding in this alley between two of the studio built western stores. My part there was to run along the ‘boardwalk’ so that he could hear me coming, but instead of running straight around the corner into his bullets, I had to dive full length into the space between the two stores, twisting in the air as I did so, plus drawing my pistol, and shooting the guy before I hit the ground. Brother! You oughta try it! I had to do the same scene over and over again until the director was satisfied and was I sore!” Helen

“Loved the mention of Ben advising Joe that it was not worth getting beat-up over...as they saved that for future episodes. When Joe says to Adam, "What if you're wrong Adam? Will you put flowers on my father's grave and tell him you're sorry?" Is very dramatic and Adam's response is now one I consider so typical of Adam...."He's my father, too. “The Cartwrights solidarity shows clear, here as they stand united despite their personal, first thoughts on how to handle a problem. I am still surprised by what I now view as a lot of violence, that I took for granted so long ago. I guess the hanging got to me, but I found many of these earlier shows more violent, yet still very captivating.” Miss Maggie

“I liked that part where Joe shot those baddies who were fighting with the sheriff before they got him to the doc’s office. Did ya notice that weird face that that Bryant’s younger henchman makes while putting that rope around Ben's neck second time?” Karine

“The individual Cartwright personalities are nicely illustrated in this. One moment that was so typical Joe cracks me up, when Hoss tells his plan about following the bad guy who delivers the second note and Joe breaks in with "and then we jump him!" before Hoss can finish stating his less violent plan of just trailing him back to Ben. I, too, like how the 3 boys stick together in supporting Adam's plan even though they don't completely agree with it. And I like the sheriff. He's intelligent and practical, much better than those other wimpy not-Roy-Coffees we were stuck with at times - and more believable, too.” Sue W.

“Two things I notice about this episode: 1) Ben seems unsure about how deal with Bryant until he hears that Adam has announced that the hanging of Farmer Perkins will proceed. Then he smiles and becomes much more confident - the Ben we know confronting the bad guys, with his sense of justice. 2) This episode has a rare if the only instance of Adam moving to stand beside Ben as the boys gather 'round their father at the end of the episode, as if Adam needs the reassurance from Ben that everything really did turn out okay. Most of the time Adam is on the outside, in more ways than one, IMHO.” Melissa J.