Bonanza is an NBC network Western television show that portrays the life of the Cartwrights while addressing problems and social issues experienced by the family and their surrounding community. John Furia, Jr. wrote the forty-fifth episode, Silent Thunder, which premiered on December 10, 1960. It was only the first among the several episodes Robert Altman directed for the show.

Albert Salmi and Stella Stevens are the special guest stars for this episode. Stella portrayed Ann Croft, a sheltered deaf and mute girl. Joe Cartwright tries to teach Ann sign language, but the girl’s overprotective father prevents this from happening. As seen throughout the episode, Ann “falls in love” with Joe. Later, she also saves her father.

Apart from the special guest stars, actors like Kenneth McKenna, James Griffith, Sherwood Price, and Harry Swoger also appeared in the episode. 

Read the plotline of Silent Thunder, including some interesting trivia, or watch the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of Silent Thunder

Watch the Full Episode of Silent Thunder:

Main Cast

Silent Thunder, the thirteenth episode of Bonanza’s second season, featured one-time guest actors in addition to the lead and recurring cast. The actors that appeared in the episode are as follows:

• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright (credit only)
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright (credit only)
• Albert Salmi as Albie
• Stella Stevens as Ann ‘Annie’ Croft
• Kenneth MacKenna as Sam Croft
• James Griffith as Preacher
• Sherwood Price as Eb
• Harry Swoger as Tom
• Michael Harris as Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
• Michael Jeffers as Townsman (uncredited)

Full Story Line for Silent Thunder

En route to Placerville, Little Joe finds Albie teasing a deaf and mute lady named Ann “Annie” Croft. He stops Albie, a simple-minded trapper obsessed with Annie, then accompanies her back to her home. Joe drops by to deliver the gun barrel to Annie’s father, Sam, along with a present she got for Annie. However, Sam thinks it’s no use bringing her a present since she can’t hear or talk. Joe gives the gift anyway, and Annie’s expression shows she loves the rag doll he gave.

Joe helps move the rest of Sam’s sheep before going to Placerville. He sits by Annie for a moment, where they watch their reflection by a small body of water. The two enjoy each other’s company, but Joe wishes for them to understand each other better.

Annie was looking for something to replace the missing eye of her rag doll after Albie got the button attached to it. However, Sam finds Annie holding his money pouch, thinking the present she received has corrupted Annie. She whips her palm twice, then prompts her never to do it again.

Joe returns to Annie to show the sign-language book he got from a doctor in Placerville. After mastering a few basics, Joe begins teaching Annie how to communicate through their hands. It was hard at first, but she quickly grasped what Joe meant after a while.

Annie and Joe go to Sam to show there’s still hope for Annie to communicate with people around her. However, Sam thinks it’s a foolish idea, thinking Annie’s just waving her hands around. Joe insists that Annie understands and that it’s best to consult the doctor to see what else they can do to help Annie. Although hesitant at first, Sam obliges.

The next day, Annie, Sam, and Joe visit Placerville to see the doctor. However, two men made fun of them, causing Sam to regret going to town and listening to Joe.

Sam returns to their house to see Albie harassing Annie. Albie argued that Sam never drove Joe off, to which Sam replied that Joe’s teaching Annie to talk. Before leaving, Albie states that Joe won’t marry anyone like Annie.

As the weeks go by, Annie quickly grasps the lessons that Joe teaches her. However, Joe finds difficulty in explaining the meaning of love. He attempts to use Ann’s love for her father and vice versa as an example. However, Ann misinterprets it, resulting in her revealing her feelings for Joe. She kisses Joe, but Joe gets enraged, insisting that they don’t love each other. Joe quickly apologizes, but Ann is already disturbed to see Joe’s reaction. She tears pages from the sign language book and runs off.

Joe goes to Sam to explain what happened. However, it only upset Sam. Joe argues that instead of being stubborn, Sam should have helped him teach Annie, especially since he’s her father. Joe leaves. Unbeknownst to them, Albie was listening from outside, delighted to see Joe depart. When Sam searches for Annie, Albie pushes him off to a ravine—a part of his plan to have Annie for himself.

Little Joe returns to the Ponderosa to tell Ben about his frustration and Sam’s stubbornness, seeking advice from his father. Ben advises that Joe go back to help Ann understand that what she felt was gratitude, not love.

Meanwhile, Annie discovers her injured father, who apologizes for keeping her from the town. Sam tells Annie that he loves her before going unconscious, and Annie signs that she loves him too.

Annie returns home to find Albie waiting on her. He rips Annie’s dress, corners her then tries to harass her, but she manages to escape.

Joe finds Annie at the mountain and asks what happened. Annie tells him through sign language that her father is hurt and needs help. However, Albie catches up, and the two fight off.

Joe and Ann run, with Albie still routing them, yet Albie catches up to them. Desperate to kill Joe, Albie gets his knife and runs toward him, but Joe manages to dodge him. Albie falls over the edge of the cliff, causing his death.

In the end, Ann finally realizes that her relationship with Joe is merely friendship. She understands that she loves her father and is willing to help and care for him.

Full Script and Dialogue of Silent Thunder

[Music]
[Applause]
so
hello
[Music]
[Music]
don't run away now alby isn't going to
hurt you
you're real pretty albie
wow hello there little joe
well leave her alone i'll be a scarer
now what are you doing up here on the
mountain
it's on my way to placerville come on
you're hurting her
oh i'm the only friend she's got up here
you know annie
at least why she don't give me no back
talk like the other women
she's not an animal in one of your traps
now let her go
i ain't hurting i just saying hello
oh you better not hurt her not over
you don't belong up here this ain't your
country
best you mind your own business
you bother annie i'll make it my
business
[Music]
this is my country and i'm gonna see it
stays that way
[Music]
hey
[Music]
all right stop working so hard sam you
got company huh
sorry little joe i got to touch a fever
i figured this might sweat it out of me
are you feeling any better
hey i brought you that gun barrel paw
said you need it and i got a little
present for annie
wasted time bringing her anything just
leave her be hey sam look
she's pretend she's a tree
[Music]
foolishness can't hear
can't talk don't understand them more
than
them dumb bishops
no use bringing her presents little joe
ah come on sam
anybody understands getting a present
suit yourself
getting on towards dinner you're welcome
to share it such as it is
thank you
[Music]
hello i brought you a little present
hey wait a second let me get it
i thought i thought i'd bring it as long
as i was coming it's not much
it's not gonna bite you oh come on take
it it's for you
yeah wait a second
here
[Music]
it's not much just just a rag doll
[Music]
don't worry i'm not gonna take it back
[Music]
[Applause]
how you you go right ahead and enjoy it
[Music]
so long
[Music]
well i'll see
i saw
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
it's good talking to you little joe man
gets out of the habit with nobody around
to listen
why do you stay up here sam it's best
well maybe it's best for you but what
about annie
must be something terrible wrong with a
man
a father a child like her
killed her ma bringing her into the
world
i reckon it ain't too much punishment
for me to raise her it's just an
accident the way she was born it's not
your fault
no no i won't hear any more about her
not from you not nobody
okay sam help you move the rest of those
sheep before i start after plastic
[Music]
all right i never knew a couple dozen
sheep could be so angry
almost as bad as people you that's funny
you know i've been talking to you all
day and i know you can't hear a word i'm
saying
hey what are you looking at now
hey that's what i call a right pretty
girl
hey look over here that fella right
there that's that handsome joe
cartwright
this guy's always watching me when i'm
shaving i just can't seem to get rid of
him
[Music]
all right what are you trying to fool me
without get behind your back
[Music]
it's real beautiful
that sure is pretty
i guess you don't need to know how to
talk to say everything
thanks
i i wish i could make you understand
look
look i'm trying to tell you i like it
thank you
[Music]
oh howdy preacher well then hey it's
good to see you again
thank been walking in the way of the
lord
well i've i've been doing a lot of
walking
since you were up here near spring the
last time you came by here
no i guess it was you dropping in on sam
too
well you don't think i'd be swapping
tails and telling news about annie
she's a child of god son for all the way
mater
that's a fact preacher about you about
time you married and
raised a family isn't it plenty of
unmarried girls in town
town girl once said i had the smell of a
trapper on me
it's like meat that's not cured right
you'll find the right girl soon enough
come on now
the word of the love will come your mind
and your soul
for thou rightest bitter things against
me and will consume me
for the sins of my youth amen
i'm paying for my sins preacher hey
you sam that why you always getting them
children fever
every man is tempted by the devil aldi
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
foreign
no albie hearing the word of god is
man's
only salvation true preacher true
if i could only read the lord's word
i could bear up under his suffering yeah
even if and you could read sam who would
you read it to
getting cramp sitting all this time
i think i'll go out for a while
man born of woman living a short life is
filled with many miseries
who will make him clean that is
conceived of unclean sea
[Music]
[Applause]
wow
[Music]
come on let me see if i ain't gonna take
it
oh it's a button huh i guess you ain't
got much that's better have you
huh
no matter what you are you show up ready
look you must get lonesome too look i'm
trying just trying to be nice to you
that's
all come on come on
i've been trapping for over a week man
likes a woman i'll be waiting when he
gets back
come on
i want to hear some sort of stick of
water something come on
you came here you can't talk haven't you
got any feelings
yeah that's not so bad now is it huh
ellie where are you
you're in there in that shed come on
preacher i'm not finished with you yet
i'll be back
what are you doing in that [ __ ] albeit
well i'd just help him sam catch up with
his chores preacher
oh that's good with you abby sam's got a
lot of fever a good idea if you stop
around whenever you can
don't worry preacher i'm gonna be around
a lot more
now good
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
so
so what you doing here girl
you should be out with a sheep
what are you hiding up with it girl
i want you never touch me money pouch
corrupted by a present you've done an
evil
thing you must be punished
[Music]
at least if you can't hear i know you
can feel
i take no joy in hurting you i'm your
father
it's my duty to teach you right and
wrong as best i can
thou shalt not steal
[Music]
thou shalt not steal
[Music]
[Applause]
don't look at me with them sad eyes
i can't stand to see suffering written
on your face
and not a word coming from your tongue
not even sobbing
put it back so you'll remember
never do it again
[Music]
so
hey sam sam croft
hey where do you see what i brought you
from placerville
come on all right it's really for you
anyway
what do you see what it is see i got to
talk to this doctor in placerville
and i told him all about you and he gave
me this
here here take it hey sam
sam it's a
it's a book of sign language and you can
learn to talk once you once you
understand these signs
it's not hard either because i learned a
whole bunch of them on the way out here
i assure you you don't even know what
i'm talking about come on
come on
now listen you
can learn to talk and to hear
just like other people only with these
with your hands
let me see how i'm going to do this
first page now look
a flower see the picture
a flower just like the picture
a flower you see
flower this is the sign flower
now you do it
all right watch me once more flower
just like you're smelling a real nice
flower
what's the matter
there's nothing in my hand i'm not
trying to fool you hey
forget that we gotta go to another
girl you
girl girl cuz your cheeks real real nice
and soft
give me your hand just like that
girl
wow
boy boy
just just like tipping my hat my boy i
could tip tip my head
you don't understand are you
it's gonna be a lot tougher than i
thought
please i can't make it any plainer i
don't know why you can't understand it
that's it that's it what's this for
oh annie look this isn't some kind of a
game
i'm doing my best to teach you this sign
language
look i want you to be able to talk and
to understand people when they talk to
you can't you see that
well i guess you never will
you couldn't hear that
of course of course you feel it
here here you feel that
that's what talking is feel it
here feel it feel the ground
look you can talk like that
look
see that i'm talking to you with my
hands
that's it that's it you understand
you do understand this girl
boy boy tipping your head
a beautiful flower
there isn't a person who can talk or
hear they can ever understand the way
you feel
[Applause]
i'm so happy
great rain
just just like the drops going down
you want to learn it all all right you
will
it'll take time and it'll take work
but you will
you trying to tell me that there's any
hope
when i've lived my whole life with a
weight of a pressing on me heart like a
stone
oh you watch sam you see for yourself
now you are going to talk
to your father
you understand
boy
girl
flower
book
that ain't talking that's just like
indian sign
that's right that's right only better
you're a fool little joe
she's just waving her arms around how do
you know she understands what she's
doing
see for yourself she understands all
right
you know what them signs mean do you
you girl he boy
what am i what am i
what am i
why can't i i'm scaring her sam i tell
you she does understand no
no no she's not an animal sam help her
bring her to town if you don't believe
me let the doctor see her no
doctor can give that poor girl what she
was robbed of at birth
she'll never change she can learn to
understand but not if you don't help her
not if you don't give her a chance
sam
look at her she's talking to you with
her hands
she's telling you she went out into the
rain and got the book
now do you believe me
she's not one of your sheep sam she's
your daughter
so
[Music]
oh you wait here i'll save the docs in
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
ah
[Music]
oh
your near got killed
ain't that the old coot who lives up in
the mountains yeah sam croft
he only comes down about twice a year
you know i thought he lived by himself
he's been holding out on us yeah
well sam crawford now where'd you get a
pretty little thing right
there huh you've been holding out on us
sam uh what do you want tom
well you went out and got yourself a
little company huh
she's she's my daughter who you trying
to fool
leave us alone so sam been treating you
right
hmm well what do you say i'm talking to
you
she she don't talk much to strangers
well now how come
is she too good for fellas like us yeah
let me get a good look at her
no i don't give me that you wanted sam
well you got to come and take it uh uh
please leave us alone we ain't doing you
no harm
i'm saying if the girl wants upon it let
her ask for it real pretty like huh
now i bet i can make you talk to us
now leave her alone leave her alone
leave alone
[Music]
so
it's only that old mountain goat sam
croft
get out of here
come on papi he ain't worth shooting
oh we're just having a little fun
you both all right well we ain't hurt
good come on send the doctor's in oh we
ain't going to know doctor
we shouldn't have come here in the first
place shouldn't have listened to you
what's the matter what are you talking
about we belong in the mountains me and
the girl both
we ain't fit for no town and the town
ain't fit for us
sam for once think of what's right for
anne that's who i'm thinking of now get
out of my way
[Music]
how's it coming along son you know
you've been spending
much more time up at the crafts these
past few months than here
fire just wouldn't believe it my ann's
learned so much already we can carry on
a regular conversation
ah how's sam croft still as stubborn
about it as ever
that man's impossible told me he'd never
let us see the doctor not ever i sure
hope i can get him to change his mind
joe
you don't think you're uh
over your head uh what do you mean
well sometimes it's best not to you know
push people too hard and
leave well enough alone oh why should i
leave him alone he's not going to help
her somebody has to
no no sometimes helping
looks like meddling don't worry if i
know the difference
joe take care of yourself up there sure
i will paw
[Music]
sam you in there
[Music]
so
oh there you are i was awful lonely out
in the traps
what's that new kind of game huh you
want me to play a little game with you
huh i got you all alby's missed you a
lot but he's gonna make it all up to
oh now sammy no need to bring a gun up
on me
get away from her
and keep away i don't see you running
joe cartwright off a hill maybe you
think he's a better man and i
joe cartwright's teaching her to talk
i'll bet you he's teaching her to talk
move or i'll blow your head off
all right all right sam
just remember with all that money and
all them girls in town joe cartwright
ain't interested in marrying anyone like
[Music]
[Applause]
annie
all right last one for today
it's gonna be a tough one
[Music]
love love
your father helps you
your father gives you food
you live
in your father's house
you love your father
your father loves you
you're saying i could say you love
flowers and you'd know that
it was good i teach you to talk yeah
[Music]
no no no
that's wrong you
don't love me
[Music]
now that is wrong you
don't love me
[Music]
now look you don't love me you don't
love me and i don't love you
[Music]
i i didn't want to hurt you
annie please look at
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
so
[Music]
oh
all of a sudden for no reason she should
try to kiss me she tried to kiss you
she did kiss me as a matter of fact
i guess she got upset she ran away
i should have been watching you all
along
you should have been watching me
you should have been watching me you
should have been helping me
instead of being so stubborn teaching
our what
kissing all kinds of sin
you keep away from her
all right sam all right i'll keep away
from her
you're a father you tried teaching her
for a change
[Applause]
[Music]
goodbye little joe cartwright
[Music]
hey
[Music]
hello sam i'm looking for ann
i told you i didn't like a gun thrown on
me how's it feel
where's anne have you gotta no i ain't
gotta
but i will have after you meet with an
accident
you see sam i'm gonna be a hero i'm
gonna take care of annie after you die
in an accident
so you just walked out well what was i
supposed to do
she completely misunderstood oh and then
her father
i go in and i try to explain it to him
and he starts like so it's accusing me
of all kinds of things
that's really funny he doesn't try to
help her himself if you insisted on
starting this you can't walk up before
you finish it
i understand that i'm not a little kid
aren't you
if you understand it and still walk out
then you're just a little kid now wait a
minute
don't you raise your voice to me boy and
don't you call me a little kid
joe you
opened a door to the world for this girl
you let her look out for the first time
uh gratitude for you must be
overwhelming to say the least
all right fine fine all i was trying to
do was help her
you can't shove someone into the water
and then not wait around to see if they
can swim
she has a father no you started it you
were the one who tampered with those two
lives and you can't abandon them now
what do you want me to do mario
help me i don't know what to do
go back no i can't
i can't go back there and hurt her
anymore you must make her understand
that
what she feels for you is gratitude
not love oh she'll be hurt
a little bit but you'll get over it if
you don't go back
she'll remain hurt forever
i think i'll go for a ride
i can't hardly feel
nothing
what's to become of you and
i've kept you up here hidden
ashamed me owned flesh and blood
forgive me daughter if you can
i love you anne i always did
[Music]
well i knew you'd be back sooner or
later
you're still playing games with me
i'm gonna teach you more than joe caught
right ever did
you're worried about your paw your paw
ain't coming back you're gonna stay with
me
all right now look now just take it easy
you be nice to alby and alfie is going
to be nice to you
i'll even buy you a new dress
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
come back ain't no place to go
look at me look at me what happened
your father hurt needs help
where he fell
stay out of this card right
you do this to her alby
what she trying to tell you what
happened to sam
what are you talking about and he says
sam's been hurt
now don't fool with me you know she
can't talk
catchy alby
ugh
[Applause]
uh
[Music]
[Music]
uh
what would the doctor say they said he'd
be all right
but he'll need a lot of care
did you uh have you spoken to her yet
about
yeah good you better tell her her father
would be all right
your father
be all right
doctor says your father
will be all right
what what'd she say
she said she'd help you take care of you
she says she loves you very much
[Music]
joe yeah what's
the sign for daughter
[Music]
it's easy
[Applause]
[Music]
so
[Music]
you

Behind the Scenes of Silent Thunder

The episode title in German is “Zeichen in der Stille,” which translates as “A Sign In The Silence.”

Albert Salmi (Albie) makes his first four appearances in the series.

This episode marks Stella Stevens’ (Ann ‘Annie’ Croft) only appearance in the series.

Albert Salmi (who played Albie), and his wife, Roberta, were found dead on April 22, 1990, in a murder-suicide, according to police. The police believe Albert shot his estranged wife before turning the gun on himself.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Bonanza, the Western television program that depicts the adventures of the fictional Cartwright family, is a terrific show to watch alone or with your beloved ones. NBC network televised all 14 seasons on their channel from September 1959 to January 1973. Silent Thunder is the 45th episode out of 430 and the thirteenth for the program’s second season.

You can find more about any of the 430 Bonanza episodes here>>