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.

Watch the Full Episode of Tax Collector

Watch the Full Episode of Tax Collector:

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>>