Bonanza, a Western television series, narrates the adventurous tales of the fictional Cartwright family as they live at the Ponderosa ranch and fight off the forces of crime and greed. Richard Newman wrote the program’s fiftieth episode, The Bride, which aired on January 21, 1961.

A woman named Jennifer (Suzanne Lloyd) appears at the Ponderosa, claiming to be Ben’s new wife and backed with a marriage license to support her claims. Upon Ben’s return, the Cartwrights quickly realized that a con artist posed as their father to deceive Jennifer. The brothers head to Crater Plains to confront the imposter, determined to recover Jennifer’s money and reputation. However, their endeavor led them to a setup.

Future Batman star Adam West plays Frank Milton. Meanwhile, other cast members include John McIntire (Sheriff Mike Latimer), William Mims (Ed Bailey), Hank Worden (Old Miner), Mickey Simpson (Miner), Herb Vigran (Bartender), and Clarence Straight (Driver).

Read The Bride‘s plot, which includes some interesting trivia, or watch the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Bride

Watch the Full Episode of The Bride:

Main Cast

The Bride, the eighteenth episode of Bonanza’s second season, featured some of the show’s recurring and guest stars in addition to the lead actors. The cast members for this episode are as follows:

• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• John McIntire as Sheriff Mike Latimer
• Suzanne Lloyd as Jennifer Lane
• Adam West as Frank Milton
• William Mims as Ed Bailey
• Hank Worden as Ned Birch - Old Miner
• Mickey Simpson as Miner
• Herb Vigran as Bartender
• Chuck Hamilton as Townsman (uncredited)
• Michael Jeffers as Townsman (uncredited)
• Bob Miles as Deputy (uncredited)
• Rex Moore as Townsman (uncredited)
• John Rice as Townsman (uncredited)
• John Roy as Townsman (uncredited)
• Ray Spiker as Townsman (uncredited)
• Clarence Straight as Driver (uncredited)
• Sailor Vincent as Townsman (uncredited)

Full Story Line for The Bride

A woman named Jennifer arrives at the Ponderosa, surprising the Cartwright boys as she claims to be their father’s new wife. Since Ben isn’t home yet, Adam finds it odd for him to send his alleged wife to the Ponderosa alone. Meanwhile, captivated by Jennifer’s beauty, Hoss and Joe didn’t mind the circumstance, believing their father could no doubt remarry.

Ben returns home that evening, surprised when his sons brought up him getting married. When Adam fetched Jennifer to show Ben, she was disappointed that the man in front of her wasn’t the person she married. Jennifer explains that he met the other “Ben Cartwright” in Crater Plain, who told him about his sons and the Ponderosa. She also revealed that she loaned the other “Ben” 4,000 dollars—the money left by her parents as a legacy—when he brought up buying cattle for the Ponderosa. The Cartwrights feel bad for Jennifer after realizing someone swindled her for money.

The Cartwrights and Jennifer ride over to Crater Plain, determined to confront the imposter and reclaim Jennifer’s money. When they arrive in town, Hoss and Ben visit sheriff Mike while Adam and Little Joe assist Jennifer to the hotel. As they were talking to the sheriff, news about an old miner’s death came, blaming Ben Cartwright after a letter appeared with the dead body. The sheriff arrests Ben for murder. Hoss tells Jennifer what happened as it seems the sheriff got Ben mixed up with the person who conned her.

Jennifer visits the sheriff to talk about Ben. However, to Ben’s surprise, Jennifer tells the sheriff they got the right man in jail. The sheriff initially refused to believe, but Jennifer showed him a marriage license to prove herself as Ben’s wife.

Frank, the con artist, visits Jennifer in her hotel room. It appears that they know each other, working together to trick people.

When the city clerk, Eb, arrives at sheriff Mike’s office, Mike asks him to verify the marriage license and if the man in jail was the person he wed. Eb confirms it’s the “Ben” on the marriage license, much to the Cartwright’s dismay. Ben asks Mike to visit Virginia City. However, Mike refused since it’ll be a long journey back and forth, and he had no idea about the town.

Adam confronts Jennifer about her lies. Frank aimed his gun at Adam and was about to fire when Jennifer blocked his way. Seeing he can’t stop Jennifer, Frank lets Adam leave. Jennifer thinks getting Ben to jail and his sons in town was enough, but Frank argues wanting to take over the Ponderosa.

Adam tells Hoss and Little Joe about what happened in Jennifer’s hotel room. However, the townspeople stopped them when they were about to leave the saloon after confirming they were the Cartwrights. Eb insists they leave town after the presumed “Ben” killed their friend, Ned Birch. When the townspeople refuse to let them go, Little Joe and Hoss point their guns, shoving people out of the way. However, sheriff Mike arrives, stopping them from moving further out. He takes their guns and locks them up with their father to keep them safe. Meanwhile, Adam managed to escape.

Jennifer dislikes the idea of the town getting involved with their situation, especially after knowing Frank killed the old miner. She insists they leave with the money, but Frank refuses. Adam jumps in from the window, and they engage in a fight, leading to Frank’s death. Jennifer reveals that their plan only involved her pretending to be Mrs. Ben Cartwright, as this was what Frank asked her to do.

Adam returns to the sheriff with Jennifer, who immediately confesses lying about being Mrs. Cartwright. As the mob approaches, Jennifer tells them that the Cartwrights are innocent and that she lied. However, sheriff Mike aims his gun at Adam, who manages to fire back at the sheriff. Adam asks sheriff Mike why he tried to kill her. Sheriff Mike reveals that he wanted the Ponderosa for himself, considering there’s not much he can gain with his salary.

The Cartwrights return to the Ponderosa, admiring the beauty of their place.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Bride

[Music]
we still got quite a ways to go before
we get to the ranch house man
i have never seen anything as beautiful
as all this in my whole life
yeah
the ponderosa is really something all
right
all this is a ponderosa it sure is
biggest spread this side the sacramento
valley
folks around here claim it could be
biggest western
and it all belongs to ben cartwright
it sure does
ben and the boys raise more cows and
sell more timber than anyone else in the
territory
you know i've heard so much about that
beautiful house he built up here in the
mountains i can't wait to see it
[Music]
this is it man you can unload my luggage
here please and very carefully
thank you
i expect when you get ready to leave
here
ben cartwright will tend to it himself
no more need for me i'm sure i'm in good
hands now yes
and i thank you oh thank you man
thank you very kindly
excuse me
[Applause]
fine horse isn't it
oh
yes
he's purebred stock we poured them all
away from kentucky kentucky
that is a long way isn't it
you must be the one they call horse well
no ma'am not not horse not h-o-r-s-e
just plain horse h-o-s-s
well house when you're finished here
would you please take my luggage inside
ma'am you are you sure you got the right
place
this is the ponderosa isn't it
yes well then i'll come to the right
place
oh you know i would have known you
anywhere you're exactly as ben described
you then ma'am yes then i'm mrs
cartwright and this is ben cartwright
[Music]
you mean to tell me that paul would get
married and send the bride back here by
herself now there's something wrong and
what did you have to put her up here for
i don't know what the heck you expect me
to do tired of the hitching rail out
there and leave her well you could have
come after me how am i going to do that
you and joe were both up in the flats
italian come on adam settle down you
know there's nothing else he could do
besides what's the harm when pie comes
back you clear the whole thing up one
way or the other dad burn it joe don't
this meat off
come come on what's she like
oh where do you see her she is really
something hmm
sounds like quite a woman
not interested in what it looks like i'm
interested in finding out what this is
all about oh you think it's so
impossible that our party get married i
think it's impossible that he'd do it
this way yes if either one of you had
any sense you'd see it that
[Music]
[Applause]
gentlemen
may i join you
uh
i i'm joe cartwright well how do you do
joe
damn this this is our older brother adam
your father told me you'd be surprised
but
i hope that isn't disappointment i see
on your face
ma'am it takes our brother adam a little
longer to get used to things
have you uh
known my father long miss not miss adam
mrs
mrs jennifer cartwright
and no i only knew your father a few
days but well it seemed like a long time
it seemed like i'd known your father all
my life
well now isn't it a little unusual to
marry a man you've only known for a few
days
it's unusual but not impossible
not for us
ain't that romantic joke
if uh
you'll excuse me for saying so man
looking at you i can see that might
happen
well thank you little joe
you know i appreciate you saying that
even though ben did tell me you were the
flatterer at the group
uh miss i'd like to know where my father
is and why he didn't come back with you
he still had some more cattle to buy and
after all a trip like that's no place
for a honeymoon
but he didn't start out to buy stock
no and he didn't start out to get
married either but he did
oh look i
i know this has been a big surprise to
you but when your father gets home he'll
explain it all ah that's right adam
hey look why don't we uh why don't we
have a drink celebrate i'll get it
here's to the card rights tahas
little joe
adam
ben
and jennifer
[Music]
i just don't understand it now he had no
intention of getting married and even if
he did he wouldn't do it this way he
wouldn't do without telling us
she's going to hear a word you're saying
i don't care what she hears oh come on
adam calm down will you
she hasn't done anything to you
besides this isn't even any of our
affair well it's pause affair and that
makes it mine and it should make it
yours
well from what i see i think it would be
a good idea he could have known a lot
worse
hey anyway we're going to find out now
[Music]
hey yeah boys welcome home thank you
have a nice trip just fine horse just
fine
you uh
find any new breeding stock this trip
huh
green start
with the carson to see the railway
people about selling some timber for
that new line they're planning up no
that
paul you didn't meet nobody knew or
nothing
i stopped beating around the bush did
you get married
did i what
there's a woman inside who claims she's
mrs ben cartwright
i says i married her yes
it's a real good looking woman
oh she is huh well uh
let's have a look at this good looker
are you joining me boys
all right
where is this uh good-looking woman
oh she's uh
she's upstairs bob
oh is she well uh i guess you'd better
have her come down man boy i think she's
asleep she's kind of tired
i don't give a who just have her come
down right this minute
[Music]
mrs ben cartwright this is mr ben
cartwright
all right now come on boys who is
some kind of this lady
who is this
well ma'am
that's what i was asking
why are you doing this to me
are you trying to confuse me is that it
hoth
are you hoping i'll say this is my ben
no ma'am we we wouldn't do nothing like
that
this is our paw man this is ben
cartwright
little joe
but this isn't the man i married
this isn't my banner
i don't know who this man is
ma'am
maybe you better tell me about
this other band cart
right i met him in crater plain and we
were married there
he told me
all about his sons
and he told me all about the rosa
and when i got here it was it was
exactly the way he said it would be
mama
i'm afraid you've been taken in
taken in
i loaned him four thousand dollars
it was a legacy my parents left me he
he said he was buying cattle for the
ponderosa
oh man
what does he look like did he give you
anything anything by which he could be
identified
no i have nothing
i have nothing except a marriage license
jennifer lane too
ben cartwright
i guess it really isn't much good is it
i'm sorry
poor little girl i sure do feel sorry
for her
somebody really took over four thousand
dollars
a lot of money
said she got married in crater plain
where abouts that
it's that little mining town across the
line in utah territory isn't it yeah
man running around the country
using my name swindling women it might
be a good idea if we went over this
crater plane and look around well i
don't know about we but i'm certainly
going to well what about ms
the little girl
she's the only one who could really
identify the man
i suppose he'll have to take away
come on that's a four day ride can't
make that trip alone with a woman no
paul that that wouldn't look right at
all maybe maybe joe ought to go along
with us us
who said anything about you going
well now a crater plane is a tough
mining camp and uh
it's a long ride i think it'd be better
if we all went along
now just a minute now until you boys
came into my life i was perfectly able
to take care of everything
i guess you're right though
look let's have a good night's sleep and
we'll tell the lady what we've decided
to do in the morning
better make up a bed in the bunk house
well i'm already mr cartwright but uh
well i do feel awfully guilty about
getting you all involved like this oh no
we've already talked that out and it's
really a case of helping each other
thank you very much
[Music]
there it is this gentleman
limits the ponderosa
night near as big as the whole state of
rhode island anymore yeah just about a
guess
must be wonderful to live on a place
like the ponderosa a place almost as big
as an entire state
well miss jennifer it's not what a man
has it's important it's
how he got it and what he does with it
it really counts
but how does one man get so much by
working till his back's near broke like
i find it
other people work hard yeah
maybe other folks don't dream like our
paw did mr ah fight to keep it
[Music]
[Music]
what your water's cheap and i got lots
of it
been traveling quite a piece yeah from
up near tahoe near the nevada california
line what are up boys you don't say i
never been over there uh uh heading for
crater plane i reckon that yeah lots of
folks are now
it's quite a little town but mind you
watch your pocketbook the gamblers are
cleaning up more paid earth than the
miners well thank you for the warning is
it much bothered to uh to freighter
planes uh about eight miles is the crow
flies trouble is you ain't riding crows
i say you ain't riding trolls
no i guess we aren't oh is it trail bark
good and plain you won't have no trouble
well thank you very much for the water
for your kindness and i'll remember what
you said about the gamblers you do that
now
thanks again for the water
well what are you doing around here
doggies i don't already recognize you
without a card table between us
i ain't got any gold dust to lose but i
got a bottle in the shack
might loosen up your tongue wreck him
come on in
[Music]
well as we make arrangements for the
horses we'll go see the sheriff
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
afternoon
what do you want in here you
you shouldn't come in here what's the
matter emma
every citizen has the right to ban the
award or two with the town clerk i've
done all i can for you
leave me alone
i find now i can use your services
no
the last time was enough
no more you leave me alone
tom clerk's here to serve the people
all the people
what do i have to do
you remember ned birch
they're bringing his body into town
i think you ought to let his friends
know
[Music]
hello anybody here
howdy
what's all the ruckus
we were looking for you sheriff
don't think i've seen you around credit
plane before oh we just rode into town
people come looking for the sheriff
ain't some plunder for around here
what's your name
well i'm ben cartwright that's my son
horscot right howdy carter
yep
man
i'll talk to you later get ready
ben cartwright huh yeah ben cartwright
and that's why i'm here sheriff that's
why you're going to stay here
ben cartwright i'm arresting you for
murder
whatever
what are you talking about they just
found that on the body of that dead
miner out there you shot in the back
[Music]
sheriff this is why i wanted to talk to
you see there's another bent cartridge
pie to me and you're after sheriff
you look like a nice boy why confuse
things you stay out of it
i'm looking for a ben cartwright you say
you're ben cartwright that'll do for
start now just one minute sheriff
i came here to clear my name yes i'm ben
cartwright of the ponderosa nevada
territory but some crookers running
around these parts using the name of ben
cartwright swift now you wait just a
minute
i'll hear your story in there
oh let's go get jennifer should clear
this thing up
just a minute
she's the one that was swindled by that
crook
[Music]
oh i am mighty fine
that's a little rich for you ain't it
dad
when i
just come into some money i
expect that's my business oh makes no
never mind around here
some days you got it some days you ain't
uh
no need to fret about it
you um
close the town up might early today
didn't you
yeah
today ain't no ordinary day
day something special
but just ordinary day for me what's so
special about they found dead birch
uppity shack dead they just broke
that birch dead
why he was in here just a couple days
ago well he won't be back in again he
was murdered shot right in the back
in jail
well what on earth did he do
all i know is we we walked in there and
paul introduced himself to the sheriff
in cartwright and
the sheriff arrested him for murder
murder
but that's impossible
ma'am we we figured you could help us
more than anybody else you see the
sheriff has got paul mixed up with the
same man that stole your money
if you'd go down there and tell him what
you told us and he'd know he's got the
wrong man locked up well of course i'll
go i'll go right away
thank you now i'll go see if i can find
out a little joe you just leave your
father to me you'll be in good hands
we're supposed to be you
looks like things sort of got themselves
turned around
your father said we'd be helping each
other that's all i'm trying to do
mama surely thank you we all do if it
hadn't been for me you wouldn't be here
and he wouldn't be in jail
i'm only doing what i can but
i'm sure it'll be enough
no need for you to worry about this i'll
take care of it
yes miss
good afternoon sheriff
i um
think i might be of some help to you
lord knows i need it what about
i understand you have a ben cartwright
in jail
news travels faster than the plague
about him what kind of help you figure i
need i also understand there's some
confusion about two ben cartwrights
so he said
well i can identify the matter looking
for if i can get a look at him
i'm not interested in playing games man
this is no game sheriff
all right
[Music]
well
sheriff it's about time somebody talks
some sense into you simmer down
cartwright let this young lady take a
gander at you take all the time you want
just make sure and just tell the truth
jennifer that's all we need is just the
truth
i might say the law looks unkindly on
anything else
[Music]
he says he's the ben cartwright of the
ponderosa nevada territory
ben
ben i begged you not to get into any
more trouble
what this is the man sheriff
what makes you think i'll take your word
for it
[Music]
because i'm mrs ben cartwright
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
now frank what is this i was just out of
the jail and the sheriff told me they
were charging ben with murder
honey
you don't believe everything you hear do
you
oh frank
[Music]
jenny
jenny you know it's not true
now why worry your pretty little head
about details
that's what i love the most about you
you're always worried about other people
me
you and i
we're gonna have everything we ever
wanted
frank
[Music]
why would you just stand here
flat-footed and lie like that didn't
sound much like lying to me sounded like
a woman who married the wrong man
but why why would you want to do a thing
like this to you yeah there's got to be
more to this yeah but what how we going
to find out we're going to find out if
we have to tear this whole town apart
now hold on
people stay out of trouble you hear
one cart right in here is already one of
many that sounds like pretty good sense
to me
and if you want some friendly advice
boys i'd play pretty easy ned birch had
a lot of friends in this town
i promise you we'll get to the bottom of
this
adam
find out everything you can
stay out of trouble
you listen to your daddy boys
none of you young cartwrights are so big
you can't end up right in here beside
him keep that in mind
all right time's up now
making the biggest mistake in your life
just doing my job boy
he doesn't belong in there sheriff i
don't know why i don't listen to him
he's telling you the truth i have
listened to him boy i'm as good of
listeners you're going to find in this
town i haven't been for years yeah but
you don't know the truth when somebody
tells it to you
[Music]
now listen boy
i keep hearing about two ben cartwrights
and the wife who ain't a wife
i admit we get a john smith through here
two maybe three times a month a few
bart's couple reds couple of blackies
but ben cartwright just ain't john smith
you know what i mean just ain't so easy
to believe but you believe that woman
when she says she's my paw's wife and
she isn't i don't see you making any
effort to find out about her boy
don't tell me how to do my job
oh come on in
you sent for me
if you're busy i can come back no no no
i'm just busy waiting for you and stick
around boys this might interest you
unless it has something to do with that
part stick around
you've been reciting many words from the
book lately yeah when
this town ain't much for getting married
sheriff you know that
folks too busy that sort of thing
and you'd remember if you hitched anyone
lately wouldn't you
well i i don't know sheriff
i've been a little peaked with a misery
lately my memory it it might not be what
should
you
you look a little peaky to me right now
are you uh some kind of minister
minister
i'm a city clerk see what i mean boy
just trying to do my job
have a look at this ad
but you're writing it
well
yes yes i
expect that it is remember the man ed
remember this ben cartwright
[Music]
really
maybe if i
if i saw him well let's have a look
[Music]
[Music]
man where's his best dutch wedding
if
i could see him is that the man like it
says in this paper
[Music]
yes or no
[Music]
[Applause]
i've been a patient man
i've been patient hoping you'd come up
with something
my patience is over now
boys you better go
all right are we gonna give up that easy
course we did and let's go back in there
and blast them out no now wait a minute
you two find a place to light try the
saloon i'll meet you there later what
are you figuring on doing adam i'm gonna
have a talk with that lady
sheriff
you said i have a chance to talk
i figure you've had it well i didn't
want to say anything while the boys were
here uh hot tempered but
i have my rights sure yeah like
everybody else
well then would you please pay a little
attention to what i have to say
at that man that was just here
he's lying
the woman that was here before
she's lying she's not my wife
she said she was sheriff
hang on man why can't you send somebody
to virginia city there are a hundred
people there who can identify me ginger
city take the better part of a week
round trip i've got the time but i don't
know about the town they might have
different ideas
[Music]
what do you want here why did you lie
about my father
i don't know what you mean
my father's light is threatened now i
want the answers to some questions
you're hurting my arm i'll break it now
what's it all about
get your hands off her cartwright
you're pretty good at threatening a lady
what lady
get his jennifer
what are you doing
get out of the way
frank you can't do this i won't let you
get out of the way
no frank
cartwright
you get out of here
get out of here
please frank
look jenny
we're in this thing for money ten
thousand dollars
but how far do we have to go
look frank i got ben here i got him in
jail i even got his sons all right
all right
you've done real fine
i'm not complaining frank i never have
i've always done exactly as you told me
to even when i didn't want it
but when you had that gun in your hand
it scared me
frank it's not like you it's not like us
yeah i guess i got excited
maybe i was even a little scared
all i've ever really wanted was you
oh frank please why can't we just take
the money and get out of here we can't
do that jenny not just yet
but why had we that was the plan
jenny
are you gonna be satisfied with ten
thousand dollars
isn't that enough is it after you've
seen the ponderosa
frank
we can have it all
the big house everything that's in it
all of those thousands of acres of land
it's just that i want so much for you
there now
you're not afraid are you
hmm
no not when you hold me like this
it's just that
i don't want you to kill
i do anything in the world for you
but not murder
once you murder there's no way back
you know that don't you
that's right jenny
once you're murdered there's no way back
you gotta go all the way
how'd you do you see jennifer why don't
you give me a gun well i'm yours
that jennifer of yours she had a man
hidden in a room waiting for me with a
gun
that's our man let's go get him that's
my gunny took i'll handle it wait a
minute we can't do it this way you know
what paul said about staying in the
boundaries of the law
what good is a law gonna do us that
sheriff will believe any lies anybody to
tell joe's right now give me a gun we're
gonna get the information we're gonna
get it together all right let's go
you're them cartwrights ain't you
we've never denied our name
well we want you out of town
we're not leaving here long as our paws
in that jail when we say yeah
that man you paul killed ned birch he
was a good friend ours our paw never
killed him you say that
we think different
ned birch never hurt nobody in his whole
life we don't take to him being shot in
the back
real friendly people i got in this town
all right everybody over on that side
away from the door come on move move it
right around boys
be real good nobody get hurt
come on keep moving around boys moving
around
hold it
stay right where you are everybody
anyone want me to turn loose a load of
double odd buckwood
now if i was you i put them things away
might turn into something purely illegal
and if there's one thing i hold you boys
is doing everything all neat and legal
yeah like hanging in an innocent man huh
no not if he can prove himself innocent
boys you all know i don't hold with this
kind of doing then run him out of town
sheriff
well there's going to be plenty of
trouble yeah birch had a lot of friends
just talk to string up all these
cartwrights
we don't like the idea then run around
loose packing guns i reckon i can take
care of that
are you going to do it my way or you
want to try it your way
your way as i see it you run them out of
town
they lay out behind rocks with rifles
and pick you off one by one if they were
mine too
and maybe they would have
might be they take after their daddy
and your daddy told you to stay out of
trouble
well you gonna let me handle it what do
you aim to do mike
put these cartwrights where they'll be
safe
like i say i like everything all neat
and legal
i don't want a bunch of wild killings
your guns boys
all right god right
i'm gonna lock you up
for your own good
[Music]
what excuse me
you take your choice sheriff it's two of
us are one of him if you got any liking
for that brother of yours you better
start hoping he comes in of his own free
will
i ain't going to be responsible for what
happens to him when this town gets
liquored up tonight
not if he's outside my jayla ain't
get in there
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
boys are we gonna stand by and let
strangers ride you and kill off our
friends
are we gonna forget about our pal ned
birch
alive
i don't like this frank
the whole town's getting stirred up
it's not the town i'm worried about
it hadn't been for you that cartwright
wouldn't still be on the loose
frank
who turned you into a killer
i don't know what you're talking about
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
i don't like this let's just forget the
money and get out of here
you're not going anywhere
this isn't like you
changed you who's making you do this
[Music]
stop it
stop it
[Music]
frank
frank
frank
no
no
i didn't wanted to be like this
i only wanted him to do some talking
well he won't talk now mr cartwright
whatever it was you wanted him to say he
won't talk down because you killed him
and i hope you and your father both hang
you loved him that much did you
yes i loved him that much
enough to want to steal the ponderosa
bad enough to want to kill for
kill for it
no i didn't want killing
now somebody killed that miner
and my father's going to die for it
unless you put a stop to it
all i know was i was supposed to pretend
to be mrs benkart ryden
and then frank and i were gonna go away
together and then who was going to take
over
i don't know
it's what i was trying to find out tell
me who it was but i don't know i swear i
don't stop lying will you
but i'm not lying
why should i with frank gone you lied
about being married to my father
but frank asked me to
and i always did what frank asked me to
i'm asking you now
will you go down there and tell the
sheriff that you're not mrs ben
cartwright
i don't know
please i
i just don't know
how do we know it was ben cartwright
that shot our pal ned birch huh
how do we know it wasn't one of the
mother cartwrights that did it all them
cartwrights could have the same cloth
you ask me there's one way to make sure
and let's hang a bunch of them
[Applause]
dirty sound that
some men here only once in their life
what are you gonna do about it
i'm going out there and try to stop it
that's my job
i like things clean and legal
of course only so much one man can do
you can at least give us a chance to
protect ourselves give us some guns
i would likely do that would i
cartwright you might decide to shoot me
in the back you've already proved you're
good at back shooting that's what that
mob out there so all fired stirred up
about
he don't care bro
you don't care what happens to us
[Applause]
i say go get them and drag them out
they deserve no more of a chance and
they give our felnet birch
[Applause]
now wait a minute sheriff this girl has
something to tell you get in there with
your brother's cart right
sheriff frank's dead
and i lied about being mrs cartwright
frank told me to
maybe you ain't his wife jennifer but
only you and me knows it
i know it sheriff
[Applause]
that mom's coming for heart rights not
for me
i'm telling you the card rights are
innocent they didn't have anything to do
with it
[Music]
why'd you try it
ponderosa
pretty big spread
i wanted to place like that all my life
had much chance for the sheriff's salary
i
figured
cartwright's dead
only the widow
would work refined
[Music]
ah this place of ours is so beautiful
every time i see it it says i'm seeing
it for the first time well you came
pretty close to seeing it for the last
time
she is sort of pretty wasn't she
paw in the future if you ever do decide
to get married and uh send the bride
home by yourself uh just do us one favor
will you what
don't
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]

Behind the Scenes of The Bride

John McIntire (Sheriff Mike Latimer) makes his first out of two appearances in the series through this episode.

Adam West (Frank Milton) makes his only appearance in the series through this episode.

Suzanne Lloyd (Jennifer Lane) makes her only appearance in the series through this episode.

Hank Worden (Ned Birch - Old Miner) makes his second out of three appearances in the series through this episode.

This episode is the only episode Alvin Ganzer directed in the series.

William Mims (Ed Bailey) makes his second appearance out of four in the series through this episode.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Avid Western fans and casual series-watchers will love watching Bonanza alone or with their loved ones. All episodes of this show’s 14 seasons ran under NBC’s production from September 1959 to January 1973. The Bride is the fiftieth episode out of 430 and the eighteenth for its second season.

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