During its prime, millions of people enjoyed watching the mighty adventures of the fictional Cartwright family in Bonanza. The Dream Riders, the second season’s thirty-second episode, initially aired on May 20, 1961. Jack McClain and James Van Wagoner co-wrote the episode.

Major Cayley, an old Army friend of Ben Cartwright, is played by Sidney Blackmer as a balloon ascensionist. Cayley operates his latest experimental flight at the Ponderosa with Ben’s permission. However, Ben is unaware that the major intends to use the flight as a distraction as his accomplices rob the Virginia City bank. Another twist comes through as Cayley’s beloved daughter, Diana (Diana Millay), arrives unexpectedly, clueless of her father’s scheme.

Burt Douglas and Stuart Nisbet join this episode’s cast members as Kingsley and Sgt. Hines.

Read more of The Dream Riders or see the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Dream Riders

Watch the Full Episode of The Dream Riders:

Main Cast

The following actors appeared in The Dream Riders, the second season’s thirty-second episode:

• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Sidney Blackmer as Major John F. Cayley
• Burt Douglas as Private Bill Kingsley
• Stuart Nisbet as Sergeant Hines
• Diana Millay as Diana Cayley
• Jonathan Hole as Hershell

Full Story Line for The Dream Riders

Major John F. Cayley, Ben’s old Army friend, visits the Ponderosa to conduct his latest hot air balloon experiments at the Ponderosa. His ambition is to build an ocean-crossing airship. Meanwhile, his Army men, Private Bill Kingsley and Sergeant Hines, are in a hotel in Virginia City. Adam meets the two Army men, offering them a room at the Ponderosa. However, they insist on staying in the hotel and visiting the Ponderosa instead.

Accidentally flying in the hot air balloon made Hoss fascinated by the possibility of flying in an air balloon. Ben is skeptical about John’s ambition, especially since it’ll require a ton of money to make his dream come true. However, John assures him that he’ll fly no matter the cost.

Diana Cayley, the major’s daughter, suddenly arrives in town from the east to surprise his father. Adam and Private Kingsley accompany her as they all head to the Ponderosa.

Once they arrived at the Ponderosa, Private Kingsley requested to visit the site, and Ben accompanied him. Meanwhile, Diana was against his father building his dream, thinking it was impractical. Regardless, John is determined to make his dream airship come true.

Later, it appears that John and his army men are planning to rob a bank in town and use the balloon ride out on the Ponderosa as a distraction. The money they’ll get will serve as Major John Cayley’s funds to build an airship fleet.

Kingsley and Diana reunite outside the Ponderosa house. Diana asks Kingsley about his father, considering she found that the Army has no idea of his whereabouts. Kingsley kept the plan a secret, telling Diana it was an important experiment.

The following day, Adam stayed at the Ponderosa house while the rest of the Cartwrights visited the balloon site. There, Adam asked Diana about John’s plan. Diana tells him that John’s on a secret mission for the Army, but Adam knows something’s off. He tells Diana that Kingsley went to Virginia City bank despite being closed. Understanding something’s wrong, Adam and Diana head to Virginia City to find the truth.

Sergeant Hines and Private Kingsley threaten Hershell to fill their bag with money. After getting what they wanted, Hines knocked Hershell out and left. However, in their hotel room, Hines expressed dissatisfaction with obeying Major John’s orders. They engage in a brief scuffle, ending with Kingsley on the ground and Hines leaving with the bag of money.

Once Adam and Diana arrive in Virginia City, Hershell tells them that two Army men robbed the bank. They find an injured Kingsley at the hotel, informing them that Hines got the money. Diana asked Kingsley about the truth. Kingsley reveals that the money will serve as the fund for building the Atlantic Queen, Major John’s dream airship. Together, the three head to the balloon site to stop Hines.

Hines tells John they should leave immediately since the plan didn’t go as expected, leading to Kingsley’s death. They board the hot air balloon while the Cartwrights assist in setting the airship up to the sky. Adam, Diana, and Kingsley arrive in time before Ben can cut the role of the balloon. There, Adam tells the Cartwrights about John’s plan. Hines pulls his gun, aiming at Kingsley. John stops him but can’t avoid the bullet from Hines. Adam manages to shoot Hines dead.

John apologizes to Ben, accepting his death. The rope tied to the hot air balloon suddenly cuts loose, flying free skywards.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Dream Riders

[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
oh
sergeant hines
sergeant heinz
yeah major dream is at hand
sound revolution
hey soldier boy kingsley rivoli
we're here we've arrived at virginia
city
ripe and ready you did it sir
that's right major you got us here just
like you said you would
now me and soldier boy here we're gonna
do our job and we sold your boy
fine now you know every detail the
operation
hotel you're staying at the man you're
to see
and uh sergeant for the insurance of our
success
stay away from mr barley corn how do you
mean major
booze sergeant booze stay away from me
everything will go like clockwork sir
i'll see to it yeah you just do that
soldier boy
hey major this ponderosa you're going to
you sure you can crush them cartwrights
that's the most painful part of all
they trust me
[Applause]
[Music]
hey paul huh
here's that army friend you've been
looking for
oh johnny johnny
[Music]
could any of you sheep herders direct me
to the ponderosa ranch estate
come on out there you will go i can get
a good look at you give me a yeah
bye gully it's good to see it's been a
long time seems a century man yeah
i want you to meet my son hoss horse
this is major john
f kaley one of my oldest and probably
wildest friends how are you sir
are you us hand is the closest you'll
ever get to a human bird in your
lifetime horse
fly does he fly by gully's probably got
a pair of
wings stowed in that in that wagon right
now better than wings benjamin
has the siteman selected for my
experiment oh yeah i picked out a
a clearing as you requested what kind of
experiments is the army having out here
anyway
all in good time ben all in good time
all right bye golly come on i want you
to meet my two other boys
[Music]
fines get up
heinz what do you want soldier boy
heinz this is the bank get it now don't
make a mistake
that's real consider to you soldier boy
that ain't bad drawing boy
not bad at all you know when i get to be
rich and famous maybe i'll let you paint
a picture of me
just keep sober long enough for us to
carry out the major's plan
now oh john the major here he just stood
on this high bluff
or like a young atlas with this pair of
homemade wings strapped to his shoulders
waiting for a strong wind to come along
well what happened bro well he just
stood there
waiting and he waited and he waited and
he waited what about two hours john
that's right
you stood there waiting and then
suddenly that strong wind come along and
just blew him
right off the bluff did he fly did he
fly
broke both legs
[Laughter]
i assumed that was your last flight oh
no that only served to whet my
enthusiasm
boys i'm convinced that someday
we'll be up there we'll be up there
we'll have an access to the skies that
even the birds and the angels will end
me
john how's that beautiful little girl of
yours although i guess by now she must
be a beautiful big girl and married eh
diana no she's back east ben in the
family home
now wine thunderation didn't you bring
her along with you oh ben the fact is my
daughter and i have been
poles apart my head's been in the clouds
and she
like her mother god rest her soul has
had both feet firmly planted on the
ground
well john it's it's awfully good to see
you
even though you didn't have to push that
team of yours halfway across the
continent by yourself
i have a couple of army men with me i
sent them on a head to the hotel in
virginia city
now why did you do that they should be
right here in the ponderosa with you
oh i wouldn't think of it i couldn't
impose better impose
adam you're going into town this morning
aren't you no he could he could bring
him back no i think it would be better
bendy please nonsense it's all taken
care of
yeah john whatever this
wild scheme of yours is we'll help you
oh thank you ben
let's have some more comments
i sort of like to see what that
experiment's all about myself wouldn't
you joe
well it has to do with jumping off a
cliff and trying to fly i better get doc
martin right away
i'm private kingsley sir yes private i
have some official army papers here from
major john kaley who's staying at the
ponderosa
we'd like to deposit it in your safe for
a few days oh yes ben mentioned that the
army was planning doing some work out
here
that's right sir i'll be glad to keep
them for you
i'll be back for those papers in a day
or two that'll be fine
come on in
you want something mister i'm adam
cartwright from the ponderosa
so a major kaylee's already out of the
ranch and uh well we'd like to have you
and your friend come out there and stay
well that's real nice of you mister but
how orders are to stay right here in
town
and the major mentioned that but it
really isn't necessary we have plenty of
room
mister i've been in this army a long
time major gave me in order to stay
right here i'll leave when the major
orders me to leave
sergeant i was supposed to see the major
this afternoon anyway
good to have you show me the way sir
i'll find out from the major what he
wants us to do sergeant
yeah you just do that soldier boy
in the meantime i'm going to find out
what the inside of a virginia city
saloon looks like
don't mind a sergeant sir his old line
army hasn't got much imagination
i don't believe we've met formal i'm
private kingsley adam cartwright
can i help you with anything no i don't
believe so
it's nice artwork very professional you
do it
yes it's one of my hobbies the army uh
takes such use of your artistic talents
brahm i've done some drawing for major
kaley
artwork wagons full of equipment
experiments
just what is the army doing at the
ponderosa
the major didn't tell you no i came here
just as they were heading for the uh
testing site that's just like the major
probably wanted you all to see it before
he said anything
see what he's going into the sky mr
cartwright
right up into the sky
[Music]
all right grab the ropes hold her down
[Music]
[Applause]
that's it ben that's fine hold it steady
good boy little joe
stay with it
[Music]
hang on to it huss put your weight
behind it that is don't let go now hold
it steady
that's it
[Music]
that's fine hold it steady good
[Music]
stay boy it
hang on to it huss put your weight
behind it that is don't let go now hold
it steady
that's it
that's it ben
more fast now boys just about got it
all right let go we'll let the winch do
the work
johnny never seen anything like this
before it's fantastic
hey shouldn't shouldn't horse let go of
that thing
us let loose
[Music]
boys boys come on down here
[Applause]
[Music]
johnny
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
how do you like being carried along hey
paul
just like a big bird i'll help
hey boys hang on tight now hang on tight
how do you stop this good captain take
it easy van you know i wouldn't let
anything happen to you boys
hang on let go
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
i know just how you feel loss that boy
is a born balloonist
oh it's just like a big bird you got to
try it sure just like a big bird you got
to try it well this flying may be all
right for little youngsters like you
johnny but
you'll change your mind ben once you've
tried it
no i tried it i'm not gonna change my
mind joe you're too young to be that old
and you got no
no adventure in your soul oh sure i got
a venture in my soul it's my body i'm
worried about
don't you worry heist don't worry we'll
show em tomorrow we're really gonna fly
hot dogs hey johnny i think we ought to
have one of the boys guard this
contraption overnight
no it's perfectly safe ben no wind
i wasn't thinking about the window just
think about the neighbors
you know they come along a see a
contraption like this think of some kind
of
sky demon or something start emptying
their guns into it now one of you boys
stay i'll stay paul
on second thought i think we'll feel
safe if little joe stays here
hey don't worry hoss it'll be safe i'm
11. not a flyer
[Applause]
this man is my dream
wow look at the size of that balloon
ball
400 000 cubic feet of hydrogen gas
you have to build them big if they're
going to carry passengers across the
ocean
across the ocean yeah that ocean's
mighty wide
look i i i don't want to sound naive but
what would you do if something happened
to the balloon
these two auxiliary balloons set us down
on the water light as a feather
then what swim float boy float yeah that
george it does look sort of like a boat
don't he
it is a boat and these
two collapsible masts now if anything
should happen to the queen and she's
forced down
all you do is pull these out and slip on
the sails
look at the inside of that thing clark's
place here's a virginia city hotel
yeah it sure is john
i is this practical
what dream was ever practical then
when you dreamed of building the
ponderosa
was it practical but you achieved it
because you believed in it ponderosa is
different john anyway i had my
sons to help me build that and and
providence
providence hasn't smiled on me
the winds are rising and the ears hang
heavy on my shoulders
oh what are you talking about you you're
a major in the united states army you
have the respect of a fine circle of
friends
i'm a pioneer ben i'm standing on the
fringe of a new frontier without limits
can't you see it skyways around the
world
continents are just waiting to be linked
by airships
airships and the army is
backing you in this idea well
not exactly they were intrigued enough
with my designs but
i'm afraid they found them too visionary
well john i i'm sure you know what
you're doing
i know what you're thinking ben
a lot of other people are skeptical even
my own daughter thinks i'm a
silly old fool oh john i'm sure that
isn't so
oh it's true it's true she never could
summon up one ounce of faith in my dream
my
my plans well i'm i'm gonna go check on
a little joe on that
that balloon see you in a minute
john john i
no i'm i'm not doubting you
but how are you gonna do all this
i'll build the atlantic queen ben i
promise you that nothing will stand in
my way
well but you you said yourself the army
isn't backing you where are you going to
get all the money
i'll get the money
my backers have already been selected
man will fly ben no matter what the cost
man will fly
[Music]
you there wait wait
wait bill bill kingsley
oh who's that do you know her i don't
know anyone in this town hadn't we
better get going
bill bill kingsley uh diana i didn't
recognize you
what are you doing here in virginia city
where's my father
he isn't going to like it when he finds
you here where is he
uh private kingsley why don't you
introduce me to the young lady
i'm sorry this is diana keeley the
major's daughter
diana this is adam cartwright i do
cartwright that's where my father is
the ponderosa you've been cartwright's
son aren't you
please take me to my father i must see
him uh private kingsley why don't you
get miss kaley's luggage
uh you and private kingsley uh know each
other i take it
we knew each other it's all over now
i'm gonna get the feeling this is gonna
be a long cold ride
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
ah
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
hey
[Applause]
me
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
people
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
rock-a-bye jolly way up in the sky
hey horse come on let me down hey joe i
didn't know you used to find a
ballooning
how high you want to go what i don't
want to go any higher now let me down
they ought to be something around here i
could cut that rope with
how high did you say you wanted to go
joe hey cut that out
you say cut it and no no don't cut it
[Music]
the harder you go joe the prettier it is
[Applause]
[Laughter]
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
[Laughter]
oh
[Laughter]
you should
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
hey
[Music]
oh
oh
[Music]
private kingsley sir here to see major
kaley oh yes of course
ben cartwright private i'm very glad to
have you here the uh major's inside
won't you go in
adam uh
i'm diana oh uh that's right
well i'm ben cartwright how do you do mr
cartwright
diana diana kaylee diana kaley
well your father said you were back east
does he know you're here well not yet i
thought i'd surprise him
well he'll be surprised
how did she find out where we were as i
said sir i don't know
everything in town is ready good
don't you think her being here might
complicate things don't worry son i can
handle her
i'm glad somebody can
johnny you old w were keeping her as a
surprise weren't you
i'm afraid that father is just as
surprised to see me as you are mr
cartwright
cause i'm delighted to see you diana but
now father it's quite simple
i was dusting your study and on your
desk i found your letter from mr
cartwright
welcoming you to the ponderosa so i
decided that since i'd never been west
this was the perfect opportunity and
here i am
i hope it's all right oh how you can bet
your booze it's all right
i'm very happy that you're here and i'm
sure my sons are happy you're here too
a major if you don't mind i'd like to go
on out to the balloon site make sure
everything's in good working order
you have my permission well uh robert
kingsley i'll i'll
show you the way would you like to come
along danny oh goodness no i think i've
seen enough of
father's old balloons i think i'll just
stay here and freshen up a bit
well of course now uh you just make
yourself right at home the ponderosa is
yours
come on father
all right father why did you come here
you read the letter ben cartwright
my friend offered me a piece of land
upon which to conduct my experiment
i also read some letters from the
adjutant general's office
i didn't know they'd missed me so soon
what did you expect father
you're in the united states army you
can't just go wandering off whenever you
feel like it
they told me to select a site yes in
pennsylvania
not two thousand miles away and in
nevada
i am in command of that balloon and i
will select the site
the army was willing enough to utilize
my experience in developing observation
balloons
but when i presented my real plan to the
top generals
then nearsighted fools couldn't turn it
down quick enough
father we've been over all this before
and what does this have to do with your
being here now
they want to know where you are don't
you understand that
they'll find out soon enough don't you
understand nobody wants your plans they
are impractical
the winds are rising my daughter
and i must move skyward just once will
you try to listen to me please
your atlantic queen is never going to be
built
never now please please accept that fact
i can't accept it i will never accept it
my airships will fill the sky
over every ocean over every city of
every land
man will find his destiny through the
air
and my atlantic queen will lead the way
[Music]
private kingsley good evening sir how
did you find things at the balloon site
everything's ready sir good now you have
your orders you'll be able to withdraw
the papers from the bank in the morning
yes sir now what about sergeant hines is
he ready don't worry sir he'll be at the
bank in the morning as scheduled
and you are you ready i'm more than
ready sir you know that
good bill good i think we'd better be at
the balloon site crack of dawn
we'll fill the balloon to capacity
that'll give you time enough to get to
virginia city and get your job done
there yes sir i think we'd both better
turn in early bill
tomorrow's going to be a most momentous
day
i'm afraid i'm too excited for sleeping
now sir i thought i'd take a little walk
first
maybe a long time before i have my feet
on the ground again i understand
good night sir good night bill
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
bill
bill i want to talk to you
i
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
diana
diana diana
[Music]
i've been so lost without you
no one to turn to bother acting so
strangely
major kelly will be all right diana you
shouldn't worry
but i do worry
why is father here without the army's
consent
whatever gave you that idea
letters from the army asking his
whereabouts
well that's easily explainable it's just
that the experiment is a
secret it's a matter of utmost
importance
naturally the army wants to cover it
and how long will it remain secret
until tomorrow
tomorrow you'll tell me
tomorrow you'll know
[Music]
the gondolas real plushy and it's shaped
a whole lot like like a ship
anyhow up above it he's got this one
great big balloon and then he's got two
lillians on either side in case of bacon
pops
he's going to call it the atlantic queen
wow that sounds pretty elaborate
i'd like to see those drawings well pod
horse already signed up for the first
trip across the ocean
yeah that'll be pretty exciting i wonder
if he'll ever get a chance to build it
well if i know john kaley he'll build it
come on let's go out to the side and
give him a hand
there's one thing i don't understand
what knowledge can the major
gain by taking the balloon up here that
he couldn't have learned back east
gee i don't know i never thought of that
maybe the winds are better
i'm the balloonist come on come no come
out later with diane after she comes
down all right come on boys
from what i've seen at diane i wouldn't
mind switching jobs with you yeah
me too she's cute in a buggy she is out
both of you
oh wait a minute how come the older
members of the family get all the
privileges
yeah how come well precisely because we
are older and wiser
yeah so uh let's go
[Applause]
[Music]
good morning good morning where is
everyone
they all went on to the balloon site uh
have some breakfast oh
no thank you just some coffee all right
sit down i'll get it for you
well you're gonna fly the balloon today
yes bill kingsley told me
what else did he tell you i don't know
what you mean
diane what's your father really doing
here
apparently he's on some secret mission
for the army
what kind of secret mission he couldn't
say
you know that what they're doing here is
wrong but the army hasn't given its
approval at all
i may not agree with my father but i
know he'd never be part of anything that
was wrong
are you sure i'm sure
you know where bill kingsley is he's at
the test site with father helping him
get ready for the flight
no he's not he borrowed a horse this
morning to ride into virginia city
to pick up some important papers from
the bank
at the bank today's sunday the banks are
closed
i know
adam what do you think's going on
well that's why i'm going into virginia
city
to find out adam
i want to go with you all right
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
mr herschel private kingsley isn't it
yes sir
i'm sorry to bother you this morning sir
but i've been ordered by major cayley to
pick up those papers i left at your bank
the other morning
i think it can wait until tomorrow
private this is sunday i'm on my way to
church
i'm very sorry sir orders uh sergeant
hinds is waiting at the bank for us now
those papers must be mighty important
they are sir
believe me they are very well private
we'll get them
[Music]
[Applause]
commercial sergeant hines how do you do
sir i do sergeant
[Music]
so
[Music]
oh what's the meaning of this sergeant
fill it with you
you'll never get away with it turn it up
[Music]
turn around turn around
[Music]
[Music]
about full major she's taken at the
ropes
more ballast little joe right
that ought to do it
30 000 cubic feet of hydrogen gas
gentlemen
i don't want to take you clean around
the world major it might just do that
hoss
listen if them soldiers don't show up
you reckon you can make room for me
hey major where are those men
they ought to be here any minute now
how's it look at the bank not a stir
it's quiet as an empty bank safe
now remember let's walk out of here
slowly
then we'll get the horses we'll right
out slowly
we haven't got a thing to worry about
money's concealed
just be a couple of soldiers going out
to the ponderosa
let's go i'm going soldier boy
but you're staying right here i just put
that away
soldier boy i'm getting mighty tired of
taking orders from a runny-nosed private
now you hand over that saddlebag i'm
taking this money to the major you ain't
taking nothing soldier boy
but i am the mage's whole life is in
this saddlebag
and i'll die before i'll see you put
your filthy hands on it
sweet dream soldier boy
[Music]
[Applause]
what's holding everybody up adam and
diane should be here
and don't worry pat i'll be along i
wouldn't miss this for anything
[Applause]
he got the money what's all the
excitement mr herschel the bank's been
robbed
somebody got the sheriff well do you
know who did it of course i know it was
those two soldiers
they got me to open that safe on some
pretense about army army papers
yeah somebody
[Applause]
[Music]
bill gotta stop hines
where's the money heinz got it gotta
stop him
why why did you do it it was to build
the atlantic queen
the may just take everything on getting
this money you got to get me to him
before he takes that flight please
before heinz gets to him
well let's get started before the
sheriff gets here
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
uh
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
sergeant eins reporting sir i have the
documents
where is young kingsley can i speak you
uh hello in a minute sir
excuse me mrvin
major we gotta leave here right now
where is private kingsley he ain't
coming
what do you mean not coming he caught a
bullet sir he's dead
dead well major we ain't got time to
worry about him
we gotta leave while the levin's good
but how how what happened what went
wrong it was planned it was all
carefully broken
i got enough money here to build that
balloon of yours now let's get in that
basket and get out of here
anything wrong john we're going up ben
what about private kingsley
he won't be making this voyage give us a
hand with the basket
you boys mind releasing those secondary
ropes
[Music]
is also carefully planned
release those ropes johnny you ready
yes man it's time release the ropes
[Applause]
[Music]
i cut that winch roll
[Music]
what is it adam the major's been using
us
his men just robbed a bank what the
balloon's just a scheme to get away with
the money
kingsley what happened at that bank
seems the sergeant had a dream of his
own
i'll make no difference now major all
right cockroad cut that rope
don't do it man don't do it
[Music]
i'm sorry man i only meant to borrow the
money
just until the atlantic queen could be
built
i was going to pay it back every cent
with interest you'll be all right sir
we'll take care of you
no bill it's the end of me
and and the dream oh nonsense johnny
it'll be right as rain as soon as dr
martin gets out here to have a look at
you
the wind is rising ben i mustn't fail
i must ride the wind
hey look
[Music]
bon voyage johnny
[Music]

Behind the Scenes of The Dream Riders

This episode was director Robert Altman’s favorite among those he directed for the series. Robert Altman and Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright) became close friends, which lasted until Blocker’s untimely death.

This episode marks Sidney Blackmer’s first of two appearances in the series as Major John Cayley. His second appearance was playing the corrupt politician Samuel Endicott in “The Late Ben Cartwright.”

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Bonanza is an American Western television program you can enjoy alone or with your loved ones. Its popularity made the show last for 14 seasons, with the NBC network airing each hour-long episode from September 1959 to January 1973. The Dream Riders is the 64th episode out of 430 and the thirty-second for the second season.

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