Bonanza, a Western television program under the NBC network, shows the stories and adventures of the Cartwrights, a fictional family of ranchers who lived on the Ponderosa ranch. The Hopefuls, the program’s thirty-seventh episode, debuted on October 8, 1960, and was written by E. Jack Neumann. Charles Maxwell, who plays Shenandoah, also joins the supporting cast. 

Larry Gates plays Jacob Darien, the leader of a Quaker sect that has bought land in California. As they cross the Ponderosa in a special wagon meant to transport money for the land transaction, Jacob’s daughter, Regine (Patricia Donahue), makes a request. She convinces her father to have Adam and Hoss Cartwright act as escorts for the Quaker wagon train.

Meanwhile, Adam’s new friend, Sam Bond (Dennis Patrick), accompanies the Cartwright boys. However, Sam plots to steal the Quakers’ money at the first opportunity.

Read its plot, learn some fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia, or watch the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Hopefuls

Watch the Full Episode of The Hopefuls:

Main Cast

The Hopefuls, the fifth episode of Bonanza’s second season, featured special guest stars in addition to the lead and recurring cast. The actors in the episode are:

• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Larry Gates as Jacob Darien
• Patricia Donahue as Regina Darien
• Dennis Patrick as Sam Bord
• Charles Maxwell as Shenandoah
• Jason Johnson as Matthew
• Paul Genge as Mr. Blair
• Richard Reeves as Townsman #1 (as Dick Reeves)
• Clegg Hoyt as Townsman #2
• Hank Patterson as Blacksmith
• Clarence Straight as Older Man
• Tom Newman as Card Player
• Fred Aldrich as Townsman (uncredited)
• Nick Borgani as Townsman (uncredited)
• Bill Clark as Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
• Betty Endicott as Quaker (uncredited)
• John George as Townsman (uncredited)
• Walter Lawrence as Quaker (uncredited)
• Cactus Mack as Quaker (uncredited)
• Martha Manor as Quaker (uncredited)
• Rex Moore as Townsman (uncredited)
• John Rice as Townsman (uncredited)
• Cosmo Sardo as Quaker (uncredited)
• Ray Spiker as Townsman (uncredited)

Full Story Line for The Hopefuls

A wagon train from Ohio passes through Virginia City on its way to Slaytersville. Among the people, the leader’s daughter caught Adam’s attention.

Inside the saloon, steps in a game when one of the players is about to shoot their opponent. In return, he makes a new friend in Sam Bord. Adam offers him a job at the Ponderosa.

Meanwhile, the leader, Jacob Darien, finds difficulty passing the town in peace when two drunkards block their way. Sam and Adam, smitten with the leader’s daughter, Regina, help them deal with the drunks, then offers to accompany the wagon train as they head west.

The wagon train stops to make camp. Adam and Regina fetch buckets of water for the people to use. Regina asks why Adam seems puzzled, so he mentions Regina’s father and their customs. Adam thinks the way Regina’s people do things is far different from what they do. He later reveals that Regina caught his interest, making him want to know her more. Regina tells Adam she feels the same way.

Jacob asks Sam about Adam’s whereabouts. Sam tells him that Adam accompanied Regina as they fetched water for the group. Allowing a guest to help bothers Jacob, but Sam assures him that Adam doesn’t mind assisting her. The Cartwrights arrive at the campsite to welcome their visitors, and Jacob thanks them for the abundant resources that they can enjoy during their stay. Jacob invites them for dinner, and although Ben is hesitant, Hoss accepts their offer. Adam returns to the campsite with Regina, introducing her and Sam to the Cartwrights. Little Joe thinks he has seen Sam before.

That night, the Cartwrights enjoy dinner with Jacob and his family of Quakers. Jacob reveals they’re off to Slaytersville to buy land from the money they earned and start a peaceful life free of debt. However, Sam has his sights set on the cash the wagon train is transporting. Meanwhile, Adam decided to ride along the wagon to Slaytersville to enjoy more time with Regina.

The following day, Ben is hesitant to send Adam off with Jacob and his family. Hoss suddenly arrives and seeks to join Adam, realizing that Jacob and his family are not far different from them.

Adam and Hoss rode ahead of the group. They suddenly discovered fresh tracks, then realized people might be eyeing the wagon to rob it later that night. Adam and Hoss return to Jacob to deliver their discovery. However, Jacob insists they won’t engage in violence regardless of the circumstance.

The group sets camp while Adam, Hoss, and Regina guard the wagon circle. Sam arrives with three more men and then shouts from a distance. A shooting ensues. Sam boldly steals in front of Jacob, and one of the men, Shenandoah, shoots Jacob dead. Adam kills the other two men.

The next day, Adam decides to confront Sam to get the family’s money back, and Hoss tags along. They find Shenandoah’s dead body, shot by Sam, who took the money himself. Adam and Hoss continue riding to look for Sam while the wagon train travels far behind.

Adam and Hoss arrive in a new town and find Sam’s horse. He requests new horses from the person in charge and then follows the trail Sam left. They discover a horseshoe, helping them figure out Sam’s heading to Slaytersville.

Adam searches the town for Sam. The wagon train arrives later, and Hoss informs Regina that Adam’s safe. Regina thinks violence is not the answer, but Adam insists he must get money. Sam comes and fires at Adam. An older man from the family and Adam got shot, but Adam fired back, killing Sam.

Adam and Hoss prepare to leave. Regina asks if Adam will visit them, but Adam thinks it’s better not to see them. They both understand that they couldn’t continue their relationship, but they bid their farewells with peaceful hearts.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Hopefuls

[Music]
morning mr blair
here with you in a minute adam
[Music]
[Applause]
welcome to virginia city reverend i
thank they sir
huh planning on staying
no sir just long enough to water our
animals
you're very welcome reverend just help
yourself
i thank thee and may god bless your day
yeah our people have had a very long
journey we've come all the way from ohio
adam i'm glad you wrote in today
come on in
how's ben these days
adam oh uh he's fine
[Applause]
[Applause]
here's your bill of lighting adam tell
ben i want the cattle shipped by the
first of the month
he'll be there good time for a little
drink
no thanks it's a little early for me
i like my cards from the top you've been
getting them from the top
that card you were just gonna deal me
came from the bottom of the deck mister
it's the five of clubs mister you're
just asking for trouble
get out of here to both here and stay
out of here
[Applause]
mine
then i'm off to the sheriff gambling
how to beat him anyway why did you step
in
uh he was gonna shoot you
well i guess that's as good a reason as
any
but now i owe you
[Music]
hey
[Music]
which way you're riding west
write a piece with you fine
last time i saw one of them sex trains
was just outside salt lake city
funny thing about them people they don't
use guns
i know they don't believe in them
where's your horse
livery
i didn't get the name cartwright adam
cartwright
from the ponderosa huh that's right you
in the ranch in business
not yet but i'm looking for a steak
i want some land and some cattle that
don't belong mostly to a bank
i don't like owing anybody
i throw my saddle on the calico
well i rode the edges of ponderosa
yesterday on my way here
a mighty big place how does a man get a
place like that
he works i'm gonna shape their horses
and i'd say you've been looking for that
steak pretty long time
i have but then it takes a lot of
looking
well we can always use good help at the
ponderosa you offering me a job
40 months at the end of the year you get
your pick and 10 head of stock bonus
you make this offer to everybody nope
why me
you look like you can handle it
you talk right out don't you i try to
well it's a mighty tip and offer well
you think about it
i'm doing just that right now
[Music]
uh black hat
black goat
beard like a billy goat
we are weary we must find a campsite and
rest for the night
camp right here sure you can have a
prayer meeting tonight
we'll get hoopla stalin or gals to come
and join in
i know thou art seeking amusement but
please allow us to pass
how do we know you ain't desperate
characters my friends i assure thee
we wish every man good days and a long
life
and ask and ask only to pass in peace
pass in peace he's asking
ask them for nothing father well what do
you know
they're kind of pretty to be with this
kind of outfit i bought them clothes
what do you say honey you and me have a
drink of whiskey huh
yeah and maybe i'll uh
buy you a new dress huh
come on honey ain't you got any life in
here
come on honey that's having a little fun
huh
you all right ma'am i believe so yes
hold it get him out of here
we was just funnin
get ready to move hurry please matthew
before there's more trouble
i thank thee very kindly that what a
very brave man
is everything all right sir yes thanks
to thee and
my friend i'm jacob darian
i'm adam cartwright
this is my daughter regina
oh this is um sam board
you're riding west sir why uh yeah yes
or so are we um maybe it would be a good
idea if we rode along with you
if thou art going that way uh we are
then thou art indeed welcome
indeed
nice girl that yeah
sam bourdain your name is familiar to me
i figured it might be you could have
used another name
i don't see any reason to i figure i owe
a man something the least i can do is be
honest with them
thanks for the job offer it still goes
[Applause]
sam
my friends
so
oh
give me thanks for the protection
and the guidance thou hast given us this
day
and especially we give thanks for our
new friends
who have served us so well and for this
earth
and this sky and this water
and we wish the lord a peace-filled
night
as we wish it for ourselves and our
fellow men
[Music]
amen
here let me help you no though out of
guest
and our the most pretty young woman
[Applause]
[Music]
thou art a strange man adam crawford
[Music]
strange why do you say that
thou had much to say to me every time
they looked at me today
and yet now that the opportunity is here
they'll say it's nothing at all
well maybe uh maybe i
just don't know what to say or how to
say it
simple and direct as is everything under
god's sky
what puzzles they um
your father them
your customs all disturb the adam
yes uh well no i mean um
well if for instance if it were my train
i'd
i'd circle the wagons at night instead
of uh stringing them out
oh i pinned the stock inside in case of
trouble
what trouble well any trouble uh well
look uh
yes
well i think and um do things one way
and and and we do them differently is
that it
well isn't every man entitled to his
his own beliefs or his own manner of
living
yes but uh
but what adam it's you
you disturb me very much regina oh
why because i'd like to know more about
you
because um
well we're right back where we started
aren't we
oh no we've come a long way from there
[Music]
i'm disturbed by the also adam
children children we'll help thy mother
susan go along with my brother
where's my friend adam he's with your
daughter
helping her to get some water my
daughter allowed a guest to help ah
trevor
i kind of got the idea he wanted to be
with her
and uh i kind of got the idea that uh
perhaps she wishes to be with him no
objections
a man might as well object to the wind
and the sun
and the rain
what are you carrying here reverend him
books
no my friend not exactly
jacob jacob your visitors coming
welcome welcome friends to our humble
campsite
welcome peace be with you my friends and
with you
who's in charge here i am call me jacob
this is my friend matthew hey that
probably sure got a face full of hey
i'm ben cartwright you're on
ponderosaland
ah then these men
are are thy sons oh we are
indebted to thee all of thee is that so
indeed sir why we have all this fine
grazing for our stock
plenty of water to take care of them
what more could a man
ask well am i good i ask how long you're
planning to stay here
we leave on the morrow oh
is something amiss no no no you're
most welcome if there's anything that my
sons and i can do to serve you please uh
please ask us oh thou art most kindly
may god bless thee orphan thank you
oh um there is one thing more we would
ask of thee
oh that uh they'll remain and dine with
us
oh well i uh yes sir sure do thank you
hi pop well
uh these people are i know adam
my father has just bit us welcome on the
ponderosa
well i'm glad of that oh this is a
regina darien
my father ma'am
now this is sam board
i was bored these are my sons horse a
little joe
honey mr board don't we know each other
we do now howdy
the child smells mighty good then they
will remain mr cartwright
so we insist well then we will remain
splendid come friends
oh
nothing he swede
nothing i couldn't back up
gina give me a little more of that
certainly you folks been eating this
kind of food all the way from ohio
we have sir oh you keep shoveling it out
to him you're not gonna have any left
where are you headed we hope to be in
slatersville by week's end
we have word of a large fertile valley
there
and god willing we hope to buy land and
settle in peace
buying land uh it could be pretty
expensive yes
but we worked for many years and put all
of our money together to do it
it is our dream to start a fresh new
life
free of debt all of your money
all of it you travel 2
000 miles across the united states
to settle in a land that you've never
seen
i've been there we we've all been there
many times in in our minds
my daughter speaks truly
before all this ponderosa belonged to
thee
was it not a dream in thy mind also mr
cartwright
yes of course
[Music]
very much a dream
[Music]
how is the prayer meeting what do you
want
you'll never make a preacher sam
you know what i want
what's the matter don't you want to let
us meet your hymn singers
take them and get out of here who do you
think you're fooling sam
not them not me we want our cut
of that five it's gone
i lost it
well we figured you'd do that sam but we
figured you'd like a chance to make it
up instead of getting killed
you can make it up can't you say it
there's a meadow about a half a mile
from here
i'll meet you there in the morning
[Applause]
you've got an hour sam
now what a strange woman regina darien
what is it coyote badlio
you read me well what do you mean
they would think me faithless and hate
me if i spoke of it
you could never be faithless i know that
much about you
and i could never hate you i know that
much about myself
oh adam i do have faith but i but what
well we will pass on from here tomorrow
and they will think of me as that one
with the strange people
and they will forget me
i could never forget you
[Applause]
oh adam i'm supposed to believe that
what will be will be
that was before we met yes you'll be
gone tomorrow
and nothing will be
regina
[Music]
i'm coming with you the slater's bill
ride along with the train and give us
more time together
oh yes we have needed that
oh adam they must make me foolish and
forward
no i think of you as
beautiful lovely
[Music]
adam thinks we've been observed adam
and what have we had
where are you going sam tell the folks
goodbye for me
kind of sudden isn't it well i'm kind of
like that
i don't figure you i get a niche every
time i hear folks talking about what
they got
and what they're gonna get
what are you running away from
maybe a fella named sam
about the job i never was much at ranch
hanton
cards are more my line you can take the
job
and get everything you always wanted
you're all right cartwright
but it wouldn't do for me to listen to
you too long
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
adam yeah
yeah you sure you know what you're doing
now i mean going with the train and all
i know what i'm doing we're different
from them adam
she's different from you
i'm saying this badly son but i it's
what i want to say
i heard you
[Music]
[Applause]
good luck i better go say goodbye to
jacob and the rest
[Music]
hey adam
uh where are you going warm not the same
place you are right
yeah yep
your idea paused well i i reckon it's
mine
i sort of got like in this old hole
cooking as a matter of fact i
i like everything about these folks i
didn't think i could even talk to them
at first but
and i don't reckon they're so much
different than the rest of us none of
them
when when i say
well if it's the kind of outfit you say
it is and if it's as easy as you say it
is
why not right now in the daylight
or maybe you need the night
adam what are you stopping for well this
will be a good place to camp for tonight
there's still two hours of daylight left
i know mr darian but the um
the animals are all worn out poor beasts
so are all of us we've traveled a long
way
but our fear has been that the land will
be taken before we get there
forgive us adam if we seem impatient but
we're so anxious to reach our new home
well what about it how's you man you
think that old trail across the plateau
might still be good
well well they've been traveling a long
time
get them wagons across there or not i
don't think it's still worth a look-see
yeah um
water your animals but uh leave them
hitched up
we'll see if we can't get you a little
further along thank you adam
[Music]
hey wait a minute
these are fresh tracks at them not over
an hour how many do you figure
[Applause]
that looks like at least four now
whoever they are
they could see the wagons all day i
never knew a man yet didn't come into a
wagon train to get some good home
cooking
yeah me neither unless they had a reason
for not wanting to be seen
well those wagons and the stock alone
that trains good pickings
yeah if they're planning to do anything
about it it'll probably be tonight
[Music]
is something amiss uh something i have
to tell you
what is it my friend if you people have
any guns on this train
if you use for hunting or anything else
get them out
what i'm trying to say is that we found
the tracks of four horses up there
now we have reason to believe that these
four men have been watching and
following this train all day long
well do you want him to come in and take
everything you own without fighting for
it
surely you must have some guns of some
kind we have no guns adam
and we can do no violence on our fellow
man
well they can do violence on their
fellow man and they will
still it would not be right for us
matthew
can't you do something
he's only thinking of us father regina
thou forgotten what we all live by
we shall pray that this test comes not
to us
and that once more we shall be delivered
mr darrian if you reckon you could pray
just as well if the wagons were circled
up and
they thought you was going to put up a
fight i can't see how that violate
nothing
whatever he thinks best mr cartwright
yes sir adam
they would use this on a man
if i have to
[Music]
all right
i will stay beside the atom if that
can't believe with us then
i will try to believe
[Music]
[Applause]
that's them
we may not have to use them
i see the wagon circle that might make
him skittish
they don't seem very skittish to me
seems like they got lots of confidence
yo wagon adam it is thy friend
he's made some friends
[Music]
train oh
easy pickings huh easiest
yeah they was just gonna invite you
right in as soon as you got here
you won't need that that's what you told
me sam
but you told me a lot of things now i'm
gonna tell you something
i want to pick that up easy or any way i
can get it
and i want to pick it up now
[Music]
wait here
[Music]
too quiet let's wake him up
ah
[Music]
boy mr lord
my friend i pray thee not to do this
my friend get out of my
vegeta
let's get out
[Music]
uh
[Music]
uh
[Music]
earth to earth ashes to ashes
dust to dust ensure and certain hope
of resurrection into eternal life amen
we will move on at once my friends
prepare
[Music]
he will leave me too adam i have to
i brought sam board among you and he did
all this to you
his things are not thine in a way they
are
it's my job to get that money back
i better go with it
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
well they probably head south board
needs a new town
yep man like that's always needing a new
towering
that's real pretty isn't it
yeah really looks good
and i'm gonna enjoy it all of it
[Music]
well we're partners shin are we
no i don't figure that way sam
[Music]
as i remembered you owed me and the boys
since they ain't here to collect
i just figured to take all our shares
don't you trust me no i don't sam
now you just throw the money over here
right down there
[Applause]
[Music]
oh and i'll uh a heavy gun
real easy but first
cut down there too
[Applause]
[Music]
yeah cut i had half you never did have
any brains
could be a trap
out it figures yeah the board's gone all
the way and adam he's a killer
but one of them left now and that's
where the money is
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
where's the man belongs to that horse i
don't know he left him here
he took another and give me a 20 gold
piece
that more than two hours ago which way
to go uh west
or toll bridge creek we'd like some
fresh horses
we're allowing it in a hurry huh
[Music]
yeah left the trail again
adam he ain't doing a blooming thing but
leaving us on one big merry chase round
around the circle on these blooming
rocks
well sooner or later he's got to go to
water
or even i don't know you know
[Music]
well you'll have to find a town now yeah
which one's nearest slatersville
hey network that's right
[Music]
howdy howdy what did i do for you
this uh fit any animal you got in here
today
my narrow to death going to get him
another horse tonight you got any idea
where the man is
i wouldn't be surprised he's over
saluting there cooling his dampers
pretty hot out today
[Music]
thanks
[Music]
so
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
miss regina miss regina
hux oh horse
where is he where's adam is he he's all
right now thank god
but where ma'am the board's down here
and
adam's gone after him oh no ma'am
i know how you feel i know how adam
feels there ain't nothing nobody can do
to stop him
the only thing we can do is try to help
him plus i've got to find him
adam
adam i beg thee thou must not do this
thing
well what about your father these people
for whatever the reason it would be
violence
adam i see vengeance in thine eyes i saw
it when they rode off
i've got to get that money back if they
get it this way with a gun then it is
not worth having
they will find him and he will be killed
or they will be killed
i'm sorry adam if they do this thing it
will be between us all our lives
[Music]
it has to be done regina
you'll get over it will i
look at me adam i am no child i've
waited a long time to find the kind of a
man i could love
listen to her adam you know i don't have
any choice i'm responsible for sam board
they are not responsible to him they are
responsible to nobody but thyself
adam i beg thee put away thy gun
[Music]
adam no no but we befriended thee
get out of the way old man
have run all i'm gonna run boss get her
out of here
take this back i'm all right
i had to do it
[Music]
they are well enough to ride now yes
but they will come and visit us
[Music]
no i i couldn't do that knowing what it
would do to you
to them
[Music]
and to the adam and me
yes
[Music]
he was my father adam
their leader i would be breaking faith
with him and them
and myself if i neither one of us had a
choice
did we
[Music]
bless the atom
[Music]
[Applause]
home adam
[Music]
home
[Applause]
[Music]
you

Behind the Scenes of The Hopefuls

The title of this episode in German is “Land für Daviens Leute,” which translates to “Land for Davien’s People.”

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Bonanza, the Western television series that stars the fictional Cartwright family, is a fantastic show to watch alone or with your beloved ones. NBC broadcasted all 14 seasons on their network from September 1959 to January 1973. The Hopefuls is the 37th episode out of 430 and the fifth for the program’s second season.

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