Bonanza follows the weekly adventures of the Cartwright family, led by the patriarch, Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene). The 14-seasons program also shows how the main characters cared for their neighbors and the surrounding community. The Mill, Bonanza’s thirty-sixth episode, written by Halsted Wells, premiered on October 1, 1960.

Tom Edwards (Harry Townes), a disabled farmer, holds Ben Cartwright accountable for the accident that cost him his legs. Tom’s hired hand, Ezekiel (Claude Akins), further fueled Tom’s resentment while supplying Tom with liquor, defrauding him of his life savings. The episode reveals Ezekiel’s other reason for his Iago-like treachery: his detestation of the Cartwrights. This dislike increases his determination to use Tom as his weapon of vengeance.

Apart from the actors portraying Tom and Ezekiel, Joyce, Tom’s wife, is played by the special co-star, Dianne Foster. 

Read the plot and some behind-the-scene details, or watch the full episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Mill

Watch the Full Episode of The Mill:

Main Cast

The Mill, the fourth episode of Bonanza’s second season, featured some of the program’s recurring and supporting cast members. The cast of the episode includes the following:

• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright
• Harry Townes as Tom Edwards
• Dianne Foster as Joyce Edwards
• Claude Akins Claude Akins as Ezekiel

Full Story Line for The Mill

Ben’s old friend Joyce Edwards visits the Cartwrights at the Ponderosa ranch. Joyce is hesitant when Ben invites her for dinner but later agrees to stay for a little way. When they are about to enter the house, Ezekiel, Tom Edwards’ hired hand, arrives at the ranch after following his boss’ wife. He warns Joyce to return since her husband wouldn’t like it, but Joyce insists on staying regardless, leaving Ezekiel to wait for her.

Ben asks for Tom, and Joy implies that although her husband is doing well, he’s still bitter since the accident. Tom would follow her around with his wheelchair and call her names even in front of Ezekiel. Joyce tells Ben that her husband drinks and gambles with Ezekiel despite his condition. She later reveals that Tom bent over her last night with a carving knife in his hand, smiling at her. Ben assures her that Tom meant no harm, but Joyce is worried since Tom always talks about death. She could only wish for Tom to do something worthwhile to get his mind off.

Joyce leaving with Ezekiel bothers Ben, so he tags along as they return home.

At dinner, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe discuss the accident and how Tom Edwards continues to blame their father for his condition. Adam insists that Ben didn’t cause Tom’s crippled leg. He clarifies that the two were climbing off a ledge when they fell on another, then Tom’s gun went off and shot him in the spine. Little Joe doesn’t understand why Tom still blames their father. Adam cuts their discussion, urging them to continue eating before the food gets cold. Ben returns home, and as they eat, he asks his sons what Tom can do now that they’re running out of money because of his gambling behavior. Adam suggests they build a small mill house at the Edwards, considering their area has a good water flow. Ben thinks it’s a fantastic idea, and the Cartwrights share a toast to celebrate his suggestion.

Joyce arrives home to Tom’s compliments. Tom requests a kiss, then asks about her whereabouts. Joyce informs him about her visit to the Cartwrights, stating that she talked to Ben about the property his father left in San Francisco. Ezekiel enters the house; then Tom tells him that he’s gambling on his wife’s land, so if Ezekiel loses, they won’t owe him anything anymore. However, Ezekiel argues that he doesn’t stay there only for money. Ezekiel later refuses to bet on the land, and they gamble for five dollars instead.

Ben visits the Edwards the following day to make a business proposal—a grain mill—that would bring them money. Tom thinks it’s a great idea, but Ezekiel believes otherwise. Tom accepts the deal, then tells Ben he doesn’t blame him anymore, implying that it’s his gun and his fault. When Ben leaves, Tom argues that he’ll get a better nurse than Ezekiel once the business takes off.

Ben sees Joyce picking grapes and tells her about his business proposal with Tom. Although happy, Joyce brings up the complaints he brought up yesterday, saying she’s been dying since Tom always seems furious at her. Ben assures her that the mill will benefit them, even change everything for the couple.

The Cartwright boys start building the mill. Ezekiel visits the site and comments on Ben’s motive for helping the Edwards, even Joyce’s assistance to Adam. Tom asks Ezekiel to assist him in the area and asks Ben if he can help them with anything. Ben gives him a wrench to tighten some rods, and Joyce is delighted to see Tom’s progress. Hoss arrives later with a carriage of millstones, drawing the attention of everyone. However, stress rises when Ezekiel makes another comment, igniting Tom’s suspicion toward Adam. Joyce approaches Tom, happy to inform him that the wheel might operate by that night. She suggests holding a party with their neighbors, but her delight is short-lived as Tom brings up her relationship with Adam. Tom argues that Joyce enjoys Adam’s company. Joyce insists that she’s only happy because their life will be better because of the mill. Furious, Tom asks Ezekiel to take him inside, warning Adam to stay away from his wife. The Cartwrights realize Ezekiel’s behind the tension, and Ben runs after the crying Joyce.

Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe continue working on finishing the mill. Soon enough, they finally complete the mill, and the wheel starts working. Much to their delight, Adam goes to deliver Tom the news. However, a gun fires from inside. Inside, a drunk Tom tells Adam he has a reason to shoot because of his wife. Ezekiel fueled Tom’s suspicion that he thinks Ben betrayed him again. Adam informs him about the mill, but Tom says it doesn’t solve anything.

At the Ponderosa, Adam narrates the trouble he faced upon talking with Tom. He thinks Ezekiel has planted some bad ideas in Tom regarding Ben and Joyce, causing him to threaten to kill Ben. Adam asks if this suspicion is accurate, and although Ben doesn’t confirm, Adam expresses his support for both of them.

Ezekiel takes advantage of Tom’s drunken state as they gamble. He bets that if Ezekiel loses, Tom doesn’t owe him anything. In the end, Ezekiel wins. Joyce hears his laughter, so Tom reveals that Ezekiel won the bet, meaning he owns everything now.

Ben arrives at the Edwards and hears a gunshot from inside. Ezekiel welcomes him, saying he owns the house. Lying dead on the floor was Tom, and beside him was Joyce, sobbing. Ezekiel reveals the list he made of all the bets they made, and that includes his wife. Ben stops Ezekiel from taking over, and a fight ensues between the two. Ben gains the upper hand as he gets Ezekiel’s rifle, killing him with several shots.

Joyce decides to leave town to start over again and orders Ben not to sell the mill.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Mill

[Music]
[Applause]
[Applause]
so
hey hey joe look who's coming
yeah that's what i call a real fine
looking woman yeah
you mind your manners because she's a
married woman
hey mrs edwards this is a real pleasure
man hello horse
hello little joe my pleasure man uh
little joe why don't you see after ms
edward's horse while i hem her down
little brother why don't you say after a
horse while i help her down
hey
joyce stan
oh ben oh it's so good to see you again
that's wonderful seeing you uh you'll
stay for supper
adam you remember mrs edwards hello adam
i remember her i just wasn't speaking
because i was so busy looking
you cartwright certainly know how to
please a woman uh joe run until hop
single have a guess what's up with that
right
oh uh adam uh down in the cellar by the
north wall at two cases of lapeet bring
up a couple of bottles sir
look you've come all this way sure you
can stay for a little while
now we need a lady in this house you
know i've got these three grown sons and
somebody has to teach them manners now
please come here
all right but just for a little while
i wouldn't go in that fight you miss
edward
it's nothing ben he's just i knew hired
hand he must be lost
pay no attention to him suit yourself
man only mr edward jingle like this
ezekiel you can tell mr edwards anything
you want to
but mr cartwright is an old friend and
i'm going inside
anything you say ma'am
but i'll be waiting for you
[Music]
so
[Music]
your house is so attractive then it gets
nicer with the years
it's been years since you've been in
this house twice yes i know
i've missed seeing it i've missed seeing
you
all of us have
how's tom all right
just all right
how is he really he's still bitter
he's been bitter ever since the accident
all day long he just follows me around
in his wheelchair
and every night in front of ezekiel he
he calls me names he
says the most awful things does kill it
isn't that night outside the hired hand
he's more than just that
tom spends half the night drinking and
gambling with his hired hand
drinking and gambling i thought the
accident left him incapacitated
only from the waist down
tom drinks himself into a stupor
and ezekiel carries him upstairs
he never knocks he just brings him right
into the room
and he puts him down on the bed next to
me
and he straightens up and he looks at me
lying there
and he says good night mrs edwards
and ghost every night it's this
but last night
usually tom can't turn over but somehow
last night he managed to
i woke up i saw him bending over me
with a carving knife in his hand he
didn't move he just
he just sort of smiled at me
so beautiful he said
i can't bear to think of my going first
joyce surely he must know tom meant no
harm
i don't know he's always talking about
death
his death my death
i uh i've got to go joyce please
stay i can't ben
oh time will be all right
if only he could find something to do to
take his mind off himself
he oh i
i've got to go
uh would you get mrs edwards please
right paul
[Music]
choice i don't like the idea of his
following you
oh it's all right ben he'll keep his
distance
i'll ride along broadway with you all
right
thank you
there you are ms edwards thank you
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
well i heard once it was paw's gun at
hitting well that's a lie
eat yourself for both of you stop
talking about it oh look i didn't mean
to hit him on purpose i may hit him
accidental
well that's two lies that's not what
they say in town
well that's mr edwards joe joey blames
paul he claims he crippled him
well did he or didn't he he did not yeah
well how do you know you weren't even
there
i was there an hour later they were out
after wild mountain sheep mr edward
slipped and fell to a ledge and paul
risked his life trying to save him he
got right at him
they were climbing up off that ledge
when they fell to another legend that's
when the gun went off getting him in the
spine
whose gun mr edwards gun all right then
why does he blame paw
eat your supper it's getting cold
[Music]
my boys i'm sorry i opened the wine i
didn't know she was leaving so soon
well we haven't had any of this since
christmas
yeah it's a miracle this wine imprisoned
in this bottle for 20 years
and each year it seems to grow better
yep sorry ms edwards couldn't make the
dinner tonight but i'm
so glad to be taking part of this wine
uh me too
boys i need your help what do you think
tom edwards could do
uh what do you mean bob well
they're out of money he squandered
everything they ever had
they owe everybody and he's always
gambling that's zeke fellers
would he live with them
i'm sorry boy i wouldn't want you to
talk with your mouth for
he not only lives with him but they owe
him too well what about virginia city
maybe uh he could clerk somewhere
you ever talk with him every time he
opens his mouth like poison poured out
uh-huh
this was once a wonderful man but he was
struck down life struck him down
paul didn't mean to venture a pretty
good flow of water on their place
haven't they
no we just say that if we were struck
down we wouldn't be pouring out poison
too
now what were you saying about water oh
well i was thinking that
there's no mill around then they have a
pretty good stream there we could uh
rig up a water wheel build a small mill
house they could grind grain
that's a wonderful idea a wonderful idea
adam i want to drink a toast here hey
paul can we drink to him too
he's a mighty bright fella downright
bright and a real pride and joy to the
cartwrights
well thank you gentlemen
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
take care of my horse anything you say
ms edwards
well did you have a pleasant ride yes
i hope so at least that will
compensate little for all that you have
to put up with
darling i know it's dreadful of me to
make such a fuss when you go out but
you have no idea how awful it is for me
to sit here alone without you
let me kiss you
your skin is so lovely your cheeks are
pink
kiss i'm awfully tired
i think i'll go up to bed you told me
where you've been
i uh went to see the
cartwrights
why complain about your husband
tom please don't start that again i love
you i'll never leave you you know that
i expect ben received you very warmly
didn't he
did you get any money out of him tom
please
he's very rich you're very attractive we
need money
yes i did go about money you know that
property that my father left me in
in san francisco well ben sometimes goes
to san francisco and i thought that he
might sell it for me
darling what about that prophet your
father left you in san francisco
what do you mean five acres that should
be worth quite a lot wouldn't it ezekiel
now mr edwards you don't want to go
gambling your wife's good land oh no
i'm doing it for her how's that mr
edwards
well she hates you this way she could
get rid of you
now miss edward you don't want to get
rid of me close as i've been to your
husband
how would that get rid of him i'd bet
the whole five acres against all we owe
ezekiel
if he loses then we don't owe him
anything and he clears out
go ahead bet the land
you surprised me mr edwards you think i
stay with you just for money
you think i take care of you you think i
carry you up them stairs night after
night and put you to bed just for money
believe you me mr edwards i know i ain't
fit to tie your shoe
but just living with you sir ms edwards
here
i've grown to you two like it was home
almost
no son no offense man but i can't take
that bet
all right all right play for five
dollars
will you lend me five dollars
you did give me a scare miss edwards i
thought i was gonna lose my home
[Music]
goodnight ms edwards
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
want to come what brings you around
well i was running into town are you
about to drop by see me see my wife
to see you both tom sit on the porch if
you want to
she's picking grapes good morning mr
cartwright
yeah that's a it's a mighty fine stream
you have here in the property
i hear my wife paid you a little visit
yesterday
it's good to see her good to see you tom
is that i'm i'll be straight out honest
with you
i made a definite point of stopping by
here this morning a little business
proposition i'd like to talk over with
you
how'd you like to make some good money
there ain't much mr edwards can do alan
chronic the way he is
tom i want to build something in your
property
a money-making operation when i get my
money out plus 15
and it's yours to own did you hear that
my wife goes to see my best friend and
suddenly i'm in business i'm rich
what's the proposition mr cartwright a
mill
a grain mail now there's not around here
for miles and people around here need a
mill
now you have the water i have a son who
knows how to put that water to work
what are you doing trying to get
something from me
tom i said this is a business
proposition now put up the money
and my sons and i will build that meal
for you what are you getting mr
cartwright
water rights forever i've already said
what i want
my investment back plus 15
to have that i'm satisfied you mean
hmm that sounds pretty good
not to me it don't would you be good
enough to let mr edwards make his own
deal if he so sees fit of course sir
excuse me excuse me never mind
zeke ben we've been thrown together so
much we're almost like partners
my only thought sir is for mr edwards
that's enough zeke now you keep out of
this mr edwards we'd have all those
people coming around all that excitement
you don't hardly sleep nights as it is
tom what do you say
have we in agreement or haven't we
fifteen percent huh
fifteen you shake on that we'll have
that mill up in a week
you make it 10 no
12 and a half 12 and a half
i'm mighty glad tom boy that will be a
great thing for everybody
what do you think of that ezekiel why do
i tell joyce hello all right tom are you
let's be getting on at the town oh say
uh we can start bringing the stuff into
mob that's all right oh do that
you do that man ben
we'll be friends again let me tell you
ben
in my heart when i'm not in pain i mean
in my heart i never blame you it was my
gun
my fault bless you for coming
goodbye tomorrow tom fine man
i thought you owned me didn't you
thought i couldn't even get up to bed
without you
i'll show you i'll take you to your wife
mr edwards
would you like to go pick grapes with
your wife i'll make me so much money
i'll hire me a nurse from san francisco
it'd be a real one too not just somebody
like you
i wouldn't get excited mr edwards you're
going to have another bad night
you hope i have another bad night at
night i hope i'll have to call for you
where are you taking me to your wife mr
edwards i'm going to take you to your
wife you forget about my wife you hear
me
you get her right out of your head
[Applause]
take me back in the house
man joyce
ben oh how wonderful to see you
does does tom know you're here yes i
just talked to him
you just i think i have some very good
news for you i suggested a time that we
build a grist mill here and that he run
it
what did he say he's all forward he
likes the idea
oh ben i'm so happy
if only this could make tom happy too
remember the way he used to be
i'll help you pick some grapes
ben what you're doing is the most
wonderful thing anyone could do for us
oh wait a minute you're forgetting i'm
making a profit too
i know what you're doing
[Music]
then about about yesterday
i've i've never complained to you before
have i
never complained to anyone but all these
years
i've been dying too
i know jess sometimes i think it would
have been better for him if i'd left him
my health my just the sight of me seems
to
infuriate him at times just the sheer
side of me
just just your beauty
[Music]
oh dan i forgot about that a long time
ago
he's a [ __ ] and i'm a [ __ ] too
how are you a [ __ ] because i don't
stand up to him
because i take every terrible thing he
says to me
sometimes he he eyes me like a stranger
would
he says things he shouldn't this may all
come to an end
you know he was so happy when i left him
i think the mill may change everything
oh i hope so it's got to be a fine mill
you know adam's very clever with that
sort of thing he's made some wonderful
drawings
you're so fortunate in your boys
three fine sons they could be
half your life only half
sons can't be everything
[Music]
did you notice how blue the mountains
were this morning
yes i i saw them
well it's starting to look very good
coming along fine pop
hey paw what's up's gonna get here with
those mill stones she'll be real soon
well we'll be ready for him anytime now
that's fine
oh thank you glad to see you pitching in
i wouldn't want to give you any wrong
notions mr cottrick
i'm just doing this to please mr edwards
i still don't think any good is going to
come of it
well going to give it a chance well i'll
give it a chance
i'm just wondering one thing what's
really in this for you mr cut right
hey fly i sent me some more nails
yeah coming right up
but it looks so complicated how did you
ever figure it out
well it's really not original it the
design is actually a combination
some of it comes from the uh all new
england mills and some comes from
the wheels of the miners built here in
nevada as you see we've
built a flume leading to the top of the
wheel now at the proper time we'll
divert the water back through the flume
it'll pass over the top of the wheel
striking the blades which will
turn the wheel which will dry the shaft
which will turn the upper millstone and
presto you're grinding wheat it's really
quite simple
oh adam i think you're absolutely
marvelous well actually the idea is
thousands of years old
but imagine what it meant to man before
the steam age
or should be assumed with the millstones
uh which reminds me i better see our
little joe's coming along oh and i
better see about tom
hey professor hi
that's a mighty pretty assistant you got
there
meaning what
oh you're sly one i was watching you
standing close
spinning over sniffing her head i know
you bright boys
how would you like to shut your filthy
face huh well i'm just doing you a favor
friend
don't let her husband catch you he's
still handy with a rifle
is he gone come get me
excuse me professor i was so busy
watching you and mrs edwards i forgot
all about her husband
i don't know what you're up to but don't
make any trouble for mrs edwards
that's about time you got your professor
did some of the heavy work don't call me
that
what's the matter with you just don't
call me professor
here let me get that i'm perfectly
capable of doing this myself
anything you say ma'am wheel me down
there i want to see how things are going
yes sir you think it'd be all right all
right why shouldn't it be all right come
on
i mean the ground's so rough your leg's
being so weak must you always remind him
of that
i didn't mean no harm man i was just
thinking
come on come on
you know adam i gotta hand it to you i
think this thing's gonna work thanks
i uh i'm sorry about blowing up all that
steam a while ago
hey well that's all right i'm used to
taking all the guff around this family
that's what i'm here for
oh sure you're really abused aren't you
here
put this flank up there see what i mean
got it yeah why don't you get some light
wood
well ben you're really making progress
moving right along tom
and the reason why i can't be of some
help i never thought
as a matter of fact i think i've got the
very thing for you ezekiel
who was cheering for the wheel you see
these binder rods
yeah they need tightening huh here's a
wrench get to work
fine oh adam
isn't it wonderful to see tom working
again sure is
what's the matter i just think you have
the most wonderful father
how many alarm folks just a signal
signal for what
the arrival look to the east boss cut
right charioteer
charging up with a ton of millstones
come on horse driver
have any trouble getting this load
across the river you know a little bit
keep swimming with it
hey can i get it i got it
well i don't know about you mr edwards
but i always go by the rule you ought to
lock the barn before the horse gets away
what are you talking about just a
certain party and your wife
you know what i think i'll do with you
when this meal is finished i'll put a
rope around your neck and hang you from
one of the raptors just to celebrate
mr edwards you know i'm just protecting
your interest
listen you filthy snake i trust my wife
and i trust ben cartwright he's my
friend
did you ever again put one of your
rotten suspicious thoughts in my mind so
help me have an i'll get you
your friend mr edwards i wasn't talking
about him i was talking about his son
adam
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
watch your hands down there with that
paul all right let me get this out of
there it's here
easy now
easy easy
okay let her slide down and easy does it
watch your hands pop
that slip
i ain't saying she did anything but
the point is just tell me if you saw
anything or you didn't between her and
that
mr edwards i don't want you getting
excited never mind about that just tell
me what you saw
well adam was well
he kind of brushing up against her here
now
did he touch her no not exactly
it's his eyes you know when she wasn't
looking at him
his eyes was you know what i mean it
it just kind of touching her all over
of course gotta admit that adam is a
good looking boy
and with a little bit of luck we'll have
this mill running by tonight
tom they think they'll have the wheel
going by tonight isn't that wonderful
do you know what i think we should have
a party and let's dance and
let's grind the first grain and have the
neighbors in oh wouldn't it be wonderful
to have music again
i bet you'd like to dance wouldn't you
dusty hear the music would be enough i
bet you'd like to dance with adam
i beg your pardon what's all this
between you and adam
between me and adam ever since the mill
started you've been tagging each other
around
tom i don't understand you you
understand me you're a woman aren't you
you're young you're lovely
don't tell me you don't know what i'm
talking about tom and my word of honor
no such thought for adam ever ended my
mind
then why are you so happy why have you
been smiling ever since this move
started
because of you because i thought it
would start your life again and my life
you haven't been tagging adam around no
brushing against him leaning against him
laughing with him at me no you have
father
you've been tagging each other around
like a couple of simpering love birds
what's going on i don't know looks like
ezekiel has done his work
jose hill get me out of here excuse me
miss edward
you got him so upset i better take him
inside and lay him down for a while
is he killed do i have you to thank for
this no ma'am
i didn't title on you that's what you
mean if you come near my wife again adam
cartwright i'll kill you both
[Music]
i'll give you my word it's ezekiel he's
warped and twisted edward's mind
bob maybe we'd better stop working the
mill well after i lug these these stones
in here
we'll finish this mail man as mixed up
as that's able to kill somebody
keep working
[Music]
guys guys
guys
[Music]
don't know what to do
all right now take it easy joe you
ruined the whole thing look i told you
it wouldn't fit at him you made the
shaft too short
oh come on i'll lift now a lift horse
dang it at him if i lift anymore i'm
gonna lift the whole earth up
oh come on we adam
let's call it quits quit yeah quits we
did enough work today for ten men
ah come on joe give me a few more
minutes i'm hungry uh
and i'm you give me one reason why i had
to break my back because i want to see
it work
i want to see this male grind wheat i
want to eat bread from this mill that we
built
you do i do
he does he does
why don't you say so brother come on
let's get to work
all right all together now all right
let's go
one who he all right
she goes hey i get the other side over
there
hey will i get this board up let's go
one
hey way to go brother hey look it won't
let's get up to the diversion gate when
i give you the signal let the water in
the flume right
hey adam doesn't think we got to wait
for paw patrol to get it done and that's
what we're going to do
i'll get up there and let up that slow
skate when i tell you hi sir
all right horse let it go
hey it's filling up the flume adam
you all set let it go
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
make us as bright as our brother adam
[Music]
hey adam hey maybe we better get up
there no
come on in whoever you are
[Laughter]
well right what do you want
there's one thing i don't want is people
shooting at me without a reason
i got a reason best reason in the world
my wife
where is she that's right where is she
mr edward here has been worried about it
it ain't good for him to worry
how should i know where his wife is you
ought to know where she is
she's with your father ain't she he run
off after didn't think i knew did you
i know ezekiel told me i know all about
your father too from a long way back
it's not the first time he betrayed me
he shot me in his spine
my father didn't shoot you and you know
it i don't know any such thing
i know it was you cartwright's caused
all my trouble mr edwards you're wrong
real wrong but i didn't come here to
argue with you i just come to tell you
that your mill is finished we got it
going
you think the mill solves everything
don't you you know what i'm gonna do
with your mill
i'm going to destroy it i'm going to
burn it to the ground it's been cocked i
think he can buy my wife with a mill
you mock my words before i let him steal
my wife
i'll kill him and hurt you
ezekiel if you're really his friend
you'll get these wild ideas out of his
head
i am his friend mr cartwright but what's
right is right
man has a simple duty to protect his
home
[Applause]
ben i'll always remember this time we've
had together
as though today had escaped to another
world
it's been that way for me too
dan look the wheel is turning
oh oh isn't it beautiful it certainly is
joyce i just can't let you go back
please at least spend the night with us
at the ponderosa
don't go back to that house not right
now i'm not
afraid tom and ezekiel will be so drunk
they won't even hear me come in
besides with the mill and all perhaps it
will be different again
i've got to give him that chance
well just to be sure everything's all
right
i'll ride by first thing in the morning
ben thank you
for everything
[Music]
wow we've been waiting for you oh boy i
was a little worried about you
smiley thoughtful of you adam but i have
a feeling i'm old enough to take care of
myself i
ran into some trouble over at the
edwards place what sort of trouble
tom took a shot at me no i can't believe
that
neither could i i went up to the ranch
to tell him they would finish with the
mill and
he and that hired hand of his were
glassy-eyed drunk what started it what
brought it on i don't know tom had some
wild idea about you and joyce being off
some place together and he was making
threats about killing you if you didn't
stay away from her
where are you going right back to that
house as fast as i can make it
that man touches joyce
want me to go with you no you stay here
i'll handle this alone
ah tom's suspicion about you and joyce
it isn't true is it
i suppose it were adam how would you
feel about it
i'd say that if there ever was a chance
she couldn't do any better i'd be happy
for both of you
thank you for that
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
that does it mr edwards it's my house
now
your house your money
your strength packs me upstairs and puts
me to bed this is my way
ezekiel you hear that he's my wife
that's right you're what
you owe me quite a bit mr edwards
i've got a meal they'll grind flour
i don't make money ain't you forgetting
something i won that meal
i'll pay you somewhere i'll pay you
now that you mention it there is a way
an easy way
you like to gamble don't you
20 years of driving yet i just want to
make one more bed with you just one cut
of the cards
if i lose you don't owe me anything mr
edward's not a thing
you get the house back and all the money
you owe me
if i lose what i still own
you don't already have
well just one cut of the cards can
prevent that mister there's a gambler
like you ought to jump at the chance
nobody ought to kill you somebody ought
to stop
you well maybe somebody will
but that ain't gonna be you is it mr
[Music]
edwards
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
hahahahahaha
[Laughter]
[Music]
looks like my king beats your nine
[Music]
[Laughter]
ezekiel would you mind bringing mr
edwards up to our room now
i don't have to do that no more ms
edwards
that's my room now that's where i'm
going to sleep
even drunk as you are you know that's
not true
isn't it you ask your husband
what does he mean i said was there some
things going on here i think you ought
to know about
tom what is he saying he won the bet
what bit what do you mean
oh you're just as drunk as he is you
don't even know what you're saying
no he's right
i won the bet don't tell him to get away
from me help me
i can't help you joyce i can't help
you might as well get used to the idea
ms edwards
from now on thing will be nobody get
away from
me you touch me and i'll kill you i
don't know how i'll do it but i'll tell
[Laughter]
[Music]
you
well she'll get over that as soon as she
calms down a bit
will she is he go are you sure
yeah i'm sure why shouldn't i be you
heard her
she said she'd kill you first
maybe someone's gonna stop you after all
hello mr cartwright you should knock
before you come into my home
get out of here no mr cartwright
everything here belongs to me now
you see i've taken mr edwards place
even this chair belongs to me
come on choice
oh now stay right where you are mr
cartwright i wouldn't want to have to
hurt you
how you lay your pistol belt on that
table
why are you sitting that wheelchair
you're not crippled
that's right i'm not i just want to get
the feel of it
i want to know how mr edwards felt when
he sat in it
i want to know how mr edwards felt about
everything
come on joyce let's get out of here nope
not now you can't mr karaj she belongs
to me too don't you understand look
look i i have it all here i kept track
of every bet i made with mr edwards he
gambled away everything
and tonight he gambled away his wife
well if you won everything from him
why did you kill him
well he tried to go back on a bed you
know a man can't do that
ezekiel
you see you're very tired
why don't you rest and we can talk about
it
go on joyce no no no
where's she going just outside
no no she can't now mr edwards told you
that if you tried to steal his wife he'd
kill you
i'm the same as mr edwards now so if you
try to take her
i'm going to have to kill you
[Music]
hmm
[Music]
ah
joyce this is this is what you want to
do
i've had a lot of time to think this
past week and
uh well i have friends in denver i'd
stay with them and then i'll
move on east all right
you go and after a few weeks or
months well then you can decide what you
want to do
now whatever you do don't sell the mill
you use it
that joyce when you come back
ben
i love you
but i could never come back
i need you remember you told me once
that when little joe's mother died you
had to get away
had to meet new people well think of it
that way
hello i'll drive into virginia city i'd
rather we say goodbye here
it isn't easy for me either
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
you

Behind the Scenes of The Mill

This episode’s title in German is “Der Knecht,” which translates as “The Servant.”

The opening credits list the “Special Guest Stars” for this episode over a shot of Lake Tahoe’s shore in the opening credits. This case is done only once during the run of the series.

The left buttock of Claude Akins’ pants in the fight between Ezekiel and Ben near the end of the episode shows a visible tear. The tears disappear towards the end of the scuffle.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

Bonanza, a popular weekly TV Western series during the 1960s, is a fantastic show to watch alone or with family. NBC produced all 14 seasons of the show from September 1959 to January 1973. Out of 430 episodes, The Mill was the 36th and the fourth for the program’s second season.

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