Bonanza, the 14-season-long Western television series, depicted the weekly adventures of the fictional Cartwright family as they run and defend the Ponderosa ranch and the town from forces of crime and greed. Robert E. Thompson wrote season two’s second episode, The Mission, which aired on September 17, 1960.

Former army scout Charlie Trent (Henry Hull), who feels guilty for the massacre of a group of soldiers, has turned into a town drunk. One day, cavalry captain Pender (John Dehner) sends the town a notification, looking for a reliable scout to go on a dangerous mission. Determined to restore the pitiful derelict to his former condition, Hoss Cartwright recommends Charlie to the captain.

Peter Whitney portrayed Lewt Custer, and Harry Carey Jr. played Corporal Burton. 

Read the story and some behind-the-scenes trivia, or watch the complete episode below.

Watch the Full Episode of The Mission

Watch the Full Episode of The Mission:

Main Cast

The Mission, the second episode of Bonanza’s second season, featured some of the show’s recurring and special guest stars in addition to the main cast. The actors in the episode are:

• Dan Blocker as Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright
• Michael Landon as Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright (credit only)
• Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright (credit only)
• Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright (credit only)
• Henry Hull as Charlie Trent
• John Dehner as Captain Pender
• Peter Whitney as Lewt Cutter
• Don Collier as Sergeant
• Harry Carey Jr. as Corporal Burton
• Lane Bradford as Buck
• Donnelly Rhodes as Latigo (as Don Rhodes)
• Dale Van Sickel as Morgan
• Mike Ragan as Kelly (as Michael Ragan)
• Ray Hemphill as Johnson
• Robert Adler as O’Hara
• Bob Hoy as Cowboy in Blue Shirt (uncredited)
• Ethan Laidlaw as Townsman (uncredited)
• Leo Needham as Bank Clerk (uncredited)
• Cosmo Sardo as Barfly (uncredited)
• Al Silvani as Bartender (uncredited)
• Cap Somers as Townsman (uncredited)
• George Sowards as Townsman (uncredited)

Full Story Line for The Mission

Charlie Trent, the town drunk, is in the saloon, having fun sharing his stories as an army scout. Most of the men in the bar enjoy his narrations, except for one who starts making fun of him. The teasing ends with the man pointing his knife at Charlie until Hoss arrives to help Charlie leave the saloon, hating to see his friend treated that way. Hoss returns the badge Charlie dropped, which acknowledges Charlie’s services above and beyond the line of duty.

Seeing he can’t do anything else to help Charlie, Hoss gets money to tidy up Charlie and send him to San Francisco. Charlie insists on staying since he feels he belongs in Virginia City, but that doesn’t stop Hoss from pursuing his plan for his friend.

Captain Pender, commanding an army wagon train carrying gold, makes a supply stop in Virginia City. Pender is on the verge of firing Cutter, their scout after Cutter chooses to see his friends despite the strict schedule they have to follow. Charlie saw what happened and offered to become their new scout. Pender initially hesitated but remembered Charlie as a scout when he showed his Fremont Exploration badge. However, it wasn’t enough for him to hire Charlie.

Hoss finds the devastated Charlie at the saloon. The captain arrives shortly after, firmly ordering Cutter to perform his duty immediately. He threatens to fire him, then declares to hire Charlie Trent, who knows the wasteland more than anybody else. Cutter finds it amusing since Charlie led the army into an ambush, almost killing everyone. Pender fires Cutter and, desperate for a guide, offers the task to him, including everything he needs. However, he runs away before making a decision. Seeing this can be Charlie’s chance, Hoss talks to the captain, asking him to let Charlie ride with him again. The captain, seeing he has no choice, agrees, so Hoss delivers the news to Charlie.

Hoss finds Charlie sitting pitifully outside. He encourages Charlie to scout the trail for the captain and his troop, warning that he’ll become a coward, even a murderer if he does otherwise. Charlie complies but asks Hoss to accompany him.

Cutter led a small gang that intended to steal the gold once they arrived in the desert. Cutter thinks it’s better to let Charlie guide the wagon train, allowing them to continue their plan. He believes people will assume that Charlie led the soldiers to their death in the desert, not knowing they stole the gold.

The troops set camp near a small body of water. Hoss finds Charlie searching for something in his pack, then figures he’s looking for his liquor bottle. Hoss informs Charlie that he disposed of it, much to Charlie’s disappointment since he believes it’s the only thing that can help him continue. He motivates Charlie, implying no one understands the desert much better than Charlie. Meanwhile, Cutter and his gang are watching them from behind.

Charlie leads the troop to the next watering holes. He decides to ride ahead, stating he’ll fire three shots if he finds it. Later, the army stops marching. The captain starts to think it was a mistake to trust Charlie, seeing how they’ve been walking for hours with no sign of the watering hole. However, they suddenly heard three shots—a sign that Charlie had found the next watering hole. The army celebrates and happily treks on.

When the troops arrive, Charlie informs them that the water contains poison after seeing a dead hare nearby. It was disappointing for everyone, but there was nothing they could do. The captain decided they’d cut rations and set camp before going to the next water hole.

Cutter and his gang arrive ahead of the troops on the next water. After getting what they need, he sets out to pour the poison. His men grew out of patience, suggesting they kill the soldiers instead of walking through the desert. However, they’re left to follow Cutter since he’s the only one who knows the way out.

Charlie and the army troops arrive at the next watering hole. However, Charlie tells them there’s also poison in the water. Unconvinced, one of the soldiers dives in. He suddenly winced from stomachache, then died a few minutes later.

They now figure somebody is riding ahead, poisoning the water holes. Charlie knew it had to be a scout, and the captain understood it must be Cutter. Although Cutter and his gang are already by the next body of water, Charlie believes they won’t poison it since those men will want the water for themselves. He then insists on scouting by himself at night. If he discovers that Cutter and his men are no longer by the watering hole and the water is clean, he’ll fire three shots, pause, then fire two more. That signal will inform them that it’s safe to go. Charlie tells them to head north to the Highlands if they don’t hear any. Hoss insists on accompanying Charlie, so they set forth.

Meanwhile, Cutter’s men are eager to steal the gold as they wait behind some rocks. When Hoss and Charlie arrive at the watering hole, Charlie finds the water free of poison, so the two dive in to enjoy it. However, their joy was short-lived when Cutter held them as hostages. Cutter asks about the soldiers and what signal will bring them back. Hoss refuses to answer, but Charlie chooses to talk after Cutter waves and pours a bottle of whiskey at him. He tells Cutter about the three-shot signal, so Cutter fires three times. After hearing the three shots, the troops figured there was danger up ahead, so they turned north out of the desert.

Charlie’s enjoying his liquor, pleased with himself for fooling Cutter, knowing the army will not arrive. He saved the soldiers and the gold. However, Hoss grows worried about what will happen to them once Cutter realizes the wagon train will not come.

Suddenly, the wagon train arrives. Cutter only sees three soldiers and presumes the other two are approaching from behind. He orders one man to watch Hoss and Charlie while the others go to separate places. Hoss and Charlie successfully overpower their guard.

A shooting commences against Cutter’s gang and the army troops. Captain Pender arrives with minor casualties. The army wagon train can make it out of the desert with clean water, and Charlie has successfully redeemed himself.

Full Script and Dialogue of The Mission

hahaha
no now can i have that drink not until
you finish your story charlie you have
to tell us about general fremont
all right let me see where i want to oh
yeah yeah well that was the time
that me and the general come through
here together that was in the
summer of 47. the matter of fact it
wouldn't have been over virginia city if
it hadn't been for me
and the general i told you to shut up
your line didn't i
i lying you are lying i i can't yeah
thank you yes sir yes sir now wait a
minute
oh charlie here don't mean any harm he's
just an old man hanging around
the saloon we'd like to hear his stories
well i don't like to hear them now did
anybody ask you to put in your two
bitsworth
all right old man that'll go
me a knife
what you aiming to do well now anybody
that's
for as many indians as you claim you
have ought to have a few scars shouldn't
he
suppose we just scratch off some of this
beard and
[Laughter]
so we can
[Music]
come on charlie let's get you out of
here before you get in any more trouble
thank you thank you
my friend johnny don't like to be
treated like that
i don't like it neither
drop something
fremont expedition 1847
presented to charles trent
chief scott for services
above and beyond the line of duty
hey charlie you wouldn't want to lose
that
[Applause]
[Music]
ah
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
you about the only real friend i got in
town
all i seem to do is to cause you trouble
charlie you promised me sell him he
wasn't going back in that saloon again i
i didn't mean to just them fellas wanted
to hear some of my stories or something
yeah for a couple of drinks
i guess i guess you won't give me
another chance when you
dad bernie charlie how many chances
you're gonna have to have i talked paul
into giving you a job on the ranch and
what do you do the first payday you take
off and we don't see you again for a
week and you come back drunk
that was that was a mistake charlie it's
up to you whatever job you got around
here
ain't nobody around here gonna give you
a chance now i
i guess you're right i'm gonna bother
you no more i can promise you that much
because i'm i'm gonna take up scouting
again
yeah the general freemont he'll be
ascending for me anytime now today
tomorrow for sure charlie i i wouldn't
count on it too much
general fremont's busy man with a war
token oh i knew i know he
he wouldn't go back on you see him and
me we crossed a great salt flat together
i better better go fix up a little
though i guess
charlie it just ain't no use i
i don't made up my mind what i'm gonna
do with you huh well i'm
i'm gonna go in there and get some money
and i'm gonna wanna fix you all up
nice and clean i'm going to put you on
the first stage coach out here for san
francisco
that's mighty kind of you lose i i
appreciate it
but i can't go to no big city
i belong out here i got to stay here
charlie i
i've been all wrong about maybe you
getting a new chance hear it
the big city is the only place for you i
you stay right here don't you go no
place here
hush
hold on cutter
where are you going all right a couple
of friends of mine was passing through i
thought i'd talk to them as all well i
have a strict schedule on this mission
you'll be back here and ready to lead
out in one half hour
captain i think it's about time you and
me had us an understanding
now i've been loaning through this
territory for a goodly time and i ain't
never taken no orders yet
not from a savage and not from no
soldier boy you
sign an army contract to scout trail
you're gonna fulfill it into the letter
or you'll be relieved
why mister you got about as much chance
of crossing that desert without me as a
blind hoodie bat has a reach in the sun
all right carry on man got mine oh that
whole desert
i mapped out the first trail of salt
lake city i know the whereabouts of
every waterhole yeah well i
i can't sign on anybody just because
they claim to be a scout oh you
you know you don't believe me huh hey
look at that look at that
fremont expedition yeah you can read but
written on the other side too
presented to charles trent chief scout
for services trent
[Music]
are you the same trent that scouted for
the border expedition against the
apaches
yeah that'd be back in back in 53.
i wouldn't have known you i mean
it's been so long of course you wouldn't
remember me i was just a shave tale but
that was my first assignment i guess it
would have been my last of you hadn't
let us out of that apache trap charlie
trent
ah you give me a chance then
not charlie that gold shipment is vital
maybe with a war coming on
got a scum
perhaps next time i make a trip charlie
captain that old bum is pretty drunk
thinking he can scout for you sir
corporal that old bum was the finest
scout in the united states army
whatever i know about this territory i
learned from him
oh sorry sir
i am too
[Music]
it was a bottom
give a little buzzard bait a drink here
too
wake up the man's buying you a drink
[Laughter]
[Music]
charlie oh uh-huh
did i ever tell you about the time i led
the expedition up the columbia river
yeah yeah yeah you told me charlie
come on let's go down the stable and
clean it off
i tried i was honest honest i tried hard
you asked some soldier boys if i didn't
that captain he just didn't want me
joe give me a cup of coffee in a
sandwich
you ain't making no friends with none of
us cutter where you're treating the
cabin
i told you to be back and ready in half
an hour
seems to me i do remember you saying
something like that
well don't you mind now i'll be long a
little while but i keep
send my friend the captain here up a
drink
last man that grabbed me like that was a
blackfoot chief
i cut his live out man don't live long
without a liver captain that's a pure
medical fact
i'm giving you a direct order
get outside and join the detail now
oh what oh you're through
well now that don't seem so likely
mister
you need a scout and i'm the only one
there is
you're a long way from being
indispensable cutter there's a man knows
the wasteland country better than you or
any scot alive charlie trent
trent where you gonna find him
charlie
that charlie trent
the great charlie tranter
remington massacre you remember charlie
you let them soldier boys right into an
ambush right smack dab up to where their
engines was waiting
he's just the kind of a scout you need
captain
collect your gear from the wagon and
clear out
take along plenty of water soldier boy
plenty of water
charlie
charlie you asked me for a chance
this is it don't give me any cause to
regret it
we'll provide you with your mount and
your gear
get anything else you need we'll move
out as soon as you're ready
well
captain mike
he'll do it cam
hey charlie
captain my name is cartwrighter
i'm a friend of old charlie's i'll see
two of these ready to go in no time
we rode together
captain let him ride with you again
[Music]
i have much choice
you sir i'll get him
charlie charlie i've been looking all
over this town if you the captain's down
there waiting for you you got to get
your gear
leave me alone please sir please leave
me alone
just go go tell that captain man you
couldn't find me that's
all charlie he's offering you the change
you've been waiting for
it was just me i i wouldn't mind but see
it's
it's panda and all his men depending on
me that
charlie you led the first map party
across that desert
the first white man that ever crossed it
now if you can do that you can leave
bender in his men now
uh or was that just one of your lies
about leading that map party
no cause that was true loss that was
true
all right then charlie you listen to me
and you listen real good
if you let captain pender and those men
go out across that desert without
somebody to scout the trail for him
you are gonna be a coward and a murderer
charlie you got to do it if you
have you helped me have you come with me
charlie i just like just like you just
like you said yourself
this has a chance i've been waiting for
will you please have me will you please
come with me
yes sir i'll go with you ah thank you
boy
well goodbye captain and good luck thank
you mr johnson
detail forward
forward
hey charlie this time don't go letting
them engines get
your scalp
you stand there laughing like you just
said something great cutter
but all you've done was to mess up
things real good it's working out just
the way i wanted buck
and how do you make that we had a plan a
plan to get the gold now we've got
nothing
i changed plans for a better one
we still get the gold maybe you'd better
tell us what you got in mind
way it works out now i don't have to
explain me
surviving they get lost sand covers
everything
ain't a trace of nothing left and
everybody figures it's old charlie trent
let them roar
you're gonna lead them soldiers out into
the desert what if this charlie takes
them another way
them renegade bands down south would
like nothing better to get their hands
on that gold
cheyenne on the wall path up north they
got
nowhere to go but across that desert
with us following them
[Music]
oh
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
oh
mouse
[Applause]
looking for something charlie oh
no no i wasn't looking for nothing just
just
looking a bottle one bottle
you ain't gonna find it
oh of course that was all i had
i i didn't want to drink it i was
i just wanted noted here that's all i i
wasn't aiming to drink and drop my visit
i i promise
caused my heart
i poured it out this morning charlie
i can't make it without a green card oh
i can't
make it charlie you don't made it almost
a week now just on a pint yeah what
we've come through is nothing
like taking a walk down a boulevard in a
bright sunshiny day
the way we get across that mountain and
hit the great salt flats
a man the man's got to have something in
his insides and he tackles that desert
and you then hook and poured my insides
right out on the ground
you're just going to have to grow some
new ones because if you don't take us
across that desert we're all going to
die and ride out there
i'll try horse i understand outside
here you drink your coffee
quit worrying you're gonna make it
my there they be
getting ready to bed down like nice
soldier boys
come doc we're going to ride from here
on out
we stay ahead of them
what's our line of march uh do east
yep you see once you hit that desert
there ain't no landmarks to guide you
you have to kind of
kind of sense things you know kind of
kind of feel your way along
charlie charlie that's what we're
depending on you for
to take us to that first water hole in
the two-day march and then after that
you'll have to lead us to the next water
hole
then on to the last one
can you do all that charlie
i tell you what i've been i've been i've
been thinking it over and i reckon it
might be our best bet to
head to north easy and that way we can
circle the desert entirely you see
with yellowstar and the whole cheyenne
nation on the warpath look i didn't
bring you along and tell me how to get
us all killed we have to cross that
desert
are you signed on as a scout to lead us
over it
can you do it
me and horse lead out
prepare to move
[Music]
oh
[Music]
you aiming to take them on tonight nah
you ever see the zunis hunt fox oh well
they just let them keep on running till
their tongues are all swole up and
hanging out
when they walk up to them real peaceful
i can club them to death
yes yesterday we're gonna let those
soldier boys just ride on a piece
far enough so there ain't no way back
[Applause]
[Applause]
sort of like being out on the ocean
ain't it
only difference is it we're looking for
water instead of land
[Music]
you got your bearing yet charlie
circle back on ourselves do you gotten
lost no
no no
[Music]
ain't much daylight left charlie and you
said we'd sure find that water hole for
sundown
that water hole has got to be within an
hour's march of here i'm telling you
you'll go back and tell the captain and
got to bring them soldiers here's and up
here
right away you sure charlie
sure of course i ain't sure but i gotta
act like i was
i gotta fool them soldiers into thinking
i'm sure
because if just one man panics it'll
spread like wildfire
we'll find ourselves a bunch of buzzard
bait
you you said you had faith in me didn't
you
yes sir i do we'll hang on to it son
hang on to it
cause that's all i got to hang on to
myself
i'll tell them no when i find out
they're water
i'll fire three shots near yes sir
detail
just a little piece father
i made a mistake trusting him
i think it's time we admit it both of us
we're lost you know it kevin you're
wrong
with the captain's permission
me and men like the captain to tell us
straight out how we stand
kevin man you got a right to know
charlie he found the watermelon
[Applause]
wow
oh
[Music]
hey
what's wrong that your water's been
poisoned
[Music]
see the animal over there
it was the same thing that'll happen to
any of us adventures here water
[Music]
we don't need a scout to find poison
water for us
sergeant yes sir move the detail to that
area
up ahead make camp
issue half rations of water to the men
and the mules
none to the mounts detail
board
all right charlie how far to the next
motorhome
it's about a day's months but me and her
nobody else can say whether that water
will be any more fitting to drink than
this is
can you find it found this one did not
what do you think kevin we can make our
water last another full day
we'll have to lose our amounts
the mules can keep going as long as they
get some water
you got to make the decision kevin if we
turn around go back
the men in the gold will be saved but if
you go on up ahead and that water is
poisoned too
be too late to turn back
there's nothing in my orders about
turning back
the charlie will move out just before
dawn while it's still cool
[Music]
oh
you're gonna poison this one too that's
what i'm gonna do but they're liable to
get suspicious
that don't make no difference besides
they can't never know just how it got
done
now go on do like i told you start
brushing out our tracks look all we've
been doing is riding around this
miserable desert
now i say we stay here and finish off
them soldiers all i want is to split
that goal
and i ain't got nothing so far but sun
baked
where'd it go i'll side with them
now them soldiers have got to come here
all we got to do is wait for them but if
you feel you'd rather not make the stand
with this you can clear out
no hard feelings
no hard feelings huh
now you listen to me every last one of
you
there ain't one of you got a chance of
leaving these salt flats alive lesson i
lead you now where would you ambush
eight men on flatlands like this
but up ahead there's places where we can
pull it off now go on do like i told you
stop brushing out our tracks
[Music]
it's poison
[Music]
challenge
okay you just struck your death man
what is good that's not fine
charlie make sure
test that water again no need to cap
kelly himself will prove i was right you
drinking all such
a billion loans with so much poison down
from liquor you know what you're doing
you'll keep us away from this water
[Music]
sergeant bring a canteen
move him over under the wagon cover him
with a blanket
there's four riders and one spare horse
only headed away from here riding fast
for the next water hole
and poison that one too
another thing happened only a scout
would know his way around here like them
bushwackers are doing the scout
that i have to be cutter
[Music]
go ahead while we still have some water
left and try to fight our way through
yeah captain captain his rocks around
that their water hole
best place in the world for an ambush
they'd they'd pick us
off before we ever seen them we're not
gonna stay here and die not without a
fight
you got an idea better than that yeah if
they are still at that water hole
that water will be good until after they
finish us off
that makes sense charlie no yeah but
we got to make sure they are still there
so when the moon sets
i'll start out me i should make it in
one hour or two
not charlie now i'll go with some of my
men
sergeant you and johnson will go with me
corporal
hello captain
i'm a i'm a scout i can do a better job
alone
all right charlie but after you get
there what then
well if they ain't there and the water
is still good
i'll fire three shots no
cut i may have heard that signal before
so this time i'll fire three shots
wait a while then fire two more and
captain
when you hear them five shots you come a
running
and if i don't hear the five shots if
you don't hear them
you head due north four smarts
traveling by night and with any luck you
ought to make the highlands and
water in about two days of course the uh
cheyennes might be there too but then
maybe
maybe it's better to be scalped than the
diocese
i'm sorry i ever doubted you charlie
thank you captain thank you
[Music]
my horse charlie when i promised to come
along this deal i'm in all the way no
no you've done enough for me already i
just ain't worth it can't you understand
that
if you leave me here i'll i'll just tag
along after you horse you ain't
coming with me sad i i travel faster
alone
charlie if i let you go out there alone
i'd feel guilty the rest of my life
that's better than being dead at it
you know better than that
five shots right kevin
[Music]
charlie she ain't no sign up
i don't mean them fellaini up there
hiding in their rocks
well i don't like it they just they just
don't feel good
we're gonna have to take a chance on in
here
let's go all right but you be careful
[Music]
son
[Music]
that bernie charlie's gonna take you all
day to make up your mind
[Music]
oh
food
drink your field boys then we're going
to have a nice long talk about my good
friend captain pender
[Music]
one of them soldier boys come with you
how many of them are the left
i already got something you're gonna
have to find out mister well that's
something i'm just gonna find out
cut up
the back of the other water waterhole
charlie
there's five of them one of them died
they're waiting for my signal to come on
ahead charlie
captain pender got any suspicion of me
no
of course not now if if we had any
suspicions
you don't suppose that me in the
hospital to come walking in here that
may be done do you
no i reckon not being the scout you once
was
what's that signal
i ain't going to tell you you ain't
going to tell me
hey let it go fetch me my saddlebag
you ain't gonna tell me
charlie this ought to make you talk huh
[Laughter]
it's all yours charlie you just tell me
what that signal is
[Laughter]
my i bet you got mighty dry for this too
hmm smelly charlie huh
what's the signal now huh don't you tell
him charlie
[Music]
that's too good to waste on you but
tastes good huh yeah what's the signal
charlie
and it's all yours every last bit of it
signal
three three
loudest louder three shots charlie
charlie three shots the signal is
three shots i mean i'm getting to hear
them
they'll move out and join us here
three shots just like before but i want
to make sure
hey just like before huh yeah
that's right hey buck i'm time
what about him ah sometime he ain't
going no place
yeah now
here's your reward charlie
is all right horse yeah
i reckon you earned that one charlie
this ought to bring him running like a
flock of dumb sheep
three
go on charlie just fire two more times
five shots he said he's trying to warn
us
they ran into trouble
we we shall fool them out that means we
huh
carter thought he was tormenting me into
telling truth
and all the time was cutting himself to
give the signal
pretended to start moving north
yep they're going to find out in a
minute
when they do they'll be real mean
charlie
yeah well i
you know it was a funny thing
i got plenty of this dog gone and stuff
i don't seem to want it
it kind of uh kind of burns me inside
hey cutter
three soldier boys only three
ain't none of the pender
he's a smart one maybe he figures i'm
going behind this button and having
himself a look-see
hey latico you get up a little bit rocks
keep your eyes peeled
you let me know but don't you do no
shooting you're here
i i guess the only reason i drink the
dog
going stuff so that i can stop
remembering that
i just don't understand it that wasn't a
signal for them to come up here
you see yours years ago
i laid a whole detachment cavalry into a
cayaway trap
it was all butchered and they died
cursing me
wasn't your fault charlie yeah
that ain't good enough
look you keep watching that wagon
morgan you take those two and you keep
them out of sight i may need the old man
later to weigh these on
youtube get over behind those rocks and
don't try to let them know where here
i'll break this gun bell right over your
heads stay low
no time at all now we're going to be
divvying up that goal
he must have spotted the others now you
stay here buck no shoot until i start it
you be mighty careful how you go hitting
their mules
two of them coming from high up behind
us one of them's the captain
well that makes it easier for us we'll
just let them sneak up on us before we
start shooting come on
we gotta do something else we gotta shut
up
oh man don't be so hoggy with that
whiskey
fill that cup
bring it over here careful
good work charlie you'll get buck i'm
going after cutter
[Music]
i don't know if they're down there and
not giving it away
let's get down to those four big rocks
down there see yeah
i'll go first
dog going and i had him dead right we
got him pinned down now we can blast him
out of there easy
[Music]
[Applause]
oh
so
cutter
[Applause]
[Music]
okay either what the water is good
captain
you can drink it that's just a crease
charlie
a corporal corporal bring up the wagon
get yourselves a drink
scott
lead us out sure captain
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
[Music]
so
you

Behind the Scenes of The Mission

Charlie Trent, a man who used to be a top Army scout for explorer John C. Fremont, is the name of the character played by Henry Hull. The actor married Juliet Van Wyck Fremont, the famous historical figure John C. Fremont’s granddaughter.

Looking for More Bonanza Episodes?

The legendary Western show Bonanza is a terrific show to watch alone or with family. Each hour-long episode of the series ran under NBC’s production from September 1959 to January 1973. There are 14 seasons and over 400 episodes, with The Mission as the 34th or the second for its second season.

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