THE CARTWRIGHT CLAN IS BUSY EATING THEIR DINNER.

(seeing everybody enjoying their steak and potatoes)

Well, fellas. Anything exciting happen around here today?

I ran into a man I did not know and he said there was a banker type making the rounds trying to buy ranches' whole herds of whatever.

Whatever?

You mean cattle and/or horses and/or sheep and/or goats and/or pigs?

(pondering what was asked)

I guess, Pa. He asked me if the Johnson ranch cattle were for sale. I told him I didn't think so but I didn't really know.

You say this guy was a banker?

That's what he said to me, too.

Hoss, you ran into him also?

HOSS JUST STARES AT HIS FATHER.

I ask this because I heard in town the other day that some ranchers have been swindled out of all of their stock! Boom! Just like that!

Well, he flashed a wad of cash and told me to sell all of the Ponderosa animals to him right then.

Right then?! He had that amount of money on him?

Maybe.

Joseph, you were in on this also?

In on it? I saw him and I heard he was after our animals. That's all. I swear.

You swear?

Huh? Why would you need to swear?

(laughing)

I mean, it's not like you sold him any Ponderosa animals!

(laughing)

That's right, Pa.

Did you?

A SHAKY QUIET HAS FALLEN ON THE TABLE.

Joe, you sold our cows?

Whaaaat?!

HOP SING HAS BEEN STANDING SILENTLY ON THE PERIMETER, LISTENING.

That right. Ranch animal all gone. Joe get gyp.

Gypped? Who got gypped?

Joe, you sold all of our animals?!

Joseph, what have you done?

Well, the guy promised to bring the money tomorrow.

But - and, let me get this straight - he took all of our animals today?

Well, not our four horses. And, not Hop Sing's special ewe.

(astounded)

Everything! Gone!

(salvaging something)

But the big payday is only one night away!

Do you even have any guarantee this man is really going to pay us?

What do you mean, "us"?

Well, those animals belong to all of us.

Who is this man?

He's a rich banker. From Omaha. He said he struck gold in Alaska and had to spend his fortune or else the tax man would take it all.

Tax man?

Yeah.

Where is this man now?

The tax man?

No, you idiot, the man who's got all of our animals!

I don't know. All I know is that he said he had to go to another town to get his pile of cash.

Pile of cash?

Well, he better show up tomorrow with our pile of cash, or your days of being a partner in this Ponderosa enterprise will be over!

Hey, Pa. No need to threaten me. It's just money.

BEN IS STARING AT THE MEN AT THE TABLE WITH HIS MOUTH WIDE OPEN.