This Bonanza episode has the Cartwrights riding into a situation where they and
Candy are taken prisoner and forced to work digging for a mother lode pocket
of gold that Alfred Ryder is sure is there.
Ryder is an unbelievably evil man, it's a performance that will chill you long after you've seen this story. He doesn't hire people to work. He's the self appointed judge and sheriff and he makes slaves out of his "convict" labor.
Personally I might have let someone as prominent as Ben Cartwright off with a warning and let the party proceed on its way. But Ryder's men bring in the group after they kill young Charles Briles who was with them. That's when they find out who they are dealing with.
Also note a good performance from Richard Mulligan as one of the slave convicts, he has a real score to settle with Ryder.
This episode is top notch.
Ryder is an unbelievably evil man, it's a performance that will chill you long after you've seen this story. He doesn't hire people to work. He's the self appointed judge and sheriff and he makes slaves out of his "convict" labor.
Personally I might have let someone as prominent as Ben Cartwright off with a warning and let the party proceed on its way. But Ryder's men bring in the group after they kill young Charles Briles who was with them. That's when they find out who they are dealing with.
Also note a good performance from Richard Mulligan as one of the slave convicts, he has a real score to settle with Ryder.
This episode is top notch.