Ep 18. Half a Rogue

Ben Cartwright and his three sons, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe, run the Ponderosa Ranch in the 1860s. In season 4 episode 18 of the western television series Bonanza, entitled "Half a Rogue," the family faces a challenge as they encounter a half-breed Indian named Billy Poe who is seeking refuge from the authorities.

As the episode begins, a group of men from the nearby town of Virginia City arrives at the Ponderosa to demand that the Cartwrights help them capture Billy Poe. The half-breed Indian is accused of stealing from a local store, and the men believe he may have come to the Ponderosa to hide. Ben and his sons are skeptical of the claims against Billy and refuse to give him up without proof of his guilt.

Despite Ben's reluctance, Billy eventually confesses to stealing the goods but claims that he did so to feed his starving family. The Cartwrights take pity on the boy and offer to help him find honest work instead of turning him over to the authorities. Billy agrees and is put to work on the ranch, much to the chagrin of some of the workers who are suspicious of his background.

As the days go by, Billy proves himself to be a hardworking and trustworthy employee, earning the respect of the Cartwrights and their other workers. However, trouble soon arises when the men from Virginia City return to the ranch with new accusations against Billy. They claim that he has stolen some prized horses from a nearby ranch and demand that he be handed over to face justice.

Unable to prove his innocence, Billy realizes that he has no choice but to flee and puts his trust in the Cartwrights to help him escape. In a tense showdown, the men from Virginia City come to the Ponderosa to capture Billy, but the Cartwrights and their workers stand together to defend him.

The episode ultimately ends on a bittersweet note as Billy is forced to leave the Ponderosa and continue his life on the run. However, he thanks the Cartwrights for showing him kindness and giving him a chance to prove himself, and the family reflects on the challenges faced by people of mixed race during this era.

"Half a Rogue" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode of Bonanza that explores issues of racial prejudice and social inequality. It showcases the Cartwright family's values of compassion and loyalty while highlighting the struggles faced by those who were marginalized in the American West during this time period.