Ep 7. A Dime's Worth of Glory

In "A Dime's Worth of Glory," the seventh episode of Bonanza's sixth season, the Cartwrights face a difficult decision when a former friend and confidante, Sheriff Barker, asks for their help. Barker is now the proud owner of a saloon, but it seems that he's also slipped into a life of alcoholism and bad decisions. Nevertheless, the Cartwrights remember who Barker used to be, and agree to offer their support in helping him get back on his feet, hoping that he'll use this chance to get his life together.

But things aren't that simple in Virginia City. To make matters worse, the town is also plagued by a band of robbers, who are taking advantage of the confusion and fear caused by Barker's situation to wreak havoc. When one of the robbers is identified as Terry Logan, a young man whom Barker has taken under his wing, the Cartwrights confront Barker about the association.

Barker initially denies any association with Logan, but when it's revealed that Logan was his former stepson, Barker breaks down in tears. It seems that Logan had a troubled childhood, and Barker did his best to give him a stable home and teach him the values of right and wrong. But when Logan began to exhibit signs of a rebellious and potentially dangerous nature, Barker realized that there was only so much he could do to help the young man.

When Logan comes to Barker for help with his plan to rob a bank and run away with his girlfriend, Barker tries to dissuade him from the plan. But Logan, fueled by his own sense of desperation and the false confidence of youth, refuses to listen. Barker, acting out of a sense of responsibility and love for the young man, accompanies him on the robbery, even though he knows that this could be the end for them both.

The robbery goes wrong almost immediately, with one of the robbers being shot and killed in the process. Logan turns on his former stepfather almost immediately, accusing Barker of being a traitor and a coward for not carrying out the plan as promised. When Barker tries to intervene, he's shot by Logan's accomplice, and left to die in the street.

As the Cartwrights try to track down Logan and bring him to justice, they're forced to confront their own feelings about the situation. Was Barker really a good man who fell on hard times, or was he always a villain who simply masked his true nature? Does Logan deserve sympathy for his rough upbringing, or is he ultimately responsible for his own choices and actions?

The episode is a powerful exploration of the nuances of human nature and the complex interplay of love, responsibility, and duty. Even though the Cartwrights ultimately prevail over the robbers, it's clear that there are no easy answers to the deeper questions that the episode raises. Instead, viewers are left to contemplate the difficult choices that we all face in life, and the importance of standing up for what we believe in, no matter how hard the path may be.