Ep 5. The Lonely Runner

Joe Cartwright is on his way back to the Ponderosa after a long trip. He stops at a relay station to rest, and a man named Dan Tolliver mistakes him for a runner who was supposed to deliver an important message. Tolliver tells Joe that the message is very important, and he offers to pay him well to deliver it in the runner's place. Joe reluctantly agrees to deliver the message, even though he has no idea what it says or where he's supposed to take it.

Joe sets out on his journey, expecting to complete it within a day or two. However, he soon discovers that the journey will be much more difficult than he anticipated. He encounters rugged terrain, treacherous weather, and dangerous bandits along the way. Despite these obstacles, Joe presses on, determined to complete his mission.

As Joe continues his journey, he becomes increasingly curious about the message he's carrying. He wonders why it's so important, and why the original runner didn't show up to deliver it. He begins to suspect that there's more to the message than Tolliver let on, and he becomes even more determined to see the mission through to the end.

Meanwhile, Tolliver begins to fear that Joe won't complete the mission. He knows that the message is of vital importance to his plans, and he worries that Joe will either fail to deliver it, or worse, that he will read it and discover its contents. Tolliver hatches a plan to intercept Joe and retrieve the message, but he soon realizes that Joe is tougher and more resourceful than he initially thought.

As Joe nears the end of his journey, he faces one final obstacle that threatens to derail his mission. He must navigate a treacherous mountain pass that is fraught with danger, and he must do it alone. Despite the danger, Joe refuses to give up. He summons all of his courage and determination, and he manages to cross the mountain pass and deliver the message to its intended recipient.

When Joe returns to the relay station, he confronts Tolliver about the message and its contents. Tolliver confesses that the message was a warning about an imminent attack by a group of bandits, and that he had planned to use the message to stage a surprise attack and take the bandits' loot for himself. Joe is outraged by Tolliver's selfishness and greed, but he takes comfort in knowing that he was able to fulfill his duty and deliver the message in time to prevent the attack.

In the end, Joe returns to the Ponderosa a hero, having completed a perilous journey and delivered a vital message. He has proven himself to be a courageous and loyal member of the Cartwright family, and he has also shown that he can persevere in the face of incredible adversity. The Lonely Runner is a thrilling and action-packed episode that showcases the best of Bonanza's adventurous spirit and captivating storytelling.