Around dark city and in the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers
and the spoilers and that's what the US Marshal and the spell of guns smoke
starring William Conrad the transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America
the story of a man who moved with it Matt Dillon United States Marshal
Mr. Jackson our last hope of water for the herd not quite Peck us cottonwood pond is just over the rise
ahead of us maybe dry too but they haven't had a rain on the prairie for six months it won't be dry
I've been bringing cattle up here to Dodge City for 12 years drought the no drought the ponds always
had water it better have we're losing 15 head an hour now can't push him much further yeah be water
with luck the railroads got the cars for us we can start loading this afternoon by this time
sounds like the boys up ahead yeah come on there's a pond plenty of water I guess you were right wonder
why the herds piloting up you ought to be stampeding for that fun you think you have to hold up take a
barbed wire fence somebody's fence off the pond Jackson it looks like we've got a fight on our hands
I don't like it doc it's too quiet things get too quiet and dodge it always means a blowups
coming just sit down Matt you're just getting yourself a case of nerves you've been a law
officer too long shot at too many times you're getting so you just act like a spooky old horse
you jump in your gun shy and those four subs yeah you mean this now you take me Matt I I don't
rant and rail against fate I just sit back and take what comes yeah sure if I get a pigeon fine
I steal him blind and if I don't when I keep my hand in setting a broken leg on a dog yeah that's
the end ought to hold him matter of fact I could use a fear too not planning to shoot anybody are
you mad if this drought doesn't break I'm in the mood to shoot myself that's a bad one all right
I don't think I've ever seen the prairies dry as it is this year oh there you are mr. Dillon well
come on in Chester I've been looking all over for you we've got trouble mr. Dillon huh trouble
old man Howard just sent a rider in a trail drives pulled in from the Big Bend they're
threatening to cut his fences so they can water the cattle at Cottonwood Pond as you blow up Matt
a real head-on smash a thirsty herd against that skin flint Howard I could get myself a few fees
off of this before it's over good old doc always hoping for the best now come on Chester let's
ride out to Cottonwood like Howard had no call to fence that pond mr. Dillon there's enough water
there for all the trail hers in the next ten years that's on his ranch Chester he's got a
right to fence his own range got a right maybe but no decent rancher would take advantage of it
Howard's mean just down right I think it's more than that Chester the old business are making
two dollars grow where one dollar grew before I think Howard figured on something like this when
he strung that fence last month with the trouble is it look down to mr. Dillon must be 50 or 60
riders facing each other cross that fence looks like a couple of armies well that wouldn't be
the first range war that started over water rights come on
I put away the guns parties over who says so mister I do who are you Dylan US
Marshal out of Dodge that man is gang a threat to the breakthrough my presence
and trespass on my property I demand the protection of the law you'll get it Howard
you're the owner of this herd that's right Marshal Jack Jackson from the Circle Z spread
down in the Big Ben maybe you can make his fellacy reason I got a herd of cattle here
that's dying like flies for lack of water over there a hundred yards is plenty of water only
a sneaking crook has been stood in how about it my little says land Jackson the law gives
him the right to fence it law right everything I got in the world's tied up in that herd their
25 trail riders there in the saddle I can't even pay wages to if I lose these cattle there's a low
up old pushing a man against the wall and wiping him out it wasn't intended to Howard what's your
right up here to the fence and talk huh my friends ain't it nobody's doubting it now look is there
any reason why you can't get together with this man and let him take that herd in and water it
I made him an offer it turned off a dollar a head a day for water by the herd himself for three
dollars a head as a pretty stiff terms Howard better than losing everything like he's gonna do
are you dirty all right hold it both of you now look if there's any gunslinging starts I'm gonna
be in on it too you understand how would I just don't understand you most people out here on the
frontier stick together when trouble starts they don't kick a man when he's down and they don't
look on a drought or a blizzard as a chance to make a personal cleaning just a minute Dylan you
call yourself the lawn dodge all right does the law say I can fence in my own land it does and
never mind your opinions Marshall all I want out of you is enforcement of the law all right Howard
you'll get it and that's all you'll get Jackson you better have your boys start the herd circling
this mean you're backing him up Marshall I'm backing up the law that's all Jackson and I don't
think much of your laws up here I only enforce them I don't make them now you better circle that
herd I say you better I'm ordering my boys to shoot the first man of steel that comes through
that fence Chester you cover Howard yes sir mr. Dillon if he orders any of his men to fire a shot
kill him for your pleasure mr. Dillon what's the idea my I wanted the law enforced all right
you're getting it but I'm gonna do the enforcing Howard not you so if you're smart you won't give
any orders about shooting all right mr. Dillon you got a tough job I guess you're trying to do
it fair and square man does what he has to do Jackson I know like with me that heard of mine
beds down without water most of them won't get off the ground in the morning so law or no law
we're going through that fence tonight
Matt bad liquor or a busted neither neither how are you either but you probably noticed that
before seriously though what's wrong plenty one of the bloodiest little range wars you ever saw
is just about to break out of Cottonwood pond I heard about it you're here too that I'm back in
the wrong side here pull a stool up to the bar Harry drink for mr. Dillon no thanks I can't stay
kidding I got a try to round up some deputies and try is probably about as far as I'm gonna
get old Ton will be siding with the Texas boys against Howard and against me maybe you ought to
switch sides man oh sure sure I ought I know but I can't I started making my own rules that mean
the end of low on order in Dodge City yeah I just can't do it kidding which is I'd like to well
not for me to say you're the one who has to decide yeah Chester what'd you find out mr.
Hightower down the railroad depot check clear through the Topeka they can't get enough cattle
cars here to load that herd out before they have well that's that it's an outside chance anyway
yeah I just can't do it kidding which is I'd like to well not for me to say you're the one
that has to decide yeah Chester what'd you find out mr. Hightower down the railroad depot check
clear through the Topeka they can't get enough cattle cars here to load that herd out before
they have well that's that it's an outside chance anyway I thought we might load them up fast kitty
and run them up to the Walnut Creek it's still got a little water in it Matt there's something
wrong with the law that upholds a lowdown scheme like this what Howard's doing is wrong morally
but it's right legally I gotta find a legal way to stop him I bet a lawyer could find a way of
some kind too bad this town doesn't have heaven for just the same matter yeah what is it my name's
spent I'm range yeah I know you work for Dyke Howard well what's on your mind well mr. Howard
figures you ought to be arranging to protect his property Jackson gave me his word he'd lay off
until 9 tonight his word sure but mr. Howard figures be a good idea if you deputize his
writers Fenton get up wait a second go on get up when I want Howard's advice I'll ask for it
now go tell him that well yeah but go on get up move deputize his writers sure he'd like it well
it just may come to that mr. Dillon I couldn't get anybody else you know how to throw this badge
away and go out there and help Jackson cut that fence I still think what you are I know I know
I ought to get a lawyer well kitty the only lawyer Dodge City ever saw was that young fellow from
Boston who died here last year on his way hey what is it man Chester what happened to those
books of his well nobody never claimed him there's still in the back of the jail there
some it's a long shot but kitty I love you come on Chester let's find those books I don't know
Chester take a man a year just to learn what these words mean well I sure can't help you mr.
Dillon looky there tort re plevin statutory malfeasance I don't they write the laws out
in English be no work for lawyers only thing that might do it is this one I'm not too sure
what it means oh doc come on in here will you forget I bring you a little courage for the
bottle might be snakes out at cottonwood pond it's very thoughtful yes a calomoe and Irish whiskey
no doctor west of the Mississippi ought to be without him and the calomels for the woman
you understand yeah sure of course a bottle of Jameson might not cure a patient but it sure
makes him enjoy his illness yeah look doc you've been to school at least I guess you have oh well
I browse through a couple listen to this now and tell me what you think about this paragraph right
here well let's say a schedule of territorial ordinances and judicial presidents handbook
for local administrators well I didn't go to law school no no but you've read books and you
know big words now now listen to this the local administrator or other duly constituted authority
in a territorial division is hereby empowered to declare a state of acute emergency in case
of riot rebellion or any natural catastrophe which threatens a general welfare now doc would
you say I'm a duly constituted authority huh well in a dark city I guess you're about the only
thing yeah no no would you say this drought where heaven is a threat to the general welfare I've
never seen a worse one but all right now listen to this during the period of such emergency the
officer in charge is authorized to seize confiscate allocate or otherwise administer critical
materials and facilities in accordance with a common need and his own discretion all right
Matt water is a material yeah and as far as keeping cattle alive is concerned cottonwood
pond is a facility that's all I wanted to know I don't see how to help you though Matt Howard
will never stand for it you're still gonna have a pitched battle on your hands maybe so doc but
at least I'll be fighting in the way I want to fight well come on Chester let's go it's 8 o'clock
we will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment but first you personally can
help to make sure America has an impregnable fence against invaders along all its borders by
volunteering as a ground observer to watch the skies for unidentified planes men and women from
teenage up right or phone your nearest Civil Defense Center now the second act of gun smoke
that's dark now must be pushing nine o'clock hope they don't jump the gun on us Chester I
figured Jackson will stick by his word mr. Dylan if Howard lets him you know we might get a break
in this drought that storm comes this way I'd say it's only heat like all thunder no rain well if
it goes on a few more weeks this prairie will be dried right down to the number hold it pull up
them horses he's right there by the fence mr. Dylan yeah I see who's there speak up I usually
answer bushwhackers with a six gun this is your lucky night Fenton I didn't know where's your
boss come on over here Jackson I want you to hear this too I kind of wish you'd stayed out of it
Marshall rather not afford a guess never mind mr. Howard by the authority vested in me as a US
Marshal and under the territorial laws and ordinances of the United States I'm hereby
declare in a state of acute emergency due to the drought what are you talking about Dylan the US
territorial ordinance schedule of 1858 section 721 C what are you trying to say justice for the
duration of the emergency I am taking charge of cottonwood pond in the name of the United States
government and I'm allocating use of it to mr. Jackson here to water is heard if you want to
try to make a deal with him you got five minutes before I cut the wire and open the fence I've
never bought water before I'll give you ten cents a head Howard how about it I'll see you dead first
and I'll be struck dead myself before I see one head of your stock on my property Dylan I don't
know what's behind this move maybe you've sold out made a deal easy Howard if not that then you've
lost your money five minutes are running out now what are you gonna do fight what do you think I'm
gonna do gonna resist the law you call it the law I don't Dylan I'm give my boys orders to shoot
any man who lays a hand on this fence and that goes for you listen to me Howard you got a chance
to do something that costs you nothing and means life or death to somebody else and you're refusing
to do it well I'm sorry to see it that way but in any case this herd gets water maybe they will
all right boys you heard it keep that fence covered Jackson I guess I'm gonna need some deputies
well I got 25 men here Marshall they're yours if you want them all right boys we all raise
your right hands do you swear to uphold the Constitution ordinances and bylaws of the
United States to the best of your ability so help you I do all right you're all temporary
deputy marshals acting under my orders now bunch the cattle in this way and start them through the
fence as soon as I open the wire they won't need much starting Marshall they've been smelling that
water for hours don't shoot unless you're fired on if you are protect yourselves and you're hurt
all right let's go keep those flankers closing them in toward the opening here they crowd on
that fence they'll cut themselves to rub it Chester come here man yes you got the wire cutters here
you are mr. Dylan you know I think we got a fight on our hands and I guess all right keep me covered
I'll watch the left over here all right mr. Jackson well there's one strand I fired the flash
yes oh my gracious I wish there was a moon one more strand I spotted him here's the last one all
right boys offenses open heads up Chester they won't give in this season you can hear them out
there but you can't see for the dust yeah when it's coming up off that clog oh come on let's
try to find Howard I'm gonna take him in for attempted murder last time I heard him use down
along the fence here summers look look at him torches mr. Dylan there's a setting fire in the
grass yeah strides it is they'll start the whole prairie blazing Jackson get your head to the fence
they're trying to stampede it'll take more than fire to turn those cattle away from water I guess
you're right look send as many as your boys as you can to help me we got to get that fire stopped
and fast I don't know if we're winning or losing hell if that backfire holds at work we're winning
Chester otherwise couldn't have been a worse time the prairies dry gunpowder at least the herd safe
they wouldn't leave that pond if the whole world caught fire any orders for the boys mr. Dylan
yeah just have them keep working along the edge of the backfire pick us beat out any
sparks that get across right Marshall I got you I've you seen anything of the Howard gang
yeah maybe mr. Dylan I'd swear storms gonna break I can halfway smell the rain I don't know
about that Chester it's doing one thing it won't help us what do you mean look the wind
shifting starting to drive those flames across the backfire well if it catches there again it'll
get clear away from sure well now come on let's grab some of the boys and start working behind
it's so well Fenton I figured you'd be halfway to the Mexican border by now you figured wrong
you can't still both you one movement it's your last that's about the way you planned it anyway
it's not you wipe this out Dylan backfire you took the ranch house in the barn first
well you warned him mr. Dylan that doesn't matter much look Chester yes sir it's jumped
the backfire with that wind driving it it'll burn the whole prairie from here cleared the river and
Dodge City along with it not a way in the world of stopping it either you all right I'm sick at
my stomach that's all God said he's gonna burn Jackson and there's nothing we can do I sure
didn't figure on this I let him have the hurt gladly no it's my fault I should have jumped
first the man does what he has to Marshall I don't think that's your way maybe my way's the wrong way
but it leads to burning 10,000 acres of prairie in a whole town there must be something wrong
you're doing what is it Chester what the devil is great by heavens is starting to rain by heaven
maybe the right expression well I don't know about that but I know it's the only thing I can save
guys just you know out here on the front here sometimes but nothing like this happens makes
you wonder maybe well I don't know come on Chester let's find our horses
it sure not let nothing mr. Dillon no it was still quite a waste from Tom let's swing over
along the bluff Chester and find a place to wait it out for a while huh that's what I was hoping
you'd say it took a long time to break loose but it sure may get up for luck Wow I never saw
lightning this usually lets up once the rain starts I guess it's just the freak storm any
what off your horse just a flat on the ground I saw a flash mr. Dillon it come from that lone
cottonwood tree yeah it's a bad spot he's got covered and we have I guess we found out what
happened to mr. Howard all right Howard come on with your hands up you're under arrest
I'm gonna flip a shot at the tree Chester roll away so does that fire that was close
there's enough light for him to see he's got all the odds it keeps it up he'll get us sure
maybe we might just well rush you mr. Dillon we haven't got much to lose it's an outside chance
Chester he's bound to get one of us yeah but this way it's both all right we'll go in on
the kind of tree and not move fast and good luck Chester Mr. Dillon what happened
it was lightning struck the tree I think Howard's lying over there on the ground come on yeah he's
down all right he said he'd be struck dead before he'd ever give in well he was by heaven I don't
know the second time tonight you know Chester I think I'm gonna change my ways
Gunsmoke transcribed under the direction of Norman Macdonald stars William Conrad as Matt
Dillon US Marshal tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with
music composed and conducted by Rex Corey featured in the cast were Harry Bartel and
Lou Krugman with Joe DeVall Barney Phillips and Georgia Ellis Parley Bear is Chester and Howard
McNair is Doc join us again next week as Matt Dillon US Marshal fights to bring law and order
out of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke where there's crime afoot look for gangbusters