Around Dodge City and of the territory on West there's just one way to handle
the killers and the spoilers and that's with a US Marshal and the smell of gun
smoke
gun smoke starring William Conrad the story of the violence that moved west
with young America the story of a man who moved with it Matt Dylan United
States Marshal
somehow it was easier carrying him up to your office and back down on the couch
here I guess yeah yeah you'll be all right there just oh yes this will be
fine good I'm sure sorry I'm so much trouble chest and next time try to land
on just one foot even if you break a leg I know a man's in a terrible fix when he
springs both ankles and he sure is Doc I don't know what I'm gonna do I know
what you're gonna do you're gonna stay right there on that couch you're gonna
sleep there too maybe Doc and I'll bring in something to eat every day or two
oh no it's better than you deserve I know I've been a saying over and over to
myself Chester you fool you well the wages of sin Chester you were lucky to
get off as easy as you did the way I heard that come on Chester tell us what
really happened but I did tell you I was looking at this second story window
admiring the view so to speak and the next thing I knew I fell that's all
right onto the street he didn't say whose window to assume in Texas doctor a
gentleman don't mention such things you ain't in Texas well sometimes we should
never laugh like now yes like now many a reputation has been ruined by just such
loose talk that you're making doc never mind doc Chester he's jealous that's all
jealous I put in tracks in a man's yard not me not by long so I know
oh good morning Marshall oh good morning gentlemen what can I do for you
gentlemen Chester heard about you Chester I heard never mind what you heard Torp
Chester just got thrown from a horse so all right what is it you want here
gentlemen yeah all right you tell him summers well Marshall it's about tomorrow
night huh so what about tomorrow night well you know it's the roundup the sale
season's over I'll be a thousand Cowboys celebrating in Dodge well they always do
at the end of the season what about it well there's gonna be more of them this
year and there be a lot of homesteaders in town too it's gonna be worse than
ever well I expect that there could be a lot of trouble Marshall yeah there could
be summers just what is it you want well we've talked it over and we want you to
get a lot of good tough men together maybe about 20 of them and deputize them
that way there won't be any trouble yeah that's what you want is it yes we do
look summers my job is to keep the peace around here and I'm gonna do it but I'll
do it in my own way oh I know Marsha you turn 20 deputies
loose in that crowd looking for trouble and they're gonna find it soon as the
wild ones heard about it they bunch up and shoot it out with every one up my
turn into the worst slaughter Dodgers ever seen I think that's about the most
fool idea I ever heard of yeah no reason for you to talk like that Marshall I
think it's a good idea sure don't want my place wrecked just cause your mule
headed you're a gambler Torp so so you can take your chances along with
everybody else if you don't want that then close your place up tomorrow night
lose all that Texas money no that's not likely now we're not all gamblers Marshall
they can wreck my dry goods store just as fast as a gambling house once they
get started and it's up to you that's right it is up to me and we're gonna
leave it that way then you won't do anything I'll do everything I can I don't
know look summers I know you've got your doubts about me that's natural some
people think I'm too lax with Front Street something I'm too severe but
that's the way of it in any town if a peace officer does his job well he
pleases nobody Marshall we didn't come here for a lecture what did you come for
Torp maybe you had in mind to help me pick up those deputies is that it a
matter of fact I could yeah sure sure and a couple of hours yours would be
the only tables open for play no that's not what I've been done before Torp he's
that to Torp we're not gonna take his word for it are you I don't know but
anyway he won't listen to us so it's his responsibility come on man let's get
out of here I hope you can handle it Marshall the by gentlemen that Torp is
no good he is just plain no good mr. Dylan well I know one man that got
skinned at his place and taught gave him back $20 so she wouldn't be broke huh
guess how much did this man lose that oh five or six hundred they said and then
he I see what you mean I'm sure not gonna be much good to you tomorrow night
mr. Dillon you can watch the jail right here I know but you just got to get
somebody to help you out on the street at least one man anyway you can't be
everywhere at once yeah but a Mara night dodge will be overrun with trail boys
and homesteaders all looking for satisfaction now I wouldn't ask any man
to face that I know a few fellas who do it and so do you mr. Dylan yeah maybe
but I wouldn't ask anybody how many were killed last year man I don't remember
what I do six that's what we bury them all in the saddle blankets all except one
I remember he didn't even own the blanket but then he was sure out of
luck all the way around wasn't it come on Doc let's go get some dinner all right
we'll bring you a piece of bread Chester maybe I want a steak rare how come you're
so hungry Chester oh you're in such a hurry to get over there last night you
didn't take time for supper mr. Dylan I will answer no more questions about
last night and that is fine well we'll bring you something yeah I don't know if
we should though man a man can think about his sins better on an empty stomach
close the door with you
the next morning I had mr. Hightower print up some signs for me with a few
rules that I made up for the Rhonda they were fair and reasonable and I hope
they'd be accepted without question the principal restrictions where that there
was to be no shooting no reckless riding in the streets that afternoon I went
from saloon to saloon and left a sign at each one the Texas Trail was my last
stop and there I sat down with Kitty for a short beer towns beginning to fill up
man yeah it'll be swamped to the dashboard by dark you expect trouble
tonight I always expect trouble Kenny yeah I know Matt I heard something yeah I
heard Torp and a few of his men cut cards last night so I don't know who it
came out for but low man is supposed to kill you
you know when tonight I suppose why is Torp after you man and the Torp says he
wants an open town kidding but what he's really after is somebody who'll close
down every game but his was this man what rough-looking traveler had it this
way but what well I'll be why it's so Matt Locke
badger how are you it's been a long time a long time here come on over here sit
out if you're I'd like for you to meet Kitty
Kenny this is all my lockers I know you man just rode in the Dodge an hour ago
your first time in the zone hey did you like a beer don't mind good I aimed to
get drunk tonight but before I got started I thought I'd look up there
peace officer and shoot him I'd be sure to tangle with him for the nights out
always figure it's safer to do it sober so he half means that so I asked around
and found out the man's name is Matt Dillon United States Marshal I've seen
it all now I hope you're not disappointed I'll tell you miss Kitty I
knew Matt Dillon before he got civilized why we had to tie his leg up to give him
a haircut when he came don't you believe a word that he says wilder the coat
better the horse man you was all right the only trouble with you was that fool
honest freak you always are you rich now so nobody's rich on the Mexican border
land of sunshine and pinna beans I hired out to a general over in Chihuahua three
years ago I lost 20 pounds and was lucky to get back at all well haven't you
learned to stay out of Mexico yet no I met the man he wanted me to shoot and
turned out to be a better fellow than the general so I told him I've been
hired to kill him and then rode for the border a general lost three soldiers who
tried to stop me from swimming the real bravo you must be pretty handy with the
guns though just fair man but when I take my gun out I go right ahead and use
it some people stop and think for half a second there's a roundup in Dodge tonight
Matt's handling it alone what yeah no no hold it hold it man I heard about it I
heard all about it and that's why I'm here to say hello and sign on for a
night's pleasure me a star Matt I've killed on the side of the law before I
don't believe that in any way I I don't want any killings here I was joshing
you Matt I know what you want it's true I was sheriff in Tascosa for six months
you what yeah it's in the record well they caught up with me there but I've
already done such a good job taming the place that the governor pardoned me I
won't kill anybody tonight that don't need killing all right all right I believe
you so but I won't ask any man to come in when it's as rough as this roundup
maybe well you didn't ask me any other objection well the men don't know you
around here so no telling how they take to a stranger first night I ran Tascosa
nobody knew me either I'm not green at this business yeah but it's my job why
should you get mixed up in it well I I also heard somebody's planning a
party for you tonight I did I've owed you something for a long time that's got
nothing to do with it has you got no right not letting me pay it back a
little now there's a chance to yeah you're just as crazy as you ever were
that's better well come on let's go find me a badge before it gets dark sure nice
to have met you miss Kitty well good luck Zell I'll see you later man yeah sure so
long Kitty
you sure been a long time coming to dodge mr. Matlock what do you mean Chester
well I've heard mr. Dylan mention you a lot but the way he talked I wasn't never
sure you were still alive oh well I was never sure either Chester you know this
is how listen the most cautious man I heard you think being a US Marshal isn't
asking for an early grave man oh maybe but at least it's a way to do some good
before you die whether folks think so or not no men like Torp that's all no no
Chester even good men I got a strange twist that makes them suspect any man
to handle the bad element hey just can't help thinking that some of its dirt is
rubbed off honey and I never thought about that before Matt sure how it was
in Tascosa they wanted me there all right but they wanted me to keep my
distance to makes a man kind of lonely yeah just don't know what's good for
him that's all instead of a real law man they'd rather hire some killer with a
lot of knockin well there are plenty of them around sure are bragging kind I
never did like a man who has to notch his gun to keep his courage up yeah my
goodness look yonder the streets about full already and isn't even dark yeah
so give me a hand here will you we'll move Chester's couch away from the world
all right there that should do it yeah you'll be safer here Chester in case
somebody gets it in mind to shoot up the jail thank you mr. Dylan I can watch
both doors from here just hand me my gun belt oh yeah there you are
well come on self Chester I'll get somebody at the Dodge house to fetch up
some supper huh thank you sir and good luck both of you so long
see you Chester how are we working man I tell you so you take this side of the
street I'm going up to the Dodge house and then I'll be on the other side
somewhere all right oh say you mind if I go back later and get that Spencer
carbine of yours make a mighty handy club if I don't have to use it in the
other way they got there that fella on their shoulders that's mr. Hightower he
runs the printing press here stop it oh no no they're just carrying him into the
Longhorn to make him stand some drinks oh they like Hightower they won't hurt
him well I guess that sort of officially opens this here round up huh yeah I
guess it does well I'll leave you here so yeah sure and
Zell I I want to thank you for what you're doing tonight I ain't done nothing
yet but I'll do plenty if someone shoots you in the back I can promise that yeah
well I'll see you later sure man
we will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment but first
Sunday nights you are cordially invited to escape via CBS radio yes every
weekend for drama that will take you right out of this world listen for
escape at the Stars address also tomorrow evening CBS radio brings you Lionel
Barrymore on your Sunday night playhouse now for the second act of gun smoke
when I came out of the Dodge house front street was so full that if anybody had
been shot the crowd would have carried him along like one of the living I had a
feeling that the word was out about Torp and his bunch cutting cards to see who
would make a try for me and that the crowd knew it and was waiting for it I
stood for a while with my back against summer's dry goods store then I left the
street and cut down an alley thinking to change my position with as much
irregularity as possible I was passing the back door of the Texas trail when I
heard the first shot of the knife I entered the saloon from the rear and made
my way into the crowd it's all right Marshall there's no fight it's not all
right Sam I made a rule that there'd be no shooting for any reason all right
Oh fired that shot outside it was torque Marshall he just took a shot at the moon
that's all all right Torp put the gun away and come over here I'm bothering
nobody Marshall excepting maybe you and back everybody I said that's enough
torque no I ain't Dylan this time I got the jump on you you ain't pushing me no
more Torp's bullet just grazed my arm then I put one in his head and another
in his chest and at the same time out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure with
a gun in each hand move out of the shadow of the alley and turn toward me on
the boardwalk without really looking I dropped him with one shot then I faced
the crowd and waited for the next move but for some reason none came Marshall
yes summers that man you just shot my top got what he deserved yes I know it's
the other one that I thought it he Marshall you'd better go take a look at
that man he's dying oh is he I don't know him Marshall but you do what he's
wearing a star no no oh so so man I think that did it
no so no it's my fault I crossed the street a while back left the carbine
with Chester no for yours no use doc thanks so I listen listen to me man you
did right only thing you could do it was my fault I shouldn't have crossed over
and come up behind you anyway Matt I ain't been living on my own time ever
since that day you pulled me out of the mob you know Magordo I never thanked you
for that yes I never will Matt so long I'll find someone to carry move your
office man no I'll carry him
just windbags just villain what happened I heard the shooting put a blanket on the
floor there doc yeah sure he's dead just who shot him sir I shot him Chester
I didn't know it was him I'm sorry mr. Dylan it sounds like they're gonna who
are the town after all mad sure no no they're not it's gonna be kind of hard
to stop now isn't it mad maybe you take a shotgun mr. Dylan Matt why don't you
just let them fight each other what are you gonna do I'm gonna close front
street you're gonna close the party's over and dodge Mr. Dillon you can't do
that they'll be trouble if I don't the mobs tasted blood now they'll shoot you
sure as I'm a lay in here will they all right I can't stop you but I sure do wish
I could go with you yeah Matt I'll go me if they see me they won't be so quick
thanks but this isn't your job either one of you but thanks Sam close up and
turn out your lights what you heard me now listen to me front streets closed
now get out of here and go home all of you if you ever had one I ain't going
home tonight not tonight I don't interfere follow you got no chips in this
deal I could buy and mr. I'll use this shotgun for what it was matter the next
man well all right Sam close it up
the streets closed put out your lights you heard me lock the place up and no
ain't gonna do it now don't tell me what you're gonna do all right boys we're
closing up that took care of the Texas trail in the Longhorn and I moved on
through the oasis and the olive regan sir then to the smaller bars that
infested the outskirts of town when I came back up front street the crowd had
thinned its fever broken I'd left Torps place for the last thinking to give his
men a chance to get out of town before they face me it was a gambling hall on
the same side of the street as the jail and when I reached it and entered they
weren't more than a dozen men there most of them stepped quietly passed me out
into the street what was left didn't seem to count for much looking for
somebody Marshall you a friend of Torps yes I was why who else here work for
Torp everyone's going Marshall they heard you were all riled up and they
left and you're alone and still in bad company I wouldn't ordinarily take that
well go ahead mister you're calling it no and now what's stopping you now if
it's the shotgun now does that make it easier for you I haven't been looking
for you Marshall you were in on the cut weren't you Torps dead Marshall isn't
that enough talk
mr. one of the best men I ever knew died tonight and I killed him I'm not a
gunman Marshall you wouldn't be proud killing me what is a man like you know
about pride now you get out of Dodge and you get out fast but I don't you want to
die in this place right now no no I'm leaving all right hurry
the rest of the night I walked the dark empty street alone and just before
dawn I got a spring wagon and loaded Zell onto it a couple of hours later I
buried him out to the Arkansas and a little grove of cottonwoods maybe I
should have put a marker on his grave but I didn't but I did instead I did
partly out of scorn for the kind of men Zell said have to notch their guns to
keep their courage up partly as a hand of a cross that I'd bear from now on so
instead of a marker on his grave I took out my gun and I cut a single notch on
it
gun smoke under the direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad as Matt
Dillon US Marshal tonight's story was specially written for guns smoked by John
Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey featured in the cast were
John Boehner and Harry Bartel with Lawrence Dobkin Lou Krugman and James
Nusser parley bear is Chester Howard McNair is doc and Georgia Ellis is kitty
gun smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the
Armed Forces radio service 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 gun smoke
listen to CBS radio for spring Barrington as December Bride and say after
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