Around Dodge City and in 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 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.
I turned them all loose Mr. Dillon like you said.
Oh good Chester.
They was the sorryest looking cowboys I ever did see.
I guess I didn't really hurt any of them Chester.
Well, for being banged on the head with a six gun ain't the gentlest way to end the evening's
pleasure.
Now they'll live.
Yeah, they've been taking their pleasure too seriously.
Yes sir, but things quieted down a little last night after you locked up them five.
There might have been real trouble otherwise.
My I just don't know what's got into everybody lately Mr. Dillon.
Well, when it goes like that Chester, things will be peaceful enough for a while till some
wild outfit like this drag-ar herd hits down.
Then you gotta come down on them hard and fast before they really get the bit in their
teeth.
You sure did last night.
Well, it isn't over yet.
You, Marshal Dillon?
Yeah, I am.
My name's Rance.
Well, I'm glad to know you Rance.
I boss the drag-ar herd up here from down in I'm out of Gorda.
That's in Texas, Marshal.
Yeah, I've been there.
You have?
Well, you better not go back.
How?
They might give you the kind of welcome you're giving us.
What's your complaint, Rance?
Buffalo and my men.
Five of them come into camp this morning with blood in their hair.
They said you'd done it.
Yeah, yeah I did.
And if I hadn't, they might have been shot or shot somebody else.
It's a good thing for you.
You took them on one at a time.
I'd have taken them anyway.
Look, Rance, this town was on the edge of a riot last night.
I stopped it, and I stopped it without any killing.
It's a man's own business.
He wants to pull out his gun.
Not around here it isn't.
Marshal, I can't ask men to come up the trail the way they do and take to drinking soda
water and talking in whispers.
What kind of a town is this anyway?
It's a good town.
You and your men can drink and gamble all they want in it.
But they can't shoot the mirror off the wall at the Isle of Fragonza and they can't grab
town women on the street.
They can't break the bartender's arm in the oasis and they can't offer to shoot anyone
that tries to stop them.
It isn't that kind of a town.
Well, sure, they get a little frisky, but there's no harm in it, I can see.
Well, sooner or later it'll lead to killing.
You know, I've got to draw the line somewhere.
So do I, Marshal.
Well, what do you mean?
I mean I won't drive cattle to Dodge no more.
And I'll spread the words of no good town.
And you people can live off sodbusters and buffalo hunters.
This place will starve to death.
I'm hired to keep the peace, Rantz.
Anyway I can.
Keep it then.
We won't bother Dodge no more.
Goodbye, Marshal.
You want me to go in with you, Mr. Dillon?
Uh, no, no, Chester.
You better wait outside.
Okay, sir.
What do you think they're up to anyway?
Well, Green told you it was a businessmen's meeting, didn't he?
Yes, sir.
And I expect they're worried about business.
Ah, here we are.
I'll, uh, I'll be out shortly.
Yes, sir.
Hello, Marshal.
Mr. Green.
Gentlemen.
Well, Mr. Green, you asked me to come here.
Yes, we all did, Marshal.
Mr. Pepper and Mr. Howe.
Well, all of us.
Practically every man who does business in Dodge is here.
I don't see Rantz.
He says he does business here, too.
He sure does.
That's what we want to talk about.
Well, go ahead.
Well, we've had a meeting, Marshal.
And we've decided you've got to go easier on these cowboys.
Huh?
Why, gentlemen?
We can't afford to lose all that business.
That's why.
That's right.
Well, there's always some trouble the first day or so after a herd reaches Dodge.
All I do is buffalo a few of the wildest, and gradually the rest of the cowboys calm down
a little bit.
They won't stand for your slugging man and throwing him in jail.
Nobody got killed last night, did they?
But that isn't the point.
Well, according to the law, it's a pretty good point, Mr. Green.
The law is a fine thing, Marshal.
But we're also interested in business.
That's right.
You're scared because one hard-headed trail boss has threatened you, Howe.
They're not all like ranch, you know.
Well, there's no use to argue, Marshal.
We've got our minds made up.
You're just too rough with those men.
Uh-huh.
Tell me something, Mr. Green.
Would you like to run this town?
Why, no.
No, of course not.
No, not me.
But, well, we thought maybe if you'd kind of leave Dodge alone and do your work in the
country, then we'd hire somebody the cowboys here'd take to a little better.
You know what I mean.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I do.
It's a good thing for me.
I'm employed by the government, isn't it?
No, no, Marshal.
We're just making a suggestion, sort of.
Oh, yeah, sure, sure.
You know what, Mr. Green?
You men are all acting like fools.
What?
You're the one.
Yeah, yeah, it's true.
But there's only one way you're gonna learn.
Well, gentlemen, I won't make any more arrests in Dodge until you come and ask me to.
It's your town and you can blow it right off the map if you want to.
Good day.
I got mail, Mr. Dillon.
What there was.
Well, I'll look at it later, Chester.
I'm gonna have a lot of time.
Yes, sir.
But you just wait till the word gets out that Dodge is wide open, there's gonna be nothing
but trouble.
Yeah, maybe.
Now, this is the only way I can handle it.
They won't listen to me otherwise.
Excuse me, Marshal.
Oh, what for?
Well, I don't want to bother you none, but I thought I'd better come and see you.
Well, you're not bothering me.
I sure hope not.
What can I do for you?
Marshal, you don't know me, but I've heard about you.
Yeah, seems like a lot of people have lately.
I know.
Marshal, I...
Well, go ahead, mister.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
I'm the new constable.
What?
The new constable.
They picked me.
I had to take you, Marshal.
I'm so broken to all of you.
You sound like you're apologizing.
Well, I guess I am.
Well, I didn't want you to be mad at me.
I needed the money and that's why I'm doing it.
That's all right.
Somebody had to take the job.
I just didn't know they were gonna call it constable.
Well, they wanted to sound as peaceful as possible, I guess.
Yeah, yeah, sure.
Well, what's your name, mister?
Willard.
Willard?
Yes, sir.
Willard Bann.
Where are you from, Willard?
Well, sir, I used to be a cowboy, but then I got fat and all.
I just sort of work around wherever I can.
I've been awful broke.
Yeah, you mentioned that.
Yes, sir.
How come you're not wearing a gun?
Shucks, Marshal, I don't never wear no gun.
I don't even know how to use one very good.
Then you're a whole lot better off without one.
I don't aim to get in any fights, Marshal.
If there's any trouble, maybe I can just sort of talk them out of it.
Yeah, maybe.
Well, Willard, I wish you a lot of luck.
Well, thanks.
I gotta be going now, Marshal.
I'm on pay already.
So long.
So long, Marshal.
So long, mister.
So long.
Oh, my goodness, Mr. Dillon.
Yeah, I agree, Chester.
They will ruin that poor fellow if he tries to stop them.
Yeah, he won't even raise his voice against them.
That they sure might ruin Dodge.
We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment.
But first, show a profit on your patriotism.
Buy United States savings bonds.
Buy them regularly at your bank or where you work through the payroll savings plan.
If you're looking for an investment, what better investment can you make than one that
makes your country secure?
U.S. savings bonds help Uncle Sam foot the bill for defense, cut into inflationary trends,
make purchasers equal partners with the government in running the country.
Why United States savings bonds?
Paying 3% interest when held to maturity and show a profit on your patriotism.
Now the second act of gun smoke.
The government paid for my office and the jail behind it, so I stayed there.
I was sure that Constable Willard Band, broke and fat and humble, wasn't gonna manhandle
any randy Texas cowboys and throw them behind bars.
And the first 24 hours passed peacefully enough.
The drag-R outfit was busy moving their herd across the Arkansas and didn't get into town.
But the next day a new herd arrived.
And that night it seemed like all the Texans had come to Dodge.
By midnight no man, unless he was armed and ready to fight, should have been on the street.
It was Doc who told us what it was like when he came into the office where Chester and
I were sitting it out playing a little two-handed 21.
Oh, it's a fine thing when the U.S. Marshal holds up in his office when men are getting
shot up and knifed all over town.
I hope that's not true, Doc.
It is true.
I just come back from trying to save the second victim.
The first one's already dead.
Cowboys or citizens?
Cowboys.
If there had been citizens, I suppose those dunderheads would have been in here on their
knees begging you for help.
I don't want them on their knees.
Oh, I know, Matt, but it's getting worse.
Why, that last fellow, they wouldn't even let me bring him back to my office.
They said he might as well die right there on the floor of the Texas Trail.
They did?
They sure did.
And they ran me right out of it.
They what?
They took me by the arms and they half-carried me as far as the door.
Oh, yes, but I called them everything I could think of while they were doing it.
You think that man's dead yet, Doc?
He will be soon, if I don't get him to where I can work on him.
All right, we're going over there and get him.
Come on, Chester.
Yes, sir.
I told him I wouldn't make any arrests and I won't, but nobody's going to stand between
Doc and a wounded man.
You get in the middle, Doc.
I wish there was a tunnel under this street.
I don't see one, any word.
He ought to be out here talking his head off if that is planned.
He's lucky if he doesn't get hung tonight.
Watch your gun, Chester.
Don't let anybody grab it.
Of course I'm carrying my hand on it, Mr. Dillon.
He's right over there, Matt.
He's lying in front of the bar.
All right.
All right, get out of here.
Come on, make room here.
Hold, will you?
All right, go ahead, Doc, see if he's still alive.
All right.
Let me look in here.
Oh, he doesn't look very good.
I thought you'd quit, Marshal.
I haven't quit, Rance.
What are you doing here, then?
A man's dying.
It was a fair fight.
We believe in dying where we fall, Marshal.
We don't need no help.
I won't even argue with you, Rance, but the first man that interferes with Doc's going
to die on his feet, and if you can't understand it any other way, just put it to Doc's affront
of mine.
Is that clear enough for you?
Now, now, men, let's don't have no trouble in here.
Let's talk it over and settle this thing peacefully.
Oh, it's you, huh, Marshal?
Hello, Willard.
I'm having a terrible time, Marshal.
Yeah, I can see that.
Matt.
How is he, Doc?
He's bad, but I just might save him.
Okay, Doc.
Willard?
Yes, sir.
Can you carry the man over to Doc's office?
Sure, Marshal, sure.
Leave him be, Constable.
That's enough, Rance.
Let him die in peace, I say.
Rance, I'd throw you in jail, but I said I wouldn't make any arrests.
Then why don't you get out of here, while you still can.
Now get up!
All right!
I won't shoot the first man that touches a gun.
All right, Chester, Willard, get moving.
You lead the way, Doc.
Let's hurry.
That man won't live long if we don't.
It's two o'clock in the morning and the crowd's thicker than ever, Mr. Dillon.
Come over here and take a look.
Yeah, another hour and they'll really be out of hand.
Yeah.
Hey, look under, Mr. Dillon.
There's Miss Kitty coming across the street.
What?
Wait here, Chester.
What are you doing out here, Kitty?
I was coming to find you.
Let's get off the street.
Come on.
Oh, shoot.
It's getting worse.
Hello, Chester.
Hello, Miss Kitty.
You shouldn't have gone out in the street, Kitty.
Ah, it's no worse than the Texas Trail.
Then you ought to go home.
I am.
I'm all through till somebody put the lid on this town.
That Rance is over there right now, Matt, getting drunk and calling for blood.
There's been enough blood around here already.
How is he, the one you got out of there?
Well, Doc was down a while ago.
Said he took the bullet out and he thinks he has a chance now.
Oh, good.
You say Rance is working up trouble?
He's trying.
I guess he didn't take to your bashing him on my head.
Well, it quieted things down for a little while, anyway.
They sure got that poor constable treed, Willard, what's his name?
He's a nice fella.
I hope they don't hurt him none.
When I left, they had him dancing on the bar.
He looked about to cry.
Well, I left harder on the bar than his own Willard.
He's about the one fattest piece, officer, I ever did see.
He's going to be fatter than ever after tonight.
Every time he opens his mouth to talk, somebody pours a glass of beer down him.
It's sort of pitiful, Matt.
Yes, worse than that, Kitty.
I know.
That's why I got out of there.
You can kind of feel when a crowd like that starts to get real mean.
Oh, gracious, listen to him out there.
I'm not even staying in town tonight.
I'm going out to Moss Nighter's.
That's a good idea, Kitty.
Chester, you go along with her.
All right, sir.
I better stick around.
What, what's Mr. Green and Mr. Pepper and...
No, Pep Willie.
Fowler beat me up.
He beat me up bad.
He certainly did.
And Marshall, we come here to ask you...
Wait a minute, Mr. Green.
Chester, take Willie up to Doc's, huh?
Yes, sir.
I sure will.
Come on, Willie.
Thank you.
And then come back here for Kitty.
Yes, sir.
All right, Mr. Green.
He wanted to ask me something.
You got to stop, Marshall.
Another man's been killed, Mr. Howe's brother.
He caught a stray bullet out back of the Longhorn.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I wondered why Mr. Howe wasn't here.
He told me to tell you that he'll trust your judgment from now on.
We shouldn't have interfered, Marshall.
But we're all behind you now, ain't we, gentlemen?
You'll do something, won't you, Marshall?
All right.
It's pretty late, but I'll try.
And I'll start with Rance.
He's the worst of the lot.
I'll go get him and throw him in jail.
But before I go, I want every saloonkeeper and dodge to put out his lights and close up.
You gentlemen will have to pass the word for that.
I don't want to be seen till I go for Rance.
Oh, we'll do it, Marshall.
We'll do it right now.
All right, then get going before it's too late.
I waited for half an hour while Green and the others spread the word to close up the
saloons.
The lights gradually went out up and down the street.
And I left the office alone.
I found Rance in front of the Texas Trail, and I was able to reach him before I was recognized.
Marshall's back.
Let's shoot him, men.
You better get out of here, Marshall.
We ain't no mood to fool.
Neither am I.
The street's closed, Rance.
Now go on back to your camp.
We ain't going nowhere.
That'll open up again tomorrow night.
Now you're welcome to come back then.
There won't be no town by tomorrow.
Let's set it afire, men.
Rance, shut up.
I won't shut up.
You're going to jail.
I'm what?
Even be my...
You want to fight, Mr. Rance here's too drunk.
He wouldn't have a chance, but you might.
These right peas, I'd never make it.
You draw on them.
Go on, shoot them.
Well, I'm waiting, cowboy.
I ain't no gunfighter.
Go on, you cow.
Why should I die?
This ain't my business anyway.
Well, somebody do it then.
I'll fight any man here, and I'll fight him fair.
Not me.
No, I don't mean me.
Then I'll have to try it myself.
Don't do it, Rance.
He'll kill you.
Get out of my way.
No, you don't.
No, no, give me that gun, please.
I'll keep your gun.
Give me it.
Cut it out, Rance, or I'll slug you.
Now that was smart of you, mister.
But he's still going to jail.
You got a lot of nerve, Marshal, bucking a crowd like this.
I'm not bucking a crowd.
I'm one man against any other one man here.
You cowboys aren't built that way.
I've been in Texas too, mister.
I guess you win, Marshal.
Yeah, it looks that way.
All right.
Now, do you want to take Rance to jail, or do you want me to do it?
Well, his head might be less lumpy tomorrow if I do it, Marshal.
Start walking, Rance.
Gunsmoke, transcribed under the direction of Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as
Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston, with music composed and conducted
by Rex Corey.
Featured in the cast were Jack Crouchon, John Danaer, Joseph Kearns, Fred McKay, and Vic
Perrin.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
Gunsmoke has been selected by the Armed Forces Radio Service to be heard by our troops overseas.
Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, fights to bring law and order out
of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke.
Monday night, here Van Heflin is one of America's most notorious criminals in a thrilling fact
drama titled The Last Days of John Dillinger.
Radio's outstanding theater of thrill, Suspense, traces Dillinger's last daring escape, his
desperate last resort of plastic surgery to change his appearance, and finally his involvement
with two women who brought him trouble and disaster.
Hear it all on CBS Radio's Suspense, Monday night on most of these same stations.
George Walsh speaking.
You ride a real squad car with Light Watch, Mondays on the CBS Radio Network.