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In the 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 U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gun Smoke.
Gun Smoke, starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved West with young
America and the story of a man who moved with it. I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States
Marshal. The first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancey job,
and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
You and that boggone jail look like home tonight, Mr. Dillon.
That's been a long ride. Get a pack of Gorners and coffee started. Where do you trust the
Gorners? I'm sure I'll unsettle the horses. Yes, sir, Hatch. What? It's Tover, Matt Van
Tover. Oh, hello, Van. I didn't recognize you there in the dark. I've been waiting for
you, Matt. I wanted to talk to you. Well? Alone, if it's all the same. No offense, Chester.
You old man took me to Tover. I was just going in to make some coffee anyhow. I'll make
us all some Hall-Matic. Why didn't you wait inside, man? The office is open. Did for
a while, but just couldn't stay set. I guess you have got something on your mind. Matt,
you know a lot about me. You know I tore around when I was younger before I met Edna and we
got married and the kid come. Yes, like most men, Van. No, that ain't what I mean exactly.
I mean, I never quite got on the wrong side of the law, but I've burned near-death a few
times. Well? Well, I was mighty handy with a gun, Matt. And I was too quick to use one
a lot of times. Sure, it was always self-defense, but. What do you got, Matt, Van? Matt, you
still got that gun I gave you two years ago when the kid was born. Yeah, it's in the office
and it's safe. You got any need for it? No. I want it back. I better get this other saddle
off. No, no, Matt, wait. I can go buy another gun. It's just that I'm used to that one.
I carried it for years. And I got to have one tonight. You haven't worn a gun for two years
now, Van. You told me when you gave it to me you were through with gunfighting. I didn't
ask for this. For the kid's sake and Edna's. So you told me. That's true, Matt. You said
you only had one enemy in the world and you hadn't heard of him for years. It's a matter
of you gone out and made yourself a new one. No. Well, it's the same one, huh? He's caught
up with you. You know, it was twelve years ago. He cleared down in Durango. Fight over
a girl, nobody. She didn't even count. I just fought easy in them days was all. Yeah, sure.
This fellow drawed on me and I put a bullet to his leg. He was still laid up with it when
I rode out of town. And he swore he'd find me and kill me. I didn't pay it much mind.
We all talked big when we were young, you know. I know. He rode into Dodge today. He's been
asking for me. Uh-huh. What's his name? Largo Greeland. He's a big fella. He's built like
a bull. Always wears two guns and he can shoot with either hand. Van does your shoulder still
bother you, son? What's that got to do with it? Look, you might as well have given me that
gun four years ago when that horse fell and rolled on him. Now, you got mixed up in something
like this with that bad shoulder and you'll be dead before you even get your gun clear
of the leather. You must be out of your head. You think I want to meet Largo? You sure act
like it. He's come after me. Twelve years he's been looking. That's a lot of hate, man.
And if I don't call him here in town, he'll come on out to the ranch. I got Edna and the
kid to think of it. All right, then think of it and stay out of this and leave it to me.
You think I wouldn't like to? Matt, I'm scared. I know what I'm up against and I'm scared
to death. Then get out of town. Stay clear of it and let me handle it. It's not your
fight, Matt. It might be. Well, ain't no use arguing about it. If it's all right with you,
I'll take my gun and not bother you no more. Why don't you use your head, Van? You haven't
got a chance. I want the gun, Matt. I want it now. All right, come on. Shasta, get Van
and Tover gone out of the safe, will you?
Matt, I give up. I can't figure it out. I'll figure what out, Kitty. You, the way you're
acting. How am I acting? You've been leaning on the bar for the last hour with the same
purpose, I guess. You haven't even touched it. I guess I'm not thirsty. That's not that,
Matt. You're drawn tighter than a two dollar cinch. You're waiting for something, aren't
you? Don't worry about it. No use borrowing trouble. If anybody's about to borrow some,
it's you. Kitty, will you excuse me for a minute? Look, you stay here and finish your drink.
I've got something that needs attending to. I'll be back in a little while. Your name
Lago Grealam? Might be. What's on your mind, mister? I'm a marshal here in Dodge. What
is that, man? Yeah. You, uh, ever been on the Cherokee strip, Lago? Oh, now I see. Van
Tover come running to you, I reckon. Got you to do his fighting farm, huh? I'm not talking
about Tover. I'm talking about some wanted bulletins I've been looking over. Got your
name and face on them. You don't say? One of them's for murder down on the Cherokee strip.
A man must have changed some. Spooks easier for one thing. Hollers for his hit. Forget
about Van. That's kind of a hard thing to do, marshal, when you've looked for a man 12 years
and finally found them. Understand he's staked out over by the stockpins. Got covered at
the sides and behind. Sure looks like he ain't running no chances. But I can wait. Let him
sweat some. He can't stay there forever. You're under arrest for murder, Lago. Now, I'd like
to blud you, marshal, but I got other business in town. Not now you haven't. Oh, I ain't
gonna draw on you. More than likely you got a man somewhere behind me. No, I ain't gonna
draw on you. I'm sorry, Lago, but I've had that kicking trick tried on me before. Now
get up on your feet. Now come on, mister, we're going to jail.
And I've got that man, I'm telling you. Someday you're gonna take one chance, two minutes.
Oh, what do you mean, doc? Trying to arrest somebody you know's a killer. With your gun
in your holster. Doc, a lawman that went around with a pistol in his hand, it'd last about
a week. Why? Because if he was outlaw in town, he'd figure he had a right to ambush him.
Marshal! Oh, you're in town kind of late, aren't you,
Miss Tober? Marshal, where's Van? I don't know, around town somewhere, I guess. Now, doc,
you know Miss Tober, don't you? Oh, to I, of course I know. Who do you think delivered
that baby to her? How are you, Edna? Marshal, who's Van gonna fight? Fight? He's wearing
a gun, first time in two years. And he's in town looking for somebody. He wouldn't tell
me anything, but I know. I can feel it when a man's mind took up with killing. Easy now,
Miss Tober. Whatever he might have been thinking, he can forget. And you can, too. There's nothing
to worry about. That's easy to say. It happens to be true, the fellow he was worrying about's
in jail. I guess Van doesn't know it yet. Are you telling me the truth, Marshal? Yes,
I am. Now, why don't you get yourself back out to the ranch? That husband of yours is
gonna be tired and hungry when he finally rides in tonight. You're sure this man's in
jail, Marshal? Yeah, he's there already. Well, of course he's here. Now, you head for home,
young lady, before you really give Van something to worry about. Gallivanting around alone
this time of night? All right, doc, I will. Good night. And good night, Mark. Good night,
Doc. Good night, Miss Tober. Blame fool woman worrying overnight. Yeah, that's right,
Doc. The same as you were. Same as I was. Oh, you mean about you taking chances and all
of them. Oh, well, that's different now. Mr. Dillon! Ah, that Chester. He can find more
reasons to hoop and holler at stuff. Yeah, what's the matter, Chester? He jumped me right
there in the cell. I fixed him some water so he could clean up when he come to, and he
was just playing possum. Are you hurt? No, I ain't hurt. That ain't what I'm trying to
tell you, Mr. Dillon. Well, what is it then? He got away.
My golly, he sure didn't waste no time making himself scarce, Mr. Dillon. No, he sure didn't.
Oh, Doc, any sign of him around the railroad depot? No, not a whisper, man. Quiet as a
tomb over there. And I didn't see Van Tover either. Yeah, we got to find one of them before
they find each other. It's just possible that he pulled stakes and let out, man. Not after
12 years looking for Tover, he's still around somewhere. Well, you had him locked up in
jail. Oh, Mr. Dillon, I just don't know how that happened. He just fooled me long. Ah,
you're probably thinking about women. They're always fooling you, too. Now, you look here,
Doc. Forget it, Chester. We all get taken in once in a while. I just don't know how he
tricked me. Well, never mind. It's done now. The thing to do is to find him. He hasn't
had time to get very far. Dr. Dillon. What? Yeah, over here, my... I wonder what old Miles
is doing out this time of night. He's probably trying to peddle something, make another five
cents profit so he can sleep better. I heard that, Doc. I heard what you were saying behind
my back. There isn't anything I wouldn't say to your front, you old skinkling. What's on
your mind, Miles? Matthew, there's something mighty funny going on. How's that so? I just
came past the livery stable. Mrs. Tover started to drive out and some fellow jumped into the
buggy with her. What? Uh-huh. There was a big fellow, bent like a bull. He made a turn
around and got back into the stable. Ah, that looks like we've found Largo. Come on, let's
go. Ain't no sign of life, Mr. Dillon. There's no reason for him to advertise. Well, he might
have left. It's been five minutes since I saw him. If you saw them at all, you'd probably
have been nipping at that Scotch whiskey. One of these days, Doc, you'll go too far. Look
up. Well, I guess he ain't left yet after all. Largo, come on out of there with your hands
up. Me and the lady are too comfortable, Marshal. Why don't you come and join us? Let her come
out alone and you won't get hurt. I don't think you'd get hurt. That's why she's with me.
Matt, what's going on? You got Largo cornered in there. I heard a shot. Go find her husband,
Marshal. Tell him to be hurry. He might still be breathing. Largo, no. Matt, that's Edna.
Don't make any noise. Largo's got Edna in there. That's dirty. Wait a minute, man. It won't
help her any to walk out there and get yourself killed. There's no use arguing, Matt. No, I
guess you're right. There isn't any use arguing. Doc, take care of him, will you? Just get
his gun and see if you can hold Largo's attention. Fire a couple of shots. I'm going to try to
slip in the back. Okay, Mr. Dillon. Let me have his gun, Doc. Largo, you ain't got a chance.
Throw your gun out and walk out of there with your hands up for me and Mr. Dillon comes
in after you. Come on, if you feel lucky. You think we don't mean business, Largo? That
convinced you any? You'd better be careful, boys. You're scaring the lady. Me and Mr. Dillon
will give you just two minutes before we rush him. You know where to find me. Come on, I'll
take you off one at a time. Right after I shoot the lady, of course. Dean, let me go.
I don't know who you are, but... Shut up before you get me mad. Don't move, Largo. Marshall.
Well, sneaked in the back way like any ordinary polecat. Don't turn around, Largo. Just drop
that gun. Sorry, Marshall. A man waits 12 years for something. It ain't easy for him
to just give up and quit. You had all the chance you're going to get, Largo. You move
that gun one inch toward Ms. Tober and it's the last move you'll ever make. Has to be
the last move sometime, Marshall. So I reckon it might as well be now.
Here. He's dead. Yeah. Yeah, he's dead. Oh, Marshall. You all right, Mr. Dillon? Yeah,
yeah, I'm all right, Chester. Get her out of here, will you? Take her to Van. He'll want
to know that she's safe. Yes, sir, I will. Everything's all right now, Ms. Tober. You
just come along with me now. Hey, Doc. Yes, Van? Well, looks like I've done my job. Now
it's time for you to take over. Another coroner's case? Yeah, that's right, Doc. Another coroner's
case. You know, there are many kinds of horses on the frontier. The spotted horse or the
Indian or the Appaloosa, the cowboy's pony, which might be a Mustang or quarter horse
or even an occasional cerebrate. But one thing's certain, everyone rode, man, woman or child.
And next week, Dodge watches an Indian girl ride in town half dead in her saddle. Gun
smoke. Produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S.
Marshal. The story was specially written for gun smoke by Les Clarkfields with editorial
supervision by John Mefton. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound
patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Harry Bartels, Gene Faith,
Barney Phillips and Ben Wright. Harley Bair is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia
is Kitty. Our thanks to TV Radio Mirror and to you, our listening audience, for selecting
gun smoke as the best Western program on radio for the third consecutive year. We are also
pleased and proud to announce that William Conrad was selected as the best Western star.
The results of this annual poll appear on the current issue of TV Radio Mirror. Join
us again next week for another story on gun smoke. This is the CBS Radio Network.