Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there is 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 chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
You figured a pound of them horses loose? Let dry, milk. You don't get them a wash. You'll be needing to move lively. Yeah.
Hey, milk, you sure about this job? What's the matter? You scared? You know better than to ask me that. Just holding up a bank right in the middle of the day, yeah?
I told you, Lute, I know Dodge City. It's asleep on its feet when the sun gets high. Folks don't even rouse enough to swat flies. Come on, you horse.
Well, it's your game. So don't you worry. What we do is hang around like we was just trying to stay out of the sun until we wander into the bank about three o'clock.
It won't be no trouble. You must be awful sure about the law there. We'll be out of town before that big marshal can wake up and get there.
Well, I hope. It's a noise. Something in the bush down there. It's some animal, Lute. You got nerves like a woman. I'm going to look.
Hey, you, you, you there. Don't you move. No. All right. Who you got, Lute? Somebody sneaking through the brush? What are you doing here, mister?
I just been fishing, is all. Chester. Oh, oh, Milt. You been here long?
Oh, I don't really know. I fell asleep. A body gets mighty drowsy fishing in the sun. Look to me, you got mighty big ears. You hear us talking, Chester? I told you I've been to sleep.
He's lying, Milt. He couldn't help hearing. He been right under our feet the whole time. Lute put down the gun. Well, we let him go. We ain't got us a chance.
We kill him, the whole of Fort County will be out looking for him. He works for Marshal Dillon, Lute. Oh, well, well, then tie him up. Leave him here.
Somebody find him sometime, maybe. Lute, it's the same thing. If he don't get back, the Marshal will start looking. Might start looking just the wrong time.
You can just bet he'll start looking. I'm supposed to be back there at the office at noon and Mr. Dillon ain't want to just sit around and wait.
Well, I still say our best bet is just to kill him. Now, wait a minute. And then maybe we can use him. You're a pretty good friend of the Marshal, ain't you?
Mr. Dillon's my best friend and I'm proud of it. Why? You see a lot of the folks he sees, don't you? Like the Doc, for instance. That woman, the one at the long branch.
Well, I see Doc and Miss Kitty, of course I do. What are you getting at anyway? Well, it just seems to me like maybe you wouldn't want to see nothing happen to him.
It's any fault of yours, that is. Yes, don't mean that here. You wouldn't want somebody to take a shot at one of them while they was walking down the street, would you?
Why, no. Of course, I wouldn't want to do it if I didn't have to. But you're the one who's gonna make me decide if I have to.
Now, you listen, Nils. I ain't gonna have nothing to do with shooting Doc or Miss Kitty. Then you better do what I say.
You better see that the Marshal's out of town this afternoon at three o'clock. A good long way out of town.
Why, I can't do that. You'll do it. You'll do it or you'll have one or two dead friends. And I don't ever talk idle.
It's not about shooting, Edel. So it wouldn't be healthy for the Marshal's friends if you was to tell them what you heard out here, you understand?
Yes, sir. I reckon I do.
All right. Go on now. Get your horse and head back to town. And you and the Marshal, it better be a long way off at three o'clock. You ain't no good, Bill Cole. You ain't no good at all.
Then just you remember that. Now, get.
You think he'll really do it? Get the Marshal out?
Sure he will. He's too scared. Anyway, he hasn't got enough sense not to.
A heap of things in this world could make trouble. But the meanest and orneriest of them all, to my way of thinking, is cancer.
Now that's why the U.S. Post Office put out a special stamp for the crusade against cancer. I've got it here. I'll find it.
Here, here. Now this 1965 five-center reminds us that getting an early medical checkup can help bring cancer under control.
Every year, some two million people in the world die from it. Kids as well as older folks.
And every year about two million good men and women here in the United States get together to raise money to help the American Cancer Society find ways to fight it.
That society is doing a great job. But it's almost all volunteers.
It pays for public health education, professional education and training, patient and community services, and most of all for research.
Finding the things like viruses that cause it and remembering what the stamp says, early diagnosis saves lives.
Sam, Sam, I've got to find Miss Kitty quick.
Well, she's right over there, Chester, with that table. Oh, thank you.
Miss Kitty?
Oh, sit down, Chester.
Thank you.
Something wrong, Chester? You look upset.
Whatever would give you an idea like that?
I can't imagine. Except that you come in snorting and all red in the face. I don't know why I should think anything was the matter.
Well, I sure am glad you don't think so, Miss Kitty.
All right, Chester, what's on your mind?
Well, I just got me a wonderful idea, that's all.
And what's that?
Well, see, I was thinking this would be a fine day for you and Mr. Dillon to take a ride out in the country.
In the middle of summer?
Well, yes, but it's real pretty out there, Miss Kitty. All them lilacs around.
Oh, Chester, there hasn't been a spring of lilac out there since spring. Not for a couple of months.
Oh, well, I bet the castor beans is blooming. There might be pretty sight in castor beans.
Oh, not to me they aren't. They're about as poor an excuse for a flower that I can think of.
Well, Miss Kitty, well...
Look, getting sunstroke isn't going to do me any good, Chester.
Well, but now sunstroke ain't...
Chester, I'm not going out in that sun this afternoon with Matt or anyone else. And you might as well stop talking about it.
Oh, here comes Doc. You ask him.
Oh, hello Kitty.
Hello, Doc.
Hello, Doc.
Well, what are you two doing to pass the time of day?
Why, Chester's trying to talk me into going out riding with Matt this afternoon.
Oh, wow, it's a pretty hot day for trips around the country, Chester.
I just thought it might maybe do him some good to get away from town for a little bit.
Oh, you're just acting silly about it, Chester.
Well, maybe I've got a good reason for it.
There's no good reason for sending folks out into the prairie sun, Jess.
Well, if you was as smart as you think you are, you'd go along too.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Don't worry, Kitty, I'll take Chester off your hands.
Come on, Chester, come on, let's have a bite of food. It's getting toward noon.
Well, maybe you'll feel better after you have something to eat, Chester.
Miss Kitty, food ain't got nothing to do with it.
Come on, Chester. Goodbye, Kitty.
Goodbye, Doc. Some other time, Chester.
Another time ain't the same thing.
Well, I sure didn't try.
It seems to me you tried too hard.
Doc, I thought you folks were supposed to be my friends.
You ain't got no call to act so smart, alakie, and stubborn.
You know, it sounds like you've got a touch of the sun yourself.
Where have you been this morning, anyway?
Fishing.
Fishing? I always thought that was supposed to calm a man down.
What happened to you?
Nothing.
Hey, Doc?
Doc, have you got somebody real sick out in the country?
You driving out there this afternoon, maybe?
Well, not that I know of now, but it could happen.
It seems some of the biggest belly aches come on the hottest days.
Sure, they do not.
Now, I expect that can be mighty worrying, can't it?
Well, what do you mean?
All that driving by yourself, it seems the body should have some company.
Oh, Chester, if you think I'm going to go back there and try to get Miss Kitty to go driving with me this afternoon, you're...
Oh, no, no, no, Doc.
No, you told me yourself it wouldn't be good for Miss Kitty.
I ain't thinking about a thing like that.
All right, then.
I was thinking it might do Mr. Dillon some good to get off with you this afternoon.
Oh, now, Chester, for heaven's sake.
Well, he might even help you, like lifting a sick person up or holding him down.
Now, Chester, you stop this nonsense right now.
Just what is it that you've got on your mind?
Nothing.
You've got some reason for wanting Matt out of town. Now, is that it?
No, Doc, no, it ain't nothing like that.
All right, let's hear no more about it.
Now, come on in here. Come on, let's get some food.
Yeah, no, no, I ain't got no time to eat, Doc. I'll see you later.
Where are you going, Chester?
Yes.
Mr. Dillon?
Oh, hello, Chester.
I see you're busy.
Yeah, I got to get these forms filled out for today's mail.
Mr. Dillon, you been down to Reed's Creek lately?
Reed's Creek, the fish are biting down there. It's only about an hour's ride.
And sure would be a nice day for it.
You could go down there and catch a miss a fish for dinner.
What about Reed's Creek?
I just thought it'd be kind of nice if you used to go fishing this afternoon.
Down to Reed's Creek.
I thought you went fishing this morning.
Yes, sir, I did. That's why I thought maybe you could go...
Well, think again. The fish won't be biting in the middle of the day, will they?
Oh, now, you can't be sure, Mr. Dillon. I knew a fellow one time...
Then why don't you get him to go fishing, huh?
Yes, Mr. Dillon.
Chester.
Yes, sir?
Why don't you light someplace? You're worse than a horse fly.
Yes, sir.
I hear they're bringing in some new stallions out to Lemon Bridge's place, sir.
New stallions out to...
Might find pieces of horse flesh to tell me.
Some stallions.
Make a nice little ride this afternoon to go out there and see them.
Chester.
Yes, sir?
I'm not going fishing. I'm not going out to Limb Bridge's place.
I'm not going any place but to Hayes City, and I'm late right now.
What'd you say?
I'm going to Hayes City, and that's all.
Oh, Hayes?
Now, do you think maybe you might stop talking just long enough to take these envelopes to the post office for me?
I gotta get going.
Oh, yes, sir. I sure can, Mr. Dillon. Yes, sir. Yeah, I sure can.
Oh, uh...
Is it Mr. Dillon?
Yes, what is it now?
Mr. Dillon, I just want you to know...
Well, if anything was to come up while you're gone, I sure would do my best to take care of it.
Yeah, sure.
I don't want to worry you, and I'll handle things.
Sure, Chester, I know, I know.
I reckon I'll say goodbye.
All right, Chester, goodbye.
I... Mr. Dillon, I'd kind of like to shake your hand if it's all seen in you.
Chester, will you get on down to the post office with those letters, will you, please?
Huh?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I'm going.
Bye, Mr. Dillon.
Hometowns in America have a lot in common, and yet they're each one of a kind.
Take, for example, Phoenix, Arizona.
Anyone in town will tell you of the city's fantastic growth, and most of them are part of it.
One of the big points of pride in Phoenix is the Arizona State Fair, out at the fairgrounds on McDowell Road.
With the new Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the facilities are greater than ever before.
And those ten days in November are part of what Phoenix anticipates in the fall.
In the spring or summer, when the wind is right, there's the aroma of orange blossoms in the air.
And when the wind is wrong, you're reminded that Phoenix is a cow town, too.
At Central Avenue and Thomas Road, the young crowd gathers at Bob's Big Boy.
Housewives frequent the Malls of Park Central and Christown shopping centers.
And all the while, the basin is humbled by Squaw Peak and the Camelback Mountains.
But if your hometown is Phoenix, you already know this.
We only wanted to remind you, it's still thick.
Oh, hello, Matt. Say, Matt, can I see you for a minute?
Sure, Doc. Walk along with me to the stable. I'm on my way to Hayes City.
Yes, that's what I wanted to see you about. Did Chester talk you into going there?
Talk me? No, Doc, I got government business down there. Why?
Well, he's been working at getting you out of town all day.
He just had his mind set that you'd get out of town.
Well, why?
Well, I don't know, but he was a kiddy about it before noon.
He wanted her to get you to go for a ride in the country.
I bet she fixed that in a hurry.
Yeah, she sure did.
That summer afternoon's ride somehow didn't seem to appeal to her.
And then Chester started to work on me. On you?
Yes, he thought it'd be nice if you'd spend the afternoon riding around with me and my buggy.
Even Chester isn't that crazy.
You know, but something's sure eating him.
I just passed him in the alley behind the bank and he's sure not himself.
Now what do you mean?
He's got two guns strapped on him.
Two guns?
That's right. And he's acting like the life of everybody in town depended on him.
So what do you think, Matt?
I don't know, Doc. There's one thing, sure.
What's that?
I guess it really is important to Chester that I get out of town.
Who's that?
Well, for land's sake, Chester, you could scare a fellow half to death
sneaking into this bank through the back way like that.
I got a reason.
Now if I didn't know you better, I'd think you'd come in here to rob us.
You're wearing two guns.
Well, you ought to be glad I'm wearing them now.
You listen to me, Alvin, and you won't get hurt if you do what I say.
What are you talking about?
I ain't got much time to do any explaining.
I'm just telling you that this bank is about to be held up.
Held up?
I was talking to the fellas that's going to do the job.
Why isn't the marshal here then?
He had to ride out to Hage City.
You mean you knew the bank was going to be held up and you let the marshal ride out of town?
I had to do it, Alvin.
Look, I come to take care of things.
Now you do, like I say, you go right on up front there like nothing was happening,
and I'll cover you from back here.
I sure hope you know what you're doing.
You don't need to worry none. I got you covered.
And I got you covered. Now drop them guns.
You're a loot.
Wait, Mr. Nell.
You drop them.
Oh, I about was real smart to get the marshal out of town.
I seen him ride out.
But you should have quit when you was ahead.
Oh, I should have had more sense. I should have told him.
Milt's out front waiting.
You just stand easy till he gets in here, you hear?
Because I got this gun right spang in your back.
I tried to be some bling-smart-dot-gun, I should have known.
It's out front.
Milt!
It's on the floor, Chastain!
Mr. Dillon!
You got him, Mr. Dillon?
Yeah.
Only cause you jolted this gun-hat.
Where'd he get you, Chester?
In the lake here.
Right there. It ain't nothing.
What about the other one?
Milt?
Well, he's dead, huh? Caught him on his way in.
Mr. Dillon?
As you... I just send me packing.
Oh?
Yes, sir, I sure would.
Oh, it ain't as though I didn't mean well and wasn't trying to work things right.
Like getting you out of town cause they said they'd shoot Doctor Miss Kitty if you was here.
Oh, so that's it. I figured you had a reason.
Well, yeah, but I just ain't a thinker, Mr. Dillon.
Now look what happens when you... when you...
But you ain't out of town, are you? How come you ain't?
Well, I... I heard that you were marching around wearing two guns.
You did?
Yeah, so I figured I'd better stick around if I didn't want you to take over my job.
Oh.
Oh, Mr. Dillon, I...
You just rest easy now. I'll go get Doc.
Elijah Cuddlestone, an old political character, once gave this argument on why he,
and not his younger rival, should be elected Senator.
Senates, if you will pardon the expression, is a Latin word from which Senate was derived.
That is, the Romans called their Senate a Senatus.
Oh, senates means an old man.
So you see, the Senate is supposed to be, I say, it should be a revered council of elders.
Men with age and wisdom, that is. Not young upsarts.
Yeah, I mean, boys sweat behind the ears, don't belong.
Wisdom that comes with age is needed. I mean, that's what the word means.
Well, Elijah was right about the original meaning and the use of the word Senate.
He did omit, however, the fact that the word senile is also a derivative of the Latin senex.
So if we wanted to stretch a point, a member of the Senate could be considered an old man.
The men who created that branch of our government, however, also gave us our Constitution
and defined the age for a Senator as not less than 30.
Well, if 30 is old, Elijah was ancient.
quicker
Gun Smoke, produced and directed by Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon,
U.S. Marshal. Featured in the cast were Parley Bear as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc, and
Georgia Ellis as Kitty. George Walsh speaking.
Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on Gun Smoke.
This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.