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 Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke, 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.
I just don't understand, sister.
Missing a meal.
Well, sometimes, Kitty, when people get excited, they can't eat.
And Chester's mighty excited.
We all know that.
Don't worry about him.
He's not missing any meals.
He ate supper early and I'm pledged to bring him a half a pie when I come back.
You shouldn't expect Chester to react the way most people do.
Of course, he eats more when he's excited.
Well, what's he doing?
He couldn't have supper with the rest of us.
Packing.
He packed all day yesterday.
Yeah, and he'll pack right up to leaving time in the morning.
You taking the wagon up north?
No, it's just our horses.
And a pack horse?
No.
Well, then he can't possibly take all this stuff with him.
Well, he'll figure that out last thing tomorrow morning.
And he'll pick up his rifle and his bedroll and we'll start off.
It happens this way every long trip we make.
Can't seem to break him, honey.
How long since you were up on the agency?
A couple of years.
Oh, yes.
Yes, I remember, too.
You and Wilt shot enough deer to feed us all with it.
Chester stayed on with the squads and made me a little pottery bowl.
Yeah, Chester's not much interested in hunting.
Well, maybe that's good.
You turn a wild man like Chester loose on the agency, he's lobbitally clean at the game
in no time.
You know, if there's one couple I envy, it's Wilt and Gladys.
You're hacking to be an Indian agent, Kitty.
Well, but they're doing what they want to do.
They believe in it and they're good at it.
I sure never heard of Wilt having any trouble with the Sioux.
Have you met?
He's fair.
The Sioux know it.
They're a proud people.
Wilt respects that.
Gladys is a big help, too.
No, Kitty's right.
It's a good life.
I'll bet they'd be glad to see you.
A surprise, most likely.
Surprise?
Are you saying they're not expecting you?
Well, I'm saying I didn't ride ahead telling them I'm coming.
Why, Matt Dillon?
They told me to come any time.
They got something near 400 Sioux on the agency.
Two more people one way or the other.
It's not going to matter much.
It'd be a courtesy to Gladys.
You get any mail from trail bosses or drovers telling you they'll be coming up from Texas?
Well, no.
Of course not.
Well, you know they'll be coming, don't you?
Well, sure I do.
You'll be glad to see them.
I can feel welcome once they're here, right?
It's not the same thing at all.
Doc.
Huh?
Me?
Oh, no.
No, no, no.
You don't.
I quit listening a minute ago.
I'm not going to get drawn into this discussion, even if I have to go and help Chester Pack.
I'm just as sorry as I can be, Mr. Dillon.
Forget it, Chester.
I don't know if I can ever forget it.
Well, you can quit talking about it.
That'd help.
No, sir, I can't.
Talking it out is going to be the one thing to make me see it clear.
Of course, I had it packed in the first place.
We both know that.
Mm-hmm.
Had it in the very same carpet bag with them new boots, my underwear, and a side of bacon.
And the time come to sort out what I'd take for sure.
And mind you, you was hounding me not to bring so many extras.
Yeah, I remember that.
So I figure who needs new boots?
That's the way I come to leave the coffee pot behind.
Yeah.
Well, we managed with ten cans so far.
And in another three miles or so, Gladys will have a pot on the stove.
I sure won't make that mistake again.
Yeah.
Next time, bring your boots, Chester.
Look at you, Mr. Dillon.
Coming over that ridge.
Looks like a welcoming party.
Yeah, might be.
My fair piece of me, they're all Indian, Mr. Dillon.
Well, that's a Sioux reservation, Chester.
Well, yes, of course, too.
Let's hold up a minute.
I tell you, if they're riding toward you this way, it's comforting to know they ain't hostile.
Yeah, you bet it is.
You, both, get off horse.
Aren't you Big Feather?
I am Big Feather.
Get off horse.
Mr. Dillon.
Get off, Chester.
Tonya.
Huh?
Look through packs.
Make search.
What are they looking for, Mr. Dillon?
I don't know.
I guess you don't remember me, Big Feather.
Matt Dillon.
You are a friend of White Agent.
Big Feather know you.
You bring wagons?
No.
Bring pack mules?
No, we're just as you see us.
You find nothing?
Nothing, Big Feather.
Where you come?
To visit my friend, the White Agent.
He ask you come?
No.
What's wrong here, Big Feather?
Has something happened to Whip?
You ask him.
He's all right, then, huh?
You ask him.
Big Feather, I've come here before many times.
You and I, we've hunted together.
I count you my friend, too.
Why do you stop me now and search me?
You have many questions.
White Agent has many answers.
Now, I ask you questions.
Why you let me stop you?
You have gun.
Look, me, my Braves, we have no gun.
He's right, he's talking.
You know, one of them has a gun.
Well, who took your guns, Big Feather?
You ask White Agent.
Will I be stopped again on my right end?
My people will not stop you.
I'll go.
There's sure something I miss here, Mr. John.
Yeah, I'm afraid so, Chester.
I just hope Whip and Gladys are all right.
Mr. John, it's kind of eerie like.
Ain't a sign of life around.
Now, there's life.
You can feel it.
Looking out from the lodges.
What they're doing inside this time of day, I sure don't know.
Last time we couldn't hardly ride through here for the squaws and the young.
Yeah.
Now, take a look at the lodges.
Looks like they're falling apart.
You sure wouldn't know it's the same place.
Well, we're bound to find out some answer here.
Mr. John, Whip's house ain't looking too safe.
No, it isn't.
Could be they're not here yet.
Oh, somebody's coming.
Get out of here or I'll blow your head off.
Whip.
That, that Dylan?
Yeah.
You can put the shotgun down.
You, Chester?
Yeah, Whip, too.
You can't always tell what's there and what isn't.
Come here.
Both of you, come on.
What are you locking against, Whip?
Rubble.
Get down, get down.
Have a drink.
No, thanks.
No, thanks, can't I?
Maybe you don't have to keep going.
I do.
What kind of trouble do you expect, Whip?
Yeah.
What kind is there?
Indian trouble.
I never heard of you having any trouble.
Oh, I got it now.
I made my mistake treating them decent, figuring them for human.
Well, they're not.
The more you do, the more they want.
Like their guns?
What do you know about their guns?
Big Feather and some brave stopped us on the way in, searched our gear.
How'd they stop you without guns?
Well, that's what Big Feather wanted to know.
I figured we were on your agency, I'd oblige him.
Oblige? You got their guns, Whip?
I got them all right.
And they're lock and key in the storeroom.
And I'm keeping them.
I watch over them half the time and Gladys the other half.
That's where she is now, the storeroom?
She's there all right.
Let me tell you, Matt, this is no life, it's no life at all.
Chester and I can spell Gladys for a while.
You can both get some rest.
No. I never even asked what brought you up this way.
And I had in mind some hunting, but that'll come later.
You sure you won't have a drink?
What was that?
Oh, artillery like the...
We got an army near here, you know.
Yeah.
Well, we'll head on out to the storeroom.
You got some sleep, huh?
I just might, Matt, when you're here.
I might sleep.
I just might feel safe enough.
Music
That sound like artillery to you.
No, it's not artillery, Chester.
Heaviest I ever heard, it is.
I haven't heard it enough to be sure,
but it sounds like dynamite to me.
Here, I guess Gladys will be inside here.
Gladys?
Matt! Matt!
Oh, you gave me a fright.
Chester and me were scaring everybody half to death today.
It is you. It is really you and Chester.
Yes, it sure is.
I just never thought I'd see any of my friends again.
I'm sorry.
What?
Gladys, is it that bad?
Oh, Matt, it's hell. It's plain hell.
But what happened?
Have you seen him?
Whip? Yeah, sure, we've seen him.
I still don't get the straight of what's going on.
Well, don't expect it from me, Matt. I don't know.
I honestly don't know.
He's not the same.
Whip's no more the man I married or any part of him
than any stranger you could mention.
If the Indians have turned against him,
maybe he's got cause to change.
Maybe he has. I don't know.
But he took their guns. They must have done something.
Taking their guns was the last he did.
Before that, it was their food.
You mean, say, Whip is holding back food from them?
Yes, but came to him with some complaint.
I don't know what it was.
Something about their hunting grounds.
Whip got enraged.
Really enraged?
And he began to cut back their rations.
Finally, their guns.
I don't know what'll happen next.
How long has it been like this?
Oh, months, months. I don't know.
You hear that a lot, do you, Glettis?
All the time.
There must be big trouble somewhere.
I never heard the army guns this close before.
Yeah.
Oh, look, Glettis, we told Whip we'd spare you here
so that you could get some rest.
Oh, no. I mean, I'm not tired.
And you must be riding all this way.
I'm fine, really.
And later when Whip comes down, I'll fix your nice supper.
Now, then, you just let us take over, like Mr. Doom says.
You look kindly picky to me.
No, I'm perfectly fine. I won't let you...
This where the guns are locked up, Glettis?
I think so. I'm not sure.
Please, Matt, I wish you'd...
You wish I'd stay out of it?
Yes. Yes, I wish you would.
All right.
I know you're not afraid, Glettis.
What makes you think I'm not?
Well, Whip is. He's got a shotgun,
and he keeps himself locked and bolted in his own house.
You're not armed.
I never wore the hand with guns. You know that.
And the door here, it was open when we just walked in.
I must have forgotten.
You never wear a hand to lie, either.
Oh, Matt. Matt, I'm afraid. I'm terrified.
But I feel responsible.
Please don't ask me to explain it.
Just go on back to Whip.
I really think he needs more help than I do.
Maybe he does at that.
I've been mulling over and over and over
about this gun. I just don't understand.
Glettis giving them guns back then, did.
I didn't say she did, Chester.
I said the lock on that cabinet was forced,
and she sure didn't want me to look any closer than I did.
You think that's what she meant by feeling responsible?
That's what she said. Responsible.
No, I don't think that's what she meant.
I'm hoping Bigfoot can shed some light on that.
Maybe.
Only it don't make sense.
Say she did give Bigfoot another shotgun.
You mean to just turn on Whip, kill him, maybe?
Sure, he's outnumbered 400 to 1.
If they wanted to kill him, they could have done it long ago.
Well, how come they had guns in the first place?
The treaty, the Sioux, Cheyenne, natural hunters,
the treaty gave them the right to keep their guns for hunting
when they came on the reservation.
You saying Whip has broke the Indian treaty?
Well, on the face of things, yes.
Maybe he's had cause.
You sure there's a big cut of large?
Was the last time I was here.
You come from White Agent?
I come on my own, Bigfeather.
You and I make talk.
You talk.
I want you to take me hunting tomorrow.
Like before, you and I hunt together.
No good hunt.
What do you mean?
Game run, all gone. No good hunt.
What happened to the game?
Ask White Agent.
Now listen to me, Bigfeather, I want some answers out of you.
Everything's changed here and I want to know why.
I want you to tell me what's wrong.
You not believe game all gone?
Not until you show me.
I don't believe, no.
Tomorrow, with the sun, I show.
Good, with the sun. You bring your rifle, we hunt.
Not have rifle. No guns.
You sure?
No guns.
Or maybe your friend, the White Squad.
Hey, no friend.
Take Papoose. No friend to Indian.
Now what do you mean?
First hunting grounds, then food, then guns.
Now take Papoose.
You will hunt with me tomorrow, Bigfeather?
With the sun.
I'm just about to give up.
I claim don't get a thing through my skull down here.
I'll let you go on up to the house and go to bed.
You ain't going to?
No, not yet, Chester.
I'll go on right now.
It sure ain't been the day I looked forward to.
Good night.
Good night, Mr. Stone.
Matt. What?
Yes?
Glad I saw you.
You were talking to Bigfeather earlier.
What'd he tell you?
I guess you know.
He says you're going to take their Papooses.
Oh, I knew it.
I told you I feel responsible for so much of this.
I thought I could make him understand.
But it only made things worse.
Understand what?
Things have been so bad here.
I thought I could offer them a little hope.
They used to trust me.
I told them we'd start a school for the youngsters.
And they took it to mean that you were going to steal their young ones away, huh?
A year ago they'd have understood.
Now the hate that's built up, the fears, the mistrust.
I was a fool to say it.
You were trying your own way, Gladys.
Nothing wrong with that.
I was sharp with you, Matt.
Telling you to stay out of it.
But I was afraid.
Afraid I'd find the gun's gone?
No, no, the lock.
It was forced.
Yeah, I saw that.
But the gun's still there.
I checked.
I wanted you to leave so I could replace the lock before Whip found out.
Believe me, Matt, the gun's still there.
I believe you, Gladys.
Whip's in there now?
He's still sun-up.
I spell him then.
Matt, what can we do?
I don't know yet.
Tell me this.
Has Whip ever asked the Army to come in and straighten this out?
Never once.
I've asked him to, but he says it's his business.
Well, maybe tomorrow I'll know more whose business it is.
Mr. Young, I'm so glad you're back.
This is a terrible thing.
What is it, Justin?
He's had him standing there since he found out.
Old men, women, all this day in the hot sun, no water, no food.
Oh, what the devil for?
Get them fool guns of them stoles.
He's been hitting out at everybody near Beat Gladys to death while I pulled her free of it.
When did it happen?
Right after sun-up.
Right after Gladys fell in.
He went back to the store room and found them gone.
Oh, he has been so mean.
All right, where is he now?
You wonder?
Turned their lodges apart, looking for them guns.
You better look out for him.
He's drunk and wild.
You better look out for me.
There he is.
Yeah, I see him.
Whip?
Whip!
Stop it!
You in on this too, Dylan?
If you've got trouble, you're asking for a wrench of it.
They got their guns back.
I can't find them, but I will, I will, and I'll turn them on the lot of them.
You're out of your head, Whip.
Now, what kind of a friend are you?
I've seen the miners whip blasts and holes all over the reservation, driving the game away.
That big artillery you were telling me about.
They tell me they pay you pretty good to let them mine on government property.
You hear me?
They got their guns back, and I gotta find them.
I'm not gonna help you look.
The rotten thing you've done, treaty breaking.
This could start an uprising, sure.
All they need is their guns.
Matt, you're a friend.
I was a friend.
I looked through every lodge.
Twice over, they've got them, but where, where?
You better give them a looking over, long as they're lined up here.
Where's an Indian gonna hide a gun?
You walk down this line with me.
How do you see anything?
A lot of mangy Indians.
So, come on, let's try another line of them.
Why, what for?
This is just a waste of time.
You're crazy blind, drunk, mean blind.
You take a good look.
Up and down all the lines, Whip.
The beads the squads are wearing, the bracelets, their shells, cartridges.
The old men are leaning on canes, only their gun barrels.
The kids got arrowheads hanging from their belts, and right along with them, gun locks, hammers.
You mean, they took the guns apart, they're wearing them?
Yeah, and if you're lucky, maybe the army will get here before they got a chance to put them together.
The army?
You're through, Whip, all through.
Cesar and I will stop at Fort Carney on our way out, and we'll be taking Gladys with us, if she'll go.
Gun Smoke.
Produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gun Smoke by Kathleen Height, with editorial supervision by John Mestimer.
Featured in the cast were Virginia Christine, Vic Tarrant, and Ralph Moody.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun Smoke.