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 the 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.
Oh, ho!
Is it folks? Dodge City.
Where's the best hotel driver?
The Dodge house right down the street. You and the missus will be real comfortable there.
Thanks.
You'll have your bags down in a few minutes.
Give me your hand, Tilda.
It doesn't seem like we could be here already. I thought it would take longer.
That's because you're so excited. Come on, let's wait over here.
All right.
Well, what do you think of Dodge?
I'll let you know after we get something to eat. I'm famished, Tom.
So am I. Where'd that driver get to?
Well, he must be inside.
Well, he'll know a good place to eat.
You find him, Tom. I'll wait here.
Don't you run away now.
You never have to worry about that.
I'll be back in a minute.
Well, hello there, missy.
I beg your pardon.
You're the prettiest little thing I've seen around here.
How about you and me having a little drink somewhere?
Got a pocket full of money.
What? What's the matter? You a school marmor-er-er-er, huh?
Well, that don't matter. I like school marmor.
Why don't you go back to your trough, mister?
What, you little...
Let go of me!
I ought to slap you!
Get your hands off her!
People don't shove me, mister.
Don't they?
Are you all right, children? Did he hurt you?
I'm all right. He's just a drunk.
He's more than just a drunk, man.
What do you mean?
He's Ed Ivers' partner.
Well, I never heard of Ed Ivers.
He and Varden here run a cattle outfit just across the river.
Ivers is kind of a dangerous man.
He had quite a reputation back in Texas.
A gunman, you mean?
Yeah, they say he was real handy.
Oh, Tom.
Varden's gonna be pretty mad when he comes, too.
Nobody's gonna insult my wife. I don't care whose partner he is.
It's too bad it had to happen.
Well, I'm not gonna worry about it.
Where'd you say that eating place was?
Delmonico is right down there.
Thanks. Let's go, Tilly.
A little more coffee, Tom.
Thanks.
Tilly, I don't know why I like this idea
you're going to work here in Dodge.
Just for a while, Tom, till we get on our feet a little.
Besides, I'd like to work in a general store like that.
Well, how do you know he needs anybody?
You could tell by looking in the window.
It's got lots of lady wear to sell.
Well, if it'll make you happy.
And just think, I'll be making money, too.
We add it to what you'll make, the loading pins,
and we'll be able to get our own place that much sooner.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
That man been staring at you.
It doesn't matter, Tom.
These people in Dodge gotta learn something.
Please, Tom, don't make trouble.
He's the one making it.
Hey, you.
Me?
You're the one staring at the lady, ain't you?
I guess I was kind of looking her way.
She's my wife, and I won't stand for it, mister.
Well, see, I thought she was somebody I know down in Texas.
Marjorie McGill, as a matter of fact.
Now, look, mister...
You know, I ain't seen Marjorie McGill in ten years.
She was just a little bitty old thing then.
I probably wouldn't know her even if it is.
Now, that ain't the point.
You know, your wife looks something like her.
That's all I didn't mean no thing.
I said I didn't mean no fancy.
Well, you just watch your step.
My goodness, mister Dune, he sure is a hothead.
The way you were staring at her, I can't say I blame him, Chester.
Well, don't... I did think you might maybe be Marjorie McGill.
So you were mistaken.
Well, he's just looking for trouble, mister Dune.
Chester, finish your coffee.
Thank you.
And here's your change.
Would there be anything else?
Not today, but I'll be back next week, dearie.
You're welcome any time, madam.
Bye.
Excuse me, boy.
Hello, may I...
Are you...
Hello, missy.
What are you doing here?
There's that girl I told you about, Ivers.
The one at the State Depot?
If there's something you want, I'll get Mr. Jonas.
He's right out back.
No, no, no, wait.
My name is Ed Ivers.
I've seen you before somewhere.
No, not really. This is my second day in Dodge.
No, I don't mean Dodge.
Where are you from, anyway?
It's none of your business where I'm from.
Now, if you want something...
Wait a minute. I remember.
A riverboat.
The Memphis Queen.
What?
Well, that's it, ain't it? It's about two years back.
Oh, I did a lot of gambling on that river, but don't you remember me?
Ed Ivers?
Ed Ivers? You knowed her on the Mississippi?
Well, I'm sure of it now.
And you was just as pretty then, too.
That's a lie.
I won't stand for this. Now get out. Both of you.
Hey, that young fellow that hit Varden here.
Was it your husband?
Get out of here, I said.
You never get tired of him. Just let me know.
Come on, Varden.
What a cheat.
Oh, no.
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That famous friendly verbal dart thrower George Jussel will be roastmaster
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Hear for yourself the Friars Gary Cooper Testimonials
Tuesday evening over most of these stations.
I sure am glad I haven't bought a load of pens today, Tom.
Oh, I'm awful hot-headed sometimes, Chester. I'm sorry.
No, no, no. Ain't no harm done.
But I must admit I sure didn't take much of a liking to you yesterday.
Today I am buying you a drink of liquor.
And what's worse, I'm drinking it.
I don't know what got into me yesterday, Tom.
Thinking on it, your wife, Tilda,
don't look none at all like that Marjomay Grilk down in Texas.
You know, I thought you made that all up.
Oh, man, no, now that's the truth.
Except Marjomay Grilk wasn't nowhere near as pretty as your Tilda.
Oh, so that's her name.
What?
Tilda.
You remember the name, my virgin?
Oh, no. The name don't matter.
What is this?
Ed Ivers here met your wife today, young fella.
Look, mister, I don't take to men like you trying to be friendly with my wife.
You should have learned that yesterday.
And I just assumed you didn't mention her name in a place like this.
He's up for it.
I mean it, mister.
Oh, don't get yourself all riled up, boy.
Just that your wife's no better than she ought to be.
I'll kill you for that.
Well, now.
He ain't armed, Ivers.
So he ain't.
I can get my gun.
As much as you do anyway, now you leave him alone.
Keep out of this, Chester.
You're being a gunman. Don't bother me at all, mister.
Well, now, I guess nothing bothers you, does it?
Marrying a woman off in the river.
You watch what you're saying.
Your wife, the Tilda Eddard, worked on the Memphis Queen.
I rode it down to Mississippi several times.
Mister, I'm going to have to kill you now.
You couldn't kill me even if you had a gun.
It ain't worth your life trying, not over no cheap riverboat woman.
You wait right here.
I'll get my gun and I'll be back.
Oh, now, I ain't got time, boy.
We got to get back out the place.
I'll come after you.
There's no need for that.
I'll be back in town sometime tomorrow and you can live till then.
All right.
All right, I'll meet you right here.
Now, I'm telling you, she ain't worth dying for, boy.
But I'll be here.
Now, Tom, you just don't never mind what he's saying.
I'll kill him.
I'll kill both of them.
Tom Cook?
Yes?
What do you want?
I'd like to talk to you.
I'm Marshall Dillon.
Oh, come in.
Thank you.
Tilda, this is Marshall Dillon.
Marshall Dillon?
Hello.
Maybe I ought to talk to you alone, Tom.
Oh, that's all right, Marshall.
I can guess why you're here.
Tilda and me have no secrets from each other.
I told her all about it.
I see.
Did you know Ed Ivers is an ex-gunman?
I can't let any man talk like that about my wife.
You'd be a hard man to beat.
That ain't important, Marshall.
You get killed, what'll happen to Tilda?
She'd be better off than having a coward for a husband, wouldn't she?
Look, you're both young.
You've got a long life together if you play it right.
I was just going down for a bottle, Marshall.
Wait a minute, Tom.
Maybe you'll join us in a drink for us after,
providing we talk about something else.
Give me a chair, Tilda.
You know any way I can talk him out of getting himself killed?
If I did, I'd have done it myself, Marshall.
Please sit down.
No, thank you.
Of course, I can't blame Tom.
Ed Ivers said some pretty rough things.
You believe it?
I didn't say that.
Well, it's true.
I did work on the Memphis Queen.
A whole year.
I don't remember Ed Ivers, but it doesn't matter.
I know what you're thinking.
I'm a liar and a cheat.
I'm no good.
You're thinking what any man would think, including Tom.
You need help, Tilda?
How can anybody help me now?
I think I know somebody who can.
What?
After supper, you tell Tom to go have a drink,
and then you come over to my office.
All right, Marshall.
Hello, Matt.
Kitty, this is Tilda.
Hello, Tilda. Hello, Kitty.
I'm leaving you in good hands, Tilda.
I'll see you later, Kitty.
Sure, Matt.
Thank you, Marshall.
Come in, Tilda.
Sit down.
Drink?
No.
No, thanks.
Matt told me everything, Tilda.
You've got quite a problem, haven't you?
And there isn't a thing I can do about it.
How much do you love your husband?
Oh, Kitty.
Do you think he loves you?
I know he does.
He's going to find out about me some day.
He won't love me then.
Well, how do you know?
What man would?
Tell me about the Memphis Queen, Tilda, that riverboat.
Just what did you do while you worked on it?
I sang a little, got men to buy drinks.
That's all.
Still, it gives the girl a bad reputation, doesn't it?
According to men like Ed Ivern.
Well, a lot of people think the same way.
How about your husband?
Tom?
Tom doesn't know, Kitty.
No, he doesn't, does he?
Well, I guess it doesn't matter anyway, Tilda.
He can't amount to much.
What?
Who can't amount to much?
Tom.
I mean, if you don't trust him, have faith in him,
you can't be much good, can you?
Trust him?
I'd trust him with my life.
Would you?
Of course I would.
Then why haven't you told him the truth?
You're better off standing here in the hotel, Tilda.
Why do you go to the Long Brant and wait for Ed Ivers to come to town?
Now, don't worry.
There's never been a gunman yet who ain't been beat sooner or later.
Tom, Tom, can't we just go away right now, somewhere?
You know we can't.
Oh, here now.
Tom, I, I gotta tell you something.
Now, don't get all upset.
Everything's gonna be all right.
What Ed Ivers said is true.
What?
It's true.
I did work on the Memphis Queen.
Well, now, what are you saying?
You've gone crazy.
It's true, but it wasn't like you'd think.
Stop that now.
I'm not lying to you now.
I couldn't tell you before.
I tried.
You mean it, don't you?
Yes, I mean it.
Tom, Tom!
Hello. You're Tom Cook, aren't you?
How'd you know?
I guessed.
Who are you, anyway?
Kitty Russell. I own this place.
Oh. Oh, look, Miss Kitty, I can't talk to you now.
You must be awful good with a gun to face Ivers.
I'm waiting for him.
You've got a nice wife, Tom.
You've got it mixed up. I don't have a wife.
Oh? Well, you'd better brace yourself.
Ivers and his partner just came in.
Now, just get out of my way.
Yeah, good luck.
Get over to the bar, Gordon.
Yeah.
Well, boy, it's your move.
Go on, draw.
I... I got no reason.
What?
What you said about Tilda.
It's true, Ivers.
I found out you was right.
You found out just in time.
Now, it ain't that I'm afraid of you.
No. Of course not, boy. I never said you was.
Well, come on, let me buy you a drink.
No, thanks, son. I got one.
Barkeeper, you set out a bottle here.
Matter of fact, make it two.
Two bottles?
Yeah, we're having a drink, Gordon.
To Tom Cook.
Now, there's a real man. He can admit when he's wrong.
I mean, it ain't everybody can do that, is it?
Oh, he found out his wife come off a riverboat after all.
Did he hit you? That's right.
Here, boy, you just go ahead and have yourself a drink on that, Ivers.
No, thanks.
He ain't very friendly, is he?
Well, you can't blame him after finding out about his wife.
It must be quite a blow. Boy, y'all, y'all.
He's well out of it, you ask.
That's right.
Tell you, I know them women.
And they are plumb bad, all of them.
Now, you can't trust them riverboat cheats, Mary, or one.
No, no.
You sure found that out by now, ain't you, boy?
Ain't you, boy?
I've heard all I want to hear.
Boy, stop!
That did it, boy.
You forced me, Ivers.
Go ahead. Bring your gun up, boy. I'm waiting.
Drop it, Ivers.
Now, you're a cool one.
You shoot that boy again, I'll blow your head off with a shotgun.
I'll put a bullet in you before you can squeeze your trigger.
You wouldn't reach the door like me.
Who says I wouldn't?
I do.
Drop the gun, Ivers.
This ain't your fight, Marshal.
Drop it, I say.
All right.
All right, some of you men get Tom off the docks.
He drew on me first, Marshal.
Get out of here, Ivers, and take Barton with you.
I said he drew first, you hear?
Don't push your luck, Ivers.
You taking over for that boy?
I am.
Well, he sure ain't worth it.
Come on, Barton.
Are you all right, Kitty?
I'm okay.
Oh, man, I'm so scared.
Kitty, you did fine.
Hey, Sam, I think Miss Russell could use a drink.
Well, that does it, Tom.
You're going to be all right.
You haven't a thing to worry about.
Oh, yes, I have, Doc.
I'll be in the other room if you need anything.
Tilda?
Is it all right if I talk to him now, Doc?
Sure.
Thank you.
Tom?
I didn't know you were here.
I've been here the whole time.
Doc didn't want me to bother you at first.
Says I'm going to be all right.
Yes, I'm thankful for that.
Tom, I'm sorry.
Why didn't you tell me right from the beginning?
I was afraid you wouldn't understand.
I was afraid I might lose you.
I love you so much, Tom.
I didn't want anything to happen.
It wouldn't have made any difference
if I'd only known from the start.
But I wasn't sure.
I...I should have had enough faith to tell you.
I don't guess I gave you much of a chance, Tilda.
I guess maybe we was both wrong.
Tom.
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Gunsmoke.
Produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston
and adapted for radio by Frank Perris.
Featured in the cast were Vic Perrin, Gene Bates, John Danaer,
Lawrence Dobkin and Harry Bartel.
Harley Bear as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc,
and Georgia Ellis as Kiddin.
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week
when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.
.