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 chancey job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
The lively crowd today agrees, those who think young stay Pepsi-pleased. They pick the right one, the modern, light one. Now it's Pepsi for those who think young.
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I wish every morning was as quiet as Sunday. Yeah, it's peaceful all right, Kitty, but I'm not sure I like it. Why? I'm used to Dodge teaming with ranchers, mule-skinners, or trail-herders. It isn't natural it's quiet.
Well, even Front Street needs a rest once in a while. Yeah, they get one every Sunday morning. No, here's Delmon's. Not a soul. No, Joe's probably out in the kitchen. He'll always sit here.
You'd think somebody else would be having breakfast besides us. There's a lot of hangovers being nursed this morning, Kitty. It's still early. Hey, Joe!
You think Chester and Doc will be back tomorrow? They should be. It's been almost a week. Why's it taking them so long?
Doc was going to stay three days to be sure his patient would be all right after the operation. That is further to Hay City in a buggy than it is in horseback.
Morning, Marshall. Good morning, Joe. What a beat. Had a big pot of coffee to begin with.
Well, I'm going to have a steak. You can put it on now if you would. You make that too, huh? Yes, sir.
I wonder what they're doing right now. What, Chester and Doc? Yeah.
Well, I don't think they left yesterday and spent the night on the prairie. They're probably breaking up camp and loading the buggy for the day's ride about now.
You can bet Doc is complaining about the coffee Chester made this morning.
Yeah. I just hope they remember to pick up enough food in Hay City to last them through the trip.
Hey, Doc. There's a water hole over there for them trees.
Well, they got me a full bag of water right here.
Oh my goodness. No wonder Mr. Dillon made me come along with you. You would never survive this trip alone. This water is for us, not the horses.
Now that beast of mine is too mean to deserve a drink.
Mean or not, you've got to have water, Doc. And mine too. Tied on back like this, he's been eating dust all morning. Now let's head for that water hole.
Oh, all right. You fussed with some old woman, Chester.
Yeah. Just one more day and we'll be back and die.
And don't think I ain't looking forward to it.
Doggone buggy keeps all full of them.
What was that?
A rifle shot, Doc. Somebody's out hunting that dog.
It was not a soul in sight.
Well, land-sake. You expect him to be out running around with a flag tied on to him.
Sounds like it came from those trees over there.
You're going to worry about every gunshot you hear. It's just some buffalo hunter.
This water hole sure ain't much.
So look, Chester, over there. Somebody's horse.
Well, I declare, I'd say it belonged to a woofer.
A what?
A woofer. He traps and poisons wolves.
Where is he?
Oh, forever more, Doc. I don't know.
By heaven. Come on, Chester.
Come on now, boy. Let's get out of here.
There's a man lying under that tree.
Where?
See, Chester, look down. Right over there. Come on.
Thank goodness, Doc. What happened to him?
He's been shot. You out here all wrong, pal?
No, I got partners, but they ain't here now.
What happened?
I dropped my rifle. It went off. It caught me.
Can you do anything for him, Doc?
I can try.
This is a terrible place to operate, but get a fire extinguisher. I'll get my bag out of the bag.
Okay.
And I'll get a blanket, too.
Chester?
What?
Come here.
Somebody's riding in.
He's a woofer, too.
Hello.
What's the matter with him?
He had an accident, he said.
I thought I heard he shot.
Are you his partner?
One of them.
Well, he's hurt bad. And I'm a doctor, and I'll do what I can for him.
I'm Jesse Turnbull. That there is Nate Gillett. I'm partners with him and his brother.
His brother? Where is he at?
I don't know. I'll tell you something, Doc. You better leave Nate alone.
What?
Leave him be, that's all.
Well, now look here.
He got himself into this. Just leave him be.
Well, boy, they're here. Where are you going, mister?
Ah, let him go, Jesse. He wouldn't be of any use anyway.
I sure would hate to have him for a partner.
You ought to be shocked.
Never mind him. We've got work to do.
What's he gonna do, Doc?
Get that bullet out. As soon as the water's hot, I'm gonna chest it, get back here, give me a hand.
Where is he at?
He took the horses over to the other side of the water hole.
Who could that be?
Them's my partners.
You that doctor fella?
That's him, Pip.
Any objections?
Well, Nate, I suppose you told him all about me.
I ain't told him nothing.
Nate, here's my brother, Doc. I'm Pitt Gillett.
Well, that's fine. Now, if you'd just let me get to work, maybe I can save his life.
You don't need no help.
This man's dying.
He's my brother, ain't he? He's fool enough to get himself into this. I say let him get himself out.
Are you gonna listen to me?
I told you, you'd have to kill him, Pip.
I guess you're right, Pip.
Those Gilletts take care of ourselves, Doc.
Put that knife down.
Hold it right there, Mr. Pitt.
Oh, I plumb forgot about him, Pip.
Drop that knife before I put a bullet in your belly.
Drop it!
You always was the biggest fool I ever seen, Jesse.
Go on, get on your horses and ride out of here, both of you.
Go on, get it!
And don't you come back here, neither.
That's good work, Chester.
Thanks for honoring two animals I've ever saw.
That is strange, all right.
Come on, Chester. I'm gonna need your help.
All right, Doc.
Don't you get down, Doc!
Don't you get down, Doc!
I might have known they'd try something like that.
Well, looks like they're gone for now.
Doc, what do you want?
Doc?
He hit you.
Yeah.
Is it bad?
It's bad enough.
That bullet's pressing in there.
How'd it hit you up the buggy?
No, no, Chester.
I couldn't sit in that buggy an hour.
Much less all the way to Dodge.
It killed me, Sherp.
But you go and bring back a wagon.
No, I can't leave you here.
Doc, that pit guillotine ain't true.
He'll be back here for sure.
Yeah, then he'll kill you.
Maybe, but I ain't leaving you.
You just tell me what to do and I'll do it.
Doc, Doc, help me.
Doc can't help you and nobody else right now.
That fool brother of yours, he never seen to that.
I can't last forever this way.
Neither can Doc.
Now you just lay back.
I'll take care of you in time.
Doc, Doc, I gotta...
Uh...
See to him, Chester.
He's dead.
Guess we can't do nothing for him now.
Poor fella.
Well, Doc, tell me what I'm supposed to do to get that bullet out of you.
First thing, Chester, you better get some whiskey out of the buggy.
You better have some too.
I think you're gonna need it before you're through.
No, I ain't. I'll make out.
Chester, I don't want to thank you for what you're gonna have to do.
Now, Doc, you're gonna be all right.
You're gonna be all right.
You're gonna be all right.
You're gonna be all right.
...
Here you go, Doc.
All right.
Thank you, Chester. I... I needed that.
I dug me a hole with that cussed mud puddle out there.
Water come up clear and fine.
How you feeling, Doc?
This fever is pretty high.
You was kindly restless last night.
I don't remember too much about that.
It's...
It feels like you dug that bullet out with a shovel, Chester.
I'm sorry, but I... I've done just like you said.
I know it must have hurt you something awful you passed clean out.
But you'll get your strength back now.
I'll see you get back to Dodge.
I can't get my strength back without some food.
Well, I can go hunting for no meat.
Ain't no telling when that Dick Gillett's gonna try something, him and his fat partner.
But at least he can't see majors dead.
Not from a distance, anyway.
I dug him off into the brush and covered him up with rocks.
Chester...
What?
I want you to get out of here.
I may not live anyway, but...
No use you sitting around waiting to get shot by those two.
Understand?
I understand, but you're wasting your breath.
I was afraid so.
Doc, I think I've seen the animal beyond them trees.
I'm going over there now. I may fire a shot or two, but don't you fret.
I'll be back directly.
Got some good soup here for you, Doc.
Soup?
Best you ever ate.
Well, how'd you ever make soup?
Well, I started out with a hunk of that old renegade steer I seen in them trees out there.
I got some more of them roasting on fire, too.
I just chunked a piece in this pot, boiled it up good.
Then I put in some sheep's sorrel and wild onions to kindly flavor it a little.
Ah, big guy.
Here, can I use this? Let me help you.
That's okay.
There we are.
Now, that ain't so bad, is it?
That's what you've been eating. It'll give you strength.
That sure is strong taste, isn't it?
Wait a minute.
What's the matter?
Well, I just want to keep a good lookout, Doc.
You're still worried about Pip Gillett, aren't you?
Oh, no, no, not really. I ain't. I'm just being careful.
Well, do you know that he'll be back as well as I do?
Well, don't you fret about it, Doc.
He does come back, you're right snug in here with this barricade that got built up by you.
Yes, I know. What about you?
Well, I'll hide in the grass out there. He won't never see me.
Till he starts shooting you, won't he?
Yeah, but then I'll have the drop on him.
There's two of them just...
Well, I got more than one bullet.
Well, you could ride for help. I'll be all right here.
You'd kill me, sure, and I ain't leaving you, Doc.
Even though it may cost you your life.
Doc, my life wouldn't be worth much to me if I was to leave.
Shh.
Listen, somebody's coming out to lay low, Doc.
It's that Jesse Turnbull, Doc.
He's riding in with a white flag in his hand.
Now, you just keep still. I'll take care of him.
You knock it down?
What are you doing here?
This Gillett sent me.
Where is he?
Back there in camp.
All right, get down.
Where's Doc?
What did Gillett send you for?
I see you got him over there behind them rocks.
It keeps the rules off him, and the Rulphers, too.
Where's Nage?
It wants to know how he is. I don't even see him.
He's all right. I put him out there on the brush, where he can sleep good.
But I don't think that's why you're here.
Of course it is. What else should I be doing?
Take that knife out of your belt and drop it on the ground. Now!
I come here in peace, didn't I?
Don't mind that. Over there, start walking.
And shut up if you don't want a bullet in you.
All right, that's far enough.
Now lay down. On your back.
But look, do it!
Just do it!
God, Jesse, you was lying.
That was Pitt out there. I wouldn't mind to kill you right here.
No, he made me do it, honest. I didn't want to.
You was just a decoy, huh?
So he could sneak in and shoot me in the back?
I wouldn't have let him. I'd have hollered or something.
Sure you would.
If it wasn't for Doc warning me, we'd both be dead.
You're a mighty fat piece of bait, Jesse, but you smell rotten.
I'm going to tie you up so you won't never get loose.
You can't take it out on me what Pitt Gillett might do.
If he comes sneaking in here tonight, I'll blow his head off.
And if you don't quit whining, I'll club yours off.
That's enough. Thank you, Jeff.
There's a lot more, Doc.
Oh, I'll have some later.
You sure that isn't bare meat that you put in that soup?
Ain't no bears around here, Doc.
I'm not a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
I'm a bear.
There's a lot more bears around here, Doc.
Your fever's down some, ain't it?
Yeah, this broke last night.
Chester, you haven't had a wink of sleep for two days.
It keeps me from getting fat, Doc.
Yeah, and it keeps me from getting killed.
But this can't go on.
What's the matter?
Well, I don't like sitting here just waiting for that Pitt Gillett to come busting out of the brush.
It's a poor way to guard this camp.
Well, how else can you do it?
Well, I got a circle of grove every so often, Doc.
There, where I can see.
I'll be back shortly.
Well, Jesse, you ain't singing very loud this morning.
I'm hungry.
I gave you a piece of meat. That was more than you deserved.
That was terrible meat.
Where'd you get it anyway?
I wouldn't complain if I had you.
It might just be the last meal you ever eat.
You're gonna keep me tied up like this forever?
I can make you good and comfortable, Jesse.
Permanent.
All right.
Uh-oh.
What is it? Shut up.
Have you seen your partner Bobby's head up over that Noah Yonder?
Bit? Yeah.
I'm gonna call over there, Jesse.
And if you make one sound, I'll turn around and blow you in two.
I won't do it. Just remember what I said.
You're covered, Gillett.
Your life will drop in now.
You got me.
You got me good.
It's your own fault.
My brother, Nate.
You like this, huh?
Nate.
Nate's dead, Gillett.
What's he doing after you shot Doc?
Dead.
Huh-huh.
Yeah.
You kill him, you kill Pip.
Here, he's dead.
What you gonna do to me now?
I'm gonna cut you loose.
Bet you move around a little.
Yeah.
Say, Chester, that'll be fine.
But first you're gonna do some talking.
I don't understand.
Well, take your time, Jesse.
Was it something about Nate and Pip you wanna know?
Only when you're ready to tell me, Jesse.
I guess it don't matter now.
Nate didn't shoot himself by accident.
I know that when I first rode in here.
Pip shot him.
So that's it.
He had an argument.
Pip told me about it later.
He shot him, and then he seen you all coming, he left.
He thought Nate was dead.
So you ran and told him he wasn't?
Yeah.
Then he was afraid Nate you'd talk.
What about you, Jesse?
Pip wanted me and Doc dead, too,
and you was doing your best to help him.
Now why?
I don't know.
He was partners.
Even when it come to murdering people?
They was my partners, Chester.
I don't know nobody else out here.
That ain't the darnest fool excuse I ever heard in my whole life.
I told you everything.
You promised to cut me loose.
All right.
I bet just long enough for you to stretch your legs, and then I'm...
Well, I declare, I...
Why, that wasn't matter.
Mr. Dillon!
Mr. Dillon over here!
Mr. Dillon!
Chester!
I sure am glad to see you.
Been looking for you for two days.
What happened?
Well, we run into some armory woofers,
and Doc got shot.
What?
Chester, but he's doing just fine now.
He's right over yonder.
Who's that you got tied up?
He's one of the woofers.
There was two more, but they're dead now.
It's a long story.
I'll tell you all about it later.
Doc's right over there behind that barricade.
Don't be dark.
Doc?
Hey, Doc, I got a surprise for you.
Look who's here.
Look, Doc, he got worried.
He's come looking for us.
How about Doc?
Well, Matt, I'm sure glad to see you.
I hear you ran into a little trouble.
I guess you'd call it that.
You look mighty comfortable to me.
Just to have been feeding you good.
Yeah, food...
That's been the worst part of it, Matt.
Just waiting to taste the meat he's been using.
Uh-huh.
Where'd you find any meat around here, Chester?
Oh, it was easy.
But don't worry about that woofer.
You think it's worth the trouble of jail and him?
He's your prisoner, Chester.
I'll leave that to you.
Well, now there's two of us here.
I think I'll just run him on.
Good idea.
Doc, how long is it gonna be before we can get you into Dodge and that buggy?
Oh, dear, there's so many of them out here.
If you drive real slow...
We'll just camp here for a while.
Uh, Mr. Dunham?
What?
Well, uh, when the time comes, I'll drive the buggy.
Okay. Why not?
Well, because you see, it'll be my horse who'll have hitch to it.
Oh, yeah?
What's the matter with my horse?
Mean as that beast is.
Uh, I'll tell you about your horse.
Do we add him?
Add him?
Add him.
Oh, of course.
So that's what...
Chester, I'll never trust you.
And so help me not as long as I...
As long as you what, Doc?
As long as I live, Matt.
Thanks to Chester.
The result is tragic.
Almost 85% of all traffic accidents are caused by careless, childish driving.
Our traffic laws and the people who enforce them are there to help save your life.
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 Maston and adapted for radio by Frank Parris.
Featured in the cast were Vic Perrin, Harry Bartel, and John Danaer.
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 Gunsmoke.
The laughs are on Arthur Godfrey every weekday on the CBS Radio Network.