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 U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke, starring William Conrad.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America.
The story of a man who moved with it.
Matt Dillon, United States Marshal.
There.
Reports finished, Mr. Dillon.
Good.
You better go on home now, Chester.
It's getting late.
Yes, sir.
Oh, what about these new Dodgers?
I'll just leave them there.
I'll look them over.
What's the matter, Mr. Dillon?
They got company at the back door.
All right, come in.
Let's sit.
Get your paws off of me.
What?
A girl.
Sure I'm a girl.
What do you think I am?
Put that long rifle away and I'll tell you.
Where'd you get that thing, anyway?
Pappy brought it with him from Kentucky, if it's any of your business, which it ain't by
Durnside.
Uh-huh.
What you doing hanging around in the alley?
Get rid of him there and we'll jaw about it.
Huh?
I see.
Chester?
Good night.
Well, but I'm not going to...
Yes, sir.
Good night, Mr. Dillon.
My gracious.
You and Marshall here?
That's right, Miss.
My name's Hannah.
Hannah Tolman.
You arrest folks, don't you?
Well, if they've committed a crime, yeah.
Uh-huh.
Well, then I got somebody for you to arrest.
Uh-huh.
Who?
Pappy.
Why?
Because I said to, that's why.
Somebody's been trying to kill him.
I figure about the safest place for him is in jail.
Wait a minute, slow down.
Let's start at the beginning, huh?
A few days ago, Pappy was bushwhacked up in the hills near our place.
Oh?
Does he hurt?
No.
Slug just bounced off in his head a little.
Yesterday the bushwhacker tried again.
He missed.
Sounds like a bad shot.
Sure.
But if he keeps trying, he may get lucky.
So you put Pappy in jail until I can run down this ambushing gent, okay?
You planned to cross guns with him yourself?
I may be a girl, but I was barking squirrels while you were still trying to dent a tin
can.
Well, you better let me take care of it, Miss.
And as for your father, I can't jail him without a charge.
Sure, I know that.
What kind of a charge do you want?
Well, what kind do you have?
Oh, most any, I reckon.
Ain't it enough that he's drunk all the time?
Well, I can hold him overnight on that.
What if he shoots up the town?
That's five days for disturbing the peace.
That'll do.
Well, where did he do this shooting?
We ain't yet.
He's down at the alfaganser slopping up booze at that other old buzzard jingle bob.
Oh, the Swampert?
Yeah, that's the one.
You'd best be somewhere as around the saloon in a few minutes.
I got a feeling Pappy's about due to bust the law again.
Her story didn't make much sense, but there was something about the mountain girls gleaming
black eyes and the set of her pretty but stubborn face that made me go to the alfaganser.
At the bar, I ordered a glass of rye and watched two bewiskered old timers trying to outlie
each other over a rapidly emptying bottle.
Yes, sir, jingle bob.
You just wait and see.
Ted Tolman's gonna have the biggest deer and horse ranch in Kansas come spring.
Why, sure, yeah, absolutely.
And me?
Why, I reckon I'll just buy up this year's saloon.
Oh, you're lying.
Well, sure I am.
Ain't you?
Well, it's my money we're spending, ain't it?
How many times I gotta tell you, I'm getting rich.
Pappy, are you drunk?
If I ain't, I've been wasting a side of time.
Now leave me alone, daughter.
Go home where you belong.
I'm going.
I only come over to tell you, man, bet me $10 you couldn't shoot out that lamp on the
first shot.
What's that?
Oh, give me that rifle.
All right, hold on, that's enough of that.
Stay back, son.
What?
What's going on?
Now, go collect your $10, daughter.
Yeah, Pappy, but I think the marshal, he's affixing to arrest you.
Ain't you, Marshal?
Yeah, I guess I am.
All right, come along, Jack.
Come on.
Get your hands off me.
You jailing a man for having a little fun.
Why, you didn't tell me.
I'm not a jailer.
I'm a jailer.
Why, you never get away with this back in Kentucky.
Jed, you're in trouble, aren't you?
Who's trying to kill you?
Yeah, I reckon that's my business.
Now, that's the law's business.
I'll take care of myself, Marshal.
Back in the saloon there, you mentioned having money and getting more.
So?
And what I've heard, you and your daughter run a two-bed horse ranch up in the hills.
That hardly figures to make you rich.
So?
Ah, you thick-headed old...
Look, all I'm doing is trying to save your skin if it's in danger.
Now, why don't you help me instead of being...
Reckon I don't wanna.
Well, that's plain enough.
Morning, Chester.
Morning, Mr. Dillon.
You'd better take a look at this new Dodger.
Huh?
Wanted for robbery and murder?
Vic Tolman.
So that murderous gun hawk is loose again, huh?
Broke out of prison last week.
Yeah.
If he's kin to Jed Tolman, he'll likely be heading this way.
Yeah, likely.
I'll give you a hunch, Chester.
I think he's here already.
You do?
You know where he is?
Not exactly, but I expect Hannah Tolman may have an idea.
That's where I'm heading.
Now, that's what I like to see.
A man-sized appetite.
This wonderful corn pone.
I'm a good cook.
I've been cooking for Pappy ever since Ma died ten years ago.
Huh?
You take pretty good care of him.
Somebody has to.
Pappy's kind of shiftless.
Reckon he'd starve if I didn't feed him.
Only things he cares about are wild horses and boos.
In a pinch, he'd give up horses.
You know, you're quite a woman, Hannah.
You're pretty, brave, and...
You've got more courage than most men I know.
Too quick, Marshal.
What?
You're sweetening me up for some reason.
Not that I mind, you understand.
I'm partial to a strapping fella like you, and Pappy's always after me to get hitched
up.
It ain't fitting for me to be twenty-two without a man.
You're still young.
I'm not the mountain folk.
I'm an old maid.
And I'm agreeable for some sweet talk.
Only I don't trust yours.
What are you after, Marshal?
All right, Hannah.
I only want the truth.
About what?
Where's your father getting this money he's spending?
I wish I knew.
Who shot at him?
I don't know, but I'm aiming to find out.
Where's Vic?
Where's he hiding, Hannah?
Who?
Vic Tolman, your brother.
Or maybe he's your cousin.
Brother.
Where?
I don't know.
Hannah, be sensible.
Vic's a murderer.
Vic's my kin.
We Tolmans don't turn on each other.
If you shelter him, you're guilty of-
Marshal, I reckon you just wore out your welcome.
The prisoner will stand up and face me.
Jed Tolman, you've been found guilty of disturbing the peace.
Price of this court is five days in jail or $100.
A hundred?
Well, Judge, ain't that a much steep just for-
A hundred dollars or five days.
I ain't got that much on me, but I can get it if you let me go for-
Just a minute.
Order in the court.
Now, what's the meaning of this interruption?
I want to pay this man's fine, Your Honor.
That's your privilege, sir.
A hundred dollars.
Pay the clerk.
Yes, sir.
Dick Curry.
Somebody's been turning over rocks.
Well, I don't know him to show a friend.
Looks like I ain't going with you, Marshal.
Yeah, it looks like.
But in your boots, I wouldn't be happy.
Curry's one of the worst killers yet unhung.
Oh, man.
Is that a way to talk about me?
I'm clear with the law.
Come on, Mr. Toman.
Go ahead, Jed, and say hello to Vic for me.
Vic?
No.
Mr. Curry, is that true?
What's the difference who put up the hundred?
Come on.
No.
No, not if it's Vic.
No, you can't make me.
I said come on.
Marshal, don't let him take me.
Now shut up and come on before I-
Curry.
Hmm?
Stay out of this, Marshal.
I don't think so.
Your pay is fine.
You didn't buy him.
He's going with me, Matt.
Don't try to stop me.
I can't imagine anything that'll give me more pleasure.
You don't like living, do you?
Very much.
Now just any time you feel like it.
No.
Not here, Matt.
I'll pick my spot.
Yeah.
I'll try not to turn my back on any dark alleys.
Do that.
And, Tom, I'll be seeing you again.
We'll return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment, but first, strength against
aggression calls for guns, tanks, planes, and explosives in tremendous quantity.
It calls for other things, too.
Moral strength, based on equality of opportunity for all, and economic strength, which today
can be based only on continued high output of civilian goods.
America must produce, as she never has before, war material, civilian goods, and democracy.
Security and all-out effort in all three directions will give us security against aggression.
Now the second act of gun smoke.
Some starting, Marshal?
Why don't we play while we wait?
No thanks, Tinkle Bob.
You needn't wait with us.
Well, Jed's my friend, Mr. Doug.
Sure.
Maybe I can't help him, none, but at least I can share whatever the trouble is.
Understand?
Mm-hmm.
Now, Jed here is a lying old ring-tailed drunk, but me, well, when a man is down to scrubbing
saloon floors just to get the liquor that'll keep his nerves from shaking apart, he's grateful
for any friendship that's offered.
Don't move.
I'm going to go get him.
You recognize me, Mark?
Yeah, Vic Tolman.
There are Dodgers out on you.
You're cool, and Dillon, too bad we're on opposite sides of the plan.
Yeah, it's too bad.
Real pity.
You know, I'm going to enjoy this job.
What job?
Don't you know?
Vic's taking his paw away from you.
But you won't mind.
He'll be dead.
Curry, you stay here and take care of these two.
Jed and I will go on ahead.
Oh, son, son, I don't want to go nowhere.
Now, Paul, don't rile me.
You're going with me.
None of you are going anyplace, Vic.
Check.
What?
Reach high, both of you, and let go of that hardware.
Now, you better do as he says, because Chester's a little nervous with that shop done.
There's mine.
Looks like the odds are with you, so...
You might as well get rid of that spare in your boot, Vic, before you run into any temptations.
You got sharp eyes, Marshal.
Law gets a lot of backing up tonight.
Your mistake, Vic.
Sometimes people just don't give Chester enough credit.
Ah, child time.
Hmm.
Beef steak, fried potatoes, stewed corn.
Marshal, I must say, you run a nice jail, don't you, Curry?
Don't mind Curry.
He was a little depressed about last night.
You still run a nice jail.
Something on your mind, Marshal?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, a couple of things.
Such as?
Oh, such as your father's spending money he hasn't earned, claiming to know where he can
get more.
Mm-hmm.
Paul, you're a terrible liar.
Such as him getting shot at twice and refusing to talk about it or help me investigate.
Paul's a little bashful, too.
Yeah.
Such as his being afraid of you.
Mm, I guess Paul's getting old, little dottery.
Yeah.
And then, of course, there's you.
Well, now you're on my favorite subject.
Go on.
Well, you're a killer and a thief, but you're cool and smart, smart enough to educate yourself.
I had lots of time to read in the pen, lots of time.
You're gonna have more, but not much more, because you're gonna hang for those guards
that you killed.
Maybe.
Curry ain't you gonna eat that?
Mm-hmm.
Now, go on about being smart.
You're smart enough to know the most dangerous place for you to go after you escaped was
here.
Well, it looks like I ain't as smart as you think.
It depends on what reason you had for risking coming here.
Boy, that sure is good coffee.
First jail I was ever in where the coffee was fit to drink.
Oh, thank you.
Okay, Marshal, just what was my reason?
The reason was money.
Money?
Cash.
It's the only thing that'll give you a chance to get out of the country.
You're in for robbery as well as murder.
How much of the loot was recovered?
You know how it is, Marshal.
Easy come, easy go.
I spent it as fast, well, nearly as fast as I got it.
So nothing was recovered, huh?
No, it was all gone.
It was all hidden, you mean?
Hidden until Jed found it.
Paul?
Sure.
That's his source of money.
It's also why he was afraid to go with you.
Like I said, too bad we're on opposite sides.
You got brains and you use them.
You want to fill in the details for me?
I'll tell you this.
You're right about my cash and money.
I'd had it and be on my way to Mexico by now if Paul hadn't switched hiding places on me.
You know, it hurts, Paul's turning against me.
Yeah, yeah.
The Tolemans always stick together, except when money's involved.
How about you, Marshal?
Money by you?
The sky's the limit.
I'm sorry.
Well, I figured not.
Well, been a nice chap.
Want to take this treat?
Sorry, give me a high-hat.
All right, back up, Curry.
That's it.
And tell Vic when he wakes up to take it easy.
He won't live to be hung.
Hey, Jingle Bob.
Hey.
You seen Jed?
Sorry, Marshal.
I don't know where Jed is.
Been looking for him myself.
Golly, I'm cold.
He must have left town last night.
Yeah.
Ain't you cold?
I got an old jacket you can have.
I'd rather have a shot.
Better steal two shots.
You got the jumps?
Always got them, except when for booze.
Funny, you won't believe it, but there was a time when I couldn't stand the taste of
hard liquor.
Made me sick.
No, can't live without it.
Yes, you can.
Maybe.
Let's say I don't want to.
Let's say that...
Here.
Go buy yourself a drink.
Hey, that's enough for a whole bottle.
We're changing.
See you later, Marshal.
Supper time, Chester.
Chester.
Chester, you all right?
The prisoners?
Gone.
Hannah Tolman slipped them a gun, and they made me open up the cell, and Vic slugged
me.
Well, I know where they'll go.
Please, Mr. Dillon, take me along.
It was my fault they escaped.
All right, Chester.
Ask Doc to put a quick patch on that head, and we'll go after them together.
Starting to get dark.
Yeah.
Why'd we leave the road back there?
I wanted to reach that rise, Chester.
But we circled around to come up the backside.
Does that have something to do with you bringing binoculars?
Yeah, it does.
Vic Tolman will know.
He'll be followed.
I want to see what kind of a surprise he has for us.
All right, pull up.
You wait here.
See anything?
No.
Not yet.
Now, wait.
I knew now.
Yeah, it's Curry, all right.
He's holed up in some brush just beyond the turn in the road down there.
Well, what do we do, Mr. Dillon?
Take the horses and circle back the way we came.
Start up the road, but don't make the turn.
I understand.
Now, be sure.
As long as you don't make the turn, you'll be safe.
But I do want you to make some noise.
Noise?
Yeah, I want you to sing, whistles, roll rocks, anything.
Just so long as it holds Curry's attention.
It was slow work crawling down through the brush, but finally I was only 10 feet behind
Curry's position.
The gunman was holding a rifle trained on the turn.
And out of sight coming up the road, I could hear Chester.
And he wasn't good, but he was loud.
I was singing and singing.
I'm going around that turn, blast ya.
All right, don't turn around, Curry.
You may have a point, but I like Chester, bad singing and all.
Now, lay the rifle aside and unbuckle your gun belt.
Now, careful.
Sure, sure.
Only don't shoot.
Okay.
Chester.
Chester!
It didn't mean no harm.
I was only going to scare him.
Yeah.
Now, where's Vic?
At the tome in the house, waiting for Jed to show up.
All right, put your hands behind your back.
I'm going to tie you up and leave you here.
What?
Leave me here?
Yeah, we'll pick you up on the way back to town.
It was dark when Chester and I were moving through the trees up to the tome and shack.
There was a light in the front.
And through a window we could see the figure of Hannah Toemann moving around.
Just a girl.
Yeah, Vic's there.
He'd just stand out of sight so Jed won't be scared off.
She's coming out, heading this way.
There must be a well out here.
She's carrying a bucket behind that tree quick.
I'll take this one.
What do you think you're doing?
All right, now quiet down.
We're not going to hurt you.
Stop fighting.
Chester, grab her legs quick.
I was saving these handcuffs for Vic, but I guess they'll do for you.
There.
Now, do you promise to be quiet or do we gag you?
All right, have it your way.
Chester, give me your bandana.
Yes, sir.
Here.
There, that should do it.
All right, stay with her, Chester.
I'm going for Vic.
I was halfway to the shack when inside Vic Toemann became suspicious.
Suddenly the lights went up and the door opened and the shadowy figure slipped out to stand,
listening.
Hannah?
Hannah, answer me.
Drop him, Vic.
Who is it?
Who is that?
I can't see.
Matt Dillon.
Throw down those guns.
You're under arrest.
Not this time.
Vic.
You were right, Marshal.
I ain't going to live to...
Mr. Dillon, over here.
What is it, Chester?
Who's that, Jed?
Yes, sir.
I caught him sneaking towards the house.
He was carrying this bag.
Here, let me see.
That's the money.
I was taking it to Vic.
Is he...
Yeah.
You're too late, Jed.
Oh, no.
I ought to give him his money if only he hadn't taken them shots at me.
He didn't.
Until he found out where the money was hidden, he was the last person in the world to want
you dead.
But I don't understand.
He must have...
No.
Only the person who knew where you had the money would have shot at you.
Nobody knew that.
How could they?
Who could...
You talk a lot when you get drunk, Jed.
You only get drunk with one person.
Huh?
You mean... you mean Jingle Bob?
Yeah.
I remember.
I was bragging.
Told him all about finding it and switching hiding places.
Boy, that low-down snake.
And him pretending to be my friend.
Come on, Jed.
I'll help you bury Vic.
Then we'll get back to Dodge.
We told him we sure have had a bad week.
Gunsmoke Under the Direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
That story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Herb Purdom with music composed and conducted
by Rex Corey.
Featured in tonight's cast were Virginia Gregg, Joseph Kearns, and Junius Matthews with Harry
Bartell, Lou Krugman, and Peter Leeds.
Parley Bear is Chester.
Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, fights to bring law and order out
of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke.
Remember, America must produce as she never has before.
She must produce war materials, civilian goods, and above all, democracy.
Only an all-out effort in all three directions will give us security against aggression.
George Waltz speaking.
And remember, Gang Busters goes into action Saturday nights on the CBS Radio Network.