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 gun smoke.
Gun smoke 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.
Oh, you call this keeping the peace?
Sitting around in the sun like a farmer on Sunday?
Hello, Doc.
Oh, I wish I was a US Marshal.
Get paid with your working art.
What's the matter, Doc?
Lose a couple of patients last night?
I am thinking of moving to San Francisco, Matt.
What for?
You got a monopoly here in Dodge.
San Francisco's full of doctors.
Yes, and they're probably all rich too.
No, no, I'm serious, Matt.
Forget it, Doc, you're some 20 years too late for the gold rush.
And anyway, we need you here.
Dodge can find another doctor.
I'm tired of working day and night and getting paid with promises.
You need some money?
I'll call a town meeting and shake it out of these people, Doc.
But if you try to go to San Francisco, I'll throw you in jail and you can practice from
there.
Oh, well good.
Then you'll have to feed me too.
Gladly, Doc, gladly.
If you can stand Chester's cooking.
Oh, I take it all back, Matt.
The last time I ate one of Chester's meals, I was groggy for three days.
Oh, Chester.
Hello, Doc.
Mr. Dillon.
Doc wants to know where you learned to cook, Chester.
Why, my Uncle Arthur taught me, Doc.
I batched with him for a time when I was a boy.
Poor old fella.
He died soon after that.
I bet he did.
That stage is kind of late today, ain't it?
Well, the way Hank's driving it, it shouldn't be.
I haven't got time to loaf around greeting stage coaches.
I'll see you men later.
I'll see you so long, Doc.
She's emotional now, that's Mr. Dillon.
Yeah, there's something wrong, Chester.
Wait there, Marshall.
I'll get right down.
We run into a fight, Marshall.
Anybody hurt Hank?
I killed a man.
I had a riding shotgun.
He fell off and I had to leave him there.
Well, I sent somebody out for him.
Where did it happen?
Right where the trail crosses the sidewalk.
There were three of them, Bandits, Marshall.
But by heaven, we put slugs into two of them.
You mean you killed two of them?
No, they rode off, but I could see two of them was all hunkered up over their saddles,
like they were hurting pretty bad.
Did you recognize any of them?
I'd hate to be wrong and get a man into trouble, Marshall, but I'd swear one of them was that
young Howard Brandt.
You know the fellow that moved out here with his wife a while back?
Yeah, I met him.
They got a place up near Turkey Creek, Mr. Dillon, but I ain't never seen it.
Now, let's ride up and see how they're making out, Chester.
All right, sir.
I'll go get our horses.
I met Howard Brandt when he first came out here, Mr. Dillon.
He sure didn't seem like no Bandit to me, you real, gentle, easy-going fellow.
Looks like a horse that won't buck when you first get on him, Chester.
He's waiting to come loose when you least expect it.
Yeah, sure.
Hey, there's Miss Brandt now.
She must have seen us coming.
Yeah.
All right, hold on.
Hello, Miss Brandt.
Howard ain't here.
It's important, ma'am.
We just wait on the porch here.
We won't bother you.
It's no use, Marshal.
Howard won't be back till tomorrow.
Look down there, Chester, on the steps.
Hey, that's blood, Mr. Dillon.
Miss Brandt.
It's chicken blood.
I just killed one.
I'm sorry, Miss Brandt, but I'm going to have to talk to Howard.
Is he bad hurt?
He's dying, Marshal.
Leave him alone.
You want to show me where he is?
Marshal, leave him die in peace.
She ain't got long.
You'll kill him asking him questions.
I don't figure he'll live through the night as it is.
Howard and his friends held up the stage, Miss Brandt, and they killed a man.
Wait, Marshal.
I'll tell you.
All right.
Jed Butler planned it all.
I never heard of no Jed Butler, Mr. Dillon.
Does this Butler live around here, Miss Brandt?
I knew him in Oklahoma territory, Marshal.
He and a man named Blake come by here one night a few weeks back.
They didn't come into the house, so I can't tell you what they looked like.
But they talked Howard into holding up the stage.
Is that it?
I didn't know nothing about it, Marshal, till today.
I was inside reading up the house, and I heard a shout.
Then I come out, and I found Howard laying in the dirt.
He just dumped him there and rode off.
You think they forced Howard to go along?
No.
He probably wanted to go.
He disappointed me, Marshal.
I thought Howard was an honest man.
Maybe it's as well he's dying.
I'm going into him now, Marshal.
You want me to send Doc out?
No.
It wouldn't do no good.
Well, if there's anything I can do for you, Miss Brandt, you let me know.
Thanks, Marshal.
But I reckon it's too late now.
There.
Chester, take this down to Mr. Hightower and have him print up some wanted notices from
him.
I guess that's about all I can do about Jed Butler and his friend right now.
Oh, somebody will spot him and come tell you sooner or later.
I hope so.
It's already been two days.
Matt, hello, Chester.
Hello, Miss Kitty.
What's the trouble, Kitty?
I just went up to Doc's office to get some stuff for my throat.
He isn't there.
Well, should he be?
Was he expecting you?
He wasn't there this morning either.
When did you see him last night?
I've come to think of it not since the day of the stageholder.
Why?
I was with him that night, Matt.
He came into the Texas trail real late.
We were sitting there talking and some kid brought him a message.
Doc didn't say it was from, but he left.
And as far as I can find out, nobody's seen him since.
By golly, Mr. Jones, she's right.
I ain't seen Doc neither.
That was two days ago, Matt.
Well, sometimes Doc's out on a call longer than that.
You're trying to fool yourself, Matt.
Yeah, yeah, I guess I am.
I heard about two of those bandits being shot.
Well, it sure couldn't have been Miss Brand who come for Doc.
No.
You mean one of those men was Howard Brand?
Well, they left him at his house.
I didn't see him, but I believe Miss Brand.
He probably died last night.
I feel sorry for her than him.
I guess I do too, Kitty.
But what about Doc, Matt?
What are you going to do?
Well, Kitty, if I knew where those men are, I'd have gone after them before now.
They're holding him.
They might even kill him.
Well, Kitty, I can't go out and ride around on a prairie hoping to bump into them somewhere.
If anything happens to Doc, I'll go after those men myself, Matt.
Well, maybe they'll just turn him loose when he's through doctoring the men.
I wish I could believe that.
Yeah.
Yeah, so do I.
We waited the rest of that day and through the night, but nothing happened.
The next morning, however, I was walking down to the office when I saw Miss Brand drive
by in a wagon.
I waved, but she went on past me without a sign.
And as she did, I noticed a figure lying in the back of the wagon wrapped in a blanket.
As I watched her drive down the street and on out of town, I realized she must be headed
for Booth Hill.
I got Chester and we followed her out to the burying ground.
Kid stopped and was taking a shovel out of the wagon when we walked up to her.
I don't need no help, Marshal.
The ground's hard, Miss Brand.
We'll get a hole for you.
Leave me be.
He's my man and I'll bury him myself, right where he deserves, among the rest of these
murderers and outlaws.
What are you looking at, Marshal?
Your face.
What happened to you?
Shows, does it?
Yeah.
Jed Butler did that, Marshal, he came by yesterday.
Knocked me around some.
He did?
What for?
Where is he?
I was gonna come tell you, once I got Howard buried.
Well, tell me now.
He's got Doc with him.
At least I think he has.
Doc was there all tied up, sitting on a horse.
He didn't say nothing.
Butler said he'd shoot him if he did.
Why'd he beat you?
What'd he want?
He wanted to know if you'd been around.
If we'd told you anything.
Howard was still alive, Marshal.
I don't know how he lived so long.
But he died after Butler got to shaking him and slapping him.
What did you tell him?
Nothing.
That's why he beat me.
Well, at least we know for sure he's got Doc with him, Mr. Dillon.
Yeah, but we're no closer to finding him.
You, sure, you won't let us help Barry Howard, ma'am.
I kind of wish you would now, Marshal.
I'm just about wore out.
Mr. Dillon, I just can't stand just waiting around doing nothing much longer.
Couldn't you organize a posse or something?
Butler'd get scared if he got wind of a posse, trust it.
You mean he'd shoot Doc and try to get away?
Yeah, he might.
It's a safer bet just to wait it out.
Well, Tobil, but come on in.
How are you, Tobil?
Tobil, always good, Chester.
Where you been the last month, anyway?
Out scalping white men?
Tobil no scalp white men long time.
Maybe too long.
For a tame Indian, you sure got a wild look in your eye.
What you doing here?
Tobil hunt antelope on prairie.
Way off, see, two white men, one right very funny.
Tobil go very close.
They no see, but Tobil see.
What did you see, Tobil?
White medicine man.
A Doc?
Eh, good man.
Take bullet out of Tobil long time ago.
No like him all tied in rope.
Come quick, tell Marshal.
Do you know where they are?
Can you track them?
White man easy to track, like buffalo herd.
Always big fool.
Where is this, Tobil?
Yesterday.
Long ride from here.
Alright, Chester, go get our horses and find a freshman for Tobil.
Maybe, maybe we won't be too late.
We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment.
The first, a man just out of prison emerges to freedom packed with panic.
Monday night on CBS radio, Suspense stars Bradwick Crawford in Parole to Panic, a spine
tingling production well calculated to keep you in suspense.
It's entirely possible under certain circumstances that prison might be preferable to freedom.
Here's Suspense Monday night on most of these stations and you'll agree fully with that
premise.
For the second act of gun smoke.
It was sixty miles to where Tobil had seen Doc and Jed Butler, but we rode hard and covered
it in a very few hours.
On our own, however, with Tobil tracking, we had to slow down.
It was growing dusk when the trail finally led to the edge of a small bluff and then
turned and dropped down around the side of it.
We dismounted and followed it the rest of the way on foot to where we could see a small
cabin hidden in a clump of box elder at the base of the cliff.
And there we waited for the dark.
When it came, we sneaked up to the cabin and stood close to the wall listening.
How is he now, Doc?
I told you before, Butler, the man's dying.
Listen, you, he's the only man I ever called friend.
He better not die.
I'm a doctor, Butler.
I'd do anything in my power to save a life, even that of a murderer.
You go on talking like that, I'll blow you open with this shotgun, Doc.
Shotgun, shotgun.
Why don't you carry a pistol?
Like ordinary men.
Or are you too much of a coward?
Doc, you're either a fool or you're a plum crazy.
Oh, why?
Because I'm not afraid to die?
Well, you're going to die just as soon as he does.
I ain't going to leave you around to spread no tales.
I'm going to kill you and get out of here.
But it won't be very long, Butler.
Blake will go almost any minute.
Maybe I ought to shoot you now.
Just leave him here.
Well, I thought you said that he was your friend.
He is.
But I'm getting a spooky feeling.
Chester, Tobil, let's get back.
I'm going to talk to you, Doc, and I won't wait.
I'm going to kill him, make him feel me.
You better bust in there for it too late.
No, no.
He killed Doc, sure we do that.
Yeah, Tobil's right, Chester.
But we got to do something.
Doc said himself that wounded man's going to die any minute.
Hell, I'm thinking, Chester.
If plenty of time could wait and shoot when come out in the morning.
Yeah, but we've got no time.
There might be a chink somewhere in that cabin that I could poke a gun through.
And say I'm very spooky now.
One little noise, shoot Doc fast.
Yeah, I know.
But I wouldn't dare take the chance.
Tobil know many tricks, all kind.
But here, nothing.
If Butler used a pistol, Doc might have a better chance with that cussing shotgun.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
What, Mr. Dillon?
That shotgun.
It's not a six shooter and it's not a repeating rifle.
What do you mean?
He can shoot it once and then he's got to reload.
Once is all it takes?
To kill one man it is, Chester.
What are you doing, Mr. Dillon?
Here, take my gun belt, Chester.
What?
Here, take it.
Yes, sir, but what for?
I'm going in there, unarmed.
What?
Now, when I get inside, you and Tobil sneak up close and you be ready to come through
that door when you hear a shotgun go off.
Mr. Dillon, you can't do that.
Yes, I can.
He'll kill you, sure.
Maybe, but if you two don't get in there fast, if he does, he'll club Doc to death.
But, Mr. Dillon...
All right, now quiet.
Who's that?
Get over by the door, Doc.
No, don't.
Don't open it yet.
Doc Adams is standing by that door.
I got a shotgun aimed at his back.
Now, who is it?
I'm unarmed.
Open the door.
I'll come in with my hands in front of me.
All right.
Open it, Doc.
Any tricks?
I'll shoot, Doc.
Go ahead, Doc.
Hello, Doc.
Matt?
He's unarmed, Butler.
What?
He's unarmed, Butler.
Then get in here and close that door.
Who are you?
Matt Dillon.
Dillon?
Marshal?
That's right.
You got some men outside, huh?
Well, I won't do no good, Marshal.
I'll shoot you before they can get anywhere near me.
I got two men out there, Butler.
And the second they hear a shot, they'll be in here.
That'll be too late, won't it, Marshal?
Well, it depends on how you look at it, Butler.
It won't be too late to take you.
That shotgun only shoots once.
Take me?
You'll be dead.
Yeah.
Matt, Matt, you shouldn't have done this.
Why not, Doc?
Well, it's bad enough.
Me getting killed.
I only kill one of his duck.
He shoots me, Tobiel and Chester will get him.
And if he shoots you, I'll kill him with my bare hands.
You got it all figured, ain't you, Marshal?
Yeah.
Well, I'd rather kill a U.S. Marshal than a doctor any day.
You know that?
Matt, Matt, he's right.
You should have stayed outside.
Stand there waiting for him to shoot you?
Now, I wouldn't like that much, Doc.
Well, maybe you'll shoot me anyway.
Maybe.
But at least there's some kind of a chance, no?
Shut up, minute you two.
Shut up.
I don't quite figure this.
No?
No.
You mean you come in here knowing I'll probably kill you rather than Doc?
Is that right?
Yes, Butler, that's right.
Yes, that's what he did.
Why?
Well, no reason, Butler.
No reason at all, except we're friends, I guess.
Just something like that.
What's being friends got to do with it?
You wouldn't understand, Butler.
You're no good filthy rotten scum.
He's willing to die for you, ain't he?
I never heard of nothing like that in him, Marshall, and everything, willing to die.
That's your friend, Butler.
I better take a look.
He's dead now.
Well, make up your mind, Butler.
I just don't understand a man like that.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
What's that?
You ain't saying that.
That come from something.
Scripture, huh?
Is that what it is?
Blake's the only friend I ever had.
Oh, a while ago you were willing to leave him here to die, alone.
You don't know anything about friendship, Butler.
No, I guess I don't.
Anyways, if I was in a spot like you, ain't nobody, nobody in the world would have walked
in here to do for me what the Marshall's willing to do for you.
And I feel sorry for you, Butler.
Real sorry.
If it'll still give you pleasure to shoot, go ahead.
No, I just get killed anyway.
All right, give me the gun, Butler.
Sure.
I never knowed people like you in the dock before, Marshall.
You sure you ain't crazy or something?
Maybe.
Maybe we are, little Butler.
Who knows?
Gunsmoke, under the direction of Norman MacDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S.
Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston, with music composed and conducted
by Rex Corey.
Featured in the cast were Joyce McCluskey, John Danaer, Frank Gerstel, and Ralph Moody.
Harley Bear as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty.
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.
Tomorrow afternoon, for its eleventh feature report to America, the CBS Radio Department
of Public Affairs tells the story of the wetbacks, the thousands of illegal immigrants who cross
our southern border through America's big back door to look for work and wages.
Here, wetbacks, Sunday afternoon on most of these same stations.
George Walsh speaking.
John Lund as yours truly, Johnny Dollar, brings you Colorful Mystery Tuesday nights on the
CBS Radio Network.