Gun Smoke. Brought to you by L&M. The modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting
flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip. Live modern. Smoke L&M.
In 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 Gun Smoke.
Gun Smoke, starring William Conrad. The transcribed 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.
What, Mr. Dillon? Are you eating already, Chester? No, sir. Oh, why not? Oh, I didn't
like to ask Alfred for no more credit. Oh, yeah, I heard that you were at Chuck Beeson's
Pharaoh table again last night. All right, read me a sermon. I deserve it. I guess an
empty belly will do you more good than a sermon. I tell you what, you can think about that
while I'm eating, huh? And that's where I'm heading right now. All right, sir. But I think
a sermon would do me good, too. You know, all about the evils, gambling. It kindly would
lift me up, Mr. Dillon. The best one I ever heard was back in Prairie Falls. Yeah, well,
that's very interesting. This here circuit writer was a real hell-fire and brimstone.
He'd come right into the gambling hall, he did, and stood up on the table. He liked to
got shot before he finished the first sentence. But he outshouted him and went right on. Took
up a collection afterwards, must have got forty, fifty dollars. But there was only one trouble.
Yeah, what was it, Chester? Well, nothing much really. Only the money was in chips.
See, he could cash them or play them. He played them. And he won. That kindly sorry to everybody
on the sermon. Yeah. Well, I'm going to go eat now, Chester. I'll be back in a...
I'll tell you the story. Hello. Are you the marshal here? Yeah, that's right. Do you want
to see me? If you're not too busy. No, no, come in. This is Chester Proudfoot. Hello.
How do you do? My name is Ascombe Marshal. Clint Ascombe. I'm a gambler. I kind of figured
that. But you're not from around here. I'd say maybe you work the Mississippi Riverboats.
That's pretty close. The Ohio. Well, you're a long way from water here. Thanks to the
Santa Fe Railroad. But that's only a temporary necessity. I have a matter to settle. Oh,
well, how can I help you? I'm looking for a man. I've traced him to this vicinity. Uh-huh.
You know his name? That's all I know. His name is Cass. Jamison Cass. Oh, Jim Cass.
I never figured him to get mixed up with gambling. You do know him, then? Yeah, I know him. Maybe
you can direct me to him, then. Well, he has a place out in the country. Those aren't very
explicit directions, Marshal. No, they're not. But they're all I'll get? Well, I'd like
to know what your business with him is. It's a personal matter. Well, sure, but what? You
told me what I wanted to know, Marshal. He's here. I'll find him without your help. Ask
him why do you want to kill Jim Cass? What makes you think I do? A man eaten up by hate
gets a look in his eyes. I've seen it too often. Now, why? I've got reason. That'd be a good
one. You say you've never even seen Jim Cass? No. Now, he's a peaceful little man. He doesn't
even wear a gun. And murder is illegal around here. I remember that. You better remember
something else, too. Jim Cass is a friend of mine. You go anywhere near him and it'll
be a pleasure to run you clear out of the country. It wouldn't do any good, Marshal.
I'll get him sooner or later. Good afternoon. Well, what in the world? He don't mean that.
I'm afraid he does, Jesse. But why? He ain't a nicer, harmless little fellow anywhere as
an old Jim Cass. Now, what do you suppose could bring a man to hate him so? I don't
know, but I better find out. Chester, you watch things here. I'm going to ride out to Jim's.
All right, sure. But ain't you going to eat? I can do that later. You keep an eye on Ascombe
and if he should head that way, you follow and warn me. All right, sure I will. Well,
Matt, how I just came down to eat with you. What's the matter? You going out? I'm just
riding out to Jim Cass's, Doc. You are? Now, that's a long, hot ride to make for nothing.
Now, what do you mean for nothing? You won't find anybody there. I saw Jim Cass over the
lawn branch now 15 minutes ago.
See yourself of old fashioned ideas. Free up, freshen up your taste. Today, all over
the country, more people are changing to L&M than to any other cigarette. And it's all
because only L&M gives you full, exciting flavor through the pure white miracle tip.
L&M draws easier, tastes richer, smokes cleaner. So free up, freshen up your taste. Live modern.
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Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern.
It's America's fastest growing cigarette.
Well, hello, Matt.
Hello, Kitty. Have you seen Jim? Hello. Marshall? Following me?
How about I might be? Ask him. Kitty, can I talk to you for a minute?
Sure, Matt.
Is Jim Cass still around, Kitty?
No.
You know where he went?
Home, I suppose. His wagon was hitched right outside. He got in, drove off about 10 minutes
ago.
All right, thanks.
What's the matter, Matt?
I just want to see him alive.
Alive? Jim Cass?
Kitty, do me a favor, will you? When I leave, you see that that Ohio River gambler's entertained
for a while, will you?
Sure, as long as he's got money.
Okay, thanks, Kitty.
Marshall, have a drink.
And no thanks, ask him.
Marshall, I've never had any trouble with the law. I don't want any now. This has got
nothing to do with you.
Deliberate killing is the business of the law anywhere, ask him.
He'll have his fair chance.
Sure, house odds, huh? I told you Jim Cass is not a fighting man.
So you'll do his fighting for him?
If I have to.
I'm sorry, Marshall.
Sure, but you won't stop it, will you?
No.
You must have a powerful hate.
I have.
I could lock you up, you know.
And postpone it for a few days, that's all. And as for running me out of town, I'm leaving
anyway to go out to Cass's. If you want to warn him, you'd better go now.
So you can follow me?
I can find him without your help.
Ask him, I'm going to warn you. You harmed Jim Cass and I'm going to jail you or kill
you.
Fair warning, Marshall. If you can do it.
I can do it.
Watch.
Hello, anybody home?
Hey Tom!
Hush up out there now, hush up!
Stop it!
Who is it?
It's me Jim, Matt Dillon.
Oh Matt, good to see you.
What brings you out here?
Uh, can I come in?
Sure.
I'll set the coffee to boil, won't take a minute.
Hey, comes carcery, ain't it?
Yeah, it sure is.
Yes sir, gonna be a late winter.
Must be something important to bring you way out here on a day like this.
It is Jim.
Something about me, Matt?
Yeah.
Well, say it.
You know a man named Ascombe, Clint Ascombe?
Ascombe?
No.
A gambler, slick, young, dark haired.
Oh no, not likely.
From Ohio, river boats?
No.
I was back east, Pennsylvania, a couple years ago, you remember that?
Yeah I remember.
I met some people, but I don't remember no gamblers, not no Ascombe.
Jim, is there any reason why a man you've never even seen before would want to kill you?
Kill me?
Yeah, that's right.
This, this fella, this Ascombe, he's here gunning for me?
He probably followed me out here.
Says he's got good reason.
It seemed to me like you ought to know about it if there was a reason like that.
I don't know of any man I ever met who wanted to kill me.
Okay, that's good enough for me, Jim.
What are you gonna do?
Wait for him to come, then take him.
Well, seems like I ought to help.
No, you just sit tight.
Well, at least I'd like to ask him why.
Is that gonna have to be him?
Yeah, maybe. I'll take a look.
No, it's Chester.
Hey Tom, shut up out there! Now stop it, Tom, Tom!
Oh, howdy Chester.
Hi there, Jim. Nice dog.
Say, Mr. Dillon?
Yeah, Chester.
Ask him to follow you out like you thought.
But as soon as he spotted the place he turned off, I come in to tell you like you said.
Yeah, now it's my mistake. Now we've lost him.
He's out there somewhere waiting for us to leave.
Well, what do we do?
Now Jim, maybe you better ride into town with us, huh?
And let a gunman scare me off my place.
Something no Kiowa or Kanatchi was ever able to do.
All right, Jim.
Come on, Chester, we'll head back to our town.
Yes, sir, but ain't we gonna...
And then circle and come back.
Well, he'll likely use that drawback with the barn.
That's the way the Kiowa come in.
All right, Jim, but you stay in the house.
Yeah, don't worry none about me.
I ain't got my old scatter gun.
Don't use it unless you have to, Jim.
Come on, Chester.
Free yourself of old-fashioned ideas.
Why don't you live modern?
Live modern.
Live, live, live modern.
Free up, freshen up your taste.
Smoke and L&M.
Only the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip
can bring all of L&M's full, exciting flavor through to you.
And that's the big reason why today
more people are changing to L&M
than to any other cigarette.
Remember, L&M draws easier, tastes richer, smokes cleaner.
So live modern.
Change to L&M.
Make today your big red letter day
and start to live the modern way.
Live, live, live modern.
Smoke and L&M.
It's America's fastest growing cigarette.
Have you seen anybody, Mr. Dillon?
No, not yet.
Now, wait a minute.
There he is.
Yeah.
All right, you stay here.
I'm going all up.
All right, Jim.
All right, hold it, Aspen. You're covered.
Don't make a move.
Where'd you come from?
I'll just take that gun.
Chester.
Yes, sir.
My mistake, Marshal.
I guess I underestimated you.
I guess you did, Aspen.
Just take out the horses and we'll get out of here.
Jim, I told you to stay in the house.
A man comes to kill me, I've got to ask him why.
Just hold to your pistol, man.
This scatter gun will keep him quiet.
Now, wait a minute, Chester.
I feel like I said that. You too, Chester.
Mr. Dillon.
Maybe I'd like to hear this, too.
I don't like the look in his face.
All right, now, mister.
My name is Jim Cass.
You tell me yours.
Ascom. Clint Ascom.
I'm supposed to know you?
No.
We ever met? No.
But you got the notion to kill me?
Then I'll do it.
Now, you're going to tell me why.
Talk, mister.
You killed my best friend.
Without reason or sense.
In cold blood.
Well, that's a lie.
I never killed no man.
Jameson Cass of Kansas territory.
On the night of June 12th, two years ago,
in a bar room on the Cincinnati waterfront.
You pleaded self-defense and they let you go.
Only it wasn't self-defense.
It's taken me two long years to track you down.
But that was an Indian.
That was a Delaware Indian.
He was my servant and he was my friend.
The best friend I ever had.
He was as good a man as you are.
Or any other white man.
Kansas is true.
Well, man, ain't nothing to kill an Indian.
You know that.
You had no reason.
Well, he, he josh-ed me, bother me.
Had no right being there at all with white men.
Oh, I'll kill you with my bare hands.
Stand back now.
Ascom.
You're still taking his part, Marshal.
You hate Indians too.
No, Ascom, I hate killing.
Of any kind.
But Indians don't count.
Is that it?
If it had been my friend, I'd probably feel like you do.
Eh? Not this murder.
Ascom, did you ever think maybe Jim's got a reason for the way he feels too?
A reason?
What reason?
Well, out here there are plenty who feel his way.
This situation's different. Indians aren't all like your Delaware.
You take a look up there behind the house.
That little grass plot with the flowers and the three headstones.
Those are Cass's reasons.
His wife and his two kids.
And Kyle has put them there.
I don't hold with what Cass did, but
what you're doing's no better.
I don't care what his reason is.
I come here to kill him.
I'm gonna do it.
Ascom.
All right, Mr. Indian lover, you will get your chance.
Give him back his gun.
Jim.
Stay out of it.
No, Chester.
Jim, can't you see that you're making...
I see he ain't gonna be satisfied short of blood.
Well, now I ain't either.
Now wait a minute, Jim.
I'd hate to have to blast you.
Use your head, Jim.
Man comes to kill me. It's him or me.
Mr. Dillon, that's a shotgun.
Stay back, I told you.
Put it down, Jim.
Mr. Dillon, look out!
Jim.
Matt, I...
I should have known you was faster than me.
I'm sorry, Jim.
No, you had to.
But I figured I had to too.
Chester, give me your kerchief.
Here, Marshal, take mine.
No.
Ascom.
Maybe I had this coming.
I never thought much about that Indian.
Maybe I should have.
You be quiet, Jim, and lie still.
Marshal, I...
Marshal, I'm sorry I caused this.
It's a little late to be sorry, isn't it, Ascom?
Now why don't you get out of here?
I'm sorry, Jim.
I'm sorry.
Now why don't you get out of here?
I've heard him going.
Matt.
Is he dead?
No, no, he just fainted.
Chester, ride into town and get Doc out here as fast as you can.
Will you let me get him, Marshal?
At least I can do.
All right, Ascom.
Go ahead, but hurry.
Mr. John,
you think he'll really bring Doc back?
Yeah, Chester, he'll bring him back.
My, you took a awful chance
with that cousin shotgun.
It was a gamble, Chester.
Yeah, but one you could have lost.
Maybe you better read me a sermon on the evils of gambling.
In a moment, our star,
William Conrad.
When your child raises his hand in the classroom,
does the teacher have time to answer his questions?
How many questions go unanswered in your schools
because teachers in crowded classrooms
just don't have the time to get around to each child?
This is only one of the serious situations
that's going to be faced again and again this year
in schools all over the nation.
Every child deserves the best possible educational facilities.
Though a good deal has been done since the postwar years,
increased enrollments for this term
threaten to wipe out all gains.
Our schools are packed by the largest enrollment in history.
There will be critical shortages in school rooms,
staff personnel, and transportation
unless you do something about it.
Join and work with your local civic group and school board now.
Through the PTA and other groups,
you can take action to improve the schools in your own community
and help find more qualified teachers
who are so desperately needed.
Don't waste time.
Your child's education is at stake.
Don't leave it up to the next fellow
because you're the person who can help improve our schools.
This has been a public service message by CBS Radio.
And now William Conrad.
You know the frontier saw its share of needless killings.
But next week, Dodge City watches the most useless of all.
Because of a bullet fired two months earlier,
three men die.
And that was the West.
Gunsmoke, produced and directed by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The script was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Dunkel,
with editorial supervision by John Meston.
The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey.
Sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James.
Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin and Ralph Moody.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc,
and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on Gunsmoke.
sailors