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.
Music
Are they just about ready, Mr. Dillon? Yeah. Just look at their, just look at all them torches and lights stretching down the plaza. This is just about the biggest wagon train I ever seen lead on.
Music
Well, it just kind of makes me want to go to California, too, Mr. Dillon. Well, then why don't you? Well, no, I never really thought about it.
And why are you saying you'd like to go? Well, why, it's all the excitement, I guess.
The excitement will die down when the sun hits tomorrow. Well, it's all this that makes me want to go and all that that makes me say, California, yahoo! Oh, Jessica, stop that. What's the matter with you? You have to do that right in my ear.
I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing there. No, that didn't see me. Hello, Matt. Oh, what's the matter with you? You wish you were going along? No. Why not? A lot of good-looking women in that train.
Now you got a point there, Doc. Yeah, Mr. Dillon, I'm going to ride out and follow along with them, you mind? All right, Justin. I'll see you later, Doc. Yes, I'll see you later. Oh, listen, Dan. Come on, Matt, I'll buy you a drink.
You're pretty flush now that your folks told you to cut out of that wagon train, aren't you, Doc? Not hardly. You can't get blood out of a turnip. You sure did try, though, didn't you? Oh, nonsense. That crowd's been here three, four weeks now, freeloading on Dodge. And you know it.
They came clear from Ohio, Doc. I know that. Well, they got a freshen up their supplies somewhere, don't they? Oh, is that what they call it? You got a real burn, haven't you? Well, no wonder. I'm tired. I'm tired, man. I'm tired of all this heat, this dust, these nights that are hotter than days. Crying babies I've never seen before and I'll never see again.
I'm glad that mob's gone, Matt. I'm darn glad.
Who broke all those glasses? Sam, we got nothing left around here. Hello, Kitty. Oh, welcome. You've been on the tomb. If you're asking me, am I fed up, the answer's yes.
Whiskey, Sam? None of that trade whiskey you've been throwing into our recent guests, either. I'll be sitting over here.
Kind of got the doc, hasn't it? Yeah, all of us, Kitty. Yeah, the place is pretty empty, isn't it?
Well, it sure wasn't two hours ago. The whole town was in here to say goodbye to that crowd. Yeah, I know.
Come on, let's step out back. It's too hot in here. Yeah. Maybe Gravy was right, starting out at night. At least they'll miss one day a son.
Matt, what do you think? Hmm? About what? Their chances. Oh, some of them will make it, some of them won't.
It always bothers me to see them. Why? Oh, I don't know. They're so fresh and eager when they hit Dodge, they think they've already been through it.
They've flooded rivers, they've seen a few blanket Indians. The kids have had the fever. But they don't know what's waiting for them out there on the high plain.
Yeah, that's what's biting the doc, too. They think it's going to be a higher to Kansas all the way, and you can't tell them any different.
Kitty? Yeah? Look, you and Doc, there's nothing you can do for them.
Oh, Matt, I'm sorry. I'm restless. I think I'll go back inside. Oh, Kitty? Yeah, Matt? Take good care of Doc, will you? Yeah, I will.
Well, that's you, Mr. Gillen? Yeah, ask me, Chester. My man, how come you ain't in bed? It's awfully...
Oh, it's too hot. How far did you follow them? To Moss Grimmick's hay camp. It was kind of a party out there. Oh, it was?
Everything all right in the wagon train? It seemed to be. Well, I'll go out of bed, Mr. Gillen. Good night. Good night, Chester.
Can you make some duck? Come on, Doc. Hey, I'm all right, Kitty.
Oh, hello, Matt. You need a hand? No, we're all right. Okay. Come on, take it easy now.
Good Lord. Look at that. Good Heaven. What is it, Doc? What's the matter up there?
Come up here, Matt. Somebody's left Doc a baby.
Is he all right, Kitty? Sure. Both of them are asleep. Yeah. Doc was sure feeling his liquor.
But he still insisted on checking that baby before I could get him to lie down. Imagine, Matt, it's a girl. She's awful little.
Kitty, how much you know about taking care of a baby, huh? Less than you'd think.
I know it's going to be your responsibility. Mine? Well, I mean, until we find the mother.
Oh. She must be in that wagon train. Chester and I will ride after him tonight. We can catch him by morning.
You better. Wait till Doc wakes up and finds that baby in his room. He'll never take another drink.
They sure are laying down a dust trail, ain't they, Mr. Dillon? Grievey said he was going to keep pushing till the sun got overhead. It ain't but seven or so now and it's uncommon, huh?
Howdy. Morning, ma'am. Hello, John. Mr. Dillon, there's Mr. Grievey way up ahead there. Yeah, I see him. Come on. Hey, Grievey. Mr. Grievey. Hey. Marshall Dillon. Yeah.
What brings you way out here? I want to talk to your people, Grievey. Can you hold them up a little while? Hold them up? You mean stop the train?
Well, that's important or I wouldn't ask. It's real important. Well, all right. Hold it up, boy. Hold it. Hold it.
Chester, go back down the line and tell everybody I want them to meet at the center of the wagon train, huh? All right, sir.
What's this all about, Marshal? You got to bear with me, Grievey. I got to do this. Come on. I want you to. All right, folks.
Sit down. Folks, please. You all know Marshal Dillon. Now, he won't tell me what this is all about, but he says he wants to make a speech.
Well, Mr. Grievey's wrong about that. The speeches were made last night. Now, Dodge was glad to have you folks and we all wish you well.
What I've got to say is only for one person or maybe two. I'm talking to the woman who left her newborn baby at Doc Adams' last night.
Now, all I can say to you is that you better think on it, whoever you are, because California's a long way from Kansas.
It's too long if you start to regret it too late. Now, I'm not interested in bringing charges against anybody.
So why don't you think it over before it is too late, huh? Thank you.
Well, that's all, Grievey. Thanks very much. Come on, Chester.
Sit down.
How did it go out the wagon train today, man?
Well, I told them. Isn't that so?
Sit down.
No, no, no. I'm going out to Long Branch for a minute.
Now, you know that stuff's habit-farming, don't you?
For your information, I need sheets. Torn bed sheets.
Oh. That.
Yeah. That.
You know, she's not going to show up, man.
Well, what makes you think so?
Any woman who'd abandon her baby isn't going to be swayed by your brand of sentimentalism.
Well, maybe not, Doc, but I'm going to be here just in case.
All right. Suit yourself.
Chester, what are you doing down here?
Oh, now, don't worry, Doc. I'm going right back, but I just remembered something I ought to tell Mr. Dillon.
Mr. Dillon?
Did you just remember to tell me something, Chester?
Who was?
Sure I did. See, there was a fellow come by here, and he said he was a soldier.
Oh.
Yes, sir. It seems he just got his discharge.
Well, what did he want?
Well, he was asking about the wagon train. See, he thinks maybe his wife was with it.
His wife?
Yes, sir. He was supposed to meet her farther out at Cimarron Crossing, but he got to Dodd sooner than what he expected.
Well, what did you tell him?
Well, I told him they were long gone, but he could catch up with them easy until he rode off.
Well, I guess it ain't too important, but I feel bad I didn't tell you before.
See, what was that new baby and all? My nerves.
Well, Mr. Dillon, I'd better get back up there before something happens.
All right, Chester. Go ahead.
Matt, over here.
How about Kitty?
Sit down.
How much did you do with Doug?
Very little. He got his sheets, but it hardly speaks to Sam.
Well, maybe he's blaming Sam for what happened.
Well, Doc's got quite a homey problem with that baby.
Yeah, I know.
What are you going to do, Matt?
Well, let nature take its course, I guess.
You always were an optimist.
Well, in my business I have to be.
Say, Kitty, could you get me something to eat?
Sure, Matt.
Mr. Dillon?
Yeah, what is it, Chester?
She's here, Mr. Dillon.
Huh?
That little baby's mama is waiting for you over at the office.
Chester, go tell Doc to come down to the office.
You stay with the baby, huh?
All right, sir.
Oh, this here is Marshal Dillon, ma'am.
I'm Mrs. Bailey.
You were with the wagon train, weren't you, Miss Bailey?
Yes. I've come for my baby.
Where's your husband? Did he come with you?
Well, Marshal, my husband's been away in the Army for two years.
Oh, I see.
That's why I left my baby.
Yes, Matt?
This is Dr. Adams, Miss Bailey.
Oh, there.
Oh, Matt, can I have a word with you?
Right now, Doc.
Right now.
Marshal, I'm Clint Bailey.
I rode all the way out to that wagon trip.
Clint?
Jenny?
Clint?
Oh, hello, Clint.
Good to see you.
Marshal, this is my husband.
But what are you doing here?
You know, something wrong?
Jenny, what is it?
Marshal, you tell him.
Oh, Mr. Bailey, your wife came for her baby.
Came for her baby?
What do you mean, Jenny?
She could have left it, but she didn't.
Is it true, Jenny?
Well, is it?
Yes.
But, Jenny, we never had kids.
All the years we've been married, and we never...
I know, Clint, it wasn't for me not wanting them.
Well...
What is this baby?
It's a girl.
A girl.
Well, that's good.
That part's good.
Can we keep her, Clint?
I've been waiting two years to come back to you, Jenny.
And I can't lose you now.
Hmm.
Say, Doc, are you sleeping?
No, no.
No, man, I...
I was just thinking.
Oh, good for you.
You know, it's a thing like that tonight
that gives you all the hope you need to keep going.
You'd have been better off sleeping, Doc.
It wasn't her baby, you know.
What?
What are you talking about?
Well, she came to me three weeks ago.
I told her then that she could never have a baby.
Never.
What?
Oh, why didn't she lie to her husband?
Because of you.
She was afraid you wouldn't let her take it.
But then I'm sure she's told him the truth by now.
Well, Doc, you should have told me it.
This isn't right.
What if a real mother shows up?
Do you think she will?
No, no, Doc, I don't.
Can I buy you a drink, man?
Just one, of course.
Just one?
I think that'll be fine, Doc.
And now our star, William Conrad.
Four weeks ago, we asked you to let us know
which gun smoke stories you would like to hear again.
And your letters and cards have enabled us to select the five most popular.
But more important, however, to those of us here on the show
were the wonderful expressions of warmth and interest
who are deeply grateful.
Well, next week, the first of the five most popular shows.
It's one we have called simply Home Surgery.
Gun Smoke, produced and directed by Norman MacDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
Featured in the cast were Parley Bear as Chester,
Howard McNear as Doc, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty.
The show is a production of the New York Times.
Georgia Ellis as Kitty, George Waltz speaking.
Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on gun smoke.
From the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
The New York Times.