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.
Music
Look at him everybody. The great Zeno Smith crawling like a snake. And I done it. Hank Fergus. Just remember that. Hank Fergus. Anybody like to try me? I didn't think so.
You're all cowards in Dodge City. I'm leaving. Good night, Zeno Smith.
Barkeep. Yes sir. Barkeep, give me a whole bottle of whiskey. A full one. Right up to the top.
Zeno. Don't you think you've had enough for tonight? Oh, I got some money to pay for it, Miss Kitty. You see. I didn't even have the money. Let him drink, Kitty. He never causes any trouble.
Oh, Matt. All right, Zeno. Go ahead. Barkeep, here's the money. Barkeep. Now get the bottle out. You're a big help, Matt. You can't stop Zeno Smith from drinking, Kitty. He'll sober up in a day or so. Yeah, maybe he'll get some rest.
Yeah, maybe for a whole week. Now he's been doing it for years. Yeah, about ten, they tell me. Zeno's a nice fella, Matt. What got him started drinking anyway? I don't know. It was long before my time. But I've heard he used to be something of a gunman.
Zeno Smith? That's kind of hard to believe. A gunman loses his nerve. He loses everything, Kitty. Oh, is that what happened? Yeah, so they say. Some newcomer called him out and he froze. So he took the drink, huh?
It helps him forget, I guess. He waits for a couple of days a week. Yeah. Well, it's mighty good of Mr. Jonas to keep him on at the general store. Most people wouldn't be that patient with him. Jonas trusts him, Kitty. Even when he's drunk? When he's drunk, he doesn't go near the store. Little Tommy sees to that.
What a combination. A 45-year-old drunk and a 13-year-old orphan boy. Yeah, they're a good company for each other. Oh, you menace. Well, there he goes with his bottle. Matt, does Tommy know about Zeno backing down that time?
Now, that's one thing everybody's been decent about. They've never told the boys. Good. That's a funny thing, Kitty. They say it happened right here at the Long Branch. Yeah. Oh, this place has got a lot of history. I'm just as glad I've missed. Yeah, me too.
Matt, I'd better get going now. Come by later, Matt. I'll try. So long. So long. Mr. Dillon? Yeah, what is it, Chester? Mr. Dillon, you'd better get out there. Some Tufts are plaguing Zeno Smith. They're promoting the
They wouldn't listen to me. What are they doing to him? They smashed a bottle of bourbon he was carrying. Now they're agging him to go home and put on his gun. The yonder they are.
They're doing it by having to show every one of you. All right, get away from him, you men. Leave him alone. Let him go. If one of you dares to face me, I'll show you. Forget it, Zeno. They've grown. Well, Marshal, they think I'm a coward. They think I won't put on a gun. I'll show them. You're not a coward, Zeno. You don't have to show anybody anything.
Yes, I do. I'm going to right now. They'll see. I know who I am. You're going to let him do it, Mr. Dillon? That's Kentucky courage he's using, Chester. He'll sober up fast enough. Maybe so. But I'm thinking one of these days he'll get on that bottle and come out shooting for a reason. Well, you never know, Chester.
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Zeno. Zeno. Come on. Wake up. Come on.
Oh, come here.
You've got to get to work, Zeno. Mr. Jonas is asking for you at the general store.
Oh, no, no. Oh, I can't work today, boy. Oh, my head's got an axe stuck in it.
You were awful drunk when you came home last night, Zeno. You was even looking for your gun.
Oh, I was.
I hid it, Zeno. It's under the mattress. You was talking about it to yourself, Zeno, how you was going to take your gun and say something.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I remember. Oh, I'm sick, Tommy.
You've got to go to work. You spent all your money last night.
Well, there's food in the house. I'll get some money next week.
Next week? My birthday's tomorrow, Zeno. You promised me a pair of boots. Don't you remember?
I forgot. I mean, I'll get them, Tommy. I promise I will.
You're broke. You can't work today. Mr. Jonas wanted to get you no money.
You leave it to me, Tommy. You're going to have your boots. I promise.
Sure. Sure, Zeno. I'll fix you some cotton.
Oh, Tommy boy, I'm just no good. No good for anything.
We're going to get that beer now, Mr. Jonas?
You always thirsty, Tommy?
It seems like it, don't it? What's the yonder?
What? You mean that Zeno's boy, Tommy?
Oh, yeah. Why, it looks like he's crying. Just standing there looking in that store window and crying.
Oh, that poor little fella. Tommy, what's wrong?
Nothing, Marshall. Nothing.
There's got to be something wrong. What is it?
Zeno promised me a pair of them boots in the window there. Tomorrow's my birthday.
How? He's home sick. He can't even work.
Well, Tommy, you know, we don't always get what we want.
But Zeno's generally pretty good to you. He's probably feeling mighty sorry about this.
Sure, maybe he'll get you some boots next year.
I don't know. I'm sure it's too late. I'll be fourteen tomorrow and I'm going to get me a job at the stable so I can learn to ride and make a living for myself.
You're going to be fourteen tomorrow, huh? Well, you're practically a man then, Tommy.
You know, men have to learn to take hard knocks.
I've been seeing him. I'm okay now. Sure you are.
I've got to get back to Zeno now. He may need me.
So long, Marshall. Bye.
He's an awful good boy, ain't he, Mr. John? He's going to make it all right, Chester.
Well, what'd you say? Let's get our beer in the Lady Gay, huh?
Said I'd pay you later, Barkeep. Can't you trust me for one little whiskey?
No.
I got half a mind to put another hole in your nose.
Stay back, Chester. Yes, sir.
Ten years since I've been in this town, it stinks just as bad as it ever did.
You, uh, you got a complaint, mister?
Oh, you're the Marshal.
So?
I'm Hank Fergus, Marshal.
You make that sound like I should know you.
You never heard of me?
No.
Well, I have been in California quite a spell.
Uh-huh. This is Dodge, Fergus, and I run Dodge.
And gunmen with big reputations come and go a lot here.
But mostly they go.
Look, Marshal, I don't aim to cause no trouble.
I'll tell you the honest truth. I'm heading for St. Louis, and I kind of went broke on the way.
Thought I'd stop by Dodge and make me a little money gambling, that's all.
Sure.
I'm broke. It's the truth, Marshal.
Well, being broke sure ain't nothing new around here. I'm more generally always broke.
Marshal, I hope you're convinced in my peaceful aim.
I'll let you know when I'm not, Fergus. I'll let you know real fast.
You sure don't make it easy for a man, do you?
I'm not paid to make it easy for men like you.
Goodbye, Marshal.
My lamb, Mr. John, ain't you being kindly hard on him?
You're forgetting something, Chester.
What?
He came here to make some money, and he's broke.
Now where's he gonna get the stake to start gambling?
Oh, come in, come in.
Hey, is it?
Fergus?
Hank Fergus?
Hello, Zeno.
What are you doing here?
I told you to come in.
I'm here to see you.
What are you doing here?
They told me at the general store where you live.
I just come by to see how you're getting along.
That's not true.
You want to call me a liar, you better get off that bed and put on a gun, Zeno.
Or don't you wear a gun no more.
What do you want here, Fergus?
I asked around town about you, Zeno.
I've got a lot of things, most everything to get.
What for?
What are you up to?
One thing to find out is that you carry a key to the general store.
I'm broke, Zeno.
I ain't got any money.
I need a little stake to start gambling with.
And I don't want no trouble with that marshal.
So I got to thinking maybe you could help me.
Help you rob the store, sure.
Well, I won't do it, Fergus.
I'm a lot of things, but I ain't no thief.
You know, I...
Tommy, don't you bother.
Wait a minute.
Come on in, son.
Tommy, I said not to bother.
I heard about Tommy, too, Zeno.
What did you hear? What are you talking about?
Tommy, will you please go on?
He's kind of upset, son.
He thinks there's things a boy shouldn't know.
What things?
Things about him, for example.
Right, Zeno?
Fergus, don't now.
I know everything about Zeno, mister.
Really?
Now, let's see.
Do you know that one time right here in Dodge about...
Fergus?
Oh, just how long ago was it, Zeno?
All right, you win.
I thought I would.
What do you mean, Zeno?
Never mind, Tommy.
I want to know what this is all about.
You heard me now, Tommy.
I want to know. You tell me now.
What's this setup?
You hit me, Zeno.
Tommy.
You hit me.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.
Tommy, wait a minute.
I've got to come back.
Zeno, you're mighty rough, Zeno, on kids.
Get out, Fergus.
Get out, will you?
Sure.
But I'll be back tonight.
You be here.
I'll be here.
Yes, you promised not to tell that boy about...
about what happened.
Of course not.
I wouldn't want him to know what a coward you are.
At least not if I get the cash box out of that general store without making no trouble.
I'll be back tonight.
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["The Star-Spangled Banner"]
Good evening, Marshal Dillon.
Huh? You been drinking again, Doug?
Oh, a little glass of wine maketh glad the heart.
There hasn't been a glass of wine and dodge since the flood, Doug. Sit down.
Yeah, thank you. I presume you refer to the flood-Knower weathered so skillfully.
I do.
Uh, great man, Noah.
Sure. Without him, there wouldn't be all the gunmen and murderers and the horse thieves and plain common bums walking around the earth.
Yeah, that's true. But there wouldn't be you or me either.
I'm not too much impressed, Doug.
Oh, look here. See that boy's up kind of late.
Marshal Dillon! Doug!
Hello, darling.
Marshal, I've got to talk to you.
Oh, what's on your mind?
I had to come to you, Marshal. I've been thinking on it for hours. You've got to stop it.
Stop what?
That man, man, that Fergus. I waited outside the door and I heard him talking.
He's got something on Zeno, Marshal. And he's going to make him help rob the cash box out of the General's store.
What?
Tonight. You've got to stop it, Marshal.
Get over there right now.
Wait a minute, man. I saw Zeno buying a bottle of liquor a few hours ago. He's probably dead drunk by now.
Then you come along too, Doc. We'll sober him up and find out what this is all about.
If Zeno ain't at home, he's got to be in here robbing the store, don't he, Marshal?
We'll soon find out, Tommy.
The store's dark. I don't see anybody in there.
No.
The door's locked.
Zeno's key sits at the back door, Marshal. Not this one.
Let's go around back then.
Down the alley here.
When did you last see Zeno, Tommy?
Oh, this afternoon, Doc, when he hit me and ran out.
Quiet now.
Wait a minute. What's that?
It's Zeno.
Here, stay back, Tommy. You do as I say.
Okay, Marshal.
Yeah, dead drunk, just as I said.
Take a look at him, Doc.
Well, he may be... he's not quite out.
What's that sack he's holding?
Money from the cash box, probably.
Here, let me have that.
No, don't touch it.
Marshal, come here quick.
Look, I see him laying here.
Who is it, Tommy?
It's that man, Fergus.
By golly, it is.
He's dead, Tommy.
Dead?
There's nothing on him.
No money from the cash box?
No.
Zeno's got it. He took it.
I'm afraid it kind of looks that way, Tommy.
Oh, Zeno, Marshal.
I'm sorry, Tommy. Come on.
Matt, this man has been shot.
What?
No, stop.
Right through the lungs. He's filling up by him.
No, no. Zeno. Zeno.
There's a gun I found on him, Matt.
Let's leave him alone, darling.
Sure, but it's not like it.
Tommy.
Looks like they fought over who got the money, Doc.
Well, it took money and luck to do it,
but at least Zeno handled the gun again.
Yeah.
Marshal, Doc.
Look. My boots.
He got me my boots.
So that's what was in that sack.
Tommy.
What, Zeno?
Them boots. I owe Mr. Jones this for them.
He'd take my gun and give it to him.
I made a deal with him.
I'm dying, son.
No, Zeno.
You be a man, boy. I'm counting on you.
Don't die, Zeno.
Zeno.
Marshal.
He's dead, Tommy.
Zeno.
Dad.
Here's his gun, Tommy.
You give it to Mr. Jones tomorrow.
And start wearing those boots.
You're a man now.
And you can walk proud in them, Tommy.
Mighty proud.
Cannon thundered and rockets flared over the barricades in the Battle of New Orleans,
and Andrew Jackson won a great victory for the United States.
There was only one thing askew with the victory,
and that was the war.
A month before, United States and British envoys in Europe had signed a treaty ending the war.
Two thousand men died at New Orleans because they didn't know their countries were at peace.
That, of course, was in 1815, when Hughes traveled by sailing ship.
Today, if a shot is fired in the Middle East,
Lowell Thomas has the whole story for you by dinnertime.
If a conference is held in Europe,
a CBS News correspondent tells you that the war is over.
A CBS News correspondent tells you its highlights on the World News Roundup within hours.
Start this week to hear the World News Roundup and Lowell Thomas regularly.
Both programs are heard Monday through Friday on CBS Radio over most of these same stations.
Gunsmoke, produced and directed by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Messon.
Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, and Richard Beal.
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 for another story on Gunsmoke.