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
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
Hey Tom, he's old, yours. We'll take good care of him for you.
My gracious Mr. Dillon, look at that clutch of keys. He sure does use a lot more than we do back home.
Yeah, well they always did things up fancy in Wichita. Isn't that right, Tom?
Yeah, a lot of people who wouldn't agree with him.
Can I buy you two a drink?
Say, now that's mighty nice.
No thanks, Tom, not right now. I got half the trail dust from here to dodge on me. What I need is a bath and some sleep. I'm heading for the hotel.
Sure, Matt. I'll catch up with you before you head back.
Come think of it, I guess I could stand and take a bath too.
Come to think of it, you could.
I'll see you at the trial tomorrow.
Good night, Tom.
Good night, Mr. Bagley.
I guess you're right about going to the hotel, Mr. Dillon. I sure will be proud to get these boots off.
That's been a long ride.
Seems to me like they ought to pay extra for it too.
For what?
Well, for doing all that traveling to harness to a prisoner. You sure don't get a chance to enjoy the countryside much.
There isn't much countryside around here to enjoy.
Well, that's true.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
You want to talk to me?
I believe so, sir. I believe so. If I'm not mistaken, you're the marshal from Dodd City.
You're not mistaken. Matt Dillon, what can I do for you?
I'm pleased to hear you offer your services, marshal. I keep writing to folks back home, and some Yankees are gentlemen, but I swear I don't think they believe it.
Look, mister, you're keeping me from a hot bath. You've got something on your mind. You speak it out, huh?
My name's Clayton Morley. At your service.
Mr. Dillon, ain't that those...
I thought you'd recognize the name.
I just brought a man named Reed Morley in from Dodd. Are you related?
He's my brother, marshal, my younger brother.
Huh? Well, he's in bad trouble.
I'm bound to agree with that.
I left him at the jail, Morley, if you want to see him.
Oh, I'm not wanting to see him, marshal, not tonight. I want you to get him released for me.
That boy's being held for murder.
Brother Reed didn't do that thing.
I didn't arrest him without a reason.
Nobody with the name of Morley would kill a woman, marshal.
Your brother will be tried. He'll have his say.
You'll be testifying, won't you?
Yeah, I'll be testifying.
Your words could have a powerful effect, one way or another.
I'll be telling what I know.
I think maybe you ought to know something else, marshal.
What's that?
I think maybe you ought to know that if this stain on the family name hadn't removed,
your brother Reed doesn't walk out of that courthouse a free man.
You won't live to see him hung, marshal Dillon.
What?
Don't threaten me, Morley.
Why, I'm not threatening you, marshal.
This is just a simple appeal to your sense of justice and honor, that's all.
A sense with which I know you are highly endowed.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Well, now just what did you think of that?
Not much, Chester.
Come on, let's get some sleep.
You know, Mr. Dillon, that place we're staying at ain't one bit better than the Dodge house.
Not much to choose from, I guess.
That smart alecky clerk don't have no right to go putting on airs, though.
He's been bothering you?
Well, he ain't done nothing, but he acts like anybody from Dodge City come right out of a hole in the prairie.
He must have seen us when we came in last night.
Well, yes, I know, but I got cleaned up as nice as I could.
Never mind, Chester, just eat your dinner.
And that's nothing to do with this piece of beefsteak just ain't worth the fat to fry it in.
Oh, you haven't had much trouble eating it.
Well, no sir, I was hungry.
But I'll tell you something, back at Delmonico's they really know how to fry up a piece of meat.
That's not the way you talk back in Dodge, Chester.
Yes, sir, and I've been thinking about that, Mr. Dillon.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I guess it must be all this traveling around the country that we do, up to Lorne and over to Hay City, all the way here to Wichita.
Now, what about it?
Well, it just kind of teaches a fellow about things in the world, makes him really appreciate a place like Dodge City.
Oh, eat up, Chester, and let's get out of here.
I trust you gentlemen are enjoying your dinner.
Well, if we was, we ain't now.
You got something else on your mind, Marley?
Why, no, Marshal, nothing new, just my continued interest in your health and welfare.
Well, don't worry about it.
I'm just hoping that you'll worry about it, Marshal.
I told you not to get in my way.
Well, now, I wouldn't want to.
This is just a friendly reminder, Marshal, that I'm still in town, that I'll be here until after the trial is over tomorrow.
You'll listen to me, Marley.
I'll be listening tomorrow at the trial.
And I just know that judge is going to set Brother Reed free.
I feel it in my bones.
He'll set him free if he thinks he's innocent, Marley.
That's the only way.
Oh, I know that, Marshal.
I know it, just like I know that Brother Reed couldn't have done that terrible thing.
Just like I know that you want to go on living.
Marley, I'm through warning you.
Now, you stay out of my sight starting right now.
I'll see you at the trial.
Good day, gentlemen.
I swear he's acting clear crazy about all this.
It ain't your fault that boy gets himself hung.
No, it isn't, Chester, but Marley thinks it is.
That's enough for him.
It don't have to be enough for you, Mr. Don.
I hope you're right, Chester.
Sorry you made the trip for nothing, Matt.
Yeah, well, old Bowers never has been a hanging judge.
I thought this case would hold up, though.
I was sure the boy was guilty.
I don't think my testimony was much help to you.
You couldn't help that, Matt.
You weren't even in on it until a week after the murder.
All you did was make the arrest when we asked you to.
Yeah, and he didn't have any evidence on it.
I hope he didn't do it.
The law says he didn't.
That's all we have to worry about.
There's still a woman's death unanswered for.
Sure there is.
We meet again, Marshal.
Stand aside, Marley.
Well, now, that's not very manly of you,
pushing aside a man who's come to thank you.
I don't want any thanks from you.
But you've got thanks coming, tell you, Marshal Dillon.
Brother Reed's a free man.
And in the name of the family, I want you to know that we're grateful.
Listen here, Marley, I didn't do anything for you
or for your brother or for your family.
That was very nice testimony, Marshal.
Nothing incriminating in it at all.
Yes, sir, we are all grateful.
I want you to get something straight.
What I told the court was just exactly what I know about this case,
no more, no less.
You didn't influence me, and I didn't try to influence the verdict in any way.
Of course not, Marshal, of course not.
We're just glad to see that you believe in Brother Reed's innocence like we do.
I don't.
What?
I don't believe in your brother's innocence or his guilt any more than I did before,
but the judge says he's not guilty, so that's all there is to it.
Now, you get out of my way.
I don't take kindly.
I'm true, listening to what you take kindly.
Now, Marshal!
And if you know what's good for you, you'll stay out of my sight.
You want me to lock him up, Matt, to disturb him to peace?
You do what you want, Tom, it's your turn.
But I'd just let him lie there.
It may do something for his family honor.
Oh, I guess you're right, son.
Better order some more glasses.
I swear, it seems I just got some now.
Customers ain't very gentle with them, Kitty, that's a fact.
Customers aren't too gentle with anything around here.
Oh, hello, Matt.
Hello, Kitty.
Sam.
Hello, Marshal.
You want to take your poison standing up or sitting down?
Well, I think I'll sit down, Kitty.
Yeah, pour a couple of beers, will you, Sam?
Sure thing.
How was the trip to Wichita, Marshal?
Oh, not too bad, Sam.
A little dusty, is all.
Here you are.
Thanks, Sam.
You want to carry him to the table, Matt?
Sure, Kitty.
There we are.
Ah, that's good.
You look tired, man.
Well, I spent the day helping Joe Hatch break a string of cow ponies.
Those horses are bigger than me.
Those horses are bigger than I am.
And younger, too.
Yeah, they sure are.
Well, anything been going on around here, Kitty?
No, been pretty quiet, Matt.
That's good.
I'd like an empty jail tonight.
Well, there is one thing that I've been kind of wondering about.
Oh, what's that?
What's that?
Reed Morley.
The boy I took to Wichita?
Yeah, he's back.
Huh.
You know, I'd have bet my last dollar that he wouldn't want to come back here.
He didn't.
What do you mean?
His brother, that Clayt. Do you know him?
Yeah, we've run into each other.
Well, Clayt's insisting that Reed come back here to live.
How do you know all this, Kitty?
Well, the boy spends most of his time in here drinking, Matt.
He says Clayt's making him stay in Dodge.
Does he say why?
Well, Reed says he has to stay here until folks stop talking about the killing and that woman,
until everybody's convinced of his innocence.
With a family honor, huh?
Yeah, how did you know?
Oh, I heard about it somewhere.
Well, Kitty, we better enjoy the quiet around here while we can.
What do you mean, Matt?
It's my guess that either that boy or his brother's going to blow up.
And I don't know which would be the worst.
["The Last Supper"]
Here you are, Mr. Jones.
Burning good and bright now.
Thanks, Justice.
I'm sorry it fizzled out on you that way.
I could have swore I put coral oil in it just yesterday.
That's all right, Chester.
I'm not sure it ain't all right at all.
It's all a door to do the job he's being paid for, to my way of thinking.
Of course, some jobs have got just too many little details in them for a man to keep up with proper and all.
You might seep them out, redden up, make them coffee and fetch them mail, all that stuff.
Sometimes it just gets to be too much of a chore.
Chester, what are you muttering about?
I was just saying, Mr. Dillon, that there's an awful lot for a body to do around here, keeping up the office and all.
Oh? You think there's too much work to do, do you?
Well, I was just kindly thinking that...
You think I should hire a younger man, maybe, huh?
No, sir, Mr. Dillon, indeed not.
Then why don't you shut up and let me read through these papers, please?
Yes, sir.
Chester, quit that rattle and will you settle down someplace?
It ain't me, Mr. Dillon. I am not doing nothing at all.
All right, Chester, I guess it was the wind.
No, sir, Mr. Dillon, that ain't the wind.
There's somebody working the door that way.
Well, see who it is.
Yes, sir.
Oh, my lamb, Mr. Dillon, somebody's laying there. Look!
What?
Yeah, he's hurt bad. Here, help me get him out, Chester.
Yes, sir, I will.
Easy, easy now.
Hey, we'll put him down on the cot here.
Well, Mr. Dillon, it read morally. What do you suppose?
I don't know, Chester.
From the looks of him, he's not going to be able to tell us for a while, either.
Now go get Doc.
Yes, sir.
That's better.
I tell you, Matt, that's about as bad a beating as a man can take.
Yeah.
Is he going to be all right, Doc?
Oh, yes, I think so, but he's going to be sore for a while. Awful sore.
Hey, look, Doc, looks like he's about to come, too.
I shouldn't want him with all that water I splashed on him.
There we are. That'll do.
I won't be needing any more hot water, Chester. You can take the rest of these things out.
Okay, Doc.
Can he stay here for the night, Matt? He should be able to limp away by morning.
Oh, yeah, Doc, sure.
Can I talk to him?
Oh, talk shouldn't hurt him. Just don't go slapping him on the back, though.
Okay, now I'm going to go back to the office.
Try not to have any more riots tonight, will you, Matt? I'm short on sleep.
I'll try, Doc.
Matt.
Yeah, Doc?
You better hope that this fellow was the loser in that fight, because if he wasn't, the other man is sure to be dead.
Thanks, Doc. Good night.
Good night.
Reed?
You better lock that door.
You're all right, Reed. Just settle down.
You'll be after me.
Oh? Who'll be after you?
You've got to protect me, Marshal.
Come on, speak up. Who's after you?
Clay.
Clay? Your brother?
He's going to kill me. You've got to stop it, Marshal.
Well, what happened?
He beat me. And he said he was going to kill me in the morning.
He'll do it, too, Marshal. Now, you've got to stop him.
He was trying to save your neck back in Wichita.
Yeah. He found out.
Well, what did he find out?
About that woman?
Oh. You killed her, huh?
You won't tell him, Marshal.
I bet you didn't.
I was drinking. I ain't been able to do nothing but keep on drinking since I got back to Dodge.
Every place I go, I see your face, except when I got drunk enough.
And Clay was making you stay here?
Yeah, Marshal. Yeah, I didn't want to. I wanted to go anywhere, anywhere else.
That's what happened tonight.
Go on.
I was trying to get him to say I could go away. Just move on.
He was being bullheaded the way he's always been.
Going on about the family, name the way he does.
Well, I wanted to shut him up about it.
So you told him?
Yeah. You know, I told him. I thought he'd throw me out, tell me never to come back. That's what I wanted.
Looks like he did a pretty good job of it.
Well, he's not finished, Marshal. He's coming after me. Now you've got to protect me.
Now that's where you're wrong.
Now what do you mean?
I don't have to protect you.
You don't understand, Marshal. He's crazy. He'll kill me. Now the law's got to take care of him.
The law tried to take care of you once.
Yeah, but I was acquitted. I'm all square on that, ain't I, Marshal?
Yeah. All you've got to worry about now is the family name.
Now you can stay here tonight, but that's all.
Music
Good morning, Mr. Dillon.
Morning, Chester.
That Reed Morley back there sure is sleeping like he was dead. He ain't showing no sign, moving at all.
He's sleeping off a bad beating.
Oh, say, did you mean to leave that cell door open that way?
Yeah, I meant it. He isn't a prisoner, Chester.
Now I kind of think I would have guessed he ain't at that.
Funny thing, ain't it, Mr. Dillon?
What's so funny?
Well, the law can't touch a man again after it's tried him, even if it does turn out to be guilty of sin.
Now the law's stood up for a long time, Chester. I guess it knows what it's doing.
Now this still don't make no sense to me.
Oh, you'll be needing me for a little bit, Mr. Dillon?
No, Chester, you can go ahead and eat.
All right, sir. Ain't you coming?
No, not yet.
All right, I won't...
Oh, say, do you want me to pose the door into the back?
No, never mind, Chester. I'll do it.
All right.
Marshal Dillon?
Hello, Marley.
This is not an easy call for me to make.
I guess not.
I want you to know, though, Marshal, when a Marley makes a mistake, he admits it.
I want to apologize to you and to the law.
That's a little late for that.
I know that, Marshal. I found out last night. My brother did kill that woman.
That's too late, too. He can't be tried again.
No, Marshal, it isn't too late. I mean to see justice done even if the law was unable to do it.
Just how do you intend to do that?
I will take care of my brother, Marshal, for the honor of the family.
All right, you take care of him, just so you keep him away from me.
Oh, he'll be away from everybody, Marshal.
What do you mean?
He'll be dead.
Now, listen here, Marley. I don't blame you for wanting to skin him alive.
I don't blame you for beating him the way you did.
I got no mind to protect him, but I can't stand still for a killing.
You better understand that.
Did you just mention the beating?
How did you know about that?
I saw him.
He's here, isn't he? He came to you for help. I should have known.
Yeah, Clayton, he's here.
I didn't expect you to hide a killer, Marshal.
Stay out of there, Clayton. I'm not hiding.
Not anymore, you're not.
Clayton, no. No.
You're a fool, Marley. You've killed him.
Had to be done, Marshal. It was a matter of honor.
The law call it murder. I'm locking you up, Marley.
You're saying I'll stay in trial?
And this time the court will make it stick.
I won't hang, Marshal. There's never been a Morley hunt.
Don't be a fool, Morley. Drop your...
Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon, I heard them shout out the high...
My gracious, are you all right?
Yeah, I'm all right.
They both dead?
Yeah. It's like he was saying. A Morley is never hung.
It's a matter of family honor.
Gunsmoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.
The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Marion Clark,
with editorial supervision by John Messner.
Featured in the cast were Harry Bartel, McPheron, and Jack Moyles.
Marley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
This is George Walsh, inviting you to join us again next week,
when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.