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 violists 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.
Well, you call this keeping the peace, keeping it around the sun like a farmer on Sunday?
Hello, Doc. I wish I was a U.S. Marshal. Get paid, whether you work or not.
What's the matter, Doc? Did you lose a couple of patients last night?
Matt, I'm thinking of moving to San Francisco.
What for? You've got a monopoly here in Dodge. San Francisco is full of doctors.
Yeah, and probably all rich, too. Now, I'm serious, man.
Forget it, Doc. You're some 20 years too late for the gold rush. In any way, we need you here.
Dodge can find another doctor. I'm tired of working day and night and getting paid with promises.
Hey, 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 to help me, I'll throw you in jail and you'll practice from there.
Good, good. And you'll have to feed me, too.
Gladly, Doc, gladly, if you can stand Chester's cooking.
Uh-uh. I take it all back, man. Last time I ate one of Chester's meals, I was groggy for three days. And, uh, speak of the devil, here he comes.
Hey, Chester.
Hello, Doc.
Yeah, Doc wants to know where you learned to cook, Chester.
Boy, my Uncle Lee had to learn me, Doc. I bashed with him for a time when I was a boy. Poor old fellow, he died soon after that, and I'll bet he did.
Well, that stage is kindly late today, ain't it? The way Hank's driving it oughtn't to be, but I haven't got time to look around greeting stage coaches. I'll see you then later.
Bye-bye, Doc.
Bye, Doc.
Oh, Hank, oh, turned up, eh?
Yeah.
Wait there, Marshall. I gotta talk to you. I'll get right down.
Maybe something's wrong.
Maybe.
We run into a fight, Marshall.
Huh? Anybody hurt?
Killed the man I had riding shotgun. He fell off, and I had to leave him there.
I sent somebody out for him. Where'd it happen?
Right where the trail crosses the south fork of the Pawnee. 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, they rode off, but I could see two of them was all hunkered up over their stables, like they was hurting pretty bad.
Recognize any of them?
I'd hate to be wrong and get a man into trouble, Marshall, but, well, I'd swear one of them was that young Howard Brand.
What?
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 saw it.
Let's ride up and see how they're making out, Chester.
I'll go get the horses.
I met Howard Brand when he first came out here, Mr. Dillon. He sure didn't seem like no bandit to me. Real, gentle, easygoing fellow.
That's like a horse that won't buck when you first got on him, Chester. He's waiting to come loose when you least expect it.
Yes, sir.
I'm going to look yonder. There's Miss Brand now. She must have saw us coming.
Yeah.
Hello, Marshall.
Miss Brand, do you remember Chester here?
I forgot his name.
Chester Proudfoot, man.
Howard at home, Miss Brand?
Anything you want, I can help you, Marshall.
Well, I'd like to talk to Howard himself.
He ain't here.
Oh, you mind if we wait for him?
I'm real busy, Marshall. Can't you come back later sometime?
Well, it's kind of important, ma'am. We'll just wait here on the porch. We won't bother you, honey.
No use, Marshall. Pride won't be back till tomorrow.
Chester. Look there on the steps.
What, that blood?
Miss Brand?
That chicken blood. I just killed one.
I'm sorry, Miss Brand, but I'm going to have to talk to Howard.
Has he heard bad?
He's dying, Marshall. Leave him alone.
I've got to find out who was with him.
He won't tell you. In any way, he's out of his head and not making sense.
You want to show me where he is?
No. No, Marshall. Leave him die in peace.
He ain't got long. He'd kill me 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 Brand. They killed a man.
Wait, Marshall. I'll tell you.
All right.
Jed Butler planned it all.
Does he live around here, Miss Brand?
He's been down in Oklahoma territory, Marshall.
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 talk Howard and they're holding up the stage, is that it?
I didn't know nothing about it, Marshall, till today.
I was inside, reading up the house, and I heard a shout,
and I come out and found Howard laying in the dirt.
They just dumped him there and rode off.
All right.
I don't know, Marshall. I didn't bother to look.
I'm telling the truth. I wish I'd catch him.
You think they forced Howard to go along?
No. He probably wanted to go.
He disappointed me, Marshall. I thought Howard was an honest man.
Maybe it's just as well he's dying.
I'm going into him now, Marshall.
You want me to send Doc out?
No. It wouldn't do no good.
If there's anything I can do for you, Miss Brand, let me know.
Marshall, but I reckon it's too late now.
Chester, take this down to Mr. Hightower and have him print up some wanted notices from it, will you?
Yes, sir.
I guess that's about all I can do about Jeb Butler and his friend right now.
Somebody will spot him and come tell you sooner or later.
I hope so. It's already been two days.
Matt?
Hello, Chester.
Oh, home's kitty.
What's the trouble, kitty?
Oh, I just went up to Doc's office, Matt. He isn't there.
Where should he be? Was he expecting you?
He wasn't there this morning, either.
When did you see him last, Matt?
I come to think of it not since the day of the stage holdup. Why?
I was with him that night. He came in at the Long Branch real late.
We were sitting there talking and some kid brought him a message.
He didn't say who it was from, but Doc left and as far as I can find out, nobody's seen him since.
My God, we should have known she was right. I ain't seen Doc, either.
That was two days ago.
Well, it's, you know, sometimes Doc's out on the call longer than that.
Have you ever put Earl into the department of other confusion?
Yeah, I guess I have.
I heard about two of those bandits being shot.
Well, they sure couldn't have been Miss Brandt who come for Doc.
No.
You mean one of those men was Howard Brandt?
They left him at his house, kitty. I didn't see him, but I believe Miss Brandt.
He probably died that night.
I feel sorry for her than him.
Yeah, I guess I do, too, kitty.
But what about Doc, Matt? What are you going to do?
Kitty, if I knew where those men are, I'd have gone after them before now.
They're holding him, Matt. They might even kill him.
Look, kitty, I can't go out and ride around on a prairie hoping to bump into them somehow.
No. No, I guess it's better to stay here.
Somebody might see him or something and come tell you.
Yeah, I hope so.
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 man.
I wish I could believe that.
But that's only the beginning of a winter.
Yeah, kitty, show the way.
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 Brandt 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 that she must be headed for Booth Hill.
I got Chester and we followed her out to the burying ground.
She'd stopped and was taking the shovel out of the wagon when we walked up to her.
I don't need no help, Marshal.
The ground's hard, Miss Brandt. I would dig a hole for you.
Leave me be. He's my man and I'll bury him myself.
Right where he deserves to be, among the rest of these murderers and outlaws.
What are you looking at, Marshal?
Your face. What happened to you?
Chose, does it?
Mm-hmm.
Jet Butler did that, Marshal.
He came by yesterday, knocked me around some.
He did what for? Where is he?
I was going to come tell you once I got Howard buried.
But 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 and 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.
Miss Bradley, have any idea where his hideout could be?
I was in the house crying. I didn't see him go.
You couldn't track him anyway, Marshal.
Too many horses running around loose out there.
Well, at least we know for sure he's got Doc with him, Miss Dillon.
But we're no closer to finding him.
You, uh, you're sure you won't let us help bury your husband then?
I can't wish you would now, Marshal.
I'm just about worn out.
Music
I swear, Mr. Dillon, I just can't stand this waiting around doing nothing much longer.
Can't we organize a posse or something?
Butler'd get scared if he got wind of a posse, Chester.
You mean he'd shoot Doc and try to get away?
He might. It's a safer bet just to wait it out.
But Tobil, well, come on in.
How are you, Tobil?
Tobil always good, Chester.
Where have you been the last month, anyway? Out scouting the white men?
Tobil knows scouting white men a long time. Maybe too long.
For a tame Indian, you sure got a wild look in your eye. What are you doing here?
Tobil hunt antelope on prairie. Way off, she, two white men. One ride, very funny.
Tobil go very close. They know she, but Tobil see.
What did you see, Tobil?
White medicine man.
Doc.
Good man. Take bullet out of Tobil long time ago.
No like him all tied up in rope. Come quick, tell Marshal.
You know where they are, Tobil? Can you track them?
White man easy to track. Like Buffalo herd, always big fool.
When was this?
Yesterday. Long ride from here.
Chester, go get our horses and find a fresh one for Tobil. Maybe we won't be too late.
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.
From there on, however, with Tobil tracking, we had to slow down.
There was growing dusk when the trail finally led to the edge of a small bluff and then turned and dropped down around to 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.
There we waited for the dark.
When it came, we sneaked up to the cabin, stood close to the wall and listened.
How is he now, Doc?
I've told you before, but Leatherman's dying. And there's nothing I can do to stop him.
I don't believe you, Doc. I think maybe you're not doing anything on purpose.
I'm a doctor, Butler. I'd do anything in my power to save a life, even that of a murder.
You go on talking like that, I'll blow you open with a shotgun, Doc.
Shotgun, shotgun. Why don't you carry a pistol like ordinary men?
I never use nothing but this. And I ain't no ordinary man anyway.
Now I'll say that for you. And no decent ordinary man would be seen in your company.
Doc, you're either a fool or you're plumb crazy.
Why? Because I'm not afraid to die?
Well, you're gonna die. As soon as he does.
Okay, now we're open.
I ain't gonna leave you around to spread no tales.
I'm gonna kill you and get out of here.
It won't be very long, Butler. Your friend will go almost any minute.
Maybe I ought to shoot you now. Just leave him here.
Chester, Tobiel, let's get back here.
We ain't gonna kill him, Mr. Dillon. We better bust him, therefore it's too late.
No, no, if you kill Doc, sure we do that.
Yeah, Tobiel's right, Chester.
But we can't just leave in there. Maybe if we make a big noise Butler can come out.
No, no, he's too smart for that.
But we gotta do something. Doc said himself that wounded man's gonna die any minute.
I'm thinking, Chester, if plenty time could wait, then shoot one come out in the morning.
But we ain't got time.
There might be a chick somewhere in that cabin I could poke a gun through.
Man say him very spooky now. One little noise, shoot Doc fast.
Yeah, I know. I wouldn't dare take the chance.
It's terrible being this close and not able to do a brain thing.
Yeah.
Tobiel know many tricks, all kind, but here, nothing.
Because even Butler made a pistol, Doc might have a better chance than with that shotgun.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Shotgun.
Yeah, it's not a six shooter.
It's not a repeating rifle.
What do you mean?
I mean he can shoot it once and then he has to reload.
Once is all it takes.
Yeah, to kill one man it is, Chester.
What are you doing?
Here, take my gun belt.
Here, take it.
What for?
I'm going in there, Chester, unarmed.
What?
When I get inside, you and Tobiel sneak up close and be ready to come through that door when you hear his shotgun go off.
Mr. Dillon, you can do that?
Yes, I can.
You'll kill yourself.
Maybe, but if you two don't get in there fast, if he does shoot, you'll club Doc to death.
That's quite a lot.
Who's that?
You get over by the door, Doc.
Yeah, did you open the gate?
Doc Adams is standing by that door and I got a shotgun aimed at his back.
Now who is it?
I'm unarmed.
Open the door.
Matt?
I'll come in with my hands in front of me.
Matt, don't do it.
Any tricks and I'll shoot Doc.
Go ahead, Doc, open.
Hello, Doc.
He's unarmed, Butler.
And get in here and close that door.
Who are you?
Matt Dillon.
Marshall.
That's right.
You got some men outside, huh?
Well, it won't do no good, Marshall.
I'll shoot you before they can get anywhere near me.
I've got two men out there, Butler.
The second they hear a shot, they'll be in here.
It'll be too late, won't it, Marshall?
Well, that 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, you shouldn't have done this.
Why not, Doc?
There's bad enough me getting killed.
He can only kill one of us, Doc, if he shoots me,
until Bill and Chester will get him.
If he shoots you, I'll kill him with my bare hands.
You think you got it all figured, don't you, Marshall?
Just about.
Now, you know I'd rather kill a U.S. Marshal than a doctor.
You know that, Matt.
Matt, he's right.
You should have stayed outside.
And stand there waiting for him to shoot you, Doc?
No, I wouldn't like that very much.
Maybe he'll shoot me anyway.
Maybe, but at least there's some kind of a chance now.
Now, shut up for a minute.
I don't quite figure this.
No?
No.
You mean you come in here, no,
and I'll probably kill you rather than Doc.
They're right.
Yes, Butler, that's right.
That's what he did.
Why?
No reason, Butler.
No reason at all.
Except for friends, I guess.
Something like that.
What's being friends got to do with it?
You wouldn't understand, Butler.
He's willing to die for you, Eddie.
You've never heard of nothing like that.
Him a Marshal and everything.
He's willing to die.
That's your friend, Butler.
I'd better take a look again.
Blake's dead.
Well, make up your mind, Butler.
You 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 comes from something scriptural, huh?
Is that what it is?
You know, Blake's the only friend I ever had.
Friends?
And a while ago you were willing to leave him here to die alone.
Why, you don't know anything about friendship, Butler.
No.
I guess I don't.
Anyway, if I was in a spot like you,
there ain't nobody in the world who would have walked in here to do for me
what the Marshals were willing to do for you.
Well, then I feel sorry for you, Butler.
Real sorry.
Yeah, so it'll still give you pleasure to shoot.
Go ahead.
Now.
Now I'd just get killed anyway.
All right, give me your gun, Butler.
Sure.
I just never knowed people like you and Doc before, Marshals.
Are you sure you ain't crazy or something?
Maybe.
Maybe we are a little better.
Who knows?
Gun Smoke.
Produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald,
stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshals.
The story was specially written for Gun Smoke by John Mestens.
Featured in the cast were Vic Tarrant, Virginia Craig, Ralph Moody, and Barney Phillips.
Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
The story was specially written for Gun Smoke by John Mestens.