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, the 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.
You're moved, Doc. Yes, I see this. Only I don't like my choicers. You got me kind of cornered, kiddie.
Oh, now then. Smart man like you ought to be able to think his way out. Well, let me see now. No, there's nothing I can do except this.
And pray your eyesight's gone back on you. Not today, it hasn't, Doc. There, you can't fettle any eyeglasses here today.
How many games you won now? Five straight. And remember, we were playing $1,000 a game. In trade, that was. Some bet. I'd have to die to collect it.
And the same thing if I had a one, kiddie. $5,000 worth of your whiskey would wipe out every doctor in the west. You don't want to play another game by any chance?
Not by any chance. Ah, thank heavens. Why don't you go make a few calls, Doc? I'd love to. The trouble is no one needs me.
The town and the county are just busting with good help. Yeah, and look at this saloon. One paying customer at the bar and he's drinking beer.
Well, I'd say that Matt and Chester picked themselves a good time to be out of town. Yeah, they got it pretty soft, all right.
Of course they get shot at now and then. But at least they get out of Dodge once in a while. Yeah, let me see. Where is it? A pueblo this time, wasn't it?
Near there anyway. Didn't say how long they'd be gone. No, and I'll bet I know why. Why?
They're some of the best fishing in the world, not far from pueblo. Wouldn't surprise me the least bit if they settled back next to a stream that's just jumping with a mountain trout.
How's your leg feel? Was you hit bad, Mr. Dillon? Yeah, I never heard of being hit good, Chester. Your pant leg's bloody and something. Yeah, I know.
What got into them Indians anyway? We was just riding through. If it hadn't been us, they'd have gone after a rabbit or a coyote.
Maybe these rocks. They were shooting to the noise of it, I guess. They had to be Utes, didn't they? Renegade Utes, most likely.
Well, they got tired of us or they think they killed us one of the other. Can you bear weight on that leg? I don't know. Now let's try.
Let me slip my arm behind you here. Yeah. Clear yourself up. All right. Hold on to me, Mr. Dillon. Can you make it? Yeah, I can make it to my horse, I think.
There we go. Easy.
You better rest some before I try to mount. No, let's get it over with, Chester. You'll have to swing your hurt leg over.
You'll have to guide it. If I kick your teeth out in the process, you take it as nothing personal, huh? Yes, sir. All right. Here we go.
You all right, Mr. Dillon? Yeah. I could strap you in your saddle. No, there's no need. All right, let's go.
You're awful peaked looking, Mr. Dillon. About played out, ain't you? There's water ahead to the left in those trees there.
Well, you can't go on just water. Oh, that'll help. Water the horses, too. Ain't much daylight left.
At night we'd find a settler and get you bedded down for the night. Ah, it's Ute country, Chester. They've rotted out most of the settlers.
And through those trees now, there's good grass by the stream.
Don't you move yet, Mr. Dillon. I'll help you. All right.
Now, you stand to steady me. My leg won't bear any weight. Yeah, sir.
Come on. There you go. Now, just fall free again.
All right, now you just stretch out there. How's that, Mr. Dillon? Ah, it's fine, Chester. It's just fine.
I'll get you some water. I didn't hear you look afraid. Fine. I just need to catch my breath. Let's rest a little bit.
Sure do wish I could make you comfortable in a bed with some warm food, you know.
I know, I know. Here's one of the horses, huh? Yes, sir.
Chester. Chester. Oh, you awake, Mr. Dillon? Yeah, yeah. I shouldn't have gone to sleep, I guess.
Well, you didn't have no choice. Once you swallowed that cool water, you would just plumb through.
What is that? What is that, horses? Oh, no, Mr. Dillon. I hobbled them before I set out. They ain't making a sound.
Shh. Wait a minute. That's horses, all right. They're coming this way.
Well, I sure don't hear a thing. You're, you're, you're, you're a fire with fever, Mr. Dillon. You, you just might be imagining it.
No, you keep listening. You'll hear them. Yes, sir. But I was going to say it was while you were resting, I set out and took a look around.
There's a cabin not more than a couple hundred yards away. Shh. They're coming from the north.
By jing, I think you're right, Mr. Dillon. Look, look through the trees there.
The Indians. Could be them same renegades. Yeah, maybe. We sure better make for that cabin.
No, we're better off here. Trees will hide us. Unless they already know we're here.
Just lie flat, Chester. They start through the trees, fire. You able to handle a gun?
I'm ready for them. They're making right for us, sure is seeing. Yeah.
They're right at the trees. Take it easy. I sure ain't keen on them seeing us first.
They're riding right along the tree line, going on south.
I can't make them out anymore. You see them? They're on past the thicket, but I can't see them.
I swear that was close. Yeah, it's still close. Sounds like they stopped.
I counted six of them. Yeah, six. That cabin, where is it?
I'm afraid that's where they are. It's that direction. No more than a couple hundred yards away.
Yeah, that's some better. That's a welcome sound for a fact.
You talking about a deserted cabin, Chester? I didn't see no signs of life.
It's likely been that way for years, from the look of it.
You'll have to drag me, Chester. I can't mount again. I'll get you there, Mr. Dillon.
Don't you fret yourself.
I've eaten one about ten steps. You can make it, Mr. Dillon.
I don't know, Chester. Come on, you just lean heavy on me. You'll make out fine.
You come no closer. Ma'am, you can just put that shotgun away right now.
Our judge about to shoot him. What is him? He's shot and weak. Ma'am, I've got to put him down inside.
I never laid eyes on you before. No, ma'am, we're clean from the
Odden City. Chester. Mr. Dillon, you all right, Mr. Dillon?
Yes, sir. I'm fine.
Come on, you just lean heavy on me. You'll make out fine.
You come no closer. Ma'am, you can just put that shotgun away right now.
Our judge about to shoot him. What is him? He's shot and weak.
What is he doing? What's he doing?
He did. No, ma'am, not yet. Would you just try to help, set that shotgun aside and help about it?
Are you on food? We got precious little, I'll tell you that.
Brankets, chairs, you got anything? What I got is a mighty sick friend here, ma'am, and I'm lifting him up right now and taking him in that cabin.
How much money you got? I don't know, a little.
Send it over. Once we're inside.
I tell you, boy, I'd soon shoot the both of you's jaw with you. I want your money and your guns.
Oh, for...
There. Now then. His money, too.
Oh, my goodness.
Here. I'm bringing him inside now.
Well, all right. But for this little bit of money, he ain't gonna be there long.
Oh, no.
Oh.
Yeah, you're another weak one, are you?
Well, I'm carrying my weight in logs.
Put him by the stove and quit whimpering. Soft bellies to a lot of you.
How is he?
That's Kim. He's only making out, he's sleeping.
Mr. Dillon?
You can't fool her, Chester, don't try.
You sure did give me a fright. I wasn't sure you was gonna make it.
I'm all right.
Did she get the bullet out?
Yeah, and half of my leg, I think.
I've seen new cubs with tougher hides.
You told me you knew what you was about.
Now, you mind your tongue. I'm no mind to hear you, Beller.
No cause to go at her, Chester. She did all right.
Well, she took everything we had, Mr. Dillon, our guns, bullets, money. I never seen her like.
You'd best quiet him. I've buried four husbands, 20 children, a couple of strangers. Don't phase me.
You better get some sleep, Chester. She says you watched over me all night.
Well, now, if you need me, Mr. Dillon...
No, I'm fine, you. Go on now. You go to sleep, huh?
Yes, sir.
Four husbands, ma'am?
Four. I outlived them. But they was men. Regular men.
I can believe that.
We didn't trifle with marshals, army folk, no-tays.
Mr. Sitton and me lived as peaceable as could be with Indian folk.
We come here peaceable, me and Mr. Sitton.
When was that?
The 30s.
Well, things were different then.
No different than with Mr. Griffith, Mr. Albright, even later on with Mr. Nettleton.
There were lessons to learn in the West in them days.
Eat the porridge.
Huh? What's your bludge, ma'am?
Nettie.
How's that?
Nettie, I say. Nettie Sitton. I go by that. I can't abide being called, ma'am.
Oh.
I lean toward Nettie.
Uh, Nettie?
Nettie.
You live alone in the middle of Ute country. How do you manage?
Well, I come by your guns, such little money you had. Sometimes it's food, sometimes robes.
I take what I can get. No matter to me if it's settlers or scouts or U.S. marshals.
Or Utes.
Folks don't find Nettie, lessen their loss to half dead. Open your eyes to see what they part with.
You always greet them with a shotgun?
Who's need be?
Before we came here yesterday, a band of Ute Braves stopped here.
I've got good arrows, strong bows, rifles. Even a couple of Buffalo guns off a mountain man broke his leg down in the canyon.
They got a camp near here, the Ute?
You got something more to give me?
Chester says you cleaned us up.
Then you're getting full measure.
Hey, no, we're here.
What's all this?
Here now, you pimp.
Am I real?
I ain't had a pretty first spell, that's a fact.
I brought that ring myself, in St. Louis, man's not safe sleeping here.
It'll fit just fine once I wrap some twine around it. Body's fingers thin with age.
I declare, next thing I know you'll be picking my bones.
Mind your tongue!
Give him his ring back, Nettie.
Not likely, no.
Dylan, what say you can't hit an old woman when she's so mean and contrary?
For one thing, her shotgun.
It's as soon as you say it, as have a ruckus with you.
You take his ring, you give us something, Nettie.
Oh, I do admire a pretty.
I clean forgot the bright feeling they give you.
Our guns for the ring, Nettie. That's fair.
I come by your horses down by the creek this morning.
They're grazing on my grass and swilling my water.
The prettiest to pay for that.
Mr. Dylan, I better go see to them horses.
You'll stay where they're sick and ailing.
I'll see to the horses.
You're saying he can't leave the cabin?
Not alive he can't.
Well, you doggone mean old-
She means it, Chesney.
I do that.
Now, I've got tending to do outside.
No need peering around for your guns whilst I'm gone.
You won't find them.
Mr. Dylan, we have got to get out of here.
Yeah, we need horses to do it. Come here.
Now, steady me.
You ain't get stands yet.
Here, stand steady.
There.
Now, we'll have to crawl once we're outside anyway.
I can manage to the door.
Like as much as he just crouched out there waiting for us.
Well, it's worth a chance. We might not get another one.
All right, get on your belly.
Move small through the brush toward the stream.
Can you see her?
No, I can't.
The stream, how far is it?
Good hundred yards, maybe more.
I don't see the horses.
I don't either.
Flatten, Chester.
It's you.
She's talking to them Indians.
We're going to have to go back, Chester.
To the cabin?
Without guns or horses, there were no good out here. Come on.
What do you reckon she's done with our guns, Mr. Dillon?
Her? She might have eaten them.
I'm steady after the walk.
I'd give a lot for some of her strength right now.
You reckon I could find them guns alone?
If I ain't got yourself killed doing it, that's no good, Chester.
We're going to have to wait.
He's just about as foolish as can be, ain't you?
Crawling around in the brush out there. What's the idea?
Fresh air.
He's got no guns, no food. There's youth all around.
You don't know what he's got.
He's got a gun, a gun, a gun.
He's got no food. There's youth all around.
You don't think too good of your hides, do you?
Where are the horses, Maddie?
Your cutter's coming back soon.
You heard him. What about them horses?
They bring good price in these parts.
I could get me a passler of things trading horses.
You're real friendly with the youth, huh?
They treat me good.
Of course, they know Mr. Sittin' and me come peaceable to their country.
Not to run them off, what rightly is their land.
You ever seen them at their killing? Women, babies, no matter to them.
Ever ask yourself who started it all?
Well, I seen it happen. The whites and their guns moving in.
It wasn't pretty work they did. Women and children, too. That's a fact.
They let you live here. There's got to be a reason.
He come here like you, full of shot, ailing, white man's doing.
Mr. Sittin' and me, we took him in, tended him.
He was a young chief then, but White Bear never forgot.
Not in all these years.
White Bear's the oldest chief among the youth now.
He don't forget, Nettie Sittin'. He's near to relation I got.
You're from another age, Nettie. You and White Bear.
Maybe you got someone. A wife?
No, no wife.
No mother then?
I got her memory. And a pair of earrings she always wore. That's all.
Not on you. I'd have come on them.
They're back in Dodge City.
Oh, that's a pity. That's a pity.
You think you can get the guns without waking her?
I can't make out good with no light, but I can fight an old woman in the dark.
Not long till sun up is maybe our last chance. Take it easy.
Now, just close enough. I don't mind shootin' one bit.
Stealin' upon an old woman. What kind of men are you?
You're a doggone witch. That's what you are.
Seein' in the dark here and you ain't no kind of woman at all.
Maybe not now, boy, but I was once more woman than you could imagine.
All right, shut up. Both of you. Somebody's comin'.
They come here earlier than I said.
It's them same Indians, Mr. Dillon.
Yeah.
Hey, you, stand still. A pair of you.
Mr. Dillon, I swear I had my rival. I'd blow us up before I let them take us.
Maybe I'd help you, Chester.
She's out there right now tradin' for us. You know that.
Well, get ready. Somebody's comin'.
Now, that cutter beef will last me a good long time.
It was a gift from my friend White Bear.
For us?
Oh, now then. You're worth a sight more than that.
It's done there ridin' off.
You're sparin' us, Natty. Why?
Sparin' you?
You didn't tell them about us.
They didn't ask.
How come you're actin' human so sudden like after near scarin' us to death?
I ain't gonna miss this boy. That's the truth of it. He's one ballin' big mouth.
We'll be glad to get out of your way and trade for guns, our horses, and a cut of your new beef.
I've been thinkin' about them here, Bobbs.
I've been thinkin' about our guns.
Under my bed. These two horses saddled up to spring. Now, them here, Bobbs.
They're in a strong box in Dodge City. You mean a ride back with us?
Oh, I wouldn't be seen in daylight with you.
Yeah. Well, I might get back this way some day. If I do, I'll bring them to you.
For these old ears?
Here, boy. Take your ring.
Pretty things ain't for me. Not anymore.
I'll take it.
I declare I don't understand you at all. You just beat the duds. That's what you do.
If you was regular men, you'd find yourself a woman.
Pretties don't belong on a man's hand. There ain't no strong box.
Us women, folk, gives us that bright feeling.
Haven't it pretty?
Well, I don't know.
I don't know.
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 Kathleen Hite, with editorial supervision by John Mestin.
Featured in the cast was Virginia Gray. Parley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.
And now, here's a special word from our star.
This is William Conrad. I've taken off the Marshal's badge to remind you that the Crusade for Freedom is counting on our continued support to keep Radio Free Europe on the air.
I might just mention, over 90 percent of the refugees escaping Iron Curtain countries report that they were Radio Free Europe listeners.
That means we're getting the truth through the jamming and past the propaganda barrage.
Let's keep the truth alive. Keep faith with more than 76 million people who can rely on us for it.
Send what you can now to the Crusade for Freedom. Care of your post-ops.
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.