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 a 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.
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My gracious, Doc, I never heard so much complaining in all my life.
Well, it's just that I don't like walking all the way to the end of Dodds to look at some horse that you want to buy.
Well, he's a pretty good horse. Oh, he'll probably pull us a crow.
Doc, if you remember, I didn't even ask you to come with me.
Well, I wouldn't let you go alone. A boss could sell you a blind horse, lame, and three legs, and you wouldn't know the difference.
You don't know the difference between a slick fork and a single tree, and you're trying to tell me.
Well, I'll be...
Huh? What?
Look at that fella on over by the stable.
Oh, what about it?
Doc, that's a coffin he's got in his wagon, ain't it?
My golly, it sure looks like it.
Hello there.
Hello.
What's that you got there?
Ain't it a wagon?
Well, that's a burying box. And I might have found one, too. I made it myself.
Has it, uh, got anything in it?
Oh, now, that's a mighty personal question, mister. I don't even know your name.
Oh, I'm Chester Proudfoot, and this here is Doc Adams.
Yeah? My name's Mathur. Just Mathur. Glad to know you.
Hey, you, you a real doctor?
Well, that's been argued both ways.
I like you.
Well, I sure wish you'd been here when Orson Boggs took sick.
Well, who's Orson Boggs?
Just Orson Boggs, laying right there in that box.
What did I have?
Chills and agar. He fought her for a whole week, and then he just give up.
He was the best friend I had in this whole world.
You live around here, do you?
No. No, we was traveling there, heading west.
You mean to take him with you?
Orson Boggs?
No, no, sir. He's his. His last request was to be buried in a proper burying ground, and I'm going to do it right here in Dodge.
A proper burying ground?
Yeah. You mean to call Boot Hill a proper burying ground?
It'll do. I'm going to plant here this afternoon, and then tonight I've got to fill each other's last requests.
What was that?
Well, Orson left me here with our grub stake. It ain't much, but it'll serve for a wake.
A wake?
Yeah. It's fitting a proper man should have a wake if he wants one, and Orson said to hold a big one.
They hold a wake, you know, before the burying, not after.
Well, this is the way Orson wanted it, so that's the way it's going to be.
I'm going to hire a room and invite everybody who wants to come, and you're invited, both of you.
Oh, well, yes. Thank you, but what about this burying? Don't you need a preacher at all?
Oh, no. Orson Boggs has no dealing with preachers. He asked me to dig a hole and put him in it and fill it up, and that's all.
Well, maybe I'll speak the word or two.
Well, I'd better find a stable man. I'll see you later. And be sure to come to the wake. Bring anybody you like. Lots of liquor.
Lots of liquor. You know, Doc, I wouldn't be surprised by what I went to that burial and wake.
Well, you know something, Chester, I wouldn't be surprised if you did either.
Wow, Mr. Dunn. Well, I sure am glad you got back, but I didn't expect you to tomorrow.
I'm away three days, and you've got to go and get married, huh?
Oh, now look here, Mr. Dunn, just because a man wants to look nice for a party ain't no cause to think he's clean lofted.
Oh, party? Well, that's different. Who's celebrating?
Gus Matthew. He's holding a wake tonight. Lots of free food and liquor, all you can drink, he says.
Who died?
A friend of his, Mr. Orson Boggs.
Orson Boggs? I don't believe I know him either.
Well, you're invited to the wake anyway, everybody is, and you'd better come, too.
Why?
There's something funny about this whole business, Mr. Dunn.
How's that?
Well, sir, Gus Mather drove into Dodd with Orson Boggs already in his coffin, buried him on Boothill Saffron with no preacher, no nothing.
You think something's wrong?
To tell the truth, I don't know what to think.
Well, we'll go see. That is, if you don't mind being with a man who isn't quite as flashy a dresser as you were.
Oh, no, I don't mind him. I mean, I...
All right, let's go.
I hope we ain't going to be late.
Having the sound of things, they're just warming up.
No, I mean for the Beatles. I hope it ain't all gone.
If I know you, you'll make out somehow.
Hey, man, I want to thank all of you for coming tonight.
Orson Boggs, would it be mighty pleased? Orson Boggs was the best friend I ever had.
He was the best man ever to come out of the Red Bank country.
Here's to him.
Here's to all of you.
My goodness, what a way to mourn for a man.
Yeah.
Of course, if he's dead, I guess it don't matter now.
Anyway, that best man, the cur doesn't know how to throw a party, don't he?
Well, it must be worth it to him.
What do you mean?
This whole business could be a way to let the world know that Orson Boggs is dead, Justin.
You mean you think he ain't?
He could be.
Well, why would a man want people to think Boggs was dead if he ain't?
To escape the law would be a good reason.
But we ain't never heard of no Orson Boggs being wanted.
Maybe he hasn't been found out yet.
Now let's go say hello to Gus. We're not being polite.
Well, I guarantee we won't find out nothing from him.
We can try.
Hey, hey, hey.
Hello there. Hello there, Chester.
Hello, Gus.
This here is Marshall Dillon.
Hello, Gus.
Bonjour.
Oh, you're welcome here.
Thank you.
Yeah, yeah. Let me get you a drink.
Thank you.
Yeah.
It's too bad about Orson Boggs, Gus.
Where was your prom anyway?
Oh, he was a long way from here, Marshall.
But he was from Kansas.
Oh, yes. Yes, you could say that.
Here's your drink, Marshall. Chester.
Yes, he was from Kansas, all right.
We was headed west.
And I'll have to go it alone now.
Uh-huh.
You from Kansas, too, Gus?
Me? Me? I'm from everywhere.
I got no real home, Marshall.
I just drift around like Orson Boggs did.
Yeah.
As we came in, you were saying something about the Red Bank country.
That's down near the Pawnee Reservation, isn't it?
Uh-huh. Yeah.
Well, we drifted through here a couple of times, and we...
Well, Marshall, I better see to the men's drinks.
Gotta keep the boys oiled up, you know.
Yeah, come on, boys.
He's a sly old devil, ain't he?
He's hiding something, all right, Chester.
It's gonna take time to find out what it is.
Well, sure ain't gonna find out tonight.
And as long as we're here, there ain't no reason to be standoffish, are they?
I guess not, Chester.
Come on, let's belly up to the bar.
Sure.
Mr. Dillon?
Huh?
Mr. Dillon?
Yeah, what do you want, Chester?
Nothing. I just wondered where you was going.
Well, I was going into the Long Branch for a beer.
You want to join me, or have you sinned enough for one day?
You put it that way and I don't know what to say.
Don't say anything. Come on.
Well, Matt, Chester.
Yeah?
Come to join the party?
Oh, what party?
Gus Mathis over there. He's buying drinks for everybody.
We already been to one of his parties.
Two beers, Sam.
I heard about the wakey two the other night.
What I heard, there were men drinking there until dawn.
Yeah, and most of them were in here the next day trying to cure their hangover.
Oh, thanks, Sam.
Here you go, Chester.
Yeah, well, thank you, Mr. Dillon.
Well, Matt, you're getting as free with your money as Gus Mathis.
He's been buying drinks in here right and left for three days running.
You'd think he had millions.
Kitty, how much money has Gus been spending?
Oh, that little group he's got over there with him now is nothing.
Come evening, he'll have 15 or 20 men he's treating. It's always like that.
What are you thinking, Mr. Dillon?
I'm thinking that's too much money for a man to come by easily.
Legal, you mean?
Yeah, legal.
But how about it, Mr. Dillon? Why don't you just go set him down hard some words and make him talk?
Chester, I can't just beat it out of him.
Besides, he's pretty sly. He's only let one thing slip so far.
What's that?
That arson box coming from the Red Bank country.
Remember how he tried to cover that up when I asked him about it?
Oh, by golly, he did, didn't he?
Yeah, it's a long way from here. But we're going anyway.
We are.
Finish your beer and get the horses. I'll meet you at the office.
Yes, sir.
So long, Kitty.
Good luck, Matt.
Well, there sure ain't much of a place. You reckon that fellow was right?
They said he thought the Boggs lived on Ash Creek. This is the only cabin we've seen in ten miles.
Well, there's somebody out in front, pulling the dust. Must be her, huh?
Yeah.
How do, ma'am?
Howdy.
You, Miss Boggs?
How do you know my name?
We ran into a buffalo hunter a way back. He said he thought that you lived down along here somewhere.
He was pretty nosy, wasn't he?
I'm a marshal out of Dodge, Matt Dillon. This is Chester Proudfoot.
I knew him.
What do you want here, Marshal?
We're looking for Orson Boggs, ma'am. He is your husband, isn't he?
Of course he's my husband.
Is he around? I'd like to talk to him.
He ain't here. Ain't been here for some days, so you might as well tell me what this is all about.
Did you know a man named Gus Mather, a friend of your husband?
My husband don't have no friends, Marshal. We come out here to lead a moral life, to keep away from people and temptation and sin and worldliness.
Are you sure he picked a good spot for him?
Miss Boggs, do you know where your husband is?
He went off on a hunting trip. Said he was getting restless.
And he went alone?
Of course he went alone. What's this all about, Marshal?
Miss Boggs, that man I mentioned, Gus Mather, he's in Dodge telling everybody that Orson's dead.
He ain't dead. I'd know it. Somehow I'd know it if he was.
Gus Mather claims he's Orson's best friend.
He's lying. He's got to be.
You sure you don't know him? About fifty-five, spry, gray hair.
I told you. Orson don't have no friends.
Well, then how did Gus Mather know Orson's name?
How should I know? I ain't responsible for this Gus Mather. Now if you leave me be, I got work to do. Good day to you, Marshal.
Well, if that ain't the cold-blooded woman I ever did meet.
She's hiding something, Chester.
Too bad it ain't her face. We going back to Dodge now?
Yeah. And I have a hunch it won't be too long before she's there, too.
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Music
Master.
Ah, Mr. Boggs. Come in.
Orson ain't come home yet, Master.
Oh?
Discuss math that you was talking about. I'd like to have a look at him.
Well, he's your long branch, Mr. Jones.
At least he was an hour ago.
The long branch is that saloon just across the street here.
Saloon. The earth will open up one day and swallow this sinful town, Master.
I'm afraid they just build another one like it.
Chester, why don't you go get Gus Mather out of there for Miss Boggs, huh?
I said I'd like to have a look at him. I won't talk to any man who has liquor on his breath.
Would you mind getting close enough to look through the window at him, Miss Boggs?
And no closer.
All right, let's go then.
He might maybe have went, but now let's see.
From what I hear about Gus Mather, he'll be there all right.
Yeah, he's there.
He's drunk.
A little, maybe.
I thought you said you didn't know Gus Mather.
I've seen him, but I never knew what he called himself.
Then he is a friend of your husband's.
Marshal, that man in there is no friend of my husband or of mine. Never was.
We wouldn't endure such sinful ways, lying, living in corruption.
He's going down to the eternal fires of damnation.
You feel mighty strong about Gus Mather, don't you?
My husband was a fine, upstanding man.
What's that got to do with Mather up there?
Precious little, I can tell you.
Well, Marshal, I've seen what I've come to dodge to see.
Orson would be better off dead than in there.
Yes, ma'am. What are you going to do now?
I'm going home. First thing in the morning.
There's a good hotel up the street there.
Thank you kindly, Marshal.
Well, if that don't beat all, traveling all this way just to take a look at Gus Mather.
She had more reason than that, Chester.
What's that?
I don't know exactly.
I'll go find Doc and then meet me at the office.
We're going to make a little trip up to Boothill.
Well, we're in the world of you two then.
Covered with dirt? What have you been doing?
You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Miss Kitty.
Have you seen Gus Mather, Kitty?
Gus? Yeah.
About the middle of the afternoon, he went out back.
He was mighty drunk.
Long about dark, some fellow found him and carried him up to the docks.
He thought he was dead.
He was dead.
Some fellow found him and carried him up to the docks. He thought he was dead at first.
Probably had the fan thoughts.
I was looking for you earlier, Matt. Where were you?
Digging up a grave on Boothill.
Oh, God, him. He's been in there 24 hours a day every day since that wake.
Now when we want him, he's passed out.
Well, there isn't much we can do about it now. Let's get some sleep. We'll see Gus in the morning.
Good morning, Matt.
Doc, how's your patient this morning?
This patient ain't the man he used to be, Marshal, but I'm sure drinking forever.
Well, you'd better be or you'll have no insides left.
Oh, yeah. Come in.
Yes, ma'am?
He don't look so sick to me.
Well, he was sick, ma'am. Mighty sick.
This is Mrs. Boggs, Doc. Mrs. Orson Boggs.
I heard about him being drunk in an alley. Now some men drug him up here.
Well, now Mrs. Boggs...
That ought to be your deathbed you're lying on.
Hey, it would be a blessed thing if you were to have a... forgiven nature.
Forgiveness belongs to the Lord.
Well...
Not to us here below. Get your pants on.
Excuse me, Mrs. Boggs, but this is a mighty sick man.
Get your pants on. He was sick. And it done him good, but he's coming home now.
I'm getting the one home.
I just tried to do away with Orson Boggs, but it didn't work. No man can escape his self.
Then Gus here is Orson Boggs?
Wait, you don't seem too surprised.
Last night Chester and I spent some time on Boothill. We found the coffin there, Barrett.
There was just a log in it. Nobody. No Orson Boggs.
Oh, I thought I had everybody plumb, fool.
He ran off. Stole our savings. Spent every penny. The miserable sinner.
Yeah. That's all true, Marshall. I thought up the whole plan myself.
I just got tired of being good all the time.
Well, you're going back to being good.
Yeah.
And you're going to stay good the rest of your life. Now come on. Let's get started home.
All right. Come on.
Well, Doc, at least we know Orson Boggs isn't dead.
But if you ask me, Matt, he was a whole lot better off when he was.
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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 John Leston and adapted for radio by Norman McDonald.
Featured in the cast were John Danaer and Virginia Gray.
Harley Baer as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty.
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gunsmoke.
Have a happy habit. One day through Friday, Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney on the CBS Radio Network.
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