 Around Dodge City entered the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers in the spoilers And that's with a US Marshal and the smell of gun smoke Gun smoke starring William Conrad the story of the violence that moved west with young America The story of a man who moved with it Matt Dillon United States Marshal Heavy Matt. Oh, somehow it was easier carrying him up to your office and back down Where are you gonna put me mr. Dillon? Yeah, well on the couch here, I guess You be all right there Chester. Oh, yes, and this will be fine. Good. I'm sure sorry I'm so much trouble Chester next time try to land on just one foot Even if you break a leg I know a man's in a terrible fix when he springs both ankles and he sure is doc. I Don't know what I'm gonna do. I know what you're gonna do You're gonna stay right there on that couch and you're gonna sleep there too Maybe doc and I'll bring you in something to eat every day or two It's better than you deserve. I know I've been a saying over and over to myself Chester. You fool you Well, the wage is a sin Chester. You were lucky to get off as easy as you did The way I heard that come on Chester. Tell us what really happened But I did tell you I was a looking out this second story when the admiring the view so to speak And the next thing I knew I fell that's all right on to the street. He didn't say who's window to sin In Texas doctor a gentleman don't mention such things You ain't in Texas. Well, sometimes we wish it never left like now. Yes like now Many a reputation has been ruined by just that's loose talk that you're making doc. Never mind doc Chester. He's jealous That's all jealous. I put in tracks in a man's yard. Not me not by a long so I know Good morning, Marshall. Well, good morning gentlemen What can I do for you? There's Chester Heard about you Chester. I heard never mind what you heard Torp Chester just got thrown from a horse That's all All right, what is it you want here gentlemen? Yeah All right, you tell them summers. Well, Marshall. It's about tomorrow night. No So what about tomorrow night? Well, you know, it's around up the sales seasons over It'll be a thousand cowboys celebrating in dodge. They always do at the end of the season. What about it? Well, there's gonna be more of this year in there be a lot of homesteaders in town, too It's gonna be worse than ever now. I expect that here could be a lot of trouble, Marshall. Yeah, there could be summers Just what is it you want Well, we've talked it over and we want you to get a lot of good tough men together Maybe about 20 of them in deputism that way here won't be any trouble That's what you want is it? Yes, we do look summers my job's to keep the piece around here, and I'm gonna do it But I'll do it in my own way. Oh, I know Marsha. You turn 20 deputies loose in that crowd looking for trouble and they're gonna find it Soon as the wild ones heard about it They'd bunch up and shoot it out with every one up boy to turn into the worst slaughter dodgers ever seen I think that's about the most fool idea I ever heard of and no reason for you to talk like that Marshall I think it's a good idea sure don't want my place wreck just goes your mule headed You're a gambler torque So so you can take your chances along with everybody else if you don't want that then close your place up tomorrow night I lose all that Texas money. Oh, that's not likely now We're not all gamblers Marshall. They can wreck my drag good store just as fast as a gambling house once they get started And it's up to you. That's right. It is up to me and we're gonna leave it that way Then you won't do anything I'll do everything I can I Don't know look summers. I know you've got your doubts about me. That's natural Some people think I'm too lax with the front street some think I'm too severe That's the way of it in any town if a peace officer does his job. Well, he pleases nobody Marshall We didn't come here for a lecture. What did you come for torque? Maybe you hadn't mind to help me pick up those deputies is that it? A matter of fact, I could yeah sure sure and a couple of ours yours would be the only tables open for play No, that's not what I had been done before torque He's there to torque. We're not gonna take his word for it. Are you I don't know But anyway, he won't listen to us. So it's his responsibility Come on men. Let's get out of here. I Hope you can handle it Marshall to buy gentlemen That torque is no good. He is just plain no good, Mr. Dillon Well, I know one man I got skinned at his place and torque gave him back 20 dollars so she wouldn't be broke Huh? Just how much did this man lose back? Oh, well, he'll five or six hundred they said and then he Oh, yeah, I see what you mean, man. I'm sure not gonna be much good to you tomorrow night, Mr. Dillon Now you can watch the jail right here just no, but you just got to get somebody to help you out on the street At least one man. Anyway, you can't be everywhere at once. Yeah, but tomorrow night dodge will be overrun with trail boys and homesteaders I'll looking for satisfaction Now I wouldn't ask any man to face that I know a few fellows who do it and so do you mr. Dillon Yeah, maybe but I wouldn't ask anybody How many were killed last year man? I? Don't remember well. I do six. That's what we buried them all in the saddle blankets all except one Remember he didn't even own a blanket Well, then he was sure out of luck all the way around wasn't it come on doc. Let's go get some dinner. All right We'll bring you a piece of bread chest here. Maybe I want a steak rare How come you're so hungry Chester? Oh, you're in such a hurry to get over there last night. She didn't take time for supper Mr. Dillon, I will answer no more questions about last night and that is fine Well, we'll bring you something. Yeah, I don't know if we should go man A man can think about his sins better on an empty stomach Close the door The next morning I had mr. High Tower print up some signs for me with a few rules that I made up for the roundup They were fair and reasonable, and I hope they'd be accepted without question The principal restrictions where that there was to be no shooting no reckless riding in the streets That afternoon I went from saloon to saloon and left a sign at each one Texas trail was my last stop and there I sat down with kitty for a short beer Towns beginning to fill up man. Yeah, it'll be swamped to the dashboard by dark. You um expect trouble tonight Always expect trouble kitty. Yeah, I know Matt I heard something Yeah, I heard torque and a few of his men cut cards last night So I don't know who it came out for but Lowman is supposed to kill you when tonight, I suppose Why is torque after you man? The torque says he wants an open town kitty, but what he's really after is somebody who closed down every game with his Who's this man what Ralph looking traveler headed this way, but What well, I'll be By it's so Matlock Badger, how are you? It's been a long time Come on over here sit up here. I'd like you to meet kitty kitty. This is all Matlock I know you man Just rode in the dodge an hour ago. There's your first time in a zone. Hey, would you like a beer don't mind good? I Aimed to get drunk tonight, but before I got started. I thought I'd look up there peace officer and shoot him I'd be sure to tangle with him for the night's out Always figure it's safer to do it sober. That's all he half means that so I asked around and found out the man's name is Matt Dylan United States Marshall. I've seen it all now. I hope you're not disappointed I'll tell you miss kitty. I knew Matt Dylan before he got civilized Why we had to tie his leg up to give him a haircut when he came Don't you believe a word that he says? Wilder the coat Better the horse man Well, you was all right. The only trouble with you was that fool honest streak. You always You rich nozzle Nobody's rich on the Mexican border land of sunshine and kind of beans Now I hired out to a general open Chihuahua three years ago I lost 20 pounds and was lucky to get back at all. Well, haven't you learned to stay out of Mexico yet? No, I met the man He wanted me to shoot and turned out to be a better fellow than the general So I told him I'd been hired to kill him and then rode for the border The general lost three soldiers who tried to stop me from swimming the real bravo You must be pretty handy with a gun, so you're just fair man But when I take my gun out, I go right ahead and use it some people stop and think for half a second There's a roundup and dodge tonight Matt's handling it alone. Yeah, no, no hold it hold it man I heard about it. I heard all about it and that's why I'm here to say hello and Sign on for a night's pleasure Missed our Matt I've killed on the side of the law before but I don't believe that and anyway I I don't want any killings here. I was joshing you Matt. I know what you want. It's true I was sheriff in Tascosa for six months you what yeah, it's in the record what they caught up with me there But I've already done such a good job taming the place that the governor pardon me I won't kill anybody tonight that don't need killing all right. All right. I believe you so But I won't ask any man to come in when it's as rough as this roundup. Maybe well, you didn't ask me any other objection Well The men don't know you around here, so Now tell them how they take to a stranger first night. I ran Tascosa. Nobody knew me either I'm not green at this business. Yeah, but it's my job. Why should you get mixed up in it? Well, I I also heard somebody's planning a party for you tonight Hey, you did I've owed you something for a long time Matt Oh, that's got nothing to do with it. It has you got no right not to let me pay it back a little now. There's a chance to You're just as crazy as you ever were that's better. Oh, come on. Let's go find me a badge before it gets dark Sure nice to have met you miss kitty. Well good luck sale. I'll see you later Matt. Yes, sure. It's a long kitty Oh You sure been a long time coming to dodge mr. Matlock. What do you mean Chester? Well, I've heard mr. Dillon mention you a lot, but the way he talked I wasn't never sure you were still alive. Oh Well, I was never sure either Chester, you know, this is how listen the most cautious man I mean you think being a US Marshal isn't asking for an early grave man Oh, maybe but at least it's a way to do some good before you die Whether folks think so or not no men like Torp that's all No, Chester even good men. I got a strange twist that makes them suspect any man pay to handle the bad element Hey, just can't help thinking that some of its dirt is rubbed off, honey And I never thought about that before Matt sure how it wasn't Tascosa They wanted me there all right, but they wanted me to keep my distance to make some man kind of loom Just don't know what's good for him that's all instead of a real law man They'd rather hire some killer with a lot of not Well, there are plenty of them around sure are Bragging kind. I never did like a man who has to notch his gun to keep his courage up. Yeah My goodness look yonder the streak about full already isn't even dark. Yeah, so give me a hand here Will you we'll move Chester's couch away from the wall? There that should do it Yeah, you'll be safer here Chester in case somebody gets it in mind to shoot up the jail Thank you, Mr. Dillon. I can watch both doors from here. Yes, hand me my gun belt. Oh, yeah There you are Well, come on, so Chester I'll get somebody at the dodge house to fetch up some supper. Thank you, sir and good luck So long to see you Chester How we work it man I'll tell you sell you take this side of the street I'm going up to the dodge house, and then I'll be on the other side somewhere. All right Oh say you mind if I go back later and get that Spencer carbine of yours make a mighty handy club If I don't have to use it in the other way They got there that fell on their shoulders. Oh, that's mr. High tower. He runs the printing press here Stop it. Oh, no. No, they just carried him into the longhorn to make him stand some drinks Oh, they like high tower. They won't hurt him. Well, I guess that sort of officially opens this here round up, huh? Yeah, I guess it does Well, I'll leave you here, sir. Yeah, sure sure man, and uh sell I uh, I Want to thank you for what you're doing tonight. I ain't done nothing yet But I'll do plenty of someone shoots you in the back. I can promise that yeah, well, I'll see you later Sure, man We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment But first Sunday nights you are cordially invited to escape via CBS radio Yes, every weekend for drama that will take you right out of this world Listen for escape at the stars address Also tomorrow evening CBS radio brings you Lionel Barrymore on your Sunday night Playhouse Now for the second act of gun smoke When I came out of the Dodge house front street was so full that if anybody had been shot the crowd would have carried him along like one of the living I Had a feeling that the word was out about torque and his bunch cutting cards to see who would make a try for me And that the crowd knew it and was waiting for it. I Stood for a while with my back against summer's dry good store Then I left the street and cut down an alley Thinking to change my position with as much irregularity as possible I was passing the back door of the Texas trail when I heard the first shot of the night I Entered the saloon from the rear and made my way into the crowd It's not all right Sam I made a rule that there'd be no shooting for any reason All right, who fired that shot Marshall he just took a shot at the moon. That's all put the gun away and come over here I'm bothering nobody marshal accepting maybe you and back everybody I Said that's enough torque. No, it ain't Dylan this time. I got the jump on you You ain't pushing me no more Torps bullet just grazed my arm Then I put one in his head and another in his chest And at the same time out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure with a gun in each hand move out of the shadow of the alley and turned toward me on the boardwalk Without really looking I dropped him with one shot, then I faced the crowd and waited for the next move But for some reason none came Yes summers That man you just shot my torque got what he deserved. Yes. I know it's the other one that I thought it he Marshall you'd better go take a look at that man. He's dying Who is it? I don't know him marshal, but you do What? He's wearing a star No, no Think that did it No, so no, there's my fault. I Crossed the street a while back left the Carbine with Chester No for yours How is he oh No use doc Thanks So I listen Listen to me mad you did right and only thing you could do It was my fault. I shouldn't have crossed over and come up behind you Anyway mad I ain't been living on my own time ever since that Day you pulled me out of the mob, you know, Magordo I never thank you for that Guess I never will Matt So long find someone to carry him over to your office. No I'll carry him what happened. I heard the shooting put a blanket on the floor there doc. Yeah, sure He's dead Who shot him sir? I shot him Chester. I Didn't know it was him. I'm sorry, Mr. Dillon It sounds like they're gonna who are the town after all mad sure no no they're not It's gonna be kind of hard to stop now, isn't it mad maybe you taking a shotgun mr. Dillon mad Why don't you just let them fight each other? What are you gonna do? I'm gonna close front street You're gonna close the one party's over and dodge Mr. Dillon, you can't do that. There'll be trouble if I don't the mobs taste of blood now They'll shoot you sure as I'm laying here will they all right. I can't stop you But I sure do wish I could go with you mad I'll go me if they see me They won't be so quick thanks, but this isn't your job. He's the one of you, but thanks If you ever had one I ain't going home tonight Not tonight. I don't enter fear fella. You got no chips in this deal. I could buy in mr I will use this shotgun for what it was met on the next man. It's Sam close it up Don't tell me what you're gonna do that took care of the Texas trail in the Longhorn And I moved on through the Oasis and the Oliver Ganser Then to the smaller bars that infested the Outskirts of town When I came back up front street the crowded fin its fever broken I'd left Torps place for the last Thinking to give his men a chance to get out of town before they face me It was a gambling hall on the same side of the street as the jail And when I reached it and entered there weren't more than a dozen men there Most of them step quietly pass me out into the street What was left didn't seem to count for much Looking for somebody Marshall you a friend of Torps Yes, I was why who else here worked for Torp Everyone's gone Marshall. They heard you were all riled up and they left Then you're alone And still in bad company. I wouldn't ordinarily take that or go ahead. Mr. You're calling it And now what's stopping you now if it's that shotgun Does that make it easier for you I haven't been looking for you Marshall you weren't on the cut, weren't you? Torps dead Marshall isn't that enough pork? Mr.. One of the best men I ever knew died tonight And I killed him. I'm not a gunman Marshall. You wouldn't be proud killing me What is a man like you know about pride now you get out of dodging you get out fast But I don't you want to die in this place right now No, I'm leaving. All right. Hurry the rest of the night. I walked the dark empty street alone And just before dawn I got a spring wagon and loaded cell onto it a couple of hours later I buried him out of the Arkansas and a little grove of cotton woods Maybe I should have put a marker on his grave But I didn't but I did instead I did partly out of scorn for the Kind of men cells said have to notch their guns to keep their courage up and partly as a Kind of a cross That I'd bear from now on So instead of a marker on his grave. I took out my gun and I cut a single notch on it Gun smoke under the direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad is Matt Dillon US Marshall tonight's story was specially written for gun smoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey Featured in the cast were John Boehner and Harry Bartell with Lawrence Dobkin Luke Ruegman and James Nussar Parley Bear is Chester Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty Gun smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the armed forces radio service Join us again next week as Matt Dillon US Marshall fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in gun smoke Listen to CVS radio for spring buying ten as December bride and say happy you here December bride tomorrow night Listen for the important announcement about its new night and time on CVS radio This is Roy Rowan speaking and remember Amos and Andy are here every Sunday on the CVS radio network