 just one way to handle the killers in the spoilers and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the spell of gun smoke. Gun smoke. Starring William Conrad, the transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America, the story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. It is just over the rise ahead of it. It won't be dry. I've been bringing cattle up here to Dodd City for 12 years. Drought, the node drought, the ponds always had water. It better ain't pushing much further. Yeah, be a water. With luck, the railroads got the cars for us. We can start loading the sand for that pond. You think you're getting yourself a case of nerves. You've been a lost. So you just act like a spooky old horse. You jump in your gun shy and having those forceps for you. Oh, yeah. You mean this? You take me, Matt. I don't rant and rail against fate. I just sit back and take what comes. Yeah, sure. If I get a pension, fine. I still in blind. And if I don't, well, I keep my hand in, setting a broken leg on a dog. Hold him. In fact, I could use a fear to not plan to shoot anybody. If this drought doesn't break, I'm in the mood to shoot myself. That's a bad one. All right. I don't think I've ever seen the prairie as dry as it is this year. Oh, there you are, Mr. Dillon. Well, come on in, Chester. I've been looking all over for you. We've got trouble, Mr. Dillon. Huh? Trouble. Old man Howard gets in a rider in. A trail drives pulled in from the big bend. They're threatening to cut his senses so they can water the cattle at Cottonwood Pong. Well, as you blow up, Matt, a real head-on smash. A thirsty herd against that skin from at Howard. I could get myself a few fees off of this before it's over. Good old doc always hoping for the best. Come on, Chester. Let's ride out to Cottonwood. There's enough water there for all the trail herds in the next ten years. That's on his ranch, Chester. He's got a right to fence his own range. Got a right, maybe, but no decent rancher would take advantage of it. Howard's mean. Just downright mean. I think it's more than that, Chester. It's the old business of making two dollars grow where one dollar grew before. I think Howard figured on something like this when he strung that fence last month. Look down to Mr. Dillon. Must be 50 or 60 riders facing each other across that fence. Looks like a couple of armies. Well, that wouldn't be the first range war that started over water rights. Come on. Trust us on my property. I demand the... Where this herd? That's right, Marshal. Jack Jackson from the Circle Z spread down in the big bend. Maybe you can make this fellacy reason. I got a herd of cattle here that's dying like flies for lack of water. Over there, 100 yards is plenty of water. Only a sneaking crook is fenced it in. How about it, Marshal? Well, it's his land, Jackson. The law gives him the right to fence it. Law? I got in the world tied up in that herd. There are 25 trail riders there in the saddle. I can't even pay wages to if I lose these cattle. Is the law a pole pushing a man against the wall and wiping him out? It wasn't intended to. Howard, the fence and talk. There's no reason why you can't get together with this man and let him take that herd in and water it. I made him an all day for water by the herd himself for three dollars a year. That's a pretty stiff term, Howard. Better than losing everything like he's gonna do. All right, hold it, both of you! Now look, if there's any gunslinging starts, I'm gonna be in on it too, you understand? Don't understand you. Most people out here on the frontier stick together when trouble starts. They don't kick a man when he's down. And they don't look on a draught or a blizzard as a chance to make a personal cleaning. Ah, just a minute, Dylan. You call yourself a law dodge. Confidence in my own land? It does. And never mind your opinions, Marshall. All I want out of you is enforcement of the law. Jackson, you better have your boys start the herd circling. This mean you're backing him up, Marshall? I'm backing up the law, that's all, Jackson. And I don't think much of your laws up here. I only enforce them. I don't make them. Now you better circle that herd. I'll see you better. I'm ordering my boys to shoot the first man of steel that comes through that fence. Kester, you cover Howard. Yes, sir, Mr. Dylan. And if he orders any of his men to fire a shot. It'd be a pleasure, Mr. Dylan. What's the idea, Marshall? But I'm gonna do the enforcing, Howard, not you. So if you're smart, you won't give any orders about shooting. Dylan, you got a tough job. I guess you're trying to do it fair and square. Man does what he has to do, Jackson. I know. It's like with me. That herd of mine beds down without water. Most of them won't get off the ground in the morning. So law or no law, we're going through that fence tonight. Bad liquor or a bust it's easier, but you've probably noticed that before. Seriously, though, what's wrong? Clinic. One of the bloodiest little range wars you ever saw is just about to break. Out of cottonwood pond, I heard about it. You hear too that I'm back on the wrong side? Here, pull a stool up to the bar. Harry, a drink for Mr. Dylan. No thanks. I can't stay, kitty. I gotta try to round up some deputies and tries probably about as far as I'm gonna get. Old town will be siding with the Texas boys against Howard and against me. Maybe you ought to switch sides, man. Oh, sure. Sure, I know, but I can't. I started making my own rules that mean the end of law and order in Dodge City. Well, not for me to say. You're the one who has to decide. Yeah, Chester. What'd you find out? Mr. Hightower down the railroad depot checked clear through the Topeka. They can't get enough cattle cars here to load that herd out before day after. Well, that's that. It's an outside chance anyway. Yeah, I just can't do it, kitty. What should I do? Yeah. Well, not for me to say. You're the one who has to decide. Yeah, I'm trying to, sir. What did you find out? Mr. Hightower down the railroad depot checked clear through the Topeka. They can't get enough cattle cars here to load that herd out before the day after. Now, that's that. Drives an outside chance anyway. I thought we might load them up Fast kitty and run him up to Walnut Creek, it's still got a little water in it. Matt, there's something wrong with the law that upholds a lowdown scheme like this. What Howard's doing is wrong morally. But it's right legally. I gotta find a legal way to stop him. I bet a lawyer could find a way of some kind. Too bad this town doesn't have one. Heaven forbid. Just the same, Matt. Yeah, what is it? I know. You work for Dick Howard. Well, what's on your mind? Well, Mr. Howard figures you ought to be arranging to protect his property. Jackson gave me his word idly off until nine tonight. His word? Sure. But Mr. Howard figures to be a good idea if you deputize his writers. Fenton, get up. Wait a second. Go on, get up. Well, I want Howard's advice. I'll ask for it. Now go tell him that. Well, yeah, but... Go on. Get up. Move. Well, it just may come to that, Mr. Dillon. I couldn't get anybody else. You know, I ought to throw this badge away and go out there and help Jackson cut that fence. Matt, I still think what you ought to do... Yeah, I know. I know. I ought to get a lawyer. Well... Kitty, the only lawyer Dodge City ever saw was that young fella from Boston who died here last year on his way... Hey. What is it, man? Chester, what happened to those books of his? Well, nobody never claimed him. Still in the back of the jail there somewhere? That's a long shot, but... Kitty, I love you. Matt. Come on, Chester, let's find those books. A man a year just to learn what these words mean. Well, I sure can't help you, Mr. Dillon. Looky there. Tort. Replevin. Statutory malfeasance. Why don't they write the laws out in English? There'd be no work for lawyers. The only thing that might do it is this one. I'm not too sure what it means. Well, evening, Matt. Oh, Doc, come on in here, will you? I figured I'd bring you a little carriage for the battle. What? There might be snakes out at Cottonwood Pond. It's very tough for you. Yes, a Calamal and Irish whiskey. No doctor west of the Mississippi ought to be without him. Calamals for the women, you understand? Yeah, sure. Of course, a bottle of Jameson might not cure a patient, but it sure makes him enjoy his illness. Look, Doc, you've been to school. At least I guess you had. Oh, well, I browsed through a couple of things. Well, listen to this, Nonan. Tell me what you think about this paragraph right here. Well, you see, a schedule of territorial ordinances and judicial presidents. Handbook for local administrators. Well, I didn't go to law school. No, no, but you've got red books and you know big words. Now listen to this. The local administrator or other duly constituted authority in the territorial division is hereby empowered to declare a state of acute emergency, in case of riot, rebellion, or any natural catastrophe which threatens a general welfare. Now, Doc, would you say I'm a duly constituted authority? Well, Doc, city, I guess you're about the only authority. Yeah, Nonan, would you say this drought where heaven is a threat to the general welfare? I've never seen a worse one. All right, now listen to this. During the period of such emergency, the officer in charge is authorized to seize, confiscate, allocate, or otherwise administer critical materials and facilities in accordance with a common need and his own discretion. All right, Matt. Water is a material. And as far as keeping cattle alive is concerned, Cottonwood Pond is a facility. That's all I wanted to know. I don't see how it'll help you, though, Matt. How it'll never stand for it. You're still going to have a pitched battle in your hands. Maybe so, Doc, but at least I'll be fighting in the way I want to fight. Oh, come on, Chester, let's go. It's eight o'clock. We'll turn for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, you personally can help to make sure America has an impregnable fence against invaders on all its borders by volunteering as a ground observer to watch the skies for unidentified planes. Men and women from teenage up ride or phone your nearest Civil Defense Center. Now, the second act of gun smoke. Must be pushing nine o'clock. Hope they don't jump the gun on us, Chester. I figured Jack will stick by his word, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, Howard lets him. You know, we might get a break and this drought of that storm comes this way. It's only heat lightning. All thunder, no rain. Well, if it goes on a few more weeks, this prayer will be dried right down to the number... Hold it. Right there by the fence, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, I see it. Who's there? Speak up. I usually answer bushwhackers with a six gun. This is your lucky night, Fenton. Well, Marshal, I didn't know... Where's your boss? All right here. It's any minute now. It's nine o'clock. You've got five minutes yet. Come on over here, Jackson. I want you to hear this, too. Come on, Marshal. Rather than I'd have fought against you. Never mind. Mr. Howard, by the authority vested in me as a U.S. Marshal and under the territorial laws and ordinances of the United States, I'm hereby declaring a state of acute emergency due to the drought. What are you talking about, Dillon? The U.S. Territorial Ordinance Schedule of 1858, Section 721-C. What are you trying to say? Just this. For the duration of the emergency, I am taking charge of Cottonwood Pond in the name of the United States government. And I'm allocating use of it to Mr. Jackson here to water his herd. Now, if you want to try to make a deal with him, you've got five minutes. Before I cut the wire and open the fence. I've never bought water before, but I'll give you ten cents a head, Howard. How about it? I'll see it dead first. And I'll be struck dead myself before I see one head of your stock onto my property. Dillon, I don't know what's for her in this move. Maybe you've sold out, made a deal. Easy, Howard. If not that, then you've lost your mind. Your five minutes are running out. Now, what are you going to do? Fight. What do you think I'm going to do? You're going to resist the law? You call it the law. My boys' orders, they shoot any man who lays a hand on this fence. And that goes for you. Listen to me, Howard. You got a chance to do something that costs you nothing and means life or death to somebody else. And you're refusing to do it. I'm sorry to see it that way. But in any case, this herd gets water. Maybe they will. And deputies. Well, I got twenty-five men here, Marshal. They're yours if you want them. And bylaws of the United States do the best of your ability, so I'll help you. I do. I'll give you Marshal's acting under my orders. Now, bunch the cattle in this way and start them through the fence as soon as I open the wire. They won't need much startin', Marshal. They've been smelling that water for hours. Now don't shoot unless you're fired on. If you are, protect yourselves and your herd. All right, let's go. Come here a minute. Yes, sir. You got the wire cutters? Here you are, Mr. Dillon. You know, I think we gotta fight on. Keep me covered. I'll watch the left over here. All right, Mr. Jackson. Well, there's one strand left. They're comin' up right, Mr. Howard. What's the matter? All right, fire at the flash, Chester. Yes, sir. Oh, my gracious. I wish there was a moon. There's one more strand. I spotted him. And here's the last one. Wind's comin' up off that clog. Let's try to find Howard. I'm gonna take him in for attempted murder. Last time I heard him use down-long offense here, Summers. As they'll start the whole prairie blazing. They're tryin' to stampede it. It'll tape mornin' fire to turn those cattle away from water. I guess you're right. Look, send as many as your boys as you can to help me. We gotta get that fire stopped and fast. We're winnin', Chester. Otherwise... Couldn't have been a worse time the prairie's dry gunpowder. Well, at least the herd's safe. They wouldn't leave that fond of the whole world caught fire. Any orders for the boys, Mr. Dillon? Uh, yeah, I just have them keep workin' along the edge of the backfire. They can speed out any sparks that get across. All right, Marshall, I got you. Have you seen anything of the Howard gang? Oh, not a sign. I guess they figured they'd done all they could. Yeah, maybe. Mr. Dillon, I'd swear a storm's gonna break. I can halfway smell the rain. I don't know about that, Chester. But it's doin' one thing that won't help us. What do you mean? Look, the wind's shiftin'. Startin' to drive those flames across the backfire. Well, if it catches air again, it'll get clear away from us. Yeah, sure will. Now, come on. Let's grab some of the boys and start workin' behind them. Let's go, Dillon. Well, Fenton, I figured you'd be halfway to the Mexican border by now. Well, you figured wrong. You keep your hands still, both of you. One movement at your last move. That's about the way you planned it anyway, isn't it? You wiped us out, Dillon. That backfire you used took the ranch house in the barns. There's nothing for us to do now but drift. Only first I'm gonna kill you. Hit the dirt, Chester. Fenton, drop the gun. You're under arrest. I'm dropping you dirt. You warned him, Mr. Dillon? That doesn't matter much now. Look, Chester. Yes, sir. He didn't jump the backfire. With that wind drivin' it'll burn the whole prairie from here clear to the river. And Dodge City along with it. Not a way in the world of stoppin' it either. I heard the shot, Marshal. You all right? I'm sick of my stomach, that's all. Dodge City's gonna burn Jackson and there's nothing we can do. I sure didn't figure on this. I'll let him have her, gladly. No, it's my fault. I should've dropped him first. The man does what he has to, Marshal. I don't think that's your way. Well, maybe my way's no wrong way. But it leads to burnin' 10,000 acres of prairie in a whole town. There must be somethin' wrong. Wait, Mr. Dillon. What is it, Chester? I told ya, I told ya, I could smell it. Smell what? What the devil eats? The heavens has startin' to rain. By heaven may be the right expression. Well, I don't know about that, but I know it's the only thing that can save Dodge. Well, come on rain! Faster! Cut loose and rain, will ya? I'm out front here sometimes. When a thing like this happens, it makes ya wonder if... if maybe... Come on, Chester, let's find our horses. By the way, some Tom. Let's swing over along the plow of Chester and find a place to wait it out for a while, huh? That's what I was hopin', you'd say. It took a long time to break loose, but it sure makin' up for a lot. I never saw a lightning. Hey, let's up once the rain starts. I guess it's just a freak storm anyway. Off your horse, catch the flat on the ground. Now, I saw it flash, Mr. Dillon. He'd come from that lone Cottonwood tree. Yeah, it's a bad spot. He's got covered and we haven't... Well, I guess we found out what happened to Mr. Howard. Flip a shot at the tree, Chester. Roll away as soon as I fire. All right, bring him to sea. He's got all the odds. If he keeps it up, he'll get us sure. Maybe we might just well rush you, Mr. Dillon. We haven't got much to lose. There's an outside chance, Chester. And he's bound to get one of us. Yeah, but this way it's both. On the Cottonwood tree. And I'll move fast. And good luck, Chester. Same to you, Mr. Dillon. I think Howard's lying over there on the ground. He said he'd be struck dead before he'd ever give in. Well, he was. By heaven, I don't know. It's the second time tonight. You know, Chester, I... I think I'm going to change my ways. Parley Bear is Chester and Howard McNeer is Doc. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gun Smoke. Look for gangbusters tonight.