 Down Dodge City and in the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. 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 chancy job and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely. You finish breakfast? Yeah, but sit down. Have some coffee with me. Thank you. So what do I owe this honor? Eh? Why aren't you having breakfast with Matt or just... Well, I would, but they're out of town. Well, that's what, huh? Oh, not kidding. Where are they? Oh, they went fishing they left last night. So they'd be back this morning sometime. Should have gone with them. Couldn't they invite you? Yes, but I couldn't go. I promised old man Bass I'd have some powders ready for him last night when he came into town. Old man Bass, who's he? Oh, I don't think you know him, could he? He lives out near the little Barton Place. It was just him and his wife. They don't come into town very often. Oh, they're nice people. Solid of the earth. More coffee? No more than if I do, thank you. That's good, thank you. Yes, Hannibal and Della Bass are quite a couple. They've been married about 45 years. They're fine people. You selling marriage, Doc? There's nothing wrong with it, is there? I don't know. Never had much chance to find out. You're not telling me you've never been asked. Yeah, I've been asked, all right. But not by the right person? Maybe that's it. Look, this is pretty heavy talk for eight o'clock in the morning. I guess it is a best. Let's get back to her. What were their names? Della Bass, Hannibal and Della Bass. Oh, you'd like them, kitty. I tell you what, I'll take you out there one of these days. I like that. Good, then we'll go. What's the matter, Doc? I was just thinking about those powders I made up for Hannibal. I'm afraid I might have leaned a little heavy on the soda. Well, that won't hurt him, will it? No, no, no, won't hurt him. Of course, he might feel a little bubbly for a day or so. Come on, Doc, take your coffee. I heard you come back from Dodge last night, Hannibal. Didn't figure you'd be up in time to do the chores. Late as it was. Here you are. Thank you, Della. I ain't misdoing the chores in 20 years. You didn't get to bed till past 10. Do you get your powders from Doc Adams? Yeah, yeah, I got them. Funny thing, ever since I started taking them, I felt kind of bubbly. That's good, ain't it? I mean, that's what them powders are for. Sure, that's what them powders are for. You're a good doctor, Adam or fella. Hey, well... Sounds like one of the chutes got himself caught up. Could be or could be a wolf. Shotgun's loaded. It's right behind the door there. I got it. See you later. I'll put him back. I reckon I got the right to shoot you. Hannibal, what's going on here? I caught me a pig thief and I aim to shoot him. You do no such thing. Who are you, son? Ain't seen you around here before? We're nester people about 20 miles north of here. Huh? What's your name? Dutch head, Peth. Exposed your whole family's out and wrought and through the countryside instead of working and making out honest. Now leave him be, Hannibal. Poor boy's half-star. Ah, he ain't no boy. Nothing gives him the right to steal my pigs. I'd have paid you back some time when we were making out better, maybe. Even ain't no way to make out for no man. Hannibal, you hitch up the wagon, take this boy home. You tell his people what he done, they'll punish you. His people's any good they'd have brought him up right to begin with. Well, you take him out there and you see. Oh, I swear, Della, you're treating him like he was candy. You do what I say, Hannibal. You take him home. Well, all right. You know something, boy? You was mighty lucky she'd come out when she did. All right, let's get walking. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Say, Charlie, isn't that your French girlfriend coming into the service department? Yeah, Bergen. Isn't she a doll? Pardon me, Monsieur. I don't wish to bother you. Oh, thank nothing of it. Beautiful women always bother me. That is my automobile. She has a squeak. Oh, poor thing. It probably needs one of our quality guardian maintenance lubrications. Fantastic. How did you know that? Specialized training, ma'am. Specialized training? The servicemen at all Chevrolet Pontiac Olds will be a Buick Cadillac Chevy and GMC truck dealers get special training. That's what makes them guardian maintenance servicemen. They're trained to know your GM product best. You are so wonderful, ma'am. Oh, I must kiss you gladly. Oh, no. How did you learn to kiss like that? Specialized training, ma'am. What have you got here, Dunk? It's poor, but we've only been here a month. Well, it won't improve by itself, you know. Ma? Who is it, Dunk? This here's Hannibal Bass, ma'am. How do you do? Oh, ma'am. Is your husband around? He's been dead five years. What is it you want, Mr. Bass? Well, uh, I run Dunk home, so's his pocket weapon for stealing pigs. Well, I didn't figure he'd miss one little pig. I'd rather starve than have my boy thief. No, ma'am. Things ain't gone too well with us, Mr. Bass. It's hard being a widow woman all alone, poor. Well, I didn't know you was a widow woman. That's what I am. Boy, why didn't you tell me about this? All you wanted to do was shoot me. Oh, no. No, I wasn't going to shoot him. I just wanted to scare him. Oh, well, you could still have the law down on him, no. No, no, I don't have to do that. Maybe he's learned his lesson. No, you're a good man, Mr. Bass. And kind. I could see that right off. Well, I ain't one to hold grudges. I'm just trying to be fair. There's a shame there ain't more men around like you. He's a real gentleman, ain't he, Donk? You ought to see their place, ma'am. You wouldn't believe it. Nice, huh? Oh, I worked hard on that place. Mr. Bass, won't you stay for a cup of chicory? Oh, well, thank you, but I'd better be getting back. Mr. Bass, if you're ever through this way again, we'd be proud to have you drop in. Oh, well, thank you, ma'am. Yes, I'll do that. Oh, it gets off a lonesome out here, especially for a woman. Oh, yes, ma'am. It surely must. Well, goodbye. Bye, Mr. Bass. Ma'am, Donk, you sure calmed him down, ma'am. I think he's forgot about the pigs. Yeah. And he'll be back. Oh, you donk? Oh, this is for us. All the stuff in the wagon? All for you. Now, where's your ma'am? We're inside pretty enough. We've seen you coming. She didn't have to go no far. She said you'd be back. Oh, did she? I told her what a fine place you got, the house and the barn and all. Oh, Mr. Bass. Ma'am, look where he runs. Oh, now, Mr. Bass, you shouldn't have done that. Nothing, ma'am. Oh, gracious, my... Oh, my goodness, gracious, my... Oh, we couldn't accept all that. Just a few little things. A few little things. Chickens and pigs and corn and coffee and... Oh, goodness knows what all. Well, the way I figured them that's more fortunate ought to share what they got. Oh, hey, you're too good. I'm just doing what I see is right, like I told Della when I loaded up this morning. Oh, you're a fine man. Maybe I should start unloading. Oh, look at there. Pure coffee. Why, we ain't had coffee in over a month. Oh, my. You sure made us happy today, Mr. Bass. Now, you come on in the house, and I'll pick you up. Oh, well, there ain't hardly time. Oh, please stay. It'd be good to talk to someone. Yes, I need a man to talk with, Mr. Bass. Now, just for a little while and maybe... You get that stuff unloaded, now, Duncan. We'll be inside. Okay, ma'am. Mr. Bass, you've got to remember we ain't very fancy here. But it's what's in the heart that counts. We'll come along now. I can't find a one. There's plenty in the bedroom. Not good ones. Your good ones is all dirty, Hannibal. That dog gone it anyway. You're forgetting we had six Sundays this past two weeks. What? The way you've been dressing. What's wrong with a man cleaning up once in a while? Nothing, nothing at all. You know you're getting mighty sour, Della. You're always on me about something. No, no, no. Matter of fact, I don't know if I ever pleased you. Not from the day we got married. I don't think I could ever please you. Don't you try to turn this around on me, Hannibal Bass? No, you just don't understand me, Della. You never did. That's it. That's what I've been waiting to hear you say. What? I bet the widow Hedgepeth understands you. Fine, don't she? I bet she even told you she did. Now, you leave her out. Yes. Not likely I'll leave her out. Hannibal, I've been mighty patient with you these past two weeks. But my patience is gone. Well, so is mine. I'm through, Della. Through? You're going to marry Elsie Hedgepeth. Why, you old fool. Now, don't you call me that. I love you, Hannibal. I always have. But my gracious, you can be a guy. I don't have to stay here and listen to this. Yes, you do. Don't you budge out of this house. Why not? What are you going to do? I'm going over to talk to Elsie Hedgepeth. You're what? That woman may be too smart for you, Hannibal, but she ain't too smart for me. You're looking here. I won't stand for that. I'll stand for it all right. There ain't nothing else you can do. You're just going to make a fool out of yourself. We will see who the fool is. You going to get down out of that wagon? I'll say what I have to say from here. Oh, yeah. I just wanted to see what a husband stealer looks like. Oh, your husband? No, and you ain't going to. Not that you ain't trying. He's a grown man. He can do what he wants. You're a bigger fool than he is. Come here to say. I've been married to Hannibal Bass for 45 years, and I've loved him that long, too. I ain't about to quit now. Well, maybe you ain't got much choice. I bet Hannibal told you he's going to marry me. He also told me I didn't understand him. Well, that's sure true enough. Mrs. Hedgepeth? I didn't come here to ask nothing of you. I came here to tell you something. Go ahead, talk all you want. It won't change nothing. You don't want my husband, or you want his house and his worldly goods. You admit that? I ain't saying nothing. Well, I want him, and I don't care if he's rich or poor. Now, there's a difference there, ain't there? He's just jealous, because you can't hold him no more. There ain't no use talking to you. I'm going to have to show you. Hey, what are you doing? You put down that raffle. Maybe you'll understand this from my shoe. Maybe you understand that. You reckon that's her standing out there? Yeah, it must be. Come on. Place, ma'am. It is? Well, then you must be Miss Bess. That's right. Well, I'm Marshal Dillon from Dodge. You mind if we get on? You're welcome, Marshal. Thank you. Those chests are proud, Miss Bess. How do? Proud to have you here. Come inside, and I'll fix you some coffee. I think I better tell you what we came here for first. Oh. Hannibal ain't in some sort of trouble, is he? No, ma'am. I'm afraid you are. Me? Judge Blint issued a warrant for you. The complaint says you tried to shoot Miss Hedgepen. Oh, that. Marshal, I'm too good a shot to try and shoot somebody. Are you sure convinced her? She wrote all the way to Dodge to tell the judge about it. Did she say anything to him about how she's been trying to steal my husband? To run off with him? No, ma'am. Well, she is. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to get this milk consigned over some. Can I help you, ma'am? Oh, thank you. I can manage. Can you let her go like that? Don't you? Looks like you'd be back out of that house with a gun. I don't think so. One or not, you're a pretty strong-minded lady. Yeah, but I don't think she's a murderer. Maybe the judge got taken in by that Miss Hedgepen a little bit. Here she comes. Miss Bass, uh, where's your husband? Over to the widow-womans. Like he's been every day lately. Oh, I see. Marshal, let me tell you something. This is a good farm. It took Hannibal and me a long time. And a lot of hard work to get that house and barn up. Five years, in fact. You got some good stock out here, too? Hogs, no? We do for a fact. And that's why the widow Hedgepen is after Hannibal. This place, she wants it. But it's still against the law to go around shooting at people, ma'am. I guess you're right. I don't seem to have made no difference, anyway. I just wish there was some way to bring Hannibal to his senses. Miss Bass, you said your husband was over at the Hedgepen place, huh? Yes. How do you get there? Straight north. Just follow the trail you've come here on. Why? Maybe Chester's now right up there. I'd like to have a talk with your husband. That's kind of you, Marshal. But it won't do no good. We'll try, anyway. He's going to marry that woman, Marshal. And so far, I haven't been able to think of a thing to stop it. Let's see what we can do, Miss Bass. We'll see you later. Old Bass sitting on the stoop there. Looks kind of like an old turkey don't he? I wouldn't let him hear you say that. How'd you know my name? Well, you're talking to Hannibal. I'm Marshal Dullin, Miss Hedgepen. Oh, Dodge. Well, I'm afraid you come to the wrong place, Marshal. You must have rode right by the Bass farm. What are you talking about? What is this? I went in to Dodge the other day, Hannibal, and I got the judge to issue a warrant for her arrest. Who's arrest? Your wife, Della. You didn't expect me to do nothing about her trying to murder me, did you? You ain't going to put Della in jail, are you, Marshal? No, I'm not. What's this all about? Well, I'll make this real simple, Mr. Bass. This business has gone far enough. It's got to stop before somebody gets hurt. Now, you're coming back to your place with me right now. Oh, no, he ain't, Marshal. He's staying right here. You're going along, too, Miss Hedgepen. What? And once we get there, everybody's going to lay their cards on the table, and I'm going to be there to see that they do. Now, let's get ready. I ain't going alone. I'm going to take my boy, Donk. I don't care who you take, but we're starting back as soon as you get your team hitched. Now, let's get going. I'm going to run that band, Mr. Donk. Uh-huh. It'll be good to get in out of this hard spot. Looky there. It's burnt to the ground the whole place. Come on. That Hannibal coming? That's right behind us in the wagon. Good. But your house, the barn, how did it happen? Both of them at the same time. I swear I don't understand it. I think I do, Chester. Just wait. Evening, Hannibal. You brought her home a little too late, didn't you? I didn't bring her. The Marshal did. Ask her what she thinks now, Hannibal. You, you've done this, didn't you? You set fire to the whole place. I said ask her what she thinks. I think you're crazy. I think you're both crazy. You still want to marry Donk? Donk? Turn this wagon around and drive me home. Sure, Mom. What are you waiting for? Let's go. Well, Hannibal? Right, Della. I'm just an old fool. We're going to have to start from scratch again. We've done it before. Hannibal, fix your favorite supper. Bean whole beans. Della, you're some woman. We've got guests. Marshal, if you and Chester care for bean whole beans, we'd be proud to have you stay for supper. My goodness, I ain't had none of them in years. You'd be mighty pleased, ma'am. You'll have to sit on the ground to eat them. I saved a few plates and things out of the house. I'll get them. Oh, no, you won't. I'll get them. You've done enough work today, Della Bash. 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