Gunsmoke (1955) s01e17 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
There are all kinds of people back there in Dodge.
And most of 'em are good people.
The others, if they're bad enough, generally end up here on Boot Hill.
Some of 'em I put here.
My name's Dillon, I'm a U.
S.
Marshal.
I work for the people of Dodge City.
They pay me to look after 'em, to keep 'em out of trouble.
But sometimes they forget why they hired me.
Order.
Order.
Order! Another outburst like that and I'll clear this courtroom.
Everybody in this courtroom must be insane, judge.
I've told you, there's the man who held up the stage.
I don't have to describe him again for the jury.
The other passengers in this room can identify him just by looking at him.
The fact that he had a handkerchief across his face doesn't matter.
Look at his eyes, his gray hair, the line of his jaw.
And you heard his voice.
All right, Mr.
Botkin, you can step down now.
But, Judge Summers- Now you're just repeating your testimony, there are other witnesses to be heard.
Next witness.
Mr.
Harry Bowen, take the stand.
Raise your right hand.
Solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you? I do.
Mr.
Bowen, I understand that you and your wife were passengers on the stagecoach on the day it was held up, July 7th, last.
Is that correct? That's correct, Your Honor.
Now, you heard the testimony of Mr.
Botkin, your local banker.
Would you say that his description of the robbery is, uh, substantially, the way it happened? Well, yes, Your Honor.
The masked man stopped the coach, all right.
You heard Mr.
Botkin identify the prisoner as the man who performed the holdup, what have you to say about that? I'd say he was mistaken, Your Honor.
That fellow, that fella there was not the man.
Can you describe the man? Sure I can.
He was short and fat.
Had black hair and wore a checkered shirt.
And of course, he had a mask on too.
All right, Mr.
Bowen, that'll be all.
Now, marshal, are there any other passengers to be heard now? All except Mrs.
Bowen, Your Honor.
Now, Mrs.
Bowen, take the stand, please.
Place your hand on the Bible.
Raise your right hand.
You solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you? I do.
Be seated, please, Mrs.
Bowen.
Mrs.
Bowen, would you recognize the stagecoach robber, if you saw him again? I most certainly would, Your Honor.
Do you see anyone in this courtroom whom you think it could be? I do not.
Can you describe the man? I can He was very tall, with red hair and freckles.
Did you notice what kind of a horse he was riding? Yes, Your Honor.
A black one with one white leg.
Mr.
Botkin says it was a bay gelding with a black mane.
Mr.
Botkin was mistaken.
All right, Mrs.
Bowen, that's all.
Now, marshal, have you anything further to add before I instruct the jury? Well, there's just one thing, Your Honor.
I suppose the witnesses here, except for Mr.
Botkin, think that they're doing the right thing by lying, but- Now, Marshal Dillon, I must caution you about making such accusations.
Your Honor, everybody in this courtroom knows as well as I do that John Henry Jordan here held up that stage.
He took $500 from the strongbox and 300 in cash from Mr.
Botkin.
But he spared everybody else, so now they're sparing him.
But I'm warning you, gentlemen, this man is worse than a thief.
He'll rob anybody if he has to, not just the rich.
And he would kill if he has to.
He's been on trial for robbery and murder in three states.
But he's never been convicted because nobody'll testify against him.
Now, once more if you turn him loose, you'll regret it.
He'll rob again, and he'll kill again.
Well, that's all, Your Honor.
Gentlemen of the jury, if the testimony of the several witnesses you've just heard convinces you that, uh- Your Honor, we've already reached a verdict.
Will the accused please rise? What is your verdict? Not guilty.
You're crazy, you're all crazy! He's the man, I know he is.
He took every cent I had with me.
Just because he didn't rob anyone else- That'll do, Mr.
Botkin.
The verdict has been reached, and there's nothing more to be said.
Marshal, I order you to release the prisoner.
This case is closed.
Seven, 750, 800.
Exactly right.
Thank you, marshal.
There's the receipt, sign it.
Uh, did you bring my horse around? Yeah, it's out front, Mr.
Jordan.
Thank you.
Jordan you're gonna leave Dodge? What'll you do if I don't, shoot me? I, uh, won't be wearing this.
And I understand the public frowns on lawmen shooting unarmed citizens.
You haven't got anything on me and you know it.
I'm gonna stay here just as long as I want to, marshal.
Matt, you, uh You wanna know something? You could be wrong about this.
Well, it's possible.
Not this time, Doc.
Here's his record.
Ah, he held up that stage.
Well, Mr.
Dillon, it don't make sense to me.
I mean, if I was gonna hold up the stage, I'd take everything on it from everybody.
And if you did, you'd be in jail, Chester.
And so would John Henry Jordan.
But he's smart, he only robs the rich.
Well, I got to admit, that's smart.
If true.
Well, you've heard the witnesses, Doc.
He left them alone so they're all grateful.
They'd befriend him to, if he asked them to.
You know, Mr.
Dillon, he reminds me of that, uh Oh, you know, what's his name? That green Indian they used to have over in Europe once.
What? You know, that Robin something.
Robin Head? Hand? Robin Hood, Chester? Yeah, that's it.
And he wasn't an Indian.
As far as I know, he wasn't green either.
Maybe he was jealous of Little John or something.
Little John? Who's he? Oh, never- Wha-? Uh, never mind, Chester.
Matt, now you're sure that this Jordan is a menace to this community.
I mean, you don't think maybe this is just a personal hate of yours? Well, it's personal enough, Doc.
I hate snakes too.
Oh, Matt, he's not that bad.
He's a thief and a killer, Doc.
He'd rob from anybody, rich or poor.
Well In any case, there's not very much you can do about it, is there? Ah, but there is.
I'm gonna start by putting two shotgun guards on every stage.
Hired men who'll shoot.
What else? Then I don't know yet.
But at least he's not gonna get any more money from the stages.
Mornin', Sam.
Ah, good morning, marshal.
I've never had to clean the place so often, in one week before.
Another one of Jordan's parties? Yes, sir.
He sure is a spender.
Why, in the past three or four nights, he must've had the half of Dodge in here.
And the lot of them, folks that don't ordinarily have the price of a drink.
I see what you mean.
Good morning, Chester.
Yeah, it is, ain't it, Mr.
Dillon? Jordan's parties been keeping you busy this week? Well, yes, sir, uh I mean, with everything being free, I couldn't afford not to be here.
I see.
But it's all over now.
Jordan's broke.
Sam there had to loan him the money for the last six rounds of drinks.
That's right, Mr.
Dillon.
He did, huh? Well, I'm glad to hear that.
What are you glad to hear? That Jordan's broke.
Why? Because it isn't his habit to stay broke for long, Chester.
How'd it happen? Pistol-whipping.
Pete didn't have any enemies, who'd do a thing like this to him? John Henry Jordan? Marshal, you know he don't bother poor folks like Pete.
Look, twice in the last week, the extra shotgun guards drove off somebody trying to hold up the stage.
Yesterday, Mr.
Botkin drove out to the Walker place with the payroll.
Somebody took a couple of shots at him.
He wouldn't come any closer when he found that Botkin had hired a couple of riders.
You don't know it was Jordan done all that, marshal.
Jordan spent all the money he had on those parties in town.
Building his reputation.
He had to get more money somewhere.
When he couldn't get it from Botkin or the stage, he killed old Pete Fisher here.
Will you ride into town and tell Chester to come out with a wagon? I'll wait for him.
Sure, marshal.
You think it was Robin Hood, huh? Don't call him that, Doc.
Pete was a poor man, wasn't he? He's been robbed and killed, hasn't he? Well, it wasn't your fault.
Yeah.
I'll tell that to old Pete next time I see him.
Wow.
Thank you.
Good night, Miss Kitty.
Good night, Mr.
Jordan.
You gonna follow him, Matt? No, there's no point in it now.
He won't be going back to his usual trade for a while, he's rich.
He can afford to loaf.
Well, you can't blame him.
I'd loaf too if I just won $1,800.
He's pretty lucky, he started with less than 200.
Yeah, which he stole from under old Pete Fisher's mattress.
That's just your opinion, Matt.
He got you on his side too? Don't be silly.
What I mean is that, well, what you believe about him is just hearsay.
You don't have any proof at all.
Yeah Not yet.
Say, you know, uh, Vince Butler, don't you? Sure.
All right.
You tell Jordan that Vince is the only man in Dodge with the bankroll and the gambling fever to try him.
Vince? Vince Butler? Tell Jordan that Vince will be here tomorrow night at 8:00.
I'll see ya later.
Bye.
Good to see ya, marshal.
Hello, Vince.
Eh, you're freshening it up a bit? Yeah, like to keep it nice.
Doesn't cost much when you do it yourself.
Well, you're You're sure workin' hard at it.
My hours are better than they were.
I'll never go back to card-sharkin' again.
The biggest favor you ever did me was to threaten me with jail if I didn't change my ways.
I never thought it'd turn you into a painter.
I never knew what it meant to be Well, sort of, all right with yourself.
Vince how much money you got? Oh, about $100, countin' my watch.
Why? Is that enough for you to take 2,000 off a man? Two thousand? Dealing crooked, Vince.
Marshal, you're talking to the wrong man.
Vince, I- I came here to ask you a favor.
I owe you a favor.
It's John Henry Jordan.
Go on.
Kitty's setting him up for you tonight at the Long Branch, 8:00.
I want you to take him, Vince.
Clean him.
When you're through, let me know.
Marshal Do you mean what you're sayin'? Will your 100 be enough? Yeah.
All right.
See ya tonight.
Hello, Vince.
How'd it go? All right.
Had closer to 2,200.
This is all of it.
Thanks, Vince.
Did you keep your 100 out? Yeah, I did.
All right, I'll turn the rest of this over to Judge Summers.
I'll try to see that you get a share, though, you sure earned it.
No, thanks.
I don't want any of it.
Not a dime.
Please, don't ask me to do any more favors.
I don't think I'll have to, Vince.
Jordan's broke now, thanks to you.
His vacation's over.
Marshal I just hope you haven't made a mistake.
Mr.
Dillon! Vince Butler says he's gotta see ya right away.
I'm afraid he'll have to wait a bit.
Well, I don't know if he can.
He's hurt, hurt bad.
Doc says it's serious.
All right, then.
I wanna thank you for being so kind to a hungry stranger.
Well, it's not like you're a complete stranger.
You're very understanding people.
My life would be pretty lonely, if it weren't for folks like you.
Well, we know you don't mean us any harm.
That's right.
It's good to have friends when you're tired and hungry.
You know, Mr.
Jordan, you're gonna have to settle down some of these days.
It's too much of a strain livin' the way you do.
Maybe you're right, ma'am.
This is a good life.
Nice, prosperous little ranch.
No worries, good food.
It's been worth all the work.
You do better than most homesteaders.
Most of them have nothing but a patch of corn and a side hut.
Mr.
Jordan, have a bit more coffee.
Well, all right.
I still say it's a better life than Well, for instance, being a banker.
Now- Now, take that fellow in Dodge.
What's his name? Botkin.
Got more money than he knows what to do with.
Well, he don't have any of ours, and he never will.
You folks don't believe in banks? No, sir.
I wouldn't put a penny in one.
That's very intelligent of you.
Folks should keep their money where they can lay their hands on it whenever they want.
Well, that depends on how much you've got.
Ah, we've been saving ever since we moved here.
Well, how much more riding we gonna do tonight, Mr.
Dillon? As much as we have to, Chester.
Well, there's six more homesteaders in this section, it'll take us the rest of the night too see all of them.
Six we've covered, six we haven't.
Nobody's invited us in for supper yet.
I don't think Jordan's here, Mr.
Dillon, unless he walked.
Well, he coulda hidden his horse.
Wait here.
Course, it's not much to some folks.
We don't need much.
We don't- Wait a minute.
Somebody's coming.
It's Marshal Dillon.
I don't feel like putting up with the marshal's talk again.
Maybe you could tell him you're alone.
Be a pleasure.
Right in there, Mr.
Jordan.
Thank you.
Who is it? Marshal Dillon.
Good evening, marshal.
Hello, Harry.
Good evening, Mrs.
Bowen.
I'm, uh, sorry to disturb you folks, but I'm looking for John Henry Jordan.
Who? Oh, you mean that fella you had in court the other day.
Now what makes you think he'd be here? Well I don't suppose there's any use in my trying to explain this to you folks again.
But that man is bad, clear down the line.
What's he done now, marshal? Or what is it that you think he's done? Well, he robbed and beat up Vince Butler.
And he might do the same to you.
Vince Butler? Heard he won a lot of money, gambling.
This, uh What's his name? Jordan.
He wouldn't be bothering folks like us, marshal.
We're not gamblers or bankers.
Well, I hope you're right, Harry.
But, anyway, if you folks see or hear anything of him I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.
Sure, marshal.
Good night.
Good night, marshal.
Well, like I said before, you folks are good to me.
I certainly thank you.
That's all right, Mr.
Jordan.
There's just one thing I'd like to know.
Where do you keep your savings? Hmm? Savings? Well? You're-? Oh, you're- You're not gonna rob us.
Get up and take me to the money.
Why, you're a fake.
You're a liar and a fake.
The money.
I'll get it.
No.
Please.
Don't.
You don't have to kill us.
We won't tell anybody.
There's only one way to make sure of that.
And I'm a man who always makes sure.
That's how I stay out of jail.
I'm sorry about this- Hold it, Jordan.
What are you figuring on doing, marshal? Shoot me? Unless you drop that gun.
You pull your trigger, I'll pull mine, marshal.
You'll be dead before you can do that.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
You wanna take a chance, go ahead.
What I'd suggest, though, is you toss your gun on the table here.
That's right.
Find the lamp, Chester.
Yes, sir.
You folks all right? Marshal, I- Oh, thank the Lord you come back.
What made you do it? It looked like an awful lot of food for two people.
Was worth lookin' into, anyway.
Maybe you better put that money in Mr.
Botkin's bank, huh? Come on.
You folks be at the trial to testify against him? We sure will, marshal.
I hope you can forgive us for being such fools.
I just hope this time you'll recognize him.