Gunsmoke (1955) s01e33 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
When a man gets so scared he stops thinking and goes into a panic, the chances are he'll get himself killed fast, and that's a bad thing to watch.
But when a whole town full of people take fright and start milling around, ready to stampede, that really scares you.
What can one lawman do against a couple of hundred armed-citizens about to cut loose and start blasting anything that moves? It's no easy job, and I sure wish it wasn't mine.
Matt Dillon, U.
S.
Marshal.
That kid's shooting pretty high for rabbits, isn't he? Yeah.
Something must have those people on edge.
What'd I tell you about staying in the wagon? But I see something moving.
Behind them trees.
I'm sure it was Indians.
Get back with your ma.
Hey, mister.
We're coming out, mister, uh How 'bout, uh, talking this over? Come on! Say, you're Marshal Dillon, ain't ya? I'm sorry about my boy miscalculating you gentlemen for Indians.
Indians? You been having Indian trouble? You mean, you ain't heard? Been over in Hays delivering a prisoner.
Been gone a whole week.
Well, folks all over the hills are packing up and heading into Dodge for safety.
Pawnees, big war-party in a rampage.
Riding and killing everything in sight.
The Pawnees are peaceable.
They have been for some time.
Good many of 'em even gone over to Custer as scouts.
All I know is what I hear.
Why, even the folks in Dodge are scared sick.
The governor's sending guns and ammunition.
Come on, Chester.
Oh, and, uh, you better tell that boy of yours to see what he's aiming at next time before he starts shooting.
We just received over 100 stand of arm and 7,000 rounds of ammunition.
So if you wanna kill an Indian, just keep lining up and signing the receipt.
Now, Mr.
Botkin will see you get your firearm.
Boarding up them windows I tell you, it's the government's milk-and-water policy that leaves these savages free to roam the plains this way.
But when they come, we'll be ready for 'em.
In the meantime, you see an Indian buck or a squaw, shoot and worry about it later.
It's the only way to- I'm heading back to Saint Louis.
Hey, the marshal's back.
I'll be right with you.
Marshal! Marshal, we gotta plan our strategy real fast.
The Pawnee are all set to attack Dodge tomorrow.
And what makes you so sure, Jonas? Oh, these reports from all over.
You know how news travels.
Who told you about the Pawnees being on the warpath? Oh, I don't know it was any one person.
It hardly matters.
It's general knowledge.
Have you got any plans, marshal? Not at the moment, no.
Well, you better start thinking.
The mayor made me head of the defense committee with Botkin and Oliver.
Look, marshal, we gotta protect our property and- And our women and our children.
Panic is not the answer.
Well, you can't blame folk for being skittery.
Now, look, somebody's to blame for getting everybody so triggered up around here they can't think straight.
I don't think I like your attitude.
We're looking for you to call a meeting to get things organized.
As head of the defense committee, I'm going- You're not going to do anything, Jonas, until I tell you.
Chester, take the horses over and get 'em a feed of grain.
We sure got a lot of excitement around here.
Yeah.
A little too much.
Well, maybe there's something to it.
When you're through at the stable, you mosey around town.
See if you can get one straight answer as to how this scare got started.
Yes, sir.
I'll see what I can find out in the saloons.
Just wait'll you see it.
Here.
Man, ain't that a beauty? Huh? I've already bored me some loopholes in my front door.
I'm just gonna stand there and knock off them red devils one by one.
Come on, Sam, let's have another drink.
Well, I've been seeing these new-hatched Indian fighters in every saloon on Front Street.
How come you're not armed, Kitty? Should I be? You mean to say, you're just gonna let those Pawnees ride off with you? You're not even gonna struggle a little bit? Oh, I'm safe.
Why, Dodge is just brimful of heroes these days.
You know, maybe I never gave you enough credit.
For what? You got more sense than anybody I've talked to today.
Heh, well, thanks, but, uh, you know, when you're used to handling Texas trail hands every night of the week, it takes more than a little talk to scare you.
I lived with 'em.
I know.
They love dying more than you love living.
They- They take white scalps and they starch 'em up with fat and paint.
And they wear 'em for horns.
And then they come at ya.
In wolf skins, screaming.
And thirstin' for blood.
Hungry for human gore.
One time, I went on a scouting party with the Pawnees against the Sioux.
When we found the Sioux, they were encamped down in a valley.
And they had one brave standing on a hill.
Looking out over the whole Who is that old fella, Kitty? Well, we snuck up on 'em.
Don't think I ever saw him around Dodge before.
Oh, he calls himself Tewksbury or something, I don't know.
Brags he hasn't had a bath since he was with John Frémont in '42.
behind that Sioux, and then: Whoop! He cleaved his head clean through with a tomahawk.
I'm telling you, can't trust an Indian I think I'll have a talk with him.
Shouldn't be hard.
they got sharp tongues and evil ways.
Sam? Beer for Mr.
Tewksbury.
He only shuts up for straight whiskey.
All right.
Heh.
Just, uh, hold it in my mouth and kind of sweeten my breath.
Now, tell me, Mr.
Tewksbury, you sound like you know a lot about the Pawnees.
Lived with 'em.
Pure savages.
Whatever you do tomorrow, don't you let 'em take your life.
They take a man, and they spread-eagle him and then: Oh.
Thank you.
Not bad what there is of it.
Tell me, Mr.
Tewksbury, uh, where did you hear about these Pawnees being on the warpath? Heard about it? Everybody's heard about it.
I know.
You lock the women and the children in the church.
Give them enough guns so they can kill theirselves, worse comes to worse.
Who was it told you about this raid? I got ears.
It's common knowledge, ain't it? When's the big defense meeting gonna be, marshal? Well, I'm sure that will be common knowledge soon enough.
They always attack at dawn.
They figure that their spirit wanders forever if they die at night.
They don't mind dying, mind ya.
But it's gonna be daylight.
Mr.
Dillon, I don't know any more than I did when we got to town.
I've asked everybody in Dodge how this Pawnee business got started, and then all you get's the same answer: "I heard tell" or "Somebody told me" or Or "It's common knowledge.
" Yeah.
I'm overlooking your upshot attitude, marshal, 'cause you've been away.
We want a strategy meeting, right here and now.
After all, we- We don't have much time.
Now, you men listen to me.
All of you.
You know what panic is? It's fear.
But a man can be afraid and still think straight.
But when he gets panicky, he stops thinking and begins acting like you men are acting right now.
Like cattle at a stampede.
We didn't come here for no lecture, marshal.
No, we gotta figure out what to do.
It's your job as marshal to take over.
If you don't, then the blood will be on your hands.
Blood? Any of you ever seen a Pawnee massacre? That's when the blood flows.
I know.
Lived with 'em.
Well, maybe you men can answer me one question.
You should be carrying the attack to them, marshal.
You get your men together and swoop down on 'em.
I know their signs.
I'll lead you right to 'em.
Would you shut up, Tewksbury? Now, have any of you men ever heard of a Pawnee or any other Indian telling anybody when they were going to attack? Well, all right, then.
How is it that everybody in Dodge knows they're gonna hit us tomorrow morning? You're wasting time with all these questions, marshal.
Tewksbury, when did you get in to Dodge? Uh, about a week back.
Somewheres then.
Mm-hm.
Well, you know, it's too bad that you didn't keep on moving.
Let me tell you something.
If you don't stop riling people up, I'm gonna throw you in jail.
You can do your spouting in there.
Now you ain't got no call to talk to him that way.
He- He's an old man.
He's not so old he couldn't start a rumor like this and enjoy seeing you people make fools out of yourselves.
Don't listen to him! Don't let him get yourselves killed.
Now, have any of you men seen any Indians anywheres near Dodge that looked like they were on the warpath? You know, the way you talk, nobody would think you was marshal here.
And you know, the way you talk, Jonas, it's kinda hard to figure out what you're most interested in: defending Dodge or exterminating Indians.
Now, you heard him, boys.
He turned us down.
Remember that for the record.
I am advising you men to go on home.
Calm down your womenfolks.
And stop talking about Indian raids.
Good night, gentlemen.
Mr.
Dillon? Mr.
Dillon, there's a fire broke out on the edge of town.
A fire at old Ira Danvers' rooming house.
Is it bad? Oh, it's got a big jump.
Don't look like the fire wagon will be able to do much good.
But that ain't the worst of it.
They found arrows around it, Pawnee arrows.
Maybe you'll believe me now, marshal.
Sorry, Ira, doing our best.
Just couldn't get here in time.
I found 'em sticking in the ground out yonder, marshal.
Well, they're Pawnee.
You all right, Danvers? I got out of the house with my skin, but that's all.
Must have stood on the hill and fired with burning arrows.
Look, they shot them in to let us know who done it.
Well, I'm going home, look after my family.
If you ask me, this fire's a decoy, so they can attack somewheres else.
Marshal, ain't you ever gonna wake up? Come here, Chester.
Look, I want you to scout around and see if you can find old Tewksbury.
He was here just a few minutes ago.
What'll I do if I find him? Just keep your eye on him.
Danvers, did you see anybody prowling around before this happened? I was sitting here having a quiet drink.
Must have fell off to sleep about 1:00.
Didn't hear a thing.
I see.
I got a couple of cowboys boarding with me, but they was out having the time in town.
Heh, lucky for them.
Now, look, marshal, we want some action.
Them Indians could be riding on us any minute.
No Indians are going to attack in the dark, Jonas.
Well, what about them arrows? That's proof enough.
And why would they set fire to just one house? Well, you figure that out.
All right, boys! Follow me now! I'm gonna give the orders.
Now I want some of you to get over there and stand guard, then we gotta round up some horses.
Mr.
Dillon! Come here, quick! Bring me the water wagon over here! Old Tewksbury done it, Mr.
Dillon.
Where'd he go? He went scootin' off in that direction.
Hurry up with the water! It's no use, Tewksbury.
I'll take that knife.
You'll have to kill me to get it! Now don't be a fool.
It's better to die fighting than to rot of old age.
That sounds like Indian talk.
You men, what are you doing standing there? Why ain't you out hunting them Pawnees down? This is war! You set Danvers' place on fire? Sure I did.
I planted them arrows too.
Anything to get this rabbity marshal to budge.
But he wouldn't listen.
He wouldn't do anything! Why'd you try to turn everybody against the Pawnees? Wipe 'em out, slaughter 'em.
We'll take care of him, marshal.
Stay where you are.
White men you can't trust.
Indians ain't no better.
Let 'em all die.
Can't figure out if he's against the Indians or his own kind.
I'm tired.
I'm awful tired.
I'm all alone.
I said we'd take care of him, marshal.
Hanging's too good for him.
Now, you listen to me.
You men have made fools of yourselves.
The whole bunch of ya! And you didn't need any help from this old man here to do it.
Now, you think about that.
We gonna have to take him away from you? I am taking him to jail.
I've got no place to go.
I've got no place to go.
I got no place to go.
We'll give him a trial tomorrow, the fastest one you ever saw! You better be ready to hand him over in the morning! Poor old fella.
What is it, Mr.
Dillon? Jonas.
We've come for that murdering old Tewksbury, marshal.
What do you mean, "murdering"? Them two cowboys staying with Danvers.
Well, we just found 'em roasted to death.
They come home drunk and went to bed while Danvers was still asleep.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
That's too bad.
But it doesn't change anything.
Tewksbury is still going to get a trial.
I am here to see the marshal.
You wait.
We've got nothing more to discuss, Jonas.
Oh, yes, we have, marshal.
We're gonna go get some help and then we're coming back here.
And when we do, Tewksbury's gonna hang! What can I do for you, miss? What has the old man done? Why do you ask? I am Quiet One of the Pawnees.
The old man, Lost Warrior, is my father.
A hunter came and told us he was in Dodge.
Come in.
So you see, miss, I'm afraid your father will have to stand trial.
That fire cost the lives of two men.
Yes.
He must pay.
I know.
Your father tried to stir up war between your tribe and our people.
Why? Well many long years, my father lived like an Indian.
He wished to die like one.
Die in battle.
And be remembered as a great warrior.
Our tribe is peaceful, marshal.
My father taught war to the young braves.
Our chiefs held counsel and made strong talk against him.
Lost Warrior left in great anger.
So because he couldn't turn the Indian against the white man, he tried to turn the white man against the Indian.
He is very old.
His thoughts are no longer clear.
He doesn't belong to one side or the other.
It's a tough thing for any man.
I'll take you to him.
Medicine bag.
His secret and sacred things.
My father would want them now.
My daughter.
All will be well now.
Strong medicine for the warrior who must prepare himself to face shame and defeat.
We can The Great Spirit will help me.
I will brush your hair, Lost Warrior.
This is the last round, boys.
There's plenty of time to celebrate after we get through with Tewksbury.
The way everybody feels about that old man, the whole town's gonna be with us.
Not the whole town, Jonas.
Maybe Jonas had time to think, cool off.
The only thing that'd cool him off is a six-gun laid against his skull.
What's that, Mr.
Dillon? It's the way Indian women wail in a death lodge.
Hadn't we oughta go take a look? Go back to the window, Chester.
Lost Warrior is with the Great Spirit Chief.
Medicine in that bag.
Strong medicine, Quiet One? Not strong for the young.
But he was very old.
I have forgotten how old.
Lost Warrior died as he wished: without shame.
That makes Jonas and a lot of other people lucky.
They can go on living without shame.
Give her a hand, Chester.
She'll want to take her father home.