Gunsmoke (1955) s02e13 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
Well, I swear to goodness, Chester, if it wasn't for that hat you're wearing, a person could mistake you for an old boar with a mane.
Well, I was always of the opinion that when a man itches he scratches.
If it gets any worse, we'll have to dip ya.
Well, you know, I've been thinking about a bath, I have.
You're too late.
You'll have to wait a while longer.
Lookie there.
Willie Calhoun's in town.
Heh.
You know something? Every Saturday for the past month, bath, shave, haircut, the whole works.
Hey, that Willie is a thorough cut.
He's just in love, Doc.
He's persistent.
That's it.
Well, persistence ain't gonna do you no good with that Pearl Bender.
Well, now, don't say that.
Persistence is a winning virtue.
Any- Any way you look at it.
Whether you're hunting deer, dealing blackjack, or courtin' a woman, or- Particularly if you're courtin' a woman.
Well, it ain't gonna do no good, Doc, 'cause that gambler feller- That old Webb What's-His-Name, used to work at the Long Branch? You know? Yeah, right there, Doc.
What? Scratch.
Scratch? Yeah.
Oh, for heaven's sake.
Higher.
Oh, there.
Oh, good.
You do need a bath.
Ooh, thank you.
Well, anyway, that Webb rode into town and according to Kitty, he don't need persistence or nothin' else with that Pearl.
He's got her.
Well, I wonder about that.
What? I wonder if Willie knows about Webb What's-His-Name.
Well, he will soon enough.
Thorne.
Webb Thorne.
That was his name.
Oh, down in the holler There is an old tree Gone in the morning And catch a bumblebee Oh, dum dum dum Hey! I'm putting it ready for you, Mr.
Calhoun.
Thank you, sir.
Well, there you are.
Down in the holler There is A big old tree You mind if I pay you next week? Well, that's what you usually do, ain't it? Well, thank you.
Could I have me some of that, uh Attar of roses? Yes, sir.
You sure can.
Yes, sir.
Heard about you before, Marshal Dillon.
Even though I don't get into Dodge City but seldom, that isuntil lately.
Well, I know the whole town's laughing about me spending the whole day driving in here from Spring Point to pay court to Pearl Bender, but I don't care.
Let 'em laugh.
Pearl likes me all feathered out like this and that's what counts.
Well, I'm sure we all wish you a lot of luck, Mr.
, uh, Calhoun.
Yeah, we sure do.
Thank you.
For a long time the only luck I had was bad.
But now, with my crops coming in good, livestock, meeting Pearl I got nothing but good luck now.
Hello, Frank.
Hi.
Well, looks like you got a full house.
Yeah, it sure does, Webb.
Hello, marshal.
Thought you were in Abilene.
I was.
I just got in.
Frank, I'll go and get a bite to eat at the Dodge House.
I'll be back later.
All right.
Is, uh that man Webb Thorne? Yeah, it sure is.
Heard about him.
Say, uh you forgot your tie.
Oh Thank you.
Iforgot my manners too.
It's been nice meeting you, marshal.
Only somehow, I don't feel so- So lucky no more.
Mr.
Teeters, can I get in the tub yet? Well, if you wanna take a bath in a dirty tub, it's all right with me.
Well, it's better than itchin'.
Your new beau's in town, Pearl.
I know.
I saw his wagon from my window.
You like him, don't you? You know, first I thought he was just kind of funny.
Now I was watching for him today.
Hoping he'd come and afraid he wouldn't.
Well, that sounds like love to me.
Kitty, I don't know what to do.
Webb's back.
Your best rye whiskey for Mr.
Calhoun, Sam.
Miss Kitty.
Afternoon, Pearl.
Afternoon, Willie.
Excuse me.
Well, let's sit down.
Are you glad to see me, Pearl? I'm very glad to see you, Willie.
Pearl, I'm a hard-workin' man and Well, what I mean is, I'm a man that knows hard work.
Though I'm not rich, I'm well-off, and I'll have money directly.
Soon as I sell my hogs, I'll have enough money to pay for a w- I'm a lonely man, Pearl, and I want you to marry me.
Thank you, Willie.
Oh, I know I- I don't talk good or wear nice clothes.
I got no learnin'.
But I do know one thing: I know how to provide for you and care for you.
Willie, you're the nicest man I ever knew.
But I don't see how I can marry you.
I was hoping you cared for me a little.
I can't marry you, Willie.
It's that Webb Thorne, ain't it? He wouldn't let me marry you.
He can't stop us.
He'll kill you, Willie.
Or me.
He ain't gonna kill nobody.
Now, you get upstairs and get your things packed.
I'll be back directly and we'll be married.
Then we'll go home.
But, Willie Now, don't you worry about nothing, Pearl.
It's gonna be fine.
Well, I feel like a new man, Mr.
Dillon.
You smell like a flower bed.
Yeah, well, I think I'll buy the new man a drink.
Could I do the same for you? Calhoun! Thought you might like to know that Pearl and I are gonna get married.
I- I made up my mind.
Well, congratulations.
That what the rifle's for? What do you mean? Well, you've made up your mind but, uh, thought maybe you needed the rifle to help her make up her mind.
Oh, no, nothing like that.
I- I wouldn't force Pearl into anything.
Good.
What is the rifle for, then? Well, a man's got a right to carry a rifle.
Yeah, but the way you're carrying it looks like a man with a six-gun getting ready to shoot somebody.
Ain't nobody gonna stop Pearl and me, marshal.
Why would they? They might try.
Now, who might try, Willie? I fight my own fights.
Willie, not around here, you don't.
And not with a rifle.
I made up my mind to kill him, marshal, if he gets in my way.
Give me the rifle, Willie.
You got no right interfering, marshal.
Chester, take him over to my office and keep him there.
All right.
You can't lock me up, I'm- I'm gonna be married.
I'm not locking you up, Willie.
I just want you to go back to my office and stay there till I get back.
All right, let's go, Willie.
Come on, and please don't try and run.
I'll have to clobber you right in the head.
Let's go.
Where's Willie and Pearl, Sam? He left, and she run upstairs all upset.
Kitty.
Where's Pearl Bender? I want to talk to her.
She's up in her room, Matt.
I think she just had a fight with Willie Calhoun.
Well, I just talked to Calhoun, he said he and Pearl are gonna get married and he also said he's gonna kill anybody who tries to stop him.
Webb Thorne.
Look, Matt, I don't know very much about this, but when Webb was dealing here he always said he'd kill anybody that tried to run off with Pearl.
Oh, fine.
Well, looks like the course of true love is hitting a few snags, huh? It's kind of hard to understand how Pearl could be in love with Willie.
She's only seen him a few times and- Well, she and Webb were awful thick while he was dealing faro here, but- Well, he quit a while back and left town, so I guess he must've changed his mind about her.
You tell Pearl I wanna see her right away, will ya? In my office.
She's not gonna like it.
I'm afraid she's gonna have to.
Pearl, what are you doing here? Kitty said that the marshal wanted to see me.
He's got no call dragging you in here or me either.
Well, now, I think that we better wait till Mr.
Dillon gets here before everybody gets all upset.
Here, Miss Pearl.
Sit in a chair and make yourself comfortable.
He should be along directly.
Thank you, Chester.
Pearl.
Hello, Webb.
What's this all about, marshal? Sit down, Webb.
Here.
Here's a chair for you.
All right.
Now, I have heard that you've said you'll kill anybody who tries to run off with Pearl, is that right? That's right, I will.
Well, this gentlemen here says he's gonna kill you if you try to stop him.
Stop him? I don't even know him.
What's he been up to? He came to town to get married today.
He and Pearl.
Him and Pearl? I don't believe it.
You must be crazy.
I ain't crazy, mister.
I'm gonna marry Pearl and there ain't nothing you can do to stop me.
I'll stop you.
Now, wait a minute, Webb.
If these two wanna get married, they're goin' to, and there's not gonna be any trouble about it.
Now or later.
Did Pearl tell you she wants to marry him? Not yet she hasn't, no.
But Pearl's gonna make up her mind and decide this whole thing right now.
She's gonna make up her mind which one she wants.
And the other one is not gonna cause any trouble about it.
Clear? All right, Pearl, now, you go ahead and make your choice.
And don't you worry, there's not gonna be any trouble.
I'll promise you that.
Go ahead.
I never told Willie I'd marry him.
I can't marry him.
Yes, you can, Pearl.
I've made up my mind.
He's made up his mind.
Yes, I have! I'm gonna do everything I can to get her away from you.
Tell him again, Pearl.
I can't marry you, Willie.
I told you that.
Go ahead, Pearl.
Speak out, he can't do nothing.
I'm telling you the truth.
But, Pearl- Now, Willie, you heard her.
She's made up her mind.
Now, you leave her alone.
I'd sooner see her dead than with him.
Now, Webb didn't do this to you, Willie, I did.
So if you go gunning for anybody, it's me.
I got nothin' against you, marshal.
All right.
Then I think you better go on back to Spring Point.
I'll send your rifle out to you later.
And, uh I think you better stay out of Dodge till you get over this.
Get over it? How do I do that, marshal? You'll find a way, Willie.
You'll have to.
Goodbye, Pearl.
Goodbye, Willie.
Well, hello, Webb.
Hello, Kitty.
Bill Pence around? He should be here later.
You ready to go back to work? I sure am.
Now, that's how it's gonna be, Webb.
I'm not gonna marry Willie, but you're not gonna touch me either.
Not now or never.
You really care for that crazy farmer? He cared about me.
And not like you did, not like I was just something handy to have around.
You left here and you never said goodbye or nothing.
What do you think I felt? Well, I'll tell you what I feel now: Nothin'.
I don't feel nothin'.
I left Dodge because I tried to get away from you, Pearl.
I couldn't.
I came back to marry you, if you'll have me.
We can get married today.
I've already talked to Tom Barrows about a little house down on Cherokee Street.
I got a ring from Abilene.
Oh, Webb I've been so lonely without you.
Hello, Willie.
Brought your rifle back.
Thank you.
It's a nice place that you got here.
Heh.
Thank you.
Well, I'll say goodbye to you.
Bye.
No, he didn't say nothing, he- Well, he did say thanks and a couple of grunts so I just wheeled around and come on back.
Oh, that's a long trip, Mr.
Dillon.
Yeah, a month should have cooled him off.
You know, it's a funny thing, though, Willie out there all alone, trying to fix up his place and Pearl now Mrs.
Webb Thorne.
I just didn't figure it'd end up that way.
Nope.
Neither did I, but it did.
Pearl seems real happy, though, just being a housewife.
Still I just can't help but wonder.
Wonder what? Well, what's Willie thinkin' about out there all by hisself? Well he's probably thinkin' about Pearl.
Is, uh, Webb Thorne around? No, it's too early.
I think he's at his house.
Do you know where his house is? Last place on Cherokee Street.
Just turn left at the corner.
You can't miss it.
Oh, much obliged.
Thank you for bringing it tonight, Jimmie.
I'll be able to surprise Mr.
Thorne with it when- When he comes home.
Oh, it's lovely.
Thank your mother for me, Jimmie.
That'll show you! Mrs.
Thorne! Help! Pearl.
Pearl, who did this to you? It It was Willie.
I heard him yell.
Why would he wanna shoot me, marshal? I told him I couldn't marry him.
I guess he couldn't stand my being married to Webb.
I didn't know Willie would- Would do this.
Webb? Well, I don't think he's coming back at all, Mr.
Dillon.
Well, an ordinary man wouldn't, Chester, but I'm gamblin' on the fact that he thinks enough of this place so he wouldn't leave, even to escape being caught.
Yeah, he's just a little bit crazy, ain't he? Well, I wouldn't say crazy.
He's just a simple man who let his feelings for a woman get the best of him.
But it's not gonna save him from hangin'.
Yeah, poor Pearl.
You stay here and go in the house, will ya? I'm, uh- I'm gonna look around.
Don't move.
Get your hands up.
I told you not to move.
That the rifle you used last night, Willie? And I'm gonna use it again.
Drop your gun belt.
Nope.
You anxious to die? I'll take a woman-killer with me.
What? Any man that'd ambush a woman- What woman? What are you talkin' about? "What woman?" Pearl.
Pearl? I didn't shoot Pearl.
She recognized your voice.
That wasn't Pearl, marshal.
Of course it was.
You're lyin'.
You're lyin' to keep me from shootin' you.
Well, it ain't gonna work.
She's dead, Willie.
I don't believe you.
I shot Webb Thorne.
That was his house.
Oh so that's who you were gunnin' for, huh? Willie, Webb Thorne wasn't even there.
What would Pearl be doin' at his house? They were married.
Married? Over a month.
Married? I wanted Webb.
It's him I wanted.
Well, you didn't get him, Willie.
Could I just sit here a minute alone? I won't run.
All right, Willie.
You won't run.