Gunsmoke (1955) s02e15 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
A lot of men come out to this country looking for a fresh start, a chance to begin again.
And some of the make it.
Others soon end up under a cheap marker out here on Boot Hill.
But still, every year, the dreamers come, with their fancy plans and the big promises they've made to themselves.
And I watch 'em all.
And I try to guess which ones might see it through, and which ones never will.
Matt Dillon, U.
S.
Marshal.
A man can get mighty hungry when he don't eat.
Well, another 30 miles and we'll be in Dodge, Chester.
Yeah, 'less that winds comes up again and freezes us to death.
Well, it didn't freeze us last time.
That's just 'cause we was lucky to find that sod hut.
I tell ya, I don't think I could stand anther few days of that, that ages me something terrible.
Ages ya? Freezing's supposed to keep you the way you are.
Yeah, oh yeah.
Well, I'm too wore out to joke about it.
Well, I don't see nobody.
I don't know.
Them horses around, there's gotta be somebody, somewhere.
Well, it's been 20 below for three nights, Chester, they could be frozen to death somewhere.
Come on, let's take a look.
Cold? Well, there hasn't been a fire here today, or yesterday either.
Get your hands up, both of you.
Better do as he says.
Now turn around slow.
Come over here.
This your camp, mister? 'Course it's my camp.
Now you unbuckle that gun belt- Easy.
I got my hands up, that's enough.
You'll do as I say, I ain't puttin' no trust in you.
Now look, old timer, you got no reason to be afraid of me.
I'm a U.
S.
Marshal.
You're- You're what? Well, I'll show you if you give me a chance, don't shoot me here, look there.
I wasn't gonna shoot.
But I ain't gonna be left here again, neither.
Well Jed Larner.
He left me when the wind brought the big freeze.
He thought it was gonna be worse than it was, and he rode off for Dodge.
Well, who's he? Your partner? No, he's just my skinner.
I'm down here looking for buffalo, marshal.
Well, I kind of figured that.
Yeah, I haven't been this far south in years.
Likely you never heard of Ira Pucket? Well, no, I'm afraid not, but mighty glad to meet you.
This is Chester Goode, here.
Mr.
Pucket.
Ah, that dirty Jed Larner.
Well, now, wait a minute.
You can't exactly blame him for wanting to go back into town and get out of the big freeze, you know.
I didn't want to stay here, neither.
Well, why'd you stay, then? Well, I tore my foot a week ago and it's all swole' up, and I- I can't ride a horse.
You mean to say this Jed Larner took your saddle horse and left you here with the team? He said driving the wagon would likely be too slow and I sure couldn't have made it alone.
You mean, he left you here, knowing that you might freeze? I'll kill him when I find him.
Chester, get the team.
I'll help you hitch 'em up.
Yes, sir.
I'll kill him.
Well, now look, we got a good doctor in Dodge.
Yeah, I hope it ain't too late.
Ah, we'll get you there as fast as we can, Mr.
Pucket.
Well, I'll kill him sure, marshal.
Now, look, you just forget about him.
Forget? Well, yeah.
I don't want to bring you into Dodge just so you can hang, you know.
You can't scare an old man like me, so don't you try it.
I know what I gotta do.
Say, you're gonna wreck that.
Wreck what? Oh, the piece of wood, naturally.
I'm afraid you're gonna bruise it trying to force it in the stove that way.
Well, I'm just trying to get enough wood in there to make it comfortable in here.
That few days out in the cold was kinda tough on you, wasn't it? Well, I tell you, Mr.
Dillon, I never was so glad to get back to Dodge in my whole life as I was last night.
Chester, you're getting soft, and I think I'm gonna have to take you out in the weather more often.
Ah, hello, Doc.
Oh, hey, I've just never seen it so cold in Dodge in my life! You think it's cold here, you shoulda been out on the prairie with us.
It's cold enough here.
You want some coffee? It'll be hot in a minute.
No thanks.
Not that, It'll kill ya.
Colder than a witch's heart.
Help yourself.
Thanks.
Say, Doc, how's the old buffalo hunter doing? Well, he'll- He'll be all right in time, I guess.
You mean his foot wasn't too bad after all, huh? Well, he didn't have much foot left when I got through with him last night.
Oh, that's a shame.
Do you still got him up to your office, Doc? Yeah, I'll have to keep him here for a day or two.
Well, what then? We'll have to get him a bed somewhere, where he can rest for a couple of weeks.
Well, I guess I'll have to find him a place to stay then, huh? He'll be able to walk, all right, with a cane.
He will be able to, I guess, but his buffalo hunting days are over, I'll tell you that.
Does he know that? Yes, sir, I told him.
One of the toughest things I ever did in my life, tell an old fella like that he can't hunt buffalo anymore.
He's proud.
He's- Well, he's maybe a little too proud.
What do you mean, Doc? Well, see, you know, uhh, funny thing.
Thing he hates most about being left out on the prairie alone wasn't the fact that he might've died out there, that doesn't seem to bother him, but it was the fact that he was helpless.
Man like Ira Pucket just can't stand to be helpless, it shames him, somehow.
Now with this crippled foot and everything well, he's bitter.
He's He's a bitter man.
Yeah, well he'll get over it, Doc, I mean, I man gets used to anything, in time.
Yeah, some men can, Chester.
But you mean you don't think Ira Pucket is one of them, huh? Well, I don't know.
You just better come talk to him yourself, Matt, I guess.
Yeah, well I guess maybe I better.
Anyway, he's gonna be more your problem than mine, from now on.
Close that door tight when you go out.
Yeah.
Say, sure you keep that fire going good now, won't you? Sure will.
Think I was gonna let it go out or something? How's that foot? Does it hurt you? Hurt? No, it feels fine.
Well, I'm glad to hear you say that, Mr.
Pucket.
Doc tell you what he done to me? Yeah, he did.
He ruined my foot.
I saved your life.
I ain't sure I'm so grateful.
I'm not sure you are, either.
Well now, Mr.
Pucket, I think you're gonna be all right.
You know, with a cane, you should be able to get around fine.
Yeah, like an old woman.
What am I gonna do for a living? I ain't one of you city folks, I live off the land all the time.
I'm a man, not a dude.
Well, I know, but you'll get used to town life.
You might even find a few men that you'd like.
Yeah, men, what kind of men? Walking 'round all slickered up.
Partin' their hair in the middle, bowin' to the ladies.
Ain't of of them fit to do half the things I done.
Why, I was living with the Comanches when most of them was sniveling their momma's aprons.
Well, I know, but I still think you'll get used to it and find something to do.
I know I'll help you all I can.
You will? Well, sure I will.
Then find Jed Larner and bring him to me so I can kill him with my bare hands.
All right, you tell me what he looks like.
He's tall.
Ordinary-lookin'.
Has a scar across one eye and down his cheek.
Wears a little round fur cap.
Makes him look mighty silly.
All right, I'll see if I can find him for you.
You will? Yeah.
So I can run him out of town before you even see him.
Oh, I can't trust nobody, not even you.
Well, certainly not.
Not when you're talking about murder.
You know, I told you once before I didn't bring you into Dodge just so you can hang.
I'll seeya later, Doc.
Seeya, Matt.
Doc? Yeah? Shot of whiskey would go mighty good.
It would, huh? Yeah.
See if I can fix you up.
Well, just think, Mr.
Dylan What's that? A whole new year done started.
Just think what might be in store for a body.
Yeah, they say it gives man a chance to start all over again, Chester.
Yeah, well I guess it does that.
Lookit there.
You know, he's been getting around pretty good the last couple of weeks.
Yeah, about as good as he's gonna get around too, according to Doc.
Yeah, that poor old fella.
Hello, Pucket.
I wanna see you, young fella.
Well, come on up- No, I don't need no help.
Sittin' down don't help nothing.
Ain't rest that's gonna toughen this foot up.
Well, I just thought you might like to sit down and talk awhile.
No, I'll talk standing.
Where's Jed Larner? Now, Pucket, when are you gonna forget about Jed Larner? I ain't gonna forget.
Well, you might as well, 'cause we ain't seen hide nor hair of him ever since we brought you to Dodge six weeks ago.
If you was any kind of a man, you'd go find him for me.
Well, what do you want me to do? Go out and cut his throat for you too? Now, now, now.
Hey, hey.
Now, hold on.
Hey, there, now.
I'll show you.
Now, look, I can hold you here all day, if that's what you want.
Twenty years ago I'd have given you a real tussle.
Yeah, I'd expect you would.
I got will, I'll do it yet.
Look, I'm just trying to help you, Pucket.
Yeah, yeah.
I don't need no help.
I sure never meant to stir him up like that.
Yeah, it's like Doc says, Chester, the poor old fella's got a lot of pride.
Yeah.
I'm afraid it's gonna get him in trouble one of these days.
Hello, Kitty.
Evening, Matt.
Sit down.
Don't you want a drink? Yeah, I guess so.
Sam, get me a rye whiskey, will you? Comin' up.
Well, I figure I might as well wait here as any place.
What are you waiting for? Just trouble, as usual.
Well, you know, Matt, the new year doesn't have to be all trouble.
How'd you like it to be, Kitty? Well, I kinda thought that I'd be living in San Francisco this year.
Yeah? You never told me that.
What would you have done about it? I'd try to talk you out of it.
You would? You really wanna go there, huh? Oh, I'd love it.
Well, just save your money, you'll make it someday.
Sure, if I walk.
Well, it wouldn't be the first time someone got there that way.
Who do you think I am? Sacajawea? Now, there's a woman.
Oh? Something wrong? Yeah, excuse me a minute.
Better get your money now, Sam, this gentleman is leaving.
What's the matter? Drink your drink, mister.
Who are you? He's the marshal of this town.
Jed Larner, huh? How come you know my name? How long you been in Dodge? Not long.
I just rode in.
No, mister, you're just riding out.
Now look here, Marshal, I ain't done nothing.
It's not you I'm worried about.
I just don't want old Ira Pucket to hang for killing you.
Now, why should he be after me? Him and me is good friends.
Mister, I can't throw you in jail, but I'll tell you what I can do.
What? I can let everybody in this town know that you're the man that left old Pucket out in the big freeze to die.
They'd tear you apart, Larner.
They'll burn you alive.
Now, if I were you, I'd get out of here.
Hey.
I'm the marshal's guest.
It's all right, Sam.
That's your horse? Yeah.
Get on it.
And don't come back.
Now you listen to me- Get! Larner! Jed Larner! Jed Larner! Pucket.
Come on, get up.
Why'd you do it? You helped him get away.
Well, you know why I did it.
I'd rather hang than live like this.
Least you could do is let me fight my own battle.
You took my manhood away from me.
Now, take it easy.
You tricked me like a helpless old man.
I could've torn his throat out, I coulda got my hands on him.
Pucket, you're talking like an animal.
Like an animal? You're certainly not talking like a civilized man.
Not civilized, hey? Now look, Pucket, I know what kind of a life you've lead, but things are different now.
You're living in a town.
Now, why don't you try to get used to it, huh? Go out and get yourself a job, and forget about this Larner.
All right.
All right, I will.
I will.
Now wait a minute, here.
Where are you going? I'm gonna start living like you town folk.
I'm gonna get me a job, you bet I will, and I'll show ya.
And don't you try to stop me, neither.
Well, look at old Pucket there, would ya? What's he doing? Leaving town? Well, I don't know.
What does he think he's doing? He can't go hunting in a bank.
But maybe he can, Chester.
Come on.
Do you reckon that's what he meant when he said he's gonna get a job and start living like town folk? Well, it looks like it.
I'll tell you what you do, Chester.
You get up on the wagon and drive it around the corner somewhere, out of sight.
Well, are you gonna go in after him? Well, I don't know yet.
Well, he's- He's got a shotgun, Mr.
Dillon.
I know it, I know it.
Come on, hurry up.
Let's go.
Over to your left more.
I can shoot straight enough with one hand, marshal.
I'm not stopping you.
And don't you try.
And don't you come following me, neither.
Where's my wagon? Where's my wagon? Where is it? Well, guess you're in kind of a bad way, aren't you? Somebody stole it.
I can't get away without my wagon.
That's right.
Maybe you ought to give up.
You done it.
You done this.
You're gonna shoot me? Why shouldn't I? 'Cause, you're in bad enough trouble already.
Shooting me is not gonna make it any better.
You're trapped, Pucket.
And there's not a thing you can do about it.
Now, why don't you give up? There's your money.
Now you bring my wagon back.
I'm not going to jail, marshal.
I'll tell you one thing: shooting me is not gonna help you any.
Oh, you- You think you've got me outsmarted, don't you? Give up, Pucket, you're licked.
Besides, I don't think you really want to shot me anyway.
I'm just a helpless old man.
I can't even rob a bank proper.
Well, that's more like it.
I don't think you ever wanted to rob that bank anyway.
What? I think you just wanted to prove something about that manhood you think somebody took away from you.
But you sure picked a bad way to do it.
Thank you, marshal.
I don't know how I'd ever replace this.
Yeah, I guess you would have a little trouble, wouldn't you? I don't like having my bank robbed.
Just wait'll you come to trial.
Yeah, that's right, Pucket.
Lucky he didn't kill you, Marshal.
Murdering old thief.
I'll be in to see you in a minute, Botkin.
Well, Pucket, you kind of got yourself caught, didn't you? Chester, take Mr.
Pucket to jail.
No.
No, marshal, not jail.
I couldn't stand it.
I'll go crazy in jail.
Well, you just got through robbing a bank, what do you expect me to do? Turn you loose? But not jail.
I'd rather you shot me.
Lock him up, Chester.
Yes, sir.
If he gives you any trouble, just bang him on the head.
All right, now, let's go Pucket, and you try and use that cane on me again, and I'll make firewood out of it.
Let's go.
Hey, Pucket, don't you go busting your brains over there.
You know that thinkin' too hard, that can get a man all mixed up.
Up there.
Well it sure looks to me like Marshal Dillon forgot about you.
I reckon he forgot about me too.
You know I ain't ate since breakfast.
Pucket? Pucket? Are you sure that I can't get you a little coffee to warm you up? Well, you suit yourself.
Oh, hello, Mr.
Botkin, you come over to view the prisoner? Not exactly.
Thought you were gonna lock him up? Well, I was.
I had him in there, but I just couldn't stand the look on his face when I went to lock the cell door.
Well, Pucket, seems to me like everybody's treating you pretty well.
Not Jed Larner.
Well, maybe not Jed Larner, but how about the rest of us? Chester and I brought you in off the prairie, Doc saved you from dying of gangrene, and I kept you from hanging for murder.
And if I hadn't outsmarted you out there in front of the bank a little while ago, you'd probably be lying dead in the street right now.
Seems to me everybody's gone to a pack of trouble for an old man with a lot of foolish pride.
Now, what do you think? I been thinking, marshal, sittin' here thinkin'.
And you know what? You're right.
Well, now that's more like it.
Pucket, you tried to rob my bank.
And I was all set to see you spend the rest of your life in jail, til the marshal here explained a few things to me.
While I don't agree with him entirely, I said I'd go along with him.
Tell him, marshal.
Well, Pucket, Mr.
Botkin here is gonna drop all his charges against you.
He is? On one condition.
Yeah, what's that? That you start off the new year by getting yourself a job and by not being so doggone ornery all the time.
But what can I do? Now, don't you worry about that, we got that all figured out.
Chester, get him his shotgun.
Yes, sir.
Well, here you are, Pucket.
All right, old timer.
On your feet, you're starting work today.
Here's your hat.
And, oh, Pucket maybe you can use this.
Thanks, Chester.
Ready to pull out, Jim? Soon as I check the baggage.
Well, have a good trip.
Sure will, marshal.
First time I ever rode shotgun in my life.
I hope we get held up.
Well, for the outlaw's sake, I hope you don't, Pucket.
Don't go shooting just anybody, now, there, Pucket.
I know what I'm doing.
And Marshal It ain't at all a bad way to start the new year.
No, it's not bad at all.
Fella's gotta make a change once in a while.
Hyah! Ha!