Gunsmoke (1955) s02e23 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
There's a saying that this is a hard land on women and horses and by heaven it's sure true.
I've seen many a pretty girl come out here from back east to dance in the dance halls and in no time she's all dried out like a buffalo bone.
It must take a man with carpetbagger blood in him to talk any woman into coming west.
But they still come.
And they still cause me trouble when they do.
Matt Dillon.
US Marshal.
See.
I told you.
Leaves at noon.
"Stage to Dodge City leaves at 12, noon.
" Good.
A couple of tickets to Dodge, please.
Oh, eh.
We've run out of tickets.
I'll tell the driver to let you on.
All right.
I'll tell you something, though.
When you get to Dodge, you'd wish you had run out of seats too.
That so? Mister, Dodge is the wickedest, cruelest town in Kansas.
Why, no decent man can stand it more than a day.
Yeah, it's too bad they don't have a good marshal over there.
It is.
It sure is.
Well, he's just like all the rest of them.
I'll sure be glad to get back to Dodge.
Oh, Wichita is a nice enough town, Chester.
Well, if you like it so well you can come alone the next time.
I ain't got no business here anyway.
Yeah, well, it'll all be over pretty soon.
That stage will be here directly.
I've been worrying all morning that we was going to miss it.
Let's go outside and wait, huh? Sure don't like to sit down, do you? When we get on that stage we're going to be sitting down a long time.
I'll be with you in just a minute, miss.
Bright, pretty girl, huh? Ooh, she is.
I should say so.
You suppose she's going to go to Dodge too? Why don't you ask her? Oh, Mr.
Dillon, I wouldn't do that.
My goodness, I don't even know her.
Sorry, miss.
Now, what can I do for you? I'd like a ticket to Dodge, please.
Well, we're all out of tickets but I'll tell the driver you're paid to Dodge, miss.
Thank you.
Well, uh, I tell you now, miss.
As long as we're going to be traveling together we should, well, at least get acquainted.
My name's Laster.
Ab Laster.
How do you do? Howdy.
I'm meeting my partner in Dodge.
Name of Garrett.
Maybe you know him? Sorry, I've never been to Dodge.
No? Heh, well, that makes two of us.
Of course, at least, we ain't going to be lonely, are we? Well, now that depends.
Depends on what? If you're a gentleman.
Aye.
Sure I am.
You know what? I have a bottle here and I- When we get aboard that stage we'll get ourselves a little drink, huh? Please, Mr.
Laster.
We could go around the corner and have one right now.
Come on.
Uhno.
Oh, come on.
No.
Why, what's the matter with you? Start out all being friendly and then you freeze up.
Now, come on, I'll take you outside and buy you that drink.
Let me go.
Come on.
Let me go.
Mister.
What do you want? Suppose you leave the lady alone, huh? You're looking for trouble, ain't you? No.
Tried to force me to go outside somewhere with him and have a drink.
She wouldn't mind until you busted in.
Ab Laster, huh? How do you know my name? I heard you tell the lady.
Real snoopy, huh? Sometimes.
Do you know what you're getting into, mister? No, why don't you tell me.
I'll show you.
You're packing a- Oh.
I pack a gun but I don't always use it.
Here, he'll be better off without that.
He's gonna be awful mad, ain't he, Mr.
Dillon? Well, I pulled his teeth.
It won't do him much good.
Maybe he's got a knife or something.
Don't worry about that, miss.
Is he going to fight some more? I don't think so.
You tricked me, huh? Get your ticket, mister.
Get out of here while you can still walk.
All right.
When we get to Dodge you're going to wish you'd never seen me.
I'm wishing that already.
Well, miss, would you like to sit down over here with us? Thank you.
All right.
I-I'm sorry I caused you all the trouble.
Oh, that wasn't any trouble.
I didn't mean to get you into a fight or anything.
Well, it wasn't your fault, ma'am.
I feel it is.
How do you figure? Just being a woman, I guess, you know.
Uh-huh.
Heh.
If you don't mind my asking, uh.
You going to Dodge City to visit relatives? No, I'm hoping that I'll find a job there.
Oh.
Well, you know, jobs for a woman around Dodge City are pretty hard to find.
Scarcer than hen's teeth.
I tell you, though, I- I've got a friend might be able to help you.
Who? Kitty.
Oh.
I'll introduce you to her as soon as we get back.
That's very kind of you.
Now, there's going to be trouble when we get to Dodge.
I know.
There will.
There's bound to be.
Heyup.
There you go.
Well, all right, Mr.
Dillon.
I'll go on over and see if there's any mail.
Yeah, good idea, Chester.
I hope that everything works out for you, Miss.
Decker.
Oh, thank you, Chester.
Well, Miss.
Decker, what do you think of Dodge City? It frightens me, marshal.
Frightens you? Why is that.
I'm a woman, still in all.
I've head about the terrible things that go on here.
Well, don't let that worry you.
We won't let anything happen to you.
You promise, now? That's a promise.
I feel safer.
You're around.
Marshal.
Don't go, marshal.
They'll make trouble.
Excuse me a minute, ma'am.
Something I can do for you, Laster? Now there's two of us, marshal.
My partner, Joe Garrett.
Laster says you made things tough for him down up Wichita, marshal.
That so? He says you hit him with your fist.
Well, now, I've been known to do that.
But we don't like it.
We? How do you know, you haven't tried it yet.
He says you stole his gun too.
Well, I see, you found another one quick enough.
He happened to have an extra one.
Good thing, ain't it? It don't matter to me.
What'd you steal his gun for, marshal? For the same reason I might have to steal yours sometime, mister.
You can pick your gun up at my office later.
I just don't like what you did, Dillon.
Well, now, I'll tell you.
I just didn't do it for you.
All right, we're taking some horses up north.
But we're coming back.
We're coming back, marshal.
I'll be here.
What did they want, marshal? Oh, nothing.
Nothing important.
I bet there's going to be more trouble over me, isn't there? Now, don't you worry about that.
We'll get your bags over to the Dodge House and then I want to take you up to Long branch and meet that good friend that I told you about.
Bless your heart.
I told her about you, Kitty, and what the work's like around here.
Well, just so long as she knows what to expect.
She's already been in the middle of one fight in Wichita, she's no greenhorn anymore.
I'm sure of that.
I am going to like Dodge.
I just know I am.
What do you say, Kitty.
You going to give her a job? Well, you know, Matt.
I'm just half-owner of this place.
I'll have to ask Bill Pence about it.
All right.
Well, got to get back to work.
You've been very kind, marshal.
Kitty will take good care of you, Rena.
Say hello to Chester.
Bye.
Thank you, marshal.
Well, Rena.
Yes, Kitty.
Why don't you tell me some more about yourself.
Oh, you just wait till you see her, doc.
She is a pretty little thing.
Yeah? Yeah.
What did you say her name was, Chester? Rena.
Rena Decker, doc.
Oh.
Where's she from? Well, I told you that I don't know where she's from.
We've seen her for the first time in Wichita.
She rode in on the stage with us.
Is she- It's her eyes, doc.
I tell you is what it is.
They are the prettiest.
You know, they remind you of- Kind of like a newborn calf's.
Just as clear- Just like yours are kind of now, huh? Chester, I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are a tinhorn.
I ain't no such thing, doc.
I ain't either.
Hello, doc.
Matt, good to see you.
How have things been around Dodge? Fine, fine.
Have a nice trip? Yeah.
Oh, did you get them cleaned? Hey, you know, Chester has been telling me about that new girl that came in on the stage with you.
What did you say her name was? Rena Decker.
Yeah, Rena Decker.
He says that she's a pretty cute little apple, huh? Oh, that's what he said, huh? What I want to know is, uh- Is she? What do you think? Well, I'll tell you, doc.
You can find out for yourself.
Tonight.
Oh, did Kitty hire her? Well, I left them over there talking about a half hour ago.
Well, by golly.
In that case I'm going to drop by there tonight and have a look if I have time.
Oh, y-you'll find time, doc.
Yes, I will if some idiot doesn't fall of his horse and get himself shot or something.
Well- Well, doc.
If he does, you just leave him die.
It'll be worth it.
Well, now, isn't that a fine thing for you to- It's a good thing this town doesn't have to depend on a Sybarite like you.
A what? A Sybarite.
A S- I don't know what that means, doc, but I don't think that's very nice.
Well, then don't even let me hear you saying it to anybody.
Oh, come on in, Kitty.
Sit down here and join the fun.
I'm afraid I'm going to spoil the fun, doc.
What's the trouble, Kitty? Well, I thought I'd better come and tell you about it before you hear it from her.
What? Rena Decker isn't going to be working at the Long Branch.
Matt, I didn't hire her.
You di- Oh, forever more.
It's not that she isn't pretty and all of that but I've seen her kind too often and they spell nothing but trouble.
Well, I don't understand.
She seemed like a nice enough girl to me.
Men are all alike.
A pretty face will throw you every time.
Well, Kitty, I'm just trying get her a job.
Trying to help her the way I'd help anybody.
What are you getting at? Who started that fight in Wichita, Matt? Well, a fellow by the name of Ab Laster.
He was bothering her.
And she didn't lead him on and she didn't ask for it, huh? Kitty, look.
She's a girl who's all alone.
She doesn't know anybody in Dodge and she needs a job.
Sure and when I had to leave her alone for a few minutes two men came up and she almost got another fight started.
Well, why would she do that? There are some women who just like to have men fighting over them.
You haven't seen her yet, huh, doc? No.
No, but I'm getting pretty interested.
And you'll be just as stupid as they are.
Oh, Kitty, look- All right.
All right.
If you don't believe me I'll prove it to you.
I'll hire her tomorrow.
Now, are you satisfied? Just don't blame me when somebody gets hurt because of her.
It's bound to happen.
You sent for me, Kitty? Yes, I did.
Sit down.
I was afraid after our talk yesterday that- I changed my mind.
You can have the job if you want it.
Really? It isn't any fun working here, Rena.
But it can be worse.
Like when men get to fighting.
Especially over a woman.
Oh, they do terrible things, don't they? You know what I'm talking about, Rena.
You save it for the men, honey.
I'm a woman.
You can start to work now if you want.
I'm going out to lunch.
I do thank you, Kitty.
It's all right.
I drink only brandy, please.
Ride far, cowboy? Just far enough, it looks like.
Oh, that's real nice.
How about me buying you a drink, miss? Well, now, that's real nice.
I'd have shot you in there only I didn't want to hurt no bystanders.
That's real thoughtful of you.
I'm going to hurt you, though.
I'm going to hurt you good.
You're scared, Hank.
Else you wouldn't be talking so much.
Whatever for did I throw in with a man like you? You got carpetbagger blood in you? What? You talk so much.
I don't have to take that, Joe.
Well, then, get to shooting.
I got a gal waiting for me.
That's far enough, Hank.
We ain't using rifles.
We shouldn't ought to be doing this, Joe.
Too late, Hank.
Way too late.
Here comes the marshal.
He'll take care of this.
All right, coming through here, please.
He's dead.
Well, this one ain't no better off, Mr.
Dillon.
Better go get the doc, I guess, Chester.
Yeah, guess so.
Anybody know these two? They didn't belong around here, marshal.
Well, I guess they sure didn't.
All right, a couple of you men stick around and give us a hand.
The rest of you break it up, huh? You see this happen, Kitty? From a distance.
I was just going into Delmonico's.
You know either of them? Never saw them before.
Just a couple of drifters, I guess.
Apparently we'll just have to bury them plain, then.
Aren't you even going to find out how it started? They're dead now, it doesn't matter much.
I think it might.
What do you mean? They were just going into the Long Branch as I was leaving.
So? So Rena was in there.
Now, look, Matt.
I know you don't believe me but it's not going to do any harm to ask her about it.
Not that she's going to tell the truth.
All right, let's find her.
She watched it.
She's standing right down there.
It was terrible.
I've never seen anything like it.
I'm still shaking.
You know how this got started, Rena? No, should I? They were in the Long Branch, Rena.
I know.
I was just talking to them there at the bar and suddenly they got mad at each other and they came outhere.
That's all I know.
I don't suppose you'd want to tell us what you were talking about.
Nothing.
We werejust talking.
Well, if you were just talking then why did they get so mad? You know how men are.
Yeah, I know.
I know how some men are.
I'll see you later.
Marshal? Was it just all for being a woman.
You understand, don't you? You better go back inside, Rena.
Mr.
Dillon.
Hello, Chester.
Well, I just got back from Boot Hill.
It's all over.
Is that all the coffee? Yeah, here.
Take mine.
You don't want it? No.
You sure? Yeah, I'm sure.
Yeah, all right.
You know, I'd sure hate to be buried like them two fellows.
Nobody not even knowing who you are.
Not even a marker for your grave.
It's a poor, sad way to end.
Sure is.
What do you say we sit outside for a while, huh? Nobody even seemed to know where they was from.
Mr.
Dillon? Well, gentlemen.
We ain't looking for you, marshal.
Not right now we ain't.
Now we've got a thirst to settle before we do any work.
Hold on a minute.
It's 3:00.
By 6:00 I don't want to see either of you around Dodge.
Now, look here.
You can't talk to us- Get moving.
Well, it looks like they're headed for the Long Branch.
Yeah.
It gives me an idea.
What's that? Well, I'll give them a few minutes and then- Maybe I can get a couple of things settled.
Hello, Kitty.
Sit down, Matt.
Hello, Chester.
Kitty.
Well, I didn't see you at the burying.
Oh, I'm sure sorry I missed that.
That must have been real fancy.
Yeah, just about.
What's on your mind? Rena for one thing.
She's right over there.
Yeah.
Sure didn't take her long to set that up.
Oh, but of course.
She and Laster are old friends.
I forgot about that.
Sure looks that way, doesn't it.
Matt, why don't you go on over there and have a drink on the house.
What do you mean? Eavesdrop for a few minutes.
You might learn something.
All right, I think I will.
Rena, honey, it's sure good to see you again.
Are you going to take me to dinner or not, Mr.
Laster? Oh, sure, honey.
You bet I am.
What about me, ain't I invited? Well, that depends on Mr.
Laster.
Yeah? Well, some other time, Garrett.
This is going to be my night tonight.
Now, you make it sound like Mr.
Garrett's not wanted.
Well, he ain't.
You don't have to treat him like he's a dog.
Oh, I ain't treating him as if he was no dog, am I, Garrett? Well You are.
No man is going to take that, is he? Mr.
Garrett? Well, no.
No, real man.
No.
No, by golly.
Now, you take it back, Laster.
What? You heard me.
Ha.
Go on, Garrett.
Leave us alone, will you? You're awful.
Same as spitting on him.
Yeah.
AndI ain't taking no more.
Okay, if that's the way you want it.
Hold it.
Drop it, Laster.
Don't raise that gun or I'll- Don't be a fool, marshal.
Stand where you are, marshal.
She's already tricked you into two fights, Laster.
You going to let her do it again? She likes to get men fighting over her, can't you see that? Leave her out of this.
Listen to me.
I was so scared he'd kill you, I was almost ill.
Four men dead because I wouldn't believe Kitty about you.
Hm? Get over to the Dodge House and wait for me.
What do you mean? I said get over to the Dodge House.
You know, I still can't believe it.
Four men dead because of her.
I should have listened to you, Kitty.
Wasn't all your fault, Matt.
I'll tell you one thing.
She taught me a lesson I'll never forget.
Come on.
You never did get that drink on the house.