Gunsmoke (1955) s02e32 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
I don't think anybody really likes to take unfair advantage of a man.
But I'm afraid we've all done it at times.
And maybe that's why we're still alive, while others, like these here, are dead and buried.
And maybe that's excuse enough.
But there's sure no excuse for a man who crowds a defenseless woman.
Who makes a slave of her with threats of brutality and violence.
A man who does that belongs here, not down there in Dodge where I have to watch him.
Matt Dillon, U.
S.
marshal.
Hello, Florry.
Well, looks like you need a hand here.
Oh, I can manage all right, marshal.
Oh, this ain't no job for a woman, Miss Florry.
Oh, thanks just the same, but you shouldn't, really.
Please.
What's the matter, Florry? You worried about your brother? Ben will be here in a few minutes.
He don't like folks to help me.
Yeah.
Guess he's afraid it'll make you lazy or something, huh? You know how Ben is.
Yeah, I know how Ben is, all right.
What'd you do, spend the night in town? Yeah.
He's riding in this morning.
Gotta get supplies for the ranch.
Must be kind of tough on Ben and his men out there, with nobody cook and do all the chores for him.
Please, marshal.
Well, I'm sorry, Florry, but, you know, Ben Stancil makes me kinda mad sometimes.
Even if he is your brother.
Please don't get him riled up when he gets here.
He'll just take it out on me.
Well, there you are, Miss Florry.
All set.
Sure do thank you, Chester.
Oh, that's all right.
Anytime at all.
Flora! Hello, marshal.
Stancil.
Why ain't you down at Jonah's store laying on them supplies? I had to hitch up the horse.
You should've had that done by daybreak.
We need you out the ranch.
Now, come on.
Goodbye, Florry.
Get up.
Somebody ought to open him up and pull him full of grass.
You talk like an Indian, Chester.
Yeah.
But in this case, I agree with you.
Well, I gotta go over and see Bill Pence at the Long Branch.
You wanna come? No.
All right.
Just dog around the street for a while.
Where'd you say you're from, mister? Hello, marshal.
Hello, Sam.
Bill Pence around? He'll be back in about ten minutes.
Have a beer while you're waiting.
No, I don't think so, Sam.
Thanks.
So your name's Fos Capper, huh? Yeah, that's right, mister.
You say your name out like you got nothing to hide.
Well, now, you're right again.
I guess a man wanted to hide something, he'd be wearing a gun to help him do it.
Maybe.
Well, you agreeing with me, or ain't you agreeing with me? Anyway you want it, mister.
You're big, backer.
But I ain't afraid of you.
Ain't no reason you should be.
You're awful big.
A man would be a fool to go up against you without a gun, wouldn't he? Well, wouldn't he? Mister, have a drink, huh? I don't want your gun, mister.
I can't fight you lessen you got a gun.
You're too big.
We got no cause to fight.
Take your gun back.
You're afraid.
You're a coward.
You're a stinkin' coward.
Now, don't you push it too far.
I said you're a coward.
All right.
Don't you think you've had enough? You keep out of this.
Mister, I am wearing a gun, and I'll bend it over your skull in a minute.
Oh, the marshal.
Get out of here, go on.
Sure.
Sure.
I guess I ought to thank you, marshal.
No need.
My name's Fos Capper.
How are you? You know, Capper, most men around here do wear a gun.
Well, I've had enough fighting.
Oh? Where's that? The war.
I had it from Harpers Ferry all the way down to Richmond.
A man gets tired of killing, marshal.
Yeah, I know.
Mr.
Dillon? You better get out on the street if you wanna stop a fight.
What fight's that? Well, that Ben Stancil again.
He's about to wop that cowboy that rode into town with him.
Because of Flora? Yeah.
All right.
Flora was trying to load the wagon all by herself, and this cowboy of Stancil's come up to her, and was just trying to help her, that's all.
Well, knowing Stancil, that's enough.
I don't see any cowboy though.
Now get back to loading up that wagon, you hear me? Well, I hope you didn't kill him.
What? Oh, him.
Ah, he's just knocked out, that's all.
I'll get a bucket of water.
I should've killed him.
For what? Helping Flora do a man's work? Flora's my sister, marshal.
What she does ain't no business of yours.
Let me tell you something.
Your keeping her away from men the way you are is gonna get you into real trouble one of these days.
My trouble, marshal.
Not if you kill somebody.
Ah.
Now by heaven Just what do you think you're doing, stranger? Well, that box seemed a might heavy for a lady to be lifting.
He don't mean no harm, Ben.
You know this man? He told me his name.
You're getting to be a regular doxy, ain't you? Now, I wouldn't talk like that, mister.
Shut up.
You wanna beat me, like you did that other fella there? I'll do worse than that.
Stancil.
There's been enough fighting for one day.
Now, your wagon's loaded.
Suppose you get on it and get out of here.
All I gotta say to you, mister, is you better be carrying a gun the next time I see you.
Get up on that seat.
Bye, Miss Flora.
Thank you, Mr.
Capper.
Flora! Giddap there.
Now, how did you get mixed up in this? Well, I, uh- I got curious, followed you out of the saloon.
Then I saw her struggling with them boxes.
I- I just couldn't stand there and watch her, could I? No, guess you couldn't.
But let me tell you something.
One of these days he's gonna kill somebody over her.
Well, I hope it ain't me.
Guess you know what to do then.
Yeah.
Yeah, marshal, I know what to do.
Hello, Chester.
Melanie.
Hello, what a surprise.
I had an idea it was you.
What do you mean? Oh, I couldn't tell for sure because the window was so dirty.
Oh.
Oh, yeah, yeah, well, uh I was lookin' at the galluses in the window is what I was doing.
Heh-heh.
Are you gonna buy some? Well, I- I think that man ought to buy himself something new every once and a while and sort of dress himself up and You know, it- It- I know.
Seems sort of fitting and all.
Uh, did you buy a new ribbon or something? Oh, no, today's just a looking day.
Besides, I don't have any money.
Oh.
Well, Melanie you wait till Mr.
Dillon gets back, and he owes me $3.
I'll give you the loan or something.
That's very sweet of you, Chester, but I shouldn't.
Well, my gracious.
I don't see why not.
Just because.
Oh.
Say, where is Marshal Dillon? Oh, well, he went up to Hayes City for a trial or something.
He- He's gonna be gone a couple of weeks, and I guess that I'll be in charge.
Would you like to-? To sit down for a spell or something, Melanie? Well, all right.
Oh, good.
Whoa.
Mr.
Capper.
Morning, Miss Flora.
You drive in for more supplies? Men are pretty big eaters.
You do all the cooking? Yeah.
It isn't so bad.
Well, it appears to me that your brother ought to hire a little extra help.
Mind you, it ain't none of my business, I'm just talking.
I shouldn't, I guess.
A man's got a right to talk.
You mean it? Guess I don't know what I mean.
All you need is just a little sunning out.
What? You've been living in the shade too long, Miss Flora.
Nothing can grow good like that.
Body needs space, air, chance to breathe.
Now here I go again.
I'm sorry.
Shoot.
Uh-oh.
What's wrong? That Fos Capper's starting something for sure.
Well, I think it's about time.
Ben Stancil's treated her like a slave long enough.
Come on, I'll- I'll help you with your supply.
Oh, well, my brother- You let me worry about him.
Well, he's not in town anyway.
I guess it's all right.
Well, he ain't gonna give up easy, that's for sure.
Which one? Ben or that man? Well, neither one of them as far as that's concerned.
Wish Mr.
Dillon would get back before this goes any farther.
Oh, Ben won't find out.
He doesn't come to town very often anyway.
Oh, Melanie, you're just as purty as you can be, but you just don't realize how little it takes to get yourself killed around here.
Hi.
Well.
Welcome back, Mr.
Dillon.
How are you? Fine, Chester.
How are you, Doc? Golly, Matt, it's good to see you back.
Well, it's good to be back, I'll tell you.
I've been in that saddle since midnight.
A little cool around the horse, but it sure don't catch a man up on his sleep.
Yeah.
Well, you ain't gonna catch up on your sleep around here, Mr.
Dillon.
Uh-oh.
Trouble again? Well, there ain't yet, but there's gonna be, that's- Oh, Chester, you don't even know- Doc, you ain't seen 'em every few days the way that I have.
He's just trying to break up a romance.
Doc, I ain't either, but I know trouble a-coming when I see it.
What are you talking about, Chester? Well, it's Fos Capper and Flora Stancil, that's who.
He's been sitting here- Doc, all right.
Every time she comes in, he's waiting for her out the edge of town.
And then they come in together, him driving the buckboard and his horse tied onto the back.
It's just exactly as if they was man and wife.
He- Listen to him talk.
Well, does, uh, Stancil know about this? No, well, of course he don't know about it.
Otherwise there'd be blood all up and down Front Street.
Well, there's nothing I can do about that, that's for sure.
Well, of course not.
Now, uh, Chester, will you put my horse away for me? Hm.
I'm starving.
Well, I'll go with you.
I haven't had a thing to eat either.
Mr.
Dillon, you better pay attention to what I said and keep your eyes open.
All right, Chester, I will.
Come on.
Do you think he's a coward, Matt? Who? That Fos Capper.
What makes you say that? Well, he doesn't carry a gun for one thing.
I don't know, Doc.
Haven't made up my mind about him yet.
Oh, say.
What's the matter? I forgot to give Chester the money I owe him.
Oh, well, what? He's waited this long with no- Well, I guess- Say.
Isn't that Flora's wagon right there? Yeah, that's Capper's horse there.
Just like Chester said, huh? Well, yes, but what you-? What you gonna do about it? Ah, there's nothing I can do about that, Doc.
That's a family matter.
Well, of course.
Come on, come on.
Let's get something to eat.
Yeah.
I was told these hotcakes and coffee- Uh-oh.
What's the matter now? Looks like you're gonna have to eat breakfast alone after all, Doc.
Yeah, well, maybe I just better skip it too and stand by here, huh? Yeah, maybe you better.
All right, I'll- I'll wait right here.
All right.
What kind of a woman are you, anyway? Easy now, Stancil.
Now, you shut up.
I wanna know how long it's been going on.
Hm? Tell me.
You mind if we talk about it at home, Ben? We'll talk about it now! No, we won't.
Yes.
We're gonna get this settled once and for all.
And you ain't gonna stop it neither.
Just don't forget that he doesn't carry a gun.
A dirty coward.
Of course he ain't.
Shooting won't solve anything, Stancil.
It'd get you killed.
That'd solve something.
Maybe for you, but not for Flora.
I don't wanna hear you say her name.
You're gonna have to.
It's gone on long enough, the way you treat her.
What I do with my sister ain't none of your business.
Yes, it is.
How do you figure that? I want Flora to marry me.
You never told me that, Fos.
Well, I've been thinking on it, Flora.
I I figured to wait, but now it looks like there ain't no chance for waiting.
Fos Flora's worked hard for you, Stancil.
You've never given her anything of her own.
You've kept her away from everybody for fear of losing her.
She ain't a woman to you, a sister.
She's just cheap labor.
That makes you about as small a man as I ever heard of.
I'll kill you now for sure.
No, you won't.
Because you'd hang for it.
All right, Capper.
But I'll get you one way or another.
You go back home, you pick up all the things you need.
I'll be waiting for you right here tomorrow at noon.
No, Flora.
No, you won't.
No, you stay out of this.
You're gonna be free, Flora.
You can make up your mind later about marrying me, but you're gonna be free.
Flora- Stancil, shut up! And if you lay a finger on her out there, I'll beat you to death.
Now, you go on.
All right, Fos.
Tomorrow noon, Flora.
I'll be waiting.
You mind what I say.
Don't you try to stop her.
I won't try to stop her.
It's you I'm gonna stop.
Well, there you are, marshal.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to start no trouble when I came here.
Well, Capper, maybe you didn't mean to, but you sure did.
I'll be watching.
Yeah.
You're in it now, Capper.
We're gonna fix you good.
I see you brought along plenty of help.
You're too big for one man to handle.
But the three of us can do it.
All right, boys.
You aren't taking no chances at all, are you Stancil? Even a poisoned wolf can run sometimes.
He can bite too.
We'll see about that.
Get him! Hold it.
Now, just what do you men think you're about to do here? We ain't gonna shoot nobody, if that's what's worrying you.
Stancil, I almost wish you'd try.
That ain't no way for a lawman to talk.
It's all right, marshal.
Don't bother with him.
Why don't you keep out of this? You think I'm gonna stand by and watch three men work over one? Now, listen, marshal.
There ain't no other way.
I gotta take 'em on.
All of them.
It's gotta be done.
Mr.
Dillon, look.
I told her to go home.
Whoa.
You keep away from her, Capper.
Stancil.
Marshal- Shut up.
Flora.
They caught up with me outside of town.
I guess I'm late.
No, you ain't late.
I made it though.
He couldn't stop me.
You get back on that wagon, go on home now, do you hear me? You do this, Stancil? You sure need a lot of convincing.
Chester? Yeah? Would you be so good as to take her up to Doc's? I got a little business to do.
Oh, I'd be glad to.
I've changed my mind, Stancil.
What? I ain't gonna fight you, you and your boys.
Not anymore.
Not after what you done to Flora.
We're gonna settle this, for good and all.
What are you talking about? Marshal Dillon, may I ask you a favor? Sure, what is it? Lend me your gun.
Lend you his gun? Well, marshal? Now, what's this? What are you doing? Whoever heard of a lawman lending his gun? Somebody's gotta take care of you, Stancil.
And I think that's the man to do it.
All right then.
You can watch him die.
Get your guns, boys.
Now, look here.
We didn't say nothing about no gun fight.
What's the difference? He's only one man, ain't he? There's something about him.
I don't like the way he wears that gun.
He looks professional to me.
Yeah.
She's nothing but a tin horn, and a coward at that.
No, he ain't no coward.
And I ain't having no part of this.
I ain't no fool either.
You leave now and you're fired, both of you.
That beats getting buried.
You're cowards.
You're rotten cowards! Stancil.
Was he right, Capper? You a gunman? Easy enough to find out.
What kind of a lawman are you, anyway? You gonna stand there and allow this? Nothing I can do about it now.
Well, I think he is a gunman.
He's nothing but a killer.
I ain't no professional.
I'm just a decent, ordinary citizen.
You're through, Stancil.
All the way through.
Get moving.
I thank you, marshal.
Sure.
Remember what I said the other day about a man being sick of killing? I figured it was something besides the war you were talking about.
Yeah, well, I thought I'd never have to wear a gun again.
That's why I asked Flora to marry me.
So? Would you tell her something for me, marshal? Tell her I was ready to kill her brother.
I can't hold her to marry me now.
Time will always come when I'll have to wear a gun again.
Not against Stancil.
Well, not him, somebody else.
Man like me's got enemies.
Why don't you tell her yourself? No, that wouldn't be fair.
I'd be influencing her the wrong way, just by being there.
Will you do it? I'm afraid you're too late.
She's been there all the time.
She saw you, gun and all.
Yeah? Like I said, it's too late, Capper.
It's way too late.