Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Gunsmoke.

With Milburn Stone as Doc.

Ken Curtis as Festus.

Buck Taylor as Newly.

And starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Corporal, you wanna get your head blown off?

A man who can't keep his head down is asking for a bullet.

Yes, sir, Colonel, sir.

You know, this is war.

And I train my men to do the impossible.

What's the use of having a brilliantly planned campaign

if the men don't know their job?

WOMAN: Jimmy?

Dinner, Jimmy!

That's my ma, sir.

Yeah.

Well, an army marches on its stomach.

Don't wanna be late for mess.

Troop, attention.

Dismissed!

Marshal, Festus. -Hello, Colonel.

Howdy, Colonel.

Looks like you had a hard ride.

You bet it was.

Take 'em inside, will ya, Festus?

You betcha, Matthew.

Don't think you're gonna keep me locked up.

Look, sonny, we'll keep you locked up.

You cost Pappy a mule.

One of the Higgins gang?

Jeff Higgins' brother.

They're young.

I commanded boys his age.

Ah, but they were a different breed.

They were that, Colonel.

Uh, Matt, I've got some free time

if you want your horse groomed.

That'd be fine.

I'd appreciate it.

Whoever made up this game could have sure saved

himself a heep of trouble.

Oh-- I suppose you think you can improve

on the game of checkers, now?

How would you do it?

Course I could.

Yeah?

Why don't a feller just have to make one move,

instead of a whole mess up?

Well, you only get one move at a time.

Well, of course.

For heaven's sake.

But, well-- but how's a feller know that it's a good move

he's making?

Why don't you move?

Just go on and move something.

Move.

All right, all right.

Matt, your horse's coat's as shiny as the seat

of a cavalry sergeant's patch.

Thank you, Colonel.

Oh-- Festus.

You know, the-- the best attack is a wedge

between enemy strongpoints.

He's right.

Of course.

I know he's right. -Well, move.

Go on.

All right.

Fixin' to.

Let's see, here.

Well, now-- you don't have to make that move,

you don't want to.

I'll let you take it back, if you want to.

Well, of course I ain't gonna take it back.

That there is my move, and I'll stay by it.

Wait a minute.

How many of you am I going to have to play, anyway?

Onliest one you're playing is me.

Newly ain't did a thing to help me.

Oh, no.

All he's doing is standing there nodding

and shaking-- and you, too.

Say, you know what these are?

You see whiskey glasses-- and you're right, of course.

I see a gun emplacement here, and here, and-- these are

trenches wrestling with rifles.

Ah, it was a beautiful, bright day.

I was up on the ridge line of the staff,

and General Williams rode up to me, and said,

Colonel, Bentonville must be taken.

I caught the looks on the other officers' faces.

They thought it was impossible.

In January, '65.

I read about it, Colonel.

We all did.

It was a great victory.

Well?

Go on, move.

Just hush a minute.

I'm gonna move.

There.

No, that's not it--

Ah, ah-- you done took your finger off of it.

You can't change it.

You're too late, Doc.

Well, I didn't want to do that.

Looks like old Matthew, and the Colonel and me's

got your old hide nailed to the barn door.

Heh.

Here, jump that.

All right, now jump that.

Ha ha!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

What do you think of that?

I'll tell you what I think of that!

I think I've been victimized by the most

unscrupulous conspiracy I've ever seen in my life!

Doc.

Well, did you get that letter you were looking for, Carl?

She said yes.

-Well, congratulations. -Thank you.

Thank you.

Me too, Carl.

Congratulations.

Ah-- would it be all right if I bought everybody a drink?

Has a mule got ears?

Drinks is on Carl.

Hey!

Let's go!

All right!

I'm going to Wichita on Thursday to bring her back.

We're going to have the biggest wedding this town's ever seen,

so everybody can meet her.

That's wonderful.

That's good, Carl.

Ah-- could you run my store Thursday and Friday, Festus?

Pays $1.00 a day.

Well, I'd sure like to, but, uh, Matthew here's

got me going to Dry Creek.

Gotta get someone.

Someone honest.

My whole future's sitting on those shelves.

Newly, I don't suppose you'd--

I'm sorry, Carl.

I'm way behind on my ammunition orders.

I've been loading shells since 4:00 this morning.

Matter of fact, I oughta be getting back right now.

I'll see y'all.

Yeah, I gotta go too, Carl.

I gotta spell old Bert to the jailhouse.

Don't forget, Floyd, I got me a drink coming.

All right, Festus.

Carl.

What about him?

Why not?

Colonel?

Carl, uh, wants to ask you a question.

He, uh-- he needs somebody to look after his store for him

for a while.

I haven't had any training as a storekeeper.

You could learn what's needed.

You know, I've never been able to pull down a job.

I don't know why.

The fault is mine.

But I thought it's fair you should know.

Two days only, Tuesday and Friday.

Well, just while he fetches the girl he's gonna marry.

Pays $1.00 a day.

Colonel, he's gotta have somebody honest.

Well, uh-- my best wishes to you and your ride.

I--

You're invited to the wedding.

Well-- if I can be of any help.

Good. I'll count on you.

Thursday morning.

Thanks, marshal.

Hey, marshal?

Look, you got no call to keep me locked up in here.

I mean, you can't prove nothing I did.

Not in a court.

If I can't, then you've got nothing to worry about.

Well, you see, my brother Jeff, he-- he made me go along.

But-- but I didn't do nothing.

Jeff's gonna bust me out of here,

and he's going to get you, too.

I wouldn't count on that, sonny.

Remember, shelf want filling as soon as something's sold.

People don't see what they want, they forget they want it.

Oh, yeah.

There's extra stock in the storeroom off the kitchen.

Storeroom?

I probably should have brought you in here a day ahead.

There's a lot to learn.

You think you'll be all right? -Oh, I'll be fine.

I'll be fine.

I'm clucking like a mother hen.

What with leaving the store the first time,

and going for my intended, I don't know where my head's at.

You think she'll like it?

Be a rare kind of girl who didn't appreciate a husband

with a good, solid business, his feet on the ground,

head on his neck, instead of in the clouds.

Anne Ludley is not just any girl-- she's special.

Carl, wait.

I, uh-- just remembered.

You'd better get someone else to run the store for ya.

Don't make jokes.

The stagecoach will be here any minute.

No, no. No, I mean it.

I can't do it.

You'll be fine.

I just remembered, I promised a fella-- there's a war

starting south of the border.

I'm supposed to train troops.

You promised me.

You gave me your word.

I did give you my word.

You'll be all right.

Goodbye.

Howdy, Colonel.

Festus.

Thought you were out of town?

Oh, I was, but I got back quicker than I figured.

You know, Carl's gonna be plum tickled

with what you're doing there.

Well, bringing his bride back, she's gonna see

the store for the first time.

Wouldn't want to spoil it for him.

Sure is mightly thoughtful, some of ya, Colonel.

Everything all right, is it?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, it's fine.

Fine.

Thank you.

You know, I ain't never heard you say that everything

wasn't all right.

Well, a man who looked ahead might see trouble.

But one who's got his eyes in the back of his head

sees only happy times.

Yeah, but a fella looking backwards all the time's

liable to stumble, ain't he?

Well, that's a small price to pay for trading today

in on yesterday.

Mind, I don't recommend my way for anyone else.

There are times when I don't even recommend it for myself.

Still, a man is what he is.

Would you believe, I was once in the rail shipping business?

Is that right?

In six months, goods intended for Illinois

ended up in Alabama.

Most of the rest stalled on sidings

between New York and Virginia.

I don't want to brag, but if I'd stayed on,

I might have bankrupted the entire eastern seaboard

single-handed.

You know something, Colonel?

That's the onliest time that I've

ever heard you talk about what you did outside the army.

The onliest time.

That shows you the kind of businessman I am.

Here I am gabbing with a customer--

I didn't even ask you what you wanted,

or-- can I interest you in a few hundred pounds of oats,

or a plow, or--

I'll have to study on that, Colonel.

But I'll tell ya, I got to thinking about old Carl

leaving in such a tizzy the way he

done-- he might not have thought to leave you vittles to eat.

This here's, uh, some stew from Del Monaco's.

Of course, it'll take a little hottin' up fore you eat it.

Festus?

Aw, forget it, Colonel.

You don't have to say nothin' at all.

[bell ringing]

All right, corporal.

Corporal Clarence is reporting for duty, sir.

At east.

Troops waiting.

Well, I'm afraid we, uh-- we can't drill today, corporal.

Gosh.

But you promised.

Did I?

Well, uh-- I suppose there's a problem.

Please?

Well, Josiah Johnson didn't make his reputation

as a strategist by shriveling in the face of problems, did he?

Oh, well you-- you march the troops from the drill field.

We'll assault a fortified position.

This one.

Yeah, that way I can keep my eye out incase a customer shows up.

Yes, sir, Colonel, sir.

Fire!

Fire!

[inaudible]

Where?

-In the store! -Fire!

Fire!

The store's on fire!

The store's on fire!

Oh my god.

Colonel.

Matt.

Ah, this is Anne Ludley.

Anne, meet Marshal Dillon.

How do you do, Miss Ludley.

Carl's talked a lot about ya.

Well, I'd hope so.

I would hate to think I was on his mind

only when he visited Wichita.

Carl, there's been an accident.

There was a fire at your store.

Oh-- excuse me.

How did it happen?

How?

A spark from the stove.

You-- you're making excuses.

No, it was my fault. I-- I left the stove door open.

Can't tell ya how sorry I--

Sorry?

Does sorry pay for the years I've spent

getting this store in shape?

Look at it.

Just look!

Can I bring a wife to live here?

I feel like I've been hit over the head.

I can't think straight.

Do you realize what you've done?

You have every right to feel as you do.

Just get out.

Pa?

Pa?

Here.

What a fine young woman you've become.

Oh, Pa.

Are you all right, Pa? -Couldn't be better.

Heard about you and-- and Carl.

Good man.

He doesn't know you're my father.

I understand.

Pa, I-- I'm not a very strong person.

Nonsense.

You're your mother's daughter.

Never was a stronger woman in all the world.

[laughter]

I didn't even know you were in Dodge City.

Well-- this is no place to talk.

I, uh-- I sleep here, sometimes, when-- when the weather's fine.

Nothing's changed, has it, Pa?

I'm gonna see my girl marry a fine young man.

What's going to happen to you?

Well, after the wedding, I'll-- I'll be leaving Dodge City.

To spare me?

You know, I hear your mother's voice in you.

She was a wonderful woman.

But she-- couldn't understand that a man who was somebody

didn't take easily to being nobody.

But you are somebody.

Or, you-- you could be.

Sweet hand.

Yeah.

You know, the-- the US Army still has too many colonels,

and-- but south of the border, a man with my record

is highly valued.

Well, you're highly valued by me.

I'll be so proud, when I see at the altar, with Carl.

I only wish-- oh, that a man ought

to give his one child some fine gift

when she's getting married.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

[knocking]

Come in.

What do you want?

Well, I'm the cause of all this.

I-- I'm responsible.

I-- I owe you what it'll cost to fix it up.

Are-- are you saying you want to pay for the repairs?

Yes, it's no more than right.

That's nice of you, Josiah.

I want to get you a suitable wedding present.

You needn't worry about that.

I'm better off than I figured, if you

pay even part of the damage.

It came to $87.

Oh, no, no.

Not part.

All.

And an extra week-- even two weeks.

As a wedding present.

I can start tomorrow.

Start what?

Well, I-- I mean, to work.

For nothing. Nothing.

Uh-- look.

You're just plain bad luck to me.

Please, Josiah-- just stay away.

Please.

Stay away.

Pa?

She walks in beauty, like the night.

Pa--

Lord Byron wrote that.

And he didn't even know you.

I got your note.

Is something wrong?

I just wanted to ask to see you.

Must something be wrong?

It always has been.

Beauty like the night, not gloom of night.

Cheer up.

Pa-- every time you've tried to make me cheerful,

it's-- it's been to hide bad news.

Ah.

Well, this time it's going to be different.

Remember my telling you about their interest in me

sout of the border?

Well, it's better than I even hoped for.

Full command of all strategic operations,

with a rank of major general.

When did this happen?

Well, a courier arrived not an hour ago.

Now I'll be able to buy my girl the wedding

present she deserves, with my first month's salary.

Why don't you smile?

Doesn't it please you?

Where will you be stationed?

Well, now, that's not settled yet.

The, um-- headquarters is moving about.

I'll write you.

I'll write you.

It's-- it's wonderful you've got the kind of job you want.

Yeah.

There is one thing, though.

What?

They need me right away.

I have to leave in the morning.

You know what that means.

Pa-- I'm gonna be married at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Can't-- can't you just wait a few hours?

Well, I would if it was possible.

You've-- you've no idea how I've dreamed, and-- well.

That's what comes of being a soldier.

When they call ya, you go.

You understand, don't ya?

You're not angry?

I've been angry at you ever since I was old enough

to know how much I love you.

Annie-- Annie, you're a loving dream of a girl.

A man couldn't wish for a more wonderful daughter.

Oh-- another goodbye.

How many does this make?

Oh, it's the last one.

See, when I come back, I'll be rich, famous-- you'll be proud.

You take care of yourself, Pa.

God bless you, Annie.

Oh, no-- -No, please.

Annie--

[mumbling a tune]

[SINGING DRUNKENLY] And the same flower that smiles today.

[inaudible]

Oh, come on.

Farewell celebration calls for wine, women, and song.

At my age?

Oh, well, two outta three ain't bad.

Wine and song.

Ah-- wine and song.

Wine and song.

I seem to have a surplus of funds.

Here, drinks for everybody.

Drinks for everybody!

Especially my friend-- my friends, the marshal

and the good doctor.

Sure fixing to hang on a beauty tonight.

That's for sure.

I think the only question is, what's going to happen first?

Is he going to pass out, or raise a ruckus?

Well, you know the strategy is two third knowledge--

knowledge-- and then, uh-- one half, um-- timing-- timing.

And then there's a fourth-- three fourths--

four thirds-- instinct.

Instinct.

And you just-- when-- when to advance.

Yeah, I said to my flag corporal, raise the banner.

Aye-- and charge.

Charge!

Charge!

Charge!

Charge!

Watch it.

I think the answer to your question is ruckus.

All right.

Charge.

[mumbling]

Hey, how long am I going to rot in this hole?

Can't that old drunk sleep it off someplace else?

Hey, now, marshal, wait a minute.

I might make a deal.

I mean, I tell you where, um-- my brother's gang hides out,

and-- and you let me go.

Be up to the judge.

I'll talk to him about it in the morning.

You think I'm fool enough to sell out my own brother

without a guarantee I go free?

God!

[mumbling] -Shut up!

Going loco in here!

Here we go.

Easy.

Didn't think I was gonna make it, marshal.

I was ambushed. -Come on.

We'll get you over to Doc Adams.

You're lucky, son, you're-- it's not bad.

I'll just clean it up a little.

How did it happen?

They was four of us, driving a herd north.

About 20 miles from here is a dry streambed,

cuts a fully below a ridge.

[inaudible]?

Yeah.

It was an ambush.

I-- I tell ya, you never seen nothing like it.

One minute we was riding along, just

like usual, and the next thing, there

was bullets slamming into us.

They thought I was dead.

Old Mike, and Pecus, and Shorty, they was.

I played possum.

Did you get a look at their faces?

Two of 'em.

There's a big fella, with a scar over his right eye.

He seemed like the boss man.

Other fella could've been anybody.

I mean, it's a face I'm going to remember,

but wasn't nothing you could latch onto for me trying

to tell you what it was like.

Did you ever hear of a man named Jeff Higgins?

I heard plenty about him.

He's a bad one.

We just had a run in with him.

I tell ya, I thought I was lucky,

but I didn't know how lucky.

He's a bad one.

[mumbling]

Hour of glory.

Aw, shut up.

Bill.

Bill.

Obie?

[mumbling]

Obie, it's all right.

It's just an old drunk.

Hey, what took you so long?

I was figuring I was gonna have to break

out of here all by myself.

Keep watch, if anybody comes in.

Ain't nobody out front.

I checked.

Get me out.

Tomorrow night.

Right now.

Where's Jeff?

He'll get me out.

You ain't going to bust nothing,

staying in there one more day.

Besides, I got it fixed.

The marshal ain't gonna be nowhere around.

Obie, you listen to me.

Shh.

Huh?

Huh?

Don't worry none about him.

He's drunk.

Tomorrow night.

No, Obie, wait-- there's no need to wait until night.

Now, listen-- 2:00 tomorrow there's gonna be a wedding.

I've been hearing them talk about it.

And every man in town is gonna be all together in that church,

all bunched up like in a cage.

If anybody tries to stop ya, y'all can

pick 'em off like they was lined up for target practice, huh?

Right.

Then plus gettin' you out tomorrow, we'll take the bank,

and everything else in this town we want.

Huh?

[whistling]

Hey.

If snores were sheep, you could make wool

overcoats for the whole army.

Huh?

Well, I was dreamin'.

I can't remember--

Hey, well, uh, how's about you get some coffee for me?

The sun is high.

Didn't he give you any?

Well, yeah.

Dillon, before he went out.

But that was hours ago.

He was rattling the walls with nose music.

Yeah, well-- all right.

[whistling]

Hey, uh, how come the marshal leaves your cell

door unlocked, and locks me in?

You think he don't trust me?

You know, when I was commanding troops,

I always kept a sharp lookout for any man who, uh,

started to act different for no reason.

Either he knew something I didn't,

which is bad for a commander-- or he

was getting ready to crack.

Which is even worse.

Well, what's that supposed to mean, old man?

You're in pretty high spirits.

Whistlin', and all.

Well, a guy stuck in this hole--

he ain't got much to whistle about.

The food's lousy, and the coffee's slow.

But, uh-- well, I reckon all that might change.

Why?

Well, the marshal's going after my brother Jeff.

And, uh-- he never misses when he goes after a man, right?

You're tellin' it.

Well, there's 500 on Jeff's head.

Dillon's sure to use the money for better food for us

poor prisoners, now, ain't he?

Huh?

That's something to whistle about, ain't it?

Now, they swallowed it just like sugar candy, Jeff.

Did they believe ya?

Sure.

Well, why shouldn't they?

I told them practically the truth.

I was shot in the arm while the Higgins

gang rustled a herd of cattle.

Even got a bullet in my arm to prove it.

Sort of forgot to tell 'em I was one of the rustlers.

Well, I'll remember that.

Some outlaw.

Takes a bullet to prove he's an honest man.

Colonel, sir!

The men will be ready as soon as Tommy-- I mean, Private Bailey,

wipes his ma's dishes.

Corporal, I'm, uh-- promoting you to sergeant.

Effective immediately.

Gosh, thanks.

I mean, thank you, Colonel, sir.

Yeah.

From now on, you'll be in charge.

Me?

Troop is your responsibility.

Wow.

I'll make the kids-- I mean, the men-- so good at marching.

You'll see.

We'll be the best ever.

Well, now.

I won't be here.

How come?

Duty.

If I go back to corporal from sergeant, will you stay?

Now, you're a good soldier.

Hm?

Please don't go.

You're the only soldier of the eighth corps who--

you can't refuse, can you?

Yes, sir, but--

You're gonna make this troop the best ever.

Aren't ya?

Sergeant, attention.

Dismissed.

I sure hate to see you go, Colonel.

I did want to say goodbye to Matt.

You know when he'll be back?

Well, like I told ya, he went after Jeff Higgins.

Probably a couple days.

Maybe three.

Yeah.

If, uh-- if Matt was gunning for your brother,

how would you feel?

I'd be plum glad I ain't got no brother.

Bill Higgins' a happy man.

Happy?

He's got less to be happy about than a pack jack in a mud hole.

Last night-- I don't know.

I may have been dreaming, but I thought I

heard Bill talking to someone.

Well, it couldn't have been no visitors, or Matthew,

he'd have told me.

Is there some reason why Matthew decided so suddenly

to go after Jeff Higgins?

Well, yeah.

See, this here cowboy come into town-- been shot by Higgins.

Matthew figured out from him where the gang woud be.

You know, if I was planning a jailbreak,

I'd, uh-- create some kind of diversion.

Get Matt out of town.

Some kind of trick.

Oh.

Yeah, that there'd be a good idea.

Could explain why he's been acting so different.

Whistling.

I'll tell you this-- he's a-whistling way

ahead of himself.

Cause I'm going to be here in town, and a lot

of the other folks in town.

It'd take a regular army to pull a prisoner right out

of the middle of Dodge City.

Don't you see?

Well, if Higgins knows that, he may be planning

a way to get around that.

Like what?

Oh, I don't know what, but he's running around loose.

He must be some kind of strategist.

Colonel?

If it was who'd done it, what would you do?

I dunno.

I'd plan a night jailbreak, maybe.

All right, then.

Tonight, I'll be waitin'.

Doors barred, and my pistol in my hand.

I could be wrong.

Higgins might be planning something else.

Well, just in case he is, I'm fixing

to take them cell keys with me.

Now, the onliest way they're going to get that door open

is to shoot the lock off.

And there ain't gonna be no shooting that I don't hear.

I'll guarantee that.

Would you lend me a rifle?

Till Matt gets back?

Well, I thought you was going someplace

important that you couldn't even stay around for Carl's wedding?

Well, there are other things that are important.

Like what I owe Matt.

And some other people in this town.

Festus.

Carl.

Happy day for ya, ain't it?

Sure is.

If I could dance, I'd dance.

See ya at the wedding.

We'll save a piece of cake for Matt and Newly.

Good.

[mooing]

Newly, can you take care of Barry and his men?

You going after Higgins alone?

It just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

What's that?

Supposed to be cattle rustlers.

They killed three men, and then don't take the cattle.

I'm going back to Dodge.

[bell ringing]

Bill!

Bill!

All clear?

Just you and me.

Ain't no keys out there.

Well, shoot out the lock.

In a minute.

What are you waitin' for?

You having a good time watching me behind bars?

Well, now, your being in there don't tear me up all that much.

But that ain't why I'm waiting.

Well, you'd better have a good reason--

or when I get outta here, I'm gonna take ya apart.

Just one shot, and that whole town comes out of that church.

Just giving Jeff and the boys time to get

in position to pick 'em off.

While that's going on, you and me take the bank.

Drop that gun.

Right now.

Obie, he won't shoot.

He heard you tell what'll happen to the town

when a shot's fired.

Just my luck.

Jeff's gonna kill you, and I ain't

even gonna get my hands on ya!

Ain't it about time Bill and Obie got here?

Yeah.

You'd better go see what's happening.

Wait.

Wait for that thing to get through.

Tell him to get that wagon out of there.

Hey, get that wagon out of here!

[gunfire]

[inaudible]!

[gunfire]

[gunfire]

Doc!

Hold it, Higgins!

Hold it right there.

Go check on him, boys.

-No! -Anne, wait!

No!

Colonel?

Pa?

Oh, Pa-- Oh, Pa--

You make a beautiful bride.

Pa?

I'll buy [inaudible].

You didn't choose a failure for a father.

Pa, I love you.

There were four of them.

Plus the one I knocked out at the-- at the jail.

We got three of 'em.

We're fixing to get the other one, too.

We already got him.

It's Jeff Higgins.

Colonel, ain't no way of telling how many of us

they'd have killed if it hadn't have been for you.

Well, I was supposed to out-think the enemy.

Can't we move him, Doc?

My store's close, and there's a bed.

That's a good idea.

Let's do that.

Ah, no, Doc, I'm just as comfortable here.

Matt, the-- the boy in the cells has a $500 reward.

On Jeff Higgins, that right?

That's right.

That's yours.

Because we wouldn't have captured him if it

hadn't been for you, Colonel.

I promised you a wedding present.

Pa, just get well.

That's all the present I want.

I never been better than [inaudible].

[crying]

I know that, uh, words are not gonna wash away the hurt you

feel now, but it might help for you

to remember that, uh, it's no small thing

for a man to die happy.

FESTUS: One thing I could do, Doc.

DOC: What's that?

If you was to print it out for me,

I could carve on his headboard that he was a fine soldier.

Yeah, I think you'd like that, Festus.

NARRATOR: Stay tuned for exciting scenes

from our next Gunsmoke.

[theme music]