Original subtitles

[theme music]

ANNOUNCER: "Gunsmoke."

With Milburn Stone as Doc.

Ken Curtis as Festus.

Buck Taylor as Newly.

And starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

[music playing]

MATT DILLON: Little girl?

Little girl?

It's all right.

It's all right, now.

Come on.

Come on.

Here we go.

It's all right.

Nobody'll hurt you.

Mama?

You must have taken a pretty good spill.

I want my Ma and Pa.

What's your name?

Bessie.

But where's my Ma and Pa?

Hold still.

I want to take a look at this leg.

Where's Ma and Pa?

How'd this happen?

They started shooting at the wagon.

And yelling.

Who did?

I don't know.

Ma screamed.

Where is she?

Where's Pa?

Bessie, I want you to hold still.

This may hurt a little.

No.

Let me go.

Ma!

Now, Bessie, old on.

There's nothing for you to go back there for.

I'm afraid your Ma and Pa are dead.

They ain't dead. They ain't.

They can't be.

Let me go.

They need me.

There.

I'm afraid that's about the best I can do for now.

Bessie, did you see the man that did this?

When the bullets started hitting the wagon,

Pa shove me out.

He said to get on Galahad and ride and keep riding.

I must've hit a tree.

I don't remember.

Do you know where your folks were headed?

My Aunt Rachel's.

Where does she live?

Pa said it was near a place called Oak Hill.

Come on, I'm going to take you there.

Here we go.

Are we just going to leave Ma and Pa out here?

Nowhere?

I'm afraid that's all we can do, Bessie.

All right, there you go.

All right, hold on tight now.

If you get tired of riding, Bessie, just let me know.

Sure is a nice looking pony you got there.

His full name's Sir Galahad.

Named after somebody in a book.

Pa gave him to me before he was born.

I even helped him bring him into this world.

How's the leg feel, Bessie?

Hurts some.

Well, tell you what, you better eat something here because we

got quite a long ways to go.

Near a year ago, my Ma got a letter from Aunt Rachel.

It's a fine land, she said.

A place to grow.

Soil's rich, there's a worm.

Where were your folks coming from?

Indiana.

Pa said he wanted to get to Aunt Rachel's before winter.

After we got the letter, he sold the farm and we just left.

Bessie, you think you'd recognize

your aunt if you saw her?

I don't know.

I haven't seen her or my Uncle John since I was little.

Aunt Rachel's my mom's sister.

Do you know their last name?

Durham.

Uncle John's a farmer.

Can't you eat just a little bit of that?

Nothing.

Well, here.

Get you into bed now. Come on.

There we go.

How long will it take to get to Aunt Rachel's?

Oh, maybe a couple days.

Don't you worry about that now.

You just try to get some sleep.

Goodnight, Bessie.

Good night, Marshal.

Good night, Galahad.

Hold up!

Whoa.

We're looking for some folks around here somewhere

by the name of Durham.

I think they're farmers.

Folks are fairly scattered around here.

Don't know none by their names.

Well, these folks had a boy.

Used to be a place near Buffler Crossing.

Ain't been there in more than a year,

but there were some homesteaders living there then.

Follow the south road.

You'll come across them.

Much obliged to you.

You all right, Bessie?

Yeah.

I'm just a little tired.

If you get too tired to ride, let me now.

Yes, sir.

All right.

[music playing]

Well, seems to be the only farm around here.

Hold on.

We'll be there in a minute.

[music playing]

[cows mooing]

I don't see no one.

Maybe they've gone.

Well, I'll take a look around.

You stay here.

[knocking]

[knocking]

MATT DILLON: Hello in there?

Who are you?

What do you want?

My name's Matt Dillon.

I'm looking for a woman named Rachel Durham.

Don't know no one by that name.

This is the Cain place.

Ma'am, I, uh, I've got a little girl with me.

She's been injured and she's very tired.

Now, it would help a lot if you could open the door

and talk to us.

I ain't opening up.

I don't know you.

Well, this girl's mother said that this Rachel

Durham and her husband had a farm near Oak Hills.

Now, you can certainly give us some idea of where

that might be, can't you?

Ain't no other farms around.

Where's her mother?

Mother and father were both killed.

Attacked by prairie scavengers.

Please go.

My husband, he don't like strangers.

You better go before he comes back.

Well, I'm sorry, but this girl is too tired

to travel any further tonight.

We're going to be staying here.

We'll bed down in your barn.

[crying]

Was that Aunt Rachel?

No, I'm afraid not.

Don't worry.

We'll find her.

[cows mooing]

How you doing, Bessie?

I'm thirsty.

I'll get you a drink.

[water pumping]

[horse neighing]

Who are you?

My name's Matt Dillon.

I got a little girl with me.

She's been injured.

I don't give a diddly squat about that girl or you.

I want you off of my land.

I'll tell you something, Mister.

I'm a United States Marshall.

Now, that little girl's staying in that barn

till she's well enough to travel.

Understand that?

Well, man, why didn't you say so in the first place?

I didn't think it'd be necessary.

Way out here, lots of thieving scum abouts.

Can't be too careful.

[water pumping]

[banging]

MAN: Woman!

[banging]

Woman!

[lock opening]

[door slamming]

How long he been here?

Just a little bit.

I tried to tell them they couldn't stay.

There was a child.

You tell him anything?

You whine to him?

[gasping]

You say anything to him, I'll kill him and the kid both.

And after that-- now fix up some supper.

[crying]

[liquid pouring]

That's enough fixing.

Time for bed.

Hear me?

What you looking out there for?

Think that law man going to help you?

Law man?

Didn't he they tell you?

Well, he ain't going to do you no good.

I told him to be gone by morning.

We're going through this again?

Hm?

I thought you'd be worn down by now.

But I ain't that bad now.

Stay away from me!

[slapping]

[crying]

It's all right, Bessie.

It's all right.

[crying]

Soon as you get into that fat head

of yours that easy is best.

[sobbing]

[knocking]

MATT DILLON: Open up in there.

Get back to the barn.

This little girl's burning up with fever.

Now I said, open the door.

Now, Mister.

Get over here.

You say one word, and I'll fix you good.

Now, I said, get back to the barn!

[door breaking down]

He's not my husband.

[gunshots]

[sobbing]

Is-- is he dead?

Yeah.

Oh, thank God.

Thank God he's dead.

[crying]

Are you Mrs. Durham?

Who's he?

I-- I don't know.

He never told me his name.

[sobbing]

[music playing]

You buried him?

Yeah.

I never thought I'd ever want to see anyone die,

but all I can feel is relief.

He passed through just after my husband died.

Found a woman alone, and just took hold.

You can guess the rest.

Couldn't leave?

I ran away three times, and he caught me and brought me back

and-- you don't know what he was capable of.

How's Bessie?

I was a little worried about that leg infection of hers

last night, but it seems better today.

Did you tell her who I was?

No, I thought she'd appreciate hearing that from you.

It's my fault they were killed.

If only I hadn't written them to come.

I wish you hadn't brought her here.

You're the only family she's got left.

Well, I can't keep her.

Every time I'd look at her, I'd think of Bill and Elizabeth.

That I was responsible.

She doesn't blame you.

She will.

Hey, you're not supposed to be out of bed.

Come on, get back under the covers now.

I was just watching you and her talking.

She's my aunt, ain't she?

Yeah, she is, Bessie.

My Ma, she showed me pictures.

Uncle John?

Well, your Uncle John, he-- he died a while back.

But if she's my Aunt Rachel, why doesn't she tell me?

Well, I think she's-- she's afraid to.

See, she blames herself for what happened to your folks.

It wasn't her fault.

Well, if you get a chance, why don't you tell her that?

Now, in the meantime, lie back and get some more rest.

[crickets]

I'm sorry there's not more.

The crop hasn't been too good since--

Well, looks mighty good to me.

I'm not too hungry anyhow.

You know, you had a pretty wheat

crop going there, and corn, too, by the looks of it.

A little work and--

I'm leaving here.

When?

Soon as I can sell this place.

Where're you going?

Where there's people.

A town.

Maybe a city.

Someplace civilized.

But Ma said you took roots here.

Your mother, we hadn't seen each in over six years.

She talked about you a lot.

When I seen you, I knew it was you right off.

We didn't know Uncle John died.

Eat. You need your strength.

Where' Aunt Rachel?

She's outside.

It was nice of her to let me stay in the house, in her bed.

Sure.

Where will you be sleeping tonight?

I'm going to be right out in the barn.

She doesn't say much.

Ma used to say Aunt Rachel could prattle on like rain on roof.

Well, good night, Bessie.

Good night.

[door closing]

[door opening]

Mrs. Durham, I can appreciate what you've been through,

but maybe you don't realize it, but you're

treating her like a stranger.

I can't help it.

I can't have her here.

But you're her only kin.

Now, it was my duty to bring her here,

but that's where my responsibility ends.

Are you leaving?

Well, I'll stick around until you two get used to each other.

Good night.

[hammering]

You're wasting sweat.

I told you, I'm selling this place.

It doesn't matter.

The better shape it's in, the better price you get for it.

You know, it's a little rundown, but you and your husband

did a good job with this farm.

It was just raw land when we came on it.

He just stopped the wagon and said this was it.

It was a wilderness.

I didn't see how, but we built the house, this barn.

Bessie tells me that you worked right alongside your husband

building it.

Her mother used to read your letters to her.

I, uh, I best go in.

Mrs. Durham?

You know, it took quite a women to help build this place.

You haven't changed that much.

[knocking]

Come in.

-Morning. -Morning.

How's Bessie?

She's still sleeping.

I'll just look in at her.

Well, there, Sleepyhead.

You going to stay in bed all day?

Good morning.

How do you feel?

Real good.

My leg feels good.

In fact, I guess I can even visit Galahad.

Oh, I see.

I got a surprise for you.

He came to visit you.

[horse neighing]

Oh, Galahad!

I sure missed you, Galahad.

Has he been eating right?

Well, I've been doing the best I can with,

but, you know, you're the only one that can

really take care of him right.

You better hurry up and get well.

You better get over and wash up.

It's about breakfast time.

OK. You go on, Galahad.

I'll see [inaudible].

[horse neighing]

[water pouring]

Aunt Rachel doesn't like me, does she?

Well, I wouldn't say she doesn't like you, Bessie.

It's just that, see, the experience she had,

I reckon it's going to take her a while

to think things through.

But what if she decides she doesn't want me?

AUNT RACHEL: Breakfast'll be ready in a few minutes.

You look awful pretty, Aunt Rachel.

Hurry up before it gets cold.

Come on.

[music playing]

Aunt Rachel, uh, Galahad loves molasses.

Do you think he could--

Molasses costs good money.

I'm not going to waste it on a horse.

More coffee?

Thank you.

Where'd be the nearest town or someplace around here

where they have a telegraph?

Goldsby.

About 30 miles.

What are you going to do there?

Well, I thought it was about time I let the folks in Dodge

know where I am.

Shouldn't take more than a day or two.

You could be back by tomorrow.

Oh, it doesn't matter.

No hurry.

Maybe Bessie'd like to go along with you?

No.

No, I don't think Bessie's up to taking a ride like that yet.

You're not going to go now?

No time like the present to get started, Bessie, I'll

be back in a couple of days.

[door closing]

Get over to the couch.

I'm going to change that bandage.

Mom told me that you looked a lot alike.

She was right, except you have blue eyes.

Bessie, I haven't asked much about your mother

because they're coming here was due to me.

Well, what happened wasn't your fault.

Last time I saw your mother and father,

you were barely walking.

I remember she had just made you a nightgown,

and after you outgrew it, she saved it and she

sent it to me for my baby.

But the mail out here takes so long.

But the time it arrived, he had died.

[music playing]

You might just as well take her now, because I'm

not going to keep her.

Mrs. Durham--

Listen to me.

I already lost too much.

The two things that I loved most in this world

were my husband and my child.

Now, I can't lose anymore.

There's nothing left to give.

What do you think Bessie's lost?

First her mother and father, and now you.

Both of you going off alone, what kind of sense

does that make?

AUNT RACHEL: Don't you understand?

I won't be close to anyone ever again.

I can't.

All right, but you'll have to tell her.

I'm not going to.

When you go into town, you ask Mr. Holmby at the land office

to come out.

Tell him this place is up for sale.

Even if I wanted to stay, I couldn't work this place alone.

Now, Mrs. Durham, I know any number of men in Dodge

that would be willing to come out

here and help you work this place just for board

and a share of the crop.

No.

I am leaving this godforesaken piece of ground forever.

Alone.

[chickens clucking]

[horse galloping]

[music playing]

We're not wanted here, Galahad.

Nobody wants us.

We're leaving.

Bessie, are you in there?

We're going to go so far away, nobody'll ever find us.

We don't need nobody never.

[music playing]

Bessie!

[neighing]

[screaming]

Galahad!

Galahad!

Bessie?

Are you all right?

It's Galahad.

He's hurt.

It's all right now.

Just take it easy, boy.

Easy there.

What is it?

His leg's broke.

Shoulder, too, it looks like.

Well, can it be fixed?

No, I'm afraid not.

Then what are we going to do?

He'll have to be put away.

You mean kill him?

No, you can't do that.

There's no other way.

If I don't, he'll die anyway.

Only it'll be slow and painful.

But don't you see?

He's all I've got.

You can't kill him.

You can't.

You just can't.

You can't.

You can't.

[gunshot]

[music playing]

[door opening]

Child, you haven't eaten a thing all day.

I know how you feel.

Right now you want to die.

I know, because I wanted to die, too.

John Jason would've been four in November.

I still have had his father, but I watched

while he worked himself to death trying

to make this land take hold.

And then I had no one.

I was alone.

I didn't care to live.

There was no reason to.

If you don't get out of this bed,

you're going to dry up and die like I tried to.

Bessie, you're going to have to get out of this bed

sooner or later.

[music playing]

[birds chirping]

[hoofbeats]

I'm glad you're back.

What's the matter?

Something wrong?

Bessie tried to run away.

Galahad broke his leg.

You had to shoot him?

What was she trying to run away for?

She won't say, but my guess is she was outside the barn

and she heard me tell you I didn't want her.

She's been in that bed ever since.

She's just staring.

She won't budge.

She needs a reason.

I can't.

I'll talk to her.

[horse neighing]

Bessie?

She killed Galahad.

She had to, Bessie.

No, she didn't.

He just hurt his leg a little bit.

Bessie, you know what happens when a horse breaks his leg?

People break their legs and they don't kill them.

Well, yeah, but, see, it's different with people

because people are smart and they

can go to bed when they break a leg

and stay there until it gets well again.

But, see, a horse is different.

He has to stand up on his feed all the time

because of his circulation.

So when he breaks his leg, he just stands around on it

till it gets worse and worse.

Do you understand that?

Sort of.

But couldn't we have done something?

Nothing more than your Aunt Rachel did.

See, she put Galahad out of his misery.

She knew he was in pain and that he

wasn't going to get any better.

Your Aunt Rachel thought as much of Galahad as you did.

So you know?

I've been thinking.

I was thinking maybe I might take you to Dodge City with me.

You'd like it there.

Would I be living with you?

Well, I don't know about that because, being a law man,

I'm pretty busy and all.

But we could find some real nice folks who would love

to have you live with them.

But if I'm not living with you, I'd be living with strangers.

I should be with kin.

You know, something, Bessie, your Aunt Rachel, she needs you

just as much as you need her.

She just doesn't realize it yet.

She's just got to have a little time to think.

Matter of fact, you know, I-- I wouldn't be a bit surprised

to see her come to Dodge City one of these days

looking for you.

You think so?

Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

[music playing]

[hoofbeats]

Who's that?

That's Mr. Holmby.

He's form the land office.

AUNT RACHEL: Good morning, Mr. Holmby.

Thank you for coming out.

Mrs. Durham.

Morning, Marshal.

Morning.

You too, young lady.

Marshal tell me you want to sell this place.

Yes.

Oh, by the way, my condolences about your husband.

He was a fine man.

Thank you.

How much you asking?

I dont' know.

You homesteaded it, as I recall.

That's right.

Well, you've done a pretty good job considering

you started from scratch.

Well, we had a fine yield of both corn and wheat last year.

Just since John died, they haven't been tended to.

Soil seems kind of dry.

Why, it's good soil, Mr. Holmby.

At least that's what you told us when we filed the homestead.

I know that the crops are dying.

I told you why.

Barn needs paint.

Yeah, look.

Those boards are starting to warp a little.

Well, I've been meaning to hire someone out.

Well, let's take a look at the house.

You've got to admit, Mrs. Durham, this place

is going to need a lot of work.

I realize that it's been neglected,

but it's by no means falling apart.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

Uh.

Oh, yeah.

Well, the house seems to be built fairly well, Mrs. Durham.

It's been standing here for six years, and not one drop of rain

has come through that roof.

When the wind blew, this house kept it out.

I deal only in dollar and cents,

and all I could offer you is $600.

$600?

We poured our lives into this land for six years.

It's worth-- it's worth more than that, Mr. Holmby.

All right, $700 then.

But that's my final offer.

Mrs. Durham?

Get out, Mr. Holmby.

What?

Please.

Please leave.

What are you going to do?

I don't know.

But I'm not selling.

I'm not going to sell my husband's dream for $700.

[door opening]

There was nothing when we came here,

and now there's a house, a good house, and a barn,

a corral, and crops.

A farm.

We took a piece of land and we made it a home.

We took a piece of land and we made it a home.

Where's your aunt?

Up there.

She's staying.

Yeah, I know.

She's going to need someone, Mr. Dillon, to say with her.

Well, I'm, uh, I'm going to send somebody back out

from Dodge City to help her.

In the meantime, why don't you just go up there and tell her

you want to stay, too?

[music playing]

I grew up on a farm.

I can milk a cow, I can feed the lifestyle, I can pick corn,

I can even put up jams and preserves.

Ma taught me.

Bessie, would you stay?

[music playing]

[horse neighing]

[music playing]

ANNOUNCER: Stay tuned for exciting scenes

from our next "Gunsmoke."

[theme music]