Original subtitles

[theme music]

NARRATOR: "Gunsmoke."

With Milburn Stone as Doc.

Ken Curtis as Festus.

Buck Taylor as Newly.

And starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Say, feller, can you tell me where

the telegraph office is at?

[music playing]

Morning, Reverend.

Good morning.

You seem to be having a little trouble there what

with your hand.

Yes, sir.

You know, this here ain't gonna be easy for you to believe,

but I was dumb enough to let my blame mule

bite my hand the other day!

And I just never could cipher too good with my left.

Do let me help you, my friend.

Obliged to.

Now I need to send me a telegraph to Marshal

Matthew Dillon in Dodge City.

And what do you want it to say?

Well, tell him that I have done went

and delivered that bundle to your Sheriff

here in Nescatunga.

And tell him to tell Burke that I'll be back quicker

than an amen to a dull sermon.

No offending meant, uh, Reverend.

Tell him to tell Burke not to go work and get nobody else

to call that square dance for that there big blowout

they're havin' in Dodge City 'cuz I'm-- just

tell him I'll be back directly.

And how shall I sign it?

Uh, just make it say Festus.

How do you spell that?

Spell it?

Spell what?

Your name.

You mean you want me to spell Festus for ya?

Oh, Festus.

You mean like the Biblical judge in Acts 24 and 25.

Well, now if that there don't tie the pup.

They're ain't many folks that knows that, you know,

not even amongst preachers.

You recall, it was Festus who stood up for Paul when

the people demanded his life.

"It is not the manner of the Romans

to deliver any man to die before he, which is accused,

have the accusers face-to-face and have

license to answer for himself, concerning

the crime laid against him."

And then, of course, King Agrippa

subsequently freed Paul.

Your namesake was possessed with a strong sense of justice.

Here are those new hymn books from St. Louis, Reverend.

Thank you, Walt. Festus, it's been a pleasure.

Likewise, Reverend.

I'm ever so much obliged to you.

You know, another line of Festus comes to mind.

He m "Paul, thou art beside thyself.

Too much learning doth make thee mad."

You strike me as a very sane man, Festus.

Ah, he probably never said nothin' like that at Paul.

How much I owe ya?

[slams fist]

How much I you owe you?

DUNBAR: Now you just better take you

and your fancy ideas right outta Nescatunga.

Reverend, the best thing for you to do is climb up on that wagon

and take it back the direction you came in.

I came for lumber, nails, and roofing.

I have the money to pay for it.

Now you are wasting my time and yours.

That wagon is waiting to be loaded.

Well, you ain't gettin' no lumber from me.

In fact, you ain't gettin' nothing from me

or nobody else in this town!

You are a mindless, vindictive--

You're a sad excuse for a preacher, comin'

here calling an honest white business man names,

favoring them red savages over your own kind.

[crowd agreeing]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you.

But if you are a business man it shouldn't

matter what I do with the materials I buy from you.

Well, it does matter.

If I was to help you with what you're setting out to do,

why, they'd ride me out of town on a rail, and I'd deserve it.

You would deny these people an opportunity?

If some of us here had our way, we'd be denying them a sight

more than they'd got now.

Now you just take you and your fancy ideas out of Nescatunga.

Whoa, back.

That'll be enough.

Who in the Sam Hill are you?

Festus Haggen, Deputy United States Marshal.

Well, Deputy United States Marshal Haggen,

this addle-brained, old--

That'll do with the name calling.

He's fixing to build a church up at Jacob's Woods.

I'd say that's gonna take a heap of doin'.

I say that anyone that brings a word to them

scurvy Comanches out on that reservation

is like spitting on the graves of every Christian

he ever butchered.

I mean, it's bad enough we gotta see 'em

living free up there on government land,

eating government beef.

I am serving notice that I am bringing

more than the scriptures to the Comanches,

but we shall begin with a church.

Reverend, I gotta say this--

Are you an officer of the law?

Yes, sir.

Then order this man to sell me the merchandise I requested.

I can't afford to waste any more of my time with him.

Oh, Reverend?

Byrne.

Arthur Byrne.

Reverend, I sure don't want to say nothing that's

going to set you off again.

But from what I've seen here, you

kind of got a knack for rubbing folks the wrong way.

The only somebody that's had to fight them Indians

for every breath they took knows why these folks

feels the way they do.

I know hatred, and I intend to batter it down.

And you're gonna have to down this whole town of Nescatunga.

See, these folks lost a lot of their kin

fighting them Comanches.

The Comanches lost a lot of their kin fighting too.

Their misfortune was that they lost,

and that's the only difference.

Now my first step is to build a church.

And if that is successful, my second step

will be to build a school and then a clinic.

Thing is, see, the Indians done got His believers.

Far as I can tell, He ain't in the market for nobody else's.

Are you going to give me the chance to try?

[music playing]

I want you to sell that Reverend whatever it is he's

came for.

What makes you think I'm going to do that?

Where's your badge for one thing?

That there is all I'm gonna need.

Why, I've never seen such foolishness.

If those heathens want religion, all they got to do

is come into town.

We got a church here, and I'm sure Reverend

Atkins would be most happy to set

up a separate service for 'em.

[music playing]

Phew.

Well, looks like we got 'er did, Reverend.

I want to thank you again, Marshal, uh--

Haggen. Festus Haggen.

Festus?

Festus, like that there judge in Acts 24 and 25.

People will insist on fetching obscure names out of the Bible,

won't they?

Well, I must get on.

The day is slipping by.

I, uh, reckon you've did yourself

some carpentering before you put that collar on, Reverend.

No, can't say that I have.

Well, who are you figuring on to help you build your church?

Well, I had an idea.

I'd get some volunteers from here in Nescatunga.

Well, that you've soiled away the field,

you got any other ideas?

Well, I don't know.

I do know that the first step is to get

this lumber to the reservation.

I'll worry about the second step after the first.

Now I reckon you know how to get

to wherever it is you're going.

I'll find it.

Maybe I'll go and just ride out with you so you won't

get lost or get in no trouble.

No, no, no, you've done enough already, Marshal.

Well, now you've got to have somebody help you

unload that wagon, set up camp.

I'll give you a hand, and then I'll head on back to Dodge.

You don't understand.

I can't pay you.

I need the money for the church.

Well, I ain't expectin' no wages.

If I was, you would've known about it before now.

Well, now don't get upset.

I just wanted to avoid a misunderstanding later on.

[music playing]

Whoa.

Well, this is it.

How do you know that?

I just know.

That's sure a bright, pretty spot,

and I'll bet you there's some catfish in that lake too.

Where do you wanna unload?

Right here under the trees.

You know, thing I can't figure out about you,

Reverend-- how come you ain't never started picking at me?

Find out what church I was baptized in.

That there is usually the first thing that some preachers

will do, see?

They wanna get to where they're trying

to change your believin's.

Then they start to try and make you feel guilty.

Once they get a feller feeling guilty,

then they can shove that collecting plate at them,

don't you see?

But that there's one thing about you too.

You ain't never ask me for a penny

for your collection plate.

And that there is plum odd for a preacher in these here parts.

Well, maybe that's what's wrong with the preachers

in these parts.

Well, ain't you kind of setting yourself

up above other folks, Reverend?

Well, looks like we got 'er all did, Reverend.

You've been very generous with your time.

Marshal, I'd like to give you something.

No!

I done told you once that I ain't doin' nothing for no pay,

and I mean it.

This is a gift to remember it I'd like you to have.

Why, I couldn't take that, Reverend.

Only watch I've ever saw that could

hold a candle to that was in a mail order book,

and it cost $30.

Well, I'm sure this one costs much more than $30.

It was given to me by my Bishop on the occasion

of my retirement.

The Bishop was known for his refined taste,

and money was never in short supply in our diocese.

Here.

No, sir!

I ain't gonna do no such thing now.

And you oughtta be ashamed of yourself

for trying to give me away a gift that was gave to you.

Wait here, Reverend.

Hey!

Here you go.

Simmer down! Quit that!

Quit that!

Marshal, are you trying to scare that child to death?

Oh, I ain't hurtin' her none.

Now simmer down!

I ain't hurtin' her.

Simmer down now.

Chances are she was just sizin' up your camp to see

what she could steal later.

There is nothing in this camp that anybody, including

Indians, would want to steal.

Well, there is some--

Look at her.

Rags for clothes, a nutrient deficiency.

Any fool could see that a proper diet

is the only starting point.

Here, eat it.

Here.

Eat it.

Look.

Like this.

Here.

Good.

Eat it.

Mm, mm.

Only thing I can figure is you must be part Indian, Reverend.

Tell you what.

We still got us a couple hours of daylight.

I think I'll just take her home and have

a talk with her people.

Could be they'd send down some young Comanche

bucks to help you out here.

Would you do that?

Course I will.

Then I'm fixin' to head for Dodge for sure.

INDIAN CHIEF: Meala!

Meala!

Reverend, if I was you, I wouldn't

count on them Comanches to help you build your church.

In that case, I'll have to do it myself.

Well, Reverend, you can't--

Thank you, Marshal, but it's long past time

you started home.

Well, supposin' you do get some kind of a church throwed up.

How you gonna get those Indians to come to it?

[muttering]

I never saw such a preacher in my day.

Reverend?

Reverend, I hate to say this, but it's the truth--

they ain't got no use for you.

Building the church is the first step.

I'll worry-

How come the first step is always the next step?

I never have saw a man that never does get to the second

step the way you don't.

Maybe that's the secret, Marshal.

Good bye now.

[hammering]

[music playing]

All right, boys, these are on the house.

Oh, thank you.

Sure wish you hadn't done it, though.

Why?

Well, every time I see a free drink, I think of Festus.

Oh, well, he must've been on your mind an awful lot lately

then.

You trying to tell me I owe for drinks?

Who's keeping score?

Sounds to me like you are!

Matt, did I say a word?

I'm out of it.

Marshal, I gotta talk to you.

Oh, Miss Hannah, Doc.

What is it, Burke?

Marshal, you know I'm chairman of the entertainment committee

for the annual square dance?

You've told us that a time or two.

Yeah, well, it's Festus, Marshal.

Now is it going to be here or isn't he

to call out the square dance?

Now if he isn't gonna be here, well, I

got to get a substitute.

Well, Burke, all I can tell you is his wire said he'd be here.

Well, I can't depend on a wire, Marshal.

I got a million things to do, and, well,

I just don't have the time.

Well I'll tell you, Festus will be here.

Now he may stop and do a little fishing on the way,

but if you think Festus is gonna miss

a chance to strut around in front of the whole town,

you're mistaken.

I'll tell you, Burke, it's a week off anyway.

Now look.

If Festus doesn't show, I'll call the dance.

You?

Huh, I've never heard of a woman calling a square dance.

It's not proper.

I got a million things to think about.

Now I've got to worry about Festus.

Boy, he sure does bustle, doesn't he?

Well, he's got a million things to think about,

and two is too dang many!

[laughter]

[hammering]

[coughing]

You know, if a feller ever was to get a church built starting

off this way, chances are the first downwind

would come along and blow it down right

around the preacher's ears.

Might even wake up the whole congregation.

Doesn't look like much, does it?

No, sir, it sure don't.

Don't you think its just about time, Reverend,

for admitting that you can't do this all by your own self?

I'll do it.

Well, fiddle.

I know what you is gonna say before I even ask the question.

You know, I was thinking right back here,

it wouldn't do no good if a whole herd of angels

come right down from the pearly gate

and give you that same advice to harp music!

That's the kind of a stubborn, old--

beg your pardon, Reverend.

I-- I got disrespectful there.

What do you think you're doing?

I'm fixin' to help you build your church.

Bu you're a law man, you have responsibilities.

Well, fact is there's a couple fellers back yonder in Dodge

that can fill in for me.

I don't like imposing on you.

Well, I'm up the creek this far with you, Reverend.

Might as well help you paddle the rest away.

I don't want to hear no more.

My mind is done made up.

Now look at that plate of yours.

You ain't eatin' hardly nothing at all.

Well, as a man gets older, he eats less.

That there don't look like the Bible

you're reading there, Reverend.

Well, it's not.

I study the Bible for the text in my sermons,

but I promised that I would give myself an hour's reading

of my own pleasure every night.

You know, that there preacher I seen back yonder in Nescatunga,

he could spout off the Bible like it was a new well.

Marshal, I concluded a long time ago

that the time I'd use memorizing the Bible

would be better spent trying to do the good it recommends.

There I go, putting myself over others again, aye?

Huh, I didn't want to be the one to say that at all.

Well, what is that book you're reading, Reverend?

It's a story about a man named Ahab, a fisherman,

who is trying to catch a whale.

A whale?

You mean one of them great, old, big fish

that live in the ocean?

Yes, a white one.

White?

I'll be.

Yes, maybe the biggest in the whole ocean.

Maybe in the whole universe. -Do tell.

Well, did he?

Did he what?

Did that feller Ahab catch that white whale he was fishing for?

Oh, yes, yes.

But, of course, it killed him.

Killed him?

How do you like that?

Preacher wants to read about a whale.

He don't want to be satisfied to read about old Jonah

and his tribe in the Bible.

Least that had a happy ending.

[snoring]

[reverend reading aloud]

Reverend?

Who in the tarnation you talkin' to?

Oh, I'm sorry, Marshal.

I didn't mean to wake you.

I have this pamphlet from the Department of the Interior

about the Comanches.

It has a few simple phrases.

I couldn't sleep, so I--

You figured you'd learn yourself some Comanche,

is that it?

Yes, I thought I'd try learning the language.

You go to sleep.

I'll quiet down.

[muttering]

Doesn't know words in the Bible,

and here he is trying to learn a whole nother language.

[gasping]

[groaning]

[sawing]

[hammering]

Oh, drat!

[hammering]

[music playing]

This time, you get nothin'.

We had a town meeting last night, and I got a lot of folks

behind me.

Now look here.

Just hold your taters, Reverend.

Now mister, I don't give a hoot if the whole blame

territories are backin' you up.

We've came here for some lumber, and some nails, and fiddles,

and we aim to get 'em.

Marshal or no Marshal, not another scrap of my lumber

is going up to that reservation.

Please, Mr. Dunbar, we don't need that kind of trouble here.

Now let's all just calm down for a bit.

You sir, might I have a word with you?

Certainly.

Now Reverend, uh--

Byrne.

Reverend Byrne.

I wanted to ride out and talk with you.

Then why didn't you?

Well, my responsibilities here, of course.

I had hoped to, uh, to dissuade you from this business

of building a church out there.

I shouldn't have to.

There already should be a church there, and a school,

and a medical facility.

That's what happens when men such as you and I

take their vows, perform their duties, and live their faith.

I can understand that having recently come from the east,

you might jump to certain conclusions,

but you don't understand the situation.

The Indian wars have only been over for a few years.

Memories are fresh.

Perhaps later, when the time--

I have no later.

Now I want to know-- were you were at that meeting

the shopkeeper talked about where

the residents of this town denied me my supplies?

I thought so.

They would want their prejudice sanctified

by the resident spokesman.

Now stand out of my way.

You, storekeeper!

I'm going to enter that building and take the supplies

I need for my work.

If you're going to use that weapon,

you'd better start using it now.

Come along, Marshal.

[music playing]

Oh.

This is in return for the apple, is it?

Not the way it's supposed to be.

Missionaries are wise in giving.

Oh.

Want me to eat it, aye?

Well--

Mm, good, good.

Wait a minute!

Wait.

See?

Watch this now.

[music note]

Don't be afraid!

Now you try it.

Here.

Sit right here.

Try it.

No, it needs help.

Now.

[music playing]

Pretty, isn't it?

Isn't that nice?

Here.

[music playing]

You can hang me from a tall oak.

REVEREND: When my wife died, I assessed my life,

and I was not happy with what I came up with.

It seemed to me that I could had not accomplished very much.

Oh, no, Reverend.

Just being a preacher and herding

folks toward truth and light.

That there were to count for something.

Yes, Marshal, if the folks are in need.

But each Sunday as I looked out over my congregation

of the richest merchants in town,

it occurred to me that I was being maintained,

and maintained very well, let me tell you, as a sort

of spiritual bed warmer.

It was not the ideal I'd set up for myself as a young man,

and my sermons took on a sterner note, downright raspy,

you might say.

I don't think my parishioners were unhappy to see me go.

My Bishop received several letters,

and he was not the sort of man who'd

enjoy letters of that nature.

Well, then you just sort of got fired.

Sorta.

[snoring]

[music playing]

[footsteps approaching]

[rustling]

[gas pouring]

[match striking]

[horses neighing]

[fire crackling]

[horses neighing]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

Oh, no.

Marshal!

[fire crackling]

[wood creaking]

[thud]

The nerve.

Ornery, no-good, knot-heads from town!

[music playing]

He wouldn't let this happen.

He wouldn't.

[crash]

[music playing]

[music playing]

None of it mattered, did it?

Now Reverend.

Look at the hatred I have stirred up.

I've turned ordinary citizens into night riders.

Maybe tonight they'll burn the child's village.

Oh, my God, what have I done?

No, they ain't gonna stir up no raucous

with the Indians, Reverend.

They don't wont that kinda trouble.

Well, I'm gonna take me a ride into town, Reverend.

I'll be back before sundown.

[church congregation singing]

[singing continues]

[singing stops abruptly]

What do you want?

Just for the time, I'll figure you

don't know about last night.

What are you talking about?

What happened last night?

Well, I guarantee you some of your flock

here knows what happened last night.

Whatever is bothering you, this is

neither the time nor the place.

I figure this here's the mainest place, Reverend.

You don't go trompin' on a man's dreams

and not get called for it.

Now I ain't no preacher.

I ain't had me no school learning at all.

Whatever I'm fixin' to say here might not be the fit

and proper words, but I figure you'll all

get what I'm meanin'.

I want to tell you about a man.

Worked hard all his life, preaching the gospel mostly

to a bunch of folks who've never done no practice on it

except on Sunday.

It's like I figure a lot of you folks does.

Now this here man tried to do good all his life.

One day, he got old.

Then them that run his church figured he wasn't worth a hoot

to nobody, so they run him off.

He didn't figure he's done by a long shot,

so he went to look around every place,

trying to figure out somebody that he could help.

Finally, come clean out here wanting to build

a church for the Indians.

Whether he was crazy or whether he wasn't, that's

what he wanted to do.

He'd done it all by his own self, spent every last penny

he had to do it.

I figure he had the right to give it a whirl to try it.

Come right here to your town of Nescatunga wanting to do good.

He said got hisself good tromped on by some of you

righteous, God-fearing Christians.

Now all of you didn't strike them matches

that set his church on fire last night,

but you was egging on the ones that done it.

The mainest one is your preacher Atkins here.

Marshal, I want you to understand

I had nothing to do with whatever happened last night.

I didn't even know about it until right now!

Reverend, I figure there's a right and there's a wrong.

Appears to me a lot of your flock

here don't know which is which.

Helping them decide which is which is a preacher's job,

or ain't nobody never told you that?

That's all I've got to say.

[music playing]

What do you think you're doing?

There's some these here boards we can still use.

And we got all them good board we brung from Nescatunga.

It's not worth it, Marshal.

Nothing is worth it.

I don't know whether it is or whether it ain't.

Only thing I know, Reverend, is the first step

is to get a church built.

[music playing]

[hammering]

[hammering]

[groaning]

Reverend?

I'm all right, I'm all right.

My foot, you're all right.

I've had trouble with my heart, but it always passes.

[groaning]

That's why you've been in such an

all fired hurry to get your church built.

It's almost done.

And now that there's a church, the first step

is to find a congregation.

I kind of figured that there'd be the next first step.

Reverend, you get yourself some rest now.

I'll be back shortly.

No.

You didn't even hear me out yet,

and you've done went and said no.

There's no need hear you out.

The only thing I'm asking you, Chief, is to come

down and listen to him once.

Maybe talk to him a little.

But we have no need for what he offers.

We have our own ways.

Them old days is gone, Chief.

But as many of the old ways as we can keep alive,

we will no matter how we are forced to live.

Don't go away.

It's just one old man.

Leave us alone!

This here ain't the pony soldiers, don't you see?

It's just a tired, sick, old man.

We'll live our own way, as many of them as we can keep.

There's no more need to talk.

[music playing]

Now I've forgot my manners, Chief.

Them old ways you was talking about--

see, I come here in peace, and you let me come in peace.

And my gift to you is my mule, Ruth, here.

Yes, we met in peace.

Your gift is a very generous one.

I have nothing so generous to give you in return.

Yes, you have, Chief.

[music playing]

[mule braying]

Reverend, you sure looks spiffy in your get-up.

Just the way a preacher oughtta look, Good Book in your hand.

You were worried about that, weren't you, Marshal?

Well, I--

Do you think he'll come?

Oh, of course he'll come.

Maybe not all of them.

Maybe not even most of 'em, but there'll be enough to--

Enough to what?

They'll come.

[mule braying]

[music playing]

I am sorry that I cannot speak your native tongue,

but perhaps those who do understand me will tell

the others what I have to say.

I cannot pretend that I am one of you

or hope that I ever can be.

But although we are different, in many ways we are the same.

I am told that the Comanche believes that death is not

the end, but that there is another life beyond the sun

that sets in the west.

I, too, believe this.

I also believe that the Comanche,

when he wants to speak with his god,

goes out and seeks a vision.

I want to tell you today about a man who lived many years ago.

And when he wanted to speak to his god,

he, too, went out into the wilderness

and ate nothing for 40 days.

[music playing]

[reverend singing]

[groaning]

Ugh, not yet.

Not yet, God.

There's so much left to do.

Reverend.

He's dead?

It's a strange man to come here and die so

far away from his own people.

But I do believe he was a good man.

Wasn't none better.

[music playing]

You and he gave a generous gift to my people.

I have nothing else of value to give you.

[music playing]

Whoa.

He was right about everything.

We should have come here before.

I wanted to, uh, talk with him.

He wasn't much for talking.

Mostly for doing.

He was right about me too.

We came to help him rebuild.

We will.

I'm going to try to follow his path, Marshal.

First step is to finish the church.

Second step--

I know.

He'd be mighty proud to hear that too.

[music playing]

Was it worth it, Reverend?

You bet.

[music playing]

[theme music]

NARRATOR: Stay tuned for exciting scenes

from our next "Gunsmoke."

[theme music]