Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

I never give any man a take it or leave it, Billy,

but we plan on the same price squeeze you are.

Well, I'm taking it, Mr. Slater.

Good.

Got to.

Just saying, $2.00 a ton don't even allow

for decent drinking money.

Well, we'll include a bottle on me.

Bring you back smiling by the time

we get that wagon unloaded.

Thanks, Willy.

Mr. Slater?

Yeah?

Paper says you need a man.

That's right.

You look like you've got the shoulders

for a good day's work.

What's your name, son?

Travis.

Travis Smith.

All right.

Pay's $5.00 a week.

Now, that includes a half a day Saturday,

but quitting time's at 4:00.

It's Colter.

I said my name was Smith, but it's Colter.

Oh.

Oh, yeah, I'd, uh, heard you and your mother

moved into Dodge a while back.

Well, all right, Travis.

Uh, where can I get in touch with you?

Over the rooming house behind Moss Molly's.

All right.

Uh, got some interviews, and, as the newspaper might say,

other fellas coming by to--

Yeah. Yeah, thanks.

So that's the youngest of the Colters?

Yeah.

Doesn't seem like too bad a boy.

Always something in the way.

You can't just reach in and grab one, can ya?

I think that peppermint's about a penny

a stick, if I remember right.

It may as well be one of us has a good day.

You just have the biggest stick in the jar, huh?

Hey, you give it back to him.

Well hey, mister, there ain't no harm in him

having a candy stick, is there?

I wasn't talking to you, Colter.

I remember you from Hanesville.

Don't need you or your kind giving nothing to my kid.

My kind?

Yeah.

You, that brother of yours, your old lady-- we don't need

that kind of garbage--

What's going on, here?

They belong in cages, that's what's the matter.

Shouldn't be allowed to mix around decent folks.

Who started this?

I didn't like his mouth, that's all.

Just telling him what I thought of Colters living in this town.

Speaking my mind.

Everybody's got a right to live in this town, Daly,

as long as they mind their own business

and stay within the law.

Now, that's a good idea for you to think about.

Get moving.

All right, folks, break it up.

Let's move along, now.

You're just going to have to learn to smile, no matter

what people say to you.

We ain't garbage, ma.

Yeah.

So long as we know that, I guess that's all that matters.

Yeah.

I'll get my cap.

Beatrice?

John Chapman.

Been a long time, Bea.

Well, for the life of me.

You're the last soul I ever expected to see in Dodge City.

That name still follows you around everywhere

you go, doesn't it, Bea?

Did you ever think about changing it?

It might be easier.

Too many people know me and my sons.

The Colter legend's got so big, there's nowhere left to hide.

That was Travis I saw, wasn't it?

I haven't seen that rascal since he was 12 years old.

Seemed like a good boy, Bea.

They were all good boys once.

Now Amos is dead, Clayton and Virgil

have a price on their heads, and Travis is getting restless.

[theme music]

Matthew, maybe you and Newly oughta

have yourselves a couple of beers before you

go off and down yonder.

You know, it's going to take a tolerable lot of patience

of divvying up all that grazing land

for all them herds a-coming in.

Well, I think we'd better take advantage

of what daylight we have, Festus,

but thanks for the invitation.

Oh.

Well, I wasn't exactly inviting.

I--

We'll keep in mind.

The first one's on you when we get back.

If you need to find me, Festus, we'll most likely be

camped down by Telson's Bend.

Well, don't you worry none, now, Matthew.

Whilst you're away, I'll be holding things down to the best

of my liabilities.

I, uh-- I hope you're not gonna let that big mouth

of Daly's get you down.

No.

I suppose I got some more important

things to worry about.

How old are you, anyhow?

18.

Matter of fact, just today.

Well, congratulations.

Let's call that beer on the house.

Thanks.

Thanks, and I, uh-- I appreciate the thought.

Howdy, Travis.

Festus.

Miss Kitty.

Hello, Festus.

I believe I'll have me a beer, Sam.

SAM: All right.

Yeah, Travis is sure having himself a rocky time of it,

ain't he?

Yeah.

He's being tarred with the same brush as his brothers.

Seems like everybody's very happy to swap stories with him

or buy him a drink, but when it comes to giving him a job,

it's--

Yes, and I've heard the very same thing, Miss Kitty.

You know, a man's name hasn't known to make no difference.

Whether it's Charlie Smith, or Fred what you might call it,

don't mean that he's going to do a heap more work, or a heap

littler work, don't you see?

Hasn't known to make no difference.

Who says a man's name counts in the way he works?

Well, that's right, Burke.

You oughta know a lot about that,

running that freight office and handling all those men,

and-- and hiring all those men.

Well, of course he does, Miss Kitty.

See, old Burke here, he's a big chief.

A high mogul of that whole blamed freightin' operation.

Well, I do have some responsibility.

Sam, how about a beer on my house for Burke, here?

This seems to be the day for it.

Well, that's awful kind of you, Miss Kitty.

Thanks a lot.

You know, I seem to remember here

a while back that you were looking for hire somebody

to replace Jim Bauer.

Yeah, well that Jim Bauer, he never struck to the job.

He-- he went off to sign up with one of them Texas trail bosses.

And of course, you'd want to be hiring the very

best man you could get.

And don't make no never mind whether he's

your brother, or your friend, or what he looks like,

or what his name is, wouldn't you?

Well, ambition like I had, willing to use

a little muscle like I did before they put me in charge.

Well, that's fine, Burke.

Travis couldn't work under a better man.

And I'll get him over to you right away.

Well, Travis--

Colter.

Oh.

Yeah, well-- I'll get in touch with him,

Miss Kitty and Festus.

No, no, no.

There ain't no need for that, Burke.

I'll see that he gets over yonder to you.

See, you're too busy to piddle around them little old things.

I'll see that he gets over yonder to you.

Yeah, well, thanks a lot, Festus.

Miss Kitty.

Well managed, Festus.

Uh, Sam, as long as the house is buying, uh,

give Festus another one, here.

Ma.

I got a job at the freight office.

Travis, that's wonderful.

Yeah, $7.00 a week.

And it's a real good job.

Well, Mr. Burke says that if I learn the business,

I'll be up to $10 in just a couple years.

18 years old today, and a good job.

It's a real special day.

What's this?

What?

This.

Oh, it's nothing.

Just came in the mail a while ago.

They've got the right to print trash like that.

And you-- why, Ma?

I'll tell you why.

I've been a widow alone with a boy to care for,

and no one to provide.

And so you sell us to liars who will print anything they want?

All right.

But it got us out of Galveston.

Got us away when there was no way left,

and nothing there to live on.

I ain't ashamed.

I done what I had to do.

And them saloons-- you don't gotta

work saloons like that no more.

Colters is worth more than that.

We used to stand for something when Pa was alive.

And Clayton and Virgil-- maybe they're wanted,

but at least they ain't eating dirt

because their name's Colter.

It's the same as that book, boy.

It puts food on the table when there's no other way to get it.

Well, there is now.

I've got this job, and I can't make it for us.

Both of us.

I understand.

You took care of me all those years,

doing what you had to do.

Let's just call it my turn to take care of you from now on.

It's a real special day.

[knocking]

Hey--

Clayton and Virgil!

How you doing?

Hey Ma!

How are you?

It's your uncle and brother, come to give you a party!

Well, come on in!

Look at this.

Oh!

Good to see you again. All right.

Hey.

[interposing voices]

So how ya been, Travis? You been OK?

Real good.

Real good.

Hey, Ma.

Ma? -Never meant nothin', Ma.

We was just traveling through, and remembered Travis

was having a birthday. -Sure.

Sure.

I brought you a present, Travis.

Here.

A present?

Yeah.

Look at that, Ma.

They brought me a present.

Aw, Virgil, Clayton, thank you very much.

Look, Ma.

You like it?

Sure.

Oh, you lookin' like the downhill side of a thunderhead.

We'll move out of here, you want us to.

Move out? No, no.

You just got here.

Ma don't mean nothing, do you, Ma?

Supper's about ready.

You're welcome, boys.

Sure.

Come on, sit down.

Tell me about where you've been.

Oh, we've been all over, we've been.

Last I heard, you-- you was heading for Mexico, I think.

It was something about three years ago.

Yeah.

We've been there, and we've been--

that's where we ended up, in Sonora, at Perez's hacienda.

And boy, when you're at Perez's, man, I mean,

everything's right at your fingertips.

Best food, fancy ones, and skinny--

Hey.

Shoulder deep to a tall Indian, boy.

You know, Clay took a gambler for 2,000 just before we left.

He thought Clay was too liquored up to read his cards.

Yeah, it was a good year.

Yes, sure was.

Sweet whiskey and fat pasture.

Hey, Ma, about ready for that birthday cake.

Can't tell me you're still not hiding 'em for a surprise, now?

Where are you boys gonna head to now?

Oh, I guess we'll rest up a bit.

Fatten up the horses before we move on.

We got all kinds of choices.

We can go back to Perez's, or maybe into east Texas.

Fat amount of money down yonder.

Yeah.

Me and Clayton draw down 500 a month

or better, just sniffing out land.

-$500 a month? -Uh-uh.

That's right.

It's take me two years to earn that kind of money.

Well, hey, now, it's easy money,

but you've gotta keep the covers off your eyes.

I mean, the honey dew draw flies.

Hey. -Oh!

Happy birthday, Travis.

To many more of 'em.

Yeah.

Run 'em ragged, and don't look back.

Hey, 18, and one to grow on.

16 was the last one I seen.

Remember, Ma?

Yeah, I remember.

And your brother Amos, too.

His last one.

Five months before he was hanged.

Well, come on. Get to it, brother.

Come on.

Make a wish, blow 'em out, and let's eat.

Come on. Come on, Travis.

Ha ha ha!

Hey, that's good.

Hey, that one's yours, Ma.

Wish and blow.

What did you wish for, Ma?

Maybe that my youngest son would never

have to sneak into any town.

Come on, Ma.

Now come on, will ya?

Hey, no Colters sneak into any place.

We take care of our own. -Oh, yes.

I've been listening.

The big money, the fancy wines, the girls.

Tell me, where are you two sleeping tonight?

We're camping out, Ma.

We took over an abandoned shack about five miles west of town.

Stuck in the trees, out of sight.

Sweet water.

You can see anybody coming for miles,

so there's no need to worry that us.

Worry?

Until the day I die.

Or until the day you do.

No, I-- I was talking about a bed, a-- a pillow,

instead of a saddle. -Oh, Ma, come on.

They just came for my birthday.

Yes, they did.

Bearing tales of their good lives.

I just want to hear about it, is all.

Mother likes to hear about her children.

I heard you were in Dry Wells last winter.

Something about two deputies out that way being wounded,

I seem to recall.

Your names were mentioned.

Ma, we ain't never done nothing that wasn't done to us first,

starting that night with Pa under the heel

of that railroad.

But you never stopped.

With the railroad.

When was it you found it easier to make a living with a gun?

You of all people got no call to dress

us down for doing what we done!

Hey!

It's time we was getting back to the shack.

It's not that I don't wish you both well.

It's all right, Ma.

Ma, look, uh, I, uh--

Well, take care of yourself.

We'll be seeing ya.

See ya, Travis. See ya.

Thanks for the present.

What'd you run 'em off for, Ma?

They're your sons.

It's been three years since you've seen 'em.

You might never see 'em again.

I didn't mean it that way.

Look, I had four sons once.

I-- I just don't want to lose the last one.

Travis?

Travis, weigh this.

Weigh it, and put it outside in back with the Denver crates.

They'll be going out this afternoon.

Yes, sir. I'll do that, Mr. Burke.

Your books are in order, Mr. Burke.

As for those extra wagons you asked about,

I will have to check the division file.

Very well, Mr. Palmer.

Is that a new fellow you have there?

Yes, he-- he just started the other day.

All in the records, I suppose?

Right there, sir.

All right.

Let's see-- Colter.

Travis Colter.

Yes, the, uh-- the boy there, well-- he's related.

Related to the Colters, and working here?

Well, he-- he seems like a nice young fella, sir.

I couldn't hold his name against him.

Well, neither could I, Mr. Burke.

Neither could I. But it is a bit sticky.

It will be a little difficult to explain to division.

We are a public trust.

Many people deposit a lot of money with us.

Appearances, Mr. Burke.

After all, you don't leave the cat to guard the cream,

now, do you?

You've got a point.

I'm sure I do.

You're home early.

I got fired.

They didn't want the cat guarding the cream.

Travis, I'm sorry.

Well, this sounds like something I

should have been in on.

Oh, Mona, that's not for your tender ears.

Say, Ma, you remember me-- Abeline?

Well, I don't see nothing much there to remember.

Well, I played the harmonica for you one night,

and we sure packed 'em in.

You did 'em mean with your singing.

Oh, yes.

Seems to me I used to call you Blows.

That's right.

Come on, Ma, you name it.

Oh, no.

[interposing voices]

Hey, how about singing "Aaron at the Gate."

Yeah, Aaron!

Come on, we come a long way to hear you sing that.

"Aaron at the Gate."

Well, I guess that's one song everybody knows.

Because it says what really happened.

There have been so many stories about the Colters.

You read them penny novels, we're the devil's

own emissaries here on Earth.

Well, I don't have horns.

Don't breathe fire.

Don't really eat little children for lunch.

And lookie here-- just one head, not two.

The Colter boys, Amos, Clayton, Virgil-- well, maybe they

made their mark on this world in ways

not to gladden a mother's heart, but there was a time

when they were just my boys.

Younguns, as maybe some of you have of your own.

Uh, I'm not calling them angels, but you should

know that the Colter boys didn't just spring out

of some dark hole in the Earth, shooting their way

into being hunted men.

No.

No, it all had a beginning, and it all began with the father.

Aaron.

At the gate.

[music playing]

[SINGING] It was a proper dark night for such a deed.

The moon must have hid, so's not to see

that man named Aaron, standing at his gate, saying,

this is my land.

They knew this man, those riders of the night

knew he wouldn't be pushed, knew he'd stand and fight.

So they put on a smile, and held out a hand.

And then they shot Aaron.

Shot him for his land.

That fine man lay dying, his widow a-cryin'.

His boys looking on.

Three boys strong and true, the fourth just a

babe, but he saw it too.

They swore that night, made a vow, you'd say.

The railroads-- they'd rue this day.

Their papa lay a dying, their mama a-cryin'.

The railroad would pay, or they'd die a-tryin'.

The boys were named Colter, and before they were through--

State your business, mister.

Virgil?

It's me!

What are you doing here, kid?

I just figured I'd ride out and talk a bit.

About a hundred yards on.

Trail leads up here.

Well, Travis, you ain't doing much talking.

I'm feeling kind of mixed up.

I had about all I can take of them towns.

Yeah, it's tough, kid.

Ma singing songs for a bunch of barroom drunks.

Even sold Pa's story for money to live on.

And I don't seem to be able to help her much.

Folks turn me down before I even get the name out.

And she's gotta go back working them bars.

So what are you saying, kid?

Well, I'm saying maybe you've got the answer we need.

How's that?

Well, you fells, you've got the life, the money.

Ma and me, sometimes we've been talking about a little farm.

I could work a farm.

That's a good idea.

Real good.

We've been looking at this little place over near Dodge.

It ain't bad for what they want for it.

$400.

We figure another 200, and put some stock

on the place-- another 100 more would see us

till we can get things set up.

That sounds pretty good, boy.

Sounds pretty good.

Yeah, I don't like asking you fellas for money,

but-- well, $700 would kind of see Ma settled.

You asking us for money?

Well, I'll pay you back.

Besides, you fellas get money real easy.

How about that $2,000 you took off that gambler, huh, Clayton?

Well, yeah, kid, but, uh, that ain't all the time.

I mean, uh, it don't rain money on no one, huh?

Costs more than some of that to travel the way we do, Travis.

You ain't got it, have ya?

Well we get it and we spend it, kid.

You know, good times, and not so good, you know?

We're going to have it again.

We'll be rolling in it, and when we do, we're going to set you

and Ma up right. You watch.

What happened today, Travis?

Bringing you out here.

Well, I lost my job with the freight office.

Ma had to go back to working in a trash

bin called the Bull's Head.

Well, that's tough to hear, kid,

but we ain't got no answer for you.

Well, maybe I got an answer.

That freight office-- there ain't no

bars on the back windows, and them iron shutters,

they need fixin'.

They come right open in your hand.

I figure serve 'em right, we rob the place.

Boy, no one even knows we're in these parts.

We're going to keep it that way if we can.

Well, maybe I could ride with you.

Send Ma some money.

Now, you get that stuff out of your head, Travis.

You ain't cut out for that.

That's a flat out no, Travis.

You gotta stay and take care of Ma.

Look, I done tried everything.

There just ain't nothing else.

That's it, now, Travis.

That's how she stays, you understand?

Come on, you'd best be getting back.

Come on.

You know, you fellas, you've got a life.

Ma and me, we ain't got nothing but a name.

Hey, Travis.

Wait a minute, boy.

Listen, the next time we're up this way we

might have a good stake, and we'll

talk again about that farm.

Yeah. Yeah.

Sure.

Next time.

He, uh-- he makes that freight office sound real easy,

don't he?

We owe that lady.

Uh-huh.

All these years, we ain't never given her nothin'.

Kid's got salt. He ain't crying.

You figure-- suppose we hit that freight office.

Dillon's town?

Yeah, but suppose we hit it anyway.

I mean, at night, on the quiet.

Cut off, and send all the money to--

To her?

How are your brothers?

They're all right.

I met Mr. Burke.

It was out of his hands.

I wasn't blaming him none.

I guess the world is just asking more patience from you.

More than maybe should be asked.

Aw, we got patience.

Had it in New Orleans, Galveston, and Baton Rouge.

Why did you want to see your brothers tonight?

To ride with them?

Well, that's sure better than what I'm doing.

They've only got a grave ahead of them, Travis.

You've got a life.

I've got nothing, and either have you.

And whatever Clayton and Virg have got,

they're not getting walked on.

They're just taking what's owed 'em.

I'm not sleepy.

I'm going for a walk.

Travis.

You ever had any hard liquor before?

You've got my dollar, ain't ya?

Look, son, your mother finds out you got drunk in my place,

I'll never hear the end of it.

[explosion]

Someone's blowing up the freight lodge!

Somebody fetch the doc.

How much did he get?

Tommy and Palmer put every nickel in the bank

this afternoon.

All right, move aside.

Move aside.

Let me see.

What happened?

I don't know, Bea.

I just don't know.

Now, some of you men pick him up, please,

and take him into my office.

Now, handle him gently.

Pick him up gently.

Be easy.

Easy.

I don't know.

That's a strong boy you brought into the world, Bea.

I mean, he's all right.

For now.

That's something we want, considering

the shock to his system.

Thank you, doctor.

Well, now, I'm not finished with him yet.

There's some surgery to be bone.

Surgery?

Bea, he has a piece of glass in him.

If I probe for it now, it breaks off.

I want to wait until he regains some of his strength,

and his body starts to push the glass back out.

How dangerous is it?

Long as it doesn't move around, push it in further,

he'll be all right.

Can I talk with him?

Sure.

Soon as he wakes up.

I'm almost afraid to ask the question, doctor.

Bea, you and I go back a long way.

Since before Travis was born.

I guess maybe I know you about as well as anybody.

Knew your husband.

Your boys.

Now, here.

I want you to do a little favor for me.

Yeah.

I want you to drink that.

Doctor's orders.

What I'm working my way around to,

Bea, is that I see a lot of you in Travis.

Plenty of character, plenty of strength.

But he has something else he has to overcome-- this resentment

at being branded an outlaw.

I know.

It gets harder for him all the time, Bea.

He's a young man, full of pride, and full of strength,

and being rejected for a reputation

he didn't want, doesn't deserve.

He's the last of the Colters, and-- and yet

he's not a part of the legend, but

being forever reminded of that.

You're talking about my singing at the Bull's Head?

Bea, girl, I'd never in this world

try to tell you how to live your life,

but I do believe that every time you sing "Aaron at the Gate,"

you're driving Travis away.

Like Virgil and Clayton.

[coughing]

Travis, don't yet.

I'll cut that out.

Don't move around like that.

Like back, there.

You want anything, you just ask for it.

Here.

Just take it easy.

Just take it easy.

That enough?

Yeah.

How do you feel, Travis?

Like a-- like a wall of that freight office hit me.

Yeah, I'm gonna-- I'm gonna leave these two pills right--

right beside your bed, now.

If you have any trouble getting to sleep, well, you take 'em.

Why did you do it?

Even you think that, huh?

You trying to tell me it wasn't your brothers

inside that freight office?

No, it was them.

The utter stupidity of it.

You were helping them, weren't you?

Oh, what difference does it make?

I'm a Colter, aren't I?

You didn't answer my question.

I saw their horses, and I knew they were in there.

And I wanted to warn 'em about the deputy in the street.

That's not helping them.

Ma, it's just us Colters against everyone,

and it's been that way since Pa stood up to the railroad.

Now, you gonna tell me it pays to be honest?

He'll be sleeping now, I guess.

Well, now, Bea, I can give you something

to help you sleep, if you want.

No, thank you.

I've got some things to think about.

All right.

You can think as much as you want to,

but I don't want you to worry.

And I want you to get back into your room

and start the-- oh, Mr. Burke? -Hello.

Festus deputized me before he rode out, doctor.

He wants me to keep watch up here.

Mr. Burke, couldn't you have found

something bigger than that?

A Gatling gun, maybe?

Well, yeah, but I don't have a handgun, doctor.

Never mind.

Just step in.

Now, Bea, rest.

I want you to rest.

Where is Festus?

Well, he rode out the fetch the marshal,

let him know the Colter brothers are up this way.

Paul Sorenson's missus is expecting.

I told them I'd set up with her tonight.

Oh.

Here.

Here's some reading material.

You may enjoy that.

Just, uh, sit down make yourself at home.

Thank you, doctor.

Sure.

Doctor?

Doctor!

[groaning]

The doctor's not here, Travis.

He's tending Mrs. Sorenson down at River Street.

She's expecting.

Travis.

Get me the doctor!

Look, Travis-- Travis, you hold on.

I'll get the doctor right away. -The doctor!

Quick! -Hold on.

Bea?

Bea?

Are you in there, Bea?

What's wrong?

Doctor, is Travis--

Travis is gone.

He slipped away from Mr. Burke, but I've got to find

him before that glass moves.

Now, do you have any idea where he could go?

He'll be with his brothers.

Where are they?

I can't bring the law to my sons.

They'll be riding.

Maybe they'll take Travis to a doctor in another town.

Bea, your boy has a piece of glass in him this long.

Now, if that moves into his lung--

We'll-- we'll have to go alone.

Nobody goes with us.

You'll have to promise.

Festus has already taken word of your sons to Marshal Dillon.

He needs no help from me, but Travis may need me badly.

Now, we're wasting time, girl.

Precious time.

Well, Clayton and Virgil talked of a shack, hidden in some

trees about five miles west--

Be right with you, Clayton.

Just been resting a minute.

How ya feeling?

I guess I had better days, but I'll be making it just fine.

You're sweatin'.

Well, what do you expect?

This shack's a hotbox.

It ain't that hot, kid.

Look, I made it here, didn't I?

Sonora's a long ways.

You up to that?

Clayton, I got no place else to go.

All right, just so's you understand-- brothers aside,

there's going to be no stopping, no falling back.

There's no percentage in three being killed for one.

You understand that, kid?

VIRGIL: Hey, Clay?

You sit tight before we getting saddled.

Be the last rest you're getting for a while, so make it count.

Isn't that a buggy coming this way?

Ma, coming in with somebody.

No one's following 'em.

At least a ways yet.

But buggy tracks-- it's like a map, right to our doorstep.

Let's get going.

Thought you had better sense now, Ma.

What are you trying to do, put a rope around our necks?

Hey, Doc Chapman.

How far behind is the law?

That doesn't have to be my concern.

Travis.

He needs surgery.

You have to go back to Dodge with me.

I'm riding with Clayton and Virg.

Not far you're not, son.

And I can guarantee that.

If you make it, kid, you know where to find us.

Help me get him back to bed.

Come on.

Just be easy.

Easy.

Easy.

Easy.

Lie back down.

Lie back.

Once they get out of the hills, they'll

probably head for the river.

We'll swing around, and come in from the east.

A little bit of advice that goes

with this doctoring, Travis.

Of course, your mother said it before, but it bears repeating.

Son, why don't you come back to town with us, tell your story?

Put a little trust in people?

You tell 'em I was warning my brothers.

That story out to get me about two years in prison.

Maybe five, considering my name's Colter.

Oh, yes.

Oh, yes.

That's right.

Colter.

Travis Colter.

In a hurry to catch up.

So what do you mean by that?

His brothers, gathering in all the glory.

Written about in the newspapers.

Talked about in the saloons.

And poor Travis.

He hasn't quite made it yet.

So he's a man in a hurry.

No, correction.

A boy in a hurry.

Think whatever you want, mister.

You like thinking that you've been mistreated,

don't you, Travis?

You ask my ma, who's been mistreated.

Who's had her life ruined.

Talk about putting trust in people,

and it was people took it all from us in the first place.

Took my pa, took our land.

Her sons.

The Colter legend.

Call it that, call it anything you want, but don't you

preach to me.

I saw my Pa dying in his own blood at the gate to our house.

I saw him--

You saw a drunk being shot to death over a saloon girl.

Aaron at the gate?

Used to stumble over that gate every night, after getting

himself blind drunk.

And who was following behind that night, with a gun?

That girl's husband.

Ma, what are you saying?

I'm telling you your father was shot over a saloon tramp.

I'm telling you I had to sell our land

to pay off his gambling debts.

Everybody knows what kind of man my pa was.

Oh, yes.

Even wrote songs about him, didn't they?

Probably written by the same hand

that wrote Ma Colter's revenge.

My brothers will tell you what happened.

What's been told them, by me.

I was a widow left with four sons.

I tried to give you boys a father you could look up to,

instead of one you had to live down.

I told the lie so often, I began believing it myself.

Well, my mistake.

I wanted you boys to have a father,

but what it was was an excuse.

And you've been using it as a crutch ever since, Travis.

[gunfire]

Well, what are you waiting for?

There'll be Colter bodies down there,

but the last Colter still has to prove-- prove what, Travis?

Prove what?

Travis has a lot of Laudanum in him,

but he's going to be awake long enough for you to talk to him.

Marshal pinned Clayton and Virgil down,

and they gave themselves up.

Taken off to Hayes for trial.

Well, I sure do wish 'em the best.

I guess it's all we can do, huh?

I suppose that I'll be going the same place they do, huh, Ma?

You're cleared, son.

The deputy testified you had nothing

to do with that business.

Well, ain't that somethin'?

A deputy, standing up for a Colter.

You just sleep.

There's lots to do tomorrow.

And think about.

I hope it's more than Laudanum holding Travis here tonight.

I'd bet on it.

Any plans, Bea?

Well, I guess I'll be moving on,

hoping Travis will be with me.

I have a hunch he will be.

Oh, Beatrice.

Girl, I know how much it hurts you to tell him that.

Aaron with a fine man.

I never knew a better one.

He'd be proud of you.

A boy shouldn't think bad of his father.

Some day, soon, I'll tell him true.

And Travis will know you lied to him this time,

but for the best reason in the world.

Well, legends are kind of hard to put down, doctor.

But I won't be singing "Aaron at the Gate" anymore.

No harm in remembering the words, though.

None that I can think of.

NARRATOR: Stay tuned for exciting scenes

from our next Gunsmoke.

[theme music]