Original subtitles

NARRATOR: "Gunsmoke," with Milburn Stone as Doc, Amanda

Blake as Kitty, Ken Curtis as Festus,

Buck Taylor as Newly, and starring

James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Shadler?

[grunts]

You tell me about that money first, like where it's hid.

I already gave you $5 for that bottle,

Creech, now give it to me.

Nuh-uh, this bottle is going to cost you $7,000.

Now you tell me where the money is.

Shh, just the thought of some pile of nothing

like you spending that money makes me want to retch.

Yeah, but that money ain't going to do you no good,

and this bottle will.

Now you tell me where you hid it.

Least I'm going to die rich, that's more than you can say,

you nothing.

CREECH [ANGRILY]: Shadler.

When they come to hang you in the morning,

you're gonna be praying for a drink.

Go ahead and shoot.

[door opening]

I'd like to speak to the prisoner for a moment, please.

He's all yours, Father.

Well, if it isn't Father Walsh, the old sin buster.

FATHER WALSH: Shadler, thought we should have one last talk.

Yeah, I bet you did.

Whiskey won't give you solace now, Shadler.

Only God can do that.

I'm not interested in your sermons, Padre,

I told you that.

Now, you're just wasting your time.

When a man's about to die, he usually wants to make

peace with himself and God.

Shadler, we can kneel together, would you pray with me?

[inaudible].

[gasping] You wanna pound those beads, you go someplace else

and do that.

Why, Shadler?

Well, you were a Catholic, a Christian-- you

were even an altar boy once.

And no matter what's happened since,

a man never stops believing in God.

You better look closer, Padre, because God

isn't nothing but a word.

Now, you gotta believe in him because you're on his payroll,

but don't go trying to sell him to me

because I got no use for him.

Shadler, don't go to your death a heathen.

Oh, you pious, Psalm-singing good folks--

you're always trying to shove yourselves down my throat--

you and my old man.

Let me tell you about that God of yours-- boy,

you better learn to say them prayers, and sing those hymns,

and don't you-- FATHER WALSH: [praying].

-- ever miss the Sabbath, because if you do,

you're going to burn in hell.

That's what kind of God you got--

you're going to burn in hell.

You couldn't sell me God if you were drummig him from a wagon

and had him bottled.

[PRAYING] Father--

Oh, get out of here.

[PRAYING] --forgive this man his sins,

for he knows not what he does.

I said-- Padre?

Padre, I didn't mean it.

[door opening]

[keys rattling]

Ready, Father?

No, no!

You drop those keys on the floor.

[keys hitting floor]

CREECH: The padre?

Don't you worry about the padre-- you just make a sound

and you're the one be getting the last rites.

[barking]

[hoofbeats]

Reno?

Hello there.

Howdy, Mister.

Sorry, you'll have to turn back-- the town's

been hit by a plague.

A plague?

What sort of plague?

Don't know-- there ain't no doctor in town.

Whatever it is, it's contagious-- 'most

half the town is down with it.

Now, you better be on your way, Mister.

Well maybe I can help, I've done some doctoring.

We got orders to keep everyone out.

Now, that includes you, so on your way.

Whose orders?

Sheriff's orders.

You been told to move on-- I'd do it.

Don't try going in another way, whole town's ringed off.

Fact, we got orders to shoot anyone trying to go in.

Sheriff's orders?

Well I'd like to talk to him.

Sure.

But first you have to fork over your gun.

Mister, this badge here says I'm

a United States Deputy Marshal and I don't

turn my gun over to nobody.

Reno?

Deputy Marshal or not, gimme that--

[shouting]

Get after him.

[gunfire]

Come on, get up-- hiyah, hiyah, hiyah.

[chickens clucking]

Anybody home?

Anybody home?

Hello?

[hoofbeats]

[chickens squawking]

This your place?

No it's not, Father.

What's the matter, somebody after you?

Yeah.

Go in the barn and stay there.

Don't make a sound.

Morning.

What are you doing around your, Father?

I'm just passing through.

There doesn't seem to be anybody at home.

They're probably in town with the fever.

Did you see a man come through here?

Why yes, I did, about uh, two minutes ago-- went up this road

here, seemed in a great hurry.

Let's go.

[hoofbeats]

Thanks for your help, Father.

Why are they after you?

I'm not quite sure, but one of the reasons

is, I was asking too many questions.

I don't understand, they are lawmen.

They're wearing badges, but I don't think they're lawmen,

Who are they?

I don't know, but I aim to find out.

I was just on my way into Selkirk

and almost got myself killed.

These men said there was a plague,

they-- they're not letting anyone

in or out of the town and--

But why would they try to kill you?

Because I'm a lawman.

I see.

I thought you were just a man in trouble.

I was.

Thanks again.

Father.

Are you headed back into Selkirk?

That right.

May I come with you?

Any special reason?

Well, yes-- if there's a plague, people are dying,

they'll need a priest.

We better get going before they come back.

Yes, of course.

[music playing]

Padre?

Hm?

Nobody allowed in, Padre.

I heard there was a plague.

You heard right.

Town will be a bone orchard 'fore long.

Then there's need for a priest.

Sorry, nobody.

But I don't understand, Mr.--

McKee.

Mr. McKee, you're robbing Christian people of their right

to receive the last sacraments.

Padre, it's a plague-- go in there

and you'll catch it and die alongside the rest of them.

That's part of my job, my son, when a priest takes his vows.

I got no time for sermons.

You're right, time is precious.

Move aside, Mr. McKee.

I'm warning you, Padre.

I never shot a priest.

Don't move, Mister.

Drop the rifle.

Drop it.

He tried to pull his gun.

That was some move, Father.

Well, I, uh-- one does what's necessary.

I'll bet when you deliver a sermon, folks listen to you.

Sometimes.

I'll go fetch my horse.

[water running]

[muffled screams]

[door closing]

[panting]

[inaudible].

[click]

What are you doing here?

I heard her cry out.

You get away from her.

She's dying.

Where do you think you're going?

There's a priest outside, I'm going to go get him.

You're lying.

You'll have to trust me.

Father?

You're needed in here.

Please hurry.

[door closing]

This here's Father John Walsh.

Father, she's been asking for a priest.

[whimpering]

My eyes are very old and sometimes see things,

but I can feel you-- you are a priest.

I'm Father John Walsh.

I've been waiting for you a long time.

God has been very patient with me.

I should have been dead long ago.

[whimpers]

[praying in latin]

Was she a friend of yours?

Not really.

Her name was Mrs. Evans.

Did she have much fever?

Some.

She complained about a pain in her stomach--

her and all the others.

Started about-- about a week ago,

and those men have had the town cut off for five days.

What about the rest of the people in town?

Most of them are sick-- few of them are dead.

Father, you all right?

Hm?

WOMAN: It's a priest.

Thank God a priest has come.

No, no, please, please.

Father, my wife-- she needs to see you, she may be dying.

Lead the way.

I better take a look at some of the other people.

You seem to know something about doctoring.

I've been studying under a pretty

good doctor in Dodge City.

When those men tried to come into town,

there was a shootout-- we drove them away, but a friend of mine

was wounded.

His name is Cyrus Himes, he's um,

he's stubborn as an old rock and meaner than a dog fight.

I wish you'd look at him. -Yes, I will.

Where do I find him?

He lives behind the grocery store.

Look, if he snaps at you, don't pay any attention.

Please try to help him.

I'll do the best I can.

Right there.

What is it?

Cyrus Himes?

Yeah.

Who are you?

Newly O'Brien.

What do you want?

Dallas Fair.

CYRUS: Yeah?

She asked me to take a look at you.

You a doc?

No, Sir, not yet anyway, but I know

something about bullet wounds.

[water sloshing]

How's the town holding up?

I don't know, it's too early to tell.

[sighs]

Didn't take long for them to learn this town took sick.

Human scavengers-- they can smell death in the wind

[inaudible] come in to feed on.

We turned them back, though.

They uh, still perched out there?

Yes, Sir.

Vulturres-- waiting for the town to die so they can

come in and pick on the bones.

[screams] Damn it, Boy!

That hurts bad enough without you poking at it.

[gasping]

Is it bad?

Yes, Sir.

Tell me how bad.

The bullet cut through a bunch of blood vessels.

You're bleeding inside and there ain't

no way to stop it that I know.

Meaning I'm-- bleeding to death, huh?

That's right.

There's a priest in town, you want me to go get him?

No, no, that ain't my persuasion, Deputy.

Oh, there was a time that me and religion was on speaking terms,

but too much has happened in between'd-- he'd be

wasting his time.

Deputy?

Dallas said to come fetch you-- somebody

else just came down sick.

Want a quit one?

Next time.

NEWLY: Any tenderness anywhere?

PATIENT: Nah, just a terrible pain in my belly and I--

I feel awful dry.

Very little fever, no swelling.

If it were a plague, there'd be both.

Any vomiting?

-Yeah, yeah, yeah. -Dallas?

A shipment of beef, pork, anything like that

come to town recently?

No.

What did you eat today, Sir?

Nothing.

All I had since last night is-- is water.

If it was water, the whole town would be sick.

Well maybe not.

I mean, most everybody gets their water

from the well in the middle of the town,

but Cyrus has a rain barrel, I get mine from there.

What about the others who weren't affected?

Well you know something?

I think they all have their own wells.

Did you drink from the town well?

Yeah, I did, yes.

This here water's fouled.

It's not the plague.

Well, if it is, it's one I never heard of before.

What feeds this well?

The river.

The that must be where it's coming from,

some sort of poisoning.

I'm gonna need all the milk and vinegar you can find.

That shouldn't be hard.

All right, where's the biggest building in town?

Ah, the cafe, I guess.

All right, you get some help and take all

the sick people to the cafe.

And I'm gonna need blankets and fresh water.

Cyrus?

There ain't no use in moving him, Dallas, he's dying.

He know that?

I asked him if he wanted to see Father Walsh,

but he said he didn't have no use for the priest.

One foot in hell, that's Cyrus.

I'll talk to him.

[spurs jingling]

Matthew?

MATT: Any sign of Newly?

Nary a sign, but Willie over at the telegraph office

sent that-- maybe it's from Newly.

Is it?

No, I sent a wire off to Marshal

at Taos last night to see if Newly'd gotten there yet.

He says he delivered his prisoner five days ago

and left.

Well, he generally he'd a ought to got back by now.

Yesterday at the latest.

Better saddle me a horse, Festus.

You bet you.

Want me to go with you, Matthew?

No, you stay here and look after Dodge.

[coughing]

Everything all right?

Thank you, Dallas.

[wheezing]

Who is it?

I heard you were too sick to be moved.

Who is it?

Boone?

Is that you, Boone?

Yeah, it's me.

You were supposed to be hanged.

Yeah, they kind of had their heart set on that.

Stiff rope and a short drop-- afraid I disappointed them.

I just thought I'd come back and see

you instead of going to hell.

You always was a good boy, Boone.

[laughter]

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

[laughter]

The whole territory's looking for me, Ma, I'm in a hurry.

Not going to stay for my funeral?

In that outfit, you could read over me.

Yeah, well, I'll send you flowers.

Where is it?

Where is what?

You know what I'm talking about.

Two years ago I left $7,000 here for safe keeping.

Now I'm back for it.

[wheezy chuckling]

Spent it.

Now, you going to listen to my sins or not?

'bout all the evil doings I spent that money on?

[chuckling]

Bless me, Father, for I have really sinned.

Where is it, Ma?

I said I spent it.

SHADLER: You didn't spend nothing.

You'd hoard scraps from a starving dog.

Only difference between you and a pack rat's two legs.

You wouldn't even buy a suit for Pa to be buried in.

Your Pa was a Bible-spouting old fool-- thinks

he died wearing angel wings.

I ain't got time to go kicking coffins, Ma, not even his.

Now, where's that money?

It's gone.

Now, you better tell me, you money-grubbing old crone.

[choking laughter]

Find it yourself.

I'll choke it out of that scrawny neck of yours.

You won't find it if you a live to be a hundred.

But that money is mine-- where did you hide it?

Burned it all up in the fire so's you wouldn't get it--

that's what I did-- burned it all up.

Those eyeballs are gonna pop right

out of that skull of yours if you don't tell me, Ma.

You got no respect fro your mother-- never did.

Forgive him, Lord.

Where is it?

[maniacal laughter]

[snorts]

Don't you die on me. [gasping]

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

Tell me, won't, Ma, don't you die on me.

[groaning]

You old hag.

What are you doing, Father?

Someone told me the old lady was

dying, I-- she asked me for her Bible, I can't seem to find it.

She's dead.

She was alive just a moment ago.

[praying in latin]

Dallas is anxious for you to talk to Cyrus.

-Where is she? -She's at the cafe.

She said she'd take you to see him.

Something's going on down there.

This time yesterday, it looked like the town

was drawing its last breath, now I-- I can folks moving around.

It's been five days, Mr. Barnum.

Somebody might come looking-- I mean, like the telegraph-- two,

three days go by when the town don't answer.

Yeah, you could be right.

Best take a look-see.

Now, somebody's got to go into town

to see if it still kicking.

Rogers, you're elected.

There's fever down there.

Don't worry, Rogers, nobody down there

is aiming to kiss you.

[laughter]

Go in as soon as you've et.

I better warn you, he hasn't been near a priest

or inside a church in more than 25 years.

Father?

The fact is, he-- he doesn't even believe in God.

He's not alone.

What you doing here?

Dallas Fair asked me to see you.

I'm Father Walsh.

I know that, I heard all about you.

What you doing in this hole?

And don't tell me the Lord sent you.

No, I'm just passing through.

And when the folks saw a priest they just naturally figured

you was heaven-sent, huh?

[sighs]

Don't seem too happy about it.

Just doing the Lord's good work.

I uh, wouldn't get too comfortable,

I was you-- I know you gospel sharks can talk quicker'n

hell will scorch a feather.

Well, the lady thought you ought

to receive the last sacraments.

Meaning you want to hear my confession?

You want to tell it?

I'll say this for you, you don't push yourself.

Most of your breed come on like thunder.

Well, I'll tell you, I lived my life the way I saw,

and I ain't ashamed of any of it.

When I go through them pearly gates,

I'm leaving no trace behind-- just a little money, which goes

to Dallas if she'll take it.

You're not worried about going to hell, huh?

Don't believe in it-- don't believe in any of it,

and I ain't I got the time or the wind

to be wasting it on you.

As a matter of fact, me and Satan's jug partners.

Now what do you think of that?

Did you ever believe in God?

Now there you go-- now you're beginning

to sound like one of them hell and damnation

fellas, full of smoke and fury.

Won't even let a man die in peace.

Well listen, padre-- don't you try to sell that God of yours

to me because I don't believe in him.

[swallowing]

What you thinking?

I was just thinking how you remind

me of somebody I once knew.

Where you going?

Can't make any money here.

CYRUS: You mean there's not going

to be any speeches about the eternal flame, and fire?

Hell and damnations, hallelujahs, hosannas?

No blessed are the meeks?

Nope.

I figure if a man wants to burn in hell, that's his business.

[cocking hammer]

Expect them to make their move?

They've been out there long enough,

they're bound to sooner or later.

Dallas is fixing you a place upstairs in the boarding house.

Thank you.

Say, Father?

Yes?

Who are you?

What do you mean?

You're not like any priest I ever seen before.

You don't carry your own Bible, your Latin's rusty--

the way you handle yourself.

I don't know what's troubling you, Deputy,

but my name is Walsh-- Father John Walsh.

All right, I don't care who you are

or why you're here, as long as you keep those people believing

in you till this thing's over.

Then maybe you and I will sit down and talk about it.

[birds singing]

Well?

I'm afraid your friend Cyrus won't have any part of me.

Oh, I'm sorry, he can be pretty thorny.

Hm.

Didn't you have any chance to talk to him?

Well, I don't really believe in sermons.

I thought you were in the soul-saving business?

Well a man has to want to be saved.

I mean, he's tough.

He goes to hell, he's just liable to break the whole thing

up in six months. -You know something?

You're a strange priest.

You don't even have a Bible.

-Oh, I lost it along the way. -I brought you mine.

This isn't exactly frayed from use, is it?

Oh, well I guess I just didn't figure I needed it before.

What about now?

Let's just say I'm trying.

Why?

-Personal reasons. -All right.

[splashing]

Look, you don't have to tell me.

Well, it's just no big secret.

I mean, everybody in town knows.

No reason why you shouldn't know.

I had a baby.

He died-- he didn't live long.

And then all of a sudden, I was back to where I was before,

only this time it was different.

I had a taste of something.

What about the baby's father?

DALLAS: Well, he was a gambler by the name of Riddle,

and he had the-- he had the bad taste of getting himself killed

before he could marry me.

Well, I bet you've heard worse.

Oh yes, I've heard worse.

What did you do before that?

Oh, I was a dressmaker till I got pregnant.

Then the good ladies of the town refused to come near me.

Guess they thought I was contagious.

So I became a saloon girl.

Why did you stay?

Running's not my style.

Maybe I would have run if it hadn't been for Cyrus.

He was my friend when I needed one.

You might say he takes to down and outers.

What happens when Cyrus dies?

DALLAS: I don't know.

He's leaving you some money.

I think you ought to take it and go.

That money's not for me.

It's for my son-- the headstone for his grave.

Cyrus felt that he needed a marker with some words on it.

I mean, he offered me the money before, but I couldn't take it.

I can't take money he's worked that hard for.

[SHAKILY] Excuse me.

Hold it.

Don't make any quick moves.

What's going on around here?

Climb down nice and easy.

Real friendly place you got here.

Move-- that way.

[whinnying]

This fella came riding into town like he owned the place.

ROGERS: Oh shit, I wasn't doing nothing.

You got business in town?

Drinking business.

I been riding all night and half a day to find me a salon.

On the trail in, did you see anybody?

Anybody try to talk to you or stop you?

Nobody out there.

You mind telling me what's going on?

There's been a bunch of men that

have had this town surrounded.

Why?

I don't know why, there ain't nothing here.

A man would be lucky to find a total of $50 in this here town.

The bank shipped out all its cash it had a week ago.

That a fact?

[footsteps]

I got a big thirst, you mind?

I'm sorry, but that there water's foul.

How bad?

I mean, a lot of people took down sick?

Bad enough, but the worst is over.

How about the whiskey?

That still good?

Sorry, but the saloon is closed.

Well, it's a long way to the next town.

You sure it's closed?

I'm sorry again.

That's three sorries.

Remind me never to come through this place again.

[scraping]

[grunts]

[music playing]

Why?

You're a bright girl.

You mean you haven't figured it out yet?

You're not a priest.

Hardly.

I'm a convict on the run, in, my name's Shadler.

Abby was your mother.

Hmph.

She wasn't much of anything.

You must have had a hunch about me, that look I gave you.

I knew you were a man.

Is that why you followed me here?

I didn't follow you-- Cyrus asked for you.

That's too bad, I got other plans.

You gotta see him.

There's nothing I can do for him, I told you,

I'm not a priest.

But he thinks you are, that's all that counts.

That don't make sense, he's not even a Catholic.

But that doesn't matter, he wants to repent.

Honey, I didn't come to this stinking town to save souls.

Well, what did you come for?

For this, honey, $7,000.

Congratulations, you're a rich man.

Dallas, this town has done nothing

except kick you in the teeth.

You had to take it because you had no other way out.

Well, now you have-- come with me.

You don't understand.

Cyrus is waiting.

He hasn't much time. -Neither have we.

When those men get here, they're going to take this place apart.

There will be nothing left except the nails.

honey, come with me.

I think he's dying.

Who cares?

When that deputy wakes up, he's going to come looking for me.

Now, I gotta get out of here.

I can't do that old man any good.

Well, you know better than that.

You can help him die in peace.

It ain't the plague, Barnum.

It's coming from the water.

They got that cured.

How'd you get this?

From the deputy himself.

There's something else-- we've been wasting our time.

Ain't nothing down there worth taking.

What are you saying?

Well, the bank shipped out all its cash and from what I saw,

the town ain't worth spitting on.

If it ain't the plague, Barnum, we might be facing

too many guns to chance it.

Maybe we'd better pull out.

Well I ain't gonna risk my life on a gamble.

All right, all right, it's your choice.

Go on, tell the others.

Well, what are you hanging around for?

I told the bad news for them to hear.

I got some good news.

I seen Boone Shadler.

Shadler?

Oh, you're crazy-- he's in jail, due for a hanging.

Mm, and broke out less than a week ago.

I'm telling you, I saw him.

He's dressed up like a priest, but I saw him.

Sure, that's the priest that busted me.

Well, if he's on the run, what's he doing

in a sun blister like Selkirk?

I think he's got about 7,000 good reasons.

Couple years ago, he robbed a Wells Fargo

office, took off with the money, got caught

the same day in that town.

They never found the money.

Padre?

Cyrus?

I wanna confess.

Yes, I know.

I like your style.

You didn't try to shove salvation down my throat.

Well, anytime you're ready, Cyrus.

It's uh-- it's gonna be a long, dry one.

There's another jug over there on that shelf.

Would you pour me one?

You know, it ain't gonna be easy.

The devil's doing a war dance around my soul right now.

Thank you.

You know, all the other gospel sharks I've ever known

would have condemned my soul to hell

for drinking on my deathbed?

Well, all priests aren't alike.

Thank God for that.

You know, the meanest death in the world

is being preached to death.

Do you know this is done?

Well, you just tell the worst and talk low, like a funeral.

That's close enough.

Now go ahead.

Well, I uh, spent most of my years up in the northerns.

Now up there, a fellow takes his women and his whiskey the way

they come because it's the only thing

'tween near living and nothing.

And I don't regret one minute of it.

Now, there are some things I'm sorry about.

Do you wanna hear them?

As long as it doesn't take forever.

There are other-- see, there are other people waiting for me,

Cyrus.

I'll be quick.

Well, when I was young I was wild and restless.

I'm sorry about the crow squaw I wintered with and then left.

Sorry about the son I never had.

I'm sorry about all them buffalo I killed,

'cause they're most all gone now, like the men

I broke trail with.

And I'm sorry for near dying a blind, [inaudible],

stubborn old man, not seeing God when I spent most of my life

under His sky, walking on His ground,

taking the fruits of His land, and hating Him when it

was me that made the choices.

Well, that's it.

Do you think He heard me?

If there's a God, he heard you.

But just because you told it all,

you can't expect St. Peter to be there to shake your hand.

Thanks.

Dallas?

There's $87 in that trunk there.

Now, you promise me you'll take it.

$87?

That's the best offer I ever had.

[wheezing laughter]

Cyrus?

Cyrus?

There's nothing holding you here now, Dallas.

Dallas, think it out-- we both been trapped for a long time.

This is our chance to get out.

OUTLAW: There he is.

Hey there, hold up.

[gunfire]

[gasps]

Drop the guns!

[gunfire]

Hold your fire.

[gunfire]

I wish you'd have come when I asked you.

I'm sorry.

[CHOKING] Are those tears over me?

I'll be damned.

I don't think you will.

[chuckles]

Who is he, Newly?

I don't know, Marshal, I honestly don't know.

His name was Walsh, Father John Walsh.

[theme music]

NARRATOR: Stay tuned for exciting scenes

from our next "Gunsmoke."

[theme music]