Original subtitles

♪

-Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

-Whoa.

-[ Spits ]

What's the matter with you?

-That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen.

-Well, you ain't the prettiest thing

I've ever saw the first thing in the morning yourself.

-What are you gonna do with a badge?

What are you gonna do with a badge?

-All right, Mr. Smart Alecky Hoo-ha.

I'm fixing to wear it.

Just like Matthew told me to do afore he rode out yonder

to that Texas cattle herd that come in yesterday

to talk to them cowpunchers

afore they get their pay get turned loose.

And to talk to the trail boss and tell him to hold 'em down

so as they won't be no ruckuses when they are...turned loose.

-I'm going back to bed.

-Howdy, men. -Morning.

You're the marshal, ain't ya?

-Well, I guess I am holding things down

while he's out of town.

Why?

-We been hunting us wolves most the summer.

-You expect me to do something with these, are you?

-Oh, I don't care what you do with 'em after we get our money.

We got 43 wolf skins at $7 bounty a skin.

That makes $301.

-You can put the odd dollar in your pockets and drink it,

from us to you for your trouble.

-You're saying you --

you want some bounty money for these here wolf skins, huh?

-Count 'em. We got 43 skins.

-I ain't argue-fying with you about how many there are.

I'm just wanting to tell you that there ain't no more bounty

on wolf skins.

-You ain't -- you ain't joshing?

-No, sirree. I ain't a-joshing.

I ain't a feller to josh other folks' misery.

-Mister, we got to take this slower.

You had a notice posted outside this jail three months ago.

It said anybody could collect $7 from the Dodge marshal

for every wolf pelt brought into town.

-Now, I ain't denying

that Matthew has been a-paying bounties on wolf hides.

But what you can't get through your head

is that he ain't doing it no more.

They've done took it off, don't you see?

-It's our joining money.

The wagon train making up at Springfield.

That money's for us to join.

We got Homestake land waiting for us in California.

-Well, I know how you feel.

-Townpeople don't have any idea how I feel.

I left my wife expecting a young'un

and a sick grandpa out in a canyon

all summer bringing these pelts.

They've been half starving in a squatter shack,

counting on moving out before winter.

We got that money coming to us.

-Just simmer down and hold your taters.

Now, if you don't believe what I'm telling you,

why don't you go out and talk to Marshal Dillon?

You'll find him out there south of town

at one of them cow camps.

Could go down the street yonder to Mr. Dolen's.

He -- he buys some furs and hides.

Maybe he'd figured they's worth a little something.

I don't know.

I'm sorry. I -- I truly am.

♪

-We ain't spending no winter in Kansas.

-Well, that Springfield wagon train's the last one

out this year.

And we don't make it, I can't see striking out

all by ourselves.

-This town owes us $300.

I figure on collecting.

♪

-All right. Let's cut it a different way.

I'll pay the same price for calves, 16 1/4.

Counting calves and cows alike

isn't exactly sticking my hand in your pocket.

The edge goes to you, John.

-30 days on good grazing land,

I'll be turning down 18 1/2, maybe 19.

-Yeah, I know. But that means keeping your boys

on a payroll for 30 days and gambling

that the market for cattle will stay the same.

Now, I'm putting money in your pocket, John.

-Maybe I'll shop around. -Oh, uh, John, hold it.

If I went to 17, would that lock it up?

-And a half, you'd have me thinking about it.

-Can I help you, boys?

-Hear you buy wolf pelts.

-You got a deal, John.

I guess your boys will be needing some cash.

-$500 will take care of me.

-There you go. I'm going to the bank in the morning.

I'll have the rest for you then.

-Fine.

I guess neither one of us come out too bad, Mr. Dolen.

-Oh, say, if you're doing any drinking, tell 'em to put it

on the Dolen Company bill. -Thank you.

-Wouldn't it be less trouble to trap commercial fur?

-Uh, we were after, uh, the bounty money,

come to find they took it off the bounty.

-How much were you expecting for 'em?

-Oh, I guess I'll leave -- leave a fair price up to you.

-Well, they're more bother than they're worth.

I'll take 'em off your hands for 10 cents a skin.

Well, you're getting a favor.

-Last thing we want from townfolk is a favor.

-Well, then sell 'em to somebody else.

-Is there anybody else in Dodge that buys wolf pelts?

-I'm afraid you're gonna find that a problem.

-Mr. Dolen? -Hmm?

-10 cents a pelt don't even seem close.

-Well, that's as close as I'm coming, fella.

-Maybe if -- if you knew what we'd been through.

I mean, we been hunting wolves all summer,

figuring on making the wagon train

heading out of Springfield.

The joining money's $200.

Now, we ain't got that much.

But if we had feeding money, maybe the wagon master

would trust us to raise the join along the way.

-You looking for charity or you trying to sell me some pelts

I don't even need? -I'm just saying.

If we got it even a dollar a pelt, kind of a fair price

as you'd be getting $2 in St. Lou.

-Now you're trying to tell me how to run my business.

-50 cents a pelt, we could gamble on going to Springfield.

It'd be enough to feed us there.

Mr. Dolen, we can't take no more wearing,

not with my wife the way she is.

I sure don't like to talk like this.

I had me a young son dying last winter.

My wife's scared with a new young'un coming now.

We got to get some money to move on.

-How about you?

Do I get your story when he's through?

All right. Sympathy, I got.

It's all yours.

At 10 cents a pelt,

you can get yourselves a couple bottles of whiskey,

maybe get your wife a new hat.

-You ain't listening.

I got me a woman starving.

I'm asking fairness.

A woman don't eat a hat, Mr. Dolen!

We ain't animals!

♪

-Hey, Adele.

We can smell your stew clean down the canyon!

-There's still enough. Just help yourself.

-Thank you.

-Hey. You brung 'em back, Cory.

-They didn't want 'em. Ain't no more bounty on wolves.

-You mean we ain't getting no joining money, Cory?

-'Fraid not. -Well, that ain't fair.

You boys hunted wolves.

Well, they said there was bounty money on 'em.

-Ain't nobody thinking about fairness to us, Grandpa.

-Are you saying we're spending the winter here, Cory?

-Don't seem to be much choice.

-Want me to fix you a plate, Cory?

-Nah, I don't feel like eating much.

-All you need's some hot stuff in you.

Could we start out by ourselves?

-Wagons don't move us to Springfield by theirselves.

-Are we losing that government land?

-If we ain't there to claim it, it never belonged to us, Adele.

-Well, we always manage somehow, Cory.

-You crying over our son's grave last winter, we managing?

-He just wasn't strong enough to live.

-A babe's as strong as the food he gets in him.

A milk cow's the difference in him living

or dying last winter, a warm roof.

-You just got to quit blaming yourself for everything, Cory.

-Outright cheated us, Adele,

the town of Dodge outright cheated us.

$7 for every -- for every pelt

brought down the hill is what they said.

-It just does no good thinking about it.

-It ain't right,

have a man believing that what they brought back

would be paid for.

-Where you going?

-I'm going for a walk.

-Okay.

-Ah --

Are we doing it?

-You figure you got the nerve to take this to the end?

-Well, it sounded real easy the way you said.

-There ain't nothing real easy without luck.

It's just I got some coming, I figure.

-Well, what about Adele knowing?

-She ain't knowing.

We're heading into town to sell the pelts.

That's all we're saying. Can you see me?

-Yeah. -Real good?

-G-Good.

-Morning, Mr. Dolen. -Morning, Festus.

-Cup of coffee? -No, no thanks.

Look, I'm moving some money from the bank over to my office.

I'd like to have a couple of men.

-A couple of men?

-Yeah, deputies to go with me till I get the cash in the safe.

-Oh, guards, you mean.

Well, I'll be glad to help you.

-I'd kind of like to have more than one man.

-Aw, fiddle,

we ain't gonna have no trouble just going across the street.

Asides that, there's a couple of deputies in town.

-All right, Festus. Let's go.

-You know, once ol' Matthew heared that up the glen

a new herd was moving up, he got hisself five or six deputies

to go out yonder and ride betwixt them herds,

a couple of deputies here in town.

With over a thousand cowpunchers a-raising Cain,

well, that's pretty good law keeping.

Now, you'll have to admit it is.

Instead of just coming in buying cattle and riding.

We got us a good little town. -Yeah, I know.

Lots of conversation day or night, if you want it or not.

-Oh, you bet your boots!

Folks is friendly here in this town.

And you take ol' Matthew -- Marshal Dillon.

He keeps this place just a-running as smooth...

'Course right now he's got me in charge of running the town.

Well, taking care of it it'd be more like it, I reckon.

But this here badge,

see, this here is a United States marshalling badge.

And when a feller's wearing one of these here,

why, folks has just a tick more respect for you.

You take that old scudder, Doc.

He says I'm starting to act up, 'cause he liked a regular...

♪

-Oh, what are those hides doing in this office?

-Is this here some of your special dealing whiskey, is it?

-Go ahead. Help yourself.

-Well, ordinarily I don't drink this early in the day.

But I will have myself a swallow or two

since it's special label and all that.

-I told that Appleson never to store hides in this office.

If I've told him once, I've told him a hundred times.

-I can -- I can easy see

why they'd put a special label on that whiskey.

But I wouldn't mind making whiskey like that myself.

-I only wish your ability was as big as your mouth.

There ain't a place in Kansas you two can hide.

-Get your nose to that floor, mister.

-Get those hands behind your back.

When you're finished, you can take care of the horses.

-Oh, no -- no worry about it.

I wonder how much money we got in them saddlebags.

-Got to be enough so we wouldn't be eating herd dust for a while.

Hurry and we can make the Texas border before night.

-We got it, we get out's my opinion.

-Not running. We don't change a thing.

Keep looking guilty, we'll be caught sure.

Did you tie that knot so it'd -- so it'd slip?

-Yeah, he'll be able to shake them ropes loose

in about five minutes.

How much you think we got?

-Got to be more than $300, and that's what matters to me.

-I ask for two men,

and I get one swilling my whiskey.

Get on your feet.

-Well, now, that's what I call a wolf pelt.

-That's what I call it. -Yeah.

Real thick skin.

-Well, that's just an old wolf.

-I know furs and pelts pretty good, I do.

See plenty shipped past my desk every day.

I'm the freight agent. Name's Burke.

-You got a point, mister?

-Well, just that you got a real nice pelt.

The kind you'd like to make a nice winter jacket out of.

-What -- what in the world happened?

-Oh, never mind, never mind.

-Well, now wait a minute. You got blood running down.

-Just leave me be!

-Mr. Dolen. -Out of my way, kid.

-We don't mind coming down in price

if you can see your way coming up.

-Get out! -Mr. Dolen, instead of a dime,

you make it 20 cents!

We got a talking point!

You're missing out on a mighty good deal, Mr. Dolen.

20 cents ain't too far from a dime!

-20 cents a pelt?

Well, I'm not in the fur business, fellas,

but I think you got a deal. -What?

-Well, at 20 cents a pelt, I can't go wrong.

You got a deal.

How many pelts?

-Uh, 43. We're selling all or none.

-43 at 20 cents a pelt.

I figure a dime is $4.30.

Double the 430, you get 860.

I think I got that much right here.

-I advise you to use a nice, strong lye soap on 'em.

Some were found, uh, dying of sickness.

Oh, it wouldn't be rabies.

At least, uh, they weren't foaming at the mouth none.

-Nathan!

-Yes, Sam?

-I'm gathering posses,

and I want you to take the south end of town.

Get everybody together that can ride.

-Why, is something wrong, Sam?

-Mr. Dolen here was robbed by a couple of cowboys.

-We think they're making for the Texas border.

-I'll get right to it. -You men get to your horses.

Call for a posse means every able-bodied man in town.

It's your duty. -Ain't got no saddle horses,

Mr. Dolen, just this old buckboard mare.

Hyah!

-See, Doc. -Keep away.

-Well, it don't hardly hurt none at all now.

-Well, just the same,

I don't want you riding out with any posse.

You just might not ride back.

Now come up to the office so I can clean that up

and have a little better look at it.

-Well, I got to get started, Doc.

-[ Laughs ]

Hey, you got a sore head, mister?

-You hush your mouth! I ain't no --

-Here, here. Quiet down. Get on out of here.

What's the matter with you?

Good heavens, you no sooner get a badge on,

you got everybody in the whole county mad at you.

Now, what caused that?

-Oh, them knuckleheads been a-chomping on me

'cause I told 'em that they took the bounty off of wolf skins.

-What'd you tell 'em that for? They didn't do that.

-Who says?

-Well, Matt said. -Matthew said...

-Yes, the state is still paying bounty

on summer pelts for those that were out hunting

when the -- when the notice went up.

-Well, golly Bill, I got to tell 'em then, Doc.

-Well, you don't have to tell 'em right now.

Right now, you're coming up to the office

so I can examine that thick skull of yours.

And I'm not planning on carrying you.

Come on.

-Sure ain't my day.

-Whoa.

-Couldn't sell 'em at all, Cory?

-Guess Dodge just needs a place to sell pelts, Grandpa.

So we kind of figured we'd be moving on.

Heading to Springfield. -What?

-Springfield? -What if --

-Cory, that don't make no sense.

-Now, I got a good feeling.

Maybe we can sell some of the pelts along the way,

store up some supplies.

And maybe we can get something in the way of work

on the wagon train for our joining money.

-Never join up with no money, Cory.

-We wouldn't have no way to live in Springfield.

-That wagon master, he got a lot of expense

making up a train.

-We can always come back here.

Now you two get the traveling wagon packed.

Rich and me is gonna give the pelts a little brushing

and trimming, kind of pretty 'em.

Everything's gonna be all right.

-Cory always knows what he's doing.

So we'd best pack.

-How much you figure we got?

-Got to be what we need.

Anything left over after joining money,

we buy maybe a saddle horse.

-Them's $10 bills.

-100 $10 bills, $1,000.

-Look there, them's 20s.

And lookee there, there's another 20s.

And...

-We got us a bag of trouble.

-There must be about -- Well, there must --

Oh, how much?

-It's $15,000, $20,000.

We had us money coming fair, joining money.

Now it's like we be bank robbers.

-Oh, you're talking crazy.

Robbing's the same, doesn't matter how much you get.

-There's a big difference.

-You intending something?

-I don't intend leaving it out for Adele and Grandpa

to come in here to see.

-Oh, well,

I just didn't like the way you was talking.

Cory, there's enough money here

to last us for the rest of our lives.

-We never set out to do nothing like this.

-Well, of course we didn't. But we did it just the same.

Cory, I'd take my chances of hanging

against keeping this money.

-Sure ain't no changing it now.

All I wanted what was coming to us, $300 is all.

-Ow. -Hold still!

-Well, that hurts worse than it did when I got hit.

-Well, you hadn't ought to get hit.

-Well, I know I hadn't ought to.

But, uh, I'm just a dumbbell.

-Well, it wasn't altogether your fault.

-Yes, it was.

It was too.

I was a-pooching out my chest

on account of that marshalling badge I was wearing

instead of acting like a good marshal ought to.

-You were strutting around like a peacock, all right.

But Ben Dolen just got outsmarted, that's all.

-How are you?

How is he, Doc? -Oh, he's all right.

He just got hit in the head, that's all.

He'll be his old self in a little while,

for whatever his old self's worth.

-Oh, golly. -Good.

I was just over talking to Dolen.

He has the idea they were Texas drovers that did this.

That couldn't be much more than a guess

being as he was blindfolded.

-Well, Matthew, I didn't get but a little peek at 'em.

See, they's -- they's wearing them ol' hides

and them tow sacks.

And I -- I couldn't see a inch of their skin.

-There's something funny about this

because men that were that careful to hide their identity

aren't just gonna let it slip

that they're headed back for Texas.

-I sure wished I could help you.

But like I was telling old Doc here,

I was just too busy being proud of this badge.

-Well, what about their voices?

Did they sound like Texans?

-Shoot, I -- I didn't hear 'em say anything, Matthew.

Uh, all I done was turned around,

and "whap," they hit me.

Dolen said they talked like they had a mouthful

of mush or something.

-Well, I'll tell you what I think.

I think those men could be walking around the streets

of Dodge right now.

-You reckon they could be? -Sure could.

It'd be a whole lot safer for 'em to kind of lay low

till things quieted down a little bit.

Now, look, I've got to head up to Hays City

to make an identification of that Barskin murder trial.

But I'll have men covering the roads and trails out of Dodge

'fore I leave. -Well, I can do that.

-You stay where you are.

-Take over when Doc gets through with you.

I'll see you later. -Bye.

[ Door opens, closes ]

-Doc, I just haven't did one thing right

since I put this badge on.

-Well, I kind of got to agree with you there.

But it wasn't all your fault.

Ol' Dolen was partially responsible.

I don't know. Ever since he come to town,

he seems to like to walk around and flash a lot of money.

I guess he figures it gives him prestige or something.

But no prudent man takes $20,000 out of a bank.

-$20,000? -Well, yes.

I heard he was gonna make a lot of cash deals today,

so he just took the whole bundle out of the bank.

You know what it is? He's just an arrogant man.

That's -- He's just arrogant, that's all.

-$20,000.

That's a heap of money, ain't it?

-If it'd been less money stole,

they wouldn't be searching anybody.

We could take the wagons right through.

-Well, it'd sure be a chore taking the wagons

through them hills.

-They got posses in the road.

They got posses in the hills,

and anybody heading that way's gonna cause attention.

-You know something else that's been on my mind?

Us living in that old squatter shack,

what -- what if some posse took it into their minds

to look us over real good?

-Let's get back.

-Hi, ma'am. -Howdy.

-I'm just wondering if I hit on the right place or not.

I was looking for a couple of fellers that spent the summer

up hunting wolves, expecting to get some bounty money.

-Oh, that'd be my husband and his friend, Rich.

-Oh, yes'm.

Well, uh, are they around, are they?

-No, they went to trap rabbit snares being, uh,

being we're leaving so soon.

-Yes'm.

Well, I just wanted to tell 'em I'm plumb ashamed of myself

for not a-getting my facts straight in the first place.

But I -- I got some good news for 'em.

For you too, I reckon.

I'm fixing to take them skins off of yer hands

and giving you $301 for 'em.

-This our joining up money.

-It's too good to be true.

-Yes'm, this here's the onliest good thing I've did today.

-You couldn't have done nothing that make us happier.

-Awful glad of that, ma'am.

Ma'am, I -- I got me some marshalling chores

to do in town on account of that big holdup we had.

-Holdup? -Oh, yeah.

We had us a big 'un in there. -Oh.

-Uh, reckon it'd be all right

if I just kind of bundled up them skins myself

so as I can be getting on back?

-They'd be in the barn, Marshal.

You just help yourself.

-Much obliged, ma'am.

-Oh, Grandpa!

-[ Humming ]

-Cory. Cory!

I got us a surprise.

-What's that?

-It's a big one. -Well?

-You gonna guess?

I'll tell you.

I got the bounty money.

We're gonna get it anyway.

-Real fine. Who give it to you?

-The marshal from town.

He said he made a mistake

when he allowed you weren't entitled to it.

He's in the barn now taking the pelts.

-I better go thank him, then.

-I'll fix your supper for you.

-Do, I'm real hungry.

-Oh, howdy, fellers. -Hiya!

-I got a heap of good news for you.

I'm fixing to -- -Adele --

Adele already told us. -Oh, she done told you?

Ain't that the best news you ever heard?

-It sure is. We'll take these pelts to town for you.

So you don't need to bother. -Oh, fiddle, fiddle.

This ain't no bother at all. I'll just bundle 'em up

and throw 'em up on back of my saddle.

You fellers had enough bother of fretting

about that bounty money.

[ Gun cocks ]

Well, if that ain't the limit.

-Take his gun? -Yeah.

Just wanted what was coming to us, mister, is all we wanted.

-I don't reckon it's too late to set things straight

if you got a mind to. -Doing what?

-Well, first place of giving back what don't belong to you.

-Oh, so we spend our lives in prison, huh?

-I don't know how a judge would look at it.

But I'll tell you one thing,

you're both in for a passel of trouble

if you keep this here money. -Cory.

-I'll guarantee you that.

-Adele's coming.

Hide that gun.

Mister, you get back to tying them pelts.

Be wearing this.

Now be quick about it.

I'll do any saying to Adele.

-Wondering, mister, iffin you might be eating with us

before you leave for town.

-Yes'm, I'd -- I'd be proud to share your table with you.

Much obliged. -I'll set you a plate.

-Hold on, Adele.

There'll be no time, uh, for entertaining.

-Well, it'd be right neighborly,

seeing he come out here from town all the way.

-I was, uh, figuring you heading out for Springfield.

-Now? Today?

-If you feel up to it,

you and Grandpa can meet us out there.

-Oh, yes, Cory.

Why aren't you coming with us?

-We can't afford to wait much longer.

We might lose out.

You two can hold us a place on that wagon train.

-Oh, Cory.

We're going to California at last.

-Yeah.

This feller says, uh, these pelts will be ours to sell

once the regular marshal in Dodge

makes account record of 'em.

Rich and me figure we head along the river,

trade off against flour and sugar.

If we trade right, we might come in with $50,

$60 worth of supplies.

-Mister, I hope you allow us.

I'm just too excited to cook a meal, let alone eat one.

-Yes'm, well, to tell you the pure olde truth,

I ain't got much of a appetite myself.

-We're truly obliged to you for everything you done, mister.

-Yes'm.

-Wow. Just wait till Grandpa hears.

-Mister, you can stand up and take that gun belt off.

You say one word before we make it out of here,

you're coming out second best.

-That's pretty plain to see.

What ain't so plain to me is which way's the toad gonna hop

once we leave this place.

-We'll figure something.

Once we get across the Kansas state line,

which is where you're taking us,

you and that badge of yours.

-U.S. Marshal's gonna take us through a posse.

♪

-You figure us being in Springfield,

maybe tomorrow night.

But if we ain't there, well, you got the money,

so there'll be no trouble moving West with the wagons.

I mean, if something holds us up, you just keep going on.

We'll catch up. -What do you figure to hold you?

-Maybe nothing.

Just thinking of all the hard luck we had.

-Oh, Cory.

You got to think of the good things that'll happen.

Like what's happening now,

and what'll happen tomorrow and the next day

and the day after that.

-I guess you'll be riding just ahead of us, Marshal?

-See you in Springfield, you hear, Cory?

-Grandpa.

Giddyup!

♪

-Here comes another wagon.

-Ease her up, now.

You know them men up there?

-Feller heading up the posse's Sam,

barkeep at the Long Branch, friend of mine.

-You try to keep in mind now

that the minute it looks like we don't get through,

you and your friend might be dying.

-What's your name?

-Festus Haggen.

-Well, Festus, I'm Cory.

This here is Rich.

We know each other real good.

-You might say we got acquainted, yeah.

-You're just seeing us off to the river.

That's all you need to say.

-Howdy, Sam! -Hi, Festus.

-Everything all right, is it?

-Well, not much is happening.

I hope you boys don't mind a little searching.

I got a John Doe warrant if you figure we need one.

-Uh, uh, these here fellers is friends of mine, Sam.

You -- you can save yourself the trouble.

-Festus, I can't go against the marshal's orders.

Now, anybody headed for the state line,

I got to search 'em. Those are his orders.

And they're gonna hold till he gets back from Hays.

All right, boys. Go ahead.

-From the skin out?

Them's powerful orders, Sam.

-Well, we don't go that far unless we get a stranger

looks like he hasn't got any business around Dodge,

kind of stretching it out as far as searching goes.

-Sam, I know something about these fellas.

They're trying to peddle pelts taken from sick wolves.

You won't find anything on 'em. You see they were --

they were in the street when the robbery took place.

-Being sick don't mean they had to have rabies.

-Take my word for it, Sam.

Any more searching of this here wagon is just plain foolishness.

-All right, Festus.

I'll be glad to take your word.

-I'd like to be getting on. -All right.

Go ahead.

-Yah.

-See you, Sam!

-Are you sure you saw those men on the street, Nathan?

I mean, so there's no chance of us

crossing the marshal's orders?

-Well, I told you, Sam,

they was trying to sell me them sick pelts

during all the excitement.

Pretty smart fellas, but I'm a mite smarter.

-Looks like old line camp.

-Hey, I'm sure hope they got some grub in there.

-We'll be leaving money for the grub.

-We don't give no money to nobody.

-I've been thinking on something.

Ain't what we want,

but we're gonna have to be changing our plans.

-Only changing we have to do is getting rid of him.

-We can't join that wagon train.

They'll be coming looking for us.

-Won't nobody be after us if he wasn't around.

-Rich, I told you.

We ain't killing nobody.

And we ain't.

Now, you gonna listen to me?

-Well, he's the only one that knows about us.

-Rich, now you listen to me.

-I'm tired of listening. -No!

-It's done! Cory, it's done!

Now we can take the money and we can move on --

on account of he's the only one that knew we had it.

I'll scratch out a grave.

-When are you gonna get your wits about you?

Cut me loose.

♪

Didn't do a whole heap of damage,

kind of busted the skin on the side's all.

-Playing possum, huh?

-Yeah.

Much obliged to you for you helping me out.

Could've went right through my vitals, you know.

-Things are getting worse every minute.

-You mean you're wishing I was dead, huh?

-No, it ain't that.

Just everything I try goes wrong.

Ain't nothing ever worked for me.

Ain't nothing ever will.

-You ain't lived long enough or tried hard enough to know that.

-Ever since me and Adele been married, it's been try and bust.

I should just stop trying, is what I should do.

-You see what you're saying right there?

You're a-sitting there a-squalling to the whole world

that you ain't never growed up yet.

Why don't you get yourself a shovel and go out yonder

and help your partner dig that hole in the ground.

Appears to me that's just about what the rest

of your life's gonna amount to,

digging worthless holes in the ground,

making about as much sense.

-For a man in your place, you talk an awful much.

-You think my hushing up's gonna help things?

You're the onliest one that can help things.

Now your partner out yonder.

You suppose he's gonna settle for thinking

I'm dead and half that money?

Not on your old tintype, he ain't.

I've saw greed a-sticking out of a hog's eye before, boy.

You better do a little thinking on that.

Kind of betwixt and between, ain't you?

-Yeah.

[ Bullets rattle ]

-Hey, Cory. Why don't you come help me?

-Well, it's like my Grandpa Hog used to say,

"About the onliest thing

you get from straddling a fence is a sore backside."

You better make up your mind, boy.

-Rich!

He ain't dead.

-You're lying to me.

-You don't have to bother coming back in here.

-Well, what do you mean?

-You can take the wagon and get on.

I'm going back to Dodge with him.

-Well, what about the money?

-It's going back, too.

-Well, that don't make a lick of sense.

I mean, going to all this trouble

just to give yourself up to the law?

-Way I figure, I'll never see my wife and newborn again

unless I stop right here.

Money going back's bound to make it easy on me.

You can figure nobody would be looking too hard after you

with the money back in Dodge.

-You mean I don't get none?

-Uh, that's the way it's got to be.

-Oh, no. -Look out!

♪

-Come on out, Cory!

Throw out the money and I'll go.

-I ain't gonna do that, Rich.

♪

-I'm gonna burn you out!

♪

-Throw me a couple of cans there.

-What are you doing?

-The more a feller's got on his mind,

the less time he's got to think on any one thing.

This sure ought to give him something to think about.

Get ready.

Kick it open.

-The money? -That's what it is.

How bad you want it?

-It's over now, Rich.

We're going back.

Don't!

♪

-Well, looks like it's all here, Festus, every dollar of it.

-I figured it would be.

-Matt, you got to hand it to him.

He did a pretty good job at detective work.

You know, finding those fellas

down below the state border and everything.

-Yeah. He sure did, Doc.

-Oh, say, Matt.

Why don't we get him to tell you about the prisoner, you know?

-Why don't you hush up?

-Yeah, how about that, Festus?

He said that one of the men gave himself up.

-Well, he did.

But it's just on his account

that I'm back here alive and kicking, too.

I think I told you that.

-Well, that sure worked in his favor all right.

Who was the man? Where was he from?

-Well, Matthew, when a feller's wearing

a marshalling badge, don't you think that kind of

gives him the leeway to -- to use his own good judgment?

-Festus, you know, knowing you,

I, uh, I'm almost afraid to answer that.

-Well, I kind of figured that seeings the money's

all came back and they's nobody been hurt much

that maybe you'd just leave that feller escaping up to me.

-Oh, he did escape, huh?

-Well, you could say he just kind of rode off.

-Uh-huh.

Well, Doc, being as Festus was the only witness to this,

I guess I'll just have to take his word for it, huh?

-Golly, Matt, I just don't know what else you could do.

-I'm buying you a beer on that, Matthew.

-Sounds like a good idea.

-You're included, too, Doc.

-Well, all right, thanks.

I'll drink it, as long as I don't have

to listen to 16 more versions of that gunfight.

-Uh, Matthew, you reckon I could just keep this here badge?

I mean, just to hang up someplace

and kind of look at it?

-Well, I guess that'd be all right, Festus.

But you better quit polishing it

or there won't be any of it left!

♪

-Stay tuned for scenes from next week's "Gunsmoke."

♪