Original subtitles

-Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

-Don't you see? I'm trying to save the marshal's life.

Once you give him that there paper

why, there's more than a dozen men between here and Dodge

ready to kill him for it.

-Now, Sheriff said nobody but Marshal Dillon --

-Well, glory!

Marshal Dillon!

How'd you get here so fast?

-Just took a couple hours to find that horse.

Drop the knife.

[ Thud ]

Hobbles were cut.

You're pretty handy with that knife, aren't you?

-Long way back to Dodge. Be glad to keep you company.

-You're not going anywhere. Lock him up.

-Sure could've used me the money

old Aaron Croft's offering for that paper.

Like I told old Peachfuzz here, some of them boys out yonder,

they want that reward bad enough to kill you for it.

Me? I was satisfied to stook you.

-Marshal Dillon?

-That's right.

-You are Marshal Dillon?

-I can vouch for him, Peachfuzz.

-Hmm. Didn't know but what you two

might have had something cooked up.

-We never met before last night.

Speaking of that,

did I thank you for them trail vittles, Marshal?

[ Chuckling ] Well, now, if you ain't a cautious...

-Mr. Humphrey's deathbed statement.

And I hope it hangs Billy Croft.

-It will.

-If you can get it back to Dodge in time for the trial.

-Good luck, Marshal!

-Uh, Marshal?

Uh, what about him?

-Well, he pulled a knife on you, didn't he?

Just keep him locked up there till the circuit judge gets here

and see that he stands trial.

-Yes, sir. [ Door closes ]

♪

♪

♪

-Yonder he comes.

-I told you he'd take the most direct route back to Dodge.

It's like finding money lying in the street.

-We a long way from Mr. Croft and getting paid that reward.

-I swear, Kittridge, you'd die of hunger

with a ham hock in one hand and a tater pie in the other.

-All I'm saying is, a lot of them boys

after the same what we are.

-Yeah, but once I get ahold of that paper,

ain't nobody gonna take it from me.

-Don't waste no lead, now.

-[ Sighs ] We's about to get us $1,500,

and you fret over an extra bullet?

-When I'm spending my share is when I'll stop fretting.

-Aw, I swear, Kittridge. I truly do.

[ Gunshot ]

I got him! -Hit him!

[ Gunfire ]

He won't get far! -I hit him!

♪

-[ Breathing heavily ]

-Ain't no telling what way he went!

-Yeah, with all that blood he must have lost,

he can't get too far whichever way.

Aw, sure was a foxy one, though, shedding his horse that way.

-Taking us back half to Injun territory.

We catch him,

I'm gonna skin that fox and nail his hide to the nearest tree.

-Yeah, well, you're gonna have to walk to do it.

See...

-[ Laughing ]

-That bush move again, you shoot right in the middle.

[ Gun cocks ]

Cato.

-Maybe there's something to Juba's Bible talking after all.

-Don't spook him, now. -Shh.

Easy now, horse. Easy, baby.

-You like that horse, do you, boy?

-Us ain't meant no harm, sir.

-[ Chuckles ] Just gonna steal my horse.

Of course you didn't mean no harm.

-We thought it was running loose.

-And that puts your brand on it, does it, boy?

-My name is Cato.

-Oh, huh. It has a name.

[ Snickers ]

Well...

Mr. Cato, I see as a slave that you was dumb enough to run away

and dumb enough to get caught.

I reckon you'd be dumb enough to try to steal my horse.

-Wasn't stealing.

-Don't you mouth me, boy.

-You seen a man hereabouts, staggering around, bullet-hit?

-There's just us two.

-He said a man.

You move that gun one more inch, I'll kill you...

[ Gun cocks ]

...just for practice.

-Please, sir. Us ain't seen nobody.

-You from hereabouts?

-We's camped yonder ways couple mile.

-Then you'd better get back onto that camp

before I take a mind to teach you both a lesson.

Now git.

-Cato, come on.

Cato!

-You know something --

We don't find Dillon by nightfall,

I'm gonna find that camp

and I'm gonna roust me a smart-mouthed crow.

♪

-[ Grunts ]

-What you doing?

-Gonna see to setting that drag stick in place.

-Now, how far you think we gonna get with a drag stick?

-We ain't getting no further sitting here.

Just pray and believe and do.

-Well, we still gonna have to have another mule,

all kinds of supplies.

I'm near about out of cornmeal.

And there ain't no more than about 2 pounds of salt left.

-We in the hands of the good Lord.

And when it come time for what we need, we'll have it.

-Juba say he don't know how long we be camped.

Wheel needs mending.

We gots to get another mule somehow.

-Steal it would be my way.

-Your way's what got you out here alone.

-It was Juba that put me out here.

-I knows you mean well, Benji.

It's just the way you go about doing things.

-Look, I was going about trying to get you all to Oregon.

Now, ain't nobody else in that camp

knows up or down about doing it!

And my being out here

just means that my job's just a little bit harder now.

Juba thinking of leaving one wagon behind,

toting what he can in Ike's wagon.

-Mama Olabelle ain't about to leave none of her things behind,

not after coming this far.

-Well, if them cabins ain't built by the time it snows,

she may as well forget about her things.

The food holding out?

-Getting lower.

Ike and Cato's been out hunting, though.

-[ Sighs ] Now, what field hands know about hunting?

Never gonna to Oregon.

[ Sighs ] Should have stood up to Juba.

-Ain't no way you could have.

You done wrong to have that gun,

to fight Cato, and to take that milk cow.

-Well, a man needs a gun in this country.

And Juba gonna find that out.

I couldn't stand no more listening to Cato

talking about your being his woman.

As far as that cow, Ike and his children

had milk the first time for more in a month.

I'll see if I can't get you some meat too.

-And have Juba know you hereabouts?

-Well, you can say, uh, you come up on a sleeping antelope

and you bashed his head in before he woke up.

-That'd be lying!

-But it'd be eating.

-Juba say feeding the soul more important

than feeding the body.

-Erlene, honey, if a man don't keep his body going,

his soul ain't gonna get very far.

-Benji!

Maybe that's the kind of talk you learned

from some of them Army soldiers you got to know.

But it ain't no talk I'll buy.

-I was just fooling. -Well, just stop.

It plain you ain't God-fearing,

but you ain't got to go testing him like that.

-Erlene, honey, I figure that he got to have a sense of humor.

Oh, why, look at me, huh?

Why, I'm his doing.

-Benji, don't.

-[ Sighs ]

You're a good woman, Erlene.

Yes, you are. I swear true.

I'll tell you something else.

I -- I vowed -- I vowed that I --

[ Twig snaps ]

-Juba.

Benji!

♪

-He's a lawman. -He's bleeding.

-Looks like he's been shot.

-Shot?

-Unh-unh. Now, hold on, now.

You ain't going nowhere.

-[ Breathing heavily ]

-I gots to get Juba.

-You got to do what?

-I gots to get Juba.

-Erlene, hold on! Juba got enough problems.

He don't need no more trouble.

-I gots to get him!

-Now, wait a minute, Erlene. Hold on, now!

No, Erlene! -I gots to get him!

-But you don't know

what this man gonna bring down on everybody.

Fool woman.

-Erlene, fetch the mule.

-Juba?

-Man needs tending to, bad.

We'll take him to camp.

-Juba, we gonna get caught with that white man.

-Hush, Reba, hush.

-We'll gets the blame!

-Olabelle, help me here.

-Coming and going,

that bullet tore him pretty bad.

Willa. -Yes?

-Run and see can you hustle up Juba with that moss.

-Yes, ma'am.

-Benji with you when you found this man?

-What?

-Well, you was looking 'round out there.

-Mama Olabelle, I ain't seen--

-I ain't asking you to fib to me, gal.

-But Juba sent him out.

He wouldn't go against what Juba say.

-No runaway like Benji's gonna get turned

from the woman he figures is his 'un.

Not by Juba, nor Cato, nor nobody else.

He's out there.

-Yes, Mama, he out there.

-I ain't looking for no answer for me,child.

In case Juba should ask, you best have something to tell him.

Meanwhile, you can wash up this here man's things.

♪

-Big man -- he gonna die, Juba?

-Not if we can help it, boy.

-He be a bad man, getting shooted like he done, huh?

-He ain't no bad man.

He gots him a badge. That mean he a good man.

-Juba say, "Any man worth hurting get hurted,"

and hurting's did by bad men.

Ain't that so, Juba?

-Well, Mama Olabelle said --

-Whoa. Hold up, there,

or Mama's gonna have more people-mending to do.

Here's moss and plenty of it.

-Willa, Heck, run and get some hot water from Reba.

Any sign of Cato and Ike?

-No.

-I hopes they bring something.

Them chillun needs rib-sticking food soon.

-Just pray and believe, Mama.

-And do.

-And...do.

Chucked a stone at him and got lucky.

-I'll just get this poultice made,

and then I'll start the vittles.

[ Chuckles ]

-Thank you, sir.

-I surely love water bread.

-Me too.

-Can I help, Erlene? -Mm-hmm.

Why don't you fetch the honey jar?

-I'll get it! -Erlene told me!

-Don't start fighting, you two! Willa...

-Willa, why don't you get the plates?

Stew's near ready. -All right.

-Sure wish we had us another rabbit.

-[ Sighs ]

This afternoon, maybe I seek and I find me

a sleeping antelope somewhere.

-A what?

-Nothing.

-Cato?

-Didn't get nothing.

-That gun been emptied? -What?

-The children -- That gun got a bullet in it?

Never mind, Cato.

Maybe tomorrow you'll do better.

-Maybe so, Juba.

-What's wrong, Cato?

-Been listening to his mewling for the last hour,

that's what's wrong.

-Why is he mewling?

-'Cause he's got chicken blood.

-It's hot.

-What happened?

-Nothing. -What's wrong with you, Cato?

-Erlene, set this here in the wagon.

I got some stew. Uh, I killed us a rabbit.

-I ain't hungry.

-Good, then there'll be more for the children.

What happened?

-Don't make no never mind.

-It do when you bring such anger and hate into my home.

This place is my home now.

-You're talking to me like he done.

-Who?

-That white trash looking for somebody out yonder ways.

-Looking for somebody?

-Juba, I'm a man.

-If you be, take no call to say it.

-They took this. But that's all they took.

-Mr. Thomas Kingsley took your ear because you run off.

-'Course I run off.

-Mr. Thomas Kingsley, not they.

-You saying it were right?

-That what you heard?

-Seem like I never really heard you, Juba.

But here we both is, in the middle of no place,

trying to get someplace we hopes will be better

than what we left!

-You'rein the middle of nowhere, Cato.

And I'm thinking that's where you're always gonna be,

no matter where you go,

unless you set to do yourself some changing.

Cato...

-In your bed,

that be the one them two chalkies is looking for.

-Likely.

-Well, I'll tell you.

They be looking with blood in their eye.

-Ain't surprising, they be what you say.

He's a United States Marshal.

-And you keeping him here?

-I ain't turning him out.

-And you'd stand by him?

-I stand by the law, God andman's.

-[ Scoffs ]

[ Chuckles ]

Ain't nobody can bring no anger and hate

in Juba Freeman's house, no sir.

No anger and hate, but it's fair doing if he bring in that lamb

to let us get ate up by the tiger!

That be all right!

Yeah, that just fine!

[ Laughs ]

Just fine!

[ Laughing ]

-Cato!

-Boy, why ain't you asleep? -Can't.

-Well, you close your eyes and try.

-It gonna be like Uncle Cato say?

Are we gonna get ate by tigers?

-No, son.

There ain't no tigers around here.

Now, you lay back down.

[ Owl hooting ]

-[ Groaning ]

[ Exhales ]

-How you feel?

-[ Breathing heavily ]

Sore.

-You'd be dead if we didn't find you.

-[ Sighs ] I know. I'm -- I'm grateful to you.

-Grateful so you say nothing about seeing Benji?

-Juba don't know he's out there.

-How do you do, sir?

-Yes, sir.

-Been a lot of prayers for you.

-You hungry? -Oh, no thank you, ma'am.

I -- I don't think I could eat anything.

Where's my -- my papers?

-Your what?

-Some papers I was carrying?

-All you had is in your boots there.

-Oh.

-T'ain't nobody here that would mess with anything

that belongs to you, sir.

-That why them two shot you?

-No, I -- I just wanted to be sure I still had them.

Thank you.

Who are you folks?

-We're travelers.

We was on our way to Oregon.

Lest we get some sore-need things,

well, this sorry land here might could become to be our home.

♪

[ Clank ]

-Well, now, would you look at that.

Why, there's a whole passel of them, ain't there?

-Evening.

-Why, evening, Sam.

-We was camped out yonder there.

Saw your fire.

-Thought we'd just drop by and say our howdies, Sam.

-Juba.

-Uh, how's that?

-Name's Juba.

-[ Sighs ]

That's the second time in only a couple hour.

First ol' leather ear here, now you.

I don't take kindly

to being corrected by the likes of you two.

-Yeah, well, they had near over nine years

to forget their manners, Kit.

-It just might could be

that they're gonna learn them back a lot quicker.

-What can I do for you?

-[ Chuckles ]

From all I can see,

you got a hard time doing just for your own selves.

[ Clattering ]

-We want no trouble.

-You always get what you want, do you, Sam?

-You've got no call to come messing around here.

-Boy!

I had me a mean day of hunting, and a meaner day of not finding.

And I'd sorely like to work some of that out of me.

I like you.

I'm gonna start with you.

-Hey, Kittridge, come here.

Lookee here what I found!

-Best you don't come too close.

-What are you hiding?

-Hiding nothing.

-Stand up, both of you.

-Cousin's powerful sick.

-Sick, you say?

-White folks knows the pox when you sees it?

-Pox?

-Mm-hmm.

Erlene, honey, turn back the blankets on Cousin.

[ Owl hooting ]

-Why didn't you tell us you had the pox here?!

-Well, I'm not sure we have it yet!

-Was -- was he sick

when he was messing around my horse this afternoon?

-He just start fevering a minute ago.

There's no cause for you -- -Get away from me!

-All right. -You stay back, you savage!

-Come on, Kit! Let's get out of here!

-Don't you touch me. -I ain't staying!

-[ Exhales ]

-They be the ones what shot you?

-I've seen that fella Kittridge before.

Knowing him, it's likely.

-Hold up, now.

-Now, Juba, t'weren't exactly no lie,

just a -- a wrapping around of the truth.

-Woman, you're something.

After 30 years, sir, she's still full of surprises.

-Well, once more, I'm grateful to you folks.

-What for they after you?

-[ Sighs ] Well, I got to be in Dodge in four days.

They don't want to see me get there.

-With that paper?

-That's right.

-What would you have did

if Mama Olabelle hadn't fooled them two?

I mean, with them black kids yonder

and these here black womenfolk.

-Cato, hush up!

-Just asking to see

how valuable the white man feel that paper be.

-All right, folks. I'm gonna tell you something.

Those two want that paper bad enough they'd kill for it.

I appreciate everything you've done for me.

As soon as I'm able to move, I'll be out of your way.

-Mister, I'm asking you not to say any more.

You ain't got no reason to.

Cato, you better get some sleep.

Now.

-[ Scoffs ]

-Sure you ain't hungry?

-No, thank you, ma'am. Not tonight.

Maybe -- maybe I could try something in the morning.

-Good night, then.

-Good night.

-I ain't gonna try to apologize for Cato.

I figures that's his place to do that.

I admit, about them children.

I wonder what you would have done.

Good night to you, sir.

♪

-You ask him real nice, maybe Juba teach you?

-Ain't no way in the world

this here man can learn the likes of reading.

-You could have.

We both could have if they had took us to the big house.

-[ Chuckles ]

Me? In the big house?

Man, you do talk foolish, you know that?

-You're a damn fool.

-Cato, I'll tell you something.

I know who I am.

I ain't much, mind you.

Just enough for Reba and the kids and me.

But knowing -- Well...

It's nice knowing.

Night, Cato.

-Damn fool.

-Good night, y'all.

-Good night, Ike. -Night.

-Good night.

-Erlene, can we talk?

-I'm tired, Cato.

-I never figured, uh...

we'd be sorry for setting out like we done.

-What?

-Oregon.

Us leaving for there changed things between us.

-Never was nothing between us, Cato.

I never promised you nothing.

-We -- we had us an understanding.

-What we had was your running off

any man looked at me more than once.

-You never minded till that Benji,

that high-and-mighty runaway what made it, come 'long.

Where he at now?

-Reckon it's just that.

Where you so quick to being angry,

so quick to scolding.

There was a time when your being scolding mad was --

was being strong to me,

but no more, not since Benji.

It other things that make for being strong, Cato.

Night, Cato.

♪

[ Owl hooting ]

[ Twig snaps ]

[ Gun cocks ]

[ Twig snaps ] Benji, it's me!

-God, woman, what are you doing?

-Who'd you think I was? Put that away.

-Well, how was I to know who you were?

What are you doing out here?

Well, you'll catch your death dressed like that.

-Reckon as how that's something I wanted to hear.

-That the night air's made for your ailing?

-No.

That you are so much to worry about how I be.

-[ Sighs ]

You know I care.

-Yeah, I know.

Don't mean I don't like to hear it, though.

This afternoon, when we were down by the swimming hole?

-Mm-hmm?

-You was telling me something.

-I was?

-"I'm telling you true.

I'm grateful I found you."

You were going to tell me something else,

something you vowed.

-I don't rightly remember that.

-You do so.

What was it?

-[ Chuckles ]

[ Sighs ]

Well, that, uh, I promised Juba and Mama Olabelle

and the others that I'd see to it that they got to Oregon.

[ Chuckles ]

And you and me will light out a shuck.

-Where will we go, Benji?

-Don't make no difference where we go,

so long as we get there together.

-Together.

♪

-[ Snoring ]

[ Gun cocks ]

-You! Keep away!

Hey, you got pox! -You get back!

-We got to do us a little talking.

Ain't got no pox back at the camp.

-Say what?

-Mama Olabelle joshed you to believing it was there.

-Yeah? Why'd she do that?

-What you want? -I want us to go to Oregon.

-Is that a fact?

-I figure we all can do it if I was to sell you what you want,

some paper that there lawman what you shot was a-carryin',

some paper you was after.

When the marshal find that paper gone, well,

he'll make no never mind to me.

Won't be much he can do about it.

-[ Chuckles ]

You sure are a smart one.

-How much you figure it'll take, Cato, to get you to Oregon?

I mean, uh, how much money you want for that paper?

-Mule can't run but $20,

need supplies, cost of a new wheel.

I want $50.

-But that's a sight of money, $50.

-It's a paper worth killing for.

That would make it worth that much.

-Got the paper with you?

-Right here.

-Let's see. -Not likely.

Not till I see $50.

-Must be that I got $20 put away.

You got something there? -Yeah, I believe...

I reckon I got some here.

-I got, uh, $10. Uh, let me see what you got.

$10, $20, $30, $40, $53.

Uh, there's your $50.

-[ Grunts ]

-Gotcha, boy!

-[ Coughing ] Okay.

-Wait a minute! He stole the wrong paper!

-What?

-Ain't so!

-You ignorant black!

It's the wrong one!

But you gonna get the right one, and you gonna get it now.

And we going with you.

And you make one wrong move, one wrong step,

I'm gonna carve on you till there ain't left but bone.

And them I'm gonna start on your friend.

You understand me, boy?

-It was a fearful and shameful thing he done.

And I'm pleading with you, sir,

take one of our mules and get away from this place right now.

-No, I'm not gonna do that, Mr. Freeman.

I wouldn't do it if I could. -You got to.

-No, I want you to go along and do like I said now.

-It's a shameful thing he did.

And when I get them far enough away from here, I'm coming back.

-No, no you're not.

I want you take care of these folks here,

keep right on going.

Now, hurry.

-Yes, sir.

Come on, Olabelle.

-If Benji knew, he'd -- he'd -- he'd be here.

He'd help.

I could go find him.

-Well, thank you, Erlene.

But you go on with the others now.

[ Grunting ]

♪

-[ Whispering ] Now, you mind what I said.

You make one wrong move,

you even act like you about to give us away,

and all your friends die.

Now get down there.

-[ Whispering ] Do you think he can do it?

-He do or he don't, it's all the same.

Only thing is, he takes whatever chances there is.

Now, you stay here.

I'm gonna cover from the far side.

[ Gun cocks ]

-Oh, my God.

Don't shoot.

They's out there.

They'll kill Juba and the others.

-Juba and the others are gone.

I'll tell you what I want you to do.

Go back there and tell them that this paper's in my shirt pocket,

but you can't get it out without waking me.

You better be convincing,

'cause as long as those two are out there,

you're all in trouble.

-Did you get it? -Can't get it.

It's in his shirt.

I'd wake him if I tried.

[ Thud ]

-[ Crying ]

-Hush child, hush.

Shh, shh.

-I don't want to get shooted by the white folks, Papa.

-Willa, girl, you got to be quiet, please.

They might can hear you.

-Papa, I scared. -Shh, shh.

[ Owl hooting ]

[ Gunfire ]

-[ Screaming ]

[ Gunfire continues ]

-Hold it right there.

-I knowed I should have shot that tarface.

-Drop the gun.

-[ Crying ] -Shh.

-Well, now, ain't this a sight.

You be hiding the marshal a'hind you again?

-He ain't here. Please, he ain't here.

-Well, now, don't tell me he's gone and shot Bull Croyden

and fixed it up

so all that money Mr. Croft's offering's all mine.

[ Chuckles ]

All right, get on your feet. Let's go.

Move along. Let's go.

Get on.

-Where's your friend? -Marshal, we're coming in!

You better hold your fire till you see what I got with me.

-Kit, he's got me! -Shut up.

-Hmm. you got one, Marshal.

I got me seven. Hold it, boy.

Get over here.

Eight, counting this one.

Now, it ain't gonna be a standoff long.

All I want's that paper, Marshal.

I ain't gonna ask again.

Either you step up and give it to me,

or one of these folks is gonna die for every minute you wait.

-Had it planned good, Marshal.

Ain't your fault it didn't work.

-[ Chuckles ] Saved a lot of lives, Marshal.

-You better go a long way off and spend that money.

-Dillon, you'd be a dead man most likely,

but for these folks tending you.

[ Chuckles ]

'Course, I wouldn't mind if, uh, you was to nurse me.

-Kittridge, you've got what you came for.

-How'd you like to ride off a ways with me?

-No. -Hey, little missy.

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunfire ]

-Juba.

Juba!

Juba!

Juba!

-I -- I don't know what come over me.

-I know the feeling.

-[ Exhales ]

♪

-And Juba -- he'll have time to think on it

while I'm taking that Croyden fella back to Wichita.

-I know Juba gonna let you come back now.

-Well, if he won't,

I figure to bribe him with that wagon wheel

I'm gonna bring back.

-Wagon wheel?

-Yeah.

Marshal Dillon -- he gave me a letter

to give to the Wichita sheriff.

Not only am I gonna get a wagon wheel,

I'm gonna bring back a new mule.

-And we'll be on our way again.

Oh, Benji.

-You mean he's been out there all this time?

-[ Chuckles ]

When you looks at him and Erlene, you knows why.

-And you knew it all along.

-I strong felt it.

Come to know for sure yesterday.

But I had other things to think on asides saying anything.

-After all this time,

those children are finally falling asleep at dawn.

[ Laughter ]

Sleeping safe.

-Aw.

-I thank you for that.

[ Chuckles ] More, Mr. Marshal?

-Oh, no. Thank you, Reba.

I'm, uh, I'm getting full. Couldn't eat another mouthful.

In fact, I'm gonna have to walk off all I've eaten now.

Uh, s'cuse me, folks.

-Marshal Dillon.

-Cato.

-How longs you got to get that paper to Dodge?

-Almost about two days now.

Wagons take more than a week.

Sure you ain't gonna make it riding there on no horse.

-Well, I'll just have to do the best I can.

-I'd be that proud to take it in for you.

In case there'd be some others of a mind

to try and take it from you.

I mean, well, who's gonna look at an ol' leather ear like me

and guess I'd be carrying something as important as that?

-Well, Cato, I'll be in your debt.

Thank you.

-Pray and believe, Cato.

-And do.

-And do.

♪

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