Gunsmoke (1955) s03e32 Episode Script

Hanging Man

starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
Place looks like it's closed.
Sawyer ain't never closed.
He's too greedy.
Oh, now, Jim, Harp Sawyer's a nice fella.
Deals a might close, but he's honest.
Well, we ain't gonna sell him no caps standing around out here.
Told you it's closed.
In the middle of the day? I don't believe it.
Don't bust it.
He ain't got it locked real tight.
Yeah, if it's locked at all he ain't in.
Well, let's make sure.
There, come on.
Let's get outta here.
What do we do? I don't know.
Sure never thought old Sawyer'd go and hang hisself.
We better tell the Marshal.
He'll know what to do.
Yeah.
Now, where'd he get to? Even Chester ain't here.
We gotta find him, Hank.
Yeah, but where? Look, you take this side of the street, and I'll cross over.
Just kind of walk around.
If you don't find him on the street, then look inside somewhere.
Yeah, okay, but if you find him first, let me know, huh? Yeah.
Well, it's a good way to go broke, isn't it? Kitty, you can't have a full house night and day.
I wouldn't object.
Think I'll take this place and move it to a gold camp somewhere.
I think the cattle trade's done.
Cattle trade's better than ever, and you know it.
Excuse me, Kitty.
Oh, hello, Cora.
I just came in.
Mel hasn't been here, has he? No, he hasn't, honey.
Uh, Cora, this is Marshal Dillon.
Matt, this is Cora Bell.
How do you do? Ooh, hello, Marshal.
I've heard a lot about you.
That so? Even over in Abilene.
I just came from there about a week ago.
Cora's working here now, Matt.
I see.
Well, how are things in Abilene? Ooh, all right.
Just needed a change.
You know how it is.
Sure.
There's your man now, honey.
If you'll excuse me.
Hello, Mel.
Hello, Cora.
Let's sit down here.
Yeah.
Did you say Mel Tucker is her man, Kitty? She's wild in love with him.
They met on the train coming from Abilene.
Hmm, so that's where he's been, huh? Mm, he's not much good but at least he doesn't cause any trouble.
She must be kind of desperate, Kitty.
Well, she's in an age where most women get kind of desperate.
Mm-hmm.
She knows he's broke and that he doesn't work much.
But they're planning on getting married as soon as he can get some money together.
Well, she's safe then.
I don't know, he's serious about her.
And jealous- that man is just crazy jealous.
Well, he ought to be.
Mr.
Dillon? Did a couple of men find you? They's-They's looking for you.
Huh.
What'd they want? Well, they was over at Harp Sawyer's office, and they found him there He's gone and hung hisself.
Oh, no.
Well, that's what they told me.
Well, you better go get Doc.
I'll meet you over at Sawyer's.
Yes, sir.
Oh, that's terrible.
Yeah, it's going to be kind of tough on his wife, too.
I guess he stood on the chair.
Yeah, it looks to me like he sprang his own trap.
How long ago do you think it happened, Doc? Well, I wouldn't know exactly, but some time last night, for sure.
Yeah.
Too bad.
Well, Chester, you better get a wagon.
We got to take him out of here.
Yeah, right on it.
Uh, sh-should I bring it around to the back door, Mr.
Dillon? Yeah, fine.
Doc.
Yeah? Does he have any bruises on his head? Well, I didn't look for bruises.
Take a look, will you? Well, Matt, hanging doesn't usually bruise a man any By golly, there is a bruise.
What are you thinking about? That's where he used to keep his money, over in that box there, Doc.
He didn't believe in banks.
Not there? No, sir.
I think that somebody came in here, knocked him on the head, robbed him and strung him up.
By golly, you know, it could've happened just that way.
Yeah, easy.
Yeah, but who did it? I don't know, Doc.
There's only one way to find out.
It's going to be kind of tough on his widow.
I'm gonna see her right now.
I'll wait here for Chester.
All right.
Well, she ain't showed up yet, Mr.
Dillon.
Well, she said she was gonna stop at church first, Chester.
Yeah.
Did you have to tell her that he committed suicide? I couldn't tell her the truth.
She'd tell everybody else if I did.
Yeah And I've got to have everybody in town think that I think he killed himself.
Including the man who murdered him.
Well, so that they think it, well, what then? Well, we just have to wait for him to start spending the money.
Well, Mr.
Dillon, people spending money all the time.
Well, I know, but maybe this man will spend it foolishly.
It's the only chance we've got.
Well, it ain't much of a chance, if you ask me.
Here she comes.
How do you do, ma'am? Chester.
Marshal.
Mrs.
Sawyer Sorry I kept you waiting.
What'd the parson have to say? We'll bury him on Boot Hill, Marshal.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I've been married to Harp Sawyer for 35 years.
I thought I knew him.
I'd swear he wasn't a man to kill himself.
I'd swear it.
Mrs.
Sawyer, you'll understand in time.
I promise you will.
Maybe.
You will.
I don't think he done it.
But I want people to know the truth, good or bad.
And when I know, I'm gonna tell them.
I'm gonna tell everybody, Marshal.
Everybody will know someday, ma'am, and so will you.
You'll find out? I promise.
He in there? Yes, ma'am.
Then let's get him buried, Marshal.
Oh, Mr.
Dillon, uh Mr.
Dillon? Uh, look here, would you? Oh, the bootjack? Yeah, Mr.
Dabney finally got them in, I see.
Them's made out of pure metal.
Yeah, and they also cost three dollars, Chester.
I could make the same thing out of a piece of wood for nothing.
Well, yeah, but these here is gonna last you a lifetime.
Mr.
Dillon, could-could we just, uh, take a look at them? Just take a minute.
Be right with you.
I'll pick the stuff up later, but I'll pay you for it right now.
All right.
You see there, Mr.
Dillon? How i-it's got the whole, the What is it? That's a lot of money for Mel Tucker to be carrying around, isn't it? Yeah.
Wait here.
What are you gonna do? I'm gonna try a little bluff.
Hello, Tucker.
Oh, uh, hello, Marshal.
You're buying clothes like a man about to get married.
Well, that's the truth, Marshal.
I am gonna get married right soon.
That so? Yeah.
I'm gonna go over to get Cora now and buy her some stuff.
I didn't know you were working.
What? Takes money to buy clothes.
Oh, sure.
I made me some money over in Abilene.
How? I don't see that that's anybody's business, Marshal.
You will, Tucker.
After you've been in jail a while.
Jail? What are you talking about? Harp Sawyer didn't hang himself; he was murdered.
And I happen to know you did it.
You're out of your head.
I got all the proof I need, Tucker.
You left something behind.
A real calling card.
You're a liar.
The judge won't think so.
It's been a week.
How come you decided to try this now? Might go easier on you if you admit it, Tucker.
This ain't right, Marshal.
Let's go.
I ought to kill you.
Use your head, Tucker.
Now, you know where the jail is.
Start walking.
Hello, Cora.
Can I see him today? Well, why not? You've seen him every other day this week.
We're still gonna get married, Marshal.
Hello, Mel.
Hello, Cora.
How are you today? A week in jail and you ask me how I am.
Please, Mel.
You don't need to stand around, Marshal.
I ain't gonna confess something I didn't do.
Doesn't matter.
Hello, Mr.
Dillon.
Chester.
I see that Cora's here for her daily visit.
Yeah.
You know when he sees her it leaves him kind of edgy.
Did you notice that? Yeah.
Being locked up like that, he can't tell what she's doing.
Yeah.
Kitty was right.
He's a mighty jealous man.
You think that your plan is still gonna work? I don't know.
He better start talking soon.
I can't keep him locked up forever.
I'm going over to the bank.
Keep an eye on him, will you? Yeah, all right.
See you later.
I thought you were gonna take me to dinner this noon.
I'm sorry I'm late.
Whiskey.
I've got to wait now till Kitty comes back.
She thought somebody ought to be here, in case business picked up.
Not much chance in that.
I know, but I said I'd wait.
Well, we can go then.
I haven't eaten yet.
Where were you? Now, Cora, I don't ask you where you've been all the time, do I? You wouldn't have any right to, Dan.
We're just friends, aren't we? Of course.
I shouldn't have questioned you.
It's all right.
I had a little business to take care of.
Then I went to the hotel and washed up.
It ain't often I have dinner with a lady.
You can be a gentleman when you try, can't you? I can do most anything when I try.
I know.
I saw Mel today.
How is he? He doesn't like being in jail, I can tell you that.
Nobody does.
I told him about you, Dan.
What'd he say? He said he'd like to see you.
Said it'd been a long time.
Hmm.
I haven't seen Mel Tucker in six months.
You two really getting married? Well, why shouldn't we get married? Now, Cora, I didn't mean nothing.
I was just surprised, that's all.
Well, when you do see him, don't act too surprised.
Why? He's so darn jealous, Dan.
Sometimes it worries me.
Seems to me you got a lot more to worry about than that.
He'll get out of jail.
He's got to.
Sure.
There she is.
Can we go now? Let's go.
Well, Doc? He was hit in the head, just like Harp Sawyer.
Yeah, everything's the same.
Except they didn't get any money this time.
This safe is a little stronger than Sawyer's cabinet.
Yeah.
Well, that's sure too bad.
Yeah.
Well, I don't mean just about Dabney there.
I mean about you, too.
What do you mean? Well, this happened the same way as the other one, Chester.
Well, I Oh, y-yeah, that's right.
The same man must have killed both of them.
Sure.
Guess I guessed wrong about Mel Tucker, huh? What are you going to do about it? I don't have much choice, Doc.
Help him, will you, Chester? What are you doing? You're out, Tucker.
So you're giving up, huh? Yeah.
What finally changed your mind? What do you care? You're free.
Oh, you're really turning me loose, huh? What's that? The money I took off you.
Count it.
I ain't going to count it, Marshal.
I, I trust you.
That's about $300.
That looks about right.
All right, you're free.
Get going.
Not very friendly, are you? I'm not paid to be friendly.
All right.
All right, I'm going.
Let me tell you something, Marshal.
I ain't forgetting what you done to me.
You made a mistake, locking me up.
I'm already thinking how to pay you back someday.
You'd better start thinking how to keep yourself out of jail, Tucker.
Now get out of here.
How long you been here, Matt? Hello, Kitty.
Sit down.
I'm not interrupting anything, am I? Not likely.
Well, what's on your mind? Couple of murders.
I know you didn't like turning Mel Tucker loose.
Well, didn't have much choice.
You tried; it was a good gamble.
Tucker could have killed Harp Sawyer.
Except he obviously didn't.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I tried to bluff and it didn't work.
Guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens now.
I guess they're celebrating.
I'll say one thing That week in jail changed him.
How do you mean? Well, I expected him to come out in a jealous rage, but he's been meek as a lamb.
What's he got to be jealous about? Dan Dresslar.
He and Cora have been seeing quite a bit of each other.
Who's Dan Dresslar? That other fella.
Where'd he come from? I don't know, he's only been here three or four days.
Well, maybe Tucker doesn't know that they've been seeing each other.
Oh, well, they haven't really; they're just friends.
Tucker and Cora still planning to get married? Well, not right away, of course, as they're flat broke.
Flat broke? With $300? Who's got $300? Mel Tucker has.
Well, Cora and I were just talking about it a couple hours ago.
And she said they're broke? That's right.
I gave Mel Tucker better than $300 back before I turned him loose.
That just doesn't make any sense.
Maybe it does, Kitty.
Look, will you do something for me? Probably.
Well, this isn't going to be easy, and it might make you look kind of bad.
Well, must be important or you wouldn't ask me to do it.
It is.
You see that table over there, the one near the back door? Yeah.
Yeah, well, I want you to get Cora and Tucker and this Dan Dresslar and get 'em over there.
Offer to buy 'em a drink or something.
What then? I'll meet you outside and I'll explain the whole thing to you.
All right.
Are they there yet, Mr.
Dillon? Not yet.
I don't know, this, this sounds a little bit crazy to me.
You sure Miss Kitty ain't gonna get hurt out of it? That's one reason I want to be right here.
It's good of you to buy us all a drink, Kitty, but I, I don't know why you're doing it.
Ah, she's a nice girl, Mel.
Isn't that enough reason? Well, it's good liquor; that's all the reason I need.
Most people I know don't do nothing without wanting something out of it.
Oh, now, Dan No, he's right, Cora.
What? There is something I want.
I thought so.
What do you want, Kitty? I want Mel to know about you and Dresslar.
To know what about us? I don't like to see any man made a fool of, like you're doing to him.
What are you talking about? How is she making a fool of me? You think Dresslar is a friend, don't you? Keep talking.
He's a friend, all right but he's a friend of Cora's, not yours.
Cora's friend? They've been together every night since he got to Dodge, and every day, too, and I wouldn't call it being just friendly.
What are you telling lies for? Let her talk, Dresslar.
Everybody in Dodge knows what they've been doing, except you.
I guess I'm the only one not afraid to tell you.
Now, look here.
Kitty.
You think she's in love with you, huh? You poor fool.
Mel, don't believe her.
She's lying, it isn't true.
Get up, Dresslar.
No, Mel.
Now, wait, Tucker, you ain't going to listen to that fool talk, are you? Get up or I'll shoot you right there.
Don't, Mel, no.
It's a trick of some kind.
Shut up, Cora.
I'll take care of you later.
Mr.
Dillon, you'd better stop it.
Somebody's gonna get hurt.
I can't, Chester, not yet.
You're a fool, Tucker.
Go ahead and make your play.
No, Mel! I needed you, Dresslar.
You did your job, but I didn't bargain for you to make love to Cora.
I gave you the $300 for hanging Joe Dabney, not for stealing my girl.
Mel Get his gun, Chester.
He was going to kill me.
If the marshal hadn't been here, then he would have killed me.
I'm sorry I had to do what I did, Cora.
Don't be too sorry, Kitty.
She's the one that hired Dresslar to hang Joe Dabney.
Mel made me do it.
It was his idea.
Yeah, but you did it, Cora.
Sure, I did, and I'd have done anything to make you turn him loose, and we just about got by with it, too.
Yeah.
Next time you'd better pick a man who isn't jealous, Cora.
There won't be any next time, Marshal.
I guess there won't.
Let's go.
Bring him over to the jail when he comes to.

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