Gunsmoke (1955) s01e30 Episode Script

Gunsmoke starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.
When a bragging man tells you that he's half alligator and half bearcat, can eat a live sheep and then howl down the moon, you humor him.
But when a quiet man comes to you, and with the tragic simplicity of a soft dam says that he's no longer of value, that his life is void and worthless, then you wonder.
You wonder even at yourself.
And that's a different thing.
But still part of the job.
Matt Dillon, U.
S.
marshal.
Hyah! Wait a minute, you.
Yes, I mean you, toadstool.
You heard me.
I called you a toadstool.
And do you know what a toadstool is? It's a measly, soft, squatty, stinking piece of nothing.
It ain't good for nothing, it ain't worth nothing.
And it's poison.
When I come on one of them, I smash it.
Now, don't excite yourself, Mr.
Keeler.
Oh, shut up.
Hey, wait a minute, you.
Who's that? That's roaring Sam Keeler.
Went 60 rounds with the Benetia boy.
We'd better get inside.
Toadstool.
Wart-nosed prairie rat.
I'm gonna break you up.
Uh, there must be some mistake.
I- I've done nothing to offend you.
Your ugly face offends me, that's what.
Surely if I've done anything- Nothing.
You've done nothing.
That's it.
You just sat there.
All them hours on that stage, you just squatted there in the corner.
Not moving.
Not saying a word.
Just squatting there like you couldn't stand the company.
Like you did something spoiled and sour.
And I had to sit there watching you, your face making me sicker and sicker.
Making me think how I'd like to hit you.
So now I will.
Eighty-to-one, gents.
I intended no offense.
Why do you want to hurt me? I want to, that's why.
Wait a minute, gentlemen.
Let's have no fighting in here if you please.
Don't start with him, mister.
This is a rough customer.
Now, put up your hands and fight.
No.
What do you mean "no"? I'm gonna bust you.
It doesn't matter, I guess.
Go ahead.
Oh, you don't think I mean it.
I'll show you.
Well, don't just stand there.
Get up your hands.
What's the fun of beating a man who won't fight back a little? Hey, wait a minute, you big buffalo.
Why don't you leave that fellow alone? He ain't about to fight you.
Oh, he'll fight.
He ain't half your size.
All right.
You're about half my size.
You keep off me, mister.
A six-gun don't know how big you are.
Now, I ain't armed.
I don't never carry a gun.
No, I see you don't.
Now, get out of here.
You make me sick too.
No, please! Now, wait a minute, mister.
If he hits you, he'll kill you.
It doesn't matter.
I was only trying to help.
You got sense.
Now, put up your hands and tow the scratch.
You got to at least do that.
Wasn't that a beauty? I'm gonna get the marshal.
Come on.
Fight back a little.
This ain't much fun.
You ain't even trying.
That's enough.
It's all over, mister.
It ain't all over by far.
This man's not even fighting you.
I'm trying to make him fight, huh? Why should he fight you? We came in on that stage together and he just sat there the whole eight hours and stared at the floor.
Never said a word.
He liked to drove me crazy.
Well, I think it did drive you crazy.
Now, this man's not gonna hurt you anymore mister, but you better get out of here.
Hey, you wanna fight him a little? You break him up, mister.
I'll watch.
Nobody's gonna touch him.
You scared of this crow? I said leave him alone.
You said? You're talking to Sam Keeler, mister.
I'm a bearcat.
People do what I say.
Not this time, Keeler.
Oh.
Now, you get moving.
A marshal, huh? Well, now- I said get moving.
You don't scare me none, marshal.
How come you're not wearing a gun? A man's got to wear a gun? Most men around here do.
My hands do my fighting.
Yeah.
And you're just about big enough to whip anybody around here, aren't you? I sure am.
Ain't I, boys? You're big, Sam.
Yeah, but you go unarmed so nobody can defend themselves with a gun.
They'd be up for murder if they did.
You figured yourself a pretty good advantage, haven't you? A coward's advantage.
You calling me a coward? I'm calling you a coward.
I always did wanna bust me up a marshal.
Don't try it.
Now, you ain't gonna use that gun.
You said so.
Well, there's more than one way to use a gun, Keeler.
I'm warning you.
Marshal, I'm gonna knock your head into a peak and then I'm gonna knock off the peak.
I'm gonna get me a marshal right now.
You killed him, marshal.
You you- You killed a man because of me.
No, no, I didn't kill him.
He's liable to be a little touchy when he comes around You'd better get on away from here.
He might be all over you again.
Why, marshal? Why are men always fighting and hating each other? Well, maybe it's because nobody ever taught them any better.
Who are you, mister? My name's Seth Tandy, marshal.
Mr.
Tandy, if you don't like fighting, I, uh- I don't think Dodge is any town for you.
If I were you, I'd get right back on that stage.
It doesn't matter, marshal.
It's the same everywhere.
Well, not for you, it isn't.
Not as long as he's in Dodge.
It doesn't matter about me, marshal.
It doesn't matter at all.
Well, my goodness, Mr.
Dillon.
What kind of a man is that? Let's hisself get kicked around, don't care one way or another.
I don't know, Chester.
And this one here, he ain't gonna like what's happened to him.
He ain't gonna like that at all.
I sure hate having to do that to a man.
Oh.
Well, throw a bucket of water on him, will you, Chester? Yes, sir.
Now, look, uh, if he wants any more fight when he comes around, tell him I'll be up at the office.
Yes, sir.
I thought when you didn't hit him back that you couldn't.
I guess I was wrong.
I never thought I'd see this.
Uh, Mr.
Tandy, you- You can do it if you want to.
No, thanks.
Well, I- I gave you a chance.
Now, just hold his head up, there.
Look at him! He's a real- Stop it! Stop that! Don't you laugh at me! Shut up, I told you! Nobody laughs at Sam Keeler! Now I'm gonna bust somebody good.
Now somebody's gonna get killed for sure.
Hello, boys.
Hey, having any trouble around here tonight? No trouble, Mr.
Dillon.
Hello, Matt.
Hello, Kitty.
Sit down.
Thanks.
That your glass? No.
One of the girls brought it over, but she's busy now.
That's her beer pitcher too.
Yeah.
Give her that when she comes back.
Trouble, huh? Could be.
You wanna help me finish this game? All right.
It's your move.
Is it about Sam Keeler? How did you know about him? Oh, he was in here a while back.
What a beast.
Sure you want to do that? No, maybe not.
I heard about the fight.
Yeah, I guess everybody has.
Chester said he was really wild when he came to.
Not so much you buffaloing him but the way everybody laughed at him.
He's the kind that can't be laughed at, Matt.
Yeah, and there's not many men who can.
They were still laughing at him when he was in here.
Of course, mostly behind his back, but he knew.
What's the matter? Oh, I don't know.
I don't much like having to bend my pistol over a man's head.
Even a man like Keeler.
Well, you stopped him.
I doubt it.
I should have run him out of town.
You mean he's still going after that other fella? What was his name? Seth Tandy.
Yeah.
I hear he's a strange one.
Chester says he's got eyes like a blind horse.
Chester talks too much.
Oh, now, Matt.
I guess I'm just in a poor mood, Kitty.
Maybe it's time you got out of this business, Matt.
What would I do? I'm too lazy to work for a living.
Hm.
Riskin' your life every day to keep the peace.
Fighting, getting yourself shot at.
That isn't work? Ah, no, it's been a long time somebody's put a bullet in me.
That's just because you're learning to duck.
You know there's a bird up in Canada called a loon? They say those loons are pretty good at ducking.
Well, maybe you ought to go up there and study them.
See how they do it.
Not a bad idea.
Say, you look like you must have been taking lessons from Doc.
I have.
Mr.
Dillon.
What is it, Chester? It's Tandy.
Seth Tandy.
What about him? Well, he just got beat up again.
Over behind Moss' livery stable.
Got hurt pretty bad, marshal.
They're taking him up to Doc's.
I'll see you later, Kitty.
What happened, Moss? Well, it was too dark to see.
I heard the commotion and came out.
I could see there was a terrible fight, but that's all.
And when I hollered, he ran away.
Did you see who he was? It was too dark, marshal.
He was a big man, though.
Well, thanks, Moss.
Chester, you better scout around town.
See if you can find Keeler.
Yeah.
How's Tandy, Doc? Well, it's not as bad as it might have been if he'd had got a little bit more of the same.
No broken bones that I can find of.
But I'll tell you, he's been beat up considerably.
He's black and blue.
He's, uh, right here in the back room if you want to see him.
Now, did he say who did this to him? Nope.
He hasn't said a dadblang word to me about anything.
But he may talk to you.
How are you feeling, Mr.
Tandy? Now, I want to know who did this to you.
I'm sure it was Sam Keeler, but I've got to hear it from you.
No, marshal.
There's been too much violence already.
Now, look here, Mr.
Tandy, Sam Keeler's blaming you for all those people laughing at him.
He's out to kill you.
The next time, he might just do it.
Doesn't matter.
What happens to me isn't important.
Not anymore.
What's troubling you, Mr.
Tandy? Maybe I can help you.
Nobody can help me, marshal.
When a man loses faith in his god, he loses everything.
I've lost my faith.
I no longer believe.
Are you a preacher? I- I was a preacher.
What are you doing in Dodge? No reason.
Except maybe to get away from people who knew me.
I- I didn't want them to see me and maybe start doubting too.
I have nothing left, marshal.
Doesn't matter what happens to me now.
Doc, you heard what he said.
Yes, I heard what he said.
Well, what are we gonna do about it? Well, I don't know what to do about it.
Now, Doc, look, you've got to tell him something.
Me? Well, I don't know what to tell him.
I'm a doctor.
I'm just an ignorant frontier doctor.
I can pick bullets out of people and sew them up and put their bones back in shape.
But, well, nobody ever taught me how to patch up a preacher who's lost his religion.
Oh, fine, fine.
You know, you're a great help.
Well, why don't you think of something then? Don't trouble yourselves about me, gentlemen.
I'll be moving on.
Well, not tonight you won't, Mr.
Tandy.
You can take the stage out tomorrow if you want to, but, uh, tonight either you or Sam Keeler is gonna have to sleep in jail.
In jail? I- I'm not gonna give him another chance to get at you tonight.
Now, it's up to you.
If you say that Keeler did this to you, I'll arrest him.
But, uh, otherwise I'm afraid you'll have to be my guest.
I- I see.
Well? Marshal, if If you try to arrest Keeler, there'll be more violence.
Well, that doesn't matter.
Well, it does to me.
I'll sleep in your jail.
Morning, Mr.
Tandy.
Stage leaves in an hour.
A stage? Yeah.
Come on out and make yourself comfortable.
I'll get you something to eat.
Oh, that won't be necessary.
Well, Mr.
Dillon told me to feed you before you left and I'm gonna do it.
I'll be a minute.
Mr.
Keeler wants to see you.
And I went out to get him something to eat like you told me, and- And when I come back, he was gone.
And this- This note was pinned to the door.
"Marshal, if you want to see Seth Tandy alive, "come to Turkey Bend by noon.
No guns and nobody with you.
" Hm! It ain't signed.
It doesn't have to be.
Well, no What are you gonna do? Well, what it says, I guess.
Mr.
Dillon, you can't go out there alone without guns.
He'll kill you.
That Sam Keeler would kill anybody barehanded.
What'll happen to Tandy if I don't? Well, he don't care what happens to him.
He said so hisself.
You'd be risking your life for a man that don't even care about living.
Chester, go over to the stable and saddle up a horse, will you? And you're gonna do it anyway.
Yeah, and take the rifle boot off too.
I won't be needing it this time.
Hello, marshal.
You got a gun? Nope.
Then leave your horse and come with me.
Here he is, Keeler.
Real prop.
And he's unarmed.
The marshal does things right, don't you, marshal? Sometimes.
Well, you did this right.
Come alone, you ain't armed.
You done your part.
And I done mine.
There's your friend Tandy.
And he's still alive.
What do you want, Keeler? I'll tell you, marshal.
You had the people back in Dodge laughing at me.
I don't like that.
Well, what's that got to do with Tandy? It started over him.
It's gonna finish over him.
What do you mean? I'm gonna beat him to death.
Unless I stop you.
You can't stop me.
The fact is, you're gonna stand here and watch me do it.
And when nothing left of him, I'm gonna work on you.
But you can't- Shut up.
I don't care what happens to me, but the marshal came here risking his life.
He did, for sure.
Wait a minute, Sam.
What do you want? You told me you was gonna have fun.
You didn't say nothing about killing nobody.
I don't hold with killing no people.
What's the matter with you? I don't wanna end up on a rope- So you don't want no part of it, huh? Don't start nothing with me, Sam.
I got a gun.
You leave me alone.
Now you got nothing.
No, Sam.
We're friends.
We're friends, Sam.
No.
I'm gonna learn you to go against me.
Please don't, Sam- Well, guess I'll have to learn you next, marshal.
You saved my life, marshal.
I'm sorry I had any part of this.
Well, you ought to be.
Now, look, when that big friend of yours comes around, you take him with you and you move on.
And don't you come back to Dodge.
Yes, marshal.
Marshal, you- You came here knowing you might get killed.
There's always a chance of that.
But you came.
Willing to sacrifice your life for mine, knowing mine was worthless.
Mr.
Tandy, I don't think any man's life is worthless.
I- I can see that now.
Gonna be riding on from here? Marshal, do you remember when I asked you why men were always fighting and- And hating each other? And you answered, "Maybe because no one ever taught them any better.
" Like, I got to thinking on that.
And you know it wasn't the Lord that failed me.
It- It was me that failed the Lord.
So I'm going back to where I came from.
Maybe I can be some help.
My foot standeth in an even place.
In the congregation, will I praise the Lord.