Original subtitles

Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

I didn't kill him, Ordman. I didn't kill him.

You ran in, Chauvin.

You ran and left my brother to die. I didn't have no choice, Ordman.

The marshal had us both pinned down.

Sure. Yeah, well, if I hadn't run, they'd hang me.

Well, you ain't gonna have to worry no more about hanging, Chauvin.

time, Shobin.

I got an appointment with the Marshal of Dodge City.

How you reckon he does that?

I don't know, but it isn't easy.

Just a little bit of milk in that battered habit.

Well, there's probably more to it than that, Festus.

Maybe just a pinch of baking powder.

They taste good going down, so after you get down there, they start to giving you

a fit.

Well, now tell me, what do you eat them for, then?

Well, next to coffee in the morning, ain't nothing smells better than cooking

in a batch of griddle cakes.

Well, maybe I'll just smell them then.

Morning, Fessus.

Marsha. Hi, Malachi.

Ain't it a fine morning, though?

Seems like you're back a little bit early this time, aren't you, Malachi?

Fertilizer company man's coming by today.

Good. Well, I better get my stuff loaded.

Looks like he's gonna do all right this time, Malachi.

This year ought to bring it up to near $7 worth.

Well, ain't a regular spendthrift. That ought to last you a couple weeks.

Not that long, Festus. I done worked up a considerable thirst to picking up

these bones. A considerable thirst.

Just a great big circle, ain't it? What are you?

Well, picking up bones makes you thirsty, and being thirsty keeps you

broke, and being broke makes you have to go back and get more bones.

Ain't it the truth?

Sure is a good life, though, ain't it?

Well, it ain't bad.

Leastwise, everything comes out even, don't it?

I done told you, Fester. I sure could use you for a partner.

Well, I'd like to help you out, Malachi, but I've just been so dang busy here

lately. Well, you think on it, Sam. Maybe you change your mind.

Come on over. Let me buy you a drink.

It's a little bit early for me.

Well, there sure is a sight worse things a fella can put in his belly every

morning.

I think I'll just grit my teeth and try to hold off till noon. Much obliged,

anyhow. No.

Maybe you wouldn't be too good a partner after all. Come on over to the Long

Branch later. We'll swap a lie or two. All right. I'll see what we understand.

You sure seems to be fond of you, Festus.

Oh, yeah. He wants me to be his partner.

Well, I'll say that might not be a bad idea. Keep you out of trouble.

Oh, Pedro, man, you ain't enough buffalo bones to go around.

Now, look, I want you to keep an eye on things around town for me, Festus, while

I'm down in Spearville.

Of course I will.

Better watch old Malachi, too, to see that he doesn't get in trouble.

Malachi? Well, you know he never stirs up any kind of a ruckus, Matthew.

All right. Well, I'll see you later, Festus.

Keep your chin to the wind.

Can you read, Brighton?

Yes, sir.

Well, I broke my specs the other day, and I can't make out who this is wrote

to. Could you help me out?

It says... Marshall Dillon.

It was that second thing that seemed a little unreadsome to me.

No, sir, not Dillon.

That last word's Harper.

Harper.

Yeah, first one's...

Malachi? That's it, Malachi.

Malachi Harper.

Well, who in the tarnation could be writing to him at the marshal's office,

you reckon?

Mister? Huh?

You must be really lost without your specs.

Oh, no, I just use them to read with, that's all. I don't know. You're holding

that letter upside down.

If you're tuckered as that horse, you're riding, you're welcome to get down and

rest some.

Well, much obliged.

There's some beans there and coffee.

You alone?

Yeah, I've been chasing a wild stallion that's been bothering my mirrors.

It'd be a nuisance, all right.

You come first.

Mexico.

Well, that's far enough.

If I keep heading north, I'll get dodged, won't I?

Or north and might east.

I doubt if you're gonna make it on that horse.

No, you're right. I need a new mount.

I say you do.

That horse is windbroke.

You've been riding him pretty hard.

I'd admire to be of help to you, but I need mine to run down that stallion.

Won't make a trade, huh?

Afraid not. That horse of yours is no good to me.

Hey, maybe you'll sell me one.

Now, I don't want to sound unreasonable, but like I say, I need them, you see.

Look, I still here.

And I think he's running a little low on cash.

Oh.

Well, I guess I better buy a round of drinks for the whole house.

No, you don't do anything of the kind. You're gonna come right in here, and

you're gonna step right up here at this bar and take your medicine. All right,

quit hounding me.

You were about to witness a millennium, Kitty. How are you?

I'm about to witness a what?

Millennium. He's gonna buy me a drink.

Oh. You talk like my foot to sleep. I've boughten your drinks before.

Well, I... Well, Doc, it looks like this is your lucky day, because I'm going to

buy you a drink, too. Oh, no, no, you're... No, well, thanks anyway,

Kitty, but he's going to buy this drink, and he's going to pay for it, and I'm

going to watch it. All right, Doc, I will. I said I would, didn't I? Word's

hand, though. Miss Kitty?

I done... I done come to say thanks personal.

Well, it's my pleasure. That was sure a friendly thing you've done. I appreciate

it. I do. I appreciate it.

Howdy, Doc.

Malachi. Festus.

Malachi. Oh, I got a letter here for you. Sent to Matthew's office.

A letter?

For me?

For Heaven's sakes.

Yes, it's for you.

Why in thunders do you have his mail sent to Moses? I'm fixing to, Doc.

You ought to have your mail sent to General Delivery.

You oughtn't to have it sent to the Marshal's office. Don't you know that,

Dumbbell?

Hmm.

I'll be switched.

Baltimore, Maryland.

That'll be my brother, Ethan.

Long time since I done heard from him.

Well... Seen each other and going on to 35. Yeah, I heard.

I didn't know he had a brother.

I didn't either.

He told me about him once.

He's some big, high-powered businessman.

Just richer than all get-outs. He is?

Well, what do you know about that? And here's old Malachi been picking up

buffalo bones on the prairie. What's wrong with that?

Well, I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. You know, he earns his

breakfast and dinner and supper every day, too. Stop that.

St. Save this poor sinner.

What's the matter with him?

Was that good or bad?

I don't know. Sounds like he's got religion.

It's Ethan.

It's Ethan.

What about him? He's coming here to dodge.

Well, that's wonderful.

Oh, no, Miss Kitty, it's terrible.

Why is that?

I done told you, Fester. It's about all his high, tony ways, about all the money

he's got, remember?

Yeah. Well, he's a-comin' out to San Francisco to a big meetin', and he's a

-comin' by Dodge to see me.

Well, what's so terrible about that? Oh, you don't understand.

Ethan, Ethan was always the one folks was looked up to, always

the bright one.

Well, Ethan can't see me here like this, not

Ethan. When's he gonna get here?

He's comin' tomorrow.

You gotta help me. You gotta hide me, huh?

Of course you can stay in my place if you want to.

Well, that's purely a friendly thing to do, Festus. Now, just a minute.

You can't hide from your own brother.

Miss Kitty, you just watch me.

Angels and saints is right. I can't hide.

I just remembered.

What is that?

What I told him I was doing here in Dodge.

But it can't be that bad.

Miss Kitty, it's worse.

I done told Ethan... Well, go on. What did you say?

I done told Ethan I was the Marshal of Dodge City.

Well, without a doubt, you're the biggest fool I ever saw.

Well, golly, Bill, Doc, I had to do something to help you out. Well, you

didn't have to do a thing like that. It's just for five hours. I don't care

if it's only for five minutes. If he was gonna stay longer than that, it'd be a

different thing. Well, now, suppose he decides to stay longer than that. He

can't. He's got to be in San Francisco. He said that in his letter. How do I

look?

Well, don't ask me.

I ain't gonna get mixed up in this.

Malachi, I told you, under the coat. Oh, yeah, yeah, sure.

Oh, yes, you are mixed up in this. You and Miss Kitty done give me your word.

Well, that was before you got this silly idea.

Oh, you've got to have a gun.

A gun?

A gun?

No, no, no, please, Festus.

I'm scared of the best of them things. I ain't never shot one of them in my life.

You don't have to shoot this one. I don't want to. Why, Reddy?

Festus don't put no bullets in it. Just keep it in your scabbard. You ain't

gonna have to use it. You hope.

All right. Now, how'd you look now?

Ridiculous.

Let's see. I told Sam, Hank, Delmonico's.

I reckon I told everybody.

Mr. Sykes, never gonna forget you for this. Just never mind that. You ready to

get started?

I reckon.

Best is... What?

Just a teeny wee...

Not so much as a whiff. Not even as much as a whiff on your brothers. And,

Donner, I'm going to get on you like ugly on an ape, and I mean it.

Vestas, I'm going to say it one more time.

I've got a terrible feeling about this.

Doc, will you quit a hanging crape? What in tarnation could happen in five hours?

I just want to know one thing. Where can I find the marshal?

Well, I ain't no information agency.

I'm just a stable man. You're liable to find him most anywhere.

You want this horse shod, don't you?

That's right.

Looks like you're gonna need shoes all around.

I'll get it done.

Take an hour or two.

You about right.

Yeah, I believe you're a stranger in Dodge. I don't recollect... If you don't

know where the marshal is, maybe you can tell me where I can find his office.

Right on down Front Street. You'll run right into it.

Thanks. You can't miss it.

As quick as the stagecoach comes in, why, you're supposed to tell him... I

know, I know. I invite him to dinner.

But first, you got some important something you got to do.

Say, and while you're doing that, why, we'll sashay over to Long Branch, let

him eat Miss Kitty, buy him a drink.

You don't get none.

And directly, why, we'll just be landing on down to Delmonico's and have vittles

with you.

Then we'll get on down to the stable to see my horse. When we was boys, Ethan

loved horses. Then we're gonna scoot him right over to Matthew's office and keep

him holed up where the stagecoach lives. That's all he is to it.

Eason? Malachi!

Well, Malachi, now look at you.

30 years.

Yes, yes, looks like every one of them have been good to you, Malachi.

Looks like you've done all right for yourself.

Whoa, whoa, yeah.

Oh, well, too many years sitting behind a desk, you know. Too much paperwork.

I should have gone in for this outdoor life.

Pardon me, Marshal.

Oh, excuse me, Festus.

Marshal Malachi Harper?

This here's my friend Festus Hagen. This here's my friend Doc Adams, my brother

Ethan. How are you, Doctor?

All plumb all the way from Baltimore, Pennsylvania, huh?

Maryland, certainly.

Malachi only rode once since he moved here to Dodge, but he mentioned both of

you gentlemen.

Oh, Mr. Harper, say, I'd like it if you'd be my guest for a bite to eat over

Delmonico's a little later.

Well, that's very friendly of you, sir.

Well, it's indeed my pleasure. Now, let's say about an hour, because I've

got something I've got to do right now. Is that all right?

Right, right.

You still carry all your belongings in that carpet?

Oh, yeah. Well, no, I set my trunks on ahead to San Francisco. After that long,

dusty trip, I bet you'd like a drink.

Whiskey?

You don't drink whiskey, do you, Malachi?

Whiskey, no.

Maybe cold beer, maybe, on a warm day.

Well, I'm very glad to hear that, Malachi. You know, hard liquor has been

the downfall of many a strong man.

Oh, that's true, Ethan.

That's very true.

You sound like as if you don't drink none, mister.

No. No, I don't. That's on principle.

See, a businessman like me in the business world, you just... No, no, that

dulls the mind.

Same thing with marshalling. Ain't that true, Marshal?

Oh, that's very true, Festus. That sure is true.

Well.

Well.

Well.

You're going to meet another friend of mine down here, Miss Kitty Russell.

Well, that would be very pleasant.

Howdy, Miss Kitty. Look who came to see you, the Marshal himself.

Well, if it isn't Marshal Harper.

This here's my brother, Ethan.

It's Miss Kitty Russell.

How do you do?

Delighted, Miss Russell.

Mr. Harper here's came plumb from Baltimore. That's in... Maryland.

And he's on his way to San Francisco, and he had a few hours, so he just

stopped off to see his brother, old Mallet, the Marshal.

Well, a reunion. I think that's wonderful.

Calls for a drink.

We'll have your usual, Miss Kitty.

Beer?

Beer? Oh, yes, of course, beer.

I'll make sure it's good and cold.

Please sit down, gentlemen.

What a charming lady.

Ain't she, though?

Tell me, Malachi, do you ever have much trouble in an establishment of this

nature?

Well...

Sometimes they get a little rambunctious.

There's a rule. They don't kick up no ruckuses when the marshal's around.

What'll it be?

Whiskey. The kind without any water in it.

There's no water in any Long Branch whiskey, mister.

If you'd ever been in Dodge before, you'd know that.

That's all.

Well, you're right about one thing. I ain't never been in Dodge before.

My brother has, though. Maybe you heard of him. Jess Ordman?

Yeah, I heard of him.

And the Marshal killed him.

Your brother had it coming.

Well, you might say the same thing for the Marshal.

As a matter of fact, there have been times when I thought of... Oh, giving up

the business back in Baltimore.

Why would you want to do something like that for... Oh, I don't... Just to

search for the simple life, I suppose.

That's easy said for anybody that's got himself a heap of money.

Now, money is a very small consequence, Festus.

Ain't that the truth?

A fellow don't need a lot of money to have a good life.

You know, the older we get, the closer we come in thought, Malachi.

When we was tadpoles, we used to fight over everything. Never agreed on

nothing.

As a matter of fact, Malachi here was not above taking a nip from Mother's

elderberry wine now and then.

Oh, he don't mean that.

Nathan used to snitch on me, too.

Oh, it was all for the good. Just look how it turned out. You don't drink now,

and look at you.

You have this whole town right there in the palm of your hand just because you

don't drink.

Very occasional beer.

It's all right to drink now.

I caught you nipping watch, too, remember?

Excuse me.

Here are your beers.

And, uh, Festus, I think Sam would like to see you for a minute.

Oh, what drug?

I'll be back, Gretel.

Well, gentlemen.

Vessels, if you ain't careful, there's going to be trouble.

What do you mean?

You remember Jess Ordman?

Jess Ordman?

Ain't he the fellow Matthew had to shoot a couple months back?

And you remember what he said just before he died about his brother Dale?

I recollect he said when Dale heard about this, he's going to come gunning

for the marshal.

Well, that's Dale Ordman sitting right over there at that table.

Matt, you don't take no stock in no gunman's reputation. You know that.

Bartender, more whiskey.

Look, Festus, he's never been in Dodge before.

He doesn't know Matt Dillon.

He's here looking for the Marshal. The Marshal.

The Malachi.

Like you.

If I don't get some more whiskey.

I'm going to tear your place up. That cow person certainly is disagreeable.

Switched if I have. Well, don't worry about it. Sam will take care of him.

We'd ought to go meet Doc for dinner now.

Well, hold your britches.

Don't tell me to hold my britches.

Malachi, tell him to stop that right away.

Oh, them things happen all the time. They don't mean nothing.

Well, I thought you said people were quiet when they saw you in here.

You thought that one must be a stranger in town. He don't know me.

Well, go tell him who you are immediately.

Barkeep.

Barkeep.

If I don't get another glass of whiskey, I'm liable to just blow your ears off.

Well, just so much as I ain't, you know, I'm gonna shoot half your ribs out.

I just eased your gun back in the scabbard.

Just keep looking right straight ahead. Don't look around or you'll be dead in

last year's bird's nest.

And I'll back him up with this.

Mister?

I hope you ain't going to take no...

No offense to what I'm going to say to you.

No.

No, you go right ahead and speak your piece.

I'll listen.

Well, of course, a fellow has got a right to drink all right.

Well, I'm leaving now.

If it's all right with you.

Well, sure.

Just go straight on out and don't look around or nothing.

I think we'd ought to go meet Doc now.

Well, I mean, say, you didn't even draw your gun.

I don't like to use it unless I have to. That was the very bravest thing I have

ever seen. Oh, Philly, your brother does things like that all the time.

We'd ought to go meet Doc now. I'll tell you things about him that'll just make

your eyes pooch right out of your head, make your hair stand on end. I will.

Will you join us, Miss Kitty?

Oh, uh, oh, no, I don't think so.

Thanks just the same, but I have some things to do here.

We'll see you directly.

I hope I see you again before you leave.

Thank you.

All right, Miss Kitty.

Oh, that was a really wonderful meal. I want to thank you again, Dr. Adams.

Well, it is my pleasure. And great service. Service in the grand style, you

know. Surprising to find something so satisfying this far west.

Delmonico's figures ain't nothing too good for our marshal. Oh, I noticed that

and I was frankly impressed.

Yeah, it's kind of a special treatment for special people, you see. Well,

that's your guy to get on with.

Hey, you know what I would really like to do?

What's that?

Well... I'd like to go down and see Malachi's office. I'd like to just...

I'd like to get the feel of it. What we was thinking was that we'd take you

down, show you the Marshal's horse. I've heard that you cottoned a good horse

flesh. He's right over yonder at Moss Grimm's stable.

Get the whole feel of that place.

And besides that, there's been a town drunk that's just been a pestering the

daylights out of the Marshal.

You remember the one, Doc, I was telling you about whilst they was in the washing

up before dinner?

Oh, the drunk. That one. Yeah, if you go by your office, you're going to run into

him, sure.

We'll. Yeah, and you've did everything you can do for him, Marshal. I wouldn't

let a little old good-for-nothing scab spoil my visiting time with my brother.

I got an idea.

Why don't you, after you've seen the horse, why don't you just come on up to

my office and we'll just visit there? Oh, that's a good idea.

Really enjoy that.

We'll just do it. Well, I really appreciate it. Oh, you're kind. I mean,

I really do. Well, it's not at all. Oh, yes, it is. Yes, it is. You make a

person feel right at home. Well, it's a pure pleasure. You know, a man... You

get away from the hurly-burly and the rush of the business world out here

among real people. It's kind of a thing. Well, I'll tell you what.

It makes a man feel that he could almost forget everything that he left behind

him and stay right here.

I mean, it's that touching. I could stay here.

You couldn't do that.

That's what you get for being such a big, important businessman.

There's so many folks that are depending on you in Baltimore.

That's right.

Still and all. You know what they say about blood and water, huh?

And it's been such a doggone long time, brother. You know, if we don't get down

to that stable, you ain't gonna get to see that horse at all.

That's right, Ethan, and your stage leaves in about a couple of hours.

It sure does. Much obliged to the vittles, Doc.

Hank?

Oh, Hank.

It's me, Festus. I got the marshal and his brother with me.

Went out for a spell. Right back here, Mr. Harper.

There is nothing like the smell of a stable to an old country boy.

Sure takes you back over the years, don't it? Oh, I've almost forgotten how

to remember, Malachi.

Now, Mr. Harper, this here is the Marshal's horse.

Well, well, a splendid-looking animal.

The Marshal, huh?

Did I hear him call you Marshal?

Well, I... That's right. My name's Ordman, Del Ordman.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Ortman. This here's my brother, Ethan.

That there's your brother.

I see.

Well, Jess Ortman was my brother.

What?

Name doesn't mean anything to you?

I can't say it does.

You play it pretty calm.

Oh, comes from years of being a lawman.

Well, you and I have some business together, Marshal.

He's busy, can't you see that?

That's all right. You go right ahead and tend to your business, Malachi. I don't

mind waiting.

Oh, there's no hurry, Marshal. I'll be around.

Mr. Orman, see what you... Why don't you quit buzzing around, little fly? You're

gonna get swatted.

Little fly? Well, I'll swat him. Hang it. Don't go... Well, I'll tear him up

like a soft man. Rude man. He deserves a thorough dressing down. That is the most

despicable... Malachi, what kind of business would you have had with him

anyway?

I don't rottenly know, Ethan.

Well, certainly nothing you couldn't have handled.

Tell you, Malachi, I envy you more and more all the time.

More and more all the time.

Well, I reckon we've had plenty of the horse we'd order be getting on up to

Doc's place.

You go ahead on up to Doc's office, and I'll be back just quick as I get done.

Well, sir, you're not thinking of confronting that Ordman person, are you?

Oh, of course not.

Yeah, who's like him's left up to the Marshal's handling? This here's just a

little chore I've got to get done. Well, we have been rather monopolizing your

time. Well, it's been a pure pleasure, Mr.

Harper. You tell Doc I'll be up directly. All right, all right.

Ordman brothers are gunning for the Marshal. That means you, so you stay hid

till I get back. You hear me?

The widow Jenkins had outside stairs just like these when we were young. Do

you remember that?

Malachi.

Yeah, that's right.

Oh,

look here. This is a note from Dr.

Adams. He...

He's been called away on an emergency, and he says for us to wait for him, if

we will. Right.

Malachi, you know, I was not talking lightly when I said I envy you.

Well, now, Ethan, marshalling has got its dark side, too, I guarantee you.

Well, there is no dark side to the affection that I see expressed by your

friends for you.

Oh, there's kindly right enough.

Yes, that's something I don't see much of in the business world.

It's something I wish I could share with you.

Don't look like we're going to have much time to share much of nothing, Ethan.

Your stage leaves in about an hour.

Yeah.

That is one of the unhappy aspects of life.

What is, Ethan?

Time.

It's forever running out.

That's right.

Well, that's what makes tomorrow, Ethan.

A time running out today.

My tomorrows have been much too alike for much too long.

Malachi, I... I don't suppose it'll work out anyway.

What wouldn't, Ethan?

Our living the same life?

Sure ain't no denying that, is it? It might have, you know. Way back, a long

time ago.

A big businessman like you and the likes of somebody like me. It's enough to make

a fellow chuckle, ain't it?

Yeah, yeah, sure is.

Well,

I left my bag down at...

Miss Russells, I suppose I'd better just walk down there. It'll save time, Ethan.

And I'll wait here.

You do that, Malachi. I'll see you shortly.

Right.

Hello, Marshal. I've been looking for you.

You got me wrong, mister.

I ain't... Time for talking's over.

Now you fill your hand.

It's done filth already.

Look, I'm not here to play games. Now you draw or I'm gonna kill you where you

stand.

Fordman been back in here, Sam?

No, he ain't been back.

Well, I've been looking all over Dodge for him. Well, he's likely lying low

someplace waiting to make his play.

I know that, Sam. That's why I'm trying to run him down, straighten everything

out. Well, I don't think he's going to be in much of a listening mood.

I don't reckon he will.

The only thing I can do is tell Mr.

Harper the truth and try to get Malachi out of town. That's all I can do. Oh,

Mr. Harper was in here a while ago.

He was?

Was Malachi with him? No, he was alone. He came to pick up his bag.

Did he go up to Doc's, did he?

Well, I didn't ask him, Festus. He didn't say.

All I know is what I told you. When I came back, they were both gone, along

with a bottle of my good whiskey.

That means for sure they ain't together then, because Mr. Harper don't drink,

and Malachi wouldn't take a drink in front of him.

What do you mean, Malachi's drunker in a skunk someplace? What does it mean?

Golly, Bill, he wouldn't stand a chance if he was sober, let alone being drunk.

And you'd ought to have saw the way that Ordman looked at Mr. Harper when he

found out he's Malachi's brother, the Marshal's brother.

Well, why don't you just find Ordman and tell him the truth?

Well, Fiddle, I can't find him, Doc.

Told you something like this was gonna happen, I've been telling you all along.

Or are you just gonna keep pacing back and forth saying I told you, so are you

gonna help me out?

Help you what?

Well, to find Mr.

Harper. before Ordman does and get him on that stagecoach. They're fixing to

leave in less than an hour.

Well, that's underprecious. If I ever let you talk me into another one of your

flea-brained... Doc, I'm taking a solemn oath right here and now. You're taking

an oath?

Yeah. Well, that's wrong-handed.

Doc, I ain't never gonna try to talk you into nothing again.

I still don't believe it.

You're an unreal stud.

All you do is... Peek at me, peck at me, you never tried to help me out.

Hello?

Get Mr.

Harper on the stage, did you, Doc? Mr. Harper? I haven't seen Mr.

Harper. I haven't seen Malick. I either want him or... Well, wouldn't the

tarnation you'd let the stagecoach leave for then? Let the... Well, now, how in

the thunder can I keep the stage... Well, you could have just... Could have

what?

Well... Oh, Lord, Doc, what in the world am I gonna do?

Well, I don't know what you're gonna do. I just know that I haven't got time to

play any more of your silly games with you. I got patients to attend to. Well,

you ain't just... Gonna go off and leave me in the middle of this mess, are you?

I told you and told you not to get mixed up in it.

You wouldn't listen.

This ought to be a lesson to you, Festus.

Just don't stick your nose in other people's business.

I wish I never had to came to this town in the first place.

Festus, how could you let something like this happen?

Matthew, the only thing I let was Malachi be something he ain't so he

could make a good imprint on his brother.

Yeah, and now he's got this Ordman gunning for him. Him and his brother

both.

Well, let's go for it. I've looked every place, Matthew. I can't find the hide

and the hair of them. Well, they've got to be somewhere, you know.

Marshal, that old fool Malachi hoppered over the long branch. All dressed up in

fancy clothes, hides a hood out.

And play acting like it was you. Well, at least he's safe.

Not for long he ain't safe.

He's calling down on some fellow named Ordman right now.

This shower, this shower represents law and order, mister.

Is that so?

Yeah.

And it ain't to run in from you no more.

You shall hit some respect.

And I... you ever took jest but you're gonna pay for it yes my brother you suck

there's a dignity to this sharp badge night no

thought

the marshal i found him you have now i said

well there's no denying you make a better picture of one mister you got two

choices right now one of them is to get out that door i've come a long ways i'm

too tired to do any more traveling

because if you hadn't, I'm afraid I'd have had to take him aside.

Marshal! Marshal!

There's a fellow dead man in the stable in one of the stalls. He's a big man

wearing fancy clothes.

Mr. Harper!

I found him just a few minutes ago with a third stall back. I come straight to

get you.

My fault, Matthew.

All my fault.

I'm not good enough to shine his shoes.

He's drunk, Matthew. He's plain old drunk.

I've never seen one drunker.

I've been a failure all of my life. I've just been an old, no good, drunken fraud

and a failure.

You can see right through me just like a piece of glass.

It was that elderberry wine.

That's what did it, all right.

You tried, Ethan.

You'd think he'd appreciate a fellow trying to help him out.

Well, I imagine he'd ask for your advice if he wanted it, Festus. Well, Oswald

don't know enough to ask for help. You don't have to eat those griddle cakes,

you know.

Well, shoot, I wouldn't if it didn't smell so dang good. Now, all in the

world, he'd have to... Now, all he'd have to do would be to add some milk.

You already told me that. Well, I didn't do it. It'd keep them from glomping up.

Glomping up?

Yeah, you know, after they hit the pit of your belly, well, they just kind of

glomp up.

Hurts.

Morning, Marshal. Malachi.

Pistis. Howdy, Malachi.

How is everything?

Just as fine as goose, Dan.

Picking up some.

I'm glad to hear that.

We're just heading out.

Stop by for a little early morning scamper juice.

Ethan!

Ethan? Oh, good morning there, Marshal. Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Hagen.

Mr. Harper, I hear you're fixing to head out on the prairie again.

Yes, we expect to be gone about a month.

We heard about a big buffalo drive over near the Arkansas, and we anticipate a

very...

Good luck to you. We'll see you directly.

Get out!

Sure is too bad.

What's that?

Oh, Ethan's joining up with Malachi like that.

What? Too bad? It's the best thing that Ethan could have did.

Well, yeah, it kind of cuts you out of being his partner, though.

Oh, well, I reckon you're right at that. But then you can't have everything in

life, Matthew.

I don't mind doing anything for them two.

Now, Festus, you're a true friend now.

Not too dependable a friend, but... What do you mean I ain't dependable?

That's harder than I'd slam a door.

Everything turned out all right, didn't it?

Here, I thought we done had all this out.

Here, you got to get it all started up.

And you know I ain't.