Original subtitles

Hey! Deputy!

Must have a rock-hard belly

the way you've been crawling along that ground!

First your mouth, Deputy,

then your nose get bone-dry.

And they swell up.

And then they crack open.

And you get loony in the head.

And then you die slow.

Freezing cold at night.

Just ain't no comfort no place.

You listening to me, Ruth?

I'm gonna find us a way out.

And we'll be back in Dodge...

and... and then...

you and me...

you and me...

Dodge City, Ruth.

I ain't gonna make it.

You're gonna have to go it on your own.

Ain't no sense in both of us dying.

Go on now. Go on.

Go on, Ruth.

Ruth, now go on like I told you to.

You good for nothing old...

Shoot, Miss Kitty.

Doc couldn't catch no fish

if it... if it jumped right out of the water

and bit him on the finger.

Kitty: Festus, you look plumb wore out.

I am tired, Miss Kitty.

Been helping old Joe Mosely fix his fence.

Kitty: Well, how 'bout a beer?

What's that you're saying, Miss Kitty?

Matt: Eli Maddox was seen down near Voxes Station in the Territories.

Ain't you got to go to Hays, Matthew?

Kitty: Here you are, Festus.

Much obliged, Miss Kitty.

Matthew, I can track down that Maddox feller myself.

No trouble at all.

Doc: Look at that one. That's a good three-pounder.

Tell me again about my store-bought feather hooks.

Oh, fiddle, Doc.

You...

Ain't nothing real.

I'm gonna get you, Maddox!

Why was you shooting at me?!

I wanna know who you are!

You...

you ain't even real.

Here you are, Ruth. You get the rest of this.

You're gonna be the one to get us out of here.

Here you are, partner.

"Adam Cleery. Ridgetree."

Yeah, well, Marshal, Festus was plumb out of his head when I first found him.

He was rambling on about Gila monsters and vultures

and somebody a-shootin' at him.

Didn't make no sense at all.

Found him out in the salt flats, you say?

Yes, sir, and dying of thirst.

And these animals almost went crazy when they had the first smell of water.

Well, we're grateful to you, Mr. Stocker.

Marshal, Doc sent me.

Festus has come to, but he's still in pretty bad shape.

He says you can speak to him for a minute or two if you want.

- Thanks again, Mr. Stocker. - My pleasure, Marshal.

Festus, it's still not clear to me.

You say you were tracking this Eli Maddox,

you had a shootout with him, and you buried him in the desert.

I don't know, Matthew.

My head's all muddledy.

Well, think back. Try to remember this second man.

I ain't sure that he even was a second man.

Oh, there was one, all right.

At least that horse you brought back

had a name and a town printed on the saddle.

It was "Adam Cleery" and "Ridgetree."

Like I told you, they was this...

this here ghost town.

And I hunkered down in the desert.

There was this here gun shots.

And that laughing...

laughin' like Maddox done.

It's all jumbled and mixed up.

Try to remember.

It was... shots...

coming from...

every which way.

And I shot back some.

Only it was... It was... coming from a old

rickety store building.

It's all mixed up.

And... there was this...

feller.

Except he was looking just like Maddox.

Mountains... running like a river.

He just don't seem real at all.

Well, the horse was real enough.

Now, what about the gun and somebody shooting at you?

I don't recollect no gun.

Funny, I don't recollect no gun at all.

But you remember the body?

I don't remember no gun.

Maybe that there town

wasn't even real neither.

No.

Just...

I better ride up and check out this hill town,

this Adam Cleery fella.

What do you think about him, Doc?

Well, I don't know. He's in a complete state of exhaustion.

Well, I'm gonna ride up and see if I can find some answers to some of this.

Festus: Matthew...

It just had to be that second feller I killed.

Just had to be.

Well, if it was, Festus,

sounds like it would be self-defense to me.

I ain't so sure, Matthew.

I know this sounds mixed up the way I've been telling it,

but it's all the information I could get.

See, my deputy was pretty badly hurt when they brought him in.

I just can't believe it.

A cow's all he went off to buy.

Just a cow.

Where is this ghost town, Marshal?

Well, as I understand, it's about 15 miles south the Kansas line.

It's out in the desert. A place called Dry Creek.

I'm saying...

I can't believe my son was shooting at your lawman.

Well, my deputy was in a shootout. That's clear.

He just...

just buried him dead? Didn't bring him back?

He wasn't in shape to bring anybody back. Not even himself.

Well, what are we supposed to do, Marshal?

I mean, you bring a horse and saddle back...

We just stand here?!

Told my son is buried out in the desert.

Mr. Cleery, it might help if you could tell me where he was headed.

To buy a milk cow.

He started to Packard

or to Methusulah if the price be better.

Had himself $26.

He was gonna fetch us back a good milk cow.

All right, that's where I'll be heading.

To do what, Marshal?

You said my brother got himself killed by your lawman.

Well, there are a few things I don't understand here either.

For instance, what was your brother doing in that ghost town,

and why was he shooting at my deputy?

How soon will your deputy be up to see us?

We've got, uh, got questions ain't been answered.

He wasn't in any shape to travel. Be a while before he is.

He was shooting at your deputy trying to kill him, you say?

My Adam.

That's the way I understand it.

Adam never owned a gun.

And he wouldn't even shoot at a jackrabbit.

Much less a man.

Where's the gun he was supposed to be using?

I don't know that either, Mr. Cleery.

I'm sorry.

I want you to know we ain't satisfied with what's been told here.

I understand how you feel, Mr. Cleery.

Nobody's sure of anything yet.

I hope I'll have some answers by the time I get back.

Don't make any sense, Pa.

Adam never shot no living soul.

You heard from Matt at all?

Yes, ma'am. I got a wire from him a little while ago.

He talked to the Cleery's, and it seems as though the boy was headed

for Packard or Methusulah.

Marshal Dillon is trying to pick up a trail on him now.

Festus, what are you doing out of bed? Doc said that you was...

I know what that old scudder said, Miss Kitty,

but I can't just be a-layin' up there on my backside doin' nothing

but thinking about what I've maybe seen and maybe didn't.

I'm gonna check the street.

Festus, you're in no condition to be doing that.

Now, Newly, don't you start a-chompin' on me, too.

It ain't no more tiresome turning doorknobs

than it is thrashing around in that bed up there.

Well, wait a minute. I'll go with you.

No, you ain't neither now.

I ain't sick, and I don't need me no nursery maid.

You know, sometimes I think that man's head

is made out of solid marble.

And maybe that's why he's still alive.

Mr. Hagen?

Deputy Festus Hagen?

That's right.

Uh... my name's Cleery.

Lemuel Cleery.

I'd like to talk to you about my son.

Son?

Mr. Cleery, I gotta say that I...

You, uh, got your horse stabled here?

Sure. My old mule.

- But... - You get him saddled up.

It'll be a friendly talk, Mr. Hagen, if it's straight talk.

We're camped just outside of town.

Mr. Cleery, you ain't got no need for that gun.

See...

Get your mule saddled up.

Mr. Hagen, there's three kinds of people in the world...

The good ones and the bad ones

and, well, the in-betweens.

You and me and Elsie and Tom,

we're... we're in-betweens.

Most folks is.

And then there's the bad ones. There's quite a few of them, too.

But...

the good ones...

the ones that

wouldn't do no wrong thing to hurt nobody

and they're full of smiles and joy and just make you glad to be with them...

Well, there ain't many of them, Mr. Hagen.

There just ain't many of them kind at all.

Not enough so as we can let them die

and bury them deep in the ground

and say I'm sorry and forget it.

So if my questions offend you,

well, you've just got to bear with us

'cause we got to know.

Well, Mr. Cleery, you told me about the marshal

riding south down to that town

where your boy was headed.

Appears to me like it makes sense to wait till Matthew gets back.

We'll see what he's got to say.

Where's the gun, Mr. Hagen,

you said my boy was shooting at you with?

That there's another thing I can't answer.

There just wasn't no...

I mean, I don't remember no gun.

Pa.

Adam's pouch.

It's the one Elsie made for him.

Found it in Mr. Hagen’s saddlebags.

It is the one I made for him.

- There's $2 left. - Maybe, Mr. Hagen,

you can explain or not remember Adam's money pouch?

I remember.

I remember... but I forgot that I had it.

Mr. Hagen, there's in-between kinds of truth, too,

but I kinda doubt it, you and Adam's money pouch.

And you just can't seem to remember anything

so we'll be heading for that town.

We catch one lie in your throat, it's gonna be by the good book.

Eye for an eye.

Get the team hitched up, Tom.

Mr. Cleery, you just got to know...

All I know is I got me one fine son dead by you, Mr. Hagen.

Ain't us standing in the Lord's light, it be you.

For judging.

I didn't take your money, ma'am.

Well, I did, but then,

I just forgot that I put that old pouch in my saddlebag, that's all.

Plain old dumb cow.

I was the worst going on about it.

Would've given us milk. Never had much of that.

Cream for the coffee, and could've churned for butter.

No more water biscuits and water gravy.

Don't be going on about it, Elsie.

Anyway, it's mostly my fault he's buried out here.

Somewhere.

It was here that it happened.

That's blood on the floor, Pa.

He died right here.

Rememberin' any better, Mr. Hagen?

It does seem like maybe this here's the place.

Will you prove it? Maybe think it be the truth?

Way it's gonna be?

My remembering kinda comes and goes.

Remember any better on the gun?

What...

What gun?

The gun you said Adam had!

You buried it with his body!

Oh... oh, no.

I don't believe so.

The money he had... brought it back.

The gun you said he had... That don't come back!

Don't figure I'm gonna be getting a whole lot of sleep

all trussed up like this.

Don't reckon nobody's gonna be getting too much sleep, Mr. Hagen.

Till we get some proper answers.

I've been a-tellin' you the truth.

Everything I could recollect.

Been saying your memory comes and goes.

By first light, you better be coming up with some answers.

Been laying here thinking.

My mind won't shut up. It just keeps going.

Flittering 'round.

Elsie, try and get some sleep.

Loving Adam way we did,

all we can think of, he's dead.

And we ain't looking at it from Mr. Hagen’s side too close.

What's that mean?

Elsie: I mean, if it weren't Adam,

but somebody we didn't know,

maybe we'd be believing Mr. Hagen.

You're saying Adam really was shooting at him?

Hard to fix in my mind.

Adam didn't even own a gun.

And there is no gun.

I keep thinking...

Mr. Hagen didn't have to ever say he killed and buried Adam.

Just say nothing.

Except he showed up with his horse.

Adam's name right on his saddle.

Could've said he found it wandering.

Probably he figured

bad memory would be just as convenient.

I'm thinking now about what's proper to do.

Maybe in the morning getting Mr. Hagen

to show us where he buried Adam,

give him a Christian burial, and go home.

That what you want?

Some words said over Adam and just go home?

I loved Adam as much as anybody, Pa.

It's what she'd want.

And I don't ever wanna hear about no cow again.

Never again.

It looks kinda the same, but I ain't sure.

You said you marked it with a shovel.

I did.

You be remembering that much.

I remember...

I think I did.

But there ain't no shovel.

Just keep digging.

Dug a grave so deep being hardly alive?

That's the way you told it, Mr. Hagen.

I don't remember it being this far down.

Can't be that far down, Tom.

- What did you do with my son, Hagen? - No, Pa.

- What'd you do with my son?! - No!

Why's he playing games, Pa?

- Why's he doing it? - It ain't a game, Tom.

If Adam's got a bullet in his back,

Hagen can't take us to the right place, can he?

- Howdy, Marshal. - How do?

Room's 50 cents. Tub of cold water's a dime.

No thanks. I don't want either one.

I'm just looking for a little information on a man.

A man named Adam Cleery.

Adam Cleery.

He was here. August 5th.

You seem to remember that day pretty well.

I ain't likely to forget it, Marshal.

He was about the wildest kid ever to hit this town.

Howdy, Marshal. Something I can do for you?

Yeah, I was looking for the sheriff.

Well, he should be back any time now.

Out picking up and escaped convict named Kittridge.

Kittridge? Not Joe Kittridge?

Yeah, that's him. Know him?

Well, sure. He robbed a freight office in Dodge a couple of years ago.

I'm the man that sent him to prison.

Well, he broke out a week or so ago.

Hit, I guess, making the escape.

Found in the Williams' barn all shot up.

Not what you came about, though, I guess.

No, no. I wanted to get some information on a man named Adam Cleery.

Well, maybe I can help you there.

He gave this town quite a working over.

Pulled a knife in a card game,

shot my partner deputy trying to jail him,

and for good measure, set fire to the livery riding out.

Was a posse sent after him?

Well, sure. I was in it.

Lost him some place south the old Dry Creek town.

You know, a deputy of mine was riding through Dry Creek the other day

and somebody started shooting at him.

That must have been Cleery.

Probably saw the badge and figured he was part of that posse and started firing.

My deputy killed him.

Man: Here they come.

Oh, bringing in Kittridge now.

I guess we'll be keeping him at Doc's place.

Marshal.

- Newly, what are you doing out here? - It's Festus. He disappeared.

I figured he went over to Cleery's, but their place was deserted.

I've been looking for you ever since.

He never said where he was going?

No, sir, he just disappeared. Never said nothing.

Well, if he's with the Cleery's, I've got an idea where they're headed.

Newly, there's some mistake here.

Go tell the sheriff that's not Joe Kittridge.

I'm sure obliged to you, Miss Elsie.

I'm only doing it because you're a man and not an animal.

I reckon you're the onliest one that thinks so.

I don't understand nothing that's happening.

Got no whys or wherefores.

I've been telling you the truth, Miss Elsie.

Well, you better start pulling those memories back into place.

'Cause if'n you don't do it quick,

you ain't gonna be leaving here walking up straight, and that's a fact.

Not when my pa and Tom get back from digging

and still not finding Adam.

Miss Elsie...

if your pa was to kill me,

it would be just plain murder.

He ain't here, Tom.

Adam ain't here.

- We still got... - It's no use. He ain't here.

- Pa... - I got something to do.

Pa!

Leg feels awful shakety.

Don't know if I can hardly walk.

Better do more than just walk.

- I sure am thanking you. - No time for that now.

You just better get. Your mule's down the street.

No, Pa. No.

It ain't right killing him.

All lies, Hagen!

All lies...

Hagen!

All lies.

Stand up, Hagen.

Mr. Cleery, you got...

Hold it, Cleery. Drop the rifle.

I got me a right here, and I'm doing it. I don't care if you kill me.

Well, that's exactly what I will do if you pull that trigger.

Been protecting this deputy all along.

Got more... more lies in his throat than he can swallow!

Drop that rifle before your whole family's arrested for murder.

Please, Pa.

Pa! Pa, I found the grave.

What?

I found the grave, Pa.

And it ain't Adam.

Ain't... ain't Adam?

It's nobody I've ever seen before, Pa. Ain't Adam.

- You know him, Marshal? - Yeah, I know him.

He's an escaped convict by the name of Joe Kittridge.

Then where's Adam? Where's my son?

Mr. Cleery, I think your son may be alive.

Just like that, made me change clothes with him.

Oh, that bushwhacker.

Then shot me.

Oh, the Almighty was sure with me making it to that farm.

Got a lot to be thankful for, boy.

We all have.

Hey, big sister.

Mr. Cleery: Marshal.

Thank you, Marshal, for letting me see to Adam getting home.

I'll be coming back down to Dodge and let the law take its way.

All right, Cleery.

I hope your boy gets well fast.

Right.

Mr. Hagen, there ain't too much a man can say...

except he was wrong.