Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Come in, come in.

Oh, Matt, for heaven's sake!

Well, they said you were in here.

They said you might take a shot at me.

It's a wonder I didn't.

Why don't you pour us a drink?

Okay.

That crowd down there sure got me on edge.

Well, they're kind of on edge themselves, Kitty.

You know, they've had a pretty long, hard cattle drive.

Every trail boss says the same thing.

I just had to get away from them for a few minutes.

Well, listen. I don't blame ya.

Thank you.

So help me, if that's...

Take it easy. Take it easy.

They told me downstairs I might find you up here, Marshal.

What can I do for ya?

I thought you might be able to give me a little information.

It's all right, Matt. Bring him on in.

Okay. Come on in.

I hope you'll excuse me, ma'am.

At least you're sober.

What's on your mind?

Well, I'm tryin' to locate some folks named Crale...

Mr. and Mrs. John Crale.

I was told they had a place near here somewhere.

Well, Mrs. Crale does. Mr. Crale died about three years back.

Oh, no.

Are you a friend of theirs?

Well, they're my folks, Marshal. My ma and pa.

Your folks?

Yeah. I'm Billy Crale. Maybe they mentioned me.

Well, Mrs. Crale mentioned that she had a son, yeah.

How is she, Marshal?

She's not doing too good.

She's had a tough time running that ranch since her husband died.

You... You think she'll recognize you?

Well, maybe not right off.

It's been 17 years since I run off from home.

But I'll convince her, all right.

Yeah, maybe you will.

Where you been all these years?

Oh, here and there. Just driftin'.

You know how it goes.

Yeah.

Well, how do I get out there, Marshal? I'm kind of anxious to see her.

Well, it's easy.

You just follow the river bottom about 5 miles out. You can't miss it.

Thanks.

Sure.

Sorry to have bothered you, ma'am.

It's all right.

So long.

Something's wrong there, isn't it?

Yeah, Mrs. Crale asked me to trace her son a few years back.

I did, but I didn't have the heart to tell her.

Tell her what?

Well, I got a report back from the War Department.

Billy Crale enlisted in the Union Army at the start of The Civil War.

He was killed in action at the Battle of Shiloh.

Mr. Dillon, I could go blind lookin' at these things.

Well, just try to hold out for a few more days, Chester.

A few days?

Yeah. We ought to have them all done by then.

Already got everything here there is.

Bank robbers, cattle rustlers, cutthroats, murderers.

Ain't a one of 'em fits the description of that fella you was talkin' about.

Well, it may have been a long time back.

But I know I've seen this man's picture on one of these circulars.

Well...

get us some coffee.

All right.

You know the thing I can't figure out, Mr. Dillon,

is how in the world he figures on gettin' away with it.

You know, I mean, a mother can tell her own son.

Well, ordinarily.

But I'm not so sure in this case.

You know, she hasn't seen him since he was a boy.

She's gettin' pretty old.

Her eyesight might be failing, you know.

Well in that case, he could make out all right...

You know, with the ranch and all

and all that money that's she's got saved.

Uh-oh.

Find it?

Here it is, right here.

Look at that.

Three years ago.

"Height 6 feet. Weight 180. Red hair."

Well, that's him. "Wanted in Lubbock, Texas,

"for questioning in connection with the holdup of the Lone Star Bank.

"Previous arrests... Pecos Crossing, cattle theft.

"Acquitted for lack of evidence

"Convicted, San Antonio, eight years ago. Armed robbery.

"Served four years. Paroled.

"Known associates...

Nate Barker and the Panka City Kid."

$1,000 reward.

Calls himself Johnny Red.

Well.

Let's go get him.

Doesn't look like there's anybody here.

Well, she's only got two or three hands, Chester.

They're probably out on the ranch somewhere.

I was thinkin' about Johnny Red.

I want to talk to Mrs. Crale first.

Mrs. Crale: Who is it?

Matt Dillon, ma'am.

Well, come in.

Marshal Dillon.

Hello, Mrs. Crale. You remember Chester.

Chester! Well, land sakes, this is a surprise.

Well, come in.

Thank you.

Sit down, both of you. I'll fetch some cups for coffee.

Oh, don't bother to do that, Mrs. Crale.

Got 'em right here. Sit down.

If'n a body can't do a little something for her company,

she ain't fit to have none.

- I do like company. - Oh, yeah?

Seems like nobody ever comes out this way no more.

Sit down, Marshal.

Well, I guess it probably does get kind of lonely

out here, doesn't it, Mrs. Crale?

Well, it did.

But I got a big surprise for you, Marshal.

Is that so?

He come home.

My Billy come home, just like I always said he would.

Well, folks used to think I was crazy.

Nobody'd ever believe me.

Even Mr. Crale used to tell me to forget about it.

Our son's dead.

But I knew different.

And I was right.

Tell me, Mrs. Crale, has he changed much?

Good heavens, yes.

He was just a boy when he went away.

Now he's growed-up man.

Seems kind of like a stranger in a way.

How's that?

Well, not really, Marshal.

Deep inside, he's still the same as he always was.

Have a cookie.

No, thank you.

Well, you really feel that he is your boy, then?

Why...

the second he walked up onto that porch and said "How are ya, Ma?"

Well, I knowed him just like that.

Chester.

Oh, thank you.

You know, since Mr. Crale passed on,

seems kind of like I lost my reason for livin'.

But the minute Billy put his arm around me...

I started feelin' like a young woman again.

I still do.

Well, you look just wonderful, Mrs. Crale.

Well, my son come home.

Could a mother ask for more?

No, Mrs. Crale.

I guess that's the important thing.

Yeah, that's all that really matters.

Well, Chester, I guess we'd better be going.

Oh. Well, Billy rode out somewheres this morning.

But you come back soon so's you can see him.

We'll certainly do that, Mrs. Crale. And thank you.

Thank... Thanks a whole lot for the coffee.

Anytime, Chester.

Bye, Marshal.

Goodbye.

Remember, come back soon.

Well, you just couldn't have done nothing else,

Mr. Dillon. It'd just've broke her heart to have told her.

Yeah, she's goin' to find out anyway, Chester,

as soon as he runs off with everything she's got.

It's a bad deal any way you look at it.

Johnny: Kind of sets you a problem, don't it, Marshal?

Nothin' I can't handle, Johnny.

Break an old lady's heart? I don't think so.

And the name is Billy, by the way.

Billy Crale.

Not in Lubbock, it ain't.

Lubbock? Where's that?

Well, we'll send somebody along with you next time you get down there.

Show you the way.

You're pretty sure of yourself, ain't ya?

You've got a little time yet, Johnny.

You see, I didn't tell Mrs. Crale that her son was killed at Shiloh.

Oh, well, that... That report was a mistake, Marshal.

I deserted the army two weeks before Shiloh.

Sure, you did.

Before you go off half-cocked,

I think you ought to check with Lubbock and see what you find out.

And in the meantime, like I was sayin',

you wouldn't want to break an old lady's heart, now would you?

Come on, let's get back to Dodge.

Whoa.

Watch your step, Ma.

You sure you don't want me to help you up the stairs to Doc's, Ma?

No. No, Billy, you just wait here.

- All right. - I won't be long.

All right.

Come in.

Mrs. Crale! Good heavens! Are you alone?

Of course I'm alone. What you think?

Well, here, you sit down here.

Why, I didn't think you could get up those stairs by yourself.

I don't think you should've tried that.

Well? What you lookin' at?

Well, I'm... I'm surprised.

I thought I'd be coming out to your ranch there

to see you the rest of your life.

To tell you the truth, I thought you were gettin' feeble.

Well, I ain't.

Well, I don't understand it, but you just look years younger.

You know all them pills you give me, Doc?

I throwed 'em away, every one!

You did?

I had to prove it to you, Doc.

I ain't weak and sick no more.

I'm my old self again.

Well, Mrs. Crale.

I don't mind losing you as a patient one bit.

You know, Doc, I wouldn't want you to starve.

Well, I'll... I'll be all right.

You threw the pills away, huh?

Well, then what did it?

It was somethin' wonderful.

My son Billy, he come home.

He did?

He's right down there in the street now waiting for me.

Chester, need some help with those?

What are you doin' in town?

Ma wanted to see the doc. I just drove her in.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

For drivin' Ma to town?

You know what I'm talking about.

Tell me, the marshal hear from Lubbock yet?

No.

When he does, you'll find yourself in jail soon enough.

I don't think so.

You know, I've known men that would hide behind a woman's skirt,

but you just beat all.

You must've lost your pride somewheres along the trail.

It's been a long trail, Chester, but I still got my pride.

Well, why don't you act like it?

Things ain't always what they seem.

No, I know. That's... That's sure enough true!

But you know, sometimes a half-blind old woman can't always tell.

That's mighty cruel words, Chester.

They're just what you deserve.

You know, I like you, Chester.

Maybe one of these days you and I are goin' be friends.

You know, Johnny, about the only friend you'll have around here is the hangman.

Well, nobody can say you don't speak your mind anyway.

Excuse me.

Here now. Don't be treatin' me like an old lady.

You're doing just fine, Ma.

Here you go.

Chester, ain't it?

Mrs. Crale.

Well, when you comin' back out to the place, you and the marshal?

Oh, we'll be out there real soon, ma'am.

You're welcome any time.

Chester.

Dirty rotten shame, that's what it is.

Doctor.

Matt.

What are you doin' racin' around?

Well, the same thing you are, I guess.

I'm just sittin' here thinking about buying a ranch, Doc.

What were you going to use for money?

I thought maybe you'd loan me some.

Oh, no. Not me.

Can't do it. I'm losing too many patients.

Lost one yesterday.

Died, huh?

Oh, no. Cured.

- Cured? - Yes, sir.

Say, I bet that did come as a surprise.

Now, who would do a thing like that to you?

Well, Mrs. Crale. Sure, got well. Strangest thing I've ever seen.

I'd have sworn she wouldn't live through the winter.

Well, she's a mother now, Doc, you know?

Oh, yes. Yes. I heard all about that from her.

And then Chester told me his version later.

What do you think?

Well, I'll tell you what I think.

As a rule, a woman can tell her own son.

She may be the exception that proves the rule, Doc.

Well, that is...

I knew this was too good to last.

Looks who's comin'.

Mr. Dillon, got you a telegram come for ya.

Well, you've done your day's work, Chester.

Why don't you lie down?

Why ain't you operatin' on somebody? Your hands too shaky?

Well, that's a fine thing for you to say. I was gonna buy you a drink.

Heh. Yeah.

What's the matter?

Nothing. Just that I got no case against Johnny Red, that's all.

Uh-huh.

Well, they arrested him down in Lubbock a year ago.

Had to release him... lack of evidence.

You know, that circular was over three years old.

I'll be doggone.

What worries me is Mrs. Crale all alone out at that ranch

and all her money out there with her.

Oh my gosh, she don't believe in banks, does she?

Nope.

Hey, look at it come.

Huh.

There's nobody ridin' shotgun there.

There's a man laying on top.

You'd better come along, Doc.

All right, a couple of you men give me a hand here.

Pass him down, Jim.

Easy with him now.

He's dead, ain't he?

Well, that don't give you no cause to drop him.

- We ain't droppin' him! - You'd better not, blast you.

Dillon: How do you do, boys?

Doc, take a look at him, will ya?

Well, they finally got to me, Matt.

How'd it happen, Jim?

Boldest thing I ever seen.

About 10 miles west of here.

They throwed some cottonwood limbs across the trail

so's I'd have to pull up.

Then they jumped me.

How many of them was there?

Well, just two. They were brassy as sin.

Didn't even bother to wear masks.

Got any idea who they were?

No, they were strangers to me.

Poor ol' Barney there. They shot him before he'd even seen them.

Mm-hmm. What'd they get, Jim?

Cash box.

I don't know how much was in it.

He didn't know what hit him.

Well, Chester, could you give Doc a hand with him?

Yeah, have somebody help you bring him upstairs, Chester.

All right.

Jim, what can you tell me about those men?

Well, one of 'em was kind of tall and skinny.

The other one was just a kid.

Tall one called him Panka.

Panka?

They ain't from around here.

I know everybody in the territory, Matt.

Yeah. They're not from around here, Jim.

Tell me something, which way did they go when they left?

They rode east down the river bottom.

Yeah. Right toward the Crale ranch.

Yeah, that was the funny thing.

I figured naturally they'd make a run south.

Don't you worry about it, Jim.

I'm gonna have all three of 'em in jail.

Hey, Matt, I said two.

Yeah, I know what you said.

But I'm jailin' three, Jim.

It's that third one that I really want.

Let's get the horses around back, out of sight.

Maybe they're just waitin' for us to come inside.

Well, let's go over and find out.

Beaten to death.

Sure never thought it'd come to this.

Well, at least we know what we want Johnny Red for.

Just terrible.

Reach, both of you.

Don't you try nothin' now.

Where's your partners?

They're down in the riverbed, diggin' for the money.

But they'll be back.

Who shot you?

Don't matter none.

I'll last 'til they get here.

Get over there now, both of ya.

Easy now.

I wouldn't want to have to shoot you.

I got nothin' personal against you, but I'm handlin' this myself.

Come on.

Imagine us being taken by an old lady like that, Panka?

She's got that money hid in the house.

Told you all the time she did.

One thing for sure...

If she's still alive, she ain't gonna lie about it this time.

All right, hold it.

I quit. Now don't shoot.

Keep your hands up.

Chester, keep the rifle on him.

All right, put the gun down, Johnny.

Sure.

I'm all done with it now.

Nate Barker thought I'd double-crossed him.

They came here.

They beat her and shot me.

They thought I was... I was dead.

They didn't get her money.

I took it into the bank last week.

I figured it wasn't safe for her to keep it out here.

You still think a mother can't tell her own?

Sure. I've been called Johnny Red for years and years.

My real name is Billy.

Billy Crale.

Mother...

If he'd just stayed away,

she'd still be alive, Mr. Dillon.

Yeah.

Well...

at least Billy made her happy for a while.

Well, yeah. Yeah, you're right about that.

We got a lot of work to do.

Better get started.