Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Yes sir, Mr. Smith. What'll it be?

Give me a small whiskey and a short beer.

Coming right up.

There you are.

Thanks.

I'm Hank Fergus.

They tell me you're Zeno Smith.

That's right.

I come to Dodge to meet you, mister.

Why don't you go back, son, to wherever you come from?

They tell me Zeno Smith's got a big reputation for handling a gun.

I didn't ask for it.

But you got it.

Well, now maybe that ain't such a good thing to have.

No? Why?

'Cause it attacks young fools like you to try me out.

They get themselves killed.

But if I don't get killed if I kill you instead...

Now look, Fergus.

I just want to have a quiet little drink and go to bed.

Now, leave me be, will you?

Wait a minute.

You see that picture they got hung up down there?

I ain't interested, Fergus.

You will be. Watch.

Powerful shootin', huh?

Yeah.

Not bad.

Not bad?

Let's see you do better.

I told you, Fergus. I'm worn out.

I'm not interested in your games.

I ain't playin' games with ya, mister.

No, I tell ya.

All right, then.

You froze.

You froze solid.

Maybe this'll thaw you out.

Look at him.

The great Zeno Smith,

crawlin' like a snake.

And I done it.

Hank Fergus.

Remember that.

Good night, Zeno Smith.

Barkeep...

bring me a bottle of whiskey.

A full one.

Right up to the top.

Barkeep...

bring me a bottle of whiskey.

A full one.

Right up to the top.

Zeno, don't you think you've had about enough for tonight?

Oh, I got money to pay for it, Miss Kitty.

Honest. See?

That's not what I meant.

Kitty.

Hello, Matt.

All right, Zeno, go ahead.

Now, here's the money, barkeep.

Give me the bottle, please.

I sure wish there was something I could do to help him.

Well, I'm afraid you can't stop Zeno Smith from drinkin', Kitty.

I can keep trying.

He's been at it more years than you and I have been here.

About 10, they tell me.

Thank you.

He's such a nice man.

What got him started drinkin' anyhow?

Well, he used to be something of a gunman, they tell me.

That's kind of hard to believe.

A gunman loses his nerve, he loses everything, Kitty.

Is that what happened?

So they say.

Seems some newcomer called him out, and he froze.

Been drinking ever since.

Guess it helps him forget.

You know, Matt, it's awful nice of Mr. Jonas to keep him on at the store.

Most employers wouldn't be that patient.

Well, he doesn't go over there when he gets too drunk.

Tommy sees to that.

What a combination.

40-year-old drunk and a 12-year-old orphan boy.

There he goes.

Matt, does Tommy know about Zeno backing down that time?

No. That's one thing people have been pretty good about.

They haven't told the boy.

That's good.

Funny thing, Kitty, you know they say

it happened right here in the Long Branch?

Well, this place has got an awful lot of history

that I'm just as glad I've missed.

- Mr. Dillon. - What?

You'd better get out there.

There's some tough plaguing Zeno Smith.

They're pretty drunk.

They could hurt him some.

See you later.

They wouldn't listen to me.

Dillon: All right, that's enough.

Been havin' fun, have you?

All right, get out of here.

I'll do it!

You cowards!

I'll show every one of ya what gunfightin' is!

Forget it, Zeno. They're gone.

They think I'm a coward, Marshal.

They think I won't put on a gun. I'll show 'em.

You're not a coward.

You don't have to prove anything to anybody, Zeno.

I'll shoot 'em down, every one of 'em.

I'm goin' right now.

They'll see what Zeno Smith is like.

You gonna let him do it, Mr. Dillon?

It's just the whiskey talking, Chester.

He'll sober up by the time he gets home.

They broke his bottle, remember?

It's easy enough to get another bottle.

Where you been, Zeno?

Oh, I got me another bottle.

Another bottle?

You drunk one already?

I didn't drink it.

It got broke.

I... I dropped it, Tommy.

You fell down with it, you mean.

You got drunk and fell down with it.

No.

That's not true.

I didn't fall down with it.

It got knocked out of my hands.

Three men done it.

They was hurrahin' me.

Hurrahin' ya?

Yeah.

I'm gonna get 'em, though, Tommy.

I just stopped by for a little drink, that's all.

And I'm gonna get 'em.

I'll go right now.

But how? How you goin' to get 'em?

I'll show ya.

I'll show you how.

I'll show you how I'm gonna get 'em.

I'm gonna gun 'em down easy, Tommy, every last one of 'em.

Call me a coward, huh?

Nah, not me.

Never again by heaven.

Zeno, wait!

Tommy, let go.

Well, have another drink, Zeno. It'll steady you.

Yeah.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe it will.

Maybe it will.

Have another one, Zeno.

One more good one's what you need.

Yeah.

Just one... then I'm goin'.

Sure, Zeno.

Come on, Zeno. Wake up.

Wake up.

Huh! What? What's the matter?

Oh. Tommy, what is it?

You've got to get up and go to work.

Mr. Jonas wants you at the store.

Oh, no. No, I can't. I can't.

But you got to.

Mr. Jonas needs you.

I can't work today.

Oh...

You was awful drunk when you came in last night.

You even put on your gun, remember?

Oh.

So I did.

- Where's the gun? - I hid it.

Here.

Put it away, Tommy.

Sure.

You was talkin' about some fellas last night...

How you was goin' get your guns and fight 'em.

Yeah.

Yeah, I remember.

Oh, I'm sick, Tommy.

Just leave me be, will ya?

But you got to go to work.

You spent all your money last night on whiskey.

Well, there's food on the shelf there.

I'll get some more money in a couple of days.

Sure, Zeno.

Aw.

I forgot.

I clean forgot about your birthday tomorrow.

Tommy, you'll get those boots.

I promise you will. I swear it.

But you're broke. You can't work.

And Mr. Jonas won't ever advance you no money.

You leave it to me, Tommy.

You'll get your boots. I promise. You hear me?

Sure, Zeno.

I'll fix you some coffee now.

Hold it there, Tommy.

I'm sorry, Marshal.

There somethin' wrong?

We seen you standin' there at the window, cryin', Tommy.

I'm okay.

What's the trouble, Tommy?

Tomorrow's my birthday, Marshal.

Oh?

Zeno promised me a pair of them boots there.

I see.

But he's home sick, and he can't even work.

Well, Zeno's generally pretty good to you, Tommy.

Maybe he'll get a pair of boots next year.

But next year's too late.

Now, Tommy, you're gettin' to be practically a man.

You're gonna have to learn how to take hard knocks.

You're right, Marshal.

I'm okay now.

Sure you are.

Well, I'd better get back to Zeno.

He might need me.

So long.

So long, Tommy.

Poor kid.

Ah, he'll make out all right.

Let's stop by the Long Branch and have a beer

before we head back to the office.

Oh, suits me fine.

Now, you pay for that one, stranger,

and I'll pour you another.

I said I'll pay you later.

No.

I got half a mind to put another hole in your nose, mister.

It's been 10 years since I was in this town.

And it stinks as bad as it ever did.

You got a complaint, mister?

What?

Oh, you're the marshal.

That's right.

Well, I'm Hank Fergus, Marshal.

So?

You never heard of me?

Nope.

Well, I've been in California for quite a spell.

Well, this is Dodge, Fergus.

Big gunmen with big reputations come and go a lot here.

Mostly they go.

Look, Marshal,

I don't aim to cause no trouble.

I'll tell you the honest truth.

I'm headin' for St. Louis, and kind of went broke on the way.

So I thought I'd stop here

and make a little money gamblin', that's all.

Sure.

It's the truth, Marshal. You can believe me.

I'll let you know when I don't believe you.

You don't make it very easy for a man, do ya?

I'm not paid to make it easy for men like you, Fergus.

I'll see ya later, Marshal.

Wasn't you a little bit hard on him, Mr. Dillon?

You're forgetting something, Chester.

He came here to make some money, and he's broke.

Where's he gonna get the stake to start gamblin'?

Couple beers, Clem.

Tommy!

Hello, Zeno.

What do you want here, Fergus?

I overheard some talk about you at the bar.

So I found out where you live and just come by

to see how you're gettin' along.

Oh, no.

That ain't true.

You want to call me a liar?

You'd better get off that bed and put on a gun, Zeno.

Or don't you wear a gun anymore?

What do you want, Fergus?

I'm broke.

Well, I don't have any money.

I need a little stake to start gamblin' with.

I don't want no trouble from that marshal.

I hear you work at the general store.

What about it?

They got money at the general store, don't they?

You want me to help you rob the store?

Well, I won't do it, Fergus.

I may be a lot of things, but I'm not a thief.

Tommy.

Don't bother us now.

Oh, come in, son. Come on in.

Tommy.

I heard about Tommy, too.

What'd you hear about me, mister?

Tommy, please.

Son, Zeno's upset.

He thinks there are things a boy shouldn't know.

What things?

Oh, things about him, for example.

Right, Zeno?

Don't, Fergus.

I know everything about Zeno.

Oh?

We'll see.

Do you know that one time right here in Dodge about...

How long ago was it, Zeno?

All right, Fergus. You win.

I kind of thought I would.

What's he win?

Nothin'. Never mind now.

Well, I want to know what this is all about.

I said never mind.

I want to know!

What'd you win, mister?

I said shut up!

You hit me.

You hit me, Zeno.

Tommy...

Tommy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.

Tommy... Tommy, I didn't mean it.

I didn't mean it.

Tommy. Tommy, wait!

Come back!

Get out, Fergus!

You're mighty rough, Zeno, on kids.

Get out, will you?

Oh, I'll get out. I'll be back tonight.

You'll be here.

All right, I'll be here.

You got to promise not to tell that boy about what happened.

Of course not.

I wouldn't want him to know what a coward you are.

At least not if I get that cash box

out of the general store without no trouble.

You got your choice, Zeno.

I'll be back tonight to see how you made up your mind.

And remember, I don't want no trouble.

No trouble at all.

Hello, Doc.

Good evenin', Marshal Dillon.

Marshal Dillon.

Uh-oh, you must've been drinking again.

A little wine maketh glad the heart.

Heh.

There hasn't been any wine in Dodge since the flood.

I presume you're referring

to the recent flood that brother Noah weathered so skillfully?

That's the one I had in mind.

Well... Tommy: Marshal!

You're up a little late, Tommy.

I got to talk to you, Marshal.

What's on your mind, Tommy?

I had to come to you.

I've been thinkin' on it for hours.

What's the problem?

Well, that man... that man Fergus...

He's got somethin' on Zeno, Marshal.

And he's gonna make him help rob the cash box out of the general store.

What?

Tonight. You got to stop him, Marshal.

I'm gonna get over there right now.

Well, now wait. Hold on a minute.

I saw Zeno buy a bottle about an hour ago.

He's probably drunk by now.

Then you'd better come along and help sober him up, then.

Yeah.

Tommy: If Zeno ain't home, he's got to be

in here robbin' the store, don't he, Marshal?

We'll soon find out, Tommy.

There doesn't seem to be anybody in there.

Zeno's key fits the back door, not this one, Marshal.

All right, let's go around back.

Come on, Tommy.

It's Zeno!

Tommy.

But Marshal, I... Stay here.

Doc.

Let's get to work on him.

Doc: Yeah.

Oh...

There you are, Matt.

Tommy: Marshal!

Come here, quick!

It's that man Fergus.

He's dead.

Been shot.

Well... there's nothin' on him, either.

You mean no money from the store.

No.

Well, you don't think Zeno took it, do you?

I'm afraid it looks that way, Tommy.

Oh, gee.

I'm sorry, Tommy.

Matt.

He's been shot.

Oh, Zeno! It's Tommy!

Dillon: Doc?

That's Fergus over there, Doc.

He's dead.

He's dead?

Looks like they shot it out over the money.

Well, I never figured Zeno that way.

That's too bad.

Yeah. Too bad for Tommy.

My boots!

My boots, Zeno!

Then you didn't rob the store.

No, Tommy.

I... I owe Mr. Jonas for the boots.

Get my gun and give it to him.

I made a deal for the boots.

Oh, no. No!

Be a man, Tommy.

I'm countin' on you.

I'm countin' on you.

Don't die, Zeno. Don't die!

Tommy, come on.

He's dead, Marshal.

I know.

There's nothin' more you can do for him now, Tommy.

Here, son.

Come on.

Tommy, you're a man now.

Don't ever look back.

Tomorrow mornin' I want you to start wearin' those boots.

And you can walk mighty proud in 'em, too.

Come on.