Original subtitles

♪♪

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Hey, when does the stage to Independence leave here?

What's the matter with you?

I want to go to Independence. When does the stage leave here?

Well, can't you read?

There's one coming in any minute now.

Won't be none going out for a couple of hours yet.

Well, I guess I got time for another drink, huh?

You've had enough already if you ask me.

Wh...

I didn't ask you. I didn't ask you nothing

but about that stage out to Independence.

Let me go.

Let me go!

Well...

Let me help you, Miss.

Oh, well how sweet of you.

I... I hope it wasn't too rough a ride for you.

Oh, no. I survived beautifully thanks to your expert driving.

I done the best I could.

You're a real gentleman.

Look, I'll take you inside and find you a place to sit.

And then as soon as I get your bag down

and as soon as I put the horses up,

I'll come back, and I'll help you find a place to stay.

Well, aren't you the kindest thing!

♪ You can look all over Kansas ♪

♪ Never again this town ♪

♪ You'll never find another pair ♪

♪ Like her eyes a'brown ♪

Well, I'll swear to goodness.

Well, I never in my whole life, Mr. Dillon...

What's the matter?

She's a'coming here.

Who's coming here?

Uh... uh...

Oh, come in. Come in.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Would either one of you gentlemen be the United States Marshal?

Yes, ma'am. Matt Dillon.

How do you do?

Um, Marshal, I'm Colleen Tawny.

And I have a matter that's very unpleasant

that I'd like to discuss with you.

Oh well, here, here, Miss Tawny.

Just... Just set yourself down right there in that chair.

Thank you, sir.

Chester Goode at your service.

Well, what can we do for you, Miss?

Well, Marshal, I'm an orphan.

And I'm all alone.

Well you see, I was born in Virginia.

And my aunt raised me,

and she took me to San Francisco.

Well, a month ago my aunt passed away.

Aw, that's too bad.

Well, anyway I was on my way back to Virginia,

and I had saved just enough money to get there.

I just wanted to see some of my kinfolks, you know,

if there were any left.

And, Marshal, I just... I just don't know

how anybody could've done it.

Done what, Miss?

They took my money.

I was over in the stage office,

and I put my handbag down just for a minute.

You know, people usually so nice. I just never thought...

You mean somebody stole it?

Every penny.

I'm... I'm a pauper.

I'm destitute.

Well... well, Miss Tawny, let me get you some water.

Marshal, I'm so alone.

I don't have a house.

I don't have anybody to turn to.

I don't have a thing to eat.

Well now, I'm sure sorry to hear that, Miss,

but now, don't you worry about a thing.

We'll do everything we can to help you.

Uh, I'm sure we could get you

a room over at the Dodge House for a few days.

Oh, do you really think you could?

Why sure.

Something's bound to turn up.

We might even get your money back for you.

Yes. Want some water?

No, thank you, Chester.

You know, Marshal,

when I came in that door and I say y'all's faces,

I just knew you would help me.

Yeah.

Chester, why don't you take Miss Tawny

over to the Dodge House and see if you can arrange

to get a room for her.

Uh, well, yes. Sure, I will.

Of course, Miss Tawny, I would just be delighted.

You're a real gentleman.

You know, Marshal, the stage driver wanted

to help me find a place. But I came right to you.

And I'm so glad I did.

Well, I'm sure everything will turn out all right.

Just don't you worry.

Well, thank you so much, Marshal.

Oh, Chester, hold on here just a...

Well, aren't you going to introduce me.

Uh, Miss Colleen Tawny, this here is... is Doc Adams.

How do you do?

How do you do?

- You're a real doctor? - Oh, yes.

A physician?

Yes, indeed. You're... you're a newcomer.

Yes, I am. But everybody's just been so nice,

I feel like I just got a world of friends.

Well, you see what I was trying to do, Doc,

I was taking Miss Tawny down to the Dodge House

to get her a room.

Well, I'm certainly glad they made you feel at home.

And let me just say that anything I might do

I'm at your service.

Well, thank you very much.

Well, you see, the thing is, Doc,

that we're just afraid the rooms is going to be all gone

if we don't get down there.

Well, why don't you go?

Heh.

Um, excuse me, Miss.

I'm Bull Reeger.

Have we met, Mr. Reeger?

No, ma'am. But we're meeting now.

I made him tell me your name.

Colleen Tawny.

That's about the prettiest name I ever heard.

Uh, I seen you getting off the stage this morning.

I was going to Independence. I got business there, but...

I ain't going now.

Business can wait.

Besides, I ain't exactly broke nohow.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

Oh, I used to hunt buffalo.

That is 'til I found out it was easier work buying 'em.

The hides, I mean.

Well, what does that got to do with me?

It's 'cause of you I'm staying here in Dodge.

I figured you might need somebody

to kind of look after you.

Isn't that sweet of you.

This here's a mighty tough town, Miss Colleen.

Why, the people, they ain't hardly civilized.

And a pretty little girl like you

could get in all sorts of trouble

without someone standing guard.

And you want to be my protector?

This here hotel, it ain't no fit place for a lady.

Come with me, I've got something to show you.

Mr. Reeger, I don't think...

No. Miss Colleen, you're as safe with me

as if you had the whole United States cavalry

right around you.

Well, all right.

But just promise to bring me now right back.

Oh, you give the word, I'll burn this town down

and build you a new one.

Hello, Marshal.

Mr. Jonas, uh, what's Chester doing here?

Is he stocking up for a buffalo hunt or what?

I don't know. I ain't seen none of his money yet.

Mr. Dillon, what are you doing here?

Well, I was going to ask you the same thing.

Well, actually I was just thinking about

maybe buying a few groceries.

Maybe buying them?!

Now look, Chester, you're going to buy this stuff,

or you're going to spend the rest of the day

putting it back where you found it.

You got weevils in your flour.

Well, anybody can get weevils in hot weather.

What are you buying these groceries for?

Uh, well, uh...

well, it's stuff that a body could use, you know,

if they had to eat in a room

where they couldn't do no cooking or nothing like that.

Well, a few cans of beans and a sack of cracklings

ought to do that.

Well yeah, if you're a buffalo skinner.

But beans and cracklings ain't fit for a lady, Mr. Jonas.

Chester, you couldn't be buying these things

for that new girl that came to town, could you?

- That Colleen Tawny? - Oh...

So that's it.

Now I know what you're up to.

You know, Marshal, that girl must be something.

She got everybody turning handsprings.

Well, she's just kind of a young, innocent girl.

Somebody's got to look out after her.

Well, somebody's already looking after her, Chester.

Who?

Well, Bull Reeger bought a wagon-load of stuff

in here an hour ago.

Bull Reeger?

That buffalo?

Well, that may be.

But, Chester, I hear he's just a sure enough devil

with the women.

You know, you're going to have to get out and hawk some

if you're going to run rivals with him.

Oh...

- Well, uh, I'll see- - Where you going?

Well, I'm going out to see

if I can save the beauty from the beast.

Uh...

Who is it?

Marshal Dillon.

Why, Marshal, what are you doing here?

Well, Colleen, I'd like to see you for a minute, if I can.

Why, I'm just delighted. Come right on in.

Thank you.

Well, Colleen, I understand that you've been seeing Bull Reeger.

Yes, I have. He's just about the nicest man I ever met.

Well, Colleen, look,

I... I don't want to interfere in your business.

But, you see, I've known Bull Reeger for a long time.

And, well, he's just not the kind of a man

that a girl like you should be associating with.

Aw, Marshal, my old Aunt... God bless us both...

She said that innocence was its own defense.

Well, I'm just afraid that your aunt never met Bull Reeger.

Oh, he's just trying to be kind and helpful

just like you are, Marshal.

Why, everybody's been so nice to me.

Chester stopped by twice this morning.

He did?

Yeah. You know, Mr. Reeger just simply insists on helping me.

Why, this morning he took me out to the edge of town

to show me this little old house of his.

He said I could live in it for nothing as long as I liked.

- He did? - Yeah.

Oh, I told him I couldn't think of doing such a thing.

And you know what else he said?

He said I could have it. He would give it to me.

- He'd give you the house? - Yes!

And that's exactly what I done.

Don't you know how to knock, Reeger?

Not when the door's open, Marshal.

I went and done it, little lady.

Had it all drawn up proper and legal over at the bank.

This here's the deed.

Mr. Reeger!

The house is yours, lock, stock, and barrel.

And no strings on it.

You can move in right away if you have a mind to.

I... I loaded it up with groceries for you.

Why, Marshal, isn't this wonderful?

I'm just so excited. I'm going to have

to go read this little paper all the way through.

You do that.

Reeger, I'm telling you right now, I don't like this.

Well, all's fair, Marshal.

Now, let me tell you something.

This girl is new in town. She's young.

And she's all alone.

And I'm making it my business to see

she doesn't get into any trouble.

Marshal, I played it fast and loose all my life.

But you're looking at a changed man standing here, Marshal.

I've been born new.

And I'll marry that young lady if-ing she'll have me.

Marry her?

That's right.

All right, if she wants to marry you,

that's her business.

Good-bye, Colleen.

Why, Chester, what are you doing here this time of night?

Well, it's only 8:00.

I... I just thought I'd bring a few things down to you.

Oh, well aren't you a darling. Come right on in!

Oh. Thank you.

Oh. Oh, my goodness.

What all did you bring me?

Well, just a few things to eat.

Oh, well, put them down right, uh, right here.

Kind of looks like you got a few things there already.

Oh, just some things Mr. Reeger dropped off.

How'd you know I was out here?

Well, they... they told me at the hotel.

Oh, they did?

Yes.

- Uh, speaking of Mr. Reeger... - Yes?

Uh, actually that there is the reason why I come out,

Coll... Miss Tawny.

You see, I... Well, he ain't too nice of a man.

- No? - No. No.

And I just... Well, I thought that you'd maybe

oughtn't to be seen with him.

You know, a nice girl like you.

Oh! Oh, would you get the door for me, please?

Uh...

Men are sure all alike.

Well, is that something you just found out recently?

No. But I've been reminded of it the last 3 days,

watching them all flutter around that little Miss Colleen Tawny.

Well, they think she needs protection, Kitty.

She needs protection like a tiger in a circus.

Huh?

That's what the iron bars are for.

To protect the tiger.

Oh. Mm-hmm.

Well, I'll have to remember that.

Flat broke 3 days ago.

And now she's got a house of her own and, well,

enough food to last her for a month.

That's not the end of it either.

Chester's still running up there 3 or 4 times a day

with more groceries.

Oh, and that Bull Reeger. Now, there's a real Romeo.

Well, see, they're trying to protect her

because she's an orphan.

Well, she probably drowned her parents.

Kitty, you're a pretty hard taskmaster.

Say, how'd you like to have lunch over at Delmonico's?

I'd like that.

All right. I'll stop by the office.

And I'll be back to pick you up.

Good.

Marshal.

Reeger.

2 bottles, Clem.

There we are, Bull.

Thanks. Put 'em on the bill.

Sure.

I guess Reeger's trying to protect

that poor little girl from water.

Now, what is it... 5 cards to each person to begin with?

That's right, honey.

Don't you never play with nobody

that's got more than 5 cards, neither.

Why would anybody want to do that?

Don't bother to ask them why.

Just put a bullet in their belly.

Oh, Mr. Reeger.

I'm sorry. I... I forgot.

I need a drink.

Oh, here, that's not enough. Let me get it for you.

I can do it.

Why, I'm delighted to do it after all you've done for me.

Oh, that ain't nothing to what I'll do for you

if-ing you'll marry me.

Now, Mr. Reeger, that's a very big step for a girl to take.

Now, you know I'm going to have to think it over.

Sure. Well, I... I ain't pushing you none.

You've been so kind giving everything.

Even teaching me this silly old game.

What I can't figure out is why a pretty little gal like you

would want to learn to play draw poker.

Oh, I didn't really.

It's just so many people talking about it, I sounded so ignorant.

Is that to your liking?

I ain't never seen no whiskey yet that weren't to my liking.

Would you like some more?

Well now, doggone! I never did see a woman

know how to treat a man like you do.

Aw, Mr. Reeger, it's a pleasure for me.

That's a woman's place in life as far as I see it.

Oh, honey, you sure see it right!

Oh, Mr. Reeger, we're forgetting the game.

Oh, you pick up your cards and show me what to do.

I've forgotten already. I'm such a ninny.

Well, I guess I'm all ready.

I sure do appreciate this, Mr. Jonas.

Oh, 'tain't nothing, Miss Colleen.

No really, I just don't know what I'd of done without you.

You know, I'm all alone in the world...

Don't you worry about a thing.

I'm just more than glad to do anything I can to help you.

You're a real gentleman.

Chester?

Howdy, Doc.

Mr. Dillon.

Chester.

Have you seen Colleen lately?

You know...

Mr. Dillon, sometimes I get... get to feeling that...

Well, that she don't hardly even know that I'm alive.

Well, you got some pretty stiff competition

with that Bull Reeger, you know.

Well, yeah. He bought her a whole house.

Well, you just let him spend too doggone much time

alone with her. That's the trouble.

Well, Doc, I can't spend all my time with her.

I mean, I'm just so broke and so far in debt now

that I just ain't never going to get out.

Well, you give up. That's the trouble.

A faint-heart never won a fair lady.

Oh well, yeah. It's easy for you to talk. Yeah.

At least I done something for her.

If it'd been up to a lot of people I know around here,

she'd of starved to death.

Oh, I don't... I don't think there's much chance

of her dying of starvation, do you?

Not likely with that stock of groceries she's got there.

Well, at least the poor, defenseless little thing

knows that there's somebody in this whole world

that she can turn to.

All right, Marshal, where is she?

What have you done with her?

Why, is something wrong, Reeger?

There's plenty wrong. She's gone, that's what.

She's gone?!

Well, what... What happened to her?

That's what I came here to find out.

She cleared out bag and baggage.

And you had something to do with it.

Now, just hold on here a minute.

Suppose you just tell us what happened, huh?

Well, we was just sitting there.

And I was teaching her to play draw poker.

And I kind of dozed off for a minute.

Drunk, probably.

Now, you just wait a minute, Doc!

How much did you lose?

Oh, about $1,200, near as I can figure.

How'd you know I lost?

You mean...

nah, she couldn't have been cheating, could she?

You were there.

Well, I wasn't paying no attention.

Now listen, if something's happened to her,

I'm going out there at the house and find out.

All right. We'll all go along. Doc?

I wouldn't miss it.

Well, there ain't nothing there. Nothing at all.

Oh, what is this about her leaving bag and baggage?

Her clothes. She took her clothes with her.

She even took that little lacey thing I bought her.

Cost me plenty, too.

Well, I wanted to sell you one of them cotton robes

for half the price, Reeger.

What are you doing here? Where's Miss Colleen?

Oh, she took the train for St. Louis about half an hour ago.

She what?

Yeah. I walked her down to the depot myself.

That's a smart young woman. She's got a good head.

Yeah. Good thing she didn't take the house along.

It's a lucky thing for me she couldn't.

What do you mean?

She sold it to me.

Made over the deed and everything.

$1,400. Cash.

This house is worth $3,000!

That's about what I figured it at.

Marshal... You gave it to her, Reeger.

She had a legal right to sell it.

I'm going to take her to court.

I'll prove she got me drunk or something.

Mm-hmm. You want to be the laughing stock of town, huh?

Yeah. I think if I was you, Reeger,

I'd just forget about the whole thing.

Well, I just, uh...

Well, I just don't understand it.

I mean, well what in the world is going to happen to her?

Chester, I wouldn't worry about her.

I think she'll get along all right.

As a matter of fact, I think she'll always find

somebody to protect her.

Doc, how about a beer, huh?

Suits me.

- Jonas? - Uh-huh.