Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

General? General Marston?

Eh? Eh? Wha...?

What is it?

I'm sorry to disturb you, sir.

There's someone here to see you, General.

Visitors.

Another one of them book-writing fellers.

I ain't gonna talk to no more of 'em.

They can make up their own stories.

Now... now leave me alone.

Well, no, sir, it's someone you sent for...

Colonel Wilson.

Sent for?

Old Gabe!

By gar, he did come after all, and all that way.

Well... well, don't just stand there.

Go on, bring him in here! Hurry up! Step lively!

All right, sir.

Gabe, old hoss!

General, sir!

Now, you chuck that "general" stuff, 'fore I plant you.

I warn't no general or anything else,

when we first shared a blanket.

Go on, sit down over there. Hurry up.

All right.

My, my, my.

Gabe, you sure have aged a whole lot since then.

Well, now, wait a minute.

You ain't exactly the same buck

as chased them 'Rapaho girls

all down around the willows, you know.

You remember that?

Them was the days, Gabe.

The wild free days when the whole country

west of the Big Muddy belonged to us.

Yes.

But you know something, Kip?

Them days are long gone.

Why, you're speakin' about 50 years ago.

That was half a century.

- That long? - Well, longer.

Let's see, up on the Green... that'd be '22 or '22.

My goodness. We... We're sure a couple of

old hosses, ain't we, huh?

About ready to cash in on our beaver.

Ah, them Army doctors... What do they know?

Oh, no, it don't take no book learnin' on this.

They're right.

I ain't got a heap of time.

Ah, go on, Kip.

Uh... how's your boys?

Well, you heard about Charley...

died up in Taos.

And then Billy, he...

he got cholera, living with the Cheyenne.

That leaves only Jim.

He keeps a store in Missouri.

He ain't much satisfaction to me.

Well, just the same, it must be a satisfaction

to have grandchildren.

I guess so.

It seems like you should have some young'uns somewhere.

You, uh... remember Sarah, my first wife?

Cheyenne woman?

Why, sure.

Her Cheyenne name was, uh... Nahsetah.

Her father was a chief.

You left her when you moved to Taos.

That was, uh... time of the Mexican war.

I asked her to go with me, but she wouldn't.

Said she wanted to stay with her people.

Gabe...

there's something that you don't know.

There was a child.

A boy.

I left him there, too.

My only son.

You don't say.

That's why I sent for you.

Well, I was wonderin'.

This boy, he'd be a growed man, if he's alive.

'Bout 35, to my counting.

Sure worried me a whole lot.

I been tryin' to find out.

The Army helped me some.

Now I think I have.

What'd you find out?

Seems he's alive, all right,

and livin' on a ranch somewheres near Dodge City, Kansas.

He, uh, goes by the name of Billy Tooker.

Took the name of the white man

that married Sarah after I left her.

Well, now, that is news, ain't it?

I-I writ to him, but...

he didn't answer.

I'd go see him if I wasn't ailin'.

That's why I sent for you.

You're the only one left

that I could ask such a favor of.

You want me to go to Dodge City, huh?

Yes, sir.

Find me my boy,

and bring him back here to me, before I die.

Well, now, that's a...

that's quite a responsibility.

I know.

It's askin' a whole lot of you, but...

I'm askin' it.

I'll do it.

Thanks, old hoss; thank you.

I'll bring your boy back

here in time, if it's the last thing I do, Kip.

So you just sit back there and relax.

- Yes... - Time for your nap, General.

Oh, yes, yes, yes. All right, all right.

Well, maybe today... for the first time in a long while...

I can rest easy.

Well, good-bye, old hoss.

Good-bye, Kip. And don't you worry now.

I'll find Billy Tooker, and I'll bring him back here.

That's a promise.

Yes, sir.

Hey! Billy Tooker!

- Hi, Billy! - Hi, there.

Hi!

Hey.

Billy... Billy, make us some faces.

Billy, Miranda's belly's tore.

Can you fix her for me?

Aw, well, let-let's just get a look, here.

Let's see what we can do about it.

Oh, why, sure.

We just get us a little old piece of rag here

to tie it up with...

and we'll give her a corset, here.

Just like that, there...

There you are.

Thank you, Billy.

You're nice.

Ah... Thank you.

Billy?

Do that Injun war dance, will you?

Oh, well, now, uh...

I don't think I have time for that right now.

- Oh, come on, Billy, please. - Oh, please, Billy.

Well, all right.

But just a little one, though.

Okay, here we go.

Hey, you!

Billy Tooker!

Hey...

Hello, Lem.

You call me?

Well, there ain't no other Billy Tooker, is there?

None that I know about.

Wouldn't hardly be more than one of that breed, would there?

W-What breed's that, Lem?

Well, you tell me.

Village clown?

Bone picker?

He's not bothering you, leave him alone.

Oh, Lem, quit a-baitin' him.

You know how it always ends.

That's what I'm doin' it for.

I know the one, all right.

Squaw man... ain't that right?

Your squaw teach you to dance like that, Billy?

Lem, you oughtn't to say that.

It ain't respectful to my Missy.

She's a Indian, ain't she?

Pretty or not, you married a Indian, didn't you?

That makes you a squaw man, don't it?

I don't like what you mean when you say it.

So...

you won't say that no more, Lem...

if you please.

Well, maybe you don't want to be a squaw man no more.

Reckon you'd like to get rid of that squaw of yours, huh?

You stop that, you hear me?

Reckon 'bout all she's good for is crow bait!

Squaw man!

Why don't you bring that squaw into town?

I'd like to learn that war dance.

Mr. Green.

I didn't know it was you, Mr. Green.

I sure hope you ain't hurt none.

Hurt none!

Billy, this time you've gone too far.

Look at my-my smashed window

and my chair broke.

Well, it were Lem's fault.

I'll fix him!

Now, hold on a minute!

Billy! That's enough.

You let me at him, Marshal! I'll show him!

You're not going to show anybody anything.

- Now go on home. - No, no.

He's not going home; he's going to jail.

'Cause this time, he's gone too far,

and I'm bringing charges.

And I mean it, Marshal.

All right, Mr. Green.

That's your privilege.

Well, I didn't mean him no harm, Marshal.

I know you didn't, Billy.

Chester, take him to jail, will you?

Yes.

My Missy... she's a fine woman.

And I want you to know that.

You start this?

I didn't do nothing to him, Marshal.

You don't have to bait him like that, do you?

You know how he reacts to it.

Billy's a troublemaker, if you want my opinion.

Well, I don't.

There's no more harmless man

in Dodge City than Billy Tooker,

and you know it.

You folks ought to be real proud of the way you treat him.

Now go on, break it up and get out of here.

Pretty nasty cut you got there,

on top of your head.

That ought to...

that ought to do it, there.

Thank you, Chester.

Yeah, you're... you're welcome.

Is it true, Marshal, what he says?

I-I got to stay here a time?

Well, you caused some property damage

and hit him with a chair and all, Billy.

He can prefer charges if he wants to,

and I gotta hold you.

For how long?

You'll have to stand trial,

and it'll be four or five days before the judge gets back.

I don't want you to think, Marshal,

I don't appreciate your hospitality.

It's right pleasant lodgin' here.

But it's Missy, uh, that worries me.

How's she gonna know what happened to me?

Well, don't worry about that, Billy.

I'll have somebody stop by there and tell her what happened.

Thank you, Marshal.

My mind's some relieved.

Mr. Dillon, I seen Abe Martin down at Jones's store,

getting some supplies.

Now, he lives right out close by Billy, there.

You want that I should tell him to take a message out?

Yeah, why don't you do that, Chester?

All right.

- Howdy. - Howdy.

Hello there, Matt.

Well...

Colonel Wilson!

Just call me Gabe. How are you?

Well, fine. Fine.

You don't look a day older

than the time we rode together against Roman Nose.

Now, how long has that been?

Well, that was back about the winter of '67.

Yeah, I guess that was the last time I rode with the cavalry.

I bet it was the first time for you.

Just about.

Come on, sit down.

Thank you.

Say, you know, you sure thought

you was some punkins in them days, as a scout.

Yeah.

That is, till you showed me a few tricks I didn't know.

Well, don't forget, I did have a few years up on you.

I hear tell you've improved some since.

Done yourself real proud.

You know, I always said

if there was more young'uns like you, Matt,

me and Kip Marston and the others

would rest easy in our graves.

What brings you to Dodge?

A little private business for old Kip.

You know, he's ailin' some.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

You remember Kip had a Cheyenne wife, way back?

Well, there was a child, a half-breed boy.

Now, Kip's traced him to somewheres around Dodge.

And, uh, I've come to fetch him back.

Around Dodge?

Uh-huh.

I don't know of any Marstons around here.

Well, no, you see, the boy took his foster pa's name.

He calls hisself Billy Tooker.

Billy Tooker?

You heard of him?

Yeah, I'll say I have.

Where do I find him?

Right now, I got him locked up in a jail cell out in back.

- In jail? - Yeah.

Is he a lawbreaker?

Well, nothing serious, Gabe.

Come on back.

I'll let you meet him.

So, this is Billy Tooker, huh?

Billy, this is Colonel Gabe Wilson.

Howdy.

Where's his soldier's suit?

Well, he's not in the Army anymore, Billy.

You've heard of Gabe Wilson, haven't you?

Ought I, Marshal?

No, the Billy Tooker I want lives on a ranch,

outside of town somewheres.

Well, I live on a ranch and I got me a wife, too.

Her name's Missy.

Missy?

She's Injun... Cheyenne.

I growed up with them, I'm half-Injun myself.

Do you remember anything about that?

About growing up with them, I mean?

Well, sure.

I liked it.

Only when they went away to the reserve, they wouldn't have me.

They said I wasn't full-blooded.

What was your ma's name?

Nahsetah.

Only the white folks, they called her Sarah.

Oh.

Son, you remember a man named Kip Marston?

No, sir.

I don't reckon I do.

Ought I, Marshal?

I don't know, Billy.

Ah, he'd be lying if he said yes.

Couldn't be more than a year or two old when Kip left.

Why's he asking me all them questions, Marshal?

He'll tell you.

Now, you ain't never heard of Kip Marston?

No, sir.

And you didn't get no letter from him, huh?

A letter?

Mm-hmm.

Well, maybe you mean this here.

The postmaster, he give it to me three or four weeks ago.

Honest, Marshal, he said it was mine.

Yeah, well, it's addressed to you all right, Billy.

You ain't never even opened it.

Well, I ain't gotten around to having

nobody read it off to me yet.

I sure couldn't make it by myself.

Matt, could I talk to you for a minute?

That's Kip Marston's son?

If you say so.

What's he in for?

Well, property damage, assault and battery.

You mean brawling.

Why, in my day, that was nothing to jail a man for.

Times have changed, Gabe.

Well, I'll pay his fines.

I got to take him to Omaha with me.

Well, he's gonna have to stand trial here first,

- and that's gonna be a while. - How long?

Well, three or four days.

Well, I'll put up his bail... You name it.

Well, I don't guess there's anything wrong with that.

Let's make it about $50.

$50... you got it.

Well, don't forget... you're gonna be responsible for him

and he can't leave town.

Marshal?

Marshal, what's this all about?

Well, Billy, I'm gonna turn you loose.

You're gonna be in Colonel Wilson's custody.

He's got some business with you.

All right, young fella.

Now the first thing we need to do

is, uh, buy you some new clothes.

Do I got to go with him, Marshal?

Ah, nothing bad's gonna happen to you, boy.

You just come along with me and do as I say.

Come on now.

Good evening.

Well, we would have waited for you

if we'd known you were coming.

Oh, heavens, that's all right.

I couldn't eat a thing.

I already ate down there at that

Mexican place at the edge of town.

What'll be, Chester?

Oh, nothing, Joe, uh...

Well, wait a minute, on second thought,

uh, did I see that you had pumpkin loaf on the menu?

- Yeah. - Yeah, well, give me just

a kind of a medium slice,

piece of that pumpkin loaf and

put a lot of thick cream on it.

Anything else?

No, that-that'll be all.

Cream? You don't...?

That's all you want? Just...

Well, you know, there's nothing like cream to soothe

a stomach that's burning a little bit.

Chester, did you ever stop to think that, uh,

your stomach wouldn't need quite so much soothing

if you didn't eat all that Mexican food

and you stayed away from those peppers and things?

Oh, heavens yeah, a lot of times.

Of course, I don't think about it when it's going down.

It tastes so good then.

Well, how are things

over in that end of town, Chester?

Oh, fine, fine... Everything's nice and quiet.

Course, uh, there is a lot of talk about Billy Tooker.

You know, everybody's talking about him, making him out

to be a real hero and everything... you know what that

- Dobie's a-fixin' to do? - What?

He's planning a public celebration

just for him tomorrow.

Well, I would think that there would be an awful lot

of red faces around here, considering the way

they've been treating Billy in the past.

Well, you would think so.

Doesn't seem to bother anybody a bit.

Well, it don't bother Billy none, that's for sure.

Thanks a lot, Joe.

Well, Billy's not the kind to hold a grudge.

It's funny, I've met a lot of half-breeds,

but he just doesn't seem a bit like an Indian to me.

Mm-mm! Me neither.

Where'd Mr. Dobie say the celebration was gonna be?

Oh, you mean the one for Billy?

Well, they're gonna have it down at Sutton's Barn.

Gonna be a real big thing, too.

They're gonna have a lot of speeches

and drinking and eating...

Everything.

You going?

Well, I don't know, you know,

living high off the hog like that

can just do you in sometimes.

Crowning an illustrious career

with the stars of a general,

and service to his country

in the War Between the States.

Now in his declining years,

our great nation can boast no finer hero

than General Kip Marston.

Now, let us have a few words from our guest of honor.

I give you our beloved friend

and fellow townsman,

the honorable William Marston.

Get up, boy.

- Billy, Billy, hi, Billy! - Billy! -Hi, Billy!

Hey, that sure is some good eats that Mr. Green done brought,

and, uh, it's just going to waste down there.

So why don't we eat it, huh?

Uh, uh, wait, wait.

We have some more speeches.

Wait, folks...!

Get yourself a piece of pie... It's good.

You wouldn't know he's Kip Marston's kin.

Well, I always did think he came from good stock.

Oh, yeah, that's why you were such

a good friend of his, wasn't it?

The way you was baiting him, I wouldn't be surprised

if he never spoke to any of us again.

Come on, let's get some grub.

You better go easy there, son.

Well, what's the matter? It's all for me.

That's what Mr. Green done said.

But don't you understand, boy?

You got something to live up to now.

You can't just go around eating and drinking like a hog.

You're a Marston now, you ain't a Tooker anymore.

Well, don't this Marston fella eat nothing?

- Or drink nothing? - It ain't just that, boy.

It's how you do it.

Now, you've got to straighten up and act dignified.

Remember, you're Marston's son.

- Hi, Billy! - Oh, hey.

Hi, Bill.

Billy, Miranda wants to give you a kiss.

Why, sure, baby, sure.

Hey, Bill, will you do us some faces?

Yeah, Billy, make us some faces!

Well, no, no, this ain't the proper place.

I-I got to act dignified.

Aw, come on, Billy.

Just a couple?

Will you do us the Indian war dance?

- Oh, the Indian war dance. - Please, please!

Well, I don't know about that.

What?

All right, all right, all right.

Come on, now, just sit over there now.

Plenty of room, got to have plenty of room, ready?

Here we go.

Hey, what do you think you're doing?

Oh, I'm-I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to mess up your suit or nothing.

Wait a minute, we're not supposed to fight.

We're supposed to act dignified.

Well, it's your fault, anyway.

I sure am sorry.

I didn't mean to cause no trouble.

I guess you sure did break up that meeting, Billy.

Yeah, I know.

I'm sorry though.

You gonna put me back in jail, Marshal?

What good would that do?

I'd rather you put me back in jail, Marshal.

Why?

Well, this Marston fella, I guess he's my daddy,

and I guess he's a fine fella and all that,

but I don't want to go to no Omaha with that old colonel.

I just want to go back to jail and serve my time,

then go home to Missy.

I don't want to be no Billy Marston.

I just want to be Billy Tooker.

Well, it's your decision, Billy.

Nobody can force you to go to Omaha or take his name either.

The colonel says I got to.

No, that's up to you.

You remember that.

Can I go now, Doc?

Oh, yes. Yes, you can go.

You're all right, but you're gonna have

a sore cheek there for a day or two.

Thank you, Doc.

What do I owe you?

Oh, you don't owe me anything, Billy.

But if you was somebody, then I'd have to charge you.

Yeah.

Yeah, I guess so.

Oh, Matt!

Say, uh...

uh, go on over to the hotel, will you, boy?

And wait for me?

I'm sorry, Colonel.

I don't blame you for being mad,

but I really was trying to act dignified.

Well, I guess you just ain't got it in you.

Never mind, go on over to the hotel.

I'll-I'll be right over.

You know, Matt, this-this kind of thing can't go on.

That boy's making a fool out of Kip.

Oh, I wouldn't go as far as to say that, Gabe.

Well, I got to get him out of town

before he disgraces the name.

You know, I wired Kip about finding him,

and the word I get back is that the old man is

so excited he's liable to have a stroke.

Now, in his condition, he might not last too long.

I got to get that boy to Omaha... quick!

Well, he still has to stand trial

and the judge isn't back yet.

Aw, dang the judge.

Now, here's what I got in mind:

If you could put off that trial for two or three weeks,

well, then I could take him to Omaha and bring him back.

Can't do it, Gabe.

In the first place, I don't have the authority.

In the second place, Billy doesn't want

to go to Omaha with you anyway.

But he's got to go... I made old Kip a promise

and I mean to keep that promise if I have to hog-tie that boy.

Well, no, you're not... he's got a right to make up his own mind.

Now, if you can change it with talk, that's fine.

Well, supposing I do talk to him, you just said yourself

you ain't got the authority to let him go.

Well, there's one thing I can do.

I can go see Mr. Green.

Maybe he'll drop the charges against Billy.

You think he will after what happened today?

Well, yeah, I think there's a good chance of it.

You see, the fact that Billy's Kip Marston's son

carries a lot of weight around here.

And then Billy'd be free... Released?

Yeah, but you'd still have to talk him into going with you.

Without using any force.

Now, remember that.

You know, son, I got your clothes all cleaned

and I got you a bag,

so you get 'em all packed up, will you?

Well, what for?

We're riding out of here to Spearville.

When we get there, we're gonna take a train to Omaha.

I can't leave town.

Oh, don't you worry about the marshal.

It's all arranged.

Well, he said it was up to me.

I don't have to go if I don't want to.

He said that?

And I don't want to.

Well, now, the marshal put you in my custody, remember?

So I say we're going to Omaha.

Yeah, but he told me that I didn't have to...

Never mind what he told you; maybe he changed his mind.

Anyway, son, it's all arranged, and we're going to Omaha,

so, come on now and pack your clothes.

Well, come on, boy, get going!

Uh, my shaving things...

I left 'em down the hall.

Ah, never mind. I'll get it for you.

You just get on with the packing.

You ready, Billy?

- Hello, Gabe. - Hi, Matt.

- Say, where's Billy? - Why?

Well, I'd like to tell him he's a free man.

Mr. Green's dropped the charges against him.

If you come on by the office,

I'll give you your $50 bail back.

Well, that's good news, ain't it?

I'll tell him.

Well, I'd kinda like to tell him myself.

Well, he's, uh, he's asleep right now.

He's kind of resting after that brawl,

and I'd... I'd soon not disturb him.

All right, but you tell him now, for sure.

You tell him he's a free man,

he doesn't have to go to Omaha or anywhere else.

Well, sure, I'll tell him.

Maybe I should've stayed there.

Went back to that jail.

I wasn't sure, though.

Maybe the marshal did change his mind.

I don't think he'd throw in with that colonel fellow,

but I just couldn't be sure.

Anyway... I was awful homesick.

They don't have no cooking like this at all in that there town.

Them hotel cooks ain't got no idea how

to fix hog and pan bread.

Mmm!

You want more, Billy?

No, this is a-plenty for now.

This man, this, uh, Colonel...

He will come after you?

Eh, like as not.

He don't give up easy.

And them beds...

no dern good at all.

Too dern soft or something.

I didn't get no night's sleep at all.

You not leave your Missy?

Go away?

Ain't I proved that already?

Now, don't you worry about it.

I just ain't going, no matter what he does.

Maybe you like Omaha.

Big town...

you be somebody.

Lots of money, many pretty girls.

Now what are you talking about?

Why would I care anything about that?

Missy, ain't you my woman?

Ain't that the way it's been, as long as both of us can remember?

And that's just the way things is.

Ain't nothing gonna change that.

Come on in. It ain't locked.

Billy?

You stay right there.

What you doing with that gun, boy?

You ain't being very hospitable

to a man that's trying to help you.

I don't want no help from you, Colonel.

Now you just turn around and get out of here.

- Now... - Go away and leave me be!

Now listen, son...

I ain't a shooting man, Colonel,

but if you try to take me away, I'll plug you sure.

Boy, you just don't understand.

I understand it all.

You're trying to tell me

somebody's my daddy when I know he ain't.

I don't know why you're doing it,

'cause I remember my daddy, Mr. Tooker, right well.

He used to take me hunting with him sometimes, before he died.

I was only 22 years or so, but I remember that.

But Tooker wasn't really your father.

He was only your foster father.

I ain't never heard of no man called Kip Marston,

and neither has Missy.

Now that name don't mean nothing to us.

And I ain't just ain't gonna leave Missy here and my ranch

to go to Omaha for no complete stranger.

Now so you just get on your horse

and get on back to that there town.

Boy, you just listen to me.

You don't seem to realize the trouble you're in.

You forgetting you're out on bail;

the marshal told you not to leave town?

Now, when you ran away, you became a wanted man...

A fugitive from justice...

And that's a very serious crime, Billy;

one they could put you in jail a long time for.

Years.

And she won't be there with you, either.

You ain't gonna be separated just a few days.

It'll be for years, Billy.

But if you come with me, ah, everything'll be all right.

Nobody need know you ran away.

I'll tell 'em you was with me the whole time,

in my custody, just like the marshal said.

But if you don't, boy, you're in bad trouble.

I'd have to tell the marshal about it myself.

Of course, you could kill me.

But they'd find out, and then they'd hang you for sure.

You don't want him to go to jail, do you, Missy?

For years, maybe?

Wouldn't just a few days in Omaha be a whole lot better?

Wouldn't it, Billy?

Sure, it would.

Come on, son, let's get started.

Come on, boy.

- Hi, Mr. Dobie. - Matt.

Gabe come back yet?

No, I haven't seen him in three or four hours.

What about Billy?

I haven't seen him either.

You mean, they haven't even come down to eat?

No.

Say, that's kinda funny, isn't it?

We better take a look upstairs.

They took all their clothes.

But they didn't check out. They didn't say anything.

Marshal, I hardly know what to say.

Look, if he shows up at all,

let me know right away, will you?

Sure.

- Evening, Marshal. - Huh...

Oh, Mr. Dobie, I'm looking for Gabe Wilson.

Got a very important message for him over the telegraph.

It's so important, I thought I'd bring it myself.

What's so important about it, Jason?

Well, I guess I can tell you, Marshal.

The whole town will know soon enough.

Kip Marston's coming to town.

He'll be on the morning train,

and he's coming to see his boy.

Say, what do you know about that?

Hey, that'll set this town on its ear.

Yeah, especially seeing as his son isn't even here.

Wonder where they are?

Let's try the back.

Stop right there!

Hello, Missy.

Ooh, Marshal.

Billy not here.

He not run away.

He go with colonel to Omaha.

The colonel tell Billy that he didn't have to go?

Well, he say if Billy not go, he in bad trouble.

Go to jail long time.

That's what I was afraid of.

It not true?

No, it's not true, Missy.

He's free... He doesn't have to go to Omaha,

or jail or anywhere else.

That colonel big liar.

Yeah, and we gotta catch up with them.

Where'd they go?

They go to east,

to place where they catch train in the morning.

I not know name of place.

You better go down, back to town, Chester,

and tell the dispatcher to send their descriptions

along the line.

Have the stationmasters hold 'em.

Don't let them get on that morning train.

Yes, sir.

Where-where you gonna go, Mr. Dillon?

Well, I guess I'll head for Spearville.

That's probably where they went.

- Maybe I can catch up with them. - Yes, sir.

Marshal, can I go with you?

Well, no, you don't have to do that, Missy.

I'll bring 'em back to town.

Why don't you come on in to Dodge?

♪♪

You lagging behind a lot, boy.

Maybe you could use a rest.

Tie the horses up here, and they can rest, too.

Maybe we'll get some fresh ones, up the way a piece...

find a ranch.

You know, Billy...

I guess I owe you an apology, kinda.

You see, this here means so dern much to old Kip.

We...

him and me, we been friends a real long spell.

I made him a promise,

the kind of promise a man can't break.

Hey, now wait a minute.

What you think you're doing, young man?

Turning things around, I guess, Colonel.

I'm going back to Dodge.

Now listen, boy, I just been telling you...

Ain't no use to argue.

Did you forget what I told you? It'll mean jail for you.

That's the way it'll have to be.

The marshal's a old friend of mine;

I'm just going back and tell him all about it.

You dern fool, he won't even listen to you.

He'll put you in jail and he'll throw away the key!

Maybe.

But if I done wrong, I didn't mean to.

I'm gonna tell him that.

Now I'm going back to Dodge.

You go back to Dodge, I'll come after you.

I'm taking you back to Omaha, if it's the last thing I do!

Colonel, I'm just asking you to be reasonable.

I'm just asking you to leave me be.

Uh, you g-go on back to Omaha and you stay there

and don't ever come back.

Now I'm just asking you to promise me that.

No, I ain't gonna do that.

I can't leave you be until I do what I gotta do.

There's only one thing to do.

What?

Kill you.

They'll just hang you.

No.

Way out here, they ain't likely to find your body.

I can hide it and nobody'll know.

Now, boy, you, you really don't mean this.

Yeah, I mean it.

Less'n you get on your horse and ride out of here

and don't never come back.

Oh, I ain't gonna be beat by the likes of you.

Go right ahead.

You kill me.

Go on.

Well...

all right.

Billy!

Put the gun down.

I was all ready to come back to jail.

There's no need to, Billy. You're free.

I told him to tell you that.

Whew! He sure is a liar.

I'm afraid that just about sums it up.

Oh, Matt, I was only trying to keep my promise to old Kip.

I didn't break no law.

Maybe I lied, but he come this far of his own accord.

Well, there hasn't been any harm done.

Anyway, we're all going back to Dodge. Come on.

How am I gonna face up to old Kip?

Oh, I think you'll manage all right.

And probably a whole lot sooner than you'd figured.

What do you mean?

Well, he's on his way to Dodge now.

If you'd gone to Omaha, you'd have missed him altogether.

That's yours.

Yeah. Thank you.

Mr. Dillon! Well, I see that you got 'em.

Yeah.

Kip get into town all right?

Yeah, he's over at the Dodge House, Mr. Dillon.

He's kinda resting up there.

He don't look none too hearty to me.

What am I gonna tell him?

What would you have told him in Omaha?

Say, Marshal, can I take Missy home now?

Well, Billy, aren't you gonna stop over and say hello to Kip?

Nah, I don't care much about seeing him.

Now, Billy, I don't know for sure

whether Kip Marston's your father or not.

Maybe he isn't.

But on the other hand, maybe he is.

No matter what his shortcomings

to you and your mother, you know,

he's an old man, Billy, probably dying.

He's come a long way to get here.

It would make him feel real good

to see the man he thinks is his son.

Billy, you know, Kip's been a great man this time.

A real hero, no fake about it.

He came out west as a boy, one of the very first white men.

He was a trapper and a mountain man

when it took a mighty brave man to live like that.

He was a friend to the Indians, all of them,

not just your Cheyenne that he lived with.

He was a trader, an Indian agent,

and later, he was a senator and a territorial governor.

He was a great soldier in three wars.

He really earned his general's stars.

He served his country and a lot of people well,

for a lot of years, Billy.

Almost any man'd be proud to be called his son.

Now he deserves a lot of respect from all of us.

Don't you think you could go over there and shake his hand?

Can I bring Missy along?

Sure.

All right, I'll do it.

Oh, Billy, uh...

uh, don't you think maybe you ought to clean up

a little bit and change your clothes?

You can use my office.

Go get your bag, son.

Thank you, General.

That was a good one, wasn't it, General?

I don't know why they have to shoot me like that.

Well, it goes right straight up

in the air, like that.

Well, Gabe, you old hoot, where you been?

Kip, old hoss, I had to go out and round up a maverick for you.

Billy? My son?

I knew I could depend on you.

Thank you, Gabe, thank you.

Kip, you remember young Matt Dillon?

Why, sure, sure, howdy, son.

Hello, General. It's good to see you again.

Come out here, boy.

Kip, this here's your son Billy.

Howdy.

I don't rightly know what to say,

but I'm mighty glad to know you, sir.

I really mean that.

Uh, Billy...

I wanted to see you; I had to see you.

Something I want to ask you.

Can you find it in your heart to forgive an old man?

Forgive?

For leaving you and your mother.

For not coming back.

And for forgetting.

It's been the one big regret of my whole life,

and it just fills me with misery just thinking of it.

Can you forgive me, boy?

Sure.

There ain't nothing to forgive. Honest.

Well, that sets my mind at ease.

Yes, sir.

Gabe, he don't look very bright, does he?

Well, maybe he ain't had much schooling.

Well, t'ain't your fault.

You did what I said.

I seen my son and I got his forgiveness.

You ought to feel some better, anyways.

Yeah, I guess so.

But, uh... now what?

Sir...

this is my wife Missy.

This here's my daddy, Mr. Kip Marston.

Uh, how-howdy there, ma'am.

Him?

Him not your pa.

Now wait a minute, Missy.

You don't understand. You see...

I remember him.

I not know name "Kip Marston," but I remember face.

Him at Cheyenne camp, I little.

Him not Billy's father.

Him before.

Mr. Tooker Billy's father.

Are you sure of that?

Billy come to Cheyenne with Mr. Tooker.

Him maybe five, six years old.

But Nahsetah had a son by the general.

I remember.

Then he go away.

Baby little.

Pretty soon, winter come, baby die.

That long before Mr. Tooker come, bring Billy.

I play with him, take care of him.

We grow up, get married.

Then... then he ain't my son?

Well, I guess not, General.

Missy here ought to know.

I'm awfully sorry.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, ain't that a shame?

And then it ain't nobody's fault, though.

It is a shame, though, Kip, you coming this far and all.

Yes, I know.

I didn't find my son,

but I found out that I ain't got one.

I found out how it happened.

But it ain't nobody's fault.

I sure hope you don't hold no grudge against me.

Oh, no, no, no, no, son.

It-it wasn't your fault at all; no.

But I'm, I'm awful glad to have met you and the missus.

Thank you.

Gabe... my, my, my, wasn't that a relief?

I reckon.

Let's get out of this town quick.

Buy some tickets for Kansas City.

Kansas City?!

Yeah! Great place for a celebration.

Or ain't you up to a little celebrating yet,

you old coot, you?

Well, you know what they say, Kip.

There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

Yeah.

Mr. Marston?

Mr. Marston, would you pose for a picture?

Sure.

Uh, but the name's Tooker.

Billy Tooker.

- Remember that. - Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Tooker.

Come on, Missy.

Let's go home.

All right, Billy.