Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Moran?

Hey, Moran!

You better stay close around here, Moran!

Hey, Cheevers.

Look what I found.

Now, what is it?

I don't know, but it sure warms your toes.

- You been drinking down there? - No, no.

I was just down there looking.

But I never seen a fruit cellar

that didn't have a jug of something.

Here, here, hold on to it.

You're gonna like it, I know it.

That's it.

Drink it.

Ain't that a fright? Ain't it?

I wonder what that started out to be.

I don't know, but it don't matter now.

All right, give me some more.

I knew you'd like it.

Ah, it's getting better, you know.

Hold it right there.

Now, turn around

and face the shack and get your hands up.

I see a hair move, I'll shoot.

Well, I don't know.

Maybe I got the wrong men.

Turn around, let's have a look at you.

Well, you look kind of familiar.

Well, Chance Hopper... What's the idea of funning us?

No trick at all.

Thought you wasn't due till nightfall.

You get out of prison, you want to ride away from it

as fast as you can.

You look good, Chance, real good.

Yeah, you got maybe better-looking in two years.

Well, you two didn't get any smarter.

A woman could've rode in here and took the both of you.

Ah, that wasn't very smart of you,

sneaking up like that, Chance.

You might've got killed.

You killed this jug when you dropped it, too, Cheevers.

I made a little stop on the way over.

Hey, I told Cheevers we'd do some celebrating

when you got back.

Uh, he got a head start.

He's been celebrating all day.

Well, come on, let's keep it up.

Good to see you, Chance.

Yeah, old Chance there.

How do you like it?

It's beautiful.

You listening to me, Chance?

I haven't seen a hearth fire in two years.

Or had a belly full of red meat.

Or swallowed any whiskey.

I'm sure not listening to you.

Well, we got to talk plans, boy.

Well, you go ahead and talk plans.

Just don't count on me listening.

You know what I'm doing?

You're drinking too much.

I'm lying here hating my insides.

Yeah, and yours some, too, Cheevers.

Oh, why don't you go on to bed?

We got to ride to Larned tomorrow.

Didn't seem so bad till you come back, Chance.

Now it seems as though you went to prison for all of us.

I went to prison for me.

We all took that bank.

Well, Chance got caught.

That was the difference, wasn't it, Chance?

Yeah, that was the difference.

He never spoke out once.

Never give our names.

Well, that's what we agreed on.

Whoever got caught was alone.

Been the same if it was you or me.

Don't set right.

You wishing you'd served time instead of me?

You seem content.

It's over and done with.

I know... I know what's eating old Moran.

See, he spent his share a long time ago.

See, you still got your share coming, Chance.

No, that's not right at all.

Just hit me wrong all of a sudden.

That's all.

Well, this will hit you all right.

I'm not riding to Larned in the morning, Cheevers.

Huh? Huh?

W-We can.. we can lay over a day or two

if that's what you want.

I want to go to Dodge City.

Why Dodge City?

Got a little living coming after two years.

Figure Larned can wait a few days.

You ever been there?

Nope.

Let me tell you about it.

It's about, uh, five saloons

and a livery stable...

surrounded by the biggest marshal you ever saw.

Matt Dillon.

Well, he ain't nothing to tangle with, Chance.

Oh, I heard about him, all right.

Prison's half full of men just living to kill him.

What's that got to do with you?

I just don't think he's that good.

Never did think so.

You sound like you know him, Chance.

I sure used to.

We grew up on the same ranch in Texas.

Same folks raised us.

You never told us that before.

Never knew what happened to him.

He went off when I was ten years old.

Never heard of him again till prison.

Did you like him, Chance?

I guess I hated him.

He always called me "Runt."

Matt was always older and bigger.

And he was always right.

Guess I'm just bound to find out if he still is.

Boy, you couldn't pay me to go into that town of his.

I'm not wanted for anything.

I'm a free man.

You couldn't pay me to stay out of his town.

That your way of saying you're splitting with us?

Just want to go to Dodge, that's all.

You ride out to Larned, I'll meet up with you there.

You boys can take the other room.

I'm gonna watch this fire till my eyes close.

Ah, now, Chance, you know...

There's nothing to worry about, Moran.

Nothing at all.

♪♪

Uh, me and Moran been thinking, uh...

That's a fine way to start the day.

Well, you got a big time coming. I mean, we know that, uh...

Since you're going to Dodge and, uh,

seeing as how you know the marshal there and all,

maybe you could set up something good for all of us.

Now, you have been doing some thinking.

Well, it don't hurt none to get the lay of the land.

I never rode into a town in my life I didn't size it up,

figure the chances.

I couldn't help myself now if I wanted to.

You figure to see me in about three days.

Good luck, Chance.

I told you we could count on him.

Ah, you hear what you want to hear.

He didn't say one way or the other.

♪♪

Morning.

Oh, morning, young fella.

Stable my horse for me?

That's a fine-looking animal.

Well, he's earned a meal and a blanket.

You paying in advance?

Mister, I'm a stranger in town.

I hear you got a pretty tough marshal.

I sure want to toe the line.

You in trouble with the law?

Nope.

Then you got nothing to fear from Marshal Dillon.

He's a fair man, is he?

Finest man I know.

You'll find out for yourself when you meet him.

Well, thanks... Maybe I'll do that.

Come on, boy.

What'll it be, mister?

Whiskey.

You want a glass or a bottle?

Want to get me drunk?

You get drunk, you'll do it yourself.

Make it a glass.

I sure don't want to get packed off to jail.

All the stories I heard about the marshal here,

I was half afraid to ride into town.

Well, if it wasn't for Marshal Dillon,

there wouldn't be any town to ride into.

Yeah, how's that?

Dodge would've been shot clean off the prairie by now.

He really rules it, huh?

He keeps the law, that's all.

Well, he's human.

Must make a mistake sometimes.

Well, I've lived here about five years.

He's made darn few in that time.

Sounds more like a legend than a man.

Don't ever pull that trick again.

Can't stand to lose, get out of the game.

Ah, saloon brawling.

That's something a marshal should stop.

He will once I get him.

Fight's over, Marshal.

I settled if for you.

Thanks for stopping it.

Why don't you go to the bar and help yourself to a drink?

Yes, ma'am.

You know him, Kitty?

No, I've never seen him before.

I don't think he's ever been in here.

Why don't some of you men give Sam a hand

cleaning up here, will you?

Are you, uh... you in the habit

of breaking up fights like that, mister?

That your way of saying thank you?

No, that's just my way of asking a question.

Someday I'm going to grow as big and be as right as you.

Chance Hopper?

You call me Runt, I'll kick your head in.

Well, by golly, Chance.

Well, you look about big enough to be able to do it, too.

What, are you up from Texas?

Up from Texas, over from Colorado,

down from the Dakotas.

I see.

Well, you, uh... you sure learned something

about stopping a fight somewhere along the line.

But you still think you could have done it better.

What are you, a lawman?

No, I leave that for you big tough fellas.

What brings you to Dodge?

You.

Soon as I set foot in Kansas,

I began hearing about this marshal in Dodge City.

I sure enough had to see if this Matt Dillon

was still doing things better than anybody else.

I don't know about that.

Why, now, when we were back at the ranch,

you used to know you were best at everything.

Well, I'll tell you, Chance, I'd give a whole lot

to know everything I thought I knew then.

You mean you don't?

Are you gonna be around Dodge a while?

My office is right across the street.

Yeah, I saw it.

Anything I can do for you, let me know.

No, I saw what I came to see.

I'll be moving on.

You know, I can almost look you straight in the eye

without crooking my neck.

I'd say it was worth the trip.

Good luck to you, Chance.

- See you later, Kitty. - Right.

You a friend of Matt's?

Last time I saw him, he was 27 and I was ten.

But I wouldn't say we were friends.

No, ma'am.

Thanks for the drink.

You're welcome.

All right, go ahead, breathe.

That's what we came out here for.

That's better. Go on. You try it.

Oh, I'm afraid to.

Fresh air's all in getting used to.

I know, but I might like it.

And I can't work in there and like fresh air, too.

Let's walk around, give it a try.

Oh, I don't make a dime walking around.

You do tonight, honey.

It's time to breathe again.

This air is no fresher than a saloon.

Banks always seem to smell musty to me.

I almost forgot what a bank looked like.

Well, treat yourself to a real good look.

Yeah.

I haven't set foot in a bank in two years.

You know, this is no free walk I'm taking.

Who needs banks?

Boy, Mr. Dillon, I'd sure like to have a stake in that hand

that Carp Henninger's sitting on in there.

How much of a stake?

Well, I imagine it'd take about $40,

but you know there's over $200 in that pot?

And he can't lose.

Well, he must have an awful good hand, then.

Well, he's got three kings,

and he's still got to draw to them yet.

- Three kings, huh? - Yeah.

Well, let me just tell you something.

You're lucky you're not in that game,

'cause Horney Mason is holding four aces.

- Oh, he ain't done it. - Yeah.

You see how much money you save by following me on my rounds?

Well, I...

How... how could he have four aces?

The law never sleeps, does it, Marshal?

I thought you were leaving town, Chance.

Tomorrow soon enough for you?

You're the one that's leaving.

I had to stay tonight and teach this little lady

to breathe fresh air.

He's paying me just to walk around, Marshal.

Can you beat that?

Come on. Let's breathe some of that air.

Never seen him before, Mr. Dillon.

Well, his name's Chance Hopper, Chester.

Knew him a long time ago.

Is he a friend of yours?

I don't know.

♪♪

♪♪

Whoa!

My goodness, you're hurt.

Yeah, my leg kind of gave out under me.

See if I can steady you.

Well, I don't know, ma'am.

I... I think my leg's broke.

It takes a couple of turns it didn't used to.

I've got to get you back into Dodge.

Come on, now. Let's try.

That's it. Let's try.

♪♪

How bad is it, Doc?

Well, it's a broken leg. It's bad.

But he's young, healthy.

He'll... he'll heal fast.

How fast?

Well, like I said, son, you got a broken leg.

There's no splintering or anything.

It's... it's not complicated at all.

It's just gonna take some time,

and you'll have some pain along with it.

How much time?

I don't exactly know.

You're gonna have to be off of it entirely for a while.

Then you'll be on crutches for a while.

Can I ride?

Of course you can't ride.

But I've got to.

Well, now, look, if you know all the answers,

what are you asking me the questions for?

Well, isn't there something you can do?

Yes, I've just done everything I can do.

Now it's up to you.

It's his business, you know?

He's pretty good at it, Chance.

Seems to me you'd be smart to take his advice.

You think I can get smart?

That might take some time, too.

All right, Doc, what do I have to do?

Well, first thing you can do is find a place to stay

where somebody can look after you

until you can take care of yourself.

We got an extra cot over in my office, Chance.

You can stay there if you want to.

I don't want any special favors.

I'm not offering any.

The cot's there. You can take it or leave it.

All right.

I'll take it.

But just for a while.

Let me know when he's ready, Doc.

I'll let you know.

All right, you do that.

Here, raise up.

Now, lean back on that.

That feel better?

It hits all the right spots, Chester.

Well, I see you wasn't too wild about your supper.

The only thing I'm wild about is being here.

You ought to be used to it by now.

It's almost been a week.

Yeah, I know.

You got any curiosity, Chester?

Well, I got an interest in things,

if that's what you mean.

Well, give it up.

Why?

Look at me.

I had to ride in to see if that big stiff

was still a big stiff.

Cost me a busted leg.

Well, it give me a steady checker partner, though.

You see, there's good and there's bad in everything.

It's your move.

Well, one good thing... Holed up here the way I am,

I'm bound to see Matt make a few mistakes.

It's a big ambition of yours, huh?

Lifelong, Chester.

Lifelong.

Well, you must have done something to him.

Come to think of it, I bet you were a terrible bully.

Well, I guess I wasn't any saint or anything, Kitty,

but I can't recall ever doing anything to him

except maybe just ignoring him.

That was friendly.

Well, you know how it is. Chance was just a kid.

And I was older and bigger, and, well, you know.

Well, did you like him?

Well, sure, I guess I liked him.

But, well, he was...

- He was just a kid. - Yeah.

And you were a bigger kid.

Well, I guess that's about the size of it.

Well, I think it's a good thing

that he has to stay in town for a while.

At least you two will get to know each other.

Yeah, well, that wouldn't do either of us any harm.

- Kitty, I'll see you later. - All right.

Hello, Louie.

Ah.

Hello, Marshal.

What you doing?

I'm thinking.

I've been thinking how maybe I'd cross the street.

Well, I'm going on across, Louie.

Why don't you come on with me?

Sure, that's all right.

Got yourself a prisoner, Matt?

Oh, no.

No, Chance, this is a friend of mine, Louie Pheeters.

Louie, this is Chance Hopper.

Any friend of the marshal's...

Hello, Louie.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Hate to see a man not get around good.

I'm coming along all right.

Well, Louie and I are gonna wash up

and go have something to eat.

- Oh, Marshal, I... - Louie, come on.

It's not gonna do you any harm.

♪♪

What do you suppose happened to Chance?

Like I didn't know yesterday, I don't know today.

He said Thursday.

That was last Thursday.

Yeah, yeah, what do you suppose is keeping him?

I don't know.

That makes you about as smart as me.

I suppose it's all right with you,

just sitting here waiting, not knowing.

No, it's not all right,

but I ain't ready to go into town

and show my face looking for him.

You?

Ah...

Well, something's keeping him.

I-I don't like to say this,

but just maybe he's sizing up the town for himself, Moran.

Not for us; just-just him.

Well, he could, you know.

He's been in jail for two years.

Could be a woman.

Whoa.

Well?

Oh, it's just Hallie.

Just Hallie?

There ain't no such thing as "just Hallie."

Hi, honey.

Oh.

Well, I see he didn't show up again today.

You stop for the mail?

Mm-hmm. There wasn't any.

I sure like it better when you're here, Hallie.

Better than with just Cheevers?

Mm-hmm.

You know, you say the nicest things to a woman.

Now, uh, look, why don't you just clean off that table

so I can start supper.

Well, did you see anything of that stage driver in town?

He was practically waiting for me when I got there.

He's, uh, falling for me.

Bought me two glasses of beer.

Well, did he say anything?

He told me I was pretty,

and that, uh, he wished that my daddy would let me stay

in town longer sometimes.

Well, your daddy won't.

Oh, come on, Hallie.

Did he say anything important?

He told me I wouldn't be seeing him tomorrow

'cause he's making the run to Lyons.

Larned to Lyons.

That ain't no gold shipment.

No. It won't be long now.

About two weeks.

That what he said?

In a way, he did.

You see, he knows I worry about him on these runs,

so he tells me little things to put my mind at ease.

Yeah.

And he never mentions road agents

unless he's carrying something real special.

Like gold.

That's only once a month.

Last time was two weeks ago.

Mm-hmm.

On the Wichita to Garden City run.

So your friend, Chance, had better show up pretty soon.

Well, we can't go into town and get him.

Not you or me, Moran, but... but Hallie can.

She ain't wanted for anything.

You don't know my stage driver.

Well, Chance don't know her, never seen her.

She don't know nothing about him.

Well, Dodge ain't that big.

She could find him and see what he's up to.

I don't know.

Well, we got to know about Chance.

What's the matter?

Don't you trust me?

You know any reason I should?

Well, we both got something in common.

Like what?

We love gold.

All right, Hallie.

You go into town and find old Chance.

All right.

I will.

And so the second man I asked,

uh, he said, "Oh, you mean the marshal's friend."

That's how I found you.

You tell them I've got a cot in his office.

See what they say about that.

I'm sorry to hear you're hurt.

They've been worried about you.

They've, uh...

Well, they're working on a plan.

So am I.

So...

can you tell me about it here?

I think so.

I'm planning to get so I can ride a horse.

Oh.

Well, I am.

But that isn't the kind of plan I mean.

Well, I won't be much good to anyone

unless I can ride, now, will I?

Well, no.

Hello, Chance. How do you feel?

- Fine, Miss Kitty. - Chance, how are you?

Doc, Miss Kitty, this is Hallie.

- Howdy. - How do you do?

- Hello. - Hey, Chance,

you come by the office in the morning,

and I'll cut that cast down some for you.

I'll be there, Doc.

See you in the morning, then. Hallie.

- Bye. - Bye.

You, uh, seem to have more friends here

than in Larned.

My old friends are in Larned.

Can I tell them you'll be coming?

In a week, I'll tell them myself.

You won't be able to ride in a week.

I'll be able to talk and listen.

In Larned?

That's too far.

Tell them to make it the shack in a week.

All right.

Doc says you're doing just fine.

All I want him to do is tell me

when I can swing this lead leg over a horse.

According to him, it won't be long.

It's already too long.

Stop right there, Marshal.

What do you want, Gates?

I want you to stay put.

All right, I'm put.

What's he got in mind?

I don't know what he's got on his mind,

but the rest of him is full of whiskey.

All right, no talking.

What is it, Gates?

Showdown.

You and me are gonna have a showdown.

Any particular reason?

Well, I'm calling you out, Marshal.

If you're any kind of a man...

Will he do it, Matt?

Well, he probably wouldn't, but the whiskey might.

It's late, Gates.

I'm tired.

This won't take long.

Pretty dark out here on the street for a gunfight.

Yeah, it is pretty dark.

Maybe we ought to get a little closer together, huh?

Good idea.

This is pretty close, ain't it?

Yeah.

Maybe we ought to put it off till morning, huh?

I might not feel like it tomorrow.

I think you might.

Yeah, I might.

Come to think of it,

I don't feel any too good right now.

I'll see you tomorrow, Marshal.

How do you know when they mean it and when they don't?

You don't for sure.

Think I'd just tuck him in jail.

If he comes back in the morning, I think I will.

Well, how about it, Chance?

You feel like turning in?

Not just yet.

How about a cup of coffee?

Yeah, good.

What do outlaws look like, Matt?

Well, like people, I guess.

You been a lawman for a while.

Can't you tell by looking

who'll break the law and who won't?

Who's broken it and who hasn't?

Well, wish I could.

I'd think you could after a time.

Well,

like that fella Gates out there

I ran into tonight, I know him.

I've known him for a long time.

He's not really out to get me,

but someday, some young fella that looks just about like that

will come along, maybe get the job done.

You never know who it'll be.

Nope, you never know.

When you look at me, what do you see?

Man with a broken leg.

Can't tell by looking I just got out of prison?

Did you?

Two years.

Bank robbery.

You wanted for anything now?

No.

No lecture?

Not from me.

I couldn't be wrong about you, could I, Matt?

Anybody can be wrong.

Even you?

I don't know what you think about me,

but I'm just a man, you know?

Just an ordinary man.

Well, that's more like it.

How's the leg?

First one that yanks at that foot

gets the other one right in the head.

You know, Hallie didn't tell me how you busted that.

You believe me if I told you I was helping an old lady?

- No. - Then I won't tell you.

Well, it's good to have you back.

Here, I'll give you a hand.

You're a man of your word.

And you're pretty.

Well, a lot of work driving out here, was it?

More than I'm used to.

- It wasn't bad. - Yeah.

Uh, Hallie, uh... Hallie says you're right up

that old Marshal's nose all the time.

He's right under mine.

Works both ways, don't it, Chance?

Seems like.

Well, I guess we can drink to our plan, then.

Let's drink to something in a hurry. I need this.

What's this?

It's the stage line south of here.

Comes from Wichita, goes to Dodge,

then right on to Garden City.

Yeah, I came out part of it along in here.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's right.

Yeah. Now, there's a gold shipment coming

on that stage late next week.

We figure we ought to lighten their load a little bit for 'em.

I got nothing against gold.

Now, good cover right up here, see?

And it's high enough so you can see a stage coming,

uh... oh, most a mile.

Yeah. Me and Cheevers rode up there and checked.

How'd you know about the shipment?

Well, Hallie's been smiling a stage driver along.

Ain't you, Hallie?

That's right.

I heard about women like you.

Knowing one's better.

Yeah. Uh, you see anything wrong with the plan here, Chance?

Just one thing.

What's that?

They don't send gold shipments through

without a marshal knows about it.

Matt will probably be riding right alongside that stage.

Well, that's up to you to keep him away.

I don't know I could do that.

Now, we're doing everything else, Chance.

We split the take just like always,

and you keep Marshal Dillon away from there

till the stage gets on to Dodge.

That's a big order.

Well, we figure he trusts you.

I'm not sure of that, either.

Well, we trust you. Don't we, Cheevers?

Always did.

Now, look, Matt Dillon's no tinhorn Marshal.

He's his own man.

I can't guarantee I can keep him away.

Well, if he ain't there, he ain't gonna get hurt.

You think you can handle it without the marshal?

We're willing to chance it.

Let's all drink to old friends, then.

To them and with them.

Come on, Hallie. You get in on this, too.

All right.

Now, you, uh... you get so you can ride, Chance.

We'll get the word to you through Hallie.

You cook good, too.

I do everything good.

Well, Chester tells me you're getting so good at it,

you're gonna buy a new horse, huh?

I took a wagon out the other day.

Stopped at Gilmore's ranch.

They got some fine horses.

Oh, yeah, best in the country.

Ah.

You go out there with me tomorrow?

I don't know. I guess I could.

I figure I'd bring the marshal with me,

they can't bump the price too high.

Are you, uh, gonna trade your own horse in?

If Gilmore will stand a trade.

He does it all the time.

Of course, he'll probably want some more money, too.

Oh, wait a minute.

Tomorrow's Friday, isn't it?

Yeah. What's Friday?

Well, I guess I could still could go out there

with you in the morning.

I got to be back in town on business in the afternoon.

Don't you ever take a day off?

Well, yeah, but tomorrow isn't one of them.

I got to be back here when the stage gets into town.

Expecting someone?

Yeah.

What's funny?

You know, I was just thinking of the last time

that, uh, you and I went out to look at horses together.

That little paint.

Yeah.

I told you not to get on him.

So I did, and he bucked me right off.

You don't suppose that's gonna happen tomorrow, do you?

Hey, maybe I'd better not take you along after all.

I don't know.

Maybe you should in case it does happen.

How does she ride?

Well, I'll get used to her.

What's wrong?

Well, my leg bothers me a little.

I kind of figured you gave it a pretty good whack

back there in the corral.

You think we could stop a while, Matt?

Well, you probably ought to. I've got to keep going on.

Look, maybe you can make it back to Gilmore's.

I'll see if I can get Doc to come out and see you.

I'll ride along with you if you take a slow pace.

No, I'm sorry, Chance. I got to get on up to the stage road.

I understand, Matt.

Uh, you go on ahead.

I'll keep up best way I can.

All right.

♪♪

You think you're in time, Matt?

I don't know.

How's your leg holding up?

Not too bad.

Good.

♪♪

You have to do it that way?

You all right, Chance?

No time for long-range planning.

Don't matter how you did it.

It looks like it's gonna work, Chance.

You cut it pretty thin.

That stage is just about due now.

Let's get the horses.

There'll be other stages, Cheevers.

Are you crazy?

We can't miss!

I'm not gonna leave him up there like that.

I might've killed him. He might be dead.

Well, if that's all that's bothering you, I'll make sure...

What's come over you?

I'm going back up to him.

You got any ideas of killing, you got to kill me first.

You make it mighty tough, Chance.

I hope so.

Forget it, Cheevers.

You're both crazy.

Maybe.

Maybe we are.

You and me can't stop that stage without him.

We've always let Chance call the turns.

I don't see any reason to stop now.

Besides, as he said,

there'll be plenty of other stages.

Come on.

Hold it!

Get your hands up.

I wouldn't blame you for pulling that trigger, Matt.

What'd you do, come back here to get yourself killed?

Back to help.

I've had all your kind of help I need.

You got some explaining to do.

Matt, I tried to prove that you weren't best in everything...

I was a better man than you.

I never could do anything right.

I just proved what a fool I've been.

That stage will get through to Dodge all right now.

Now?

You seem awful sure of that.

I am.

Like you say, Matt, I got a lot of explaining to do.

All right.

Let's get mounted.

♪♪