Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

Your horse needs water.

Now, ain't you nice to be thinking about the horse.

You better lead him down there, it looks boggy.

Don't worry, Marshal, I'm not gonna run.

I'm not gonna give you an excuse to kill me.

You're not worrying me.

I ought to be.

You're gonna look like an awful fool

when it comes out you got the wrong man.

Mm-hmm. I'll risk it.

It's just not right for a man to have to die on your say-so.

It wasn't my say-so that put your face on that wanted poster.

Well, it sure wasn't mine.

Crown, I'm just taking you in.

You'll have your chance to talk at the trial.

Well, now look, Marshal, you don't know a thing about me.

That's right, not a thing.

Let's go, we got 20 miles to Dodge.

How about eating before we go?

Well, good idea except we don't have anything.

Ain't you gonna kill him?

Not this time.

- Howdy, Quint. - Matt.

Thought I was trailing a wolf.

Well, it seems to me you do better

- with rabbits there. - I guess you're right.

What are you doing out here?

I'm just bringing in a prisoner.

I see.

You an Indian, ain't you?

You always half-right?

It's a funny law, Marshal.

Me a-heading for jail and this half-breed moving around free.

Yeah, he's not wanted for murder, Crown.

Not yet anyway.

Say, those look like eating rabbits, Quint.

Yeah, they are.

We get back to Dodge, I'm gonna cook you up

the biggest pot of rabbit stew you ever saw.

Well, that's gonna make a ride back worthwhile.

Let's go.

♪♪

Ma'am?

Looks like you could use some help there.

Help?

You're too late.

I don't need it now.

Three of you.

Now, that's the prairie's way.

Any one of you... Two, three days ago,

it might have mattered.

That sun's punishing.

Why don't you take her inside, Quint?

♪♪

♪♪

I'll, uh, find some water for you, ma'am.

Matt?

Well, I guess you'll be holding her

for murder, too, huh, Marshal?

Ma'am, you feeling better?

Just look at all the help

I got now I don't need any.

Looks to me like you could still use some help.

I guess you found Luther.

Well, yes, we did.

Uh, is he your father?

Luther was my husband.

He was a long time dying.

He's a long time dead.

I couldn't help him die and I couldn't help him once he did.

Three of you

and you come too late.

Well, Quint, why don't you set

those rabbits to roasting?

- Right. - Sure.

Lend a hand to the poor widow lady.

Now, ma'am, you get some food and some rest,

everything will be better.

They could've been better.

If any living soul had come in time.

Anyone to help and share the burden...

the awful weight of it.

What's the matter, Marshal, she die on you?

No, she just fainted.

Well, that'll keep her from bellyaching.

Well, now, that's more like it.

He was a big man, Crown.

Dig him a big grave.

Why me? Why not you?

Or him?

'Cause I say you.

That suit you, Marshal?

You might've earned your dinner.

Hold this.

You ought to spare yourself some, ma'am.

You're awfully young and strong.

You better go back inside.

I want to see the grave.

My husband's grave.

He was bound we'd be off and away from folks.

It'd choke him to have people near.

Crowd around him and choke him.

That don't worry him now.

What was his full name, ma'am?

For the marker, I mean.

Luther Devlin.

I guess we didn't have a proper meeting.

I'm Willa Devlin.

How do, ma'am?

I'm Matt Dillon, this is Quint Asper here.

Ma'am.

Oh, well, this is Ben Crown.

I'm obliged you put him to rest.

I only do what the marshal says, ma'am.

You did say I earned a meal, didn't you?

Guess maybe we could all use one.

He was long on pride, Luther was.

He was a fool.

Peculiar-like, folks setting at my table.

Can't 'call when anyone was here to take a meal.

You do a good rabbit.

Comes from running a forge.

I said those arms were strong.

Marshal of what?

Dodge City, ma'am.

That's off a way.

Well, it's about 20 miles north of here.

Luther said we'd go there one time.

We never did.

And what do you do

besides dig graves and eat?

I told you, I do what the marshal says.

He's my prisoner, Mrs. Devlin.

You do a crime?

He thinks so.

Out here, just living's a crime.

Mrs. Devlin, uh,

we're gonna be heading back to Dodge pretty quick.

Be glad to have you come along,

if you'd like to.

Come along?

Well, you can't stay out here alone.

Well, I can't do anything else yet a while.

I'm not used to folks being around.

Been so long without them,

I'd have to learn

to be with them again.

It ain't safe, a woman being off here alone.

One thing and another these last few years,

I can't remember feeling safe.

What's here's mine.

Ain't every woman gets left a house all her own.

Well, there's always danger, ma'am.

Being alone, I mean.

Quint, why don't you and Crown get the horses ready?

Right.

Just a minute, Crown.

A man don't earn much off you, does he, Marshal?

Just his due.

Give him a hand.

Sure, both of them.

Now, Mrs. Devlin...

Only name I know is Willa, Marshal.

Well, all right, uh,

look, how are you gonna get along alone out here?

Well, the way I always have,

a roof over my head and a bed and a stove.

I got potatoes in the ground

and fish in the stream

and the prairie's alive with rabbits.

And I ain't ever by myself here, Marshal.

See?

All in the world I got is here.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Good-bye.

Marshal?

The least I can do is see you off.

All right.

Now, don't forget, Willa, if there's anything

I can do for you, why, you know where to find me.

I'm obliged to you.

All of you.

I'm most always here.

Most always.

Good luck, ma'am.

Lead on.

You know, Matt,

I don't think she should stay back there alone.

Well, I don't either, Quint, but what can you do?

Ain't nothing around; what's she got to be afraid of?

Of course, you could go back

and protect her from all this nothing.

You know, Matt, I might save you from a hanging.

You gave her a chance to go,

and she's bound she's gonna stay.

Let her go, and don't cry for her.

You sound like a practical man.

That I am, and she's a mule-stubborn old woman.

She's not an old woman, Crown.

Did you look close?

She sure took some shine to you.

That's 'cause I brought the food.

Could be you're right.

You know, an old woman don't spark up like that.

Oh, hope you don't mind if we water our horses.

I can't stop you now.

My name's Dillon. I'm the U.S. Marshal

over from Dodge City.

Name's Nally, Marshal.

Don't generally allow Indians around.

Any kind.

Guess if he's with you, there ain't much I can do.

You a married man, Nally?

Lizzie's inside, doing woman's work.

Ain't no concern of yours now.

Well, I thought if it was callers...

Ma'am, I, uh, wondered if you might know

the Devlins about ten miles back?

We see them, but we don't know them.

Don't more than nod as we pass.

Nally takes me to Meade for supplies now and again.

Oh, I see.

Well, Mr. Devlin just died, and she's there alone.

Oh, my.

You're the first place we've come to,

and I thought maybe if you knew them,

you wouldn't mind stopping in, see how she's doing?

Oh, indeed we will, won't we, Nally?

Just be glad to.

We ain't that way often.

Well,

thank you, ma'am.

We'd want to do what we could, I'm sure.

Thanks for the water.

Just get the breed out of my sight.

Quint, it's gonna be a hot enough ride home as it is.

♪♪

Yeah, looked better before.

This place just don't lend itself to light.

Well, if you don't like the parlor,

maybe you'll like the bedrooms.

You know, Marshal, I'm a little short on money,

and it might be that I couldn't afford to stay here.

I'll make you a rate.

You will bring my meals to the room?

No extra charge.

Tell you what I'll do, Marshal.

I'll stay here tonight, and I'll eat your food.

Good. I'm getting tired of your jaw.

But now tomorrow, I want you to give some thought

to setting me free.

'Cause you plain got the wrong man,

and I wouldn't want to see you

make a fool of yourself like that.

Well, it's just a chance I'll have to take, isn't it?

I still can't figure out why she'd want to stay on out there.

Well, you gave her a chance to leave.

Maybe she's just a stubborn woman.

What's a stubborn woman?

Same thing as a stubborn man,

only with long hair.

Now, you mean to tell me you'd stay on out there?

I don't know.

Maybe she's got a reason.

Maybe she's afraid to be anyplace else.

Well, Kitty, what she needs is to come into town,

be around people, find a reason to live.

Well, Matt, if she needs a reason to live,

then she's gonna have to find it herself.

Well, I guess you're right.

Now, how are you two?

Morning, Doc.

Hi, Doc.

Well, sure was nice of you to wait on me.

No trouble.

You seen Quint?

No, not this morning.

Well, I can't find him.

I thought you said he rode in with you last night.

Well, he did, yeah.

Well, he's not at the blacksmith shop.

I was just there.

It's closed up tighter than a drum.

Can't find hide nor hair of him.

That's kind of funny, isn't it?

Well, it's not very funny to my horse.

He needs shoes.

Well, maybe he's just out around town somewhere.

I've talked to everybody.

Nobody's seen him anyplace.

I sure would like to keep his hours.

He works hard, Doc.

Yeah, when he works.

Goes fishing, hunting, three days all over the country.

Comes in with Matt.

Gets up again this morning and leaves.

Uh, Joe?

Can I have a cup of coffee here?

Sure thing, Doc.

Fine way to run a blacksmith shop.

Nally?

Don't come no nearer or I'll blast you!

Please, Nally, he's just riding by.

- Is he? - Don't make no trouble, Nally.

I just can't bear it.

Wasn't no trouble till he come.

- Please, Nally. - You hear me?!

- Not a step nearer! - Nally.

- Please, Nally. - Stop your whimpering.

Not a step nearer!

Please.

What do you want?

Nothing.

Then ride on.

Ride on!

You hadn't have took on so,

I'd have killed me a breed.

You near provoked him.

It don't set well, the likes of him riding free,

hunting like they own the land.

Don't matter now. He's riding on.

If I had my way, they'd put them on reservations

or shoot them outright.

Nally.

"Nally!"

Yeah.

Go on back to your churning.

You ain't doing a lick of good out here.

Why, hello.

Hello, ma'am.

I brought you some food.

Last time I was here, you seemed a little short.

It has been kinda bad.

Leastways it was... till now.

All right if I hang it in the shed?

Ain't nothing else hanging in there, sure.

This ought to last you a long while.

I don't know when I've known such a kindness.

I'll start the fixings for supper.

I can't stay for supper, ma'am.

Ma'am?

♪♪

Well, come on in.

My goodness, but you stand on ceremony, knocking at the door.

I haven't had a fire in the fireplace this long time.

Well, I'll start one for you, ma'am.

Evening chill goes right through me.

Luther was too sick to bring the wood, and I couldn't manage it.

I just been warming by the stove.

Well, it's, uh, it's started now, ma'am.

I'll be going.

This rabbit'll simmer up fine,

and with the potatoes, well, we'll make a supper of it.

I can't stay for supper, Mrs. Devlin.

I told the marshal. Only name I know is Willa.

And he called you Quint?

Yeah.

Well, Quint, you brought all the food I got.

I don't mind sharing with you.

Well, I have to be back tonight, ma'am.

Not right now.

- Right now. - I...

I wanted you to come back, and you knew it.

Just a little company. Just someone near.

I waited a long time, Quint.

I can't afford pride or shame.

Ma'am, that antelope ought to hang out there for a while.

I guess you knew that.

It's not I'm old, you know?

I get me some care, I'll be young-looking again.

I was pretty, Quint. Can't you tell that?

I was right pretty.

Yes, ma'am.

You ought to go to town, be with some people.

You're just lonely.

You inviting me to go to Dodge with you?

No, I'm not.

Such a strong, smooth, young arm.

Luther was older. Did I tell you that?

No.

You want me to go with you, I will.

I just want to help you, ma'am, that's all.

Just being with me, that'd help.

Just listen to me a minute, will ya?

You said I was lonely, just lonely.

Well, I didn't know how lonely till you came.

Now, have a little patience, take a little time with me.

Ma'am, you-you got some neighbors about ten miles back.

You ought to go and stay with them for a while.

You feel sorry for me...

just sorry.

No, ma'am.

Just ought to get away from here for a while.

You'll be a lot better off.

You're a half-breed, ain't ya?

That's right, I am.

Well, I'm a white woman.

You think on that.

You know, you keep hammering on that thing like that,

you're gonna beat it to death.

Something on your mind?

Well, yeah, for one thing, good morning.

Morning.

What happened to you yesterday?

Nothing.

What, you go back out hunting or something?

Yeah.

We were kinda wondering what happened to you.

Doc wanted to get his horse shod.

What's the matter, can't a breed come and go

as he likes around here?

Well, what's eating you?

Nothing.

Well, there you are, Marshal.

Been looking all over town for you.

What's the matter?

Can't a marshal come and go the way he wants to?

Why, sure, sure, but golly, I didn't mean anything.

It's all right, Harvey, neither did I.

I'll take an answer down if there is one.

No, no need to answer this one. Thanks for looking me up.

Sure, Marshal, any time.

Well, I guess Crown was right. He's not guilty after all.

I thought you said he was wanted.

Well, he was, but some other fella confessed evidently.

The marshal at Wichita says Crown's a free man.

Well, I guess I better go tell him.

Hey, uh,

if you think you're gonna be around here for a while,

I'll, uh, I'll tell Doc you're back.

I'll be around.

Good.

Thank you, Marshal.

Next time, you better listen to me.

Be sure there's no next time.

No need unless you come round tapping me on the shoulder

and tying my hands together again.

I sure hate to see you make

a fool of yourself like that, Marshal.

You just see you keep your face off the wanted posters.

Say, I hadn't thought about that.

They's apt to still be some of them around, ain't they?

Yeah, maybe. I wired the marshal at Wichita

when I brought you in, and he wired me back to let you go,

so that probably takes care of most of them.

Hmm.

Now I know you're not too kindly disposed to me,

but if you was a mind to, you could favor me.

How's that?

I got a chance to buy into the Nations Saloon

down to Hays City.

You could send a telegram down to the sheriff for me.

I sure don't want no more law trouble.

Now, you wouldn't be the kind of a man

to refuse me that, would you?

All right, I'll send it.

Thank you, Marshal.

You ever get down that way, come by.

Drinks is free.

Remember? You was obliged to me.

Oh, Nally. What can I do for you?

The blame's on you for this, Marshal.

The blame? Now, what are you talking about?

Me and Lizzie stopped by

to see how that widow woman was getting on.

Willa Devlin?

Well, she's had a mighty hard time.

Your friend, that breed...

Now, just what are you talking about?

He come back for her.

She's lucky she's alive.

You better talk straight to me, Nally.

You don't hear me, Marshal!

I said that breed come back for her. I saw him!

Me and Lizzie both.

The next day after you come by, he was past our place.

Had him an antelope as big as a man! I run him off!

Well, he headed straight for the widow's.

Where is she now?

Me and Lizzie brought her to the Dodge House.

You gonna jail him now?

I want him killed, Marshal!

Right here, Marshal.

She's only just drifted off. You shouldn't bother her now.

When I think of what she went through.

The marshal don't believe it, Lizzie.

Mrs. Nally, I want Doc Adams to see her. I...

No. No doctor.

Oh, now you've wakened her.

Can you talk?

I got nothing nice to say.

I want you to know how sorry I am about this, Willa.

Sorry's not much, Marshal.

I'm gonna have to know who it was.

Was it Quint?

I most forgot that name.

I have to know, Willa.

Leave me alone.

That's all I ask of any of you! Leave me alone!

Now, Willa, I won't let anyone bother you.

You better go.

I'll be back, Willa.

What are you gonna do about this, Marshal?

I don't know. I don't even know who it was yet.

Well, I know! It was him.

It was him all right! Your fine Indian friend!

You done enough now, Marshal?

He ought to be strung up on sight.

Hello, Matt.

Quint.

I, uh, just saw Willa Devlin.

Oh, how is she?

Right now, she's not so good.

So?

Quint, did you go back out there the other day?

She didn't have any food.

I shot an antelope and took it to her.

What do you mean she's not so good right now?

They got her over at the Dodge House.

I just sent Doc over there.

Seems like somebody went back out there, and...

Well, she's had a pretty rough time of it.

Are you asking was it me?

Quint, you're the one she's accused.

Well, are you asking was it me?

I'll believe anything you tell me.

You'd take the word of a breed over a white woman?

A pure white woman?

None of them are safe when a breed's around, Marshal.

You know that.

I told you I was with her.

That day you couldn't find me, I was with her.

You gonna help me or not?

Well, what do you want?

The truth.

Well, why don't you just jail me?

Or hang me or whatever white man's law is.

Will you come over there with me and see her?

You better tie my hands, Marshal,

'cause I might try to run away.

Hello, Matt.

Doc, how is she?

Well, she's had a...

pretty rough time of it.

She's gonna need an awful lot of rest and...

be nice if she'd help a little, too.

What do you mean?

Well, uh,

if she'd just care... she doesn't seem to want to live,

and I haven't got any pills or powders in here

that can do anything about that.

Well, I'll...

I'll be back shortly.

Come on, Quint.

Why ain't he in jail, Marshal?

On your way, Nally.

You filthy, rotten breed.

Don't let him hurt me, Marshal, please, don't let him hurt me!

Get a hold of yourself.

What happened? What happened?

He was killing me, Lizzie.

He-he'd like to kill me.

Get him out of here, Mrs. Nally.

Oh, my.

Let's go.

Well...

I brought Quint.

Now I want you to look at him and tell me the truth.

I don't want to see him, Marshal.

Was it Quint?

He was there... He don't deny that.

He hasn't denied anything.

Then I don't know what you're waiting to hear, Marshal.

I'm waiting to hear the truth.

That's what I came here for.

He brought it on himself.

He knows it.

Look, if you're not tired of hearing it was me, I am.

Let's go.

You're always willing to leave, ain't ya?

Wouldn't take supper, had to hurry off.

Wanted to help, he said.

Well, gathering firewood and bringing antelope...

That didn't help much.

Why didn't you bring me with you?

You'd have spared me if you had.

I told you then I can't afford

pride or shame.

I'd have come with him... I begged him.

But he just kept pulling away.

If he'd just give me a little time,

showed me a little interest...

I'm not an old woman, Marshal, you can see that.

It was the other one, Marshal.

The one who dug Luther's grave.

Said he never got paid for it.

It was the other one, Marshal.

I don't mind if you leave.

I've most had my fill of people.

Yes.

I guess you just about have.

♪♪

Better give the boys up there a refill.

I'm out of whiskey.

Oh, hello, Marshal.

What are you doing around these parts?

You come to get your free drink?

You better drink up, Crown.

It's your last one.

Well, now, no need

in getting hard-nosed.

You got business with me?

You're under arrest.

Under arrest?

Now, wait a minute, Marshal,

we've been down that trail before,

and you had to turn me loose.

Remember?

This is something different, Crown.

What are you talking about?

Willa Devlin.

Oh, her.

Now, you know yourself

she's nothing but a cheap little...

Ah! Ow.

Where's the sheriff's office?

Across the street, you can't miss it.

- Get him, will ya? - Yeah.

Hey, Quint.

Hey, uh, I think my horse is lame.

I think it's that right front foot of his that's sore.

I'll take a look at it.

I can't find anything.

Huh.

Well, I guess maybe he was just

trying to tell me he was tired.

Pretty long ride from Hays.

You get Crown?

Yeah, I got him.

Well, that's good.

Well, I guess maybe I'll get back to the office.

Matt?

Think I'll ever

stop acting like such a wild Indian?

Well, I don't know.

Why don't we have a beer tonight and talk it over?

All right.

See you at the Long Branch.