Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

Oh, Kyle, I-I wasn't expecting you.

Well, I can only stay a minute, Terry.

Well, sit down; I'll fetch you a cup of coffee.

No, thank you. I don't believe I care for any.

Well, I'm sorry I wasn't fixed up.

I didn't know you were coming.

You look fine to me.

I got me a job, Terry.

Kyle, that's wonderful!

I knew you would, I just knew it.

I wanted to tell you, because...

I'm so happy.

Well, because, uh... this kind of settles everything.

Oh, Kyle.

Well, go ahead and ask me.

You know what my answer will be.

It's a good job, Terry.

I can't afford to turn it down.

Of course.

All I got to do is kind of ride guard

on a few freight wagons going up to Salina.

Well, when are you coming back?

Oh...

I'll get around this way someday, Terry.

Fella like me is apt to show up anytime.

It sure has been nice meeting you,

and thank your mom for me for all them good meals.

Well, I got to go now.

You mean you're not coming back?

Well, someday maybe.

Who knows?

But you can't leave me, Kyle.

You just can't.

What are you talking about?

Well, about us.

We're gonna get married.

Married?

Are you crazy?

Well, just the other night, y-you kissed me

out there on the porch.

Well, a little old kiss ain't no proposal of marriage.

I've kissed a lot of gals in my time,

but I ain't married yet.

Not hardly.

But you can't do this to me, Kyle.

Well, I ain't done nothing to you,

except romance you a little bit.

I need you.

Look, Terry...

you're a nice gal.

Too nice, maybe.

You've been a good change for me,

and I ain't minded it a bit.

Man gets kind of tired of them other kind

all the time.

Don't talk like that; I don't believe you.

My, you sure got a lot to learn.

Oh, stay, Kyle.

You can't leave me.

Tell me you'll marry me.

- Don't go. - Look, quit that.

What-what's the matter with you, anyhow?

If I'd have knowed you was gonna act this way,

I wouldn't have come by at all.

Kyle, please stay!

You can't leave me.

Get some sense in your head.

You don't own me.

Kyle?

Kyle!

No.

♪♪

♪♪

Well, thank you.

My pleasure, ma'am.

The name is Avis Fisher.

Kyle Kelly.

You, uh, got some more stuff to bring out, have you?

My husband's getting it.

They marry young in these parts.

My husband is near 50.

Well, you're quick, Avis.

Uh, I like that.

Live around here somewhere, do you?

Two miles up the river, one mile straight north.

Kids?

No, thank heavens.

Oh, here's Ab now.

Good day, ma'am.

Thanks again.

Who's that?

I don't know, but he's a gentleman.

He helped me load the wagon.

He's a drifter with nothing better to do.

You go on home, Avis.

I'll go pick up my horse at the blacksmith shop.

And a couple of drinks in some saloon.

It's a man's privilege.

I'll be home before dark.

Don't hurry on my account.

♪♪

Hello, Ab.

My horse ain't shod yet.

Yeah, I know.

I just couldn't get to him.

I'm sorry.

How long'll it be?

Uh, tomorrow, I'm afraid.

Doggone it, I sent my wife home already.

I'll tell you what, why don't you go down to the stable

and tell Moss Grimmick I said you could have my horse.

You bring him back tomorrow,

and I'll have yours done by then.

All right, Quint.

That's mighty decent of you.

Any time after 9:00.

Well, I won't be in that early.

Why don't you take a few minutes off

and come on over and have a drink?

I do that, Ab, and you're never gonna get your horse ready.

Maybe tomorrow then.

All right.

Now, don't get lost.

A few drinks never bothered me.

So long.

So long, Ab.

♪♪

Miss, I helped you load up in town,

I figured the least I could do is help you unload.

I hate doing things by halves.

You're a surprising man, Kyle Kelly.

You're a beautiful woman.

Well, that's a fine compliment

coming from a man like you who's known so many of them.

And quick, like I said.

Where'd you leave your husband?

He's bellied up to some bar in Dodge.

Well, then here's mud in his eye.

You knew you could do that, didn't you?

I had a pretty good idea.

♪♪

This a good hotel, mister?

No, but it's the only one in town.

Well, then it's good enough for me, I reckon.

I reckon.

- Kyle Kelly. - Quint Asper.

Glad to know you, Quint.

You, uh, new in town, Kyle?

Yeah, I been up around Salina for the last six months or so.

I got a hankering to see some new territory.

You'd be better off you kept that hankering.

Well, I don't know, I kind of like Dodge,

what I've seen of it.

Well, then you've seen the best of it.

It's like eating peanuts:

one handful just makes you want another.

Well, you'll get a bellyful of Dodge soon enough.

Well, Quint, I've had kind of a full day.

I think I'll turn in.

All right. Good night, Kyle.

- Nice meeting you. - Nice meeting you.

What's wrong with you this morning?

Nothing.

Where's my coffee?

Well, I'm bringing it.

Sit down.

Well, what's that look for, anyway?

Avis, how long have you and I been married?

A whole lifetime, Ab.

Four years.

And all that time, I've treated you good.

Kept you well-fed and housed, never beat you once.

That right?

Yeah, that's right.

So?

So who's been putting tracks in my yard?!

What?

I found this out behind the house!

And it sure enough ain't mine!

Well, it sure is, too.

No, by golly!

Ab, you're getting old.

Your brain's starting to go.

Who was it, Avis?!

Now, calm down, Ab.

We were both in town yesterday.

Somebody must have ridden by to say hello.

Isn't that a much more sensible explanation?

I cooked you some sausage this morning.

I'm going into town today to get my horse.

You'll be back in time for supper?

Yeah, sure.

- Ab. - Matt.

Well, Ab, what can I do for you?

I want to know if I can shoot a man for free.

What?

I'll shoot him anyway, if I catch him.

But I want to know how to do it proper,

so it's for free.

Well, what in thunder are you talking about, Ab?

My wife's been seeing another man, Doc.

And I ain't a bit proud of it.

So you're gonna kill him, huh?

Who is he, Ab?

I don't know, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you.

Now, look...

I don't care what a man's done or who he's done it to.

Informing on anybody is a deadly sin.

Murder's a deadly sin, too, Ab.

Well, I heard tell if it's your wife's lover

and if you catch him...

Forget it.

You try some other way.

Well, if you don't know who he is,

how do you know there is anybody at all?

You know, Doc.

You won't tell me, huh, if I can kill him for free?

Ab, you can't kill a man for free.

Then I'll think of something else to do to him

when I catch him.

You won't tell nobody about this?

We're not informers either, Ab.

Now, that's a bad situation.

Yeah.

It was bound to happen sooner or later though, Doc.

You know Avis Fisher.

Yeah.

I don't know.

Just seems to me that sometimes a man

could get by with it.

Like if he...

Hello again.

Hello. How'd you sleep?

Fine.

Like you say, that hotel's the best in town.

Ain't but one hotel in town.

Quint explained that to me.

Kyle Kelly, Ab Fisher.

How do?

Happy to know you, Ab.

Well, that does it, Ab.

Well, thanks, Quint.

And thanks for the loan of your horse.

What was all that talk about getting away with a killing?

Well, I heard a man could get by with it,

if it was his wife's lover.

Well, I wouldn't know about that; I've never been married.

I reckon if I was the husband, I wouldn't stop long enough

to worry about it one way or the other.

Hmm. Maybe you're right.

Seems to me the smart thing to do would be to go to the law.

Can't do that.

I couldn't inform on anybody.

Well, there may be only one hotel,

but there's sure enough more than one saloon

in this town, Quint.

That's right.

If you want some gambling to go along with that whiskey,

why don't you try the Long Branch.

I'll try that, maybe tonight.

If you're around there, I'll buy you a drink of whiskey.

All right.

Oh, you, too, Ab.

No, thanks.

Uh, got to be home by sundown; I promised my wife.

Well, some other time then, huh?

- Sure thing. - So long.

So long.

Oh, Kyle!

Thought you might have a cup of coffee for a thirsty rider.

Ab's suspicious, Kyle.

He found your kerchief out in back of the house.

Well, I was just talking to him in town.

What?

He said he wouldn't be home till evening.

But what if he gets back before?

Will you let me worry about it?

Now, do I get that coffee or not?

Of course you do.

Come on in.

Hello, Kitty.

Well, hello, Matt. How 'bout a drink?

No. No, thanks.

Well, if you can't sell a drink to your friends,

- then where are you? - What do you mean?

Nothing. Just counting my losses, as usual.

Looks to me

like you're doing pretty good business here tonight.

Well, it better be awful good.

Price of whiskey's gone up again.

Everything's going up except wages.

Let's sit down and worry about it.

I've been on my feet for hours.

Good.

Two beers.

Whiskey.

Hello, Kyle.

Well, what are you doing here, Terry?

If you want to talk to me, you have to buy me a drink.

You're working here?

Beats Abilene.

Oh.

What about Wichita and your folks and all?

My folks think I'm in St. Louis looking for an office job.

Now, how about that drink?

Yeah, sure.

Bar, two whiskeys here.

Well, you-you sure have changed, Terry.

What was I like before, Kyle?

Loving, trusting, dependent?

Yeah.

Well, you ought to like me just fine now;

I'm none of those things.

No, you don't understand, Terry.

I've always liked you fine.

It's funny.

I wasn't your kind of woman then,

and I was madly in love with you.

And now I am your kind,

and you're just another man to me.

Just another man?

Not me, Terry.

Not ever.

Well, it ain't worth arguing about.

I'd like another drink if you can afford it.

Oh, I can afford it.

Bar, the same.

Now, listen to me, Terry...

Why not? You're paying for it.

I'm late tonight, Terry.

One of my horses took sick this afternoon.

Well, how is he now?

Oh, he's gonna be all right.

Say, uh, look, mister...

Oh, uh, this is Kyle Kelly.

Luke Ryan. He has a ranch about a mile or so upriver.

And that Arkansas floods sometime.

Pleased to meet you, mister.

Yeah, well, that's just fine,

but, uh, this lady happens to be with me right now.

Oh, no, I don't, Kyle.

I finished your drink. See?

Shall we get a table as usual, Luke?

- Sure, Terry. - Whoa, whoa.

You just back off, mister.

You got any objections?

Terry is staying with me.

Do you think you own me, Kyle?

You come with me.

Let me do that.

He grabbed her, Marshal.

I won't stand for a man touching a woman like that.

Some hero.

You want to play some more, Kyle?

Aw, leave him be, Terry.

You just dug yourself a grave tonight, you big clod.

I saw the whole thing; it was your fault, mister.

Now, suppose you just forget about it and move on.

Yeah, Kyle.

You always did like to move on.

Come on, Luke.

Send them a drink, will you?

Avis.

Avis!

What?

It's nice to have someone to eat breakfast with, all right.

I wasn't hungry; I told you that already.

I'm taking the bay horse over to Dodge to get him shod.

Thought you had him shod yesterday.

That was the sorrel.

That bay throwed two shoes out here yesterday.

Quint Asper does a good job, so it's worth the trip.

Oh.

I hope you get dressed by supper time.

Maybe I will.

Well, good morning.

Nice place you got here.

I only just started.

I aim to make a nice place out of it someday.

Uh-huh.

How long you figure that's gonna take you?

Oh, three, four years most likely.

Well, mister, you ain't got three or four years.

What do you mean?

You only got a few seconds.

See here now, mister.

Shut up.

I'm gonna tell you something, Ryan...

Mainly because I know you ain't gonna be repeating it.

I knew Terry before last night.

I knew her when she was different.

Why bring her into this?

She didn't interest me much then,

but, uh, she's changed.

You shouldn't have grabbed her.

It makes me feel real bad.

I'm not the kind of a man that can take it.

I don't think you're any kind of a man at all.

But I'm gonna get to feeling better real soon.

There's two things that's gonna help me do it.

One of them's Avis Fisher.

Ab Fisher's wife?

And the other one is you dead.

That comes from Luke's place.

Now...

you just take your own time dying.

I don't mind a bit.

Luke. Luke!

It's me, Ab Fisher.

What happened?

Who shot you? Who was it?

Fella... named... Kyle Kelly.

Kyle Kelly.

I've heard that name.

Something else.

He's gone over to...

over t-to...

wi... wife.

What?

What's that you're saying?

"Life"?

Your life?

You mean he took your life?

Ab...

♪♪

Quint.

Hello, Ab.

My bay horse throwed two shoes yesterday.

I got him right outside.

I'll take a look at him.

Uh, you don't happen to have a bottle around, do you?

Whiskey?

Yeah, I got one.

It's kind of early in the day for you, isn't it, Ab?

Feeling all right?

I just found Luke Ryan a while ago.

He was right outside his house.

He'd been shot.

Shot?

Luke's dead.

I dragged him inside the house.

Well, who shot him?

I can't say.

You mean you know who did it?

Luke told me.

Right before he died.

Well, who was it?

I don't carry tales, Quint.

I ain't no informer.

I never have been, never will be.

Well, this is different.

This is murder, Ab.

Now, you got to tell the marshal.

You tell him.

But don't say I know who done it.

He'll just ask a lot of questions.

Hello, Quint.

Matt, Luke Ryan was shot this morning out at his place.

What?

Yeah, Ab Fisher found him.

Just before he died, he told Ab who did it.

Where's Ab now?

Well, I tried to get him to come over here,

but you know Ab; he don't carry tales.

Thought maybe you could convince him to talk.

Well, I'll sure try.

I'd like to see the body first though, Quint.

You want to come along?

Yeah, I'll meet you at the stable.

We can't leave him in there like that.

Maybe I can find a shovel in the barn.

Wait a minute.

You know, I've been feeling so bad about Luke,

I almost forgot something.

What do you mean?

There was a big fight in the Long Branch

last night over Terry Lee.

Was Luke in on it?

Yeah. Fella named Kyle Kelly,

I think it was, grabbed Terry, and Luke here flattened him.

He swore he'd get Luke for it.

I guess he meant it.

Well, let's get Kelly.

I can't arrest a man on evidence that thin.

But if Ab will testify, this Kyle Kelly will hang.

How are you, Ab?

I'm all right, Marshal.

I got a pretty good idea why you're here.

I had to tell him, Ab.

Murder's nothing to fool around with.

I ain't fooling around with it.

What brings you out here, Marshal?

Avis.

Luke Ryan was killed this morning.

What?

Right on his own property.

How awful.

Well, surely you don't think Ab had anything to do with it.

No, but he was there right after it happened.

He knows who killed him.

Is that true, Ab?

Luke told him just before he died.

You go on back to the house, Avis.

I want to know about this.

Do you know who did it, Ab?

You know I never carry tales.

Yeah, I've heard that till I'm sick.

It's true.

Well, this is different.

This is murder.

And if you know who did it,

it's your duty to tell the marshal.

I got my own laws.

And one of them's not to inform on anybody about anything.

Ab, he was a friend of yours, wasn't he?

We wasn't close friends, Marshal.

Well, no, but you were sorry to see him killed.

Quint says you were upset when you came into town.

Quint here ought to learn to keep his mouth shut, too.

Ab, one of these days, that law of yours

is gonna get you in real trouble.

Right now, you're protecting a murderer.

I got my ways, you got yours.

Would it make any difference to you

if I told you I already know who did it?

How do you know?

You met him in the blacksmith shop.

Name is Kyle Kelly.

If you think it was him, why don't you go arrest him?

Well, he and Luke had an argument

last night in the Long Branch.

Kelly threatened him then, but I need you to testify.

I told you, Marshal, I ain't no informer.

Look, Luke told you the man's name

so that he could be arrested.

Now, don't you feel you're letting him down?

I can't help you.

Maybe he's right, Marshal.

After all, a man's got to live his own life

the way he sees fit.

Well, you sure changed your mind in a hurry.

I'm only trying to understand my own husband.

Uh-huh.

Well, thanks.

Bye, Marshal.

Kelly.

Been looking all over for you.

Not in the right places.

What do you want?

I want to know where you were this morning.

Were we, uh, gonna have breakfast together, Marshal?

You get smart with me,

I'll tip you upside down and ask the questions.

Down at the river.

What?

Is it a crime for a man to go fishing, Marshal?

Anybody with you?

No.

Nobody saw me there either.

Now, can I go?

I'm sleepy.

Feel pretty safe, don't you?

A law-abiding man's got nothing to fear, Marshal.

Don't you be too sure of that.

I hear, uh, Luke Ryan told Ab Fisher who done it.

You know, if Ab would talk,

you wouldn't even have to be bothering me, Marshal.

But he ain't no informer; I've heard him say so hisself.

♪♪

Kyle.

Ab in there?

No, he rode down to the east spring,

but he's coming back at noontime for dinner.

Good. I got to talk to you.

Come on out.

It looks better in case Ab should ride back.

What is it, Kyle?

You, uh, know about Luke Ryan?

Told Ab who killed him,

but Ab won't tell the marshal or anybody.

Well, he might change his mind.

They said there was trouble

between you and Luke the other night.

I suppose they lied to you about the cause of it.

No, they didn't say anything about it.

Oh.

Well, that's because they didn't know, Avis.

See, I knew Luke a long time ago.

He cheated me in a card game back in St. Louis one time,

and then, uh, skipped town.

When I saw him in Dodge, he got scared,

and we had a little row at the Long Branch.

But did you kill him?

Now, wait a minute, let me tell you.

I rode out to his place yesterday morning

to kind of settle things once and for all,

and he come at me with a pitchfork.

I had to shoot him.

Kyle, he might have killed you.

You wouldn't have liked that, would you?

Oh.

Oh, Kyle.

Listen, the marshal thinks that you did it.

I know; he told me last night.

What are you gonna do?

Oh, I'm all right, unless, uh, Ab decides to talk.

You think he will?

Ab's awful stubborn about his beliefs,

but there's no telling what people will do.

You know, if it wasn't for Ab,

you and I could leave here, Avis.

Go on out west, out to Colorado.

Would you like that?

Oh, I'd like anything with you, Kyle.

Then we got to get rid of Ab.

You mean kill him?

It's the only way you and I will ever be free.

I don't mean you kill him, or me.

Got a better idea.

We'll let Marshal Dillon kill him.

♪♪

Ab?

Ab, hurry, get inside!

Hurry, I tell you!

What's the matter?

Come inside, and I'll tell you!

What's going on?

What's the trouble?

I figure you're safer in the house.

That way, you can hold him off if you have to.

Hold who off?

Marshal Dillon.

Guess he's gone now, all right.

Avis, make sense.

He was just here.

He just rode off a few minutes ago.

He's after you, Ab.

After me? What for?

For Luke Ryan's murder.

Me?

You're crazy.

No. And neither is the marshal.

He's playing it real smart.

I don't understand a thing.

Well, it's clear as day to me.

And I told him so, too.

Well, then maybe you could tell me.

The marshal's got a job, hasn't he?

He's got to come up with Luke's murderer, hasn't he?

Sure can't pin it

on Kyle Kelly... He admitted he can't.

So?

You were there at Luke's place.

You told everybody you even took his body into the house.

Is there anything wrong in that?

You could have also murdered him.

You believe that?

No.

Neither does the marshal.

But he's gonna bring you in, and he's gonna stand up in court

and find some reason why you wanted Luke dead.

He admitted it to me,

after I told him that I knew what he was doing.

He can't do that.

Well, he's gonna, Ab.

Course, you could always tell him who the murderer is.

You could always turn informer.

No.

No, by golly, never.

I didn't think you would.

I got to admire you for your character, Ab.

Most men would weaken about now.

Not me.

It sure is a dirty trick that marshal's playing.

In order to get himself a murderer

and get himself off the hook, he's willing to see you hang.

It ain't fair.

Well, it's the worst thing I ever heard of.

That Matt Dillon ought to be shot.

Avis... for once, you're right.

Where are you going?

Where you think I'm going?

♪♪

♪♪

Marshal!

♪♪

You reckon he's in there?

Well, I don't know.

We can sure take a look.

You ask me, Ab Fisher's gone plumb crazy.

It doesn't make much sense, does it?

Maybe we ought to rush him from different sides.

Well, I don't want to kill him if I can help it.

Ab!

Ab Fisher!

I want to talk to you!

I'm gonna kill you, Marshal!

Ab, I came here in peace! I want to talk!

Let me give it a try, Matt.

Ab, this is Quint Asper!

Now, you don't want me, do you?

I'm coming out unarmed!

No gun, Ab!

That's close enough!

The marshal just wants to talk to you.

You tell the marshal I'm gonna shoot him.

Look, he's always been a friend of yours, Ab.

You talk too much.

Why don't you tell me what's wrong

before you get yourself into real trouble.

Go on back, Quint.

I don't trust you one bit.

Go on, now!

I didn't have a whole lot of luck.

It beats me.

Tell you what, let's just sit back a minute,

maybe he'll cool off...

I don't think he's ready to cool off right now.

I'll kill you, Marshal!

I'll kill you sure!

You know, Ab's got some pretty strong beliefs.

I... I just wonder if respecting a white flag is one of them.

Well, it might give you a chance to talk some sense into him.

Ab... this is a white flag.

And you're carrying it.

Now, look, we've always been good friends.

What's this all about?

You don't fool me, Marshal.

I'm gonna kill you.

I'm not leaving here till you tell me what this is all about.

I warned you.

I didn't... kill Luke Ryan, Marshal.

Well, of course you didn't.

What are you trying to say?

You was gonna... pin it on me...

but... it's too late now.

I got away from you.

Well, now, who told you a thing like that?

You came out here...

looking for me.

Avis said so.

Ab, it was Kyle Kelly that killed Luke, wasn't it?

Marshal...

I ain't...

no informer.

You thinking what I am?

Kyle Kelly and Avis.

I'm going in the house.

What about your arm?

It's all right.

Going somewhere?

Is that any business of yours?

Ab's down in the barn.

I know.

Plan's working out pretty well.

Ab's dead.

Well, we all have to go someday.

It was you that really killed him.

Don't tell me you came here to arrest me.

Things are working out well for you, aren't they, Avis?

I deserve it.

I've had some lean years.

All dressed up for a trip?

Gonna meet Kyle Kelly in town, are you?

We're going out west.

We're going to Colorado.

And there isn't a thing you can do to stop us.

♪♪

All right, ma'am, I got him.

Boy, you want to earn a quarter?

Sure.

Well, go on in there and find Kyle Kelly.

Tell him there's a lady waiting outside.

- Kyle Kelly? - Right. Hurry, now.

Yes, ma'am.

That's her, mister.

There she is. Where's my quarter, ma'am?

Go away.

Well, Avis... what are you doing here in town?

It worked.

It worked faster than I thought.

You mean...?

Ab's dead. We're free.

What is it?

Is something wrong?

No.

No, it's just that, uh,

something's come up here in town,

and I'm gonna have to stick around.

Uh, maybe you'd better go on back out to the ranch

and wait for me there.

Wait how long?

Mm, day or two.

I'll-I'll get out as quick as I can.

Well, what's come up, Kyle?

Well, it's, uh, not too important,

but I do have to be here in town.

So, uh, you just go on home, and I'll see you out there later.

No, I'm gonna stay right here with you.

You can't stay.

Well, I'm staying.

Fetch my bag down, will you?

Avis, you go on home now.

You won't come.

Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

You're leaving me.

All right.

It's best this way, Avis.

Why, I could never stay tied long to one woman.

Now, don't cry.

Why do women always have to cry?

You'll never see me crying, Kyle.

Good-bye.

Avis, I'll be around here again someday.

Well, a fella like me is apt to show up anytime.

There's one last thing you could do.

Sure.

Kiss me good-bye.

He's dead, Matt.

Well, Avis?

I guess things didn't work out so well after all, Marshal.

No, I guess they didn't.

Let's go.

Hey, lady, what about my quarter?

Here you are, boy.

For a few minutes there,

I didn't think it was gonna be worth it.