Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

♪♪

You looking for somebo...?

I mean, you sure you're in the right place, ma'am?

No, I'm not a bit sure.

I'll let you know.

Uh, you just come in to stand?

I'll, uh, try your rye.

You want the best.

- Your bar rye. - That's it.

- Glass. - Oh, sure.

That be ten cents, ma'am.

You got any idea how lousy that is?

Well, I'll quit forcing it on you.

Seems to me that gentlemen like you deserve lots better.

Better whiskey.

Hey.

♪♪

♪♪

Morning, ma'am.

I'd like to meet the lady of the house.

Do you know Miss Kitty?

No, but I can see there's a woman's touch around here.

I'd like to meet her.

That can be arranged.

Kitty Russell.

Stella Damon.

- How about a drink? - In a while.

Looks like you're available.

That's because I am.

Let's sit down.

You looking for a job, Stella?

Well, in a way.

I suppose you know you got the...

nicest place in town.

You must have looked around.

You own it or run it?

You just decoration?

I own it, run it, and I decorate pretty good, too.

No house gambling.

Off and on. Dealers come and go.

Come and go?

Come honest, go dishonest.

You can save all that for the Ladies' Aid.

Looks to me like you've got all your own answers.

I don't think you need any of mine.

Well, I've got a lot, but I can use some from you.

Try me.

What do you want for it?

The Long Branch?

If that's what you call it. I want to buy it.

You haven't even heard my offer.

I don't have to. It's not for sale.

To me?

To you or to anybody.

Why not?

I don't know. I'm used to it. I make money.

Everything I have is here.

Well, you could, um,

pack up your everything

and take it someplace else.

My everything was here first.

That makes you a squatter.

That makes you nothing.

I'll, um...

have that rye now.

The bar rye.

Sam, bring the lady bar rye.

Kitty?

You're just full of class.

From your bar rye on up.

All us seminary girls have got class.

You don't won't to sell?

I won't sell.

Thanks for the eye-opener.

You're welcome.

I wonder...

if this town is big enough for both of us.

You're welcome to find out.

You bet I am.

Golly Bill, what was that?

Some kind of wind, Festus.

No, ma'am, that wasn't no wind.

A hot one or an ill wind. I don't know which.

Ill?

She didn't look sick a particle to me.

What's the matter, Kitty? Don't you like your food?

Doc, it's pretty good, isn't it?

- Oh, mine's fine. Yours? - Good.

Guess she's not hungry, huh?

What's the matter, Kitty? Ain't you hungry?

Kitty?

What's the matter with you two?

Well, there's nothing wrong with us.

We're fine.

Well, you're not eating your supper.

Of course, you are.

You're just gulping yours down.

I'm not hungry.

Something wrong, Kitty?

Oh, nothing. It's just...

one of those days I should have hunted my own food

and shot it and eaten it raw.

Well, I expect they got some raw meat

out there in the kitchen if that's what you want.

Are you sure that's what's bothering you... the food?

Yeah, that's what's bothering me... the food.

Well, it looks like I picked the best place in town for supper.

That's 'cause your aim is so deadly.

This is, uh, Doc Adams, Matt Dillon.

- Stella Damon. - Miss Damon.

- Howdy do. - Gentlemen.

Well, wouldn't you like to sit down?

Uh, no, thank you. I hate crowds.

Don't you, Kitty?

I don't mind crowds.

I just don't like feeling crowded.

Are you the, uh, marshal here,

- Mr. Dillon? - That's right.

Well, I wonder if I've given you the proper respect, Kitty.

Never entered my mind.

Well, mine, either, but, uh...

now I see you're friends with the marshal

and the town doctor.

Well, I'm bound to be impressed.

Kind of sweetens the pot.

We don't want to keep you from your supper, Stella.

Of course, I might get sick. Who knows?

Well...

Then again, I might even break the law.

Then we could all be friends.

Evening, gentlemen.

- Evening. - Kitty.

Well...

Oh, sit down.

Well, my gosh, Kitty, I didn't know you had a friend in town.

- I don't. - Who is she, Kitty?

You ought to know. You looked her over close enough.

Well... She was standing

right in front of me. I couldn't help it.

Pretty fine-looking woman, too, I'd say.

Sure.

I keep wondering how she'd look bald.

How long you known her?

I met her this morning.

And already you want to scalp her?

I really don't care who does it.

She must have done something.

I wouldn't be surprised.

Well, I'll say one thing.

Been a long time since I've seen anybody get your goat like this.

Keep it up. I never saw it fail.

You can't see beyond a pretty face.

You two just sit here and moon about it.

I got better things to do.

You're a wise old codger, Doc.

Now, what do you think that was all about?

About?

Well, I'd say that is about the darnedest thing I ever saw.

Morning, Marshal.

Well, Miss Damon.

Are you, uh, busy,

or are you just trying to look that way?

Come in, sit down.

This time I will.

What can I do for you?

I'm going to open a business in Dodge, Marshal.

But I suppose you know that.

No, I didn't.

Kitty didn't tell you?

What kind of business?

A gambling house,

a saloon,

a palace of pleasure.

Ah. Well, I, uh, don't know

if you've looked around Dodge very much,

but I think we're a little shy on palaces here.

You're clean out of them, Marshal.

I'll have to build me one.

I bought, um, that old building

across the street from the Dodge House.

Well, it's the old warehouse. Used to be an assay office.

Well, maybe they left some gold dust in there for me.

I doubt that.

Well, I'm gambling on there being gold

once I open for business, Marshal.

Well, maybe there will be.

Now...

what's your cut?

My cut?

How much of my gold do you get?

None, Miss Damon.

You don't want me to buy any, um...

extra protection?

You can't, Miss Damon.

I make my rounds every night.

If there's trouble at your place, I'll be there.

That's the size of it.

Well... I'm wasting your time, Marshal.

Not if we understand each other.

I wonder if we do.

Tall, handsome and honest.

Mm-hmm.

That's a lot to believe, Marshal.

♪♪

What do you do?

Do?

Yes. Do.

Well, now, uh...

You know, I could give you a couple answers to that.

I... I do just as little as I can

and mostly what I please.

Why?

Would you like a job?

No, ma'am, I wouldn't.

Well, I pay well. Uh...

I need a lot of men in a big hurry.

Well, a looker like you hadn't ought to have

to beat the bushes to get a hold of no men.

My name is, uh, Stella Damon.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

What's yours?

Festus Haggen.

Well, uh, Festus Haggen,

you're leaning against my building.

Well, if you was to step back

a pace or two, I'd quit.

You sure are mighty pretty to be hard of hearing.

Festus,

I need strong men

who can work a saw and swing a hammer,

and turn this wreck of an old building

into a shiny new gambling house.

You're talking about a heap of work, you know?

Oh, I intend to watch every minute of that work.

You do?

Mm-hmm.

Right close.

Funny thing.

I can remember Aunt George just telling us boys

how choring would keep a man from going to flab,

but I never seen the truth of it till right now.

Well, it... it would be a shame

if all that fine muscle was to go to flab.

Oh, I-I couldn't allow that.

Now, if you was to back up

a little bit and give me room

to take a breath or two, I'd go to work

and find them men for you.

Oh.

Well...

whatever you say, Festus.

♪♪

Miss Kitty?

Can I jaw with you for a minute or two?

I guess so, Festus.

Miss Kitty,

you don't cotton much

to that Stella Damon, do you?

Doesn't matter whether I do or not.

Well, I figure myself to be your friend,

so it does matter.

She couldn't keep us from being friends, Festus.

You don't know what she...

She's a-fixing to build a new gambling house.

And I'm supposed to help her round up

all the muscle there is in town to do it with.

There they are. Help yourself.

I-I... I'll sure go someplace else

and round them up if you want me to.

No, it's all right. I can't lose.

The more money they make, the more whiskey they'll buy.

Well, if-if you're sure I got your leave.

You got it.

Men... quit jawing now.

Listen to me. Be still.

Listen.

Now, there's work to be had

if any of you wants it.

- Best wages in town. - Hmm.

What you're supposed to do is to follow me

down to the old assay house.

And what we're fixing to do... We're-we're gonna go to work

and tear it down and put it back together

a heap prettier than it is now.

So, if any of you's got a feeling for hard cash,

why, just come ahead on and follow me now.

Yeah.

Don't look so stricken, Sam.

It's not the end of the world.

They're going to work for her, aren't they, Miss Kitty?

Stella Damon? Yeah, they are.

She aims to run you out of business. You know that.

I know it, and I'm gonna try to run her out.

But that isn't what bothers me.

Well, what, then?

She bothers me.

It's not her looks or her clothes

or her sharp tongue.

I don't know.

She just doesn't set right with me.

All right, men, be still.

It's time to quit and eat dinner.

- All right! - All right.

Come back, now.

♪♪

You looking for something, Festus?

Well, I wasn't sure right there at first,

but it looks like I found something.

Oh, it's-it's good, whatever it is.

It sets plum level and everything.

Well, Festus, you know what this is.

Oh, sure, it's a contraption.

I just don't know what's it for.

No, it's a runway.

Aw...

Why, it is.

I wouldn't fret none.

Whoever it is that's a-running won't get far,

'cause it ends right here.

Do you drink?

Well, not as much as the man sitting next to me.

I suppose you sing and, uh, dance?

Why don't you just go ahead and suppose.

Well, do you?

Sure... at gunpoint.

All right, step down.

Aggie... Sloan.

Look, let me save you some time.

This is my best dress... and my worst.

This is my dress.

I'm old enough, I drink enough.

I sing in the dark when I'm scared.

And I dance on tables when I'm drunk.

And I used to be a cook on a cattle drive.

A cook?

All right, I was a drover.

Where'd you work last, Aggie?

At the Long Branch.

You said all the right things.

Step down.

Uh, Alma Lindstrom.

Well, hello there, Eddie.

Come on, Sam. I haven't hit Dodge in six weeks.

Now, give me a bigger smile.

Mister, your troubles are over.

Good to see you, Eddie.

Well, I don't know about that.

Now, I've seen broader smiles on men

with ropes around their necks.

Uh, it's a quiet little town you got here.

- Kind of. - Uh-huh.

Some kind of a plague hit?

Something like that.

Miss Kitty'll tell you about it.

Well, I'm glad to hear she's around.

- Where is she? - In her office.

That is just where I want her.

Who is it?

The most important man in your life, Kitty.

Come on in, Eddie.

Aw, thank you.

It was nice of you to bring me these

while I can still smell them.

How are you?

Well, I was on top of the world

till I walked through that little wake out there.

At least you didn't get trampled.

Oh, you ran out of my whiskey,

and everyone's home making corn liquor, right?

Well, we'll take care of that right now.

The, um, usual order, Kitty?

Not this time, Eddie.

Oh, you want to double it.

Come here.

Those barrels aren't full?

To the top.

Kitty, six weeks ago, your business was booming.

I know it, and I got carried away, and I ordered too much.

Right now, this looks like a lifetime supply.

You gonna tell me what happened?

You must have come in town from the West.

Yeah.

Then you didn't see Stella's Palace.

Stella's Palace? What is that... a new saloon?

Oh, it's more than that.

Gambling hall, ladies, runway.

Hasn't even opened yet, and already, I feel the pinch.

I'm sorry to hear that, Kitty.

Well... you don't have to worry.

You'll do good business.

Stella's buying nothing but the best of everything.

Stella?

Yeah, Stella Damon. You can tell her I sent you.

Stella Damon here in... in Dodge?

Do you know her?

I sold her whiskey for her place over in Pueblo.

At least I did up until a couple of months ago.

She's had a rough time, Kitty.

It doesn't show.

Well, her place in Pueblo?

Burned down to the ground.

And her husband was killed in the fire.

I didn't know that.

Poor Stella... she's had an awful run of bad luck.

Yeah, well, she's spent a raft of money.

Her luck can't all be bad.

I'd better go see her.

That's where the business is this trip, Eddie.

Well, uh...

it's not only business.

Oh.

Now, don't you worry. Everything will work out fine.

Stella, it's better. This is better than Pueblo.

You like it, huh?

Like it? It's just what you call it, Stella. It's a palace.

For a queen.

Stella, I'm real happy for you.

Well, that puts you at the head

of a very short list.

You and me, Eddie... We're mighty happy for Stella.

Mmm.

You know,

I still don't know how you did it.

- Well, I had a little help. - No, no, no.

I mean about, well, getting back on your feet after...

Forget it.

Sure.

I've forgotten Pueblo.

All the rotten luck that went with it.

I don't want sympathy.

I don't want to remember any of it.

I don't blame you.

Soon as it was over, I ran.

I thought I had run far enough,

and first thing I know, here you come.

Stella, I, uh... I work Dodge.

The same as I did Pueblo.

You got a big territory.

Everything south and west of Kansas City.

We can do business, Eddie.

We can do a lot of business.

Just one thing.

Shoot.

I want a new life.

Just thinking about the old one...

my husband, my business...

it hurts, it cuts deep.

I can't tell you how much.

Stella, I promise I won't mention it again.

Not to me, not to anyone.

As far as Dodge City's concerned,

you and I met right here.

Today.

Sure.

All right.

Now, get out that order book.

Let's go to work.

The whiskey's free tonight, boys, so hurry on in.

Come on, grab yourself a drink and a table.

There'll be singing and dancing

and a lot of fine ladies for company.

It's free whiskey at Stella's grand opening.

Come on, boys. There's a lot of whiskey...

What do you think of my sign?

And a lot of fun...

Oh, it sparkles like a wet eyeball, don't it?

What you got on your head?

My hat. Why?

It smells awful, that's why.

Oh, that.

Well, see, there was this bottle,

and I thought it was rosewater, and I doused my head with it.

It turned out to be elderberry wine.

Oh. It smells awful.

I didn't put it on for your benefit.

Well, Comanche.

I reckon you ain't used to a classy place like this,

living in a teepee and all.

Why don't you just take your smelly head

and put it someplace else, huh?

Guess what I'm fixing to do.

Yee-haw!

- Kitty. - Kitty.

You're lost.

Oh, uh...

Just thought maybe we'd join you.

Sorry, boys, this is a one-handed game.

Big game's down the street. Why aren't you there?

Oh, for heaven sakes, Kitty.

We're just as sorry about that as you are,

but there's not a dad-blame thing

we can do about it, either one of us.

Well, there's one thing you can do about it.

What?

That's give me some credit for some sense.

Now, call it sour grapes

or jealousy, or anything you want to,

but I just don't like that woman.

Kitty, you may be right, but what's she done?

I don't know. Why don't you ask her.

Well, I guess maybe I better get down there.

They're probably tearing the place apart.

There ought to be something for you, too, down there, Curly.

I'm not very good company.

Oh, I know that.

And you can't play solitaire, either.

A three of hearts goes up there.

Jack of spades goes on the red queen.

And the black eight goes on the red nine.

The light's bad in here.

Yeah, well, maybe so, but next time you're in the office,

I'd like to examine your eyes.

Well, I understand

that the lights are real bright down at Stella's Palace.

Come on, Sam.

We're all gonna join the party.

Well, by golly.

- Well, Marshal. - Stella.

Oh, this is a welcome surprise.

Mighty happy-looking crowd you got here tonight.

Yeah, they're all full of free whiskey.

Gonna have a little drink with me?

Well, no, no, thanks. I'm just here on business.

Well, so am I.

Say, uh, Stella, I'll tell you something now.

Uh, you better keep an eye on these two here.

If you're passing out free whiskey,

they'll probably drink up all you got.

Tell you something, Matt.

There's only one man here that's drunk and disorderly.

That's right, Matthew.

And anybody knows a Comanche can't drink.

You're doing great, Stella.

Matt.

Well...

I don't know whether to ask you to check your guns or not.

Just came to take some lessons, Stella.

All right.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Hey, shut up!

I have been waiting

for our guest of honor to arrive,

and she has just favored us with her appearance.

Miss Kitty Russell!

Eddie! Eddie Fitch!

Oh!

Get a bottle of fine rye for Miss Russell's table.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Well, Kitty, I guess it's a little lonely

down at your place tonight, huh?

I'm just like anybody else, Stella.

I'll go any place where the drinks are free.

Well, I'm mighty glad to have you here,

because we all remember

when you used to run a little saloon

right here in Dodge.

Your big problem may be in forgetting it.

Good luck.

Since this is a kind of

a farewell party for Kitty,

I think it calls for something special.

All right?

♪ Cowpokes and rustlers ♪

♪ And gamblin' men and drovers ♪

♪ Come over to Stella's when you come to town ♪

♪ Good hard-fisted drinkin' ♪

♪ Will set a man to thinkin' ♪

♪ The women are pretty and it's worth hanging 'round ♪

♪ I'm Stella, Stella ♪

♪ Big-hearted Stella ♪

♪ Gather 'round, gather 'round ♪

♪ And a story I'll tell ya ♪

♪ Now once was a gambler whose luck never failed him ♪

♪ He spied a young gal, and he liked what he saw ♪

♪ But though he was fast with his wheelin' and his dealin' ♪

♪ It served him no good 'cause he was slow on the draw ♪

♪ I'm Stella, Stella ♪

♪ Big-hearted Stella ♪

♪ Gather 'round, gather 'round ♪

♪ And a story I'll tell you ♪

♪ I've got a bartender ♪

♪ Who likes a big spender ♪

♪ He'll keep the drinks coming till you've had your fill ♪

♪ But pretty young women ♪

♪ Will send your heart a-swimmin' ♪

♪ But don't try to sneak out and leave him with the bill ♪

♪ I'm Stella, Stella ♪

♪ Big-hearted Stella ♪

♪ Gather 'round, gather 'round ♪

♪ When the going gets rye! ♪

Miss Stella,

I want you to know I had a time bigger than my foot,

and I'm ever so much obliged to you.

Well, I was mighty glad to have you, Festus.

You're beautiful.

The party's over, Eddie.

Go home.

You know, you, um, really sliced Kitty up

pretty good tonight, didn't you, Stella?

Tell me about it tomorrow.

Nah, I'm gonna tell you about it tonight.

Now, Stella...

Kitty didn't have to show up tonight,

but she did. She was a good sport.

Now, you didn't have to make light of her.

We're both out to ruin the other one.

Kitty knows that.

Ah, come on, Stella.

There's room enough for both of you.

No, there isn't.

And I intend to get rid of her any way I can.

Now, go on, Eddie. I'm tired.

Wait a minute, Stella.

Kitty is a good friend of mine.

She has been for years.

Well, go tell her about it.

She can use a good friend right now.

I don't need you, Eddie.

Or your whiskey.

Or your advice.

Stop it! I'm sick of the sight of you!

You're forgetting one thing, Stella.

I know you.

Well, I can fix that right now.

Now, get out of here.

Wait a minute.

Where'd the money come from, Stella?

For all this palace, huh?

Now, your saloon burned down to the ground.

And your husband was killed in the fire.

Now, how come this new fortune?

How come, Stella?

I don't tell my business

to nosey little whiskey drummers.

♪♪

Good night, Sam.

Good night, Miss Kitty.

Kitty?

Can I have a word with you?

Well, it's pretty late, Eddie.

Won't it keep until morning?

Well, I think what I have to say, you'd want to hear ton...

Let me do the talking.

I can't think of anything else

we have to say to each other, Stella.

Well, I have, haven't I, Eddie?

You should have.

I'm sorry, Kitty.

Eddie says I-I cut you up pretty good tonight.

I am sorry.

All right. Can I go to bed now?

Um, well, just a minute. I... I...

I don't expect this to tear your heart out, because it shouldn't,

but, uh... I...

I thought that the past was back where it belonged un...

until Eddie came along.

I was pretty rough on him just now. I...

I said a lot of things I didn't mean.

- Just like I did to you. - St-Stella?

Uh, Kitty knows about your husband

and about the fire in Pueblo.

I told her before I saw you the first day in Dodge.

I... I thought if I was hard enough

and brassy enough, I could forget about it.

I just didn't want to be hurt again.

I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you, Stella.

Um...

I don't suppose we can be friends?

I'm afraid it's a little late for that.

Yeah, I... I don't blame you.

Um...

would you walk me back, Eddie?

Well, sure, Stella.

I'll see you tomorrow, Kitty.

All right, Eddie.

- Evening, Marshal. - Oh, Eddie.

You two are up late.

Well, I'm just walking the young lady home.

- Oh. - Good night, Marshal.

- Good night. - Good night, Marshal.

Bar closing up?

Well, I was.

But I could stand a nightcap. How about you?

Good.

Mmm, the air smells nice and fresh.

I'm sorry I said all those things to you, Eddie.

Well, honey, I, uh...

I said a few things myself.

Let's forget the whole thing, hmm?

You know, it seems like the whole town's asleep.

Yeah, everybody but you and me.

Stella?

Now, you go right to bed and get some sleep.

And everything will look better in the morning.

Yes, I think it will.

Good night.

Well, Kitty, that was quite a show tonight.

Yeah, a couple of carping women.

That makes for a great show, doesn't it?

Well, everybody seemed to enjoy it.

Matthew, there's a fire at the palace!

Kitty, stay back.

Come on, get the ladder in!

Set her up here. Set it up right there.

Get it inside.

Can you see if you can do anything for her?

I'll try.

Here.

Oh, Matt.

He's dead.

Poor devil.

A horrible way to die.

He was murdered, Stella.

Shot in the back.

How can that be?

You don't have very good luck with fires, do you?

Why, I...

I don't have very good luck at all.

You think I killed Eddie?

I think it's a pretty good guess, yeah.

I'm sure gonna check on that story about

your husband and that fire in Pueblo.

I once asked

if this town was big enough for both of us.

But no place is...

when you want to hide.

Okay, throw water on it.

All right, come here, men. Throw it in!