Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

Yes, sir.

Passed me back there about an hour ago.

No question it was him?

Mister, the way you just told it to me,

I could pick him out with my head in a bucket.

Yes, sir, even riding hard, like he was.

Riding hard?

Real hard.

But... tired.

You know what I mean.

Nothing else, I'll be moving on.

If I get home too late, my old lady gets sandy.

♪♪

He seen him, Pa.

About an hour back.

Says he was riding the other way.

Like I figured.

He's headed for Dodge.

Well, I'll be a bobtail hound.

A guitar.

Now, there's the one thing

that'll make a good drink taste better.

Festus Haggen.

Reckon you've heared of the Haggens,

- being from the hill country. - I'm not.

I'd like to talk to the owner.

In that case, you can talk to me.

- My name's Kitty Russell. - Howdy.

And, uh, this is Doc Adams.

Don't rightly believe I heared you say your name.

I don't believe he said it, Festus.

The singer.

That'll be good enough.

Not unless you sing.

If you're asking, ma'am.

You from up north someplace, are you?

Could be.

- Nebraska maybe, huh? - Might be.

You don't like to talk much, do you?

No, ma'am.

You, uh... just like to play, huh?

Yes, ma'am.

And sing.

And drink.

They mostly go together.

Sam, bring this gentleman a drink.

Do you know "Hannah on the Roof Three Crow High"?

Or "Kick My Dog Down the Dusty Road."

- That's one of the best songs... - I pick my own tunes.

♪♪

♪ I ride an old paint ♪

♪ I lead an old Dan ♪

♪ I'm going to Montana ♪

♪ For to throw the Hoolian ♪

♪ They feed in the coulees ♪

♪ They water in the draw ♪

♪ Their tails are all matted ♪

♪ Their backs are all raw ♪

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around them slow ♪

♪ For the fiery and the snuffy ♪

♪ Are rarin' to go ♪

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around them slow ♪

♪ For the fiery and the snuffy ♪

♪ Are rarin' to go ♪

♪♪

♪ Old Bill Jones ♪

♪ Had two daughters and a song ♪

♪ One went to Denver ♪

♪ The other went wrong ♪

♪ His wife, she died ♪

♪ In a pool room fight ♪

♪ Still he keeps singing ♪

♪ From morning till night ♪

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around them slow ♪

♪ For the fiery and the snuffy ♪

♪ Are rarin' to go ♪

It's kind of mournful.

It's sure purty.

I'm gonna go get Matthew.

♪ Are rarin' to go ♪

♪♪

♪ When I die ♪

♪ Take my saddle from the wall ♪

♪ Put it on my pony ♪

♪ And lead him from his stall ♪

♪ Tie my bones to his back ♪

♪ Turn our faces to the west ♪

- ♪ And we'll ride the prairie ♪ - That's him.

♪ That we love the best... ♪

So he's really that good, huh?

Oh, he's dang pert near as good as Obadiah Cruikshank.

Obadiah Cruikshank? Who's that?

Oh, he's a feller we got back home,

sings pretty as a bird.

Except he sings kind of sweet like,

and this feller sings lonesome like.

Well, let's go hear him.

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around them slow ♪

♪ For the fiery and the snuffy ♪

♪ Are rarin' to go ♪

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around them slow... ♪

Man sings like that, it don't hardly seem right.

♪ I ride an old paint... ♪

Dave?

Do we have to?

Ain't-ain't there some way else?

You heard what Pa said.

♪ They feed in the coulees... ♪

But he doesn't have to know.

We could maybe ride back and...

tell him that the singer was gone.

♪ Ride around, little doggies ♪

♪ Ride around... ♪

Pa'd just ride in and see for hisself.

Happens he finds out, I wouldn't want to be close.

You hold the horses.

♪ For the fiery and the snuffy ♪

♪ Are rarin' to go. ♪

You got any more like that?

Got any more like that?

I wouldn't be surprised.

Sam?

Hold it!

♪♪

Who is he?

I don't know, Matt. I never saw him before.

- Who was he after? - Fella inside, singer.

Festus, get him over to Foley's, will you?

Help me out here, Hode.

Here you go. -Thank you.

Doc said that man was after you.

- Do you know why? - Suppose you tell me.

You don't know him, then?

No, I never saw him before.

Well, he must know you... He was trying to kill you.

Maybe he just didn't like my singing.

Oh. Well, I'll get a wire off in the morning,

see if we can trace him down somehow.

- You gonna be here? - Good chance, I'll say.

All right, I'll see you then.

All right, boys, break it up.

Whole thing's over. Go on about your business now.

Getting late. I'll see you, Kitty.

Good night, Doc.

I, uh... I don't suppose

you're in any mood for any more singing tonight.

Huh?

Uh... don't see why not.

Could've been killed.

♪♪

♪ Well, tell old Bill ♪

♪ When he comes home this morning ♪

♪ Tell old Bill when he comes home this evening ♪

♪ Tell old Bill when he comes home ♪

♪ Better leave them downtown gals alone ♪

♪ This morning, this evening ♪

♪ So soon ♪

♪ Old Bill's wife was baking bread ♪

♪ This morning... ♪

This is kind of a strange one, isn't it?

Man comes into town, another man takes a potshot at him,

almost kills him, he doesn't know who the man is,

and nobody in town knows either one of 'em.

Now, that's kind of hard to figure, isn't it?

Yeah, it is.

Well, Doc, I'll see you in the morning.

♪ This morning ♪

♪ No, no, that can't be so... ♪

Only one.

You get it done?

You found him all right?

Well... the marshal stepped in.

Where's Dave?

I asked you, Ben... where's your brother?!

Why didn't he ride back with you?

He's dead, Pa.

The marshal shot him.

All right.

Say the rest.

Say the whole thing.

Well, we... ride up to the saloon,

and we heard the singing,

and then Davy tried once, but he missed.

And then the marshal started all this shooting

and yelling and... And you turned and run.

Pa, it-it'd come on so fast.

There wasn't nothin' I could do.

I... I saw the badge.

Pa, we ain't fightin' the law.

Pa, if you'd just listen, if you'd just listen a minute.

Coming back, I got to thinking.

Riding alone like that, you keep thinking.

Pa, you lost two already.

Ain't that enough?

How many more will it take...?

♪♪

It's about time.

Come in. There's some coffee there.

Help yourself.

Thanks.

Martin Kellums.

I just can't believe it.

Believe it.

Fine pair of hands.

Great feeling for medicine.

And you swore an oath.

Didn't make me a priest!

I wanted to quit.

When did you quit?

Oh, uh... 12, 13 years ago.

What difference does it make?

I'm not the first; I won't be the last.

It's this country, Galen,

it's no good for doctors.

Too much hate, too much cold, too...

too much wind and rain and mud.

Too many miles to ride.

Too many excuses.

And too much whiskey.

Just to keep going. Just to keep going.

Then it ends like last night,

somebody trying to put a slug in your belly,

keep the whiskey company.

Did you know that fella?

Yeah.

One of Will Lukens' boys.

Well, why would he want to kill you?

Not him.

His pa.

H-He ran a spread about... 30 miles out.

Queer sort, he... kept to himself,

just him and the boys.

About two years ago, he got married again.

Young girl, real young.

Word spread she was expectin'.

Made some talk.

Then... one night he... he was there,

hammering at the door, back of the saddle shop.

Busts the lock off, shakes me awake.

Says the baby's coming, she's having trouble.

Doc's rode off someplace,

and I've got to help.

Me.

Still full of a two-day drunk and...

not even a forceps to work with.

Did you tell him?

Well, he was out of his head.

He had a gun on me and made me swear I'd ride out.

She never even lasted the night.

You can't blame yourself for that... you did what you could.

I did nothing!

Nothing.

Never even got there.

Why didn't you tell this to the marshal?

What's the use?

Strip myself naked in front of the town?

Wh... Who would understand?

Well, don't make any difference

about this town... what they think.

You'll be gone.

You are leaving, aren't you?

Well, now, Martin...

Will Lukens knows you're here, and he'll come back for you.

Probably kill you.

You know how long I've been running?

No.

I'm tired.

I can't run anymore.

Matthew, you want to hear something?

Not particularly, but I, I got a feeling I'm going to anyway.

Ain't you startin' to itch before you get bit?

No, that's all right, just go ahead on, do your work.

Probably wasn't even worth bringing up.

Except I just get to wonderin'.

About what?

That singer.

Somebody is gunning for you like that,

wouldn't you think he'd be a-ridin' out of town

like he had a cocklebur stuck under his tail?

Well, that's probably what he's planning to do.

Can't do no riding, you ain't got no horse.

- He's got a horse, Festus. - He's a-fixin' to sell him.

Took him over to the blacksmith this morning,

said, "You find somebody wants to buy him, sell him."

Well, there's other ways to leave town, you know.

Train, stage.

Yeah, I reckon you're right.

Say, did you find out anything more

about that feller who was killed?

No, I haven't, not yet.

You hear anything, you let me know.

Oh, yes, I'll let you know, all right.

If you amble over to the Long Branch with me,

I might drink a beer with you.

Thanks, it's a little early in the day for me, Festus.

Well, now, if you're frettin' about the money,

I was a-fixin' to do the buyin'.

Leastwise, my own.

What, did you come into a fortune or something?

No, this here is money I earned with these two old,

hardworking hands... four bits!

For helping Mr. Foley lay out that feller for buryin'.

Mighty hot out this morning,

and the beer'd go down nice and cool, wouldn't it?

Well, thanks, Festus,

but I got to stop by the telegraph office

and then Mr. Foley's.

Maybe some other time.

Some other time I ain't a-gonna have four bits.

Pa, that singer knows we're close.

It ain't likely he'll just sit down there and wait.

If he's got any sense, he'd have pulled out last night.

Ain't gonna be sure unless I ride in and see.

Well, then supposing he is there.

He's likely gone to the law.

Pa, that marshal'll be looking for you.

Man's got a right to claim his dead boy.

Pa?

Let me go in.

I let you ride in last night.

♪♪

Morning, Marshal.

Morning.

I'd like to ask you something. But I don't want to hold you up.

It's all right.

It's about that singin' fella,

the one they tried to gun down last night.

I understand he's trying to sell his horse.

You must've been talking to Festus.

I don't have to talk to anybody.

Horse is standing over there, tied up by the blacksmith's.

Does that mean he's gonna stay?

I don't know. Why don't you go ask him?

I don't mean to question your authority, Marshal.

It's just that we...

well, we figure it'd be better for everybody

if he just rode on out of town.

"We"?

I've been talking to some of the men.

The fella that shot him wasn't alone,

and there's lots of others that might be coming after him.

Somebody could get hurt.

Even killed.

Now, this is trouble that don't have to happen.

If he's not here when they come after him,

there won't be any shooting.

That makes a lot of sense.

Well, then we can figure you're with us.

Oh, all the way.

You'll run him out?

Be glad to

if you just give me one good reason.

What's the matter with Hode?

Oh, same thing that's always the matter with Hode, Doc...

He's not happy unless he's worried about something.

- What is it this time, the singer? - Yeah.

They get the impression he's staying around town, I guess.

- He tell you he wasn't? - Nope.

Why don't you just ask him?

Maybe I will.

Marshal?

Name's Will Lukens, Marshal.

I've come to get my boy that was killed last night.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Mr. Lukens.

Your boy came in gunning... you got any idea why he'd do that?

Can you tell me where they're keeping him?

Well, he's over there in the undertaker's parlor.

I'll be needing his horse to pack him out.

Well, his horse is down at the livery stable.

- I took him over there. - I'm obliged to you.

Mr. Lukens, there's no reason to take your boy out of town.

No. We can give him a decent burial right here.

This is Dr. Adams.

No, no. He never had no taste for town.

I'll bury him.

And then I'll come back

and I'll bury that singing fella that killed him.

Now, wait a minute, Mr. Lukens.

It wasn't him that killed your boy.

It was me.

I heard... It was on account of him.

I'll be back.

You come back, I'll have to stop you.

I know, Marshal.

You got your duty... and I got mine, too.

Like it says in the Book: "An eye for an eye."

Mr. Lukens.

Don't come back.

I got to, Marshal.

I owe him double.

It just sorrows me that I can only kill him once.

We're kind of setting aside the day for grieving.

You can tell him that he's got till night.

♪ Was once in the saddle ♪

♪ I used to go dashing ♪

♪ Once in the saddle ♪

♪ I used to be gay ♪

♪ Was first to the alehouse ♪

♪ And then to the jailhouse ♪

♪ I'm shot in the breast ♪

♪ And I'm dying today ♪

♪ Oh, beat the drum slowly ♪

♪ And play the fife lowly ♪

♪ Play the death march ♪

♪ As you carry... ♪

Don't you know any spunk-up music?

I know some.

Well, then?

All right.

♪ Prettiest thing I ever saw ♪

♪ Was a redheaded gal from... ♪

Arkansas?

New Orleans.

No. That doesn't rhyme.

Oh, I got one.

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ I got a gal lives over the hill, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ She ain't moved, she lives there still ♪

♪ Little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Liza, she is ten feet tall, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall ♪

♪ Little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane ♪

♪ Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane. ♪

That's more like it.

I've been wondering...

what makes a gal like you come out and live here?

Eh, it's a long story.

But when I first decided to come west,

I was, um, worried about Indians and bears

and things like that, and I met this lady

that had been all the way to California and back,

and she told me the only thing I really had to worry about

was the... the sun and the wind and the dust...

and the men.

Men being the worst?

Well, that depends on your point of view.

Hmm.

- Kitty. - Matt.

The name Lukens mean anything to you?

He just rode into town

to pick up his dead son.

Said he's gonna ride back in tonight after you.

Got no cause.

Sometimes it's not a matter of cause,

it's a matter of who's got a gun in his hand.

Well, you're the marshal;

you're paid to keep the law.

I'm just one man;

I can't be everywhere at once.

Matt, he didn't have anything to do with that killing last night.

Lukens can't blame him for that.

Seems there's more to it than just last night, Kitty.

Anyway, mister, seems kind of foolish to me

to sit around waiting for trouble to come to you.

You could get a day's head start on him

if you saddle up and ride out now.

No, I, uh... I can't ride out.

Horse went lame last night.

You're putting a horse up for sale lame?

He's a good horse.

Just needs some rest.

Now, mister, let me tell you something.

There's a stage out of here this afternoon

and a train tonight.

I'll sell your horse for you and send you the money.

You just tell me where you are.

You tellin' me I gotta pull out?

I didn't say that.

Well, then we're just wasting time,

making talk about nothing.

I like it here, Marshal.

I'm gonna stay.

It's your life.

Like he said, it's my life.

♪ Oh, beat the drum slowly ♪

♪ And play the fife lowly ♪

♪ Play the death march ♪

♪ As you carry me along ♪

♪ Take me to the green valley ♪

♪ There lay the sod o'er me ♪

♪ For I'm a young cowboy ♪

♪ And I know I done wrong. ♪

Lukens!

I want to talk to you.

Ain't nothing to say.

Well, well... just a minute.

You're a better shot than that.

Now let me tell you something.

I've been looking all over the country for you

and I'm getting sick of it.

Wasn't for these boys here,

I'd just ride on out and let you hang yourself.

Pa, it won't hurt to listen to him.

All right.

Say what you got to say and then get.

All right.

Now, I know this is a bad time for you

and I'm sorry about that.

But you got things all twisted up.

There's another side to this.

There's no other side.

Only the girl layin' there, trusting me...

and the pain tearing her apart.

And me with one hope:

that he was coming out.

Sittin' there, watching her die,

and telling myself, "He give me his word."

He was coming out; he was on his way out.

He stopped and got hisself drunk.

He stopped to get one drink.

Did he tell you why?

Well, it was cold

and he hadn't done any doctoring in years

and he was scared.

Because he never figured to come.

Because her skin was red.

Because she was Indian.

That's not the truth.

Now, I'm gonna tell you...

And I'm telling you to get!

Now, you're smart...

you'll march yourself back to that buggy.

All right.

And if you're smart, which I doubt,

you'd better think about this:

Marshal Dillon's not gonna let you ride into town

and kill anybody.

You come in with one, three, or a dozen,

he'll be there waiting for you.

And if you care anything

about those two boys you've got left,

you'd better do some thinking about that.

Understand, Marshal,

I ain't speaking for just us that's here.

Now, there's lots of others, too.

I understand that.

All we're asking is that you run that singer out.

I can't do it.

Not even does a majority want it?

Not when the federal law says different.

Well, we don't know anything about "federal law."

Well, I do, and I am telling you

the man's entitled to stay here,

and not only that, he's entitled to protection.

Well, so are we, Marshal.

Boys, let me tell you something.

I think we're both looking for the same thing.

A good, clean town without any trouble.

Well, it so happens I'm the law here

and I'm gonna have to play this thing the way I see it.

Now, that's all there is to it.

Anything else?

That's all.

You sure are a-gonna owe a heap of singin'.

I wished I had me a natural gift

I could turn into ready whiskey.

Even if I wasn't fixin' to use it.

Festus, maybe he doesn't feel like singing.

Well, golly Bill, Miss Kitty,

a cowpuncher don't always feel like riding,

or a butcher don't always feel like butcherin'.

He's right.

Cowhands should ride...

singers should sing.

♪ Who's gonna shoe your pretty little foot? ♪

♪ Who's gonna glove your hand? ♪

♪ And who's gonna kiss your red ruby lips? ♪

♪ Who's gonna be your man? ♪

♪ Who's gonna be your man? Boy... ♪

♪ Who's gonna be your man? ♪

♪ Who's gonna kiss your red ruby lips? ♪

♪ And who's gonna be your man? ♪

♪ Papa's gonna shoe your pretty little foot ♪

♪ Mama's gonna glove your hand ♪

♪ Well, now, Sister's gonna kiss ♪

♪ Your red ruby lips ♪

♪ And I'm gonna be your man ♪

♪ I'm gonna be your man, boy ♪

♪ I'm gonna be your man ♪

♪ Sister gonna kiss your red ruby lips ♪

♪ And I'm gonna be your man. ♪

There, uh... something I can do for you gentlemen?

Yes, sir.

There is.

We come as a peaceful deputation

to ask you to get out of town.

And if you feel you can't leave peaceable,

maybe we can persuade you.

Take it easy, Mace.

We didn't come here to make trouble.

We come for action, didn't we?

Mace, hold on here a minute...

- Now stay out of this, Doc! - Now just a minute! Wait...

Hold it.

Festus, hold on.

You and your friends don't hear very good, do you?

Now, I told you to mind your own business

and let me handle this.

Now get on out of here, all of you.

Go on home.

Stranger, I'm gonna have to put you in jail.

What for?

Inciting a riot or protective custody,

take your choice.

♪♪

And I'll tell you this:

that old Mace is just pure ol-D lucky,

you comin' in like you done.

You hadn't a-come a-busting in, Matthew,

well, I'd have got on him like ugly on a ape,

and I mean it.

And if he's got a brain in his head,

he'll come back here thanking you

for saving his good-for-nothing skin.

Mm-hmm.

It's your move.

You ain't changed your mind

about that singing feller, Matthew?

Nope.

Yeah, I sure don't want to stomp on your feelings,

but I gotta say this.

I agree with Doc.

Oh, you talk too much.

Well, I do.

That's what I said.

I mean I agree with you, you old scudder.

Festus, don't stand in front of the window, will you?

You make a perfect target with this light in here.

Why don't you turn the light out?

Doc, if I turn the light out,

that's the same as telling Lukens I'm scared of him.

Now, I'm not paid to be scared.

You turn the light out, you're being careful.

You're paid for being careful.

Sooner he knows we're in here,

the sooner we're gonna get this thing settled,

one way or another.

You won't deputize anybody, will you?

Well, not unless they offer to, no.

I don't notice anybody breaking that door down

to get in here.

Well, Matt, you can't expect

anybody to bust the door down to get in here

for somebody that they never saw before,

somebody who rides into town out of nowhere,

somebody they don't know.

How well do you have to know a man

before he's entitled to protection, Doc?

I ain't busted down no door,

but I'm here, Matthew.

Well, all right, Festus, you're deputized.

Thank you.

Move.

Kitty.

Come in.

Thought I told you to stay off the streets.

You're always telling somebody something.

I brought him some food.

Aren't we worth feeding?

You really want an answer to that?

It's just sandwiches.

That's real kind of you.

Very kind.

Just wished I had some appetite.

Shame to bring you over for nothing.

Well, maybe you can eat them later on the train.

"Train"?

Here.

We'll just put it on your account.

I'll get it all back when Quint sells your horse.

You, too.

You want me to go.

Why?

Maybe because I like you.

Man that plays like you do shouldn't be wasted.

Maybe it's because, long as I'm here,

the marshal's in danger.

Matt can take care of himself.

I'm not sure you can.

Better take this.

You'll need the fare on the train.

I won't be on the train.

Thanks just the same.

How is he?

Well, how would you feel if you were sitting in there,

waiting to get shot?

I'll walk you home.

Thanks.

Good night, Doc. Good night, Festus.

Night, Miss Kitty.

Now, you close this bolt, and don't open it for anybody.

You won't put him on the train, huh?

Kitty, if he wants to get on the train,

I'll put him on and I'll buy drinks all around.

But if I try to put him on the train against his will,

well, I'd better take this badge off first

'cause it doesn't mean a thing.

Best leave the horses here.

Walk in quietly.

Pa, it's wrong.

I mean, it ain't like we don't understand.

We know how you felt for her.

Ain't nobody knows.

Nobody.

Pa, listen.

We know.

We loved her, too.

Made me young again.

Like in the Book.

Like old King David.

Made me young.

And then she was dead.

Pa, you ain't got no proof that he could've helped her.

Might be that he couldn't've done nothing at all.

He could've rode out.

He could have tried.

Thought maybe you'd be asleep.

Sleeping's like dying.

I'll be dead long enough.

Maybe so, but not here.

You're leaving tonight on the train.

Oh, no.

What I said this morning still goes.

I'm not running from Lukens anymore.

Then I'm gonna give you a prescription.

Stand up and take a look at yourself.

And you'll see what I see.

You're not running from Lukens.

You're running from yourself and what you could've been.

And what you're letting yourself become.

Nobody asked you into the case.

Well, let's just call it consultation without fee

for the public good.

Now, you listen to me.

I've got a big chunk of myself right here in this town.

And anybody that hurts it hurts me.

And the marshal?

Anybody that hurts him.

I'm not hurting the marshal.

You could.

Because he'd stand up for you against one or a hundred.

Whether you're worth it or not.

Well, that's his job.

Put it on with his badge.

Is that the way you feel about it?

All right, then you just sit there.

Sit there and let other people solve your problems for you,

like you have been doing for ten years.

Quit... like you did with Lukens' wife.

Was it because her skin was red?

Who told you that?

You've been talking to Lukens.

I rode out there this afternoon.

And I could've gotten killed.

What do you want to do that for?

I...

You were trying to help me.

Martin, when you practice medicine as long as I have,

it gets to be kind of a habit.

You don't really believe that, do you?

About the girl?

Me not wanting to help her because she was an Indian?

Of course not.

You think I ought to go on that train?

Don't you?

You think I'd stand a chance?

Lukens couldn't touch you.

I don't mean with Lukens.

I mean me.

You think I could start all over?

Don't think you'll know till you try.

♪♪

Well, we won't have long to wait.

The train will be here in 15 minutes.

Come on.

Pa, we don't even know where to look for him.

Ain't no place for him to hide.

We'll find him.

♪♪

♪♪

Marshal?

I've got no difference with you!

Give him a gun and send him out!

Give me your guitar.

Marshal! Marshal!

Ben.

Oh! It's my leg!

My leg!

I'm bleeding, Pa.

Someone... somebody help!

Help me.

Somebody help me!

He's just a boy.

Get back here!

He's dead, Marshal.

He's dead.

Doc, it's his leg.

All right, Festus, get him up to the office.

Oh!

He was trying to help the boy, Doc.

♪ Throw petals of roses ♪

♪ All over my body ♪

♪ Roses to deaden ♪

♪ The clods as they fall. ♪