Original subtitles

(dramatic theme music playing)

(both guns fire)

ANNOUNCER: ...starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

MAN (drunkenly): ♪ Oh, my darling Nelly Gray ♪

♪ They have taken you away ♪

♪ And I'll never see my darlin' anymore ♪

♪ They have taken you to Georgia ♪

♪ For to work your life away ♪

♪ And... ♪

♪ I'll never ♪

♪ See my darlin' ♪

♪ Anymore... ♪

That's right, Arly. Never, never, never.

-It's time to go home. -Kitty, I was on...

I was only gonna sing a couple more verses.

Well, tomorrow night.

I might not even be in town tomorrow night.

Well, we'll just have to take our chances on that.

Good night!

-(wind blowing) -(scoffs)

Oh, terrible night.

I could've closed up an hour ago if he'd gone home.

Yeah, he sure made that last beer go a long way, didn't he?

(chuckles)

Well, let's just hope business picks up.

Kitty, speaking of business, I'd better go finish my rounds.

(chuckles)

-(wind blowing) -My, that wind sure came up, didn't it?

Yeah.

A man, uh...

a man can catch a chill on a night like this.

Well, you know, if there's any danger of a man getting a chill,

a good shot of whiskey before bedtime

will do him a world of good.

You don't know where I can get a prescription like that filled,

do you?

Well, that's kind of hard to say.

The, uh... the Long Branch is officially closed, but, uh,

I suppose we could leave the latch off the door

for charitable purposes.

Good. I'll, uh...

I'll try to remember that.

I ♪

Something wrong, Miss Kitty?

Well, I... thought I had a date.

Guess I was mistaken.

-Better lock up, Sam. -Yes, ma'am.

-Good night, Miss Kitty. -Good night.

MAN (gravelly): Get him out of here.

(theme music playing)

Sam, this is the worst cup of coffee I've tasted

since the time I tried to make it.

Well, the boy's bringing some breakfast over

from the Dodge House. I'll run him back

-for some of their coffee. -Eh, don't bother.

I don't think anybody's coffee would taste good to me today.

Mum mm.

-Morning, Miss Kitty. -Morning, Festus.

What are you doing stirring around so early?

I'm a-workin', of course.

-Oh? -That is, I'm fixing to,

just as quick as I can find Matthew.

You know, things have been kind of peaceful around here.

Oh, I ain't figuring to work for Matthew.

What it is, see, I got me a job with old Simon Spencer

bringing some stock down from Jetmore.

What's Matt got to do with that?

Well, you know how close old Simon is with a dollar,

and he ain't a-fixin' to jar loose with a penny

till I get them horses back here.

And I need, oh,

about ten dollars for 'spenses,

more or less.

Oh.

'Course he's good for the pay,

and Matthew'd give me the loan of it in a minute

if I could find him, but I ain't saw hide nor hair of him.

I seen your doors open,

and I figured he might have came in here to have coffee with you.

No, he hasn't.

Well, pot's on the bar.

Help yourself.

Uh, much obliged, Miss Kitty.

Ain't got time to set around and jaw.

And you ain't saw him at all, huh?

Nope.

Mm.

Well...

Tell you what I'll do.

I'll stake you to the ten dollars.

It's, uh, kind of again' my nature

to take a loan of finances from a lady,

but it's hard to tell where Matthew's at.

He-he could be anyplace,

and, well, I got to get goin' this morning.

He gets around, all right.

Much obliged, Miss Kitty.

I'll pay you back before you can say

"Rat run over the roof of the house with a piece

of raw liver in his mouth."

I will.

-(laughs) -(grunts)

(blows landing)

(grunting)

(gravelly): That's enough.

(shouts)

I said that's enough.

He got loose, jumped me.

Look at my face.

-I want him alive. -If he tries anything else...

You ride up ahead. I want him alive.

What happened?

He must have worked the ropes loose during the night.

I was watching the road behind.

He gave Mandee a good one.

He'd better be alive.

Let's go.

Hyah!

He's alive.

Tie 'em tight this time.

That was a dumb thing to do, Dillon.

Try it again, I'll let Mandee finish you.

We supposed to know each other?

We'll know each other a lot better 'fore we're through.

What's wrong with his voice?

He got hit in the throat with a rifle butt.

It could happen to you, big man,

if you get out of line.

You sure this isn't some kind of joke, Sam?

Ain't no, joke, Thad. They got Marshal Dillon.

They're holding him all the way to the Mexican border,

and if anything happens to 'em, they're gonna kill him.

Is it true?

Barney found this on the door to the telegraph office

when he came to work this morning.

Mam German.

Do you know him?

That's the fella who killed a rancher up in Smith County

about four years ago. Beat him to death with his bare hands.

Sent him to Leavenworth.

Well, what are we gonna do?

The only thing we can do, Kitty, is...

send those wires like they asked for.

I ain't got no authority to send a telegram like that.

You don't need any authority to send a telegram.

All you need is a message and the payment.

Now, there's the message, and I'll pay for it.

I'll pay for it.

There you are. Now get out of here.

-All of 'em? -All of 'em.

Anybody tell Festus?

No, we can't. He's on his way to Jetmore to pick up some horses.

That's why I sent for Thad.

Do you think you can catch him?

Yes, ma'am. Do you want me to bring him back here?

Oh, no. No, don't do that, Thad. Just, uh...

just find him and tell him what happened.

By thunder, he'll do something.

Yes, sir.

Due?

You scared?

Yeah.

Seems to me I remember a Mandee in that bunch

that escaped from Leavenworth Territorial Prison last month.

I heard they were all rounded up.

You heard wrong.

I see. 22 of 'em escaped, and there's four of you left.

-Is that it? -That's it.

Yeah, I remember the posters now.

Mandee, Torreon, Gorman

and Ed Starkey, is that it?

Starkey's dead. Wade Keys.

DILLON: Oh, yeah. Wade Keys,

gunrunner for the Apaches.

Mandee, wanted to hang for three murders.

Torreon rode with the Comancheros

when they massacred...

I know what they done.

And Lon Gorman, huh?

I know what I done, too, so shut up.

(hoof beats approaching)

A mile up the road a posse, maybe ten, 12.

Meade County.

This is crazy. We ain't got a chance.

We should have split up.

Like the rest of 'em? They're dead.

They're waitin' for us.

They ain't gonna do what you said.

They're waitin' to see if we got him.

Dodge sent the wire, or they wouldn't be there.

We go to meet them?

We may be going to meet the devil,

but we're all going together.

WW

♪ ...on your bones ♪

♪ Cornbread, buttermilk and good old greasy greens ♪

♪ Make your muscles hard as granite stone. ♪

-(humming) -THAD (shouting): Festus!

Hyah. Hyah, hyah!

Hyah!

What in the name of 17 billy goats are you doing here?

-Doc and Kitty sent me after you. -What for?

-The marshal's in trouble. -Matthew is?

Four escaped convicts have taken him prisoner,

using him as a shield to get across the Mexican border.

And if we don't get to them before they've run across

some peace officers, they're liable to kill him.

Headed south out of Dodge,

that would take 'em right through Meade County.

Come on.

For heaven's sake.

You still getting your stock off that Mullins outfit?

Oh.

Um...

Yeah, Mullins, Pierce, Young.

By golly, they're doing something to it.

It's not as... not as good as it was a year or so ago.

They're puttin' the same label on the bottle, but it's...

Doc, uh, what time is it?

Time?

Oh, it's about 5:00, I guess.

I'm usually fast.

I got ten minutes till. Why?

Well, they should have been

in Meade County before noon.

Even riding slow.

Got no way of knowing that.

Maybe Thad and Festus caught up with them.

Maybe they did.

Festus is one of the best trackers in the country.

We know that.

Well, then, why haven't we heard something?

Oh, for heaven's sakes, Kitty, it's early.

Now, Ben Foley's a friend of Matt's, and Ben wouldn't...

Ben Foley is also the sheriff of Meade County.

Now, maybe there was some trouble.

Maybe Ben couldn't go along with the conditions in that wire.

Oh, maybe, maybe, maybe.

Everything you're saying is conjecture.

Now that's a lot of foolishness. Here.

I want you to drink that. I know it's not as smooth

as it should be, but that's your fault.

Now, that's my prescription, and you drink it.

Mum mum.

Can't say I'm surprised to see you here.

Oh, uh, Ben, this here's Thad Greenwood.

Thad, this here is Sheriff Foley.

-Howdy. -Mr. Greenwood. Come in.

Say, did you get a wire from Miss Russell, did you?

Yep, I got it.

We were afraid we wouldn't get here before they did.

You didn't.

You mean they done been here and went?

Been and gone.

THAD: You saw 'em?

Well, we had a talk.

How many men did you have?

Oh, a dozen.

I wouldn't have done any better if I had a hundred.

You mean they bluffed their way through.

Let me tell you something, son.

I don't think they were bluffing.

Leastwise, I wasn't gonna be the one to call.

Matt's a friend of mine, too.

Matthew all right, was he?

He was this afternoon.

Looked like they had to tame him a little.

You boys going after him?

I reckon we will.

Long's we can stay on their trail,

we might be able to figure out something.

Well, I wish you luck.

But if I was you,

I'd step mighty careful-like.

(opening drawer)

Dug out these posters this afternoon on all four of 'em.

There ain't a one of them that wouldn't slit your throat

for the pleasure.

Much obliged, Ben.

Mm-hmm.

Come on.

(crickets chirping)

(Mandee cackling)

Ah. Oh, we done it, Gorman.

Backed 'em down.

Fish in a barrel.

You can finish the rest of that. We got plenty more.

No.

Nobody gonna worry about toting you around,

you fallin' down drunk.

We've been on the run for a month.

A man's got a right to a little whiskey.

You got no right till you get to Mexico.

Then you can drown yourself in liquor if you like.

Come on, Gorman, we're only letting off a little steam.

Keep your steam.

You'll need it before we're through.

Take the Mexican some food.

I ♪

(cocks gun)

(Dillon groans)

Thanks.

Wm {my mu

I'm gonna shoot you in the knee.

A man don't get around so good with that bone busted.

Expect that's a fact.

You have a chance, you're gonna take it,

ain't you?

Wouldn't you if you were me?

I ain't never had no chance.

Not till now.

Don't see it makes much difference

whether you kill me now

or when I get to the border.

We'll get to the border.

You're gonna see to it.

What'll you do then-- let me go?

Might.

I might trust you.

I don't know if I'd trust your friend here.

(grunts)

Look out.

Hey, marshal gringo,

this was pretty good try, eh?

But now I think is better

for to put the gun down, you know?

-Move. -Vámonos!

(laughs)

(gunshot)

Look at this. It's the second time

he's chewed me up. It ain't gonna happen again.

We still need him.

Tie him up.

You give this man half a chance, he'll finish the job

-that guard started on you last year. -Shut up.

All right.

Okay, he's all yours.

But if he looks at me cross-eyed again,

you'll be carrying dead weight.

Hey, this time you better tie him up good, because

next time we're not going to be so close, huh?

Ain't gonna be a next time.

Come on, let's move.

Sit down.

I suppose I ought to thank you.

No thanks. I saved your neck 'cause I need you.

Huh. You're not a very good liar.

Have it your way.

Gorman, what happened to your voice?

None of your business.

I done told too many people, too many times.

Nobody believed me.

Well, it must be important to you. I'd like to hear it.

Supposed to have killed a rancher named John Chase.

Never did. Never killed nobody.

Well, they said a guard was killed.

Mandee. Likes to kill people.

No cause. No cause for it.

Well, what'd they mean about a guard?

Oh.

Well, that was a year ago.

I don't take to being

no animal in a cage.

One day,

I didn't move fast enough to suit him,

'cause they don't tell you twice.

And I came awake

three days later in a black hole.

But I remember what happened.

The guard hit me in the throat with a rifle butt.

But I... I wasn't knocked out, so he kept coming at me

with a billy club, and beating on me around the, uh...

Them sticks got lead in 'em.

When I woke up,

I couldn't swatter.

I couldn't talk.

It was six month 'fore I could say a word.

But it was a word.

Sounded like a bullfrog.

But I cried...

like a woman when I heard it.

Gorman, if you didn't kill Chase...

What difference does it make?

One killing's same as the other to the law, Marshal.

-You know that. -Well, you just got through

telling me you didn't kill the guard.

Didn't. Never killed nobody.

But I'm gonna kill somebody.

The man who did this to me.

The sheriff of Smith County.

He lied me out of my life.

That's all I'm living for.

That's all I got to live for.

Smith County's in North Kansas.

He gave up the law.

Moved to the border.

He took the money...

that he got for getting rid of me

and he bought himself a place on the border,

like I used to have.

He ain't gonna have it for long.

Hey, why you got a face so long, amigo?

You know, we're going to the mountain.

-(Grunts) -My mountain.

Where the whiskey is strong.

And so is the woman. Eh? (laughs)

Yeah.

That's a long way off.

-Eh. But we got the ticket. -(Mandee grunts)

Ticket sit right over there.

That's right.

You're right.

And when the trip is over,

you tear up the ticket

and throw it away.

It's no good for nothing else. Huh?

And the man who buys the ticket--

He ain't much good, neither.

Wouldn't you say?

I ♪

Well, they've been through here just a little bit ago.

Right in this very place where we're standing at.

See this here rock?

See how she's all scraped off there slicker'n a whistle?

That there was did by a iron-rim wagon wheel.

Well, then, we can't be more than

two or three hours behind 'em.

Well, ain't that what I just said?

-Yeah. -Yeah.

Well, we ain't got but about a half hour more of daylight.

I think we'd ought to bed down right here

so's we won't slip up on 'em unexpected.

Festus, I don't think

this is such a good place to make a camp.

What do you mean it ain't a good place?

What's wrong with it?

I happen to know that

they's a spring down there not 150 yards.

Well, I... I don't want to sound like a know-it-all,

but I... just don't think

this is the right kind of place to make a camp.

Well, what are you talking about?

Well, I could be wrong,

but if ask me, this is a good place for...

(rapid, rhythmic rattling)

(rattling)

...rattlesnakes.

Oh, foot, they ain't gonna strike you

if they ain't got no heads.

(rattling stops)

Well, don't just stand there.

Get your horse unsaddled.

We're fixin' to make camp.

Kitty?

Here. It's a wire from Amarillo.

Marshal of Amarillo talked to Matt this morning,

and he-he's let 'em through.

It's gonna be all right.

But they're halfway to the border.

Why haven't Thad and Festus done something?

Well, they'll do something when the time comes.

Don't worry about it.

Oh, of course they will.

I don't know what's the matter with me.

Well, I'll tell you.

Probably the same thing that's wrong with me.

We're just chewing ourselves to bits

while we know all we can do is wait.

Well, if it's this bad for us,

think what it must be like for Matt.

Well, he's been in tough spots before.

-Not like this. -Oh, yes, he has.

I keep trying to tell myself

that they're just using him as a... as a shield,

but if they're the kind of men

that everybody says they are, well,

what are the chances that they won't kill him

when they get to Mexico?

Oh, there... oh, there just...

There wouldn't be any reason for 'em to do that.

They won't do that.

I laid awake all last night

trying to imagine what Dodge would be like without Matt.

What I'd be without him.

And I just couldn't.

I couldn't imagine.

And then, all of a sudden, I...

I couldn't even... remember what Matt looked like.

I couldn't even remember his face.

(voice breaking): Doc, I couldn't even...

Now, just hold it right there.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I've lived quite a bit longer than you have, Kitty,

and... I know something to be true.

If you think something hard enough

and strong enough, you'd be amazed.

An awful lot of times, it turns out just the way you think

it will and the way it ought to.

And here's what I mean.

We're gonna hold on to the thought

that Matt's gonna be all right,

and we're gonna hold onto it, you and me, just...

just as strong as we can

until we see him walk right through that door.

Is that all right with you?

All right, Doc.

We have a cup of coffee?

You bet we can.

(approaching hoof beats)

It's Matt.

What do you think?

We just can't do her, Thad.

We got to do something.

Only got four more days to the border.

What are you gonna do, now?

Just walk right down yonder and start to shooting, is that it?

No, but I don't think I could stand much more

of this watching them beat up on the marshal like that

and us not doing anything about it.

I know how you feel, Thad,

and I keep a-telling myself

that Matthew'd rather have a couple of lumps on his head

than a bullet through it.

But you're right about one thing.

We can't just set here and watch 'em get plumb into Mexico.

The roundup's about over, and the ropes are getting short.

You got a plan?

I've got a million of 'em,

but ain't a one of 'em's worth a hill of beans, though.

Actually, all it amounts to is trying to slip down there

in the dark and cut Matthew loose.

When?

If we can't save him tonight,

it's... it's liable to be all she wrote for Matthew.

(horse sputters)

It ain't gonna take me but about five minutes.

You think you can get to them horses?

I reckon I got more of a chance of getting to the horses

than you do of getting to the marshal.

Much obliged.

-Good luck. -I'll meet you back here.

(crickets chirping)

(birds singing)

He's bound for the night. Give him some water.

(crickets chirping)

(birds singing)

(crickets chirping)

(whistling like a bird)

(crickets chirping)

(loud neighing)

(neighing)

The horses.

They pulled loose.

They couldn't.

I tied that picket rope myself.

Find them!

-Get back, Festus! Here they come. -(gunfire)

What happened?

Hey, Gorman, what happened?

Thought I saw somebody down by the wagon.

Must have been a shadow.

Well, I don't know.

You know, before I think I hear some... somebody over there.

Hey, maybe you think it's Indians, huh?

If it was Indians, they'd have taken the horses.

And there they are in the trees over there.

Everybody getting jumpy over nothing.

You go back on guard, find the other horses.

Hobble them this time.

Your friends are taking big chances, Marshal,

with your life.

You all right?

I ain't hurt none if that's what you mean.

I heard the shooting. You didn't get to him?

Oh, I got close, but that don't count,

'cept in horseshoes.

He isn't hurt, is he?

No, seems to be in good shape, all right.

What'll we do now?

We'll head out for Lamb County.

Tonight? We're just gonna up and leave 'em?

Well, they're getting too close to the border

to go anyplace but south.

Well, what's in Lamb County?

Tomorrow's the day them killers ain't gonna go no further.

That'll be the day they say they'll kill Matthew.

Come on, let's go.

(snoring)

Chihuahua, hombre.

GORMAN: Go.

We're not in Mexico yet. Come on.

You go down and relieve Keys on watch.

(Mandee groans)

Make a fire.

Morning, Marshal.

You stiff?

We'll be in Mexico 'fore long.

Be all over then.

Gorman, you're not going to get to Mexico.

Not unless you change your plans.

That some kind of joke?

It's no joke.

Straight line from here to the Mexican border

takes you right through Lamb County.

Lamb County? So what?

The sheriff down there is a man named Amos Hockley.

Never heard of him.

Well, he's an old man,

but he's one of the best lawmen you'll ever run across.

Friend of yours?

That won't make any difference to him.

We'll see.

Gorman, listen to me.

Now, you told me that you never killed anybody.

Well, I believe you, and I want to help you.

But you go through Lamb County,

and you're gonna kill or be killed

before the day is out.

Then you've got no chance at all.

In too deep, Marshal...

to turn back.

We're heading south. Let's go.

Those men come through my county,

I'm gonna have to be out there to stop them.

Well, Sheriff, they'll kill Matthew if you do that.

Here I thought you two had knowed each other

for a whole heap of years.

Why, I reckon I've heared him talk more about you than

-any other lawman. -And I've been

a lawman now for over 40 years.

If I had a son, I'd want him to be just like Matt Dillon.

Well, then a-goin' out there

and getting Matthew killed that way don't make a lick of sense.

Son, a man lives a whole life.

That life has to make sense.

All right, just supposin' the tables was turned around.

Do you think Matthew'd go out yonder?

Well, now, if he wouldn't, he wouldn't be Matt Dillon.

Boys, there's a couple of shotguns

over there in that rack if you want to come along with me.

Oh, and, uh...

here's a... sackful of badges.

I'd sure appreciate it if you'd go down to the saloon

and see if you can gather me up a posse, hmm?

You mean you're figuring on taking a posse

-out there, are you? -Yeah, reckon I am.

Sheriff...

I don't think I can let you do that.

If they're as close as you say they are, you better hurry.

Better go down and get that posse.

-Hold on, Thad. -Festus...

Are you with me or agin me?

Well, of course I'm with you, but you're not gonna...

Sorry to hear you say that, son.

I kind of figured you might have more sense.

FESTUS: Keep away from them guns, Sheriff.

Now, I mean it.

(gunshot)

You know, boy, I don't think you're the kind of a man

that'd shoot a sheriff down in cold blood.

Put that gun down, now,

before I blow both your heads off.

Now, if these two barrels go off...

there isn't gonna be enough of you to scrape up

and put in gunnysacks- now, put it down.

All right, boy, you, too.

Come on, drop it, drop it.

-All right, in the cell. -Well, wait a minute...

In these parts we do not cotton to people

who threaten our officers-- now, go on, get in there.

I'm losing my patience. Go on. Go on.

Git, git.

Sheriff, now, you told me yourself

that them men wouldn't stop at nothin',

and you know if you go out yonder,

they're gonna kill Matthew. Well...

It ain't even got no shells in it.

I ♪

Relax, Marshal.

There ain't gonna be no trouble.

DILLON: Oh, yeah?

What do you call that?

One man?

If that one man's who I think it is, that's Amos Hockley.

So what?

Just keep watching.

(wind whistling softly)

-Gorman! -We see.

We're close enough to the border--

We could make a run for it.

In this?

What do we do?

We do same as we always done.

We don't run, we don't bargain,

we just go right through with the marshal.

Slow and easy, Torreon.

Make your play, Sheriff.

You got the telegram.

Yeah, I got the telegram.

Hi, Matt.

Amos.

It's been a while.

Yeah, I kind of figured you'd be here.

They know each other. What is this, Gorman?

Since you know Dillon, then you know that we mean business.

You're gonna kill him.

We are unless you let us through.

You know, son...

I don't think I can rightly do that.

Maybe you better get on with your killing.

'Course, um...

you're gonna be remembering before you pull that trigger,

soon as Matthew is dead, your shield is gone.

Son, I just don't think we're gonna bother to hang you.

We're gonna tie your arms and legs

to four different horses

and spur 'em real hard.

Go ahead, start shooting.

(Gorman grunts)

We can't kill him, huh? We can't kill him?

You just watch.

Maybe I can carve him up some, too, before he dies.

Now, open up.

Open up!

Or I start working on him right now!

All right, boys...

let 'em through.

I ♪

I ♪

Torreon, how far to the border?

Over the hill, three, four miles.

Three miles. Three more miles and we got it made.

You hear that, Marshal?

Three more miles and then I fix you for good!

How do you like that, big man?

I don't like it.

What's the matter, Gorman?

Bother you to see your friend hurt?

Don't cut him.

Oh... "don't cut him."

(chuckles): Well, "don't cut him."

Who's gonna stop me? You, Gorman?

Guess I'm gonna have to.

(gunshot)

(gunshots)

(gunshots continue)

(gunshots continue)

(gunshots continue)

(gunshots continue)

(gunshot)

(gunshots continue)

(grunting in pain)

(gunshots continue)

(gunshot)

(gunshot)

I ♪

Hello, Matt.

Well, you sure ain't very pretty, but...

-I think you're gonna live. (chuckles) -I wasn't so sure,

the way you kept urging those fellas to shoot me.

You know, I was worried about that myself.

You know, I'm beginning to think nobody can kill you, Matt.

(Dillon panting)

Just take it easy, Gorman.

We'll get you to a doctor soon as we can.

It ain't so bad, Marshal. I'll live.

Live long enough to hang.

Well, don't worry about that-- you're not gonna hang

as long as I'm around.

You know, Matt, it looked to me like this fella

-was on our side. -He was, Amos.

He sure was.

Say, you didn't by any chance see a couple of friends of mine

-on the way, did you? -Tall, gangly youngster

and a kind of a scroungy sidekick, not too bright?

-That's the pair. -I saw 'em.

Yeah, one of 'em stuck a gun in my ribs.

I had to put 'em in jail.

That's a...

kind of a strange pair.

You got any more friends around like that, Matthew?

(laughing): No, two's enough.

Uh, Billy, take care of those two.

I ♪

Giddyup. Giddyup.