Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

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Help me.

Please.

♪♪

♪♪

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♪♪

Hank.

Hank, got a delivery.

Get out of there.

Got an empty stall?

Well, yeah, there's one there, but I'm...

Old Baldy needs some oats.

We've come a long way.

Well, I'm not the stableman.

I... I run the freight office.

I just came by for a delivery.

My name's Burke.

Nathan Burke.

Mr. Burke, Mel Gates from Tascosa.

Oh, Tascosa, you say.

Hey, that's a fine town.

My barber's from Tascosa.

Came here about, oh...

five years ago.

Sinus trouble.

Is that a fact?

Well, I wouldn't know him.

I only worked there three year.

Well, we got a right healthy climate here,

except for the dust in the summer

and the cold in the winter.

Nice place to settle in, huh?

Couldn't recommend any higher.

Right now, I can't think of anything but a long hot bath

and a few beers to wash down the dust.

Well, Dodge House for the first,

and the Long Branch for the second.

Well, if you're free in an hour or so,

it would be my pleasure to buy you a beer.

Well, that's a right friendly offer, if ever I heard one.

I'll tell you... tell you what you do.

You tell Howie at the Dodge House

that I said to give you room 22.

That's nearest the bathtub.

Much obliged.

Sure.

♪♪

- What happened here? - It's a snakebite.

Get him upstairs.

All right, some of you men, give him a hand there.

All right, folks, the rest of you, move along now.

♪♪

Get out of here, all of you.

Just get on out.

All right, boys, thanks.

Thad.

Longer I live, the more I believe in miracles.

It's a good thing Matt spotted his horse.

We might have ridden right by him.

A snakebite this close to his brain...

He ought to be dead.

We opened those fang marks best we could, Doc.

Well, you did just fine.

Probably saved his life.

Now, over here...

this side of his face,

unless somebody tells me different, I'd say...

I'd say he'd been kicked there.

You know, that's exactly what I was thinking.

I have a couple of questions to ask him when he comes around.

Well, I sure can't promise you when that will be.

Who is he? Do you know?

I don't know. All we've got to go on

is this bill of sale I found on him here.

Doesn't say much.

Ed Carstairs.

Well, Mr. Carstairs...

pretty lucky man up to this point.

With the looks of that swelling,

his best friend couldn't even recognize him.

Friend, I'm sure glad it was you in that there stable.

Well, thank you.

Touch nicer having a friendly conversation over a beer

rather than drinking alone.

Well, Dodge is a friendly place, Mel.

There's no need for a man to drink alone.

Well, I...

- Oh, hi, Miss Kitty. - Burke.

This is Mel Gates, Miss Kitty.

He just rode into town.

How do you do, Mel?

Mel, this is Miss Kitty Russell.

It's a pleasure, Miss Russell.

Luckiest thing ever, my riding into that there stable.

I don't quite get the connection,

but I sure thank you anyhow.

Sam here is the best bartender

- and fiddle player there ever was. - Aw...

Yeah, you sure pour a fine head of beer, Sam.

- Thanks. - You ain't tasted better

between here and Tascosa, I'll guarantee.

Did you come all the way from Tascosa?

Oh, sizable number of stops in between.

None so pleasuresome as this one.

I guess it gets into a man's head

to settle down once in and while,

and me, I've been drifting a long time.

Well, a man could do worse than Dodge.

Couldn't he, Miss Kitty?

Well, that depends on what he's looking for.

Well, Mel here was talking about putting down some roots.

Yeah, that I did, Nathan. That I did.

- SAM and BURKE: Hi, Thad. - Well, Thad.

Miss Kitty.

Hi, Mr. Burke.

And, Mel, this is Thad Greenwood,

one of our official unofficial deputies.

Mel Gates.

- Hello, Mr. Gates. - Howdy.

Thad came to Dodge a ways back.

Put down some roots.

- Isn't that right, Thad? - That's right, Mr. Burke.

Came here looking for the one responsible

for killing his father.

Burke.

Uh, Sam, you got a cold sarsaparilla, please?

Sure, Thad.

Uh, when'd you get in, Thad?

About a half an hour ago.

Say, is, uh... is Matt over at his office?

No, I left him up at Doc's office.

Something wrong?

We found this fellow by the name of Carstairs.

Carstairs?

Yeah. We found him over at Benson's Wash.

He'd been snakebit.

Do you know him?

Oh, uh... well, if it's the same fella,

a month ago, I worked with a fella named Carstairs

up at Hallenburg.

How is he?

Don't you worry.

Doc Adams is a fine doctor.

Oh. Well, that's good to know.

Always was a likable sort.

I'd hate to think of him cashing in.

Well, somebody did their best to see that he did.

How do you mean?

Thank you, Sam.

He was kicked in the face.

Ed Carstairs' face kicked in.

Didn't have an enemy in the world.

Dollar one, for that matter.

Who would kick in Ed Carstairs' face?

Well, we don't know,

but we hope to find out as soon as he comes to.

♪♪

Gates.

Hey, Gates.

Howdy. Evening, Miss Russell.

- Well, Mel... - What's going on here?

- Who's he? - I come to see my friend.

You wasn't here, Doc, so I was waiting to see if...

Here, here, now.

Here. We can't have this.

Wait a minute. Just a minute.

Where am I?

You're in Dodge City, young fella, and I'm a doctor.

- A doctor? - That's right.

My head.

Yes, I know all about that.

Now, you just quiet down.

Everything's going to be fine.

Now, I want to tell you something.

A friend of yours here wants to see you.

Here he is.

Ed.

Ed, how are you?

How are you, friend?

I don't know you.

I don't know any of you.

What's happening?

- How did I get in here? - I'm Mel Gates.

Here, that's enough, now.

Just a minute.

Now, you just... you just be quiet, son.

Everything's going to be all right.

What did you say your name was?

Mel Gates.

We worked together in Hallenburg.

He ought to know who I am.

Well, not necessarily.

He's been unconscious up till now.

Slight loss of memory, maybe.

Huh?

Amnesia... he just doesn't remember anything.

He don't remember nothing?

Doesn't look like it, does it?

How long is this going to go on?

Well, afraid I can't tell you about that right now.

Kitty, very thoughtful of you to bring my supper.

- Thank you. - Oh.

I just want you to make sure that you eat all of it.

Thank you.

What are you drinking, gents?

- Whiskey. - Make that two.

Lace your java for you, missy?

No, thanks.

Get your, uh, company some other way, can we?

Now, just what would you do with my company?

Well, now, we could talk about that for quite a spell.

That'll be 20 cents.

Now...

Now...

You smell good.

I'm afraid I can't return the compliment.

Well, that's not the friendliest.

You be nice, and I'll put in

a good word for you with your boss.

I am the boss.

Well, I always did say it was best to start at the top.

Well, you've started and stopped... all at once.

Well, now, seeing as you're the boss lady around here,

perhaps you know all the goings-on in this town.

That depends.

You hear of a man named Ed Carstairs?

Would have drifted in the last few days.

We don't have much of a description on him.

Could fit anybody.

We heard he was headed this way, so we rode on down.

Hope you enjoyed the trip.

You may not recognize it, missy, but this here is a badge.

Well...

I'll tell you just what you can do with that badge.

You can take it down the street to the marshal's office.

Maybe he can answer your questions.

Your glass is empty, mister.

Did you say up the street or down the street?

To your left... as you go out.

Howdy. Miss Russell.

Morning, Mel.

Sam, I'm going to be in the office.

Yes, Miss Kitty.

Going up to Doc's.

Thought I'd take up a bucket of suds

in case he was thirsty.

What's wrong, Sam?

Them two that just went out.

What about them?

How well do you know Ed Carstairs?

Well, we rode together.

Not all that personal.

Why?

Well, it's a good-looking gun, Thad.

Yeah, took me about a year

to save up enough to buy it.

What's wrong with the one I loaned you?

Oh, nothing.

I just figure it's about time I had one of my own.

And the gunsmith threw this holster in for nothing.

- Oh. Marshal? - Yeah.

I'm Jeff Timmons.

Uh, this is Cal Dunster.

We're deputy sheriffs from Crawville.

That's up near Hallenburg.

Yeah, I know where Crawville is.

I know all about it.

I got a warrant here.

Want you to help us serve it.

Understand our man's in town.

His name's Ed Carstairs.

He's wanted for murder.

There's a fair reward on him.

I see. And you two plan to take him back for trial? Is that it?

That's right.

Cord Bevins still run things up there, does he?

- He does. - Uh-huh.

All right, then you ought to know

that this warrant is no good.

Now, you wait a minute.

Murder is murder.

You men file a report in Hallenburg?

We're talking about Crawville.

Well, if you're deputies, you ought to know

that the first thing you do is file a report

with the nearest marshal's office.

Well, we don't know much about reports.

We know that Carstairs killed our sheriff.

Cord Bevins must have been shot in the hip, huh?

What do you mean by that?

That's where the sheriff usually rides, isn't it...

In Bevins' hip pocket?

Now, the man's about 30,

over six feet, fair complexion.

He got caught cheating in a hijacked poker game.

Then he killed our sheriff.

Cheating?

In a card game in Crawville run by Cord Bevins?

That's a good one.

Now, somebody must have seen him.

If he's in town, we'll find him.

Let me tell you something.

You better get yourself some extradition papers

before you do, or you'll wind up in jail.

Dunster.

Got a match?

You want to find that fella Carstairs bad enough?

I heard at the Long Branch that you were looking for him.

What about him?

Worth a couple dollars to you to find him?

You know him?

Yeah, I know him.

I wonder who that is.

That's that fella Gates, who says he knows Carstairs.

Where'd you hear that?

I met him yesterday over at the Long Branch.

Said he used to work with Carstairs up near Hallenburg.

I worked with him.

He's here in town.

Where?

Well, now, it's going to be a long, cold winter.

20 dollars.

Twenty-five?

You're on.

Got to be sure no one knows I told you.

Yeah. Now, where is he?

Ten now, the rest later.

That's fair enough.

All right, where is he?

- Let's get him. - Hold on.

What do you want to do, parade him down Main Street

pretty as you please in broad daylight

without them extradition papers?

Now, just take it easy. We'll get him.

When?

When the time is right.

Obliged.

All right, Thad, get this off

to the marshal in Hallenburg right away.

Yes, sir.

- Marshal Dillon? - That's right.

Got a minute? I'd like to talk to you.

What about?

Well, my name's Mel Gates.

I'm just in from Tascosa.

Now, I just had a few words

with the deputies from Crawville.

They said they're looking for Ed Carstairs.

Now, I want you to know, I know the man.

I worked with him up in Hallenburg.

But whatever he's mixed up with,

I want you to know, I had no part in it.

I've never in my life thrown a wide loop.

I see.

You got to understand, he never done me no harm,

but, well, I don't want to go around having folks thinking.

- I understand. - I like Dodge.

Met a couple of nice friends here.

Uh-huh.

If you're going to come looking for me,

you don't have to look far.

I'll be around.

Ed Carstairs being on the prod, huh?

Well, like I say,

if you're looking for me, I won't be hard to find.

Thank you very much.

Afternoon.

Thad...

I want to send another telegram.

"The Limited ran through a switch,

"leaped from the track and demolished the signal tower

at the entrance in the Altoona Station."

"And then Pearl took John by the hand

and said, 'You are my man forevermore. ""

Now, there's some kind of lady.

What are you talking about?

Pearl of Alder Gulch.

Ah, you and your women.

Yep. Yeah.

Anytime, anywhere.

Hey, you take that redheaded missy down at the Long Branch.

Now, uh...

I figure it'd take me...

oh, about two days to bring her round.

So, when we're through here, go to it.

Yeah, sad to say...

yeah, very sad to say, Dunster, when we're through here,

Dodge ain't going to see nothing but the seat of my breeches.

Before I leave, I'd like to have me a set-to with that marshal.

Well, now, there's a difference

between a young pup and an old hound.

Huh?

Pups is scrapping,

- and hounds is... - sniffing.

Hey. There he goes.

- Where? - Down there.

- I don't see him. - Down those stairs.

Well, that's that doctor, all right.

Come on.

Well, come on!

All right. Easy, pup.

Now, I'm coming.

Evening, Doc.

Well, Gates, how are you?

Sam, beer for Doc.

- Sure. - Thank you.

Sam was telling me about them two deputies looking for Ed.

Me and the marshal were talking about it this afternoon.

Oh, is that so?

Now, I never figured old Ed was one to fight the law.

How is he?

Oh, he's fine, just fine.

There ain't anything wrong, is there?

Well, no, no.

He had a good supper, as a matter of fact.

Well, that's always a good sign, isn't it?

One of the best.

I suppose they'll be taking him.

The deputies, I mean.

Well, I... I wouldn't know about that.

Yeah. That would be an awful thing.

It was an awful thing he did... Killing a man, you know.

No, I... I mean it'd be an awful thing

if he never got his memory back.

It'd be like paying for a crime he never did commit.

I guess it would.

♪♪

♪♪

Maybe Cord will pay us a bounty on that fella Carstairs.

Wasn't there.

- Huh? - You heard me.

- He's gotta be. - Gotta be dead.

Otherwise, Cord will have our necks.

That yahoo said he was there.

I heard him.

All right, let's find him.

I'm obliged.

Don't you want any more?

My jaw's so sore, I can't chew no more.

I think Doc wants you to finish all of it.

Where is Doc?

Oh, he'll be back here a little bit later on.

Could I have my clothes?

I'm sorry, I can't let you go anywhere, Mr. Carstairs.

I just figured to go through the pockets,

maybe find out something.

We've already looked.

The only thing we found was a bill of sale

for a horse... With your name on it.

- Nothing else? - That's all.

Why don't you try and get a little sleep?

Who are you?

Well, I sort of help the marshal out once in a while.

Name's Thad Greenwood.

Lawman?

No, not exactly.

Well, what'd I do? I...

I don't remember. What'd I do?

Can't you tell me that?

You ever hear of a place called Crawville?

No.

How about a man by the name of Cord Bevins?

No.

What do they mean? What do they got to do with it?

Well, the talk is that you killed a man.

All red. I bet you ain't never seen a man

with as much luck as this cowboy has, have you?

Deal the cards before they get cold.

The jail in Crawville is no fit place

for any man, sick or well.

Agree with that.

Well, change of venue will get him a fair trial.

If there's any reason for a trial.

I heard you sent a wire to the marshal in Hallenburg.

Yeah, but I don't have any answer yet.

Do you think those deputies

were lying about killing that sheriff?

Well, Doc, let's just say

I don't trust anybody from Crawville

who says they got anything to do with the law.

Matt, no judge is going to sign

those extradition papers they're looking for.

I'm afraid Judge Tolkins would, Kitty.

Judge Tolkins... is he in town?

No, he's up in Cimarron.

But if those two waddies get up there,

they could get extradition papers in no time.

Judge Tolkins would sign

a death warrant for his own brother

if Cord Bevins told him to.

Well, that's why I didn't want Carstairs in jail.

They can't legally extradite somebody

if he's not in custody.

Talk about things going against a man.

Well, I'll tell you one thing, if Carstairs is guilty,

he'll pay the state of Kansas and not Cord Bevins.

Well?

- Nothing. - Nothing?

I checked the pool hall, Lady Gay's, Bull's Head.

Nothing.

- What about in here? - Huh?

- I thought you checked it. - Come on.

How do you like three little ladies?

How about that?

I can't do no wrong! No, sir!

Sam, how about another round for my friends?

- Hey. - Oh!

You can have a beer with me, lady.

You're about the prettiest thing in the place.

You stick by and take a look at these cards.

All right, take a look at these cards, now.

You see the way my luck has been going.

The ante's all you get from me.

Here you go, Mel.

Oh, no, I forgot.

You get the beers also.

Thank you, Sam.

It's a pleasure to do business with you.

Oh, later. Later, honey, later.

- Howdy. - I'll give you "howdy."

Just give me my money.

It's the easiest I ever made.

- You ain't earned it yet. - What do you mean?

Carstairs isn't in that doc's office.

He's in there. I saw him. I was talking to him.

Well, they moved him.

What?

Shh. He's been moved.

Nobody told me anything about it.

Let me see what I can find out.

Yeah, you do that.

You do that, and you'll get the rest of your $25.

Listen, mister, I rode fence for two months

in the dead of winter for less than that.

Don't you fret, I'll find him.

♪♪

Well, night, Burke.

Night, Marshal.

Evening, Nathan.

Oh, evening, Mel.

I was just about ready to turn in,

and I thought I'd take one last look at Ed before I did.

Oh, they... they moved him.

They what?

Well, the marshal's moved him.

Moved him to jail?

I thought he was too sick.

The deputies...

the murder charge in Crawville.

Well, the way I heard, it wasn't to jail.

Yeah, you're right, Mel,

them two deputies was the reason.

Thad keeps an eye on him, and Doc looks in on him regular.

Well, I suppose it wouldn't do no harm if I looked in on him.

Well, I don't suppose it would.

Of course, you'll have to ask the marshal about that.

Oh, of course.

Well, seeing as it's so late,

I don't think I'll bother him tonight.

Maybe tomorrow.

Yeah, I guess tomorrow would be better.

Well, good night.

Good night, Mel.

Good night, Nathan.

I'm just going to look in on him right now.

Good. I'll see you tomorrow.

- Evening, Doc. - Evening.

Sure is one fine town.

Know how to treat a newcomer.

That so? How's that?

Well, I won $22 in a poker game.

More than I make in a month.

You ought to take up gambling.

Good night, Doc.

Go to the livery stable and wait.

I'll bring Carstairs to you.

This sure is one fine town, Sam.

You think so, huh?

Yeah, you know, I won me $22.

That's what you said.

Hey, Mel, why don't you go up to your room

and get a little sleep? Do you hear me?

Hmm?

- Go get some sleep. - Oh, no, I'm all right.

You know... you know, Sam,

I never did hear you play the git box.

- The what? - The git box.

Oh, no, I play a fiddle.

Oh, oh, that's right. That...

Well, can you play the fiddle now?

Well, when things slow down in a little bit,

- I'll be glad to. - All right.

How is he?

He's doing pretty good.

Sam.

Excuse me, Mel.

You sure you don't want a nightcap?

Oh, no, Kitty, thanks. Not tonight.

I-I think I'm going to turn in.

Would you bring Thad a pot of coffee?

Sure. Going to be a long night?

- Afraid so, Sam. - Thad.

Remember what I told you, now.

- Yes, sir, every word. - Good night.

- Good night, Doc. - Good night, Doc.

♪♪

You in the saddle, fella?

- Who is it? - Shh.

It's me, Mel Gates.

Who?

Mel Gates.

We ain't got much time.

Time for what?

The marshal's going to turn you over

to the Crawville deputies come morning.

- How do you know about them? - Shh.

It's all over town.

I got a horse all saddled at the stable, ready to go.

Here, catch hold.

Why are you doing this?

Well, you'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?

How can I get out of here?

You take care of the kid.

Go upstairs.

Keep an eye on me.

I'll take care of the people.

Upstairs? I can't go...

Just keep an eye on me.

How you feeling?

Oh, pretty good.

How about a cup of hot coffee?

Oh, yeah.

Gotta be careful, because it's really very hot.

Oh, well... I'm sorry.

That's all right.

♪♪

Marshal.

Here's your telegram from the Hallenburg marshal.

Oh, thanks, Burke.

Look, you gotta come right away.

Barney says something real important is coming in.

It's burning up the wire.

He told me to get you right away.

Oh. All right, let's go.

It's my lucky night!

- Come on! - Three red!

- It's my lucky night! - Come on, three red!

Hey, come on!

Pay me. Pay me.

$35 that man won.

- 22 black... you believe that? - Where you been?

Where've I been? I've been watching

the luckiest man in the world, second only to me.

Sam... Sam, why don't...

why don't you play us the fiddle there a bit?

You might as well.

Attaboy. Play us the fiddle.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sam is going to play us a little fiddling now.

Go on, Sam.

Let's have a party!

You know better than that.

You know how much that fiddle cost me?

Oh, Sam, now, don't you be mad at me.

Look, just go on, get out of here

and sleep off that buzz you got.

I... I-I was just funning a little bit. That's all, Sam.

All right, just go on.

But don't be mad at me.

All right.

♪♪

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

This way.

Hi, Marshal.

Sam, have you seen Mel Gates tonight?

Yeah, he was in here. You just missed him. Why?

There we go. We're gonna get it now.

There it... paying off on number nine!

You feeling all right?

I can make it.

Won't hang for no killing I don't know nothing about.

Knowing you the way I did in Hallenburg,

I-I'd say you'd never kill no man.

I appreciate that.

Much as for you helping me get away.

Only thing a friend can do.

Luckiest day ever, your being here

when all this fell in on me.

You'll never know how it was when I found out

the marshal brought you in all stove up

and finding that murder charge over you.

I gotta set things straight between me and you.

Oh, forget it.

Just mount up here.

I'm owing you.

For that kick, I'm owing you.

For leaving me snakebit by that creek...

I'm owing you for that.

You knew about it?

I knew... first time I opened my eyes

in that doc's office and seen you standing there.

Yeah, but you didn't say anything about it.

'Cause I got me a murder charge

hanging around my neck up in Tascosa.

I'd let you live with that.

But it works out real fine for me

if Mel Gates dies

right here in Dodge.

Get your shotgun.

Giddap!

Stop where you are, Carstairs.

Sam, cover here.

Hold it right there.

Carstairs is making a break for it.

Drop the gun.

Sam.

The other one's over there in that doorway.

See if you can get around behind him.

♪♪

All right, come out of there.

Don't shoot, Marshal.

I was only shooting in self-defense.

They killed my friend Gates.

They tried to shoot me.

They're both dead now. They can't hurt you.

Throw your gun down and come out.

Move.

I know I didn't kill that Crawville sheriff, Marshal.

I just know I didn't.

I believe you.

You do?

I sent off a couple of telegrams.

The descriptions I got back didn't fit you.

That's right. I'll go up there.

I'll see them people.

One look at me, and they'll tell you

I didn't kill their sheriff.

All I'm asking is a chance, Marshal.

Marshal.

You figured it out?

Yeah.

He never lost his memory.

He knows everything that happened.

What was he talking about?

He was talking about you, Gates.

What do you mean?

I don't know what you're saying.

You know what I mean.

I got a telegram earlier saying a man named Mel Gates

is wanted in Tascosa for the murder of his wife.

♪♪

Let's go.

Stay tuned for scenes from next week's Gunsmoke.