Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 1, Episode 32 - Dutch George - full transcript

Gunsmoke...

starring James Arness
as Matt Dillon.

Sometimes a man gets buried
out here on Boot Hill

for almost no reason at all.

Say he tried to walk out
on a feed bill.

Or maybe he was a bartender
who came up short

with change for a dollar.

Men like that get killed fast.

But let a man be a real thief,

let him take over banks,

run off whole herds
of cows and horses,



then you got a man who's also
smart enough to stay alive.

At least,
if I can't manage to stop him.

Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.

Hold it, boy.

There's no need
drawin' down on me.

I'm only a harmless traveller
like yourself.

How'd you sneak up on me
so quiet?

Oh, it ain't my fault
that the grass is so thick.

You ain't very friendly,
are ya, boy?

I'll be friendly to a man
who comes into my camp

with fair warnin'
and iron showin'.

Anybody else
risks a bullet.

Bacon's burning.

Keep your hands
where I can see 'em.



You wouldn't turn away
a hungry fellow traveler,

now, would ya, boy?

If you're travelin',
where's your outfit?

Where's your horse?

Over in the next meadow.

I camped before I seen ya.

Ridin' into Dodge
tomorrow?

Maybe.

Puncher?
Lookin' for a job?

Maybe.

We might ride in
together.

You alone?

You don't see nobody.

You ain't the type
to ride the plains alone.

You callin' me a liar, boy?

Well, no.

Bacon's gettin' cold.

Help yourself.

Bread?

Mm.

Thank you kindly.

If I ain't the type
to ride alone,

what type am I?

Well, but for the guns,

I'd say you was a storekeep'.

Or a gambler maybe,
travelin' by request.

You don't fear
to speak your mind,

do you, boy?

Say, that's good.

Get in the pan grease
if you want.

Mm.

That's a nice-lookin'
bay horse you got there.

Wouldn't consider sellin' him?

No.

Didn't think so.

But, uh, what's wrong
with his hoof?

Huh?

The way he holds
it here.

What do ya mean?

Are you crazy?
I don't see nothin'.

Let that be a lesson to ya, boy.

Don't never trust a stranger.

Oh, marshal.
Marshal.

Hello, Moss.

I was just about to send word
down to your office.

What about?

Dutch George
is in town.

That's his horse
I'm shoein'.

Oh?

Where's he now?

Up the Long Branch
most likely.

I thought
you ought to know.

Didn't know whether
he was still wanted.

No, that jury in Ellsworth
had to acquit him.

He's free.

And him
the biggest horsethief

west of the Mississippi.

Well, with an operation
as big as Dutch's

that's pretty hard
to prove, Moss.

Yeah, I know.

He has a hundred men all over
the West workin' for him.

Yeah, and they do
all the stealin'

so Dutch is never
in danger.

Yeah, it's a pretty
nice-lookin' bay.

Yeah, I wonder who
it belongs to.

Hmph.

Yeah, I wonder.

Well, thanks, Moss.

In fact, when his mother
was 74 years of age,

he took her out to the fields
and made her stay near the house

so she could get a drink
of water now and then

while she was
doin' the chores!

Would you look
at that.

T'all clustered
around him

like he was a governor
or somethin'.

I don't know. Some poor fella
steals one horse

and they string him
to a tree,

and this 'un here
steals a thousand

and they make
a hero out of him.

He'll get caught
too, Chester,

sooner or later.

Of course the judge
that hung Bill

was one of them
low-down, picayunish men

that- That parted
his hair in the middle

and only ate
one meal a day.

You can't expect
a fellow like that

to understand nothin'-

Hello, Matt.

Hello, Dutch.

Have a drink,
for old times' sake.

All right.

I'll drink to that.

Pour him some.

I hardly knew you,
you have grown into such a man.

To old times.

Old times.

They were all right,

weren't they, Matt.

What I can remember
of 'em, Dutch.

Yeah, that was
a long time ago.

You were just a kid.

Some kid,

always following me around,

pestering me with questions.

You were bound to learn
every trick I knew.

Wanted to be a frontiersman,
just like me.

Yeah. Just like you.

Must be a lesson to you.

It was.

Well, then I did you
a favor.

Now you're kind
of a hero yourself,

with a badge
and everything.

Guess that kinda puts us
on opposite sides of the fence

doesn't it, Dutch?

Why? I got no trouble
with the law.

I'm a legitimate
businessman.

Dealer in horses.

Speakin' of horses, uh-

You got a bill of sale
for that bay you rode in on?

I expect I could
scare one up.

No doubt.

Well, sure I tell ya,
I'm not concerned with the law.

Well, Dutch,

let me tell ya somethin'.

You better be concerned
with the law,

around Dodge anyway,

'Cause if your business
got illegitimate around here,

I'd come after ya.

In spite of old times?

Yes, I expect you would.

Have another drink.

No, thanks, Dutch.

Matt.

Don't worry,
I'll be movin' on.

I just stopped
for some supplies.

It was good to see you.

Sure, Dutch.

Matt.

Hello, Kitty.

I didn't know
you knew Dutch George.

Didn't I ever tell you about him? No.

Yeah, he lived
in our hometown for a while

when I was a kid.

Till the sheriff
caught up with him.

The funny part of it is,
he's not really a bad man.

He learned horse-stealing
back in the days

when it was a game
every frontiersman played

with the Indians.

He just never gave it up.

Well, I only hope
that when he does get caught

it's not you
that takes him.

So do I, Kitty.

Who are you, son?

The name's
Jimmy McQueen.

How long you been there?

Well, sometimes
after midnight.

Couldn't you find no
better place than that to sleep?

No, sir. Got robbed.
Took everything but my outfit.

Why didn't ya knock?

I figured it could wait
till mornin'.

Well, I could at least
have given you

a decent bed to sleep in.
Come on inside.

Would you like
a little coffee?

Yeah, thank ya.

Well, where'd ya
get robbed?

Here in Dodge?

No. East, maybe ten miles.

A stranger came
into my camp

and slugged me
when I got careless.

Thank you.

What did he look like?

Oh, he was heavyset
but strong-lookin'.

Dressed good like a gambler
all in black.

Handsome, but he been
around a while,

his hair's gettin' gray.

And had an arrow scar
on his temple.

You knew him,
marshal?

Took your horse, huh.

Yeah, and $30.

That ain't so important.
The horse is.

It's a good horse, marshal.
I aim to get him back.

Was he a bay,

with a white blaze
on his forehead?

That's right.
You seen him?

Come on. We'll finish
our coffee later.

No, marshal.
The bay ain't here anymore.

Dutch George took him

right after I finished
shoein' him.

Heard he left town
before dark last night.

Well, then I guess
we'll just have

to go and bring him back.

Look, marshal,

you just lend me a horse
and I'll find him.

Oh, you needn't worry.

As long as I get
my horse back

I promise I won't
hurt him too bad.

I think you got it
turned around, son.

You sure have.

You know what kind
of man you're after?

Well,
it don't matter.

He stole my horse
and I aim to get him back.

You better let Mr. Dillon
take care of that.

Now, look.

I'll take you along
to identify the horse,

and that's all.

I don't know why you're
so particular, marshal.

He's only a horsethief.

Yeah, but he's kind
of a special one.

And for the first time,

I may have some real evidence
against him.

And there's a lot more to this

than just gettin'
your horse back for ya.

You understand?

All right, marshal.

It's your play.

All right.

Look here.

Here's where he must have met up
with the rest of the herd.

See the way the ground's
all trampled?

Yeah, look's to me
like it must have been

a couple
of hundred head.

Maybe more.

You mean he's got a whole herd
of stolen animals?

Well, that's the way
he does it, son. By the herd.

Takes 'em from ranches,
Indian agencies,

anyplace he can get
his hands on 'em.

Usually doesn't chance
a single like yours.

He must like that horse.

Well, he's got
good taste there, anyways.

What's he do with 'em?

Well, he takes the horses west
to the Colorado border,

and he meets up
with the other half of his men

with horses stolen from
Colorado territory and beyond.

They just trade herds.

They sell Colorado horses
in Kansas,

and Kansas horses
in Colorado.

That fella may be smarter
than I thought he was.

Well, judgin' from the looks
of these tracks,

they must be
at least two hours ahead.

That'd put 'em up
near Crooked Creek.

Yeah, we camp here.

Well, why not go on
and come up on 'em in the dark?

Well, 'cause we can do
the same thing

by startin' out
a couple hours afore dawn.

These horses
need the rest.

Not to mention me.

Marshal,

you see
this other trail?

Tracks.

Travois poles.

That's Cheyenne sign.

Looks like they crossed
south goin'

before Dutch George.

Means they must be camped
close by here too.

How come you know so much
about Indian sign?

I was raised with 'em, marshal.

My pa worked for the
Cheyenne agency in Darlington.

Maybe I did underestimate you,
McQueen.

Maybe you're not as green
as you look.

Well, I told you I could
handle this all by myself,

but you just wouldn't listen.

Look, you just take care
of the horses, will ya.

Chester and I'll
get some firewood.

Sure, marshal.

Oh, here's
a likely-lookin' snag.

Yeah,
it's all right.

Hyah!

Hey!

Hey, come back here!

Well, what'd he
do that for?

I'll bet he's headed
for Crooked Creek.

Probably wants
to handle Dutch George alone.

Alone?

Yeah, and he'll get
his self killed too.

Well, I've seen a man fight

just 'cause another man rode
his horse let alone stole him.

Well, that kid's just
too proud for his own good.

We'd have helped him.

Well, he doesn't
want any help.

Not after the way Dutch George
made a fool out of him.

And all because
of an old bay horse.

Well, like you said,
he's proud.

Well, come on.
We gotta catch our horses

before we can catch him.

Look.

I count four.

Three is sleepin',
one's standin' watch.

You think that's all?

Yeah, except
for those two men

ridin' night guard
in the herd there.

Yeah.

Well, I don't see the kid
around anywheres.

Yeah, but I'll bet
he's hidin'

around here somewhere
in the dark.

Wait till I get down
by that man standin' guard,

then you make some kind of noise
to draw his attention.

All right.

Who's there?

That you, Tex?

Tex.

Tex.

Now, just hold it,
mister.

Drop your gun.

Hack?

Where are ya, Hack?

He's right here, Dutch.

With my gun
in his back.

Who's that?

Matt Dillon.

There's a rifle up
on the hill coverin' you.

Throw your guns
out by the fire.

You hear me?

I hear you, Matt.

Better do
as he says, boys.

Well, Matt,

you got more nerve
than I thought.

Mr. Dillon,

Is this all
of 'em?

Mm-hm.

Dutch,

that boy's after you.

What boy?

The one you stole
the horse from.

And that $30.

Oh, that one.

He on my trail too?

Well, you'd just better hope
he's lost it.

It was a big mistake
takin' that horse, Dutch.

Well, I never could resist
a good horse.

Well, you better hope
that boy's

not out here
in the dark somewhere

waitin' to put
a bullet in you.

You sure you didn't
plan it that way, Matt?

Save you a lot
of trouble.

No, Dutch.

You're gonna stand trial.

Matt, I-I wouldn't want
to see you get hurt.

But I don't want to go
to jail either.

Well, can't have everything
your way.

Even for old times' sake?

Well, Dutch,

I had to make my choice
a long time ago.

And now I got
a job to do.

For old times' sake,

I'm sorry.

Well, I think
I'll get a little sleep.

Wake me up
when the boy gets here.

It's Indians.

Well, Matt,

looks like somebody up
and stole the candy.

Trampled, but he was dead
before that.

Mm, and scalped,
like the other one.

Must have been them Cheyenne
McQueen was talkin' about.

You think he might have
put 'em up to it?

Maybe.

Well, Dutch,

your night-herders are dead
and your horses are gone.

Looks like your
out of business this trip.

Hm. So are you, Matt.

You got no evidence
against me.

Even if you should
find those horses

it would be the Indians

and not Dutch George
who would have them.

Well, that's all right
with me, Dutch.

I'd a whole lot rather
it's somebody else

finally puts you behind bars.

Nobody's ever gonna
do that to me, Matt.

They will, Dutch,

sooner or later.

Now, can't I talk you
out of this business?

Now, Matt, what else
would I ever do?

I don't know.

But do me a favor, will ya?

Stay out of Dodge?

I'll try.

Ya got a long walk
ahead of you, Dutch.

Don't worry about me.
I'll find some horses.

Somewheres.

Yeah, I suppose you will.

All right, come on, boys.
Let's get the buryin' done.

That's Jimmy McQueen's horse,
ain't it, Mr. Dillon?

Yeah.

Wonder how
he got here?

You don't suppose

McQueen come back with him,
do ya?

Well, I don't know,
Chester.

No, he wouldn't have
the gall.

Well, howdy,
marshal.

Well.

Hello, McQueen.

I brought back
that horse you loaned me.

He's at the stable.

Much obliged.

Where did you get to,
McQueen?

Yeah, we never counted
on seein' you again

the way you took off.

Well, I'm sorry 'bout that.

But I just felt like leavin'
so I left.

Mm-hm.

'Course, it couldn't have
anything to do

with gettin' your horse?

You know, marshal,
that's a funny thing.

I happened to come across him
runnin' loose on the prairie.

Pretty lucky,
I guess.

Oh, now, look ye here.
Lucky, my foot.

Chester.

I guess I did underestimate you,
McQueen.

By a whole lot.

Well, I'm used to it, marshal.

It's my looks, I guess.

But I grew out
of 'em.

See ya sometime.

Just a minute.

Who started that stampede,
McQueen?

The Cheyenne, or you?

Now, marshal,

Cheyenne don't need no help
with a stampede.

Once they know where the horses
are they can handle it.

Yeah, but they didn't know
where the horses were.

That herd was behind 'em.

Well.

I guess somebody
must have told 'em, marshal.

Two men died in that stampede,
McQueen.

Well, a man gets trampled
in a stampede.

Now, that's an accident,
ain't it, marshal?

Those men were murdered
by the Cheyenne.

Were they, marshal?

Now, look here, McQueen.

Can you understand
that because of your wanting

to get even with Dutch George
two men died?

Does that mean anything to you?

Marshal, I don't know what
you're talkin' about.

I told you I found my horse

runnin' loose on the prairie.

You're a liar, McQueen.

You can't prove that.

So long, marshal.

You gonna let him
get away with that?

Well, there's not a thing
I can do about him, Chester.

Except to remember somethin'
I always seem to forget.

What?

Never trust a stranger.