Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 1, Episode 39 - Alarm at Pleasant Valley - full transcript

ANNOUNCER:

Starring James Arness
as Matt Dillon.

You've been mighty quiet
the last couple of hours.

Well, I guess I just run out
of something to talk about.

Not that I was quiet
on purpose. Just...

Well, it's been
a long ride.

We'll be back
at Dodge tonight.

Yeah, ought to get back there
couple of hours after dark

just in time to go to bed.

You got nothing better
to do?

Oh, no.



Boy, a big,
old tall glass of beer

would sure taste good
about now.

What is that, brushfire?

With smoke as black as that?

Well, could be.

Seems to me I remember a ranch
over in that direction.

Yeah, there's a fellow
named Claiborne,

come here with his family
from Indiana

about four years ago.

We'd better take a look.

Well, he's probably
only burning brush.

Oh...

His wife too.

Oh, I hope she went fast.



The rest of the family.

Looks like they were trying for
the cover of these trees here.

No sign of a gun.

They must have
caught 'em unprepared.

A man with a family out here
has gotta be prepared.

But I haven't heard
of no Indian trouble

around here lately.

Well, I haven't either,
Chester.

But there is now.

Well, this couldn't
have happened very long ago.

Them Indians couldn't
be very far away.

That's right.

Come on, let's look
for a shovel.

Well, that's a goodly sight,
ain't it?

Whoa! Ho!

Hello, lieutenant.

Uh, hi, marshal.

What are you doing
out here?

Well, we were riding in
from Pawnee

and we saw the smoke.

I got here too late.

Well, so I see.

Anybody hurt?

The whole family.

Yeah.

I was hoping
we'd get here in time.

Well, we're pretty close
on their trail now.

Maybe we can catch 'em
before they find another ranch.

These arrows are Kiowa.

I didn't know
there was any trouble with them.

These are renegades.

Can't be more
than eight or ten of them.

They got all fired up
and jumped the agency.

They've done some more damage.

But with any luck,
we'll get 'em before nightfall.

Well, I hope so.

I don't much like
grave digging.

Well, we'll take over for you.

Our horses need a rest anyway.

Sergeant,
take a detail.

Help the marshal.

We were heading back
into Dodge, lieutenant.

But we can ride with you
if you think it'd be any help.

That won't be necessary,
marshal.

We can handle the Indians.

The cavalry needs no help.

You can use these
to bury 'em with.

You know, Mr. Dillon,
a little while ago

it was all so peaceful
and quiet.

I know.
Oh, it's a shame.

Them Indians can be just
as peaceful as anybody.

And then some ornery white
with a cheap jug of redeye

gets after 'em.
Yeah. I know, Chester.

But what was that lieutenant
so uppity about anyway?

Well, he's wearing
a mighty impressive uniform.

Yeah. Brand-new too.

All the same, I hope
they catch up with them quick.

Well, that's a mighty pretty
little valley.

Yeah. It looks like settlers
down there.

Yeah, the Claibornes
musta had neighbors

that I didn't know about.

Looks like the neighbors
are leaving.

Maybe they heard
about the Indians.

Tad, get your gun.

Oh, keep out of the way.

Come on.

Who are they?

How do I know?

They got white skins.
That's all that matters.

Howdy, folks.

Howdy.

I'm Matt Dillon.

I'm the U.S. marshal
over in Dodge City.

This is, uh,
Chester Goode.

I'm glad to know you.

I'm Sam Fraser.

This is my ma.
That's my wife, Alice.

That's Tad,
my brother.

Howdy.

We're headed for Dodge
ourselves.

Well, looks to me like you folks
just got settled here.

We ain't staying,
marshal.

We're moving on.
West.

Chasing rainbows, marshal,
farm folk like us.

Now, Ma-
Don't you "now, Ma" me,

Sam Fraser.

If your pa was alive-
Well, he ain't.

And it's up to me
to make the decisions.

If you'll excuse me, marshal,
I'll get back to loading up.

Well, uh...

if you're really set
on going,

why, Chester and I here
can give you a hand.

No, thanks.

Tad and me will manage.

Looks like a nice piece
of country you got here, ma'am.

Seems a shame to go off
and leave it.

My husband settled it,
not him.

Now, Ma,
Sam helped.

Ha! Marshal, what do
you say about a son

that goes against
his father's wishes?

And him not hardly cold
in his grave.

Ma, please.

When'd your husband die,
Mrs. Fraser?

Three days, now.

He's lying right over there
by that oak tree.

I'm sorry to hear.

We've only been here
a couple of months.

Come all the way from Ohio

looking for a spot
of good ground to till.

Looking for a home, marshal,

and he found it here.

Well, it sure is
a pretty place, ma'am.

Called it Pleasant Valley.

Said he'd be grateful to spend
the rest of his days here.

Only the Lord didn't
leave him any days.

Denied him like Moses
come to the Promised Land.

Well, that's too bad,
you know.

I- I think this would have made
a mighty nice homestead

for you folks.

It would have.

Only some folks
have ideas.

Now, Ma, lay off.

You stop talking to her
like that.

Who are you to tell me?

Stop it, now.

Don't worry, Ma.

He ain't got the guts
to hit me.

Sam, don't!

Please, Sam.

Come on. Take ahold.

Fraser, this is none
of my business, of course,

but you must have pretty good
reason for leaving this land.

Reason enough.

It's because of me,
marshal.

Now, Alice,
you ain't to blame.

Sam's worried
because of me.

No Indians would scare him off
if it was just these folks.

It's me he's scared for.

Me and the child coming.

It's a good reason.

But this is only a handful
of renegades, Fraser.

Cavalry will stop them.

And who's to say what they'll do
before the cavalry gets 'em?

And who's to say how many
like 'em that'll come after?

No, marshal.

My family's gonna grow up
in a safe place.

My ma borne me

in the middle
of the Ohio woods,

thick with Delaware
and Iroquois

as fleas on a hound.

Maybe so, Ma, but my wife
ain't gonna live like that.

Come on.

So you're heading on west, huh?

To California, he says.

Might even look for gold
instead of farming, he says.

Dress his wife in silks
and diamonds.

You know I never ask
for nothing like that.

I know it, girl.
You ain't to blame.

You're better stuff
than he is.

I reckon most of that gold
out there

has been claimed already.

Twenty years or more.

Of course,
you might be lucky.

We can always find
a piece of land.

But nothing
half so good.

This dirt's richer
than molasses in a cook pot.

If it was made-
Well, it ain't.

I was just-
Shut up!

You see how it is, marshal?

Well, now,
he may be right.

You know, Fraser,
California might be fine,

but, uh, there's an awful lot
of open country

between here and there.

With your wife expecting a baby,
gonna make it tough going.

I know all that.

I aim to stay in Dodge
till the baby's born.

It won't be long, now.

I see.

Now, look, marshal,

I ain't gonna argue
with you either.

Well, Fraser, I just want
to say one thing to you.

Now, we have trouble
out here sometimes, yes.

But, you know, in a few years
this country's gonna be as safe

as it is in Ohio.

It's gonna be mighty
prosperous country too.

I know all that.

Right now,
you'd be safer here

than you would
out in that open prairie.

My mind's made up, marshal.

Now, look, Fraser,

anything that's good
is worth fighting for.

Now, you got a gun.

You'll find that those Indians
are no tougher than anybody else

once you make up
your mind to fight 'em.

I ain't gonna fight 'em,
marshal.

Well, you will, Fraser.

Somewhere or somehow,
in one way or another

you'll have to.

Every man does.

But that's your decision.

Come on.
Let's get you loaded.

Thanks, marshal.

She all set?
Everything's tight back here.

Got all hitched, Tad?
They're ready.

Let's get started.
Sam?

Where's Ma?

She's over by the oak tree.

Crying.

To shame me.

Sam.
She ain't crying.

She's just standing,
staring.

Tried to get her to come away,
but she wouldn't.

Marshal,

maybe if you was to...

You know, a stranger?

Sure.

Mrs. Fraser, uh...

Marshal,

maybe if you was
to pass by again

you'd just take a look?

See that the marker's
still standing?

I sure will, ma'am.

Forty years, marshal.

All I ever ask was
to lie there beside him.

It's a lonely place.

Well, you know,
Mrs. Fraser,

in the springtime,
that whole hillside

is covered with a blanket
of sunflowers.

Pretty as you ever saw.

Thank you, marshal.

I'll go now.

Ma, I'm sorry.

There's no need,
son.

We all do what we have to,
and you're no different.

Now, let's get
this girl into town.

Her time's almost come.

All right, Ma.

Well, marshal.

We'll see you safe into Dodge,
Fraser.

Get going.

Thanks.

Giddyup. Come on.

Come on. Come on.
Hyah.

Now, look, Chester,
you ride point

and keep a good watch ahead
into the north.

Yes, sir.
I'm going up the top of the hill

and look around.

Then I'll cover the soft flank
and the rear.

Yeah.

You know it sure seems
a shame, Mr. Dillon.

Look.

They ain't bluecoats
this time.

They're sure not.

They're Kiowa. Come on.

Hyah! Hyah!

Fraser! Fraser!

Whoa!

Whoa.
Fraser.

Go on back.

What?!

Hyah! Come on.

Hyah!

Use your rifle.

It's too far, Mr. Dillon!

Let 'em know
they gotta fight.

Whoa.

Get 'em into the house.

She's hurting.

I'll be all right.

Oh, put me down.

Alice.

I'll be all right.

You go on.
Go on, boy.

I'm all right now,
marshal.

It looks like you got a fight
on your hands now,

whether you want it or not.

I wonder where they are now,
Mr. Dillon.

Having a powwow, maybe?

You figure
they'll rush us?

Nah, they know
we got rifles.

There's only eight
or nine of 'em.

Now, they'll either go away
and leave us alone,

or else they'll attack
before dusk.

We can use the time
to unload the wagon.

But, marshal-
Look, there's no telling

when we'll get away
from here now, Fraser.

And they may be needing things
in there. Let's go.

Sam?!

Get some water
and make a fire, quick.

Don't stand there!

Get moving!

Alice.

All right.

This is just
what I've been afraid of.

My wife's in there
having a baby,

and they're out there.

Now, Fraser, your wife
is going to be all right.

Don't worry.

Ma's gotta have more water.

Cover me.

Go ahead.

I'll go with him.

I should have gone
two days ago.

I wanted her
to have the best.

That's why I talked
about California.

Now, Fraser, believe me,

you are going to have to fight
in California

as much as you fight here.

Mr. Dillon!

Come on.

Tad.

It's all right, Sam.

Go back.

You all right, son?

Yeah. Thanks, marshal.

How is she, Sam?
I don't know.

Ma chased me away.

Mr. Dillon, that cavalry patrol
can't be very far away.

They's on a trail.

I know. I've been thinking
about that.

We'll have to signal 'em.
Burn the wagon.

You'll what?

It's like burning
your bridges, Fraser.

It's the only thing we got.

There's a can
of kerosene in it.

All right, let's go.

Marshal,
up there.

That's only a horse.

We keep watching.

If they're gonna hit us,
they gotta do it soon.

It's close to dark.

There's one.

All right, now, hold your fire
as if we didn't see him.

Let 'em charge.

Isn't that taking a chance?

Yeah, it's a chance
we gotta take, Fraser.

Besides, a running Indian
can't shoot very good.

Now, hold it. Hold it.

Now!

Do you think we got 'em all?

Well, two of 'em went
over the hill.

But I don't think
they'll be back.

We better check
on the rest of 'em.

Well, Fraser,

that's a mighty
healthy-looking boy.

Yeah, and Alice is fine.

I guess
we'll be moving along.

Oh, uh...

I could send out
a new wagon for you.

There's no hurry, marshal.

We won't be going anyplace.

You mean, we're staying?

We couldn't leave now,
could we?

You were right, marshal.

Thanks.

So long, Fraser.

Mr. Dillon,
would you look at that?

Hello, marshal.
We saw the smoke. Any trouble?

Trouble?

Yeah, we had some trouble.

You'll find your Indians
right over there.

Two of 'em went over the hill.
You better round 'em up.

Come on, Chester.

Let's get home
and get that glass of beer.