Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 10, Episode 1 - Blue Heaven - full transcript
A runaway kid and a wanted man from East Texas team up to first find the kid's mother and second to shake those who have been chasing him since Carver County about a murder and robbery he just didn't commit.
(theme music playing)
(both guns fire)
ANNOUNCER: starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.
♪♪
(horse whinnies)
♪♪
(horse whinnies)
Easy, now. Do you hear?
Come on, boy. (clucking tongue)
Come on. Come on.
(horses approach)
That map show the
trail forking here?
Yeah.
Yeah, here it is.
Let me see what goes where.
The left fork goes
to Pawnee Crossing.
The other one keeps
bearing to the right
and ends up in Dodge City.
Well, he's been
steering clear of towns.
I doubt he'd head for Dodge.
Looks more and more like
he's trying to make it through
to Arizona Territory.
Let's go.
(clanking)
Hold it there!
Where the blazes did
you come from, anyhow?
No place. I-I was just
passing through is all.
I figured these had
just been left there.
No use seeing 'em go to waste.
You know, a man kind
of gets hungry on the trail.
- What do you got here?
- You give me that back!
- It's my gun! Give it back to me!
- Oh, come on.
What for, now? Wait
a minute. Hold on.
- It's my gun! Give it...
- Hold on there, now.
Trying to get yourself killed?
Thing ain't got no
firing pin, no loads in it.
Got a jammed cylinder.
It's all right for bluffing.
Bluffing the undertaker maybe.
Where'd you come from,
anyway? What's your name?
I ain't asking you
any questions, am I?
Well, now.
Ah, guess you're a much
tougher customer than I figured.
I'm wanted, if that's
what you mean.
Is that so?
That makes two of us.
I figured you was on the run.
Why don't you give me
that coffeepot and skillet
out of those saddlebags?
I reckon you know
where to find 'em.
My name's Packy. Packy Kerlin.
Packy, eh?
Well, you can call me... Slim.
Sure can break your back
on a no-good farm like this.
My aunt and uncle
got a place just like it
out in the Arizona Territory.
Now, you're not running
away from your folks, are you?
Aunt and uncle ain't folks.
My pa, he's a long time dead.
I never even knowed him.
He was a soldier
for the cavalry.
Oh, that right?
What about your ma?
She left there about two years
ago and went to Dodge City.
She sends us money sometimes,
but I'm going there to find her
and to stay with her.
I guess she's about the
prettiest woman that ever lived.
Why, sure.
I'm much obliged
to you, Mr. Slim,
but I better get a move on.
Uh, hey, wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Uh...
I've kind of got me an idea.
- Oh?
- Yeah.
Like as not, now, your aunt and
your uncle kind of turned you in
as a runaway and they got
the law out after you, huh?
Well, I mean, the
law's after me, too,
along with a lot of other folks.
But they're looking for a
lone man and a lone boy.
You know, separate.
- Yeah.
- They wouldn't be looking
for a pa and his young'un
who was traveling together
and driving a rig here.
Heck, it'd be no chore at
all to patch this thing up.
Good enough to get
into Dodge at least.
Are you going to Dodge, too?
Well, I wasn't, but, you
know, plans change.
Well, what do
you think about it?
It's all right with me
if it's all right with you.
It's better than walking.
Tell you, Matthew,
that times is a-changing.
And the thing is
that they're a-changing
for the worse, too.
That so?
Well, of course it is!
There ain't nothing never
happens in this town no more.
Leastwise, nothing worth
walking across the street
and shaking a stick at.
You can't deny that.
Festus, I was called up
three times during
the night last night,
and I really need some sleep.
I mean, is that possible?
Try my best not
to bother you none.
There you are, just what
I been a-talking about.
Them's the only kind that
ever comes to Dodge anymore.
Bunch of clodhopping,
sodbusting,
dang homesteaders and
their squally young'uns.
♪♪
See you directly, Matthew.
Hey!
Hold up there.
You collecting
souvenirs, are you?
Are you a lawman?
Lawman?
The last feller that
called a Haggen a lawman
is buried right up
yonder on Boot Hill.
Haggen, you ain't any kin
to Catfish Haggen, are you?
Catfish?
He's only my dear
beloved second cousin
on my great-aunt lonely
Bridget's side once removed.
You know Catfish, do you?
Know him? Him and me log-rafted
on the downed
end of the Missouri
for two whole
seasons a while back.
Why, Catfish and me
is old bunking buddies.
Festus Haggen!
Kip Gil... Uh, Slim
Kerlin, I mean.
I'm real proud to meet
a cousin of old Catfish!
Any friend of Catfish
is a friend of Festus.
Yeah, this here's my son, Packy.
Howdy, Packy.
Sure the spitting
image, all right.
Oh, Matthew, this
here's Slim Kerlin.
Uh, Slim, this is the
marshal, Matthew Dillon.
- How do?
- How do?
You two sound like
you know each other.
Not exactly. Slim here's a
buddy of my cousin Catfish
on the old river barges.
Well, you probably have
a lot to talk about, then.
I'll see you later. I'm
gonna get some coffee.
Give me that poster
or he'll miss it sure
as you're a foot high.
The marshal ain't like the
lawmen you're used to, probably.
This here'un's real smart.
He miss this poster,
he'd be onto something,
sure as shooting.
Who's this? Friend of yourn?
Nah, just somebody I
thought I recognized.
Well, the first thing we
got to do is get your rig over
to the livery stable. Come on.
All right, son, you run
along down to the store
and get yourself some candy,
and I'll be along in
a couple minutes.
Yes, sir... Pa.
All right, I'm not his pa...
and my name ain't Kerlin.
But I did raft
logs with Catfish.
That's good enough for me.
Are you wanted bad, are you?
You saw the poster, didn't you?
You mean, that was
you with all the...?
Look, I'll tell you everything
that you want to
know, but later.
First, I want to get
this thing over with
on account of the boy.
All right, let's go.
- Howdy, Doc.
- Festus.
- Kitty.
- Hello, Festus.
This here's my friend, Slim.
He's looking for a girl.
Is he, now?
Aw, no, I-I mean a special girl.
All the girls in
Dodge are special.
One way or another.
I reckon you don't
understand, miss.
She must work here or something.
Anyhow, she gets
her mail delivered here
in care of the Long Branch.
Her name is Elena.
Elena?
Yeah, Elena Kerlin.
And she's... she's about
as pretty as they come.
Uh, if that's any help to you.
I'm sorry, mister.
She doesn't work here.
Then how'd she
answer the letters
that I sent here for her?
- Is she...?
- She was here.
For a month or
two over a year ago.
She still sends somebody to
get her mail every now and then.
Look, miss, I'm
sorry if I upset you,
but I'd be most grateful
if you could tell me
where I can find her.
I've heard she's
living in Rat Hole Alley.
That's south side,
across the tracks.
Much obliged to you.
Is she, uh... some kin to you?
Well, her and me
used to be married,
and, uh, I'm bringing
our boy to see her.
Well, Slim, uh,
I'll be waiting here
if you're of mind to
come back directly.
Ah, thank you, Festus.
Well, right glad to
have met you all.
Is that the girl who...?
It's the same girl, Doc.
That poor devil's
in for a shock.
I'm looking for a
Miss Elena Kerlin.
How about, um,
borrowing a dollar off you?
Right straight over there.
♪♪
(knocks)
WOMAN: Who's there?
Oh, just a friend.
I have no friends.
Go away!
Oh... Come on, Elena. Open up.
Got to talk to you.
Oh.
I told you go away.
Didn't I just say, "Go
on, get out of here"?
What's the matter, Ma?
Are you sick?
Who are you, anyhow?
I'm a friend of your boy's here.
I just helped to...
help him find you.
He's, uh, come here for a visit.
Ain't you glad to see me, Ma?
Honey?
Just give Mama...
a couple minutes.
Mama don't feel so good.
Mama's gonna... (Elena moans)
(door closes)
You stay here a minute.
I want to talk to your ma.
(grunts)
What do you think you're doing?!
Elena, how long you
been living like this?
If you don't like
it, you can get out.
I said get out!
You better take another shot
out of that before you throw it.
Listen, you got to think
up some kind of a story
for that boy out there.
What's it to you?
Nothing.
Give me that.
You... you come back here!
- Now, get off me.
- You stop it, you fool!
I need that! I need that!
- Now, you listen to me!
- (sobbing): I need that!
What you need to do is to
wash your face and-and-and...
- pull yourself together!
- (sobbing): I need that.
You got a son out there
who's waiting for his
homecoming welcome.
What do... what do you care?
Well, I don't, but you ought to.
Now, look, I'll have some
grub sent over here to you.
And here, here's some money.
Now, that ought to be
enough to take care of you
for a couple or three weeks.
If you don't drink it all up.
(cries)
You keep your money!
You don't owe me nothing.
I know I don't!
And that boy, either.
Because him and me's
already finished our deal.
Wait.
Why, then, how
come you're butting in?
I'm not!
Good luck.
I think you'd better wait until
she calls you before you go in.
She ain't been
feeling very well.
What are you gonna do?
Oh.
Well, hang around
town a few days.
And move off, I reckon.
You figure you throwed
them off the trail?
Oh, yeah.
Lots of folks saw
us come into town.
Just another sodbuster
and his young'un.
I'll be all right.
You will, too.
Don't you worry none about it.
You gonna find things
real good for yourself.
Sure, I will.
She's my ma.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's right.
(clicks tongue)
Well...
So long, Packy.
You Marshal Dillon?
That's right. What
can I do for you?
I'm Tabe Morley.
And, uh, this is my
partner Ed Sykes.
We're hunting this man.
Followed him all the
way from East Texas.
DILLON: Are you a lawman?
MORLEY: Nope.
DILLON: What are
you... Bounty hunters?
SYKES: We run cattle.
Lots of cattle.
Gilman was one of our hands.
No, no. He was a great
deal more than that.
I practically raised that boy.
His folks are very
close friends of mine.
I see. Well, uh, you figure
he's in Dodge or something?
Well, we just saw his
horse in the livery stable.
He was put in there yesterday,
and the stableman can't seem to
remember exactly who put him in.
We got one of our boys watching
the place in case he comes back.
We thought maybe you could
pry the stableman's memory
if you was of mind to it.
Well, I still don't understand.
What's you men's part in this?
We're the ones he robbed.
Man he murdered was the
bookkeeper on the ranch.
Man I'd had with
me for 20 years.
As a matter of fact, he was a
very close friend of Gilman's.
DILLON: How'd this happen?
We, uh, just sold
a big piece of land.
Cash. $100,000.
And, uh, it was
in the ranch safe.
And there was
nobody there that night
except the
bookkeeper and Gilman.
And round about midnight,
Sykes here rode out from town.
And Gilman was already
saddled up and ready to go.
And he wouldn't
answer any questions.
Just pulled his gun on
Sykes and shot at him.
Then he rode out.
The bookkeeper was
laying dead on the floor.
Pistol-whipped.
And the safe was empty.
Well, all right, so the
man did you harm.
I still don't understand why
you followed him all this way.
Why didn't you just go back
home and let the law handle this?
That boy knew that
he could come to me
for anything he
wanted within reason.
Now, I want to
know why he did it.
You don't think we're gonna let
that murdering sneak
get away with it, do you?
All right.
I'll check into it.
Good day, gentlemen.
Thank you, Marshal.
- Well, y'all...
- Now, just a minute here.
You wouldn't, by any
chance, be heading down
to warn anybody to stay away
from the livery
stable, would you?
Oh, golly...
Hey, Festus, I think
your cousin Catfish
has got some
pretty rough friends.
Matthew, I swear
on my poor old ma's
work-wore hands
that the facts just ain't
what them fellers said they are.
I tell you, I'm just gonna
send off a little telegram
to the sheriff of
Carver County, Texas
and find out about that.
Now, in the meantime, uh,
your friends wouldn't,
by any chance,
be planning to leave
town, would they?
Oh, ain't none of my friends got
an idea in their head like that.
Good.
Well, you just see that
you keep them pure.
And I'll tell you another thing.
You know, shaving
a man's beard off
doesn't help to change
his appearance very much.
I'd still know you if you
shaved yours off, you know.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
(spurs jingling)
Slim...
Them's the two I told you about.
Yeah, I know it is.
They just been over
at the marshal's office.
Hmm.
I gotta hit the
trail out of here.
Uh, there's a man watching
for you at the livery stable.
Then I reckon there's only
about one thing I can do.
I'm much obliged for
all you've done for me,
but you steer clear of this.
You hear me?
Why, hello, Packy.
I didn't figure
you'd come around.
Well, I ch... (Elena laughing)
ELENA: Now, you
stop acting so silly.
Mom's got somebody visiting.
Look, will you do me a chore?
Sure!
You go into Front Street
and look up a sawbones
by the name of Doc Adams
and tell him to come
on out here right away.
There's a lady called Miss
Kitty in the Long Branch.
She'll tell you
where his office is.
All right? Got that?
Yes, sir.
ELENA: What's
the matter with you?
You get out of here, before I...
MAN: Hold on, now, mister!
You've got a lot of nerve.
Yeah?
Who do you think you are,
coming in here like this?
(sighs)
Well, I'll tell you who I am.
My name is Slim Kerlin.
I'm your husband.
I don't... I don't
have no husband.
Been dead... for years.
- Well, you've got one now, sweetheart.
- (whimpers)
And I'm him.
So here's to matrimonial bliss.
You think she's
gonna be all right?
Oh, sure, she will.
He's been in there
an awful long time.
Well, sawbones always do that,
because they figure
then that you'll figure
that they're worth the money.
(door opens)
I gave her a sedative,
and that'll keep her
asleep for about eight hours,
something like that,
and when she wakes up,
you can give her another
one, that's the same thing.
But not over about
three of those a day.
Well, she ought
to have some food.
Some milk and eggs and
soup and things, you know.
I'll see she gets it.
I left a list of things
in there on that table
that you can look at
if you can find it
in all that mess.
We'll clean the place up, too.
What she ought
to have is a bath.
Well, I was wondering, Doc,
if maybe you might
know of some woman
that would be willing
to come out here
and stay with
her for a few days.
You know, sort
of look after her,
clean her up a bit, maybe...
fix up her hair.
Yeah, I know a woman like that,
but she'll charge you.
Well, I got money.
You... send her over.
All right.
If you say so.
Do you have any idea what
you're letting yourself in for?
Well, I'm obligated,
Doc, sort of.
See, me and her
was married, and...
well, uh, this here's
my son, Packy.
That's right.
Yeah, well, um...
good luck to you.
Uh, Doc, will this, uh...
this take care of your
time and your trouble?
Very generously, thank you.
I sure hope things
turn out all right for you.
Thank you.
You know, she never
used to be like that.
She must've been real sick.
Yeah, she must've been.
She don't even act
like she knows me.
Oh, sure, she knows you.
You're gonna see a big
difference in a couple of days.
I hope so.
You will.
You wait and see.
Now, come on.
We got work to do.
Kitty.
- Festus.
- Matthew.
- Marshal.
- KITTY: Hi, Matt.
Excuse me.
Gentlemen.
We was wondering
if you got a line
on that fellow Kip Gilman.
No, not since I talked
to you the other day.
Well, in a town this size,
it appears to me you'd be able
to find him in three days.
Well, you two have been
out looking for him, I presume?
It ain't my town.
No, that's right, it isn't.
Well, I know one thing.
If I'm ever wanted and I
need a place to hole up,
I'll come right here.
Why don't you try that?
Let's go, Sykes.
I'll tell you one more thing.
It's like I told
you the other day:
you leave Gilman up to the law.
Law? (laughs)
What law?
He riles up easy, Marshal.
Sykes there is a
proudy one, Matthew.
Yeah.
Somebody told me
that your friend Slim
was holed up at Elena
Kerlin's across the tracks.
Well, I don't know.
It is possible, Matthew.
You... fixing to
bring him in, are you?
Well, I was trying to hold off
till I heard from the
sheriff down in Texas.
See, once I take
your friend into jail,
these two can get
extradition papers on him.
There's nothing
more I can do for him.
Well, now, he swore up and down
that these charges was
stacked up agin him, Matthew,
by somebody for some reason.
Well, it's possible, Festus.
Say, Kitty, I didn't know
that Elena Kerlin was
still around Dodge.
This is as good a town as any
to drink yourself to death in.
I remember her when
she first came to town.
She certainly was a
pretty, sweet girl then.
Yeah, too sweet and too pretty.
When those trail
drivers fought over her
and trampled on her
and cut her face open,
that was all.
Just seems like some
folks is born to lose.
Others got to work at it.
Well, how about
your friend Slim?
Where does he fit in
that picture, Festus?
Well, he ain't
lost yet, Matthew.
No.
Not yet.
(clucking)
Oh... Mrs. McGibbon's
been cracking the whip, huh?
Yeah. She said it
wouldn't hurt me none
to learn how to peel spuds.
I have to cook 'em, too!
She ain't coming
back till tomorrow.
She show you how?
Sure.
Don't sound like no chore to me.
All you do is put some
water on 'em and boil 'em up.
All we can do is
hope for the best.
Well... You, uh, going to rejoin
the world of the living?
I thought it was the
lady who came in.
No, she left for the day.
Well...
This place. What...
I don't understand.
Who did all this?
(chuckles) Well...
Mrs. McGibbon had
some time on her hands.
She... she, uh...
fixed up these curtains, and...
Packy and me, we
handled the cleanup.
Packy?
Mmm.
He's really... here?
Why, sure.
Hey, Packy?
Come here a minute.
- Ma!
- Oh, Packy.
Oh, Packy, Packy...
Oh, Packy, I acted
so bad to you.
(sobs)
Well, you were...
you were sick, Ma.
Nobody acts the
same when they're sick.
You know that.
(laughs)
Whoo!
- Oh, have you grown!
- Yeah.
It's been a long time since...
(chickens clucking)
Oh, that old hen, it's
gonna eat my spuds.
Oh. All right.
(exhales)
(laughs)
You been staying here?
Yeah, yeah.
I, uh... on the, uh...
well, I've slept in worse beds.
Oh.
Why'd you do all this?
You know I can't pay you.
Well... ain't no
reason to. Uh...
You don't owe me anything.
Why not?
Well, because I needed
a place to stay and a...
a name to use.
And you needed some help.
So, as far as I'm
concerned, we're even.
(chuckles)
Who are you?
My name's Kip Gilman.
I'm wanted for
murder in East Texas.
You can make yourself
$5,000 just by turning me in.
Who did you kill?
Nobody.
There's lots of people
who'll tell you different.
Well, then what happened?
Well, I mean, how
come you're wanted?
Well...
I was working for a
couple of ranchers,
Tabe Morley and
his partner Sykes.
Well, one night,
there was a lot of
money in the ranch safe.
And the bookkeeper
and me and Sykes,
we was the only ones there.
So Sykes comes out to the
bunkhouse and he gives me
this package to take into town.
I get about three
miles out of town
when some of Sykes'
boys jumped me.
They opened fire on me.
They was waiting there for me!
I got clear of that,
but I hid out that night.
And the next morning,
the word is out
that I'm wanted for
killing the bookkeeper
and robbing the safe.
Oh, that Sykes,
he'd set me up good.
That package he give me
to take into town had
$10,000 in bills in it,
part of the money
taken out of the safe.
And then you ran away.
I ran.
Been running for three months.
(humming)
I always keep that door
open during business hours.
Oh, we'll open it pretty soon.
I see that fella didn't
come for his horse yet.
No, no, ain't seen him.
What was it you
said his name was?
He didn't say. I
told you that before.
Oh, that's right, you
did, come to think of it.
I was hoping maybe your
memory had improved some.
Well, I-I told you I don't
remember much about that fellow.
Wasn't paying much
attention, I reckon.
Hey, you better put that back.
That belongs to Mr. Overton.
You know, me and Duster
was having a little talk
before we came over here.
And, uh, we got
in a little argument.
We was arguing about the
best way to jog a man's memory.
Now, I got one idea,
Duster got another one.
(humming)
You know, you don't even
look like the same woman.
(laughs) I don't feel
like the same one, either.
Well, that's good.
(Elena humming)
Some things don't
change, though.
You mean that scar?
Nah, that don't harm you none.
It harmed me enough
to get me started.
I couldn't face people
looking the way I did
without some kind of help.
That's kind of a weak
alibi, don't you think?
What right have you got to talk?
Well, you haven't faced
things any more than I have.
You run away!
Yeah, maybe I do.
That's what you're doing now.
(sighs) That's what I been
doing all my life, I reckon.
Funny... you helped
me out of my swamp,
but I-I just can't find no
way at all of helping you.
Forget it. You don't
owe me nothing.
I wasn't thinking about owing.
(knocking)
Shh.
Sykes and Duster...
they're coming here.
(knocking)
Talk with them.
What can I say to them?
Lie to them. Anything
you can think of.
Your husband home, lady?
What do you want with him?
Well, uh, we're a
couple friends of his.
We want to talk to
him about a horse.
ELENA: He ain't home.
I don't think you understood me.
I said, uh, we're a
couple of friends of his.
We'll come in and wait.
- Well, I said no.
- Now, look, lady...
Well, now, you look.
Now, you make one move at
me, and they'll tear you to pieces.
All right, now, get out of here.
I'll slip out of here
right after dark.
Fella come to the hotel,
said you wanted to talk to me.
Yeah, that's right.
Where's you partner?
I don't know. He's been
off somewhere all day.
What'd you want, Marshal?
Well, I, uh... I just got a
telegram from your sheriff
in answer to the one I sent him.
- Read it.
- Mm-hmm.
(clears throat)
It's not possible.
It's not possible.
You think the
sheriff's lying, do you?
Oh, no, he's honest
as the day is long,
but, I, uh... I just
can't believe this.
Marshal, I gotta talk to you.
Come in, Roy.
ELENA: No sign of 'em?
Just hope they're not still
watching that livery stable.
Running isn't the
only way, you know?
Look, we've been
all through that.
We could go to Marshal Dillon.
And what, say, "Please
send me back to Texas
so they can hang me?"
No. Have a trial and
tell 'em your side of it.
They don't want my side.
They got one of their own.
What's the good in
running all your life?
Now, look, it appears to me
that you're worrying about
an awful lot that don't count.
Now, you're not gonna
get in any trouble about this.
You just tell 'em that I
held a gun on you, that's all.
That I made you go along,
and they won't hurt you.
Well, I didn't think they would.
And I'll give you enough
money to get out of this town
and take the boy with you.
Well, I don't want your money.
I wanted to help you!
I wanted you to see!
Forget it.
- (window breaks)
- Oh!
It's Packy's jackknife.
Oh.
That means they're not
coming in after me again.
I'm gonna have
to go out to them.
(revolver cylinder clicking)
Wish me luck.
I better leave this with you.
I might drop it out
there or something.
Be careful.
Listen, if I was careful,
I'd crawl out that back
window and I'd run like a deer.
Take care of that boy.
♪♪
Sykes!
Come on out where I can see you!
♪♪
Gilman!
DILLON: Hold it!
Stop right there!
All right, now, drop
the guns, all of you.
Go on, Sykes. You're
under arrest for murder.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
Hey, Ma! Ma, look what I got!
Where'd you get that?
A man gave me five
dollars for my old knife
and told me to go buy a new one.
He must have been crazy.
Yeah, he was.
You stay here with your ma now.
You say he was
wanted for murder?
Gilman, you're in the clear.
I checked with the
sheriff back in East Texas.
Some of his friends
told the whole story.
Well, I can't blame
him for feeling bitter.
I just hope he gets over it.
He may. Or it can help.
Golly be, well, he
sure didn't learn much
from cousin Catfish, did he?
How's that?
Well, you no more'n
get him off of one hook,
and he gets hisself right
back on another one.
Come on. Let's go home.
(both guns fire)
ANNOUNCER: starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.
♪♪
(horse whinnies)
♪♪
(horse whinnies)
Easy, now. Do you hear?
Come on, boy. (clucking tongue)
Come on. Come on.
(horses approach)
That map show the
trail forking here?
Yeah.
Yeah, here it is.
Let me see what goes where.
The left fork goes
to Pawnee Crossing.
The other one keeps
bearing to the right
and ends up in Dodge City.
Well, he's been
steering clear of towns.
I doubt he'd head for Dodge.
Looks more and more like
he's trying to make it through
to Arizona Territory.
Let's go.
(clanking)
Hold it there!
Where the blazes did
you come from, anyhow?
No place. I-I was just
passing through is all.
I figured these had
just been left there.
No use seeing 'em go to waste.
You know, a man kind
of gets hungry on the trail.
- What do you got here?
- You give me that back!
- It's my gun! Give it back to me!
- Oh, come on.
What for, now? Wait
a minute. Hold on.
- It's my gun! Give it...
- Hold on there, now.
Trying to get yourself killed?
Thing ain't got no
firing pin, no loads in it.
Got a jammed cylinder.
It's all right for bluffing.
Bluffing the undertaker maybe.
Where'd you come from,
anyway? What's your name?
I ain't asking you
any questions, am I?
Well, now.
Ah, guess you're a much
tougher customer than I figured.
I'm wanted, if that's
what you mean.
Is that so?
That makes two of us.
I figured you was on the run.
Why don't you give me
that coffeepot and skillet
out of those saddlebags?
I reckon you know
where to find 'em.
My name's Packy. Packy Kerlin.
Packy, eh?
Well, you can call me... Slim.
Sure can break your back
on a no-good farm like this.
My aunt and uncle
got a place just like it
out in the Arizona Territory.
Now, you're not running
away from your folks, are you?
Aunt and uncle ain't folks.
My pa, he's a long time dead.
I never even knowed him.
He was a soldier
for the cavalry.
Oh, that right?
What about your ma?
She left there about two years
ago and went to Dodge City.
She sends us money sometimes,
but I'm going there to find her
and to stay with her.
I guess she's about the
prettiest woman that ever lived.
Why, sure.
I'm much obliged
to you, Mr. Slim,
but I better get a move on.
Uh, hey, wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Uh...
I've kind of got me an idea.
- Oh?
- Yeah.
Like as not, now, your aunt and
your uncle kind of turned you in
as a runaway and they got
the law out after you, huh?
Well, I mean, the
law's after me, too,
along with a lot of other folks.
But they're looking for a
lone man and a lone boy.
You know, separate.
- Yeah.
- They wouldn't be looking
for a pa and his young'un
who was traveling together
and driving a rig here.
Heck, it'd be no chore at
all to patch this thing up.
Good enough to get
into Dodge at least.
Are you going to Dodge, too?
Well, I wasn't, but, you
know, plans change.
Well, what do
you think about it?
It's all right with me
if it's all right with you.
It's better than walking.
Tell you, Matthew,
that times is a-changing.
And the thing is
that they're a-changing
for the worse, too.
That so?
Well, of course it is!
There ain't nothing never
happens in this town no more.
Leastwise, nothing worth
walking across the street
and shaking a stick at.
You can't deny that.
Festus, I was called up
three times during
the night last night,
and I really need some sleep.
I mean, is that possible?
Try my best not
to bother you none.
There you are, just what
I been a-talking about.
Them's the only kind that
ever comes to Dodge anymore.
Bunch of clodhopping,
sodbusting,
dang homesteaders and
their squally young'uns.
♪♪
See you directly, Matthew.
Hey!
Hold up there.
You collecting
souvenirs, are you?
Are you a lawman?
Lawman?
The last feller that
called a Haggen a lawman
is buried right up
yonder on Boot Hill.
Haggen, you ain't any kin
to Catfish Haggen, are you?
Catfish?
He's only my dear
beloved second cousin
on my great-aunt lonely
Bridget's side once removed.
You know Catfish, do you?
Know him? Him and me log-rafted
on the downed
end of the Missouri
for two whole
seasons a while back.
Why, Catfish and me
is old bunking buddies.
Festus Haggen!
Kip Gil... Uh, Slim
Kerlin, I mean.
I'm real proud to meet
a cousin of old Catfish!
Any friend of Catfish
is a friend of Festus.
Yeah, this here's my son, Packy.
Howdy, Packy.
Sure the spitting
image, all right.
Oh, Matthew, this
here's Slim Kerlin.
Uh, Slim, this is the
marshal, Matthew Dillon.
- How do?
- How do?
You two sound like
you know each other.
Not exactly. Slim here's a
buddy of my cousin Catfish
on the old river barges.
Well, you probably have
a lot to talk about, then.
I'll see you later. I'm
gonna get some coffee.
Give me that poster
or he'll miss it sure
as you're a foot high.
The marshal ain't like the
lawmen you're used to, probably.
This here'un's real smart.
He miss this poster,
he'd be onto something,
sure as shooting.
Who's this? Friend of yourn?
Nah, just somebody I
thought I recognized.
Well, the first thing we
got to do is get your rig over
to the livery stable. Come on.
All right, son, you run
along down to the store
and get yourself some candy,
and I'll be along in
a couple minutes.
Yes, sir... Pa.
All right, I'm not his pa...
and my name ain't Kerlin.
But I did raft
logs with Catfish.
That's good enough for me.
Are you wanted bad, are you?
You saw the poster, didn't you?
You mean, that was
you with all the...?
Look, I'll tell you everything
that you want to
know, but later.
First, I want to get
this thing over with
on account of the boy.
All right, let's go.
- Howdy, Doc.
- Festus.
- Kitty.
- Hello, Festus.
This here's my friend, Slim.
He's looking for a girl.
Is he, now?
Aw, no, I-I mean a special girl.
All the girls in
Dodge are special.
One way or another.
I reckon you don't
understand, miss.
She must work here or something.
Anyhow, she gets
her mail delivered here
in care of the Long Branch.
Her name is Elena.
Elena?
Yeah, Elena Kerlin.
And she's... she's about
as pretty as they come.
Uh, if that's any help to you.
I'm sorry, mister.
She doesn't work here.
Then how'd she
answer the letters
that I sent here for her?
- Is she...?
- She was here.
For a month or
two over a year ago.
She still sends somebody to
get her mail every now and then.
Look, miss, I'm
sorry if I upset you,
but I'd be most grateful
if you could tell me
where I can find her.
I've heard she's
living in Rat Hole Alley.
That's south side,
across the tracks.
Much obliged to you.
Is she, uh... some kin to you?
Well, her and me
used to be married,
and, uh, I'm bringing
our boy to see her.
Well, Slim, uh,
I'll be waiting here
if you're of mind to
come back directly.
Ah, thank you, Festus.
Well, right glad to
have met you all.
Is that the girl who...?
It's the same girl, Doc.
That poor devil's
in for a shock.
I'm looking for a
Miss Elena Kerlin.
How about, um,
borrowing a dollar off you?
Right straight over there.
♪♪
(knocks)
WOMAN: Who's there?
Oh, just a friend.
I have no friends.
Go away!
Oh... Come on, Elena. Open up.
Got to talk to you.
Oh.
I told you go away.
Didn't I just say, "Go
on, get out of here"?
What's the matter, Ma?
Are you sick?
Who are you, anyhow?
I'm a friend of your boy's here.
I just helped to...
help him find you.
He's, uh, come here for a visit.
Ain't you glad to see me, Ma?
Honey?
Just give Mama...
a couple minutes.
Mama don't feel so good.
Mama's gonna... (Elena moans)
(door closes)
You stay here a minute.
I want to talk to your ma.
(grunts)
What do you think you're doing?!
Elena, how long you
been living like this?
If you don't like
it, you can get out.
I said get out!
You better take another shot
out of that before you throw it.
Listen, you got to think
up some kind of a story
for that boy out there.
What's it to you?
Nothing.
Give me that.
You... you come back here!
- Now, get off me.
- You stop it, you fool!
I need that! I need that!
- Now, you listen to me!
- (sobbing): I need that!
What you need to do is to
wash your face and-and-and...
- pull yourself together!
- (sobbing): I need that.
You got a son out there
who's waiting for his
homecoming welcome.
What do... what do you care?
Well, I don't, but you ought to.
Now, look, I'll have some
grub sent over here to you.
And here, here's some money.
Now, that ought to be
enough to take care of you
for a couple or three weeks.
If you don't drink it all up.
(cries)
You keep your money!
You don't owe me nothing.
I know I don't!
And that boy, either.
Because him and me's
already finished our deal.
Wait.
Why, then, how
come you're butting in?
I'm not!
Good luck.
I think you'd better wait until
she calls you before you go in.
She ain't been
feeling very well.
What are you gonna do?
Oh.
Well, hang around
town a few days.
And move off, I reckon.
You figure you throwed
them off the trail?
Oh, yeah.
Lots of folks saw
us come into town.
Just another sodbuster
and his young'un.
I'll be all right.
You will, too.
Don't you worry none about it.
You gonna find things
real good for yourself.
Sure, I will.
She's my ma.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's right.
(clicks tongue)
Well...
So long, Packy.
You Marshal Dillon?
That's right. What
can I do for you?
I'm Tabe Morley.
And, uh, this is my
partner Ed Sykes.
We're hunting this man.
Followed him all the
way from East Texas.
DILLON: Are you a lawman?
MORLEY: Nope.
DILLON: What are
you... Bounty hunters?
SYKES: We run cattle.
Lots of cattle.
Gilman was one of our hands.
No, no. He was a great
deal more than that.
I practically raised that boy.
His folks are very
close friends of mine.
I see. Well, uh, you figure
he's in Dodge or something?
Well, we just saw his
horse in the livery stable.
He was put in there yesterday,
and the stableman can't seem to
remember exactly who put him in.
We got one of our boys watching
the place in case he comes back.
We thought maybe you could
pry the stableman's memory
if you was of mind to it.
Well, I still don't understand.
What's you men's part in this?
We're the ones he robbed.
Man he murdered was the
bookkeeper on the ranch.
Man I'd had with
me for 20 years.
As a matter of fact, he was a
very close friend of Gilman's.
DILLON: How'd this happen?
We, uh, just sold
a big piece of land.
Cash. $100,000.
And, uh, it was
in the ranch safe.
And there was
nobody there that night
except the
bookkeeper and Gilman.
And round about midnight,
Sykes here rode out from town.
And Gilman was already
saddled up and ready to go.
And he wouldn't
answer any questions.
Just pulled his gun on
Sykes and shot at him.
Then he rode out.
The bookkeeper was
laying dead on the floor.
Pistol-whipped.
And the safe was empty.
Well, all right, so the
man did you harm.
I still don't understand why
you followed him all this way.
Why didn't you just go back
home and let the law handle this?
That boy knew that
he could come to me
for anything he
wanted within reason.
Now, I want to
know why he did it.
You don't think we're gonna let
that murdering sneak
get away with it, do you?
All right.
I'll check into it.
Good day, gentlemen.
Thank you, Marshal.
- Well, y'all...
- Now, just a minute here.
You wouldn't, by any
chance, be heading down
to warn anybody to stay away
from the livery
stable, would you?
Oh, golly...
Hey, Festus, I think
your cousin Catfish
has got some
pretty rough friends.
Matthew, I swear
on my poor old ma's
work-wore hands
that the facts just ain't
what them fellers said they are.
I tell you, I'm just gonna
send off a little telegram
to the sheriff of
Carver County, Texas
and find out about that.
Now, in the meantime, uh,
your friends wouldn't,
by any chance,
be planning to leave
town, would they?
Oh, ain't none of my friends got
an idea in their head like that.
Good.
Well, you just see that
you keep them pure.
And I'll tell you another thing.
You know, shaving
a man's beard off
doesn't help to change
his appearance very much.
I'd still know you if you
shaved yours off, you know.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
(spurs jingling)
Slim...
Them's the two I told you about.
Yeah, I know it is.
They just been over
at the marshal's office.
Hmm.
I gotta hit the
trail out of here.
Uh, there's a man watching
for you at the livery stable.
Then I reckon there's only
about one thing I can do.
I'm much obliged for
all you've done for me,
but you steer clear of this.
You hear me?
Why, hello, Packy.
I didn't figure
you'd come around.
Well, I ch... (Elena laughing)
ELENA: Now, you
stop acting so silly.
Mom's got somebody visiting.
Look, will you do me a chore?
Sure!
You go into Front Street
and look up a sawbones
by the name of Doc Adams
and tell him to come
on out here right away.
There's a lady called Miss
Kitty in the Long Branch.
She'll tell you
where his office is.
All right? Got that?
Yes, sir.
ELENA: What's
the matter with you?
You get out of here, before I...
MAN: Hold on, now, mister!
You've got a lot of nerve.
Yeah?
Who do you think you are,
coming in here like this?
(sighs)
Well, I'll tell you who I am.
My name is Slim Kerlin.
I'm your husband.
I don't... I don't
have no husband.
Been dead... for years.
- Well, you've got one now, sweetheart.
- (whimpers)
And I'm him.
So here's to matrimonial bliss.
You think she's
gonna be all right?
Oh, sure, she will.
He's been in there
an awful long time.
Well, sawbones always do that,
because they figure
then that you'll figure
that they're worth the money.
(door opens)
I gave her a sedative,
and that'll keep her
asleep for about eight hours,
something like that,
and when she wakes up,
you can give her another
one, that's the same thing.
But not over about
three of those a day.
Well, she ought
to have some food.
Some milk and eggs and
soup and things, you know.
I'll see she gets it.
I left a list of things
in there on that table
that you can look at
if you can find it
in all that mess.
We'll clean the place up, too.
What she ought
to have is a bath.
Well, I was wondering, Doc,
if maybe you might
know of some woman
that would be willing
to come out here
and stay with
her for a few days.
You know, sort
of look after her,
clean her up a bit, maybe...
fix up her hair.
Yeah, I know a woman like that,
but she'll charge you.
Well, I got money.
You... send her over.
All right.
If you say so.
Do you have any idea what
you're letting yourself in for?
Well, I'm obligated,
Doc, sort of.
See, me and her
was married, and...
well, uh, this here's
my son, Packy.
That's right.
Yeah, well, um...
good luck to you.
Uh, Doc, will this, uh...
this take care of your
time and your trouble?
Very generously, thank you.
I sure hope things
turn out all right for you.
Thank you.
You know, she never
used to be like that.
She must've been real sick.
Yeah, she must've been.
She don't even act
like she knows me.
Oh, sure, she knows you.
You're gonna see a big
difference in a couple of days.
I hope so.
You will.
You wait and see.
Now, come on.
We got work to do.
Kitty.
- Festus.
- Matthew.
- Marshal.
- KITTY: Hi, Matt.
Excuse me.
Gentlemen.
We was wondering
if you got a line
on that fellow Kip Gilman.
No, not since I talked
to you the other day.
Well, in a town this size,
it appears to me you'd be able
to find him in three days.
Well, you two have been
out looking for him, I presume?
It ain't my town.
No, that's right, it isn't.
Well, I know one thing.
If I'm ever wanted and I
need a place to hole up,
I'll come right here.
Why don't you try that?
Let's go, Sykes.
I'll tell you one more thing.
It's like I told
you the other day:
you leave Gilman up to the law.
Law? (laughs)
What law?
He riles up easy, Marshal.
Sykes there is a
proudy one, Matthew.
Yeah.
Somebody told me
that your friend Slim
was holed up at Elena
Kerlin's across the tracks.
Well, I don't know.
It is possible, Matthew.
You... fixing to
bring him in, are you?
Well, I was trying to hold off
till I heard from the
sheriff down in Texas.
See, once I take
your friend into jail,
these two can get
extradition papers on him.
There's nothing
more I can do for him.
Well, now, he swore up and down
that these charges was
stacked up agin him, Matthew,
by somebody for some reason.
Well, it's possible, Festus.
Say, Kitty, I didn't know
that Elena Kerlin was
still around Dodge.
This is as good a town as any
to drink yourself to death in.
I remember her when
she first came to town.
She certainly was a
pretty, sweet girl then.
Yeah, too sweet and too pretty.
When those trail
drivers fought over her
and trampled on her
and cut her face open,
that was all.
Just seems like some
folks is born to lose.
Others got to work at it.
Well, how about
your friend Slim?
Where does he fit in
that picture, Festus?
Well, he ain't
lost yet, Matthew.
No.
Not yet.
(clucking)
Oh... Mrs. McGibbon's
been cracking the whip, huh?
Yeah. She said it
wouldn't hurt me none
to learn how to peel spuds.
I have to cook 'em, too!
She ain't coming
back till tomorrow.
She show you how?
Sure.
Don't sound like no chore to me.
All you do is put some
water on 'em and boil 'em up.
All we can do is
hope for the best.
Well... You, uh, going to rejoin
the world of the living?
I thought it was the
lady who came in.
No, she left for the day.
Well...
This place. What...
I don't understand.
Who did all this?
(chuckles) Well...
Mrs. McGibbon had
some time on her hands.
She... she, uh...
fixed up these curtains, and...
Packy and me, we
handled the cleanup.
Packy?
Mmm.
He's really... here?
Why, sure.
Hey, Packy?
Come here a minute.
- Ma!
- Oh, Packy.
Oh, Packy, Packy...
Oh, Packy, I acted
so bad to you.
(sobs)
Well, you were...
you were sick, Ma.
Nobody acts the
same when they're sick.
You know that.
(laughs)
Whoo!
- Oh, have you grown!
- Yeah.
It's been a long time since...
(chickens clucking)
Oh, that old hen, it's
gonna eat my spuds.
Oh. All right.
(exhales)
(laughs)
You been staying here?
Yeah, yeah.
I, uh... on the, uh...
well, I've slept in worse beds.
Oh.
Why'd you do all this?
You know I can't pay you.
Well... ain't no
reason to. Uh...
You don't owe me anything.
Why not?
Well, because I needed
a place to stay and a...
a name to use.
And you needed some help.
So, as far as I'm
concerned, we're even.
(chuckles)
Who are you?
My name's Kip Gilman.
I'm wanted for
murder in East Texas.
You can make yourself
$5,000 just by turning me in.
Who did you kill?
Nobody.
There's lots of people
who'll tell you different.
Well, then what happened?
Well, I mean, how
come you're wanted?
Well...
I was working for a
couple of ranchers,
Tabe Morley and
his partner Sykes.
Well, one night,
there was a lot of
money in the ranch safe.
And the bookkeeper
and me and Sykes,
we was the only ones there.
So Sykes comes out to the
bunkhouse and he gives me
this package to take into town.
I get about three
miles out of town
when some of Sykes'
boys jumped me.
They opened fire on me.
They was waiting there for me!
I got clear of that,
but I hid out that night.
And the next morning,
the word is out
that I'm wanted for
killing the bookkeeper
and robbing the safe.
Oh, that Sykes,
he'd set me up good.
That package he give me
to take into town had
$10,000 in bills in it,
part of the money
taken out of the safe.
And then you ran away.
I ran.
Been running for three months.
(humming)
I always keep that door
open during business hours.
Oh, we'll open it pretty soon.
I see that fella didn't
come for his horse yet.
No, no, ain't seen him.
What was it you
said his name was?
He didn't say. I
told you that before.
Oh, that's right, you
did, come to think of it.
I was hoping maybe your
memory had improved some.
Well, I-I told you I don't
remember much about that fellow.
Wasn't paying much
attention, I reckon.
Hey, you better put that back.
That belongs to Mr. Overton.
You know, me and Duster
was having a little talk
before we came over here.
And, uh, we got
in a little argument.
We was arguing about the
best way to jog a man's memory.
Now, I got one idea,
Duster got another one.
(humming)
You know, you don't even
look like the same woman.
(laughs) I don't feel
like the same one, either.
Well, that's good.
(Elena humming)
Some things don't
change, though.
You mean that scar?
Nah, that don't harm you none.
It harmed me enough
to get me started.
I couldn't face people
looking the way I did
without some kind of help.
That's kind of a weak
alibi, don't you think?
What right have you got to talk?
Well, you haven't faced
things any more than I have.
You run away!
Yeah, maybe I do.
That's what you're doing now.
(sighs) That's what I been
doing all my life, I reckon.
Funny... you helped
me out of my swamp,
but I-I just can't find no
way at all of helping you.
Forget it. You don't
owe me nothing.
I wasn't thinking about owing.
(knocking)
Shh.
Sykes and Duster...
they're coming here.
(knocking)
Talk with them.
What can I say to them?
Lie to them. Anything
you can think of.
Your husband home, lady?
What do you want with him?
Well, uh, we're a
couple friends of his.
We want to talk to
him about a horse.
ELENA: He ain't home.
I don't think you understood me.
I said, uh, we're a
couple of friends of his.
We'll come in and wait.
- Well, I said no.
- Now, look, lady...
Well, now, you look.
Now, you make one move at
me, and they'll tear you to pieces.
All right, now, get out of here.
I'll slip out of here
right after dark.
Fella come to the hotel,
said you wanted to talk to me.
Yeah, that's right.
Where's you partner?
I don't know. He's been
off somewhere all day.
What'd you want, Marshal?
Well, I, uh... I just got a
telegram from your sheriff
in answer to the one I sent him.
- Read it.
- Mm-hmm.
(clears throat)
It's not possible.
It's not possible.
You think the
sheriff's lying, do you?
Oh, no, he's honest
as the day is long,
but, I, uh... I just
can't believe this.
Marshal, I gotta talk to you.
Come in, Roy.
ELENA: No sign of 'em?
Just hope they're not still
watching that livery stable.
Running isn't the
only way, you know?
Look, we've been
all through that.
We could go to Marshal Dillon.
And what, say, "Please
send me back to Texas
so they can hang me?"
No. Have a trial and
tell 'em your side of it.
They don't want my side.
They got one of their own.
What's the good in
running all your life?
Now, look, it appears to me
that you're worrying about
an awful lot that don't count.
Now, you're not gonna
get in any trouble about this.
You just tell 'em that I
held a gun on you, that's all.
That I made you go along,
and they won't hurt you.
Well, I didn't think they would.
And I'll give you enough
money to get out of this town
and take the boy with you.
Well, I don't want your money.
I wanted to help you!
I wanted you to see!
Forget it.
- (window breaks)
- Oh!
It's Packy's jackknife.
Oh.
That means they're not
coming in after me again.
I'm gonna have
to go out to them.
(revolver cylinder clicking)
Wish me luck.
I better leave this with you.
I might drop it out
there or something.
Be careful.
Listen, if I was careful,
I'd crawl out that back
window and I'd run like a deer.
Take care of that boy.
♪♪
Sykes!
Come on out where I can see you!
♪♪
Gilman!
DILLON: Hold it!
Stop right there!
All right, now, drop
the guns, all of you.
Go on, Sykes. You're
under arrest for murder.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
Hey, Ma! Ma, look what I got!
Where'd you get that?
A man gave me five
dollars for my old knife
and told me to go buy a new one.
He must have been crazy.
Yeah, he was.
You stay here with your ma now.
You say he was
wanted for murder?
Gilman, you're in the clear.
I checked with the
sheriff back in East Texas.
Some of his friends
told the whole story.
Well, I can't blame
him for feeling bitter.
I just hope he gets over it.
He may. Or it can help.
Golly be, well, he
sure didn't learn much
from cousin Catfish, did he?
How's that?
Well, you no more'n
get him off of one hook,
and he gets hisself right
back on another one.
Come on. Let's go home.