Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 10, Episode 20 - Circus Trick - full transcript
A circus family comes to town and charms the populace, who don't know the family's real stock in trade is larceny.
(theme music playing)
(both guns fire)
ANNOUNCER: starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.
♪♪
Louie?
Wake up, Louie.
Come on.
What time is it?
Well, Louie, it's
getting-up time.
Come on.
There we go.
Where'd you get
it this time, Louie?
I was helping somebody
wash glasses down at the Oasis.
There wouldn't be
no coffee, I suppose?
Well, Louie, why don't you
come on back in about an hour.
Right.
Oh, excuse me.
- Hello, Mr. Botkin.
- Morning, Marshal.
You had a customer, I see.
Oh, yeah, well, things
wouldn't be normal around here
unless Louie spent about
one night a week in jail.
- (chuckles)
- What can I do for you?
Nothing, really.
I just wanted you to know
that the gold shipment came in.
Oh, no trouble?
No trouble.
It's the biggest
shipment we ever had.
How long is it gonna be here?
Till next Thursday.
I just wanted to make sure
you weren't leaving town.
Oh, no, I'll be here.
You know, sometimes I think
folks can plain
smell gold, Marshal,
even if it's locked in a vault.
Well, let's you and
I do what we can
to see that it stays
there, shall we?
(calliope music plays)
What is that?
Well, I don't know.
If it's what it sounds like,
I haven't heard
one for a long time.
Well, it's a calliope!
Golly, it looks like we're
gonna have a carnival
in Dodge, Mr. Botkin.
Now, that's something Dodge
hasn't seen in a long time.
Well, if you need
me, I'll be around.
(music continues)
What in tarnation's that?
(music continues)
Matt.
Howdy, Quint.
Ain't that something?
Yeah, it's a carnival.
Did you ever see one before?
No, not that I can remember.
(music continues)
- Don't miss the big show!
- Yes, sirree, friends!
You're living in the luckiest
little town in the West.
We was turning them
away in New York City, boys.
Far off distant London
was a-begging for us.
- Don't miss the big show.
- Chicago was down on its knees.
But where did we come, friends?
Right here to good
old Dodge City.
- Don't miss the big show!
- Howdy, Sheriff,
and don't you the show now.
He's, uh, not the
sheriff; he's the marshal.
Oh, well, uh, better
luck next election.
(chuckles)
Howdy, partner.
Howdy.
Don't miss the
big show, Marshal.
All right.
Don't miss the big show, folks.
QUINT: Well, doesn't look like
they're gonna make much money
at a nickel a head.
Oh, well, that's just
a come-on, Quint.
By the time they
get through with you,
it'll cost you a lot
more than a nickel.
Oh.
(excited chattering)
Come on, look alive, George!
Come on, look alive!
Hey!
You better quit jabbin'
him with that stick, mister.
You'll stir up them moths.
(laughter)
Mister, you're the
only one around here
that ought to be
worried about moths.
(laughter)
That feller's got
all the instincts
of a Haggen, ain't he?
You know, I never
noticed it before,
but you've got room for
about a million moths in there.
Never noticed it.
Moths...
MAN: Now, don't forget,
ladies and gentlemen,
tomorrow night, tomorrow night,
the biggest red-letter day
in the history of Dodge City.
Come one, come all.
Come tomorrow night.
Ah, there you are, gentlemen.
Elko's Varieties.
I beg your pardon, sir.
Was that the marshal's office
that I passed down the street?
Certainly was.
Thank you, sir.
You're a gentleman
and a scholar.
"Biggest little show on earth."
I can't make a...
Well, I'll say one thing.
That was a fine parade.
(music continues in distance)
(door opens)
Ah, good, good day to you, sir.
Howdy-do.
I, sir, am Hieronymus P. Elko,
more popularly
known as Harry Elko.
Matt Dillon. What
can I do for you?
I am informed... And
I assume reliably...
That you, sir, are the
duly constituted authority
in this thriving
little metropolis.
Well, I'm the U.S. Marshal here.
Precisely what I was told,
and I, sir, am the proprietor
of the biggest
little show on earth.
Yes, I know. Elko's Varieties.
Oh, well, then
you've heard of us.
Pretty hard not to, Mr. Elko.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
(laughs) No, thank you.
Suppose we get right
down to business?
What kind of business
do you have in mind?
Well, sir, I propose to
stage a lavish spectacle
tomorrow night in this
thriving little community.
A stupendous display
of entertainment
calculated to surprise
and delight folks of all ages.
In short, sir, I am
aiming to put on a show.
Well, fine. Good luck.
Well, now, that brings us
to the crux of the matter.
Uh, the, uh, license, fee,
or-or if you prefer,
the, uh, donation?
I'm afraid I don't know
what you're talking about.
(chuckles) Uh, the
grease, Marshal,
for the duly
constituted authority.
Mr. Elko, we don't have
any license, fees,
donations, grease...
Whatever you
want to call it... Here,
but if you have some idea
of starting a bunco game
or, uh, maybe turning
a couple of pickpockets
loose in the crowd,
we do have some jail cells.
Oh, Marshal, I run a
straight, honest show,
but that's never kept me from
having to pay off somebody
in most every town
we've ever played in.
Not here, Mr. Elko.
I-I am relieved to hear that.
You can set up your tents
down south of the
town on the flats.
Well, I am much
obliged to you, sir.
Yes, and I hope you
won't think it amiss
if I, uh, offer you, uh,
two complimentary
tickets to our show.
All right, thank you.
Oh! My pleasure, Marshal.
Yes, indeed, my pleasure.
Uh, good day to you, sir.
Yes, a good, good day to you.
Elko.
Harry Elko.
You know, I just been
wondering about something.
I never heard of a
circus coming to town
and just charging a
nickel to get in, did you?
No, come to think of it.
I was figuring
more like spending
up as high as ten cents.
- No.
- Yeah, I was gonna
get all duded up and
take April with me.
Well, she's just liable
to want a sarsaparilla,
and there'll be another
nickel shot in the head.
Well, even if she does,
it'll still be a pretty
thrifty evening.
Well, I'll tell you one thing.
You might as well
close up tomorrow night.
Front Street's gonna be
about as empty as Boot Hill.
You take me?
To the circus?
Mm-hmm.
Well, that could
get expensive. I...
Well, all right, I will,
if you'll lay off
the sarsaparilla.
I'll bring my own
nickel, just in case.
(hammering outside)
(hammering continues)
How-do?
Howdy, Marshal.
Have a poster.
Oh, no, thanks.
I've got one already.
Uh, my name's Billy.
Billy, my name's Matt Dillon.
You been with the circus long?
Three years.
How long you been a marshal?
(chuckles) Well, longer
than I like to think about.
I don't think I'd like your job.
You're stuck in one place.
Me, I like to travel
around, meet people.
I'll bet you see
a lot of country.
Yes, sir.
Houston, Austin, Abilene,
San Anton, Oklahoma City.
Why, we've been as
far east as Springfield
and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sounds mighty interesting.
Sure is.
Well, I'd better
be getting along.
Got to get rid of
the rest of these.
So long, Marshal!
Nice to have met you, Billy.
- MAN: Hello.
- (gasps)
Hello.
Fate, my lovely young lady,
has just walked into your life.
What do you mean by that?
I'm in a position to offer you,
not only artistic satisfaction,
but two dollars
in hard, cold cash.
What for?
Oh, just for an hour
or two of your time.
Onstage, that is,
in front of a cheering audience
of your admiring friends.
(gasps)
Doing what?
Assisting a magician.
Assisting magician?
Merely by being decorative,
as you are right now.
(chuckles)
I'm sure there's nothing you
couldn't learn in ten minutes.
So you come down to
our show grounds tomorrow
around noon, and Madame Ahr
will fit you out in
the prettiest costume
you've ever seen
in all your life.
Well, would it be as pretty as
that one there in the picture?
Oh, much, much better, my dear.
How about it?
No, I couldn't.
Why not?
Well, I just
couldn't, that's all.
But maybe I'll think about it.
Good.
What's your name?
April.
April Clomely.
See you tomorrow, April.
Speeler?
Eddie!
Eddie, you're supposed
to be in the wagon.
Don't get mad, Speeler.
I-I didn't do nothing bad.
I didn't say you
did anything bad.
I'm not mad. What if
you's to lose your head
and start breaking up
things like you did before?
Now, get back
there out of sight.
Speeler?
Would... Would you
buy me one beer?
Huh? Please?
(chuckles) All right,
I'll get you a beer.
Now get out of sight.
Who-who's that lady?
That's April, Eddie.
She's gonna help us
out with the sword act
like Myra used to do, remember?
She is pretty.
Yeah, she's pretty.
She's... prettier than anyone.
Ever.
Eddie,
I want you to leave
her alone, you hear me?
I-I don't mean no harm.
Eddie, I want
you to listen to me.
Don't forget this.
Leave her alone.
Hey, we were talking
about a beer, weren't we?
(telegraph tapping)
Well, what do you
know about that?
Ellie Comstock is having a
baby, and her ma is coming
all the way out from
Boston to be with her.
Barney, don't you
know that a telegram
is a privileged communication?
What?
Well, that information
you just gave me
is private information.
Well, Ellie ain't gonna mind.
Doesn't matter whether she's
gonna mind or not, Barney.
You're a telegraph operator,
not the town crier.
Sure, Marshal, sure.
Now, what in the world do
you want to know all this fer?
Where's it going?
I want six copies of
this telegram, Barney.
I want them to go
to Houston, Abilene,
San Antonio, Oklahoma City,
Springfield, Missouri,
and Nashville, Tennessee.
It must be mighty important
to be going to all them places.
Expensive, too.
Barney, you just
get the telegrams off.
You'll get paid for them.
All right.
Oh, and, Barney,
there's another thing.
Now, when we get the
answer to those telegrams,
let's just keep them
to ourselves, huh?
Okay, Marshal.
(clattering)
Well, not that ain't too
bad for a Comanche.
I suppose you can do better?
You watch me.
I'm afraid luck won't
save you this time, Quint.
That's right, Matthew.
Now just step aside,
and I'll show how the
cow eat the cabbage.
Uh-huh.
April!
- Morning, Festus.
- Hold on.
I want to jaw with you.
Well, I'm in a
great big hurry now.
Well, just tell me what time
you want me to sashay over
and take you to
the big show tonight.
Oh, I'm sorry, Festus,
but I can't go with you.
Why in thunder can't you?
Well, on account of I got
me something else to do.
Ah, fiddle.
There ain't nothing
else to do in town.
Everybody's gonna be there.
I know, but...
Well, talking ain't gonna
change it now none.
- Wh...
- Bye.
You come back here now.
April?
Some other time, Festus.
Dog dang female.
Well, don't fret, Festus.
You might have
saved a nickel or two.
Yeah, you gonna throw horseshoes
or stand here
complaining all day?
Well, she's up to no good.
Say, you know, Festus,
the idea of this game
is to get that shoe as close
to that stake as you can,
not as far away.
Well, I ain't in the
mood for horseshoes.
I-I'll see you all directly.
You know, sometimes
I can' figure him out.
Don't try to, Quint.
He's a Haggen.
Yeah, that's for sure.
You going to the
big show tonight?
- No.
- Well, why not?
Everybody else in town is.
Yeah, I know they are.
(Quint grunts)
(lion roars)
Hey, let's get an extra
loop on that line, boys.
It don't look solid.
Hey, dude, I'm
looking for a girl.
Oh, yeah, well, who ain't?
Come on, boys, get these
seats laid out here, will ya?
It's about noontime.
FESTUS: That ain't what I mean.
This here girl I'm looking for
has got kind of
straw-colored hair.
You looking for a girl?
You come around
here tomorrow night.
We got plenty of girls.
Say, have you
fellers saw a girl that...
Ah, yes, very nice.
April!
Festus!
You put your clothes on!
Well, what are you doing here?
I assume you know each other?
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Elko,
but-but he isn't
supposed to be here.
He... well, he's my friend.
If you just give me a
few minutes to talk to him,
I'm sure everything
will be all right.
By all means.
It's gonna take a heap more
than a minute to talk about this.
Now sit down!
What do you mean,
acting like this?
- What do I mean?!
- Yes!
Coming around here following me.
You ain't got no
right, Festus Haggen.
Well, you ain't got no sense,
a-flutterin' around
in that thing
like some ninny acrobat.
I am not an acrobat.
I am the magician's assistant.
You mean you was.
You're going home
with me right now.
- I am not. Now, you let...
- You're going home, April.
Let go of me!
Aah!
- Who's that?
- Oh, no! Stop!
Let go of him!
- No! Stop!
- Eddie!
Eddie!
- Let him go.
- (choking)
Eddie, let him go, let him go.
(Festus grunting)
Eddie.
No, Eddie.
It's all right.
It's all right, Eddie.
All right, now.
What happened?
Huh?
He was hurting her.
No, he wasn't.
He's my friend.
(chuckles)
All right now, Eddie.
Um, where'd you get that?
Give it back to him.
Go on, give it back.
(grunting)
That was my lucky horseshoe.
Yep, sure is.
Almost a full box.
Kind of expensive, though.
Ah, but worth it.
(sniffs)
Oh, I've been dreaming
of this aroma for weeks,
ever I since I ran out of them.
I keep them here
mostly for the gamblers.
Folks around here
can't afford them.
Ah, well, I'll take
a dozen of them,
uh, to start with.
A dozen?
That'll cost you
just six dollars.
Ah, when one demands
the best, my friend,
one does not count
the cost thereof.
Good gosh, don't tell me
that you make all of that
off of five-cent
admission tickets.
Well, the secret, of
course, is volume.
Yeah, well,
naturally, naturally.
You, uh, mentioned gamblers.
Are there many of
them here about?
Well, (sighs)
this being a railroad terminal
and a shipping
center for cattle drives,
we got our share of them.
One, two, three, four
dollars, thank you.
I assume these
gamblers, like, uh,
those everywhere else,
invest their profits in small,
convenient, portable and
concentrated commodities?
Well, they buy a lot of
jewelry, if that's what you mean.
Everybody knows that.
They buy diamond
rings, diamond stickpins,
diamond cuff links,
anything that glitters.
And where in this
thriving community
can one purchase such jewelry?
Well, uh, are you, uh,
aiming to buy some?
Well, like the gambler,
I too have accumulated, uh,
profits that, uh,
I prefer not to carry
about in the form of cash.
In short, sir, I'm
aiming to buy.
Well, sir, you've
come to the right place.
You mean you sell jewelry?
Why not?
This is a general store.
Boys have got to
buy it someplace.
Might as well be from me.
Naturally.
Let me show you something.
Here.
Cuff links, $50 to $500.
Stickpins, up to $1,000.
And rings, $500 to $2,500.
How much were you, uh,
figuring on to spend?
Oh, in the neighborhood
of $5,000 or $6,000.
Ah.
There's a beauty.
Well, that one is $1,300.
And you couldn't
touch it anywhere else
for less that $1,500.
Is that so?
Did I understand you
say "in the neighborhood"
of, uh, "$5,000 or $6,000"?
I shall know more precisely
after tonight's show.
I shall return to
make my selection
now that I know where to come.
I bid you adieu,
but not good-bye.
You wanted to see me, Marshal?
Mr. Botkin, sit down.
Anything wrong?
Well, I'm not sure.
Something about
this Elko's Varieties
stuck in my mind.
Now, I sent off telegrams
to some of the towns
they've played in recently.
Well, I don't see
how that concerns me.
Well, I got answers
back, and it turns out
that two of these towns
had bank robberies
while the carnival
was playing there.
Oh, I see.
Well, I'm not positive
that there's any connection
between the two things,
but I don't think we can afford
to take a chance on it.
Well, what do you propose to do?
Well, I'd like to spend
some time down at your bank
while the show is
playing here in town.
Well, certainly, and
I'm very appreciative.
I only hope you're wrong.
So do I.
Hurry, folks! Come
one, come all!
Elko's Varieties, the greatest,
biggest show on earth!
(lion roaring)
Come one, come all!
Elko's Varieties!
(man continues indistinctly)
Hurry. Hurry, folks.
(calliope playing
"Camptown Races")
Please have your
money ready, folks.
Help out the man
behind... Here you are, sir.
There you are.
It's the greatest
show on earth, folks.
- Two of them.
- Two? All right.
There you are, sir.
- Here you go.
- I want a balloon.
She wants a balloon.
I want, I want a blue one.
She wants a blue one.
- Okay, sir.
- Here we are.
Balloons, five cents!
Balloons... five cents!
That's a meat-eater, boys...
Don't give him
popcorn and peanuts.
- Look alive there, George.
- (clatters bars)
(lion roars fiercely)
He's a ferocious beast.
We're gonna have a good time,
but, uh, stay away
from the cage.
(monkey chattering)
♪♪
(kids laughing)
(drumroll playing)
(drumroll continues)
(calliope playing
"Beautiful Dreamer")
(hushed): April?
It's me, Festus.
(lively chatter outside)
All right, folks, it's showtime!
Showtime in the big top!
Step right up!
Right over here to
the main entrance.
All attractions on the inside.
- ♪♪
- That's it, step right...
♪♪
Kind of spooky, Marshal.
Yeah.
You know, it's the first
time in all my years here
I've ever seen Front Street
without a single
living soul in sight.
You begin to wonder if everybody
but you has died or something.
That show's a pretty
powerful attraction.
Folks got no more
sense than sheep.
Now, you sure you
don't need any help?
No, no. You go on to the
show; spend your money.
Show? It won't get
any of my money.
- Good night, Marshal.
- Good night.
♪♪
(indistinct chatter)
Now, watch this,
ladies and gentlemen.
Watch closely.
One and a half
inches of solid steel...
Enough to defy a Samson of old,
but not Big Eddie!
(drumroll playing)
(drumroll continues)
(Eddie exhales)
(drumroll continues)
Where the devil you been?
None of your business.
He got out some way. Hm?
(low grunt)
(drumroll continues)
(grunts, drumroll stops)
(cheering)
(applause continues)
There you are,
ladies and gentlemen,
Big Eddie, the strongest
man in the world!
And if anyone doubts
it, he's welcome to come
right up here on this
stage and tell Big Eddie so
- in person.
- (laughter)
He'll be back, ladies
and gentlemen.
There's more, much more.
But now, ladies and gentlemen,
I have a real treat for you.
I have the honor at this
time of presenting to you
a little lady known to
many of you personally,
one of your very own.
This lovely creature
will defy death itself.
I have the
privilege at this time
of presenting to you
none other than...
Miss April!
- (calliope plays fanfare)
- (cheering, applause, whistling)
Ain't that just
somethin' fierce?
Observe, ladies and gentlemen...
observe that the
cabinet... (knocking)
is as solid as a
Dodge City beef steak.
- (laughter)
- (knocking)
And just as hollow as
your mother-in-law's head.
(laughter)
Are you still willing to go
through with this, my dear?
This is your last chance
to change your mind.
I am not afraid.
Excellent!
Did you hear that,
ladies and gentlemen?
The little lady is not afraid!
- (laughter)
- Would you be so good
as to enter the cabinet?
(applause, cheering, whistling)
What in tarnation
is he doing there?
Looks to me like they're
fixing to box her up
and ship her out of here.
Are you comfortable, my dear?
APRIL: Well, it's
awful crowded in here.
There ain't much room
to move about none.
Precisely!
And now...
Observe, ladies and gentlemen,
that these are
regulation sabers,
as carried by the officers of
the Royal British Light Cavalry
in active combat.
My assistants will
pass them among you
for your close observation
to see that there are
no collapsible blades
or trick handles.
If you please.
ELKO: That's it, examine them
carefully, ladies and gentlemen.
Make certain that there
are no collapsible blades.
Notice that they're
not trick handles.
Thank you.
Thank you.
(calliope plays fanfare)
Observe, ladies and gentlemen.
Are you ready?
Ready for what?
Ready... for this!
Hey, quit that! April!
Just take it easy,
Festus. It's just a trick!
Yeah, but April's the
one that's getting tricked.
No, they're doing it with
mirrors or something.
Yeah, that's why she was over
here this afternoon to practice.
Well, how can you practice
getting yourself cut in two?
I'm telling you she's all
right. Now, just calm down.
(indistinct chatter)
How are you feeling, my dear?
I sure didn't hear
her say nothin'
- when she asked, uh...
- That's all part of the act.
She's all right, I tell
you. Just wait and see.
I'll wait and see, all right.
And she better come out of there
in the same
condition she went in,
or that feller's gonna have so
many swords sticking in him,
he'll look like a porcupine!
Uh, suppose we leave the
little lady to rest in peace
for a few minutes while
we go on with the show.
Ladies and gentlemen, it
is my privilege at this time
to present to you the
world-famous mind reader
and clairvoyant, Madame Ahr!
- (gong sounds)
- (applause)
Ladies and gentlemen,
as you entered the big tent
you were handed a piece
of paper and asked to write
any question you may have
about the past, present or future.
Are they ready?
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
Good! Now seal
them in the envelope,
and hand them to my assistants
as they pass amongst you.
And Madame Ahr will not only
read the question
while blindfolded,
but will answer it, applying
her vast mystic wisdom
of the past, present and future.
SPEELER: Hurry up, Eddie,
we ain't got time to waste.
EDDIE: I'm trying
to hurry, Speeler.
SPEELER: Come on,
now, you don't want us
to get in trouble, do you?
(calliope playing,
indistinct crowd chatter)
ELKO: I have the first
question, Madame Ahr.
MADAME AHR: The
question is from a lady.
She signs herself "W." It reads:
"The fellow I am promised to
"has gone to Hays City
for a few days on business.
Is he really doing what
he says he's doing?"
ELKO: That is correct!
And can you answer it?
MADAME AHR: Yes.
(continues indistinctly)
MADAME AHR: Yes. Yes, Miss W.,
he is doing exactly what
he... (continues indistinctly)
I... I got everything
now, Speeler.
Yeah. Good, good, Eddie.
Good. (chuckles)
You're gonna like this one.
Got a lot of pretty
things, Eddie.
I-I like pretty things.
Can... can I have all I want?
You can have all you want.
Come on.
(calliope playing
"Beautiful Dreamer")
And here is the next question.
The next question
is also from a lady.
It is signed: "Miss K."
It's mine.
ELKO: And can you answer it?
Yes. Miss K, in Dodge City,
in the business you are
operating, you can't help
- but make money.
- (laughter)
Well, I don't like the
way she worded it...
but it's still nice to know.
♪♪
♪♪
(exhales)
It's an old one, Eddie.
You can break this, can't you?
(chuckles): There ain't
hardly nothin' I can't break.
Yeah. Yeah, I can break this.
Good. Go ahead.
♪♪
(grunts)
- (metallic squeaking)
- (grunts)
(Eddie grunts, pants)
(metallic squeaking)
(panting)
♪♪
(low grunt)
(loud clattering)
(exhales) Did I do good?
Did I do good, Speeler?
Didn't I tell you there was
nothin' I couldn't break?
You did real good, Eddie.
♪♪
I'll take that now, Eddie.
I-I never had nothin'
pretty like this.
Not never.
Come on, now,
Eddie, give it to me.
Here, come on, now.
- But... but...
- Eddie...
- please, Speeler, please.
- Eddie...
- Please.
- Listen to me, Eddie.
Somebody see that,
we're gonna get in trouble.
Oh, nobody'll never
see nothin', I promise.
Please, Speeler?
Please?
All right, Eddie.
You funny...
- Aw, Speeler, you...
- Come on.
You're good to Eddie.
Thank you.
- Pretty...
- Come on, Eddie, let's go.
Get the stuff.
(crickets chirping)
Hello, April.
What are you doing here?
I was curious, that's all.
I followed you from back there,
on account of you
was acting funny.
Oh?
Well, that was rather
foolish of you, don't you think?
You been robbing
the store, ain'tcha?
(laughs softly): Oh...
Can I talk to you a few minutes?
Huh... You stay away from me.
If you come one step
near me, I'm gonna holler.
Now, April, I wouldn't hurt you.
I just want to talk to
you a few minutes.
(April gasping)
Speeler?
Don't hurt April, Speeler.
(April grunts, yells)
(blow lands, body thuds)
You hurt Miss April.
I-I had to hurt her, Eddie.
You're bad, Speeler.
She was gonna send us to jail.
Don't make me do it, Eddie.
Don't-don't make me do it.
- You're ba...
- (gunshot)
Speeler, you're bad.
You're bad, Speeler. Bad!
- (gasping)
- Bad!
(quietly): What's the matter?
- I don't know.
- Are you sick?
No.
It's something else.
Something terrible.
(excited chatter)
♪♪
Stay away.
Nobody hurt April.
Nobody!
I'm not gonna hurt her.
I just want to be sure
you don't hurt her, either.
- Go away.
- It's all right, Eddie.
Don't come near!
It's Marshal Dillon,
Eddie. He's my friend.
- Go away!
- He's all right, Edd...
- Hold it.
- Eddie!
Eddie...
Please... d... don't be mad.
I'm sorry.
I don't mean to be bad.
Please... (grunts): Ma... ♪♪
(groans)
EDDIE: Eddie...
doesn't... mean to... do bad.
Won't do bad.
Not ever.
You didn't do bad, Eddie.
It was your pa and me
that got you into this.
If anybody did bad, it
was your pa and me.
No, no.
(panting): Foolish...
foolish talk.
You always good.
Oh, you... you never do bad.
Never.
(Madame Ahr sniffles)
♪♪
Pretty.
Pretty.
April?
You... you take this.
You... you keep it.
Please?
Eddie... never do bad again.
Not ever.
Pretty.
Pretty... April... (gasps)
Oh, son... oh... s-son...
I'm sorry, ma'am.
It's not an easy
thing to lose a son.
Two sons.
They were brothers.
(crying): I lost both
my sons tonight.
♪♪
(sobbing)
(bear growling)
I been waiting for you, Marshal.
You heard about it, then?
Bad news travels fast.
How's my wife taking it?
She's taking it pretty hard.
(crickets chirping)
It'll kill her.
It wasn't even her fault.
It was my idea.
She was against it
from the beginning.
How come you changed your
plan, didn't hit the bank here?
How did you know?
From reading a
stack of old bulletins.
Seven months ago in Parker Falls
while everybody in town was
watching the Elko Variety Show,
the bank was broken
into and robbed.
$43,000 in cash.
Same thing in Lewisburg
four months ago.
Elko's Varieties again.
$18,400 in that one.
I figured you'd pull the
same thing here in Dodge.
I was waiting for you
at the bank tonight.
I couldn't resist
those diamonds.
What happened to the money
from the other two robberies?
(sighs): In the bear's
cage under a loose board.
You'll have to coax that
animal out of there, though.
He's a mean one.
That is... to everyone
except Eddie.
Those two loved each other.
You don't seem very
concerned about all this, Mr. Elko.
♪♪
You probably wouldn't
understand the...
thinking that got
me into this, Marshal.
You wouldn't understand
the struggling...
scrambling for a few cents
here, a few cents there...
seeing your family half starved,
your... animals half starved,
never getting anywhere,
never getting ahead.
I loved my family, Marshal.
Edith... Speeler... Eddie.
Poor Eddie.
Born without a chance.
Well, now I've got
no family, so... (sighs)
I'm not worried because...
nothing matters anymore.
Not a single thing
in this whole world.
I'm sorry about that, Mr. Elko.
Well, we better get started.
(softly): Yeah.
♪♪
(bear growling)
(both guns fire)
ANNOUNCER: starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.
♪♪
Louie?
Wake up, Louie.
Come on.
What time is it?
Well, Louie, it's
getting-up time.
Come on.
There we go.
Where'd you get
it this time, Louie?
I was helping somebody
wash glasses down at the Oasis.
There wouldn't be
no coffee, I suppose?
Well, Louie, why don't you
come on back in about an hour.
Right.
Oh, excuse me.
- Hello, Mr. Botkin.
- Morning, Marshal.
You had a customer, I see.
Oh, yeah, well, things
wouldn't be normal around here
unless Louie spent about
one night a week in jail.
- (chuckles)
- What can I do for you?
Nothing, really.
I just wanted you to know
that the gold shipment came in.
Oh, no trouble?
No trouble.
It's the biggest
shipment we ever had.
How long is it gonna be here?
Till next Thursday.
I just wanted to make sure
you weren't leaving town.
Oh, no, I'll be here.
You know, sometimes I think
folks can plain
smell gold, Marshal,
even if it's locked in a vault.
Well, let's you and
I do what we can
to see that it stays
there, shall we?
(calliope music plays)
What is that?
Well, I don't know.
If it's what it sounds like,
I haven't heard
one for a long time.
Well, it's a calliope!
Golly, it looks like we're
gonna have a carnival
in Dodge, Mr. Botkin.
Now, that's something Dodge
hasn't seen in a long time.
Well, if you need
me, I'll be around.
(music continues)
What in tarnation's that?
(music continues)
Matt.
Howdy, Quint.
Ain't that something?
Yeah, it's a carnival.
Did you ever see one before?
No, not that I can remember.
(music continues)
- Don't miss the big show!
- Yes, sirree, friends!
You're living in the luckiest
little town in the West.
We was turning them
away in New York City, boys.
Far off distant London
was a-begging for us.
- Don't miss the big show.
- Chicago was down on its knees.
But where did we come, friends?
Right here to good
old Dodge City.
- Don't miss the big show!
- Howdy, Sheriff,
and don't you the show now.
He's, uh, not the
sheriff; he's the marshal.
Oh, well, uh, better
luck next election.
(chuckles)
Howdy, partner.
Howdy.
Don't miss the
big show, Marshal.
All right.
Don't miss the big show, folks.
QUINT: Well, doesn't look like
they're gonna make much money
at a nickel a head.
Oh, well, that's just
a come-on, Quint.
By the time they
get through with you,
it'll cost you a lot
more than a nickel.
Oh.
(excited chattering)
Come on, look alive, George!
Come on, look alive!
Hey!
You better quit jabbin'
him with that stick, mister.
You'll stir up them moths.
(laughter)
Mister, you're the
only one around here
that ought to be
worried about moths.
(laughter)
That feller's got
all the instincts
of a Haggen, ain't he?
You know, I never
noticed it before,
but you've got room for
about a million moths in there.
Never noticed it.
Moths...
MAN: Now, don't forget,
ladies and gentlemen,
tomorrow night, tomorrow night,
the biggest red-letter day
in the history of Dodge City.
Come one, come all.
Come tomorrow night.
Ah, there you are, gentlemen.
Elko's Varieties.
I beg your pardon, sir.
Was that the marshal's office
that I passed down the street?
Certainly was.
Thank you, sir.
You're a gentleman
and a scholar.
"Biggest little show on earth."
I can't make a...
Well, I'll say one thing.
That was a fine parade.
(music continues in distance)
(door opens)
Ah, good, good day to you, sir.
Howdy-do.
I, sir, am Hieronymus P. Elko,
more popularly
known as Harry Elko.
Matt Dillon. What
can I do for you?
I am informed... And
I assume reliably...
That you, sir, are the
duly constituted authority
in this thriving
little metropolis.
Well, I'm the U.S. Marshal here.
Precisely what I was told,
and I, sir, am the proprietor
of the biggest
little show on earth.
Yes, I know. Elko's Varieties.
Oh, well, then
you've heard of us.
Pretty hard not to, Mr. Elko.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
(laughs) No, thank you.
Suppose we get right
down to business?
What kind of business
do you have in mind?
Well, sir, I propose to
stage a lavish spectacle
tomorrow night in this
thriving little community.
A stupendous display
of entertainment
calculated to surprise
and delight folks of all ages.
In short, sir, I am
aiming to put on a show.
Well, fine. Good luck.
Well, now, that brings us
to the crux of the matter.
Uh, the, uh, license, fee,
or-or if you prefer,
the, uh, donation?
I'm afraid I don't know
what you're talking about.
(chuckles) Uh, the
grease, Marshal,
for the duly
constituted authority.
Mr. Elko, we don't have
any license, fees,
donations, grease...
Whatever you
want to call it... Here,
but if you have some idea
of starting a bunco game
or, uh, maybe turning
a couple of pickpockets
loose in the crowd,
we do have some jail cells.
Oh, Marshal, I run a
straight, honest show,
but that's never kept me from
having to pay off somebody
in most every town
we've ever played in.
Not here, Mr. Elko.
I-I am relieved to hear that.
You can set up your tents
down south of the
town on the flats.
Well, I am much
obliged to you, sir.
Yes, and I hope you
won't think it amiss
if I, uh, offer you, uh,
two complimentary
tickets to our show.
All right, thank you.
Oh! My pleasure, Marshal.
Yes, indeed, my pleasure.
Uh, good day to you, sir.
Yes, a good, good day to you.
Elko.
Harry Elko.
You know, I just been
wondering about something.
I never heard of a
circus coming to town
and just charging a
nickel to get in, did you?
No, come to think of it.
I was figuring
more like spending
up as high as ten cents.
- No.
- Yeah, I was gonna
get all duded up and
take April with me.
Well, she's just liable
to want a sarsaparilla,
and there'll be another
nickel shot in the head.
Well, even if she does,
it'll still be a pretty
thrifty evening.
Well, I'll tell you one thing.
You might as well
close up tomorrow night.
Front Street's gonna be
about as empty as Boot Hill.
You take me?
To the circus?
Mm-hmm.
Well, that could
get expensive. I...
Well, all right, I will,
if you'll lay off
the sarsaparilla.
I'll bring my own
nickel, just in case.
(hammering outside)
(hammering continues)
How-do?
Howdy, Marshal.
Have a poster.
Oh, no, thanks.
I've got one already.
Uh, my name's Billy.
Billy, my name's Matt Dillon.
You been with the circus long?
Three years.
How long you been a marshal?
(chuckles) Well, longer
than I like to think about.
I don't think I'd like your job.
You're stuck in one place.
Me, I like to travel
around, meet people.
I'll bet you see
a lot of country.
Yes, sir.
Houston, Austin, Abilene,
San Anton, Oklahoma City.
Why, we've been as
far east as Springfield
and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sounds mighty interesting.
Sure is.
Well, I'd better
be getting along.
Got to get rid of
the rest of these.
So long, Marshal!
Nice to have met you, Billy.
- MAN: Hello.
- (gasps)
Hello.
Fate, my lovely young lady,
has just walked into your life.
What do you mean by that?
I'm in a position to offer you,
not only artistic satisfaction,
but two dollars
in hard, cold cash.
What for?
Oh, just for an hour
or two of your time.
Onstage, that is,
in front of a cheering audience
of your admiring friends.
(gasps)
Doing what?
Assisting a magician.
Assisting magician?
Merely by being decorative,
as you are right now.
(chuckles)
I'm sure there's nothing you
couldn't learn in ten minutes.
So you come down to
our show grounds tomorrow
around noon, and Madame Ahr
will fit you out in
the prettiest costume
you've ever seen
in all your life.
Well, would it be as pretty as
that one there in the picture?
Oh, much, much better, my dear.
How about it?
No, I couldn't.
Why not?
Well, I just
couldn't, that's all.
But maybe I'll think about it.
Good.
What's your name?
April.
April Clomely.
See you tomorrow, April.
Speeler?
Eddie!
Eddie, you're supposed
to be in the wagon.
Don't get mad, Speeler.
I-I didn't do nothing bad.
I didn't say you
did anything bad.
I'm not mad. What if
you's to lose your head
and start breaking up
things like you did before?
Now, get back
there out of sight.
Speeler?
Would... Would you
buy me one beer?
Huh? Please?
(chuckles) All right,
I'll get you a beer.
Now get out of sight.
Who-who's that lady?
That's April, Eddie.
She's gonna help us
out with the sword act
like Myra used to do, remember?
She is pretty.
Yeah, she's pretty.
She's... prettier than anyone.
Ever.
Eddie,
I want you to leave
her alone, you hear me?
I-I don't mean no harm.
Eddie, I want
you to listen to me.
Don't forget this.
Leave her alone.
Hey, we were talking
about a beer, weren't we?
(telegraph tapping)
Well, what do you
know about that?
Ellie Comstock is having a
baby, and her ma is coming
all the way out from
Boston to be with her.
Barney, don't you
know that a telegram
is a privileged communication?
What?
Well, that information
you just gave me
is private information.
Well, Ellie ain't gonna mind.
Doesn't matter whether she's
gonna mind or not, Barney.
You're a telegraph operator,
not the town crier.
Sure, Marshal, sure.
Now, what in the world do
you want to know all this fer?
Where's it going?
I want six copies of
this telegram, Barney.
I want them to go
to Houston, Abilene,
San Antonio, Oklahoma City,
Springfield, Missouri,
and Nashville, Tennessee.
It must be mighty important
to be going to all them places.
Expensive, too.
Barney, you just
get the telegrams off.
You'll get paid for them.
All right.
Oh, and, Barney,
there's another thing.
Now, when we get the
answer to those telegrams,
let's just keep them
to ourselves, huh?
Okay, Marshal.
(clattering)
Well, not that ain't too
bad for a Comanche.
I suppose you can do better?
You watch me.
I'm afraid luck won't
save you this time, Quint.
That's right, Matthew.
Now just step aside,
and I'll show how the
cow eat the cabbage.
Uh-huh.
April!
- Morning, Festus.
- Hold on.
I want to jaw with you.
Well, I'm in a
great big hurry now.
Well, just tell me what time
you want me to sashay over
and take you to
the big show tonight.
Oh, I'm sorry, Festus,
but I can't go with you.
Why in thunder can't you?
Well, on account of I got
me something else to do.
Ah, fiddle.
There ain't nothing
else to do in town.
Everybody's gonna be there.
I know, but...
Well, talking ain't gonna
change it now none.
- Wh...
- Bye.
You come back here now.
April?
Some other time, Festus.
Dog dang female.
Well, don't fret, Festus.
You might have
saved a nickel or two.
Yeah, you gonna throw horseshoes
or stand here
complaining all day?
Well, she's up to no good.
Say, you know, Festus,
the idea of this game
is to get that shoe as close
to that stake as you can,
not as far away.
Well, I ain't in the
mood for horseshoes.
I-I'll see you all directly.
You know, sometimes
I can' figure him out.
Don't try to, Quint.
He's a Haggen.
Yeah, that's for sure.
You going to the
big show tonight?
- No.
- Well, why not?
Everybody else in town is.
Yeah, I know they are.
(Quint grunts)
(lion roars)
Hey, let's get an extra
loop on that line, boys.
It don't look solid.
Hey, dude, I'm
looking for a girl.
Oh, yeah, well, who ain't?
Come on, boys, get these
seats laid out here, will ya?
It's about noontime.
FESTUS: That ain't what I mean.
This here girl I'm looking for
has got kind of
straw-colored hair.
You looking for a girl?
You come around
here tomorrow night.
We got plenty of girls.
Say, have you
fellers saw a girl that...
Ah, yes, very nice.
April!
Festus!
You put your clothes on!
Well, what are you doing here?
I assume you know each other?
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Elko,
but-but he isn't
supposed to be here.
He... well, he's my friend.
If you just give me a
few minutes to talk to him,
I'm sure everything
will be all right.
By all means.
It's gonna take a heap more
than a minute to talk about this.
Now sit down!
What do you mean,
acting like this?
- What do I mean?!
- Yes!
Coming around here following me.
You ain't got no
right, Festus Haggen.
Well, you ain't got no sense,
a-flutterin' around
in that thing
like some ninny acrobat.
I am not an acrobat.
I am the magician's assistant.
You mean you was.
You're going home
with me right now.
- I am not. Now, you let...
- You're going home, April.
Let go of me!
Aah!
- Who's that?
- Oh, no! Stop!
Let go of him!
- No! Stop!
- Eddie!
Eddie!
- Let him go.
- (choking)
Eddie, let him go, let him go.
(Festus grunting)
Eddie.
No, Eddie.
It's all right.
It's all right, Eddie.
All right, now.
What happened?
Huh?
He was hurting her.
No, he wasn't.
He's my friend.
(chuckles)
All right now, Eddie.
Um, where'd you get that?
Give it back to him.
Go on, give it back.
(grunting)
That was my lucky horseshoe.
Yep, sure is.
Almost a full box.
Kind of expensive, though.
Ah, but worth it.
(sniffs)
Oh, I've been dreaming
of this aroma for weeks,
ever I since I ran out of them.
I keep them here
mostly for the gamblers.
Folks around here
can't afford them.
Ah, well, I'll take
a dozen of them,
uh, to start with.
A dozen?
That'll cost you
just six dollars.
Ah, when one demands
the best, my friend,
one does not count
the cost thereof.
Good gosh, don't tell me
that you make all of that
off of five-cent
admission tickets.
Well, the secret, of
course, is volume.
Yeah, well,
naturally, naturally.
You, uh, mentioned gamblers.
Are there many of
them here about?
Well, (sighs)
this being a railroad terminal
and a shipping
center for cattle drives,
we got our share of them.
One, two, three, four
dollars, thank you.
I assume these
gamblers, like, uh,
those everywhere else,
invest their profits in small,
convenient, portable and
concentrated commodities?
Well, they buy a lot of
jewelry, if that's what you mean.
Everybody knows that.
They buy diamond
rings, diamond stickpins,
diamond cuff links,
anything that glitters.
And where in this
thriving community
can one purchase such jewelry?
Well, uh, are you, uh,
aiming to buy some?
Well, like the gambler,
I too have accumulated, uh,
profits that, uh,
I prefer not to carry
about in the form of cash.
In short, sir, I'm
aiming to buy.
Well, sir, you've
come to the right place.
You mean you sell jewelry?
Why not?
This is a general store.
Boys have got to
buy it someplace.
Might as well be from me.
Naturally.
Let me show you something.
Here.
Cuff links, $50 to $500.
Stickpins, up to $1,000.
And rings, $500 to $2,500.
How much were you, uh,
figuring on to spend?
Oh, in the neighborhood
of $5,000 or $6,000.
Ah.
There's a beauty.
Well, that one is $1,300.
And you couldn't
touch it anywhere else
for less that $1,500.
Is that so?
Did I understand you
say "in the neighborhood"
of, uh, "$5,000 or $6,000"?
I shall know more precisely
after tonight's show.
I shall return to
make my selection
now that I know where to come.
I bid you adieu,
but not good-bye.
You wanted to see me, Marshal?
Mr. Botkin, sit down.
Anything wrong?
Well, I'm not sure.
Something about
this Elko's Varieties
stuck in my mind.
Now, I sent off telegrams
to some of the towns
they've played in recently.
Well, I don't see
how that concerns me.
Well, I got answers
back, and it turns out
that two of these towns
had bank robberies
while the carnival
was playing there.
Oh, I see.
Well, I'm not positive
that there's any connection
between the two things,
but I don't think we can afford
to take a chance on it.
Well, what do you propose to do?
Well, I'd like to spend
some time down at your bank
while the show is
playing here in town.
Well, certainly, and
I'm very appreciative.
I only hope you're wrong.
So do I.
Hurry, folks! Come
one, come all!
Elko's Varieties, the greatest,
biggest show on earth!
(lion roaring)
Come one, come all!
Elko's Varieties!
(man continues indistinctly)
Hurry. Hurry, folks.
(calliope playing
"Camptown Races")
Please have your
money ready, folks.
Help out the man
behind... Here you are, sir.
There you are.
It's the greatest
show on earth, folks.
- Two of them.
- Two? All right.
There you are, sir.
- Here you go.
- I want a balloon.
She wants a balloon.
I want, I want a blue one.
She wants a blue one.
- Okay, sir.
- Here we are.
Balloons, five cents!
Balloons... five cents!
That's a meat-eater, boys...
Don't give him
popcorn and peanuts.
- Look alive there, George.
- (clatters bars)
(lion roars fiercely)
He's a ferocious beast.
We're gonna have a good time,
but, uh, stay away
from the cage.
(monkey chattering)
♪♪
(kids laughing)
(drumroll playing)
(drumroll continues)
(calliope playing
"Beautiful Dreamer")
(hushed): April?
It's me, Festus.
(lively chatter outside)
All right, folks, it's showtime!
Showtime in the big top!
Step right up!
Right over here to
the main entrance.
All attractions on the inside.
- ♪♪
- That's it, step right...
♪♪
Kind of spooky, Marshal.
Yeah.
You know, it's the first
time in all my years here
I've ever seen Front Street
without a single
living soul in sight.
You begin to wonder if everybody
but you has died or something.
That show's a pretty
powerful attraction.
Folks got no more
sense than sheep.
Now, you sure you
don't need any help?
No, no. You go on to the
show; spend your money.
Show? It won't get
any of my money.
- Good night, Marshal.
- Good night.
♪♪
(indistinct chatter)
Now, watch this,
ladies and gentlemen.
Watch closely.
One and a half
inches of solid steel...
Enough to defy a Samson of old,
but not Big Eddie!
(drumroll playing)
(drumroll continues)
(Eddie exhales)
(drumroll continues)
Where the devil you been?
None of your business.
He got out some way. Hm?
(low grunt)
(drumroll continues)
(grunts, drumroll stops)
(cheering)
(applause continues)
There you are,
ladies and gentlemen,
Big Eddie, the strongest
man in the world!
And if anyone doubts
it, he's welcome to come
right up here on this
stage and tell Big Eddie so
- in person.
- (laughter)
He'll be back, ladies
and gentlemen.
There's more, much more.
But now, ladies and gentlemen,
I have a real treat for you.
I have the honor at this
time of presenting to you
a little lady known to
many of you personally,
one of your very own.
This lovely creature
will defy death itself.
I have the
privilege at this time
of presenting to you
none other than...
Miss April!
- (calliope plays fanfare)
- (cheering, applause, whistling)
Ain't that just
somethin' fierce?
Observe, ladies and gentlemen...
observe that the
cabinet... (knocking)
is as solid as a
Dodge City beef steak.
- (laughter)
- (knocking)
And just as hollow as
your mother-in-law's head.
(laughter)
Are you still willing to go
through with this, my dear?
This is your last chance
to change your mind.
I am not afraid.
Excellent!
Did you hear that,
ladies and gentlemen?
The little lady is not afraid!
- (laughter)
- Would you be so good
as to enter the cabinet?
(applause, cheering, whistling)
What in tarnation
is he doing there?
Looks to me like they're
fixing to box her up
and ship her out of here.
Are you comfortable, my dear?
APRIL: Well, it's
awful crowded in here.
There ain't much room
to move about none.
Precisely!
And now...
Observe, ladies and gentlemen,
that these are
regulation sabers,
as carried by the officers of
the Royal British Light Cavalry
in active combat.
My assistants will
pass them among you
for your close observation
to see that there are
no collapsible blades
or trick handles.
If you please.
ELKO: That's it, examine them
carefully, ladies and gentlemen.
Make certain that there
are no collapsible blades.
Notice that they're
not trick handles.
Thank you.
Thank you.
(calliope plays fanfare)
Observe, ladies and gentlemen.
Are you ready?
Ready for what?
Ready... for this!
Hey, quit that! April!
Just take it easy,
Festus. It's just a trick!
Yeah, but April's the
one that's getting tricked.
No, they're doing it with
mirrors or something.
Yeah, that's why she was over
here this afternoon to practice.
Well, how can you practice
getting yourself cut in two?
I'm telling you she's all
right. Now, just calm down.
(indistinct chatter)
How are you feeling, my dear?
I sure didn't hear
her say nothin'
- when she asked, uh...
- That's all part of the act.
She's all right, I tell
you. Just wait and see.
I'll wait and see, all right.
And she better come out of there
in the same
condition she went in,
or that feller's gonna have so
many swords sticking in him,
he'll look like a porcupine!
Uh, suppose we leave the
little lady to rest in peace
for a few minutes while
we go on with the show.
Ladies and gentlemen, it
is my privilege at this time
to present to you the
world-famous mind reader
and clairvoyant, Madame Ahr!
- (gong sounds)
- (applause)
Ladies and gentlemen,
as you entered the big tent
you were handed a piece
of paper and asked to write
any question you may have
about the past, present or future.
Are they ready?
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
Good! Now seal
them in the envelope,
and hand them to my assistants
as they pass amongst you.
And Madame Ahr will not only
read the question
while blindfolded,
but will answer it, applying
her vast mystic wisdom
of the past, present and future.
SPEELER: Hurry up, Eddie,
we ain't got time to waste.
EDDIE: I'm trying
to hurry, Speeler.
SPEELER: Come on,
now, you don't want us
to get in trouble, do you?
(calliope playing,
indistinct crowd chatter)
ELKO: I have the first
question, Madame Ahr.
MADAME AHR: The
question is from a lady.
She signs herself "W." It reads:
"The fellow I am promised to
"has gone to Hays City
for a few days on business.
Is he really doing what
he says he's doing?"
ELKO: That is correct!
And can you answer it?
MADAME AHR: Yes.
(continues indistinctly)
MADAME AHR: Yes. Yes, Miss W.,
he is doing exactly what
he... (continues indistinctly)
I... I got everything
now, Speeler.
Yeah. Good, good, Eddie.
Good. (chuckles)
You're gonna like this one.
Got a lot of pretty
things, Eddie.
I-I like pretty things.
Can... can I have all I want?
You can have all you want.
Come on.
(calliope playing
"Beautiful Dreamer")
And here is the next question.
The next question
is also from a lady.
It is signed: "Miss K."
It's mine.
ELKO: And can you answer it?
Yes. Miss K, in Dodge City,
in the business you are
operating, you can't help
- but make money.
- (laughter)
Well, I don't like the
way she worded it...
but it's still nice to know.
♪♪
♪♪
(exhales)
It's an old one, Eddie.
You can break this, can't you?
(chuckles): There ain't
hardly nothin' I can't break.
Yeah. Yeah, I can break this.
Good. Go ahead.
♪♪
(grunts)
- (metallic squeaking)
- (grunts)
(Eddie grunts, pants)
(metallic squeaking)
(panting)
♪♪
(low grunt)
(loud clattering)
(exhales) Did I do good?
Did I do good, Speeler?
Didn't I tell you there was
nothin' I couldn't break?
You did real good, Eddie.
♪♪
I'll take that now, Eddie.
I-I never had nothin'
pretty like this.
Not never.
Come on, now,
Eddie, give it to me.
Here, come on, now.
- But... but...
- Eddie...
- please, Speeler, please.
- Eddie...
- Please.
- Listen to me, Eddie.
Somebody see that,
we're gonna get in trouble.
Oh, nobody'll never
see nothin', I promise.
Please, Speeler?
Please?
All right, Eddie.
You funny...
- Aw, Speeler, you...
- Come on.
You're good to Eddie.
Thank you.
- Pretty...
- Come on, Eddie, let's go.
Get the stuff.
(crickets chirping)
Hello, April.
What are you doing here?
I was curious, that's all.
I followed you from back there,
on account of you
was acting funny.
Oh?
Well, that was rather
foolish of you, don't you think?
You been robbing
the store, ain'tcha?
(laughs softly): Oh...
Can I talk to you a few minutes?
Huh... You stay away from me.
If you come one step
near me, I'm gonna holler.
Now, April, I wouldn't hurt you.
I just want to talk to
you a few minutes.
(April gasping)
Speeler?
Don't hurt April, Speeler.
(April grunts, yells)
(blow lands, body thuds)
You hurt Miss April.
I-I had to hurt her, Eddie.
You're bad, Speeler.
She was gonna send us to jail.
Don't make me do it, Eddie.
Don't-don't make me do it.
- You're ba...
- (gunshot)
Speeler, you're bad.
You're bad, Speeler. Bad!
- (gasping)
- Bad!
(quietly): What's the matter?
- I don't know.
- Are you sick?
No.
It's something else.
Something terrible.
(excited chatter)
♪♪
Stay away.
Nobody hurt April.
Nobody!
I'm not gonna hurt her.
I just want to be sure
you don't hurt her, either.
- Go away.
- It's all right, Eddie.
Don't come near!
It's Marshal Dillon,
Eddie. He's my friend.
- Go away!
- He's all right, Edd...
- Hold it.
- Eddie!
Eddie...
Please... d... don't be mad.
I'm sorry.
I don't mean to be bad.
Please... (grunts): Ma... ♪♪
(groans)
EDDIE: Eddie...
doesn't... mean to... do bad.
Won't do bad.
Not ever.
You didn't do bad, Eddie.
It was your pa and me
that got you into this.
If anybody did bad, it
was your pa and me.
No, no.
(panting): Foolish...
foolish talk.
You always good.
Oh, you... you never do bad.
Never.
(Madame Ahr sniffles)
♪♪
Pretty.
Pretty.
April?
You... you take this.
You... you keep it.
Please?
Eddie... never do bad again.
Not ever.
Pretty.
Pretty... April... (gasps)
Oh, son... oh... s-son...
I'm sorry, ma'am.
It's not an easy
thing to lose a son.
Two sons.
They were brothers.
(crying): I lost both
my sons tonight.
♪♪
(sobbing)
(bear growling)
I been waiting for you, Marshal.
You heard about it, then?
Bad news travels fast.
How's my wife taking it?
She's taking it pretty hard.
(crickets chirping)
It'll kill her.
It wasn't even her fault.
It was my idea.
She was against it
from the beginning.
How come you changed your
plan, didn't hit the bank here?
How did you know?
From reading a
stack of old bulletins.
Seven months ago in Parker Falls
while everybody in town was
watching the Elko Variety Show,
the bank was broken
into and robbed.
$43,000 in cash.
Same thing in Lewisburg
four months ago.
Elko's Varieties again.
$18,400 in that one.
I figured you'd pull the
same thing here in Dodge.
I was waiting for you
at the bank tonight.
I couldn't resist
those diamonds.
What happened to the money
from the other two robberies?
(sighs): In the bear's
cage under a loose board.
You'll have to coax that
animal out of there, though.
He's a mean one.
That is... to everyone
except Eddie.
Those two loved each other.
You don't seem very
concerned about all this, Mr. Elko.
♪♪
You probably wouldn't
understand the...
thinking that got
me into this, Marshal.
You wouldn't understand
the struggling...
scrambling for a few cents
here, a few cents there...
seeing your family half starved,
your... animals half starved,
never getting anywhere,
never getting ahead.
I loved my family, Marshal.
Edith... Speeler... Eddie.
Poor Eddie.
Born without a chance.
Well, now I've got
no family, so... (sighs)
I'm not worried because...
nothing matters anymore.
Not a single thing
in this whole world.
I'm sorry about that, Mr. Elko.
Well, we better get started.
(softly): Yeah.
♪♪
(bear growling)