Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 12, Episode 22 - The Returning - full transcript

(dramatic theme music playing)

(both guns fire)

ANNOUNCER: starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

You're gonna throw
it all away, Luke.

I'm throwing nothing away.

You'll wake the boys.

I'm just trying to hang
on to what little we got.

It'll be a time getting
used to the old days again.

Stop it, hear?

There's nothing to get used to.



It's just this one time.

Is it?

Will's got something good.

We're lucky I'm part of it.

You were always
proud of this land.

It meant as much to
you as it has to me.

We've scratched for
every little thing we have.

And you've never been
prouder of anything in your life.

You've told me so more
times than I could count.

Yeah. The drought's just
about burned out our whole crop.

The drought can break any day.

The almanac said that...

Amy, two days ago,
Mr. Jonas told me

we got no more
credit at the store.



Now, what does your
almanac say about that?

In four weeks, I'm
going to need $600

for Mr. Botkin at the
bank, or we lose the farm.

Now, if that's getting along,

I'll gladly go back
to the old days.

Have you forgotten
the running already?

And the hiding and
the only being together

when you could sneak away

without the law
hearing about it?

I remember it all
good... Real good.

As long as I live,

I'll remember Ethan
and Shem crying

'cause they were
sent to bed hungry.

I'll remember you wearing
them hand-me-downs

from the good
ladies of the church.

I'll remember me putting
18 hours a day into this farm

and having it all
come to nothing.

It hasn't come to nothing.

Sure, I remember.

But from tonight on,
it's all going to stop.

And what if
something goes wrong?

What if Marshal Dillon
or... or Festus or young Thad

has to come after you?

Will you kill one of the ones
that made you their friend?

Amy, it won't come to that.

Will's got it all worked out.

(hoofbeats approaching)

♪♪

Evening, Luke. Amy.

How do, folks?

Luke, please.

Amy, get back in the house.
You'll catch yourself a chill.

♪♪

(theme music playing)

♪♪

(hoofbeats approaching)

That'll be Will and Clyde.

Maybe, but I ain't
gonna take no chances.

Like you know women,
Billy, I know horses.

MAN (outside): Harry?

See?

- Hi, Harry.
- Clyde.

- Hi, Billy.
- Hello, Harry.

It's good to see
you again, boss.

How have things
been going with you?

Oh, getting by.
Been a long time.

Yes, sir, it's gonna
be like old times,

us riding out together again.

Yep, just like old times.

Only this time, I call the play.

Where's Clem and Alex?

Posse out of Donnyville
caught Alex over a year ago.

And Clem, uh, he got hisself...

Billy Judd, Luke Todd.

Clem a friend of yours, was he?

Clem jumped my fence
line couple of months ago.

Tried to run off with a
filly I was kind of fond of.

Maybelle was a little horsey,

now that I come
to think about it.

Shut up.

It was even all the way, Luke.

I saw it myself.

Billy even gave Clem
a chance to back off.

Boys tell me you
used to be top gun.

Let's get on with
what we came here for.

Eight years you
been farming now.

Billy.

Man get kind of
soft in that time.

You still figure...

♪♪

What do you got, Will?

Payroll transfer... $25,000.

Freight office in Dodge.

Dodge?

Too close to home for you?

I know the man
who runs the office.

Fellow named Burke.

Little gabby sort, ain't he?

(laughing)

Well, if he's a friend of yours,

we'll try and see
that he don't get hurt.

Now, here's the plan.

Clyde and Harry
will be outside...

♪♪

(thunder rumbling)

I wish that was
rainstorm lightning

instead of just plain
old heat lightning.

Don't you, Matthew?

Yeah.

By the time the rain
gets here, if it ever does,

it'll be too late for
the crops anyway.

You know, a feller'd
stop and study about it,

why, it's either a dang drought
or we're having a rainstorm

that's just a frog strangler
and a trash mover.

Folks hereabouts either
getting just plumb burned out

or they're getting froze out

or cooked out or
washed out, it...

(thunder rumbling)

I'll tell you, he did it,

the feller I was telling
you about, long enough,

he just moved plumb
away from this place.

- DILLON: Kitty.
- FESTUS: Miss Kitty.

- I'll buy you both a beer.
- Oh, sounds good.

Obliged. I'll fetch it, Matthew.

- Two on the house, Sam.
- SAM: Sure.

Who's moving away?

What do you got there?

Oh, it's just a letter from a
girl I know in Dawson Springs.

Now, tell me, who's moving away?

What girl in Dawson Springs?

Festus, this letter's private.

Now, tell me who's moving away.

Well... I am.

There you are, Matthew.

Oh, thanks, Festus.

Kitty, thanks for the beer.

Welcome.

Doc? Doc!

What?

What are you reading there?

Well, it so happens
that this is a newspaper.

Well, I can see that.

What are you reading about?

DOC: Well, you wouldn't
understand it if I told you.

FESTUS: Well, now,
I wouldn't say that.

DOC: Well, I
would, and I just did.

And if you must
know, I'm reading about

an awful lot of people that
got the measles in Saint Louis.

- Measles?
- Yes, measles.

What's it say about the measles?

Well, it says, Festus,
there's an epidemic there,

but it-it... you wouldn't
understand it at all.

All right, Mr. High-Tony.

It just happens to be that I
know what the measles is.

Oh, yes, of course you do.

Certainly, you do.

You also know all
about the symptoms

and the complications
and everything.

No question about it... you
know about bronchopneumonia.

You know about otitis,
gastrointestinal inflammation,

and membranous
laryngitis, certainly.

But, in spite of the fact that
you are such an authority,

you take it from me,
that's what the measles are.

They are not.

The measles is little old dots

that gets on your
arms and your legs

and up betwixt
your shoulder blades

and up your neck and all
over your head, in your hair,

and they just... that's
what the measles is.

(crickets chirping)

(crickets continue chirping)

(crickets continue chirping)

(thunder rumbling)

Open that rear door.

Yes, sir.

Get that box open, and
you be quick about it.

Mister, you get that box open,
or you're gonna be a dead man.

I never saw anybody as
touchy as that old Doc is lately.

He was a little crabby
tonight, wasn't he?

Well, what it is, is that
he's just a-gettin' grouchier

in his mellowing years.

That's what it amounts to.

Well, guess we better get going,

finish the rest of
the rounds, Festus.

I think I'll go over to the
office and write a letter.

A private letter.

(Festus scoffs)

(chuckles) Come on.

♪♪

Hurry up!

Somebody's coming.

Come back to your desk.

Be smart, stay alive, mister.

Start writing or something.

Look here, Matthew,
old Burke's working late.

Yeah.

(thunder rumbling as guns fire)

Let's get out of here.

No!

(groans)

It's Harry Barton.

Don't he ride with the
Hayes brothers, Matthew?

Yeah.

I got one of them, Marshal...
The one with the money.

They got close to $20,000.

Festus, look
after him, will you?

Matt, I think I shot one.
He went into Hank's stables.

♪♪

♪♪

All right, come on out of
there with your hands up.

I'm not going to tell you again.

(groaning, mumbling)

Clyde Hayes.

All right, let's get
him up to Doc's quick.

(continues mumbling)

(thunder rumbling)

♪♪

(thunder crashes)

Amy, I'm all right.

Here. Sit down here.

Harry, Clyde and the
fancy one ran out on me.

How bad is it?

Went clear through.

Oh, Luke, what have you done?

Harry was killed.

(groans)

Who else?

Nobody. Nobody else.

Amy, I'm in the clear.

- This is all ours.
- No.

No more want for food
for the kids, no more...

- No, Luke.
- Don't tell me no.

No more want in this house.

There's enough here to ready
up the place and make it pay,

enough to carry
us if it don't pay,

and no one to know the better.

(thunder rumbling)

Who was it that shot Burke?

Was it your brother?

I done it.

Who else was there?

(quietly): Wasn't no one.

We got Harry Barton.

Now, who else was with you?

Billy Judd.

Who's Billy Judd?

I don't know.

All right, who else?

Who was it got the money?

It was Luke.

Luke Todd.

Luke?

Luke?

What is it?

What good will it do us?

We can't use the money.

How would we explain it?

I've got it all figured out.

Your aunt in Saint Louis.

What about her?

She's going to make us a loan.

Not a big one; just a
little one now and then.

Amy, we're free.

Free from wanting.

Free from worrying ever again.

(hoofbeats approaching)

See who it is.

Luke, it's starting
all over again.

See who it is!

(knocking)

(thunder rumbling)

Who is it?

DILLON: It's Matt Dillon, Amy.

Well, Marshal, come in.

Thank you.

What-what brings
you out so late?

Amy, is Luke around?

Luke? Uh, well, no.

He, uh... he left
early this evening

to see some friends.

Is something wrong?

Afraid there is.

There's been a robbery
down at the freight office.

A man was shot.

What... what's that
got to do with Luke?

Matt, there's a horse in the
barn... pretty well lathered up.

Sorry, Amy.

- Look around, Thad.
- AMY: I don't know what to say.

Mama!

What's the matter, Marshal?

Nothing, nothing.
Just, uh... just...

just go back to sleep, boys.

(hoofbeats outside)

Hyah!

(gunshots)

(thunder crashing)

(thunder crashes)

Oh, Luke.

Luke. Oh, Luke. Luke.

The drought's broke.

♪♪

BURKE: Let me
through. Let me through.

Hey, Marshal. Marshal!

Did you get Luke Todd?

How'd you know it was Luke Todd?

Well, I overheard
Doc telling Miss Kitty.

- Did you get him?
- No, we lost him in the rain.

Well, I told you I
hit him, Marshal.

It should have slowed him down.

Look, Burke, we're tired.

We've been
riding all night long.

Look, that money
was my responsibility.

I'd like to keep up with...

We'll keep you posted.

That there dinner was a
very T-I-inctum-dinctum,

wasn't it, Doc?

Couldn't agree with
you more, Festus.

Satisfying.

You know, if I had you
back with the hill Haggens,

I'd take you right by
Uncle Bluey's house

and get you a swaller
of scamper juice

just to kind of settle them
good vittles, you know.

Wait a minute, wait-wait...
wait-wait a minute, now.

Just a minute. Are
you kind of sneaking up

on the idea that I might
be induced to take you

down to the Long Branch
and buy you a drink?

No, I wasn't thinking
nothing like that.

Honest, Doc.

Well, that's too bad,

'cause that's just
what I was fixing to do.

Well, uh... I wouldn't
want to hurt your feelings.

- Hi, Doc.
- Howdy.

- Well...
- Hi. Good morning.

- Howdy, Miss Amy.
- Amy.

Thank you, Ethan.

Now, watch Shem.

- I'll be back directly.
- Yes'm.

And you mind your brother, hear?

Yes'm.

Ethan, let's go
down to the stable.

Hey, Shem, wait for me!

Here you are, Amy.

Six shirts, six dollars.

Two, four, six.

I don't know what I'd do
without you, Mr. Jonas.

Well, as a matter of fact...

There's two dollars to add
against what we're owing you.

(chuckles) Thank you.

I think I'll try some
of this material.

It'll make into fine shirts.

I'm afraid I've got
all I can handle, Amy.

What?

Well, you can see for
yourself, I-I'm overstocked.

Oh. Oh, yes, of course.

I can see.

I...

Oh, I-I might as well give
you my... my grocery list.

How are the boys, Amy?

They're fine, Mr. Jonas.
Just... just fine.

That little Shem's getting
cuter than a bowl of buttermilk.

Well, he's got his
share of the devil in him.

Well, I think we
all were at that age.

Ethan's coming on to be
a very fine young man, too.

Yes, he is.

Getting to look more
like his pa every day.

I'm sorry.

Oh, no, it's all right.

Um, I-I've got down there
a... a pound of coffee.

Half pound will do.

A pound you need,
Amy, a pound you get.

♪♪

Turn around here, will you?

Do we have to go to church?

Yes.

Pa's going to miss church.

Well, so have we for
the last three weeks.

When's Pa coming home?

Soon as he finishes the
chores he set out to do.

How many times
I got to tell you?

Ethan?

Yeah?

Pa ain't really doing
no chores, is he?

He is so.

Now, you stay right
here, and don't get dirty.

Ma.

I got the horse hitched,
and Shem's ready.

ETHAN: You better hurry.
We'll be late for church.

♪♪

Ma?

Something wrong, Ma?

I'm just coming, Ethan.

♪♪

♪♪

Ethan?

Yes'm.

This mending's gotta go to
Mrs. Carpenter by suppertime.

I'll take it.

The chicken coop mended?

Yes'm.

But if that old coon knocks
it down one more time

to get at them chicks,
ain't nothing gonna mend it.

New wire is what we need.

Well, and some
patching for the leaky roof,

and some new pipe for the well.

The old one's just
about rusted through.

Ma, we need so many things.

What are we going to do?

♪♪

Finest cheroot on the market.

Give me four.

Four it is.

That'll be, uh, 20 cents.

There you are.

Thank you.

JONAS: Amy Todd.

Haven't seen you in
town for quite some time.

Well, I've been
kind of busy, I guess.

Yes, time has a way of
passing by, doesn't it?

I-I, uh... I need a few things.

JONAS: Yes, I expect you do.

Amy, before I get
these things together...

And, uh, please
understand my asking...

Could you let me have a
little something on your bill?

Oh, mind you, I
don't mean all of it,

but, uh...

All right.

I'll carry some more.

Now, what is it
you have to have?

Well, I-I got down there, uh...

Well, all I really need
is, uh, some flour.

Flour.

And, uh... some...

Uh, molasses.

Molasses.

And a pound...
half pound coffee.

Half pound of coffee.

All right.

- Hi, Matt.
- Hello, Doc.

On my way over to
Delmonico's, get a bite to eat.

You want to join me?

That sounds like a good idea.

Come on in. Sit down.

Sit down? I didn't
say I was tired.

I said I was hungry.

Well, I'll be with
you in a minute.

Well, now, is that
so danged important

that I'm going to just
have to stand here

and starve to death
till you finish it?

It's from the Prairie
Insurance Company.

Oh. You figure on buying
some insurance, huh?

Well, just make
me the beneficiary.

Then somebody will come
along and make me rich.

(chuckles) Don't count on that.

You're not going
to get off that easy.

No, this is the outfit that
insured the freight company.

Oh. They're getting
kind of worried, huh?

Don't blame them, having
to cough up $20,000.

Well, Doc, they've been
doing some checking on Luke.

They're thinking of
offering him an amnesty.

Amnesty?

Yeah. None of the
money's turned up yet,

so they figure he
hasn't spent any of it.

If he's willing
to turn it back in,

they'll drop the charges.

That'd be fine, wouldn't it?

Sure would, being Luke and all.

Amnesty, though,
is that... is that legal?

Well, as far as I
know, it is, yeah.

If they can talk the
freight company into it.

He just returns the money,
they drop the charges.

That's all.

Yes, sir, that
would sure be fine.

I can't help thinking about
Amy and those two boys.

Yeah.

Just hope we can get
word to Luke in time.

Whoa, whoa.

(chickens clucking)

Afternoon, Mr. Botkin.

Ethan.

How do, Mr. Botkin?

Amy.

Ethan, go look to Shem.

- Ma...
- I got fresh dough rising.

See he don't get into it.

Pleasant ride out
here from town?

I reckon.

Like to sit a spell?

Have a cold drink?

Uh, no, thanks, Amy, I...

Got to spoil it all
now, talking business.

I'm, uh, sorry to
tell you this, Amy,

but I got to have some
money on the property.

I know.

- It's, uh, $600 owing.
- Yes.

Now, it's already
past the due date.

Ethan and I are planning
to put in a new crop

soon as the plowing's done.

Who's going to
work the crop, Amy?

You and the boy,
you can't do that...

We'll manage.

The $600 is two
weeks past due, Amy.

I've got to have it.

Eight years of my
life is in this place.

I'm sorry.

I'm truly very sorry.

I'm only the trustee
for the people

who do business at the bank.

I've got to have the money, Amy.

Mr. Botkin.

You'll have the money.

In less than ten days.

My aunt in Saint
Louis, my Aunt Sarah,

I'll borrow it from her.

Ten days?

I'll write Aunt
Sarah this afternoon.

Amy.

Ethan!

Yes'm?

Come here.

Take the plow horse.

- Take this into town.
- Yes'm.

I want it to go out
on the evening stage.

Yes'm.

You think Aunt Sarah
will loan us some money?

Hmm?

Aunt Sarah... you think
she'll loan us some money?

I expect.

Shem, you want to
ride to Dodge with me?

- Can I hold the reins?
- (chuckling): Yeah.

AMY: Ethan?

Wait a minute.

Go see Mr. Jonas.

Tell him I need some
flour and some side meat.

And another pound of coffee.

And get you and
Shem some hard candy.

- Candy?
- Yep.

Come on, Ethan.

Ethan?

Tell Mr. Jonas

I'll be in to pay
him what we owe...

All of it... In about
a week or so.

Yes'm.

Ride careful.

Well, let's see now.

It's been almost
four, five weeks.

Nearer six.

He's avoided every
posse that's gone out

since the night he lost
himself in that rainstorm.

Oh, he's probably
down in old Mexico

living high on the hog.

Don't you believe it.

Luke Todd's around
here somewhere.

That money's still
here, right on his farm.

Oh, Burke, for heaven's sake.

Luke gave up being an
outlaw on account of Amy.

He went back to it
for the same reason.

I haven't noticed any change
in the way Amy's been living.

Her boys still wear
the same clothes,

and she hasn't had a new
dress since I've known her.

- Miss Kitty...
- Burke.

- What?
- You owe me for two beers.

I know it.

Look, Sam, I-I got shot
protecting that money.

I got a right to my opinion.

I'll say this... if that
money's not on the farm,

Luke will be trying to
get it to her one day.

Old Burke sure has some
pretty definite theories.

Why in creation do I let
him get me so steamed up?

- Did you hear him just now?
- We heard.

Well, I'll tell you one
thing... He's right about

Luke's reason for
being in on that robbery.

Maybe so, but he's wrong

about the money
being on the farm.

Howdy.

What can I do for you?

Name's Billy Parker, ma'am.

Be obliged I can get some
of that water for my horse.

Help yourself.

I've been on this
stump head since sunup.

Mind the rust in the water.

Pipe's about gone.

Let it settle before you drink.

Split some wood
of the like for a meal.

You looking for work here?

Just enough for a meal or two.

Man's hand wouldn't hurt,
from the looks of things.

Enough needs doing, no denying.

Is your man away, Mrs., uh...

Todd.

And my man is away.

No disrespect, ma'am, but...

he'd be a fool to
stay away too long.

You can hold your
tongue on that kind of talk.

Well, like I said,
ma'am, no disrespect.

I ain't no dried-up prune
needs soaking in sugar water.

Yes, ma'am.

Guess I get going.

Wait a minute.

There's some cold
meat and stewed greens.

You're welcome to some.

Thank you, ma'am.

Boy, I sure am going
to enjoy this meal.

After you split some wood.

Yes, ma'am.

Wood box is right here.

Sit down.

Place smells of home, it does.

I just baked that bread.

You know the trouble
with fresh-baked bread?

- What's that?
- There's only two heels.

Heels is always my favorite.

Ma'am, that looks lickin' good.

There's more, and work
aplenty for you to earn it.

Yes, ma'am.

I just got to say it.

Just don't seem right.

Pretty woman like you all alone.

Your man's awful wasteful.

I told you I wanted no
more of that kind of talk.

You don't mean that, do you?

Yes, I do.

Well, then there
will be no more of it.

Not till after you
tell me where it is.

Where what is?

The money.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Don't you?

Get out.

Not until I get the money.

Now, where is it?

I don't know.

(yells in pain)

Where's the money?

I told you, I don't know.

Your old man's going
to regret belting me.

(Amy yells in pain)

Lady, tell me
where the money is.

(sobbing): I don't
know. I don't know.

(gunshot)

(gunshot)

Mama! Mama!

(gunshots)

(Amy gasping)

♪♪

Well, I'll say this... It took
no small amount of grit

for young Ethan to
shoot that cowboy.

Well, some would
say, like father, like son.

- What do you mean?
- Well, Sam, I...

You're wrong about
that boy, Burke.

He's a... he's a good youngster.

You bet he is.

Just remarking what
some folks might say.

DOC: You know, this is the
best time of the day, the morning,

having coffee here with
you, Kitty, just the two of us.

Is this the, uh,
same old proposal?

Same old one.

Why don't you get a new one?

- Bigmouth.
- Who?

What's the matter with you?

Burke.

Why can't people mind
their own business?

It's been two weeks
now, and they're still

talking about that
shooting at the Todd place.

Well, I think it's just as well.

Keep people from going out
there causing more trouble.

Maybe so, but it was a terrible
experience for those two boys.

It was.

I wager Luke Todd didn't figure
on anything like that happening.

Morning, Amy.

Good morning, Barney.

Well, it finally came.

- It did?
- Yes, indeed.

Saint Louis postmark it has.

Oh, thank heavens.

I sure hope it's the good
news you've been waiting for.

So do I, Barney.

So do I.

♪♪

BARNEY: Mr. Harris?

BARNEY: George Harris?

BARNEY: Was that the one, Amy?

(laughing): Yes, it
sure was, Barney.

(Barney chuckles)

Must be nice to
have a rich aunt.

Well, she isn't exactly rich.

But she's a good old soul.

And generous to a fault.

Too bad she didn't send
you something a while back.

Well, I never asked her before.

But pride only carries
a body so far, Barney.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Barney, did she get a
letter from her husband?

No, no, no, it
was from her aunt.

And you know what?

Sent her a whole
bunch of money, too.

She did?

Mm-hmm.

♪♪

♪♪

By golly, Matt,
it's sure peaceful.

Yep.

Too bad every day can't
be like Sunday, isn't it?

Yeah.

Shame it can't last.

Well, maybe it will, Doc.

Not a chance.

Oh, what makes you say that?

(Festus clucking like a chicken)

Like a old hen that's
got her tail feathers

- caught in the henhouse door.
- Who?

Nathan Burke, that's who.

What about him? What
has he been saying?

Well, I was just over
yonder at Delmonico's

having myself a
peaceful breakfast...

- What'd he say?
- And all of a sudden,

he comes in and
sets hisself down...

- What'd he say?
- Well, he's...

he's a-sayin' that Amy's
been spending the money

that Luke stole from the
freight house down yonder.

Oh, Barney over
at the post office

says she got it from
an aunt in Saint Louis.

Yeah, well, I hope that's
where she got it, Doc.

What do you mean, you hope?

Well, I got a wire
from Kansas City.

That freight company's
agreed to the amnesty offer.

Is that a fact?

If all the money's returned.

Amnesty?

That's right, Amy.

The freight company has
agreed to drop all charges

as long as the money's returned.

They have?

They're putting out
notices to that effect now.

Amy, do you know any way
that we can get a hold of Luke?

No.

I've told you from the beginning
I... I don't know where he is.

Yeah.

We gotta find some
way to get word to him

before he spends that money.

I haven't heard from
him since that night.

You've been snaking
around the territory

for nigh three months now, Luke.

You've been following me?

(laughs) Oh, I near caught
up with you in Wallow.

I know.

Now, all of a sudden,

you're making a
beeline for Dodge.

I got tired of running.

Take whatever the law gives me.

Where's the money, Luke?

Half of it's mine.

Way things went that night,
you got call on none of it.

Way things are, I figure
I have plenty of call.

Killing me won't
get you the money.

You really believe
that amnesty offer?

What are you talking about?

You mean that ain't why
you're heading home?

I told you why I'm going back.

And I told you I want half
of that money. Where is it?

Who's offering this amnesty?

Well, I reckon maybe
you ain't seen them notices

the freight company's
been putting out.

Well, they say
that if you're nice

and give them back their money,
they won't have to put you away.

You lying to me?

No, I'm not lying to you.

And I'm not lying to you

when I tell you I want
half of that money.

You can take the other half
and do what you want to with it.

Now, come on. Let's go.

Get out of here.

♪♪

(grunting)

Hold it.

I don't want to add
killing to it all, Will.

Mount up and ride out of here.

That's the... that's the best
offer I've ever had, Luke.

You can't blame me for trying.

It's a lot of money.

Good-bye, will.

Yes, sir.

It's a lot of money.

♪♪

♪♪

You came here for nothing.

You'll get killed
looking for that money.

Amy... Amy, it's me.

Luke.

It was that or me
getting killed by him.

Oh, Luke.

That's all right,
Amy. Don't you see?

We can give the money back.

No, no, no, no,
no, it's not all right.

Oh, Luke...

Luke, what have I done?

What is it, Amy?

I spent almost a thousand
dollars of this money.

Well, looks like it's all
there, except for the $960.

Well, I'm tired of
running, Marshal.

You do what you gotta do.

You'll have to lock me up, too.

I'm as guilty as Luke.

It was me spent the money.

What's going to happen to
Ethan and Shem if you go to jail?

I don't know.

Aunt Sarah's too old.

There's nobody I could ask.

Marshal, I'll take
what's coming to me,

but let Amy go back to the farm.

Luke, there's one way
out of this that I can think of.

How's that?

Sell your farm.

Luke, I'm not saying it's
easy, but as you know,

they've offered complete
amnesty if all the money's returned.

Now, if you can sell your farm

for enough to make
up the difference,

they won't prosecute
either of you.

Marshal, you think the
farm would bring enough?

Well, I don't know, Amy.

Can find out quick enough.

I can ask Mr. Botkin.

It's up to you, Luke.

We'd appreciate that, Marshal.

Good.

Well, why don't you two
go on back to the farm,

and I'll... I'll let you know.

Then you're not
going to lock me up?

No, I'm not going
to lock you up.

Not much to show after all
those years, is it, Marshal?

Well, I don't know
about that, Luke.

You got two fine boys
and a mighty fine wife.

Yeah.

I'll tell you this...

I'm going to do a
lot better by them.

That's a promise.

Just see that you keep it.

I'm grateful to you, Marshal.

DILLON: Bye, Amy.

Luke's going free is your doing.

We know that.

Well, I'm sorry it took
selling the farm to do it.

We're not.

We got us a new start.
We'll do it in a new place.

DILLON: Good luck to you.

So long, boys.

Bye, Marshal.

Bye-bye.

♪♪

ANNOUNCER: Stay tuned for
scenes from next week's Gunsmoke.