Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 2, Episode 20 - Gone Straight - full transcript

( dramatic theme playing)

(gunshot)

ANNOUNCER:

Starring James
Arness as Matt Dillon.

( mellow theme playing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

DILLON: Hey, come on in.

I was just cleaning it.

Well, there something
I can do for you?

Are you Marshal Dillon?

Yeah, that's right.



My name's Parker, I just
rode in from New Mexico.

Oh, you're a long way from home.

Marshal, I'm a special deputy

with the Stock-Raisers'
Association.

I've got a warrant here
for the arrest of Jim Glass.

Jim Glass... Glass?
I never heard of him.

Did you, Mr. Dillon?

You mind if we let the
marshal handle this?

Well, I was only
trying to be helpful.

You don't have to
get so uppity about it.

It's all right, Chester.

Who issued this?

We had Judge Blent
from Santa Fe issue it.

You had him issue it?



Well, what I mean is,
we signed the complaint.

I see.

I'm sure you'll find
everything in order.

What makes you think this
Jim Glass is in Dodge City?

I didn't say I
thought he was here.

Now, look here, Mr. Parker,

you're the one came begging
for help, you know, not me.

No offense.

The fact is, we think he
might be in or near Tascosa.

Tascosa?

Well, that's two days

hard ridin' from here.

Can't you get anybody
closer than that to deliver it?

I was told to bring it to you.

Why me?

Glass is fast with a gun.

And lawmen differ.

Some of them sidle
away from the tough jobs.

A lot of them might
camp out a week

and then come back and
say they couldn't find him.

We don't figure
you to be that kind.

You want him pretty bad, huh?

He's guilty of rustling,
murder and banditry.

Guilty, you mean,
he's already been tried?

No, but when he is tried,
he'll be convicted all right.

We'll see to that.

"We"?

The Stock-Raisers' Association.

And a lot of people
around Santa Fe.

He used to ride
with Billy the Kid,

isn't that proof
enough he's guilty?

Not necessarily, no.

We hold every man
equally responsible

along with the Kid.

We've gotta break
up that gang, marshal.

New Mexico's an
armed camp till we do.

You say he used
to ride with the Kid.

According to Pat Garrett,

he left the gang
just two years ago.

Well, Garrett's word is
usually pretty reliable.

That's hardly the point.

Glass is wanted and
you're a U.S. marshal

and that's a legal warrant.

I didn't come here to
argue the merits of the case,

that's up to the court.

Yeah.

The court and this,
uh... Judge Blent, huh?

All right, Mr. Parker,

we'll ride out to
Tascosa with you.

Oh, no... not with me.

It's your job to bring him in,

mine's to take him back.

Sure.

Well, I'm not a regular lawman.

I work for the association.

Is Glass maybe using
a different name now?

What's he look like?

He's around 6
feet, I understand.

Black hair, 180 pounds.

Oh, and he's supposed
to have a knife scar

across his ribs
on the left side.

All right.

You make yourself
nice and cozy in Dodge,

and we'll ride out
to Tascosa for you.

Well, I hardly think
that's called for.

Good day, Mr. Parker.

(door closes)

Think that Jim Glass

is gonna give us any trouble?

I don't know, Chester,
he rode with the Kid.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(horse whinnies)

(hooves clopping)

"Tascosa House."

I sure could use
a drink, Mr. Dillon.

Yeah, well,

I guess we've
earned one all right.

Maybe we can ask a few
questions in there too, huh?

Howdy.

Howdy. What'll it be, gentlemen?

Oh, beer, I guess.

Yeah, you better
make it two. Heh.

As tall as you got.

Oh, that's the nicest thing

I've seen in this town yet.

Here's to your health.

Right.

(sighs)

Things kind of
changed around here.

You been here before?

Oh, a long time ago.

Hey, what's that new building

they're putting up
down the street?

It's gonna be a schoolhouse.

Schoolhouse? In Tascosa?

Yeah, it's like your
friend here says:

there's been a lot of
changes around here.

Got a few families here now

and the young'uns
will need a school.

Nate organized things
and we're getting one built.

Nate?

It's Nate Timble,
he's the owner here,

I work for him.

Well, I'd like to
talk to him, is he...

Is he around anywhere?

(hammering)

Out back.

(hammering continues)

All right, thanks very much.

See you later.

Howdy.

Mr. Timble?

Yeah, I'm Nate Timble.

Uh, my name is Dillon,
this is Chester Goode here.

Hi. How do you do?

Barkeep told us
we'd find you out here.

Mike Postil. He's a good man.

Well, if there's
anything I can do for you.

Well, Mr. Timble,
I'm a U.S. marshal

over from Dodge City.

Oh?

We don't see the law
down this way often.

Just passing through?

No, as a matter of fact,
I'm looking for a man.

A man by the name of Jim Glass.

Jim Glass?

You know him?

Nobody by that name around here.

Well, he, uh...

He probably changed his name.

He's a tall man, about 6 foot.

He's 180 pounds, black hair.

A lot of men would
fit that, marshal.

This man had a knife
scar across his ribs.

On the left side.

It isn't often you see
a man without his shirt.

I was hoping you might know him.

What's he wanted for?

Used to ride with Billy the Kid.

He quit the gang
a couple years ago,

as I understand.

So, uh, probably be somebody
who's moved in here since then.

Well, I wish I could
help you, marshal.

If he quit the Kid
two years ago,

why are you after him now?

The New Mexico court
issued a warrant for him.

It's my job to serve it.

Slow courts they got out there.

There's a new Stock
Raisers' Association.

They're pretty powerful.

I guess they're trying to
clean up the loose ends.

Hey, uh, this barkeep
you got in there,

how long's he been
around Tascosa?

Mike?

Just a little under two years.

I see.

He come here with Harry Gunter.

DILLON: Gunter?

Got an outfit west of town.

Calls himself a rancher.

But he spreads
a mighty big loop.

What, you mean, you
think he's a rustler?

Nobody's been able to prove it.

Mostly on account of Mike.

What do you mean?

Mike's pretty fast with a gun.

That was his job with Gunter.

Well, what's he doing
tending bar, then?

Well...

one night about a week ago,

Mike told me he'd half-decided
to quit working for Gunter.

Well, you might say
I helped him decide

the rest of the way.

So then he needed a
job, I needed a barkeep

and there he is.

Well, that was good of you.

I hope it works out.

But being a lawman, I
suppose you don't think it will.

A man like that
doesn't often change.

With a little help he can.

Maybe.

A lawman can arrest
Mike Postil right now

for what he done while
he was working for Gunter.

You think that'd be the
right thing to do, marshal?

Lawman can't arrest everybody.

If it was me doing
it, I'd skip Mike Postil

and go after the
head man, Gunter.

They don't seem to think
your way over in New Mexico.

Oh, some do.

Pat Garrett's after the
Kid right now I hear.

With any luck at all,
he should get him.

Pat's a good manhunter.

He's one of the best.

But they still want
this fella, Jim Glass,

along with the Kid, huh?

There's a legal warrant for him.

Issued and signed in Santa Fe.

And any lawman would
be proud to serve it.

Lawmen aren't all bone, Timble.

Well, wish I could
help you, marshal.

What do you aim to do?

Well, I guess we'll just have

to find some place to hole up

and stick around for a few days.

Oh, then you might as
well stay at my house.

We got a couple clean
rooms we let once in a while,

and the wife's the
best cook west of K.C.

Oh, that so?

Well, looks like I'm gonna
like Tascosa after all.

Sure you are.

It's, uh, just down
the street there.

Mr. Timble,

how long you
been in these parts?

Just under two years.

( dramatic theme playing)

Sure was nice of Mr. Timble

to put us up, wasn't it?

Yeah.

He wasn't givin' out
no information though

about that Glass fella though.

Did you notice that?

Yeah, he was pretty
close-mouthed.

The way he acted,

somebody would think that
he was the one, you know?

(groans)

Well, I'll be doggone.

What's the matter, Chester?

Well, that there
description, Mr. Dillon,

that 180 pounds,
6 feet, black hair,

that fits that
Mr. Timble exactly.

Yep.

Well, hadn't we ought
to do something?

Don't ya think?

Well, it also fits
that bartender.

Oh, yeah, I guess it does.

It might even fit
that fella Gunter

out west of town.

All three of 'em
rode into Tascosa

about the same time.

Yeah, well, I
guess you're right.

It was just a thought.

What are you
gonna do, Mr. Dillon?

Well...

right now, I'm gonna go inside

and see if her cookin' is
as good as he said it was.

Oh.

Can I give you some
more spuds, Chester?

Oh, no, no.

Miss Timble, I think if I
was to have another helping,

I'd... I'd bust.

Well, you might just
give me just a smidgen,

I mean, if you got 'em to spare.

To spare and welcome.

Oh, I'll tell you,

I don't know when
I've ever eat so good.

Kind of you to say so.

You have some more, marshal?

No, thanks, ma'am.

But you're a mighty-fine cook.

Well, all I got
to go on is Nate.

He did a lot of drifting
when he was young

and it made him kind of
finicky about his eating.

So when he cleans up his plate,

I figure it can't be too bad.

How long you and
Nate been married,

if you don't mind my asking?

Be a year the
fourth of next month.

We come through in a
wagon, my folks and me.

We was headin'
for the Panhandle,

camped here ten days
to rest up the horses.

Folks went out and I stayed.

But I've never been
sorry, not once.

There ain't a finer man
than Nate ever lived.

I guess he's pretty
well-thought-of hereabouts

now that he built that
new schoolhouse, huh?

Well, he sure ought
to be well-thought-of.

Not many men could've
prodded this shiftless town

onto its feet.

Yeah, I remember this
town a few years back.

And the schoolhouse
ain't the end of it.

We'll get a town hall started
and dig some deeper wells

so as we won't run short
of water every summer.

Nate's even got a plan

for bringing a spur
line of the railroad in.

That so? Heh.

Before you know it, this town

is gonna be as
big as Saint Louis.

Or at least as big as Dodge.

It might be at that, Chester.

You know, uh, that's
a pretty nice thing

your husband's doing
for this Mike Postil.

Oh, you heard about it, huh?

Yeah, Nate was telling me.

Well, Mike's not really bad.

He'd be all right
now if Harry Gunter

would just leave him alone.

All Mike needed was a chance
and Nate's given him one.

You know, it's that
way with a lot of folks

that's made
mistakes in the past.

They'd go straight and
keep out of trouble if...

If there was just somebody

to help 'em and believe in 'em.

Yeah.

Maybe you're right.

I reckon it don't fit in

with your way of thinkin'
though, you being a lawman.

A lawman's got feelings, ma'am.

He was asking about
my anniversary, marshal.

I wanna show you something.

Mr. Dillon, would
you aim to finish?

No, go ahead.

It's a kind of remembrance
I'm makin' for Nate.

I'm keepin' it a
secret from him.

That's real buckskin, marshal.

A Pawnee squaw showed
me about tannin' the hides.

Well, that's mighty nice.

You think Nate will like it?

Well, if he doesn't, you
send it to me, will ya?

(chuckles)

Well, I sure do hope, I...

Oh, my goodness,
here comes Nate.

Is something wrong?

Don't worry,
Martha, it's all right.

I'll tell you about it later.

What's the trouble?

Gunter, with two of
his men, just rode in.

Well, I better go
with you, I guess.

It's not your fight, marshal.

Might turn into mine.

Want me to go
with you, Mr. Dillon?

No, finish your dinner.

I'll see you later.

( ominous theme playing)

What'll you have, gentlemen?

Hear that, Ace?

Postil is asking
us what we'll have.

You'd figure he'd
know without asking.

Yeah... You here for a drink?

Uh-uh.

Then state your
business, Gunter.

Postil,

you're the first man that
ever walked out on me.

Quit on his own hook.

I don't like it.

And I don't aim to tolerate it.

Is that all, Gunter?

I figure it's enough.

Then you're wasting your time,

I'm through selling my
gun to you or anybody else.

You've already sold it.

You're bought and paid for.

You're coming
back out to the outfit.

Which one of you
is figurin' to take me?

We ain't any one of us fool
enough to go against you.

Not alone.

You're a brave man, Gunter.

You can't get all of us.

I can sure try hard.

Then you'll die trying.

(door opens)

MIKE: Get out,
Nate. Stay clear of it.

Shut up, Mike.

If the pot's open, Gunter,
I'm dealing myself in.

Nate...

Seems to me you're
dealing in around here

pretty often lately.

Maybe it's time
somebody stopped you.

It's your move.

Name's Dillon, in
case you're interested.

I'm a U.S. marshal.

Marshal?

What's the law
got to do with this?

Nothing so far.

I don't want any
trouble with the law.

Well, I don't think
you'll be havin' any

unless your name
happens to be Jim Glass.

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

He's wanted over in Santa Fe,

I'm lookin' for him.

He used to ride
with Billy the Kid.

I never heard of him.

Well, then you might
as well go ahead

and finish your business.

It's already finished.

Gunter, take your
wolf pack and get out.

You got until sunup tomorrow

to be back out there
in that bunkhouse.

If you're not, we're coming in

and drag you out.

I'll be here, Gunter.

He won't be alone, Gunter.

I ought to stay
clear of both of you.

It's my fight, not yours.

A man that's
trying to go straight

needs all the help he can get.

Look, you got a
wife to think of.

She feels the same as I do.

I told you I'd
stick by you, Mike,

and I meant it.

I don't exactly know how
the marshal figures in it.

Well, I left a meal
half-eaten over there.

I think I'll go back to it.

Marshal?

I heard part of it, I
can guess the rest.

Well, I wouldn't
worry about it, ma'am.

I don't think it'll
come to anything,

just a lot of talk.

Gunter saw he had more
than he bargained for,

he'll back down.

You don't know him.

Ever was a man
that's evil, Gunter's him.

He'll see Mike Postil
back or else dead

if it's the last thing he does.

Well, I wouldn't worry
about it too much, ma'am.

Your husband's able
to take care of himself

pretty well, I imagine.

What do you aim to
do about it, marshal?

Well, it's not really
my fight, ma'am.

I came here to serve a warrant.

To arrest a man by the name of:

Jim Glass.

Harry Gunter's a worse man

a hundred times over.

That may be.

Tell me, marshal,

do you think Nate's
doing the right thing

standing up for Mike Postil?

Believing Mike has
a right to his chance

and willing to die for it?

Do you think he's right?

I think he's right, ma'am.

And so do I.

I just don't want him killed.

I need him, and the
people here need him.

I don't wanna raise
a son without a father.

Well, I didn't know
you and Nate had a son.

Nate doesn't even know.

I haven't told him yet.

Got things on the
stove, marshal.

I'll be gettin' back in.

( dramatic theme playing)

Well, I reckon that's
them, Mr. Dillon.

( suspenseful theme playing)

DILLON: Yeah.

You don't have
to do this, Chester.

You mind if I use a rifle?

There's no rules in this game.

I'd feel a lot cozier
behind a Winchester.

Hold on, Gunter.

Get off the trail, marshal.

You got no business with us.

I'm makin' it my business.

Mike Postil decided
to stay in town.

Now you men turn
around and head back.

Don't you think the odds
are a little against you?

I'm satisfied with 'em.

Now, let me tell
you something else,

from now on, you
stay clear of Tascosa,

or I'll get up a posse
and come after you.

We don't need no
lawmen down here.

Look, boss.

Well, looks like

we don't have to go into
Tascosa to settle this.

You've had your last warning.

Missed you this
morning, marshal.

I kind of figured we'd
find you hereabouts.

Looks like the odds
are down, Gunter.

Timble, you're
responsible for this.

And proud of it.

Get him and
Postil. Get him first.

DILLON: Hold it!

Run!

Gunter's finished
and so are you,

now get out of here.

Mr. Timble, let's
see how bad that is.

No, no, no, it's all right.

It's not bad.

Gunter's dead.

Why didn't you tell me
that Gunter was Jim Glass?

You had no call to protect him.

No, marshal.

No call at all.

You better get back and
get that arm fixed, huh?

Martha will fix this up,

she's good at these things.

I'll get somebody out from
town to bring Gunter in.

Mike, stick with him.

You'll never find a better man

to pattern yourself after.

I know that, sir.

Thank you, marshal.

Thank you.

See you later.

Mr. Dillon, why did you say

that Gunter was Jim Glass?

You know, when I opened up

Timble's shirt there... Chester?

Yeah?

You know, in a gunfight

a man can get excited sometimes.

He can imagine things
that aren't really so.

Well, yeah, I reckon so. Why?

Well, I think that, uh,

Gunter fits the description
of Jim Glass pretty good.

He's a rustler,
killer, a bandit...

He's 180 pounds,
about, uh, 6 foot tall,

black hair.

I think we can just assume

that he, uh, had
those scars on his ribs.

You know, Mr. Dillon,
I think you're right.

There ain't no reason to
go pokin' around on him

like you would a
yearling at a sale.

You gotta have some
respect for the dead.

All right.

Jim Glass died in a gunfight.

Mile and a half from Tascosa,

8:00 this morning.

There ain't the
least doubt about it.

Let's ride.

( dramatic theme playing)

( Western theme playing)