Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 2, Episode 7 - How to Cure a Friend - full transcript

ANNOUNCER:

Starring James Arness
as Matt Dillon.

That sure took you
long enough.

Yeah.

Hotel's crowded.

Had to talk 'em
out of a room.

Well, you got one,
didn't you?

Yeah. Sure I did.

Well, let's get
this stuff upstairs.

I'm plumb wore out.
Always traveling around.

Wait a minute.



You're forgetting
what we're here for, ain't you?

Oh. Oh, yeah.

Yeah?

Hey, you! Kid.

Come here a minute.

Yeah, mister,
what do you want?

You want to earn yourself
a dollar?

Oh, sure.

What do I have to do?

Well, there's a marshal
in this town, ain't there?

Sure, Marshal Dillon.

Will you go find him for me?

Tell him I want to see him.

Room number 10.



Tell him it's important.
I want to see him right away.

Okay, I'll hurry.

You just do that.

Thanks, mister.

Come on, Duggan.

Well, this sure ain't much
of room you got us here, Ben.

Ain't much of a town,
if you ask me.

A little more dust
out there,

you wouldn't be able
to see Dodge at all.

Well, that would be
an improvement.

Well, don't forget, Duggan,

that dust is raised
by our future clients.

Well, if we can ever
get things arranged,

maybe they'll be
our future clients.

It'll be all right.

It always has, hasn't it?

You sure got
a short memory.

We didn't so good up
in Deadwood, now, did we?

At least we didn't get shot.

It'll be better this time.

Well, I sure hope so.

Now, you let me handle this.

Now, why do you have
to handle-?

Shush.

You wanted to see me?

Yeah, marshal, come on in.
Come on in.

I'm Ben Corder, marshal.

This here's my partner,
Harry Duggan.

Proud to know you,
marshal.

Matt Dillon.
Yeah.

Well, sit down, marshal.
Make yourself at home.

No, thank you.

Won't you have
a drink?

No, thanks.
The boy said it was urgent?

Yeah, well, uh-

I figured we better have
our little talk in private.

You see, marshal, um,

Harry and I are partners,
business partners.

And, um, whenever we come
to a new town,

like Dodge,

we, uh, like to get in touch
with whoever runs it,

and that way we figure that, uh,

there won't be no
misunderstanding later on.

Well, what is your business?

Well, we're gamblers.

Well, Dodge is an open town.

What do you want of me?

Well, you see, marshal,
we make money gambling.

And, uh, once in a while-
You know, it is.

-a player will lose
a little money,

make a fuss about it.

Sometimes he might even go
to the law about it.

Mm-hm.

And when he does,
he's usually been cheated.

Before he gets to the law,

there's usually
been another killing.

We make a lot
of money gambling, marshal.

We just want you
to know in advance,

you're gonna get
your share of it.

That's all.

I see.

Now, let me tell you something,
both of you.

I don't where you've worked
your game before,

but it's not gonna
work here.

I don't like gamblers.
I never did.

To me they're nothing
but trouble.

Now, if you're gonna run a game
here, you run it straight,

or you're out,
both of you.

Well, now, marshal,
that ain't very friendly.

Trying to bribe me
was one mistake.

You make another
and you're through.

Oh.

You're one
of them hard-nosed lawmen, huh?

You're liable
to find out, mister.

Well...

you sure handled that
just great, now, didn't you?

Just great.

Now, don't be a fool, Duggan.

He's no better
than anybody else.

I got an idea.
We can persuade him easy enough.

Yeah, how's that?

You'll see.

Chester?

Yeah? I'm coming.

Oh, hi, Mr. Dillon.

Well, how's
the prisoner tonight?

Oh, he- He's fine.
Just fine.

He's, heh, just
sleeping off his drunk.

Well, good. I guess you can
turn him loose in the morning.

Uh, yeah.
Well, good, good.

Is everything
quieted down now? Is it?

Mm, finally.
Yeah.

Well, I- I just, uh-
Just wondering about it.

Yeah? Was wondering
about what?

Uh, well...

Mr. Dillon, uh-

Do we have anything to do,
uh, special tomorrow?

No, I don't think so.

Why?

Well, I- I just, uh,
thought that, uh,

maybe we could take the day off,
you know, go fishing.

Course it-
It don't really matter none.

Well, I'd like to, Chester,

but I think
I better stick around.

Oh. You expecting trouble?

Maybe. But you go ahead.

Take the day off
if you want to.

Oh, no, no.

Heck, it wouldn't
be no fun alone.

Well, why don't you
take Doc with you.

He could sure use a day off.

Doc? Well, I...

I... Well, yeah.
I-I-I could do that.

Well, it's getting kind of late.

I think I'll head out of here
and get to bed.

I'll see you in the morning.

Well, the other- The thing-

Can you get the light,
Chester?

Do you see anybody?

No.

Sounded like
a rifle shot, though.

Probably in one of those alleys
across the street.

You know,
he just darn near killed you.

Yeah. But I'll tell you
one thing:

They're a mighty poor shot
if they were trying to kill me.

Well, what do you mean?

Well, standing in the light
the way I was,

he'd have to been blind
to miss me.

Yeah.

Could be they were just trying
to scare me.

Show me how they treat the law
where they come from.

Well, who in the world would
have done a thing like that?

Those two gamblers
I told you about,

Corder and Duggan.

There's no way
of being sure though.

Well, are you going
to try and find 'em?

They're probably gone
by now.

But I'm gonna circle around
there and take a look anyway.

I'm going out the back way.

Well-

I'll see you later.

Hello, Kitty.

Hello, Matt.
Sit down.

Do you want a drink?

Oh, no, thanks.
Not now.

Chester was here earlier.

He had a drink.

Oh, well, yeah.

Chester's got the habit.
Oh?

I mean,
when he can afford it.

He told me about you
getting shot at last night.

Yeah. Well, at least
I didn't get hit.

You might have.

Especially a man with a rifle.

Yeah. I tell you, Kitty,

I sure don't like
to get shot at from ambush.

I'd a whole lot rather do
my fighting out in the open.

Well, I can't blame you
for that.

As long as you got
to fight at all.

Well, no, I didn't say
I liked fighting, you know.

Oh, I know, Matt.
I know.

What do you want me to do?
Be a bartender?

I'll give you a job.

Well, uh, maybe
I'll take you up on that.

It's always open.

Who's this?

Oh, they're, uh, gamblers
among other things.

Hello.

How do?

Right, pretty girl.

Something I can do
for you?

You know, marshal, you sure do
make it hard to be friends.

I do, huh?

Yes, sir. By golly.

All I wanted to say was:

I heard you got shot
at last night.

So?

I'm sorry it happened,
that's all.

Mm-hm.

No, sir, I sure don't envy a man

who has to be a marshal.

Mighty dangerous spot to be in.

Besides, the pay ain't
too good, is it?

What do you think
I ought to do now? Quit?

No, no, no, no.
That ain't necessary.

No, if you were smart,

you'd be able
to live right here,

make plenty of money,

and run a lot less chances
of getting killed too.

I wasn't sure
it was you, mister.

But I am now.

What are you talking about?

There's a stage
leaving Dodge in an hour.

You and your partner, here,
are gonna be on it.

Oh, no, you don't.

No. We got our new game all set
up for the Lady Gay tonight.

Give me your gun,
Corder.

Now, wait a minute, marshal.

You can't do this.

Hey, just a minute, now,
marshal.

I ain't done nothing.

I give you something

to do, then.
What's that?

Pick your partner up here.

The both of you are leaving town
on the next stage.

Now, just a minute,
marshal.

You're overstepping
your authority-

Get going.

All right. Come on.

We're going. We're going.

But I ain't sure
we won't be back.

And that's how we left Sedalia,
and they said to us,

"Don't ever come back anymore."

Go ahead, Toque. Drink up. Eh?

One's my limit.

Hm? Oh.

Hey, hey, hey. Hey.

All right, here he is.

This is him.

Well, we've come back,
marshal.

Only this time
we brought a man

with us to look after
our interests.

You won't buffalo him
so easy.

Hello, Toque.

You really
the marshal here?

Didn't they tell you?

Well, no. No, they didn't
mention any names.

What are you talking about? Huh?

What is this?

Toque and I are old friends.

We've been through quite a lot
together, haven't we, Toque?

Yeah. Yeah.

Too much.

You remember?

Yeah, I remember.

How long you been
a marshal?

Quite awhile.

I never figured lawmen
for much.

A lot of people don't, Toque,

like your friends here.

I'd like to talk
to Mr. Morlan alone.

You men move down the bar.

Oh, no, you don't.

Move.

So this is your profession now,
huh, Toque?

Gunman.

Mm, I gamble a little.

How'd you get started
at it, Toque?

Well, you see I don't
like people very much anymore.

Not after what happened
in Silver City.

And especially
I don't like marshals.

We were hardly
more than kids then.

Yeah, but that didn't
keep that mob

from beating us half
to death.

They thought we were
horse thieves. They were wrong.

We told 'em that.

Yeah.

I haven't seen you
since then, Matt.

I've changed.

I guess you have.

You're carrying a pretty big
grudge against the law.

There was a lawman with them
that night at Silver City.

You didn't hear
about that lawman.

I don't want to hear
anything more about any of it.

So just don't talk about it.

It's too bad
you're a marshal.

You plan to go through
with it, then, huh?

Yeah. I never walk out
on a fight.

And supposing
I won't fight you?

Well, that's all right.
I get paid anyway.

But you'd have
to leave Dodge.

You think I'd do that?

No.

Toque, we used to be friends.

I'll give you 24 hours
to think about it.

Well, you see,
that give you 24 hours.

'Cause it doesn't matter
to me.

What does matter
to you, Toque? Money?

Well, that adds
to the pleasure.

The pleasure?

Yeah.

You're not Matt Dillon.

You're a U.S. marshal.

I'm wasting my time
talking to you.

You've gone bad.

Maybe. But I'm
a pretty good gun hand.

Are you?

Mm-hm.

Now, you can let them run
their game here,

or you can quit.

Twenty-four hours, Toque.

Hello, Chester.

Oh, Mr. Dillon, I thought
you was asleep there maybe.

No. Just been
lying here thinking.

Well, I didn't mean
to disturb you.

Oh, it's all right.

But I was just over
at the Lady Gay there,

and you know
that Corder and Duggan-

Yeah.

Well, it looks
like they're going

to start their game tonight.

Yeah.

After 6:00 I take it.

Well, that was the time that
the 24 hours is up, ain't it?

Yeah.

If Toque Morlan holds
to what he said.

Well, Mr. Dillon,
ain't there no way in the world

that you can stop him?

I've been trying to think
of a way, Chester.

Well, if there's anything
I can't stand,

it's a paid gunman.

I just- I got no use
for somebody

that can be bought for money.

It's like selling their soul.

You know, the funny thing is,

there was a time when Toque
Morlan couldn't be bought.

He's really changed.

Well, he-
Did you say he's over there

at the Lady Gay with 'em?

No, no. Um, just Corder
and Duggan is over there.

Somebody told me that Toque
was over at the Long Branch.

You know,
I'm gonna try something.

What?

You know something,
to keep a couple

of one-time friends
from killing each other-

Not that I got much use
for Toque Morlan anymore.

But I just hope I'm not
the one that has to kill him.

See you later.

Here we are.

What are you doing
this for, Kitty?

Why'd you ask me to come over
and sit down here?

Well, I just wanted you

to have a drink
with me is all.

You want another?

No, thanks.
That's my limit.

Especially today.

Oh, yeah, sure.

You haven't answered
my question, Kitty.

Well, all right.

Matt told me about you and him

being taken by that mob
in Silver City years ago.

He told me
the whole story.

Did he?

It was a lawman...

a sheriff...

that tried to help that mob
that night, wasn't it?

Now, wait a minute, Toque.

You just listen to me.

You were wrong.

The sheriff wasn't trying
to help 'em.

He was trying to stop 'em.

Matt found out later,
the next day, after you'd gone.

But the mob killed
that sheriff.

Mm. Matt tell you
to tell me this?

No.

But I do know he tried
to tell you himself yesterday

and you wouldn't listen.

You think he's lying,
don't you?

I've never known
Matt Dillon to lie,

and neither have you.

Thanks for the drink, Kitty.

I'd like to talk
to you, Toque.

Seems like I've had quite
a bit of talk today.

I'll be at the,
uh, bar, Matt.

All right, Kitty.

How much are they paying you
to get rid of me?

Five-hundred dollars.

All right.
Suppose I pay you the 500.

What for? Shoot them?

You know better than that.

Yeah, I guess I do.

Well?

Look, Matt,
I can be bought on to a job,

but I can't be bought off.

Make me look like a coward.

No more than it would me
for offering it to you.

Mm-hm.

You got about three hours.

Yeah.

Hey, Toque.
We was wondering where you were.

It's just about time, it is.

Darn near 6:00.

Yeah, we're anxious
to get that game started.

Got everything all set up
in here.

I'd hate to see all the suckers
in this town

walking around with our money
still in their pockets, huh?

You can keep your money.

W-w-what money?

The money you were gonna
give me.

What are you talking about?

I'm quitting.
Now, you can't quit.

You must be scared.

You calling me a coward?

Why don't you fight him?

Yeah.

You're scared of him.

Not bad at all.

Watch where you're going!

Hear now-

Hey, what's the matter
with you?

All right,
just move along.

Come on, Pete.

Wait a minute.

Go ahead, mister, draw.

He wasn't even armed.

He wasn't wearing a gun!

Marshal!

Marshal.

Marshal, he killed Pete.

Didn't even have
a gun on him.

He just shot him down,

for no reason.

Did you kill this man, Toque?

Well, I thought
he was going for a gun.

You kind of thought wrong,
didn't you?

Well, I didn't know, I-

Look, Matt, I've never shot
an unarmed man.

You're gonna have to stand trial
for this, Toque.

You mean, you're gonna
put me in jail?

I got no choice.

I'm not going to jail.

You know that.

Don't do it, Toque.

I'm not going to jail, Matt.

You're going to jail
whether you like it or not.

It's the law.

No, I ain't.

Not never.

Give me your gun, Toque.

No, Matt.

You hurt me bad, Matt.

You know, the funny thing,

I was coming to tell you

that I wasn't gonna
fight you.

I quit.

I changed my mind.

Changed it too late,
didn't you, Toque?

Yeah, but I-

Here it is.

You know something...

I don't care...

not no more.

Get out of Dodge.