Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 4, Episode 14 - Robber Bridegroom - full transcript

starring
James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Keep your eyes open.

This could be a holdup.

That log didn't get there
by itself.

Want me to give you a hand?

No. You sit here. I'll get it.

Sit still, folks.
Just a log in the road.

Drop that shotgun, mister,
or I'll blow you off the seat.

And don't turn around.

You folks just stay put.

Now your six-gun.



Put your hands up, driver.

Turn around.

Get up by the stage.

You, throw down that strongbox,
and hurry it up.

Give it to him, Hank.

He's got us good.

Tell the passengers
to get out of there.

And tell them I'll kill the
first one that makes a move.

Step down, folks, and step easy.

This man's got a shotgun.

Just keep your hands in the air.

You men line up over there
and keep quiet.

What about me?

Do you rob women, too?



I want that saddle.
Fetch it down.

What?

I said fetch it down.

Over here, miss, by me.

You men get back on the stage.

Go on, move.

Hey, now, wait a minute, fella.

You're really asking
for trouble.

I don't want to have
to kill you.

You wouldn't dare
kidnap a woman.

I'll kill you if I have to.

You'll answer for this, mister.

Get aboard, driver.

I'll come after you myself.

Don't you worry, miss.

He won't have you for long.

Git!

Move on, now.

Giddap.

I got an extra horse.

I sure wasn't planning
anything like this.

Then, why are you doing it?

Well, to tell you the truth,

you're about the first thing
I ever saw

that I really wanted.

Where you headed for?

Oh, I'm headed down
to the Long Branch.

Told Chester I'd meet him there.

Well, I'll...
I'll go down with you.

Bartender down there
owes me five dollars.

Maybe you ought to hire
a bill collector, Doc.

Well, wouldn't do any good.

I'd then have to spend
all my time looking for him.

Well, why don't you make
your patients pay in advance?

'Cause the condition most
of my patients arrive in,

they'd bleed to death
while I was making change.

Well, a lot of them do anyway...

There's Chester over there.

Why don't you get your money
and join us.

Oh, no, not that.

If I did that, they'd have it
back in about a half hour.

I'll see you later.

All right.

Oh, Mr. Dillon.

Uh, this here is Mr. Reeves.

- Franklin Reeves.
- How do you do?

This is Marshal Dillon.

Buy you a drink, Marshal?

Well, might have a beer,
I guess.

- Bartender, another beer,
please. - Coming up.

Mr. Reeves just got in
from Pueblo.

Oh, is that your home?

New York, Marshal.

I came out West recently
to invest some money in land...

in mining and the like.

Mr. Reeves is awful rich.

I might be if Mother Nature
holds out, Chester.

Well...

His girlfriend is coming in
on the stage today, you see.

- And that's...
- My fianc?e, Marshal.

I see.

Well, that's... I mean fianc?e.

Anyway, he met her in Pueblo.

That so?

I had to come ahead on business.

We're going to be married
in St. Louis.

Well, congratulations.

Thank you, Marshal.

Oh, uh, the stage
is a little late, isn't it?

No, not much more than usual.

You see, he's worried, what with
his girl being on it and all.

Well, it's just that back home,

the public transportation
is somewhat more punctual.

Mr. Reeves, did-did you ever
ride on one of them there,

uh, uh... sleeping cars?

Why, yes.

- You did?
- Sure.

Well, you mean you just, uh...

you sleep in a bed
while you're just riding along?

Uh-huh.

Well, I'll swan.

Them, uh, trains sure
got it over them stagecoaches,

don't they?

Marshal, do you think anything

could have happened
to that stage?

An accident
or something of the sort?

Well, could have been
a lot of things,

but I wouldn't worry about it.

It's only an hour or so late.

Well, I think I'll just walk
over to the depot.

See if they have any news.

Aren't you coming, Marshal?

Well, my being there wouldn't
bring it in any faster.

- No, I suppose not.
- Well, uh, Mr. Reeves,

I-I'd be right proud
to go over there with you.

I-I don't think there's
anything to worry about, though.

That Jed Grant is one
of the best drivers

we got on the High Plains.

Hey, Marshal!

Marshal! Whoa.

We were held up.

What?

What is this?

That's right, Marshal.

We were held up.

They took the strongbox

and kidnapped
one of the passengers.

What are you talking about?

A young girl.

Not-not Laura.

That's right,
a girl named Laura Church.

But that's impossible.

Why didn't you stop him?

Oh, he had us cold.

He held a shotgun on us, and
there was nothing we could do.

- Where'd this happen, Jed?
- Cottonwood Draw.

Did you get a look at him?
Did you recognize him at all?

No, he had his face
covered, Marshal.

All I can tell you is he took
a saddle we was carrying.

So he must have had
two horses hid out.

You've got to do
something, Marshal.

Kidnapping a girl, Mr. Dillon,
that's bad.

Chester, you get
a couple of rifles.

- I'll get the horses.
- Yes, sir.

- See you later, Jed.
- Good luck, Marshal.

He'd better have her
back here by nightfall

or he'll never work
for the government again...

or anyone else, I promise you.

I wanted to get
to the cabin by night.

I'm sorry if I pushed too hard.

Is... is this the place you come
back to each time?

Oh, I've never been here before.

Just ridden by is all.

This is just an old line cabin
nobody uses anymore.

Well, isn't this your hideout?

You talk like I was
a road agent.

Well, aren't you?

No, I'm a cattleman.

At least I was
until a little while ago.

I lost all my cattle with fever.

Tried to borrow money,
but nobody would lend me any.

So you held up the stage?

That's right.

Anyway, I figured I needed it
more than those dudes.

That's a strange way
of thinking.

It's my way.

Anyway, now I got money
and I can buy some cattle.

And then maybe some land
to put them on.

And a house

and a patch of corn,
a couple of chickens.

They'll come after you,
you know,

for taking the money.

They'll never find me.

They'll find me.

My fianc? will have
the law after you.

Fianc??

The man I'm supposed to marry
is waiting for me in Dodge.

I didn't... I didn't know.

I...

I didn't know you was promised.

Would that have made
any difference?

Well, like I said,

you're the first thing

I ever saw in my life
I really wanted.

I didn't know. I...

Yeah, I'd do it again, sure.

Hey, Chester, will you take them
over to the stable?

- Where are you going?
- I'm going in the Long Branch.

Maybe there's been some news.

That would be the first
we've had in two days.

Yeah.

Hello, Kitty.

Well, hello, Matt.
I didn't know you were back.

Just now.

Any luck?

It's a big prairie, Kitty.

We found their trail,
but lost it.

Rained out the first night.

Well, nobody can blame you
for that.

Nobody except this Reeves fella,
maybe.

Well, he's no good.

He's really no good.

He's been drinking a lot
the last couple of days,

and last night he was in here
bragging to Sam.

Bragging about what?

Well, not much,
to my way of thinking.

Seems that, uh,
he and Laura's father

got into some big deal
over in Pueblo.

He got him all tied up,
and then threatened to ruin him.

What happened?

Well, he didn't ruin him.
He took Laura instead.

I see.

Well, maybe she likes him.

Oh, now, Matt, how could a girl
like a man

who would take her that way?

It's like winning her
in a gambling game.

Winning a horse or something.

Yeah, well,
I guess that's not too much

to bring her back to at that,
is it?

First, Reeves steals her,
and then some outlaw steals her.

I feel sorry for her.

What are you going to do
about it, anyhow?

Well, Kitty, there's not much
I can do right now.

Poor kid.

Come on. Let's have a drink.

All right.

Well, I just can't get over it,
Mr. Dillon.

What's that, Chester?

Oh, that... that Reeves fellow.

Uh, he sure fooled me.

He seemed like such
a nice fellow, and so, so rich,

and... and had so much money
and all.

Oh, yes, yes, he's rich,
all right.

Good clothes.

He's rich in money,
but he was poor in spirit.

Well, I see you've
been going to church again.

Yeah, I went last Sunday.

Oh, that's right. Let's see.

It, uh... it rained last Sunday,
didn't it?

Oh, yeah, it was just a...

Well, what are you?

Hello, Chester. Marshal.

- Marshal, I got news for you.
- Oh, what's that, Jed?

I ran into a fellow back at
Rock Creek Station this morning.

He rode in from the south.

He mentioned seeing a man
and woman on the way.

He did?

Yeah, they rode off as soon
as they saw him,

so he didn't get too close.

But his description
of the woman was good enough.

Could be this girl, Laura.

- Where was it?
- I'll show you.

I want to go with you, Marshal.

Oh, no, you don't have
to do that, Jed.

He took her off my stage,
Marshal.

And I won't feel right
unless I help get her back.

- All right. Chester.
- Oh, yeah.

You better stay here
and keep an eye on things.

All right.

You didn't lose him?

No, no, we got their trail,
all right,

but there's
something funny here.

What do you mean?

Well, the trail seems to be
heading back to Dodge.

By golly, you're right.

I don't understand that.

Not unless they're lost
or something.

Well, it could be.

Let's keep going.
We'll find out.

Sure beats all, Marshal.

He rode right straight
into Dodge.

He ought to be easy to find now.

Yeah, well, before I start
looking for him,

- I want to talk to Chester.
- Sure.

Howdy, Mr. Dillon. Jed.

Oh, you tracked him
right into Dodge, yeah?

What? How'd you know?

Well, they rode in here
a couple hours ago.

He give hisself up.

He did?
- Yeah.

Yeah, I got him locked up
in there right now.

The money's over to the bank.

Well, what about the girl...
Laura?

Well, now, she's fine.

She's a little bit tired,
but she's fine.

What's his story? Who is he?

Well, he says his name
is Jack Fitch.

But I'll tell you, Mr. Dillon,
that's all that he'll say.

I just give up
on him completely.

Maybe you can get him to talk.

Well, where's the girl now?

Well, this Reeves come
and got her and took her over

to the Dodge House.

She didn't want to go much,
but he took her along anyways.

Well, I'll talk to them later.

Jed, thanks a lot.

We could have stayed right here.

So, you're Jack Fitch, huh?

That's right.

You got something to say,
Marshal, say it right out.

All right.
Why'd you give yourself up?

What do you care?

- You got the money back,
didn't you? - Yeah.

Look, Marshal,
I'll tell you one thing.

If I hadn't given myself up,

I'd probably killed Reeves
by now.

I see. And the girl told you
about him, huh?

She told me.

Kind of wish I'd done it
before I come in here.

Yeah, well,
you'd hang if you did.

Well, it might be worth it.

Now, what makes you think that
what you did is any better?

You wouldn't understand,
Marshal.

But do what you can
for the girl, would you?

All right.

You got anything else
you want to tell me?

No, that's all.

Okay.

Who is it?

Reeves, it's Matt Dillon.
Open up.

Some other time, Marshal.
I'm busy.

You going to open this door,
or am I going to kick it in?

What do you want?

Laura, I'm Matt Dillon.

How do you do?

Look, I hate to bother you
this way,

but, uh, it's about Jack Fitch.

Well, what more do you want?

He gave himself up.

He returned the money and me.

Well, I'm going to need
your testimony in court, Laura.

Forget it, Marshal.
It's all over.

We're leaving Dodge
on the next train.

No!

Don't tell me no.

I said we're leaving.

Reeves, suppose you get out
of here for a minute.

- What?
- Go on. You heard me.

- Now, look here, Marshal, I'm
not... - I said get out of here.

- Don't give me any trouble.
- I'm warning you, Marshal,

- Go on.
- for the last time.

Now, you keep your hands off me.

You stay out of here
till I call you.

Laura, I, uh...
I know about you and Reeves

and, uh, why you're going
to marry him.

I hate him.

Tell me something, Laura.

Why did Jack Fitch
give himself up?

Can I trust you?

Well, that's up to you.

All right.

He gave himself up because
we decided we didn't want

to be hunted down
the rest of our lives.

Well, that sounds like you're
in on it with him.

I never saw Jack Fitch
before he held up that stage.

Then, I don't understand.

Well, it's very simple, Marshal.

I love him.

I see.

Jack doesn't know why
he took me with him.

All he knows is that
he saw something he wanted,

and he took it.

Well, Laura,
that's still kidnapping.

Jack won't go to jail
for kidnapping.

And why won't he?

Because I'll testify that I went
with him of my own free will.

I think you mean that.

Jack's been wild, I know that,

but he's going
to straighten out now.

In fact, he's already started.

Well, Laura, look, uh,

maybe you're better off
with him, I don't know.

All I do know
is that I'm a lawman,

and I have to bring him in
for trial.

What you do,
that's your own business.

He'll make out,
but I'm... I'm still afraid.

What, uh, afraid of him?

Frank Reeves.

He'll kill me.

He swore he would,
and he means it.

If you try to leave him?

Please, Marshal.

Please help me.

Well, that depends on whether
you, uh, trust me or not.

Hello, gentlemen.

Um, how would you men like
to make $50 apiece?

Who, me?

Yeah, uh, for maybe
an hour's work.

Are you trying to rib us,
mister?

Oh, I've got the money
right here.

$50? For doing what?

Oh, for, uh, joining ten or 12
other men I'm going to hire.

Let me buy you a drink,
and I'll explain it to you.

Bartender.

Well, here's how.

Ah.

Now, all you got to do
is wait here

till I get the other men
together.

And, uh, then I'll let you know
when we move.

It won't take long.

And for one of you men, there's
going to be a nice bonus.

If you're interested.

And he said $50 a man,
Mr. Dillon, apiece.

Just for an hour's work.

Now, what are you going to do?

Well, I could try to hold them
off, but I got a better idea.

Well, what?

How long would it take you
to get Fitch's horses?

Well, just long enough
to saddle them.

All right, get them, and bring
them around back, will you?

- Yes, sir.
- Okay.

All right, Fitch.

What's this, Marshal?

I'm turning you loose.

Turning him loose?

Yep. Reeves is getting a bunch
of hired guns together,

and they're going to come
over here

and try to break you out
of jail,

and they'll probably try
to kill you in the bargain.

Oh, but can't you stop them?

I hope he don't ever try.
This way, I go free.

You're forgetting everything
we talked about.

No, no, I ain't, Laura,
but if I don't go to trial,

we got nothing to worry about.

Now, Jack, I'm afraid
you don't quite understand.

I don't understand what,
Marshal?

I'm turning you loose
to save your life.

You're still going to have
to stand trial,

whether you turn yourself in
later

or somebody catches up with you.

Oh.

I was going to take you
to Hays City for trial,

and I was going to bring Laura
along as a witness.

I told you I wouldn't testify.

They can't make you testify,
Laura,

but they can hold you
in contempt.

All right, then, I'll lie.

Well, that's worse.
That's perjury.

Just leave her out of this,
Marshal.

And how do you figure
to do that?

Just leave her alone.

I'll ride up to Hays
and turn myself in.

Sign a confession.
But leave Laura out of it.

I don't understand you, Marshal.

You said you were going
to help me.

Well, Laura,
there's only one way

that you can keep
from testifying against Jack.

But that's something
you two will have

to decide for yourselves.

Wait a minute.

Is there a preacher
in Hays City?

There was the last time
I was up there.

If we were married now,
and didn't wait,

I wouldn't have to testify.

You'd marry me now, Laura?

You know I would, Jack.

We'll get married in Hays City.

Well, Marshal?

Let's go.

Wait a minute.

This is what you had in mind
all the time, isn't it?

Laura, I'm a lawman,
not a matchmaker.

Seems to me you do both
pretty good.

Jack, there's two horses
waiting in the back for you.

Thanks, Marshal.

Good luck, Laura.

Will we see you in Hays City,
Marshal?

Well, if you get there.

We'll get there.

Yeah, I think you will.

Marshal, I've got 12 men
waiting outside,

and I want Jack Fitch.

He's gone.

Gone? Where?

To marry Laura.

You did this.

You planned it.

Yeah.

Then, we'll get him.

Those men of mine
will run him down.

Reeves...

Good gracious, Mr. Dillon,
what happened?

Couldn't hold his liquor.