Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 4, Episode 21 - Jayhawkers - full transcript

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Mr. Dillon, you...
you mind if I just sit here,

kind of help you watch the street?

Nope.

I must have spring fever or something.

Heh. Guess everybody does
this time of year.

Well, it'll change soon enough.

Just as soon as that first
trail herd of the season hits Dodge.

Yeah.

All them Texans, I tell you,
they're just born troublemakers.

They're bad enough at home.



They get away from it, they're worse.

That's right. You spent quite a few
years in Texas, didn't you?

Yeah.

In fact, you used to make
your home down there.

Well, it just goes to show you
that I know what I'm talking about.

Well, speaking of the devil.

Lookie there, Mr. Dillon.
There's a Texan right there.

You can tell by the rig he's got on.

I wonder what he's doing up here
all by hisself.

You know him, do you?

No. No, I don't know him.

Ever Texan that I ever knowed
is hung by now.

Huh.

I'm looking for Matt Dillon.



You found him.

I'm Phil Jacks. I'm with a herd
of 3,000 head of San Saba cattle

about five days' drive from here.

The name of the trail boss
is Dolph Quince.

Yeah, I remember Dolph Quince.
He was down here last year.

How is he?

Fair to middling.

He wants you to ride back
with me, Marshal.

He does? Why?

Well, it's about Kansas.

What about it?

We don't like it.

Well, I swan to goodness.

If you don't like it, why don't you
stay back there in Texas

where you belong,
instead of coming up here

and fighting and shooting
and getting people's backs up?

I don't believe I've even
said hello to you, mister.

Well, good.
Let's just leave it like that.

- Chester.
- What?

What's gotten into you?

Well, Mr. Dillon, the first herd
ain't even over the rise,

and here there's trouble already.

Why don't you just take those
old mossy-backed steers of yours

and drive them to California?

Why'd you leave Texas, mister?

What?

Heh. You're just all riled up

because you don't like Kansas
no better than anybody else does.

Well, I'll tell you,
I don't like Texas, neither.

Texas is sure rough
on women and dogs, ain't it?

Yeah, well, it's just...

That's right.
I ain't heard that...

Since you left Texas.

Yeah. Well, I guess
you got me pegged.

I might as well shut up.

Good, now we're getting somewhere.

You ready to go, Marshal?

Now, wait a minute.

Five days' ride,
that's asking an awful lot,

even of a friend.

Quince sure wants you
out there bad, Marshal.

Well, Dolph Quince
was always a pretty good man.

I don't guess he'd ask me
to ride out there without a reason.

Tell you what you do, Chester.

Why don't you take him over
to Delmonico's and get him a meal?

He looks like he could use one.

Well, all right, sir.

I got some business to finish up.
I'll meet you here in an hour.

All right. Chester Goode is my name.

Restaurant's right across the street.

And, Chester, don't shoot him,

because we'll never find
that herd without him.

Well, I'm fixing to buy him
a drink first, Marshal,

and temper him down a little bit.

Ah, well.

Well, that's better than
right kindly of you, Jacks.

I'll tell you, you can just
take your choice of saloons.

We've got several
real good ones here.

Well, I don't care whether
they're good or not...

My guess is,
we'll be able to see them

from the top of that rise.

I sure hope so.
Another day of this would kill me.

Don't you plan to come back
with us, Chester?

Me? Sure.

Well, 100 miles up here.
It's 100 miles back, you know.

Good gravy.
I'd plum forgot about that.

Well, 3,000 head of cattle
kick up so much dust

you'll never even see
them miles, Chester.

I may not see them,
but I'll sure feel them.

That's a powerful big herd
you got down there, Jacks.

Yeah.

By golly, that's a lot of money
walking around down there.

It will be worth a lot of money
if we ever get it to Dodge.

Where do we find Quince?

Cook will have camp set up.

We find him,
Quince will ride in sooner or later.

Boy, it sure is a lot of steaks.

Yeah.

There's Quince over there.

Yeah, I see him.

We'll turn your horse in
with the remuda, Marshal.

Okay.

- Hello, Quince.
- Hello, Marshal.

How are you?

Things could be better.

What's the trouble?

Fresh meat in camp.
Let's get you a plate.

All right.

Like buffalo veal? One of the boys
roped and shot a calf this morning.

Sure do.

Guess it was a buffalo
that scared our horses last night.

Buffalo?

Well, anyway,
the whole remuda broke loose.

Give this man a plate of meat.

Plate of meat.

And coffee.

A Nestor woman rode
into our bed ground

before daybreak this morning.

She had a boy with her
driving a wagon.

They wanted to know if we had any
little calves dropped during the night.

There's a lot of them like that.
They ask all the trail drivers.

I'd had to get rid of them anyway,
so I let her have them.

Even if she was a Kansan.

Where was her husband?

Dead, according to the boy.

I see.

You know, if it had been
a Kansas man asked for those calves,

I don't think I could've
talked the boys here into allowing it.

Thanks.

Here, sit down with me.

Well, Quince...

you been having trouble
with Jayhawkers?

How'd you know?

I figured you must have called me
out here for some reason.

A couple of nights ago,
a bunch of Jayhawkers

managed to sneak up on Snyder
when he was out on guard.

That's him behind you.

Stripped him and flogged him.

Then they stampeded the cattle.

We kind of had our hands full
the next few hours,

or we might've caught up with them.

Have you seen anything of them
since then?

No.

Well, Quince, you know
what the Jayhawkers are.

They're nothing but a bunch
of renegades.

The ordinary Kansan hates them
as much as you do.

They got their first taste of blood
in the Border Wars,

and now that that's over with,
they got no place to go.

We'll show them a place.

They're bandits, Quince.

Now, you've got bandits in Texas, too.

But that doesn't mean
that all Texans are bandits, does it?

Well, it's kind of hard
to make the men see that.

I'll join you, if you don't mind.

All right. Where's Chester?

He run into a fella
he knew from last season.

They're over there swapping lies.

I've been complaining to the Marshal
about our welcome here.

Oh, it ain't such
a big problem, maybe.

I've heard of trail drivers
buying off Jayhawkers

at $2 and $3 a head.

Let's see. With 3,000 head,

that would only cost us
between 6 and $9,000.

That's all.

I'm paying nobody nothing.

They ain't asked us yet.

But then I'm fixing to kill
the first one I see anyhow.

Marshal, every dollar I got
is tied up in them cattle.

Every cent my relatives
and friends could raise, too.

And now we've come
a long ways from San Saba,

and we're almost to Dodge.

I'd hate to lose now.

Well, Quince, I don't know
what I can do for you.

What about the army?

Nah, the army's up north,
chasing Indians.

Sure.

Well, the main reason
I asked you to come down here

was because I wanted you
to ride with us a few days

and kind of get to know
the men a little.

They're bad-tempered.
When we get to Dodge,

they're going to be looking
for Kansas scalps,

and it could get real bloody.

All right.

I'll ride with you.

I figured you would.

The way we look at it,

the good citizens of Dodge
are just out to fleece us anyway.

On top of that,
they hire gunfighters

to shoot us when
we kick up our heels a little.

All in all, it makes
for pretty bad feelings.

I think there's a little blame
on both sides there, don't you?

You and I know that, but they don't.

Oh, say, Quince, I near forgot.

A fella rode up to the remuda
a while ago, asking for a job.

I told him to eat first.

A job? He must be crazy.
Where is he?

He's right over there.
I'll go get him.

Well, I tell you, Quince, I'll...

I'll take my turn
standing guard tonight.

There ain't any need for that.

If I'm going to ride with you,
I might as well do my share of the work.

All right.

You ride the last watch.

I'll have the wrangler
get you a night horse.

Okay.

This here is Dolph Quince,
the trail boss.

Howdy, Mr. Quince.

Your name?

Studer. Carl Studer.

You lost, Studer?

I don't know what you mean.

Do you know we're only
four days ride out of Dodge?

Sure, but I was wondering
if you could use a hand.

- For four days?
- Glad to help.

You must be awful hungry, Studer.

I guess I am.

All right, we'll feed you
for four days if you work,

but I won't pay you nothing
because I ain't got the money,

and I don't need a hand anyway.

I'm sure grateful to you, Mr. Quince.

Wait a minute.

Where are you from, Studer?

Colorado.

Then you ain't a Kansan?

No, sir.

Good. Maybe the boys
won't tear you apart.

You'll ride the fourth watch
tonight, Studer.

Yes, sir.

Now, there's the sort of man
that spends his whole miserable life

just looking for salt, pork,
and sundown.

Yeah, if that's all he is looking for.

What do you mean?

I don't know.
Maybe I'm just suspicious.

You don't trust this fella?

Oh, he's probably all right.
But if I were you,

I'd keep him in camp
unless it's daylight.

I guess you're right.
Better turn in early, Marshal.

You'll be out singing
to them cow brutes in a few hours.

Breakfast at 4:00.

You'll find it don't take long to stay
all night in this camp, Marshal.

Yeah. I guess I'd better
turn in early, huh?

That's the real honest truth.

All right, you brush poppers,
let's get out of bed!

It's time to get up! Let's go!

The coffee's on.

And I don't want no hoo-ha
about the coffee this morning.

I've had enough of that
around this here place.

You smell that coffee, Marshal?

Sure do.

That's the best part
about riding the last watch.

You always get fresh coffee.

Yeah. Well, let's go get some, huh?

I'm ready.

I'll fetch you a cup.

Oh, that's all right.
I'll be over there in a minute.

No trouble.

- Here's your coffee, Dillon.
- Thank you.

- Morning, Mr. Dillon.
- Hello, Chester.

Made one friend, anyway.

That's just because he thinks
I know all the girls in Dodge City.

Don't you, Marshal?

No, I'm afraid not.
That's Chester's department there.

Yeah. Yes, I spend all my time
with the ladies.

That's because I'm so rich, you see?

I've got so much money
to spend on them. Heh.

That's just the impression
you gave me the first time I saw you.

Yeah, I'll bet. $8 a month.

Come on, Chester.
Let's get some breakfast.

Well, if it's free,
I guess I can stand it.

Well, didn't have any trouble
last night.

- I kind of wish there had been.
- Hmm?

It's like fighting the Indians.

You worry more about them
when you don't see them

than when they're coming at you.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Well, no trouble with him.

Did you keep him in the camp?

Oh, yeah.

Doesn't look like much of a hand
to me anyway.

We'll be trailing out pretty soon.
I'll see you with the herd.

All right.

- Say, Marshal?
- Yeah.

I was thinking...

another gal I remember.

Holly something.

Dark-haired, slim.

I think she worked
at the Lady Gay place.

You must know her. Real nice.

Didn't seem to mind
talking to a raggedy cowhand.

This one seemed different.

For heaven's sakes,
we'll never get to Dodge at this rate.

We've got to get to Dodge, Chester.
You owe me a drink.

Well, I'd gladly buy it for you, too.

I think I'll go on up ahead
and ride point, Mr. Dillon.

I can't see a thing
through all this cattle.

- All right.
- Don't get yourself lost, Chester.

Don't worry none about that.

- He's a good man, Marshal.
- He's the best.

How does it feel to be
a trail hand again, Marshal?

Well, nothing to it, if I could sleep
all winter like you fellas do.

Then when would you
spend your money?

I'll trade jobs with him, Quince.

You know where I found him
in Dodge?

Hanging a horse thief, I hope.

Not hardly.
He was sitting idle in a chair,

taking the sun like an old man.

Don't let it fool you, Jacks.
I've seen him move.

Say, you two crossed
the Cimarron yesterday.

What's it like?

The water's down. You shouldn't
have any trouble getting them across.

I was thinking about the sand.

It's plum solid
where we crossed, Quince.

We'll cross the same place.

You go up, ride point,
and lead us to it.

Pick up that new fella Studer
on the way.

Oh, I don't need him, Quince.

I know. I want him
up where I can see him.

All right.

Well, your cattle seem to be
in pretty good shape,

considering the walk they've had.

Hmm. They kind of
triggered up, though.

Look how they're trailing.

Yeah.

Well, maybe nothing will happen
to set them off.

That Cimarron worries me some.

First crossing I tried there last year
had a quicksand bottom

that would bog a saddle blanket.

- Did you lose many?
- 30 head.

Couldn't even dig their tails out.

I don't envy you fellas
running these herds

all the way up here from Texas.

We ain't got any choice, Marshal.
Texas is bankrupt.

War broke us.

These mossy-horned cattle
is all we got left.

Yeah. Well, maybe something
will happen one of these days

to change all that.

If you're talking about the railroad,
we'll starve waiting for it.

Well, I'll tell you one thing...

yours is the first trail herd
into Dodge this year.

Prices are high.
You ought to make $20 a head.

We ain't to Dodge yet.

They Jayhawkers
can still scatter this herd.

Well, you've probably
seen the last of them.

Maybe.

Mr. Dillon!

Mr. Dillon!

It was Studer, Mr. Dillon!
He shot him right in the back!

He's stampeding the herd!

I'll go after him!

Get him alive, Marshal!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Stay here, Chester!
I'm going after the others!

Yes, sir!

Drop your gun, mister,
and stand up.

Not likely.

You go back!

Get your hands in the air
and stand up!

Now, listen to me.

All I want is my horse,
and I'll get out of here.

I promise you, we won't
cause you no more trouble.

Mister, your friends are all dead,
all but you.

You stampeded that herd twice.

What makes you think
I'd let you go now?

Let me tell you something.

I'm not a cattle man.
I'm a United States Marshal.

You turn yourself over to me,
I'll see that you're not lynched.

You'll get a fair trial.

No.

No, I ain't giving up!

Then you'll die
where you are right now.

Let me go!

I'm warning you!

I sent Chester to help
round up the cattle,

but I brought Snyder here with me.

After the beating
they gave him the other night,

I kind of figured he deserved
to be in on this.

Guess I'm too late.

Looks like you've taken care
of all of them.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's too bad you couldn't
have got one of them alive.

Well, they didn't give me
much choice, Quince.

No.

How's Jacks?

Dead.

That's too bad.

He was a good man.

Hmm.

Well, the boys will have
the lead cattle turned by now.

We'll mill them around an hour or so,
then graze them out.

Say, Snyder, my horse
went over the top of that hill.

Could you round him up for me?

- Sure, Marshal.
- Thank you.

Well, Quince,
I tried to take him alive.

I guess I just wanted
to hang him myself, anyway.

I'm glad he's dead.

Look, when you can spare
a couple of men,

we ought to dig some graves here.

Sure. Say...

we're going to be
burying Jacks, too.

You'll be there, won't you?

Well, sure, you bet I will.

I don't know much about, um...

like, doing it proper.

Would you help me out?

Well, I'll sure try.

Thanks.

We brought
nothing into this world.

Neither may we carry
anything out of this world.

The Lord giveth,
the Lord taketh away.

Even as it pleaseth the Lord,

so cometh all things to pass.

Blessed be the name
of the Lord. Amen.

Amen.

Well, Snyder?

Yeah?

Say, I brought along a bottle
of that wagon yard whiskey.

I thought maybe some of the boys
might get a little dry.

It's over there in the chuck wagon.

It's not much, but maybe it'll cut
the alkali in the water.

Go get it for them, will you?

Thanks, Marshal.

All right.

There's times when drink
is good for a man's soul.

I guess this is one of them.

Well, I don't guess Jacks
would mind too much, would he?

No.

Well, Marshal, the boys all know
how you handled them Jayhawkers,

and they feel somewhat better
about things.

Good.

Of course, that don't mean they ain't
going to hoorah Dodge some

when they get there.

Heh.

I guess we can stand it all right.

Well, ain't there a drink
in that bottle for us?

Let's go find out, shall we?