Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 4, Episode 38 - Blue Horse - full transcript

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Some of these
bootheel men lie here

with nothing but a saddle blanket
for a coffin.

And some of them,
who were real poor, without even that.

But they all died the same way...

hard and fast.

And hating something.

You know, it's the hate
a man carries that destroys him.

It's not the bullets.

Hate can twist and sicken him
till he's no good to anybody,

including himself.



And that's a bad thing to watch
in any man.

Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal.

Well, mister, you sure could've picked
a better part of the country

to get yourself caught in.

What's the matter, Chester?
You getting thirsty?

Well, I ain't no camel.

Another day's ride to Dodge.

A day and a half, Chester.

Well, I meant all day tomorrow.

This trip too tough for you men?

Too much for you to handle, maybe?

If I was you, I wouldn't
worry none about that, Hob.

Oh, I ain't.

It's just that I hate to see anybody
bite off more than they can chew.



For an out-and-out murderer,
you sure do talk big.

And you sure can get all head up.

But it makes me feel bad
to see man take on so, Chester.

It makes me feel real bad.

I reckon that killing an innocent man
makes you feel real good, don't it?

Ah-ah, Chester.
You're making yourself thirsty.

That's enough, Hob.

Why, Marshal,
I was just saying that I'm sorry

for the fix you're in out here.

Only one thing bothers me
about the fix we're in.

Yeah, what's that?

You're not worth it.

By golly, Mr. Dillon, you're right.
It's a pure waste.

Ought to leave him out here
for the coyotes.

What's the cavalry doing way out here?

Maybe they're looking for you.
Heard you needed help.

- Oh, why don't you just...
- Let's go, Hob.

Hyah! Hyah!

Company, halt!

- Come with me, Sergeant.
- Yes, sir.

- Good morning, Lieutenant.
- Good morning.

My name's Dillon.
I'm the Marshal over in Dodge City.

Lieutenant Eldridge, 6th Cavalry.

Well, you're a long ways from the post.

We're on a mission, sir.

Oh?

A runaway redskin, a squaw,
and three warrior sons.

Is that so?

They escaped from
a reservation down south.

They're heading back up this way
to Wyoming territory.

Have they been causing trouble?

Well, the way I understand it is,
the man is a sub-chief,

and if he escaped successfully,

it may be hard to keep
the tribe down there.

I see.

I certainly would appreciate it

if you'd keep an eye out
for him, Marshal.

His name is Blue Horse.

Blue Horse?

Sure, Lieutenant,
we'll keep an eye out for him.

Thank you, Marshal.

- Which way, sir?
- Sand City, Sergeant.

Marshal?

I'd like to speak to you alone.

Sure.

This is my first tour
west of Fort Leavenworth.

I kind of figured that.

The Army gave me maps

in regards to the probable route
of Blue Horse.

But you're not too sure
just where you are.

No, sir.

How about your sergeant?
He looks like an old plainsman.

Oh, I couldn't ask an enlisted man.

Heh. You will.

You just haven't been
out here long enough.

All right, what's the nearest
landmark on that map?

Something called Two Bluffs.

Yeah, Two Bluffs. Well,
that's a couple of sand hills off here

about 20, 30 miles to the north.

Well, thank you, Marshal.

So, the Army thinks Blue Horse is
going to go by way of Two Bluffs, huh?

Well, we're out in front of him,
so what we'll do

is just spread out and wait.

Mm-hmm. Well, good luck to you.

Thank you.

Sergeant!

Straight to the right! Ho!

Well, there should be some water
down in those trees.

Looks like a good place
to spend the night.

Don't tell me you tough lawmen

are going to stop
and sleep like commoners.

Oh, why don't you just
keep your mouth shut, Hob?

You'll be lucky if we don't keep you
tied to that horse all night.

He'd be better company.

Yeah.

Here, come on, let's go.

Are you hurt bad, Mr. Dillon? Huh?

Chester, his gun's in my saddlebag.
Go get it.

Yeah.

Right. Now, get down off that horse.

Don't you try nothing, now.

Why, that'd be plum mean...

the Marshal hurt and all.

Anything I can do for you, Marshal?

Just stand easy
so I don't have to put a bullet in you.

Mr. Dillon, you can't walk, huh?

No. No, it's busted, Chester.

Well, uh, I think that
your horse is gone, too.

I was afraid of that.

You'd better take care of it.

All right, sit down there,
where I can keep an eye on you.

Chester?

You got a knife on you?

A knife? Yeah.

Let's cut the boot off.

Yeah.

That was a good horse.

Yeah.

What are we going to do now?

You want me to ride for help?

You'll have to take his horse
just so you can trade off.

If you don't run into anybody
that can help you,

ride on into Dodge.

Well, I can't do that, Mr. Dillon.
Riding day and night,

it would still take me two days
to get back here.

It's the only way.

What about him?

He stays with me.
I'm going to need some help.

Well...

You sure don't think
that I'd take advantage of a man

with a broken leg.

It's going to come off, Mr. Dillon.

All right.

That don't look none too good.

Don't you think I'd better try
and get a splint on it before I leave?

Yeah. And hurry.

We've got to get you started for Dodge.

Long night, wasn't it?

Yeah.

You learn to trust me,
you'll get some sleep, Marshal.

Is that so?

The crick's over there.
I'll get some water.

Stay where you are.

We've got a canteen of water
right here.

Now, where would I run to, Marshal?

Just sit back and relax.

Marshal, a man with a leg like yours

and a fever coming up bad...

can't seem to get enough water.

Your leg didn't improve much
overnight, did it?

Lying around waiting like this.

You're feeling pretty poor,
aren't you, Marshal?

Don't worry about it.

I ain't worried.

I got plenty of time.

Just don't count on me
going to sleep, Hob.

I ain't counting on nothing.

I'm just waiting, that's all.

Just waiting.

Aah!

I'm sorry to have to stomp
on your leg like that, Marshal.

You know, you're going to be
nothing but a corpse

for that fool Chester
to take back to Dodge.

Yeah. What with that fever...

and no water,

and nobody to fetch you any.

I'm leaving, Marshal.

Hob, I'll catch you.

I'll catch you if it takes forever.

That's just about how long
it's going to take, Marshal.

You get yourself some sleep, hear?

Well, looks like we're both
in a fix now, Marshal.

Blue Horse.

Blue Horse?

Why, he's that runaway Indian
the cavalry's after.

We watch.

No, no, no. Wait.
Now, listen, Blue Horse.

You don't want to be helping him.
He'll turn you in.

He will.

You should've heard the way
he was talking about the cavalry.

He my friend.

Friend? He can't be your friend.
He's a lawman.

He's got to turn you in.
You can't trust him.

One day Marshal cut rope...

white man's hanging party...
from my neck.

- What?
- I owe him life.

I not forget.

Use your head, Indian.

This is different, I tell you.

You help me, I'll let you go.

You go scot-free. I'm no lawman.

You can trust me.

Make much talk.

- But I'm telling you...
- You! Build fire!

- Huh?
- Build fire, heat water.

What for?

Wood. You work now. Come.

You're making a mistake, I tell you.

Leg very bad.

Woman make Epsom water.

Wet leg, draw fever out.

Good. I don't mind losing
some of this fever.

Your gun.

Thanks, Blue Horse.

When you're through,
would you mind tying him up?

I'm too weak to handle him.

No need. We watch.

No, you can't stay here.

The cavalry's out looking for you.

Go to sleep now. We watch.

You've got to go.
They might come by this way again.

You sleep.

Patrol, halt!

Something wrong, sir?

We haven't found Blue Horse, have we?

No, sir, we sure haven't.

We tried waiting at Two Bluffs.

I think he's behind us.
We're riding back, Sergeant.

Back to where, sir?

Back to where we met
Marshal Dillon and his party.

And then what, Lieutenant?

I don't know.
We'll see when we get there.

Patrol, ho!

Hyah!

You sleep long.

Yeah. I sure needed that.

Thanks for keeping him, Blue Horse.

How long have I been asleep anyway?

Many hours. Woman fix leg.

Fever gone now.

Yeah.

She did a good job.

No sign of the cavalry?

Thanks, Blue Horse. But, you know,
you shouldn't have stayed.

You my friend.

Why'd you leave the reservation?

Blue Horse take family north,
back to land of people.

Reservation hard land. Dry wind.

We Cheyenne hunting people.

No can live off bad land.

So, you just picked up and left, huh?

It is for us to live
under northern sky.

Yeah, I know. It's too bad
the Army can't see it that way.

Government of white man
does not care

that all Indian cannot live same way.

Government of white man
care nothing true about Indian.

I know how you feel, Blue Horse.

But try to remember one thing...

the government isn't all bad, either.

What is it?

Small wagon. Two men.

Oh, well, that would be Doc.
He's coming for me.

Good. Marshal safe now.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's all right, Doc. Come on in.

- Doc.
- Are you all right, Mr. Dillon?

Yeah, fine, Chester.

I got back just as fast as I could.

And I had a lot of help.
I wouldn't be here at all

if it wasn't for them,
I'll tell you that.

Them Indians?

- You know who that is?
- No.

Blue Horse.

Blue Horse?

Ain't that the Indian
that the cavalry was looking for?

The one that jumped the reservation?

Oh, Chester, Doc...
my friend Blue Horse.

How are you?

I go now.

Thanks, Blue Horse.
Good luck, and...

maybe I'll see you up there
under those northern skies someday.

Oh, Blue Horse?

Just one thing.

The cavalry's expecting you
to go by way of Two Bluffs.

Just thought you might want to know.

Mr. Dillon, you...

you think you should've told him
where the cavalry's waiting for him?

Well, Chester,

I think a man ought to be
where his home is.

Don't you know you could be
in some trouble with the Army?

If they find out you're helping Indians
escape from a reservation...

pretty serious.

Cost you your job, maybe.

You going to tell them?

Oh, pshaw.

Well, what about the leg, Doc?

You know, it beats me.

I don't know how they do it,
but it just looks fine.

And the splint's going to be all right
till you get to Dodge, too.

- Can we travel?
- Sure.

Well, let's get started, huh?

All right, Chester,
you help him up there.

Lie back, easy.

- Okay.
- All right.

Whoa, whoa!

Is that them Indians coming back?

No, that's the cavalry, Doc.

Well, Marshal, I guess you figured

you had me pretty well fooled
back there.

What do you mean?

What do you think that shaved-hair
lieutenant's going to do

when I tell him
you let them Indians go?

Well, I don't think
you're going to tell him.

You've got another thing
coming, Marshal.

Shouldn't take the cavalry
more than a half a day's ride

to find your friend Blue Horse.

That was a pretty stupid thing
to do back there

for a man who likes to wear
a tin badge as much as you do.

Now, let me tell you
something, mister.

This tin badge is the only thing
that's been keeping you alive.

Now, you'd better just pray
that I'll never have to take it off.

Hello, Marshal.

Lieutenant, this is Doc Adams here.

- Lieutenant.
- Marshall.

- Howdy.
- What happened to your leg?

Oh, I broke it.

Sorry to hear that.

You haven't seen any signs
of that Cheyenne

I talked to you about,
have you, Marshal?

We sure have.
We even had a powwow with them.

What do you mean,
you had a powwow...

- Sergeant!
- Sorry, sir.

He was real friendly.

Turns out I'd met him before.

As a matter of fact, I talked him
into going back to the reservation.

You did what?

That'll be enough, Sergeant!

You really mean it, Marshal?
You think he'll go back?

He's on the way back now.

You practically accomplished
my mission for me.

But, Lieutenant...

Sergeant, head the troops out!
Marshal.

Company, forward!

Hyah!

You're smarter than I thought you was.

You kept your mouth shut for once.

You'll see just how smart I am
when we get to Dodge.

I'll save my speech-making for court.

I don't think it's going
to do you much good.

You see, as his personal physician,

I happen to know that the Marshal
was running a fever, delirious,

didn't know what he was saying.

Did you, Matt?

You're the doctor.

Tell me something, Doc.

You ever been wrong on a diagnosis?

Never in my whole life.