Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 5, Episode 15 - Tag, You're It - full transcript

Starring James
Arness as Matt Dillon.

Dillon, narrating: Men
die for a lot of reasons.

I've even heard of worthy ones,

like the man who's willing to face it
for the good that might come after.

But he's a different breed than
most of these Boot Hill trash.

These people died
for fool's reasons.

Spilled drink. Wrong card.

Or maybe worst of all, the
bull-headed stubbornness

that keeps a man
from listening to reason.

To die like this is a waste,

for nothing is
gained by their dying.



Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal.

Mmm.

You know, Mr. Dillon, a day like
this will make you feel kind of perky.

Yeah.

Looks like it's gonna
be a mighty fine day.

Yeah. Sun shinin'.

There's a nice breeze comin' up.

Breakfast just waitin'
down the street.

I knew you'd get
around to the food.

You can't blame a man for
wantin' to eat now and then.

Bread and butter.

Yeah, but you get a
hold of a knife and fork,

and you turn into a tiger.

Oh, it ain't that bad, just
'cause I like my vittles.



Hello, Carl.

Well, it's been
a long time, Matt.

You know, that's funny.
I just rode into town.

And the first man
I run into is you.

Chester, this is Carl Killion.

How do you do?

Howdy, Chester.

A badge?

Yeah, I'm the marshal here.

Well, who'd ever
have believed it?

That's funny, isn't it?

I guess we both wound
up sellin' our guns.

I wouldn't know
what you mean, Matt.

I'm just a drifter... Here
today, gone tomorrow.

What happens between
today and tomorrow, Carl?

Well, nobody ever
knows that ahead of time.

Not when you hit town.
That's not the way I hear it.

Oh, you know how easy
stories get started, Matt.

A man don't have a regular
trade, people make up things.

Carl, I've heard too much
about you in the past few years.

Are you a lawman for real, Matt,

or are you just bronco-ing this
town for what you can get out of it?

I'm a lawman.

That's funny. A man never
knows who he'll run into

driftin' around the way I do.

You didn't drift
into Dodge, Carl.

Somebody paid you to come in.

Am I right?

Well, now, if I was the kind
of man them stories say,

you wouldn't figure me
to answer that, would ya?

No, I guess not.

Not that I am that
kind, of course.

Like I said, just stories.

Carl...

get out of Dodge right now.

Is that an order, Marshal?

No. Just good advice.

Well, then I reckon
I'll stay a few days.

Take a look around.

See what kind of town you got.

I'll see ya again
before I leave.

Good day.

You know, I think
that's about a cold

a pair of eyes as I ever
saw. Who is that fella?

His name's Carl Killion, Doc.

Knew him years ago
down in the Pan Handle.

You did?

Yeah, he had a big
spread down there.

Fence cutters burned him
out one night, killed his wife.

He went out after 'em.

Killed about four of 'em,
the way I remember it.

I guess he's just
never been able to stop.

Or doesn't want to.

Hired killer, huh?

Gets $1,000 a job,
the way I hear it.

Well, I wonder who he's
after here, though, Mr. Dillon.

I sure wish I knew.

Let's go get some
breakfast, huh?

Hiya, Doctor Adams.

How'd you know my name?

Friend of Matt
Dillon's, ain't ya?

I reckon everybody in town
knows who you are, Doc.

It's nice to see ya.

Matt, hold on a minute!
I want to talk to you.

Doc.

Listen, you got to do
somethin' about this Killion fella.

Why, what's he done?

Well, he's done nothin' yet.

That's the whole thing about it.

But he's got people in this town
so doggone nervous and jumpy,

every time a door slams,
they're jumpin' sideways.

There's not much I
can do about that, Doc.

Well, you see, though they know
who he is and what he's here for,

they just don't know who the
mark's on 'til he makes a move.

Well, unfortunately
there's not much I can do

'til he makes that move, Doc.

Come on in.

Golly, Matt, I... I
just don't see why

you'd have to wait 'til
Killion makes his move.

Well, Doc, he's not been
convicted of any crime here.

And he's not wanted
anywhere else.

Not wanted? Good
heavens, he's a known killer.

He's never been convicted of it.

There ought to be
some way to stop him.

Well, the only way I
know of to stop him

is if he goes after
somebody in particular.

Well, there's about 50
people around this town

that think he's gonna
to go after them.

Old man Ross sittin'
over there right now

in the back end of the store

with a shotgun across his lap

just 'cause that Killion walked
up and took a look in the window.

I doubt if he's after old Ross.

Well, I don't think so, either.

But you don't know
for sure, do ya?

No.

Oh, Mr. Dillon, there's a
fella here that's lookin' for ya.

His name's Tex Bart.
Here's the marshal there.

What's on your mind?

Marshal, there's a man here
in Dodge that's fixin' to kill me.

Oh, is that so?

He calls himself Carl Killion.

He's been hired to
come here and do me in.

Well, now, there's a
lot of men here in Dodge

that seem to think
Carl Killion is after 'em.

I don't care what
they think. I know.

I seen him in Pueblo
two weeks ago.

And now he's turned up here.

Pueblo?

I got in a bit of trouble there
just before I come down here.

I killed a man in a fight.

It was a fair fight, but his
father was a big rancher there.

He swore he was gonna to
get me one way or another.

How does Killion figure in this?

Well, he was there,
and he seen the fight.

I didn't know who he was then,
but I remember his face, all right.

Marshal, he's
hired him. I know it.

I mean, Killion ain't
here just by accident.

Well, if he was in Pueblo
before he come here,

well, it must've been somebody
in Pueblo that hired him.

Maybe.

Marshal, you got to lock him up.

It's the only way
you're gonna stop him.

If you don't, he's
gonna kill me.

Runnin' away ain't gonna help.

He's just gonna to follow me.

I've heard all about that man.

Where you stayin'?

At the Dodge House.

All right, I'll tell you
what I want you to do.

You go back there
and stay in your room.

Don't go out in
the street at all.

Marshal, you think
he can't find me there

if he comes lookin'?

I think if he's after you,
he'll make his play in public.

That's the way he always works.

But if you stay out of his way

and don't let him
push you into anything,

you'll be all right.

For how long?

Until I can figure
somethin' out.

Well, I'll think
about it, Marshal.

Don't think about it. Do it.

I ought to knowed better
than come to the law.

Well, Killion's after somebody.

If he's not the one,
there's just someone else

you might not have thought of.

Who's that?

You.

I've thought of it.

♪ She's got them
big eyes, she... ♪

Miss Rusty, how are you tonight?

Fine. Thank you, Chester.

Well, you lookin' for anyone?

No.

I'm kind of glad that I
caught you out here.

You are?

Yeah.

Well, you're all
dressed up tonight.

Oh, well, yeah, I guess.

What's the occasion?

Um, well, truth of the matter is

I thought maybe if
you'd get off early,

why, we could rent
a buggy from Moss

and take a buggy ride
down to Cluger Springs.

Now? At night?

Oh, nighttime's the best
time to take a buggy ride.

Uh, well, it ain't near as hot.

I know.

Yeah?

Well, what do you think
about the buggy ride, I mean?

I'm sorry, Chester.

I'm afraid I can't
make it tonight.

Uh-huh.

Well, well, it was just that,
you know, last week, you...

I know I did. But
something came up.

Well... Oh, you mean workin'?

I mean, after you
get off from work.

No, that's not it. It's...

Well, we'll take a buggy
ride some other night, huh?

Sure.

You're not mad at me, are you?

Oh, no. Heaven's...

Well, would you like to
come in and have a drink?

We could talk for a while.

Uh.

Well, no. No, I don't think so.

I think maybe I'll just
dog it around town.

Maybe go over to the Lady Gay.

I'll see ya later.

Okay. Good night, Chester.

Night.

Hi, Kitty.

Hello, Matt.

How's business?

What business?

Sit ya down, Marshal.

Thanks, Clem.

Yeah, it does look a
little bit slow around here.

Matt, if you don't do something

about running this
man Killion out of town,

I might as well close up.

He's makin' this place his home.

Well, I can't say I
blame him for that.

Every time he comes in here,

the rest of the boys start
sweatin' under their collars

and edging toward the door.

If he'd only do something so
I could throw him out of here.

But he's always a
perfect gentleman.

You ought to tell him
about it. Maybe he'll reform.

Well, here goes another night's
business shot right in the head.

Evenin', Miss Kitty.

Mr. Killion.

- Matt.
- How are ya?

That's a mighty pretty
dress you're wearing, ma'am.

Thank you.

Law business coming
along all right, Matthew?

The town's been pretty
quiet the past few days.

Yeah, I've been noticin' that.

Don't seem to be hardly
any people around at all.

Not around you anyway.

Oh, now people got
no call to feel that way.

I don't mean no harm to 'em.

Carl, were you in Pueblo
just before you came here?

Might've been. Why?

Is that where you
took on this job?

I reckon you believe
all them stories, Matt,

just like everybody else.

Miss Kitty.

What is it, Rusty?

- Evening, Marshal.
- Hello, Rusty.

- Mr. Killion.
- Evening Miss Fennel.

Excuse me for butting in, Miss
Kitty, but Mabel and Susan wondered

if they could have
the rest of the night off,

seeing that there's not
much business anyway.

They want to wash their hair.

Yeah, sure. Tell
'em to go ahead.

I suppose you know
you're ruinin' my business.

Well, then maybe I'd better
make up for some of it right now,

if Miss Fennel will do me the
honor of having a drink with me.

I'd be very happy
to, Mr. Killion.

Good. I'm sure you'll excuse us.

Gives me the jeebies having
him hanging around here.

Doesn't seem to bother
Rusty much, does it?

Oh, she's crazy about
him. All the girls are.

Yeah?

You know, with all the time
he's been spendin' here,

maybe I'm the one he's after.

Matt.

That boy was aimin'
to do me harm, Matt.

He's dead.

I didn't have much choice,
the way he come at me.

Is this the job you
came here to do, Carl?

No, Matt.

I've never seen that boy before
in my life, to my knowledge.

Never even heard of him.
Don't even know his name.

If I was really after
somebody, I still am.

What is it, Mr. Killion?

I don't often see a town...

Any town... when
it's quiet like this

and peaceful.

I shouldn't have thought you
liked quiet, peaceful things.

Been a long time
since I've known any.

Are they true, all
those stories about you?

Most of 'em. Ah,
people add on a lot.

But, uh, most of 'em is true.

I'd hoped they weren't.

Well, things happen sometimes
when a man gets pushed,

further and further,

where he don't mean to go.

Who pushes them, Mr. Killion?

Why, nobody I guess, when
you come right down to it.

Except himself.

Then a man could stop any
time he wanted to, couldn't he?

It just ain't that
easy, Miss Fennel.

Why not?

A man makes a bargain.

He gives his word.

He's got to keep it.

Not when it's a vicious,
cold-blooded bargain to kill a man.

Let's forget about it.

That's what I'm asking
you to do... Forget about it.

Why do you care so
much, Miss Fennel?

What difference
does it make to you?

I just don't want
to see anyone die.

I don't want to think of
you as a killer anymore.

I don't know why, exactly.

But if you go through with this,
don't ever come near me again.

I mean that.

You don't understand.

I don't want to understand.

Well, then...

Reckon I'd better take
you on home, Miss Fennel.

Oh, hi, Mr. Dillon.

Hello, Chester. What
are you doin' back here?

I didn't figure to see
you 'til tomorrow morning.

Oh, might as well just give up.

I'm about ready
to go to bed, I think.

Can't have no fun at all
around this gol-dang town

with that Killion
hanging around.

Yeah, I guess he does kind
of slow things up, doesn't he?

Why, just terrible!

I mean, there ain't
hardly anybody out at all.

And them that is is so busy
lookin' over their shoulder,

jumpin' sideways
at their shadows.

It don't matter
how hard you try,

you just can't put
your mind at ease.

It sure is a shame to waste

all that hair grease and
that boiled shirt you got there.

I kind of figured you'd be
king of the Long Branch tonight.

You know, Mr. Dillon,
now there's another thing.

You know, that little girl over
there, uh, that I was kind of sweet on?

- Rusty?
- Yeah.

Yeah?

Well, she just can't
see me for dust.

She keeps hanging
around him all the time.

Well, I wouldn't
get too worked up

over a dance hall
girl anyway, Chester.

Well, she ain't just no ordinary
dance hall girl, Mr. Dillon.

She comes from
a real nice family.

Is that so?

Yeah. Well, I mean, her
ma and pa, they're dead.

But she's got an uncle

that's a real important
man worth a lot of money.

And his health ain't been too
good the last couple of years, either.

And here I thought
it was true love.

Well, Mr. Dillon, you know

that I don't care too
much about money.

But it sure don't hurt none to
know that she's an only heir,

along with this cousin
of hers in Pueblo.

Where?

In Pueblo.

That's where this uncle
and cousin of hers live.

Why? What difference
does it make where they live?

I'm gonna over to have
a little talk with Rusty.

Well, she's not
there, Mr. Dillon.

She went home with Killion.

Last door on the
left, the clerk said.

Yeah.

You'd probably better
stay here, Chester.

Yeah.

Rusty: Who is it?

It's Marshal Dillon.

I want to talk with you
for a minute, Rusty.

It's awful late, Marshal.

This is important, Rusty.

All right, what is it?

Can I come in?

I guess it's all right.

Thank you.

Don't look at the
room. It's a mess.

That's all right.

Now, what is it, Marshal?

What did you want
to talk to me about?

Well, I understand you've been
seeing a lot of Carl Killion lately.

Well, I... Suppose I have.

I like him.

I think people are
wrong about him.

How'd you meet him, Rusty?

What do you mean?

Well, I mean, did he come up
and introduce himself to ya, or...

Well, he came to the
Long Branch a few times.

He talked to all of
the girls, of course.

Well, he seemed to like me best.

Marshal, can't we talk
about something else?

Now, Rusty, it's Carl Killion
I came here to talk about.

Well, I'm sorry. I don't
wish to discuss him.

Why not?

It doesn't matter why not.

And if you insist on
talking about him,

I'll have to ask you to
come back tomorrow.

Well, of course, I can't force
you to talk about him, Rusty.

What's the matter?
Don't you like fresh air?

Rusty: I usually open them,

I just hadn't
gotten around to it.

I see. Nice view of
the street you got here.

That's one of the
reasons I took the place.

Mm-hmm.

Quite a town, Dodge.

Always somethin' going
on there, day and night.

Now, Rusty, I'm not gonna
bother you any longer.

I just wanted to show you I could
talk about something besides Killion.

Sorry I bothered you.

You all right, Mr. Dillon?

Yeah, I'm all right, Chester.

Can you hear me, Carl?

That was a fast draw, Matt.

Just as well.

Cousin in Pueblo, he just...

give me the name.

Rusty Fennel, I...

I didn't know it was a woman.

Not 'til after I'd
agreed to take the job.

Then... I had to
go through with it.

Matter of honor, I guess.

Honor?

A woman... I liked her too much.

Tell her.

Tell...

I thought maybe we...

He was only waiting
for a chance to kill me.

Well, there's one thing, Rusty.

He was here for four days.

He had plenty of chances
and he never tried.

Come on, I'll take
you out of here.