Gunsmoke (1955–1975): Season 6, Episode 28 - Little Girl - full transcript

Starring James
Arness as Matt Dillon.

My golly, the place
looks deserted, don't it?

Yeah.

Suppose it was Indians?

Could have been, Chester.

I don't see any bodies around.

You all right?

Well, he's burned.

Burned something terrible.

That a man in there?

Not hardly.



Not no more.

What happened?

He was sitting at the table,

asleep, looked like.

There was fire all around.

You live here, do you?

Well, I don't live
nowhere in particular.

First time I'd been by here.

I was just riding by,

and I saw the fire.

My name's Albie.

Yeah, that poor fella.

Might have been better
if I hadn't ridden by.

Just let him get buried
in them ashes there.



There, I'm going now.

I want to get as far away
from this place as I can.

So long, Albie.

So long, Marshal.

So long, Chester.

Albie.

Well, looks like we done
just about all we can do here.

Yeah.

I suppose I'll head
back to town, I guess.

Mr. Dillon?

Well, he can't be more
than ten years old, can he?

I think that's a girl, Chester.

It's a little girl.

Hello.

Hello, there.

Who are you?

Well, my name's Marshal Dillon.

I'm Chester Goode.

That's my name.

What's yours?

Charity Gill, that's my name.

It was a big fire, wasn't it?

Charity, uh, tell me something.

You live around here?

Uh-huh.

Where abouts?

Right here.

I've been down in the creek.

I play down there.

Stay there all I can.

Uh-huh.

Well, did you know
about this fire here?

I screamed at him to move,

and then I tried to pull him,

but he was too big.

And then it got hot.

I don't want to talk
anymore about the fire.

All right.

Charity, was he your pa?

Well, he married Mama
and me when I was little.

She said I was to call him Pa,

but I didn't like him.

Now, where's your ma now?

She died

about three years ago.

He's dead, too,

isn't he?

Yes, I'm afraid he is.

I didn't like him.

There's nothing left, is there?

By golly, she don't seem
too concerned, does she?

No, but I am.

What do you mean?

We can't just
leave her out here.

Well, you're not gonna
take her into Dodge, are you?

I don't know what else to do.

She's not a horse, you know.

We can't just turn her loose.

Charity?

That's where I slept.

In a little bed there.

Look, that's kind of what I
wanted to talk to you about.

How'd you like to come back to
Dodge City with Chester and me?

But what would I
do there, Marshal?

Well, I-I don't know exactly,

but we'll sure
think of something.

I don't have a horse.

Well, that's all right.
You can ride up with me.

Good.

Let's go.

Well, here we are.

Is this your house?

Well, kind of, yeah.

There you go, Charity.

Let me help you down.

I'll take the
horses, Mr. Dillon.

All right, Chester.

We'll be over at Doc's.

- Doc's?
- Yeah.

What you taking
her over to Doc's for?

She ain't sick, is she?

No, of course she's not sick.

I'm just gonna
have him look at her.

No harm in that, is there?

Well, you're the dad.

You can do what you want.

That's a funny kind of
house you got in there.

Yeah, come on in.

What's the matter?

I've never been to
a doctor's before.

Well, by golly, I hope you
never have to go again.

You all through?

Yep, I'm all through.

Well, Doc, she's all right, huh?

Oh, sound as a new dollar.

Good. I'm glad to hear that.

What are we going
to do now, Marshal?

Well, I don't know really, uh...

Doc, thanks for
looking her over.

Oh, don't mention it.

- Thank you, Doc.
- Well, you're welcome.

You're nice.

Well, you're nice too, Charity.

Okay, let's be on
our way, shall we?

Marshal,

do I live with you now?

Well...

Gee, I don't know,
Charity. I doubt it,

but don't you worry about it
'cause we'll find somebody

real nice for you
to live with soon.

But I like you.

Don't you like me?

Well, sure.

Sure, I like you a lot, but...

Then why can't I live with you?

Well,

it's because...

Doc, uh, did you want
to say something here?

No, I don't think so.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Come on, Charity.

You wouldn't let me
be alone, would you?

No, of course I
wouldn't let you be alone.

Hey, I got an idea.

I think I'll take her
over to Ma Smalley's.

Say, that's just fine.

I was just getting
ready to mention that.

Oh, you were, huh?

Well, why didn't you?

Good-bye, Doc.

Good-bye, Charity.

- Marshal?
- Hmm?

Do you have a
little girl like me?

No, no, I'm afraid I don't.

Why not?

Well, see, I'm not married.

Well, why don't you have
a little girl or a boy anyway?

Now look, kid, you...

My name's Charity.

Yeah.

Well, Charity, you sure ask
a lot of questions, don't you?

That's how you learn,
asking questions.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Then why don't you
have a little girl like me?

Come on.

Let's get you over
to Ma Smalley's.

Rafe.

Ah, hello, Marshal.

Is Ma Smalley around, Rafe?

What's that you got there?

Well, this is Charity here.

Ma around?

No, she ain't.

Well, where is she?

Meddling, that's where she is.

Thinking and talking free

with a bunch of half-wit women

that should have been buggy
whipped a long time ago.

He's awful mean, isn't he?

Well, he just talks
that way, Charity.

Well, uh, where'd they go?

Wichita, that's where.

Wichita?

Yeah.

Left on a train yesterday
with Moss Grimmicks' wife,

Fannie Dobie, Dorsey girls,

Tyra Jonas...

I don't know, most
every woman in Dodge.

What's going on?

Suffering.

What?

Yeah, that's what they call it.

Suffering.

Well, wait a minute, you
don't mean suffrage, do you?

Yeah, that's the sneaky way
that womenfolk have of talking.

Why can't they
just come out plain

and say they want the vote?

Well, I'm afraid I'm gonna have
to leave that up to you, Rafe.

I've got women
problems of my own here.

I'll see you later.

Come on, Charity.

Well, you-you just
let them vote awhile.

Then you'll see.

This whole country
will be suffering.

I didn't understand
all that, Marshal.

Well, kind of hard to explain.

What are we going to do now?

I don't know.

Maybe I ought to take you
out to Hi Stevens' place.

Where's that?

Well, it's out in
the country aways.

Tell you what we'll do.

We'll go over and
get Doc's buggy.

See, I guess you probably
had enough horseback riding

for one day, haven't you?

But what's out there?

Well, it's a man and
his wife and eight kids.

She won't be in Wichita.

Come on.

Hey there, Marshal.

Marshal. Marshal.

- Hello, kids.
- Where's your gun?

Watch the wheels there, now.

Watch it now.

Hey, where's your pa?

I want to talk to him.

Daddy!

Look what you did!

Would you go get that blanket?

Don't do that!

Don't.

Hello, Marshal.

Hello, Stevens.

Good to see you.

Hey, quiet down, you.

Quiet down!

Well, what brings
you out here, Marshal?

Well, is, uh... is your
wife home, Stevens?

Uh, no, sir, she isn't.

Well, I'm just here
alone with 'em.

Just kind of taking
care of the place myself.

- Cleaning up.
- When she's gonna be back?

Oh, I... I don't know.

Quiet! Listen, quiet!

You get back there.

Get your little brother
and get him over there.

You stay out of the way.

Get back, every one of you.

Now stay back here.

I want to talk to Marshal
Dillon... alone. Ooh.

Get off of there.

What did you say, Marshal?

I said, uh, "When
will she be back?"

Uh, well, I-I don't know.

She didn't by any chance
go to Wichita, did she?

Yes, she did.

And I'm holding it
against her, too, Marshal.

Why, I can't get anything done

around here. I just have to
stay in the house all day, and...

and, well, these kids are going

to kill each other or
they're gonna burn

the place down. I...

Get off of me!

Marshal, I don't know.

I just... I don't think I can
stand this much longer.

Oh, uh...

Uh... hey, Marshal,

do you think you know anybody
that can give me a hand?

Hmm.

Stevens, I'm afraid I don't.

Oh, excuse me, Marshal.

Oh, I know...

Oh, watch out for
that stove there!

Marshal?

Yeah.

I don't think I'd like it here.

Yeah, well, I...

see what you mean.

We better get out of here
before we get captured. Come on.

You surprise me, Matt.

Well, Kitty, you're about
the only woman left in Dodge.

I thought you'd want to help.

Well, I'd love to.

Not in a saloon.

Can't you keep her in your room?

Oh, Matt. My room,
the Long Branch.

Well, any of this is...

It's no place for a
child. You know that.

Well, I suppose you're right.

You know I'm right.

Just wish I could
think of something.

Well, did you get
your drink, Charity?

The man said he didn't
have milk, so I had water.

You went behind the bar, I hope.

Yes, ma'am, just
like you told me.

Good girl.

Uh, I'm going out and
check with some of the boys.

- Maybe somebody'll have an idea.
- Yes.

You'll be back
for me, won't you?

Sure, sure, I'll be
back for you, Charity.

You stay here, maybe
you can help Miss Kitty.

I like him.

Yeah, I like him, too.

You're pretty.

Oh, do you think so?

You smell pretty, too.

Only...

Only what?

You got your face all painted.

Mama told me only
Indians painted their face.

Well, maybe your
mama was pretty enough

not to have to use
paint and things.

Oh, she was pretty, all right.

This is a funny
place to live, isn't it?

Yeah, kind of funny.

Sometimes I don't understand
grownups, Miss Kitty.

Always gathering
together indoors

and smelling smoke
and drinking whiskey

and talking loud.

Why is that?

Well, I don't know, Charity.

I really don't.

But if they didn't, I'd
be out of business.

You're funny.

Not really.

Well, any luck, Matt?

Well... no luck at all.

Looks like we've
reached the end of the line.

I'm a problem, ain't I?

Oh, no, you're not a problem.

It's... well, just that
we got to find you

some place to sleep tonight.

Now, Matt, wait a minute.
I-I think I have an idea.

What about Dora Henry?

She's raised those
nine kids of her own,

and she's all alone in
that great big old house.

Hey, by golly, you got
something there, Kitty.

I don't know why I didn't
think about that before.

Come on, let's get a ride out.

Can I come and talk
with you again, Miss Kitty?

I'll come and see you tomorrow.

Good-bye, Miss Kitty.

- Good-bye, honey.
- Good night, Kitty.

Good night, Matt.

Now, don't you worry
about a thing, Marshal.

Charity and I are
gonna get along just fine.

Well, I... I sure appreciate
this, Miss Henry.

Be like old times
having Charity here.

Hmm.

Well, you, uh... you're gonna
be a good girl now, Charity.

Well, she's gonna be as
good as gold, I can tell that.

You go along, Marshal.

Yeah. Well...

Now, look, uh, tell
you what, honey.

I'll, uh... I'll stop by
and see you tomorrow.

Well, good night.

It's past time for
little girls to be in bed.

Come along, dear.

Hello, Marshal.

Charity.

I've been waiting
here the longest time.

Well, what are you doing here?

Where you been?

Well, I've been over
at the Long Branch

telling Miss Kitty how I
had you all taken care of.

Now what happened?

I ran away.

I slipped out of the
bedroom window

and came here to find you.

But you shouldn't
have done that.

Now, I'm just gonna have
to take you back there.

It won't do any good.

I'll run away again.

What's the matter?

She wasn't mean to you, was she?

Oh, no. She was awful nice.

But she doesn't make
a very good daddy.

What are you gonna
do with me now?

Well...

no point in standing
out here in the cold.

I'm just gonna get
you inside, I guess.

Oh.

Now, Charity, you
just stay right here

and make yourself at
home for a minute, see.

Mr. Dillon, what
are you doing here?

That kid's got to get to bed.

Yeah, I know she's
got to get to bed.

Matter of fact, I
want to take your bed.

Wh-What do you mean?

Well, you can stay in
one of the cells here.

I'm gonna put her over here.

Well... one of the cells?

Well, the whole set's back
there sleeping off a drunk.

Well, you want to
put Charity in there?

Well, I-I...

Well, I-I feel kind
of funny, Mr. Dillon.

I never been in jail before.

Chester, look,

Charity is gonna
stay in your bed,

and I'm gonna sleep sitting
up out here in the chair,

and you're gonna sleep in here.

- Now, that's all there is to it.
- Well, uh...

- Do you have to lock me in?
- Huh?

I said, "Do you
have to lock me up?"

Excuse me.

Well, what's-what's gonna become

of that poor little
thing, Mr. Dillon?

She's real gone on you.

- I don't know.
- Yeah?

You know, it's... it's just
too bad you can't keep her.

Well, I mean, it
would-would be better

if-if she was a little boy,
but still, you know, I mean...

Get to bed, Chester.

Charity?

Come on.

Come on, we'll get you into bed.

Getting pretty sleepy there.

That's Chester's bed.

Well, don't worry about that.

I'm gonna give
that to you tonight.

Where will you sleep?

Well, I'll be all right.

Just don't worry about me.

Are you gonna undress me?

My mama always did.

Now, look here, young lady.

There isn't time for any
more of that tonight now.

We got to get you to
bed. It's getting late.

Here we go.

Now, you... you just
jump in to... here...

bed and stay like that.

And we'll talk about
all of the rest of it

in the morning, you see.

There now, get some sleep.

- Marshal?
- What?

You might kiss me
good night at least.

My mama always did.

Well, you see...

I'm not, uh, too...

That wasn't so bad, was it?

No, that wasn't so bad.

Well...

good night, Charity.

Oh.

Chester?

Chester!

You seen Charity?

No.

Well, she's gone.

Well, where would
I have seen her?

Well, how do I know?

But tell you one thing... We
got to get out and find her.

Good morning, Marshal.

Well.

There you are.

What you doing out here?

Thinking.

I'm worried about you, Marshal.

You're worried about me?

You don't know what
to do with me, do you?

Well, no, I don't for a fact.

You don't want me to
live with you, do you?

Oh, sure, I do.

Look, come here.

Charity, I'd like you
to live with me a lot.

I really would.

But, well, you
see how it is here.

See, you need a
home, a real home.

Aunt Annie's got a home.

Aunt Annie?

I guess I haven't told
you about her, have I?

No, I guess you sure haven't.

I thought it would be
fun to live with you,

but all we do is walk around.

Where does this Aunt Annie live?

Just on yonder from where
I used to live before the fire.

Maybe ten miles or so.

Not far.

I guess you'll take
me there, huh?

Yeah.

I guess I sure enough am.

Come on, we'll have
some breakfast first.

One more thing, Marshal.

What's that?

I want to come and
visit you once in a while.

Charity, you can come
visit me any time you want to.

I'd, uh, kind of like
to come visit you

once in a while, too.

Promise?

Promise.