The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 1, Episode 16 - The Buntline Special - full transcript

♪ Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp ♪

♪ Brave, courageous, and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his story be told ♪

Mr. Wilkins?

Three cents, jackknife and a watch.

That right?

That's right.

Sign that receipt.

Boy, you can sure give a man a hangover with that

gunbarrel of yours.



Well, it's better than being shot, isn't it?

Yeah, I reckon.

Thank you, Marshal.

Don't come back.

Don't worry.

I won't.

Mr. James.

You have one, two, three, four, five, six...

and a dime.

Rabbit's foot and a comb.

Sign it.

Mr. Clemmons.

Twenty , fourty, sixty, eighty...

a hundred and ten...



and twelve cents.

Well, it looks like you didn't spend much, Mr. Clemmons. You're lucky.

Sure.

Real lucky.

Spending my vacation in this hole.

Oh, it's not too bad. The food's pretty good.

Listen to me, Earp.

You made a monkey out of me, and I'll be back.

And I'm not coming alone, either.

My brothers will be with me.

And you'll wish you had never seen me.

Clemmons, you made a monkey out of yourself.

You didn't check your guns, and you had plenty of time to do it.

Now, as for your brothers, I took care of Mannon,

and I'll be very happy to meet the rest of 'em.

I'll tell 'em.

Yeah, you do that.

Now, here's your gun.

But I don't want you to load it and put it on until you get in the outskirts

You throwing me out of town, huh?

That's right.

When you cool off, you can come back in town if you want

But remember to check that.

Come here.

Sign your receipt.

Like I said, I'll be back.

I'll be here.

Clemmons.

You slam that door and I will throw you back in the cell.

That young Clemmons is going to turn out even worse than his brothers.

If he lives long enough.

Ah, his pride's hurt, that's all. He'll get over it.

Marshal!

There's a funny looking dude over at the Wichita,...

says he wants to see you.

A dude?

Yeah, and packing the biggest gun I ever saw.

You oughta see the size of it.

Yeah, I guess I oughta.

Sam, check those out for me, will ya?

Yes, sir.

I'll be back in a little while.

So Earp came from Ellsworth to Wichita

Wichita several months ago, huh?

Yup.

Why did he leave Ellsworth? They run him out?

They insulted him, so he left.

He's very sensitive.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Now, never mind the sarcasm.

I just want the facts, Doctor.

I want to know everything there is to know about Wyatt Earp.

And now what's the matter?

Nothin', nothin'.

I was just wonderin' if you'd fit a regular sized coffin

or if I should have one

specially made to order...

a little wider across the beam.

Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!

Now you stop talking like that or...

Or what?

or you stop drinking out of my bottle.

Now, are you ready to answer my questions?

All right.

Hmmm.

I'll answer all I can.

Now, how many men did he kill?

Who?

Well, who do you think? Wyatt Earp.

Oh, him.

None.

None as far as I know.

All right.

None?

Well, what kind of a frontier marshal is that?

I think I better let the marshal himself

answer you on that part.

Are you Wyatt Earp?

Yes, sir.

Well, I've come a long way to meet you.

My name is Buntline, Ned Buntline.

You heard of me, of course.

I don't think I have, Mr. Buntline.

Oh, you must have.

I write dime novels about the West.

I've written hundreds of them.

What's the matter with you people out here, don't you read?

Well, I was just about to ask you the same question.

Can you?

Well, I...

Sir, you are addressing a man whose command of English

is the envy of...

A simple no or yes will be sufficient, Mr. Buntline.

Well, of course I read, you idiot.

And you're under arrest.

Under arrest? What for?

For that.

For what?

Oh, I'm a little nearsighted...

but I can't see a thing...

Oh!

I beg your pardon, Marshal.

Ulp!

If you don't mind...

This isn't loaded

Well, the law makes no distinction between
loaded and unloaded guns, Mr Buntline.

It isn't even mine.

Just read the inscription on it.

What's this all about?

It's a gratuity, Mister Earp.

It's a small token of my admiration for you

as the most stalwart of the...of the...

It's not true that you haven't killed anybody here in Wichita, is it?

Oh, it doesn't make any difference.

People will never believe that.

They believe what I tell them to believe.

Marshal, this is your lucky day.

Mr. Buntline, I, uh...

I think you've been drinking.

Well, of course, I have.

That's what a saloon's for, isn’t it?

Well, I think you'd better come along with me.

Well, I certainly will.

That's what I've traveled 2000 miles to do.

Mt. Earp,

you are one of them.

I've undergone a great many inconveniences to make this trip.

I, I, I left my favorite razor back in Boston.

I forgot it.

Now I can't shave until I get back home.

Why not?

Because I'm sensitive.

Oh!

And believe me, sir, I didn't leave a luxurious home

in New England just for the trip.

I came here for one purpose...

and one purpose only...

to see Marshal Wyatt Earp of Wichita...

and to offer him fame and wealth...

beyond his wildest dreams.

Mr. Buntline, I still haven't the
slightest idea what you're talking about.

Well, now, surely the thought of fabulous wealth,

complete financial independence,

surely that's a thought worth exploring, is it not?

Go ahead and explore it.

Smoke, gentlemen? Especially made,

cost more than a dollar each.

No, thanks.

Are the windows open? I'll take one.

Umm.

Mr. Earp,

have you ever heard of a
man named William F. Cody?

Buffalo Bill? Sure.

You know who made Buffalo Bill?

Do you know who changed him from a nondescript,

practically penniless hunter

into an international figure of fame?

No.

Do you know...?

Do you know this isn't a bad cigar?

Thank you.

Do you know who made Buffalo Bill the idol of every female in America?

Do you know who enabled him to earn

50,000 American dollars in less than one year's time?

No., who?

Me. Ned Buntline.

It figures.

And I can do the same thing for you.

I think...your name up on the banner

just like Buffalo Bill's.

Ned Buntline presents his Wild West show

featuring, in person, Wyatt Earp,

the great frontier marshal.

How does that sound to ya?

It sounds ridiculous.

What?

Hmm, maybe I haven't made myself clear.

All you'd have to do would be to...

All I'd have to do is stand up on
a stage and make a fool of myself.

Get all dressed up in fancy clothes,

and smile at a thousand staring faces.

No, you make yourself very clear.

Oh, just a moment, Marshal.

Don't...I, I, I warn you...

I'm the one that does the warning around here.

Now, you get out and stay out. Go back to where you came for. Go on!

Well, you can't talk to me like that. I'm not...

Ahh, ahh, Wyatt, Wyatt.

You took that fellow too serious.

He was only trying to make you filthy rich.

Filthy is the word.

Sit down.

I want to give you some advice.

Oh, I know you never listen to any of it,

but would you please sit down now?

Please, listen to me.

All right,

Wyatt.

Each man has to decide what he will do

or won't do for money.

Wyatt, I hated to see you passing judgment on Buntline.

I didn't do that.

A plain no is enough.

Instead, you throw him out.

That's passing judgment.

Ah, I guess I did lose my temper.

Buntline can claim respect on a good many counts.

I'd say off hand it's...

he's made about a million children happy.

Don't you add that to his favor?

Yeah.

All right. All right. I, uhh...wrong.

I'll, uhh...apologize to him.

Good.

But...

Oh, I had another thought.

He went to considerable trouble

and expense

and expense to have this thing specially made for you.

Now at least you can go and try it out for him.

Maybe I will.

Look at that. Wonder what it is.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Delighted to talk.

Come on, let's go to town.

We've got things to do.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

That'll keep.

That's one thing you've got to learn.

Never pass up fun when you find it.

Life's too short.

What do you mean? What do you mean, fun?

Fun.

Say, you know, that's a, that's a real fancy outfit you've got on there,

Well, thank you very much.

I don't know.

Stop it, will ya?

Say, wait a minute, mister.

There's one thing you got to learn about this country.

Don't insult people who are trying to make friends with ya.

Well, I.

I didn't insult you. I...

Will you have a cigar?

Hm, you're a dude smuggler. huh?

You're in trouble.

Oh, I'm no...hey, now, cut it out, you men, will you?

I..I warn you, you'll regret it.

You don't say.

I do say.

I don't think the marshal would like to see his friends mistreated.

The marshal, huh? You a friend of the marshal?

Wyatt? Well, I should say I am.

He is practically a partner of mine.

Now, I'll tell ya, just...let's just forget this.

I...I won't say anything. O'm, uh...I've got a sense of humor.

It's a good thing you have.

Yeah, you're going to need it where you're going.You're coming wiht us.

Oh, no, I'm not.

Ahut uo, you're coming with us.

Oh.

Marshal that wild Clemmons Kid is back

is back here looking for you with one of his brothers, they check

They check their guns?

No.

Where are they?

Sittin' on their horse, right up the street

Listen, Marshal, you know that noisy tenderfoot that was here yesterday?

Buntline?

Yeah?

Well, he's with 'em.

You sure?

Positive.

That's close enough, Marshal.

Mr. Buntline, you're in bad company.

It's not of ny choosing.

Shut up@

Earp, I told you I was coming back.

Yep. You surprise me.

I figured you'd raise your kid brother to fight his own battles.

I did.

I just come along to say it was a fair fight.

I don't mean no shotgun against a six figure.

It's going to take some mighty fancy scattergun
shooting damage to miss your dude friend, here.

Well, I've never had to kill anyone yet.

I need to have you be the first.

It's going to be you and me.

You can make up your mind to that.

I'm sorry, boy.

Never mind being sorry.

Get rid of that shotgun...

Then you can the kid can shoot it out alone with six guns.

What about you?

You know me better than that.

I'm not putting them in a fair fight.

All right, Hal, you got yourself a shootout.

I'll be right back.

He's yellow.

No, I ain't.

He says he'll be back, back,

You just got to be fast today, kid.

Don't worry about it.

I can beat him.

Yeah, I reckon you can at that.

Matter of fact, I'd be willing to make a bet on if I find somebody to bet with.

You stay here.

Alll right, hal, get off your horse.

You said something about a wager, Mr. Clemmosa.

I'd like to bet $100 on the Marshal.

You got yourself a bet.

All right, hold it right there.

I'll make you a plate.

You're crazy.

You can't hit anything from there.

I can hit you.

I'll drop.

What's that?

That is a Buntline Special.

Well, now, just a minute...

Ow, ow, ow,

ow, ow, ow.

Sam, come out here and break that up.

Well, you had your shootout, Hal.

And you're still alive. I'm glad.

You really are.

Yeah.

Now go on to the jail.

Yeah.

Well, I'm on the side of a little man, Mr. Buntline,

And you're a coward, Mr. Clemmons.

You talk about fair fights.

You were going to use that rifle on the marshal.

Oh, it might look that way to you, but...

Are you staying in town? If you are, check your gun now!

No, I'm not stayin'.

Mr. Clemmons, you owe me money.

You're right.

Yeah.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And I, uh...I wasn't was going to use this rifle on the marshal.

Well, I say you were.

Well, I say I wasn't the right word.

You were.

Gentlemen, the drinks are on me.

No, you don't. No, you don't.

Thought you'd get that patched up.

Well, we can prance and drill...

You come on over to my place.

I'll see you at the Texas House.

Here you are, Mr. Buntline.

I'm sure you won't have any complications now.

Just wear that for a couple of days.

Yeah, well, I...I may wear that a little bit longer.

How does the jaw feel?

Well, it's still a little sore,

but nothing to affect my drinking.

Would you like a little nip?

You're the doctor.

Well, I prescribe a little spot of elixir.

All right.

I call this flu bourbon cure.

I'm sure you'll like it.

Good.

It'll take the wrinkles, all of your jaw and out of your head.

Hold it now.

There we go.

A little toast.

Uh-hm?

To your health, Mr. Buntline.

And to your courage.

Hold, Doctor.

Well, thank you, Doctor.

Thank you very much.

If I was a drinking man, I'd join the Doctor in that toast.

Well, that's very kind of you to say that, Marshal.

Great. So you like the special, huh?

Yes, sir. I sure do. It's a fine weapon.

Good, good. Sit down. Sit down , Marshal.

Thank you.

I, uh...

There are a couple of things I'd like to say to you.

First, I uh...

I want to tell you how much I
appreciate your action on the street today.

You're a very brave man.

Well, I never did anything like it before.

You know, Marshal, I think there's
something about your part of the country

that gives men courage when they need it.

An interesting observation, Mr. Buntline.

And very possibly true.

There's something else.

I owe you an apology. I hope you'll accept it.

Apology. What for?

For treating you the way I did yesterday.

I had no right to be angered by your business proposition.

I'm sorry.

Does that mean you accept it?

No, sir.

I thought it over and, well, I decided against it.

I thank you just the same.

Well, I wish you'd tell me why.

Well, uh...

I'll try to answer that.

I guess it's because I like the frontier.

I like the people.

I admire and respect them.

Even the bad ones sometimes.

I think I know what you mean.

Those Clemmons brothers, for instance.

No matter what else they are, they're still strong men.

Yeah.

Takes a certain kind of man to make the West.

Always has.

I guess I just wouldn't be happy in
any other surroundings, Mr. Buntline.

Well, no matter how much money I could make elsewhere,

Well, we'd have cleaned up, you old man.

Well, I tried, anyway.

Believe me, the trip was well worth it.

About this gun...

Now, that gun is yours.

Ooh, I'd like to keep it, Mr. Buntline,

but I can't accept it as a gift. I'll buy it from ya.

A regulation Colt's worth about $60 new, right?

I figure this is worth about a hundred.
Will that be all right, Mr. Buntline?

It will not.

Now, look, I'll make more than 100 times what that cost

with my eyewitness account

of the hair-raising, breath-taking six-gun dual

in the dusty, silent, sunbaked streets of Wichita, Kansas.

At $0.10 a copy.

All right, Mr. Buntline.

I accept it with thanks.

You saved a life today.

It might have been my own.

Marshal, all I can say is, wear it in good health.

Thank you.

Yeah, well, I better get back to Boston and get a shave.

Goodbye, Doctor.

Bye.

Marshal Earp.

Goodbye, Mr. Buntline.

You have a good trip now.

♪ Well, he cleaned up the country ♪

♪ The old Wild West country ♪

♪ He made law and order prevail ♪

♪ And none can deny it ♪

♪ The legend of Wyatt ♪

♪ Forever will live on the trail ♪

♪ Oh, Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp ♪

♪ Brave, courageous and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his story be told ♪

♪ Long may his story ♪

♪ Be told ♪