The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 1, Episode 23 - The Frontier Theatre - 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 ♪

The Frontier Theatre, in 1875,

was almost as rough and tough

as the Frontier Saloon.

Wyatt Earp, as Marshal of Wichita,

found himself saddled with the job

of keeping order at the town's music hall,

where all kinds of shows and all sorts of characters



bid for popular favor.

Usually, the shows were pretty good.

But usually, the cowboy audiences were full of liquor

and bad temper.

They're response to the drama was simple and primitive.

If they liked the show,

they threw money on the stage.

If they didn't like it,

they started a riot.

But in the case of Jeff Pruitt

and his carnival Honky Tonk...

Come on, girls. Rehearsal's over.

The hall's closed. Don't worry about it.

You've got no right to close my show, Earp.



It isn't a show.

You don't know nothing about it.

You're a Johnny Law. You're no show expert.

I know enough to know what you're running.

Your girls are underpaid, and they were rolling drunken cowhands.

That's a lie.

And the music hall's owned by this city.

You're closed, Pruitt.

I fight with my fists.

I don't where guns with two deputies

to protect me.

If that's the way you want it,

I'll take 'em off. Not now.

I want to get you all alone,

where nobody can save you from a beating.

Okay, you arrange that, Pruitt.

You fix it up real soon.

You take him and the girls to the hotel.

Archie, put up that sign.

Hey, aren't you gonna have him fined

for putting on an off-color show?

No, our job is to keep cowhands from being robbed,

not to protect their morals.

Wyatt,

we're gonna have more trouble

over at that music hall. Oh, Jeff Pruitt?

No, it's that new company. The High-Low Players.

What's their problem?

Well, Harlow's been making the cowhands sore.

And Mr. Murdock says you better come right away.

Show business.

I've had more trouble with the music hall

then ten saloons put together.

Now, remember my darling,

a child's duty is to be honest,

cheerful, and obedient.

Do I have to obey him, Mama?

He is not my real Poppa.

Hush, my dear.

You must obey Mr. Lash.

I, myself, have vowed

to love, honor, and obey him.

But he is cruel.

He makes you cry.

The truth

from the lips of my own little girl.

How could I have consented

in a moment of weakness,

to marry Mr. Lash?

Well, ya shouldn't have done it.

Quiet. Aw, shut up.

Hark, it is he.

It is Mr. Lash.

Oh, Mama, I am afraid.

Do not be afraid. So...

I find you whispering.

What is it this time? Hmm?

Well, answer me!

Don't tell him nothing.

If she tells on our little Mary,

we're gonna... Shh!

It's too late for subterfuge, Agatha.

One hour ago, I intercepted a letter

which this ungrateful child wrote

to her maternal grandparents in Schenectady.

No. Yes!

Leave the room, Agatha.

Please, Mr. Lash,

I beg of you.

Don't you leave, ma'am.

You stay with little Mary.

I am your husband.

Leave the room.

Heaven help us.

Now, you ugly little fiend,

I'll teach you to write lies about me.

It is true.

You are mean and cruel to my mama.

Oh, indeed. Well, I can be meaner.

I'll teach you what cruelty feels like.

You have presumed to sneer at me.

You have dared to write

your maternal grandparents in Schenectady

that I am a secret drunkard.

You have spied upon me,

you ungrateful child.

Let's get him.

All right! All right!

Quiet, quiet, quiet!

It's only a play. It's only a play.

[Chaotic chatter]

Get away from him.

Oh, Papa, are you hurt?

No. Thanks to this officer, here.

I love my papa. I'm not crippled,

and he doesn't spank me in real life.

Go finish your show.

I'll see there's no more trouble.

Come on, take 'em inside.

- Come on, come on. - Get in there.

We've put on Suffer the Little Children

a hundred times.

I had no idea the audience here

would react the way it did, Mr. Earp.

Well, you ever been out west before?

No.

You just don't understand cowhands, Mr. Howl.

Just like other people, aren't they?

Sure, when they're sober.

Trouble is that most of 'em are never sober.

You see, Wichita's the end of a long cattle drive

for most of 'em, and they...

Well, their stay here

is their one big holiday of the year.

Oh, I see.

Now, before your show opened,

I had to close an all-girls show.

They probably resented that.

What you're trying to say is I...

I should have put on a more cheerful play.

Yeah, I guess that's what I want to say.

You see, they don't care much for villains.

Well, then we're finished. How's that?

I'm down to two sets.

The one we used tonight,

and one for Death to the King.

Most of tonight's audience demanded their money back.

Oh.

You've, uh...

You've got financial troubles, huh?

I haven't told my wife,

but they held are other sets and most of our costumes

in Kansas City.

Panic of '73 is still lurking in the wings, you know?

Can't you put on the other play?

I'm an even worse villain in that one.

Hmm?

Poppa?

Can't Mama and I come in now?

Well, all right.

The dying swan. Catch!

Oh, it isn't proper.

Papa should have caught me.

You're a strange man.

Jeannie. Don't scold her, hon.

Jeannie's just putting that on, Mr. Earp.

She aimed herself straight at you.

Why, Papa, I did not.

Well, it's all right, Jeannie.

I like you, too.

Mrs. Harlow, uh, your husband and I

talked it over, and we, uh...

decided you oughta put on Death to a King

tomorrow night.

Well, uh...

Yes, we'll put on the King, hmm?

Won't that start another riot?

Well, I hope not.

Anyway, my deputies and I will be on hand.

It seems I have no choice.

That's right. Our company's

financially embarrassed and down to two sets.

Papa doesn't think Mama knows, but we both know.

Jeannie!

That's all right. I've been broke a few times, myself.

You won't let those cowhands

hurt my papa, will you?

Jeannie, I give you my word of honor.

Good luck tomorrow night. Thank you, sir.

The swooning princess...

I fell right into the arms of the law.

You better fall right into the arms of Morpheus.

Yes, Mama.

Good night, Mr. Earp.

Good night, Jeannie.

Good night.

Eh, she's very sweet.

Good night.

Thank you.

Stupid cowhands.

Yeah, they didn't get that actor away fast enough.

Earp jumped 'em at the stage door.

When do we try it again, Jeff?

Well, tomorrow night if Harlow's got the guts

to put on another show.

But no cowhands this time.

Let them start the rumpus.

And you boys grab Harlow,

put him on a horse, and head for

the Douglas Avenue bridge.

Earp will ride to the rescue, and we've got him.

Eh, Harlow again.

Wonder if that no good, child-beating murderer

gets murdered or does he murder the king?

He better get murdered.

How are ya, Wyatt? How are ya, Marshal?

All right, hold it now. Hold it now.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Last night, some of you folks out there in the audience

took the play too seriously.

Now, just in case you haven't read today's Eagle

or were told by your bartender,

I'm gonna repeat a mild warning.

Now, this stage up here belongs to Mr. Harlow and his actors,

nobody else...

And that includes everybody out there.

Now, if anybody tries to climb up on this stage

except the actors,

or tries to make any unnecessary noises,

you're gonna get buffaloed.

Law says you'll stay in jail for 30 days.

Now, me and my deputies are gonna be sitting in the front row,

so all of you just sit back,

relax, and enjoy the play.

Now...

And now, on with the play.

Six thousand men approach

to seize my castle and my kingdom.

And I, alone and deserted.

My life is like this piece of cord.

It had its beginning.

It must inevitably

have an ending.

Now what could be fairer than that?

Shh.

And yet, a king must sleep,

restless with the burden of his own crown.

For on this day,

I did but harken to such tales of woe

from my poor subjects,

that death not sleep.

Would such a blessing be.

But, oh, my wretched life

is precious to my people.

True, true.

For when the last runny drop escapes the cup,

what then?

Moncrief is king.

Aye, Moncrief,

my nephew...

So steeped in evil

as to mark my name,

and make his own name a terror in the kingdom.

Moncrief.

His name does squeak

like the gallow's rope,

like the screw that turns the rack.

Moncrief.

Ah, his name doth rhyme with grief.

That word, so cruel

and so forlorn.

But why do I think of this?

For I am old.

'Tis far better

to dodder,

and to drowse,

and to sleep.

Now, don't you go to sleep, king.

No, Harlow's coming to dry-gulch you. Shh.

Why don't we beat him to the job?

He snores.

The old fool snores.

At this, his last farewell to life.

No battle cry,

no gallant jest.

Not even a seemly prayer.

'Tis well, for what is left of this life

I mean to nudge across the Styx

with a bared falchion.

Hey, king, wake up! Wake up, wake up.

Come on, wake up!

Snore by night,

a toothless cackle by day.

Years lie cold in the very blood of him.

Too long the frost has gathered on his beating heart.

It labors feebly now,

in a sheet of ice.

Well, old man, thou art mostly dead.

Quiet, quiet!

If you people continue to act like this,

we'll never have a theatre in Wichita.

It's no use.

We'll have to give them

their money back again tonight.

Mr. Harlow, I know who's behind this now.

We'll talk about it later.

Meanwhile, these two are going to jail.

Come on.

Don't shoot, Marshal.

Now, you were there. You saw what happened.

Yep.

And I thought it was just cowhand stupidity.

But the men that tried to grab Harlow tonight

trail with Pruitt and his gang.

Simmer down, my friend... No, not this time.

I promised Harlow I'd protect him. I didn't.

You kept Jeff's men from giving him

a good does of tar and feathers.

That's not the point.

Now, Wyatt,

whether Pruitt caused the trouble or not,

Harlow is partly responsible. How do you figure that?

You can't play Christopher Marlow

to a bunch of cowhands.

I know the poor fellow's broke,

and his company's stranded here,

but he should never have attempted.

Death to the King. That's still not the point.

Well, what is the point?

Inn full of drunken cowhands and Pruitt's men

are trying to close the music hall.

That's the point.

Well, it seems to me they've succeeded.

I can't let them get away with it. What are you gonna do?

They do get away with it, I might as well

turn in this star. Wyatt, you're mad and upset.

You're darn right I'm mad and upset.

I don't like giving my word and not being able to keep it.

But the main reason is

nobody puts anything over on me.

I'm the Marshal, and the Marshal can't afford

to let 'em get away with that.

You know that. He's through.

All right, go ahead and arrest Jeff Pruitt.

That show of his you closed was filthy.

I'll back you up on that.

What's it gonna do? What good?

The music hall would still be closed

and Harlow and his actors

would still be flat broke.

All right, we can take up a collection.

I've already done that. Huh?

Uh, my deputies arrested 23 men tonight.

I gave them the choice of kicking in $10 apiece

or being arrested for disorderly conduct.

So, uh, they all kicked in.

$230 bucks' worth.

That's mighty irregular.

Oh, but I approve.

Yes, yes, I do.

I approve.

Thanks.

Well, isn't that enough to get Harlow and his company

back to their next stand?

Wyatt, Mr. Harlow's here.

Oh, good. Send him in.

Come in, Mr. Harlow.

Mr. Harlow, I believe you've met Mr. Murdock,

the editor of The Wichita Eagle.

Yes, he gave me a very nice notice in his paper.

Good evening, sir.

Evening, Mr. Harlow.

I guess I'd better run along.

You two wanna talk. No, wait.

I want you to hear what I have to say.

Mr. Harlow,

how much would it cost to get your troupe out of town?

Oh, no. We couldn't accept that.

We'll find jobs and try to save another stake.

Well, this happens to be a free will donation

made by the cowhands that tried to break up your show tonight.

Hmm. That sound better?

Mm-hmm.

Now, how much will it cost?

Well,

$200 or $300 ought to pay our bills here

and get us back to Kansas City.

Kansas City, huh?

And, uh, what play would you do there?

A Tale of Two Cities.

By Charles Dickens.

Yes, I made the serial story into a play.

The audience like it?

Oh, they love it, Marshal.

Our top box office attraction,

all through the east.

Well, if you had the sets,

is there any reason why you couldn't play it here?

Here?

After what happened tonight? Mr. Harlow,

I wanna keep the music hall open.

I'll... Wouldn't you like to have

another chance at Wichita?

Well, Frankly, I...

Frankly, Mr. Harlow is scared,

and I don't blame him.

All right.

There's your money.

Now, that's a sensible solution.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Good evening, Mr. Murdock.

And, Wyatt,

you'll feel better in the morning.

Sure.

Mr. Harlow,

what kind of a character do you play

in Tale of Two Cities?

I play Sydney Carton, a great heroic role.

I change places with the husband of the woman I love.

I, uh...

I go to the guillotine in his stead.

Do you think they'd boo me here for that?

I think Mr. Murdock's probably right.

Ought to try it in Kansas City.

But you want me to play it in Wichita. Why?

For purely personal and selfish reasons, Mr. Harlow.

Still, why?

I took a licking tonight.

I promised you'd finish your play without any trouble.

In my job, I can't afford to be licked.

Neither can I, Mr. Earp.

You wouldn't have any objections, would you,

if I use this money to fix up a set

for the Dickens play?

I can't think of a one.

See you at the music hall.

Tomorrow night.

Wyatt. Wake up.

Hey. Just take it easy. It's just me.

Aw...

Did you find anything new on the saloon beat?

Yep. Pruitt got drunk over at Rowdy Kate's,

and talked too much.

He says he's gonna let this new show run without any trouble.

And then he's gonna grab Harlow before the curtain goes down.

Oh. What's he got against Harlow? Nothin'.

Except he figures that you're going after Harlow.

He's bragging that he's gonna bushwhack you.

He's gonna take your guns away,

and beat you up with his fists.

Hey. That's good.

Almost too good to be true. You sure?

Rowdy Kate passed me the word. She hasn't lied to us yet.

I trust her.

Go get Brick. We gotta plan this carefully. Right.

Allez!

Come, come, my dear.

You were given in life great courage.

Give death an equal bravery.

For death is nobler than life.

Allez! I can bear it for myself, Mr. Carton.

But for you... No, my child.

Why must you sacrifice your life for them? Why?

Charles Darnay is a good man.

I have loved his wife, Lucy, with the one pure affection.

God has granted me in this world.

And their child.

Allez!

In sparing little Lucy's life,

I gain a child of my own.

Is all that not worth a few moments out there?

Let me go first, Mr. Carton.

No, my darling.

You are friendless and alone.

If you went first, I might lose you.

His angels might hurry you away.

Oh, but I would wait. I promise, Mr. Carton!

I... I love you.

How fortunate we are.

We meet in prison, and by chance of numbers,

we are together now.

Say you love me, Mr. Carton.

Just a little. More than a little.

In the light of eternity,

your soul should be bright and beautiful.

Beautiful?

The loveliest young lady who has come from France.

And even I... a weakling, a wastrel,

and a rogue...

If my prayers be answered,

I, too, shall be pleasing in His sight.

Oh, you will! You will!

Sydney Carton.

But a few moments now,

and I'll have you in my arms again.

Think this of me.

It is a far, far better thing I do

than I have ever done.

It is a far, far better rest I go to

than I have ever known.

Allez!

Marshal Earp! Marshal Earp!

Those men! They grabbed my papa!

Stop them! Stop them!

Hold up here!

Get him off of there.

You boys get these horses out of sight.

Get down off of there.

Earp will be along soon,

because a lot of people saw the way we went.

And I want you to walk right around in a little circle

in this robe, and don't run out on us.

If you do, we're gonna shoot you down, understand?

Mr. Harlow.

Glad to see you're not hurt...

I said I'd get you alone.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Earp.

You're gonna be a lot sorrier. Get his gun.

All right, Pruitt. It's your turn. Lift 'em! All of ya!

Now come on. Drop 'em. Get 'em. Get those guns down!

Get over here, all of ya!

Ah, you're gonna shoot me, huh? Nope.

Keep your guns on the rest of 'em.

Mr. Pruitt's first.

You wanted a fist fight, didn't you?

Not with your deputies shootin' me in the back.

Don't worry. They won't.

You stay out of this. Watch it!

This is what I've been wantin'.

Now get up. You can't wait, can ya?

Come on. Get up.

Come on, Pruitt. Get up, Pruitt!

Come on.

Come on.

That's it...

Get up! You ain't hurt.

Get up! No, Mr. Earp! You've whipped him!

You're next. Push him out!

Shove him over here. No. No!

Stop him! Stop him!

Come on.

What's the matter? You heard Pruitt brag

I couldn't fight with anything but my guns. Well, come on!

No. Come to your senses, man. You'll kill him! Get outta...

This ain't my fight, Earp! It is now.

Wyatt! Please, Mr. Earp!

You better get him over to Fabrique's office.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Harlow, I try to stay out of fist fights.

Gun's less personal, and...

I don't get so mad.

I can't fight with my fists or a gun.

But if I had to fight you, I'd sure choose a gun.

How'd Tale of Two Cities go?

Oh, tremendous.

I missed five curtain calls, at least.

Great.

Could run forever.

In Wichita, that means about two nights.

You'd better climb aboard.

Aren't you riding back?

No.

I'm gonna take a little walk.

I'll see you in town.

♪ 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 ♪