The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 1, Episode 27 - The Necktie Party - 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 ♪

As the gypsies have roamed dailyin lands through the ages,

so they ventured early to our Western frontier,

for the West was horse country,

and the gypsies were horse traders

and sometimes horse thieves.

The day came when Wyatt Earp had to decide which.

I don't come all the way to town unless it's important.



You know that, Bud.

Another good horse disappeared last night.

It belonged to George Irons here.

Tell him what happened, George.

I sent the horse into town

after supper with my wrangler Casey.

He stopped to light a cigar,

and a man wearing a mask clubbed him.

When I come to, the horse was gone.

That's the seventh good animal that's been stole this fall.

Now, George and I called you men together

to decide what we're gonna do about it.

What about the law, Bud?

We're paying this Marshal Earp pretty good.



This marshal ain't located one of your stolen horses.

When there wasn't any law at all in this country,

we knew how to handle horse thieving.

And I'm one who ain't forgotten.

Do you have any idea who's responsible?

Sure. Casey found this at the West Fork last night.

That's the mask the rustler wore.

It's a cheap bandana dyed black.

I dipped it in some boiling water

and soaked some of the dye out.

Here, take a look at it.

Purple and green around the edges.

Now, where do you see folks

wearing purple and green around here?

Those gypsy women out at Cassan's camp.

Seems like we ought to go out to Cassan's camp

and have a look around, don't it?

If George Irons' horse is out there,

we might just knot this around some gypsy's neck.

That ought to take care of horse rustling around Wichita for a while.

That was our idea in calling these men together, wasn't it, George?

That was our idea.

All right. Let's go out to the corral

and get our horses.

Morning, Mr. Irons, Mr. Creel.

Morning, boy.

Morning, Marshal.

You riding out somewhere?

Is that any of your business, Earp?

I hope it isn't.

Well, it ain't, so get off my corral gate.

Now look, I know where you're headed

and why you're headed there.

I'm gonna ask you to cool off and think it over.

You aiming to stop us?

Yep.

You hired out to handle horse thieving,

among other things around Wichita.

You haven't done it.

So?

So maybe we can handle it better.

Like stringing up a gypsy?

Yeah...

if he's the one that slugged Casey

and stole George Irons' horse last night.

Well, that would be murder, Mr. Creel,

the way you're gonna go about it.

Even if we can prove he stole my horse?

Well, you prove it to me, and I'll put him in jail.

Then you gotta prove it to the judge.

That's the law.

And this is my corral,

and we're coming in to get our horses.

I shouldn't wonder you could do it, there's enough of you.

But how many will there be

when you get on the other side of this gate?

You can't bluff me, Earp.

I'm not trying to bluff you, Mr. Creel.

I'm just asking you to stop and think

whether any horse you ever rode

is worth a hole in your shirt.

Or one in yours, Mr. Irons.

Your family can get along a lot better without that horse

than it can without you.

Are we gonna let him buffalo us?

Mr. Casey, you want to be the first one through the gate?

I ain't gonna let no young squirt back me down.

Put up that gun. Give me an even draw.

All right.

Go ahead.

Take him over to Dr. Briggs' office.

I'm gonna ride out to the gypsy camp

and see if they got any strange horses in their string.

All right, Marshal.

We'll try it your way

just once more.

I'd advise you to get rid of those guns.

They're a heavy drag on the ribs.

Cassan.

Hello, Marshal.

Morning, Cassan, Anna.

Good morning, Mr. Earp.

Would you like some coffee?

Didn't come for coffee, thanks.

I'd like to talk.

It's not very much like the old buffalo hunting days, is it?

Not much.

Married life kinda settles a man.

Did you come here to talk to me about married life?

No. As a matter of fact, I'm...

I'm in a little trouble.

I hope I can help you as you have often helped me.

I think you can.

How?

Well, by answering some questions.

Another horse was stolen last night,

right on the edge of town.

I know. A roan off of George Irons' ranch.

How do you know about it?

We have ways of knowing things.

There is no roan horse on this ranch.

You can look around if you like.

No, I've already looked.

Cassan, what do you, uh...

What do you know about these wagon families living on your land?

You know I don't discuss the affairs of my people.

They're not really your people.

Since you married a wife from Ohio and homesteaded this land,

you haven't been riding with the wagons.

I respect the customs.

Well, we've got an old custom

in this part of the country

for horse stealing called hanging.

I don't respect it.

But if the rustling keeps up, I, uh,

don't know what I can do about it.

We did not steal that horse last night.

What about the other six horses that disappeared lately?

No.

Do you give me your word as a friend or a gypsy?

A friend.

All right.

But the ranchers think differently.

The found this mask on the West Fork Road last night

near where the horse was stolen.

Gypsies don't need masks to steal horses.

That proves we did not do it.

It's an old trick, Marshal.

Someone tried to throw suspicion on us.

Suspicion, my eye.

They can use this as evidence against you.

You would have had a gang of visitors

carrying guns and ropes if I hadn't stopped them.

In a gypsy camp,

every gun in every wagon is loaded.

Cassan, whether you're my friend or not,

you don't want to pitch battle against the ranchers.

They'd kill half your people.

I thank you for preventing it.

Look, will you help me find out what's happening to these horses?

No. I don't dare.

I'll back you up. I'll make you my special deputy.

Don't you understand?

The law is an enemy that hounded the gypsies in every land.

I cannot work with the law. It is forbidden.

You mean your own people would dry-gulch you?

Take your choice.

Here he comes.

All right, Marshal, did you turn up my horse?

Cassan said he didn't steal any horses.

We know all about you and Cassan, Earp.

He's an honest man,

You back the gypsies,

and we go on losing horses, is that it?

No. But since we don't know where to go to find the rustlers,

maybe we can bring the rustlers to us.

Try staking out a couple of good animals.

Decoys, eh?

That's right.

Close by town where I can keep my eye on them.

It might work.

Nothing else has.

Mr. Irons, will you lend me a couple of your horses for the job?

Why two and why mine?

Because you raise the best stock in Kansas,

and because we gotta stake out something

the rustlers can't resist stealing.

And the marshal's office is going to be watching them?

Yep.

Then you better use somebody else's horses.

Hold it. I don't think you meant that, did you?

I don't think you meant that I'm in on any deal

that might lose you your horses.

I don't recall saying you were in on it, Earp.

But I do know valuable stocks been disappearing

right under your nose.

Make you feel any better

if I appoint you special deputy for the job?

I've got a ranch to run, Earp.

What about your wrangler Casey?

He's been with you for over nine years.

You ought to trust him.

Casey, you heard the Marshal's proposition.

Wanna work with him a couple of days?

Sure. Why not?

I may get a crack at whoever slugged me.

All right.

Now, it's to you men's interest to keep this quiet.

So keep it among yourselves.

All right.

Casey.

See anything on the road in?

Jackrabbits.

Nothing moving around here.

That's where he was, Wyatt, hiding under that bridge,

the man in the mask that slugged me.

We've been staked out here since about dark waiting for him.

They're playing this one close to the vest.

Casey, you turn the horse loose in that field over there.

I know. Irons told me.

Had anything to eat? No.

Well, I'll give you some dinner.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

It's Bud Creel. Come on in.

Any sign of him? No.

The Dutchman wants you in town, Earp.

Some cowhands are getting glued in his place.

You want to watch with Casey?

I don't need nobody.

I'll watch till my night stage goes out, just after midnight.

I'll be by later, Casey.

It's Casey.

He's dead.

They got your horses, too, George.

Yeah, and where's that marshal?

Forget the marshal. Let's trail those horses.

How'd you mark their shoes?

We didn't.

Casey took their shoes off

so whoever stole them couldn't ride off fast.

It'll be easy to track them barefoot.

Come on.

Look at those tracks.

They had them tied out here.

Look at these.

They lead right into Cassan's camp.

Bud. There he is, the roan.

Right out in the open.

Why, those gypsies...

Take it easy, George.

There's a dozen guns in that camp.

Hadn't we better go back to town and raise some riders?

You can do anything you like,

but that's my roan horse.

Him and me go back to town together.

Giddy-up.

Don't go near that horse or we'll have trouble.

You two go on back to town.

What are you doing here?

Earning my wages.

I found Casey dead about an hour ago.

I tracked your horse to Cassan's waterhole.

The horse was brought here before dawn

by someone trying to make it appear that we had stolen it.

I wouldn't talk too much, Cassan.

What you say can be used against you.

Or against you, Earp.

Yeah. What about George's other horse, Marshal?

I wouldn't know about that.

But right now, if I were you two,

I wouldn't pick a private fight.

Take a good look around you.

Do they think they can take my horse...

Hold it!

They think Cassan's being framed by the law.

Cassan, tell your people that I'm not gonna frame you,

that I'm your friend.

And tell them if they gun us,

half of Wichita will be out here on the run.

They'll shoot 'em like sheep, burn their wagons.

Shut up, Creel!

Cassan, tell your people that you're going into town

as my prisoner because I promised you justice.

Tell them they've gotta back my play.

Because with that horse being found on your camp,

if you don't go in town with me,

I can't keep you from a lynching.

All right, you two go on into town.

We'll be right behind you.

Hyah.

Get your things.

Cassan, trust me. It's the only way.

Who is it?

Anna Cassan.

Sit down.

You took a big chance coming here tonight.

Gypsies aren't too popular.

I thought the town was asleep.

Well, the town's not gonna be sleeping on this one.

Anna, I'm sorry.

I can't let you see Cassan.

Oh, I understand.

I had to bring him his supper.

He'll only eat gypsy food.

Yeah, I know.

I told him if he'd just starve to death,

it might save us a lot of trouble.

Why, this isn't a joke, Mr. Earp.

I came here for something else.

I had to warn you.

About what?

Some of the ranchers are planning

to break into jail and take Cassan.

You know that? How?

I... I can't tell you.

Well, how can I believe you?

When a gypsy woman reads the ranch wives' fortunes,

she learns a lot more than she tells.

You've got to stop them, Mr. Earp.

On my word, the gypsies didn't steal those horses.

Cassan is innocent.

Well, you're his wife. You'd say that.

It's true.

You know he's not a horse thief.

You're his friend.

You can't let them hang him.

Now look, Anna, there's only one of me.

There'll be a hundred of those jug-crazy cowhands.

If they start here, I don't know if I can stop them.

The rancher's wives thought it might be tonight.

The necktie party?

I better sleep here in the jail, then.

Why, you'd give your life for him, wouldn't you, Mr. Earp?

Look, Anna, if you wanna save your husband,

you better get your people to try and find out who stole those horses.

We'll try to find them.

And tell them this much for me:

They're not doing the law a favor.

Cassan's their blood. It's him they're helping.

You better go on home.

Take the alley. I think you'll be all right.

I can't go with you.

Thank you, Mr. Earp.

Good night, Anna.

Wyatt. Things are kinda piling up on you.

Uh-huh. They're really piling up.

They say they'll force your resignation if Cassan doesn't hang

or if one more horse is stolen.

Well, one more horse has been stolen.

What?

A roan belonging to George Irons,

the evidence against Cassan.

But that horse was in your custody,

locked in your stable.

I know it. Last night, when while I was on guard duty,

somebody pried the steel bar off the stable,

and the roan's gone.

Where were your deputies?

I only had two of them yesterday.

Listen, I'll serve, Wyatt, if you wanna swear me in.

No.

One gun more or less wouldn't make any difference

if they come for Cassan tonight.

You think they'll try? Yeah.

I guess they'll be here sometime this afternoon

asking for my resignation

for not being able to stop somebody from stealing a horse

that was placed in my custody,

and I can't say I blame them.

Well, I can.

No. All they know is that they were brought up

believing that the only way to stop horse stealing

was to hang some man.

They're breaking windows, trying to decoy me outside.

Don't worry. I won't leave the jail.

I can pick up glass off the streets, but not blood.

Get away from that window.

Open up!

Who's there? It's me, Murdoch.

You're wanted over at Doctor Briggs'.

You know I can't leave here.

It's Cassan's wife. She's hurt.

Some drunken cowhand turned over her wagon.

She says she's gotta talk to you.

You stay here.

Lock the door behind me.

He's leaving the jail.

Keep your eyes on him. I'll report to Bud Creole.

Go around the back.

Your men are getting liquored up all over town.

We can't hold them much longer, Earp or no Earp.

Bud, Earp just left the jail.

Which was is he heading?

I don't know, but they're watching him on every corner.

All your men are waiting for is a signal.

Let's give it to them.

Marshal went into Dr. Briggs' office and came right out.

He's walking down the street and headed this way.

Well. Boys, I believe Earp's come to his senses,

coming down here to make a deal.

Jinks, if he steps inside, bolt the door behind him.

I'll go out back and lock my stable door.

Then we'll have him boxed

while the hands go to work on the jail.

The welcome committee, huh?

Every man that lost a horse.

Well, that's good.

Except Bud Creel. Where's he?

Just back in the stables.

He'll be right in.

Maybe I better talk to him there.

Alone.

I'd stay out of it if I were you.

Well, Mr. Earp.

So you're quitting on your gypsy partner.

No, not just yet.

What'd you come down here for,

resign or make a deal?

I came down here to get George Irons' horse.

You mean the one someone stole

right out of your own stable last night.

You stole that horse, Mr. Creel.

Me? That's right, you.

Only you haven't had time to run him out of town yet.

Ha!

He's accusing me of rustling those horses.

That's right.

You hid them out here in this stable

until your night stage left.

Then your drivers ran him south.

That's how all your stock has been disappearing, gentlemen.

Right down the open trail.

And Mr. Creel's stage man.

At night and under harness

when nobody'd even think to look for a stolen horse.

You got no proof of that, Earp.

I guess you'll be surprised to know I got it from the gypsies.

From the gypsies? That's right.

Last night, they spotted your two stolen horses

at Creel's first relay station south.

I just got the word.

And you'll take the word of a lying gypsy?

That's no proof.

The proof's right under our nose...

only we couldn't see it.

Somebody get his gun.

There's your roan, Mr. Irons.

He killed Casey,

then he sent those two horses of yours out of town

pulling the night stage.

Then he planted the roan horse at the gypsy camp

where we found it.

The game was going so good,

he got a little greedy last night.

He had to steal it back from you.

And he was holding it in this blind stall

for his late-stage run tonight.

That's right.

He figured tonight would be an easy one,

with the whole town busy hanging a gypsy.

You men give me a hand.

We'll take him over to Dr. Briggs.

Then to jail, Mr. Creel.

What's happened?

I got a more important customer.

I gotta turn you out.

You are not quitting on me, are you, Marshal?

What about that mob outside?

Anna cleared you, Cassan.

She's waiting inside.

Go on, get in there.

Yeah, what about that mob outside, Earp?

They're liquored up, and they're carrying the rope.

You ought to know. You gave it to them.

Yeah, listen.

They're sure hankering for a horse thief.

Uh...

you're not gonna let them come in and get me, are you, Earp?

No. That'd still be murder, Mr. Creel.

What are you gonna do?

I guess I'll just have to sleep another night in jail.

Good night.

♪ 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 ♪