The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 11 - Bat Masterson Wins His Star - full transcript

Put this mask on. You're riding with us.

I said put it on.

You've tipped off Wyatt Earp. You get your share of bullets.

If nothing goes wrong in the hold up

then you'll be an outlaw, like us.

Why don't you let Earp catch him red handed, Dave?

Hey, it's an idea.

The great Wyatt Earp catches his best friend

Bat Masterson in the Santa Fe payrole robbery.

Ha ha ha.

Alright, let's ride.



♪ 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 Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

Starring Hugh O'Brian.

The friendship between Wyatt Earp and young Bat Masterson

was a rough and ready alliance

of the strikingly dissimilar characters.

It began with Bat's hero worship

of the older and wiser Marshal Earp.

It grew as Bat determined to follow Wyatt in the dangerous

career of a western peace officer.

Wyatt had advised his young friend to go to school



and choose some other business.

Bat made a try at this while Wyatt was Marshal of Wichita.

But when Wyatt moved down to Dodge City

and gained fame as the first Marshal,

he could hold his own with hoodlums

of that rip-roaring, cowhand capital.

Bat Masterson was drawn to die just by an irresistible lure.

Whatever he felt, he would prove to Marshal Earp

that he had the makings of a great Deputy.

Oh, So this is Dodge City, hmm?

Toughest cave of them all, ma'am,

but I'll keep an eye on you.

That's nice to know Mr. Masterson.

I'll get the bag.

Oh, don't rush off Miss Nelly.

Oh, your little brother can tow your luggage to the hotel.

Mr. Lucans, I told you I didn't want to be bothered.

Oh, now. Is that friendly?

You know, I can show you a good time.

Oh, here boy.

Take that luggage over to the hotel will ya?

For the young lady?

Hey.

You're right handy with your fists.

How are you with a gun?

Pretty fair.

Well, the next time I see you,

wear it.

Come on, let's go to the hotel.

You do the same.

Come on. Let's go.

You told me you wanted a job with Marshal Earp.

Is this going to help any?

Lucans asked for a gunfight.

I think you ought to talk to Mr. Earp first.

Wyatt.

Your old friend Bat Masterson

is in town.

He just had a fistfight with a fella by the name

of Lucans outside the stage depot.

They're gonna shoot it out the next time they meet.

Were they fighting over a girl?

She's a real fairy belle

according to the stage driver.

Yeah, well, that's Bat all right.

I have a very nice room for you.

Southwest corner. Register, please.

All right.

Hello, Mr. Masterson.

Hey, Wyatt. Oh, I meant to write you.

You never learned how to write.

Say, you got a little smear on your upper lip.

Huh?

Oh, that's a mustache. Mexican style.

Well, I'm sorry.

I'm so glad to see you, I plumb forgot.

Miss Nelly, I want you to meet Wyatt Earp.

How do you do?

I'd almost decided to run to the jail for you.

How's that?

Mr. Masterson here wants to gun a man.

Not unless he comes after me.

I'm afraid the gunfight's gonna have to wait.

Why?

'Cause you're under arrest, that's why.

Another joke?

I'd have a fine time with my enemies.

If I let my friends break the law.

Well, thank goodness.

Look, there's a lot of things about this

that I haven't told you yet.

But I will later.

Why don't you keep him with you a few hours?

By that time somebody else will probably shoot Lucans.

It's been a real pleasure, Mr. Earp.

Do I have to put the handcuffs on you?

No, I'll go on peaceable.

Good-bye, Miss Nelly.

And the first thing I do is get into a fight.

Sure isn't a very good time to be asking you

for a deputy's job.

So who's the girl?

Oh, she got aboard at Abilene.

We struck up a conversation, that's all.

Look, I'm not the fool I used to be about women.

I'm practically cured.

Oh, well that's good.

Are you still really serious about wanting that deputy job?

Yes, sir, I sure do.

Hmm.

Alright, you do me a favor.

Keep this in the gun rack.

Yeah, but what if Lucans comes after me?

Come on, act your age, you could shoot his ears off.

Well, yes.

When I go see Mayor to get his approval on your Deputy job,

I'd look pretty silly

trying to explain how you killed a man over a girl, wouldn't it?

I see that. How about the arrest?

Well, that's first defense.

Thanks, Wyatt.

I'll let you buy me a dinner down at your motel tonight.

I owe you a lot more than dinner.

Well, this my lucky day, Mr. Dealer.

Fine, good luck.

Your name Masterson?

Yeah.

Mr. Lukins was here, he'll be back.

He wants you to wait.

I'm not frightened.

Let's have a nice quite game of cards.

Fine with me.

You paralyzed all of a sudden?

Where is your gun?

It's in the rack.

Go get it.

Or maybe you're too scared.

No. I just don't want any trouble.

Oh, big talk. No fight?

Alright. I'll meet you outside.

Look out!

You want any more?

Hold it.

I'm sorry, Wyatt.

I tried to keep up, but he crowded me.

That's right, Mr. Earp.

It's not that bad.

Couple of your men walk him over to Dr. McCarty's.

You're sore at me.

I was on my way to see the Mayor.

Now the deputy job is all off, huh?

Well, come on, give it to me straight.

Look, I'm not gonna beg you.

Mr. Masterson, the deputy can't afford to get mixed up

with women and gambling.

If you hadn't gone over to play Faro

you might have kept out of Lukins way.

And let everybody think I was afraid of him?

Doesn't matter. You claim you wanna work for me

so it's what I think.

Oh, and you're still my school teacher, huh?

Well, I don't need any lectures about how I gamble

or what women I run with.

- Forget the job.
- Wait a minute.

You shot Lukins in self defense.

But I think you acted like a trigger happy brat.

My friend..

Who is it?

Dave Pollock. Open up.

It's kind of risky, isn't it?

I rather take a chance of moving during the daylight

than being bushwhacked by some reward hunter at night.

- Anything to drink?
- It's on the bureau.

Oh, so that's the way it is now, huh?

Little Nel ain't fetching drinks for the dazy boy anymore.

Well, guess it's gotta be strictly business.

We're getting the Santa Fe payroll.

Yeah?

They bring $30,000 into this town every Saturday.

But on what train, I don't know.

Well, how it gets out to the construction camp

that's your part of the job.

For how much?

- The usual.
- Oh, no. That won't be enough.

- Won't it?
- No.

I'm not casing any more jobs for two bit money

while you throw away hundreds on her.

- And which her is that?
- Hon Blanche.

You listen to me. You give me anymore trouble

and you'll get a lot worse.

You be out the camp tomorrow night

with the information I want.

Come in.

Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.

If you'd gotten here any sooner, you'd have to use wings.

I don't see any wings or any halo.

I've been around.

You mother said you needed help.

What's the trouble?

How do you stand with your friend, Mr. Earp?

Not good.

It won't last. You know, I'm gonna have to

cut him in on this pretty soon.

In on what?

I know how you can get your deputy job

and a big chunk of money besides.

Come on, it's safer to talk outside.

Wyatt.

Mr. Canton, Mr. Earp.

How do you do, sir?

Mr. Canton is a detective for the Santa Fe.

Oh. How are you?

Mighty worried. You got a reward sheet

on Dave Pollock, his gang, the train robbers?

Oh, yeah.

Mr. Canton thinks he saw Pollock in our town.

Yes, he visited Nellie Wright at the Dodge hotel.

Miss Nellie, huh?

She used to be his girl, maybe she still is.

Oh, sit down, Mr. Canton.

And that's where you and Marshal have to come in.

I tell you the robbery setup and you tell him.

And I want two thirds of the reward money.

I wasn't thinking about that.

Well, think about it, or there's no deal.

Turning in a hoodle on that Dave Pollock

you could get hurt.

So could you.

That's another thing. I want Mr. Earp to promise

to make a clean sweep of Dave and all his men.

I'd, uh, kind of like to go on living.

I think it's too big a risk.

Wyatt might not believe me.

Anyway, how do I know you're gonna stay hitched?

You think you'll report..

Just a cowherd, don't get scared.

You're the one who's scared.

Alright, I'll tell Mr. Earp.

You go near Wyatt and Pollock will hear about it.

Dave's in a hurry.

He's gonna want to hit that payroll this Saturday.

I'll meet you at the Long Branch tomorrow at 3.

Slip you a note. That's a deal?

Yeah. Then I'll tip off Wyatt.

Okay.

Well, I've one of my deputy watch the girl, Mr. Canton.

If I were you, I wouldn't change any of my payroll delivery.

Well, you think we can take Pollock if he rides in?

The main thing is not to scare him off.

One other point. What about young Masterson?

Well, Mr. Masterson is as honest as you are.

Thank you very much, Mr. Earp.

I-I thought you invited me to have dinner with you.

Why would I do that? We're not friendly.

You really that sore?

Yes, I am. Now, get away from me, will you?

Now, let's have some fun. Let's go dancing or somethin'.

No, I've got to go in.

Oh, no, it ain't even 7 o'clock yet, Nellie.

- We're not even started yet.
- We're lot more than started.

You know, you're pretty cute, Nellie.

Stop it. You've had too much.

Now, go on home.

No, Nellie. Nellie, I'd rather be with you.

Mr. Spragg, you go home!

Nellie!

Nellie. Say, don't be like that..

Excuse me.

I'm gonna look for a little trouble.

That's right, I gotta have some trouble.

What's going to happen to me?

Nothing. Come on, Mr. Spragg, drink your coffee.

I'll lose my job at the railroad?

No. Not if you tell me what you told that girl.

Well, I thought it was a joke

how careless they handle the payroll.

Careless, huh?

They sure are. They put it in a gunny sack

and just throw it on a wagon and it hauls... the camp.

Ain't that funny? Thousands of dollars

rolling around on a camp wagon.

That was the joke I told the girl.

Alright.

Now, you have nothing more to do with Miss Nellie

you understand?

Oh, never.

You want to take Mr. Spragg home?

- Yeah, let's go home.
- Yeah, yeah.

That Masterson, shouldn't we pick him up?

I'll take care of that when time comes.

- Alright.
- Hey, let's go home.

Yup. We go home.

Won't you join us? Stay a while.

No, thanks. It's all there.

Gunny sack. In a camp wagon?

You've been followed?

Maybe.

- Just one more question.
- What?

One of my boys saw you talking to a young fellow.

- Bat Masterson.
- What about it?

He's a friend of Wyatt Earp's.

They hate each other.

If you don't believe me, have your boys ask around.

- Maybe I will.
- Go ahead, ask.

Call the whole thing off.

No, it goes tomorrow morning, you hear me?

Oh, shut up, I'll be there.

Come on.

Danny.

We're not going to take a chance on Masterson.

We'll take care of him tonight.

Good, Dave.

Want in on this bet?

No, uh, I guess I better quit.

I've gotta see a friend of mine.

Say, have you seen anything of Miss Nellie Wright?

Left before noon, hasn't come back yet.

I'll drop around later.

Meet the Pollock outfit?

Well, they've been waiting for you.

Mr. Masterson's coming to town?

Yeah, gambling at the lawn match.

You missed her. She came in and then checked out

in a big hurry.

Did she say where she was going?

Left you a note. But she didn't say where she was going.

- You got a pencil?
- Yes.

There you are, young man.

Send this up to Marshal Earp, will you?

Uh, give the boy this.

If Miss Nellie hired a rig.

Where's she most likely to get it?

Louis' stables, right across the valley.

You go out here and turn to your right...

Thanks.

Hah!

And what right have you to assume that Masterson

isn't in Kahoots with Pollock. Isn't it logical he might have...

- No, sir.
- Well, why?

- Because I trust him.
- You trusthim.

Look, I'm not going to arrest Mr. Masterson.

I'm not going to ask him any questions.

I wouldn't want him to doubt my honesty, I don't doubt his.

Well, then, where are we? How can we set a trap for Pollock

if we don't know where he's gonna jump the payroll wagon?

- I sent for him.
- Really?

Above all the stuff I missed out of loyalty to a wild yahoo...

Excuse me.

It's from Mr. Masterson. He says he'll see me later.

And this looks like a case plan for the hold up.

What do think, Mr. Canton?

Little David's garden. Well, where's that?

It's about five miles out of town.

It's a stretch of boulders and brush.

Well, we'll be there. Now, shouldn't we talk about the..

I'm gonna try and find Mr. Masterson.

Shall I tell him you apologize?

He's just a punk. Sure you didn't make a mistake?

I made a mistake, alright.

- How's that?
- Wyatt Earp and I fell out.

- What am I supposed to know?
- You know Nellie.

You were in and out of the hotel asking for her.

If it's Ms. Nellie Wright you're talking about

I met her on the stage from Abilene.

Time up. We'll take no chances.

Certainly, Mr. Pollock. Certainly, you got me all wrong.

Get him out of here and tie him up.

If he's so innocent, how did he know my name?

We're gonna put a mask on him and make him ride with us.

If he hasn't tipped off her

he'll be just another outlaw like us.

But if we ride into trouble, so will he.

- Mr. Gilbert.
- 'Yeah?'

Oh-oh.

Oh. Howdy, Marshal.

Clerk over the hotel said Mr. Masterson came over here

to ask you about a young lady renting a rig.

A young fellow, well dressed? He's a friend of yours?

- That's right.
- Well, I'll be..

I thought he was just a drunk.

I saw two men loading him into the back end of a wagon.

Why didn't you report that?

Oh, Marshal, you know they're always collecting drunks

in these cattle outfits.

What about the girl, Nellie Wright?

Oh, her!

But she paid me for two days

and moved to that old boarding house down by the Santa Fe.

Thank you.

Alright, I'll ask you just one question.

What do you think Pollock's going to do to Bat?

Well, if that hasn't owned up to anything

Dave might treat him like he did Fish Daniels.

How was that?

We weren't too sure of him on the Hannibal and St. Joe deal.

So Dave put a mask on him and took him along.

I see.

Are you going out there and jump Dave tonight?

Guess I'll have to.

That's stupid.

First thing they'd do is put a bullet in the guy.

Then they'd scatter in the dark.

Why don't you let them come after the payroll?

So you could get the reward?

Why not?

I'm risking my life.

Let Masterson take a risk too.

There are two deputies watching the house.

You stay here..

Or you're gonna sleep in the jail.

Nobody fires until I've taken my shot with the butt-line.

That goes for you, Mr. Canton, and your Santa Fe men.

Now, if Pollock brings Mr. Masterson along

I'm gonna try to crease Mr. Masterson

just enough to knock him off his horse.

Any man of mine fires, I'll crease them.

Fine, let's get out there.

Try to put your mask on, Sonny.

If there's a guard on the wagon, and he shoots me, I'm dead.

You get away with the money, I'm an outlaw.

That's tough. Put it on.

Alright.

Wagon's coming.

- Wyatt, Wyatt, it's me.
- Get down back.

Get them off the horses.

It was a stupid stunt. I was aiming to crease you.

That's what I figured. Didn't want a bullet in my head.

- Alright, alright.
- It's not alright.

Why didn't you come take me from Pollock's last night?

But, oh, no. You're a cold-blooded John Law.

You're gonna lay up there with your butt-line special

trying to put a crooked part in my hair.

Relax, it's all over. You and Nellie will get a big reward.

Hey, Paulie. How bad did you get him?

He's finished.

♪ 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 ♪