The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Lonesomest Man in the World - full transcript

Why do we have to wait till Billy dies?

Why don't we go kill Bat Masterson right now?

It won't be long, one way or the other.

If we lose Billy,

Masterson will pay for it.

Yeah, but what if Marshal Earp decides to stick up for Bat?

Earp's just flesh and blood.

A bullet'll take him the same as anybody else.

♪ 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...

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The code of the frontier peace officer

was a simple and unwritten law.

You gave any man a chance to surrender.

If he reached for a gun, you hit him on the head with the barrel of a .45,

or you shot to disable him.

Wyatt Earp, as Marshal of Ellsworth,

Wichita and Dodge City,

followed this code to the letter,

often at the risk of his own life.

But young Bat Masterson,

his new Deputy Marshal, had a lot to learn.



Despite Wyatt's instructions,

Bat was apt to get excited or trigger-happy.

Go get Marshal Earp. Billy Jordan's on the prod.

- He'll hurt somebody. - Yeah.

And another thing, Mr. Masterson,

sparking dance hall girls and being a Deputy MarsHal...

They just don't mix.

Morals have nothing to do with it.

It's just that I can't run an office like this

with one of my deputies going around telling secrets

to some fairy bell in a dance hall.

I don't tell them a thing, Wyatt.

No, not so far. But there's always the next girl.

Hello, Wyatt. Hal.

Some drunk cowhand's shooting up the Long Branch.

I'll take care of him. Oh.

Why don't you take Mr. Masterson along with you?

The quicker he learns our methods, the better off he'll be.

Come on, Bat. Will one shotgun be enough?

Oh, that'll be plenty.

Oh, Hal will scare him, and you grab him.

Your cards are crooked!

I don't need to squawk to Wyatt Earp.

Everybody out!

This place is closed!

You hear?

All right, Billy.

You emptied your gun.

I got more bullets in my belt. Drop it!

Oh, no. No, Johnny.

I got him!

He was only bluffing.

He's hurt pretty bad.

We gotta get him over to Doc McCarty's office.

His gun was empty, so you shoot him in the back. I didn't know that.

Well, never mind that. Give me a hand.

Come on, somebody, give me a hand.

Bat thought he was gonna shoot me.

You tell Earp I wanna see him about this.

Yeah, yeah, all right, Mr. Beeson. Come on, Bat.

See what Earp has to say,

hiring a trigger-happy kid for a deputy.

Mr. Beeson, I just came from the Doc's office.

He says Jordan has a chance.

Do you think Masterson did right?

Well, I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet.

But as a general rule, when a man is told to drop his guns,

he better do it, or he's asking for trouble.

Are you defending Bat?

I'm responsible for all my deputies.

Well, I just wanted to know.

You see, I'm gonna have to explain this to Billy Jordan's old man,

his brothers and his cousins.

You're in trouble, Earp.

All right.

If they wanna talk to me, I'll be around.

It's also a general rule, Mr. Beeson,

that a customer checks his guns.

How did Jordan get so drunk

that he waved a .45 in the face of a deputy with a shotgun?

So the main point is, Wyatt,

that I knew Jordan wasn't gonna shoot,

but Bat didn't.

He was standing behind the kid.

Thanks, Hal.

Oh, and make another check down at Doc McCarty's, will you?

Yeah.

All right. Say it.

No, you say it.

I got excited, sure.

I was afraid Jordan would cut loose at Hal.

Well, Mr. Masterson, we all make mistakes.

I don't think it was a mistake.

I was playing it safe for Hal.

You could've shot Jordan in the arm or the shoulder.

Oh, and taken a chance? Sure.

Look, we all take chances.

We aim to wing a man instead of shooting to kill.

Thought you knew what my policy was when you hired on here.

Yeah, well, I don't agree with it.

Oh, you don't, huh?

Look, you're lightning with a gun, and dead accurate.

You can't expect us deputies to take the same risks you run.

Hal didn't shoot, and he had more reason to fire than you did.

He might've got his head blown off too.

No, he's had experience with drunks.

You're under arrest, Mr. Masterson.

Arrest?

And don't leave the jail.

I'm gonna have to find out what Jordan's relatives think about it.

Relatives? That's right.

They all have relatives and friends, Mr. Masterson.

That's why we try not to kill people.

How is he, Doc?

Well, he's still alive.

Did you get the bullet out?

No. It was awfully close to the heart.

Well, you think he'll make it?

Not unless that slug comes out.

I've stopped the worst bleeding.

But the bullet nicked a rib.

It's probably jagged enough to cut an artery.

Well, you can operate, can't you?

I could, Wyatt, but, you know,

working that close to the heart...

Maybe we'll have time to get a fine surgeon from Kansas City.

What about an Army surgeon from Fort Dodge?

It's only about 25 miles away.

Not much chance of getting one, I'm afraid.

All right, boys.

Take off your gun belts.

Hang them on your saddles.

Looks like some of Billy Jordan's folks.

I wish you'd ask them to stay outside for a while.

I'll try it.

Any of you Jordans?

We're all Jordans.

My boy in there?

Yes, sir, but he's asleep.

Dr. McCarty thinks you ought to wait a while.

Billy's still alive?

Yes.

They tell me that one of your deputies shot Billy.

He was resisting arrest.

With an empty gun and his back turned?

Look, we know who it was.

- If Billy don't pull through, we're gonna...
- Hold it, son.

Martha tell me you've been mighty decent

in handling arrests.

But I can't understand why you'd hire a young fellow like Masterson.

You want the honest truth?

Yes.

Mr. Masterson got excited and used poor judgment.

But we've all made mistakes, and...

Killing ain't just a mistake.

If my boy loses out, so does Masterson.

That would be a mistake, too, Mr. Jordan.

I must warn you and your boys not to wear guns in this town.

We're not gonna wear them.

Just gonna keep them handy.

You put Wyatt in an impossible situation.

He'll be too loyal to fire you.

He may even feel he has to back you up if it comes to a gunfight.

I'm sorry, but it seems to me that... I'll quit.

- I'll turn in my badge.
- No, you won't.

Billy Jordan's still alive.

You go on down and make your regular patrol.

Yes, sir. I thought I was under arrest.

I wanted to keep you here until I had a chance to talk to the Jordans.

But, Wyatt, it isn't only the Jordans. Public opinion...

I know, sir. Go on.

Why don't you let him resign?

Because he has the makings of a top-notch officer.

Legally, he was within his rights.

I'm gonna get a telegram off to Captain Benteen

over at the Fort.

Maybe he'll send us an Army surgeon.

Excuse me, sir. Hal.

Hal!

Yes, sir?

Get this telegram off right away, will you?

Yes, sir.

If Doc McCarty can't save the boy,

no one else can, and you know it.

It's a chance, sir.

Hang it all, Wyatt. You're carrying loyalty too far.

The Jordans could gun Masterson,

and any jury in Dodge would turn him loose.

Mr. Mayor, I don't defend what he did.

I told Jordan's father I thought he made a mistake.

Then let him take his punishment.

You don't really mean that, sir.

Besides, he's taking his punishment.

He's taking it right now.

Right now, Mr. Masterson

is just about the lonesomest young man in the world.

Hello, Mr. Kent.

Howdy, Mr. Prentice.

I gotta check the shotgun, Mr. Beeson.

I was over at Doc McCarty's.

He said Jordan's holding his own.

No thanks to you. Now, wait a minute.

You've finished your business here. Now get outta my place.

Yves! Yves Tuttle! Where you been keeping yourself?

Hey, now, yves, we're supposed to be old friends.

We rode trail together.

Hi, Joanie, Mildred. Where's Sharlene?

Look, Sharlene, I've had enough of this.

What's the idea of you hiding and giving me the cold shoulder?

I know Billy Jordan and his folks.

That's what I've been trying to tell you. I couldn't help it.

I thought he was gonna shoot Hal. Don't get me mixed up in it.

Mixed up in what? In the fight that's coming between you and the Jordans.

- Aw, they're not gonna...
- Oh, yes, they are.

If you've got any sense, you'll leave town before they come and...

Run from them? Is everybody crazy?

You're the one who's wrong.

I suppose you think Marshal Earp and the other deputies are gonna stick up for you?

Wyatt will. That's all I need.

Get out of town, Bat.

You'll live longer.

I've got to go back inside.

Captain Benteen's sending an Army Doctor.

Says he's a fine surgeon.

How long will it take him to get here?

A couple hours, if he's got a good horse.

You better have someone meet him on the trail with a fresh horse.

That much of a hurry?

I'll get a man off before sundown.

An Army Doctor? Why?

We have to cut the bullet out, Mr. Jordan.

Well, you cut it out. We're wasting time.

I'm not that good with a knife.

Look, Mr. Jordan, you let the Doctor decide

what he can do and what he can't do.

See you later.

Hey.

I'll send one of these boys to meet the Army Doc

with an extra-fast horse.

Dr. Perkins. Know him?

It's gonna have to be somebody he knows.

How's that?

There's been a lot of outlaws riding that trace from the fort.

You stay here. I'll send a man that he'll recognize.

Right away?

My horse and his own.

Oh, so you're trying to save young Masterson.

Dr. Perkins is gonna try and help your boy.

If he can't,

I'll help Mr. Masterson.

You go get old man Jordan and his men,

and bring your guns.

Well, don't just stand there staring at me!

All right, if you ain't moved by the time I count three...

Hold it!

What are you gonna do, go around shooting people

just 'cause they stare at you?

We'll talk inside.

Yes, sir.

Kind of lonesome on patrol, huh?

Yeah, and I'm not gonna take any more of it.

Where's Dad Jordan? He's over at Doc's place.

All right. I'll have it out with him.

No sense in dragging you into my fight.

Well, I'm already in it.

Thanks just the same. Here. I'm quitting.

Mr. Masterson, it's about time you really grew up.

You made an error in judgment today,

and a lot of people hate you for it.

When a grown man blunders,

he doesn't try and cover it up with worse foolishness.

A gunfight single-handed against five Jordans, huh?

What else? They're just waiting for Billy to die.

Then they come after me. I want it over with.

Killing a few Jordans and getting yourself killed?

I don't see that I got much choice.

You know Dr. Perkins over at the Fort?

Sure. He fixed up my leg.

Well, the Doctor's riding here to try and help Billy Jordan.

I want you to take my horse and ride your own out there to meet him.

It'll hurry the Doc's getting here.

Doc McCarty doesn't think Jordan has much time.

Don't you owe Billy that much? They'll come after me.

I'll gun the first one that tries it.

Then they'll all say you're fighting my fights now. They say you're a murderer,

that you shot a man in the back.

Anything worse they can say?

No, sir.

You give me five minutes for me and the boys

to get down to Doc Jordan.

Then you hit the trail.

Masterson's trying to run out of town.

He just galloped off from the jail.

All right. Come on. We'll get him. Hold it!

Take their horses and guns on over to the jail yard.

Your friend can't run far enough or fast enough.

He's not running. He'll be back.

He went to get Dr. Perkins.

Us folks still have some legal rights, you know.

I want to send one of these boys after Mayor Hoover.

Yeah, you can do that. In a half hour.

Go get him. Right now.

I said a half hour.

Howdy, Dr. Perkins. Why, it's Bat Masterson.

My apologies for the gun, but I've been held up so many times.

Marshal Earp sent you his horse.

Jordan's pretty bad off, Doctor.

We better be getting along, eh? Right.

All right, Bat. We'll hustle.

We'll leave your horse at the way station down the road.

All right. Let's ride! Come on!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

And you get tough with Mr. Jordan here,

whose son is desperately ill.

I don't care what the provocation is.

I'm not going to have the respectable citizens of Dodge

rousted around by the Marshal's Office.

- You're the Mayor, Mr. Hoover.
- Yes, I am.

And I want you to return the property you seized

from Mr. Jordan and his party.

- The horses and the guns?
- Yes. At once.

I told you, Earp, there's nothing you can do

to save Masterson.

And I thank you kindly, sir.

Not at all, Mr. Jordan.

And, Wyatt, I warned you...

- Is he worse?
- Yes.

Shouldn't Dr. Perkins be here by now?

I figure another 15 to 20 minutes.

If Masterson really went for him.

You're gonna get your horses and your guns,

but if Mr. Masterson has to make a fight for it,

he won't be alone.

I never thought he would be.

Wyatt, have you lost your head?

This thing is bad enough without a gunfight between you and the Jordans.

You expect me to let one of my deputies get shot down

with the odds 5-to-1 against him? He was wrong!

Not wrong enough to die for it, sir.

I've come within an inch of killing a few men myself.

Now, I'll give the Jordans their guns back,

only because you order it.

I'll give you my star and my job,

but I won't give you a brother officer's life.

Now, look, I've known Mr. Masterson a long time,

but he's a newcomer to both of you,

and I still say you can keep out of it. We like the kid, Wyatt.

He thought he had to shoot Billy Jordan to save me.

Let's get over there.

Fine. But remember one thing:

We stay out of it until we find out Billy makes it.

And Jordan's not gonna do anything to Mr. Masterson

if that surgeon can pull Billy through.

All right. Let's go.

I'll tie the horses.

So, you're Masterson.

I'm Billy's father.

Take him around there and set him down, boys,

like Wyatt Earp did to us.

We won't have long to wait.

Should we scatter and get them from both sides of the house?

No, they'd kill Bat.

It's our own stupid fault for getting here late.

You keep me covered.

I'll try and keep them talking.

Raise them, Earp.

They're up, Mr. Jordan. I asked you to keep out of it.

Well, I am out of it.

Mr. Jordan's got the drop.

You were wrong, weren't you?

Wrong?

Sure. He came back, brought Dr. Perkins, didn't he?

That didn't change nothing.

Well, what if Billy pulls through?

Don't let him jabber, Dad. Take his guns.

I've got him covered. You take them.

No. You don't take my guns.

Mr. Jordan, tell him to stand back.

Hold it, son.

Are you aiming to make a fight of it?

I could pull this trigger and drop you.

But you wouldn't be that stupid.

Why, you... Mr. Masterson is a lonesome man right now.

You could kill him and get away with it, if your son dies.

You drop me, and you're gonna hang.

Are you gonna shut him up?

Shut yourself up.

You're right, Mr. MarsHal.

I don't wanna pull this trigger.

All I want is for my boy to live.

But if he don't,

you're gonna get it and so is Masterson.

Go ahead and shoot me.

Wyatt, don't go for your guns.

You can kill two or three of them, but they'll cut you down.

I know that.

But Hal and Jack are just across the street.

If they start this fight, there won't be a Jordan left alive except Billy.

He's bluffing, Dad.

Pull the trigger, or I will. No. I'll do it.

What is all this?

Which one of you is the boy's father?

I am. Is he dead?

No. We took the slug out.

He's got a better chance to live than you have.

Do you have to kill him, Marshal?

You can get off the first shot,

but it better be awful good.

Doc, don't lie to me. Is Billy gonna pull through?

He'll live to bury you.

Mr. Earp's patience isn't gonna last much longer.

No, it isn't.

Thanks, Doc. That was kind of close.

Let the Jordans thank me.

Just for my own information,

why didn't you go for your guns?

Well, he was an old man

with a bunch of boys.

Mr. Masterson, if I were you,

I'd go in there and apologize to Billy Jordan.

Yes, sir.

Let me have your gun.

Needs a nice, calm trigger finger.

Hal,

go tell the Mayor we'll all be living for a while.

♪ 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 ♪