The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 26 - Bat Masterson for Sheriff - 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 ♪

Politics on the frontier of 1876 was often

a brawling, conniving business.

Wyatt Earp is Marshal of Dodge City.

He was appointed by the Mayor and Council.

He didn't have to run for election.

But when Charlie Bassett, Sheriff of Ford County,

decided not to seek election again,



Wyatt was confronted with a difficult choice.

He must either allow a bad choice

backed by some cattlemen to take over the sheriff's office,

or he must find a candidate with whom he could work

in honest law enforcement.

So Wyatt decided that young Bat Masterson should make the race for sheriff.

The big trouble was that neither Wyatt nor Bat

knew how many guns were loaded and aimed at them.

Howdy, gentlemen.

Sheriff.

Thanks, but I ain't sheriff yet.

Just a small matter of getting elected.

Maybe that'll help.

What you got in mind, Mr. Lanphere?



Well, you know that Earp's talked Bat Masterson into running against me.

Mm-hmm. Just two things wrong with Bat as a candidate.

He's Earp's best friend.

What's the other thing?

He's young and cocky. He won't walk away from a fight.

I've gotta make the voters understand that a brawling trigger-happy kid

ain't the sort they want for sheriff.

Maybe you fellas can help spread that idea around.

I don't know.

Bat's awful good with a gun, Mr. Lanphere.

You won't need guns.

Don't even wear those things.

Get him into arguments. Pick fist fights with him.

Keep him in trouble.

He's bound to lose his temper and get himself branded around the County

as a hoodlum brat.

See what I mean?

Hal, have you seen Mr. Masterson?

Sure, he's in the parlor of the Dodge Hotel with Miss Alma.

Oh, no. There's not need to fret, Wyatt.

The voters approve of Miss Alma.

At least they elected her daddy state senator.

Yeah, she thinks she knows too much about politics.

Hal, you take my patrol.

I'm gonna see to it that the future Sheriff Masterson gets home safe.

It isn't that I have anything personal against Mr. Earp,

but what kind of a political campaign is this?

No speeches, no rallies.

Nothing but a couple of advertisements in the globe.

You know I couldn't make a speech.

I'd be all tongue-tied.

Jerry Lanphere's making speeches. He goes all over the County.

Shaking hands, kissing babies.

Those poor babies.

Well, my father says you're going to lose if you keep listening to Mr. Earp.

He's a political liability.

A what?

He's a controversial figure.

He has personal enemies

and the voters will think that you're much too close...

You folks got a lease on this here parlor?

Move on, Sonny. I'm expecting a gal of my own.

Let's you and me settle this outside.

No, Bat, please. He's just talking big.

Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it! Hold it! That's enough.

Hold your temper.

You get out of here.

I'll see him again.

Well, I'll be around.

Now what was all this about? He came busting in here.

And you hit him first.

Now he'll probably go all over town talking mean

and then he'll start another fight.

Papa says that's the main thing Bat has to be on his guard against.

Well, the senator's right.

Why don't you take Miss Alma down to the Texas Cafe

and have some lemonade and simmer down?

How did you get here so quick?

I just happened to be standing outside and I heard the rumpus.

You take charge of him, Miss Alma.

No, I've got a headache now,

and I'm going up to my room.

I sure am sorry, hon.

It couldn't be helped, I guess.

But you should have stayed out of it, Mr. Earp.

Every time you show the voters how close

you are to Bat, it'll cost him votes. Papa says it could be fatal.

Yes.

I'll see you later, Bat. For dinner?

All right.

She just got upset about the fight.

Yeah.

Ever see that cowhand before? No.

Mr. Lanphere must be trying something cute.

Politics. To make me look bad?

That's right. I got a hunch. Let me have your gun.

You walk down towards the Texas Cafe.

I'll follow you, but no gun. All right.

Am I supposed to know either of you?

Now we'll have it out real good.

Oh, no, you don't sucker me again.

Now you take 'em to jail. I'll go see Lanphere.

No, that's just what he wants.

These two can walk. You herd 'em onto jail.

Come on!

You would make a fine sheriff beating people up in the street.

Come on.

Now what's got you moaning so low?

Politics. I don't like politics.

Oh, you don't like politics, huh?

No, I must have been loco when I promised you I'd run for sheriff.

Now this is important.

We've kept a lid on Dodge.

The only reason we've been able to do that is

because Charlie Bassett and Bill Tillman have run

an honest sheriff's office, right? Right.

If those hoodlums put Lanphere across as sheriff,

the whole town is gonna blow wide open. Don't you understand that?

Why can't I withdraw and let you run?

We've been through this a dozen times.

They wouldn't elect me for sheriff. I'm not that popular.

I think you are.

Weren't you at the hotel when Miss Alma told us

that my being your friend was a drawback?

I suppose we gotta quit being friends, huh?

Oh, no, if that's what it takes to get elected.

All you gotta do is just take it easy and stay out of fights.

The reason that Lanphere sicced those three gunfighters on you

was so that people would think that you are raunchy and wild.

Now you just le me do the fighting.

And the voters will think I'm scared. No, they won't.

Now look, being a sheriff is a dignified job.

You just can't go around swinging at every cowhand that taunts you.

All right, all right, I'm going home.

Do I get my gun back?

No, I'm escorting you home.

Still my bodyguard, huh?

You never let any of us wet nurse you.

That's because I'm not running for sheriff of Ford County.

Well, a promise is a promise.

I'll be a good little boy.

And now, gentlemen, I come to the main point.

My opponent Mr. Bat Masterson

is a common thug, a hireling in the employ

of Wyatt Earp. I don't believe it!

I have here three honest cowhands.

Just now released from Mr. Earp's prison.

Last night each one of them was set upon by Mr. Masterson.

And when they tried to defend themselves,

Mr. Earp joined his friend Masterson

in beating them with fists and gun barrels.

Masterson had no reason to insult these men.

I'm going to introduce them presently

and each one of them will tell you that Masterson was

in a nasty mood and picked a fight.

- You wait here. - No, Bat, no!

Is this the kind of man you want for sheriff?

A drunken, irresponsible gunfighter and hoodlum.

A killer who if elected

will still be working for Marshal Earp.

You're a liar!

Listen up!

All right, Mr. Masterson, you take care of Miss Alma.

- He was lying about me.
- I don't care!

You take her back to the hotel and then start your patrol.

- You understand?
- Yes, sir.

It was just a political speech.

Politicians don't have to take an oath when they talk.

Mr. Lanphere, I'm sorry if Mr. Masterson said you were lying.

You're sorry?

That's right. You see, Mr. Masterson just doesn't understand

that you're a natural born liar and can't help yourself.

What are you laughing at?

I know what I'm doing.

Now we got free speech in this town.

So, Mr. Lanphere, you just go on with your meeting.

You try and stop me.

I just said I wouldn't do that.

You just climb back up on your little platform there

and tell the biggest whoppers you can think of.

That is just exactly the sort of thing

that will keep right on happening here in Dodge City.

You saw with your own eyes.

Well, you won't listen to me.

I will not.

Really? Well, I told you last night.

You and Mr. Earp don't know "a, b, c" about politics.

Now my father's coming to town this afternoon.

He can tell you how to get elected.

All right.

You'll do what he says?

Yes.

Papa likes you.

If you go along with his ideas, you can win.

You being sheriff is just a beginning.

There's no telling how high you can go in politics.

I like you, too.

Very much.

Well, thanks, hon.

Later. Here comes Mr. Earp.

Here, wear this.

I thought you didn't want me to wear a gun.

Mr. Lanphere isn't gonna try fist fighting anymore.

He's proved his point.

Think he'll gun me?

He's a little too slow for that.

He might hire a drunk or somebody else to make a play against you,

- hoping you'll shoot.
- Yeah, I get it.

Why are you trusting me with a gun?

I might lose my temper and use it.

- And lose the election?
- Yeah.

No, you won't shoot unless you have to.

Anyway, Mr. Lanphere's playing a lot dirtier than I expected.

You can't walk around town unarmed.

What happened to your idea of wet nursing me?

I got a nice little telegram here from Senator Drew.

It says if we want his support,

we gotta follow his instruction.

I guess Miss Alma sent him a telegram last night.

I guess you did.

But you're still the boss as far as I'm concerned, Wyatt.

Let's see what the political expert has to say.

Meanwhile, you're supposed to be a Deputy Marshal,

so get on your patrol. Right.

The globe just came out.

They printed every one of Lanphere's charges

right on page one.

Hmm.

"Masterson assaults cowhand. Goes on rampage with fists.

"The Earp candidate denounced by Jerry Lanphere."

Stupid. Damnably stupid.

It isn't Bat's fault, but you know how he hero worships Mr. Earp.

I thought he'd listen to you until I could get here.

Not against Mr. Earp.

They're both just babes in the woods, really.

But, Papa, I still think Bat can amount to something.

The people like him.

Mr. Earp, I'm so glad you could come in a hurry.

Not at all. Howdy, Senator.

- Hello, Wyatt. Sit yourself down.
- Thank you.

Papa has to go back to Topeka on the night train

so I'll leave you two to talk.

- Seen this?
- No, sir.

You know, the Globe is supporting Mr. Lanphere.

He does a lot of advertising.

I don't like the hoodlum crowd.

That's why I encouraged you to find a man who could beat Lanphere.

Yes. Frankly, when you picked Masterson, I had my doubts.

But Alma's kind of interested in the boy.

Sir, in all due respect to Miss Alma, I didn't consider her feelings.

I picked Mr. Masterson because I could trust him and work with him.

That's the trouble. What do you mean?

Politically-wise.

You and Bat are too close.

I see.

You've been a fine Marshal here, but let's face it.

An honest peace officer makes enemies.

He can't be honest and popular at the same time.

I guess so.

I don't see why Mr. Masterson has to be saddled with my enemies.

There's a way around that.

You and Masterson could have a big row in public.

You mean a fake quarrel?

Wyatt, this is politics.

A campaign is half play acting.

- You want an honest sheriff, right?
- That's right.

Then what's a little Phineas T. Barnum stunt

compared to getting Bat elected?

Well, but Mr. Masterson can't act worth shucks.

Bat doesn't have to be an actor.

You make the quarrel. Make him think it's in dead earnest.

Well, all right. You're the expert, Senator.

I'll trail him around.

Maybe something will happen to make it look good.

Fine, Wyatt, fine.

No, put it on the eight. The eight.

You gotta play percentage. You never will win it...

Where'd he go?

Frog Face, turn around. I wanna talk to you.

Have you thought it over?

- It ain't enough money, Mr. Lanphere.
- Shh. Shh.

Shh. I can get killed.

Bat won't draw on you.

No? How can I be sure of that?

$50 more says he won't.

He can't afford a gunfight.

He's in politics.

All you have to do is wave your gun around at him.

Call him a few names.

Play acting, huh, Mr. Lanphere?

A practical joke. That's all.

Well, if that's all it is.

You know what I'll do?

I'll pull out my gun. I'll sneak up behind him.

I'll say you...

And then I might even fire a shot over his head

just to give him a little scare, see?

Then when he turns around, I'll say,

"I got you, you bum.

"You think you're gonna be the sheriff of this town?

"Let's see what kind of a brave sheriff you are."

Hello, Bat.

How's your campaign coming? Pretty good, thank you.

Nice going. Thanks.

Stay in there, boy. I'm gonna vote for you, Bat.

Thanks.

You yellow pup, now I got you.

Now take it easy, Frog Face.

Go for your gun. Let's see what kind of a brave sheriff you'd make.

Ow! You shot me!

I'm killed. I'm killed.

Mr. Masterson, you promised to quit fighting.

Wyatt, it wasn't a fight.

Hold still now, Frog Face.

He started to draw on me, Wyatt.

I had to defend myself.

It was an accident with his own gun.

You're not hurt bad. Just pinching the leg.

You'll be all right, Frog Face. I'll get you over to Doc McCarty.

That winds it up, Mr. Masterson. Turn in your star.

What? You broke your promise.

Are you loco? I told you it was an accident.

We used to be friends. I did the best I could for you.

- Now we're finished.
- Save your breath. Wyatt, listen...

Don't take it that way, Bat.

- You're lucky to find out so quick.
- Lucky?

I wasn't gonna vote for you, but now that you're rid of Earp,

I'm with you. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

I'm not saying I made a lot of trouble for Wyatt.

Ever since the first days in Ellsworth,

I've been getting into scrapes he got me out of,

but this time it's his fault.

He wouldn't even give me a chance to explain.

He just gets sore and fires me in front of that crowd of hoodlums.

Maybe he never really was your friend.

Wyatt. He's been like my big Brother.

Taught me gun fighting. Saved my life half a dozen times.

But a true friend wouldn't pull out on you the way he did.

Yeah, I can't understand it. I don't know what to do, Alma.

It's been Wyatt and me on the trail together

in gunfights side by side.

I'm not gonna beg him.

He says we're through, so we're through.

And a good riddance, Darling.

No, not losing a friend like Wyatt.

But now you'll win the election.

Election? What does that amount to compared to a man...

He'll cost you votes, hundreds of votes.

Why, Honey, when Papa heard about the split up,

he said you're as good as elected.

You have his support now all the way.

Papa knows. We're going far in politics.

You'll be governor before many years.

Yeah, votes, votes, yeah, sure.

- What's the matter?
- I don't know.

I gotta think about this.

I'm gonna take a walk and I'll think about it.

Wyatt, my boy.

I guess you heard, huh? Wonderful.

Worked like a charm, or didn't it?

I don't know.

I think I hurt his feelings. I was rough on him and I meant to be.

Nonsense, after the election, you can explain to Bat,

and you'll both have a good laugh over it.

Now then the boy has to make a few speeches

here in Dodge and around the County.

A public row isn't quite enough.

He'll have to denounce you and tell the voters that he doesn't want your support.

Yes, sir.

I've hired him a campaign wagon and all the trimmings.

And Spike Gillam, my own manager, is going to take charge.

Bat could go places.

He's young, but women want to mother him.

And women swing a lot of votes, even if they can't vote themselves.

Bat has a good honest face,

and he likes people.

Well, there's just one thing, though.

What if he doesn't make up to me?

Now don't you worry about that.

Politics is politics.

I'm in a rush.

Have a lot of odds and ends to pick up and a train to catch.

Here's to the new sheriff. Bat Masterson.

Well, sir, I thank you for your advice.

No, no, i'm-a thank you for taking my advice.

Don't miss Bat's speech this afternoon.

More effective if you're in the crowd when he denounces you.

I'll be there, sir.

Gentlemen, my father had to return to Topeka on business,

so he asked me to introduce Mr. Masterson,

our next sheriff.

Now you all know Mr. Masterson's record as a fearless Deputy Marshal.

But there is one point that I'm sure Mr. Masterson

wishes to explain to the voters.

His opponent has charged that he is a henchman

of Marshal Wyatt Earp.

This is not true.

Mr. Masterson and Mr. Earp

are no longer friends.

But I'm sure that Mr. Masterson doesn't need me to speak for him.

He can speak for himself.

And so I give you Mr. William B. Bat Masterson,

the next Sheriff of Ford County!

I'd like to talk directly to Wyatt Earp.

Wyatt, Alma's got things a little mixed up.

You're still my friend no matter what you think of me.

You're sore at me.

And maybe as you see, you have a right to be sore.

Well, that doesn't matter.

I'll go on naming you as my friend as long as I live.

And if claiming you as a friend makes me unworthy

of election as sheriff,

that doesn't matter.

You know, good friends are scarce in this life.

A man would be a fool to trade a friend for a political office.

Anybody that votes for me votes for Wyatt Earp, too.

I don't exactly like you, Earp,

but I'll vote for you.

And I'm gonna vote for Bat Masterson.

Stupid.

Furthermore, gentlemen...

Mr. Masterson.

Here. You better wear that, too.

Thanks, Wyatt.

You know, you sell yourself too short.

I'm gonna win that election and mostly because of you.

Yeah, well, I don't know.

You lost Miss Alma and her Papa.

Two votes. Phooey.

Get behind me.

Keep your hand off that gun.

No, lick him at the polls.

Come on, help me pick up these men.

Take 'em over to Doc.

Come on.

Lanphere... 540.

Masterson... 962!

I never would have believed it.

Hey, how about that?

Congratulations, Sheriff Masterson.

Thanks. Come here.

Take that off. Yes, sir.

Compliments of Marshal Earp.

Is this all you gotta do to be elected?

Just be yourself and tell the truth?

Well, I'll tell you.

Politicians have been trying to figure out different ways for over 1,000 years,

but you can't lick the truth.

And every once in a while, a good man comes along to prove it.

I almost forgot. There's a pretty little gal waiting for you

over in the parlor at the Dodge Hotel.

Not Miss Alma.

No, no, this one wants you to run for president next year.

A new girl. Excuse me.

♪ 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 ♪