The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 28 - The Vultures - full transcript

Not working, Wyatt.

Give it a chance, Sam.

Here comes somebody.

It's him.

And he's wearing his gun.

Yeah.

Just as we figured.

- You leaving town, Mr. Watts?
- No.

Then you're under arrest for wearing a gun on the street.

I got good reason for...

Tell the Judge.



You been after me ever since...

That's right. Now you gonna unbuckle that gun

or are you gonna use it?

You got a choice.

♪ 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...

I'll get it.

Evening.

Is your name Henry brown?

That's right.

Take a look at this.



There's a $1,000 reward for Harry Hogan.

You've got the wrong man.

No, we haven't.

Go with him while he saddles his horse.

Please, that poster's over five years old.

We've carried it almost that long.

Look, I'll admit it.

I am Harry Hogan.

I was part of a gang for a few years.

Then I quit.

Since then, I've been a homesteader

right here trying to live right.

You can tell all that to the Judge in Kansas City.

Wait, Henry.

Are you lawmen?

Deputies or Marshals or something like that?

We don't carry badges, but we represent the law, just the same.

Henry, they're bounty hunters.

They do this just to collect a reward.

Come on, Hogan, we wasted enough time.

I'll get my horse.

No, don't! Don't, no!

No!

You recognize him, Marshal?

No, I can't say that I do.

Went by the name of Henry brown.

Used to homestead right near here.

What do you mean he used to?

He don't anymore.

He's outside tied over his horse's back.

Tried to get away, Marshal,

so we had to shoot him.

Who are you?

The name's Bill Watts. This here is Dave Richie.

You're not lawmen.

No, just a couple of law-abiding citizens, Marshal.

Now if you don't mind,

we'd like to turn the body of this criminal over to you.

And just how much does the reward happen to be?

$1,000.

Bounty hunters, huh?

You search for scalp money.

Well, now, Marshal, that ain't the way we describe it.

Now you two are the lowest breed in the west.

If I see you again, I'll shoot you on sight.

No, you won't, Marshal.

What we done is perfectly legal and you know it.

We're turning the body over to you for confirmation

and we'll wait here at the hotel until the reward arrives.

There's Marshal Earp sending that telegram for us.

I don't think he likes us none.

None of them do.

You know, if half of what's been said about the people of Dodge City is true,

we should be able to do a lot of hiding out from the law here.

I don't know.

Things have changed since this Earp took over.

He's bound to have missed a few "reward" posters.

He doesn't remember Hogan.

He's leaving.

Good morning, Marshal.

You wanna search us?

Your blood money will be here in a couple of days.

When it gets here, I'll give you one hour to get out of town.

Now that's not legal, Marshal. We're not breaking any laws.

We're upholding them. We'll leave when we're ready.

Now I'll tell you,

you may change your mind.

Gather in just a little closer, fellas, and listen to this,

"buzzards come to roost in Dodge.

"Two members of one of the most despicable and dishonorable professions

"in the west... bounty hunting...

"At this very moment in Dodge City."

"Buzzards come to roost in Dodge."

Did you write that editorial?

Yes, I did.

What are you doing to do, Sam?

Stir up more trouble than I already have?

Well, I wasn't aware until now, Wyatt,

that you allowed this kind of thing to go on in Dodge.

Do you realize what this is liable to stir up?

I certainly do. A little public indignation.

Look, Sam, it's liable to start a lynch party.

I'd have to protect those two vultures.

And that's the last thing in the world that I wanna have to do.

Wyatt, to be quite honest with you,

I never quite thought of it like that before.

Take it easy from now on, will you?

Isn't there something you can do about those two?

No, not legAlly.

They don't scare easy, and they're old hands at this kind of business.

Their being here is the worst thing that ever happened in Dodge.

You make it sound pretty bad.

There's no telling how many lives they'll ruin.

That's what bothers me.

Wyatt, you mean

you know of wanted men who are living here now in Dodge.

There's men like that all over the west.

Men who got mixed up early in life. They've regretted it ever since.

Change their names and become decent people.

Then these two buzzards come along and wreck their lives altogether.

Maybe kill 'em. No, they're not gonna kill anybody here.

The minute that either one of them wears a gun, he's my meat.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

Why are we stopping?

Ally, I don't think you should travel anymore today.

We'll get a hotel room here in town and use a different name.

But we made up our minds not to stop till we got out of Kansas.

Now look, Ally... now let's keep on.

You and the baby are more important. I feel fine, dear.

Now let's see if they'll sell us another horse.

I told you the livery stable's always a good place.

Where's the posters? In that drawer.

Take a look at him. He's down there buying a horse.

I've seen that face before.

Kansas... no.

Kansas. No.

He's one of the Youngers.

"Wanted for questioning concerning an Abilene robbery.

"For information leading to this man,

"$150."

Not a bad day's work.

Think Marshal Earp will be glad to see us again?

Leave it alone. Earp sees you with that on the street,

he'll shoot first and ask questions later.

We don't need guns for this kid anyway.

- Hurry, Larry.
- As fast as I can.

I beg your pardon.

- Do you have a match?
- No. Sorry.

You're not going anyplace, Younger.

No! Stop!

- Get out of here.
- All right, Marshal.

But don't forget. That's another $150 we got coming.

I said get out. Go on!

Are you all right, ma'am? I'll be all right.

Just too much for her, Marshal.

Mrs. Younger, I'll try and get you a room as soon as possible.

Mr. Younger, I'm gonna have to lock you up.

He's wanted for questioning, Ma'am, according to this poster.

I don't like it any better than you do.

I had nothing to do with the robbery, Marshal.

The name is Younger. They can see what that means.

He's never done anything with his brothers at all.

We figured by spring the baby would be here,

but my brothers robbed a place in Abilene.

Somebody recognized one of them and I heard they wanted to question me.

You shouldn't have run away.

I've had enough, Marshal.

Every time they commit a robbery, they question me.

The worst that can happen is that you go on back home and answer their questions.

Then come back here and start west again.

What about Ally?

See, I just don't have enough money to take care of her while I'm gone.

Don't worry about that.

I'll see that she's taken care of.

Thank you, Marshal. I don't know how we can thank you, Marshal.

Forget it. Now you go on in there and find yourself a comfortable cell.

I'll take you on over and get you a hotel room.

Have a good rest, Darling. Don't worry.

Thank you, Marshal.

Ma'am.

- Oh, excuse me.
- That's all right.

You know, some people have nothing else better to do

than just put up these posters.

- And it may work.
- What?

Nothing. Come on.

How's this for a closing line, Wyatt?

"Such men are a scourge to the west,

" a shame on the human race

" and should be

" run out of town."

That should do it.

Suppose this incites the people to violence

like you were afraid yesterday's editorial might?

We're just gonna have to take that chance, Sam.

Anyway, if I know those two,

the minute they're threatened, they're gonna come looking for protection.

We got our names in the paper again.

That's pretty strong.

Sam Rolfe.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

Anybody who hates us as much as this Rolfe does

should have a past worth looking into.

Let's go look him over.

Well, here they come.

I'll be in the back.

We'd like to talk to Sam Rolfe.

Well, what do you want to see him about?

Never mind unless you're him.

No, no, I'm not.

He's out of the office for a little while.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll finish what I'm doing.

Who's in charge while he's gone?

I guess I am.

And what might your name be?

Smith. John Smith.

Then tell me, Mr. Smith,

how much do you know about this Rolfe?

Not too much, I guess.

- He's been here quite a while, though.
- How long?

Oh, about five years, I guess.

You sure of that?

What are you asking all these questions about Mr. Rolfe for?

Don't you know, Mr. Smith?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

All right, you tell Mr. Rolfe we'll be back.

All right, I'll tell him.

Who should I say was asking after him?

I think you know who we are.

Yes,

I guess I do.

Well, that was quite a performance, mister...

Mr. Smith.

That eyeshade does a lot for you, too.

I got a pretty good likeness of both of them, Wyatt.

I'll say they are. Very good.

They suspect me of being wanted.

They'll keep an eye on you, too.

We can give Bill Watts another name.

- Joseph Watts. How's that?
- Mm-hmm.

Richie we can make into a horse thief.

Put a price on his head.

That's fine, but how are you gonna...

How am I gonna get the wrong poster to the right man?

- Yeah.
- Well, Sam, that's the next step.

This is what I had in mind.

"Marshal's office looted. Important documents stolen."

"While Marshal Earp and his deputies were patrolling front street last night,

"some foolhardy thief rifled through files

"and took some valuable papers.

"Marshal Earp refuses to disclose the nature of the missing papers

"or to discuss their value.

"The Marshal's face is red both with embarrassment

"and anger."

You don't think our good friend Sam Rolfe stole the documents, do you?

Maybe Earp's trying to frame us,

accuse us of robbing his office.

I don't know. Earp's no fool.

I think we should go and have a talk with Rolfe.

Try and find out something.

Can we buy a couple of copies of today's globe, Mr. Rolfe?

Sure, just help yourselves.

I see the Marshal's office was robbed last night.

Know any other details?

Huh? Only what you read in the paper.

It's all right there on the front page.

I'm having dinner with Marshal Earp.

If you could come back later, I might have some news

that would be of interest to all of us.

Look across the street.

He's watching us now.

Couldn't you come back later and maybe we could meet somewhere?

All right.

- Come back alone.
- What kind of a trick is this?

You didn't show the note to your partner, did you?

- Not yet, I haven't.
- Well?

Where did you get this?

I thought you'd like to see that.

Did you get the one of yourself along with it?

I figured this would cancel out anything

you think you might have on me.

What's going on?

What do you mean?

I saw you coming out of the Globe office.

Then I followed you to the telegraph office.

Are you trying to cross me?

Why don't you relax? I'm keeping tabs on Rolfe.

Every time Earp sees us together, he thinks we're after Rolfe.

Have to be more careful, that's all.

What do you mean more careful?

We'll have to work alone.

Earp can't be in two places at the same time.

What were you doing at the telegraph office?

I sent a telegram to Kansas City to get a line on Rolfe.

You cross me and you know what'll happen, don't you?

Well, howdy, Sam. You sent for me?

Yes, Wyatt, I wanted to show you this.

It's a copy of the wire that Richie sent to Kansas City.

Old Hank brought it over to me.

"Request information on Joseph Watson, wanted for stagecoach robbery,

"your city several years ago. Wire answer.

"Collect D. Richie, Dodge City, Kansas."

Well, it worked, huh?

Yeah, it looks like the pot's beginning to simmer.

You mean it's beginning to boil. Here comes the other one.

Good afternoon, Mr. Watts.

What can I do for you?

Richie and I thought maybe you'd be ready

to make a deal on those posters you swiped

from the Marshal's office.

You're running a bluff, Mr. Watts, and you know it.

You won't find any poster with my picture on it.

Your partner was in here trying to run the same bluff on me.

You know, you two aren't the brightest I've ever seen,

but then you're not holding the cards that I am.

You see, I found a poster with a picture on it

that I think you'd find mighty interesting.

"Wanted for horse thievery, Daniel Goodrich,

"alias Robert Richards."

Who else knows about this?

Just myself.

Not even Marshal Earp?

No.

So it was you who stole the posters out

of Earp's office.

When a man's in a spot, Mr. Watts,

he has to protect himself all the way around.

Besides, who'd believe you?

All right.

You mind your business and I'll mind mine.

Funny. This is just about the same telegram your friend sent.

He sent it to the same fella.

Only he was checking on a fella named Watson

or some such name.

About a stagecoach robbery.

You get that through just as quick as you can.

You fellas must be a mighty important lawmen.

Wyatt.

Hank tipped Richie off. Now Richie's looking for you to protect him.

Yeah, and Mr. Watts is looking for Mr. Richie to kill him.

Everything's working out just fine.

It's Watts.

And he's wearing his gun.

Yeah.

Just as we figured.

You leaving town, Mr. Watts?

No.

Then you're under arrest.

For what?

For carrying a gun in the street.

You been after me ever since...

That's right.

Are you gonna hand over that gun?

Or are you gonna use it?

Marshal, Marshal Earp, I've been looking all over...

He'll get away, Wyatt.

Yeah, I hope so.

Far away.

Now I can put you in jail for 30 days

for carrying this gun.

60 days for resisting arrest and 30 more for disturbing the peace,

but I'm gonna suspend that and let you go.

- Why?
- 'Cause I don't want you around,

but I'll tell you something, Mr. Watts, if I ever see your face in Dodge City again,

I'm gonna lock you up for a long time.

What about my reward money for Hogan's body and for Younger?

You can be fined, too, you know?

I'd recommend to the Judge that it'd be about $1,150.

And I think he'd listen to me.

And one more thing...

When you see your friend Mr. Richie, tell him the same goes for him, too.

I won't be seeing him.

You might. If you take the Deadwood Road.

I hear he went that way.

He did, huh?

You think they'll figure it all out, Wyatt,

before they shoot each other?

I don't know, Sam. Your guess is as good as anybody's.

At least we got rid of them.

♪ 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 ♪