The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 36 - The Gold Brick - 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
♪

The friendship between Marshal Wyatt Earp.

And Doc Holliday was born of gratitude on Wyatt's part.

Doc saved his life,

but why Doc Holliday chose to like Wyatt

and be loyal to him was mighty puzzling

to the citizens of Dodge City in 1877.

And since Wyatt Earp stood for everything



that Doc cynically derided,

a lot of folks were betting that the two would soon come to an open break.

Doc Holliday in town?

Yeah, he's inside running a game.

Thank you.

All right, Finnegan,

I can just spare you two minutes.

That's enough, Doc.

Gold brick. Take it away.

It's real, Doc.

See? San Francisco mint,

government seal. Look at it.

You stole the thing.

Well, sure, me and the boys



held up a Wells Fargo stage.

Stupid. Get out of town, Weasel,

and take it with you.

Doc,

I can let you have that for 5,000.

It's worth 10.

I'm giving you a real bargain.

What would I do with it?

Oh, you're joking, Doc.

This is grand larceny.

This is right up your street.

Doc, you've got connections.

You can turn right around

and sell it back 8,000.

Or you could make a fake one

and switch bricks on some sucker.

Grand larceny, Doc.

You can make a lot of dough

and have some laughs too.

You're Doc Holliday. You can't pass this up.

All right. On one condition.

You take the money and get out of town.

Oh, sure, Doc.

It ain't healthy for me to stick around Dodge.

Believe that, Weasel.

If the pals you've undoubtedly double-crossed

don't get you, I will.

I'm starting on patrol, Wyatt. Anything special?

Oh yeah, Hal, there is.

Keep a look out for Weasel Finnegan.

Here's his picture.

Got away with five gold bricks.

Wells Fargo recovered four of them.

So we're looking for Weasel Finnegan

and one gold brick.

That's right.

Mr. Finnegan. Is that really you?

Don't you remember me?

Ginger. Salt lake City.

Oh, that's right. Howdy.

Is that all you gotta say, just howdy?

Well, I gotta be getting on my way.

I'm supposed to meet the boys.

Oh, now you can buy me one drink.

Come on, Irish. For old times?

All right, Ginger.

Just one.

Oh, howdy, Miss Kate.

Is it safe to talk in here?

As long as we don't yell at each other.

No, I'm too worried to yell.

Wyatt, John's up to his old tricks again.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Sit down, please.

Well, what's he done now?

He...

He's bought a gold brick.

From Weasel Finnegan.

Well, there's a Wells Fargo

poster out for Weasel Finnegan.

And there's a gold brick missing.

It's real?

San Francisco mint.

I oughta leave John.

After nursing him through that bad spell,

he pulls a stunt like this.

He thinks it's a good joke.

He's still got it?

No. He sold it. He says.

Did he name the buyer?

That's the joke part of it.

He says he sold it to one of the most

respectable men in town.

You see anything funny in that?

Well, your husband has a special brand of humor.

A lot of respectable citizens in town

have given you and the Doctor the cold shoulder.

Oh...

John wants to show this man up?

That might be it.

But I'll have a little talk with the Doctor.

You aren't...

Going to say I told on him,

are you?

I'm just trying to keep the Doctor out of trouble.

I know that, Mrs. Holliday.

You stay here and rest yourself.

I've got a faro game going, Wyatt.

My money.

I'm on the hunt for something.

I should know where it is?

Possibly.

Weasel Finnegan and some of the boys

heisted a gold shipment in California.

Have you seen Weasel lately?

Yes, two hours ago.

Did he say anything about the loot?

Yes, as a matter of fact, he sold me a gold brick.

But I didn't have any idea it had been stolen.

Still got it?

No. I sold the thing.

Anybody I know?

I'm not saying.

You do the police work. You solve the mystery.

Look, what are you trying to prove?

Let's just call it an experiment

to test the moral nature of mankind.

Oh, come on.

Very well, arrest me.

I'll say I didn't know the gold was stolen.

And if driven too far, I'll say that the gold was phony.

Where's Weasel now?

I ordered him to get out of town.

Look, why don't you be logical?

You're always talking about logic.

All right then, just because some folks

have snubbed you and Mrs. Holliday,

why go through all this rigmarole?

All you're gonna prove is that a snob

is also a crook.

Dodge City needs taking down a peg.

Granted.

But you tell me the name of the man

and I'll take Dodge down real quick.

I don't know who the present owner is.

You mean it's changed hands?

Wyatt, I sold that gold brick

for half its value.

Just what I paid for it.

My guess is that it's been bought and sold

over and over again by now.

Maybe.

Well, at least give me a clue

to the first buyer.

You might try Mayor Kelly.

Kelly?

Yep.

You'd better work fast, Marshal.

The bon ton of Dodge City love that yellow stuff.

Yeah.

Come on in, Wyatt.

Sit down.

Thank you.

Mr. Kelly, I'm looking for a gold brick

that was stolen from Wells Fargo.

Oh, that.

You've seen it, huh?

I have.

This very day.

A certain friend of yours brought it to me.

Wanted me to sell it for him.

Dr. Holliday.

Oh? He told you.

Well, the Doctor never lies.

The more disreputable the deal,

the prouder he is.

Well, did you handle the gold?

No.

I told him to see Miles Lennihan.

Didn't you suspect that it was stolen?

Yes.

I didn't want to make any trouble for Doc

and I owe Lennihan some political favors.

You won't have to tell Miles

that I gave you the information?

No. He'll deny he sold it anyway.

I'm ashamed, Wyatt.

Forget it.

You didn't make any profit in the deal.

It's my fault for getting you into politics

in the first place.

♪ Out of a hole in the ground it comes ♪

♪ into the hand of a man it comes ♪

♪ shining bright with an evil light ♪

♪ striking fire through a man's desire ♪

♪ gold fever ♪

I'm not accusing you or anyone else, Mr. Lennihan.

I'm only interested in finding the gold brick.

Well, I wish I could help you, Marshal.

You know nothing, huh?

Just barfly talk.

Barfly talk helps once in awhile.

Marshal?

You'll keep me out of this, hmm?

Well, you know old Newt Hamilton, the jeweler.

Yeah.

There's gossip that he...

Is he dead, Marshal?

Yeah.

Do you know who he is?

Weasel Finnegan.

Somebody saved me the trouble.

Liquor or a girl.

Have you found that thing yet, Wyatt?

No.

I ought to arrest you.

So you think I'm morally responsible

for this?

Bad judgment, Wyatt.

I told him to get out of town.

One gold brick. Death or corruption.

Dodge City is tottering on the edge of Gehenna right now.

A couple of you men give me a hand.

♪ Gold fever ♪

♪ Gold fever ♪

I'll have your watch fixed in a couple of days,

Mrs. Willis.

Oh, howdy, Marshal.

Mr. Hamilton.

I'd like to have a little talk with you.

What about?

Some gold.

Well, it's closing time anyway.

Well, am I under arrest?

Have you still got it?

Who bought it from you?

I can't tell you. Please...

All right, it's up to you. Let's go to jail.

Jail? Oh no.

Well, I buy gold right along.

You can't prove that I knew.

Well, Mr. Lennihan threatened me.

I do most of my business south of the line.

- He said...
- Never mind him.

Who has the thing now?

Will... will I have to testify in court?

Look, Mr. Hamilton,

I can arrest you for receiving and selling stolen gold.

Now if you want to make it easier on yourself,

you'll tell me who bought that stuff.

Homer Blithe.

Oh, I know it sounds hard to believe,

a big man like Mr. Blithe,

but I was scared.

I sold it for 7,000,

just what I paid Mr. Lennihan.

It's gonna be your word against his, you know.

I'm telling you the truth.

All right.

Already been one man killed over this.

I'll send a deputy to guard you.

Howdy, Mr. Blithe.

Oh, Marshal Earp.

Wondering if you could give me a lift.

I'll be glad to. Get in.

Thank you.

Good season we're having.

Plenty of rain. Where can I drop you?

I'm looking for a gold brick.

A what?

Bullion. San Francisco mint.

Bar value at $10,000.

Stolen?

And you think it's here in Dodge City?

Yep. I think you've got it.

Well, you're joking of course.

No, I'm not joking.

If you were a drinking man I could excuse you,

but I suggest that you owe me an apology.

I suggest you apologize to the decent citizens in this town.

Get out.

I'll do that.

Do you like money so much, Mr. Blithe,

that you're willing to risk your life

for $3,000 profit?

I'm going to report you to the Mayor and the Council.

Good day.

You do that.

Not Homer Blithe, too?

Lennihan says he sold it to Hamilton,

and Hamilton says he sold it to Blithe.

I can't wait to tell Katie.

Mrs. Blithe insulted her.

But there's no evidence. Only Hamilton's word.

Wyatt, you're dull today.

Oh?

Blithe wouldn't keep the thing.

He's too smart for that.

He discounted it with Ned Chapin

at the bank.

Chapin?

Oh, come on now.

All right. Forget it.

I was amused, but now the joke bores me.

Time to take my medicine.

Wait up. I'll come with you.

That still doesn't prove that Mr. Chapin

bought the gold.

He bought it.

The bank can issue currency against its gold deposits.

Chapin is betting that by the time

the bank examiners get around to a check-up,

the Wells Fargo robbery will have been forgotten.

Well, it wouldn't do me any good to ask him.

Hmm. That's the first intelligent remark

you've made, Wyatt.

Do you want me to handle Chapin?

How?

None of your business.

I'd just love to prove this on him.

He told me he wouldn't take my account

in his pious bank.

Oh.

You just say the word, Marshal.

No. You've caused enough trouble.

You should have turned Weasel into me

in the first place.

Temper, temper.

You know, I should arrest you

for receiving stolen goods

and compounding a felony.

Go ahead.

I'll demand that you arrest Mayor Kelly,

Newt Hamilton,

Blithe, and Chapin.

Fine lot of jail birds.

It's open.

Howdy, Miss Kate.

Clerk said you wanted to see me right away.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Wyatt, you're gonna have to arrest John.

- Why?
- He's gonna hold up the bank

as soon as it opens in the morning.

I had a hunch he might try that.

He'll do it

if you don't stop him.

He doesn't like a fella named Chapin.

Thinks he bought the gold.

All this just to prove

that some of our leading citizens

aren't strictly honest.

Some folks snub us.

Well, we deserve to be snubbed.

John's a gambler.

He insults most everybody.

I'm a vulgar, common woman.

I smoke, I drink, I swear.

You're kind of rough on yourself,

aren't you, Miss Kate?

No.

John hates what people are saying.

He cusses Mrs. Grundy.

Well, I don't.

There's always got to be a Mrs. Grundy.

People will be paying attention to Mrs. Grundy's gossip

when they won't listen to their own preachers.

Well, that's right.

Wyatt,

you'll stop John from pulling this fool stunt,

won't you?

Of course, I will.

The bank opens at 9:00.

He'll be leaving here about 10 minutes of.

You'll arrest him here,

not at the bank, huh?

Well, he'll be wearing a gun.

That'll cost him a $25 fine.

I'll pay it myself.

Thanks, Wyatt.

Now don't you worry.

Smokey, sit in.

Well, what's so important?

I sent for you.

The great Doc Holliday.

That's enough, Jenner.

You want to go out in the alley with me?

No. Why don't I just shoot you...

- Why not?
- Don't do it, Doc.

I'm just feeling mean like you.

Sit down, Jenner.

Put your hands on the table.

Why didn't you kill Finnegan?

Well, we drew cards for it.

But how did you know that Finnegan had hooked up with me?

Chitchat from the hens' roost.

I also collected some other thieves' stories.

You want to hear them?

Yeah.

Man by the name of Chapin at the bank has your gold.

How'd he get it?

It's a long story,

and I'm short on breath.

Well...

Thanks, Doc.

Too bad we can't take the bank.

Sit down, Jenner.

You can take it. Sit down.

Earp and his deputies are poison.

I said sit down.

I want to make a deal with you.

Wyatt won't be anywhere near the bank.

He'll be arresting me

and leading me to jail, understand?

Yeah.

But are you sure your Missus told Earp?

I'm sure.

I get that part.

But why do I have to drop that gold brick in the street?

It's my share for keeping Earp out of the way.

Yes or no, Jenner?

It's a deal, Doc.

Me and the boys will get plenty

without a hot brick that's tough to sell.

You just keep Earp out of it.

You just don't cross me, Jenner.

I want to pick up that gold

in a bank sack from the street.

And I want to live, Doc.

I don't see why, but I hope you do.

Morning, Wyatt.

Hold it.

I'm busy. I gotta go over...

That's too bad. I'm arresting you.

You know you can't carry a gun

north of the line?

Uh-huh. Katie tells you everything.

Come on, we'll take a little walk to jail.

On my desk.

9:00 on the dot.

Open the doors, Mr. Clay.

Get back there.

- Get that vault.
- What's the meaning of this?

Get in there.

Wyatt? Wyatt?

I'm running out of breath.

Can we rest a moment?

I'm sorry. Here, sit down.

Now holding up a bank single-handed

just to prove that Mr. Chapin has the gold,

that's real logical thinking

for a college man.

Drop it, Jenner, drop it!

Good work, Marshal.

You got the two with the money.

Well, are you gonna arrest Chapin,

or am I the only hoodlum in town?

Give me that gun.

Bring that money sack over here.

Here.

Now Mr. Chapin,

do you know what this is?

Why, yes. Gold bullion.

It was taken on a Wells Fargo robbery.

- Oh no.
- Oh yes.

Now what was it doing in your bank?

Think fast, Chapin.

Dr. Holliday, please.

Marshal, I can't expect you to believe this,

but I let a customer put it in my vault

as a favor.

Who is he?

I don't know that I should tell you, Mr. Earp.

He could have bought the gold without knowing.

Do your duty, Marshal.

You keep quiet.

You're still under arrest.

Why is that? Dr. Holliday shot the robbers.

We got back all the money.

Don't waste your sympathy on the Doctor.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you to jail too, Mr. Chapin.

I understand.

Now you're the one that really started this, Mr. Hamilton.

Mayor Kelly washed his hands of the whole deal

and Mr. Lennihan might claim ignorance,

but you're a jeweler.

Now you know you don't buy gold in bullion form.

You lost your nerve and resold it to Mr. Blithe.

Well, I'm ready to take my punishment.

Well, have they all confessed?

Yeah, but you haven't proved your point.

Oh?

Then they're still respectable?

Well, Mr. Lennihan is the bad kind of politician.

Of course, he never claimed to be respectable.

Mr. Hamilton here is guilty of cowardice.

He was afraid of Mr. Lennihan.

Mr. Blithe.

But Mr. Blithe is the only crook in the lot.

He admits that Mr. Chapin was only doing him a favor.

Now that's only one crook out of five.

That's pretty good for a town like Dodge City.

I'm deeply disappointed.

Fine.

Now let's take your case.

You bought a gold brick that you knew had been stolen.

And then out of sheer perversity

you set out to corrupt these men.

Vicious nasty pride.

Taking revenge for fancied snubs or insults.

A good choice of words.

And a terse summary of the case.

You see any reason why I shouldn't charge you

with receiving and selling stolen property?

None whatever.

Put on the handcuffs.

It'd be a dramatic gesture,

but the situation calls for it.

No, Wyatt.

That gold brick is a phony.

John didn't sell the real one.

- Katie, please...
- Here's the real one.

So nobody's guilty of anything, are they?

You can't put men in jail for messing around with

$2 worth of lead and gilt-colored solder, can you?

A handsome Marshal.

You and I should have gone to Colorado...

That's enough.

Mr. Hamilton?

Is this the real bullion?

It's a phony.

I'd better test this other one

with a drop of acid.

I did that when I bought it

from Weasel Finnegan.

You can trust Katie.

You gentlemen are discharged.

Not you, Doctor.

You owe a $25 fine for carrying a gun.

I won't pay it.

Well, I will.

Fine remitted

in due of Mrs. Holliday's cooperation with the law.

John.

What do you say?

He's a fool.

He believes in the human race.

Why do I love that man?

Well, Miss Kate, there's some things

the good Lord will explain in due time.

♪ 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 ♪