The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 2, Episode 5 - Clay Allison - full transcript

Hello, Albright.

Well, Mr. Allison, have you thought it over?

Sure.

I'll kill him for you.

Good.

I want to keep Dodge a wide open town.

If this Earp isn't taken care of,

he'll ruin business.

When a man does me a favor this big, I usually...

Now you get out of here.

I ain't killing Wyatt Earp for money.



I got other reasons.

My own reasons.

♪ 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'brien.

Clay Allison was probably the most dangerous

of all the killers who challenged Wyatt Earp's authority

as Marshal of Dodge City in 1876.

Modern doctors would diagnose Allison as an alcoholic psychopath,

but to the men of the western frontier,

his character was baffling.



Only a rough and ready psychologist like Wyatt Earp

stood any chance in personal conflict with Allison.

And for Marshal Earp, there was the deadly risk of guessing wrong.

Clay Allison's on his way into town.

He's coming to gun Marshal Earp.

You go warn Miss Dora. I'll find Earp.

Wyatt.

This is private, Hal. Gotta excuse us.

Sure, Mr. Kelly.

You look all out of breath.

We may both be out of breath, permanent.

When are you looking for that to happen?

Remember my telling you I suspected Pete Albright

of setting a price on your head?

Yeah.

Well, I was right.

He's hired Clay Allison.

Clay Allison.

You sure?

Yeah.

Mr. Allison in town?

Not yet, but maybe five or ten minutes.

Hmm.

Now don't try any smart aleck stuff with Allison.

Just go down to Front Street and shoot him off his horse.

Clay will know I warned you.

It's my skin I'm thinking of.

See, you let a good impulse overpower you again.

Impulse nothing!

Everybody's got the fool idea I'm a friend of yours.

And they'll tell Clay Allison that.

Well, what are you gonna do?

How well do you know Mr. Allison?

Too well. I got drunk with him

a couple of times when I was in the army.

It's a miracle he didn't blow my head off.

Why didn't he?

I was on furlough and I didn't pack a gun.

And Allison didn't reach a killing edge.

When he drinks, he's got to get a real edge on

before he kills.

Well now, get started for Front Street,

unless you're scared.

Sit down. Mr. Kelly.

But... sit down?

Man, you got no time to sit down!

Just sit down and tell me about Mr. Allison.

He's gonna come gunning for me, I better know a little bit about him.

Maybe your life will depend on it.

Hey, mister.

Yeah?

You better step inside.

There's word that Clay Allison's on his way here.

That so?

Yeah.

Jim Kelly's place, huh?

Yeah, but he ain't here. He went to warn Marshal Earp.

Oh, he did, did he?

I'll reckon I'll step out of the sun while I wait.

Yeah, you do that, mister.

Your guns, mister.

It's town law that you check them on that rack yonder.

All right.

Get me some whiskey.

All right, sir.

Oh, and I might add I'm an old friend of Kelly's.

Oh, an old friend of Kelly's, huh?

Well, that makes a difference.

Must have been before Kelly come to Dodge.

That's right. Jim was in the army.

Oh, in the army?

Hhm. Smells like pretty fair whiskey.

It's out of Mr. Kelly's own bottle, mister.

I got standing orders.

Any friend of his is a friend of...

Did I miss hearing your name?

Jim knows me.

Oh.

Come on, you're just stalling.

One more question, Mr. Kelly.

What does Mr. Allison worry about?

Well...

Hard drinkers usually worry about something.

Does he ever mention the men that he's killed

or talk about the fight

or try and defend the killing?

Allison?

What silly talk!

Why should he bother his head about it?

No, the only thing I ever heard him worry about

was his cartridges.

Cartridges?

He don't use factory loads.

Does all his own loading,

just to make sure he don't have a misfire.

That's enough jabber.

You're scared of Allison.

Yes I am.

In solemn truth?

You're gonna hunt your hole?

I don't understand you.

I'm trying to understand the reasoning of this man Allison.

He's afraid, so he drinks to kill his fear.

The drink gives him courage to do the killing.

So he winds up being hostile towards everybody.

We can begin to see what makes him tick.

I just hope I can handle him.

Wyatt, Clay Allison's in town.

Where?

Mr. Kelly's saloon.

I knew it!

He'll think I'm your friend and shoot me down.

Marshal Earp! Clay Allison wants to see you at the Alhambra Saloon.

Tell him I'll be down in a half hour.

I haven't had my dinner yet.

Clay ain't gonna like being kept waiting.

In a half hour... tell him.

I thought you were gonna run.

I wish there was something I could do to help you.

Oh, there is.

You can encourage Mr. Allison to get drunk in a hurry.

You want him to reach a killing edge real quick?

Mm-hmm. You tell him I said that.

Never doubt it. I'll tell him.

And the sooner he gets rid of you, the better I'll feel.

Well well. Howdy, Clay.

Haven't seen you in ages.

Howdy, Jim.

You always did have decent manners.

To a man I like, sure.

Hold that. I'll join you. Soapy!

Yes, sir.

This is right fine whiskey, Jim.

- Is this my bottle?
- Yes, sir.

Then you got the best.

Well, Clay, here's to old times.

Old times.

Yeah, you're real polite, Jim.

Tell me, why don't you teach Wyatt Earp some manners?

How's that?

I sent him word I wanted to see him,

talk to him. He sent back a message

that I'd have to wait until he ate dinner.

That's kind of rude, I'd say.

Ah, forget it and drink up.

No.

Where does Earp generally have dinner, Jim?

One place or another.

I'll find him.

Clay, what's your complaint against Earp?

No complaint, Jim.

I just want to find out if he's as brave as his friends brag.

I'll see you after a while.

Sure, Clay.

Soapy?

Yes, sir?

How many did he have?

Two.

Just two?

Yeah.

Would he go against Earp cold sober?

Time will tell.

Pardon me, mister. You're supposed to check those guns.

That's Marshal Earp over there.

Uh-huh.

All right.

So that's Wyatt Earp, huh?

The great Wyatt Earp.

I've been wanting to talk to him.

Mr. Earp, my name's Allison, Clay Allison.

Glad to know you, Mr. Allison.

Did you get my message?

Yeah. I told Jim Kelly you didn't have decent manners.

But then, maybe I'm being rude, disturbing a man at his vittles, hmm?

You're not disturbing me. Sit down.

Thanks.

You want to talk to me about something?

Yeah.

There's been a lot of mean gossip about me.

Oh?

You may hear it.

They say I take money for gunning a man.

I've heard stories like that.

Well, they ain't true.

Any fights I ever been in, money had nothing to do with them.

I believe that.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Say, what make are these?

No make.

I load my own.

You do?

That's a mighty fine job.

You set the primer absolutely flush, huh?

You know, I had to stop hand loading

because I used to set a bumpy primer.

The thing would hang up in the cylinder.

You must be clumsy with tools.

All thumbs. As a matter of fact

I'm kind of forgetful too.

Once, I double-loaded a shell

and almost broke my wrist when the gun went off.

Well, I never forget.

Mt memory's perfect.

I'd rather trust it than some factory loader.

Well, if a man's got a perfect memory

and if he doesn't drink, why, it's smart to use hand loads.

What's drinking got to do with it?

Well, they say it's kind of rough on the brain

if it's kept up too long.

I've heard all that doctor talk.

Injures a man's recollection, they say.

But I never hand load when I drink.

And I've never had a shell misfire on me.

Oh?

Well, you're mighty lucky, Mr. Allison.

Hope you never do.

Are you a betting man?

I've been known to sometimes.

I've got 100 cartridges on me.

I'll let you load my guns,

picking shells out of the 100.

And I'll bet you 20 to one they all fire.

I'll make it 30 to one.

You game to bet?

Yeah, all right.

Why don't you strap on your guns?

- We'll go out back to the livery stable.
- Good.

Now don't you worry, miss Jean.

We'll be careful.

Miss Jean's kind of afraid of guns.

Oh?

There you are, Mr. Allison.

All fresh loads.

Thank you, Mr. Earp.

30 to one you don't have a misfire, huh?

That's right.

Why don't you just cut down on those tin cans over there?

There, you see?

My guns never misfire.

Pay me.

That's real fine shooting, Mr. Allison.

One dollar.

Thank you.

Come on over to Jim Kelly's. I'll buy you a drink.

I appreciate the offer, but I don't drink.

I'll see you around, though.

Sure.

Where have you been?

Been waiting to talk to you in private.

I heard a couple of shots. I thought maybe...

Not yet, Albright.

In my own time.

I got the men I promised to back you.

Where?

They're lounging around over at my store.

I also got the money.

Didn't you hear what I said the other day?

Don't get sore. I thought maybe you'd changed your mind.

No!

I just finished denying to Earp that dirty gossip.

All right, all right...

It ain't all right.

You started that talk about paying me.

No. No, Clay, no!

Two misfires.

Forgot to reload my guns.

Get on your feet.

That was just a joke, huh, Clay?

Yeah, sure, just a joke.

That's the first time I ever forgot to reload

after firing my guns.

Earp did it!

Him and his jabber about my memory.

He talked me into forgetting.

It's another reason to kill him.

A John law acting smart alecky with me.

Well, uh, reload it and go get him.

No.

No, I'll have me one drink first.

Kelly! Come here.

Sure, Clay.

- I got smallpox?
- Huh?

Sit down, my dear old friend.

Hold it. You're almost out of liquor...

Never mind. Sit down.

I want you to know that I don't like your choice of new friends.

And I mean Wyatt Earp.

He's no friend of mine.

You are a liar, Kelly.

You warned him I was coming to town.

You been trying to make me drunk.

You are drunk. And don't call me a liar!

Keep your fists to yourself and sit down.

Now that's better.

Did you see that draw?

Look at this gun barrel. Not a quiver.

Steady on your belly, Kelly.

I like that... steady on your belly, Kelly.

It's awfully soft.

You're not fuzzy drunk yet.

You're just mean drunk.

That's right.

And my cartridges will all fire.

I proved that to Earp.

There, you see?

The gun went off, didn't it?

I got your man right where I wanted to get him.

I feel fast but steady.

You see any chance for Earp?

Not much, no.

Honest Jim Kelly, you made the right answer.

You know I like you, Kelly.

That's why you ain't dead.

But I don't like Earp.

He thinks he's too brave.

Wyatt, my friend.

Where you been?

You said I'd see you around.

Who fired that shot in there?

Oh, the barkeep started for a gun.

I didn't hurt him much.

I just creased his hand.

Ask Jim Kelly.

I will.

I'll be all right in a second, Wyatt.

It's just, liquor makes me dizzy.

I took too much, I reckon.

Oh, Wyatt.

I don't feel very good, Wyatt.

I think I'll go into the alley.

Yeah, you do that, Mr. Allison.

Where's Allison?

He went around the alley to drink himself some more courage.

Well, take this and cut him in two!

No. Mr. Allison's only got a couple of six shooters.

Well, go after him!

He winged soapy and threatened to kill me.

Well, what are you stalling for now?

I don't want to have to kill him, Mr. Kelly.

Well, why not?

Will you just take it easy?

Easy, he says!

Clay Allison at the killing edge, and he takes it easy!

Well, you can't hide in here.

The whole town's watching you and Clay.

Yeah, and they're all just blind stupid like you are.

Oh, they are, are they?

Look, I had the drop on Mr. Allison out there.

I could have buffaloed him over the head or shot him.

Then why didn't you?

Because he's crazy.

Drunk crazy.

I want to give him one more chance.

To kill you?

Maybe.

But I'm hoping he'll just get so drunk he'll quit.

We may have to shoot it out. I'm not saying it won't end that way.

But I thought you'd at least have enough sense to understand.

A man waiting to get killed is easy to figure.

You're tired of living.

Now listen to me, will you?

Ah.

There's nothing wrong with my eyes.

Yeah, you can do the job.

Here.

Hold it waist high.

That's pretty fast, huh?

Plenty fast.

Yeah.

That Wyatt Earp tried to worry me about my cartridges.

Any man who'd stoop to a trick like that is just plain yellow.

Is hiding in Kelly's saloon.

I'll get him out of there.

But how do I know his deputies won't gun me in the back?

Take a look in my store.

There's a dozen men in there willing to back you up.

I'll tell you something, Albright.

I don't need 'em.

You go fetch my horse.

I kill a Marshal, I want to get out of town quick.

Hey, you Johnny laws!

Go tell Earp to quit hiding!

Tell him to come out here and make his fight!

The worst thing a Marshal can do is to kill a man.

Sure, you may think he deserves it,

but his relatives and friends don't.

That's why Billy Brooks and John Allen had to leave Dodge City.

They found themselves ringed with enemies.

Yeah.

And the lowdownest thing a man can do is to make gunplay against drunks.

The drunk dies, well, they say you took advantage of him.

- If you die, they...
- Wyatt!

If you die, why, you're considered mighty poor

to get killed by a drunk. Yeah, hal?

Clay's yelling at you to come make your fight.

Yeah? Where?

Outside Albright's store.

I think there's about a dozen cowhands inside.

- I believe they got their guns with them.
- All right.

Well, shouldn't me and the boys take the guns away from those cowhands first?

No, you just stay where I told you.

I'll be out there directly.

Okay.

Why didn't he get just too drunk and fall over?

He's had his chance.

Yeah, I guess so.

Kill him.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to.

Tie him off.

Come on out of your hole, Earp!

I ain't waiting all day!

Mr. Allison,

I don't want you to depend on my habit of only wounding a man.

You ain't scaring me.

So go ahead. Draw!

Draw!

It's your move.

What's the matter, Albright?

What are you scared of?

You offered me $1,000 to gun him.

You promised plenty of men to back me up.

Well, there's Earp and there's his deputies.

You want me to take them on all by myself?

Hah!

It's all over.

Look out! He's coming!

I may have to drop him. Watch Albright's men.

♪ 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 ♪