The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 3, Episode 24 - Wyatt Fights - full transcript

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♪ 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 principal recreations of Dodge City in 1877

were doubtful women, strong drink,

and day-and-night gambling.

Dodge was a frontier cow town,

and it had passed laws against crime,

but not against sin.



On the other hand, respectable citizens

expected Marshal Wyatt Earp to keep both sin and crime

away from the right side of the Santa Fe tracks.

What is now known as the battle of the Long Branch Saloon

was a typical example of frontier hypocrisy.

It threatened Wyatt's reputation and his job.

Get out of here!

I'm not selling out, and nobody's gonna run me out!

You've had your notice, Luke.

We made you a fair offer! Now you get nothing!

What's the matter, Mr. Short?

They've been threatening me, Marshal.

They say they ain't armed, but I doubt it.

Just a private business argument, Marshal.



Yeah. No concern of yours.

Lift 'em!

See if they got any guns, Hal.

Why are you sticking up for Luke Short, Marshal?

You got an interest in the Long Branch?

No, sir.

Degraff's clean. Now I'll have to look...

Get away from me!

Come here.

A derringer.

You can come to my office

and pick up that gun tomorrow, sir.

Now go on back to your saloon.

Hal, go see if you can find Sheriff Masterson.

Right.

Let's go inside.

And then Cockrell and Degraff tried to buy me out.

I figured their place below the line wasn't doing too well.

But they offered me peanuts for the Long Branch.

Wyatt,

maybe this is just another

plain old-fashioned roust, huh?

It looks like it.

You know, I'm the one that talked you into

buying this place from Doc Holliday.

Oh, I'm not blaming you for that, Wyatt.

That price was right, and I've been making money.

Well, just the same, I feel responsible.

I'm gonna ask Judge Tobin

for a restraining order

against Mr. Cockrell and Mr. Degraff.

Restraining order? What's that?

Well, that puts them on legal notice not to interfere with you

or your place of business.

Puts them on legal notice?

Wyatt, you know a gambler can't run to the court for help.

Well, you don't understand.

I want to help you myself, but...

I can't mount guard on a saloon.

The restraining order gives me legal authority

in case they try to roust your place.

Otherwise, they can just send hoodlums in here...

They can tear up your place,

and all they gotta do is pay a small fine for disorderly conduct.

No, sir. A court injunction

is the new way to do things, Mr. Short.

Well...

Thanks just the same.

Too modern for you?

I'm old-fashioned.

- Bat.
- Hi, Hal.

Wyatt wants to see you.

I was afraid of that.

You heard about the trouble Luke Short's been having, huh?

I came to help him.

Luke and I are old pals. He saved my scalp once.

Yeah, I know, but you're the sheriff. You can't...

Hold up now. You don't see any star, do you?

I was the sheriff. I resigned.

All right.

You see Wyatt before you get into any gunfights.

Sure, sure. You tell him I'll be around.

And I just don't understand Wyatt.

This idea of asking a Judge to make Cockrell and Degraff behave.

Has Wyatt gone a mite loco?

No, he just hates trouble, Luke.

Al and Jim would just laugh at a court order.

Sure.

But Wyatt's got the town quieted down,

and he wants to keep it that way.

Deacon Earp they call him.

Uh-oh.

Everybody out!

We're gonna take this place apart!

Drop those guns!

We'll drop you!

Then you quit a good job!

Then you get mixed up in a stupid saloon brawl.

I'd hoped you'd grown up.

But you're a spoiled brat!

This was mostly your fault, you know.

My fault, huh?

Sure. You helped Doc Holliday

sell that place to Luke.

The other saloon owners didn't bother Doc.

They were afraid of him.

Now let me finish, will you?

They were afraid to roust Doc Holliday,

but they're not scared of Luke.

Luke was a pretty fair hand with a gun,

but he's not in our class, and you knew that.

- You finished?
- Yes, sir.

Did Mr. Short give you an interest in the Long Branch?

No, sir, he sold me 10%.

- He sold you 10%?
- That's right.

All right.

Here's an application for a restraining order.

I want you to sign it,

then I want you to get Luke to sign it.

This makes all of us promise to keep the peace.

That's right.

Wyatt, you don't believe

that Cockrell and Degraff are gonna lay off the Long Branch.

After we just shot up a few of their rousters?

If they don't, they'll get six months to a year in jail.

Contempt of court.

Judge Tobin will throw the book at 'em.

Well, I don't know. It puts me in a funny spot.

You put yourself in a funny spot!

Why'd you resign? Why'd you quit?

Never mind. Don't answer that.

You and I, we've worked long and hard

to get this town calmed down.

We've got an honest Judge now.

The time has come to make use of court orders like that one.

All right. All right, I'll sign it.

I'll try to get Luke to sign it.

But it's just going to get you into trouble.

The Marshal's office sent us a paper.

Hal served it on me.

"Legal summons"?

"James Cockrell and Al Degraff

"will appear before Circuit Judge Tobin at 9:00 A.M. tomorrow

"to show cause why a restraining order

"should not be issued against them.

"The order will bind all parties

"to the dispute at the Long Branch Saloon to keep the peace."

Hmm. One of Earp's cute tricks.

Yeah.

If Earp hasn't got an interest in that saloon,

then his pal Bat Masterson has.

Yeah.

We'll tell Tobin a thing or two about Deacon Earp.

Hmph.

And now, Your Honor,

I've got something to tell you

that perhaps you don't know.

Bat Masterson is a partner in the Long Branch Saloon.

And I suspect that Marshal Earp also has an interest in the business.

Now see here!

That's a lie, Your Honor!

Order! Order!

Proceed, Mr. Cockrell.

Al Degraff and I weren't involved in that ruckus yesterday.

So why is Marshal Earp

asking for a restraining order against us?

Your Honor, isn't it obvious...

Not now, Mr. Masterson.

Mayor Kelley and I wish to question Marshal Earp in chambers.

Court's recessed for half an hour.

And all I'm trying to do

is to stop another fight at the Long Branch.

Now, Mr. Masterson and Mr. Short have proven their good faith

by applying for an injunction.

I don't see where Bat's having an interest in the place

or the fact that he and I are friends

should enter into the case.

It'll make you look bad with the public, Wyatt.

Yes, it will.

You'll appear to be taking sides in a brawl between saloonkeepers.

Well, I can't be a hypocrite, Judge.

What?

Look, Mayor Kelley used to own a saloon.

It's a legal business in this town.

But you advised me to quit, and I did.

Sure, Mr. Kelley,

and I'm not defending the saloon business now.

But there's no law against it.

Why, our town is largely supported by taxes from liquor.

You're our Marshal, Wyatt.

For your sake, I can't grant the injunction.

You'll thank Judge Tobin

when you've had time to think about this.

Application denied.

All right, gentlemen.

I'll just have to try and keep the peace my own way.

Gonna need some more guns, Luke.

Charlie Bassett and Neil Brown will help.

I'll send for 'em.

No, two of those hoodlums died.

I favor waiting to see if Wyatt can handle it his way.

Yeah, but Tobin and Kelley let him down.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe shooting your way out of arguments is an old-fogey notion.

Another roust. Come on!

No, wait. Give Wyatt a chance.

Let's take it apart, boys!

That's what we're here for!

Have some drinks!

There's six of them in there.

Wyatt will need help.

Too late now.

Lift 'em!

Well, only about $500 damage, Luke.

Hal, let's go see Mr. Cockrell and Degraff.

You stay here. We'll handle this.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir! You handle it!

You boys know how local politics are in a town like this.

Yeah, Jim's right, boys. You gotta remember

- that most of our business is located...
- There he is.

Mr. Cockrell, it's about time

you and I had a nice little heart-to-heart talk.

Bring Mr. Degraff. I want him to hear it, too.

Now I can't prove you hired those cowhands,

but I don't have to.

I want $500 for the damages you did.

Now go get it.

Are you turning to plain robbery, Earp?

Jim don't mean that. I'll... I'll get it for you.

I told you to get it.

What if I don't?

Mr. Cockrell doesn't appreciate the fact

that I'm trying to save his life.

Hal, you go up the street and tell Mr. Masterson

and Mr. Short to arm themselves.

Don't be a fool.

They'll shoot us down,

and then he'll say it was a fair fight.

And it will be.

You'll be wearing guns when I shove you out that door.

Wait, Hal.

500, did the Marshal say?

Go get it!

Now, one more roust of the Long Branch,

and I'm gonna close your saloon and every saloon below the line.

You pass the word, Mr. Cockrell.

You think he'd dare close everything below the line?

That's just what I want him to do.

We'll pass the word, all right.

The next roust will be a real one.

They paid damages. $500.

Well, that's the fastest civil suit I ever heard of.

But thanks.

You know, I think every saloon owner

below the line is in on this.

Mr. Short, I hope the 500 is enough to pay for the damages.

That's good of you, Marshal,

but that's not gonna get 'em off our backs.

No, sir, I'm afraid not.

Luke's tired of fighting.

Are you tired?

No.

But I don't want to get you in too deep.

You know, Mr. Masterson, I made another mistake.

This isn't just a brawl between saloonkeepers.

There's a right and wrong in the liquor business,

and Dodge City's gonna have to face the issue.

You know what Mr. Kelley and the Judge tried to pull on me today?

They said that everything that happens below the line is sin,

and that we shouldn't bother to get our nice clean coats spotted.

They're hypocrites.

Yeah.

That's why I hope you and Mr. Short will hang on.

We will.

What about the next roust?

Well, I told Mr. Cockrell and Mr. Degraff

that one more roust and I was gonna close every saloon below the line.

Now, if they jump your place again,

don't do any fighting.

You leave that to me and the deputies.

Another hullabaloo at the Long Branch.

What is this now, Wyatt?

Well, I'm, uh, fighting for sin,

according to you, Mr. Kelley.

And a fine spectacle it is, too.

Jim Cockrell told me that you took $500 from him for damages,

and he claims he doesn't even know who made the disturbance.

Well, he's a liar.

And I'm gonna close every saloon in this town

the next time there's a roust at the Long Branch.

- Wyatt, you can't do that.
- Why?

Why, they'd sue the city.

They'd drag the whole nasty business into open court.

Well, that's where I think it belongs.

Girls? Gambling? Liquor?

You must be daft.

Mr. Kelley, when I took the job in this town,

a man's life wasn't safe on front street.

True. You got crime well in hand.

Judge Tobin and I appreciate it.

No, you don't.

I asked the court authority to restrain some liquor peddlers

from using violence to force a rival saloon out of business.

But we told you... for your own good name.

My name isn't that good.

I'm a sinner, and so are you.

And so is Judge Tobin.

When things get too sinful below the line,

sinning busts loose all over this town.

You and the Judge just close your eyes to it.

We're not preachers.

Neither am I.

I can't reform Dodge City.

But you're threatening to drag sin into public court.

If that's the only way I can keep sin from turning into crime, yes.

No! I'm warning you...

There's a crowd moving towards the Long Branch.

Ted and Louis are on their way over there now.

Masterson said he promised you not to fight,

but we could sure use him.

Let's get over there.

Oh, Mr. Mayor, keep your eyes closed real tight.

Us sinners are gonna have ourselves a little old shandygaff.

Grab a gun, Bat, you and Luke both.

They're half-drunk and mean.

We promised Wyatt not to fight.

Well, we could run out the back door.

No.

Take it apart, piece by piece.

You get the back door.

Lot of good, rough boys, Jim.

Yeah. I told them to take the long brach apart board by board.

All right. Outside.

- Outside?
- That's right.

That's your mob out there, and you're gonna lead 'em.

Hands waist high. Let's go.

Whatever you do...

Whatever you do, don't break up the liquor.

We'll drink that.

Come on, now.

Wyatt's with 'em.

They're starting up the street.

It's Marshal Earp.

What's the matter, gentlemen?

What are you hanging back for?

These are the men that hired you to roust the Long Branch.

They'll lead you.

Easy, men!

Earp will shoot us.

No, Mr. Degraff.

Why, I wouldn't shoot you.

Hal?

No, we're just gonna stand over here

and just kind of watch all of the fun.

What's the matter, Mr. Cockrell?

You're a natural-born leader of men.

All you gotta do is raise your hand, just say, "follow me."

Take that bigheaded John law first!

Well, go on! Take him!

Go on, fellas. Start shooting.

Well, we won't hit your bosses.

Whoever heard of men like your bosses getting hurt?

Are you scared of two men?

Cut 'em down!

You start it!

Yeah. Yeah.

I'm not scared of Wyatt Earp.

Well, go ahead and draw.

I'll wait.

You want to die for them?

One of you could get me before Wyatt gets you.

No takers?

They'll fight to the last drop of your blood.

Not our blood.

Hal, get a wagon, load it with 1x6s.

We're closing the saloons.

- Right.
- Wyatt.

You gonna close us, too?

That's right, Mr. Masterson.

Every saloon in town.

♪ The buntline ♪

♪ The buntline special ♪

♪ It was the longest, fastest shooting iron ♪

♪ Ever to fight for the law ♪

♪ The buntline ♪

♪ The buntline special ♪

♪ It never missed or lost a battle ♪

♪ And never was beat on the draw ♪

Marshal Earp?

Judge Tobin wants you in court at once.

- For what?
- Read the summons.

I might add on behalf of my client, Mr. Cockrell,

malfeasance in office is too mild a charge.

See you in court, Earp.

And I submit, your honor,

the plaintiff has shown conclusive evidence

why Marshal Earp should immediately be removed from office.

We ask further that his illegal action

in closing the city's saloons be declared null and void.

Order! Order!

Marshal Earp, you've heard the charges against you.

Have you anything to say?

Order!

Proceed, Mr. Earp.

Your honor, I have plenty to say,

but I ask the courtroom be cleared.

On what grounds?

I'm going to have to talk about sin in Dodge City.

I'm going to name names and cite facts

that I don't think should become public property.

If the court please...

Yes, Mayor Kelley?

I agree with Wyatt, uh, Marshal Earp.

His testimony should be given in private.

Mr. Dunbar, do you agree that the courtroom be cleared?

I see no reason for it, Your Honor.

The point at issue is not the alleged sinfulness of Dodge City,

but whether Marshal Earp abused the powers of his office.

Mr. Dunbar, your wife is in the courtroom.

My wife?

Well, this is outrageous, Your Honor.

I have nothing to hide.

Let Mr. Earp confine his testimony

to the points at issue in this case.

Your Honor, I believe the court must rule.

You will proceed with your testimony.

Mr. Dunbar owns a quarter interest in the Alamo Saloon.

He's also a partner with Miss Josie Divas

in the Dreamland Dance Hall.

That's a lie! I object, Your Honor!

Order!

Counsel will conduct himself properly.

This court fails to see how Mr. Dunbar's business ventures

are relevant to the charges against you.

Your Honor, malfeasance in office is a felony, a crime.

Now, in order to show that I acted within police powers,

I intend to prove criminal conspiracy

between certain saloon owners and their silent partners

to destroy the business of the Long Branch.

I have here a list of certain, prominent Dodge City men

who are silent partners in saloons,

dance halls, and disreputable resorts.

- Order! Order!
- If the court please...

Your Honor, please!

Yes, Mayor Kelley?

Wyatt's telling the absolute truth.

If you permit this case to continue,

I'll have to testify to what I know about my fellow citizens,

including Miles Dunbar.

I've heard enough of this. Your Honor?

Mr. Dunbar.

My clients have deceived me.

I withdraw from the case.

Very well.

On the basis of Marshal Earp's statement,

this court is bound to conclude

that the public interest cannot be served

by further washing of our dirty linen.

Hear, hear.

The charges against Marshal Earp are dismissed,

and the saloons will remain closed

until in his judgment

improved conditions warrant their reopening.

Court is adjourned.

Now, gentlemen,

men like Mr. Cockrell and Mr. Degraff

don't belong in the saloon business.

I want you saloonkeepers

and gambling house owners to get rid of 'em.

If you proved to me that you made up your minds

to break with the past,

I'll let you open for business.

That's fair enough with me.

It's a deal, Marshal. We'll get rid of them.

- Come on, let's go.
- See you gentlemen later.

Looks like the trouble's over, Luke.

You sure you want to sell your interest?

Cash. Pay me.

You've been a real friend, Bat.

That makes us even.

I'll see you around.

I'm out of the saloon business.

Good.

You can take your profit and buy into a dance hall.

No, you... you give this to the school.

Good.

Wait a minute.

Now, there's something about a deputy's star.

You don't get rich if you're honest,

and they bury you if you're slow.

But a pot metal star,

you can keep that clean.

Yes, sir.

♪ 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 ♪

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.