The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 3, Episode 38 - The Frame-Up - 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 Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Are the boys coming, Cy?

Three more.

You wanted him to ride in unnoticed, didn't you?

Just the six of us.

Well, here comes Willy Black.



We better get inside, Maxwell.

Is the back room clear?

I fixed that.

Lindon, McKeown, in here.

Lock the door.

McKeown, you'll keep a lookout at the windows.

You'll be able to hear what's being said.

All right, Maxwell, you explain the setup.

You know the railroad.

The money shipment arrives in Dodge

this afternoon on number nine.

Red, you and Willy will snitch it off the truck.

Chances are that Dolan,

the station agent, will be so busy



checking the express bound for end of track that

that he won't even notice you.

Red and Willy will bring the money package

to my room at the Dodge Hotel.

Then it's up to Maxwell and me to fix the frame on Wyatt Earp.

But Tim's a Special Agent for the railroad.

How do we know he won't be framing us?

He's got a prison record back east.

It ain't likely he'd be doing any talking.

That's why I cut Lindon and McKeown on this.

The three of them are doing it for money.

The rest of us want to get Wyatt Earp.

I've been working on this plan ever since

Earp threatened to stop my outfit from driving cattle into Dodge.

Nobody talks. Understand?

- Right.
- Yeah.

Good.

This time we'll nail Earp's hide...

To the jail door.

Howdy, Hal. Everything quiet?

No, Dooly Dolan's in trouble.

He's in there.

- Mr. Dolan?
- Yeah.

What kind of trouble is he in?

There's a $10,000 express shipment that the State National's missing.

Special Agent for the railroad brought him in.

Uh-huh.

Marshal Earp?

I'm Tim Maxwell, Special Agent

for the railroad.

Afraid you'll have to hold Mr. Dolan here

on suspicion of robbery.

But I never took nothing, Mr. Earp.

Where's the money?

He's got to prove that I took it or hid it

or something, don't he?

He sure does, Mr. Dolan.

Now you just rest yourself there

and we'll get this all straightened out.

Hal, you wanna bring some water?

Now somebody must have sneaked that money package

while my back was turned.

And that's the good Lord's truth, Mr. Earp.

Did you know there was a money package on the truck?

He had to know, Marshal.

Here's the telegram of manifest for the currenCy shipment.

Well, I get telegrams, bills of lading

and freight manifests... a stack of them every day.

Did you see this one?

I guess I did.

But it must have slipped my mind.

All right, Mr. Dolan.

There are a lot of men in town that would

stand bail for Mr. Dolan.

Any objection?

He's entitled to bail.

Hal, you take Mr. Dolan out to the shady bench

in the backyard.

I'll get word to Mr. Jenson over at the bank

and Judge Tobin.

Thank you, Mr. Earp.

You'll see that I get justice, I know that.

Thank you, Mr. Maxwell, for being so quiet

and decent about the arrest.

You only done your duty.

That's right, Mr. Dolan.

- Yes.
- Now you just take it easy.

A perfect job, men.

Wells Fargo has the serial numbers.

When do we get paid?

You'll get paid.

But not out of this.

200 apiece now...

and 300 when Earp's been convicted.

Don't hang around Dodge.

Just when do we plant the money on Earp?

We'll have to wait a couple of days.

Let the papers report the robbery,

get people talking about Dolan.

Build it up big.

Cy, I still don't trust Maxwell.

An ex-con and all...

He knows how to dummy up.

It's you and Willy who might go blabbermouth on us.

My advice...

Don't.

Hold it, Red.

Hi, Doc.

I thought your missus was sick in k.C.

- Yeah, how is she?
- She's better.

Those two Texas guns that just rode out,

I should remember their names.

I never saw 'em. You, Willy?

No.

Glad to hear about Miss Kate.

Doc, we've got to hurry.

Yeah.

Well.

Howdy, Doc.

You know they'll never catch this fella in a thousand years.

What are you up to?

I think I gotta get a bail bond form

over to Mr. Jenson before the bank closes.

Save your strength.

What?

I'll put up the bond for Dolan.

How much?

$500.

You a friend of Mr. Dolan's?

Anyone who steals money from the railroad

is a friend of mine, Wyatt.

I always thought of Dooly Dolan

as a shiftless, careless failure.

Now but if he got away with $10,000,

I now regard him with fond admiration.

Well, I, uh... I don't think Mr. Dolan took it.

Well, if he's not guilty, I've lost interest.

Ah, I'll let it ride.

Wyatt, did you ever hear of Red Smith or Willy Black?

Why?

Well, Red and Willy just left town.

Before they left rather hastily and guiltily,

a couple of Texas gunslingers, whom I should remember,

rode their horses down front street.

Oh?

Now any one of the four is a cinch bet to be a thief.

And I also recall that Red and Willy

don't particularly like you.

Now I've got it.

Didn't you banish the lazy...

Didn't you banish the Lazy "W" outfit from Dodge?

No, I just threatened to.

But I don't recall any Smith or Black

connected with the lazy "w."

I guess I haven't had enough whiskey to clear my head.

I'm groping for something...

A gloomy, dismal chaos of a sober mind.

Doc.

Oh, excuse me.

There.

20 seconds to reach the brain.

Meanwhile, what is it?

Well, those two fellas you were asking about, Smith and Black...

They've been hanging around the forks road House.

Chuck beason says they work for the lazy "w."

Well, thank you, deputy.

There's your lead, Deacon.

You put Red and Willy in jail,

give them pistol whippings at six-hour intervals,

and I'll guarantee they talk.

The whiskey's reached your brain.

Wyatt, I'm trying to help you.

Thanks. But I can't arrest men just because they don't like me.

And I can't beat confessions out of prisoners.

You allow moral scruples to interfere

with your duties as a peace officer!

Good day, sir.

Why hasn't the boss showed up?

That's what fidgets me.

Maybe he's taking my advice, huh?

I told him to put the plant on Earp.

You heard me.

I said, "you wait and something will go wrong."

Let's ride back to Dodge.

Back to Dodge.

Back it up.

Pick him up.

Doc, you crazy or something?

No.

I just made a citizen's arrest.

Two material witnesses.

Witnesses for what?

Framing a peace officer.

Who'd they frame?

You.

Give me a hand.

You men now deny that you told Doc Holliday

that an attempt would be made to frame me, huh?

I never said nothing.

Neither did I.

You wish you hadn't said that, Willy.

What about our rights, Marshal?

It's his word against ours.

I believe the doctor.

Then lock 'em up!

I don't admit nothing.

He shot me when I was unarmed.

Wyatt, I have other matters

to attend to. Either lock them up

or give 'em back their guns and turn them loose.

Next time I won't just wing you.

Don't say nothing, Red.

We'll stay in jail.

He'll kill both of us.

Yeah, I think he would.

I'll lock them up for 24 hours.

Now what's your next move?

You won't approve of it

look, I'm involved in this now.

What other information did they give you?

The names of two men.

I'm gonna make those men talk or I'm gonna kill them.

You wanna join the party?

I can't operate that way, Doc.

I thought not.

I'll see you later.

Who is it?

Maxwell.

Doc Holliday took Willy and Red.

Earp has them in jail.

What's Holliday doing in this?

They tell me he and Earp are pals.

I figured Doc to be in Kansas City.

Think the boys will talk?

We better not risk it.

Spring the plan tomorrow?

Yeah, tomorrow.

I'll get you the money.

Pour yourself a drink.

Thanks.

Keep your hands on the table.

Flat!

All right, on your feet.

Into the next room.

How did Doc Holliday get into this?

We thought you were in k.C.

I'm not interested in your childish speculation.

Move!

Who's behind the frame up?

All right.

It's a principle of mine never to shoot an unarmed man.

Talk... or fight.

I'm waiting.

Holster your gun.

I need an even break.

Now you tell me who's framing Wyatt

or you make your fight.

Don't shoot me again.

Cy Johnson.

I got two witnesses that admit the frame is on, Mr. Maxwell.

But they won't name anyone else.

They keep repeating that...

They don't know how or where

the money's gonna be planted on me.

Nobody'd believe you had

anything to do with the robbery.

Oh, no?

A lot of people in this town that'd believe anything against me.

And I can't count on Smith or Black.

Now they'd change their stories if the plant is made on me.

You're getting me suspicious.

I haven't heard from Doc Holliday.

He turned in those two hoodlums.

That's unusual, isn't it?

He played a hunch.

But I can't trust Doc to keep his temper.

If I knew where he was

or what he was up to...

Forget it, Marshal.

I still say that Dolan is our man.

Wyatt, Red Smith says he's ready to talk some more.

Good.

I, uh... I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't bother

the dolans anymore.

If you ask it.

Oh, uh, get anything, I'll be at the depot.

Thanks.

Now you drive on.

Is this one of your practical jokes, Doc?

My grizzly sense of humor.

I don't relish having a gun in my ribs.

You better drive while you're still able.

Yah!

Well, we got two more names, boss...

Lindon and McKeown.

Yeah, it may help.

You, um, get Louie and Ring out the town, huh?

All right.

Marshal?

Your friend Doc Holliday

- has really stepped overboard, I'm afraid.
- Oh?

He just kidnapped some fellow at the point of a gun.

- Where?
- The Dodge House.

They headed south out of town on the spring wagon.

Smith named two other men. We better search the town for them.

Give him a hand, will you, Mr. Maxwell?

Why, sure.

Well, they worked it.

Planted it on my horse.

Why, that dirty scum.

You know the serial numbers?

I've memorized them.

This is the stuff.

Now you hang on to it. I'm going after Doc.

Marshal?

I wouldn't leave now.

What?

You don't think that Wyatt would know anything...

Oh, of course not!

But I am a Special Agent for the railroad.

I have to go through the motions

of making an investigation.

Oh, that's stupid.

You go after Doc, Wyatt.

I'll take care of Mr. Maxwell.

No, he's right.

You, uh, tell Mayor Kelly and Judge Tobin.

We'll have this out in an open meeting.

Then I'll go after Dr. Holliday.

That satisfy you?

I'm satisfied already, Marshal.

But I can't falsify a report to the railroad.

And I sure don't wanna tell them that

part of the stolen money was found in your saddlebag.

No. That's fine of you.

Come on, hal.

Whoa.

You wanna pick your own tree?

Tree?

Doesn't have to be a large tree.

I want you tied up.

You might as well be comfortable.

You must be crazy.

I told you I didn't know any of the hoodlums you named.

I certainly wouldn't want to frame Marshal Earp.

But I never even met the man.

- Liar!
- Oh!

Whoa!

Get down.

Why don't you just shoot me in the back

and get it over with?

It would be too easy.

Besides, I wanna hear the truth come gasping out of you.

Johnson?

This is a hypodermic syringe.

In my dental practice,

I used it for surgery.

But now...

Now it contains my own special formula.

McKeown tells me that you're the boss behind the frame up of Wyatt Earp.

What about that?

You know, the apaches have a trick noose.

Lets 'em hang a man all day.

Now hold still.

This has to go slow.

Slow and easy.

A little bit at a time.

Little more.

Are you the boss man?

No.

All right, we'll try some more of this.

Right now you should be feeling a slight chill.

There.

And that's the borderline. If I give you any more,

- you'll lose consciousness.
- No, Doc, please please.

No, don't worry, Johnson. I can revive you if you have a strong heart.

Any history of heart trouble?

Of course if I did revive you,

it'd hardly be worth the effort.

You'd be a babbling idiot for the rest of your life.

Well?

Here it goes.

No! No.

I can't take it. I'll talk, I'll talk.

I'll talk.

And I don't believe for a moment

that Marshal Earp had any knowledge of the robbery

or of the money found in his saddlebag.

Certainly not.

It's a dirty frame up.

Then you do understand my position?

I can't report to the railroad that

some anonymous thief has returned $3500

of the express shipment.

What have you got to say about all this, Wyatt?

Hal's talking to Smith and Black.

I suggest they be given a chance to repeat

their verbal confessions.

All right, bring them in.

This is some fool nonsense!

Any one of 50 people could have planted the loot on Wyatt.

Why, you could have done it yourself.

Now now, Jim.

Well.

We'll see what these hoodlums have to say.

Well, maybe they know Maxwell.

Whoa, now, Mayor Kelly.

It's your own Marshal who's under suspicion here.

Hal, you take them on out there.

I'll be out in a few minutes.

All right.

Smith, Black?

Yeah?

Didn't you tell Marshal Earp

in the presence of his Chief Deputy

that an attempt would be made to frame him?

No, I didn't.

Me, neither.

They're lying.

You're lying!

Do you know this man?

Never laid eyes on him.

The same for me.

All right.

I've tried to be fair and decent.

And all I got for it is to be accused of crooked work

by Mayor Kelly!

I'm gonna write an honest report to the railroad.

And what you do about Marshal Earp is none of my business.

Lift 'em, Maxwell.

Get out of my way.

Now you lift your hands or you go for your gun.

Cy Johnson's boss of the outfit, Wyatt.

He's outside on a wagon.

I, uh...

I'll let him rest.

I'm grateful, Doc. But it just wasn't necessary.

Mayor Kelly and Judge Tobin would have

stayed loyal, no matter what that phony Special Agent did.

Perhaps.

You have your methods; I have mine.

I'll ask you to do me one little favor.

Oh?

Name it first.

Red Smith and Willy Black...

Turn 'em loose.

So you can shoot 'em down in cold blood?

Uh-uh.

Well, it'll keep.

You know, Wyatt,

I would have made a very crooked,

but efficient peace officer.

And what a noble, honest gambler

you would have been.

Well, maybe the good Lord has other plans, huh?

Amen, Deacon.

Amen.

♪ 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.