The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961): Season 5, Episode 4 - Wyatt's Decision - full transcript

Now, that's Allen Street.

I figure they'll come in from that end of town.

Why do you need me for this?

Well, they know you're here.

They'll be expecting you to help me.

Now, we need to be on both sides of the street, so, uh...

so they're going to have to fan out.

Well, it's a good trap, Wyatt,

but it'll only work once.

You'll never have a better chance to thin out the Clantons.

Sorry I can't help you.



You still insist on killing them, huh?

It's a matter of principle.

Two men, even us, couldn't take care of

a dozen Clantons on Allen Street without using your scheme.

Even the Apaches couldn't have thought of a better one.

But I know you'll waste it by just winging a few of them.

This is art. It revolts me

to see you perverting it to a mere moral lesson.

Good day, sir.

So long, Doc.

♪ Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp ♪

♪ Brave, courageous, and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his story be told ♪



Wyatt's violent introduction to the mining camp of Tombstone

and his discovery of the brutal lawlessness there

convinced him that it was no place

for his brothers or himself.

The Earps would be outsiders in a town and county

dominated by the corrupt political ring

who were called the insiders.

Wyatt was sick to his soul of fighting.

To wear a star in Tombstone would be,

he foresaw, his own death warrant.

Here.

"To Virgil and Morgan Earp,

"Prescott, Arizona Territory.

"Tombstone no town for us.

"Leaving for Prescott immediately. Wyatt."

I wouldn't use the expression, "leaving immediately."

Doc, you're out of character.

I'm the one that's supposed to give you good advice, remember?

Send that right away, will ya?

But you can't leave immediately, Mr. Earp.

Why not?

Well, our Chief Special Agent asked me to tell
you he'd be here at noon. He wants to see you.

You tell him I'm leaving.

You get that off right away.

Yes, sir, but...

Mr. Earp will be here till noon. I'll bet on that.

Wyatt.

Miss Cashman and Mr. Gird send you to argue with me?

You know I never listen to honest, well-meaning people.

The fact remains you wouldn't get 10 miles outside of this town

without being bushwhacked by the Clantons.

Trying to scare me?

Watch yourself.

Hey, Doc,

$50 on Earp that he lasts 10 miles.

It's a sucker bet, Doc. The Clantons ain't even got word of it yet.

I don't bet on a friend's life.

Well, he ain't our friend, and we've already bet.

Look out!

You didn't have to kill 'em.

They were sent here to kill you.

Deacon, if you won't accept the truth about Tombstone,

leave it like a frightened dog.

Who's there?

It's Nellie Cashman and Mr. Gird.

Door's not locked. Come on in.

Good morning, Marshal.

Good morning, Miss Cashman.

You remember Mr. Gird.

Sure. Good morning, Mr. Gird.

The fighting's still called off?

Yeah.

Go ahead, Mr. Gird.

Well, uh... our town needs a man like you.

And, besides, I don't want any more of my men in the hospital.

Marshal, the other miners have appointed Mr. Gird here, to

talk to you for them.

Go ahead.

Well, uh...

Well, uh...we've sent for Sheriff Shibell over at Tucson,

and we want him to appoint you as

as his Special Deputy here in Tombstone.

Well...

Now hold on a minute, Mr. Earp. Let me have my say.

We feel that...

We're all set, Papa. Now can we go?

Hold it, Ben. We haven't got the word from Emma yet.

It's Earp, Papa. Word's all over Tombstone.

We don't move on gossip, Ike.

Put this in the boot. And will you put your hat on?

Yes, Papa.

What route can you take?

Clanton's cowboys control every water hole

from Old Mex to the McCullen.

That's true, Marshal. You wouldn't get 20 miles.

Dr. Holliday has a lot of friends around.

With Doc and six good guns, I could make a run for it.

I'm afraid the Citizens' Council

doesn't exactly approve of Dr. Holliday.

Oh, they don't, huh?

Well, Dr. Holliday just now saved my life.

Yesterday, you and Miss Clanton had to help me.

I'm beholden, and I don't like it.

Then make your own fight with the Clantons... here.

If I do that, will you let Doc and me handle things?

Yes.

Now, I know that the Council doesn't approve of Dr. Holliday,

but, after all, he and Wyatt are good friends, and...

besides, Doc's mighty handy with a gun.

All right. All right.

Anything to keep you from riding into ambush in the desert.

Thank you.

Now, if the Clantons do come into Tombstone...

- We shouldn't ride into Tombstone...
- You're just a girl.

- What do you know about fighting?
- Hush up, Phin!

- You, too, Ike.
- Thanks, Papa.

Earp and Holliday are awful good in a fight.

But we can take 'em.

Maybe, and maybe not.

Why don't you wait for Brocius, Ringo, and the McLaury boys?

Hmm, hmm, she's got a point.

All we want is Earp.

You said yourself not to make a big push on Tombstone.

Only get him to hire a lot of Johnny laws.

Yeah, I did say that.

I'm thinking of the family name, Papa.

Hmm?

No point in going into Tombstone

and making a play you maybe won't win.

Maybe, uh...you ain't so worried about us.

What you mean, Ike?

I'll tell you what he means.

Earp's a right good-looking fellow. So maybe sis...

Emma!

You're a lady.

He's as good as said I'm stuck on Earp.

Phin.

You apologize.

Oh, Papa...

Apologize.

I didn't mean it.

Just the same, 'tis a good idea to stop Earp's clock from ticking.

Hush up. We're riding into Tombstone.

Emma, you've got too much Clanton in you

to get stuck on a Johnny law.

I most certainly have.

Just the same, you might be able to set him up for us, hmm?

What do I do, Papa?

I'll tell you inside.

Move 'em out, Phin. I'll catch up with you.

Now, that's Allen Street.

I figure they'll come in from that end of town.

Why do you need me for this?

Well, they know you're here.

They'll be expecting you to help me.

Now, we need to be on both sides of the street, so, uh...

so they're going to have to fan out.

Well, it's a good trap, Wyatt,

but it'll only work once.

You'll never have a better chance to thin out the Clantons.

Sorry I can't help you.

You still insist on killing them, huh?

It's a matter of principle.

Two men, even us, couldn't take care of

a dozen Clantons on Allen Street without using your scheme.

Even the Apaches couldn't have thought of a better one.

But I know you'll waste it by just winging a few of them.

This is art,

and it revolts me to see you perverting it to a mere moral lesson.

Good day, sir.

So long, Doc.

Psst!

Miss Clanton.

Papa isn't coming after you.

I talked him out of it.

Oh? Why?

We just don't want to stir up a hornet's nest in Tombstone.

After all, it's our town,

and there's no sense in getting it bloodied over one John law.

Well, I'm not a John law now.

Why don't you apologize to Papa about what happened in Dodge?

He can always use a gun like you.

I'll think about it.

Let's walk some place, huh?

You want to show me Boot Hill?

You think I'm lying to you.

No, it's just that I have to stay close to Allen Street.

Why?

Well, I'm expecting some friends.

All right. We'll walk on Allen Street.

It'll be an honor, ma'am.

Come on, let's get a move on.

We've got five more of these rattraps to set.

It, uh...kind of looks like you're trying to protect me from something.

Oh, sure, another woman.

The only other woman I know around here is Nellie Cashman.

That hymn-singin' busybody?

Don't you like to sing hymns?

Not since Papa quit making me go to Sunday school.

Miss Clanton, you're a strange mixture.

Your father's just about everything that's wrong

with Tombstone and this part of Pima County.

He's a rustler and a killer.

Stop it.

and you can't make up your mind whether you're a sure-enough Clanton

or whether you're just a girl that happened to be born a Clanton.

You're wrong about Papa.

He doesn't rustle. He doesn't have to.

There are thousands of stray cattle from old Mexico.

I still think your Papa's coming into town to gun me.

That's not true. He asked me to hire you right now.

No, thanks.

Then I'll ride with you to Benson.

You can catch a train there.

What if I say "no, thanks" to that, too?

Then you deserve whatever happens.

He just walked with Emma Clanton up Allen Street.

Is she still with him?

No, she just left town, and mad.

Couldn't set him up, huh?

Is Wyatt still out there?

Yeah.

You go tell Dick Gird that Wyatt will be on one side of the street

and I'll be on the other.

You got the miners stationed in the shafts?

Sure. I thought you and Earp had a fight.

Nothing unusual about that.

Wyatt and I are always having fights.

Yes, sir.

Hold it, boys.

That looks like Nellie Cashman.

Phin.

Good morning, Miss Nellie.

Mr. Clanton, I'm asking you to turn back.

Are you taking Earp's side?

This isn't a question of taking sides.

You and I haven't always agreed on everything, but...

we've never actually taken sides against each other, now, have we?

Why don't you turn your boys back

before a lot of our people get hurt?

This is a personal matter, ma'am.

The town won't get shot up, as long as the miners don't mix in it.

The miners will mix in it, and you know they will.

You're starting something that could finish Tombstone.

Won't you change your mind?

I'm sorry, Mr. Clanton,

sorry for all of us.

So am I. So am I.

Good day.

Good day, Miss Nellie.

Clantons! Clantons!

Let's put the horses up, boys. We can take him better on foot.

Stay on your own side, Deacon.

You wing 'em, or stay out of it.

Just as you say.

Hey, Papa, Doc Holliday.

Two guns against all of us. Shut up.

Spread out, boys. Make yourselves a small target.

Take cover!

Now, Doc!

After 'em, boys! Don't let 'em get away!

Hold it! Hold it!

To the Oriental! It's a dirty Yankee trick!

That's enough, Doc. They're whipped.

Just one more, Wyatt.

Hold it, Doc.

Hello, Fred, Charlie.

Looks like you boys been having yourself a time.

I want you to meet Wyatt Earp from Dodge.

Sheriff Embellish from Tucson and Marshal White.

- Howdy, Earp.
- Earp.

The Clantons came into town after me.

They're holed up in the Oriental Saloon, what's left of 'em.

Go ahead and arrest them.

No, not yet, Fred.

Mr. Earp, I suggest we go in the jail and talk about this whole situation.

Not me. I haven't had breakfast yet.

See you later, gentlemen.

Thanks, Doc.

Not at all, son.

Hey, Joe, pick up those wounded cowboys

and take them over to Miss Nellie's hospital.

The minute my back is turned,

old Clanton does this.

Ease off, Fred. I want to explain a few things to Marshal Earp.

It's Mr. Earp, Sheriff.

Oh, no, it isn't.

Washington didn't accept your resignation

as Deputy United States Marshal.

Read this.

Charlie, I want to arrest old Clanton now.

Keep your shirt on. Just arresting Clanton won't mean a thing.

See, Marshal?

All you can do now is refuse to serve.

Marshal White?

Yeah?

We caught these men in our mine.

I want them locked up for trespassing.

Right this way, Mr. Gird.

Fred's going to get himself killed.

Shouldn't the Clantons be arrested?

Not by Fred White, no. He's only a fair hand with a gun.

Here's a deputy star.

If you want Clanton arrested, pin it on.

Sheriff, all I want to do is leave Tombstone.

All right. I'll get a posse and escort you to Benson.

No, sir, I don't need a posse.

That's the only way you'll get to the railroad alive.

I can't do that, and you know it.

Sheriff, you're dealing from the bottom of the deck.

Yes, I am. The Citizens' Safety Council here

needs good, young peace officers.

You're young, and you're good.

Well, Mr. Earp, it worked out pretty well.

Too bad Clanton caught on so fast,

but you can arrest him at the Oriental.

Oh, Mr. Earp doesn't like the idea, Dick, none of it.

I told Miss Nellie we couldn't force him.

It's not that.

Now, you got a crooked Judge in this town, name of Griscolm.

Marshal White, he arrests hoodlums, throws them in jail,

and the Judge lets them go scot-free.

That's going to be fixed, Marshal.

When?

Special election.

Yes, we have a man... Wells Spicer.

With him on the bench, you can throw hoodlums in jail

and be sure they'll stay there.

No use, Dick. We'll have to find another Chief Deputy.

Charlie, I'm going over to the Oriental.

The old man's only got three or four men left.

No, Mr. White.

What's that?

You mean you've been appointed my Deputy?

That's right. I'm going to arrest Clanton.

You help me do it as a personal favor, huh?

To get you, I'd do a lot of personal favors.

Mr. Gird, is there, uhh...a way underground through the mine shafts

to the back of the Oriental?

We'll find out. Come along.

Marshal, can I borrow that sawed-off shotgun?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Neat. See you later.

Good luck.

What do you think, Fred?

You give me Earp, and then ask me what I think?

He can't win.

The Clantons and the 10% Ring of Tucson

can't afford to let him win.

Dirty Yankee trick, that's what it was.

Trap holes in Allen Street.

Now I ask, is that fair?

No, it ain't. No.

I'm telling you,

us from the south is making our last stand

right here in Arizona Territory,

and no blue-bellied Yankee from Illinois

is coming into Tombstone and pulling more sneaky tricks.

All right. Put up your hands.

Hands up!

All right, you Clantons face the bar.

This won't do you no good, Earp.

I said face the bar, Mr. Clanton.

Raise them high!

All right, Mr. Clanton,

you drop that gun belt.

Reach for the buckle!

Put your hands back up.

The rest of you lift 'em high.

Mr. Clanton, I don't want to have to hurt you.

We're all going to take a nice walk to the jail.

Any of you boys go for your guns,

I'm going to cut Mr. Clanton right in half.

He'd do it, too, boys.

Watch yourselves.

Let's walk.

Case dismissed.

Pick up your guns.

Sorry you were put through this inconvenience, Mr. Clanton.

That's all right, Judge. You didn't have nothin' to do with it.

Johnny law,

I'll give you till sundown to get out of Tombstone.

And you, Deputy,

you better be just a little more careful after this.

Mr. Clanton and his cowboys are good, honest citizens.

Just remember that, Sonny boy.

Oh! Sheriff, I...

I charge this man with bodily assault.

You arrest him, Judge.

I wish you'd do that.

I'll help you, Wyatt,

but I'll never wear a star.

You have to wear the star. I'll deputize you only when there's trouble.

Me, a Johnny law?

That's right, but you don't have to wear the star.

You can keep it in your pocket.

If anybody ever called me Deputy Holliday, I'd kill him.

Why, the very sound of it just about...

Marshal Earp!

Papa wants to know if you're leaving town by sundown.

Well, you tell him "no," Miss Emma.

You're a fool. Do you want to leave in a coffin?

I haven't ordered one.

Oh.

And, as for you, Dr. Holliday,

you keep associating with him,

and you'll get it, too.

The star, please. Just drop it in my pocket.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp ♪

♪ Brave, courageous and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his story be told ♪