Gunsmoke 54-03-06 098 The Gentleman

Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there's just one way to handle the killers

and the spoilers, and that's where the U.S. Marshall and the smell of gun smoke.

Gun smoke, stowing William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved West with young

Americans, the story of a man who moved with it, Matt Villan, the United States Marshall.

Mr. Dylan? Yeah, what is it, Justice? You know Taylor Evans? No, the Mule Skinner? Yes, sir. What about him?

He's standing out there in the street. Looks like he's about to head down Santa Fe trail with a big

load of supplies. Well, I'm just wondering what a nice sweet girl like Mavis McCloud can be doing

with a man like that. You jealous, Chester? No, no, sir. But Taylor is such a mean ugly old bull.

Well, look at him. Look at that. What? Well, he just hit her, Mr. Dylan.

What? Slaps her right in the face. It did. I told you he was mean. Well, that's a fine way to tell

a girl goodbye. Look, he hit her again. Oh, I hit a man that picked on women, Mr. Dylan.

Oh, poor little thing. She's crying. I sure am glad we're doing something about this.

I know anything about you when I get back, Mavis. I'll really with you. Do you understand? No, no, no, no, no.

That's enough, Taylor. What do you put me for, Marshall? Let go of it.

There's ain't no business of yours. I said let go of it.

You're kidding. I ain't hurting or none. Am I, Mavis? Am I? You see, you got no right to mix in people's

private business, Marshall? This your wagon and mills, Taylor? Of course it is. And get going.

Right now. I'm going. But if I wasn't in the hurry, I'd have this out with you right here.

I see you when I get back next week, Marshall.

Well, Mavis, you remember what I told you now? Well, do you? Yes.

What's going on here, anyway? Mavis, it is bespin after you again.

Don't you call me names, kitty. I'll fix you same as hers.

I can't tell you from one of your mules, Taylor.

I'll look to him. Maybe my lawn, kitty. You get up on that wagon box, Taylor. Now, you will like it back.

Yeah!

He's been hurting you again, Mavis.

Well, what are you doing with him if you hate him so much?

He's a bully, Chester. He's afraid of him. But at least he'll be away for a few days now.

I hope he never comes back when you come with me, honey.

Hey, kitty. I'll make you some coffee.

Come on, Chester.

Poor gal.

You think old Taylor is going to start trouble when he gets back?

I don't care if he does, Chester.

No, I feel the same way when he's a might too big for me.

What? Look, there's somebody here.

Are you a martial delinquent, sir?

I am. My name is Marcus France.

How do you do? This is just a proud foot.

Mr. Proudfoot?

Mr. Proudfoot.

Well, how do you do, Mr. France?

I witness that scene in the street there, Muscle.

That man should be horse-whiped.

He sure should.

Such a pretty girl.

She's an awful nice girl, too, Mr. France.

I'm sure she is.

The martial I don't want to take up your time.

I thought it best we have a talk before I go to work here.

You're a stranger at top.

I arrived this morning.

I'm from Philadelphia, martial.

And I'm a gambler.

Uh-huh.

They gamble much in Philadelphia.

Men gamble everywhere, sir.

The weakness is universal.

I suppose.

Well, you can gamble here all you like.

As long as you don't want a crooked game.

That's precisely what I wanted to see you about, Muscle.

But it's not that I'm dishonest.

But I've often been accused of being so.

Sometimes makes for unpleasantness.

Or on here it usually leads to gunplay.

Yes, of course.

I can handle myself on that score.

Mr. France, I never heard a gambler yet come out and admit he was a crook.

But if he is sooner or later, either he or somebody else winds up dead.

That's why I don't tolerate anything but an honest game in Dutch.

You impugn my honest, sir?

He what?

Never mind, just you.

I just what is it you want to tell me, Mr. France?

I am a gentleman, Marshall.

Out of your eye, you're about the first one that I've ever rode into this town.

But for the time being, I'll believe you.

Thank you, sir.

And don't be so touchy about your honor.

I'll just catch you under trouble.

I'm afraid I haven't explained myself, Marshall.

There are reasons why I've often been accused of dishonesty.

Like what?

Bad loser will grasp at any straw to save face.

He'll even call the deal crooked.

I've seen that happen.

And I like to be many losers in a game I run.

Is that so?

I may sound like bragging, Marshall, but I possess great skillet cards.

Also, I'm extremely lucky.

I see.

You may send a man to watch the deal, if you like.

That's Mr. Proudfoot here.

Oh, sure.

I'd be glad to be here.

No.

You'll run your game, Mr. France.

If it's crooked, I'll find out soon enough.

All right.

But don't get the idea.

You're going to start shooting down every man that bothers you.

No matter how good you might be with a gun.

Do you include self-defense in justifiable homicide, Marshall?

If it is, self-defense.

But you take to kill him, people, even in self-defense,

and I'll have to run you out of time.

Oh, hello, Matt.

I'm just here to talk to you.

Hi, Doc.

Thomas has been trying to send me a new horse, Matt.

I thought you'd take a look at it for me when...

And you're through here?

Well, sure, Doc.

This is Marcus, France, Doc Adams.

I'm pleased to meet you, Doctor.

Doc, I'll do.

Of course.

Where are you from, Mr.?

Philadelphia, sir.

Not much sun there.

Sun?

Well, you look PK.

I've had a long journey, sir.

Well, now, when you get rested up, you come see me,

and I'll give you some good time.

One dollar a bottle, Mr. France.

He gave me someone.

I appreciate your interest, Doc.

Perhaps I will call on you one day.

Anytime.

No, if you gentlemen will excuse me.

I'll be going.

Bye, Mr. France.

Goodbye.

Hey.

What's he doing, Dad?

He's a gambler, Doc.

Why?

Well, I don't know.

He seems sort of out of place around here.

He says he's a gentleman.

Oh, maybe that's it.

Well, I've heard that easy talk before.

I will soon find out just what he really is.

Oh, my God.

Yeah.

Oh, man, do you think a rested like this could serve

something besides beans or their meat?

Wouldn't you know, man, honestly?

Well, you've got potatoes, Doc.

I'm sick of them, too.

Oh, man.

Once you've got married, Doc, then you could eat fine.

Oh, the last woman that wouldn't have married me

was a hog and harmony cook.

I don't think she ever heard of any other kind of food.

Well, didn't you ever take her out?

Oh, take her.

That was in Arkansas.

She didn't even wear shoes.

You're a liar.

No, no, no, no, no, I swear.

Her puppy had a saying that every woman's entitled

to a baby and a bonnet.

But shoes were never mentioned in their house.

You must have made a hat and some couple.

Oh, well, of course.

I was somewhat younger then.

A lot younger, I hope.

Hey, where's there, where's a good thing, too?

They lived in a place called Rip Shin Thicket.

Rip Shin Thicket?

The court in that girl was a day's work, man, believe me.

Doc, why don't you finish your supper?

I'm not even listening to you.

Oh, and she had a brother called Spotted Jack.

And he claimed he'd never slept in the bed.

Is all, uh, all took a bear.

There must be something else we can talk about, Doc.

Oh, man, well, anything at all.

Anything at all.

Well, what are you going to do about that gambler,

that Marcus France, for example?

Well, I don't know yet, Doc.

Well, he's been here for a week and he's already killed,

a man.

Have a self-defense on it.

But if it happens again, he's through.

You think he's dealing on this, Matt?

Uh, so far he is.

Well, thank you, Dylan.

Doc, well, just here.

Just here.

I've been over to Texas Trail.

Miss Kitty asked me to find you.

Huh?

Trouble?

I don't know.

But she said it was really important.

Okay.

Oh, uh, Doc, uh, you didn't tell me that I can saw girl's name.

Oh, that's a funny thing, Matt.

I wish you never told me.

Oh, look, Kitty, do you want it to see me, huh?

Sit down, Matt.

All right.

It's, um, about Marcus France over there.

Uh-huh.

He's going to be killed, Matt.

What?

Hello, Kitty.

You wanted to see me, huh?

Sit down, Matt.

All right.

It's, um, about Marcus France over there.

Uh-huh.

He's going to be killed, Matt.

What?

Tiller Evans is due back tomorrow.

Oh, what's Tiller got to do with it?

You remember the day you left when you stopped him from slapping Mavis around?

Mavis.

You mean Mavis and France?

She says she's in love with him, Matt.

And she doesn't care who knows it.

Underneath she's scared to death.

Uh-huh.

Well, is France know about Tiller?

Oh, Mavis told him.

Matt, I don't know what you think about him,

but to me he's the most decent man I've met in a long time.

Well, he may be, Kitty.

But he's sure causing a lot of trouble.

Well, Killer's going to kill him. I know he is.

You got to stop it, Matt.

Kitty, how did a nice girl like Mavis get started with Tiller in the first place?

Oh, she didn't have much choice.

Big eight just moved in on her and took over.

She's awful young, Matt, and pretty helpless.

Now that she and France are so much in love,

why don't they get married?

I've thought of that, too.

So has Mavis, by the way.

Uh-huh.

Maybe France isn't so honorable after all, Kitty.

Ah, give him time, Matt.

Tomorrow isn't very far off.

Before I said you're cheating on a mentor.

No mentor.

Call me a cheat.

I just did, didn't I?

Stay here, Kitty.

Yes.

But I'll leave the game, Mr.

You're a cheat.

You're dealing crooked cards.

You've got a gun, Mr. Nargosa.

Leave that gun where it is.

Now, France, I warned you once.

You heard what he said, Marshall?

I met it, too. He's dealing crooked cards.

Can you prove it, Mr?

I don't have to prove it.

He's got over $100 of mine.

I ain't one ahead of this table in an hour.

See, Marshall?

Just like I told you, some men can't take losing.

Did you see him cheating, Mr. Nargosa?

I didn't have to. Look at that pile of money.

You talk pretty loose for a man that doesn't have

any more to go on than that.

Now, why don't you forget about it and get out of here?

Forget about it.

You heard me.

This game is closed for the rest of the night.

Just as you say, Marshall.

Gentlemen, the game is closed.

Oh, France.

You know, Agen meant into a draw and then calling itself defense

is going to make your stay in Dutch mighty brief.

I'll have to chance that, Marshall.

How many men have you killed because of that tender pride of yours, huh?

Well, it doesn't matter.

But there's something I would like to know.

What are you going to do about Taylor Evans?

Oh, you heard?

Yeah.

First time in my life, Marshall.

I love a woman.

And why don't you get her out of here?

Well, there's still time.

We're on a way from a fight.

Tell us a pretty tough man.

You mean you might kill me.

And where would that leave, Mavis?

Sorry, Marshall.

I've got to stay.

In France, I can't figure you at all.

There's something wrong with you and I don't know what it is.

You'll find out, Marshall.

Soon enough.

We will return for the second act of Gunsmoke in just a moment.

But first, tomorrow afternoon on Stage Struck, Mike Wallace and CBS Radio

cover the opening of the new Broadway musical, The Girl in Pink Tights.

Its star, John Mayer, Charles Goldner, and others in the cast will be heard.

Stage Struck, on most of these same stations tomorrow afternoon,

opening The Girl in Pink Tights, a promising newcomer full of Sigmund Bromberg's music.

Now the second act of Gunsmoke.

Well, it won't be long now, Mr. Dylan.

Oh, what won't be long, just a...

Cowboy just told me he passed Tiller Evans a couple of miles down the trail.

He'd be driving in town directly.

Chester, what do you think of Marcus France?

Him?

Well, sir, for a fact, I'm dubitated.

What?

Well, he seems like such a nice fellow, but he just won't do what he plain order.

Like?

You get married with Mavis McLeod like she wants him to.

That'd stop old Tiller.

Oh, maybe.

Well, the very least he could do is run off with it.

Mr. Dylan, I just hate to think what'll become of that little girl of Killer gets you.

Oh, one way or another, Chester.

There's about to be a killing.

I gotta try to stop it.

How are you gonna do it?

Well, there's a stage north and half an hour.

But Mr. France won't go.

Chester, you know where Mavis lives, don't you?

Yes, sir.

All right, go get it.

I'll put her on the stage.

I'll meet you there.

Okay, Mr. Dylan.

Mr. Hurray.

Hello, Marshall.

Please come in.

Thank you.

I am honored, sir.

Would you care for a glass of whiskey?

No.

No, thank you.

The very best money can buy.

France.

Tiller Evans will be here shortly.

You'll be looking for me, Marshall, not I, for you.

Well, anyway, it happens.

There'll be a killing.

One sinner less in the world.

I'm a law man, France.

Not a preacher.

Yes, of course.

Marshall, I have no quarrel with this man till now.

Why don't you talk to him?

Well, he's not the kind of a man you can talk.

Tell him to put him in jail for disturbing the pieces on me.

It'll be too late by the time the piece is disturbed.

France, there's a stage leaving a dodge in a few minutes.

Is there, Marshall?

Maybe this is going to be honored.

For?

Now, if you're the gentleman you say you are,

you'll be honored with it.

You're making the mistake, Marshall.

I've made mistakes before.

No, you're arguing with yours, then.

Now, if you tell me what's holding you back, there might be.

Shall we say I never run from a fight?

I don't question that.

At this time, it's different.

I don't believe that's your reason.

You say goodbye to me this for me, Marshall?

No.

I've just decided you're going with it.

I'm sorry.

I'm not.

Careful, Marshall.

I'm always careful.

No.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Hey.

You're going to die, you're going to die.

What are we doing now?

Where's Mavis Chester?

She's inside the coach.

I'm keeping an eye on her.

All right, open the door, Chester.

Francis, go on with her.

Yes, sir.

Mavis.

Mavis, what happened?

He isn't hurt, Mavis.

But he'll be out for a while, yet.

Why are you doing this, Marshall?

Well, I'm a gambler, too, Mavis.

And I'm taking a trip.

Well, I'm a gambler, too, Mavis.

And I'm taking a chance that man here are yours as

what he says he is.

He's a fine man.

Well, goodbye, Mavis.

And good luck.

All right, drive him.

Yeah.

Get this stage out of here.

Go, Marshall.

Hold on, Marshall.

What?

Get going, driver. Go on.

Go on.

Come back here.

Stop that thing.

It's too late, teller.

You.

You done this, Marshall.

Not take it easy.

The tin horn.

Run off with my gal.

And you helped him.

She wanted to go.

Nobody steals nothing from Tiller Evans.

I'll find him when I'll kill him.

Both of them.

No, you won't.

Oh.

I've got to kill you first, eh?

Why don't you go get drunk and forget about it, teller.

You'll help do it.

Don't do it.

Oh, do it.

Chester.

Yes, sir.

Take care of this, will you?

Yes, sir.

A couple of you fellas, give me a hand here.

We'll drag you more at that top.

We'll be on you and go.

Yeah.

Matt?

Yeah.

Is Tiller a bad hit?

No, you'll be all right, Doc.

I've said it.

Being a little lonely.

Mavis is going to be a little lonely, too.

What?

Marcus Flans did come to my office, man.

What are you talking about, Doc?

His loans.

That's why I came west.

I wouldn't give him over a couple of months at the most.

Mavis just isn't very lucky, is she, Doc?

No.

No, she isn't.

Thanks to you, at least they'll have what time there is.

He wouldn't have left with her in the other way.

Yeah.

I guess Marcus really is a gentleman.

You'll be all right, when you're in love.

I have.

I've got to go now.

Come, Smoke.

The collection of Norman McDonald's stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall.

Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Muston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey.

Featured in the cast were Lawrence Dobkin, Eleanor Cannon, John Dana and Harry Barclay.

Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNair is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.

Gunsmoke has been selected by the Armed Forces Radio Service to be heard by our troops overseas.

Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gunsmoke.

One day night CBS Radio's suspense stars Ronald Reagan. The drama is an unusual one titled circumstantial terror.

In it, a man is on trial for a killing he didn't commit, and the guilty man is on the jury.

Pension mounts and mounts until the suspense is almost beyond believed.

Don't miss suspense Monday night over most of these same stations.

George Walsh speaking.

Stay tuned now for gangbusters which follows in a few minutes over most of these same stations.

For more outstanding drama, remember the Lux Radio Theater. Monday nights on the CBS Radio Network.