Boy | Gunsmoke (08-01-53)

Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com

In this classic episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts a dangerous new threat in Dodge City when gambler Webb Johnson opens a sa

Key takeaways

The episode highlights the tension between law enforcement and unchecked ambition in frontier towns.

Main topics

Law enforcement in frontier towns
Gambling and organized vice

Notable quotes

"You had your choice, Webb, like any other man."

Conclusion

Marshal Dillon restores order by shutting down the corrupt saloon and

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:12) Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original Airdate. It is August 1st, 1953, and the title is Boy. Hope you enjoy, and again, thanks for listening. ...down Speaker 4 (0:39) Dodge City and in the Territory on West. There's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke. Speaker 4 (1:06) Gunsmoke, starring William Conrad. The transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. Speaker 5 (1:22) You know, Mr. Dillon, on evenings like this, I feel kindly towards everybody. Speaker 7 (1:46) Is that so, Chester? Speaker 5 (1:48) Yes, sir. It's a peaceful. There's no cowboys who are on up and down front feet. No shooting, no fights. Almost no nothing. Speaker 7 (1:59) Well, that doesn't upset you, does it? Speaker 5 (2:01) Oh, my, no, Mr. Dillon. I like it this way. Puts me some in mind of Texas. Speaker 7 (2:07) Texas? Speaker 5 (2:08) Well, now, Mr. Dillon, I don't mean there isn't some dust raising done down there from time to time. But sometimes Waco don't cool off from sunset to sunup. Speaker 7 (2:19) Is that so? Speaker 2 (2:20) Well, Speaker 7 (2:22) I'm going to walk down to the Texas Trail, Chester, and have a beer with Kitty. Speaker 5 (2:26) Well, sir, I'll just sit here and think, son. All Speaker 7 (2:28) right. Speaker 5 (2:29) But I'll come get you if anything happens. Speaker 7 (2:31) Yeah, you do that, Chester. Speaker 3 (2:47) Hi, Speaker 7 (2:47) Kitty. Speaker 3 (2:48) I was kind of looking for you. Speaker 7 (2:50) You got time for a beer? Speaker 3 (2:52) Sure. You want to go over to the table? No, the Speaker 7 (2:54) bar is cooler. Sam, set up some beer for me and Miss Kitty, will you? Speaker 5 (2:58) Why, sure, my friend. Speaker 3 (3:01) Here you are. Speaker 7 (3:04) It's kind of quiet in here tonight. Speaker 3 (3:06) The whole town's quiet, Matt. Too hot for trouble, maybe. Speaker 7 (3:10) Sometimes heat brings trouble, Kitty. Makes people ouchy. Speaker 3 (3:15) Kitty, bring Speaker 7 (3:16) your bin. Come over to the table. I need more luck. Sorry, Speaker 3 (3:19) Webb. I Speaker 7 (3:19) can't right now. Of course you can. Come on. Speaker 3 (3:22) I said I'm sorry, Webb. Speaker 7 (3:24) Your friend will wait for you. Webb, Speaker 3 (3:27) this is Marshal Dillon. Webb Johnson. How Speaker 7 (3:31) are you? Marshal, you won't mind if I take Kitty away for a while, will you? Speaker 6 (3:36) I Speaker 7 (3:36) think Miss Kitty gave you her answer. Speaker 7 (3:40) I heard what she said. But maybe she feels kind of obligated to stay, seeing as you're a marshal. Speaker 6 (3:47) I Speaker 7 (3:48) don't figure my being a peace officer has anything to do with what Miss Kitty decides. Maybe not. But most girls know which side of their bread the butter's on. Speaker 6 (3:59) You Speaker 7 (4:00) better get back to your poker game. Okay. But come over to the table, Kitty, when you're free. Speaker 6 (4:11) How Speaker 7 (4:11) long has he been around here? Speaker 3 (4:13) A couple of days, maybe more. You know anything about him? Not much. He plays poker mostly. He doesn't drink too much. Speaker 7 (4:21) Gambler? Speaker 3 (4:21) I don't know if that's his profession, but he likes cards, and he's lucky. Figures he has quite a way with women, too. Oh? Speaker 7 (4:32) With you? He Speaker 3 (4:36) tried. We were talking last night. He offered me a job. A job? He says he's bought out the Longhorn Saloon. Wants me to come over and be his hostess there. Think it's maybe some trade that's following me over. So Speaker 7 (4:52) he bought out the Longhorn, huh? Mm-hmm. Must have some money with him. Speaker 3 (4:56) He's not short. Speaker 7 (4:59) He's talky enough to cause trouble sooner or later. Speaker 3 (5:02) Don't mind him, Matt. Speaker 7 (5:04) Yeah. Well... I'd better get back to the office. Speaker 3 (5:09) Will I see you later, Matt? Speaker 7 (5:10) No, I don't think so, Kitty. I've got to work. Good night. What will I eat, Chester? Speaker 5 (5:32) No, sir, thank you kindly, Mr. Dillon, but I already ate. Speaker 7 (5:35) I Speaker 5 (5:35) think I'll just walk on down to the depot, maybe. The depot? Yes, sir. Speaker 7 (5:42) Chester, what in the world do you do down there? Speaker 5 (5:45) Oh, Mr. Hightower and me just sort of sit around and socialize. Then besides, there's a train due in. Sometimes there's all sorts of things. Speaker 7 (5:54) All right, Chester. I'll see you later. Yes, sir. Now, Jimmy, cook me up some potatoes, will you? Three or four eggs and some of that side meat. Speaker 6 (6:15) Yes, sir, Marshal. It's the Marshal, ain't it? Speaker 7 (6:20) Now, good morning, Mr. Webb. Unless you're expecting company, you could ask me to sit with you. Well, I don't mind. Well, thank you. How'd you make out last night? In the poker game or with Kitty? At Cod's. Seems like everything I say sets you on edge, Marshal. Speaker 6 (6:45) Maybe. Speaker 7 (6:47) Well, I'll tell you, Kitty and I didn't quite hit it off, but I done fine at studs. Those boys, Ashton and Trasker, they play cards like boys. Afraid to push their luck. Sometimes that's good. Not at poker, it ain't. Leastwise, I walked home last night with their money in my pocket. Over 500. That's good winnings. It wasn't hard. Miss Kitty tells me that you bought the Longhorn. News travels, don't it? You a gambling man? I don't make my living playing cards, if that's what you mean. Are you going to keep on the same boys that are at the Longhorn now? No, Marshal, I'm not. I've got my own way of doing things. Those boys might not understand. So I've got two dealers coming in this morning from St. Louis. We worked together before. Speaker 6 (7:39) Here's your breakfast, Marshal. Fried up some onions for good measure. They kind of bring out the flavor of the eggs. Oh,