Flashback | Gunsmoke (06-27-53)

Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com

In this classic episode of Gunsmoke, set in Dodge City during a sweltering summer, U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon confronts escalating tensions between a retired

Key takeaways

• The heat and dust of Dodge City exacerbate tensions among settlers and cowboys.
• Brian's decision to buy a gun stems from paternal loyalty rather than aggression.

Main topics

• Frontier justice in Dodge City
• Generational conflict between military discipline and cowboy culture

Notable quotes

There's just one way to handle the killer, and that's with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Marshal Dillon upholding the law while acknowledging

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:15) Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more Western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com. Now, let's get into this episode. Speaker 3 (0:48) There's just one way to handle the killer, and that's with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Speaker 3 (1:14) Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. United States Marshal. Speaker 4 (1:41) The people of Dodge City will argue their heads off on most any subject you bring up. But one thing they all agree on is the climate. They don't like it. In the fall, it's too windy and dry, and in the spring, they cuss the mud. And all through the winter, they say it's too cold and business is bad because the trails are closed. And now summer comes along, and they figure it's too hot and dusty. The town's overcrowded with trail drivers and... The flies are so bad they carry you off alive. Of course, they just talk. They don't really do anything about it. Except Chester. Sometimes Chester turns into a man of action. Speaker 7 (2:23) Chester, what are you... Why, Hokies, I finally got him. Speaker 4 (2:26) Got what? Speaker 7 (2:27) That cussed fly. Speaker 4 (2:29) Oh, foot. Well, I Speaker 7 (2:30) don't care, Mr. Dillon. I killed all of them in here except that one, and he kept pestering me continually. Smart as a fox. I couldn't lay a hand on him. So you hauled out Speaker 4 (2:38) a gun and blasted a hole the size of your fist through the roof of the office, huh? Speaker 7 (2:44) It did sort of make an opening up there, didn't it? Speaker 4 (2:47) Oh, well, it'll be handy when the rain starts. We won't have to go outside for our drinking water. Well, Speaker 7 (2:51) I'll get up there and fix it, Mr. Dillon. Speaker 7 (2:57) I didn't even stop to think. Speaker 4 (2:58) I guess not. Speaker 7 (2:59) I reckon it's this heat. I swear I have never seen it this hot and dry. Speaker 4 (3:05) No, not since last summer. Speaker 7 (3:07) Oh, it's worse, Mr. Dillon. Every pump on the plaza is dry. Only place you can water a horse is that trough back of the livery stable. I remember one summer in Newton, summer of 71 or 72, I think it was, while the heat and the bugs... Speaker 6 (3:22) Is this Speaker 7 (3:22) Marshall's office? Speaker 4 (3:24) I'm the Marshal, son. Come on in. Speaker 7 (3:26) And shut that doggone screen door, quick. Speaker 6 (3:31) My name's Brian Beck, Marshal. My father and I got in town this morning. Speaker 4 (3:35) We Speaker 6 (3:36) brought our herd up from the Big Bend country. Speaker 4 (3:38) Oh, Lazy Bee Bar? Speaker 6 (3:40) Yes, sir, that's our brand. Speaker 4 (3:41) I saw some of your riders around town trying to wash the dust off of their tongues. Have a rough trip? Speaker 6 (3:47) Yes, sir. Half the water holes are dry. Fences across the trail in North Texas. Speaker 6 (3:54) But that's not what I came in about. Oh? The fact is, Marshal, I'm trying to head off some trouble. Speaker 4 (4:02) What kind of trouble, son? Speaker 6 (4:04) Well, you see, Colonel, my father is a fine old man, but sometimes he just doesn't get along with people too well. Speaker 4 (4:11) Colonel? Speaker 6 (4:11) U.S. Cavalry, 25 years, retired. Oh. You see, that's the trouble, sir. He tries to treat the cowboys like an army command. They don't like that. This morning, when he paid them off, one of them warned him to go armed while he was here. Told him he was going to shoot him on sight. Speaker 4 (4:29) Oh, which one? Speaker 6 (4:30) Bud Stark, the range boss. Short, stout fellow with a big... Oh, yeah, I Speaker 4 (4:35) saw him in the Texas Trail a while ago. Speaker 6 (4:37) Marshal, my father was probably fast with a gun once. He thinks he still is, but he's not. He wouldn't have a chance. Speaker 4 (4:44) Well, Speaker 6 (4:44) what Speaker 4 (4:45) you want me to do then is try to keep him apart, is that it? Speaker 6 (4:48) I reckon Speaker 4 (4:49) so. Well, ten to one, it won't work. If Stark's got his temper up, he'll find a way to make his call. Speaker 6 (4:56) Well, maybe in that case you better tell me where I can buy a gun. Speaker 4 (5:02) You, uh, know how to handle one? Speaker 6 (5:05) No, sir. I grew up back east with my mother. I guess I can learn, though. Speaker 4 (5:09) Yeah, sure you can. But a gun fight's not exactly the place to start practicing. Speaker 6 (5:14) He's my father, sir. I gotta do something. Tell Speaker 4 (5:19) me something, Brian. How old are you? Eighteen. All right, now you listen to me. Don't go buying any gun and don't go messing around Stark. I'll look into it and try to straighten things out. But you get this through your head, Brian. Whatever happens, you stay out of it. You understand? First Speaker 7 (5:54) said. This must be it, Mr. Dillon. Speaker 4 (5:57) Yeah, I guess so. Move Speaker 5 (6:06) now. Speaker 4 (6:12) My name's Dillon, partner of Chester Proudfoot. What's the gun for? You expecting somebody else, for instance? Stark been talking to you? Speaker 5 (6:29) Three or four days, maybe a week. Long enough to sell my herd and long enough to call that mouthy little foreman's buff. Speaker 4 (6:37) Why don't you just limit it to selling the herd? I Speaker 5 (6:40) think you've been misinformed, Marshal. This man threatened me. I'm only aiming to protect myself. Speaker 4 (6:47) I suppose you'll leave the protection to me. Speaker 5 (6:49) By thunder, it was Brian. That's who told you. Just like that sniveling whelp to go whining to the law. Speaker 4 (6:56) I didn't notice any sniveling. He seemed like a pretty decent kid to me. A Speaker 5 (7:00) milk shop, Mr. Dillon. Raised by a woman. A boot and a stirrup before a year ago. Boy, he's never had a gun in his hand. Well, Speaker 4 (7:08) he's trying to get one in it now. He asked me where he could buy one. Speaker 5 (7:12) He's planning to go up against Stark. Speaker 4 (7:15) He was. He kind of figured he was protecting you. I'm a Speaker 5 (7:20) fully fingered young cub. You're Speaker 4 (7:22) what? A little shot at sunrise? He's not some soldier in a cavalry troop. Speaker 4 (7:34) to listen to this kind of talk, Marshal. And if you go out gunning for stock and if you're lucky enough to live through it, I'll... Now, you just sell your cattle and stay clear of stock. Come on, Chester. The Speaker