Gunsmoke Ben Thompson Date: May 03 1952FX: FROM DEAD STUDIO BRING IN RUNNING HORSE TO FULL ON MIKE - ON CUE A RECORDED SHOT MUSIC: STAB AND HOLD UNDER: MATT: Around Dodge City and in the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers -- and that's with a U. S. Marshal and the smell of "GUNSMOKE!" MUSIC: THEME HITS - FULL BROAD SWEEP AND FADES OUT UNDER: ANNCR: "GUNSMOKE!" The story of the violence that moved west with young America - the story of a man who moved with it: Matt Dillon -- United States Marshal. MUSIC: MAIN TITLE FX: LOADING REVOLVER, SPIN OF CYLINDER CHESTER: (NERVOUS) Need any more cartridges, Mr. Dillon? MATT: No. CHESTER: i got the Greener loaded. MATT: Unload it. I don't want a shotgun. CHESTER: Yes, sir. (PAUSE) Do...do you want me to come with you? MATT: Do you want to come? CHESTER: (BEAT, FRANKLY) No, sir. I guess not. But I will. MATT: Better stay here then, Chester. CHESTER: This make me a coward, Mr. Dillon? MATT: How do you feel? CHESTER: Like a coward. Lassiter scares me sir. MATT: But you were willing to come anyway. Figure it out for yourself. (STEPS) CHESTER: (FADING) Good luck, Mr. Dillon. MATT: Yeah. (STEPS STOP, DOOR OPEN) If I'm not back, don't forget those reports have to be mailed tomorrow. CHESTER: (OFF) I...won't forget. Mr. Dillon.... MATT: Yeah? CHESTER: (OFF) You ever get scared? MATT: (BEAT) Sure. Better keep yourself busy. FX: DOOR CLOSE. STEPS ON BOARDWALK. SPURS. HORSE PASSING. DOC: (OFF) Marshal! (FADE ON) (STEPS FADE ON, JOINING FIRST PAIR) Mind if I walk along? MATT: Not at all, Doc. DOC: Kinda anxious to get a look at this new corpse of mine. Lassiter's sure done us a favor picking Dodge to die in. This'll put us in the history books for sure. MATT: You're a little premature, aren't you, Doc? DOC: Not a bit... oh, maybe a little foresighted. You know, they say Lassiter's packing eighteen slugs in him. Eighteen slugs -- my goodness, he sure has been in a lot of gunfights. MATT: So they say. DOC: Guess he's got about the biggest gun rep in this whole section outside of maybe Ben Thompson or Wes Hardin...and you, of course. MATT: He's waiting at the Alafroganza. You'd better not walk in with me, Doc. DOC: Oh, don't you worry, I'm not sticking my snoot into no shooting. No, sirree. (ONE PAIR STEPS STOP (FADING) (SUDDEN WORRY) Hey, Marshal.... FX: SECOND PAIR OF STEPS SLOW, STOP. MATT: What is it? DOC: (SLIGHTLY OFF) You are going to win, aren't you? I sure hate to work on the bodies of my friends. Makes it too darned personal. MATT: I'll do what I can. (STEPS) DOC: (OFF) (FADING) Watch him close, Marshal. Don't let him pull a hideout. FX: BAT WING DOORS SLAPPED OPEN SOUND: STEPS SLOW AND STOP MATT: Hello, Lassiter. LASS: (SL. OFF) Hi, Matt. Been a long time. MATT: Yeah. LASS: (SL. OFF) Drink with me? MATT: Why not? LASS: (SL. OFF) Harry, two whiskies. Harry...get up from behind the bar. We'll give you time to duck before we make our play. HARRY: Sure, Mr. Lassiter...sure. (BOTTLE NECK RATTLING AGAINST GLASS) LASS: (SL. OFF) (CHUCKLES) Don't spill it. MATT: Leave it on the bar, Harry. We'll pour our own. HARRY: (GULPING) Yes, Marshal...yes, sir...here, sir. FX: BOTTLE AND GLASSES. POURING MATT: (OVER POURING) How's your shoulder, Lassiter? LASS: (SL. OFF) Aches a little in bad weather. I'm still carrying your lead, Matt. (GLASS SLID) MATT: There you are. LASS: (SL. OFF) You should have killed me, Matt. MATT: Maybe. That was a long time ago. LASS: (SL. OFF) I want you to know, Matt. I bear no grudge. But it has to be. MATT: I know LASS: (SL. OFF) We're gunfighters, you and I...not the same, yet both the same. It's in our blood... that's why, Matt... that's why I have to brace you. I have to know for sure... MATT: There's no grudge, Lassiter. Your health. (DRINKS) LASS: (SL. OFF) And yours. (DRINKS) Ah....(BREATH) Straight up? MATT: Straight up. Call it. LASS: (SL. OFF) (PAUSE) Now! FX: THREE SHOTS FROM TWO DIFFERENT GUNS FIRING AS ONE. LASS: (SL. OFF) (GROANS) FX: (BEAT) SLOW, CRUMPLING BODY FALL. STEPS (PAUSE) BATWING DOORS SLAPPED OPEN, STEPS ON BOARDWALK DOC: (CUE) (FADE ON) Oh, it was beautiful, Matt...simply beautiful. (STEPS STOP) MATT: Was it? DOC: Why, yes....and it was close, too...for a moment I wasn't sure who...Marshal ! Your neck...you're hit! MATT: Just a scratch. I'll be all right. DOC: Here, let me.... MATT: Let it go, Doc. Go in and get Lassiter. He's all yours. DOC: Hm? Well, of course, but..... MATT: (BITTER) You'll be happy to know he's got twenty slugs in him now. MUSIC: STAB AND UNDER MATT: (NARR) I couldn't tell anyone, but the bitterness icing my stomach made me sick as I remembered Lassiter as a friend....now dead by my gun. Then I got over it...I always got over it. The frontier code was a harsh one....and I knew my job was one that had to be done if the West was to ever see peace. As long as killers like Lassiter lived, I would carry a gun.... and use it. It was the way it had to be. (BEAT) Sometimes a man's dying was the end of it... sometimes the beginning of something worse. FX: PEN SCRATCH. DOOR OPEN (OFF) CLOSE( OFF). STEPS FADE ON VI: (FADE ON) (TIGHTLY) Marshal Matt Dillon? MATT: Yes. (PEN SCRATCH OUT) What can I do for you, Miss? VI: Die.... MATT: Huh? VI: ...For one thing. MATT: Miss, I don't know... VI: It's Mrs. Mrs. Lassiter. MATT: Oh. VI: (SL. HYSTERICAL, LOW LAUGH) You see, you've done quite a bit for me already, Mr. Dillon, You've made me a widow. MATT: (RISING) Sit down, Mrs. Lassiter. Let me get you some water.... VI: (CONTROLLING HERSELF HARD) Never mind. MATT: I didn't know Lassiter was married. VI: Would it have mattered? MATT: (SIGHS) No...i guess not. VI: (BITTERLY) You're just like all the rest of them.... a killer... lusting for blood like a wild beast... MATT: Mrs. Las -- VI: ...only you're worse...you hide it behind a badge! My husband was in town less than two hours... but you couldn't wait, could you? You saw your chance to get a little bigger reputation...Matt Dillion, famous gunfighter! (SPITS IT) Matt Dillon, murderer! MATT: It was your husband that sent the challenge, Mrs. Lassiter. I'm sorry for what happened...and if I can help you in any... VI: (QUIET, NOW) No, Mr. Dillon. I only came to tell you that you haven't heard the end of the Lassiter name. I'm going to see that you're stripped of that big reputation... then you're going to die. In the same way my husband died. MATT: Mrs. Lassiter... is there anything I can say that you would listen to? VI: Nothing. MATT: Then good day, Madam. VI: (BEAT) Till we meet again… (SNEER) Marshal! FX: STEPS GO OFF. DOOR OPENS AND SLAMS SHUT (OFF) (PAUSE) DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES, STEPS FADE ON CHESTER: (FADE ON) Well, who was that girl, Mr. Dillon? She sure was mad. MATT: Mrs. Lassiter. CHESTER: Mrs. La...! Ohhh...Huh, she's kinda pretty, ain't she? MUSIC: BRIDGE FX: CROWD DISPERSING. CHURCH BELL ON, FADING. TWO PAIR OF STEPS (ONE SPURRED) EMERGE, WALKING IN FRONT CAST: (EACH ON CUE) AD LIB GREETING TO MATT AND DOC DOC: Darned good service this Sunday, wasn't it Marshal? MATT: Ahuh. Parson was in good voice. DOC: An hour and twenty-seven minutes worth of saving. That oughtta last us the week. (CHUCKLES) Old man Sibert went to sleep again during the sermon. He'll sure catch it when he gets home. MATT: (SMILING) He certainly sleeps loud, all right. DOC: Adenoids, that's what. If he weren't so tight with a nickel he'd let me fix them. By the way, tell Chester I got that cough medicine made up for him. It's a brand new formula. MATT: Okay. What's in it? DOC: More sugar and less water. And this time I added a drop of cinnamon. MATT: He'll like that. Won't do his cough much good, but he'll like it. DOC: Say, I hear the widow Lassiter got a big hunk of insurance money.... MATT: Wrong subject, Doc. DOC: Sorry. (BEAT) Much trouble last night? MATT: Not much. A Texan got his back up and tried to lick Dodge singlehanded. He'll be over this morning to get his bruises attended to when I let him out. DOC: (SAD) Ahuh. Marshal, I can't make much on a swab of iodine. MATT: It's a tough life, Doc. Morning. FX: DOOR OPEN, CLOSE, FEW STEPS CHESTER: (FADE ON) Mr. Dillon! MATT: What's the matter, Chester? CHESTER: Look at this note somebody pinned on our door! (PAPER) MATT: What's it say? CHESTER: ..."to Matt Dillon, fourflusher and murderer: I'll bet ten dollars you ain't got nerve enough to come to Buckner Creek and meet a real man in a fair fight." (SNORTS) It's signed "Ben." MATT: Hmm. Sounds like this Ben is looking for trouble. CHESTER: He'll sure get it, too! When you going? MATT: I'm not. CHESTER: But Mr. Dillon...people saw this on the door! Everybody in Dodge'll be saying you... MATT: (GENTLY) Chester....how long is Buckner Creek? CHESTER: Huh? Why, twenty - thirty miles.... MATT: And where in that thirty miles do I meet this Ben? CHESTER: Why....I don't know. MATT: Neither do I. CHESTER: Then...then this note is a fake! He knows you can't answer it, even if you wanted to! (BEAT) What does it mean, Mr. Dillon!? MATT: I'm not sure...yet. Come on.... Let's turn our prisoner loose - FX: KEYS ON RING, STEPS. TEXAS: (FADE ON, SNORING RAUCOUSLY) MATT: Noisy, ain't he. (STEPS STOP, CELL UNLOCKED) All right, Texas. Up and at 'em. FX: JAIL DOOR OPEN TEXAS: (WAKING) Wha....huh...oh. (RISING) (THICK TEXAS ACCENT) Wal...mornin', Marshal. That's a powerful hard bunk you got. Feels jest like I was belted with a gun bar'l. MATT: You were. TEXAS: What did I do last evenin'? MATT: Slugged a couple of fellows for calling you a wind bag. Seems you'd told them you were going to lick every Kansan in Dodge. TEXAS: Every Kansan in Dodge....wal, wal. FX: STEPS. DOOR OF CELL CLOSES MATT: You'll get your guns back when you leave town. TEXAS: Fair enough. Say...that brag of mine about licking every Kansan in Dodge,.. MATT: Well? TEXAS: Did I do it? MATT: (CHUCKLES) Not quite. TEXAS: Aw...(REMEMBERING) Marshal... your name Dillon? MATT: That's right. TEXAS: I got a word for you. Meant to tell you right off, but the saloon ketched me first. MATT: What is it? TEXAS: I ran into some hardcases on the trail. They were headed this way....and from what they said, they only got one job up heah.....you. MATT: Know their names? TEXAS: Shore, they were Texas gunhawks....but I ain't proud of it. It was Nueces Smith, Tom Tom Henderson, and... MATT: Wait! Man, are you still drunk? TEXAS: I'm sober, Marshal. MATT: But those gunthrowers are too big to be riding together.... TEXAS: They was doin' it. And takin' orders nice as pie from their leader. MATT: There aren't five men in the west who could handle a pair like that. Who was their leader? TEXAS: The wuss one of all, Marshal. Name is Thompson. Ben Thompson. MUSIC: STING AND UNDER MATT: (NARR) That was the start. For the next few weeks it became plain enough that Mrs. Lassiter was paying Thompson and his men as the first step in her revenge. There were more notes...,.,.and then a wave of robberies.....not big enough to worry the town..... rather small ones… and each time another note was left behind. And each time the note was just vague enough so that the challenge in it couldn't be met. It was silly.....but it was working… FX: DOOR CLOSES (OFF) STEPS FADE ON DOC: (FADE ON, MAD) Marshal, they just busted in my office. Stole four dollars and a bottle of alcohol ...and left this. MATT: Another note....hm....Same as the others. DOC: Marshal, you ought to do something. The whole town's starting to snicker every time you pass. This Ben is making a fool of you! MATT: (TIGHTLY) You see the robbers? DOC: (SNORTS) No. I was over to the Johnsons. Their first baby ls getting close and the missus worried about..... MATT: All right, Doc. Let's take a look at your office... FX: DOOR OFEN { OFF) STEPS FADE ON CHESTER: (FADE ON, EXCITED) Mr. Dillon, you better come quick. MATT: Where and why? CHESTER: The Alafroganza, There's a fellow down there lapping up booze and saying he's going to kill you. He claims his name is Ben! MUSIC: FIRST ACT CURTAIN ANNCR: We will return for the Second Act of "GUNSMOKE" in just a moment, but first... ..Marie Wilson is one gal who's made something out of nothing. Co-starring with Cathy Lewis, she's made a wonderful comedy character out of "My Friend Irma", a gal with nothing in her head. You can enjoy the comedy of "My Friend Irma" end all her friends every Sunday night on most of these same CBS Radio stations..... Listen tomorrow night.... And now, with Willian Conrad starred as Matt Dillon, here is the Second Act of "GUNSMOKE." MUSIC: SECOND ACT OVERTURE FX: THREE SETS OF STEPS ON BOARDWALK DOC: Ben...well, now, I ain't never had a corpse named Ben. Wonder if this one.... MATT: (CONTROLLED ANGER) Doc...shut up. DOC: Hm? Sure, Marshal. MATT: Chester...is it Ben Thompson? CHESTER: No, sir, I don't think so. He's just a young bully boy....looking for a quick rep. But his guns are man-sized...and there's a stranger feeding him liquor and egging him on. MATT: Guns? CHESTER: Two of them. And watch his pants pocket. He's packing a derringer in it by the bulge. DOC: Sounds like a one-man arsenal. (COUGHS) If you don't mind, I'll leave you here.... FX: ONE PAIR OF STEPS STOP. (PAUSE) BATWING DOORS. SALOON NOISES, QUIETING RIGHT DOWN. STEPS STOP. CAST: BABBLE, DYING OUT FAST. MAN: (OFF, YOUNG AND A NASTY BRAGGART) (EMERGING FROM THE BABBLE CLEAR AND LOUD) Yessir, I'm tellin' a man this Matt Dillon is a fake and a coward! He ain't got nerve to face me! (STEPS) TEXAS: (FADE ON, DRAWLING LACONICALLY) Wal, shore now, that's funny, Ben. He's heah...Howdy, Marshal. MATT: Evening, Texas. How's the head? TEXAS: Tolerable. I'm curin' it from inside. Meet Ben, Marshal...he's been makin' quite a brag. MATT: I came here to find Ben Thompson. Who are you, son? MAN: (SNEERING) So you finally got here, did you, Dillon? Harry, a drink for Mr. Foreflusher. MATT: Never mind, Harry. Come on, son. You've had enough. MAN: Not me. I'm just starting. NUECES: (SL. OFF) You tell him, Boy. Don't let him push you around. MATT: (COLD) Who rattled your cage, stranger? TEXAS: Looks like I'm elected to make all the introductions tonight. The big ape is Nueces Smith, Marshal. Shore, I don't know the boy heah. NUECES: (SL. OFF) I'll remember you for that remark, Texas man. TEXAS: Do that. MAN: Sayyy, what is all this? Dillon, are you gonna fight, or do I make you crawl like a.... FX: TWO HARD SMACKS MAN: (GROANS) FX: BODY FALL CAST: (LIGHT REACTIONS) MATT: (BREATHING HARD) Get his guns, Chester. And don't miss the pocket gun. TX (LOW WHISTLE OF ADMIRATION) Whew...man, where'd those punches come from? He never knew what hit him. MATT: He's drunk. (HARD) Nueces, you got any objections? NUECES: (SL. OFF) Not at the moment, Dillon. But you'll see me again. MATT: I'd better not in Dodge City. This is an order. Get out end stay out. NUECES: (SL. OFF) You can't threaten me! There's no warrant out for my arrest. MATT: There will be...If I see you in Dodge again. Chester, escort our friend out of town, while I take junior here off to jail. MUSIC: UP AND UNDER MATT: (NARR) It wasn't right...men like Nueces Smith don't waste time urging young loudmouths into fights. And they don't back down without gunplay. It wasn't until I left Front Street and was nearing the jail that the thing shaped up. The dark side street was deserted, but from a narrow passageway came trouble. FX: STEPS BEN: (SL. OFF) Stop right there! MATT: (REACT) BEN: Touch that gun and you're a dead man, Marshal. (BEAT) Come here...into the passage. (STEPS UNDER) Stop right there...Good. Now, dump the kid, Marshal. MATT: Sure. (EFFORT) (SOUND: BODY PUT DOWN) What's the play, Ben? That Tom Tom Henderson behind you? BEN: You know me? MATT: Only from dodgers. There's a lot of them out on Ben Thompson. BEN: So I've heard. Turn around...careful. That's it. Now first I want your gun... you carry a jackknife? MATT: My hip pocket. BEN: Yeah. Here, take the knife, Tom Tom. MATT: Why the knife? BEN: In good time, Marshal. Now let's you and I take a walk down the street and leave Tom Tom to his work. Move. (STEPS) MATT: Mrs. Lassiter paying you for this? BEN: Walk. Don't talk. MATT: (PAUSE) Where are we going? BEN: To the edge of town. Then I'm going to turn you loose. See? No trouble at all. MUSIC: SHORT BRIDGE FX: STEPS IN DIRT, STOPPING. HORSE PAWING, BLOWING. BEN: Well now -- my horse hasn't strayed ten feet from where I left him -- All right, Marshal, turn around now and back to town. I'll drop your gun down the road apiece. MATT: Thanks. I'm fond of that gun. BEN: I know how it is. (MOUNTS) Oh, and in case you want to find me...(CHUCKLES) And I think you will...Come to Yancy's Place....know where it is? MATT: About twenty miles north of here. BEN: That's the one. I'll be there the rest of the night waiting for you. But come alone. Adios, amigo. Buena suerte...(LAUGHS) You'll need it. FX: HORSE RACES OFF. MUSIC: BRIDGE CHESTER: I don't care if it is his knife, Doc...Mr. Dillon wouldn't do a thing like that. He wouldn't! DOC: The boy was saying a lot of nasty things about the Marshal... The town will figure that.... FX: DOOR OPEN (OFF) STEPS FADE ON MATT: (FADE ON, HARSHLY) Will figure what, Doc? DOC: (WEAKLY) That you took revenge on him. MATT: On who? The braggart from the saloon? DOC: Yes. He was found with your knife in his back. MATT: (SHARP BREATH) Ah! ... So that's the deal. Saddle my horse for me, Chester. CHESTER: Aw, no...you ain't gonna run, are you, Mr. Dillon? MATT: Hurry! CHESTER: (RELUCTANT) Yes, sir (STEPS GO OFF) DOC: This is going to make it look worse, Marshal. MATT: If I get back, I'll clear it up. If I don't, it won't make any difference. MUSIC: SHORT BRIDGE FX: HORSE RUNNING. TEXAS: (CUE) (FAR OFF) (YELLS) Hey, Marshal! Wait up! (HORSE SLOWS TO A STOP: TWO HORSES PAWING) (FADE SOUND) Pull up a second! Nice night for a hard ride. Use some company? MATT: Not even a ranger, Texas. TEXAS: (STARTING) Rang... (ADMIRING) Wal, bust me...I make a mistake? Or are you a derned good guesser? MATT: You got a pair of pinholes in shirt where a star's been hanging. And only a lawman would be likely to recognize three out of three outlaws on the trail. TEXAS: Man, you got good eyes. Shore, you're right. Sergeant Jack Miles. A Company...Texas Rangers. Only that story I told you was a little fib. I didn't meet Thompson on the trail...I had a tip on this heah deal.. followed them. MATT: That was a good drunk and fight act you put on your first night in Dodge. Fooled me for a bit. TEXAS: Playin' I was a thirsty cowpoke seemed like a good cover...(WINCING IN MEMORY) Until I found out how you handle obstreperous fellows like me. MATT: Sorry about that. TEXAS: I had it comin'. How about it? Do I ride along? We want Ben Thompson a lot back in Texas. He's been a real bad boy down theah... MATT: I got orders to ride in alone. TEXAS: Oh...(SMILING) Was there anything said about lookin' behind you? MATT: (SMILING) Come to think of it, no. If anyone was to follow me...say, a quarter mile back... I probably would never know he was there. So long, Texas. See you around. FX: HORSE INTO A DEAD RUN MUSIC: WIPE OUT FOR A SHORT BRIDGE FX: HORSE RACING, SKIDDING TO A STOP. DISMOUNTING. FEW QUICK STEPS. DOOR THROWN OPEN. VI: (OFF) Well...good evening, Mr. Dillon. We weren't expecting you so soon. (STEPS) MATT: Where's Thompson? VI: (SMILE) You really looking? MATT: (DEAD) I'm really looking -- Where--is--he? VI: He'll be back in a moment. He's with the boys, down at the stable. MATT: Boys! (VICIOUS) The worst killers in Texas, and you call them boys! You've picked fine company, Mrs. Lassiter. VI: My husband... MATT: Your husband was an outlaw and a gunman. But he faced the men he killed. And he hated Thompson's kind lke poison! VI: (PASSIONATELY) Shut up....shut up! MATT: No! It's time you knew something. Lassiter and I were friends once...good friends...we shared the same troubles...ate the same food...long before you ever met him! VI: And...you...killed him! MATT: (HOARSELY) Do you think I liked it? Didn't you know your husband et all, Mrs. Lassiter? Don't you know what drove him to meet me - not once...but twice? He had to prove himself a better man with a gun...it was an obsession with him...and it grew until it killed him! VI: You lie...you lie! I won't listen to you! MATT: Maybe not, but I can tell you one thing...these men you hired are murderers. How can you justify them? Stabbing an unconscious boy in the back? Your husband would curse your soul for this night's work. VI: (WHISPER) Stabbing...no...no! They were only supposed to beat him a little.... FX: DOOR OPEN (OFF) STEPS FADE ON BEN: (JOVIAL) (FADE ON) Glad to see you could make it, Marshal, You know Nueces? MATT: We've met. NUECES: Now, Ben? BEN: No hurry, Nueces. (CHUCKLING) I was kind of afraid the town might jail you, Dillon. Glad they didn't. It would have spoiled our fun. MATT: (SARCASTIC) You going to fight me fair, eh, Ben? BEN: Why, of course, Marshal! That's the way Mrs. Lassiter wants it...ain't it, Vi? VI: (WHISPER) You killed that boy tonight. BEN: What? Oh...well, it made a better case against the Marshal that way. You make any coffee? VI: You disobeyed me! You said you..... BEN: Forget it, Vi. You'll get used to my ways after awhile. NUECES: Coffee's on the stove, Ben. I'll get it. MATT: I'll come with you, Nueces. NUECES: (SULLEN) I don't need help. MATT: I know, but you getting behind me would make me nervous. FX: (STEPS STOP. COFFEE POT, CUPS) MATT: (CUE) (POINTEDLY) You pour. VI: (OFF) I'm through, Ben. You'll get no more money out of me. BEN: (OFF) Money! (SHORT LAUGH) You're what I want. And you're what I'm going to get. One way or another. VI: (OFF) You...! You...filthy...scum! NUECES: (SUDDEN GROWL) Aw, I'm fed up with this cat and mouse game. (POT PUT DOWN). MATT: (HARSH) Don't.... NUECES: (SNEERS) I can handle you, Marshal...by myself! Now! FX: SHOT TEXAS: Hold it, Ben! BEN: (REACTS) NUECES: (GROANS) Aw, no... FX: BODY FALL TEXAS: (OFF) Don't you even wiggle a finger, Benny boy. I can cover the whole room from this window. One move and I'll bore you center. MATT: (RELIEF) Glad to see you, Texas. You meet up with Tom Tom out there? TEXAS: (OFF) I'm standin' on him. He's got a headache. Better lift Ben's guns, Matt....before he gets reckless. MATT: Sure thing. (STEPS) Nueces is done for. This should wind things up.... BEN: (OFF) (YELL) Not quite! (SCUFFLE -- OFF) VI: (CRY OF PROTEST) Let go! BEN: (FADING ON) (PANTING) Not on your life, honey. You're my shield? Stop there, Dillon! FX: STEPS STOP TEXAS: (OFF) That's pretty low, Ben...even for you...hiding behind a woman. BEN: (HARSH) Save your sermon. I'm backing out of here, and you can be sure that if I die...so will she! MUSIC: UP AND UNDER MATT: (NARR) There was no chance for a clear shot that wouldn't endanger the woman...so, Texas and I watched as the killer backed slowly all the way to the barn where he threw Mrs. Lassiter aside. FX: (OFF) HORSE STARTS RUNNING AWAY TEXAS: (OFF) He's got a hoss! I'm gonna stop him! MATT: (NARR) I got outside just in time to see Texas run into the moonlight. He raised his gun, but Thompson's hands spit fire back at him first. FX: TWO SHOTS (FAR OFF) HORSE FADING OFF COMPLETELY TEXAS: (OFF) YELL OF PAIN, (STEPS RUNNING) MATT: Texas....! TEXAS: (FADE ON) (GROANING) Oh, drat the luck... drat the derned luck anyhow! (STEPS STOP) MATT: Where you hit? TEXAS: In the laig. Get after him, Marshal! I'll be all right. But you get him for me. MATT: I will. MUSIC: UP AND UNDER MATT: (NARR) It was Ben Thompson's night for his luck to run out. His horse went lame in less than an hour as a result of the race over the rocky country. By dawn, I had him holed up in a patch of boulders. BEN: (OFF) Give it up, Marshal! Go back to Dodge where you belong! MATT: Sorry, Ben! I promised a man I'd bring you back with me! BEN: (OFF) You're wasting your time! I can hold out here as long as you can! MATT: (LAUGHING SCORN) How about that fair fight, Ben? Want to meet me straight up? BEN: (OFF) I reckon not, Marshal. I seen you draw against Nueces. I think I'm safer sittin' right here. MATT: Think again, Ben. Some of those boulders behind you have flat sides. I can slam ricochets off them right into where you are! BEN: (PAUSE, OFF) (UNEASY) You can't scare me with no tricks, Dillon. MATT: Last chance. BEN: (OFF) Go to the devil !!! MATT: I think you're due before me, Ben. FX: RIFLE WORKED METHODICALLY. SHOTS ON, RICOCHETS OFF BEN: (OFF) (YELL, OF TERROR) (SHOTS OUT) MATT: You say something? (PAUSE) Talk to me, Ben! BEN: SHOT ON, RICOCHET (OFF) BEN: (OFF) (SCREECHING) No more! No more! I'll meet you in a fair fight! MATT: Too late, Ben! You're going back to hang in Texas. BEN: (OFF) No! I'll make you a deal...anything, only... MATT: No deals! Do I empty my rifle? BEN: (OFF) Wait! (PAUSE) Fair trial? MATT: Fair trial. BEN: (OFF, PAUSE AND QUIETER) Looks like you win the jackpot, Marshal. You've just arrested Ben Thompson. MUSIC: BRIDGE FX: CLOTH WRUNG OUT. PATTING. DOC: It's a clean hole, Sergeant... (CLOTH IN WATER, PAN PUT DOWN) You'll be good as new in a few weeks. TEXAS: That's good news, Doc, I want to get back to Texas with my prisoners. (LAUGHS) Wait'll my Cap'n sees my haul! MATT: He'll give you a medal, Texas. TEXAS: (SNORTS) I'll be lucky if he don't break me for stoppin' this slug and takin' so long to get back. He ain't got no patience with things, the Cap'n. (SLYLY) Say, I'll bet that pretty Mrs. Lassiter will be grateful to you, Marshal... what with you savin' her from Ben. MATT: She's gone -- I told her to clear out. TEXAS: Oh. You're a hard one, Dillon. DOC: (SNICKERS) Like a feather bed inside, Sergeant. He's tough only on the surface. TEXAS: He'll do, Doc. But I'm wonderin'...bringin' Ben back was risky, knowin' how desperate he was. And you had him cold...why didn't you drill him, Marshal? Shore he had it comin'. MATT: (SIGHS) Let's say I don't like having to shoot a man, Texas. Somehow, to me....it just isn't any fun. MUSIC: FINAL CURTAIN ANNCR: "GUNSMOKE", under the direction of Norman Macdonnell, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, Tonight's story was specially written for "GUNSMOKE" by Herb Purdum, with music composed and conducted by Rex Koury. Featured in tonight's cast were Harry Bartell, Bob Griffin and Larry Dobkin with Michael Ann Barrett, Sam Edwards and Don Diamonds. Parley Baer is Chester and Howard McNear is Doc. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in "GUNSMOKE". MUSIC: SECOND THEME TO FILL ANNCR: Tomorrow night in "Your Playhouse On Broadway," the star is Lew Ayers and the story is poignant -- "Dark Victory." Mr. Ayers will have as his co-star, in a sensitive role for a newcomer, Miss Sheila Schulman of Cornell University. Don't miss this gripping drama, tomorrow night on "Your Playhouse On Broadway" over most of these same CBS Radio Stations, This is Roy Rowan speaking. And remember... "Screen Guild Theatre" brings you top stars in top drama Sunday nights on the CBS RADIO NETWORK. MUSIC: THEME TO FILL