NARRATOR:

James Stewart as the Six Shooter

MUSIC:

Theme

NARRATOR:

The man in the saddle is angular and long legged. His skin is sun-dyed brown, the gun in his holster is grey steel and rainbow mother of pearl. It's handle, unmarked. People call them both the Six Shooter.

(Theme Continues)

 

The NBC radio network presents James Stewart as the Six Shooter. A transcribed series of radio dramas based on the life of Britt Ponset, the Texas plainsmen who wandered through the western territories leaving behind a trail of still remembered legends.

(MUSIC Changes- Upbeat)

 

There was a nip in the air. Not a freezing, biting angry nip, but a sort of tingle that made the morning star shimmer and swung them out of there orbits a little closer to the earth. It was a winter nip alright, but not a hard winter, not a winter when the cattle would come down from the high places, hooking their noses into the ice encrusted ground. It was a mild winter nip, mild enough so the breath on the boy on the pinto turned only a faint grey as he rode toward the campfire where the man was sitting.

Sound effects:

Horse walking

BRITT:

Howdy

JOHNNY:

(out of breath) Hello Mister (pause) I see your fire, I thought maybe you wouldn't mind if I gave my pony a chance to warm up

BRITT:

Sure, sure, make yourself at home

JOHNNY:

Easy Blackie, easy. You headed for Thompson's corners mister?

BRITT:

That's right

JOHNNY:

I just came from there

BRITT:

Ohh why you must have been riding all night?

JOHNNY:

(out of breath) Just about, you see, I'm running away from home.

BRITT:

Oh is that so? Well uh, seems kinda of a funny thing you'd pick this time of the year to run away? Uh, so close to Christmas I mean

JOHNNY:

Oh, I hate Christmas

BRITT:

Oh?

JOHNNY:

It, It's just for kids anyhow.

BRITT:

Well

JOHNNY:

I heard Aunt Millie say so, Christmas is for children that's what she said. JOHNNY's old enough to do without all that fuss and nonsense.

BRITT:

Oh you don't live with your folks huh Johnny?

JOHNNY:

No Sir, they died about 8 months ago.

BRITT:

Oh I see

JOHNNY:

Christmas was alright when they were… when I was with them. Of course I was a lot younger then.

BRITT:

Oh yes, yes

JOHNNY:

It just beats me the way folks take Christmas so serious.

BRITT:

Well I don't know

JOHNNY:

As if getting presents made any difference. As if I really cared about that knife.

BRITT:

Is that what you wanted, a pocket knife?

JOHNNY:

I don't want a knife, I don't want anything. I just wish their wasn't any Christmas that's all.

BRITT:

Mm hmm… Well I ah, I guess your not the first person to feel that way. You know it seems to me, seems to me I remember reading a story once bout a fellow who felt the same way about Christmas as you do. Just didn't have any use for it.

JOHNNY:

What happened to him?

BRITT:

Well, I I doubt if I could call it to mind after all this time but as I recollect now I remind ya this might not be word for word but as I recollect the man that it's about, the one that hated Christmas that is, well he he was a real skin flint he was just as stingy as they come. Yeah uh uh his name was uh, let me see, Eban something like that.

JOHNNY:

Eban?

BRITT:

Eban, yeah I'm pretty sure that was it. Well, being so tight fisted this fellow Eban he got to be the richest man in the whole territory.

JOHNNY:

He owned a ranch?

BRITT:

Oh sure, sure he had four of them. Four ranches and store buildings, farms and maybe a bank of two.

JOHNNY:

He was rich… I bet he had a mighty fine ranch house.

Theme music comes in softly

BRITT:

No, No he didn't have a ranch house. Uh Eban wasn't the sort to spend money on a ranch house unless there was profit in it. You see, he just lived alone in town had himself a steady room at the hotel. But anyway, one night while EBAN was sitting in his room having supper. Christmas eve it was. Well on this particular Christmas Eve, his only kin a Nephew lived in the same town, he stopped by the hotel.

NEPHEW:

To wish you a merry Christmas uncle and invite you to our place for dinner tomorrow.

EBAN:

Christmassss, fiddlesticks. I suppose you'd be closing up your stable for the occasion.

NEPHEW:

Why sure, uncle Ebb

EBAN:

And just how will the horses know its Christmas? Answer me that?

NEPHEW:

(Chuckling) Well if they don't know it, we will. Can I tell Sally to expect you at 3?

EBAN:

You can expect me all you like but I ain't coming! Not at 3 or any other time. Oh if you're making so much money you can afford to be giving parties, maybe I ought to think about raising the rent on the stable.

NEPHEW:

Oh now…

EBAN:

Now get out of here before I lose my temper! All this nonsense about Christmas. Fiddlesticks.

MUSIC Theme

BRITT:

Well after that Johnny, the nephew didn't stick around there. He got out of EBAN's hotel room with a regular gallop. But, it wasn't very long before Eban had another visitor. He was a young fella, tall, lanky, not very good at speaking. Just a plain and ordinary cowpoke. He was the foreman of the S and M ranch.

EBAN:

Oh well it took you long enough to get here. Where have you been, selling off some of my heard without telling me about it?

FOREMAN:

No sir, the day you rode by I was out in the range hunting strays

EBAN:

It was a good thing I desired to check up on you sure. What's that cabin doing over by hobby creek? And who are those people staying there?

FOREMAN:

There my family, I built the shack for them myself.

EBAN:

I'm not gonna have a bunch of nesters in my property! Tear it down!

FOREMAN:

But one of my boys has been sick, I I can't afford to rent

EBAN:

As if it was my concern! It's up to you to take care of your family and what you earn, so see that you get rid of that shack, tomorrow!

FOREMAN:

But tomorrow is Christmas

EBAN:

Huh huh huh oh well. Then you'll have plenty of free Time to tear it down. I'll be out the day after to be sure you done it! Goodnight.

MUSIC Up

BRITT:

Well there wasn't much use in arguing. Foreman knew that, so he put on his hat and shuffled out. Now Eban was alone again. At least he thought he was alone. The clock on the mantle started striking 8 and it was about the Time he turned in.

EBAN:

Yawning

BRITT:

So, he put on his flannel night shirt and he reached for the kerosene lamp to put on the stool beside the bed and right about then, the strangest thing happened.

EBAN:

What, what's that

BRITT:

JOHNNY, old Eban saw a man's face looking right at him from inside that lamp. Eyes and hair, nose and mouth, whiskers all just a plain as day.

EBAN:

JAKE!

BRITT:

It was old Jake, Eban's partner. There wasn't any mistake about it at all it was Jake right to a tee. Well Eban sure didn't like the idea of having Jake right in the same room with him, you see Jake had been dead for over seven years. Not that Eban really believed in ghostss or haunts or anything like that, he told himself he was just imagining all this.

EBAN:

Uh Uh (stretching waking from bed) I gotta get a hold of myself.

BRITT:

He put out his hand to turn down the wick but all of a sudden his fingers started trembling. There was Jake again, across the room this time, standing right by the mirror.

EBAN:

(Frightened) Oh Oh

BRITT:

And when the lamp slipped out of his hand

(Lamp breaks sound)

The room didn't get dark at all. Jake seemed to be surrounded by a splotch of bright yellow light. And he was wearing the same boots and britches and leather jacket that he had on seven years ago, the day he died. But as Jake came closer, Eban could see he was wearing something else. (Footsteps) A small leather saddle, strapped across his back. And hanging down from it were two saddle bags. Stuffed so full of gold nuggets and mortgage papers and land grants that Jake could hardly drag them across the floor.

JAKE:

You recognize me Eban?

EBAN:

Sure it's you Jake, why sure I would never forget you. But what are you doing here? And why are you wearing the getup?

JAKE:

Always thinking about land and money, always scheming and conniving, that's why I wear it. And that's why I've come to warn you Eban. The saddle you are fixing up for yourself is even heavier than mine.

EBAN:

But I don't know what you mean Jake, I ain't done no wrong. I ain't never done folks no wrong.

JAKE:

Have you ever done them any good? Any good at all?

EBAN:

Why sure, I've worked hard I've saved my money. I ain't been a burden on anybody. Oh you should see our ranches Jake. Oh the way I have built them up.

JAKE:

I have seen them, many Times. And I've seen a lot more than that too. That's my punishment. To spend eternity traveling around, seeing mankind with its trials and tribulations. With its joys and hopes.

EBAN:

Is that so terrible?

JAKE:

Oh Eban, to watch them and not be able to help them. You'll find out how terrible it is. You'll find out.

EBAN:

There must be someway of avoiding this. Eh, you always were my friend JAKE. Tell me what to do.

JAKE:

Eban, You've got to find out for yourself

(MUSIC)

 

EBAN:

But how?

JAKE:

Tonight at 1:00, you'll be haunted by a ghost

EBAN:

Another ghost?

JAKE:

Indeed Eban… pay his some heed

(MUSIC)

 

EBAN:

Way way wait Jake, don't leave me without, Jake

BRITT:

The yellow light sort of faded away and the ghost was gone. It was just like he hadn't even been there. And then, then, something caught the corner of EBAN's eye. A little glimmer on the floor and he bent over to pick it up.

EBAN:

What's this? A gold nugget. Hmm now where on earth did this?

BRITT:

And then he remembered, those saddle bags of Jake's, they'd been filled clear to the brim with gold nuggets.

(MUSIC)

 

(Six Shooter Theme)

 

NARRATOR:

We're interrupting our story for only for a moment to tell you our unseen audience that you have helped make this a very merry Christmas for all of us on this program. You being with us each week, your many kind letters, have told us that all the work that goes into bringing you the six shooter has not been in vain and we are grateful. So friends from all of us Jimmy Stewart our cast, our directors our writers, engineers and sound technicians a very happy holiday season. And a reminder that on December 31st the Six Shooters moves to Thursdays here on NBC. Now act two of the six shooter starring James Stewart as Britt Ponset.

(Theme continues)

 

JOHNNY:

Gee whiz a gold nugget, so Jake's ghost really had been there huh mister?

BRITT:

Yeah, there just wasn't any doubt about it Johnny.

JOHNNY:

Well what happened then? Did the other spook turn up? The one JAKE said was coming to see EBAN?

BRITT:

Oh sure Johnny, sure. Yeah he was right on time too. Eban was lying in bed. Wide awake of course, he he hadn't been able to do much sleeping. Too scared you know, it was kind of peculiar Eban was half scared the ghost would come and half scared he wouldn't. But before the sound of the clock had died away, there he was. He was sitting in Eban's rocking chair like he had been there all night long. And this ghost was a young fellow, maybe 18, 19. All duded up the way young bucks like to dress. You know fancy shaps, checkered shirt, and red bandanna tied around his neck.

GHOST:

Howdy Eban, heard you been expecting me?

EBAN:

I, I, I guess so

GHOST:

You ready to take a little trip?

EBAN:

Where to?

GHOST:

Back, way back through the years

EBAN:

But how can I go?

GHOST:

It's real easy, you see I am the ghost of Christmas past. Your past EBAN.

(high buzzing sound)

 

BRITT:

The next thing Eban knew, he and that ghost were standing out on a snow covered prairie. There was a circle of covered wagons in front of them and the people from the wagons were gathered together listening to a tall white bearded man, he was reading the bible.

Man:

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

BRITT:

The ghost turned and pointed to a boy sitting away from the others on the tailboard of one of the wagons. Small boy, oh about 10 years old. With hollowed sheets and his eyes all red from crying.

EBAN:

Oh no

BRITT:

It was Eban himself, on a Christmas day a long long time ago. Not a very happy Christmas either. It was only a week since the auction stampede and his ma had been killed when she fell from the wagon. His pa had died from an apache arrow in his chest.

EBAN:

Oh, Oh, I don't want to look at him anymore. Can't you show me another Christmas.

BRITT:

Well it was no sooner said than done. Now Eban and the ghost were in a bunkhouse. And then Eban saw himself again, he was 10 years older than the boy in the prairie. He was lying on a blanket staring up at the ceiling. And then his pal Jake came running in all out of breath.

JAKE:

Come on Ebb, get a clean shirt on. We got an invite to a party

EBAN:

Huh?

JAKE:

Yeah the boss is throwing a big shin dig. Says he'll fire us if we don't show up.

(Upbeat MUSIC)

 

BRITT:

Eban couldn't help remembering that party. Oh the roast beef and the baked ham. Square dancing and the pretty girls. He couldn't help saying out loud to the Ghost.

EBAN:

Yeah, how I was I?

GHOST:

What was that Eban?

EBAN:

Nothing Mr. Spirit. Nothing at all. I was just remembering how I treated my foreman today, that's all.

BRITT:

After that the ghost took Eban to three or four more of those Christmases. And none of them were very happy. Especially that Christmas when the young school girl, sitting on the sofa, unwrapped the tiny box EBAN gave her and then handed it back to him.

GIRL:

It's a lovely ring Eban… but I can't wear it

EBAN:

Oh, you're not courting somebody else?

GIRL:

No Eban, but you are. You're courting something else.

EBAN:

What

GIRL:

Land and cattle, profits. They mean more to you than I ever would… I'm Sorry.

EBAN:

Mr. GHOST! No more of the past! Please, I've seen enough. A man wants to forget.

GHOST:

Sure Eban, whatever you say

BRITT:

And before Eban could blink his eyes, he was right back in that hotel room. But once he got there, he blinked real hard because all of a sudden the GHOST was becoming a different person. He was getting fatter and his stomach popped out two or three inches. A few wrinkles creased his cheeks and finally his shaps turned into a shiny blue suit with a heavy gold chain dangling across the vest.

EBAN:

Well what's happened to you, why you so different now?

GHOST:

You seem to be getting tired of the past so I thought we might take a gander at the present. If you got no objections.

BRITT:

The hotel room just melted away and Eban was looking at that cabin his foreman had built on holly creek. (people laughing, talking). Well that cabin sure was crowded, oh there must have been five or six children all helping their mother getting out the Christmas dinner. All laughing and talking. But when their father came in, he had a long face and a tired mouth and his wife looked up and wanted to know what was troubling him.

BOB:

Well I was thinking about old Eban

Wife:

Well that's not a very pleasant thought for Christmas Bob. Oh by the way what did you want to tell me yesterday, was it about this cabin?

BOB:

Oh no no, of course not. Well let's get on with dinner, sit down everybody now where's my Tim?

BRITT:

Now BOB looked all around the room, he he was pretending he didn't see the little fellow in the corner. The boy with an iron brace on his leg and a wooden crutch up against the wall. The little champ wasn't going to be ignored.

TIM:

Here I am

(Laughs, joy everyone)

 

BRITT:

Bob picked him up and carried him over to the table.

BOB:

God bless this food, this house, and us and our friends. Even old Eban. Amen

BRITT:

(chuckle) The family found that part about Eban a little hard to swallow. But they managed and Tim was the last one to chime in.

TIM:

God Bless us everyone

All:

Aww, yes, god bless.

BRITT:

Eban didn't want to watch what was going on in that cabin any longer but the next case the ghost showed him wasn't any easier on him. It was a big party going on at his Nephew's house.

All:

Joyous cheer, laughs

BRITT:

One of the ladies was blindfolded you see and she was trying to pin the tail onto a donkey. But their was something peculiar about this donkey. About the way it was drawn, it looked more like a person than an animal. Well Eban recognized who it was supposed to be right away.

NEPHEW:

(chuckling) You see folks, I invited Uncle Eban to be with us but he turned me down flat. So I figured we'd have him here in the spirit of not in the flesh.

All:

Laughing

(MUSIC outro)

 

BRITT:

Right back in the hotel room again, that's where Eban found himself.

EBAN:

Spirit, spirit. You showed me the past, the present, what's left to see?

GHOST:

The future Eban, the future.

(Sound: Wind howling)

 

BRITT:

And that's how Eban came to see a Christmas of the future. A cold, bitter Christmas. There were two men standing on a street corner. Coat colors turned up so they could keep out the snow.

MAN ON STREET:

Oh he's dead alright, dead as a doornail. Sure as a Christmas present I ever expected. At least whoever handles his property won't be as hard to deal with as he was. I wonder if they'll bother giving him a funeral.

BRITT:

And in a frame house near the side of the street on the edge of town, a woman was speaking to her husband.

Woman:

Funny, to me he has been dead for years. I haven't even thought of him since I don't know when. Wouldn't you know, once I was really fond of him.

EBAN:

GHOST, who are they talking about? Who is that man on the street, that woman I used to know. Who is it that's dead? Tell me!

BRITT:

And the ghost slowly turned and stretched out a long thin bony finger and right there at the end of that finger was a tombstone all covered with weeds. EBAN could barely make out the name that was carved out on it.

EBAN:

(Slowly) Ebenezer Scrooge. No, no, NO! I what's this, where am I?

BRITT:

You know what? He was right in his own bed, in his own night shirt and the sun was streaming through the frosted windows. But Eban didn't stay there for very long, not long at all. He got into his boots and trousers fast as he could and dashed down the stairs (FOOTSTEPS) out into the street, well seeing that the store had been closed gave Eban quite a problem. Well he'd have to make fuzzy Wagner just open the butcher shop up that's all. Of course fuzzy didn't have a choice seeing that the shop is located at one end of the building. (Footsteps stop) When Eban told him what he wanted, a turkey and a ham, well…

EBAN:

(Excited) No nah nah nah no. You better make it two hams and send it up to the cabin on the S and M ranch and for them not to know that I ordered them. You understand fuzzy? Here is the money and a little extra for your troubles.

BRITT:

Before fuzzy could get his jaw shut up again, Eban was on his way headed straight out to his nephew's house. And Eban was the life of the party to, oh the way carried on laughing and making jokes, telling stories about himself he insisted when they use that donkey to put his face on it when they play games.

EBAN:

Cause that's what I have been all of these years, a real four footed, long eared donkey. Yeh yeh yes (laughing)

BRITT:

The next morning though that's what Eban enjoyed the most. (Horses walking) He was up bright and early and hitched the team to the buckboards and drove out to the S and M. Hurrying up the horses all the way.

EBAN:

Come on Bess! Come on Martha! Ha ha ha

BRITT:

If he could just get out there before his foreman started tearing down that cabin.

EBAN:

Slow Bess, slow Martha. Yeah ah. Well Robert, I see you haven't carried out my orders.

BOB:

Well it was Christmas, I just couldn't tell them I'll do it today

EBAN:

No! This is the last straw. I'm not putting up with your shenanigans any longer young fellow. That cabin is coming down, no butts about it! And then we're building a new ranch house in its place, big enough for you and your whole family.

BOB:

What?

EBAN:

Oh Yes! And I am also doubling your wages as of last week. Merry Christmas BOB. (Theme comes in background) Even if I am a day late. Oh not a day, more like half a lifetime. But Merry Christmas anyway and as your son says, god bless us, everyone.

BRITT:

Well that's the way things worked out Johnny more or less

JOHNNY:

That's a fine story mister, real fine. I know why you told it to me

BRITT:

How's that?

JOHNNY:

So I understand about Christmas and how important it is to do for other people instead of just thinking about yourself

BRITT:

Well no no, I didn't have that in mind the story just happened to come into my head that's all.

JOHNNY:

Well I want to give Aunt Millie something, a present maybe, oh shucks what could I give her I have no money.

BRITT:

Well of course there lots of things don't cost one penny not a single red cent you know?

JOHNNY:

Hmm?

BRITT:

Well now you, lets see, take that little spruce over there. It be really easy to cut that down and with a little fixing a few do dads from around the house, I bet you could make a Jim dandy Christmas tree there.

JOHNNY:

I suppose so, what's a tree without something to put under it

BRITT:

Oh yeah, yeah, I see what you mean. Uh Johnny you don't happen to know Jim Bender do ya? Thompson corner has three daughters?

JOHNNY:

He has two, Sarah and Emmie

BRITT:

Oh is that so, that so, I am spending Christmas with them. Hmm it looks like I am carrying an extra present. It's a real pretty little red bonnet with feathers on them

JOHNNY:

I couldn't take it mister

BRITT:

Oh I wasn't thinking of giving it to you Johnny. But I was sort of hoping you'd show me the trail from here on in. Of course it would mean your turning around going back home, if I was the cause of you changing your plans I'd feel obligated to pay you back some way you know.

JOHNNY:

Well I

BRITT:

Well it's only fair. I don't have much money so if you wouldn't mind accepting me giving you the bonnet, you'd be doing me a real favor Johnny.

(MUSIC Theme, horse trotting)

 

JOHNNY:

There's Aunt Millie out in the yard, she looks really mad

BRITT:

Well there is a resemblance, I'll have to admit to that

AUNT:

Where in carnation have you been John Carl? I have been looking high and low for you since dawn!

JOHNNY: Well I just went for a little ride Aunt Millie. To get a Christmas tree see?

AUNT:

Christmas tree? Fiddlesticks

JOHNNY:

This gentleman helped me cut it down, I'll take it inside. Be right back, mister.

AUNT:

As if we had any use for a Christmas tree. I suppose he's figuring there will be a lot of presents under it.

BRITT:

No I don't think so, but just between you and me I I gotta hunch there will be at least one present waiting for someone

AUNT:

What are you talking about?

BRITT:

Now no no, it wouldn't be fair of me to speak before Christmas you know

AUNT:

You don't mean he's got something for me do you?

BRITT:

Nah Nah you musn't get so curious so early now

AUNT:

But, I I thought he didn't like me? I thought he was upset about having to live here with an old maid. I guess I just don't know nothing about kids, nothing at all. I don't deserve to get a present.

BRITT:

Well I ugh, I better get moving along. Say goodbye to Johnny for me and I wonder if you would give this to him. Tell him the little blade on it is kinda dull but

AUNT:

A pocket knife

BRITT:

Yeah

AUNT:

Now how did you know? Oh God bless you mister. And Merry Christmas!

BRITT:

Merry Christmas.

(MUSIC Up Full followed by theme)

 

Announcer:

Please remember now beginning December 31st the Six Shooter will be on Thursday's instead of Sundays. We hope you'll join us in our new time. The six shooter is an NBC radio network production. Mr. Stewart may soon be seen in the new universal international picture the Glenn Miller Story. All characters and incidents are fictitious and any resemblance to actual characters or incidents is purely coincidental. And now until Thursday the 31st, this is Hal Gibney speaking. Merry Christmas.

(MUSIC Down)