SOUND:

HORSE FADES ON TO FULL MIKE ... ON CUE..RECORDED SHOT

MUSIC:

HOLD UNDER ... TRACK 1

FENNEMAN:

GUNSMOKE ... brought to you by Chesterfield ... Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed - thanks to Accu-Ray. They satisfy the most.

MUSIC:

FIGURE AND UNDER...TRACK 2

WALSH:

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 UNDER...TRACK 3

WALSH:

GUNSMOKE, starring William Conrad. The transcribed story of the violence that moved West with young America --and the story of a man who moved with it.

MUSIC:

OUT

MATT:

I'm that man...Matt Dillon...United States Marshal...the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancey job - and it makes a man watchful...and a little lonely.

MUSIC:

MAIN TITLE...TRACK 3

SOUND:

FS ALONG BOARDWALK...STOP AS:

MATT:

Good morning, Doc...Chester.

CHESTER:

Morning, Mr. Dillon.

DOC:

Come have some coffee with us, Matt. You've got nothing to do in your office.

MATT:

No, but in there people can't see me doing it.

DOC:

It's no use to hide. They're on to you anyway.

MATT:

You know, the Christmas season hasn't made you any more charitable at all, has it, Doc?

DOC:

I'm not a man to be good on Sunday and sin all week, if that's what you mean.

MATT:

Well, you're honest if nothing else.

DOC:

Oh, I don't know.

CHESTER:

Hey -- look at that fella.

DOC:

What fella, Chester?

CHESTER:

Yonder, across the street there. In the coonskin hat.

DOC:

Now that's the tallest man I ever saw.

CHESTER:

That rifle he's carrying is as long as he is. He sure looks out of place in Dodge, don't he?

MATT:

He is out of place, Chester. That's a squirrel-hunting southern mountain man.

CHESTER:

He's coming over here. Look at him walk.

DOC:

If everybody had legs like that the Santa Fe railroad'd go out of business. He's from the hills, all right.

CHESTER:

Well, at least he ain't another gunman, Mr. Dillon.

MATT:

That's something to be thankful for.

SOUND:

FS FADE ON AND STOP

HAKES:

Howdy...

MATT:

Hello.

HAKES:

Which of you be the....whatdyacallum?

MATT:

You mean the Marshal?

HAKES:

That's the word. I never heard it till a fella told me this morning.

MATT:

Well, it just means peace officer.

HAKES:

I'm agin peace officers. It ain't fitten for some folks to be meddlin' in other folks' business.

DOC:

Where do they figure it like that, stranger -- Ozark mountains?

HAKES:

Better country than this. And my name's Eben Hakes.

MATT:

My name's Dillon, Hakes. And this is Chester Proudfoot, and Doc Adams.

CHESTER:

How do you do?

HAKES:

Peace Officer, a man said you'd help me find where at Joth Monger is living.

MATT:

Joth Monger?

HAKES:

He come out here about a year ago. He's got a old mountain gal with him. They're married.

MATT:

Yeah, they've got a place up near Rock Springs -- about ten miles north of here.

HAKES:

I'll find it.

MATT:

You've come a long way to see your friend, Hakes.

HAKES:

Joth Monger ain't exactly a friend, Peace Officer. I got to get going -- it being Saturday and all.

CHESTER:

What's Saturday got to do with it?

HAKES:

Nothing. 'Cept I won't kill no man of a Sunday. I never have and I never will.

MUSIC:

1ST ACT

FIRST COMMERCIAL

FENN:

People everywhere are finding that Chesterfield packs more pleasure. Yes, Chesterfield packs more pleasure ... because it's more perfectly packed. For the more perfectly packed your cigarette...the more taste and mildness are released for you...and Chesterfield, made with Accu-Ray, is more perfectly packed than any cigarette ever could be before. Firm and pleasing to the lips...mild, yet deeply satisfying to the taste...and Accu-Ray Chesterfield has an open easy draw that unlocks all the pleasure of fine tobaccos. So remember....Chesterfield packs more pleasure. Buy Chesterfield - mild yet they satisfy ... the most.

MUSIC:

SECOND ACT OPENING

SOUND:

HORSES FS UNDER

CHESTER:

Joth Monger's place don't look no better than it ever did, does it?

MATT:

Not much, Chester.

CHESTER:

Look at that poor Mrs. Monger (GET OFF HORSE) -- out doing the chores, as usual.

MATT:

I wonder where (GET OFF HORSE) Joth is?

CHESTER:

Asleep somewhere probably.

SOUND:

THEY WALK UP TO MRS.

MATT:

Good morning, Mrs. Monger.

MRS:

Howdy.

CHESTER:

How are you, ma'am?

MRS:

Poorly.

MATT:

Is Joth here, ma'am?

MRS:

If today wasn't Saturday, he'd be here.

MATT:

What -

MRS:

Joth goes to Dodge every Saturday.

MATT:

He does? I never see him.

MRS:

If he socialized more, you'd see him. Joth's got his ways, Marshal. They're lonesome, but they're his'n.

MATT:

I see. Mrs. Monger, do you know a man called Eben Hakes?

MRS:

Hakes! If you speak that name around here you won't be welcome, Marshal.

MATT:

There's trouble between you...

MRS:

If you call Joth being the only Monger left, and Eben being the only Hakes left -- then you could say there's trouble.

MATT:

Oh...you mean it's a feud..

MRS:

Both families have been whittled down to just them two.

MATT:

I see. Is that why Joth came out to Kansas -- to get away from it?

MRS:

Not if he's always talking about going back long enough to kill Eben Hakes.

MATT:

Oh. But what do you think, ma'am -- don't you think it's gone far enough?

MRS:

Either one of them could call it off -- if they wasn't so muley.

MATT:

How'd this feud start, ma'am?

MRS:

If you had any up bringing, you wouldn't ask.

MATT:

Oh..I'm sorry.

MRS:

It's a family matter. Where'd you see Eben Hakes, anyway?

MATT:

He was in Dodge asking about Joth.

MRS:

If he was asking, then he'll find him. And that's bad. Joth don't even know he's around...

MATT:

That's why I came out here.

MRS:

If Joth knew about him, I wouldn't worry. Joth's a better shot than Eben Hakes any day.

MATT:

Look, Mrs. Monger -- the law doesn't hold with feudin'. Whichever one kills the other, he'll hang for it.

MRS:

If you start meddling, they'll shoot you. But I'm worried about Joth. He'll be drunk soon's it's dark.

MATT:

I'll find him, ma'am. Goodby...

MRS:

Goodby...

SOUND:

THEY WALK TO HORSES...MOUNT...RIDE OFF UNDER:

CHESTER:

Is hill people all like that, Mr. Dillon?

MATT:

They're mighty independent, Chester.

CHESTER:

Well, the law sure don't seem to mean much to them.

MATT:

Not when it comes to feuding. (PAUSE) Look over there...by that little bluff there...

CHESTER:

Well, forever...Now, how'd he get here? I don't see no horse.

MATT:

Let's go ask him.

SOUND:

THEY RIDE UP TO HAKES AND STOP

MATT:

Hello, Hakes.

HAKES:

That Joth Monger's place yonder, Peace Officer?

MATT:

Yeah.

HAKES:

Good. I'll get a little closer and shoot him when he comes out.

MATT:

You don't care whether you hang or not, do you?

HAKES:

Hang! For shooting a Monger?

MATT:

For shooting anybody. You ever hear of murder?

HAKES:

Peace Officer, you're getting downright contrary.

MATT:

Where's your horse, Hakes?

HAKES:

I got no horse.

MATT:

You left him in Dodge?

HAKES:

I don't need no horse to travel by.

MATT:

You mean you've walked all the way from the Ozarks?

HAKES:

It's mostly downhill, Peace Officer. But I'd walk anywhere to get me a Monger.

MATT:

Maybe I oughta throw you in jail.

HAKES:

Now you are being meddlesome. I got to get closer to that house. (FADES) And don't you fret none about the old lady -- I don't aim to shoot her.

SOUND:

FS FADE

CHESTER:

Mr. Dillon...You gonna let Hakes wait here and shoot Joth?

MATT:

Let him go, Chester. Let's get back to Dodge - find Joth and warn him.

CHESTER:

Why don't you just let them shoot each other and have done with it?

MATT:

Don't tempt me, Chester.

MUSIC:

BRIDGE

SOUND:

FS ON BOARDWALK..ENTER SWINGING DOORS...SALOON BG

MATT:

Chester, go ask Sam if he's seen Joth.

CHESTER:

Okay.

SOUND:

CHESTER WALKS OFF...MATT CROSSES TO KITTY

MATT:

Evening, Kitty.

KITTY:

Hello, Matt. Where've you been? -- it's pretty near midnight.

MATT:

(SITS) I've been trying to stop a feud.

KITTY:

It's a long time since I've heard of a feud around Dodge.

MATT:

This one kinda got transplanted from the Ozarks.

KITTY:

The Ozarks... Then it's a wonder that crazy Joth Monger isn't mixed up in it.

MATT:

It's Joth I'm looking for.

KITTY:

You are?

MATT:

I've been in every saloon in Dodge. He must have a cave somewhere.

KITTY:

I'll bet you a dollar he's right out back, Matt.

MATT:

What?

KITTY:

Sure. He's there every Saturday night. He comes in and buys a bottle of corn from Sam and takes it out back and drinks it. He sits there all alone with his long rifle in one hand and his bottle in the other. Nobody knows what he's thinking.

MATT:

No wonder I never see him around.

CHESTER:

(FADES ON) Mr. Dillon, Sam's... Oh, hello, Miss Kitty.

KITTY:

Hello, Chester.

MATT:

Kitty just told me, Chester. Go out back and see if he's there and if he is, bring him in, will you?

CHESTER:

All right, sir.

SOUND:

FS FADE

KITTY:

Who's Joth feuding with, Matt?

MATT:

A man called Eben Hakes, Kitty.

KITTY:

Is he from the Ozarks, too?

MATT:

He arrived today. On foot.

KITTY:

On foot!

MATT:

He's all legs, Kitty. A real traveling man.

KITTY:

Say, I'd like to see him.

MATT:

He's got a face like a hatchet and he's built like a piece of wire.

KITTY:

And I'll bet he carries a long rifle, too.

MATT:

He does.

SOUND:

FS FADE ON

CHESTER:

(FADES ON) Here he is, Mr. Dillon. I made him leave his rifle with Sam.

MATT:

Hello, Joth.

JOTH:

(NOT SOBER) Say what you want, Marshal. Cause I don't care to be cooped up inside here very long.

MATT:

Eben Hakes is looking for you, Joth.

JOTH:

Course he is. The Mongers and the Hakes been looking for each other nigh onto forty years. And they most all got found, too.

MATT:

You been drinking, Joth?

JOTH:

Well - er - The missus won't allow no drinking on the place, Marshal. So I gotta come to town every Saturday.

HAKES:

(OFF..UP) Joth Monger...

CHESTER:

It's Hakes, Mr. Dillon.

MATT:

(GETS UP) Get out of the way, Kitty.

KITTY:

(MOVES) Sure will.

HAKES:

(FADES ON) I got you caught like a bar up a tree, Joth.

MATT:

Put your rifle down, Hakes.

JOTH:

He's gonna kill me...and I ain't even got no gun.

MATT:

(MOVES) Put it down, I said...

HAKES:

You're standing in the way, Peace Officer.

MATT:

And I'm going to stay here.

HAKES:

Then I'll have to shoot you first.

MATT:

You're not going to shoot anybody.

HAKES:

Course I am. That's what I come for, ain't it?

MATT:

Don't try it.

CHESTER:

Now, here, wait a minute, everybody. I just thought of something...

HAKES:

I wish all you folk'd stop meddlin' in this...

CHESTER:

It's after midnight, Hakes.

HAKES:

What?

CHESTER:

It's Sunday.

HAKES:

Sunday!

MATT:

He's right, Hakes.

HAKES:

Well, of all the gol-blamed luck. (COMES CLOSER) Oh, quit looking so troubled, Joth -- I won't shoot no man on Sunday. Even a Monger.

JOTH:

But you come awful close to it, Eben.

HAKES:

It's a doggone shame it took me so long to find you today.

JOTH:

You traveled a long way, Eben.

HAKES:

I know. But I got tired waiting for you to come back home, Joth.

JOTH:

I was coming. I was coming this summer.

HAKES:

I know. Your old lady told me about it today. I seen her scratching around doing her chores. That ain't much of a place you got, Joth.

CHESTER:

Oh!

MATT:

Quiet, Chester.

JOTH:

Oh, a fella can make a crop here sometimes, Eben. But it's a hard fight with a short stick.

HAKES:

I didn't see no hogs out there. Where's your hogs, Joth?

JOTH:

I'm getting some come spring. (BEAT) Eben -- how is things back home?

HAKES:

Well, there's been a lot of changes since you left.

JOTH:

Eben!

HAKES:

Yeah?

JOTH:

I got a little jug of corn out back. It's most empty now, but we could maybe buy another one and set out there for a spell and kinda get soured on the cob. What say, Eben?

HAKES:

Might as well. We can't do no shooting till Monday. Where at do we buy this jug?

JOTH:

(FADES) I'll show you. Fella over here sells it.

HAKES:

(FADES) You'll have to lend me some money. I didn't bring none with me this trip.

CHESTER:

Well, if they don't beat all, Mr. Dillon.

MATT:

Yeah...

CHESTER:

Looks to me like they're gonna call their feud off.

MATT:

No, not them, Chester. Midnight tomorrow they'll be stalking each other all over again.

CHESTER:

How're you gonna stop them?

MATT:

Well, I'll let them enjoy themselves tonight. But tomorrow I'm going to throw them both in jail. And they're going to stay there till they learn something more than feuding.

MUSIC:

2ND ACT

SECOND COMMERCIAL

FENN:

People everywhere are finding that Chesterfield packs more pleasure. Yes, Chesterfield packs more pleasure ... because it's more perfectly packed. For the more perfectly packed your cigarette...the more taste and mildness are released for you...and Chesterfield, made with Accu-Ray, is more perfectly packed than any cigarette ever could be before. Firm and pleasing to the lips...mild, yet deeply satisfying to the taste...and Accu-Ray Chesterfield has an open easy draw that unlocks all the pleasure of fine tobaccos. So remember....Chesterfield packs more pleasure. Buy Chesterfield - mild yet they satisfy ... the most.

MUSIC:

THIRD ACT OPENING

MATT:

I wasn't sure that jail would teach Joth and Eben a thing, but I still couldn't let them run loose and shoot each other down. So the next morning Chester and I went looking for them. We found where they'd built a small fire out back of the Longbranch, and we found a number of empty bottles -- but that was all. We searched the town till noon with no luck, and then I decided to ride out to the Monger place and see if by any chance Joth had returned. There was nobody in sight when we got there, so we dismounted and walked up to the door.

SOUND:

FS UNDER

CHESTER:

There's smoke coming out of the chimney, Mr. Dillon.

MATT:

That doesn't mean Joth's here, Chester.

CHESTER:

No sir.

SOUND:

FS STOP...KNOCK ON DOOR ...REPEAT...DOOR OPENS...

MATT:

Afternoon.

MRS:

You go away, Marshal.

MATT:

Now wait a minute, Mrs. Monger --

MRS:

If you don't want to get shot, you'll do what I say.

SOUND:

SHE SHUTS DOOR

CHESTER:

Friendly, aint she?

MATT:

Yeah.

CHESTER:

But she didn't have no gun. It must be Joth in there.

MATT:

Probably.

CHESTER:

Well, if it is, why would he want to shoot you?

MATT:

There's one reason I can think of ...

CHESTER:

You mean he's gone and killed Eben Hakes.

MATT:

I don't know, Chester, but I'm sure going to find out.

SOUND:

HE KNOCKS ON DOOR...REPEAT...

CHESTER:

They aint gonna open it.

MATT:

There's a window around the side.

SOUND:

THEY WALK TO WINDOW...STOP

CHESTER:

It aint a very clean window.

MATT:

It'll do. Here, let me take a look. (HE MOVES...LOOKS) Well, I'll be ...

CHESTER:

What is it, Mr. Dillon?

MATT:

Here. Have a look yourself.

CHESTER:

All right. (HE MOVES...LOOKS) Why, they're eating dinner..all three of them.

MATT:

Yeah. Come on...

SOUND:

THEY WALK BACK TO DOOR...MATT KNOCKS VIOLENTLY..DOOR FINALLY OPENS

MATT:

I want to talk to the men, Mrs. Monger, and I'm coming in.

MRS:

Joth --

SOUND:

MATT PUSHES PAST AND ENTERS...MEN JUMP UP

MATT:

All right, stay away from those rifles.

JOTH:

He busted in. He busted right past the woman.

HAKES:

I never heard of a man coming into another man's house that way.

MRS:

(SLIGHTLY OFF) If he had any upbringing, he wouldn't've.

HAKES:

Is this the kind of people they got in Kansas, Joth?

JOTH:

It's the first I seen of it.

MATT:

Never mind about that, Joth. Why'd your wife threaten to shoot me? What's going on here?

MRS:

If you hadn't come to put them in jail, you wouldn't get shot, Marshal.

MATT:

How'd you know I'm going to put them in jail?

MRS:

Eben says you told him you was.

MATT:

That's right. I did. If he killed anybody.

HAKES:

I aint killed nobody.

JOTH:

The feud's off. We stopped it.

MATT:

You stopped it?

JOTH:

Sure. Last night.

HAKES:

We got to talking a little. About old times and everything.

JOTH:

And you know what we found out?

MATT:

No. What....

JOTH:

You tell him, Eben.

HAKES:

Well, Peace Officer, this here feud started a long time ago. What happened was my grandfather stole Joth's grandfather's girl and married up with her. So Joth's grandfather declared a feud right then and there.

JOTH:

But you aint told him what we found out yet, Eben.

HAKES:

Oh...well, we hadn't thought of it before, Peace Officer, but last night we was thinking that if my grandfather hadn't done that, then Joth here would've been me.

MATT:

What....

HAKES:

Don't you see? Otherwise, my grandmother would've married up with Joth's grandfather and I'd have been Joth.

JOTH:

So anyway you look at it, we're kind of related-like.

CHESTER:

Anyway you looked at it last night, you mean -- I saw them bottles.

MATT:

It doesn't matter, Chester. As long as the feud's off.

JOTH:

It ain't only off -- Eben's gonna stay on here with us. We're gonna work this place together. I'm gonna give him a share in it come Christmas.

MATT:

Come Christmas?

JOTH:

Taint far off -- January 6th.

CHESTER:

Now here, wait a minute. Since when did Christmas get to be January 6th?

MRS:

If you knew anything, you'd know that.

CHESTER:

I swear, I'm getting to know less and less, ma'am.

HAKES:

You folks don't understand -- back in the Ozarks we do our Christmas celebrating twelve days from when you do.

MATT:

Wait a minute. Oh..you're talking about Twelfth Night...

JOTH:

We call it Christmas, too.

MRS:

And if you only knew, Marshal, it works just fine for us.

MATT:

No reason why it shouldn't, ma'am. It's an old custom.

JOTH:

Say, maybe you and Chester'd come out and celebrate with us.

MRS:

If they don't mind kraut and sour pickles and corn bread and coffee, they'll come.

JOTH:

Ain't there gonna be no chitlins, woman?

MRS:

I was keeping them for a surprise.

MATT:

Chitlins or no chitlins, I'd be proud to come, Mrs. Monger.

CHESTER:

And me, too.

MATT:

We'll leave you to your dinner, now. And we'll see you Twelfth Night.

MUSIC:

CURTAIN

THIRD COMMERCIAL

WALSH:

And now, our star, William Conrad...

CONRAD:

Friends, at this time I'd like to join with Liggett and Myers - the makers of Chesterfield and L & M Filters - their over 6000 wholesale distributors - and the 1,300,000 retail cigarette dealers -- and wish all of you a very merry Christmas.

On the frontier violent death might come to a man in a number of ways - and life around him served as a daily reminder. Gunfighting in the street - stampeding cattle - marauding Indians - hunger - thirst. There were lots of ways to die - and most of them hard. But the Westerner wasn't bothered by that. The important thing was, when his time came, that-- Well, that he die standing up - and in fine style. And, that was the West. Goodnight.

MUSIC:

THEME

WALSH:

"GUNSMOKE" produced and directed by Norman Macdonnell and stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal. Our story was specially written for "GUNSMOKE" by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Koury. Sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were: John Dehner, Helen Kleeb and Vic Perrin. Parley Baer is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty.

MUSIC:

UP AND FADE UNDER

WALSH:

Most accidents aren't really accidental at all. Only you can cause an accident. That's right, it's up to you to read and heed the safety signs, to keep your eyes on the road to watch out for those curves ahead and the cars driving along near you. Most drivers know how to operate a car, they know the traffic rules, they know that speeding, taking chances, failing to keep to the right of the line..are dangerous hazards. Accidents happen because drivers do these things despite what they know. So while you are driving, remember that you and only you are responsible for your life and the lives of those driving with you. Drive carefully.

MUSIC:

THEME UP AND OUT

L & M HITCHHIKE:

MUSIC:

VAMP

JINGLE SOLO:

MAKE TODAY YOUR BIG RED LETTER DAY
YOUR L & M RED LETTER DAY
SUPERIOR TASTE AND FILTER
IT'S THE MIRACLE TIP
MAKE TODAY YOUR BIG RED LETTER DAY
CHANGE TO L & M TODAY!

DUET:

L & M'S GOT EVERYTHING

GAL:

SUPERIOR TASTE...

GUY:

AND SUPERIOR FILTER...

DUET:

GET L & M TODAY!

MORROW:

This is it! L & M - Superior taste and filter! L & M - America's best filter tip cigarette.

MUSIC:

THEME

WALSH:

Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in GUNSMOKE!

MUSIC:

THEME

ANNCR:

(LIVE SYSTEM CUE) This is the CBS RADIO NETWORK.