
Original Air Date: May 01, 1960Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guest:• Virginia Gregg Editorial Supervisor:...
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William Conrad
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 guns.
Matt Dillon
Smell. Smoke.
William Conrad
Gun Spoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America and the story of a man who moved with it.
Matt Dillon
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 chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
Nettie
Your moot, Doc.
Chester
Yes, yes, I see this. Only I don't like my choices. You got me kind of cornered. Kidding.
Nettie
Oh, now then. Smart man like you ought to be able to think his way out.
Chester
Well, let me see now. Nope. There's nothing I can do. Except this and pray.
Nettie
Your eyesight's going back on you. Not today, it hasn't. Documented. Yep, yep. There. We can't pedal any eyeglasses here today.
Chester
How many games you won now?
Nettie
Five straight. And remember, we were playing $2,000 a game in trade. That was some bet. I'd have to die to collect it.
Chester
And the same thing if I had a one kitty. $5,000 worth of your whiskey would wipe out every doctor in the west. You. You don't want to play another game by any chance?
Nettie
Not by any chance?
Chester
Ah, thank heavens.
Nettie
Why don't you go make a few calls, Doc?
Chester
I' the trouble is no one needs me. The town and the county are just busting with good help.
Nettie
Yeah, and look at this saloon. One paying customer at the bar and he's drinking beer.
Chester
Well, I'd say that Matt and Chester picked themselves a good time to be out of town.
Nettie
Yeah, they got it pretty soft all right. Of course, they get shot at now and then. At least they get out of Dodge once in a while.
Chester
Let me see. Where? Isn't a pueblo this time?
Nettie
Wasn't it near there? Anyway, didn't say how long they'd be gone.
Chester
No, and I bet I know why. Why, there's some of the best fishing in the world not far from Pueblo. Wouldn't surprise me the least bit if they settle back next to a stream that's just jumping with Mountain TR. How's your leg feel? Was you hit bad, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
I never heard of being hit good, Chester.
Chester
Pant leg's bloody in some.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know.
Chester
What got into them Indians, anyway? We was just riding through.
Matt Dillon
Well, if it hadn't been us, they'd have gone after a rabbit or a coyote, maybe. These rocks they were shooting for the noise of it, I guess they had.
Chester
To be utes, didn't they?
Matt Dillon
Renegade Utes, most likely.
Chester
Well, they got tired of us. Or they think they killed us. One or the other. Can you bear weight on that leg?
Matt Dillon
I don't know. Let's try.
Chester
Just let me slip my arm behind you here.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester
Cool yourself up. Hold on to me.
Nettie
Mr. Dillon.
Chester
Can you make it?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I make it to my horse, I think.
Chester
There we go.
Matt Dillon
Easy.
Chester
You better rest some before I try to mile.
Matt Dillon
No, let's get it over with.
Chester
Chester, you'll have to swing your hurt leg over.
Matt Dillon
Oh, you'll have to guide it. If I kick your teeth out in the process, you take it as nothing personal, huh?
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
All right, here we go.
Chester
You. You all right, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester
I could strap you in your saddle.
Matt Dillon
No, there's no need. All right, let's go.
Chester
You're awful peaked looking, Mr. Dillon. About played out, ain't you?
Matt Dillon
There's water ahead to the left and those trees there.
Chester
Well, you can't go on just water.
Matt Dillon
Oh, that'll help. Water the horses, too.
Chester
Ain't much daylight left. I'd nighty we'd find a settler and get you bedded down for the night.
Matt Dillon
It's a ute country, Chester. They've rotted out most of the cellars in through those trees now? Yeah. There's good grass by the stream.
Chester
Don't. Don't you move yet, Ms. Dillon.
Nettie
I'll help you.
Matt Dillon
All right. Now you stand to steady me. My leg won't bear any weight. Yes, sir.
Chester
Come on.
Nettie
There you go.
Chester
Now just fall free again.
Nettie
Me?
Chester
You just. You just stretch out there. How's that, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
It's fine, Chester. It's just fine.
Chester
I'll get you some water. You look afraid.
Matt Dillon
I just need to catch my breath. Just rest a little bit.
Chester
I sure do wish I could make you comfortable in a bed with some warm food.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know. I know. You just mind the horses, huh?
Chester
There.
Matt Dillon
Chester. Chester.
Chester
Oh. You waitin stillin?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Yeah. I shouldn't have gone to sleep.
Chester
I guess you didn't have no choice. Once you swallowed that cool water, you were just plumb.
Matt Dillon
What is that? Who's that? Horses.
Chester
Oh, no, Miss Dylan. I hobbled them before I set out. They ain't making a sound.
Matt Dillon
Wait a minute. That's horses, all right. They're coming this way.
Chester
I sure don't hear a thing. You're afire with fever, Mr. Dillon. You just might be imagining.
Matt Dillon
Now, you keep listening. You'll hear them.
Chester
Yes, sir. What I was gonna say was. While you was resting, I set out and took a look around. There's a cabin not more than a couple hundred yards away.
Matt Dillon
They're coming from the north.
Chester
I think you're right, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Look. Look through the trees there.
Chester
Indians. Could be them same renegades.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, maybe.
Chester
We sure better make for that cabin.
Matt Dillon
No, we're better off here. Trees will hide us. Unless they already know we're here. Just lie flat, Chester. They start through the trees. Fire.
Chester
You able to handle a gun ready for them? They're making right for us. Sure is seeing.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester
They'Re right at the trees.
Matt Dillon
Take it easy.
Chester
I sure ain't keen on them seeing us first.
Matt Dillon
They're riding right along the tree line, going on south.
Chester
I can't make them out anymore. You see him?
Matt Dillon
They're on past the thicket, but I can't see them.
Chester
I swear. That was close.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it's still close. Sounds like I stopped.
Chester
I counted six of them.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, six. That cabin. Where is it?
Chester
Afraid that's where they are. It's that direction. No more than a couple hundred yards away.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that's some better.
Chester
That's a welcome sound.
Matt Dillon
For a fact, you're talking about a deserted cabin, Chester.
Chester
I didn't see no signs of life. Likely been that way for years.
Matt Dillon
From the look of it, you'll have to drag me. Chester. I can't mount again.
Chester
I'll get you there. Done. Don't you fret yourself. I eat more than about 10 steps. You can make it, Ms. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
I. I don't know, Chester.
Chester
Come on, now. You just lean heavy on me. You make out fine. You come no closer, ma' am. You can just put that shotgun away right now.
Nettie
I'll judge about the shooting. What ails him.
Chester
He's sharp and weak, ma' am. I gotta put him down inside.
Nettie
I never laid eyes on you before.
Chester
No, ma' am. We're clean from dodge city.
Matt Dillon
Just Mr. Dillon.
Chester
You all right, Mr. Dillon? Mr. Dillon?
Nettie
He dead?
Chester
No, ma' am. Not yet. Would you just try to help? Set that shotgun aside and help A body.
Nettie
Are you on food?
Chester
We got precious little, I'll tell you that.
Nettie
Blankets, shells. You got anything?
Chester
What I got is a mighty sick friend here, ma' am. And I'm lifting him up right now and taking him in that cabin.
Nettie
How much money have you got?
Chester
I don't know. A little. Hand it over once we're inside.
Nettie
I tell you, boy, I'd soon shoot the both of you jaw with you. I want your money and your gun.
Chester
Oh, for. There now.
Nettie
Then his money too.
Chester
Oh, my goodness. Here. I'm bringing him inside now.
Nettie
Well, all right. But for this little bit of money, he ain't gonna be there long now. You're another weak one, are you?
Chester
Well, I'm carrying my weight in logs.
Nettie
Put him by the stove and quit whimping. Soft bellies, the lot of you.
Chester
How is he?
Nettie
That's Kim. He only making out he's sleeping.
Chester
Ms. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
You can't fool her, Chester. Don't try.
Chester
You sure did give me a fright. I wasn't sure you was gonna make it.
Matt Dillon
I'm all right.
Chester
She get the bullet out?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, and half of my leg.
Nettie
I think I seen new cubs with tougher hide.
Chester
You told me you knew what you was about.
Nettie
Now, you mind your tongue. I'm no mind to hear you, Ballard.
Matt Dillon
A cause to go at her, Chester. She did all right.
Chester
Well, she took everything we had, Mr. Dillon. Our guns, bullets, money. I never seen her life.
Nettie
You'd best quiet him. I buried four husbands, 20 children. Couple of strangers. Don't faze me.
Matt Dillon
You better get some sleep, Chester. She says you watched over me all night.
Chester
Well, now, if you need me, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
No, I'm fine. You go on, now. You go to sleep, huh?
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
Four husbands, ma' am.
Chester
Four.
Nettie
I outlived them. They was men. Regular men.
Matt Dillon
I can believe that.
Nettie
We didn't trifle with marshals, army folk. In those days, Mr. Sitton and me lived as peaceable as could be with Indian folk. We come here peaceable?
Chester
Me and Mr. Sitton.
Matt Dillon
When was that?
Nettie
In the 30s?
Matt Dillon
Things were different then.
Nettie
No different than with Mr. Griffith, Mr. Albright. Even later on with Mr. Netherton. There was lessons to learn in the west in them days. Eat the porridge.
Matt Dillon
Much obliged, ma' am.
Nettie
Nettie. How's that, Nettie? I say. Nettie. Sitting go by that? I can't abide being called ma' am. I lean toward Nettie.
Matt Dillon
Nettie. Nettie. You live alone in the middle of Ute country. How do you manage?
Nettie
I come by your guns and such little money you had. Sometimes it's food, sometimes roads. I take what I can get. No matter to me if it's settlers or Scouts or US Marshals or Utes folks don't find Nettie. Lessen their loss to half dead. Open your eyes to see what they part with.
Matt Dillon
You always greet him with a shotgun?
Nettie
If need be.
Matt Dillon
Before we came here yesterday, a band of Ute braves stopped here.
Nettie
I got good arrows, strong bows, rifles. Even a couple of buffalo guns off a mountain man. Broke his leg down the canyon.
Matt Dillon
They got a camp near here. The Ute.
Nettie
You got something more to give me?
Matt Dillon
Chester says you cleaned us up and.
Nettie
You'Re getting full measure.
Chester
Hey, no. Here.
Nettie
Here. Now you. Am I right? I ain't had a pretty first spell. That's a fact.
Chester
I bought that ring myself in St. Louis. A man's not safe sleeping here.
Nettie
Just fine once I wrap some twine around it. Body's fingers thin with age, I declare.
Chester
Next thing I know, you will be picking my bones.
Nettie
Mind your tongue.
Matt Dillon
Give him his ring back, Nettie.
Nettie
Oh, not likely. No.
Chester
Dylan. What says you can't hit an old woman when she's so mean and contrary?
Matt Dillon
For one thing, her shotgun.
Nettie
It's as soon use it as have a ruckus with you.
Matt Dillon
You take his ring, you give us something.
Nettie
Oh, I do admire her. Pretty. I clean forgot the bright feeling.
Matt Dillon
They give you our guns for the ring netting. That's fair.
Nettie
I come by your horses down by the creek this morning. They're grazing on my grass and swilling my water. The pretties to pay for that.
Chester
Ms. Dylan, I. I better go see to them horses.
Nettie
You'll stay where they're sick. And Aaron, I'll see to the horses.
Matt Dillon
You say he can't leave the Cabin.
Nettie
Not alive, he can't.
Chester
Well, you doggone.
Matt Dillon
She means it. Just.
Nettie
I do that now. I got tending to do outside. No need peering around for your guns whilst I'm gone. You won't find them.
Chester
Mr. Dillon. We have got to get out of here.
Matt Dillon
We need horses to do it. Come here. Now, steady.
Chester
Me, you ain't it? Stand yet?
Matt Dillon
Yes, stand steady.
Chester
There.
Matt Dillon
Now. We'll have to crawl once we're outside. Anyway. I can manage to the door like as much.
Chester
He just crouched out there waiting for.
Matt Dillon
Well, it's worth a chance. We might not get another one. All right, get on your belly. Move small through the brush toward the stream. Can you see her?
Chester
No, I can't.
Matt Dillon
The stream. How far is it?
Chester
Good hundred yards, maybe more.
Matt Dillon
I don't see the horses.
Chester
I don't neither.
Matt Dillon
Flatten.
Chester
Chester.
Matt Dillon
It's Ute.
Chester
She's talking to them Indians.
Matt Dillon
We're gonna have to go back, Chester, to the cabin. Without guns or horses, we're no good out here. Come.
Chester
What do you reckon she's done with her guns, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Her? She might have eaten them.
Nettie
Here.
Chester
I'm steady after the walk.
Matt Dillon
I give a lot for some of her strength right now.
Chester
You reckon I could find them guns alone?
Matt Dillon
Get yourself killed doing it. That's no good, Chester. We're gonna have to wait.
Nettie
You just about as foolish as can be, ain't you? Crawling around in the brush out there. What's id?
Matt Dillon
Fresh air.
Nettie
You got no guns, no food. There's Utes all around. You don't think too good of your hides, do you?
Matt Dillon
Where are the horses, Nellie?
Nettie
Your color's coming back, sir.
Chester
You heard him. What about them horses?
Nettie
They bring a good price in these parts. I could get me a passer of things trading horses.
Matt Dillon
You're real friendly with the Ute, huh?
Nettie
They treat me good. Course, they know Mr. Sitton and me come peaceable to their country. Not to run em off. What right lays their land?
Chester
You ever seen em at their killing? Women, babies. No matter to them.
Nettie
Ever ask yourself who started it all? Well, I seen it happen. The whites and their guns moving in. It wasn't pretty work they did. Women and children too. That's a fact.
Matt Dillon
They let you live here? There's gotta be a reason.
Nettie
He come here like you, for a shot, ailing white man's doing. Mr. Sitton and me, we took him in, tended him. He was a young chief then. But White Bear never forgot. Not in all these years.
Matt Dillon
White Bear's the oldest chief among the Ute now.
Nettie
He don't forget Neddy Sitton. He's near to a relation I got.
Matt Dillon
You're from another age, Nettie. You and White Bear.
Nettie
Maybe. You got someone? A wife?
Matt Dillon
No, no wife.
Nettie
The mother's in.
Matt Dillon
I got her memory and a pair of earrings she always wore. That's all.
Nettie
Not on you. I'd have come on them.
Matt Dillon
They're back in Dodge City.
Nettie
Oh, that's a pity. That's a pity.
Matt Dillon
You think you can get the guns without waking her?
Chester
I can't make out goods, no light. But I can fight an old woman in the dark.
Matt Dillon
Not long till sun up. This may be our last chance. Take it easy.
Nettie
Now. That's just close enough. I don't mind shooting one bit. Stealing up on an old woman. What kind of man are you?
Chester
You're a doggone witch, that's what you are. Seeing in the dark. And you ain't no kind of woman at all.
Nettie
Maybe not now, boy. But I was once more woman than you could have been.
Matt Dillon
All right, shut up, both of you. Somebody's coming.
Nettie
They come earlier than I said.
Chester
It's them same Indians, Mr. Dillon.
Nettie
Yeah, made you stand still, the pair of you.
Chester
Mr. Dillon. I swear, I had my rival. I'd blow us up before I'd let them take us.
Matt Dillon
Maybe I'd help you, Chester.
Chester
She's out there right now trading for us. You know that.
Matt Dillon
Now get ready. Somebody's coming.
Nettie
Now, that cutter beef will last me a good long time. It was a gift from my friend White Bear for us. Oh, now then, you worth a sight more than that.
Chester
It's Dylan they're riding off.
Matt Dillon
You're sparing us, Nettie.
Nettie
Why sparing you?
Matt Dillon
You didn't tell him about us.
Nettie
You didn't ask.
Chester
How come you're acting human so sudden? Like after near scaring us to death.
Nettie
I ain't gonna miss this boy. That's the truth of it. He's one ballin big mouth.
Matt Dillon
We'll be glad to get out of your way and trade for guns, our horses and a cut of your new beef.
Nettie
I've been thinking about them here Bobs.
Matt Dillon
I've been thinking about our guns under my bed.
Nettie
These two horses saddled at the spring. Now them here Bobs.
Matt Dillon
There aren't a strong box in Dodge City. You mean to ride back with us?
Nettie
I wouldn't be seen in daylight with you.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, well, I might get back this way someday. If I do, I'll bring him to.
Nettie
You for these old ears. Here, boy. Take your ring. Pretty. It ain't for me. Not anymore.
Chester
I'LL take it. I declare, I don't understand you at all. You. You just beat the Dutch, that's what you do.
Nettie
If you was regular men, you'd find yourself a woman. Pretties don't belong on a man's hand. There ain't no strong box. Us women folk gives us that bright feeling Having a pretty.
William Conrad
Gun Smoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Dun Smoke by Kathleen Heights with editorial supervision by John Meston. Featured in the cast was Virginia Gregg, Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. And now, here's a special word from our star.
Matt Dillon
This is William Conrad. I've taken off the Marshal's badge to remind you that the Crusade for Freedom is counting on our continued support to keep Radio Free Europe on the air. I might just mention over 90% of the refugees escaping Iron Curtain countries report that they were Radio Free Europe listeners. That means we're getting the truth through the jamming and past the propaganda barrage. Let's keep the truth alive. Keep faith with more than 76 million people who can rely on us for it. Send what you can now to the Crusade for Freedom, care of your post office.
William Conrad
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on gun smoke.
Andrew Rines
This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve Technogod and Craig who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739. This episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Nettie
Sam.
Podcast: Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com
Episode: Nettie Sitton | Gunsmoke (05-01-60)
Release Date: May 11, 2025
Host/Author: Andrew Rhynes
In the "Nettie Sitton" episode of Gunsmoke, host Andrew Rines sets the stage for a gripping Western drama set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the tumultuous period of the American West's settlement. The story unfolds with U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by William Conrad, facing unforeseen challenges that test his resilience and moral compass.
The episode opens with Matt Dillon in a vulnerable state. Injured in the line of duty, Dillon struggles to mount his horse due to a severe leg wound:
His companion, Chester, voiced by Harley Bear, attempts to assist him despite the limited resources available in the rugged terrain.
As Dillon grapples with his injury, the emergence of Nettie Sitton introduces a new layer of tension. Nettie, portrayed by Georgia Ellis, is a formidable and resourceful woman living on the fringes of Ute territory. Her initial interaction with Dillon and Chester is marked by suspicion and assertiveness:
Nettie's character is immediately established as tough and self-reliant, unwilling to offer assistance without conditions.
As Dillon and Chester seek Nettie's help, negotiations become tense. Nettie demands compensation for her assistance, showcasing the harsh realities of survival in the West:
Chester attempts to reason with Nettie, but her unwavering stance heightens the precariousness of the situation:
Nettie's demands underscore the scarcity of resources and the transactional nature of relationships on the frontier.
Throughout the episode, Nettie reveals snippets of her past, providing depth to her character and highlighting the enduring tensions between settlers and the Ute tribe:
These revelations offer insight into Nettie's hardened demeanor and her complex relationship with the native population.
The narrative builds up to a climactic confrontation as Ute Indians approach, intensifying the stakes for Dillon and Chester. Without adequate weaponry, their survival hangs in the balance:
The impending threat of the Ute forces Dillon and Chester to make critical decisions, testing their ingenuity and courage.
In the resolution, Nettie chooses a path of mercy, reflecting her nuanced morality and the complexities of frontier life:
This gesture signifies a fragile truce, highlighting Nettie's capacity for compassion amidst adversity. Additionally, the exchange reveals deeper layers of trust and understanding between the characters.
Matt Dillon: "[04:49] Yeah, I know."
(Timestamp: 04:49)
Reflecting his acknowledgment of his injury and the gravity of his situation.
Nettie Sitton: "[12:15] I'd soon shoot the both of you jaw with you. I want your money and your gun."
(Timestamp: 12:15)
Establishing her tough and uncompromising nature.
Nettie Sitton: "[20:27] Ever ask yourself who started it all? Well, I seen it happen. The whites and their guns moving in. It wasn't pretty work they did. Women and children too. That's a fact."
(Timestamp: 20:27)
Providing historical context and depth to her character’s motivations.
Nettie Sitton: "[24:16] Here, boy. Take your ring. Pretty. It ain't for me. Not anymore."
(Timestamp: 24:16)
Symbolizing resolution and the complexity of her relationship with Matt Dillon.
"Nettie Sitton" delves into several poignant themes central to the Western genre:
Survival and Resourcefulness: Nettie's character epitomizes the rugged individualism necessary for survival in the West.
Trust and Reciprocity: The negotiations between Nettie, Dillon, and Chester highlight the fragile nature of trust in a lawless land.
Cultural Tensions: The interactions with the Ute tribe and Nettie's background illuminate the underlying conflicts between settlers and native populations.
Redemption and Compassion: Nettie's eventual act of mercy towards Dillon reflects the potential for understanding and reconciliation amidst ongoing strife.
The "Nettie Sitton" episode masterfully intertwines character development with high-stakes drama, offering listeners a rich and engaging narrative. Through Matt Dillon's vulnerability, Nettie's formidable presence, and the looming threat of the Ute Indians, the story underscores the complexities of life on the American frontier. Notable dialogues and the nuanced portrayal of relationships provide depth, making this episode a standout installment in the Gunsmoke series.
Note: This summary excludes non-essential sections such as advertisements, intros, outros, and promotional content, focusing solely on the core narrative and character interactions to provide a comprehensive understanding for those who haven't listened to the episode.