Gunsmoke – "No Sale" (08-26-56)

Podcast: Gunsmoke | OTRWesterns.com
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Airdate: August 26, 1956
Summary by: [Your Assistant]

Episode Overview

In "No Sale," Marshal Matt Dillon faces a tense situation when two mysterious strangers arrive in Dodge City, offering an unexpectedly generous sum to buy the Long Branch Saloon from Miss Kitty and her partner Sam Noonan. The hard sell quickly turns to threats, and it’s up to Matt to uncover the real motive behind their pushy deal, protect Kitty and Sam, and ensure justice prevails in Dodge. The episode blends suspense, sharp dialogue, and moral dilemmas, capturing classic Gunsmoke tension and drama.

Key Discussion Points & Scene Breakdowns

1. The Suspicious Offer – [04:49–07:42]

• Tom Breese and his partner Red Temple arrive in Dodge and immediately seek to purchase the Long Branch Saloon from Sam Noonan and Miss Kitty.
• They propose an attractive price—$10,000 up front, with $5,000 a year for two years, totalling $20,000 (well over the saloon's value).
• Miss Kitty is suspicious and not quick to agree, despite Sam’s eagerness.
  • Notable moment: “All they want to do is give us $20,000.” — Sam Noonan [07:17]
• Breese and Temple insist that the deal must close quickly, arousing further distrust.

2. Pressuring Miss Kitty – [10:00–14:07]

• Miss Kitty definitively declines their offer after sleeping on it, citing unease and the suspicious rush.
  • Miss Kitty: “Maybe I just don’t like those two. And I don’t like their big hurry either.” [10:14]
• Breese and Temple attempt to bribe Marshal Dillon for his influence.
  • Tom Breese: “Maybe you could kind of change her mind by Wednesday. There’s a thousand dollars in it for you.” [11:23]
  • Matt Dillon (coolly): “Is that more or less than he’s paying you, huh?” [11:33]
• The mood takes a darker turn when Breese and Temple threaten Kitty. They invade her private room and make it clear that Sam’s life is in danger if she doesn’t sell.
  • Tom Breese (threateningly): “We’ll kill him, that’s all. Think it over, Kitty. Think it over hard.” [13:41]

3. Kitty’s Dilemma and the Unfolding Con – [15:34–18:32]

• Under duress, Kitty changes her mind and agrees to sell, claiming it is for a friend—hinting at protecting Sam.
  • Miss Kitty (heavy-hearted): “I did it for a friend, Matt. I did it for Sam.” [16:34]
• The arrival of Glenn Horn, a wealthy Abilene gambler, further complicates matters. The hosts discuss his presence and speculate about his connection to the con.

4. The Reveal: A Con Game Exposed – [20:10–23:02]

• At the bank, all parties gather to finalize the sale. Glenn Horn reveals he had planned to offer $15,000 for the Long Branch and had openly discussed it in Abilene—the information that reached the conmen.
• It’s exposed that Breese and Temple were attempting a “fast-flip,” buying for $10,000 and planning to resell immediately for $15,000.
  • Matt Dillon (explaining): “They bought it for $10,000 and were going to make a fast $5,000 profit on it.” [22:38]
• Their contract included $5,000 annual payments after the initial $10,000 down, but Matt points out men like Breese and Temple could easily disappear without paying.
  • Matt Dillon (dryly): “If you could find them. Men like them can disappear pretty easy.” [22:51]

5. Showdown and Resolution – [23:02–24:36]

• Temple and Breese threaten violence when called out, but Matt stands his ground. Temple is shot and killed after drawing on Matt.
  • Matt Dillon (grimly): “You should have hired a better gunman, Breese.” [23:33]
• Matt orders Breese to leave Dodge after retrieving the money from the bank; with the con men exposed and run out of town, the ownership of the Long Branch remains with Kitty and Sam.
  • Miss Kitty (relief and resolve): “Then we’re still going to be running this place, Sam.” [24:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Miss Kitty’s gut feeling:
  “Maybe I just don’t like those two. And I don’t like their big hurry either.” — Miss Kitty [10:14]

• The bribe attempt:
  “Maybe you could kind of change her mind by Wednesday. There’s a thousand dollars in it for you.” — Tom Breese to Matt Dillon [11:23]

• Kitty’s courage under threat:
  “So you’re gonna have him shoot me?” — Miss Kitty confronts Breese [13:25]

• Matt sums up the con:
  “They bought it for $10,000 and were going to make a fast $5,000 profit on it.” — Matt Dillon [22:38]

• Classic Marshal Dillon resolve:
  “You should have hired a better gunman, Breese.” — Matt Dillon, after outdrawing Temple [23:33]

• Kitty reclaims her ground:
  “Then we’re still going to be running this place, Sam.” — Miss Kitty [24:10]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:49] – Breese and Temple make their initial offer.
• [10:00] – Miss Kitty tells Sam and Matt she won’t sell.
• [11:23] – The bribe attempt on Marshal Dillon.
• [13:14] – Breese and Temple threaten Kitty in her room.
• [16:34] – Kitty confesses to Matt she changed her mind for Sam’s sake.
• [22:38] – Matt exposes the con in front of everyone.
• [23:32–23:36] – The shootout; Temple is killed.
• [24:10] – Kitty and Sam reaffirm their commitment to the Long Branch.

Tone & Atmosphere

As always, the episode is steeped in the classic, terse, and slightly somber Western atmosphere. Dialogue is authentic and direct, with moments of dry humor and tough moral reflection, particularly from Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty. The tension builds gradually from suspicion to outright threat, culminating in a classic showdown where justice prevails and the stability of Dodge City is preserved.

Conclusion

"No Sale" delivers a suspenseful and character-driven narrative, highlighting the perils of greed and deceit in the frontier West. Through quick thinking, loyalty, and moral certainty, Matt Dillon thwarts a con, protects his friends, and ensures the heart of Dodge—the Long Branch—remains safely in honest hands.