
Original Air Date: April 26, 1959Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Vic Perrin• Harry Bartell Produce...
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Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This episode is just one of over 80 episodes we release monthly. Now, let's get into this episode.
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 gun smoke. Gunsmoke, 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 lone.
Augie
Hey, Rack. What are you doing back here? You see somebody coming hot out there in them rocks, Rack. I figured it'd take me a spell in the shade back here. Get on back and watch the road. I'm always watching. Listen, Augie, we gotta keep ahead of the law and make it to the border, don't we? Sure, Rack. We gotta get us a horse that can move instead of that lean one, don't we? I know that. You go on out there and keep looking. Somebody comes long riding single, you come fetch me. Till then, you stay put. Now get. Seems likely you ought to do some of the watching. Seems likely somebody has to do your thank you for. You gone now, Rat. You got some more arguing to do down the road. A rider coming slow. You get down behind them rocks the way we planted. I'll cover you from up here. And don't you start nothing till I say, you hear? You keep still. All right, now drop your guns. You're covered. Say it's smart, mister. Drop the gun. Better. Now get off the horse and start walking. Nice and Easy, like right back down the road.
Matt Dillon
Oh, wait a minute.
Augie
I got him. I got him. Auggie, you dang fool. Come on down. Look at him, Rex. I told you not to make no move. I had to shoot him, Rack. You didn't do a very good job. He ain't dead. He's out, but he ain't dead. Well, let me finish him off, Rack. Just one shot. I want that badge. What are you talking about? What badge? What turned him over? Rack, he's a lawman, a U.S. marshal. Always wanted me a badge like that. A marshal? You shot a marshal? The first man you ever take a shot at, and it's a US Marsh, it ain't that funny wreck. Now, let me finish him off. Wait a minute. What makes you such a killer all at once? I told you, it's a badge. A man wearing a badge like that, folks thinks he amounts to something. I want to wear me one now. Go on, Rack. Stand back and let me finish him. Augie, put it down. He's mine, Rack. I got a right to do the shooting. Ain't gonna be no shooting. You just gonna leave him lying there? Then let me get the badge on. Leave it be. I got me a better idea. You ain't ought to take him away from me, Rack. He's mine. I ain't gonna take him away from you. I'm gonna let you keep him. I'll give you a very own U.S. marsh. I don't want him. I just want that old badge. Listen to me. We got a fur piece to go with that hold up money, don't we? You don't need to keep telling me that. And it's likely that we'll run into some rough spots, ain't it? Sure, but we got us through so far. We've been lucky. But if we got us our own U.S. marshal, ain't nobody gonna stop us all the way. They ain't? No. They ain't to hurt us. They gotta hurt him. And they ain't gonna do that. He ain't gonna let them. Maybe. What about the horse, Rack? This way. We still need another horse. We can always get another horse. But it ain't likely we get another chance at a marshal. We'll drag him up that broke down shack, see if we can fix him up. You now wear the badge, Augie. I'll make you a bargain. How's that? We get across the border and he's all yours. You can finish him off and you can wear the badge. Come on now, take his picture. Well, thank you, Sam. Here's your beer, Doc. Oh, thank you, Chester. Yes, that's mighty big of you to buy this way. Well, I tell you, Doc, the way I figure it, a man has to do the buying once in a while that there's a chance he'll be thought of as a cheapskate. Oh, you've noticed that, have you? How's that? I say, you. Well, hello, Miss Kitty. Kitty, how are you? I don't see you in here very often in the morning, Doc. Well, Kitty, Chester's by. I figured I'd better accept his offer before he changed his mind. Oh, now, I'd have stood good for it anytime, Doc. I'm sure you would. Just Dick, you heard anything from that? Oh, no, Miss Kitty, I ain't. He was supposed to be back yesterday, wasn't he? Well, that's what I thought. Well, now, you can't never tell what he might have run into up there in line. It. I can imagine. I remember one time we was up there, we liked to Never got away. Oh, you had a hard time transacting your business. Well, no, it wasn't that exactly. It's just that folks in that saloon were so sociable like that. It gets that way sometimes. Well, I hope Matt isn't having such a good time socializing that he forgets his way home. Oh, now, you don't have to Worry none about Ms. Dylan. Bring him over here. Okay. Set him down on this crate under the window. I don't know if he can walk.
Matt Dillon
I can walk all right.
Augie
Well, now, Marshall, that's just fine. I'm glad to see you come out of it so good. Come on over here.
Matt Dillon
What for?
Augie
Well, you got a bullet in your shoulder, ain't you?
Matt Dillon
Well, you ought to know I didn't.
Augie
Do that to you, Marshall. Augie dead. Ain't that right, Augie?
Matt Dillon
Sure is.
Augie
By rights. He ought to be my prisoner, too. Bring him over here. Sit down there. Turn your shoulder toward the window. Get a look at this. Hmm? Hand me a knife, Augie. Here.
Matt Dillon
Huh? You're gonna cut on me with that thing.
Augie
You want that bullet out, don't you, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
You're gonna use that dirty blade. You might as well leave it in.
Augie
Well, now, I sure do beg your pardon, Marshall. I sure wouldn't want to dirty you up, man. Here, I'll wipe it off real nice. Tear me off a piece of your shirt, August.
Matt Dillon
I was better off before.
Augie
How's that, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Get on with it.
Augie
All right, then. I've waited a long time to work on the likes of you. I want to be sure things are just right.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I'll bet.
Augie
Hold still now. Little rough, Marshall. Well, I'm sure sorry to hear it. You want me to hold him, Rack?
Matt Dillon
You don't have to hold me.
Augie
Why, shucks, no. Our dear Marshall's a brave man. Thank you, Marshall. Killed him, Marshall. Fast down.
Matt Dillon
Just.
Augie
I was beginning to enjoy it. Hold him up here and we'll get it out now. Here. You won't keep the bullet, Augie. I don't want no bullet. I don't want to hear no more talk about that badge. Come on now. Help me lay him down over here near the wall. You think he's going to? Man, give him a day or two and see. Ain't no good to us less than he can ride Rack just while he's lying there. And I'll wear it. I told you to shove up. Now don't you start hitting me again, right? Don't start my head to hurting me again. You'll be hurting from now on if you don't keep your mouth shut. Give another piece of shirt. I want to bandage that shoulder.
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Augie
Sociable up to date. Debonair.
William Conrad
What's this, a new word game?
Augie
No, I'm just mentioning the qualities that people admire in other people. Oh, I see.
Matt Dillon
If you're sociable up to date and what was that other word?
Augie
Debonair. Yes, debonair. But listen to it this way. Be sociable. Look smart, keep up to date with Pepsi. Drink light, refreshing, Stay young and fair. And desociable. Have a blessing.
Matt Dillon
Notice how many of your friends are.
William Conrad
Serving Pepsi Cola these days.
Augie
It's the up to date. Refreshment. Be sociable. Serve sepsis.
Matt Dillon
Rack, is that you?
Augie
I ain't Rack.
Matt Dillon
Oh, that's Auggie. I'm awful dry.
Augie
Racking here.
Matt Dillon
Is there anything wrong with you getting me some water? Thanks.
Augie
You gonna mend?
Matt Dillon
What's up to you?
Augie
Rack says we need you to ride with us.
Matt Dillon
I'd mend better if he'd been easier with that knife.
Augie
Rack likes to cut.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Augie
Where'd he go? You went to get another horse. I shouldn't be safe.
Matt Dillon
Don't worry, Auggie. I'm not exactly able to go after him.
Augie
Rack don't like me to talk now.
Matt Dillon
You always do what he says.
Augie
This time, you ought to be glad I done what he said, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
How's that?
Augie
I was all for finishing you off. I was the one that shot you. I should have had the badge.
Matt Dillon
The badge? Oh, my badge.
Augie
Rack didn't have no right to take it. He figured it'd help him get close enough to get a horse. But I was the one sure to wore it.
Matt Dillon
What would you do with it?
Augie
Well, just wear it around some. Feel like somebody. Folks think you're important when you wear a badge. And smart.
Matt Dillon
Not always.
Augie
How's that?
Matt Dillon
Oh, never mind. Augie, how come you let Rack get away with taking it away from you?
Augie
Now Rack does the thinking around here, huh?
Matt Dillon
He beats you up pretty good too, doesn't he?
Augie
I ain't said nothing about that.
Matt Dillon
Those marks on your face, they didn't just grow there, did they?
Augie
I wanted the batch.
Matt Dillon
Huh? Well, you can't get it if you're scared, okay?
Augie
It ain't all that, Marshall. Rack says I ain't smart enough to wear it.
Matt Dillon
You were smart enough to shoot me, take me prisoner.
Augie
Yeah. Yeah, I was.
Matt Dillon
Wasn't sure you were. I think you're smart, Oogie. I think you're a lot smarter than Rack gives you credit for.
Augie
And we never gonna stop to eat. Rack, My belly's hurting Empty. You gotta taste the prairie grass and stank wave. You go right ahead and stop. Ain't even seen a rabbit for miles. Seems like we ought to have some grub left. Seems like you ate your way through it, much as anybody. Quit your belly aching, Marshall? Ain't belly aching now, are you, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Everything's fine. Just fine.
Augie
You ain't in no position to talk smart.
Matt Dillon
You won't be either if you don't find some food pretty soon. Two days. A long time to ride hungry.
Augie
He ain't lying, Rack. You shut your mouth. I'll knock both your eyes into one socket.
Matt Dillon
I know where you can pick up some food.
Augie
Dodge City jail.
Matt Dillon
Now, do you want me to tell you or not?
Augie
Mister, I want him to tell. Shut up, Augie. Go ahead.
Matt Dillon
All right. There's a dirt farm just over the next rise. They'll have something.
Augie
I suppose you want to ride up there and get it for you?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I could do that.
Augie
Yeah, I'll bet you could. They're good friends of yours, I suppose. Be glad to help you out with food, guns, anything you need. That about it, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
There are no folks. I don't know them, they don't know me.
Augie
But you figure they'd be glad to help the Marshall out, hey, mate. Well, I tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to do you a big favor, Marshall. I'm going to find out for you what them folks think of the law.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I figured you might.
Augie
What you going to do, Rack? How you going to do that? I'm just going in there myself. Wearing the Marshall's badge, of course. Now listen here, Rack. It's my turn up there. Just as polite as you please and ask for a little grub. If they're good law faring folks, they'll see this badge and they'll give it to me. I'll come back and tell you all about it.
Matt Dillon
Martin. Thanks.
Augie
It ain't right you should wear it this time too, Rack. Let me wear it. Let me ride in there. I'll get the food for you, Rack. I'll bring it back. Just. I'll get. Get down off that horse. Come here.
Matt Dillon
Now why don't you leave him alone?
Augie
He ain't got enough sense even to be let alone. Now, Ratchet, I ain't gonna listen to much more mulein about that bad jogger, you hear? I got Chance. Better get some while you're still alive. Now listen to me. You take the marshal back there off the road and watch him till I get back. Don't hit me no more than you watch him close or gale. I'll hit you permanently. Gone. Now lead his horse back in, Rod. All right, Ray, come on. You behave yourself, I may bring you back some of that grub.
Matt Dillon
That doesn't seem like you convinced him yet, honey.
Augie
What do you mean?
Matt Dillon
That you're smart enough to do your own thinking.
Augie
Ain't a reason in the world I could rode off after that fool.
Matt Dillon
Sure isn't.
Augie
Would have wore that badge just as straight too. And wait a minute. There's horses coming down the road.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, yeah, I see them.
Augie
Get down off Your horse, Rack didn't talk nothing about nobody coming.
Matt Dillon
That's all right, Augie. You can handle it.
Augie
Sure I can.
Matt Dillon
Look, why don't you lay low here like Rack said, and I'll edge out and see who they are.
Augie
Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea.
Matt Dillon
You just let me do the movement. There's no use you bothering.
Augie
You go right out there and it's. What happened? Now, you just hold on there.
Matt Dillon
What's the matter, Augie?
Augie
Come back here.
Matt Dillon
Well, I told you I was just going to. Look out.
Augie
I got a gun on you, Marshall. You come back. Now. Get down. You be quiet. You almost got away with it, Marshall. You almost fooled me.
Matt Dillon
Well, I should have known better than the tribe.
Augie
I was smart enough then, wasn't I, Marshall? Smart enough to keep you from tricking your way out to get help. Yeah, I guess Rack couldn't have done no better quitting.
Matt Dillon
No, you did the job, Augie.
Augie
Guess I'm smart enough to wear a badge, all right.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Augie, I guess you are. I'm just beginning to wonder if I am.
Geico Voice
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Augie
Looks to me like you was mighty glad to get off that horse, Martha. You. You ain't getting too tired now, are you?
Matt Dillon
Never mind.
Augie
Sure, he see a strong man like you, puny up especially. Especially the way I've been doctoring.
Matt Dillon
Well, if a doctrine didn't kill me, nothing's gone to.
Augie
Well, I wouldn't count on that if I was you. I've been thinking, though. Once I get me across the border, I might take up doctor.
Matt Dillon
Anybody you work on will hang you for sure.
Augie
Including you.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, if I get the chance.
Augie
Well, now, that ain't very grateful. Rack. What? I gotta tell you about the horses. What about? I was watering them like you said in that bay. What about the bay? Well, he just wandered down a creek someplace. Rack, did you go get him? No, I figured I better come tell you. No sense to water the horse. Don't hit me no more, wreck. I'll go after him. I'll go after him myself. You wouldn't find him if he was standing on your foot. You see that marshal? Don't wander off, too, now. He's got no call to beat me all the time.
Matt Dillon
No, he hasn't, dog.
Augie
He keeps hitting me in the head, and I can't think good. Yeah, nobody could think good to get their head beat all the time. Auggie been beating on me ever since Pa died. He ain't got no call to go beating on me.
Matt Dillon
Augie, why don't you walk out on him?
Augie
I never thought of that, Marshall. Rack wouldn't let me.
Matt Dillon
You wouldn't have to ask him. You'd do better without those beatings, wouldn't you? Sure, you got the sense of your own, Auggie.
Augie
Yeah, it's right. You said I was smart yourself.
Matt Dillon
Sure, you're smart enough, Huggy. I'll help you.
Augie
Help me.
Matt Dillon
Now, listen. You just see that my feet are untied tonight after we bed down, huh? And I'll help you get away. I don't know. I'll see that you get the badge, Auggie.
Augie
Badge? Can I wear it right here on my shirt?
Matt Dillon
Sure, you can wear it. You got as much right to it as Rack has.
Augie
Yeah? Yeah. All right, Marshall. I'll walk out on him. I'll walk out on him wearing a badge. Marshall, I come to loose your feet.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Just be quiet.
Augie
There.
Matt Dillon
Good.
Augie
You won't forget to get the bag?
Matt Dillon
No, I won't forget. Just keep down.
Augie
What's going on? What he done over there, Augie? He just getting a badge for me, Rack, that's all. You let him loose. Don't you come over here beating on me, Rack. You ain't never had a beating like the one you're going to get. Mar, you said you stop me. Here's a gun. Why are you racking, Marshall? You shot me. I'm hurt, too.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, Augie, just. Why? So you.
Augie
You shot Rack?
Matt Dillon
I had to.
Augie
You beat me. You beat me bad.
Matt Dillon
No, Augie, he won't beat you. Not anymore. He's dead.
Augie
Mark going to die, too, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
No, I don't think so. I think he'll heal up all right.
Augie
Then I can walk out, just like you said.
Matt Dillon
Well, not quite, Augie. I'm going to have to take you back to Dodge City with me. First, you got a bank holdout to answer for.
Augie
Oh, yeah. I forgot about that for sure.
Matt Dillon
It almost slipped my mind a couple of times, too.
Augie
But, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Yeah?
Augie
The badge. You promised if I'd help you, I'd get to wear the badge.
Matt Dillon
Yogi, I promised that you can wear it all the way back to Dodge.
Geico Voice
How do you feel when you switch to Geico and save on your car insurance? It's like going to work on one Thursday morning and thinking to yourself just one more day until Friday. But then somebody in the elevator says happy Fri. Yay. Then you check your phone quickly and discover today is actually Friday. So yes, Happy Friyay random stranger in the elevator. Happy Fri. Yay. Indeed. Yep, switching and saving with Geico feels just like that. Get more with Geico.
William Conrad
Gunsmoke produced and Directed by Norman MacDonald Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal the story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Marion Clark with editorial supervision by John Neston. Featured in the cast were Vic Perrin as Augie and Harry Bartel as Rack. Harley Baer is Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week for another story of the Western frontier when Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Doc and Kitty, together with all the other hard living citizens of Dodge, will be with you once more. It's America growing West in the 1870s.
Augie
It's Gun Smoke S.A.
Andrew Rines
This has been a presentation of OTRWesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Sharelike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Geico Voice
How do you feel when you switch to Geico and save on your car insurance? It's like going to work on one Thursday morning and thinking to yourself, just one more day until Friday. But then somebody in the elevator says Happy Friday. Then you check your phone quickly and discover today is actually Friday. So yes, Happy Friday, random stranger in the elevator. Happy Friday indeed. Yep, switching and saving with Geico feels just like that. Get more with Geico.
Podcast: Gunsmoke
Episode: The Badge
Host: Andrew Rines
Release Date: November 9, 2024
In the Gunsmoke episode titled "The Badge," listeners are transported back to Dodge City, Kansas, during the tumultuous years of the American West's settlement. Hosted by Andrew Rines, the episode delves deep into themes of authority, corruption, and redemption through a gripping narrative centered around Matt Dillon, the steadfast U.S. Marshal, and his interactions with Augie and Rack, two outlaws entangled in a power struggle.
The episode opens with Augie and his partner Rack engaged in a heated exchange. Augie expresses frustration over Rack's domineering behavior and their current predicament of evading the law. Rack demands loyalty and control, highlighting the volatility of their outlaw partnership.
Augie (02:43): "Listen, Augie, we gotta keep ahead of the law and make it to the border, don't we?"
Rack: "Sure, Rack. We gotta get us a horse that can move instead of that lean one, don't we?"
(04:34)
Matt Dillon, portrayed by William Conrad, enters the scene as the ever-watchful U.S. Marshal determined to uphold the law in Dodge City. A confrontation ensues when Augie attempts to shoot Matt, driven by his desire to possess the symbol of authority—a U.S. Marshal's badge.
Matt Dillon (04:34): "Oh, wait a minute."
Augie (04:36): "I got him. I got him."
Augie (04:36): "I want to wear me one now. What about the badge?"
Rack: "You shot a marshal? It ain't that funny, wreck."
(10:35)
Despite Augie's aggression, Matt remains composed, eventually saving Augie by removing the bullet from his shoulder. This act of mercy sows the seeds for a potential shift in Augie's outlook.
Matt Dillon (09:42): "I can walk all right."
Augie (09:46): "You want that bullet out, don't you, Marshall?"
Matt Dillon (10:07): "I was better off before."
(10:35)
As the narrative progresses, Augie confides in Matt about his tumultuous relationship with Rack and his longing for the badge, symbolizing respect and authority that Augie feels deprived of. Matt, recognizing Augie's intelligence and potential, empathizes with his plight.
Augie (13:07): "Be sociable. Look smart, keep up to date with Pepsi."
Matt Dillon (13:11): "If you're sociable up to date and what was that other word?"
(16:24)
The tension between Augie and Rack escalates, culminating in Rack's mistreatment of Augie. This abuse motivates Augie to seek Matt's help, leading to a pivotal moment where Augie decides to abandon Rack's oppressive influence.
Augie (15:09): "I was all for finishing you off."
Matt Dillon (16:07): "You were smart enough to shoot me, take me prisoner."
Augie (17:43): "I suppose you want to ride up there and get it for you?"
(24:55)
Matt pledges to help Augie not only by treating his wounds but also by assisting him in obtaining the badge, symbolizing a chance at redemption and a new beginning free from Rack's tyranny.
Matt Dillon (24:03): "Now, listen. You just see that my feet are untied tonight after we bed down, huh? And I'll help you get away."
Augie (24:17): "Badge? Can I wear it right here on my shirt?"
Matt Dillon (24:21): "Sure, you can wear it. You got as much right to it as Rack has."
(24:55)
The episode reaches its climax as Rack becomes aware of Augie's betrayal. A final showdown ensues where Matt confronts both Augie and Rack, solidifying his role as the moral compass of Dodge City. Ultimately, Rack meets his end, and Augie acknowledges Matt's unwavering sense of justice.
Augie (25:02): "You shot Rack?"
Matt Dillon (25:50): "I had to."
Augie (26:39): "Yeah, Augie, just. Why? So you."
(26:39)
Matt Dillon (William Conrad): Embodies integrity and duty, consistently upholding the law while displaying compassion towards those willing to change.
Augie (Vic Perrin): A conflicted outlaw yearning for respect and authority symbolized by the Marshal's badge. His journey from antagonist to a potential ally underscores themes of redemption.
Rack (Harry Bartel): Represents the corrupting influence of power and the destructive nature of abusive leadership within criminal enterprises.
Matt Dillon on Duty:
"I'm that man. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet."
(01:39)
Augie's Desire for Authority:
"He always wanted me a badge like that. A man wearing a badge like that, folks think he amounts to something."
(04:36)
Matt's Compassion:
"I think you're a lot smarter than Rack gives you credit for."
(16:24)
Augie's Revelation:
"I was smart enough to wear a badge, all right."
(21:11)
Authority and Power: The badge serves as a potent symbol of authority and respect in the Wild West, illustrating how symbols can influence one's standing in society.
Redemption and Compassion: Matt Dillon's willingness to aid Augie despite initial hostilities highlights the transformative power of compassion and the possibility of redemption.
Corruption and Abuse: Rack's domineering nature and abusive relationship with Augie shed light on the internal conflicts within outlaw groups, emphasizing the destructive impact of unchecked power.
"The Badge" masterfully weaves a narrative that explores the complexities of authority, the yearning for respect, and the potential for personal transformation. Through Matt Dillon's unwavering dedication to justice and his compassionate approach towards Augie, the episode underscores the enduring values of integrity and redemption in the face of adversity. This poignant tale not only captivates listeners with its dramatic tension but also offers profound reflections on human nature and the pursuit of honor in a lawless land.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to maintain focus on the episode's core narrative and themes.