Tumbleweed – Gunsmoke (08-28-60)

Summary

Gunsmoke | Episode: "Tumbleweed" (08-28-60) Summary

Introduction and Setting

In the heart of Dodge City, Kansas, during the tumultuous settlement of the American West, U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (William Conrad) maintains order amidst lawlessness and violence. The episode titled "Tumbleweed" delves into themes of justice, redemption, and the fine line between lawmen and outlaws.

The Release of Boot Wilson

The episode opens with Marshal Dillon overseeing the release of Boot Wilson, a recurrent troublemaker with a penchant for alcohol. Boot expresses his unrest and lack of direction after leaving jail:

Boot Wilson [01:40]: "Ever since then, I'm kind of like a tumbleweed. Going here. There. Guess I'm from all over."

Marshal Dillon empathizes but remains firm in his mission to keep Boot out of trouble:

Marshal Dillon [03:15]: "What we gonna do now? The train's in. You go on down, get the mail."

Arrival of Henry Maples, the Hangman

Peace in Dodge City is disrupted by the arrival of Henry Maples, a self-proclaimed hangman traveling with a portable gallows:

Henry Maples [10:05]: "The law's not unkind, my friends. The law is just."

Maples promotes his brand of swift justice, claiming to cleanse the territory of murderers. His presence sows fear and division among the townsfolk, challenging Dillon's established authority.

Tension Builds: Maples vs. Marshal Dillon

Maples confronts Dillon, insisting that his methods are the only solution to Dodge City's escalating violence:

Henry Maples [15:50]: "Murderers must be hanged, Marshal Dillon. There's no other answer."

Dillon counters Maples' intimidation tactics, emphasizing lawful procedure over fear-based enforcement.

The Downfall of Boot Wilson

Manipulated by Maples, Boot Wilson succumbs to his vices, leading to a tragic confrontation. Under Maples' influence, Boot commits murder:

Boot Wilson [22:30]: "He started hollering law on me. Saying how he was gonna have to hang me for that killing. It was either me or him."

Realizing the gravity of his actions, Dillon is faced with the difficult decision to uphold the law, leaving personal feelings aside:

Marshal Dillon [24:50]: "Bood Wilson, I find you guilty of murder in cold blood."

Climax: The Hanging of Henry Maples

In a dramatic turn of events, Maples' true nature is exposed. As the town grapples with his ruthless enforcement of justice, Maples himself becomes a victim of his own gallows:

Henry Maples [25:40]: "I expect the same from Dodge City. Dodge doesn't need you, Maples. It will."

A confrontation ensues, leading to Maples' hanging, symbolizing the community's rejection of his brutal methods.

Resolution and Reflection

With Maples gone, Dodge City begins to heal. Dillon's unwavering commitment to lawful justice is reaffirmed, showcasing the triumph of integrity over fear:

Marshal Dillon [26:30]: "He was the best friend I ever had."

Boot Wilson's fate serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of succumbing to vice and the importance of steadfast law enforcement.

Conclusion and Themes

"Tumbleweed" underscores the eternal struggle between order and chaos in the Wild West. Through Marshal Dillon's steadfast morality and the downfall of Henry Maples, the episode highlights the values of justice, community, and redemption. The narrative serves as a poignant reminder that true leadership lies in upholding the law with compassion and integrity.

Notable Quotes

• Boot Wilson [01:40]: "Ever since then, I'm kind of like a tumbleweed. Going here. There. Guess I'm from all over."

• Marshal Dillon [03:15]: "What we gonna do now? The train's in. You go on down, get the mail."

• Henry Maples [10:05]: "The law's not unkind, my friends. The law is just."

• Henry Maples [15:50]: "Murderers must be hanged, Marshal Dillon. There's no other answer."

• Marshal Dillon [24:50]: "Bood Wilson, I find you guilty of murder in cold blood."

• Marshal Dillon [26:30]: "He was the best friend I ever had."

Conclusion

"Tumbleweed" masterfully captures the essence of Western justice, portraying the complexities of maintaining order in a frontier town. Through compelling storytelling and memorable characters, this episode of Gunsmoke offers listeners a deep dive into the moral dilemmas faced by those sworn to uphold the law.

Transcript

[William Conrad]

Member week is here at Lowe's. Don't miss your chance to get up to 40% off hundreds of items like paint faucets, vanities, doors and more. Shop our exclusive deals happening in store and Online now through July 18th. Not a member. Join Myloes Pro Rewards for free today and get ready to save more Lowes. We help you save loyalty programs subject to terms and conditions. Details@lowe's.com Terms subject to change. Foreign.

[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 is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. 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 guns. Smell Smoke. Gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. And the story of a man who moved with it. 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. Still, I swear I never seen the likes of it. Now, what's the matter, Chester? Well booed. Wilson won't believe himself. I opened the door and he won't budge out of there. Did you tell him I was releasing him today? Yes, sir, I did. But he claims he wants to stay. Well, he even asked me what I was fixing for dinner. What we gonna do now? The train's in. You go on down, get the mail. I'll have it, too. I never seen a man who wanted to stay in jail before. All right, come on out of there, Boot. I'm turning you loose. It's all right, Marshall. You needn't bother. You like it here, do you? It's the only home I ever had. I see you and Chester have been good friends to me. Particular gesture. Is that why you keep getting drunk? Just to get in jail? Fella's gotta have a friend roof over his head, don't he, Marshall? All right, come on, Boone. Let's go. I got my hat under this blanket here. You sure like my hat, Marshall. Yeah. Oh, here's that extra blanket Chester gave me. I tried to keep it from touching the floor. Thanks, Boot. All right, let's go, he said. So you going back home now? I don't rightly know where home was at. Old Pa. He run me off before I was Old enough to know where we was living. Said he couldn't feed me no more. Ever since then, I'm kind of like a tumbleweed. Going here. There. Guess I'm from all over. Now, don't you ever stay put? I'd like to. People always run me off, just like Pa did. Just when I think I got a friend, they tell me to go. I'll get your pack for you. Now you're doing it, Marshall. Doing what? Running me off. Now, look, Boot, I got nothing for you and nothing against you. I put you in jail four times for getting drunk and almost breaking somebody in two with your bare hands. Now all I want you to do is to keep yourself out of jail by staying away from those saloons. Here. This all your stuff. I won't stay in Dodge, Marshall. Fella's gotta have a friend where he stays. Look, don't take me wrong, son, as Jesse. Mr. Dillon. Come here, quick. What's the matter, Chester? A hangman's come to town. A hangman? What are you talking about? Come take a look. He's all dressed in black and he's hauling his gallows right along with him. Gallows? See there, the mediocre auction opponent. Ain't that an awful looking thing? A gallows built right on the back of his wagon. Henry Maples. You know him? I've heard of him. He thinks he cleaned up the border country with that gallows. Oh, but what you doing here, Ms. Dylan? Maybe he thinks Dodger's next. Come on, friends. Friends. If you'll just listen to me a moment, please, I'll answer all your questions at a later time. When I hear a Dodge, I'll be here for quite a spell. He's getting these people pretty well worked up. Mr. Gentleman. Yeah. Let's wait here just a moment. Just a moment. There's plenty of time. First off, I want to know how many murders you've had in this town the last six months. Come on, speak up. Don't be afraid. How many murders? How many of your fellow townsmen have been shot down to die like dogs in the street? How many times has the law been obstructed? You, madam. How many times has a man been killed right here on the streets of Dodge? Well, I don't know exactly. How many? Well, six, I guess. Maybe eight dozen for all I know. There you are. The good lady doesn't even know anywhere from six to a dozen killings. Do you know the answer to this? Do you know it'll stop this bloodbath? There it is. Made of wood. And nails. And rope. The finest rope money can buy. Man's answer to man's misdeeds. Let me ask you, madam, where are the men who perpetrated these foul killings? I'm not sure. They were taken to Fort Hays for trial, and, well, I just don't know. But are they dead as the law says they should be? Now, the law is not unkind, my friends. The law is just. When I hanged Billy street, yes, I hanged him, Billy Street. He walked up those steps, those very steps, with a smile on his face. And he told me he'd never owned a new suit. So I stopped the hanging, and out of my own pocket, my own pocket, I bought him a new suit. Before I dropped him, Billy street thanked me. The law's not unkind, my friends. The law is just. Maples. Who called my name? I did. Marshal Dillon, I want you to take your gallows out of Dodge. What became of all those murderers, Marshall? Did they pay you to let them go? There were six. Two of them were hanged at Fort Hays, and four of them are in the territorial prison. Four men who live to kill again. I'll give you till sundown to have the gallows out of Dodge City or I'll burn it in the streets. You'll learn, Marshall, discouragement by fear. That's the answer to your killings. Now, somebody give me a hand with these oxen. I'll help you, Mr. Maples. All right, my friend. Take the hauler on the lead auction. Yes, sir. Say, you can just call me bood, Mr. Maples. That's my name. Bood Wilson. Well, then, lead on, Bood Wilson. Yes, sir. Ham. You know, Ms. Grim may be hard to tell you something. What is it, Chester? Well, this town is getting awful jumpy about that gallows setting out there on the edge of town. Yeah, I know. Well, yes, but. Yes, but. Well, it's kindly dividing up the people. Yeah, I know all about it, Chester. But you let me do the worrying, huh? Yes, sir. Kitty's right over there, Doc. Ah, I see her. Oh, Matt, I'm glad you're here. Hello, Kitty. Doc. Yeah. About time the real law put its foot in here. Maples are sure stirring these people up, huh? How long has he been here? About a half hour. Showing tin types of men he's hanged and the ropes is used. He talks about hanging people like he was proud of it. I think maybe he is kidding. That gallows of his reminds me of some vulture just waiting to devour somebody. Have you been out there, Matt? No, I rode by there the other Day, on my way to Mrs. Wiggins. He was standing up on them gallows without even moving. He had a rope strung up him. For a moment, I thought somebody was hanging there. Oh, I tell you, I jumped a foot when he moved. Yeah, I bet you did. How did Maples ever get started? Man, I'll answer that question. Marshall Dillon, huh? All right. Go ahead, Maples. How did I get started? It was simple. First, I had convictions. I believed in the law, so I read the law. When Judge Brand asked for a man to carry out his judgments, I volunteered. By the way, Marshal, I was paid $100 per man. I'll expect the same from Dodge City. Dodge doesn't need you, Mabels. It will. Hey, Hangman, I want you. All right, Thayer, you're drunk. Put the gun away, Maples. I've been thinking about you. I had a brother hanged once. Jimmy was his name. Maybe he was the one who done it. Jimmy. Jimmy Sayer, I told you to put the gun away. Sam. Stay out of this, Marshal. Mabel has moved over here. I hang no man by that name. Then I'll kill you for the one who did. Start moving, Mr. Hangman. I warned you, sir. Marshall, don't make it you and me. I've been waiting for him all evening. They are. You're making it you and me, Marshall. Doc, take care of him. All right, Matt. You still think your town doesn't need my kind of law? Marshal Dillon? Get out of here, Maples. Somebody give me a hand. Mr. Maples. Mr. Maples. What is it, Boo? I've been looking all over for you, and I heard those shots and I was pretty worried. I'm all right. You hadn't ought to go out without me looking after you. Never mind, Boot. I'm on my way back to camp right now. There it is, Mr. Jones. Yeah, I see it. I. I sure do get an awful feeling about a gallows. I reckon it's because I seen a hanging one time when I was just a little boy. You did? Yes, sir. Papa took me because he wanted me to learn the wages of sin, as he put it. So he told mom it'd be a great lesson for me, but I. Well, was it? No, sir. I can't rightly say it was. Why? Well, see, they was hanging three men for stealing. And me being kindly a little and all, I couldn't see none too good. I stand there in this crowd, and when the time come, all I could make out was a bunch of men going around picking the pockets of the people. Watching up at the men being Hanged. Now, that kindly learned me something. But it wasn't quite what Papa set out for me to learn. Now. I guess not, Ms. Joan. Look. Just look up there sweeping that gallows with a broom just like it was something important. The Maples, I guess it is. There's a rope hanging straight down through the trap. See that? Yeah. Well, good morning, Marshal. Hey, who? Good morning, sir. Well, the gibbet's ready, Marshal Dillon. I'm stretching one of my new ropes now. Yeah, I see. Apology for last night isn't necessary, Marshall. I've forgotten it already. Apology? I didn't come to apology. Apologize. That's good. I don't like a man that crawls. How come you to stretch that rope, Mr. Maples? Not one of my clients has ever come back for a second try. Oh, I reckon not. The reason is, I buy the best inch and a quarter Kentucky hemp you can get, and then I stretch it down to an inch before I use it. What do you use to stretch it with, Bood? Wilson's under there. He'll show you. Get ready to untie it, Boo. I can't untie this knot, Mr. Maples. Jer, go down, give him a hand, huh? Yes, sir. You see, Marshall, I got a 200lb bag tied on the rope. I'm not interested in that, Maples. Oh, the businessman in town told me to see that you leave Dodge City permanently. You and your gallows. But why, Marshall? Dodge needs me. They don't think so, and neither do I. But the law. What about the law? It must be upheld. It is being upheld, Maples. Your kind of law might have been all right a few years ago in the border country, but not in Dodge. Murderers must be hanged, Marshal Dillon. There's no other answer. I'll give you till tomorrow morning. Maples. Hello, Marshal Dillon. How are you, Boone? You staying away from the liquor? Yes, sir. Good. You see that you do. All right. Come on, Chester. Mr. Maples. I heard how he talked to you. I wasn't friendly like. You've been good to me. Let me help you. I brought the law before. I can do it again. Mr. Maples. I was saying I'd like to. There must be a way, Mr. Maples. Huh? Maybe I can help. Oh, you bood. Yes, sir. Yes, maybe you can. Bood. I want you to go to Dodge City with me tonight. Will you do that, Mr. Maples? I'd do anything for you. Town's quiet tonight, Mac. Doc, I hope it stays that way. Early. My business, that's when I Worry the most, Mr. Dylan. Mr. Dillon. Uhuh. Yeah. What do you want, Chester? Kitty sent me after you. Boo Wilson's about to kill a man at her place. Well, come on. I'll kill you, man. Stop him. Food's going to break him in two. Food. Stop it. Kill you. Stop it. No. But he talks to my friend that way. I said stop it. Sayer, you all right? Yeah. Yeah, thanks. He liked to broke every bone in my body. Just take boot and lock him up. Yes. Come on, Boo. Thanks, Matt. I thought sure there was going to be a killing. I told Boo to stay out of saloons. Don't blame him. It was Maples. Maples? Yeah. What's he got to do with it? He was trying to get him drunk. Kept buying him drinks, huh? Where is Maples? I guess he left in all the excitement. Matt, why would he want to get Booed so drunk? I think I know, Kitty, but I'd have a hard time proving sorry. I don't know how much Dylan gets these guns so dirty. Just look at that. I'm going to have to practically morning. Oh, Miss Maples. Is the marshal here? I want to talk to him. No, sir, he ain't. He. He's off on a business trip that's going to take him all day. Oh, then I'll just have to come back this evening. While I'm here, I wonder if I could see my friend Bood Wilson. Well, I don't know. I won't be a moment. Well, yes, sir. I guess it's all right this one time. Right through that door there. Oh, yes. Thank you. Now where'd this doggone little thing come from? When will I learn not to take more than one gun apart at a time? Sat. No. Matt. Chester? Chester, are you here? Doc? Go away, Chester. You aren't back, Doc. Don't come in here. No. Chester, what are you doing in that cell? Bood just locked me in. Bood Wilson, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Why? Now what's that gun for? I'm sorry, Boog. You listen to me. You haven't got enough sense to have a gun, so give it here. I gotta get to Mr. Maples. I'm sorry, mister. Doc, you all right? Just. I need help, Doc. You can't die. Doc. Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon. Anybody. Doc's been shot. Help. Mr. Maples to me. It's Bo D. Wilson. Come up here, Bode. How come you're on the gallows, Mr. Maples? Ain't you ready to go? Come here, Boo. You waited like you said, didn't you, Mr. Maples? Did you use the gun I gave you? You better hurry. They'll be after me. I asked you if you used the gun. I. I done what you told me, Mr. Mate. Bode, listen to me. You still have the gun? Yes, sir. Right here. Give me the gun, Bo. Sure there been fired. Did you kill anyone? I used it like you said. Boud. I asked you, did you kill anyone? Well, that doctor man. He came in and I shot him. You know what I have to do to you now, Boo? You said you was my friend. You gave me the gun so I could come back to you. So we could go away together. That's what you said. But you've killed now, Boo. Don't you understand? You've broken the law. Bood Wilson, I find you guilty of murder in cold blood. And for your just punishment under the law, I sentence you to hang by the neck until you're dead. Ms. Dunn. If Doc was to die, I don't know what I'd do with myself. He's not gonna die, Chester. But you can be awful glad I came back as soon as I did. Yes, sir. Mr. Dillon. Look. The gallows. They ain't gone yet? No, I don't see nobody around, Mr. Dylan. That rope on the gallows swinging like there's a body on the end of it. Come on, man. He's went and hanged. Bull. Stay here. Chester. Keep me covered. Chester, come. Why, it's the hangman himself. Is he sure enough dead? He's dead. He said himself I never have to come back. What? No need to shoot, Marshall. I ain't given trouble. Did you do this, Booth? I done it. Why? He throwed a fit. What kind of a fit? When I come back from Dodge, he asked did I kill a man. I told him I had that doctor man. And that's when he threw a fit. What did he do? He started hollering law on me. Saying how he was gonna have to hang me for that killing. It was either me or him. Booty gave you that gun just so you'd kill a man so he could have a hangin prove that Dodge needed his kind of law. You're wrong, Marshall. Something just made him crazy for a little while. What happens to me when I drink liquor? He was going to take me traveling with him. Marshall. Now you're wrong about Mr. Maples. He was the best friend I ever had. All right, Putin. All right. Gun Smoke produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon US Marshall the story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Tom Hanley. With editorial supervision by John Neston. Featured in the cast were Vic Perron, Joseph Kearns, Virginia Christine and Barney Phillips. Harley Baer is Chester, Howard McNear as Scott, and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on Gun Smoke Foreign.

[Andrew Rines]

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[William Conrad]

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[Andrew Rines]

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[William Conrad]

Sam.