Gunsmoke 53-07-18 (065) Wild West

Summary

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Gunsmoke 53-07-18 (065) "Wild West"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Date: January 14, 2026
Main Theme:
A classic Gunsmoke radio drama exploring family, betrayal, and the harsh choices of frontier justice, as Marshal Matt Dillon unravels the kidnapping of a rancher and confronts a tangled web of deceit involving ranch hands, a stepmother, and a hard-lived boy.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Yorkie’s Plea and the Vanished Father

[01:03–04:58]

• Marshal Matt Dillon finds young Yorkie Kelly grieving over his dead horse on the prairie. Yorkie urgently appeals for help, stating his father has been taken by unknown men who also stole their horses.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • Yorkie, upset: "It ain't the horse so much, Marshall. It's my pa." (02:28)
  • Dillon reassures: "Don't worry about your paw. We'll find him." (04:50)
• Yorkie’s sense of loss and fear is palpable, and his honesty shines despite his age.

2. Meet Hattie Kelly: Mistrust at the Ranch

[06:15–09:41]

• At the Kelly ranch, Dillon meets Hattie, Yorkie’s pretty but embittered stepmother, who downplays Yorkie's story, claiming Mr. Kelly left willingly to sell horses.
• Hattie is portrayed as out of place on the prairie; her backstory reveals she used to work at a dance hall and resents ranch life.
• Notable Quote:
  • Hattie, jaded: "I'm sick of it, Marshall. Nothing but work and wind and dust. And that awful kid." (08:15)

3. Gathering a Posse

[09:41–11:47]

• Yorkie, Marshal Dillon, and Chester regroup at the ranch house, tension mounting as Hattie continues to dismiss Yorkie's claims.
• The search for Mr. Kelly, delayed by nightfall, becomes more driven by Yorkie's stubborn loyalty to his father and mistrust of Hattie.
• Heartfelt Moment:
  • Yorkie: "You ain't my ma and you can’t tell me what to do!” (10:31)

4. Rescuing Mr. Kelly: The Escape and Shocking Revelation

[12:05–14:16]

• The next morning, the search party finds Mr. Kelly abandoned and dehydrated on the plains. He reveals shocking treachery: the men (Webb Cutter and Rourke), in collusion with Hattie, tried to murder him and steal the ranch by leaving him for dead.
• Important Revelation:
  • Mr. Kelly: "One of them fella called Webb Cutter. He's gonna run off with my wife Hattie, soon as they sell the ranch." (13:10)
  • "There's nothing worse than an old fool." (15:11)

5. The Confrontation at Dawn

[17:39–21:43]

• Dillon races back to the ranch ahead of the villains. Cutter, Rourke, and Hattie argue over their spoils and betrayal, revealing fractured loyalties and greed.
• Key Quote:
  • Rourke contemplates betrayal: “Whoever gets Hattie sort of gets two thirds, don’t it?” (19:10)
• The scene erupts: plans unravel, relationships implode, and Hattie’s manipulations come to light.

6. Gunfight & Judgment

[21:43–24:36]

• Matt Dillon confronts the gang, pistols drawn. Cutter and Rourke try to outdraw the marshal; in the chaos, Hattie shoots and kills Cutter.
• Tense Showdown:
  • Dillon warns: “Get your hands up, both of you… Don’t try it, either of you.” (21:43–21:57)
  • Hattie, after shooting: "You shot Cutter, Hattie. Why did you do it?"
    • Hattie laments: “He’s dead. What difference does it make?” (23:27)
• Dillon ponders the morality of the act, sensing her motivation is as much scorned love as self-preservation.

7. Aftermath and Frontier Mercy

[25:05–26:29]

• Mr. Kelly, recognizing Hattie’s guilt but unable to send her to jail, plans to give her money and set her free, opting for a mercy rooted more in weariness than forgiveness.
• Notable Exchange:
  • Kelly, resigned: “Marshall, I can’t send anyone to jail. Not a woman. If she was a man, I’d shoot her.” (25:19)
  • Dillon reflects: “We need women out here. Good or bad, we need them.” (25:49)
• Yorkie and Kelly will continue life on the ranch alone, the fragile hope of family gone.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On loneliness:
  • “I was lonely, that's all. And I thought Yorkie ought to have a mother.” — Paul Kelly (15:15)
• At the breaking point:
  • “Pies don't cut three ways, mister.” — Hattie Kelly (21:23)
• On forgiveness:
  • “Marshall, I can't send anyone to jail. Not a woman.” — Paul Kelly (25:19)
• Marshal Dillon’s wisdom:
  • “We need women out here. Good or bad, we need them.” — Matt Dillon (25:49)

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Key Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | Description | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Opening encounter with Yorkie | 01:03–04:58 | Yorkie explains the kidnapping; sets emotional stakes | | Marshal meets Hattie | 06:15–09:41 | Hattie’s backstory, doubts about Mr. Kelly’s disappearance | | Rescue of Paul Kelly | 12:05–14:16 | Paul Kelly's ordeal and revelation of betrayal | | Showdown planning by the villains | 17:39–21:43 | Cutter, Rourke, and Hattie scheme and betray each other | | Gunfight and Hattie’s shot | 21:43–24:36 | Final deadly confrontation, Hattie acts | | Closing, Kelly’s mercy and Dillon’s reflection| 25:05–26:29 | Kelly spares Hattie jail, Dillon on need for women in the West |

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Summary Tone and Style

The episode is somber, tense, and tinged with the weary wisdom of the frontier. Dialogue is direct, occasionally biting, and filled with the unspoken ache of lives hardened by loss and compromise. Characters speak plainly but reveal deep undercurrents—of hope, spite, loneliness, and, occasionally, grace.

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For newcomers, this episode offers a riveting slice of radio’s golden era: hard-boiled justice, family drama, and complex characters, punctuated by unforgettable lines and a genuine sense of time and place.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

Dinner time. It's where little moments are cherished. With Blue cash preferred. Get 6% cash back at US supermarkets and bring everyone together. I did say everyone. Learn [e-mail] Explore bcp terms and cashback cap Apply with blue cash preferred.

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 trans blood story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal.

[Matt Dillon]

I'd been up north for a few days. On the way back, I camped on the Pawnee river about 30 miles from Dodge, planning to ride on the next morning. During the night, however, my horse twisted his knee somehow, and it was going to be slower traveling than I'd figured, so I set it out before dawn. It was just breaking day when I heard a rifle shot up ahead. A half hour later, I spotted a fallen horse and the figure of a man crouched by its head. As I came closer, however, the figure stood up and I saw it wasn't a man at all, but a small boy. He held a rifle in his hand.

[Yorkie Kelly]

That's far enough, mister.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm a friend, son. Put down your rifle.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Hey, you sound like. Yeah, it's Marshall Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

That's right. Who are you?

[Yorkie Kelly]

Aw, gee, I'm glad to see you, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

You look familiar. We must have met somewhere.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I'm Yorkie Kelly.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, sure, I remember now. That camp on the Arkansas.

[Yorkie Kelly]

That's right.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh. What happened to your horse, Yorkie?

[Yorkie Kelly]

Busted his leg. I shot him just a little while ago. And I've been crying, Marshall. That's why I couldn't see you good.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know. Every man loses his horse once in a while, Yorkie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

It ain't the horse so much, Marshall. It's my pa.

[Matt Dillon]

Your paw.

[Hattie Kelly]

Oh.

[Matt Dillon]

Where's he?

[Yorkie Kelly]

They rode off with him, Marshall. Right that way. You gotta go after him. Please, Marshall, please. Something will happen if you don't.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, wait a minute, Yorkie. Take it easy. Just tell me what happened. Who rode off with your paw?

[Yorkie Kelly]

I don't know, Marshall. It was dark. I couldn't tell.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, let's sit down here.

[Mr. Kelly]

Come on.

[Hattie Kelly]

Okay.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, take your time and tell me the whole story, huh?

[Yorkie Kelly]

I was out hunting last night, Marshall. I sneaked off to shoot some coyotes, and then I heard a lot of horses coming, so I hid and watched them. Those were our horses, Marshall. And two Men were driving them. They stole them. I know they did.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, what about your pa?

[Yorkie Kelly]

He was with them. They stole him too.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, how do you know?

[Yorkie Kelly]

It was dark, but I could tell the way he was riding. He had his feet tied under his horse's belly. That's why.

[Matt Dillon]

Or. Go on.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I followed him till my horse went down. He busted his leg in a prairie dog hole, so I unsaddled him and then I shot him.

[Matt Dillon]

Where do you live, Yorkie?

[Yorkie Kelly]

Over there, about five miles.

[Matt Dillon]

All right. My horse is lame, but I'll get you home on him and go get you saddled.

[Yorkie Kelly]

But what about my pa? Ain't you gonna go after him?

[Matt Dillon]

I'll find him, but I gotta have a fresh horse. All right, hand me your saddle. Now get up behind me. You think there are any horses left at your ranch, Yorkie?

[Yorkie Kelly]

We only had six, and they were driving five. Paul was on the other one.

[Matt Dillon]

We're in a spot, then. My horse will never make Dodge. He's getting worse every step.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I got a little Indian pony out in the pasture, but he's not big enough for you.

[Matt Dillon]

Then you'll have to do it, Yorkie. When we get there, you'll catch your pony and you'll ride into Dodge.

[Yorkie Kelly]

What'll I do there, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Go to the jail and tell Chester I sent you. You can leave your pony there and ride back with him. Tell him to bring some extra horses. We'll need them.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We'll be just like a posse, won't we?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Sure.

[Matt Dillon]

And don't worry about your paw. We'll find him.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We got to. You tell Hattie where I've gone, will you, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Hattie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Hattie ain't my real ma. My real ma, she's dead.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Hattie's awful pretty, but I don't like her much.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I hope you don't tell her that, Yorkie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

She ain't as old as Pa, but she's awful old. Oh, she must be 30, anyway.

[Matt Dillon]

I see. But how old's your pa?

[Yorkie Kelly]

65. But he's tough. You know, Marshall, I don't think Hattie's any good for a ranch.

[Matt Dillon]

Why is that?

[Yorkie Kelly]

I don't know. I just don't think she is. You'll see. Yeah, I'll ride real hard for Dodge. Marshall. We'll be tracking my paw before you know it.

[Matt Dillon]

Sure we will, Yorkie. When we got to the pasture, I helped Yorkie catch his pony and got him started for Dodge. Then I rode on into the ranch, put my horse in the corral and walked up to the house. Hattie came to the door. She was young, all right, and pretty. That she looked more like she belonged in a dance hall than on a ranch.

[Hattie Kelly]

What do you want?

[Matt Dillon]

My name's Matt Dillon, ma'.

[Hattie Kelly]

Am.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm from Dodge. U.S. marshal.

[Hattie Kelly]

Marshal Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

I heard about Mr. Kelly from Yorkie. I ran into him out on the prairie.

[Hattie Kelly]

Where is Yorkey?

[Matt Dillon]

He's gone to Dodge for some fresh horses, ma'. Am. He will be back by evening and then we'll get started.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Get started?

[Matt Dillon]

Why, don't you worry any. We'll find him all right.

[Mr. Kelly]

What?

[Hattie Kelly]

What did you Yorkie tell you, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Last night he saw the man who stole your horses and took Mr. Kelly.

[Hattie Kelly]

Where'd he see him?

[Matt Dillon]

He was out hunting, he told me, and he saw him ride by.

[Hattie Kelly]

So that's where he was. Darn little scoundrel. He's always running off like that.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't understand, ma'.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Am.

[Hattie Kelly]

Well, that boy's got the wildest imagination. What do you mean there's no trouble? Marshall Kelly went along with those men just to show them the trail, that's all. He sold him those horses. Oh, why, sure. Crazy Yorkie, always stirring things up. I'm gonna hide him good when he gets home.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. Then you expect Mr. Kelly back soon, is that right?

[Hattie Kelly]

Sure, he'll be back.

[Matt Dillon]

When did he say?

[Hattie Kelly]

Today, I suppose.

[Matt Dillon]

Who were the men he rode off with?

[Hattie Kelly]

Well, I don't know their names. At the Kelly's business I don't interfere. Come on inside, Marshall. I've got a pot of coffee on the stove. I expect you could use some.

[Matt Dillon]

We had coffee and she insisted that I call her Hattie and we talk for quite a while. It seemed. She'd worked in the dance hall all right over in Abilene. Then old Kelly came along a few months ago and offered her a home and respectability. She jumped at it. According to her, Yorkie was the biggest problem she had. Aside from the fact that living on the prairie wasn't exactly her idea of a good time.

[Hattie Kelly]

I'm sick of it, Marshall.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Nothing but work and wind and dust.

[Hattie Kelly]

And that awful kid.

[Matt Dillon]

Are you planning to stick it out?

[Hattie Kelly]

Sure, I'll stick it out. Sure I will.

[Matt Dillon]

You'll get used to it in time.

[Hattie Kelly]

Tell me, Marshall, how's Dodge these days? Pretty lively.

[Matt Dillon]

It was when I left.

[Hattie Kelly]

You know, I was planning to move to Dodge once before Kelly came along. I kind of wish I had now.

[Matt Dillon]

One town's pretty much like another, Hattie.

[Hattie Kelly]

Yeah, but the men are different. Maybe I'd have got along real fine in Dutch, wouldn't I, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Sure. Why not?

[Hattie Kelly]

More coffee?

[Matt Dillon]

No, no, no, thanks.

[Hattie Kelly]

It'll be night before anybody gets back here, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I suppose it will.

[Hattie Kelly]

You sure you don't want any more coffee?

[Matt Dillon]

No, thank you. I think I'll go see what I can do for my horse. He's pretty lame. I'll see you later.

[Hattie Kelly]

I'll be here, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

I spent the day out by the corral doctoring my horse and taking it easy. It was after dark when. When Chester and Yorkie rode in, leading three extra horses. But I still didn't know whether we were gonna need them or not. I told Chester how things stood while Yorkie was watering the animals. And then we all walked up to the house. I explained to Yorkie that we'd have to wait for morning in any case. Hattie was waiting on the porch.

[Hattie Kelly]

Well, Yorkie, you ought to be real proud of yourself this time.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We're going after Pa in the morning. Hattie can't track him at night. At least that's what the marshal said.

[Matt Dillon]

That's right, Yorkie.

[Hattie Kelly]

Now, don't tell me you're gonna make a fool of yourself, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I hope not. Oh, excuse me. This is Chester Proudfoot, Miss Kelly.

[Mr. Kelly]

How do you do, ma'?

[Hattie Kelly]

Am?

[Yorkie Kelly]

Yorkie, I could whip your.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, wait a minute, Miss Kelly. He's done no harm. Your husband isn't back yet. And if he doesn't come in tonight, maybe. Maybe we better go look for him.

[Yorkie Kelly]

How can he come home when they got him all tied up? Stole our horses, too. That's a lie, Yorkie. Those men bought our horses, and your father just rode out to show them the trail. Why are you saying that? You know Pa wouldn't sell our horses. Don't you talk back to me. You shut up, that's all. I won't shut up. You ain't my mom. You can't.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, Yorkie, you take it easy. We'll find your pa. I promise you that.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Well, okay, Marshall, but you find him.

[Matt Dillon]

We will.

[Hattie Kelly]

Well, Marshall, I figured you'd all be back here, so I picked some supper.

[Mr. Kelly]

Well, see, now, that's mighty kind of you, ma'.

[Webb Cutter]

Am.

[Mr. Kelly]

I'm awful hungry.

[Hattie Kelly]

The marshal also missed his dinner. Come on inside and we'll eat.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Well, I'm going around back in Wash, Marshal. You don't have to if you don't want to, though.

[Matt Dillon]

Okay, Yorkie, we'll be along. Chester.

[Mr. Kelly]

Yes?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't think old Kelly's coming back tonight. We'll Be riding after him in the morning. Yes.

[Mr. Kelly]

It sure is a lot cooler now the sun's down.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I don't know when I rode so much in two days. Dodged yesterday and clear out here today. I must have covered a thousand miles.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, maybe you'll learn to ride. You keep this up, Yorkie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Oh, now, Marshall Dillon.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, wait a minute.

[Mr. Kelly]

Huh?

[Yorkie Kelly]

What's the matter?

[Matt Dillon]

Here they are. The tracks go off this way.

[Mr. Kelly]

They got a whole day to start on us. We can't follow them at night.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We'll find them. We got to.

[Matt Dillon]

Hey, look up ahead there.

[Mr. Kelly]

Where? It's a man. And he's afoot. Yeah.

[Matt Dillon]

Come on, man.

[Yorkie Kelly]

It's pa. It's pa. Say, pa. Pa. Pa, are you all right? We found you. Me and the Marshall and Chester. We found you.

[Mr. Kelly]

Boy.

[Matt Dillon]

Get him some water, Chester. He's about played out.

[Mr. Kelly]

Yes.

[Matt Dillon]

Sit down, Mr. Kelly. Chester's getting you some water.

[Mr. Kelly]

Here it is. Thank you. I needed that. They didn't give me any water.

[Matt Dillon]

Where are they, Mr. Kelly?

[Mr. Kelly]

They've gone camping here all day. Then they left me so's I'd die out here. Looked like I got lost and starved. They had it all planned.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I knew it, Pa. I saw you with them and the horses. I knew it.

[Matt Dillon]

Have you eaten anything?

[Mr. Kelly]

No, Marshall. They didn't feed me either. Wanted me weak so's I couldn't walk far when they left me.

[Matt Dillon]

Chester, dig out the jerky. Yes.

[Mr. Kelly]

I'm old. Wouldn't have lasted very long. It was a good trick. Blast them.

[Matt Dillon]

You mean they were gonna leave you out here to starve just so they could run off with your horses?

[Mr. Kelly]

No, it's more than that, Marshall. I'll have another drop of this water. One of them. Fella called Webb Cutter. He's gonna run off with my wife, Hattie, soon as they sell the ranch. He is? Hattie had owned the ranch with me dead.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Oh, I never get like her.

[Mr. Kelly]

Know how? Here, Miss Kelly, chew on some of this. And I got some hard biscuits, too, if you want to soak them in the water. I'll be all right once I get something in there.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Pa's old, but he's awful tough, ain't you, Pa?

[Mr. Kelly]

Yeah. You're an awful fool, too, Yorkie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Aw, that's all right, Pa. We're better off alone, you and me. Anyway.

[Matt Dillon]

Who was the other man? Mr. Keller?

[Mr. Kelly]

Roark, he called himself. Friend of Cutter's. He's gonna get his share of the money off the sale of the ranch.

[Matt Dillon]

Did you know these men before? No.

[Mr. Kelly]

Hattie knew him. Back in Abilene. So they said. They had it all figured out before we got married. Oh, Marshall, there's nothing worse than an old fool.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, you aren't the first man to be fooled by a pretty woman, Mr. Kelly.

[Mr. Kelly]

I was lonely, that's all. And I thought Yorkie ought to have a mother. Sure picked a good one.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Just you and me, Pa. We don't need no woman around.

[Mr. Kelly]

Well, there ain't gonna be one long that sure.

[Matt Dillon]

Look, Mr. Kelly. What did they do with your horses? They gonna drive them back to the ranch?

[Mr. Kelly]

That's what they said. Only thing that bothered him was Yorkie here. They weren't sure he was asleep. Hattie said she'd take care of him.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I sure fooled him, didn't I, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, you sure did, Yorkie. But if they're headed back to the ranch, Hattie will tell them we're on their trail and they'll all run off. I gotta stop them.

[Mr. Kelly]

They got a couple hours start on us and.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I know, but those horses they're driving will slow him a little. Chester, you stay here. You can ride in tomorrow when Mr. Kelly gets his strength back. I'm gonna take the horse Yorkie was riding on. A fresh one.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I'll go with you, Marshall. I'll fight him.

[Matt Dillon]

No, no, Yorkie. You've done your part. You stay here with your paw.

[Mr. Kelly]

Yeah, I'm the one that ought to go, Marshall, but ain't up with that kind of ride.

[Matt Dillon]

That's all right, Mr. Kelly. You take it easy and come on back when you can. I'll see you at the ranch, Mr. Dillon. You. You wouldn't have an extra horse, Chester, and you'd to need it.

[Mr. Kelly]

Yes, that's true. Well, good luck.

[Matt Dillon]

Thanks.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We will return to the second act of Gunsmoke in just a moment. But first, every Monday night, an affable man about murder, Thomas Hyland invites you to come along on a CBS radio crime classic dramatizing all the known facts about actual killings of bygone days. Crime connoisseur Highland recreates atmosphere as well as details in his crime classics. Remember, Monday nights on most of these same stations, CBS radio presents crime classics for an unseasonal chill in the atmosphere. Now the second act of Gun Smoke.

[Matt Dillon]

One thing in my favor was that Cutter and Rourke weren't riding as hard as I was. They didn't know there was any special hurry. I changed mounts every few miles. But toward the end, one of the horses began to sull. And finally I had to leave him. Just before Daybreak. When I came to the ranch, there were no lights on in the house, so I figured I'd beaten them after all. There was a room for my horse in the hay shed and I put him in there, closed the door. Then I walked up to the house, hid behind a rain barrel near the porch and waited. It was a half hour before they rode in. They put their horses in the corral and then came up to the house.

[Mr. Kelly]

Take it easy.

[Matt Dillon]

She's awake.

[Mr. Kelly]

She's lighting a lamp back there.

[Webb Cutter]

What's she need a lamp for? It'll be daylight in a minute.

[Narrator/Announcer]

She's your woman.

[Mr. Kelly]

Why don't you ask her?

[Webb Cutter]

She's my woman. And you remember it, Roark. I seen you looking at her the other night.

[Mr. Kelly]

One woman's just like another to me. They're all the same. They're all poison for you.

[Webb Cutter]

Hattie's poison, all right. I'm telling you, Roark.

[Mr. Kelly]

But she's pretty. That's more than I can save her most.

[Matt Dillon]

You forget she's pretty, okay.

[Mr. Kelly]

There's something else about her I like.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you?

[Mr. Kelly]

Well, I've been thinking. When she sells this ranch, she gets a third.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You get a third, I get a third.

[Matt Dillon]

That's right.

[Mr. Kelly]

But whoever gets Hattie sort of gets two thirds, don't it?

[Webb Cutter]

You try that, Rourke, and I'll kill you.

[Mr. Kelly]

I'm just joshing you.

[Matt Dillon]

You really gonna marry her, Cutter?

[Webb Cutter]

I told her I was, didn't I?

[Mr. Kelly]

I didn't ask you.

[Matt Dillon]

You what? You told her.

[Mr. Kelly]

Shut up.

[Webb Cutter]

Here she comes.

[Hattie Kelly]

Hello, Web.

[Yorkie Kelly]

Rock.

[Webb Cutter]

What are you all locked up for, man? Kelly ain't going to come sneaking home.

[Hattie Kelly]

Come on inside. Hurry up.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We haven't got much time.

[Webb Cutter]

What's the matter with you, Eddie? You're all upset.

[Yorkie Kelly]

You'll be all upset, too, when you.

[Hattie Kelly]

Hear what I got to tell. You.

[Webb Cutter]

You mean that's Marshall Gillington Dodge?

[Hattie Kelly]

That's just what I mean. He's got another man with him, a chest of something or other.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I'll be. This fixes everything.

[Webb Cutter]

Why didn't you take care of that bratty kid like I told you?

[Yorkie Kelly]

He sneaked off to go hunting. He wasn't even here, so how could I help him?

[Webb Cutter]

And he ran smacking to the marshal. Now we've really got our heads in a noose. Suppose the old man's dead when they find him?

[Mr. Kelly]

If he's dead, he can't talk, can he?

[Webb Cutter]

Oh, it's worse if he's alive.

[Matt Dillon]

Blast you, Hattie.

[Webb Cutter]

Can't you do anything right?

[Yorkie Kelly]

You're blaming me?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Who would I blame?

[Webb Cutter]

I didn't put that marshal on our trail.

[Mr. Kelly]

It don't matter now who did.

[Webb Cutter]

What are we gonna do?

[Hattie Kelly]

We're gonna have to get out of here fast. I'm all ready to go, just as soon as I get a riding skirt on.

[Matt Dillon]

Wait.

[Webb Cutter]

You ain't going nowhere.

[Mr. Kelly]

What?

[Webb Cutter]

You heard me. We can't be dragging a woman around. You'd wear out in no time.

[Mr. Kelly]

Now you're making sense, Cutter. We'd never get away with her holding us back.

[Hattie Kelly]

You're gonna leave me here, are ya?

[Yorkie Kelly]

You gonna let me face those people? You know I'll go to jail, don't you?

[Webb Cutter]

Oh, they won't do nothing to you. Tell em you got misled or something. They always go easy on women.

[Hattie Kelly]

You're gonna run out on me.

[Webb Cutter]

Oh, now, Hattie, you'd be better off here. I'll let you go and you can get on back to Abilene and I'll come by as soon as they forget about all this.

[Mr. Kelly]

Come on, Cutter, we're wasting time. They could be here any minute now.

[Yorkie Kelly]

You coward. You dirty, rotten coward. Now, Hattie, who is your mother? Mischief.

[Mr. Kelly]

That's enough, Hattie.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I hate you. Go on, get out, both of you. I wouldn't have either one of you.

[Webb Cutter]

Either one of us.

[Yorkie Kelly]

You didn't think I cared, did you? I'd have made one of you shoot the other before I was through. Pies don't cut three ways, mister.

[Mr. Kelly]

Now we all know. Cutter.

[Yorkie Kelly]

What'd I tell you boys?

[Mr. Kelly]

There, That'll hold you.

[Hattie Kelly]

You hit me.

[Webb Cutter]

Come on, Roark, let's go.

[Matt Dillon]

You dirty dog.

[Mr. Kelly]

Ah, forget it, Hattie. Maybe I'll get dabbling sometime.

[Matt Dillon]

So long.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I'll fix you.

[Matt Dillon]

I should have known about you.

[Mr. Kelly]

You gonna talk all day? Come on.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, get your hands up, both of you. Get him up in the air and don't try anything.

[Webb Cutter]

Hello, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

You touch that gun and I'll kill you.

[Mr. Kelly]

While you're killing him, what do you think I'll be doing, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Don't try it, either of you.

[Webb Cutter]

Hanging's bad, Marshall. I ain't going to hang.

[Matt Dillon]

You don't have to hang. Kelly isn't dead. We found him in time.

[Webb Cutter]

I don't believe you, Marshall. I think you've been here quite a long. You ain't even seen Kelly.

[Mr. Kelly]

Yeah, you just want to see us hang.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm telling you the truth.

[Mr. Kelly]

Oh, no.

[Webb Cutter]

Lawmen don't tell the truth. Not to fellas like us anyway. Do they, Roy?

[Mr. Kelly]

No, I don't Believe they do.

[Webb Cutter]

Well, he can't kill us both.

[Matt Dillon]

Drawer.

[Webb Cutter]

We'll draw at the same time.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm telling you, don't try it.

[Mr. Kelly]

Why not, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

Let's kill him. Cutter, no.

[Yorkie Kelly]

We killed him.

[Hattie Kelly]

We killed them both.

[Matt Dillon]

Now give me the gun, Hattie. I said give it to me.

[Hattie Kelly]

Take it.

[Matt Dillon]

You shot Cutter. Had he? Why did you do it?

[Hattie Kelly]

I don't know, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Did you do it to help me or because he was running out on you?

[Hattie Kelly]

He's dead. What difference does it make?

[Matt Dillon]

It could be murder, Hattie.

[Hattie Kelly]

You'll have to decide that. Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah? Cutter might have killed me.

[Hattie Kelly]

He might have. Well.

[Matt Dillon]

Go back in the house. You can wait in there.

[Hattie Kelly]

Now they're both dead.

[Matt Dillon]

Do you care?

[Hattie Kelly]

No. No, I don't care. What's gonna happen to me, Marshall?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know. I think I'll let Mr. Kelly decide that.

[Hattie Kelly]

Where is he?

[Matt Dillon]

He'll be here tonight, probably. He's with Yorkie and Chester.

[Hattie Kelly]

Marshall. Will I go to jail?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know, Hattie. Depends on Kelly.

[Hattie Kelly]

He's a nice old man. He wouldn't hurt anybody. I'm sorry I got into all this.

[Yorkie Kelly]

I wish I hadn't.

[Mr. Kelly]

Marshall Dillon?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Mr. Kelly]

I just had a long talk with Hattie, Marshall. Well, she tried to kill me. You know, she had a hand in it.

[Matt Dillon]

She'll go to jail for it if you prosecute her.

[Mr. Kelly]

I know, but, Marshall, I can't send anyone to jail. Not a woman. If she was a man, I'd shoot her.

[Matt Dillon]

But what do you want to do, Mr. Kelly?

[Mr. Kelly]

Yeah. I'll get her things and drive her to town, Marshal. I'll give her some money, and then Yorkie and I will come back here. Yorkie'll just have to grow up without a mother.

[Matt Dillon]

And about me.

[Mr. Kelly]

It don't matter none.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, Mr. Kelly. I guess I wouldn't want to see her in jail either. We need women out here. Good or bad, we need them.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Gunsmoke transcribed under the direction of Norman MacDonald stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U. S. Marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston, with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Michael Ann Barrett, John McGovern, Joseph Kearns, John Dana and Nestor Piva. Harley Bear is Chester. Gunsmoke has been selected by the Armed Forces Radio Service to be heard by our troops overseas. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West. In gun smoke.

[Herbert Marshall (Announcer for Summer Theater)]

This Monday night, Herbert Marshall has the leading role in a story adapted from Daphne du Maurier's collection called Kiss Me Again, Stranger. It's the eerie story of the birds describing strange happenings on an otherwise quiet English countryside. Hear it this Monday night on most of these same stations when CBS Radio presents the Summer Theater. Yes, this Monday night starring Herbert Marshall. And remember, there's action as a policeman really finds it in 21st Precinct, Tuesdays on the CBS Radio network.

[Hattie Kelly]

Sa. Sam.