Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast

Episode: "Gunshot Wound" | Gunsmoke (Original Air Date: 10-14-1956)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Podcast Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features the classic "Gunsmoke" radio drama, “Gunshot Wound,” first aired on October 14, 1956. Through meticulous digital restoration, this rebroadcast brings heightened audio clarity to the tale. In this story, themes of vengeance, fate, and the unending cycles of violence in the Old West unfold, as Jim Nielsen—a mortally wounded man—returns to Dodge City for a final reckoning with the Mailer brothers, the men he blames for his impending death. Marshal Matt Dillon stands as the lonely voice of reason, striving to prevent needless bloodshed.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Insights

1. Jim Nielsen’s Fate and Motives

• Opening Scene: Nielsen, told by Doc that the bullet inside him is fatal, faces his own mortality (02:06).
  • Doc: "Nope. Sooner or later, that bullet in you is gonna kill you."
• Nielsen’s Resignation: Rather than inform Alice, his fiancée, Nielsen decides to set things in order, saying he’s "heading west" (03:45):
  • Nielsen: "If they've killed me, I don't see any reason to let them go on living."

2. Marshal Dillon’s Efforts to Prevent Violence

• Dillon Intervenes with Charlie Mailer: The marshal tries to persuade Charlie to lay low until things settle (07:30).
  • Dillon: "There are a lot of others on Nielsen's [side], and I'd like to stop this trouble before it goes any further."
  • Charlie Mailer: "I don’t hide from nobody... The only thing behind that fight was some temper and some strong words. Aren't you man enough to forget it?"

3. Escalation and Fatal Encounters

• Nielsen’s Return Creates Tension: Nielsen’s presence and intent stir up Dodge City. Dillon pleads for calm, but Nielsen refuses, driven by his sense of injustice and “nothing to lose” (13:00).

  • Nielsen: “It’s a funny thing knowing you’re gonna die… I don’t have a thing to lose.”

• First Duel and Charlie’s Death: Despite Dillon’s efforts, Charlie Mailer confronts Nielsen and is killed in a “fair fight” (17:50).

  • Charlie (before the duel): “You want me to run away, Nielsen?”

• Chester Delivers the News: Charlie's brother Tom learns of the tragedy (20:25).

  • Chester: "Charlie’s dead, Tom. Did Nielsen do it?"
  • Tom Mailer: "Charlie come after him. I thank you, Chester. Thank the marshal."

4. Circle of Revenge Continues

• Tom Mailer Seeks Nielsen: Despite Kitty’s pleadings in the Long Branch Saloon, Tom is determined to confront Nielsen (22:20).

  • Kitty: "If he kills you, what are you proving? My brother's dead. Killing Nielsen won't bring him back."
  • Tom: "Some men ought to be killed, sure, but not you and Nielsen. You're fine men, both of you."

• Matt Dillon’s Helplessness:

  • Kitty: "Then you watch them kill each other, Matt."
  • Dillon: "I can’t do it." (25:00)

5. Inevitability and Aftermath

• Final Duel – Tom Mailer’s Death: The showdown occurs, with Matt powerless to interfere. Doc confirms Tom’s death (28:00).

  • Doc: "There was nothing I could do for him, Matt. He’s dead."
  • Dillon: "Someday there’s gonna be a law about carrying guns. And there’s gonna be fights like these that'll bring it."

• Cost of Vengeance: Nielsen, having killed both brothers, finds no satisfaction (30:05).

  • Dillon: "Make you feel any better?"
  • Nielsen: "No. Tell you the truth, it don’t."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Death and Revenge:

  • Nielsen (to Marshal Dillon): “Marshall, it's a funny thing knowing you're gonna die. I had too much to live for when I faced up to 'em the first time... But I don't have now, Marshall. I don't have a thing to lose.” (13:40)

• The Cycle of Violence:

  • Doc (to Dillon): “Seemed like such a waste. He was a good man. Both of them was.” (28:50)

• Marshal Dillon on the Law:

  • Dillon: "Someday there’s gonna be a law about carrying guns. And there’s gonna be fights like these that'll bring it. A man's got the right, Mr. Jones. They're gonna lose it, Chester." (29:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:06 | Doc reveals Nielsen's fatal condition | | 07:30 | Dillon tries to dissuade Charlie Mailer | | 13:00 | Nielsen and Dillon discuss the futility of violence | | 17:50 | Charlie Mailer’s confrontation and death | | 20:25 | Chester delivers news to Tom Mailer | | 22:20 | Tom and Kitty discuss the cost of vengeance | | 25:00 | Dillon’s helplessness and conversation with Kitty | | 28:00 | Tom Mailer's death; Doc and Dillon’s reflection | | 30:05 | Nielsen admits vengeance brought him no peace |

Themes and Atmosphere

• Tragic Inevitability: The episode underscores the futility of vengeance in the face of personal loss and the relentless code of honor that governed the West.
• Loneliness of Lawmen: Marshal Dillon is portrayed as morally steadfast but powerless in the face of ingrained social violence.
• Audio Detail: Remastered sound brings greater immersion—creaks, gunshots, and saloon ambiance sharpen the emotional weight of the drama.

Conclusion

“Gunshot Wound” is a moving Gunsmoke installment spotlighting the tragic loop of vengeance and the impotence of law against ingrained violence. With powerful performances and authentic audio, listeners are drawn deeply into Dodge City’s fatal drama. The episode’s closing reflection, as Matt Dillon muses about a future “law about carrying guns,” resonates with timeless relevance.