I Don’t Know | Gunsmoke (12-06-52)

Summary

Old Time Radio Westerns: Gunsmoke – "I Don’t Know" (Original airdate: 12-06-52)

Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Released: May 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this digitally restored installment of the classic radio drama Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon faces a tense family crisis when a troubled boy named Danny Burch comes into Dodge. What begins as a case of apparent juvenile mischief soon reveals deeper, darker turmoil within the Burch family—centered on a missing and unstable father whose actions threaten tragedy. The episode explores themes of family secrets, mental illness, pride, and the limits of law when private desperation turns outwardly violent.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Introduction to the Problem ([01:15]–[06:31])

• Danny Burch's Arrival in Dodge:
  Chester Proudfoot escorts a young, surly boy—Danny—into the marshal’s office, suspecting him of wrongdoing based on his evasive manners.
• Misunderstanding and Revelation:
  Danny insists he’s “done nothing,” but Chester believes running means guilt:

  “I figured if a kid runs away from me for doing nothing, then he’s been up to something.” — Chester Proudfoot ([03:38])

• Marshal Dillon's Approach:
  Dillon calmly tries to learn who Danny is. It turns out Danny is from outside town and has come with a request: his sister Lillian sent him to fetch the marshal regarding trouble at their farm, especially concerning their father.

2. The Birch Family Dynamic ([06:46]–[14:45])

• First Impressions:
  As Dillon and Chester ride out, Dillon observes the family’s isolation and the boy’s hard demeanor—a hint at a harsh upbringing.
• Tense Homecoming:
  At the Burch place, the siblings—Dave, Donald, Lily, and Danny—display hostility and distrust. The sons are defensive, even hostile, brandishing weapons:

  “You come snooping back again, me and my brother’s gonna be shooting at [you].” — Dave Burch ([14:18])

• Lily’s Plea:
  Lily emerges as the only family member openly worried about her father. She quietly asks Dillon for help, defying her brothers’ insistence on keeping outsiders away.

3. Tracking Down the Father ([15:47]–[21:45])

• Searching the Range:
  Dillon and Chester search the parched prairie for the missing patriarch, concerned about his state of mind and the possibility he’s harming livestock or worse.
• Dark Discovery:
  They come upon a dead cow and later find the bodies of a neighbor’s ranch hand and a horse—shot dead, evidently by the missing Mr. Burch.
• Escalating Stakes:
  Dillon sends Chester to inform the victim’s employer and heads back to the Burch place himself, now determined to prevent more bloodshed.

4. Family Under Duress ([22:02]–[23:17])

• Confrontation at the House:
  Danny sees Dillon first. Hostility and accusations flare. Dave answers the door with a shotgun and is quickly disarmed by Dillon. The children remain defensive, in denial about their father’s actions.
• Attempts at Reasoning:
  Dillon tries to reason with the family, but their pain and shame run deep:

  “You’re a liar. Pa never killed nobody!” — Danny Burch ([22:46])

• Preparing for the Worst:
  Lily alone remains realistic about their father’s deteriorating state.

5. The Tragic Unveiling ([23:43]–[26:00])

• Finding the Father:
  Dillon, with Donald and Lily, finds Old Man Burch naked and incoherent at a dry waterhole, sobbing incoherently—a portrait of absolute mental breakdown.
• Family’s Shame Revealed:
  Lily confides in Dillon about the family's secret—her father's episodes began after her mother's death, forcing frequent moves to hide his affliction:

  “I knew it would happen like this someday. I knew it would. Boys figure it’d be shame on us all if word got out Pa had spells.” — Lily Burch ([24:41])

• Misunderstood Struggles:
  Lily describes how they let others believe he was simply drunk to cover for his mental illness—a heart-wrenching window into their isolation.

6. Resolution & Reflection ([26:10]–[28:51])

• Advice From Dillon:
  Dillon urges Lily to sell the farm and start anew elsewhere:

  “You do that. It’s best... You gotta teach him to smile again... Act like a kid again. You understand?” — Marshal Matt Dillon ([27:06])

• Resigned Farewell:
  The children dress their father and bid goodbye, understanding this is likely the last they’ll see him—as he's taken in for murder.
• Echoes of Sorrow:
  As they ride back, the family's loss and grief is palpable. The old man, lost in his delirium, does not recognize his family. Danny’s crying is heard long after, the pain persisting.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s got a hold of your gun. Okay.” — Chester, highlighting Danny’s toughness ([02:46])
• “I guess I come to Dodge to fetch you. My sister sent me... She made me swear on Raller’s buttons.” — Danny, admitting his reason for coming ([05:22])
• “It was too hot. And something was wrong, all wrong.” — Dillon (narration, describing unease at the Birch home) ([09:47])
• “Shut up, Lily.” — Dave, stifling his sister and reinforcing the men’s dominance ([12:40])
• “Those boys don’t look the kind to pull a gun. The girl wanted to talk, all right, but they wouldn’t let her.” — Dillon reflecting outside ([16:34])
• “Even an animal has a look about it, but it’s been murdered.” — Dillon, after finding the dead cow ([18:22])
• “I knew it would happen like this someday... It was all right till after Ma died. Then he started to act this way.” — Lily, on generational tragedy and family secrets ([24:41], [25:01])
• “Funny. Pa never took a drink in his life... People could figure a man drunk.” — Lily, explaining societal misunderstandings of mental illness ([25:25])
• “You gotta teach him to smile again... Act like a kid again.” — Dillon’s closing advice to Lily ([27:06])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Danny Burch’s Interrogation – [02:18]–[06:31]
• First encounter at the Burch homestead / standoff – [08:05]–[14:18]
• Lily seeks Marshal Dillon’s help – [10:36]–[12:04]
• Brothers force the lawmen out at gunpoint – [13:09]–[14:45]
• Marshal and Chester search for the father – [15:47]–[21:45]
• Discovery of the murder – [21:13]–[21:45]
• Confrontation at the Burch house after the murder – [22:02]–[23:28]
• Finding Old Man Burch in collapse – [23:43]–[24:41]
• Marshal Dillon’s advice and the family’s farewell – [26:10]–[28:51]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The script and performances maintain a somber, suspenseful tone fitting for the bleak realities at the heart of many Gunsmoke episodes. The dialog ranges from terse (among the Burch boys) to tenderly desperate (Lily and Danny), culminating in moments of quiet tragedy and reluctant resolve.

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Final Thoughts

I Don’t Know captures a microcosm of the American frontier: the stigmatization of mental illness, the impact of family tragedy, and the limits of rough justice. Marshal Dillon strives for compassion and reason, but even he must ultimately defer to the law. The digitally restored audio, as highlighted by the podcast, deepens the immersion, rendering every rustle of prairie grass and crack of gunfire with a clarity that enhances the drama’s raw impact.

Transcript

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines. And let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke. Original air date is December 6, 1952 and the title is. I don't know. I mean, really. I do know It's Cold. I don't know. I promise.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

That's the.

[Andrew Rines]

That is the title. Let's get into it.

[Narrator]

Around Dark City and the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. marshal. And the smell of Gun Smoke. Gun Smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. The story of a man who moved with it. Matt Dillon, United States Marsh.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Let me go in, Marco.

[Danny Burch]

Let me go.

[Narrator]

Well, what have you got there, Chester?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Half bug, captain, half kid, Mr. Dillon. I'll smack you flat and open. Now, hold it.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

You want me to take the strap to you? Now hold it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You best lock him up somewhere, Mr. Dillon. It's safer that way.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

All right, Chester, just calm down now. You come over here, son. Sit down.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Come on. Look how much you're doing. He's got a hold of your gun. Okay,

[Narrator]

Now you sit there.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Don't you move an inch, you hear me? Not one inch.

[Chester Proudfoot]

He is a mean little bug.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Now, what's it all about, Chester? What's he done?

[Danny Burch]

I ain't done nothing.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Now, you hush your mean little face. This here place is the law and you're talking with.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

What's he done, Chester? There.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You hear that? Yes, sir. Well, sir, I don't really know what he's done.

[Danny Burch]

That's what I told you. I ain't done nothing, Mr. Dillon.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I was walking down to the office when I see this. This kid. I know most all the sprouts in town, but not him. So I says hello and he starts running.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

That's what he did.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, sir.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

And that's why you brought him in here?

[Chester Proudfoot]

I sure did, Mr. Dillon. I figured if a kid runs away from me for doing nothing, then he's been up to something. So he must have done something. You. You know What?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I mean, no. Now, what's your name, son?

[Danny Burch]

I ain't done nothing.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

All right, now, what's your name?

[Danny Burch]

I ain't saying.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

There.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You see what I mean, Mr. Dylan. Just plain orner. Mischievous.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

You live here in Dodge?

[Danny Burch]

I ain't saying.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

All right. Well, he's probably a runaway, Chester. I guess we'll have to lock him up until somebody comes looking for him, huh?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Best thing in this whole wide world to do, Mr. Dylan. Just look at where he gnawed my thumb. Best thing to do.

[Danny Burch]

Come on, lock me up.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Have you got a better idea? We got to do something with you.

[Danny Burch]

Let me be on my way.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Where do you live?

[Danny Burch]

About four miles out.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Oh. Oh, sure, sure, I know you. You're the Macklin kid.

[Danny Burch]

No, I ain't. I'm Danny. Bur

[Chester Proudfoot]

ain't Sam there. I knew he wasn't town, kid. I just knew that. Mr. Dillon, what did I tell you?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Nothing. Now, if you'll just close up a minute, Chester, we can get this settled and Danny can go on his way. Now, you say you haven't done anything wrong, son?

[Chester Proudfoot]

No.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Your ma know you're in Dodge this morning?

[Danny Burch]

Guess so.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

All your chores done before you came?

[Danny Burch]

No.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Maybe you better go on back then, huh? Your ma might be kind of worried.

[Danny Burch]

Guess so.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

You got a horse?

[Danny Burch]

Yeah.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Okay.

[Chester Proudfoot]

So long.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

And take it easy.

[Danny Burch]

I can go now?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Sure. Go ahead, Danny.

[Danny Burch]

You're a marshal, John, ain't you?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Yeah, that's right.

[Danny Burch]

Well, I guess I come to Dodge to fetch you. My sister sent me. Oh, I wasn't going to, but I got you now. Cause I promised Lily. She made me swear on Raller's buttons. I figure if I didn't see, I wouldn't be telling no lie if I told her you wasn't around. But now I see.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

No, no, no. Hold on. Your sister wants me to come out with you to your place, is that it?

[Danny Burch]

Yeah.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Why?

[Danny Burch]

On account of Pa. None of us gives a hootseptin. Sister Lillian. She just acting like a girl.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Oh. What's happened to your paw?

[Danny Burch]

He's gone off again shooting up the cattle. Thing is, he took two guns with him this time and a whole mess of bullets. Lily's just scared.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Your PA been drinking? A little, maybe?

[Danny Burch]

Yes. Anyhow, he goes local and stays that way for a long while. But it's like Dave and Donald say. He'll get over it. He always does. They're my brothers, Dave and Donald. They ain't worried.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

You want me to go out with you to help find him? Is that it?

[Danny Burch]

I don't want it. Lily does. And I had to swear on rattler buttons that I'd fetch you.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Oh, yeah, sure, sure. Well, it's good that you did, Chester. Get your stuff, will you?

[Chester Proudfoot]

We'll ride out with Danny.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I didn't get anything more out of the boy on the way out to the Birch place. No one in town knew much about the family. They'd moved in about a year earlier. Came up from the territories. The folks about said Birch and his brood kept pretty much to themselves. They'd never been any trouble with anybody. I looked at the boy riding his horse bareback. He was nice looking enough, but there was something the matter with his mouth. It was too hard. He could tell. He wasn't a kid who did much. Smiling maybe, with his paw acting that way. I didn't blame him. He sure rode his horse proud, though. It was hot and dry. And by the time we were inside of the Birch place, the sun was burning down hard.

[Danny Burch]

Yeah. There he is.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Kid, get off on that horse and get over here. Get yourself a licking. No.

[Danny Burch]

He made me go. It's not my fault.

[Narrator]

Do as I say.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

The name's Dylan. I'm the U.S. marshal out of Dodge. Your brother asked me to come out and help.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Don't need no help. Shut up, Ham. Nothing to help with. Danny, you heard. Put the horse away and get in the house.

[Danny Burch]

You ain't giving me no licking.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Put up your gun. I'm coming over to talk. Come on, Chester. It's against the law to shoot a man in cold blood. You know that. Shucks, I wasn't aiming at you. I was aiming at a rabbit up on the rise there. The horses scattered away. Now, what about your paw?

[Chester Proudfoot]

What about him?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Have you found him? Shucks, you don't need to be. Fine. He'll come back when he's good and ready.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Pods off hunting.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

That's not what your brother says. He's. Where'd he go? He's gonna get himself a lick, and that's what, and he knows it. Get self away, that's what. Donald. That's your name, isn't it?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yeah.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Well, look, I'm not one to interfere in family matters, but if you do need help, I mean, if your pa's shooting up cattle like Danny says, well, maybe he'll be practicing next on people. And that wouldn't be so good. That brother of ours, He's a dirty little liar.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, he's not.

[Lily Burch]

Donald. I'm glad you came. Marshall. You come into the house. Please.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Chester and I Followed the girl into the house. I knew it was the sister, Lily. All the family I'd seen up to then. It had a great likeness to each other. Donald slouched in behind us and moved around the room, nervous like. It wasn't by rights a house. It was too big for a cabin. I had the feeling that they put up boards and studs where the fancy took them. And the place just grew another room like a lizard's new tail. I don't know what it was, but I got a funny feeling it was too hot. And something was wrong, all wrong. And the girl, Lily looked square at me with hard eyes.

[Lily Burch]

Donald.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Huh?

[Lily Burch]

Sit down. Make me nervous.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, sure.

[Lily Burch]

Marshall Dillon, I want you to help us find Paul.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, Lily, Dave's gonna be awful mad.

[Danny Burch]

Somebody's gotta do something around here.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Did. Did your PA take a horse?

[Lily Burch]

No.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Oh. Where do you think he went, Ms. Lily?

[Lily Burch]

I don't know. Maybe up to Horse Flats. Maybe over by Gorman's Creek.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Creek's all dried up. Gotta be no water in there.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Did he take a water skin with him?

[Lily Burch]

Uh, no, he didn't.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Kinda bad wandering around without no water.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

When did he leave?

[Lily Burch]

Yesterday morning. Heard a couple of shots along about noon. Dave found a calf laying dead over in the north range. You can see it there through the window. Haven't had time to bring it in yet.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Was. Was he drunk?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sure. Drunk as you can get, weren't he?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Lily, I'm.

[Lily Burch]

I'm afeared for him. Marshall Dillon.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I understand. Well, it makes good sense you sent for me. Well, I'll. I'll try and find him and bring him back. Well, I ain't gonna do no such thing. You that Marshall fella out of.

[Lily Burch]

Doc, this is Marshall, Dylan, Dave, my brother. Dave Burch.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

How are you? I told you, Lily told you. Keep our business to us. Not outside.

[Danny Burch]

It's gotta be somebody else's business the

[Lily Burch]

way it is, Dave. You know it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No such thing, Lily.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I told her, Dave.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I told her. I knew he was going to be mad.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I. I figure the four of us, you and your brother here and Chester and me, ought to be able to get him in before night. Mister, I told you, we don't need you or no one else. I'll be obliged you get off this property.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Shut up, Lily.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I'll see you and your fellow there to the door. Marshall, I'm sorry, but if your pa's running around dangerous, it's my duty to find him. Donald. I got him. Get up slow, Marshall. And you, fella, reach up high

[Chester Proudfoot]

okay, Dave, take the guns.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

The younger brother, Donald, had got behind my chair. And now he was covering us with a shotgun. Dave took our guns. It was kind of crazy and I almost wanted to laugh when I saw the kid Danny, peeking in around the door. But then I saw his eyes. And there was the same thing in him. Hard, angry as in the others. The girl started to say something, then she shut up. Now get on your horses and ride back. Not. I want you out here again. This ain't no matter for the law and your trespass. You're making it a matter for the law right now, you know that. Start walking.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Them guns is U.S. property.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Okay. I ain't no thief. Here. Bullets. I'm keeper. Figure they're worth about two bits. Donald, give them two bits.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sure. Here.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Right. Now, here's your guns. Now get out fast. You come snooping back again, me and my brother's gonna be shooting at.

[Narrator]

We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first. For centuries, arthritis and rheumatism have plagued mankind. And it's only in the last few years that science has begun to find hopeful avenues to explore toward relief and cure. The Arthritis and Rheumatism foundation, established in 1948, holds a yearly drive to obtain funds for yet more concentrated research. A contribution to this year's drive, sent simply Arthritis in care of your local postmaster. Will help this fine work to continue for the eventual benefit of everyone. And now for the second act of gun smoke.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

The two brothers followed us out and over to the horses. As hot as it was in the house, it was worse in the open. The saddles were burning. There wasn't another word passed between the Birch boys than me. They just stood covering us. When I looked back, a hundred yards or more off, they were still there.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, sir, that's what comes of trying to do a kindness, Mr. Dylan. Far as I'm concerned, they deserve whatever happens.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I can't make it out. Chester. You'd think from the way they talk, they don't care what happens to their

[Chester Proudfoot]

poor mean bunch of children. They probably don't. My, Mr. Dylan, you ain't even riled they pulled guns on.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I guess I'm not. Chester, you know, there's something awful wrong back there. Those boys don't look the kind to pull a gun. The girl wanted to talk, all right, but they wouldn't let her.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Just mean, that's all. You aim to go back, Mr. Dillon?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

It's like I said, Chester. If it's just a family affair, you and me don't belong in it. But if the old man's as drunk as he sounds, he could make a lot of trouble. No, we're not going back right now. We're gonna have a look around this country for a spell. Chester and me covered a lot of ground that morning into the afternoon. I had an idea that we might find birch wherever we could find water. Without a horse he couldn't get too far. And without water he was going to get sick pretty quick. We rode over by Gorman's Creek, then up to Horse Flats and there was Nothing along. About 2 in the afternoon, Chester spotted a carcass line. Off the trail was a cow. She'd been shot three times in the head.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Could have happened this morning or yesterday.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Uh huh.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hard to tell in this weather. Oh

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

well, the ground's too dry to pick up a track. Might as well take a chance and go over to the hills.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yep, might be water there. Boy, I could do with some right this very minute.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I got a funny taste in my mouth looking at that dead cow. When a thing dies natural or gets killed for food, that's one thing. But even an animal has a look about it, but it's been murdered. We rode the half a dozen miles to the hills. They weren't rightly hills, maybe more like humps rising up from the brown dry earth. And we could get a good view across the plain. There was a patch or two of wild oats up there, long turned to rust and foxtails. Maybe it was in our minds, but just those few feet higher made us seem closer to the sun and hotter. You ought to be able to see

[Chester Proudfoot]

if he's out there anywhere, Mr. Dillon. He'd be dead if he was. Man couldn't live a morning out there on foot.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Well, I don't think he's gonna find water up here now. Look at that.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Dry as a bone. You see something, Mr. Dylan?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Yeah, tracks, I think. Yeah, he's been up here. Went down again though. Over there.

[Chester Proudfoot]

He sure made a long way on foot. Must be more than eight miles from his place.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, you darn fool.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Rattler.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yeah, I saw the. Blew his head clean off. I was afraid you was gonna step on him.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Well, we'll follow the tracks until they give out. Come on. Those tracks kept going in and around the hills a couple of places. We saw where they'd stopped by a dry water hole and went on. Then as the hill sloped down the the plane again, we lost him, but the direction seemed to be headed back to the birch place. That's the way we rode, we hadn't gone more than 15 minutes along when we saw the body of a man and a horse some few feet away. They were both dead.

[Chester Proudfoot]

He wanted to make sure, didn't he, Mr. Dillon? Burch must have emptied his gun. Look at that.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Isn't it Jack Mason, One of old man Gorman's hands?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, sir, that's who. Tis right enough. Nice fellow, too. I knew him a bit.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Get him on your horse, will you, Chester? And take him over to Mr. Gorman.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, sir, I'll do that.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I'm gonna go back to the Birch place.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I. I'd rather come to you, Mr. Dillon.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

No. Meet me there, huh?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yes, sir.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

And if you see Birch on the way, watch your step. Try not to kill him, but don't take any chances.

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, sir, I surely won't.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

There was killing now, and I was a Wasn't in the mood to talk gentle and kind with the sons and girl at the house. It was the boy, Danny, that saw me first. He was sitting on the doorstep. He ran inside. And a second later I saw Dave come out with a shotgun. I didn't give him a chance to make up his mind.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Dave. Dave. Dave.

[Danny Burch]

What did you. My brother's doing.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

What happened?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Shut up, kid.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Get inside.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hang up your eyes clean.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Get inside now.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You hear me?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I'm sorry, but I'm not arguing with you anymore. Where's your paw? I don't know. He killed a man back on the plane away.

[Danny Burch]

You're a liar.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Told you. Get in the house, kid. Now. Get.

[Danny Burch]

I'm staying. He's a liar. Poor. I never killed nobody.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Where's Donald and your sister? Outlook, Mr. Diddy. He killed some. Yeah. Jack Mason, one of Gorman's boys.

[Danny Burch]

Don't you say that.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Don't you, Danny? Give me some whiskey, William.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Arm pains.

[Danny Burch]

Yeah, I will. But you ain't gonna tell no lies about my fault. You tell me. Quit saying.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Where do you think he is? Donald Hearst shot up Horse Flats. When they've gone up there and he must have doubled back from the hills. Listen, you told the boy to ride into town and fetch the doc out here. He'll take care of that arm. Okay. When my deputy rides in. Chester Proudfoot, tell him where I've gone, will you?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sure.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Marsh. Yeah,

[Chester Proudfoot]

Marshall?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

You gonna. You gonna kill our.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Our pa?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I don't want to. Not if I. Over at Horse Flats, I caught up with Donald and Lily Burch. I told him about the killing. And a half mile further on, the three of us saw the old man. He was crouched down on his haunches by a parched water hole, stripped naked. He was crying. It was a bad sound. When I saw his eyes, I knew he wasn't drunk. There was no sign of his guns or his clothes.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Come on, Pa. It's okay.

[Lily Burch]

It's done.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You. You're okay, Pa. Come on. Come on, Pa. Please.

[Lily Burch]

I knew it would happen like this someday. I knew it would. Boys figure it'd be shame on us all if word got out Pa had spells.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Your brothers were wrong.

[Lily Burch]

It was all right till after Ma died. Then he started to act this way. That's why we had to leave our last place. People found out, try to keep him home, but weren't no good.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Give you a cup of water and your pasta. I'll get up. We'll go in the door.

[Lily Burch]

Funny. Pa never took a drink in his life. We always said he was drunk when he carried on like this. People could figure a man drunk.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I'm sorry, Miss Lily, but I'm gonna have to take him in. I got to.

[Lily Burch]

Will they do too?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I don't know. But he's done murder. It's my job to take him in.

[Lily Burch]

They'll hang him.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

I don't know. Maybe not. I don't know. Son.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Son. Where's your brother? He didn't want to let you come out here, Lona. You're too young now, where's your ma? She ought to know better. Now.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Miss Lily, come over here. I want you to listen to me. It's not my business, but will you let me give you some advice, Miss Lily, huh? Now, you settle this place. I'll see what I can do to help. And you and your brothers go somewhere else and start afresh. You can get a good price for your land. You do that. It's best. Yeah, we'll go. I'm not saying you've got to. I'm saying it'd be better. It'd be better for the kid. He's seen too much of this. It's not good. You gotta teach him to smile again. Act like a kid again. You understand? You understand?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sure,

[Lily Burch]

I understand.

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

Okay. I'll be taking him along now. We'll stop off at your place with some clothes.

[Lily Burch]

All right?

[Marshal Matt Dillon]

We took the old man back to his place, got him dressed. His children said goodbye to him like they knew that they'd never see him again. Like there was no hope. Chester rode in. And the old man seemed real happy to go back with us to Dodge. He didn't know. He didn't care. On the way, we passed the doc and Danny riding out to take care of Dave's arm. Funny thing, the old man didn't even see the kid. He was prattling to us about the Indian war wars. The last I saw Danny Burchie, he was looking back over his shoulder at his paw and we heard him still crying a long way off.

[Narrator]

Gunsmoke under the direction of Norman Macdonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U. S Marshal. Tonight's story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Anthony Ellis with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Richard Beals as Danny and Michael Ann Barrett as Lily, with Lee Millar, John Boehner and Lawrence Dobkin. Harley Bear as Chester. Gun Smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the worldwide facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. 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. The New York Philharmonics celebrates its 110th birthday tomorrow and in observance there will be a repeat performance of Beethoven's Symphony number five. This work was featured on the first Philharmonic broadcast over 100 years ago. This is Roy Rowan speaking. America now listens to 105 million radio sets and listens most to the CBS Radio Network.

[Danny Burch]

Foreign.

[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 Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sam.