
Original Air Date: May 01, 1960Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guest:• Virginia Gregg Editorial Supervisor:...
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Narrator
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 gun smoke. Gun Spoke, 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 lonely.
Nettie
Your moot, Doc.
Chester
Yes, yes, I see this.
Doc
Only I don't like my choices. You got me kind of cornered. Kidding?
Unknown
Oh, now then, Smart man like you ought to be able to think his way out.
Doc
Well, let me see now. Nope. There's nothing I can do.
Chester
Except this. And pray.
Doc
Your eyesight's going back on you.
Unknown
Not today, it hasn't Documented.
Nettie
Yep, yep. There.
Unknown
You can't pedal any eyeglasses here today.
Doc
How many games you won now?
Nettie
Five straight.
Unknown
And remember, we were playing $2,000 a game in trade.
Nettie
That was some bet.
Unknown
I'd have to die to collect it.
Doc
And the same thing, if I had a one kitty. $5,000 worth of your whiskey would wipe out every doctor in the West. You don't want to play another game, by any chance?
Unknown
Not by any chance.
Nettie
Ah, thank heavens.
Unknown
Why don't you go make a few calls, Doc?
Doc
I'd love to. The trouble is no one needs me. The town and the county are just busting with good health.
Unknown
Yeah. Look at this saloon. One paying customer at the bar and he's drinking beer.
Doc
Well, I'd say that Matt and Chester picked themselves a good time to be out of town.
Unknown
Yeah, they got it pretty soft, all right. Of course, they get shot at now and then. At least they get out of Dodge.
Nettie
Once in a while.
Doc
Yeah, Let me see. We're using a pueblo this time.
Unknown
Wasn't it near there, anyway? Didn't say how long they'd be gone.
Doc
No, and I'll bet I know why. Why, it's some of the best fishing in the world. Not far from Pueblo. Wouldn't surprise me the least bit if they settle back next to a stream that's just jumping with Mountain TR.
Chester
How's your leg feel? Was you hit bad, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
I never heard of being hit. Good, Chester.
Chester
Pant leg's bloody in some.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know.
Chester
What got into them Indians, anyway? We was just riding through.
Matt Dillon
Well, if it hadn't been us, they'd have gone after a rabbit or a coyote, maybe. These rocks they were shooting for, the noise of it.
Chester
I guess they had to be utes, didn't they?
Matt Dillon
Renegade Utes, most likely.
Chester
Well, they got tired of us. Or they think they killed us. One or the other. Can you bear weight on that leg?
Matt Dillon
I don't know. Let's try.
Chester
Just let me slip my arm behind you here. Yeah, Cool yourself up. Hold on to me, Mr. Dillon. Can you make it?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I can make it to my horse, I think.
Chester
There we go.
Matt Dillon
Easy.
Chester
You better rest some before I try to mount.
Matt Dillon
Now let's get it over with.
Chester
Chester, you'll have to swing your hurt leg over.
Matt Dillon
Oh, you'll have to guide it. If I kick your teeth out in the process, you take it as nothing personal, huh?
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
All right, here we go.
Chester
You. You all right, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester
I could strap you in your saddle.
Matt Dillon
Oh, there's no need. All right, let's go.
Chester
You're awful peeky looking, Mr. Dillon. About played out, ain't you?
Matt Dillon
There's water ahead to the left and those trees there.
Chester
Well, you can't go on. Just water.
Matt Dillon
That'll help water the horses, too.
Chester
Ain't much daylight left. I90 we'd find a settler and get you bedded down for the night.
Matt Dillon
It's a ute country, Chester. They brought it out most of the cellars and through those trees now. Yeah. There's good grass by the stream.
Chester
Don't. Don't you move yet, Ms. Dylan.
Nettie
I'll help you.
Matt Dillon
All right, now you stand to steady me. My leg won't bear any weight.
Chester
Yes, sir.
Nettie
There you go.
Chester
Now just fall free again.
Nettie
Me?
Chester
Right. Now, you just. You just stretch out there. How's that, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
It's fine, Chester. It's just fine.
Chester
I'll get you some water. I declare, you look afraid.
Matt Dillon
I say to catch my breath. Just rest a little bit.
Chester
I sure do wish I could make you comfortable in a bed with some warm food.
Matt Dillon
I know. I know you. Here's my. The horses, huh?
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
Chester. Chester.
Chester
Oh, you wait, Mr. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Yeah. I shouldn't have gone to sleep.
Chester
I guess you didn't have no choice. Once you swallowed that cool water, you were just plumb.
Matt Dillon
What is that? Was that horses?
Chester
Oh, no, Miss Dylan. I hobbled them before I set out. They ain't making A sound.
Matt Dillon
Wait a minute. That's horses, all right. They're coming this way.
Chester
I sure don't hear a thing. You're afire with fever, Mr. Dillon. You just might be imagining.
Matt Dillon
Now, you keep listening. You'll hear them. Yes, sir.
Chester
What I was gonna say was. While you was resting, I set out and took a look around. There's a cabin not more than a couple hundred yards away.
Matt Dillon
They're coming from the north.
Chester
I think you're right, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Look. Look through the trees there.
Chester
Indians. Could be them same renegades.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, maybe.
Chester
We sure better make for that cabin.
Matt Dillon
No, we're better off here. Trees will hide us. Unless they already know we're here. Just lie flat, Chester. They start through the trees. Fire.
Chester
You able to handle a gun ready for them? They're making right for us. Sure is seeing.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester
They'Re right at the trees.
Matt Dillon
Take it easy.
Chester
I sure ain't keen on them seeing us first.
Matt Dillon
They're riding right along the tree line, going on south.
Chester
I can't make them out anymore. You see him?
Matt Dillon
They're on past the thicket, but I can't see them.
Chester
I swear. That was close.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it's still close. Sounds like I stopped.
Chester
I counted six of them. Yeah, six.
Matt Dillon
That cabin. Where is it?
Chester
Afraid that's where they are. It's that direction. No more than a couple hundred yards away.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that's something better.
Chester
That's a welcome sound. For a fact.
Matt Dillon
You're talking about a deserted cabin, Chester.
Chester
I didn't see no signs of life. Likely been that way for years from the look of it.
Matt Dillon
You'll have to drag me, Chester. I can't mount again.
Chester
I'll get you there, mate. Done. Don't you fret yourself.
Matt Dillon
All right.
Chester
Ain't more than about 10 steps. You can make it, Ms. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
I. I don't know, Chester.
Chester
Come on, now. You just lean heavy on me. You make out you come no closer.
Nettie
Ma' am.
Chester
You can just put that shotgun away right now.
Nettie
I'll judge about the shooting. What ails him.
Chester
He's sharp and weak, ma' am. I gotta put him down inside.
Nettie
I never laid eyes on you before.
Chester
No, ma' am. We're clean from dodge city.
Matt Dillon
Just Mr. Dillon.
Chester
You all right, Mr. Dillon? Mr. Dillon?
Nettie
He dead?
Chester
No, ma' am. Not yet. Would you just try to help? Set that shotgun aside and help a body.
Nettie
How are you on food?
Chester
We got precious little, I'll tell you that.
Nettie
Blankets, shells. You got anything?
Chester
What I got is a mighty sick friend here, ma' am. And I'm lifting Him up right now and taking him in that cab.
Nettie
How much money have you got?
Chester
I don't know. A little. Hand it over once we're inside.
Nettie
I tell you, boy, I'd soon shoot the both of you jaw with you. I want your money and your gun.
Chester
There, now.
Nettie
Then his money too.
Chester
Oh, my goodness. Here. I'm bringing him inside now.
Nettie
Yeah, all right. But for this little bit of money, he ain't gonna be there long now. You're another weak one, are you?
Chester
Well, I'm carrying my weight in logs.
Nettie
Put him by the stove and quit whimpering. Soft bellies, the lot of you.
Chester
How is he?
Nettie
Ask him. He only making out he's sleeping.
Chester
Ms. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
You can't fool her, Chester. Don't try.
Chester
You sure did give me a fright. I wasn't sure you was gonna make it.
Matt Dillon
I'm all right.
Chester
She get the bullet out?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, and half of my leg, I think.
Nettie
Yeah, I seen new cubs with tougher hides.
Chester
You told me you knew what you was about.
Nettie
Now, you mind your tongue. I'm no mind to hear you, Ballard.
Matt Dillon
A cause to go at her, Chester. She did all right.
Chester
Well, she took everything we had, Mr. Dillon. Our guns, bullets, money. I never seen her life.
Nettie
You'd best quiet him. I buried four husbands. 20 children. Couple of strangers. Don't faze me.
Matt Dillon
You better get some sleep, Chester. She says you watched over me all night.
Chester
Well, now, if you need me, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
No, I'm fine. You go on now. You go to sleep, huh?
Doc
Yes, she.
Matt Dillon
Four husbands. Men.
Doc
Four.
Nettie
I outlived them. They was men. Regular men.
Matt Dillon
I can believe that.
Nettie
We didn't trifle with marshals, army folk. No days. Mr. Sitton and me lived as peaceable as could be with Indian folk. We come here peaceable.
Chester
Me and Mr. Sitton.
Matt Dillon
When was that?
Nettie
The 30s?
Matt Dillon
Things were different then.
Nettie
No different than with Mr. Griffith, Mr. Albright. Even later on with Mr. Netherton. There was lessons to learn in the west in them days. Eat the porridge.
Matt Dillon
Much obliged, ma' am.
Nettie
Nettie. How's that, Nettie? I say, Nettie. Sitting. I go by that. I can't abide being called ma' am. I lean toward Nettie.
Matt Dillon
Nettie. Nettie. You live alone in the middle of Ute country. How do you manage?
Nettie
I come by your guns. Such little money you had. Sometimes it's food, sometimes roads. I take what I can get. No matter to me if it's settlers or Scouts or US Marshals or Utes. Folks don't find Nettie lessen they're Lost a half dead. And open your eyes to see what they part with.
Matt Dillon
You always greet them with a shotgun?
Nettie
If need be.
Matt Dillon
Before we came here yesterday, a band of Ute braves stopped here.
Nettie
I got good arrows, strong bows, rifles. Even a couple of buffalo guns off a mountain man. Broke his leg down the canyon.
Matt Dillon
They got a camp near here. The Ute.
Nettie
You got something more to give me?
Matt Dillon
Chester says you cleaned us out.
Nettie
Then you're getting full measurements.
Chester
Hey, no. Here.
Nettie
Here. Now, you can't. Am I right? I ain't had a pretty first spell. That's a fact.
Chester
I bought that ring myself in St. Louis. Man's not satisfied they sleep in here.
Nettie
It'll fit just fine once I wrap some twine around it. Body's fingers thin with age.
Chester
I declare. Next thing I know, you will be picking my bones.
Nettie
Mind your tongue.
Matt Dillon
Give him his ring back.
Nettie
Oh, not likely. No.
Chester
Dylan. What Say you can't hit an old woman when she's so mean and contrary?
Matt Dillon
For one thing, her shotgun.
Nettie
I'd as soon use it as have a ruckus with you.
Matt Dillon
You take his ring. You give us something, Nettie.
Nettie
Oh, I do admire her. Pretty. I clean forgot the bright feeling.
Matt Dillon
They give you our guns for the ring, Nettie. That's fair.
Nettie
I come by your horses down by the creek this morning. They're grazing on my grass and swilling my water. The pretties to Pay for that, Mr. Joan.
Chester
I better go see to them horses.
Nettie
You'll stay where they're sick and ailing. I'll see to the horses.
Matt Dillon
You sayin he can't leave the cabin?
Nettie
Not alive, he can't. Well, you doggone.
Narrator
She means it, Chestnut.
Nettie
I do that now. I got tendin to do outside. No need peering around for your guns whilst I'm gone. You won't find them.
Chester
Mr. Dillon, we have got to get out of here.
Matt Dillon
We need horses to do it. Come here. Now steady me.
Chester
You ain't that stand yet.
Matt Dillon
You stand steady.
Chester
There.
Matt Dillon
Now. We'll have to crawl once we're outside. Anyway, I can manage to the door like as much.
Chester
He just crouched out there waiting for.
Matt Dillon
Well, it's worth a chance. We might not get another one. All right, get on your belly. Move small through the brush toward the stream. Can you see her?
Chester
No, I can't.
Matt Dillon
The stream. How far is it?
Chester
A good hundred yards, maybe more.
Matt Dillon
I don't see the horses.
Chester
I don't neither.
Matt Dillon
Flatten Chester. It's Ute.
Chester
She's talking to them Indians.
Matt Dillon
We're gonna have to go back, Chester.
Chester
To the cabin.
Matt Dillon
Without guns or horses, we're no good out here. Come.
Chester
What do you reckon she's done with her guns, Mr. Dylan?
Matt Dillon
Her? She might have eaten them.
Chester
Here, I'm steady after the walk.
Matt Dillon
I'd give a lot for some of her strength right now.
Chester
You reckon I could find them guns alone?
Matt Dillon
Get yourself killed doing it. That's no good, Chester. We're gonna have to wait.
Nettie
You just about as foolish as can be, ain't you? Crawling around in the brush out there. What's id?
Matt Dillon
Fresh air.
Nettie
You got no guns, no food. There's Utes all around. You don't think too good to get hides, do you?
Matt Dillon
Where are the horses, Nellie?
Nettie
Your color's coming back, sir.
Chester
You heard him. What about them horses?
Nettie
They bring a good price in these parts. I could get me a passer of things trading horses.
Matt Dillon
You're real friendly with the Ute, huh?
Nettie
They treat me good. Cause they know Mr. Sitton and me come peaceable to their country. Not to run em off. What right lays their land?
Chester
You ever seen em at their killing? Women, babies, no matter to them.
Nettie
Ever ask yourself who started it all? Well, I seen it happen. The whites and their guns moving in. It wasn't pretty work they did. Women and children too. That's a fact.
Matt Dillon
They let you live here? There's gotta be a reason.
Nettie
He come here like you for a shot, Ailin. White man's doing. Mr. Sitton and me, we took him in, tended him. He was a young chief then. But White Bear never forgot. Not in all these years.
Matt Dillon
White Bear's the oldest chief among the Ute now.
Nettie
He don't forget Neddy sitting. He's near to relation I got.
Matt Dillon
You're from another age, Nettie. You and White Bear.
Nettie
Maybe you got someone, a wife?
Matt Dillon
No, no wife.
Nettie
The mother's in.
Matt Dillon
I got her memory and a pair of earrings she always wore. That's all.
Nettie
Not on you. I'd have come on them.
Matt Dillon
They're back in Dodge City.
Nettie
Oh, that's a pity. That's a pity.
Matt Dillon
You think you can get the guns without waking her?
Chester
I can't make out good through a light, but I can fight an old woman in the dark.
Matt Dillon
Not long till sun up. This may be our last chance. Take it easy.
Nettie
Now. That's just close enough. I don't mind shooting one bit. Stealing upon an old woman. What kind of man are you?
Chester
You're a doggone witch, that's what you are. Seeing in the dark. And you ain't no kind of woman at all.
Nettie
Maybe not. Now, boy. But I was once more woman than you could imagine.
Matt Dillon
All right, shut up, both of you. Somebody's coming.
Nettie
They come earlier than I said.
Chester
It's them same Indians, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Nettie
Made you stand still, the pair of you.
Chester
Mr. Dillon, I swear I had my rival. I'd blow us up before I'd let them take us.
Matt Dillon
Maybe I'd help you, Chester.
Chester
She's out there right now trading for us. You know that.
Matt Dillon
Now get ready. Somebody's coming.
Nettie
Oh, now, that cut of beef will last me a good long time. It was a gift from my friend white bear for us. Oh, now then, you worth a sight more than that.
Chester
It's Dylan they're riding off.
Matt Dillon
You're sparing us, Nettie.
Nettie
Why sparing you?
Matt Dillon
You didn't tell them about us.
Chester
We didn't ask how come you're acting human so sudden like after near scaring us to death.
Nettie
I ain't gonna miss this boy. Anstituth of it. He's one ballin big mouth.
Matt Dillon
We'll be glad to get out of your way and trade for guns, our horses and a cut of your new beef.
Nettie
I've been thinking about them here bobs.
Matt Dillon
I've been thinking about our guns under my bed.
Nettie
These two horses saddled at the spring. Now them here bobs, there aren't a.
Matt Dillon
Strong box in Dodge city. You mean to ride back with us?
Nettie
I wouldn't be seen in daylight with you.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, well, I might get back this way someday. If I do, I'll bring him to.
Nettie
You for these old ears. Here, boy. Take your ring, pretty. It ain't for me. Not anymore.
Chester
I'll take it. I declare, I don't understand you at all.
Narrator
You.
Chester
You. You just beat the Dutch, that's what you do.
Nettie
If you was regular men, you'd find yourself a woman. Pretties don't belong on a man's hand. There ain't no strong box. Us women folk gives us that bright feeling having a pretty.
George Walsh
Gunsmoke, produced and directed in Hollywood by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, u. S. Marshal. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Kathleen Height with editorial supervision by John Meston. Featured in the cast was Virginia, Greg Harley bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. And now, here's a special word from our star.
Narrator
This is William Conrad. I've taken off the marshall's badge to remind you that the crusade for freedom is counting on our continued support to keep radio free Europe on the air. I might just mention over 90% of the refugees escaping Iron Curtain countries report that they were Radio Free Europe listeners. That means we're getting the truth through the jamming and past the propaganda barrage. Let's keep the truth alive. Keep faith with more than 76 million people who can rely on us for it. Send what you can now to the Crusade for Free Freedom, care of your post office.
George Walsh
This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story on gun Smoke.
Andrew Rines
This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve and Technogod and Craig who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com/copyright. Have a great day and thanks for listening.
Matt Dillon
Ra.
Episode: Nettie Sitton | Gunsmoke (05-01-60)
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: May 11, 2025
In this gripping episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast, titled Nettie Sitton | Gunsmoke, listeners are transported back to the rugged terrains of the Wild West. The story intricately weaves themes of survival, trust, and the complexities of frontier life, all while spotlighting the enigmatic character Nettie Sitton.
The episode opens with Matt Dillon arriving in a seemingly peaceful town, only to discover tension brewing beneath the surface. A confrontation unfolds between Matt, Chester, and Doc, highlighting the fragile state of the town and the lurking threats.
Matt Dillon [00:30]: "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 lonely."
[00:42]
As discussions between Matt and Chester hint at recent troubles with renegade Utes, Nettie Sitton makes her first appearance, adding ambiguity to the unfolding situation.
During an encounter with hostile forces, Chester sustains an injury, leading to a tense moment where Matt's resilience is tested.
Chester [03:13]: "How's your leg feel? Was you hit bad, Mr. Dillon?"
[03:39]
Despite the pain, Matt insists on pressing forward, showcasing his determination to confront the threats head-on.
The narrative thickens as Matt and Chester seek refuge in a deserted cabin, only to be confronted by Nettie Sitton. Her tough demeanor and assertive nature immediately establish her as a formidable presence.
Nettie Sitton [11:00]: "I buried four husbands. 20 children. A couple of strangers. Don't faze me."
[12:22]
Tensions escalate as Nettie demands their valuables, leading to a power struggle that reveals her intricate relationship with the Ute people and the land.
Through compelling dialogue, Nettie unveils her backstory, intertwining her fate with that of White Bear, the Ute chief. Her knowledge of both settler and Native American ways provides depth to her character.
Nettie Sitton [19:22]: "He comes here like you for a shot, Ailin. White man's doing. Mr. Sitton and me, we took him in, tended him. He was a young chief then. But White Bear never forgot. Not in all these years."
[19:42]
Matt's personal losses and Nettie's hardened persona create a poignant contrast, illustrating the human cost of frontier life.
As night falls, the impending threat from renegade Utes looms large. Matt and Chester find themselves outnumbered and outgunned, relying on Nettie's unexpected assistance to navigate the perilous situation.
Nettie Sitton [22:21]: "It's Dylan they're riding off."
[22:21]
The climax sees Nettie making a crucial decision to spare Matt and Chester, hinting at a possible future alliance and mutual respect.
In the aftermath, the characters reflect on their survival and the intricate dynamics that have developed. Nettie's complex character leaves listeners pondering her true intentions and the blurred lines between friend and foe.
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 lonely."
[00:42]
Nettie Sitton: "I buried four husbands. 20 children. A couple of strangers. Don't faze me."
[12:22]
Nettie Sitton: "He comes here like you for a shot, Ailin. White man's doing. Mr. Sitton and me, we took him in, tended him. He was a young chief then. But White Bear never forgot. Not in all these years."
[19:42]
Nettie Sitton: "It's Dylan they're riding off."
[22:21]
Survival and Resilience: Matt Dillon's unwavering commitment to his duty, even when injured, underscores the theme of resilience in the face of adversity.
Trust and Betrayal: The uneasy alliance between Matt, Chester, and Nettie explores the fragile nature of trust on the frontier.
Cultural Conflicts: Nettie's interactions reveal the deep-seated tensions between settlers and Native American tribes, highlighting historical conflicts and personal vendettas.
Isolation and Loneliness: The characters' solitary experiences emphasize the emotional toll of life in the Wild West.
Old Time Radio Westerns masterfully brings to life the enduring saga of Matt Dillon and the enigmatic Nettie Sitton. This episode intricately blends action, drama, and rich character development, offering listeners a vivid portrayal of life on the frontier. Through meticulously restored audio, the podcast not only pays homage to classic Western radio dramas but also breathes new life into timeless tales of courage, conflict, and camaraderie.
For those new to the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast, this episode serves as a compelling entry point, showcasing the series' commitment to preserving and enhancing classic Western narratives. Whether you're a fan of the genre or exploring it for the first time, Nettie Sitton | Gunsmoke promises an engaging and immersive listening experience.