
Original Air Date: October 18, 1959Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Jeanne Bates• Joseph Kearns• Di...
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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.
Matt Dillon
Around Dodge City and in the territory on west, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's where the U.S. marshal and the Smell of Gun Smoke. Gun Sport, starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. And the story of a man who moved with it. I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
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Chester Proudfoot
Oh, Mr. Dillon. Ain't this a fine morning, though? Little nippy maybe, but just fine.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Indian summer hanging on. Winter holding off. You know, Chester, this time of year, I wouldn't trade western Kansas for everything east of the Mississippi. Oh, good morning, Caleb, I've been waiting.
Chester Proudfoot
In this jail office for a full two hours. What time do you start work, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Chester, you know Caleb Andrews, don't you?
Chester Proudfoot
Oh, yes, sir. How are you, Mr. Andrews? Marshal, I have an order here from the U.S. district Court. I believe it's your job to serve such orders.
Matt Dillon
It is. I don't get them often, though. Now, order of foreclosure and eviction on Ed Blake. Caleb, why are you doing this to Ed?
Chester Proudfoot
The man borrowed money from me and gave me a mortgage on his farm and household effects. He can't pay it.
Matt Dillon
It only came due three days ago. You sure didn't waste any time.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, I'm not interested in your opinions, Marshall Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Amount of the mortgage, $420. What do you need with $420? You own half of Ford county right.
Chester Proudfoot
Now, Marshall, it's not your place.
Matt Dillon
You know as well as I do why Ed Blake can't pay this off. His horse rolled on him last spring and broke his leg. And then his wife and kid nearly broke their backs trying to get a crop out.
Chester Proudfoot
I didn't come here to listen.
Matt Dillon
If you'd let this ride on through the winter, you'd get your money out of it. But if you go ahead and foreclose now, you're gonna wipe him out.
Chester Proudfoot
Marshall, I already have foreclosed.
Matt Dillon
Now, you'd break a man for $420 that you don't even need, huh?
Chester Proudfoot
As I said, your opinions don't interest me. All I expect from you is to serve those papers.
Matt Dillon
All right, I'll serve them.
Chester Proudfoot
You'll notice they're to be served today.
Matt Dillon
I said I'd serve them. Now get out. What? Sire, this office belongs to the United States government. And as far as I know, that's one thing you've got no mortgage on. So get out.
Chester Proudfoot
You may find I have some influence in Washington, Marshal Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Let's see if you can get me a decent salary for this rotten job I've got.
Chester Proudfoot
Sure was A fine morning, Ms. Dunn.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it sure was. All right, Chester, let's saddle.
Chester Proudfoot
I didn't care. There's one job I sure wish we didn't have to do, Mr. Dun. Yeah, he sure is a nice farm. Ed and Martha put in a lot of work here the last four years.
Matt Dillon
Chester, we don't have any choice.
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, sir. I know. Get that down right, Sheen.
Martha Blake
Hey, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Oh, boy. Well, hello, Jimmy.
Martha Blake
Look, you know what I got, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Looks to me like a mighty dead coyote.
Martha Blake
He's been killing my chicken. So last night I hid out behind the barn. I got him with one shot, Marshall, and there wasn't even a full move.
Matt Dillon
That's fine, Jimmy.
Martha Blake
Matt Dillon. How are you?
Matt Dillon
Morning, Martha.
Martha Blake
And Chester, too.
Chester Proudfoot
Mrs. Blake.
Martha Blake
Glad to see you. Get down and come on in.
Matt Dillon
Well, thank you, Jimmy.
Martha Blake
Now that you showed that thing to Marshall, Dylan, take it away somewhere. All right. He's real proud of those chickens of his, and he's done fine with them. Oh, here I am, though, keeping you standing out here in the yard. Come on, let's go inside.
Matt Dillon
Well, we really can't stay, Martha.
Kitty Russell
Oh, nonsense.
Martha Blake
You don't get out here once in a kunze.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know, but.
Martha Blake
And you're just in time. Your favorite dish, Matt. I was just about to take it out of the oven when you rolled cornbread.
Matt Dillon
Buttermilk. Cornbread.
Martha Blake
Right. Ed's not here. But you will stay, won't you?
Matt Dillon
Oh, Ed's away?
Martha Blake
Yes, he's in town. Matt, you're not yourself. What is it?
Matt Dillon
Well, Martha, I suppose I ought to talk to Ed about this, but maybe it'd be better if he hears it from you. Here's what I've got. A court order here has to do with that mortgage of Caleb Andrews. It's an order of foreclosure and eviction and sale.
Kitty Russell
No.
Martha Blake
Oh, no.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, here it is.
Martha Blake
We were so sure he'd extended. So sure. Matt, how. How long before we have to get out?
Matt Dillon
Five days.
Martha Blake
So soon? You were right, Matt. It is better that Ed hears it from me. Coming on top of everything else.
Matt Dillon
Martha, if there's anything I can do, you know, you just let me know.
Martha Blake
Matt, I don't blame you for this. I understand. Come on in now and have some cornbread with us.
Matt Dillon
Well, I couldn't. I'm sorry. Thanks anyway, Martha, but I. I'm just not very hu.
Kitty Russell
Matt, you've looked low all week.
Matt Dillon
Well, it's just things in general, Kenny. You know, sometimes you get to wondering if it's all worth it.
Chester Proudfoot
It's the Blakes that's bothering you, isn't it, Matt?
Matt Dillon
Chester was telling me Chester talks too much.
Kitty Russell
That's not your fault, Matt. Somebody had to serve the orders.
Matt Dillon
And somebody has to be a hangman, too.
Chester Proudfoot
Life's never all good. Math is always a little bad, isn't it?
Matt Dillon
And on my job, it's more than a little. Doc.
Kitty Russell
Try making your living sometime as a dance hall girl.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I guess so. But, you know, when you have to go out and boot somebody like the Blakes off their land and out of their Home. Then you. You just start wondering what is right and what is wrong.
Kitty Russell
Well, if you find out, Matt, that means.
Chester Proudfoot
Oh, here you are, Marshall. I. I stopped by the jail.
Matt Dillon
All right, Caleb, what's on your mind?
Chester Proudfoot
That Blake family, they were supposed to vacate today, and they haven't done it. I rode by there a little while ago.
Matt Dillon
According to the court order, they got until sundown.
Chester Proudfoot
Now, look, Marshall, I believe I prefer to discuss our business elsewhere than in the presence of this. This woman.
Matt Dillon
Just a minute, Caleb.
Kitty Russell
Matt, I'll go.
Matt Dillon
No, Caleb. You're going to apologize to Ms. Russell right now.
Kitty Russell
Matt, no.
Chester Proudfoot
Apologize? I'm not going to apologize to any cheap little scumbit.
Kitty Russell
Matthew shouldn't have done it.
Matt Dillon
Sam. Yeah? Take him outside and throw some water on him, will you?
Jack
Sure.
Matt Dillon
Sure.
Chester Proudfoot
Matt.
Matt Dillon
Charlie, come here.
Chester Proudfoot
He'll do everything he can to harm you now, Matt. He'll take it out on the Blakes too.
Matt Dillon
Maybe. Look, I just got an idea. I'll see you later.
Jack
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Chester Proudfoot
Matt. The mere fact a man runs a bank doesn't always mean he has a free hand in everything he does. Bank has stockholders, board of directors. I have to listen to them.
Matt Dillon
Well, I think they'd approve the loan, Mr. Buckin.
Chester Proudfoot
Another thing. Caleb Andrews is the biggest account I've got. He's out to get that Blake farm. I crossed him by making this loan you suggest, Matt, he'd break me.
Matt Dillon
I see. All right, Mr. Balkan. Forget it.
Chester Proudfoot
Matt, I realize I'm under obligation to you. You saved my life that time the James brothers held me up. Saved the bank, too.
Matt Dillon
In fact, that was part of my job. That's no obligation. I was just asking you as a friend to help out another friend.
Chester Proudfoot
Matt, I'd like to do it, but I just can't. Don't you See?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, sure. Forget it.
Chester Proudfoot
I've got to think of my wife and the two girls.
Matt Dillon
Of course you have.
Chester Proudfoot
It's not that I don't want to help.
Matt Dillon
I understand, Mr. Buckin. Forget.
Martha Blake
There.
Chester Proudfoot
That ought to hold it a while. That fire feels kind of good, Mr. Dunn. Getting chilly south tonight.
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, sir. When winter sets in, it always makes you feel good to know you got a warm place to hold up. Be mighty rough to. To.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I was thinking of the same thing. Chester, you.
Chester Proudfoot
You reckon they vacated this afternoon?
Matt Dillon
I don't know. We were right out there in the morning. Let's find out. Yeah. Come in. Can we bother you, Ed? Come on in, Martha. Hello, Jimmy. Come on up the stove. Yeah. Fact is, Matt, we kind of like to impose on you for tonight. We don't have any place to go or no money and well wondered we could sleep in the jail. Well, sure, sure. Chester, will you get a fire going back there?
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, mister.
Matt Dillon
And take some blankets out of the storeroom, huh?
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, sir. Wanna come help me, Jimmy?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. You're going along with Chester, son. Ed, we may as well get your stuff out of the wagon. Well, there ain't any wagon, Matt, when you walked into town. But you walk well without a leg wagon. The stock, all the household goods, they're all covered in that mortgage, you see. So we didn't take anything.
Chester Proudfoot
Clothes on our backs.
Matt Dillon
Ah, Ed, so help me, I.
Martha Blake
It's all right, Mav. We know how you feel. After all, we started with nothing before and we can do it again.
Matt Dillon
There's no reason you should have to.
Martha Blake
We do have to, though.
Kitty Russell
And that's that.
Chester Proudfoot
Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. What is it, Chester?
Chester Proudfoot
It's Jimmy. He grabbed a rifle from the rack and took out the back way. I couldn't stop.
Martha Blake
Where on earth is he going?
Matt Dillon
I know where he's going. And heaven help him if we don't catch him.
Chester Proudfoot
That's a little Caleb's house here on the corner. Looks dark.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. He may not be at home.
Chester Proudfoot
Ain't no sign of the boy around.
Matt Dillon
But it's 10 to 1 this is where he headed for. Chester, there's somebody back of that tree there to left.
Chester Proudfoot
Oh, yeah. Reckon it's him?
Matt Dillon
I don't know. Just keep on walking. Jimmy, it's me, Matt Dillon.
Martha Blake
Go away, Marshall. You better go away now.
Matt Dillon
Well, I can't do that, Jimmy. You're a friend of mine and I figure you're waiting here to do something you'd be sorry for and I can't let you do that.
Martha Blake
Nothing you can do about it, Marshall.
Jack
I got a gun.
Martha Blake
You're not gonna kill him. You go in and leave me alone.
Matt Dillon
Jimmy, I know how you feel. I don't like Caleb either. But killing him is no answer.
Martha Blake
Stop. Marshall. Stay where you are. Don't come any closer.
Matt Dillon
I have to, Jimmy. It's my job. So if you're gonna go through with this, I guess you're gonna have to kill me first.
Martha Blake
Stay back.
Matt Dillon
Sorry, Jimmy. I don't have a choice. But you do, Marshall. Now give me the rifle.
Martha Blake
I couldn't shoot you, Marshall. You know that.
Matt Dillon
Sure.
Martha Blake
I kept waking up nights and hearing mom crying. Dad had set up all night without the lamp lit. And no fire. Not saying anything, just sitting.
Matt Dillon
Take it easy now.
Martha Blake
Why is he doing it to us, Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Jimmy, will you do something for a friend?
Martha Blake
If you say so.
Matt Dillon
All right. Take that rifle back to the jail, put it in a rack and you go to bed.
Chester Proudfoot
You promise?
Martha Blake
I promise. Mr. Dillon, I'm sorry. I'll do like you say.
Matt Dillon
All right, Jimmy. Good night, son.
Kitty Russell
Well, I could have told you Mr. Botkin wouldn't do anything. Matthew, he wouldn't dare. He'd be scared Caleb would take his money out of the bank.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that's about what he said. I don't know, Kitty. I've done everything I can think of.
Kitty Russell
Now, the worst of it is everybody in town is just as scared of Caleb as Mr. Botkin is. I doubt if they'll even have the nerve to bid against him at the sale.
Matt Dillon
I know they probably got the place at not much more than the amount of the mortgage.
Kitty Russell
$420. Matt, I've seen more than that change hands across the poker table in one deal. And to think that's all it takes to Kitty. Oh, yeah.
Jack
Jack.
Matt Dillon
Jack.
Chester Proudfoot
I'm not usually one to eavesdrop on people, but I have been listening to you two. The reason I butted in, Miss Kitty, I heard you talking about these people losing their home. I don't know. This fellow Blake, he's never done any business over my blackjack table and probably never will.
Kitty Russell
No, I don't think he's ever been in here.
Chester Proudfoot
Then I don't know. I don't know if this will make sense, but the thing is, I left home when I was 10 years old and I've been drifting ever since. When I see somebody like this Blake that sticks it out and works and fights and then gets her ordeal. Well, what I'm getting at here's $50, if that'll help many.
Kitty Russell
Well, this is pretty decent of you, Jack. Thanks.
Chester Proudfoot
Sure.
Kitty Russell
Matt. I said a while ago that nearly everyone in town was afraid of Caleb. Well, it looks like there's some who aren't like Jack and the other dealers and the girls and the bartenders. Matt, I can raise $420 right here in the Long Branch.
Matt Dillon
I think maybe you could, Kitty.
Kitty Russell
And do as well as Jack, too. Here's 50 for me, boys. Everybody listen to me for a minute. Quiet down. Quiet down. I got something to say.
Jack
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Matt Dillon
Allie's sure taking his time getting here, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, I told him what you said, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
How to bring him to the office on the run, if anything will. Anytime. Caleb figures he's about to lose a dollar or two. It's hitting him where it hurts.
Chester Proudfoot
The bike's turned in for the night, have they?
Matt Dillon
I guess so. It's quiet back there.
Chester Proudfoot
Marshall, what's this all about?
Matt Dillon
Shut the door, Caleb.
Chester Proudfoot
Now, would you mind telling me why I've been called here at this time of night?
Matt Dillon
Sure. Here's $420. Blakes want to pay off that mortgage. Oh.
Chester Proudfoot
Oh, they do, do they?
Matt Dillon
The court costs? Up to now, I'll probably run about $10. I'll pay that myself.
Chester Proudfoot
That's mighty generous of you. Good night, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
It's a deal then.
Chester Proudfoot
I'm not the least bit interested in having that mortgage paid off, Marshal Dillon. The Blake farm is worth about $2,000 now. In five years, it'll be worth three times that much. Land's going up in Ford county, so I don't want the money. I want the farm. When it's put up for sale, I'll get it at my own price. That foreclosure still goes, I see. Oh. Good night, gentlemen. Well, I guess that's that.
Matt Dillon
I don't know why I ever thought he'd take the money. The Blakes won't get a cent out of the sale. He'll scare everybody off and bid it in a few dollars over the amount of the mortgage. And nobody in to even try to. I think I'll even try to try.
Chester Proudfoot
To what, Mr. Jones?
Matt Dillon
Chester, I'm going over and wake up Mr. Buck and I got an idea and if it works, we'll hold that sale at noon tomorrow.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, that's pretty short notice to find the auctioneer.
Matt Dillon
I don't need an auctioneer, Chester. This one I'm going to run myself. All right, all right. All of you know what we're here for. This is a foreclosure sale of the property and the household effects of Edward and Martha Blake. Ordered by the court at the request of that fine spirited, good hearted public benefactor, Caleb Andrews.
Chester Proudfoot
All right, all right, get on with it. Get on with the sale.
Matt Dillon
All right. Now the first item I'm offering is a breadboard.
Chester Proudfoot
Marshal Dillon, may I suggest you lump the household effects together and offer them as one bulk item?
Matt Dillon
I'm sorry, Caleb, I'd rather offer them one at a time. Unless of course you'd care to waive all claim to the household effects and withdraw them from the order of foreclosure.
Chester Proudfoot
I waive the claim. The household goods are withdrawn. Now get onto the house and land.
Matt Dillon
So ordered. Now the Item offered is 160 acres of tillable land, a four room house and a barn. Now, I won't read through this description. You all know the property. It's a good farm. The amount of the mortgage is $420 held by Caleb Andrews. All right, the bidding's open. What have I offered?
Chester Proudfoot
$450.
Matt Dillon
I have $450 from Caleb Andrews. Do I hear another bid? Now the farm's worth 2,000. You gonna let him have it for $4.50? How about another bidder?
Chester Proudfoot
Mr. Dillon?
Matt Dillon
Yes, what is it, Chester?
Chester Proudfoot
I have been thinking some lately of getting me a little place like this and settling down. I'll bid a thousand dollars.
Matt Dillon
I have $1,000 from Chester Proudfoot. Do I hear another bid?
Chester Proudfoot
Why, it's a trick. He doesn't.
Matt Dillon
What?
Chester Proudfoot
This place.
Matt Dillon
$1,000 going what? 1200. Caleb Andrews bids 1,200. What do you say, Chester?
Chester Proudfoot
Well, I think I kindly like this farm. 1500.
Matt Dillon
The bid is $1,500. Going once.
Chester Proudfoot
1600.
Matt Dillon
1600 from Mr. Andrews. Mr. Proudfoot.
Chester Proudfoot
$8,420. He never had that much money in his whole life.
Matt Dillon
Do I hear another Bid. Say, Caleb, do you think I'm a fool? Going once, going twice. Sold to chester Proudfoot for $8,420. The buyer will come forward and complete the sale.
Chester Proudfoot
Don't you worry. Then, Mr. Andrew, I. I got it right here. Now, let's see. There's 8,000 in $500 bills. And here's the 420. Where did you ever get that much in cash? Well, I save my pay, Mr. Andrews. And then, of course, I. I only drink mostly beer and it adds up after a while.
Matt Dillon
Oh, Caleb. I guess $420 of this is yours. That takes care of the mortgage. Well, Ed, looks like you made a pretty fair profit on the place. A lot better than I expected, Matt. But I'd still rather have the farm than the month.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, Ed, I have been sort of thinking it over. Maybe I kind of lost my head. When you come right down to it, I don't know what I would do with a farm. So if you'd like to buy it, I'll take a four hundred twenty dollar loss and sell it back to you.
Martha Blake
For eight thousand cash.
Matt Dillon
That's done. And here's the money.
Chester Proudfoot
It's unheard of. They can't do it, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
As far as I know, there's no law against a man selling his own property. And now, the way I see it, Mr. Andrews, right this minute you're a trespasser on my property. So come on now, let's go.
Chester Proudfoot
You care about this?
Matt Dillon
Please.
Chester Proudfoot
You mean. And stop pushing me.
Matt Dillon
You better get that $8,000 back to the bank. Mr. Botkin's probably worrying himself into a breakdown for fear somebody will find out he let us have it.
Chester Proudfoot
Yeah. All right, Mr. Dylan. I'll. I'll see you in town later.
Jack
All right, Math.
Martha Blake
Matt, I don't know how we can ever thank you for what you've done.
Matt Dillon
Not me, Martha. Thank the bunch that work at the Long branch. Now, they're bums and drifters, most of them. But when Kitty told them the story, they really came through.
Martha Blake
We'll pay it back, Matt. Every cent of it. And that girl, Kitty. I guess I've said some hard things about her in the past, but. Matt, will you ask her to come out to dinner some afternoon? I'd like to thank her myself.
Matt Dillon
Sure, I'll ask her, Martha. I think she'll appreciate that even more than you know.
Jack
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Matt Dillon
Gun Smoke, 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 Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. Featured in the cast were Gene Bates, Joseph Kearns, Dick Beals, Jack Moyles, Lawrence Dobkin and James Musser. Marley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. This is George Walsh inviting you to join us again next week when CBS Radio presents another story of the Western frontier when Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Doc and Kitty, together with all the other hard living citizens of Dodge, will be with you once more. It's America growing west in the 1870s. It's 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 the following ranch hand Steve 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 copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Jack
You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, Sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, Sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts. Just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.
Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast Summary
Episode Title: The Mortgage | Gunsmoke (10-18-59)
Host: Andrew Rines
Release Date: February 2, 2025
In this episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast, host Andrew Rines presents a digitally restored version of the classic Gunsmoke episode titled "The Mortgage." Set in the rugged landscape of Dodge City and the surrounding territory, the story delves into the challenges faced by the Blake family as they confront foreclosure and eviction, highlighting the moral dilemmas inherent in law enforcement and personal integrity.
Act 1: The Foreclosure Order
The episode opens with Chester Proudfoot presenting Matt Dillon with a court order for the foreclosure and eviction of Ed Blake’s farm due to an unpaid mortgage of $420. Matt, understanding the dire circumstances of the Blakes, tries to persuade Chester to reconsider:
Matt Dillon [04:08]: "It only came due three days ago. You sure didn't waste any time."
Matt Dillon [04:25]: "You own half of Ford county right."
Despite Matt's appeals, Chester remains resolute in his duty, emphasizing the uncompromising nature of their roles.
Act 2: Confrontation with the Blakes
Upon serving the eviction papers, Matt visits the Blakes, where Martha shares the hardships they've endured:
Martha Blake [07:19]: "We were so sure he'd extended. So sure."
Matt offers his assistance, but the weight of his responsibilities leaves him conflicted:
Matt Dillon [09:08]: "And somebody has to be a hangman, too."
Act 3: Internal Struggles and Community Support
Matt grapples with the ethical implications of his job, questioning the morality of enforcing harsh financial decisions. Meanwhile, Chester Proudfoot seeks assistance from Matt to navigate the bank's rigid policies, revealing deeper corporate pressures:
Chester Proudfoot [12:09]: "Bank has stockholders, board of directors. I have to listen to them."
Kitty Russell observes the growing tension and takes initiative to rally community support, offering funds to help the Blakes avoid foreclosure.
Act 4: The Auction and Resolution
Determined to save the Blakes, Matt orchestrates an impromptu auction. Chester Proudfoot attempts to outbid, but Kitty's unexpected generosity shifts the tide:
Kitty Russell [19:13]: "Matt, I can raise $420 right here in the Long Branch."
With the community's backing, the Blakes secure their farm, and Chester Proudfoot faces the repercussions of his actions. The episode concludes with Matt reaffirming the importance of compassion and solidarity within the community.
Matt Dillon [09:04]: "And somebody has to be a hangman, too."
Chester Proudfoot [12:25]: "Matt, I realize I'm under obligation to you. You saved my life that time the James brothers held me up. Saved the bank, too."
Martha Blake [16:33]: "I kept waking up nights and hearing mom crying. Dad had set up all night without the lamp lit. And no fire. Not saying anything, just sitting."
Kitty Russell [19:13]: "Matt, I can raise $420 right here in the Long Branch."
Moral Dilemmas in Law Enforcement: Matt Dillon's internal conflict highlights the delicate balance between duty and personal ethics, a recurring theme in Gunsmoke.
Community Solidarity: The episode underscores the power of community support in overcoming adversity, as seen through Kitty Russell’s efforts to save the Blake family.
Impact of Financial Hardship: "The Mortgage" poignantly illustrates the devastating effects of financial struggles on families, emphasizing the human element behind economic transactions.
Corruption and Integrity: Chester Proudfoot’s character serves as a foil to Matt Dillon, representing the corrupting influence of power and greed, and the challenges of maintaining integrity within rigid systems.
"The Mortgage" is a compelling narrative that blends suspense, emotional depth, and moral inquiry. Through the interactions of well-developed characters and a tightly woven plot, the episode offers listeners a profound exploration of justice, compassion, and community in the unforgiving terrain of the Wild West. Andrew Rines' dedication to digital restoration ensures that this timeless tale is presented with enhanced clarity and richness, inviting both new listeners and long-time fans to immerse themselves in the enduring legacy of Gunsmoke.
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