Woman Called Mary | Gunsmoke (01-27-57)

Summary

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Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: "Woman Called Mary" | Gunsmoke (01-27-57)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: January 27, 1957
Podcast Date: February 14, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, Andrew Rhynes presents a digitally restored classic Gunsmoke drama, "Woman Called Mary". The story centers on Buffalo Mary, a hardworking washerwoman in Dodge City, who is violently robbed of her life savings by a local bully, Reb Sutter. Marshal Matt Dillon seeks justice, not just in arresting Reb, but in finding a way for true restitution. The episode explores themes of justice, hardship, redemption, and the power of community in the Old West.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life in Dodge City and Buffalo Mary's Hardship

• Introduction to Buffalo Mary:
  • Chester and Matt Dillon remark on Mary's tireless work (04:09-05:11).
  • Mary describes her day: "If it ain't washing the line in the Packard and water for the tub, cutting firewood to heat them..." (05:13).
  • She's perpetually busy and harried, reflecting the realities for single women on the frontier.

2. The Assault and Theft

• Mary’s Bad Luck:
  • Mary describes suffering a violent attack; her bruises and black eye are obvious.
  • She initially doesn't want to trouble the Marshal:

    "He said he'd come back and do for me if I was to tell." – Mary (06:26)

  • The perpetrator, Reb Sutter, stole her savings:

    "He made me tell him before he was through. Took me two years. $48... just gone." – Mary (06:44)

• Both Matt Dillon and Chester are roused to action, appalled at Reb's cruelty.

3. The Arrest at the Long Branch Saloon

• Confrontation:
  • Kitty reports to Matt that Reb Sutter is causing trouble in the saloon (07:49).
  • Matt arrests Reb, confronting his lies and extracting a confession through clever questioning:

    Matt: "There's a law against beating people up and stealing their life savings." (08:46)

    Matt: "I didn't mention any details." (08:59)

• The arrest turns physical as Reb refuses to go quietly, leading to a fight and eventual handcuffing (09:56).

4. Unsatisfactory Justice

• Aftermath:
  • Mary learns that her money is gone for good—Reb has spent it all in one night of drinking.

    "Two years of hard work and he drunk it all up in one day." – Mary (11:38)

    "Seems like there ought to be a better way somehow. Something that's got more justice in it..." – Mary (11:54)

  • Matt replies with resignation:

    "I'm sorry, Mary, but I guess that's about all I can say." (12:05)

• The inadequacy of frontier justice, where legal punishment can't undo the harm, is a key theme.

5. Doc, Chester, and the Tonic Debate

• Comic Relief:
  • Doc and Chester have a lighthearted debate about patent medicines and nerves, illustrating the everyday life and camaraderie of Dodge citizens (13:30-15:07).
  • Notable exchange:

    Doc: "That tonic of Thunder Bull's is 60% hogwash and 60% raw gut whiskey." (14:08) Chester: "You can't have no 120% of nothing!" (14:19)

• This interlude offers a glimpse into the characters outside their law-enforcement roles.

6. Restitution Over Retribution: Matt’s Solution

• A Path to Redemption for Reb:
  • Matt proposes to Reb that, rather than simply serve time, he can work off his debt by helping Mary—fetching water, cutting wood, and supporting her daily needs (16:20-17:54).
  • Matt's faith in Reb’s ability to change:

    "You've got a good strong back..."

    "How long'll I have to do it, Marshal?"
    "Well, let's say until everybody agrees you've done enough. If you stick to it and play square, the case will be dismissed." (17:19-17:54)

• Reb accepts, motivated by a desire to reclaim his self-respect:

  "Ain't nice to know the only reason people know your name is because you beat up old woman..." – Reb (18:09)

7. Final Resolution & Mary’s Remarkable Forgiveness

• Two Months Later:
  • Mary visits Matt and Chester (18:57), reporting that Reb has been working exceptionally hard; she's saved more money and has enough wood to last years (19:13-19:58).
  • Matt suggests leaving it to Reb's own conscience to determine when his debt is paid:

    "There's a funny thing about justice, Mary. Sometimes it's all bound up with a person's conscience." – Matt Dillon (19:58)

• Mary is moved, grateful for Matt and Chester’s help despite their greater responsibilities:

  "Mighty obliged and grateful to you for letting more important things stand by while you took time to help with nobody like me." – Mary (12:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On hardship:

  "To tell you the truth, Marshal, if the day was two hours longer, I'd still be short of time." – Mary (05:05)

• On justice:

  "Seems like there ought to be a better way somehow. Something that's got more justice in it. I mean, going to jail ain't gonna get me my money back." – Mary (11:54)

• On redemption:

  "I ain't gonna run away. You see, I've been doing a lot of thinking these last two days. It ain't nice to know the only reason people know your name is because you beat up old woman." – Reb (18:01)

• On true justice:

  "There's a funny thing about justice, Mary. Sometimes it's all bound up with a person's conscience." – Matt Dillon (19:58)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & scene setting: 02:28–03:05
• Mary’s plight revealed: 04:09–06:44
• Arresting Reb Sutter: 07:49–09:56
• Aftermath & law falls short: 11:29–12:24
• Comic relief (Doc & Chester): 13:30–15:07
• Alternative sentencing proposal: 16:10–17:54
• Mary’s forgiveness & new beginning: 18:44–19:58
• Matt on justice & redemption: 19:58–20:08

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Conclusion

This episode of Gunsmoke, "Woman Called Mary," stands as a poignant example of the Western’s moral complexity. Rather than settling for hollow retribution, Matt Dillon creates space for real atonement and restoration, giving dignity to both victim and perpetrator. The story’s heart is in its empathy for those struggling on the frontier—and in reminding listeners that true justice sometimes goes beyond what the law can mete out.

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Transcript

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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 January 27, 1957 and the title is Woman Called Mary.

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[Narrator]

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 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.

[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 lone.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Nice morning, ain't it Mr. Dillon? For this time of year, you just couldn't ask for no better weather. By golly, even the horses like it.

[Matt Dillon]

I think they're more interested in that water trough than they are in the weather, Chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, there's old Buffalo Mary filling her wash bucket. I sure hope she ain't stirred up all the sludge off the bottom.

[Matt Dillon]

Sludge doesn't bother the horses.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, it does me. It's warm enough this morning. I figured I might wash up a little.

[Matt Dillon]

You know, you've been saying that every morning for two weeks until you find out how cold the water is.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I know, But I got McCurry just better today.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, sure. Morning, Mary.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Morning, Ms. Mary. Mar.

[Mary Alice]

I didn't hear you, Tall. Reckon my faculties are starting to go.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, you were just too busy, that's all.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Doggone if that water ain't still pretty cold.

[Matt Dillon]

I figured it would be. How's the world been treating you, Mary?

[Mary Alice]

I reckon I don't see much of the world, Marshall, except Miss Dirty Clothes.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I get the same feeling sometimes. Are you keeping busy?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Are you?

[Mary Alice]

To tell you the truth, Marshall, the day was two hours longer, I'd still be short of time.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll set up.

[Mary Alice]

If it ain't washing the line in the Packard and water for the tub, cutting firewood to heat them. Oh, you're tired for a night.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sometimes I could just drop right in the track.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[Mary Alice]

I've been aiming to come by the jail and get them shirts of yours past two days. I'll do it right now, Marsha. I'll leave my buckets here.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, no, no, Mary. Chance I can drop them off this afternoon sometime.

[Mary Alice]

Well, big time for help, if it ain't too much trouble.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, it ain't no trouble. Call Miss Mary.

[Mary Alice]

That's mighty kind of you, Mr. Proudfoot.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, I'm glad to do.

[Mary Alice]

Truth is, I'm. Well, I'm a little put out today. Piece of bad luck, as you might say. But I'm much obliged to you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

It's as good as done, man.

[Matt Dillon]

What kind of bad luck, Larry?

[Mary Alice]

Oh, nothing at all, Marshall. I wouldn't even bother your mind with it.

[Matt Dillon]

Has that bruise on your jaw and that black eye got anything to do with it?

[Mary Alice]

I'd rather you just forget I said anything, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

What happened, Larry?

[Mary Alice]

He said he'd come back and do for me if I was to tell.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, for land, he'd come back and do for you.

[Mary Alice]

It is Reb, sort of.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Why, that no count bully's been in more meaning than shake a stick.

[Matt Dillon]

Why did he do it, Mary? What reason did he have?

[Mary Alice]

The truth must be. Oh, my greatness, I had him buried in My cabinet. I wouldn't tell him where. He made me tell him before he was through. Took me two years. $48 ever since I got.

[Chester Proudfoot]

How do you say, he ought to be hung?

[Mary Alice]

I weren't going to say nothing, Marshall. Even if he hadn't threatened me, I wasn't aiming to put you to no bother.

[Matt Dillon]

It's not me who's going to be bothered.

[Mary Alice]

Mary had got you with something big and important.

[Chester Proudfoot]

It's important.

[Matt Dillon]

And by the time I get through with him, Reb Su is going to realize it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

That fella sure has a dog done at its luck, Mr. Dylan.

[Matt Dillon]

We'll find him.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, I think of him taking old Buffalo Mary, saving as hard as she works. My blood just starts to froth up. Miss Kitty.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello, Kitty.

[Mary Alice]

I've been looking all over for you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, there's a job for you in the long branch.

[Matt Dillon]

That's the trouble.

[Mary Alice]

We got one of those mean ones tonight. Drinking too much, pushing people around, trying to get a fight started.

[Matt Dillon]

All right, I'll go have a look. Who is it?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Reb Sutter. Reb Sutter.

[Matt Dillon]

And we found him. Chester. Come on.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, yell. That's what's the matter with you. I seem all right. I just stood up here and told you all I can whip any man in this room. Ain't no one of you got the blood and gumption to save me. No on it.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe they're just going easy on you, Sutter. Well, now, it ain't the marshal.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Some lily liver come after you, I reckon.

[Matt Dillon]

Matter of fact, I came after you.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Law against talking music.

[Matt Dillon]

There's a law against beating people up and stealing their life savings. She's a liar.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I wasn't even near there last night. And if she said. I mean she.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you mean, she? Who says, Sutter? Near where? I didn't mention any details.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I don't know nothing about it.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, maybe it'll come to you.

[Narrator]

You're under arrest.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, pull out your wrist. I reckon I could put handcuffs on.

[Chester Proudfoot]

A man, too, if I was wearing a gun and he wasn't.

[Matt Dillon]

You've always played it safe that way. I'm just sort of never wearing a gun. If you had somebody that killed you a long time ago.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Ain't nobody got much taste for going at it my way, though, unnoticed.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe it's time somebody didn't.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I offered, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Nobody took, that's all. Chester. Here, take my gun, will you? All right, Chief. All right. Reb, I've already told you, you're under arrest. I heard you and I'm gonna put these handcuffs on you one way or the other.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Ain't never been handcuffed yet, Marshall. I don't reckon I'm starting tonight.

[Matt Dillon]

Uh huh.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Chapter. Yes sir.

[Matt Dillon]

Always handcuffs for a couple of minutes, huh? Yes, sir.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You're a dang pool, Marshall, if you think you're. Why you. I'm going to kill you for that.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe. Now you can stop at any time, Sutter, by just sticking out your wrist.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'll break every bone in your butt anytime.

[Narrator]

Son of.

[Matt Dillon]

One way or the other, you're wearing those cuffs to jail tonight.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh no, I ain't.

[Andrew Rines]

Do that.

[Matt Dillon]

Sir. Give me the handcuffs. Well, I guess that's it, Mary David.

[Mary Alice]

For a sense, Marshall, that's all they had left out.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, I'm afraid so. He managed to hit almost every saloon in town.

[Mary Alice]

Two years of hard work and he drunk it all up in one day.

[Matt Dillon]

He's going to jail for it, Mary. If that's any satisfaction, Judge Bentz says the case against him is solid. He hasn't got a chance of getting off.

[Mary Alice]

Seems like there ought to be a better way somehow. Something that's got more justice in it. I mean going today, only going to get me my money back.

[Matt Dillon]

You may be right, Mary, but. I'm sorry, Murray, but I guess that's about all I can say.

[Mary Alice]

Oh, oh, I ain't blaming you, Nan Marshall. Mighty obliged and grateful to you for letting more important and stand by while you took time to help with nobody like me.

[Matt Dillon]

Now, Mary.

[Mary Alice]

Oh, I mean it, Marshall. Was Mary good of you? And you too, Mr. Proudfoot.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, well, I'm glad to do what I could, miss Mary Alice.

[Mary Alice]

I'll be getting on now. I'll have your shirt for you Thursday.

[Matt Dillon]

There's no hurry.

[Mary Alice]

Well, good night all.

[Matt Dillon]

Good night.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Doggone if she ain't right, Mr. Dylan. Just sending Red beside her to prison ain't gonna help her none. Something harder ought to be done about it.

[Matt Dillon]

Just as something is gonna be done first thing in.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What is the matter, Hugh dog? If you squeak that cow find a chair on my desk, so help me. You mean like this? Oh, die mute, you mean that little noise like that never get you all, Becky? A little noise like that's enough of me to cut your throat if you keep it up. You got bad nerves, Doc. Ulti Thunderbolt makes up a kind of a tonic, they say supposed to cure that. Oh, Chief Thunderbolt doesn't know any more about medicine than you. A bad nerve than atomic. Lots of people gets it from him. And take the director and A lot of people are fools too. I know they claim it does them good chance of my nerves are all right. And that tonic of Thunder bulls is 60% hogwash and 60% rod cut whiskey. Well now look here, you can't have no 120% or nothing. I can have 100,000% of. No, I'm just shifting my weight. Then don't shift, but leave it where it is. Folks who take that tonic regular don't stir up no big lucas just cuz somebody happens to lean back in their chair once in a while. Folks who take that tonic are dead. From the neck up before they take it and from the neck down after.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, how are you, Doc? Anything out of the ordinary, Chester?

[Chester Proudfoot]

No, sir, not a thing, Mr. Dillon. Except I begin to figure you was going to spend the whole day over there. Guide your b. What are you doing, man? Playing fast and loose with the law, are you?

[Matt Dillon]

No, not according to the way the judge sees it. Chester, he'll get Rev Sutter out of his cell.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Will you? Don't worry, Doc. The man can't get out of chair without squeaking his term. Kenny? That's right. I never sees it. The G. Little old. Oh, that boy. Thunderbolt comic. Bad nerves alone.

[Matt Dillon]

You kind of on the prod today.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I am not on the prod.

[Matt Dillon]

You know, sometimes a person's blood gets sick during the wintertime and come spring he needs a good tonic.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Matt, I. I'm getting up out of this chair, Matt. I'm going to walk slowly and carefully to the door. Look, I'm not going to lose much.

[Andrew Rines]

Ever.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'm going to keep my voice down. I'm going to open the door, step outside and say goodbye. Goodbye, Doc. Did off leave?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, he just left. Come on in, Sutter. I want to talk to you.

[Narrator]

Yes, sir.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Whatever you say, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Grab. You've had two days in the jail cell to think it over. You probably realize how things stand against you, don't you? Being good, I reckon. Now if you go to trial, you're going to be convicted, there's no doubt about it. Kind of figured that, Marshall. The least senate you'll get off with is two years and it may run to about five to seven unless we can work something on.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What do you mean?

[Matt Dillon]

Penitentiary will satisfy the law, but it won't help Buffalo Mary very much. You stole $48 from her and you spent it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Can't pay it back to her, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

I ain't got one red cent in my name.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I know that.

[Matt Dillon]

But you have got a good strong back Though what's that got to do with it? Judge Bent can postpone your trial and leave you in my custody for the time being.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What are you saying, Marshal?

[Matt Dillon]

If you agree, we can work it out this way. First thing every morning, you'll pack enough water over to Mary's place to run her for the day, and then you'll spend the rest of the day cutting firewood and stacking it behind her cabin. You'll sleep in your cell, and you'll be fed at the jail table. How does it sound to you? How long and I have to do it, Marshall? Well, let's say until everybody agrees that you've done enough. What happens then? If you stick to it and play square, the case will be dismissed.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Yeah, but now, Mr. Dillon, if you turn him out to pack water and carry wood, he'll run off.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't think he will, Chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You're right, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

I ain't gonna run away. You see, I. I've been doing a.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Lot of thinking these last two days. It ain't nice to know the only reason people know your name is because.

[Matt Dillon]

You beat up old woman. There's other things, too, Marshall. I don't have to tell you that. Oh, what do you say? Where's the wood pile?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Poor old Mary coming down the street there, Mr. John.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, is that so?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Coming here.

[Matt Dillon]

Looks like I haven't got anything for her. I thought she was supposed to pick up those shirts tomorrow.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You might have forgot what day.

[Matt Dillon]

Good morning, Mary.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Come on in.

[Mary Alice]

I ain't upset. Nothing important, Emma.

[Matt Dillon]

No, of course not. Nothing but a morning cup of coffee. Would you like to have one with?

[Mary Alice]

Oh, well, Mr. Blig. Master, but I done had mine.

[Matt Dillon]

How things going, Mary? Is Reb keeping at it steady?

[Mary Alice]

Well, that's what I come to see you about. Oh, I'd never have believed it, Marshall, but that boy's just been a working fool.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe he sees the devil over his shoulder.

[Mary Alice]

In these two months, I've been able to take extra work, enough to save $56 already. And not only that, he's got enough wood stacked up over my place to last me for the next three years. That's what I wanted to see about Mar. I told him that he filled his bargain now that he could quit if he keeps round the worker. Maybe you should tell it.

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah. There's a funny thing about justice, Mary. Sometimes it's all bound up with a person's conscience.

[Mary Alice]

I guess I don't quite understand, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I think in this case, Reb has to feel that he's paid his debt not only to you, but to a lot of other people too. So let's let things go on for a while, huh? I'll just wait till Reb comes to us and says he's ready to quit. You know, Frontier cattlemen felt a kind of sympathy for a cow whose cat straight away got lost and in trouble.

[Narrator]

They call these lost calves dogies.

[Matt Dillon]

The next week, God feels no pity for a woman whose son gets in real trouble and dies.

[Narrator]

And that was the worst. Gunfold, produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Dun Smoke by Les Bartfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Lex Corey, sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Virginia Greg and Dick Harrod, Harley Baer is Chester, Howard McNair is Doc and Georgia Ellis is sitting. Join us again next week for another story of the Western frontier when Matt Dillon, Dr. 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 over the CBS radio.

[Andrew Rines]

Foreign. 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. Back in the Old west, folks didn't run to the pharmacy every time trouble hit. They relied on the know how and natural remedies. Kind of like how Tonto always seems to have a special mixture ready for whatever came next. If you want to learn how to do that today, check out the Beginner's Guide to Herbal Remedies, Easy steps for teas, tinctures and salves. Even if you've never tried herbs before, visit otrwesterns.comherbs to learn more again otrwesterns.com herbs.