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01x33 - Bat Masterson Again

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp". Aired: September 6, 1955 – June 27, 1961.*
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Series is loosely based on the life of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp.

01x33 - Bat Masterson Again

Post by bunniefuu »

( Male vocals humming melody )

♪ Wyatt earp

♪ Wyatt earp

♪ Brave, courageous,

And bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame

♪ And long live his glory

♪ And long may

His story be told! ♪

( Humming melody )

Male narrator:

The friendship

Between wyatt earp

And young bat masterson

Began in ellsworth, kansas.

It was interrupted

When bat went off to school

And wyatt became

Marshal of wichita.

Earp's time

As marshal of wichita

Was drawing to a close,

And in the meantime,

Bat had grown up.

But he still had

The ambition to be

A ladies' man

And to wear a star

In his own right.

This had brought

Dangerous consequences.

It brought young masterson

Into conflict

With the notorious

Sergeant king,

A former cavalryman

And one of the meanest

Characters

On the western frontier.

And now I'll show you

How to put some english

On the cue ball.

- "English"?

- Yeah. Now, watch.

You hit the ball

Just a little

Off center, like this.

Now, here's another

Little trick.

- Now, this time--

- Hello, amy.

- Ah, who's the kid?

- I'm bat masterson.

Who are you?

- He's sergeant king.

- Amy's my girl. Or perhaps

You didn't know that.

- Look, please, bat doesn't

Want any trouble.

- Shut up.

I'll let it pass

This time, sonny.

But if I catch you

Sparking around her

Again, I'll--

Look, you don't own amy,

And you don't boss me.

- No?

- No.

Gil, please!

The sergeant's

Got a g*n!

Why, you baby-faced

Little squirt, you--

Sergeant!

Well, well!

If it isn't

The captain.

Get out of here, king.

I mean it.

You can't order me around.

I'm not in the army no more.

- Look, just let me get

My g*ns, and I'll--

- No!

I can still put you

Under arrest.

Want me to do that?

Look, I'm not

Fighting you.

The next time

I catch you with amy,

I'll g*n you.

Now get out.

You're young masterson,

Civilian scouter,

Fort dodge.

- Yes, sir.

- Does your friend wyatt earp

Know you're tangling

With gunfighters

Like king?

- No, sir, but I'm

Not scared of him.

- Sonny!

He would've

k*lled you.

Next time I might not

Be on hand.

- Oh, bat!

- Now, don't you worry

About me, honey.

- Marshal earp?

- Oh, captain.

Been a long time.

And now time is short.

I have to join my patrol.

Uh, when did you

Last, uh,

Hear from

Bat masterson?

Bat? Oh, it's been

About four months.

He, uh, wrote me

From school in topeka.

He's not in school now.

He signed on

With the army as a scout.

Mmm, fine.

He promised me

He'd stay in school.

I think he got

A little too big

For the other boys.

But you've heard

Of one of my former

Noncoms, sergeant king?

- Oh, yeah.

- Well, bat's picked himself

A fight with king

Over some girl

At a roadhouse

Near dodge city.

Well, he's in trouble.

Masterson wouldn't

Stand a chance

With king in gunplay.

No. I, uh, better

Ride over to dodge

And have a talk

With bat.

Good.

That's a big load

Off my mind.

You'll, uh, find him

At regan's roadhouse

Outside dodge.

Well, it's mighty

Nice of you to pass

The word, captain.

Well, I haven't forgotten

How you helped us out

With the daggard g*ng

In oklahoma territory.

Now, watch yourself,

Mr. Earp.

King's bad medicine.

Well, I'll be real

Careful, captain,

And thanks again.

Here's your

Leave of absence

Signed by the mayor.

- Any objection?

- He hollered

His head off.

I think he suspects

Folks over at dodge are

Trying to hire you away.

No, nothing like that.

Just personal business.

I'll be gone about

Three or four days.

You'll be acting marshal.

Just follow

The regular routine.

Wyatt,

I don't mean to get

Personal, but, uh,

You going

Against trouble?

I might be.

The instructions

For returning

My body to illinois

Are in the drawer there.

- Give me a hand.

- All right.

Amy!

Amy?

- What's the matter?

You look worried.

- I am.

- Is sergeant king after you?

- Well, he'd better not be.

Oh, now, honey.

You promised not

To bother yourself

About that fellow.

He's jealous, that's all.

He thinks he's a lady-k*ller.

He's a man-k*ller,

Bat.

Aw, forget about king.

I'm hungry, and it's

Time to eat.

And the army wants me

To go north and be a scout

With general custer.

He's gonna put

Old sitting bull

In the sack next spring.

Nah, but I'm gonna

Stick around dodge,

Get me a job

As a deputy marshal.

Oh, would that pay

More than scouting

For the army?

Oh, two or three

Times the money.

Let's see, uh,

Get my share

Of all the fines.

And counting what

I'll win gambling,

I'll make my pile so quick

We can get married.

- I haven't said yes.

- And I wouldn't ask you, amy,

Not until I can

Give you pretty clothes

And a living

With some style to it.

Oh, you talk

Real sweet, honey,

But I still think

You should stay

With the army.

- Why?

- Well, because it's safer.

You've got the whole

Government on your side.

Now, there you go again,

Worrying about me.

I know it hurts your

Feelings when I say it,

But you're still a kid.

- And you're so old?

- Well, I'm older

Than you are,

And I've learned

Enough to know that--

Who's the stranger?

It's wyatt earp.

- Hello, mr. Earp.

- Mr. Masterson.

I meant to write you,

But things moved so fast

I never got around to it.

- Uh, you on

Your way to dodge?

- No.

Who's the young lady?

Oh, excuse me.

Miss amy pelton,

This is mr. Earp,

As good a friend

As I ever had.

Well, I guess heaven

Must have sent you.

I've been so worried,

- I was on the verge

Of writing you myself.

- Now, amy, I don't--

Would you talk to him,

See if you can talk some sense

Into his stubborn head?

Well, I'll just

Be in the way.

Excuse me.

I just couldn't

Stay in school.

They had something

Called algebra.

It was tougher than going

Against sawed-off shotguns,

So I left.

- Yeah, well,

Let's talk outside.

- Yes, sir.

I don't like scouting

For the army.

I want a star.

I aim to be

A deputy marshal

In dodge.

Well, there's nothing

Wrong with that,

Mr. Masterson.

Look, amy tries to

Treat me like a kid.

Are you gonna do that?

- No.

- Then stop calling me

"Mr. Masterson."

I'm a grown man!

Call me "bat," will ya?

- We're friends, aren't we?

- All right, bat.

Only reason you'd call me

"Mr. Masterson" was to

Make me feel older.

Now I feel plenty old.

But I'm, uh, messing into

Your private affairs, huh?

Well, who asked you

To come here?

A good friend of yours.

He kind of thought

You were rushing

Things a bit.

- How do you mean?

- Miss pelton.

- You in love with her?

- Yes, I am.

- Aim to marry her?

- That's right,

Just as soon

As I get me

A deputy marshal's

Job in dodge.

- What seems to be

The hang-up there?

- Ah, the new mayor,

Fellow by the name of hoover.

Says he wants men

With more experience.

- I told him I used to

Help you in ellsworth.

- What did he say to that?

He said

If you'd recommend me,

I could have the job.

- But I don't guess

You'd do that, huh?

- Nope, not yet awhile.

"Not yet awhile."

It's always "not yet

Awhile," isn't it?

With you, with amy,

With all of 'em.

I'm gonna ride

To the next saloon

And get drunk!

Come on.

Bat?

Bat, stop.

Come back.

Oh, you'd better

Go after him.

He'll try to pick a fight

With sergeant king.

He'll be k*lled!

- Easy, now.

- Well, didn't he tell you?

King threatened to g*n him

If he didn't stay

Away from me.

And king'll do it.

He's a terrible man.

He's not going after king.

Told me he was gonna ride

Over to the next saloon

And get himself drunk.

( Chuckles )

Oh, well, he won't.

- What makes you so sure?

- Well, that's one thing

You taught him not to do.

He was just trying

To worry you.

I tried to teach him

A few other things too.

Yes, I know--

About women.

He told me.

Offhand, I imagine

Bat can be quite

A bit of trouble.

Well, he is.

Sergeant king

Was after me,

And i, well--

Used bat to

Discourage king, huh?

Yeah, I guess I did.

Look, I know it's

Awful rough out here

For a girl, but still--

You think I should've

Picked on an older man.

Well, all right.

You be my hero.

You see? A fellow

Won't stick up for a girl

Unless he really likes her,

And bat really

Likes me.

- And besides--

- ( Hoofbeats )

Come on inside.

- No, you go on in.

- Hold it, amy.

- Where's masterson?

- He's not here.

- That's right.

- You're both lying.

Your name king?

Who are you?

Earp.

Wyatt earp, wichita.

Miss pelton and I

Don't like to be

Called liars.

Now, you get on your horse

And get out of here.

You can't wet-nurse

That kid forever.

He keeps away from her...

Or I'll k*ll him.

- You don't look

Very drunk to me.

- I changed my mind.

Stop acting like

A ten-year-old brat.

I saw you run it over king.

He's my trouble, not yours.

Look, quit following me,

Will ya? I don't want

To talk about it.

- I'm your friend, remember?

- Yeah, my friend.

Playing a big hero.

My wet nurse.

That's what

King called you--

My wet nurse.

- Maybe you need one.

- Yeah, well,

You'll see if I do,

And so will king.

The worst thing that

Could've happened.

The very worst.

- Is it?

- Yes.

A man fights his own fight.

He doesn't let a friend

Fight it for him.

No, I don't

Want any.

I got back

Just when you were

Taking his g*n away.

One minute sooner,

And I could've faced him

On my own.

- No, you couldn't.

- Oh, you mean you wouldn't

Have let me?

Look, mr. Earp,

Can't you see

You've got to let me?

King said it when he said

You can't wet-nurse me

Forever.

Look, I want you

To live a while.

I can take king

In a gunfight.

Don't be foolish.

He's put nine men

In boot hill.

Oh, drunks,

Bragging cowhands,

Couple of scared rabbits

That didn't dare

sh**t back.

Gosh, mr. Earp, I thought

You had more confidence

In me with a g*n.

Bat, g*n-fighting

Isn't target practice.

There's got to be

A first time for every man.

All right, then wait

Until you're a man.

Mr. Earp, I'm past

Years old.

It's been a long time

Since ellsworth.

Look, all you want to do

Is show off in front of amy.

You want to impress her.

- No, I don't.

- Yes, you do, and I got

To tell you something.

I had a long talk with amy,

And she's not that much

In love with you.

- What'd she say?

- She doesn't like

Mr. King either.

You just happened

To show up conveniently.

- Well, I don't believe that!

- Oh, go soak your head

In the tub.

Cool off.

I'll be downstairs

Waiting.

If you get sense back,

I'll talk to you.

What'd bat say?

- Nothing sensible.

- He still wants to

Fight king, huh?

Mm-hmm.

- Well, all right.

I know how to fix that.

- How?

I'll just tell him

That I don't care

Anything about him,

And he'll be real

Sore at me and you can

Take him back to wichita.

But he wouldn't go.

He just think

You were lying to

Keep him out of trouble,

And he'd accuse me

Of putting you up to it.

Well, what can

We do then?

Well, I guess I'll just

Have to sh**t mr. King.

Not fatally.

Just clip him a little.

- It'd be kinder

If you'd clip bat.

- "Kinder"?

Well, what'd

Happen to that boy

If word got out

That you gunned king

To save him?

He'd never

Live it down,

Mr. Earp.

Well, few weeks' talk,

Men of dodge city'd find

Something else to talk about.

No. Men can be

Awful cruel.

Talk'd follow bat

Everywhere he went.

- Maybe you're right.

- And how would you like

To live in this country

With men saying your

Best friend had to fight

Your first battle for you?

- Well, there's only

One other chance.

- What's that?

He wants to wear a star.

He wants to be a marshal.

- Traveling?

- That's right,

To dodge city.

- I'm disappointed.

- Oh, sure.

I was just out there

Walking a little bit,

Thinking about

What you said

This afternoon

- About the deputy

Marshal job.

- Yeah?

I can't very well

Recommend you for dodge,

'Cause I don't know

What their plans are there.

But how about working

In wichita for me?

No, thanks.

Make you a full deputy.

Well, can you hold

The place open?

- For how long?

- Until I've had

My fight with king.

Might take a day or so

For him and me

To get together.

- He moves around

Different places, and--

- ( Sighs ) I give up.

Sorry we can't agree,

Mr. Earp.

But a man's got to do

The way he thinks is right.

Yeah.

Well, I reckon

This'll be the last time.

- Oh, I'll see you again.

- I doubt it.

You're too slow.

You don't know

How to sh**t.

- What?

- You heard me.

You don't know

The first principle

About g*n-fighting.

What do you mean?

I'm almost as good

As you are!

Would you like

To try and prove it?

- Yeah, right now!

Let's go into the barn!

- All right.

Try to shake hands with me

For the last good-bye.

I'll show you

A trick or two with g*ns

You don't even know.

You think I'm just

A bragging kid.

Well, I practiced my draw,

Practiced hours and hours.

- I'm clean.

- Let me see it.

- What's the matter?

Don't you trust me?

- That's not the point.

It's always

The unloaded g*n

That goes off.

Here.

- Anytime you're ready.

- Now, wait a minute.

You're too far away.

King'll move in close

On you to make sure. Come on.

That's it.

Hold it right there.

All right.

- Draw!

- Hold it.

( Hammer clicks )

Now, you see,

You lost a lot of time

Reaching up for him.

Now, you lower

Your g*n belt

Until the grips just touch

The palm of your hand

As they hang

Naturally.

That's it.

Now, we'll try it again.

This time I'll stay

Close to you so I can

See what you're doing.

- You ready?

- Yeah.

Keep your hands down.

- ( Hammer clicks )

- Oh, that's pretty good.

If I'd have missed you

Or hadn't hit you

In a vital spot,

You could've gotten

A shot off at me.

Well, I didn't claim

To be as fast.

I said,

"Almost as fast."

You're plenty fast enough,

But you're telegraphing.

- "Telegraph"?

- Mm-hmm.

A gunfighter who hasn't

Had too much experience

Usually starts the draw

With his eyes.

He either blinks 'em

Or narrows 'em

And lets the order

That his brain is

Giving to his hands

Show in his face.

The shoulder muscles tense,

And his hand usually just

Makes a little move

To get closer to

That g*n grip.

- You mean, I did

All those things?

- Well, any one of 'em'd

Be just enough

To give king a tenth

Of a second on you.

But your main fall is

That you're watching my hand.

Well, aren't you supposed to

Watch to make sure the other

Man is really gonna draw?

Well, don't you

Worry about king.

He'll draw.

Now, you never mind his hand.

You just keep your eye on the

Spot you want your b*llet to go.

Now, where do you

Want to sh**t king?

Well, just sh**t him.

I hadn't thought

About exactly where.

I guess I'll hit him

In the shoulder.

That's what you do.

- But just where

In the shoulder?

- Well,

Right here.

No. No,

A shoulder shot is aimed

Just a hand's length--

Right here--

From the breastbone.

You hit just below

The collarbone.

Now, the b*llet paralyzes

The brachial plexus nerve,

And the impact spins

Your man off balance

And he falls.

Yeah, but what if king

Draws with the other hand?

Well, you got to

Take care of that too.

Load your g*n.

I'm gonna draw this

Shoulder-high.

Now, this is the area

For the cr*pple shot.

Right there.

Now, a miss to the left,

You'd either get the throat

Or you'd get the heart.

Miss to the right,

You'd miss clean.

Now, remember,

The moment

You see king, you draw--

One flash of recognition

And your eyes steady

On this circle.

Now, as soon as

You see this spot,

Your hand moves,

But not until.

Now, your eyes stay

Focused on this circle

As the g*n site

Comes up.

Now, the instant

That g*n site reaches

The lower point

Of this circle,

You fire.

But you wait

For the g*n site,

You understand?

Come on.

This is about

The right distance.

Little closer.

That's it.

Now, you keep your eyes

On the circle at all times,

And you face

Your target squarely.

Let your arms hang down

Naturally to the side.

All right, it's king.

Well, you didn't wait

For your g*n site, and you

Didn't take time to draw.

Let's try it again.

Now, take your time.

It's important to draw fast

And get off the first shot,

But it's much more important

To have your b*llet go

Where you want it to go.

All right,

Draw.

Well, that's better.

You got him close

To the heart that time.

You satisfied?

No. I want to

Hit where I aim.

Look, bat,

Why don't you forget

Amy and king

And come back to wichita

With me, huh?

I thought we were

Talking about

g*n-fighting.

Now, is there

Anything else

I ought to know?

Yeah, there's

Plenty more

You ought to know.

We'll have another

Session tomorrow.

In the meantime,

You just practice

What I taught you.

All right.

That's pretty good.

You didn't telegraph,

And you took

A split second

To aim.

Well, I ought to be

Pretty good after two

Solid days of this.

There's just one other

Thing. Let's see you

Fall down and draw.

- "Fall down and draw"?

- That's right.

You've been assuming

Through all of this that

You're gonna outdraw king

And put him

Out of action.

- Well, yes, I have.

- You've got no right to

Assume any such thing.

No, king may draw

Faster than you

And knock you down.

But let's say that

You're still able

To sh**t.

- Fall down.

- Yeah, but if I'm down,

Where do I aim?

You aim right

At his heart.

I've seen a lot of men

Get hit in the stomach

And keep on shootin'.

Now, you remember,

If you're hit

And you go down,

You've got to k*ll him

The next instant

Or be k*lled.

- It's your life or his.

- Yes, sir, I understand.

All right,

Let's try it.

You ready?

Yeah.

Now, you missed.

Come on.

Try it again.

- Get yourself set.

- Okay.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

That's good.

- Where are you going?

- Archie's driving me to dodge.

I can't stay here.

Soon as you leave,

King'll be coming after bat,

And I'll be next.

Did you tell bat

You were leaving?

No, I hate good-byes.

You explain it.

Come on, archie.

That's amy!

She left!

What did you expect?

She's afraid of king.

Yeah, but running out on me--

We talked about getting married.

She knows I wouldn't let king--

You never did have

Much sense when it

Came to women.

Now, why don't you

Wake up? Amy's just

A good-time gal.

A gunfight

Isn't her idea

Of a good time.

You were foolish to credit

Amy for being any more

Than what she is.

She'll always

Run away from

Trouble.

You sure you don't

Want me to stick around

Till our friend

Sergeant king

Shows up again?

No, I don't.

School's out.

Probably haven't

Learned a thing.

Well, if I haven't,

That's my funeral.

I still think

You ought to come

To wichita with me.

That tame old town?

You should be ashamed

To say that.

- Oh?

- Yeah, but you'll get

Fed up with wichita.

You'll come to dodge.

That's where all the

Excitement's gonna be.

- Well, maybe I'm too old.

- Oh, yeah.

Can I hold

A stirrup for you?

Now, you just remember

One thing your old man

Earp taught you--

You draw fast,

But you aim slow.

Yeah, I know it

All by heart.

Now, get going, will ya?

Good luck.

Choir:

♪ Oh, young man

♪ Oh, young man

♪ Take heed of

This good advice ♪

♪ A headstrong man

♪ Is a dead man

♪ You never get

The same chance twice ♪

♪ So young man

♪ Go, young man

♪ And learn

From the wise ♪

♪ And strong

♪ That a headstrong fool

♪ Is a dead fool

♪ But a fast-thinkin' man

♪ Lives long

♪ Oh, young man

♪ Oh, young man

♪ Think fast

♪ sh**t slow.

( Male vocals humming )

- Where's amy?

- Not here.

But you're here.

Get out of here,

All of you!

Go on, get out!

All right,

Mr. Masterson,

You got him.

- I did?

- Completely.

I feel awful sick.

Well, you just k*lled

A man. How do you

Expect to feel?

Like cheering?

Come on.

Put your arm

Around my shoulder.

Will he be able

To travel, doc?

Good.

I want to take him

To his folks.

No. I still want

To be a marshal.

Now, look,

That leg's got

A long time to go

Before it's

Gonna be well.

Gonna be months

Before you're gonna

Be able to walk.

When you are able to,

I want your first job

As deputy

To be with me.

- You mean, I made it?

- Mm-hmm.

You made it.

♪ Well, he cleaned up

The country ♪

♪ The old wild west

Country ♪

♪ He made law and order

Prevail ♪

♪ And none can deny it

♪ The legend of wyatt

♪ Forever will live

On the trail ♪

♪ Oh, wyatt earp

♪ Wyatt earp

♪ Brave, courageous,

And bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame

And long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his story

♪ Be told! ♪

♪ Long may his story

♪ Be...

♪ Told!

( Male vocals humming melody )