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02x02 - Dodge City Gets a New Marshal

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.

02x02 - Dodge City Gets a New Marshal

Post by bunniefuu »

♪♪ Hmm ♪

♪ Wyatt Earp,

Wyatt Earp ♪

♪ Brave, courageous and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame

and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may

his story be told ♪

♪ Hmm ♪♪

- When Marshal Wyatt Earp

moved on to Dodge City

after taming Wichita,

he found that Dodge was

a right mean little town.

The phrase "right

mean little town"

is frontier understatement.

Dodge City in

was tougher

than Ellsworth, Wichita, Hays

or Abilene at their worst.

Two months was a long time for

a marshal to last in Dodge.

In less than years,

bodies had been planted

in the town cemetery,

known as Boot Hill.

It was called Boot Hill

because its residents died

with their boots on.

The gamblers, the painted ladies

and the gunfighters of Dodge

were betting

that Mr. Wyatt Earp

would be the next

occupant of Boot Hill.

♪♪ There's many a gallant man ♪

♪ Struck down by

an outlaw's hand ♪

♪ Buried there on Boot Hill ♪

♪ And under the same blue sky ♪

♪ Both evil and good men lie ♪

♪ Side by side on Boot Hill ♪

♪ Once they shared

the earth with free men ♪

♪ But they learned

to hate and k*ll ♪

♪ Now they share the

earth with dead men ♪

♪ On Boot Hill ♪

♪ So, traveler, walk with care ♪

♪ Or you and those

boots you wear ♪

♪ May tomorrow be ♪

♪ In their company ♪

♪ Lyin' cold and still ♪

♪ On Boot Hill ♪♪

- "Al Treadway.

"k*lled by

Marshal William Rivers.

"No more rivers to cross."

- Oh, howdy!

- Howdy!

- Eh, you related

to the deceased?

- Oh no, I'm just,

uh, comin' into town.

Thought I'd stop by.

This is your, uh,

Boot Hill, huh?

- That's right, mister!

I'm Pete Bradshaw.

I'm a sexton.

I guess that's

what you call it,

but mostly I

just dig graves.

- You got a

funeral today, huh?

- Well, it ain't certain.

The boys told me

to get a grave ready.

They aim to k*ll

this new marshal

that's comin'

here, Wyatt Earp.

- Oh?

- Yeah. You see, they

chased Jack Allen--

that's the old

marshal-- out of town.

So George Hoover--

that's the mayor--

so George up and he hires

this Wyatt Earp by telegram.

Seems like this

here fella, Earp,

made a big reputation

in Wichita.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, I reckon this

is big enough for Earp.

- Well, it might be

a little bit longer.

- Oh, you know Earp?

- Mmm.

- How tall is he?

- Oh, he's about, uh...

Well, I'd say

just about my height.

- Well, uh, you'd run to

about, uh, ' "?

- Just about.

- Hmm!

Yeah, inches I'll have

to add onto this grave.

Sure glad you come

along, Mister--Mister--

- Earp.

- Yeah, Earp.

I'm-- Huh?

You jokin' with me?

- Well, I never joke in

cemeteries, Mr. Bradshaw.

- But--but you're

just a young fella.

You ain't hardly

more than a boy!

- Guess I kind

of aged fast.

[ Laughing ]

- Kind of put my foot

in it, didn't I?

- Don't worry

about it!

- You know what? Seein'

you're such a good sport,

I'm gonna give

you a tip.

- Oh?

- Don't walk down Front Street,

that's the main drag.

They'll be layin' for ya

along Front Street.

- They will, huh?

- Yeah. Hoover and the deputies

are holed up in the jail.

That's on the plaza.

So you go down one

of the side streets

and kind of sneak in the

backdoor of the jail.

That's my advice.

- Thank you, but

aren't you kind of

talkin' yourself

out of a good job?

- Hee! Well, if it ain't you

it'll be somebody else.

And this hole ain't

gonna run away!

[ Both laughing ]

Well, good luck,

Mr. Earp!

- Thank you,

Mr. Bradshaw.

And say, you might make that

about inches wider too.

I like a lot

of elbow room.

- Elbow!

[ Both laughing ]

- Who is it?

- Wyatt Earp.

I'd like to talk

to Mayor Hoover.

[ Bolt unlocking ]

- You're talking

to him.

[ g*nshots ]

You got here just in time.

That's the Big T outfit.

They've got

of my best men,

Tilghman and Bassett,

holed up in the depot.

Come on in, Mr. Earp.

- Thank you, sir, no.

- What?

- All I want right now

is my appointment as marshal

and the star that goes with it.

- Well, the telegram I

sent you was your appointment

and here's your star.

What's all the rush?

- I'm gonna take a little

walk down Front Street.

I understand the boys

are expectin' me,

and I'd hate to

disappoint 'em.

- What about Tilghman

and Bassett?

- Oh, that can wait

for a half hour or so.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

See you soon... I hope.

[ g*nshots ]

- Tall man with a star!

It must be Wyatt Earp!

- Alrighty!

- Wyatt Earp's

in town!

Wyatt Earp is here!

- Hey!

You Wyatt Earp?

- That's right.

Take care of

your friend!

[ Moaning ]

Stop moaning! You're

not hurt that bad!

Here, plug it up with that

and go see the Doc.

Hold it!

Go pick up your friends!

[ Door banging ]

[ Fighting ]

I don't like

bushwhackers!

Anybody else that doesn't

like the new marshal?

- Have a chair, Murray!

[ g*nshots ]

- Who done that?

- I did.

- He's Wyatt Earp,

all right.

Roustin' Front Street's

a waste of time!

Why don't you go

over to the depot?

There's a little w*r on!

- It'll keep.

[ g*nshots ]

- I've never seen anything

like that before!

It took a lot of nerve

walkin' Front Street alone.

- It was a little foolhardy,

Mr. Mayor, but I had to do it.

If I let those boys think

I was scared of 'em,

I might as well climb on

the first train out of here.

Hey, where are

all my deputies?

- They ran.

[ g*nshots ]

Wichita isn't

like this.

- It used to be.

- Not quite,

Mr. Earp.

Do you really know

what our position is

at the present time?

- Yeah, it's

a little awkward.

- We've got just

good men on our side,

Charlie Bassett

and Bill Tilghman.

And they're the sheriff

and the chief deputy,

not city peace officers.

- I've heard

of Bassett and Tilghman.

They're of the best!

- The Big T outfit's

been hurrahing Dodge

since last night.

They cornered Bill

and Charlie in the depot.

I don't know how much

longer they can hold out!

- I better get down there.

- No, they've got the place

surrounded by at least men!

- I'm just gonna

take a look around.

There's a job you

can do, Mr. Mayor.

You think you can find a couple

of good men in Dodge to help us?

- I don't know.

I doubt it!

- Oh, come on! Things

can't be that bad.

What about Dog Kelley

and Chalk Beeson?

- They run saloons,

Mr. Earp!

- Dog Kelley used to be a top

sergeant in the army.

You tell him I want

or special deputies.

- I hate to be

beholden to Kelley!

- Now look, Mr. Hoover,

I didn't take this job

to pass moral judgment

on men like Kelley.

When you got cowhands

on a stampede,

you don't appeal to the

Ladies' Aid Society for help.

You get tough men that

know how to handle a g*n.

- All right, Marshal,

I'll--I'll do what I can.

- Thanks.

I'll be back...

in minutes.

You have me

some deputies.

[ g*nshots ]

[ g*nshots ]

Bassett! Tilghman!

Hold your fire!

- Who was that fella?

- Wyatt Earp.

- What does he say?

- He says to hold on and

not try to make a run for it.

He says he'll be back in

minutes with enough help.

- Enough help! What's

he got, an army?

- He's a good man, Charlie.

I'm for takin' his word!

- Hey, Tilghman!

Bassett!

Come out with

your hands up!

Come out or we'll

fire the depot!

- How many cartridges

you got left?

- A couple of dozen.

- They won't

last minutes.

- All right,

get the torches!

- Listen, Kelley, Earp says

it'll take only or good men.

He's sure he can handle

it with that many.

- Earp must've let his

head swell in Wichita.

- He calmed down

Front Street, didn't he?

- Front Street ain't

the Big T outfit.

Earp's got nerve, but

he lacks judgment. I did--

- Mr. Kelley won't throw

in with us, Marshal.

- Oh?

I thought you had an honorable

discharge from the army,

Master Sergeant Kelley.

- Now, don't you try to

shame me into bein' a hero!

I'm too old for that.

- I see that now.

- Oh, you do?

- But I haven't got any

time to argue with ya.

Are ya gonna give

me those men?

- No.

- You got a right handsome

place here, Mr. Kelley.

- It cost me a few thousand

just to furnish the bar.

I got some more stuff

comin' from the East.

- Oh, that's too bad.

When that

Big T outfit

gets done killin'

Bassett and Tilghman,

they'll start shootin'

up Front Street.

Your place oughta be

about first in line.

Yeah, they'll sure

like those lamps.

- Hey!

- And then I think they'd

go for the mirror.

- No, no!

Wait a minute!

- All right.

You're gonna get me those men

and sticks of dynamite.

- How soon

you want 'em?

- Five minutes,

over at the jail.

All right, there's

no sense tryin' to knock

those Big T's

out of their ambush.

We haven't got enough men,

and it'd take too long.

- All right, how'd you

do it in Wichita?

- Well, I'll tell ya,

Mr. Kelley,

in Wichita we never

let things get this bad.

Everybody there was right

proud of their town.

- Yeah? I got the best

saloon in Kansas.

- Are you gonna brag

about your saloon

or are you gonna

listen to my plan?

- Go ahead.

- I noticed the cattle

pens behind the depot

had a lot of

steers in 'em.

Who owns 'em?

- Big T.

- That's good. We'll

dynamite the pens.

- Dynamite the pens!

- That's right! It's the only

way to run out the Big T's.

They'll be so busy

chasin' steers,

they'll stop shootin'

at Tilghman and Bassett.

- All right, but let me warn

'em what we aim to do first.

Those boys are

my customers!

- Mr. Kelley,

I don't care

anything about

your saloon trade.

They're shootin'

at peace officers.

Now, are you with me

or do I go in there alone?

- Earp, you're the most

violent peace officer

I ever met in my life!

But we're with you.

- Good! All right, all of you

grab a couple of bundles!

- Bassett!

Tilghman!

Come on out with

your hands up!

- How many

we got left?

[ g*nshots ]

- Just a piece,

Charlie!

- Earp's not comin'.

Let's go out and make

these shots count!

- Come out or we'll

fire the depot!

All right,

get the torches!

- All right, you three

take the north side.

You two come with me!

You know what to do!

Let's go!

- Cover us!

[ Loud explosions ]

They're dynamitin'

the pen!

- They're dynamitin'

the pen!

- Come on, they're

dynamitin' the pen!

- They're dynamitin'

the pen, come on!

[ Explosions ]

[ Men shouting ]

- Bassett! Tilghman!

It's Earp!

Don't worry about

the Big T's.

They're out

chasin' steers.

- I'm Sheriff Bassett.

This is my deputy,

Bill Tilghman.

- Howdy!

- We're sure glad

to see you!

- You saved

our hides,

but you didn't make things

too good for the town.

- How's that?

- Bill means the

Big T ain't gonna like

chasin' their stock

all over the country.

That was a right

smart stunt,

and we'll take

what's comin'. Right, Bill?

- Got no choice.

- Bein' as I'm a stranger

here, what is comin'?

- They'll tree old Dodge

and burn it to the ground.

- Oh, don't

discourage the Marshal.

Maybe they'll be satisfied

with just killin' the of us.

Come on, Mr. Earp,

that jail of ours'll be

the best place

to make a stand.

- Mr. Mayor, I think

this is all wrong!

- All wrong?

- When you hired me

as marshal,

I took for granted

this was a town.

- It is!

- It's like a small fort

in Apache country.

We're holed up while

the Big T's make up their mind

whether we live or die!

- I told you they

wouldn't like it!

Us dynamitin'

the cattle pens!

- What do we care? They're

a bunch of lawless hoodlums!

- Easy now, Wyatt.

- We're either the law

or we're nothin'!

- But there's only

so much we can do.

Sure, I'm the

Sheriff of Ford County

and you're the

Marshal at Dodge.

- And that'll be carved

on the head markers.

- You keep out

of this, Bill.

This fella's

from Wichita,

where it's been

civilized for quite a spell.

How old do you

think Dodge City is?

- Eleven or years,

how do I know?

- Four. In , it was

nothin' but a tent camp

and a few sod huts.

- You can't make a city

in years, Wyatt.

- And you can't go against

an outfit like the Big T

with a handful of g*ns.

They outsmarted

Bill and me.

We went to the pens to

check on rustled steers,

and before we knew it they had

Winchesters and Colts on us.

- I warned them!

- A cattle outfit like

that is just a mob.

Who heads up

the Big T?

- Gus Andrews, wouldn't

you say, Bill?

- He's their foreman

and top g*n.

- How good is he?

- Fast!

- Planted

in Boot Hill!

- He's got a lot of

extra help now, Wyatt.

- Hey, Kelley!

And Hoover!

I wanna talk to ya!

Come on out here!

Gus Andrews is

plenty sore at you!

- Is that so?

- Yeah, he says you gotta pay

$ a head for steers.

Also, he wants those pens

rebuilt by noon tomorrow.

- Hold it!

- Yes, sonny?

- Gus Andrews isn't givin'

any orders to Mayor Hoover.

You go tell Mr. Andrews that I

want him for incitin' a riot

and for shootin'

at peace officers.

- Whoa, now!

- Shut up!

You tell Mr. Andrews

to ride into Dodge alone

and give himself up.

If he's not here by sundown,

I'm comin' after him.

You understand?

- Don't make

me laugh!

- You still laughin'?

- No, sir!

- Then you get on your horse

and tell Andrews what I said!

- They got a grave

waitin' for you, Earp!

- Yeah? Well,

send flowers!

I reckon Mr. Andrews

isn't comin' into town.

So where can

I find him?

- Huh?

- Where can I find

Mr. Andrews?

- I know but I don't

aim to tell ya.

- Charlie's tryin'

to save your life.

- I'll ask around.

Somebody oughta know where

I can find the Big T outfit.

- Don't you know it's suicide

ridin' into the Big T outfit?

- Maybe.

- Bill, you

talk to him.

- No business of mine.

Come on, it's your move!

- You made a reputation

for yourself

in Wichita

and Ellsworth.

What good's

that gonna do ya

if ya wind up

on Boot Hill?

- Well, I'll tell ya,

Mr. Bassett,

I learned something

in those towns.

A mob isn't men,

men or men.

It's one man: its leader.

In this case, it's Gus Andrews.

That's why I'm

goin' after him.

Now, you can

do me a big favor.

Does Andrews have

a high or a low forehead?

- High.

- What brand of Stetson

does he wear?

- Pride of Texas,

like all of Big T.

- Two-inch sweatband, huh?

Thank you, sir.

A pleasure meetin'

ya, Mr. Tilghman.

- I'll be at

your funeral!

That bigheaded

Yankee showoff!

- You goin' along?

- Yeah...

- If that Earp

gets me k*lled,

I hope somebody

explains to my wife!

- Where do they

think they're going?

- After Gus Andrews.

- We oughta stop them.

- No.

Earp, Bassett

and Tilghman.

Now, there's a sight

you maybe won't see again

in your lifetime.

The greatest peace

officers who ever lived.

- We didn't have

much trouble.

- What year

was that?

- I don't know.

- Which one of you

is Gus Andrews?

- I am.

- I sent word for you

to come into town.

Did you get the message?

- Sure, I got

your message,

but I figured you'd

drop by for my answer.

- The rest of ya

drop your g*n belts!

I don't wanna have to dig

any further into Boot Hill.

I said drop 'em!

Give me a hand with Gus.

The other two are dead.

- What about Gus?

- He'll live. He's

just got a hurt head.

Come on!

Give us a hand!

Good morning,

Mr. Bradshaw.

- Earp! I thought

this was for you--

- I'm sorry to

disappoint you,

but we had a little

change in plans.

- I just got word

to dig another.

Who are these two for?

- I don't know.

Sheriff Bassett

and Deputy Tilghman

are gettin' the names and

they're makin' the arrangements.

- Was you in the fight?

- Mmm-hmm.

- Well, how come

you missed?

- Just lucky, I guess.

You know, one of

these days

we're gonna have to close

this Boot Hill section.

- Close it? Why?

- It's given Dodge City

a pretty bad reputation.

And anyway as

the new marshal,

I don't think I could give

you too much business.

- Hmm! You must be a pretty

poor hand with a g*n!

- I guess you're right.

I always do manage

to miss somehow.

♪♪ 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Hmm ♪♪