Gunsmoke: The Brothers

Brown, Dodge City, and in the territory on West, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with the U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke, starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved West with young America, the story of a man who moved with it, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal.

There it is. Yeah. Wonder if he's in. I assume he'll find out. Look him over close. You better know how he stacks up. Yeah, I know. Hope he doesn't recognize it. Come on.

Morning, boys. Morning, sir. Are you the Marshal here, Dodge? Yes, right. My name is Dylan. Matt Dylan. Now, Thompson's our name. I'm Jim. This is my brother Will. I'm glad to know you. It's my sidekick Chester Pratfoot.

Please to me. Howdy. Howdy. Mr. Dillon, we're after some information. Huh? What kind of information? Well, you see, Will and I just brought a trail herd up from the Pakers Country. Mm-hmm. Around two thousand head.

We're holding them down river a few miles. Oh, toward Walnut Creek? Yeah, I guess that's what they call it. You see, we plan to drive them on up toward Wyoming and put them on grass for a couple of months.

We got thinking we might sell them here if we could get a fair price. You shouldn't have any trouble. The market's good right now. So we've heard. The only thing is we don't know any buyers here.

We're wondering if you might have an idea too. I see. Well, I see. I suggest you go talk to Clem Bates. He runs the bank down the West End of Front Street. Clem Bates, huh?

He'll know of any buyers that happen to be in town. Might even buy the herd himself if it's in good condition. Well, we'll go right down the same now, Mr. Dillon. And, uh, much obliged to you, sir.

Uh, forget it. Coming well? Yeah. It's been a pleasure talking to you, Marshall. Thank you. Same to you. Goodbye. Well, eh, seem like a couple of nice men, Mr. Dillon. Yeah. Couple of strange ones, Chester.

Wonder what they're here for? Why does Selle heard a cattle? You heard what they say. Chester, when's the last time a trail driver came in here and asked me where to sell his cattle? Well, I don't recollect it one ever did before, but all the same. Of course not. They go to the bank or one of the saloons. They don't

come to the jail. Then why do you figure the Thompson's did? Well, I got an idea they might be sizing me up. I think that's the kind of information they wanted. But why? I don't know. Maybe they're planning something they think I might interfere with. What do What do you say we write up to Walnut Creek and find out if they really got a herd?

Huh? All right, Mr. Dylan, whatever you say. An older one, Jim. Then there's something familiar. I can't quite place it. Thompson, brothers. Well, come on, Chester. Let's ride. Oh, boy.

Oh, whoa. Oh, whoa. Well, they got a herd, all right, Mr. Dylan? Yes, all they have, Chester. Well, let's drop in on them, huh? Helen. Smoke's coming up. Behind those willows. Must be their camp.

Yeah, I guess so. He's cattle are carrying a circle bar tea brand. I never heard of it. It's like the Thompson Brothers Chester. I never heard of them either. At least not by that name.

Cam looks deserted, Mr. Gillins. Yeah. Right way out. Somebody coming out of the wagon. Yeah, he must have been asleep. Well, well, well. You fellas better than in horses around. Hello, Houston. Dylan, I... I didn't recognize you.

Well, now that you have, why don't you put the rifle down? Well, sure, Marshall. I... I got to quarrel with you. You used to figure you're dead. Well, I... How long you been working for the Thompson's, Houston?

Just a couple of months I ran into him down on the Pakerson. I had out for the drive. You know him before that? No. No, I just happened to run into them and I heard they was looking for riders.

Riders? I never knew you'd have to hire out for anything but gunslinging. Why don't you let bygones be bygones, Marshall? A man can change. Maybe. Now you take me off. I don't hold them, grudges. You run me out of town last year and I was pretty sore about it.

But not anymore. I'm willing to forget it. If you do, you'll be making a mistake, Houston. Oh, look. I told you to get out of Dodge City and stay out. That still goes. You understand me?

All right, Marshall. That's the way you want it. I'm not in Dodge City. Not yet. They don't seem to be in here, Mr. Dillon. I will wait, Chester.

They will be sooner or later. That was a real dull day. Hop and chill now. Well, how are you, kitty? Good to see you, Matt. Chester, you're on your own. What? Stick around, though. All right, Mr. Dillon.

See you later, Miss Kitty. All right, Justin. You like a drink? Not now, thanks, kitty. I was looking for a couple of strangers in town, the Thompson brothers. Oh, yeah. They were in earlier. seem very pleasant quiet real polite people are always what they seem to be they mixed up in something that i know i don't know

and what do you mean i don't think their name is tonson and i don't think they came here to sell cattle but they brought our herd in the middle and pretty sure i've seen that older brother somewhere before somewhere sometime You're suspicious of everybody.

Aren't you mad? How are you going to start that? All right, all right. But you got the wrong attitude, you know. You miss a lot, Beverly. Yeah? Yeah. Someday you can miss... Over here at the bottom.

Oh, now they are now. Came in with the Climb Base. Oh, well, excuse me, Kitty. Sure, Matt, sure. When you threw, come back. I'll be here. All right, Kitty, I'll see you. Hiya, Climb. Hey, it just bought myself 2,000 head of the finest kettle it's come north or summer yeah they are in good shape i wrote out that way this

afternoon marissa we want to thank you again for putting us in touch with mr baits we're satisfied with the dealers is how about a drink man uh... thanks clinton later maybe uh... and mr tonson do you know that you've got one of the crooked as gunslingers in this part of the country working for you

no i didn't know what do you mean and who calls himself houston jack Houston, Jack. Is he back in town? I'm not back in town, exactly. I run into him out of the trail camp.

I ordered him out of Dodge a year ago, Mr. Thompson. The order still stands. That's funny. He didn't tell us he'd ever been in Dodge. I thought maybe he didn't. That's why I figured I'd better let you know about it.

I'm glad you did, Marshall. Of course, with the herd sold, we'll be paying the boys off tomorrow, and that'll be that. And then back to Texas, sooner or the better. Mean time there's nothing to prevent us from having a sociable drink or two Holly set him up over here. Mr. Dylan what oh?

Would you boys excuse me a minute sure go right here Yeah, what is it Sammy? Could you spare me a dollar mr. Dylan? I need a drink off a bad. Oh, Sammy, you know what always happens First it's one drink and then it's ten. And I always end up having to run you in.

Well not this time Mr. Dylana. Well what's the matter Sammy? Then fellas you're with the anonymous Dylana. Their names Thompson. Their brothers. No that's not their name. Well then what is it? I gotta get out of here Mr. Dylana.

Wait a minute Sammy what the devil are you talking about? No no no no Mr. Dylana honestly. Just remember something I hear. I got to go right now. Well, how about that drink? Some other time, Mr. Tell... Thanks a lot. I'll remember it.

Goodbye, Mr. Tell it. I hear. What's wrong with him, he meant? Did he smell a drink somewhere? Yeah, he must have. I don't know what you said to him, Marshall. But he sure went out of here looking like he'd seen a ghost.

Well, Sammy's seen a lot of different things at different times. Maybe he did see a ghost. I can't figure where I got to, Mr. Dillon. I looked in all the places he usually hangs out, but there wasn't any sign of it.

Well, the ways of a drunkard and the ways of a woman, Chester. They're beyond all human knowledge. Yes, sir, I guess they are, Mr. Dillon. One thing certain, as blurry-eyed as he is, I may recognize those Thompson brothers.

That's more than I can do. Oh, maybe there's nothing to recognize. Maybe you just think you've seen him before. Yeah, maybe. Well, there's no use going back to Texas Trail. That's one saloon, Sammy. It'll stay clear out.

I just don't know where to look, Mr. Dylan. I'll swear. Wait a minute, just... Hmm? Oh. Thompson's coming out of the saloon. No, I mean, across the street to somebody by the corner. By heaven, that's Sammy.

Yes, and he's got a rifle. I got you, boys! I got you! Sammy, you're full! Over there for the corner. Come on, Chester. He must have been crazy, Mr. Dillon. He must have been out of his money.

Yeah, I guess. One side. Let me throw him, please. Let me throw. Let me throw. Sammy. They used... could use that drink in a... Oh, I'd get the reward. Sammy, is he dead?

Yeah. We sure hated to do it, Marshall. We had nothing against this man didn't even know him in fact. But I guess you saw what happened. Yeah, I saw it. He threw a rifle and you tried to kill you.

You couldn't do anything else. I can't figure it, Marshall. My brother and me didn't have no quarrel with this felon. Well, Sammy drank a lot. He wasn't always in his right mind. But you won't be held.

It was out not self-defense. Thanks, Marshall. Thanks a lot. Come on, Will. Let's get out of here. Well, it's too bad, Mr. Dillon. Sammy never meant no harm to anybody. He did to the Tomsels, Jeff.

And I can't figure it. Why did he do it? Because he recognized him, I guess. Say, did you see them draw after he fired? Yeah. Yeah, I saw him. They're fast, Mr. Dillon. Ma'am. Oh, Kelly.

I heard him down the street calling for Doc. Was hurt. Sami got himself killed. Oh. Poor little guy. Yeah. Matt, you got trouble too. What do you mean? Houston Jackson Town. What? He's over at this alone now, looking for you.

Matt, he says he's gonna kill you. We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment, but first, Adventure on your mind, then keep tuned. The Gene Autry show is straight ahead in most of these same CBS radio stations, bringing you the Melody Ranch gang and Gene Autry songs.

Tarzan's straight ahead too, tonight involved with some fanatic headhunters in darkest Africa. There's another true police case on gangbusters this evening, and Broadway is my beat, offers mystery fiction that's packed with excitement. They're all ahead tonight on CBS Radio.

Now the second act of gun smoke. I just can't figure it, Mr. Dillon. I never thought Houston would have the nerve.

Well, it's like a lot of things tonight, Chester. None of it bigger. Mr. Dillon, you don't suppose he's going to set you up for the Thompson. No, they got their horses in the left. They're not in here.

here soon find out watch the boys at the table stress to keep them on my back yesterday I want to leave time just a bad time I'll tell you one thing for sure wasn't that chin horn Marshall had made me do it you notice he's staying plenty clear of me hello Houston Dylan you got

nothing on me. I told you to get out of town didn't I know but you you still got I told you to stay up didn't I yeah yeah but you had no right what do you think you are why'd you come back that's my business mine too maybe you're under arrest stay back Dylan I'm warning you you can't keep backing off forever Houston

You'll have to stop sometime. I said you're under arrest. I heard what you said. I got his still and I know. He pulled out the door, Mr. Dillon. He's getting away. He can't no matter. He could be waiting outside.

You rule, Mr. Dillon. Why didn't you shoot? Because you didn't draw. You can't. There he goes. Well, come on, Chester. Can't be far ahead of us, Mr. Dillon. I'm heading for the range camp. I still can't figure it, Mr. Dillon.

It just don't add up. Justice, I help me if you say that once more. I'm... What's the matter, Mr. Dillon? Pull up. Pull up. Oh, no. What are we stopping for, Mr. Dillon? He's getting farther away every minute.

Chester, I owe you an apology. You're right. Don't add up. Well, it's just the way of talking I have. I didn't intend on... No, no, I'm in it. No, no, I mean it. Just... Everything Houston Jack did tonight.

It doesn't that up at all. He knew I'd jump him if he came into town. He's tough, but he's not that tough. He's not the kind of a man to force a gunfight just for a chance to show off.

Yeah, but there wasn't any gunfight, Mr. Dylan? No. He turned tail and Ryan. That's not like Houston, either. You'll be a laughingstock from here to the pakers. Well, it's like I said, just don't add...

I forget what I was gonna say. It's just suppose that Thompson's wanted to get us out of town for a while, huh? You mean they put Houston up to that diodosos we'd chase off after him?

Well, there's only one way I know to find us. Come on! Dodge is kind of spooky this time of night, Mr. Dillon. Pretty though.

All shatters and moonlight. Yeah. Man could do a fair job of shooting tonight. My... Sometimes I think Kitty is right about you, Mr. Dylan. Meinen? No heart. Maybe not just... No offense, Mr. Dylan. Oh, forget it.

You know, Chester, there's something about moonlight connected to those Thompson brothers. I wish I could remember what... Chesith? Hmm? Don't... don't look. Just ride straight ahead. Keep riding. There are four horses tied over there by the bank.

Uh-huh. So that's it? One of them's been Ronnie's wet. I can see it in the moonlight. Houston must have circled back. Human and Thompson's. Yes, but what about that fourth horse, Miss Billin? It's probably Clem Bates. They'd have to have him.

A vault's locked at night. All right, around the corner now. They may be watching from the front windows. Thompson, brothers. I wouldn't have ever figured them for a bank hold up. Now. All right, we'll leave the horses here, snip back to the side of the street.

Yes. Oh. What about that moonlight now, Chester? Well, I guess it's bright enough a man could... A man could do a fair job of shooting tonight. You're gonna sign the lines, Mr. Dylan? Door's open.

Maybe one hour's short of time. I came from the door. Come on, Justin. All right, get by to get the walk. They'll have to shut themselves to fire at us. Same as Dylan. I think they shut that door.

Yeah, a bit uneasy. Yes, sir. Get shut, all right. I'm gonna try the door. If it opens, flip a couple of shops in. Yes, sir.

Hey, Chester. I think you hear them running, isn't it? Yeah, one more. They crashed out through the front window, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, come on. Oh, there's Clem on the floor. They must have laid him out.

Easy, Chester. Maybe we're waiting outside for us. There they go. They're making a run for it. Yeah, come on. Let's get out through this window. Mr. Dillon? Mr. Dillon. It's alright, Chester. Yeah. Thanks for rib, I think. I'm alright.

I thought for minutare that they'd... Yeah, yeah, I know. Looks like one of them stayed behind. That shot came from the corner of the livery stable over there. Maybe I can... What's the matter, Dylan?

It's supposed to be good. It's Houston, alright. He's back at that old stone whale. Yeah. Stay here and keep him pinned down, Chester. I'm going up on the roof through the trap door back here.

Alright, Mr. Dillon. Watch yourself. Yeah. Throw a shot or two at him. Keep him busy, huh? Yes. I will, Houston. Don't worry about that. If I can just get this open with us. There. That's who they are.

Houston! You're under arrest! Drop your gun! I'll drop it! dropping last chance you're so long gun swingin I reckon that bit Mr. Dylan yeah moonlight thrill bright up here Chester all right Chester I'm coming down

no no no mr. Beige is coming to mr. Dylan yeah he's not bad off they must have Slapping with a gun barrel on the way out of a clam clam Clam can you hear me? Matt who who oh Matt thank you?

Chester get that chair over the yes All right, give me a hand with it Now what happened clam are they trying to make you open the vault it's right it was those Thompson brothers man Yeah, I know they fooled me plenty I thought they were fine fellas. I've been drinking with them all evening.

Hell, you never know, Clint. They got away with anything? No. I was about to give in and open the vault when you rode by. That got him kind of upset. Hell, there's no harm done. Houston Jack was long overdue for killing him.

We're gonna go after the Thompson's, Mr. Dillon? Where, Chester, they could have gone in any one of a dozen directions. There'll be no chance of trying to track him till morning. Somehow, I don't think we'll get him even then.

I think I ought to get something done about this hetermine, Matt. It's giving me fits. Yeah, I'll go with you, Clem. I gotta tell the doc about Houston. Chester, I guess you better go over to the depot and wake up, Mr. Heitauer.

I've even put a wanted bullet on the wire. For the Thompson brothers, huh? No, Chester. I've recognized them, finally. Their name isn't Thompson. Well, what name do I put in the bullet in, Mr. Dillon?

Just say, wanted for attempted bank robbery in Dodge City. Frank and Jesse James. Gun smoke under the direction of Norman McDonald's stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon U.S. Marshall.

Tonight's story was specially written for gun smoke by Les Crutchfield with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Featured in the cast were Harry Bartell and Vic Perrin with Paul Duvall, Joe Duvall and Lou Krugman.

Harley Bear is Chester, Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall, fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in Gun Smoke. Sunday's in the daytime, CBS Radio brings you a unique series of political debates, a program called Pick the

Winner on which the major party select their highest authorities to discuss important election issues. Tomorrow on most of these same CBS radio stations, here are another major election issue debated. Here, pick the winner, and don't forget to make the full use of what these programs tell you, register so you may vote this fall.

This is Roy Rowan speaking. Remember, every Sunday we extend a cordial invitation to great music on the CBS Radio Network.