Gunsmoke: The Mortgage

In the United States, there's one way to handle the killers and the spoilers. And that's with the U.S. Smarshall and the smell of gun smoke. The Smosh starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved west with young Americans.

The story of a man who moved with it, Matt Dillon, United States Smarshall. A mornin' like this makes a man glad to be alive. Oh, it's a fine one, all right, Mr. Dillon.

Mr. Dillon. Yeah. Little nippy maybe, but just fine. Indian summer hanging on and winter holding off. You know Chester this time of year, I wouldn't trade Western Kansas for everything east of the Mississippi. Ah, good. Pedro's got a fire going on.

I built the fire, Marshall Dillon. Ah, good morning, Caleb. I'm letting his jail office for a full two hours. What time do you start work, Marshall? You know, Caleb Andrews, don't you Chester? Oh, yes, indeed, hi, Mr. Andrews.

Marshall, I have an order here from the U.S. District Court. I believe it's your job to serve such orders. Yeah, it is. I don't get them often, though. Order of foreclosure and eviction on... Ed Blake.

Why are you doing this to Ed, Caleb? The man borrowed money from me. He gave me a mortgage on his farm and household effects. He can't pay it. What do you think I'm doing? It only came due three days ago.

You sure didn't waste any time. I'm not interested in your opinions, Marshall Dillon. $420. What do you need with $420? You own half a Ford County now. Marshall, it's not your place. 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 his wife and kid nearly broke their backs trying to get a crop out. I didn't come here to listen to you. If you let this ride on for the winner, you'll get your money out of it.

If you go ahead and foreclose now, you'll wipe him out. Marshall, I already have foreclosed. You'd break a man for $420. You don't even need, huh? As I said, your opinions don't interest me. All I expect from you is to serve these papers.

All right, I'll serve them. You'll notice they're to be served today. I said I'd serve them, now get out. What? This office belongs to the United States government. As far as I know, that's one thing you got no mortgage on, so get out.

You may find I have some influence in Washington, Marshall Dillon. Then see if you can get me a decent salary for this rotten job of mine. It sure was a fine morning, Mr. Dillon. Yeah, it was.

Alright Chester, let's saddle up. This is one job I surely wish we didn't have to do, Mr. Dylan. Yeah.

This sure is a nice farm. Ed and Martha have put in a lot of work here in the last four years. We don't have any choice, Chester. Yes, sure I know. It's a downright shame, though.

Hey Marshall! Oh boy. Wow. Hi, Jimmy. Look at here where I got more. That looks to me like a mighty dead coyote. That's what it is. He's been killing my chickens. So last night I hit off behind the bar.

Yeah? I got him with one shot, Mr. Dylan. And there wasn't even a full moon. Well, that's fine, Jimmy. Mad d- Oh, uh, come on in, Martha. And Chester, too. Miss Blake. Well, I'm glad to see you. Get down. Come on in.

Oh, thank you. Jimmy, now that you showed that thing to Mr. Dylan, take it away somewhere. All right, Mom. He sure is a big one, eating Mr. Dylan. Yeah, about the biggest I ever saw, Jimmy.

Oh, Jimmy. He's real proud of those chickens he is. He's done fine with him. Well here I am though, keeping you standing out here in the yard. Come on, let's go inside. Well, we really can't stay Martha.

Oh, nonsense. You don't get out here once in a goon day. Yeah, I know, but you should. And you're just in time. Your favorite dish math. I was about to take it out of the oven when you rolled up.

Cornbread. Buttermilk cornbread. That's right. It's not here but you will say, won't you? Well, Martha, I'd like to, but well, we just can't. That's all the thing is that, uh, you say Ed's away? Yes, he's in town.

Man, you're not yourself, what is it? Well, I suppose I ought to talk to Ed about this, but maybe it'll be better if he hears it from you. Here's what? Martha, I got a court order here.

It has to do with that mortgage, It's the order of foreclosure and eviction and sale. No. Oh, no. Here it is. We were so sure he'd extend it. You know what happened? Why we couldn't pay it?

He was sure he'd extend it. Well, he won't. I talked to him. Matt, how long before we have to get out? Five days. So soon, you were right, Matt. It is better today. Here's it for me.

Come on top, everything else, little. I can't let it break, am I? I just can't let it break. Martha, if there's anything I can do, you, you let me know, huh? Matt, I don't blame you for this. I understand.

Come on in now and have some cornbread with me. I couldn't. I'm sorry to thank you anyway, Martha. Oh, I just couldn't. You've looked low all week. It's just things in general.

Sometimes you get to wonder if it's all worth it or not. The Blake's, huh? Chester's telling me. That Chester talks too much. It's not your fault, Matt. Somebody had to serve the order. Somebody has to be hangman, too.

Life's never all good, Matt. There's always a little bad in it. My job is more than a little. Try making your living sometime as a dance hoe, girl. But when you gotta go out and boot somebody like the Blake's off their land and out of their home, then you start wondering what's right and what's wrong.

Well, if you find out, Matt, let me know. I've always... Oh, there you are, Marshall. I stopped by the jail. Well, all right, Caleb, what's on your mind? That Blake family, Marshall. They were supposed to vacate today.

Well, they haven't done it. I rode by there a little while ago. According to the court order, they got until sundown. That they haven't made the slightest preparation. Marshall, I believe I'd prefer to discuss our business elsewhere than in the presence of this, uh, this easy Caleb.

Map, uh, Calco? Caleb, you're gonna apologize to Miss Kitty right now. No, no. Apologize? If you think I'm going to apologize to this cheap little baggage who's in this... Man, just shouldn't have done that.

Ben again take him outside and throw some water on him. Yes, my show. Why not kitty he had it coming to us. He'll do everything he can to hurt you now. He'll take it out in the blakes too.

Yeah, maybe. Look kitty I just got an idea. I'll see you later. Alright man. Man, the mere fact a man runs a bank doesn't always mean he's got a free hand and everything he does.

A bank has stockholders aboard and directors. I've got to listen to him. I think they'd approve the loan, Clem. Another thing Caleb Andrews is the biggest account I've got. Or if I crossed him by taking this loan, you suggest?

Matt, he'd break me. I see. All right, Clem. Forget it. Matt, I realize I'm under obligation, do you? You saved my life. That time the James brothers held me up. Saved the bank, too, in fact.

But that was part of my job, Clem. There's no obligation. I would just ask a new user friend to help out another friend. I might like to do it, but I just can't. Don't you see that?

Yeah, sure, Clem. I see. You just forget it. Gotta think of my wife and the two girls. Yeah, of course you have. It's not that I don't want it. I understand, Clem. I really do.

Forget it. Holy file. That fire feels kind of good, Mr. Dillon. It's getting chilly shout tonight. Yeah, I guess we better have Pedro lay in some more wood. Yes, sir. When winter sets in, it always makes you feel good to know you got a warm place to hold up.

Think mighty rough not to have a... not to... Hey, I was thinking of the same thing, Chester. You suppose they vacated this afternoon? I don't know. I will ride out there in the morning and find out.

Sure is a shame. It's just too bad. Oh. Come in. Can we bother you? I bother you, man. Ed! Oh, oh, come in. Come in, Martha. Well, hiya, Jimmy. Well, come on up the stove, folks.

Come on. Matt, the fact is that we kind of like to impose on you for the night. We haven't got any place to go. No money. Wonder if we could sleep in the jail tonight.

Oh, sure, Ed. Chester, would you? You got a fire going back there? All right, Mr. Dillon. And dig up some blankets out of the store room, huh? Yes, I do. Want to come help me, Jimmy?

Jimmy? Along with Chester, now, boy. Go on. All right. He, um, he doesn't understand all this mess. He... He... Ed, we may as well get your stuff out of the wagon, I guess. Well, there ain't any wagon, man.

We walked into town. Six miles. With that leg. I know, but that wagon, the horses, all the household goods, goods. They're all covered by that mortgage. We didn't take anything except the clothes in our backs. So help me. It's all right, Matt. We know how you feel. After all, we started with nothing before. We can do it again. But there's no reason you should have to. We do

have to though. And that's that. Ed and I can accept it. We're not bitter any longer. Jimmy can't understand. He's been carrying on pretty bad, but he's just a boy. And in time he'll be able to go on.

Yeah, what is it Chester? He's Jimmy. He grabbed a rifle from off the rack and took out the back way. I couldn't stop her. Where are her nuts? She going. I think I know where he's going. And heaven helped Caleb Andrews if we don't catch him.

We will return for the second act of gun smoke in just a moment. But first, that widely traveled man of music Mr. Von Monroe will land in Potstown, Pennsylvania this Saturday night. The moon maids, the moon man, and the Monroe ensemble will be on hand to and live in the session.

Remember, tomorrow night and every Saturday evening, it's Von Monroe and his musical caravan on most of these same CBS radio stations. Now the second act of gun smoke. Mr. Andrews, how's Aaron Cohen? Looks dark, Mr. Dillon.

Yeah, you may not be home. I'm not sure hope he isn't. No sign of the boy around. Reckon he broke in the house, but you don't? Maybe. Any hot, tender one, this is where he headed for.

His mother said he was real upset about it, and it's just like a kid that... Chester? Hmm? There's somebody back of that tree up there on the left. Hmm. Yeah. Think it's him? I don't know, just keep on walking.

I can see the moonlight on the rifle barrel. try to rush him, Mr. Gillan? Not unless you're thinking of suicide. I'm going to talk to him, Chester. Jimmy, it's me, Matt Dillon. Go away, Mr. Dillon.

I can't do that, Jimmy. You're a friend of mine, and I figure you're waiting here to do something that you'd be sorry for, and I can't let you do that. Nothing you can do about him, Mr. Dillon.

I've got a gun here, and I'm going to kill him. Jimmy, I know how you feel. I don't like Caleb either, but killing him's no answer. You folks feel bad enough already. Think I would hurt him if you did.

Don't, Mr. Del, I stay where? I have to, Jimmy, it's my job. So if you're going through with this, I guess you have to kill me first. No, no, Mr. Del, I stay back. I'm sorry, Jimmy.

I don't have a choice, but you do. No. I knew you couldn't. I get weak enough nights and cheer I'm crying, I'm lying with no fire. Easy now, Jimmy.

Jimmy? Listen to me. Would you do something for a friend? Yeah, say so. All right. Then take that rifle back to the jail and put it in the rack and go to bed. Now, you promise?

Yeah. I promise, Mr. Dylan. I'm sorry. I'll do like you say. You're all right, Jimmy. Good night, son. I told you Clem Bates wouldn't do anything, Math. You wouldn't dare.

He was scared Caleb would take his money out of the bank. Yeah, that's about what he said. I don't know, Kitty. I've done everything I could possibly think of. All the worst of it is everybody in times, just to scare a Caleb, his clam is.

I doubt if they'll even have a nerve to bid against him at the sale. Yeah, I know. He'll probably get the place at not much more than the amount of the mortgage. $420. Mad I've seen more than that change hands across a poker table here in one deal.

I think that's all it takes. I think it's hard, Miss Kitty. Oh, of course, Jack. I'm not using one to eavesdrop on people, but I have been listening to you too. Jack, have you met Marshall Villan?

No, I haven't had the price. The reason I butted in, Miss Kitty. I heard you talking about these people losing their home. I don't know if this fellow Blake, he's never done any business over my cable and probably never will.

No, I don't think he's ever been in here. And I don't know if this will make sense. But the thing is I left home when I was ten 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 gets her audio. Or what I'm getting at. Here's $50 a day of that'll help money. Oh, Jack. Jack. Well, this is awful decent of you, Jack.

Mac, I said a while ago that nearly everyone in town was afraid of Caleb. Yeah. Well, there's some along. Like Jack here, and me, and the rest of the dealers, and the gamblers, and the girls, and the bartenders.

That's right, Miss Kitty. Because we're drifters. We've got nothing to lose. Matt, I'll raise $420 right here in the Texas Trail. I haven't kitty, I think you could. Well, I can't do as well as Jack.

He is 20 for me. He's sure taking this time getting here, Chester. Well, I told him what you said, Mr. Dylan. I'll let out a bring him 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. The Blake's turned in for the night? Yeah, I guess so. It's been quiet back there for the last few.

Marcia, what's this all about? Well, shut the door, Caleb. We're trying to keep it warm in here. Would you mind telling me why I've been called over here at this time of night? Yeah, sure.

There's $420. The blakes want to pay off the mortgage. They do, do they? The court costs up to now. Probably run about $10. I'll pay that myself. That's mighty generous of you. Well, good night, Marshall.

Is it a deal, Lynn? I am not the least bit interested in having that mortgage paid off, Marshall Dillon. The Blake Farm is worth about $2,000 now and in five years it'll be worth three times that much.

Land's going up in Ford County, that's why I'm grabbing every piece I can get. So I don't want the money, I want the farm. And when it's put up the sale, I'll get it at my own price.

The foreclosure still goes. Let's see. Good night, gentlemen. Well, I guess that's that, Mr. Dillon. I don't know why I even thought he'd take the money. If Blake's won't get a set 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 town will even try to try to

try to try to what Mr. Dylan Chester I'm going over and wake up Clem Bates I got an idea and if it works we'll hold that sale at noon tomorrow. That's pretty short notice to find auctioneer.

I don't need an auctioneer Chester this one I'm going to run myself. This is a foreclosure sale of the property and household effects of Edward and Martha Blake ordered by the court at the request of that fine-spirited, good-hearted, public benefactor and friend and neighbor of us all, Caleb Andrews.

Marshall Dillon, I refuse to tolerate Caleb. I think we better get one thing straight right now. The law tells me I've got to conduct this sale, but the law doesn't tell me what I've got to say while I'm conducting it.

Get on with it. Get on with the sale. All right. Now, uh, the first item I'm offering is a breadboard. Ms. Blake tells me she's used this for nearly 10 years. That's a lot of loaves of bread. A lot of years.

As you can see, it's pretty badly battered up. I doubt if it'd be worth much to anybody unless they were used to it. Suppose we started at 50 cents. Is there anybody here low enough to bid 50 cents for Mrs. Blake's breadboard?

I'm not interested in the item. Get all of the sales. Anybody else? The second item. You'll notice it's handmade. Rough construction. Never been painted. It's been well used. Ed building himself 12 years ago just before Jimmy was born.

There are teeth marks all over the slats here, but that doesn't really hurt anything. There are all those... Oh, Zillen, may I suggest you lump the household effects together and offer them as one bulk item.

I'm sorry, Caleb, I'd rather offer them one at a time. Unless, of course, you'll care to wave all claim to the household effects and withdraw them from the order of foreclosure. I wave the claim. The household goods that were drawn.

I'll get on to the house and land. ordered now the item offered 160 acres of tellable land a four-room house and a barn I won't read through the description you all know the property it's a good farm the amount of the mortgage is four hundred and twenty dollars held by Caleb Andrews right the biddens open four hundred and fifty dollars I have four

$150 from cable Andrews. Do I hear another bid? Oh, the farm's worth $2,000. You're gonna lay in heaven for $450? How about another bidder? Mr. Darn? Yeah, what is it, Chester? Well, I've been thinking some lately getting me a little place like this and settling down. I'll bid $1,000.

Look, I have $1,000. Yes, you promise? Do I hear another bid? It's a trick. It doesn't want this place. $1,000 going once. $1,200. $1,200. Halo Van Drouen's bids $1,200. What do you say, Chester? Well, sir, I think I kind of like this farm.

$1,500. This is ridiculous. The fed is $1,500. Go on once. Go on twice. $1,600. $1,600 for Mr. Andrews. Chester? $120. He never had that much money in his whole life. Do I hear another bid?

Oh, what do you say, Caleb? Do you think I'm a fool? All and once, all and twice, sold. The Chester Proud put the $8,420. The fire will come forward and complete the sale. Don't you worry about me, Mr. Andrews.

I got it right here. There, there's $8,500 in bills. And here is the $4.20. Where did you ever get that much in cash? Well, I saved my pay, Mr. Andrews. And of course, I drink just mostly beer.

It adds up after what? Caleb, I guess $420 of this is yours. And that takes care of them all. Well, Ed, it's like you made a pretty fair profit on the place. Here's a lot better than I expected.

Here's your money. Thank you, man. But I tell you, I still... I still rather have the farm than the money. Well, now, I've been sort of thinking it over, Mr. Blake. Maybe I kind of lost my head.

But when you come right down to it, I don't know what I'd ever do with a farm. So if you'd like to buy it, I'll take a $420 loss and sell it back to you for $8,000 cash.

Done. Here's your money. This is unheard of. They can't do it, Marshall. Well, as far as I know, there's no law against the man selling his own property. Now the way I see it, Mr. Andrews, is right this minute. You're a trespasser and my property.

Come on, let's go. I got it. Thank you. Chester. You better get that $8,000 back to the bank. back. Clem Bates is probably worrying himself into a breakdown for fear somebody will find out that he let us have it.

All right, Mr. Dillon, I'll see you in town later. Yeah. Oh, Matt, Matt, I don't know how we can ever thank you for what you've done. Ah, not me, Martha. Thank the bunch that work at the Texas Trail.

In other bombs and drifters, most of them. But when Kitty told them the story, they really came through. We'll pay it back, Matt, every cent of it. And will 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?

What? I'd like to thank her myself. Ha. Sure. What's that? I'll ask her. And I think she'll appreciate that more than you'll ever know. Unsmoke, under the direction of Norman McDonald's stars, William Conrad as Matt Dillon US Marshal.

Tonight's story was specially written for gun smoke by Les Crutchfield with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey, featured in the cast where Harry Bartell, Paula Winslow and Richard Beals with Joe DeVal, Lawrence Dobkin and Jim Nusser.

Parley Bear is Chester and Georgia Ellis's Kitty. Gun smoke is heard by our troops overseas through the facilities of the Armed Forces Radio Service. Join us again next week as Matt Dillon US Marshal fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the West in gun smoke.

The suggestion for Saturday listening. Fun for all starring Bill Cullen and Arlene Francis and John Reed King's great show, Give and Take. Here's tomorrow on CBS Radio. Clancing to cell speaking. And remember, you'll find Western Adventure and Music with Gene Autry's Saturday evenings on the CBS Radio Network.