Gunsmoke: Dodge Podge - When Hate Pulls the Trigger

Dodge City is enjoying a rare quiet spell - green prairie, fine weather, and the trail herds not yet arrived. Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester take a moment to savour it. Then a commotion in the street pulls them up short. Lafe Sutter has his son Packy by the arm, furious that the boy rode into town alongside Jason Royle - a quiet, book-reading sheep man Lafe despises. The beating is interrupted, but the damage is done. Dillon tries to keep a lid on it - talking to Packy, cautioning Royle, warning Sutter. None of it sticks. By morning, Packy has vanished, Royle has ridden out toward the Chiricahua Mountains, and Sutter is convinced the man he hates most in the world has taken his son. When a homesteader reports a light burning in Royle's cabin that same night, Sutter rides out before Dillon can stop him. What follows is a single gunshot from the dark - and the worst possible ending to a feud built on nothing but fear and pride.

Episode Quotes

"The worst enemy you can have in the world is a man who's scared of you." - Jason Royle

"Growing up's kind of hard to do sometimes, Marshal." - Packy Sutter

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

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SPEAKER_07 0:16

Check their competitive prices online at tabletpharmacy.ca Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there is just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. And the story of a man who moved with it. I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshal.

SPEAKER_06 1:15

The first man they look for, and the last they want to meet.

SPEAKER_07 1:19

It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful. And a little lonely. Dodge said he can. Now take a week like this last one, was it fine weather in the prairie all green before the June sun scorches it and people staying out of trouble.

SPEAKER_06 2:10

Well, that won't last long, Chester. The trail herds are starting to roll in.

SPEAKER_07 2:17

You just won't never let a person pleasure himself at all. Sorry, Chester. I didn't say it was always nice. I said right now it's nice. All right, Chester. I didn't mean to bust your balloon. Well, you chore none.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

No, no, I didn't mean nothing by it.

SPEAKER_07 2:33

Well, look at there. There's young Packy Sutter. Yeah, let's go see what it's all about. Why? My goodness, Lake. He's gonna cross that boy's arm right off. He ain't careful either. We'll get no thanks for poking our noses into a family row.

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Let's roll into town with him, Poe. I can't see nothing wrong in that.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Maybe I'll learn you to be a little never. Mind your old.

SPEAKER_07 2:59

What's the trouble? Bo, you, Marshal. That boy's getting pretty near as big as you are, Waif. If you're not careful, one of these days he's gonna turn on you. You lift a hand to me just once, I'll take a horse whip and cut him to ribbons.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

But all done was to ride into town with Mr. Roy. Oh.

SPEAKER_07 3:16

You mean chasing Roe, Packy?

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Yes, sir. I met him on the trail south of the.

SPEAKER_03 3:21

Shut your mouth, boy. Now get on over the livery stable and wait for me. And whenever I'm ready to go home, you better be sat in that wagon seat. You hear me? Yes, sir. All right.

SPEAKER_07 3:33

Still wet behind the ears and back talking like you were groto. Why are you so worked up against Jason Roll? Because he's no good, that's why. I told that boy of mine two dozen times, stay shy of him. He's gonna learn to do it if I have to beat him to death. If that's what you're figuring on, you better do it outside of Dodge. You butting into a man's right to teach his family discipline? Discipline's one thing, but a grown man beating a boy with his fist to something else, and that's what you were doing when we walked. He knowed what to expect. He's been told enough. Told what? Jason Rowe's pretty well liked as far as I've ever heard. Listen, I aim to raise Packy up to be a cattleman, to take over the ranch someday, to ruin it with his own two hands. I aim to be proud, all right, sir.

SPEAKER_03 4:23

I ain't raising him up to be no no-good book reading poet. Just enough sense to plant a bean patch and live off in a herd of scrawny sheep. And I told that boy to stop hanging around that no-good role.

SPEAKER_07 4:37

So have I, Mr.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Sutter.

SPEAKER_07 4:40

How are you, Jason? Marshal. It wasn't because I don't enjoy his company that I told him to stay away, but because I knew it was making trouble for him with you. I had no intention of trying to convince him by beating him to a pulp. I ain't sure you're a man enough. I am sure, though. That's why I don't have to go around proving it 24 hours a day. You trying to start something with me? I think it's already started, Sutter. As long as you can find your attack on me to talk, I wasn't greatly concerned. But I don't like being shot at from ambush. What do you mean, shot at? When was this? Last week, Marshal? Maybe Sutter can tell you more about it. You claiming I tried to shoot you in the back? As a matter of fact, my back was turned. Odd that you knew. I never even been near that shack of yours. I think you're a liar, Sutter. Too bad you ain't wearing a gun when you say that. Suppose you take yours off. You outweigh me 20 pounds. That ought to be fair, but. Or maybe you're scared of guns, is that it? You're right. Well, I am scared of guns. I've seen too many of them not to be. Like I said, Marshal, just a sheep herder that likes to read books. Roll. You keep away from my boy. You hear me? Any friend who comes to my door is welcome, and that includes Packy. And another thing, Sutter. From tonight on, I'll be wearing a gun. I'm mighty glad to hear that. Mighty glad. I'll believe it when I see it.

SPEAKER_03 6:25

Oh. You better get somebody to learn you how to load it.

SPEAKER_07 6:33

Marshal, that boy ought to be taken away from him. Well, that'd be pretty hard to do, Jason. The law gives a man a lot of leeway where his own family's concerned. Packy's a good youngster. But his father's killing the spirit in him. He may do more killing than that, Jason, if you give him the chance. By wearing a gun, you mean? No, Marshal. I'm afraid he's worked himself up to a point now where he'll try, whether I'm armed or not. Well, let's start at all this anyway. Packy happens to like me. And I've talked to him and given him books to read. Leif's a cattleman, and I run a few sheep. Maybe that's reason enough in itself. Yeah, maybe. Mostly, though, I think it's because he's scared. That's why he's always blustering, trying to cover up. And he knows I see it, so he hates me. And deep inside he's scared of me, too. Man, that's possible. The worst enemy you can have in the world is a man who's scared of you. Yeah. I know that, Jason, but I wasn't sure you knew it.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Oh, hand me that scowl pedal, though, will you, Mayor, please?

SPEAKER_07 8:11

Uh, is this the one you mean, Doc? Oh, yes, Chris. Thanks. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 8:18

You know, it's a fine way for a grown man to be spending his time, Doc, poking around on the inside of a dead prairie dog.

SPEAKER_07 8:25

It's a rare opportunity, Matt. Rare opportunity. No? The Hawkins kids brought me three of them this morning. Found them out south of town. Rare opportunity for what, Doc? Matt, how many dead prairie dogs did you ever see? Well, I. Come to think of it.

SPEAKER_02 8:44

Ah, that's just what I mean. A prairie dog is a tough little animal. Only get killed by hawks and snakes, coyotes, and so forth. But they don't just up and die.

SPEAKER_05 8:53

Yeah, I guess not.

SPEAKER_02 8:55

Yeah. Come on in. Doors unlocked. Oh, well, well, Packy's.

SPEAKER_05 9:02

Come on in, Packy.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

I was looking for you, Marshal. Uh-huh. Chester said you might be up here. What can I do for you, son? Well, uh. Nothing much, I reckon. I just wanted to talk, I guess. Go right ahead. I'm through here. Why don't you two talk out there in the front room, I like to kind of clean up him here.

SPEAKER_06 9:24

All right, Doug.

SPEAKER_02 9:25

Come on, Packy. You know, Marshal, well, Paul just wailed the daylights out of me. He was madder in a wet hen.

SPEAKER_06 9:42

Well, maybe there won't be much more of that, Packy. You're about grown up now.

SPEAKER_07 9:47

Paul keeps saying he aims to be proud of me. Make a man out of me. Maybe he just wants you to be everything he miss being.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

Oh, Paul talks real loud, real Bravo. But I don't think he is at all. Well. Why does he hate Mr. Roll so much? I don't see nothing wrong with him. I like it.

SPEAKER_06 10:08

So do I.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

He knows things, he. Most anything you think of, Mr. Roll knows about. And he tells you, so you know, too. Sure is a mighty big world the way he tells about it.

SPEAKER_07 10:25

Yeah, I guess it is.

SPEAKER_02 10:27

Dodge City ain't all of it. Or the prairie. Bigger than that. And I aim to see for myself. Learn all about it.

SPEAKER_07 10:36

Well, once you're grown up, I guess you can do about anything you want to, Peggy.

SPEAKER_02 10:43

Growing up's kind of hard to do sometimes, Marshal.

SPEAKER_06 10:48

Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty hard. A lot of people never make it, Peggy.

SPEAKER_07 11:14

You know, Mr. Dillon, it just ain't nothing like a half dozen fried eggs to start a man off right in the morning. Yeah, I imagine a hog wakes up with pretty much the same feeling, Chester. Well, a good appetite is a sign of good health. Well, then I'd say you're about the healthiest man west of St. Louis. Sticks and stones can break my bone, but words won't be. Why did I join you, Marshal? Ah, Jason. Glad to have you, sure. Sit down. Morning, Chester. Hi, Mr. O. You're up and around early today, aren't you? I'm just going through town, as a matter of fact. I've got a timber cabin up under the Chirwaz. The snows during the winter damaged it some.

SPEAKER_04 11:51

I'm going to spend a week putting it back in shape. Yeah. I um say you're wearing a gun. I meant what I said, Marshall.

SPEAKER_07 12:00

Well, now, Mr. O, wearing a gun is one thing, but knowing how to use it when the time comes is another. I'm familiar with guns, Jess. Tell me something, Jason. You've uh let troops, haven't you? Why do you ask that? I'm not asking exactly. It's more a matter of guessing. Well, during the War of the Rebellion, I served as a captain. 29th New York volunteers assigned to the 7th Cavalry. Do me a favor, will you, Jason? If I can, Marshal. Stay clear, Sutter. Let me talk to him, huh? Let me see if I can knock some sense into his head. I've no intention of looking him up and calling him. But I doubt that'll make any difference, Marshal. He's like a blind mad bull, ready to charge anything that moves. Yeah, I'm afraid you're right. Marshal, I want to know what's happened to Patty.

SPEAKER_03 12:51

I ain't seen him flee.

SPEAKER_07 12:53

Morning, Sutter.

SPEAKER_03 12:57

You're behind this, you sneaking rat. It's just about time to. All right, hold it, Lady.

SPEAKER_08 13:02

Get your hand away from the house. Let him return. Come on, no, sir. Give it back.

unknown 13:07

Get it.

SPEAKER_07 13:10

All right, settle down now. What's the matter with you anyway? Fackey.

SPEAKER_03 13:15

Fackey's gone right away during the night.

SPEAKER_07 13:19

Well, I throw there. He knows he put him up to it. Have you seen Fackey, Jason? Not since yesterday out there in the street when Sutter was trying to beat him half to death. You're lying.

SPEAKER_03 13:28

You're hiding him out somewhere.

SPEAKER_07 13:30

Sutter. Sutter, since you seem determined to force this. Watch. My goodness, that. That was the fastest draw I ever seen. My gracious.

SPEAKER_04 13:50

Marshal, I think I'll push on. I'll eat breakfast on the trail. I'll see you in about a week. Have a good trip, Jason.

SPEAKER_07 14:02

All right, Leif, there's your gun. If you know what's good for you, you'll keep it in its holster. You might as well keep a cell ready, Marshal. I'll kill him, no matter how fast he is. I don't think I'll bother with a cell, Leif. If you do try it, what you're gonna need's a grave.

SPEAKER_01 14:47

Hello, Matt.

SPEAKER_07 14:49

Nice, Sam.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

How about having a drink with me?

SPEAKER_07 14:53

I could use a beer.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

Good. Sam, shuffle over pitch your beer, will you? Sure, K. Yeah, sit down, ma'am.

SPEAKER_06 15:06

Thank you. You got quite a crowd on that.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Yeah. Circle B bar herd came in about dark with 40 riders and they turn averted about an hour later. I guess we'll be open all night.

SPEAKER_07 15:19

Use your duty, Kitty.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Thanks, ma'am.

SPEAKER_07 15:21

Thanks, Sam.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Put it on the house, Cat, will you?

SPEAKER_07 15:23

Sure. You know, I can't figure these trail drivers, Kitty. They work all winter long, make up 1,500-mile cattle drive, and then blow their whole wages in three nights.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

One night, a lot of them. Then they have to borrow money to eat on till they head back to Texas. But I guess that's the way they like it.

SPEAKER_07 15:41

Yeah, my boy, Ed Marshall. No, not yet, Late. Are you even trying? As much as I know how to. He hasn't been seen on any of the trails out of town. I checked with everybody I can. Why don't you check with Jason Rowl? That's who he's gone with. You heard what Jason said this morning. He was going into the Chirawas, be gone a week or more.

SPEAKER_03 16:08

Then he took Facky with him.

SPEAKER_07 16:10

I talked with the driver of the Pueblo stage this afternoon. He saw Jason Roll at Rylight Fast. He's alone. You're letting your hate twist your thinking, life.

SPEAKER_03 16:21

I wouldn't trust that Jason Roll no further, and I can see it.

SPEAKER_06 16:25

Well, that's up to you. But it seems to me your main concern ought to be your son, not your feud with Jason.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

It is. If anything happened to that boy, I'd Marshall.

SPEAKER_07 16:40

You find Pack. You find him and fetch him back home. You hear me? I'll do what I can, Liz.

SPEAKER_03 16:47

You find him and fetch him back.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

Funny, Matt. A lot of personal letter hate get hold of him. Without any real reason that it ride him that way.

SPEAKER_06 17:03

Yeah. And ride him right under the ground more than often.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

Matt, you think Jason did help Packy run away?

SPEAKER_07 17:11

No, I think the boy just got tired of being cuffed around, that's all. But still, Lai worships that kid. Yeah, I suppose he does, Liz old weight.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Like a jealousy almost. Late wants the boy to look up to him like he does to Jason.

SPEAKER_06 17:27

Well, we'll never get him to do it by slapping him in the head.

SPEAKER_01 17:33

Well, I guess we can't solve everybody's problems, Matt.

SPEAKER_05 17:39

No, I gave that up a long time ago.

SPEAKER_07 17:41

Mr. Jones.

SPEAKER_05 17:43

Oh, what is it, Chester?

SPEAKER_07 17:45

Looks like maybe we kind of got took in by Jason Roll. Why, what do you mean? It appears like he didn't go to the chur was after all. I reckon he must circle back.

SPEAKER_05 17:54

What?

SPEAKER_07 17:54

Well, a homesteader just came in from off that way and said there's a light in Jason's cabin. He lied to us, Mr. Jones. Well, we better go out and see him before Sutter finds out. He already has. He heard about it the same time I did, and he just this minute took out of here like a big-footed bird. All right, let's go, Chester.

SPEAKER_02 18:31

Jason's cab was just around the bend there, Mr. Dillon. There still ain't no sign of Suddick. Oh.

SPEAKER_07 18:38

We might have pass him some words on the way out.

SPEAKER_05 18:41

That maybe. Well, it looks like that homesteader was telling the truth, Chester. There's a light in the cabin there.

SPEAKER_02 18:50

Sure, by golly, there sure is. Well, this ain't the first time I've been wrong about a man.

SPEAKER_07 18:58

Yeah, but Jason's not the kind to lie. Let's leave our horses here. All right, J. You would have had plenty of time to circle back, though. Even if we was seen at Rylight. I guess so. All right, let's go. Tis kind of disheartening, though, ain't it? When you figure a man lied to you.

SPEAKER_03 19:26

I know you're in there, oh.

SPEAKER_07 19:27

There, Sutter, or they're in the breast.

SPEAKER_03 19:30

Come on, you rotten coward! Late! Hold it!

SPEAKER_07 19:34

Look, somebody's opening the cabin door.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

Get out of the light! Get away from that door!

SPEAKER_07 19:39

Shot him, Mr. Dillon. Shot him, Sutter. Shot him down in cold blood. Maybe he isn't, Ted. Let's go see. Marshal Tillon, Lake. Put down that rifle. We're going to the cabin.

SPEAKER_03 19:51

Go, Marshal! I can't go through with you.

SPEAKER_07 19:54

Fired an ambush.

SPEAKER_02 19:56

Without giving him no chance at all.

SPEAKER_06 20:01

Here, give me a hand, Chester. Help me turn him over.

SPEAKER_07 20:05

Give it a little chance, and he's still open.

unknown 20:09

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 20:10

Mr. Dylan.

SPEAKER_07 20:12

Yeah, that's just what I thought.

SPEAKER_03 20:16

I'll take my medicine, Marshal. But I don't reckon a jury will go too hard on a man for shooting somebody that kidnapped his son.

SPEAKER_07 20:26

I told you that hate was gonna twist your thinking. Jason Rowler somewhere on a churro was. Are you telling me that this ain't Jason? Was a good shot, Lee.

SPEAKER_06 20:47

One bullet right through the heart. Your son never knew what hit him.

SPEAKER_07 21:19

And now our star, William Conrad. You know, the frontier was a great half circle, with one end anchored in the Dakotas and the other in Texas. And through this ran a score of passageways to the west.

SPEAKER_06 21:36

Trails like the Santa Fe, the Oberland, the Bozeman, the Good Night. Well, next week, our story centers around a band of people traveling west on one of these trails.

SPEAKER_07 22:29

Produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Cumman Red as Matt Dylan, U.S. Marshall. Featured in the cast were Marley Baer as Chester, Howard McNeil as Doc, and George Ellis as Kitty. George Wolfe speaking. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on gunsmoke. This is the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

SPEAKER_00 23:28

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