Scene 1 EXT WS main street Dodge, Kansas twilight as sun is setting. Three men on horseback are seen up the street. As they approach we cans see that one is Marshal Dillon, another is Chester and the 3rd is an unknown man. Dilllon and Chester are holding rifles trained in the general direction of the unknown man who is unarmed. They ride up to the front of the jail and slowly dismount hitching their horses to the posts. All enter the jail still holding their rifles.
Cut to INT WS. It’s poorly lit inside and Dillon cradling his rifle in one hand, strikes a match and lights a lantern.
Dillon
Chester, take the prisoner in back and lock him in a jail cell. I’m headin’ over to Docs and I’ll be back in about twenty minutes. Be careful.
Chester
Sure thing Mr. Dillon.
Dillon exits and Chester motions with his rifle to herd the prisoner to the back. The prisoner moves and Chester starts to fumble with his rifle reaching for the jail keys on a hook. He manages to grab them and heads to the cell.
Cut to WS with the two men standing in front of a cell.
Chester
Git in there.
prisoner (tries the door)
It’s locked.
Chester
Gall dern, step aside.
Still holding his rifle, Chester very awkwardly attempts to unlock the cell door. He can’t do it.
prisoner
Let me help ya.
To the prisoner’s utter amazement, Chester hands him the rifle as he unlocks the door.
prisoner
Well what have we here? (he points the rifle at Chester) Git in there and toss the keys out to me.
Chester
Gosh golly, Mr. Dillon is gonna be mighty mad at me.
prisoner
I reckon he will. And a whole lot too when he finds I took the keys.
Chester
Awe shucks, yer not gonna take them keys are ya?
prisoner
I’ll tell ya what, Chester, since you was so nice, I’ll send ‘em to ya when I get to Mexico, but you gotta promise me somethin’
Chester
What’s that?
prisoner
Ya gotta promise me that ya’ll won’t speak a word of what happened here to the marshal or where I went til ya get the keys back.
Chester
Gosh golly, yessir.
The prisoner leaves and the sound of a horse galloping off can be heard.
Dissolve to denote the passage of time to front office of jail. Dillon walks in and looks around.
Dillon
Chester? (there is no sound)
Chester?
Dillon heads to the back.
Cut to WS in front of cell with Chester inside.
Dillon (clearly upset)
What the…what happened, Chester?
Chester motions with his hands in a “I don’t know” gesture.
Dillon
Chester? You gonna tell me what happened?
Chester (in the negative)
Mm mm.
Dillon
Chester, are you gonna talk to me?
Chester (in the negative again)
Mm mm.
Dillon
Chester, if you don’t talk to me, I’m gonna wring your neck. Where are the keys?
Chester
He took the keys with him to Mexico…..(pause) Gall dern, Mr. Dillon, I done broke my promise.
Dillon
Promise? What promise?
Chester
Well I might as well tell ya now, Mr. Dillon. He made me promise that I don’t tell ya what happened till he done sent the keys back from Mexico.
Dillon
Mexico? And where’s your rifle? Wait, don’t answer that; I don’t wanna know. I quit. I can’t take this anymore. I’m goin’ over to the Long Branch and get Miss Kitty and take off with her to California.
When I get there, I’ll send a telegram to the town locksmith to get you out of jail.
Chester
Ya mean I’m gonna be stuck in here?
Dillon
Yep.
Chester
Oh gee, Mr. Dillon, woe is me. I done messed up real good.
Dillon
Yep.
Fade to black, run credits and theme music.