For some time now, reruns, and there are a plenty, of the long-running classic TV show Gunsmoke starring James Arness are being aired on a couple of these over-the-air DTV channels. Arness plays Marshal Matt Dillon along with a host of other actors. Marshal Dillon is charged with maintaining law and order in Dodge City, Kansas circa 1870s. Over the course of twenty years of the program’s run, Dillon always had a side kick helper played by three different actors. In the beginning, it was Chester Goode played masterfully by Dennis Weaver.
Chester was sort of a country bumpkin and a little slow on the take. Two other main and recurring characters were Doc and Miss Kitty, owner of The Long Branch Saloon.
Every week there’s some sort of a bad guy or two or three who ride into town creating mischief. They’ll wind up in the Long Branch. Heavy drinking and gambling is usually the catalyst for the ensuing action of that week’s plot. These whiskey infused out-of-towners either start shootin’ the place up or start a (excuse the cliche) bar room brawl.
What is strikingly mind-numbing in these Westerns is the absence of a bouncer in the saloons. You would think maybe this to be a good idea? This also goes for the town saloon in another post Civil War Western called The Rifleman. One supposes that’s why they called it the “Wild West.”
Another plot device has some real bad hombre coming in and threatening to kill somebody and sometimes that somebody is the Marshal. With the Marshal having to send a lot of bad guys up the river or to meet their maker, It’s easy to see he would have a lot of enemies.
Enter Marshal Dillon.
Dillon is a model lawman displaying honesty, fairness, wisdom, temperance and patience. A little too much patience maybe. He’ll stand and listen to somebody vow to kill someone either right there in the saloon or outside in a classic western duel. With mountains of patience, Dillon will say something like, “We’re not gonna have any of that in Dodge.” Apparently, back then, threatening to murder somebody was no big deal. It’s OK if the bad guy stands back and says, “On the count of three, draw.” As silly as this sounds, there was actually a scene like this. OMG, like you’re gonna actually stand there and wait till he says three!
Back to Matt.
Come on Matt, say it, “Get outta Dodge.”
In all fairness though, Dillon did every now and then, have the bad guys “get outta town.” That is if he didn’t wind up having to shoot ’em stone cold dead. Instead of “Dodge” there were a lot of “You’re leavin’ town at midnight.” They usually vamoosed at the end of the episode on the horse they rode in on or the stagecoach (no railroad?), oh, and the dog they rode in with.
This passiveness on the part of Dillon inspired this scenario:
Scene 1, daytime, INT WS Marshall Dillon’s office. Seated at desk with feet up is Dillon. Chester enters. Chester can’t bend his right leg at the knee which gives him an awkward walk. He appears to be anxious. He speaks with a heavy Southern drawl.
Dillon
Howdy Chester.
Chester
Mister Dillon, Mister Dillon, there’s these three men over at the Long Branch and they’re a sayin’ their names are Lincoln, Grant and Lee. And, and…
Dillon
So?
Chester
So Mister Dillon, I ain’t never heard a nobody by them names, but anyhow, they’re a saying that first thing tomorrow they’re a gonna kill you and rob the bank.
Dillon (cool, calm and collected)
You never heard of Lincoln, Grant or Lee?
Chester
Well no, Mister Dillon, but they’re a sayin’ they’re a gonna kill you and rob the bank.
Dillon
Really?
Were they wearing beards and one with a tall black stove pipe hat?
Chester
No, they’s just regular lookin’ cowpokes, kinda mean lookin’ and mouthy.
Dillon
Was Miss Kitty there?
Chester
Miss Kitty was there, but…
Dillon
Was Doc there?
Chester (more anxious and frustrated)
No, but Mister Dillon they’re a gonna kill you and rob the bank!
Dillon
Did Miss Kitty hear them say that?
Chester
Yessir, Mister Dillon, Miss Kitty was a standin’ right there.
Dillon
Did she complain or say anything?
Chester
No, she just said I should come over here and tell you ‘bout it.
Dillon
Well Chester, because they haven’t broken any laws yet, I can’t do anything so, here’s what I need you to do. Go over to Doc’s and tell him and then the both of you come back over here to the jail office. And Chester…(pause)
Chester
What Mister Dillon?
Dillon
Walk real slow over to Doc’s and back. I don’t want those three to suspect anything.
Chester
Sure thing, Mister Dillon. (Chester leaves)
Cut to EXT WS office and jail. Camera follows Chester up the street to Doc’s office. Chester walks slow and his gimp gate slows him down even more. Tense music is heard along with loud voices, whooping and laughing coming from the Long Branch. Gunfire is heard from inside the saloon. It takes a couple of minutes for him to arrive at Doc’s. Chester opens door to Doc’s and enters.
Cut to INT Doc’s office. CU, Doc is sleeping in his chair with his chin on his chest as Chester enters. Cut to WS.
Chester (loudly)
Doc, Doc, wake up!
Doc (startled)
Huh what? What, Chester, you scared the beegeezuss outta me! You tryin’ ta give me a heart attack?
Chester
Sorry, sorry Doc, no, but Marshal Dillon sent me over here ta git you and have you come with me back over to the jail…there’s these three men in the Long Branch and they’re a threatnin’ ta kill the Marshal and rob the bank tomorrow.
Doc
What? What in tarnation are you talkin’ about?
Chester
There’s these three men in the Long Branch and they’re a threatnin’ ta kill the Marshal and rob the bank tomorrow.
Doc
What’s their names?
Chester (befuddled)
One says he’s Lincoln and the other’s is Grant and Lee. I ain’t never heard a nobody by them names before.
Doc
Really? You never heard of Lincoln, Grant or Lee?
Chester
No sir, Doc.
Doc
Were they wearin’ beards and one with a tall black stove pipe hat?
Chester
No, they’s just regular lookin’ cowpokes, kinda mean lookin’ and mouthy.
Doc
Did Miss Kitty hear this?
Chester
Well yessir, Doc.
Doc
Well, I reckon we oughtta head on over to the jail.
Doc gets up and both he and Chester leave.
Cut to EXT WS as camera follows the two back over to the jail. This time piano music is heard along again with loud voices, whooping and laughing coming from the Long Branch. Gunfire is heard from inside the saloon.
Chester
Say Doc, the Marshal says we oughtta walk slow so as them three men don’t git suspicious or think we is up ta somethin’.
Doc
Well Land a Goshen, Chester, OK.
The two approach the jail and notice a note stuck to the door. They approach the door and both lean in to read it. Cut to CU of note, It reads,
“I quit. Taking Miss Kitty to California. Good luck. Matt.”
Fade to black. Run end music and credits.