Little Bird | Gunsmoke (05-11-58)

Andrew Rhynes (0:14)

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rhynes, and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This episode is one of many released every month, totaling over 80 episodes so far. Each one is meticulously digitally restored and stored in the cloud for your convenience, a process that incurs costs. To help cover these expenses, you might hear some advertisements throughout the episode.

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I do want to emphasize that we are committed to providing this content to you for free, but also we have to be transparent about the financial realities to bringing this to you. Now, let's get into this episode. This episode is gonna be Gunsmoke. Original date is May 11th, 1958, and the title is Little Bird.

Hope you enjoy. Enjoy.

George Walsh (1:40)

Around Dodge City and in the territory on West, there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers, and that's with a US. Marshal and the smell of Gunsmoke.

Gunsmoke, starring William Conrad, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man who moved with it.

William Conrad (2:18)

I'm that man, Matt Dillion, the United States Marshal, the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, but it makes a man watchful.

Parley Baer (2:48)

Mr. Dillon, you reckon this cussed town will ever amount to anything?

William Conrad (2:52)

Dodge City?

I don't know, Chester. It might. Why?

Parley Baer (2:56)

Well, when I look around at the way things are here, I sure do wonder sometimes.

William Conrad (3:01)

All it needs is a better climate, good water supply, and a few decent people.

Parley Baer (3:06)

Texas would be a good place if they had all that.

William Conrad (3:09)

Then maybe they'll both amount to something someday.

Parley Baer (3:16)

Miss Kitty looks kindly upset about something.

William Conrad (3:20)

What's the matter, Kitty?

Georgia Ellis (3:21)

Nothing with me.

William Conrad (3:22)

There's a fellow over there in the Long Branch. Causing trouble?

Howard McNear (3:25)

Not exactly, but there's something wrong. I know there is.

Georgia Ellis (3:29)

He's got a woman with him. His wife, he says.

William Conrad (3:32)

Men don't bring their wives into saloons, Kitty.

Howard McNear (3:34)

Yeah, I know, but it's more than that.

He says she's Indian, but I don't think she is. And she's scared, Matt. She's scared to death.

William Conrad (3:42)

Scared of what?

Howard McNear (3:43)

Oh, him, I think. He's a big brood, in meanest sin and twice as ugly.

William Conrad (3:48)

Well, if he's mistreating her, what...

George Walsh (3:50)

Well, they haven't hit her yet, but he keeps threatening to.

William Conrad (3:53)

Oh, Matt, there they are. They're leaving.

Yeah, they're coming this way.

Parley Baer (3:59)

My gracious, he sure is big and mean-looking. Well, he must weigh close to 280 pounds.

William Conrad (4:08)

Hey, mister, I'd like to talk to you.

SPEAKER_7 (4:12)

About what?

William Conrad (4:15)

My name is Dillon. Marshal here.

You're new in town?

SPEAKER_7 (4:19)

I've been here three days, if that's new.

William Conrad (4:22)

What's your name?

SPEAKER_7 (4:24)

Taggart. Bull Taggart, they call me.

William Conrad (4:28)

This lady your wife?

SPEAKER_7 (4:30)

Is that any business of yours, Marshal?

William Conrad (4:32)

That's what I'm trying to find out. Do you speak English, ma'am? A little bit.

Why don't you want her to talk?

SPEAKER_7 (4:43)

Because she's a born liar. That's why I like all Indians.

William Conrad (4:46)

Not many Indians in this part of the country speak Spanish.

SPEAKER_7 (4:49)

She ain't from around here. She's from down in a border country. The Mexicans taught her in mission school.

William Conrad (4:54)

Is that right, ma'am?

SPEAKER_7 (4:56)

I warned you, didn't I? You know what will happen if you start lying.

Please, no. All right, go ahead. Answer the Marshal.

Georgia Ellis (5:06)

I learned in mission school.

William Conrad (5:09)

Are you this man's wife? I am his wife.

SPEAKER_7 (5:14)

You satisfied, Marshal?

William Conrad (5:17)

Where are you staying, Bo?

SPEAKER_7 (5:19)

We got a wagon. We're camping the river bottom at the south edge of town. I'm aiming to kill me some buffalo. Anything else you want to know, Marshal?

William Conrad (5:27)