THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT
EARP
[Ken Darby singing
"The Legend Of Wyatt Earp"]
[humming]
♪ Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp ♪
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long life his glory ♪
♪ And long may
his story be told ♪
[humming]
(male narrator)
Not too long ago,
we did the memory of
Mr. James Kelly,
grave injustice.
We portrayed him as
an excellent keeper
and a tragic lover
of Dora Hand.
We showed his return to Dodge
cityas a reformed hoodlum
sworn to uphold the fast g*n
arm of Wyatt Earp as Marshall.
But we neglected
to describe what happened
when desperate citizens begged
Jim Kelly to run for mayor.
Would he stand by
his old friend, Marshall Earp
or would the power
and glory of being the mayor
go to Kelly's head?
To be blunt about it,
would Kelly sell out Wyatt
for a title and
a high silk hat.
What's wrong, Wyatt?
The committee voted
to nominate Mr. Kelly.
You're his friend,
aren't you?
That doesn't mean
he's gonna be a good mayor.
- Why not?
- Because politics..
Well, politics does
strange things to some people.
Well, Kelly's reformed.
He's no longer a hoodlum.
He's the only one who stands a
chance at beating Slip Madigan.
The office moves
the man, Wyatt.
As mayor, Kelly will have
something to live up to.
- It could work out that way.
- Well, let's go see him.
He might have to be persuaded,
so let me do the talking.
Judge Tobin, you are
chairman of the party.
[humming]
Come on, Jim.
Give me the g*n.
That's a pretty good g*n.
Put that under your coat
and get out from behind.
Don't tell me about
any trouble you get into.
I ain't gonna get
no trouble.
Here, thanks.
(Jim)
'Well, Judge Tobin,
Wyatt. Howdy!'
Oh, that was...Grip Hanks.
An old pal of mine
from the long branch days.
What kind of g*n
did you sell?
g*n? Who?
- Grip Hanks.
- I didn't.
- You didn't, eh?
- Well, what if I did?
Griff needs a w*apon.
As a fellow from the circle.
Any law against selling a g*n
to an old friend, Judge?
- Well--
- Never mind. Doesn't matter.
I'll take it from him before
he gets too drunk anyway.
Now, the judge has got something
really important to discuss.
Yes, I have, Mr. Kelly.
The committee has nominated
you to run for mayor.
Mayor?
Is over Dodge city?
Not me.
You're joking.
Hey, what trick
is this now?
We're serious and I hope
you take it just as seriously.
See, Mr. Kelly, there are
people in this town
that feel that you might
be capable for the job.
And if you run, and you do win,
it's not gonna be a walkway.
Not with Madigan's popularity
south of the line.
Those votes are
gonna be hard to win.
Bah!
Madigan..
That hoodlum runs a saloon on
cheap whisky and crooked cards.
But I trace Madigan's ancestry
back to Dublin itself.
And they're jail birds.
Every one of them.
Do you think I'm
exaggerating, marshal?
Well, no, sir.
I mean...Your Honor.
Your Honor?
Well, alright.
Now, mind you, judge.
It's gonna be
a hard hitting campaign.
'No holds barred.'
- Tell the voters the truth.
- The whole truth.
Yes, sir, I'll open my campaign
with the truth.
'And a grand beer bust.'
And in my first speech--
- What's so funny, Wyatt?
- Well, nothing.
I-I was wondering whether
you should wear one of those
high silk hats,
south of the line.
- What do you think, Judge?
- Irrelevant and immaterial.
Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
I will report to the committee.
Why, thank you. And tell them
I appreciate the high honor.
- That I'll do.
- Hold on.
You're for me
or against me?
Well, Mr. Kelly, I don't think
that's gonna be the question.
- Indeed.
- Yes, sir.
Mr. Madigan has already told
the newspapers that he wants
a new marshall now,
what will you tell them?
Well, Wyatt, you don't think
I'd go back on you.
I don't think a marshal's job
should be a political issue.
Well, it won't be.
I'll settle that
in my first speech.
Jim Kelly stands
by his friends.
There won't be any politics
about your job.
You can arrest just as many
republicans as democrats.
- Well, I always have.
- Why, sure.
And as for the silk hat, why,
the voters respect dignity.
First...I may have to buy
a couple of new ones.
Why, they love me,
south of the line.
'They won't take any offence
to seeing me wear--'
They love you, my foot.
[g*nsh*t]
You don't wanna go
sh**ting our next mayor.
No. I beg your pardon.
[humming]
Gentlemen, step right in.
I've got two more barrels
in the courtroom.
(James)
'Come on now, gentleman.
Compliments of Jim Kelly.'
'I want everybody to..'
Go on, Slip.
Tackle him right now.
No, no.
I won't gain any votes
interfering with the beer bust.
Just ask the main question.
The big issue in this campaign.
No time to waste, Slip.
[crowd chattering]
James, come out here.
Here comes Madigan.
Be careful of what you say.
Alright.
Well, howdy, Slip?
Have a beer on me.
- No, thanks.
- Oh, come on.
We've been calli''
each other names.
That's part of any campaign.
My friends
I want to give you my worthy
opponent, Slip Madigan.
(all)
Hurray!
[crowd cheering]
Well, Jim.
Answer me one question.
Then we'll drink.
Well, then I'm glad
you have a question.
Certainly, now,
what is it?
I promise to fire Wyatt Earp
if I'm elected.
What are you gonna do
about Earp?
- Don't you answer that, Jim.
- Well, it's a fair question.
Wyatt Earp, sir,
is my personal friend.
He is also the ablest marshal
the Dodge city ever had.
[crowd cheering]
You still ain't said
it in plain words.
Are you gonna
fire Earp or not?
Fire Wyatt?
Not even to get the vote
of hoodlum element, will I?
Oh, shut up. This is my meeting
and you're swigging my beer.
(male # )
Stop that.
Cut it out.
[indistinct chattering]
'Call me, dog Kelly, but I'm not
gonna fire Wyatt Earp.'
[crowd muttering]
Aren't we gonna
break it up?
I think Mr. Kelly's
doing pretty well.
We bird in, might
cost him the election.
[commotion]
[humming]
Why all the gloom?
Yesterday's troubles are over.
Let's hear from Hulk Smith,
my campaign manager.
Come on, Hulk.
Talk up.
Alright, Jim. I'm gonna
give it to you straight.
As long as you keep
on backing Wyatt Earp
you're gonna get licked.
It can't be like that.
The voters respect a man for
his loyalty to his friends.
Well, you denying that?
Yes, I am.
And that part of town
where voters like you
but they don't
like Wyatt.
He isn't necessary
to you, Jim. Get rid of him.
You can hire a new marshal.
Good enough to handle Dodge
the way it is right now.
You fellows
backing out on me?
Not if you'll
be practical.
Change your mind
about the big issue.
Well, I'll never
break my word.
Alright.
There's only one last
thing for me to do.
I'm gonna go talk
to Wyatt Earp.
- You mean, ask him to resign?
- That's right.
Why should he do that?
Maybe he'd like to
see you elected mayor.
Well, I don't like it and I
don't want you to use my name.
♪ ...sour apple tree
♪ Sour apple tree,
sour apple tree ♪
♪ You hang Wyatt Earp
to a sour apple tree ♪
♪ While his soul
goes marching on.. ♪
Take a look at that, Jim.
That's your answer.
♪ Sour apple tree,
sour apple tree ♪
♪ We'll hang Wyatt Earp
to a sour apple tree ♪
♪ While his soul
goes marching on ♪
♪ We'll hang Wyatt Earp
to a sour apple tree ♪
♪ Sour apple tree,
sour apple tree ♪
♪ We'll hang Wyatt Earp
to a sour apple tree ♪
♪ While his soul
goes marching on ♪
♪ We'll hang Wyatt Earp
to a sour apple tree.. ♪
Just some riff raff
that Slip hired.
No, Jim.
Never votes.
But I don't guess, you really
wanna be mayor, do you?
Not if I have to.
I got an idea. I think
I'll go see Wyatt.
He's the issue
that's k*lling us.
Talk Turkey to him, Jim.
Or take a lickin'
at the polls.
Well, I'll go
get my hat.
Maybe things aren't as bad
as they seem, Wyatt.
If Kelly stands his ground,
public opinion could change.
Let's be honest, Judge.
Bat Masterson got elected
Sheriff in spite of me.
People thought he'd be
a good man for the job.
Let's face it,
I'm a political liability.
That's why George Holden won't
even run for office, again.
He's tired of taking abuse from
folks who don't want me here.
He always stood
by you loyally.
Yes, he has.
He's been a good friend.
He was already elected when he
told me to come from Wichita.
He didn't have to run for
an office with me in his bag.
Mr. Kelly still
seems confident.
What's a fightin'
Irish in him?
But, good Jim Kelly.
He wants to be elected
I can't say I blame him.
Are you suggesting that
Mr. Kelly would..
Oh, nonsense. He knows what
would happen to this town
if you gave in
to the hoodlum pressure.
Furthermore, there's
a whole lot to be--
Well, what is this?
A wake?
You both look like
you've been
reading the election
returns, the wrong way.
Nothing like that, Mr. Kelly.
We picked a fighter.
To the bitter end.
- Now, Wyatt.
- Now, Judge.
You let me talk
to this fellow.
Something might be said to the
circuit judge shouldn't hear.
I can take a hit.
Oh, Mr. Kelly
Wyatt seems to think that you
might give in to the hoodlums.
Never. Why, I'm just
starting to fight.
Good.
Wyatt, I think you should
apologize to our next mayor.
It's hard to believe
my best friend doubting
my true pledged work.
Why don't you take off
that highfalutin' top hat?
Your campaign manager,
Mr. Hook Smith
has been passing the word
around the saloons
that you're gonna fire me.
Why, the double-crossing rascal.
Why, there's not a word
of truth in it. I'll fire him.
Alright, I apologize.
A little coffee left over
here from this morning.
Sit down and rest yourself,
I'll heat it up.
But I'm gonna promise
to fire you.
No, political strategy wise,
Rob Madigan is one big issue.
'And I get elected.'
'As soon as I'm mayor, I'll
announce that I can't find'
'a suitable replacement
for you.'
Political strategy,
understand?
I'm mayor and you're
still marshal.
- No, sir.
- What?
Mr. Kelly,
I'm not the issue.
There's plenty of men that
you can hire to take my place.
- You're the issue.
- Now, Wyatt.
You remember Dora Hand?
Well, I do.
She took you out
of a crummy saloon
'and made you promise that you
were finished with hoodlums.'
Maybe that promise
to the woman you loved
isn't any better than the one
you aimed at make
and break now
to get elected.
Alright, taken.
I will fire you.
- No, you won't. I'm quitting.
- No, Wyatt.
I've done it before,
I can do it again.
Now, Wyatt.
Think this over.
Nothing to think about it
or talk about it.
Can't you ever
be practical just once?
Do you always have to be
such a sanctimonious holy Joe?
Al, come in.
What good it'll do
for me to stand by you
and have Madigan
get elected.
He'll turn Dodge
into a hoodlum cow town
and you know it.
Al, take this over
to Judge Tobin.
Have him hold it for Mayor Hober
when he comes back.
Yes, sir.
- Wyatt thinks he is quitting.
- Quitting?
I'll take a nice long rest,
maybe a little buffalo hunt.
Well, that's
your business, Wyatt
but...it's gonna be
pretty rough on Dodge.
I guess me and the rest of the
deputies will turn in our stars.
Indeed, why?
The marshal keeps us alive,
Mr. Kelly.
I can hire a dozen
better marshals than you.
I'll keep the peace in Dodge.
I'll teach you,
you're no high monkey monk.
Dodge can get along
without you.
Well, I think
you can, Mr. Kelly.
[humming]
Gentlemen,
your attention, please.
My friends, I have big
and important news for you.
Wyatt Earp is leaving
Dodge city.
[crowd cheering]
Our next mayor,
the honorable, Jim Kelly
has forced him to quit
before election day.
[crowd cheering]
Now, boys, have a good time
and spread the news.
Now, if I can carry
just two pieces
then there is the other side
of the town hole.
Well, I think I got a pretty
good chance of getting--
As you said, Wyatt Earp
turned in his resignation.
Well, how did this happen?
Turkey double-crossing Kelly.
He must have bought
him off or something
and Hook Smith's giving Kelly
full credit with the voters.
Well, there goes
the election tomorrow.
But it isn't
gonna be so bad.
Well, this time running
wide open my place will be
a ripping and a roaring.
Yeah, Dodge city
wide open. Old Dodge.
Kelly's gonna win.
[indistinct chatter]
[cheering]
I told you, he'd win.
I thank you.
Now, my friends, a great
big hand for our new mayor.
The honorable, Jim Kelly.
[crowd cheering]
Thank you, my friends,
I'm not gonna make a speech.
You heard enough of that
gabble during the election.
[all laughing]
I just wanna introduce to you
Dodge city's new marshal
Mr. Dave Dorell.
Howdy, folks?
Mighty nice being here.
(Jim)
'Mr. Dorell comes to Dodge
after a fine career'
'as a peace officer in Texas.'
I have assured him that
he will have the full support
of your mayor
and the city council.
[cheering]
Spread the word around
the cattle camps
that Earp
is leaving today.
We can open up this town
tonight any time after dark.
Well, I don't know, Slip.
I should stick around until I
see Earp leave with my own eyes.
- Hello, Wyatt.
- Hello, Judge.
I still don't understand
what you're trying to prove.
I want Mr. Kelly to learn
that you can't compromise
with hoodlums.
Wyatt, you can't shrug off all
the good work you've done here.
What if everything breaks loose
and Dorell can't handle it?
Well, I'll be going
on a North West trace.
Mr. Kelly asked me
to come back in writing
and send a man after me.
You really wanna know
why I'm quitting?
Yes, I do.
Well, I tell you.
Every man gets to thinking
he's indispensable.
And I needed this to happen
worse than Mr. Kelly.
- Good luck, Judge.
- Good luck, Wyatt.
Do me one last favor,
will you?
Don't leave Dodge
by the side street
go right down
the main drag, will ya?
Well, I hate goodbyes,
but I sure owe you a favor.
I'll be seeing ya.
Here he comes.
[crowd cheering]
(male # )
We hate to see
you go, marshal.
(female # )
Come back
and good luck, marshal.
- I'll be seeing ya.
- Happy journey, marshal.
[crowd cheering]
Well, you seen it
with your own eyes.
Go tell the cow camps
they can tree Dodge tonight.
Yeah. Sure, Slip.
Why, I'll do that.
- Where are you going?
- You boys asking for trouble?
- Who do you think you are?
- The name is Dave Dorell.
I'm the new marshal here.
It's true they got
rid of Wyatt.
And they hired me.
Now, you boys go check
your g*ns and cool off.
Get 'em up, marshal.
Get 'em up.
Gimme those g*ns, marshal.
You don't need 'em.
You don't need
the badge either.
Get him up on his feet here.
The boots you're trying
to fill are mighty big for you.
Now, put him on that rig
and get him out of town.
[g*ng chattering]
See him out of town.
Go on get going.
Glory be.
- Never mind that, Jim.
- I'm just closing up.
The new marshal Mr. Dorell will
take care of those hoodlums.
He can't. They just
drove him out of town.
[glass breaking]
Come here.
Now, you re-appoint Wyatt as
marshal, ask him to come back.
No, judge. Never will I. It's
a matter of principle with--
Start writing.
Those cowhands will have Dodge
torn to pieces if you wait.
- Well--
- No argument. Write.
[humming]
[humming continues]
- Open up, Mr. Kelly.
- 'Who is it?'
You know who it is, open up.
Judge Tobin made me send for
you, it was none of my doing.
A dozen of cowhands
across the line
they're heading this way.
Well, the boys
are all friends of mine.
I'll go have
a talk to them.
Sure. Where's Dave Dorell
and all of his deputies?
Well, I ain't saying.
Well.
You want me to crawl and beg?
Mr. Kelly, I don't want nothing
except to go to sleep.
You go on and talk
to your friends.
Now, nothing too rough, fellas
we just wanna have
a little fun with his honor.
Hey, Kelly, you in there?
Come on out, Kelly!
Careful. Don't break the door,
we don't wanna hurt him.
Hey, Kelly, come on out!
[g*nshots]
[glass shattering]
My friends.
[g*nshots]
Drunken hoodlums everyone.
And that was Slip Madigan,
sore-headed 'cause he ain't mad.
Come on out, Kelly!
That settles it,
I'm going out there--
Without a g*n, you wouldn't
last two minutes.
Well, I thought so.
Trying to make me a coward.
[g*nshots]
Wyatt, you hear me?
Stop that, you scum.
I'm coming out.
Wait a minute.
You're gonna go out there,
take out your g*n belt.
I'm the mayor of this town,
and I'll have law and order.
Alright, Madigan,
we'll settle this.
I'm waiting, Slip.
No fights, Your Honor.
Can't you take a joke?
It's no joke
sh**ting up my store.
I'm arresting all of you. Get
your hands up and head for jail.
[g*nsh*t]
Well, anybody else wanna try
sh**ting it out with me?
Now, pick up that man
and take him along.
Next time, I'll have to sh**t
all of you between the eyes.
'You're bluffers all of ya,
every scummy one of ya.'
Never can stand up to a fearless
man that knows how to sh**t.
Now, pick up that man and take
him along. Come on, all of you.
(Jim)
Move. Come on, both of you.
Not gonna have any more of this.
Don't be a fool.
It's Earp. Wyatt Earp.
Marshal, I want all of these
men taken to jail.
Yes, sir, but I think
you better give me your g*n.
And I want
these hoodlums prosecuted
to the full extent
of the law.
And I'll back you
to the last ditch.
Well, thank you, Your Honor.
[humming]
Hey, Slip, what's the idea?
I was told the boys
had Dodge street.
- Why ain't the town wide open?
- Take a look across the street.
Uh-oh.
Sudden death on two feet.
We were told
Kelly fired him.
That dirty Irish must've changed
his mind after he got elected.
Jim, I hope you and Wyatt
have got one thing
settled between you.
No man is indispensable,
but a lot of men
are awful hard to replace.
Replace Wyatt? That fine,
brave church deacon of a man.
I'd resign first.
[humming]
[Ken Darby singing
"The Legend Of Wyatt Earp"]
♪ Well, he cleaned up
the country ♪
♪ The old wild west country
♪ He made law
and order prevail ♪
♪ And none can deny it,
the legend of Wyatt ♪
♪ Forever will live
on the trail ♪
♪ Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp ♪
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long live his glory ♪
♪ And long may
his story be told ♪