The life and legend
Of wyatt earp
Extry!
Extra?
Extry!
All about wyatt earp
And the
Cattlemen's convention!
Boy, over here.
Here you are.
I'll take all of them.
Gosh, thanks!
( Chuckling )
Read this on page one...
"Marshal wyatt earp
Has been invited to speak
To the cattlemen's convention
At the opera house."
( Chuckling )
How's that for a trap?
If earp doesn't show up,
He's yellow;
If he tries to make
A speech, he's dead.
( Men vocalizing )
♪ Wyatt earp, wyatt earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
♪ And long live his glory
♪ And long may
His story be told. ♪
Announcer:
"The life and legend
Of wyatt earp"...
Wyatt earp: the long feud
Between texas cattlemen
And the frontier
Kansas cow towns
Was a projection
Of civil w*r bitterness.
The cattlemen hated wyatt earp
Because he was a yankee
From illinois
And because he was trying
To tame dodge city,
The cowboy capital.
And of all the schemes
To get rid of marshal earp,
The one cooked up by lon ashby
Was the most subtle and deadly.
( Indistinct chatter )
Talk up, gertie.
What's the pitch?
Where's the money?
Explain a little first.
Well, you and doc
Like wyatt earp,
Don't you?
Well, lon ashby
And some of the cattlemen
Are digging his grave.
What do you mean?
Like I said,
It oughta be worth ,
What I know.
All right.
Half in advance.
The other half
If it looks honest.
They're planning
To k*ll earp.
How?
Where?
Paid g*ns...
Dressed to look
Like ranchers.
Where?
During the convention.
They figure earp
Will visit the opera house.
Just to see nobody's
Packing a g*n, you know?
They get him inside, see?
Then they cut loose.
But with men inside,
Who can pick out the K*llers?
Pretty crooked poker,
Isn't it?
Who told you?
Oh, well,
A gentleman friend of mine.
I gotta respect
His confidence.
All right.
Here's the other .
Your place clears
, A night
When good spenders
Are in town.
Why do you take
This chance for ?
( Chuckles )
Well, let's just say
I worship mr. Earp...
From afar.
Thanks, gertie.
Don't mention it.
I don't like it, wyatt.
Cheer up, hal.
Maybe it'll be
A quiet convention.
- Yeah, they're acting
Too quiet.
- Yeah.
We went through
Four saloons
And the hotel bar.
You never got cussed
One time.
You know, if it's
All right with you,
I'll make a tour
Below the line.
Maybe somebody
Will tip me off.
No.
Why not, wyatt?
Because, hal,
These aren't cowhands.
They each own spreads
Up to , head apiece.
They all started from scratch
After the w*r,
And I don't any cattlemen
To think that
I'm a yankee so-and-so
That's envious of
His success.
Well, they'll still
Hate you.
Maybe.
But I can't do much
About that except
To show 'em that
I don't hate them.
And if you won't
Talk to wyatt,
Then it's up to me.
Katie, the deacon's
Got more sense
Than to walk into
A convention hall
Half-filled
With cattlemen.
And, oh,
I wouldn't do it.
Oh, yes, you would.
If you thought somebody
Was aiming a g*n at you.
But wyatt isn't like you.
He enjoys life.
It's an odd taste.
And he likes
And trusts people.
I've spoken to him
Rather sharply
About that.
You are in a bad mood.
Well, maybe wyatt
Will listen to me.
And believe me.
No.
He might
Believe you, katie,
But he couldn't believe
That texans could be
So sneaky.
You send him a note,
Katie.
I'll do my best
To disillusion
Mr. Earp.
I want the deacon
To come to me.
I'd sure like to know
Who's responsible
For this opera house
Ambush.
Quite a test of courage.
Imagine walking in there...
To spot a k*ller
As he draws.
John!
Aren't you going
To tell wyatt?
Or are you going
To encourage him
To throw his life away
For what you men
Call bravery?
I'll tell him
What gertie said.
The rest is up to him.
If anything happens
To wyatt, I'll leave you
Forever.
Katie,
I couldn't buy my freedom
With another man's life.
Go send that note!
I want you men to
Understand the whole setup.
You'll get only one chance,
And I don't pay off
For bungling.
Now there are just
Four ways that earp
Can poke his nose in here.
- Allen?
- Yeah?
You sit back there
And watch the main door.
Curly, you sit
Over here on the side
And watch
The side entrance.
Spence, regan,
You sit down here in front
And watch the two side
Entrances to the stage.
Now remember:
Only a few
Of the delegates
Know about this.
You'll leave your horses
Out in the alley.
I'm counting on the surprise
And general confusion.
And no matter which one
Drops earp,
I expect the other three
To stand off his deputies.
I want you all
Out of town in five minutes.
I don't see how
It can miss, lon.
It better not miss.
If it does,
You'll be fighting earp,
Masterson and his deputies
All the way to texas.
Now let's take a look
At this floor.
That's katie's story.
And the convention
Opens tonight.
It's quite a temptation.
To do what?
To walk in there
Like they expect.
Don't be a fool.
You wouldn't even get
A fair shot.
( Sighs ) no.
Probably hit some
Poor cattleman
Who didn't know
Anything about it.
Well, you thank
Miss kate for the tip.
Now wait a minute.
If you'd hold off
A bit,
I'll go in with you
If I'm feeling a
Mite better.
Oh, I thought you were
A southerner, sir.
I am, sir.
From valdosta, georgia.
There are a few texans
I don't like.
Well, I heard that,
But, uh,
I never did hear why.
I'll tell you why.
They had a general
By the name of hood,
Who went rampaging
Up near tennessee
And let sherman
Take atlanta.
There was some who bragged
That if hood had been
At lee's place,
We would have won the w*r.
I've k*lled a few
Who argued that way.
Wyatt?
Wait till tomorrow,
Will you?
Imagine ambushing a man
In a theater.
Every real texan
Will pay us
Head bounty
On those scoundrels.
Well, you let me
Handle this, huh?
You going in there?
No, sir.
You're not scared
To go in there?
My common sense tells me
It'd be just like you said--
The fool's way.
The idea fascinates me.
You get it
Out of your head.
You lie back and rest,
And I'll let you know
How the sensible plan
Works out.
Wait a minute.
Earp's been tipped off.
Think you can take him
Out here?
Too many in the way.
We'll try to sneak in
By the side door.
All right.
You gentlemen
Check your g*ns?
Why, sure.
Up.
We came to this convention
To talk about the hoof
And mouth disease.
You got it, earp?
Hal, you--
Halt!
Lift 'em fast.
Take 'em!
Billy, get back there
And watch those other men.
( Men groaning )
This is allen, curly.
Who are these other two?
This is a gunslinger
With the name of pete spence.
I never saw him before.
Doc mccarty will
Have to patch them up.
Hold it, mister!
Why didn't you go along
With your friends?
I don't know
What you're talking about.
Marshal earp,
This is lon ashby,
Vice president
Of our association.
I don't care
Who he is!
Are you trying
To accuse me of--
Now you go hire
Some more g*ns.
You've got
The wrong man.
Marshal,
You oughta apologize.
- Mister--
- Shut up!
I do no apologizing.
Now you rig a smarter
Deal next time.
( Indistinct chatter )
Ah, the marshal mistook
Me for someone else.
I'm gonna tell
Mayor kelly about this.
Bill, give us a hand.
Take 'em over
To the doc's, let's go.
( Moaning )
Oh, my knee!
Ooh!
Wyatt.
You didn't go inside,
Did you?
No, they jumped us
Right out here.
Stupidest stunt
I ever saw.
Who rigged it?
Lon ashby, I think.
I know ashby.
It doesn't sound
Like him.
Well, I might be mistaken.
He's a pretty smart man.
Something must have
Gone wrong.
What did you do?
Well, we were frisking
All the delegates
For their g*ns
At the door.
That's what went wrong.
( Coughing )
You oughta be in bed, doc.
Yeah, I know.
But I don't think
You've heard the end
Of this ashby situation.
You don't think
They'll try that again?
Wyatt, how would you like
To endanger your immortal soul
By making a small bet?
This idea is too good
For ashby to quit on.
Well, I'll risk, uh--
I'll risk betting you
A dollar.
And your life?
Next time they'll
Hide those g*ns in there.
And they'll actually
Pressure you into
Going in after them.
You must be a mite drunk.
No, I'm not drunk, wyatt,
But I must say that
This scheme fascinated me
Ever since katie first
Told me about it.
It shows imagination.
It's a perfect trap
If ashby handles it right
The next time.
Yeah, well, there's one thing
You're forgetting.
You know I don't have
To walk into that opera house.
You'll have to,
Wyatt.
Just wait.
( Coughing )
I'll walk you back
To the hotel.
Morning,
Mr. Mayor.
Have you seen "the globe"?
- No, sir.
- Well, take a look
At the front page.
"Cattlemen invite earp
To address convention.
Lon ashby pleads
For better understanding.
Action follows gunfight
At opera house."
Well?
Why don't they just have me
Stand out in front street,
Put an apple on my head
And no g*ns?
You think it's a trap?
( Chuckling )
Mr. Kelly,
Four men cut loose
At my deputies and me
In front of the theater.
Now-- now what do you think
Would happen if they lured
Us inside?
Hang it all!
You realize what
This does to us?
This makes
The cattlemen heroes--
Big-hearted, generous,
Forgiving.
They invite you
To speak to 'em.
Sure. Some gunslinger
Takes careful aim
In the audience.
Mr. Kelly, I'd be an idiot
To go in there.
Ashby's outsmarted us.
Let him crow.
This time I don't
Wanna be brave.
Wyatt, the man from
"The globe" is here.
I told him
To wait outside.
You were busy
With the mayor.
He wants
An interview.
All right,
I'll see him.
Well, I'm gone.
I'd lose my temper.
Come in, sir.
- Marshal earp?
- Mm-hmm.
I'm clinton collins
Of "the globe."
Assistant city editor.
Well, globe's getting
To be quite a paper.
- Sit down, sir.
- Thank you.
Uh, can I get you
A cup of coffee?
No, thank you.
Now mr. Collins,
What can I do for you?
Um, well, I suppose
You read our story
About the convention.
Mm.
Are you gonna make
A speech to the cattlemen?
No, mr. Collins, I'm not.
Well, why is that, sir?
Well, to to be frank
About it,
I, uh-- I think
It'd be waste a time.
You see, those fellas
Know more about ranching
And cattle than I do.
But mr. Ashby said--
I was given to understand
That this was to be
Sort of a peace meeting
Between you
And the cattlemen.
There's nothing
To make peace about.
Well, I thought there'd been
Rather strained relations
Between the marshal's office
And the ranchers.
Well, when they get
Too drunk
They carry g*ns
North of the line
While we arrest them,
But that's nothing personal.
We-- well, we arrest
Anybody who breaks the law.
Well, don't you think
Your refusal is a snub
To the cattlemen's association?
No, sir, I don't.
I have the greatest admiration
And respect for cowhands
And their employers.
And, uh, you can quote me
As saying that.
Oh.
Here's a pencil.
Thank you.
Uh, anything else?
No, sir.
Uh, marshal earp?
Yes, sir?
Well, last night there
Was a sh**ting affray
In which you and your
Deputies wounded
Four men.
Would that have anything
To do with your decision
Not to appear
Before the convention?
No, mr. Collins.
You just tell your readers
That I have nothing
To say to the, uh, cattlemen
That they don't
Already know.
Huh.
Thanks, marshal.
Not at all.
Always glad
To be of help.
( Coughing )
John, now
What's the matter?
That slicker ashby
Invited wyatt
To address the convention.
Oh.
Don't let it get you
All upset.
You had a bad night.
( Chuckles )
They'll never fool wyatt
With that trick.
Take that stuff out of here!
I want my regular breakfast.
Now john, you drank
A pint of whiskey
Before you finally
Went to sleep.
Get it out of here.
There's a fresh bottle
On the closet shelf.
I still don't see why
You're all upset.
Wyatt'll simply tell him
That he's too busy to be
Making speeches.
( Grunts )
And what'll them
Imitation texans
Say about wyatt?!
They'll say that he
Let them run it over him.
That's what they'll say!
Now john,
You stay in bed!
- Get me my bottle.
- I will not.
All right, then I'll
Get it myself.
Why don't you let
Ashby brag?
What's the difference?
What's the difference?!
The difference is
Wyatt earp
Never backed out
Of a fight in his life
And neither have i.
You think it's brave
To walk into a trap?
Well, let me tell you
It's a lot braver to
Stay out of a trap.
Oh, trap trap trap!
Yap yap yap!
You wanna bet?
Bet on what?!
$ Even money
That wyatt turns
That invitation
Down.
Where'd you get $ ?
Gambling
At the alhambra.
Here. Cover it.
In cash.
What kind of a husband
Do you take me for?
Taking my wife
For a sucker bet.
Where's my g*n?
Now john,
You're too weak
To hold a g*n.
Oh, you most likely put it
In that drawer as usual.
This isn't your fight.
Why are you horning in?
Unless I can get ashby
To withdraw that invitation,
I don't know what
I'll do.
I'll just make him do it!
I'll make him withdraw it!
- In "the globe,"
In the public!
- Why?!
I just finished
Offering you a bet
That wyatt won't even
Show up at that place.
Hmm.
Katie, I know wyatt
Much better than you do.
If I don't call off
This ashby,
Wyatt will walk in there
With a g*n.
Wait a minute.
Here's your tie.
Thank you!
- Good morning, judge.
- Good morning.
Go check
The freight ship.
You talk to wyatt
About this?
He says he won't
Go along with
The play.
But he told the reporter
From "the globe."
I've just come from there.
Mr. Lawson's agreed
To hold up the statement.
Wyatt says they'll g*n him
Right on the platform.
I just talked to
Rance turner and tom reeves
And john willoughby.
They got real hostile
When I questioned
The motives
Of the cattlemen.
Wyatt thinks
Lon ashby rigged it.
What if he's wrong?
It's a tough corner, judge.
The committee's asked me
To appear with wyatt
And introduce him.
It doesn't seem logical
That they'd be planning
An assassination,
- Does it?
- No.
I don't like to ask wyatt
To go against
His better judgment,
But on the other hand,
We can't insult
The town's best customers,
- Can we?
- Not only that,
If wyatt don't show,
Word will go around he's scared.
We got the cowboys
In pretty good order right now.
But if they get
The idea that--
If there's any trouble
I'll be right there
Alongside him.
True enough.
But a crack shot
Could get him
And not touch you.
Just doesn't seem
Like wyatt.
You suppose the job
Is breaking his nerve?
I do not!
Why, I think he's scared
Of risking gunplay
In a crowded hall.
Well, I don't agree
That there is much risk.
And I think you oughta
Ask him to appear.
That'll be an order,
But I can't do that.
Oh.
I suppose he'd have
The same viewpoint
If I asked him.
Uh-huh.
Now, you better hide
All five g*ns in the floor
Just in case we need any,
Then slip out the back way.
That oughta do it.
Let's go.
Ashby?
You carrying a g*n?
Why, no, doc.
I heard you weren't
Feeling too well.
Lift 'em.
Oh, I'm lon ashby.
Don't you remember me?
Fort worth, san anton--
I remember.
Let's go.
You're joking, doc.
We were always friendly.
No.
It's your joke, lon.
You invited wyatt earp
To make a speech to
That convention.
Oh, that.
I was only teasing earp.
You're a liar.
All right.
I'll withdraw
The invitation.
You come along to
"The globe" with me,
And I'll explain
The whole business in print.
Wait a minute.
Now what are you
Gonna explain in print?
Doc thought our invitation
Might embarrass you,
So I agreed to go
To "the globe" and tell them
The whole matter
Was a joke.
You have a loyal friend
In doc.
Don't believe him, wyatt.
He's just trying--
It's my trouble.
Thank you just the same.
Mr. Ashby, I told
The "globe" reporter
That I wouldn't be
Coming to your meeting.
But I've changed my mind.
Good.
What time may we
Expect you, sir?
Anytime you say.
How about : ?
I'll schedule
Your speech first.
Oh, what will your
Subject matter be, marshal earp?
I think I'll talk
About some illegitimate
Cattlemen I've known.
Very good.
That should wake them up.
See you at : .
I spring the trap
And you set it again.
I thought you
Enjoyed living.
Doc, you're under arrest.
$ Fine at the jail.
Come on.
You're a fool.
In an hour or so,
You'll be a dead fool.
I had it all settled.
I was willing to let 'em
Brag that they ran it
Over me,
But I don't have
To hire you or
Anybody else.
Threatening ashby
With a g*n.
I suppose if I hadn't
Come along, you would
Have marched him right over
To the "globe" office, huh?
Now what do you
Take me for?
A stiff neck idiot.
You go on back
To the hotel
And go to bed
Where you belong.
( Laughing )
Now what's funny?
My intuition.
I told you last night that ashby
Would pressure us into this.
Not us. Me.
I owe you a dollar.
I'll pay you later.
I'll take it out
Of this, wyatt.
All right.
You know he'll have
Men there to blast us.
- You know that, don't you?
- Maybe not.
Maybe it's a bluff.
You see, you do
Wanna live, don't you?
( Coughing )
I don't care.
Te morituri
Salutamus, caesarum.
Doc, you stay out
Of this.
I'm impounding your g*n.
( g*n clatters )
You go on to bed.
You look beat.
How do you feel?
Scared.
What? No heroic speech
Before they cut you down?
Would you get out
Of here?
You know, wyatt,
You're not so brave.
There's no imagination.
( Opens door )
So long, wyatt.
Oh!
I don't know
Nothing more,
Mrs. Holliday.
Like fun you don't!
Where's john?
And where's wyatt?!
- Talk!
- ( Whimpering )
Mr. Earp went
To the opera house.
He fell
For their invitation?
Ow.
Lon ashby suckered him
Into making a speech.
Did john go with him?!
( Breathlessly )
Yes.
Brave men.
A couple of
Stupid brats!
Thank you.
Thank you, gentlemen
Of the cattlemen's convention.
This afternoon,
We have invited
Marshal wyatt earp
To speak to us.
( Scattered applause )
We've extended
This invitation
To the marshal
As a gesture
Of good will.
Because we feel
There should be no more
Misunderstanding
Between us and marshal earp.
The association
Is greatly honored
That the marshal
Has consented to appear here
This afternoon.
But before turning
The meeting over to him,
I should like to remind you
That we have many things
On the docket--
Oh... My, uh,
Good ol' friend
Dr. John h. Holliday.
( Indistinct murmuring )
Go ahead, lon.
Well, as I was saying--
Anybody who moves
Gets it!
Most of you
Are honest men.
Grab anybody
With a g*n!
Sit down, katie.
Katie:
Now you listen to me.
The whole caboodle
Of you are cowards!
Wyatt came here because
He was afraid of being
Called afraid.
My husband came here
Because he wanted to
Slink out of life.
And don't let me hear
Any bragging from
The rest of you.
The ones that didn't know
This was a bushwhacking party
Didn't have the nerve
To kick lon ashby out
On general principles.
You make me sick!
All of you!
( Men murmuring )
( Coughing )
Wyatt, wait.
I gotta have a drink.
- Medicine.
- Oh, no.
You go on home
To miss kate.
Oh, no.
You come with me.
All right.
This is really
Gonna take courage.
Mm.
♪ 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. ♪