05x22 - Let's Hang Curly Bill

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp". Aired: September 6, 1955 – June 27, 1961.*
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Series is loosely based on the life of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp.
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05x22 - Let's Hang Curly Bill

Post by bunniefuu »

That's far enough.

Hold it right there.

Now I got dynamite planted

Underneath this whole street.

You're bluffing, earp.

We want curly bill.

Turn him loose,

Earp.

Now you men listen

And listen good.

I'm not turning my prisoner

Over to you.

Any man that makes

A rush for this jail

Is gonna get hurt.

Now don't try it.

Earp's bluffing.

Move up.

( 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..."

Marshal wyatt earp

Had dealt with

Curly bill brocius

Many times

When that notorious gunman

Had visited dodge city.

Although he robbed

And rustled cattle

And was a brutal thug

To whom m*rder was routine,

In leisure hours,

He could be good-natured.

So on the day when curly

Decided to celebrate his

Birthday in tombstone,

Wyatt didn't know

Whether the day would result

In fun-making or trouble.

I seen that, doc.

You put that back.

A man who plays checkers

With you needs four eyeballs.

- Howdy, chief.

- Howdy.

Wyatt isn't back yet?

No, sir, he ain't.

Quiet! I'm studying

The next move.

I'm sorry to interrupt

Your game, doc,

But the entire clanton

Outfit just rode into town.

In the middle

Of the week?

It seems that

It's curly bill brocius'

Birthday.

( Mutters )

Birdcage

And the oriental.

Brocius never had

Any birthday.

He wasn't born--

He was hatched out of

A rattlesnake's egg.

Trouble, doc.

( Horse approaching )

I hope that's wyatt

Coming now.

- Howdy.

- Hello, wyatt.

Mr. Gibbs, you and doc go

Check out the clantons.

Now don't touch

This board.

I got gibbs

In three more moves.

You ought

To play a little

More checkers, deacon.

It might arouse

The k*ller fever.

Yeah, well, that's just

What I don't want today.

Keep doc from fightin'.

All we're after

Is a head count

On the clantons

And an idea of

What they're up to.

All right,

Chief.

Just a minute, fred.

Well, it's gonna take

All of us, you know?

Yeah, I know that,

But, uh...

I'd like to talk

To you a minute.

Sit down, would you?

I, uh...

Well, I've been...

Kinda wanting to caution

You for a long time.

Caution me?

About what?

Well, sir, I know

It's not my place to...

Tell you how to be

A peace officer.

You've been at it a lot longer

Than I have, but...

Well, you worry me, fred.

It just never occurs

To you

That a hoodlum could

Start sh**ting.

Now what man would

Want to sh**t me?

Well, a fella does

Things when he's drunk

That he wouldn't do

When he's sober.

Yeah, I know that.

But I don't

Take any chances.

Oh, yes, you do, fred.

You sure do.

You're too brave

For your own good.

It's gonna be rough

Today.

There'll be a lot

Of clantons in town

Wanting to whoop it up.

We know that.

If they get mean about it,

We put 'em in jail.

Well, that's what

We always do.

I know that.

But you take your life

In your hands

Every time you

Try to talk a cowboy

Out of fighting.

I have to do my work

In my own way, wyatt.

What would you have me do?

Just don't argue

With them so long.

You know, you can only

Be wrong once in this game.

That's right.

Thanks, wyatt.

You're a good friend.

I'll be careful.

Man: curly,

It's your birthday!

( All chatter )

Happy birthday,

Curly! Ha ha!

Man: come on, curly!

Come on in, doc!

( Indistinct )

Those boys are setting 'em

Up for curly.

I came to pay my respects

To the gentleman.

How old are you,

Curly?

I don't know,

And I don't care.

How do we know

It's your birthday?

Johnny ringo says

It's my birthday.

You gonna argue

With ringo?

( Laughing )

Hiya, doc.

Good evening.

Old man clanton's

Really buying,

But we ain't

Told him yet.

Thank you, curly.

I consider it an honor

To congratulate

One of the world's

Most likable scamps

On his natal day.

Did you hear that, boys?

Doc and me's had

Our differences,

But he comes around

On my birthday.

Good ol' doc.

Mm. Give him a glass.

There you are, doc.

Thank you.

To your birthday, sir.

Not bad.

Ha ha. Not bad, he says.

That bourbon's

Years old.

Mm-hmm. Grows on you.

Tell me, curly,

Do you have the whole

Celebration planned?

We sure have.

We're gonna stay here

For a while, ain't we, boys?

We're gonna sh**t up

Allen street,

Then we're all

Going to the dance hall.

Got any better

Ideas, doc?

No, I'd say that's

Perfect.

Happy birthday,

My dear brocius.

Mmm! Party's

Just starting, doc.

I'll be back.

Save me some of that

Aged nectar.

Sure will.

Hey, buster, keep a bottle

Of this just for doc, huh?

Hey, curly,

You're always cussin'

Doc holliday.

You hate him.

Oh, forget it.

Doc's all right.

Step up, boys!

Come on, ethan.

It's my birthday!

Billy! Jimmy!

Come on, have a drink!

Jimmy!

Please, come on.

( Drunken chatter )

Man: how 'bout a beer, huh?

When are you

Gonna lock us up,

Huh, marshal?

( Laughs )

( Piano playing )

( Loud chatter )

The party's

Getting stale!

Stale? You think so?

Yeah. I thought you said

We were gonna sh**t up

Allen street.

All: yeah! That's right!

Oh, that's right.

Get the g*ns.

- All: yeah!

- ( Overlapping shouting )

Quiet!

Quiet!

- You heard him!

- Quiet. Quiet.

I'm curly bill,

And this is my birthday.

We gotta celebrate

And celebrate good.

( All shouting

And talking )

( g*nf*re continues )

You can hear as

Good as I can, ben.

You're supposed to be

The sheriff of this county.

Are you gonna do anything

About those g*ns out there?

Fred, you're giving

Too much importance

To a little noise

And fun-making.

Maybe that I am.

But we both know that g*ns

And liquor are a bad mixture.

I aim to do what

My job calls for.

Do you?

You don't have

To do anything.

They'll go home

After a while.

Nothing will happen.

Then you won't help me

Disarm them?

No.

And you're an old fool

If you think you can

Take g*ns away from

The clanton boys.

Go to bed

And shut your ears.

You're a puny excuse

For a sheriff, ben.

I'll return

This favor someday.

( Door closes )

( g*nf*re continues )

( Shouting, indistinct )

sh**t it up!

sh**t it up!

Put some life

Into my party!

Whoo!

It's my birthday!

( Continues shouting )

Save your b*ll*ts!

Save your b*ll*ts!

Let's sh**t up

The jail!

Evening, curly.

Fred white.

Old fred.

Have a drink.

No, thanks.

Better let me have

Your g*n, curly.

g*n?

Oh, no.

Oh, no. We're gonna

sh**t up the jail, fred.

Not on your

Birthday.

- Birthday?

- Yeah.

Oh, that's right.

sh**t up the jail

Tomorrow, curly.

Tomorrow?

All right, yeah.

Tomorrow.

Let me have your g*n.

I'll keep it for you.

Your g*n, curly.

I'll take it.

All right.

All right.

I'll take it.

How bad is it, fred?

Stomach.

Get him over

To dr. Goodfellow's.

If he's not there,

Find him.

Yes, sir.

You two,

Lend a hand.

All right, get off

The street!

Rack your g*ns.

There's been enough

sh**ting for one day!

- Go on! Move!

- ( Man grumbles )

Man: come on, curly.

It's your birthday.

Breaking up a good party.

What happened?

Who sh*t old fred?

You did.

Me? No, I didn't.

I didn't mean to.

I saw it. I know

You didn't mean to.

You're going to jail

Anyway. Come on.

( Groans )

All right.

Fred?

Fred?

Do you think that brocius

Meant to sh**t you?

No.

I asked for his g*n.

He took it out

Of the holster.

I was afraid he might

Change his mind.

I grabbed the barrel...

And yanked it.

I made the g*n fire.

That's exactly the way

I saw it happen.

Fred, would you try

And sign this now?

Right here.

Has he got

Any chance?

Mm-mm.

Wyatt.

The whole town's

A-gangin' up

To hang curly bill

If fred don't make it.

Dr. Goodfellow,

I'm gonna have

To leave.

You go on over and

Talk to d*ck gird.

Tell him I want

Some dynamite,

About feet

Of fuse.

Got an idea, wyatt?

I aim to plant dynamite

Underneath allen street,

In a circle

Around the jail.

You think it's gonna

Get that bad?

Well, I hope it doesn't,

But I want to be

Prepared if it does.

- Go ahead.

- Yeah.

Of course if they should

Try to rush the jail,

You only plan

To scare them, right, wyatt?

It might seem

Too impertinent of me,

But when are you

Gonna start k*lling?

Never, I hope.

The last words of

A tenderhearted church deacon.

Fred, i...

Move that table.

Come on.

Pick up the lantern.

Get on down there in a hurry,

And I'll hand you the dynamite.

Let me get this here

Lantern lit.

I ain't got the eyes

Of a bat, you know.

You never have any trouble

Seeing a silver dollar

At a hundred feet.

Here.

The dynamite.

There's the first line.

You got it?

Yeah.

Run it down.

Boys, it's all over.

( Crowd murmuring )

Now listen, you men,

Fred white

Was our friend.

He was the best man

This town ever had.

Brocius m*rder*d him.

We ain't wasting time

On a trial.

You're right,

Corky.

He doesn't deserve

A trial.

Let's go.

( Indistinct chatter )

Work it up.

Fred white's gone.

With the clantons in jail

And the mob on its way,

Why don't you let

Nature take its course?

Well...

Curly didn't mean

To sh**t mr. White,

And the rest of

The clantons were only

Drunk and disorderly.

There ain't one of them

Who doesn't deserve to hang

For some reason.

Don't tempt me.

Give me that line,

Will you?

Hyah! Hyah!

That mob's

Almost here.

What are you

Doing about it?

The best I can,

Mr. Clanton.

Did you leave

Your horse out front?

- Why, sure.

- Move him around back.

I'm coming in

With the rest of my men.

That mob can't hang

Curly bill

And leave this town

Standing.

We'll stop 'em,

Mr. Clanton.

Mr. Gibbs?

When you hear me

Fire a sh*t,

You let off

The first blast.

Gibbs: get on

Out there, wyatt!

I can hear 'em

A-tramping towards us!

( Murmuring )

That's far enough.

Hold it right there.

Now I got dynamite planted

Underneath this whole street.

You're bluffing, earp.

We want curly bill.

Turn him loose,

Earp.

Now you men listen

And listen good.

I'm not turning my prisoner

Over to you.

Any man that makes

A rush for this jail

Is gonna get hurt.

Now don't try it.

Earp's bluffing.

Move up.

Get the next one ready,

Mr. Gibbs!

Now, corky, I'm gonna give

You and your men

Five seconds

To get out of here.

The next one's gonna go off

Right underneath your feet.

They had enough.

Come on up, mr. Gibbs.

All right. What about

Curly bill and the rest

Of my men?

Brocius is gonna

Have to stand trial.

The rest of your men will be

Released in the morning.

Oh, you're gonna

Hang curly but legal,

Is that it?

I'm gonna try and save him

If I can, mr. Clanton.

Oh, sure,

You're gonna save him.

Well, don't bother.

I'll save him myself.

I'll tree this town

And burn it to the ground!

Mr. Clanton,

You just treed yourself.

Get his g*ns.

Mr. Gibbs,

Open up that door.

Now, you think you can

Intimidate the law?

Well, I'm gonna give you

A nice, cool spot

That you can think

About it, mr. Clanton.

Get in there!

I'm not gonna

Let my boys--

( Both shouting )

Lovely performance, wyatt.

But I would have

Been more pleased

If you'd k*lled him.

However, this is

A good start.

Now, after curly bill

Is hanged--

That won't happen

If I can help it.

What? He k*lled

Fred white.

sh**ting at a star

Isn't allowed.

Up to now.

( Door closes )

( Pounds gavel )

No matter what they said,

I didn't mean

To sh**t fred white.

Mr. Brocius, your g*n

Was pointed directly

At mr. White,

At extremely

Close range,

And then it was

Discharged.

Now, do you expect

This court to believe

That you,

An expert with g*ns,

Did not deliberately

Fire that g*n?

I don't know how it happened.

I'm telling the truth.

Marshal white

Asked me for my g*n.

I was giving it to him.

Barrel first?

I don't know.

I was handing it over,

And he grabbed at it

And it went off.

And that's all

You can tell us?

I was drunk.

I really don't know

How it happened.

I'm telling the truth.

Well, fortunately,

We have a witness

Who was not drunk.

That's all, mr. Brocius.

Step down.

Please.

Marshal earp, will you

Take the stand, please?

Yes.

Marshal,

You saw the sh**ting.

Would you present

Your testimony, please?

Yes, sir.

Mr. White asked mr. Brocius

For his g*n.

Mr. Brocius drew his g*n,

But before he had a chance

To hand it over properly,

Mr. White

Grabbed the barrel.

The g*n was accidently

Discharged.

Mr. Brocius did not intend

To k*ll mr. Fred white.

( Crowd murmuring )

( Pounds gavel )

I fail to see how

The g*n could have fired

Unless it was cocked.

And if it was cocked,

Curly bill must have

Intended to use it.

Not necessarily, sir.

( Chuckles )

Mr. Earp, i, too,

Have some knowledge

Of firearms.

I realize that

Accidents can happen,

But a g*n cannot be fired

Unless it's cocked.

Well, if your honor

Will permit,

I would like to demonstrate

How it happened.

Please do.

( Crowd murmuring )

Now, this is

Mr. Brocius' g*n.

Your honor, I have here

Some . Blanks.

Your honor, while you

Have colt . S and know

How to use them,

We must remember that curly

Is a professional gunfighter.

Now, how do you cock

Your . ?

I put the ball of my

Thumb on the hammer

And pull it back.

- Like this?

- Right.

Well, curly

Doesn't do that.

All professional gunfighters

Hook their thumb across

The hammer, like that.

The reason they do that

Is they don't trust

The ball of the thumb.

It might slip off

And cause a misfire.

Now let's assume

That the g*n is sitting

In the holster, like that.

Now, when mr. White

Asked curly for the g*n,

Curly's first move to hand

The g*n over to mr. White

Should have been

To grab the grip, like that.

This is if he was sober.

But curly was drunk,

So he followed habit.

He came down

On top of the g*n.

The thumb went all the way

Around the hammer, like that.

And the g*n was

Un-half cocked?

No, sir, it was

Un-quarter cocked.

Now, you, yourself,

Never use a half-cock

Unless you're gonna

Spin the cylinder

To load or unload.

That's right.

But if the g*n were

Un-quarter cocked,

And the hammer

Almost down,

How could it have

Fired accidently?

Well, sir, I know it sounds

Farfetched, but it isn't.

Now if you'll step down here

And face me, I'll show you.

( Crowd murmuring )

Now I'm going to draw

The g*n the way curly did.

As soon as the g*n

Leaves the holster,

You grab the barrel

And give it a yank.

I'd better do it slowly.

You ready?

( g*nsh*t )

Judge: I didn't believe

It was possible.

Now if you were drunk,

And your thumb was

Hooked over the hammer,

As curly's was,

You wouldn't be able

To react in time

To turn the g*n loose.

You also have to remember

That mr. White was very nervous,

And he grabbed the barrel

And yanked very fast.

Let's try it again

At normal speed.

( g*nsh*t )

You're right.

Curly didn't have time

To take his thumb

Off the hammer.

His cocking the g*n

Was an accident.

Mr. Fred white himself

Caused the g*n to fire.

( Crowd murmuring )

Well, wyatt,

You did a good turn

For tombstone today.

Congratulations.

Lay off, will you?

Well, I assure you

I will,

But not curly bill.

I know all about

Curly bill.

Wyatt, why in the name

Of your tin star

Did you set him free?

Why didn't you

Keep your mouth shut

And let 'em hang him?

Because I couldn't.

There are times

When I can't understand

Your set of rules.

One day you want to

Clean out the hoodlums,

The next you defend

A rattlesnake like that

And get him off free

All by yourself. Why?

Because if I allowed one man

To be ex*cuted unjustly,

Even a rattlesnake,

I'd have to turn in

My star.

Doc, even you

Would despise me.

By god, I would.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Long may his story

♪ Be

♪ Told.

( Men vocalizing )
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