The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

This is the beginning of the story of Wyatt Earp,

the greatest of the old fighting peace officers,

a real Western hero.

So great was his character

and so complete his skill at living with danger

that he became a legend in his own lifetime.

In the hard world of the Western Frontier,

with all its bad men and outlaws,

Wyatt Earp became the peacemaker.

As a Marshal, he went up against the worst of them,

and the stories they tell about him are doubly fabulous because they're true.

This is Ellsworth, Kansas, 1873.

Don't let the peacefulness deceive you.

It was about as ornery a little town as you'd find outside of Dodge City.

It was run by the Thompsons, a notorious gang of frontier gamblers and killers.

Most of the decent people had pulled stake, and the ones who remained were afraid.

When Wyatt Earp first rode into Ellsworth, he was fresh from hunting buffalo on the great plains.

He was just a peaceful young man looking for a place to wash up.

Not too much, now.

It's good, huh?

Had enough?

And remember, stranger, anybody that deals a game at Ellsworth cuts with the Thompsons.

You've got guns.

Stop to do something.

Not my fight, but you're welcome to use my guns.

Don't say it.

I know what you're thinking.

I'm going to say it.

What are you going to do about this Whitney?

Nothing. Real cowboys I can handle, but not this kind.

I'm too old. That's why I sent for young Earp.

Young, you say?

Well, he ought to be 24, 25 by this time.

A real trigger happy gunfighter, huh?

No, he's not a gunfighter.

I've known him most of his life and have known his folks, too.

I'm not even sure he'll take the job, but if he would, it'll make this a better town to live in.

What makes you sure he can handle this crowd?

He rode shotgun for Wells Fargo out in California.

Never lost a dime or a passenger.

And when it comes to pulling down a buffalo

I think we ought to leave things alone.

I do business with these men.

Good business.

So do you.

If I have to run a newspaper with their patronage, I'll close up.

Well, I hope this Earp comes soon, Whitney.

My name's Wyatt Earp.

I'm looking for Sheriff Whitney.

Ain't here.

Hey, Mr. Earp!

Well, if it isn't Mr. Masterson.

What's the matter? Don't you like the beds in the hotel?

You joshin'? The judge gave me ten days or $50,

and I didn't even have $0.50 after...

After what?

After I lost my money in a poker game.

You just can't beat a crooked game, Mr. Earp!

You got any objection to my paying Mr. Masterson's fine?

Mr. Masterson? Why, that young rascal tears and ...

I'd like to pay his fine.

It's your money, Mister.

Much obliged, Mr. Earp.

Don't mention it, Mr. Masterson.

What's you doing elsewhere, Mr. Earp?

Well, I'm not right sure.

Mr. Whitney sent word he wanted to see me.

It's Sheriff Whitney, now.

Now, that's what I hear.

Who talked to men of that?

Mary Miller, and the church people across the tracks.

Somebody had to take it.

Mr. Whitney's a might elderly for the job.

From what I hear, this is a right bad town.

Bad.

If you stay around here, you'll see the primeest gun fights outside of Abilene.

Four men got killed last week.

Three the week before, in a poker game.

Speaking of poker, how much money did you lose?

$150.

Or there abouts.

Profession?

Sure, but I'm no cry-baby, Mr. Earp.

Man's got to learn sometime.

That's right.

- You think that game might still be running? - Guess so.

- Where? - Um, Shannon's Bar.

Come on.

I thought you had to see Sheriff Whitney.

Oh, that can wait.

You know, I got a great respect for poker.

Honest poker, that is.

You might say I'm real fond of it.

No, Mr. Earp!

Chad Pearson, George Pushard run that game.

They ride with the Thompsons.

They're both mean and awful fast with their guns.

You want your money back, don't you?

- How many, dealer? - Give me two.

Three.

Two.

The two on the right.

Three queens.

Well, that's enough for me.

Some manners.

- Don't you want to stay to get even? - Some other time.

You stay out of this.

- Do you mind if I sit in? - Table stakes, mister. It'll cost you $100.

You didn't deal me the top card.

- You sure you want to say that, sonny? - I'll put it a little plainer.

I think you deal a crooked game.

Same goes for you.

Don't try it.

Now get out, both of you.

Go on.

Both of you.

Boy, you sure drew a royal flush, Mr. Earp.

It's all yours.

All I want is my $100 and $150 they took from you.

Losers in the game divide the rest.

Help yourself, gents.

Why'd you let them off? Why didn't you kill them?

- No point in that. - Huh?

Well, they stole your money and I got it back.

- You lost $150? - No, not quite that much.

- How much? - $31. All I had.

The rest was bragging.

Well, now, that took real courage to tell me that, Mr. Masterson.

I'm proud you're my friend.

Yeah, but you should have killed them.

They'll tell Ben Thompson and his brother Bill that you draw fast but you don't shoot.

Well, when a man keeps on pulling his gun, you shoot.

But if you get the drop on him and he quits...no.

- Did you get that from the Bible or McGuffy's reader? - I believe it's mentioned in both.

Oh, you'd better check these at the hotel for me.

You better keep 'em on, Mr. Earp.

I'm not looking for trouble.

Yes, sir.

Wyatt, my boy!

Mr. Whitney!

I started right off to find you, but I kind of got sidetracked.

Yes, I know.

Gee, sit down and rest yourself a mite, will you? I got a lot to talk to you about.

Well, it won't take too much persuading to sell me some cattle.

Cattle? No, that isn't what I had in my mind.

Wyatt, I sent for you to take my job.

What?

You sure do make it awful tough, Mr. Whitney.

I owe you for a lot of favors.

I just don't see me wearing a star.

Well, is that so outlandish? I knew you were folks back in Illinois.

A lot of lawyers in the Earp family.

Your father was a judge.

That's right.

But the Earps have done their share for the law.

Anyway.

The law out here means trouble.

You get enough of that without going looking for it.

Well, if that's the way you really feel about it.

Yes, sir, it is.

I sure don't like to turn you down, but all I want to do now is buy myself a little cattle spread and sit back and watch the steers go fat.

Sounds good.

But let me ask you something.

Why did you go up against two of the best gunslingers in the Thompson outfit?

Because they cheated back.

I don't think that was the real reason.

No? What, then?

A sense of rightness. It was born in you.

Some men have it, some don't.

Now, look, Mr. Whitney, I'm sorry, but I just don't want the job.

I can't say as I really blame you.

One man hasn't much chance to civilize the hoodlum cow town.

But if you won't do me the big favor, will you do me a little one?

Yes, sir.

Get out of Ellsworth real fast.

After that gun play you made...

Uh-oh.

Ben and Bill Thompson.

Is that the great Wyatt Earp, Whitney?

Now, don't get nervous, Ben. He isn't wearing his guns.

Better check yours at the hotel, too.

Is this the fool kid you're trying to make sheriff?

What are you trying to do, pull a joke on us, Whitney?

Joke's on me, Bill. He won't take my job.

Go ahead and take it, sonny.

Run us out of town with your bare hand.

I'm not looking to cause any trouble for Mr. Whitney.

I'll let him run me out of town.

That satisfy you?

- Yeah. - Well, that don't satisfy me.

You all make small of us with your jokes.

You better cool off, Bill. You're drunk.

Give me the gun.

Sure, I'll give it to you.

I've been wanting to give it to you for a long time.

You mettlin' old fool.