The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp,

in his first few months as Marshal of Wichita, Kansas,

had done many things.

And now he was faced with a recurring problem

of the crooked gambling houses and their untiring effort

to separate the cowboy from his money.

Reloading cartridges?

Mm-hmm.

City gives you all the factory loads you ask for.

They don't have this new type bullet.

Made of copper?

Copper-jacketed.

What's the idea, Marshal?

Well, there are a lot more accurate than the lead kind.

They don't smash a man up so bad.

That's the whole idea of a .45.

Smash a man up and drop him in his tracks,

ain't it?

That's not my idea.

All I want to do

is discourage 'em from shooting.

And these'll do it.

Mr. Marshal Earp?

Yes'm?

Is it true what they say?

That you're a durn Yankee?

Who says that?

Mr. Billy Joe Omohondro told me.

Billy Joe's in bad trouble.

I don't suppose you'd help a Southern boy.

Are you poking fun at me?

Uh, Mr. Leggett, would you please go check the jail?

Yes, Marshal.

I'd, uh, help a Southern boy

just as soon as I'd help anybody else, ma'am.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

Now, what's your problem?

My name is Miss Melinda Carey

and I work at the Palace on Main Street.

What do you do there?

The boys like me and when they gamble,

they give me part of their winnings

for my hope chest.

In other words, you're a shill, huh?

I am not! I'm a hostess.

What I want to talk to you about...

Well, let's not discuss it here.

We'll go over to my office.

Well, then, let me get this straight.

You say that Billy Joe sold $8,500 worth of cattle

and then he lost all of that gambling at the Palace.

Is that right? In a crooked game.

And most of that money didn't belong to Billy Joe?

No, sir. Most to his family.

Now Billy Joe says he can't go home in such a disgrace.

He says he's gonna shoot Mr. Dave Bennett

for cheating him and... and then shoot himself.

And, uh, you wouldn't want that, would you?

I don't care if he does shoot Mr. Dave Bennett.

But us folks take suicide very serious.

It's dishonorable.

And I am fond of Billy Joe, Mr. Earp.

Well, uh, wasn't it you that shilled Billy Joe into that crooked game?

No, sir! I warned him against it.

I don't shill Southern boys.

Oh.

Just "durn Yankees," huh?

Well...

Well, uh, I guess I better talk to him.

I'm, uh, acquainted with Mr. Bennett.

If he's running a crooked gambling place,

I guess I should know about it.

Now, where can I find Billy Joe?

He's got a room at the Texas Hotel.

You better hurry before he...

Now, don't worry about it. I'll take care of it.

Come on.

Who is it?

Wyatt Earp.

You Mr. Billy Joe Omohondro?

Yes, sir.

Miss Melinda tells me you had a little money trouble

down at the Palace Saloon,

and doesn't think you ought to gun Mr. Bennett.

Why would you care?

Oh, 'cause you might botch up the job

and get yourself all hurt.

Just one less Southerner.

You'd be mighty pleased.

I'll tell you, Mr. Omohondro,

you're just about the age of my younger brother, Morgan.

I don't care whether you're from the North, East, West or South.

But I do care about crooked gamblers

cheating young fellas like you out of your money.

Now, I'm not a friend of Mr. Bennett's.

Oh?

Oh, he tried to run me out of town.

I had to crack him over the head a couple times.

Good Yank!

I'm sorry, Mr. Earp.

That's mine.

I had me some new models like your'un,

but when Bennett cleaned me out, he...

You don't care.

You just came here to make small of me.

Now, look, I don't want to have to fight the Civil War

all over again just for you.

Now, do you want your money back or don't you?

Yes, sir, I want it back.

All right.

You think there might be some Southern gentlemen

in the bar downstairs?

I reckon. Yes, sir.

Let's go have a talk with them.

Thank you, Joe.

Well, here's our share, Mr. Earp.

$960.

Well, thank you, gentlemen, for the loan.

I'll just mark this money,

and then Mr. Omohondro and I

will push along over to the Palace Saloon

and prove that Mr. Bennett was cheating.

Just one thing worries me, Earp.

I can guess what it is.

I'm a Yankee, huh?

Well, do any of you remember who threatened to resign

from the United States Army when the carpetbaggers

wanted try Lee and Davis for treason?

Well, Grant and Sherman.

That's right.

So, uh, let's have peace, you all.

All right. Let's play some cards.

Hope for the best.

10 on the odd.

5 on 13.

And 5 on the red.

All bets down.

Let her go.

22 black, even.

Mr. Bennett! Mr. Bennett!

It's an old trick.

This brake stops the wheel.

It's hooked up to a push button on the floor.

What's the trouble, Earp?

You.

You want to explain this here or in your office?

Explain? Are you suggesting...

I'm not suggesting. I'm telling.

Leave it alone!

Put it on the table.

I want your cash box.

Give it to him.

My office, if you don't mind.

All right.

$960. All marked money.

All right, Mr. Bennett,

I want $8,500 more.

You and the kid are framing me!

Now get the money.

Excuse me.

Billy Joe,

here's your $8,500.

Gentlemen, here's the $960 you contributed.

Thank you, sir.

I sure do thank you kindly, Mr. Earp.

May we apologize for saying you favor Yankees?

Thank you, sir.

You run back to the hotel.

I'll join you in a little while.

Yes, sir. But I... Go on.

Do you need any help?

I think Mr. Bennett's had enough trouble.

I still say you framed me.

Well, don't say it again.

I'm giving you a break, Bennett.

If I hear any more complaints from this place,

I'm gonna close it and you're gonna leave town.

Gentlemen.

Who tipped Earp off?

One of the shill girls?

None of 'em would do that.

Let me see who was shilling the kid.

Give me the chip box.

What was the name of the Southern girl?

Melinda.

The yellow chips belong to Melinda

and Billy Joe was playing with yellow chips.

I'll check on Melinda.

Come in.

Hi, Mr. Earp. Hi.

Heading for home, huh?

Yes, sir.

But I...

Well, what if Bennett finds out Miss Melinda

talked to you?

Well, he won't if you just leave town

and don't see her again.

Yes, I know.

But it wouldn’t be gentlemanly.