
Blood Money Full Episode – Gunsmoke, Season #13, Episode #19
Gunsmoke was a popular show during its run and continues to be popular today. It’s a gritty television series showing the audience that the West was dangerous and how law enforcement officers like Marshal Dillon tried to do their best in difficult situations. There are two episodes from Gunsmoke entitled “Blood Money.”
Episode 19 from Season thirteen shows the story of a gunfighter and his father, who despises his son’s profession. One night, he shoots his gunfighter son’s gunhand, not knowing a troublesome situation is ahead. Directed by Robert Totten and written by Hal Sitowitz, the episode aired on January 22, 1968.
Meanwhile, if you’re finding that episode from Season 3 where a man shot his savior, who also happened to be a wanted fugitive, for the bounty money, you’ll find that here.
Check out Blood Money‘s story and trivia, or watch the Gunsmoke episode in full below.
Watch the Full Gunsmoke Episode, Blood Money
Watch the full episode of Blood Money:
Gunsmoke Blood Money Cast
The following actors acted in the Gunsmoke episode, Blood Money:
- Milburn Stone as Doc
- Amanda Blake as Kitty
- Ken Curtis as Festus
- James Arness as Matt
- Nehemiah Persoff as Alex Skouras
- Anthony Zerbe as Nick Skouras
- Donna Baccala as Elenya Skouras
- Buck Taylor as Newly
- James Anderson as Jesse Hill
- Hank Brandt as Hank
- Mills Watson as Brent
- Kelton Garwood as Percy Crump (as Jonathan Harper)
- Howard Culver as Howie
- Michelle Breeze as Saloon Girl
- Glenn Strange as Sam
- James Nusser as Louie Pheeters
- Troy Melton as Jake Walker
- Lee de Broux as Stu Radford
- Duke Fishman as Barfly (uncredited)
- Tex Lambert as Townsman (uncredited)
- Bert Madrid as Townsman (uncredited)
- Jimmy Noel as Townsman (uncredited)
Full Story Line for Blood Money
Nick Skouras is a gunman known for his knack for his occupation. The episode begins as he arrives in Dodge City, welcomed by two men who waited for his arrival. Both men draw their guns but kill them both instantly. Louie Pheeters witnessed the gunfight, informing the marshal that it was fair, so there was no reason to arrest him.
Nick stayed at the Dodge House that night. While he’s sleeping soundly, Alex Skouras, Nick’s father, who despises what his son does for a living, sneaks into his room to shoot his gun hand. The shot causes irreversible damage to Nick’s gunhand, ultimately ending his profession as a gunfighter.
Jake Walker, one of the men Nick killed earlier, has three friends who visit Dodge to avenge their friend’s death. They confront Nick at the Long Branch Saloon, where Nick requests time to heal his gun hand. However, the menacing trio tells him they got no time.
Later that night, Elenya Skouras, Nick’s sister, asks his father if they could stay for a few days so he could go to the church dance Newly invited her to attend. She shows Alex the money she bought, only for him to ask her to return it after learning that she used Nick’s money. The trio saw them arguing and used it as an opportunity to bring Nick out of town. Fortunately, Marshal Matt Dillon and Festus arrived to further stop the trio from hurting Alex and Elenya. Dillon tells them to leave the city before they cause further trouble in Dodge.
Nick learns what happened and prepares to face the trio to end things once and for all. However, Alex stops him again, reprimanding him for his profession. Still, Nick decided to meet Jake Walker’s friends to protect his family.
The trio, headed by Jesse Hill, plans to kidnap Alex and Elenya as they leave Dodge. Before they go, Elenya asks his father if he can meet her brother, but he dismisses her request. Fortunately, Nick was hiding nearby, so she had the chance to meet him once last time. Nick also gives her a deed to a farm a few miles south of Dodge before he bids goodbye.
On their way, Elenya showed Alex the deed to the farm Nick gave her. There, Alex finally realized that Nick was right about him being afraid to fail. He promises to buy the farm with the money he has saved for a long time, excited to return to Dodge. However, the trio had them cornered, hoping to use Alex to bring Nick out of Dodge.
Elenya heads to Nick’s room back in the Dodge House, only to discover that he has checked out 15 minutes earlier. She hurriedly runs to the stable, where he finds Nick preparing to leave. Elenya informs him that the trio held Alex hostage, prompting Nick to save his father immediately.
Nick finds his father tied to their wagon. He faces all three, all in their position to start the fight. Unfortunately, he only killed one of them, while the other two successfully fired back. Dillon and Newly arrive to kill the rest of Jake’s friends.
Meanwhile, Nick assures his father that it’s over and that he should go and make their dream farm come true. At that moment, Nick dies in front of Alex, who can only mourn his son’s death.
Soon enough, things are going well for Alex and Elenya’s farm. They visit the marshal to bring a bring for him to taste and update them about their farm. Newly also reminds Elenya of their date and gets to introduce himself to Alex, who finds his name rather funny.
Full Script and Dialogue of Blood Money
Hold it right there. It's all over, Marshal. Drop the gun belt. Marshal. Alan drew first. His friend was just too slow. I seen it all, Marshal. That's the way it was. Them two come looking for a fight and he give it them. - They're both dead, Matthew. - Where you staying? The Dodge House. All right. You can pick that gun up on your way out of town. Been a long day. That there is Nick Skouras, ain't he, Matthew? Yeah. He's the coldest-eyed scamp that I've ever saw. This blood money... I never knew where to return it. Papa... What... Oh, Papa. You understand, Marshal? I don't want to sign any complaint against my father. Don't put him in jail. It's up to you. I want to see that in the morning. Ah, Doc, does it really make any difference? It might make a lot of difference to you. Oh, here. This is laudanum. You're gonna want... I know. Been a time or two I've had to take that. How much I owe you, Doc? We'll take that up in the morning. Ah, wait a minute. My Papa used to say... you take what's owed while it's there. It might not be there the next time. Much obliged. Matt, I wonder if you could put that table back there. Get it out of his way. All right. See you in the morning. Thanks, Doc. Don't mention it. Doctor, will he be all right? Well, he'll be all right. Elenya. I don't know about his hand. He may never use it again. - Good. - Papa. This way nobody else will die because of him. Well, it's pretty easy to see your intentions, Mr. Skouras, but I don't agree with your method. He just may have lost more than the use of that hand. What do you mean? The bones were shattered. If the nerves are destroyed, the hand will atrophy. In that case, it'll be like walking around with a lead weight for the rest of his life. I'm ready, Marshal. Mr. Skouras, there's been no complaint against you. Your boy claims that the gun went off when he was cleaning it. You believe him? No, but he's not filing any charges. - Can I see my brother now, Doctor? - No. Can I see him? I said no. Maybe it's better you don't see him right now, Elenya. Probably be better if you wait until tomorrow to see him anyway. If you think so, Doctor. Nick Skouras hasn't got much of a chance, has he, Matt? He's as good as dead, Doc. With the reputation he's got, how can he defend himself? I didn't ask when you buried him. I asked you who killed him. His name is Nick Skouras. Jesse? Is he still in town? Yes, probably will be for a time. What I heard, he... Jesse? Yeah? What are you planning on doing? What do you think? Now hold on. If you got an idea of our going up against Skouras... You owe it to Jake. I never owed a man enough so's to get killed over it. You're ain't gonna get killed. But Jesse, calling him out here in Dodge is going to put Dillon on us. Now, Skouras is one thing, but I don't want no dealing with Matt Dillon. Jesse, they plant us next to Jake and the kid or we stretch rope. Now either way, it ain't gonna do Jake no good. That's pure truth. Nick Skouras is gonna die. You gonna help me kill him? Well, I ain't gonna let you try it alone. Well... Nickolas. Nickolas. Hey, Elly. I brought some kapama. You brought kapama. Let me see you. Look at you. Sure been a long time. Never figured you to be in Dodge. This is something that we are, brother and sister avoiding each other. It has to be. It has to be. I tried to help when I send you money, but Papa threw it back in my face. How could you think he'd take it? I hope you'd make him. You know nothing. Even if I could, I wouldn't have. Well, what are you here for? You feel guilty because dear old Papa shoot me? Is that it? I've missed you, Nickolas. Ohhh. I've missed you, too. Oh, I'm so sorry. - I'm so sorry. - Hey, hey. Shh. It's all right. He said you were drunk, so drunk you didn't even hear him come into the room. Is that what killing a man does to you? If that's the way you feel, why? Why do you go on? I don't know. Once you get started, how do you stop? How do you begin killing other men? Aw, Elly, ah. The first one, he need killing. It wasn't just me, the whole town said so. One day, it came to me backing off or facing him, then, after that, I don't know. Always seemed to be someone that needed killing, somebody the law could not, or would not touch. Like those two men here in Dodge. Elly, they are paid to shoot a ranch foreman up in Hays, and they crippled the rancher's son when he tried to interfere. And you got paid for killing them. Yeah, I got paid. One hundred dollars, I got paid. I know it's no excuse for this, but it nearly killed Papa when he heard what you'd become. And then last night when he saw those two men dead in the street, and then heard you shoot them... Elly, Elly, don't, don't. What's the point, to go over and over? That's kapama. I have to go now. Yeah, I guess so. What are you going to do? What am I gonna do? Last three years, I only know from day to day. Then not much has changed, has it? Not much. And everything. Hey, Elly. Don't go. Come here. I want to see you. You know, you look good. You've grown into a real pretty girl. Except what... what is this, clothes? Hey, I want... I want you to do something for me. I want you to take this and buy yourself a dress, huh? No. I... I can't. - Papa wouldn't let me and I... - But I want. Not Papa. For me. It's important to me, huh? Say, what you sharpen this knife on, rocks? Well, it's pretty old. I guess I could use a new one. No, no, there is still plenty life in it. Morning. Good morning, ma'am. If you're in a hurry, I can wait. Oh, no, I'm not a customer. And sometimes she's not daughter. Daughter? Oh, I didn't think I'd seen you around here before. My name's O'Brien, Newly O'Brien, Miss. Elenya Skouras. Skouras? My brother is Nickolas Skouras. Well, Miss Skouras, it's my pleasure. This great big silent man here is my father. Right now he's not too happy with me. Are you, Papa? Papa? - See what I mean. - All right. All right. All right. If you take good care of this knife, it will last a long time. Yes, sir. - How much do I owe you for it. - Dime. Elenya, go tell everybody we're open for business. Papa, Nickolas is all right. I didn't ask. Go on. Go on. You mind if I go along with you? It's for the barber. Come on. There's a dance Saturday night, Miss Skouras, and if you're going to be in town... Can I help you? You know them, Matt? Yes. That's Jesse. He's a sidekick of Jake Walker. Do you think they know about Jake and that other one? Well, if they don't, it's just a matter of time. Percy buried them this morning. I got me a little bone in the back of my neck that just starts hurting like thunder when there's trouble brewing. It's a-jawing on me pretty good right now. Must be after Nick Skouras. You think they'll go after him? Normally, they'd be afraid to, but with that hand of his the way it is... They ain't going to be afraid no more. Jesse. - Hi, Doc. - Nick. Hey, you got some of that coffee for me? Sure. Coming right up. Get. You don't know me, but I know you for dead sure. Name's Jesse Hill. Go on. Well, howdy do, darlin'. Brent. What can I do for you, Jesse Hill? We were just talking to a man here in town. Yeah. And I'm supposed to ask you who that man was? Undertaker. Kind of set us back some when we heard it was Jake he buried, Jake Walker. Is that a fact? Yes, that's a cold fact. You see, me and Jake was friends. And really good friends, I'll bet. You'd make money. It's a sad thing for a man to hear his friend has been buried. Indeed. I knew Jake wouldn't be that easy to take. Mister... he was as easy... as a preacher falling to sleep. I'm here to settle it. All right. But you've got to give me time. Time? I ain't got no time. Let's go. Hill. Yeah? First sign of trouble out of you, you're going to land in jail. - Oh, Marshal, we weren't... - Hank. First time. - You want a drink, Marshal? - No, thanks. Skouras, you got any plans? Could be they have been made for me. Uh-huh. If it weren't for that hand of yours, I'd run you out of town right now. If it wasn't for this hand of mine, Marshal, I wouldn't be here. You want me to put you in jail for your own protection? You could. All you got to do is ask. What's the matter, Marshal? You don't like your job? What are you talking about? Oh, it's not too permanent: body guarding a crippled gunfighter. Doc, I'm telling you, this here little old bone... Yeah, the bone in your head is hurting you something fierce. It's in my neck, and it is. Good afternoon. Hi. You want something, Mr. Skouras? Yes, a good right hand. You sell them? Well, I'm sorry, I'm fresh out. Yeah. You got a cross-draw holster? Well, we don't have too much of a call for them around here. Could you make one? Yes, I could. How long it take you? Take me a couple of days. All right. I'll be back in a couple of days. Uh, Mr. Skouras, would you mind leaving a deposit? All right. I say, Mr. Skouras? Are you all that fast with your left hand? I don't think so. Well? You like it, Papa? It's very pretty. That boy this morning, Newly, he asked me to the church dance Saturday. Huh. And he give to you a dress, huh? No. We can stay until then, can't we? I suppose. - Oh, thank you, Papa. - Nah, nah. Elenya... the dress? It's the prettiest one I've over owned. Yes, and I think maybe the most expensive. Well? Nickolas gave me the money. Sure. He wanted me to have it. And I want you to bring back that dress and get back the money. Papa, please. No arguments! Return the dress! Give the money back to your brother. But, Papa! Don't "Papa" me! You know where that money come from. From the dead men that your brother killed. Well... Looks like we're busting up a family spat. What you want? - That depends, old man. - I don't know you. Well, lookee here. Pretty little missy. That's a pretty dress. I heard you say Nick gave it to you. Nick Skouras, your brother? Go away from here. That means he's partial to you, making things nice, easy, cozy... I don't know who you are, or what you want... Easy. And I'll tell you exactly what I want. Jake Walker was near kin to me. And your son killed him. Then... you should go fight with him. That's a fact, only you fixed things so the settling of it ain't so easy to get to. Please, leave us alone. No. We can't rightly do that and square things. Anyways, old man, it's because of you that we're having to wait here. Now why did you shoot him? Huh? We figured whatever happened between you and him ought to bring him out of town. Then we can set it right. And while we're waiting for him, you and me can get acquainted. How about that? No! No! Papa! No! No! No, don't! Papa! All right, that's enough. Hold it. Now get over there. - Get their guns, Festus. - Yeah. Animals! It was the old man that started it, Marshal. Nobody asked you! Marshal, they're after my brother, Nickolas. They're going to kill him! - Let's get him over to Doc's. - Come on, Mr. Skouras. Just take it easy. - Here we go. - Put all your weight right on me now. Come on. Take it easy now. Right here. What are you going to do? Slap our wrists for roughing up that old man? Yeah, give us a couple of days free room and board in your jailhouse. That's probably what Judge Brooke would give you. Unless a little rough and tumble is a hanging offense in your town. You know, I think maybe I'll just give you boys a head start out of town. You've got as much time to get out of Dodge as it takes to saddle up. Get moving. Marshal, we're going. Yeah? Elenya. What's the matter? Jesse Hill and those two other men just beat up Papa. What? No, no, the marshal will take care of it. I'm going to find Hill and you stay here. Papa. Elenya, you go back in wagon. You feel all right, Papa? You do what I say now. Go. I should have put that bullet through your heart. Yeah, lots of things you should have done you didn't do. If those animals come back and so much as touch your sister... I take an oath, I will kill you. Don't worry, Papa, they won't come back, 'cause I'm leaving. Well, good riddance. You never change. You only wear down. But there aren't enough years. We've only got one lifetime. - We. - Yes, Elly and me! Elenya has nothing to do with what is between us. What? Because she chose to stay with you. Because she felt sorry for you? I need no pity. Oh, you... you... you're like the wetstone you got in the wagon. You go round and round, but you don't get anywhere. And where do you get? You with your guns and your killing. Wherever, it's quicker than your way. Quicker, yes, quicker! But there is no shame to the way I earn my living! - No shame? - No! Papa, there is shame if you can do better and you won't. There's shame when you turn your back on a dream! There is shame in what you do to Elly. Like what? Do you know what you're talking about? - Yes, I know what I'm talking about. - What? The farm! You never made no move to do nothing about getting it and you never will! Why? Tell me that! Why? I explain nothing to you! You animal! Animal! Animal! Animal who kills for money! You killed as good as me. Only your way is slower. Took Mama... a long time to die. All that while, she's waiting to see a farm, a house for her to live in. Well, I wouldn't wait. How long you going to make Elly wait? Elly's my daughter. She's not your business. Pa, she is. If I could make you see! I take good care of me and mine. How? With promises? With empty words? How many years you point to a piece of land and say, "That's gonna be ours someday."? How many times I hear you say, "Soon, we're not gonna move around no more. Soon, we're going to have a place of our own."? My whole life I hear that. Well, Mama died. Well, we buried her. Why not there? I don't know what you're talking about. Well then, tell me how much longer? Till Elly dries up and wither away? Till she's so old she can't have a husband...? I don't want to hear no more! That's enough. Wait a minute, Papa. I want to ask you something. What are you gonna do with that money you've been hiding under the wagon seat, huh? I've known about it since before Mama died. Is that afraid to fail? Huh? Oh, Papa. You're afraid. Oh, Papa. I don't mind saying, Dodge is one town I'm going to give wide berth to from now on. Well, it ain't like we didn't try to square things for Jake. I want Nick Skouras dead. Okay, Jesse. We'll kill him. But there's time. He ain't going to take root back in Dodge. Neither is that old man of his or his sister. Huh? So? Every year... him and his wagon make the same circuit. Tomorrow or the next day they'll be leaving Dodge. It'll be just like we planned. I'm going to deliver these knives to the store. You continue to load. Papa, I want to see Nickolas before I leave. No, no, there is no time. I want to leave before the day gets too hot. You continue to load. - Elenya. - Nickolas. - We're leaving. - Yeah, I know. It's not right, after three years... It may not be right, but it has to be. Here. I was going to get somebody to give this to you. What is it? It's a deed to a farm a few miles south of here. A farm? Yes. You don't let him talk you out of it. You make him take it, and work, you understand? But I can't. You know what he'll say. Ah, he'll say it bought with blood money. Well, you tell him some of that blood was mine. Elly, if he won't take it, you're gonna wander around with him year after year and finally he's gonna die and you're gonna have nothing. You make him take it and work it, right now. You understand? - I'll try. - Okay. Maybe... maybe he will take it. Maybe you'll be able to come back, eh? Maybe, maybe, maybe. You take care of yourself, huh? And you take care of him, too. - Bye-bye. - Oh, Nickolas. I'll see you soon, Nick, on a farm. On a farm. Bye-bye. Are you going to tell me? - Have to for now. - What? Will you hear me out all the way without interrupting? How I can say? I don't know what it is. Papa. All right. All right. It's a deed, a deed to a farm. Hm. Where it come from? It doesn't matter. You want this farm real bad... huh? More than anything I've ever wanted in my whole life. All these years things were hard for you, huh? - It doesn't matter. - Yes, it matters. Going from town to town, not having a place you can call your home. Papa. Maybe Nick was right. Maybe I have been afraid to fail. Maybe it is easier to... to dream. You knew, he said that to me? He said, "Papa, you're afraid." That's what he said to me. But if a man has dream he must do something about that dream. And if he has a woman-child, he must do his best for her. Papa. We will buy that farm, but not with this. No, no, not with this. I have money. I have been waiting for the right time. Now in several years my baby has grown up. I suppose it's right time, huh? We will go back to that what...? what...? - Dodge. - Dodge. We'll go back to Dodge and we'll... - Papa! - Eh? Papa. Yes! Papa! Yes, Papa. Yah! What is this? Hank. There ain't no marshal out here to play your hand, old man. Nickolas! Nickolas. - Anything wrong? - My brother! I have to find my brother. He ain't here no more, Miss Skouras. He checked out about 15 minutes ago. Where'd he go? Well, I couldn't say. If you'd hurry, you'd catch him over at the stable. Nickolas! Nickolas! Elly, what's the matter? What happened? What ha...? Hey, where's Papa? Where is he? Tell me? - They got him. - Who? Those three men, they got Papa. - Where'd they take him? - I can't tell you. That's what they want. They want you to come for him. That's why they sent me here. - They want to kill you. - Want to kill me, huh? Where is he? Tell me where he is! North side of town. You stay here. If you ain't a caution, old man. Tied up like a slab of beef. Just to keep you down. Here, let me take it. Uh, Mr. Skouras, this is twice what I asked. Keep it. Nickolas, don't go! No. Don't go, Nickolas, please! Nickolas, no! Elenya. Elenya. Uh... Please. What do we do with the old man after it's over, Jesse? What do you think? Seems to me we got to kill him. I think you're right. Shame. That little girl is gonna need a friend to look after her, being she's got no family and all. Jessie, he's coming. Nick... Nickolas, run away! Nick, run away, don't come here! Don't come here, Nick! Papa, what they do to you? Run away. They wanted you to come so they can kill you. Untie him. Sure is touching. You don't need him now, you got me. Cut him loose! You ain't in no place to be telling. Come on, Jesse. Get it over with. Skouras. Hold it! Papa. It's all right, Papa. The wetstone... The wetstone, you... You trade that for a dream, huh? Just tear them all the way down and give them a real good cleaning. All right, sir. I'll get them back to you as soon as I finish. Fine, Newly. - Good afternoon. - Marshal. - Hello. Mr. Skouras. Elenya. - Hello. Yesterday, Elenya baked some psomi. I said we have to bring some for the marshal to taste. - Psomi? - Mm-hm. Psomi, it's a greek bread. It's the best bread I ever ate, Marshal. Well, thank you very much. - How are things on the farm? - Oh... Marshal, the last crop of wheat was enough to pay for our new team. Sure. And I got a new loan to build a windmill for pumping water, going to develop the back 80 acres. Good. I'd say they were working out pretty good as farmers. - I guess so. - I knew that all the time. Listen, in the morning, with a little bit of coffee. Ah. Well, I'll give it a try. Good luck to you. - Goodbye. - Elenya. Elenya, tonight, 7:30? - I'll be waiting. - Okay. Good afternoon, Mr. Skouras. Good afternoon, uh... - Newly, Papa. - I know that, Newly. I'm sorry, but it's such a funny name. It could be Nick or Mike or... but Newly. It's all right, Newly, good name. Marshal. I'll... I'll see you later, Newly.
Behind the Scenes Information and Trivia
Anthony Zerbe’s character “Nick,” withdraws his pistol from his holster two times during the opening gunfight scene between his two challengers.
Looking for More Gunsmoke Episodes?
Are you looking for a television series to binge-watch? Try Gunsmoke alone or with your loved ones. It is indeed a must-watch classy show. It is an American Western series on the CBS network with 20 seasons aired from 1955 to 1975. Blood Money is the 19th episode of Season 13.
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