Gunsmoke is a Western television series aired on CBS, starring James Arness, who portrayed Marshal Matt Dillon. Set in the town of Dodge City, Kansas, the show follows the everyday life of Marshal Dillon as he deals with the lawlessness of the frontier. Directed by Robert Butler and written by Ron Bishop, Gunsmoke season 14’s seventeenth episode, Mannon, aired on January 20, 1969.
In this episode, the titular character, Mannon, fills Dodge City with terror while waiting for Marshal Matt Dillon’s return. The gunslinger, possibly the fastest draw in the West, challenges Dillon to a showdown after his encounter with Kitty Russell.
Read Mannon‘s plot and behind-the-scenes trivia, or watch the episode below.
Table of Contents
Watch the Full Gunsmoke Episode, Mannon
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Gunsmoke Mannon Cast
The following actors and actresses appeared in the episode, Mannon:
- Milburn Stone as Doc
- Amanda Blake as Kitty
- Ken Curtis as Festus
- James Arness as Matt
- Steve Forrest as Mannon
- Buck Taylor as Newly
- Glenn Strange as Sam
- James Nusser as Louie Pheeters
- Roy Barcroft as Roy
- Charles Seel as Barney
- Ted Jordan as Burke
- Woodrow Chambliss as Lathrop
- Tom Brown as Ed O’Connor
- Charles Wagenheim as Halligan
- Howard Culver as Howie
- Michelle Breeze as Chris
- Fred Dale as Townsman
- Nick Borgani as Townsman (uncredited)
- Stephen Burnette as Townsman (uncredited)
- Bert Madrid as Townsman (uncredited)
- Jimmy Noel as Townsman (uncredited)
Full Story Line for Gunsmoke Mannon
A skilled gunman named Will Mannon comes to Dodge City. Right outside the outskirts of the town, he encounters Festus Haggen, who offers to take him to Dodge. However, Mannon shoots Festus, leaving him on the road while he takes his mule Ruth and heads to the town alone.
With Marshal Matt Dillon out of town, Mannon easily intimidates the citizens of Dodge City with his fearsome demeanor.
Meanwhile, Burke and Newly brought the injured Festus to Doc to nurse him back to health. Once he has gained consciousness, Festus details what happened, stating how Mannon is faster at guns than Dillon.
Kitty speaks to Mannon to know his intentions. Mannon reveals that he wants to challenge Dillon and cement his reputation as the fastest draw.
The citizens of Dodge City anxiously wait for Dillon’s arrival. While doing so, Mannon rattles the town, drinking liquor bottles, playing poker, and singing menacingly. Burke and a few residents offer him five hundred dollars to leave town. Although it was a tempting offer to say the very least, Mannon took the money but refused to leave.
That evening, Mannon breaks into Long Branch Saloon despite Kitty declaring the place closed. Soon enough, the camera shows the struggle between Mannon and Kitty, ending with an undeniable assault.
Mannon visits Doc Adams to bandage his wounds. He tells Doc to go to Long Branch Saloon to help Kitty. Doc eventually finds Kitty on the floor, bringing her upstairs as requested.
Meanwhile, Marshal Dillon prepares to return to Dodge upon hearing about Mannon.
Doc tends to the bedridden Kitty. Despite Doc’s direct refusal, Kitty pleads for him to seek Mannon so she can talk to him, hoping to give Dillon an advantage through what she’ll says. Kitty successfully wounded Mannon’s pride after declaring that despite all the success he claimed, he hadn’t won her that night. Still, Mannon tried to impress Kitty by drinking and shooting glasses midair, none of which appealed to Kitty.
Dillon finally returns to Dodge City to settle matters with the brutal Mannon on the street. Contrary to what most people would expect, Dillon drops after Mannon quickly fires his gun. For a moment, the townspeople are to believe that evil has won. However, Dillon retaliated, killing the startled gunslinger who expected him to be dead.
In the end, Mannon’s shot only injures Dillon’s shoulder, and Kitty finds peace.
Full Script and Dialogue of Mannon
Abides in that maiden ♪ Her plea calls to me ♪ The wild ways though I roam Howdy. Horse took lame, did he? Had to shoot him a while back. Well, I can sure give you a ride into Dodge, if you're a mind to. Old Ruth, here, he's stout enough to tote both of us, I reckon. Riding double's not too comfortable. Oh, fiddle. It'd be my pleasure. Not mine. Step down. - What? - I said step down. Mister, I don't especially like your tone. Nor your words, neither. Down. Well, it takes all kinds to... ♪ Once more in the pine wood ♪ A brook sweetly murmurs ♪ Its song of rejoicing ♪ And welcome to me ♪ And pensive I glance in ♪ Its bright sunny waters Well, all right, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll buy a round of drinks for everybody for every day that Festus stays out of town. Matt back yet? No, I guess he's coming in tomorrow or the next day. You know, asking a man to come all the way to Ellsworth to make deposition in a trial is... - Well, it's just ridiculous. - Why? Well, in this heat, it could wait a day or two. Anything can wait a day or two. Anything. ♪ And pensive I glance in ♪ Its bright sunny waters ♪ And hosts of dear faces ♪ Gaze fondly at me ♪ The friends of my childhood ♪ Press gaily around yet Get a pillow for old Tanglefoot, will you? Tanglefoot? You men do choir work? Here, lead 'em in singing. You got a place to change skins? Dodge House. Oh. Hey, that's Ruth. - Well, of course, it's Ruth. - Where's Festus? Well, I don't know. But who's he? - Never saw him before. - What's he doing on Ruth? I'm gonna get Mr. Newly. Welcome to Dodge. Oh, just make your mark then. All right. - Name please? - Mannon. Excuse me. Excuse me. It's just that, well, Mannon's a name to remember in parts of Kansas. - That so? - Oh, yes, indeed. You know I was in Lawrence that time. They say Will Mannon was Quantrill's killing arm more than any of the others. So you can see why a name like that would... Well, sorry. No need to bother you with such and all. First name, please. Will. Get plenty of hot water, will you? ♪ A walk in my fancy ♪ Through pale mists of sorrow ♪ And beckons me home ♪ Once more in the pine wood ♪ The brook sweetly murmurs ♪ Its message of... Come. Well? Are you the man that rode into town on the bay mule? Old Tanglefoot? Yeah. Mind telling us how you happened on old Tanglefoot? There reason I should? One reason's this badge. Another reason, that mule and the rigging on him belongs to a friend of ours. - Is that a fact? - That's a fact. And you're wondering what become of your friend? I do. Well, all I can tell you in the Good Lord's presence is that I had me a snake-bit horse, unfit for travel, so I took to walking and I come on old Tanglefoot, I call him. Didn't you think that a little odd, finding a saddled mule out in the middle of nowhere? I mean, didn't you wonder where the owner was, or if there was trouble of some kind? Friend, I asked myself a question once and I got the wrong answer, so I never asked myself another. I take things by the time, by the hour. It's the only way of life. Now, if you men will excuse me, I aim to find out who I am. Something's awful wrong. - He's lying, and I'm gonna prove it. - How? First thing I'm gonna do is backtrack on Ruth. I'll go with you. It's getting too dark to track, Burke. He's been laying out in the sun all day. Maybe we'd better go back. Burke! Oh, no. Is he alive, Newly? Is he? I don't know, Burke. I don't know. - Oh, Kitty. - Hi, Doc. - What you got there? - Well, I knew you wouldn't leave Festus. I thought you might like something to eat. - Well, thanks. - How is he? Well, uh, he's doing pretty good. He was mumbling a while ago and I thought he was coming to. Festus? Festus? - Doc. - Yeah, I'm right here. Right here. It just hurts like thunder, Doc. Yeah, I know that. Now, you just hang on and we'll take care of that. - Miss Kitty. - Hello, Festus. How'd I get here? Last I recollect, I was a crawling down... Burke and Newly brought you in. Ruth. I got to find Ruth. You just got to do nothing but stay right where you are. Doc, that fish-eyed yahoo, he just stoled old Ruth from me. Festus, do you mean you... you saw who shot you? Just smack nose to nose, Miss Kitty. I got to find him and get Ruth back. Will Mannon rode Ruth into town about five hours ago. - Will Mannon? - He's down at the Long Branch right now. Will Mannon? He's the one who done all the burning and the killing and the thinking for Quantrill, Doc. - You know that. - Well? You want to talk about a fast gun hand, if you was to take a snake's tongue and grease it and tie it to a bolt of lightning, you couldn't get nothing as fast as his gun hand. - You know, Matt's gonna be back soon. - Yes, Matthew, he'll be back all right. But I'll tell you both something. This Mannon is twice as fast as Matthew is. I know. I've saw them both. Mannon, he's a heap faster. Only thing we can do is to try to keep them two apart. Just hope that Mannon'll ride out of town directly. You mean you're suggesting we just don't do anything about it. - We just all hope that everything... - And you'd better hope hard, too, Doc. Elsewise, it's gonna be old Matthew laying out yonder on that street, dead. Like I say, a man has got to have attention to his direction. And I've always been of a mind that the best way for a man to do that is to say flat out who and what he is. Makes for understanding. In case there's a man or two here who... hasn't heard, or isn't sure... I am Will Mannon. Well, Mister Mannon, until Festus identifies you, there's nothing I can do about that. But there is something I can do about this. Well now, there appears to be one right here who isn't sure. Well, come on. It's as fine a way as any to get the word around. Just stand right there. - Did you say something, barkeep? - That whiskey is two dollars a bottle. I'll handle this, Sam. Friend... I'm gonna kill that barkeep before he can press that trigger, and him with his finger on it. And then I'm gonna kill you. You'll pay up first. Hold on now, both of you. You figure you're ready, barkeep? Put the gun down, Sam. Ma'am... I was figuring to use these here pilgrims as sort of an example. Sam. Newly. Newly, please. Sam. That'll be six dollars. It's all right, Sam. It's all right, Sam. You're taking an awful chance, Miss Kitty. And so were you. So were you. We're all for the taking, as far as he's concerned. Dodge House for lodging, Delmonico's for food. But nobody wants to make a complaint. I don't need one to arrest him now. Just leave him alone and don't make trouble. Don't make trouble? Marshal gave me this badge and the responsibility that goes with it. - Now you listen... - No, ma'am. Have you ever seen Matt shoot faster than Mannon? I sure haven't. It doesn't make any difference. I got to arrest that man if I can. I'm not gonna see you get killed over three bottles of cheap whiskey. Now, please... There are other customers, girls. I didn't know they allowed ladies in the saloon, ma'am. I own this one. Figured. The thought still stands. What thought, Mr. Mannon? I been hide-hunting down in the Nations for a couple of years, but I was raised respectful and I know a lady when I see one, ma'am. What brings you out of the Nations, Mr. Mannon? So far, it seems like all your transactions have been on credit. Oh, I pay, Ma'am, come the time for it. Did you ever pay for what happened in Lawrence? Well now, that was war. War? Ma'am, you've got to have attention to your direction. If you ain't got direction, you got stampede. Any animal can do that. What happened at Lawrence gave Quantrill and the rest of us direction. What do you want here? Nothing much. Then why don't you just move on? I figure Matt Dillon is nothing much. I'm gonna walk across him the way you walk across short grass. Why? Ma'am, if it wasn't for us old boys doing the doing in that old war, you wouldn't have no town here at all. The war was over ten years ago. It's been a time. I ain't suggesting that nobody bow and step off my shadow, but... well, a little feeling of respect sets a nice tone. Respect? That's what I'll have when I've got Matt Dillon's toes pointing to the clouds. Respect. Here's to it. Well, in Mannon's opinion, he's found a home here in Dodge. What do you mean he's found a home? He's come here to kill Matt. - He tell you that? - He did. Well, a lot of people have tried that. Mannon's different. I mean, he's... really different. And you know how many times Matt has said himself that no matter how good he is, there just might come the day when he might meet somebody better. And we're supposed to just stand by and let it happen? Well, all we can do is warn Matt. Doc? Well, I can't think of anything to do. - There's one thing. - What's that? - We can kill him. - Mannon? I mean, you wouldn't hesitate to shoot a mad dog from cover. Can't do it, Newly. No, Kitty's right. Only thing we can do is find Matt and tell him the man is in Dodge and he's gonna kill him. Well, I can do that much. I'll head for Ellsworth right now. Doc... I'm scared. This time, I am really scared. Simply and clearly, something's got to be done. This situation is deplorable. It's gonna get more deplorable unless we do something. Well, here's the way I look at it. You don't go trying to bribe the likes of Will Mannon. In the first place, he wouldn't understand it. In the second place, he's weaned on a bottle and that's all he knows. He's only got one thought in his head, and that's "take." Something's got to be done. What we got to do is arm ourselves. What's your name? Name's Burke. Burke, I could hear you all the way across the street out there. - Well, then you know we mean... - No, I don't know. Look at it like this... I've done my living... doing, seeing, the tasting. Any time they dig that old hole for me... I'm ready. What about you folks? You suppose you're really thinking clear? I just ask you curious... I just ask you curious, 'cause sure as Satan knows heat, a lot of you people are gonna die, just as quick and easy as your friend there could have done, if I was of mind. I just come here to tell you that... I'm here to stay. Goodnight. There's nothing like a friendly game of cards, is there, gents. Everybody called? Well, let's see 'em. Well, I got two pair, Jacks over fours. Likewise, only tens over sixes. Well, uh, happiness is for the next world, Halligan. Three queens. Beat that, Mr. Mannon. That's no trick at all. Four aces. You gents ever see such a run of luck? Can't beat hands like that. I mean, I... I've never seen such a run of luck, Mr. Mannon. Well, I'm tapped. - No. - As a matter of fact, me too. Yeah. Well, a man only needs a few bad hands to ruin him, eh? Maybe you'll have better luck tomorrow night. Ten o'clock. Thank you. Mr. Mannon? We'd like to talk to you. What was your name again? Oh, Burke. Nathan Burke. Well, Burke, what is it? Well, uh, Mr. Mannon, we... We'd like to offer you some money to leave town. That so? Five hundred dollars, Mr. Mannon. Well, that's quite a bit of money. We're prepared to give you 250 dollars upon your leaving Dodge, and another 250 dollars will be deposited to your credit in any other town you choose. Hmm. Well now, Mr., uh... Burke. Have you got the money with you? I've got it right here. I like that. Then you will be moving on? No, Burke. I won't. ♪ And pensive I glance in ♪ Its bright sunny water ♪ And hosts of dear faces ♪ Gaze fondly at me ♪ The friends of my childhood ♪ Press gaily around yet ♪ The smile of my darling ♪ Nowhere do I find ♪ How gently my cheek is ♪ Caressed by her song ♪ And there in the pine wood ♪ I find peace of mind Go away. We're closed. What do you want? Pour. Pour. Pour. I knew right off you were a lady, Miss Kitty. You're the only one in town I haven't shrunk down to size. What will it take, Mannon? Well what are you offering, ma'am? Seven thousand dollars. The ante's gone up. You keep that kind of money laying around here? Mm-mm. No. But I can raise it on the Long Branch in the morning. You'd sell this place for him? I would. Is he that special to you? He must be some man. He is. Join me, ma'am? Seven thousand dollars is a whole lot of money. You could buy almost anything in the world for that. Except Matt Dillon's life. I wonder what I'll see in your eyes after he's dead. Miss Kitty. Oh... What's the matter with you? I got a chore for you, pill-man. Sit down over there. How'd it happen? I had an itch and scratched it too hard. I'm gonna have to sterilize that. That's pretty deep. And this is gonna hurt you quite a bit. I'll bet it will. Claws your insides to have to help me, don't it? What are you fetching there? This is laudanum. I'm gonna have to sew that up. I want you to take a couple of swallows of this. Put you to sleep and you won't feel a thing. Including the knife you could stick into me. Just wrap it. It's your arm. How long's it been since you had a good night's sleep? That concern you, does it, Doc? Only clinically. Not as a personal matter. I figured as much. I've just never quite been able to understand how a man like you manages to live at all. - With so much fear and hate around you. - Do you hate me, Doc? I know you ain't afraid. No. I'm too old for that. You know Marshal Dillon, do you? Yes, I know him. Is he a friend of yours? I want you to keep this bandage on for... about a week. That's a good job. How much do I owe you? You're starting to pay your way now, are you? You tell me how much it is and I'll pay you. About twenty cents. Fair enough. I'm going to send lots of business your way. Doc... If you'd take a look into the Long Branch, you might find Miss Kitty could use you. Kitty. Doc. - Oh. - Kitty, just be still. I'm all right. I'll be the judge of that. Doc, help me upstairs, please. - All right. Take it easy. - Please help me. - Easy now. Easy. - Oh. All right. Figured I'd find you on the Ellsworth Road, Marshal. - Well, I took the Vinegaroon turnoff. - They told me that at the stage depot. - What's wrong? - Will Mannon's in town. - Will Mannon? - Marshal, I know guns. And I've never seen anybody, begging your pardon, anybody faster than the likes of him. He's wolfing up Dodge, taking what he wants, doing what he wants. He shot Festus. Wounded him real bad. - Help me get my stuff together. - Marshal, he could kill you certain. - Morning. - Hello. She been sleeping like that? Yeah, she slept well. That's fine. You go on home and get some rest. Doc, listen. You can't sit up all night with Festus and all day with Kitty. Now, I'll stay and you go. I'm the boss here. You do what I tell you. You go get some rest. What kind of a man would do a thing like that? Don't take any kind of a man at all. That's a good point, Doc. Well. Morning, how are you? Oh, I'm all right. I want to see him. You want to see who? Mannon. Mannon? I want to talk to him. Heaven's sakes, you must be delirious. Doc, I want you to go find him. And tell him that I want to see him. - You sound serious. - I am. Well, let me tell you something. You'd have to do some explaining and an awful lot of convincing before I'd do a thing like that. Do you think I'd go and get him and let him come in here and work you over again like he did? He won't. - No kind of an answer for me. - Doc... There's no way for Mannon and Matt not to face each other, is there? No, I don't think there is. Well, don't you think that... we ought to give Matt some kind of an edge if we can? Of course I do. Well, if you'll just trust me, I think I know a way. You think? Would you mind explaining it to me? Oh, Doc. If I tried to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand because you're a man. I know Mannon. I know him probably in a way that very few people do. But it just might be the edge that Matt needs. If I didn't try... and he did kill Matt... Well, I... Please, please, Doc. Go get him. Well, I don't like this at all. Please? Miss Russell says she wants to see you. Thank you, old man. Tell her I'll be right there. Come in. Morning, Red. Mannon. I knew you'd make up your mind once we come to know each other. Look what I brought you. I've made up my mind. Good. That'll make it easier, me staying and all. You're staying all right, 'cause it's here you're dying. Oh? That's right. - How'd you come by that? - I know men. I know how they think. And I know how they act around their own kind. Aside from the way they act around women. Well, what's that got to do? Matt Dillon's a man. But he's dead. Uh-uh, you are. You really believe that? You'll believe it too, when you see him. Woman, you are a wonder. And as sure as there's a sun and a moon... he's gonna kill you. Red, it's been lots of years and I've never lost. You did with me. Again. Throw. Throw it, rummy. Most amazing thing I've ever seen. Amount he's been drinking and still able to shoot like that. Again. Throw. Grab a whole handful. Throw them. Hello, Louie. I've been praying, in my fashion, you wouldn't... - You're alone, Marshal? - That's right, Louie. Well that ain't so good, Marshal. That ain't so very good. That Mannon's here. He's something fast. - Nothing's ever been quite like him. - I know. Now, Louie, I want you to go down to the Long Branch - and tell him to meet me in the street. - No, Marshal! You go on. I ain't had too much, Marshal. I could get me a rifle and climb a roof and... Louie, I thank you. But you go on now. Marshal wants to see you outside. If I were just younger, I'd... You'd still be talking. Get out of town, Mannon. Come the time I want. Your time's now. Now, there's a man. A good man. Mannon! Yeah. He is a good man.
Behind the Scenes of Mannon
James Arness, Amanda Blake, Buck Taylor, and Steve Forrest appear in the 1987 television movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, reprising their respective roles in this episode.
Kitty Russell appears ready for bed but hasn’t removed her makeup, lipstick, or false eyelashes.
Looking for More Gunsmoke Episodes?
Are you getting tired of watching your usual television series? Try Gunsmoke as your next show to watch. A good old-fashioned American Western television series on the CBS network: aired from 1955 to 1975 with 20 seasons. Mannon is the 17th episode in Season 14.
You can find more information about any of the Gunsmoke episodes here.
