Masterson Deputizes Doctor for Clanton Negotiation
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Masterson, unable to dissuade Wyatt from violence, asks The Doctor to negotiate with the Clantons, believing that The Doctor guaranteeing a fair trial might prevent the impending gunfight.
Masterson re-pins the badge on The Doctor and urges him to start negotiations with the Clantons immediately, as sunrise is only two hours away.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Anxious and conflicted, torn between his desire to avoid violence and his sense of duty to protect Steven and uphold justice in Tombstone.
The Doctor sits anxiously in the Last Chance Saloon, his concern for Steven and the lack of legal process in Tombstone weighing heavily on him. He debates the escalating violence with Dodo and Masterson, ultimately agreeing to be deputized again by Masterson to negotiate with the Clantons and prevent bloodshed. His reluctance is palpable, but his sense of duty and moral obligation drive him to accept the badge once more.
- • To ensure Steven’s safety and prevent him from being harmed by the Clantons or the escalating conflict.
- • To persuade the Clantons to accept a fair trial and avoid a violent confrontation with Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday.
- • That law and order must be upheld, even in a lawless town like Tombstone.
- • That violence is never the answer, and diplomacy can prevent bloodshed if given a chance.
Urgent and determined, driven by the need to prevent a violent confrontation and maintain order in Tombstone.
Bat Masterson overhears the Doctor’s lament about the lack of legal process and seizes the opportunity to deputize him again. He frames the Doctor as the only neutral party capable of persuading the Clantons to accept a fair trial, warning of the dire consequences if they face Wyatt, Virgil, and Holliday. He pins the badge back onto the Doctor’s coat as a symbolic and urgent act of delegation, emphasizing the need for haste.
- • To persuade the Doctor to act as a mediator and negotiate with the Clantons to prevent bloodshed.
- • To delegate authority to the Doctor, leveraging his neutrality to secure a fair trial for the Clantons.
- • That the Doctor’s neutrality and diplomatic skills are the only chance to avoid a violent showdown.
- • That Wyatt Earp’s vengeful pursuit of the Clantons will lead to unnecessary bloodshed if unchecked.
Supportive and slightly naive, trusting in the Doctor’s ability to resolve the conflict and help Steven.
Dodo sits beside the Doctor in the Last Chance Saloon, encouraging him to rest but acknowledging his concerns about Steven and the lack of legal process. She supports the Doctor’s decision to intervene, suggesting that his actions might help Steven. Her tone is pragmatic and supportive, though she doesn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation.
- • To encourage the Doctor to rest and alleviate his anxiety.
- • To support the Doctor’s decision to intervene, believing it will help Steven.
- • That the Doctor is capable of handling the situation and protecting Steven.
- • That diplomacy and negotiation can resolve conflicts without violence.
Anxious and determined, driven by the need to protect his friends and prevent further violence.
Steven Taylor is mentioned as being 'mixed up' in the conflict and captured by the Clantons. The Doctor’s primary concern is his safety, and Dodo suggests that the Doctor’s intervention could help Steven. Steven’s capture adds urgency to the Doctor’s decision to act as a mediator.
- • To ensure his own safety and that of his companions.
- • To support the Doctor’s efforts to mediate the conflict and prevent bloodshed.
- • That the Doctor and Dodo are capable of handling the situation and protecting him.
- • That diplomacy and negotiation are preferable to violence.
Angry and vengeful, driven by a desire to punish the Clantons for their actions against his family and allies.
Wyatt Earp is mentioned indirectly as the primary instigator of the impending violence, described as disregarding legal methods and pursuing vengeance against the Clantons. His actions and decisions drive the urgency of Masterson’s plea to the Doctor, as his refusal to listen to Masterson’s attempts to talk him down escalates the tension.
- • To seek vengeance against the Clantons for their violent actions and the shooting of Warren Earp.
- • To enforce his own brand of justice, bypassing legal processes to confront the Clantons directly.
- • That the Clantons must be punished for their crimes, and that legal processes are too slow or ineffective.
- • That he is the sole authority in Tombstone and must act decisively to maintain order.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Doctor’s Deputy Badge serves as a symbolic and functional tool for delegation and authority in this event. Masterson pins the badge back onto the Doctor’s coat, re-deputizing him as a neutral mediator to negotiate with the Clantons. The badge represents the Doctor’s temporary authority and the urgency of his mission to prevent bloodshed. Its physical presence underscores the weight of the Doctor’s new role and the stakes of his intervention.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Last Chance Saloon serves as a tense and neutral meeting ground for the Doctor, Dodo, and Bat Masterson during this critical moment. The dimly lit barroom, with its sawdust-covered floors and rows of bottles, provides a backdrop for the urgent negotiation and delegation of authority. The saloon’s atmosphere is thick with tension, as the Doctor’s moral conflict and Masterson’s plea for intervention unfold. The space symbolizes the fragile balance between law and order and the impending violence that threatens to engulf Tombstone.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Clanton Family is mentioned as the group the Doctor is being sent to negotiate with, facing a dire fate if they confront Wyatt, Virgil, and Holliday in a gunfight. Their acceptance of a fair trial is the goal of the Doctor’s mission. The Clantons are represented as a potential antagonist force, driven by their violent actions and defiance of the Earps’ authority. Their power dynamics are characterized by their defiance and the threat they pose to the Earp Faction’s control over Tombstone.
The Earp Family is represented through Wyatt Earp’s indirect influence on the event, as his pursuit of vengeance and refusal to engage in legal processes drive the urgency of Masterson’s plea to the Doctor. The family’s loyalty to one another and their shared desire for justice are central to their actions. Their power dynamics are characterized by their authority in Tombstone and their willingness to bypass legal channels to enforce their own brand of justice.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"After being relieved of his duties, the Doctor is then asked by Masterson to handle diplomacy, attempting to offer Clanton a solution that is more legal."
Holliday Joins the Gunfight"After being relieved of his duties, the Doctor is then asked by Masterson to handle diplomacy, attempting to offer Clanton a solution that is more legal."
Holliday’s Rage Secures the Alliance"After being relieved of his duties, the Doctor is then asked by Masterson to handle diplomacy, attempting to offer Clanton a solution that is more legal."
Holliday Joins the Gunfight"Masterson re-pins the badge so that the Doctor can negotiate with Clanton to avoid violence."
Clantons Reveal Ambush PlansKey Dialogue
"DOCTOR: "Oh, how can I possibly sleep my dear, knowing that Steven is mixed up with all this? ... What about this man Mister Werp? Supposing he gets killed? Who is going to uphold law and order in this territory? Why they couldn't let Masterson handle the affair I don't know, with a posse of deputies, and at the end of it let the Clantons get a fair trial.""
"MASTERSON: "Proud to hear you say so, Doctor. If'n you feel that way there's something you can do. I've tried all I know to talk Wyatt out of this and he won't listen. I'm asking you to go talk to the Clantons. Seems like that's our only chance.""
"MASTERSON: "Now, it's only about two hours to sun-up. You'd better get started right now.""