The two characters in the episode were bronco busters, not cattle rustlers. Gary Busey's character was thrown from a wild horse and stomped in the head, causing the head trauma that would kill him. John Beck's character knows the truth from Doc Adams but doesn't tell his friend and even goes out of his way to keep Busey's character from fighting at the Long Branch, knowing he could die from any additional blows to the head.
This is a terrific episode, beautifully acted and written. The series lated twenty years and could have gone longer because of the great stories and characters. Some other Westerns from the same era suffer from hanging on too long or trying to be serious and ending up being campy but Gunsmoke is the star of the genre.
This is a terrific episode, beautifully acted and written. The series lated twenty years and could have gone longer because of the great stories and characters. Some other Westerns from the same era suffer from hanging on too long or trying to be serious and ending up being campy but Gunsmoke is the star of the genre.