Ben Miller is on the run from bounty hunters. Miller committed a robbery, but Miller was tried and convicted of murder in the territory a powerful rancher named Henry Wade controls. The trial was a sham, and the conviction is not recognized by any legal authority. Wade is offering a large bounty to anyone that can capture Miller and return him so he can enact his own brand of justice. Miller decides he would rather take his chances by surrendering to Marshal Matt Dillon in Dodge City, because he knows what will happen if the bounty hunters catch him and return him to Wade.
Miller is jailed in Dodge City, and Matt has to leave town to go to Cimarron. (The Marshal is required to do a large amount of work away from Dodge during Season 14.) A bounty hunter named Guerin spent ten years in prison after being arrested by Marshal Dillon. His pursuit of Miller combined with his hatred of Dillon gives him the idea to go to Dodge, kill Matt, take Miller, and turn him over to Wade. Guerin successfully convinces Wade to come to Dodge and pay $10,000 for Miller.
The plan does not work exactly as Guerin planned when they arrive in Dodge and learn Matt is away. The plan involves holding Kitty Russell, Sam Noonan, and Louie Pheeters hostage. Eventually, Doc Adams is added to the group of captives.
Festus Haggen is minding Miller at the jail and playing checkers with Nathan Burke when Guerin walks in with a gun to Sam's head. Guerin explains the situation to Festus and informs him he will return to take Miller from the jail once Wade arrives.
This episode contains one of the most notable scenes in Gunsmoke history when Louie, who is desperate for a drink, is bullied by the sadistic Guerin character. Guerin's father was an alcoholic, and he despises Pheeters for his illness. Louie begs Guerin for a drink, and Guerin commands Louie to crawl across the floor for a glass of whiskey. In the book Gunsmoke: A Complete History by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas, they claim the cast and crew broke into spontaneous applause at the conclusion of filming this famous scene. This scene is almost certainly the highlight of James Nusser's time on the Gunsmoke set.
Newly O'Brien leaves town to find Marshal Dillon in the hopes of hastening Matt's return to Dodge. Meanwhile, Festus is helpless to do anything to stop Guerin and his two partners.
Bruce Dern makes his final Gunsmoke appearance as Guerin. Dern is one of those actors that has made a career out of playing the same character repeatedly. That is definitely not a criticism. He plays that character masterfully. Guerin is a sadistic bully, and Dern is perfect in the role.
Lou Antonio also makes his final Gunsmoke appearance as the creepier of Guerin's partners named Mace. Mace enjoys bullying Louie and making lewd comments to Miss Kitty. Antonio had previously played a more prominent part in the earlier Season 14 episode "Gold Town" as Cousin Smiley.
The third member of Guerin's trio is a character named Diggs as played by Russell Johnson, Johnson is easily recognizable as the Professor on Gilligan's Island. It is worth noting that Gilligan's Island was canceled because Gunsmoke was "resurrected" after being canceled at the end of Season 12. A time slot was needed for Gunsmoke, and Gilligan's Island was removed from the Fall schedule as a result.
Robert Totten, who was more involved in Gunsmoke behind the camera as the director of numerous episodes, is the Ben Miller character. Totten had just played a major part in Season 14's "The Mark of Cain" story, but he is almost unrecognizable in this episode, because the impressive beard he sported in the earlier story has been removed.
Other notable characters include Rita Lane, as played by Susan Silo; Henry Wade, portrayed by Robert Brubaker; a man known only as Broker, as played by Rex Holman; and a man named Rawlins, performed by Vic Tayback.
The theme of some criminal gang holing up at the Long Branch Saloon and holding people hostage was used with a few variations throughout the life of Gunsmoke. The story is formulaic and the outcome predictable, but the execution is so good in this installment, it does not matter.
Miller is jailed in Dodge City, and Matt has to leave town to go to Cimarron. (The Marshal is required to do a large amount of work away from Dodge during Season 14.) A bounty hunter named Guerin spent ten years in prison after being arrested by Marshal Dillon. His pursuit of Miller combined with his hatred of Dillon gives him the idea to go to Dodge, kill Matt, take Miller, and turn him over to Wade. Guerin successfully convinces Wade to come to Dodge and pay $10,000 for Miller.
The plan does not work exactly as Guerin planned when they arrive in Dodge and learn Matt is away. The plan involves holding Kitty Russell, Sam Noonan, and Louie Pheeters hostage. Eventually, Doc Adams is added to the group of captives.
Festus Haggen is minding Miller at the jail and playing checkers with Nathan Burke when Guerin walks in with a gun to Sam's head. Guerin explains the situation to Festus and informs him he will return to take Miller from the jail once Wade arrives.
This episode contains one of the most notable scenes in Gunsmoke history when Louie, who is desperate for a drink, is bullied by the sadistic Guerin character. Guerin's father was an alcoholic, and he despises Pheeters for his illness. Louie begs Guerin for a drink, and Guerin commands Louie to crawl across the floor for a glass of whiskey. In the book Gunsmoke: A Complete History by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas, they claim the cast and crew broke into spontaneous applause at the conclusion of filming this famous scene. This scene is almost certainly the highlight of James Nusser's time on the Gunsmoke set.
Newly O'Brien leaves town to find Marshal Dillon in the hopes of hastening Matt's return to Dodge. Meanwhile, Festus is helpless to do anything to stop Guerin and his two partners.
Bruce Dern makes his final Gunsmoke appearance as Guerin. Dern is one of those actors that has made a career out of playing the same character repeatedly. That is definitely not a criticism. He plays that character masterfully. Guerin is a sadistic bully, and Dern is perfect in the role.
Lou Antonio also makes his final Gunsmoke appearance as the creepier of Guerin's partners named Mace. Mace enjoys bullying Louie and making lewd comments to Miss Kitty. Antonio had previously played a more prominent part in the earlier Season 14 episode "Gold Town" as Cousin Smiley.
The third member of Guerin's trio is a character named Diggs as played by Russell Johnson, Johnson is easily recognizable as the Professor on Gilligan's Island. It is worth noting that Gilligan's Island was canceled because Gunsmoke was "resurrected" after being canceled at the end of Season 12. A time slot was needed for Gunsmoke, and Gilligan's Island was removed from the Fall schedule as a result.
Robert Totten, who was more involved in Gunsmoke behind the camera as the director of numerous episodes, is the Ben Miller character. Totten had just played a major part in Season 14's "The Mark of Cain" story, but he is almost unrecognizable in this episode, because the impressive beard he sported in the earlier story has been removed.
Other notable characters include Rita Lane, as played by Susan Silo; Henry Wade, portrayed by Robert Brubaker; a man known only as Broker, as played by Rex Holman; and a man named Rawlins, performed by Vic Tayback.
The theme of some criminal gang holing up at the Long Branch Saloon and holding people hostage was used with a few variations throughout the life of Gunsmoke. The story is formulaic and the outcome predictable, but the execution is so good in this installment, it does not matter.
