Paladin is hired by a rancher named Gene Morgan (Barry Atwater, who co-starred with Boone in several "Medic" episodes) to keep him from killing his headstrong young next door neighbor Grady (Geoff Parish). Grady has a chip on his shoulder and egged on by his future brother in law Frank (Adam Wiliams) thinks Morgan is taking advantage of him.
Really well written and acted episode. I thought Parish was particularly good as the headstrong kid and was surprised to see this was not only his TV debut, but according to the IMDb records, the only credit he had for the next 44 years! I wonder if the Geoff Parish credited in 2002 might be this one's son. Barry Atwater is strong as the rancher who can see what this all is leading to and doesn't want to kill Grady. The script gives Boone a great moment as he punches his own guy to keep him from killing Grady. There is also a running joke in this one about how he keeps getting interrupted every time he stops to get a shave.
Norma Moore who plays Shelia, is also memorable as Grady' sister. Before this she played the wife of Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out".
Really well written and acted episode. I thought Parish was particularly good as the headstrong kid and was surprised to see this was not only his TV debut, but according to the IMDb records, the only credit he had for the next 44 years! I wonder if the Geoff Parish credited in 2002 might be this one's son. Barry Atwater is strong as the rancher who can see what this all is leading to and doesn't want to kill Grady. The script gives Boone a great moment as he punches his own guy to keep him from killing Grady. There is also a running joke in this one about how he keeps getting interrupted every time he stops to get a shave.
Norma Moore who plays Shelia, is also memorable as Grady' sister. Before this she played the wife of Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out".