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| Episode No. | 1 |
| Episode Title | The Sharpshooter |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Leif Erickson - Dennis Hopper - Sidney Blackmer - R.G. Armstrong - Charles Arnt - Mickey Simpson - Kathleen Mulqueen - Victoria Aldridge |
| Airdate | 09/30/58 |
| Writer | Sam Peckinpah |
| Director | Arnold Laven |
| Synopsis | "Hi, my name is Lucas McCain......this is my son Mark. 'Welcome to the McCain Ranch'." "Mark and I came here to North Fork, New Mexico from Oklahoma in 1881 to buy a ranch and to settle. My wife.....Margaret passed away when Mark was six years old. Mark and I decided to come to this newly settled land. Not looking back.....just remembering back, we've come too far. This was new and mighty fine country. We needed a fresh start in a new place." "We came to North Fork in hopes of winning a 'Turkey Shoot' contest with the 1st prize being $500. With this kind of prize money we could make the first payment on the Dunlap Ranch which is for sale and has 4,100 acres." Mark and I rode into North Fork and checked into the California House. I asked the lady behind the desk how I go about entering the 'Turkey Shoot.' She referred me to Judge Hanavan. He looked down at my rifle. He informed me that it was a draw and fire proposition with a five second time limit. "Your not gonna enter with a rifle?" He asked. I told him I'd take a try at it. "Ten dollars entrance fee and five hundred dollars first prize." I told him that Mark and I decided this part of the country was for us. We were discussing the Dunlap Ranch when Wes Tippert, the uncle of a young sharpshooter walked in. He asked if I would be competing against his nephew and if anyone wanted to bet money on the pistol shoot. The Judge told him that I had just entered the contest. He told me he'd bet me that his boy could out shoot me or anyone else 5 to 3. I told him I'm not a betting man. He said....."A man that won't bet ain't much of a man." I turned back to look at him, his face suddenly cold and expressionless. He looked away suddenly a little afraid. "No offense," he said. I told Mark to go ahead into the restaurant and order our supper for us. While he was ordering, Vernon, Wes's nephew came in and Mark invited him to join us for supper. They got to talking about how fast Vernon was and Mark told him how fast I was with my rifle. "No man with a rifle is as fast as a man with a six gun," said Vernon. "My Pa is. While we were living in the Nations they used to call him 'The Rifleman'," said Mark. Sheriff Fred Thomlinson was sitting at the next table looking over the menu when he overheard Mark telling Vernon how fast I was. This caught the Sheriff's attention. He didn't bother ordering, he was too eager to tell the Judge the news. This was just what they were waiting for. The Judge headed on over to the Last Chance Saloon to put his money on me. Big Jim Lewis was taking the bets. Big Jim and his men came over to the hotel to size me up. When I wasn't interested in what they had to say, one of his men grabbed me. I hit him in the stomach with the barrel of my rifle and hit him with my fist. He fell to the floor. I flipped my rifle around, ready for any action. I told them that they might be running this town, but that meant nothing to us. Vernon, the young 'sharpshooter' was the favorite to win according to his big mouth Uncle Wes. Big Jim stood to win a lot of money if Vernon beat me. He had covered all the bets on this young 'Sharpshooter'. Big Jim Lewis practically ran North Fork. He owned everything in town except the hotel and Judge Hanavan. When it looked as if I'm about to win the contest, Big Jim threatened Mark's life to convince me, "The Rifleman" to throw the contest. It came to a tie between Vernon and me. Big Jim Lewis called my attention to him having his hands on Mark, just to remind me of his threat. So I threw the match. Mark and the people of North Fork were disappointed that I lost the match; they didn't know I had no other choice. The judge even told me the Dunlap Ranch wasn't for sale anymore. Big Jim, his men and Wes went over to the saloon to celebrate. After buying a round of drinks, Wes wanted his money. "Alright Mr. Lewis.....how about paying Wes Tippert what you owe him!" "You got your five hundred dollars for winning the match, what else do you want?" Asked Big Jim. Big Jim had no intentions of giving Wes any money. Wes took the letter out of his pocket that Big Jim had sent him. The letter read that Big Jim would give him five hundred dollars plus half of all the money won. Big Jim had collected over ten thousand dollars in bets. Wes wanted five hundred dollars plus his five thousand dollars from the bets. Wes told him if he didn't pay up he would call his boy and turn him loose on them. Big Jim made Wes a bet. He told him if he could put a forty-five slug threw the picture above the bar he would get his money besides another thousand. Wes agreed and when he drew his gun Big Jim shot him in cold blood. Vernon came over to the hotel to ask me if I threw the match. Mark told him I would never do that. But he wasn't satisfied with that, he had to ask me face to face. He waited for me to come down from my room. "Listen Mr. McCain.....there's something I want to ask you and I'd like a straight answer". I ignored him. He told me about the talk around town, that I threw the match. "My Pa doesn't lie!" Said Mark. Just then Carl, one of Big Jim's men walked in and told Vernon to come over and get his uncle's body, he just got himself killed. He told Vernon that his uncle tried to outdraw Big Jim. Vernon didn't believe him. He said he'd be over. When Vernon started to leave, Mark pleaded with him not to go. I turned to Vernon and said....."You asked me if you beat me fair and square in that match. Do you still want an answer?" "Yes," said Vernon. "Why you wet nosed, two bit little punk, you couldn't whip me in ten years. So don't go spouting off about going into that saloon!" He tried to get away from me but I grabbed him. I told him I wanted him to stay here. "If I don't come back.....that boy of mine is your responsibility. You get on our horses and get out of here. Do you understand? I'm not askin' you Vernon.....I'm tellin' ya'." He agreed. I when over to Mark and told him to get the horses packed and to wait for me. I headed for the saloon. They we're waiting and watching for Vernon. Carl told Big Jim that it was McCain coming to face him. They had a plan in order. When one of his men passes me a drink they were suppose to fire on me. I walked into the saloon, walked up and laid my rifle on the bar. I told Big Jim I came for the boy's money. He told me I had a choice. I could walk out of here and walk out of town or hang tuff and face a shoot out. I told him a proposition like that deserved a little thought. I started to size of the situation. He offered me a drink. I agreed. Just then one of his men slide the bottle down the bar. I shot the bottle and it shattered into pieces. Carl then drew on me and I shot him. The cowboy sitting at the table took a shot at me, I then shot him; while the third man ran out the side door, I shot at him but missed. I hid behind the bar. It was just Big Jim and I. I shot big Jim, but only wounded him. Then the man who ran out came out from behind the door and started shooting at me. I heard a shot come from behind, it was Vernon, he shot the guy behind the door. Just then Big Jim shot Vernon. I then shot Big Jim again, this time finishing him off. I hurried over to help Vernon. He was shot in the wrist. It looked like Vernon's shooting days might be over. Vernon insisted it would be alright. As I turned to leave, Vernon called to me....."Mr. McCain. Will you do me a favor? If that boy of yours.....Mark.....ever gets any funny ideas.....you tell him that I said he was the lucky one." "Alright I will. Good Luck to you son!" In the mean time, Mark was anxiously waiting outside the saloon for the outcome of this fight. You can imagine what all is going through my son's head when the shots rang out. As I stepped out of the saloon, you could see the relief in Mark's face as he rushed to me and we embrace each other. Mark and I were about to leave town when Judge Hanavan approached us and told us that North Fork could use people like us in this new growing town. With that I knew we could work something out for our 'Home Ranch.' Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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