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| Episode No. | 14 |
| Episode Title | The Gaucho |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Perry Lopez - Lawrence Dobkin - Bobby Crawford - Chana Eden - Stuart Randall - Harlan Warde - Dennis Cross - Morris Lippert - Montie Montana - Lauren James |
| Airdate | 12/30/58 |
| Writer | Bruce Geller |
| Director | Jerry Hopper |
| Synopsis | Perry Lopez - Lawrence Dobkin - Bobby Crawford - Chana Eden - Stuart Randall - Harlan Warde - Dennis Cross - Morris Lippert - Montie Montana - Lauren James There was a buzz in the bank as we entered. Rumson was selling his ranch but no one knew to whom. Curge Palmer is angry because he made a good offer on the ranch and was outbid by $1,000. In walks a strange looking man to put his money down for the "rancho" he had just purchased. Rumson had sold out to a "pepper gut." Later back at the ranch Mark is at the table finishing his homework and I'm on the porch cleaning the rifle. There is an unusual silence between us and Mark knows I'm disappointed with him. "What's a gooch?" I ask him. He sure thought it was funny in town today. I correct him and explain that the right word is "Gaucho," an Argentinean cowboy. "What's a pepper gut?" I want to know. A blank look comes over his face. "Are you angry at me Pa?" "Not angry," I reply. Mark apologizes but I'm not sure he knows what he' sorry for. I rode over to meet our new Argentinean neighbors. I ask a favor that Mark be allowed to ride with the ranchers' son, Manolo. I want him to learn to respect differences in people and know there is good in all people. Manolo refuses to ride with Mark but the father insists that this meeting will occur. I ride off with satisfaction knowing that Mark will spend time with this young gaucho. Mark doesn't like the idea any either, he's too worried about going fishing with Freddie, but Pa's orders will be followed. Mark and Manolo meet the next day for a ride. The gaucho is anxious to show Mark his prowess and skill with a different set of ranching tools. He quickly pulls out the bolos to show Mark how an Argentinean cowboy ropes a calf. Mark is impressed and the two become quick friends. Later in the evening a town fellow, Ned Dunnell, escorts Nita, home. Manolo meets Ned at the porch and threatens that this courtship will end now or his knife will do the talking. Ned is not afraid and refuses to stop seeing her. He leaves with the determination that he will return but the next day is found dead. An accuser is already with Marshal Torrance giving Manolo's name as the murderer. Curge Palmer had seen Manolo in town earlier demonstrating the power of the large bolos and knew this was the only thing that could bash a man's head in the way Dunnell's head had been bashed in. A mob is gathered and determined to go after the young gaucho and I knew Mark was out on the range with Manolo. I didn't want my son in the middle of any gunplay so I ask Micah to let me ride ahead and try to convince Manolo to come in on his own. The gaucho laughed as he told me he was guilty and that he will never surrender. In the struggle, the boy is accidentally stabbed with his own knife in front of Mark's eyes. Hurt, Mark rides away as Manolo's father and sister arrive. I stop the father before he can see his dead son. The father knew this violent end would come to his son some day but now that it's happened he can't believe it. I hurried home to comfort Mark. At home I find Mark quite upset inside the barn. "You said he was good! You said people who were different were good!" he cried. "I did son. I didn't explain it right. They are people like anyone else, no better, good and bad." It was hard to explain to a 10-year-old boy the grown-up idea that there is good and bad in all people. All I can do is love him and hope that some day he will understand Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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