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| Episode No. | 3 |
| Episode Title | End of a Young Gun |
| Season | 1 |
| Guest Stars | Michael Landon - Charles Cooper - Joe Haworth - Carolyn Craig - Mel Carter |
| Airdate | 10/14/58 |
| Writer | Frank D Gilroy |
| Director | Jerry Hopper |
| Synopsis | When Mark gets caught on a mountain ledge, a young outlaw risks his life to rescue him and breaks his leg doing so. We hadn't been at the ranch very long when Mark was out exploring the area and slipped and fell over the edge of a cliff, hanging on for dear life. As Mark was calling out help him, two riders were passing by. When Will, the younger of the two, heard Mark's plea for help, he paused and started to go to help Mark. Hank, Will's brother insisted on leaving the boy and reminded him that there was a posse on their trail. As they started to ride off, Mark again pleaded "help me!" Getting the best of him, Will turned around and went back to help Mark. He tied the rope to a tree and went down after him. Hank decided to help pull Mark up and as Will tried to climb up the cliff he slipped and broke his leg. As they approached the ranch, I could hear Mark yelling....."Pa, Pa, I fell off the hill onto a ledge in the canyon, boy, I could have been a gonner!" I was so grateful. As I turned to thank them, Hank told me that his brother broke his leg helping my son. I told him that we would take him inside and I would go for the doctor right away. 'No doctor!' Hank said. I knew at that point they must be running from something. I reset Will's leg and told them that he should not ride for a while. Hank wanted his brother to stay here until he was better. When I hesitated he reminded me that Will would not have a broken leg and he wouldn't be asking for any favors if it hadn't been for them stopping to help Mark. So, feeling responsible for Will getting hurt, I agreed to let him stay. Hank told his brother that he will go on ahead to Black Springs to meet the others and for Will to keep the money with him. They would divvy up the money when they come back in one month for him and not to worry about the 'Sodbuster' - that he is an honest man. While working outside, a rider approached the ranch. It was Marshal Bennet from Martinsville. He told me that the bank was robbed a week ago and that he was trailing three men and a younger man about 19. The three men we're spotted south of here, and he felt the younger man was holed up somewhere around here. I told him that I hadn't seen them. So he rode off. As time went on Will's attitude began to change. He felt more at home and liked it here. He became closer to us and even left Mark ride his chestnut horse, but only because the horse needed exercise, so he said. While playing checkers one night, he even told Mark how it felt to be afraid of every little thing and that he always had to watch his back. He even met a neighbor, Ann Bard who has invited him to dinner on Sunday. Knowing his brother would be back soon he declined the offer. He was a torn young man. He liked the regular life and longed for it. I hoped to be able to steer him from the path of lawlessness to the side of law and order. I told him if this was what he wanted, then he should tell his brother he is thru with the gang. He was reluctant to do this, but he knew in his heart that this is what he wanted to do. When his brother and his friends rode in, Will told them of his plans. His brother was upset and decided to go on without him, but wanted the money. I told Will that the money needed to be returned to the bank. He refused to give the money to the gang and a shootout began. This left Will's brother and the rest of the gang dead. Will left the next day for Martinsville to turn himself in. But before he did, he said his good-byes and asked Ann to wait for him, making this the 'End of a Young Gun' and a fresh start. Episode Summary written by Margie Straub of riflemanconnors.com |
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