User Reviews

Even though this episode places us in a very unfortunate story the show is so well performed that it was a pleasure to watch. In begins when a husband and wife, Cole and Beth Treadwell, ride into Dodge to settle down for awhile. But for some reason a visiting drunk, Nate Busch, starts trouble with the Treadwell's. It seems that Nate Busch remembers seeing Cole Treadwell earlier in life but just cannot remember where or when.

In the meantime, the Treadwell's have bought and fixed up a house becoming likable people of the town. But when Nate remembers where he has seen Cole - it will cause trouble for Matt.

A very well performed episode. Vic Perrin, who made a career doing voice overs, does a good job of playing the drunken bully that no one likes. Phyllis Love, who was very popular visiting guest star in the late 50's and early 60's, is again excellent as the caring wife that is married to a man with a secret. Another nice offering from the sixth season.

(*Nate Bush quote*) - "I don't need a sermon from you, Chester."

Cole Treadwell and his wife Beth have just arrived in Dodge on their journey from Arizona to St. Louis.

Their stay in Dodge is severely marred by the presence of belligerent scoundrel, Nate Bush who threatens to expose Cole's criminal past.

John Meston wrote another sad and depressing tale of woe for Gunsmoke. Cole Treadwell and his wife, Beth arrive in town with a sketchy story. Cole is going from town to town reading medical books until he gets to San Francisco, where he plans to study medicine at a medical school. Now why wouldn't he just ride straight to San Francisco, rent or buy a home there, and study his heart out in one place?

Cole Treadwell is played by Ron Foster, who appeared on Gunsmoke twice, both times in 1961. Beth Treadwell is played by Phyllis Love, who appeared on Gunsmoke twice also, and both times she played the wife of a doctor.

Doc Adams welcomes Cole to town and has dinner with Cole and his wife. It would have been a good chance for Doc Adams to hire him on to train him for a year or two. It always seemed like Doc Adams could have used a nurse, and moved his office to the first floor so the sick and dying did not have to walk up a flight of stairs.

Of course, into the mix is the very nasty drunk, Nate Bush, played by Vic Perrin. Perrin was on Gunsmoke five times. He had a long career doing voice-overs for cartoons. Perrin does a great job of playing a vicious pervert who keeps harassing Beth Treadwell all over town. Chester and Mr. Jonas (Dabbs Greer) both try to defend Beth from Perrin on separate occasions, but Perrin just keeps stalking Beth around town.

Eventually Cole Treadwell finds Bush/Perrin assaulting Beth, and Cole beats up Perrin, which leads to Perrin telling Marshal Dillon that he remembers Cole from prison. Perrin really does a great job as an all-around despicable creature.

Dillon checks out the story, and confronts Cole. Instead of just doing the logical thing, and turning himself in, and trying to get some favorable letters from Doc Adams and Dillon, Cole takes the "John Meston" road to death. Cole does not want his wife to know he was a convicted felon. Of course, she already did.

This story in various forms had been done numerous times in every genre. A real twist would have been for Cole to do the right thing, and tell his wife. She would have told him she knew, and she could have waited for Cole to get out of prison, and maybe worked for Doc Adams as his nurse. That would have been a positive ending for this story, and it would have made a lot more sense.