A young man is caught in the web of a trumped-up rustling charge, jailbreak and murder.A young man is caught in the web of a trumped-up rustling charge, jailbreak and murder.A young man is caught in the web of a trumped-up rustling charge, jailbreak and murder.
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Unexpected Ending in a Story of Perverted Justice
Ben Justin has been convicted of stealing horses from Garth Brantley. Since the jury found Justin guilty, Judger Brooker has no choice but to impose a sentence of life in prison.
This is a case of the proverbial wheels of justice failing, as it sometimes does in this world. Brantley's son sold the horses to pay off a gambling debt. Brantley used the situation as an opportunity to frame Ben, because Brantley wants the farm Ben and his pregnant wife Elizabeth own. Brantley has since sent his son to "study law" in a further effort to avoid having the truth revealed.
Elizabeth eventually has a healthy baby boy with the help of Doc Adams and Kitty Russell. Matt Dillon sends a telegram to Ben in prison to inform him of the birth.
Life in prison has been understandably harsh for Ben, and it is made worse by a sadistic guard named Hargis who enjoys reminding Ben he will never see his baby boy, because Hargis will see that Ben never leaves the prison. Hargis even demands Ben's wedding ring as payment for seeing the telegram Marshal Dillon sent. As Hargis continues to taunt Ben, he shoves the guard into the cell bars. Hargis temporarily loses consciousness. Ben is able to retrieve his ring and escape.
When Hargis regains consciousness, an elderly inmate in the adjoining cell seizes the opportunity to stab the dazed guard. Hargis soon dies from the wound.
The prison officials assume Ben killed Hargis. Now Ben is not only wanted for breaking out of prison, but he has a murder charge hanging over his head.
Ben manages to get back to his home near Dodge City, reunite with Elizabeth, and see his child for the first time. Obviously, this can be no permanent solution, because he cannot hide for long.
Actor Sam Groom plays the role of Ben Justin. Groom appeared in two different Gunsmoke episodes, and both times he played slightly similar characters. His portrayal of Ben does a wonderful job eliciting the audience's empathy.
The part of Elizabeth Justin, Ben's wife, is played by Pamela McMyler. Like Groom, this is her first appearance in a Gunsmoke story. She would appear once more in Season 20's "The Tarnished Badge." McMyler excelled at playing frantic characters.
Actors H. M. Wynant, Steve Brodie, and Henry Jones guest starred in previous episodes of the series and make their final appearances here. Wynant appears as the prosecuting attorney, Morris Cragin. Brodie plays the part of Garth Brantley. Henry Jones plays an obnoxious, opportunistic peddler named J. Luther Gross.
Richard Hale often played American Indians in his earlier appearances in Gunsmoke stories. In this episode, he plays Old Luke Corbin, the deranged prisoner that stabs Hargis, the prison guard.
Speaking of Hargis, nasty bad guy Leo Gordon plays the character. Gordon first starred in Season 1 of Gunsmoke as the character Hack Prine in the episode of the same name. His appearance here marks his first in the series since Season 6. He would return twice more before the series ended. Gordon's story is legendary in Hollywood. He was shot multiple times by law enforcement and served what has been described as a hard five-year prison term early in his life. After his release from prison, he turned his life around and enjoyed a lengthy acting career.
"No Tomorrow" is one of those episodes where the main characters -- in this case, the Justin family -- are victimized at every turn. They can't catch a break.
This story features an unexpected ending. I will not include spoilers, but I will add that the actions of Festus Haggen are not at all surprising, but the actions -- or more accurately, the lack of actions -- taken by Matt are. The ending may be what the viewer wants, but it is out of character.
This is a case of the proverbial wheels of justice failing, as it sometimes does in this world. Brantley's son sold the horses to pay off a gambling debt. Brantley used the situation as an opportunity to frame Ben, because Brantley wants the farm Ben and his pregnant wife Elizabeth own. Brantley has since sent his son to "study law" in a further effort to avoid having the truth revealed.
Elizabeth eventually has a healthy baby boy with the help of Doc Adams and Kitty Russell. Matt Dillon sends a telegram to Ben in prison to inform him of the birth.
Life in prison has been understandably harsh for Ben, and it is made worse by a sadistic guard named Hargis who enjoys reminding Ben he will never see his baby boy, because Hargis will see that Ben never leaves the prison. Hargis even demands Ben's wedding ring as payment for seeing the telegram Marshal Dillon sent. As Hargis continues to taunt Ben, he shoves the guard into the cell bars. Hargis temporarily loses consciousness. Ben is able to retrieve his ring and escape.
When Hargis regains consciousness, an elderly inmate in the adjoining cell seizes the opportunity to stab the dazed guard. Hargis soon dies from the wound.
The prison officials assume Ben killed Hargis. Now Ben is not only wanted for breaking out of prison, but he has a murder charge hanging over his head.
Ben manages to get back to his home near Dodge City, reunite with Elizabeth, and see his child for the first time. Obviously, this can be no permanent solution, because he cannot hide for long.
Actor Sam Groom plays the role of Ben Justin. Groom appeared in two different Gunsmoke episodes, and both times he played slightly similar characters. His portrayal of Ben does a wonderful job eliciting the audience's empathy.
The part of Elizabeth Justin, Ben's wife, is played by Pamela McMyler. Like Groom, this is her first appearance in a Gunsmoke story. She would appear once more in Season 20's "The Tarnished Badge." McMyler excelled at playing frantic characters.
Actors H. M. Wynant, Steve Brodie, and Henry Jones guest starred in previous episodes of the series and make their final appearances here. Wynant appears as the prosecuting attorney, Morris Cragin. Brodie plays the part of Garth Brantley. Henry Jones plays an obnoxious, opportunistic peddler named J. Luther Gross.
Richard Hale often played American Indians in his earlier appearances in Gunsmoke stories. In this episode, he plays Old Luke Corbin, the deranged prisoner that stabs Hargis, the prison guard.
Speaking of Hargis, nasty bad guy Leo Gordon plays the character. Gordon first starred in Season 1 of Gunsmoke as the character Hack Prine in the episode of the same name. His appearance here marks his first in the series since Season 6. He would return twice more before the series ended. Gordon's story is legendary in Hollywood. He was shot multiple times by law enforcement and served what has been described as a hard five-year prison term early in his life. After his release from prison, he turned his life around and enjoyed a lengthy acting career.
"No Tomorrow" is one of those episodes where the main characters -- in this case, the Justin family -- are victimized at every turn. They can't catch a break.
This story features an unexpected ending. I will not include spoilers, but I will add that the actions of Festus Haggen are not at all surprising, but the actions -- or more accurately, the lack of actions -- taken by Matt are. The ending may be what the viewer wants, but it is out of character.
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- wdavidreynolds
- Aug 19, 2021
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