A stage is held up the driver killed. Matt goes after the bandits. But that turns out to be the sub plot. The main plot is Festus finding a snake bit Doc Adams in the middle of nowhere and saving his life. What makes the episode so exceptional is the relationship between the two men. With all the arguing fighting and name calling that goes on between these two, the viewer knows that there's a mutual respect and friendship there. Great acting from Curtis and Stone. Another episode that shows why Gunsmoke was far ahead of its western compition
6 Reviews
An episode featuring the relationship between Festus and Doc
kfo94943 April 2013
This episode turned out to be a heartwarming and at times a humorous tale of the relationship of Festus and Doc Adams. A relationship that we all knew was present but is hardly ever talked about in the series.
However the episode begins when a stage is held-up by three robbers. During the robbery one of the bandits gets shot in the leg before killing the shotgun man and wounding the driver. When the three make their get-away the one that is shot is slowing down the rest so the injured one is left behind as the other two make tracks north.
In Dodge the robbery is reported and the driver is taken up to Doc's office. Matt takes off after the bandits leaving Festus and Thad in charge. When the driver of the stage dies, Doc takes the death hard. Since he is to leave town to delivery Pearl Miller's baby, Kitty tells him to take his fishing pole. Doc does not want Festus to know where he is going.
On the way to the Miller's place, Doc is bit by a rattlesnake when he stops for some water and his horse and buggy is scared away. Doc is in the prairie with no help and no medical supplies.
Festus accidentally finds out where Doc was going and rides out to fish with him. On the way Festus finds Doc and will try everything possible to keep Doc from dying. But not before a run in with the injured bandit.
Meanwhile, Matt is on the trail of the two bandits which will lead him to an abandon farm. An all-out gun fire is expected as Matt tries to arrest the gunmen for the stage robbery and murder.
The story of the bandits was actually more of a secondary plot to the plot concerning Festus and Doc. This was a nice episode that showed that even though Festus and Doc had some rough moments- they cared for each other. If you are a fan of the 'Gunsmoke' character this will be an show you should watch.
However the episode begins when a stage is held-up by three robbers. During the robbery one of the bandits gets shot in the leg before killing the shotgun man and wounding the driver. When the three make their get-away the one that is shot is slowing down the rest so the injured one is left behind as the other two make tracks north.
In Dodge the robbery is reported and the driver is taken up to Doc's office. Matt takes off after the bandits leaving Festus and Thad in charge. When the driver of the stage dies, Doc takes the death hard. Since he is to leave town to delivery Pearl Miller's baby, Kitty tells him to take his fishing pole. Doc does not want Festus to know where he is going.
On the way to the Miller's place, Doc is bit by a rattlesnake when he stops for some water and his horse and buggy is scared away. Doc is in the prairie with no help and no medical supplies.
Festus accidentally finds out where Doc was going and rides out to fish with him. On the way Festus finds Doc and will try everything possible to keep Doc from dying. But not before a run in with the injured bandit.
Meanwhile, Matt is on the trail of the two bandits which will lead him to an abandon farm. An all-out gun fire is expected as Matt tries to arrest the gunmen for the stage robbery and murder.
The story of the bandits was actually more of a secondary plot to the plot concerning Festus and Doc. This was a nice episode that showed that even though Festus and Doc had some rough moments- they cared for each other. If you are a fan of the 'Gunsmoke' character this will be an show you should watch.
Doc's horse error
rerunwatcher18 February 2021
There is an error in this episode. After Festus finds Doc's runaway horse he leads it behind his mule. That is the very last we see of the horse for the rest of the episode. When they arrive back in Dodge, it is not with them.
Two Different Stories
wdavidreynolds21 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This installment of Gunsmoke features two stories that minimally intersect. The first story involves Matt Dillon chasing three men that robbed a stagecoach and fatally shot the driver and guard. The second more interesting story involves Festus Haggen nursing Doc Adams, who has been snake bitten.
Matt tracks the outlaws to a farmhouse. Mr. Tomkins, the farmer, tells the Marshal the three bandits rode by earlier. Matt doesn't realize one of the robbers named Spellman is hiding inside. He was shot in the leg during the robbery, and the other two gang members left him behind at the farmhouse.
Doc is especially despondent over his inability to save the life of the stagecoach guard. He decides to use a trip far from Dodge City to assist a pregnant patient as an excuse to get away and do some fishing. He leaves specific instructions that he does not want Festus to know where he has gone, but, of course, Festus manages to discover Doc's secret.
When Sam Noonan cuts his finger in the Long Branch Saloon, Festus seizes on the opportunity as an excuse to go after Doc.
On his way to see the patient, Doc stops to get a drink from a pool of water. He is bitten by a rattlesnake, and his horse is spooked and runs away with buggy in tow. (One very minor complaint about this part of the story: the snake would have likely detected Doc's presence, coiled, and start rattling. However, in the story, the snake appears to offensively and stealthily attack Doc. Snakes do not behave in this manner. Snakes are not aggressive and only attack when threatened.)
While Doc's suffering from the snake bite increases, Matt continues to doggedly trail the outlaws.
Festus finds the wrecked buggy and, subsequently, Doc, who is now seriously suffering from the effects of the snake bite. Festus tries to treat Doc by cutting the bite location, but Doc tells him it is too late. Festus then goes to a farm he had passed along the way to get a chicken to use to draw the poison from Doc's body. (This is the same farmhouse where Marshal Dillon stopped while trailing the criminals.) One of the stagecoach robbers is at the farmhouse and confronts Festus, and Festus shoots and kills the man in self-defense. Festus thinks the man is the owner of the farmhouse and has no idea he is one of the men responsible for the robbery.
Victor French makes the first of many appearances on Gunsmoke as one of the stagecoach robbers, and Lyle Waggoner makes his television debut as one of the other robbers. French would eventually even direct a few Gunsmoke episodes. Waggoner went on to appear regularly on The Carol Burnett Show.
The scenes between Ken Curtis and Milburn Stone are the highlight of the episode. Curtis named this episode one of his favorites.
Matt tracks the outlaws to a farmhouse. Mr. Tomkins, the farmer, tells the Marshal the three bandits rode by earlier. Matt doesn't realize one of the robbers named Spellman is hiding inside. He was shot in the leg during the robbery, and the other two gang members left him behind at the farmhouse.
Doc is especially despondent over his inability to save the life of the stagecoach guard. He decides to use a trip far from Dodge City to assist a pregnant patient as an excuse to get away and do some fishing. He leaves specific instructions that he does not want Festus to know where he has gone, but, of course, Festus manages to discover Doc's secret.
When Sam Noonan cuts his finger in the Long Branch Saloon, Festus seizes on the opportunity as an excuse to go after Doc.
On his way to see the patient, Doc stops to get a drink from a pool of water. He is bitten by a rattlesnake, and his horse is spooked and runs away with buggy in tow. (One very minor complaint about this part of the story: the snake would have likely detected Doc's presence, coiled, and start rattling. However, in the story, the snake appears to offensively and stealthily attack Doc. Snakes do not behave in this manner. Snakes are not aggressive and only attack when threatened.)
While Doc's suffering from the snake bite increases, Matt continues to doggedly trail the outlaws.
Festus finds the wrecked buggy and, subsequently, Doc, who is now seriously suffering from the effects of the snake bite. Festus tries to treat Doc by cutting the bite location, but Doc tells him it is too late. Festus then goes to a farm he had passed along the way to get a chicken to use to draw the poison from Doc's body. (This is the same farmhouse where Marshal Dillon stopped while trailing the criminals.) One of the stagecoach robbers is at the farmhouse and confronts Festus, and Festus shoots and kills the man in self-defense. Festus thinks the man is the owner of the farmhouse and has no idea he is one of the men responsible for the robbery.
Victor French makes the first of many appearances on Gunsmoke as one of the stagecoach robbers, and Lyle Waggoner makes his television debut as one of the other robbers. French would eventually even direct a few Gunsmoke episodes. Waggoner went on to appear regularly on The Carol Burnett Show.
The scenes between Ken Curtis and Milburn Stone are the highlight of the episode. Curtis named this episode one of his favorites.
Two stories - one slow the other a chase
streetlight27 November 2020
The slow story involves Festus involved in arguments with Doc, and just lazing about while Matt is off chasing stage robbers and one whom is a murder.
This episode shows why the mute button on the remote is one of the greatest inventions of all time with the ability to shut off Festus.
This episode shows why the mute button on the remote is one of the greatest inventions of all time with the ability to shut off Festus.
Dual plots
LukeCoolHand13 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I don't really care much for these dual plot episodes. It's like they don't have enough story to fill out an hour with one story. I have said it many times before, that I think the show lost interest when they went to an hour and lost Dennis Weaver. There are a few good episodes in the hour format, but most are with Chester. This episode was about a stage robbery and Doc being bit by a rattlesnake, Matt gets the robbers and Festus saves Doc. Ho hum. Not the most interesting episode but OK for a one time watch.
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