User Reviews

This episode is all about the letter of the law versus the original intent of the laws on the books, and subsequently how the law should be enforced.

Teek (a former gunman who no longer carries a gun due to a promise he made to his wife when they got married) and his pregnant wife, Sarah, have built a home and a farm on a piece of land near Dodge. Their labor has been hard and is far from done, but they appear to be up to the task of making it work. Matt receives a court order from Judge Rambeau of Wichita to evict the Teeks from the property because Teek failed to register the deed within 90 days. Matt knows that enforcing this eviction may result in Teek carrying his gun again and using it in revenge. Since Teek has established himself as a reformed gunman, and since Teek and Sarah are honest, hard-working folks whose only transgression is a clerical error, and since Sarah is pregnant, Matt chooses to not immediately enforce the eviction. Clifton James, an excellent character actor, seems a not-so-wise casting choice to play a former gunman. I'm deducting one star for this casting choice.

Matt goes to Wichita and has a conversation with Judge Rambeau and Lee Sprague (a citizen of Dodge City who stands to gain the land after the Teeks are evicted). Judge Rambeau states that the law leaves no room for emotion, while Matt explains that some flexibility is in order in the West where the law is still rather new.

Judge Rambeau sends his flunky Deputy Haley to Dodge to carry out the eviction notice. This is where we see the rubber meet the road in terms of the principle characters' differing approaches to law enforcement. First, Haley is now outside his jurisdiction. Since Haley was sent by Judge Rambeau, the judge has failed to follow the letter of the law by sending Haley to execute this court order. During the confrontation between Haley and Teek, Haley roughly shoves the pregnant Sarah to the ground. Matt, who arrives with Chester just as this confrontation begins, backhands Haley to the ground and ends the confrontation. Matt sends Chester back to Dodge to bring Doc to provide medical attention for Sarah. Doc eventually informs everyone that Sarah will be okay after she recovers, but the unborn child has not survived.

Teek is very relieved to learn that Sarah will be okay. But, he then becomes angry that Haley's brutality with Sarah has resulted in the death of their unborn child. In a CLASSIC Marshall Dillon move, the marshall intentionally turns his back as Teek deals with Haley. Teek didn't kill Haley and, no doubt, Matt wouldn't have allowed that to happen. But, this scene was an outstanding example of Marshall Dillon exercising some law enforcement flexibility and allowing for a little frontier justice. Cudos to director Richard Whorf for the composition of this scene in which Matt's back was in the center of view as Teek deals with Haley.

Teek and Sarah are ultimately allowed to keep their land. As other reviewers have stated, the ending scene was less than satisfying. So, I'm deducting a second star for that. Otherwise, this was an excellent episode.

Generally superior episode, except for the questionable ending. Reformed gunslinger turned homesteader Teek (James) is being turned off his land because of a legal technicality despite a pregnant wife. Matt is sympathetic to the former gunman, especially when he finds out land grabber Sprague (Robinson) is eyeing the land hungrily. But what can Matt do.

Happily, the entry has color (Doc's grousing), suspense (Matt's predicament) and an outstanding script. That scene between the judge (Stone), Matt, and Sprague is a little gem. Matt and the judge argue over the meaning of the law, that is, whether it should be interpreted according to its letter (the judge) or whether it should be more flexible depending on individual circumstance (Matt). It's unusually enlightening. My reservation is with Sprague's sudden turnaround, especially when the crucial talk between Matt and Sprague is omitted. Nonetheless, it's an unusually thoughtful entry.

To be brief, Matt was right. What was the rush? where does any judge have the right to send a local sheriff into another county to serve eviction papers? Against a federal Marshal? Yeah, right. said sheriff was lucky Teek didn't break his scrawny neck for throwing his wife to the ground. Maybe he would've except Matt was right there with his back deliberately turned. I loved the way Matt kicked his ass out of the county. I believe it could've turned out that way, especially when one considers the fact that ranchers need food for their tables, and farmers raise that food. Matt, using diplomacy probably explained this to Sprague.

Average episode of Dillon dealing with his conscious on enforcing a bogus law. Ordered to evict a former gunman just because he didn't register his land deed in 90 days with the state. Kinda a lot like today of bogus laws for wealthy people to take advantage of. I do like how Dillon refuses to evict the gunman, even in the face of the judge!

It is a little hard to believe Clifton James as Teek as a former scary gunman. I still remember him as the bumbling cop in a couple of Roger Moore James Bond Movies. Also, famous character actor Al Ruscio in his very 1st role, getting his butt whipped by Dillon.

Overall, not much suspense or drama thru out this episode. The ending is really not that happy, considering it took Teek losing his unborn child for the guy taking his land to change his mind.

(*Doc Adams quote*) - "What's the matter with those dunderheads back there?

Judge Rambeau from Wichita has sent Marshal Dillon a court order for him to evict the Teeks from their land on Wagon Mound.

Dillon goes to Wichita to try to dissuade the judge from enforcing the order.

Deputy Sheriff, Jim Haley is sent to Teek's farm to carry out the eviction.

Landowner, Lee Sprague stands to benefit from Teek's removal from his land.