An aging pastor is determined to erect a church for the Indians on the reservation but is met with bigotry from the citizens of a nearby town.An aging pastor is determined to erect a church for the Indians on the reservation but is met with bigotry from the citizens of a nearby town.An aging pastor is determined to erect a church for the Indians on the reservation but is met with bigotry from the citizens of a nearby town.
Photos
- Newly
- (credit only)
- Indian
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe day this episode aired, Broadcasting Magazine came out with a list of series likely to be canceled - with "Gunsmoke" heading the list even though its highest-rated episode of the year had aired the previous week. This was due to poor demographics: too many rural and overage viewers, with the younger urban viewers watching The Rookies (1972).
- Quotes
[Festus hears the congregation singing Bringing in the Sheaves in the local church. He enters and walks down the center aisle toward Reverend Atkins. The organist stops playing and the singing drops off]
Reverend Atkins: What do *you* want?
Festus: Just for the time bein' I'll figure 'at you don't know about last night.
Reverend Atkins: What are you talking about? What happened last night?
Festus: I'll guarantee you they's some o' your flock here knows what happened last night.
Reverend Atkins: Whatever is bothering you, this is neither the time nor the place.
Festus: I figure this here's the mainest place, Reverend. You don't go trompin' on a man's dreams and not get called for it.
[turns and faces the congregation]
Festus: Now... I ain't no preacher. I ain't had me no school learnin' a-tall. Whatever I'm fixin' to say here might not be the fit and proper words, but I figure you'll all get what I mean. I wanna tell you about a man. Worked hard all his life apreachin' the Gospel, mostly to a bunch of folks that never done no practicin' on it 'ceptin' on Sunday, just like I figure a lotta you folks does. Now this here man tried to do good all his life. One day he got old. 'N' them that run his church figured he wasn't worth a hoot to nobody, so they run 'im off. But he didn't figure he was done by a long shot. So he went to look around everyplace atryin' to figure out somebody that he could help. Finally come clean out here wantin' to buildin' a church for the Injuns. Whether he was crazy or whether he wasn't, that's what he wanted to do. He done it all by his own self. Spent every last penny he had to do it. And I figure he had a right to give it a whirl, to try it. Come right here to your town o' Nescatunga. Wantin' to do good. He got himself good an' tromped on by some o' you righteous, God-fearin' Christians. Now all of you didn't strike them matches that set his church on fire last night, but you was a-eggin' on the ones that done it. The mainest one is your preacher, Atkins here.
Reverend Atkins: Marshall, I want you to understand I had nothing to do with whatever happened last night. I didn't know about it until right now.
[Festus turns to face the preacher]
Festus: Reverend, I figure there's a right and there's a wrong. Appears to me a lot o' your flock here don't know which is which. Ahelpin' them decide which is which is a preacher's job. Or ain't nobody never told you that?
[turns back to the congregation]
Festus: That's all I got to say.
[Festus exits the church]
The people of the town of Nescatunga are vehemently opposed to the Reverend's plans. The town is located close to the Comanche reservation, and the people of the town see the Comanches as savages and killers. Some have had relatives killed in battles with the Comanche in years past. Reverend Atkins pastors the church in Nescatunga, and he joins in the resistance to Reverend Byrne's efforts to help the Comanche.
(Nescatunga, Kansas was a real town in the latter portion of the 1800s, but it was later abandoned. The town of Coldwater is located close to the "ghost town" of Nescatunga today.)
When Deputy U. S. Marshal Festus Haggen visits the town to deliver a prisoner, he witnesses some of the resistance against Reverend Byrne's efforts. The owner of the Dunbar Lumberyard refuses to sell the preacher supplies to build his church. When Festus witnesses Dunbar's prejudicial actions, he orders Dunbar to comply with the Reverend's request. (A U. S. Marshal does not have that kind of authority, but the owner complied nevertheless.)
Reverend Byrne's intentions are further complicated by a lack of assistance from anyone, and his own failing heart. Despite overwhelming obstacles, the Reverend proceeds with his plans. As Festus witnesses Reverend Byrne's determination, he becomes increasingly involved in helping the man achieve his goals.
Prolific actor David Wayne returns for his final Gunsmoke role as Reverend Arthur Byrne. He had previously appeared as a judge in Season 19's "Lynch Town" episode. This episode is very much the Ken Curtis and David Wayne show as the chemistry between the two actors is outstanding.
Ken Swofford had guest roles in twelve Gunsmoke episodes, with his performance here as the bigoted shopkeeper named Dunbar representing his final appearance. Swofford also appeared in the "Lynch Town" episode from Season 19 that featured Wayne.
Tom Lacy makes his only Gunsmoke performance as Reverend Atkins. It is his parishioners that resent Reverend Byrne's efforts to minister to the Comanches, and eventually go so far as to burn the church structure Festus and Reverend Byrne manage to erect. In this manner, the pious Reverend Atkins is seen as the antithesis of Reverend Byrne.
Ken Renard, who often appeared in television and films in small roles, plays the Comanche leader Tonkowa. Renard appeared in three Gunsmoke episodes and played American Indians in each performance.
Ken Curtis is the only regular cast member prominently featured in this episode. There is a short scene a few minutes into the episode where Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, and Miss Hannah are in the Long Branch Saloon after hours discussing Festus's absence, but it has no real significance to the story.
This episode is obviously meant to address blatant discrimination. In this case the discrimination is perpetrated by the people of the town against the Comanches who live nearby. Reverend Byrne and Festus see the Comanches as fellow humans worthy of the efforts to provide them a church, but the people of Nescatunga have objectified and hate the tribe. The episode is also clearly intended to be a heartwarming story about one man's determination to accomplish something positive against insurmountable odds. (There is even a not-so-subtle reference to the novel Moby-Dick.)
There are a few Gunsmoke episodes that include prominent religious figures -- priests, preachers, nuns, etc. -- as major characters, and the Festus Haggen character is always the regular cast member who engages with them. In this story, Festus is the sole non-clergy character that exhibits the characteristics most aligned with the teachings and practices of Jesus. He practices self-sacrifice and compassion for both Reverend Byrnes and the Comanche people.
(There are a couple of scenes where characters mention an obscure Biblical reference to the name "Festus." Porcius Festus represented the Roman government as governor of Judea and Samaria. He sent the Apostle Paul to Rome to stand trial under Emperor Nero. It is funny to think of Festus Haggen's parents naming him after such an obscure individual from history.)
It is worth noting that in the sermon Reverend Byrne delivers to the Comanche congregation, he does not demean their spiritual practices. Instead, he relates the acts of Jesus as described in his Bible and his tradition to their practices. That is a surprisingly thoughtful, insightful touch.
Viewers looking for an action-packed, shoot-'em-up story may be disappointed by this episode. It moves slowly out of necessity. It offers no significant surprises, either. The performances by Ken Curtis and David Wayne, plus the profound treatment of the material make this episode worth viewing.
- wdavidreynolds
- Nov 16, 2021