Ben Pitcher is a farmer who lives near Dodge City. For some reason the viewer never learns, Pitcher hates doctors. He sends his son Jerry to Dodge to ask Doctor Adams to come out to the farm due to illness. Matt Dillon is suspicious of this development, and he accompanies Doc to the Pitcher farm.
When Doc and Matt arrive, Ben tells Doc he has a sick cow. Doc is furious that he has been deceived into coming to the farm, but he treats the cow anyway. After he is finished, Jerry returns from his trip into town and tells Doc a woman in Dodge died from a cut on her arm in a freak accident. Doc is now even more angry at Pitcher, because he could have saved the woman from bleeding to death if he had not been called away. Pitcher is dismissive and spouts off that Doc couldn't have helped the woman, anyway. When Doc shoves Pitcher to the ground, Pitcher stabs Doc.
Now Doc is bleeding badly. Matt will have to tie off the blood vessels to stop the bleeding before Doc bleeds to death. Matt's amateur surgery is successful, and Matt transports Doc back to Dodge.
A few days later, Jerry Pitcher comes back to town to tell Doc his father is extremely ill. Doc is still in no condition to move, but he is determined to provide help where needed.
Robert H. Harris was a frequent guest on television dramas during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. He plays the cantankerous Ben Pitcher in this episode. He only made one other Gunsmoke appearance, and it occurs later in Season 2. He can be seen in numerous episodes of other series such as Perry Mason, Have Gun - Will Travel, and 77 Sunset Strip.
Dorothy Adams appears in this episode as Mrs. Pitcher. She returned for one additional appearance in the series in Season 3.
Child actor Tommy Kirk portrays Jerry Pitcher in the only role he would play in the Gunsmoke series. At the time this episode was produced, Kirk had joined Walt Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club. He would go on to star in several popular Disney projects over the next ten years or so. As he grew into young adulthood, Kirk battled drug use and depression. Disney dropped him, and he resorted to accepting parts in b-grade movies before quitting acting. He returned to acting in the late 1980s, but he never regained the prominence he enjoyed in his teen years.
This Season 2 debut episode is the first directed by Andrew McLaglen. McLaglen would eventually direct a total of ninety-six episode of the series, the most of any director. (He holds the same record for the series Have Gun - Will Travel.)
One of the nicest attributes of this episode is the little glimpses of life in Dodge City. Chester escorting Kitty Russell to the Marshal's office to see Matt. Chester dropping hints that he wants to visit an old friend, and Matt playing along. The banter between Doc, Matt, and Kitty while they care for the recuperating doctor. These are all small scenes that add to the allure of the series and help the viewers become more endeared to the characters.
There is a nice mix of humor and drama included in this John Dunkel treatment of a John Meston story. The biting wit of Doc Adams contrasted with his dedication to his profession are on full display here, as they would be repeatedly over the course of the series.
When Doc and Matt arrive, Ben tells Doc he has a sick cow. Doc is furious that he has been deceived into coming to the farm, but he treats the cow anyway. After he is finished, Jerry returns from his trip into town and tells Doc a woman in Dodge died from a cut on her arm in a freak accident. Doc is now even more angry at Pitcher, because he could have saved the woman from bleeding to death if he had not been called away. Pitcher is dismissive and spouts off that Doc couldn't have helped the woman, anyway. When Doc shoves Pitcher to the ground, Pitcher stabs Doc.
Now Doc is bleeding badly. Matt will have to tie off the blood vessels to stop the bleeding before Doc bleeds to death. Matt's amateur surgery is successful, and Matt transports Doc back to Dodge.
A few days later, Jerry Pitcher comes back to town to tell Doc his father is extremely ill. Doc is still in no condition to move, but he is determined to provide help where needed.
Robert H. Harris was a frequent guest on television dramas during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. He plays the cantankerous Ben Pitcher in this episode. He only made one other Gunsmoke appearance, and it occurs later in Season 2. He can be seen in numerous episodes of other series such as Perry Mason, Have Gun - Will Travel, and 77 Sunset Strip.
Dorothy Adams appears in this episode as Mrs. Pitcher. She returned for one additional appearance in the series in Season 3.
Child actor Tommy Kirk portrays Jerry Pitcher in the only role he would play in the Gunsmoke series. At the time this episode was produced, Kirk had joined Walt Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club. He would go on to star in several popular Disney projects over the next ten years or so. As he grew into young adulthood, Kirk battled drug use and depression. Disney dropped him, and he resorted to accepting parts in b-grade movies before quitting acting. He returned to acting in the late 1980s, but he never regained the prominence he enjoyed in his teen years.
This Season 2 debut episode is the first directed by Andrew McLaglen. McLaglen would eventually direct a total of ninety-six episode of the series, the most of any director. (He holds the same record for the series Have Gun - Will Travel.)
One of the nicest attributes of this episode is the little glimpses of life in Dodge City. Chester escorting Kitty Russell to the Marshal's office to see Matt. Chester dropping hints that he wants to visit an old friend, and Matt playing along. The banter between Doc, Matt, and Kitty while they care for the recuperating doctor. These are all small scenes that add to the allure of the series and help the viewers become more endeared to the characters.
There is a nice mix of humor and drama included in this John Dunkel treatment of a John Meston story. The biting wit of Doc Adams contrasted with his dedication to his profession are on full display here, as they would be repeatedly over the course of the series.
