A gang led by Paul Wiley attempts to rob the Dodge City bank, but as the gang leaves the bank, shooting begins. The gang shoots at everyone they can see. Marshal Matt Dillon and some of the townspeople return fire. Part of one of the Dodge City families, Mae Ayers and her son, are shot during the melee. Wiley is also shot in the leg. The gang rides away, and the Marshal quickly organizes a posse and follows in pursuit.
Wiley quickly determines he is not likely to get far with his bullet wound. He takes refuge inside a church where the pastor, John Porter, his fiancé, Phyllis Bowman, and a woman named Miss Howell are busy preparing for a Ladies Auxiliary Benefit. Wiley sends Phyllis to ask Doc Adams to come and treat the notorious outlaw's wound.
Doc is limited in what he can do, because he did not bring the instruments he needs to remove the bullet from Wiley's leg. Wiley reluctantly allows Doc to leave to retrieve the necessary tools, which allows Doc to tell Festus Haggen about Wiley's presence at the church.
Reverend Porter has agreed to give Wiley sanctuary inside the church. The pastor is ashamed of the feelings of cowardice that underlie his actions.
This episode attempts to examine and contrast the motivations behind Wiley and the Reverend. Wiley is an unrepentant criminal, but he makes no pretension at being anything else. Reverend Porter, on the other hand, thinks his fear makes him a phony. As the story unfolds, Porter learns more about himself. The story is ultimately about Reverend Porter's self-examination and self-discovery. However, there is quite a bit of action in the story as Matt pursues the criminals and addresses the situation at the church with Wiley.
Sean Garrison, who plays the pastor, was frequently seen in primarily dramatic roles during his career. This was his only Gunsmoke appearance. Joan Blackman is Phyllis Bowman here in what is also her only Gunsmoke appearance. Around the time this episode was filmed, Blackman played a recurring role on Peyton Place. She also had parts in a couple of earlier Elvis Presley films.
There is something missing in these two performances. There is never any chemistry between Garrison and Blackman, and the viewer is never that invested in their well being. I especially found Blackman's performance lacking. She is certainly an attractive woman, but her performance is stiff and bland. Garrison's Reverend Porter is too understated and self-absorbed, especially for a character that is supposed to be a pastor.
I think Virginia Gregg played some role in virtually every television show from the earliest days of TV until her death in 1986. She was a particular favorite of Jack Webb, who cast her in various roles in numerous episodes of Dragnet and Adam-12. She could play an incredibly wide range of characters. Here she plays the pious, annoying Miss Howell. This is her first Gunsmoke appearance since she starred as Phoebe Strunk in the episode with her character's name in Season 8.
Richard Bradford is Paul Wiley in his only Gunsmoke role. Larry Ward portrays Bob Ayers, whose wife and son were shot as the gang escaped. Ward appeared in a few different Gunsmoke episodes.
Many familiar Dodge City residents can be seen in this episode. Howard Culver as Howie, Woodrow Chambliss as Woody, and Charles Wagenheim as Halligan all make appearances.
Harry Harris once again handles the director's duties, as he did for sixty-four additional Gunsmoke entries. Calvin Clements, Sr. is another Gunsmoke veteran, as he wrote nearly forty scripts for the show during his career.
In the end, there is nothing to make the viewer care that much about what happens in this story. The casting for this episode misses the usual lofty standards for the series, and the fate of the characters is not that interesting.
