Shooting Stopover

Matt and Chester are going to be taking a two time killer named Gurney to Wichita for trial. They will be riding the stage, which also will be carrying a large amount of gold, making the trip even more dangerous. So with prisoner in tow, Matt and Chester along with a priest and a nice looking woman named Laura Rand, set off on the trip.

At the first rest-station there is something amiss when the owner does not meet the stage. When the company of passengers get off the stage they are rushed by a gang of bandit. During the shooting, Jim, the stage driver, is hit in the upper chest and the bullet needs to be removed. But with no water inside the small house, nothing can be done for the wounded man. With everyone getting a little too eager from the situation it will end with some unnecessary violence all due to wanting the shipment of gold.

This was an interesting episode that featured different ways of looking at the situation depending on what you hope to see. With a fine script and nice actors in the roles this episode was bound to please. Good watch.

Matt and Chester are taking wanted killer Gurney to Wichita by stage. Along with them are a reverend, Miss Laura, and a load of gold. At a way station, they're waylaid by two robbers who've killed the stationmaster. Now Matt and company are pinned down in the station house with a wounded stage driver and no water. They've got to get to the water pump and escape the robbers, but how.

Good character episode. It's interesting to note the logic each passenger uses to deal with their predicament. Matt, of course, is realistic and practical, while the Reverend and Laura are more idealistic, as bad guy Gurney gloats in the background. Some levity is added early on in another sarcastically humorous exchange between Doc and Chester. Anyway, one problem the series had was the 30-minute time frame, which meant shootouts had to be decided quickly and often not too realistically. Here the siege of the station goes on for a while, but the resolution is over quickly in not too convincing fashion. Nonetheless, there's the usual thoughtful note to end the episode.