The Tiburcio Mendez Story

With both stars John McIntire and Robert Horton not in the episode Terry Wilson carries this episode without even the comic relief of Frank McGrath.

Bill Hawks is leading a section of wagons to a destination in southern California, but they have to pass through an area controlled by Nehemiah Persoff who used to ride with the legendary Joaquin Murietta. As history tells us Murietta was a Robin Hood type hero who fought in vain to keep the immigrant pioneers who spilled into California looking for gold, etc.

But Persoff's band is now 20 years in the desert and he's weary. He also wants a better life for daughter Lisa Gaye. However he's got a hotheaded subordinate played by Leonard Nimoy who wants to continue. the fight. Looking over Nimoy's career it's fascinating the number of hotheaded types he played before being the unflappable Mr. Spock.

Persoff strikes the right balance of fierce lion of the desert and a weary man who just wants to live his last years out in peace and some comfort.

Persoff in the end makes a sacrifice for his followers that both Terry Wilson and traveling judge Russell Collins give for a valiant man.