Sam Pridemore did some good, but if he had paid closer attention to his own counsel about respect, he wouldn't have ended up the way he did. It begins when Cheyenne Bodie comes to Rock Springs after receiving a "Come quick" letter, but it isn't from the banker, Cyrus Burton, as he thought. So who sent it, and why? Before long, Cheyenne figures that out, and the answer makes him question a lot more.
In the meantime, although his trip begins with a mystery, it isn't wasted, because there's $250,000 in gold in the bank vault that needs protecting. Before they can discuss details, they hear gunfire and come out of the bank to witness an extraordinary scene in the street. Town drunk Hank DeLieu is being menaced by a bully with a gun, and before Cheyenne and Cyrus can cross the street, a dapper fellow strolls out of the saloon, calmly confronts the young tough, and talks him into giving up his gun. Turns out the sharp dresser is Sam Pridemore, whom Cheyenne knew way back when. Cheyenne being so well thought-of in those parts, Sam's knowing him personally has enhanced Sam's credibility in the eyes of his neighbors; ironic, considering subsequent events when Cheyenne becomes the object of suspicion.
Sam sets about ingratiating himself to almost everybody, tailoring his attentions to whatever each one needs; included are the pastor, the banker, old Hank's daughter Mary, the storekeeper, the saloon owner, and the stableman, whose disabled young son Sam has drawn into his web by fashioning a brace for his game leg, contributing to the conviction that he's a miracle worker. Sam even organizes a dance to raise money to build a new church. So it's no wonder that by now the townspeople consider him just short of a saint. But Cheyenne isn't easily taken in by a smooth manner and ready smile, or even ostensibly good works. He puts two and two together and realizes that Sam isn't quite as sweet as everyone thinks.
It doesn't take long for him to be proven right. The church social ends abruptly when an explosion rocks the town. The elderly bank watchman is killed, the gold is gone, and Cheyenne is convinced that smilin' Sam has something to do with it. But after one of the robbers is shot and acting sheriff Cheyenne arrests Sam for murder, the town rebels. As what the deputy calls a "lynch mob" approaches the jail, Cheyenne says wryly, "Got an idea we're the ones they're gonna lynch if we don't let him go." But Cheyenne isn't about to allow a gross injustice to happen under his watch. He persuades Mary DeLieu to tell the truth about the crime by appealing to what she knows in her heart to be true: "The only reason he did good was so he could do bad and get away with it."
This was a well-written episode, the primary players are all credible, and although sad, the outcome is what we'd expect. Robert McQueeney is the deceptive charmer Sam Pridemore, Denver Pyle is the trusting banker, Frank Ferguson is the grateful stable owner, and Roger Mobley is his lame son. Ronnie Haran is the forlorn waif, Mary DeLieu. Reliable bad guys Richard Reeves and Brad Weston wind up on the wrong end of a gun, but this time it isn't Cheyenne Bodie's. In fact, he tries to use reason to keep the peace and his gun barely comes out of the holster, a relief for the character and no doubt for the gentle man who played him. As always, Clint Walker dominates the screen whenever he's in camera range, and that's what keeps "Cheyenne" on the must-watch lists of his thousands of multi-generation fans.
In the meantime, although his trip begins with a mystery, it isn't wasted, because there's $250,000 in gold in the bank vault that needs protecting. Before they can discuss details, they hear gunfire and come out of the bank to witness an extraordinary scene in the street. Town drunk Hank DeLieu is being menaced by a bully with a gun, and before Cheyenne and Cyrus can cross the street, a dapper fellow strolls out of the saloon, calmly confronts the young tough, and talks him into giving up his gun. Turns out the sharp dresser is Sam Pridemore, whom Cheyenne knew way back when. Cheyenne being so well thought-of in those parts, Sam's knowing him personally has enhanced Sam's credibility in the eyes of his neighbors; ironic, considering subsequent events when Cheyenne becomes the object of suspicion.
Sam sets about ingratiating himself to almost everybody, tailoring his attentions to whatever each one needs; included are the pastor, the banker, old Hank's daughter Mary, the storekeeper, the saloon owner, and the stableman, whose disabled young son Sam has drawn into his web by fashioning a brace for his game leg, contributing to the conviction that he's a miracle worker. Sam even organizes a dance to raise money to build a new church. So it's no wonder that by now the townspeople consider him just short of a saint. But Cheyenne isn't easily taken in by a smooth manner and ready smile, or even ostensibly good works. He puts two and two together and realizes that Sam isn't quite as sweet as everyone thinks.
It doesn't take long for him to be proven right. The church social ends abruptly when an explosion rocks the town. The elderly bank watchman is killed, the gold is gone, and Cheyenne is convinced that smilin' Sam has something to do with it. But after one of the robbers is shot and acting sheriff Cheyenne arrests Sam for murder, the town rebels. As what the deputy calls a "lynch mob" approaches the jail, Cheyenne says wryly, "Got an idea we're the ones they're gonna lynch if we don't let him go." But Cheyenne isn't about to allow a gross injustice to happen under his watch. He persuades Mary DeLieu to tell the truth about the crime by appealing to what she knows in her heart to be true: "The only reason he did good was so he could do bad and get away with it."
This was a well-written episode, the primary players are all credible, and although sad, the outcome is what we'd expect. Robert McQueeney is the deceptive charmer Sam Pridemore, Denver Pyle is the trusting banker, Frank Ferguson is the grateful stable owner, and Roger Mobley is his lame son. Ronnie Haran is the forlorn waif, Mary DeLieu. Reliable bad guys Richard Reeves and Brad Weston wind up on the wrong end of a gun, but this time it isn't Cheyenne Bodie's. In fact, he tries to use reason to keep the peace and his gun barely comes out of the holster, a relief for the character and no doubt for the gentle man who played him. As always, Clint Walker dominates the screen whenever he's in camera range, and that's what keeps "Cheyenne" on the must-watch lists of his thousands of multi-generation fans.
