Hank Clay (John Anderson) is an aged man that has a step-son named Simon Lee (Ben Cooper). Hank is proud of his step-son mainly because he gets him out of trouble at every turn. Simon is quick with a gun and after Hank gets in a fight with someone, Simon takes care of the situation which usually ends in a gunfight and the deaths of the people that are against his step-father. So when Hank is in North Fork, he feels like he can do anything since his step-son will come to his defense.
After being over at the saloon, Hank feels the need to start a problem with Lucas. Lucas tries to avoid the conflict but when Hank grabs hold of Mark, there is no holding Lucas back.
This is going to result in Simon calling out Lucas in the streets of North Fork. But when Lucas gets a look at the young man, Simon looks exactly like a man Lucas killed in the Civil War. This killing has been haunting him his entire life. And now all that pain returns.
This is one of those stories that is very emotional and tense. It may appeared that Chuck Connors overplayed his emotional scene but it was more that we are not accustom to seeing the rifleman is such a difficult expression of emotions. Either way, Chuck played the heck out of the role and managed to bring us all along for the ride. Good watch.