This episode is perhaps more-reminiscent of "Naked City" than a Western.
Akim Tamiroff plays a New Orleans vice lord -- an unbelievably nasty character -- who's been tossed out of town. He (surprise!) shows up in North Fork and takes a hankerin' to the McCain ranch, offering Lucas "exactly what you paid for it, less wear and tear". (The concept of appreciation of value by labor means nothing to him.) Regardless, Lucas will have none of it, and one of Tamiroff's henchmen warns him that McCain is "muy macho" -- a real man.
When Tamiroff and his Frito Bandito entourage show up a 8AM the following day to assume possession of the ranch -- presumably by eradicating the humans who currently infest it -- Lucas has no hesitation defending himself, even though confronted by six men (five, if you doubt Tamiroff's fundamental manliness).
The ending is surprising (though properly foreshadowed), and //extremely// satisfying, so I won't spoil it.
The script is by Cyril Hume, a fine writer who wrote some of "The Rifleman"'s best episodes, and never received the artistic praise he deserved. Hume's scripts are distinguished by their thoroughly believable characterizations and smart, unclichéd dialog. He gives a huge amount of bantering/badgering dialog to Tamiroff, who does a fine job delivering it. (Simply memorizing it seems a remarkable feat.)
An above-average episode, worth seeing.
Akim Tamiroff plays a New Orleans vice lord -- an unbelievably nasty character -- who's been tossed out of town. He (surprise!) shows up in North Fork and takes a hankerin' to the McCain ranch, offering Lucas "exactly what you paid for it, less wear and tear". (The concept of appreciation of value by labor means nothing to him.) Regardless, Lucas will have none of it, and one of Tamiroff's henchmen warns him that McCain is "muy macho" -- a real man.
When Tamiroff and his Frito Bandito entourage show up a 8AM the following day to assume possession of the ranch -- presumably by eradicating the humans who currently infest it -- Lucas has no hesitation defending himself, even though confronted by six men (five, if you doubt Tamiroff's fundamental manliness).
The ending is surprising (though properly foreshadowed), and //extremely// satisfying, so I won't spoil it.
The script is by Cyril Hume, a fine writer who wrote some of "The Rifleman"'s best episodes, and never received the artistic praise he deserved. Hume's scripts are distinguished by their thoroughly believable characterizations and smart, unclichéd dialog. He gives a huge amount of bantering/badgering dialog to Tamiroff, who does a fine job delivering it. (Simply memorizing it seems a remarkable feat.)
An above-average episode, worth seeing.
