“On any given day something can happen that turns good men bad.”
In this episode of Gunsmoke, during a brutal heat wave, Matt saves Cope Beldon (John Dehner) from a lynch mob led by Rance (James Westerfield), who accuses him of horse theft. Matt hates lynching and insists on due process. Beldon admits he won’t stay locked up, walks out of jail, and later kills Rance’s nephew in self-defense during a card game.
The town turns against Matt for refusing to arrest Beldon, but he stands firm on the law. With Chester at his side, he stares down Rance and his men until they back down—Matt even delivers the first-ever “Get out of Dodge!” line.
The oppressive heat works as a character itself, fueling tempers and tension, and the episode establishes Matt’s defining trait: a lonely, unwavering commitment to justice against mob rule.
Music: “Western Ride” by Sonican
Courtesy of Pixabay (Free for commercial use – No attribution required)
https://pixabay.com
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