Episode 58
Writer: William F. Leichester
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 01/26/1960
Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance
Guest Cast
Lillian Bronson was an American character actress born in Rockport, New York. She appeared in more than 160 movies and television shows in a career spanning 35 years. She began her career on the Broadway stage, appearing in "Camille" with Lillian Gish and "Lean Harvest" with Leslie Banks. Most of her early film roles, especially of the 1940s, were uncredited, and she tended to be cast in small roles playing society matrons, influential aides-de-camp or relatives, perhaps most memorably as Clark Gable's secretary in "The Hucksters" (1947), Claudette Colbert's sister in "Family Honeymoon" (1948) and Henry Fonda's mother in "Spencer's Mountain" (1963).
After making her way into television, Bronson appeared in many of the popular series of the 50s and 60s, including "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966). Her final television appearance was in "Happy Days" (1974–1984). Bronson made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Mrs. Adams in "The Legacy" (episode 51), an uncredited a role, and Elizabeth Favor in "The Baby Sitter" (episode 52). She also guest-starred in other popular westerns, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963) and "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962). Bronson is probably best-remembered not as an actress, but as a model for a mural painted in 1974 by artist Kent Twitchell. The painting was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts in support of a Los Angeles County art program.
John Harmon was an American actor who appeared in over 250 roles in film and television from the 1930's through the 1970's. His early roles were mostly uncredited, but he was cast in a wide variety of genres and played many different kinds of characters. Harmon appeared in 15 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN as Eddie Halstead Hotel Clerk at the Hotel Madera. The character of Halstead was first introduced in episode 7, "Duel of Honor."
Ralph Moody was an American actor who appeared in over 50 movies and 100 television shows. Often cast in Westerns as indians, his many television credits include "The Lone Ranger" (1949 1950), "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1955–1959), "Dragnet" (1952 1959), "The Texan" (1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1958–1961), "Perry Mason" (1958–1964), "Gunsmoke" (1959–1966), "Dragnet 1967" (1967–1970) and "Bonanza" (1960 1971).
Moody appeared in 12 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jonathan Dodd in "The Visitor" (episode 58), Roy Merrick in "The Spoiler" (episode 61), and Eban Muchen in "The Hangman" (episode 76). Moody also played the recurring character of Doc Burrage in nine episodes, including "Six Years and a Day" (episode 91), "The Actress" (episode 94), "Dark Day at North Fork" (episode 100), "The Mescalero Curse" (episode 106), "Man From Salinas" (episode 130), "Quiet Night, Deadly Night" (episode 146), "Mark's Rifle" (episode 150), "Conflict" (episode 155), "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).
Michael Pate, born Edward John Pate, was an Australian character actor of radio, film and television, as well as an accomplished writer, director and producer. He appeared in more than 160 movies and television shows during his 55-year career. Prior to acting, Pate worked as a writer and broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on "Youth Speaks." He spent the latter part of the 1930s working primarily in radio drama. He also worked as a theatrical and literary critic, in addition to enjoying brief success as an author of short stories. When World War II broke out, Pate enlisted in the Australian Army and served with the South West Pacific Area command. As part of the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as "The Islanders," he entertained Australian troops in various combat areas.
After the war ended, Pate not only resumed his work in radio, but ventured into films. He had his first leading role in the adventure drama "Sons of Matthew" (1949), in which he portrayed Shane O'Riordan. His other endeavors included adapting, producing and directing the plays "Dark of the Moon" and "Bonaventure" in 1950. Later that year, he appeared in the American adaptation of "Bonaventure" for Universal Pictures, entitled "Thunder on the Hill" (1951), in which he performed opposite Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth. He appeared in many other films, portraying Browning in the action comedy "Ten Tall Men" (1951), starring Burt Lancaster; Talon in the horror film "The Strange Door" (1951), starring Charles Laughton and Borris Karloff; Flavius in the historical drama "Julius Caesar" (1953), starring Marlon Brando, James Mason and John Gielgud; Vittorio the Chiricahua Apache Chief in the action drama "Hondo" (1953), starring John Wayne; Sir Locksley in the adventure comedy "The Court Jester" (1956), starring Danny Kaye; Sir Ratcliffe in the historical drama "Tower of London" (1962), in which he had a starring role opposite Vincent Price; Lt. Reginald Evans in the biographical war drama "PT 109" (1963), starring Cliff Robertson; and Sierra Charriba in the Sam Peckinpah war film "Major Dundee" (1965), starring Charlton Heston and Richard Harris. Later in his career, Pate wrote and directed the internationally acclaimed film adaptation of Colleen McCullough's "Tim" (1979), starring Piper Laurie and Mel Gibson, which garnered him the Best Screenplay Award from the Australian Writers Guild.
Pate guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 90s, including the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the crime dramas "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the adventure series "Route 66" (1960–1964), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the espionage adventure "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968), the campy superhero series "Batman" (1966–1968), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973). He also had several recurring TV roles, including Salvador Quintana in the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959); Chief Crazy Horse in "Branded" (1965–1966), starring THE RIFLEMAN's Chuck Connors; Chief Vittoro in the western "Hondo" (1967); and Detective Sgt. Vic Maddern in the drama "Matlock Police" (1971–1976).
Pate made five appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Xavier in "New Orleans Menace" (episode 10), Brad Davis in "The Second Witness" (episode 23), Pete Morgan in "The Visitor" (episode 58), Mogollan in "The Mescalero Curse" (episode 106), Sanchez in "The Executioner" (episode 132). He guest-starred in nearly all of the other notable westerns of the 1950s through 70s, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961)
June Vincent, born Dorothy June Smith, was an American film and television actress. She appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows during a career spanning 30 years. She began her career in film during the early 1940s, eventually making the transition to television, where she became known as "television's favorite homewrecker." She portrayed the leading lady Catherine Bennett in the noir film "Black Angel" (1946), also starring Dan Duryea, Peter Lorre and Broderick Crawford; as well as a minor part in another noir film "In a Lonely Place" (1950), starring Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame.
Vincent guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the detective drama "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), the crime drama "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the road series "Route 66" (1960–1964), the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966), the family comedy "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967), the police drama "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977) and the western action adventure "Kung Fu" (1972–1975). She made one appearance in THE RIFLMAN, portraying Jenny Morgan in "The Visitor" (episode 58). She guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961); "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; and "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone.
Christine White is an American film and television actress. She has appeared in more than 50 movies and television shows during her 25-year career. She portrayed Carol McCoy in the Dirty Harry film "Magnum Force" (1973), starring Clint Eastwood. She also had a recurring role as Abigail Adams in the comedy "Ichabod and Me" (1961–1962).
White guest-starred in several television shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the family comedy "Father Knows Best" (1954–1960), the suspense anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the crime drama "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964) and the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967). She made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ann Dodd in "The Visitor" (episode 58). She also guest-starred in the westerns "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone; and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.
A pretty young widow of a man who was once Lucas' good friend arrives in North Fork on a visit. She is passing through the territory on her way to claim an inheritance. She and Lucas are immediately and seriously drawn to each other, but violence intervenes when an attempt is made on her life by two heirs who want her inheritance for themselves.