Owney Tupper is a poor farmer who lives in the Dodge City area. Tupper is poor primarily by choice. Farm life on the prairie required a lot of back-breaking hard work, and Tupper and his wife chose to live a less materialistic, simple life and enjoy their time together. When the episode begins, Owney's wife has died, and he is caring for their young daughter, Amity on his own.
For some unknown reason, Tupper's sister-in-law steps into the situation and manages to get a judge to grant her and her husband temporary custody of Amity. The judge tells Owney he can get his daughter back if he can improve his farm sufficiently. In the meantime, Amity will live with her Aunt Clara in St. Louis.
Tupper is determined to get his daughter back, and he does everything possible to accomplish his goals, including compromising some of his long-held values.
There is a sub-plot in the story that involves a cowboy named Mal who returns to his father's ranch after being away for a while and discovers the woman he supposedly loves has married another man. Mal is so disturbed by this development he kills the woman and her husband, and immediately rides into Dodge and confesses his crime to the Marshal.
The judge in this story is as much the antagonist as anyone. He first orders Tupper to relinquish custody of Amity, and then he orders Mal to be executed in Dodge City within 24 hours after the sentencing. This is odd, because we know that -- at least in the Gunsmoke universe -- hangings took place in Hays City, not Dodge City. The judge's reasoning for either order lacks much in the way of true legal foundation and seems much more based on personal whims. Both rulings are pivotal to the plot, but that appears to be their only reason for occurring, not because they are legally sound.
Jay C. Flippen as Owney Tupper is definitely the star here. Flippen, who had been an announcer for the New York Yankees at one time, had one of those instantly recognizable faces. He frequently appeared in television westerns, and played supporting characters in several Jimmy Stewart films in the 1950s and 1960s. Flippen's performance in this episode is worth the time investment alone.
Paul Savage's script was nominated for a Writer's Guild Award. However, I do not hold this episode in as high regard as some others. The entire murder subplot is rushed and a little too convenient and coincidental. The judge makes unusual rulings that do not seem genuine. I especially thought it odd that Tupper so desperately wanted to get Amity back, but when given the opportunity to stay with Amity, he stubbornly refuses. It really seems like the circumstances would be a perfect opportunity for Tupper to get away from Dodge City and start a new life with his daughter. Instead, it appears he would prefer to remain on his farm and wallow in misery.
Incidentally, this episode was supposed to be the ninth episode of Season 9, following "Carter Caper," but the airing was preempted by coverage of the assassination of JFK, which occurred the day before this episode was scheduled. The original airing was subsequently delayed to April 1964.
For some unknown reason, Tupper's sister-in-law steps into the situation and manages to get a judge to grant her and her husband temporary custody of Amity. The judge tells Owney he can get his daughter back if he can improve his farm sufficiently. In the meantime, Amity will live with her Aunt Clara in St. Louis.
Tupper is determined to get his daughter back, and he does everything possible to accomplish his goals, including compromising some of his long-held values.
There is a sub-plot in the story that involves a cowboy named Mal who returns to his father's ranch after being away for a while and discovers the woman he supposedly loves has married another man. Mal is so disturbed by this development he kills the woman and her husband, and immediately rides into Dodge and confesses his crime to the Marshal.
The judge in this story is as much the antagonist as anyone. He first orders Tupper to relinquish custody of Amity, and then he orders Mal to be executed in Dodge City within 24 hours after the sentencing. This is odd, because we know that -- at least in the Gunsmoke universe -- hangings took place in Hays City, not Dodge City. The judge's reasoning for either order lacks much in the way of true legal foundation and seems much more based on personal whims. Both rulings are pivotal to the plot, but that appears to be their only reason for occurring, not because they are legally sound.
Jay C. Flippen as Owney Tupper is definitely the star here. Flippen, who had been an announcer for the New York Yankees at one time, had one of those instantly recognizable faces. He frequently appeared in television westerns, and played supporting characters in several Jimmy Stewart films in the 1950s and 1960s. Flippen's performance in this episode is worth the time investment alone.
Paul Savage's script was nominated for a Writer's Guild Award. However, I do not hold this episode in as high regard as some others. The entire murder subplot is rushed and a little too convenient and coincidental. The judge makes unusual rulings that do not seem genuine. I especially thought it odd that Tupper so desperately wanted to get Amity back, but when given the opportunity to stay with Amity, he stubbornly refuses. It really seems like the circumstances would be a perfect opportunity for Tupper to get away from Dodge City and start a new life with his daughter. Instead, it appears he would prefer to remain on his farm and wallow in misery.
Incidentally, this episode was supposed to be the ninth episode of Season 9, following "Carter Caper," but the airing was preempted by coverage of the assassination of JFK, which occurred the day before this episode was scheduled. The original airing was subsequently delayed to April 1964.