Long Gun From Tucson
Between the LinesAs I got ready to write Mark’s Memory on this episode, I watched this one from Mark’s eyes and got a clear picture. There was an entire side of this story that was never told.
First of all, on Lucas: Lucas usually appears to be this big, brave man who doesn’t think twice to put men in their place when they get out of line. We’ve seen how easily Lucas loses his temper, and this is no exception. But this time, Lucas had three friends who had known him since he and his boy rode into North Fork. These three men would stand behind him and help him fight.
He was counting on that.
I just love the scene in the livery as Lucas realizes the truth:
Notice the look on Lucas’s face when he realizes that he was on his own. His friends back out on him. He loses his confident expression as the men begin backing out on him. He realizes now that he is up alone against four bad guys. Rifleman or not, he knows he doesn’t stand a chance. What’s worse, the men knew the odds were stacked against him, yet when Lucas needed them – they backed out to leave him alone. That fact, along with the fact that Lucas was one against four good gunfighters was enough to cause him great fear and worry.
As far as we could see, Lucas was going to die tomorrow morning.
Lucas goes back to his office fearing that he was spending his last hours alive.
Mark finds out about what happened. He fears for his father’s life. Even Mark knew that if his father went out to face those men tomorrow morning, he’d be killed. Mark also knew that his father would go out to face those men. So, loving his father like he does, Mark does the only thing he can do. He doesn’t beg his father not to go out there. He doesn’t beg those that bailed on him to have a change of heart. He doesn’t go to the gunslingers and beg them to let him keep his father.
He doesn’t do these things because deep in his heart, Mark knows that any of the above things would cause his father’s pride to bust. No, the only way to help his Pa is to go with him out on that street to fight those men. He was desperate. He knew he didn’t have any more of a shot to fight – but if his Pa was going to die, Mark wanted to do so right along side him. He couldn’t allow his father to die in vain.
Long Gun from Tucson - Father and Son
They talk. Lucas can’t look at his son at first. He doesn’t want Mark to see the fear in his eyes. He wants Mark to remember him as the strong one who faced battles bravely – not like this. Lucas’s problem is complicated now that Mark is involved. He had hoped to keep Mark completely out of this, but now Mark knew. He yelled at Mark and told him to get out of town.
Then they looked into each other’s eyes. Mark saw the truth there. Lucas was afraid. And not only that, but Lucas saw the truth in Mark’s eyes – Mark knew the truth too. Mark started to leave.
Lucas pulls him back. They can’t part like this – especially if this would be their last talk ever. He wanted to leave Mark’s last thoughts on a positive note. He takes Mark aside and they have a talk. He wanted Mark to have his childhood. That’s why he wouldn’t let Mark grow up so fast. He wanted Mark to smile back some day and remember all his innocent, care-free times. Mark understood before he left.
They didn’t hug. They knew that if they hugged, Lucas wouldn’t be able to let go, and Mark wouldn’t want to. Lucas had to go through this in the morning. If he didn’t, he would lose something else. Mark understood that and allowed a simple “Goodbye” to suffice.
But Mark knew the truth. Unless something changed, his father would die.
We see the fear and the understanding Mark feels later with Jeffrey. This is a wonderful scene about two boys coming to terms with a very scary and terrifying reality about their fathers. Mark comforts Jeffrey as much as Jeffrey comforts Mark. T
The actors in this scene pulled off a wonderful, wonderful performance and deserved an award. Their tears were realistic and very believable.
Long Gun from Tucson - Mark Understands
I thought on these things as I wrote Mark’s Memory. I thought about the fears mark had and the story that should have taken place in what could have easily been an hour-long episode.
Here’s the link to Mark’s Memory
Long Gun from TucsonAnother thing we didn’t see is the three men who had backed out on Lucas. It would have been interesting to see their night of sweating and guilt-rearing pacing as they came to their own truths – if they were truly Lucas’s friends, they would stand up for him. And they did.
The end was just as dramatic as it showed each man in the aftermath of the gunfight. None of them smiled or even relaxed, because they knew their battle inside had just begun.
*A special thanks goes out to Michelle Palmer for her insight on how Mark had seen these episodes & for this very special analysis of this great episode!
Mark's Memories — Table of Contents
Site Map
around The McCain Ranch