The Rifleman
"Welcome to the McCain Ranch"
'The Marshal'
Episode 4
Written and directed by Sam Peckinpah
This episode introduces Micah Torrance, a former lawman turned alcoholic.One day I was headed for the saloon for a nice cold beer when a drunk stumbled out. He was so drunk that he couldn’t put one foot in
front of the other, and I watched him fall over flat on his face. My heart immediately went out to him. I bent over to help him up. I asked him if he needed help, and he told me he just needed another drink. I offered to buy him a cup of coffee. “Coffee,” he moaned sarcastically, then he passed out.
Well, Fred walked up about this time and asked me who it was. I told him that it was just some old bum. He studied the man closely. “No. No, that’s not just some other old bum, Lucas. That’s Micah Torrance. Not much left. But when I knew him, he was the finest peace officer on the board.” I handed Fred my rifle and helped Micah to his feet. We carried him over to the jail to let him sleep it off.
“Food, clothing, shelter…Thank you, sir.” Micah said the next day as he looked into his coffee cup. Fred introduced him to me. When I told him I’d heard a lot about him, he stated that it was nothing complimentary. He was feeling sorry for himself, telling me he was useless, and that he got this way by being too fast with his gun. Then he stood up and asked for money. “I’ll pay you back.”
This man needed to see things for the way they really are. “No you won’t you’re a drunk,” I stated, never one to mince words. “I wouldn’t give you a dime for a drink, but I’ll give you a job.” But still, this man was feeling sorry for himself, thinking he was useless. He was another one that needed his faith in himself restored.
“Doing what, swatting flies?” Micah said pitifully.
“Building fences, mister. Hire out to me, you’ll do a man’s work.” I told him sternly. For good measure, I added, “If there’s any man left.”
Micah stood up and stated, “Mr. McCain, you got yourself a hand. One of ‘em anyway.” He had told us earlier that he had been shot in the arm and the nerve had been damaged, leaving it useless. I couldn’t help but to think that some of that was in his head – not his hand.
Meanwhile, my boy Mark was at home cleaning the floors. It wasn’t one of his favorite things to do and he always complained when having to do it. Today was no different. As we walked into the house, I smiled as he looked disgustingly at the mop he was squeezing out. “It’s women’s work. And I don’t cotton to it!” he declared.
I introduced him to Micah and told him he’d be helping us build a corral. They shook hands and something in their eyes sparkled. They took an instant liking too each other, which was good. He needed the influence of a young boy to encourage him. Micah
told me he’d sleep in the barn, regardless of my invitation for him to sleep inside with us. “Later,” he stated. “For the next for nights, I’m companion to owls and brother of the dragons,” he told me. “You know what it means.” I did, but Mark didn’t. I’m sure he’d ask me about that later!
It didn’t take long for Micah to realize that it would be harder than he thought. He was working on the corral when things got really rough and he found himself needing a drink. Mark had a soft heart and didn’t really understand why Micah was so sick. I knew that hard work was the best thing to help him get through the withdrawal. Mark felt sorry for him and went to offer to help. I had to be stern with both of them. “Do your own work, Mark.” I ordered harshly. Mark gave me a dirty look, thinking I was being mean. I know it was hard for a ten year old boy to understand these things.
That night at supper, Micah was having even more trouble. He needed a drink really bad. He stated that he had visitors. Mark of course didn’t understand this, and Micah told him that he had a big one right on his shoulder. “Saddle me a horse, Lucas,” Micah begged. I told him no. “I can’t do it, I tell ya! I’ve got to leave!” Micah declared.
I wasn’t going to let him give up that easily. I knew he could do it. “Then start walking. You oughta make to town by sun up.” I didn’t look at Mark, but I could tell he was upset with me, not understanding why I was being so tough with him. Micah got up and walked out the door, but I knew he wouldn’t get far. I knew he had to figure this out for himself.
Mark stood up to rush out the door after him, but I grabbed his arm and told him to finish eating. “You can’t help him.” Mark was frustrated. I continued to be stern with him, but I knew he didn’t understand what was going on. So, I thought it was time I did my best to help him understand – some at least. “Micah used to be a peace officer, son. One of the best. When he got hurt, he went all the way to the bottom. Now he’s afraid. He’s afraid to carry a gun. He’s afraid to pin on a star. So he drinks too much.”
Mark thought about this for a second, then he said, “Whisky, ya mean.” I nodded. “I know just how he feels!” Mark suddenly declared.
Oh, the things boys say! I turned and looked puzzled at him, afraid to even ask him what that meant. He was more than willing to explain it to me. “I took a big swallow once. Arch Quinn dared me. Guess I felt sick for an hour afterwards.”
I was a bit surprised that my boy did such a thing. The next words I said held a lot of hope. “I bet that taught you a lesson,” I stated, still trying to come to terms with what he just told me.”
“It sure did. Taught Arch too. He got sick just watching me,” Mark laughed. I guess that I didn’t need to go into any lectures at this point then.
Micah walked back in then and announced to me
that he was useless. Again, I ignored him. Mark finally decided to adopt my idea of tough love. “Whisky make you work better?” Mark asked. I was a little shock, but pleased with my boy. “Supper will.” I knew that Micah’s self-pity was doomed for sure now!
While we were at home eating supper, three men walked into the hotel. No one knew it at the time, but they were there to perform an event that would change North Fork for all times! The men walked into the hotel and declared that they wanted a room. Nancy Moore, the desk clerk, asked the two brothers to sign in. “We ain’t spelling men, Florry Shelton declared.
“Just make your mark, boys,” the third man, Lloyd Carpenter suggested. So they did. Then Lloyd decided to turn on his charm with this pretty young lady. He took his time signing his name as he introduced himself. Nancy smiled at him and introduced herself as well. It was clear that he was interested in getting to know her better. “He’s too old for you, Nancy. Besides, you don’t know anything about him.” Fred, her uncle, declared from the chair in the lobby where he was reading his newspaper.
“I’ve grown up, Uncle Fred,” Nancy reminded him. He didn’t argue too much, but reminded her that there was more to growing up than putting on a little weight. The Shelton brothers came back down the stairs and asked the marshal if he knew of anyone by the name of Micah Torrance hanging around. Being a bit too trusting of these visitors, he told him that Micah was out at my place.
The brothers made their way to saloon to get drunk. It didn’t take long. The two started roughhousing in the saloon and were making a big mess. Everyone ran out while they worked on wrecking the place. Fred walked in and told them to stop. Lloyd came in also, acting like he was on the marshal’s sided. “Now, what in heaven’s name do you boys think your doing? You oughta be ashamed of yourselves! Breaking up property, disturbing the peace like that!” he declared.
Well, I guess the marshal had a soft heart because he allowed Lloyd to talk him into letting the boys pay for the damage and leave the saloon. If only the marshal had known the whole thing was a plot! The Shelton's told Lloyd that they would take care of Torrance the next day.
Well, they stuck to their promise. The next morning, Micah was working on the corral when they showed up. “My my, how the might have
fallen!” they declared.
Micah looked up and recognized them right away. “Well, well…If it ain’t the Shelton boys,” he declared. “It must have been ten years or so since I straightened you boy out. I figured you’d be hung by now.”
“We don’t hang easy,” they declared. Then they told Micah that they had come to finish him off. Micah told them he no longer carried a gun, so they threw one to him. Little did the boys know that I was there ready for them. “Not today, boys!” I announced my presence. “Ride out. You’re trespassing.” They had heard about me and knew they didn’t want to go up against me. But before leaving, they promised Micah they would be back.
I came up to Micah, a solemn look on my face. He knew what I was thinking. I had a small boy who would be endangered if he stayed here. Micah had grown to love and care for both of us since he arrived, so he understood. I apologized, because I wish he could stay. But no matter how much I’ve grown to care for this man, my son had to come first. “Stay the night?” I asked. I didn’t figure they’d be back today.
These bad boys brewed up more trouble at the saloon that afternoon. They went back to the saloon “I think this is a puny no account saloon in a puny, no account town. Mr. Bartender, you have been paid! In advance!” they declared. Then they again began throwing things and shooting up the place.
Lloyd walked in and asked the brothers if hey had finished off Micah yet. They told him that they had met me, and Lloyd said that he’d heard talk around town about me. Marshal Thomlinson walked in then and told the Shelton brothers that they would be staying the night in jail tonight, and riding out of town tomorrow. Lloyd thought it was time to tell him who he really was. “Now don’t be hasty, Marshal. I plan on staying,” Lloyd declared.
“Your privilege,” the marshal answered. “But these boys are leaving.”
“Nope. You don’t understand. These are my boys, Uncle Fred.”
That’s when the problems really started. Fred tried to get all three of them in front of him, but Lloyd was blood-thirsty. He shot and killed my friend. Lloyd was tired of the Shelton’s antics. He hadn’t wanted to come here in the first place. He figured he’d have to take care of things himself and told the brothers that he would personally deliver me into town so they would be able to get to the Marshal by themselves.
Lloyd came to the ranch and told me. I didn’t know who he was, but he told me the whole town was scared and needed me to come help get rid of these boys. Fred was my friend, and I didn’t like bad boys coming into town thinking they could take it over. After all, this is my boy’s town. So I agreed to go in with this stranger.
Micah saw things more clear than me, though. He saw Mark crying and came into the barn to stop me from going. “Your making a mistake,” Micah tried to warn me.
But I was too mad to listen. “No. This is my town and Fred was my friend. I didn’t ask for this but it came. I’ll handle it.”
“You’re way too quick with that rifle, Lucas Boy!”
Micah declared (hm…”Lucas Boy,” it may grow on me…). “Your riding in on nothing by the word of a stranger with an easy way and a hole in his hat.” I told him I’d keep my eye on him. “You better. You don’t know who he is or where he came from.”
Micah seemed really sure of himself. “Maybe you oughta come along,” I declared without turning from my horse.
“Somebody should,” Micah answered.
I quickly turned my head and looked at him. There was still doubt in his eyes. I wanted him to see my disappointment. He knew I was in danger, yet he still hesitated. “Stay here with Mark,” I declared.
As he watched me ride out with the stranger, Micah told Mark I was riding in on more than I could handle. My boy had faith in me though and stated I was the best shot in the world. “That ain’t always enough,” Micah declared. “He’s a fool going in blind like that.”
This upset Mark. Mark knew Micah should have gone in to help. “So, who are you to talk? You aren’t a marshal anymore! Who are you to tell my father what to do?” he declared boldly. Micah looked at him, knowing that he was right. Micah was being a fool too. So he hurried into the barn to get ready.
Mark came to apologize. Micah was getting his shotgun ready and told Mark to saddle him a horse. He had to go in and do his duty.
The town was eerily quiet as I walked in. Not a person was on the street. Not a sound could be heard. As I rode in, I was a bit skeptical about what exactly I was up against. Lloyd told me he’d go on ahead. I waited. I watched and listened. I listened for the least slightest noise. The noise was a rusty hinge squeaking on a door. I fired my shot. Boom! It killed Florry.
Suddenly, I felt a shot hit me and I fell over in pain. Another shot hit me. I laid motionless on the ground.
Andrew felt victorious. “Hey Florry, did you see? I got me that rifleman! Hey Lloyd, did you see? I got him! It was me, wasn’t it?” he declared.
“Yeah. You got him,” Lloyd answered. Andrew ran to tell his brother. “And he got Florry.” Andrew went to find Florry and was saddened that he had died. I started moving, and Lloyd asked Andrew if he wanted to kill me.
Andrew did, of course. But as he stepped out to take care of me, a shot rang out. Boom! It was Micah. He had come to help after all!
Now it was just the two of them – Micah and Lloyd. Lloyd was sure Micah didn’t have a chance. As he slowly aimed, Micah quickly shot him dead in one shot! It was over. Micah came to my aid.
I had gotten hurt pretty
bad and was laying in one of the cells. The doctor had bandaged me up pretty good. Micah was wearing the star on his chest. He had immediately taken over, and I couldn’t have been more proud of him. Micah suggested I stay in town for a few days. But Mark wouldn’t have it. “No,” Mark declared. “I’m taking him home with me!”
A look of pride came on my face. My boy was so grown up! He didn’t want anyone else to take care of me. Micah was beginning to realize just what kind of family he had hooked up with. “All right, son. But I’ll ride out every few days just to keep an eye on things,” Micah declared.
“All right, Marshal.” Calling him Marshal brought smiles to all of our faces.
So, that’s how Micah and I came to be best friends. And that’s how my best friend came to be “The Marshal!”
*Sam Peckinpah was the creator of "The Rifleman" and wrote
'The Sharpshooter' — 'Home Ranch'
He wrote & directed 'The Marshal' — 'The Boarding House' — 'The Money Gun' — 'The Babysitter' — I'm sure glad he added Micah!piddlin' stuff.....James Drury played Lloyd Carpenter in this episode of 'The Marshal.' He's the one who shot & killed Marshal Thomlinson. Lloyd. He appeared in another episode of "The Rifleman" ~ 'Death Trap' as Spicer.
I'm sure most of you know him as "The Virginian." Chuck appeared in "The Virginian" in the episode 'The Animal' and they also appeared together in "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw."Thanks Keith Swearingen for this tidbit..... I'm sure you know of James Drury. His biggest role was in the TV series "The Virginian." I met him at a gun show in the Houston area in February of 2005. We had an interesting conversation about one of my guns, during which I asked him the following question. I asked "Mr. Drury, weren't you an episode of the Rifleman?" Mr. Drury didn't even have to stop to think about it. He just smiled and said "No, young man. I was in three episodes." He went on to tell me that he always played the "heavy" specifically recalling an episode where he sat on a rock and played a harmonica. He laughed when he continued, "Well, I wasn't really playing the harmonica, they just made it look like I was."
James Drury was talking about 'The Marshal' that aired in the first season.
It was a real treat to get to visit with someone who had actually been on the show, and just chat about it. Thanks Keith!
Warren Oates played as Andrew Shelton in this episode of 'The Marshal.' He appeared in several other episodes ~ 'Bloodlines' as Jud Malackie ~ 'The Prodigal' as Santos ~ 'Miss Milly' as Marty Ryan ~ 'Day of Reckoning' as Will Breen.
He has appeared with James Drury in many episodes of "The Virginian." He appeared on "The Untouchables". He was a regular on "Stoney Burke." He is credited with many things such as "Stripes," "Return of the Magnificent Seven," "Ride the High Country" & "In the Heat of the Night."Robert J. Wilke played Florry Sheldon in this episode. He was in the episode of
'The Pet.' He played Haskins, the bad dude who killed Flecker in the beginning of that episode.
He was an expert golfer, it was said by his friend Claude Akins he earned more on the golf course than he ever did in movies. He had done so much in TV and the movies - I can't imagine him ever being idle. He was another star from of "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Cheyenne Social Club." He wasn't one of the main characters, but he has one of those faces that you remember but not the name. He was another guest star on "The Untouchables."
R.G. Armstrong played Marshal Fred Thomlinson in this episode of 'The Marshal' and
'The Sharpshooter.'
Some of the roles I remember him best in are "Friday the 13th" ~
the series ~ "The Predator" & "Purgatory." He has done so many, many things.Abby Dalton as Nancy Moore. She was the niece of Marshal Fred Thomlinson and the clerk behind the desk at the hotel.
Abby is best known for her role as Julia Cumson on "Falcon Crest," her on screen son Lorenzo Lamas (Lance) was actually her son-in-law at one time, he was married to her daughter Kathleen. "Falcon Crest" was in the top 10 when Abby got to really stretch her talent by playing her nice character everyone liked into a psycho. She has done a lot of other TV shows in the 50's and 60's. She most recently appeared on the long running soap opera "The Young and the Restless." Remember when she appeared in "Hennesey?" How about when she made a guest appearance in "Hardcastle & McCormick?" Love that "Hardcastle & McCormick!"Bill Quinn as Sweeney the owner/bartender of The North Fork Saloon.
Sweeney was first introduced to "The Rifleman" in 'The Marshal.' He has appeared in 39 episodes of "The Rifleman" as Sweeney the Bartender.Bert Stevens was in several episodes of "The Rifleman." 'The Marshal' as the doctor - 'The Babysitter' as a Barfly - 'Nora' as a Townsman.
Bert is the brother of Barbara Stanwyck.Jesse Wayne was a Stuntman for "The Rifleman" in 23 episodes. Besides a Stuntman, Jesse also performed behind the scenes as an Actor - Second Unit Director or Assistant Director - Special Effects - Miscellaneous Crew - Director - Camera and Electrical Department - Cinematographer - Archive Footage
Did you ever wonder what happen to Nancy Moore? Where did she go, what did she do? Here is a great story based on this episode when Nancy returns to North Fork, it's called "Saving Vernon" by Michelle Palmer.
What a great story, I know you will really enjoy this!You've heard Lucas' story, now hear Mark's
Mark's Memories
Bloopers for this episode & other episodes
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around The McCain Ranch
