We have seen this plot in several TV Westerns, even in an earlier episode of Cheyenne. Cheyenne rides into a crooked town where the sheriff has every stranger tossed into jail, then jail to the chain gang, then death. This time the two bad guys are played by James Coburn (Kell) and Lee Van Cleef (Branden). When the town had been shot up and its leading citizen, Sharon Colton, lost her father and brother, she forced the aging town Marshall Bailey to hire Kell and Branden as deputies. They have used their authority to make a lot of money with prisoner chain gangs; and through fear they are extorting money from all the businessmen. They play on the fear and hatred Colton has toward every stranger; and Kell is acquiring the money and power he needs to force her to marry him.
Cheyenne is fined for carrying a gun, and he is figured for the chain gang; but he has the bail money he needs tucked inside his pocket Bible. He tries to get Colton to see what's going on but Kell figures on running Bodie out of town as a vagrant. When Nolan, a local store owner, claims he offered Cheyenne a job, Kell kills him, and intends to frame Cheyenne before he can do any real damage to his plans.
Cheyenne keeps trying to get Colton to see what's going on. She goes to the jail to check on a prisoner who she has been told is sick, Randall. At first, Cheyenne is pleased but when he and Randall go to the General Store as told, they are being set up because the owner is dead inside. Cheyenne figures they've been set up but too late. He and Randall hide in the livery stable, while Kell tries to convince the Marshall and Colton that Bodie is a killer. One problem is that Kell lost his deputy's badge and if it is found, people might put two and two together. Kell tries to get some of the prisoners to throw in with him and take over the town, but first he wants Bodie killed.
The Marshall confronts Colton and proves to her that Kell and Branden are killers; and that he intends to arrest them. Unfortunately, before he can act, Kell kills him. Sharon Colton realizes she has turned her entire town over to murderers. She even tells Cheyenne to leave, but he can't because he knows Randall would be killed next. Cheyenne kills Kell; Colton kills Branden.
Cheyenne again rides off to his next adventure.
Cheyenne is fined for carrying a gun, and he is figured for the chain gang; but he has the bail money he needs tucked inside his pocket Bible. He tries to get Colton to see what's going on but Kell figures on running Bodie out of town as a vagrant. When Nolan, a local store owner, claims he offered Cheyenne a job, Kell kills him, and intends to frame Cheyenne before he can do any real damage to his plans.
Cheyenne keeps trying to get Colton to see what's going on. She goes to the jail to check on a prisoner who she has been told is sick, Randall. At first, Cheyenne is pleased but when he and Randall go to the General Store as told, they are being set up because the owner is dead inside. Cheyenne figures they've been set up but too late. He and Randall hide in the livery stable, while Kell tries to convince the Marshall and Colton that Bodie is a killer. One problem is that Kell lost his deputy's badge and if it is found, people might put two and two together. Kell tries to get some of the prisoners to throw in with him and take over the town, but first he wants Bodie killed.
The Marshall confronts Colton and proves to her that Kell and Branden are killers; and that he intends to arrest them. Unfortunately, before he can act, Kell kills him. Sharon Colton realizes she has turned her entire town over to murderers. She even tells Cheyenne to leave, but he can't because he knows Randall would be killed next. Cheyenne kills Kell; Colton kills Branden.
Cheyenne again rides off to his next adventure.