Philip Locke has traveled to Dodge City from Philadelphia to try to find a woman named Laura Simmons. Locke comes from an aristocratic family and is what might have been called a "dude" during the 1870s in Kansas. He is certainly not accustomed to life in Dodge. Locke visits Marshal Matt Dillon's office to inquire about the woman. After Chester starts to identify Ms. Simmons, Matt tells Locke he does not know her.
Laura Simmons works at the Long Branch Saloon. She tells Matt she was once engaged to marry Locke, but his parents did not think she was of the proper social status to marry their son. She does not want Locke to know she works at the Long Branch. Matt arranges to have Laura stay with Ma Smalley. He lies and tells Locke that Laura was in Dodge for a couple of days, but she moved on to St. Louis.
(Note: Kitty Russell tells Laura that Ma Smalley lives about two miles south of Dodge, but in later episodes, it appears Ma Smally's Boarding House is in Dodge City.)
Locke does not believe Marshal Dillon. He is convinced Matt is hiding Laura and gives Dillon a deadline for finding her. Locke even talks to a slow-witted man named Ed Doolin who is willing to shoot someone for money.
Gloria McGehee had previously turned in a stellar performance as the ill-fated Mrs. Amber in the Season 1 story "Mr. And Mrs. Amber." She portrays Laura Simmons in this episode, but she is unrecognizable from the earlier role. McGehee returned once more in Season 8's "Louie Pheeters" episode.
Michael Pate plays Philip Locke. This is the first of four Gunsmoke appearances for Pate. The Australian-born actor often played American Indians, and in an episode of The Rifleman, he plays a Hispanic gunfighter who travels with an arrogant New Orleans aristocrat. In his next Gunsmoke role -- Season 4's "Renegade White" -- Pate plays an American Indian who saves Matt Dillon's life.
Judson Pratt makes his first Gunsmoke appearance as Bill Pence, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in earlier episodes. (Pence sells half interest in the saloon to Kitty Russell in the upcoming Season 2 episode "Daddy-O.") Prior to this episode, actor Joseph Mell had played the Bill Pence character. Pratt would appear in two more episodes in the series, but he would only play Bill Pence again in one of those stories.
Despite all the distractions, this is really a fairly straightforward love story about finding one's place in the world. The Philip Locke character is completely out of his element in the Dodge City culture, but his ex-fiancé faces her fears and finds her true destiny.
Laura Simmons works at the Long Branch Saloon. She tells Matt she was once engaged to marry Locke, but his parents did not think she was of the proper social status to marry their son. She does not want Locke to know she works at the Long Branch. Matt arranges to have Laura stay with Ma Smalley. He lies and tells Locke that Laura was in Dodge for a couple of days, but she moved on to St. Louis.
(Note: Kitty Russell tells Laura that Ma Smalley lives about two miles south of Dodge, but in later episodes, it appears Ma Smally's Boarding House is in Dodge City.)
Locke does not believe Marshal Dillon. He is convinced Matt is hiding Laura and gives Dillon a deadline for finding her. Locke even talks to a slow-witted man named Ed Doolin who is willing to shoot someone for money.
Gloria McGehee had previously turned in a stellar performance as the ill-fated Mrs. Amber in the Season 1 story "Mr. And Mrs. Amber." She portrays Laura Simmons in this episode, but she is unrecognizable from the earlier role. McGehee returned once more in Season 8's "Louie Pheeters" episode.
Michael Pate plays Philip Locke. This is the first of four Gunsmoke appearances for Pate. The Australian-born actor often played American Indians, and in an episode of The Rifleman, he plays a Hispanic gunfighter who travels with an arrogant New Orleans aristocrat. In his next Gunsmoke role -- Season 4's "Renegade White" -- Pate plays an American Indian who saves Matt Dillon's life.
Judson Pratt makes his first Gunsmoke appearance as Bill Pence, the owner of the Long Branch Saloon in earlier episodes. (Pence sells half interest in the saloon to Kitty Russell in the upcoming Season 2 episode "Daddy-O.") Prior to this episode, actor Joseph Mell had played the Bill Pence character. Pratt would appear in two more episodes in the series, but he would only play Bill Pence again in one of those stories.
Despite all the distractions, this is really a fairly straightforward love story about finding one's place in the world. The Philip Locke character is completely out of his element in the Dodge City culture, but his ex-fiancé faces her fears and finds her true destiny.
