Ep 15. One Bullet from Broken Bow

Bat Masterson, season 1, episode 15, "One Bullet from Broken Bow," follows the titular character as he finds himself in the middle of a range war between two neighboring ranches. Masterson is called upon by a group of cowboys who work for one of the ranches, the Circle R, to help settle the feud peacefully. However, Masterson quickly realizes that the leader of the other ranch, the Diamond T, has no interest in peaceful resolution and is willing to kill to have his way.

As Masterson investigates the situation, he discovers that the Diamond T leader, Bracken, has bribed the sheriff to look the other way while he and his men steal cattle from the Circle R. When Masterson confronts Bracken, he is nearly killed in a shootout and takes refuge in the Circle R ranch. There, he works with the owners of the Circle R, the Whitmans, to come up with a plan to stop Bracken and his men.

The tension between the two ranches escalates when Bracken begins to use dynamite to blow up fences and buildings on the Circle R's property. Masterson and the Whitmans come up with a plan to fake an enormous gun shipment to the Circle R, which they hope will convince Bracken that they are heavily armed and not to be messed with.

In the final showdown, Masterson and the Whitmans, along with the cowboys who first sought Masterson's help, stage a trap for Bracken and his men as they attempt to steal more cattle. A shootout ensues, and Masterson and his allies are able to take down Bracken and his men while sustaining only minor injuries.

"One Bullet from Broken Bow" presents Masterson as a skilled diplomat and strategist, as well as a deadly gunslinger. The plot is driven by the conflict between brute force and diplomacy, with Masterson taking a measured approach in order to avoid further violence. The episode also features the development of relationships between Masterson and the cowboys who seek his help and the Whitman family, with Masterson showing empathy and compassion towards the people he helps.

Overall, "One Bullet from Broken Bow" is a tense and action-packed episode of Bat Masterson, with a strong emphasis on the character's intelligence and charisma. The showdown between Masterson and Bracken is a satisfying conclusion to the episode's conflict, showcasing Masterson's strategic abilities and quick thinking.