Ep 11. No Indians

In season 2, episode 11 of the classic western TV series Gunsmoke, titled "No Indians," Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) finds himself in the middle of a conflict between two neighboring farmers and a group of Native Americans.

The episode begins with farmer Dan Collins (John Lupton) and his family receiving a visit from their neighbor, Dave Engels (Warren Oates). Engels demands that Collins keep his cattle off his land, claiming that they are destroying his crops. Collins is outraged at the accusation and tells Engels to get off his property.

Later that day, Collins and his son, Billy (Johnny Crawford), run into a group of Native Americans led by Chief Joseph (Anthony Caruso) on their way back from town. The Chief asks Collins for a piece of land to set up camp, explaining that his people have been forced to move several times and are in desperate need of a place to stay. Collins refuses, citing his ongoing feud with Engels and his own financial struggles.

The next day, Engels and his hired hand, Nat (John Anderson), come across the Native American camp while on patrol. They order the Chief and his people to leave, but when the Chief refuses, Nat becomes violent and shoots one of the Native Americans. The others retaliate, killing both Nat and Engels.

Dillon is called in to investigate the incident and tries to maintain peace between the farmers and the Native Americans. But tensions continue to rise, and both sides remain hostile towards each other.

As Dillon continues to investigate, he uncovers a conspiracy involving local landowner, Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), who is trying to spark a war between the farmers and the Native Americans to drive down land values and buy up cheaper property.

With tensions mounting and violence escalating, Dillon must act fast to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control and find a way to protect the innocent parties caught in the crossfire.

"No Indians" is a tense and gripping episode that addresses issues of racism, land rights, and justice in the Old West. As always, James Arness gives a strong performance as the stoic and unwavering Marshal Dillon, who must navigate a complex and dangerous situation to uphold the law and maintain peace. The episode's exploration of the exploitation of minorities and marginalized groups for financial gain remains relevant today, making it a thought-provoking and impactful installment in the Gunsmoke series.