Ep 20. Gone Straight

Marshal Matt Dillon is back in action in the Old West town of Dodge City in this thrilling episode of Gunsmoke. In "Gone Straight," Season 2 Episode 20, Marshal Dillon (played by James Arness) must deal with a man named Johnny Cross (played by James Best), who has suddenly turned over a new leaf and wants to go straight.

Johnny has a reputation as a notorious outlaw, having robbed banks, stagecoaches, and trains throughout the west. Everyone in Dodge City knows him, and no one trusts him. But Johnny claims to have seen the light and wants to make amends for his past crimes. He turns himself in to the marshal and offers to help track down his former gang members in exchange for a lenient sentence.

Marshal Dillon is skeptical but intrigued by Johnny's offer. He enlists the help of a local farmer named Abe Blocker (played by Tom Greenway), whom Johnny had once robbed, to keep a close eye on him and report back on his actions. Dillon also sends out a posse to track down the rest of Johnny's gang.

Meanwhile, Johnny struggles to adjust to life as an honest man. He takes a job at Abe's farm, but his former partners in crime are still out there, and they're not happy that he's turned on them. They begin to threaten him and his friends, and Johnny realizes that going straight may be more dangerous than being an outlaw.

As the posse closes in on the gang, tensions rise in Dodge City. Johnny's former gang members start causing trouble in town, and the citizens begin to question Marshal Dillon's judgment in trusting Johnny. Even Abe begins to have doubts about his reformed employee.

But Johnny remains committed to his new life, even as the danger around him increases. He insists on accompanying the posse on their mission, hoping to prove his loyalty and clear his name once and for all.

What follows is a tense showdown between the posse and the remaining members of Johnny's gang, culminating in a surprising twist that no one saw coming. "Gone Straight" is a thrilling episode of Gunsmoke that explores the themes of redemption, trust, and the often difficult choices we make in life.