Ep 44. Ep 44 - Dooley Surrenders

Marshal Dillon faces a difficult task when he is asked to track down and bring in an old friend who is now a wanted criminal in "Ep 44 - Dooley Surrenders." The episode begins with Dillon, Chester, and a deputy riding into town with a prisoner. The prisoner, a young man named Johnny, has been arrested for stealing cattle. Dillon drops off Johnny at the jail and then heads over to the saloon for a drink.

While at the saloon, Dillon runs into an old friend named Will Dooley. Dooley is a notorious outlaw who has been on the run for years. Dillon is hesitant to talk to Dooley, knowing that he is now wanted, but he can't resist catching up with an old friend. The two men reminisce about the old days and Dillon urges Dooley to turn himself in, promising to do everything in his power to help him.

Dooley is wary of turning himself in, knowing that he will most likely be sent to prison for the rest of his life. But as the night wears on, he starts to come around to Dillon's way of thinking. He tells Dillon that if he is ever ready to turn himself in, he will leave a message with a bartender named Sam.

The next morning, Dillon receives word that Dooley has turned himself in and is waiting for him at the jail. Dillon is surprised but pleased that Dooley has kept his word. He goes to the jail to talk to him and finds that he is not alone. A group of Dooley's men have also turned themselves in, hoping to receive leniency for their crimes.

Dillon is torn between his loyalty to his old friend and his duty as a lawman. He knows that he cannot let Dooley and his men go free, but he also doesn't want to see them hang. He decides to take them to trial and plead for mercy on their behalf.

The trial is a tense affair, with both sides presenting their cases. Dillon argues that Dooley and his men should not be hanged, as they turned themselves in voluntarily and are willing to pay for their crimes. The prosecutor, however, argues that they are dangerous criminals who should be removed from society.

In the end, the judge decides to show mercy to Dooley and his men. They are sentenced to a year in prison, but are also given the opportunity to work off their sentences by working on a ranch. Dillon is pleased with the outcome and feels that justice has been served.

The episode ends with Dillon and Dooley saying goodbye to each other. Dooley tells Dillon that he is grateful for his help, but he knows that he will never be able to leave his outlaw past behind. Dillon wishes him luck and rides off into the sunset, knowing that he has done the best he could for his old friend.