Ep 3. Horse Deal

Marshal Matt Dillon is back in action in the Wild West town of Dodge City, Kansas in Gunsmoke season 5 episode 3 titled Horse Deal. Matt is no stranger to dealing with cowboys, ranchers, and outlaws, but this time he's up against a corrupt horse dealer named Joe Costa.

The episode begins with Joe Costa arriving in Dodge City with a string of horses he's looking to sell. Costa has quite the reputation for selling horses that are underfed, undertrained and generally not worth the price he's asking for. Matt's friend and the local blacksmith, Quint Asper, is interested in buying one of Costa's horses, but before he can make a deal, Costa is accused of selling a stolen horse.

Matt is immediately suspicious of Costa and sets out to prove that he's been buying and selling stolen horses for years. Even though there's no proof, Matt knows that he needs to keep an eye on Costa to keep him from taking advantage of the people in Dodge City. But it's not long before Costa's shady dealings start to catch up with him.

One of Costa's customers, a rancher named Will Storm, has bought a horse from Costa that is so underfed it dies within days. Storm is furious and sets out to find Costa and get his money back. When he eventually confronts Costa, the horse dealer pulls a gun on him and threatens him with violence. Storm is forced to turn to Matt for help.

Matt is now more determined than ever to take down Costa and put him out of business for good. With the help of his trusty deputy Festus Haggen, Matt sets a trap for Costa and catches him in the act of stealing yet another horse. Costa is arrested and put in jail, but he's not going down without a fight. He hires a slick lawyer to try and get him off the charges, but with Matt's tenacity and dogged determination, justice is finally served.

Throughout the episode, Matt's sense of justice and duty to the law are clear. He's a man who doesn't back down from a challenge, even when it means taking on a dangerous criminal like Joe Costa. Matt is also shown to be a man of compassion and empathy, as evidenced by his friendship with Quint Asper and his determination to help Will Storm get justice for his horse.

Overall, Horse Deal is a thrilling episode of Gunsmoke, full of action, drama, and suspense. With Matt Dillon at the helm, viewers are taken on a wild ride in the Wild West, showcasing the best of classic Western TV drama.