Ep 1. Friend's Pay-Off

Marshal Matt Dillon and his trusty deputy Festus Haggen are back in Dodge for another thrilling season of Gunsmoke. In the premiere episode of season six, entitled "Friend's Pay-Off," the two lawmen face a difficult moral dilemma that puts their friendship to the test.

The trouble starts when a old friend of Festus's, a former convict named Joe Sims, arrives in Dodge looking for work. Festus is more than happy to help Joe out and gets him a job as a stable hand at the Long Branch Saloon stables. However, when a large sum of money goes missing from the saloon's safe, Joe becomes the prime suspect.

The evidence against Joe is circumstantial at best, but that doesn't stop the saloon's owner, Mr. Hightower, from accusing him of the crime. The more Mr. Hightower presses the issue, the more Festus starts to doubt his friend's innocence. When Joe's alibi falls apart, Festus is forced to make a difficult decision: should he stand by his friend or turn him over to the authorities?

Meanwhile, Matt Dillon is dealing with his own problems. A notorious outlaw named Morgan Earp (no relation to the famous lawman Wyatt Earp) has come to Dodge, and Matt fears that he's planning something big. Morgan and his gang have a reputation for being ruthless and cunning, and Matt knows that they won't stop until they get what they want. He teams up with a local rancher named Ben Tiple, who has a score to settle with Morgan, to try and stop the outlaw before it's too late.

As the two storylines unfold, tensions rise in Dodge. Festus and Matt find themselves at odds over what to do with Joe Sims, while Morgan Earp and his gang continue to cause trouble and chaos throughout the town. The situation comes to a head in an explosive final showdown, where alliances will be tested and loyalties will be put to the ultimate test.

Overall, "Friend's Pay-Off" is an excellent start to season six of Gunsmoke. The episode is tense, exciting, and full of moral complexity, with compelling performances from all the main cast members. Whether you're a longtime fan of the show or a newcomer looking for a great Western drama, this episode is not to be missed.