Ep 3. Quint Asper Comes Home

Quint Asper Comes Home is the third episode of the eighth season of the popular Western television show, Gunsmoke. The episode originally aired on October 19, 1963, and was directed by Christian Nyby.

The episode begins with Quint Asper, a former cowhand on Matt Dillon's ranch, returning to Dodge City after a five-year absence. Asper is played by Burt Reynolds, who was a relatively unknown actor at the time. However, his appearance on Gunsmoke helped to launch his career and make him a household name.

Asper is recognized by Matt and Festus, but he has changed significantly since he left Dodge. He is more confident, self-assured, and ambitious than he was before. He has also learned how to handle a gun, and he is not afraid to use it to defend himself.

Asper is back in town to start his own cattle ranch, and he needs Matt's help to get started. However, Matt is hesitant to help him because he knows that Asper has a reputation for being a troublemaker. In the past, Asper has been involved in several disputes with other cowhands and ranchers, and Matt is afraid that his presence in Dodge will cause more trouble.

Despite his reservations, Matt agrees to help Asper because he remembers him as a good worker and a loyal friend. Together, they go to the bank to secure a loan for Asper's ranch. However, things don't go as planned, and Asper soon finds himself in trouble with the law.

Asper's loan application is denied because he doesn't have any collateral to put up for the loan. Desperate for money, he takes a job as a guard for a group of outlaws who are planning to rob a bank in a nearby town. However, when the robbery goes wrong, Asper is blamed for the crime and is arrested.

Matt is torn between his loyalty to Asper and his duty to uphold the law. He knows that Asper is innocent, but he also knows that he needs to prove it in court. With Festus's help, Matt investigates the crime and discovers the real culprits behind the robbery.

In the end, Asper is exonerated, and he is able to start his own cattle ranch with the help of Matt and his friends. The episode ends with Asper riding off into the sunset, ready to start a new chapter in his life.

Overall, Quint Asper Comes Home is a classic Gunsmoke episode that showcases the show's strong writing, engaging characters, and gritty realism. Burt Reynolds's performance as Quint Asper is particularly noteworthy, and it's easy to see why he went on to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars.