Ep 2. Lover Boy

Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, finds himself in the middle of a complicated love triangle in season 9 episode 2 of Gunsmoke, titled "Lover Boy." The episode opens with local saloon girl, Mavis Craymore, played by actress Eileen Heckart, being assaulted by a drunken cowboy named Lathrop, played by actor James Westerfield. Mavis seeks refuge with Kitty Russell, played by Amanda Blake, who owns and operates the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. In the course of talking to Mavis, Kitty discovers that Mavis is in love with a man named Steve York, played by actor John Dehner.

Steve York is a notorious gambler and another one of Mavis' patrons at the saloon. Kitty warns Mavis that Steve is not the kind of man she should be involved with, but Mavis is adamant that she loves him. Meanwhile, Steve has eyes for another woman in town, a widow named Laura Thomas, played by actress Patricia Barry. Laura is wealthy and owns a ranch outside of Dodge City. Steve and Laura have been seeing each other secretly, but Laura is also being courted by wealthy businessman Otis Lowell, played by actor Paul Richards.

In the midst of all this romantic turmoil, Lathrop is found dead in the street, and the evidence points to Steve as the killer. Lathrop had been seen arguing with Steve in the Long Branch Saloon, and Steve had openly threatened to kill him. Matt Dillon arrives on the scene and arrests Steve, who proclaims his innocence. The evidence against Steve seems overwhelming, but Kitty and Laura both believe him to be innocent.

Matt Dillon is forced to navigate this complicated web of small-town romance as he investigates Lathrop's murder. He interviews Mavis, Kitty, Laura, and Otis, trying to piece together what happened on the night of the murder. As he digs deeper, Matt begins to suspect that things are not what they seem. He realizes that each of the suspects in the case has their own motives for wanting Lathrop dead, and that jealousy, passion, and greed may have driven one of them to commit murder.

The tension mounts as Matt works tirelessly to solve the case. The citizens of Dodge City are on edge, and some even turn against the marshal, accusing him of unfairly targeting Steve York. The situation comes to a head when Laura Thomas is kidnapped and held for ransom. Matt is racing against the clock to find Laura and bring her kidnappers to justice.

By the end of the episode, all is revealed, and the truth about Lathrop's murderer shocks everyone involved. Along the way, Matt Dillon learns valuable lessons about love, honor, and the complexity of human relationships. "Lover Boy" is a thrilling and emotionally resonant episode of Gunsmoke that showcases the show's ability to blend action and suspense with nuanced character development and rich storytelling.