Ep 2. Incident at Alabaster Plain

In the second episode of Rawhide’s first season, titled “Incident at Alabaster Plain,” the focus is on a neighboring ranch where a family of four, including two children, are in trouble. The father has been shot, and the mother is desperate for help. The Rawhide crew is tasked with delivering the necessary aid to the family while dealing with a gang of outlaws.

Cattle drive boss Gil Favor (played by Eric Fleming) must send a team to Alabaster Plain to deliver the supplies and rescue the family while also returning them to the safety of the Rawhide camp. To make matters worse, the team of drovers must travel through dangerous territory and avoid encounters with a gang of criminals known as the Snake Band.

As the team prepares to leave, Rowdy Yates (played by Clint Eastwood) and Pete Nolan (played by Sheb Wooley) discover that the injured father is also a former criminal with a bounty on his head. This complicates their mission, as they are unsure whether they are helping an innocent family or aiding a dangerous criminal.

As the Rawhide team sets out on horseback to Alabaster Plain, they cross paths with the Snake Band, who demand money in exchange for safe passage. A fierce gunfight ensues, and several of the outlaws are killed. The Rawhide team continues on, but tensions are high, and trust is in short supply.

When the Rawhide team finally reaches the injured man's homestead, they are greeted by Mrs. Crowley (played by Jeanne Cooper), who begs them to help her husband and children. They quickly realize the man's wounds are worse than they expected. Despite their reservations, Rowdy and Pete perform surgery on the injured man, saving his life.

Meanwhile, Favor and Mushy (played by James Murdock) are keeping an eye on the nearby band of outlaws, who have not been deterred by the previous encounter. The situation takes a dangerous turn when one of the outlaws sneaks into camp and threatens Mushy's life. The tension doesn't break until Gil calmly shoots the man, putting an end to the conflict.

As the Rawhide team makes its way back to camp, they're ambushed by the Snake Band. A tense and violent gunfight ensues, with the Rawhide crew fighting for their lives to protect the family they're rescuing.

Finally, the team returns to camp, triumphant but weary after their harrowing mission. With tensions high and trust in short supply, the crew must find a way to work together as a team and overcome the obstacles that threaten their success.