Ep 8. Ordeal

The Rifleman is an American Western television series that aired from September 30, 1958, to April 8, 1963 on ABC. The show follows the story of Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher and sharpshooter who raises his son Mark in the town of North Fork, New Mexico, during the late 1800s.

Season 2 Episode 8 of The Rifleman is titled "Ordeal," which aired on November 25, 1959. In this episode, Lucas McCain is put to the test to clear his name after he is accused of murdering a doctor. The story begins when Dr. Grimes arrives in North Fork and sets up his practice. Lucas goes to see him regarding a shoulder injury and, while there, he sees his old friend, Johnny Cotton, who's become addicted to laudanum. He tries to convince Johnny to stop taking the drug, but the doctor and his nurse, Belle, intervene and claim that Johnny needs the medication for his health.

After Lucas leaves, he finds Johnny's horse outside his own home and goes inside to investigate. He finds Johnny dead and Dr. Grimes and Belle nearby. Grimes tells Lucas he saw him going into the house, and soon the townspeople also believe Lucas is the murderer.

Lucas is then arrested and put on trial for murder. His defense is that he didn't kill Johnny and he believes that Dr. Grimes and Belle are responsible for his friend's death, as he had seen them taking laudanum from Johnny's saddlebag. Dr. Grimes and Belle deny any wrongdoing and claim that Lucas is just trying to deflect the blame from himself.

The trial is tense, and Lucas is under immense pressure to defend himself. Meanwhile, his son Mark is working with Micah, the town's marshal, to find evidence that could clear his father's name. Together, they discover that Dr. Grimes has a secret laudanum lab, and they suspect that he is using his practice to sell the drug illegally.

With the help of Micah, Lucas and Mark attempt to gather enough evidence to prove their theory. However, Grimes and Belle catch on and try to stop them from uncovering the truth. One night, while Lucas and Mark are investigating the lab, they are attacked by Grimes and his men. In the ensuing fight, Grimes is killed, and Belle escapes.

With Grimes dead, Lucas is finally acquitted of the murder charges. However, he is left to deal with the consequences of the trial. Many of his friends and neighbors have lost faith in him, and he finds himself isolated from the community that he once considered home.

Despite the setback, Lucas is grateful to have his freedom and the support of his son. Mark reminds him that they still have each other and that they will always have a place in each other's hearts. Lucas realizes that the true test of his character is not what happens to him but how he responds to it.

In the end, Lucas reflects on the ordeal and the lessons he learned from it. He comes to appreciate the value of forgiveness and second chances, and he comes to understand that sometimes the greatest challenges we face are the ones that help us grow the most.