Ep 5. Strange Town

The Rifleman was a popular western television show that aired from 1958 to 1963. The show follows the story of Lucas McCain, a skilled cowboy and sharpshooter who lives in the town of North Fork with his son Mark. In season 3 episode 5 titled "Strange Town," Lucas finds himself in a new town where the people seem unfriendly and suspicious of strangers.

Lucas and Mark are on their way back to North Fork from a cattle drive when they find themselves passing through a town they've never been to before. The town is called Freedom and as soon as they enter, they notice that the people seem different. The townsfolk all seem to know each other and are very unwelcoming to outsiders.

Lucas is skeptical and decides to investigate. He asks around but no one seems to give him a straight answer about what's going on. He also notices that the town's saloon owner, Dan Willard, seems to be the most fearful of strangers.

As Lucas tries to get to the bottom of what's happening in Freedom, he discovers that Dan's wife Mary was killed in a robbery a few years ago. The killer was never caught and the townspeople blame outsiders for the crime.

Lucas is determined to find the killer and clear the name of outsiders in Freedom. He decides to stay in town for a while to investigate further. This decision puts him in danger as the townsfolk become more and more suspicious of him.

Lucas is faced with challenges throughout the episode, from being framed for Mary's murder to being ambushed by the townspeople. He also learns that the killer is in hiding and has been living in Freedom all along.

In the end, Lucas and Mark are able to uncover the truth behind Mary's murder and bring the killer to justice. The townsfolk finally begin to see the error of their ways and realize that outsiders are not to blame. Lucas and Mark leave Freedom satisfied that they were able to bring justice to the town.

Overall, season 3 episode 5 of The Rifleman is an intense and exciting story about a cowboy seeking justice in a town full of suspicion and fear. The episode does a great job of highlighting the themes of prejudice and forgiveness and shows how one person's determination can make a difference.