Ep 20. The Man from Salinas

The Man from Salinas is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the western TV series, The Rifleman. This episode aired for the first time on February 11, 1963. The Rifleman follows Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher, and his son Mark, as they face various challenges living in the Old West. The show is set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico.

In this episode, a young Mexican boy named Felipe arrives in North Fork from the town of Salinas. The boy is looking for his father, who left him with his mother many years ago and disappeared. Felipe believes that his father, whose name is Diego, is now living in North Fork. He approaches Lucas McCain, who is known to the boy's family, as the man who can help find Diego. Lucas agrees to help Felipe find his father, and they set out to search for him.

They soon discover that Diego is not living in North Fork anymore, but they learn that he had an altercation with a man in town before he left. The man's name is Mace Gore, a notorious saloon owner who is feared by everyone in the town. Lucas realizes that finding Diego won't be easy, and he advises Felipe to go back home. However, Felipe is determined to find his father and convinces Lucas to help him.

They eventually track down Mace Gore and find out that he had a grudge against Diego for allegedly cheating him in a card game. They also find out that Diego is now dead, and his body was buried in North Fork's cemetery. Lucas and Felipe go to the cemetery to pay their respects, but they are attacked by Mace Gore and his men. A shootout ensues, and Lucas and Felipe are badly outnumbered.

In the end, Lucas and Felipe manage to defeat Mace Gore and his men, but not before Lucas gets shot. Felipe is devastated to learn that his father is dead, but he is grateful to Lucas for helping him find closure. The episode ends with Lucas and Felipe bidding farewell to each other, with Lucas promising to look after the boy and make sure he gets back home safely.

Overall, The Man from Salinas is a well-written and engaging episode of The Rifleman. It showcases the show's themes of family values, courage, and justice, and it explores the challenges faced by individuals in the lawless West. The episode also features strong performances from Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain and the guest actors who play Felipe and Mace Gore. If you're a fan of westerns, The Rifleman is a classic television show that is worth watching, and The Man from Salinas is an episode that is definitely worth checking out.