1 00:00:04,150 --> 00:00:06,030 The Rifleman. 2 00:00:13,030 --> 00:00:15,030 Starring Chuck Connors. 3 00:01:41,020 --> 00:01:46,000 Judgment is mine, for I am the true judge of all things. 4 00:02:01,070 --> 00:02:03,000 How they feel son? 5 00:02:03,030 --> 00:02:05,020 Good Pa, just right. 6 00:02:05,050 --> 00:02:07,000 Well, walk in them a little, that's 7 00:02:07,030 --> 00:02:08,040 what boots are for, walking. 8 00:02:13,140 --> 00:02:15,020 Well? 9 00:02:15,050 --> 00:02:17,170 Swell, Pa. 10 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:18,180 Now can I take them off? 11 00:02:18,210 --> 00:02:22,020 All right. 12 00:02:22,050 --> 00:02:24,050 Got everything on your list Luke, 13 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:25,140 you're sure there's nothing else? 14 00:02:25,170 --> 00:02:28,070 No, that's about it Hattie, except for a bag of beans, 15 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:29,110 and a bag of flour. 16 00:02:29,140 --> 00:02:33,090 Beans and flour, meat and potatoes, 17 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,230 is that all you and that boy of yours are going to eat? 18 00:02:36,020 --> 00:02:38,010 It's good, solid food. 19 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,130 Well, where's the greens? 20 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,070 Greens? 21 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:43,120 String beans, collards, 22 00:02:43,150 --> 00:02:45,020 turnip and beet greens. 23 00:02:45,050 --> 00:02:47,060 Now don't you be telling me that your Ma didn't feed them 24 00:02:47,090 --> 00:02:49,000 to you when you was a sprout. 25 00:02:49,030 --> 00:02:51,180 She sure did, and I sure hated him. 26 00:02:51,210 --> 00:02:54,140 Of course you hated him, but you ate them, 27 00:02:54,170 --> 00:02:55,230 or else you wouldn't have grow-ed 28 00:02:56,020 --> 00:02:57,160 up a big lunk that you are. 29 00:02:57,190 --> 00:03:00,010 Put him in a sack Hattie, I'll take them, 30 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:00,220 now add up what I owe you. 31 00:03:01,010 --> 00:03:02,100 Luke, letter for you. 32 00:03:02,130 --> 00:03:03,180 I'll get it for you Pa. 33 00:03:03,210 --> 00:03:05,090 All right. 34 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,000 Pretty writing, can I open it Pa? 35 00:03:12,030 --> 00:03:13,110 Sure, son. 36 00:03:13,140 --> 00:03:14,180 Well, how much do I owe you, Hattie? 37 00:03:14,210 --> 00:03:18,120 $5,14 Luke. 38 00:03:18,150 --> 00:03:19,150 Ain't no letter. 39 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:21,010 No. 40 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,200 And there's something torn from a newspaper, 41 00:03:23,230 --> 00:03:28,160 about a hangman getting shot at Towners, some sort of saying. 42 00:03:28,190 --> 00:03:30,030 Saying? 43 00:03:30,060 --> 00:03:35,160 Yeah, judgment is mine, for I am the judge of all things. 44 00:03:35,190 --> 00:03:39,010 Judgement. 45 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,090 Who's it from Pa, what's it mean? 46 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,170 Nothing, nothing at all, just some kind of a joke, 47 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,010 you go wait for me in the book board. 48 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:46,000 But Pa, why? 49 00:03:46,030 --> 00:03:48,170 Go on, son. 50 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,080 Kind of peculiar joke to send a man 51 00:03:51,110 --> 00:03:54,140 a newspaper story about a hangman who got himself shot, 52 00:03:54,170 --> 00:03:56,070 how did it happen? 53 00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:58,050 It's a private matter Willard. 54 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,170 Well, excuse me Luke, I just didn't 55 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,000 think there was anything so private 56 00:04:02,030 --> 00:04:02,220 about a newspaper clipping. 57 00:04:03,010 --> 00:04:07,010 Oh, of course, I'm sorry. 58 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,010 Exactly how far is Towners from here, Willard? 59 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,090 About 300 miles, give or take 10 either way, 60 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,140 a weeks hard riding would bring a man there. 61 00:04:15,170 --> 00:04:17,190 Or could bring him here. 62 00:05:15,180 --> 00:05:20,120 This is my judgement, for I am the only true judge. 63 00:06:14,230 --> 00:06:17,160 Expecting friendly company, Lucas boy? 64 00:06:17,190 --> 00:06:19,070 What are you doing out this way Micah? 65 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:22,040 I'm out to ask you a few questions. 66 00:06:22,070 --> 00:06:24,030 Oh. 67 00:06:24,060 --> 00:06:31,090 But first, here, Henry Denton down at the post office 68 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,180 gave it to me when he heard I was coming out this way, 69 00:06:33,210 --> 00:06:35,230 figured it might be important. 70 00:06:46,180 --> 00:06:48,060 Is that the story on the murder 71 00:06:48,090 --> 00:06:50,170 of Judge Martin Harlow? 72 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,160 Nobody's been prying, I got a notice on it from the Sheriff 73 00:06:53,190 --> 00:06:55,190 up in Claypoole, just in case the man who done it 74 00:06:55,220 --> 00:06:57,060 heads down this way. 75 00:06:57,090 --> 00:06:59,030 Did he tell you what he looked like? 76 00:06:59,060 --> 00:07:02,170 I figured you might be able to tell me that. 77 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,050 I can't. 78 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,000 But Henry Denton told me you got the same kind of a letter 79 00:07:06,030 --> 00:07:08,050 once before. 80 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:13,000 Just like this, first the man who hung Ephrem Burton, then 81 00:07:13,030 --> 00:07:15,130 the man who sentenced Ephrem Burton, 82 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,220 and now the man who caught Ephrem Burton. 83 00:07:18,010 --> 00:07:19,200 You? 84 00:07:19,230 --> 00:07:20,190 Yeah. 85 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,000 The day of judgment approaches, 86 00:07:28,030 --> 00:07:30,050 and I am the judge. 87 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,170 He is Judge Zephaniah Burton, Ephrem's father. 88 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,030 Who's Ephrem? 89 00:07:35,060 --> 00:07:37,020 A man who was hanging around Claypoole when Mark 90 00:07:37,050 --> 00:07:38,220 and I were living there, wild, loud-mouthed 91 00:07:39,010 --> 00:07:40,230 kid about 20 or so. 92 00:07:41,020 --> 00:07:43,050 Nobody paid much attention to him except when he was drunk, 93 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,120 then he was wild, excitable. 94 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,140 Like the day exploded, it's been over a year or more, 95 00:07:51,170 --> 00:07:54,040 and I can see it like it was yesterday. 96 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:56,190 Sunday morning church was over, Mark and I 97 00:07:56,220 --> 00:07:58,040 were leaving when Ephrem from down the street 98 00:07:58,070 --> 00:08:00,220 leading his horse, he was drunk as a hoot owl 99 00:08:01,010 --> 00:08:03,200 and cuss-in to beat all get out. 100 00:08:03,230 --> 00:08:06,150 The preacher, one of the deacons went over to shut him up, 101 00:08:06,180 --> 00:08:08,060 next thing we knew there was a gun in Ephrem's hand, 102 00:08:08,090 --> 00:08:10,180 and he started shooting. 103 00:08:10,210 --> 00:08:12,050 When he stopped the deacon was dead, 104 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,110 and two little girls were wounded. 105 00:08:15,140 --> 00:08:18,160 Ephrem got on his horse and rode out of town, 106 00:08:18,190 --> 00:08:21,040 I was on the posse that went after him, wasn't hard to trail 107 00:08:21,070 --> 00:08:23,100 a half-loco, drunk kid. 108 00:08:23,130 --> 00:08:25,190 We cornered him on a ledge in a box canyon, 109 00:08:25,220 --> 00:08:27,180 the only way to get at him without someone getting 110 00:08:27,210 --> 00:08:30,020 killed was what this. 111 00:08:30,050 --> 00:08:31,140 Sheriff said I-- 112 00:08:31,170 --> 00:08:34,150 I wasn't to kill him, just wound him. 113 00:08:34,180 --> 00:08:39,000 I did, shattered his leg, we brought him back to be 114 00:08:39,030 --> 00:08:40,080 tried, convicted, and hung. 115 00:08:40,110 --> 00:08:42,210 And he was legal, no lynching? 116 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,000 That's the way folks wanted it, why I got that letter. 117 00:08:47,030 --> 00:08:50,170 Only the hanging had to wait until after he was all healed, 118 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,070 Mark and I left before that, came here and settled. 119 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:56,060 Well, after it was all over, Judge Harlow and I 120 00:08:56,090 --> 00:08:59,020 got letters both about the same, in that handwriting signed 121 00:08:59,050 --> 00:09:01,080 by Judge Zephaniah Burton. 122 00:09:01,110 --> 00:09:03,130 They raved about how no boy of his could do wrong, 123 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,230 and how he'd sit in judgment of the men who judged his son, 124 00:09:08,020 --> 00:09:09,150 sit as judge and executioner. 125 00:09:09,180 --> 00:09:12,130 Well, why was nothing done, there were threats? 126 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,200 We tried to check up, the letter came from Kentucky. 127 00:09:16,230 --> 00:09:19,070 We found out there was a circuit riding Judge named Zephaniah 128 00:09:19,100 --> 00:09:22,150 Burton, a harsh unyielding man, regular hanging 129 00:09:22,180 --> 00:09:25,230 judge, who just lost an election there, 130 00:09:26,020 --> 00:09:28,110 nobody knew where he'd gone. 131 00:09:28,140 --> 00:09:30,230 They questioned Ephrem, but he claimed he had no father, 132 00:09:31,020 --> 00:09:34,170 said he never knew who he was, I guess he was denying the man. 133 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,080 Do you recollect where in Kentucky the letter came from? 134 00:09:38,110 --> 00:09:40,000 Freemansboro, why? 135 00:09:40,030 --> 00:09:44,080 Well, I'd like to get a look at this man, wouldn't you? 136 00:09:44,110 --> 00:09:48,100 I sure would, it's no good for a man to pick this up every 137 00:09:48,130 --> 00:09:49,110 time a stranger rides by. 138 00:09:53,060 --> 00:09:56,080 Yes, Micah, it would be a real welcome 139 00:09:56,110 --> 00:09:59,120 to know what the man looks like, who wants to kill me. 140 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,030 If you haven't got those coals hot enough 141 00:10:18,060 --> 00:10:20,080 by the time I get back from school, Pa, 142 00:10:20,110 --> 00:10:21,200 I'll show you how to do it. 143 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:25,070 Now you just show yourself the multiplication tables, huh. 144 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:26,040 All right. 145 00:10:29,090 --> 00:10:31,010 But if you didn't pack the coals so tight 146 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:31,180 you'd get a better draft. 147 00:10:34,230 --> 00:10:38,170 You just better get yourself to school boy. 148 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,070 Bye, Pa. 149 00:11:27,140 --> 00:11:30,140 Well, it looks like you hurt your leg sweetie pie, 150 00:11:30,170 --> 00:11:32,040 we'll take good care of that. 151 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:48,150 For the prodigal son was prepared, 152 00:11:48,180 --> 00:11:50,130 but for my son a hangman's rope. 153 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,230 Don't turn around, unless you would 154 00:11:53,020 --> 00:11:56,130 look into the face of death. 155 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,010 Can I put the calf down? 156 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:03,230 Gently, for I am not here to pass judgment on a calf, 157 00:12:04,020 --> 00:12:06,110 nor on a man, since it has been revealed 158 00:12:06,140 --> 00:12:10,030 to me that you too have a son. 159 00:12:10,060 --> 00:12:13,120 That is right, for I am the judge, 160 00:12:13,150 --> 00:12:19,050 and this is my judgment, an eye for eye, a tooth for a tooth, 161 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:22,110 a son for a son. 162 00:12:22,140 --> 00:12:25,180 It is simple, poetic justice. 163 00:12:25,210 --> 00:12:30,080 Yeah, simple, poetic justice. 164 00:12:35,090 --> 00:12:39,090 My son could have been guilty of no evil, all my life 165 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,090 I've been a judge of evil, I raised him 166 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,220 in a stern and righteous mold, punishing harshly, and swiftly, 167 00:12:45,010 --> 00:12:47,090 when he strayed from the path of righteousness. 168 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:51,100 My son did no evil, but all of you who persecuted him did. 169 00:12:51,130 --> 00:12:55,020 So you must suffer as I have suffered, waiting endless hour 170 00:12:55,050 --> 00:12:57,110 upon hour for my son to hang. 171 00:12:57,140 --> 00:13:00,200 For this the judgment I pronounce upon you, that you 172 00:13:00,230 --> 00:13:02,200 wait for the death of your son. 173 00:13:02,230 --> 00:13:04,140 That you'll count the minutes and the hours 174 00:13:04,170 --> 00:13:06,190 as the sun passes across the heavens, 175 00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:08,010 knowing that the moment approaches when 176 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,160 I the judge, I the jury, will act as executioner 177 00:13:11,190 --> 00:13:14,120 as hangman for your son. 178 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,120 Soon the scales of justice will be balanced. 179 00:13:43,150 --> 00:13:45,130 Why not now? 180 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,060 You've got me. 181 00:13:47,090 --> 00:13:51,100 This is not for you, there was no hangman's noose for me, 182 00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:54,050 but for my son. 183 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,230 Listen, it's me, I'm the one that caught your boy, 184 00:13:58,020 --> 00:13:59,170 I'm the one you have to judge and punish. 185 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:05,150 And this is my judgment, that as I waited for my son to hang, 186 00:14:05,180 --> 00:14:09,010 so shall you wait for yours to do likewise. 187 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,220 If you touch him, if you harm him, I'll kill you, 188 00:14:13,010 --> 00:14:16,020 you hear me! 189 00:14:16,050 --> 00:14:17,230 So help me, I'll kill you if I have to crawl 190 00:14:18,020 --> 00:14:21,190 back from my grave to do it! 191 00:14:21,220 --> 00:14:25,110 Judge Burton, do you believe in the law? 192 00:14:25,140 --> 00:14:28,050 That's all I did, upheld the law, a legal jury brought-- 193 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,020 arrgh. 194 00:15:07,210 --> 00:15:08,210 Hello boy. 195 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,230 Mr. McCain around? 196 00:15:13,020 --> 00:15:14,140 Ain't you his son? 197 00:15:14,170 --> 00:15:16,050 Heck, no. 198 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,150 And I'm sure glad I ain't Mark, he won't 199 00:15:18,180 --> 00:15:20,080 be home until way past dark. 200 00:15:20,110 --> 00:15:22,010 Way past dark? 201 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,060 That's what he told me to tell his Pa. 202 00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:27,090 Teacher caught him pitching spitballs, 203 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,180 so he's got to cut a whole cord of kindling, 204 00:15:29,210 --> 00:15:31,090 that's a big heap of wood. 205 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,070 You tell Mr. McCain? 206 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:35,000 I'll tell him boy. 207 00:15:35,030 --> 00:15:35,210 Thank you, sir. 208 00:15:45,070 --> 00:15:49,090 Joy on your face, well, judgment will still be mine. 209 00:15:50,220 --> 00:15:54,010 Even the patience of a judge can be sorely tried, 210 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,040 I'm going after your boy, and bring him here. 211 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:00,160 Arrgh. 212 00:18:12,170 --> 00:18:14,050 Yes. 213 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,050 I've come for Luke McCain's boy. 214 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:18,160 Is something a matter? 215 00:18:18,190 --> 00:18:21,140 Yes ma'am, Mr. McCain's been hurt. 216 00:18:21,170 --> 00:18:22,220 Pa? 217 00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:24,210 Yes, boy. 218 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,030 You may be excused Mark. 219 00:18:28,060 --> 00:18:29,100 Is it serious? 220 00:18:29,130 --> 00:18:33,010 Serious ma'am, but not fatal, a badly broken ankle. 221 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:34,100 How'd it happen? 222 00:18:34,130 --> 00:18:37,110 I found him on the road, his wagon hit a rut, 223 00:18:37,140 --> 00:18:40,000 it turned over, your Pa tried to jump free 224 00:18:40,030 --> 00:18:41,040 but his foot got caught. 225 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,060 What is it boy? 226 00:18:47,090 --> 00:18:50,020 I was just giving thanks it weren't no worse. 227 00:18:50,050 --> 00:18:51,160 You are a God fearing boy? 228 00:18:51,190 --> 00:18:53,080 Of course, sir. 229 00:18:53,110 --> 00:18:56,050 That's good boy, good. 230 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,180 Come on, I'll show you where your Pa is. 231 00:19:04,220 --> 00:19:06,030 Let's hurry. 232 00:19:06,060 --> 00:19:08,030 Yes. 233 00:19:34,170 --> 00:19:36,140 Arrgh. 234 00:19:43,010 --> 00:19:44,230 Arrgh. 235 00:19:52,010 --> 00:19:52,210 Arrgh. 236 00:20:30,020 --> 00:20:31,200 Hey, mister, you all right? 237 00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:34,210 What, what happened? 238 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,230 Well, your horse must of stumbled, how do you feel? 239 00:20:38,020 --> 00:20:43,100 I don't, my head, it hurts here from. 240 00:20:43,130 --> 00:20:44,130 I'll get somebody. 241 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,010 Oh, no, don't. 242 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:47,160 Don't deny your Pa. 243 00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:49,020 Pa? 244 00:20:49,050 --> 00:20:52,170 I raised you right boy, in the paths of righteousness, 245 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:55,210 if was strict and hard it was for your own good Ephrem, 246 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,140 you understand that boy, don't you, you understand that? 247 00:20:59,170 --> 00:21:01,000 Sure. 248 00:21:01,030 --> 00:21:03,100 I knew you would boy. 249 00:21:03,130 --> 00:21:06,050 They was lying when they said you did evil to deny me, 250 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:07,230 wasn't they? 251 00:21:08,020 --> 00:21:10,140 Of course, but don't talk so much. 252 00:21:10,170 --> 00:21:16,140 Pa, say it Ephrem, call me Pa. 253 00:21:16,170 --> 00:21:21,000 I want them to hear it, that you never denied me, 254 00:21:21,030 --> 00:21:25,110 say it boy, Pa. 255 00:21:25,140 --> 00:21:27,100 Pa. 256 00:21:27,130 --> 00:21:31,130 Thank you, boy. 257 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,110 How are you? 258 00:22:39,140 --> 00:22:41,050 Poorly, I'm afraid. 259 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,010 You know who I am now? 260 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,130 Luke McCain's boy, you could have gone on, 261 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,190 but you stayed here caring for me. 262 00:22:50,220 --> 00:22:52,120 You were kind of out of your head 263 00:22:52,150 --> 00:22:55,200 there for a while, kept on calling me Ephrem, 264 00:22:55,230 --> 00:22:57,170 and asking me to call you Pa. 265 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,080 And did you? 266 00:23:00,110 --> 00:23:03,160 Sure did, I was afraid not to. 267 00:23:03,190 --> 00:23:05,000 Thanks, boy. 268 00:23:09,140 --> 00:23:13,060 Boy, I'd be pleased for a drink of water. 269 00:23:13,090 --> 00:23:15,050 I'll get you some. 270 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:43,010 You stinking dirty devil, I'll kill you with my bare hands! 271 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,070 I'll see you in fire and brimstone for the devil scum 272 00:23:45,100 --> 00:23:46,040 you are! 273 00:23:46,070 --> 00:23:48,180 Pa, Pa. 274 00:23:48,210 --> 00:23:50,000 Mark. 275 00:23:50,030 --> 00:23:53,020 It's a rattler Pa, I didn't see it, he shot it. 276 00:23:53,050 --> 00:23:58,080 Mark, oh, son. 277 00:23:58,110 --> 00:24:01,080 He said your ankle was broke, you 278 00:24:01,110 --> 00:24:03,100 said my Pa's ankle was broke. 279 00:24:03,130 --> 00:24:05,000 I did boy. 280 00:24:05,030 --> 00:24:08,150 I don't understand Pa. 281 00:24:08,180 --> 00:24:13,030 I don't know whether to kill you, or thank you. 282 00:24:13,060 --> 00:24:14,090 Why did you save him? 283 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:18,090 I saved him from the mercy of the Lord god Jehovah, 284 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:20,120 who has permitted me some atonement 285 00:24:20,150 --> 00:24:22,080 for the evil I have wrought. 286 00:24:22,110 --> 00:24:27,090 For he is the true judge of all things, and I am but his.