YOUNG RIDERS, THE: GUNFIGHTER (TV)
Summary
One in this Western drama series about a group of young Pony Express riders in the antebellum Nebraska Territory. In this episode, Cody observes as a hired gun, Longley, easily shoots down a man rumored to have killed many men. He discusses the issue with the others at dinner, and Hickok spots Emma's pocket watch, which she explains belonged to her father. He soon suffers a nightmare about his own violent father and his troubled childhood, then going for a ride to clear his mind. He goes tearing past Longley and spooks his horse, and Longley is thrown to the ground. He searches the town for the offending horse, and when he asks, Hickok admits that he was the rider, but refuses to apologize for it. Offended, Longley orders him to a shootout, but The Kid quickly knocks Hickok out to save his life. Marshal Cain stops by and tells Longley to leave town soon, and Longley notes that Hickok is "trouble." Hickok fights with The Kid over his actions, but Teaspoon diffuses the situation with a pail of water, and Emma scolds the boys. Teaspoon drags Hickok into a makeshift sweat lodge, saying that he is "full of demons" and needs to exorcise his anger more safely, but Hickok seems bent on revenge.
Cain is visited by an old friend, Ludy, who brings along his son, Little Sam, explaining that his wife has recently died and he intends to send the boy to family in St. Louis. Hickok practices shooting and warns The Kid not to intervene again, and Little Sam is impressed by the two gunfighters. Emma appeals to Cain to make Longley leave Hickok alone, but when he states that he can do nothing, Emma addresses Longley directly, having had a history with him. She offers to pay him for the "public insult," but he demands her father's watch and an apology from Hickok as recompense. She hands over the heirloom and goes home to tell Hickok that he must atone, but Hickok again refuses. Longley then comes for Ludy, having been hired by the brother of a man killed by him, and though Ludy tries to shield Little Sam from seeing, the boy witnesses his father being gunned down. Elsewhere, Teaspoon sets the boys to a little "honest labor" constructing a fence, and Hickok notices that Emma's watch is gone, not believing her claim of losing it. Cain brings Little Sam to Sweetwater Station, explaining that Ludy was shot, and Little Sam asks if Hickok will kill Longley, vowing to do it himself someday otherwise. Hickok thinks of his own father again and then rides out to confront Longley once and for all. He finally apologizes and agrees to Longley's other humiliating demands, but the man still orders him to a shootout, and Hickok readies himself. Cody and the others appear on the scene, however, and take out Longley's other men, and Hickok is able to gun Longley down when he is distracted. He returns Emma's watch to her and she seems dismayed by his actions, but then invites him in to supper, signaling her appreciation. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 21, 1989 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:15308
- GENRE: Drama, western
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1989-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Folgers coffee
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - Jif peanut butter
- TV - Commercials - L'eggs Just My Size pantyhose
- TV - Commercials - Little Caesars restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Luvs diapers
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Oldsmobile automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Subaru automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Vidal Sassoon shampoos
- TV - PSA - Youth Plus organization
- TV - Promos - "Family Matters"
- TV - Promos - "Free Spirit"
- TV - Promos - "Full House"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "Homeroom"
- TV - Promos - "Life Goes On"
- TV - Promos - "MacGyver"
- TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "Perfect Strangers"
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
- TV - Promos - "The Preppie Murder"
- TV - Promos - "The Young Riders" upcoming episode
- TV - Promos - ABC Sports
CREDITS
- Jonas McCord … Executive Producer
- Josh Kane … Executive Producer
- Michael Ogiens … Executive Producer
- Dennis Cooper … Supervising Producer
- Ed Spielman … Supervising Producer, Created by, Writer
- Harvey Frand … Producer
- Tony Palermo … Associate Producer
- Max Tash … Director
- John Debney … Music by
- Stephen Baldwin … Cast, William F. Cody
- Josh Brolin … Cast, James Butler Hickok
- Brett Cullen … Cast, Marshal Sam Cain
- Travis Fine … Cast, Ike McSwain
- Melissa Leo … Cast, Emma Shannon
- Ty Miller … Cast, The Kid
- Gregg Rainwater … Cast, Running Buck Cross
- Yvonne Suhor … Cast, Louise McCloud
- Anthony Zerbe … Cast, Teaspoon
- Jay O. Sanders … Cast, Longley
- Wayne Northrop … Cast, Ludy Bryan
- G.W. Lee … Cast, Little Sam
- Glynn Williams … Cast, Deputy
- Don Collier … Cast, Tompkins
- George Dobbs … Cast, Calvin LeBrock
- Bing Blenman … Cast, Colton