A sheriff from Miami, Texas comes to Dodge and announces himself to Marshal Dillon. He says he will be in Dodge City a few days looking for a murderer. But he plays his cards very close to his vest. He won't show the marshal a picture of the killer because he claims that people can easily change their appearance. He doesn't even give the name of the killer. But he does like to tell tall tales about Texas - some truth mixed with legend.
In a parallel tale everybody talks about what nice people the Curtins are. They are always friendly, they are always giving invitations to dinner at their place, and they are genuinely devoted to each other. How do the stories of the Curtins and the mysterious lawman collide? Watch and find out.
Gunsmoke was surprisingly socially relevant for a TV show about the old west that grew out of a radio show about a lawman who lived on the edge. This particular show has something to say about the destructive force of greed, especially with that final shot.
It is interesting that Mrs. Curtin has no first name here. She is just "Mrs. Curtin". Played by Virginia Gregg, a frequent supporting actress in 50s, 60s, and 70s TV, she was 45 when this episode was made, and yet people keep referring to her as Curtin's "pretty little wife". Ms. Gregg looks good for her age but she is hardly credible as a young bride.