In a episode that is just as timely today as when the show was set in rural Kansas, we get to see that some problems are not difficult to solve no matter which era of time the situation is set. This show will be difficult for some people to watch- and others will be taken by surprise as mental illness is present in this different type of western plot.
When a young man named Billy (Russell Wiggins) with the mental ability of a small child believes he has no friends in the entire world. He remembers that he had one friend named Festus that lives in Dodge. Festus gladly accepts the mentally challenged Billy to the town and agrees to help the young man get on his feet.
It will not be long before the child-like tendencies of Billy will come to the surface when a cowboy intentionally hurts a small cat. Billy becomes so upset that he loses control and seriously injures the cowboy. It seems that his innocent is so strong that he cannot control himself when presented with any type of injure to a living animal.
It becomes apparent that Festus will not be able to watch over the young man when he becomes violent a second time. And there is only one place that is able to care and protect Billy from harm. Festus makes a difficult reality check- when he carries Billy to the state-run mental asylum.
Unable to care for Billy, Festus will have to make the decision to leave Billy or make other arrangements. Either way Festus is not in a situation where he can care for Billy.
This is a serious well-played drama for a 'Gunsmoke' episode. Ken Curtis and Russell Wiggins characters had good chemistry that plays well on the screen. Thereby making this episode a gem that could have easily been a boulder.
When a young man named Billy (Russell Wiggins) with the mental ability of a small child believes he has no friends in the entire world. He remembers that he had one friend named Festus that lives in Dodge. Festus gladly accepts the mentally challenged Billy to the town and agrees to help the young man get on his feet.
It will not be long before the child-like tendencies of Billy will come to the surface when a cowboy intentionally hurts a small cat. Billy becomes so upset that he loses control and seriously injures the cowboy. It seems that his innocent is so strong that he cannot control himself when presented with any type of injure to a living animal.
It becomes apparent that Festus will not be able to watch over the young man when he becomes violent a second time. And there is only one place that is able to care and protect Billy from harm. Festus makes a difficult reality check- when he carries Billy to the state-run mental asylum.
Unable to care for Billy, Festus will have to make the decision to leave Billy or make other arrangements. Either way Festus is not in a situation where he can care for Billy.
This is a serious well-played drama for a 'Gunsmoke' episode. Ken Curtis and Russell Wiggins characters had good chemistry that plays well on the screen. Thereby making this episode a gem that could have easily been a boulder.