Episode Details

Originally Aired: March 1, 1959

Gunsmoke #360, "Big Tom," presents Matt Dillon with a troubling situation when Doc Adams comes to him with an urgent warning. Big Tom Burr, a lovable drunk who likes to boast about his fighting days in San Francisco, has been goaded into a bare-knuckle match by Joe Brady and Hob Clay. They've brought in a professional fighter from St. Louis named Creel, who apparently defeated Tom once before in what Tom claims was a foul fight. When Tom seeks Doc's help for dizzy spells, Doc examines him and delivers grave news: Tom's health is so poor that fighting could kill him. Tom refuses to back down, explaining that he was called afraid once and has lived with that shame ever since.

Matt faces the difficult challenge of stopping a fight between two grown men while protecting Tom's pride and his life. The situation becomes even more desperate as Doc reveals that Brady and Clay seem to be orchestrating something more sinister than just a simple brawl, leaving Matt to untangle their motives before Tom steps into what could be his final fight.