Episode Details

Originally Aired: October 11, 1959

In Gunsmoke #392, "Kitty's Quandary," a drifter named Shave Murdoch has been spending considerable time at the Long Branch, and he's set his sights on Kitty Russell. While Shave smoothly courts Kitty with compliments and attention, he shows particular interest in Marshal Dillon's whereabouts and routines. When Matt arrives to take Kitty to supper, tension crackles between the two men. Shave claims he's in Dodge on business and will be heading to Texas soon, but his questions become more pointed when Kitty mentions that Doc Adams will be pulling Matt's bad tooth that night.

As Doc prepares for the painful procedure, he plans to get Matt heavily liquored up first, which means the marshal will be incapacitated well into the next morning. When Shave learns this detail from Kitty, his reaction suggests more than casual interest. With Chester left in charge of a groggy, whiskey-soaked marshal and a quiet town, the stage is set for trouble. Shave's mysterious "business" in Dodge and his careful timing raise questions about his true intentions.