One Went to Denver

"One Went to Denver" is the 25th episode of The Rifleman Season One and the 25th episode overall. Directed by Lewis Allen and written by Pat Fielder, it aired on March 17, 1959.
==Synopsis==
Lucas reunites with his old friend Tom Birch, unaware that he and his gang intend on robbing the North Fork bank.
==Watch==
==Plot==
Tom Birch, the leader of a gang of outlaws, plans a bank robbery in North Fork with his gang members. While his associates head to the town hotel, Tom visits his old friend Lucas McCain at his ranch. Lucas and Tom share a warm reunion, reminiscing about their past, though Lucas's son, Mark, is wary of Tom due to his notorious reputation.
Meanwhile, one of Tom's gang members arrives in North Fork and checks into the hotel under a fake name. Marshal Micah Torrance, who has been alerted about a gang of outlaws heading toward North Fork, takes notice.
Later, Lucas tries to ease Mark's concerns, explaining that Tom once saved his life and that they were as close as brothers until Lucas met Margaret, after which their paths diverged. Despite Tom's past misdeeds, Lucas still considers him a friend. When Lucas and Tom talk, Tom mentions that he plans to leave for Denver the next morning.
Early the following morning, while Lucas is still asleep, Mark sees Tom riding toward North Fork. Tom rejoins some of his gang members and, feeling remorseful, tries in vain to dissuade them from robbing North Fork. After Lucas wakes up, Mark tells him what he saw, prompting Lucas to grab his rifle and head to North Fork.
Tom and two of his gang members gather at the saloon, preparing for the heist. Tom expresses regret, wishing he could live the life of a rancher like Lucas. When the time comes to execute their plan, the gang member who stayed at the hotel sets it on fire as a distraction. Lucas confronts Tom in the saloon, questioning whether he's there to rob the bank, but their conversation is cut short by the hotel fire. Amid the chaos, Tom's gang members attempt to hold up the bank but are shot by Marshal Torrance and a bank guard he had hired upon learning of the gang's arrival.
Tom Birch gets up to leave and ride out of North Fork. Lucas tells him if he does he will kill him. Tom continues anyway, and Lucas finds that he is unable to kill his friend. As he gets on his horse, Lucas throws his rifle at him, knocking him to the ground. Tom then turns himself in to the marshal.
==Cast==
===Main===
*Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors
*Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford
*Micah Torrance - Paul Fix
===Recurring===
*John Hamilton - Harlan Warde
*Sweeney - Bill Quinn
*Eddie Halstead - John Harmon (uncredited)
===Guests===
*Tom Birch - Richard Anderson
*Eber Tate - Lewis Charles
*Sammy - Jack Kruschen
*Jimmy Carson - Ben Morris
*Naylor - John Goddard
Category:Episodes
Category:Season One episodes
Category:Episode pages with completed plot sections