The Brother-in-Law

"The Brother-in-Law" is the 5th episode of The Rifleman Season One and the 5th episode overall. Directed by Arnold Laven and written by David Victor & Herbert Little, Jr., it aired on October 28, 1958.
==Synopsis==
Lucas's brother-in-law Johnny Gibbs visits the McCain ranch, hiding the fact that he is on the run from the law for a robbery.
==Watch==
==Plot==
Johnny Gibbs, the brother of Lucas McCain's late wife, is on the run for robbery and arrives at the McCain ranch. He reunites with Lucas and Mark, who are unaware of him being a wanted man. Being a once famous rodeo rider, he impresses them with his rodeo skills and asks Lucas for a loan to start a Wild West show in Wichita. Lucas, unable to provide the money, offers Johnny a job on the ranch, which Johnny declines.
A rancher named Alvah Kemper comes on the ranch and asks Johnny to tame a stubborn colt named Lucifer, betting $100 that Johnny can stay on the horse for 30 seconds, in order to put his arrogant owner Jeff Stacy in his place. Johnny accepts the challenge, but later makes a deal with Jeff Stacy to throw the match for $500.
When Lucas discovers Johnny's wanted poster, Johnny confesses his criminal past and pleads for a chance to ride the horse before fleeing to Mexico. Lucas, enraged, punches Johnny, but decides not to report him to the marshal after learning that Mark idolizes Johnny and has bet his week's allowance on him.
That night, Johnny, drunk and remorseful, admits to Mark that he is not someone who Mark should be looking up to. The next morning, Johnny admits to Lucas about the deal he made with Jeff Stacy to throw the match, but he's changed his mind and he will try to win the rodeo contest before turning himself in. He also reveals that a past injury ended his rodeo career, which is why he started stealing and drinking.
During the contest, Johnny stays on Lucifer for over 30 seconds, winning the bet and breaking his agreement with Stacy. As Johnny leaves, Stacy's henchman attacks him, but Lucas intervenes. Johnny then goes to turn himself in to Marshal Torrance, and as he leaves with the marshal, Mark reveals that Johnny had confessed the truth to him, but he chose to stand by his uncle anyway.
==Characters==
===Main===
*Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors
*Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford
*Micah Torrance - Paul Fix
===Guests===
*Johnny Gibbs - Jerome Courtland
*Alvah Kemper - Charles Watts
*Jeff Stacy - Fay Roope
*Oliver - Karl Lukas
Category:Episodes
Category:Season One episodes
Category:Episodes with no fatalities
Category:Episode pages with completed plot sections