Joey, Get Your Gun

**"Joey, Get Your Gun"** was the third episode of the first season of *Joe Pickett*. Though originally broadcast on Spectrum Streaming in the fall of 2021, its Paramount+ re-debut was in May 2022.

## Synopsis

As Joe and some other brave locals embark on a dangerous trek, Marybeth contemplates going back to the courtroom for what seems like a worthy cause.

## Plot Summary

Joe goes to visit Wacey Hedeman. He knocks on the door, but Wacey refuses the answer the door until Joe identifies himself. He opens the door and a woman is inside. She is having an affair with Wacey and also funding his campaign for sheriff. Joe explains that his visit is in regards to Ote Keeley, who was last seen with two unknown males before he was found dead on Joe’s property.

Joe asks Wacey to accompany him to Crazy Woman Creek in search of the two unknown men. He doesn't believe that Nate Romanowski is responsible for Ote's death. Wacey guesses that the men may be several states away by now. Joe, however, thinks the men are hiding at Crazy Woman Creek. Wacey hesitates to go, but soon changes his mind when he mentions Sheriff Barnum. They agree to meet at sunrise at the base of the trail.

Marybeth is at the Valley West Women’s Clinic for an ultrasound. Joe goes with her. He apologizes for Ote’s body on their property. She reminds him that he is not the killer. He thinks Ote’s death is linked to the incident on the mountain. She compares life to a game of chess. She is in the bathroom when the doctor enters the room. He accidentally reveals the sex of the baby- but only Joe hears. Joe has a flashback of Christmas when his father gave him a .22 caliber rifle. Joe's mom was not happy with George’s decision to give him the gun. He tries to calm her anxiety by promising to teach him to shoot.

As they leave the clinic, Joe asks Marybeth if she will want to know their baby’s gender if he finds out but she doesn’t want to know. He alerts her of his planned trip to Crazy Woman Creek. She asks if Romanowski is playing him and wants to talk to him. He argues, she is not a murder attorney.

Vern Dunnegan visits Thunderhead Ranch, where he finds Opal Scarlett skeet shooting. Opal sends her granddaughter, Julie Scarlett for lemonade while she talks to Vern. Vern agrees to throw the clay disc for Opal. She has concerns about what Joe might know. He assures her, Pickett doesn’t know anything, or he would have said something. She doesn’t want to mess to clean up. Hank Scarlett and Arlen Scarlett agree with Opal.

Sheriff Barnum asks Deputy McLanahan to come into his office to discuss Romanowski’s unreadable fingerprints. He orders the fingerprints to be redone. McLanahan orders Cricket to redo Nate’s fingerprints. Romanowski refuses to eat a stale sandwich McLanahan brought him because his teeth are loose.

Marybeth visits Colossi’s Coffee House to find out more about Ote’s friends. She knits while telling Mitch about the last time Ote was seen. She admits to being worried about returning home, where Ote’s body was found. Mitch thinks Ote was with Calvin and Kyle Lensegrav. He suggests staying clear of the men.
Sheriff Barnum finds out about Joe and Hedeman’s trip to Crazy Woman Creek. He sends Deputy McLanahan to accompany them up the mountain.

Joe takes care of his horse when Marybeth, Lucy, Sheridan, and Missy return home. He asks Missy about the hotel, which she describes as “traumatizing.” Sheridan asks if Ote has been identified while Lucy asks if his body is gone. Joe asks Sheridan about how she knows the morgue. Marybeth feels safer at home than at the motel. She tells him about Kyle and Calvin and suggests he stay at home. They don’t feel safe in their home. The mountain has the answers to why Ote ended up dead on their property.

Vern calls Joe to tell him he knows about his plan Crazy Woman Creek trip. He claims to be concerned about losing Joe and Hedeman. Hedeman, McLanahan, and Sheriff Barnum wait on Joe at the base of the trail. Sheriff Barnum orders McLanahan to frame Joe and Hedeman for any mishaps. McLanahan jokes about Joe’s .22 caliber rifle. Sheriff Barnum recommends the riot gun, instead of Joe’s .22 rifle. He has a flashback of his father teaching him how to shoot. They enter the Bighorn National Forest trailhead. McLanahan rambles on about his excitement for being on the trail with them.

Joe approaches Nate’s cell. He questions if people can ride a bison if it is saddled. She doesn’t think so. He agrees to trade his fingerprints for a bowl of soup. Marybeth visits Nate to determine if he can be trusted. She suggests he get an attorney. He denies murdering Ote but admits he may have later. She threatens his life if Joe is injured or killed on the mountain.

McLanahan’s horse is spooked. Hedeman takes an oath to fire McLanahan if he is elected sheriff. Joe tells him about his unborn son and his complicated relationship with his father. Hedeman is familiar with Calvin Mendez and Kyle Lensegrav. Mendez was arrested for skinning a live coyote. They come upon a dead elk. Pickett collects a tissue sample for testing. Their horses become anxious when they hear a wild animal roaring. McLanahan says loud noise will run a bear away. He fires his rifle, scarring the horses off, along with the police radio. They continue up the mountain on foot.

Romanowski finishes his soup and agrees to let Cricket take his fingerprints. He burned his fingerprints off a long time ago. Sheridan picks at her food and asks to be excused. She runs outside to the woodpile, where Ote’s body was found. Cricket arrives, with Romanowski’s case file. Sheriff Barnum demands her take the case file.

McLanahan says Calvin and Kyle may not be in the mountains. Hedeman responds, “If you didn’t scare off the horses, we’d know and be home by now.” They find a place to camp. They don’t have any food or water.

Marybeth tucks in the girls when Sheridan admits to seeing Ote mistreating Pickett. She wished he would die. Wishes don’t make things come true. She tells Lucy you can get your imagination to bring you gifts.

They share McLanahan’s bourbon while they discuss Ote’s murder. Hedeman says they may never find out who killed Ote. Boys are more emotional than girls. Pickett felt like his father saw him as a rival for his mother’s affection. Mothers should love their children more than their husbands. Every man wants a son.

Marybeth contacts Vern to ask if he has heard from Pickett. They haven’t been able to get through on the police radio in the last two hours. A search and rescue helicopter is scheduled to arrive in the morning. He says it will be fine. She reviews Romanowski’s case file.

Joe has a flashback of shooting his rifle for the first time. He fires twice and misses both times. His father takes a swig of beer and suggests he needs motivation. He threatens to pour the beer on his head if he misses the next shot. He anxiously fires and misses. His father laughs and does exactly what he promises, pouring the beer on his head.

Marybeth reviews the crime scene images. Maxine barks, prompting Marybeth to grab her shotgun. She loads the shotgun before walking outside. Sheridan places food scraps on a piece of firewood and says good night. She climbs back into her bedroom window. A weasel pokes his head out of the firewood pile.

Joe and the men wake up and continue up the trail. They approach a campsite quietly. Blood is splattered on the outside of a tent that is empty. A raccoon runs out of the second tent, where two men lay dead. McLanahan has a look and vomits. He identifies the men as Calvin and Kyle. Joe says there are three horses and only two men. Buckshot hits Joe in the right temple.

They shoot and kill a man. Hedeman scolds McLanahan for not covering Pickett. His excuse is someone was shooting at us. Joe saved Hedeman’s life. He says Joe will get a medal because he was right about Kyle and Calvin. Joe wonders who the man they shot was.

## Cast

### Main

* Michael Dorman as Joe Pickett
* Julianna Guill as Marybeth Pickett
* Sharon Lawrence as Missy Vankeuren
* Paul Sparks as Wacey Hedeman
* Mustafa Speaks as Nate Romanowski
* Skywalker Hughes as Sheridan Pickett
* Kamryn Pilva as Lucy Pickett
* David Alan Grier as Vern Dunnegan

### Recurring

* Patrick Gallagher as Sheriff Barnum
* Chad Rook as Deputy Kyle McLanahan
* Judith Buchan as Opal Scarlett
* Aadila Dosani as Cricket Ludlow
* Cassie Dzienny as Sadie Pickett
* Brendan Fletcher as Arlen Scarlett
* Roger LeBlanc as Hank Scarlett
* Kyle Mac as George Pickett
* Mark Bellamy as Mitch
* Zebastin Borjeau as Young Joe Pickett
* Autumn T. Dang as Nurse
* Malik Elassel as Calvin Mendes
* Kim Faires as Kelly
* David Haysom as Clyde Lidgard
* Evie Marsten as Julie Scarlett
* Melanee Murray as Valerie
* Oliver Mandelcorn as Young Victor Pickett
* Arielle Rombough as Aimee Kensinger
* Gery Schubert as Doctor
* Owen Crow Shoe as Kyle Lensegrav