This gripping episode of Gunsmoke showcases the fierce determination of Ma Tennis, a strong-willed matriarch willing to do whatever it takes to protect her troubled son, Andy. When Andy kills a man during a heated poker game, Marshal Matt Dillon takes him into custody. However, Ma Tennis, armed with her ever-present shotgun, storms the jail and orchestrates a daring escape for her son.
As tensions mount, Matt tracks Andy to the Tennis ranch, only to find Ma digging what she claims is Andy’s grave. In a shocking twist, it is revealed that Andy is alive, and the grave belongs to his older brother, Ben, whom Andy killed in a dispute. Ma, desperate to shield Andy from justice, confesses to the murder herself, setting the stage for a heart-wrenching confrontation between duty and maternal devotion.
This episode delves into themes of family loyalty, deception, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones, culminating in a powerful and tragic conclusion.
Keywords: "Gunsmoke Ma Tennis episode," "October 1954 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon Ma Tennis standoff," "family loyalty and justice," "Andy Tennis murder Dodge City," "John Meston Gunsmoke drama," "classic Western radio series."
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Virginia Gregg, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell.
