“Duel at Alta Mesa”
“Duel at Alta Mesa”
Season: 1 episode 23
Series Episode: 23
Air Date: February 23, 1960
Laramie TV series starring John Smith, Hoagy Carmichael, Robert Crawford, Jr. and Robert Fuller
A Revue Studios production
Teaser
Jess must hunt down a man to pay the debt Slim owes to the owner of the stage line.
Cast & Crew Lists
Cast
| Character | Role | Actor | Actor Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Slim" Sherman | Owner - Sherman Ranch & Relay Station | John Smith | 28 | Credited |
| Jess Harper | Sherman ranch hand | Robert Fuller | 26 | Credited |
| Andy Sherman | Owner - Sherman Ranch & Relay Station | Robert Crawford, Jr. | 15 | Credited |
| Hoot | Jess' horse | Hoot | Uncredited | |
| Warren Gallagher | Former stageline owner | Alan Baxter | 51 | Credited |
| Dolly Mannering | Tom Mannering's wife | Pamela Duncan | 35 | Credited |
| Tom Mannering | Former Overland stageline employee | Tom Drake | 42 | Credited |
| Gloria Patterson | T. J. Patterson's daughter | Fay Spain | 27 | Credited |
| T. J. Patterson | Owner Overland stageline | Doublass Dumbrille | 70 | Credited |
| Ray | Gallagher employee | Ronald Hayes | 30 | Credited |
| Rick | Patterson guard | Don Kelly | 35 | Credited |
| Ben | Barfly | Uncredited | ||
| "Doc" | Doctor | Uncredited | ||
| Gene | Gallagher's employee | George Kennedy | 35 | Unxedited |
| Jerry | Gallagher employee | Bob Hoy | 32 | Uncredited |
| Joe | Ray's friend in Red Bluff | Uncredited | ||
| Linda | Gallagher's girlfriend | Uncredited | ||
| Rafe | Barfly | Uncredited | ||
| Wally | Rancher | Jon Lormer | 53 | Uncredited |
| Red Bluff bartender | Uncredited | |||
| Wally's wife | Gail Bonney | 58 | Uncredited | |
| Alta Mesa bartender | Herman Hack | 60 | Uncredited | |
| Tailor | Uncredited |
Crew
| Director | Lesley Selander |
| Teleplay | Jerry Adelman |
| Story | Jerry Adelman & Jay Simms |
| Producer | John C. Champion |
| Laramie Theme | Cyril Mockridge |
| Music Score | Albert Sendrey |
| Director of Photography | Ray Rennahan, A. S. C. |
| Associate Producer | Dan Ullman |
| Art Director | Martin Obzina |
| Editorial Dept. Head/Supervisor | Richard G. Wray, A.C.E. |
| Film Editor | Ray de Vally |
| Musical Supervision | Stanley Wilson |
| Sound | John C Grubb |
| Makeup Artist | Jack Barron |
| Hair Stylist | Florence Bush |
| Costume & Wardrobe | Vincent Dee |
| Series Stuntmen (uncredited) | Paul Baxley, Joe Canutt. Bill Catching, Chuck Courtney, John Daheim, Leonard P. Geer, Sol Gorss, Hemet, Charles Horvath, Robert F. Hoy, Loren Janes, Hal Needham (Stunt double for Ron Hayes), Allen Pinson, Chuck Roberson, Ronnie Rondell Jr., Dean Smith, Tom Steele, Jerry Summers, Jack Williams Note: Robert Fuller often performed his own stunts in the series. |
| Assistant Director | George Bisk |
Epilogue – based on the teleplay “Duel at Alta Mesa” by Jerry Adelman and story by Jerry Adelman & Jay Simms
(T. J. PATTERSON, GLORIA PATTERSON, and JESS HARPER are in the Patterson mansion parlor. JESS HARPER has given T.J. PATTERSON the stolen money. T.J. Patterson looks at the money, closes the bag, and puts it to the side.)
T. J. PATTERSON: You’re a good man, Jess. A fine job.
JESS HARPER: Yeah, well, five men got killed in the doin’. I hope it was worth it.
T. J. PATTERSON: Well, it saved the stagecoach line.
JESS HARPER: Sure. It just seems somethin’ better could come from it.
T. J. PATTERSON: Oh?
JESS HARPER: You see, I’ve never had a real home, Mr. Patterson. So maybe that doesn’t qualify me to talk about it. But on the other hand, maybe it qualifies me to talk about what a real home should be.
T. J. PATTERSON: What are you getting at Jess?
JESS HARPER: Your home, sir. This place here. You’re a successful businessman. Ya-You’ve got a beautiful home and a beautiful daughter.
(GLORIA PATTERSON enters the room and sits next to T. J. PATTERSON)
JESS HARPER: Why can’t you make a real home out of it?
T. J. PATTERSON: What makes you think I haven’t?
JESS HARPER: The fact that your daughter picked the first chance she had to run away from it.
T. J. PATTERSON: Well, whatever I did was for her own good.
JESS HARPER: Well, this is a free country, sir. Don’t you think she oughta have a vote in what’s best for her?
T. J. PATTERSON: Well, maybe she should have.
JESS HARPER: I don’t think she’d be so anxious to run away again. And if she did have to go away, I’m sure she’d have a better reason.
T. J. PATTERSON: Well, perhaps it’s not too late to make another try at it, dear. (Takes GLORIA PATTERSON’s hand in his.) Is it?
GLORIA PATTERSON: Course not, Dad.
JESS HARPER: I better get started back.
T. J. PATTERSON: Goodbye, Jess. And thanks.
JESS HARPER: Goodbye, Mr. Patterson.
GLORIA PATTERSON: Goodbye, Jess.
JESS HARPER: Goodbye, Gloria.
(GLORIA PATTERSON follows JESS HARPER out the door.)
GLORIA PATTERSON: Jess?
JESS HARPER: Yeah?
GLORIA PATTERSON: Am I gonna see ya again?
JESS HARPER: Probably Gloria. I move around a lot.
GLORIA PATTERSON: What I mean is…D’ya want to see me again?
JESS: You know I do. But, there’s somethin’ more important.
GLORIA PATTERSON: Well, what?
JESS HARPER: Well, the way things are gonna change now. Maybe the next time I come back this way, you’ll know better whether ya want to see me.
(GLORIA PATTERSON watches as JESS HARPER mounts up and rides off.)
Geographical Reference
Alta Mesa
Laramie, Wyoming Territory, United States of America
Red Bluff, Montana Territory, United States of America
Sources: Laramie episodes (written, spoken and credits), Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Wikipedia, individual observations, and others as indicated by the links.
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