West and Gordon are ambushed by a Mexican gang called the Pistoleros, who attempt to kidnap the latter. Gordon sets off for Tohachi, Arizona to investigate a picture of himself found on one of the bandits; West continues to their original destination, Fort Challenge. There Sergeant Charlie Tobin (Richard O'Brien), an old friend, tells West that an impostor has taken the place of Lt. Murray (Robert Pine), one of the fort's most important officers. West's attempts to investigate are hindered and Tobin soon ends up dead. Gordon, meanwhile, is drugged and abducted by Armando Galiano (Henry Wilcoxon), a mysterious older man. West eventually makes his way to Tohachi to try and locate his partner, who knew Murray and can verify his identity. Things appear to be resolved when Gordon turns up and says that Murray is the real thing. However, only a few minutes afterwards, some Pistoleros appear and gun Gordon down. West now has to expose a conspiracy, prevent a war... and, of course, get revenge.
Disguises used by Artie: General Rodell
(47:05)
Tropes present in this episode:
- Almost Dead Guy: Jim gets some important information out of the dying Sanchos (Perry Lopez), but asks for the name of the head Pistolero just a few seconds too late.
- Bandito: Ostensibly, the Pistoleros, complete with sombreros and mustaches and such.
- Casual Danger Dialogue:
- The opening scene where the Pistoleros confront Jim and Artie has a lot of it.Artie: They're gonna hang you and take me with them. No hard feelings, Jim.
Jim: I resent that. - Also, Galiano is remarkably calm when Jim bursts into his hacienda and points a gun at him.
- The opening scene where the Pistoleros confront Jim and Artie has a lot of it.
- Conveniently Timed Attack from Behind: Jim storms into Galiano's mansion and manages to defeat everyone except Galiano himself, who scrambles out of reach before taking careful aim at Jim with a rifle. At which point Artie arrives behind the villain, calls out to get his attention away from Jim and then shoots Galiano dead. It's extra dramatic in that it serves as a revelation 1) to the audience that Artie and co. have escaped, and 2) to Jim that Artie is alive.
- Death Faked for You: Galiano sends in a fake Artie to verify "Murray"'s identity and then kills the fake Artie in order to further sour diplomatic relations. Fortunately, he keeps the real Artie (as well as Colonel Roper) alive for... reasons.
- Karmic Death: Sanchos is apparently very proud of his custom-made knives; they're basically his trademark. He ends up accidentally running himself through with one of them while fighting Jim.
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: Jim to Sanchos: "Take a good look at the man who's going to kill you." Might have been a Pre-Mortem One-Liner if Sanchos hadn't fallen victim to a Karmic Death.
- Revenge Before Reason: Col. Roper (Edward Binns) tells Jim that operating in Mexico without Col. Vega's (Narte Esformes) sanction will worsen an already shaky border situation. Nevertheless, Jim begins his investigation without informing Vega and, once he finally does ask, Vega realizes that Jim is going to track down Sanchos with or without permission, so he grants it anyway.
- Spot the Imposter: An important plot point in the first part of the episode is trying to figure out whether Murray is an impostor or not. Also, before Tobin will confide in Jim he tests the agent to make sure it really is Jim.
- Stunned Silence: The horrified version for Jim when Artie is killed, followed later by the amazed version when Artie turns up alive.
- Surgical Impersonation: This is the method Dr. Winterich (William O'Connell) uses to create substitutes for Murray, Artie and Roper.
- Tranquilizer Dart: Sanchos shoots Artie with one.
- You Meddling Kids: The fake Colonel Roper calls West a "meddling fool" as he's being arrested.
