Outlaws
The Bell

Jim Houston: Jack Lord
Neil Gwinner: Simon Oakland
Reverend Cabet: John Howard
Written by Jack Curtis
Directed by Paul Stanley

Will Forman is taking convicted murderer Neil Gwinner to Levenworth when a newly released convict, Jim Houston, rides up to their camp. He is making a fresh start and Will says he is welcome to ride along with them. While Will checks the condition of one of the horses, Gwinner, who is going in for 199 years, appeals to Houston for help.

Back in the Sweetwater office, Marshal Frank Caine is worried. He's received a telegram that Will has not yet arrived at the prison and is now overdue. Deputy Corbie thinks it's probably because of the blizzard that is brewing up. But Caine is more concerned about Gwinner. He hopes Will is holed up somewhere safe until the weather clears.

Unfortunately, Will is caught in the thick of the blowing, freezing snow. Gwinner calls to him that he can't go on - his hands are frozen through because of the cuffs. Will won't take them off but he agrees to loosen them. The minute he does, Gwinner takes a swing at him. Their fight startles Houston's horse, who throws him and then takes off.  Gwinner is finally victorious when he knocks Will out with a large rock. But all the horses have run away and Houston is no where to be found, leaving Gwinner to face the blizzard alone.

In a small church, the congregation hurry home before the storm gets worse. Mr. Beam lingers to compliment the Reverend Cabot on his sermon. Beam's son, Connie, is sweet on the Reverend's daughter, Susanna. Mr. Bean is all ready for the two to come to an understanding. While they talk, Connie takes the unwilling girl to the bell tower, where she struggles against his rough advances. She rings the bell, which frightens him off.

There is scratching at the church door. When Susanna opens it, Will falls in. He heard the bell ring, which led him to the church. He gives them a description of his escaped prisoner, adding that he marked him. "Whatever you do, don't trust him. He kills just for the fun," Will says. Then he loses consciousness.

Then there is a knock at the church door. They look at each other in fear. But the Reverend insists on answering. It's Jim Houston. He also heard the bell. When he takes off his hat, they see that he has a mark - a long scratch on the side of his face. Though he says he was with the Marshal, they are afraid to believe him. It's Susanna who steps right up and asks if he's been in prison. "I was hoping it doesn't show,"  Houston sighs, just before Connie grabs his gun. Houston wants to know why they are treating him so badly. They decide to wake Will up - he can identify the man. But the Marshal is still unconscious. Beam and his son force Houston in the bell tower, though Cabot protests that he will freeze. Beam says he wants to keep the community safe and peaceful, and Mrs. Cabot compliments him on his bravery. Susanna is sure what they have done is wrong, the Reverend is unsure.

In the bell tower Houston is trapped in the cold, with the snow blowing in. He pounds on the door, begging to be freed. He rings with bell over and over. But then he is too cold to continue and sinks to the floor.

Finally Will wakes. Susanna asks him if he knows Houston. Will says that Houston is okay, before he passes out again. Susanna and her father rush to the bell tower. But before they can reach it, the church door bursts open and Gwinner enters, gun in hand. Houston saved his life, ringing the bell. Gwinner orders them to help Houston, but the frozen man wants no part of their help, except for Susanna, who he knows tried to save him. The pair begins to bond as she works on his frost-bitten hands.

Gwinner, happily entertaining his hostages with the tale of how he murdered a family of six, tells Houston he is going to kill Connie for him. Beam offers to trade Connie's life for something Gwinner wants - Marshal Will Foreman. "Well, he's nearly dead anyway," Beam tells the horrified Reverend and Susanna.

Will is up but weak, and Gwinner is able to knock him out with one swipe. Houston reminds him that Will is no use to him dead.

While Gwinner makes Susanna play the organ, Beam tries to get Houston to help them, offering him land. Houston reminds him that it was Gwinner who saved him. "You're all a pack of gutless hypocrites, I wouldn't spit on you if you were on fire."

Houston and Susanno bring in firewood together. Houston is thinking of riding with Gwinner - what other kind of chance will he have in life since he is marked as an outlaw? They can say he tried to help Gwinner. Nobody will stand up for him. When they come back in, Will whispers to him, "You're going to have to choose - law or outlaw?"

It's daybreak and time to go.  Gwinner wants to know Houston's plans. "I'm staying," Houston says firmly. But Connie wants to go with the convict. Gwinner tosses him a gun. Connie can shoot anyone he likes, except for the Marshal. "I'm going to start with you," Connie tells Houston. Gwinner sends them all to line up.

As he passes, Houston grabs Connie's gun. But because of his bandaged hands, he can't cock it. He passes it to Will. Connie is killed by Gwinner. And Will shoots and kills Gwinner. Houston has been wounded and Susanna rushes to his side. "I'm fine, just fine. I've got a hole in my shoulder, my hands are froze, but I feel like a kid." Susanna puts her hand on his.

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