Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963): Season 1, Episode 9 - Show of Force - full transcript

An all-night poker match's deceptive pot gives Paladin strategic inspiration for ending a range war.

I could have taken that
letter when I wanted it,

even while you
held the gun on me.

Put the gun away, counselor.

What good is proof
to a dead lawyer?

Morning, Hey Boy.

Good morning, Mr. Paladin.

Oh, thank you, Hey Boy.

Hey, you still win?

I still win.

Pass the cigars around.

Well, I figure they're costing
me a hundred apiece, Paladin.



I'll raise you $50.

I'll see that $50 and
raise you a hundred.

And another hundred to you.

Now that about cleans
me, Paladin, but temporarily.

Only temporarily.

Call.

They're all red.

A full house.

Thank you, gentlemen.
Thank you very much.

Well, I guess that's all for us.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

One hand to showdown for
a thousand dollars, Paladin.



Well, Mr. Bernard, you
don't have any more money.

That's a bill of sale for a
box the hotel is keeping

for me down in the cellar.

50 rifles and a thousand
rounds of ammunition.

What do you say?

You're covered.

The two of hearts,

a king,

a six of clubs

and a pair of kings.

A four of hearts,

an ace,

a three of spades,

and here's three kings.

Deal 'em.

A five of diamonds

and a seven of...

a five of diamonds.

Mr. Bernard, that does look like

a small straight, doesn't it?

( hammer clicks)

( laughs)

Oh, that Bernard.

50 rifles... 50
antiques, circa 1812.

( chuckles)

Manager say sorry,

Mr. Bernard check out early

and leave no forwarding address.

Thank you, Hey Boy.

"War brewing between ranchers.

"Angle Bar ready
to fight Circle-O

"over cattle right of way,

"claiming that Pedro Valdez,
owner of the Circle-O Ranch

"has blocked his cattle path

"leading to summer
grazing lands.

"Jared Martin, owner
of the Angle Bar Ranch

"in the Sierra Valley said
today that Valdez's actions

can lead only to bloodshed."

Jared Martin...

Sierra Valley.

Pedro Valdez.

Whoa.

Paladin?

That's right. Mr. Martin?

Yes.

Ross, have the men
unload these rifles.

Sparky, you heard him. Get busy.

Now, wait a minute.

We've got a little
talking to do first.

What about?

The price of these
rifles for one thing.

Why, of course.

I forgot this is just a
business transaction to you.

Name your price.

I can't do that until I'm sure
how the rifles will be used.

As a matter of fact, the
guns won't be used at all.

My men have plenty of rifles.

What do you want
with mine, then?

I don't.

I just want to make sure
that Valdez doesn't get them.

Sparky, get a rope.

Sierra Valley has a
small post office, Paladin.

There are two letters that
came from the Hotel Carlton

in San Francisco.

One to me and one to Valdez.

You made him the
same offer, right?

No argument.

Valdez has plenty of friends,

but he only has half a
dozen rifles among them.

I plan to keep it that way.

So I see.

I'd have done business
with you on your terms

but you started
quibbling about morals.

Well, a man can have
morals even in business.

Hi-ho!

All right, come on!
We've got to stop him!

Hyah!

Hyah!

How is it, Russ?

I should have killed him
when I had a hold of him.

Don't worry.

I'll see that you
get another chance.

Go get the wagon.

Take him back to the bunkhouse.

Check on Buck on the way.

And get into town

and round up every
one of our men.

Round up anybody
else that has a gun

and wants to make some money.

What are you going to do?

Now that Valdez has those guns,

we're going to
have to move fast.

They won't expect us to drive
through the portals for a week.

You can't.

Not until the cattle
are rounded up.

No, but we can
take it and hold it

and that's just what
we're going to do.

Tonight.

Come on. I'll help you down.

Señor Valdez?

Yes?

Paladin. Con mucho gusto.

Señor Paladin.

Did you get my wire?

I received your answer.

I got your card,

but I sent no answer, señor.

Pedro, I sent the answer.

You should not have done so.

I'm sorry to have
inconvenienced you, señor,

but I do not wish more
trouble than we already have.

Pedro, we do not seek trouble.

It is already upon us.

Ay, pobrecito.

You heard firing
from the Martin Ranch

a few moments ago.

We did.

I shot two of Martin's
men on that set-to, and...

I brought these for you.

You see?

This is how a
professional does things.

I see.

What do you ask for the rifles?

You tell me after
you've used them.

You're not afraid
that I will cheat you?

If that were my greatest fear,

then I would indeed be fearless.

What were you doing at
the Martin Ranch, señor?

Choosing my side.

And you choose this one?

I'm here.

Perhaps you have not
chosen too wisely, señor.

We are greatly outnumbered.

Well, with just a few men,
Jackson held New Orleans.

And with fewer men,
Washington took Trenton.

You speak knowingly
of the art of war, señor.

I've had some training.

I'd like to look over
the disputed territory.

This is no dispute.

The land belongs to us.

We bought and paid for it.

You have proof of that?

The proof is with the
man of the law in the town.

What does the lawyer say?

He says that a paper
cannot stop Martin,

so we must fight.

I will provide a horse for you
so you can inspect the portals.

Juan, Chico.

Open up the box
and hand out the rifles.

Momentito, muchachos.

Por favor, señor, not yet.

Now you want money?

No.

The rifles are
yours at your price

when you want them.

Well, then why do
we have to wait?

Only to prevent an accident.

These are extremely
dangerous weapons.

Esta bien.

Mr. Paladin, I've done all I
can to help the Valdez brothers,

but their claim to the land has
no legal validity whatsoever.

They told me that
you had legal proof

of their ownership
of the portals

and the high pasture
land that leads to it.

Now, it may be proof to them,

but to a court of law, never.

Is it proof to you?

What do you mean?

Mr. Haskins, do you think
the Valdez boys own the land?

Of course.

Pedro Valdez is a man
of scrupulous honor.

Why, I'd believe him
even without the letter.

You have the letter?

Yes. Right here.

In John Longworthy's
own handwriting.

Longworthy was
the original owner?

Yes. I had the honor
of being his attorney

for many years.

Unfortunately, I
was in St. Louis

at the time of this sale.

Longworthy died
before I returned.

And?

Pedro and Carlos worked

with John on his
ranch for over 20 years.

They saved their money

and finally bought
that northern section.

Where does Martin
come into the picture?

Well, after Longworthy died,

Martin came in and
purchased the entire ranch.

The original ranch.

Wait a minute.

You mean Valdez paid his money
and got nothing to show for it?

They trusted one another.

They'd been working
together for 20 years.

When they bought the land,

it became theirs on
Longworthy's word.

That was all the
proof they needed.

So they didn't bother
to file a new deed?

Pedro Valdez is a fine
man, but he's uneducated.

Such things mean little to him.

What about Longworthy?

He must have known
there'd be complications

after he died.

Yes, you're right.

But which of us expects to die?

I'd like to see
that letter if I may.

The important passage

is on the top of the page
there where it's marked.

This letter was
written by Longworthy

to Pedro Valdez, is that right?

That's correct.

"You are an old,
trusted friend, Pedro,

"and it gives me
great satisfaction

"to know that now you have
a fine ranch of your own.

"The northern
quarter is good land

"and I would not have parted
with it to anyone but you.

"You purchased it with faithful
service as well as with dollars,

John Longworthy..."

Well, now.

What's that for?

Kindly return the
letter to the envelope

and hand it to me, please.

You're not taking
any chances, are you?

It has occurred to me

that you might have
been hired by Martin

to destroy this bit of evidence.

You said that the letter
is worthless as legal proof.

Still, it's all we have,

and under certain circumstances,

it might be made legally valid.

What circumstances?

Well, Martin would have
to acknowledge in writing

that he accepts the letter as
legal proof of Valdez's claim.

Has Martin been
approached on that basis?

He has.

That's how Carlos
Valdez got his broken arm.

Mr. Haskins, how long do
you think we have to settle this?

Well, Martin's cattle will
be rounded up within a week

and he'll try to drive
them through the portal.

And Valdez will defend it.

There will be a lot of bloodshed

and a lot of innocent lives lost

unless you can prevent it.

Thanks for your
time, Mr. Haskins.

Oh, sorry.

Watch where you're
going, you clumsy ox.

Well, maybe I
didn't hear you right.

You heard me.
You're a clumsy ox...

Sorry.

I guess you didn't
hear me right.

After you.

Say, the way you
handle that gun,

you ought to be coming with me.

Where?

The Martin Ranch.

They're paying five
dollars for one night's work.

What's the job?

Easy. Scare a few Mexicans

out of Martin's cattle path

so he can take his herd through.

You sure about this?

Ed Sandy rode through
town about an hour ago,

said any man that wanted
to make an easy five

ought to be out there tonight.

Tonight?

Sure.

Well, you coming?

I'll see you there.

Mr. Haskins, I'll have to
trouble you for that letter.

But... I can't allow that.

I don't have much time.

Martin's going to force
a showdown tonight.

I still don't know you
haven't been hired by Martin.

If I had, this would
be a lot simpler.

What do you mean?

I could have killed you
anytime and taken that letter,

even when you had the gun on me.

Put the gun down, Mr. Haskins.

The law is your
business, guns are mine.

If you're so good with a gun,

you'll never have a
better chance to prove it.

What good is proof
to a dead lawyer?

Put it down.

Thank you, sir.

I'll return this letter
to you tomorrow.

The rifles are a very
good joke, Mr. Paladin.

Carlos, listen to me.

Martin is planning
to attack tonight.

Not next week, tonight.

You're going to
stop him with these?

Yes, if you listen to
me, we have a chance.

You are a worse enemy

than Martin himself.

You trick us with false
hope to steal our money.

That's not true.

You say Martin attacks tonight?

We will be ready.

But first we must deal with you.

A traitor.

Ya esta listo.

Muy bien.

Carlos.

I challenge you to tell these
men how I betrayed you.

You brought us those old rifles

to use against men
armed with real weapons.

Did I ask you to pay for them?

Didn't I tell you
you could give me

what they were worth
after you used them?

He speaks truly, Carlos.

After we use them?

Would we be such
fools as to fire them?

I hope not.

The odds are they'd
blow up in your face.

You see, he admits it.

Pedro, those guns
will stop Martin.

How?

A show of force can win a battle

before it begins.

He lies to save his skin.

He would have us face real
bullets with those old relics.

Preparen!

I came to help you.
I ask nothing of you.

Apunten!

Am I to die because
you opened a box

I asked you not to open?

Carlos. Let him speak.

Esta bien, muchachos. Descansen.

All right, speak.

Martin doesn't know
those guns are antiques.

What is your plan?

When Martin gets to the portals

there should be a
gun barrel sticking out

from behind every rock.

He's not a fool.

He'll hesitate to attack a
heavily fortified position.

It seems possible. What
do you think, Carlos?

As I have said, he
speaks knowingly of war.

It's a gamble but
it's your only chance.

Try and shoot it out
with Martin's men

and you'll be cut to pieces.

That is the bitter truth.

Por favor. Las manos.

Gracias, gracias.

Carlos have your
men get those old rifles.

Si.

Now, Pedro, how much
coal oil can you get me?

Coal oil?

Mm-hmm.

I wish I was riding with you.

There won't be much to it.

Valdez might have a
guard or two posted.

We'll pick them off.

I'd give plenty for a
shot at that Paladin.

You'll get one in good time.

Now, once we take the
portals, we'll dig in and hold it

until we've driven
all the cattle through.

Then we'll go after
Valdez and Paladin.

We'll burn 'em out.

All right, let's go!

Esta bien, muchachos.

Now all we can do is wait.

Did you have your
men pour the coal oil?

Si, Señor.

( horses approaching)

It is the sound of many horses.

Bueno, Carlos.

Get the men with the
good rifles into position.

Pronto, pronto. Si, Señor.

( horses whinnying)

Martin, tell your
men to hold their fire.

You men want to stay
alive, throw those guns down.

You're surrounded.

How about it, Martin?

We're not licked yet.

We can still make
a fight out of it.

A lot of men will be
killed on both sides.

How many of these $5 helpers
are going to stay with you?

Carlos, tell your
men to hold their fire.

All right, you win this
round, but we'll be back.

You can't hold out forever.

There isn't going
to be another round.

This is the finish.

I've got a lot of guns behind me

and you've got a choice.

You can set off a massacre

or you can settle this
here, with me, alone, now.

What's on your mind, Paladin?

Get off that horse
and come over here.

I've got something
I want you to sign.

This letter says that
Valdez bought his ranch

and that he owns the ground

you're standing on.

You're going to write
on it that you accept this

as legal proof of his claim.

Now write!

The rest of you men
throw those guns down.

They'll be returned
to you tomorrow.

Pedro, Carlos, vengan!

Bring me one of the rifles...

The special ones.

You file this with your
lawyer in town tomorrow.

Our words cannot say
our thanks, Señor Paladin.

Si, muchas gracias,
Señor Paladin.

De nada, amigos.

Look at this, Martin.

This is what beat you.

Now, gentlemen, I have for sale,

50 of these very fine rifles.

What am I offered?

PALADIN: Mr. Bernard.

Well, this is indeed a pleasure.

Now, please, Mr. Paladin.
I can explain everything.

What is there to explain?

I must thank you for those guns.

T-The... the guns?

Yes. I sold them at a
very handsome profit.

I'll see you again.

Mr. Bernard.

Yes?

If you're in San Francisco
for any length of time,

we must have another poker game.