Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963): Season 2, Episode 24 - The Monster of Moon Ridge - full transcript

The story of a creature half bear, half human wandering the Moon Ridge Mountains catches Paladin's eye.

THERE'S ONE THING I
DO KNOW, MR. BELLA.

SOMETHING IS LOOSE ON MOON RIDGE

THAT'S BIGGER THAN
ANY MAN I'VE EVER SEEN.

AND STRONGER. BEFORE I LEAVE,

I INTEND TO FIND OUT
WHAT IT IS AND WHY.

WE ARE TO FOLLOW WHAT HE DOES.

THIS IS THE TRINITY OF
HEAVEN, EARTH AND MAN?

YES.

[SPEAKING CHINESE]

DOCHI, GRANDFATHER.

MR. PALADIN. UM HMM?



YOU LEFT THIS ON DESK.

I KNOW, HEY BOY.
"MONSTER AT MOON RIDGE."

"GIRL BEWITCHED BY APPARITION."

DO NOT GO THERE,

MR. PALADIN.

WELL NOW, WHAT'S THIS?

FOSSIL BONES?

NO, DRAGON'S TOOTH. VERY
POWERFUL PROTECTION.

HEY BOY, YOUR NEW COUNTRY
HAS A MUCH STRONGER POTION

FOR DRIVING OFF EVIL.

EQUAL PARTS REASON AND DAYLIGHT.

BUT, THANK YOU FOR
THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW, MR. LINDSAY,
THE SALEM WITCH BURNERS

WOULD BE VERY
HAPPY IN YOUR TOWN.



ALL THE WINDOWS BARRED
AND THE DOORS ALL LOCKED.

[CREAKING]

GET IT OFF ME! LINDSAY, HELP!

LIGHT PLEASE, MR. LINDSAY.

YOU AIN'T GETTING
AWAY! STAND STILL!

I AIN'T DONE NOTHING!

MAKE HIM LET ME GO, LINDSAY.

WHO IS HE? HE'S A HOBGOBLIN.

I ENTERTAIN 'EM EVERY
NIGHT IN MY OFFICE,

AIN'T YOU HEARD?

MR. PALADIN, MEET
MR. JAKE KELLY,

WHO JUST SHOT A DOLLAR'S WORTH
OF SILVER THROUGH MY CEILING.

WELL, I... I WAS JUST
TRYING TO FIND OUT

WHO OR WHAT WAS RIDING
INTO TOWN AT THIS HOUR.

JAKE!

MR. PALADIN'S COME HERE
ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA.

DAN BELLA HIRED HIM TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S BOTHERING HIS DAUGHTER.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU
TO SHOW HIM THE WAY

UP THERE TONIGHT. YOU
WAS GOING TO ASK ME?

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG
WITH EMILY BELLA FROM HERE.

SHE'S HEXED.

WHERE DO YOU GET OFF AT,

WANTING ME TO RIDE IN
THAT DIRECTION AT NIGHT?

THERE AIN'T NOTHING UP
ON MOON RIDGE, NOTHING!

'CEPT ONE DRUNKEN STORY
PILED ON TOP OF ANOTHER

LIKE THE ONE YOU TOLD WITH THE
WHISKEY BOTTLE AT YOUR ELBOW.

I WAS JUST AS FAR FROM IT
AS I AM FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.

I TELL YOU, I SAW IT.
HALF MAN, HALF BEAR.

ANY WEREWOLVES? VAMPIRE BATS?

UNUSED BROOMSTICKS?

I HATE TO HEAR
JUST HALF A STORY.

WELL, IF YOU THINK I'M CRAZY
JUST ASK THE SHERIFF HERE.

GO ON, TELL HIM ABOUT
THEM TRACKPRINTS.

SOME PRINTS MY MEN
THOUGHT THEY SAW.

AND YOU SAW 'EM TOO!

'BOUT THAT FAR APART. [LAUGHING]

YEAH, HUMAN AT ONE END
AND CLAWED AT THE OTHER.

LEO PRESS SHOT
AT IT. YOU ASK LEO.

HE'LL TELL YOU ORDINARY
LEAD WON'T EVEN PHASE IT.

WHERE DO I FIND MR. PRESS? LEO?

HE WENT BACK TO TEXAS.

HE WAS A DRUNK TOO.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.
ASK HANK CONLIN.

FOUND A FULL-GROWN STEER.

PICKED IT UP AND
THE NECK SNAPPED,

JUST LIKE YOU KILL A RABBIT.

WELL, A GRIZZLY COULD DO THAT.

SURE, AND I SUPPOSE A
GRIZZLY COULD CUT OFF

ITS HINDQUARTERS AND
ROAST IT OVER A FIRE.

I SUPPOSE A GRIZZLY
COULD CHAIN ME IN A CAVE.

CHAINED ME WITH METAL LINKS.

WHEN YOU GET UP
TO THE BELLA PLACE,

YOU ASK THAT GIRL
WHAT CARRIED HER OFF.

DON'T ASK LINDSAY HERE
'CAUSE HE'S A SHERIFF.

AND IF HE ADMITTED THERE
WAS ANYTHING UP THERE,

HE'D HAVE TO GO AFTER IT.

CAN I HAVE MY GUN BACK?

[LAUGHING]

SHERIFF, IS THERE
ANYTHING VALUABLE

ABOUT THE MOON RIDGE COUNTRY?

MINERALS, GRAZING LAND?

YOU MEAN, SOME REASON WHY
SOMEBODY'D WANT TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY?

NO.

MINERS WERE ALL THROUGH
THAT COUNTRY IN THE FIFTIES.

FORMATIONS AIN'T
RIGHT FOR GOLD, SILVER...

OR ANYTHING VALUABLE.

EVEN THE INJUNS DON'T WANT IT.

THEY CALL IT SHADOW
COUNTRY, SPIRIT LAND.

WELL, YOU KNOW HOW INJUNS ARE.

IGNORANT, NOT LIKE US.

YOU KNOW, UNTIL A
FEW MOMENTS AGO

I WAS FEELING VERY SUPERIOR
TO A CHINESE FRIEND OF MINE.

I FORGOT THAT HE CAME BY
HIS SUPERSTITIONS HONESTLY.

HE LEARNED THEM FROM THE CRADLE.

I CAN'T FIND ANY
SUCH EXCUSE FOR YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING
AT? I AIN'T SUPERSTITIOUS.

OH? YOU EXPECTING
FEMININE COMPANY TONIGHT?

WHAT?

MISTLETOE?

I GUESS I AM KIND OF RUSHING
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, HUH?

YEAH, THERE'S ALSO A STORY
THAT IT WARDS OFF EVIL SPIRITS.

BELLA'S PLACE IS STRAIGHT NORTH,

OUT OF TOWN.

IT'S THE LAST HOUSE ON THE ROAD

TO MOON RIDGE COUNTRY.

THANK YOU.

[OWL HOOTING]

[COYOTE HOWLING]

HA!

EVENING.

MISS EMILY BELLA?

MY NAME IS PALADIN.

I'VE HAD MANY SMALL
DISAPPOINTMENTS IN MY LIFE.

BUT YOU, I THINK, WILL
NOT BE ONE OF THEM.

YOU WILL TASTE MY WINE, HUH?

ONE MOMENT, IF YOU PLEASE.

EMILY...

YOU PROMISED TO TELL PAPA WHEN
YOU STEPPED OUTSIDE, REMEMBER?

COME, COME.

IT'S COLD OUT.

AND TO A VISITOR, A
BIG GIRL DOES WHAT?

HOW DO YOU DO?

SIT DOWN, MR. PALADIN.

A DOZEN YEARS
AGO, MR. PALADIN...

THERE WAS IN THIS VALLEY,

AN EPIDEMIC, I
BELIEVE IS THE WORD.

IT TOOK FROM ME MY WIFE,

ALMOST MY DAUGHTER.

I'M SORRY.

SUCH A FEVER.

AFTERWARDS, EMILY'S BODY
CONTINUED TO GROW BUT,

IN HER MIND SHE
STILL REMAINS A CHILD.

SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE AFFLICTED?

NO, NO. THERE WERE OTHERS.

PEOPLE TREATED
THEM LIKE ANIMALS,

UNTIL THEIR PARENTS
TOOK THEM AWAY.

I SAW I MUST LEAVE TOO.

BRING EMILY HERE, FAR FROM TOWN.

THE LAND IS NOT VERY
GOOD, BUT WE MANAGE.

I TEACH MY CLUMSY FINGERS

TO MAKE SMALL THINGS FOR EMILY.

SHE IS OF SUCH AN AGE
WHEN TOYS ARE PLEASANT.

I THINK EMILY IS VERY FORTUNATE

TO HAVE YOU FOR A PARENT.

I THINK SHE IS FORTUNATE
IN OTHER THINGS.

BUT PERHAPS YOU
DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

PERHAPS.

IT'S NO GREAT TRAGIC
THING TO REMAIN A CHILD.

THEIR'S IS THE BEST AGE.

THEIR WORLD IS
MYSTERIOUS AND WONDERFUL.

HALF REAL AND HALF MAKE-BELIEVE.

MR. BELLA, THE WORLD WE LIVE IN

IS NOT ALWAYS SO PLEASANT.

I THINK MAYBE YOU ARE
A WISE MAN, MR. PALADIN.

WELL, RIGHT NOW I'M
A VERY CONFUSED MAN.

I UNDERSTOOD THAT
EMILY'S CONDITION

WAS THE RESULT OF SHOCK,

OR SOME UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

A SPELL CAST BY THE MONSTER

OF MOON RIDGE?

WELL, SINCE THERE IS NO
MONSTER OF MOON RIDGE...

MR. BELLA, WHY DO YOU
WANT TO PAY ME $200?

YOUR TELEGRAM SAID FIVE.

MR. BELLA, YOU HAVEN'T
ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

SINCE THERE IS NO
MONSTER OF MOON RIDGE,

WHY DO YOU WANT TO PAY ME $200?

THERE IS SOMETHING ON
MOON RIDGE, MR. PALADIN.

IT TOOK EMILY FROM
ME FOR A WEEK.

FOR A WEEK, I SEARCHED FOR HER.

I FOUND HER PRINTS.

AND OTHER PRINTS TOO.

WHICH I WILL NOT
DESCRIBE TO YOU.

MAYBE BECAUSE I AM AFRAID
YOU WILL THINK I EXAGGERATE.

AND TWICE, MR. PALADIN...

I HAVE FOUND BENEATH
HER WINDOW HERE,

THOSE SAME PRINTS.

THEN MR. BELLA,

I SUGGEST THAT IT'S TIME

FOR EMILY TO GO
BACK TO MOON RIDGE.

ALL THREE OF US.

WE'LL START TOGETHER
IN THE MORNING.

YOU WILL BE HONEST
WITH ME, MR. PALADIN.

WHAT MADE THIS PRINT?

MR. BELLA...

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU'VE READ, PERHAPS,

THE TRANSLATION OF
"BRIDE OF THE CYCLOPS?"

I READ IT.

IT WILL BE DARK IN... [GROWLING]

[HORSES NEIGHING]

EMILY! EMILY, COME BACK!

BELLA!

[WICKED LAUGHTER]

NOW LISTEN TO THIS CAREFULLY.

I HAVE NO INTENTION OF
BEING FRIGHTENED AWAY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN...

[GROWLING]

YOU KNOW, BEFORE
I WAS INTERRUPTED,

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY
THAT I DID NOT BELIEVE

IN WITCHCRAFT, SORCERY, ETC.

HOWEVER...

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTRARY
THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT...

WILL YOU EXCUSE ME, PLEASE?

[GROWLING LOUDLY]

WELL, SINCE YOU AND I ARE
CHAINED HERE TOGETHER,

WITH NOTHING BETTER TO
DO, SHALL WE TRY AGAIN?

NOW, YOU LOOK TO ME
LIKE AN INTELLIGENT BEAR.

AS FAR AS BEARS GO,

QUITE SATISFACTORY.

BUT AS A DEVIL,

OR AN APPARITION,

YOU KNOW, I SUSPECT
YOU'RE SOMETHING OF A FRAUD.

YOU MIND?

[GROWLING]

YOU HAVE A... UH, NO.

WELL, SINCE I CAN'T
REACH THAT TORCH,

I GUESS THERE'S NO
SMOKING IN THIS THEATRE.

OH, DO I APPLAUD?

HAS THE PLAY BEGUN?

AT LEAST ONE OF THE
ACTORS IS PRESENT.

[LOUDLY GROWLING]

[WICKED CACKLING]

WELL, OF COURSE.

IT'S "MACBETH."

ENTER THE FIRST WITCH.

MAY I?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[WICKED CACKLING]

OH?

[GROWLING]

PALADIN!

I'VE BEEN RIDING ALL NIGHT.

EMILY LED ME A WILD CHASE.

THEN I FOUND THE HORSES,
THEN LATER YOUR GUN.

SANTA MARIA, I SAY TO MYSELF.

MAYBE THERE ARE DEVILS. WHAT I'D
FIND TODAY, I COULD NOT EVEN GUESS.

MR. BELLA, HAS
ANYONE BEEN HARMED?

I MEAN, PHYSICALLY INJURED
HERE IN MOON RIDGE COUNTRY?

NO. NO, THAT'S TRUE. BUT...

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE EMILY NOW?

YOU'VE SEEN EMILY?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT?

SHE'S ALL RIGHT.

COME ON.

WE'LL GO THE REST
OF THE WAY ON FOOT.

[PALADIN:] YOU SEE HOW HE'S
STEPPING IN THOSE BEAR TRACKS?

THAT'S HOW THEY MADE THE
PRINTS THAT ARE SCARING EVERYONE.

I IMAGINE HIS MOTHER
TAUGHT HIM THAT,

AND SOME OTHER TRICKS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW HER? MARIA.

AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN.

SHE WAS THE TEACHER
UNTIL HER SON...

THE EPIDEMIC.

RUN OUT OF TOWN BY
IGNORANCE AND PREJUDICE.

COME ON.

I WAS AFRAID OF YOU.

YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR WITCHES.

WELL, I DO HAVE RESPECT
FOR SOME THINGS.

COURAGEOUS, INTELLIGENT
WOMEN FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THIS IS WHERE YOU RAN TO.

WHERE ELSE COULD I TAKE CLAIRY?

I HAVE NO MONEY.

I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF MY BOY.

RUN OFF PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT RIDICULE HIM.

DO YOU WANT SOME HOT STEW?

WELL, HOW'S IT BREWED?

FILLET OF SNAKE AND FROG'S TOES?

SEASONED WITH AN INCANTATION?

AS YOU SAID, ENTER
THE FIRST WITCH.

THAT'S THE RECIPE
FROM "MACBETH."

DOESN'T SOUND TOO DELICIOUS.

[GIGGLING]

THE SOIL IS GOOD HERE.

BETTER THAN YOUR PLACE.

AND THE GRASS AND
WATER? WHY TALK?

WHY NOT?

THERE'S ALWAYS
SOME MAN, SOMEWHERE,

WHO WON'T BE SCARED
OFF, LIKE THIS ONE.

MATERIALIZE AN APPARITION ON
A BROOMSTICK IN FRONT OF HIM,

AND HE'LL ASK IT TO
SWEEP THE FLOOR.

THERE ARE MONSTERS, DAN.

PEOPLE THAT COME UP
HERE AND LAUGH AND...

I'VE RUN OUT OF TRICKS.

CLAIRY AND I HAVE MOVED BEFORE,

AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

I THINK IF I OWNED THIS VALLEY,

JUST FOR EXAMPLE, YOU
UNDERSTAND OF COURSE,

THERE WOULD BE
NO MAN-BEAR TRACKS.

NO CAVE TO PUT FOOLISH MEN IN.

AND THEN RELEASE
THEM, FRIGHTENED,

TO RUN SHOUTING FOOLISH THINGS.

I THINK, SINCE I AM A MAN,

THERE WOULD BE A GUN IN MY HAND.

FRIENDS WOULD BE WELCOME.

OTHERS WOULD NOT, IT
WOULD BE THAT SIMPLE.

A MAN HAS SOMETHING TO SAY,

HE COMES RIGHT
OUT AND HE SAYS IT.

NOW, DON'T RUSH ME!

I, UM...

I THINK I LIKE YOUR COOKING.

I THINK I LIKE THE LAND.

AND I THINK I'LL BE GOING.

MR. BELLA, I EXPECT
$200 TO BE DEPOSITED

IN MY ACCOUNT IN SAN FRANCISCO,

AND I SUSPECT YOU
GOT A GOOD DEAL MORE

THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR.

AND YOU WILL GET WHAT
YOU BARGAINED FOR.

$500.

YOU'LL HAVE TO RIDE
THROUGH TOWN, I SUPPOSE.

TALK TO THE SHERIFF.

WELL...

IGNORANT AND PREJUDICED
PEOPLE LIKE TO BE DECEIVED.

AND I THINK THEY
DESERVE IT WHEN THEY ARE.

WHY CONFUSE THEM WITH THE TRUTH?

[GROWLING] OH, EXCUSE ME.

THERE'S A FRIEND
OF MINE OUT THERE.

BYE.

YOU KNOW BABY, I'LL TELL YOU
SOMETHING CONFIDENTIALLY.

WHEN I ASKED YOU IN THAT
CAVE IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO SAY,

I'M VERY GLAD YOU DIDN'T.

OH?

THOSE ARE MY
SENTIMENTS, EXACTLY.

♪ HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL
READS THE CARD OF A MAN ♪

♪ A KNIGHT WITHOUT
ARMOR IN A SAVAGE LAND ♪

♪ HIS FAST GUN FOR HIRE
HEEDS THE CALLING WIND ♪

♪ A SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
IS THE MAN CALLED ♪

♪ PALADIN ♪

♪ PALADIN, PALADIN
WHERE DO YOU ROAM? ♪