Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963): Season 2, Episode 27 - Incident at Borrasca Bend - full transcript

A surrealistic mining camp takes Paladin prisoner as a murder suspect. Paladin's just passing through, making him a perfect patsy for the drunken all-male residents' rough frontier justice dished out by self-appointed Judge Wesson whose IQ seems to equal the rest of the citizens combined. The bearded Paladin must uncover the wily, real killer before the Borrascans go on a bender and string Paladin up for fun.

[DISTANT CROWD NOISE]

[MEN SHOUTING]

HELLO. MY NAME'S JACKSON.

JACKSON. WHAT'S
GOING ON OVER THERE?

IT'S THE WATSON BOYS
HAVING THEIR SATURDAY FIGHT.

THAT HAPPENS EVERY SATURDAY?

YEAH, USUALLY ABOUT LUNCHTIME.

DOES THIS ONE ALWAYS WIN?

THE FIRST TIME IN THREE WEEKS.

[MEN TALKING]

HOWDY, STRANGER. HOWDY.



I'M JUDGE WESSON.

JUDGE?

THAT HORSE... I'D
LIKE TO BUY HIM.

AREN'T THERE ANY
HORSES AROUND HERE?

A COUPLE, BUT THE
INDIANS STEAL 'EM

AS FAST AS
SOMEBODY RIDES 'EM IN.

I'LL GIVE YOU A PRICE
AND A HALF FOR HIM.

SORRY, NO THANKS.

IS THERE A CIRCLE J RANCH
ANYWHERE AROUND HERE?

NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

UNLESS, OF COURSE,
OLD CIRCLE JIBES

WANTED TO CALL
HIS CLAIM A RANCH.

JUST A COUPLE
HUNDRED YARDS SQUARE.

CIRCLE JIBES?



I DIDN'T NAME HIM.

WELL, IS HE IN TOWN?

YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW FAR
IT IS TO BORRASCA BEND?

COME OVER HERE.

I RECKON YOU'RE STANDING

RIGHT IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL
DEAD CENTER OF IT.

THIS IS QUITE A CITY.
NO, THIS IS ONLY A TOWN.

NEAREST CITY IS
JUNIPER, 13 MILES NORTH.

THERE THEY GOT A
BANK AND A STORE,

AND A BAR WITH A MIRROR IN IT.

NOW IF YOU'LL JUST TELL ME
WHERE I CAN FIND CIRCLE JIBES.

HE'S RIGHT IN THE SALOON.

THE SALOON?

RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU. I WANT
TO TALK TO HIM.

NOTHING'S TO STOP
YOU FROM DOING THAT.

HE'S DEAD!

WE NOTICED THAT.

IS HE A FRIEND OF YOURS?

NO.

NO, HE ISN'T.

BUT HE MUST HAVE HAD
A PRETTY GOOD CLAIM.

WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?

I JUST MADE AN OBSERVATION.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM.
YOU KNEW HE HAD A GOOD CLAIM.

HOW?

IT'S PERFECTLY
SIMPLE. I CAN EXPLAIN.

ANYBODY RECOGNIZE THIS?

MINE.

LENT IT TO HIM LAST WEEK.

YOU BETTER GET YOUR HANDS UP.

SWEDE, LOOK IN HIS SADDLEPACKS.

WAIT A MINUTE! I
CAN EXPLAIN THIS.

YOU WANT TO CONFESS?

[PALADIN:] I GOT
NOTHING TO CONFESS!

THEN WHY DID YOU BOLT? HERE.

$4,000 HERE IN DUST.
THAT'S A GOOD MOTIVE.

SEARCH HIM! LET ME SEE THAT.

THAT'S CIRCLE'S ALL RIGHT.
SEARCH HIM, JACKSON.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE! I
TOLD YOU I CAN EXPLAIN!

ALL IN GOOD TIME. WHAT
ARE WE WAITING FOR?

LET'S GET ON WITH THE TRIAL.

THE TRIAL!

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON HIM.
YOU GO AHEAD WITH THE TRIAL.

I'LL GET THE ROPE. [LAUGHING]

[JUDGE POUNDING GAVEL]

HEAR YE, THE COURT
WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.

HANG HIM.

I SAID, "HEAR YE."
THAT MEANS LISTEN.

YOU BE STILL. NOW THEN...

EVERYBODY ON THIS
SIDE OF THE LINE...

YOU BE THE JURY.

[LOUD COMPLAINING]

YOU BE QUIET, OR
I'LL CLEAR THE COURT!

PATTERSON, YOU'RE
THE BAILIFF. SWEAR HIM IN.

JUSTICE IS FAIRLY
SUMMARY AROUND HERE.

IT'S GOT TO BE, WE GOT NO JAIL.

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOUR
AUTHORITY FOR JURISDICTION.

RIGHT HERE. I'VE
GOT IT AND YOU AIN'T.

YOU KNOW THAT
JURY IS PREJUDICED.

LAST MONTH WHEN RED
STANLEY WAS KILLED,

WE DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT.

BUT IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS
SINCE YOU KILLED CIRCLE JIBES,

EVERYBODY AROUND HERE'S
BEEN SLEEPING WITH ONE EYE OPEN.

THE LAST MONTH.

LAST MONTH I WAS
IN SANTA BARBARA.

CAN YOU PROVE IT?
IF I HAVE SOME TIME.

TEN MINUTES ENOUGH?
CERTAINLY NOT!

THAT'S TOO BAD. SWEAR HIM IN.

WE CAN GET A CONVICTION JUST
TRYING YOU FOR CIRCLE JIBES.

THIS IS A TRAVESTY.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRIMMINGS.
THIS IS NOT A WALNUT BENCH,

AND I DON'T HAVE A
BIG FLAG BEHIND ME.

AND IF YOU'RE FOUND GUILTY,
AIN'T GONNA BE NO FANCY GALLOWS.

WE'LL JUST STRING YOU UP
FROM THE LIMB OF A TREE.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU'LL BE JUST AS DEAD,

AND JUST AS HARMLESS
AS IF YOU'D BEEN TRIED

BY THE SUPREME COURT.
NOW SWEAR HIM IN.

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH?

WAIT A MINUTE,
WHERE'S THE BIBLE?

YOU CAN'T SWEAR
HIM IN WITHOUT A BIBLE.

WELL LOOK HERE, YOU
GONNA TELL THE TRUTH?

I AM.

I THINK HE'S LYING.

NOW, SUPPOSING YOU
GIVE US YOUR VERSION

OF WHAT LED UP TO THE MURDER.

SO AN INDIAN RAN OFF AND
YOU DIDN'T CHASE HIM, HUH?

NO, I DIDN'T.

I BACKTRACKED HIM
TO CIRCLE JIBES' PLACE,

AND THEN I RODE ON IN HERE.

I THOUGHT JIBES WOULD
RATHER HAVE HIS GOLD BACK,

THAN TO HAVE ME CHASE SOMEBODY
OFF INTO INDIAN TERRITORY.

YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK?

[MEN TALKING AT ONCE]

I WAS! THAT'S A FUNNY THING.

YOU HADN'T MENTIONED
IT BEFORE I CAUGHT YOU.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.

IF I DID IT, HOW DO YOU
ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT

THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY
OF HIS OTHER THINGS?

NOW YOU'VE TRAPPED
YOURSELF. IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT,

HOW'D YOU KNOW THERE
WAS SOMETHING ELSE MISSING?

CIRCLE HAD A DIAMOND RING.

AND A GOLD WATCH, A
DERRINGER AND A RIFLE...

WALLET, NONE OF
THEM FOUND IN HIS CAMP.

I SAW THE INDIAN PICK
UP A LOT OF THINGS.

WOULD I KEEP A 20 CENT BANDANNA,

AND THROW AWAY A GOLD
WATCH AND A DIAMOND RING?

THAT'S A LOGICAL POINT.

WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN
LOGIC. WHAT WE WANT IS JUSTICE.

[ALL:] YEAH, YEAH!

COME TO ORDER!

OR I'LL DECLARE A MISTRIAL
AND THERE WON'T BE NO HANGING!

IF AN INDIAN KILLED OLD JIBES,

WHY DIDN'T HE SCALP HIM?

THERE ARE NO
SCALPIN' INDIANS HERE.

NO. NOR KILLIN' TRIBES NEITHER.

ONLY THIEVES.

I SAY LET'S HANG HIM!

AND I SAY YOU BE QUIET OR
I'LL HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT.

AND IN MY COURT,
THAT'S A HANGIN' OFFENSE!

WOULD I KILL A MAN...

ROB HIM...

TAKE A POKE WITH HIS NAME ON IT,

AND THEN RIDE INTO THIS
TOWN LOOKING FOR HIM?

I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THIS
MURDERER MIGHT BE INNOCENT.

[MEN AGREEING]

NOW YOU JURORS STOP TALKING.

NOW WE'RE GONNA
HANG THIS MAN LEGAL,

OR WE'RE NOT GOING
TO HANG HIM AT ALL.

I'D LIKE TO WEIGH THE EVIDENCE.

CIRCLE JIBES IS DEAD,
AND YOU'VE GOT HIS POKE.

ANY MORE INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE?

I TOLD YOU EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED.

THE INDIAN...

WE DON'T HAVE AN INDIAN.

BUT WE DO HAVE YOU.
IT'S TRUE, THEY DO STEAL.

AND WE DO STRING
ONE UP ONCE IN A WHILE,

ON A QUIET WEEKEND.
LIKE THIS ONE.

OH NOW, DON'T GO GETTING
MAD BEFORE WE CONVICT YOU.

LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING
YOU CAN'T HANG ME.

I KNOW YOU CAN.

THE LAW IS ONLY ENOUGH
PEOPLE TO ENFORCE IT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING...

[WHOOPING] [MEN SHOUTING]

[WHOOPING]

YAHOO! HEY, THERE'S
A WOMAN UP IN JUNIPER!

A REAL LIVE WOMAN UP IN JUNIPER.

DICK'S GOT A
WOMAN UP IN JUNIPER.

[EXCITED SHOUTING]

SHE SINGS, DANCES.

SHE'S GOT LONG YELLOW HAIR.

[MAN:] LONG YELLOW HAIR?

LET'S GO! COME ON, HURRY UP.

HOLD IT!

THAT'LL BE TWO PIECES
FOR TRANSPORTION.

[MEN COMPLAINING]

GO AHEAD AND WALK. GO AHEAD.

[MEN WHOOPING]

BOYS! WHAT ABOUT THIS HANGING?

WE'RE A LOT LONGER
ON HANGING MATERIAL

THAN WE ARE ON WOMEN MATERIAL.

[MEN:] LET'S GO TO JUNIPER!

[WHOOPING AND SHOUTING]

YOU TAKE CARE OF IT,
JUDGE. YOU GOT OUR PROXY.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

CASE DISMISSED.

HE WASN'T SHOT.

HE WAS HIT IN THE BACK
OF THE HEAD WITH A ROCK.

I KNEW YOU WERE INNOCENT. HOW?

IN THE FIRST PLACE,

ANYBODY WILLING TO
TAKE ON OUR WHOLE CAMP,

WOULDN'T SNEAK UP
ON A RUNT LIKE JIBES.

AND THE SECOND PLACE?

WELL, IN THE SECOND PLACE...

I FOUND THIS IN YOUR SADDLEBAG
WHEN THEY WERE TYING YOU UP.

SANTA BARBARA PAPERS.

SHOWS YOU WERE
TELLING THE TRUTH.

THEN WHY THE TRIAL?

WELL, YOU KNOW...

THE WATSON BROTHERS
WAS ALL THROUGH FIGHTING.

SUGIE HADN'T GOTTEN BACK
FROM JUNIPER WITH THE WHISKEY.

THINGS WERE
DULLING DOWN A LITTLE.

WE HOLD A KANGAROO
COURT ON ALL STRANGERS.

JUST IN YOUR CASE, WE
HAD A LITTLE EVIDENCE.

JUST FUNNIN' A LITTLE, YOU KNOW.

THAT FUN COULD HAVE
WOUND UP WITH YOU DEAD.

DID YOU HAVE THAT ALL THE TIME?

JUST WAITING FOR YOU
TO PRONOUNCE ME GUILTY.

NOW, I'LL BE ON MY WAY.

I SHOULD BE BACK IN
CIVILIZATION IN A WEEK OR 10 DAYS.

ANYBODY SHOULD WIRE ABOUT JIBES?

NO, HE LEFT NOBODY.

SAY, IF JIBES DIDN'T
LEAVE ANYBODY...

WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN TO THE GOLD?

GOES TO THE TOWN AUTHORITIES.

AND THE TOWN AUTHORITIES ARE...

ME.

THERE IS A MURDERER
LOOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK JIBES WOULD
HAVE BEEN INTERESTED

IN SEEING HIM
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

HOW INTERESTED? OH,
I'D SAY HALF THAT POKE.

MISTER, WHO ARE YOU?

WE BETTER GET A FIRE READY.

THIS GROUND'S HARD DIGGING.

AND I TELL YOU, MR. JIBES
HAS GOT TO BE PUT AWAY.

[COUGHING]

WELL, THAT TAKES CARE OF SWEDE.

NOW WHAT ABOUT THE ONE
THAT DRIVES THE WAGON?

SUGIE? UM HMMM.

HE CAME HERE WITH A SHOVEL,
AND SOME BARRELS OF WHISKEY.

SET UP HIS CLAIM OVER THERE.

HE MADE MORE MONEY
SELLING WHISKEY

THAN HE DID DIGGING FOR GOLD.

HE PUT A TENT OVER HIS
CLAIM AND TURNED MERCHANT.

HE DOES ALL THE BANKING
FOR THE BOYS, YOU KNOW.

TAKES THE DUST INTO JUNIPER
WHEN HE GOES TO GET THE WHISKEY.

HE'S HONEST.

HOW ABOUT THE ONE WHO
WAS YELLING FOR A HANGING?

JACKSON?

HE'S A MEAN DRUNK.
PRETTY MEAN SOBER TOO.

HE'S GOT A FAIR CLAIM.
PULLS OUT $200 A WEEK.

AND THE OTHERS?

PATTERSON'S A FALLEN
RIVEN SALESMAN.

MIKE'S A DEVOUT PICKPOCKET.

THE WATSON BROTHERS
JUST GUNFIGHTIN' FARMERS,

AND CURLY'S A TRIPLE BIGAMIST.

JUST RUN-OF-THE-MILL TYPES.

AND THEY'RE ALL
LOOKING TO STRIKE IT RICH?

WELL, MOST OF 'EM.

WHEN ARE THEY COMING
BACK? SOMETIME TOMORROW.

HALF THE POKE? IF
YOU BRING HIM IN, HALF.

THAT'S DEEP ENOUGH.

I'LL GO GET JIBES.
WELL, JUDGE...

I'LL SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

WHERE YOU GOING?

I'LL BE NEARBY. I'M
GOING TO BED DOWN.

WHY DON'T YOU STAY
HERE BY THE FIRE?

WELL, I KNOW I DIDN'T
KILL THOSE MEN.

BUT JUDGE, I DON'T
KNOW YOU DIDN'T.

[DOG BARKING]

HOME IS THE SAILOR,
HOME FROM THE SEAS.

EVERYBODY OFF. COME ON, GET OFF.

[LOUD GROANING]

YOU'LL HAVE THIS LOAD 'TIL NOON.

GIVE ME A HAND AND I'LL
GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE. WHAT?

HELP ME GET THESE MONKEYS
OFF THIS WAGON AND LIGHT OUT.

THEY ALWAYS HOLD COURT
ON A NEWCOMER AROUND HERE.

DIDN'T THEY TELL YOU?
I'VE BEEN INITIATED.

ALL THE WAY INTO JUNIPER
THEY TALKED ABOUT THE WOMAN.

COMING BACK THEY
COULDN'T TALK ABOUT NOTHING.

WHAT'S YOUR USUAL PROCEDURE?

WE JUST ROLL 'EM
OFF IN THE WATER.

THEY CAN'T BUY WHISKEY
IF THEY'RE ASLEEP.

LIKE THIS? COME ON!

COME ON!

SUGIE...

YOU LOSE MANY
CUSTOMERS THAT WAY?

I GOT THE ONLY
STORE AROUND HERE.

THEY'RE MARRIED TO ME.
UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART.

THAT'S HAPPENED A
COUPLE OF TIMES LATELY.

WENT DOWNSTREAM NIGHT
BEFORE LAST TO PICK ONE UP.

CIRCLE JIBES.

YEAH, I... DOWNSTREAM, SUGIE?

YOU WENT DOWNSTREAM
TO PICK JIBES UP?

SURE, THAT'S WHERE
HIS DIGGINGS ARE.

WELL, WERE.

THE CAMP I RODE
INTO WAS UPSTREAM.

I JUST ASSUMED IT WAS JIBES'
BUT IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE
CLAIMS AROUND HERE?

I GRUBSTAKE THE BOYS.

I COULDN'T DO THAT WITHOUT
LOOKING AT THE CLAIMS.

NO, OF COURSE YOU COULDN'T.

WANT TO TAKE A RIDE WITH
ME FOR AN HOUR OR SO?

WHO DO YOU THINK DID IT?

I DON'T KNOW. I THOUGHT
IT WAS THE INDIAN.

THEN I FIGURED IT HAD
TO BE WHOEVER DIDN'T

COME BACK FROM JUNIPER,
BUT THEY ALL CAME BACK.

SO NOW YOU AND I WILL
JUST HAVE TO GO AND SEE.

AIN'T NO WAY TO LOCK UP
YOUR VALUABLES AROUND HERE.

CAN'T CARRY 'EM WITH YOU.

BOYS COME IN FOR THE WEEKEND,

THEY USUALLY HIDE THEIR
VALUABLES UNDER A TREE TRUNK,

OR UNDER SOME
ROCKS OR SOMETHING.

SUGIE! COME HERE!

SUGIE, COME HERE
AND LOOK AT THIS.

YEAH, BY GOLLY,
THIS IS WHERE IT WAS.

YOU SEE, THE INDIANS WATCH
THE BOYS BURY THEIR STUFF.

WAIT FOR 'EM TO LEAVE CAMP,

THEN MOVE IN AND
MAKE OFF WITH IT.

STUFF THEY CAN'T USE THEY
THROW AWAY REAL QUICK.

BY GOLLY, THAT'S HERNANDO THERE.

RED STANLEY.

THIS HERNANDO'S CAMP?

NO, HE DISAPPEARED
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

THIS SPREAD BELONGED
TO A FELLA NAMED JACKSON.

JACKSON? YEAH.

YEAH, JACKSON.

HE WOULDN'T PHASE
AT A KILLING OR TWO.

SAY HE KILLED CIRCLE
SOMETIME THURSDAY...

THE INDIAN WATCHED
HIM BURY THE LOOT,

AND MADE OFF WITH IT WHEN
JACKSON WENT INTO TOWN YESTERDAY.

NO WONDER JACKSON
WANTED TO SEE ME HUNG.

HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
HE'D BEEN ROBBED

UNTIL I SHOWED UP IN
TOWN WITH JIBES' POKE.

HE FIGURED HANGING ME
WOULD CLEAR THE SLATE FOR HIM.

WHY IN THE WORLD
DID HE COME BACK?

WELL, HE PROBABLY
DIDN'T FIGURE TO.

THE BOYS WERE
DRINKING PRETTY GOOD,

AND COME TIME TO LEAVE I
JUST LOADED THE ONES ON

THAT COULDN'T WALK OR
TALK AND LIT RIGHT OUT.

JACKSON.

HOW DID YOU GET LOOSE?

YOU EVER SEEN THESE BEFORE? NO.

THEY WERE FOUND
UP AT YOUR PLACE.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS, IS IT?

THEN HE MUST HAVE
SORTED THEM THERE.

YOU BEEN BANKING 20
TO 30 OUNCES A MONTH.

WELL, I GOT MESELF A GOOD CLAIM.

YOUR EQUIPMENT AIN'T BEEN USED
FOR MONTHS. YOUR CLAIM'S BURNED OUT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN WASHING, SEE?

I GOT MYSELF A DRY
STAKE UP IN THE HILLS,

ABOVE THE RIVER. WHERE?

HO! I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU.

I'M NOT TELLING NOBODY.

I HAVEN'T FILED A
CLAIM FOR TITLE YET.

DRY MINING GIVES YOU
NUGGETS. YOU BEEN BANKING DUST.

HE DID IT.

THAT ONE. WE GOT TO HANG HIM.

JUST LIKE WE STARTED
TO DO YESTERDAY.

HE'S THE ONE THAT DID IT. HIM!

HE KILLED CIRCLE,
AND HE KILLED STANLEY,

AND HE KILLED OLD HERNANDO.

HERNANDO'S DEAD?

I HOPE YOU HAVEN'T GOT A
DEEP ATTACHMENT TO THIS HORSE.

HOLD IT! YOU CRAZY?

THAT'S A VERY LETHAL
WEAPON YOU'VE GOT.

I'VE SEEN THOSE THINGS BLOW UP.

THAT ONE WON'T BLOW UP.
WON'T EVEN GO OFF, IT'S WET.

YOU HAD IT IN YOUR POCKET
WHEN YOU WENT IN THE RIVER.

DON'T YOU TRY ANYTHING.
THEY CAN'T HANG ME ANY HIGHER,

IF I PROVE YOU WRONG.

[GUN CLICKING]

OH, MY LEG!

IT JUST OPENED
HIM UP A LITTLE BIT.

HE'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO
HURT A LITTLE WHILE.

TRIAL SHOULDN'T
TAKE TOO LONG AT ALL.

I'D HAVE BET $1,000 THAT
THING WOULDN'T GO OFF.

YOU BET MORE THAN
THAT. YOU BET YOUR LIFE.

THEY AREN'T VERY
ACCURATE OVER 10 FEET.

THAT'S WHY I MOVED
OUT BEFORE I CALLED HIM.

HMMM?

OH!

THAT'S RIGHT, ISN'T
IT? THEY WERE EVEN?

COME ON BOYS, GET THE
BENCH. WHY DON'T YOU STAY ON?

AFTER WE HANG JACKSON, I'LL
PLAY YOU A NICE GAME OF PINOCHLE.

WELL, I'M NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT
THE RULES OF THE GAME HERE.

WINNING MIGHT BE
A CAPITAL OFFENSE.

JUDGE.

COME ON BOYS, LET'S
GET ON WITH THE TRIAL.

CHARLIE, GET MOVIN'.

♪ 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? ♪