Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963): Season 3, Episode 27 - The Gladiators - full transcript

THE RULES SAY WE HAVE OUR
CHOICE OF WEAPONS, MR. SLEDGE.

SILLY, BUT WHAT
WOULD YOU EXPECT?

WE HAVE FALLEN AMONG IDIOTS.

EXCUSE ME?

WOULD YOU TELL MR. PALADIN

THAT MISS WINDROM
IS HERE TO SEE HIM?

YES, MA'AM.

MISS WINDROM,

MR. PALADIN IS EXPECTING YOU.

SO IT WOULD SEEM.

FOLLOW ME, PLEASE.



RIGHT HERE.

LADY COMING.

YOU MAY MAKE ONE PARTING REMARK.

A TIME LIKE THIS,
WHAT IS THERE TO SAY?

OH, UH... [SPEAKING CHINESE]

[CHINESE]

[KNOCKING]

SO, THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE.

YES. IT'S VERY MUCH
THE WAY I EXPECTED.

WELL, I'D ALWAYS THOUGHT
OF IT AS JUST A HOTEL ROOM.

BUT LET ME SEE IT
THROUGH YOUR EYES.

OH, I'D SAY THE
MAN WHO LIVES HERE

IS UNBRIDLED, RIGID, AUSTERE,

YET ONE WHO LIKES HIS
COMFORT AS WELL AS LUXURY,



THOUGH HE COULD NEVER QUITE
FORGET HE WAS ONCE A SOLDIER.

SOMEONE HAS BEEN TELLING
YOU THINGS ABOUT ME.

MR. PALADIN, BACK IN LOUISIANA,

I'M CONSIDERED A PRETTY
GOOD JUDGE OF HORSE FLESH.

I'D SAY THE STANDARDS ARE
NOT VERY MUCH DIFFERENT.

WELL, THERE IS
CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE WESTERN MUSTANG

AND THE PAMPERED GELDINGS
THAT PASS FOR HORSES

IN YOUR PART OF THE COUNTRY.

I HADN'T NOTICED.

OH.

MR. PALADIN.

MAY I POUR YOU A
GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE?

YES.

NO. I REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME.

I'M RETURNING TO NEW
ORLEANS IMMEDIATELY.

BUT NOT TONIGHT.

YES, I AM. I MUST.

MY FATHER'S FIGHTING A DUEL. I
GOT THE LETTER THIS MORNING.

HE'S A VERY PROUD
MAN, MR. PALADIN.

HE'D RATHER DIE THAN YIELD.

IS THAT A FAMILY TRAIT?

WELL, YOU'D HAVE
TO KNOW MY FATHER

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
HONOR MEANS TO HIM.

"WHEN HONOR DIES,

WHEN FAITH IS LOST,
THE MAN IS DEAD."

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. OR THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, FALSTAFF.

"WHO HATH HONOR? HE WHO DIED
A-WEDNESDAY, DOTH HE FEEL IT? NO.

THEREFORE, I'LL NONE OF IT."

[LAUGHING]

IT'S NOTHING TO LAUGH
AT. HE'S AN OLD MAN.

AND IT'S WHAT HE BELIEVES
IN, RIGHT OR WRONG.

PLEASE.

WILL YOU TRAVEL AS
FAR AS NEW ORLEANS?

WHY?

BECAUSE MY FATHER'S
GOING TO BE MURDERED.

HE CALLS IT DUELING.

BUT HE HASN'T HELD
A GUN IN 30 YEARS.

AND IT'S NOT DUELING.
IT'S MURDER, MR. PALADIN.

AND YOU WANT ME TO...

SHOW YOURSELF WITH FATHER.

BECKLEY WILL BACK OUT THE MOMENT
HE FINDS OUT FATHER HAS EXPERT HELP.

"EXPERT."

WELL, MISS WINDROM,

SINCE OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS NOW
CHANGED FROM PLEASURE TO BUSINESS...

OH, YES.

OF COURSE. YOUR FEE.

MM.

BUT, PALADIN? HMM?

WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER,

WHEN YOU HAVE
SAVED MY FATHER'S...

OH, MR. PALADIN.

MADAM.

YOUR NAME'S PALADIN, EH?

NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN
PRANCE AROUND MY DAUGHTER?

YOU'RE SPILLING YOUR DRINK.

[CLEARS THROAT]

ALLISON TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENED TO THE LAST ONE?

THE ONE BEFORE ME?

GRAHAM BECKLEY.

I THREW MY DRINK IN HIS FACE.

YOU DIDN'T.

AT THE CLUB. IN FRONT
OF A DOZEN WITNESSES.

I WARNED THE YOUNG PUP
TO STAY AWAY FROM ALLISON.

AND I PACKED HER OFF TO SAN
FRANCISCO SO HE'D HAVE TO.

HE HAD THE IMPUDENCE
TO DEMAND AN EXPLANATION.

AND YOU GAVE HIM
ONE? RIGHT IN THE FACE.

THAT EVER HAPPEN
TO YOU, MR. PALADIN?

FATHER! DON'T WORRY.

I'M NOT GONNA DO
IT TO MR. PALADIN.

WHAT DID MR. BECKLEY DO?

WHAT COULD HE DO?

HE MAKES THE PRETENSE
OF BEING A GENTLEMAN.

SO HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT
TO CHALLENGE ME TO A DUEL.

YOU BROUGHT ME ALL THE WAY
FROM SAN FRANCISCO FOR THIS?

HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER.

AND AT HIS AGE, HE
COULD EASILY GET KILLED.

THERE MUST BE SOMEBODY IN
THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

WHO CAN TALK SOME
SENSE INTO HIS HEAD?

TRY IT, MR. PALADIN.

YOU'LL KNOW WHY I BROUGHT
YOU ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA.

WHEN DOES THIS
BLOODLETTING TAKE PLACE?

FRIDAY. 5:00 A.M.

SINCE YOU'RE ALLISON'S GUEST,

I SUPPOSE I'LL HAVE TO
INVITE YOU TO BE PRESENT.

THIS IS BY INVITATION ONLY?

CERTAINLY. I EXPECT 40
OR 50 PEOPLE, AT LEAST.

CALL IT OFF.

NEVER.

I WAS INSULTED. I'LL
HAVE SATISFACTION.

DO YOU THINK YOUNG
BECKLEY WILL DARE FIGHT ME?

I'M AN OLD MAN. HE'D
BE STONED OUT OF TOWN.

WAIT AND SEE.

IN THE END, HE'LL TURN
TAIL LIKE A YELLOW DOG.

IN FRONT OF 40 OR 50 PEOPLE.

THAT'LL TEACH HIM A LESSON
HE'LL NEVER GET OVER.

[CHUCKLES]

[LAUGHING]

NOW DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

HE DOESN'T NEED ANY HELP.
THIS WHOLE THING'S A FARCE.

NO, MR. PALADIN.

GRAHAM BECKLEY
WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

FATHER IS WRONG IN THINKING HE
HAS NOTHING TO WIN BY FIGHTING.

OH? WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO GAIN?

HIS SELF-RESPECT.

HE'S EVERY BIT AS
PROUD AS FATHER.

AND WHAT ELSE? YOU?

I CAN'T HELP WHAT GRAHAM THINKS.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL STOP HIM.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH ONE OF
THESE GENTLEMEN IS MR. BECKLEY?

THANK YOU.

MR. BECKLEY?

I'M AFRAID YOU HAVE THE
ADVANTAGE OF ME, SIR.

MY NAME IS PALADIN.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU.

IN A MOMENT, WHEN
I'VE FINISHED HERE.

NOW, MR. BECKLEY.

WHY, MR. PALADIN,

MUST IT BE RIGHT NOW?

BECAUSE MY TIME IS TOO VALUABLE

TO BE WASTED ON
MATTERS OF SUCH STUPIDITY.

MAY I TROUBLE YOU TO
EXPLAIN THAT REMARK, SIR?

I'LL BE VERY HAPPY TO.

I'M REFERRING TO THE
PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF FRIDAY.

OH?

AND IN WHAT WAY DOES
THIS CONCERN YOU?

I'VE BEEN ASKED
TO PUT A STOP TO IT.

REALLY?

WELL, I MUST SAY, MR. PALADIN,

THAT YOU'RE A SINGULAR
CHOICE FOR A MEDIATOR.

FOR ONE THING, SIR, THIS
TIME AND PLACE INDICATES

A SHOCKING DISREGARD
FOR GOOD TASTE.

AND FOR ANOTHER THING,

I PERSONALLY FIND YOUR
MANNER MOST OBNOXIOUS.

HOWEVER, CERTAIN
OVERTURES HAVE BEEN MADE,

AND IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT
I ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.

VERY WELL, MR. PALADIN.
THESE ARE MY TERMS.

SINCE MY WORTHY OPPONENT
CHOSE TO INSULT ME IN PUBLIC

IN FRONT OF WITNESSES,

I SHALL ACCEPT AN APOLOGY
DELIVERED IN THE SAME WAY

AND IN THE SAME PLACE.

THAT'S ALL.

I BELIEVE IT'S MY MOVE, HENRY.

MR. BECKLEY,

WINDROM IS NOT
GOING TO APOLOGIZE

ANY TIME OR ANY PLACE.

VERY WELL.

I SHALL AWAIT HIS CONVENIENCE
NEXT FRIDAY MORNING.

WINDROM IS A FOOL.

AND THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU IS 30 YEARS.

HE'S TOO OLD TO FIGHT A DUEL.

WELL, THEN, MAY I
ASSUME, MR. PALADIN,

THAT YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD, SIR?

NO. NO, I'M NOT TOO OLD.

NOR IS 5:00 A.M. TOO
EARLY FOR ME TO RISE.

WELL, IN THAT CASE, SIR...

NOT NECESSARY, MR. BECKLEY.

I HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED THE
CHALLENGE ON BEHALF OF MR. WINDROM.

YOU... YOU DID WHAT?

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS, SIR.

WELL, I NEVER HEARD
OF SUCH A THING.

IT'S IN ABSOLUTE VIOLATION
OF THE DUELING CODE.

I'LL BE THERE, MR. BECKLEY.

AND... NOW...

IT'S YOUR MOVE.

PALADIN!

PALADIN!

YOU NINCOMPOOP.

I OUGHT TO HAVE YOU HORSE-WHIPPED
WITHIN AN INCH OF YOUR LIFE.

BY WHAT RIGHT DO
YOU INTERFERE...

THIS WILL STEADY YOUR NERVES.

FATHER!

MR. PALADIN!

I SUPPOSE YOU PUT HIM UP TO IT.

YES, I DID.

THEN YOU'RE AS BIG
AN IMBECILE AS HE IS.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID
WITH YOUR STUPID MEDDLING?

SAVED YOUR LIFE, MOST
LIKELY. WHY, I AM NOT CERTAIN.

YOU CHEATED ME OUT
OF MY SATISFACTION.

I HAD BECKLEY RIGHT
WHERE I WANTED HIM.

HE'D HAVE BEEN
FORCED TO BACK DOWN.

MR. WINDROM, YOU ARE A FOOL.

BECKLEY WOULD HAVE KILLED
YOU AND MARRIED YOUR DAUGHTER

AS SOON AS YOU WERE
IN THE GROUND. WHAT?

AND IF YOU HAD BACKED
DOWN AT THE LAST MOMENT,

WHICH IS EXTREMELY LIKELY,

NOT EVEN YOUR SERVANTS
WOULD HAVE TAKEN ORDERS

FROM YOU ANY LONGER.

I OFFERED YOU BOTH A
CHANCE TO SAVE FACE.

IT WAS A MISTAKE. I WITHDRAW.

OH, NO, YOU DON'T, PALADIN.

IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

BECKLEY IS GETTING SOMEBODY
TO DO HIS FIGHTING FOR HIM.

HE SENT FOR A TEXAN,
A HIRED GUNFIGHTER.

AND JUST WHAT DO YOU
PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT THAT?

NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

HE WINS BY DEFAULT.

BUT THIS IS AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.

MR. WINDROM, THE AMOUNT OF
HONOR I HAVE INVOLVED IS SO SLIGHT

THAT I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

IT WILL BE NO REFLECTION ON YOU

WHEN THIS TEXAN SCARES
ME OUT OF NEW ORLEANS.

IN THAT EVENT, SIR,

I HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO
FACE THIS RUFFIAN MYSELF.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I COULD
EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.

AMONG GENTLEMEN,

LIFE WITHOUT HONOR
IS MEANINGLESS.

THIS THING'S GONE BEYOND
APOLOGIES OR RETREAT.

IT CAN BE SETTLED
IN ONLY ONE WAY.

IF YOU REFUSE TO
MEET YOUR OBLIGATIONS,

I'LL DO IT FOR YOU.

MR. PALADIN!

HE MEANS IT.

AND AGAINST A GUNFIGHTER,
HE WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

THERE HAS TO BE
A FIGHT? THAT IT?

NEITHER BECKLEY NOR I WOULD
BE SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING LESS.

HOW MUCH BLOOD
WILL YOU SETTLE FOR?

[KNOCKING]

IT'S OPEN.

YOU BILL SLEDGE?

I ONCE KNEW A MAN

THAT COULD MAKE A COIN VANISH
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

BRING IT BACK, TOO.

THAT'S THE PART OF THE
TRICK I NEVER MASTERED.

WELL, DIDN'T HELP HIM MUCH.

HE DIED BROKE.

GETTING BACK TO YOUR
QUESTION, I AM BILL SLEDGE.

MY NAME IS PALADIN.

YOU'RE A COUPLE OF
DAYS EARLY, AIN'T YA?

NOT WHY I'M HERE.

I NEVER RAN INTO THIS
KIND OF FIGHTING IN TEXAS.

I HEAR TELL THERE'S RULES.

SOMEBODY ELSE IS
SUPPOSED TO DO THE TALKING.

YOU PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO RULES?

I NEVER HAVE YET.

HAVE A SEAT, PALADIN.

THANK YOU.

BEEN IN TOWN LONG?
MOST OF A WEEK.

I ONLY GOT HERE THIS MORNING.

MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME
WHY I'M GONNA KILL YOU.

MR. SLEDGE, I'M NOT EVEN
CLEAR ON WHY I'M GONNA KILL YOU.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN A
MAN BROUGHT A FIGHT WITH HIM,

HE HAD TO BRING A REASON, TOO.

NOW I JUST ASK HOW MUCH
IT PAYS AND LET IT GO AT THAT.

THERE'S NO LAND, NO CATTLE,
NO WATER RIGHTS INVOLVED.

WHAT'S LEFT?

NOTHING. THEY JUST
WANT THE SIGHT OF BLOOD.

OH.

WELL, THEY AIN'T
PAYING ENOUGH ANYWAY.

HEADING BACK TO CALIFORNIA?
I'LL RIDE AS FAR AS TEXAS WITH YOU.

NO. THERE'S GOT TO BE A FIGHT.

YOU FAST WITH A GUN, PALADIN?

IF I'D LOST MANY, I
WOULDN'T BE HERE.

HOW ARE YOU WITH YOUR FISTS?

WHY?

THESE RULES SAY THAT WE
GET THE CHOICE OF WEAPONS.

OH.

WELL, A MAN'S GOT TO
START LIVING BY THE RULES

SOONER OR LATER.

STILL SEEMS KIND OF SILLY.

MR. SLEDGE, WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

WE HAVE FALLEN AMONG IDIOTS.

WHERE IS YOUR SPORTING
BLOOD, GENTLEMEN?

I AM OFFERING YOU 3-2 ODDS
ON BECKLEY'S GLADIATOR.

WELL, IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE.
TOMORROW'S THE BIG DAY.

WHICH ONE OF YOU GENTLEMEN
CAN I MARK DOWN FOR, SAY,

A HUNDRED DOLLARS?

NOW, THERE'S A MAN
WITH CONVICTIONS.

YOU ARE ON, SIR. TO BE PAID ON
THE FIRST MAN TO DRAW BLOOD.

NOW, ANYONE ELSE?

I WAS JUST ON MY WAY OUT, SIR.

THE CLUB IS YOURS.

STAY IF YOU LIKE. I CAN
AVOID YOU UNTIL MORNING.

YES, OF COURSE.

NOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY
CONFIDENCE IN YOUR MAN,

I'M SURE HARRY WILL BE ONLY
TOO HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE YOU.

I'LL HAVE THE BEST
OF THAT BARGAIN.

LOSING MY MONEY WOULD BE
COMPENSATED BY GETTING RID OF PALADIN.

THE MAN IS A ROUGH DIAMOND, SIR.

BUT IT SEEMS TO
APPEAL TO ALLISON.

THEN SHE'S GONE
FROM BAD TO WORSE.

I'LL GIVE YOU THIS
MUCH, BECKLEY.

YOU AT LEAST BEHAVE
LIKE A GENTLEMAN.

WELL, THANK YOU, SIR.

IT'S SMALL CREDIT TO ME. I
COMPLETELY LOST MY HEAD.

A WEAKNESS OF YOUTH.
YOU'LL OVERCOME IT IN TIME.

NOW, SIR, THAT'S VERY
HANDSOME OF YOU.

GRAHAM?

I THINK YOU OUGHT TO KNOW...

GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GRAHAM, ALL BETS ARE OFF.

I WILL NOT BE A PARTY
TO SUCH A FARCE.

NOW, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WE HAVE BEEN TAKEN. THERE'S
NOT GOING TO BE A DUEL.

WHAT?

THOSE MEN HAVE AGREED
TO BRAWL WITH THEIR FISTS.

WHY, WE'D BE THE
LAUGHINGSTOCK OF NEW ORLEANS.

ARE YOU POSITIVE OF THIS, SIR?

I HAVE IT ON THE
BEST OF AUTHORITY.

IT SEEMS THAT YOUR MAN
PALADIN HAS DEVELOPED COLD FEET.

SPEAK FOR YOUR OWN MAN, BECKLEY.

VERY WELL, SIR, I WILL.

I'LL GUARANTEE THAT MY MAN
WILL APPEAR ON THE FIELD OF HONOR

COMPLETELY ARMED.

THE REST IS UP TO YOU.

THEN TELL HIM TO DEFEND
HIMSELF. PALADIN WILL HAVE A GUN.

PALADIN? HMM?

AM I INTRUDING? I
HOPE NOT, MY DEAR.

I DON'T WANT YOU
TO BE ALONE TONIGHT.

I WAS JUST ENJOYING
THE MOONLIGHT.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

PALADIN? HMM?

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT NIGHT...

IT SEEMS SO LONG AGO.

IN SAN FRANCISCO?

I REMEMBER IT VIVIDLY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR
THAT GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE.

SO I MADE YOU A PROMISE.

TOMORROW MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

AND THE GARDEN'S
LIKE A PICTURE IN A BOOK.

NONE OF IT'S REAL, IS IT?

YOUR FATHER AND HIS FRIENDS

MAKING RIDICULOUS RULES
AND GAMES ABOUT KILLING.

YOU MAKING A SPORT OUT OF LOVE,

TRYING TO PRETEND IT'S
ALL SO SAD, SO TRAGIC.

IN KILLING...

OR IN MAKING LOVE,

I DON'T PRETEND.

I TOOK THE LIBERTY.

IN THIS CASE, MR. WINDROM,
THAT IS THE WRONG WEAPON.

BUT THIS IS AN AFFAIR OF
HONOR. IT'LL BE FOUGHT AS SUCH.

YOU'LL GET YOUR CARNIVAL.
I'LL DO IT MY OWN WAY.

YOU THINK SO?

THEN YOU'RE THE
ONLY ONE WHO DOES.

YOUR OPPONENT WILL HAVE
A PISTOL UNDER HIS SHIRT.

YOU MAY BELIEVE ME, MR. PALADIN.

BECKLEY HAS OFFERED
THE TEXAN DOUBLE PRICE.

IF YOU WALK OUT THERE
UNARMED, IT'LL COST YOU YOUR LIFE.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

SIR, I MUST PROTEST
THESE ARRANGEMENTS.

THIS IS NOT A
DUELING WITH PISTOLS.

BOTH WEAPONS ARE EQUAL,
AREN'T THEY? YES, BUT...

THEN GET ON WITH YOUR
INSTRUCTIONS. WHY BOTHER?

NOT ONE OF THE
RULES APPLIES HERE.

YOU WILL STAND BACK-TO-BACK.

ON MY SIGNAL, THE WORD "NOW,"

YOU WILL EACH TAKE TEN
PACES IN A DIRECT LINE,

TURN AND FIRE.

THERE'S A DOCTOR IN ATTENDANCE.

GOOD LUCK.

WHENEVER YOU'RE
READY, MR. PALADIN.

WHAT'S THE JOB PAY NOW?

WINNER TAKE ALL.

WORTH THAT MUCH TO YOU?

MONEY, NO.

BUT I ONLY GOT ONE LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. THEY SOLD
US BOTH THE SAME BILL OF GOODS.

YOU WEARING A GUN
UNDER THAT SHIRT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READY?

THEY MUST'VE TALKED IT OVER.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO FIGHT ABOUT?

YOU ASK ME FOR A REASON,
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ONE.

BUT THEY WANT BLOOD.

TEN PACES ENOUGH?

NOT FOR ME.

JUST KEEP RIGHT ON WALKING.

NEVER LOOK BACK.

NOW.

[GUN COCKS]

WELL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

A SLIGHT FLESH WOUND
TO SAVE THE HONOR

OF TWO MEN WHO NEVER HAD ANY?

THAT'S WHAT YOU PAID FOR.

GO AHEAD.

ENJOY IT.

YOU'VE HAD YOUR
BLOOD. LET'S CELEBRATE.

HAVE A DRINK.

STEP UP.

YOU WANT A DRINK?

NO?

ALL RIGHT!

TELL YOU WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK.

YOU COULDN'T KEEP IT DOWN.

A TOAST TO YOU, GENTLEMEN.

AND TO YOU, ALLISON,

THE ONE WE DIDN'T
HAVE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

GENTLEMEN,

TO YOU AND YOUR CODE.

♪ "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 ♪