Ep 1. Three Bells to Perdido

Have Gun, Will Travel is a western television series that aired from 1957 to 1963. The show follows the adventures of Paladin, a sophisticated gunman for hire who lives in San Francisco during the late 19th century. Each episode features Paladin traveling to a new location to help someone in need, all while displaying his sharp wit, intelligence, and skill with a gun.

Season 1 episode 1 of the show is titled "Three Bells to Perdido". The episode begins with Paladin receiving a telegram from a man named Clay, who is the sheriff of a town called Perdido. The telegram requests Paladin's help in finding a man named Johnny May, who has been accused of murder and is on the run. Clay is unable to leave Perdido due to issues in his own town, and so he offers to pay Paladin handsomely for his services.

Paladin arrives in Perdido and meets with the sheriff, who explains the situation in detail. Johnny May is a young man who worked for a farmer named Longley, who was found dead in his barn with a bullet wound. The gun that was used to kill Longley was found near the scene, and Johnny May was nowhere to be found. The townsfolk immediately assumed that Johnny was guilty and began searching for him.

Paladin begins his investigation by speaking with Longley's widow and some of the other townspeople. He finds that the general consensus is that Johnny is guilty, but he also picks up on some subtle clues that make him think that there may be more to the story. He learns that Longley was a very unpopular man in town, and that he had a lot of enemies due to his dishonest business practices.

As Paladin continues to dig deeper into the case, he discovers that there are three men who had a particularly strong motive to kill Longley. These men are his business partner, an ex-employee who was swindled out of his wages, and a townsman who had a personal grudge against Longley. Paladin realizes that any one of these men could be the real murderer, and that Johnny May may have been framed.

Paladin's investigation comes to a head when he discovers that Johnny May has been holed up in a nearby ghost town. Johnny begs Paladin for help, swearing that he is innocent of the crime. Paladin believes him, but warns him that he will have to face a trial in order to clear his name. Paladin then devises a plan to catch the real killer: he sets a trap by leaving a message for the three suspects, asking them to meet him at Longley's barn that night.

The final act of the episode is a tense showdown between Paladin, the suspects, and the townspeople. Paladin reveals his evidence and accuses one of the three men of being the true murderer, and the guilty party is forced to confess. Johnny May is exonerated and the episode ends with Paladin collecting his payment before riding off into the sunset.

"Three Bells to Perdido" is a classic western story that is brought to life by the talents of the show's writers, actors, and directors. The episode is an exciting and engaging mystery that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. It also sets the tone for the rest of the series, establishing Paladin as a sharp-witted and capable hero who always fights for what is right.