Ep 12. No Visitors

"No Visitors" is the twelfth episode of the classic western TV series Have Gun, Will Travel's first season. The show originally aired on December 15, 1957.

The episode starts with Paladin (played by Richard Boone) waiting for a woman named Mrs. Brighton (played by Ellen Drew) to arrive in his hotel room. When she finally arrives, she tells him that her husband, a wealthy rancher, has been falsely accused of murder and is currently in jail awaiting trial. She wants Paladin to help clear her husband's name.

Paladin agrees to help but quickly realizes that something isn't right. He goes to the jail to visit Mrs. Brighton's husband, but the rancher doesn't seem interested in Paladin's help. He tells Paladin to leave and not to interfere in his affairs. Paladin is confused but decides to keep investigating.

He soon discovers that Mrs. Brighton has been lying to him about her relationship with her husband. She had left him years ago to marry another man, but when that marriage fell apart, she returned to her first husband. Apparently, she had left him again, and now she needs his wealth and influence to save her from a bad situation.

Paladin confronts Mrs. Brighton with his findings, and she admits the truth. She also reveals that she had hired a gunslinger to kill the man her husband is accused of murdering. The gunslinger was already on his way to the town, and she begs Paladin to stop him before he can do any harm.

Paladin takes action to stop the hired gun, but not before the man kills the only witness who can prove the rancher's innocence. In the end, the rancher is still found guilty of murder, but Paladin gives him a message from his estranged wife, telling him why she did what she did and apologizing for causing him so much trouble.

Overall, "No Visitors" is a typical episode of Have Gun, Will Travel. It features the series' trademark blend of gunplay and moral complexity. Paladin is a complex hero who is not afraid to do what's right, even if it means putting his own life in danger. The episode is well-written and features strong performances from the entire cast, particularly Ellen Drew as the duplicitous Mrs. Brighton.