Ep 32. The Five Books of Owen Deaver

In Have Gun, Will Travel season 1 episode 32 titled "The Five Books of Owen Deaver," we follow Paladin as he helps a dying man fulfill his last wish of returning five stolen books to their rightful owners. The episode begins as Paladin rides into the small town of Paradise, where he encounters a dying man named Owen Deaver. Owen has just been shot by a man named Pete Gentry, who stole five rare and valuable books from him.

Owen tells Paladin that he has written letters to the owners of the stolen books, but they have yet to be sent. He begs Paladin to take his satchel, which contains the books and letters, and deliver them to their rightful owners. Paladin agrees, and Owen dies shortly after.

Paladin sets out to deliver the books, but he quickly realizes that each owner has their own reasons for wanting the books back, and not all of them are willing to pay a fair price. The first owner, a wealthy man named Bradley, offers to buy the book from Paladin but refuses to pay the full value. Paladin declines and moves on to the next owner.

The second owner, a woman named Mrs. Benton, is thrilled to have her book returned and invites Paladin to stay for dinner. However, when Paladin discovers that she plans to sell the book to a wealthy collector, he confronts her and convinces her to keep the book for herself.

The third owner, a man named Mr. Wilkins, is a former slave who has been working tirelessly to educate himself. He is thrilled to receive his book back and grateful to Owen for giving him the opportunity to learn. Paladin is moved by Mr. Wilkins' story and offers to stay and help him defend his land from a group of men who are trying to drive him off.

The fourth owner, a woman named Mrs. Cavendish, is a bitter and unhappy woman who is angry at everyone and everything. She is initially hostile towards Paladin, but he manages to win her over by showing her a kind gesture.

The fifth and final owner, a man named Griffin, is a former friend of Owen's who betrayed him years ago. Paladin is initially hesitant to give Griffin his book back, but he eventually decides to do so in order to honor Owen's dying wish.

Throughout the episode, Paladin faces many challenges, both physical and emotional, as he tries to fulfill Owen's last request. He meets people from all walks of life and learns that the value of the books goes far beyond their monetary worth. The episode is a poignant reminder that, no matter how different we may seem on the surface, we all have something in common – a desire to connect with something greater than ourselves.