Ep 12. The Barbary Coast

Tales of Wells Fargo is a western drama television series that aired on NBC from 1957 to 1962. The show follows the adventures of a young agent, Jim Hardie (Dale Robertson), who works for Wells Fargo – a company that offered banking and express delivery services in the American West. Season 2 Episode 12 of the show is titled The Barbary Coast.

The episode opens with Jim Hardie on a boat off the coast of San Francisco, California. He is on a mission to take back a shipment of gold that was stolen from Wells Fargo by a group of outlaws. The gold was taken to the infamous Barbary Coast – a red-light district known for its gambling dens, brothels, and opium dens.

Jim goes to a saloon on the Barbary Coast to gather information about the thieves and their whereabouts. There, he meets a dancer named Angela (Gia Scala), who takes an interest in him. Jim soon discovers that Angela's brother, Tony, is one of the thieves who stole the gold. Angela claims that Tony was coerced into the heist by a man named Morgan (John Dehner), and she wants Jim's help in getting her brother out of trouble.

Jim decides to work with Angela to find Morgan and the stolen gold. They go to Morgan's hideout, where they are confronted by Morgan and his men. Jim manages to convince Morgan to return the gold, but Morgan has other plans. He locks Jim and Angela in a room and sets the building on fire.

Jim and Angela are able to escape from the burning building and make their way back to Wells Fargo with the recovered gold. Jim confronts Tony about his involvement in the heist, but Tony denies any knowledge. Angela reveals that Tony was part of the heist, but she persuaded him to return the gold before things got out of hand.

In the end, Jim returns the gold to Wells Fargo, and Tony is arrested for his involvement in the heist. Angela vows to stay on the straight and narrow from that day on, and Jim leaves San Francisco with the knowledge that he has once again done his job and served Wells Fargo.

Overall, The Barbary Coast is a compelling episode with a suspenseful plot and well-developed characters. It touches on themes of loyalty, brotherhood, and the corrupting influence of power and money. The acting is strong, particularly by Dale Robertson and Gia Scala, who have great chemistry onscreen. The location shots of San Francisco and the Barbary Coast are also well-done, adding to the authenticity of the episode. All in all, The Barbary Coast is a worthwhile watch for fans of westerns and crime dramas alike.