- 4 weeks ago
The episode's plot revolves around an old prospector named Leadhead Kane (Earle Hodgins) who dies and leaves his half-ownership of a silver mine to a beautiful actress and music hall singer, Mlle. Annette (Lita Milan), who had shown him kindness.
His crooked partner, Vance Crawford (Whit Bissell), is unhappy with the will's terms and plans to challenge its validity in court. Paladin is hired to ensure that the actress makes it to the courtroom to claim her inheritance. Crawford and his associates try various means to prevent Paladin from getting Annette to the hearing on time, leading to the central conflict and action of the episode.
The story allows Paladin to use his knowledge of the law as well as his gunfighting skills, culminating in a courtroom scene where he pushes the local miners to identify with their late friend's simple wish to leave his fortune to the woman who brightened his lonely life.
His crooked partner, Vance Crawford (Whit Bissell), is unhappy with the will's terms and plans to challenge its validity in court. Paladin is hired to ensure that the actress makes it to the courtroom to claim her inheritance. Crawford and his associates try various means to prevent Paladin from getting Annette to the hearing on time, leading to the central conflict and action of the episode.
The story allows Paladin to use his knowledge of the law as well as his gunfighting skills, culminating in a courtroom scene where he pushes the local miners to identify with their late friend's simple wish to leave his fortune to the woman who brightened his lonely life.
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TVTranscript
00:00There it is, Hagen. You can't get into this mine, and we can't get out. Stalemate.
00:30Good night. Good night. Thank you very much, gentlemen. I hope you all have exactly the same kind of luck tomorrow night.
01:00Thank you. Good night. Good night.
01:18Leadhead? You were trying to bluff me out of that last pot.
01:24Well, I had you guessing for a minute. Sounds like you're getting tired of the game.
01:28Passes the time. Say, you got another one of them?
01:32You know what the doctor said.
01:34Well, now, don't you start in with that foolishness. What's the difference between dying at 75 or 80?
01:40Ain't many pleasures left when you get to be my age, Paladin.
01:44Well, that head looks to me like they're doing fine.
01:46Oh, sure. I live in a plush hotel now instead of a lean-to.
01:50What me silk shirts and I eat fancy food.
01:54Yeah, I've done just fine since I found me a silver mine.
01:58I can have just about anything I want.
02:02Hey, you ain't going just yet, are you?
02:05Well, it's 5 o'clock in the morning. We played all night.
02:07Oh, I'll see you tomorrow night, though, huh?
02:10All right, but let's start earlier. 12 o'clock's a little late.
02:12Well, I'm going over to the music hall.
02:15Again?
02:16Just as long as I can keep on seeing Millionette.
02:19Who?
02:21Millionette, the singer.
02:23What's the matter with you?
02:25You was the one that took me over there the first time.
02:28I always thought that you had a knife for the ladies.
02:31You don't remember her.
02:34What are you laughing at?
02:39Well, that's not her name, Leadhead. Not Millie.
02:43This is French.
02:45It stands for Mademoiselle Annette Vargas.
02:48Oh.
02:49Well, whatever it is they call her,
02:52she's still the prettiest thing I ever seen.
02:55And you've been going to the music hall every night just to see her?
02:58Why not?
02:59Well, Leadhead, she's living here at the Carlton.
03:01You could have met her.
03:02Ha!
03:03You think that she'd even stop to look at an old desert rat like me?
03:13Hmm.
03:16Well, I understand she's a very gracious woman.
03:18Well, at any rate, I'll see you tonight.
03:21Oh, yeah, sure, sure.
03:22Bye, Leadhead.
03:23Good night.
03:32I know your practice in the night.
03:34The remar Aus when Mademoiselle Hall is able to be able.
03:35I can't see you, don't speak.
03:41Ah.
03:44With sincere appreciation for your enchanting performance at the music hall.
03:45And in hopes that you will have supper with me tonight.
03:47L. King.
03:50I just can't get over it, me sitting here talking to you.
03:56You know, I never dreamed that you'd have supper with me.
03:59Well, your card and the beautiful flowers were most persuasive.
04:02Yeah, well, now, that's something I can't understand.
04:05I don't recollect...
04:06Well, Ed, I believe that Mademoiselle Vargas is ready for some more wine.
04:11Why, sure.
04:12Hey, boy.
04:13Yes, Mr. King.
04:15Those glasses are no doggone used to.
04:18It's empty, you know.
04:18Let it.
04:24Forgive me, is that really your name?
04:26Yeah.
04:27I don't believe it.
04:29Oh, honest engine.
04:30You see, when I first started out prospecting...
04:33Oh, I was an awful greenhorn.
04:36And then one day I was working my way up through the Tuscaroras and I hit it.
04:40You found your silver mine.
04:41Oh, no, now, wait a minute.
04:43Wait just a minute now.
04:44Hold your horses.
04:46No, sir.
04:46You see, I got me a lot of rock samples,
04:50and I hid out for the assay office just like there was a fire in my britches.
04:55Oh, excuse me.
04:57I understand.
04:59Well, anyway, I busted into town just a-yellin' and a-hoopin' like a Comanche,
05:04telling everybody that I'd made me a big strike.
05:09There's some strike.
05:11It was lead.
05:12Not really.
05:13Yeah.
05:14And that's when they started calling me lead head.
05:17And it stuck to me.
05:19Oh, say, now I've just been jawin' away to a feather, well, ain't I?
05:24Gosh, somebody should've stuck a boot in my mouth or something.
05:27Oh, don't stop.
05:28Your stories are enchanting.
05:30You sure make it awful easy for me to tell them, ma'am.
05:34You know what kind of perks up an old man to have a young lady like you, famous of mine?
05:39But you've lived such a wonderfully full life.
05:42Full?
05:42Full of lookin' and never findin'.
05:46I want to hear more about you.
05:49We'll do it again soon, won't we?
05:51Oh, well, it can't happen too soon to suit me, ma'am.
05:54You know, this is the nicest night that I've ever spent in my whole life.
05:59Say, there's just somethin' else.
06:02Oh, well, it's kinda silly, I guess, but I want to remember tonight.
06:08Hey, I wonder if you'd sign this picture of ya.
06:12I would rather you remember me with this.
06:17Oh, no, no, I could, I could.
06:19I want you to have it.
06:21Perhaps it will keep you from being lonely again.
06:24Good night.
06:26Leadhead.
06:31I see you in your room, mademoiselle.
06:32Thank you, Mr. Paladin.
06:35Good night.
06:36Good night, Leadhead.
06:37Oh, my gosh, almighty.
06:47I knock on bedroom door like always when I bring his breakfast.
06:52This time he not answer, so I open it.
06:55And I see him there, lying so quiet.
07:00I caught doctor and then you.
07:03It happened during the night while he slept, Mr. Paladin.
07:05He's an old man.
07:06His heart simply gave out.
07:08Will you notify the next of kin?
07:09There's nobody to notify, doctor.
07:11He was alone.
07:12Oh, well, someone has to make arrangements for the...
07:14I'll take care of it.
07:16Very well.
07:17Thank you, doctor.
07:19Mr. King want you to have this.
07:21He write it last night, after you leave with Lady.
07:25Also, letter, letter I mail.
07:27That he want me to give you.
07:29Say you will know what to do.
07:32Well, this is Leadhead's will.
07:34I know.
07:35He asked me to write my name on it.
07:38You see?
07:39I'm a witness.
07:43Mademoiselle, Annette.
07:45Hmm.
07:50Oh, no, Mr. Paladin.
07:54I cannot accept this.
07:55The poor man must have had too much champagne that night.
07:58He didn't know what he was doing.
07:59Believe me, Miss Vargas, he did.
08:01Leadhead Kane was a lonely old man.
08:03And in that one night, you showed him more honest affection and friendship than he'd ever known.
08:08No, it's not right.
08:09There are other people to think of this.
08:10His close friends, his family.
08:12They deserve a living.
08:12He had no family.
08:14And he considered you his close friend.
08:16His share in that mine is worth $250,000.
08:18$250,000.
08:22Ten minutes, Miss Vargas.
08:23Somebody waiting to see you.
08:24Uh, one minute, please.
08:25Let me know what you decide.
08:26I'll be at the call.
08:27Thank you for coming, Mr. Paladin.
08:29My pleasure.
08:30Goodbye, Annette.
08:30Good night.
08:36Miss Vargas?
08:37Yes?
08:39My name's Vance Crawford.
08:40I'm Leadhead Kane's partner.
08:42Or rather, I was.
08:43Oh, come in, won't you?
08:44Please, sit down.
08:51Oh, no, thank you.
08:52No, I'll be a minute.
08:54I received a rather unusual letter from Leadhead yesterday.
08:56It was apparently written the night before he died.
08:59He stated that he'd just made out a will, leaving his share of the Rimrock mine to you.
09:04Is this true?
09:05Yes, it's true.
09:08You didn't know Leadhead very long, did you?
09:11At least I never heard him speak, have you?
09:13Um, no, I had just met him that evening.
09:15We had supper together.
09:17I liked him.
09:18Oh, of course, of course you did.
09:21But I'm sure that a thousand dollars will make you feel a lot better.
09:24A thousand dollars?
09:26For the will.
09:28You certainly don't think it's any good, don't you?
09:30Well, uh, Mr. Paladin is...
09:31Now, believe me, it'll never stand up in court.
09:34Especially under the, uh, circumstances.
09:37What do you mean, what the circumstances?
09:39You know, Miss Vargasher really are a very talented actress.
09:44Well, I can understand why Leadhead was taken in.
09:47Taken in?
09:48Well, let's not carry this thing too far, though.
09:50You don't have to put on a show for my benefit.
09:53You know, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Crawford.
09:56All right, I'll spell it out for you.
09:59It's a thousand dollars or nothing.
10:01You can't collect on that will, and you know it.
10:03Why can't I?
10:05The judge would laugh it out of court.
10:07Anyone can tell what happened that night.
10:09You, uh, picked the old man up in a saloon.
10:12Got him drunk, and...
10:13And then you tricked him into writing that will.
10:15I think you've said enough, Mr. Crawford.
10:17Will you please hang it?
10:18Oh, come on, Miss Vargas.
10:19Admit it, you tried one of the oldest tricks in the world.
10:21It just didn't work.
10:22The estate's gonna be settled when the judge hits Remrock next week.
10:25And you don't stand a chance of collecting.
10:27I asked you to leave.
10:29I'm not gonna offer it again.
10:31A thousand dollars cash right now.
10:32Will you go?
10:34That's funny.
10:36I always thought that women like you were more sensible about money.
10:47I could hardly get through the performance.
10:49You've made up your mind about the will.
10:51Yes, Mr. Paladin.
10:53It's not so much that I care about the money for myself,
10:55but I just can't let that Crawford get what belonged to Lett.
10:59Well, you're gonna need some help.
11:00May I offer my assistance?
11:03Annette, would you mind checking in for both of us?
11:33I want to see about getting a buck for it.
11:35Of course.
11:39Where are we going?
11:40Well, I think we ought to get out the mine as soon as possible.
11:42I want you to post a notice of the new partnership.
11:44That's a law in some of the silver counties,
11:46and we have to do it before the court convenes tomorrow.
11:48I'll see you in a few minutes.
11:53So that's Lady Ed's filly, huh?
11:56He wasn't as old as I thought he was.
11:59I don't want her in court tomorrow, Jess.
12:02Room 7 and 9.
12:04Miss Vargas and Mr. Paladin.
12:06Want me to take your bags off?
12:08Please.
12:09I'll wait for Mr. Paladin.
12:13Welcome to Rimrah.
12:15You have to leave so soon, do you?
12:16I'd like to get acquainted.
12:17I'm Jess Hagen.
12:18You'll be seeing a lot of me if you stay in this town.
12:19I look forward to that, Mr. Hagen.
12:20Good.
12:21You know, I'd like to take you out to supper tonight.
12:22How about that?
12:23You let me pass, please.
12:24Soon as you tell me all right about supper.
12:25Take your hands off me.
12:26Look, don't use that tone to me.
12:27Apparently the young lady's not interested in your attentions.
12:30Oh, my, you are slow.
12:39Oh, my, you are slow.
12:54I assume you're Mr. Crawford, and you were expecting us, I trust.
13:10You take that look off your face.
13:12No look on my face, you're just seeing things.
13:15Now listen, Paladin's just ordered up a buckboard.
13:18Obviously, he and the girl are going out to the mine.
13:20They'll have to post a new partnership notice.
13:22Now that's the time.
13:23Get everybody away from there.
13:25Now why don't you draw me a picture?
13:38Well, how does it feel to be a lady of property?
13:41Is this all there is to it, this hole in the ground?
13:45The mine's only been developed in the last year,
13:47but there's over half a million dollars in that hole in the ground.
13:50Well, why aren't there any people working here?
13:52At least somebody should be watching to see that no one steals none of the silver.
13:56It's not quite that simple, but it does seem strange, isn't it?
14:08Well, now we know why there weren't any people around.
14:11Witnesses would be embarrassing.
14:13I don't understand.
14:14Why should anyone want to shoot at us?
14:16It's a friend from the hotel out there.
14:20The one who was so rude?
14:21Higgins?
14:22That's right.
14:23He doesn't discourage easily, does he?
14:25Oh, no, that can be.
14:26To try to kill me because I wouldn't dine with him?
14:34Get back in the mine.
14:35You have a gun, too?
14:58Shoot them back.
14:59It would be a waste of lead.
15:01Their rifles have twice the range of this gun.
15:05Then are we just going to stay here?
15:08Looks like we don't have any choice.
15:11What are you waiting for, Higgins?
15:13I'm in Getters.
15:14No hurry.
15:15I'm not going anywhere.
15:17Neither are you.
15:22Well, that's it.
15:24They can't get in, and we can't get out.
15:27Stay away.
15:48Parad, you have gone so long, and then the light...
15:52I found the shaft.
15:53There is no other way to get out of the mine.
15:55Some air shafts, but they're too small to crawl through.
15:58Why are they doing this, Paladin, keeping us here?
16:01What can they possibly gain?
16:02Time.
16:03It's almost dawn.
16:05Leadhead's estate is due to be settled in a few hours,
16:08and if we're not there with the will...
16:10What to think of that man getting leadhead's money?
16:16Paladin, why don't we take a chance?
16:18Try to sneak out.
16:20Perhaps we could make it.
16:21What then?
16:22Walk all the way back to town?
16:23Besides, they'd come after us.
16:34Unless they thought we were still here.
16:36Oh!
16:36Oh!
16:37Oh!
16:37Oh!
16:38Oh!
16:38Oh!
16:39Oh!
16:39Oh!
16:40Oh!
16:41Oh!
16:42Oh!
16:43Oh!
16:44Oh!
16:45Oh!
16:46Oh!
16:47Oh!
16:48Oh!
16:49Oh!
16:50Oh!
16:51Oh!
16:52Oh!
16:53Oh!
16:54Oh!
16:55Oh!
16:55Oh!
16:56I didn't lose the top of your head that way.
16:59How'd you get out of there?
17:00On my belly.
17:01It was a dirty trip, but it was worth it.
17:03Now, you tell those men of yours to go back to town
17:05and get some dynamite to blow us out of that cave.
17:07No.
17:09All right, all right.
17:12Shorty?
17:13Joe?
17:16Go back to town.
17:17What's your idea, Jess?
17:19Dynamite.
17:21Get some dynamite.
17:23We're going to blow them out of the cave.
17:26Is there something in the shack?
17:28No.
17:30Do what I tell you.
17:35Well, now, Jess, that was just perfect.
17:37And to show you how much I appreciate what you did...
17:44All right, Funadin.
17:45You won't escape now.
17:47Let me have the hat.
17:50Now, Mr. Hagen, if I were you, I would sit very still.
17:53Your friends are going to be looking for a target when they get back.
17:56Come on.
17:57Come on.
18:04All right, now.
18:05Let's come to order.
18:06Come to order, boys.
18:11First order of business before this court is to settle the estate of Headhead Kane.
18:15All the interested parties present?
18:19I believe I'm the only one, Judge.
18:22Well, I can't see anything to settle.
18:25Leadhead didn't leave any heirs.
18:28So I guess we'll just...
18:30Your Honor, if the court pleases.
18:33Before you decide this matter, I'd like to be heard.
18:37Who are you?
18:38My name is Paladin.
18:40I represent Mademoiselle Annette Vargas...
18:42...who, by virtue of this document, is entitled to lead Headhead Kane's entire estate.
18:50It's a fraud.
18:51That will doesn't mean anything.
18:53You just can't come in here with a piece of paper and say...
18:56Your Honor, that is a holographic will.
18:59What?
19:00A holographic will, Mr. Crawford.
19:02It's one made out in a man's own handwriting on a single sheet of paper and properly dated.
19:07As Your Honor knows, it's perfectly legal since there are any number of people in this room...
19:10...who will recognize Leadhead Kane's handwriting.
19:17All right, all right.
19:18So he did sign it.
19:20But he was tricked.
19:23You all knew Leadhead.
19:25How many of you ever heard him talk about a Mademoiselle Annette Vargas, huh?
19:30Of course you didn't.
19:32I only knew her one night.
19:34Madame Vargas was nothing but a cheap entertainer.
19:38She caught Paul Leadhead in a trap.
19:41That's why I say this will's a fraud.
19:44It's coercion.
19:46It's going to be thrown out.
19:48I can't see any argument against that.
19:51So I hereby declare...
19:53Just a minute, Your Honor.
19:54Aren't you going to hear my side of it?
19:55Don't look like you've got one.
19:57Well, the question in the court's mind is whether or not Leadhead Kane made this will.
20:03And if he did make it, was he unduly forced, urged, coerced, bribed...
20:08...or even seduced into making it?
20:10It's up to you to answer that question, Mr. Paladin, to my satisfaction.
20:14I'll be very happy to, Your Honor.
20:16But to a jury.
20:17Now, look here.
20:18This is not a trial.
20:19And we don't use juries in this kind of a case.
20:21It's not a criminal case.
20:23I think it is.
20:25Because if Mr. Crawford's charges are true, Miss Vargas is guilty of extortion.
20:30And so am I.
20:31And extortion is a criminal offense.
20:33You willing to stand down there?
20:35A jury fines against you.
20:37You willing to admit to extortion?
20:39I am.
20:40You'll go to jail.
20:41You and the mademoiselle, too.
20:42I realize that.
20:44All right.
20:45It'll take a little while to get the jury, so we'll have to...
20:48Your Honor.
20:49It needn't be a full panel.
20:51I'll take any six men.
20:55Any four men.
20:58You, sir.
21:04You, sir.
21:07You at the bar?
21:10And you, sir.
21:11All right.
21:12All of you.
21:13Come over.
21:15Stand up here.
21:17Listen smart.
21:20Go ahead, Mr. Paladin.
21:22Your Honor.
21:24Gentlemen, I'll be as brief as possible.
21:26I'm simply going to present a set of circumstances.
21:30And I'll ask you one question.
21:33Your answer will be a verdict.
21:36I don't know anything about you.
21:39But in each of you, I see something of leadhead cane.
21:44The loneliness that comes from the dream of the big strike.
21:49You never had time for companionship, warmth, laughter.
21:55And now it's too late.
21:57You're too old.
21:59That same look was in leadhead cane's eyes.
22:03Sure.
22:04Leadhead hit it rich.
22:06He could buy anything in the world.
22:08Anything except what he really wanted.
22:12Friendship.
22:14Warmth.
22:16Understanding.
22:18Understanding.
22:21And then one night he went to a musical just past the time.
22:26And there he saw a young woman, a singer.
22:29He was charmed by her.
22:31He attended every performance.
22:33Until one night a friend arranged a supper party.
22:36And he met her for the first time.
22:39He saw her face to face.
22:41As you see her now.
22:43Mademoiselle?
22:45But.
22:48evening.
22:53schuette
22:56This gentleman
22:57is the cheap entertainer who tricked leadhead.
23:00Will you sit there, please.
23:08Gentlemen.
23:09I asked you for one moment to put yourself in Leadhead Cain's place that night.
23:14You had a wonderful supper.
23:17You had someone to talk to.
23:19Someone who listened, understood you.
23:22Someone who laughed at your jokes and sympathized with your loneliness.
23:27Someone who gave you a locket to remember her by just before she said goodnight.
23:37A few hours later, Leadhead Cain died.
23:40But before he died, he had done something.
23:44Something to show his appreciation for the only night in his life when he didn't feel alone.
23:55He made out a will and left his entire estate to her.
24:02Now, gentlemen, I ask each of you for one second
24:07be Leadhead Cain.
24:11And then tell me what would you have done?
24:20I'd have done the same thing, by gosh.
24:22No, no, they can't do that.
24:29Now, hold on, hold on a minute.
24:31This is highly irregular.
24:33A jury can't be just four men.
24:35It's not legal.
24:36I hereby declare the verdict to be...
24:38Your Honor, a four-man jury was legal enough when you and Mr. Crawford thought I was going
24:43to be guilty of extortion.
24:44Well...
24:45You can't change a verdict.
24:46I have a room full of witnesses to prove it.
24:50Judge, a verdict is a verdict.
24:52I hereby declare the will of Leadhead Cain to be proper and valid.
24:57Hey!
25:27. . .
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