Podcast Summary: Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: "Strange Vendetta" | Have Gun Will Travel (11-23-58)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date: December 1, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

In this episode of Old Time Radio Westerns, Andrew Rhynes presents a digitally restored classic: Have Gun Will Travel's “Strange Vendetta.” Set in 1875 San Francisco and Mexico, the episode stars Paladin, a gentleman gun-for-hire, who is drawn into a tale of blood feud, betrayal, and a clever heist involving a corpse and stolen money. The story explores themes of honour, vengeance, and deception in the Old West, blending action with suspense.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Opera Encounter and Setup

• [03:20-04:53]
  Paladin meets Dona Maria and her husband, Don Miguel Rojas, when he offers them his opera box. The group is joined by Dr. Mayhew.
  Notable social tension:
  • “Husband don’t like you. I’m afraid you do. Right.” – Paladin remarks to “Hey Boy”
• [05:17]
  Conversation hints that Don Miguel is wary of Paladin, setting up an undercurrent of mistrust.

The Attack and Introduction of the Vendetta

• [07:57-08:08]
  Don Miguel is attacked at the opera and seriously wounded.
  • “An insane blood feud that has cost many lives already. This was bound to happen.” – Dona Maria
• [08:56-09:02]
  Dr. Mayhew reveals that the knife wound is poisoned and Don Miguel has less than a week to live.

Paladin Takes the Case

• [09:15-09:29]
  Don Miguel hires Paladin not for revenge, but to escort his body safely back to his home in Santo Massino, Mexico.
  • “The vendetta against our family includes the threat of mutilation of the body, in which case the bestiality is complete. I would prefer that it did not happen to my body...Will you take the job?” – Don Miguel [09:26]
  • Paladin agrees: “All right. $1,000 and expenses. We have a bargain.” [09:37]

Crossing into Mexico: Suspicion and Bandits

• [11:00-14:00]
  Paladin arranges the transport of Don Miguel’s body by stagecoach, managing documents and border inspection. At Loma Verde, they stop for water but are ambushed by a masked bandit—revealed to be Don Miguel himself.
  • “Of course, you’re not a bad shot for a corpse.” – Paladin to Don Miguel [15:02]

The Real Plot: Stolen Money and Betrayal

• [17:08-18:30]
  Don Miguel is alive. The coffin is packed with loot from a $230,000 San Francisco payroll robbery. Dr. Mayhew and the undertaker, Mr. Wilkins, are co-conspirators.
  • “Now I would like to satisfy my curiosity about that cargo. Open up my coffin.” – Don Miguel [17:24]
    Don Miguel intends to kill Paladin but is outmaneuvered.
  • “You cannot play chess without sacrificing a pawn. Now dig.” – Don Miguel [18:40]
    Paladin defeats Don Miguel: “All right, you’re in. Check. Miguel. Miguel. Checkmate.” [19:20]

Resolution: Returning the Body and Justice

• [20:00-23:51]
  Paladin delivers Don Miguel’s now-real corpse to Dona Maria. Accompanied by lawman Farley, Paladin ensures justice. Maria is relieved at her freedom:
  • “I had no grief for Miguel. I do not know how he died. But I can never thank you enough for giving me my freedom. My life with him was a nightmare.” – Dona Maria [23:30]

Epilogue: Justice Served

• [24:01-25:50]
  Paladin returns to San Francisco, secures the arrest of Dr. Mayhew and Mr. Wilkins. The episode closes on a lighter note:
  • “Hey Boy, I want you to take this over to the opera house. Buy me a box.”
  • “Last time you go to opera, man get killed, money gets stolen. Oi, big trouble.” – Hey Boy [25:50]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 09:26 | Don Miguel | “The vendetta against our family includes the threat of mutilation of the body...Will you take the job?” | | 15:02 | Paladin | “Of course, you’re not a bad shot for a corpse.” | | 17:24 | Don Miguel | “Now I would like to satisfy my curiosity about that cargo. Open up my coffin.” | | 18:40 | Don Miguel | “You cannot play chess without sacrificing a pawn. Now dig.” | | 19:20 | Paladin | “All right, you’re in. Check. Miguel. Miguel. Checkmate.” | | 23:30 | Dona Maria | “I had no grief for Miguel... But I can never thank you enough for giving me my freedom. My life with him was a nightmare.” | | 25:50 | Hey Boy | “Last time you go to opera, man get killed, money gets stolen. Oi, big trouble.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:20 – Series main characters meet; introduction to the central relationships
• 07:57 – Don Miguel is wounded at the opera
• 09:15-09:39 – Paladin is hired for the body escort
• 14:00-15:20 – Ambush at Loma Verde; Don Miguel revealed alive
• 17:08-19:20 – Heist plot unraveled; Paladin outsmarts Don Miguel
• 22:08 – Delivery of Don Miguel's body to Dona Maria; emotional closure
• 24:01-25:50 – Villains arrested; episode’s denouement
• 25:50 – Lighthearted closing between Paladin and Hey Boy

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a rich, suspenseful noir Western feel, with dialogue both formal and laced with wry, dark humor. Paladin is urbane and dryly witty, the supporting characters full of hidden agendas and emotional depth.

Summary & Closing Thoughts

"Strange Vendetta" weaves intrigue with action, using misdirection and dramatic twists to keep listeners guessing. Paladin’s journey from the glittering opera house to the dangers of the Mexican frontier highlights themes of loyalty, betrayal, and personal honor. The episode stands as a classic example of radio Western storytelling, restored here with remarkable audio clarity, and enhanced by the Old Time Radio Westerns’ commitment to preserving and rejuvenating these tales for a modern audience.