Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: "The Map" | Have Gun Will Travel (Aired 11-13-1960)

Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: August 29, 2025

Overview

In this digitally restored episode of Have Gun Will Travel, Paladin is drawn into a dangerous game of deception and betrayal surrounding a long-lost $90,000 Army payroll. Tasked with impersonating a dead convict to recover the stolen money and expose the surviving conspirators, Paladin’s journey delves deep into themes of greed, trust, and the irreversible consequences of crime. The tension-filled plot is richly delivered by vivid performances and classic Western ambiance.

Key Discussion & Story Points

1. A Mysterious Request from the Past (02:04–06:36)

• Paladin is approached in San Francisco by Colonel Potter, who seeks his help to recover stolen Army payroll.
• The original heist involved an inside man, Jim Griffin, who has since died.
  • Potter reveals: "You look enough like him to be his twin, Paladin." (05:51)
• Plan: Paladin is to assume Griffin’s identity to flush out the other conspirators and recover the money.
• There’s a $500 reward on offer.

2. Infiltrating Griffin's Life (06:36–10:30)

• Paladin is furnished with Griffin’s history and background to enable his disguise.
• He visits Anna Baker, Griffin’s lover, and her mother on the outskirts of San Francisco—a test of his impersonation.
  • Anna is suspicious: “You’ve... changed, Jim.” (09:29)
  • Anna relays a message from conspirator Wiley Carson: meet at the Blue Nose Saloon in Johnson City.

3. The Conspirators’ Meeting (10:41–13:52)

• In Johnson City, Paladin as “Jim Griffin” waits several days for the meeting.
• Wiley Carson arrives, immediately suspicious of Paladin’s changed demeanor.
  • Wiley: “I was expecting Anna.” (11:41)
  • Paladin rebuffs suspicions with gritty resolve: “You try [prison] sometime.” (11:52)
• They agree to meet the third man (Jake) to reassemble their map pieces and recover the loot.

4. Danger on the Trail (13:52–15:35)

• While en route to the supposed hiding place, Wiley tries to mislead Paladin, revealing a lack of trust.
• They encounter the body of Jake, the third conspirator—shot dead.
• Wiley turns on Paladin, exposing his plot.

5. Confrontation & Exposure (15:44–18:46)

• Wiley interrogates Paladin, demanding the map piece and suspecting a double-cross.
• Paladin bluffs: “I memorized the map and destroyed it. If you kill me, you’ll never find the money.” (18:12)
• Wiley, desperate and wavering, ultimately decides to trust Paladin’s guidance to the buried money.

6. The Final Showdown at the Treasure Site (19:03–22:15)

• At the dig site, as they unearth the box, Paladin manages to turn the tables on Wiley.
• Unexpectedly, Anna arrives and confronts Paladin at gunpoint, demanding a portion of the loot.
  • Anna: “That’s what they promised Billy. They got him to bury the money, draw the map, then they put a bullet through his head. He was only 16.” (20:42)
• Anna’s motives are revealed: her brother Billy was the murder victim, manipulated and discarded by the bandits.
• After an emotional exchange, Anna rejects the money, unable to take it after all the pain.

7. Resolution and Reflection (22:15–24:07)

• The episode closes with a quiet, domestic scene—Paladin is thanked and rewarded by the Colonel.
• Lighthearted banter with Ms. Wong about riddles and wedding rings provides a humorous, humanizing coda.
  • Hey Boy’s riddle: “Why is wedding ring like eternity? Because it has no beginning and no end.” (23:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Paladin (on the map):
  "I memorized the map and destroyed it. If you kill me, you'll never find the money."
  — Paladin (02:04, reiterated at 18:12)

• Colonel Potter urging Paladin:
  "You look enough like him to be his twin, Paladin. Will you do it?"
  — Potter (05:51)

• Anna, on betrayal:
  "You didn't really think you could fool a man's woman, did you?"
  — Anna (20:28)

• Anna, on her brother’s fate:
  "They got him to bury the money, draw the map, then they put a bullet through his head. He was only 16."
  — Anna (20:42)

• Lighthearted exchange (ending):

  • "Why is wedding ring like eternity? Because it has no beginning and no end."
    — Hey Boy (as relayed by Ms. Wong) (23:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------|-----------| | Paladin meets Colonel Potter | 02:04–06:36 | | Paladin visits Anna Baker | 08:24–10:30 | | Meeting Wiley Carson | 11:34–13:52 | | Discovery of Jake's body, confrontation | 15:04–18:46 | | At the burial site, Anna’s reveal | 19:03–22:15 | | Episode coda, comic relief | 22:37–24:07 |

Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains a tense, suspenseful Western atmosphere balanced with sharp dialogue, somber reflection, and touches of humor. Paladin’s intelligence and moral ambiguity shine, while supporting characters bring a mix of pathos and grit.

Summary

• Plot: Paladin impersonates a dead man to recover stolen payroll, only to uncover layers of betrayal and tragedy—including the involvement and death of an innocent boy, Anna’s brother.
• Themes: Identity, justice, the cost of greed, and the scars left on those touched by crime.
• Ending: The stolen money is recovered, but at great moral cost. Anna, scarred by loss, refuses to profit from it.

Fans of classic radio dramas and Westerns will find in this episode a powerful blend of intrigue, character depth, and evocative soundscapes—painstakingly restored for a new era.