Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode Summary: "The Odds" — Have Gun Will Travel (Original Airdate: Nov 6, 1960)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: August 22, 2025
Restored Classic Western Radio Drama

Overview

In this episode, "The Odds," professional gunman Paladin finds himself stranded on the Nebraska plains after his horse breaks a leg. Taken in by a farmer’s family, Paladin becomes an unlikely mentor to a restless young boy named Jim, who idolizes the glamour of gunfighters but is oblivious to the harsh realities and responsibilities that come with violence. When the local bank is robbed, Paladin and Jim become embroiled in a tense pursuit that puts the true meaning of bravery, nerve, and maturity to the test.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Flow

Paladin Encounters a Rural Crisis (03:10–06:18)

• Paladin prepares for a journey, discussing investments and scams with "hey boy" at the hotel.
• On the Nebraska plain, he suffers a setback: his horse breaks its leg, and he is forced to walk to the nearest farmhouse at dusk.
• Jim, a young farm boy, mistakes Paladin for a marauder in the dark and accidentally shoots him.

Quote:

"Nobody has a right to a gun unless he knows how to think when he handles it."
— Paladin (03:10)

At the Buford Farm: Consequences and Philosophy of Violence (06:19–10:49)

• Jim and his father, James Buford, care for Paladin's wound. The father expresses strong reservations about guns, tracing his aversion back to experiences as a conscripted soldier.
• The generational and philosophical divide becomes clear: Jim is thrilled by the idea of gunfighting, while his father is haunted by its reality.

Quote:

"A gun is only as dangerous as the hand that holds it. Guns. I hate them for his sake."
— James Buford (07:46)

The Bank Robbery and Learning About Odds (12:16–14:44)

• Paladin is being driven into town by Jim; Jim is eager for "excitement" and hopes to bask in the notoriety of being seen with a real gunfighter.
• They arrive as bank robbers are making their escape. Expecting Paladin to pursue, Jim is disappointed when Paladin refuses to engage a group of heavily armed men singlehandedly.
• Paladin explains the importance of judging the "odds" and not confusing recklessness for courage.

Quote:

"Five men with rifles. You don't go up against odds like that."
— Paladin (13:06)

The Pursuit: Calculation vs. Bravado (14:44–17:43)

• Paladin and Sheriff Brady deduce the robbers' likely hideout in a nearby abandoned grain elevator, knowing that it is a dangerous tinderbox full of explosive grain dust.
• They plan to surround the elevator to force a surrender, rather than incite a shootout.

Jim's Recklessness and Responsibility (17:27–20:02)

• Ignoring warnings, Jim sneaks to the grain elevator, intending to prove himself in a gunfight.
• Paladin intercepts Jim, confronting the boy about his dangerous bravado.

Quote:

"What's the matter with you, Paladin? Are you scared? Afraid to face up to those men in there? You got too much gizzard for you."
— Jim (19:51)

• Paladin’s stern intervention prevents disaster—had Jim fired recklessly, it could have caused a catastrophic explosion.

Resolution: True Courage and Maturity (21:04–23:52)

• The robbers surrender peacefully, acknowledging the "odds."
• Paladin forces Jim to reckon with his thoughtless actions—reminding him that responsibility, not bravado, defines a man's right to wield a gun.

Quote:

"Nobody has got a right to a gun unless he knows how to think when he handles it."
— Paladin (21:45)

• Paladin redirects Jim's admiration from gunfighters to his father, whose real courage is seen in enduring adversity on the farm—year after year, against nature, bad luck, and economic hardship.

Quote:

"When your father homesteaded his land, the government was betting ... that he couldn't stick it out six months. But your pa won the bet. ... There was the spring blizzard of '73 ... the grasshopper invasion of '74 ... and now there's drought. But he's not about to give up. A fight against real odds."
— Paladin (22:59)

Epilogue: Investment Schemes & Humor (24:13–25:45)

• Paladin returns to the hotel, exhausted. "Hey boy" boasts about a successful investment, contrasting with Paladin’s own skepticism about get-rich-quick ventures—a light ending to the episode’s intense theme.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [03:10] Paladin: "Nobody has a right to a gun unless he knows how to think when he handles it."
• [07:46] James Buford: "A gun is only as dangerous as the hand that holds it. Guns. I hate them for his sake."
• [13:06] Paladin: "Five men with rifles. You don't go up against odds like that."
• [19:51] Jim: "What's the matter with you, Paladin? Are you scared? Afraid to face up to those men in there? You got too much gizzard for you."
• [21:45] Paladin: "Nobody has got a right to a gun unless he knows how to think when he handles it."
• [22:59] Paladin: "When your father homesteaded his land, the government was betting ... that he couldn't stick it out six months. But your pa won the bet..."

Memorable Moments

• Paladin’s wounded arrival and the near-tragic shooting that sets the tone for the entire episode.
• The tense scene at the grain elevator, where disaster is narrowly averted.
• Paladin’s heartfelt speech uplifting Jim’s view of his father as a true hero.

Episode Insights

• Theme: Real courage is not found in violence or notoriety, but in perseverance, judgment, and everyday heroism.
• Lesson: "Gizzard" or nerve isn’t rushing into danger blindly, but knowing when—and when not—to fight.
• Historical Context: The script references post-Civil War America, homesteader struggles, and the 1870s agricultural calamities shaping frontier life.

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Paladin’s journey/horse accident | 03:10–06:18 | | Paladin at Buford farm/Generational conflict | 06:19–10:49 | | Bank robbery and teaching about odds | 12:16–14:44 | | Posse forms and deduces robbers’ hideout | 14:44–17:43 | | Jim’s reckless act at the grain elevator | 17:27–20:02 | | Surrender of the robbers / Paladin’s lecture | 21:04–23:52 | | Epilogue with "hey boy" and investment humor | 24:13–25:45 |

This episode bridges the divide between youthful fantasies of the gun-slinging West and the realities that shaped responsible adulthood on the frontier. Paladin emerges not just as a gun-for-hire—but as a teacher and a symbol of restraint, wisdom, and true grit.