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August 17, 2025 • 24 mins
Have Gun Will Travel was a popular western radio drama series that ran from 1958 to 1960. It debuted as a television series in 1957 and was one of only a few American television programs that paved the way for a radio version. Although the radio show initially featured stories adapted from television, many of the 106 radio episodes were original stories. The stories follow the adventures of Paladin, played by John Dehner.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Have Gun Will Travel! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube


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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
This situation is so mixed up with Chinese custom, family
and honor. I don't know where to turn. I'm afraid
any move I make might endanger hey boy's.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Life, Have Done, Will Travel, Starring mister John Dayner as Paladin,

(00:44):
San Francisco, eighteen seventy five, The Carlton Hotel, headquarters of
a man called Paladin.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Huh, Misa Paladine, Well, hey boy, what in the world
are you doing hiding behind that potted palm?

Speaker 3 (01:08):
Sho, Sorry, not hiding, seek boy.

Speaker 4 (01:13):
Oh he's not frivolous matter, mister Paladin. Most serious is
Missy won coming down the hall way.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
No, she turned into the linen room.

Speaker 5 (01:21):
If you're hiding from her, you can come out now.

Speaker 4 (01:23):
Oh good, missa Paladine, May I see your room please
for a discussion of most disturbing matter?

Speaker 3 (01:30):
I certainly, Hey boy, come on.

Speaker 5 (01:33):
Trouble you, Oh my, plenty of trouble. Mis Paladine.

Speaker 6 (01:49):
Talk about best selling records. Here's a familiar tune about
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(02:15):
full rich tobacco flavor. And you know that's because only
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selected and specially processed for filter smoking. No wonder Winston
tastes good like Saga Red should smoke Winston.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Go on in, Hey boy, Now, what's the idea of
trying to dodge Miss Wong?

Speaker 3 (03:08):
What have you been up to this time?

Speaker 4 (03:10):
Oh, Missapaladine, Hey boy cannot come face to face with
Miss Wang at this moment. Hey boy confused, Hey boy
crushed under a weight of most distressing problems.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
Come now? Can't be that bad?

Speaker 4 (03:21):
Oh you saw it's much worse? Here did you s
letter come from China today for hey boy?

Speaker 3 (03:29):
Oh? I see?

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Well, of course I could probably make it more intelligent
comment if I could read Chinese?

Speaker 5 (03:34):
Missipality, This is a letter from may Chen Or how
you say go between and go between? Lisa?

Speaker 4 (03:42):
What is saying like the marriage broker? Did he letters
say go between? It come to San Francisco to sell
arrangements for hey boy's marriage to his betrothed.

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Your marriage to your betrothed?

Speaker 5 (03:53):
Here is a Missipaladin, that's what he says. Well, no,
wonder you didn't want to face Miss Wang? Hey boy?

Speaker 1 (03:58):
Do you think you've been exactly fair to considering you're
engaged to be married to a girl in China.

Speaker 5 (04:03):
Oh but, hey boy, forget all about engagement to marriage.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Wait a minute, An engagement to marry is not the
sort of thing that just slips one's mind.

Speaker 5 (04:10):
Oh mess, a paladine, you had not understand.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, shall we try again?

Speaker 4 (04:17):
Marriage contract made when hey boy nine years old, Hey boy,
don't know a girl, never see girl?

Speaker 5 (04:22):
Parents make deal? Oh like that.

Speaker 4 (04:24):
When hey boy fifteen he come to America. Oh so different,
many things happen. He forgot as I said, Hey boy
like America, Hey boy, like miss Wong. But now come
go between those settle arrangements for marriage in China. We go,
hey boy, never seen Hey boy must leave America, Hey boy,
I must leave missy Wan.

Speaker 5 (04:44):
And oh my, surely you're not obligated to go through
with this thing.

Speaker 4 (04:48):
Well, here is most distressing problem is a paladin Hey boy,
mother father now dead, but Anne's uncle's cousins, girl girlfather mother,
aunt's uncles, cousins, or we all live in the same
village in China, saying, hey boy, must do nothing to
make a lose a face in Uh, hey boy, in
pretty pickle, Huh yeah, you help, Maybe I don't know.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
It's a little out of my line, hey boy, But
I can try, I guess. Oh, thank you, Missa.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
What seems to me, hey boy, that you're gonna have
to make a stand, Make a stands right. I realize
how important it is to save face and to avoid
bringing dishonor to the families. But you'll just have to
be firm. What's the girl's name, Her name l May,
her father Gi Kung, Gi Kung. Any connection with the
Gee family here in San Francisco? Ohyesa is it the

(05:41):
Ge family that controls the Gee son Yap tongue?

Speaker 5 (05:43):
He saw same family.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
I guess that's the most powerful tongue in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Oh well, they can call it a Chinese mutual benefit association.
But I guess you know as well as I do
that they have their fingers on every underworld activity on
the Barbary Coast. Wait a minute, how about Gee come Ho,
the tongue hatchetman also known as Bluddy Pete.

Speaker 5 (06:06):
Oh bloody Pete? He made brother? Oh why you see me?

Speaker 4 (06:12):
As a politics? Very essential, hey boy? Not bring off
this honor to family.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
Oh yes, I'm beginning to understand losing face takes on
a new meaning. You tangle with bloody Pete and you
have to lose your whole head. Oh my, one thing,
hey boy, You're going to have to face miss Wong
and explain this whole thing there.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
Oh no, oh yes, oh my?

Speaker 2 (06:43):
Can you make the passing grade in driving? In other words,
do you know and do you use what you know?
About safe passing practices? Almost every driver finds it necessary
to pass other drivers at times. The problem is doing
it safely. Here are some passing tips from the National
Safety Council. Be sure there's plenty of time to pass

(07:04):
before meeting another vehicle coming towards you see that no
other vehicle is about to pass. You give a left
turn signal for the driver behind and make sure he
sees it. Sound your horn for the driver ahead and
make sure he hears it. Speed up a little before
leaving your lane, not after you get alongside the vehicle

(07:24):
you're passing. Don't cut back into the right hand lane
too soon, and always pass on the left unless the
driver ahead has signaled his intention to make a left turn.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
Pass friend, but do it safely.

Speaker 1 (07:52):
I wanted to help, hey boy, but when I began
to weigh the odds.

Speaker 3 (07:56):
I was doubtful of success.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
The posing force was too strong for thousand years of
custom and tradition, and the most powerful organization in San
Francisco's Chinatowan I Gi Sung Yap Tong. Even more discouraging
was the fact that Hey Boy's prospective brother in law
was none other than the high binder known as Bloody Pete,
chief of the Tong's professional murderers.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
I felt I.

Speaker 1 (08:17):
Would never fully understand Chinese custom, but I knew all
I needed to know about killers.

Speaker 3 (08:23):
I thought about it all through the night and in
the morning.

Speaker 1 (08:25):
It seemed so hopeless that for a moment I allowed
myself to wonder what San Francisco.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
Would be like without Hey Boy. He was very depressing.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
Also, I hated the thought of facing poor little miss Wong.

Speaker 5 (08:38):
Come in, Oh, good morning.

Speaker 3 (08:44):
Miss Wango.

Speaker 7 (08:45):
Morn or clean rooms now?

Speaker 1 (08:48):
Oh yes, yes, of course, Miss Wong. Go right aheadski,
Miss Wong. You you seem so lighthearted this morning.

Speaker 7 (09:07):
Miss Wang, worst time light hearted?

Speaker 3 (09:12):
Have you seen Hey Boy?

Speaker 1 (09:14):
But did he have a chance to talk to you
regarding a very grave matter?

Speaker 7 (09:18):
Hey boy, tell Miss Wong about marriage contract with girl
in China?

Speaker 5 (09:23):
But you miss.

Speaker 1 (09:27):
Nothing I guess, except that is it's constantly being brought
home to me. What you can't figure? Women, I thought
you'd be heartbroken or at least angry.

Speaker 7 (09:39):
Ah, you smart man Misapalod and him, boy, smart man.

Speaker 5 (09:43):
You picked.

Speaker 1 (09:44):
It's nice you have such confidence in us, But I'm
not so sure.

Speaker 7 (09:48):
Oh, oh, Lord forgot this letter come for you?

Speaker 3 (09:52):
Oh thank you. Let's see. This is from mister Sui
lait Sung.

Speaker 7 (10:01):
Mesa he go between, come to make arrangements for hey boys.

Speaker 1 (10:06):
See now the illustrious great one who bears noble firearm,
and whose honorable will it is to journey forth always
in benevolence, yet reaping great treasure, will receive the lowly
inferior yourself of the Sui lit.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
Sung on the fifth day of the seventh.

Speaker 5 (10:20):
Moon of the fourteenth year of Kwang su.

Speaker 3 (10:23):
What does that mean?

Speaker 7 (10:24):
You want to know if a man who have gone
will travel, We'll see Situng week from next Tuesday.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
Why me say so?

Speaker 7 (10:31):
He did?

Speaker 3 (10:32):
Oh? I wonder why he wants to see me.

Speaker 1 (10:49):
On Tuesday, the fifth day of the seventh moon of
the fourteenth year of Quang su, I serve tea to
the lowly inferiorself of the Sui lit Sung. Mister Tsung
was a short, round man with a smooth, plump face
and shrewd eyes. He wore an elaborate purple brocade robe
and carried a delicate ivory fan in his small, dimpled hand.

(11:11):
The fan fluttered continuously as he talked, and he talked
a great deal. But as the afternoon war on, I
wondered when he was going to say something.

Speaker 8 (11:19):
I excellently dispitiable one is indeed honored to be at
one time no the pleasure of such a cup of tea,
and to realize its pleasure in the presence of the
esteemed one.

Speaker 3 (11:29):
Yes, may I fail your cupness so soon?

Speaker 8 (11:32):
No, thank you, the great One of benevolent travel has
been given a vast treasure to have permitted this unworthy
to share his costly time thus far.

Speaker 3 (11:42):
Oh well, I am sorry you have to be leaving at.

Speaker 8 (11:46):
Last the joy of such a meeting, rare and precious,
as it is, much like all good things come to
an end. Deplorable one that I am. It's so entranced
was I with the delight of each passing moment's partaken
in the presence of the noble one, that this poor
bottlehead has experienced a lapse of memory. But now it

(12:08):
comes to me a matter to bring to the Great
One's attention.

Speaker 1 (12:12):
So down, mister son. Oh, now maybe we'll get to
the point. I beg your pardon, what's on your mind?
I'm sure you didn't ask to come up here today,
so we could have a cup of tea together.

Speaker 8 (12:25):
If the Great One will only allow this.

Speaker 1 (12:26):
On, mister Chung, I don't wish to be rude, but
if the unworthy one doesn't wish to waste anymore the
Great ones costly time, let's stop all this nonsense and
get down to business.

Speaker 5 (12:38):
Now what you want very well?

Speaker 3 (12:40):
To business?

Speaker 8 (12:42):
We will discuss conditions of the wedding of Kim.

Speaker 3 (12:45):
Chang Hey boy.

Speaker 8 (12:47):
Now, yes, hey boy, the small name by which he
is known to you. Now you as his benefactor.

Speaker 3 (12:53):
Benefactor, I'm his friend.

Speaker 8 (12:55):
We will assume that as his friend, you will, in
this case wish to place yourself in the position of
benefactor as well. Now there's a matter of the prescribed
wedding gifts you're offering in the tradition to the family
of the bride.

Speaker 3 (13:09):
Well, I don't understand.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Is it according to tradition to go outside the immediate family.

Speaker 8 (13:15):
In this case, Geekum, father of the bride, is generous
enough to allow you, as benefactor, to share in their rejoicing.
I see May is the only daughter of Geekung. In
view of the facts, he feels that besides the conventional
ceremonial gifts, they should be an offering of substantial reality.

(13:36):
How substantial I believe he estimates in American dollars five thousand.

Speaker 5 (13:42):
Would be of sufficient substitute.

Speaker 3 (13:44):
Well, this is some.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
It is more than kind of Geekung to permit me
to take part in this happy occasion and to share
in his rejoicing to the amount of a five thousand
dollars donation.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
But you see, I'm opposed to this marriage.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
And if there's anything I can do to stop theridiculous thing,
I will, Oh my.

Speaker 8 (14:02):
That would be most unwise. The Gee family is a
powd one. They could not bear the loss of face.
May I humbly suggest it would be far more prudent
to accept Gee Kung's indulgent offer.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
More prudent.

Speaker 8 (14:16):
What do you mean are you acquainted with Gee Comjoe
of your city?

Speaker 3 (14:21):
You mean bloody Pete. Yeah, he is so.

Speaker 5 (14:25):
Devoted to his only sister.

Speaker 8 (14:27):
I am afraid he would feel the necessity to avenge
any dishonor bought to her.

Speaker 3 (14:32):
That sounds pretty much like a thread.

Speaker 8 (14:35):
As an occidental You would never understand.

Speaker 3 (14:39):
I don't know. It's so soon.

Speaker 1 (14:41):
I believe a deal like this is recognized all over
the world as blackmail. When I mentioned blackmail there surely
song he merely smiled and bowed his head a couple

(15:02):
of times, fluttered his fan and assured me that the
lowly won soul had known a feast and the time
spent in.

Speaker 3 (15:09):
The illusprius one's presence, or something like that, and he left.

Speaker 1 (15:13):
He apparently felt we had reached an agreement. As a
matter of fact, I wasn't quite sure myself. The whole
thing was outrageous. I was confused. Several weeks passed and
we heard nothing from the Gi family. I was getting anxious.
Hey boy was getting pale and thin. Only Miss Wong
seemed undisturbed.

Speaker 7 (15:31):
You know, if an if you breakfast, Miss Paloda.

Speaker 1 (15:33):
I don't have much appetite the situation with Hey Boy.

Speaker 3 (15:37):
It seems to me I should be doing something.

Speaker 7 (15:38):
Oh poor kay boys.

Speaker 1 (15:41):
I'm at lost, Miss Wog, I'm afraid any move I
make may in danger.

Speaker 3 (15:44):
Hey boy, bloody Pete bad man.

Speaker 1 (15:48):
Even if I faced him, there'll still be the rest
of the Ghi sung yap tong to uphold the honor
of the family.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
I can't fight them all, missa.

Speaker 7 (15:55):
Palod, and you fool around with all castans.

Speaker 3 (15:58):
You have to fight all you believe in the stuff,
Miss Wang.

Speaker 7 (16:02):
Miss Wang, Chinese girl, Miss one understand, but Miss Wong
raised in missionary school, Miss Wan seems different.

Speaker 3 (16:09):
You don't seem to be as upset about all this
as we are.

Speaker 7 (16:12):
Miss Wang. No one thing girls, girls, boys, boys.

Speaker 5 (16:17):
Well, yes, I've been aware of that for some time.

Speaker 9 (16:20):
Hey boy, naughty girl in China, he not want to
marry you like Miss Wonga girl in China, natty, Hey boys,
maybe she not want to marry Maybe she has boyfriends.

Speaker 1 (16:30):
Oh as wrong as I understand, it doesn't work that way. No, No,
Chinese girl wouldn't dare go against her parents' wishes in
a case like this. But no, that would really bring
disgrace on the front.

Speaker 7 (16:40):
Sometime chiny girl do, missa Palada, And.

Speaker 3 (16:42):
Sometimes well, I don't think it's anything that depends.

Speaker 5 (16:45):
On Wait, he's apology, Miss apollody.

Speaker 4 (16:49):
That's hey boy, Come in, hey boy, Oh miss a Pala,
what's the matter downstairs in lobby? Come this way, bloody Pete,
suelly strong. Many men Harry baskets own shoulders.

Speaker 1 (17:01):
Oh, many things were coming up here he saw. Well,
don't worry, hey boy, they wouldn'tdare start anything here in
the hotel. I can't see what reason. Then, well, anyway,
I'd better have my gun ready, did you already? Well
we'll see what they have to say. And now you
just stand back, both of you, mister Sun.

Speaker 8 (17:29):
Mostly last yeous one.

Speaker 10 (17:30):
I come with about head to your daughter as escort
to the first son of the House of Ghi or
walks in shame to this meeting.

Speaker 3 (17:38):
What are you talking about? All right?

Speaker 1 (17:43):
Just you Song and the first son of the House
of ge here. Your gang can stay outside, all right,
now that's on your mind.

Speaker 10 (17:55):
Kim Hale of the afflicted House of Gi wishes to
prosperate himself at the feet of Chang of the noble
house of Kim family.

Speaker 5 (18:02):
Name of the one you call hey boy? Ah phoo,
that's thee Oh she in ten.

Speaker 1 (18:11):
Look at that, And I never thought I'd say the day,
bloody Pete will be kneeling in front of Hey boy,
what do you say.

Speaker 4 (18:17):
Say I'm not a human being, very sad thing to say,
or mister Pam or what happened?

Speaker 3 (18:23):
I'm not sure, Hey boy, what's the meaning of this?
Soon the House of.

Speaker 10 (18:28):
Ghi mourns the loss of its only thought.

Speaker 3 (18:31):
Hey boys, be troth I mean she's dead. She is
dead to the House of Gi.

Speaker 10 (18:36):
She has brought shame and dishonor to her family and
brought a great wrong to bear on Kim Chang, whom
you call, hey boy? Ah, what has come that she has,
in disgrace deetted her home to secretly marry an unworthy
from the next province.

Speaker 1 (18:52):
Oh, indeed, what humiliation? And how does the House of
Ghi propose to restore her faith to the House of Kim?

Speaker 3 (19:01):
The House of Gey.

Speaker 8 (19:02):
Grobbles in the dust and begs the change of the
House of Kim with in grace accept the gifts that
bells hold. May I ask them to enter?

Speaker 1 (19:11):
We know those men out there have presents for hey
boy whom you call Kim Chang? Yes, sure, bring him in.
You might as well tell Pete there he can get
up now. Well, it's quite a windfall, Hey boy, all

(19:36):
those gifts?

Speaker 8 (19:37):
Whoy is?

Speaker 5 (19:38):
Who he is? A fun of them? Who am I?

Speaker 9 (19:40):
He?

Speaker 5 (19:41):
Oh? Hey boy? Plenty confused?

Speaker 3 (19:43):
So am I about one thing in this one?

Speaker 5 (19:46):
How does it happen you were able to call a
turn on this thing?

Speaker 3 (19:50):
Come on?

Speaker 1 (19:51):
I know girls and girls and boys and boys, and
you had it figured may had a boyfriend someplace.

Speaker 3 (19:55):
But Na, there has to be more to it than that.

Speaker 7 (19:58):
Now, what parladin? You know? Cousin to miss Woe named Sonya?

Speaker 3 (20:03):
Don't believe I do?

Speaker 7 (20:05):
Nice boy but most ugly boy. Well Miss Wan sent
picture of Sonya to China. Girl write on him her
boy name, so.

Speaker 3 (20:16):
She thought it was a picture of hey.

Speaker 7 (20:17):
Boy, miss one only take chance, But miss one thinks
very tiny girl rather lose face than spend all lifetime
with face? And Sonya did e Goodace? Must get to work.

Speaker 3 (20:37):
Women, Oh you saw.

Speaker 5 (20:43):
Women?

Speaker 3 (21:00):
Oh brother, this miserable cold and my sinuses?

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(21:29):
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(21:50):
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Speaker 2 (22:07):
Have Gun Will Travel, created by Herb Medal and Sam Rolf,
is produced and directed in Hollywood by Frank Parris and
stars John Dayner as Paladin, with Ben Wright as hey Boy,
Virginia greg as Miss Wong, and Edgar Barrier as Sui Letsum.

(22:29):
Tonight's story was specially written for Have Gun, Will Travel
by and Dowd. This is Hugh Douglas inviting you to

(22:56):
join us again next week when CBS Radio presents Have
Done Will Trouble
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