TV.com

Have Gun - Will Travel

Ella West

Season 1, Episode 17, Aired Jan 04, 1958

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

Episode Summary

EDIT

Comcast

Subscription

7.8

EPISODE RATING: Good

16 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate Now!

The promoter of a wild west show asks Paladin for help taming down a very wild and famous female sharpshooter and show her how to act like a lady.

WRITE A REVIEW

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

GUEST STAR
Norma Crane

Ella West
GUEST STAR
Earle Hodgins

Tomahawk Carter
GUEST STAR
William Swan

Tracey Calvert

Richard Boone

Paladin

Watch Online

Comcast

Subscription

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

See All

An enteraining mixture of "Annie Get Your Gun" and "My Fair Lady", but Paladin would be the first to point out that there's a large amount of "The Taming of the Shrew" as well.moreless

9.0

"Superb"

By dkhenderson1, Nov 06, 2009

Paladin is making a stopover in the town of Abilene, and makes note of a "Help Wanted" poster for a Wild West show run by Tomahawk Carter, who, as it will turn out, is a friend of Paladin's. As he enter the hotel lobby, there is a sudden outburst of gunshots, yells, and a terrified bartender being pursued by a young woman in man's attire, flourishing a gun. With all his usual aplomb, Paladin quietly goes about signing for a room, while the woman, Ella West, loudly boasts of her ability to out-man every man in the room. A crowd listens to her, including a rather menacing-looking man who watches her avidly. Paladin continues to ignore her as she attempts to humiliate him. A handsome young man enters the lobby, and Ella instantly deflates. The man looks at her with exasperation, and Ella responds with quiet, intense rage, much different from her previous behavior. A potentially ugly scene is averted when Tomahawk enters the lobby. Ella coldly marches off. Tomahawk is delighted to meet Paladin, and insists on having a drink with him and the young man, Tracey Calvert. He also casually arranges to pay for any damages Ella had caused.

Paladin learn that Ella had been signed on to join Tomahawk's show. This presents a problem, as Ella's unruly behavior may end up costing more than she's worth. Paladin points out that the legend of Ella West, a young woman who has taken on a man' role and manages it quite expertly, is far more romantic than the reality of a vulgar, unwashed female in stained clothing. Tracey allows as how Paladin might be exagerating just a tad, which draws Paladin's interest. Tracey, although a secondary character, is an interesting, well-drawn one for all of that. He is a man of serene self-confidence, who has no need to boast of his accomplishments. He does not feel the need to carry a gun, and, when offered a drink, does not feel that his manhood will be lessened by refusing. He makes a point of not telling Paladin how long he has known Ella, although it's clear that he has known her longer than she's been with the show (which does not appear to be too long). Tomahawk persuades Paladin to try and civilize Ella somewhat. Paladin agrees in exchange for a share of the show's profits for that season. Ella is outraged, but not to the point where she's willing to quit the show. Better to get rid of Paladin--only Paladin faces her down like a large, benevolent sheepdog contemplating a small, feisty terrier. He is unmoved when she shatters the glass in his hand with a bullet, merely commenting that the cost will be deducted from her salary. When she moved in on him, I thought for a moment that she was in for a spanking, but Paladin simply flipped her over his chair before politely suggesting that she try the sofa. Seething, Ella growls a bit before getting up and dropping gracelessly on the sofa in an immodest sprawl, her lips clamped so tight as to distort her face. There's a flicker of annoyance on Paladin's face, but he decides to let it slide while he commences the first lesson.

We quickly learn that Ella had come from a difficult family background, with Tracey as the boy next door. Ella's purpose in joining the show was to take Tracey down a peg or two. In spite of her loud boasts in front of an audience, Ella does not seem happy with the idea of being a subject for newspaper articles. We're not shown just how much time passes by. We come to a scene downstairs, where Ella practices taking a drink in decorous fashion. This scene, which could easily have been practiced in Paladin's room, was made for the benefit of the ominous-looking man, Mr. Breed, who does not seem happy with the taming of the West.

Ella has mentioned that Paladin had been spouting poetry in between lessons, and we hear him liken her to Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" (short-haired version). Ella is encouraged by the growing intimacy between them. She confesses that when Tracey's family moved away, she, sixteen, smitten, and desperate to escape her home life, had gone to the eighteen-year-old Tracey and begged him to take her away with him. Not ready for such matters, Tracey had fled. She has never attempted any such thing with any other man, but is willing to do so for Paladin. Paladin, with his knowledge of human nature, realizes why she is transferring her feelings to him (or maybe he's just avoiding commitment) and freezes her out, suggesting that she find a man willing to overlook her lack of hygiene. After more or less laying her soul at Paladin's feet, Ella is stunned, and blindly flees the room, leaving Paladin looking as though he hated himself. This particular episode was one that was translated to the radio program, and I had the chance to hear it. It followed the script pretty closely--except for this scene. Rather than simply bursting into sobs and running away, the radio version had Ella yelling at Paladin that she would see him dead. This is information that the audience must deduce in the following scene on TV. Tracey is summoned to the bar to try and deal with Ella, who seems to have gone beserk. Breed is with her, looking annoyed at Tracey's interferene. Tracey mentions that he had thought that he and Ella might resume their friendship and take it further, but it now seems clear that Ella has destroyed every vestige of womanhood she possessed. Breed, who seems to like Ella's wild and dirty side (perhaps he feels more like a man to be able to control the little hellcat) is prepared to square off with Tracey, but Tracey wants none of it. Paladin, however, is willing to oblige. "Mr. Fancy Pants" is suddenly dressed for the occasion (did he scramble into his black outfit as soon as he heard the first gunshots?) Breed is scornful, but Ella, who has been looking more and more confused, suddenly tells Breed she has changed her mind, but Breed is not willing to let her back out of the deal--which presumably involved her favors in exchange for killing Paladin. Breed (and Ella, and Tracey) is shocked when Paladin swiftly shatters five shots of whiskey in a row, leaving him just one bullet for Breed--which is all he needs. Breed quickly backs down (and quits the show) and Paladin tells the bewildered Ella that lessons resume at seven.

Paladin is startled when Ella shows up at his door in a modest woman's dress. She also gruffly informs him that she has washed, as well. Paladin is impressed by her willingness to change. Ella shows that she does have some knowledge of the art of flirting, telling Paladin that she didn't know how to deal with her hair, and perhaps Paladin could help. She openly hints at Paladin's experience in ladies' boudoirs as she says that he must have seen a lot of women's hair "took down". What follows is a remarkably erotic scene, as Paladin speaks in a hushed tone of how even a prickly desert plant, properly tended, can be a thing of beauty, all while playing lightly with her hair. Ella reacts, and so does Paladin--he abruptly steps away, looking like a drowning man reaching for air. Ella steps after him, and ends up in his embrace.

Just how far that embrace went, we'll never know. Ella, in a more revealing dress, is shown happily pouring wine in Paladin's room, in expectation of his return. She and Tracey are both taken aback when he is the one who enters. Tracey is surprised and pleased at the change. He also shows his character--knowing that Ella loves Paladin--or thinks that she does--he shows no jealousy or resentment--he's happy for her. At this point, Paladin enters the room, having inspected the horse that Tracey brought for him and found it satisfactory. He brushes aside Ella's announcment that she's going with him--he was only doing a job, which is now done. Tracey takes exception to his words, and Paladin flattens him. Ella's reaction is odd. You might think that she would aim a blow at Paladin, or else leap to tend her fallen hero. Instead, she starts bawling as though her life is in ruins. It's as though the writer could not think of a way to show her regained femininity except by having her cry. Paladin leaves a sealed envelope and slips out of the room, leaving Ella to marvel at the fact that Tracey fought for her--not that you could really call that a fight, but love is blind, after all. Paladin's note explained that he felt Tracey had a better claim on her--which probably soothed Ella's self-esteem. He also leaves a token for a brave and special lady--his custom-made chess knight watch fob (which he will have replaced in future episodes). Once again, Tracey shows no jealousy. (Ella's one lucky lady). Paladin goes on his way, any regrets no doubt soothed by the thought of the profits that will come his way from the double-billed Wild West show.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide

WRITE A REVIEW

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA
- Norma Crane (Ella West) is the actress who portrayed Tavia's wife in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (2)
ADD QUOTES
- Paladin: Tom, wait a minute. There's one wild thing that man will never civilize. Woman.
  EDIT SHARE
- Paladin: Now, Mr. Breed, I've got one shot left. You draw whenever you're ready.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES
- The small 'horse head' charm which Paladin gives to Ella West is the watch fob he purchased in an earlier episode, A Matter of Ethics.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- The character of Ella West is clearly based on at least two women: Annie Oakley (1860-1926) and Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Burke, 1852-1903). Annie Oakley was a famed sharpshooter who joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (although she always dressed in a reasonably feminine style), while Calamity Jane, also known for her marksmanship, was probably better known for her masculine attire and behavior.
  EDIT SHARE