On the surface, the heroes of Maverick and Have Gun – Will Travel appear to have a lot in common. Both Bret Maverick and Paladin travel the West doing odd jobs and settling scores — even if they'd rather not resort to violence. Both can even be quite funny at times.
Paladin was actually referenced in the Maverick episode "Gun-Shy." The story, a parody of Gunsmoke, follows Marshal Mort Dooley and his deputy Clyde Diefendorfer who remarks that a gunfighter "came into town last week handing out business cards." The business-minded Paladin sure fits that description!
Of course, there are more than a few differences between the leads of Maverick and Have Gun – Will Travel. Can you tell which gallant gunfighter the following descriptions are about?
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Though he travels throughout the West, he is based out of a hotel in San Francisco.
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He sometimes gets caught up in adventures with his brother.
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He is usually hired for a standard fee of $1,000.
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He often recounts lessons and wisdom from his father saying, "Like my old Pappy used to say…"
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He is much better with his fists than with his gun.
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He graduated from West Point.
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He wins a "full-blooded Arabian mount" in a poker game that turns out to be a camel.
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He wears bright colored clothes unless out on a job where he changes into all black.
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He often quotes historical literature like Shakespeare and Don Quixote.
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He was once mistaken for real life historical figure Doc Holliday.