Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, I'm the Old Ranger,

and Death Valley is my stampin' ground.

Many's the tale of adventure

I'm going to tell you about the Death Valley country.

True stories, mind you.

I can vouch for that.

OLD RANGER: When you're telling stories from real life

like I am, it's often hard to know

just where they begin.

In this particular story,

it might seem as if the beginning was the end.

I'm certain Tiger Lil thought so

that night in November 1871.

Tiger Lil, the Queen of Virginia City,

toast of that famous mining camp.

Frank. Lil.

[ chuckles ] I didn't expect you to meet me out here.

Oh, the dressing room was hot,

and there were too many girls around.

What's the matter, Frank? Are you in trouble?

Trouble? No, I'm not in trouble.

Oh, thank goodness.

Your note gave me an awful scare.

Well, I'm sorry.

I just wanted to see you for a moment

to... to say good-bye.

Good-bye?

Yes. I've been called back East unexpectedly.

I'm leaving on the night stage in a few minutes.

Well, you-- you're not going for good, Frank?

Possibly not for good,

but it does look like it would be a long time.

Well, I... I kind of thought

you were planning to stay out here.

Maybe get married and settle down.

No, I'm afraid not.

Man has to find a girl first.

And you-- you haven't?

Well, not one who'd be... be right.

You mean a... a lady.

Let's just say a girl who's...

who's used to the same things I am.

[ men cheering inside ]

I know it sounds stuffy, Lil,

but I'm sure you understand-- Sure, Frank.

Sure, I understand.

Smart, young mining engineer like you from the East,

fine family, fancy friends.

When you should be careful to pick a wife

who would be a credit to you.

Well, I wish you luck, Frank.

Thanks, Lil.

I wish you luck. Me?

I don't need any luck.

Why, what more could I want

than being the Queen of Virginia City?

With every man at my feet.

You better go now, Frank.

Yes. You'll miss your stage.

[ sighs ]

Good-bye, Lil.

Good-bye.

[ men cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

Hey, Tiger, what are you doing out here?

The boys are yellin' for you.

Let 'em. There's a new feller in there

with his pockets just busting.

What'd you say? He's gone, Tony.

Walked out on me.

Frank Johnson? Said I wasn't good enough for him.

Well, I'll show him.

I'll show him I'm as good as he is.

I'll show him I can be a lady.

Sure you can, honey. Sure you can.

Now, you go inside and fix yourself up.

That crowd's waiti'' to hear you sing.

Hey, Tiger! I'm through. You hear me, Tony?

I'm through!

I'm through singin'.

Through dancin'.

I'm never going in a saloon again.

Do you hear me? I'll never go in a saloon again.

And from that night on, Tiger Lil disappeared.

As the years passed, her named became a legend,

not only in Virginia City...

but in other mining camps of the West.

Like the town of Bodie high up in the Sierra.

Every girl who worked there

dreamed secretly of being another Tiger Lil.

But the most you can stay for them was

that some of them dressed as well as Lil used to.

And then he put his arms around me

and kissed me.

And what did you do?

What could I do with my hands full of money?

Oh, Hank?

Bad news about Betsy.

Yes, Doc said she's got the pneumonia.

She would get sick,

and with that big shindig coming up tomorrow night.

Ain't you got a heart, Hank?

Sure.

Pure gold.

Beats in time with the cash box.

Leave that alone.

Where you girls going?

Miss Millet's.

The dressmaker. What, again?

What do you keep buying liquor for?

My stock and trade.

Clothes is ours.

Good morning, Miss Millet. Nice day, ain't it?

Fine.

Miss Millet? Well, Miss Millet.

Oh, how do you do, Mr. Coburn?

You shouldn't be carrying such a load.

Oh, they don't weigh anything.

Here, let me take 'em for you.

They're really just invest goods

and ribbons and lace.

Hmm, vanities.

Necessities for a dressmaker.

Sure, but I'm glad to see

you don't go in for such fripperies yourself, ma'am.

The way some of the females in this town

trick themselves out

is enough to make a man blush for shame.

Thank you very much.

Oh, I'll take them inside for you.

Very well.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Hmm, you know, this is the first time

I've ever seen your shop except through the window.

I'm getting some heavier curtains.

Brocade.

Uh-huh.

Mighty nice place you got here.

It serves.

You do all right smart amount of business, don't you?

Dressing those dance hall girls.

I manage to keep busy.

It's a mystery to me, though,

how a little lady as plain and sweet as you

can make the kind of clothes

that almost tempt the devil himself.

Very simple.

I just pretend that I'm the devil

and work from there.

Oh, so you cook, too?

Do help yourself, Mr. Coburn.

Mm, good.

Yessir.

You know, Miss Millet, the first time I ever laid eyes on you,

I said to myself-- I said, "Ira?"

"Ira," I said.

"There's a real woman for you."

Make a fine wife.

Not one of these fancy females,

these-these-- Daughters of Babylon?

Yes, yes, exactly what I was going to say.

Daughters of... Babylon.

ALL: Hi, Miss Millet.

Hi, Mae, hello, dear. My scarves and garters.

Look who's mooching a free meal off of Miss Millet.

Did you know, Miss Millet,

that this guy's pants haven't got any pockets in them?

That's not true.

Certain meaning,

he's got pockets, only they're sewed up.

Let's see.

Now, now, girls.

Oh, stop.

I'll be back, Miss Millet,

when a respectable man

can have a respectable talk

with a respectable woman.

Leave the door open and clear the air.

If I was you, Miss Millet,

I'd toss that guy right out on his ears.

All the song-singin', mealy-mouthed hypocrite.

Come on now, Pansy, we'll try your dress on first,

and we'll get to yours next, Sue.

Oh, will it be done by tomorrow night?

Hmm? I mean for the big doin'.

Oh, don't worry, Pansy, I'll finish it.

Plenty of time. [ grunts ]

There we are.

There we are.

Oh, that's pretty.

You do swell work, Miss Millet.

It is pretty.

Whose dress is that?

Ain't it beautiful?

That's Betsy Hart's dress.

But she's sick, you know.

I know, it's such a pity.

She was counting on wearing it so much.

[ horse neighing ]

Well, look who's coming into town.

Oh, who is he?

Wonder where he comes from.

Wonder how long he's gonna stay.

Miss Millet? Mm-hmm?

You should've seen him.

Handsome, ooh-la-la!

Like a knight on a charger.

Sue, dear, if you put your dress on now.

Ain't you interested, Miss Millet? Hmm?

In men? Oh!

PANSY: Not at all?

Well, of course I am.

Well, you certainly don't act like it.

Ain't you never had a beau?

Oh, yes, Pansy, dozens of them.

Gee, what kind of a life without men?

A very peaceful one.

JIM: Hey, Johnson!

Jim Bryan.

How are you, Jim?

Thought you were coming in on the stage?

I rode into town to meet ya.

Well, I had a few stops I wanted to make along the way.

You look like you could do with a-- A bath?

That too.

But you better wash the dust out of your throat first.

Well, now, that's a good idea.

Well, here's mud in your eye.

Ah. Howdy, Mr. Bryan.

Hello, Hank. Meet Frank Johnson.

How do you do? How's it going?

Mr. Johnson is a consulting engineer from the East.

First trip West?

No, Hank, I've been out here before.

Set 'em up again for the gentleman here.

Glad to have met you, lad. It's mutual.

[ clears throat ]

Hello, Jim. Who's your friend?

Mr. Frank Johnson, Pansy Tate.

Sue...

Just Sue.

And Mae.

How do you do?

[ Women ] Hello.

You're wasting your time, girls.

Frank's a woman-hater.

Nothing of the kind, Jim.

He does me a grave injustice.

[ laugh ]

Ready to go over the hotel and get settled?

Yes, I'd like that very much.

Ladies.

He's out of our class. Yeah.

He's a gentleman.

Let's us be ladies.

[ knocking ]

Oh. Good evening.

Mr. Coburn.

I hoped I'd find you alone.

I brought you this.

Thank you.

Sweets to the sweet.

It's the best candy you can buy.

Came in on the stage this afternoon from San Francisco.

Wait till you see, they have coconuts and caramels and everything.

Oh, won't you have one?

Well, since you're pressin' me.

Miss Millet, I ain't one to beat about the bush.

And there's no tellin' when them jezebels

may be poppin' in here again, interrupting us.

Who? Them customers of yours.

Why, they're Satan's own brood, Miss Millet.

And there's nothin' that made life better

than to lead you down the same primrose path.

Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that, Mr. Coburn.

You should have someone to protect you.

It ain't right or natural for you

to live alone like you do.

You need a husband.

A husband?

Now, don't me wrong, I ain't aimin' to rush ya.

Take your time and think it over.

Marriage is a solemn business.

Not something to be going into without through consideration.

I'll drop around tomorrow.

[ clears throat ] For your answer.

Good night. Good night.

Good night. Good night.

♪♪ [ "Beautiful Dreamer" on piano ]

[ Old Ranger ] Men who work hard, play hard.

And in the mining camp,

holidays were something they really looked forward to.

Even Miss Millet found herself walking fast

as she went about her business.

Just a might too fast.

PANSY: Oh, good morning, Mr. Johnson!

Good morning.

Going to the dance tonight?

Possibly, if I can make it.

I'll be lookin' for ya.

Special.

Thank you.

[ sniffs ]

That's mighty pretty perfume you're wearing, Miss Pansy.

A fella can smell you comin' a mile away

if the wind's in the right direction.

I thought you didn't go for dance-hall girls?

Oh, I have my weak moments.

Well, don't count me as one of them.

Hello! Hello, Pansy.

Is my dress ready yet?

Yes, I-I'm just getting the bastings out now.

Good! Folks is already arriving in town.

Hitchin' rails is filling up.

Boy, wait till Handsome gets a load of me in this.

Who? Fellow who hit town yesterday.

Remember? He rode by here.

Answer to our girls' prayer.

If I don't knock his eyes out in this outfit,

I'm gonna start takin' in washin'.

How do you know he's going to be at the party?

Why, everybody's comin',

everybody in Bodie.

You mean almost everybody.

Why don't you go, Miss Millet?

For once, I mean it.

Do you good to step out and have a good time.

How 'bout it? In this costume?

Well, you must have something you can wear.

Oh, Pansy, you know the old story about the shoemakers.

Well, it's the same thing about dressmakers.

You can whip something up.

Not in half a day. If you started right now, you could--

Pansy, I-I have too many other things to do.

What?

W-Well--

I-I gotta take Betsy Hart's dress over to her.

But she's sick.

She sent word that she wanted it anyway.

Is she crazy?

With a temperature of 104?

If it means anything to her, I'm going to take it to her. All right.

I'll take it myself.

And in the meantime-- Pansy, it's no use.

I'm not going to that party tonight.

Wild horses couldn't drag me.

Well, here I am, Betsy.

Did-Did you bring it?

Oh, yes, wait until you see it.

It's not much in the hand,

but when it's on, it's just beautiful.

Hold it up against you so I can see?

There.

Ever since I come to Bodie,

I've been saving my money for this dress.

I just see myself in it tonight...

knocking them all dead. [ coughing ]

Oh, now, Betsy.

There'll be lots of other occasions, dear.

You can't fool me, Miss Millet.

Even the doc can't fool me.

Next time I do any singing,

it will be with a harp. Now, Betsy.

No, don't put it down.

I want to look.

It goes nice with your red hair.

Miss Millet? Yes, Betsy?

Don't let him have me. Well, of course not.

I know you ain't the dancing kind, but...

if you'd just wear it for me?

Me? We're pretty near the same size.

I'd like to think it was there...

even without me in it.

It'll be so nice to dream about, when I leave.

Now, don't you worry, Betsy.

Your dress will be there, I promise you.

♪♪ [ saloon piano ]

Looking for somebody, Pansy?

Oh, mind your own business.

That's good advice for you to follow too.

After I graduated from college,

the first important job I had was in Virginia City.

How long ago was that, Frank?

Six years.

Just like everything else, the place had changed.

Say, did you know an old man Mackenzie in Virginia City?

Will Mackenzie? Well, yes, I know him very well.

He's here now, right down the street.

Would you like to drop by and say hello?

I certainly would.

[ knocking ] MR. COBURN: Miss Millet?

[ knocking continues ]

Miss Millet? It's me, Ira.

[ knocking on window ]

Miss Millet? It's Ira.

[ footsteps leaving ]

Miss Millet?

No, it can't be.

Good grief.

And to think it was my idea, your coming.

Cut my own throat.

That's me, the big chump.

Pansy, I didn't come because of you.

I-I came because Betsy asked me to.

Don't make no difference who's idea it was.

It's still a good one.

Let me buy the first drink, Miss Milly.

Well, all right, maybe just a little wine.

Fine, fine, fine.

Wine for Miss Millet.

And to think that all the time

you were living right down the street

with them looks.

And none of us noticed. Thank you.

You know, Mackenzie has been doing pretty well.

I'm glad to see it.

Hasn't changed in six years.

Well-- Jim.

I'm a bit tired. I think I'll turn in.

Oh, come on and have one more drink.

It's still early.

Well, all right.

♪♪ [ "Beautiful Dreamer" on piano ]

Dance with me, Miss Millet?

Oh, please, not to that music.

What's wrong with it?

Nothing's wrong with it, I--

It just brings back memories, that's all.

I-I used to sing to it, years ago.

She sings.

Did you hear that, boys? Miss Millet sings.

Hold it, George.

Will you sing for us, Miss Millet? Oh--

Forget the memories.

Tonight's tonight and the place is yours!

[ men cheering ]

♪♪ [ piano ]

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Wake onto me

♪ Starlight and dewdrops

♪ Are waiting for thee

♪ Sounds of the rude world

♪ Heard in the day

♪ Lulled by the moonlight

♪ Have all passed away

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Queen of my song

♪ List while I woo thee

♪ With soft melody

♪ Gone are the cares

♪ Of life's busy throng

♪ Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me ♪

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Awake

♪ Unto me

Lil.

Tiger Lil.

Tiger Lil?

The Queen of Virginia City?

Use to star at the Golden Slipper, by gosh.

Lil-- I'm afraid you're mistaken.

The name is Millet, Miss Millet.

[ bell rings ]

I heard what that fellow said, about what you was.

And I come to tell you it don't change

my mind none, about getting married.

I'll marry you tonight, if you say the word.

You can depend on me, Lil.

I'll make a good woman of you.

[ laughing ]

Why, you crawling hypocrite.

I ain't no more hypocrite than you are. No, let--

Don't you touch me, you--

Get out.

I'll have you jail for this,

you and your-your-your fancy woman.

Get out.

Thank you.

When you leave, I'll be sure and lock the door.

Lil. Oh, why did you have to come here to Bodie?

I've spent six years building up a whole new life,

and you tear it down in one minute.

Now I have to go somewhere and start all over again.

In that case, you'd better hurry up and pack.

I'll go when I please, Frank Johnson.

The stage for San Francisco leaves in an hour.

I'm not going to San Francisco.

Yes, you are, Lil.

With me.

That's why I came back, hoping to find you.

I looked everywhere, but you'd gone.

You haven't been out of my mind for one minute,

ever since I was fool enough to leave you.

Lil, will you marry me?

No.

Yes.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]