Original subtitles

NARRATOR: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hyah! Hyah.

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

And I have another interesting true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

If young Bruce Matthews had lived today,

they'’d have said he suffered from claustrophobia.

But this story took place a long time ago,

so he was just put down as "Yaller."

And I say you'’re going to!

You think you'’re any better than the rest of the Matthews?

Your grandfather started as a mucker,

long before he was a bonanza king!

I'’m not asking for a soft job, father.

I don'’t care how menial or how dirty it is,

if only it isn'’t underground.

How else do you expect to learn mining?

Sitting at a desk? Looking at ore samples in glass cases?

I think underground is fascinating.

You should have been the boy in the family, Edith.

I'’ll work in the dump, or--

You'’ll work anywhere we put you!

And don'’t let anyone hear you talking like this

at the Desert Queen."Desert Queen"?

That'’s where you're starting.

I'’ve arranged with Steve Ryan. You'’ll report to him.

Tomorrow.

Very well.

Well, it'’s a great day, all right.

Third generation of Matthews, starting work.

You won'’t be signing on as a Matthews, though.

Better the boys don'’t know you'’re the boss's son.

I'’ll switch my name around.

Call myself, uh, "Matt Bruce."

Yes, that'’s good.

Where are you starting me?Right where your father told me to.

The very bottom. The 1500-foot level.

That'’s the day shift, coming off now.

[ chattering ]

That first man was Tim Brady.

Champion driller.

He was the hero of the Crown Point fire.

It was him volunteered to go down and close the drifts.

He acts like a man who has confidence in himself.

Well, I'’ll see you in the morning. 7:00 sharp.

You know, your grandfather would be very proud

if he were alive today.

Hey, Tim. Get a load of the dude.

Who'’s the fancypants, Steve?

New mucker. Him?

Mm-hmm. He'’s green, but mining'’s in his blood.

I'’m putting him to work with you, Tim.

Thanks for nothin'’!

Come on, Elly. Let'’s see whose picture's in the locket.

No! Is it some fella?

That'’s none of your business, Tim.

TIM: Say, this is me you'’re talking to.

You wouldn'’t have any secrets from me, would ya?

Let go!Got to find out who this guy is!

A-ha!Give it back to me!

A picture? And a lock of hair.

Look, fellas! Ain'’t that sweet?

Give me my locket.

I haven'’t got it!

Let me have my locket, please.

May I have my locket, please?

Well, I hope whoever has it is gentleman enough to return it.

[ laughing ]

MAN: Come on, Tim, let'’s get the poker game started.

I'’m be with you in a minute, Baldy.

I'’m feelin' lucky night, boys. Let'’s go!

Boy, you'’re not going to be lucky if Bob gets to beat you.

Say, who was the guy in that picture?

Someone I love very much.

Thank you. It'’s a picture of my father.Oh.

I couldn'’t bear to have them looking at it and laughing.

I don'’t blame you, Miss--

Well, just call me Elly. Everyone does.

My real name'’s Elaine.

The lily maid of Astolat.

You'’ve read The Idylls of the King?I not only read it,

I had to memorize it.Oh, it'’s wonderful to meet someone who isn'’t a miner.

But I am! Or I'’m going to be.

You are?Yes, I start as a mucker in the morning.

Why?Because my--

Well, because--

Why shouldn'’t I? Don'’t you approve of mining?

I hate it.

Father was killed in a mine accident two years ago.

And I lost a brother, too, in a cave-in.

I'’m sorry.Mining was all they knew.

But-- Well, you, you have an education.

You can choose from so many things to do.

Why should you join those others and risk your life

day after day going underground?

To make more millions for the Matthews.

But not me.

I wouldn'’t risk my neck in a mine tunnel.

I'’ve got too much sense.

I prefer to drink myself to death.

Excuse me.

The company doctor. And a pretty good one, too.

When he'’s sober.

[ motor starts ]

MAN [shouting]: Fire in the mine! Clear the tunnel!

Blast going off!

[ echoing ] Clear the tunnel! Fire in the mine!

Blast going off.[ explosion ]

All right, yellow belly. Back to work.

[ laughing ] Come on!

Love at first sight, Elly?

You'’re drunk, Doc.

Aw, I'’m always drunk.

Look out for Tim. He'’s not going to like it.

[ men chattering ]

What you say, boss?

You heard me. [ indistinct ]

Smartypants here says he'’d rather work underground

than in school.

[ indistinct ]

Rat!Hey! Stop that!

Hi, Bobby! [ laughs ]

You encourage rats?

Sure. They'’re a miner'’s best friend.

That'’s right. They warn us of cave-ins.

- You'’re joking! - It'’s the truth!

Whenever you see rats running around

acting nervous and jittery, it'’s a sure sign

that the ground is beginning to seal.

It'’s crowding them out of their favorite cracks and crannies.

Yeah, there'’s some more rats.

They'’re running all over the place.

What'’s the matter, dude, scared?

Ah, shut up and leave me alone.

Come on, boys.

Hello, Elaine. [ laughs ] Sounds so funny

to hear you call me that.You don'’t like it?

I love it! Makes me feel... just lovely.

You are.

I-I was wondering, there'’s a dance Saturday night.

Would you go with me?

Or have you already promised somebody else?

Not really. I mean--

Well, could I let you know later on this evening?

Why, certainly. I'’ll be back here for supper.

I'’ll see you then. Sir.

Sir? I don'’t know your name?

Oh! It'’s Bruce Ma--

Matt Bruce.

[ laughing ]

Why, I know what I'’m talking about.

Ah, you been eatin'’ some of that loco weed.

Why, you crazy, long-legged Texas maverick, I'’ll prove it to you.

Anytime![ laughs ]

So you'’re turning me down for the dude.No, Tim.

It'’s just that he's new here. He doesn'’t know anybody.

Dancin'’s just about all he'’s good for.

You should see him underground.

Miss Lilyfingers. He'’s afraid of the drill,

afraid of the powder, afraid of the rats, even.

That fella hasn'’t got the guts of a louse.

At least he uses better language than you do.

[ men laughing ]

Hey! Tim!

I need you for a referee.For what?

Aw, Tex here seems to think the boys down the Panhandle

can shoot better'’n us.So we'’re puttin' on a little shootin'’ match to prove it!

Yeah, we'’re gonna shoot an egg off the top of each fella'’s head,

at a distance of 25 feet!

Why, you couldn'’t hit a watermelon at 25 feet.

A Texas watermelon. Them are the biggest in the world.

Why, they ain'’t as big as that mouth of yours.

Now, go on and get your gun and we'’ll meet by the side of the Superintendent'’s office.

I'’ll take five dollars on Baldy!

I take another five on Baldy! Anybody else?

Where'’s everybody going, Doc?

They'’re havin' a little shootin'’ contest.

I figured I might be needed.

The winner'’s liable to wind up with a hole in his head.

Heads! All right, Baldy, Tex gets first shot.

[ giggles ]

[ giggles ]

[ laughing continues ]TIM: Come on, stay still.

You can'’t defy gravity![ cackles ]

Doggone it, I got a shot comin'’. You better get somebody

to stand in for ya, Baldy.Yeah.

Has anybody in the crowd got a good head of hair?

Where an egg can nest?

Let the dude do it.[ yelling ] Yeah!

MAN: Let the dude do it. Good idea.

- [ all agreeing ] - Come on, dude. Stand in here!

Why, I--What'’s the matter with your doing it, Tim?

I'’m refereein'.Hurry up. My trigger finger'’s itchin'.

Well, I didn'’t challenge him. Why should I?

Yella, that'’s what you are. Yellow-belly.

BALDY: He'’ll be more yellow when he gets an egg busted over him.

[ giggles ]Come on, fellas!

Stand him in here!Yeah!

Get him over here by Baldy.

Just a minute, Tim. You don'’t need a proxy.

Ooh!

Say, that'’s pretty smart, Doc.

Where'’d you learn it?Christopher Columbus taught it to me. Come on, son.

All right, Tex. Your shot.

[ gunshot ]

[ giggles ]

[ men laugh ]

No. Go ahead, it'’ll do you good. Give you--

...guts? No, it wouldn'’t.

Nothing would. I'’m yella, just like he said.

Gun-shy.Guns, horses, machinery--

the mine-- everything.The mine?

The mine worst of all.

That-That feeling of being trapped under tons of earth.

Walls... closing in around me.

Suffocating me.

It'’s horrible.

How long have you felt that way?

All my life. It'’s a nightmare.

Maybe you'’d better quit. There'’s no law saying

that you'’ve got to be a miner.

It'’s hard to explain.You don'’t have to.

I think I know who you are.

That'’s just the way you looked the other day

when I took a crack at the Matthews millions.

Well, you wouldn'’t say anything, Doc?

Look, it'’s bad enough being despised on my own account.

But if they knew--Now, now, don'’t worry.

No, not even to Elly. Especially to Elly.

Fallen pretty hard, haven'’t you?

Lot of good it'’ll do me now.

Maybe it'’d be better if you did quit.

Then I would be yellow.Well, you can'’t go on this way.

That'’s the horrible part of it, Doc.

I'’m damned if I do...

damned if I don'’t.

It'’s a disease with some men, this fear of being trapped.

The medical term is "claustrophobia."

Bruce put you up to this?He has no idea I'’m here.

I think you exaggerate the situation, Doctor.

If it was necessary to transfer my son above ground,

Steve Ryan would have recommended it.

Steve'’s as blind as you are, sir.

He thinks anyone who'’s a Matthews--

Can take it! And he'’s right.

My son is to stay where he is,

until I order otherwise.

I hope you never regret it.

I can'’t imagine such a mental attitude.

No, you wouldn'’t. But I'’ve seen it happen.

I'’ve seen men crack under the strain,

almost lose their minds.Bruce won'’t!

He'’s a Matthews.

It must be wonderful to be so sure

of one'’s dynasty.

Now, open your eyes.

Oh, what a wonderful surprise!

Even if we did steal your own cake.

[ all laughing ]

BALDY: Blow the candles out, ma'’am!

TIM: And make a wish.

BALDY: All out!

[ all laughing, cheering ]

[ chattering, indistinct ]

Hey, that was a good cake!Come on in and get it, boys.

Thank you. I heard it was your birthday.

I sent away for a present for you.

Well, aren'’t you nice.Perhaps it'’ll be here Saturday night.

The night of the dance.Oh.

About the dance, I-I'’m afraid, well,

I did half-promise Tim.Oh, I see.

You do understand, don'’t you, Bruce?Yes, I understand.

Perfectly.

What did you wish on the candles, Elly?

Oh, I can'’t tell. It'’d be bad luck!

Well I can tell you what I wished.

It'’s not your birthday, remember?

I wish that you'’d hurry up and say yes so that we can be married.

What the idea of keeping me waiting like this?

Oh, I just can'’t make up my mind, Tim.

Well, I'’ll make it up for you!

You'’ll leave me alone!What'’s come over you, Elly?

Is it that yellow-bellied dude?Get out of here!

I ain'’t goin' no place until we get this settled once and for all.

If he was a man, I'’d say all right.

But I ain'’t letting no yellow-bellied dude come between--

The lady has requested you to leave, Tim.

Yours not to reason why. Yours but to do or die.

It'’s a perfect setup. You, me and the dude working in the drift alone.

We'’ll set the charges in the drill hole.

You'’re gonna set 'em.Sure, but there won'’t be no powder in '’em.

We'’ll light the fuses, hop in the cage,

and signal the hoist man to take us up.

Pretend to signal hot?No, we'’ll signal him,

but he won'’t pay no attention.

The cage won'’t move, and there we'’ll be, trapped!

With the fuses burning down lower and lower.

About to blow us to kingdom come.

Oh, it'’s givin' me the willies just to think about it.

What do you think it'’s going to do to the dude?

[ laughs ] What I think it'’ll do to him!

All right, the charges are set. Ring for the cage.

It'’s here.

You be getting aboard the cage, and I'’ll light the fuses.

All right.

Hey, what'’s wrong here?

Signal again. Give them a big jerk.

Why don'’t we move?

That rope must be fouled up in the jigger or something.

What are we gonna do?

Nothing we can do! We'’re trapped!

We gotta get out of here. We'’ll all be killed!

Lock yourself. It'’s your only chance!

Climb the cable. Climb up to the cabin!

Get going! The yellow don'’t sway, now!

No. No-No...

Dude, are you all right?

I don'’t hear no heartbeat.I'’ll get the doctor.

No, we'’ll take him to the doctor'’s, quick!

Nothing went off to hit him, Doc, I swear.

He just yanked the fuses and keeled over.

A man can die of fright.

And if he does, you'’re as guilty as if you murdered him.

What am I doing here?You blacked out, that'’s all.

[ sighs ] That was a fool thing to do.

Nope. Perfectly natural reaction to emotional shock.

Happens quite often.

Grabbing those fuses was a mighty brave act, Bruce.

Don'’t know many men would have had the guts.

Nor I.

Looks like your little joke backfired on you, boys.

- Joke? - Never mind, Doc.

But I do mind! I always believe my patients should know the truth.

Truth about what?

Maybe you'’d like to tell him, Tim.

Sure, why not?

There were no charges behind those fuses.

Me and Baldy done it just to scare you.

You mean it was just a trick to make me crawl?

That'’s the general idea.

I still can'’t figure out why you didn'’t.

Here, none of that!Leave him alone.

Doctor'’s orders?Doctor'’s orders.

[ yelling ]

Get him!

Ohh!

[ shouting ]

Bruce! Stop it!Wait. Never stop a fight until you know what it'’s about.

Punch him! Now the right! That'’s it! That's a good one!

What'’s going on, Steve?Jim! What brings you here?

Wanted to see how Bruce was getting along.

Right now, he'’s doing fine.

Why is he fighting?

What difference does it make? As long as he'’s fighting!

[ laughs ] I see what you mean!

Come on, Bruce! Sock him!

Come on, let him have it! Now'’s your time!

[ shouting ] Come on, Bruce!

[ cheering, laughing ]

Well done, son. Well done!

Dad!

The boss'’s kid.

Bruce, you were wonderful!

There'’s no doubt about who'’s the man of the third generation.

My boy, I'’m proud of you.

And your grandfather'’d be proud of you, too.

Ha-ha, you'’ve got the stuff in you!

Just like I knew you had.

Steve, let'’s go to your office.

Come along, Edith.

I want to hear this...

[ door slams ]

You wanted to know if he was yella.

Well, you'’ve got your answer.

What are you going to do about it?

It'’s different now. He'’s the boss's son.

Now who'’s yella?

Bruce? Did you know about that joke with the fuses?

Not until afterward.[ sighs ]

Great big hero saved the day.

Rushed in and prevented a catastrophe that was never going to happen.

That'’s not the point. The point is, you thought they were real charges,

that any second, you'’d all be blown to smithereens.

You had the courage--False courage.

No. No, it was real.

And it'’s all that matters. Don'’t you see?

You rose above your fear.

You proved you had what it takes.

Whether it was a trick or not makes no difference.

Don'’t you understand?

You don'’t think I'’ll be afraid anymore?

Of course not.Not even underground?

Not even underground.

[ deep breath ]

Thanks, Elly.Bruce, someone might see you.

I don'’t care.

OLD RANGER: So long, Yeller. I guess you'’ve shown the world

that the courage to overcome our limitations

is born in every one of us.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]