All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S02E17.The.Rainbow.Chaser.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-THR_track3_[eng]

And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hyah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another
interesting true story for you

about the historic
Death Valley country.

Funny thing about
the Death Valley Desert--

less rain there
than anywhere else in the world,

but more rainbows,

and plenty of folks who spend
their lives following them.

It'’s about one such man that
I'’m going to tell you tonight.

The story of Herb Phinney...

That'’s the original gunsight
that the mine was named after?

Yep. I got it
from a friend of mine

who was a personal friend
of the 49er

who dropped it
while crossing
the Panamints.

Do you really think
you could locate the mine?

All I need'’s a grubstake.Mister, you'’ve got one.

Just tell me what you need in
the way of an outfit, and I'’ll-- WOMAN: Herb.

Oh, hello, Lucretia.Mornin'’, Herb.

I thought I'’d take a look
at those new bolts of calico
you said had come in.

Meet my wife.
Mrs. Phinney, Mr., uh...

What is your name anyhow?

Charlie Flack.
[ chuckles ]

It'’s a good idea to know
your partner'’s name.

Partner?

HERB:
I'’m grubstaking
this gentleman, my dear.

Oh, Herb!

This is a surefire
proposition, Cretia.

Charlie here has seen samples
from the mine.

Got a map right here.

He'’s even got
the gunsight.

So it'’s the Lost Gunsight Mine
you'’re going after.

But don'’t go
spreading that around
until I'’m out of town.

Especially to gossips
like Miss Almy.

Herb, are you dipping
into our savings?

Oh, what do they amount to
anyhow, Lucretia?

Chickenfeed. When I
think of all the years

I'’ve been clerking here
in this store, Charlie,

and how little I got
to show for it.

That money'’s all we got, Herb.

It'’d buy shoes for the children
and put paint

and paper in the house,
which goodness knows it needs.

Oh, we won'’t be living
in that old shack
much longer anyhow.

Soon as Charlie here locates
the Lost Gunsight for us,

I'’m moving
the whole Phinney family

into a brand-new,
beautiful, big mansion.

Yes, sir.
With solid silver knobs
on all the doors.

How would you like that,
my dear?

Herb, I still wish
you wouldn'’t
spend our savings.

I ain'’t.
I'’m investing them.

Trouble with you is, Lucretia,
you got no gambling instinct.

Come on, Charlie.
Make out a list
for what you need.

Sooner you get started,
the better.

And we'’ll have a great big,
beautiful mansion, brand-new.

With solid silver knobs
on all the doors.

Aw, go on!

You don'’t believe me?Nah.

I'’ll show you.

[ gasps ]Oh, sorry, Miss Almy.

Davey, what are
you looking for?

The gunsight.
I wanna show it
to Marty Rhodes.

He don'’t believe it
about our getting rich.

Why do you let their father
string '’em along?

What do you mean?

Well, that
bindle stiffy grubstake

ain'’t gonna find
that Lost Gunsight Mine,
and you know it.

Miracles have happened.Huh!

[ broom sweeping ]

Daydreaming again, huh?
Get busy with that broom.

Yes, sir. Ye--

You won'’t be ordering me around
much longer, Mr. Betts.

Huh?

Pretty soon, I'’ll be out
handling my own affairs

as owner of the richest mine
in Christendom,

the Lost Gunsight.

"Lost Gunsight"?

I'’m just marking time
until my partner returns.

And when he does,
you know what
I'’m gonna do, Betts?

I'’m gonna walk up to you,

shove this broom
in your hand and say--

Partner!"Partner"?

Charlie!

Charlie, old partner,
did you bring the samples?

No. No, I didn'’t.

You mean,
you didn'’t find it?

Whoever drawed that map
was either cockeyed or drunk.

I didn'’t even get
a smell of her
the whole 60 days.

Well, what do you know?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Well, better luck next time.

There'’s not gonna
be a next time.

I'’m leaving this right here...

as a reminder.

Well, if Mrs. Phinney
thought her husband
had learned a lesson,

she was mistaken.

His imagination
had only been fired.

And a few months later,
when another prospector
came along

with a scheme for locating
the Lost Burro Mine,

Herb lent a willing ear,
and the money.

After that, there followed
a succession of grubstakes

for other lost mines.

All of which remained lost.

It really has me
quite worried.

Something about
that word "lost"
that gets Herb every time.

Well, just so long as he
don'’t take it into his head

to go off looking
for them lost mines himself.

Oh!Did you hurt yourself?

Oh, I guess not.

Oh, I'’ve been
after Herb for weeks
to mend that broken step,

but he ain'’t
got around to it.

Afternoon, Miss Almy,
Lucretia.

Well, Herb, what are you
doing home so early?

You was fired?I quit.

[ gasps ]
Herb!

Now, don'’t worry, Lucretia.
I got something in mind.

Something that'’ll
put us on Easy Street
for the rest of our lives.

What is it?

I'’m going out and locate
the Lost Breyfogle Mine.

[ gasps ]So it'’s come.

Herb! Herb, you can'’t go
wandering off in the desert

and leave me
and the children.

If you want to grubstake
other folk--

No. I'’m all through grubstaking
other men, Lucretia.

The only way to locate a mine
is to go out and do it yourself.

What'’ll happen to me
and the children
while you'’re gone?

How will we get along?You can charge everything
at the store.

And if Old Man Betts
has any conscience,

he'’ll give you
the regular discount too,

after the picayune wages
he'’s paid me.

Maybe it wasn'’t worth no more.

And so, Herb Phinney
started jauntily off

for the end of the rainbow
marked Lost Breyfogle Mine,

and his family
settled down to eat.

LUCRETIA:
Bessie?

Yes, Mama?

Run to the store
and get me some flour.

We'’re all out.Yes'’um.

Ask Mr. Betts
to put it on the bill.

Yes'’um.

Mm-hmm.

[ clears throat, sniffs ]

Hello, Bessie.

Could I have ten pounds
of flour, please?

You say "ten"?

Or-- Or maybe--

I guess five
will be enough.

What do you get
so little for?

We buy flour
by the barrel.

We only need a little.

Just enough to--
to bake a cake.

Cake? Whose birthday?

Nobody'’s.

It'’s for when
my father gets home.

To-- To celebrate.

Celebrate!

Here you are, Bessie.
Five pounds of flour.

That'’s, uh, 30 cents.

Will you put it
on the bill, please?

Charging it...

All right, Bessie.

That cake'’ll get mighty stale,
won'’t it, setting for months?

My father will be home
any day now.

How do you know?

Well, we'’ve had a letter.

Oh, no, you ain'’t.

You ain'’t heard a word from him
since he left.

My cousin delivers the mail,

and he said you ain'’t had
a letter or a card

or as much as a scrap.

Bessie. Bessie.

Pa! Oh, Pa!

Pa!Hi, honey.

I said you was coming!

Ya see?

Did you find it, Pa?

Find what?

The Lost Breyfogle Mine.

No. No, I didn'’t.

That fella Breyfogle
was crazy.

Crazy with the heat.

Come on, Lucy.

[ laughs mockingly ]

Herb Phinney rested for awhile
after his return.

After all, chasing rainbows
takes it out of a man.

The feet especially.

Then, one Sunday morning,

Lucretia came home from church
to find him...

LUCRETIA:
Herb!

Well, Mrs. Phinney,
I'’m off again.

Herb, I was just talking
after church with Mr. Betts--

And I'’ve just been talking
with an Injun.

He'’s willing to take you on
at the store again, Herb.

Not on your tintype.

When I got a chance to locate
the Lost Peg Leg Mine?

The Lost Peg Leg.

So that'’s it.That'’s it.

Seems this Injun,
Shoshone George,

knowed another Injun
who was right there
when Peg Leg...

Well, ain'’t you interested?No.

My gosh,
here I'’m risking my life

to go out and find
a fortune for you--

I don'’t want a fortune.

I just want things
safe and comfortable.

You call a house
like this comfortable?

Well, it would be if you'’d spend
some time and money fixing it up

instead of going off
chasing rainbows.

Herb, please don'’t leave.

You'’ve got a responsibility,
Herb, towards me
and the children.

Supposin'’
something should happen,
and you never come back?

I'’d have nobody to turn to.

We got nothing saved,
and we owe money right and left.

You just let any
and all bills run.
I'’ll settle them later.

I didn'’t even have a nickel

to put into the collection plate
this morning, Herb.

I could'’ve died of shame.

There'’s three hills of gold

in the Lost Peg Leg Mine,
Lucretia.

Three hills of solid gold.

OLD RANGER: And so,
once more, Herb Phinney
abandoned his family

and departed
into the desert.

The weeks
lengthened into months,

and the months into a year.

That'’ll be $2.65.

Just put it on the bill,
please.

[ clears throat ]
I...

I'’m sorry, Mrs. Phinney,

but I'’m afraid I'll
have to ask you for cash.

That account of yours
has been running
for a long, long time.

Ever since, uh,

September, '’91.

And I...

Well, I just can'’t give you
no more credit.

Herb'’ll settle the whole thing
when he comes back, Mr. Betts.

You might as well
face the facts, Mrs. Phinney.

Your husband
ain'’t coming back.

He ain'’t?

When a man
don'’t communicate

with his lawful wife
for almost 17 months,

it either means
he don'’t want her,

or he'’s dead.

I wish we was
all dead like him.

Chances are,
we will be before long.

Fiddlesticks!
Just because you'’ve
lost your husband

is no reason for you
and your children to starve.

How do you suppose
women like me, who never
had a husband, get along?

We hustle for ourselves,
that'’s how.

But you ain'’t got children.

Well, naturally.

I have three.

And every one of them
can earn something.

And with what you'’ll
be bringing in yourself--

Me? Certainly.

You can go to work.Doing what?

Ask Old Man Betts
for Herb'’s job.

He needs a good, reliable clerk.

But I'’ve got the house
to look after.

I'’ll do the housework, Ma.

I'’ll get a job driving a team.
I'’m good handling horses.

I can pick berries
and sell them.

I know where
there'’s lots
of berries growing.

You see?
They want to help.

And it'’ll be
the making of them.

[ crying ]

You stop crying now
and get yourself fixed up.

I'’ll go put in a word for you
with Old Man Betts.

You'’re very kind, Miss Almy.

Takes an old maid to settle
other folks'’ problems.

I don'’t know how
to thank you.[ creaks ]

Well, I can tell ya.

Get somebody to mend this step,
or I'’ll break my neck on it yet.

And so, the family
of the late Herb Phinney
went to work.

At the end of the first month,
under the new regime,

Lucretia made
a surprising discovery.

Children, we not only
made both ends meet,

we'’ve got a little money
left over.

I'’m gonna put this by.

Next month there'’ll be more,
and when there'’s enough,

we'’ll start getting
the house fixed up.

I declare!
What you'’ve accomplished
in the last few years, Lucretia,

I wouldn'’t know the place.

I wouldn'’t know you
were the same person either.

You'’re positively pretty.

Oh, now, Miss Almy!

What'’s more,
I ain'’t the only person
who'’s noticed it.

There'’s at least two gentlemen
in town who have mentioned it
to me lately.

And if I don'’t miss--

I have no intentions of ever
marrying again, Miss Almy.

Besides, I ain'’t even positive
I'’m a widow.

Just like Herb Phinney
to leave you in doubt.

Any other man would'’ve
had the consideration

to die where
there was witnesses.

Oh.

Ain'’t that Bill Spencer
walking with Bessie?

Yes. He'’s quite
attentive to her.

I wouldn'’t wonder.

She'’s blossoming
into quite a young lady.

Thanks for walking me home.

I'’ll see you tonight.
And don'’t forget

to bring your guitar
so you can sing
those new songs for us.

I'’m so thankful we have
a nice home where
the young folks can gather.

You can feel mighty proud,
Lucretia,

the way your children
are turning out.

I am. Davey'’s driving
the through stage

to Bodie now,
carrying the mail.

I don'’t know
of many boys his age
given such responsibility.

Oh, good for Davey.

Here'’s the mail, Davey.[ grunts ]

[ hoofbeats approaching ] MAN:
Dynamite! It'’s a runaway!

[ men shouting ]

Dynamite!
It'’s a runaway!

It'’s a runaway! Dynamite![ horses whinnying ]

Stop it!
It'’s a runaway!

Dynamite! Dynamite!

Stop it! Stop it!
Dynamite!

MAN:
What is it?

[ clamoring ]

[ chattering ]

He'’s really bruised
and battered up,
but he'’ll be all right.

Oh, thank heavens.

Bravest thing
I ever saw.

The town won'’t forget
this in a hurry.

By thunder,
I'’m gonna see to it

that every newspaper
in the West
gets the story.

A medal. Gee!

And that'’s not all.

The stage company'’s
holding your job.

And paying you full wages
while you'’re laid up.

Honest?

I couldn'’t be prouder
of you, Davey,
if you was my own son.

This is just about
the happiest day of our lives.

[ door opens ]

Hello, Lucretia.

Herb.

Yep, it'’s me.
I was working a grubstake

down in the Calicos when
I read the news about Davey,

so I packed right up,
made it back.

How is my ba'’y boy?

All right.

My, you kids are grown.

How come you ain'’t dead?

Oh, howdy, Miss Almy.

Herb, we thought...

You never wrote.

Wasn'’t nothing to say.

Oh.

Well, nobody'’s asked me
to sit down,
so I'’ll invite myself.

Sit down, Herb.
Don'’t mind if I do.

Ahh.

New chair, ain'’t it?

Yes.

Mighty comfortable.

Whole house looks nice.

Yeah, no place like home.

How long will you
be staying, Herb?

I'’ve got good news
for you, Mrs. Phinney.

Your husband'’s
all through prospecting.

It'’s a fool's game,
and I'’m sick of it.

I'’m home for keeps.

Ahh.

[ clears throat ]

[ door closes ]

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ door opens ]

Hello, dear.Hello, Mother.

We got some new
fancy cookies in.

I thought maybe you'’d like some
for the party Saturday night.

I'’m not having any party
Saturday night.

But you'’ve already
invited your friends.

I'’ve called it off.

Bessie, you and Bill Spencer
haven'’t had a fight, have you?

Come to think of it,
he hasn'’t been to the house
since your father ca--

Oh, Mother!
[ crying ]

Mother!

I understand, dear.
I understand.

So, I was just thinking
if you could just lend me
a dollar for some tobacco

till your mother gets paid
at the store, hmm?

Well, I guess so.

You guess so?

You'’ve got a wad there
that'’d choke a mule.

I-- I just got paid.

How much you earn a month,
baby boy?

Sixty dollars.

You better let me
take care of it for you.

Give it here.Nothing doing.

You heard me.
I'’m the head of this family.
Give it here.

No. Ma'’s the only one
gets any of my money.

Why, you young upstart, you!
You'’re getting too big
for your britches.

I'’ll teach you.
Give me that whip!
No!

I'’ll thrash you within
an inch of your life!
Give me that whip!

Come back here! [ running footsteps ]

What are you grinning at?

You didn'’t get his money.

So you think that'’s funny?

I'’ll get some respect
out of you boys
if I have to beat it into you!

No!
LUCRETIA:
Herb!

He sassed me.

You could kill the boy
with a whip like that.

Maybe I will next time.[ thuds ]

[ door opens, closes ]

I don'’t know exactly
where I will wind up, Mother,

but I'’ll write you
and I'’ll send you my address.

Davey, I can'’t bear
to have you go.

Here'’s a little money,
Mother.

As soon as I land a job,
I'’ll send you some more
here at the store.

Have Mr. Betts keep it
in the safe for you.

Well, good-bye, Mother.

[ cries ]

He says there are
better jobs up north--
teaming.

You know that ain'’t the reason
Davey'’s left home, Lucretia.

He'’s old enough.

But Peter ain'’t,
and he'’ll be the next to go.

Oh, no.And how much longer

are you going to let that
good-for-nothing Herb Phinney

hang around here
and ruin everything for you?

What can I do?
He'’s my husband, Miss Almy.

You don'’t love him,
do you?

No. Not anymore.

Then divorce him.

Divorce him?

Why, that'’d go against
everything I'’ve
ever been taught.

It'’d be a sin.

Well, you'’ve got
to do something
to get rid of him.

He'’s like a-- a blight.
Even your house shows it.

The paint'’s started
peeling again.

The flowers have dried up.

Failing everything else,
you could poison him,

but that'’d be a great waste
of good arsenic.

[ thunderclap ]

[ thunderclap continues ]

[ rain falling ]

[ paper rustling ]

Oh, it'’s you.
Did you bring my tobacco?

What?

Tobacco.
[ yawns ]

I'’m sorry. I forgot.

Lucretia, I should think
when smoking'’s

one of the few pleasures
I have...

What made you forget?

I was thinking about
a mine I heard about.

Mine?
What kind of mine?

A lost mine,
the Lost Nugget.

The Lost Nugget?
That'’s down in Mexico.

Mm-hmm. That'’s what
the Mexican said.

What Mexican?

The one who dropped by
the store this morning.

To hear him talk,
you'’d think it was richer
than the Peg Leg

and Breyfogle
and all the rest of them
put together.

But you weren'’t gonna tell me
anything about it, hmm?

Well, it was so far away,

and I didn'’t think
you'’d be interested

now you'’ve given up
prospecting for good.

Well, no harm
in talking to him.

Where is this Mexican?

He got some supplies
and headed for Nogales.

He had some kind of map

he said he was willing to sell
to the right party.

Map?

This mine, he says,
was originally located

by a Mexican shepherd girl

whose flock and strayed away.

Isn'’t that romantic?

Herb, where you going?Find that Mexican.

Herb?Hmm?

You'’ll need some money
for a grubstake.

Thanks.

I hope the rain
lets up soon.

HERB:
It'’s easing up already.

See? Sun'’s coming out.

So it is. Look.
There'’s a rainbow.

Yeah. A rainbow.

Well, bye, Cretia.

Good-bye, Herb.

And as far
as anybody knows,

Herb Phinney
is still walking

in the direction
of that rainbow.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]