Original subtitles

OLD RANGER: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Ha. 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.

This is a story of a race for gold.

The year, of course, is 1849.

Folks by the tens of thousands

are heading for California

in the greatest rush the world has ever known.

Among them, a wagon train

from a small Mid-Western town.

It is the eve of their departure,

April 8th, 1849.

A Sunday.

According to custom,

they have just elected a leader

for the long journey westward.

Seeing as how he got the most votes,

the captain of this wagon train

will be Tom Powell.

[ cheering ]

[ chuckles ]

Fine.

TOM: I want to thank you folks

for your confidence in me.

Will the men remove their hats?

Lord, what lies ahead of us

we do not know.

But we have faith in your wisdom.

And your word is our strength.

So, we ask you to bless this wagon train

and to look after us.

Amen.

[ chattering ]

We leave at sun up,

so, everybody, be hitched and ready.

[ chattering ]

Congratulations, Captain Powell.

I think it'’s wonderful.

Yeah, I-- I had no idea they liked me.

I-- I figured it'’d be Frank Hitchcock.

So did Frank.

It'’s a great honor they'’ve conferred upon you, Tom.

And a big responsibility.

I just hope I can live up to it.

You will.

I'’ll bank on you to make the right decision.

Speaking of decisions, Mary-Anne,

when are you going to say yes?

I don'’t know, Tom, I... I just don'’t know.

Well, maybe I should just order you to marry me.

As captain of this outfit,

I'’m supposed to lay down the law.

Mary-Anne.Oh, Frank.

Your father wants to know

how you'’d like your household stuff

arranged in the wagon.

Oh, I better go.

I'’ll give him a hand with the loadin'’.

I'’ve already offered my services.

Thanks just the same. [ sighs ]

FRANK: ♪ I'’ll scrape the mountain clean, my boys ♪

♪ I'’ll drain the river dry ♪

♪ I'’ll pocket full of rocks bring home ♪

♪ So brothers, don'’t you cry ♪

♪ Oh, Californ-eye-aye, that'’s the land for me ♪

BOTH: ♪ We'’re bound for Sacramento ♪

♪ With my washbowl on my knee ♪♪

[ both laughing ]

We make a pretty good duet.

It'’s put Father to sleep, poor dear.

Well, good.

Then I could propose to you.

Again?And again and again.

Every mile of the way for the next two months.

So you might as well give in right now and say yes.

It'’ll take longer than two months, won'’t it?

For you to make up your mind?

For us to reach California.

It shouldn'’t the way I calculate.

Well, Tom said something about July.

July?

What does he think this is,

a pleasure trip meandering across the continent?

Well, that'’s no way to talk about our leader.

I didn'’t vote for him.

Well, everyone else did.

And they chose a good man, too.

Sure, a pillar of the church.

And why not?

Because what you need in a time like this

isn'’t a pillar.

You need a man who can get places,

someone with fire and ambition and drive.

Like yourself?Yes.

All right, just you wait and see.

Is this a threat or proposal? [ chuckles ]

Ho.

Giddyup.

Must have dozed off a bit, I guess.

What time of day is it?Nearing sun down.

I even lost track of which day.

Thursday.

We'’ve been on the way now for four days.

Let'’s see, the rate of 30 miles a day,

that means--

Means we still got a powerful long ways to go.

Giddyup.

Friends, the first week of our journey

is behind us.

Only six days as I figure it.

Today is Saturday.

[ chuckles ] The first week of travel, I should say.

Tomorrow is Sunday.

Well, Sunday generally does follow Saturday.

[ crowd laughs ]

So, tomorrow we rest.

What do you mean, rest?

The wagon train will haul tonight

and stay camped until Monday morning.

Lose a whole day? What'’s the idea?

[ crowd chattering ]

You know the Commandment.

"Six days shalt thou labor,

but the seventh day is the Sabbath."

MAN: We can'’t afford to waste a day just sittin'’.

It will be time gained in the end.

Men and animals both need a rest.

[ crowd groaning ]

FRANK: Look, Powell,

this is a gold rush.

We'’re late as it is.

There'’s hundreds of wagon trains ahead of us.

Thousands of folks already

in California, ripping the gold from the ground.

If it'’s all gone when we get there, we'’re ruined.

[ crowd agreeing ]

[ man mumbles ]

You'’re overruled, Tom.

This party'’s traveling seven days a week.

Not as long as I'’m the leader.

Then we'’ll get ourselves a new leader.

[ crowd agreeing ]

I think Tom'’s right. It'’s wrote in the Bible.

2,000 years ago. This is 1849.

[ crowd agreeing ]

Here'’s the man for us.

You take over, Frank.

[ crowd agreeing ]

Well, thank you, folks. I'’ll do my best.

Let nothing hold us back.

Our family'’s stickin'’ with Tom.

Anybody'’s welcomed to stay behind who wants to.

For those who'’ll come with me

will travel seven days a week

from dawn till dark.

CROWD: Yeah, yeah.

All right, let'’s get rolling.

Well, let'’s get going.

Maybe we better stick with Tom, Father.

And lose out on the gold?

Nothing doin'’.

I'’ve staked everything on this venture.

But you'’re not as young as you used to be,

and a day of rest once a week.

Nonsense, I can keep up with the best of them.

♪♪ [ bugle ]

There'’s the bugle to get started.

Come on.

Oh, Tom, don'’t let them do this to you.

I have no choice.

[ sighs ] We'’re all good church folks, too, Tom.

Times like this, you'’ve got to be practical.

Every day means 30 miles.

Thirty miles nearer the gold fields.

I'’m sorry.

What'’s so simple about traveling on Sunday?

I didn'’t make the law, Mary-Anne.

It was laid down by the Almighty himself

to the children of Israel.

Oh, I know. Exodus, Chapter 20.

Those folks were traveling through the wilderness, too.

And how long did it take them?

Forty years.

Do you realize, Tom, if you stayed behind,

we may never see each other again?

Every week, the distance between us would widen.

I can'’t go against my conscience.

Your conscience. Frank was right.

We need a leader with drive and ambition,

not an obstinate stick in the mud.

"While the children of Israel were in the wilderness,

"they found the man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day...

Can'’t catch with me.I bet you I'’ll catch you.

WOMAN: "And they that found him gathering sticks

brought him unto Moses...Is he sick?

[ sighs ] No, just a sore throat

where his collar'’s rubbed.

Nothing a day'’s rest and some liniment won'’t fix.

Howdy.Howdy, stranger.

You'’re Trailing in the wrong direction, aren'’t you?

First man we'’ve seen heading east.

I was in California when they first struck gold.

Made my pile. Cleaned up.

[ chuckles ] Left some for the rest of us, I hope.

[ chuckles ] That'’s the first question the party ahead of you asked.

The Hitchcock party?Yeah, you know them?

Yeah, we started out together.

They was in a hurry.

Pushed on a couple of weeks ago.

Well, they'’ve certainly got a good lead on you, now.

You folks seem to be taking it mighty easy

for gold seekers.

This is Sunday.

Well, just let me remind you,

out there in California,

they are digging for gold today,

just like every other day in the week.

There'’s still plenty there though, ain'’t there?

It ain'’t gonna last forever.

Them friends of yours up ahead

are real smart to get there

just as soon as they can,

sick or well.Oh, who'’s sick?

Old fellow named Jessup.

Mary-Anne'’s father.

Me and my horse both need some water.

I knew Andrew Jessup wouldn'’t be able to take it.

He was worn out when we started.

Sun'’s still high.

Six good hours of daylight yet.

What are you proposing?

We'’re hitched up now. We can make 15 miles by dark.

It'’s up to you, Tom. You'’re the leader.

Well, I know it'’s Sunday, but...

well, we held prayers this morning.

Isn'’t that enough?

Well, our fortunes are at stake.

"Thou nor thy cattle."

[ sighs ]

MAN: ♪ Lead, kindly light

♪ Amidst the encircling gloom ♪

♪ Lead thou me on

♪ The night is dark

♪ And I am far from home

♪ Lead thou me on

♪ Keep thou my feet

♪ I do not ask to see

♪ The distant scene

♪ One step enough

♪ For me ♪

Forgive me, Father.

[ gasps ]

I should'’ve insisted on him staying behind.

He wasn'’t young enough or strong enough

to take that killing pace.

There'’s no use reproaching yourself now, Mary-Anne.

What'’s done is done.

We'’ve got to keep looking ahead.

[ inhales ] That'’s what frightens me so.

Well, I'’m here to take care of you, darling.

Oh, Frank.

I'’ll drive the wagon the rest of the way.

When we'’ll get to Gold Bluff, we'’ll get married.

Well, you can'’t say no any longer.

No, I...

I guess not.

I guess it'’s the only thing to do.

Which of us will be next?

Miss Purvis.Oh, they'’ll be others.

Mark my words.

The children most likely,

needing milk like they do,

and not a cow in the whole caravan

given a drop.

Can'’t be helped.

They'’re just dried up from being pushed too hard.

Well, we'’re not gonna slow down now.

A few more weeks, we'’ll be in California digging gold.

Gold.

I'’ll hitch you at the wagon.

Better come along, pack your things.

We'’re half a day late already.

Come along, child.

It seems so dreadful to leave him here alone

in a place that hasn'’t even a name.

Oh, its got a name, Post Office Spring.

Post Office Spring?Mmm, didn'’t you notice?

Look.

Folks leave letters here,

hoping someone traveling east

will pick '’em up and carry them back home.

Or they could leave messages

for others coming west.

Hey, Tom?

Tom, come here.

Yes, I know.

Well, who told you?

Mary-Anne.

She left this letter for me

in that tin can mailbox yonder.

What else did she say, if I ain'’t being too nosy?

[ sighs ]

She'’s marrying Frank Hitchcock

as soon as they reach Gold Bluff.

When will that be?

[ sighs ] Well, they left here May 20th.

A Sunday.

Well, Andrew finally got his day of rest.

The rate they'’re traveling--

Our wagons could never catch up to them, lad.

A horse and rider could.

Maybe. But tomorrow'’s Sunday.

It seems like every other day is Sunday.

It seems like we'’re always stopping to rest.

It just seems like--It seems like you'’re reaching the end of your rope.

Take over for me, will you, Thad, as leader?

Oh, others wouldn'’t stand for it, Tom.

If anything should happen to me.

But nothing is going to happen.

If it did, would you take over for me then?

Sure, but I sh--Thanks.

[ rumbling ]

[ rumbling continues ]

[ murmuring ]

Tom, where have you been?

All day yesterday, we were so worried.

I-- I went on ahead.Scouting?

No, deserting.

[ both gasping ]

Well, I-- I couldn'’t take it any longer.

There were reasons. I had to get going.

On a Sunday?

Sunday or no Sunday, I didn'’t care.

I didn'’t even believe it mattered anymore.

But you came back.

Because God spoke to me.

Out of a burning bush?

No, in a rockslide.

A sign from Heaven.

As sure as anything,

turning me back, reminding me all over again.

"I am the Lord thy God."

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy.

"Six days shalt thou labor,

"but the seventh day is the Sabbath.

"In it thou shalt not do any work.

ALL: "Thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter,

"thy man servant or thy maid servant,

"nor thy cattle.

"Nor the stranger that is within thy gates.

"For in six days,

"the Lord made Heaven and Earth

"and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.

"Where upon the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."

Amen.

Don'’t look so downcast, Mary-Anne.

I'’m worried, Frank.

Especially about the children.

They'’re hungry and suffering.

We'’re traveling as fast as we can.

Maybe we'’d go faster if we went slower.

Now, don'’t you start harping for that day of rest.

We'’re gonna get there and get our share of gold.

Gold.

I wonder if it'’s worth it.

I wonder if all the gold in California

is worth it.

You'’re becoming as bad as all the other women.

Nag, nag.

Let me out, Frank.Please.

I want to go back and stay with Mrs. Barton a while

with the baby.

Ho.

I'’m sorry, Mary-Anne.

I didn'’t mean to be so sharp.

MAN #2: Captain Hitchcock.

Indians are coming.

Indians!

[ war cries ]

Tell the wagons to follow me

and form a circle, quick.

Ha. Get on it.

Get on. Come.

[ war cries continue ]

Ha. Get on there.

Get the women and children

and stay in the center of the circle.

[ exhales ] Thank God the Indians are leaving.

They'’ll be back.

We'’ve got to get to a place with better protection,

or we'’ll never hold off another attack here.

Put the wounded into the wagons.

We'’re rolling at once.

What about the dead?

We can'’t worry about the dead.

It'’s the living we'’ve got to think of.

[ hammer pounding ]

We'’re getting pretty well patched up.

Couple of more days and we'’ll be traveling again.

Mary-Anne?

I know what you'’re thinking.

It'’s all my fault.

I'’m not blaming anybody, Frank.

There'’s no room in my heart anymore for bitterness.

And...you will still marry me?

MAN #2: Captain Hitchcock.

Wagons coming across the river.

Tom. It'’s Tom.

Tom. Oh, Tom.

Mary-Anne, you'’re all right.

You-- You weren'’t hurt?

You know then what happened?

We found the others on the trail.

How did you ever manage to catch up on us?

We'’d figured you must be a hundred miles behind.

Well, we'’ve been lucky.

Had no sickness, no Indians.

Providence was watching over us.

Your cows, are any of them giving milk?

Yeah, plenty of it.

Plenty of other good food, too.

Come on along.

[ chattering ]

I heard you lost some wagons in that fight.

If it'’s any help, we can take some

of the others the rest of the way

in our wagons.

Thanks.

Captain.

[ chuckles ] No, you'’re still the leader.

I'’m the one to step down.

And step out.

What was it the Bible said?

"The first shall be last,

and the last shall be first."

[ chuckles ] Looks like the Bible was right

about a good many things.

And that'’s the story of the seventh day.

True then and just as true today

in this year of our Lord.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]