Original subtitles

FPS 25

THE BIG TREES 1952

- [Man] Stand down, Frenchy, we're going in!

Drag him out! - No, you don't!

- Settle down there you'll get paid!

- What's all the mush?

- What else, money.

- Nobody likes working for nothing.

- Come on out here, Fallon.

(glass shattering)

- [Man] Now where's our money?

- [Man] Hey!

- Patience, boys, be with you in a minute.

- Fallon, I've strung along with you

on a lot of wild-eyed schemes of yours.

But this time you've gone too far.

You're going to jail.

- After all I've done for him.

- Done for me, your finagling's cost my syndicate

a quarter of a million dollars.

- More, Mr. Murdock.

- We financed you to mill lumber in Wisconsin,

but you stashed it away for a timber steal in California.

- According to the new land law, it's strictly legal.

- All I know is what you cost us,

and you're gonna land in prison until we get it back.

- But putting me in prison is a sure way

of losing all your money.

Now, what's a couple a hundred thousand

to a group like yours?

Let me take a boatload of my boys out there,

and I'll make a fortune for you.

- Listen to those men. (crowd shouting)

Why, you haven't met a payroll in weeks.

You thinking they'd ever work for you again?

- They like me.

You do, too, don't you?

- What makes you think I'd trust you again?

- Because your syndicate wants money,

and there's plenty to be had in California.

- Hey, Jim.

- [Jim] What is it, Frenchy?

- Boys are mighty close to getting out of hand.

- Look, Mr. Murdock, you'd better let me get the boys

under control before they wreck the mill,

and you'll be out another $50,000.

Daisy, honey, take Mr. Murdock over to the hotel.

The best champagne for him and his friends.

- I just happen to have a couple of bottles in the oven.

You come along, too, Sheriff.

I have a few girlfriends who just love policemen.

- Don't forget, Fallon.

I can put you in jail six months

from now just as well as today.

- Here's your money, boys, certified cashier's check.

- You gave us that check business before!

- Yeah, we want to see the cash!

- Where's the money? - Yeah, we want the money.

------- - Where's the money?

- All right, boys, anything you say goes.

Frenchy, take this check to the bank.

Have them send over a couple of guards with the cash.

Go on.

You heard them they want their money!

Get to the bank!

You know what this means, fellas?

You're breaking up the team, for good.

Jim Fallon and his boys.

The minute you sign that receipt book paid in full

that's the end you leave me busted.

You put me out of business.

- [Lumberman] Good thing it is, Fallon.

- [Lumberman] It's about time, too.

- Pay them off once and for all.

Let them come back to work for us honest lumbermen,

steady work and regular pay.

- We've had enough of you, Fallon.

You're leaving town and right now.

- Eh, a couple of measly bobcats turned tigers.

- We're not joking, Fallon.

Get going.

- I'm moving no place 'til I'm ready.

Get him out of here.

- That was great, Jim.

You all right, Jim?

What a wallop!

- Boys, even if I'd been shot,

it'd have been worth it to know how you feel about me.

You still like me,

and now I want to tell you why I hoped you'd stick with me.

You know me.

Jim Fallon doesn't like to hire he likes to share,

and right now I want to share with you

the whole north the California.

There's giant redwoods out there,

men, big around as that office,

so tall you can't see the sky.

There's so much board footage in just one of those big trees

that it makes a month's cutting here

look like a pile of toothpicks.

Now look!

You're the best lumberjacks in the business.

That's why you're my team,

and that's why I wanna take you to California with me,

each man a partner of Jim Fallon,

and every man with a share in a $100 million!

- How do you like that, boys?

- You still want Frenchy to go to the bank?

- [Crowd] No!

- Will you take your chances with me?

- I will, Jim.

Count me in. - I will.

- Me too.

- You might find a couple of cases in the office.

Help yourself.

- Hey, that's all right. - It all right.

- [Man] It's okay, come on.

Let's go. - Come on.

- [Man] Thanks, Jim.

- [Man] Thanks, Jim, you're okay.

- Hey, stranger.

I don't have to tell you how grateful I am, stranger.

- I'm Yukon Burns.

- Your name's Luck to me.

I ought to make a little statue of you,

and hang it right alongside this horseshoe.

- You couldn't hang me there I'm hollow inside.

- I'll put some stuffing in you.

You stick with me, friend,

and you'll always have a full belly.

Come on.

Alaska gold rush, huh?

- Yukon Burns, a billionaire

traveling around in freight cars

trying to get a logger job.

- You got yourself a better job than that for life.

Kind of like me, don't you?

- I like the way you square toed it with your men

and stood up to them gun-toters.

- Here. - Keep it running.

- Honest, huh?

Beside being handy with a gun,

I can use a friend like you, Lucky.

- Hey, Jim.

- Have to teach them hawksters

to keep their nose out of my business.

Here, wet this.

Clem?

Sorry, I didn't count on the shooting either,

but everything worked out just fine.

Nice.

That'll learn you to keep your big mouth shut.

Come on, Yukon.

- Jim?

- Be right with you, Yukon.

- Well, your pigeon is thoroughly cooked

and basted in white wine.

He's all yours.

- I don't know what I'd do without you.

- I don't care anymore, just pay.

- Daisy, honey, don't you trust me?

- Oh, don't Daisy honey me.

- You prefer Dora Figg?

- You lay off my past, or I'll start to spill yours.

- Forget the past think of the future.

That's nothing.

We're gonna get very rich in California.

We'll leave next month.

- Not we, not me, you.

- Honey, you're part of my luck.

- Oh, save that blarney for when you head

into those wild Westerners.

You won't be pushing around a bunch of these

tame Wisconsin stump jumpers.

I don't think those Californians are going to sit around

in their rocking chairs and watch you grab off their land.

- I'll handle that problem when I come to it.

- Without me.

- You'll be right there looking out for me, same as always.

- Always is over, Jim.

I'm tired of chasing those smoke rings of yours.

I'm staying here, and I'm looking out for me.

- You're right, Daisy.

You'd do a lot better without me.

- You said it.

- I'm no good for you.

You're doing a smart thing giving me up.

I'm just bad for you.

Believe me, Daisy, you should have a life of your own.

Thanks.

Thanks for everything.

Yeah, you deserve a lot better man than me,

but if you every want anything,

you know where to find me.

- Don't let something like that leave you.

- She'll be back.

Nobody Jim Fallon likes ever leaves him.

That goes for you, too.

Here's your job.

I'm gonna dress you up like a billionaire.

You're going to Redwood, California,

ahead of me goodwill merchant.

Pick the biggest trees.

Just flash that honest face at the hostile nation--

- Hostile?

Why?

Hope you ain't counting on me using this.

- When a man's my friend, I count on him for anything.

- You mean you've never even been to California?

- Only in my dreams. (gentle music)

- Why did you send that Alaska sourdough out ahead of me?

- Let's face it, Frenchy, you're a good timber boss,

but people say goodbye to you before you can say hello.

That Yukon, three weeks in Redwood,

and he's got them eating out of his hand.

Yeah, I got a feeling he's gonna bring me

plenty of good luck.

(gentle music)

- You're doing right by locking up, Mr. Keller.

- I hope so.

- Look here, Keller, you can't keep refusing

to let these men buy new timber claims.

- [Keller] I'm the government agent here,

Mr. Gregg, not you.

- On that door, it says office hours 8:00 to 6:00.

You're opening up again right now.

- Let's stay friendly, neighbor.

- Oh, Fallon's man, Burns.

I'm Cleve Gregg.

- You're just another claim jumper to me, mister.

- That's because you're new here.

I own the Redwood Sawmill Company,

and I aim to finance these men filed for homesteads.

- New law wasn't made for timber thieves.

- What do you mean, thieves?

Every lumberman around here has a copy of that law.

"All claims filed under the Stolen Timber Act of 1868

"I hereby render null and void.

"Land agents," that's you, Keller,

"are hereby authorized and instructed

"to accept applications on any and all such claims

"in their districts if you have $125."

- I know all about that, Mr. Gregg.

Just the same I'm waiting for more instructions

from the Department of the Interior

before I let you steal homesteads

my friends have owned for 50 years.

$125 filing fee for each quarter section is stealing.

- This fella's been scouting

the biggest trees in the county,

and he's probably bribed you to wait until Fallon

and his men get here to file on choice claims.

- Jim Fallon's an honest man.

He's going to pay the old settlers

for every claims he stakes out.

- Did you hear that, Jim?

Pay them, for free land.

He's been doing a lot of

expensive goodwillling around here.

- He knows what he's doing.

- Now get this through your head, Keller.

You're opening this office right now,

or I'll have you jailed.

- No, you won't!

Pay no attention to him, Mr. Keller!

- Keep thee away from violence, Sister Alicia.

- What are they all dressed up for?

- There's a hallelujah colony around here

Soul Savers, rigid and religious.

- The dark haired one can save my soul anytime.

- Open that office or I'll have my boys break the door down.

- You do and you'll walk in on your face.

- Keller, you're gonna start taking applications right now.

- Come on, boys.

- Sister Chadwick, no.

- Stay thee with us.

- Hold your ground, Mr. Keller, be firm.

- I'm going to Eureka and tell this to the circuit judge.

- I'll tote you across for $0.50, ma'am.

- No, thank you.

- Well, seeing as how you're bowlegged, two bits.

- I am not bowlegged.

- Alicia!

- No, you're not.

- Sister Chadwick, thy Father shall hear of this.

- There, now, wasn't that worth it?

- Here's your quarter.

- Thank you, ma'am.

- [Yukon] Ah, Sister Chadwick.

- Where's your Mr. Fallon?

I came to thank both of you for protecting our land.

- That Fallon's a wonderful lad, ma'am.

- I'm sure he could teach you manners.

- [Yukon] That's Jim Fallon.

- Oh.

- Pleased to meet you, Miss Chadwick.

- [Alicia] Mrs. Chadwick.

- Oh.

- Just like I told you.

You don't need to worry about your trees no more.

Jim here's going to do the claiming.

He's got plenty of money.

In fact, he invented the stuff.

- Why haven't you refiled on your land?

- Multiply 400 quarter sections by $125,

and we'll see how much we'd have to pay.

- 400 quarter sections and broke?

You must be pretty poor operators.

- None of these religious Coloners

ever bother to accumulate much cash.

- There's no need to.

- See Jim, these are wonderful folks.

They'll give you anything they got.

If they haven't got anything to give you,

they say a prayer for you.

- Sister Chadwick, you think prayer's

gonna save those big trees?

- We were assured we could rely on you for that.

We don't want them touched.

- [Jim] What's so special about them?

- Well, after you've been around them a while,

you'll understand.

- Sister Alicia, come thee away from all those men.

- There's safety in numbers, Sister Blackburn.

- Say, by the way, whatever happened

to your thees and thous?

- Sister Chadwick has been too long out in the world.

- I'd like you to meet my father, Mr. Fallon.

Won't you have supper with us this evening?

- I'd like to.

- I'll meet you at 6:00 in the Bixby Grove.

Mr. Burns knows the way.

I'm anxious for you to see our trees.

- Thank you.

This must be good luck.

I've known a lot of gals.

This is the first time one of them ever asked me

to come up and see her trees.

- I thought this trip was supposed to be strictly business.

- There's a lot of ways of doing business.

- What are all these promises

I hear you've been making?

- Just plain common sense.

- Yukon, I'd feel a lot better if you'd walk me home.

- Well, glad to bodyguard you anytime.

- Hey, Lucky, I want to talk to you.

Meet me in the saloon.

- You've got to get rid of that daffy sourdough.

He's already got you hooked for money you ain't got.

- Have I ever had to ask you advice?

- Look.

I passed up top jobs to watch your timber grab.

You promised we'd make a killing.

All I hear now is some idiot promising to pay,

pay for something you can get for nothing.

- Nobody's gonna pay.

As soon as that boat brings in our loggers,

I'll run them into the land office and file.

Nobody's gonna pay.

Slow down there, whoa.

Let me borrow your knife, Lucky.

Thanks.

- Biggest, oldest living things in the whole world.

Make you feel kind of small?

- Nope.

Big.

I'm the one that's gonna knock them down.

- What if Chadwick and her folks don't want

these trees touched at any price?

- She's a widow, huh?

- What's the difference?

- When you grow up, I'll explain it to you.

Who was Chadwick?

- The young seafaring feller.

Fear he lost his life at sea a few years ago.

- I bet there's 100 houses in one of these.

- Look, Jim.

- Yeah?

- These colonists trust in you

on account of what I've told them about you.

You play square with them, and you'll do all right.

- You bet I will.

28 and a half feet this is just a baby.

- Hello.

Right on time.

- Sister Chadwick.

Thou hasn't been out of my thoughts a minute.

- I hope you're both hungry.

- I look forward to thy home cooking.

- Then it will please thee to know that thou shall help

with the washing of the dishes to make thee feel

that our home is thine.

It's a lovely walk.

Mr. Fallon, this is my Father, Elder Bixby.

- How do you so, sir?

- Welcome, friend, brother.

- Mrs. Stratford, Mrs. Wallace.

- We met, practically.

- Brother Doran. - How do you do?

- How do you do, sir?

- On the roof, Brother Williams,

And Brother Williams' daughter.

- How do you do?

Magnificent country.

- It's different from Wisconsin, huh?

- Yes, it is.

I've never been stirred as deeply

as by your beautiful trees.

- And his daughter.

- Then you can understand how we feel about them,

why we hold them in sacred trust.

- Sacred, somebody's bound to get them by claiming.

- Not if we can help it.

- I'm certain we can place faith in Mr. Fallon

and Mr. Burns to help us keep them from destruction.

- If I felt like you did about trees,

I'd soon be out of business.

- The giant sequoias are more than trees, friend.

They are the everlasting living sign of our creator's work,

4,000 years old, as old as the book and the faith.

This was just a little one, only 900 years old,

but it was a living sapling

when the Norman conquerors invaded England.

It was about this size when Columbus discovered America.

About this large the time of George Washington

and our Declaration of Independence.

This marks the time of Abraham Lincoln

and the Emancipation Proclamation.

It was felled during the term

of our present President, Mr. McKinley.

- God made them to touch the skies,

taller than any spire of any church.

- They are our church, our place of worship.

- Mr. Fallon will build you a dozen churches.

- Let's be practical.

You men cut your timber.

- The small trees are all we cut.

The giant redwoods, we do not.

- The government passed a death sentence

on every tree in the district.

- We know you'll help us.

- I admire your faith.

- Supper.

- [Boy] Come on!

- A real home.

Where do you sit?

- We ladies eat later.

- As it should be.

- Mr. Fallon, will you sit here?

- Oh, thank you.

What's her name?

- His name is Tom.

Well, no wonder he likes me.

- While the ladies are setting the meal,

we'll read from the scriptures.

It is our custom to ask a stranger

in our house to do the reading.

- Oh, uh, naturally.

Of course.

- Perhaps Mr. Fallon would rather quote from memory.

- Safer if I read.

I've been known to get my verses mixed.

- Um, here, from the Psalms of David.

- "Blessed is he that considers the poor.

"The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."

- Amen. - Amen.

- Amen.

- "Blessed is he that considers the poor."

You big, hard head, what'd you get me into?

- You got me into it.

You sent me out here.

Look here, Jim, just how much are you

gonna pay these folks for this land?

- Lucky, you better start getting

yourself some common sense.

Do you realize how much it cost to operate a timber outfit?

I can't afford to pay for thousands of acres of free land

and still run a business.

- But I gave them my word, and you.

- Once, last, and for all,

there's not gonna be any payment for any land

the government says is free.

- You sound like a claim jumper to me.

If you know what a sourdough thinks of that stripe,

you don't want me around.

- Oh, where you going?

- Back to Alaska to get me some fresh air.

- Now, Lucky, nobody Jim Fallon likes ever leaves him.

I'm kind of superstitious about my luck running out on me.

- Look, you got the wrong slant.

It ain't something you can wear on a watch chain.

It ain't even money in your kick.

Nine times out of 10 it's the way you live.

- Look who's talking about living.

When I picked you up,

you were a job hunting, empty-bellied crumb.

Look at you now, you're just beginning to live,

but it's going to be my way.

- Well, you stinking claim jumper.

- Oh, now, take it easy.

- [Yukon] Get out of my way!

- Now take it easy.

Take it easy.

Lucky.

You win, Lucky.

I'll pay them premium for the land.

- And you won't cut the big trees?

Sorry, Jim.

I'll get you a doctor.

- Now, be reasonable.

I'm offering you a royalty of 1%.

We'll throw in all logging equipment.

All right, 2%,

and believe me, this is all faith, hope, and charity.

- I believe you.

You're a decent man.

I like you for trying to do what you don't have to.

- Well, that's very nice apple butter.

How much did the Elder tell you to hold out for?

- I've told you we're only interested in saving

these giant trees, not your money.

- Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.

I didn't say anything about money, just percentage.

- Percentage of what you own,

or what someone else owns?

- Sister Chadwick, my conscience is clean.

All right, another half percent.

- What's your conscience's name, Mr. Yukon Burns?

This is a very good place to talk about conscience.

This is our church.

- Let's lay off the pious price hiking

and admit that trees are trees and money's money.

You folks stand to make a million.

- You're right.

Some trees are trees.

Come here.

You ever seen anything more beautiful?

- Never.

- [Alicia] Certainly there's enough timber around here

without you destroying these.

- I live by the board foot.

- Doesn't all this beauty mean anything to you?

- Beauty?

Sure.

That's what it's all about, Sister,

since the beginning of the world.

That's what makes men thrash the wheat,

pick the grapes, hire a band.

All the sweat a man has poured on Earth's been for beauty,

the beauty of women.

Yeah, that's the buggy whip that drives us, Alicia.

You know what I mean?

- I certainly do.

You're wasting all the pretty words.

- Not words, time.

- You're wasting time as well as words.

- I got to hand it to you, Widow Chadwick,

you sure know how to put a man on ice.

- Why not?

Business should be practical and cold,

so let's be practical.

Lumberman, look, how tall?

- Five-feet-five and a half.

- 213 feet.

How big around?

- 24 waist.

- 16 feet.

Total footage?

- Wonderfully proportioned.

- Roughly, 33,000 square feet.

- And every inch alive.

- $14.00 per thousand board foot delivered in San Francisco.

- You got soft lips.

- Now, it takes five times as much labor

to market one of the big trees as one of the little ones,

and there's only three times as much lumber.

Therefore, the giants aren't nearly as profitable.

- You haven't been kissed nearly enough.

- I said profitable, Mr. Fallon.

You ought to understand that.

- Uh-huh, you're quite a mathematician,

so solve this problem.

Either you take 3%, or I'm taking your land.

Like it says in the Bible,

"The Lord helps him who helps himself."

- Then you'll need a lot of help.

- I've got it, a boat load.

- They're Fallon's men.

They're taking over the land office.

- Judge Crenshaw.

Judge Crenshaw.

Bless thee, Judge.

- We're thankful you're here.

- I heard all the way from Eureka.

Still swirling with boomers, I see.

- They mean to claim our land.

- Well, we'll see what can be done.

- I thought you were going to file

in the names of the colonists, Mr. Fallon.

- That was yesterday.

My boys are filing.

I want those application blanks.

I've got the cash right here to cover all of them.

- Just a minute, Keller.

- Judge Crenshaw, must I take these applications?

- Yes, from anyone mean enough

to use this land grabbers law.

- Can't Mr. Keller wait?

Maybe some of us can raise the filing cost.

- He can't wait.

I know claim law you've got to have a place in line.

Let's have those application blanks.

Step up, boys.

Fill in those blanks in duplicate.

- Fallon, this is subterfuge with intent to defraud

filing under dummy signatures.

- These men aren't dummies.

I'm only loaning them the money.

Are you willing to go on record that's illegal?

- No, I'm not.

But the court will go thoroughly into the case.

- Suits me fine by that time,

the logs will be off, and the court can have the stumps.

- Jim, you've got to let them keep the big Redwoods.

- I came here to get the big ones.

- He'll never get them.

We could have cut enough timber to raise our filing fees,

but we believed your Mr. Burns.

We trusted you because of him,

but that's past, Mr. Fallon.

We know you now, and with the help of the Lord,

somehow we'll stop you.

- So far you've made a liar out of me.

Hand back every one of them application blanks.

There ain't gonna be any filing of any kind here.

- You win again, Lucky.

Keller, go ahead with those applications.

- I beat you half to death once.

Now I'm gonna finish the job.

- Please don't try it, Yukon.

- Why you!

- Don't do it, Lucky.

Keep out of it.

Here's your boat fare.

I hear there's still gold in Alaska.

- I'm staying here.

- Then you'll get hurt again.

- About time you got yourself

straight on that sourdough.

- He's twice the man you'll ever be.

Come on, boys, fill out those blanks.

- I'd never treat a timber boss of mine like that.

Let's you and I have a drink sometime.

- It's a better time than now.

- And washeth clean the patrons, our Father.

That we may call no man our enemy.

Make our faith in thee to be without question of thy will.

That we may live the words of the scripture,

love the Lord with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

and will all thy might.

- Amen.

- Thou art always welcome amongst us, but--

- But I can't lick Fallon alone.

Now, you've got some mighty hefty boys here,

and if you'd use them the way Lord suggests.

- That's right, Yukon.

- Sister.

- Hush, let him give his testimonial.

- Well, I've been a wicked man in my time

with a weakness for drink and cards and other trifles.

But I've done some reading of the book.

And when it says "love thy neighbor with all thy heart

"and with all thy soul," that's great.

But if it's not enough if it tacks on "with all thy might"

and that means might and that there's fighting talk.

It's the only kind Jim Fallon will ever understand.

- Violence is not in our creed.

- Yeah, I know.

And I believe in turning the other cheek,

but you've just about run out of cheeks.

It's time you started growing some religious muscles.

- Thou dost not understand our covenants.

- Well, it appears not.

But where I come from the Lord didn't build strong backs.

To let wickedness seize the Earth.

- Whatever we do, Mr. Burns,

will be done in conformance with the law.

- But Mr. Fallon is using the law to take our land.

- The Lord will not fail us.

- Well, I see it's no use.

Well, thanks anyhow, Elder,

for letting me voice my theology.

- Father.

- The book of Job, ninth chapter, 22nd verse.

"They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame."

- I'm Judge Crenshaw.

I've been looking for you.

I got something I want to talk to you about.

- [Alicia] So have I.

- Well then, hop in both of you.

We'll go over to your place where we can talk in private.

Mr. Burns, I heard you were an honest man

and good with a gun.

And I also heard you confess to a weakness

for liquor, cards, and women,

- Not women, your honor, they ain't for the weak.

- Well, the principle reasons for my coming to Redwood

was to appoint a Marshall.

- Marshall?

- Well?

- You got one, Judge.

- Then that's settled.

- Congratulations, Yukon.

I guess this gives him the power to stop Jim Fallon.

- Well, it won't keep those applications of his

from being mailed to Washington.

It would take an act of God to stop that.

(cat mewing) - Judge.

Just how would a legal man define an act of God?

- Well, I'd say any cataclysm

which was not caused by the human hand.

- Cataclysm that got anything to do with cats?

- Nice kitty.

- Sister Chadwick. - Good evening.

- Taking up with four-footed beasts, eh?

Don't blame you what I've seen of the two-legged kind.

- Don't you think the new Marshall was an excellent choice?

- Mr. Burns is a good man.

Transferred Fallon's claim money out of here into the bank.

Didn't want it to reflect on me if anything happened.

- I brought a letter of protest written by Judge Crenshaw

stating his opinion of our rights in this case.

We wants a copy forwarded to Washington,

along with everyone of Jim Fallon's applications.

- Well, it's getting late and I'm awfully hungry.

That's a lot of copying.

- Well, I'll get started on it.

You go home and eat.

- Thanks.

- Do you mind if we open a window?

It's rather stuffy in here.

- I'll do it.

Here lock up after me.

See you later, Miss Alicia.

- Miss Alicia, I have some grub for your cat.

Get away, you, this isn't dog food.

- Cataclysm.

Wait a minute.

Don't want anybody taking anything out of here.

- Sister Chadwick, what happened?

- It was my cat, Mr. Keller,

getting out of the way of two stray dogs.

- Hmm, don't blame the cat at all.

- Kitty, kitty.

- You just gonna stand there and watch it burn?

- Well, it's quite a sight.

- My applications are in there.

- Your claim money was transferred to the bank, fella.

I'm the only loser.

It's burning down my courtroom.

- I see.

- I suppose no one thought of calling the fire department.

How'd it happen?

- Accident.

Her cat.

- Dear sister, you're not the sweet child I first knew.

- Me neither, Jim.

- "Let him that stole steal no more.

"Rather, let him labor working with his hands,

"the thing which is good."

- Ephesians.

- Verse four, line 26.

- 28.

- Kelly, you better wire Washington tonight

for a new batch of application blanks.

- What's your hurry?

You can't file again until

they send duplicate title records.

That takes time.

- That is the most satisfying act of God

I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.

- Judge, I demand you appoint a Marshall to investigate.

- I've appoint one.

Marshall Burns, will you kindly look into this case?

- Marshall Burns?

- Yep, there's not much I can do about an act of God.

- I cite you a precedent, Mr. Fallon,

the Chicago case of Mrs. O'Leary's cow.

- Of course, we're not quite so big as Chicago.

We've only got a cat.

- Nice kitty.

As you so rightly said,

"The Lord helps him who helps himself."

We'll raise the money for the filing fees

by cutting and selling timber.

- That fire doesn't change the new law.

Your flock can't work property they don't own.

- Mr. Fallon's right, that's the law.

- I'll follow the law to the letter, Jim.

- That's all I want.

Looks like you're gonna have to train

that cat to steal trees.

- Timber.

Timber.

- Quiet.

Quiet, everybody.

Quiet, or I'll have you all removed.

Fires may come and Rome may burn,

but this court's now in session.

What are the defendants charged with, Marshall?

- Your Honor, James Fallon accuses these men

of cutting trees on land they no longer own.

- That's right, those claims are now property

of the United States government.

- How do the defendants plead?

- Guilty.

- 30 days of hard labor.

Marshall, I remand the prisoners to your custody,

and order you to see that the following sentence

is carried out.

They are to cut timber on government property.

The logs are to be transported to Tidewater here at Redwood.

- Your Honor, what do you intend to do with those logs?

- Well, Section seven, Paragraph 18 of the Penal Code

states, "Trinkets or other saleable objects produced

"by prisoners may be sold,

"and the money is therefrom given to them at the time

"of their release as an aid to rehabilitation."

- Logs 40 feet long and not trinkets.

- This court is serving the ends of justice, sir,

and you are held in contempt.

- Marshall, collect the gentleman's fine $100.

- All right.

But for $100, I want to say something.

- $200.

Any further remarks, I'll make it $300.

- Put this in your safe,

it'll more than cover the fine.

- Court's adjourned.

- The next 30 days we must do

six months' work night and day.

- And even on the Sabbath,

we'll be lifting the ox from the ditch.

- [Elder] Well need $50,000 to save our land.

- Marshall, will you kindly rush the prisoners to the woods?

d Bringing in the trees d

d We shall all rejoice in bringing in the trees d

d Bringing in the trees d

d We shall all rejoice d - Timber!

d In bringing in the trees d

d Bringing in the trees d

d We shall all rejoice in bringing in the trees d

(dramatic music)

- One week more, God willing, we'll have our claim money.

- My old lady and the kids are having it rough at home.

- Like I told you, you just have to wait for your money.

- That's no good.

- This partnership is fine on paper, but I need some cash.

- That goes for me, too.

- All the money I've got in the bank

I'm saving for more claim filing.

- Bunch of the boys are talking about heading back.

- Nobody wants to stay.

- That's the truth.

- Breaking up the team again, huh?

Well, this time you can't leave, men.

When the new application blanks get here,

I'll need every one of you.

- The boys don't feel good about that, either.

- About what? - They don't like the raw deal

you're giving these natives.

- What's the matter with you birds, getting gooey?

- We came out here to work, not to steal.

- This is strictly legal.

- Yeah, there's a lot of talk that it ain't.

- Frenchy, take the boys over to the saloon.

- It won't work, Jim.

- All right, I'll meet you at the bank.

Get out of here.

- That's more like it. - Now you're talking.

Let's go.

- Once you start that,

they'll start hitting you every week or so.

Won't take long to whittle down your capital.

- Thinking again, huh?

- Yeah, Jim, remember that sawmill man, Gregg?

He'd be a pretty soft partner for a smart fella like you.

- Stop thinking so hard, Frenchy.

You're liable to get yourself a bad headache.

- Fallon's getting down to a shoestring.

He's finally dipped into his claim money.

Here's where I steer him to you for financing.

- You mean I finally get an introduction

to the great Jim Fallon?

- The Fallon Company becomes LeCroix and Gregg.

- You call the shots, Frenchy.

We're with you.

- Your soft partner draws a pretty hard contract.

- He really doesn't need you.

- It's a good deal, Fallon.

- Stop bluffing, Gregg.

Deceased?

I get it.

If anything happens to me,

the Fallon Company goes to you two, huh?

- Sign it, Jim.

Gregg here will release funds to your account.

- Just want you to know I could see through

that swamp you call a brain.

- Jim's always suspicious.

- But you won't shove any knives in my back because

you're never gonna stick the tidewater without me.

- How do you mean?

- That little secret is my life insurance.

- Timber!

Timber!

Timber!

- Well, look it here.

- Fellas, I don't want to impose on you,

but do you mind looking after these girls

until the rest of their baggage arrives?

- Are you what they call a lumberjack?

- That's me, baby.

- My, you're strong.

- I've been sick.

Hey, put me down, put me down.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

- Bartender.

- All right, men, have fun.

The drinks are on the company.

- A talking machine.

Let's dance.

- Are any of these boys married?

(lively dance music) (man clearing throat)

- I could drink your slipper full of White Mule.

- Take Aggie's, she's from Texas.

- Here.

- Fill it up.

- Little Dora Figg.

- Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.

- I've been dreaming of you for days,

how you used to dance on a beer keg for dimes.

- Hm, remember that big, swell-headed lumberjack

who never had the dime?

- We're doing all right now, honey.

Say, how does it feel to be Queen of Redwood City?

- Fine, if you're the King.

The same old Jim.

- Daisy, honey, we're gonna be rich, very rich.

Just sign these Dora Figg.

- Yep, the same old Jim.

What kind of larceny is it this time.

- [Jim] Well, those wild Westerners you warned be about

tried to cut my throat.

This is just to give me a little protection.

- Uh huh.

It's lucky for you I learned to write instead of read.

- Thanks, doll.

Jasper?

You saw the lady sign these, notarize them.

- Well, I'm ready for a nice, warm bath.

- The tub's down the hall.

- What?

- Well, I'll be seeing you, honey.

- What?

- Look I'm going to Sacramento for a couple of days.

You make yourself at home.

Frenchy will look after you.

- Frenchy LeCroix?

- Sure, be nice to him.

Come in.

- Oh. - Miss Fisher,

may I present, Sister Chadwick.

- Forget your tambourine, honey?

- I'm sorry, Jim, I didn't mean to intrude.

- Well, Daisy's an old friend.

- He means well-seasoned.

- Oh.

I came to tell you we've cut enough timber.

Our logs will soon be at Tidewater.

Our faith has been realized.

We'll be able to keep our lands.

But my father and I wanted you to know,

if you want to stay here and work, we'll help.

Goodbye, Miss Fisher.

Goodbye, Jim.

- Jim, huh?

Lucky for you my father never owned a shotgun.

What about hers?

- Believe me, Daisy, I'd rather have my head shot off

by a Figg than my soul saved by a Bixby.

Have fun, girl.

d I'm the charming Sue Brett d

d On the Police Gazette d

d I can dance with jesters and braves d

d I've a depth and got style and a beautiful smile d

d If by chance you glance at my face d

d The barbers, the cops, and first nighters d

d They all have pictures of me d

d I'm sharing my fame with the fighters d

d John L. and Knockoff Magee d

d I am known as the toast of the Barbary Coast d

d And the kind you'll never forget d

d I'm a Burly Q Queen d

d And you'll know what I mean d

d If you read the Police Gazette d

d If you're feeling depressed d

d Let me humbly suggest d

d There's a way for you to forget d

d Simply turn to the page d

d To the news of the stage d

d When you read the Police Gazette d

Oh, champagne. - Mm-hmm.

We'll, drink to us.

We got a lot of things in common.

- Yeah?

Name one.

- Well, we've both been Jim Fallon's chumps.

I'm through how about you?

- What's rattling around in that head of yours?

- Look, Daisy, Jim's out of town.

He's up to something, you're a part of it.

What's going on?

- Why don't you ask Jim when he gets back?

- I'm paying cash money for information.

- I have a notion to tell Jim about this.

You sty on the eye of a flea on the thigh

of a nit on the neck of a gnat.

- Am I seeing things?

That dam wasn't there last week.

- Not like that it wasn't,

but the foundation's been there since the old mining days.

- Fallon, Jim Fallon.

- Well, he's sure got the colonists blocked.

- Not just the colonists.

Nobody's running any more logs

to Tidewater without my say so.

- But we're partners.

- Correct, I've got you right where you thought you had me.

- You bought that dam with my money.

- I don't own it.

I just got permission to control the river with it.

- Fallon, you've gone too far.

- No, my good health is very important to you boys.

Anything happens to me, the owner of that dam

will see that you never get a log to market.

By the way, I brought back another surprise

for you from Sacramento.

Be in town this afternoon.

I have an appointment with Judge Crenshaw.

- Franchise for the dam is valid.

Prior property right established for the miners

when this was gold rush country.

- We've got to locate the owner.

- I'm sure if he knew what it means--

- Well, the owner's a woman, Dora Figg.

- Dora Figg?

- Sacramento post office box is the only address.

I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do, absolutely nothing.

- Thank you, Judge Crenshaw for making that clear.

- So help me, Jim, I can hardly keep this gun

from going off right in your face.

- Don't blame me you're the one that led these sheep

right into the middle of this wolf flight.

Judge Crenshaw, this is for you

from the head of the Department of Interior.

- "It is my considered opinion that the Fallon Company

"can without penalty proceed to take possession of

"and clear their land."

- You mean they can cut down our trees?

- I'm afraid they can.

- Frenchy, you and Gregg set the boys to work right now,

possessing and clearing the land.

You see, Sister Chadwick, you and your friends

could have made a pile of money.

- Didn't you ever learn any other word except money?

- You're getting in a rut, Jim.

You'd better look out.

Because when a rut gets deep enough it becomes a grave.

You got a couple of partners liable to put you in it.

d Amen d

- Oh Lord, hear our last prayer in this temple.

If it's destruction be by thy will,

then to thy higher judgment we bow.

Open the hearts of each of us to speak forgiveness

for these men of greed who have not

been touched by thy understanding.

Amen.

- Don't take any backtalk.

We've got the law with us.

- Come out of there, you fools!

You're in the line of fall!

- We must leave.

- It's our home.

My place is here.

- They want to go down with the ship it's their hard luck.

- It'd be murder. - It's Fallon's company.

He gets life for murder, we get the company.

- The years that grew into these trees

make them long and tedious to saw.

There's time to get our friends

Judge Crenshaw and the Marshall.

Go on, hurry.

- What's the matter with you men?

You undercut that tree to hit the cabin.

- That's right. - Stop the sawing.

Where's the Bixbys?

- [Frenchy] How should I know?

- Sorry, but you may lose your house.

- My father's in there!

- Hey, stay here.

- Jim, you're under arrest.

- Fallon ordered us to fall that tree.

- Your company, Fallon.

You're the man that'll have to face

the indictment for murder.

- Trying me already, huh?

- No, you'll get a fair trial, but not from me.

I'm prejudiced.

I'll have to disqualify myself,

but you'll get your justice.

Take him to Eureka and hold him without bail.

Fallon will hang for this.

- What?

- It was premeditated murder.

- That's not true. (gentle music)

He meant my father no harm.

Jim Fallon risked his life trying to save him.

I saw him.

You saw him, too.

- Well, he's still responsible

for the actions of the Fallon Company.

His own wood's boss will testify against him.

- I'll testify for him.

- Marshall?

Let Fallon go.

You can't hold a man to answer

when the chief witness is for the defense.

Release him.

- Thanks.

- [Alicia] My people forgive those who trespass against us,

my father most of all.

- Brother Williams just told me that Frenchy's been

making threats against Jim's life.

- Why do you care?

Anybody who'd shoot Jim Fallon

would be the most popular feller in town.

- [Alicia] You're the Marshall don't let it happen.

- [Marshall] Why?

- [Alicia] Just don't let it happen.

- Well, by golly.

Hey, you're not in love with that no good, are you?

Well, girl, you're crazy.

You see a big tom leopard out in the woods,

and you don't get close,

that is unless you happen to be a lady leopard.

- He's been gentle enough with me.

- That's when he does his creeping.

Now, you listen to me girl.

Now, Marion Parson could straitjacket Jim Fallon

and lock him in a box at the bottom of the sea,

and he'd still slip the gap and run off

with the wedding presents.

- Men have been known to change.

- Oh, lady, even I've been given up by women reformers.

The biggest mistake a woman can make

is to pick the wrong man and try to make him right.

Why don't you just go off somewhere

and have a good cry and forget him?

- I'm reminding you of your duty, Marshall.

See that he's protected.

- Alicia, it's started.

What do we do?

- Are you sure? - Yes.

- It feels like any minute.

- Take her to the hotel room 204.

- 204 that's Jim Fallon's room.

- Why not, this is all his fault.

- See those lighted windows upstairs?

They're his.

You get up in the land office ruins,

and maybe you can plug him from there.

Charlie, he doesn't know you.

You take the saloon.

Bulldog, I'll stay out here.

You get on the hotel porch.

He comes through the lobby, signal me.

One of us has got to get him.

(lively music playing in bar)

(crowd applauding) (crowd cheering)

- [Marshall] Go on upstairs.

- Now what have I done?

- I want to talk to you.

- [Bartender] Hey, stranger, what'll it be?

- Double straight.

(men laughing in bar)

- [Alicia] Your sister will be all right.

- What's that?

- A baby.

- This is one thing you can't pin on me.

- Looks like you and the stork arrived at the same time.

- What? - Bill, it's a boy.

- [Alicia] The street was no place for a baby to be born.

- Whose baby?

- Where can I find some water?

- Right down the hall right there.

- Thank you.

- What is this a hotel or a nursery?

- A baby was just born here thank to Jim.

- Congratulations.

- What do you mean thanks to Jim?

- I better get out of here it might be catching.

- Now, what's this all about?

- You and your land grabbers forced them out of their home.

- [Jim] I had nothing to do with it.

- Too bad its father can't be here.

- I had nothing to do with that, either.

So, for all I care, you can stay on your pious pedestal.

- I've never placed myself on any pedestal.

I'm too full of bad temper.

- What a girl.

- Why, you chigger-bitten Don Juan.

You just try pitching hay with her,

and I'll shoot that lump you call a head

right out from under your hat.

- Forget it I tried once.

Got frostbite in the middle of July.

- That don't mean she's not stuck on you.

- You're crazy.

- Well, maybe so.

When you signed that deal with Frenchy,

it was heads you die and tails you get killed.

Who do you think's got me looking after you?

Alicia Chadwick.

- I don't believe you.

- Well, why should you?

It wouldn't mean anything to you.

You're gonna have everything you wanted.

You want to be a millionaire.

- Sure.

- Why don't you tell the truth just once?

Why don't you come clean and admit

that all this wine you're guzzling's as sour as vinegar?

- Tell me more.

- You stinking stake jumper.

I'm only trying to save your hide.

It's not because I want to, but I promised her.

- You still like me, don't you?

Come on, sweetheart.

I want you to watch me thank Alicia

for sending you back to me.

Let's go.

- Get back, Lucky!

- Yukon loved this grove.

He understood.

- Look where it got him.

- He lost his life protecting you.

- He should have looked out for himself.

- When I was a child, I was taught to believe that there was

a God-given seed of good at the root of everything alive,

but I'm beginning to doubt that now.

There isn't the slightest bit of good in you.

- I got your message what do you want?

- Come in.

Sit down, Judge.

Look, I figured out how you can stop

Frenchy and Gregg from cutting on that land.

- I had that figured out long ago.

But you'd have to confess to subterfuge and intent

to defraud when you filed those claims for homesteads,

and that's a felony.

- Sit down and draw up an affidavit.

- What?

- You heard me.

- [Judge] The government will hold all

your claim money for forfeit.

- What do you want me to do, burst out in tears?

- Yeah, I've been trying to make a dent in you

ever since I got here.

- Stop trying or you'll break your ax.

Get those colonists to logging so they can file.

- Will you take care of Dora Figg

and the dam that's blocking them?

- Let's pretend I'm Dora Figg.

- Ah, you thought of everything, didn't you?

I admire what you're doing, Fallon.

- Then keep your mouth shut about it around everybody.

- What do you think Frenchy and Gregg

are gonna do when they find out,

just stand there with their hands folded?

- Just make out that affidavit, will you?

- Here, I'll give you back your good luck piece.

You'll need it for those tree wolves.

- Thanks, Judge.

Oh, I'll be needing some eating money, too.

Want to cover that?

- It's covered.

High man deals.

Come on, I'll teach you to think of your soul

instead of your belly.

- Check those through to San Francisco.

- Hate to see you leave, honey.

Sure gonna miss you.

- Uh-uh, you'll be beating the drums

while she's singing her hymns.

- Happy trip.

Just Dora Figg these, will you?

- You'll have to talk to Frenchy about little Dora Figg.

- Come again?

- I sold the dam to Frenchy for $25,000.

- Daisy, honey, that's not funny.

- What's the matter, wrong flavor?

- You're telling the truth.

- That property was mine.

After all, I couldn't live forever on your promises.

- What promise did I ever break to you?

- You never broke any,

but you never kept any.

It took me 10 years to get the stars out of my eyes.

All the rugs I helped you pull out

from under the suckers, I learned.

Oh boy, how I learned.

Enough to pull the whole floor right out from under you.

- Boy, knocked me sky high.

- You'll land on your feet.

You always do.

That $25,000 will repay me for all the years I've wasted.

Yeah, man, I've finally got me a stake.

- Got yourself educated and well-heeled, huh?

Nice work, Daisy.

I'm patting myself on the back, too,

for being a good teacher.

So long, pal.

No hard feelings.

- Thanks, Brother Fallon.

- Judge Crenshaw told us you let us through the dam.

- Blessings on thee this beautiful day.

- Frenchy bought the dam out from under me.

They're choking the river with logs for nothing.

- Is this another of thy tricks?

- Spots of a leopard do not change.

- Well, it's time to change yours.

Why don't you men get some bristles on your back

and start to fight?

It's your only chance to spring those logs

and get back your land.

You can't pray that dam out of the way.

- No, but we can get around it.

That old mining railroad on our property.

- It wouldn't take much new track to bypass the dam

and haul the logs to the river below it.

- Sister, that'll do it.

We'll need some rails and tools.

I'll swindle somebody out of them.

- Swindle?

- Borrow, sometimes it's all the same.

- [Bill] How many of you men worked on

this perch track last time?

- Judge Crenshaw donated this.

Feed your boys good they work faster.

- It was very kind of him

and you, too, for helping us.

- Sister Chadwick, just between us leopards,

keep watching my spots.

- Fallon's almost to the river with that track.

- Yeah, if he gets there, we're out of business.

- Yeah, and the way they're cutting timber.

- How many trestles are there?

- Three.

- Show me the one nearest the river.

- Come in.

- My first time in a caboose.

- Sister Wallace.

- Mr. Blackburn went to town with the baby.

How we doing? - Just fine.

Five carloads have gone already,

and this one goes this afternoon.

- I hate to admit it, but thanks to Brother Fallon.

- It is good to have him on our side, isn't it?

It makes one feel like the strength of Jeroboam was with us.

- You must mean Jeremiah.

Jeroboam was a scamp.

- I guess, I mean both.

- See thee later.

- Oh, and tell Mr. Fallon I'll be here

until suppertime if he needs me.

- All right.

- Next one she'll cave.

- I thought that one would do it.

- What was that?

- We'd better find out.

He's right in there.

- Quiet, might have a gun.

Who is it?

Better speak up fast.

Colonist, huh?

- We'll never find him in this brush.

- We'd better get a train over that trestle quick.

Releases the brake on the caboose,

and while you're at it lock the doors.

We'll take care of the end cars.

(train wheels squeaking)

- [Jim] Sister Chadwick's figured out

we need two more carloads.

I think it'll be quicker to get them from below.

Let's move.

- All right.

- Hey, boss!

- What happened?

- They said one more train would crash it.

- Crash what?

- It's the third trestle near the river.

- Sounds like a train now.

- It can't be the locomotive's not due until one o'clock.

Get him to a doctor.

- Boss, it is a train.

- Where's Sister Chadwick?

- She's in that caboose.

- How is she? - Sister Chadwick,

thank god you're safe.

- But no thanks to you,

you sanctimonious bunch of jellyfish.

They shot Brother Williams.

They almost killed her.

Now, we can't salvage that train or repair the trestle,

and we can't get logs to Tidewater

as long as that dam stands in the way.

Now I'm asking you for the last time.

Help me smash that dam.

Don't hurry.

Think it over.

You got two whole seconds before I get out of here.

- Wait!

Wait!

- May God forgive us, Brother Fallon.

Lead us we'll follow.

- Come on.

Men with the dynamite, come with me.

Tiny, keep us covered all the time.

- Right.

- [Doran] Now, brothers, you know the job we have to do.

- Fallon's taken over the dam.

I think he's gonna dynamite us.

They're going to blow it up.

- [Lumberman] Quiet, what's that?

- Don't move.

The hand of judgment's upon you.

You brothers with the rope, get busy.

- Stand thee aside, sisters,

while I use this stone.

I don't feel a bit wicked.

Bring me another stone.

- Take cover!

- They look different to you, now.

- Mrs. Fallon, please, couldn't I?

Just one little one, huh?

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