Original subtitles

OLD RANGER: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hi-yah!

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.

If you look on the map of Nevada today,

you'’ll see no trace of the town of Wildcat.

But back in the 1890s, it was a lively silver camp.

With a ten-stamp mill, a miners hall,

and all the other trimmings.

All save one. And that is what my story is about.

The story of...

It all started here, when Ma Cline,

the boardinghouse keeper, organized a little group

known as the Willing Workers of Wildcat,

and then looked around for a suitable project

to devote her energies to.

It should be something that spells "culture."

That'’s what this town needs.

Culture with a capital C.

I think I have it.

A piano.

But that begins with a P.

[ scoffs ] Don'’t be literal, Ella.

There'’s nothing would give the folks in Wildcat more pleasure

than a good piano.

They could use it for entertainments

at Miners Hall.

For weddings.For funerals.

Oh, Ella.

The children could take lessons on it.

It would raise the whole tone of Wildcat.

Right. The next question is how we'’re going to raise the money.

Well...we could hold a cake sale.

What about a basket social?

Or a needlework bazaar.

They'’re a waste of time.

We need to get this piano pronto.

Well, what do you suggest?

Go after the men. They'’re the ones with the money.

Go after '’em how?

Using woman'’s oldest weapon.

S-E-X.

Send someone around to ask them for contributions.

Someone young and pretty.

That lets us out.

The person I'’m thinking of

is our own little school teacher, Debra Lee.

Oh, I think it'’s a wonderful idea.

All those in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Oh...but I'’ve never had any experience in raising money.

If you believe in the cause, it'’s simple.

Oh, but I do.

Oh, I'’ve just yearned for a piano out here.

Look at '’em like that when you ask '’em, dearie.

Think what it'’ll mean to your schoolchildren.

Deprived of music as they'’ve been.

I'’ll do my best.

Then take this list and go to work.

You won'’t have any trouble.

Those three letters will get '’em.

Letters?[ stutters ]

Oh, the three R'’s.

You can start at supper tonight with my boarders.

We need a piano the worst way.

To dance to, to sing to.

To-- To just gather around,

like I'’m sure you all used to back home.

I know I did.

Those wonderful evenings.

We'’re asking all of you for contributions.

I hope every one of you will give us something.

Thank you.

[ coins clanging ]

Thank you!

Thanks.

[ oohing and ahhing ]

Now, didn'’t I tell you this was the right approach?

Oh, yes.Who are your next victims?

Well, I-- I'’m just going to take my list

and go from door-to-door.

[ muttering ]

I represent the Willing Workers.

Well, howdy.

We'’re collecting money for a piano

and I hope you'’ll feel like contributing something.

Well, I sure do.

Try that on your piano.

How dare you?

Can'’t you take a joke?

[ groans ] Here, you little spitfire.

For your music box.

Thank you.

Why, sure thing.

You know, I used to be a pretty good tenor in my day.

Maybe, uh-- We could do a little duet together.

Maybe we could.

Mmm.

[ cackles ]

Here. Thank you, Mr. Perkins.

Oh, just call me "Dad."

You know, I'’m old enough to be your father.

[ cackles ]Thank you, "Dad."

[ laughs ] Oh...

Are you Chuck Latham?

That'’s right.I'’m Debra Lee.

I teach school here.

I'’m collecting contributions for a piano.

A piano?

For the Miners Camp.

What do you want a piano for?

What does anybody want a piano for?

To provide music, of course.

There'’s a fiddler, here, isn'’t there?

And at least three fellas

that play the mouth organ.

We want something better than that.

You think somebody pounding on a tin pan piano would be an improvement?

Oh, it'’s not going to be a tin pan piano.

We'’re going to buy a really fine instrument.

For a dump like Wildcat?

Ridiculous.

Wildcat is not a dump.

Wildcat is a god-forsaken hole.

A jumping-off place.

If you don'’t care to subscribe

to the piano, Mr. Latham...I don'’t.

Then I'’ll strike your name off the list.

Good-bye, Mr. Latham.

So, you called on every man in camp today.

Even went up to the mill, I understand.

And didn'’t look me up.

You still have a chance to contribute.

We lack $150 of our goal.

Here, that should take care of it.

$150?

Oh, John, you'’re wonderful.

Wait till I tell the Willing Workers.

I want to talk to you.

You'’re the most generous man in the world.

I'’d have paid for the whole piano

if you'’d asked me to.

Debra, there isn'’t anything I wouldn'’t do for you.

John.Yes?

Who is this Chuck Latham?

A checker at the mill, why?

He doesn'’t eat here at Ma Cline'’s.

Well, he cooks for himself, I understand.

With one arm?I suppose.

Debra, I--How did he lose his arm?

I haven'’t the slightest idea.

He just turned up here in the office one day,

looking for a job.

Say, why all this interest in Chuck Latham?

I called on him today to ask for a contribution.

I suppose he gave handsomely.

No.

He'’s the only man in Wildcat

who refused to contribute to the piano.

"Enclosed, please find

"check fo--" For...

Uh, model 173 mahogany.

If we let her work a while longer,

we could have a concert grand.

Don'’t be greedy, Ella.

The freight and the small grand

across the desert is bad enough.

You know what I bet?

I bet the first piece played on it

will be the "Wedding March."Whose wedding?

Debra'’s, of course, to John Greer.

Well, you may be right.

♪♪ [ Humming "The Wedding March" ]

Good morning.

So, even school teachers play hooky.

It'’s Saturday.

Oh, is it?

Don'’t you keep track of the days of the week?

All days are alike to me.

Well, I hope tonight will be an exception.

We'’re having a party at Miners Hall.

I don'’t dance.

It isn'’t a dance. It's a--

A celebration, in honor of a new arrival.

I wish that you would co-- [ horse whinnies ]

Whoa, there!

You all right?Yes.

Thanks to you.

Should never stand behind a wagon.

Never know what the horses are gonna do.

I'’m sorry.

And I'’m sorry about tonight, too.

Tonight?

Oh. Tonight.

Maybe I will break down and go.

That is, if you'’ll let me take you.

I'’ll be ready at 7:30, Chuck.

[ chattering ]

Here, here, children.

Not quite so much running around.

Just say the word.

Not till Miss Debbie gets here.

Oh! Oh, here she comes now!

Debra.Hello, John.

Hello, Latham.

What'’s that?

Looks like a coffin, don'’t it?

For a horse.

But it ain'’t. It'’s a piano.

A piano?

CLINE: All right, un-box it.

Mr. Greer, you take charge.

[ chatter and hammering ]

So this is the way you get even?Even?

Drag me here to make me feel like a...heel.

I don'’t know what you mean.

"The only man in town that didn'’t contribute."

Oh, I know. The boss told me.

The only reason I brought you here tonight

was because this is a big occasion.

And I didn'’t want you to miss it.

[ chattering ]

I'’m sure when you hear it played,

you'’ll think it'’s wonderful, too.

Now...there she is, folks.

Genuine ivory.

All white and shiny!

Like-- Like a new pair of frog'’s feet!

[ laughter ]

MAN: Let'’s hear what she sounds like.

[crowd agrees] CLINE: No, no.

No, the first person to play it

is to be the young lady who collected for it.

Miss...

Debra Lee.

Me?

I don'’t know how to play.

You don'’t know how?

You must. A school teacher?

You said "you yearned for a piano."

You used to live around one.

I did, I did. But--

[ exhales ] I can'’t play a note myself.

Oh, I-- I'’m terribly sorry.

Well, then, I'’ll just have to ask somebody else. Now, uh...

who volunteers, eh?

[ laughs ] Don'’t be bashful.

You don'’t have to be a Paderewski.

[ laughs ]

There must be somebody in Wildcat who can play.

Just a little?

This is awful.

Can'’t anyone even play scales?

Oh, please.

I told you this was a dump.

Shut up. Can'’t you see how she feels?

How about my feelings?

Being dragged here. She knew I didn'’t want to come.

Then get out.

I will.

Right now.

Oh, Mr. Latham, please.

[ door slams closed ]

[ cries ]

I hope I never live through such an evening again.

Poor Ma Cline and her Willing Workers.

It was tough on the old biddies.

All my fault, too.

What do you mean?

Teachers should be able to play the piano.

Maybe I could take a correspondence course.

Darling.

You'’re not gonna be a teacher much longer.

You'’re going to marry me.

John, is this a proposal?

What does it sound like?

Please, John, not tonight. I--

I'’ve had about all I can take tonight.

♪♪ [ piano scales ]

♪♪

Hmm.

Hello, dear.Good morning.

Good morning.Morning. Thank you.

I can see where that "pie-annie'’s" gonna be working

24 hours a day.

24 hours a day?Yep.

When I come by Miners Hall at 4:00 this morning

it was still going strong.

What'’re you talking about?

The "pie-annie."

[ chuckles ] Where you and me

is gonna do our duets together.

You weren'’t at the party last night.

Uh, no, I had to work.

Why, what happened?

MAN: Nothing happened.

It turned out that nobody in Wildcat

knows how to play a piano.

But they do. I heard '’em.

Nothin'’ fancy. Just sorta finger exercises.

Who could it be?

Somebody'’s holding out on us.

I'’ll fix 'em.

That'’ll fetch 'em.

Tonight we'’ll keep watch outside.

Now, I have the key to the door.

So they can'’t get in this way.

Ella, you station yourself at that side window.

Hedy, you stay on the other side

and if you see anyone, signal.

One if by land, and two if by sea.

And I'’ll keep a lookout here.

[ gasps loudly ]

I'’m afraid we're losing a night'’s sleep for nothing.

But it seems like if anybody was coming

they'’d be here by now.

Well, I'’ll go tell Ella.

♪♪ [ fast piano scales ]

Oh, my. Ma!

Quick, push me up!

Quick! Hurry up!

Here'’s a box.

[ chattering ]

There'’s someone playing!

We ain'’t deaf.[ groans ]

Go around to the front door!

We'’ll catch him red-handed.

I dropped the key.

Oh, Ma...

Here it is, I'’ve got it.

Come on! [ sighs ]

Get it open!

For goodness sakes!

Whoever you are, don'’t move!

We'’ve got you covered.

Gone.

Hmm.

And if this ghost-player does materialize,

who'’s gonna pay the reward?

Well, I suppose they'’ll send me around to collect.

Well, I won'’t have it.

Calling on every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

You'’re not jealous.

I love you, Debra. I'’ve been waiting

for this chance to get you alone.

We'’re not alone.

Chuck Latham.

He lives way out here?

I told you he was a hermit.

He'’s also a gentleman.

He wrote me a note after that dreadful scene at Miners Hall apologizing.

He apologized to me, too.

If he hadn'’t, I'’d have fired him.

Debra, when are you gonna give me your answer?

I don'’t know, John.

I'’ve been pretty patient.

A man can'’t wait forever.

There'’s nothing to do but crate that piano up and send it back.

Oh, no.

Well, it'’s certainly doing no good settin'’ there

just showing its teeth.

But there'’s somebody here who plays it, we know that.

We Willing Workers don'’t care to be a laughingstock.

We'’ll see that the town gets something else for its money.

Something that it needs.

Such as what?A hearse.

A hearse?

Yes, we know where we can get one second-hand.

The exact price of the piano.

Black plumes and all.

But that'’s dreadful.

We all have to go sometime.

And, at present, there'’s no way to go

in this camp except in the freight wagon.

How many people in the town of Wildcat are going to die?

You never can tell.A few each year.

But there are thousands who'’d love good music,

are starved for it.

If we can find someone to play it.

That piano goes back tomorrow.

[ cries ]

[ banging ]

What'’re you doing here?

What'’s wrong?

You'’ve been crying. Why?

They'’re sending back the piano.

Sending it back?

They'’re going to get a hearse instead.

Oh, I could die.A hearse?

With black plumes.

Oh, I could murder that skunk who won'’t admit

that he plays the piano.

I'’m that skunk.

I don'’t believe it.

It'’s true.

But how?

I didn'’t think it was possible myself.

When this happened, I never expected to touch

another piano again as long as I lived.

John Charles Lattimore was finished.

John Charles Lattimore?

You'’ve heard of him?

Yes, I have.

Concert pianist.

His career was cut short by a train wreck.

I wish I'’d been killed outright. It would'’ve been easier.

LATHAM: My one idea was to get where I'’d never see or hear

another piano again.

That'’s why I came out here to this dump.

Yes, dump.

Then you spoiled it.

Bought a piano for the camp.

Dragged me to look at it, torture myself.

I had no idea.

I slipped back in here that night

with some crazy thought about smashing the thing to pieces.

Instead, I found myself trying the keyboard.

After that, I couldn'’t keep away.

Surprising what you can do with one hand.

Show me.

♪♪ [ piano ]

♪♪

You'’re wonderful.

I'’m terrible.

But I'’m better than when I started.

And you'’ll keep on improving.

All you need is practice. Lots and lots of practice.

For what?

DEBRA: So you can play in public again.

Are you crazy?

Whoever heard of a one-armed pianist?

You can be the first.

There'’ve been deaf pianists, blind pianists.

Caught red-handed!

Debra!

I want you to meet our mystery player.

John Charles Lattimore.

Chuck Latham.

Him? But he...

Nothing up the sleeve, I assure you, madam.

But it-- It'’s not possible.

You'’re joking.How could he?

Well, I declare.

Prove it.

ELLA: Yes, play something for us.

You'’ll have to wait until he gives his recital.Recital?

When?Where?

Right here in Miners Hall.

When he feels he'’s ready.

Debra, I can'’t give a recital.

What could I play? Everything'’s written for two hands.

Wouldn'’t it be possible to find something

you could play with one hand?

I believe there are a number of things

arranged for the left hand.

Play, or the piano goes back.

You can do it if you just try.

All right. I'’ll try.

MAN: Right this way! A piano recital!

The only man in Wildcat

who knows how to tickle the ivory.

[ chattering ]

[ chattering ]

[ applause ]

♪♪ [ "Fugue To Chopin" ]

♪♪

[ applause ]

[ cheering ]

OLD RANGER: He became the sensation

of the musical world, this one-armed pianist.

Played on the finest concert grands.

But it was Wildcat'’s first piano that provided

the music for the happiest wedding that ever took place

in Nevada.