All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S04E07.Californias.First.Ice.Man.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

THE OLD RANGER:
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.

Turn the clock back
to May, 1850.

Set the thermometer
at 97 degrees

in a swarming, dust-choked camp
of Sacramento,

and we'’re ready
for the story of...

Among the passengers
just arrived

on the steamerOregon
this sweltering day

is young Peter Jeffries
of Boston,

come out to retrieve
his family'’s fortunes.

Hey! Watch where
you'’re going.

Well, Peter Jeffries!Hello, Mr. Colby.

So, you'’ve caught
the gold fever too,
have you?

Welcome to California.

[ clears throat ]
Well, uh, how'’d you travel?

Overland?Around the Horn.

Uh-huh.Worked my passage.

Did your brother
come with you?
Bob?

No. He'’s back in Boston.

We couldn'’t both of us
leave my mother--
No--

...under the circumstances.No, I suppose not.

Unfortunate,
your father'’s death.

But hardly surprising.Oh, I don'’t know.

Men of his age have failed
in business before.

My father didn'’t fail,
Mr. Colby. He was ruined.

Well, it amounts
to the same thing.

That all depends
on where you sit.

Oh, I have no doubt
your father blamed me

for several
of his difficulties.

But the fact is, Peter,
he-- he wasn'’t
a very good businessman.

Oh, honest as daylight--And loyal.

...but no imagination.

You'’ve got to have imagination
to succeed.

How do you think
I'’ve established myself here
in so short of time?

By figuring out what
people want and can pay for.

Say, Peter, how'’d you
like to work for me?

For you?
I'’ll be glad to give
you a job.

Thank you, Mr. Colby,
but I think I'’ll look around.

All right.
Look around.

What do you see?

I own pretty nearly
the whole town.

You don'’t happen to own
a hotel, do you?

The Colby House.
Right across the street.

You think over
this offer of mine now.

Unless you want to try
your luck up at the Diggings.

No, I think I'’d rather
get into some kind of business.

You'’re smart.

You know,

it'’s a lot easier to take gold
out of a man'’s pocket

than get it out
of the ground.

You should know,
Mr. Colby.

Huh.
Chip off the old block.

[ horses galloping ]

Yah!

[ barking ]

[ barking continues ]

[ dog yelping ]

Here. Let me.I think his leg'’s broken.

It'’s a wonder
he wasn'’t killed.

If I could just get him
back to my house.

Oh, I'’ll carry him for you.You'’re very kind.

Easy, fella.
I'’ll try not to hurt you.

[ whimpering ]Ah, that'’s a good boy.

I never saw anyone
more expert.

Where'’d you learn
to put on a splint?

Watching our family doctor once,
and then practicing on my dolls.

Worth it--
breaking your leg,
isn'’t it, fella?

I'’ve always wanted
to be a nurse,

but Uncle Phineas
won'’t hear of it.

Uncle Phineas?Mm-hmm. My guardian.

Phineas Colby?What'’s the matter?

[ sighs ]
Oh, nothing.

It'’s a stifling day,
isn'’t it?

Wait till the real
midsummer weather hits us.

Tsk. They say it'’s terrible
up at the Diggings.

Well, that makes
a third good reason
for staying right here.

What are the other two?Business opportunities.

Yes. And?

Good day, Miss Colby.

Thanks for introducing us.

[ door opens, closes ]

Yes. Thanks, old fella.

I wish you'’d speak
to these teamsters of yours,
Uncle Phineas.

They have no regard
for life or limb.

I'’m paying them
to make time.

At the risk
of killing people?

It was only a dog,
my dear.

But tomorrow
it might be a child.

This man was driving
like the devil was after him.

You know what
that team was hauling?

I didn'’t even look.

Snow.Snow?

Yeah.
From the High Sierras.

What for?

The thing men'’s tongues
are hanging out for--

cold drinks.

Bert Lawler
of the Magnolia Saloon

will take
all I can deliver

at $900 a ton.

Well, that'’s fantastic.

[ chuckling ]
Sure it is.

I'’m going to make
a fortune.

$900 a ton... for snow.

[ men chattering ]

[ chattering continues ]

Give me a beer.

Warm, two bits.
Cold, two bucks.

Cold one.

One whiskey highball.

Five dollars.

Five dollars?

All right.

It'’s highway robbery.

But, man, it'’s sure good
and hits the spot.

We work our fingers to the bone
digging gold,

and then these gougers
take it away from us.

Five-dollar slush.

You could
drink it without.

In all this heat,
when your hide'’s crackin'?

What'’s yours gonna be,
stranger?

The same.

A greenback.
You must'’ve just arrived.

Today.Where from?

Boston.I'’m from Springfield.

Well, shake.
My name'’s Peter Jeffries.

I'’m Steve Griswold,
and this is Hank Lewis.

[ glasses thud ]

To Massachusetts.Where snow is free.

Gosh, I wish I had a dollar
for every shovelful I'’ve dug.

Or snowball I'’ve thrown.It'’s not the same as ice.

Nah. It makes
your whiskey watery.

And there'’s no sound to it.

That'’s half the pleasure
of a cold drink--

the tinkle of ice.

For that, they charge you
$10 out here,

if there was any ice,
which there ain'’t.

There must be frozen lakes
up in the Sierras.

Buried under 20,
30 feet of snow.

His snow.

What do you mean,
"his snow"?

Nobody'’s got
a monopoly on snow.

He owns all the wagons,
all the teams to haul it.

Got the teamsters
under contract.

Oh, I see.

Can you remember,
as a kid,

hooking rides on the back
of an ice wagon?
Sure.

And the iceman chasing us off,
saying he'’d report us
to the company?

[ glass thuds ]

Seems like
a long ways off.

15,000 miles
around the Horn.

Well, have another drink
on me.

Thanks, but there'’s a letter
I want to get off tonight.

To your girl?

My brother in Boston.

Glad to have met you.

Don'’t say I'm crazy, Bob.

If ice will keep
in Boston icehouses all summer,

it should keep
in holds of ships...

and will be worth its weight
in gold out here.

Borrow the necessary capital
for the first shipment.

But act fast.

The hot weather
has already hit Sacramento.

We can recoup
the family fortune together.

You at that end,
and I here.

[ knocking on door ]

Good afternoon,
Miss Colby.
Oh, Mr.--

I never did learn your name
the other day.

Peter Jeffries.

Let me take your things.

Come in.
I just stopped by
to inquire about the dog.

He'’s doing beautifully.

I don'’t think I'm ever going
to be able to get rid of him.

He knows a good thing
when he sees it.

[ chuckles ]

Oh, Uncle Phineas.

This is the young man
I was telling you about
who was so kind.

Hello, Peter.

Good afternoon,
Mr. Colby.

You'’ve already met?

The first day
he was here.

Before that, in Boston.Well, why didn'’t
you tell me?

I, uh, just didn'’t
get around to it.

Well, young man,
have you decided
what you'’re going to do yet?

Yes, sir.
Good. I thought
you'’d see the light.

I'’m going up
to the Diggings.

You are? Why?

It seems a good idea.

You mean you don'’t want
to work for me.

You can'’t find anything else
around here, is that it?

You'’re a fool, Peter.

Stiff-necked,
no imagination.

Your father all over.

Let'’s leave my father
out of this, sir.

All right.

Go up to the Diggings.

Break your back
with a pick and shovel.

Break your heart
washing gravel.

I thought
I was doing you a favor.

I'’m going over
to the Magnolia,

arrange for another
shipment of snow.

Blast these mosquitoes.

[ sighs ]

What do you say
we call it a day?

Yeah, a day wasted.

Don'’t get discouraged now.

Aw, it beats me how two fellas
mining side by side

can have such different luck.

Oh, not that I'’d regret you
a single ounce of dust, Steve,

but it just doesn'’t
make sense.

What you need is a long,
cold drink.

Come on. Let'’s head
for the Magnolia.

I have no money to blow
on Colby frappés,

but I'’ll go to town
with you anyway and see if
there'’s any mail for me.

I'’m expecting a letter
from my brother.

[ tools clatter ]

Miss Colby.Well, it'’s been a long time.

Let me carry this
for you.

It'’s some food I'm taking
to a woman that'’s sick.

Always looking
for someone to nurse.

I don'’t have to look
very far these days.

Sacramento'’s full
of fever.

So I'’ve heard.
This is my first trip down.

I hope you'’re making out well
in the gold fields.

[ sighs ]
Not very.

In fact,
not well at all.

But you'’re going
to stick it out?

Until my ship comes in.

Some people wait
all their lives for that,
Mr. Jeffries.

Are you trying
to discourage me?

I do think it was
shortsighted of you

not to accept
my uncle'’s offer.

[ horses galloping ]

[ sighs ]
Still in the snow business,
I see.

Yes. The wagons come down
twice a week.

Tons of frozen assets.

I'’ll relieve you of that
now, Mr. Jeffries.
Thank you.

My regards
to the snow king.

[ chattering ]

Hi. Did you get
your letter?

No. I can'’t
understand it.

I thought sure
I'’d hear by now.

Well, drown your sorrows.

What'’ll it be?The same.

Seven dollars.

Seven dollars?
It was five the last time
I was in here.

Well, it'’s gone up
to seven now.
Well, why?

Because the price of snow'’s
gone up, that'’s why.I won'’t pay it!

You buzzards,
pickin'’ these fellas clean.

You oughta be shot.

If you don'’t like it,
get outta here!

I'’m going to.

See you up at
the Diggings, Steve.

It falleth as a gentle dew
from heaven above.

[ laughter ]

Will you do something for me,
Uncle Phineas?

What do you want?A load of snow.

"Load of snow"?

What for?

The sick.

My dear Laura!

The fever'’s spreading
all over town, Uncle Phineas.

Folks burning up with it.

If they could just have
some snow packs
to relieve their suffering.

Do you realize
what snow is worth?

Can'’t you think of anything
but money, Uncle Phineas?

Now, Laura, dear,
you'’re overwrought.

I think you should give up
this fool idea
of nursing everybody.

How can I when people
are dying all around me?

There'’s always sickness
in gold camps.

Sacramento
is no exception.

Oh!

You'’re heartless, callous,
cold as snow yourself.

Colder!
Snow at least melts.

[ door slams shut ]

[ grunts ]

Flying Cloudmade it
in 80 days from New York.

That was a record,
of course.

Took our ship three months
from Boston.

What are you talking about?Trip around the Horn.

If my brother got
my letter in June...

I'’m beginning to wonder
if he did.

And here it is,
the end of the August.

27th, isn'’t it?

Steve? Steve!

What'’s the matter?

Sick.

Fever.

[ moaning ]

I know, I know.
You'’re burning up.

Oh, dear God,
if only I had some ice.

[ breathing heavily ]

[ chattering ]

Pesthole.
That'’s what this town is.

Only way a man
can keep goin'’
is to keep drinkin'’.

Give me another one.

Ten dollars.

Here. Take it all.

You better have it,
as well as the undertaker.

Here comes another
wagonload of snow.

[ chattering continues ]

Hey, young lady,
what are you doing?

You have no right
to that snow.
It belongs to me.

It belongs to my uncle.Oh, you'’re Miss Colby.

Well, he'’s selling it to me,
and I'’m paying him $1,500
for it.

$1,800.

Laura, get away
from that wagon.

What kind of behavior
is this?

You have no right
to that snow. That'’s what I told her.

Now, you put it back,
pronto.

It'’s our snow.

It'’s God's snow,
and I'’m using it in His name.

Now, get out of my way
before it all melts.

Miss Colby. Well, here.
Let me help you.

Oh, thank you.Where you taking this?

Right here to Pioneer Hall.

We'’ve turned it into
sort of a hospital.

Things are pretty bad down here,
I understand.

Perfectly terrible.

It reached the Diggings too.
Steve Griswold was hit by it.

Dropped right in his tracks.Did he pull through?

More by good luck
than good nursing.

Mm, we sure longed for you.

There'’s so little
even I can do.

If I only had
some ice with which
to fight this fever.

Oh, this is better
than nothing,
and I had to steal this.

But what I need
is real ice,
and lots of it.

I sympathize with you,
Miss Colby.

There'’s nothing in the world
I'’d like to see myself
right now

than a whole shipload
of ice.

Thank you very much,
Mr. Jeffries.

What in heaven'’s name

has happened?

Couldn'’t you raise the money

for the first shipment?

It'’s been five months now

and not a word.

The heat here
will soon break,

and I am already broke.

Two bits left.

Just enough to buy a stamp

for this letter.

[ chattering ]

In all my life,
I never saw men
go for liquor like this.

You'’ve never lived through
an epidemic before.

They'’re panicked.

You just keep the snow
coming, Mr. Colby.

Bert, if instead of
just one wagonload arriving,

what would you say if a whole
wagon train load of snow
pulled in here?

I'’d say we'd make
a killing.

[ laughing ]

Then you'’d better get ready
'’cause it's on its way.

Colby, that'’s wonderful.Yeah.

I'’ve commandeered
everything on four wheels

and every four-legged critter
that can pull them.

I'’ve hired teamsters
at double pay
and a crew of shovelers.

I'’ve sent along an armed guard
to protect them,

because we'’ve got to go
all the way up to Echo Summit--

7,000 feet--
to get snow now.

Must cost you a fortune.

I'’ll get it back.

This snow is going to sell
for $2,000 a ton.

A dollar a pound?

You can collect it
from those suckers there.

You know, they'’ll pay anything
as long as they'’re afraid
for their lives.

You have got nerve.

[ laughs ]
Just takes imagination,

like I told that young upstart,
Peter Jeffries.

Well, I'’m gonna run up
by horseback in the morning,

see how things are going.

I'’ll be waiting
for you... partner.

[ chuckles ]

STEVE:
Peter!

Merchantman from Boston
just docked.

She'’s got a consignment
aboard for you.

For me?Yeah.

Where is she?First Street, at the quay.

The captain said "ice."
He must have meant "rice."

[ overlapping requests ]

[ overlapping requests
continue ]

One at a time, folks.

There'’s plenty to go around.
At fair prices.

[ crowd cheering ]

What'’s more, from now on,
every ship out of Boston

will be carrying ice
to Californians.

[ crowd cheering ]

Oh, excuse me.

May I buy a cake of ice,
please?

Not from me,
Miss Colby.

Well, I'’ll pay whatever
you'’re charging.

But for you,
there is no charge.

You'’re welcome to all the ice
you need for the sick.

Oh, Mr. Jeffries,
thank you.

Steve, one cake of ice
for Miss Colby.

Hail the conquering hero.

The wagon train'’s
on the way down
from the mountains.

$20,000 worth of snow!

Bert, you'’re going
to make--
Gangway.

Was that ice?

That was ice.

Where'’d it come from?Boston.

Boston?
What are you talking about?

A whole shipload just docked,
consigned to Peter Jeffries.

Jeffries?

The young man
with no imagination.

Everybody in Sacramento
is down there
buying from him.

But our snow!

Who'’s gonna want snow
when they can get ice?

Well, I'’ve sunk a--
I'’ve sunk a fortune
in that wagon train--

all my profits
from the past summer.

I'’ll be-- I'm ruined!

How about a drink?

There'’s plenty of room
at the bar.

♪♪ [ piano, upbeat ] [ ice pick clacking]

[ men chattering ]

MAN:
Real cold.

Listen to that, will you?
Real honest-to-gosh ice.

Here'’s to Peter Jeffries,
California'’s first iceman.

ALL:
Hooray!

There hasn'’t been
such excitement
since gold was discovered.

Why, you could'’ve
charged any price
and got away with it.

I'’m not your Uncle Phineas.

Oh, I'’m sorry.
I shouldn'’t have said that.

Oh, that'’s all right.
At this point,

I'’m not very proud myself
of the name Colby.

If you'’d like to change it,
it could be easily arranged.

Laura, look at me.

Will you?

Are you asking me
to marry you?

I love you, Laura.

I scarcely know you.

All I know is that--
that you'’re an iceman.

Did you say,
"a nice man"?

The nicest man
I'’ve ever met.

[ water pouring ] THE OLD RANGER:
So that leaves Phineas Colby,

the former snow king,
and his sidekick Bill Lawler,

watching from the doorway
of the Magnolia Saloon

as their ill-gotten profits
melt inexorably away.