All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S04E10.The.Man.Whod.Bet.on.Anything.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

OLD RANGER:
And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hi-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.

Some folks are born gamblers,

and Abraham Curry was
one of them.

His family used to say
that the first words Abe
ever uttered was, "I betcha."

And 43 years later,
which is when we meet him,

he is known as...

This is Abe Curry'’s
latest gamble,

a tract of land called
Eagle Ranch in the valley

that lies just east
of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

For it, he has paid out
the few hundred dollars
he had to his name.

And now, in September of 1858,
Abe Curry has hired a surveyor,

Jerry Long, from a settlement
up the valley,

to lay out a town site
on this land.

You can laugh,
but within ten years,
this town will be

as big as Sacramento.

I'’ll lay you a bet.

I'’ve got no money to bet

till you pay me what you
owe me for this survey.

[ scoffs ]
I was wondering how you'’d
like to accept

some town lots
as a fee.

Town lot? Here?

Thanks.
I'’d rather have cash.

I'’ll give you
a whole block of land.

Best block in town.

The one that runs along
the south side of the plaza.

Be mighty valuable.

Right next
to the capitol building.

The what?

I haven'’t told anybody else
yet, Jerry, not even my wife.

But I look to see
this town the capital
of the territory someday.

Capital of Utah? Never.

I didn'’t say Utah. Nevada.

Well, there is
no such territory.There will be.

They'’re talking
of dividing Utah.

Making a separate territory
of this western half.

And when that happens,
this town will be
the seat of government.

This town?
This unfenced ranch?

This bunch of stakes?I betcha.

I suppose
it'’ll be called Currytown,
in honor of yourself.

No, sir.
I'’m going to name it
for the first white man

who ever explored
this valley,

Kit Carson, back in 1833.

I'’m going to call it
Carson City.

Block three, J.J. Musser.

Price, one pair of boots.

Block five, F.M. Proctor.

Price, 25 pounds butter.

Lot 14, Reverend Mr. Bateman.

Free.

Two years ago, there weren'’t
enough folks here

to make up three sets
at a dance.

Guess what the population
of Carson is now, Mary Ann.

701 souls.Does that include our family?

Well, of course.I just wondered, living
so far from town.

It'’s only a mile.
What'’s a mile?

It'’s 5,280 feet,
that'’s what it is.

Every step of it
mud in the winter
and dust in the summer.

I'’ve been intending
to get you a rig to drive
back and forth in.

It'’s Elvira I'm sorry for.

Poor child. No playmates.

The rate Carson'’s growing,
it'’ll soon spread out here.

I simply can'’t understand why,
when you had a whole town site
to choose from,

you'’d build a house
a mile away.

I didn'’t build this.
I won it.

You what?

I won it on a bet.

Abe Curry,
you never told me.

Didn'’t I?

You just wrote me you had
a nice house ready,

and for me to come out
and join you.

What did you bet on, Papa?

The number of beans
in a glass jar.

Will you never
give up betting?

Not as long as I win.

It'’s a vicious habit,
and someday
it'’ll be your downfall.

So far, I'’m doing all right.

For you, Mary Ann.
Go buy something for yourself.

Something real pretty
and frivolous.

You are good to me.

A shiny $20 gold piece.

I know where Papa got that.

Fresh from
the San Francisco Mint.

He won it in church
last Sunday.

In church?

Betting on how long
the preacher would talk.

Abraham Curry!

You ought to be
ashamed of yourself.

Well, I had to do something
to keep awake.

I'’m going into Carson.

See about getting
a horse and buggy for you.

[ door closes ]

Hey, Curry. Whoa.

Jerry Long.

I haven'’t seen you
in a month of Sundays.

I'’m working
up in Virginia City,

doing surveys.They pay you in town lots?

Don'’t have to.
Those folks have got gold.

You should have taken me
up on my offer, Jerry.

Those lots along
the south side of the plaza
are worth real money.

I still don'’t see
a capitol building there.

You will, someday.

Abe Curry the prophet.

There a petition
before Congress now

to set this off
as a separate territory.

With Carson as its capital?

That'’ll follow.

We'’ve already got
an opera house

and a telegraph line
to San Francisco.

And pigs running around
loose in the street.

[ oinks ]

One little pig.
One little wisher.

Little? You call
that porker little?

Weighs a good 60 pounds.

Mm, not over 46 pounds,
I betcha.

I know hogs.What'’ll you bet?

Anything you like.

This horse and buggy?This horse--

Against those town lots
along the plaza.

Taken.

Sonny, let me borrow your pig.

[ squealing ]

Forty.

Forty-five.

Forty-six pounds.

I'’ll be darned.

You win.Thanks.

Nice rig for a lady.

[ oinks ]

Here you are, sonny.

By the way, you needn'’t
mention to Mrs. Curry
how I came by it.

Giddyup.

Governor Nye,
welcome to Carson City.

And you are Abraham Curry,
a fellow New Yorker, I believe.

Fellow Nevadan, sir.

Huh? Oh, yes.

Oh. Allow me to introduce
our territorial secretary
of state,

Mr. Clemens.

Any relation to Mark Twain?

His brother.

I regret that Carson City
has no brass band,

or we'’d have had it out
to greet you gentlemen.

Well, all we'’d like
at this point is a bath.

I'’ll take you down
to Warm Springs,

a little resort I'’m
developing near here.

The water is wonderful.

That sounds
most refreshing.

And tonight, Mrs. Curry and I
hope you'’ll do us the honor

of dining with us
at our home.

We'’d be honored.
Thank you.

We'’d be delighted.

My buggy is this way.

As editor
of the Territorial Enterprise,

I'’m interested to know,
Governor, just where
the capital of Nevada

is to be located. That, Mr. Goodman,

is one of the reasons
why Mr. Clemens and I
are making this tour

through the territory.

Virginia City is
the fastest-growing town
in the territory.

Carson City doubled
its population in a year.

And Carson City was designed
as the capital,
as Mr. Long should know.

He surveyed it.

You saw the plaza,
the wide streets.

But no building big enough
to house the legislature.

We convene in a couple
of months.

You can use the building
at Warm Springs.

I'’ll be glad to let
you have it, rent-free.

NYE:
You'’re very generous.

But unfortunately,
we need more than one room.

The Senate and the Assembly
meet separately, you see.

We can run a curtain
across the middle of the room

and divide it in two.

By George, we could.

I'’ll lay a plank road
out to Warm Springs,

and run a horse car line
to carry the legislators
back and forth.

Free for nothing.

[ chuckles ]

You have the answer
for everything, haven'’t you?

If you want a thing
bad enough, Governor,

nothing'’s impossible.

Very well.
We'’ll accept your offer.

Thank you, Governor.

But for the first session only.

Where we settle permanently,
that'’s another question.

If you'’re in Carson in '61,
you'’ll be here in '62
and in '’63.

[ laughs ]I betcha.

What'’ll you bet?

[ gasps ]
Abram! That was
my wedding present to you.

Don'’t worry, my dear.
It'’s perfectly safe.

[ chuckles ]

What edifice is this
going to be?

A public building.

"Senate chamber, Assembly."

Hey. You'’ve had instructions
from the governor?

Nope. Just going ahead
on my own.

How do you like
the sandstone?

From my own quarry.

There'’s enough out there
to take care

of all the government buildings
in Carson City.

If, as, and when it becomes
the permanent capital.

I'’m betting that it will be.

Why? Because you got a drag
with the governor?

It'’s the legislature
that decides.

And I'’m seeing to it
that they'’re nice
and comfortable here

while they'’re making
up their minds.

You never miss a bet,
do you, Abe Curry?

Let'’s say I always aim
to make my bets come true.

What'’s the news?

Assembly voted for moving
the capital to Virginia City.

The Senate is tied.

This'’ll break Abe's heart.

Those legislators,
sitting here for three years

in a building he
presented to them.

Looks pretty good
for Virginia City,
but we haven'’t got it yet.

There'’s still half the Senate
holding out against the move.

If it goes through,
it'’ll be the first bet
Abe Curry ever lost.

Yeah. Giddyup.

Abe, you'’re the only man
in Carson who can break
the Senate deadlock.

Swing the opposition over.

Is that what you'’re asking
me to do?

Virginia City has
the population.
It has the wealth.

Oh, I don'’t deny that.

I know how you feel
about Carson.

You founded the town.

But we'’ll see to it
that you lose nothing
by the move.

We'’ll guarantee you
a contract to erect all
the state buildings up there.

And the stone
from every one of them

will come from your quarry.

It ain'’t necessary
to bribe me, Joe Goodman.

Don'’t misunderstand me now.

I-I simply meant that, well,
I know you had hoped

to put up the buildings
in Carson.

Not so much for the money
in it as the honor.

I love Carson City.

Isn'’t Nevada more important
than Carson City?

Sure.

Well then, do what'’s best
for the state.

Give your consent
to have the capital

moved to its biggest
and richest center.

Very well.
Here'’s my hand on it.

Thank you!
Thank you, sir!

I'’ll inform the delegation.

Now, shall we turn around
and go back?

It'’s getting late.
It'’ll be dark by the time
we reach Carson.

I can'’t tell you how grateful
I am to you, Mr. Curry.

Look yonder, the town.

Caught in the sunset.

GOODMAN:
Looks like it was on fire,
doesn'’t it?

Buildings of shining gold.

Funny what tricks
the sun can play.

Sir, release me
from my promise.

I can'’t keep it.

But, Mr. Curry!

I'’m the father of that town.
I brought it to life.

I watched over it,
helped it to grow.

I can no more forsake it
than I could forsake
my own children.

It really means
that much to you?

If I use my influence
against Carson,

I'’ll feel like a traitor
for the rest of my life.

In that case,

I can do nothing
but respect your wishes.

I release you
from your promise.

Thank you, sir.

The legislature'’s taking
another poll tomorrow.

Let'’s hope for everyone's sake
they settle the matter quickly.

You better go to bed, Elvira.

It may be hours
before there'’s any news.

Oh, it can'’t take them
much longer.

I'’ve heard of juries
that were hung for days.

This isn'’t a jury,
it'’s a state legislature.

State. Sounds funny,
doesn'’t it?

How many states does that make
altogether, Papa?

Thirty-nine.

Time for bed, Elvira.

Come on. Scat.

Oh, Mama, please?

Oh, let her stay up.

We'’ll be hearing soon.

I'’ll bet the word comes
within, uh, 30 minutes.

I betcha.

Oh, Abe.

Now, now, Mary Ann.

[ knocking on door ]

What did I tell you?

The deadlock'’s broken.
They voted to stay.

Carson City is
the permanent capital of Nevada.

My luck'’s held, Mary Ann.

This means you can go ahead
with all your plans.

What plans are those?

For the public buildings
I'’ve always dreamed about.

Way back when this was just
a town on paper, I planned them.

There'’ll be a capitol building
on the plaza, made of stone,

with a shining dome.

And across from it,
a courthouse.

And on a block I set aside
in town, a building
that Nevada needs

for all the gold and silver
taken from its mines--

a branch
of the United States Mint.

And last but not least,

a firehouse.

[ chattering ]

[ chattering continues ]

Atten-tention!

All right, Elvira.

Watch out you don'’t spill it
all over your dress now.

Go on.

I christen thee
the Curry engine.

[ cheering ]

[ chattering ]

Imagine their electing me
foreman of the engine company,

Mary Ann,
and naming it after me.

I don'’t know why not.

After all, you built
the engine house,

you donated the engine,
and you even supplied
all the uniforms.

They elected me in perpetuity,
Mary Ann, for as long as I live.

Darling, I really believe
you'’re more pleased

to be foreman
of this engine company

than being director
of the Carson City Mint.

Sure I am.

The mint job-- that'’s just
a political appointment
from Washington.

This is an honor
conferred on me by
the citizens of Carson.

Hello, Jerry.Abe. Mrs. Curry. Elvira.

Down to Carson
for the celebration?

Is this the best
the capital of Nevada
can afford?

What do you mean?This little tea kettle.

I'’ll have you know that's
the famous Knickerbocker Engine
of San Francisco.

And just rechristened
in Father'’s name.

A hand-pumper.

And plenty of men
proud to pump it.

You should see what we
just bought for Virginia City--

the newest thing
in steam engines.

ABE:
I'’ll take an engine that's
already proved itself.

Got a fine record
of firefighting.

Ours can establish a record
anytime it wants to.

Lay you a little bet.Abe!

I bet you can'’t run
your fancy new engine
for 12 hours straight.

How much you put up?One hundred dollars.

Taken.Done.

Hey, you boys
from Virginia City.

Abe Curry here has just
bet me a hundred dollars

that our engine can'’t
keep going for 12 hours
without stopping.

[ laughing ]

I'’ll take on
every one of you.

You'’re on.[ chattering ]

I'’ll lay you
another hundred.Taken.

Joe Goodman
of the Territorial Enterprise,
another hundred dollars.

Write it down, Vira.

Mr. Goodman, $200.

Abe, that cleans out
your bank account.

Then I'’ll start
on personal property.

I'’ll put up my team of horses.
Write it down, Vira.

Papa, team of horses.

Ten shares of stock
in the Gould and Curry Mine

against Adolph Cohen'’s
store and fixtures.

Ten shares stock.

One at a time, gentlemen.
One at a time.
I'’ll take every bet.

Abe Curry,
we'’ll be ruined.

I can'’t back out
now, my dear.

When is this contest
going to take place?

Six o'’clock tomorrow evening
in Virginia City.

[ chattering ]

Six o'’clock! Let her go!

[ chattering ]

[ engine whirring ]

Wouldn'’t you ladies
like to go inside,

where you'’ll be
more comfortable?

This is going to be
an all-night affair,
you know.

Thank you.
We want to watch.

There'’ll be nothing to see
for the next 12 hours
but what you'’re seeing now.

Maybe.

[ whirring continues ]

[ chattering ]

Well, drink up, boys.

You bet.

Engine'’s purring away
like a kitten.

And it'’ll keep going, too.

Poor old Abe.

This is one bet
he'’s gonna lose, fellas.

[ laughing ]

Keep her going slow.
We still got eight hours to go.

All right.

[ engine sputters ]

[ whirring resumes ]

[ sputters ][ murmuring ]

[ whirring, sputtering ]

What'’s the matter?

Give her more steam.

It'’s as hot
as it can get.

Here. Use this.

Bacon.

That will do it.

[ sizzling ]

[ whirring ]

[ whirring continues ]

Why don'’t you go on home
and get some sleep, honey?

It may be the last
good night'’s sleep you'll get.

Abe! You didn'’t bet
our double bed?

Uh-huh.

I'’m surprised you didn't bet
Elvira and me.

You'’re the only things
I have left.

I'’ve bet everything else
I own in this world.

[ whirring continues ]

[ engine slows, clanks ]

[ sputtering, whirring ]

[ engine slowing ][ murmuring ]

[ chattering ]

Mary Ann, it'’s beginning
to weaken. [ engine sputters ]

Hear that?
She'’s giving out.

[ engine sputtering ]

Keep on firing, boys.
Don'’t give up.

Put in more bacon.No, you fool!

Bacon caused the trouble.

Filled the boiler fluid
with soot.

[ laughing ]

[ sputtering continues ]

[ steam hissing ]

[ men murmuring ]

It'’s shaking like it had
chills and fevers.

Oh, this is terrible.

It can'’t make it.

[ men chattering ][ clanking ]

[ yelling, laughing ]

[ yelling ]

I knew she'’d never make it!

Wahoo![ cheering ]

[ clamoring ]

[ cheering ]

Well, quite a haul.

Not to mention
the animals outside

that'’ll have to be fed.

What are you gonna do
with this stuff, Papa?

Oh, it'’ll come in handy.

You mean the next time
you want to bet something.

There'’s going to be
no next time.

Promise me, Abe,
this is the finish.

You'’re right, Mary Ann.

Why should I press my luck
when I'’ve already got

everything a man
could wish for?

Home, family,

and the greatest little capital
in the United States.

I solemnly swear I'’ll
never bet again
for as long as I live,

so help me.

Oh, Abe. Darling.

Now, Papa.

You know very well you'’ll never
be able to keep such a promise.

Want to bet?

[ laughing ]

If you ever get hold
of a silver dollar

with the letters "CC" on it,
which are rare nowadays,

you'’ll know that it came
from the Carson City Mint,

built by Abraham Curry,
the father of Carson City,

a man who believed you
could make anything happen

if you care enough,
and proved it.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]