Original subtitles

THE OLD RANGER: And now,

Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [bugle]

Howdy, folks.

I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another interesting,

true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

You oldsters in the audience

may remember, back around the turn of the century,

a desperado known as "Killer Burke,"

who murdered at least three people in cold blood

before the Nevada authorities finally caught up with him.

The whole West, even a remote Death Valley mining camp,

breathed a sigh of relief when Burke was convicted,

which is the point at which my story opens.

A story I call...

Mercy, that stage certainly is crowded.

I hope it doesn'’t break down.

WOMAN: I'’d certainly hate

to stay here in Death Valley all the rest of the summer.

That wouldn'’t be very pleasant.

I understand you'’re going down on your old rig?

That'’s right. Won't be leaving for another week, though.

Goodness, take that long to close up a camp?

Lot of company property around here, Myra.

Well, I certainly am glad

my Jake ain'’t the superintendent.

By this time tomorrow night, we'’ll be down where it's cool.

Oh. Morning, Evelyn.Morning, Myra.

Was there any mail, Harry?

Just this newspaper.

Later on. When I'’ve nothing else to do.

But don'’t lose it.

It'’ll be the last one we'’ll be seeing for a while.

I still think you ought to be

coming out on the stage with us, Evelyn.

We'’ll be following in a week.

There'’s no sense in your staying on here,

as poorly as you'’re feeling.

I'’m not sick.

Oh, anyone can see you'’ve not been yourself lately.

All pale and draggy.It'’s the heat.

And it'’s going to get worse every day.

That'’s what I mean.

No, she wants to stay, Myra.

Keep me company, hmm?

There'’s limits to a wife'’s devotion.

MAN: All aboard!

Oh, mercy, I'’ve got to run.

Well, good-bye, both of you.Bye-bye.

Bye, Myra.

And good-bye, Death Valley.

See you in September.

Happy Summer.

Come on!

[ all saying "good-bye" ]

Well, alone at last, hmm?

You don'’t think Myra suspects anything, do you?

Nobody in camp suspects anything.

That remark of hers, about your looking

"all washed out."

They all regard us as a model couple.

The soul of devotion.

Makes me feel like a hypocrite.

Well it was your idea, wasn'’t it?

To play the part, to stick together

until your promotion came through?

You agreed, Evie.

Sure, I did.

I have nothing against you personally, Harry.

Thanks.

What'’s a week, more or less,

if it assures your future in the company?

You wouldn'’t reconsider altogether, would you?

Give up the idea of a divorce?

Harry, we'’ve been through all that before.

But you say you don'’t hate me.

It'’s the life I can'’t stand.

Horrible, deadly dullness of it.

Nine months of the year marooned

in this god-forsaken place

where there'’s nothing to do, nothing to see--

Where nothing ever happens.

Maybe with a promotion I'’ll get a better break.

It'’ll always be the same

as long as you'’re a mining man, Harry.

I'’m fed up with it, I can'’t take it anymore.

And that'’s final!

[ wolf howls ]

Seems funny not to hear the noise of the mill.

Ore cars running.

Night crews coming on.

Town is like a tomb.

[ cuckoo clock sounds ]

I'’m going out.

Check some of the buildings.

[ banging on door ]

'’Scuse me, ma'am.

Could I have a little water?

[ exhales ] Certainly.

I'’ll fill it for you.

[ door slams shut ]

Here'’s your canteen.

Thanks.

How '’bout some grub?

I ain'’t eat all day.

Haven'’t I seen you someplace before?

You might have.

I'’ve been prospecting hereabouts

for quite some time.

My burro disappeared with all my gear,

doggone his hide.

I hoofed it all the way up here to rustle me up

some more supplies.

I found the camp closed down and deserted.

Oh, no, it'’s not.

Then what'’re all the buildings doing dark?

Folks have gone to bed.

Everybody except you?

You can'’t fool me, lady.

My husband just went out.

I'’m expecting him back any minute.

Has he got a horse?

No, but he'’s armed.

[chuckles] You don'’t say.

How big of a man is he?

Very big and very strong.

Good, then his clothes will just fit me.

What size shoe does he wear?

I asked you "what size?"

I don'’t know.

Go fetch me a pair, let me see.

You heard me. Where'’s he keep 'em?

In there.All right.

I'’ll go along with you.

I'’m not letting you out of my sight.

Well, they fit me just like a glove.

While I'’m tying this stuff up,

you pack up some grub.

And don'’t take all day.

What'’s that?

A sack.

Feed, eh?

And you told me you didn'’t have a horse.

Where is it?Out back.

Is there a saddle out there, too?

There'’s no saddle.

You'’re a liar.There'’s a buckboard.

Oh, a rig, eh?

Now that makes things even better.

I can take more stuff with me.

Finish filling this up.

Then me and you are going out together

and see if you'’re telling the truth.

Nice, respectable rig.

Hold this lantern while I hitch up the team.

[ whistling ]

Is that your old man?

Evie, is that you?

Answer him. Just like everything'’s all right.

Evie?

Yes, Harry.

What'’re you doing out here?

Stand right where you'’re at, mister,

and put up your hands.

He said he was a prospector out of water.

He came to the door.

So he was armed, was he?

Why, you lying Jane--Why, you--

Harry! Harry!

You the only two here in camp?

Answer me!Yes.

No other horses?

Good, then there'’ll be no need for me to hurry.

I'’ll stay here tonight and rest up.

And leave the first thing tomorrow morning.

All right, get inside.

Come on, hold that mirror still.

Hand me that towel over here.

You know, a shave and some clean clothes

sure makes a man feel different.

[ scoffs ] Why, I almost feel respectable.

Now, let'’s step into the sitting room

so I can be comfortable.

After you, ma'’am.

[ sighs ]

[ cuckoo clock sounds ]

BURKE: Where do you think you'’re going, sweetheart?

Out to the kitchen to make some coffee.

All right, but don'’t try anything funny.

I'’ll take it out on your old man.

Where do you keep your cigarettes?

I don'’t. I smoke a pipe.

You wouldn'’t slip me a Mickey Finn,

would you, lady?What'’s a "Mickey Finn?"

BURKE: Smart dame.

You drink some of it yourself.

Well, right good coffee.

You know, mister, a wife can make coffee like this

is somebody to hold on to.

[ snores ]

[ snoring continues ]

[ gunshot ]

You try that again, mister, and I'’ll kill you.

All right, lady, pick up that gun

and hand it over here to me.

BURKE: Real careful-like.

Well, I knew if I waited long enough,

I'’d find where you kept your gun.

Get back over there and mind your knitting.

Well, thanks for your hospitality.

I suppose you realize you'’re leaving us

with no way of getting out of here.

With supplies for only a couple of days.

Well, that'’s your worry, brother.

It'’s your lives or mine,

and mine happens to be worth more

by $5000.

Well, it looks like we'’re in for quite a scorcher.

Now stand right where you'’re at

till I'’m out of sight.

Giddyup!

[ sobbing ] Oh, Harry. Harry!

What a nightmare.I didn'’t think I'’d live through it.

You were wonderful, Evie.

Harry...

what are we gonna do now?

Well the only thing, as I see it,

is for me to hoof it into Shoshone

and get help-- or a rig.

Walk 40 miles in this heat?

I could travel by night.

With luck, I should be able to make it

Thursday morning, be back the day after.

I'’m going with you.

Evie, that'’s impossible.

Well, it'’s not safe for you to go alone.

Something might happen.

Oh, I'’ll be all right.

Harry, don'’t leave me here.

Suppose he came back?

He'’s got everything he needs.

Food, water, horse, and rig.

[ sighs ] That'’s what makes me so all-fired mad.

To have that murderer right under our roof

for more than eight hours, and then to have to

stand here and watch him drive off in my clothes

as fine as you please.

If we could only get word to the sheriff.

About the time I reach Shoshone,

Burke'’ll be clear out of the state.

The tunnel.

You know, the one through the mountain

where the railroad runs down to the mines.

What about it?

Evie, if I cut through there

on the ore car I can save time.

Where would that bring you out?

Right near the main road,

where it rounds the mountain.

The same road he'’s travelling?

Killer Burke?Yes.

Evie, if I start right now

I can reach that spot first.

Intercept him.Are you crazy?

There'’s a gun stowed away in the company office.

Harry, he'’s one of the deadliest killers in the country.

Yes, and he'’ll go right on killing

as long as he'’s at large.

But-- not you, Harry. Not you.

Here are the keys to the office.

The gun'’s in the top drawer of my desk.

I'’ll get the engine warmed up.Harry!

There'’s no time to lose, Evie, get going.

[ engine roars ]

Here.Good.

You brought two.

The other one'’s for me.What?

I'’m going with you, Harry.

Evie, no!Don'’t argue.

But it'’s dangerous.

So was last night.

You might need help.

Anyway, whatever happens, I want to be with you.

Evie.

Let'’s go.

You stay back now.

You hear?

[ screams ]

HARRY: Get your hands up, there, Burke.

All right, throw your gun down here.

Come on, be quick about it.

All right, get down.

It'’s too bad that you didn't stay back where I left you.

Now you'’re going to have a change of address.

BURKE: Six foot underground.

[ gunshot ]

Get me that strap out of the wagon.

Come on, Burke, get around there.

Get on the back of the wagon.

Move!

Sit up in there.

Whoa!

Hey, Sheriff.

Sheriff?

Hello, Harry.Hi, Whitey.

Got some freight here for you.

Why, it'’s Killer Burke.

That'’s right.How'’d you get him?

Well, it'’s a long story, eh, Evie?

Let'’s talk about that inside, it'’s hot as blazes out here

and my wife'’s had about all she can take.

SHERIFF: You go ahead and look after her.

I'’ll take care of the killer.

I guess you know this came C.O.D.

What?

Invoice reads $5000.

Hey, that'’s right.

$5000, Evie!

We'’ll talk about that later, Whitey.

All right, let'’s go.

Nine months of the year in a desert mining camp.

That'’ll suit me just fine.

Isolated. Dull.

I'’ve had enough excitement

to last me the rest of my life.

Are you sure, Evie?

I love you, Harry.

So Killer Burke accomplished at least one good thing

before he went to his execution,

although he never knew it.

Nor did anybody else

except the two concerned.