Original subtitles

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.

The old fairy tales always end,

"And so they were married and lived happily ever after."

But this is a tale about real people.

The wedding is only the beginning.

How they lived after is the interesting,

the important part of the story I call...

[ tolling ]

June 1882.

The bells are pealing in old Southbury Church

for Mac and Norma Gordon.

And here they come.

[ laughter ]

Good luck![ well-wishers exclaiming ]

MAN: Good luck!

MAN #2: Bye! Have a great trip West!

Oh, Mac, look to the West.

Even the sky is gold.

It'’s a lucky omen. The golden West waiting for us.

My darling.

[ horn blaring ]

Whoa.

[ both laughing ]

Welcome home, Mrs. Gordon.

So this is the end of the rainbow.

I thought you were going to say, "The end of the honeymoon."

Oh, darling. [ laughs ][ laughs ]

I know it'’s a pretty forlorn apology for a house

after what you'’ve been used to.

I love it.

It makes me think of that song. You know.

♪ In the little old sod shanty on my claim ♪

[ laughing ]All we need now is the claim.

Oh, you'’ll locate one in no time at all.

Why, you'’re bound to, all that gold lying around out there.

That'’s my wife. Norma, you'’re wonderful.

I don'’t know of many girls with your background

who would come out here pioneering.

Well, I can tell you one thing. I'’m never going to look like a pioneer.

You couldn'’t look weather beaten.

And no straggly hair, nor rough hands.

This desert'’s not going to get me.

You bet it'’s not. We'’re going to lick the desert.

[ men chattering ]

I'’ll have a beer, please.Coming right up.

How much?Two bits.

[ cash register bell dings ]

Thank you.

Spot the fellow who just ordered the suds.

A Johnny-come-lately.

Green as grass after a spring rain.

You'’re getting poetic, partner.

[ chuckles ] Always affects me that way when I see a new prospect.

You wanna make a play for him?

Worth a try.

Then you best move right in.

He looks like a one-drink guy to me.

[ people whooping ]

MAN: Stranger!

This yours?

Oh, why-- why, yes.

You dropped it back there.

I don'’t know how it could'’ve happened,

but I'’m eternally grateful to you.

Oh, I'’m glad I picked it up instead of a crook.

That would'’ve been a bad beginning for me to lose my bankroll.

Well, one thing about out here-- a man can clean up fast.

How? I'’m interested.Oh, any number of ways.

Gambling?No. No.

That'’s for sharpies. I mean, like striking paydirt.

Oh, well, that doesn'’t happen over night.

Or investing in a claim that'’s already been located.

It takes a lot of money for that, doesn'’t it?

Not necessarily.

I picked up land for a few thousand

and sold it for hundreds of thousands,

and parted with some for next to nothing, like a sucker.

I take it you'’re a mining promoter.

[ chuckles ] You flatter me, stranger.

I'’m just a hard rock miner.

My partner'’s a real businessman.

Say, how would you like to meet him sometime?

He might be able to steer you onto something.

Well, is he here in Bodie?

I'’m going to meet him at the Timberline Restaurant.

You like pork and beans?

I'’m from Boston.Well, come along.

[ door opens ]

Mac! [ door closes ]

[ both laughing ]

Darling, my hair!

Sweetheart, I think I made a strike.In those clothes?

What would you say, Mrs. Gordon,

if your husband were to tell you

he had a chance to acquire a rich mine?

Well, I'’d-- Well, have you?

Right from out of the blue.

If I hadn'’t dropped my wallet on the street this af--Mac! Oh, no!

[ chuckles ] Come on. I'’ll tell you about it.

The government land agent was out to lunch when I got to Bodie.

Mm-hmm.So I decided to kill a little time,

and I went to a saloon and I had a beer.

Then I went out, and I took a walk.

And afterwards, I came back...

I saw the assay report on the ore samples.

I knew this was the mine for us.

I'’m prepared to invest all my savings in it.

After you examine the land.

"Ground" is what it'’s called in mining.

'’Course I shall examine it. Thoroughly.

Aren'’t you glad now you took geology at Harvard?

As yet, I still don'’t know what kind of a price they have in mind.

Mac, I'’d like to contribute what I have.

The money Papa gave me.No, I'’d rather not touch that.

But what better use could it be put to than,

well, the backlog of our future?

Mm...

Dearest, please.

It'’d make me feel like a real partner.

You look at them like that, and they'’ll give you the whole shebang.

Are they that soft?No, no, no.

They'’re rough diamonds.

Well, if I do accept your offer,

that would mean $5,000 to trade with.

Oh, Mac, I can hardly wait.

Do you know what I'’m gonna call it if we buy it?

The Norma Mine.

Well, gentlemen, what'’s your proposition?

Our idea is to cut you in for one-third.

I want sole ownership.

I don'’t know as we'’re prepared for that.

All or nothing.

How much you willing to pay?

What are you asking?

Now, there'’s a Yankee horse trader for ya.[ laughing ]

$5,000.

4,000.

Hey, what do you take us for?

I'’ve been inquiring around as to mining values.

4,800. That'’s too high.

This ground has to be developed from scratch.

4,600.

4,500.

Hey, ya chiseler!

It'’s a deal.

And you got yourself a bargain.

Just like taking candy from a kid.

"I'’ve, uh, been inquiring into mining values." [ laughs ]

[ intellectual-sounding tone ] "This ground will have to be developed from scratch."

[ normal voice ] He don'’t know how much scratching he'’s in for.

Them lily-white hands of his will be plumb blistered.

[ both laughing ]

$2,250 apiece.

To Mac Gordon and all the other suckers.

[ laughs ]There'’s one born every minute.

[ both laughing ]

And we still have $500 left.

Not quite. I had to buy these tools, don'’t forget.

Oh, that'’s a capital investment.

You see, I know something about business too.

Maybe I could keep the books, Mac.

Why not?

I'’ll buy a ledger tomorrow.

You know what I'’d love?

Me.[ chuckles ]

I said "what," silly, not "who."

Oh. What, then?

Some jewelry.

A broach, perhaps, made of the gold from our mine.

Broach, nothing. We'’re gonna have a whole gold service for our table.

Is it rich?

"High grade" is the term.Oh.

That'’s for the assayer to decide.

The samples were no good?

They showed traces of gold.

Only a trace after all that backbreaking work?

I can only report what I find, sir.

I'’m not doubting your word.

I'’m just disappointed, that'’s all.

How much?Five bucks.

Assay, $5.

Another $5 gone to glory.

How much do we have left? Where'’s the ledger?

Do stop pacing, Mac. It makes me nervous.

Where'’s the ledger?Supper'’s almost ready.

Where is the ledger?

What'’s this entry-- $20?

Oh, something I sent away for.

You sent away for something that cost $20 at a time like this?

It'’s a present for the house.

What kind of a present?

Mac, I want it to be a surprise.

It is, all right. A nasty one.

Norma, do you realize we have only a few hundred dollars left

between us and nil?

Stop using Latin words.

We'’re going rapidly broke, and you squander $20 on a trinket.

It'’s not a trinket. It'’s something useful.

Well, whatever it is, it'’s going back.

Norma, I thought you had more sense than to waste what little money we'’ve got left.

"Waste?" If you knew how hard I scrimped and saved,

eked out our food, pinched pennies...

[ cuckoo clock cuckooing, bell dinging ]

Is that it?

I wanted something cheerful.

A cuckoo clock!

[ laughing ]

I'’m sorry, Mac.

We'’re all cuckoo.

[ chuckles ]

♪ Oh, the hinges are of leather ♪

♪ And the windows have no glass ♪

♪ And the board roof lets the howling blizzard in ♪

♪ And I hear the hungry coyote as he slinks up through the grass ♪

♪ Round my little old sod shanty ♪

♪ On my claim

[ pickaxe thuds on ground ]

[ grunts ]

[ carriage approaching ]

MAN: Whoa.

Howdy.Well, how do you do?

So, you'’re our new neighbor.

Well, not very new.

We'’ve lived here for over six months.

Well, in the desert, anything less than a year is new.

I'’m Aaron Brinkle.

Me and my wife have a claim next valley over.

Oh. Well, I'’m Mrs. Gordon.

Say, I'’m going into town. Anything I can fetch you?

Thank you. Not a thing.

Now, if you ever do need anything fetched or carried, you just let me know.

I will. Thank you very much.

Good-bye.Bye.

Say, I'’ll bring the wife over for a visit sometime.

Oh, that would be nice.

Giddyap.

I don'’t understand it. There must be some mistake.

My figures don'’t lie, Mr. Gordon.

The original assay showed high-grade ore.

I didn'’t make this report.I didn'’t say you did.

I'’m just saying that some assayer who knew his business

found rich values on my claim.Then go back to him.

I shall!

If you can find him.

$5, please.

[ door opens ]

These assayers! I can'’t trust any of them.

It'’s not the assayer's fault because the samples were no good.

I suppose I'’m to blame?Yes, I think you are.

What do you mean?You should'’ve investigated more thoroughly.

And you went ahead and threw my money into it too.

You offered it to me. you begged me to take it.

That money was to have been a nest egg for me.

Pop always said a married woman should have some money of her own.

Oh, hang your father!Don'’t talk about my father like that!

My father'’s a very fine businessman.

I suppose I'’m not. Who was it saved us $500 on that deal?

You got stung.Who was it squandered $20 on a silly little cuckoo clock?

I like that clock! [ cuckooing, bell dinging ]

Shut up!

[ cuckooing, dinging continue ]

I said... shut up![ cuckooing, dinging stop ]

Mac!

[ door opens, closes ]

[ cuckoos, bell dings, stops ]

[ crying ]

[ coins clinking ]

Ten, [ bills rustling ]

20, 30,

40, 50,

51.

25...

35...

40.

$51.44 apiece.

[ coins clinking ]

Darling!

Norma!

Norma!

Sweetheart.

"Mac, I'’m going away.

Don'’t try to follow me."

Norma.

Would you gentlemen like some more coffee?

No, thanks. How long have you been working here, girlie?

Oh, I just started today.Thought I hadn'’t seen you before.

But I'’ll be seeing you again.

[ laughing ]

You pay the cashier.

That'’s for you, chickie, with love and kisses.

Likewise.

[ door opens, closes ]

[ chuckles ] Well!

I'’ll get you a bill of fare, sir.

Who'’s your gentleman friend?Oh, I don'’t know his name.

All I know is he came from the East.

Oh, a Johnny-come-lately.

Maybe it'’s the light, but does it strike you, partner,

that he looks rather, uh, greenish?

Yeah.

You mean sick?

Well, I wouldn'’t be surprised if he was coming down with something.

Maybe he'’s facing an operation.

Removing some of his vitals.

Let'’s mosey over and see what we can do him for.

I mean, do for him.

The vein runs from north to south,

like from this saltcellar to this saltcellar.

Richest vein I ever saw.

Should run at least, uh, $300 a ton.

JOHNNY-COME-LATELY: Thank you very much.

When you said that gold ran from one saltcellar to the next,

I liked to have busted a button.

Salt! [ laughing ][ laughing ]

Girlie, you'’re getting a five-spot for a tip today.

Well, thank you, sir!

If you was a drinking gal,

we'’d take you along with us to help celebrate.

What'’s the occasion?

We just made a deal to sell a piece of mining property to that fella.

So quickly?

Well, if you don'’t grab a sucker fast,

you don'’t grab him at all. [ laughing ]

[ laughing ]

Was he a sucker?

Like all the dudes that come out here from the East.

Rig up an assay report, show '’em a map, and they'’re right in your lap.

Remember the young fella came out here last summer from Boston?

We offered him a share of a mine.

But would he take it? No, sir.

He wanted the whole thing.

"I insist upon sole ownership." [ laughing ]

Well, that sounds like Mac Gordon.

You know Mac Gordon?

So you rooked him too.

To the tune of $4,500!

And you sit there and boast about it.

Aw, now, girlie--

Keep your hands off of me! And don'’t call me "girlie."

What shall I call ya, spitfire?

You can call me Mrs. Mac Gordon!

Mrs. Mac Gordon?

I'’m gonna report you to the sheriff for what you'’ve done.

You'’ll be arrested, forced to make restitution.

Calm down, ma'’am."Calm down"?

When we'’ve been duped of all our savings?

And my husband'’s practically killed himself for months working your worthless claim!

That'’s his hard luck.I--

I hope they tar and feather you,

run you out of town on a rail.

There ain'’t a thing they can do to us, ma'’am.

Your husband bought the claim with his eyes wide open.

He trusted you.Well, this'’ll learn him.

Norma!

Mac!

Mac!Oh, darling, you'’re back!

Oh, I missed you so.It was all my fault.

No. No, darling.But everything'’s gonna be all right.

But it isn'’t.What do you mean?

Mac, I found out we'’ve been taken.

The men who sold you the claim.

Daley and Sykes?

Oh, they salted it.

There was no gold there except what they put there.

That'’s why the assays turned out badly.

Where did you learn this?Well, they admitted it themselves.

And the worst part of it is, there'’s no way we can get back at them.

I guess you'’re right. It'’s the old story. Let the buyer beware.

Oh, I don'’t blame you, darling.

And please forgive the horrid things I said.

The funny thing is, I'’d begun to have new faith in the claim.

I struck what looked like real paydirt the other day.

Look. You can see the gold in it.

Oh, they'’re clever, those two.

Just to satisfy my own curiosity,

I'’m gonna have these samples assayed.

And waste another $5?

Oh, it'’s up to you, of course, darling.

If the reports turn out like all the others, I'’m through.

We'’ll pull up stakes and get out of here.

[ laughter ]

Well, well, if it ain'’t Mr. Gordon!

Howdy!How'’s everything with you?

You should know.Working hard, making money?

Look, if you gentlemen came here to gloat--

No, no. We came here to have an assay made.

Where'’s the fella?He'’s making an assay. For me.

From the, uh-- What did you name your mine?The Norma.

After your wife.Yes.

And a mighty cute trick she is too.

Let'’s leave my wife out of this.

Oh, no need to be jealous.

She behaved herself in Bodie.

I said, leave her out of this.

Never permitted no liberties, to speak of.

[ both grunt ]

[ grunting ]

What'’s going on here? Hey! Hey!

Break it up! This is no place to fight. This is an assay office.

He started it.He started it.

Sold me a phony claim. Bled me white!

No, you don'’t. Not here.

We'’ll finish this outside.Well, that suits me.

And get killed just when you'’ve struck it rich?

What?

What did you say?Here'’s the report on those samples that you left me.

$125 a ton!

From the Norma?

From the Norma.

Put there by the Almighty.

I don'’t know what's come over this town.

A man can'’t make a living here no more.

Look at this picture.

"Steam yacht Norma, owned by Macaulay Gordon of Nob Hill.

It was mined by the same name as one of the biggest producers in the state."

There'’s one born every minute.

♪♪ [ classical ]

They say the first hundred years are the hardest, darling.

Well, we'’ve come through this one with flying colors.

Here'’s to the next 99.

Together.

♪♪ [ continues ]

Now I'’ll wind up like the old fairy tales.

And they lived happily ever after.

You know, of course, which pair I'’m referring to.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]