All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S04E21.Emperor.Norton.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

OLD RANGER:
And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪

Howdy folks.

I'’m the Old Ranger.

And I have another interesting
true story for you

about the historic
Death Valley country.

This story I'’m about to tell

is laid in San Francisco

during the afterglow
of the Gold Rush.

In fact, I don'’t know
of any other time or place

where it could have happened.

Only a city like San Francisco,

with its generous heart,

its sense of humor,

its sentimentality

could claim a personage

like Emperor Norton.

♪♪

OLD RANGER:
Joshua Norton arrived
in California

by ship in 1849,

at the height
of the Gold Rush

and immediately
established himself

as a commissioned merchant

dealing in all kinds
of commodities.

Within a few years,
he had become one

of San Francisco'’s
most prosperous

and respected businessmen,

with a reputation
for shrewdness,

daring,
and absolute integrity.

This is the greatest operation
he'’s put over yet.

Cornering the rice market?

Nobody but Norton would be
bold enough to risk it.

If it was anyone
but Norton, believe me,

I never would'’ve
gone in on it.

That man can'’t fail.

He'’s a genius.

[ laughs ]

Ah, Cooper and Duffy.

Come in, sit down.

Good morning, Norton.Have a seat.

Make yourselves comfortable.Thank you.

Well, gentlemen, it looks
as though we pulled it off.

As of this moment, we control

the entire rice supply
of San Francisco.

What about the shipment that
arrived yesterday from Peru?

It'’s ours. I agreed to buy
the entire cargo

at 12 and a half cents a pound.

Here'’s the contract.

I gave them $2,000 cash.

The balance, $23,000,

we'’ll pay out
of our profits.

How long do you think
we should hold on?

Yes, rice was quoted
today at 32 cents.

That'’s already a profit
of a hundred and fifty percent.

It'’ll go higher.

China has prohibited
all further exports of rice.

I look for the price
to reach 40.

When it does, we'’ll unload.

You have got nerve, Norton.

NORTON:
Nothing ventured,
nothing gained.

I think the occasion calls
for a little celebration.

Look at these figures,

they'’re simply staggering.

We'’re sitting
on top of the world.

♪♪

Well, gentlemen,

to a very Merry Christmas.

Mr. Norton.And a Happy New Year.

News.

Telegraph here.

Ship come in.
Bring rice.

Rice?

MAN:
Heap, heap rice.

Let'’s get down
to the wharf.

♪♪

[ chattering ]

We'’ve got to buy it out.

The whole cargo?

Two hundred and fifty barrels?

Discount from the market
we'’re ruined.

We'’re already way
overextended.

My credit'’s good.

All right.

Lot number one, gentleman.

Fifteen barrels of fine rice

for twelve cents a pound.

Twelve cents a pound
gentlemen, who wants...

Twelve cents?

It was 32.

It'’s already dropped
20 points.

Taken.

Sold to Mr. Joshua Norton.

Man, are you crazy?

We'’ve got to buy it up.

Keep control
of the market.

Our profits
on the Peruvian rice

are already wiped out.

We can recoup them

if we just don'’t
lose our nerve.

Mr. Norton, please.

Another ship just come
through Golden Gate.

With rice?

The dragon from China,
250,000 pound.

Good heavens.

So, there were to be
no further exports
from China.

Somebody'’s circulated
the rumor maliciously.

Oh, we still
have a chance.

We throw in all our
combined resources...

Not me.
I'’m through.

You'’d welsh
on a contract.

What contract?

Your word as gentlemen.

Look, Norton, it'’ll do
us no good having our names

linked with yours
in this big fiasco.

Any association we'’ve had

is terminated.

Please, gentlemen.

♪♪

GODFREY:
Mr. Norton?

Oh, Godfrey.

Sit down.

The balance of
$23,000 you owe us

on the cargo
of Peruvian rice.

I don'’t want it.

I have no place
to store it.

Sell it to somebody else?

At four cents a pound?

When you'’ve guaranteed us
12 and a half cents?

I haven'’t got it.

GODFREY:
Then we'’ll sue.

What are you all?

A pack of jackals?

A man'’s in trouble.

You fall upon him.

Tear him to pieces.

♪♪

NORTON:
Oh, Mr. DuBois.

Mr. Norton, may I have
a word with you?

Come in.

Sit down. I'’m sorry
I can'’t offer you a cigar

but I'’ve given up smoking.

The matter I have to broach

is a rather delicate one.

I owe you money.

You have always been
one of this hotel'’s

most esteemed guests,
Mr. Norton.

However...

if you could favor us
with a remittance?

Six month and arrears.

A certified check perhaps?

My account at the bank

has been closed, Mr. DuBois.

Perhaps you'’d accept my watch

as partial payment.

It'’s a good watch.

A gift from my parents

on the occasion
of my 21st birthday.

And these cufflinks
also are fairly valuable.

And I have several scarf pins.

One of them a diamond.

If these articles
aren'’t enough

to cover the amount due,

you'’re welcome to anything
in my wardrobe.

♪♪

Cooper, I say Cooper.

It'’s good to see you.

Well, Norton.

I thought you'’d left town.

No, I'’m still around.

Keeping busy?

Quite. I have a number
of lawsuits on my hands.

Yes, I, um,

I read about them.

Well, glad to have seen you.

Oh, Cooper I wonder
if you could do me a favor.

If it'’s money, no.

Oh, just a small loan.

I'’ve got all I can do

to keep my own head
above water.

But I could pay you back
in a few days.

You don'’t seem
to realize, Norton,

these are hard times.

I mean for everybody.

We'’re in the midst
of a financial depression

here in San Francisco.

I'’m quite aware of it.

COOPER:
And I wouldn'’t be surprised

if that fiasco of yours

is what touched
the whole thing off.

You and your grandiose ideas.

No.

I'’m sorry.
I'’m in a hurry.

♪♪

You and your grandiose ideas.

But I didn'’t ruin anybody else.

I'’m not responsible
for the depression.

I love San Francisco.

Its people are my people.

This town is my town.

This country is my country.

I heard voices,
I thought you had company.

I won'’t be but a minute.

I'’ll just give the place
a licking, I promise.

You'’re from London?

How did you guess?

That'’s where I was born.

God save the Queen.

I'’m a United States
citizen now.

Took out my papers

when California
joined the Union.

God save the President.

Sometimes I think
it would be better

if we did have a king.

This is a great country,
America.

There'’s something wrong

with the way
it'’s being governed.

Look at me.

At one time, I was one

of the richest men
in San Francisco,

worth a quarter
of a million dollars.

Oh.

And now...

reduced to this.

I'’ve lost everything.

Friends, possession,

self-respect.

Your wife?

I have no family.

I'’m alone in the world.

Of course me,

I'’ve always been poor.

Don'’t expect
to be anything else.

There should be laws
against poverty.

Here in the land
of plenty.

A city built on gold.

We have a depression,

business failures,
bank closers.

Whose fault is it?

That'’s what I say.

The men who
are running things.

Believe me,
if were the ruler,

you'’d see great changes.

Things like this
would never happen.

I hope you get there, sir,

to the White House.

The United States
is too big to be a republic

or even a kingdom.

It should be an empire.

♪♪

If I were emperor,

I'’d make things right.

I'’ll be leaving.

Your majesty.

Maybe he'’s balmy.

♪♪

Yes, I,

Emperor Norton.

We'’re still short
a copy, chief,

for the night'’s edition.

This town is certainly
in the doldrums.

No fires, no murders,

no new gold strikes,

people aren'’t even
writing letters to the editor.

Looks like I'’m gonna have
to write another editorial.

Oh, well...

[ knocking on door ]

Come in.

♪♪

I wish to see the editor.

I'’m the editor.

I have a proclamation,

I wished published.

At the peremptory
request and desire

of the large majority
of the citizens

on these United States,

I, Joshua Norton,

for the past nine years
and ten months

of San Francisco,
California,

declare and proclaim myself

Emperor of these
United States.

And direct the representatives

of the different
States of the Union

to assemble in Musical Hall

of this city
on the first day

of February next.

Then and there to make
such alterations

in the existing laws
of the Union

as may ameliorate
the evils

under which the country
is laboring,

and thereby cause
confidence to exist,

both at home and abroad,

in our stability
and integrity.

Signed Norton,
the first Emperor

of the United States,

17th September, 1859.

You represent
this individual?

I am Emperor Norton.

Give the proclamation
a prominent place

in your paper.
Oh, yes sir.

And save me a copy.

Yes, Your Majesty.

♪♪

[ laughs ]

That'’s that fellow, Norton,

that failed in that
great rice debacle.

Must have unhinged him.

Another guy who thinks
he'’s Napoleon.

Oh, not Napoleon at all,

Emperor of these
United States.

Mad as a March hare.

Writes a superior English.

I won'’t have to do
any editing.

You'’re not really
going to publish it.

Certainly I am.

San Francisco
needs a good laugh.

Besides, this will save me

from writing
another editorial.

♪♪

I, Joshua Norton,

for the last nine years
and ten months past

of San Francisco, California,

declare and proclaim myself,

Emperor of these United States.

I often wondered
what happened to him

after the crash.

Well, now you know.

Norton I,
Emperor of the United States.

17th September, 1859.

Joshua Norton!

Wong all the time
running errands for him.

That was his office
right there.

Emperor of the United States.

Perhaps if we hadn'’t
turned him out.

And what'’s
a hotel keeper to do?

The slings and arrows

of outrageous fortune.

A man'’s mind can suffer

just so much, it seems.

♪♪

[ chattering ]

♪♪

What'’ll it be,
Your Majesty?

Oh, no drink,
thank you.

I'’ll just regale myself
with a little food.

Help yourself.

You see our sign up there.

[ chattering ]

Who publishes
all those crazy notices

of Norton'’s in the paper?

Dissolving congress,

abolishing the Supreme Court.

I publish it.

Why?

Why did you do it?

For same reason
that everybody else

in San Francisco
humors him.

Makes them happy
and it does no harm.

He can walk into
a saloon like this?

THOMAS:
He has the freedom
of the city.

Eats in the finest restaurants

and attends all plays
and concerts.

MAN:
When enters the theater,
the whole audience rises

and remains standing
until he'’s seated.

Rides free on all
public transportation.

He never pays for anything?

Oh, he often pays,
in script.

FRANKLYN:
Worthless money.

Not at all.

Promissory notes
complete with seal

and vignette
of His Majesty.

For the sum of 50 cents

at 7% interest.

Payable in 1880?

Where in the world does
he get this stuff printed?

At our shop.

Printers to his
Imperial Majesty,

Norton I.

He promised me the post

of Chancellor of the Exchequer
one of these days.

Give me another drink.

♪♪

[ dog barking ]

Begging for royal favors, eh?

Here you are, you bummer.

♪♪

Where did he get
his uniform?

Oh, the presidio
keeps him supplied.

♪♪

Another beggar
at my heels.

But all that'’s left is crumbs,

but you'’re welcome to it.

Like the beggar Lazarus
in the Bible.

Bummer and Lazarus,

my bodyguards.

♪♪

[ horses trotting ]

This the day of the month
that we collect taxes.

Behave yourselves
when we get inside.

These are some
of the biggest banks

and business houses
in San Francisco.

♪♪

Your tax this month is $5,

a slight increase.

But there'’ve been heavy drains

of late on the treasury.

Oh, coin of the realm
if you please?

Oh, certainly.

Here'’s your receipt.

Thank you.

[ sighs ]

Do you mind
if I sit here a minute.

My feet get very tired.

Glad to have you.

I can remember when I used
to visit in your office.

How'’s everything going?

Congress in Washington
still continues to defy me.

I have ordered
the army to use force

if necessary
to clear the halls.

I read the manifesto
in the paper.

But here in California,

the empire is gradually
being recognized.

I hope before long to take over
the new Palace Hotel

as my headquarters.

It'’ll be an improvement
over the place I now live.

Good day, sir.

Good day, Your Majesty.

Come Bummer,

come Lazarus.

♪♪

Emperor of Brazil
in San Francisco.

Reception tonight
in his honor

at the University
of California.

City officials

and other dignitaries
to be present.

Did you hear that
Bummer, Lazarus?

[ barks ]

All during my reign,

this is as close

as I'’ve ever come

to the crown heads of the world.

But now, tonight at last,

I shall shake the hand

of a fellow emperor.

[ barks ]

♪♪

[ chattering ]

Good evening, Dr. Gilman,

and how are things
at the University
of California?

Good evening, sir.

Your university
is in fine shape,

Emperor Norton.

Your Majesty,

may I present
Emperor Norton

of the United States
of America.

And Protector of Mexico.

♪♪

This is a great honor.

I trust you are enjoying

your sojourn in my capital.

I have toured most
of the world, Your Majesty,

and I am now convinced,

there'’s no other city
quite like San Francisco.

♪♪

[ chattering ]

Hear ye, hear ye,
hear ye,

all good Americans.

Hark ye well the words I speak,

for I speak from the pages
of the history.

Come closer, come closer.

This country
is in dire straits.

What in the world
is he advertising?

Himself.

Just another
San Francisco character

along with Oofty Goofty

and Emperor Norton.

He claims to be
the reincarnation

of our first president.

Well, I must say

there'’s a remarkable
resemblance.

MAN:
...appointed me as your leader.

[ dog barking ]

Oh, look who'’s coming.

MAN:
...that there is a job
for every man.

I will banish all taxes,

and I will wipe poverty

from the face
of this fair land.

Rally to the support

of George Washington II.

What is the meaning of this?

I am the spirit of '’76.

The father of our country.

Why you, you humbug,

you imposter.

How dare you perpetrate
such a fraud

on the people
of San Francisco,

my loyal subjects?

Your subjects?

This is a republic.

This is an empire.

I'’ll have you
banished for sedition,

George Washington indeed.

You'’re an insult
to his memory,

a disgrace
to the American people.

Get out before
I call the police,

get out!

♪♪

Never again show your face

within these borders
again, sirrah.

[ chattering ]

♪♪

I guess that'’ll teach him

and any other pretender

that I am the one

and only Emperor Norton.

MAN:
Yeah, Emperor Norton.

OLD RANGER:
For 21 years

Joshua Norton, always seen
with his two dogs,

Bummer and Lazarus,
ruled his imaginary empire.

Loved, humored, supported

in his harmless fantasies.

Maybe some of them
were so fantastic at that.

Now, take the manifesto
published in 1869--

commanding a suspension bridge

to be built
from San Francisco to Oakland

by way of Yerba Buena...

and people laughed.

But here it is today,

San Francisco Bay Bridge,

following almost exactly

the specifications
the emperor laid down.

And when in 1880,

his reign came
to a peaceful end,

members of the Pacific-Union
Club on Nob Hill,

an organization of prominent
San Franciscans,

whose present clubhouse
you see here

provided the money
for his funeral

and subscribed
the funds for the stone

which marks
his final resting place

in the Woodlawn Masonic
Cemetery of San Francisco.

Emperor Norton...

come into his own at last.

♪♪