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 story you'’re about to hear is laid in a small lumber camp known as Sawpits,

on the South Fork of the American River,

not far from the place where gold was first discovered in 1848.

The title of the story is...

The great Gold Rush of 25 years ago is over.

The river bars no longer swarm with red-shirted miners.

The Sierra foothills now ring with the sound of axes

as young men like Si Seymour and Vic Burt fall timber

to supply the sawmills downstream with lumber

for the growing state of California.

This is the day of the annual log riding contest--

a big event in the river camp of Sawpits,

with a queen to award a medal

and a kiss to the winner.

[ onlookers shouting ]

[ shouting continues ]

Ohh![ laughs ]

Attaboy, Scott! He won. Good boy!

[ laughs ] The winner, Silent Seymour!

Nice goin'’, Si. Come on up and claim your prize.

Come on. MAN: Attaboy, Si!

Now, look, none of your little pecks on the cheek, either.

Let'’s see her really kiss you.

Let go of me.Oh, don'’t be bashful.

Congratulations to the Champion Log Rider.

Thank you, ma'’am.

Well, kiss him, Flo. Give him a big smack.

With pleasure.

[ laughter ]You big lunk!

What are you waiting for, Baldy? Mail?

Female! Here she comes now.

Morning, Flo.Hello, Vic.

Where are you bound for?Sacramento.

I got a wonderful new job, working at the new Helvetia Hotel.

You mean you'’re leaving us for good?

Well, the chance came along, so I grabbed it.

After all, what is there for a girl here?

Oh, come now. Queen of the camp?

"Queen"? Don'’t make me laugh.

We'’ll miss you, Flo.Well, thanks.

All set, miss? Yes.

Giddyap!

Drop us a line and let us know how things go with you!

Bye!Bye!

Well, I hope you'’re satisfied.

Drove the prettiest girl in camp out of camp.

I did?Sure.

The way you treated her the other day in front of everybody.

No wonder she feels she'’s got no future here.

Look, Vic...

I never even kissed a girl in private, let alone in public.

You haven'’t?No.

Well, it'’s high time you started.

Well, I don'’t see why she couldn'’t have just

presented the medal and been done.

My medal! Vic! She got away with my medal.

Write and ask her for it.Aw, I can'’t do that.

Why not? You know her address.

Helvetia Hotel, Sacramento.

Oh, forget it.Well, it'’s your medal, Si.

You won it. You just sit down and write her a letter.

Vic...

I don'’t know how.

[ chuckles ] Well, it'’s easy.

All you gotta say is--

I-I don'’t know how to write.

You don'’t know how to write?

How come?Well, I just never learned.

I can'’t read, either.

Not a word?Not a word.

Well, you ought to learn, Si.

Comes in handy sometimes.

Especially when you want to write a girl.

Who said I wanted to write her? I just want my medal, that'’s all.

I'’ll tell you what, Si. I'’ll write the letter for you.

Would ya, Vic?Sure.

I'’ve got pen and ink right here.

There we are.

Now, you just tell me what to say.

All right.

Just say...

"Dear Madam." She ain'’t.

She'’s a miss.

All right. "Dear Miss.

"Please send me my medal, which you got.

Yours truly, Si Seymour."

[ chuckles ]

Look, Si, uh, why don'’t you go over to the store

and buy a postage stamp, and I'’ll do the writing.

All right.

You better cut out that "yours."

Sounds too personal.

Sure.

"Dear...

Flo."

"Regards, Si Seymour.

"P.S. At your convenience,

will you please send me my medal?"

Thank you for letting me read it, my dear.

I can'’t get over it. He'’s always been so bashful.

That'’s why the call him "Si." Short for "Silent."

Still waters run deep, you know.

He prints real nice and neat, don'’t he? Mm.

My husband always used to say

that you could judge a man'’s character by his handwriting.

[ chuckling ]

Oh. Here'’s the medal, if you'’d like to take a look at that too.

Oh, I would indeed.

Oh. "Champion Log Rider,

California, 1873."

My! That'’s quite a trophy, isn'’t it?

Oh, I wish you could have seen him on that log, Mrs. Perrin.

He'’s a great, big, strappin'’ fella.

Oh, but the way he moves his feet and balances...

[ sighs ] Like a tightrope walker.

Listen to me goin'’ on like this for somebody I hardly know.

I hope you'’ll consider me a friend, my dear.

Oh, I do, Mrs. Perrin.

And you'’ve been perfectly lovely to me,

brand-new like I am here at the hotel.

Elderly widows get lonely in hotels, too, you know.

But you send this medal back to the young man right away.

And a nice letter with it, huh? Yes'’m.

Read it to me again, Vic, real slow.

All right.

"Dear Si.

"I was very pleased to receive your letter

and know that my presence is missed."

Who said anything about missin'’ her?

Uh, well, you know women, Si.

They always jump at conclusions.

Well, go on.

"Sacramento is full of important people.

"I even saw the governor once,

but nobody quite takes the place of old friends, like yourself."

Does she honestly say that?You don'’t think I'd make it up, do you, Si?

Well, here. Look for yourself.You know I can'’t read.

Well, there it is, word for word.

And she signs herself,

"Yours with the highest esteem, Flo."

The only letter I ever got in my life.

She sure writes a pretty hand, don'’t she?

Mm-hmm. Real ladylike.

[ inhaling ]

Scent.Here. Let me smell.

[ sniffs ] Hey, violets.

[ inhaling ]

Well, don'’t smell it all up. After all, it is my letter.

When are you going to answer it?Answer it?

Well, it'’s only polite to write and thank her for sending the medal.

Oh, gosh, this is gettin'’ real complicated.

No. We can do like we did before.

You dictate, and I'’ll write.

All right. But we'’ll make it short and sweet.

Another letter from him.

He didn'’t waste any time, did he?

A full page this time. Look.

May I read it?Oh, yes, please. I'’d like you to.

"My dear Flo, thank you for sending me the medal.

"It means a lot more to me now,

knowing that it has been in your possession."

He has a real nice way of expressing himself, doesn'’t he?

Read what else he says.

"Someday I shall claim the other half of the reward

that was supposed to go with it."

[ chuckles ] He means the-- uh, the kiss.

Oh. Well, you put some crosses

at the end of your next letter.

Mrs. Perrin, dare I?

I think it'’ll intrigue him.

It'’s what you've been hoping for? Oh, yes.

Yes! And I was so afraid he--

he'’d never come out and pop the question.

Ohh! I take it you'’re going to accept him?

Oh, of course I am. I love him.

Ohh. I'’ll mail my answer tonight.

Good, darling.

[ wind howling ] [ axe blows ]

[ whistle tooting ]

Must be a storm comin'’. There'’s the whistle.

We'’d better make a run for it.Now, wait a minute, Si.

I don'’t like to leave anything that might come crashing down without a warning.

What do you say we finish this one, huh?

You'’re right. But let'’s make it fast.

[ loud crack ]

Timber! Quick!

Vic!

[ thunder rumbling ]

Vic!

[ thunder continues ]

[ grunts ]

Vic?[ groans ]

Vic![ groans ]

I'’m gonna have to carry you out.

I'’ll try not to hurt you too bad.

No, leave me here. Go get help.

And let another tree fall on ya? Uh-uh. Let'’s go.

[ thunderclap ] [ loud crackling ]

Hi, Vic. How ya feeling?

This is worser than winter underwear.

I itch, but I can'’t scratch.

Well, at least they got the bandages off of your head,

so you can read to me again.

Did you get another letter?It was here the night I brought you out of the woods.

I'’ve been carryin' it around with me ever since.

Oh, you'’ll have to hold it for me, Si.

"My dearest"--"Dearest"?

"I think I must be dreaming.

"Then I look at your letter again and know it'’s true.

"You love me. You want to marry me.

"Oh, Si, if only I had your powers of expression

"to tell you what is in my heart.

"All I can utter is the single word-- yes.

Your loving Flo."

Well, congratulations.

I'’m engaged to be married?

Oh, you'’ve been engaged for two weeks, only you didn'’t know it.

Nearly three weeks.

I wonder what she must think of me for not acknowledging this.

Better get an answer off to her right away.

How can I?Well...

Have one of the other boys write it for you.

A brand-new, different handwritin'’? That'd sure look funny, wouldn'’t it?

Yeah. Yeah, I didn'’t think about that.

Well, I-- I guess the only other thing for you to do

is to go to Sacramento and see her.

Not with you laid up like this.

Oh, you'’ve done enough for me, Si, saving my life.

Now, I can manage.I'’m riding herd on you till you get those casts off.

What about your fiancée?

My what? Oh. Flo.

Well, I'’m sure she'’ll understand.

What could have happened?

Three weeks now, and-- and not a word.

It certainly does seem strange, though.

Mm!

Maybe he--

Maybe he'’s changed his mind.

My dear child, no. After that ardent letter?

Then why don'’t I hear?

There must be some good reason.

Oh, I-- I wish now I-- I hadn'’t been so forward,

accepting him right off.

Nonsense. He asked you to marry him.[ crying ]

You have it in black and white.

Now, there'’s only one thing for you to do.

Go back to Salt Pits and see him.

Oh, Mrs. Perrin!

Well, you'’ll never have any peace of mind till you do.

But-- But supposing--

Just supposing...

Just supposing that I go with you.

Oh, Mrs. Perrin, would you?

I'’m dying to meet this young man myself.

Oh![ chuckling ] Well.

Now, is there any place in the camp for us to stay?

The Shingle House, where I used to work.

Good. We'’ll pack right away

and take the evening steamer up the river.

[ laughing ] Ohh... [ chuckling ]

[ horn blaring ]

I imagined the most terrible things--

that you were sick or dead or--

or that you had jilted me.Flo.

Why didn'’t you write and tell me about Vic?

I'’m sorry.I waited for a letter every day.

Oh, Si,

no man ever wrote such letters as you.

It was them that made me fall in love with you.

I'’m glad. When are we gonna get hitched?

You set the date.Today!

Tomorrow?

Well, Si, give me a little time.

Say next Sunday?Next Sunday it is, then.

A day of pure gold.

That from the Bible?Silly, that'’s from your own letter.

What letter?The one proposing to me.

"The day that you'’re mine will be a day of pure gold."

I never.

Well, it-- it'’s right here in your own handwriting. [ paper rustling ]

And pages more. I know it almost by heart.

"The 1st July. You are the sun

and the moon and the stars to me."Let me see that.

Oh, you'’re not going to tear it up? No.

There'’s nothing wrong in being poetic when you'’re in love.

I'’ll give it back to you, Flo.

Just let me have it for a little while to kind of mull over.

Well, if you'’ll promise not to lose it.

This letter I want to keep for the rest of my life.

I promise.

All right, I admit it. So I did embroidery '’em a little.

A little? You turned '’em into poetry and spun '’em out into pages.

Well, it did the trick, didn'’t it, Si?

She'’s gonna marry you.Maybe.

I thought it was all set.

She fell in love with me on account of these letters, Vic.

She told me so.Well, good.

Only I didn'’t write these letters, you did.

She don'’t need to know.You think I'’d marry her?

Her not knowin'’? You'’re gonna tell her, Vic.

Me?You deceived her.

Now, you'’re gonna square me with her.

Oh, now, lookie here!

She wants to come see ya, anyway.

You'’re makin' me feel like a criminal, Si.

I thought I was doing you a favor. Honest, I did!

Gosh darn it! Why'’d I never learn to read and write?

I'’m glad to see you're coming along so fine, Vic.

Yeah.[ clacking ]

Doc'’s gonna take these blamed casts off tomorrow.

Then you'’ll be able to stand up with Si at our wedding.

How wonderful.

You'’re really in love with that guy, ain'’t you?

Head over heels.

Oh, he'’s a great guy, and foursquare.

[ chuckles ] Just to show you how square--

I know you won'’t believe this, Flo,

but he seems to think I ought to take the credit

for some of the things that went into those letters he sent you.

You should? Why?

Well, once in a while,

I'’d throw in a suggestion or two, and, uh...

Well, you know Si. He'’s not one for long words.

And once in a while he'’d get stuck, and, uh...

Well, you know, Flo, two heads are better than one.

But he did write those letters?

Oh, they were from him, sure.

I mean, he-- he wrote them with his own hand?

Well, um, his name was signed to '’em, wasn't it?

Vic.

Would you mind handing me that pitcher of water on the table there, Flo?

I'’m kind of thirsty.

Thanks.

You wrote those letters, Vic.

Didn'’t you?

Well, I just happened to have pen and ink handy, and, uh--

And he doesn'’t know how to write.

That'’s the truth, isn't it?Well, what if he don'’t?

It'’s nothing against him.

He just never took the time to go to school, that'’s all.

Well, I suppose he can'’t read, Vic.

Lord knows he wished he could.

Especially these past few months.

Look, Flo, the little things like reading and writing,

why, you can teach that to him after you'’re married.

Thanks, Vic. Thanks for telling me, Vic.

Thanks for the letters. They were beautiful.

Your own made pretty darn wonderful reading, too, Flo.

You said you had something you wanted to tell me, Flo.

Yes. And it'’s so much easier to say it out here

than in that stuffy parlor at the Shingle House.

What is it, Flo?

I saw Vic yesterday.Yes. I know you did.

He'’s gonna be able to-- to stand up with you at our wedding.

You mean-- You mean you'’re still willing to marry me

after learnin'’ that he wrote those letters?

I love you, Si.

You'’d love a man who can'’t read and write?

I'’m so ashamed, Flo.

A grown man like me,

and I don'’t know as much as a little kid that high.

I can'’t hold it against you, Si, because...

Well, you see...

I can'’t read or write either.You can'’t?

But what about all those letters?

Mrs. Perrin wrote them for me,

and read me yours.She did?

I can'’t believe it.

All that pretty handwriting.

Flo...

Oh, Si.

Here they come.

[ chattering ]

Three cheers for the bride and groom.

Hip-hip!Hooray!

Hip-hip!Hooray!

Hip-hip!Hooray!

What does that say?That sign says, "Excuse our dust."

I think you'’re a doggone liar.

Good-bye, Mrs. Perrin, and thanks for everything.Good-bye, darling.

Good-bye, Vic. And thanks. Good luck, Si.

[ people shouting farewells ]

Why, you'’re in love with her too.

Whatever gave you that idea?

I read those letters.

Well, they ought to be good.

I'’ve had a lot of practice writing love letters.

To hundreds of girls.

It seems to me all this goes to show

that there are none more literate

than those who understand the language of the heart.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]