Original subtitles

OLD RANGER: And now, Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy folks.

I'’m the Old Ranger

and I have another interesting true story

for you about the historic Death Valley Country.

If you'’re traveling down the desert,

east of Death Valley,

you'’ll see signs of an old railroad grade,

its tracks long since torn up.

This was the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad,

built at the time of a big mining boom

in Nevada which we so speak in 1907.

A telegraph line extended alongside the tracks,

connecting camps along the route

with the outside world.

Now, my story has to do with the telegraph operators

at three of these stations

and a certain lady known as,

The Rose of Rhyolite.

♪♪ [ piano ]

OLD RANGER: The first of these telegraphers,

Andy Lake, was at Death Valley Junction.

The total population of the junction consisted

about half-a-dozen section hands.

So you can'’t blame Andy much more picking up

any bits of news or gossip that come his way.

And relaying them on to his fellow telegraphers.

He'’s calling Cliff Henshaw now up the line at Beatty.

Let'’s hear what he has to say.

Number... one...

just... cleared...

on... time.

Another box,

American... Beauties,

aboard for

Rose of Rhyolite.

Will... notify

Barney Yates,

Rhyolite

to put

on ice.

Rose must be

some looker.

Barney says,

packs...

'’em... in

Rhyolite Casino.

Get him

introduce us

Saturday night.

Sure,

I'’ll take you

see Rose.

Meet here,

my joint.

Boy,

wait

until you

see her dance.

[ train bell ringing ]

Hey, Andy.

Hello Mr. Collins,

wanna send a message, sir?

I'’ve got a message for you, Andy.

There'’s a carload of livestock coming up

on the next train.

Livestock?Uh-hmm. Beef cattle

for Furnace Creek Ranch.

The foreman will be over to drive them back

to the valley in the morning.

Meantime, you ride herd on '’em.

Me?

You'’re the trade agent as well as telegrapher,

aren'’t you?

[ train bell ringing ]

Just that I have a date tonight.

You had a date.

♪♪

Well, poor Andy'’s missing, stuck down

at Death Valley Junction.

♪♪

MAN: Hey, Rose.

[ chattering ]

She'’s getting ready to throw a rose.

The fellow who catches it gets to be her partner.

Boy.

I win.

No fair, I had it first.

You grabbed it away from me.

Tough luck.

I believe I have the honor.

He'’s lying, I got it first.

Liquor'’s gone to his head.

Never mind the wisecracks, smart guy.

A rose between two thorns.

I come all the way from Beatty.

Well, come again.

Anytime.

♪♪

Dirty two-timer.

Never

so sore

in life.

I got

idea.

Let'’s steal

march on Barney.

Borrow handcar,

take lady

for ride.

Car right

at door.

How about

Sunday?

ANDY: Swell.

♪♪

Pump harder, please.

Supposed you take a turn at it.

No, you'’re doing fine.

Oh, I adore speed. You'’re wonderful.

Flex those great, strong muscles.

Oh, be careful.

I'’ll hold on to you, baby.

That'’s not necessary.

Don'’t tell me a Rose by any other name could be as sweet.

Why, the man'’s a poet.

Oh, he'’s a brass pounder just like me.

Brass pounder?

That'’s slang for telegrapher.

Another nickname is Sparks.

Sparks?

I see what you mean.

What are we stopping here for?

It'’s your turn, Sparks old boy,

to flex those big strong muscles.

I'’ll entertain the lady on the way back.

Ah!

All right, Sparks.

Let her go.

Two is company, three is a crowd.

Yeah? Next time, I'’ll take her alone.

You'’re the fellow that stole the handcar.

I beg your pardon?

Who gave you permission?

Well, you'’ll have to ask him about that, sir.

I intend to. Cliff!

Cliff Henshaw.

Oh. Hello, Mr. Burrows.

Who told you you could take that side car?

You know it'’s strictly against the rules.

This is railroad property.

Just what I told him, sir.

You long around here?

No, indeed. I live way off down the line.

Why? He'’s a telegrapher for the road just like me.

You mean like you was.

You'’re fired, Henshaw.But Mr. Burrows...

Get in the depot and pick up your stuff.

I'’ll give you a week'’s salary.

Let that be a lesson to you.

Putting all the blame on me

when it was your idea in the first place.

One of her side combs.

I'’ll return it to her next Saturday night

when I go over to Rhyolite-- my train.

You and Barney both double-crossed me.

I'’m never speaking to either of you again

as long as I live.

Andy

understands

Cliff quit

job.

Gone

prospecting.

Why?

Cliff

always

was temperamental.

Don... him... now...

boss,

has idea

transfer me

to Beatty.

You

missed it.

Never

meeting

Rose.

Expect me

next

Saturday night.

[ bell clanging ]

What do you say we get into

our gladrags for the casino.

I'’m all dressed.

Oh.

Are you, uh, wearing those?

What'’s the matter with them?

Nothing. Nothing.

It'’s, uh, it's a nice, plain suit.

Don'’t tell me you're wearing soup and fish?

I do have a new outfit.

Come on in the back room.

I'’ll show it to you.

How do you like it?

Blew two weeks'’ pay on it.

Even the galluses are spanking new.

$32.50?

Well, that'’s kind of extravagant

if you'’re gonna be transferred to Beatty.

Beatty'’s a dump.

Well, it'’ll make a nice outfit to get married in...

Married?

Oh, um, you can use

the bowl and pitcher if you like.

Where are you going?

Next door.

Take a real bath.

A good, hot soak.

Rose of Rhyolite,

here I come.

I like dancing. Dance with me.

[ crowd laughing ]

You ripped something?

It don'’t matter.

What'’s a suit?

It sounds like you is made a money.

I'’m beginning to think the wrong man

has been sending me roses.

Oh, baby.

Hey, old blithe spirit.

Take off my coat.

Glad to.

Just the least, little mite...

too tight.

And my vest.

You mean your waistcoat,

that'’s what Rose called it.

And my pants.

[ sighs ]

[ sighs deeply ]

Thanks for the loan, old boy.

Next?

This.

[ steam hisses ]

Good morning, sir.Good afternoon.

Sorry, I was unavoidably detained.

I will--I will have the place open

for business in a jiffy, sir.

Your through, Andy.Through?

Your services as telegrapher of Death Valley Junction

are no longer needed.

Mr. Collins...You'’ve fallen down on a job.

I was knocked down.

I-- Please, sir.

Give me another chance.

I'’ve been with the road since it started.

I helped string those telegraph lines.

Miles and miles of them through

the toughest kind of country.

All right.

We'’ll put you back to work

as a linesman.A linesman?

Maybe six months outside

will knock some sense into you.

Your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

Whatever happened to Sparks?

Sparks?Your cute friend from Beatty.

He said he was coming over again.

Oh.

He turned prospector

and went out into the desert all alone.

And it'’s his job they'’re moving me to,

blast the luck.

It means I'’m gonna be five miles away from you.

And what about that other fella,

the snappy dresser from the junction?

Oh.

They fired him out on his ear.

He'’s climbing telegraph poles again.

Gee.

I'’m losing all of you.

Not me, baby.

ROSE: A diamond!

You like it?How many karats?

Look at it sparkle.

All the colors of the rainbow.

Oh, Barney sweetie.

Thank you.

This...

is where it belongs.

Now, you'’re gonna make me cry.

Now, you just tell me the size of your finger,

and I'’ll get it made out into a ring.

You'’re not going to take it back?

Well, until I get it set.

Please, let me keep it for just a little while.

Like this, so I can look at it

and dream.

About me?

Who else?

[ wind gusting ]

[ thunder rumbling ]

[ door opens ]

What a storm.

It'’s raining rivers outside.

Lucky if you don'’t have any washout.

Number one'’s on time.

We got a dispatch from Shoshone about 40 minutes ago.

She ought to have left the junction by now.

Well, check and find out.Yes, sir.

[ thunder rumbles ]

No answer.

[ tapping on telegraph ]

No, the wire'’s dead.

The line must be down somewhere.

You know, sir, it must'’ve just happened,

or else they wouldn'’t let that train go through

with the cargo she'’s carrying.

Yeah, the Governor'’s aboard.

The Governor?

I was referring to a shipment of explosives,

two carloads.

Holy smoke.

[ train chugging ]

Cliff.

Oh.

Hello, boss.

Son of a gun of a storm.

Mind if I dry off?

Go ahead.

[ thunder rumbling ]

The line'’s down between here and the junction.

You picked a bad time to go.

Track'’s underwater in places.

How deep?

A foot maybe.Any washouts?

CLIFF: Not that I could see.

Number one'’s coming up in the junction

with the Governor aboard.

Great guns. BARNEY: You said it.

Also two carloads of explosives.

Explosives?

You want me to go down the line, sir, and check?

I can take the handcar.

I'’ll go with you.

You stay here on the key, Barney.

Just in case any messages come through.

Right. Come on.

[ thunder rumbles ]

[ wind gusting ]

[ loud bang ]

[ thunder rumbling ]

[ wind gusting ]

Beatty.

Calling Beatty

Calling Beatty

Andy,

where

are you?

About

half mile

south of bridge.

Line down.

Boss,

Cliff

on way.

Be

there

soon.

Right.

So this is where the break is.

Yeah.

We'’ll have to try to fix it

and stop Number One before she leaves the junction.

The water'’s coming down from those mountains.

There won'’t be a pole left standing

down below there.

Well, you try to get through on the telegraph.

Cliff and I will try to make it across the bridge.

[ water gushing ]

There goes the bridge.

She'’s due any minute.

Give me that lantern.

You'’ll never be able to see it from the other side.

I'’m going up that pole, I'’ll signal from there.

[ thunder rumbling ]

[ thunder rumbling ]

[ train whistle blows ]

Here she comes!

[ thunder rumbling ]

I hope she sees it in time.

[ thunder rumbling ]

Look there!

[ brakes screeching ]

You did it, Andy! You did it!

Well, Andy, maybe the Governor will put a medal on you

for saving his life.

I got all I want.

My old job back as operator at the junction.

Same here. You can have the rest.

Well, thanks.

I hope you'’ll all be able to come over

to Rhyolite for the wedding.

The wedding?

Uh-hmm.Who to?

Well, it hasn'’t been announced yet,

but she has the diamond.

Why, you son of a gun.

Well, speaking about diamonds and weddings,

look at this on the front page

of a Los Angeles newspaper

that the brakeman on Number One gave me.

BARNEY: "Wealthy Mining Man

"Marries Rhyolite Dancer

in Surprise Wedding."

It can'’t be!There'’s her picture!

ANDY: "The bride was distinguished

"by a sparkling diamond

in her front tooth."

My diamond.

I'’m through with it, you can have it.

Why, that scheming,

little two-timer.

Three-timer.

And to think, she nearly broke up our friendship.

[ laughing ]

[ laughing ]

So, here we leave them,

our three telegraphers.

Circuits mended, all back at their respective posts.

Everything is normal again

on the Tonopah and Tidewater.