All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S06E05.Fifty.Years.a.Mystery.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

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.

As a boy, I used to hear
this story from old-timers
who had been there

in the old camp of Bodie
when it happened.

They knew Charlie Bates well.

It was a tantalizing story
because it had no end.

Always wound up
with the same question mark.

Then, a half a century later,
the truth came out.

So let'’s go back
to the summer of 1880

and the day
of the Miners Union Picnic,

which marked the beginning
of what was to remain...

♪♪ [ band ] [ people chattering ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

♪♪ [ discordant notes ]

[ cheering, applauding ]

Lemonade?

Here.Why, sure.

Hey![ laughing ]

♪♪ [ drum ]

♪♪ [ humming ][ laughter ]

[ chattering ]

Come on! Come on!
Hey. Hey, come on!

Enough! Hey!

Edith, let'’s get outta here.

I wanna talk to you, alone.

"Far from the madding crowd."

The what?A quotation out of a book.

You do a lot of reading,
don'’t you, Charlie?

Got a lot of time
on my hands nights
as watchman at the mill.

Well, I'’m glad you put it
to good use.

What I do most
is think about you, Edith.

About me?

When I try to read, I--

I find your face coming
between me and the page.

Maybe you need glasses.

Night after night,
I find myself just sitting there

alone in my room,
dreaming of you.

Well, why don'’t you get
transferred to a day shift?

I'’m not complaining
about my job.
I like my job.

Father will be glad
to hear that.

I'’m not talking
about your father.

I'’m talking about you, us.

I love you, Edith.
Will you marry me?

Charlie!Will you?

I can'’t give you my answer
that quick, Charlie.

Why not?

Because I--
I don'’t know what to say.

Say yes.

You will in the end,
anyway.

What makes you think so?

Don'’t keep me on tenterhooks,
Edie, please.

♪♪ [ drum ]

We'’d better hurry back.

Why did I
ever join the band?

Charlie!

Coming!

[ machinery whirring ]

"Standard Mine,
four bars of gold bullion,

1,550 ounces each."

Till you come to heft '’em.

Then they weigh hundreds
of pounds.

[ chuckles ]

Much obliged, Charlie.
Got any letters
you'’d like me to mail?

No, thanks.
My girl'’s right here in Bodie.

Lucky you.

Who'’s riding shotgun
this trip?

Yours truly.

You mean, you'’re going alone,
with a shipment that size?

It'’s safer sometimes.
Road agents see no
shotgun messenger aboard

and figure there
can'’t be enough gold
to make it worth their while.

Well, that'’s one way
of looking at it,
but if I was a passenger,

I'’d at least have
a guard on top.

There are no passengers
this trip.

I'’m going alone.
Well, so long, Charlie.

So long, Donovan.

Hyah! Giddyap!

MAN:
Pull up, and make it fast!

DONOVAN:
Great Scott! A bandit!

Whoa there! Whoa!

Tie up those lines!

Now, fork over.

There ain'’t nothing aboard
but mailbags.

You'’re lying.
Toss down the express box.

[ grunts ]

Dang fool,
going for your gun.

Next time,
I'’ll do more than wing ya.

Now, toss down the boxes.

Don'’t make me
wait all night.

I only got one arm.

[ thud ]

There.And the other one too.

[ box thuds ]

You'’ll never
get away with this.

Now, get going,
and keep going.

Giddyap!
Get outta here! [ hoofbeats ]

I told you, Donovan,
you shouldn'’t go alone.

Donovan?

Donovan?

Well, I'’ll be darned.

[ laughter ]

[ chattering ]

Hey! The stage
has been held up.What stage?

The one that left here
this evening for Hawthorne.

Had a shipment of more than
a hundred thousand aboard.

Where'’d it happen?Who was driving?

How'’d you find out?I dreamed it.

[ man laughing ]

For a minute,
we believed ya, Charlie.

No, it'’s true.

It happened about
a quarter of an hour ago.

What did?The holdup.

Donovan got shot in the arm
reaching for his gun.

[ chuckles ]
Come on, Charlie.

What are you giving us?
[ chuckling ]

He'’s drunk.

I haven'’t had a drop.

I'’ve been sound asleep
in my room since 10:00.

Say, uh, Charlie, did, uh,
you enter the pie-eating contest
at the picnic?

[ chuckling ]No.

Well, something sure gave you
the collywobbles,

busting in here half-dressed
at this hour of the night.

Why, you know
what time it is?

It'’s almost 1:30.

Charlie, the stage
is already in Hawthorne,

and the gold bullion locked up
in the Wells Fargo office.

It was so real!

I heard every word they said.

Heard the thud of the strongbox
when it hit the ground.

I better be getting back
to the mill.

Heh. Well, what do you know?
[ chuckling ]

Dreamed a stagecoach holdup
and really thought it happened.
[ laughing ]

He'’ll have a hard time
living this one down.
[ laughing ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

♪ Beautiful dreamer,
la da-da-da ♪
[ laughing ]

Charlie, do you sleep
on your back or on your side?

[ laughter ]

EDITH:
Charlie!

Edie, good morning.

You'’re not still walking
in your sleep?

You heard about that.It'’s all over town.

I just hope Father
doesn'’t get wind of it.

You wouldn'’t tell him?

And have you maybe
lose your job?
'’Course not.

Do you really think
he'’d fire me?

How would you feel if you were
the superintendent of a mill,

and the watchman went
roaring into the saloon
in his nightshirt, and--

I was not in a nightshirt.

...announcing that the company
had been robbed
of a big shipment of bullion?

Edie, listen.A joke is a joke, Charlie.

But this wasn'’t a joke!

I heard the whole thing as plain
as if I'’d been standing there.

Then you should'’ve thrown
cold water on your face.

That would'’ve waked you up.

You don'’t believe me either.

Oh, I'’ve had dreams myself
that were so real
I couldn'’t shake them off.

Charlie, the boss
wants to see you
in his office.

He'’s waiting for you there.Thanks.

Just tell him the truth,
Charlie.

That'’s all Father
ever asks-- the truth.

You wanted to see me, sir?

Sit down.

I just received a message
over the telegraph wire

from Jack Donovan
in Hawthorne.

Then he got there all right?Yes.

Here.

Read it aloud.

"Stage held up and robbed
on Lucky Boy grade

around 1:00 this morning."

1:00!

That'’s just the time
I dreamed it happened!

Don'’t give me that
"dream" stuff, Charlie.

How'’d you know the stage
was going to be held up?

Mr. Anders,
I swear to you, sir,
I heard it in my sleep.

That holdup took place
over 30 miles from Bodie.

There'’s only one possible way
you could'’ve heard about it.

You'’re in cahoots
with the robber.

Mr. Anders,
if I was in on the deal,

why would I run down
to the saloon and report it?

You'’re not the first guy
who'’s pulled a cover-up trick
like that.

But I tell ya, I was asleep!

Look, somebody
tipped somebody off.

Now, what gang was it,
Charlie?

It was only one man.
Just-- Just one voice I heard.

I know the whole thing
sounds fishy, sir,

but as God is my witness--

Never mind the dramatics.

You'’re under arrest.

You'’re putting me in jail?

I'’m keeping you
right here under guard

until Donovan returns
and we can check his story.

Ain'’t allowed
any visitors, ma'’am.

I'’m not a visitor,
I'’m an angel of mercy.

If you were in trouble,
wouldn'’t you want me
to come and comfort you?

Well, all right.
Just a few minutes, though.

Oh, thank you, Johnny.

What'’s that?A hacksaw.

[ door closes ]

Edie!Charlie!

You poor darling.

Have you heard anything?
Is Donovan back yet?

No. I brought you
some calf'’s-foot jelly.

What?Calf'’s-foot jelly.

What they always bring
invalids and criminals.

Don'’t say that, Edie.
I'’m not guilty of anything.

I had no more to do
with that holdup
than your father did.

Only he didn'’t
dream about it,

and then run a mile to town
to tell everybody.

I was a fool to run off
half-cocked that way, but--

but it was so real.

Like I was standing
right there on the ground.

Do you always have
such vivid dreams, Charlie?

None that ever landed me
in trouble before.

I am in trouble now, Edie.

Even if they can'’t
prove anything against me,

my reputation will suffer,

I may lose my job,

and, oh, darling, I--
I won'’t have a chance with you.

I can promise you
one thing, Charlie:

Father'’s a square shooter.

He'’ll give you
a fair trial.

Oh, come in, Charlie.
You needn'’t stay, Deputy.

Hi, Donovan.Hello, Charlie.

How'’s the arm?Coming along.

I purposely waited till you
were both together, Charlie,

before asking Donovan
any questions
about the other night,

or telling him anything
about your part in it.

His part?It'’s not what you think,
Donovan, I swear.

Please, fellas.

I'’m holding
this investigation.Sorry, sir.

Did anybody besides yourself,
Donovan,

know that you were taking
a shipment of bullion
to Hawthorne?

No, sir.
Except Charlie.

He helped me load it.That'’s part of my job.

There was nobody hanging around
at the time watching?

Nobody aboard the stage?

I didn'’t carry
any passengers
that trip.

In fact...Yes?

I mentioned it to Charlie
as I was leaving, remember?

He asked me
who was riding shotgun,
and I told him nobody.

I was going alone.I see.

This was a regular run?

Sure.

I picked up the mailbags
and started down the canyon

just as it was getting dark.

Everything went according
to schedule

until I reached
the Lucky Boy grade,
around 1:00 in the morning.

That'’s exactly
the time I had my dream.

You go on from here,
Charlie.

Somebody ordered you
to pull up, and you did.

Sure. He had me covered.

He told you to drop the lines.
Then he said, "Fork over."

You said,
"There'’s nothing aboard
but mailbags."

That'’s right.
I hoped I could bluff him.

Then he said, "You'’re lying.
Throw down the express boxes."

By gosh!
You must'’ve been hiding
behind the rocks.

I was right here in Bodie,
asleep in my bed.

Go on, Charlie.

The next thing,
there was a shot.

You gave a grunt of pain.

He said you were a dang fool
to think you could beat him
to the draw.

How in blazes
do you know all this
if you wasn'’t there?

I heard it in my dream.

Thirty-five miles away?

As plain as if it was
right in my room.

And a few minutes later,

he was in the Temple saloon
telling what happened.

Word for word.
I don'’t understand it.

Neither do I.
It'’s a mystery to me.

Just a dream
that came true.

Call it second sight.

Call it anything you please.

I'’m convinced now, Charlie,
that you'’re telling the truth,

and I offer my apologies
for having doubted you.

Thank you, sir.

Goldarnedest thing
I ever heard of.

He'’s what you call
clairvoyant.

He can, uh, see what ain'’t there
and watch where he ain'’t.

You mean that while he'’s on duty
at the-- at the mill,

that he can tell
what'’s going on down here?

Oh, heck.
He can tell what'’s happening
the other side of the world

if he puts his mind to it.

Mm! Gives me the willies.

I always knew there was
something out of the ordinary
about you, Charlie,

but I never dreamed
you had second sight.

I never suspected it
myself until--

well, until I met you.

Really?

Do you remember
the day at the picnic
when I proposed to you?

I told you to say yes,
because you would in the end.

Yes-- I mean, I remember.

I wasn'’t just talking.
I knew.

I can look into
the future now, Edie,

and see exactly
what'’s going to happen.

Don'’t tell me if it's bad.

I see you as a bride

in a white dress and veil,

standing beside me.

I see our home.

A small house at first,
but a big one later,

filled with children.

How many?

A number.
Boys and girls.

Wonderful kids.

Your husband is no longer
a watchman.

He'’s moved on up
to become superintendant.

Father'’s job?

Well, it--

it could be another company.

But I'’m making good money.

We own mining shares

and take trips
when we want to.

You have a fur coat.

No, two of them.

Oh, Charlie!

Sounds like a dream.

My dreams come true,
you know.

Will you marry me, Edith?

With a future like that,
how can I say no?

My darling.

♪♪ [ wedding march ]

You'’re the most beautiful
creature in the world.

I hope you'’ll
always think so, Charlie.

Want me to prophesy?

You'’ll be just as lovely
on our golden wedding day.

Mr. Bates, would you like
to tell our radio listeners

your recipe
for a happy marriage?

Just pick out the right girl
and stick with her.

[ chuckles ]
What do you say, Mrs. Bates?

Well, everything turned out

exactly the way
Charlie said it would.

Even to her
being prettier than ever
on our golden anniversary.

[ chuckles ]

A man doesn'’t have to have
second sight to see that.

But what about this
reputation you have, sir,
for divining things?

Oh, that, uh-- that--

that goes way back
to our days in Bodie.

Don'’t ask me to explain.

It'’s one of those stories

that'’s been
put down in our family
as an unsolved mystery.

Well, it'’s certainly
no mystery

that you are
a mighty happy couple.

And I'’m sure our friends
in the radio audience join me

in wishing you
many more years together.

Thank you.Thanks.

Ladies and gentlemen,

this concludes
our special broadcast

from the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bates

on the occasion of their
golden wedding anniversary.

We return you now
to our main studios.

[ button clicks ]

You'’ve aroused my curiosity,
Mrs. Bates.

What was this mystery?

It was a stagecoach holdup
I heard from 35 mile away.

Well, if you'’re going
to launch on that story,

I'’m going out to the kitchen
and get these gentlemen
some wedding cake and coffee.

Thank you, ma'’am.

When I woke up,
I could hear their voices,

like they was still talking,
right in my ear.

Mr. Bates,
this mill where you slept,
did it have electric power?

No. Machinery
was all run by steam.

There was some
electrical apparatus
in the assay office, though.

Ah. Tell me more
about the building.

What are you driving at, Ed?

Oh, it had
big smokestacks.

And I mean big.

Fifty, sixty foot high.

Brick?

Brick with metal tubing.Yeah?

They were held in place
by guy-wires.

Good stout ones.

Bodie'’s 8,000 foot
up on a mountain, you know.

The winds that hit it
were something fierce.

Where were
the guy-wires anchored?
You remember?

I remember where
one of '’em was.

I fell over it more than once.

It was anchored to a post
sunk in the ground,

the corner of the assay office.

Perfect!

I'’m beginning to catch on.

When you, uh, got ready
for bed that night,
what did you do?

Wound my watch,
blew out the light--

No. Before that.

You said you hung your tuba
on the bedpost.

Oh, that. Yes.

It was an iron bed set?Sure.

Mr. Bates, you didn'’t dream
you heard that holdup.

You did hear it,
by radio.

What?

By radio? Yes.

You picked up
those sound waves
from 35 miles away.

How could he,
without a set?

He had all the equipment needed
for radio reception.

The tall smokestacks
with their metal tubing.

On top of a mountain.The guy-wires running
to the ground.

And other wires,
for all we know.

Electrical equipment
in the assay office
right next to your room.

And last but not least,
the tuba.

The tuba?

There was
your loudspeaker.

Well, I'’ll be darned.

Radio way back in 1880!

It'’s the only
practical explanation.

Then the whole mystery
of 50 years ago

has been solved after all.

And you didn'’t have
second sight at all, Charlie.

Oh, I guess I didn'’t, Mother.

But I was the first person,
I'’ll betcha,

ever to pick up a broadcast
of a news event over the air.

Well, that doggone tuba!

Give her here.

See if I-- if I
still got my wind

after 50 years.

♪♪ [ discordant notes ]

THE OLD RANGER:
The story you'’ve just heard

is one of Bodie'’s
famous stories.

Bodie was a fabulous gold camp
and is now a ghost town.

It has recently become part
of the California State
Park system,

and is well worth a visit

for those who love our true
Death Valley Days stories.