All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S06E08.Rough.and.Ready.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.

The war with Mexico in 1846

added half a million
square miles of new territory

to the United States.

It made a national hero
of the American general
Zachary Taylor

and carried him
to the White House
in the election of 1848.

The Gold Rush
was in full swing

when he took the oath of office
as our 12th president.

Known affectionately
the country over as...

Actually the story
isn'’t about me at all.

It'’s about my namesake.

In the spring of 1849,

just at the time
of my inauguration,

a wagon train of young men
left Wisconsin

for the gold fields
of California.

Their leader
was Captain A.A. Townsend,

who had served under me
in one of my Indian campaigns.

As a compliment to me,
they called themselves

"the Rough and Ready Company."

About time they got here.

Yeah, it certainly is
about time.

Ain'’t he gonna
be surprised.

Yeah, they look
plumb tuckered out too.

Hi, Captain.Hi.

Good to see you.How was your trip?

[ overlapping greetings ]You look fine.

Got any venison for us?

Ain'’t even shot a squirrel.

Been too busy
digging for gold.

Gold?Sure! Show him, Slim!

I was trailing a grizzly
up a ravine yonder,

stopped to get a drink
from the creek,

and found this nugget
staring me smack in the face.

The whole ravine'’s
a bed of gold.

We took out a good $400 worth
while we were waitin'’ for ya.

We'’ve reached
the promised land.

Looks like it, Dominee.

This is it.
We'’ll camp here.

We'’ll camp here!
Unhitch!

Gold! This is it!

Unhitch it, boys!

But the main thing
is to keep this to ourselves.

And don'’t let anybody else
horn in on it.

Right!Good idea.

Wait a minute.
You'’re not gonna keep
this secret very long.

Then we'’ll have to work fast.

Locate everything in sight
regardless of value.

Take out the whole ravine.
Post notices to claim jumpers.

Run '’em off with a gun.
It'’s our discovery.MEN: Yeah!

Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!

There'’ll be a rush here
the minute they hear
that there'’s gold at...

Say, what are we
gonna call the camp anyway?

Wisconsin Flat.[ men jeering ]

God'’s Acre.

[ murmuring ]

There'’s only one
fitting name to give it.

Already painted
on the side of our wagons.

The name of that great soldier
who helped win California
for United States,

now Commander in Chief
of us all,

Zach Taylor,
Old Rough and Ready.

[ cheering ]

All in favor?

MEN:
Aye!

Opposed?

Good.

Come on.
We'’ll christen her.

Yeah!Come on, boys!

I christen this camp
Rough and Ready!

[ cheering ]

Boys, we really
got it made, haven'’t we?

All I did was hold
that bag open, and Brundage here
pours in the gold.

Laying it thick.
Right at the grass roots.

Look at that.
Just while I was eating lunch
today on my claim.

Imagine picking that up...Still can'’t nothing equal

that nugget I picked
out of Squirrel Creek
last September.

MAN:
Is that it?
The original nugget?

That'’s right, stranger.

Worth $1,200.

You dare leave it
out on display like that?

You ain'’t been
in Rough and Ready very long.

No, I just came.

We got laws here
about stealing.

Got '’em all writ.
On paper.

Anybody steals another
man'’s gold gets hanged.

Unless he makes...

Hey, what is that word?"Restitution."

Yeah. Yeah, that'’s it.
Hey, you'’re pretty smart.

What happens to him then?

He gets 50 lashes
on his bare back and 24 hours
to get out of camp.

We don'’t stand
for no nonsense here
in Rough and Ready.

I take it I have the honor
of addressing the founders?

That'’s right.The original
Rough and Ready Company.

Which one'’s
Captain Townsend?

He ain'’t here.
Went back to Wisconsin

to sign up men
who'’ll come out here
and work under contract.

You really have got this place
staked out, haven'’t you?

We ain'’t exactly stupid,
mister.

MAN:
You, uh, want to
work for wages,

we'’ll be glad
to hire you.

No, thanks.
I'’ll locate something
for myself.

Yeah?
If you'’re lucky.

Well, Yankees generally are.

Silas Begg
from Massachusetts.

Brundage, Wisconsin.

Joe Sweigart, ditto.To Rough and Ready!

Darn best camp in California!

And to America!

And to America!And to America.

[ men chattering ]

Hey! A lady.

Oh, please don'’t let me
break up your game.

Game'’s over, miss.

May I, uh--
May I help you, ma'’am?

I'’m looking for
the hotel proprietor.

That'’s me.
What can I do for you?

Oh. Vamoose, fellas.

See ya later.

Now.

Would you like
to register?

I'’m looking for a place
to open a barbershop.

A barbershop?

You want to open
a barbershop?

Well, I know it'’s unusual
for a woman.

It'’s unheard of.

Well, there'’s no law
against it, is there?

Oh, good gracious, no.
This here'’s a free country.

Part of the United States.

If trimming men'’s beards
is your idea

of the pursuit of happiness,
you got a right.

I thought I'’d do better
in a camp like this

than in San Francisco
where we'’d planned to settle.

My husband was a barber,
you see.

Oh. You'’re a widow?

Yes, he...
He died coming overland.

There was nothing for me
to do but carry on, and...

Well, here I am.

Well, you'’re--you're
a mighty plucky little woman,

Mrs., uh...Jessie Babcock.

Mrs. Babcock.

You'’re gonna do very good
here in Rough and Ready.

I'’ve got a room right here
on the ground floor

you can use as a shop.

That'’ll do very nicely,
thank you.

[ Sweigart laughing ]

Yeah, we sure beat out
all those other guys.

Located everything
for miles around here.

Why, I got claims
I ain'’t even touched yet.

Don'’t you have to do
assessment work?

Come the time,
I'’ll hire someone by the day.

Might even unload some of
my claims, the poorer ones.

[ chuckles ]

Got me a nice cabin.

All I need now
is a woman.

[ laughs ]

The news must be
very absorbing.

Hmm? Oh.

Federal government'’s
proposing a tax on miners.

[ chuckles ]

That'’ll raise a howl
from here to Washington.

The citizens
of Rough and Ready
can certainly afford it

with the gold
they'’re taking out.

Present company excepted.

Aren'’t your claims
panning out?

I don'’t own any.

No ground at all?

Not a square foot.
But I'’m still looking.

And here a man
like Joe Sweigart--
Oh, sorry.

Sweigart, boasting
they'’ve got claims

they haven'’t even touched.

They got here first.

It just doesn'’t seem right
they should locate everything,

good, bad and indifferent.

And some of it
is indifferent.

Mm. Bound to be.

Joe says those are
the claims he'’ll unload.

Hmm, naturally.

You don'’t like Joe
very much, do you?

It'’s just that...

Well, he'’s too fresh.

Well, aren'’t they all?

Present company excepted.

Thank you, ma'’am.

Thank you.

Can'’t get away
with something like that.

Come all the way
out here from...

It'’s an outrage.Outrage, it'’s an insult.

Here we name the camp
after the president,

and what'’s he do?
Slaps a tax on us.

That'’s why
we left Wisconsin.

Was to get away from
that sort of thing.

Well, our Yankee friend.

You, uh,
looking for a job?

No, I'’m still looking
for a claim.

You want to buy a claim,
I'’ll sell you one.

Where is it?

Got any money?

Would I be interested
in buying if I didn'’t?

I'’ll take you out there
and show it to you.

It'’s a bargain.

All right.
Let'’s go.

[ water flowing ]

How about letting me
work it on trial?

On trial?
You mean for wages?

Not exactly.

Let'’s go back to camp where
we can talk over a drink.

I'’ll work the ground
for a day.

If I take out
$200 worth of gold

I'’ll buy the claim.

If I take out less,
the deal'’s off

and I just keep
what I'’ve done.

You'’ll take out 200 easy.

Then you get your price,
cash on the barrelhead.

It'’s a good sporting offer,
isn'’t it?

You got nothing to lose.

I'’ll want it in writing.
Black and white.

[ chuckles ]

Nobody'’s gonna put anything
over on you.

Business is business.

All right.
We'’ll draw up a contract.

And we'’ll both sign it.

"Agreement."

"If the party
of the second part..."

That'’s me.

"recovers more than $200
in gold during the day,

"he promises
to buy the claim."

Mm. I get the proceeds
of the first day'’s work.

Agreed.

"If the party
of the second part

"takes out less than 200,

"he keeps it,

"and is not
obligated to buy.

"Signed in
Rough and Ready, California,

"March the 4th, 1850."

There'’s my name on it.

You go to work tomorrow?

At sun-up.

I'’ll have a friend posted there
to watch the claim.

[ laughs ]

You think of everything,
don'’t you, Joe?

Hmm.
[ laughs ]

Yeah, here I sit
in a comfortable chair,

with a beautiful girl
hovering over me,

and getting richer
by the hour.

By sundown I'’ll have
$3,000 more to my name,

besides the gold
that that Yankee

is digging out
of my claim,

at least $200 worth.

Not bad for a day'’s work.
Huh, sweetheart?

[ laughs ]

Hey, Yank.

What are you doing here?
It'’s only noon.

Just weighing
what I'’ve dug so far.

Oh?

Well... $180.

He struck
a rich pocket.

Well, at this rate,
you'’ll take out

4 or $500 before sundown,
it'’s a cinch.

No, I'’ve got all I want.

What do you mean,
you ain'’t quitting now?

Why not?

You agreed to work
a full day.

Oh, no, I didn'’t.Oh, yes, you did.

It'’s in that contract,
I can show it to you.

The contract reads
whatever I take out in a day.

Doesn'’t say how long a day.

Could be one hour,
two hours, a morning.

Why, you shyster,
give me that gold.

No! It belongs
to me, brother.

Less than $200,
you read the scales yourself.

That'’s about the easiest money
I ever made.

And I suppose you won'’t
buy the claim.

[ laughs ]
Don'’t make me laugh.

You can'’t get away
with this.

We have ways of dealing
with fellas like you.

Men have been hung
for less.

I abided strictly by
the terms of the contract.

And you can'’t touch me.

You don'’t know
Rough and Ready!

He'’s a slicker
and a crook!

A double-dealing
son of a gun.

[ all agreeing ]

Let him be and he'’ll
swindle the rest of ya'’.

Wind up by owning the camp.

[ all chattering ]

Wait a minute,
wait a minute!

Where'’s that contract, Joe?
Let'’s see what it says.

Never mind the contract.

What he done
was worse than stealing.

And you know
the penalty for that!

[ all shouting ]

Ouch!Oh, I'’m sorry, Reverend.

My hands have been
shaky tonight.

What'’s wrong?

I'’m worried about
Silas Begg.

You heard how he
outsmarted Joe Sweigart?

Yes.
[ chuckles ]

It'’s not funny, Reverend,
Joe'’s out to get him.

Why, he'’s lined up
all your Wisconsin men,

and a lot of others.

They'’re over in the saloon now
getting drunker by the minute.

Where'’s Si?

In his own tent,
I suppose.

I'’ll go warn him.

He'’d best get out of town
while the going'’s good.

Tie him to a tree
and give him 50 lashes!

Yeah, 50 lashes!

[ cracking ][ all shouting ]

Come on!

Let'’s go!

But there'’s no time
to lose, Si.

I haven'’t broken any law.

They want to
get rid of you.

I have as much right here
as they have.

That isn'’t the point.It is the point.

I'’m an American citizen,
I'’m gonna stand on my rights.

And lose your neck,
perhaps.

Why must you be
so pigheaded?

In New England
they call it "strong-minded."

Whatever it is, forget it.
Clear out.

I'’ll give you my buckboard.

Hitch up and drive
to Timbuktu.

Or back to
Grass Valley, or--

[ men in distance ]

It'’s too late.
Here they come.

You stay in here
out of sight.

Step aside, Dominee.
This is our party.

You have no legal ground.

He swindled me. REVEREND:
Then sue him.

Take him to court.But we know he'’s guilty!

He has the right
to be heard.

That'’s the right
of every American citizen.

Don'’t preach to us, Dominee,
this ain'’t Sunday.

MAN:
The Yankee'’s got to go.

Then find a legal way
to get rid of him,
but not this.

Go back
and talk it over.

So he can skip camp, huh?

I'’m not budging.You'’re dang right
you'’re not!

I'’ll take custody of him
until you make up your minds.

Guarantee to deliver him
when you'’re ready.

Well, I guess
we can trust Dominee.

Let'’s go.

You were a fool, Joe,
to ever sign that contract.

Never mind
about the contract.

How we gonna get rid
of that Yankee?

Pass a law saying
anyone from Massachusetts

is not allowed
in Rough and Ready.

Sure!We can'’t do that.

You know well as I do,
California'’s open to everybody.

Can'’t we do nothing
on our own?

Not if it goes counter
to the laws of the territory.

All right,
then we'’ll get out.

We'’ll withdraw
from California.

We'’ll set up our own
free independent state.

Yeah![ all agreeing ]

The state of
Rough and Ready!

Rough and Ready,
that'’s it!

Wait, wait, wait.Yeah, that'’s what
we'’ll call it!

We'’d have to get
approval from Congress.

We can'’t wait
for Congress.

Congress is the only one
who creates new states
in the Union.

Rough and Ready will have
nothing to do with the Union.

We'’ll secede.

[ muted chatter ]Huh?

Secede?
From the United States?

Sure.Well, well...

That-that'’s sort of
revolutionary, isn'’t it?

Well, if you mean
shooting and bloodshed, no.

We'’ll do it
peaceful as you please.

We'’ll just announce
that Rough and Ready

has become
an independent republic

with its own constitution
and its own president.

Yeah, yeah!
That'’s a good idea.[ all agreeing ]

Say, Brundage, you'’d make
a right fine president.

MAN:
Yeah, he would,
wouldn'’t he?

Well, if I was elected,

I'’d appoint you
Secretary of State,
Mr. Roberts.

Well, thank you! SWEIGART:
We'’ll pass a law

eliminating all
undesirable citizens.

[ all agreeing ]We'’ll do it.

And we'’ll eliminate
all taxes.

[ all shouting ]

And that'’s when all this
came to the desk

of the President
of the United States.

I received word here
at the White House

that Rough and Ready
had formally seceded
from the Union,

that they had elected
Mr. Brundage as president,

and drawn up
this manifesto.

When, in the course
of human events,

it becomes necessary
for a people to unite

in a common cause

for the protection
and benefit of all...

Has a kind of a familiar ring,
hasn'’t it?

Let'’s hear the rest of it.

BRUNDAGE:
When they are at the mercy

of soulless
and mercenary speculators,

reduced to seeing
their property taken over

by the sharp practices
of those who are not of them,

unable to deal with them
in a manner

befitting so great
and able a people

as those of Rough and Ready.

Therefore, we deem it
necessary and prudential

to withdraw from
the territory of California

and from the United States
of America

to form,
peacefully if we can,

forcibly if we must,

the great republic
of Rough and Ready.

"Announcement this
seventh day of April,

in the year of our Lord,
1850."

Well, there it was.
An independent republic,

ironically named
for Zachary Taylor,

the President
of the United States,

comprising a few square miles
and a few hundred citizens.

The first break in
the solidarity of the Union.

A mere pinprick when compared
to the welter of problems

which came to me from
our new Western territory.

But what if every settlement

with a chip on their shoulder
did likewise?

Where would the United States
of America be?

I had no wish to send troops
to fight our own people,

so I gave them a little time
to come to their senses.

Meanwhile...

As president of this great
republic of Rough and Ready,

it is my official duty
to inform you

that you'’ve been declared
an undesirable alien,

and are hereby ordered
to be deported before sundown.

A military escort
will see you
across the border.

In uniform, I hope.

Our army and our navy
haven'’t been organized as yet.

But every citizen has pledged
to fight to the last drop

of his blood if necessary.

It won'’t be.
I'’ll start packing.

You'’ve got five minutes.

Well, at least you'’re getting
out with a whole skin.

And $180 in gold
the Secretary of Treasure
overlooked.

All I know is,
she paid her rent
up to noon today.

MAN:
You mean she'’s leaving?You bet I am.

I'’m an American.
I don'’t like the idea

of living in
a foreign country.

Rough and Ready
ain'’t foreign.

You'’re no longer part
of the United States.

We'’re still Americans.Oh, no, you'’re not.

You'’re ex-patriots.

Well, we still
speak English.

I wouldn'’t feel comfortable
for one minute here,
under a strange flag.

We'’re drawing up
a constitution.

Thanks. I'’ll stick to the one
our forefathers drew up.

There'’s no country
in the world

that'’s been able
to improve on it.

[ door slams ]

JESSIE:
May I give you
a lift, Mr. Begg?

You going my way?

Across the border, into
the United States of America.

I'’d be delighted,
Miss Jessie.

My forbearance proved
to be a wise course.

As the Fourth of July
drew near,

and all the neighboring camps
prepared to celebrate

in a big way,

Rough and Ready
could hold out no longer.

The republic folded.

My namesake
came back into the fold,

and once again ran up
the stars and stripes.

And that'’s the true story
of the secession

of Rough and Ready
from the Union.

And how it
came back voluntarily

to seek the benefits of
belonging to our great republic.