Original subtitles

THE 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.

During the 1850'’s and 60's,

the hunting in California was not for gold alone.

Sheriffs were busy hunting down

the bands of outlaws that infested the country,

especially along the coast range.

One by one they were exterminated

until, finally, there remained

only the Mexican bandit, Tiburcio Vasquez.

And it'’s his story that I'’m going to tell you.

The story of...

[ chatter ]♪ [ Mexican dance music ]

Born in Monterey, California around 1837,

young Vasquez grew up with a passion

for women and white horses

and an overwhelming hatred of Americans.

It was at a local fandango

that he started on his career of crime.

A Mexican and an American sailor

got into a quarrel.

Hey, don'’t push me, you gringo.

I happen to be the constable, sonny.

Sonny. [ punching, grunting ]

CONSTABLE: All right, break it up.

I said, "Break it up."

If you wanna fight get outside.

I said, "Break it up."

That'’s better.

Who doused the lights?

[ chatter ]

[ punching, grunting ]

[ woman screams ]

Hey, he'’s been stabbed. Who did it?

[ chatter ]

[ horse galloping away ]

[ horse approaching ]

Garcia.

Tiburcio, what brings you here, boy?

I am now one of you. Against the world.

You commit some crime?[scoffs] Just killed an Americano.

Well, it'’s better I don'’t go back.

You let me stay here. I'’ll be useful to you.

There'’s no horse too wild for me.

I'’m a dead shot and quick with a knife.

And no conscience.

We'’ll make a great horse thief out of you, Vasquez.

[ hooting and hollering ]

[ neighs ]

[ hooting ]

[ neighing ]

[ gunshots ]

[ men yelling ]

VASQUEZ: Five years for horse stealing.

They'’ll never keep me here that long.

And when I get out I'’ll show them

what Vasquez can do on his own.

[ gunshot ]

Vasquez.

[ man grunting ]

[ speaking Spanish ]

I can'’t understand a word you say.

You don'’t speak English?No, señor.

Well, I don'’t speak Spanish.

Now, you just keep quiet--[ yelling in Spanish ]

Can I be of help, señor?

I speak both English and Spanish.

Yes, find out what this fella'’s trying to say.

[ speaking Spanish ]

[ speaking Spanish ]

He says he was across the street when he heard the shot.

A man came running out of the store

and disappeared around the corner

into the alley.

Did he get a look at him?

[ speaking Spanish ]

[ speaking Spanish ]

A tall man with a yellow beard.

Gringo?[ speaking Spanish ]

Americanoor not, he cannot say.

[ speaking Spanish ]

The witness says a minute later

he heard the hoof beats of a horse galloping off.

MAN: Thank you, my friend.

I'’m glad to be of help, señor.

At least we now have a clue to the murderer.

I can see that I have to learn Spanish

if I'’m going to serve as county coroner.

It would be well, señor. Si.

[ laughs ] I nearly laugh in his face

when I think that all the time

you have the money right inside your own shirt.

[ laughing ]

Maybe they catch a gringo with a yellow beard

and hang him, I hope.

[ chuckles ] You are clever, Tiburcio.

You know, the first time I talk with you in prison

I say to myself, "There is the man I join up with when I get out."

This is only the beginning, Francisco.

Before I get through, nothing the Americanosown will be safe from Vasquez.

Nothing!

[ humming ]

[ humming continues ]

[ humming continues ]

Uh, pardon, señorita, if I intrude.

It'’s all right.My horse was thirsty.

Go ahead, let him drink.

No, señorita.

The water that has held your image

shall not be sullied.

You Spanish make the prettiest speeches.

You'’re not afraid to ride alone so far from home?

I live just at the foot of the mountain.

The Warner Ranch. Maybe you know it?

Ah, the RW brand, yes, surely.

So that is your ranch?

My father'’s.

I should be going back.

They'’ll worry about me.

If you please?

Oh.

My father, too, has a ranch.

A grant from the King of Spain.

Beautiful.

Where is it?South of Los Angeles.

Along the ocean.

My name is Sepulveda.Sepulveda?

Why, that'’s one of the most famous names in California.

Yes.

And I mistook you for a cowboy.

An ordinary vaquero.

There is nothing ordinary about me, señorita.

You make trouble for yourself.

Ah, but you should see her, Francisco.

Hair like gold. Skin like milk.

If there'’s anything I love more than a white horse

it'’s the white, white skin of a woman.

And how do you think you could ever win her?

You, an outlaw. And with a price on your head?

The same way I get everything else from the gringos.

I steal her.

You want to run your head right into a noose?

This Henry Warner, he'’s a man of influence.

You lay a finger on his daughter

and he will not rest until he sees you swing.

Who is boss here? You or me?

You.

Then hold your tongue before I slit it.

[ cow moos ]

Sounds like a stray. Better take a look.

[ cow moos ]

Help, Father! Help, Father!

Help!

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshot ]

Harriet.

Oh, I'’m all right, Dad. I'’m just a little shaken up.

Oh, thank goodness.

Not satisfied with our cattle and our horses.

Now, the devil, he'’s trying to steal our women.

But, why would a Sepulveda--

Sepulveda? That'’s Vasquez.

The bandit.Vasquez? Are you sure?

Oh, his picture'’s posted on every poster in the state.

He'’s already been sent up to prison and he escaped.

But I promise you one thing.

He'’ll go back to prison for a long, long stretch,

or my name isn'’t Henry Warner.

The Americanos will regret this.

All too soon I'’ll be out of here.

And then, Tiburcio Vasquez will stop at nothing!

Do you hear me? Nothing!

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshot ]

Drop the guns.

Throw down the box.

Everybody out.

Line up.

Please don'’t take the watch.

It was a wedding present from my wife.

I have heard that many times, señor.

Every watch is from the wife.

[ chuckles ]

Francisco.

[ chuckles ]

Ah.

And now the gun, señor.

Ha!

Our next raid will be the general store, Tres Piños.

We follow the usual plan.

Yolo, Lopez, Rodriguez.

Ride into town from the north.

Enter the store and engage the storekeeper in conversation.

Leiva, Chavez.

We ride into town from the south.

Go into the store and take the storekeeper by surprise.

He does a good business, this man.

There should be plenty of money.

Go through his stock.

Take liquor, food, tobacco.

Oh, and boots. We need boots.

Francisco and I will remain outside

to make sure you'’re not disturbed.

Now, is everything plain?

[ all affirm ]

Vámanos, muchachos.

[ neighing ]

Señor,stop!

Señor, do you hear me?

Do not go into the store.

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshots ]

Come on, guys. Vámanos.

Pronto!

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshots ] [ men yelling ]

And so I said to myself, "If there'’s one man

"in the state of California who can track this fella down

"it'’s you, Harry Morris."

I'’ll do my best, Governor.

From now on, forget all your other duties

as sheriff of Alameda County.

Get a posse together and go after Vasquez.

That may take months.

Well, the legislature'’s already voted an appropriation

for whatever it'’ll cost you.

Ah, I appreciate their confidence.

You'’ve earned it, Harry.

You realize how many outlaw gangs

you'’ve whacked out practically single-handed

since you were elected?'’Fraid I lost track.

Vasquez is the last of the line.

And the worst.

He'’ll end up where all the others did.

It'’s just a question of time.

Vasquez is still on a rampage.

Made another raid yesterday.

Robbed the San Gabriel Mission,

then rode up to the north.

Good.What do you mean, "good?"

He might run right into the arms of Harry Morris.

Morris is working his way down here

with orders from the governor to get Vasquez.

Vasquez has found out, no doubt.

He won'’t be caught that easy, the devil.

Our trail'’s getting too hot.

We best scatter and lay low

till Sheriff Morris gets out of the country.

He will never give up, that bloodhound.

He will comb every valley, every canyon.

He'’ll never find me. Not where I'’m going.

I know a place where they'’ll never think of looking.

The adobe house belonging to Greek George.

The rest of you hole up wherever you can.

And keep an eye on Morris.

[ speaking Spanish ]

And so I come to tell you, señor.

You swear you tell the truth?

I swear, señor.

Why do you betray your leader?

Because he betray me.

He take my wife.

All right. Here you are.

Gracias, señor.

Well, Sheriff, when do we go in for the kill?

I have a call to make

on the sheriff of Los Angeles first.

Los Angeles?

Well, after all, this is his territory.

Might as well be notified.

And let Vasquez get away?

Vasquez won'’t make a move

as long as he knows I'’m around.

I'’ll be getting on into town right now.

You'’ve been on the trail how long, Sheriff?

Two months. Travelled 2,700 miles.

All for nothing, I'’m afraid.

Our latest information

is Vasquez has skipped the country.

He'’s on his way to South America onboard a ship.

Red herring.

I happen to know at this moment

he'’s hiding out just a few miles from here.

How'’d you learn this?

MORRIS: From one of his own men.

You'’ve heard of Greek George?

Came through here a few years back with a camel train?

Yes?Well, Vasquez is hiding out

in his empty shack in Allison Canyon.

Very close to the entrance to Laurel Canyon.

We should double-check that.

Oh, by all means. Send out a scout.

You, Smith. Pass yourself off as a farmhand looking for work.

That'’ll give me an excuse to stop

at every house and look around.

We'’ll combine forces.

Better I head back north.

Vasquez'’s gang is watching me like hawks.

If they think I'’m gone they'’ll relax their guard.

But the reward. The honor.

All that matters is that Tiburcio Vasquez be captured.

So long and good luck, gentlemen.

So long.

Vasquez is there, all right. With a woman.

Count on Vasquez to have a woman.

Vasquez kept out of sight,

but I recognize that white horse of his

tied out in the brush.

The time to attack is at daybreak.

Ride out of town during the night.

Take a posse and send them one by one on different routes.

Take up your stand at the mouth of the canyon.

You'’ll head up the posse.

I'’ll stay here in town.

Make sure the Vasquez spies see me on the streets

so they'’ll suspect nothing.

Ah, it seems too bad you can'’t be in on the finish.

You heard what the sheriff for Alameda said.

"All that matters is Vasquez be caught."

House about a mile further down the canyon.

Question is how to approach it without being seen.

We'’ll have to leave our horses, I reckon, and fan out on foot.

Someone'’s coming.

It'’s only a freight wagon.

Only? An answer to our prayers.

We'’ll climb aboard, hide under the canvas

and get the driver to take us right down to the house.

Hold on.

Take us down to Greek George'’s house

and don'’t make a sign or a sound.

[ screaming in Spanish ]

[ gunshot ]

[ neighing ]

Buenos dias.The doctor fix you up, did he?

Good as new.

All your gringobullets couldn'’t kill me.

There'’s still a hangman'’s rope.

I'’m not so bad a man as you think, Sheriff.

[ scoffs ] Sure, I robbed a little.

Tied a few people up.

But Americanos, they drove me to it.

They persecuted me. They--Save your breath, Vasquez.

You'’ll need it in court.

I'’m going to have a big trial?

SHERIFF: You'’ll have a fair trial.

Everybody will come to see me.

The ladies will weep.

Every newspaper will carry my picture on its front page.

It'’ll be your last show on Earth, Vasquez, so make the most of it.

Where have I seen you before?

Charley Miles, our county recorder.

Ah, yes, on the stagecoach.

You gave me your watch.You stole my watch.

[ chuckles ] You can have it back.

I won'’t need it where I'’m going.

It never kept good time, anyway.

They'’re taking you to San José to stand trial.

Hey, easy with the legs, señor.

It'’s still sore from the buck shot.

SHERIFF: Anything you'’d like to say before you go?

Yes. How did you find out where I was hiding?

Don'’t you know the law always catches up with you bad hombres?

It took you gringosten years.But we got you.

Come on, let'’s go.

VASQUEZ: I tell you something.

I planned to do one more robbery.

A big one, $10,000, and then quit. Take a long rest.

SHERIFF: If it'’s a long rest you'’re looking for,

you'’ll get it in eternity.

Contrary to the old saying, it'’s the bad men who die young.

Vasquez was hanged at the age of 37

in the jail at San José on March 19, 1875.

And California was rid of the last

of its great outlaws.

♪ [ trumpet ]