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.

Now, Rosemary DeCamp.

She'’s up to her eyes in something.

Counting laundry.

Eight, nine, 10 pairs of jeans in this week'’s wash,

and 17 polo shirts.

Just because my children are all girls,

don'’t think I escape heavy laundry.

Take a look. Rugged is the word.

Girls, what are you doing?

ALL: Nothing.

It gives me mountains of wash,

but no wash-day headaches thanks to my faithful friend

20 Mule Team Borax.

Use two handfuls in each load of wash,

along with your favorite soap or detergent.

It'’s a fact, friends. Heavy-duty laundry

is made light, easy and quick

with 20 Mule Team Borax in the wash water

because the borax crystals cut grease,

dissolve completely, float the dirt right out.

Speeds and sweetens the whole job.

Important to know. Only 20 Mule Team Borax

can make your wash borax sweet.

We oldsters are lucky.

We can remember Buffalo Bill'’s famous Wild West show.

Last time I saw it was in Billings, Montana,

back in 1905.

Little did I realize then

that one day I'’d be sitting here telling the story of...

THE OLD RANGER: With the show at that time was Frank P. Gable,

Montana'’s champion trick and fancy roper,

and his new bride, Two-Gun Nan.

[ gunshots ]

[ crowd cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

Settle an argument for us, will you, Bill?

I didn'’t know that you lovebirds ever disagreed.

This is purely an impersonal argument.

What'’s the longest distance anyone ever traveled

on horseback without changing horses?

Oh, Cheyenne Bill tried, I'’d reckon,

from Cheyenne to Chicago.About 1,000 miles.

Yes, and his horse dropped dead when he got there.

Nobody'’s ever ridden clear across the continent?

No.

Why, you thinking of trying it?

It would be quite a feat, wouldn'’t it?

Oh, especially for a woman.

You don'’t think I can do it?

Oh, I think you could if any girl could.

Well, she'’s not gonna try.

Frank, please, I really would like to.

3,000 miles alone on horseback?

Not while I'’m in my right mind.

NAN: I know I can do it.

But why? Why would anybody

want to ride clear across the continent, huh?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the other side.

All right, if you'’re dead set on it, I'’ll go along with you.

Oh, Frank.

Oh-- you mean go along together.

Well, sure, we'’re partners, aren't we?

Darling, don'’t you see? The whole point,

the thing that would make it a really great achievement

is for me to do it alone.

It'’d be the first time we'’ve been separated

since we were married, you know.

Frank, I'’ve got an idea.

I'’ll put on exhibitions of roping and shooting

in towns along the way. That'’ll pay for the trip.

Then you could act as advance man,

Go on ahead and make the bookings.

Oh, Nan, why did Buffalo Bill encourage you in this?

Now you got the bit between your teeth.

So stop yanking, darling, and give me my head.

I'’ve named her Lady Ellen.

Oh, you'’re not planning to ride this horse

across the United States?

Why else would I have bought her?

Oh, but this mare is a thoroughbred.

What you need is a mustang.

Just what I told her, a good, tough Western horse.

A mustang is the only horse that will get you through, Nan.

The Pony Express proved that.

[ sighs ] The Pony Express was out for speed.

What I'’m looking for is a horse with morale,

and Lady'’s got it.

Let me show you what I'’m teaching her to do.

My plan is to follow the railroad.

See how she steps on the ties?

Not many horses will walk a high trestle.

You'’re not going and that'’s final.

I don'’t want to see you risk your life.

I run risks every day, twice a day, doing stunt riding.

Bill, stop her. Just tell her she can'’t go.

Oh, leave me out of this, please.

I'’m leaving exactly when I said I would.

12 noon, September 1st,

from the center of San Francisco.

[ band music plays ]

All set, Miss Aspinwall?All set, Mayor McCarthy.

Here'’s a letter I've written to Mayor Gaynor of New York.

I'’ll deliver it to him.I'’m sure you will.

Goodbye and Godspeed from all of us in San Francisco.

[ crowd cheering ]

All right, Lady. Step square on the ties.

Don'’t look down.

[ clopping ]

[ neighing ]

Steady, girl.

We can'’t turn back now.

Easy, Lady.

Don'’t look down, Lady.

Not much further, Lady.

Steady, girl.

[ sighs ]

I won'’t ask that of you again, Lady.

From now on, we'’ll forget the railroad.

Across country.

I'’ll leave you here, Lady,

while I do some reconnoitering,

take a look around.

We'’re lost, all right.

Middle of nowhere.

Lady!

Lady.

Lady!

Lady!

Lady.

Lady!

Lady!

Lady!

NAN: No horse, no pack,

no water.

Just a pair of diamond cufflinks.

And my gun.

"Dear Frank...

"There'’s only one chance in a million

"you'’ll ever read this.

"You were right, Frank.

"It was a fool thing for me to try to make the ride alone.

"Now the worst has happened.

"I'’ve lost Lady, and I can'’t go any farther.

It'’s six weeks and not a word from her.

If she'’d have followed the railroad like she said she would,

she could have wired me.Nan will get there, son.

That girl'’s got the heart of a lion.

Now, take my advice and go on to wherever it was

you were supposed to book her first appearance.

Grand Junction, Colorado. And wait for her there.

She'’ll make it.

[ horse neighing ]

Oh, Lady!

Lady!

Oh, Lady.

Lady, I thought you'’d left me.

[ snorting ]

Still lost, Lady.

But we'’re together.

[ crickets chirping ]

[ men laughing ]

Hey, look.

It'’s a woman.

Wonder where she came from.

Grab a hold of her feet.Say, she'’s pretty.

[ sighs ]

She'’s coming to now.

Where are we?

Construction camp of the Western Pacific.

Near the Utah line.

Where you bound for, miss?

[ sighs ]

New York.New--

New York?

Thanks for your help.

You'’re welcome.Good luck.

[ knocking ]

Guess we'’ll have to wait till morning, Lady.

Well, at least I'’ll have a hot bath

and a bed for a change.

[ low conversation ]

I'’d like to have a room.

Sorry, miss, there ain'’t an empty bed in the house.

Any objection to my sleeping in the barn?

Not if you don'’t mind.

Thanks.

Howdy.

I was in the hotel, heard you couldn'’t get a room.

My ranch is just a few miles out of town.

You could be comfortable there.

This'’ll be all right for one night.

Wouldn'’t cost you a cent.

I'’ve gotta be on my way early in the morning.

Where you bound for?

New York.

New York?

On horseback? What for?

To meet the mayor.

Now if you'’ll excuse us, Lady and I would like to hit the hay.

You know, I took a shine to you the minute I saw you.

I said to myself, "There'’s the gal for me."

Look, honey, the mayor of New York

ain'’t as well fixed as I am.

I own the biggest cattle ranch in the whole state of Utah.

You marry me, and I'’ll give you

a $1,000 saddle as a wedding present.

A $1,000 saddle?

Yes, ma'’am. Silver and gold mounted.

Wait. No, wait, please.

Look, I'’ll throw in a silver bridle. And silver spurs.

I'’ve already got silver spurs,

and I already have a husband.

Bless you, Frank. You didn'’t let me down.

I'’m really proud of you, ma'’am.

That was the best performance you'’ve ever given in your life.

You know why, don'’t you? Because I'’m happy.

We'’ve made up. Oh, Frank.

Don'’t let's ever have another quarrel.

It nearly killed me too.

You'’re gonna finish the ride, I suppose.

The worst is over.

Sierra, two deserts.

I wasn'’t thinking of just the mountains and deserts.

Frank, the men I'’ve met have all been the soul of chivalry.

All right, sweetheart. I'’ll meet you in Omaha.

Hello, I wonder if you can help--

Well.

Hello? Hello.

What do you know about that?

Hello?

Hello!

What'’s the matter with them, Lady?

They think I'’m a bandit?

Got smallpox?[ neighs ]

All right. We'’ll give them the old Western distress signal.

[ gunshots ]

[ shouting ] I'’m a girl alone!

My horse and I are tired, and cold and hungry.

Oh, that makes me mad.

I feel like shooting up the whole town.

By golly, I will shoot it up.

They won'’t forget Two-Gun Nan.

[ gunshots ]

[ Lady neighing ]

We'’re not gonna take you back with us,

we'’re just gonna collect damages, $85.

Look, Sheriff--

You just shot up a town back there,

and that'’s agin the law.

What about the laws they broke?

The laws of hospitality and common decency.

Well... a pretty young woman like you

shouldn'’t be traipsing all over the country

alone anyhow at night.

I'’m on my way to New York.

New York?

It'’s a city on the Atlantic Ocean.

Yeah, I know.

Well...

if you'’re going all the way to New York, I--

I guess I could reduce your fine to...

$8.50?

Halfway across the continent.

From here on, it oughta be pretty easy going.

There'’s good roads and civilized country.

Sounds terribly dull. Just clocking off the miles.

Well, there'’s 1,500 of '’em,

right to the steps of the New York City Hall.

And you'’ll be there.

No, honey, I won'’t.

Frank.

And that'’ll be your big day.

Nobody'’s gonna steal any of the glory.

But you wouldn'’t.

Now remember when you started this whole thing, huh?

You said the thing that would make it great was to do it alone.

And you were right.

Now, you ride Lady right down Broadway

and take all the bells.

Believe me, sweetheart, you'’ve earned them.

Here.

Diamond horseshoe. For good luck, huh?

NAN: Oh.

[ all cheering ]

[ applause ]

Welcome to New York, Miss Aspinwall.

Congratulations on a magnificent achievement.

Thank you very much.

I have a letter here from Mayor McCarthy of San Francisco.

It'’s taken me 180 days to deliver it.

[ applause ] Thank you.

And in return, may I present you

with the key to our great city.

And we hope you'’ll enjoy your stay here

after the ordeal you'’ve been through.

[ applause ]

The trip which you have just completed breaks all records,

for both men and women.

On behalf of the Police Gazette,

I have the honor of presenting you

with this diamond medal,

as the Champion Long Distance Rider of the World.

[ cheers, applause ]

[ gasps ]

If you scream, I'’ll shoot.

That'’s my husband's pin! No!

[ muffled screams ]

[ ringing ]

Hello?

Frank? Oh, Frank, I'’m so glad to hear your voice.

I wish you were here, darling. To protect me.

Yes, protect.

This is no place for a girl alone.

I was held up and robbed, right here in my own hot--

No, no. I wasn'’t hurt.

And they recovered my jewelry.

New York police are wonderful.

They have to be.

Darling... darling, I'’m taking the next train west.

From now on, we'’re working together as a team forever.

And that'’s our story.

Now, I have a surprise for you.

The real Two-Gun Nan,

who appeared with Buffalo Bill'’s

famous Wild West show some 50 years ago.

She'’s retired now and living up north somewhere.

Oh, by the way, where do you live, Nan?

In the Mojave Desert.

I understand that none of your neighbors

know your real life history.

Why all the secrecy?

Well, I wanted to get out of the limelight.

In our day, the crowds chased Frank and me

just as they do for Elvis Presley nowadays.

After this interview,

they'’ll be following you again,

especially in your hometown.

Not a chance.

I'’m going to move right away.

Guns and all?

I don'’t have any guns.

For 30 years I haven'’t had any.

Well, in that case, I'’ll loan you one.

Or have you forgotten how to shoot?

No, indeed. My eyesight is as good now or better

than it was 30 years ago.

Well, I'’ll bet you it isn't.

I'’ll bet you it is.

Put your pipe in your mouth, and I'’ll prove it.

Oh, no. Now, wait a minute.

The bet'’s off.

What'’s the matter? You afraid?

No, just cautious.

Now, seriously, Nan,

would you mind showing us one of your trick shots?

Certainly.

The mirror shot?

Yes, indeed.

Well, here'’s a gun, all ready.

And here'’s the mirror.

Now, would you please step up to the window there?

Now, you see, I knew you were coming,

so I put a tin can on that rock there.

Do you see?

Yes.

I'’d just like to see you knock that off.

I'’ll do my best.

All right, go ahead.

That was wonderful.

Thank you.

And thank you for helping us

bring your true life story up to date.

It was a pleasure, I assure you.