All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S06E24.The.Girl.Who.Walked.with.a.Giant.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.

Millions of words
have been written

about Sam Houston,
the hero of Texas.

Of his early, brilliant career
as the governor of Tennessee.

Of a strange, self-imposed exile
among the Indians

after the disappointment
of his first marriage.

And of how he avenged
the massacre of the Alamo

and defeated
the Mexican general, Santa Anna,

at the historic battle
of San Jacinto.

But, to me,
the most fascinating angle

of his spectacular career

is the part played in it

by lovely Margaret Lee.

I call this story...

It begins on that
Sunday afternoon in May 1836,

when the crowds rushed down
to the levee in New Orleans

to do honor to Sam Houston,

fresh from his victory
at San Jacinto.

In the crowd,
come to do honor
to Sam Houston,

are his old army mate,
William Christie,

the widow, Nancy Lee,

and her daughters,
Emily and Margaret.

Margaret Lee is 17,

tall, violet-eyed,

a halo of curls above her wide,
intelligent brow.

Tie off that line.

Take up the slack.

Stay back.What'’s wrong
with General Houston?

Is he wounded?Yes.

His ankle was shattered
at San Jacinto.

The doctor
who bound him aboard
was afraid of lockjaw,

and we'’ve been a week
making port
on account of the storms.

I'’ll get him
the finest surgeons
in New Orleans.

I'’m afraid
it'’s too late, sir.

Margaret, the captain
thinks he'’s gonna die.

He can'’t.
He just can'’t.

Come on, fellas.
Help me get him off the ship.

[ labored breathing ]

Sam, it'’s William Christie.

I'’m gonna take you home
and get you a doctor.

[ groaning ]

I'’ll get up by myself.

[ murmuring ]

Mama, he isn'’t--
Not already?

No, dear.
They'’ll take him
to the doctor.

They can'’t let him die.

Not such a great hero.
They'’ve got to heal him.

OLD RANGER:
Three years later,

in the early summer of 1839,

Margaret Lee saw Sam Houston

for the second time
in her life.

It was at the stately home
outside Mobile, Alabama,

where her sister, Emily,
now Mrs. William Bledsoe,

was entertaining
with an elegant soirée

called
the Strawberry Festival.

My husband has never brought me
a more wonderful surprise.

How is it that Alabama
is honored with your presence,
General Houston?

Or, should I say,
President Houston?

HOUSTON:
No longer president,
Mrs. Bledsoe.

I'’m just a private citizen

who'’s come here
to interest your husband

in the investment
potentialities

of the Republic of Texas.

Margaret, we have
a very distinguished guest
I want you to meet.

General Houston,
this is my sister

MissMargaret Lee.

I'’m charmed.

Margaret, why don'’t you
introduce the general
to some of the other guests?

I'’d be delighted.

Uh, must we?

No, not if you
don'’t want to.

I'’d rather
concentrate on you.

It isn'’t often
that a business conference

has such
an enchanting climax.

Here, this
is a strawberry festival,

and I haven'’t even
offered you one.

I'’ve never seen anything
so beautiful.

They are lovely berries,
aren'’t they?

I was speaking of your face.

I'’m glad you like my face.

Because I'’ve liked yours
from the first moment I saw it.

When did you ever
see my face?

Three years ago,
when you were
lying unconscious

on the deck of a schooner.

You don'’t know
anything about me,

but I know a lot about you.

Shall we sit down,
and you tell me what you know?

Well, I know they removed

20 pieces of bone
from your wound that day,

and that you got well
and went back to Texas

and became president
of the Lone Star Republic.

And what else?

You lifted that wild
frontier country
up out of chaos

and made it into a sound,
respected nation.

I know all the wonderful things
you'’ve done for Texas.

But now I'’d like to know
what you'’re going to do
for you?

I hope to fulfill
a long-lost dream.

What is it?

Perhaps soon
there'’ll be a time

when I can tell you.

[ knocking on door ]

WOMAN:
Margaret? Are you there?

Yes, Mother. Come in.

Margaret, it seems to me
you spend too much time
in your room.

Writing to the general again
after I asked you not to?

We may as well have
this thing out now.

He wants me to come
to Texas to marry him.

I won'’t hear of it.

He suggests we have
the ceremony in Texas

when you and Emily
and William come out
for your business trip.

I shall never give
my consent to it.

I shall never marry
anyone else.

You mean that, don'’t you?

Yes, Mother.
I mean it.

Very well.

But the wedding
must be here,
in your own home,

with our own minister
officiating.

Oh, Mother.

[ chattering ]

[ laughs ]Congratulations.

[ laughing, shouting farewells ]

Good luck.

I certainly understand
what you'’re saying.

I share your anxiety,
Dr. Smith.

There'’s no doubt
about it, chief.

You'’ve picked
the ideal First Lady.

First Lady?

Sam, is that what
you two were talking about?

You'’re not gonna run
for president of Texas again?

It isn'’t anything
that I want, sweetheart.

Texas needs him, ma'’am.

The last administration
has ruined the Republic.

Our credit is gone.

Well, then,
let someone else reclaim it.

If you go back
into the president'’s office,

the whole world
will crowd in on us.

The hate of your enemies
will poison the air we breathe.

Oh, Sam, all the happy life

we planned together
will be sacrificed.

Mrs. Houston,

I know the power
you have over the chief.

Do not, I beg you,
use it against the Republic.

HOUSTON:
Margaret and I
will talk it over

and let you know
my decision.

Good-bye, chief.
Good-bye, Mrs. Houston.

Remember,
without Sam Houston,
Texas is lost.

Good-bye, Doctor.

Come again.Thank you.

I'’ve been haunted
for months, Mother,

ever since Sam took office
as president
of the Texas Republic.

What is it you fear?

Assassins.Assassins?

But the place is well guarded,
isn'’t it?

But it isn'’t. Sam refuses
to have a guard posted.

Well, what is this,
the Council of War?

You'’ve guessed it.

[ sighs ]
I'’m tired of playing
second fiddle to Texas.

For just one hour,
I want to be
your number one girl.

I think that
can be arranged.

What have you to offer?

I can give you
a piano concert.

I'’d like that.
It might ease the tension.

And I'’ll go and prepare
a light repast.

♪♪

♪♪ [ continues ]

Sam, do sit down.

And stay away
from that window.

I'’m too restless
to sit down.

What are you working
on tonight?♪♪ [ stops ]

I'’m trying to keep Texas
from erupting into violence

while I work for annexation
to the United States.

Can you do it
and stay alive?

Don'’t worry about me,
sweetheart.

How can I help it?

The Mexicans are hysterical
for vengeance

after
the Santa Fe Expedition.

Some madman will--

[ gasps ]

[ screams ]

[ departing hoofbeats ]

Sam!

I heard a shot.Someone tried to kill Sam.

Assassins?Aw, forget it.

You have to expect
things like this
when you'’re in politics.

The fella was a crack.

Well, there'’s got to be
an end to it.

Because if there isn'’t,
then let Texas go
her headlong way.

Let her people fight and die
if they insist.

Margaret.

This is not the talk
of my courageous wife.

Well, things
are different now.

There'’s only one thing that--
that'’s important to me.

When our baby is born,
I want you here by my side.

Margaret!

Are you glad, Sam?Glad?

Nothing in the world
could make me happier.

I'’ve waited all my life
for a son.

And if it'’s a girl?

It'’ll be a boy.
Has to be.

Name him Sam.

Those papers came by post
from the East this morning.

Weeks old, all of them.

Look at this.

"Polk-- Slavery and Texas.

Clay-- Union and Liberty."

Why do the United States
have to drag
the Texas Annexation Treaty

into it'’s political campaign,
and then mix in
the question of slavery?

Well, Polk was nominated.

Perhaps that means victory
for your annexation plans.

Then why doesn'’t
the Senate act?

Can'’t they see
how important Texas is
to the United States?

But the whole weight
of the abolitionists
is against us.

Everything I'’ve worked for
in this term of office

hangs on getting
that treaty ratified.

Not everything, Sam.

You'’ve kept us
out of war with Mexico,

and you'’ve made peace
with the Indians,

and you'’ve made
Texas sound.

These are immense
accomplishments,
even without the treaty.

But why can'’t we get
some word from Washington?

I can'’t stand the suspense
much longer.

Then let me bring in our son
and relax a little.

Young Sam has been
asking for you.

Fine. Fine.
Bring him in.

So, my son has been
asking for me, huh?

I'’ll tell you what, Junior.

If I can'’t fix it
so you can be a citizen
of the United States,

I'’ll build Texas
into such a nation

that it extends
from the Gulf of Mexico
to the Pacific,

and from Oregon
to the halls of Montezuma.

Excuse me,
Mr. President.

Oh, come in, Collins.

I have an urgent message,
sir.

From Washington?Yes, sir.

Well, what is it?
What does it say?

The United States Senate
has rejected
the treaty with Texas.

[ sighs ]
That'’s that.

I shall retire
from public life.

And I'’ll build that
Texas plantation house for you

that I'’ve been promising
down in Huntsville.

I'’ll call it

Raven Hill.

HOUSTON:
Margaret? Where are you?

Here, Sam, in the garden.

You have news.

It'’s a letter
from Andrew Jackson,
my old chief.

He says, "Congress has
passed a resolution

asking for the annexation
of Texas."

Oh, Sam, at long last.

I hope it isn'’t too late.

Texas may do the rejecting
this time.

With France and England
both working to secure us

a treaty of independence
from Mexico,

we'’ll be strong enough
to go it alone.

You worked so hard
for annexation
to the United States.

You wouldn'’t let pride
overcome your good judgment now?

Andrew Jackson is dying.

He asked me,
as a last favor to him,
not to oppose annexation.

If you don'’t oppose it,
Texas will accept.

I know.

You'’ve already come
to a decision, haven'’t you?

I have.

For the sake of Texas,
as well as for my old friend,

I'’ll give
my hearty cooperation
to annexation.

Darling.

Such fun having you here,
Mother.

It gets lonesome
with Sam way off there
in Washington.

Lonesome?
With those two
obstreperous children,

and another one
on the way?

As much as I love
my children, Mother,

they are not, as yet,
intellectual companions.

I can'’t describe to you

what it has meant to me
in growth of mind

to enjoy
the broad view of things

I share with Sam.

He is a titan
in every sense of the word.

And you are a fit wife
to a titan.

Sam has fulfilled
your every expectation
as a husband?

In all ways but one.

I could wish that
he would join the church.

Perhaps someday he will.

HOUSTON:
My dear love...

tomorrow is
our Communion day,

and, if the Lord spares me,

I expect to attend and partake

of the sacrament
of the Lord'’s Supper.

Oh, Sam, my beloved.

I'’ve prayed for this day.

[ faint chatter ]

Well, Senator Houston,
I hear you were baptized,

and all your sins
were washed away.

I hope so, Domini.

But if they were
all washed away,

Lord help the fishes
down below.

[ both laughing ]

MAN:
Gentlemen, Sam Houston,

[ crowd cheering ] the governor of Texas.

[ no audible dialogue ]

♪♪ [ marching band ][ cheering ]

♪♪ [ continues ] [ cheering continues ]

Listen to that mob.

Rejoicing because Texas
has joined the Confederacy.

Now they'’ll have
to reap the harvest
of bloodshed and ruin.

I did my best to prevent it.

But I failed.
[ sighs ]

It'’s Texas that's failed,
not you.

For more than 20 years,
you'’ve given her

all your strength
and your wisdom,

and her people
have now repudiated you.

Now they command me,
her governor,

to take an oath of allegiance
to the Confederacy,

or else resign
my high office.

Dearest,

I hate to add
to your burdens,

but our son, Sam Jr.,

has enlisted
in the Confederate Army,

in Dr. Ashbel Smith'’s company.

Don'’t cry, my darling.

He has to decide
such things for himself.

And I must decide for myself.

I must make
my decision tonight.

I'’ll see that
no one disturbs you.

And, dearest, my love
and my prayers are with you.

"To my fellow citizens,

I refuse to take this oath."

Oh, God, help me.

I don'’t know.

I don'’t know.

"To my fellow citizens,

"in the name
of our rights and liberties,

"which I believe
have been trampled on,

I refuse to take this oath."

"In the name
of my own conscience

"and my own manhood,

I refuse to take this oath."

Why, dear,
you'’ve been up
all night.

I'’ll never do it, Margaret.

I can'’t go back
on the Union.

I'’m glad you made
the right decision.

It will mean
another upheaval for you.

We'’ll have to move out
of this executive mansion.

And go home to Raven Hill.

I'’ll start packing
this morning.

But first,
let'’s watch the sunrise.

Oh, the city is lovely
in this morning light.

I wonder what the people
in those houses,

in all the houses
of Texas,

will say
of Sam Houston today.

I don'’t know what
they'’ll say today.

But I can tell you what
the people of Texas will say

100 years from now.

They'’ll say no one
ever loved Texas so deeply,

or gave so unselfishly
of his spirit
and his strength

in her service.

I would'’ve given up
long ago, Margaret,

if it hadn'’t
been for you.

Only your love
and your presence

have given me the strength
and the faith

to go on serving.

It'’s you who are wonderful,
my beloved.

No.

I'’m just a girl
who was privileged

to walk with a giant.

And that'’s the story
of Margaret Lee Houston,

whose love and devotion
and high ideals

brought to fulfillment
Sam Houston'’s great potential.

The first First Lady
of Texas.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]