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.

March 17, 1872,

started out like any other day

in the mining camp of Gold Hill, Nevada.

Then suddenly that most dreaded of all sounds--

the fire whistle.

Rescuers are bringing men up

from the blazing depths of the Eureka mine,

as we take you into our story of...

[ horn blowing ]

Now, just watch it. Step up.

That'’s it.

Easy there.

That'’s the last of them.

Is he burned?

Nope, just smoked.

All he needs is a little fresh air.

What a little runt.

You must be hard up for help in that mine.

He'’s a new man,

just came over from Silver City.

[ mutters ]

[ groans ]

Well, you won'’t have to replace him for a little while anyway.

Ain'’t you gonna wait till he comes to?

What for?

So he can thank you.

Took a lot of nerve volunteering to go down in that shaft,

especially your being a woman.

When people are in trouble,

being a woman ain'’t no different than being a man.

Say, mister, would you tell me which one of these shacks

belongs to big--

Oh, excuse me, ma'’am.

I thought you were a mister.

Would you be Big Liz?

I would.

Gosh.

Well, I'’m the fellow that you dragged out of that mine last night,

and I-- I came to thank you.

No need to thank me.

You just happened to be the first one I stumbled over.

Oh-Oh, just the same, you did save my life,

and I wanted to give you a little token of my gratitude.

What is it?

Well, open it and see.

It-- It ain'’t very much,

but I thought maybe you could use it

when you sort of dress up.

I don'’t sort of dress up.

Oh, uh-- what I really meant was,

when you ain'’t wearing them duds.

I'’m a prospector.

I'’m doing a man's work, so I wear a man'’s clothes.

Oh, well, that puts a different complexion on things.

What size britches do you wear?

Huh?

Oh, nothing personal, ma'’am.

I just meant-- I thought maybe I could trade it in

for a pair of britches your size.

No, thank you kindly.

I kind of think maybe I might keep this.

Been so long since anybody gave me a present,

kind of nice to get one

even if I ain'’t got any use for it.

[ clears throat ]

Would you like to sit a spell and have a glass of water or a cup of coffee?

Oh, yeah, that would be very nice,

if it'’s not too much trouble.

If it was too much trouble, I wouldn'’t ask ya.

No, sir.

No more working underground for me.

That fire last night

was the third one I'’ve been in,

and I'’ve had my belly--

I mean, I'’ve had my fill.

I'’m getting me a job

in the fresh air and sunshine.

Got anything in mind?

Not yet, but I'’ll find something.

How about teaming up with me,

prospecting?

With you?

Yeah.

I'’m getting kind of tired talking to myself

and eating my own vittles.

A woman prospector'’s kind of limited

when it comes to teaming up.

There ain'’t any other women

worth their salt.

And the men, they kind of get ideas.

I could handle you.

Well, I don'’t think it would be necessary.

But I don'’t know anything about prospecting.

Well, here'’s a chance to earn while you learn.

I'’ll furnish the grub and equipment

and give you 25% of what we find.

How about it?

Well, I--Good.

Get out of here now, and pack your things.

We'’re going to leave at daylight.

Oh, what'’s your name?

Oh, uh-- uh, Scrubbs. Elford Scrubbs.

But everybody calls me "Scrubby."

Scrubby? Ha! Sure fits you.

Scrubby.

That bacon sure smells good.

There'’s nothing like a good walk to make a man feel hungry.

How long you been a prospector, Liz?

Close on to 15 years.

How come you took it up?

Well, had to make a living.

Yeah, you--

you could have opened a boarding house

or a restaurant or something.

Too many people.

How come you hate people, Liz?

I don'’t hate them.

I just ain'’t got any use for them.

That'’s all.

Most of them, anyway.

Especially men.

How come you hate men, Liz?

Just full of questions, ain'’t ya?

Now, put your food where your mouth is

and let me eat in peace.

Liz. Liz!

Liz!

Look! It'’s the real thing this time!

Gold! Gold! Gold, Liz. Look at it glitter!

Fool'’s gold again?

Fool'’s gold again.

I guess I'’m the fellow they named that fool'’s gold after, Liz.

I ain'’t never gonna make no prospector.

And I ain'’t gonna bring you no luck either.

Aw, shucks, don'’t get so discouraged.

Why, a week ago you couldn'’t even walk.

Yeah.

But I ain'’t doing you no good, Liz.

All I do is eat your grub

and make your disposition worse than it was

looking after me.

But I like looking after you.

You do?

But try to learn a little faster.

Just beats me how anybody can live so long

and know so little.

Sometimes I wonder about that myself, Liz.

[ coughing ]

Smoke bother ya?

It is a little strong.

Well, I spilled this tobacco on the horse,

but I guess I got some hair in it.

Speaking of hair, Liz,

how did you use to wear yours when you was a woman?

Oh, lots of different ways.

I think the way I liked it best

was parted in the middle,

and I had two coils right down here at my--

Hey, what are you asking me that for?

I was just thinking.

That kind of thinking

don'’t come under the heading of prospecting.

I bet were a real good-looking gal.

I wasn'’t the worst-looking.

Did you ever have hankering to put on dresses again?

I never give it a thought.

I'’ll bet you'd still be real handsome.

You know, when we get back to town,

I'’m going to buy you a dress.

You ain'’t gonna do no such thing,

and stop getting so personal.

I don'’t pry into your past.

I ain'’t got no past.

And you ain'’t gonna have no future

if you don'’t mind your own business.

Now, go to bed!

Hey, what'’s going on up there?

Huh?

Why, you almost hit me with this hunk of...

Hey, where did you find this?

Wait now. I didn'’t say it was gold.

I just threw it away.

Where did you find it?

Why, right up there.

Yippee!

[ laughing ]

Is this what gold ore looks like?

No, no, this is silver ore.

Why, I'’ll bet this will assay

better than any silver ore they found in these parts for years.

We'’ve hit it.

Scrubby, we'’ve hit it!

[ mutters ]

Oh, excuse me.

I got so excited, I just forgot who I was.

Yes, sir, fellas,

as soon as I picked up that chunk of ore,

I knew it was the real thing,

but I didn'’t say anything.

No, sir. I just rolled it down the hill

so Big Liz would find it.

And when she spotted it,

she got so excited, she almost split a seam.

"Scrubby," she said, "we'’ve got it!"

And you know something?

She was right.

That mining syndicate

is paying us almost a hundred thousand dollars.

I suppose you and Liz will get married now, huh?

[ chuckling ] Well, we--

we ain'’t never talked about that.

Of course, I-- I wouldn'’t have no objections

if she'’d take off them pants.

Both of us wearing them wouldn'’t be so good.

[ all chuckling ]

Set '’em up again, Rusty.

I'’ll pay you as soon as Liz gets in

on that 3:00 stage from San Francisco.

Ha-ha!

Gosh almighty, it'’s 3:00 now!

Sammy, didn'’t Liz come in with you?

I sure did.

Say...

Liz,

are you something.

I didn'’t know you without your pants on.

I still got them on.

You just can'’t see them. That'’s all.

For gosh sakes,

you'’re not going to wear them both.

I figured it was better

until I got used to skirts again.

Oh.

Did-- Did you put up the deal?

Signed, sealed, and delivered.

How much did you get?

A hundred thousand even.

25,000 is in Wells Fargo Bank in your name.

Oh, gosh, Liz.

Let'’s go in and wash the dust out of my throat.

Wait a minute, Liz.

You can'’t go in there.

Since when?

Since you became a lady.

You'’ve got to use the family entrance.

I plumb forgot there was one.

Hey, fellas, look at Liz!

[ chattering ]

Well, I'’ll swear.

Bust out some champagne, Rusty.

This calls for fancy drinking.

Sure thing.

Well, here'’s to you, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth?

Why, I haven'’t been called "Elizabeth" in years.

Well, nobody'’s going to call you anything else from now on.

Fellas, to Elizabeth.

MAN: Say, I'’d like to join you

in a toast to the lady, if I may.

To Elizabeth.

Liz.

Apparently the shock from seeing me after 15 years

is too much for my wife.

Your wife?

You'’re married to Liz?

Till death do us part,

as the minister says.

[ no audible dialogue ]

It wasn'’t very polite of you, Elizabeth,

walking out on your friends that way.

They'’re liable to get the impression

that you weren'’t glad to see me.

If there was any doubt in your mind, I wasn'’t.

I'’m sorry you feel that way.

I'’m really very happy to see you.

And I can'’t tell you how pleased I was

when I read that article in the Denver paper.

Especially the part about striking it rich.

Yes, I'’ve wondered what became of you

many times.

Yeah, every time you were broke.

Same old Elizabeth.

But it'’s good to be back together again.

This time I'’m going to stick.

As long as it'’s worth your while.

Now, the first thing we'’re going to do

is go on a second honeymoon.

Second?

Then we'’ll buy a nice little house in Denver.

Frisco, if you prefer.

Servants, horses, carriage, all the comforts.

Yes, sir, this time

we'’re going to make a go of our marriage,

like we'’re supposed to.

Work and share together.

I work and you share.

All right, I'’ll give you your share right now--

$10,000 if you'’ll clear out.

10,000?

According to the law, I'’m entitled to half

of what you got from that sale.

And according to the bombastic bragging of your pipsqueak partner,

you have in the neighborhood of 75,000.

All right, I'’ll give you half.

Depriving myself of your companionship

should be worth at least... another 25?

Will you put that in writing?

Anytime, anyplace. It'’s a deal.

No. No, Liz! You can'’t do it.

Well, it seems your little partner was listening.

You ain'’t going to get a bit of her money.

She'’s got to keep it so she won'’t have to go on working.

Between the two, I prefer to work.

I'’ll meet you at my lawyer'’s office

first thing in the morning.

The price has just gone up 20,000.

I haven'’t got that much.

He has.

No, the deal is off.

You ain'’t gonna get none of his money.

Well, I'’d think it over if I were you.

I'’m offering you both a good proposition.

Oh, uh, don'’t wait up for me, Elizabeth.

I'’ll probably stay at the Silver Nugget.

Why do you put up with him, Liz?

He'’s my lawful husband.

Though he never was a husband to me.

You can get a divorce.

No, I tried it once.

He was too smart for me.

I couldn'’t prove nothing on him.

Oh, I just can'’t see no way out of this mess, Scrubby.

♪♪ [ saloon piano ]

[ laughing ]

You were going to harm her.

Confess, you blaggard,

or you'’re doomed.

MAN: Never! Unloose me!

Confess or I'’ll saw you into kindling.

Curse you! Never!

Confess!Never!

Confess, you blaggard!

Aah! I'’ll confess! I'’ll confess!

Then sign here.

Herbert!

And so, justice triumphs again!

I, uh, received a message at the hotel,

saying that you had something of interest for me.

That'’s right.

I got a business proposition.

Come inside.

Sit down.

Why, you little--Look out.

I got a very nervous trigger finger.

What'’s the idea?

I said I had a business proposition for you.

All you'’ve got to do is sign that paper.

I'’ll sign nothing.

You ain'’t getting out of here

until you'’ve signed that paper,

setting her free.

All right, we'’ll just sit here.

I haven'’t got the patience.

There'’s a keg of blasting powder under that table.

Either you sign that paper,

or I'’ll light the fuse and blow you to kingdom come.

What happens to you?

I go with you.

[ chuckles ]

You haven'’t got the guts.

I have for Liz.

I don'’t think so.

The paper'’s right in front of you.

You'’ve got less than a minute to change your mind.

So have you.

Time'’s getting short!

You'’ll put it out.

I heard that you was here.

What are you doing with that gun?

What in the name of common sense?

Now, what'’s this all about?

He was trying to scare me into signing away my rights.

You were going to blow the two of you up?

Yeah, and th-- that was the idea.

He wouldn'’t have gone through with it.

[ laughing ] He hasn'’t the nerve.

Well, I have.

Keep him covered, Scrubby.

The three of us will sit this one out.

Might just as well go up in smoke

as the way we are.

All right, I-- I'’ll sign.

LIZ: Well, make it fast.

[ laughing ]

Oh, that was a good joke, Scrubby.

You sure had him fooled,

using that empty powder keg,

but you didn'’t fool me.

Oh, oh, it'’s not empty.

It'’s the real thing. Look.

Real thing?

[ body thuds ]

Liz!

[ patting her ]Liz.

Oh...

Aah!

Oh, Liz, are you all right?Oh.

What happened?

You-- You fainted.

I did?

You sure did.

And I guess that proves who'’s the best man.

It sure does, Scrubby.

And Scrubby was right.

From that time on,

he wore the pants in the family.

♪♪