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.

The history of firearms is filled with bizarre contributions

to its progress and development.

None of them, however, was more strange or improbable

than my story tonight.

I call it...

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshots continue ]

[ click ]

Captain Manners!

Sir. My ammunition.

It just ran dry.

Gage. Harrison.

[ gunshots continue ]

Yes, captain?

Sergeant, how many rounds do you have left?

Just what'’s left in the rifle, sir.

Corporal?I'’m just about out too, sir.

Looks to me like the only ones

that don'’t have to worry about ammunition

are them Sioux out there.

But, sir, where are they getting the cartridges?

I don'’t know, and we don'’t have time to worry.

Our only chance is to make a break for it.

[ whinnies]

Captain, the horses.

[ gunshot ] [ gunshots ]

We'’ll be sitting ducks if we try to ride out together.

We'’d better separate.

Each man for himself, pick your own directions.

[ gunshots ]

Lieutenant.

Sir?

I promised your father I'’d keep an eye on you.

If you want to ride with me-- Like you said,

we'’d just be sitting ducks.

I'’ll take my chances like the rest of you, captain.

Good luck. Thank you, sir.

[ gunshots continue ]

[ gunshot ]

This is nice, Yellow Hand.

Very nice. But I'’m afraid it'’s just not worth six blankets.

You understand, don'’t you?

Judy, maybe we ought to--

Pop, you promised.

Oh, yes. So I did. [ clears throat ]

Now, look at it from my viewpoint.

For what I can get for these trinkets,

I'’d be losing money if I gave you more than three blankets for them.

Now, do you think that'’s good business?

[ sighs ] Tell you what I'’ll do.

I'’ll make it four.

Five?

You drive a hard bargain, my friend.

All right, you'’ll get your six blankets.

Pop.

Just charge it up to goodwill this time, Judy.

And from now on, there'’ll be no more trinkets.

I promise.

Oh, well. I never wanted to be a rich man'’s daughter anyway.

I'’ll get the blankets.

Joe, will you please give me a hand?

Thank you, Joe.

[ horse whinnies ]

Pop! Pop!

Pop!

Judy!

Judy!

I had a gander once that I thought was noisy,

but you'’ve got him beat all the way from here to Texas.

Now, what kind of a hospital is this, where the nurse neglects her patient?

Now, Judy, I asked you to saddle up my horse.

I'’ve got a report to make.Now, you just listen to me, Captain Manners.

You'’ll just have to let one of your men make the report.

Judy, I told you before, I-I don'’t know if any of my men got through.

Well, I hope they did.

But you'’re not strong enough to get out of that bed.

Now, if I had my way--

If she had her way, she'’d keep you here all winter.

Fattening you up like a steer for the market.

Pop.

Now, you just tell him you were only fooling

before he gets any wrong ideas.

Go on, tell him.

Now, you wouldn'’t want your father to tell a lie, would you, Judy?

Oh!

[ men chuckle ]

She'’s trying to look mad, but she isn'’t.

She really wants you to stay.

So do I.

Been pretty lonely for both of us

since my wife passed on.

Is that her picture over there?

Yes. Took it on her 40th birthday,

just before we came out here.

This is the bullet we took out of your shoulder.

Figured maybe you'’d like to have it as a souvenir.

No, thanks.

But I appreciate the thought.

Since Stella'’s death, this picture and the Book

have been a great comfort to me.

She was a handsome woman.

Had a great knack for making friends.

It was her got the Indians coming in to trade with us.

I meant to speak to you about the Indians, Mr. Pierson.

They might make good customers, but they'’re still Indians.

We'’ve been here going on five years now

and haven'’t had any trouble.

Well, I can'’t argue with you.

You'’re still alive.

But you'’re the only white man I know who gets along with them.

Well, maybe I'’m the only white man you know

who feels it'’s good business to get along with them.

I guess you'’ve got a point there, too.

You'’ll never make it.

You'’ll just collapse and fall right out of the saddle

before you'’re halfway to that old fort of yours.

Well, the last time I did that,

a lovely young lady came along and rescued me.

Maybe I'’ll be lucky again.

Can'’t you ever be serious?

Pop, you talk to him.

A man has a job to do, he has to do it.

But he'’ll be coming back soon.

Unless-- [ hoofbeats ]

Captain Manners.Hello, sergeant.

I'’m glad to see you'’re alive.

But how'’d you know I was here?

We didn'’t. But when you didn'’t show up back at the fort,

why, we just naturally figured that you were caught in the ambush and killed

along with Lieutenant Rogers.

Is Rogers dead?

Yes, sir.

I saw both him and Corporal Harrison shot down.

I'’m looking for a man named Pierson.

That be you?

That'’s right.

This extra horse we brought is for you.

I'’m taking you back with me.

What'’s this all about, sergeant?

I have orders to bring this man in, sir.

That'’s why we came here.

Well, what'’s the charge?

Selling ammunition to the Indians.

What?

That'’s right, sir.

Those cartridges the Indians have been shooting at us.

They came from him.

That'’s a lie. My pop never--

Easy, Judy.

I'’m sorry, Mr. Pierson, but I'’ll have to ask you this.

Did you sell ammunition to the Indians?

No, captain, I did not.

That'’s all I wanted to hear.

Sergeant, I can vouch for Fred Pierson.

If it hadn'’t been for him, I wouldn'’t be alive.

I'’m sorry, sir, but I have my orders.

I'’ll have to take Pierson in with me.

This extra mount is for you.

I'’m sorry, Mr. Pierson, but you'’ll have to go with them.

Pop, let me go too.

No, Judy. You stay here with Joe and help him take care of things.

All right, sergeant.

Don'’t worry, Judy.

I'’ll help your father iron this thing out.

I tell you, major, I spent four days

with Fred Pierson and his daughter.

They nursed me, they fed me, they fished a bullet out of my shoulder.

I tell you, sir, you get to know something about people

when you'’re that close to them.

Fred Pierson is not the kind of man

to sell out the United States Army

by trading ammunition to the Indians.

I can understand your concern, Owen.

But first let'’s look at the facts.

Now, ever since the army issued its new .50 caliber rifles,

we'’ve been faced with a shortage of ammunition.

That is fact number one.

Yes, sir, but--

Now, just a minute, captain.

Let me finish.

Now, despite the ban which the government passed,

prohibiting the sale of cartridges to the Indians,

our patrols have been outshot 10, 15, even 20 to 1.

That'’s fact number two.

I know that, sir, but what'’s that got to do with Fred Pierson?

I'’m coming to that.

Pierson is an admitted Indian sympathizer.

He'’s been known to sell them goods on credit

and that isn'’t all.

Three months ago, the army declared martial law

and commandeered all the .50 caliber ammunition in this area.

Fred Pierson turned in six cases to our ordnance department.

This paper I'’m holding in my hand is a bill of lading

from an eastern manufacturer.

It shows that Pierson was shipped 20 cases.

My son was killed in that ambush.

It was his first patrol.

I'’m sorry about that, sir.

He was shot down by bullets that should have been in his own gun.

In my book, that makes Fred Pierson a traitor

and a murderer.

He'’ll be tried,

and he'’ll be convicted.

Major,

I ask permission to act as Fred Pierson'’s defense counsel at his trial.

Do you know what you'’re asking?

I do, sir.

Very well, captain. Permission granted.

Thank you, sir.

But none of my shipments ever come through intact, captain.

And with something as scarce as .50 caliber ammunition,

well, it'’s a wonder any of the cases got through at all.

But the ammunition the Indians are using.

Don'’t you have any idea where they'’re getting it?

I really wish I could help you.

Help me?

Mr. Pierson, you'’re standing trial

on a charge of treason.

It'’s your life that'’s at stake.

I'’ll be defending you in the courtroom,

but I'’ve got to prove something beside the fact

that you'’re kind to children and animals.

I'’m sure you'll do your best, captain.

Yes. Guard?

Defendant will rise.

Fred Pierson, you have been found guilty

of giving aid to the enemies of the government of the United States of America.

You are hereby sentenced to be led before a firing squad

and shot at sunset,

September the 8th, 1866.

Look, Pop.

Cold chicken,

cake...

[ sobs ] Pop.

Oh, now, now.

I haven'’t seen you cry since you were six years old.

Remember when that little pony,

Bill I think his name was,

got the colic and acted like he was about to die?

The next day, he was ready to run all the way to China and back.

Oh, but Pop, this isn'’t something you just get over like the colic.

Friday, they'’re gonna take you out and--

Oh, Owen,

isn'’t there anything you can do?

It'’s not his fault. Captain, I wonder if you'’d get me

that picture of my wife I showed you?

And my Bible?

I'’ll get them for you, Pop.

I'’ll go with her. We'll be back before they--

Hello, Joe.

My mother died four years ago.

Ever since then, it'’s just been Pop and me.

It'’s only a piece of lead,

but if it could only talk.

Are you sure this is the bullet you took out of my shoulder?

Yes, that'’s the one.

Judy, I think I'’ve found something

that'’ll help your father.

Let'’s get back to the fort.

You can see for yourself, sir, the bullet is hand-molded.

So?

Well, it means that Fred Pierson

didn'’t sell ammunition to the Indians.

Somehow, they found a way to make a reloadable cartridge.

Hold on a minute, captain.

I can appreciate your concern for Fred Pierson.

He and his daughter were kind to you.

They took care of you when you were wounded.

No, sir. But that'’s not it, sir.

It'’s only natural that you'd want to help him.

But it will take more to stop the execution

than a piece of lead

and a wild story about Indians

making their own cartridges.

But it'’s true, sir.

For years, the finest minds in army ordnance

have been trying to develop a reloadable cartridge.

And you'’re asking me to believe that a bunch of savages could accomplish it?

The execution is scheduled for tomorrow at sunset.

The order still stands.

Did you see him, Owen?

What did he say?

No. If I only had more proof.

I know the Sioux are making their own ammunition.

Why, your father himself said how good they are at making jewelry, and--

Jewelry.

Judy, have you any idea where the Indians make

those trinkets your father takes in trade?

I went there with Pop once.

Think you could find it again?

I could try. Come on.

It'’s not much farther now.

You can see the cave from around that rock.

We'’d better leave the horses here.

That'’s it.

I'’m going in for a closer look.

You stay here with the horses.

If you hear a commotion,

just ride.

Well, we'’ve come more than halfway.

We can take it easier now.

We'’ll get back there in plenty of time.

[ gunshots ][ whooping ]

Quick, over there!

[ speaking foreign language ]

How long do you think they'’ll stay?

An hour. Six hours.

There'’s no telling.

[ gunshot ]

Judy, wait a minute.

Let me go. I'’ve got to get back to the fort.

We can'’t be any help to your father with bullets in us.

If we'’re alive, there'’s still a chance. [ gunshot ]

Oh, guard, are you sure

that my daughter or Captain Manners

hasn'’t returned to the fort yet?

Not yet, Mr. Pierson.

[ gunshot ]

[ click ]

That was my last cartridge.

Well, here'’s where we find out whether these really work.

[ gunshots ]

I wish Major Rogers could have seen that.

These are the last three, Judy.

If we use these, we'’re destroying the proof of your father'’s innocence.

I know what Pop would say.

Use them, Owen.

[ click ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

They'’re leaving!

Come on, quick!

Has Captain Manners reported back yet, sergeant?

No, sir.

Oh, Pop.

You wanted proof, major.

Here it is.

This cartridge is made by the Indians?

It is.

They punch a hole in the empty shell,

cram in a percussion cap,

add a small rock so the hammer will explode it.

The explosive charge is ordinary musket powder.

The bullet-- hand-molded.

You'’ve tested it?

I have, sir, under actual combat conditions.

And I'’m happy to report it performed with complete satisfaction.

This is another of those same shells, sir.

But for your persistence in this matter, captain,

I would have executed an innocent man.

I want to thank you.

And I want to thank God.

Detail! Attention!

Thank you, captain.Dismissed!

I'’m glad we were in time, sir.

The story of how the Sioux beat the United States Army

to the theory of the outside primer

and easily reloadable cartridge

is evidence of the ingenuity and resourcefulness

of that amazing race--

the American Indian.