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.

Out of every thousand men who joined the California Gold Rush,

I'’ll bet half of them were named John.

To distinguish between them, they had all kinds of nicknames.

Johnny this and Johnny that.

But there'’s only one who's gone down in history as...

It is the last day of August, 1853.

A wagon caravan from Indiana has just arrived

in the mining camp of Hangtown.

Ben, we made it.

This time tomorrow, we'’ll be picking the gold off the ground.

Here you are, men. This is the place to outfit for the diggings.

I got everything you need at prices that can'’t be beat.

Come right on in.

This is your last chance to relax before you head for the diggings.

Plenty to quench your thirst and plenty of girls to dance with.

And if you want to try your luck,

I'’ve got the only honest tables in town.

This is the largest stock in town, men.

Come on and get it. Everything you need to be fully equipped to dig gold.

Well, I'’ll unhitch and sell my team while you'’re selling your wagon.

Right.

WOMAN: Come on in.

Sale. Wagon for sale.

Step right up, folks. I got a wagon for sale.

Anybody want to buy my wagon?

Get your digging equipment here, men. The largest stock in town.

Anybody want to buy my wagon?

I got a real good wagon.

Meet me at the livery stable soon as you get your money.

We'’ll get outfitted for the diggings.

Look here, folks. Wagon.

That'’s it, boys, come right on in.

For sale. Real fine wagon for sale.

Right here, folks.

What maker?I built it myself.

You won'’t find a better one anywhere.

Came all the way from Indiana without a single breakdown.

MAN: What you asking for it?

Well, I was hoping to get $250.

[ chuckles ] For a wagon that'’s taken the beating this one has?

Well, I'’ll throw in the bedding and the other equipment.

With all the folks coming in, that kind of stuff ain'’t worth nothing.

Well, you think 200 would--Sold.

With the bedding and equipment.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Good-looking wagon, Sam.

I never saw a better one.

What'’d you give him for it?

With the equipment, $200.

Why, you big skinflint. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

He'’s only a kid.

If he'’s old enough to wear long pants,

he'’s old enough to look out for himself.

Always like to see a lad carrying a Bible.

My mother gave it to me when I left home.

Just like my own grandmother, rest her soul.

Oh. Um, that storekeeper sure rooked you.

Rooked me?Why, good wagons are at a premium here.

You should have gotten double what he gave you.

I should?

Well, I guess that'’s what comes of being in too much of a hurry.

Yes. You'’ve got to keep a sharp eye out here, sonny.

See this?

I made all this money in less than two hours.

Just by having a sharp eye.Well, how do you mean?

Come along. I'’ll show you.Well, I'’m meeting somebody at the stable.

Well, that'’s all right. It'’s right on the way.

MAN: All right, boys, here it is.

Three-card Monte. Five'’ll get you ten, ten'’ll get you twenty.

Twenty gets you forty. It'’s your eyes against my hand.

Anybody can play it. We have the king of diamonds,

the ace of spades, and the joker.

There they are.

Why, it'’s a gambling game.

It'’s a test of eyesight. Watch.

We have the ace of spades, the king of diamonds, and the joker.

Your eyes against my hands. All right. We shuffle them up.

All right. Pick a card. Where'’s the ace of spades, sir?

That one.

No. That'’s the joker.

The young gentleman is right.

That'’s the joker.

Well, that'’s easy. Anybody can--

Now try it yourself this time. Go on.

Me? Oh, no. I never touched a card in my life.

I promised my folks I wouldn'’t.

You don'’t have to touch them, just point to them.

All right, here we go again.

I repeat, the ace of spades, the king of diamonds, and the joker.

And we shuffle the cards up. And where are they?

Pick a card? The king.

The king? Where is it?

That one. For how much?

Ten dollars.

The young gentleman bets $10.

And the young gentleman is right.

The king of diamonds. There'’s your $10.

And 20 from me, 2 to 1.

Now let it stay there and play it again.

You'’ve got an eye like a hawk, boy.

All right, here we go again.

All right, there they are. Three cards.

Watch me very closely.

All right, which one?

The king. Where?

Right there.

Sorry.

Ace of spades.

I could have sworn. Deal them again.

All right, there they are. Now watch them.

Keep your eye on them. And watch my hands,

because here we go.

Bet? The ace.

Where? There.

Wrong. Sorry. King of diamonds.

John, where you been? I been looking high and low for you.

Now, get your equipment ready, '’cause we're all ready to leave.

You'’ll have to go without me, Ben.

Without you?

I haven'’t got any grubstake.

Well, how come? You sold your wagon, didn'’t you?

Yeah, I sold it.

For 200 bucks.

And I lost it in there.

Gambling?

John, what would your folks say?

They'’d say it serves me right.

Look, John,

well, I got some money left over from the sale of my team

and, well, I'’ll buy you some of the things you need,

and with what I got, we'’ll make out.

No thanks, Ben. I don'’t want to impose on you

because of my own lunkheadedness.

Well, you wouldn'’t be, John.

No, no, no. I'’ll join you later when I'’ve earned some money.

Go on, now. It'’s every man for himself out here.

Devil take the hindmost.

Good luck, John.

And the devil sure took me.

Hi, Sam. Got my wheelbarrow ready?

Well, let'’s go see.

[ tapping ]

Got it finished, Johnny?

Good, good.

Well, I don'’t know how good.

I wouldn'’t guarantee it.What?

Well, this lumber'’s green pitch pine.

When she dries, she'’s gonna crack wide open.

And there'’s no strength to it. Now look.

See what I mean?

I sure don'’t want no wheelbarrow like that.

Wait a minute, Bill.

[ door closes ]

You nincompoop.

I gave you a job out of the bigness of my heart,

and this is how you repay me-- you run customers off.

You'’re fired. But the barrow was no good, Mr.--

It was good enough to sell.

You mean you would knowingly cheat a man?

Get out of here!

I gave you a $5 advance.

Don'’t you leave town until you'’ve paid it back.

Yes, sir. No-no, sir.

"Yes, sir, no, sir."

Why didn'’t you stand up to him?

You don'’t have to take his guff.

I wouldn'’t want to get in a fight, ma'’am.

Fighting'’s a sin.

Who says so?

It'’s the way I was brought up.

All violence is wrong.

I shouldn'’t even have busted that wheelbarrow.

That was an act of violence.

You came to the wrong place, young man, when you came to Hangtown.

I'’m only staying till I can get a stake for the diggings.

You wouldn'’t need somebody to do the chores, would you?

I mean, in exchange for meals.

I don'’t serve meals. Oh.

Well, thanks anyway.

Just a minute.

There'’s a blacksmith up the street named Joe Hinds.

Tell him Goldie sent you, said to put you to work making wheelbarrows.

Wheelbarrows? Wheelbarrows.

Every miner needs one.

Needs more than one, the rate they break down.

Well, mine would stand up. I mean, if I could get decent material.

Tell Joe to give you $10 a barrow.

Ten dollars?

Well, Mr. Dalrymple was only going to give me five.

That skinflint would.

Tell Joe $10, and if he doesn'’t like it, to argue with me.

Ten dollars a barrow, a barrow a day.

Why, in a couple of weeks, I'’d be able to quit and go out and dig for gold.

Gee, thanks, ma'’am. May-Maybe I can do something for you sometime.

I got another one finished, Mr. Hinds.

Oh?

Fine job, John.

Here'’s your $10.

Thank you, sir.

This $10 will give me almost as much as I need

to buy my outfit and join my friends at the diggings.

Couldn'’t persuade you to stay?

No, sir.

Well, if you got your mind set on going to diggings,

I guess the only way to unset it is to go and dig.

Good evening, Mr. Dalrymple.What do you want?

I got a list here of the things I want to take to the diggings.

After I pick them out, I'’ll come back with one of my wheelbarrows and get them.

And pay for them?Don'’t worry, I'’ve got the money.

[ bell clanging ]

Fire!

The whole end of town'’s ablaze.

Blacksmith'’s shop. My money!

[ overlapping chatter ]

Tough luck, Johnny.

Why do these things always happen to me?

There'’s plenty of others that lost everything.

Must be punishment for something that I--

Oh, stop blaming yourself. It just happened, that'’s all.

These things don'’t just happen. We bring them on ourselves.

I'’ve been doing something that'’s wrong.

Well, for one thing, it was wrong to keep the money under the floor.

You should have put it in the bank.

The bank has a safe that even a fire can'’t touch.

"Owe no man anything."

I'’ll never get to the diggings.

I might as well quit trying.

I'’ll stake you, Johnny.

Fire didn'’t even touch my place.

I'’ve got plenty of money in the bank.

Come on, how much you need? A hundred? Two hundred? Three hundred?

I'’d be ashamed to borrow from a woman.

Then I'’ll give you the money.

Thanks. But I can still build wheelbarrows.

Yes, sir?

I'’d like to open an account.

Well, come on in.

The bank is always glad to welcome a new depositor.

Just, uh, sign your name right here.

Your money couldn'’t be in a safer place.

No danger of moths?

Moths?

Well, you know what the Bible says about treasure laid up on earth,

where moths and rust doth corrupt and thieves break in?

[ chuckles ]

You don'’t have to worry about any of those things, my friend.

Not with this bank.

There you are, $35.

Thank you.

Guess I don'’t have to worry about fires now.

Ben!

Johnny! Johnny, where you been?

We'’ve been expecting you to turn up at the diggings every day.

Well, I was all ready, but the big fire cleaned me out.

Sorry, John.

Is that gold?

Heft it.

You dug all this?

Me and a couple other fellows. I brung it down to the bank for safekeeping.

You know how much I took out in one day?

More than $700.

Seven hundred dollars?Yes, sir.

I'’ll see you later, Ben.

John, what'’s the hurry?

I gotta go back to the shop and make some more wheelbarrows

so I can go to the diggings.

Hello, Miss Goldie.

So, Wheelbarrow Johnny'’s going to the diggings at last.

I would have gone before this if I hadn'’t had so many orders to fill,

and I didn'’t want to disappoint folks.

Say, when'’s Joe coming back from Sacramento?

He'’s due in this afternoon.

You bought your outfit yet?

Nope. I'’m going over to the bank now, and then to the store.

Know how much money I got in the bank, Miss Goldie?

Three thousand dollars.

You'’re not carrying that with you to the diggings?

Nope. I'’m just drawing out what I need.

Well, don'’t you leave without saying good-bye.

I won'’t.

Open up!

Sorry, the bank'’s closed.

But it'’s only 2:00.

We'’re closing early today.

Monthly audit.

Look here, I'’ve got to draw out some money.

I'’m leaving town in the morning, going to the diggings.

I gotta get my supplies.

Sorry. You'’ll have to wait till tomorrow.

That pigheaded young Dutchman.

All right, get along with your work.

Everything out of the safe and packed up

so we can move it out of here after dark.

Hello, Joe.

Johnny, good to see you.

I was afraid you'’d left already.

I'’m on my way tomorrow.

I'’m supposed to pick up my outfit this afternoon, but the bank'’s closed.

Closed? An hour early.

Monthly audit, the bank man said.

Seems like more things can happen to hold me up.

Monthly audit?

I don'’t like it, Johnny.

You don'’t think anything's wrong, do you?

Gee, I got $3,000 in that bank.

I got 20,000, and I don'’t intend to lose it.

Lose it?I heard a rumor in Sacramento.

Come on over to the shop where we can talk.

You mean a big bank like McAdams is in trouble?

Some branches aren'’t as strong as Hangtown.

I know how these fellows operate.

Get in a jam in one place, can'’t meet their obligations,

they have money from another branch to take care of it.

Rob from Peter to pay Paul.

They'’d rob us?

They wouldn'’t call it that.

Somehow, they'’ve always been able to make it good.

I don'’t like the sound of this.

What do you think we can do?

They wouldn'’t dare take it out in daylight.

If they'’re gonna do it at all,

they'’d do it at night.

We can watch from here.

Come on.

Stars are fading.

Be morning before long.

Yeah.If they was gonna be here,

they would have been here by now.

Looks like we wasted a night'’s sleep for nothing.

At least our money'’s safe. First thing in the morning,

I can go and draw out what I-- [ door opens ]

I was right. They are taking it out of the bank.

They'’re putting it in the store.

That Sam Dalrymple. Pretty smart.

That way, they can freight it out in boxes and barrels in broad daylight,

and nobody'’d be the wiser.

You keep watch. I'’ll go get the sheriff.

Yeah, go on.

Sheriff?

Sheriff!

Sheriff must be out of town. They might take it out before he gets back.

What do we do?Act on our own.

Have we got the right?It'’s our money, ain't it?

What I mean is-- Come on.

[ pounding on door ]

JOE: Open up!

[ pounding continues ][ whispers ]

What'’s the idea of breaking into my store?

So, this is what you call an audit, huh?

Sneaking this out of town to some other branch, eh?

What business is it of yours?

Twenty thousand dollars of that happens to be mine.

And three thousand is mine.

Very well, gentlemen. I'’ll give it to you.

And the rest you'’ll put back in the bank.

"Put back"?

That money belongs to folks who trust you.

It'’s every cent some of them have got.

What you'’re doing is just like stealing it from them.

All I'’m doing is carrying out orders from the head office.

Not this time.

See here, Hinds.

You'’ve got no right to tell him what to do.

Haven'’t I? No, you haven'’t.

Then I'’ll let the town folks tell you.

After I tell them what'’s going on here.

Stop him!

[ grunting ]

All right. Now, everybody grab an armload.

It'’s getting daylight.

Somebody'’ll see us if we go traipsing over to the bank with it now.

Yeah. All right. You go back to the bank

and get ready to open up as usual.

Joe and I'’ll take care of this.

Looks like you got yourself a little load there, Johnny.

Sure have. What is it?

Load of gold for the bank.

Gold. [ laughing ]

Johnny. Joe tells me you'’re pretty good with your fists.

I'’m proud of you.

I'’m kind of proud of myself.

Fighting makes you feel good when it'’s for a good cause.

Well, I got mine out.

One hundred cents on the dollar.

Folks in Hangtown owe you a debt of thanks.

I like Hangtown.

Now I'’m leaving it.

Letter for you, Johnny.

It'’s from one of my brothers.

It'’s a good thing it caught up with you

before you left for the diggings.

I won'’t be going to the diggings.

Not going?

Not now or ever.

Johnny.

We can use my money to better advantage back home.

So I'’m going back to Indiana. South Bend.

What'’ll you do when you get there? Make wheelbarrows?

No, ma'’am. I'’ll build wagons.

And build wagons he did.

And from wagons, went on to automobiles.

That money he'’d earned and saved in Hangtown

was the initial capital for a company that became world famous.

For Wheelbarrow Johnny'’s name

was Studebaker.