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.

There'’s no business like show business.

And nowhere in its history will you find a chapter

as wild and woolly, as rough-and-tumble

as that of the circus in the days of the 49ers.

I call this story...

[ muttering ]

Hello, Ma.

Something wrong, Ma?

You'’ll hear same time as the others.

[ clanging ]

Thanks, Laura.

Oh, anytime.

Ma'’s calling. Pay time.

Hey, Dan, how about you and me going into town tonight after we get paid?

Well, I--Aw, come on.

It'’ll do you good to relax once in a while.

Well, maybe it would, at that.

[ chattering ]

Dress rehearsal'’s off. In fact, there'’s no show.

The sheriff won'’t let us open tonight.

[ murmuring ]

That Jordan outfit again?

Yep. Opened up on the other side of town yesterday.

Well, didn'’t you explain to him that Duke Jordan always keeps leapfrogging us?

Yeah, I explained, but didn'’t do no good.

Town council won'’t let two shows work Minersville at the same time.

When we passed up our pay last week,

you swore we'’d get paid this week.

Oh, I can pay you. Pay in full.

I begged, borrowed, mortgaged every red cent I could.

Just finished toting it up.

I got all of a thousand dollars.

[ chattering ]Hooray for Ma!

But I'’m not gonna be able to pay you.

Not if I carry out my plans to save this circus.

And the only way that can be done, I figure,

is to bring in a top attraction.

Here. What do you think of his?

[ murmuring ]

"World'’s most famous equestrienne,

"Mademoiselle Juliette Bonet,

and her celebrated trick horse, Comtesse."

How many equestrians does this outfit need?

I suppose I don'’t even rate star billing anymore.

Don'’t say anything now, please.

This oughta pack '’em in, Ma.

Yep. She'’s a real headliner, and she'’ll put us in the big time.

But here'’s the rough:

According to my agreement with her,

she'’s to get a thousand dollars as a legal binder

the minute she lands in Sacramento.

But when will that be?This afternoon.

I just got word she'’s aboard the riverboat from San Francisco.

But the decision ain'’t mine. It'’s up to you folks.

Without her, the Carey Circus is finished.

And then where will we get our pay?

I say even forgetting Ma and what we owe the Colonel'’s memory,

we gotta stick.[ murmuring ]

How about it, everybody?

I say Ma deserves a break.

Yeah, I'’ll go along with that.

[ chattering ]

Guess that settles it, Ma.

Oh, Dan, I gotta talk to you.

Get some clothes on.

You'’re leaving for Sacramento to meet that boat.

Why me?Well, who else in this outfit could I trust

with a thousand dollars and a pretty French girl?

So, you'’re going to Sacramento.

That'’s right, Laura.

I, uh, might come along if you ask me real pretty.

Well, it'’s an awful long trip, Laura.

Mm-hmm. Give us lots of time to, uh, talk.

Aw, here. Let me.

It'’s mighty, uh, nice of you not to squawk

about bringing in that French headliner.

Guess why I did it-- why I didn'’t put the skids

on the whole deal by demanding my pay.

Well, uh, '’cause you're a real trooper.

And '’cause you remember how good the Colonel was to you when you got hurt.

I don'’t owe this fleabag circus a thing.

And don'’t think little Laura couldn'’t land a top spot anywhere.

Try again, Danny boy.

Reason is spelled Y-O-U.

Danny?

Huh?

Look, uh, it wouldn'’t take me long to get dressed.

We could get married in Sacramento.

Just wouldn'’t work out, Laura.

You got the wrong man.

Meaning I'’m the wrong girl.

I suppose maybe you got ideas about something with that little French pastry.

How can I be making plans about a girl I'’ve never even met?

It'’s never too soon to start making plans.

Well, what a lovely surprise!

And the answer, Laura, is yes.I didn'’t hear any question.

Oh, I thought you might be wanting to hang your tights in a Jordan tent.

That Carey outfit can'’t last much longer.

Ma Carey might fool you yet.How?

Dan Rowland is on his way to Sacramento

to pick up a new act that'’s due in on this afternoon'’s boat.

Uh, Mademoiselle Juliette something or other.

Mademoiselle Juliette Bonet?Yes, that'’s the name.

That'’s ridiculous! A headliner like Mademoiselle Bonet

would never join an outfit like Ma Carey'’s.

Oh, wouldn'’t she? Dan has a thousand dollars with him,

and as soon as he hands it to this French dame,

she'’s gonna sign right on the dotted line.

We never could meet competition like that.

Matt! Benny! On the double!

I not only feel grateful, I feel generous.

How much?

I'’m not in this for money.

That makes payment a pleasure.

Still Dan Rowland, huh? [ chuckles ]

That'’s why you want that French girl to join the Carey Circus.

You catch on quick.

Come in, gentlemen. I'’ve got a job for you.

[ horse whinnies ]

All right. No tricks.

[ whinnying ]

[ grunts ]

[ French accent ] Aw, this is impossible!

Never has such a thing happened before.

They know I am coming, and they keep me waiting for more than one hour.

Now, why they not meet me?Don'’t ask me, ma'am.

All I know is I gotta get back on the boat.

Oh, no, you cannot leave me here alone.

I am Mademoiselle Juliette Bonet, who has performed--

Performed before the crowned heads of Europe.

But I gotta perform on the boat, and if I don'’t get back--

No, I forbid it!

First you must find out for me why they do not come.

[ ship horn blaring ]

Au revoir-y.

Oh! Shoot!

Oh, Comtesse.

Why did we come to this terrible America?

Mademoiselle Bonet.

So, all this time you keep me waiting,

like a-- like a nothing,

and now this is all you have to say?

You think I forgive so easily?

I wouldn'’t forgive at all if I were you, mademoiselle.

In fact, I wouldn'’t wait around for them a moment longer.

"For them"? M-Monsieur, you are not...

You think I'’m with the Carey Circus? Oh, please, mademoiselle!

But if you are not with the Carey Circus, how you know I am here?

Word gets around. Though I found it hard to believe

when I heard you were slated to join the Carey outfit.

Well, maybe you can tell me why they do not come to meet me.

That'’s the way they do business. Completely unreliable.

As an American, I was deeply ashamed that a fellow countryman of mine

would keep Europe'’s foremost equestrian waiting on a dock.

You know that I am the important equestrienne?

Everyone in the profession knows of your work, Mademoiselle Bonet.

Permit me.

Uh, "Jordan Circus Enterprises.

Duke Jordan, propiétaire."

"Greatest show in the goldfields."

I had no idea that the great Mademoiselle Juliette

would be interested in an American engagement,

or I would'’ve made you an offer myself.

And mine, need I say, would'’ve been legitimate.

Uh, what means this, uh, "le-- legitimate"?

Bona fide.

That Carey Circus could offer you the moon,

and all you would get would be moldy cheese.

Why, they'’re on their last legs.

"Last legs"?

Broke. Busted. Bankrupt.

Bankrupt?

Oh, I trust, mademoiselle, they don'’t already have you tied to a contract?

Oh, but first they must pay me one thousand dollar.

I'’ll pay you double that, plus whatever salary they offered you,

and a percentage of the take.

Oh, monsieur!

Come. I'’ll have your luggage picked up.

But, uh, before I sign with you, uh, I must tell them.

Why? Did they tell you they were going to leave you stranded here on the dock?

No, but, uh...

they do send me the passage money, and...

I think I wait a little while longer.

But you'’ve waited so long already.

You must be hungry.

Oh, oui,I am famished, and so is my Comtesse.

Well, then, suppose we all go and put on the feedbag.

And later, we can make inquiries,

if you still insist.

D'’accord.[ chuckles ]

[ carriage approaching ] DAN: Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa. Whoa.

What'’s going on here?

This is obviously the welcoming committee that Ma Carey sent.

So, finally you come! Why you keep me waiting?

I'’m sorry, but I almost didn'’t make it at all.

I was held up and robbed.Robbed?

You do not have my thousand dollar?

No, ma'’am.Sounds like an alibi to me.

You know better than that, Jordan.

It was two of your men who robbed me.

Careful, Rowland.

Men have been shot for such talk.

All right, then, so how do you happen to be here?

Had to pick up some cargo from the riverboat.

Heard about mademoiselle and the shocking fact

that no one had come to meet her.

Yeah, well, someone'’s here now.

So vamoose.

He actually seems to think that you'’ll go with him.

First, the thousand dollar.

Look, I told you--Oh, no money, no contract.

No contract, I do not come with you.

Oh, yes, you'’re going with me, even if I have to drag you.

Nobody talks to me like this!

Ma Carey sent me to bring you, and bring you I will.

As soon as you talk to her, you can do as you please.

She'’ll do as she pleases right now.

And she pleases to come with me... to my bank.

Jordan, I'’m warning you.[ chuckles ]

Coming, mademoiselle?

Oh! Oh, no! Oh, no![ grunts ]

[ yells ] Oh, stop it!

[ water splashing ]Stop!

M-Maybe Monsieur Jordan cannot swim!

All rats can swim.

I call the gendarme!

They arrest you for a thief! For a murderer!

Oh, you leave alone my horse!

I scream! You forget who I am!

That I appear before all the crowned heads of Europe.

Oh, no. You put my things back.

I will not go with you!

Oh, no! [ shouts in French ]

I will not go with you! You hear me? I--

Oh, no!

No, I will not! No! [ shouts in French ]

Oh! You are a horrible man.

[ speaking in French ]

Mighty pretty country around here, don'’t you think?

Aren'’t you gonna say anything?

Four hours, and you haven'’t spoken one word.

I do not talk to-- to kidnappers.

In France, you will go to the guillotine.

Look, I had to bring you back to Ma.

So you grab me and throw me into this wagon?

And look what you do to my poor Comtesse.

She'’s cooped up in a boat all the way from France,

and then suddenly she has to run for many hours along very rough roads.

She go lame... maybe.

I'’m sorry. I didn'’t think of that.

Guess we oughta take it in easy stages, I guess.

Whoa!

What you do?

Good place to make camp.

Camp?

Yeah. Ma put up some grub for us in case we got hungry.

Couple of horse blankets in back.

But is there not maybe an inn?

Not between here and Minerville.

I can get down by myself.

Just wanted to help.

You help too much already.

This help?

Oh, but now you will be cold.

That'’s the first friendly thing you said to me.

I-I do not dislike you, monsieur.

But it is most difficult to believe that story you tell me

about that nice Monsieur Jordan sending men to rob you.

That'’s because you don'’t know Jordan and that strong show he runs.

"Strong show"?

One that'’s run by grifters, crooked card games.

Things like that.

Oh, and yours is a, uh, weak show?

Ma Carey runs it respectable.

A real credit to show folks, like you, Julie.

You, uh-- You work for this Ma Carey a long time?

Ma and the Colonel-- He was her husband.

He'’s dead now.

They took me when I lost my folks.

Nine years old, I was.

I, uh-- I also was, uh...

How you say? Um, uh, orphan.

I know what it is to be hungry and alone.

You know how it is when somebody

gives you a home, makes you feel wanted.

That'’s why I had to get you back to Ma.

Without you, the Carey Circus is finished.

Comprende "voose"?

[ chuckles ]

I think I begin to "comprende '’voose'" a little.

Come on! Giddyap! Hey!

You had me worried, boy.

What in tarnation kept you overnight?

It'’s a long story, Ma. Meet your new star.

Oh, madame! Mm!

I am most happy to meet you after what Dan tells me.

A long story, boy? Make it short.

I was robbed on the way to Sacramento.

Robbed?Oh, but Dan says you pay me soon,

so I stick with you, yes?

That'’s mighty nice of you, mademoiselle.

I certainly appreciate it.

You'’ll all get a chance to meet the mademoiselle later.

[ chattering ]Come inside, and we'’ll talk.

There you are. If it gets me what I want, it'’s well worth it.

This oughta get us what we both want. Mm.

Thank you, Duke.Mm.

Yah! Yah! Yah!

Yah!

She'’s great.

Oh, look at her handle that horse.

Yah!

Sacramento in two days!

And you'’ll knock 'em dead, Julie.

"Knock '’em dead"? This is good?Aw, nothing better.

You better hurry along now and change.

Be dark soon. I don'’t want you catching cold.

I'’ll take care of your horse.

Yes?

Oh, I did not recognize you without a costume.

You are the other equestrienne.

[ chuckles ] "The other one" is right.

Well, I see that star billing isn'’t all you took over from me.

Uh, I do not understand.

You sure don'’t. Then Dan had me buffaloed too.

What means this "buffaloed"?

Well, he two-timed me just like he'’s two-timing you.

And if you don'’t know what that means, well,

he'’s playing you for a sap, a sucker, a prized fool.

Oh, please, you go now!

I will not listen to these lies.

Poor kid. You really fell for him hard, didn'’t you?

Well, at least he didn'’t cheat me out of a thousand dollars.

Cheat me?

They hold him up.

Oh, yeah? Well, I saw him with some money.

Big wad of money.

And I happen to know that before he left for Sacramento,

he didn'’t have a thin dime of his own.

No. No, I will-- I will not believe--

Then go to his tent and ask him.

Or are you afraid to?

You'’re glad the big double-crosser isn'’t here, aren'’t you?

You just can'’t bear to find out the truth.

The truth is he did not do what you say!

No? What do you wanna bet?

He was sitting right there on his bed counting it when I saw him.

Well, go on. Go on. Look around. I dare you.

No, it is not right for me--

Was it right for him to drag you here,

to make love to you to get you to stay?

I heard him bragging that it worked out real well.

First thing in the morning, boy, I want you take the crew into Sacramento

and plaster that place so full of handbills--

You-- You-- You-- You big...

I tear you to pieces! I scratch your eyes out!

What in tarnation?What'’s happened?

What'’s the matter with you, Julie?This happened!

I find this in your bed!

You lie about the holdup! You lie about the thousand dollar!

You lie about us too! Now nothing can make me stay!

Nothing! I am going to Duke Jordan'’s--

You'’re not going anywhere!No! [ sobbing ]

No!

Made up the whole story about being robbed!

Yeah, he stole our money.I never would'’ve believed it of Dan.

You yap-heads!

That boy wouldn'’t steal a drop of water if he was dying of thirst.

Don'’t you understand? They'’re holding her against her will.

This is your chance. You can get her if you go there now!

Well, all right. I'’ll go round up some men.

You better wait here.Oh, not on your life.

I wouldn'’t miss this for the world.

Can'’t you see, Julie? Laura must'’ve planted it in my bunk.

It'’s all part of the Jordan scheme to make you leave Ma.

I hate you. I hate you!

All right, hate me, if it makes you feel any better,

but you'’ve got nothing against Ma.

Dan! Dan! Jordan and some of his men are coming up the road!

What do you want, Jordan?

You know what I want. Mademoiselle Bonet.

Well, she'’s staying here.

I happen to know she wants to leave you.

Get her things, boys.

[ chattering ]

Ooh!

[ men shouting ]

[ groaning ]

Go ahead. Get your stuff.

You not pushing me!

Ever since I come to America, people picking me up,

carrying me where I am not wanting to go, pushing me around.

You'’re gonna get pushed around a lot more!

You ain'’t stealing my job and my sweetheart.

Now pack up your stuff and get outta here!

You keep your hands off me.

[ gasps ]

[ horse whinnying ]

Fire!

MAN: Fire! MAN: Fire!

Fire! Fire!

Clear the animals!

WOMAN: Help! Fire! MAN: Save the animals!

[ elephant trumpeting ]

[ horse whinnying ]

[ shouting ]

[ bellowing ]

Come on!

[ elephant trumpeting ]Come on.

Come on!

[ whinnying ]

[ man shouting ]

Well, you'’re free to go now, Julie.

That'’s right, girl. We'’ve played our last show.

Well, just because you have no tents?

Well, in Europe, we play theaters and opera houses also.

That takes money.Well, here is money.

I save it from fire-- the thousand dollar.

That would rent the opera house in Sacramento.

It sure would.

Well, then, it is settled. We open in Sacramento.

And the show-- it will go on and on.

N'’est-ce pas? N'’est-ce pas!

And the show did go on and on,

to become part of the glamorous legend of show business

and of the Old West.