Original subtitles

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story of real life in the Old West.

Less than two years after Alexander Graham Bell

invented the telephone,

one of the world'’s first long-distance lines

was built in California'’s mother-lode country.

I call this story...

The year is 1878.

Heading for the mining town of French Corral

is a young engineer fresh from Boston.

DRIVER: Whoa.

Howdy.

Hello.

That'’s a cute little fellow you have there.

Yeah, name'’s Fleecy.

Its ma died, so I'’m-a feedin' him.

Looks like you'’re doing a good job.

Pa says if I can keep him alive,

I can have him.

Do you think you could help keep us alive

by giving us a drink of water? [ door opens ]

Sure, stranger. Help yourself.

Thanks.

Don'’t waste none '’cause it's mighty scarce.

Now, don'’t eat too fast, Fleecy.

Aah.This sure is dry country around here.

No water in the stream at all.

Used to be plenty of water.

Till them hydraulicers took it all.

Hydraulicers?

Yeah, them mining fellers.

They come along and built flumes and ditches up above here

and took water that was rightfully ours.

Now us farmers can barely eke out a living.

And don'’t look like we'’ll be able to do that much longer.

Seems hard to believe

that a man would do that to another man

without trying to make some sort of restitution.

Oh, they offered us some money.

But there'’s some things money can'’t buy.

Matilda-- that'’s my woman.

She'’s buried there.

Our roots are here.

I'’m asking you, would you move out?

We'’re not gonna either.

I guess I told you enough about my troubles.

Gee, you must be aimin'’ to fence

a whole passel of land with this wire.

MAN: That ain'’t fencin' wire.

That'’s talkin' wire.

Talkin'’ wire?

That'’s right, talkin'’ wire.

You see this box?

Well, you talk into it here,

and your voice goes through that wire.

And then it comes out on the other end

where there'’s another box just like this.

Oh, it could be way off,

way over on the other side of that mountain.

Appears to me that'’d take a mess of shoutin'’.

[ laughs ] No, you don'’t have to talk any louder

than I'’m talking to you right now.

And your voice goes through the wire,

and it'’s carried for miles and miles and miles.

Hm.

[ dings ]

[ all laugh ]

Some contraption.

What will they think of next?

Who'’s it for, somebody in French Corral?

No, it'’s for the mining company.

Not them hydraulicers.

Yes.

Mister, you two get up on that wagon,

get off my land.

Go on, get!

Get and don'’t come back!

And don'’t you ever set foot on my land again, you hear?

Now, get!

I'’ll help 'em, Pa.

Hyah! Hyah![ horses neighing ]

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Hey, you shouldn'’t have done that.

Whoa, Buck!

Whoa, Stool!

Susan, come back here!

[ neighs ]

I was scared you might turn over and get hurt.

So was I.

My brother shouldn'’t have done it.

Say, can you tell us where the Phillips Mining Company is?

I can do more than that.

Follow me.

This here'’s the place you'’re looking fer.

Thank you.

What are you doing here?

I was just showing these fellas

where your place was, Mr. Phillips.

Oh.

My brother Thad done '’em a real mean trick.

I reckon he ain'’t sorry,

but I am.

Hatin'’ never done nobody no good.

I'’m Steve Warren, Mr. Phillips.

Oh, you'’re the one that's come to put in a telephone line.

That'’s right.

Glad to see you, Mr. Warren.

Thank you.

This is my helper, Stoney.

What happened? Did you have a run in with those farmers?

Well, we stopped at their place to get some water,

and when they found out I was putting a telephone line for you,

why, they told us to get and get fast.

That young'’un's brother helped us get

by whipping our horses.

We durn near overturned.

That farm boy'’s just been asking for trouble.

One of these days I'’m gonna give it to him.

You and I might put it a little differently, Mr. Phillips,

but there'’s a lot of truth in what that little girl said.

Hatin'’ never done nobody no good.

Young man, you come here to put in a telephone.

What do you say we get started?

Right.

There'’s a section of my flume.

They run for 58 miles along San Juan Ridge.

From the dam I built at Milton.

Fifty-eight miles.

On that 58 miles I'’ve got 12 hydraulic diggings.

Twelve monitors.

Like that one over there just going to work on that bank.

Just keeping in touch with them

taking me three days of horseback riding every week.

THAD: Let me go! Let me go! I ain'’t done nothing!

MAN #2: Look what we found on mining company property.

A farmer.What were you doing?

I wasn'’t doing nothing. I was looking for my sister.

You'’re lying.

If you come here looking for her,

you would'’ve passed her on the road.

I cut across the ridge.

Give me that whip.

A while ago you took a whip to these horses

to make them run faster.

Now let'’s see how fast you can run.

Turn him loose!

[ grunts ]

Look at those welts!

Just look at '’em!

He marked my boy, and I ain'’t takin' it laying down.

Till now I'’ve been preaching patience

and praying the Almighty would move Phillips

into giving us our share of the water.

But it looks like even the good Lord

can'’t do nothin' with him,

so I say it'’s up to us.

MAN: I say the same thing.

Anything you do, we'’ll all do.

Yeah, we'’ll get guns.No guns, Thad.

There'’ll be no killin'.

At daylight I want everybody mounted

on their fastest horse. We'’ll meet at Twin Forks.

Now, get home and get some sleep.

By tomorrow night that river'’s going to be running brim full.

I'’ll see 'em out, Pa.

[ bleats ]

Pa? What are you fixin'’ to do?

There, there, Susie. Don'’t you worry about such things.

But you remember what Mama used to say.

Two wrongs don'’t make no right.

Two wrongs don'’t make a right.

Yes, I remember.

But the Bible also says,

"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

What does that mean?

Well, when a man gets pushed too far,

he'’s got to fight for his rights.

[ lamb bleats ]

Now, you go on and put that lamb in the barn.

Then get to bed and I'’ll come in and hear your prayers.

Go on.

Come on, Fleecy.

Mama'’s gonna put you to bed.

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

How'’s it going, Steve?

Well, if my calculations are correct,

we'’ll be hearing from number-two diggings

in a short while.

[ chuckles ] Good.

Phillips, I want to talk to you.

All right, Cannon.

I'’ll give you just five minutes.

I'’ve been a patient man,

not one for violence,

but for the last time I'’m asking you,

are you going to give us water?

For the last time, my answer is no.

I offered you a fair price for your land.

If you don'’t want to take it,

stay and take the consequences.

Phillips, we'’re staying and we'’re gettin' our water.

[ chuckles ] How?

In exactly 10 seconds, you'’ll find out.

All right, I'’m waiting.

[ explosion ]

What was that?

That'’s what you'’ve been waiting for.

[ phone rings ]

Hello.

Hello. Yes. Yes, I can hear you.

What was that you said?

The flumes above number-two diggings have been dynamited.

The water'’s running wild.

Hello. Hello, this is Phillips.

Who did it?

I see.

How bad is it?

Send a rider out to the dam right away.

Have him shut the water off.

Cannon, you'’re going to rot in jail for this.

I was right here when that blast went off.

But you'’re responsible. Some of your farmers set it.

Your men catch any of them?Not yet, but--

See any of '’em?No, but--

Then I'’m afraid you'’ll just have to prove it.

[ horse neighs ]

Well?

Sheriff Robinson says he won'’t do nothin'

unless you got positive proof.

What am I supposed to do, post guards every inch

along 58 miles of flume?

I don'’t know. Unless we do something,

they'’ll keep blowin' them up.

Water, life-giving water.

Thad, tomorrow morning we'’ll irrigate the orchard.

God willing, those dried roots

aren'’t too far gone to drink it up.

Thad says they won'’t be able to shut the water off

for days and days.

Uh-huh. Up we go.

And, Pa, I'’ll help you flood the field,

and we can do some planting.Mm-hm.

Yeah, but the water will only last until they get the flume fixed.

Then we'’ll blow it up again,

and we'’ll keep blowing them up

till Phillips calls it quits.

Let'’s go back to the house and get some sleep.

We'’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.

Pa! The barn'’s on fire!

Fleecy! Fleecy, my lamb! My lamb!

No, Susie, it'’s too late.

There'’s nothing we can do.

[ sobbing ] Oh, Pa!

Oh, Pa.

We can save time and wire

between diggings number two and three

if we cross the canyon here

instead of following the flume.

Uh-huh.

What is it?

It'’s my pet lamb.

[ weeping ] All that'’s left of it.

[ sobbing ]

[ explosion ]

Some of my men were supposed to meet me here.

Have you heard from them?

Not yet.Oh...

What are you going to do now?What can I do but ride again?

What you call riding again isn'’t the answer.

Then what is the answer?

Mr. Phillips, every time one of those monitors are shut down

so the muckers can handle their washings,

an awful lot of water is wasted.

Go ahead.

If we extend the telephone line all the way to the dam,

they can phone there and have it shut down.

According to my calculations,

at least 50% of the water could be saved,

which you can divert to the farmers.

And let them think they'’ve licked me.

They'’d think they'd figured you wrong.

They'’d think you were a pretty nice fellow.

They would not.

Why, even my own men would lose respect for me.

Mr. Phillips, if I were you,

I wouldn'’t care.

But I'’m not you, and I do care.

Well, then let me handle this.

I'’ll tell them all it was my idea

and that I talked you into letting me go along with it.

Well?

According to my calculations,

it'’ll take at least two weeks

to finish the telephone line to Milton Dam.

Now, during that time there are to be no more acts of violence,

no dynamiting...

no reprisals.

Phillips will live up to his end of the bargain.

How do we know he will?

You'’ll have to take my word for it.Your word?

Yes, my word.

Be still, Thad.

When the telephone'’s through to the dam,

Phillips will give us water?

I wouldn'’t be here if I didn'’t believe that.

I don'’t know how the rest of you feel,

but I'’m willing to give it a try.

Whatever you say, Ben, we'’ll back you.

It'’s agreed. There'’s my hand on it.

Good.

Susie.Yes, sir?

I brought you something from French Corral.

What is it?

Come with me.

Is it candy?No.

Is it a dolly?

No.

A puppy!

It'’s sweet.

[ chuckles ]Oh.

Thank you. Thank you.

Pa! Pa, look what I'’ve got!

Stoney, when I get inside,

feed these wires through, will ya?

Right.

Push her through.

Fine.

Well, here we go.

[ phone rings ]

[ rings ]

Hello?

This is Steve. Can you hear me?

Yeah, sure I can hear you.

Where'’re you talking from?

Milton Dam.

Milton Dam!

[ laughs ] That'’s hard to believe.

Fifty-eight miles.

Two days traveling.

Yet I can hear you just like you'’re right here.

We'’re making history, Mr. Phillips.

Now you'’ve got complete control of the water

from here to French Corral.

Looks like my job'’s finished.

Well, maybe it isn'’t.

I'’d like to have you stay, Steve.

I could use a young man like you

in my organization.

Thanks!

See you when I get back.

Good-bye.

He wants to see us down below, Stoney. Come on.

With the saving in water,

we'’ll be able to put in six new monitors

along San Juan Ridge.

Hello, Steve. I'’ll be with you in two minutes.

Now, with these extra monitors,

we ought to be able to double production.

When do you want to start this?

I want you to go to French Corral in the morning,

hire 40 more men,

have them report for work.

Well, now, just a minute, Mr. Phillips.

Why, you won'’t have enough water to run any more monitors.

Well, why not?

Because you'’ve already promised it to the farmers.

I promised it to the farmers?

Well, I promised it to them.

You knew what I was doing, and you didn'’t stop me,

so it amounts to the same thing.

[ chuckles ] Look, my boy.

Let'’s be practical.

My first business

is to make all the money I can

for my stockholders.

If I see a chance

to increase production and efficiency,

I'’d be a fool not to take it.

You'’re asking for trouble, Mr. Phillips.

And I know how to handle it.

With a phone put in all the way to the dam,

it won'’t take the guards long to come wherever they'’re needed.

I feel sorry for you.

[ wood chopping ]

Good evening, Thad. Where'’s your father?

Him and Susie rode over to Johnson'’s farm.

Say, when are we going to get our water?

It looks like you won'’t get any.

After you shook hands with Pa?

Thad, I sympathize with you people.

Mr. Phillips went back on his word.

There wasn'’t anything I could do.

In fact, I rode over here to see if there was any way I could help.

More likely you rode over here to spy on us,

to see what we'’re gonna do now.

I came over here to talk to your father.

You ain'’t talkin' to nobody.

We ain'’t listenin' to your lies.

He ain'’t been at the Bailey,

and the Woods haven'’t see him either.

I'’m a might worried.

Thad ain'’t never stayed out all night before

without letting us know.

Steve told me Phillips was hiring gunslingers,

and you know how hotheaded Thad is.

I'’ll ride down the road a piece toward the diggings,

see if I can find him.

All right, Susie.

Where you been all night, son?

I'’ve been doing what I shoulda done a long time ago.

What do you mean, boy?

I fixed Phillips.What?

Well, I learned he was always the first one in his office,

so I rigged it with dynamite.

This morning, when he comes in, he'’ll get it.

You fool. You fool!

Hey! Steve!

Whoa. Whoa.

Mr. Phillips.

Sure you won'’t reconsider staying, Steve?

I made my decision last night, Mr. Phillips.

I'’m sorry to hear it.Drive on, Stoney.

[ horse neighs ]

Thank the Lord I got here in time.What do you want?

I want to undo something that should never have been done.

That office of yours is loaded with dynamite

that'’s set to go off when you open the door.

And you came to warn me?

Well, you'’re still a human being.

Who did it?Never mind that.

Let'’s get it out of there before somebody else opens the door.

Susie!

Susie!Susie!

[ horse neighing ]

Oh, God.

[ horse neighing ]

Doctor, what are her chances?

There are no broken bones,

and her heart'’s fairly strong.

All we can do is wait.

Terrible that a thing like this has to happen

to wake a man up.

I don'’t hold no grudge, Phillips.

We all needed wakenin'’ up.

If the Lord takes her,

that'’s His will.

[ groans ]

She moved, Doc.

She moved.

Pa.

Baby. Baby.

Mr. Phillips?

Pa.

Ain'’t you two a-hatin'?

No, Susie.

There'’ll be no more hating.

Well, Susie Cannon lived,

and so did the long-distance telephone line.

It was extended to the town of French Corral,

where the old telephone building still stands today.