Original subtitles

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

I guess it was because of his shortcomings

as a man and a doctor that Thomas Bell looked back

on his adventurous army career in the Mexican War

as the high point of his life.

A life that was to be marked by danger and violence.

A life in which he was destined to use both...

Good evening, ladies.Good evening, Dr. Bell.

Doc Tom!

Hi, Ellie.

You promised you were coming to the dance tonight.

Did I?

Well, in that case, you better save a few waltzes for me.

Uh, that is if your young man won'’t object.

Will Skidmore'’s not my young man,

and I'’m sure he won'’t object.

But I'’m not so sure you'’ll show up.

You'’re getting to know me too well.

Well enough to know that church dances are much too tame

for anyone who craves excitement like you do.

Well, I find you very exciting, Ellie.

And, um...

You'’d better get back to Will

or we'’re both gonna miss that dance.

Sorry, I didn'’t mean to keep you from your friends.

Hi, Doc.Hi, Sam.

Hi, boys. Ted.

Hey, you got room for an amateur in this game?

There'’s always room for you, Doc.

Now we can really start the game.

All right, come on, Doc, sit down.

What'’ll it be, Doc?

You better bring a bottle, Sam.

Looks like it'’s gonna be a long night.

[ all laughing ]

Fifty.

50. I'’m outed.

Dr. Tom, there'’s a man waitin'’ at your house.

He says you gotta come and help his wife.

He give his name?

Gid Wyler. He says you know him.

Yeah. Yeah, I know him.

Denny, you ever have a whole dollar?

No, sir.

Well, it'’s all yours if you go tell Mr. Wyler

you couldn'’t find me.Yes, sir, Dr. Tom.

Poker before patients, huh, Doc?

Rachel Wyler isn'’t a patient, she'’s a chronic complainer.

Spends most of her time dreaming up imaginary ailments.

Does seem kinda funny though

that Gid would come all the way into town this time of night.

Well, I'’ll tell you it isn'’t anything

that won'’t wait until tomorrow morning.

Now, are we playin'’ poker, boys,

or are we discussing Mrs. Wyler'’s aches and pains?

We'’re playin' poker, Doc. We'’re playin poker.

Dr. Tom, I--Gid, are you still at--

I mean, it'’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

Now, I'’m too tired to think about anything right now.

But I'’ve been waitin' all night for you, Dr. Tom.

It'’s Rachel, she got awful bad belly pains.

So bad she just screams when I even touch her.

How did you get down here?Buckboard is out back.

Well, bring it around front, I'’ll get my bag.

Dr. Tom, I don'’t know how to thank you.

Rachel.

Rachel.

It'’s Doctor Tom, Rachel.

Come to make you better.

She'’s gonna be all right, ain'’t she?

She is gonna be all right, ain'’t she, Dr. Tom?

She'’s dead.

[ gasps ] Oh, no.

No. Oh, God in heaven, no.

Morning, Mrs. Roth.

So, he give the kid a dollar and told him

to tell Wyler that he couldn'’t find him.

Mike was there. He--

[ saloon doors swinging ]

[ people muttering ]

This game open?

Ed and I had enough.

Yeah, I think I'’m gettin' a little tired myself.

Looks like I broke up the game.

Could be.

[ knocking on door ]

ELLIE: Tom.

Tom, let me in. [ knocking continues ]

Tom, I just had to see you.

You shouldn'’t have come here, Ellie.

Tom, people are saying all kinds of dreadful things.

Oh, they'’re true.

I killed Rachel Wyler.

But they say she had a ruptured appendix.

You can'’t blame yourself for that.

I should'’ve gone to her when they first called.

I suppose it was a mistake.

But I want you to know, it doesn'’t change

the way I feel about you.

Thanks, Ellie.

You'’re the only one I'’m going to miss.

Miss?

Yeah, I'’m leaving this town.

But it'’ll blow over, Tom.

[ exhales ] No, I'’m getting out.

You'’re always getting out.

You had a medical career in the East, you quit it.

You came here looking for gold and you quit that.

Now you have a good practice and you'’re gonna run away.

You'’re a drifter, Tom. You like to drift.

Maybe.

All right then, blame yourself.

Brawl on the streets, gamble your head off,

let this thing drive you out.

Oh, Tom, I love you so much.

Well, it'’s no good, Ellie.

Everything you say is true.

I am a drifter.

I'’m 35 years old, that'’s way past the age

when most decent men settle down.

You'’re 19, you have a good home here,

people who love you.If you mean Will Skidmore--

Well, he'’s a fine boy,

and he does love you very much.

When will you be going?

Soon as I can make arrangements.

[ door opens and shuts ]

Yes?

You Doc Bell?

The office is closed.

It just opened up again.

You mind telling me what this is all about?

We got a patient for you, Doc.

Now, get your tools together. Make it fast,

because we'’ve got a long ride ahead of us.

Take him inside.

MAN: Come on, Doc.

How is he?He hasn'’t come to yet.

That doctor better be good.

[ panting ]

What'’s the word, Doc?

Well, the wound'’s badly infected.

He'’s running a high fever.

[ panting ]

How did it happen?

I'’ll give you one guess, mister.

The other fella'’s dead.

Well, I'’ll tell you something, mister.

Your friend'’s going to be dead if he doesn'’t have proper care

for the next week.

Hey, Doc.

Come closer.

Let me see your face.

What did you say I needed?

One of your friends will have to stay with you.

See that that wound is kept clean

and properly dressed.

[ chuckles ][ panting ]

Maybe you'’re not my friend, Doc,

but it looks like you'’re elected.

You scared?

Should I be?

You'’re all right , Doc.

All right.

[ gunshots ]

Been a little shaky.

Well, not so shaky considering the fact

you were almost dead a week ago.

In a few more days you'’ll be able to ride again.

And what happens to me then?

You'’re free to ride out of here any time you want.

The way I hear it,

you ain'’t got very much to go back to.

So, I was thinkin'’, uh--

why don'’t you stick with me and the boys?

What did you say?

I said why don'’t you join up with us?

Well, thanks, but I don'’t think it'd work out.

I'’m a doctor, not a very good one maybe,

but I can'’t forget it.

Well, who'’s askin' you to forget it?

Look, pal, let me spell it out for you.

There'’s times when we need a doc real fast.

We can also use somebody with guts.

And you think I'’m that man?

Well, I know you'’re not the kind of a man

that can stand being stuck in a stinkin'’ hole

like Firebaugh'’s Ferry,

doctorin'’ babies and old women.

Nah, you'’re like me.

You were in the war.

Guess it kind of stayed in your blood.

You need action.

Well, there'’s plenty of action with us,

and plenty of money.

How would I get sworn in?

Like this.

[ gunshots ]

Just hold tight, folks, and nobody'’ll get hurt.

All right, lady, drop it right in here.

Hold up! Hold up!

C'’mon, let's get out of here.

Come on!

[ horse whinnying ]

C'’mon, let's get going!

Put a damp cloth on the back of her neck

and let her lie down for an hour or two, she'’ll be all right.

MAN: Hyah! Yah!

[ gunshots ]

I'’m out.

Me too.

I'’ll just raise you 100, Doc.

Your 100 and-- and a 100.

[ chuckles ]

You win, Doc. Take it.

[ horse snorting ]

It'’s Chip.

He wasn'’t due back till sundown.

[ door closes ]

Well, was I right about the gold shipment?

Yeah.

But I got more news for you.

"Dr. Tom Bell, former resident,

"has been identified as one of the men

"who robbed the Sonoma Bank earlier this month.

"Bell'’s identity was established by a small scar on his cheek,

"and by the professional medical manner in which

"he attended one of the bank customers

"who fainted during the hold-up."

Pretty dangerous, being tied in

with a guy that'’s already been definitely identified.

MAN: Not the first time a man'’s ever been recognized.

Yeah?

Well, I say he clears out and rides his own trail.

And I say he'’s one of us and we ride together.

Doc, you'’re not gonna let

a little newsprint throw you, are ya?

No, it'’s something else there in the paper.

This weddin'’ thing?

Forget her, Doc.

There'’s all kinds of women.

Lots of '’em.

Gal that wants a church wedding

and husband home every night,

that'’s not for us.

Like I said,

we gotta keep on the move,

stir up our own kind of excitement.

Well, what are we gonna do, Dave?

Now that the Doc'’s known, this whole territory'’s

gonna be awful hot for us.

Yeah, we better get movin'’.

Yeah.

But before we ride out of here,

we'’re gonna go for a big one.

The one I had Chip check on.

A $100,000 gold shipment is gonna be moved

by overland stage to Sacramento.

Leaves Firebaugh Ferry next Monday.

They'’ll have four riders beside their regular shotgun guard.

There'’ll be four Express men, makin'’ out like them passengers.

But how do we ever expect to beat those odds?

We won'’t try,

'’cause this stage ain't gonna be carryin'’ the gold.

I was tipped, it'’s a decoy.

The real shipment is gonna be aboard

the next one, on Tuesday.

They want everybody to think

that this Tuesday stage

is makin nothin'’ more than a routine mail run.

So, it won'’t be carryin the extra cars.

Where we hit '’em?

Devil'’s Rock,

just this side of Greenville.

Hey, but that'’s awful close to town.

I don'’t like that, Dave.

Door'’s open, Chip.

I'’d walk out of here if I had any brains.

But ya ain'’t.

None of us has.

[ chuckling ]

[ dog barking ]

[ horse snorting ]

Stuff ready?Yep, but I'’ve changed my mind

about this decoy plan.

I'’m sending the gold through with a full escort.

But I--Look, I'’ve been as nervous

as a greenfly in a fish market all night about it.

It goes with a full escort.

Now, Fred here will drive,

and you, Ike, will ride shotgun as usual.

Better keep an extra gun at your feet.

Will and Pete here can serve as outriders.

Me?

We'’re awful shorthanded, Will. Hope you don'’t mind.

Well, no, sir, I don'’t mind.

Good. PETE: Mr. Anderson,

why can'’t me and Will trail the stage

by a quarter a mile or so, just close enough

to lend a hand if trouble develops,

yet not announcing the fact that anybody'’s guarding her.

Good idea. Better saddle up.

[ sighs ]

This is the first time we'’ve been separated

since we were married.

I'’ll only be gone a couple of days, Ellie.

I'’ve never seen you wear a gun before, Will.

It'’s got something to do with all those robberies, hasn'’t it?

Just routine.

But it sure makes a fella feel good,

havin'’ a girl like you worryin'’ about him.

Take care.

I got an awful good reason to.

[ whistling ] Yah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Throw down your guns.

Come on. The others.

Now throw down those mail sacks.

There ain'’t nothin in '’em but mail.

Just toss '’em down.

Look inside the coach.

It'’s here!

Uh-oh, trouble.

[ gunshots ]

Hyah!

Head for the rocks.

[ gunshots ][horse whinnying ]

We just gotta keep '’em there.

Ike'’s sure to bring help soon.

Hold it.

We'’re just wastin' lead.

Yah! Yah! Yah!

[ gunshots ]

How much longer are we gonna stay pinned down here?

You wanna join Les and Vince

laying out there in the road, go ahead.

Stage must'’ve reached Greenville by now.

Before long, this pass is gonna be crawlin'’ with law men.

I say we make a break for it.

Not a chance.

They'’ve got their guns pegged right on us.

Well, you guys can stay here if you want to.

I'’m gonna make a break for it over the hill to the horses.

[ gunshots ]

Maybe we can make it.

Just stay put.

He'’s gonna open the door for us.

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshots ]

Come on, Doc!

[ horse whinnying ]

I could only get one horse. The other one got away.

[ moans ]

Hey, he'’s still alive.

Doc, we gotta get going!

Doc, we can'’t waste any time!

If we leave him here, he'’ll bleed to death.

DAVE: Can'’t help it, come on!

Posse'’ll be here any minute.

No, you go, I'’m stayin'.

Don'’t be a fool.

It'’s your life or his.

You better get going then.

Well, if that'’s the way you want it.

You'’re the doctor.

I wouldn'’t move.

You haven'’t got a chance.

Get your hands up, Bell.

He dead?

No, he'’s going to be all right.

I know you could'’ve gotten away, Doc.

Why did you stay?

Habit, I guess.

[ scoffs ] No, it was more than that.

You realize what this means.

Yep.

I wish that--

[ groans ]

All right, boys, let'’s get him out of here.

You seem to know him real well, Coulter.

Nobody knew Tom Bell, sheriff.

I don'’t think he ever quite knew himself.

Dave Madden was rounded up later.

While there was much sympathy for Thomas Bell,

because of his act which saved the life of Will Skidmore,

the laws of the West were stern

regarding armed robbery.

Dr. Bell was hanged at Firebaughs Ferry, California,

on October 4, 1856.