Original subtitles

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

There are some things you can'’t explain

and this is one of them.

It happened way back in the '’80s,

but folks in that part of the desert

still look up at the sky.

Times when the moon is young

and a pale haze hangs over everything,

and wonder to themselves about the...

[ exhales ]

Cold, honey?

Oh, someone just walked over my grave.

You should'’ve worn a coat.

Oh, we'’re almost home.

Aren'’t we?

Well, don'’t you know?

[ chuckles ]

Everything seems so unnatural in this light.

Even familiar landmarks.

[ chuckles ] Like your own husband?

Oh. [ chuckles ]

[ horse whinnying ]Steve, look.

Over there by the corral.

Bobcats!

[ gunshots ]

I got '’em both, I think.

They won'’t raid our stock again, the sons of guns.

Be careful, Steve, they may be only wounded.

Flory,

those ain'’t bobcats, they'’re dogs!

Are they dead?

Old Tule Joe'’s dogs.

Who'’s Tule Joe?

A desert rat, who hangs around here

when he--when he ain'’t off prospectin'.

I wouldn'’t have done this

for anything in the world. Those--

those dogs were like his children.

But--

What'’s the matter?

There'’s something tied to this one'’s collar.

A sample of ore...

And a piece of paper.

Something written on it. "Struck gold.

"Shot myself by accident.

"Bring help. Boys will show the way.

Tule Joe."

The boys?

His dogs, that'’s what he called '’em.

Maybe there'’s directions of the other one.

"Hurt bad.

Follow the dogs."

Follow the dogs.

His only way of getting help

and I'’ve killed them.

I couldn'’t sleep all night.

Thinkin'’ of Tule laying out there in the desert somewheres,

waiting.

Well, nothing to do, I guess.

Get a posse together, go out and look for him.

Yeah, we'’ll take along Indian George.

He'’s an expert tracker.

Well, I-I'’ll stand the cost.

That'’s the least I can do.

The dogs was headed in from which direction?

Well, I think across the Salt Flats.

Well, that gives us something to go on.

Well, I'’ll see if I can round up Doc Garvey.

If Tule'’s hurt bad, he'’ll need a doctor.

We'’ll meet out front in half an hour.

Oh, uh, I'’d better take these over to the assay office,

show '’em to Alec-- might give us a clue.

Oh, well, good. Anything that can help us find him.

Thought you might'’ve come across something like it before.

It'’s gold, all right,

Which is more than most of Old Tule'’s samples

turned out to be.

Oh, hi, doc.Howdy.

Steve Hewitt tells me you'’ll be needing me

on a posse to find Old Tule Joe.

Yeah.

His ore didn'’t give Alec no clue at all where we should search.

Do you think there'’s any point in goin'’ out?

Well, we'’ve got to make a try for it.

[ sigh ] Guess you'’re right.

Better keep those samples '’til we get back.

I will.

[ horse neighs ]

[ horse snorts ]

Nothin'’.

[ sighs ] Well, we better fan out.

We'’ll meet at Rattler's Bend at sundown.

Pitch camp there.

Well, if we don'’t have any better luck,

I'’m goin' home.

I tell ya, it'’s hopeless.

But we can'’t give up and leave him to die.

Chances are he'’s dead already.

Right, doc?

Well, of course, we don'’t know

just how long ago it happened or when he sent the dogs for help.

Look, we'’ve already wasted three whole days.

I, for one, have to get back to my store.

I'’m leavin', first thing in the morning.

I'’m afraid I gotta get back too, Steve.

It'’s no use, Steve.

You'’re giving up so soon, well, it--

it'’s like murder.

I wouldn'’t talk about murder if I was you, Steve.

How much had you been drinkin'’ that night?

Mistakin'’ mastiffs for bobcats.[ stick hits dirt ]

Well, I'’ll-- I'’ll leave you here.

Much obliged to y'’all.

All right, Steve.

MAN: Is that where you buried '’em?

Uh-huh.

Tsk.

Well, I'’ll, uh, see if I can

wrastle us up some drinks.

Good. [ sighs ]

Ah, boy. I sure worked up some thirst in that sun.

[ door opens, closes ]

[ panting ] Did you find him?

Not a trace.

Nor the mine either?

The mine?

I assayed these samples after you left.

You know what they ran? $3,100 a ton.

3,100?

Old Tule Joe really struck a bonanza.

And he never even lived to record it.

You mean he'’s dead?

Well, we don'’t know, but, uh,

his chances of surviving are pretty slim.

[ exhales ] $3,100 a ton?

Um, I'’ll be glad to pay you for the assay, Alex.

Oh, no need.

It'’s only fair,

since half the claim would be mine, anyhow.

[ sighs ]

I-I grubstaked Tule Joe.

He come in day before he left and stocked up.

How come you never mentioned this before?

I was all-fired bent on findin'’ the poor guy that--

Do you have the report there?

Oh, yeah.Let me have it.

You got a paper says you grubstaked him?

I always grubstaked Tule.

We never bothered signin'’ nothin'.

Well, if Luther'’s entitled to half,

and I'’m not about to argue about it,

well, I feel I'’m entitled to a little something, too.

For all the claims I'’ve recorded for him, for free.

He always said it was a debt.

He'’d pay be someday when he was in the chips.

You kept track, huh?

Well, uh, I can estimate.

I can help you.

'’Cause for every one of those claims you recorded,

there was an assay I ran for him,

and paid for out of my own pocket.

I wasn'’t gonna bring the matter up,

but since the rest of you seem to be getting in your licks,

I might as well.

[Doc Garvey] Why not?

No, uh, a doctor'’s in a rather peculiar position.

He expects to do a great deal for charity.

Well, I never charged Tule Joe a cent

when I brought him through pneumonia last winter, but,

well, if there'’s an estate, so to speak,

I'’d like my just due.

Yeah. Sure, doc.

That fumbling fool, Hewitt, killing those dogs.

They could'’ve led us straight to the spot.

Well, we still might be able to find it.

Who else you been tellin'’ about this?

Not a soul.Good.

We'’ll keep it among the four of us.

Five.

Don'’t think I'm moving in on something

I don'’t have a right to,

but ya see, I gave Old Tule Joe the lumber for his shack.

I never did collect.

Well, all right then.

There'’s still enough to put us all on easy street.

Well, what about Steve?

What about him?

Yeah.

Yeah, I guess you'’re right.

Better eat your supper, honey, before it gets cold.

I'’m not hungry.

Steve, you can'’t go on like this,

frettin'’ yourself sick.

What'’s done is done.

I as good as murdered him, Flory.

You'’ve been saying that now for a month.

It'’s true.

FLORY: Well, you had no way of knowing.

I thought they were wild animals, too.

In the mist and the moonlight.

Poor Tiffle'’s,

comin'’ to fetch help.

[ dogs barking ]

Steve?

[ dogs howling ]What'’s the matter?

Don'’t you hear 'em?

Who?

I don'’t hear anything.

They'’re calling, Flory.

[ howling continues ]

Steve, where are you going?

STEVE: After them.

[ dogs howling ]

Tule!

Tule!

[ grunts ]

Darling, I'’ve been so worried about you.

Where did you go?

I followed '’em for miles.

Who?

The dogs.

I could hear em, but I couldn'’t see 'em.

Steve.

Suddenly, the barking stopped.

I lost '’em.

Steve, I--

I'’ll make you some coffee. You look all in.

You know, Steve'’s been acting awful funny

since the night he shot Tule Joe'’s dogs.

People tell me they'’ve seen him

wanderin'’ around the hills in the dead of night.

Nothin'’ but a kerosene lantern

and sort of a wild,

crazy look in his eye.

I'’ve been hearing the same thing for weeks, now.

Strange Alec, mighty strange.

We'’re down to our last can of kerosene.

I'’ll get some, next time I'’m in the store.

We need wicks, too. I'’ve been reminding you for weeks.

I haven'’t been in yet.

Why not?

Busy.

Folks don'’t hold it against you,

honey, for killing the dogs.

That'’s what you think.

FLORY: They'’ve forgotten all about it by now.

Well, I haven'’t.

As long as I live, I'’ll never forget

or forgive myself.

Tule Joe was an old man, Steve.

He had no family. He--

[ dogs barking ]

FLORY: Steve?

They'’ve come back.

[ dogs howling ]

I can hear '’em, Flory, honest.

I don'’t hear a thing.

[ dogs barking ]You can hear '’em now, can't you?

Steve, please.

Same kind of night.

A new moon, a mist.

Steve, you'’re imagining things,

there'’s nothing out there.

I'’m goin' after '’em.

Dogs are dead, you killed '’em yourself two months ago.

Tule Joe is dead by now, he must be.

Steve, come back!

I tell ya, this whole Tule Joe business

really has me thinkin'’.

Me too.

Evenin'’.Evenin'’.

Evenin'’.Hi.

Alec and me were just talkin'’ about Tule Joe.

I guess we can chalk it up as another lost mine.

Hm.

That'’s funny.

Old Tule not givin'’ any idea

of the location when he sent for help.

Well, I guess he had so much faith in those dogs of his.

Did it ever occur to you that Steve Hewitt

might know something we don'’t know?

What do you mean by that?

Those messages were on rough scraps of paper.

Easy enough to tear a part of it off.

If he knows where that mine is--

Mind ya, I'’m not saying he does.

Well, has anybody seen Steve?

Folks said they saw him wanderin'’ around the hills at night,

but, personally, I haven'’t seen him for weeks.

Me neither.

He ain'’t even been in town.

Evening, Mac.Howdy.

Have you seen Steve Hewitt lately?

No, don'’t believe I have.

Could be he'’s avoiding us.

Could be he'’s prospectin'.

I suggest we pay a call on Brother Hewitt,

tonight.Tonight?

What for?Gold, maybe.

[ knocking at door ]

Steve, I--

Evening, Mrs. Hewitt.

Oh, Mr. Pond.

We come to see Steve.

I'’m sorry, he's not home.

He go into town?

Well, um,

he was called out.

You expect him back soon?

Oh, I really couldn'’t say.

MAN: Mind if we wait?

Well, it--it might be quite a while.

Last time-- Oh?

He goes out quite often like this, huh?

Oh, no he-- just now and then.

He go on foot?

Alone?

Please, I'’ll tell him you were here.

If you'’d care to leave a message--

I think we'’d better wait.

Oh, you shouldn'’t have waited up for me, honey.

[ furniture creaking ]

What'’s all this?

Steve, you wouldn'’t be tryin'’

to double-cross us, would you?

What'’s that supposed to mean?

The rest of us have claims to that mine.

I own half of it

'’cause I grubstaked him.

I don'’t know what you'’re talkin' about.

Tule Joe'’s claim. Where is it?

I wish I knew.

Don'’t hand us that.

MAN: You just come from it.

No.

Then, where did you go?

I just went out.

Where?

Just out.In the desert?

Yes.Why?

Lookin'’ for Tule.

A dead man?

You'’re lyin'.

You been out diggin'’ gold.

You go out regular. Your wife told us.

No. No, only when he hears--

When he hears what?

Nothing.

Steve,

where is that mine located?

I don'’t know.Where is it?

I swear, I don'’t know!

[ grunting ]Luther!

Stop it!

We'’d better leave now.

I think we'’d better.

If you'’d have left me alone, I could'’ve choked it out of him.

You'’d have killed the one man in the world

that could show us the location of that mine.

All right then,

how are we gonna find it?

We'’ll keep a watch on him,

night and day.

Especially night.

We'’ll trail him wherever he goes.

We'’ll work in shifts.

All right then,

that'’s what we'll do.

Steve, you buried those dogs yourself,

three feet underground.

Why do I keep hearing '’em?

You don'’t, dear.

You'’ve just let the whole thing prey on your mind.

Are you tryin'’ to tell me I'’m crazy?

Darling, promise me you won'’t go out there again, please.

Well, you do think I'’m crazy.

It'’s just that I'm so afraid one night you'’ll follow them

and never come back.

[ dogs howling ]

Steve?

Steve?

Steve?

Steve, come back!

[ howling continues ]

[ dogs barking ]

What'’s he stoppin' for?

Think he hears us?

He hears somethin'’.

[ howling continues ]

[ man groaning ]

MAN: Help!

Oh, thank the Lord.

I couldn'’t have lasted much longer.

[ groans ]

I think both legs are busted.

You'’ll be all right. Lift the coach.

This man'’s a doctor.

[ grunts ]Easy.

[ grunts ]

[ exhales ]

Nothing serious, I'’m sure.

What in God'’s world ever brought you out here

at this time of night, I don'’t know.

I guess you could say it was a miracle.

I was prayin'’ it was Tule.

Tule?

Well, he'’s-- he's dead. I--I know that now.

But I did get a second chance.

I don'’t know what brought the others.

[ sighs ]

Greed.

We'’re sorry, Steve.

God rest your soul, Tule.

Here, in the Goldfield News of Nevada,

is a full account of our story tonight.

The Lost Mine still remains lost.

One of the great mysteries of the Southwest desert.

If it weren'’t for the fabulous samples of ore

wrapped in the man'’s shirt,

folks might think it never existed.

But from that day on, Steve Hewitt was a man

at peace with himself.

He'’d squared his debt.

And the dogs of the mist never barked again.