Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

As the author of the Indian Reservation Act,

General Edward F. Beale happily accepted his appointment

as California'’s first Superintendent of Indians.

He soon found out, however, that the red men blamed him

for their imprisonment on the reservation,

and that the whites believed he had given away California'’s choicest land.

He was, in fact...

Now, that'’s what I'd call fine-looking seed grain.

And this time I got here soon enough to enter my bid.

Well, it breaks my heart to tell you this, General Beale,

but the bidding is closed.

See here, Culkins. I know for a fact

that you took delivery of those barrels less than an hour ago.

I said, "The bidding is closed."

To anyone who wants to buy for reservation Indians, you mean.

You can put it that way if you'’ve got a mind to.

Why can'’t anyone understand that the Indians must have good seed bud and stock

and first-class tools if they are to--

If they are to compete with us Americans?

It'’s not a matter of competition.

They need our help just to survive.

Well, there'’s a lot of people here in San Francisco would just as soon they didn'’t.

I thank you for your time, sir.

Not at all, General. Not at all.

[ English accent ] Blimey! Jeff Blanchard!

[ English accent ] Aye, in the flesh.

I, uh, hear you'’re doing all right here.

The last time I saw you, you was a--

you was a juggler in some little music hall just off Piccadilly, right?

Well, I'’m not much of a juggler, but I, uh,

managed to take away enough money to buy my own ship.

You don'’t mean that dilapidated old slave ship

that hove into port last night?

The Shanghai? About the filthiest brig afloat.

But you wouldn'’t sneer at the old girl if you knew the cargo she carried

when she dropped anchor.Oh?

Chinese-- to help build the railroad.

The hull jam-packed full of them.

You must'’ve made more than a quid in that deal.

Oh, I did all right.

But I'’d do a lot better if I could find a cargo to take on here.

There'’s no profit in sailing around with an empty hull.

If you'’d arrived a mite sooner, I'’d have introduced you to General Beale.

He'’s got a packet full of Indians that we'’d just as soon see shipped out of this state.

That feller with the top hat?

That'’s right. They just made him Superintendent

of all the Indians in California.

Indians, huh?

I don'’t know what's kicking around your mind,

but I was just using a figure of speech, ya know.

I'’m not serious.Aye, but I am.

I could sell '’em as sideshow attractions

to every carnival from Sydney to Blackpool.

Step right up, folks. Step right up.

See the wild, savage Indians from the Wild, Wild West.

Oh, hold on.Alfie--

Alfie, I'’ll cut you in, you help me round '’em up.

Well, in the first place, Beale'’s got them all penned in a reservation.

Oh. Behind iron fences?

No, but-- Well, in the second place,

most of the Indians in this neck of the wood

are just about as ferocious as a mission school blackboard.

Eh, a month or two in the hull of the Shanghai will take care of that.

Then, before we put '’em on exhibition, we'’ll starve 'em good,

so when someone throws a few chunks of raw meat into their cages,

they'’ll be ferocious enough, believe me.

[ both laughing ]

[ dog barking ]

[ horse whinnies ]

See any yet?We will.

We should'’ve grabbed that one this morning.

Right by their own village?

Had the whole tribe at our necks.

Well, picking '’em off one at a time sure ain'’t no picnic.

Yes, and you'’re so bloody particular.

"They gotta be young, they gotta be strong"...

[ brush rustles ]

[ brush rustles ]

Hello there.

That'’s a first-rate deer you'’ve got yourself.

I heard the hunting was good in these parts.

My people do not like the reservation laws, but we obey them.

We are not allowed off this land,

and the white man is not allowed on it.

Oh? I didn'’t know I was trespassing.

Are you interested in selling this deer?

How many more of you are there?

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

I'’m on my own. I'’ll be buzzing along.

[ grunts ]

[ grunts ]

All right. Take him to the wagon.

This seems like a pretty good spot here. Why move?

You take too many from one place, they might get suspicious.

It'’ll be a lot safer to haul these two back to the Shanghai.

Then we can head for another reservation.

You got a good head on your shoulders, matey.

You dig too deep into one tribe, and they'’ll all run crying to General Beale.

But one or two? Nobody'’ll miss 'em.

Right.

Frombia believes that Nahilo has found a bride in another village.

Frombia was always jealous.

Still, he has not returned for the ceremony of the deer,

so you are not pledged to him.

I do not need a freshly killed deer

to tell me of Nahilo'’s love.

I know something must'’ve happened to keep him from returning.

Notoma, my daughter--

Perhaps the white men I saw near the village brought harm to him.

General Beale holds us prisoner here.

If anyone left the reservation to search for Nahilo, he would be arrested.

Only if they were caught.

If others are afraid, I--

You are the daughter of a chief, Notoma.

You cannot leave the village.

But I...

Well! [ laughing ]

If I'’d have been that seaman, I'’d still be in that cap.

[ laughing ]What?

Oh, those seagoing fellas never change, I guess.

Well, if you'’re looking for the owner of that cap, you won'’t find him around here.

Where will I find him?Well, if his ship hasn'’t sailed yet,

he'’s probably hanging around some waterfront dive.

Oh, the waterfront'’s over that way, about a mile.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

You'’re welcome. I don'’t know what for.

[ laughs ]

And if I was you, little girl, I'’d keep my eyes open.

Police'’ll lock you up, they catch you off the reservation.

[ laughing ]

[ men laughing ]

[ laughing continues ]

Hey, look at that little Indian squaw.

Come here.

[ door closes ]Oh, let her go. What'’s the difference?

WOMAN: Avast there!

Blast, if it ain'’t an Injun.

Who was chasing you, dearie? The law?

Oh, don'’t be scared, child.

Old Kate never hurt nobody in her whole life.

I was looking for someone in San Francisco.

A man.

He has been missing from the reservation for three days.

Bet you haven'’t had a wink of sleep

or a bite of food since you set out.

That does not matter.

Oh, a girl'’s gotta keep up her strength

if she'’s gonna catch a man.

When the food stand'’s open, you go scrounge around.

"Scrounge"?

See what you can pick up for breakfast.

Pretty face like yours, shouldn'’t be hard.

I'’ll be brewing us some coffee.

Bread here! Bologna, ham, side bacon!

Get your fresh bread! [ dog barking ]

Hot out of the oven! Get your bread!

Bologna, ham, side bacon!

Bread here! Fresh bread, hot out of the oven! Get your bread!

Fresh bread, hot out of the oven!

Get your fresh, hot bread! Get your bread!

Fresh, hot bread! Get--

Hey, get outta there! Hey![ barking ]

[ bystanders laughing ]

Hey, put that bread down. Put it down! Hey!

Stop, thief! Stop her! [ whistle blowing ]

Stop that-- Stop, thief!

[ whistle continues blowing ] Stop her!

[ grunts ] Give me that.

They'’ll give you water to go with your bread where you'’re going,

ya thievin'’ redskin!

Take her away.

Now, sit down there like a good girl.

Tell me,

what are you doing here in San Francisco?

Always questions.

First the police, and now you.

And by this time, they may have taken Nahilo to the ends of the earth.

Well, who'’s Nahilo?

And what makes you think anyone'’s taken him anywhere?

Nahilo is a brave of my tribe.

He disappeared from our reservation four days ago,

and was forced aboard some ship in the harbor.

What makes you believe he was taken aboard some ship?

This.

I found it on the ground near where Nahilo must'’ve been attacked.

There were signs of a struggle.

It'’s a seaman's cap, all right,

but it'’s hardly proof that anyone was taken aboard some ship.

I have a new friend

who knows all about ships and the sea and the waterfront.

She says that many men--"She"?

Her name is Kate.

That must be Old Salty'’s widow.

I'’d wondered what had become of her.

She says that many men are shanghaied.

But seldom Indians.

They make rotten sailors.

They did take Nahilo.

I know it.

If someone is gathering a boatload of Indians for some reason,

then the only thing to do is to set a trap with the right kind of bait.

Would you like to be the cheese in our trap?

For Nahilo, I would do anything.

I have to warn you.

You'’re about as popular in this town right now as I am,

and I'’m the man everyone hates.

I do not hate you, General Beale. Not now.

General Beale, that man...

I'’m sure he is one of those I saw near our village

the day Nahilo disappeared.

The one without the cap.

That'’s right, maties. This is the bottled stuff

your precious skipper ordered.

I thought he was coming in for it himself.

You want us to take it, or not?Oh, sure, you can take it,

but I'’m going to the Shanghai right along with you.

Well, if he'’s doing business with Culkins,

the odds are some kind of rotten business.

But that doesn'’t tell us what ship they'’re from.

That'’s our problem. The harbor'’s full of ships.

Well, guess you'’ll just have to let them sniff the cheese, little one.

Blanchard owes me a cut of every one of those blasted Indians,

and I'’m going to see that he don'’t sail without meeting his obligations.

What'’s that for?

This is my little translator.

It'’s the only kind of language Blanchard understands.

All right, chums. Pick up these cases.

And walk in front of me. I don'’t wanna get lost

on my way out to this rat-infested old scow, huh?

Come on.

Now, there'’s a little squaw I'’d like to shanghai.

Forget it. You'’ve got a full hull.

Maybe so, but there'’s always room for one more. It'’s gonna be a long haul.

I'’m warning you. A squaw'’ll bring you trouble.

Yeah? Well, I'’m the man that can handle it.

[ grunting ]

[ grunting continues ]

You go after the night before they'’ve even shoved off,

you'’ll never find out what ship they'’re headin' fer.

But if they get far enough out in the harbor, I won'’t be able to see them.

Oh, you just stay right here and relax.

I'’ve got the best telescope on the waterfront--

one my husband took off a pirate ship.

[ gulls cawing ]

Can you make out her name?

Yeah. The Shanghai. I'’ll need a boat.

I'’ll get you one-- beg, borrow, or steal.

[ creaking ]

Nothing they have done has hurt me.

But to have them take you?

They'’ll take none of us, Nahilo. Rescue is on the way.

No. We sail at the changing of the tides.

He'’ll be here before then.

Just--"He"? One man?

Probably.

In all San Francisco,

General Beale is the only man--General Beale?

He is the man who is supposed to rescue us? Yes.

It was General Beale who imprisoned us on the reservations.

Whatever he has in store for us now must surely be worse than this.

I say that were he to come down that ladder this very minute

and free us from our chains, we should refuse to move.

Think I deserted, General?Did you get the boat?

Took a bit of doing, but I got one, all right.

You'’ll find it tied to the pylon two piers down.

It'’s too busy here.Good work.

And don'’t think I don'’t appreciate everything you done.

And, Kate, your days of living on handouts are over.

I'’m used to it.

We'’ll talk about it when I get back.

If you get back.

You shouldn'’t go out there alone, General.

Oh, you'’re forgetting my reputation. I'’m the man everyone hates.

Maybe I could round up some help.

Oh, I'’ll welcome anyone you can get. But I'’d better be moving.

I don'’t dare risk the Shanghai sailing before I get out there.

Thanks, Kate.

Mister, could you help me?

Uh, General Beale'’s...

Oh, pardon me for stopping you gents,

but there'’s someone who needs help.

A ship out there is shanghaiing men,

and General Beale'’s gonna stop '’em.

But he needs help, and I thought maybe--

Eh, she'’s nothing but a wharf rat.

And Beale'’s an Injun lover.

Be doing us a favor if they shanghaied him.

Uh, mister, would you help me, please?

There'’s a...

[ men chattering, faint ]

[ men laughing, faint ]

[ grunts ]

[ chattering continues ]

Here'’s a toast to our passengers,

and the money we'’ll be making from them.Hear!

Well, I'’m hearing a lot of talk, but I haven'’t seen the money yet, ya know?

There'’s no need for you to worry.

Here. How do you like this?

[ coins clinking ]

I told ya not to worry, Alfie. Ya got your money now.

I haven'’t got it ashore yet, matey.

Ya will. As soon as the tide starts coming in, the boys'’ll row you ashore.

Won'’t we, boys?

[ men laughing ]Sure. Sure, we will.

And it won'’t be long either.

[ laughing continues ]

[ seamen chattering ]

[ whispering ] Are you all right, Notoma?Yes.

Well, almost time to hoist the mainsail.

It'’s time for me to clear out of here.

We'’ll have one more drink before the boys row ya ashore.

No, I don'’t think so.

Right?

All right.

[ quietly ] Get on your feet.

We haven'’t much time.

What'’s wrong? Has someone drugged them?

They'’ve drugged themselves with hatred of you.

But I'’ve come out here to free them.

We ask that you take Notoma ashore if you can.

But the rest of us are not going back to be chained to the reservations.

Look, I don'’t know why you'’ve been shanghaied, but--

They intend putting us in cages like sideshow freaks.

But even that would be better than being held prisoner

on land that should be ours, without your reservation act.

If it weren'’t for the reservation act,

you'’d soon be without any land, without any homes.

Now, I don'’t say that's right, but it'’s true.

If you'’d rather live in cages like animals

than work your land for your children,

then maybe that'’s where you belong!

Wait.

Notoma'’s words were true.

You are our friend. We believe it now.

Are you willing to prove it?

Tell us what to do, General.

I have one revolver. They have many.

But we have the advantage of surprise.

Follow me through the deck and await further orders.

[ chattering continues ]

Find some more of these and pass them around.

Now?

Not yet.

Are you sure you understand what to do?

Yes.Good.

There. You see, chum? There really wasn'’t nothing to worry about.

Yeah, but my memory isn'’t so good.

Supposing you show me the way to the deck, eh?

[ laughing ]

[ grunts ]

[ Indians whooping ]

[ whooping continues ]

[ grunting ]

Any left?No. We got '’em all.

Get the chains from the hull. They'’ll come in handy.

You'’ll help me take them to the authorities,

then you can return to you reserva--To our home.

Thank you, Notoma.

Thank you, General Beale.

It was a medallion such as this that was given to General Beale

when he was made an honorary chieftain of the Pinaleno Apaches.

And the whites gradually changed their opinion of him too.

California'’s Reservation Act soon became a model for other states,

and General Edward F. Beale lost his title of...

"the Man Everyone Hated."