All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S08E31.A.Womans.Rights.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

Not all the excitement
in the early West

centered around
cowboys and Indians

or outlaws
and peace officers.

There were other conflicts,
perhaps not so well known,

but just as dramatic
and just as important

to the future of the country.

Like the story
you'’re about to hear

of a woman who fought
to avenge her husband

and wound up winning
a major battle everywhere for...

It began in the frontier town
of South Pass,

territory of Wyoming,
in the gun-toting year of 1869.

Men gambled their lives
on finding gold.

Others,
like storekeeper John Morris,

gambled their life savings
grubstaking men like...

Steve Nelson,
you'’re arraigned here on charges

for defrauding John Morris,
a storekeeper,

of his legitimate half interest
in the Minietta Mine.

Well, now,
that'’s a pretty
serious accusation.

Your Honor, the defendant
pleads not guilty

and asks that the charges
against him be dismissed
for lack of evidence.

Your Honor?Mr. Prosecutor?

There'’s plenty of evidence
to support these charges.

John Morris grubstaked
Steven Nelson.

Oh, there was
a written agreement?

No, sir, but I have witnesses
who will testify.

Well, sure, I got my outfit
at John Morris'’ store,

but I paid for everything,
cash on the barrelhead.

Well, in the absence
of a written agreement,

it comes down to one man'’s
opinion against another.

The claim that Nelson located
was legally filed
in both names.

There'’s no mention
in the records
of John Morris.

No, sir,
because those papers
were tampered with.

The files
in the recorder'’s office
were rifled.

Your Honor, I have here
a signed statement
from the county recorder,

who is regrettably confined
to his bed with a bad case
of laryngitis.

In his opinion,
it would be impossible
to rifle the office files

and change the existing records
without being detected.

Your Honor, if you will order
those files produced in court.

The court is willing
to accept the opinion

of the county recorder
in this matter.

John Morris produced
the capital for the necessary
development work.

All it took was two arms
and a strong back.

But there was machinery.

A drill,
a couple of shovels.

Enough to use up
John Morris'’ savings.

The contents of a piggy bank.

Your Honor, as representative
of the people of this territory,

I demand that Steve Nelson
be brought to trial.

Now, look here, young fella.
You'’re new around here,

or you'’d know better than
to try to intimidate the court.

Now, any further
such demands from you,
and I'’ll hold you in contempt!

Your Honor,
denial of justice in this case

can well affect
the whole future welfare
of this territory.

And so can the dragging
of useless litigation
through the courts,

wasting the taxpayers'’ money.

I agree.
Case dismissed.

[ gavel pounds ][ murmuring ]

Court will adjourn.

If you'’d like to reconvene
at the Buckhorn,

the drinks are on me.

[ chuckling ]

Sorry, John.You did your best.

It'’s outrageous,
a man like that should
hold the office of judge.

Well, McGreevy'’s got him
right where he wants him.

There must be something
we can do.

There is. Pull up stakes
and get outta here.

John?Yeah?

Do you mean
what you just said?

About leaving Wyoming?Mm-hmm.

Yes.

Where would we go?

Back where we came from.

Back to New England,
where a man can lead
a respectable life.

I hate to think
of leaving here.

I'’ve grown to love this country.
I think of it as home.

Esther, what'’s the good
of scenery
if a man can'’t make

an honest living for himself
and his family?

♪ [ calliope ]

[ high-pitched voice ]
Yoo-hoo!Ehh!

[ men laughing, chattering ]

♪ [ continues ]

What'’s all the ruckus?

Lucretia Mott
and her suffragettes.

[ laughter ]What'’ll that silly woman
think of next?

I don'’t think
she'’s so silly.

She'’s fighting for what
she believes in--
women'’s rights.

She oughta be trying to get
some decent law and order
in this town.

Maybe this is her way
of getting it.

Hello, Esther.
Evening, John.

Hello, Lucretia.

Come along, Esther.
We have work to do
before we leave here.

Fourteen glass chimneys,
and, uh, five lamps.

Seven bolts of, uh, calico,
and three of gingham.

If you try
and unload all of this,

you'’re gonna lose money.

Lost so much already,
it doesn'’t much matter. [ knocking on door ]

Hello, Lucretia.Good evening, Esther.

Can I come in?Well, of course.

Now, you folks go
right on with your work.

I just wanna have
a few words with John.

I heard about what happened
in court today.

What are you planning
to do about it?

Esther and I are
leaving here for good.

Running away?You can call it that.

Well, why don'’t you
stay and fight?

[ sighs ]
Lucretia, I'’ve been fighting

ever since I came here
two years ago.

And the result?
I'’ve got less
than when I started.

Seven whisk brooms.

If you want to clean
this town up,
there'’s just one way to do it:

help women get the votes.

Lucretia, you know
my feelings on that subject.

Politics are
a man'’s domain.

Parrot talk.

A woman'’s place
is in the home.

Well, then,
what is Esther doing here?

Well, this is
a family enterprise.

Oh, now, look, John--

And, uh, we'’d like to get
this inventory finished tonight.

Poor John.
He'’s suffering from
an old, old disease--

maleness.All right, all right.

Now, in my opinion, John,

you'’d show
much more maleness if,

instead of repeating those
old, worn-out sentiments,

you'’d stand up
for what you honestly

and truly believe
in your heart is right.

And you know
you do, John.

There'’s a soapbox over there,
Lucretia.

We'’ll put you on it
when you go to battle for us.

JOHN:
Six mugs.

We think
that the Wyoming legislature

would pass a suffrage bill

if we just had the right man
to present one.

And now we do have.

Uh, four vases,
and four pitchers.

It'’s you.

What are you
talking about?

Why, you'’re just the ideal man
to lead a crusade like that.

A man folks respect
as well as like.

How many pitchers
did I say?

I'’m sorry, John.
I was listening to Lucretia.

He said, "Four va"--

Well, how about it, John?

Are you willing
to stand for office?

I'’m sorry, Lucretia.
We'’re pulling out.

Esther, you know how much
this could mean.

Not only for Wyoming,
but for the whole country.

Now, tell John
he'’s got to do it.

It'’s his moral duty.

Well, Lucretia, I think
this is something my husband
should decide for himself.

[ sighs ]

Well, I hope you change
your mind, John.

Good night.Good night, Lucretia.

MAN:
Yah! Yah! Yah! [ hoofbeats departing ]

There'’s a piece of paper
around this rock.

It'’s a note.
"This is a warning, Morris.

Get out of town and stay out,
or we'’ll make it hot for you."

Let me see that.

What are you going to do?

I'’m gonna find out
who'’s responsible for this.

You cannot fight McGreevy
and his gang alone.

Well, one thing is certain:
I'’m not leaving.

Good. Then maybe you will
be our candidate.

It'’s the only way
to deal with these people.

I'’d like to see you do it.

All right. I will.

[ cheering ]

And, ladies and gentlemen,
I'’m not a politician.

I'’m just a plain citizen
interested in clean government.

Hooray!Hey-hey!

And if I'’m elected,
I promise to do everything
in my power

to drive the crooks
and highbinders
out of this territory.

Hey, Morris!
When did you join
the suffragettes?

[ laughter ]

[ murmuring ]

When I made up my mind,
it was the only way
to fight men like you!

[ cheering ]

[ laughter ][ murmuring ]

That, ladies and gentlemen,
is the only ammunition
our opponents have to offer.

[ cheering ]

Much obliged, Ben.

Have another one.
It'’s on me.

Well, maybe just one more.

Who you voting for, Jim?

Ain'’t quite made up
my mind, Ben.

I, uh...

Just make sure you don'’t
vote more than once.

Well, see ya, Ben.

How McGreevy
has the nerve to...

Well, how'’s
the temperance candidate?

Giving out white ribbons
for votes?

How can you stand it,
Mrs. Morris,

being married
to such a holy man?

Get moving, Nelson.

"Lips that touch liquor
will never touch mine."

I said, get moving.

[ chuckles ]

Oh, excuse me, Mr. Billings.

I sure didn'’t mean
to get in the way of a vote

for honest John.
[ chuckles ]

Oh, I'’m sorry,
Mr. Billings.

Gosh, I don'’t know
how that happened.

Here.
Let me get your hat.

[ men chuckle ]There'’s your hat,
Mr. Billings.

[ grunts, groans ]

Billings, you shouldn'’t
lose your temper.

Not on election day.

Here.

Maybe this'’ll cool you off.
Have a sip.

Aw, take it all.[ laughter ]

[ laughter continues ]

[ grunts ]

You all right?Yeah.

[ gunshot ]

[ onlookers murmuring ]

[ knocking on door ]

I'’ll see who it is.

We won, Lucretia.
John won the election.

Wonderful! That should be
just the medicine for John.

Right.

He won, Esther.
He won!

He'’s gone, Lucretia.

John'’s dead.

[ gunshots ]

MAN:
Hooray for John Morris!

MAN #2:
Come on out, John! [ men shouting, cheering ]

We understand
how you feel, Esther,

but we wish you'’d
think it over about leaving.

For a while, at least.

I have thought it over.

But you belong here,
Esther.

This has become home to you.
You said so many times.

It'’s not home anymore.

We'’ve persuaded Governor Lee
to introduce a suffrage bill
in the legislature.

If it passes,
things could be very different
in this territory.

It'’ll never pass.It might,

if we had someone there
to fight for it.

[ sighs ]

Don'’t you want to finish
what you and John set out to do?

John was right to begin with.

You can'’t fight men
like McGreevy with speeches
about equal rights,

and if I'’d listened to him,
he might be alive today.

Now all I wanna do
is get away from here
and forget...

if I can.

What about
Steve Nelson'’s trial?

Certainly
you'’ll stay for that?

You bet I will.

And for the hanging
I expect to follow it.

This is one case
Judge Wheeler won'’t dismiss
for lack of evidence.

And now, Mrs. Morris,
would you be so kind
as to tell the court,

in your own words,
exactly what happened
at that point?

At that point,
he drew a gun and shot
my husband in the back.

[ spectators murmuring ]It was cold-blooded murder.

Objection.
Conclusion of the witness.

Sustained.

Your witness, Mr. McGreevy.

No questions.

That'’ll be all, Mrs. Morris.

I don'’t understand this.
They'’re not fighting.

Your Honor, in light
of the evidence presented
in this preliminary hearing,

the prosecution requests
that the defendant in this case

be brought to trial
for first degree murder.

If the court please,
we'’d like to call
the defendant to the stand.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,
nothing but the truth,

so help you God?I do.

All right, Mr. Nelson,
let'’s see if we can't
save the taxpayers some money

and the court a little time.

Now, you'’ve heard the evidence
the prosecution offered.

Half a dozen people testified
that you shot and killed
John Morris

here in South Pass
on election day.

Is that true?Yes, sir.

Then you plead guilty
to a murder charge.

Oh, no, sir. That--
That shooting was in
the line of duty.

[ murmuring ] McGREEVY:
Duty?

NELSON:
Well, I was
officially assigned

to guard the polling place
during the election.

Morris was interfering
with me in the performance
of my duty.

[ chattering ]I object, Your Honor.

There'’s no evidence
that this man was working
as a guardian of the law.

Your Honor,
may I remind you
that as registrar of voters,

you yourself appointed
Steve Nelson a poll watcher

on the day of election. [ spectators murmuring ]

So I did. It had slipped
my mind for the moment.

Your Honor, we concede
that the defendant in this case

was a little overzealous
in discharging
his responsibility,

but we submit
that under the circumstances,

a charge of murder
is wholly unwarranted.

We ask the court
to release the defendant

and render a verdict
of justifiable homicide.

Your Honor, I object.[ murmuring ]

This is not a defense.
It'’s a cheap legal trick.

I demand that Nelson
stand trial for murder.

[ murmuring intensifies ] [ gavel banging ]

JUDGE:
Order. [ gavel banging ]

Order in the court. [ murmuring stops ]

The court will stand in recess
while I consider this question.

How long a recess?

Until I come to a decision. That could take forever.

And who is the judge here,
you or me?

Court is in recession
till further notice.

[ gavel bangs ] [ spectators chattering ]

I didn'’t think they'd dare.

I didn'’t either.

A lot of things
I'’ve been wrong about.

Come on.Where we going?

To the governor.The governor?

John couldn'’t run away.
I can'’t either.

Then you'’re back
in the fight?
I certainly am,

and this time,
I'’m staying in it
till we win.

Wait for me.

And, as you all know,
endorsement of the suffrage bill
by this committee

would virtually ensure
its passage
by the legislature.

And so, I ask you,
in the interests of justice
and good government,

to grant that endorsement.

Women are too flighty.

Scatterbrained.
You couldn'’t trust them
with a vote.

What'’s the meaning of this?

Are you Governor Lee? I am.

I'’m Esther Morris
of South Pass.

I'’m sorry
to break in like this,

but... I heard
that you were debating
the suffrage bill,

and I had something
I wanted to say

before you made
your final decision.

So you'’re Esther Morris.

I knew your husband.
A fine man.

Gentlemen, I think this lady
should be heard.
Mrs. Morris.

This is not the time or place
for demonstrations.

I'’m not here
to demonstrate, sir.

I'’m here to try and do something
about the lawlessness

and the corruption
that infests this territory,

and I know of only one sure way
to do that.

Give women the legal right
to a say in things.

You really think
passing this bill

would put an end
to all our troubles?

Only the good Lord
can do that, sir.

But at least this bill
will enlist all women
on the side of law and order.

All women?

What makes you
so sure of that?

They have to vote that way.
They have no choice.

Men can sometimes
solve their problems
with their fists or...

with a gun.

But women have to
find peaceful means

because they'’re weak
and often helpless.

I don'’t say that women
won'’t make mistakes,

but in the long run,
they will bring to politics
in this territory

the point of view
of those interested

in building up,
not tearing down;

of preserving, not destroying.

Gentlemen, give women
a chance to fight
for what they believe in.

Give them the chance to defend
their homes with the only weapon
they can wield effectively.

Give them the vote.

Thank you for listening.

I'’m proud of you, honey.

Mrs. Morris, you'’re
a very effective speaker.Oh...

I have a feeling this committee
will endorse the suffrage bill.

Oh, I hope so.

You should be
in politics yourself.

[ chuckling ]
Never!

There is one thing
you could do for me,
though, Governor Lee.

Something important
to the people of South Pass.

If it'’s within my power.

Why don'’t you wait for me
in my office?

I should be through
here presently.

I'’ll be there.

[ spectators murmuring ]

Court will come to order.[ murmuring stops ]

The court is now ready
to make a ruling

in respect to the case
of the Territory
vs. Steve Nelson.

And the court finds
that the defendant

was actually serving
as an officer of the law

at the time
of the alleged murder,

and therefore...

[ murmuring ]

What is the meaning
of this intrusion?

Court is in session.

I don'’t know what
you'’re about to rule on,
Judge Wheeler,

but in any case,
it wouldn'’t be legal.

Here is an order
from Governor Lee
removing you as judge,

and appointing me
to serve in your place.

[ murmuring ]

If you don'’t mind,
I'’ll take over right now.

Well, uh...

I had it coming to me.

I'’ve been a disgrace
to my profession.

The gavel, please.

Once a man
starts slipping...

Well, I'’m glad
to be replaced.

[ door opens ]

[ murmuring ]

[ door closes ]

Steve Nelson,
step up, please.

Your Honor, I protest.

This court is prejudiced
against Steve Nelson.

You'’re right, Mr. McGreevy,
I am prejudiced.

So much so that I have arranged
to have Steve Nelson'’s case

transferred to Judge Simpson'’s
court in Laramie.

You'’ll find Judge Simpson's
only prejudice
is against injustice.

[ women scream ][ spectators exclaiming ]

[ chattering ]

[ gunshots ]

Your Honor, the Nelson case
can be taken off the calendar.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Steve Nelson asked
for what he got.

But I want you all to know
that I didn'’t ask for this job.

Governor Lee persuaded me
to take it.

However, now that I have got it,
I intend to take it seriously.

That means that from now on,
this court will be
a court of law,

and anyone who tries
to influence it

will find himself
in serious trouble.

Do I make myself clear,
Mr. McGreevy?

[ murmuring ]

[ gavel bangs ]

Next case, Mr. Billings.

Yes, sir.
Widdowed and riding sidesaddle.

Esther Morris of South Pass
practically stampeded
the Wyoming legislature

into granting women
the right to vote,

and was appointed
the first female judge
in the United States.

And all this happened in 1869,

more than 50 years
before the Union

got around to granting
woman suffrage.