Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

Back in 1879, an American girl became

the singing sensation of Europe

under the name of Emma Nevada.

She was born Emma Wixom in Nevada City

and raised in Austin, Nevada.

I guess local pride inspired the name.

But if Emma was a bombshell in Europe, New York, and Chicago,

her return to Austin had all the affect of a blockbuster.

And that'’s the story we'’re going to tell,

a story we call...

[ crowd cheering ]

You have the people of San Francisco

in the palm of your hand, my dear.

Just listen to them, Emma!

They still want more!

Colonel Mapleson, I can'’t sing another note.

I'’m worn out.

I-- [ knocking on door ]

Come in.

Well, looks like this country'’s mighty glad

to welcome its own opera star, Miss Nevada.

Thank you.[ chuckles ]

I'’ve been working backstage

for more than 40 years now, and I'’ve heard the greatest.

But I'’ll tell ya something, Miss Nevada,

not one of them'’s got anything on you.

You'’re very kind.

[ chuckles ]

MAPLESON: And this is only the beginning, my dear.

Oh, I can'’t wait until we get to New York.

[ sighs ] But I don'’t wanna go back to New York.

They'’ll be shopping on the avenue

for Yule, and Rector'’s-- what?

Not just yet, Colonel.

I have a wonderful idea,

and I want you to say yes to it.

A blind promise from your manager?

Oh, no you don'’t.

But this is terribly important to me,

more than anything I'’ve ever asked.

What is it this time?

You must promise not to say no.

Break it to me gently.

All right.

This letter arrived today, from Austin, Nevada,

the little town where I was raised.

Ma and Pa Stokes.

Who are they?

I don'’t remember,

but look what they say.

They'’d give anything in the world to hear me sing,

and that goes for the rest of the town.

Well, why don'’t they come to San Francisco?

Instead, we'’re going to them.

Going to them?

This time you really have lost your mind.

You promised.

Colonel, I wanna give them a concert

just like the one we gave here, tonight.

Emma, my dear, those miners wouldn'’t leave their saloons long enough

to listen to one aria.

Colonel, those miners knew me when I was a baby.

Why, they'’ve followed my career ever since I went abroad

to study when I was 15.

I'’d rather sing for them than for anybody else in the world.

As your manager, I should say no...

but you know I can'’t resist you.

Then you'’ll do it?

I'’ll make all the arrangements.

I'’ll send the staff on ahead, and we can follow shortly.

Now, don'’t tell me you'’re gonna wear that

in front of those roughnecks.

They'’ve heard about the Queen of England presenting it to me.

They'’d be disappointed if I didn'’t let them see it.

They'’re all my friends, Colonel Mapleson.

A $100,000 necklace can destroy

the most beautiful friendship, my dear.

You'’ll change your mind when you meet them.

Perhaps.

Why you insisted on traveling by stage

when there'’s now a train, I'’ll never know.

The stage is what I remember.

Gives you the real feel of the country.

[ horse snorts ]

Well, that just about does it. [ sighs ]

So you'’re the two jokers responsible for all these signs.

This ain'’t no joke. She'’ll be here tomorrow.

And who is she?

Where you from, mister?

Oh, I get around.

My work keeps me on the move.

Well, you don'’t get around here much

if you ain'’t ever heard of Emma Nevada.

The great opry star.

Oh, now what would an opry star be doing,

coming to this hole?

MAN: Because she was raised here, that'’s what!

There'’s a picture of her in her queen'’s necklace--

uh, Queen Victoria, that is.

MAN TWO: The night our little Emma sings here,

this town'’s gonna have one of the biggest jamboreehoos

you'’ve ever seen.

MAN: Better stick around.

MAN THREE: I reckon you'’ll have to miss it.

Our Miss Emma'’s comin' to town, and you'’re gettin' out,

Duke Clayton.

He might be a stranger to you boys,

but he'’s made quite a name for himself in the territory.

A dozen or more shady dealings

and at least two known killings.

Why, you know you got nothin'’ on me,

and you can'’t run me out of town for no good reason at all.

Wouldn'’t be legal.

All right, Clayton, but I'’m warning ya.

You try any cute stuff here, while Emma Nevada'’s here,

and you'’ll be carried out of town!

Aww, you got me wrong, Sheriff.

Why, I'’m just a dyed-in-the-wool music lover.

Colonel, we'’ll be there in less than a half hour.

Right.

Are they idiots?

Why are they stopping out here in the middle of the wilderness?

[ people clamoring ]

[ continuing ]

Great Scott,

it'’s a holdup!

Holdup?

Bandits, hideous looking beasts,

wi--with guns.

There'’s hordes of them!

Oh, Emma, if they find out who you are,

then they'’ll hold you for ransom.

Where'’s Emma![ people shouting ]

C'’mon out!

Colonel, it'’s the miners!

They'’ve come to meet me!Who?

[ sighs ]

[ miners shouting ]

[ miners laughing ] MINER: Welcome home, Emma.

Hey, she'’s even prettier than her picture.

MINER: Wow. Welcome home, Emma. Welcome home.

No picture could ever do you justice, ma'’am.

Why, thank you Mr....

Clayton, Duke Clayton.

Must seem like ya facin'’ a whole tribe of bushwhackers, ma'’am,

but they were all so anxious to meet ya,

we rode out here to see you,

me included. Aww, quit gabbin'’, Sheriff.

Let'’s get her back into town.

[ miners shouting ]

Hyah!

[ miners screaming ]

[ gunshots ]

She'’s coming!

Little Emma'’s stage is coming!

[ miners shouting ][ gunshots ]

Whoo-hoo!

[ people chattering ]

That'’s Duke Clayton, thoroughbred scoundrel,

but we'’ll see to it

he don'’t trouble you no more. [ chuckles ]Oh.

Oh, here'’s some particular friends of yours, Miss Emma.

It was us wrote the letter.

Ma and Pa Stokes,

of course, I remember you perfectly!

Why, bless your heart.

I picked these this morning

from the hill behind your old house.

Thank you very much.

We'’ll see you at the concert, Emma.

Got front-row seats!Oh.

[ laughs ][ people chattering ]

[ dogs barking ]

[ horse galloping ]

[ dog barks ] [ horse whinnies ]

Well, this ain'’t gonna look like much of a concert hall

to you, Colonel Mapleson,

but it'’s the best we've got.

I reckon we could fill it for Miss Emma tomorrow night

if it was twice this big.

So, this is where Emma Nevada made her real debut.

Yep!

Right up there.

Three years old she was.

Sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" wrapped in the flag.

Uh, just what'’ll be the price of the seats?

Oh, shall we say 25, 35,

and 50 cents, according to location?

Are them the prices you charge

when you give concerts in San Francisco or gay Par-ee?

No, no.

Not exactly.

What exactly do you charge?

One to five dollars and up,

but, uh, seeing that this is Miss Nevada'’s own town,

I suppose we could price it much less.

Uh, 20, 30, and 40 cents?

We could give the concert free?

[ shots continuing ]

Look, tenderfoot, we'’re paying just as much

to hear our own little gal sing as them big city folks do

who ain'’t ever knowed her!

What'’s all the shootin' about?

[ Mapleson sighs ]

Oh, Sheriff, am I glad to see you.

These boys are givin'’ you any trouble, Colonel,

I'’ll throw 'em in the pokey.

Oh, no, no-- [ coughs ]

no, no, no trouble at all.

They'’re just teaching me how to set prices,

Western style.

Six bullet holes.

That would be a six-dollar top. Is that right?

Yeah.Let'’s make it ten.

[ laughing ][ gunshots ]

[ people chattering ]

Ah.

And I thank you, sir.

[ chattering continues ]

MAN: I have to find a seat.

MINER: First come, first serve!

TICKET MAN: Those are the $10 seats!

MINER: These nuggets we paid were for Emma.

When it comes to seats, we'’ll take what we can get!

[ people shouting ]

[ knocking on door ]

MAPLESON: Emma. EMMA: Come in.

How'’s the house? [ door closes ]

Packed with ruffians.

They'’ve even sold standing room, outside.

Colonel, aren'’t they wonderful?

I'’ve never been so excited in my life.

And I'’ve never been so nervous in my life.

Emma, promise me you will not wear that necklace.

Of course, I am.

Well, at least I'’m glad the sheriff'’s here.

Colonel, you should be more worried about

how well I sing than about the safety of my necklace.

Emma, my dear...

I know you'’ll sing your best.

[ sighs ] I will if my voice will come out.

My heart'’s in my throat.Aww.

Colonel, I must take a peep at the audience.

Well, come on.

[ audience chattering ]

[ door opens ]

What are you doing here?

I'’m sorry, I had no right.

Indeed, you didn'’t.

I wanted to be alone with you just once.

Mr. Clayton, I'’m due to go on stage in a few minutes.

DUKE: I know.

Well, please leave, at once.

You'’re even prettier when you'’re angry.

Perhaps, after the concert.

Perhaps.

But we both know it ain'’t likely, don't we?

After all the things you heard about me.

You'’re very kind,

Emma Nevada.

[ audience cheering ]

[ knocking on door ]

MAPLESON: Emma.

Emma, are you there?

Yes, Colonel.

Come in. [ door opens ]

[ door closes You must hurry, my dear.

The sheriff'’s just starting your introduction.

Yes.

Folks, I, uh, reckon

this here concert tonight is gonna be just about

the biggest thing we'’ve ever had in this town.

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

SHERIFF: So, uh, I reckon you won'’t object

to me askin'’ ya to do just about

the biggest favor,

to take off your hats.

[ chattering ]

Now, you may catch cold, [ chuckles ]

but me, I may get pneumonia.

[ laughing ]

SHERIFF: So we'’re here tonight

to, uh, honor our little Emma.

So, uh, I guess I'’ll just have to ask you to take the risk.

[ chattering ]

SHERIFF: Thank you, boys.

And now, I reckon you'’ll all thank me

to get the-- well, to get out of here

and get the show started.

AUDIENCE: Yeah!

[ audience clapping ]

SHERIFF: Now, the next person

that, uh, is coming out on this stage

is the greatest prima donna in the world.

Our own Miss Emma Nevada.

[ audience cheering, clapping ]

I can'’t begin to tell you in words

how much this homecoming means to me.

So perhaps my heart can speak to you through my songs.

♪♪ [ piano playing "Beautiful Dreamer" ]

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Wake unto me

♪ Starlight and dewdrops

♪ Are awaiting for thee

♪ Sounds of the rude world

♪ Heard in the day

♪ Lull'’d by the moonlight ♪

♪ Have all passed away

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Queen of my song

♪ List while I woo thee

♪ With soft melody

♪ Gone are the cares

♪ Of life'’s busy throng ♪

♪ Beautiful dreamer

♪ Awake unto me

♪ Beautiful

♪ Dreamer

♪ Awake

♪ Unto

♪ Me

♪♪ [ piano playing stops ][ cheering, clapping ]

♪ Black is the color

♪ Of my true love'’s hair ♪

♪ His face is something wondrous fair... ♪

♪ Greensleeves was all my joy ♪

♪ Greensleeves was my heart'’s delight ♪

♪ Home, home

♪ Sweet, sweet home

♪ There'’s no place ♪

♪ Like home

♪ Oh, there'’s no place ♪

♪ Like

♪ Home

♪♪ [ piano playing stops ][ cheering, clapping ]

[ people chattering ]

Oh, thank you.

How come you didn'’t wear your necklace, Miss Emma?

We were mighty disappointed we didn'’t get to see it.

Yeah, I would'’ve sure liked to had a good squint at them diamonds of yours.

[ laughing ]My dear,

you were magnificent.

Thank you.Sheriff,

I thought you and your men were going to keep an eye on things?

I just saw that young man, that Duke...watchamacallit,

slinking out the back door.

Duke Clayton? Backstage?

Yes. MAN: Well, then he must'’ve got there

before the concert started.

Are you sure your necklace is safe?

Yes!

I mean, well, of course, Sheriff.

I simply decided not to wear it.

Must'’ve changed your mind very quickly.

What do you mean, Colonel?

I did my best to dissuade her from wearing it.

Up until just a few moments before she stepped on this stage,

she'’d remained adamant.

I remember now.

When I came back to pick you up,

you seemed upset.

Emma, had that young Clayton been back there?

Had he already taken your necklace?

[ people chattering ]

Is that right, Miss Emma?

Did Duke Clayton take it?

Sure, that'’s right.

Anybody can tell that from the look on her face.

All right, boys, let'’s go.

No, my necklace hasn'’t been stolen!

Get a rope and hang that Duke Clayton!

No, stop them, Bart!

My necklace is safe in its box. Please!

Wait. Hold it.

Give her a chance to show us!

Come on, Miss Emma.Yes, let'’s see it.

[ chattering ]

Open it, Emma.

[ gunshots ] [ people chattering ]

MAN: We got him!

I guess the shots came too close to him.

He surrendered without a struggle.

[ sighs ]

I tried to tell '’em.

Matter what else I might do,

I couldn'’t rob you.

[ clapping, laughing ]

[ people chattering ]

Ma'’am, uh...

[ people shouting ]

Goodbye, Emma.

Forward, hyah!

I must admit, you were right.

Emma, they'’re wonderful people.

And you, my dear...

you are a truly great lady.

[ chuckles ]

And I can'’t wait to get you back to civilization!

[ giggles ]

I have here in my hand a copy of the Reese River Reveille,

a newspaper published in Austin, Nevada.

Date, December 4, 1885.

"Welcome Home," reads the headline,

for this is the day that Emma Nevada returned

to her home town to sing for her old friends.

Now, the whole story is told here,

but there'’s no need of my reading it to you

because you'’ve just heard it.

The story of Emma Nevada'’s greatest triumph.