Original subtitles

Every ounce of gold we can send from California

will bring victory that much closer for our cause,

the cause of the Confederacy.

Only way to treat a Yankee spy.

Maybe that will teach Mr. Ulysses S. Grant

not to meddle in our affair.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

It is the year 1863, at the height of the Civil War.

Intelligence reports to Union headquarters

indicate a secret society operating in San Francisco,

which is sending money by the tens of thousands of dollars

to the Confederate cause.

It is vitally important that this Committee of 30, as it'’s called,

be broken up and soon,

before the largest shipment of cash to date leaves the port.

General Grant thinks he'’s found the man who can do it,

Captain Lynn Parker...

Amazing, the resemblance.

Parker, your specific duties are,

first and foremost,

intercept that next shipment of money.

The largest, so far, according to our intelligence.

Secondly, break up that ring if you can.

Get the leader, the brains behind it.

Is his identity known, sir?

He is a woman.

A woman? Well, uh--

Parker, it isn'’t because of your ability with the fair sex

you'’ve been selected for this assignment.

It'’s because of your uncanny likeness to this gentleman...

Captain DuPontier,

a Confederate prisoner in Benton Barracks.

Amazing.

Enough like me to be my brother.

Enough like you to be you.

Or... for you to be him.

You'’re to report to Colonel Adrian at Benton Barracks.

He'’ll be expecting you. And, uh, good luck, Parker.

Your name?

Lafayette Charles DuPontier II.

Again.Lafayette Charles DuPontier II.

My father operated a gambling boat.

My sister'’s name was Renee, and my brother, Charles.

They were both killed when the Yankees raided our town.

Your mother?Dead, cholera.

Father?Killed running guns through the blockade.

What was the name of the gambling ship?

New Orleans Mermaid.

Well, I think you'’re as ready as you'’ll ever be.

Everything'’s been arranged for your escape.

Once you'’re in San Francisco, you'’ll be on your own.

And, Captain...

a reminder.

The last man who tried to break up the committee

was shot in an apartment above a gambling house

called the Lucky Garter.

The Lucky Garter.

Sounds like the place to begin, then.Or end.

PARKER: ♪ Hooray for the Confederacy

[ slurred ] ♪ Any way you mix it

♪ The South is the South

♪ Any way they fix it

♪ Whe-- [ grunts ]

Beg your pardon, gentlemen. Would you all care to, uh...

Mmm, Yankees.

♪ When the Northerners go to bed ♪

♪ The devil keeps working in a Southerner'’s head ♪ [ chuckling ]

Oh! [ chuckles ]

Hey, wait a minute here.You-- You look like a Southern gentleman.

Let'’s drink to the South, huh?

Here'’s to the president, Jefferson Davis!Look, wait a minute here.

Look, you keep talking like this,

you'’re gonna get yourself in a mess of trouble, you hear?

Oh, you don'’t like Jefferson Davis?

[ laughing ][ sighs ]

He don'’t like Jefferson Davis.

Well, sir, I guess I'’m just gonna have to show you a little lesson.

En garde!

[ grunting ]

You take him to my place.

MAN: Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets.[ chattering ]

MAN: More bets, please.

[ ball clacks ] And black'’s the winner!

Why, if it isn'’t His Royal Highness Dandy the Duke.

Never mind the charm, Belle. Who'’s in there?

[ door closes ]

You'’re welcome to look under the bed, Dandy.

I'’m sorry.

I'’m sorry, Belle. I'’m sorry.

It'’s just that I'’m crazy about you. You know that.

The trouble is, you attract men too easily.

You know you'’re the only man I want to attract.

You mean that?

Belle, do you really mean that?

What was that rumpus downstairs when you pulled up?

Oh, just some Southern boy

fighting a war down on the sidewalk.

I had him taken to my place so he can sleep it off.

I didn'’t want him attracting any attention.

Good-looking boy.

Probably comes from a good family.

Might have some money.

Well, why don'’t you find out who he is?

Committee'’s always looking for those who might be useful.

Anything you say, Belle.

Anything.

Wake up.

Wake up, mister.

You'’re gonna sleep your life away.

[ groans ]

[ exhales ]

Where in the he--

Who the devil are you?

my name is Dandy Martin, and this is my apartment.

[ whistles ]

All that'’s left of the family fortune.

Oh, uh, my name is DuPontier.

Lafayette Francis DuPontier the second.

How do you know that?I took the liberty

of removing your billfold,

for safekeeping, Captain.

Was that necessary?

Well, we have to be careful who we associate with these days.

Word has it that you escaped.

It'’ll take more than you to recapture me--

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute here!

Look, you listen to me.

If I wasn'’t your friend,

would you be here now,

with your money safe, your billfold intact?

You'’re right.

My apologies.

Forget it. [ chuckles ]

Well, what are your plans?

Oh, I'’m gonna live it up with this money,

and then I'’m gonna go back and fight like the devil.

Well, as long as you'’re gonna spend that wad,

why don'’t you spend it where it'’ll do our cause the most good?

"Our cause"?

You mean, your sympathies are with the South, too?

Well, not all of us wanted California to join the Union side.

I heard that, uh, there are a lot of Southerners around here.

And there are. And when I learned who you were,

I was able to arrange a nice surprise for you.

You don'’t say?

Your Uncle Pierre has escaped.

He'’s here in San Francisco.

Oh, uh, my Uncle Pierre.

Well, that'’s great, isn'’t it?

I mean,he was reported missing or presumed dead.

And to have him suddenly alive?

Well, look, you make ready, hear?

I'’ll take you to see him.

Hurry up now.

Your uncle'’s anxious to see you.

MAN: Whoa! [ horse neighs ]

[ men laughing ]

[ chattering ]

You act as if you'’ve never seen a gambling hall before.

[ chuckles ] I was raised in one.

My father owned a gambling boat, the, uh, New Orleans Mermaid.

[ chuckles ] So you'’re uncle said.

Well, right this way.

Oh, Belle, this is my young friend I was telling you about,

Captain DuPontier.

My fiancée Belle Waverly.

Captain.

Miss Waverly.

How do you do, Captain. Won'’t you come in?

We'’ve been expecting you.

Here'’s your uncle.

Why, Captain DuPontier,

don'’t you recognize your own uncle?

My uncle...

My Uncle Pierre?

Of course. Don'’t you recognize him?

If one of these men claim to be a relative of mine,

he'’s an imposter, Miss Waverly.

You mean, you don'’t recognize me?

Why, that'’s ridiculous!

I mean, sir, I'’ve never set eyes on you before in my life.

And you'’re absolutely right, young man.

[ chuckles ]

Oh, it'’s terrible to distrust our friends, Captain,

but these days we just can'’t be too careful.

That'’s why we devised these silly little tests.

It was very clever of you.

I did have an Uncle Pierre,

but he was killed early in the war.

But, uh, why all this secrecy?

Even if California did vote Union,

there'’s no law against believing in the Southern cause.

Some of us do more than just believe in it, Captain DuPontier.

We help.

There'’ve been Union spies sent here,

and so far, we'’ve been able to take care of them.

I'’m sure glad to hear that.

Dandy, would you excuse us?

I have committee business to discuss with Captain DuPontier.

Gentlemen.

[ door closes ]

You'’ve heard of the Committee of 30,Captain?

Uh, vaguely,

but I don'’t know who they are.

They don'’t even know each other.

That'’s how secret their operations are.

Somebody must know who they are.

You'’re looking at that somebody, Captain.

Miss Belle, if it'’s a, uh, contribution you want--

No, keep your money.

I think we may find a greater use for your services.

What did you have in mind?

We'’ll let you know when the time comes.

Refreshment, Captain?

MAN: No more bets, please.[ people chattering ]

[ both chuckling ]

What a wonderful young man, Dandy.

It'’s just like old times.You must be very proud

of your fiancée, Dandy. She'’s real people.

Real Southern people.

And, I might remind you,pledged.

Oh, I won'’t forget that for a minute.

I'’ll remind ya, in case you should happen to.

MAN: Place your bets, please. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Well, I'’ve been lucky so far, meeting folks like you.

Maybe my luck will hold at the tables.

What'’s your favorite number, Miss Belle?

Try 31, black.

MAN: No more bets.

I'’m on my way.

Oh, um, the champagne--

is it, uh, private stock, or can I have the bartender send over a bottle?

It'’s private stock,

but since you'’re a special guest, I'’ll send you over a bottle.

[ chuckles ] Thank you, Honey.

MAN: Place your bets, please.

"Honey," champagne, kissing! What'’s going on here?

Keep your voice down.

I told you the committee was in need of a courier soon.

One who'’s young and reckless enough to risk his neck.

MAN: 31, black. A winner!

Well, I don'’t trust him,

even if he did pass that test.

We'’ll keep watching him.

We'’ll only use him if there'’s nothing suspicious.

And if we find something that is?

Why, I'’ll leave him to you, Dandy.

MAN: Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets, please.

[ chattering ]

Hey, Honey.

Cash these in for me, please.

Take this note to Captain Randolph on the Pacific Star.

Is he getting a passenger?Yes.

Good. Good.

Ten days with Captain Lafayette Francis DuPontier

is enough for me.

Wait a minute.

But, Belle, why are you sending me?

That boat is anchored way out beyond breakwater.

That'’s gonna take a couple of hours.

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.Well, is that what you want?

Belle, is that what you want?

You get rid of me and have a few precious moments

with the Pontier before he leaves?

Is that what you want, Honey?Dandy, I'’m sending you

because you'’re the only man I can trust.

You know the city'’s full of Union soldiers.

If another man were caught, he might be--

Well, he might talk.

Oh, Belle, I'’m...

Oh, Honey...

Dandy, please.

Gentlemen, I'’m afraid you'’ve cleaned me out.

Captain, would you like to solace yourself

with a bottle of champagne, upstairs?

Well, I couldn'’t think of a nicer way to ease the ache of a empty purse.

[ chuckles ] Gentlemen.

'’Night.

I told you I'’d let you know when the committee could use your services.

[ door closes ]That time has come.

Captain, there'’s an even half million dollars here.

We'’re turning it over to you.

To me?Yes,

for delivery to Jefferson Davis.

Oh, I'’m, uh--

I'’m deeply honored.

Believe me, I'’ll guard it with my life.

Your life won'’t be worth much if you don'’t, Captain.

A ship, The Pacific Star,is sailing down the coast at dawn.

You'’ll be escorted aboard in three hours.

You'’ll debark at San Diego, where another escort

will take you overland to Texas.

Your instructions have all been written out.

It'’s very difficult for me to, um--

to express my gratitude,

your having chosen me for the job.

I think we'’ve chosen well.

Here are your instructions,Captain.

Read them when you get aboard.

You may need this.

Belle...

I'’ll always remember you with deep affection.

No matter what happens, remember that.

What do you mean by that?

War is a strange business.

One never knows-- [ knocking on door ]

There'’s your escort.

Come in.

[ door closes ]

Bye, Belle.

Good luck, and safe journey.

[ chattering ]

Your boat is waiting on you, Captain.

Oh, Dandy,

I sure am glad I got a chance to see you before I left.

We haven'’t much time, Captain.I wanna thank you

for your hospitality, Dandy, and for the little gambling lesson you gave me.

But most of all, I wanna thank you for sharing so many things with me.

Your apartment, for one thing, and, uh, Miss Honey Belle.

Mmm. Now I know what we'’re fighting for. [ chuckles ]

How dare you insult that woman'’s honor.

Honor? [ laughs ]

We have no time for that, Dandy.

[ sighs ]

I'’m sure I wasn't the first.

[ gunshot ] [ Belle yells ]

[ gunshot ][ gasps, cries ]

Let'’s move. Those shots will bring the police.

[ dog barking ][ no audible dialogue ]

MAN: Hyah!

[ bell clangs ]You cabin'’s number two.

We'’ll be under way in a few minutes now.

Thank you.

Prepare to cast off!

MAN: Aye aye, sir.

Lay anchors!

Aye aye, sir.

[ chain rattling ]

Surprised? I'’d be. [ captain continues orders ]

Took a lot of hurrying through back streets to get here before you.

We'’ve nothing left to share now, DuPontier.

Not even the Southern cause.

I'’m relieving you of that money.

But first, I'’m gonna kill you.

All right.

You start walking.

Go ahead.

Cast off!

Aye aye, sir.When you reach the deck, you drop the bags.

It'’ll be quick.

Just one fast push, and over the rail you go. Kind of painless, too.

You'’re heading for trouble.Oh, no.

They'’ll be out beyond the Golden Gate before you'’re ever missed.

And that money-- they'’ll think you made off with it,

Captain DuPontier.

All right.

All right, let'’s go.

All right, put the bags down.

On the deck, DuPontier! On the deck!

[ grunts ]

[ groans ]

[ gunshot ]

DuPontier! He made off with the money!

[ gunshots continue ]

It'’s a job well done,Captain.

The committee will just disintegrate.

War is a rough game,Captain,

and assignments like this are just about the worst part of it.

I killed Belle,

just as sure as if I'’d have pulled the trigger myself.

I have here some real Confederate money,

money that played such an important part in the Civil War.

But equally important was the part played by espionage,

particularly when the opposing spies were a man and a woman.

It takes a rare courage to play the game out to the bitter end,

especially if the spy is as much of a human being

as young Captain Parker, the Yankee Confederate.