Original subtitles

You take it easy, mayor. It'’s hot out here.

I'’m all right.

Well passed noon, Mr. Farrell.

We'’ve still got till midnight.

And how many miles to go?

You ought to know, governor, your spies have been clogging us.

Well, it'’s not my railroad, it'’s your railroad.

No, it'’s Austin's railroad.

"Farrell'’s Folly," that'’s what they call it.

Not after midnight.

No, then, they'’ll call it "Farrell'’s Failure."

[ laughs ]

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

You talk about fiddling while Rome burns.

Here in Austin, Nevada, in the year 1880,

the town folks are listening to a spellbinder.

While outside of town, a frantic race against time is under way,

as the backers of the narrow gauge Nevada Central Railroad

struggled to lay the last miles of track before the...

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

I know you'’re gonna find this hard to believe.

I found it hard to believe, myself.

This man, right here, was once a puny weakling.

And now, he'’s one of the finest physical specimens you'’ve ever seen.

Isn'’t that right, sir? Of course it is.

What caused this magical transformation?

Well, I'’ll tell you folks. A potion

of desert herbs and minerals concocted

by the ancient medicine men of the Ogalala tribe.

And it'’s all right here in this bottle, ladies and gentlemen.

"The Ogalala Indian Magic Elixir,"

for just $1.

Will it cure lumbago?

MAN: Absolutely, sir.

How about corns?

I'’ve had hundreds of letters

praising this elixir as a sure cure for that particular affliction.

Well, I'’ll take a bottle.

Yes, sir!

Very wise man, sir. There you are.

Now, who else?

There you are, sir. Now, who else?

Now, just a minute, sir.

Listen, folks,

while you'’re standing here, listening to this quack,

the railroad you got your money in is dying.

Now, you know if those rails aren'’t across the city limits by midnight,

we'’re gonna lose that $200,000 subsidy.

And we'’ve been counting on it

to pay back the money we'’ve invested.

What do you expect us to do about it, Mr. Farrell?

Well, I expect every man in this town to get out there

and help those railroad track layers beat the deadline.

Because if you don'’t we'’ll be living in a ghost town.

Broke. Now, let'’s go.[ people chattering ]

That flannelmouth sure ruined a good pitch.

Yeah, $2.

Now, Ruth, the supplies ought to be just about ready.

Be right back.

Say, that'’s an interesting bit of conversation.

Whew. She sure is.

Well, maybe she needs a doctor.

[ chuckles ]

Pardon me, miss.

You seemed a little concerned. I thought maybe I could help.

I'’m afraid not.

Well, when you were talking to that fella

you seemed a little nervous.

Now, I specialize in tension and nervous disorders.

Oh?Uh-huh.

Is he bothering you, Ruth?

No, he was just leaving.

[ grunts ]

Take these out to your father.

I'’ll meet you there.

Tell him to take it easy.

He won'’t be any good to anybody, working himself to death,

or worrying himself to death.

See you later.

Uh, excuse me, miss.

I couldn'’t help overhearing about your father. I'’m a doctor.

I'’m afraid this doesn't call for a doctor.

Yeah, well, sometimes it helps to talk into a sympathetic unbiased ear.

Um, why don'’t you tell me about him?

Well, my father'’s the mayor

and he feels responsible to the people of Austin

about this railroad.

Uh, what about a railroad?

Well, Papa and Mr. Farrell got the legislature

to pass a $200,000 subsidy

to help build a branch line

from the Center Pacific here into Austin,

so the mines could ship their ore at a decent price.

The governor vetoed the subsidy.

Why?Mmm, personal reasons.

My father once accused him of corruption.

Uh, so?So, Papa got the legislator

to pass the subsidy over the veto.

[ chuckles ] Must make the governor happy?

[ chuckles ]Very.

Papa raised the money right here in Austin

from the miners, and the businessmen, and the ranchers.

The money was to be paid back out of the subsidy when the railroad was finished.

Well, that'’s sound procedure.Well, it would'’ve been,

but we had, oh, bad weather, washout, Indian raids,

and it stopped the laying of the track.

The subsidy expires

at 12 midnight, tonight.

And if the tracks haven'’t reached the city limits,

then that'’s the deadline.

How far out are the tracks now?

About eight miles.

It'’s ten minutes past 4:00.

You think they'’ll make it?

I don'’t see how they can.

Uh, why don'’t we drive out and see your father.

I'’d like to talk to him.About what?

Maybe I can help him.

Well, like I said, I don'’t think this calls for a doctor.

Well, uh, just consider me a friend.

[ clicks ]

[ neighs ]

You and your men are really doing a splendid job, mayor.

Understand they laid the last mile of track in slightly over an hour.

We'’ll make it.Sure you will.

Only got eight miles to go in seven and a half hours.

You'’re whipped and you know it, Woodruff.

Your bankrupt and through politically at midnight.

We'’re not giving up, Lambert.

Don'’t start your celebrations yet!

Mayor!

Let me through. Let me through.

Papa?

Haven'’t you done enough harm?

Papa. Pa--

Doctor Breckenridge!

Okay. Come on. Back away from here. Give him some air.

Somebody have some water, some brandy,

something like that?I got some whiskey.

His pulse is weak, but it'’s steady.

He'’ll be all right.

Here you are.

[ coughs ]

Now, you take it easy, Your Honor. Just rest a while.

Do as the doctor says, Papa. The doctor knows best.

Doctor? He'’s no doctor.

He'’s a medicine showman,

who'’s back in town trying to sell

some phony elixir for $1 a bottle.

Is that true?

Please help me take my father to the buckboard.

[ people chattering ]

Okay. Get back to work.

Hi.

She made you walk home?

Yeah.

There'’s a girl that knows character.

Well, I like to be reminded of my character weaknesses,

especially in front of large groups.

[ chuckles ]

And I don'’t like walking eight miles through the desert.

Somebody'’s gonna have to pay for that little hike.

Ed, throw me a towel, will you?

And you picked out a victim?

Not yet.

Hey, now, don'’t connive us into a lot of trouble, Doctor.

There are plenty other towns.

Yeah, well, not with this particular problem.

[ grunts ]

I think I'’ll go visiting.

Where?

See a lady friend.

You want me to follow you in a hack to drive you back.

No, you just sit right there and think of the best way

for us to spend $5,000.

[ bell rings ]

Look--

Now, believe it or not, I want to help.

I'’d like to speak to your father.

Well, he doesn'’t wanna talk to you, so please go away.

Not until I'’ve made him a proposition, huh?

Why don'’t you leave us alone?

Because you need me.

I'’m the only one that can solve your problems.

Papa, Dr. Breckenridge wants to talk to you.

He thinks he has an answer to your troubles.

I don'’t need a tinhorn to tell me how to handle my business.

Well, you got nothing to lose by listening, sir.

Speak your piece.

Now, every problem has some answer.

Now, you want to get the railroad tracks

over the city limits by midnight,

isn'’t that right, sir?Right.

Well, I have the answer.If you have,

you'’re the only man in town who does.

Well, that'’s what makes it so valuable.

With it, you can, uh, save the $200,000 subsidy.

And without it, you'’d be living in a ghost town,

isn'’t that right, sir?

Now, never mind the fancy talk.

If you'’ve got a way to beat that deadline,

I wanna hear it now.

Well, you will, sir, after you pay me $5,000.

Hm.

Just about what I expected from a tinhorn.

I haven'’t got $5,000.

But if I had five million dollars,

I wouldn'’t give you one cent of it.

Well, isn'’t it worth $5,000, sir, to save that subsidy?

Isn'’t it worth $5,000, to keep your friends

from losing all they'’ve invested?

Well, think it over, sir.

Ruth, show Dr. Breckenridge out.

Ah, don'’t bother.

You change your mind, you let me know before midnight.

Dr. Breckenridge.

Dr. Breckenridge?

Meet you at the saloon for dinner.

Evening.

I'’m glad your father changed his mind.

My father didn'’t send me.

I came on my own.

Oh.

Papa really doesn'’t have the $5,000.

Well, he could raise it.

No, he couldn'’t.

The house is mortgaged and all of his friends

have their cash invested in the railroad.

Well, that settles that, doesn'’t it?

Bill?

Do you really know how we could save the subsidy?

Well, I told you I had the answer.

I'’m gonna keep it unless somebody pays for it.

Is money really the only thing you ever care about?

Name me something more important.

There'’s honesty and integrity--Can you bank it?

[ scoffs ]

So, since you'’re not talking, Ruthie,

we'’re at opposite ends of the stick.

I'’m not so sure of that.

Have you ever been hungry?No.

Have you ever gone for weeks at a time

without a roof over your head?No.

Well, I have.That'’s all over with now--

That doesn'’t mean it'’s forgotten.

You have a chance to help someone in trouble.

A man who'’s devoted his whole life to others.

A man I hardly know.

Think what you could do for the whole town.

You could help hundreds of fine people.

It may come as a shock to you,

but Austin doesn'’t mean anything to me.

Just a town I'’m passing through.

I don'’t owe it anything, do I?

You don'’t owe me anything either,

but I'’d be grateful to you for the rest of my life

if you'’d give us the answer.

Well, I'’ll, uh, lower my price to 2,500.

I'’m sorry I troubled you.

[ people chattering ]

Keep their glasses filled, bartender

and, uh, fill mine up again, too.

You men know who got you into this trouble,

your mayor.He'’s not such a bad guy.

Didn'’t he get you to invest your money in this railroad thing?

Now, you'’re gonna lose it at midnight.

That'’s why I have Mr. Smith here,

the attorney general of the state of Nevada to come down.

Smith, I want you

to tell these men just what'’s gonna happen.

My pleasure, governor.

That $200,000 subsidy, which your mayor

pushed through the legislature

over our governor'’s veto,

will be forfeited at midnight

if the, uh, tracks of your branch railroad have not crossed the city limits of Austin.

It'’s the governor's duty to forfeit that fund

and my duty, as his legal aid,

to attest to the legality of the move.

[ people chattering ]

I don'’t like that fella.

Which one?

Take your choice.

They'’re getting a big kick out of wrecking this town.

This is, uh, some of your business?

It just might be, just might be.

Can I buy you a drink, doctor?

I buy my own drinks, thanks.

And I thought you would like to have a free drink.

[ crowd laughing ]

Uh, governor,

just why don'’t you want Austin to have a railroad?

Now, I don'’t think you'’re interpreting this correctly, doctor.

This is strictly a legal question.

Then why did you veto the subsidy?

Was it because you wanted to get even

with a man who knew too much about you?

[ chuckles ]

I don'’t have to answer the insolent questions

of an itinerant peddler.[ crowd laughing ]

Governor,

you know, you'’re very lucky that the tracks didn'’t reach the city limits.

They could have.It'’s after 11:00, doctor.

The tracks are over a mile and a half from Austin'’s limits.

There isn'’t a chance in the world

of Austin fulfilling its obligations.

Yeah, well, don'’t start celebrating in.

They could still beat you.It'’s utterly impossible

to get the railroad into the city in less than an hour.

[ chuckles ] Unless that magic elixirof yours

can lay track.[ crowd laughing ]

Well, it can'’t lay track, governor,

but it just might stop your clog.

[ laughs ] A very emotional, young man.

[ crowd laughing ]

[ bell rings ]

Ruth, someone at the door.

I'’ve changed my mind about the money.

I'’d like to talk to your father.

Your Honor,

if you wanna save that subsidy and your town,

you'’ll do what I tell you.

Are you giving me orders?

Why yes, sir, I am

and it'’s not gonna cost you a thing.

I want you to call a meeting of the town council

down at the saloon, right away.

Those men are way out at the tracks.

Well, please drive out and get them.

I'’d like to know what you want, Breckenridge.

Well, I want you to get that council meeting

called to order before midnight.

I'’ll save your railroad for you.

I'’m trying to help him.

We'’ve got nothing to lose, Papa.

That'’s right.

Bring my hat and coat.

I'’ll harness up the buckboard.

11:52.

What do you suppose is holding them up?

[ people chattering ]

There they are now.

Is everyone here?

Every one.

I want all the members of the Austin Common Council to come to order.

[ people chattering ]

As mayor of the city of Austin,

I now declare that an extraordinary meeting

of the Austin Common Council is in legal session.

I protest this farce.

This is highly illegal.Just take it easy will you, governor?

I will not take it easy. I--Roy, will you keep him company?

Go ahead, Your Honor.

This session has been called

in order to hear a suggestion from Dr. Breckenridge.

Go ahead, Doctor.

It'’s only a few minutes before midnight,

so I'’ll make it a short speech.

Now, everyone knows that a town

with a railroad is a town that grows.

New industry, new wealth, new citizens.

Now, Austin is only a mile and a half from having that railroad.

It'’s within the power of the common council

to extend the western city limits a mile and a half.

LAMBERT: Now, see here-- [ people chattering ]

Make room for the new industry,

the new citizens and the new wealth.

Now, if the motion to extend the city limits

out beyond the tracks is passed before midnight,

all the obstacles between the city

and the granting of the subsidy will be removed.

[ people chattering ]

[ scoffs ] This is a subterfuge.

It'’s illegal. Don'’t listen to this faker.

It'’s absolutely legal and you know it.

Give them your opinion on that, Mr. attorney general.

Well, it'’s certainly an unusual procedure.

Illegal?

Well, I-- I wouldn'’t care

to give an opinion on that phase of it

till I'’ve studied the situation for precedence and--

Tell them it'’s illegal, a travesty.

[ people chattering ]Mr. Smith,

I'’ve got a gun right under this hat.

Now, you know that motion'’s perfectly legal.

You'’re just stalling for midnight.

Now, I want you to tell the people that the motion is legal...

or I'’ll have to use this gun.

In my opinion,

this meeting of the council is legal.

It is their right to extend

the limits of Austin at their discretion.

[ cheering ]

I make a motion

that the legal city limits of Austin

be extended a mile and a half in a westerly direction

to appoint just beyond the existing railroad tracks.

All in favor, vote I.

ALL: I!

Opposed. Carried.

[ cheering ]

Congratulations, Your Honor.

Well, thank you.

[ clock dings ]

Bill.

No one in the whole town knows how to thank you

for everything that you'’ve done.

It was the first time I ever did anything

without putting a price on it.

Feel good?

Uh-huh.

But it, uh, could get to be habit forming.

You will be coming back.

Would you want me to?

Bill, we have 30 miles to go today.

Better get started.

Yeah, well, maybe I will be back.

I gotta get a few things straightened out first.

Namely me.

And so, Austin got its railroad,

which operated for nearly 60 years,

when motor trucks took over the hauling of freight.

In an old copy of the Austin paper,

The Daily Reveille of May 16th, 1885,

I came upon this timetable of the Nevada Central Railroad,

published for the convenience of the traveling public.

There was one train a day in each direction

between Austin and Battle Mountain.

It took six hours over the tracks,

which the people of Austin built with such frantic haste

to the newly extended limits of their city.