Original subtitles

Stop blinking at me that way!

I ain'’t a-feared!

Stop blinking then!

Stop your filthy blinking!

Stop it! Stop it! Sto--

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

Did haunts, as Tom Briton called them, actually kill him?

Was there some mysterious, supernatural force

in the Northern California in 1882

that could literally scare a man to death?

Those are the questions that Allen Hodges,

a Pinkerton agent new to the West,

must meet face-to-face as he ventures now...

Listen to this, George.

"There is a $5,000 fee to bodyguard me

"and my possessions safe to Sacramento.

"Get directions to Briton place at Junction City.

Signed, A. Briton."

Where did we get this? Not even a postmark.

Travelling preacher left it.

Said it sounded like something for Pinkerton to handle.

Sounds like a wild-goose chase to me.

I wouldn'’t be a bit surprised.

Where is Junction City?

Up here.

Here it is. Right here,

near Grass Valley.

Grass Valley.

Always wanted to see that country.

Might as well let a client pay your expenses.

If there is a client.

The trip to Grass Valley should be pleasant enough,

but from there on, Allen, it'’s pretty rugged and dangerous country.

Good. Then it won'’t get monotonous

Make the arrangements, will you?All right.

[ clanging ]

Whoa!

Hey, excuse me.

Excuse me!

Yeah, can I help you, stranger?

Need some directions to the Briton place.

It'’s just south of Horror Flats.

I'’d like to leave my rig and get a saddle horse.

Look, mister, you ain'’t gonna ride

no horse of mine through that country.

Not through Horror Flats.

Don'’t understand.

You understand English, don'’t you?

[ horse whinnying ]

There'’s a mountain peak overlooking the Briton Place

that resembles a man'’s head.

All the natives around there call it Dead Eye Peak,

on account of at night there'’s a light flickering in one of the eyes.

A light flickering?Well, of course we all know

that the flickering comes from a gold kiln.

There'’s a mine up there. But old Tom Briton,

he believed it was the haunts from Horror Flats

that was winking and blinking down on him.

And every night, he'’d get out with his old gun

and blast away at that thing.

Until one night...

Well, the doc from Grass Valley said it was heart failure,

pure and simple.

'’Course, there is them around here that still believes

it was the haunts that got old Tom after all.

I see.

Hey, uh,

talking about that saddle horse

that you said that you needed.

Now, I'’ve got one, and a good one.

I guess I'’m the only one around here that'’s got one to spare.

It ain'’t for rent though. Not for sale.

Tell you what we might do.

Might do a little swapping.

My horse and saddle for your horse and buggy.

Straight across, What do you say?

ALLEN: Well, I haven'’t much choice.

All right, it'’s a deal.

Rick, go on and saddle that back

and bring her around for this gentleman.

Well, hello, Burt.

I didn'’t see you come in. I was just talking

to this gentleman here about your brother, Tom.

Told him he had heart failure.

Maybe it was and maybe it wasn'’t.

Well, that'’s what the doc put down as the cause of death.

Well, there'’s a lot of things doctors don'’t know.

You got suspicions?

Mister, my brother, Tom, had a good, strong heart.

All us Britons do.

Whatever killed him, killed him.

Well, the only reason we was talking about it was

that this gentleman is headed for Tom'’s place now.

There'’s a lot of strange things going on up around my brother'’s place.

What are you going up there for?

I'’m afraid my business is confidential.

Only trying to help, that'’s all.

Just-- Just trying to help.You can.

You can tell me how to get there.

Well, sure.

Come on, I'’ll point out the way.

MAN: Good luck, mister. Good luck.

Thanks.

[ laughs ]

Chuck, go out there and get my new horse and buggy

and bring them out here and put them in the barn.

[ laughs ]

And-- And tell Reg to be sure and leave the gate open for Blackie.

No, no, that Blackie, he'’s a good horse.

You know, Blackie'’s a lot better horse then the one he'’s got out there.

But Blackie is a home-loving horse.

He loves this place. Inside of an hour,

he'’ll throw that greenhorn and be back here.

[ laughing ]

[ neighing ]

[ whinnying ]

Whoa!

Whoa, boy!

[ gunshot ]

Hold it! It'’s Pinkerton!

Can you hear? It'’s Pinkerton!

WOMAN: Come on in!

But move slow, hear?

Don'’t you move.

Are you a man or a haunt?

I'’m a man.

What'’s left of one.

Look, my name is Hodges. I'’m from the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

I'’m looking for a Mr. A. Briton.

I'’m A. Briton, but I ain'’t no mister.

The A is for Abigale.

Where did you hear of me?

Travelling person drop--Easy!

I was just going to show you a note.

Well, all right,

but move slow.

How would I know you didn'’t steal it?

How do I know you wrote it?

I can write. A little.

If you don'’t put that fool gun down--

No, don'’t go!

I believe you.

Thanks.

I'’m sorry.

I had to be sure.

First they got the horses and the mules,

and then they got Pa.

And I know I'’m next.

Now, who are they?

Why, the haunts, of course.

Look, I don'’t know anything about your horses or your mules,

but your father was scared to death by his own imagination.

You call an eye in the mountain just imagination?

That'’s what it was.

And what about all those other haunts?

What about them?

Lot'’s of things.

Noises, voices.

Haunts, all of them.

Everybody knows Horror Flats is like that.

That'’s why I gotta get out of here safe.

Live where there'’s people.

That shouldn'’t be any problem.

You'’ll see, when you try and get me and my possessions out of here.

Speaking of possessions, my-- my horse bolted.

We'’ll only be able to take what you and I can carry ourselves.

[ animal howling ]

How much stuff have you got?

What?

Oh.

All my personal belongings is in this bag.

There'’s a Bible, and a blue dress I haven'’t worn yet

except to try on, and a wish book.

Wish book?

It has pictures of things you wish you could order by mail.

You mean, you need a bodyguard to take care of-- of-- of this?

Well, there'’s me, too, and one other bundle.

Similar priceless possessions?Oh, yes.

Give me a hand.

Up!

I keep them hid.It'’s from the haunts, no doubt.

That'’s right. They'’re in here.

Bring the lamp.

Come on. It'’s a natural cave

in the side of the mountain.

Come on, help.

There.

What do you have in here?Gold.

Gold?

And more where this came from, I suppose?

Sure, but we'’ll be lucky if we even get this passed the haunts.

Nuggets?

I don'’t know what your haunts would do with this much gold,

but I do know what a lot of men would do with it.

Or for it.

Want some more coffee, Mr. Hodges?

No thanks, Miss Briton, I'’m full up.

Suit yourself.

You can sleep over here. This was Pa'’s bunk.

I sleep up there.

Well, maybe I'’d better spread a blanket out for a lean-to.

You'’re a bodyguard, ain't you?Yes.

Then you ought to guard my body, hadn'’t you?

Well, I just thought you might be more comfortable

in the cabin by yourself.

Oh, snoring don'’t bother me.

I used to snore something terrible.

I see. [ clanging ]

[ screams ]

No, don'’t go out there! The haunts will get you!

But what about that other noise?

Probably some animal.

I'’ve lived in the mountains all my life,

and I never heard a coyote sound like that.

Or a wolf or a mountain lion either.

Why don'’t you go to bed?No.

I'’ll stay right here and keep guard.

Well, thank you.

Good night, Miss Briton.

Good night.

How much you figure this weighs?

Pa figured about $25,000 worth.

Kind of glad it isn'’t 50.

Come on, Mr. Hodges.

We gotta make better time.

I'’m not a mule, you know.

Miss Briton.

Let'’s rest here. I can'’t keep up with you.

I wanna get out of this place.

We'’ll travel faster after we'’ve had some rest.

Believe me!

Well, guess maybe a rest would do a body some good.

Pa learned me a little reading and writing.

The rest I kind of figured out for myself.

I done--

Did?

Did.

Did.

Now I forgot what it is I done.

[ laughs ]

You want some more chokeberries?

Sure.You like them?

Very much.

They do pucker a might,

but they'’re nourishing.

I'’m sure they are.

I'’d prefer a rare roast beef with Yorkshire pudding.

Get to town, I'’ll buy you dinner.

[ rocks rumbling ]What'’s that?

Get back!

Are you all right?I told you

they was out to get me!

It was a rock falling. That happens all the time!

They pushed them!

It was an accident!That was no accident,

that was the haunts!

Will you stop talking about haunts?

You'’re shaking yourself.Of course I am.

It was a close call.

I tell you, we gotta get out of here while there'’s still time!

Abigale, there are no such things as haunts!

Just as there are no goblins or witches or devils.

Those are things in storybooks for children!

I believe them!

Well, you'’ve got to stop believing them.

You'’re grown up now! You'’re a woman!

Well, I don'’t feel like one.

And you'’re not acting like one.

Look, you'’re going to live in town.

Do you want people to like you?Yes.

Do you want people to point at you and whisper behind your back?

Will they?If you keep talking about haunts.

If they find out you left your place because of haunts--

You think I'’m kind of weird, don'’t you?

No, I don'’t.

I don'’t blame you for having fears or superstitions.

It'’s just time to change.

Now, it'’s time to grow up.

[ screams ]

What the...

Abigale!

Are you hurt?I don'’t know. The ground just gave way.

I guess I am a woman.

But I still say there'’s haunts.

They dug that hole.

And don'’t tell me they didn'’t.

Here. [ grunts ]

No. It was man-made.

Come on. I'’ll lead the way from now on.

No, leave that be. We can move fast without it.

I carried it this far,Abigale.

I'’m not gonna leave it now.I don'’t care about the gold.

All I wanna do is get out of Horror Flats.

I came here to do a job. I was hired to do it.

I'’m gonna do it.

[ grunts ]

Down there is where my horse bolted.

Let'’s find a spot and make camp for the night.

[ screams ]

Abigale, what is it?

[ whimpering ]Abigale, what is it?

A haunt!A white ghostly haunt waiting for me!

You actually saw it?Yes.

Then it was gone.

Oh, you can talk all you want.

I know you think I'’m crazy,

but I saw it, I saw it!

You gotta believe me!

I do believe you,

but it wasn'’t a haunt.

[ animal barking ]

You think the fire will keep them away?

Sure.

Get some sleep.

I'’m scared.Don'’t be.

I'’ll stay awake and see that nothing happens to you.

Go on.

I'’ll try.

[ animal howling ]

[ animal howling ]

Mr. Hodges?

Mr. Hodges, where are you?

Mr. Hodges? [ scream ]

[ screams ]

[ groans ]

Hold it. Hold it, or I'’ll blow your head off.

Leaving you out hear alone might be the right bait for your haunt?

But you can'’t kill a haunt with a gun.

No? I'’ll show you.

MAN: No, don'’t. No, don'’t shoot.

Abigale, pull that thing off of him.

Uncle Burt!

So it is.

Burt Briton, alias "the haunts of Horror Flats."

But I don'’t understand.

You wanna tell her, Burt?

I didn'’t mean no harm.

I would touch a hair on your head, child.

But you wouldn'’t mind scaring her to death like you did her father.

Tom died of a heart attack. ALLEN: Sure.

You knew about the blinking eye

and about old Tom'’s superstitious fears.

You worked on him to drive him off his claim.

When he died, it was even better.

Then all you had to do was get rid of Abigale here,

and you'’d inherit it as next of kin.

Only you didn'’t dare murder her

because that would'’ve pointed the finger right at you.

That'’s a lie! I ain'’t no murderer.

Not that you haven'’t tried.

What about that falling stone?

And about the trap. They were accidents, I suppose?

Uncle Burt, if you needed money, I would'’ve--

Your Pa was a fool, girl.

I knowed he struck it rich when he stayed up on the flats so long.

I also knowed that he was burying whatever he found back in the ground again.

And gold is to spend, not to bury.

Besides, I deserve some.

You deserve to be hanged.

On what charge?

Attempted murder, your niece and me.

On whose word?

The word of a girl who believes in ghosts?

Not anymore I don'’t.

That'’s for children.

We'’ll let the court decide. Turn around.

All right, get moving.

Roast beef'’s gonna get overdone.

ABIGALE: I'’ll be right with you.

Well.

How do I look?

I feel kind of funny.

I guess it'’s not having my gun.

You'’re gonna need a gun

to keep them away.

Haunts?

Men.

Don'’t you worry. You got yourself a bodyguard.

Unfortunately, our records are not complete enough

to indicate whether Abigale Britton

Mrs. Pinkerton-- that is to say, Mrs. Hodges.

But we are fortunate enough in having these saddlebags

from the Harry Shively collection,

said to be the actual saddlebags

Hodges used in carrying the Briton gold

to Sacramento through Horror Flats.