All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S09E23.Whos.Fer.Divide..1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

[ ax blows landing ]

It'’s time to eat.
[ sighs ]

Ah, oui, oui.

[ grunts ]

Almost enough log, Matthew.

One day,
two day more cutting,

and then we'’ll build
two fine houses.

By wintertime,
we get the women
and children, oui?

Would be nice
to have our wives here.

Good stew,
but woman make better.

[ chuckles ]

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger.

This is the Oregon Country--
unsettled, wild, and free

in the early fall of 1842,

when Oregon was a pawn
in the struggle

between the powerful
Hudson'’s Bay Company

and early American settlers.

The issue of who was to rule
between the United States

and the British Crown
had to be settled.

And for all practical purposes,
it was,

when one American--
Joe Meek, by name--
shouted...

If it ain'’t them,
it'’s the Cayuses.

Four of them.
A war party.

Couple of hours ago.

Must be after us.
Ain'’t no settlement
around here.

'’Course there is.
I can smell a campfire.

I don'’t smell nothing.

About four miles,
north by northwest.

You just got a nigglin'’ nose,
that'’s all.

How you expect me to smell
a campfire four miles away
with you standing next to me?

Come on.

[ Indians whooping ]

Well, you'’re right,
if you want to call
a few logs

and a couple of settlers
about to be scalped
a settlement.

[ whooping continues ]

Cham-cham!

[ shouting in native language ]

We owe you much,
Joe Meek.

Don'’t thank me, Lucier.

Thank my rifle gun
Sally here.

You know, that oughta be
a lesson to both of you.
And to him too.

He'’s always thinking
of building himself a cabin
and settling down.

My, just look at him.

Measuring himself
for a coffin.
[ laughing ]

It is not too bad.
There is not too many
Indians around.

Oh, them four Indians
was a small hunting party
from way west of here.

Someday you
will settle down.

Nice cabin, a wife...

Me settle down?

Only roof you ever
gonna find over my head'’s
these here treetops.

Sally here is the only woman
in my life.

Eventually, I'’m building too.

See, Joe Meek?
Even your friend will build.

Slim, you'’re the lyingest
mountain man I ever did know.

No, I mean it.
I got my eye on
a nice piece of bottomland

over in Willamette Valley.

"Bottomland"?

Danged if you don'’t sound
like one of them dirt farmers.

Well, that'’s just what
I aim to be.

I'’m gonna put in my claim
right soon now.

When they settle
whose land this is--
British or American--

this wilderness
is gonna be mighty valuable.

You'’re gonna see thousands
of settlers and hundreds
of settlements.

Settlements?
You know how I feel
about settlements, Slim,

and them good-for-nothing
dirt farmers.

Well, if that'’s what
you aim to be,

you aim to be it
without me.

Doggone it, boy,
you serious?

I sure am.

Come on, Slim.
This ain'’t no place for you.

You'’re getting crazy ideas.

Can you use a third hand
to help your building?

You help us,
we'’ll help you
build your cabin.

Slim!

After all these years,
why, I just can'’t believe it.

You...

Well, this ain'’t no place
for no self-respectin'’
mountain man.

He will come back,
by and by.

Someday maybe.

Hey, what means that
"Cham-cham" he hollered there?

All the Indians
call Joe Meek that.

Means "man of the mountain."

There I was, plumb dab
in the middle of that clearing.

Now, beyond in them piney woods
was three bears,

staring down at me
like I was the first meal
they'’d seen in a week.

Three bears, Joe?

Of course there was three,

and all of '’em ready
to pounce.

You know what?
For the first time
in my life,

old Sally
wasn'’t by my side.

Well, you know what I did?

Well, I-- I ride back
and defied them bears
to come on down--

all three of them--
and fight to a finish.

Three, Joe?

One, two, three.

And there was more of '’em
back in the woods there,
watchin'’ the goings-on.

I know they was there.

"Come on down,
you ignorant critters,"
I hollered up at '’em.

Well, that made '’em
good and mad.

And they come down on me
all at once.

Why, I just stepped aside
as nice and limp

as one of them fancy
French dancing masters.

Them three bears
come a-chargin'’ in,

pointed their heads together,
fell down dead in a heap,

and there they be.[ laughter ]

There'’s a bullet hole
in this one.

Clean through the back.

Why, I don'’t shoot nothing
in the back, mister.

No critters nor Injuns.

But you did hunt them
on Hudson'’s Bay Company land?

You don'’t deny that, do you?Whose land?

You'’re on Her Majesty's soil
when you walk through
these forests,

and we have laws against
private hunting and trapping.

Oh. Afternoon, Mr. Kittridge. [ door closes ]

This man has broken the laws
against private hunting
and trapping.

Me? Why, I warn'’t trappin'
and a-huntin'’.

Them three bears just naturally
discombobulated theirselves.

[ laughter ]

Now, I warn'’t about to let
Her Majesty'’s forest

get all cluttered up
with tasty bear meat, was I?

No, sir.
I skinned them critters,

had me some bear steak,
brung in them three pelts
to do some tradin'’.

Coffee and salt for myself.
Powder and ball for Sally.

That'’s my rifle gun.

I am John Benjamin Kittridge,

Her Majesty'’s factor
for Oregon Country, Mr. Meek.

I represent the law
in this territory,

and I am holding you
for trial.

Bind him.

I said, "Bind him!"[ grunts ]

We got him.
We got him.

[ grunts ]

What in tarnation'’s
this all about?

You destroyed
the queen'’s property
without authorization.

In my territory,
that is breaking the law.

By the authority vested in me
by Her Majesty'’s government,

John Benjamin Kittridge,
factor,

do hereby declare
this court now open.

God save the queen.MEN:
God save the queen.

The evidence is here,
defendant admits guilt--

I don'’t admit to nothin'.

I brought peace to Oregon

by a solemn pledge
that only Indians

would hunt and trap
on my lands.

You have violated that pledge.

Your act could'’ve stirred up
a massacre.

Your lands, Mr. Factor?

You stole them Injun lands,
and you didn'’t give
nothin'’ for 'em.

Nothin'’ but the right
to hunt and trap, and they
had that before you got here.

Those woods are free
for all of us.

Not as long
as I say they aren'’t.
And I say they are not free.

I could hang you, Meek,
as an example to others.

And if you were
a British subject, I would.

I don'’t know what you are.

You'’re a man without any kind
of allegiance to anything.

Except yourself, I suppose.

Well, we don'’t want your kind
in Oregon Country.

You tellin'’ me I can't
hunt and trap
as much as I please?

Settle down to farming,
and I can offer you
the protection of the Crown.

I can give you seed, tools,
and food on credit.

But hunt just once,
and I'’ll hang you.

Suppose I don'’t want
the pleasure
of your hospitality?

Then get out
of British Territory,
and stay out.

And that means
all of Oregon.

Out of Oregon?

Oregon has no place
for a man like you, Meek.

Settlers, home-builders
are what we want.

Free the prisoner.

She'’s the property
of the Crown now.

Big Joe Meek.[ grunts ]

Big Mountain man. Huh!
[ grunts ]

[ cocks ]

I just don'’t take no one
holdin'’ a cuttin' knife
on my back.

You'’re asking for trouble.

Looks like I found it
without askin'’.

Now, you just give me
them pelts.

Give '’em!

First man puts his head
through this door,
I'’m gonna blow it off.

We won'’t be that foolish.

But I warn you,
this is open defiance
of the Crown,

and punishable by death.

And as of this moment,
there'’s a price on your head.

You just better make it
a big one.

I'’m gonna make it mighty tough
to collect.

Joe Meek.

Slim.

Welcome to Willamette.

To what?

Willamette!

[ chuckling ]
Well, doggone.

If he ain'’t gone and given
a name to this here parcel
of rain sheds.

[ laughing ]

Told you this place
is gonna grow.

Yeah, that'’s what I come
to talk to you about.

Well, sit.

[ laughing ]

Well?Uh, Slim,

just what'’s
the political situation
in these parts?

What'’d you say?

I mean, how does a man go about
voting against Kittridge?

You mean voting
for the United States?

Well, I guess you could
put it that way.

Well, you was never interested
in highfalutin matters
like politics.

Well, I'’m interested
in being a free man,ain'’t I?

And doing what I please
and respectin'’ the rights
of others, and still be free.

Now, that'’s politics,
ain'’t it?
Well--

You'’re doggone right it is.
Now, look, Slim,

Now, if Oregon'’s gonna be
the kind of a place
you and me want it to be,

we gotta get it away
from the Kittridges

and make it a part
of the United States.Well, that'’s right.

There'’s gonna be
a big election this spring.

Every settler'’s gonna get
a chance to vote which way
he wants Oregon to go--

British or American.

Only trouble is,
the likes of you can'’t vote.

What do you mean
I can'’t vote?

Well, everybody decided
only settlers can vote.

Settlers?

Why, I been here in Oregon
longer than any of '’em.

Now, Joe, everybody agreed--
British and American.

Only settlers are gonna have
the right to vote.

That'’s a fact?Yeah.

[ hat thuds on ground ]

Well, doggone it.
I'’m gonna build me a cabin.

I'’m gonna settle down.
I-I-I may even farm.

You mean that?Ain'’t never lied to you yet.

What'’s come over you, Joe?

Why, the good old days,
you hated government.

"Civilization," you called it.
You changed.

Nah, just a minute.
I said I was gonna farm,

but I'’m still gonna
save a little time
for hunting and trapping.

I ain'’t changed.
It'’s you that changed, Slim.

You just ain'’t as ignorant
as you used to be.

[ laughing ]

Not bad, Joe.
It'’s not bad at all.[ laughs ]

You know, come next week,
I'’m gonna be planting
my early wheat.

What do you think
of that, huh?

"Civilization!"[ laughing ]

Aw, it ain'’t as bad
as all that.

Fella'’s gotta be a useful
citizen if it'’s gonna
be the United States.

Meeting'’s on May 4
at Champoeg.

We need your vote, Gus.
We'’re counting on it.

Dave, your vote counts
at Champoeg.

I want you to vote
for the United States.

Of course
there'’s advantages.

For one thing,
no corporation can hold land.

That means no company can,
only an individual can.

And they got something
called habeas corpus.
That'’s mighty important.

It means no man can be arrested
without a fair trial.

I'’ve tallied 'em three times.

We'’re one vote behind.
We need two votes.

How about those two new settlers
at Dallas mission?

Oh, I counted '’em for us.
I'’m pretty sure of 'em.

Wait. There'’s one chance
we can pick up two votes.
At Fort Victoria.

That'’s British settlement.

Lucier and Matthew--
they'’d be hard to reach,
but if we could get to '’em--

I can get to him.Ah, you don'’t know Kittridge.

He'’d yank their tongues out
if he thought his people
voted against him.

You'’ll never get through.

He warned you.
There'’s a price on your head.

Whatever it is,
he'’s overpayin'.

Well, maybe we'’re
a vote or two ahead,
but it'’s mighty close.

One single vote
could mean the difference.

With whom do you think
we'’re weak, Ivey?

It all fits.
Lucier and Matthew,
the French Canadians.

And that reporter
heard about Joe Meek

being in company territory,
heading for their place.

Meek? Why, he'’s
an enemy of the Crown.

He'’s my enemy, as well.

Of course.
He'’s after those two votes.

Well, he'’s got to be stopped.
It'’s those two votes
that could mean the difference.

I'’ll head for Lucier and Matthew
first thing in the morning.

You'’ll head for them tonight.

Meek must be stopped.

And I don'’t care what means
you use to stop him.

[ sighs ]

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

[ grunts ][ cries out ]

[ cocks ]

[ breathing heavily ]
What are you gonna do?

Now, what in tarnation
you think I'’m gonna do?

Kill me?

I ain'’t never left no wounded
critter to suffer yet.

Please don'’t.
D-Don'’t-- Don't kill me, Joe.

You weren'’t so sugar-mouthed
when you come at me
with that knife.

No, it'’s Kittridge.

He-- He gave me orders
to kill you if necessary.

He'’s afraid you'd--
you'’d get to Lucier and Matthew.

I'’m hurt bad.
Don'’t leave me here.

I'’ll never make it.
[ continues breathing heavily ]

All right.

I gotta get you
down to the creek
and get that wound washed.

And I guess you
just have to go along with me
to Lucier'’s and Matthew's.

Yeah.
[ whimpers ]

[ groans ]

[ groans ]

Hey, Lucier! Matthew!

You old bourgeois, come on out!
It'’s me, Joe Meek!

It'’s Joe!
Joe Meek!

[ laughing ]Hello, Joe.

Allo,Joe.

You'’re from Mr. Kittridge,
the factor at Fort Victoria.

Yeah. Had himself
a little accident.

Now, him and me don'’t exactly
see eye to eye on what I come
to see you boys about.

I want you to vote
for Oregon joining up
with the United States.

But we are British subject,
Canadien.

That is right.
Do you not think so, Mr. Ivey?

You got something to say,
go ahead and say it.

Mr. Kittridge expects you
to vote for the Crown
and the Hudson'’s Bay Company.

We'’d be giving you implements,
seed and food over the winter.

Credit and protection
against the Indians.

That is the truth.

The company mighty good
for the settler.

What you say, Joe?
What you offer?

Well, I ain'’t so good
with the words,

but I know what I think
is important.

It'’s freedom.

Now, I know that don'’t
stack up against seed

and a plow
and flour on credit
in the wintertime.

The way I see it'’s this:
There'’s a lot of fellas
died for it.

That makes it pretty good
and pretty important.

Now, in the next few years,
there'’s a lot
of American settlers

coming out West to Oregon.

You ask any one of '’em,
"Neighbor, what'’s this freedom?"

Most likely, he can'’t tell you.

But you just try
and take it away from him,

and he'’s gonna give up
his life for it.

I know I'’d give up mine.

We don'’t know.

JOE:Slim!

Well, you sliced it thin,
all right.

They'’re just about ready
to vote. Did you get
to Lucier or Matthew?

When I left '’em, they were
still in a quandary. I guess
they'’re gonna stay that way.

We need them votes.Well, you ain'’t gonna get 'em.

But it looks like the other side
ain'’t gonna get 'em either,
so we'’re even.

MAN:
You have all heard
the report of the committee

which would seek to separate
Oregon from the Crown

and make it a part
of the United States.

We have now been in debate
over two hours,

and the time
has now come to vote.

Will all those in favor,
say, "Aye"?

MEN:
Aye!

All those against, say, "No."

MEN:
No.

The nays seem to have it.

[ men shouting ]

[ chattering ]

Now, just hold on,
Mr. Chairman.

That man has
no voice here.

I put a price on his head.

Well, you better
take it off, Kittridge,

leastwise till
this voting'’s over.

I say the devil
with them ayes and nays.

We'’ll divide.

Who'’s fer divide?[ men shouting in agreement ]

This is very irregular!
This meeting is--

Any voting member can ask
for a divide, Mr. Chairman.

MEN: Yeah!

All those in favor
of Oregon becoming part
of the United States, follow me!

[ men shouting ]

[ chattering ]

That'’s Whitfield of Salem,
our last vote.

Counting you and me,
that'’s 50,

and if the chairman casts
the deciding vote

the way I'’m sure he will,
we lose.

Well, gentlemen,
we have 50 votes.

Without mine,
how many do you have?Well, counting Joe--

You can'’t count him
any more than you can
a Cayuse or a stray dog.

He'’s no real settler.

There'’s a land deed
to show Joe Meek

is a bona fide-y settler
just like the rest of us.

In fact, Mr. Kittridge,
you bought some of
his spring wheat.

Mr. Meek is a matter
of no importance.

Even including him,
I figure that you have 50 votes.
We have 50 votes.

According to
parliamentary procedure, I cast
the vote to break the tie,

and I shall therefore declare
that the Oregon Territory
will be--

Wait a minute!

Lucier and Matthew--
they got a vote.

Fort Victoria settlers
are loyal to the Crown.

Ah, gentlemen,
you'’re just in time
to cast a vote for the Crown.

Remember,
you are British subjects.

If it not be for Joe Meek,
we'’d be no subject.
We'’d be dead.

So, uh...

We think and think.

For me, Joe Meek,
I vote like you--

for freedom
and the United States.

[ laughing ]

[ Joe, Slim laughing ]

For the United State.

Yahoo!

[ laughing ]

Three cheers for our side!

For Oregon! For freedom! [ men cheering ]

For the United States! [ cheering continues ]

Within minutes
after that election,

Joe Meek, whose quick thinking
had saved the day,

was elected the first sheriff
of Oregon.

"Who'’s fer divide?"
was the clarion call to freedom

for the sons of the West.

Here'’s a picture of Joe Meek.
Now, as far as I know,

the only one
that has come down to us

of this famous mountain man.