Original subtitles

♪ [ harmonica: "Home! Sweet Home!" ]

♪ [ continues ]

Hey, recognize the tune?

"Yankee Doodle."

Aw, come on, Bill. You know what I was playing.

Now, what was it?

It'’s a real popular song.

"Rock of Ages"?

It'’s "Home! Sweet Home!"

Why?

Why? Because tomorrow, we'’re gonna pull into Mojave

after being out for 21 days, that'’s why.

Man, Mojave.

The end of the line.

Cold beer, hot bath, and a month'’s pay.

Yeah? Twenty-four hours, and I won'’t have to listen to that stinkin'’ harmonica.

You don'’t like my music?

One day it'’ll drive me to murder.

Murder?

Yeah, you'’ll wake up someday with your head bashed in

with a wheel spoke or a shovel or something.

Well, that ain'’t too funny.

There was a driver who did that to a swamper once.

Once is all it takes.

Aw, come on, Dave. What'’s the matter with you? You been out too long?

Everybody knows we'’re as good friends as they come.

Sure. Sure.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

It'’s the year 1883.

We'’re in the desert settlement of Mojave,

where the long-line teams wind up

their 21-day round-trip to Death Valley.

Twenty-one lonely, monotonous, heat-tortured days,

when a muleskinner and his swamper

see no other human beings but each other.

No wonder nerves get frayed and tempers crack under the strain.

Now, Bill Ferguson and Dave Meiser are good friends.

They'’ve worked together for a whole season,

which is something of a record.

Still, if there'’s the slightest evidence

of dissatisfaction on either side, they'’ll be shifted.

The company had one tragedy on the road.

They'’re taking no chances ever again

of men being driven to...

♪ [ piano ]

♪ [ continues ]

Here. Now, what'’s the big news?

Well, how would you like to toss all of this over

and start living like a lady?

You'’ve been singing the same tune for months, Shad.

Why don'’t you give up?

Been stringing you along, huh?

Well, take a look at that.

What'’s it say?

It says the ore from the Golden Venus assay

is $300 a ton.

And you own it all?

Well, I did have a partner of sorts.

What kind of sorts?

Well, this is an old abandoned mine we located, worked together,

and it didn'’t pan out, so we quit.

Then you went back and made this strike, huh? On your own?

You'’re smarter than you look.

[ chuckles ] Then what claim has this other guy got?

Well, you see, the mine'’s recorded in both our names.

Oh, but he don'’t know it?

Well, I ain'’t seen him in over a year.

Maybe he'’s dead.

Mm! No such luck. Dave Meiser'’s the type--

Dave Meiser?You know him?

He swamps on one of the big teams.

In and out of here all the time.

In fact, they'’re due back today.

Ain'’t that a coincidence.That'’s why I'm here.

Well, just make sure you don'’t open up about this strike in front of him.

You understand?You wanna buy him out, huh?

Me? Buy?

You ain'’t planning to kill the guy?

Whoa.

I didn'’t say nothing about killing.

I ain'’t no murderer.

But accidents do happen on long-line teams.

I oughta know, because I used to be a swamper once myself.

And if the weather on the desert stays up over 110,

it'’s a lot more likely that that accident will happen.

MAN: Get up! Get up! Get up! MAN #2: Ho!

I think the team'’s in. Get up there!

Get up! [ dog barking ]

Get up there! Get up there!

Get up there! Get up there!

I'’ll check us in.Yeah.

Be along as soon as I shake some of this dust.

Dave.

Shad Collin!

How are ya, ya old dirt-grubber?

Never better. How come you'’re in Mojave?

Oh, I was just passing through, and they told me you was coming in, so I hung around.

Oh, real good. How'’s everything?

Oh, slow.

Ah? You been doing any prospecting?

Mm. Just trying to get a grubstake.

So, you, uh, swamp in one of the big teams, huh?

Ah. Gotta eat.Yeah.

Who is your teamster?

Bill Ferguson.

I don'’t know him.

Oh, he'’s a great guy. We'’ve been working together

ever since he signed on, nearly a year ago.

And you'’re still on speaking terms?

Well, sure.Hmm.

Well, how are the horse flies?

Bad as ever. Say, look, Shad--Yeah?

...I gotta report to the super and collect my pay.

So I'’ll see you later, huh?Well, yeah.

But how about a little drink and maybe some poker over at the Silver Nugget?

That sounds real good.Well, great.

Bring your partner.

Sure thing.

Think you can make another trip?

Sure.Together?

Well, naturally. We just told you--

Just wanna be sure.

Another one of our outfits arrived here last week.

When they left, the two men were the best of friends.

When they got back, the two of them were all banged up.

You wanna know why?

The swamper just couldn'’t stand the way the teamster wore his hat.

[ chuckles ]

Gets that edgy.

Here'’s your money.Thanks.

Don'’t lose it all at poker, huh?

Well, I don'’t know about my partner here,

but I'’m figuring on doubling mine.

Hey, come to think of it, I don'’t think I like the way you'’re wearing your hat.

Hey.[ laughs ]

♪ [ piano ]Mmm!

Takes a lot of courage braving the heat in Death Valley.

Oh, it ain'’t nothing if you got the right kind of partner.

You keep the change.Thanks.

[ sighs ]

So Meiser told the super he didn'’t have any complaints.

Why? He tell you any different?

Well, no, not in so many words.

Meiser and I get along fine.

Oh, sure, sure.

But old play-it-safe Meiser still carries a gun.

A gun?

Didn'’t you know?No.

Oh, that'’s Meiser for you.

Secretive cuss.

Never would come right out and face you with anything.

Maybe that'’s the reason he likes the swamper'’s job.

He can sit behind the other fella.

You don'’t like him,do you?

Well, I-- I just don'’t trust him.

But that'’s my personal opinion as a former partner.

How about another round, Jack?

You calling, Dave?

Yeah, I'’m calling.

I fold.

Three jacks.

[ sighs ] I swear, with the luck you'’re having tonight,

you can read the backs of them cards.

[ laughing ] Must be my night.

Sure ain'’t mine. I could use a drink.

On me.

That'’s quite a haul you made there tonight.

Yeah.Don'’t press your luck.

Don'’t worry. I'm through.

I'’m talking about carrying that cash out of here

with you in the morning when you pull out.

What else will I do with it?

Leave it with you? [ laughs ]

Old Meiser'’s sore as a boar for you cleaning him out.

Really got blood in his eye.

Why? I won it fair and square.

That won'’t stop him from trying to get it back.

I know Meiser. When it comes to money,

he won'’t stop at nothing, and I mean nothing.

Well, he carries a gun.

I don'’t know why you shouldn'’t.

But I don'’t know why I'’m giving you advice.

Never appreciate it.

I still don'’t get it. How could you make Ferguson cheat?

I didn'’t. I cheated for him.

Saw to it that he won.

Then you lost money too.

A drop in the bucket.

Well, whatever you got in mind, there isn'’t much time.

You know, they'’re rolling outta here in the morning.

I know. And while I see '’em off,

you'’re gonna leave Ferguson this little present.

I don'’t get it.You will.

When I own the Golden Venus all to myself.

You know where to stash the cards?

Now.

I'’ll keep his partner busy.

Dave?

Good luck.Thanks.

I sure don'’t envy you heading out in that furnace.

Well, it'’s my last trip.Oh?

For the season.Oh. [ chuckles ]

Well, uh, what then?

Well, you wouldn'’t like to give another try to the Golden Venus, would ya?

Oh, I still think there'’s good ore in there. And our claim is still good.

What would we use for money?

Yeah, you'’re right.

Hey, uh, speaking of money,

you often get into card games with your friend Ferguson?

No. Why?

Well, uh, last night'’s experience oughta learn you.

He'’s a real slick one.

[ chuckles ] What are you trying to say?

That the game wasn'’t on the level?

I'’d bet on it.

How much did you lose?

Oh, not enough to fill a pig'’s ear.But you?

A whole month'’s pay!

Well, Bill-- Bill wouldn'’t cheat me.

He'’s my friend. A good friend.

Oh?

Wouldn'’t he?

Oh, what'’s that?

One of them jacks cleaned you out.

There'’s some mighty peculiar markings on the back.

How come you didn'’t say anything about this last night?

Well, I didn'’t think anything about it till I saw Ferguson pocket the deck.

He overlooked that one.

I'’d sure give anything to see the rest of them cards.

Maybe I can do just that.

Yeah, but you be careful.

He'’s carrying a six-shooter.Bill?

Yeah. Now, I know you don'’t have time to get one on your own,

but just don'’t forget where you borrowed this one.

Stay in the shade, huh?Yeah. [ chuckling ]

Good luck.

Come on, Dave. Let'’s get rolling. So long.

So long.

[ whip cracks ] FERGUSON: Carry on, mules! Ho!

DAVE: Giddyap, mules!

Haw! Giddyap!

Giddyap! [ whip cracks ]

Whichever way. It don'’t matter. Ha! Come on!

One of '’em gets killed, [ Bill, Dave shouting ]

that makes the other one a murderer.

He gets hung. Come on!

[ shouting ] Hump that mule.

Come on, mules! Ho!

Giddyap, mules!

Giddyap! Haw! [ shouts ]

Hyah! Hyah!

Giddyap!

Drop it.

After my poke, huh?

No, no. I-I was just after some-- some medicine.

I got a bellyache. Huh.

Well, it'’s true. My stomach'’s like a rock. I'’ve been all doubled up.

You touch my money, and I'’ll double you up for keeps.

I never knew you carried a gun.

Well, you know it now.

Giddyap!

Giddyap, mules!

Haw! Giddyap!

Haw!

Giddyap!

[ exhales forcefully ]

Haw! Ho!

Ho!

[ hammering continues ]

Dave, give me a hand here, will ya?

I warned ya, you sneakin'’ thief.

All right. All right. I know you were cheating me.

Cheating?Yeah, but I wasn'’t gonna do nothing about it.

I just gonna quit playing with you, that'’s all.

Now, there'’s no need to get rough.Now, you listen to me.

No, you stay where you are! Don'’t come no closer with that hammer!

I don'’t know what you think you'’re getting at

with that cheating talk, and I ain'’t aiming to hurt ya!

No, no, you'’re just fixin' to kill me, that'’s all.

Dave! Dave!

Dave!

Hey, Dave! Dave!

Dave, you'’ve gone loco! Dave!

Dave!

Stay where you are, Ferguson! Don'’t come no closer!

Dave-- Dave, I'’m your friend. You know that.

Look, you'’ve just got a touch of the sun, that'’s all. It cracked you up.

I'’ll tell you what. You come along with me. We'’ll go back to the wagon.

I'’ll put a tarp up to keep the sun off you,

and you can rest easy all the way to the mine.

Okay? [ gunshot ]

Dave, you can'’t stay holed up in their forever!

I'’m not moving outta here!

You'’ll die in there!

It'’s better than dying out there!

I'’m staying put!

Dave, I-- I can'’t wait no longer.

I gotta get back to the team. We'’ve lost a day already.

They'’ll be worried about us at the mine.

I ain'’t keepin' ya. Just git!

The mine, Dave. The mine.

The end of the line. Running water, cold beer.

Home, sweet home, Dave.

You can play that harmonica all you want.

All right. If that'’s the way you want it,

you can stay in there and die, '’cause that's what you'’ll do.

You'’ll die of thirst.

The nearest water is 50 miles away at Granite Well.

You think on that, Dave.

Think on it before you decide.

Dave, for the last time!

I'’ll leave you a canteen of water down where we camped.

If you come to your senses, it'’ll keep you alive till I get back.

You ain'’t getting me out in the open with that fool dodge!

Dave?

Haw! Haw!

Maybe you'’re just worried about nothing, Mr. Perry.

No, no, no.

Something must'’ve happened to '’em.

Telegram from the mine said they were a full day overdue.

Must'’ve had a breakdown.

I built those wagons, Mr. Collin.

They don'’t break down.

Accidents happen.

You could set your watch by those teams.

I wouldn'’t this time. In fact...Just shut up!

Ohh!You don'’t know what you'’re talking about.

All I meant was--Just shut up!

Wait a minute.

I wanna hear what she'’s got to say.

She meant-- I just wanna hear it from her.

Well, it'’s like Shad said--

Now, don'’t drag me into it.

What did Shad say?

Well, nothin'’.

What'’s this all about?

She just told you.Nothing.

Look, are you gonna talk, or am I gonna choke it outta ya?

All right, talk![ grunting ]

[ strained ] All right. All right.

Ferguson? I know you'’re out there!

[ gunshot ]

[ clicking ]

[ panting ]

Ho! Ho!

[ shouts ] Come on, you mules! We'’re heading back!

Haw! Haw!

[ wagon approaching ]

Ho! [ shouting ]

Dave...

You stay where you are.

This time it'’s me that'’s on the killing side of this gun.

Dave, I-I came back for ya.

You saw the water I left ya.

You crawl, you beg.

But, Dave, we'’re-- we're friends.

Dave!

I'’m gonna kill you.

You realize that when you went back for him,

you ran a good chance of getting yourself killed?

A darn fool thing to do, I guess, Mr. Perry.

Then where would the team have been?

But Dave'’s been my right-hand man.

We'’ve been good friends.

You will be again unless Dave here

gets a little too rich for your blood.What do you mean?

Shad had a good reason for seeing you two boys kill each other.

Discovered gold in that claim of yours, Dave.

But he won'’t be around to help you work it.

Well, it looks like I lost me a good swamper here.

Well, if Bill is willing, Mr. Perry,

I think maybe you lost a good driver too.

What do you say, partner?

Partner.[ chuckles ]

You might be interested to know

that the wagons you saw in the picture

were the actual wagons on which Bill Ferguson and Dave Meiser

made their long hauls across the desert

between Mojave and Death Valley.

And I might add that in all the years these wagons were in use,

they never once broke down.