Original subtitles

Hey, Stratton.

You keep on traipsin'’ back and forth

to the assayer'’s office,

you'’re gonna wear your boots out.

And what are you gonna wear?

Man'’s gotta make plans.

Find any gold?

No, but we will.

Sooner or later. [ chuckles ]

Hey, listen, if that stuff

you got there assays out good, come on back.

Maybe we can make a deal.

You? Make a deal with me?

Sure, you been good to me. We could be partners.

Partners? With what?

You ain'’t even got a claim.

A claim'’s ten acres. What do you got?

Not even a tenth of one acre.

Well, that land was left over.

It'’s ours. We staked the claim.

You staked the claim?

If there was a jackass laying here on the ground

and you staked out his tail,

who does the tail belong to, you or the jackass?

Well, there'’s no law saying

that you can'’t have a small claim.

Why, you can follow that vein underground far as it go.

For miles. That'’s the law.

That'’s the law...

if the vein apex is on your claim.

Apexes?

That'’s right.

Where it comes closest to the ground.

Never heard of that, did you, Burns?

I just hope you never strike gold

in that two-by-four mind of yours.

Because if you do, somebody'’s gonna come along

and sue you and take it all away from ya.

Like who, maybe?

Like me, maybe.

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

Winfield Scott Stratton

had spent 17 lonely years prospecting for gold

when he arrived in Cripple Creek, Colorado.

He had staked out a claim, the Independence,

and was offered a partnership in the Portland.

But how could he know that one day

under those claims, there would be...

Well, the samples are telluride.

They assay at approximately $150 a ton.

Hundred-- A hundred and fifty?

Unfortunately, this isn'’t oxidized telluride.

You can'’t separate the gold?

No, I wouldn'’t say you can'’t.

How much?

You'’ll have to recover about $25 a ton.

Mr. Stratton,

you'’ve been at this a long time.

Too long, Mr. Guyot.

Too long.

A man oughta know when to quit.

I'’m going down to the Springs. I'’m gonna be carpenter.

As a carpenter, I used to make a living.

Want me to write this up?

Yes, I want you to write it up.

I want you to write up a seller'’s assay.

Just say it assays $150 a ton

and forget the rest.

Spread the word the Independence is for sale.

Of course, you know Ed Beckett hasn'’t sold his mine yet.

He'’s only asking $500 for it.

Well, gold miners are fools, Mr. Guyot.

They don'’t buy property, they buy dreams.

And nobody wants a $500 dream.

Yes, sir.

That'’s what I'm gonna do.

I'’m gonna put on my good suit.

I'’m going down to the Springs.

I'’m gonna sell my mine for plenty.

Sell it to some dreaming fool.

And maybe I won'’t have to be a carpenter after all.

[ inaudible dialogue ]

[ inaudible speaking ]

BURNS: Hey, Stratton!

Hi. Where ya been?

I been looking for you all week.

Yeah?

Well, I haven'’t been looking for you all week,

and that'’s what I'’m gonna do next week too--

not look for you.

Heard you been having a little trouble

selling the Independence.

Hey, look. Why don'’t you throw in

with Doyle and Harmon and me?

We could form a partnership.

Look, let'’s get one thing straight, Burns.

You and I partners? No. Never.

Well--Even if you were the last...

No. Not even then.

But, Stratton...

I was just making a little coffee.

Have some?

Yeah, if it wouldn'’t be too much trouble.

You must be Mr. Stratton.

Well, I think I am. But then again,

I thought this was my cabin, too.

My name is Pearlman.

I represent Stanley and Associates,

a San Francisco mining syndicate.

I'’m here to buy some mines.

I understand the Independence is for sale.

The Independence is for sale? What gave you that idea?

Ah, it'’s the word I got in town.

Well, the word in town could be wrong.

Could be, but I don'’t think so.

Interested?

Maybe. What are you offering?

Well, uh, before we start dickering,

suppose you show me what you'’ve done with the mine?

Well, uh...

I got my shaft down, 80 foot.

I got four crosscuts right here

at the 50-foot level.

Are you working all the crosscuts?

Say, don'’t you have any sugar?

Yeah.

No-- Yeah, sure.

There'’s sugar there.

Uh, about these crosscuts,

I abandoned that No. 1 a long time ago.

Yes, I know.

All right, what'’s your price?

What do you mean you know?

I know the crosscuts you'’re not working.

You don'’t think I'd buy a mine without looking at it, do you?

Well, what'’d you ask me for then?

I just wanted to see if you were honest.

All right, let'’s see your assay report.

Mm. Don'’t you ever wash that coffee pot?

Mm.

Yeah.

A seller'’s assay if I ever saw one.

Well, what have you got written down there?

155,000.

Take it or leave it.

[ laughing ]

[ laughing continues ]

Ah.

Thanks for the coffee, Stratton.

Stratton, just because you gave me a good laugh

I'’m not gonna walk out on you.

Now, my company wants me

to buy a claim on Battle Mountain.

Yours is right in the middle,

and it'’s the only one that'’s for sale.

'’Course, if I went to some of the others with an offer,

I, uh-- I imagine they'’d listen.

Don'’t you?

Yeah. Their holdings ain'’t as good as mine.

Mm, that'’s possible.

But none of the mines have really proven out yet.

So, why don'’t we be a little more realistic

about the price, huh?

$5,000?

Well?

You'’re offering me $5,000?Yes.

$5,000 for the Independence?

Well, you don'’t have to get mad about it.

There'’s no reason for you to feel insulted

at an offer of $5,000...

down.

Down?

Tell you what, Stratton.

I'’ll take an option on this property for 30 days

to see if it'’s worthwhile.

If the mine proves out in 30 days,

I'’ll give you the rest of the money.

5,000 now,

then another 150,000 in 30 days?

If it proves out.

Well--I'’ll give you a check for 5,000 right now.

Tomorrow'’s the 1st. We'’ll make this option

from the 1st of July to the 30th, all right?

All right. Seems fair enough.

Good.

[ rustling ] [ rocks clattering ]

Don'’t shoot me, Stratton.

Burns?Yeah?

Burns, what are you doing out here this time of night?

Just taking a walk.

A walk? With a load like that?

My stick broke.

What do you got in them sacks?

Nothin'’.Uh.

That'’s gold.

No kidding?

Where'’d you get that, Burns?

It'’s ours. My partners and me.

We found it in our mine.

What, that little old hole in the ground?

That'’s the biggest vein you ever saw.

[ chuckles ] We found it the day you left town.

Uh-huh. And it assayed?

$360 a ton. [ giggles ]

Who else knows about this strike?

Nobody.

Just Doyle and Harmon and me.

Good.

Where are they? Haven'’t seen them around in a couple days.

Oh, they went in town to get a good lawyer.

That'’s why we've been toting this stuff out at night.

We got ourselves $70,000.

We figure when the word'’s out,

that we'’ll be up to our neck in lawsuits.

Everybody claiming that the vein

apexes in their mine.

Yeah. Where does the vein apex, Burn?

Which way does it run?

That way, up towards your mine,

the Independence.

Well?[ breathing heavily ]

It'’s there, all right.

The old No. 1 crosscut.

How could I have missed it? It'’s right there.

Shh!

We'’re millionaires. Think of it, Stratton.

Yeah. I think I'’m gonna be sick.

You sold the Independence.

Don'’t say "sold," Jimmy.

It'’s not sold. I just gave Pearlman an option.

I get the mine back in 30 days.

Well, how do you know you'’re gonna get it back?

All'’s it'd cost Pearlman $150,000

to keep it after the option runs out.

All we gotta do is wait.

We can'’t wait.

Now, we said we'’d deal with the owner

of the Independence, and we will.

Even if we have to deal with Pearlman.

Ohh.

With a syndicate ban?

Why, do you know what'’d happen if a big-city syndicate

even suspected that your vein apexed in their mine?

Oh, now, wouldn'’t it be better to deal with an old friend?

Somebody you could trust?

Who?Oh, Jimmy, don'’t be like that.

We'’re gonna be rich, Jimmy.

Richer than you think.

Why, there'’s over $3 million in that one vein alone.

Now, you boys just wait and string along with me.

We'’ll keep slipping that ore out of your mine

until-- till we got enough money to lick

every jawbone lawyer in Colorado.

Then we'’ll buy this whole mountain.Ye--

What if Pearlman finds out about the vein?

Oh, well, he'’s not gonna find--

MAN: Yahoo! [ rifles firing ]

[ men whooping ]

[ rifles continue firing ] [ whooping continues ]

[ laughing ]Yahoo!

What is it? What happened?Hello, Stratton!

Why all the celebration?

It'’s the Fourth of July.

Yahoo!Ya...hoo.

Hooray![ halfhearted cheer ]

[ door rattles ]

Let me in.

I think I'’m being followed.

I think it'’s Pearlman.

Don'’t blow that out.

He'’ll know. Where can I hide?

[ knocking on door ]

Why, uh, hello there, Mr. Pearlman.

Good to see you again. What can I do for you?

Stratton, did you see a man come by here just now with a heavy pack?

Nobody'’s come past here.

Is there somebody in there with you?With me? No.

Why would anybody come to see me this time of night?

Stratton, somebody here at Battle Mountain

made a rich strike, and they'’re trying to keep it a secret.

He'’s running ore out at night on his back.

I almost caught him.

Now, I wanna know who it is

and how close his claim is to mine.

A rich strike?

$360 a ton.

If I could only find out where it'’s coming from,

I'’ll know which way to dig.

How do you know it'’s $360 a ton?

I pay an assayer in Pueblo to give me tips.

Are you sure you didn'’t see anybody?

Wait a minute. An assayer in Pueblo.

You knew there was a strike on Battle Mountain

before you ever made your deal with me, didn'’t you?

Well...

Well, the syndicate pays me to know about these things.

[ groans ]

That'’s why you wanted the Independence.

You thievin'’--Oh, come on, Stratton.

Business is business, and we'’re both businessmen.

We made a deal, I paid you.

5,000 lousy dollars.

Well...

bound to get burned once in a while.

[ chuckles ]

No hard feelings?

You got no hard feelings.

Oh, come on, Stratton. Be a man. Shake.

Wait a minute. What do you think you'’re doing?

I was sure there was somebody in here.

All right, Stratton. I was wrong.

I apologize.

I should think so!

First you cheat me, and then you insult me!

BURNS: Stratton.

Psst! Psst!

Hi.

Hi. Now, you listen to me, Burns.

We'’re taking no more chances.

You'’re gonna shut the Portland down

and keep it shut until this is over.

All right. All right.

And I'’m not letting that Pearlman

outta my sight, either.

That man'’s not honest.

No.

Come on. Come on.

Stratton, are you gonna spend all day here, every day?

Don'’t you have someplace to go?

Oh, matter of fact, I don'’t.

You bought my mine. What am I gonna do?

Well, take up a hobby. Drink.

Find anything?

Uh, Stratton,

you mind if Joe and I have a little private talk?

No. No, go right on ahead.

[ sighs ] Let'’s go down below where we can be alone.

Come on, Bill.

Any more tips from Pueblo, Mr. Pearlman?

[ sighs ]

You blabber-mouthed idiot. What are you trying to do?

Just ask a civil question. What'’s wrong with that?

Your face. You'’re too anxious.

You'’re gonna give everything away.

Look, Stratton, we only got a week left,

and you'’re gonna spend every last minute of it in town.

Oh, now, Jimmy...

Come on. We'’re getting outta here right now,

even if I have to drag you into town.

All right.

I accept your invitation.

Seventeen years.

Seventeen years I'’ve been prospecting these mountains,

just me and a burro,

and now you say, "Wait, be patient."

Will you forget about the 17 years?

Just one day-- One more day, and we'’ll be millionaires!

Multi-millionaires.

I bet a nickel.

Yeah. More money than we can spend.

I raise you a dime.

I told you, nickel'’s the limit.

Well, if I can'’t bluff, I'’ll fold.

[ giggles ]

[ carriage approaching ]

Whoa.

What'’s Pearlman doing in town?

You stay away from him.

He might'’ve found something.

You gonna mess everything up.

I gotta find out.

Stratton! [ muttering ]

Finish up the list. Everything you need.

Oh, hello, Stratton. Find a hobby yet?

Yeah, worrying about whether I'’m gonna get my $150,000 or not.

Well, that should keep you busy for a while.

Hello, Burns.Hi.

Mr. Pearlman, I know you still got a day left,

but you should have your mind made up by now.

Uh, you running much gold?

I mean, I got a right to know how things are going.

I got millions at stake.

You mean $150,000... if we buy the mine.

Don'’t try to up the ante, Stratton.

No, I was just wondering how you were doing.

Well, if you must know, we'’re running a lot of ore,

but recovery costs are high.

If there'’s a bonanza on Battle Mountain, I haven'’t found it.

Sorry, Stratton.

Looks like you'’re not gonna get that 150,000.

Ooh, all that money.

Yeah.Here you are, Mr. Pearlman.

You need all this for tomorrow?

$2,000 for more supplies?

DRIVER: Why sure, that No. 1 crosscut

hasn'’t been worked for months.

We'’ll have to do some shoring and some blasting.

$2,000?

All right.

Well, like they say, tomorrow'’s another day.

See you later, men.Oh, Mr. Pearlman, uh,

I would just think that I took

quite a bit of money away from you,

and the least I can do is buy you your supper.

How about you eating with Burns and me

here at the Palace tonight?

The way things are going, I think I could use a free meal.

I might just take you up on that.

That steak was delicious. Just delicious.

But you fellas didn'’t touch yours.

Oh, I wasn'’t very hungry.

I'’ve been sick.Oh, that'’s too bad. That'’s too bad.

I always enjoy a good steak.

And I, uh, always enjoy settling business over a good cigar.

Settling business?

Let'’s be realistic, Stratton.

I know the terms of a mine option as well as anyone.

I realize I'’m obligated to work this mine

for the full 30 days, and to explore all the possibilities.

And naturally, you'’d like to collect the $150,000.

Oh, I know. You'’ll probably tell me all those stories

about men who quit just a foot too soon.

No. No, I don'’t recollect any such stories. Do you?

No. No! No, I never heard of such a thing.

Well, I'’m glad you feel that way.

Now, look, Stratton. You heard my man.

It'’s going to cost me another $2,000

to explore No. 1.

Now, legally, I should do it.

And under the terms of the option,

I mustn'’t overlook any possibilities.

And you have a right to hold me to it.

Naturally, you have $150,000 at stake,

but what do you think?

Do you really believe it'’s worth my while

to risk another $2,000 for just one more day?

After all, my company isn'’t too happy

about wasting any more money on your mine.

Well--

PEARLMAN: That'’s not my decision to make, you understand that.

Only you can release me.

You really think there'’s a chance

we might find something in No. 1?

Mr. Pearlman,

you might find a vein 9-foot wide

worth three million.

[ sighs ]

Well, you'’ve certainly got your sights set

on that $150,000, haven'’t you?

Come on, Stratton.

We both know the mine is worthless.

Why don'’t you be a good fellow, make it easy on me?

Let'’s tear up that agreement.

Sure would lose a lot of money, wouldn'’t you?

H-He means if you spent $2,000 developing that No. 1.

Yeah, come on, Stratton. Let me off the hook.

It'’s only a matter of one more day.

Y-Yeah-- Yeah, Stratton.

Why don'’t you be a nice fella and just tear up the option?

Well...

What do you say, Stratton? Shall I tear it up? It'’ll save my company $2,000.

Yeah.

Throw it in the fire.

Thanks. Thanks a lot, Stratton.

Well, we tried, and we failed.

Good-bye, gentlemen. Better luck next time.

[ door opens ]

[ door closes ]

[ blowing ]

We did it. We did it!

We own it! The whole kit and caboodle!

[ grunts ]

It'’s ours, Stratton!

What'’s the matter?

I...

I ain'’t never been a millionaire before.

Me neither.

[ whooping ]

[ whooping continues ]

Cripple Creek produced $432 million of gold--

more than was ever taken from the famous Comstock Lode.

Now, Stratton, with Burns and his partner,

fought 27 lawsuits, but they ended up owning

67 miles of gold.

And Winfield Scott Stratton,

after 17 years of prospecting,

became the first millionaire in Cripple Creek.