Original subtitles

[ chattering ]

Okay, uh, y'’all pay attention a second.

Now, uh, you all know what'’s happened to our canal.

You'’ve seen it happen before, and most of you'’ve been down to see what shape it is in now.

It sure is a mess.It'’s siltin' up, all right,

just like it did last year.It sure is.

Something oughta be done about it before it stops running altogether.

Yeah, we oughta clean it up, but, well, I gotta get back to livery.

Me too. Joe Sommers is bringing

his mare in for a show, and I'’ve gotta get over there.

Well, now, wait a minute. Hold everything. Where do you think you'’re going?

Just a minute. Who'’s gonna get this job done.

Look, that acequia is the only water supply this town has.

You know we gotta keep it running.

But you'’re all too busy this time, is that it?

Well, sure. More ranchers moving in around here all the time.

They come into town, we gotta be here.

We got businesses to tend to.

What about the town?

How are we going to stay alive without water?

Now, look, we'’re gonna be big.

This is gonna be a city. The biggest in a thousand miles.

I know it! But we'’ve got to work at it.

Oh, come on, Dowell.

Now, we'’ve heard all your big ideas before.

What city?

We got a one-street town and a saloon and a couple of adobe shacks.

Instead of a newspaper, we got a tree.

Instead of a fire department, we got a water bucket.

And that'’s full of holes.[ laughter ]

We don'’t even have a mayor.Well, that'’s it, Hubbard.

Let'’s have us a mayor,[ mutters ]

and then he can organize the whole thing.

How about Ben?

MAN: Ben for mayor. What do you say?

[ murmuring in agreement ]Now, wait, wait, wait a minute.

Okay, Ben. You'’re it. And the problem'’s yours.

Now, I gotta get back to my livery stable.Yeah.

[ chattering ]

Congratulations, Ben.

You'’re the town's first mayor.

Eh, thank you, Jack.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

Hundreds of small towns were started in those early days of the West.

Some sprang up near a mining strike,

some began at stagecoach stops,

and some built up around a crossroad'’s saloon.

Now, many of these towns lost their reason for existence

and are just memories now.

Those lucky enough to have among their citizens a man like Ben Dowell,

a man of vision and determination, usually grew up and prospered.

But it wasn'’t easy, even for someone like Ben,

as he learned on...

Good morning, Ben.

Good morning, Ben.

Oh, uh, morning.

You'’re not very talkative, are you?

I'’m kind of busy.

Oh.

You didn'’t hear?

Hear what?

[ chuckles ] They elected me mayor.

Elected you mayor?

About an hour ago, unanimously.

Oh, Ben, how wonderful!

First mayor of El Paso.

Oh, well, I always knew it would happen.

And to think the whole town had such faith in you, Ben.

I don'’t think, uh...

Now, this will be the beginning of everything.

All your dreams about building a new city can come true.

I don'’t think that's why they elected me mayor.

What?No, they, uh...

They didn'’t want to dig out the canal,

so they handed it over to me by making me mayor.

Oh. [ sighs ]

Oh, it'’s all right. It'’s all right, Nancy.

They elected me mayor.

That'’s what I'll be.

And this is the way I'’ll start.

What is it?

It'’s a proclamation.

My first proclamation as mayor.

Ben, I don'’t think the people are gonna like this.

They'’re gonna have to like it.

I'’m the mayor.

Elwood ain'’t gonna like that.

Oh, I see, uh, Bert and Hilda are inviting everybody to, uh-- to Maggie'’s wedding.

You going, Ben?I imagine so.

"Proclamation: I, Ben Dowell,

duly elected mayor of this city, do hereby"...

Taxes?

What do you expect me to do, dig out that canal by myself?

We gotta raise some money somehow, and this is the legal and proper way to do it.

People ain'’t gonna like that, Ben.

In fact, I'’ll bet you--

I'’ll bet you a new hat you don'’t collect $5.

Carmody, you'’ve got yourself a bet.

So, uh, you see, Charlie, uh, we'’re charging everybody a tax.

All the big cities do it.

They do?Oh, yes.

Well, the trouble is, my two youngest are ailing,Ohh...

...and young Charlie fell out of a tree and busted his arm,

and, well, Jane is expecting again, and...

Well, Charlie--But the fact is, Ben,

with all these doctoring bills, I--

well, I-I just--[ sympathetic muttering ]

I understand, Charlie. Uh...

Look, um...

Here. Uh, take this. Maybe-- Maybe this'’ll help out for a while.

And when you get a chance, will you pay the tax bill?

Yeah.

[ no audible dialogue ]

Well, I'’ll tell you what, Ben. When they pay, I'’ll pay.

Doggone it, Marie. That'’s what everybody says.

Now, how are we gonna get along without water?

Oh, well, I don'’t have to worry about that.

Would you like a drink?

No. No, thanks, Marie.

How'’s the mayorin' business, Dowell?

I haven'’t been outside this afternoon to look.

Are we a big city yet?We will be,

but no thanks to some cheap chiselers around here that I know.

Well, we'’re all counting on you, Ben.

Don'’t let us down.[ men chuckle ]

Eh, it'’s not top quality. '’Course, I expected that.

It fits, more or less.

I suppose that'’s all I can hope for from you.

Carmody, you wouldn'’t know quality if it came up and kicked you.

Hey, Ben.

Ben, I was so sorry to hear about it.

You didn'’t collect a cent, did you? Nope.

That'’s a downright shame the way they treated you, Ben.

If I had any property, I'’d pay my taxes, if I had any money.

Poor Ben.

Well, this'’ll make you feel better. Mince pie.

What are you two talking about? You know, I feel fine.

Look what this idiot'’s gone and done now.

"City Ordinance Number 1:

"From this date henceforth, it will be illegal for any citizen of El Paso

"to bathe, swim, or cavort in any way in the canal.

Ben Dowell, mayor."

Ben, you know the people always...

That'’s what I'm hoping for.

The more we catch, the more we collect. [ chuckles ]

Yeah, that should bring in plenty of money.

We'’ll get that ditch dug out.

You out of your mind, Ben Dowell?

If I wanna swim in that canal, I'’ll do it.

You do, and you'’ll pay for it when our town marshal catches ya.

What town marshal? Who you gonna talk into that job?

Well, Jack, I, uh-- I'’ve been giving that a lot of thought.

I think I found the right man. Hm.

You.Me?

Why, Ben-- Ben, the way you'’re running this town, that'’d get me killed.

Uncle Jack, you know I wouldn'’t do anything to hurt you.

Besides, what'’s more important, you or El Paso?

[ laughter ]And listen to this one.

"It shall be illegal for any man, woman, or child

to speak loudly or unkindly toward his or her neighbor."

[ laughter ]

Oh, that'’s nothing. Here-- This is my favorite.

"It shall be illegal for any male or female citizen of El Paso

"to steal any of his or her neighbor'’s property

without the consent of his or her neighbor."

[ laughter ]

You can go ahead and laugh, but you'’re gonna find out there are a lot of people

willing to pay their fine and own up to it once they'’ve broken the law.

That'’s right, Mayor. I just collected some fines.

You did? Well-- Well, hand '’em over.

[ coins clinking ] This is an historic occasion, boys.

The beginning of the city treasury. [ chuckles ]

[ men chattering ]

Three dollars?Yeah.

I fined a stranger a dollar for carrying a gun.

He didn'’t have sense enough to hide it.

And then I fined Joe Stanton six bits for pitching pennies

behind Carmody'’s livery stable.

And then I fined a guy--Congratulations, Mayor.

At the rate you'’re collecting fines, you'’ll have that canal dug

in an easy, uh, five years.[ snaps fingers ]

[ laughter ]

Don'’t you let them bother you, Ben.

Here. I'’ve got something for you.

That money you loaned me the other day.

Well, thanks, Charlie, but where did you get all that money?

Oh, I just had a little run of luck over at Marie'’s place.

Poker?Yeah.

Yeah?

Come on, Marshal. Let'’s go catch 'em in the act, huh?

Better put the money away, boys. The government'’s coming up the street.

Marshal, arrest these men.

On what charge, Mayor?

Or have you got a new law saying you can'’t play for matches now?

[ sighs ] Come on, Jack. I'’ll, um--

I'’ll buy you a drink. I think I could use one.

Boys, he'’s gotta be the most discouraged man in West Texas.

I bet Dowell'’d do anything to raise that money.

Maybe we can cash in on this.

[ chattering ]

How are things going, Ben?Not too good.

You think you'’re ever gonna get that canal cleaned out?

I don'’t know, Marie. I'’m beginning to wonder.

Marie, come on over here.

We got an idea to make some money.

Well, I'’m all for that.

But we gotta act fast, before Dowell becomes too discouraged

and gives up being mayor.

[ sighs ] Now, wait a minute.

Why are you inviting me in?

Well, you make an investment in this place pay out,

so we figured we owe ya... a favor.

Besides, Ben won'’t have anything to do with any of us.

Uh-huh.But you can make a deal with him.

[ chuckles ] What kind of deal?

Just about the slickest idea you ever heard.

All we'’re gonna do is...

[ laughing ]

[ men laughing ]

Feeling low?

Oh. Howdy, Marie.

[ sighs ]

Yeah.

Yeah, it gets pretty discouraging to have one simple dream,

and then find out it'’s hopeless.

Oh, would you, uh, like some coffee? Oh, no.

Hmm. Um, maybe it'’s not hopeless, Ben.

Well, I know this can be a great city.

But nobody'’s even willing to try. [ scoffs ]

How are we gonna even get railroads to come through here, or anything else,

if we can'’t even supply our own water?

How much do you need, Ben?

[ scoffs ] Two hundred dollars.

I know it doesn'’t sound like much, but nobody in this town has any cash.

I have. I'’ll give the town $200.

I think the town oughta grow too.

Well, Marie, that'’s, uh--

Uh-uh. It'’s strictly a business deal, Ben.

I want something in exchange.

In exchange?

[ chuckles ] The town doesn'’t own anything.

I mean, no city hall, no schools, no jail.

The only thing El Paso'’s got is the street it'’s built on.

That'’ll do.

What'’ll do?

The street. I'’ll take that.

Marie, have you been drinking your own liquor?

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Um...

Isn'’t there some other way?

You said it yourself, Ben.

El Paso hasn'’t got anything else.

[ chuckles ] How can I...

I don'’t know. You'’re the mayor, Ben.

I mean, I-- I thought you wanted to do something.

Unless all that talk about El Paso being such a great city

was just talk.

Well, um... [ chuckles ]

What could you possibly do with a...

Oh, oh. Yes, well,

in other words, um,

when all those highfalutin ladies come riding into town

with their noses up in the air, why, uh,

you could say they'’re riding on your street, hmm?

[ laughs ]

Well, I can see how that could give you a great deal of satisfaction.

Mm-hmm. [ chuckles ]

I sure don'’t see any harm in it.

And I could get things started.

Marie, you got yourself a deal.

Come on. We'’ll draw up a deed.

[ banging on door ]All right, all right! I'’m coming!

Give me a chance to wake up, will ya?

[ exclaims ]

[ grunts ]

Charlie, what are you--Ben!

Ben, what'’s going on?What do you mean, "what'’s going on?"

What are they doing?Who? What?

Come out here! Come on! Come on!

You don'’t have to drag me--Look at that.

Move.

They'’re charging everybody to come into town.

They call it a toll.A toll?

Yeah.

Oh...

Oh, that-- th-that woman.

I estimate... another five minutes.

Your watch must be slow. Here he comes now.

[ sighs ]

Now, listen here, Marie. You can'’t do this.

Oh, yes, she can, Mayor.Hubbard, would you mind going someplace else?

I have some business to talk over with Marie.

Well, I assume you wanna talk about the town'’s streets, which we own.

You?

Marie and me,

and a couple of others,

uh, formed a little real estate syndicate.

Now, Ben, I told you it was strictly a business deal.

Now, what was it you wanted to talk about,

uh, Mayor?You know darned well

you can'’t charge admission for people to come into this town.

According to this deed that you wrote--

it says we can do anything we want with those streets.

Ben, I want you to know

I was not in favor of charging that toll,

but the rest of the syndicate voted me down.

Personally, I--

I wanted to plow up the street and plant a little garden out there.

That'’s for you, Ben. [ sighs ]

You know, you bachelors never get the right kind of food.

Tsk! Eating all that chili and tamales--

[ loud chattering ]

All right. Now, hold it, hold it.

[ loud chattering continues ]What is this all about?

Wait a minute! Hold it! Quiet down!

I tried to stop '’em, Ben, but they won'’t listen to me.

[ sighs ] Yeah, well, I, uh...

I suppose you'’re all here because of the fences, hmm?

MEN: Yeah!You'’re darned right it is.

What are you trying to do, ruin us, Ben?

Them ranchers come into town for supplies, they gotta pay a toll.

Well, they ain'’t gonna do it!

I know, I know. I tell you, I'’m working on it.

Well, you'’ve gotta work harder, Ben. Things can'’t go on this way.

That'’s right.Now, listen here, all of you.

You elected me mayor to fix up the canal and make something out of this town.

But then none of you lifted a hand to help.

Well, I did the only thing I could.

Well, you done the wrong thing,

and we'’re here to tell you that if it ain'’t undone right away,

well, there'’s gonna be a little tar and feather party going on.

MEN: Yeah!And guess who'’s gonna be the guest of honor.

MEN: Yeah!

I'’m working on it.

Everything'’s gonna be fine tomorrow.

All right. Now, you heard him. Now go on home.

[ loud chattering ]

Ben, have you really got something figured out?

Oh, um, yeah, Jack.

You can depend on me. Everything'’s gonna be fine.

Okay.

Well, good night, Ben.

I told you not to worry, Ben.

I knew you'’d think of something.

Yep. I'’m gonna take care of it right now too.

What are you gonna do?

I'’m gonna pack up and leave town.

But you can'’t.

Nancy, you once said I was a smart man.

Well, a smart man knows when to quit.

It'’s not just the tars and feathers.

I think Carmody'’s gonna work '’em up into a lynch party.

But-- But what about all the wonderful things you were going to do?

The-- The city you were going to build?

Well, I can'’t do it if I'’m dangling from a tree.

You know, it took a woman'’s tricky maneuvering

to put this over on you.

What you need is the same sneaky,

conniving logic on your side.

What do you mean, "sneaking, conniving"?

Another woman.Another woman?

Me.

Nancy, I don'’t-- I don'’t-- I...

You will.

[ banging on door ]

All right! Wait a minute!

Oh! Now, what is going on?

Well, haven'’t you noticed anything strange this morning?No.

Where are all the customers?It is early.

It'’s not that early.

Where is everybody?

Come here. I'’ll show you.

[ birds twittering ]

But who?

Ben Dowell. Who else?

Morning, Miss Whittaker.Morning.

Mayor.Good mornin'’.

Nice day, isn'’t it?

Look, Ben, a joke'’s a joke, but that fence has gotta come down.

Oh, is that so?Yeah. I know a little bit about the law too.

That'’s restraint of trade, keeping people from coming into our place.

What, uh--

Isn'’t that what you're doing to the whole town?

Oh, that'’s different.

You can'’t fence off the sidewalks.

Well, anyway, it'’s none of my doing.

If the mayor could sell you the streets,

he could sell me the sidewalk.

Would you like to see the deed?

Why, of all the low-down--

All right, all right. Uh, Ben, you win.

Just give us back our $200,

and we'’ll tear down the fences blocking the street.

Um, your 200?

That'’s funny. I...

I don'’t recall anything in that deed that you have about giving money back.

If I don'’t get it back, them fences will stay put till water runs uphill.

All the fences.

Oh! But they can'’t do this to us!

They'’ve done it. Come on.

Well, I'’ve hired the men

to start cleaning up the canal tomorrow

and dig it all out.

After that, we'’ll, uh...

Um, Nancy?

What, Ben?

Well, you know, if it weren'’t for you, uh,

I was about to give up on all of this, and...

[ sighs ]

Yes?

What I mean, uh-- If it weren'’t f--

Are you trying to say "thank you," Ben?

Yeah.

[ sighs ] Oh, Ben, there'’s a much better way.

As one author wrote:

"He thought up the only new dodge of municipal money-raising

since the invention of wampum."

Now, Ben Dowell, El Paso'’s first mayor,

did use that money to repair the canal

and ensure the town'’s water supply,

so that six years later, in 1879,

Ben'’s vision proved true

when the railroads announced they were coming to El Paso.

And that little village became

one of the most important cities of Texas.