Original subtitles

Good evening. I'm sorry to disturb you, but... Look, mister, I don't blame you

for coming at the door with a gun in this neighborhood, but would you mind

pointing it a bit to the south?

You alone?

Mister, I've never been so alone in my life.

What do you want?

Well, here's what's happened.

I was on my way to trucks and sea, and I got as far as out there a little ways

and my car died on me. What I know about fixing a car you could put in your

eyes, so I'm just looking for somebody to help me. I'm no mechanic.

Oh, now, mister, don't be so unfriendly. Every man knows something about a car.

I've got a hundred miles to do tonight, and I should be in trucks and right now,

so won't you please take a look at it? I told you I'm no mechanic.

Oh, now, please, just look, Tex.

My name isn't Tex.

Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm saying. I'm in such terrible shape.

Oh, won't you please just take a look at it anyway? I'll be glad to pay you for

your trouble.

There's nothing I can do.

What kind of a man are you, and what sort of a place is this anyway?

Those houses have nothing in them but rats, and now you come to the door and

won't even help a girl when she's in a jam.

Oh, this is the worst yet. What am I going to do?

All right, come on.

Gee, thanks.

For a minute there, things looked awful black.

Say, what kind of a town is this anyway?

A ghost town. A ghost town.

Oh.

Line's clogged, battery's run down, the cylinder head's cracked.

What you need is a car.

And to think I paid that guy 25 good bucks for it.

Do you think you can fix it?

Oh, sure, right now. That's a cinch.

But I absolutely gotta get the trucks in. I got a singing job waiting, and if

don't nail it quick, I'm liable to lose it.

What am I gonna do?

I wouldn't know.

Well, I absolutely can't lose out on that job.

Look, mister.

You thought out quite a bit already. Couldn't you get real big -hearted and

drive me to Truxton? I know I could work out a deal with the boss to pay you for

your trouble.

What do you say?

I haven't got a car.

Oh, you haven't got a car.

Well, what happens now?

Do I spend the night out here with those lions?

They're not lions. They're coyotes.

What's the odds? They all got teeth.

Oh, nothing's going to happen to you. Just tuck yourself away in this thing,

by morning, some stray car may pass and give you a lift.

the idea of keeping a girl guessing like that, Tex. I mean, mister.

So what is your name?

Mine's Maisie Revere.

Maisie? Mm -hmm.

Oh, mine's Bill Anders.

You got a suitcase or something with clothes in it? Yeah, my costume's

Here, I'll take it.

Mr. Anders was nice enough to say I could stay here tonight, so it looks

you've got company.

My name's Maisie Revere. What's yours?

I say, it looks like you've got company. My name's Maisie Revere. I heard you.

Well, what happened to you?

Somebody steal your bicycle?

In here.

Uh, Maisie?

What's the matter with your smiling roommate?

Never mind him.

Well, such as it is, here it is. Well, I couldn't ask for better unless you got

a spare coat I could throw over me.

We got plenty of better. Oh, that's grand, but I don't want you to wait on

Take off your hat.

I'll be right back.

You been eating local weed? Shut up.

What's the matter with you anyway?

What's the matter with me? Shut up.

I feel a call to speak out, Mr. Anders.

Ain't you always said the only way to steer clear of trouble is steer clear of

people? And ain't you always said you don't hold no liking for people?

So what?

Well, she's people, ain't she? The worst kind.

Female. Don't bother me. I'm busy.

Well, if you want to know what I'm going to do, I'm going out and bunk in the

barn. That's a swell idea. Get started.

If you'd take my advice, Bill Anders, you'd do the same.

Go on. Beat it. Beat it.

Hey, you're blonde.

That's right, right.

Well, you had your hat on before. I didn't see. No blondes around here?

Nobody around here.

Girls, I mean. Oh, the two of you live alone here. You and, uh, Happy Puss?

Fred? Yeah, he's my hired man, Fred Gubbins.

Don't tell me you went out and hired him. I thought he must have been left

in a will.

Oh, clean sheets, too.

Here, I'll do this.

Oh, let's do it together. It'll go faster.

So you're a singer.

Well, I've often asked myself the same question, but that's how I've been

getting by up to now.

As for the Hula Paradise Cafe, for the money they're offering me, I know

not expecting Jeanette McDonald.

The Hula Paradise?

Yeah, you know the place?

Nope, but I'll remember next time I go to town.

Yeah, do that.

Although, from what I hear, it's not a first -class place, and these days it's

any port in a storm.

Well, I think I'll say goodnight now, Mr. Anders, and a million thanks for

a real friend in need.

You'll need another blanket. Oh, no, no. This will do fine. I don't want you to

be cold.

Be right back.

Thought we might have a little nightcap.

Well, thanks a lot, but I found out long ago if I skipped alcohol, I skipped a

lot of headaches.

Aspirin won't cure.

Well, I think I will if you don't mind.

Well, it's your house, mister, but would you just as soon have it in the other

room? I think I'll turn in.

Oh, you wouldn't make me have it all alone, would you?

It isn't often I have any company.

Or want any, for that matter.

Tomorrow you'll be on your way to the hula heaven, and I'll be back playing

-handed rummy with Fred.

Come on.

Let's sit down for a while.

Why, sure, Bill, if you put it that way.

Only, you know what I'd just love to have if we're going to chat a while?

What? Some nice, strong coffee. I thought I got a whiff of it from the

when I first come in.

It sure would pep me up if you could steak me to a cup.

Well, there's some all made on the stove.

Well, I never saw such a place. Everything a girl could want, ready,

and piping hot.

Hold everything.

Hey. I changed my mind about the coffee. Save me a cup for breakfast.

Good night, Bill, and many thanks.

Now, don't be mad, Bill, even though you got the right. This is how it has to

be. Why, for two cents, I'd kick this door in.

and just in time for breakfast. No, you don't.

Oh, what's the matter?

You like your coffee black, Whitey?

Whitey?

What the devil do you think you're doing now?

It's all ready, Bill. Breakfast for three.

I told you I wasn't mad last night.

Well, evolve it.

Oh, tell... Oh,

I'm sorry, Bill. I'll make you some more. You'll

make me nothing. We had breakfast three hours ago.

Oh, I'm sorry. I saw you working in my car.

Well, then why didn't you come out and ask?

Questions are a whole lot cheaper than groceries.

Well, you were working on the car for me, so I thought I'd make breakfast for

you. I did it to get you out of here.

Maybe you'll feel better when I pay you for it. I've only got $6.

$60 wouldn't pay for the trouble of getting that wreck to go. It may not be

of a car, but it's got a better disposition than you'll ever have. My

disposition will improve a whole lot the minute you get in that heap and get out

of my sight. That'll be just as quick as I can swallow some of these 18 -carat

eggs. Unless you think your chickens might object.

at the station to see me off.

Turn on the ignition and put it in high.

Don't let out the clutch till it picks up speed.

Well, how can it pick up speed if I don't start the engine?

The battery's dead. We've got to push.

Oh.

Take off the brake.

Make it snappy. What do you want me to do? Pull it out by the roots?

Don't let out the clutch till I say so.

I wouldn't dare say what I think of either one of you.

Only get this straight. When I finish pushing this time, I'm finished with

of you. For good. Don't worry, brother. I'd walk the hundred miles before I'd

expose myself to you again.

And that goes double for that ugly rumor you got working for you.

Come on, let's get this over with.

Give me the gun!

Start walking.

Sorry to set you down, too, Miss Maisie. You've sure been good company.

Listen, you've been more than that to me. You've been a lifesaver.

After two days of that hike, and I just about made up my mind to lie down beside

the road with a farewell note pinned to my chest.

Honest, I couldn't have made that last 25 miles under my own power.

Whoa, Lily.

How many miles you get a gallon? That's what I want to know.

Home at last.

Well, thanks for the sweater. You're welcome.

Do you think I can get... Oh, you bet. Just because. Step on the brake.

There you are.

Thanks.

Well, thanks a million.

Anytime you and the missus can come in and see the show.

Wait till I tell Ma I carried a sure enough actress into town. Well, you just

tell her she's lucky I didn't kidnap you. Men like you don't grow on trees.

On your way, sonny.

and gentlemen.

We have your favorite artist here with us tonight.

Charming Miss Dora Divine.

That's it. Begging the speech.

Miss Divine will do for you a dance. So if you like her number, just clap. Good

evening. You like to have special booth, Miss?

I checked this. Oh, thanks. I'm not a customer. I'm the senior you hired to

agency in Phoenix.

I'm pleased to meet you, mister.

Never mind. I said to telegram me about you three days ago. Yeah, I know I'm a

little late, but I had a terrible time making it here. You see, I'm... No,

you're too late.

I have other entertainment.

You mean somebody else got my job?

Yeah, her.

I like her fine, too. Too bad, lady. Too bad?

Well, it's a lot worse than that, mister.

I spent 25...

since I started out. You don't know what I've been through to get here.

Well, I'm sorry. You go someplace else.

Couldn't you use another act? I've got a swell routine.

I'd even be willing to take a cut in salary.

No, business no good.

Well, can't you put me on the payroll long enough to pay my fare back to

Phoenix? I'm almost flat broke.

Oh, look. Please, mister, have a heart.

Well, you can have a meal.

Tell them in the kitchen to give me the 60 cent bill. But then you go.

Thanks, Curly.

But I'm fussy about where I eat.

That grape.

That Damon of cellophane spinach.

Yeah. Well, I've got to find something else fast.

What can I pick up in my line around here, honey? I'd take anything.

Almost.

This town's a terrible tomato.

I sure wish I could get out of it.

That's that, huh?

Well, maybe you can tell me where I can get a decent meal, Chief. My stomach's

as empty as a tail.

Say, you might try Harry's place.

It's on the corner of the highway.

can quit your jobs and your trucks and anything else that's holding you back

hike off for the rest and make a quick fortune. But look at me, nailed down

behind this counter for the rest of my life.

See what I'm up against?

Behind life for a man.

Suppose you're on your way there, too.

I'm away where?

Why, the goldfield's like everybody else but me.

What goldfield?

You mean to say you ain't heard about Morrison's big strike?

No, where was it, in Alaska?

Alaska? Why, it's right here in our neighborhood, sister. Only about a

miles from here. Ain't you heard?

Ready?

Why don't you pull down the gate? There ain't no rush on customers.

Should have thought of that sooner.

Now, as I was saying, it's only about 100 miles from here where it's at.

Only 100 miles?

Sure, that's all. It's a place between here and Phoenix. They had a gold boom

there about 25 years ago with the town and all.

But that died out.

But this guy Morrison was prospecting around there, and he struck it rich.

And when the word got out, well...

The papers say the people is pouring into that old ghost town like ants.

Ghost town?

Say, that sounds like the place I went through a few days ago, but there wasn't

anybody living there. Just a couple of screwy guys on a ranch.

It was just two days ago that the extras about it come out.

You must have just missed it. Sure thing.

Seems like everybody in seven states quit their jobs or whatever they're

packed up and made for the old boom town.

That is, all except Harry.

Things are going to be pretty dead around here.

I'm beginning to believe that myself.

Have you got a paper I could see?

Yeah.

Can't keep you from reading about it anyway.

Even crowded the war news clear back on the society page.

Morrison's ore was assayed at $60 ,000 a ton.

60 ,000 smackers. Oh, sometimes a man gets disgusted. Say, with all these

people, they'd have to have night spots, wouldn't they?

Night spots?

Why, sure, they'll have plenty of them.

Bars, cafes, dance halls.

Ain't you ever seen any movies?

Why, in them gold towns, everybody's got plenty of money. They don't care how

they spend it as long as they have a good time.

I never thought I'd want to see that place again, but I'm changing my ideas

fast.

I'd sure like to land me a job in one of those cafes singing.

You a singer?

Yeah.

In a manner of speaking.

Well, sooner I get there and stake my claim, sooner I'll have the price to

in and hear you warble a number.

So long, Harry.

I won't forget you or them fancy two -bit meals when I'm a millionaire.

Oh, pipe down.

Don't let it get you, Harry.

So long, lady.

Be seeing you up there.

Yeah, maybe it will.

Say, mister.

What is it, kid?

Could you please heat up this bottle of milk, mister? Oh, Gus.

Hiya, kid.

What do you hear from the mob?

Give me the usual and bad down on the onions.

Gus is here. Plenty of tears.

All you gotta do is put the bottle in hot water.

I said I haven't got time. On your way, kid.

Please, mister.

Go on. One with the bowed forehead won't break your arm.

Oh, all right.

Thanks a lot, lady.

That's okay, kid.

The milk's for my baby sister.

She's over in the filling station with the folks.

We're on our way to the Gold Rush.

Pop says if we drive all night, we can make it by morning.

Is that so?

We're going to stake us out a claim and get rich.

You going to the Gold Rush, too?

Uh -huh.

How are you going there? In your car?

Yeah.

My name's Jubilee Davis, but they all call me Juby.

What's yours?

Maisie Revere.

That sure is an awful pretty hat, Maisie.

Yeah, I kind of like that style myself.

Thanks ever so much, mister.

Guess I'd better hurry.

Gladys sure yells her head off when she gets hungry.

Maybe Gladys got the right idea.

Yeah. Well, goodbye, Maisie.

So long, honey.

Who are you trying to fool, Maisie? You ain't got no wheels, but I have.

I got a nice beer truck with plenty of room on the driver's seat.

Yeah.

You'd need space.

Say, I'm driving right through that gold town, too.

Might take on a passenger.

If she had a lot of pep and liked a lot of laughs.

You know what I mean?

Say, I know some swell jokes. They tell me I'm as poor pep as a sand flea.

The only trouble is I'm, uh, what's that you call it?

Allergic?

Huh? Yeah.

I'm allergic to beer trucks.

Was that by chance a crack?

Not by chance.

What's the bad news?

Twenty cents.

If you take my advice, we'll get the exterminators in here quick.

This is the first time I've ever seen a termite big enough to drive a truck.

Good night, all.

you about. Back up, Pop.

You mean the lady with the big hair?

Uh -huh. Back up, Pop. Back up.

What's the matter, Maeve? Did something go wrong with your car?

Oh, yeah.

I guess I forgot to tell you it broke down back at the Gold Town. I'm just

starting out after it. Well, say, if you need a ride, you can come along with

us. Can't she, Pop?

We're headed there, too. Glad to give you a lift, ma 'am.

Where'd you believe spokes, Miss Maisie? She told us how nice you was to her in

the cafe.

We'd be mighty pleased if you cared to join in with us.

Well, thanks a lot, but you're already pretty crowded.

Why, just look at all the room back here.

Here, I'll push Gladys' bed over here.

A young lady like you never knows what kind of strangers might be offering

this time of night.

There's a lot in what you're saying. It certainly is nice of you, but...

Honest, I don't see how... Always room for one more.

Look at all the room in the middle.

Gladys can sleep on that pile of blankets, can't she, Mom?

We say you'll come, Maisie.

Well, thanks a lot. If you're positive another passenger wouldn't put you out.

Not a mite. We're glad to have you. Hooray!

Where can this go, Pop?

Put your feet up, son.

Climb right in, Maisie. It certainly is sweet of you.

All set back there?

Yep.

the milk heated up for.

You said we was gonna eat, Mom.

Now, just hold your horses.

But I'm hungry, Mom. Stop pestering Mom, Harold.

Don't you never think of nothing but your old stomach?

Would you care for a bit of dinner?

Dinner?

Oh, no, thanks. I just had a big dinner back at the Beanery. I couldn't eat

another mouthful.

Then here, Harold.

I'm not very hungry.

I guess I'm kind of wrought up about getting so near the gold town.

Yeah. You going to stake you out a claim up there and get rich too, Maisie?

No, Juby. I'm just going to get me a job in a cafe.

Cooking?

No, honey.

Singing or dancing or both, maybe.

Honest?

Honest.

Say, where are you folks from?

Well, our home state's Arkansas.

Well, we ain't been there more than a year.

Not since we lost the farm.

Oh, you lost it?

Well, we was only tenant anyways.

It didn't really belong to us for five years.

It's all the drought and dust, and the banks wouldn't loan us no more, and we

had to get off.

Gee, that's too bad.

We've been in five states following the crops around.

Me and Harold's getting so we can pick almost as much together as Mom can.

But we don't have to go around looking for no more crops to pick now.

We're prospectors.

We ain't never in any one place more in two or three weeks.

Sometimes only a couple of days.

It kind of irks me, them not growing up educated, but it don't seem there's

nothing we can do about it.

I'll take Gladys for you. She falls asleep on you. She'll be fixing that

stuff with you so I can bed her down. Oh, I'd like to hold her, Mrs. Davis.

Besides, I ought to make up to her somehow for taking her seat.

Well, if you would like to.

If we get us a lot of gold, we figure on getting us a real house again.

And then me and Harold's going to school.

Oh, I ain't going to no school.

I'm just going to eat chocolate candy and ice cream until I bust wide open.

up, Harold. First we gotta find the gold before we can spend it. Ain't it the

truth, though?

Maybe it ain't gonna be so easy as we think.

The gold's up there, ain't it? All we gotta do is go and look for it.

Well, I got good eyes and a strong back and a pickaxe, and what's more, a mighty

strong hankering to get us our share.

All we need's the right luck.

I got a feeling your luck's gonna be good.

That's the very thing Pop said, Maisie. We ain't had no car trouble in 200

miles, either.

I'm awful sorry about your car.

That's about the worst luck you can have, ain't it?

Yeah.

Maybe so.

Gee, I never believe it's the same place. They're jammed in here like

I wonder if any of them found any gold yet. I'd like to make a few inquiries

about that before I pick us out of campsite. Don't get too far from

Looks like business ought to be booming all right.

When are we going to eat, Mom?

I can't cook no breakfast before we set up a stove.

Oh, there's a grocery store. I'd like to get some food. Sure.

I'll come along, too. Yeah.

What can I do for you?

First of all, five or six cans of milk. The best you got.

It's all the same, quarter a can.

Two bits apiece?

This ain't no neighborhood chain store, lady. I got to truck everything in, and

it ain't no easy job, neither.

Yeah, you look overworked.

Well, nobody's asking you to buy. Keep your shirt on, sonny boy. I got five

bucks to spend on groceries, and I want a lot for my money.

Now, the milk, four cans of pork and beans, a couple of cans of corned beef,

half a dozen oranges.

What? No patties to foie gras?

Are your eggs fresh, too?

I'll take some if they are.

Howdy, partner.

Howdy. Any strikes outside the big one? I'll say ten or twelve anyway.

They're just squatting on their clays waiting for the assailant to come along.

Expect them any day now. Ten, twelve, you say? Say, that's sure good news.

luck. Thank you.

Do you hear what he said, Sarah?

You must be hungry, Miss Maisie. I guess we all are, so I wanted to have

breakfast on me today, see?

My, there's enough here for four days.

Milk, pork, and beans? Pork and beans?

Yep, a whole can for you alone, Harold.

Oh, I call that mighty friendly of you, ma 'am. You get $5 .25 for it, too.

Well, judging from the prices they're asking and getting around here, I ought

make that five bucks back easy with a half a dozen songs.

Oh, boy, let me, let me. Guess what we're going to do.

cost? Five dollars?

Say, what's the big idea? This ground doesn't belong to you.

I got it claimed and staked out, lady. That's as good as owning it. Drive on,

Mr. Davis. There's other places. Sure, plenty of places without no water. But

maybe you folks don't mind going a little dry.

We can tote the water, Bert. We got buckets.

Buckets won't do you no good.

The waters give out free gratis only to them that pays the five dollars.

How much cash we got left, sir?

Okay, mister, I guess this spot will have to do.

Five dollars, then, in advance.

Oh, well, never mind that. I'll give you an extra buck for waiting a couple of

days. Oh, no, sister.

You stay here, you gotta pay now.

Well, I'm getting a job today in town. You'll get your dough back.

A job doing what?

Singing, mister, singing.

Where? In the middle of the street?

I do my work in cafes and cabarets. Catch?

Ain't no such here.

But they told me there'd be a lot of places like that.

In a gold rush, people gotta have entertainment someplace to have a good

and spend their money.

Sister, nobody in this town's got any money. You don't see any Rolls Royces or

Ritz hotels, do you?

If folks wasn't so hard up, they wouldn't be here looking for gold. So

pay up or move on.

What are we going to do for water, Bert? Try someplace else near here. They

can't all be like him or they'd pass a law.

Come on, Bert. Suit yourself.

Oh, come on, mister, be a sport.

I said cash in advance, and it won't do no good to beg.

When's that going to be?

Listen, you big... Ain't no use arguing. We'll have to move to where there ain't

no water.

Why don't you get your brother there to scratch your back sometime?

Mom,

you said we was going to eat.

Stop your hollering, Harold. How can I get breakfast till we find a place to

stand? But where are we going to camp? My stomach's rattling.

I'll rattle your teeth if you don't hash up Harold Davis.

Ain't gonna do us no good. That there's private property.

Yeah, I get the message on Mr. Bill Anders' fancy sign, but all I care is

got space and plenty of water to spare.

Go on, drive in.

Hadn't we ought to ask first?

Go on, Pop. Do what Maisie says.

What are you doing back here? Take it easy. I just want to get my car, that's

all. Why come to me? I haven't got it. Well, I didn't think you had it in your

pocket. Where is it? In the barn?

How should I know?

I haven't got time to stand around all... Just a minute.

I left it right out in front of your place.

The last I saw of it three days ago, it wouldn't budge.

Somebody must have moved it, and the only person around here who could have

who's got a place to keep it out of sight is you.

How's your eyesight?

Nothing wrong with my eyes.

Then take a look around the barn if you won't believe me.

the devil have you been up to?

You see, boss, we needed a car. So you remodeled my car.

I knew you had it, but I thought it'd at least be in one piece. I tell you, I

didn't know anything about it.

Where's the engine?

In the ditch. It weren't no good. What do you mean it weren't no good? Mr.

here was going to fix it up so I could get back to Phoenix. And now look at it.

Why didn't you say something to me first? Well, she went away and left it.

you figure that gives you the right to hack it up and make paper clips out of

it. Well, you're wrong, Twinkle Toes. I paid twenty...

Five bucks for it. That's more than you could raise before.

Five nothing.

You'll pay ten or I'll call a cop.

What cop?

It's worth ten to get rid of you.

Don't worry, brother. I won't be around.

This ten will get you out of my sight as far as Phoenix, I hope.

Yeah.

Fred.

Who are those imbeciles parked over there?

I don't know. Honest, I don't. They're no imbeciles. They're friends of mine.

Is that so?

Well, tell them to beat it right now.

in for me on account I beat you to the punch once. There's no reason for you to

take your spite out on these people.

Don't think that bothers me, or ever has.

This is private property. Get them off. Looks like it's all private property

around this neck of the woods.

They're charging five bucks a week to camp any place near water, and the

just haven't got the price.

And speaking of water, they're out of that, too. Go on, Bert. Fill up your

bucket.

If you think I'm running a camp for a bunch of gold -crazy tourists, you're

crazy. Crazy tourists?

Just because they're grabbing at a chance to make a living for their kids

their little baby?

Well, all I can say is they've been pushed around long enough.

You heard what I said. Yeah, and I've seen that big shiny gun you got, too.

Go on, get it. And then come on over and try to put us off.

Come on, folks, let's get out of here.

Boy, you sure told him off.

Yes, sir, stood right up to it.

Mr. Andrews, my lamp. What'd he say? He said a plenty, but you should have heard

me. He'd give him what for?

She wasn't scared of my bed. Me scared of him.

Just let him try to wave that gun under my nose and put us off. We're staying

right where we are.

Go on, Mr. Davis, put up your tent.

Go on, get your stuff out of the car.

Go on, Bert.

Guess maybe I better.

You said we, Maisie. That means you're staying...

a minute, honey. I've got to get to Phoenix somehow or other. Come on, Juby.

Give me a hand over here. Okay, Pop.

Before you leave, Maisie, I've got to tell you, I sure do thank you for being

nice to us, getting us this campsite and water, but most of all, the food you

bought. It'll last us four or five days, and we're bound to find gold before

then.

Yeah, but what if you don't?

Oh, well, we'll manage somehow.

We always have.

Oh, gee, Maisie, I wish you wasn't going away.

Why can't you stay here and go prospecting with us?

You ain't got a car nor a job.

I've been thinking along those same lines myself.

You have?

Well, say now, if you've changed your mind and want to go looking for gold,

can stay right here with us and welcome.

We got a swell tent and plenty of bedding. Mom, she might stay and go

prospecting with Pop.

Tell her we got room. Mom, tell her to stay.

Why, sure. Bert could rig things up easy.

If it's equipment you're worried about, I got a pickaxe to spare.

We could go partners if you like.

You'd want to save them good clothes, but between me and Bert, we could outfit

you. See, Maisie, ain't nothing to worry over. You'll make your fortune like us.

Please say yes.

Okay, then.

Put it there, partner.

Oh, Maisie.

Well, now it's all settled. We best pitch in and make camp so you two

can get right to work after the gold.

That's right.

Well, I guess the last one will be on me after all.

at a fresh guy once for daring to call me a gold digger.

Let me take a swing

at it once, Pop. Now, Juby, we ain't got an extra pickaxe and this is no time

for play.

Help yourself to mine while I bend my blisters in the other direction.

get up. Right as rain.

Struggled yesterday.

No. Say, that's dandy.

Sure are glad to see you, Elmo. Howdy, Mr. Beecher.

Well, this will be a jubilee.

My land's in three years. She's grown up like a wheel. This here's Miss Maisie

Revere. Her and me's gonna be partners. Meet her old neighbor, Elmo Beecher.

Pleased to meet you, ma 'am. Oh, same here.

Maisie's hands got blistered up from the pickaxe. Now, that's a shame.

But they'll call us up good and tough in time. Yeah.

Say, how long you been at it? Oh, a couple of days. Ain't had no luck yet.

Suppose you hear about Ben Hartley and the Sullivans hitting it this morning.

Them folks here, too?

Sure. There's a parcel of us. There's Frank Tyler and his family and the Joe

Carters. Well, if that don't beat the Dutch, my Sarah will be pleased. You've

got to all come over to our place for a visit. We sure will.

You know, it's kind of peculiar, all of us old dirt farmers winding up here

looking for gold.

Sounds more to me like there's something peculiar about farming. Sure, Maisie.

Elmo and the rest of them ain't got no farms now no more than we have.

They've been following the crops around for a couple of years, same as us.

Oh. Now on to three years for me and Ma.

Say, how's your missus anyway?

Oh, Sarah's just fine. Just same as always. Seems like she can just take

as they comes along.

She just keeps a -smiling and saying everything's going to come out all

Well, I... If only some gold had come out all right and give us the high sign.

If only we could walk right up to the place.

Now, there's a spot around here you might try.

I was looking at it myself before I made my strike.

I'll be pleased to walk over with you. Call that mighty friendly on me, Elmo.

How about it, Maisie? Yeah, where is it?

Straight ahead.

Only about a mile and a half.

you, Maisie. Oh, I've been tired.

I know. I can't think when.

Never mind, Maisie. We'll find the gold.

And when I'm grown up and rich, I'm going to have pretty clothes just like

I'm going to have me a hat that sits back with flowers on it, a charm

a dress that swings kind of when I walk, like a princess, like you.

That's sweet, honey.

Well, anyway, if you work for what you get, it can be anything, and you don't

have to apologize for it.

But if you ever take anything from anybody, be sure it's the best.

You mean, if someone was to give me a dress, it would have to be a real nice

dress? You bet.

Listen, as soon as you take something from somebody, you've lost part of your

right to tell them to go jump in the lake, and that's awful important for a

on her own.

So you've got to be sure what they're offering is top.

If it's a fur coat, it's got to be that genuine article, run up by an ermine,

not by a white cat.

And if it's jewelry...

Carrots are no thanks.

And if it's love, well, if he gives you his whole heart, grab it quick, because

there's nothing better than that.

But don't ever go shares.

You don't know what I'm talking about, do you, honey?

Well, it does sound a little bit mixed up.

But all I know is when I grow up, I want to be just like you.

If you're like me, sweetie, you certainly will be mixed up.

If only it'd help us to find the gold.

Make it soon.

Oh, please.

If it ain't asking too much.

Amen.

Yeah, honey, I have a new blister.

Here, have a swallow.

Think I will.

I wonder if we had an order to move on somewhere else.

Oh, it's early. Yeah, we got plenty of time.

Yeah, time.

The Beaches is down to their last sack of cold meal.

He can't get no credit at the store, even on his claim.

Listen, I'd like to have a dime for every dollar I've got on credit.

It's a wonder to me I haven't got a government job.

Well, let me know when you're ready to move on.

Bert.

Bert, come here.

Take a look at this.

It looks like it, doesn't it?

What do you think?

Where'd it come from? Here, right here.

It looks just like Elmo said it would.

It's gold.

We've got it. It's gold.

Oh, Bert, all our troubles are over. We're in the money.

We've got to stake out our claim. We've got to put up a discovery monument.

Is it too much?

Yeah,

when you come right down to it, there ain't one of us that ain't got the same

idea in the back of our heads.

You reckon that there are sales show up tomorrow?

Yeah, I look forward for sure.

Whatever that is.

Just listen to what I'm carrying on down there. So much noise, I had to give up

reading my catalog.

You want I should get out the shotgun and run them off?

Play a couple of hands at the casino or just talk?

I'm going to bed.

Put some water on the heat. Go on before I grab your gun and let it go scanty.

No, no, wait just a minute.

You can't come running into a man's house like that. You, a man?

Standing there making speeches while we and this little baby are half gone and

no place else to go? I can think of a lot of names to call you, but a man

one of them. I never raised my hand to a man in my whole life.

Except for Bert once, and he's my own husband.

Would you send these kids back into the rain, Mr. Anderson?

Get some towels. Here, Sarah, get the kids. Go on. Come on, I'll tend to her.

Oh, I hate to put you out like this, Mr. Andrews. Who's putting him out? He's

got an extra room and I can sleep on the couch.

No, listen to me, sister.

You can have some towels and dry off, but I'm not running any hotels.

You are tonight, mister. Believe me, the service smells.

But don't worry, you'll get paid. Bert and me struck it rich today.

We'll give you a bonus that'll make your eyes bug out.

Here, if you're going to stand around like a floor walker, beat one. I got

things to do. Go on, Bert.

Hey.

Come on with those towels.

Hurry up with that hot water, Gubbins. Hurry up.

You're tender.

Everybody set?

Yes, we're fine.

Tell Mr. Anders thanks for us.

And then, for the land's sakes, hustle out of them clothes. Yeah, I will.

I'll put the lamp out.

They asked me to thank you for them.

Well, I guess I'll turn in as soon as the coaster's clear.

Where's the phantom?

In bed.

Say, I sure could use a hot lemonade without the spike, I mean.

Any chances?

What do you think I'm doing now?

Better get those wet clothes off. There's a bathrobe in there on the

I'll bring the drink in when you're ready.

Gee, thanks.

Go on, make it snappy.

Drink this while it's hot.

Gee, I never thought you'd remind me of my mother.

Thanks just the same, but I told you once I don't use it. I can make enough

trouble for myself sober.

You can make enough trouble for me without pneumonia. Drink it up and don't

argue.

Okay. But I want it understood that nothing I say from now on can be used

against me.

Don't worry. I stopped listening long ago.

You're so...

frank and outspoken. You just say everything that comes into your mind.

It's really a darn shame nothing nice ever comes into your mind.

Well, what do you know?

You do know how to laugh.

I can laugh, all right.

I never found much to laugh about.

Have things been so tough?

Oh, no, life's been great.

I just have no sense of humor, I guess.

Well, you got everything else you need. I mean, hands and feet, and you're not

blind or crippled or sick.

No, I'm sound in wind and limb.

And anybody could tell you had plenty of schooling.

I bet you went all the way through high school.

And college.

No kidding.

Gee.

You know, I thought so many times I could have taken schooling if I just had

time.

I'm not really ignorant.

Just uneducated.

All through college.

I used to go with a college fellow once.

He played the saxophone in the band.

I guess he went to the wrong school, though. He didn't know much.

Well, I don't know much either.

Just enough to figure out what I want out of life.

What's that?

To be let alone.

She sure must have bounced you down awful hard.

Nothing so romantic.

Then who taught you so many things that aren't so?

My stepfather, mostly.

Oh, and my brother.

What a prince of good fellows he is.

And a couple of wrong guys can make you swear off the human race.

You sure convince easy.

You're the little friend of all the world, aren't you?

You're just nuts about everybody.

Oh, no.

I can spot a phony a mile off with the sun in my eyes. And I can hate a phony,

too, with all I got, and that's plenty.

But when I run across swell people, I am nuts about them.

Now take the Davises. You take the Davises.

No, you take the Davises.

Do you good to make friends with some nice people? Might make you feel better.

feel fine.

I bought this flea -bitten ranch just because I wanted to get away from

And now look at them, swarming all over the place like locusts. And squawking

because I won't let them camp around my well.

I've seen enough of people.

And they're all alike.

There you go, making loud noises again.

They're not all alike, Bill. They're all different.

For instance, I never saw anybody like you before. And I'll make you a

bet that the first time you try liking people, you love it.

There's not going to be any first time. I'll leave that to you.

You've got the Davises around your neck and they're tying you down.

Okay.

I ought to try putting some bread on some water.

Bill, I'm going to sleep very soon.

But before I do, I want to say something.

I want to say... thanks for everything.

No!

You've been awfully, awfully kind in a sort of nasty way.

Sleep sweet, Bill.

Elmo, you don't reckon the rains will hold up that fair ass there another day,

do you? No, he'll be along any time now.

My Albert's up there now watching the play.

for what you done last night.

Hope we didn't put you to too much trouble. I couldn't be helped.

Say, you certainly got A number one soil here.

Wonderful how good rain brings everything pushing off.

Pity you can't irrigate the whole piece.

Ain't anything wouldn't grow here.

I could irrigate, all right. Got enough water?

Plenty. You have?

Well, why ain't you done it then?

Suits me the way it is.

Well, gee, mister...

When age you gave me sure had a sense of humor. I slept like a baby. Better.

I'm settling down here.

Yeah.

Coast town would be alive again.

We'd have people for neighbors instead of pack rats.

Might be all right at that.

All right?

Why not?

They're not so bad.

Give me some room and I'll run.

There you go, Joe.

Two dollars.

William Hardtack, me.

Mister, how soon will we hear?

It'll take most of the day. Oh, I have a heart. If I have to wait more than two

hours, I'll bust.

Tear up, brother. A day isn't long to wait for your ship to come in.

You said it, man. You gotta wait, you gotta wait.

Partner, this is the best two dollars we ever spent. It sure took me by surprise

that we had to pay to have a horse, eh?

What? I thought right along the government paid this fella to come down

do it free.

Ah, you're talking about that fella from the state mining department.

He's only down here to look over the Morrison claim.

You've got to pay this here fella for his work. It don't seem right for you to

be putting up all of it when we're supposed to be going shares.

I sure wish I could pay my half. Listen, you will.

I'll be after you with a summons to collect that fuck as soon as we sell our

claim.

When you sell your claim, you ain't going to have no small change in your

Nothing under a hundred. Thanks. Yes.

You want this filed under two names? Sure do.

Bert Davis and Maisie Revere.

That's two dollars. Cash. Well, what does that look like?

Wampum.

That's V -I -E -R.

That's right. And just be careful not to get our stuff mixed up with anybody

else's. I'm paid to be careful, lady. Well, now all we gotta do is wait. Next.

Pardon me, Maisie. Pardon me.

It sure takes a lot of doing to melt the gold out.

Seems like the minute's got lead feet all right.

Sure taking your time making up your mind, Elmo.

I ain't the only one around here taking their time.

If that there ass here don't get a move on, the sun's going to set her for long.

Tarnation is nigh on to supper already.

Ain't that man never going to let us know?

Here come the U .S. Cavalry!

That's Mr.

Andrews. That man that owns the ranch. Who's the other fella?

That man.

What?

Come on in, Stetson.

This is Mr. Anders. He owns the ranch up near the digging. How are you? You some

water to be assayed, Mr. Anders? Not me.

How does Anders rate going in there?

He probably wants to ask the government guys, can he be postmaster of the new

town? If he'd hurry that fellow up, he could be mayor for all of me.

Thanks very much.

Carson's claim. Sure, that's him.

Bert, they're coming outside.

Oh, God, me folks, I gotta be by Bert, and I was only here the noon.

Quiet, me.

Quiet, everybody.

I'd like to explain something to you. Sure, Sonny, go right ahead.

They sent me out here from the Arizona Bureau of Mines to complete the survey

we've been making ever since this gold rush started.

You're a...

Five years ago, a couple of men struck a rich pocket of gold.

And overnight, this place became a town.

The big strike then proved a failure.

In a couple of weeks, this was just a ghost town, full of empty shacks and

coyotes. Well, it ain't empty now, mister.

That's just what it is, a fluke. The findings support exactly what we

The ore is so poor, it hardly pays for the trouble of digging it out.

It isn't worth using machinery on, much less trying to do it by hand.

To stay here and work it would mean poverty, perhaps even starvation.

I don't believe it.

Read off that list.

I'm not supposed to make it public, but if you want me to, I will.

Beecher, $3 .50. Reuben Walters, $1 .75.

William H .T. Meigs, $2 .80.

175.

Caravan Jackson, 280.

What's the matter?

Oh, can't you leave me alone?

Come on, what's the matter?

Gold? Well, what do you suppose?

If the odds were a million to one against you, I could have told you that.

you could.

Well, isn't that fine?

You must be feeling great being so right.

Honest, it's worth pushing the Davises and the Beechers and the Sullivans and

all of them off a cliff into nothing so as you can say I told you so.

They can see that ghost town staring him in the face.

Gold mining's been tried here before. They should never... They never wanted

be gold miners.

No? No, they're farmers. They're people who work with the land.

Put their work in, you wouldn't get a living out of it.

But they lost their farms, see?

The banks got them with the dust.

They got kids, and they're hungry and broke.

It was starvation herded them into gold mining, wanting to eat.

Not wanting to get rich quick.

What are they going to do? Look for some kind of work that'll let them eat.

Hope for it, anyway.

It's the sense of hoping. Because when you quit hoping, you're dead. That's

And let me tell you this, mister, I could have told him, Anders.

Burton and Sarah Davis broke are seven million times richer than you are right

now. Yeah? Yeah.

I may not be a fine character, but I'm eating. Sure, you're eating, but they're

alive.

What am I, dead? So close to it, it'd take a pretty experienced coroner to say

yes or no.

Certains, Sarah, have known what it's like to love somebody.

They got each other and their kids and hope.

You got your land, but you're sour and you're lonesome and you got Fred

I know who wins for my money and there's no photo finish either.

Never mind the lecture. Where are they? What do you care?

They're down by the tent. Them and 20 other families holding a meeting.

A meeting?

How do you mean holding a meeting?

I mean holding a meeting.

Well, what about?

Well, it'll be pretty hard for you to understand being like you are about

people.

They got to move on to someplace, see?

There's prunes to be picked here and oranges to crate there and cotton crops

someplace else, maybe.

They figure out if they all went to the same place, they'd be competing with

each other, so they're down there deciding who goes where.

They'll all starve, most likely.

But in this way, they're spreading the starvation out over a couple of states

and not bringing it on each other.

I'm going down there.

What are you going to do, crow over him?

Just you dare, Bill Anderson.

Will you just wait and see what I'll do?

Matt and Ned Sullivan, you're down for Santa Clara Valley.

Okay. Chances are as good there as anywhere else.

Davis. Yes, sir? Before you make definite plans, I've got a little

that I'd like to put up to you.

Why, sure, Mr. Anders. Was it just for me personally, or... All of you here and

as many others as want to put in with you. Step in here beside me, Mr. Anders,

so everybody can hear.

I had a talk with those government men today.

That's why I went down, you know, when they were making the assay.

I thought all this land around here was open for homesteading.

They said it is. Yes, we know, but you've got to prove up your claim inside

two years.

That's right. You've got to work the land.

While you're doing it, how are you going to eat?

Well, you're going to get the tools or the water, either. Yeah, that's what we

like to know.

I've got the water.

There's a table of it under my land, enough to feed a couple of thousand

I've never tapped it, never developed my own acreage.

I want to do that.

Now, here's my deal.

I've got the water and the little capital.

I'll put up the money to buy tools, plows, a tractor, seed for the first

What's the catch?

What do you want from us? Yeah, yeah, what have we got to do?

Dig the irrigation ditches for my land and yours.

Help me get my acreage planted first.

Just your labor.

That's all I want from you.

It's a cinch to irrigate this land.

Working together, we could get the whole valley under cultivation by next

spring.

Hold on a minute, Mr. Anders.

It sounds good, all right, but there's some details I don't get.

We can't work our land till yours is all planted and watered? Yeah, what about

that, Mr. Anders?

That's right.

I get help on my acreage first and return for what I loan to start things

moving. How we eat meantime.

We got families.

Yeah, how about that?

I'd take care of that.

I haven't got much ready cash.

We'd have to spread it out and make every cent count, but you wouldn't

What guarantee have we got that when your work's done, we get our end?

Only my word.

A mighty flimsy guarantee to stake all that work on.

Supposing something was to happen to you or you change your mind after your

work's done, where'd we be? Sounds like the Garden of Eden without no snakes.

But it sure is chancy.

You people don't trust anybody, do you?

I see I made a bad guess. Forget it.

I don't mistrust you, Mr. Anders.

I'll put in with you. No, no, I had a bad idea. Forget it. Bill, don't say

Wait a minute, everybody. You can't say no to him.

It cost him plenty to ask the lot of you to be neighbors and partners of his.

He had to come out of a shell. A shell with barnacles on it.

He could go on living all right the way he was.

But what about you?

Here's your chance to have homes again and farms and raise your kids decent.

Oh, you can't turn it down.

I never knew there were people living the way you've had to live till I met

Davises.

I know what's the matter. You think it's too good to be true.

You've taken such a beating today and for the past five years you figure

a catch to everything.

Well, there's no catch to this.

It's a straight offer from a straight guy.

Oh, can't you see? He's given you a chance for life.

You're right, Maisie. I'll go in with you, Mr. Anders. Your word's good enough

bound for me. How many says yes to Mr.

Anders? Speak out!

Come on! Speak up!

We better stop the others that are leaving already. There'll be a lot of

who want to stay.

Sure, I need them all. Mr. Anders, I just can't find the words.

Oh, it's okay, Bert. Skip it. God bless you, Mr. Anders. We'll never forget it

to you.

Oh, Maisie, ain't it wonderful?

You said it is. Now you'll never go away. Now we'll have a regular house

rooms on the roof. And the best room of all will be for you.

No, honey, not for me. Yes, it will, Maisie. We're not going picket now.

We're going to have a farm. You heard Pop and Mr. Anders say so.

I know, sweetie, but I've got to be pushing on. Get me a job, see?

I'm pulling out for Phoenix in the morning somehow or other.

No. No, Maisie, you can't. I don't want you to go away.

Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie.

But this time I've really got to go.

Hold everything, Joe.

We've got land and water right here. Hey, fool.

We're all going to Homestead.

There's land in one for all.

Turn back. There's farmland.

Glory be.

Farmland.

So long, honey.

I'll send you postcards from wherever I am.

I wish you wasn't going, Maisie.

Oh, I kind of hate to go myself.

Will you send me the chocolate creams like you said?

Cross your heart.

Cross my heart, Harold.

Thanks a million for the car, Bert.

I'm tickled pink we had it to give you, Macy.

We won't need it. Now we're settling down for good. No.

Well, goodbye, little sprout.

So long, Freddy Weddy.

Be a good boy.

Sarah.

The best of everything, honey.

You deserve it and you'll get it. You're bound to.

There's wonderful things ahead of you, Maisie.

Just a little bad luck's held you back up to now from what's yours by rights.

The finest in the land.

Being beautiful like you would make a lot of women proud and uppity.

But you're so nice with it.

You have a sweet nature, Maisie.

Along with being pretty as a picture.

Me? Listen.

If I could look in the glass and see a face like yours looking at me.

If I could live to earn a face like yours and have what you've got, honey,

that'd be all I'd ask.

Goodbye, Sarah.

I only hope the car holds together.

She will.

You've got her.

Well, it looks like time for my curtain speech to you, Bill.

You've been swell, and I know you're going to be happy.

I just don't seem to be able to find the right words to tell you thanks for all

you've done.

I guess you'll have to be satisfied with a big kiss instead of a speech.

Well, here goes.

You ought to stay, Maisie.

Not me, Bill.

All I know about groceries is they taste good and cost plenty.

Coax them to sprout a little out of my line.

Well, so long, honey.

But you don't even know if you can get a job.

No, but then again, I never have known.

Oh, you'll be coming back to see the Davises. Am I?

Come back, Maisie.

Soon. Well, cutie pie, just you keep that lemonade recipe handy in case I do.

Goodbye, Poe.

Goodbye, Maisie. Goodbye, Maisie.