Original subtitles

♪♪ [trumpet]

In Western mining camps, millions

were made and lost overnight.

Men became famous only to be forgotten as quickly

when their fortunes changed.

Sometimes, women shared this fate.

There was one-- she was beautiful, admired, envied--

Virginia City knew her as "Tiger Lil."

But in the town of Bodie, she became a...

♪♪ [honky-tonk piano]

[Man] Hi, Lil!

Hi, men! [whooping and hollering]

Hi, fellas!

Hello Lil, what'’s the big rush, huh?

How'’s it goin', Curly?Oh, not too good.

So you better stick around so you can bring me some luck, huh?

You just call me "Lucky Lil."

H-Hey, now, would you look at that, huh? Hey, who is he?

You'’ll know, as soon as I make the official announcement.

"Official"? Well, since it ain'’t official,

you sit right down here.Now, Curly, you let me go.

Let her go.

I said, let her go!

Oh, it'’s all right, Frank.

Oh, Frank--

Uh-huh. Well, if it isn'’t Mr. High and Mighty Engineer.

Hey, uh--

[shouting, cheering]

Don'’t punch him! Listen! Listen, all of you!

I have an announcement!

You know I love all of you. Everyone in Virginia City.

But most of all, I love Frank Johnson.

So we'’re going to be married. We leave for Boston tomorrow!

[cheering]

Drinks for everyone!

[louder cheering]

♪♪ [piano resumes]

Lil, I--What'’s the matter with you?

First you hit Curly, then you act like

this was a wake instead of a party.

I have never witnessed such a shocking example of bad taste!

So I didn'’t do it like your high society.

But what'’s the difference?

The difference between being a lady and making a spectacle of yourself

Always the star attraction, the center of attention.

I thought you could change.

I can, Frank. When I get away from here,

I can fade right into the wallpaper.

No one will even notice me.

How could they help it, going around flaunting yourself?

Now just a minute! You wouldn'’t have looked at me twice

if I didn'’t look like this, and you know it.

You'’re a fine one to talk!

Trying to fool people dressing like that, so you look like one of the men?

Well you'’re not. You think you'’re better than they are!

Oh, stop it. You know that'’s not true.Oh, isn'’t it?

Now calm down! We'’re not getting anywhere like this,

and I'’m leaving tomorrow.

Not without me.

Lil, Boston isn'’t ready for you, and you'’re not ready for Boston.

We'’ll discuss it when I get back.

If you go without me, I won'’t be here when you come back.

[chuckles] What, are you gonna hide?

The Queen of Virginia City?

Ah, you'’ll be here.

Then go. And take your ring with you.

But, Lil-- Get out!

♪♪ [honky-tonk]And don'’t bother to come back!

I'’ll show you, Frank Johnson.

You'’ll find out.

Oh! Good morning!

Hi, Mr. Adams.Oh! Good morning, Miss

Say, how '’bout the firecrackers? Two bits for four.

I don'’t think so.Sparklers? Roman candles?

Rockets? Got '’em all.I'’ll settle for that yard goods I ordered.

Has it come in? Nope.

Oh, dear. Due on the Frisco stage.

If it ever gets here.

Now you know it will. I'’ve watched it come in every day for seven years.

And today'’s no different.

Can'’t keep no kind of a schedule. It'’s always late. Late!

I have a few things to pick up while I'’m here. I'’ll be inside.

Howdy do?

[laughing] Oh, you should have seen the way he--

Hey.

Take a look at that.

That your friends?No, I don'’t know anyone around here.

Anything I can do? Uh, yes.

Can you tell me when the stage leaves for Virginia City?

Every night. 5:00.

That'’s the schedule. Don'’t always turn out that way.

Well, that'’s close enough. How '’bout a hotel?

Yes, sir. Finest rooms in Bodie.

Thank you.

Who is he, Sue? Is he a friend of yours?

Not yet. What'’d I tell you?

This dance is bringing them in from all over.

Even from San Francisco?

Why not? Oh, I don'’t know.

Oh! Oh!

Sorry, darlin'’.

Our attention was distracted.

Did you see him, Miss Millett? Who?

Only the nicest-looking fellow this town has ever seen.

He came in on the stage for the day.

You two won'’t be going to the dance, unless you come over for a fitting right now.

Well, let'’s go. I want to look perfect for this one.

So do I.

[hammering]

Whiskey, please. Your best. Sure thing.

In town for the big shindig, are you?

No, as a matter of fact, I hadn'’t planned to stop here at all.

But something came up. I thought maybe you could help me.

Well, maybe.I'’m Frank Johnson, from Boston.

Yes, sir, Mr. Johnson. Call me Hank.

Now, what can I do for you?

I want to see a man by the name of Jim Bryan

about some mining properties-- do you know where I could find him?

Yeah. Jim was in yesterday, but he went out

to the Kennedy mine-- he'’ll be back in a couple of days.

I have to catch the stage for Virginia City.

How would I get out to the mine?

Well, you could get a horse over at the livery

and ride out-- it ain'’t very far.

Thanks, I'’ll do that.They'’ll tell you where it is.

The Kennedy Mine.Thank you, sir.

Oh, it'’s so beautiful, Miss Millett.

Yeah. '’Course, you got to know how to wear a dress like that.

I can'’t wait to try it on.

There he is! Where?

See?

Yeah. He looks better and better.

Girls. Come away from there.

All right, all right.You'’ll split a seam!

Be careful of the pins!

Turn around.I wonder what he is.

I know what he is. Rich!

No, I mean, like a lawyer, or...

Who cares? You don'’t dress the way he does

on any two-bit job.

Stand still! [sighs]

We'’ll find out tomorrow night.

That looks real nice on you.

Yeah. Oughta knock '’em dead!

Now stand still, please. I have to finish pinning the hem.

What are you wearin'’?

[scoffs] Oh, her?

At a dance? I want to see that.

Aren'’t you going?

I haven'’t the slightest interest in dancing.

She never goes anywhere. No dances, no fun, no nothin'’!

Everything I want is right here.

Okay, if you want to spend the rest of your life with a pair of scissors.

Now I like something with a little more shape to it.

That breathes!Well, we'’re all different.

Hmm. Not thatdifferent.

You know what I think?

I think you'’re scared that nobody'’d notice you.

Sure they would. You have so many pretty dresses.

They'’re not mine. They belong to customers.

We'’re about the same size.

We could find a dress for you.

Couldn'’t we, Sue?Sure we could.

She wouldn'’t look half-bad, fixed up a little.

I don'’t think I could do much with her hair, though.

Ow!Oh. Sorry.

We could try. You might even meet that man.

She'’s not interested in men. Just pins and needles.

No man worth meetin'’ would be carousing around at the Double Eagle.

There! You'’re through. Take it off.

You'’re next.

What'’s the matter, Betty?

Nothing. Here.

Oh, she'’s not well. It happens all the time.

Ever since she came here?Mm-hmm.

I don'’t know what it is.Well, go get Doc Norris. We'’ll find out.

♪♪ [honky-tonk piano]

Evenin'’, Mr. Johnson. Same as before?

Evening, Hank.Did you find Jim?

No, I was too late.Oh, he wasn'’t there?

They said he'’d ridden over to Bridgeport.

Should be back here sometime tomorrow.

Hello, there. I'’m Sue.Uh, this is Frank Johnson, Sue.

From Boston.Hello, Sue.

Hello.

I'’m sorry you missed Jim, but look on the bright side of things.

You hang around town another day, you'’ll be here for the big celebration.

Well, I'’d like to, but I just can'’t.

Why not? You'’re surely missing something special.

I suppose so, but I'’ve got to catch that stage for Virginia City.

Aw, what'’s your hurry?

I can tell you right now, there ain'’t nothin' in Virginia City

compared to what we'’re gonna have here.

No, it isn'’t that, I'm, uh-- I'’m looking for an old friend.

Oh, I spent some time up that way. Who are you lookin'’ for?

A lady. They call her "Tiger Lil."

Know her? Who doesn'’t?

She sure was something. Ain'’t there no more.

No, I know. I'’ve been looking for her for seven years.

It was my own fault that I lost her.

Never thought she'’d drop out of sight like that.

Well, you see I, uh--

I heard that she married some Eastern fella.

Been gone quite a while.

I go back there every year when I'’m out this way,

in hopes somebody'’s heard from her.

Yeah. Well, you better forget her.

I'’ve tried that. Yeah.

You know when Tiger Lil came in a room,

I don'’t know, the whole place just all lit up.

[Sue] Hmm.

Well, uh, seven years is a long, long time.

No tellin'’ what she looks like now.

Probably all wrinkled up and livin'’ in some dull little town.

No, I think wherever she is,

the place is all lit up.

Yeah, we sure ain'’t got nobody like that around Bodie.

[sighing]

You feeling better?

Uh-huh. Oh, good.

Doctor said you'’re gonna be fine. You just need a little rest.

I don'’t feel right about this.

Causing you so much trouble.It'’s no trouble.

I'’ll get you some tea.

I'’ve been sleeping so much-- [coughs]

I'’m all mixed up... What time is it?

About 4:00.

Oh.

Betty!

My job. I have to go.

Bed is the only place you'’re going, young lady.

But tonight. It'’s so important.

It'’s not as important as your getting well.

You don'’t understand If I'’m not there, I'’m out of a job.

That'’s the best thing that could happen to you.

I know you don'’t think it'’s much of a job, but I need it.

I know. I know.

I tell you what: why don'’t I talk to Sue?

I have to deliver a dress, anyway.

Maybe she can help.You think so?

Well, if she can'’t, no one can.

[firecrackers popping]

[laughing]

[laughs]

Afternoon, Miss Millett. Changed your mind about them firecrackers, did ya?

Oh, no--It'’s too late. Miners cleaned me all out.

Every last one. It'’s gonna be a show to beat all, come dark.

I'’ll watch for it.You can'’t miss it.

See it all the way to Bridgeport!

That, uh, Virginia City stage is about due, isn'’t it?

[coughs]

What does that mean?

It means I don'’t know. I can'’t keep no kind of a schedule.

I'’ve got to get there.

Don'’t know how. Rider came in, says they broke an axle.

Be in sometime after dark. Maybe.

Guess there'’s nothing we can do.

[sighs]Oh. I thought you were asleep.

I was just thinking about how things turn out.

I mean like tonight.

I planned on it for so long.

And here I am.Oh.

There'’ll be other dances. Not like this one.

It'’s hard to explain, but...

Did you ever get a hunch?

Like you just knew something was gonna happen.

Sometimes.

That'’s how I felt about tonight.

See, there'’s so many new fellas comin'’ in.

Like that one that got off the stage.

And I'’d be there, in my new dress.

I kinda thought I might meet someone. Special.

[chuckles] You are a dreamer.

[sighs] Guess you think it'’s silly.

Like Cinderella, or something.

No, but things like that just don'’t happen.

Lots of things can happen, if you'’re not afraid to try something different.

Like you going to that dance tonight.

Betty, I am not going to that dance!

I think Sue'’s right.

You'’re plain scared.

That isn'’t it! Oh, I know.

I was the same way.

I had to get over it, but...

Sue don'’t make it easy.

How do you mean?

She'’s always thinks she'’s the only one worth lookin'’ at.

Sure would have surprised her if all the fellas had looked at me tonight.

Instead of her.[chuckles]

And they probably would.

You'’re really very pretty.Maybe.

Sue says it takes confidence. That'’s what you need.

Fixed up a little, in my dress--

You'’d look real nice.

You really think so? Mm-hmm!

Why don'’t we try?Well--

All right. [laughs]

But you'’ll have to help me.Oh, that'’s wonderful!

Now don'’t get too excited. You just tell me what to do

and I'’ll try to do it.

Oh, I don'’t know where to begin! [laughs]

I thought that might be a problem.

Uh, first we need some powder.

And some rouge.

Would you look in my bag, on the dresser?

That may not be the right shade for you.

Well, we'’ll do the best we can.

What'’s in there?

Oh, just some old things I thought we could use.

Now! What do we do?

First, brush your hair.

Brush it all out.

Oh, I wish Sue was here. She'’s so good at this.

Well, you'’re doing fine.

Now! When do we use the powder?

Oh. Now.

Just lightly.

I used to look like I fell in a flour barrel.

Then the rouge.

Now, you got to be careful with that.

Not too much.

There. I think that ought to be enough.

Now, what should I do with my hair?

Oh. Um...

I really think that the best thing would be...

for you to braid it.

All right.

And... maybe twist it up on top of your head?

Like this?

Yeah.

It'’s gorgeous!

Now the dress.

You sure catch on fast.

You'’re a very good teacher.

I guess so. I must be.

Do you think we'’ll surprise Sue?

Oh, I think I'’m gonna cry.

Now, you'’d better not. This was all your idea.

I think we need a little something.

There.

It looks like... diamonds!

They were given to me by a friend.

How do I look?

Beautiful.

Well, I better get started, before the dance is over.

Are you sure you'’ll be all right?

There'’s just one thing.

What?

I don'’t think I know how to dance.

[laughing]

♪♪ [square-dance]

[sudden quiet]

Miss Millett?

That ain'’t Miss Millett! That'’s Tiger Lil!

Hiya, men!

I just don'’t believe it! Who would have thought that--Say, Lil!

To Lil!

Lil. I came back but you were gone.

I told you I could fade right into the wallpaper.

[fireworks whistling]I'’ve been looking for so long.

Hey, it'’s startin'! The show is on!

[fireworks continue]

I been here all the time. No one even noticed me.

But you, you'’ve only been in town two days, and everybody'’s talking.

When did you learn not to be the center of attention?

So conspicuous, so flashy.

So spectacular.

In the boom towns of the Old West,

some found gold, and others silver.

But in Bodie, Tiger Lil and Frank Johnson

found each other.

Another forgotten story from our American past.