Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Narrator: Where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West,

stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer are all a part of our past,

of our heritage.

The men who went west to harvest lumber

were as sturdy as the trees that fell

and as rugged as the rebel country where the forest stood.

They battled weather, loneliness, and fire

to pioneer an industry and provide homes

for a westward growing nation.

The hazards were great,

but the lusty lumberjacks took them all in stride.

And at least one logger, Will Zane,

thought he did until he met a girl named Trudy Bell.

Years of logging gave Will skills and abilities

in overcoming obstacles, and, believe me,

he needed them all for...

Some of these pines are over 100 years old.

I declare, Trudy Bell.

These trees make a man feel insignificant.

Most men are, Tucker. Don'’t you think?

[ chopping ]

How does it feel to you, Will?

A tough old girl, Danny.

She'’ll come down. They all do.

Don'’t you think we ought to turn back now?

I promised your father I'’d finish

going over his books today.

Of course not.

You haven'’t seen anything yet.

We'’ll go up to where they'’re cutting.

But I think maybe we should--Go ahead by yourself, then.

Hold it, Danny.

That should just about do it.

Hey!

Get out of the way!

Get out of there!

Timber!

Hey!

[ screaming ]

Will? Will, are you here, boy?

Trudy? Are you all right?

Look at me. My habit'’s ruined. It'’s just ruined.

And what'’s happened to my horse?

Well, he showed better sense than you did, ma'’am.

He run off when he see that tree coming.

I'’m glad you're so amused.

I might have been killed.

Yes, ma'’am. That's why I tore you off that horse that way.

That'’s what might have killed me.

It'’s ridiculous when a lady can'’t go for a ride

without being assaulted.

See here, miss. He saved your life.

Well, next time, I prefer to take my chances with the tree.

You stay right here. I'’ll go get my axe and oblige you.

Now, just a minute.

You two had no business riding in here.

This is lumber company land.

No business?

Tell them who you are, Trudy.

She happens to be--I can take care of myself, Tucker.

I'’m Trudy Bell, that's who.

H.J.'’s daughter?That'’s right.

Well, Trudy--Miss Bell.

That'’s very nice that your daddy owns all this land.

But these trees, they don'’t know you

from one of Lil'’s saloon girls, and if you'’re standing

underneath one when it'’s falling,

you'’re just as likely to get as caved in as they are.

Now, see here, you.

I think you'’d better apologize to Ms. Bell for that remark.

And I think you better get on out of here

before I put my boots to you.

What is your name?

I appreciate your friendly interest, ma'’am.

It'’s Zane. Will Zane.

Spelled Z-A-N-E.

I'’m going to report your arrogance,

your rudeness,

your behavior to my father.

You go ahead and do that, and, while you'’re at it,

me and Danny, we'’re going to go on about the business

of cutting up your daddy'’s tree.Right.

[ grunts ]

I thought you two got along real well.

Yeah, real well.

You know, Danny, she'’s a pretty little gal.Oh, yeah.

But, I'’ll tell you, she's got a tongue like a pike pole.

[ laughs ]

Gal like that would be a real challenge.

[ laughs ]

Here you are, Ralph. Good, American money.

Boyle, Danny.That'’s me name, and proud of it.

Are you sending your wages back to "Calilimerick," as always?

I keep enough back to buy me

a drop of comfort at Lil'’s place.

10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 55, 60.

Well, you should keep back enough

to buy yourself a partner at the box social.

Are you daft? You got as much chance at catching me there

as I got of catching you there.

I'’ve got to be there. I'’m the auctioneer.

You got a funny idea how to spend a pay day.

Danny?

See if you can get Will to come.

What made me ask a dumb thing like that?

McCarthy, Jim.

Aren'’t you going for your wages, Will?

As a matter of fact, I was the first one

at the pay line this morning.

Oh, I might have known.

Well, looks like you'’re getting ready

for a little serious drinking.

[ chuckles ] With a month'’s pay in my pocket,

you don'’t think I'm going to any box social, do you?

Well, I thought you might.

Come on, let'’s go to Lil's.

I'’ll see you in a little bit, Danny.

Now I hope you won'’t let this lunch go too cheaply, Tucker.

You think I'’d let anyone else

have the honor of sharing it with you?

[ crickets ]

Well, Miss Bell.

Why, this box is just about

going to put the others to shame.Thank you.

And it'’s a bargain at any price.

Well, now, I know you folks are all hungry,

so gather round and we'’ll begin the proceedings.

Now, you all know why we'’re here,

to raise money for the new school house.

Our young ladies have been making these box lunches

all afternoon, and they'’ve been very busy,

and we'’re going to auction them off.

The highest bidder gets both the box lunch

and the company of the young lady.

If you see a lively looking package, men,

start bidding.

Well, suppose we start with this one.

Mmm, something here smells mighty good.

Now who'’s going to start the bidding?

Do I hear a dollar?

One dollar.

Delbert Hucks bid a dollar.

Do I hear two dollars?

Two dollars?

Dollar and a half.

Why, you couldn'’t even get a whiff

of this for a dollar and a half.

Two dollars. Two fifty.

Three dollars.

Now we'’re getting somewhere.

Three dollars and fifty cents, and that'’s my final bid.

Four dollars.

Del bid four dollars. Do I hear four fifty?

Four dollars once,

four dollars twice,

and sold to Delbert Hucks for four dollars.

Now who'’s the pretty little miss that goes with this?

Mary Christine. I just knew it was you.

Oh, if you think this is a pretty package,

you should see the miss who brought it.

Now who'’s going to be the lucky man?

Do I hear a dollar?

Five dollars.

Well, an opening bid of five dollars.

This young man must have some inside information.

Who'’ll make it five fifty?

Man: $20.

$20?

Uh, 21.

$30.

Uh, 31.

$40.

41.

$60.

Uh, $60. Do I hear any more bidding?

$60 once. Twice. And sold for $60.

There you are, Will. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Miss Bell?

Tucker, are you going to let this animal have me?

Now, see here, Will Zane,

I don'’t know what you have in mind--

I have in mind having lunch.I have no intention of having lunch with you.

Ah, now, Miss Bell, you know the rules.

Tucker, are you going to allow this?

I most certainly am not.

Mr. Zane, I'’d better warn you.

I was middle weight champion of my graduating class.

Well, I appreciate that.

Now, I better warn you.

I ain'’t ever graduated from nothing,

so all I know is fighting logger-style,

and that includes gouging, stomping, ear-chewing,

and anything else you want to do.

On second thought, Trudy,

he did pay you $60 fair and square.

Tucker Logan, don'’t you ever speak to me again.

But Trudy!

Well, let'’s get on with the auction, folks.

I sure hope this is a $60 lunch,

'’cause I sure ain't got a $60 partner.

You just watch what you say to me, Mr. Zane.

I'’m saving up plenty to tell my father.

Your daddy doesn'’t frighten me.

He'’s a big man now, but he started out

a plain old logger just like me, tin pants and all.

Well, that may be, but he'’s always been a gentleman,

with a gentleman'’s respect for a lady.

Are you saying I don'’t qualify as a gentleman?

You?

You'’re only fit to keep company with one of Lil'’s saloon girls.

Well, any one of them can fry better chicken.

You know, you'’re just like this lunch.

You'’re all dolled up on the outside,

but tough and stringy on the inside.

Why, you little devil.

Get down here.

Don'’t. Don't you...

Don'’t you dare! Ow!

Ow!

That ought to teach you.

[ groaning ]

Just wait till I tell my daddy about this.

There won'’t be a lumber camp anywhere that'’ll hire you.

Well, ma'’am, it will have been worth it.

You know, you taught me something.

There'’s only one difference between

a lady and a dance hall girl.

A dance hall girl'’s got better manners.

You wait.

You wait.

[ whistling ]

Ah.

[ chuckles ]

Well, this is a surprise.

I thought you'’d still be involved

in your social activities.

Oh, the ladies at Lil'’s, they missed you.

They asked me to deliver their regards.

They couldn'’t understand how their old buddy

could desert them in favor of the box social.

Well, I tried to explain to them that

there comes a time in every man'’s life

when he has to take a serious view of things,

start looking to the future.

Start planning a more responsible way of life.

Well, they didn'’t seem to understand

how that could ever happen to you.

Shut up, Danny.

That'’s a fine thing to say to your old partner

who'’s only concerned with your future happiness.

And if I hadn'’t explained it--

Shut up, Danny. I said shut up.

Shut up.

Oh, you'’re right, you'’re right.

Aye, here I am wasting time with words,

and I ought to be sharpening our tools for tomorrow.

You can forget that, too, '’cause we ain't

going to be needing them anymore.

Not needing our axes?

Oh, Will, you are a fast worker

if the boss'’ daughter's already got us jobs in the office.

We don'’t have any jobs anymore, Danny.

What do you mean by that?

I think we'’re fired. At least I am.

Well, I can'’t fell a tree by myself.

If I'’m going to be fired, it'’d be a comfort to know why.

I just spanked Trudy Bell.

[ ax clatters ]

You just what?

Spanked her.

Turned her over my knee and spanked her.

Holy saints.

Did she have it coming?

I'’ve known a lot of women, Danny.

I'’ve never raised a hand to one before, but she deserved it.

Still...I know I shouldn'’t have done it, but,

it was like she was testing me.

Oh, Will. Serious trouble.

Here comes her father.

Danny: Afternoon, Mr. Bell.

Afternoon, boys.

I certainly didn'’t expect to find you here.

Why is that, sir? Have you already seen your daughter?

Trudy?

I know she hardly lights long enough for me to see her.

Then I think I should tell you myself.

I just gave your daughter a trashing.

A thrashing?

Yes, sir.He didn'’t mean to.

I did mean to.

Pulled her over my knee,

raised her dress, and applied my hand

to where I knew it'’d hurt the most.

You did that to my daughter?

Yes, sir.

Well, I find that rather upsetting.

So did she, and I expect you'’ll be hearing about it from her.

Yes. I expect I will.

There'’s one more thing, sir.

There'’s something else?

I won'’t apologize.

I doubt that Trudy would be satisfied

with an apology anyway.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

What'’d he mean by that?

I don'’t know.

But it don'’t mean we're fired.

Let'’s get busy.

But you can'’t put a man in jail for that.

Why can'’t I?

Assault and battery is still against the law, isn'’t it?

You don'’t look very battery to me.

He spanked me, Daddy, right in front of everybody.

It was humiliating.

You probably needed it.

Are you taking his side?

Trudy,

ever since your mother died, you'’re all I've got,

and I love you.

That'’s probably the reason

I never had the heart to spank you myself,

though you needed it often enough.

You are taking his side.

I just want you to forget the whole thing, honey.

Will Zane made a fool of me.

I can'’t forget it.

And if you won'’t help me,

I'’ll just have to take care of him myself.

All right, all right.

I learned long ago not to argue with you

once you made up your mind.

Oh, Daddy. I knew I could count on you.

I'’m sure you did.

Now, you go fetch your bonnet and we'’ll go.

Mr. Bell. Ma'’am.

I'’ll come right to the point, Will.

She plans to swear out a warrant against you

for assault and battery.

She does, does she?

I'’d appreciate it if you come along

with us now to the Sheriff'’s office.

I ain'’t never been in jail in my life, Mr. Bell,

and I'’m not going now, not for something you should

have done about 18 years ago.

That may very well be, but it doesn'’t change things.

Trudy'’s determined to see you punished for what you did.

Would be an unjust court that would punish a man

for doing a good deed.

Looks like he'’s going to give us trouble, Trudy.

I wish I could take him in myself,

but I'’m behind schedule.

Here, you keep this gun on him,

and he'’ll behave.

You drive, Will.

And don'’t think you can try anything

just because my father'’s not going.

I'’m pretty handy with a gun.

That'’s right, Will. She'’s not afraid

of anything in the world.

What'’s so funny?

You are, with your chin stuck out

and that gun so heavy you can hardly hold on to it.

I can hold it, don'’t you worry,

and I know where the trigger is, too.

You don'’t really want to go through with this, do you?

Don'’t I?

When I'’m through with you,

you'’ll never lay a hand on a lady again.

I ain'’t never laid a hand on a lady yet.

I can hardly wait to see you behind bars.

You won'’t be so smart then.

Well, they'’d better lock me up for a good long time

because the day I get out, I'’m going to give you my hand

till you can'’t sit down for over a month

without thinking about me.

You don'’t scare me, Will Zane.

You know what I'’m thinking?

Don'’t know and I don't care.

I'’m thinking, you test every man you meet

hoping to find one meaner and stronger than you are.

You'’re crazy.

And beneath that cast iron expression, you'’re scared,

scared you won'’t find one.

Drive, don'’t talk.

Ho.

I think, secretly, you'’re hoping I'’ll grab that gun,

turn you over my knee, and spank you again.

[ click ]

You crazy little hell head, you could have killed me.

Give me that gun.

Come with me, young lady.

Oh, Will, you better not. No!

Don'’t you dare!

I'’m going to tell my father on you!

Oh, no!

Oh, no! Stop! [ screams ]

Help!

Help me, I can'’t swim.

Will, please.

Please, I can'’t swim. I'’ll drown.

Why don'’t you just stand up?

Oh, Will, why did you make me do it?

Why did you make me pull the trigger? I might have killed you.

It was just a little test of my own.

Will?

Will, will you teach me how to swim?

Nope.

So, Trudy Bell was tamed

as the West was tamed,

not without a struggle,

but with a firm hand wielded by a superior force.

The conquest of each was unwilling,

but, in the end, each bowed to stubborn determination.

Be with us again next week

for another story from our American past.

♪♪