Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West

are stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, our heritage.

They cry of "gold" brought all manner of men

to the Kern River region of California in the early 1860s.

They often came with their women and children

and little or no knowledge of mining.

Most of them were the losers from somewhere back East.

Some of them lost even more when they arrived.

At first glance, those who survived

appeared to be a rough, greedy, avaricious lot.

But because they'd often been the underdog,

they could be equally generous to others who were down on their luck.

This is one such story, and we call it...

[ crying ]

Shh. Mary Elizabeth, everything's gonna be just fine.

You'll see.

We'll find your dolly.

Are they drowned, Billy Earl?

Ma said we oughta look for a safer place to cross.

But Pa...

he was always in a hurry.

Is he ever coming back?

Ever, Billy Earl?

No. No, they ain't coming back, Mary Elizabeth.

You got me to take care of you.

And Jerry Ray too.

We'll be all right.[ crying ]

I'll try and light a fire.

What are we gonna do?

Everything's gone. Everything.

We're going to Whiskey Flats.

That's where Pa was headed. That's where we're headed.

I'm hungry.

I know you're hungry. We're all hungry.

We're gonna have to do a little more walking before we eat.

Pa said once you're across the river,

it's only a hoot and holler to Whiskey Flats.

Well, what are we gonna do when we get there?

We're gonna find gold, that's what.

Strike it rich like Pa said.

Well, how you gonna find it?

I don't rightly know,

but we'll learn just like everybody else.

You don't know which way to Whiskey Flat,

and you don't know how to find gold.

I ain't going.

I reckon I'm the head of this family now, and I say we're moving on.

Okay, suit yourself. You can sit there till the cows come home.

That's fine with me. Come on, Mary Elizabeth.

Hold your horses. I'm coming.

Golly, can't I even rest a spell?

You boys ready for a little grub?

Yes, Miss Jenny.

I'm as empty as a church on Monday morning.

Nope. I ain't a-quittin' this time

[ chuckles ] till I get that old claim.

Suits me. I can play better poker

on an empty stomach than you can with a gut full.

How I ever got talked into filing a claim

with a ring-tailed baboon like you I'll never know.

If some folk didn't try to cheat,

this game'd been over a week ago.

Well, now, look who's calling the kettle black.

Ya can't cheat no honest man.

Why are you in such a fit?

The water won't be low enough to do any gold panning

for a day or so anyway.

Miss Jenny, you just keep this here glass filled

while me and this here partner of mine

finish this here game and this here partnership.

Seems to me if you kept the glass empty,

you'd finish the game quicker.

Ain't that the truth?

Every time I have to let you sleep it off,

it just means that much longer before I get my claim back.

Your claim? Oh, well, not yet, it ain't.

Just shut up and deal the cards.

You stay there while I look around.

Hello!

Anybody home?

Can we stay? Is this somebody's claim?

I'm hungry.

Hey, look what I found.

This place looks abandoned.

Remember that prospector we had supper with out on the trail?

Uh-huh. Mr. Josiah Hobbs.

He gave me a real gold nugget.

But I lost it, though, when we was crossing the river.

He told Pa that anyone could move in on a claim after a certain time.

How much time?

I don't rightly remember,

but I reckon we can stay here a spell and see if anybody turns up.

You mean maybe this could be our claim?

Well, sure, I guess so, if nobody turns up.

I'm plumb tuckered out, Billy Earl.

Okay.

Climb in. I'll fetch your shoes.

I wish Mama and Papa was here.

I do, too, honey pie, but they're not,

and we're just gonna have to make do.

Will you take care of us now, Billy Earl?

Of course I will. And don't you worry.

Will you get me a new dolly sometime?

Sure thing. Just as soon as we find some gold.

What's this?

That looks like a pan for finding gold.

Yeah, I remember. Mr. Hobbs had one.That's right. He did.

Said panning for gold was just as easy as falling out of bed.

Yeah. And Pa said the only time he fell outta bed, he broke his leg.

[ laughs ] Be dark soon.

Guess we better try falling into bed.

You and me, we're gonna find some gold tomorrow.

[ chuckles ]

Why wasn't I listening when Mr. Hobbs told Pa how to use this?

Doggone his hide.

You suppose he does that on purpose?

Sure seems peculiar.

Every time I'm just about to win,

that ring-tailed baboon gets himself a snootful.

[ laughing ] Take him to the back room, boys.

A couple hours' sleep will fix him up.

[ laughing ]

What's the matter, Jake? Did I just grow another head?

No, ma'am. I got a proposition for ya.

A business proposition. Ya understand?

All right.

[ door opens ]

Can you fellas give us a hand?

We just found two bodies washed ashore downstream a ways.

Man and a woman.

Must've been some tenderfoot tried to cross the river.

I guess their wagon broke up.

We found an old trunk and this.

There was a child too?

Must've been, but we ain't found her yet.

Come on, boys.

[ door closes ]

My little Nell had a doll like this.

I didn't know you was a mother.

Probably lots of things about me you don't know.

Now, what about that proposition?

Did you find some?

Did you strike it rich yet?

Sure is taking you a long time to find any.

Well, I've been out here most all day, and I...

[ laughing ]

Sure ain't gonna get rich very quick that way.

I'm doing the best I know how.

[ crying ]

I'm sorry, honey pie.

I didn't mean to make you cry.

I wanna go home.

Me too.

We can't go home. Ohio's too far away.

And besides, there ain't nothing back there for us now.

At least we know how to farm.

You don't know nothing about finding gold.

It's just too hard for us, Billy Earl, without Pa and Ma.

Jerry Ray, I'm sorry.

Real sorry. You ain't got no more time to be a little kid.

You ain't half growed,

but you're gonna have to start acting like you was full grown.

Pa is gone, so that leaves me and you

to take care of Mary Elizabeth.

Nobody said it was gonna be easy.

But whatever we need to learn, we'll learn. You understand.

Now, first thing in the morning,

I'm gonna go try and get some help for us.

I'm gonna leave you here, and watch Mary Elizabeth.

Do you think you're man enough to do that?

Yes, I can do that, Billy Earl.

I'll take real good care of her.

Good.

Now come on and help me. You start a fire.

Even if that old creek didn't give us no gold,

maybe it'll give a catfish for supper.

Miss Jenny, I always thought

you run an honest establishment here.

I try to, Seldom.

If I didn't know better,

I'd say this here whiskey's watered.

Same whiskey as always, Seldom.

If I thought you was--

Quit complainin' and play cards.

You're just sore 'cause I'm winnin'.

Yeah, my luck's bound to change.

I'm gonna win this hand.

[ cards shuffling ]

Give me a whiskey, Miss Jenny.

Ever find the little girl's body, Patch?

No, ma'am, we didn't.

We salvaged some more of their things, though.

Cooking pots and a quilt or two.

It sure is too bad.

That river's always bad this early in the spring.

Sometimes I hate this country.

It takes and takes

and don't give much in return.

If I didn't trust you, Miss Jenny,

I'd say you and Jake

was conspirin' to keep me sober.

Now, you know I can't play decent poker if I'm sober.

Don't mind him, Miss Jenny.

Honest folks don't accuse everybody else of cheatin'.

How many?

Two.

Dealer takes one.

That does it.

Boys, Miss Jenny, I'm going out to my diggin'.

Take him to the back room again, boys.

Jake.

Don't forget our deal. I did my part.

You sure did, Miss Jenny,

and old Jake's just as good as his word.

You're now one quarter of the claim.

But I think you'd better be a silent partner.

Leastwise as long as Seldom's around.

[ door closes ]

[ hiccupping ]

Hold your breath and count to ten.

[ inhales deeply ]

♪♪ [ Jake singing, distant ]

[ hiccups ] Who's that?

♪♪ [ singing continues ]

Let's hide.

Come on.

Here. Quick.

Well, I'll be hanged.

I bet I walked in on some lily-livered ring-tailed baboon

trying to jump my claim.

[ mouthing words ]

Wherever you are, you yellow-bellied claim jumper,

come on out and get what you got comin'.

[ Mary Elizabeth hiccups ]

Aah!

You leave my sister alone, you hear? She ain't no claim jumper!

If anybody's a claim jumper, it's me! [ shouting ]

Hold it, kid! I ain't gonna hurt her or you!

Now, that's better.

What are you young'uns doing on my claim?

Well, come on now. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Where's your folks? You got folks, ain't ya?

[ crying ]

Don't bellow, little girl.

I told ya I wasn't gonna hurt ya.

You leave my sister alone.

[ crying continues ]

[ chuckles ] You can talk after all.

Your sister, huh? Well, who are ya?

What's your name?

Well, I guess I just gotta take you down to Miss Jenny.

She knows more about young'uns than I do. Come on.

[ crying ]

I said, come on!

Jerry Ray!

Mary Elizabeth!

It's just me! Come on out!

Mary Elizabeth?

Jerry Ray!

Where are ya? It's me, Billy Earl!

You answer me, ya hear?

Now, quit playing games, will ya?

No.

Please no.

We're all your friends here, honey,

but we can't help you if you won't tell us who ya are.

I told ya, they just won't talk!

Hush, Jake. You're scaring these kids half to death.

Don't pay him no mind.

His bark is worse than his bite.

I bet y'all are hungry.

How about if Miss Jenny fixes you some supper, hmm?

Look here. I'll give you this doll

if you'll just tell us...

My dolly! You found her!

She didn't get drowned.

[ rifle blasts ]

Jake, I'll teach ya to try and cheat me when I'm...

Now, what in tarnation? Get up here.

That no-good Jake send you here?Jake? I don't--

Tried to sell my claim to you, did he?

Let me tell you something, boy. It ain't his to sell.

No, sir. Nobody sold me a--

Claim jumper, huh?

Let me tell you what happens to claim jumpers.

We throw a rope over the highest tree and string 'em up, that's what.

Well, after a proper trial, of course.

But I thought your claim was abandoned.

Abandoned? A man wouldn't run off

and leave his tools and his bedroll.

But-- No "buts" about it, boy.

Come on. We're going back to Whiskey Flat.

We'll show you what happens to claim jumpers.

Thanks, Jake. I got 'em bedded down.

I don't think they'll sleep much, though.

Poor little orphans.

They're worried something fierce about their brother.

We'll get up a search party come morning. We'll find 'em.

All right. Gather around, boys.

We're gonna have ourself one of them there kangaroo court sessions.

What do you got there, Seldom?

What did he do?Jumped my claim, that's what.

Now you listen here--Now you hush up, boy. You'll get your turn.

What do you mean, your claim?I'm tellin' ya--

I said, hush up!Let him talk, Seldom.

What do you mean, your claim?

I won it fair and square. Ask Miss Jenny.

Fair and square! Now, is it fair and square

to take advantage of a man when he's feeling poorly?

I'll leave it up to you. Is that fair?

Did this scoundrel try to jump my claim

while I was out trying to save poor orphans?

Poor little orphans?

Was there a boy-- a boy about 12?

And a girl?

Billy Earl, we found you!

I took care of her good, Billy Earl, honest.

But him, he made us come here.

But I wouldn't let him hurt Mary Elizabeth.

I told ya I wasn't gonna hurt her.

Is this your brother, honey?

Well, he may be her brother, but he's still a claim jumper.

Oh, put that gun down, ya old fool, before you hurt someone.

Not until someone tells me what's going on around here.

So, you see? You can't string him up.

He's a tenderfoot. Didn't know any better.

We gotta figure out how we can help 'em now.

I'll do my part.

I'll give 'em all the gold I can pan in a day.

[ men chattering ]Now, who'll match that?

I will!I'll match it!

[ men chattering ]Young fella,

I'll teach you how to pan for gold.

You'll teach him? [ laughs ]

Why, I've got more about mining than you'll ever know. I'll teach him!

Jake, now, come on.

That ain't the way now. See, down!

Swizzle it the other way.

The other way. Don't follow him.

He don't know nothin' about gold flushin'!

Look at that.

Come on now. Give it here. I'm showing the boy how to do it.

[ strained muttering ]

[ laughter ]

[ laughing ] Yeah.

Up we go there. Well, here you are, boy.

Old Seldom's just as good as his word.

Why, sure.

Ohh!

Mwah! [ laughing ]

Just never know how kind people could be.

You know, there's something else these young'uns need.

Boys, ladies, I'm getting a little tired of these parts.

Heard there's a big strike up near Calico.

Aw, get to the point, Seldom.

The point is, I'm gonna skedaddle out of here.

I'm going to give these young'uns a new start-- my claim.

Your claim? Why, you old horse thief.

I won that there claim fair and honest!

Honest? How could it be honest when I was takin' myself a snooze?

Snooze nothin'!

I even got Miss Jenny to water your whiskey.

[ laughter ]Oh, I suspicioned as much!

Only, Miss Jenny, I never thought you'd do--

Now, he beat you fair and square, watered whiskey or no.

Besides, you can't cheat an honest man. [ laughter ]

So what do you say, boys?

Let's all give them the claim, huh?

[ men whooping ]

And so, the good people of Whiskey Flat

gave the foster children a new start in life.

The records don't tell us what became of Seldom Sam and Jake.

But one thing we know:

Their acts of kindness bred others,

and out of this a new society was begun.

A frontier conquered on such inauspicious beginnings.

The West was built.

We hope you'll join us next week for another exciting drama

from our American past.