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, of our heritage.

The shimmering heat, the dust, and the longing for gold

brought out the worst and the best of the men

who sought fortunes on the desert in the 19th century.

Men from totally different walks of life

were thrown together.

Unique friendships were made.

And sometimes, a man'’s life depended on the faith of one,

who but a few days before, was a total stranger.

This is what happens in our story tonight,

which took place in the Arizona Territory at...

Now, what'’s the matter with ya? Can'’t ya burn?

[ gasps with pain ]

[ laughing ] You havin'’ trouble, Nat?

Oh, it'’s the dang stove!

It musta come over on the Mayflower.

No burner, nothing.

Oh, looky there! Ain'’t those pretty!

Oh, you needn'’t bother with the remarks.

Just help yourself and keep going.

I'’m just tellin' ya how pretty they are.

And you know, they got stayin'’ power, too.

Mine stayed with me all day yesterday.

Just like a piece of leather! [ laughs ]

Yeah. You better go light with '’em, fellas.

What'’s left over, we use to mend our saddles.

Well, I'’m quittin'! You guys can cook your own dang food!

[ all laughing ]

You'’re, uh-- You'’re getting ready to leave us, boy?

You sayin'’ I ain't?Well, no, but...

we got kinda a verbal agreement, ain'’t we?

Kinda.

Well, you gonna back down on that?

Well, I ain'’t a cook, and I never will be.

Sure be sorry to see you go, Nat.

Never had a better cook around here.

It appears like the boys don'’t agree with you on that, Nat.

Yeah, well, that ain'’t what they were saying a minute ago.

Now about this verbal agreement, now I mean,

I'’m not gonna hold you to it.

It wouldn'’t stand up in no court of law.

I tell you this much, we do need ya.

Man hires on, he gives his word he'’s gonna stay.

Ain'’t much of a man if he goes.

Well, Nat?

I didn'’t leave home to do no cookin'’, and stick around camp all day.

[ chuckles ] Well, now, that'’s the kind of agreement we made

when we took you on-- I mean, you'’d do the cookin',

until we get somebody to take your place!

Don'’t look like it'’ll ever happen.

Doesn'’t look like I'’ll ever mine.

Keep a good eye on that gold in there.

Now you cheer up, boy. Thing'’s will get better, all right?

Those are the broadest toes I'’ve ever seen, mister.

They'’re of my own creation.

Terence O'’Toole is the name.

Sailor by profession.

Sailor? What are you doing around here?

Feelin'’ land.

The fascination in all places, you know?

Yeah. That'’s the way I feel.

You seen the world?

Every inch of it.

And sampled the liquor in every waterfront saloon.

Not that I'’d be recommendin' that to ya, lad.

[ laughs ]

Yeah, I'’m gonna see the world some day.

I'’m gonna hit every port!

Are you now?I got the wanderlust.

Oh, does she beckon you too, lad?

"The siren of the sea, far off like the call of eternity"?

[ sighs ] Well, for the moment, I think you'’d better let eternity wait.

Right now, I'’d say a coffee would serve your purpose.

Are you lookin'’ for a place?

I'’d be untruthful if I denied it.

Can you cook?

Can I cook! [ chuckles ]

It'’s many the shipboard passenger'’s feasted on the delicacies of O'’Toole.

Well, there'’s an opening right here as cook.

Oh, it'’s not anything much, but uh...

Like flapjacks and bacon for breakfast?

Beans or jerky, uh...Beans and jerky!Whoa!

It'’s the challenge of it I'’ll be savorin'.

Oh, and there'’s something else important.

The miners keep the gold with them at night, but...

it'’s kept in there during the day.

And that'’s part of your job, to keep an eye on it.

A grave responsibility it is, indeed.

Each man has his own parts,

but it'’s divided equally on Sundays.

Now, if you'’re gonna take on the job, Mr. O'’Toole--

Well, I'’ll help you for a while, till you get started.

Terence it is, lad.

Nat. Nat Miller.

Falstaff, we'’ll be stayin'’ on a bit.

Ya handsome divil.

Now, don'’t you go play-actin'’ on me.

He'’s so weary, he can't even show his joy.

Why do you call your mule Falstaff?

Shakespeare, me boy. Shakespeare!

I'’ve done some of his reading, too.

I'’m wanna write some day, after I travel.

so I'’ll have something to write about.

Well, it'’s what's in your heart you want to put on paper, boy,

what you feeling deep inside

that you'’ll want to share with others.

You don'’t talk like nobody I ever knew.

You ain'’t like nobody else.

Oh, many'’s the time I'’ve said that to myself,

boy, when I was swabbing out the galley.

"O'’Toole," I'd say, "you'’re a very special man. There'’s nobody like you."

But I'’ve had a devil of a time convincing the rest of the world.

Now, the fire is like believing.

It waits patiently for the wood,

while you and me stand jabberin'’ here,

the just impatient fire dies out.

You sure can do things with food.

And usually appetite can appreciate the talent.

Oh, how'’s it goin',O'’Toole?

Well, you and the men will have to make that judgment, Mr. Long.

Wow, he'’s sure a good cook, and he doesn'’t need my help, right?

Oh, your service is always welcome, Nat.

But if you'’ve pressing duties in the mine tomorrow, I'’ll not be objecting.

Well, we'’ll uh-- We'll wait and see how it works out.

Tomorrow, lad. Right, Mr. Long?

Well, maybe.

So you run away from home, huh, lad?

Yeah. I asked if I could go, but they said no.

So I went on my own.

Nothing for you there, huh, boy?

Oh, it wasn'’t that I didn't care for my folks, '’cause I do.

I just had to get goin'’.

I had to begin my life.

You know what I mean.

I know.

I did the same thing myself, a long time ago

in a faraway place.

And what I felt then is no different from your own feelings.

I want to make a big gold strike!

And I want to write, and...

and I want to sail around the world!

O'’Toole and Miller. We'll go sailin'’ the seas together.

Drink to it, lad. Huh?

I can really write, O'’Toole. I can write a verse at the drop of a hat!

I will write about our adventures, wherever we go!

Oh.

First I got to look out for my ma and pa and sisters.

I want to get them a ranch, and--

I want to see '’em fixed proper.

It'’s me own hopes you'’re speakin', lad.

I have no parents left. Understand?

But I have a sister.

It'’s me own hopes you'’re speakin' of.

Me own hopes exactly.

Step right up, gentlemen. It'’s a pleasure to serve you

this grand and glorious mornin'’!

♪♪ [ humming ]Good breakfast, O'’Toole.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Lorne. [ chuckles ]

You like to be workin'’ in the mine today, boy?

Sure! And why shouldn'’t ya?

If it'’s unequal, I am for cleanin'’ up a few dishes

in the name of something other than Terence O'’Toole.

Why, I could tell Dan and see what he says!

You have your pick and shovel?Got everything the others got.

Well, then, off with ya, boy.[ laughs ]

Oh. Oh, you sure you don'’t need my help with the dishes?

Well, now that you mention the matter... scat!

He said he didn'’t mind doin'’ the dishes alone.

Nat, we don'’t know anything about that man down there.

O'’Toole is honest. Really!

[ chuckles ] All right. [ laughs ]

Snapped right in two, Dan.I picked up some more when I was in town.

They'’re down in the kitchen.What are you doin'’ here?

I kept my bargain.

Now you got a cook, no reason why I can'’t mine.

You gonna trust our gold with that fancy-mouth sailor?

Well, now, we'’re gonna have to sometime another, Ed, if he sticks around.

Now, go on down and get yourself another pick-handle.

These shiny little fillin'’s!

You dirty!

[ yelling ]

Hey, Dan!

What'’s goin' on here?Dan, I caught him stealin'’ gold!

He was puttin'’ gold into the toes of his shoes.

Nobody here'’d ever seen shoes like these.

It'’s a fact, ain't it? Nobody here ain'’t never seen

a pair of big-toes shoes like his.

You know why? '’Cause he had '’em special made

to steal from miners like us.

Are we gonna work for our gold, but he'’s gonna take it?

You got anything to say for yourself, O'’Toole?

It was a touch of the little gems I wanted is all.

You'’re a lyin' thief!

Well, how are you all so sure he ain'’t tellin' the truth?

Because I seen him!

Well, maybe you didn'’t see what you thought!

All right, all right. Go on, O'’Toole.

You gentlemen who labor in the bowels of the Earth

to extract your treasures,

your work is difficult.

It would be a foul deed I'’d commit to rob you of your hard-earned gold.

I stand innocent of charges!

I caught you takin'’ it.

No high-falutin'’ talk's gonna get you out of it!

I'’m in. What do you say?

[ all ] Guilty! Guilty.

Terence O'’Toole, you'’ve been found guilty

by every rule and law of miner'’s equity.

I sentence you to be hung by your neck until you are dead.

Sentence'’ll be carried out tomorrow at early candle lighten.

Zack? Tie him up.

You can'’t do that, Dan! He'’s innocent!

O'’Toole is innocent.

That be your friend'’s resting place.

Now dig it nice and deep, so he ain'’t disturbed.

Why do I got to dig it?

Because the men are workin'’ in the mine.

Now we each got a job to do, and this one just happens to be yours.

You want your friend to sit out here with the buzzards?

You never liked him from the first.

I knew what he was the minute I laid eyes on him.

A fancy-mouth crook!

All right, Ed. That'’s enough.

We have to work.

Nat, you keep a good eye on him.

He gives you any trouble, you just come up and get me.

Come on, Zack.

There'’s gonna be a hangin' around here of someone.

Now, if he ain'’t here...

we'’re gonna hang somebody else, you see?

It'’s hard, isn't it?

Ain'’t the diggin' that bothers me, O'’Toole.

It'’s because it'’s your grave.

Ah, it'’s a fair trial I'’ve had, boy.

They allowed me to speak my piece.

You grateful to them for hangin'’ you?

That I ain'’t.

But it'’s many a land I'’ve seen where a man

is butchered like a chicken first,

and the questions come later.

Don'’t make no difference, does it?

They'’re gonna hang you anyway.

And you'’re innocent!Aye.

Terence O'’Toole has been falsely accused

and wrongly condemned!

'’Course you was! You'’d never do anything like stealin'’.

I kept tellin'’ them you'’re innocent.

Innocent? Dead.

I ain'’t gonna let 'em do it, O'’Toole!

Setting me free? Is that what you'’re about?

What are you gonna tell them?

I'’ll tell 'em you pulled my knife.

And you knocked me down, and when I come to, you was gone.

They'’ll not be acceptin'’ that.

You want to stay here and die?

I needed your help. I'’m not denyin' it.

But I'’m not gonna let you hang in my place.

Well, I'’m cuttin' the ropes, and you'’re gonna go.

No, I'’m not! Are you gonna set free a guilty man?

Why?

You'’d have got your share when they divvy up on Sunday.

It was a base deed I committed.

I'’m not excusing it.

But it takes many a share to buy a dowry.

And the sea'’s in my blood, it'’s calling me.

I couldn'’t wait any longer.A dowry?

Aye. For my sister Molly.

It'’s plain she is, of figure and face,

and she needs a dowry to get herself a man.

You understand that, boy?I... I think so.

Molly'’s all I've got.

I was on my way to Tucson to see her.

Tucson? That ain'’t but a couple of days from here.

Well, Dublin'’s no further, for all I see her now.

Can she cook?

Aye. Like the gods showed her.

She can make biscuits so light they need holdin'’ down

lest they float away.

I'’ve got to see Dan!

O'’Toole didn't give you a hard time, did he?

He didn'’t get away, did he?Oh, it'’s not that, Dan.

I was figurin'’...

You'’re gonna need a cook after O'’Toole is hung, right?

Well, not unless you figure on takin'’ on the job again.

Ah, I ain'’t much of a cook.

Yeah. Would be a lot harder on O'’Toole,

just feedin'’ him a messy old flapjack.

Yeah, well that'’s what I'’m sayin'!

Now, with O'’Toole hung and dead,

well, we ain'’t gonna have nobody to cook

the mouth-waterin'’ nourishing vittles

that hard-rockin'’ miners gotta have.

You ain'’t wrong about that, boy.

Well, I know where you can get the best cook in the whole world.

As if the gods showed her how.

Her?A female?

A female. She can cook biscuits so light,

that you have to hold '’em down lest they float away.

Wh-Where is she?Not far. Tucson.

How come you heard about her?

She'’s O'Toole'’s sister.

Uh, Nat, you wouldn'’t be trying to make some kind of a deal with me, would you?

Like, say, a cook for O'’Toole's life?

Ain'’t it worth it?

Well, I gotta admit,

I ain'’t crazy 'bout the idea of hangin'’ somebody,

if I can figure out some other way to get justice done.

You mean to tell me, you'’d go all the way to Tucson

for a female cook that don'’t exist!

How do you know she don'’t?

'’Cause O'Toole invented her '’cause O'Toole'’s a lyin' thief!

Dan? It won'’t hurt noneto see.

Well, all right.

But... you tell that O'’Toole...

if he ain'’t got a sister there that wants to come up here,

he'’s gonna get hung, all right, and real slow!

Four days. [ sighs ]

They ought to be here by now.

You were telling the truth, weren'’t you, O'Toole?

I mean, you do have a sister in Tucson?

Aye.

But the devil of it is,

she may have met some man who married her without a dowry

and took her off someplace.

[ sighs ]

Ya-hoo!

Hey, Dan!

He'’s got her!

Uh, Miss Molly, uh, these here'’s the gentlemen I was tellin'’ you about.

Gentlemen, this here'’s Miss Molly O'’Toole.

Terence?

Why, if the Almighty--

Get those ropes off of him.

The men were just havin'’ a little fun, Miss Molly.

There was no harm intended.

No harm intended, Molly lass.

Thank you, Mr. Long.

All right, O'’Toole. Listen, we'’re going to have to rig up

a place for our new cook-- so y'’all get busy!

Guess we'’re gonna have to spruce up for you, ma'’am.

Mind if I carry your bag, ma'’am?

I'’ll take that, Ed.

Here, Molly. I want you to meet a very special friend of mine.

Mr. Nat Miller. Writer-to-be.

It'’s a pleasure, ma'am.

Ah, Miss Molly. Could I help you out with the kitchen?

I-I know you'’re tired, after that two-day trip,

and that'’s about the only place we have for you to rest right now.

Sure they make a handsome couple.

You know the Good Lord did a mighty fine thing

when he created the fairer sex.

Crossed many a water in my time, lad.

But I tell you one thing:

the woman, she can do more for a man

than all the ships of the sea.

"Now, there'’s China and Spain,

"and the shores of Maine, and other places I'’d like to see,

"But a women, she can do more for a man

than all the ships of the sea!"

[ laughing ]

Nat composed other verses to go with O'’Toole's chorus,

and the miners sang them lustily that night,

to show Molly how truly important she was in their camp.

The verses were sung at Dan'’s and Molly'’s wedding, too.

And these are the first lyrics of the boy who was later

to became famous as the writer of pioneer poetry,

Joaquin Miller.