Original subtitles

- [Dion] In 1851, the uneasy relationships

between the polyglot population of San Francisco

flared into open war.

The Native American Party,

which had scored political victories in the East,

had moved into the Western arena.

General Percival C. Smith

was the California leader of the party,

also known as the Know Nothings

from their refusal to admit their part

in mob outrages against the foreign born.

Spurred on by General Smith's fanaticism,

Know Nothing mobs hurled savage attacks

against the city's foreign born.

Their announced intention.

- And before we are finished, we will,

either legally or by force of arms,

smash these mongrel elements

and drive them from San Francisco.

And from the gold fields of California,

fields that belong to the native-born American

by right of arms and of conquest.

(crowd cheering)

And I say to you, let no man stand in our way.

We're strong, we are united,

and we are uplifted by the nobility and purity of our cause.

America for Americans.

(crowd cheering)

♪ California ♪

♪ California ♪

- [Announcer] "The Californians."

♪ In California ♪

♪ I've come to live where life is best ♪

♪ In the golden West ♪

♪ I'm gonna strike it rich in California ♪

♪ California ♪

(pleasant music)

- Good evening, Jack.

- I want you to take a look at that.

I also want to see proof of your page.

- Al, give me a page one proof.

You want me to run this?

- Yes.

- Well look, I agree with everything you say,

but this is, this is libel in every line.

- Not if I back those statements with proof,

and publish it in the public interest.

- You got the proof?

- For every little detail in there.

Before I am finished with General Percival C. Smith,

he's going to be the laughingstock of California.

Where's the proof page man, come on!

Now, here's what I want.

I want you to take out these police items completely,

and drop this riot story down the page here.

I want to save this for the leader,

with big headlines, Dion.

I want to say something like,

"Percival Smith Unmasked, General Who Never Saw War."

You know what I mean, something that'll make the people

want to read the story.

- It's your paper, if that's the way you want it.

- If that's the way I want it?

Well, don't you agree with this crusade

against Smith and his Do Nothings?

Dion, you're Irish.

You haven't forgotten that you've seen this very same thing

happen to you and yours in your native city of Boston.

When I first came to America and looked for work,

every place I went where there might be a decent job,

there was always the same sign.

"No Irish need apply."

Well now this very same thing is happening out here again,

by the same scurvy lot.

Only here, they're attacking Chilenos,

and Mexicans, and Italians, and Chinese.

How long before they'll be after me, or you,

or some other person in California who wasn't lucky enough

to be born in this country of Anglo-Saxon parentage?

Well, they're not going to get by with it,

because I'm going to fight them, Dion.

I'm going to fight them with every weapon

at my disposal and no holds barred.

I'll turn decent men against them.

I'll attack them with facts, scorn, and ridicule.

And if it comes to it, with guns, knives, and fists.

San Francisco is not going to be their kind of a city.

Put that story in the paper.

- You'll have a mob in here, smashing the presses.

- Are you afraid?

- You know I'm not afraid, are you?

- No.

(somber music)

- Well, General Percival C. Smith.

- Did you write that scurrilous article about me?

- I wrote it, but it's not scurrilous.

Where are you going?

(ominous music)

- Oh Piute, you look even more charmingly desperate

than usual today.

- Born by she-wolf, raised by a bear.

- Definite credit to your breeding.

What's going on there?

- Closed temporarily for alterations, your lordship.

Fella was lookin' for you, dude name of Peterson.

- Done?

- Well, he did have kind of a bill collector look about him.

Told him last anybody seen of you,

you was straddling one of them Rocky Mountain canaries

and heading for the diggings.

Speakin' of which.

- That him? - Yup.

- Stout fella.

- Strip him.

(Dion groaning)

I intend to teach you and McGivern

that it isn't wise to defame a gentleman of honor.

(ominous music)

- You'd sure save a lot of trouble and a lot of lying

if you was to pay your bills.

- But I haven't got any money.

- Seems to me a smart fella like you

oughta be able to get a job.

- Enter trade?

Shades of noble ancestors

dating back to William the Conqueror.

Well, they'd flip in their graves at the thought of it.

What is going on there?

- Well, like I told you, it ain't over.

- Permit me to pass.

- Charlie,

you're just a wee mite tetched, but I like you,

and I don't want no friend of mine to get hurt.

- Oh, and tell McGivern that I shall reply

with even more drastic steps

if he dares attack me again in his rag of a paper.

Out of my way, you lunatic.

(somber music)

- Get Jack McGivern.

Tell him we need a litter and a doctor.

- How is he?

- He's a mess.

There's a chance of some broken ribs, too.

But the doctor says he'll come around all right.

Al, I want you to go to California Engine House

and ring the bell.

Single strokes only, huh?

- Yes, sir.

- Charlie, what were you doing at the offices of the Star?

- I had a small item I wanted to insert in your pages.

I'd hoped to win Mr. Patrick's approval

for a small campaign I had in mind

to erect a community Christmas tree for the city's children.

- Christmas trees, at a time like this?

- There's a lot to be said for Christmas trees.

After all, it is Christmas. - All right, Charlie.

All right, let's not go into it now.

Tell me, who else did you see

coming out of the offices of the Star besides General Smith?

- Well, let me see, there was Arthur Wilcox,

Paul Krim, Hamlin, yes, oh and several others,

and Piute Scoggs was guarding the door.

- Are you sure? - Positive.

- What kind of men are these, Jack?

- Animals, Martha, animals.

Excuse me, Charlie.

I've got somebody to see.

- Are you preparing for revenge, sir?

- At least.

- It seems a pity this time of year to engage in violence.

- There's only one way to answer violence, Charlie,

and that's with violence.

(bell ringing)

- Will we never have peace, Lord Charlie?

Must it always be like this?

- We are building a city, gentlemen, a great city.

Every day sees the erection of new buildings.

Not just mere shacks of log and canvas,

but buildings of brick and stone.

Yet even as we build, there are forces at work

tearing down our structures.

Forces of evil and violence.

There's only one way to answer this Native American Party.

This mob of Know Nothings.

And that, gentlemen, is with force!

- When I was a boy at home, Christmas was the time

for peace and rejoicing.

The time for get togethers.

We had our good old customs,

and observing them together drew us together.

All sorts of classes of people, high and low.

- I am now calling on the Committee of 13

for a full mobilization to march on Percival Smith

and bring him to justice.

If the courts won't act, then we will.

Mr. Coleman?

They all seem to be looking at you for an answer.

- No.

- Do you know what you're saying?

- There are a lot of people who support Smith.

They're not ordinary thugs.

- You want to go on continuing to tolerate

these murders and violent attacks, then?

- I'll tolerate anything to avoid anarchy,

and that's what you will have

if you muster an armed force against Smith.

These people are misguided,

but they think they're right and they'll fight!

- All right, let them!

- Do you want pitched battles

in the streets of San Francisco?

- No I don't, but...

All right, then, what can we do?

- Same as you have been doing.

Hit Smith in your paper, hold him up to ridicule.

A ridiculous man can't lead a party, nor a cause, Jack.

Make Smith look ridiculous!

San Francisco has a sense of humor.

Make the people laugh him out of town.

- I don't even have an editor.

- Be your own editor!

- Smith won't take this.

This won't stop him, Bill.

- Let's see what happens.

- Might I make a suggestion, gentlemen?

- [Jack] Don't you know

that you're not supposed to be in here?

- Oh, come now.

Everyone thinks I'm a halfwit, and halfwits have privileges,

especially when they're noble.

I had a very clever idea this morning.

Matter of fact, I woke up with it.

This being holiday time,

my idea was to erect a Christmas tree,

a big, beautiful Christmas tree

in some public place where all the children could come-

- Christmas trees.

- Lord Charlie, don't you think

we should talk about this another time?

- Oh no, no, please, please don't stop me.

While I was talking to Mrs. McGivern about customs at home,

I was reminded of a very ancient one.

Mr. McGivern, have you ever heard of the truce tree?

The truce tree, gentlemen,

takes us back to the days of feudalism in Europe.

Fierce days they were, too.

Men fought and killed each other for trifles like oh,

tracts of land, castles, even ideas.

Once a year at Christmas time,

these warring feudal lords

would meet beneath the truce tree,

promising, of course,

to keep the peace 'til after the Christmas season.

As a result of this, they had the opportunity of mingling

and meeting and getting to know the other chap's viewpoint.

Frequently when the truce is over,

a lot of the quarrels have already been settled.

- Look Charlie, this is all very nice, I'm sure,

but what does it got to do with us?

- But don't you see?

If we put a tree, a Christmas tree in a public place,

everybody will come to it to sing, to make merry,

to give thanks to our Savior.

- Look Charlie, this is a very far-fetched idea

and we'll talk about it some other time.

- Gentlemen, this merits your profoundest consideration.

- Charlie, we'll talk about it some other time, huh?

- What did they say, Charlie?

- They thought I was crazy, of course.

(door slams)

- That's about as crazy an idea

as the one he had for building a bridge

across the Golden Gate.

- What else would you expect from a man who insists

that he's heir to a baron in England?

Lord Charles Fairfax, yes.

Well, back to our discussion, gentlemen.

All right, I'll go along with your plan.

- Good.

- But mark you, if Smith attacks again-

- That will be the time to start the shooting.

(dramatic music)

- [Dion] I was laid up for three days.

Jack got out the paper.

He wasn't a skilled newspaper man,

but well, he had the great Irish gift of ridicule.

People read his leaders on Know Nothingism in general,

and General Percival F. Smith in particular,

and they laughed.

He introduced something new to the California Star,

the editorial cartoon.

- Laughable cuss, ain't he?

- Shut up.

That Irish liar.

He won't get anywhere with this childish name-calling.

- Weren't more than a couple hundred

showed up to the meeting the other night.

- Well, the weather was bad.

- Never stopped the boys before.

The weather, I mean.

- Just what do you mean?

- Folks in San Francisco just don't naturally cotton

to the idea of being led by a jackass.

- Get out of here!

- Why sure, General.

Any little old thing you say, General.

(ominous music)

(glass tinkles)

- Gonna be pretty drafty in here if this keeps up.

- I'll put this paper out

if I have to wear earmuffs and mittens.

Where was I?

- Platitudinous liar, a windbag-

- No, I know, yeah, yeah, yeah.

A platitudinous liar, a bloated windbag

who bleats with the fury of his own disordered brain.

(glass tinkles)

Now before you go home tonight,

I think you'd best place some cardboard

over those broken windowpanes.

(ominous music)

- [Dion] And while Jack McGivern

carried on his lonely fight,

Martha considered another approach to the same problems.

- There.

What do you think, Charlie?

- I think it's lovely.

What do you say, Dion?

- Yeah, beautiful.

- I love Christmas.

There's such a warm, lovely feeling about it.

Goes right inside of you.

I wish the whole world could stand

under one great big Christmas tree.

Charlie, do you think it would work?

- What are you talking about?

- Well, your idea, your tree.

- Oh, that.

- No, I mean it.

Do you think it might work?

Do you think people would come to it,

and forget their feuds and hatreds for just a little while?

- Possibly.

- You need a lot of help for an undertaking like that.

Besides, you don't have much time.

It's only three days 'til Christmas.

- Oh, but I could get help.

Dion, I could get all the church ladies,

and the sewing circle, and the daughters of.

Don't you think I could, Charlie?

- No, not that way.

A truce tree belongs to everybody,

and everybody must help with its erection.

- Everybody will!

- No, Martha.

You've left out a lot of people.

We want everybody, even the women

from the Montgomery Street saloons.

What do you say, Dion?

- Right now I don't have much Christmas spirit.

All I can think of is Smith.

- Rancor, Dion?

- No, no.

Just if I get my hands on him, I'll take him apart.

- This is no time for that kind of talk.

Charlie's right.

The tree has to be for everyone,

and everybody has to have a share in making it.

Let's get one.

- Where?

- Oh, well I think I could find one.

After all, the forest is full of trees.

I'll get you the finest, biggest tree you've ever seen.

(pleasant music)

I really had picked out a splendid tree,

but I chopped and I chopped and the ax broke.

This really is quite a pretty little tree, you know,

and I think if we spread it out a bit,

make it a little more shapely we,

you don't think so?

- Let's have something hot to drink.

- You know, I really did want to do something for the city.

- Well, you did your best.

- No, it wasn't enough.

I'm very fond of San Francisco, you know.

The way it burgeons, spreads,

drives onwards and upwards.

There's vigor to it.

You know, I think I'd prefer to live in San Francisco

even if I did come into the title.

- Tell me honestly, Charlie.

Is there really a title?

- Well, of course there is.

Do you think I imagined it?

Well I know there's been some question about it,

but if my older brother dies without issue, heaven forbid,

I shall be the 15th Baron Fairfax.

A very unhappy situation eagerly looked for by my creditors.

- There's going to be a tree.

- What?

- I said there's going to be a tree.

- Now wait a minute, Martha.

You can't get a tree by yourself.

- I don't intend to, the men will.

- If you think you're gonna persuade busy men

to drop everything and go out after a Christmas tree.

- Oh, you silly man.

It's plain you've never been married.

- And if you think that I'm going to drop important work

to go chasing after a fir tree

at the behest of some balmy English faker, you have-

- For the last time, Mr. McGivern,

are you going to help bring in our tree?

- No!

For the last time, Mrs. McGivern,

no I am not going to go scallyhooting through the woods,

chopping down Christmas trees.

Look, now why don't you be a good woman and go on home

and make my supper, huh?

I'll be along just as soon as I'm through here.

- There will be no supper, Mr. McGivern.

- Well now wait a minute, Martha-

- And if you want Christmas dinner,

you can cook it yourself.

- Yeah, but-

- I'm going to have to pound it

into that thick Irish skull of yours

that San Francisco is a woman's town, too!

- Yeah, but Martha darling.

- Now you go help cut tree, or I no marry you.

- I don't know nothing about the blasted tree.

All right, all right, I'll come.

(speaking foreign language)

(people chattering)

- All right men, all right, let's go.

- Looks like a real love fest, don't it?

- Did you see that Chileno walking with David Grimm?

- Everybody's gonna be brothers after tonight.

- Will they?

Will they indeed?

- All I'm saying is just stay away

from them tree doings tonight.

- [Charlie] Why?

- Doggone, I got my neck stuck in the noose

far enough as it is.

Now don't ask questions, just stay away.

- Why are you telling me this, Piute?

- 'Cause I like you.

We've been fair friends.

Now just 'cause we don't think the same way

about some things don't mean we can't be friends, do it?

- Well, of course not.

- Well you mind what I say, then.

Just stay away from them tree doings.

(somber music)

- Dion, I'd like to see you out here.

- I want enough men with rifles in the windows

to cover the wrecking squad.

If anyone tries to interfere,

he'll collect some lead for his trouble.

And I want the rest of you

to hit that crowd like a streak of lightning.

And when you come across a foreigner's face, smash it.

- Women too?

- Men, women, and children.

It's time that foreign scum learn

that it can't grow up in this country.

And take along some rope, too.

When you get a chance, string up a few of 'em.

- You comin' along, General?

- I'll be right here, where I can keep an eye

on the overall situation.

- You know, that's what I admire about generals.

Too doggone smart to get themselves hurt.

- I don't know what's up, but you can bet one thing.

With Smith behind it,

we might have a wholesale slaughter out there.

- We'll be ready for them.

- Just one thing, I want Smith.

I want him all to myself.

- If there's a spare musket, I'd like to take it.

- No, Charlie.

This is not your battle.

- Oh, it definitely is.

This affair was my idea.

If there's any trouble, it'll all be my fault.

Besides, there's a time when a man must take sides.

I'm rather a good shot,

although I've never shot anything but quail.

(ominous music)

(men murmuring)

(suspenseful music)

- [Dion] That's as far as you come, Piute.

- I don't reckon it is.

- If you're looking for trouble, let's have it now

and let's have it here.

But I'm warning you, there are 20 vigilante guns

aimed at you right now.

(suspenseful music)

- Take a look at them windows, Patrick.

There's maybe 50, 60 native born American guns

lookin' right down your throat.

- You can start the ball anytime you're ready, Piute.

- She's gonna bust any second.

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ All is bright ♪

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

♪ Mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant ♪

♪ So tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪

- Senor, the rope.

We need the rope to fasten the tree.

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

♪ Shepherds quake ♪

- Tell the boys we're gonna need some light

to rig this here tree.

Tell 'em to get the lead out and follow along.

♪ Glory streams ♪

♪ From heaven above ♪

♪ Heavenly hosts ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Christ the savior is born ♪

♪ Christ the savior ♪

- Hey, what's happening here?

What are you doing to my men?

- You wouldn't understand.

It's the truce of the tree.

That even applies to you.

♪ Is born ♪

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

♪ All is calm ♪

♪ All is bright ♪

♪ Round yon virgin ♪

♪ Mother and child ♪

- [Dion] We didn't know what would happen

when the truce of the tree ended.

We were happy now, and for the moment that was enough.

We were, all of us,

good friends and brothers beneath the tree.

I didn't know it then.

I didn't even think much about it,

but that night,

that night was the start of friendliness, kindliness,

understanding, and goodwill towards all men

that would become my city's greatest tradition.

(triumphant music)

♪ California ♪

♪ Oh I've traveled here, I've traveled there ♪

♪ I guess I've been most everywhere ♪

♪ But I like where I am today ♪

♪ And here is where I'll stay ♪

♪ Now one thing I just can't endure ♪

♪ Is being broke and being poor ♪

♪ So I come West to take the cure ♪

♪ And here is where I'll stay ♪

♪ I've come to California ♪

♪ California ♪

♪ There's gold in them there hills in California ♪

♪ I've come to live where life is best ♪

♪ In the golden West ♪

♪ I'm gonna strike it rich in California ♪

♪ California ♪

♪ California ♪

♪ There's gold in them there hills ♪

♪ In California ♪

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