Original subtitles

- [Narrator] In the closets

of some of the most distinguished families of California,

rest the skeletons of violent deeds performed

by pioneer men and women who later live honorable lives.

Helped to build the state,

to die mourned and respected by all.

Although the names have been changed,

this story comes

from the pages of California history.

It happened in San Francisco in 1853,

the night of the Chinese New Year.

(gun fires)

- Happy sound of New Year.

- Enough is enough.

- Happy New Year, Marshal.

- Well, same to you.

- You, friend of Chinese.

Will you celebrate with us?

- Well, thanks, that'd be very nice.

- Marshal!

Marshal Wayne!

I was passing 28 Gary Street.

There was a shot.

- Probably just another firecracker.

- No, sir, the sound came from inside the house.

- 28 you say?

- Yes.

- All right, Schaab, come on.

(dramatic music)

♪ California ♪

♪ California ♪

- [Narrator] 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 ♪

- I got your letter

and I hurried as fast as, too late, huh?

Now you just get hold of yourself, I'll manage this.

Remove that Pico.

- With pleasure.

(doorbell ringing)

- Now you do just what I told you, you hear.

(door closes)

- Hello?

Hello, anybody there?

Schaab, go search the rest of the house.

- Dan, Dan is that you?

What is this?

- This is Matthew Wayne, City Marshal.

There was a shot reported coming from this house.

- A shot?

But it couldn't be, I sleep just down the hall.

I didn't hear anything.

- You must be a sound sleeper.

Is there anybody else in the house with you?

- No, my husband's out of town.

- And you're sure you didn't hear that shot, Mrs.?

- I'm Grace Adams.

My husband is State Senator Dan Adams.

- Dan Adams? Wow.

All of San Francisco hopes he wins his fight

for the railroad.

(horse galloping)

- Don't you think you better leave, Marshal?

- Yes, I think I'd better.

(dramatic music)

Just a minute, lady.

- What on earth?

(dramatic music)

- What happened to you?

- Well, it's kind of vague,

but it seems that a very nice little old lady

just threw me out of her surrey.

- What little old lady?

- I don't know, but I'll never forget her.

That horse had a Turkey Track brand on its hip.

Who uses that kind of brand around here, Schaab.

- I don't know.

- No?

Get some other men, put a watch on that house,

who goes in, who goes out.

And especially follow Mrs. Dan Adams

wherever she goes.

- What'll you be doing?

- Trying to find out who uses

a Turkey Track brand around here.

(dramatic music)

(gun fires)

(dramatic music)

(gun fires)

- I'm Matthew Wayne, City Marshal of San Francisco.

What are you shooting at me for?

- You lie, you're a no good horse thief.

That's why I shoot at you.

(gun fires)

(gun clicks)

(gun fires)

(firecracker pops)

(dramatic music)

Now you must load again, Senor,

but I have been more thrifty.

- You missing a vaquero, man?

- What on earth have you done to poor Pico?

- He stole my horse.

- There was some shooting.

His horse got frightened and ran away.

- Shooting, sir?

- I suspected he came to steal your cattle, Ms. Calhoun.

- We've been plagued by cattle thieves, sir.

I hope you're not one of them.

- I'm City Marshal, San Francisco.

- And I'm Belle Calhoun.

I'm mighty glad to see you, Marshal.

Do come in and set for a spell.

Just make yourself to home, sir, sit you down.

A drink, sir?

Some good nourishing bourbon from Louisiana?

- Why, thank you.

- Water, sir?

- I'll take it straight if you please.

- I never dilutes it either.

I likes my bourbon chilly.

Help yourself, Pico.

I'm sorry Pico mistook you for a cattle thief, sir.

- Well, no harm done.

- Excepting to my head.

- I supposed you've come

to help us capture the cattle thieves, Marshal.

- Not this time.

I'm looking for a body.

- Body?

- A corpse.

- Gracious.

- Well, this particular corpse

I have reason to believe was killed

last night in San Francisco.

- And why are you looking here for it?

- Where were you last night, Mrs. Calhoun?

- It's Miss, not Mrs., worst luck.

As for last night, I was right here

in my home in my bed, sir.

Why for you ask?

- I was hit on the head last night

in San Francisco and knocked out

of a surrey.

- Why, I don't even own no such fancy rig.

All I gots a plain old buck board.

- What's your connection with Mrs. Grace Adams?

- Grace Adams? Who's she?

- She's the wife of State Senator Dan Adams.

- Well, I never heard of either one of them.

- Ms. Calhoun, why don't you let Pico

do the lying for the outfit, it doesn't become you.

- It is not polite to call a lady a liar.

She speaks the truth.

- All right, I'll call you the liar then.

- Now, now, boys, don't get your tails spread out.

- Ms. Calhoun, if you don't mind,

I'd like to do a little digging on your property.

- Why, sure.

Dom! Dom, come in here.

This gentleman is looking for corpses.

Seems he's got a fancy for them.

You get a shovel and where he say dig, you dig.

You savvy?

- Si, senora.

- Now, then, sir, iffin you find anybody

on my premises, you're sure enough welcome to it.

- Why, thank you, ma'am.

Let's go, Dom.

(door closes)

- Any luck, sir?

- I see where you've plowed over

an acre of your land, Ms. Calhoun.

Just recently, maybe last night.

- Yes, sir, we're gonna plow taters.

Help yourself, Marshal.

- Thank you.

And if anything else had been planted there,

it'd be pretty hard to tell where to dig, wouldn't it?

- Yes, indeed it would, sir, indeed it would.

You give up, sir?

- Dom is digging.

By lantern light.

I've offered him $50 if he finds anything.

- Dom will dig all night for $50.

- If I transported a corpse from San Francisco,

do you think I'd plant the body here

on my own property, mister?

- You wouldn't have dared stop along the way

for fear or attracting attention.

I suppose so, I suppose so.

- Where'd you come from, Ms. Calhoun?

- New Orleans, sir.

I'm from the first family of Louisiana.

All my kin were doctors, lawyers, senators.

- I wonder what the second families

do for a living?

- You know, Ms. Calhoun, I think

you're gonna need a good lawyer.

Why don't you make a clean breast of things?

Maybe I can help you.

- Well, that's mighty kind of you, sir,

but I don't know what you're talking about.

You didn't find the surrey either, did you?

- That surrey could have been driven miles from here

by this time.

- You gonna want a fresh start in the morning.

You better get some sleep.

- I've prepared a room for you.

It's right here to your left.

- Well, now that's mighty kind of you, ma'am.

- Not at all, not at all.

You're my guest.

- Goodnight, Ms. Calhoun.

- Goodnight, sir.

- Well, Senora?

- He's looking where we wanted him to.

Right now he's in there for sleeping purposes.

- I suggest he sleep for long, long time.

(dramatic music)

(gun fires)

- You seem restless son, can't you sleep?

- No, shooting keeps me awake.

I was just shot at.

I'm not sure, but I think it was Dom.

- Well, you offered him $50 for a corpse.

Maybe he was just trying to accommodate you.

It's almost dawn, sir, and I suggest

you close that window, pull down that shade

and get some sleep.

Goodnight, sir.

- Goodnight.

(dog barking)

- Uh!

Why are you making Dom dig up my yard?

- Your dog started it.

- He seemed real interested in this spot.

- May have he buried a bone in there.

- May have.

The odds are Dom will get his $50.

- Senor?

- My, my, how do you suppose that managed

to get in there?

- I'm sorry, Ms. Calhoun,

but I'm gonna have to place you under arrest for murder.

- Murder?

(dramatic music)

- Dom can drive, I'll follow on horseback.

- No, Dom's needed here to care for the stock.

This here's all your idea.

Why don't you drive?

- I don't think I can trust you, Ms. Calhoun.

- No more hanky panky, sir, I assure you.

Besides, what can a little old lady like me do to you?

- Hmm.

Dom?

Come around here.

(dramatic music)

(gun fires)

So this is why you want me to drive.

I thought there was gonna be

no more hanky panky, Ms. Calhoun.

- All's fair in love and war

and from now on, this is war

to the everlasting finish.

- Ye-ah!

- Fine way to repay me for my hospitality.

- Well, at least nobody will be trying

to shoot at you in your sleep.

Ms. Calhoun, are you sure

that there's nothing

that you wanna tell me?

- Not now, nor ever, sir.

I won't admit anything.

I'll deny everything.

What you got against me,

you've gotta prove, mister.

- Which is exactly what I intend to do.

In the meantime, I'll do my best

to return your hospitality

and make you comfortable.

- Well, I'm just a frail little old lady.

What I needs most is-

- I know, a good old southern chewy bourbon.

- That's mighty kind of you, sir, and a mirror.

- Senator Adams, you mind if I come in?

- Of course, Marshal.

- Is Mrs. Adams at home?

- Why do you wish to speak to her?

- Well, I'm sorry, but that's something I have to talk over-

- Oh, hello, Marshal.

- So you've met?

- Thursday night, you see-

- I was investigating a shot fired on the premises.

- A shot?

- Well, Grace, why didn't you tell me?

- Well, you've only been home an hour.

Besides, there was nothing to it.

The police made a mistake.

- I see you've had your carpet cleaned, Mrs. Adams.

- Something was spilled on it.

- A man's life.

- What is this, Marshal?

- I have every reason to believe

that a man was killed here.

- What man?

- His body hasn't been identified yet.

- Grace, do you know what he's talking about?

- He's made a stupid mistake.

I didn't hear any shot.

I did hear some noise.

I thought it was you coming in.

It was him.

- Mrs. Adams, do you know a lady named Bell Calhoun?

- No.

- She was here Thursday night.

- Nobody was here, excepting you

and that policeman.

- What about this Belle Calhoun, Marshal?

- The body of the murdered man was buried

on her ranch.

- Are you sure you don't know Belle Calhoun?

- What's he trying to do to me, Dan?

- If you have enough evidence against my wife,

why don't you arrest her?

- I don't have enough evidence to arrest her now,

but I have arrest Belle Calhoun.

She's in jail, charged with murder.

Doesn't that concern you at all, Mrs. Adams?

- No.

Not at all.

(door closes)

- Matt, we found these in the lining of his jacket.

I think it might interest you.

Also, we identified the body.

- Who is he?

- Bird named Ward King, disbarred New Orleans lawyer.

Also disbarred here for bribing judges

and stuffing ballot boxes.

- Seems to me I've heard of him.

These are interesting Schaab.

(doorbell ringing)

(Marshal knocking)

(dramatic music)

- Welcome, Senor.

- Well, Pico, you sure take a lot of killing.

- Yes, sir, I take a lot of killing.

The fall from the horse only stunned me.

Put your hands up, I want your gun.

- You certainly seem very much at home here.

- I have a key to the back door.

- Oh? Does Mrs. Adams know that?

- No, Senor.

- Why are you and your boss protecting Mrs. Adams?

- I am not protecting her, Senor.

I do not know her.

(crickets chirping)

I want that document, Senor.

- What document?

- The one they removed

from the clothing of Senor King.

- If you're not protecting Mrs. Adams,

why are you so interested in that document?

- These documents do not concern Mrs. Adams.

They concern the lady who employs me.

- Mm-hmm.

Pico, I think I see somebody coming.

You better get out of here.

- The document, Senor.

I regret it, Senor, but I must kill you.

- Why is it a must?

- No one must know the contents

of these documents, Senor.

I admire you, Senor.

But I love Ms. Calhoun.

I am to her like a son.

(gun fires)

- It's not too bad.

Get him to a doctor, Schaab.

- As you say, Senor,

I am hard to kill.

I shall see you again.

- You're bound to.

After the doctor gets through with him, lock him up.

(gentle dramatic music)

I'm sorry to intrude this way.

- Then why did you?

My patience is wearing thin, Marshal.

- This is an urgent matter, Senator.

This happens to be an official transcript

of a court hearing in New Orleans.

- Well?

- It was found on the body of Ward King,

the man who was killed Thursday night.

- And this transcript concerns us? How?

- It concerns one Belle Lassiter.

Did you ever hear of her, Mrs. Adams?

- No.

Well, it seems that Belle Lassiter was quite

a character in New Orleans.

She ran a gambling house.

Gave the police a lot of trouble.

- What about it, Marshal?

- The gambling house was closed.

Belle Lassiter was given 24 hours to get out of town.

- Get to the point, Marshal.

- I have a hunch that Belle Lassiter took

the name Calhoun and moved to California.

- And?

- In the meantime, she maintained her daughter

at a stylish finishing school in the east.

Mrs. Adams, your friends tell me

that you went to a stylish finishing school

in the east.

- Well, what of it?

- I have another hunch

that this daughter I'm speaking of went

to San Francisco and married a brilliant young statesman.

- Are you suggesting that my wife is that girl?

- You're an attorney, Senator.

Ward King was killed in this room.

Isn't it obvious to you

that he was trying to blackmail your wife?

- You can't prove that, Marshal.

- In the meantime, Belle Calhoun or Lassiter

is in jail, charged with murder.

And she might be convicted unless

her daughter speaks up.

- My mother is dead.

- Here's the transcript, read it.

There are stains on it, Mrs. Adams.

Just like the stains on your rug

and a man risked his life tonight trying

to get it away from me.

I suggest that you read it very carefully.

(gentle music)

(door closes)

- It's true?

- Now you may as well admit it.

You were run out of New Orleans.

- Run out, sir?

I'll have you know I was escorted out

by the flower of southern chivalry.

My parlor was filled with orchids.

Even at the wharf, I turned down

a half a dozen offers of marriage.

- I don't doubt it.

- It don't prove I killed anybody.

- It might prove why Mrs. Adams did.

- I tell you, I don't know Mrs. Adams.

I never heard of her.

- Then why was Ward King blackmailing her?

- That's for you to prove, sir.

I told you I won't help you.

I'll deny everything.

- You know, Ms. Calhoun,

in trying to prove his case,

the district attorney might bring up

your past against you.

He might even prove a connection between

you and Mrs. Adams.

Did you consider that?

- I don't scare easy, sir.

You may go now.

And thanks for the bourbon.

It was life giving.

- What'd she have to say.

She still denies knowing Mrs. Adams.

And she'll keep on denying it.

- What about Mr. Adams and his wife?

- I think Adams knows the truth by now.

But he's awfully ambitious.

He wants to graduate from

the State Senate to Washington.

- You think he'd let that old lady go to prison,

maybe even hang, just to be a congressman?

- I don't know what'll happen at this trial,

but it certainly will be the test of a man.

And a woman.

- You're planning it that way, aren't you?

- It might bring out the truth.

- If I pleads guilty, will that be the end of it?

No more testimony?

Won't nobody else be dragged into it?

- But you have every right to a trial, Ms. Calhoun.

- [Belle] I know that, sir, but I'm guilty.

I pleads that way.

- Do you realize that if you plead guilty,

offer no mitigating evidence,

I might have to sentence you to death, Ms. Calhoun?

- Won't matter.

I've lived a long, long time.

Enjoyed every minute of it, too.

(crowd laughing)

- I killed Ward King.

- Grace, no.

- He was blackmailing me.

- Oh, no, no, baby.

- He had a pistol.

I was frightened.

- No, baby, no.

- Why did you wait so long

to make this statement, Mrs. Adams?

- I thought maybe there'd been an acquittal.

I didn't want to ruin my husband's career.

But now I don't care.

I love my mother.

I'm proud of her.

- And I'm proud of my wife, too.

But I'm not very proud of myself

for letting things go so far.

Judge, I move for an adjournment.

My wife will stand trial and I'll defend her.

- I thought I hated you, sir,

but now I've learned that my daughter loves me

and that she's married to a man.

(gavel pounds)

- Because San Francisco hated blackmailers

and because Ward King had been armed,

Grace Adams was acquitted on a plea of self-defense.

And because San Francisco loved courage,

it sent Dan Adams to Congress.

He was greatly responsible

for bringing the railroad to California

and Belle Calhoun became the ancestor

of an illustrious line of pioneers

who helped build the golden state.

♪ California ♪

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

♪ I guess I've traveled 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 live is bare ♪

♪ In the golden ware ♪

♪ I'm going to strike it rich in California ♪

♪ California ♪

♪ California ♪

♪ There's gold in them there hills ♪

♪ In California ♪

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