Original subtitles

- [Narrator] Enlisting sufficient crews

for the long voyage from the Golden Gate

to Shanghai was a problem

that was not always solved via legal methods.

Since such unfortunate men were literally sent

to Shanghai, the term Shanghai came into our language.

Masters of this dirty business

were called, appropriately, crimps,

which means a low curve.

Their business began flourishing

in San Francisco about 1852.

It was not unusual to find dead men washed ashore

from San Francisco Bay,

but what my Deputy Schaab found early

on the morning of March 30, 1853 was most unusual.

- A woman?

- See what she's wearing?

- Looks like a burial shroud to me.

- Yeah, me, too.

- Well.

Let's get her down to the morgue.

♪ 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 ♪

(dramatic music)

(body thuds)

- You swindlers, you shad filling wharf rat.

I'll clear the world of you.

(chair crashes)

- What's going on here?

- You keep outta this.

(punches strike)

- What did you give this man to drink?

- Nothing. He didn't even have a beer.

Come in here looking for somebody named Alfie

and when I kept telling I didn't know nobody named Alfie,

he just went plumb loco.

- You're lying, you scud.

Alfie brung me into your place to work his dirty deal.

A couple of nights ago he sat right over there.

- I don't know every broke that comes in the place.

He sure done a lot of damage.

- Well, let me know how much.

Come on, sailor.

- Sailor?

I'm the master of my own vessel, the Margery Bell.

I got the license to prove it

and who are you to be ordering me about?

- I'm the marshal of San Francisco

and I've got the brig to prove it.

Now simmer down and come along peaceful.

(dramatic music)

Would you tell me how you met Alfie?

- I'm telling you.

I've run out of places

to go look for hiring sailors

when this sharp-toothed Alfie swindler eases

up alongside of me and straight

as a deck beam invites me into a saloon.

Louses how he can furnish the seamen I need.

Three able bodies he promised me.

- But you knew the men he'd supply

would be Shanghaied, didn't you?

- Mate, I had to catch the tide for Hong Kong.

I couldn't be particular about where or how he got 'em.

- Go ahead.

- Well, it was about midnight

when Alfie rode up alongside the Margery Bell

with his cargo.

Three of them, wrapped in blankets, out cold.

I gave that oily snake $300 a head for them.

- Which you would deduct from their pay anyway.

- Well, marshal, that's business.

Anyway, I was ready to up anchor

and sail on the tide

when my first mate shows me

the pigs in a poke I'd bought and paid for.

Why, there was only one of them fit

to be called a sailor man.

The other was a crippled up old landlubber

that wouldn't have lasted a week at sea.

Do you know what was in that third bundle?

A dead woman, Marshal.

A female corpse.

I've never been so buckle stoppered in my life.

- What did you do with that woman's body?

- Do?

I quick heaved her over the side of the bay,

that's what I did.

- Early this morning?

- Before dawn it was.

Then I went ashore to find that Alfie

and coil his rope for 'em.

And when those bilk scrapers and that slop shoot

told me they didn't know nobody by the name of Alfie,

well, the temper got the best of me, that's all.

- Well, that temper's gonna cost you $700, Captain.

- And I Gotha stay in this land-locked brig

till I pay it, huh?

Well, I ain't got that much on me.

You'll have to see my first mate

aboard the Margery Bell,

he'll settle it.

- When he does, we'll unlock the door.

- Ugh.

- Schaab, send a man out

to the Margery Bell and have him pick up

that money from the first mate.

- Shanghai and a corpse, how do you like that?

- I don't.

It's about time I had

a good close look at this Shanghaiing business.

- That ain't gonna be easy.

You know there's no law to keep sailors

from coming ashore and drinking themselves silly.

- I know that.

But when even the dead aren't safe,

the living are in pretty grave danger, I'd say.

Look, Schaab, nose around

and see what you can find out

about this Alfie fellow.

- You got an idea?

- Maybe.

Who would you say is the biggest ship owner

in San Francisco?

Marcel Dupas?

- Sure, must own 15, 20 clipper ships.

- That's the man I'm gonna have a talk with.

(dramatic music)

- Dupas.

I'd like to talk to you for a minute, please.

Privately if you don't mind.

- Deal me out.

- I'll get right to the point.

How do you get the crews for your ships?

- Well, I'll leave that problem

to my ship masters and it's quite

a problem, believe me.

- Do you condone the way that problem is solved?

- Meaning what?

- Shanghaiing.

- As I told you, I leave the procurement of crews

to my captains.

I know nothing of the details.

- Shanghaiing has become more than a detail, sir.

- Marshal, there must be more

than enough crime this side of the waterfront

to keep you occupied.

Respect the judgment of a sound business man.

Ships can't sail without crews.

- And it doesn't matter how

those crews are procured, is that it?

Even if your silent partners are stealing

and selling dead bodies?

- You're talking sheer nonsense.

- Am I?

- Well, Mr. Dupas, let me tell you.

As long as people are drugged, assaulted,

kidnapped and kill to supply your ships

with crews, it's my business

and I intend to put a stop to it,

no matter who it involves.

Even you.

- Mr. Wayne, play marshal of San Francisco

to your heart's content.

But don't interfere with those

who help keep our clipper ships sailing.

- Is that a warning?

- Advice.

And you'll get the same from every ship owner

between here and Boston.

(suspenseful music)

- Elsie, you know a man named Alfie?

- Alfie who?

- Well, we don't know his last name,

but the marshal wants to have

a kind of a talk with him.

- I heard a lot of fellows called Alfie, Mr. Schaab.

Maybe if you told me what he looked like,

I could help.

- That's just it, we don't know.

(gentle music)

(door closes)

- Where's Lottie?

Lottie? The marshal's looking for me.

I just heard one of his deputies over

at Elsie's saloon asking about me.

- So what?

- That ain't all.

On the way over here,

I heard that Captain Rutland didn't sail.

He come back ashore bad as a hornet

about the three we pawned off on the Margery Bell.

- How many times have I told you not

to make deliveries until just before

they weigh anchor?

- I thought they was.

- You thought.

You can't think with anything but a blackjack

or a knife.

Where's Rutland now?

- The marshal's locked him up

for wrecking a saloon

and now the marshal's looking for me

and it's all your fault, Lottie.

- My fault that you're stupid?

- It was your idea to steal that stiff

to make up the quota for Rutland.

- That's right and it was a good idea

until you lost your head stealing a woman's body.

- It was the only one there.

- Too bad.

- I don't like it.

I've heard all about this new marshal

and nobody fixes him.

- Is Rutland still in jail?

- That's right.

- He's the one I've got to calm down.

I'll supply him another sailor for nothing.

(man knocking)

- It ain't Rutland.

- Ha, we'll give him to Rutland.

Bring him in.

- You're the ones.

When I get back, you know what I find?

My print shop's lost.

Everything's lost because

of what you done to me.

- What's he talking about?

Who is this person?

- Don't try to pretend

that you ain't the ones that Shanghaied me

onto the ship.

Nine months I've been away because

of what you did to me.

- You've got your sailor's pay.

- Sailor's pay?

I lost my print shop.

That's what I got out of it.

- What do you want from us?

- I'll tell you what I want Miss Lottie Goth,

I want paid in cash all

that you and him done me out of.

That's what I want.

- You must be out of your mind.

- Aye, for nine long months I near went daffy

on that filthy ship.

Now hear me good you two.

Either you make good for all I been done out of

or I'm going to the law.

- The law (laughs). That's rich.

- You didn't Shanghai a sailor when you tricked me.

You kidnapped a shopkeeper.

That's what you did.

- I'm sick of the sound of your voice, mister.

- And I came here to collect

and I aim to do it.

- Eddie!

- What are you going do to?

(dramatic music)

- Get rid of him.

(gentle music)

(door closes)

This time be sure the Margery Bell is ready

to weigh anchor before you deliver him.

(door closes)

- According to Johnson, the harpoon maker,

this Alfie is a runner working for Lottie Goth.

- Lottie? A woman crimp?

- And from what I hear, quite a woman.

She runs a boarding house that caters to sailors.

- A woman crimp, wow.

And this is where she lives, huh?

- Just off Van Ness.

Oh, I wouldn't bank on even a female crimp talking

to a man wearing a badge.

- Oh.

Well.

I'll leave it here.

(dramatic music)

- Well.

Come on in, honey.

- Thank you, ma'am.

(door closes)

- What's your name, sailor?

- Jamie.

Are you Miss Lottie Goth?

- I am.

- You are?

Well, they told me I might get room and board here.

- You sure can.

What's your ship, Jamie?

- I don't have a ship right now.

Well, I'm giving up the sea.

- You gonna settle in San Francisco?

- I'll be here for a couple of days

and then I'm heading for the diggings.

I'm gonna be prospecting for gold.

- You'll find more gold here

than you will in the Martins.

How about a drink, Jamie.

- Sure.

Nice place you got here.

- What kind of ship were you on?

- A whaler.

- Very interesting heart line.

- Oh, you read palms?

- Enough to learn what I want about a man.

- What did you learn about me?

- That you're very shy with women.

- Yeah, well, maybe at first.

- Think it'll take you very long

to like me a little?

- Well, you sure have a way

of making a man feel awful comfortable.

- I try.

(bell ringing)

You can have the nicest room in the house.

Eddie will show you around.

(dramatic music)

- Won't take long with this one.

- A whaler he said.

We'll see he learns to be one.

(dramatic music)

(door closes)

(dramatic music)

(man groaning)

- Hey.

Where are we bound for?

What ship am I on?

- You're not on a ship.

This is Lottie Goth's basement.

- Lottie Goth.

Alfie.

(man groans)

(gentle music)

(door closes)

- Well, what have I done to put

such a long face on you?

- Don't be flip with me, Lottie.

You've been very foolish.

- Oh?

- Stealing a body from a mortuary,

delivering it to a ship

and actually taking money for it.

That was more than foolish, it was stupid.

- It wasn't one of your captains who was tricked.

- It makes no difference.

It's riled the new marshal.

He's suddenly taken two big an interest

in how crews are procured.

- Buy him off.

- That won't work with Matt Wayne.

He's not the kind you can bribe.

- You mean San Francisco has a public official

who can't be bribed?

That'll be the day.

- You'll have nothing to laugh about

if he finds out how you and Alfie operate.

- Then what do you suggest we do, Mr. Dupas?

- We?

I suggest you close down

till Matt Wayne's interest in Shanghaiing cools off.

- Close down?

- Stop operating for a few weeks.

- And will you pay me for the business

that I lose in the meantime?

- I'm giving you advice worth more

than a few weeks' business, Lottie.

- Look, Mr. Dupas, I don't supply your ships exclusively.

I've built up a large clientele.

I'm not gonna lose them because

this new marshal has thrown you into a panic.

- It's because I don't want to lose

your services that I'm giving you

this advice, Lottie.

I think Matt Wayne will be calling on you

and for one purpose.

To close you up, permanently.

- Oh, I don't think you and the other ship owners

would let him do that.

What does this righteous peace officer

of yours look like?

- Oh, handsome man according to women.

Tall, over six feet, blue eyes,

rather light complected.

(Lottie laughing)

- Oh, excuse me, but I was just thinking.

It would be funny, wouldn't it?

- What?

- A very handsome man just as you described came

to see me earlier today.

He was dressed like a sailor,

but he didn't have the hands

of a seaman fresh off of a whaler.

I got suspicious, so I dumped him.

I wouldn't be surprised

if your honest marshal is lying

in my basement right now, Mr. Dupas.

Would you like to know what I'm gonna do with him?

- No, no, I don't want to know anything about it.

And you, forget I paid you this visit.

(somber music)

- Drop in any time, Mr. Dupas.

(door closes)

Alfie, come down here!

(gentle music)

Where's Eddie?

- Upstairs sleeping.

- Well, wake him up.

You're gonna need him to help you.

I want to get rid of those two in the basement.

- It ain't dark yet, Lottie.

- [Lottie] It will be in a half an hour.

Take the one with the whiskers

to the Margery Bell.

That ought to square us with Rutland.

- How about the other one?

I hear Lady Beth could use another hand

and the Captain will pay 400.

- No, this one makes a one-way trip

to the bottom of the bay

with enough chain on his feet

to keep him there.

It's about time San Francisco had a new marshal.

(dramatic music)

- Well.

Your bill's all paid.

You can go now, Captain.

It's about time.

What took you so long?

- Your first mate was ashore.

My man had to wait for him to get back

before he could get the money from him.

- Well, that's a costly way

for a man to learn how to hold his temper.

From now on, I'm gonna save it

till I get someplace

where there's no one to question me.

Where's the marshal?

I'd like to say goodbye,

tell him I got no hard feelings again him.

- He's not here now.

As a matter of fact, I'm getting kind of worried about him.

(dramatic music)

- Caught you in a fish bait.

(punch striking)

(Alfie groaning)

(punches striking)

- You filthy wharf rat.

Ha!

- Let loose of him, Captain.

- Let loose of him?

This is the runny vermin I've been looking for.

I'll kill him right now

with me own bare hands.

- Did you hear me?

I said let loose of him.

- Ah, hah!

- You all right, Matt.

(captain laughs)

- Well, marshal, do you mind

if I take this side of beef with me?

- Well, he's going to jail, Captain.

- If it's justice you're seeking,

doing the work of two men aboard

the Margery Bell will be

a lot more punishment than sweating out time

in that brig of yours.

- Well, that does sound like a fitting sentence.

I'll recommend it to the judge.

Keep your eye on these two.

I'll be back for him.

Come on, Schaab.

(captain laughing)

- Draw that gun and you'll bury the marshal.

- Drop it, Lottie.

- I'm leaving here and nobody's gonna stop me.

- All right.

You pull that trigger,

but while you're doing it,

Mr. Schaab is gonna draw his gun

and put a very ugly bullet

between your pretty eyes.

- I'm warning you, Marshal.

- We have a policy against shooting women,

but in your case we'll make an exception.

Is that clear, Mr. Schaab?

- It's clear.

- Not very attractive odds, are they Lottie?

- No.

No, I guess not.

You can't do anything to me.

You've got no evidence, no witnesses, nothing.

- That's a bad bet.

- I've got influence in this town.

I keep the clippers sailing.

The ship owners aren't gonna let you

or anybody else convict me of Shanghaiing.

They need me.

- You aren't gonna stand trial for Shanghaiing.

- You bet I'm not.

- I'm arresting you and Alfie for murder.

- You can't prove that.

You can't prove anything.

- I can prove enough to put

an end to your career for good.

Now, Schaab, I suggest that you lock

this beautiful lady up.

(dramatic music)

- In a way I feel kind of sorry for Lottie Goth.

- Well, unfortunately, Schaab,

the end of Lottie Goth and Alfie doesn't mean

the end of Shanghaiing in San Francisco.

As long as ships need crews

and they're aren't enough sailors to go around,

they'll be Shanghaiing.

- Yeah, but not by them two at least.

Lottie will be an old woman before

she gets out of prison.

And Alfie'll be doing his last trick

on the end of a hangman's noose.

- You know I'm gonna try

to manage minor wounds more frequently from now on.

You get such warm and pleasant attention.

But, um, in another place,

this kind of affects my dealing here

at the El Dorado Club.

(Schaab laughs)

♪ 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 say ♪

♪ 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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