Original subtitles

- [Narrator] In the early 1850s,

when San Francisco was so starved

for news of the outside world

that three months old newspapers sold for a dollar apiece.

The Pacific Clipper Company had a monopoly

on transportation of mail between the two coasts.

Then, stagecoach lines entered into competition

for the lucrative government subsidies involved.

(dramatic music) (hooves clopping)

(guns firing)

War was declared between the two means of communication.

(guns firing)

(people chattering)

- You're responsible for what happened last night, Warren.

Will you admit it, or do I have to kill you?

- What is this, Maxwell?

- This morning, another one of our stagecoaches

was found at the bottom of a canyon,

the driver and the passenger killed.

- What's that got to do with me?

- Because you engineered it, just like the other jobs.

- That's a lie.

- What makes you think Mr. Warren is responsible

for what happened to your stagecoaches?

- Because he's agent for the Clipper Company,

and they're trying to make us lose our mail franchise.

- I've opposed you, yes, but by legal mans.

- As his lawyer, I'll vouch for that.

- Where did the wreck take place?

- At Basket Pass, just after they left Boulder City.

- Boulder City?

- What's the matter?

- Well Millie my niece lives there.

I'm expecting a visit from her.

She was to have taken that stage.

- As far as I know, the only passenger

was the man who was killed,

and that makes Warren and his outfit guilty of his murder.

If you don't do something about this,

I'm going to take the law into my own hands, Marshal.

- Mr. Maxwell, I'm confident the federal agent on the case

doesn't need your help, or mine.

(dramatic music)

* Californi-ay, Californi-ay

* There's gold - "The Californians."

* Hills in Californi-ay

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

* In the golden West

* I'm gonna strike it rich in Californi-ay *

* Californi-ay

(guns firing)

- [Narrator] During the next 10 days,

three more stagecoaches were wrecked,

two drivers were killed,

several passengers injured.

(ominous music)

(gun fires)

And the federal agent who investigated the case

was severely wounded.

- Isn't there anything that can be done

to stop these crimes, Marshal?

- Why don't you put more guards on your stagecoaches?

- More guards?

I can't get enough drivers as it is.

They've just about got us ruined, Marshal,

and tomorrow's the deadline.

If we don't make that four o'clock run

out of here tomorrow, we lose our franchise,

and that's exactly what the Clipper Company wants.

- What makes you so sure

the Clipper Company is behind all this?

- We're a threat to the monopoly the shipping lines have had

on the transportation of mails to California.

If we prove stagecoaches can deliver it faster,

Warren's outfit will lose a half million dollar subsidy.

- Well, I understand that but what I mean is

couldn't these be just plain robberies?

Those mail pouches carry a lot of money.

- Whatever it is, we need help.

Your help.

- I don't like to step out of my jurisdiction,

but I'll talk to the federal agent on this case.

See what I can do.

- Thank you, Matt.

(somber music)

- Andy, could you identify the man who shot you?

- I don't think so, Matt, he was wearing a mask.

- How many deputies are working on this?

- Only three, and I could use an army.

- Will you deputize me as your agent?

- Gladly, you and your whole police force.

- No, no, no, no this is,

I wanna handle this by myself.

- You can be my deputy as long as you want to, Matt.

Raise your right hand, I'll swear you in.

- Matt.

My niece was definitely on that stage

that was wrecked out of Boulder City.

- How do you know?

- A friend of mine just rode into town,

said he saw her get on that stage 10 days ago.

She hasn't been heard of since.

I've got to get to Boulder City.

Will you take me?

- Well, I can't.

I'm going up there on business myself tomorrow.

I'll do what I can to find out about her.

- Sit down, Matt.

- Thanks.

- What kind of business?

- Government business.

Having to do with transportation of the mail.

They don't have enough drivers, so I volunteered.

- Don't you have enough to do here in San Francisco, Matt?

- An overland mail route is vital to San Francisco.

If we lose this franchise, it might be years

before we get another one started.

- I'm not interested in who hauls the mail.

I'm interested in what happened to my niece Millie.

- And I'm worried about my client, the Clipper Company.

Don't be surprised

if I have a little surprise for you, Matt.

- Matt, I've got to get to Boulder City.

You will take me, won't you?

- I can't, the trip is too dangerous for you.

- But I gotta find out what happened to Millie.

I'm responsible for her being on that stage.

- How so?

- Well, she was having a quarrel with her mother

over a love affair.

I wrote and suggested that she come to San Francisco

and talk it over with me.

- Don't you know you shouldn't interfere in a family spat?

- It was more than a spat.

Her mother's very strict with her, treats her like a child.

She's afraid of her own shadow.

Matt, you will take me?

- I said no.

Now you stay here and mind the store,

and try not to cheat the customers.

- Matt, sometimes I hate you.

- That's when you're the most beautiful.

I didn't mean to steal it.

(plucky music)

- Nobody will ever suspect you're carrying the mail

in a buckboard, Matt.

- Especially with the Pacific Clipper Company's name on it.

- Anyway, I've given ya a high powered rifle

and extra ammunition, just in case.

- Fine.

- Best of luck, Marshal.

- Not so fast, Mr. Wayne.

- Sorry Matt, you can't take the mail out.

- Why not?

- I've got an injunction signed by a federal judge.

- [Matt] What's it say?

- Enjoins you, city marshal of San Francisco,

from handling the United States mail.

- That's the little surprise you had cooked up for me, huh?

Well, I've got one for you.

I'm not only marshal of San Francisco,

but I'm a deputy federal agent, sworn in yesterday.

- Sorry, the injunction still holds.

- It holds me as marshal of San Francisco,

but I'm going as a federal agent.

- If you let him take the mail out,

you'll be party to a federal crime, Maxwell.

Tell him to get down off of there

and unload those mail sacks.

- He's got us licked, Matt.

You better do as he says.

- In the first place, the injunction is invalid.

And second place, I don't think I can hold these horses.

Yah, yah, runaway horses!

- What do we do now, mister smart lawyer?

- You catch those horses, and I'll get up a new injunction.

(hooves clopping)

(birds chirping)

- Do you have to go so doggone fast?

- Well, this is where you get off.

- I'm going to find out what happened to Millie.

Besides, you don't want people to know

that you're carrying the mail,

and if I sit beside you people will think

that we're just man and wife going somewhere.

You don't mind my just appearing

to be your wife, do you Matt?

- I oughta break your neck.

Giddy up hah.

(hooves clopping)

(ominous music)

(guns firing)

(intense music)

You all right? - Yes, I'm all right.

- Here they come!

(hooves clopping)

- Don't follow, let 'em go.

The marshal's worth a lot more to me alive than dead.

- Then you can find him?

- He's got a woman with him.

He'll have to find someplace to stay.

My shack's the only place around here for miles.

Pete, go to work.

(suspenseful music)

(Matt knocking)

- Well land sakes, callers this time of night?

- Well you see, we lost our wagon and our horses got away.

Could you- - well, come right on in!

Oh, you're sure enough welcome, folks.

I was scared.

Heard shots and figured bandits were on the loose.

Well, I see you lost your gun, mister.

My, my, what goings on.

Millie, Millie?

We got company.

- Millie!

Oh, Millie!

What on earth are you doing here?

- She's been living here.

Ain't much for a lady like her,

but a little roughin' it never hurt nobody says I.

- I heard you were on a stage that was wrecked.

- She was, she was, but she jumped.

She jumped off.

She was hurt.

My son Tom found her, brought her here.

He's like that.

Used to find stray kittens, and hurt birds,

and bring 'em in and ask me to take care of 'em.

- You haven't said anything, are you all right?

- Of course I'm all right.

- I've been caring for her like a bird with a busted wing.

She is kind of bird-like, ain't she?

- Millie, I've been terribly worried about you.

- Well, I'm sorry Aunt Wilma, but I couldn't send word.

- Why didn't you go home?

- We ain't ready to tell our little secret yet,

are we Millie dear?

- No, Mrs. Quinn, we aren't.

(hooves clopping)

- You boys stand guard.

Anything that moves, shoot.

- Ain't nothing, just my son Tom.

Been out lookin' after his livestock.

Just like him, 'fraid to get bedded down.

Got a heart big as a barn, that son of mine.

Tom, these folks just come in lookin' for shelter.

- Well, they're sure welcome.

- They're friends of Millie's.

- Well, that makes them double welcome.

Make yourselves to home, folks.

- That's my Tom for ya.

Give you the shirt offen his back.

(Wilma gasps)

- I sure would, Marshal Wayne.

(dramatic music)

(Wilma groans)

- My head hurts.

- It always feels that way when you get hit with a pistol.

Now don't you wish you'd stayed where you belong?

- No, I know Millie's in danger.

- So is the overland mail route,

thanks to us falling into this trap.

- She seemed scared, and I had a feeling

she had something to tell me.

- You folks comfortable?

- You untie me this instant!

- You heard the lady, untie her.

- Why sure, anything for a lady.

You ready to make a deal, Marshal?

- I might, if I knew what this was all about.

- Well, you're kinda stupid, aren't ya Marshal?

You mean you haven't figured out that it's me and my boys

who've been wrecking those stages?

- You're kinda stupid, too.

Haven't you figured out that your government business now?

The government has a long arm and it never sleeps.

- I knew what I was gettin' into,

but there was a lot of money in it,

and I'm pickin' up the biggest chunk tonight.

I wanna be able to spend that money

without having to worry about lawmen like you.

Now you forget you ever saw me.

You put the government on the wrong trail,

and I'll let you and the lady go.

- I might consider that if you

tell me who paid you to interfere with the US mail.

Whoever it was got word to you before we left San Francisco.

- If I tell on them,

they'll turn right around and tell on me.

Now do you wanna make a deal on my terms, or don't ya?

- I'll think about it.

- Oh please, Matt.

While you're thinking it over,

this rope is cutting me into slices.

- It's his fault you're uncomfortable, lady.

I don't wanna have to kill you two, especially the lady.

She's Millie's kinfolk, and Millie wouldn't like it

if I shot her aunt.

- What are you going to do with Millie?

- She's my ace.

Now if you're thinking of making a deal

and then double-crossing me,

you just remember that I'm taking Millie with me, Marshal.

Have some chicken.

- Do you think he would kill us?

- If he has to.

He can only hang once, so it's our lives or his.

- You will make a deal, won't ya Matt?

- Not if I can help it.

- What on earth are you doing?

- Going for a walk.

- The buckboard ready, Mom?

- Right outside.

- Where are you going?

- Mom and I are gonna meet the man from San Francisco

and pick up the money for tonight's work.

- Tom, take me with you.

- He wouldn't want you to know who he is.

- Well, what about Aunt Wilma and Marshal Wayne?

You're gonna let them go, aren't you?

- Sure, when the marshal makes a deal, and he will,

I'll turn 'em loose.

You know I wouldn't hurt your aunt, don't ya?

- You did hurt her.

- Well, I had to knock 'em out or kill 'em.

Like I said, I've never killed anybody in my life.

- Ain't that just like Tom?

Looks out for everybody.

- Well, couldn't I at least untie her,

make her more comfortable?

- No, she's got to be uncomfortable for a while

so the marshal will make a deal.

- Well that's right, dear.

It's all for the best.

I'll be waiting outside, Tom.

- Tonight was my last job.

Tomorrow we'll go somewhere and we'll make a new start.

You, me, and Mom, like I promised.

- Oh but Tom, how do I know you'll come back?

- That's how you know.

The only thing that can stand in the way

of our plans is Marshal Wayne.

You won't need this, but if you do, you use it.

(Matt grunting)

- Mrs. Quinn and Tom are leaving in a buckboard.

- Millie too?

- No.

I wonder.

Millie, Millie!

Millie!

Hurry.

Help her.

- [Matt] Get it.

- Thank you.

Millie, Millie!

Millie, Millie. - Here I am.

- Oh Millie, I thought, what is this?

- It's a pistol.

Apparently Millie's mother wasn't strict enough with her.

- What's the matter with you?

- Don't try to leave, sit down Wilma.

Sit down!

You too, Marshal.

- But, why are you doing this?

- I won't let you put Tom Quinn in jail.

- No, why not?

- Because he's my husband.

We were married four days ago.

- You married him, why?

- Because I wanted to!

- [Wilma] Well, how long have you known him?

- He's been courtin' me for almost a year now in town.

Then Mother found out, wouldn't let me see him anymore.

- That's because she didn't understand

your inner need to run around with bandits.

- Tom wasn't a bandit then!

Mother just didn't think he was good enough for me.

- So he set out to prove that she was wrong

by shooting up stages?

- It was Mother's fault, she drove him to it!

When she threw him out,

he didn't care what happened to him anymore.

- Well Millie, something is going to happen to him

very soon, and it isn't going to be pleasant.

- Surely you don't intend to stay married to him.

- Why not?

It's the first time in my life I've been free.

You don't know what it's like

to be nagged, and bossed, and browbeaten day in and day out.

To be criticized for everything you do.

When I got on that stage to visit you,

I never intended to go home again.

- Was that when you found out he was a bandit?

- Yes, but I didn't care.

It was the most thrilling thing that's ever happened to me.

- It isn't a thrill to see men killed.

- Tom didn't kill anybody!

He was nice to those two men.

He even helped 'em down off the stage.

- And when you were out of sight, he killed 'em.

- I'll never believe that.

- He also robbed the United States mail.

What's thrilling about that?

- Mother drove him to it.

Tom is kind and gentle.

He never hurt anybody in his life, and I love him.

- Millie, do you love him?

Or did you marry him just to get even with your mother?

Your husband is a cold-blooded, cowardly killer.

And I'm gonna take him back to San Francisco with me.

- I won't let you, Marshal.

We're going away together.

Tom's gonna settle down.

- And when his money gives out, he'll kill again.

And if you get in his way, he'll kill you.

- He wouldn't!

I'll never believe Tom's a killer.

- You will before this is over.

Give me that pistol, Millie.

- I'll shoot, Marshal.

- I don't think you will.

Your husband's a killer.

You're not, Millie.

(Millie sobbing)

- You do love him, don't you?

- He loves me too.

We were going away together,

and now you're gonna take him away from me.

- She needs help, take care of her.

See if you can talk some sense into her.

- Where are you going?

- Outside, to wait for Tom.

- Sh, it's gonna be all right.

(suspenseful music)

- Millie, Millie, where's Marshal Wayne and your aunt?

- They've gone back to town.

- Why didn't you stop 'em?

You had a gun!

- I couldn't use it, Tom.

- Well, you're gonna wish you had.

- For shame, Millie!

You said you was gonna help Tom get somewhere.

- Look, Marshal Wayne says if you're telling the truth

about not having killed or robbed anybody,

you'll come out of the trial.

- Why are you asking me to give myself up?

- Well Tom, it's better than getting killed running away.

They can't do much to you just for wrecking stages.

I'll wait for ya, Tom.

- Are you stupid enough to believe

I could rob the United States mail

without killing a few men?

- You killed 'em!

- He didn't kill any more than he had to, though.

Only four or five in self-defense.

- I loved you!

- Well, I never loved you.

When you saw me shootin' up those stages,

I could either kill ya or marry ya, and I married ya.

- Ain't that just like Tom?

He put off killing you as long as he could, dear.

- It's too bad you didn't shoot Marshal Wayne,

because he'll be coming back here for me with a posse,

and I'm not gonna leave anybody around

to tell him which way I went.

- That'll be all, Quinn.

- Drop the pistol, son.

I don't want you dead.

- Oh, Mom- (gun fires)

Ma!

- Who's behind this, Mrs. Quinn?

Who's been paying your son to wreck the mail coaches?

- You could've killed Tom, Marshal, but you didn't.

Thanks, I didn't wanna see him die.

- [Wilma] Matt, Matt!

(men grunting)

- Tom, your mother's dead,

and you're at the end of your rope.

Who am I looking for?

Who hired you?

Tom!

When they hired you, they killed your mother.

You pulled the trigger, but they killed her.

Are you gonna pay for it all alone,

or are you gonna take them with you?

(dramatic music)

- Good work, Matt, congratulations.

- For what?

- Well, you caught the men responsible

for wrecking our stagecoaches, didn't ya?

- Not the ones responsible,

just the ones who carried out the orders.

- Hm, too bad they wouldn't talk.

- Why'd you send for Mr. Warren, Matt?

- Oh, I thought he'd like to know how things turned out.

- Well just how did things turn out?

- Three of your hired killers confessed

that you paid them to force the stage lines out of business.

- They lied.

- I knew it, I knew it was him all the time, Marshal.

- But of course you did,

seeing as you were in on the deal.

- Why, that's utter nonsense.

- [Matt] You were partners from the start.

- You're accusing me of destroying my own property?

- I'm accusing you of selling out on your own stockholders.

You and Warren were gonna split up a nice juicy melon

once you forced the stage lines

out of business, weren't you?

- Well, I deny it.

- On what grounds do you base

those fantastic charges against my client?

- On the grounds that Mr. Maxwell

didn't want me to take the mail out,

so he and Warren rigged up that injunction to stop me.

But on the off chance that I might defy the injunction,

they sent word ahead to have their men waylay me.

In addition, Mr. Maxwell very thoughtfully provided me

with a defective rifle.

And a halfway broken tongue for my wagon.

- You can't prove that.

- I don't have to.

I have three signed confessions.

Now, perhaps one of you gentlemen might volunteer

to turn state's evidence?

- Yes, you bet I will!

- Oh no you won't, I'll turn state's evidence, Marshal.

Warren forced me into it.

He threatened to ruin me if I wouldn't.

- You're a liar, you came to me with the idea!

- [Maxwell] Why, that's not so, you know it isn't.

- [Warren] You can't deny it!

(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] After the conviction,

and execution of the conspirators,

a new overland mail subsidy was granted by the government.

And as a result, California was bound closer

to the rest of the Union by a network of stage lines,

and Millie was going home

to admit that mothers aren't always wrong.

(dramatic music)

* 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 Californi-ay, Californi-ay *

* There's gold in them there hills in Californi-ay *

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

* In the golden West

* I'm gonna strike it rich in Californi-ay *

* Californi-ay

* Californi-ay

* There's gold in them there hills *

* In Californi-ay

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