Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] San Francisco, 1854,

a brawling, young giant of a city.

To it had flocked a polyglot population

from all corners of the world.

- Mr. Quon Wei to see you, sir.

- Thank you, Sergeant.

Venerable Quon, what can I do for you?

- I've come to you with problem, my oldest son.

- I see. Have a seat.

Is he in trouble?

- Aye, my house has been dishonored.

He is wicket and incorrigible

and unwilling to listen to the voice of age.

- [Matthew] What's he done?

- He desires to be a policeman.

- Oh, is that such a wicked thing?

- Among our people, yes.

We honor first our philosophers,

next our merchants,

but a soldier and a policeman

is below the merest coolie.

- Well, your customs are not the customs

of this country, Venerable Quon.

- [Quon] They are Chinese, and my son is Chinese.

- I see, well, so far,

we don't have any application from Chinese

to join the force.

- My son is already employed here.

- Oh?

- [Quon] Come forth, miserable youth.

- Charlie? Well, I can't interfere in a family matter, Quon.

According to our laws, your son is of age.

He does his work very well, too.

I have no reason for dismissing him. I'm sorry.

- Then I have no more business here. Good night.

(door slams)

- He had no right to come.

- He still follows the old customs, Charlie.

- Those customs have no business in this country.

We must be like other people here.

I want to be an American, and I'm going to be one.

- Don't you worry.

It'll happen in time.

I guess you better finish up, hmm.

- Yes, sir.

- From Gahagan.

- The Shaffton Gang

is gonna break in the Pacific warehouse tonight.

Get four men and meet me there.

- Yes, sir.

(suspenseful 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

(ominous music) (whistle shrills)

(men scuffling) (men grunting)

- Take it over there or I'll kill you.

- Everything all right?

- Everything's fine, Gahagan. And thanks for the line.

(ominous music continues)

They make fine credit to their mothers.

- Seems like a waste of time, sir.

Gus Shaffton will post bail in the morning.

- That's the man I want, Gus Shaffton.

Good night, Sergeant. - Good night, sir.

- Good night, Mr. Wayne.

- Good night, Charlie.

I didn't see you.

(door slams) (suspenseful music)

- They was waiting for us when we broke in.

We didn't have a chance.

They had half a police platoon inside

and the other half outside.

Shaffton, you said nothing's could happen on this job.

That's what you said.

- I said nothing of the kind.

I said it was a well-planned job.

- Then what tripped it?

- I think we have an informer in our midst.

Someone is talking to Wayne.

- [Hogan] Who?

- That's what we have to learn from Mr. Wayne.

- Sure, we just go up and say, "How about it, Wayne?

"Who's the informer, huh?"

- Not quite.

(people chattering)

That corner table.

He works in Wayne's office.

He comes here every night when he's through.

- I never noticed him before.

- Nobody ever has.

That's good for us.

(dramatic music)

- Steady, friend.

What's up, Gahagan?

- Nothing.

- Why'd you send for me?

- That's just the trouble, sir, nothing's happening.

Shaffton must have something up his sleeve.

- What?

- I don't know.

I'm worried. I think they're getting on to me.

- You want me to take you off the job?

- No, not yet.

I can stay on a while longer.

- Don't forget, you're a family man.

I don't want you taking any unnecessary chances.

- I won't.

- Beat it.

(dramatic music continues)

Top of the morning, friend.

- You're late. Where have you been?

- Walking.

- Well, I'm glad you're here.

I have a problem.

- I can't take any more problems tonight.

What is it? - I'll let you talk to her.

- Her?

- Matt, this is Mai Sung.

- Hello, Mai Sung.

Mrs. Fansler tells me you have a problem.

Why don't you sit down and tell me about it?

- I have a friend.

He is my problem.

His name is Charlie Wong.

- Oh, sure, Gold-Tooth Charlie.

- Do you know why they call him that, Mr. Wayne?

- Well, it's because he's always talking

about someday having a gold tooth, isn't it?

- For heaven's sakes, why?

- Well, once he saw a banker, very big, very important.

He had a gold tooth.

Charlie wants to be like that man, a big American.

- You mean he thinks that having a gold tooth

automatically makes a person important?

- No, no, Charlie is not a fool.

I, how do you say this?

Charlie and I are different.

Charlie wishes to be something that he is not.

- Well, that's a serious problem.

- Charlie goes to bad places.

He makes friends with bad people,

who make him think bad thoughts.

He quarrels with his father.

Chinese do not quarrel with their parents.

- Who are these bad people?

- I have seen him with a man called Shaffton

and another called Hogan.

- I'll talk to Charlie.

- You are one whom he respects.

Thank you very much.

- I don't like this business

of that boy seeing Shaffton and Hogan.

- Are you leaving?

- [Matthew] I'm just gonna have a look around.

- Matthew, we had a date tonight, you promised me.

- Well, as the saying goes, first things first.

(dramatic music)

Good night, Wilma.

(door slams)

- Two pair?

- You win, you know, Charlie,

a smart young fellow like you can make lots of money,

trick yourself up real handsome.

Get your gold watch and a chain and an elk tooth to dangle.

Get you a $30 hat, brand new pair of boots.

Get you a gold tooth.

Make you look like a real man, Charlie.

- How do I make such money?

- Like I told you before, have a little talk with Shaffton.

- Oh, uh, well, Mr. Wayne does not like Mr. Shaffton.

He would be very angry.

- You think that Wayne's your friend, huh?

Let me tell you something, Charlie.

You don't mean nothing to Matt Wayne.

- He is a very fine gentleman.

He, he is my friend.

- Sure, buys you drinks, don't he?

Sits down and plays cards with you, don't he?

Takes you out and introduces you

to all of his friends, don't he?

You bet he don't.

I'm your friend, Charlie, not him.

- Thank you.

- How about a little service for my friend Charlie here?

Take a good look at this kid, pal.

This is Charlie Quon,

a real straight guy and my good friend.

- You are very nice.

- Nice like a pit full of rattlesnakes.

What are you doing with Charlie Wong?

- It is all right, Mr. Wayne.

Mr. Hogan is my friend.

- I'll talk to you later.

You stay away from this boy.

- Why don't you let him pick his own company, Wayne?

- 'Cause I hate to see a decent boy get mixed up

with a thief, a crimp, and a killer.

(suspenseful music)

Let's go, Charlie.

- Please, sir, I do not like to be handled.

- I hate to do this, Charlie, but you're coming with me.

- I can walk by myself.

Bye, Mr. Hogan.

This is my house.

- Good night, Charlie.

- Thank you, Marshall Wayne.

It was so very nice of you. Good night.

- You are late again, my son.

- I had work to do.

- A policeman brought you home.

What have you done?

- Nothing! Why do you ask?

(dramatic music)

- Don't use that tone with me.

I am your father.

- That is something for me to regret.

(fist smacks)

- [Quon] Don't ever say that to me.

- Strike again and I will strike back.

- Have you forgotten our ways?

- Your ways, not mine.

- Ours, the ways of our people.

- They mean nothing in this country.

You, your laws, your gods,

they mean nothing here!

(dramatic music continues)

So much for your customs.

They are mine no longer.

- Leave my house.

- I can't go fast enough.

(dramatic music continues)

Only once has Mr. Wayne paid any attention to me,

and that was to make me lose face in front of my friends.

I do not like him anymore.

Now I will work for you.

- Fine, Charlie, fine.

- Too quiet, Shaffton's not moving.

- What does Gahagan say?

- He's worried. I'm gonna pull him out.

I don't want anything to happen to him.

- Probably the best idea.

He's a dead man if they ever find out he's working for us.

- Yeah.

Hello, Charlie.

- Hello, Mr. Wayne.

- Well, you finally got the gold tooth.

- Yes, it is very nice, very expensive.

- Very expensive, who paid for it?

- I worked, I saved.

- I bet you did.

(dramatic music)

Goodbye, Charlie.

(door slams)

- Gahagan.

- It's Gahagan. Gahagan's the informer.

(suspenseful music)

- Gahagan.

(dramatic music)

Nobody knew about Gahagan but you and I.

Did you talk?

- No, sir.

- Not a whisper, not even to your wife?

- No, sir.

- Gahagan was worried.

But he thought they hadn't gotten smart to him.

He figured he had

about another two weeks left.

- What is it, sir?

- Charlie Wong was here yesterday.

He heard us talking about Gahagan.

That gold-toothed weasel was here

and we never even noticed him.

- You think it was Charlie that talked?

- I'm sure of it. Bring him in.

- Yes, sir.

(dramatic music)

- Where's the Chinese?

- Upstairs. Why?

- Wayne's men are looking all over for him.

- Then we better put Charlie out of Wayne's reach.

Do it quietly.

(dramatic music continues)

- Hello, pal.

- You lied to me.

- That's no way to talk to a friend.

- You said you would not kill Gahagan. You lied.

(suspenseful music)

(pitcher thuds)

(body thumps)

- No sign of him.

- Chinatown? - Chinatown, too.

Those people won't talk.

Even if they knew where Charlie was, they wouldn't talk.

- what about his father?

- He said Charlie left home a couple of days ago.

- You believe him?

- The way he was talking, I had to.

He's sore as a boil at Charlie.

- I think Shaffton's probably got him.

- Well, if he has, Charlie's not long for this world.

Shaffton'd kill him just to shut him up.

Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing at that.

- I want Charlie.

I gotta have him alive long enough

to find out who killed Gahagan.

I think if we find Shaffton, we've got our man.

(dramatic music)

(door slams)

- I've had the boys running every street and alley

in San Francisco.

He ain't to be found.

- You're a blundering fool.

If Wayne gets him, we'll all swing for Gahagan's murder.

Where could he go?

Who could he find to hide him?

- Chinatown.

- Didn't he have a girl?

- Yeah, she works at the El Dorado.

- Have somebody watch the El Dorado.

He may try to reach her.

- Mr. Wayne is here.

- Does he know about us?

- Yes.

- I must have another place to hide.

- Why don't you give yourself up?

- No.

- There is no escape.

- I can only hide until there's a ship going to China.

- There is no ship to China.

Please, Charlie, there's one place you can go,

to your father.

- Never.

- You must.

(knuckles rapping)

- [Wilma] Mai Sung.

- Yes?

- Marshall Wayne's downstairs.

He wants to talk to you.

- I will come at once.

- Tell him nothing.

Do you understand? Nothing.

(dramatic music)

- You still say you haven't seen Charlie Wong at all?

- No, I haven't seen him.

- You're lying.

- Just a minute. - Stay out of this, Wilma.

- I will not stay out of this.

You've been badgering this girl for an hour.

- This is police business.

- What's the matter with you, Matt?

You've never acted like this before.

- Let me tell you about Gahagan.

Gahagan was a policeman.

Nobody knew he was a policeman, didn't wear a uniform.

He lived with thieves, acted like a thief, pulled a few jobs

so the thieves would think he was one of them.

But his information helped me break up two gangs.

He was working on a third gang when they got to him.

- It has nothing to do with Mai and Charlie.

- Now wait, let me finish.

Gahagan was one of the bravest men I've ever known.

He knew his life was in immediate danger,

but he wanted to finish the assignment.

He wouldn't let me take him off the case.

I should have, but I didn't.

So for the rest of my life, I'll have Gahagan,

his wife and his children on my conscience.

Now Mai Sung, your Charlie Wong

had something to do with Gahagan's death.

If I find him and he tells me who had my man killed,

I'll give him every chance.

But if I don't find him, those others will,

and they won't give him a chance.

They'll kill him.

- He's upstairs, in my room.

(suspenseful music)

(boot thuds)

(gentle dramatic music) (door thuds)

- Where would he go?

- There's only one place that he would go.

- Where's that? - His father's.

- You have committed many crimes and cost me much face.

Now you come to me for shelter.

- But I am your son!

- Yes, my son,

and sometimes I regret it.

- Please forgive me, father.

- Do you submit to me, my son?

- I submit.

- Then you will be judged by the laws you have denied,

punished according to the customs you have scorned.

(gentle dramatic music continues)

(door slams)

- We found Charlie. He's down in Chinatown.

He went back to his old man.

(suspenseful music)

Wayne just went into Quon's house.

I told you we should have busted in.

- We'd never get out alive.

Every Chinese in the district would jump us.

This is just as good.

We'll wait until Wayne comes out with Charlie.

We'll get 'em both.

- Why does head of police honor my poor house?

- I want your son.

- Your men already been here.

My son not here then.

- He is now.

- Have my son committed some crime?

- He's involved in a crime.

- Then it is my duty to punish him since I am his father.

- Your duty is to turn him over to the police.

- Why? His punishment will be severe.

Perhaps more severe than any by your law.

- We'll leave that to the courts, Quon.

Anyway, I want him.

- You cannot have him.

My son is Chinese.

He will be judged by our customs and law.

- He was born in this country.

That makes him an American.

- A wren is hatched in an eagle's nest.

Does that make eagle of a wren?

My son is Chinese.

- Now, listen to me, Quon.

I want your son to give me the names

of men who committed a murder.

- And then?

- If he's involved in the murder,

naturally, he'll be punished.

- Will you hang him?

- If he's guilty of murder, he'll be hanged.

- My house has been dishonored.

- Quon, isn't that better than a heart black with regret

because you helped murderers to escape?

They killed a good man.

- And what does this stranger's death mean to me?

- He was an honorable man,

even as you and I.

- I cannot surrender my son.

- I followed you, Mr. Wayne.

I talked with Charlie.

He's surrendering himself.

- I'm glad, all right, Charlie.

(dramatic music)

(door slams)

(suspenseful music)

- Mr Wayne, look out!

(guns banging)

(gentle dramatic music)

- [Matt] He took a bullet meant for me.

- He owe a debt.

We Chinese pay our debts.

I go home and weep for my son.

- [Policeman] Is he dead?

- Not yet. Let's get him to a doctor.

(dramatic music)

Take him out of here, Mai Sung.

The law's giving him another chance.

- You mean I'm not going to prison?

- Not as long as she can keep you out of trouble.

- What outrageous conduct for young people.

I must correct him. (speaks in foreign language)

Forgive this rude departure.

(Matt chuckles)

- What's funny?

- I was just thinking, you know, when your and my ancestors

were wearing animal skins in some dripping European forest,

Charlie's ancestors had already developed a literature,

a language, and a law.

- What about it?

- If more people lived by Chinese law, I'd be out of a job.

(chuckles) Incidentally, I have the rest of the day off,

and I'm gonna devote it all to you.

- Oh, I'm sorry, Matt, but I have another engagement.

(door clicks)

- Are you ready, Wilma?

- As the saying goes, first things first.

(lighthearted music)

Bye.

(door slams)

(dramatic 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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