Original subtitles

Come on, Jonas!

Here comes that smokin' monster again.

Harley, get my clean clothes off the line.

Right away, Ma.

And-And scrub your hands before you touch 'em.

All right, Ma.

That son of mine...

more like his dear, departed father every day.

Slow as molasses.

He's a good boy, though. I just don't know how

I would have managed without his help

since his father died. You could have gotten married.

There was that fancy salesman from St. Louis.

He was too fancy. I don't like men with frills.

That train! Abby, do you know the other day, I forgot

and hung some sheets on the line,

and when that smokin' train went past,

Those sheets looked like they'd been slept in by hogs!

Well, they sure laid those tracks mighty close to you.

It's not just the smoke. It's the whistle.

They scare my sittin' hens right off their nests.

Alberta, she's on the tracks, Ma!

Alberta!

Oh! Alberta! Get off that track, you crazy girl!

Git!

Look out! Look out!

Ma?

They sure smashed ol' Alberta.

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger.

The coming of the railroad to the Old West

brought many changes to the lives of the settlers.

If forced the enactment of new laws,

because of problems created with settlers,

like Lucy Tutaine.

To her, the Iron Horse that ran past her small ranch

in Southern California in 1890

was at first a botheration, and later, an enemy.

And then one day...

it became a real battle between...

Oh, no.

Who's the driver of this dirty machine?

Uh, he is. Him.

Look what you did to my Alberta!

Yeah, you could have swerved around her or something.

Now, ma'am...

You've got brakes, haven't you?

You can stop this stupid contraption, can't you?

Uh... Yes, but uh...

Well, why didn't you stop it?

Well...

he's in charge of the brakes.

Well, what's wrong with your eyesight?

Alberta's a big cow! Or was...

We're sorry we hit your cow, madam.

My name is Lucy Tutaine, not madam.

And if you got the idea that you can speed across this countryside

killing off poor, dumb animals,

then you're gonna pay for that notion!

I want $50 for your notion. Now!

Well, Mrs. Tutaine, I'm just an engineer.

I don't pay out the damages. You got to go into town

to see the section head, uh, Mr. Abel Higgins.

I'll go with you, Lucy, and I'll testify

on the Book as to just what I saw!

Ah, this train rushing through this property

and killing your fine milk cow.

Maybe we are just two poor widow women alone in the world.

But we got rights! You bet your boots!

But the cow was on the tracks.

We've got the right of way: it's the law.

We'll see who's got the rights. Come on, Abby.

Something tells me, that woman is going to

give my stomach a bad time!

Yah!

I'll tell that Mr. Higgins a thing or two!

I hear tell that Mr. Higgins is a handsome cuss.

Use your feminine wiles on him, Lucy.

Honey, my wiles crawled off and died somewhere a long time ago.

Harley!

Jonas chewed the rope again. Tie him up!

I'll fix Mr. Higgins. He'll pay for Alberta or else.

Or else what? Well, I'll think of something.

Whoa.

Want me to go in with you, Ma?

I'll tell those old railroad men off.

No, you stay here, Harley.

One look at your size, and it tells your ma's age.

I'm looking for my money, not a man.

You never can tell where you might find a good one, honey.

Lucy! Be helpless.

I came to see Mr. Higgins.

Well, he's out on the platform! But he's busy right now.

He can't see you. He can if I'm standing in front of him.

But, madam...

Cow-killer! I beg pardon?

That silly train of yours killed my poor Alberta.

Oh, you must be Mrs. Tutaine. That I am.

Oh, the engineer told me about that, but I was at...

Well, I wasn't expecting such a young, pretty woman. Thank you.

And I'll thank you for my $50!

Now, as I understand it, your cow was grazing on the railroad tracks.

Grazing in the same place she's been grazing for eight years!

Until you came along and laid those infernal tracks!

Now, you know that the railroads own that strip of land

as a right-of-way for the past four months!

And we even put up a sign!

Did you ever know a cow that could read?

Your cow was trespassing on railroad right-of-way.

What does a cow know about trespassing?

And anyway, I think there should be a law

that animals have the right of way.

Well, you know they was trespassing,

and you know that livestock shouldn't be...

let to run free. Run free? Alberta was a prize-winning cow!

My son and I all but sang her to sleep at night.

And one time... one time she gets out,

and you and your men are there ready to smash her!

Now, listen Mrs. Tutaine! You just... ju...

Could we start over?

All right.

Cow-killer! I wish you'd stop saying that!

I want you to get your railroad off my land!

All that smoke and noise, and ground shaking.

It's a wonder I'm not smack in my grave.

You were paid for that right-of-way, weren't you?

Didn't say you could kill animals in any papers I signed!

Now, listen, Mrs. Tutaine... And you listen to me, Mr. Higgins!

Get that umbrella out of my face. I will when you give me $50.

I can't. I'm sorry. You mean you won't!

I mean, I can't! All right, Mr. Railroad,

I'm gonna fight! Ma'am?

Because I'm not gonna give up without one.

You! Picking on a poor, helpless widow.

I can tell. You didn't get the money.

Think they can take advantage of me, eh?

Lucy, what happened?

Mrs. Tutaine!

Mrs. Tutaine, wait.

I'll tell you what happened.

I've just declared war on the Mountain Pacific Railroad!

Giddyap! Mrs. Tutaine, wait!

Wait!

I was taking some things to Mrs. Cornsby when...

Matilda just up and decided to squat.

Right on the tracks.

It seems so.

We'll just have to lift the wagon off the tracks.

Will you give us a hand?

Oh, he's just a young boy.

I don't want him to strain his back.

What in the world have you got in here?

Rocks. Mrs. Cornby's making a rock garden,

and we're taking her some nice big ones.

Unload the wagon.

My Aunt Denella's got a rock garden.

She likes rhyolite stone.

She likes rhyolite stones, huh?

I'll "rhyolite" you in the head!

Get those...

Get those rocks out of the wagon, please?

Madam, you probably don't realize it,

but you're causing us a delay, and we have perishables aboard.

Melons, dairy products...

Oh. They'll go sour?

Mm, I'm afraid so.

I'm going to have to report this to Mr. Higgins.

While you're reporting, tell him about my $50.

See you tomorrow?

Ohh!

You don't know what I'd give to see the face

on that Mr. Higgins when they tell him about today.

The poor engineer bellowed louder than a train whistle

when that brakeman dropped that heavy rock on his toe.

I wonder what Mr. Higgins is going to say when he hears that.

It is a shame, though. That Mr. Higgins, he's...

kinda nice-lookin', wouldn't you say?

If you like the type. Oh, Lucy girl.

At our age any type's the right type.

You never know! I don't agree.

I'll know the type when I get goosebumps.

Somebody's comin' up the road, Ma.

Mr. Higgins!

Sooner than I thought. Son, go take care of his horse.

And I'll just scoot out the back way, Lucy.

You and him, you'll want to talk.

Like they say, "Three's a crowd."

What on earth are you talking about?

Well, he's a man over 21 and breathing.

And that makes him eligible! Abby.

Mrs. Tutaine!

Mr. Higgins! May I come in?

Oh, please do.

Harley, tend to your chores.

Won't you sit down? Oh, thank you.

I was just fixing a cup of coffee.

Would you like one? Oh, yes. I would. Yes.

Ah, this is a nice place you have here.

It ain't much. But it's clean.

Oh, it's a real home. You can feel it.

Oh, that looks fine. Eat.

Tea? Please.

No, no, that's fine.

Mm. That's delicious!

Not at all like that muddy water they try and sell you for coffee in the café.

Uh, Mrs. Tutaine.

I understand your donkey got stuck on the tracks here.

Yes. Matilda's head is hard as a rock.

Like those rocks you were carrying to your friend's?

Huh?

Mrs. Tutaine, I am going to be honest with you.

Now, you look like a person who respects honesty.

Yes, of course I do.

Very well. I don't think it was Matilda's idea at all

to get stuck on the tracks.

And I don't think your wagon just happened to be full of rocks.

I think you wanted to delay our train

to force us to pay you for your cow. Now, how about it?

You killed Alberta, didn't you?

I've already explained that to you, the railroad was in the right.

You have no case, Mrs. Tutaine, no case at all,

and I will thank you to stop delaying our trains!

You didn't bring the money? There will be no money. I am sorry.

Then I am sorry, Mr. Higgins...

especially if your train runs into more delays.

Good afternoon, Mr. Higgins.

Mrs. Tutaine. Mrs. Tutaine!

I want to talk to you about this! The door is open, Mr. Higgins.

If there's anything I hate, it's a stubborn woman!

Pig-headed men! Can't tolerate them.

Thought he could sweet-talk me into a girlish flutter.

Well, I'll fix his big brown eyes soon enough.

No. They were gray.

How'd you get the goosebumps, Ma?

Take a bath or something, son.

You like some fried chicken?

Did the nice tree just happen to fall across the tracks, Mrs. Tutaine?

It was an old tree, and you know how it is with old trees.

Are you sure you don't want some fried chicken?

Or maybe some nice, fresh ham?

Hey, I got a yen for some fresh ham.

Oh, you got a yen for some fresh ham?

You got a yen for a split skull!

Now get the block and tackle, and get that tree off the tracks!

How about a tomato, or a nice, big dill pickle?

Miss Tutaine? Did you bring the money?

No, I didn't. Excuse me.

We killed him. We killed him!

That foul woman, her own son!

Put me back on the train.

Take me away from here!

Mrs. Tutaine!

I am warning you... Cow-smasher.

I'll bet that old engineer had a conniption fit

when he thought he ran down Harley.

Serves Mr. Higgins right.

Trying to charm me with that big smile of his.

It's all a matter of principle now.

Oh, maybe. But I got a feeling you're havin' a time for yourself,

tauntin' that nice Mr. Higgins.

That's nonsense.

Well, you know. When a hen takes a shine to a certain rooster,

she starts cackling.

What do you mean?

Oh, nothin'. Well... I gotta go now.

Oh. What are you working on?

Oh, it's just a dress. Mm.

Satin and lace... honey child, that ain't just a dress!

Just let that Mr. Higgins show up here again.

Him with his brown, curly hair

and those big, broad shoulders!

Abby, you stop that!

"Tutaine situation becoming problem. Advise."

"Situation with Tutaine woman getting untenable. Advise."

Here's another from the main office.

Came while you were having lunch, Mr. Higgins.

"Advise you pay Tutaine $50. Worth nuisance value..."

I won't do it! This is a matter of principle!

Yes, sir. That woman is in the wrong!

Without a doubt, sir. This is developing into a battle of wills!

Yes, sir. She's a stubborn woman!

She's an ornery wench! Yes...

Watch your tongue, Henry! Sir?

She's stubborn, but she's a fine woman! Yes, sir.

How dareyou? Sorry, sir.

Well, she's got gumption. You gotta hand it to her.

There ain't many around with gumption nowadays. Yes, sir...

I mean, no sir. Hmm.

She's kind of a pretty little woman, too.

Oh, but she's stubborn! Hard-nosed, stubborn!

Still don't see what you want with that there bacon for, Ma.

Never you mind, Harley. Just get the bacon,

and get greasin' those tracks right up the grade.

Now what? And we were almost past this blasted place, too.

Grease?

Bacon grease!

Yeah?

Yeah. Real prime stuff, too.

So why don't you run your tongue along the track

and have lunch?

Go get the sand!

Uh, there ain't no sand. I didn't load any.

I figured, since it was summer,

there wouldn't be any slippery ice.

Well, then I guess

we'll have to slide back into town,

and get some!

Harley? Go take your bath.

It's only Thursday, Ma.

Well, be early for a change.

Ma? It's Mr. Higgins!

Oh, really? Well, run along, Harley.

Mr. Higgins! What a surprise.

Just cleaning house a little bit. Come in.

In that dress? Oh, this little rag!

Sit down.

Well, I've come about your claim, Mrs. Tutaine.

Yes, I've uh... That is, the railroad has decided to pay you for your cow.

Well, how nice of them.

I smell vanilla.

You been baking a pie?

Did you bring the money? Oh, I have it. Right here.

Oh, by the way, we haven't had milk from poor Alberta for six weeks now...

that's six gallons at 30 cents a gallon,

and that... well, you add another $1.80.

Now, see here! See here, I...

Dollar eighty.

Fifty-one dollars and... and eighty cents.

Thank you.

That sure is a pretty dress.

Think so? A dress like that should be shown off.

Like at a dance. You like to dance, Mrs. Tutaine?

Oh, well... I used to be a real stepper.

Is Mr. Higgins staying for supper, Ma?

Well, I guess his wife is expecting him.

But Ma, you know he ain't married.

Harley. Uh... Would you share potluck with us, Mr. Higgins?

Potluck? You mean pot roast.

She been fixin' on it all afternoon.

Harley!

Well, I guess I better go, huh?

Listen.

It's a nice sound, isn't it, Mr. Higgins?

Do you suppose you could call me Abel?

Abel.

My name is Lucille. Lucille.

Oh, it's a pretty name.

For a pretty lady.

Jonas! Jonas, get off the tracks!

Jonas!

Oh, no!

Ma? That train sure smashed poor old Jonas.

Lucy Tutaine won her battle with the railroad.

And eventually, the law was changed...

to give dumb animals the right of way

on open range.

Years later, George Weeks recorded the incident

in his book, California Copy.

As for poor old Jonas,

I guess he went where all the good goats go.