Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, I'm the Old Ranger,

and Death Valley's my stompin' ground.

Many's the tale of adventure I'm going to tell you

about the Death Valley country, true stories mind you.

I can vouch for that.

NARRATOR: It's the year 1908.

The Nevada desert lies silent, empty under a burning sky,

and then suddenly over the sagebrush telegraph

flashes the news-- gold, a new strike,

and the mining camp of Rawhide is born.

And now to bid for this fine piece of business property?

Do I hear six, who will make it six?

Do I hear six, who will make it six?

Who'll say six?

Who'll say six? Do I hear six?

Is there six dollars in the crowd?

Oh, come, gentlemen,

this is real estate you're bidding on,

the backbone of our country.

Without real estate,

we wouldn't have anything to stand on.

[ laughing ]

You're not going to let this lot go for a poultry $5.

Why, by the morning it will be worth 15,

and in a week, 500.

I've got five. Do I hear six?

Come, come, my friends, you can't buy it

if you don't speak up. And if you don't speak up,

you'll kick yourself from here to Carson City.

[ man shouts ]

Oh, excuse me, mister. I-I'm sorry. [ chuckles ]

Hiya, Two-Bits.

[ auctioneer speaking ]

Hiya, ma'am.

Sold, to the wise man with the burrow for $6.

Now if you just step up here and give me your money,

I'll write you out a receipt and give you a bill of sale

for the property.

Here, you want to see?

[ crowd laughing ]

Hey, lady, put me down!

Let the little guy up front here, where he can bid.

Go on, get in there, Two-Bits.

Oh, I don't want to bid.

I ain't interested in any city [ stutters ] lots.

I-I just came to watch.

All right, folks,

now let's get on with the bidding.

Block 3, lot 63.

Right spec in the middle of town, on Rawhide Ave.

What are my bid?Five dollars.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

EDDIE: Ten. MAN: Twelve.

Fifteen.

The gentleman bids 15 Do I hear 16?

Oh come, come, gentlemen.

This is one of the choicest lots in town.

Right in the heart of Rawhide.

All right, who'll say 16?

Do I hear 16?

Sixteen.

Seventeen.

Eighteen.

All right, I got 18, I got 18.

Who'll say 20? Who'll say 20?

Only $20 for a choice lot

that will soon become the queen city of the desert.

Going at 18 once?

Chance of a lifetime, mister.

Rawhide's growing at the rate of a 100 a day.

Telegraph lines are on there way in.

Well?

Going at 18 twice?

What do you say, stranger? Want to go share it?

Gosh, I only got about $10 to my name.

Going at 18 the third and last time?

Are you all through? Are you all done?

Twenty!

All right, I got 20. Anybody make it 21?

Are you all done? Going at 20 once?

Going at 20 twice?

Third and last call?

Sold, for $20 to Mister...

Eddie Nukeman and...

Little Oscar, I-I mean, Oscar Little.

Please to meet you, partner.

Oh, thank you, thank you very much.

Hiya. Hiya, Two-Bits.

How's the big real estate operator?

Well, we-we already been offered $500 for this lot,

but Eddie's holding on for more.

He says we're gonna make a fortune.

Well, look me up if you do.

I'd like to be the first to congratulate you.

Oh, well, thank you, Miss...

Ruby's the name.

I'll be worki'' right across the street

in the dance hall I'm puttin' up.

The-The Stingaree. Drop in and see me.

Thank you, ma'am.

In no time at all, using new lumber and old,

even buildings in deserted mining camps,

the town of Rawhide sprang from the sand and sagebrush

with the usual quota of dance halls

and gambling joints.

And right in the middle of them,

was Little Oscar's vacant lot.

Eureka!

Dance, partner. Kick up the heels.

Sing, yell, eureka!

Eureka.

Ain't you glad we held out now like I said we should?

Instead of selling out for some measly sum?

You mean, we sold our lot?

For $46,500.

$46,500?

Black cash.

[ clattering ]

But who?

Riley Grammer, the famous gambler.

Building a big place here, biggest in Rawhide.

$46,500.

Split two ways...Is $23,250 apiece.

And you'd have sold out for $5,000.

I'd have sold out for 500.

Why, why the most money I ever had in my whole life at once

was...100 bucks.

Well, you're in the chips now, partner.

[ laughing ]

I can hardly believe it's real.

Me. Oscar Little.

[ chuckles] Well, take care of it.

So long.

You mean you're leaving Rawhide?

You bet. Hightailing it back

to Denver to my wife and kids.

But-But can't we go someplace and have-have a drink?

To celebrate?Afraid I won't have time.

The stage leaves in 15 minutes. Good luck, Oscar.

Goodbye, Eddie.

Ahem.

Well, here's mud in your eye and dust in your poke.

Drinks for everybody.

Come on, bartender, set 'em up.

Thanks, stranger.

Stranger? Why, I was here when this town was born.

I'm one of the founders.

Yeah?Sure, bought one of the first lots.

And I just sold it at 200,000% profit.

Hey, what's going on around here?

Hello, Miss Ruby, will you join us in a bit?

Sure, who's buyin'?

I am.

That belongs to you, Two-Bits?

Yup. What will you have?

Well, I... [ chuckles ]

Let's you and me go somewhere where we feel a little cozier.

And this will take care of the bar bill.

And you take care of the rest, eh, Ruby?

Now, where'd you get all this, hold up a stage?

No, not you.

We sold our lot, Ruby. I got $23,250.

Shh!

[ whispers ] Did you say $23,250?

Yup.And it's all here?

Only except the $10 you gave the bartender.

[ chuckles ] You know, Two-Bits,

I had a feeling the day I picked you up

that you was a man to keep an eye on.

Hey, Manny, bring us a bottle of your best

and a couple of glasses.

You mean, you're gonna help me celebrate?

You bet I am!

[ chuckles ] I'm gonna make this

a day you'll never forget.

OSCAR: Yes, sir, little ol' Eddie

is on his way to Denver by now.

[ chuckles ] You know somethin'?

I kind of envy him.Oh?

What's so wonderful about Denver?

I meanhaving a wife and kids. Oh.

[ giggles ] Shouldn't be hard to find yourself a wife.

Kids, of course, take time.

All my life, I've dreamed of being rich.

And now that it's happened, I feel kind of lost

without having someone to rejoice with.

Oh, I'm rejoicing.

Well, I mean someone close to me.

Not like a friend.Ain't you got a family?

I did have once upon a time in upstate New York.

But I ain't seen or heard from them

since I ran away from home 33 years ago.

Well, didn't you ever write 'em?

[ chuckles ] Never had nothi'' to tell 'em till now.

It's nice of you to waste your time

sittin' here talkin' to me like this, Ruby.

Oh, shucks, this is my pleasure.

You're a fine girl, finest I ever met.

You're drunk.

No, I ain't. I mean it.

And you're pretty, too.

I was, once.

You are now, to me.

[ crowd chattering, applauding ]

And you're kind,

and generous, and honest.

You don't have to talk to me that way, I ain't used to it.

Just the same, it's the truth.

If it hadn't been for you,

I never would have even bought that lot.

The auctioneer might not have even seen me.

So I want you to take some of that money.

You do?

Yeah.

You earned it just as much as I did.

Here, you-you little half-print, I don't want none of it.

Now, go pack your stuff and get out of town as fast as you can.

Out of town? What for?

For your own good, go back East,

visit your family.

Be with somebody close to you.

[ chuckles ] You know something?

Ruby, that's-that's a good idea.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Oh, don't thank me, just get goin'.

And keep that money in your pocket,

with a safety pin on it.

Almost before he could realize it,

Oscar Little was aboard a train, heading East.

Trusting that some of his folks

were still living in the same town.

And sure enough, they were.

This is just business, Carl, and facts are facts.

This note is long overdue, and I'm here to collect it.

I know how you feel, Myron,

but can't you give me another 30 days?

WOMAN: Please, just another 30 days.

MYRON: I already gave you 60.

I can't see what another 30 will do.

But I'll raise the money somehow.

Somehow.That's what you said the last time.

I'm a practical man, Carl.

Personally, you're a very fine fellow.

But from a business standpoint, you're mighty full risk.

I just cannot let this note run another day.

But we just don't have the money now, Mr. Welsh.

Then I'll have to attach what property you do have.

You mean, you mean take the livery stable?

Oh, you can't do that, Mr. Welsh. Oh, no.

Now, goodness knows I don't want to.

With the horse and buggy on its way out,

it certainly isn't worth much.

But I am a business man,

and half a loaf is better than none at all.

Oh, dear.

It's my living, Myron. You want to ruin me?

You're already ruined.Don't you talk to him like that.

It's high time that you quit wishing for miracles

and come to realize that--

What did you say?I said,

"Don't you talk to him like that."

Mr. Little here happens to owe me $6,000.

And I don't see why I--Oh, is that all?

Well...

The way you was squawkin', I'da thought it was a million.

There's your $6,000.

Now, get out of here.

I said get out!

Yes sir, yes sir.

Yes, sir.

He's quite right about a livery stable

being a back number, Carl.

[ chuckles ] You ought to switch to automobiles.

Here, this will buy you several as a starter.

[ chuckling ] Well, nice little place you've got here.

Needs fixing up, though.

We'll take care of that right away.

Excuse me, if I'm not too curious,

just who are you?

Me? Why-Why I'm your brother Oscar.

[ laughing ]

You made your fortune, I understand, Mr. Little, in gold mines.

Real estate. [ chuckles ]

You're not married, Mr. Little?

No need. In my busy life,

I've had very little time for matrimony.

He owns all of Rawhide, Nevada.Did own, my dear.

I sold out at the peak.

Was that one of your biggest deals, sir?

Yes, indeed.

I sunk a great deal of capital in Rawhide.

I saw it's future as queen city of the desert.

My investment yielded a profit of 200,000%.

Now, if you'll stop asking questions for a minute,

chin up a little higher, Mr. Little.

[ laughs ] That's it.

You...

step in closer.Oh, I don't belong.

I'm just watching.

Oh, [ chuckles ] I thought you were one of the family.

Well, then, stand away a little.

Oh, that cap and goggles cover your face too much, Mr. Little.

Would you take them off, please? No, sir.

They're the very latest things, and I'm going to wear them.

Very well.

Wouldn't you rather be

photographed with your coat off, Mama?

The temperature is almost 100.

The first fur coat I ever owned in my life?

I should say not, not if the temperature is 200.

Now, would you please stop talking

and take your positions?

Yeah, that's it.

Now, if you'll all be looking at Mr. Little.

No, no, Mr. Oscar Little.

Yes, that's it. All right, now.

Hold it.

Very still, one--

Where do you want this new settee, Mrs. Little?

Right over here.

Please, Mrs. Little, I'm trying to take a picture.

I'm sorry. Right over there.

All right, now, shall we try it again?

Hold it, one--

All right, now, this is it. Oh!

Oh, my goodness.

A gramophone. Oh, Uncle Oscar.

[ chuckling ] And I bought you 100 records to go with it.

Oh Johnny, did you hear that?

[ gasps ] Imagine evenings.

Oh, just put it over there, please.

Hold it!

Want to see if this is the right color

for the shutters, Mrs. Little?

It's a perfectly lovely color.

Now, get out.

Get out of here!

I came here to take a picture,

and I'm going to take a picture.

All right, now,

don't anybody dare move.

Thank you, very much.

And since it was the first time

Oscar had ever hit the front page,

he couldn't resist sending a copy of the paper

to Ruby in Rawhide.

Buying fur coats and diamond rings for his sister-in-law?

That's what it says.

And you let him slip right through our fingers.

Ruby, how could you?

Really throwing the money around, little Two-Bits is.

Having a fling for the first time

in his sawed-off life.

Loving every minute of it.

Yes sir, Oscar had never been so happy.

Even though his money was evaporating like water.

JOHNNY: I can't ask you to marry me, Hazel,

the way things are.

I got nothing to offer you.

What difference does that make, Johnny?

So long as we love each other.

Wouldn't be right.

A fellow has got to be able to support his wife.

HAZEL: Well, you're going to make money, Johnny.

That invention of yours,

it'll be a world-beater.

Sure, if ever I can get it on the market,

but that takes capital.

It may be years.

HAZEL: Darling, don't say that.

We can't go on waiting and waiting till we're old and--

[ door opening ]

Excuse me for butting in, kids.

I couldn't help but overhear.

I have a sharp ear for business investments.

What is this invention of yours, Johnny?

An egg beater, did she say?

It's a new type of can opener.

Well, they certainly can use them on the desert.

Has it been approved?

Yes sir, I could've sold the patent outright, but I--

But you wanted to hang onto it and reap the benefit.

How much do you need, Johnny?

Oh, Uncle Oscar.Oh, no, sir.

OSCAR: Well, why not?

I've been looking around for a good investment.

What do you need, Johnny?

Ooh, quite a lot.

Well, I only happened to have

about $4,500 on me at the moment.

$4,000 would be plenty.

Well, fine, here. Take the lot.

Use the other $500 for a honeymoon.

And keep it working for you.

Don't let it lie idle.

Don't you want a receipt?

Receipt? Don't believe in them.

I go by a man's face, not his handwriting.

Uncle Oscar, are you sure you're not doing this

just out of--Sentiment?

I never heard of the word.

I learned a long time ago not to let personal feelings

enter into business transactions.

That's the reason for my big success.

Hello, give me the telegraph office.

I want to send a telegram.

To little-- Oscar Little.

care of Carl Little, Island Road, this town.

Big merger coming up.

Imperative that you return to Nevada pronto.

Pronto. Right away.

WOMAN: We sure hate to see you go, Oscar.

Business is business.Sure.

If we didn't attend to it, we'd soon be bankrupt.

I wish you'd change your mind

and let me drive you to the depot

in one of my new autos.

No thanks, Carl. I'd rather walk.

Then let us walk with you.And see you off.

[ chuckles ] I-I don't like to say goodbye in public.

I might make a fool of myself.

Well?

Oscar, I can never thank you for what you've done for me.

Think nothing of it, Carl.

It's been like Christmas and Thanksgiving

and the 4th of July all rolled into one

having you here.

And I don't mean just the money, either.

Sure has changed things for me.

Shucks, boy, all I did was give you a little hand.

And that's all anyone needs

in this big, wonderful country of ours.

A start, an opportunity.

I oughta know,

I started out with nothing at all,

and look at me now.

Come again, Oscar.Remember, this is your home,

no matter what.

Thanks.

Good old Oscar.Dear Oscar.

Wonderful, wonderful Uncle Oscar.

And so back to Nevada went Oscar Little,

in what you might call a private car

or maybe a side-door port.

And from the railroad,

he struck out across the desert on foot for Rawhide.

WOMAN: Oscar, Oscar!

Hey, stop the stage.

Whoa.

Two-Bits.Ruby.

What are you going in that direction for?

You-You ain't leavin' Rawhide?

Well, everybody's leavin' Rawhide.

There was a big fire, wiped the whole place out.

Well, they can build it up again, can't they?

Eh, Rawhide was through.

One of those camps that was just a flash in the pan.

Hey Ruby, hurry up.

We're all going back to Goldfield.

Come along, there's room.

Oh, oh fine.It'll only cost you ten bucks.

Oh, I-I guess maybe I'll walk.

It's 100 miles.

Well, I-I feel like stretchin' my legs a little,

after sittin' on the train for so long.

You broke, Two-Bits?

Flat, stormy.

But anyway, it was worth it.

If I had the chance, I'd do it all over again.

Maybe you will.

I doubt it.

But, anyway, I got something nice to remember...

for the rest of my life.

Hey Ruby, get aboard.

I'll stake you for the ride.

I'll see you in Goldfield.

All right, Two-Bits, see you in Goldfield.

Hyah!

There're lots of folks who wind up

just as they started out.

But I sincerely doubt that many of them

feel as happy about it as Little Oscar.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]