Original subtitles

OLD RANGER: And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hey.

Ha.

Ha.

Howdy, folks, I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another interesting, true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

Maybe you think

a lighthouse keeper'’s job is lonesome.

But Jimmy Dayton'’s job was lonesomer.

He had the gall-darn lonesomest job in the world

until that thing called romance hit him.

So let me tell you the story of...

Jimmy Dayton was the caretaker

of Greenland Ranch in Death Valley

back in the early 1890'’s.

During the winter months, he had a ranch hand

to keep him company.

But come summer, even the Indians

left the valley.

And Jimmy was then the sole human being

in all that desolation.

Once in three months,

he hitched up and drove down to Daggett,

130 miles away, to buy supplies and draw his pay.

Well, let me have an usual 50 and put the rest

to my account.All right.

You'’ve building up quite a bank balance

over the years, Jimmy.

Yeah, saving it for a rainy day.

But it never rains in Death Valley. [ cheering ]

[ chuckles ] Selena'’s right, Jimmy.

You oughta have yourself a little fun

now and then when you come to town.

♪♪ [ saloon ]

You know, maybe I will get me a mule'’s ear full of suds

and wash the alkali out of my throat.

Good. Cut loose and enjoy yourself for a change.

Bye, Miss Selena.Bye, Jimmy.

Don'’t you ever feel like taking your own medicine?

Huh? What medicine?

Relax, have fun, trip the light fantastic.

Well, there'’s no one to dance with.

That'’s what you think.

♪♪ [ saloon ]

Beer.

[ crowd cheering ]

Who is she?Oh, that'’s Flory Wilkins.

She plays the piano here at the Rendezvous

when she ain'’t dancin'.

[ crowd laughing ]

Get me a whiskey, Whitey.

Who do you think you are[ laughing ]

making fresh remarks like that?

I'’m your lover-boy, that'’s who.

I oughta slap your face.Try and do it.

[ laughs ] Are you looking for a fight?

Yeah, what'’s the idea?

I'’m just flying to your defense, ma'’am.

I'’m quite capable of doing my own flying.

And I'’ll thank you to mind your own business.

[ chuckles ] Mr. Methuselah.

[ laughing ]

I got a good mind to--Ah, lay off him.

He ain'’t got long to live anyhow.

[ laughs ]

What a woman.

Got to learn you, Grandpa,

not to sashay around with the ladies.

My name ain'’t Grandpa, and I got just as much right

to sashay as the next fellow.

[ laughing ]

My foot ain'’t in the grave quite yet.

[ train horn honking ]

What-What train is that?Number 2, Westbound.

Stopped here to take on water.

Give me the rest and I'’ll pay it, will you?

Quick and in cash, if you got it.

Where you going, Jimmy?Los Angeles.

If it'’s all right with you if I take a few days off?

Sure, go ahead. You got a vacation coming.

Thanks.

Take Mag for me, will you, Selena?

You stay, you stay with Selena.

And Jimmy meant it, too. Let them laugh.

He'’d show 'em.

It took two weeks in the big city

before Jimmy came back to show '’em.

Jimmy.

Well, how do you like the new scenery?

I can'’t believe it's you.

Hmm. GARY: You really went to town, didn'’t you?

Yup. Shot the wad.

Not only got some new duds,

but I got something above timber line.

She don'’t recognize that... [mispronouncing] Eau de Cologne.

Great guns.

Anybody would think you'’re going to get married.

I'’ll let you in on a little secret, boss.

[ tsks ] Maybe I am.

I want to spark her, anyhow.

I'’ll show her I'’m no Methus-lur.

How old are you, Jimmy?I'’m 59.

Fifty-nine, hmm. ♪♪ [ piano ]

And I'’m getting blame tired of being a bachelor,

living all alone in Death Valley.

Come on, Mag. Come on.

♪♪ [end]

What a life.

Tickling the ivories in a dump like this.

[ train horn ]

Number 3, Eastbound.[ chuckles ]

I wish I was a boarder.

Heading for New York.

[ chuckles ] I could sure do with some bright lights

after being stuck in this dump.

Have another drink, baby.I'’m sick of drinking.

Why don'’t anybody interesting ever land here?

A big mining man or a promoter?

Now, listen, baby, I--Don'’t call me baby.

I'’m old enough to--I know how old you are.

Are you--You get out of here, Thad Riker.

And stay out.

I'’ve taken all the abuse I'’m gonna from you.

All right, all right,

but let me tell you one thing, sweetheart.

That'’s about all you can expect to get

from any man from now on.

[ laughs ]

[ bottle crashing ]

[ crowd laughing ]

[ Flory playing piano ]

Welcome, stranger.

Somebody threw a bottle.

[ laughs ]

The manners of some of these folks around here.

Yeah.

Say, you'’re new in Daggett, ain'’t you?

Well, I just got in from Los Angeles.

[ chuckles ] You going to stay around for awhile?

In our midst?

Well, I'’m on my way out to my ranch.

Oh. You'’re a cattleman?

Well, not exactly.

You see, I [ clears throat ] I have other interests.

[ chuckles ] Whitey?

Bring the gentleman a drink.

I don'’t believe I caught your name.

Mr. James Dayton, esquire.

Of Los Angeles?

And Death Valley.Death Valley?

How romantic.Keep the change.

Thanks.

You know, I just love the desert.

It'’s...sort of a religion with me.

Well?

Here'’s luck.

Now, if you'’ll stand over there.

Who me? I-I'’m not the sheriff.

I-I mean, I'’m-I'm not the bride groom.

I'’m just the witness. He--I'’m-I'm-I'’m the bride groom.

Oh, well, there'’s no doubt as

to who'’s the bride. [ laughs ]

No.

Now, if you'’ll stand over there please,Yeah.

and you directly behind. And do you mind standing...?

As sheriff of this county,

a-as justice of peace of this county,

it is my privilege and pleasure

to unite this couple in wedlock.

Do you, James Dayton,

take this lady for your lawful-wedded wife?

[ mouths ]

Welcome home, Mrs. Dayton.

My, what a trip.

Is this the bunker house?

No, this is where I-- Where we live.

Where we live?

Yes.

But-- What about the-the ranch hands

and the wranglers and the cowboys?

Oh, oh, there he comes now.

[ laughs ]

Well, I didn'’t recognize you, Jimmy.

All dressed up like Mrs. Astor'’s pet horse.

[ both chuckling ]

Vic, I want you, I want you to meet Mrs. Dayton.

Mrs. Dayton?Yeah.

Why you old coot.

Don'’t tell me you got hitched?

Well, you don'’t think I'’d be out here

with him if we weren'’t. What'’s more, my good man,

that'’s no way for a hired hand

to address the owner of this ranch.

Owner?

Did they throw the ranch in with the wife, Jimmy?

[ laughs ]

Well, no, you see, Flory, I don'’t--

I don'’t really own the ranch.

But I'’m-I'm in charge here.

I--He'’s the caretaker.

Is that true?

Yes. But I'’m-I'm practically my own boss.

But you work for wages?

Yes.

And you pretended to me

you was a big cattle king?

No, no, Flory.

Deceived me into marrying you

with all your talk about your-your interests.

Well, I-I didn'’t mean to, Flory.

You see, you-you jumped to conclusions.

Jump, did I?

Well, believe me, I'’m jumping right out

of this hole so fast, it'’ll make your hair curl.

If you had any.

Oh, you didn'’t fool me with that wig.

Not for a moment, you didn'’t.

It ain'’t a wig. It'’s a too-pee.

But I was willing to put up with all your infirmities

'’cause I thought at least you had money.

Now I find out you haven'’t a red cent.

I have got money, Flory. Plenty of it.

Put away.Where?

It'’s-It's buried.

Buried?

You think you'’re Captain Kidd or somebody?

It'’s buried on the ranch here.

A whole bag of gold.

At the end of a rainbow.No, under a tree.

Which one?

There'’s trees all around here.

I ain'’t saying.

Are you lying to me?

Of course not.

You can take my trunk out of the bunk board.

I got the dishes done, Flory.

Going over now to mend some fencing.

Hope you won'’t be too lonesome while I'’m gone.

Don'’t worry about me. I'’ll keep busy.

Take it easy.

♪♪ [ humming ]

[ Mag barking ]

Quiet, Mag. That ain'’t no squirrel.

[ sighs ]

[ Mag barking ]

Look what Mag and me brung you, Flory.

A sagehen. Shot it on the way home.

Thought maybe you might cook it for supper.

What'’s sagehen?

It'’s-It's a kind of, kind of a bird.

Can it fly?

Well, sure.

[ chuckles ] You'’re welcome to it.

Anything that can fly and don'’t leave this country

ain'’t worth eating.

Here, Mag. Take it.

Take it. Take it to Vic, Mag.

Vic likes sagehen.

You-You look tired.I'’m all right.

You oughta have something more comfortable, Flory.

Sittin'’ all day.

I-I'’ll see to it that you have a rocking chair.

Sorry. Got to see the color of your money.

You don'’t trust me, Whitey?

For one measly drink?

It'’s cash at the grave sight.

That'’s a fine way to treat an old customer

who spent plenty at this bar.

Listen, fellow, you never paid for the drinks you had here.

She did.

You mooched off Flory the day you got to Daggett

until the day she quit,

but you'’re not mooching off me.

It'’s cash on the line

before you get as much of a bottle of soda pop around here.

Have I made myself clear?

Quit it, Mag. There'’s nothing there.

I lied to her.

I'’m driving into Daggett tomorrow.

So soon?

I thought it was once in three months you went.

Well, something'’s come up. Business.

Oh.

I thought maybe might like to know

so you can be packing.

I'’m not going.

What?

I'’m staying right here.

Flory!

You mean you-you'’d rather stay here?

I'’d much rather. For awhile, yet.

Oh.

Well, I [ mumbles ] I don'’t like the idea

of leaving you alone.

I don'’t mind.

Maybe I can get one of the Paiute women

to come over and...

sleep in the house.

Do you think I need a chaperone?

No, but I thought maybe you might be nervous.

Well, I'’m not.

I'’m not nervous in the least.

I haven'’t a nerve in my body.

I-- [ groans ]

Oh, for heaven'’s sake, would you stop sitting there

and staring at me like that?

You'’re mighty handsome when you get mad, Flory.

The first time I met you and you tied into me,

[ snaps fingers ]

that'’s the time I fell in love with you.

You'’ve come to the wrong place

for a handout, young fellow.

A grubstake.

All we got to offer is jobs.

Yeah, in the mines. At $4 a day.

$3.50 for muckers.

Well, well.

If it ain'’t the little guy

that tried to pick a fight with me at the Rendezvous.

JIMMY: I'’ve come to draw my pay.

GARY: But you said--

My back pay that you'’ve been saving for me.

Well, how much of it?

The whole shebang.All of it?

And what'’s more,

I'’d like it in gold.

These are your life savings, Jimmy.

Mm.You planning on putting them into something?

Yes, the ground.The ground?

What do you mean, Jimmy?

Well, I told my wife

I had a sack of gold buried on the ranch,

under a tree.

It was...

It was the only way I could get her to stay.

And she-she'’s been

huntin'’ for it ever since.

And now you'’re going to put it there?

Yes. I couldn'’t let Flory down.

Have her think I was a liar.

[ Mag whining ]Whoa.

Hey, wait a minute now.

Mag, we got some work to do here.

We got some work to do here, all right.

[ laughs ] Yes.

Get up, son. Come on.

I brought you some produce from Daggett, Flory.

How was things in Daggett?Mm, about as usual.

Oh, by the way, I run into that young fella.

What fella?

That fella that-that got fresh with you

that time in the Rendezvous.Thad?

Well, how was he? What did he say?

Did-Did he ask about me?

No, he-he was just leavin'’

the company office just as I came in.

Oh.

[ chuckles ] There'’s one handsome fella.

FLORY: Vic? Is that you?

Thad.Flory.

What on earth are you doing here?

Well, I-I came to see you. What do you think?

Are you crazy?

No crazier than I'’ve always been.

You'’re in my blood, baby. I can'’t get you out.Thad!

If Jimmy should find out--Oh, that old, dried-up mummy.

Had no business marrying him, Flory.

Well, maybe not, but I--But there'’s nothing for you here.

We'’re going away together, you and me.

I can'’t live without you.

Oh, you'’re in my blood, too, Thad.

What'’s that? Money!

A sack of money.Yeah, for you and me.

Jimmy'’s treasure.

How did you find it?

Heard him talking in Daggett.

Trailed him out, watched him bury it.

[ chuckles ] Oh.

So it wasn'’t there all the time.

No, he was lying to you. [ chuckles ]

Take us a long ways, baby.

Well? How about it?

We'’ll leave this very night.

Well, Mag.

It looks like it'’s just you and me for now on.

[ crowd laughing ]

Settle again, Whitey.

[ laughing ]

Come on, Thad. Let'’s go.

Ah, what'’s your hurry, honey?

I'’m tired and my head'’s splitting.

Well, then, run along. Keep the change.

Thad!Aw.

I was just trying to get you away

before them fellows rolled ya.

What fellows?Don'’t look around now.

A couple of sharpers. They'’re laying for you.

Don'’t look! How much you got on you?

Well, all of it except for what I spent.

Here, slip it to me. I'’ll stand up real close.

Put it in my bag.

Quick, while they'’re not looking.

Thank you. And goodbye.

Good night. Hey!

Where you going?Away from here.

And you needn'’t try and follow me

because I'’m all through with you.

Oh, Flory.

You didn'’t come to Death Valley for me.

You were after the money.

And if I hadn'’t happen to just catch you

stealing it--Yeah, and where would you be?

Still out there, rotting away.

Half that money'’s mine.It ain'’t a cent of it yours.

It'’s my husband's.

You lay a finger on it and I'’ll sick

the sheriff on you. You low down dirty sneak.

Put it away for Jimmy. Where it will be safe.

Why are you doing this, Mrs. Dayton?

[ chuckles ] Mrs. Dayton.

Because he'’s treated me so decent.

The only man in my life who ever has.

All he asked for was to make me happy.

Look after me.

He loves you.

You take the money back to him yourself.

Oh, no, I-I couldn'’t face him.

I-I'’d be too ashamed.You fool.

Here you got the most precious thing in the world--

the love and devotion of a good man,

and you throw it all away because of silly pride.

You go back to him now.

[ groans ] How, I...I'’ve got no way.

Oh, that can be arranged. I'’ll speak to Mr. Gary.

We'’ll take you there ourselves.

[ carriage creaking ] [ Mag barking ]

Whoa, whoa.

[ barking continues ]

Flory.

[ sighs ] I brought it back to you, Jimmy.

Your treasure.

My treasure.

Pretty wonderful thing, love.

Yes, it is.

Selena!

Why, Selena, I didn'’t know that you--

You never took the trouble to find out.

Oh, Selena.

[ barking ]

Jimmy Dayton rounded out his life at Greenland Ranch,

now Furnace Creek Ranch.

And when he died, was buried only

a few miles away.

Where today, you can see a balanced plaque

that marks the bit of earth

dedicated forever to one of Death Valley'’s pioneers.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]