Original subtitles

And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hyah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another interesting true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

Funny thing about the Death Valley Desert--

less rain there than anywhere else in the world,

but more rainbows,

and plenty of folks who spend their lives following them.

It'’s about one such man that I'’m going to tell you tonight.

The story of Herb Phinney...

That'’s the original gunsight that the mine was named after?

Yep. I got it from a friend of mine

who was a personal friend of the 49er

who dropped it while crossing the Panamints.

Do you really think you could locate the mine?

All I need'’s a grubstake.Mister, you'’ve got one.

Just tell me what you need in the way of an outfit, and I'’ll-- WOMAN: Herb.

Oh, hello, Lucretia.Mornin'’, Herb.

I thought I'’d take a look at those new bolts of calico you said had come in.

Meet my wife. Mrs. Phinney, Mr., uh...

What is your name anyhow?

Charlie Flack. [ chuckles ]

It'’s a good idea to know your partner'’s name.

Partner?

HERB: I'’m grubstaking this gentleman, my dear.

Oh, Herb!

This is a surefire proposition, Cretia.

Charlie here has seen samples from the mine.

Got a map right here.

He'’s even got the gunsight.

So it'’s the Lost Gunsight Mine you'’re going after.

But don'’t go spreading that around until I'’m out of town.

Especially to gossips like Miss Almy.

Herb, are you dipping into our savings?

Oh, what do they amount to anyhow, Lucretia?

Chickenfeed. When I think of all the years

I'’ve been clerking here in this store, Charlie,

and how little I got to show for it.

That money'’s all we got, Herb.

It'’d buy shoes for the children and put paint

and paper in the house, which goodness knows it needs.

Oh, we won'’t be living in that old shack much longer anyhow.

Soon as Charlie here locates the Lost Gunsight for us,

I'’m moving the whole Phinney family

into a brand-new, beautiful, big mansion.

Yes, sir. With solid silver knobs on all the doors.

How would you like that, my dear?

Herb, I still wish you wouldn'’t spend our savings.

I ain'’t. I'’m investing them.

Trouble with you is, Lucretia, you got no gambling instinct.

Come on, Charlie. Make out a list for what you need.

Sooner you get started, the better.

And we'’ll have a great big, beautiful mansion, brand-new.

With solid silver knobs on all the doors.

Aw, go on!

You don'’t believe me?Nah.

I'’ll show you.

[ gasps ]Oh, sorry, Miss Almy.

Davey, what are you looking for?

The gunsight. I wanna show it to Marty Rhodes.

He don'’t believe it about our getting rich.

Why do you let their father string '’em along?

What do you mean?

Well, that bindle stiffy grubstake

ain'’t gonna find that Lost Gunsight Mine, and you know it.

Miracles have happened.Huh!

[ broom sweeping ]

Daydreaming again, huh? Get busy with that broom.

Yes, sir. Ye--

You won'’t be ordering me around much longer, Mr. Betts.

Huh?

Pretty soon, I'’ll be out handling my own affairs

as owner of the richest mine in Christendom,

the Lost Gunsight.

"Lost Gunsight"?

I'’m just marking time until my partner returns.

And when he does, you know what I'’m gonna do, Betts?

I'’m gonna walk up to you,

shove this broom in your hand and say--

Partner!"Partner"?

Charlie!

Charlie, old partner, did you bring the samples?

No. No, I didn'’t.

You mean, you didn'’t find it?

Whoever drawed that map was either cockeyed or drunk.

I didn'’t even get a smell of her the whole 60 days.

Well, what do you know?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Well, better luck next time.

There'’s not gonna be a next time.

I'’m leaving this right here...

as a reminder.

Well, if Mrs. Phinney thought her husband had learned a lesson,

she was mistaken.

His imagination had only been fired.

And a few months later, when another prospector came along

with a scheme for locating the Lost Burro Mine,

Herb lent a willing ear, and the money.

After that, there followed a succession of grubstakes

for other lost mines.

All of which remained lost.

It really has me quite worried.

Something about that word "lost" that gets Herb every time.

Well, just so long as he don'’t take it into his head

to go off looking for them lost mines himself.

Oh!Did you hurt yourself?

Oh, I guess not.

Oh, I'’ve been after Herb for weeks to mend that broken step,

but he ain'’t got around to it.

Afternoon, Miss Almy, Lucretia.

Well, Herb, what are you doing home so early?

You was fired?I quit.

[ gasps ] Herb!

Now, don'’t worry, Lucretia. I got something in mind.

Something that'’ll put us on Easy Street for the rest of our lives.

What is it?

I'’m going out and locate the Lost Breyfogle Mine.

[ gasps ]So it'’s come.

Herb! Herb, you can'’t go wandering off in the desert

and leave me and the children.

If you want to grubstake other folk--

No. I'’m all through grubstaking other men, Lucretia.

The only way to locate a mine is to go out and do it yourself.

What'’ll happen to me and the children while you'’re gone?

How will we get along?You can charge everything at the store.

And if Old Man Betts has any conscience,

he'’ll give you the regular discount too,

after the picayune wages he'’s paid me.

Maybe it wasn'’t worth no more.

And so, Herb Phinney started jauntily off

for the end of the rainbow marked Lost Breyfogle Mine,

and his family settled down to eat.

LUCRETIA: Bessie?

Yes, Mama?

Run to the store and get me some flour.

We'’re all out.Yes'’um.

Ask Mr. Betts to put it on the bill.

Yes'’um.

Mm-hmm.

[ clears throat, sniffs ]

Hello, Bessie.

Could I have ten pounds of flour, please?

You say "ten"?

Or-- Or maybe--

I guess five will be enough.

What do you get so little for?

We buy flour by the barrel.

We only need a little.

Just enough to-- to bake a cake.

Cake? Whose birthday?

Nobody'’s.

It'’s for when my father gets home.

To-- To celebrate.

Celebrate!

Here you are, Bessie. Five pounds of flour.

That'’s, uh, 30 cents.

Will you put it on the bill, please?

Charging it...

All right, Bessie.

That cake'’ll get mighty stale, won'’t it, setting for months?

My father will be home any day now.

How do you know?

Well, we'’ve had a letter.

Oh, no, you ain'’t.

You ain'’t heard a word from him since he left.

My cousin delivers the mail,

and he said you ain'’t had a letter or a card

or as much as a scrap.

Bessie. Bessie.

Pa! Oh, Pa!

Pa!Hi, honey.

I said you was coming!

Ya see?

Did you find it, Pa?

Find what?

The Lost Breyfogle Mine.

No. No, I didn'’t.

That fella Breyfogle was crazy.

Crazy with the heat.

Come on, Lucy.

[ laughs mockingly ]

Herb Phinney rested for awhile after his return.

After all, chasing rainbows takes it out of a man.

The feet especially.

Then, one Sunday morning,

Lucretia came home from church to find him...

LUCRETIA: Herb!

Well, Mrs. Phinney, I'’m off again.

Herb, I was just talking after church with Mr. Betts--

And I'’ve just been talking with an Injun.

He'’s willing to take you on at the store again, Herb.

Not on your tintype.

When I got a chance to locate the Lost Peg Leg Mine?

The Lost Peg Leg.

So that'’s it.That'’s it.

Seems this Injun, Shoshone George,

knowed another Injun who was right there when Peg Leg...

Well, ain'’t you interested?No.

My gosh, here I'’m risking my life

to go out and find a fortune for you--

I don'’t want a fortune.

I just want things safe and comfortable.

You call a house like this comfortable?

Well, it would be if you'’d spend some time and money fixing it up

instead of going off chasing rainbows.

Herb, please don'’t leave.

You'’ve got a responsibility, Herb, towards me and the children.

Supposin'’ something should happen, and you never come back?

I'’d have nobody to turn to.

We got nothing saved, and we owe money right and left.

You just let any and all bills run. I'’ll settle them later.

I didn'’t even have a nickel

to put into the collection plate this morning, Herb.

I could'’ve died of shame.

There'’s three hills of gold

in the Lost Peg Leg Mine, Lucretia.

Three hills of solid gold.

OLD RANGER: And so, once more, Herb Phinney abandoned his family

and departed into the desert.

The weeks lengthened into months,

and the months into a year.

That'’ll be $2.65.

Just put it on the bill, please.

[ clears throat ] I...

I'’m sorry, Mrs. Phinney,

but I'’m afraid I'll have to ask you for cash.

That account of yours has been running for a long, long time.

Ever since, uh,

September, '’91.

And I...

Well, I just can'’t give you no more credit.

Herb'’ll settle the whole thing when he comes back, Mr. Betts.

You might as well face the facts, Mrs. Phinney.

Your husband ain'’t coming back.

He ain'’t?

When a man don'’t communicate

with his lawful wife for almost 17 months,

it either means he don'’t want her,

or he'’s dead.

I wish we was all dead like him.

Chances are, we will be before long.

Fiddlesticks! Just because you'’ve lost your husband

is no reason for you and your children to starve.

How do you suppose women like me, who never had a husband, get along?

We hustle for ourselves, that'’s how.

But you ain'’t got children.

Well, naturally.

I have three.

And every one of them can earn something.

And with what you'’ll be bringing in yourself--

Me? Certainly.

You can go to work.Doing what?

Ask Old Man Betts for Herb'’s job.

He needs a good, reliable clerk.

But I'’ve got the house to look after.

I'’ll do the housework, Ma.

I'’ll get a job driving a team. I'’m good handling horses.

I can pick berries and sell them.

I know where there'’s lots of berries growing.

You see? They want to help.

And it'’ll be the making of them.

[ crying ]

You stop crying now and get yourself fixed up.

I'’ll go put in a word for you with Old Man Betts.

You'’re very kind, Miss Almy.

Takes an old maid to settle other folks'’ problems.

I don'’t know how to thank you.[ creaks ]

Well, I can tell ya.

Get somebody to mend this step, or I'’ll break my neck on it yet.

And so, the family of the late Herb Phinney went to work.

At the end of the first month, under the new regime,

Lucretia made a surprising discovery.

Children, we not only made both ends meet,

we'’ve got a little money left over.

I'’m gonna put this by.

Next month there'’ll be more, and when there'’s enough,

we'’ll start getting the house fixed up.

I declare! What you'’ve accomplished in the last few years, Lucretia,

I wouldn'’t know the place.

I wouldn'’t know you were the same person either.

You'’re positively pretty.

Oh, now, Miss Almy!

What'’s more, I ain'’t the only person who'’s noticed it.

There'’s at least two gentlemen in town who have mentioned it to me lately.

And if I don'’t miss--

I have no intentions of ever marrying again, Miss Almy.

Besides, I ain'’t even positive I'’m a widow.

Just like Herb Phinney to leave you in doubt.

Any other man would'’ve had the consideration

to die where there was witnesses.

Oh.

Ain'’t that Bill Spencer walking with Bessie?

Yes. He'’s quite attentive to her.

I wouldn'’t wonder.

She'’s blossoming into quite a young lady.

Thanks for walking me home.

I'’ll see you tonight. And don'’t forget

to bring your guitar so you can sing those new songs for us.

I'’m so thankful we have a nice home where the young folks can gather.

You can feel mighty proud, Lucretia,

the way your children are turning out.

I am. Davey'’s driving the through stage

to Bodie now, carrying the mail.

I don'’t know of many boys his age given such responsibility.

Oh, good for Davey.

Here'’s the mail, Davey.[ grunts ]

[ hoofbeats approaching ] MAN: Dynamite! It'’s a runaway!

[ men shouting ]

Dynamite! It'’s a runaway!

It'’s a runaway! Dynamite![ horses whinnying ]

Stop it! It'’s a runaway!

Dynamite! Dynamite!

Stop it! Stop it! Dynamite!

MAN: What is it?

[ clamoring ]

[ chattering ]

He'’s really bruised and battered up, but he'’ll be all right.

Oh, thank heavens.

Bravest thing I ever saw.

The town won'’t forget this in a hurry.

By thunder, I'’m gonna see to it

that every newspaper in the West gets the story.

A medal. Gee!

And that'’s not all.

The stage company'’s holding your job.

And paying you full wages while you'’re laid up.

Honest?

I couldn'’t be prouder of you, Davey, if you was my own son.

This is just about the happiest day of our lives.

[ door opens ]

Hello, Lucretia.

Herb.

Yep, it'’s me. I was working a grubstake

down in the Calicos when I read the news about Davey,

so I packed right up, made it back.

How is my ba'’y boy?

All right.

My, you kids are grown.

How come you ain'’t dead?

Oh, howdy, Miss Almy.

Herb, we thought...

You never wrote.

Wasn'’t nothing to say.

Oh.

Well, nobody'’s asked me to sit down, so I'’ll invite myself.

Sit down, Herb. Don'’t mind if I do.

Ahh.

New chair, ain'’t it?

Yes.

Mighty comfortable.

Whole house looks nice.

Yeah, no place like home.

How long will you be staying, Herb?

I'’ve got good news for you, Mrs. Phinney.

Your husband'’s all through prospecting.

It'’s a fool's game, and I'’m sick of it.

I'’m home for keeps.

Ahh.

[ clears throat ]

[ door closes ]

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ door opens ]

Hello, dear.Hello, Mother.

We got some new fancy cookies in.

I thought maybe you'’d like some for the party Saturday night.

I'’m not having any party Saturday night.

But you'’ve already invited your friends.

I'’ve called it off.

Bessie, you and Bill Spencer haven'’t had a fight, have you?

Come to think of it, he hasn'’t been to the house since your father ca--

Oh, Mother! [ crying ]

Mother!

I understand, dear. I understand.

So, I was just thinking if you could just lend me a dollar for some tobacco

till your mother gets paid at the store, hmm?

Well, I guess so.

You guess so?

You'’ve got a wad there that'’d choke a mule.

I-- I just got paid.

How much you earn a month, baby boy?

Sixty dollars.

You better let me take care of it for you.

Give it here.Nothing doing.

You heard me. I'’m the head of this family. Give it here.

No. Ma'’s the only one gets any of my money.

Why, you young upstart, you! You'’re getting too big for your britches.

I'’ll teach you. Give me that whip! No!

I'’ll thrash you within an inch of your life! Give me that whip!

Come back here! [ running footsteps ]

What are you grinning at?

You didn'’t get his money.

So you think that'’s funny?

I'’ll get some respect out of you boys if I have to beat it into you!

No! LUCRETIA: Herb!

He sassed me.

You could kill the boy with a whip like that.

Maybe I will next time.[ thuds ]

[ door opens, closes ]

I don'’t know exactly where I will wind up, Mother,

but I'’ll write you and I'’ll send you my address.

Davey, I can'’t bear to have you go.

Here'’s a little money, Mother.

As soon as I land a job, I'’ll send you some more here at the store.

Have Mr. Betts keep it in the safe for you.

Well, good-bye, Mother.

[ cries ]

He says there are better jobs up north-- teaming.

You know that ain'’t the reason Davey'’s left home, Lucretia.

He'’s old enough.

But Peter ain'’t, and he'’ll be the next to go.

Oh, no.And how much longer

are you going to let that good-for-nothing Herb Phinney

hang around here and ruin everything for you?

What can I do? He'’s my husband, Miss Almy.

You don'’t love him, do you?

No. Not anymore.

Then divorce him.

Divorce him?

Why, that'’d go against everything I'’ve ever been taught.

It'’d be a sin.

Well, you'’ve got to do something to get rid of him.

He'’s like a-- a blight. Even your house shows it.

The paint'’s started peeling again.

The flowers have dried up.

Failing everything else, you could poison him,

but that'’d be a great waste of good arsenic.

[ thunderclap ]

[ thunderclap continues ]

[ rain falling ]

[ paper rustling ]

Oh, it'’s you. Did you bring my tobacco?

What?

Tobacco. [ yawns ]

I'’m sorry. I forgot.

Lucretia, I should think when smoking'’s

one of the few pleasures I have...

What made you forget?

I was thinking about a mine I heard about.

Mine? What kind of mine?

A lost mine, the Lost Nugget.

The Lost Nugget? That'’s down in Mexico.

Mm-hmm. That'’s what the Mexican said.

What Mexican?

The one who dropped by the store this morning.

To hear him talk, you'’d think it was richer than the Peg Leg

and Breyfogle and all the rest of them put together.

But you weren'’t gonna tell me anything about it, hmm?

Well, it was so far away,

and I didn'’t think you'’d be interested

now you'’ve given up prospecting for good.

Well, no harm in talking to him.

Where is this Mexican?

He got some supplies and headed for Nogales.

He had some kind of map

he said he was willing to sell to the right party.

Map?

This mine, he says, was originally located

by a Mexican shepherd girl

whose flock and strayed away.

Isn'’t that romantic?

Herb, where you going?Find that Mexican.

Herb?Hmm?

You'’ll need some money for a grubstake.

Thanks.

I hope the rain lets up soon.

HERB: It'’s easing up already.

See? Sun'’s coming out.

So it is. Look. There'’s a rainbow.

Yeah. A rainbow.

Well, bye, Cretia.

Good-bye, Herb.

And as far as anybody knows,

Herb Phinney is still walking

in the direction of that rainbow.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]