Original subtitles

BAT MASTERSON, V/O: THERE'S A REASON THEY CALLED IT

THE WILD WEST.

SOMEONE AMONG YOU CLAIMS HE CAN OUTSHOOT ME.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

YOU HERE FOR A SHOOTING MATCH.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL.

PULL.

[CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES] [CROWD CHEERS]

BUFFALO BILL'S?

THAT'S OUR FUTURE.

MY WIFE AND I, WE'RE A...

A DOUBLE ACT.

YOU SHOOT?

BAT MASTERSON, V/O: THIS IS THE TRUE STORY OF ANNIE OAKLEY.

THE WEST'S GREATEST TRICK SHOOTER.

[CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

BAT MASTERSON, V/O: I WAS JUST A YOUNG MAN

WHEN I FIRST HEADED WEST.

IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, I BECAME

A COWBOY... A GUNSLINGER...

AND EVEN SERVED AS SHERIFF OF DODGE CITY,

ONE OF THE MOST LAWLESS TOWNS IN THE COUNTRY.

MY NAME IS BAT MASTERSON.

NOW I'M A REPORTER AND I'VE COME WEST AGAIN

TO CHRONICLE THE WORLD THAT I KNOW BEST...

THE AMERICAN WEST.

THE LURE OF GOLD, LAND, AND DESTINY FLOODED THE

FRONTIER WITH MEN, BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

THESE ARE THE INCREDIBLE TRUE TALES OF THE WILD WEST.

♪

♪

WHO HASN'T HEARD OF ANNIE OAKLEY?

THE GREATEST TRICK SHOT ARTIST OF OUR TIME.

MOST DON'T KNOW WHO HELPED CREATE HER LEGEND

AND EVEN HER NAME.

IT'S HER HUSBAND AND MANAGER, FRANK BUTLER.

FRANK, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION

OF QUEEN VICTORIA, YOU'RE MARRIED TO

JUST ABOUT THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN IN THE WORLD.

KIND OF YOU TO SAY, MR. MASTERSON.

MY WIFE... IS A STAR.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, DOING THE INTERVIEW

AND SHE'S THE ONE REHEARSING.

THAT'S ANNIE FOR YA.

TELL ME HOW IT HAPPENED, FRANK.

HOW DID A YOUNG GIRL FROM NOWHERE

COME TO BE THE MOST FAMOUS ENTERTAINER IN THE WORLD.

YOU WOULD NEVER CATCH ANNIE PLAYING WITH DOLLS.

EVEN WITH FIVE BIG SISTERS, THE ONLY THING

SHE WANTED TO PLAY WITH WAS HER PAPPY'S HUNTING RIFLE.

BUT WHEN HE DIED...

HE LEFT HIS WIFE WITH FIVE KIDS AND NO MEANS OF SUPPORT.

ANNIE HAD TO PITCH IN TO HELP HER FAMILY SURVIVE.

AND THAT DIDN'T MEAN SEWING BUTTONS

OR DARNING SOCKS.

IT MEANT HUNTING.

[GUNSHOT]

SHE SUPPORTED HER WHOLE FAMILY BAGGING GAME

AND SELLING IT TO LOCAL HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.

SHE DID SO WELL...

THAT THE FAMILY FARM WAS PAID OFF

BY THE TIME SHE WAS 15.

WHEN DID YOU TWO MEET, FRANK?

1881.

IT WAS SPRINGTIME IN CINCINNATI.

I WAS TOURING WITH A DOUBLE ACT.

HOW GOOD WERE YA?

I WAS VERY GOOD.

BUT THE STAGE WAS SHRINKING.

EVERY DAY SOME NEW KID WAS CALLING HIMSELF

A FANCY SHOOTER.

NEW TRICKS DON'T STAY NEW FOR LONG.

YEAH. AND THIS OLD DOG WAS RUNNING OUT OF THEM.

SO, WHEN A HOTEL OWNER BRAGGED THAT HE KNEW SOMEONE

IN GREENVILLE WHO COULD OUTSHOOT ME...

AND PLACED A $100 BET...

I AGREED TO TAKE HIS MONEY.

THAT'S RIGHT, FOLKS.

AS SEEN IN THE GREAT VAUDEVILLE PALACES

FROM NEW YORK TO SAINT LOUIS...

ALL THE WAY HERE TO GREENVILLE,

[TWIRLS THEN HOLSTERS GUNS]

FRANK BUTLER, THE SNAP SHOT SENSATION.

[APPLAUSE]

YOU AS GOOD AS THEY SAY?

I'M THAT GOOD...

AND BETTER.

FIGURE YOU AIN'T AS GOOD AS CAPTAIN BOGARDUS.

HEARD HE KILLED SOME HUNDRED BIRDS WITHOUT A MISS.

SEEING IS BELIEVING, FRIEND.

NOW, THERE WAS TALK OF A WAGER.

SOMEONE AMONG YOU CLAIMS HE CAN OUTSHOOT ME.

IF THAT MAN WANTS TO BEG OFF,

AFTER SEEING ME SHOOT, I WOULD UNDER-

[GUN COCKS]

♪

YO MISTER?

SHE FEELS JUST FINE.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

ALL RIGHT.

WHO'S THIS GAL BELONG TO?

WHO'S THE REAL CHALLENGER?

[CROWD CHATTERING]

OKAY.

- UH... - EXCUSE ME.

IS THERE A REASON YOU'RE GRABBING AT ME?

LISTEN, MA'AM. - MISS.

MISS? LISTEN...

IT'S MISS MOSEY. - I DON'T CARE.

YOU WANT TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I'M A BUSY MAN. I WORK SIX SHOWS A WEEK,

DOESN'T INCLUDE MATINEES.

BULLY FOR YOU.

IN CINCINNATI...

WHICH IS A GOOD 80 MILES AWAY.

I WAS LED HERE UNDER FALSE PRETENSES.

YOU'RE HERE FOR A SHOOTING MATCH, AREN'T YOU?

YES! THAT'S EXACT- NO, NO I'M NOT.

BECAUSE THIS IS NO LONGER A FAIR CONTEST.

WELL, IN THE INTEREST OF FAIRNESS...

I COULD... GIVE YOU A HEAD START.

I'LL SPEAK PLAINLY.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL.

AGAIN... BULLY FOR YOU.

NOW, WILL YOU STEP TO THE LINE...

OR ARE YOU BOWING OUT?

♪

[APPLAUSE]

ANNIE.

WHAT?

MISS ANNIE MOSEY.

♪

REMEMBER IT.

IT'S YOUR FUNERAL.

♪♪

♪

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪

ANNIE: PULL.

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

PULL.

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

PULL. [GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

PULL. [GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

PULL. [GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪

MR. BUTLER HAS STRUCK...

25 TARGETS.

[APPLAUSE]

AND OUR MISS MOSEY HAS STRUCK...

21.

BUT, BUT...

SHE HAS FIVE SHOTS LEFT, WITH WHICH SHE COULD TIE

OR WIN.

IF SHE DOESN'T, MR. BUTLER HERE IS THE CHAMPION.

♪

PULL. [GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

♪

♪

♪

♪

PULL.

[GUNSHOT] [CLAY PIGEON EXPLODES]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪

ANNIE: 26 TO 25.

I'D CALL THAT...

A FAIR CONTEST AFTER ALL.

HEY...

NO HARD FEELINGS.

WHO TAUGHT YOU TO SHOOT?

I DID.

♪♪

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ACT.

I'D SURE LIKE TO SEE IT SOMETIME.

♪

THAT WAS THE FINEST BEATING I EVER TOOK.

MOST MEN WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COUNTENANCE

LOSING TO A GIRL.

I WASN'T IN A HURRY TO TELL ANYBODY.

BUT THE STRANGE THING WAS...

I COULDN'T GET ANNIE OUT OF MY HEAD.

I'D FIND MYSELF WRITING TO HER.

EVERY MOMENT I HAD.

LETTERS...

EVEN POEMS.

SOMETHING CHANGED IN ME THAT DAY.

IT'S LIKE A DOOR HAD OPENED

AND I HAD TO STEP THROUGH IT...

WITH HER.

POEMS?

WELL, THEY WEREN'T SHAKESPEARE.

BUT THEY DID THE TRICK.

TO SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER FELT WANTED...

A LITTLE KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY.

WE WERE MARRIED THE NEXT SUMMER.

I WAS AFRAID THE TRAVELING LIFE

WOULDN'T PROVE SO GLAMOROUS,

BUT ANNIE WAS GAME.

BUT SHE WASN'T OFFICIALLY PART OF THE ACT THEN, WAS SHE?

SHE WAS CONTENT TO HELP WITH THE GUNS AND TARGETS BUT...

SHE DIDN'T SHOOT.

UNTIL ONE NIGHT...

WHEN MY PARTNER TOOK SICK.

THE NIGHT IT ALL CHANGED.

AS SEEN IN THE GREAT THEATERS AND COLISEUMS...

FROM BALTIMORE TO NEW ORLEANS...

ALL THE WAY HERE TO SPRINGFIELD.

[APPLAUSE]

I'M FRANK BUTLER.

AND THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND ASSISTANT, ANNIE.

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

THE DARING FEATS OF MARKSMANSHIP YOU'LL WITNESS HERE TONIGHT

ARE DESIGNED TO THRILL AND AMAZE.

BUT REST ASSURED...

YOU ARE IN THE STEADY HANDS OF A PROFESSIONAL.

[TWIRLS AND HOLSTERS GUNS]

NOW, FOR OUR FIRST TRICK...

ANNIE WILL THROW A GLASS BALL AND I WILL SHOOT IT

OUT OF MIDAIR.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

[GUNSHOT]

[BALL FALLS TO THE GROUND]

[CROWD GROANS]

I'M JUST GETTING WARMED UP.

[LAUGHTER]

[CROWD CHATTERING, APPLAUSE]

♪

[GUNSHOT]

[CROWD GROANS]

WHY DON'T YOU LET THE GIRL SHOOT?

[CROWD HECKLING]

I- I THOUGHT... I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I- I PRACTICED THIS.

I- I JUST...

HOW ABOUT IT, FRANK?

♪♪

Y'ALL WANNA WATCH ME HAVE A GO?

[CROWD CHEERING]

COME ON, HONEY.

LET'S GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.

♪♪

♪

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

HERE WE GO.

COME ON NOW, ANNIE.

♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪ [OMINOUS MUSIC]

[GUNSHOT]

[GLASS BALL SHATTERS]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪ IT'S A CERTAIN MAN

♪ TO TAKE YOU BY THE HAND

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪ EVERY TIME THE ANTHEM PLAYS ALL THE PEOPLE STAND ♪

♪

I CAN'T GET THE RINGING OUT OF MY EARS.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE CHEERING.

CLAPPING AT ME.

NO WONDER YOU DO IT!

OH, OH! AND HONEY...

I WAS THINKING, FOR THE NEXT SHOW...

WATCH THIS.

YOU CAN LIGHT A CIGAR AND I CAN SHOOT IT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU MEAN TO MAKE A SPECTACLE OF ME?

IT'S JUST AN IDEA.

YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE IDEAS TO ME.

IT'S MY ACT.

TONIGHT IT WAS OUR ACT.

AND THEY...FRANK: WHAT?

THEY CLAPPED.

I COULD TEACH A POODLE TO JUMP THROUGH A HOOP

AND THEY'D CLAP.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

ARE YOU ANGRY BECAUSE I HIT THE BALL AND YOU COULDN'T?

[SCOFFS] PLEASE.

I HAD A BAD NIGHT.

GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

FRANK.

YEAH?

STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M YOUR ENEMY.

♪

THERE WILL BE BETTER NIGHTS.

THERE WON'T BE BETTER NIGHTS!

NOT HERE.

THE BOOKING'S UP, ANNIE.

WE'RE NOT FILLING ENOUGH SEATS

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA END UP.

I SEE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET US THROUGH THE WINTER.

MUCH LESS KEEP YOU IN NICE CLOTHES.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

♪ [MELANCHOLY MUSIC]

I KNOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE. I SAW IT.

♪

♪

BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST?

THAT'S OUR FUTURE.

NO MORE SCROUNGING FOR BOOKINGS.

NO MORE EMPTY SEATS.

YOU BELONG IN THE BIG SHOW.

BUFFALO BILL'S BIG ALL RIGHT.

MIGHT BE TOO BIG.

NOT FOR THE TWO OF US.

NOT IF WE'RE TOGETHER.

♪♪

I NEED ALL 7TH CAVALRY TROOPERS ON HORSEBACK

FOR THE CUSTER'S LAST STAND REHEARSAL.

♪♪

ANNIE.

THAT'S HIM.

THAT'S BUFFALO BILL?YEAH.

LET ME DO THE TALKING.

♪

MR. BUFFALO, EXCUSE ME. MR. CODY...

I'M FRANK BUTLER.

I WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD TAKE A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME.

I'M A BIT BUSY RIGHT NOW.

BUT...

MR. CODY.

I'M AN ACCOMPLISHED TRICK SHOOTER.

I THINK WE'D MAKE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO YOUR LINE UP.

IF I HAVE TO HEAR ONE MORE SALES PITCH FROM A FANCY SHOOTER

I SWEAR.

♪

WE?

MY WIFE AND I.

WE'RE A... WELL...

A DOUBLE ACT.

YOU SHOOT?

ALL MY LIFE.

I'D LOVE TO GIVE YOU A DEMONSTRATION.

SUPPOSE I'VE SEEN STRANGER THINGS.

MR. CODY, I PROMISE IT'LL BE WORTH YOUR WHILE.

MY DEAR...

I'VE ALREADY GOT A GREAT SHOOTIN' ACT.

CAPTAIN BOGARDUS.

I RECKON YOU'VE HEARD OF HIM.

BILL? NEED YOU.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH.

♪♪

♪

ANNIE WAS CRESTFALLEN.

WE HEADED NORTH.

PLAYED ANYWHERE THAT WOULD HAVE US.

I WAS USED TO LEAN WINTERS BUT...

ANNIE...

IT BROKE MY HEART.

I FELT LIKE I FAILED HER.

♪

THIS ISN'T THE LIFE YOU ASKED FOR.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

YOU'VE GOT MORE SPIRIT

THAN ANYBODY I'VE EVER KNOWN.

AND I CAN'T BE THE ONE WHO BREAKS IT.

FRANK, YOU'RE NOT...

I'M SAYING...

IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK HOME...

I'LL UNDERSTAND.

♪

YOU'RE MY HOME.

♪

SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE HOLDIN' OUT FOR A MIRACLE.

WELL, A MIRACLE'S WHAT WE GOT.

A LETTER CAME FROM MR. CODY.

IT SAID, CAPTAIN BOGARDUS' COLLECTION OF ARMS HAD BEEN LOST

WHEN A SHIP SANK ON THE MISSISSIPPI

AND HE QUIT THE SHOW.

SO, CODY GAVE YOU THE JOB?

NOT QUITE.

HE INVITED US DOWN TO KENTUCKY FOR AN AUDITION.

OUR FUTURE WAS RIDING ON IT.

♪♪

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO NERVOUS IN MY LIFE.

♪

WHERE'S MY RIFLE?

WE DON'T NEED IT.

USE MINE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTIN'?

♪

LISTEN TO ME...

THE DAY WE MET... BACK IN GREENVILLE?

I THOUGHT I MET MY MATCH.

I WAS WRONG.

YOU'RE ONE BETTER.

IN EVERY WAY.

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR...

♪

WE'RE A TEAM.

NO, ANNIE.

YOU'RE THE ACT.

FRANK...

DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS.

♪♪

SHOW 'EM WHO YOU ARE.

♪

♪

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

YOU GOT TIME FOR ONE TRICK.

DAZZLE ME.

FRANK: MR. CODY.

YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE AMAZED.

ANNIE WILL SEVER THIS CARD IN TWO...

WITH A SINGLE SHOT.

THAT'S YOUR TRICK?

YOU'RE GONNA SHOOT A PLAYING CARD FROM 20 FEET?

FRANK: YES.

BUT WITH ONLY THE NARROW EDGE...

♪

FACING THE SHOOTER.

[CROWD MURMURS]

READY?

♪

[COCKS RIFLE]

♪

[COCKS RIFLE]

♪

♪

[GUNSHOT]

[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]

♪

♪

YOUR NAME AGAIN?

ANNIE...

MOSEY.

♪

YEAH...

YOU'LL NEED A STAGE NAME, OF COURSE.

WELCOME TO BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST.

[LAUGHTER]

♪

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

WE SAW MORE OF THE COUNTRY,

MORE OF THE WORLD...

THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

THERE WAS A COST THOUGH, WASN'T THERE, FRANK?

ANNIE BECAME FAMOUS,NOT YOU.

CARVING OUT A PLACE FOR YOURSELF IN THIS WORLD TAKES COURAGE.

SURE, YOU NEED TALENT.

BUT IT TAKES HELP, LOTS OF IT.

IT TOOK BOTH OF US TO MAKE ANNIE FAMOUS.

HOWEVER LONG THIS LASTS...

WE DID IT TOGETHER.

AND I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD IT ANY OTHER WAY.

♪♪

BAT MASTERSON, V/O: ANNIE OAKLEY WAS AMERICA'S

FIRST FEMALE SUPERSTAR AND ONE OF THE

HIGHEST PAID ENTERTAINERS IN THE WORLD.

ANNIE PASSED AWAY IN 1926.

A HEARTBROKEN FRANK DIED JUST 18 DAYS LATER.

ANNIE: HOW ABOUT GREENVILLE?

ANNIE GREENVILLE.

NAH.

BE NICE TO LET FOLKS KNOW WHERE I'M FROM.

BILL CODY'S GONNA WANT A BETTER STAGE NAME THAN THAT.

I STILL DON'T SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH MOSEY.

FRANK: YOU DON'T HAVE TO. BUT HE'S THE BOSS.

ANY OTHER TOWNS YOU CONSIDERED HOME?

OAKLEY.

IT'S A TOWN NEAR WHERE I'M FROM.

FRANK: I LIKE IT.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

♪♪

I'M ANNIE OAKLEY.