All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S05E12.The.Washington.Elm.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

OLD RANGER:
And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.

I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another
interesting true story for you

about the historic
Death Valley country.

This is a most unusual story.

It'’s about a tree family.

No, I don'’t mean
a family tree,

but quite literally
a tree family.

All three generations of...

Here in this famous old
Currier and Ives print

we see the original Elm,

the granddaddy of the family,

situated on the common

at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Under its spreading branches,

General George Washington

took command
of the Continental Army

on July 3rd, 1775.

The tree, already more
than a half a century old,

became known thenceforth as

the Washington Elm,

an historic tree,

a revered landmark
in New England.

But what'’s it got to do
with the building of the West,

which is the theme of our
Death Valley Daysprogram?

Well, that'’s the story.

Generations
of Harvard students

have passed under the branches

of the Washington Elm

on the Cambridge Common,

just as Arthur Collins

is doing on this day

in 1889.

Hiya, Phil.

Hello, Art.

Janice, may I present
Arthur Collins?

Miss Janice Peabody.

Glad to meet you.How do you do?

Art comes from Washington.

Such a beautiful city.

Oh, not Washington, D.C.

The State of Washington.

Oh, I'’m sorry.

You needn'’t be.

It'’s great country.

But rather wild, I imagine.

Sure, you should see
his collection of scalps.

[ laughs ]Philip, really.

I think it'’s wonderful
you'’ve come all these
thousands of miles

to attend Harvard.

Oh, he'’s doing graduate work.

I'’ve already got
my bachelor'’s degree,

from University of Washington.

You mean they have
a university out there?

Oh, you bet.
Going strong.

Phil'’s coming out to Seattle
to look us over.

Oh, I'’ve got to go.

It was nice to have met you,
Miss Peabody.

I'’ll see you later, Phil.

Nice chap, Collins.

What on earth did he mean
about your going out
to Seattle?

Well, I'’ll tell you,
but not here.

Let'’s wait till we reach
your house.

Stop calling it
Northwest Territory.

It'’s the State of Washington.

It'’s been a state
for the past 10 years.[ laughs ]

Well, I know that sounds funny
compared with Massachusetts.

And how old
is the University?

Well, age isn'’t everything,
darling.

Shh.

I'’ve called you darling before.

But not so loud.

Well, I feel like shouting it
at the top of my lungs.

Phil, what has gotten
into you?

The spirit of the West.

We agreed that
we'’d simply have
an understanding

until you finish college,
a year from June.

And do you know
what I want to do then?

Take you out
to the Northwest with me.

Oh, marry you first,
of course.

Lake Louise?
On a honeymoon?

No, Seattle, to live.

I'’d like to hand my shingle
out there.

Thanks.

I have no desire to migrate.

Your blessed ancestors did,

back in 1620.

That was different.

They were escaping
from something.

Nobody'’d ever want
to escape from Boston.

They were looking
for a good life and a new land,

and that'’s what I feel
it would be for us.

You'’ve been listening too much
to that Arthur Collins.

Well, you'’d get excited, too,
if you could hear him talk.

see his pictures.

Let me bring him around
one afternoon for tea.

Won'’t you, Jan?

Kind of forlorn for a fellow
3,000 miles from home,

in a strange city.

Cambridge isn'’t strange.

[ laughs ]

Well, all right.

I'’ll tell them.

Washington Territory
was still a wilderness

when university was started.

In 1861.

It was magnificent country.

Just a sample
of some of the scenery
in the State of Washington.

The settlers cleared the land
and raised the money

for the first building
of the university.

Here, I'’ll show you
a picture of that.

There.

That'’s quite impressive,

for the backwoods.

And here'’s the first president
of the university--

Asa S. Mercer.

Just graduated
from college himself.

He was the entire faculty, too.

He taught everything?

For the munificent salary
of $200 per annum.

But first he had to go out
and recruit students

from every logging camp
along Puget Sound.

Just backwoodsmen.

Yes, most of them
earned their tuition

by helping clear the forest
from around the campus.

What a contrast to Harvard.

My great-great-great
grandfather

was in the Continental Army

that assembled
under the Washington Elm.

The one on the common.

I know him.
I'’ve looked at it many times,

and I thought we should have
such a tree on our campus.

It would be so right--

a university that bears
the same name.

But you couldn'’t.

That tree'’s historic,

and you can'’t duplicate
something historic.

It could be reproduced, maybe.

What do you mean?

We could take a cutting

and transplant it.

By George, that'’s an idea.

Cut a branch
off the Washington Elm?

The authorities
would never let you.

I know some of the people
at the arboretum.

Would you like me
to introduce you to them?

Would you, Phil?You bet.

Of course, they may say
the whole idea'’s impractical.

An elm'’s a hard tree to root,
I understand.

But it'’s worth a try.

Uh, most of them look
completely dead.

Given '’em time.Tsk.

Well, park commissioner
told me

if these didn'’t live,
we'’d take some more cuttings.

You'’ve got all the botanists
around Cambridge as interested

as if a crown prince
were to be born.[ laughing ]

Oh, come on, Junior, grow!

♪♪ [ slow-tempo tune ]

♪♪ [ continues ]

♪♪ [ discordant notes ]

Philip isn'’t
coming over this evening?

Apparently not, Mother.

What has happened
to that young man lately?

He doesn'’t seem to be
coming around as much
as he used to.

He has a new interest
over at the Arnold Arboretum--

watching elm whips grow.

What are you talking about?

It'’s true.

They'’re trying to produce
a scion of the Washington Elm.

Our elm?

There'’s only one
Washington Elm.

But that tree is nearly
200 years old.

I mean, really, after all...

What'’s it for?

A college campus
3,000 miles from here.

Well, a son
of the Washington Elm.

It'’s all the fault
of that friend of his

from Washington,
Arthur Collins.

He'’s got Phil so bemused
he can'’t think of anything else.

Well, as long as it
isn'’t another girl, dear.

I'’d rather it were.
I could compete with a girl.

But what do you do
when your rival'’s a tree?

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven,
eight, nine,

ten, eleven, twelve!

Twelve leaves,
and as healthy
as you ever saw.

The staff here
at the arboretum
are jubilant.

How soon will you be able
to ship it out?

Not for another two years?That long?

Well, it'’s gotta be
strong enough to stand
a trip across the continent.

I'’ve written
Professor Meany, though.
I told him the good news.

Who'’s Meany?Professor of history
at Washington,

and the man most responsible
for our present campus.

Trees are his hobby.

If you need a personal escort
for that young elm,

I'’ll be glad
to offer my services.

You'’ll be going out there
before two years.

Well, that all depends.

You'’re not changing your mind
about the Northwest?

Oh, no. I'’m as keen
about it as ever.

But, uh,
there are other factors.

You'’ll be able
to persuade her, Phil.

I'’m doing my darnedest.

[ tolling ]

At last, my law degree.

"Philip Adams, LL.M."

Oh, Phil, I'’m so happy.

And the next thing is for you
to get your M.R.S.-- Missus.

Just as soon as you
can convince my family

that you'’re in a position
to support me.

Well, I don'’t expect
to earn much to start.

Well, Father can help you
secure a good position
with a big Boston law firm.

That won'’t be necessary,
because I'’ve already
accepted one.

You have? Where?Seattle, Washington.

Oh, Phil,
you'’re not serious.

Well, I'’ve always said
I wanted to go out
to that country.

And I thought I always
made it very plain
that I didn'’t.

Oh, well, look...

How could you
without consulting me?

Darling,
if it doesn'’t work out,
if you'’re not happy there,

I promise
I'’ll bring you back.

Bring me back?

I'’m not even going.

I'’ve already accepted, Jan.

Then you'’ll have to
break the contract,

unless you'’d rather
break our engagement.

You don'’t mean that.Oh, yes, I do.

I'’m just not
the pioneer type.

Washington isn'’t
the wilderness.

It'’s a glorious country.

According to
your booster friend,
Mr. Art Collins.

I don'’t know why
you resent Collins so much.

Because he'’s come
between us, that'’s why.

Collins?

At times, he'’s dragged you
to the arboretum

to look at that stupid elm.

Oh, Jan, for heaven sakes,
you'’re not jealous of that?

I'’m jealous of anything
that keeps us apart.

Oh, darling, I do love you.

[ crying ]

Then you'’ll stay?

No. No.

I'’m going out to Washington
if I have to go by myself.

All right. Then that'’s
exactly how you'’ll go.

Hey, Phil, hold on.

I'’ve been looking
all over Seattle for you.

The trees arrived this morning,
by express.

Did you say "trees,"
plural?

Two of '’em.
About so high.

And as thrifty as if they'’ve
been moved from next door.

Aw, Meany'’s pleased as punch.Where are they going
to plant them?

In front of Lewis Hall,
in a single hole,
like one tree.

If you want to watch
the ceremony,
we'’ll have to shake a leg.

This twin tree has crossed
our great continent

just as our pioneer
forbearers did.

This true son
of the Washington Elm
brings with it

the American tradition
of freedom

inherited from its noble parent
in Cambridge, Massachusetts,

under whose branches
General George Washington

took command
of the Continental Army

more than 125 years ago.

May this tree
and the ideals it represents

flourish on
our Washington state campus

for another century and more.

You didn'’t hear a word
Meany said.

Your mind was on
a certain lonely lady
3,000 miles away,

back in Cambridge.

You'’re right. It was.

Nothing for me?No, dear. That'’s all.

Janice, how much longer
are you going to moon
over this Philip Adams?

It'’s four years now
since he went West.

It'’s 1905,

and you'’re
still MissPeabody.

Janice, you can'’t afford
to be an old maid.

New England has
too many of them as it is.

You'’re quite right, Mother.

Freddy Brewster'’s asked me
to marry him.

A Mayflowerfamily!

Janice, how wonderful.

Then you'’ll be very pleased
to know I'’m going to say yes.

Oh, my dear!

You really are an old grad.

Class of '’96.

Have you been back to any of
your class reunions at Harvard?

No. I thought I might
attend my fifth,

but, uh, I didn'’t.

Uh, tell me, uh... [ footsteps ]

Oh, here comes Professor Meany.

Hello, Dr. Meany.

Collins. I was just
thinking of you.

I'’m reminded of our debt
of thanks to you every time
I pass our Washington Elm.

How'’s it doing, sir?As tall as I am now.

And growing like a weed.

Of course, you were practically
born on Bunker Hill, Adams.

But to our boys and girls
out here,

all this early American history
is only book stuff.

They'’ve never visited
the scenes,

had the thrill of thinking,

"Here on this very spot
it happened."

Well, at least
they can look at this tree
and say to themselves,

"Its father witnessed
one of the great events
of American history."

I just hope it lives to be 200,
like its sire back
in Cambridge.

It will if care
has anything to do with it.

Been on the track
of our wonderful gardener,

a German named Ludwig Metzger,

and I shall give him
special instructions.

Nice to see you, Collins.Dr. Meany.

Adams.Good-bye, sir.

This tree came
from the East Coast,
3,000 miles away, Mr. Metzger.

[ speaks German ]
Just like me.

And it has a most
distinguished father.

I have also.Really?

George Washington.George Washington?

I take out papers,
become American citizen.

George Washington is father
from this country, ja?

[ chuckles ]
A thousand times ja.

[ chuckles ]

This tree is the offshoot
of a tree back in Massachusetts
known as the Washington Elm,

because it was
under its branches

that General Washington
took command of the army
in the American revolution.

Ach so.

So, guard this young elm
with your life.

Don'’t let anything
happen to it.

With my life,
Herr Professor.
With my life.

[ people shouting ]

[ shouting continues ]

What'’s going on out there? MAN:
Spring riot

between the sophomores
and the freshmen.

Watch out for the tree!

Watch out for the tree!

Get away from the tree!

You, watch out for the tree!

Watch out for the tree!

Boys, get away from the tree!

Metzger! Metzger!

You all right? Ja.

You sure?
No limbs broken?

Nein.Not a limb.

Gott sei Dank.

Our Washington Elm is safe.

THE OLD RANGER:
World War I came and went.

The young elm on the campus
of the University of Washington

grew tall and strong.

But back in Cambridge,
Massachusetts,

in October 1923,

a northeaster hit New England,

lashing the whole coast
with violent gales,

leaving death
and destruction in its wake.

And claiming
as one of its victims,

the Washington Elm,

which had stood so proudly
on the Cambridge Common

for 210 years.

But the good people
of Cambridge did not forget,

and several years later,
in 1927,

Dean Condon
of the University of Washington

received a strange request.

The letter was addressed to me
as dean of the university.

Why, it has-- it has
hundreds of signatures.

Mm-hmm.
All the patriotic folk
of Cambridge.

They want us to
send them back our tree

so that they can plant it
on the site of the elm
that'’s gone?

Of all the nerve!

You can'’t blame them, Ed.

The Washington Elm
was an historical shrine.

But our elm belongs to us.
It'’s been on our campus
for 25 years!

Yes, but it is a true son
of the old elm.

You aren'’t suggesting
we give it up?

Oh, I don'’t want to part
with it any more than you do.

It'’s out of the question.

I don'’t think we should say no
until we find out
if it could be moved.

That'’s why I've called in
our head gardener,
Ludwig Metzger.

He can give us
an expert opinion.

What do you think, Ludwig?

The-- The tree is--
is too big, Dean Condon.

It could never
be transplanted
3,000 miles.

What did I tell you?

Well, I guess
that'’s our answer.

I'’m afraid so.

Thank you, Metzger.

Well, I'’ll write
our friends in Cambridge.

They'’ll be disappointed.

Well, we could explain
we have no choice.

You-- You dig up this tree,
then nobody have a tree.

You'’re quite right,
but I am sorry,

on their account.

I wonder.

Would you be willing
I try an experiment
with our tree?

Hmm?What kind of an experiment?

This tree'’s even more valuable
now that the old one is gone.

It-- It might not succeed,
but if it did,

you could send
to the people of Cambridge
what they want--

a true descendant
from the Washington Elm.

All right, Ludwig.
Go ahead.But be careful.

I will start at once.

Hey, Ludwig,
what'’s going on
up in our elm?

[ laughs ]
You notice, huh?

How could I help it?
That, uh--

That big box
built around the limb.

What'’s the idea?

You come around
a couple years from now,
and I show you.

Couple of years? Ja.

By then, we know whether
we have succeeded or not.

Beyond my
greatest expectations!

Congratulations.A wonderful job.

Would you mind explaining
just what you did?

It is very simple--
what we call air layering.

I select a limb on the tree
that has a few side branches,

cut about one-third way
through the limb,

and fasten the box over
and on top of the cut.

Then I fill the box
with moss and fertilizer
and good gotten soil,

water it daily
and let nature do the rest.

For more than two years. Right.

And today, when I open the box,
it is full with fibrous roots.

Now, we cut limb,
and we have a new tree.

A fine, strong, young tree.

Which we can ship back East
to Cambridge

to stand where
its grandfather stood.

Let me know when you do,
because I wanna be there.

I was in on the birth
of Washington Jr.

Watched it planted
on the university campus.

I wanna be present
on the Cambridge Common

when the grandson comes home.

Home. It'’s been too long
since I'’ve been back.

This sturdy elm stock
has crossed the continent

to the last outpost
of pioneer America,

and now comes home again
to the same soil

where its illustrious ancestor
once stood.

There are battles of freedom
to be fought today.

And may this elm inspire us
with a moral courage,

which is as much needed now
as it was 175 years ago.

On behalf of
the University of Washington,

I take pleasure in presenting

to the citizens
of Cambridge, Massachusetts,

this grandson
of the Washington Elm.

[ applause ]

[ chattering ]

Janice?

Phil!
I wasn'’t sure
you'’d recognize me.

I half expected you'’d be here
when I read that
the University of Washington

was presenting us
with the son of your elm.

Do you still live in Cambridge?

In the old home.
I moved back
after my husband died.

Oh. I didn'’t know.
I never heard.

It happened some years ago.
He was killed in the war.

I'’m sorry.

Well, tell me about yourself.

Could I come and see you
while I'’m here?

Well, of course,
and bring your wife.

Well, I would if I had one,
but, uh, I'’m not married.

Oh, well, that must be
why you look so young.

[ chuckles ]Come and have dinner
with me tonight.

Nothing could give me
more pleasure.

I can'’t believe
it'’s been 30 years.

You graduated in 1901.

June the 6th.

We stood in
this very same room.

Two silly, stubborn kids.

You haven'’t told me
about the Northwest.

Has it lived up
to your expectations?

In every respect but one.

Will you go back
with me, Janice?

You...

You don'’t think it's too late?

"Too late"?

We'’re just ready
to appreciate life.

Oh, my darling, my darling.

Isn'’t it strange
how things work out?

To think that the tree
that separated us

was the thing that'’s
brought us together again.

And that'’s the true story
of three generations
of the Washington Elm,

symbol of American liberty

and the union
between East and West.