All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S09E13.City.of.Widows.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

Two more this morning,
Captain De La Mar.

Well, don'’t look at me.
You'’re the doctor.

It'’s not a doctor's problem.

Well, what am I
supposed to do?

Change the geography
of this valley?

Remove the mountains
so the wind can blow through?

Nobody has to work here
if they don'’t want to.

But they do want to

because De La Mar pays well.

Oh, Doc.

Tell their families the company
will pay the funeral expenses.

Yeah.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger.

Gold mining in Nevada
reached a low ebb

towards the end
of the last century.

The only place where there was
any real activity

was in the desert mining camp
of Delamar,

named for
Captain John De La Mar,

who owned the mines, the mills,
the whole town.

If a miner wanted work
in Nevada,

it was Delamar or nothing.

So, to Delamar they went,

in spite of its sinister
reputation as the...

De La Mar Mining Company.

Delamar Weekly Lode.

De La Mar Hardware.

Delamar Hotel.

You know what, Frank?

I think we'’ve reached Delamar.

I knew I married
a bright girl.

[ chuckles ]

Oh, Frank. [ explosion ]

What was the noise?Blasting.

Is the mine that close?Must be.

There'’s the mill.

Over there,
where we see all that smoke?

It'’s not smoke,
it'’s dust from the tailings.

[ dog barking ]

[ man coughing ]

Good afternoon.Good afternoon.

We'’d like a room, please.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibbs.

How long do you plan
to be with us, Mr. Gibbs?

Until we can find
a house of our own.

You'’re gonna live here?

That'’s the idea.

You see, my husband
is a mining engineer.

Oh.

Then nobody can tell you nothing
you don'’t already know.

What do you mean?

I was just a common mucker.

[ coughs ]

Eh, I'’ll give you
number seven.

It'’s a nice corner room.

Thank you.

You won'’t have any trouble
finding a house.

There'’s plenty of empty ones.

In a boom camp?
That'’s odd.

Well, uh, there'’s
a big turnover.

This way, please.

Phew!
It'’s stifling in here.

I'’ll open a window.

Oh, I wouldn'’t, sir.
The dust.

We'’ll die of suffocation
with everything tied shut.

Well, that'’s better
than dying of...

I'’ll get you some water.

[ grunts ]

FRANK:
There it is.

It'’s not really
what I expected.

Mining camps aren'’t noted
for their beauty, darling.

I didn'’t mean that.

I just thought
it would be lively
and full of excitement.

I mean, a camp
that'’s producing gold
by the millions.

The streets just seem so quiet,
like on Sunday.

The men are all at work.

Where I'’ll soon be, I hope.

I'’m gonna go see
Captain De La Mar just as soon
as I get cleaned up.

[ knocking on door ]

Come in.

Thanks.

Hey, wait a minute.

Is this all we get?

Water'’s scarce, sir.

There'’s not enough here
to wash a canary.

Well, I can fetch you
some more water, sir,
but it'’s extra.

Two bits.

Here'’s 50 cents.

Fill it up, huh?
And bring me another one.

Yes, sir.

Malingering.
That'’s what they're doing.
Malingering at my expense.

But the doc says--Yeah, yeah, I know.

Now, look,
I worked on the ground myself,

12 hours a day,
7 days a week.

It'’s no picnic,
but what do you expect
in mining?

You tell these fellas
either to stick to their jobs
or go back to the farm.

Now, get going.

What do you want?

Well, my name'’s Frank Gibbs.

I-- I have a letter
of introduction here.

I don'’t know
what we'’re coming to.

A man sneezes,
and he says he'’s sick,
he can'’t work.

Hmm.

Graduate engineer, huh?Yes, sir.

Suppose you got your eye
on my job.

Why, I'’m willing
to start anywhere.

I'’ll swing a pick,
pound a drill.

In my mine,
we don'’t pound drills.

I'’ve installed pneumatic drills.

Well, you are up to date.

They cost a pretty penny,

but they sure
speed up production.

If I only had the men
to match them.

You'’re pretty young.

You think you'’d
be able to drive men?

Well, I can drive them as hard
as I drive myself,

and that'’s pretty hard.Mmm.

I need a foreman.

Last one just quit on me.
To take a rest.

Can you start tomorrow?

Yes, sir!

Pays $5 a day.

I'’d heard Delamar wages
were good.

Yeah?

What else have you heard?

Nothing.

Well, you will.

There'’s folks who will tell you
I run a bad luck camp,

but don'’t you believe them.

The work here isn'’t hard
as work goes.

The pay is the highest
in the country.

Some folks are unfortunate.

Well, it happens everywhere.

Report tomorrow at 8:00,

and I'’ll take you through
the mine myself.

I-I don'’t know
how to thank you,
Captain De La Mar.

Maybe I'’m the one
who ought to thank you.

I need young men
with brains and ambition
who aren'’t afraid to work.

Glad to have you
with us, Gibbs.

[ explosions ]

Oh. Howdy.

My name'’s Frank Gibbs.Jim Logan.

My wife and I
just arrived in Delamar.

We'’re staying over at the hotel
until we can find a house.

Well, I thought you might have
a real estate section
in your paper.

Oh, we sure do.

You know of anything
for rent?

Oh, there are plenty
for sale.

Sale?

We hadn'’t thought
of buying just yet.

I suppose we could.

I just landed the job
as foreman.

So we could afford
the down payment all right.

Look, I don'’t want to push you
into anything you might regret.

What do you mean?

It just might be wise to wait
and see if you like it here.

Is there any reason why I
wouldn'’t like Delamar?

You know, if I don'’t get
that press going,

Delamar'’s not gonna have
a paper tomorrow.

The listings are on
the back page.

Oh, no.
First one'’s on the house.

Thank you.

So this little chambermaid,
who was not more than 13,

left school to support
her widowed mother.

Frank?Hm?

Were you listening to me?

Why, sure.
I heard you, honey.

What did I say?

You were talking about
a little girl who was
supporting her mother.

Well, what happened
to her father?

Well, I asked her
what happened to him,
and she said he was a miner.

He died like all
the rest of them.

What do you suppose
she meant by that?

I don'’t know.

Was there an accident here,
or a cave-in,

or an explosion,
or something?

I wouldn'’t have any idea.

The way she said it
gave me a funny feeling.

Well, what are we talking about
such gloomy things for?

My husband just landed
a wonderful job,

and we'’re gonna buy
our first new home.

Do you see anything good
on the list?

Well, this one reads the best,

but we better wait
till we see it, huh?

Huh.

[ explosions ]

[ men coughing ]

I'’m looking
for Captain De La Mar.

I was to meet him here
at 8:00.

You'’re early.

I know.

[ coughing continues ]

Cambrian quartzite.

Yeah.
[ chuckles ]

We just call it "pay dirt."

It'’s close
to 80 percent silica.

[ chuckles ]
Whatever it is,

it'’s making old man
De La Mar rich.

Where does he
bring in his water?

Water?For his mining and milling.

He...
[ coughing ]

don'’t use water.

[ coughing continues ]No water?

You mean it'’s a dry process?

Sure.

No wonder there'’s so much dust
from the tailings.

Not a breath of air
stirring today.

Never is.

Not in this valley.

Hemmed in by them mountains
on all sides.

No clean wind
can blow through.

"Devil'’s dust," we call it.

DE LA MAR:
Oh, there you are, Gibbs.

I'’m sorry
to keep you waiting.

Well, what are you
standing around for?
Come on, get moving!

[ coughing ]

Devil'’s dust.

Now, look, I told you,
don'’t believe everything
you hear.

Come on.

[ door opens, closes ]

Hello, Frank.
Playing hooky?

Been to a funeral.

One of my men.

That'’s too bad.

[ coughing ]

Tell me, Logan,

what'’s the mortality rate here?

Mortality rate?

I'’m not quite sure.

You been here since
this camp started?

Yeah.

You publish obituaries,
don'’t you?

Well, sure.

Can I see your file?

Yeah. Come here.

What are you after, Frank?

Just trying to fit
some pieces into a puzzle.

Well, if you'’re so interested
in the dead,

why don'’t you visit
the cemetery?

I already have,

but the headstones
don'’t state occupation.

I thought so.

What?

Most of the dead were employed
in the mine or the mill.

Most of the population are
either miners or mill workers.

The average age
was under 30.

Frank, there'’s always violence
in a boomtown.

These men didn'’t die suddenly.

I don'’t see one death here
by shooting.

What are you driving at?

Oh, come, now, Logan.

You'’re too good a newsman
not to know

what'’s really going on
in Delamar.

Half the women in town
dressed in black.

The cemetery growing.

Men coughing their lives away,
just as I'’m beginning to.

You'’ve heard of silicosis?

Miner'’s consumption?

Sure.

One of the hazards of mining.
Claims victims in every camp.

In most places,
it takes years.

In Delamar,
they'’re gone in a few months!

The captain'’s doing all he can
for his men.

He'’s installed
the latest machinery.

Pneumatic drills.
That'’s one of the causes.

They kick up a terrific dust
unless they'’re operated
with water.

Look, Frank,
I'’m no engineer.

De La Mar'’s the man
to talk to.

That'’s just where I'm going,
now I'’ve got my facts together.

I'’m sure he'll listen
to reason.

If he doesn'’t...

will you run this for me
in the paper?

"Truth About Silicosis."

The folks here should know.

[ sighs ]

Frank, I'’ll, uh,
have to check this
with the captain.

After all, you know...

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Captain De La Mar owns
this newspaper too.

So you'’re telling me
how to run my business.

No, sir.

Just explaining that it'’s
your dry process

that'’s the source
of this devil'’s dust.

Stop calling it "devil'’s dust"!

That'’s what the men call it.

Well, they ought to know.
Their lungs are full of it.

It hasn'’t stopped them
from coming here,
begging for jobs.

Men will come wherever
there'’s gold and high wages.

Now, look, son,

I handed you
a pretty good job

the first day
you came to town, right?

Yes, sir,
and I'’m grateful for that.

We were doing pretty well
up to that time.

Without your help.
No complaints.

I'’m not trying
to cause trouble, sir.

I'’m trying to get
at the root of it.

If you'’d pipe water
into the mine

and run the ore wet
through the mill,

this deadly dust
would be eliminated.

And I'’d be financially ruined!

You realize what water costs
in this town?

What'’s that compared
with men'’s lives?

Ahh!Don'’t you care anything
about human beings?

I do everything for my men. Oh, sure.

You give us medical care
when we'’re sick,
credit at the company store.

You even bury us!

I ought to fire you
right on the spot.

You'’re young, Gibbs.
You'’re inexperienced.

Look, boy,

I know we'’ve got problems.

Why don'’t you let me worry
about them, huh?

We'’ll have them licked
one of these days.

But they could
be licked immediately
if you'’d just listen to me.

I have listened to you.
For exactly 25 minutes,
Mr. Mining Engineer.

Now, don'’t you think
we'’d both better get home
and get some supper?

Let'’s go, boy.

[ coughing ]

You know, he wouldn'’t listen
to me at all.
[ scoffs ]

He seemed to think I was trying
to interfere or something.

I was in that--Frank, I'’ve been doing
some serious thinking.

Don'’t.But, Frank, I wan--

To borrow a phrase
from Captain De La Mar,

"You let me be the one
to do the worrying."

Then you are worried?

Well...

Frank, you realize your cough
is getting much worse?

Oh, that?Yes, that.

Frank, let'’s pack up
and get out of this place.

Let'’s go back East.What?

Oh, we got a little money
saved up by now.

Well, just--
just give up everything

we'’ve worked for
all these months?

Our home?

My job?

Look, Frank, darling,
nothing in the world
matters to me but you.

I wanna keep you with me.

You couldn'’t lose me
if you tried.

This town frightens me, Frank.

It'’s filled
with women in black.

I know.

Well, I don'’t want it
to happen to us.
I won'’t let it.

We'’ve gotta get out.Just desert?

Oh, but that'’s
Captain De La Mar'’s
responsibility.

It'’s not yours.

But I have the answer.

You tried talking to him before.
It doesn'’t do any good.

I can keep trying.

But, Frank, this disease
doesn'’t wait for anybody.

It'’s just one of those
horrible galloping things.

[ sighs ]

You'’re right, Jeanie.

Then you will go?

Yeah, I'’ll go.

I'’ll go
to the men themselves.

Maybe they'’ll listen.

[ coughing ]

I'’m telling you straight, men.

This dust is killing us all.

The captain won'’t admit it,
the newspaper won'’t print it,

and nobody wants
to talk about it.

But the simple truth is,
we'’re working ourselves...

[ coughing ]
to death.

Well, what can we do about it?

We can strike.
That'’s what we can do about it.

How do you mean, strike?

Walk off our jobs.

Refuse to work.

No more mining,
no more milling

till De La Mar pipes in water
to abolish the dust.

[ men murmuring ]We strike, he'’ll fire us.

If we strike, he can'’t produce
one ounce of gold!

That'’s the only way
we can force him
to take some action!

Oh, I don'’t know.
He'’s the boss.

Well, men, if you won'’t think
of yourselves,

think of your families.

Think of...
[ coughing ]

Get a doctor.

I'’m all right.
[ spits ]

I don'’t know about you, men,
but Gibbs here has convinced me.

I'’m willing to strike.Me too!

[ chattering ]

[ coughing ]

Frank, honey,
I'’m going to the store

to see if any fresh beef
has come in.

You need some good broth.

What would I do
without you, Jeanie?

Well, can I get you
anything else while I'’m there?

Sure. Any news
of the strike.

[ chattering ]

Afternoon.Afternoon, Mrs. Gibbs.

Do you have any fresh beef
in today, please?

Yes'’m. A whole carcass
come in this morning.

Well, that'’s very good.
Would you please give me
two pounds of meat?

And, uh, I'’d like you to fill
this list of groceries.

Gonna pay cash
for this, ma'’am?

Why, no. Just put it
on our bill, as usual.

I'’m sorry, ma'am.
I'’ll have to tell you

the same thing
I told the others.

Captain De La Mar laid down
the law to me.

No work, no credit.

You mean we can'’t
get any more food?

Cash only.

But these people live
from payday to payday.

That'’s the point.

So, he'’s gonna
starve you out.

Not me, he ain'’t.

I'’ll steal before I let
my kids go hungry.

We'’ll mob this store
and string you up
if you get in the way.

I'’m only taking orders
from the captain.

Yeah, that'’s right.
De La Mar'’s the one to go after.

We ought to drag him out of town
on the end of a rope.

Not before we tar
and feather him.
Lynch him.

[ shouting in agreement ]

What is it?The men.

They'’re talking
of lynching Captain De La Mar.

What?He'’s cut off all their credit

because of the strike.

Frank, you can'’t go out there.
You'’re not strong enough yet.

Honey, I started this thing.

I'’ve gotta stop it
before there'’s violence.

No.

Frank, don'’t.Please, honey.

[ men shouting ]

Frank, you can'’t stop
a mob like that.Well, I'’m gonna try.

Come on out![ shouting continues ]

Come on out!Wait a minute!
Listen to me!

De La Mar'’s had this coming
for a long time.
Get out of the way.

[ murmuring in agreement ]Just let me talk
with the captain.

We can'’t eat talk.
He cut off our credit.

MAN:
We want food.

FRANK: He was just trying
to scare us.

He'’ll listen to reason.
You'’ve gotta give him a chance.

[ chattering ]Come on out, De La Mar!

[ gun cocking ]

FRANK:
No!

Frank!

Get the doc.Frank!

Frank, darling.

I didn'’t mean to hit you, Frank.
You got right in the way.

Why did you do it, son?

Strike?

Save my life just now.

I-I don'’t know
about that, sir...

but I never wanted violence.

All I wanted was our rights
as human beings.

[ coughing ]

I understand.

I tried to tell you,
but you wouldn'’t listen.

Then they didn'’t listen.

I heard you, son.
I heard you all the time.

I knew you were right, too.
I--

I just wouldn'’t admit it.

I'’m sorry, son.

[ footsteps approaching ]

He'’s lucky.

Not much more
than a flesh wound.
He'’ll be all right.

I'’m telling you right now,
Captain De La Mar,

my husband'’s never going into
your mine again.

By the time your husband'’s
ready to come back to work,
Mrs. Gibb--

How long will it be?Well, it won'’t be long
before this

and that lung condition
is all cleared up.

By then, there'’ll be pipelines
bringing water to the mine
and the mill!

You can print that
in the paper, Logan.

Yes, sir!

[ cheering ]That'’s all we need!

[ cheering continues ]

The old captain
was as good as his word.

The deadly silica dust
was conquered,

and Delamar lost its nickname
as "City of Widows."

This is what Delamar
looks like today.

Among its ghostly remains,

you can still see the tailings
from which the dust rose.

And here'’s a sample
of quartzite.

No longer a menace to miners,

thanks to modern safeguards
against silicosis.

Among them, a law
that prohibits the operation

of pneumatic drills underground

without the use of water.