All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S12E26.The.Streets.of.El.Paso.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

[ chattering ]

Okay, uh, y'’all
pay attention a second.

Now, uh, you all know
what'’s happened
to our canal.

You'’ve seen it happen before,
and most of you'’ve been down
to see what shape it is in now.

It sure is a mess.It'’s siltin' up, all right,

just like it did last year.It sure is.

Something oughta
be done about it before
it stops running altogether.

Yeah, we oughta clean it up,
but, well, I gotta get back
to livery.

Me too.
Joe Sommers is bringing

his mare in for a show,
and I'’ve gotta get over there.

Well, now, wait a minute.
Hold everything.
Where do you think you'’re going?

Just a minute.
Who'’s gonna get this job done.

Look, that acequia
is the only water supply
this town has.

You know we gotta
keep it running.

But you'’re all too busy
this time, is that it?

Well, sure. More ranchers
moving in around here
all the time.

They come into town,
we gotta be here.

We got businesses to tend to.

What about the town?

How are we going to stay alive
without water?

Now, look, we'’re gonna be big.

This is gonna be a city.
The biggest in a thousand miles.

I know it!
But we'’ve got to work at it.

Oh, come on, Dowell.

Now, we'’ve heard
all your big ideas before.

What city?

We got a one-street town
and a saloon and a couple
of adobe shacks.

Instead of a newspaper,
we got a tree.

Instead of a fire department,
we got a water bucket.

And that'’s full of holes.[ laughter ]

We don'’t even have a mayor.Well, that'’s it, Hubbard.

Let'’s have us a mayor,[ mutters ]

and then he can
organize the whole thing.

How about Ben?

MAN:
Ben for mayor.
What do you say?

[ murmuring in agreement ]Now, wait, wait, wait a minute.

Okay, Ben. You'’re it.
And the problem'’s yours.

Now, I gotta get back
to my livery stable.Yeah.

[ chattering ]

Congratulations, Ben.

You'’re the town's
first mayor.

Eh, thank you, Jack.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger.

Hundreds of small towns
were started in those
early days of the West.

Some sprang up
near a mining strike,

some began at stagecoach stops,

and some built up
around a crossroad'’s saloon.

Now, many of these towns
lost their reason
for existence

and are just memories now.

Those lucky enough to have
among their citizens
a man like Ben Dowell,

a man of vision
and determination,
usually grew up and prospered.

But it wasn'’t easy,
even for someone like Ben,

as he learned on...

Good morning, Ben.

Good morning, Ben.

Oh, uh, morning.

You'’re not very talkative,
are you?

I'’m kind of busy.

Oh.

You didn'’t hear?

Hear what?

[ chuckles ]
They elected me mayor.

Elected you mayor?

About an hour ago,
unanimously.

Oh, Ben, how wonderful!

First mayor of El Paso.

Oh, well, I always knew
it would happen.

And to think the whole town
had such faith in you, Ben.

I don'’t think, uh...

Now, this will be
the beginning of everything.

All your dreams about
building a new city
can come true.

I don'’t think that's why
they elected me mayor.

What?No, they, uh...

They didn'’t want
to dig out the canal,

so they handed it over to me
by making me mayor.

Oh.
[ sighs ]

Oh, it'’s all right.
It'’s all right, Nancy.

They elected me mayor.

That'’s what I'll be.

And this is the way
I'’ll start.

What is it?

It'’s a proclamation.

My first proclamation
as mayor.

Ben, I don'’t think the people
are gonna like this.

They'’re gonna
have to like it.

I'’m the mayor.

Elwood ain'’t
gonna like that.

Oh, I see, uh, Bert and Hilda
are inviting everybody
to, uh-- to Maggie'’s wedding.

You going, Ben?I imagine so.

"Proclamation:
I, Ben Dowell,

duly elected mayor
of this city, do hereby"...

Taxes?

What do you expect me to do,
dig out that canal by myself?

We gotta raise some money
somehow, and this is the legal
and proper way to do it.

People ain'’t gonna
like that, Ben.

In fact, I'’ll bet you--

I'’ll bet you a new hat
you don'’t collect $5.

Carmody, you'’ve got
yourself a bet.

So, uh, you see, Charlie, uh,
we'’re charging everybody a tax.

All the big cities do it.

They do?Oh, yes.

Well, the trouble is,
my two youngest are ailing,Ohh...

...and young Charlie
fell out of a tree
and busted his arm,

and, well, Jane is
expecting again, and...

Well, Charlie--But the fact is, Ben,

with all these
doctoring bills, I--

well, I-I just--[ sympathetic muttering ]

I understand, Charlie. Uh...

Look, um...

Here. Uh, take this. Maybe--
Maybe this'’ll help out
for a while.

And when you get a chance,
will you pay the tax bill?

Yeah.

[ no audible dialogue ]

Well, I'’ll tell you what, Ben.
When they pay, I'’ll pay.

Doggone it, Marie.
That'’s what everybody says.

Now, how are we gonna
get along without water?

Oh, well, I don'’t
have to worry about that.

Would you like a drink?

No. No, thanks, Marie.

How'’s the mayorin' business,
Dowell?

I haven'’t been outside
this afternoon to look.

Are we a big city yet?We will be,

but no thanks
to some cheap chiselers
around here that I know.

Well, we'’re all counting
on you, Ben.

Don'’t let us down.[ men chuckle ]

Eh, it'’s not top quality.
'’Course, I expected that.

It fits, more or less.

I suppose that'’s all
I can hope for from you.

Carmody,
you wouldn'’t know quality
if it came up and kicked you.

Hey, Ben.

Ben, I was so sorry
to hear about it.

You didn'’t collect
a cent, did you?
Nope.

That'’s a downright shame
the way they treated you, Ben.

If I had any property,
I'’d pay my taxes,
if I had any money.

Poor Ben.

Well, this'’ll make you
feel better. Mince pie.

What are you two
talking about?
You know, I feel fine.

Look what this idiot'’s
gone and done now.

"City Ordinance Number 1:

"From this date henceforth,
it will be illegal
for any citizen of El Paso

"to bathe, swim, or cavort
in any way in the canal.

Ben Dowell, mayor."

Ben, you know
the people always...

That'’s what I'm hoping for.

The more we catch,
the more we collect.
[ chuckles ]

Yeah, that should
bring in plenty of money.

We'’ll get that ditch
dug out.

You out of your mind,
Ben Dowell?

If I wanna swim in that canal,
I'’ll do it.

You do, and you'’ll pay for it
when our town marshal
catches ya.

What town marshal?
Who you gonna talk
into that job?

Well, Jack, I, uh--
I'’ve been giving that
a lot of thought.

I think I found
the right man.
Hm.

You.Me?

Why, Ben-- Ben, the way
you'’re running this town,
that'’d get me killed.

Uncle Jack,
you know I wouldn'’t do
anything to hurt you.

Besides, what'’s more important,
you or El Paso?

[ laughter ]And listen to this one.

"It shall be illegal
for any man, woman, or child

to speak loudly or unkindly
toward his or her neighbor."

[ laughter ]

Oh, that'’s nothing.
Here-- This is my favorite.

"It shall be illegal
for any male or female
citizen of El Paso

"to steal any of his
or her neighbor'’s property

without the consent
of his or her neighbor."

[ laughter ]

You can go ahead and laugh,
but you'’re gonna find out
there are a lot of people

willing to pay their fine
and own up to it
once they'’ve broken the law.

That'’s right, Mayor.
I just collected some fines.

You did? Well--
Well, hand '’em over.

[ coins clinking ] This is an historic
occasion, boys.

The beginning
of the city treasury.
[ chuckles ]

[ men chattering ]

Three dollars?Yeah.

I fined a stranger
a dollar for carrying a gun.

He didn'’t have sense enough
to hide it.

And then I fined Joe Stanton
six bits for pitching pennies

behind Carmody'’s livery stable.

And then I fined a guy--Congratulations, Mayor.

At the rate
you'’re collecting fines,
you'’ll have that canal dug

in an easy, uh,
five years.[ snaps fingers ]

[ laughter ]

Don'’t you let them
bother you, Ben.

Here. I'’ve got
something for you.

That money you loaned me
the other day.

Well, thanks, Charlie,
but where did you get
all that money?

Oh, I just had
a little run of luck
over at Marie'’s place.

Poker?Yeah.

Yeah?

Come on, Marshal.
Let'’s go catch 'em
in the act, huh?

Better put the money away, boys.
The government'’s coming
up the street.

Marshal, arrest these men.

On what charge, Mayor?

Or have you got a new law
saying you can'’t play
for matches now?

[ sighs ]
Come on, Jack.
I'’ll, um--

I'’ll buy you a drink.
I think I could use one.

Boys, he'’s gotta be
the most discouraged man
in West Texas.

I bet Dowell'’d do anything
to raise that money.

Maybe we can
cash in on this.

[ chattering ]

How are things going, Ben?Not too good.

You think you'’re ever gonna get
that canal cleaned out?

I don'’t know, Marie.
I'’m beginning to wonder.

Marie, come on over here.

We got an idea
to make some money.

Well, I'’m all for that.

But we gotta act fast,
before Dowell
becomes too discouraged

and gives up being mayor.

[ sighs ]
Now, wait a minute.

Why are you inviting me in?

Well, you make an investment
in this place pay out,

so we figured we owe ya...
a favor.

Besides, Ben won'’t have
anything to do with any of us.

Uh-huh.But you can make
a deal with him.

[ chuckles ]
What kind of deal?

Just about the slickest idea
you ever heard.

All we'’re gonna do is...

[ laughing ]

[ men laughing ]

Feeling low?

Oh. Howdy, Marie.

[ sighs ]

Yeah.

Yeah, it gets
pretty discouraging
to have one simple dream,

and then find out
it'’s hopeless.

Oh, would you, uh,
like some coffee?
Oh, no.

Hmm.
Um, maybe it'’s
not hopeless, Ben.

Well, I know this
can be a great city.

But nobody'’s even
willing to try.
[ scoffs ]

How are we gonna even get
railroads to come through here,
or anything else,

if we can'’t even supply
our own water?

How much do you need, Ben?

[ scoffs ]
Two hundred dollars.

I know it doesn'’t sound
like much, but nobody
in this town has any cash.

I have.
I'’ll give the town $200.

I think the town
oughta grow too.

Well, Marie, that'’s, uh--

Uh-uh. It'’s strictly
a business deal, Ben.

I want something in exchange.

In exchange?

[ chuckles ]
The town doesn'’t own anything.

I mean, no city hall,
no schools, no jail.

The only thing El Paso'’s got
is the street it'’s built on.

That'’ll do.

What'’ll do?

The street.
I'’ll take that.

Marie, have you been drinking
your own liquor?

Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute. Um...

Isn'’t there some other way?

You said it yourself, Ben.

El Paso hasn'’t got
anything else.

[ chuckles ]
How can I...

I don'’t know.
You'’re the mayor, Ben.

I mean, I-- I thought
you wanted to do something.

Unless all that talk
about El Paso being
such a great city

was just talk.

Well, um...
[ chuckles ]

What could you
possibly do with a...

Oh, oh. Yes, well,

in other words, um,

when all those
highfalutin ladies
come riding into town

with their noses
up in the air, why, uh,

you could say they'’re riding
on your street, hmm?

[ laughs ]

Well, I can see how
that could give you
a great deal of satisfaction.

Mm-hmm.
[ chuckles ]

I sure don'’t see
any harm in it.

And I could
get things started.

Marie, you got
yourself a deal.

Come on.
We'’ll draw up a deed.

[ banging on door ]All right, all right!
I'’m coming!

Give me a chance
to wake up, will ya?

[ exclaims ]

[ grunts ]

Charlie, what are you--Ben!

Ben, what'’s going on?What do you mean,
"what'’s going on?"

What are they doing?Who? What?

Come out here!
Come on! Come on!

You don'’t have to drag me--Look at that.

Move.

They'’re charging everybody
to come into town.

They call it a toll.A toll?

Yeah.

Oh...

Oh, that-- th-that woman.

I estimate...
another five minutes.

Your watch must be slow.
Here he comes now.

[ sighs ]

Now, listen here, Marie.
You can'’t do this.

Oh, yes, she can, Mayor.Hubbard, would you mind
going someplace else?

I have some business
to talk over with Marie.

Well, I assume you wanna talk
about the town'’s streets,
which we own.

You?

Marie and me,

and a couple of others,

uh, formed a little
real estate syndicate.

Now, Ben, I told you
it was strictly a business deal.

Now, what was it
you wanted to talk about,

uh, Mayor?You know darned well

you can'’t charge admission
for people to come
into this town.

According to this deed
that you wrote--

it says we can do anything
we want with those streets.

Ben, I want you to know

I was not in favor
of charging that toll,

but the rest of the syndicate
voted me down.

Personally, I--

I wanted to plow up the street
and plant a little garden
out there.

That'’s for you, Ben.
[ sighs ]

You know,
you bachelors never get
the right kind of food.

Tsk! Eating all that
chili and tamales--

[ loud chattering ]

All right.
Now, hold it, hold it.

[ loud chattering continues ]What is this all about?

Wait a minute! Hold it!
Quiet down!

I tried to stop '’em, Ben,
but they won'’t listen to me.

[ sighs ]
Yeah, well, I, uh...

I suppose you'’re all here
because of the fences, hmm?

MEN:
Yeah!You'’re darned right it is.

What are you trying to do,
ruin us, Ben?

Them ranchers come into town
for supplies,
they gotta pay a toll.

Well, they ain'’t gonna do it!

I know, I know.
I tell you, I'’m working on it.

Well, you'’ve gotta
work harder, Ben.
Things can'’t go on this way.

That'’s right.Now, listen here,
all of you.

You elected me mayor
to fix up the canal and make
something out of this town.

But then none of you
lifted a hand to help.

Well, I did
the only thing I could.

Well, you done the wrong thing,

and we'’re here to tell you
that if it ain'’t undone
right away,

well, there'’s gonna be
a little tar and feather party
going on.

MEN: Yeah!And guess who'’s gonna be
the guest of honor.

MEN:
Yeah!

I'’m working on it.

Everything'’s gonna
be fine tomorrow.

All right.
Now, you heard him.
Now go on home.

[ loud chattering ]

Ben, have you really got
something figured out?

Oh, um, yeah, Jack.

You can depend on me.
Everything'’s gonna be fine.

Okay.

Well, good night, Ben.

I told you not to worry, Ben.

I knew you'’d
think of something.

Yep. I'’m gonna take care
of it right now too.

What are you gonna do?

I'’m gonna pack up
and leave town.

But you can'’t.

Nancy, you once said
I was a smart man.

Well, a smart man
knows when to quit.

It'’s not just
the tars and feathers.

I think Carmody'’s
gonna work '’em up
into a lynch party.

But-- But what about
all the wonderful things
you were going to do?

The-- The city
you were going to build?

Well, I can'’t do it
if I'’m dangling from a tree.

You know, it took
a woman'’s tricky maneuvering

to put this over on you.

What you need
is the same sneaky,

conniving logic on your side.

What do you mean,
"sneaking, conniving"?

Another woman.Another woman?

Me.

Nancy, I don'’t--
I don'’t-- I...

You will.

[ banging on door ]

All right!
Wait a minute!

Oh! Now, what is going on?

Well, haven'’t you noticed
anything strange this morning?No.

Where are
all the customers?It is early.

It'’s not that early.

Where is everybody?

Come here.
I'’ll show you.

[ birds twittering ]

But who?

Ben Dowell. Who else?

Morning, Miss Whittaker.Morning.

Mayor.Good mornin'’.

Nice day, isn'’t it?

Look, Ben, a joke'’s a joke,
but that fence
has gotta come down.

Oh, is that so?Yeah. I know a little bit
about the law too.

That'’s restraint of trade,
keeping people from
coming into our place.

What, uh--

Isn'’t that what you're doing
to the whole town?

Oh, that'’s different.

You can'’t fence off
the sidewalks.

Well, anyway,
it'’s none of my doing.

If the mayor
could sell you the streets,

he could sell me the sidewalk.

Would you like
to see the deed?

Why, of all the low-down--

All right, all right.
Uh, Ben, you win.

Just give us back
our $200,

and we'’ll tear down the fences
blocking the street.

Um, your 200?

That'’s funny. I...

I don'’t recall anything
in that deed that you have
about giving money back.

If I don'’t get it back,
them fences will stay put
till water runs uphill.

All the fences.

Oh! But they can'’t
do this to us!

They'’ve done it.
Come on.

Well, I'’ve hired the men

to start cleaning up
the canal tomorrow

and dig it all out.

After that, we'’ll, uh...

Um, Nancy?

What, Ben?

Well, you know,
if it weren'’t for you, uh,

I was about to give up
on all of this, and...

[ sighs ]

Yes?

What I mean, uh--
If it weren'’t f--

Are you trying
to say "thank you," Ben?

Yeah.

[ sighs ]
Oh, Ben, there'’s
a much better way.

As one author wrote:

"He thought up
the only new dodge
of municipal money-raising

since the invention of wampum."

Now, Ben Dowell,
El Paso'’s first mayor,

did use that money
to repair the canal

and ensure
the town'’s water supply,

so that six years later,
in 1879,

Ben'’s vision proved true

when the railroads announced
they were coming to El Paso.

And that little village became

one of the most
important cities of Texas.