Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

(hooves clattering)

- [Dean] In San Francisco in the early 1850s,

a reporter sometimes rode hard for a story, I did.

I rode with the vigilantes.

There was little law in the city then,

the police force was small and insufficient

and a powerful gang called the Regulators

had the countryside living in terror.

Miners bringing in their gold

would ask the vigilantes to protect them.

We were organized and had been waiting for this

opportunity a long time.

- Well, he should've picked those miners up by now.

Message said two o'clock.

- Well, they could've been delayed.

- Yeah, by the Regulators.

? California, California ?

- [Announcer] "The Californians."

? California ?

? I've come to live where life is best ?

? In the golden west ?

? I'm gonna strike it rich in California ?

? California ?

(gentle music)

- Right on schedule.

Who says you have to dig for gold?

- Yeah.

(ominous music)

- Take cover, men!

(dramatic music)

- Yah, yah!

(hooves clattering)

- They'll be coming in from both sides.

- Well, where are your vigilantes?

(guns blasting)

(ominous music)

- Vigilantes!

(guns blasting)

(hooves clattering)

- You and your men take out after 'em!

(hooves clattering)

- They got Roy Howard.

- That's Jim Slote.

- We got the number one Regulator himself.

- Good, just keep him that way until I fetch a rope.

- Nobody is getting hanged without a trial first.

And we're taking Slote into San Francisco

and I guarantee you he won't get away with it this time.

(dramatic music)

- Regulator chief apprehended, caught in the act.

John McGivern and Sam Brennan lead Vigilantes

in thrilling capture of James Slote, by Dean Patrick.

Yesterday, in broad daylight, a band of reprehensible

Regulators were surprised in the very act of attacking

a gold laden mule train in route to this city.

Dean it's a fine story.

- I just make a reporter out of him yet.

- You know Sam, this might very well

be the end of that gang.

- Oh now, Slote's only one man.

- But the top man Mr. Brennan.

Without him the Regulators might fall apart.

- Shouldn't you be starting for court?

- Not a bad idea.

- Well, we should have hung the-

(coughs)

we should have hung him right there.

- Oh quiet Sam, quiet.

Any instructions Mr. Palmer?

- No, just tell all the witnesses to tell the truth

and I'll take care of the rest.

- Martha.

- Bye

- Bye.

- I'm not a modest man Mr. Slote, I know law,

but I can't promise to work miracles.

- You won't have to.

- But sir with all these witnesses.

- You just keep those witnesses from talking

til I give you the word.

(door rattles)

- And the testimony of these witnesses,

all men of character and good repute,

will prove that the defendant, James Slote,

and his band of ruffians called the Regulators,

did willfully attack the aforesaid miners

with intent to murder them and steal their gold.

Sir I would like to call my first witness, Jacob Johnson.

- [Truesdale] Objection your honor.

- [Judge] On what grounds Mr. Truesdale?

- On ground of precedents sir.

Williams versus Hensley superior court Massachusetts,

Carter versus Ames, Common Court of Virginia,

and Bomber versus Tagordio, New York.

- He's playing for time.

- I regret sir that my legal library

has not arrived from the east as of yet,

perhaps we can refer to your books?

- We're wasting time, let's hear the witnesses.

- [All] Yeah, come on.

(bangs)

- I'm going to have order here.

- And salt pork, coffee, flour and beans,

anything else you'd like to pack?

- Indeed, I'd like to be packing yourself, ma'am.

But I fear Mr. McGivern might resent it.

- Well I should hope so.

(laughs)

That's 42 dollars.

You want to pay for it or should we take it out of what

you've banked with us?

- Oh it's a trifling sum, I'll pay for it.

- All right.

Are you taking all of this with you now?

Mr. Gilligan?

Mr. Gilligan?

- I'll be back ma'am.

- May I help you?

- Well if you're busy.

- No ma'am,

I was just leaving, yes ma'am,

just leaving.

(moans)

- Now?

- My what lovely jade beads.

- Thank you.

Some Chinese friends gave them to me.

My husband is their counselor.

- How nice.

May I see your parasols?

- Yes of course.

(gasps)

(dramatic music)

- Mr. Truesdale, I want no legal shenanigans.

- Of course not sir, I'm merely citing the law.

Now in the case of Williams versus Hensley,

in Massachusetts,

and may I say sir, that I was privileged

to practice in this great sovereign state

that brought us Samuel Adams, Daniel Webster,

those two outstanding Americans,

who dedicated their lives to the principle

that all men, no matter whether rich or poor

are allowed to speak their mind.

(dramatic music)

And so much for the first case your honor,

and now for the second.

- [Judge] Mr. Truesdale, I don't see what point

you made with the first.

- [Truesdale] I'm coming to that your honor.

You'll see the principle develop through all three cases.

- It's after two, he's delayed this trial for an hour.

- Nothing's going to happen now, our time will come.

- Your honor the principle I refer to

is as basic as the law itself, pure, immutable.

- Mr. Truesdale?

- Excuse me, your honor.

Your honor, the defense has just received certain

startling new facts,

I will need a little time to prepare.

- Til tomorrow morning.

This court is recessed.

(audience chatters)

- He'll wiggle off the hook you wait and see.

- He hasn't got a chance.

- McGivern, who's McGivern.

- I am son, right here.

All right thank you.

- What is it Jack?

McGivern, we've got your wife.

If you want her to live call off your witnesses.

- Dirty rats.

- That kid.

(dramatic music)

- Mrs. McGivern, it's a dolt I am for forgetting to pay,

I-

Mrs. McGivern?

- [Dean] Don't give up, they'll find her.

Brannon's got over 200 men, they'll cover every inch

of this town.

- For the first time in my life I regret

that I stopped a hanging.

If they've even touched a hair on her head,

by heavens I'll-

- Take it easy Jack.

We've got til morning til court opens.

If you have to you can even call off the witnesses.

Where are you going?

- I'm going out.

I'm going to make another search.

Dean I've got to find her, I've got to.

- But you can't do it alone, it's too dangerous.

The Regulators could pick you up.

- If anything's happened to Martha,

I just hope that they do.

(somber music)

? Oh, it's two large cattle ?

? A large yellow dog ?

? A tall shanghai rooster ?

? And one spotted hog ?

- The top of the evening to you Mr. Patrick.

McGivern?

Now where is he?

- He's out walking and you should be doing the same.

- Oh no, I'm not ready for bed.

Should I tell you something?

I'm in love.

I never saw her dressed up like that before,

ah, she's beautiful.

- Come on Mr. Gilligan.

- Ah no, not without me gold dust that's in McGivern's safe.

McGivern.

- I told you, he's not here.

Look he's in trouble, the Regulators kidnapped his wife.

(gasps)

- Oh no, a sweet little lady like her.

(gasps)

And I was so close.

- Close?

- I was standing right here talking to her

and a few minutes later I come back and she's gone.

- What time was that?

- Assured before two.

- Who else was here?

- The girl I love.

- Who's that?

- Dolly Dawson.

Well she's a sort of an actress,

she runs her own saloon down by the cove.

- Could you take me there, you know where it is?

- I've been there half of the night.

But I don't know, it ain't no place for a gentlemen.

- Well I got my old mining clothes.

(audience applauds)

- How do you like that?

- Well she's pretty all right.

- You should see her when she's all dressed up.

- She's dressed up now, in Mrs. McGivern's jade beads.

(patrons chatter)

- That's him, the man who gave her the drink.

He was in the store with her.

- You stay here and stay sober.

- Now where are you going?

- Upstairs.

- You're crazy.

- Not crazy,

drunk.

(patrons chatter)

- That's good oh, that's good boys.

I'm a little behind.

(dramatic music)

- You going somewhere?

- Downstairs, rum head.

- Come on, let's sing a song.

- I said downstairs.

- What's the matter, don't you like to sing?

Now what do you got against singing huh?

(bowl clatters)

(dramatic music)

- What did he want?

- [Guard] Just a drunk.

- Get rid of him.

(crowd chatters)

- No Sam I won't do it I tell you,

I told those miners that Slote would be convicted

I made them a promise.

- You also made a few promises to Martha, remember?

To take care of her, to love and protect her,

isn't she your first responsibility?

- What do you want me to do man?

Spout a lot of fancy ideals and then kick them out

into the mud, the moment that I stand to get hurt

oh no Sam, no.

- You listen to me.

You testify against Slote,

and something happens to Martha, there isn't a man

in this town who'll take the trouble to spit on you

or any of us.

We'd be finished, there wouldn't be any vigilantes.

- You just don't understand, do you?

Those miners have my word that Slote will be convicted.

- Sure they want Slote hung,

they'd give their lives to do it,

but they wouldn't give Martha's.

- Do you think I would?

- Of course not, stop talking like a darn fool.

- I'm sorry Sam.

When a man gets into a thing like this,

it's very difficult to think straight

to reason.

Sam?

- Hmm?

- Would you please ask the miners not to testify?

- You just leave 'em to me.

- Must be that window right up there.

- At least we could go get us some help.

- She might be dead by then.

If I get in, you go out in front,

wait a while then kick up a fuss.

(ominous music)

(Gilligan bangs on door)

- Come on, open up, it's nine o'clock.

(Gilligan knocks)

I want a drink.

Come on, open up.

I want a drink.

- Come on down and help get rid of this drunk Matt.

- Coming Miss Dolly.

(tense music)

- You all right?

(footsteps)

- Well it won't be long now dearie,

oh these, don't feel too badly about them,

you won't be needing them anymore,

fact is you won't be needing anything anymore.

- Go ahead Mr. Commer.

- Thank you sir.

Now Mr. Johnson, on the afternoon of August the third,

you were leading a mule train from Grass Valley

to San Francisco, is that right?

- That's right.

- What happened?

- Well I-

- Just state what happened.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel bangs)

- Well, nothing.

- Quiet!

I insist on quiet.

- Mr. Johnson, one of your men was killed.

- Well I guess, there must have been a fight.

- Can you say that James Slote took part in this fight?

- I can't.

No sir, I can't.

(crowd murmurs)

- Mr. McGivern, you realize you're under oath?

- Yes sir.

- And since a dozen witnesses indicated

they were totally blind on the day of the attack,

this case against Mr. Slote rests

entirely on your testimony.

You understand that?

- Yes, sir.

- Proceed.

- Mr. McGivern, I'm asking you sir

as a respected and trusted citizen of San Francisco,

will you tell us what really happened that day?

- I have nothing to say.

- Mr. McGivern, you realize this ensures a verdict

of not guilty?

- Yes, sir.

- Is that they way you want it?

- I have nothing to say your honor.

- You're excused.

(crowd murmurs)

(soft music)

(gasps)

(intense music)

(dramatic music)

- Come on, come on, I been waiting for ya.

- On the basis of the evidence, or rather the lack of it,

the jury must find the defendant not guilty.

But I hope the evidence will be more positive

when the witnesses who testified today

are returned to this court on charges of perjury,

I don't think you need to retire to consider your verdict.

- Jack, you said it yourself,

our time will come.

- Jack.

- [Bandit] I wonder how she got out.

(laughs)

- Your honor, it's not over is it?

- Well, we've had the testimony,

not all of it sir, not mine.

And not theirs.

They couldn't talk

because the Regulators kidnapped Mrs. McGivern.

(crowd murmurs)

- Quiet.

(bangs gavel)

Quiet.

This court is still in session.

We'll let Mrs. McGivern have her cry

and then we'll listen to testimony.

(triumphant music)

(soft music)

- I still don't see why you and Dean have to rush.

I thought you'd at least stay for supper.

We're so grateful to both of you.

- Thank you ma'am.

But I gotta walk this one past the city jail,

so he can see the woman he loves

before they ship her out of California.

- Ah, I'm for the gold fields.

Where all a man has to worry about is his life.

I've had me fill of the vigilantes.

(laughs)

Good bye, Mrs. McGivern.

- Good bye.

- Have you had your fill of the vigilantes, my dear?

- Have you?

You had to worry about me this once,

I worry about you all the time.

But Jack, I wouldn't want it any other way.

(triumphant music)

? California ?

? Oh I've traveled here, I've traveled there ?

? I guess, I been most everywhere ?

? But I like where I am today ?

? And here is where I'll stay ?

? Now one thing I just can't endure ?

? Is being broke and being poor ?

? So I come west to take the cure ?

? And here is where I'll stay ?

? I've come to California ?

? California ?

? There's gold in them there hills in California ?

? I've come to live where life is best ?

? In the golden west ?

? I'm gonna strike it rich in California ?

? California ?

? There's gold in them there hills ?

? In California ?

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0