Original subtitles

Now, 20 mule products bring you Death Valley Days.

Some people seem to think America's history is just

names and dates, battles and elections.

We think it's people very much like you and me,

too many of them too long forgotten.

Does the name Joe Meek ring a bell in your memory?

Well, if it doesn't, here is his true love story.

Joe?

You like?

Sure, sure.

You know, I'm right out of chewing tobacco.

Tula honey, why don't you go and rest in the wagon awhile?

I'll be right back.

I wait.

Howdy, Tula.

That man of yours been treating you kindly?

I told you before, Tula,

man like me appreciates

a good Injun woman like yourself.

I'm better than that Joe Meek.

Why, I'd buy you so many of them fancy doodads,

lot more than that soft, little neck of yours could carry.

[Chuckles]

Seems to me Joe Meek ain't feeding you proper.

You're a mite scrawny.

Get away from her, Halper.

Why, howdy, Joe!

I was just admiring your woman, that's all.

Just admiring.

Then do it from a distance and keep your hands off'n her.

Why, they're clean, Joe.

Ain't your hands that's dirty.

Why you gotta be such a hardnose, Jose?

I offered you $250.

That's a mighty big prize for a squaw.

I told you before

she ain't for sale at no price.

Why you gotta be different than the rest?

She's just a squaw.

Pete Cott has got a Navajo woman.

He's only asking $125 for her,

and she's at least five years younger.

Then go buy her.

Joe, I'll make it an even $300.

Now, there ain't no squaw worth that much.

A man don't sell his wife, not for any price.

[Gun fires]

[People cheering]

[Chuckles]

[Gun fires] You know, it appears

there's enough of them frilly gals

for you to replace her.

[People cheering]

Man with $300 in his pocket could just about take his pick.

[Gun fires] [Chuckles]

Think it over, Joe. Think hard.

[People cheering, laughing]

Tula girl, you sure got a way with fixing corn.

[Chuckles] Yes, sir.

Why, even the cob is sweet.

My Mother, she teach.

She cook corn better than all squaw in village.

Sit down and have some coffee yourself.

Oh, there's something about a warm house, good food,

and a hot cup of coffee that makes a man feel fine.

Joe...

Your friends, Clete, Ephraim,

they trade wives for new women.

Why you no sell Tula?

Now what in tarnation kind of question is that?

Why, Joe?

Why you keep Tula after so many moons?

You heard what I told that Halper.

Man don't sell his wife.

Maybe because...

Because what?

Because you love me?

Well...

I ain't ever heard you use that word before-- "love."

Where'd you learn that word from?

Oh, I know for long time now.

You didn't learn that word from me.

No, but what it means, I learn from you.

Oh, I, uh-- I almost forgot.

Here. For me?

Well, I'm handing it to you, ain't I?

I just reckon that...

This here shirt's got a rip in it,

and it needs mending.

Oh, Joe!

All right, all right. Back off, woman. Back off.

Put it on. Beautiful.

I've never seen a woman act on so, over trinkets.

Joe, speak truth.

You love Tula, no?

You got more dog pig-headed nonsense in you

than a Bob-tailed mule.

Now fix that shirt before I take a strap to ya!

[Man laughing]

Yeah, we done it. Whoo-hee!

[Both laugh]

Well, if it ain't ol' Joe!

Ol' bunch grasser hisself!

Hello, boys.

Come on, cool your saddle.

Me and les here got enough for a three-day fandango.

Yeah, well, it don't take much to satisfy you two.

Don't take nothing but a jug of scamper juice

and then a giggle-mouthed female!

Yeah.

Hey, Joe,

how's your red-skinned squaw?

[Yelps]

[Laughs]

[Sneezes]

Hey!

Hey, now why'd you want to go and do that for?

He's kinda touchy about her.

Come on, Joe. Tie one out with us, huh?

Well, maybe I will later, but only one drink though,

'cause I gotta get back and help tula with the milking.

I hear tell he got some real slickered-up city gals

over at that saloon.

Now, don't drag your feet a-coming

or I might just corral me that whole herd of fancy steppers.

[Cheers] Go on, Jericho!

[Woman] Let go of me, do you hear me?

Stop it! Let go!

Let go of me!

Thanks. I just stepped out of that rathole for some air,

and that big moose grabbed a hold of me.

This ain't no time for ladies to go strolling alone, miss.

I've always been the kind to have to find out the hard way.

Thanks for pulling the cork on lover boy.

My name's Blanche, Blanche Clayton.

Pleased to meet you, ma'am. I'm Joe Meek.

I'd hate to think what could have happened

if you hadn't come along.

How about busting a bottle with me, Joe, on the house?

Well, thanks, but I'm meeting some friends.

Maybe later.

There ain't no need to feel obliged, miss.

Why, I was just helping out.

Any sober man would be pleased to do the same.

[Scoffs] They named you right, Joe Meek.

Afternoon, miss.

So there I was--

this puny, little ol' widow woman and me.

Why, she didn't have enough meat on her bones

to stare at gophers.

So I says to her, I says,

"I'd be right proud to marry up with you, lady,

if there was enough of ya to grab hold of."

[All laugh]

Say, Joe, tell the gals

about the time you and Kit Carson

and Billy Mitchell and them three Delaware braves

outfought a hundred comanches.

Yeah, tell 'em, Joe. That's a good 'UN.

Oh, these ladies don't want to hear those old windies.

I'd like to hear it.

Here, won't you sit?

Thank you.

So where were you

when they cut them two out of the pack?

Hello, Joe.

You are going to introduce us, aren't you, Joe?

Oh, yeah, sure.

This here is Jericho Brown, and this is Les Thatcher.

Miss Blanche Clayton. Gentlemen.

A real pleasure, ma'am.

Something wrong?

No, ma'am.

Joe, I'll be off work in a few minutes.

Are you free this evening?

I, uh...

I thought maybe that you and I could go someplace for supper.

Just the two of us.

I'd like to get to know you better.

That sounds fine, ma'am, but, uh, well...

I'm married.

None of us are perfect. How about it?

I gotta be getting home after this drink, ma'am.

I'm sorry.

So am I.

You're a trapper, aren't you?

Yes, ma'am.

I hope you have better luck setting your traps

than I just had with mine.

Gentlemen.

Joe...

Joe!

You got squirrels in your head?

A fancy gal like that saddles up to you,

with her wings a-flapping,

and you gotta go home?

You don't want this. You need sulfur and molasses!

[Chuckles]

[Sighs]

Been a mighty long spell

since a sweet-smelling woman like that

a-flapped her wings at me.

That paiute woman of mine is always rubbing goose grease

all over herself.

Suppose to keep her young.

Maybe it's high time I traded off

that ol' woman of mine.

Nice, smooth, white skin.

Mmm. Pretty starched female clothes

and fancy petticoats a-rustling.

Been a mighty long spell since we've been close

to a woman like that, huh, Joe?

Yeah.

Been a mighty long spell.

Why do you want to wear that crazy belt buckle

around the house for?

You buy for me to wear.

Oh, all that junk a-jangling from you.

Those bells are gonna drive me plum loco

one of these days.

[Sighs deeply]

When we marry, you say bells make happy sound.

Well, we've been married two years now!

Almost. Two moons to go.

Then two years.

The gods have been good to us.

Soon we burn acorns and give thanks.

You see? That there's what I mean.

Ain't about time you try to civilize up a mite?

Civilize? I mean fix yourself up proper.

Try to act more like a white woman.

I am an Indian.

All right, all right.

But do you have to look and sound like one

from sunup to sundown?

Like you just climbed out of the hills?

The hills, the mountains,

that is where we met.

With your knife,

you drew blood from your hand,

then from mine.

We touched them together.

Become one blood.

Man and wife.

Joe...

Something bother you?

Tell Tula.

[Piano playing]

Oh!

Give me a double.

One for that squaw man over there.

Simmer down, Joe. It ain't worth it.

That pig-headed nat halper

has butted three men to death already.

Nobody calls me "squaw man."

Well, you are a squaw man.

So am I, so is Les here.

So what?

How about a dance, Miss Blanche?

It's about time, Mr. Meek.

[Both grunt]

[Halper] Hey, Joe Meek!

You got a visitor.

What are you doing here?

I worry. It is late.

Go on home. Right now.

Joe, who's she?

Oh, uh...

She cooks for me.

Hey, Jack.

The $300 there...

Give it to Joe Meek for me when he leaves.

I don't believe you.

Now, look, I told you.

Your man sold you to me.

He's taken hisself a white woman.

You seen 'em together, didn't ya?

Now, come on. We're leaving.

Tula!

That's right, woman.

Give me that old Indian silent treatment.

Well, you had no right or call to come a-hunting me.

And-and I'm ordering you right now

to keep your distance from them whiskey hounds.

You hear me?

You hear me, woman?!

[Horse approaching]

Tula!

[Man] Hey, Joe Meek!

Jericho said to tell you the bartender forgot

to give you this money when you left.

He said Nat Halper left it for you.

It beats me why that Halper be giving anybody $300 for.

Tula.

Take it back.

Now, look here, woman.

I paid $300 hard cash for you. You belong to me now.

Joe Meek...

He say something about Tula?

You still pining for that ol' sourdough?

He left you, didn't he?

Sold you off like an old hound dog,

didn't he?

[Chuckles]

You come over here to big nat.

I ain't got no Patience for playing games, woman.

You're my squaw now,

and I aim to start appreciating what's rightfully mine.

Well...

What do we got here now?

Maybe you'd like to fight.

Is that what fires up that Injun blood of yours?

I heard tell about Squaws like you.

Aah!

I'll kill her.

[Screams]

Keep away. I will jump.

Maybe you will and maybe you won't.

Ain't much good to me one way or the other.

No! No!

Easy now. Easy.

When we get back to town,

I'll buy you all the beads and bracelets that you want.

Look out, Joe!

[Screams]

That, uh-- that woman in the saloon--

she made me forget or remember-- I don't know which--

but I didn't sell you to Nat Halper.

I swear by all that's holy. I didn't do that.

Oh, i--

I guess I'm just a bone-headed mountain man

with not much more sense than the beavers.

Maybe less.

You've reckoned with me enough moons now.

If you have a mind to, and you want to go on back to your people,

I won't try and stop you.

Joe...

I make mistake too.

I should know you not sell me.

What are you doing?

Our two bloods mingled together

again as one.

Joe, I still your squaw.

You're my wife.

Maybe you love me, huh?

You've got more dog pig-headed nonsense in you

than a Bob-tailed mule.

"No man run like Joe, no man fight like Joe,

no man love like Joe," Mrs. Joe Meek said,

years after, when their four daughters

were founding families of their own,

up in the Oregon territory.

Next week, another page from our American heritage.

See you then.