All language subtitles for S13E18.Raid on the San Francisco Mint.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.H264.AAC-jenkins_track3_[eng]

Love drives man
to desperate lengths

and desperate deeds.

In most cases,
love of a woman.

This story, though, records
19 hectic hours of courtship

by a colorful adventurer
in behalf of his great love,

San Francisco.

An adventurer so colorful,
I couldn't resist playing him.

The man,
William Chapman Ralston,

was head of the city's
leading bank.

Late in 1869,
a national depression

threatened the bank
and the city he adored.

To save them, he improvised
a wild, incredible scheme,

risking his fortune,
his freedom, and his future,

with a raid
on the San Francisco Mint.

[Crowd murmuring]

[Woman]
Hey! Hey!

We want back our money!

We want our money!

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

This is San Francisco.

We don't shut doors
in people's faces.

Open it up. Would you
get me a chair, please?

Come on.
Go on, open it up.

Those people out there
are my friends.

Thank you.

[Crowd yelling]

When I heard
all the noise out here,

I thought maybe somebody
changed our sign to read

"free whiskey."

[Crowd murmuring]

I figured if they had,

I wanted to be sure
I got my share.

[Crowd murmuring]

Now, to the few of you
who don't know who I am,

I'm Billy Ralston.

I work here.

[Man]
Where's our money?

Hello, George.

George, you've got
every right to be here.

You have money on deposit,
so has your store.

Billy, I don't care
about my money,

but the store can't afford
to lose anything in this.

I care about your money.

[Crowd murmuring]

And yours...

And yours.

And I got
a little secret for you.

I care about
my own money, too.

[Crowd murmuring]

[Man]
Yeah, you can get yours!

Not now I can't.

Those gates closed
because it's closing time,

not because
we're out of money.

It's 3:00.
[Man] We want
to get in there.

We'll be open again
at 10:00 in the morning,

and we'll be prepared

to pay off each
and every depositor

in gold coins.

[Crowd murmuring]

You have Billy Ralston's
word on that.

[Crowd murmuring]

[Sighs]

Maurice...

You're Chief Cashier,
not a pallbearer.

But Mr. Ralston, this--

this is all the cash we have.

There's nothing left
in the vault.

Just those bars
of gold bullion.

Well, Mr. Dory...

There's nothing to worry about
as long as we have the bullion.

Right up California street
is the Mint,

with millions of dollars
in gold coins.

Now, all we have to do
is persuade General Bradley

to make the exchange.

But suppose President Grant
refuses again.

Suppose he never got
that telegram you sent him
this morning.

Suppose--
Maurice.

I've told you
a hundred times,

there are always ways
of getting things done.

Providing you think
fast enough.

Mr. Ralston,

Mr. Harpending's here,
and he's frantic.

Well, Stephen, don't fret.
Mr. Harpending was born frantic.

Asbury rejoice!

Well, the Lord arranged
for you to be born

in San Francisco,
didn't he?

Wh--
what a city.

What other place on earth
could a banker be sitting

on a million dollars
in gold bullion

and have even
his own stockholders

afraid he's bankrupt?

Have a cigar.

You know I don't smoke.

Well, try one anyway.
It'll make you look prosperous.

Maybe I'll lend you a fortune.

You've lent
too many fortunes already.

That's why
the bank's in trouble.

Oh, no one can be in trouble
when the wine is chilled.

Billy...
Please, Billy, listen to me.

Go ahead.

For your information,

shares in all comstock mines hit
new lows on the exchange today.

[Cork pops]
And the crews building
the Central Pacific

had to quit
because of a blizzard.

Everything you put
the bank's money into,

is turning sour!

Asbury, don't you think
it's a little late for me

to learn to cry?

If I could,
I'd be doing it now.

The white house just
turned us down again.

Try this.
It's a delightful wine.

But Billy...

Washington still plans

on sending the gold coins
around the country

to give people confidence
in paper money.

But that mob--

you promised you'd open
in the morning.

We will.

We've got to.

If we don't,
every bank in the city
will go under.

Of course, but-but--

maybe New York.

Philadelphia,
Chicago...

Maybe they're old enough
to survive such a panic.

San Francisco isn't.

And I won't let
San Francisco die.

Well, may that
be the last time today

that I feel important enough
to utter a noble sentiment.

I disagreed
with General Bradley

when he said the president
wouldn't approve.

I suppose now I should
serve steak for him tonight,

and crow for me.

[Laughs]

And with his inflated vanity,

he's going to keep reminding you
that he was right.

Wait a minute.

Those may be just
the two breaks we need.

What may?

General Bradley's vanity

and your having a dinner date
with him tonight.

Now, if we can get
just one more break.

You're cooking up
one of your crazy schemes,

I know!

That's the only time
you ever get excited.

Of course, I'm excited.
Just one more break.

If the President didn't
send General Bradley

a copy of his wire to me,

we've still got a chance.

I'm sure you wouldn't
care to explain.

I can't.

I've got to work this out
as I go along.

Don't you make any plans
for tonight.

I may need you.

Afternoon, General.

Oh-ho-ho, Ralston.

Well, is this
a new picture?

Oh, yes. Some of my friends
persuaded me to have it taken.

[Chuckles]
Oh, of course,

I didn't want to wear
all those medals,

but the, uh-- [chuckles]
The photographer insisted.

Well, it's hard
for some people

to understand how a hero
can still be a modest man.

Exactly.
Pull up a chair.

Uh, no, that's all right.
I just came by to...

See if you'd heard anything
from the President.

We must get
our bullion exchange.

Now, now, now, now.

I'm nothing but a humble soldier
under my Commander In Chief.

You get him to say "yes,"
and I'll do it.

Fine.
But you'd better
get permission first.

Once I leave this office
at 5:00,

no one else is authorized
to make the exchange.

Yes, I know.

Well, thank you,
General Bradley.

I'll, um, see you
at the office.

Office?

What office?

Good Lord.

Don't tell me
they didn't manage

to keep it a secret.

Oh, General, please forget
that I said anything.

They've worked so hard,
I wouldn't want to spoil it.

Ralston, spoil what?

Well, I can understand
how you got information

from captured enemy soldiers.

When you start interrogating,
no secret is safe.

Well...

A General does acquire
a knack for it.

Well, they'll, uh, hate me
for telling you.

Yes?

Well,
you're not having dinner

with asbury harpending
alone tonight.

I'm not?

No, there'll be
a group of us.

Oh, well,
I've gone this far.

I might as well
tell you the whole thing.

It's a surprise dinner
in your honor.

[Laughs]

Oh, you shouldn't be doing
all this!

Asbury's coming by at 5:00
to Shanghai you.

Huh?

Well, we're having a drink
at my office first.

Oh. Well, I'm glad you all
understand and appreciate

the, uh--
the contributions
I've tried to make

to our fair city.

Yeah, we do,
and, uh...

Well, now that
I've blurted out
everything I know,

I'd better be leaving.

Good evening, sir.

Stephen, I've never been able
to blow a smoke ring.

[Chuckles]

I'll be going to supper now.

All right.
I think the battlefield's
prepared for the General.

The telegram
from the President.

Shall I file it
before I go?

Oh, no, no, no.
No, not yet.

I'll take that.

I want to show it
to the General later on.

But Mr. Ralston,
the President refused.

I'm counting on
the General being so vain,

he'll overlook
that minor detail.

The guards
and the clerks in the vault,

weren't too happy about coming
back to work after supper,

but they will.

Fine, and the police?

[Chuckles]

The chief really whistled
when he read your note,

but he said he'd keep
the street closed tonight,

between here and the Mint.

Good.
[Men laughing]

[Harpending]
General, that is a good one.

The enemy approaches.
See you later.

Well, here we are, Billy.

Welcome. I heard you coming
so I started to get ready.

Oh, none for me now.
I'll go tell the others
that the General's here.

You know where they are?
Yes, of course.

How many are coming?

Oh, now, General,
don't force me to tell you

all our secrets.

Oh. Thank you.

You know, I'd like to exchange
that bullion for you,

but without
President Grant's permission--

please, General.
It's after working hours.

A toast.

To our Commander In Chief.

To the President.

Bottoms up.

[Wheezes]

Go down the wrong pipe?

There.

Now, we'll drink a toast.

The Commander In Chief
under whose service

you so ably won
those glorious medals.

To Abraham Lincoln.

Bottoms up.

[Coughs]
No. No, I don't think
I'd better.

Now, General, don't tell me
you're going to be modest

about your drinking, too.

I've been told
that during the war,

you were a better
two-fisted drinking man

than the President himself.

Oh, well,
I did have a few,

on occasion.

Besides, it wouldn't be fair.
We drank to General Grant.

Now we have to drink
to his courageous opponent.

To Robert E. Lee.

Bottoms up.

[Sighs]
I don't think I'd better.

To your mother.

Bottoms up.

To my Mother.

Bottoms up.

To San Francisco.

Bottoms up.

Billy, we'll--

we'll go to jail for this.

For getting a man drunk?

If that was a crime
in San Francisco,

we'd all need bail money.

He'll be quiet till midnight.
That's all we need.

I don't mean
to be over-curious,

but would you please tell me
what you're planning to do now?

There they are.

The key to my entire scheme.
We'll get our million dollars.

That is, unless
he's got another pair.

[Footsteps approaching]

[Gasps]

Take all I've got
and spare my life.

Mr. Harpending,
it's me, Maurice Dory.

Does Ralston insist
that everybody at this bank

frighten the stockholders?

I'm sorry, sir.

By any ridiculous coincidence,
do you know why we're here?

Mr. Ralston said
be at the side entrance

at midnight
in old clothes.

Bah! Insane!

Absolutely insane.
I have half a mind to--

[doorknob turning]

Asbury! Maurice!

Imagine running into you
at this hour. I must say--

b-b-Billy, what is this?

Didn't you tell us
to meet you?

Thanks for showing up.

Follow me.

Billy?

I'm not walking
another step.

I don't know why I'm here,
where we're going,

or what you're up to.

There isn't time
for all the answers.

Are you willing to go on?

With you? Sure.

Asbury, I've known you
for a long time.

I asked for your help tonight
because I trust you.

Thank you.

I want you to do
the same thing for me.

Trust me.

Asbury, forget your fears.

You're going to have
one of the wildest adventures

of your life.

Good Lord.
I must be as mad as he is.

Well, here we are.

Billy!

It's all perfectly
logical, Asbury.

If I want bread,
I go to a bakery.

When I want gold coins,
I come here.

But you don't think
I'm going to help raid

the United States Mint!

Oh, certainly not.
I'm going in alone.

In heaven's name,
why'd you bring us?

A million dollars in gold coins
weighs about five tons.

I'd have to make
too many trips alone

without your help.

Sir, the men on duty
can't do any business

without General Bradley.

Yes, well, I--

I think General Bradley's inside
and sleeping like a baby.

An alcoholic baby.

[Loudly]
This is the most brazen--

shh.

[Quietly]
Robbery I ever heard.

Asbury, up till now,

I haven't stolen anything

except a pair
of General Bradley's glasses.

I never saw him
wear any glasses.

No one else did.
They're a sign of age,

like those gray hairs he keeps
covering up with boot Polish.

I'm sorry, sir,
but I just don't understand

what General Bradley's glasses
have to do with getting coins.

Well, I'm gambling everything

that he can't even read
a telegram without them,

and is too vain
to admit it.

We'll know
in a few minutes.

[Groans]

[Winces]

And when you didn't make it,
we just called the dinner off.

Oh, nobody saw you.

Harpending explained to them
that you had to remain here

on official business.

Thank you.

It's happened
to all of us.

[Groans]

This help?

[Inhales, gags]

I guess not.

Well, I'm certainly glad
that I knew where to find you

at this late hour,

because we finally
got the telegram

from President Grant.

You did?
Yeah. See for yourself.

[Groans]

Looking for something?

Oh, no, no, no.

You can't get much
more official than that.

A telegram right
from the white house

and signed
by the President himself.

It's good enough for me.

Wonderful!

Now, you just bring
your wagonload of bullion

around in the morning.

In the morning?
General, I can't wait!

Everybody will see us
moving the gold.

They'll know that
we're short of gold coins,

and they won't take paper money,
you know that!

Yes, but there's only
a handful of men on night duty.

I...

I'll haul it myself

in small bags,
cartons, anything,

[banging table]
But I've got to have
that million dollars!

Please!

No tum-tums.

I'm sorry.

I guess I just
get naturally excited

watching a hero in action.

By getting those gold coins
for me tonight,

you'll be the biggest hero
you've ever been.

General Thomas Bradley
single-handed,

saving San Francisco
from panic!

They'll put your picture
in all the school books!

To the vault! March!

Here he comes.

Y-Y-You did it!

Did you think I wouldn't?

Is that all, sir?

It's a 150 pounds
of gold coins.

With each of us carrying 50,
it'll only take 65 trips.

[Grunts]

[Whispering]
Can't see them yet.
Bring it out.

Careful.

Mr. Ralston,
I wrapped the bullion,

and I got this cart for you.

Oh, that's wonderful!

Thank you, Stephen.

We'll carry it, Stephen.

But that doesn't make sense.

If I wanted wheels,
I'd get a horse and wagon.

[Gasps]
I know where I can
get you one.

So do I,
but any noise

on California street
at this hour,

would bring every thug
in the barbary coast.

[Grunts]

Cheer up, asbury.

We only have
to move five tons.

[Sighing]
Oh.

Sun's coming up.

That's what I love
about being a banker.

You can't beat the hours.

Are we really finished?

Don't ask him.

He'll think
of something else to do.

Well, as a matter of fact,
there is one more thing.

[Both]
Oh, no.

Champagne breakfast...

For three.

We're all set,
Mr. Ralston.

Good.

[Crowd murmuring
in distance]

I think I'll come out
and watch the stampede myself.

I just hope
that money holds up.

Maurice, that was gold
we were hauling all last night.

I know, sir, but--
a million dollars worth.

Well, I worked in a bank once,
where they had to run.

And you know what?
Those big commercial depositors

began closing out their accounts
of $50,000-$100,000 apiece.

That million dollars isn't
going to last very long.

One night with
Asbury Harpending,

you've learned to worry.

I know, sir,
but-- [sighs]

There are commercial depositors
outside in that mob,

and they get just as frightened
about their money

as anyone else,

but they're people,

so our little show
will work on them, too.

I hope.

[Crowd yelling]

Open the gates! Open up!

It's 10:00! Open up!

[Yelling continues]

Open up the gates!

Well, I'd better get back,
out of danger.

Don't forget.
Wait for my signal.

Billy,
that real money there?

Right from the Mint.

That's good enough for me.

Billy Ralston never lies!
Come on, let me through.

[Man]
All right!
Get out my way!

[Woman] Ow!
[Man] Where's that Ralston?

Where is he?

Well, morning, General.

Now, don't tell me
you never lie,

because I'm having you
arrested for lying.

That telegram you showed me
in the office, said no.

But I never told you
it said yes.

I told you it came
from President Grant,

and that was true.

Why...

Uh, General, I...

I found these in my pocket
this morning.

I know you don't need them
for reading,

but I thought they might
have sentimental value.

General Bradley did have
Billy Ralston arrested

for his midnight raid
on the United States Mint.

However,
President Grant realized

that his brilliantly
improvised scheme

had saved the city
from economic disaster,

so the white house
withdrew all charges.

Freed once again,
Billy resumed making

important contributions
to San Francisco.

Among other things,

he built
the internationally-famous
palace hotel,

which still stands
as a monument to the memory

of William Chapman Ralston.

Next week, another true story
on Death Valley Days.