Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

In every large scale gold rush in the west,

the stage lines played a major part,

transporting passengers to the mines,

taking the gold out.

and fighting off road agents.

During the Black Hills Gold Rush

stage lines used many methods to foil the road agents,

and some of their ways were strange indeed.

Our story which takes place in Deadwood, in 1878,

tells what happened...

Tom, you lost $1,000 last week.

Pete, they got you for $500.

Bill, they got all that money from the cattle shipment.

I don't blame y'all for being mad and fed up,

but I'll tell you one thing-- I'm madder than anybody here

because it's my stage line.

That's why I called you here to see my answer to these road agents.

All right boys, open the barn door.

Bring her on out, Pete!

There she is, folks.

Well, there she is, folks.

A new treasure coach for the Black Hills run.

Looks like iron.It is iron, Sheriff,

half inch iron plate. Watch.

It's like a travelin' fort.Exactly right.

I've even named it the Monitor,

after that iron ship they used in Civil War.

Look, instead of windows, I've got portholes.

That gives the guards inside more protection.

Oh, it's marvelous, Luke.

I really don't think you'll ever--

That's not all. Let me show you something else.

There's a new type strong box,

made in Kansas City.

It's called a Salamander.

It takes a key and a special combination,

that I keep in my office to open it.

All right boys, get in.

What about dynamite?

It would take a big charge, Sheriff,

and pulverize everything in it.

I think the gold will be safe from now on.

I think you found the answer, Luke,

and it's about time.

I don't think they'll bother us anymore. I'm confident of that.

Take it away, Pete!

If this contraption doesn't hold,

I don't know what will.

Good luck with it, Luke.

Obliged.

I'm very proud of you, Luke.

There are a lot of men who would have given up,

after being robbed so many times.

Well, for them kind words, ma'am,

I'll just buy your lunch... at your place.

Why, thank you, sir.

I couldn't think of a finer place to dine.

What's the special on the menu today?

Your favorite.Fried chicken?

In that case, I suppose I could have

an extra pulley bone.

Well, I will talk to the owner.[ chuckles ]

Come on, Pete, hurry it up, hurry it up.

Oh, relax, boss.

There ain't been no sign of road agents

since we put the Monitor on the run.

That's been over two months.

Yeah, I know, but I'll feel a lot better

when we get this delivered.

I can tell you now,

we got nearly a hundred thousand gold and bank notes aboard.

A hundred thousand?

Yeah, that's why I'm riding shotgun myself this trip.

You told me you were going on an inspection.

Yeah, I know.

That was to fool anybody hangin' around Belle's place

looking for information.

Say, when are you and Ms. Monteverdi gonna get hitched?

Everybody in town's a-waiting for the wedding.

I wish I knew. I keep asking,

and she keeps turning me down.

[ chuckles ] A remarkable woman.

I'll never forget the time I got chawed up by a cougar.

Old Doc Williams was out of town.

She made me good as new.

Yeah, she was married to a surgeon once, Pete.

Got a lot of know-how helping him before he got killed.

Everything's set, Luke, let's go.

All right, get aboard, boys.

All right, here we go.

H'yah! H'yah!

We're right on time, boss.

Canyon Springs is just ahead.

Where's Oscar and the horses?

I don't know.

Let's get down and find out.

[ gun fires ]

[ chattering ] Sheriff, it's Luke!

What happened, Luke? Where's the Monitor?

Road agents.

Ambushed us at Canyon Springs.

Luke, you're hurt.

Just a flesh wound, Belle.

What about Pete and the guards?

Gunned down like dogs, all of 'em.

Well, what about the gold?

Still at the Salamander.

But they can't get the safe open without the combination.

I'll round up some men.

We'll get a posse out there right away.

All right, I'll go with you.

You're not going anywhere until I bandage that arm.

Thank goodness it's a clean wound.

It should heal quickly.

[ chuckles ] You know, I always did say

that you make a prettier bandage than Doc Williams.

[ chuckles ] You want some more coffee?

No. The posse will be here in a minute.

Please be careful, Luke.

Don't ride into any more ambushes.

Hey, is it my imagination, or do you really care?

I care very much, Luke.

Well, I know it's kind of crazy to ask you now,

but why don't we set the date and have a big wedding?

I can't, Luke.But why?

There's got to be some reason you're putting me off.

There is a reason, but--But what?

I can't go into it now.

MAN: Hey, Luke, we're ready.

I gotta go now.

I will tell you one thing, Belle,

I'm gonna keep asking you until you say yes.

Take care.

Don't scream, lady.

If you holler, I'll pull this trigger.

You understand?

What do you want?

You know a Jim named Johnny Brown?

Johnny!

Something's happened to him?

Yeah, he went and got himself shot.

Is he badly hurt?

Real bad.

I'll get Doc Williams.

We don't want Doc Williams. We want you.

Now, get dressed.

If you want to see Johnny alive,

be quick and be quiet.

All right, wait outside.

[ horse neighs ]

It's Parrot. He's got it with him.

Any trouble?No, it'll be fine.

Johnny.

Johnny, it's me, Belle.

Belle.

Thanks for coming.

Where are you hurt?

Stomach.

Oh, it's still there.

Bring a lantern.

This wound calls for an experienced surgeon.

You must get Doctor Williams at once.

No Doctor, and that's final.

How did he get shot?

That ain't your business.

I've seen you men before, in my restaurant.

Who are you?

You ain't here to ask questions!

You're here to get the bullet out of that kid,

and put him on his feet again,

Unless you want to see him die.

Do as they say, Belle.

Boil some water.

Curry, get out to the pump of that bucket.

Parrot, put more wood on the fire.

You, bring that table over here by the bunk.

I'll need a wagon,

to take him back with me.

This kid ain't going no place.

Ain't that clear yet?

That wound needs daily care.

I'm only interested in one thing--

when can he get out of that bunk and move around?

Recovery from a wound like that

will take weeks, maybe months.

I ain't talking about recovery.

I asked when can he get off that bunk,

and I want a straight answer.

It will be several days,

depending upon rest and daily care of the wound.

By the time the kid gets well enough to work on the box,

the law can be here.

Sure, she can bring Campbell and the Sheriff down on us.

Not with us holding Johnny.

Dumb kid getting himself shot!

We should have found somebody else

to open that box.

Ain't nobody else, I told you.

[ men chattering ]

I say let's take our chances.

Dynamite the box open!

There are bank notes in that box.

There would be nothing left.

No, we'll wait a couple days, see if she can fix the kid up.

So, what? He still won't be able to travel.

Who says he's gonna travel with us?

Bud'll take you home now,

but tomorrow he'll bring you back again

and every day until that kid's off the bunk.

Understand?

Yes.

And, Belle...

if you know what's good for Johnny,

you'll keep your mouth shut about us.

Tie the blindfold on her.

And that's where we lost him, at the river.

That's about all I can tell you, Belle.

Your arm is healing nicely.

You must have had more patients?

More patients?

Yeah, your roll of bandages shrank quite a bit

since I was here yesterday.

Oh, I had to loan some to Doc Williams.

He had a couple of accident cases and ran low.

You know, Belle,

I've been giving it quite a bit of thought,

and I think this hold up must have been planned for some time...

and one of the road agents must be familiar with safes.

What makes you think that?

Well, who else could have stolen the Salamander?

Everybody around here knows the safe can't be opened

by ordinary means.

Much obliged for the a new bandage.

I'll drop by later.

We'll have dinner--No.

What?I, uh--

I don't want to go out for dinner.

I have a headache,

a terrible headache.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, I'll drop by anyway and see--

No, I don't want you to come by, Luke!

What's troubling you, Belle?Nothing!

I just don't want to see you!

I don't want to see anybody!

Can't you understand it?

No, I can't.

Oh, I'm sorry, Luke.

I'd rather be alone tonight, all right?

Of course, sorry. See you tomorrow.

Hey, Doc!

Hi, Luke.Come here.

I wanna talk to you.

Do me a favor. Look in on Belle first chance you get, will you?

Professionally, I mean.What's the problem?

Well, I don't know. She's--

seems upset and nervous, don't act like herself.

Is that so?

She seemed all right when I saw her last week.

Last week?

I'll look in on her first thing in the morning.

I got another call to make now.

That will be fine.

What took you so long?

I think somebody was following us,

I kept trying to give them the slip.

You tell anybody about us?No.

Curry, get outside and look around.

Hello, Belle.

Hello, Johnny.

He's been asleep all day.

Did you dope him up, or something?

I gave him something to ease his pain

and hasten his recovery.

When can he get up?

If he moves too soon, the wound may open again.

All right, let's go water the horses.

Johnny, I know what trouble you're in.

I saw the Salamander under the bunk.

Figured you'd find out sooner or later.

BELLE: When you got out of prison,

you promised me you'd stay out of trouble.

How'd you get involved with these men?

I got a job with a company that makes those Salamanders.

[ winces ]

I'm sorry.

Blackburn heard about me.

He was planning his job and offered me a split

if I cracked the strongbox for them.

Oh, Johnny, these men are cold-blooded killers.

JOHNNY: They're my pals.

They brought you to help me, didn't they?

To get you well enough to open the Salamander for them.

Then they'll run off and take the gold,

probably kill you so you can't talk.

But what can we do? They hold all the aces.

When I get back to town, I'll send Luke Campbell

and Sheriff Ryan out here with a posse.

You be ready for them.

I've heard enough.

You make a full confession, you'll get a reduced sentence.

Send for the Sheriff and his posse, huh?

You get that kid up on his feet, quick.

I told you, he can't move.

Maybe this will make him move.

Don't you hurt her!

I mean business, Belle.

You give him something so he can get up

and open up that box.

Now!There isn't anything!

Well, I got something that will open the box.

[ laughs ] Good work, Curry.

I told you somebody was trailing us.

Oh, Luke, why did you come here?

I knew you were in some kind of trouble,

What's this all about, Belle?

My younger brother, Johnny, he was shot in the holdup.

I had to help him. He needed me.

Never mind all that.

Even if she ain't glad to see you, we are

'cause you're gonna open that Salamander for us.

I can't open that box.

Key and the combination are safe in my office.

Parrot, you ride back to Deadwood with Campbell

so he can get the combination,

and, Campbell, you make one false move,

and she gets it.

Move out.

I used to think it was my own business

if I wanted to steal,

but I was wrong.

Always involve innocent people.

Don't talk, darling. Save your strength.

What are you two mumbling about?

Johnny's feeling worse.

Ah, so what?

May I have that cup, please?

You need a drink?

I want to give Johnny some medicine.

Oh, go ahead.

[ horse neighs ]

They're back.

You got it?

I got it.

Start working.

Right 17...

left 21...

Come on, come on, Campbell.

Don't take all day.

Right 30...

left 32.

Grab that lid.

[ chuckles ]

Ain't that pretty?

[ laughs ]

Oh, Luke, are you all right?

Oh, Johnny, Johnny!

Johnny, it's all over.

Oh darling, we'll take you home, and--

He's...

dead, Luke.

Johnny's dead.

All that shooting...

he got hit.

Oh, no...

Oh, Luke.

Belle...

Why don't you change your mind?

Stay here in Deadwood and marry me.

Please don't, Luke.

You have a good future ahead of you.

My association with the road agents would only hold you back.

What do you intend to do?

I can't help thinking of Johnny,

his wasted life.

Maybe I can help other boys

and when they're in trouble,

get them out before it's too late.

Good-bye, Luke.

Bye, Belle.

DRIVER: H'yah!

Belle Monteverdi later on became known

as the woman physician of the road agents,

and Luke Campbell went on to become a successful man

in the territory.

For these two, life was changed forever,

the day they stole the Salamander.

Next week, another story of our American West.

See you then.