Original subtitles

♪♪ [trumpet]

The Old West could make or break a man.

It did both to Solomon Ross.

In the 1880s, he was a newspaper editor

in the mining town of Amargosa, California--

and the most respected man in town.

By the late 1890s, he was the town drunk.

A beaten failure.

But how he got that way isn'’t our story.

For we'’re concerned with three miraculous days

that added to "Solomon'’s Glory."

Henry...

I'’m dying of thirst. Now, surely you could advance me a few bills

for old time'’s sake?Not a penny, Solomon.

If I was sitting behind that... desk...

you wouldn'’t be the editor of The Record.

Solomon, you drank yourself out of this chair 10 years ago.

I paid $500 for The Record. You drank it up in five days.

Well, I figure you owe me...

another five hundred.

Five dollars?Come back tomorrow.

I have some type to clean.

Solomon Ross, setting type to buy a drink.

[chuckles]

How'’s the first story, Henry?

It'’s a sad one, all right.

Now go on. Sleep it off, Solomon.

Mr. Ross! I'’m sorry.

Perfectly all right, Sandy.

Say, I picked up a telegram for you, sir.

Telegram? For me? Must have been out in the sun too long.

Can I help you read it, sir? [coughs]

I wish you would, Sandy. I seem to have forgotten my glasses.

"Arrive Amargosa Wednesday. STOP."

That'’s today.

"Louise anxious to meet famous uncle. STOP.

"Will three days be long enough? Love, Agnes."

Who'’s Agnes?

It'’s this famous man'’s sister.

Henry. I haven'’t seen Agnes in 23 years.

What have you written to her?

Well, I... couldn'’t very well write her the truth, so...

I wrote fibs, little fibs,

well they got bigger and bigger.

Like you being famous.

[gasping] Now, Henry. I don'’t like your attitude.

So just kindly stay out of my business.

Agnes is my business.

I would have married her if Tom Driscoll hadn'’t.

Now what have you told her?

I told her... I was still the editor of the paper.

Well, that was a little fib.

Well, that was the littlest one, Henry.

Then came the part about you being rich.

"Most respected man in town. "

Mr. Ross!

How could you do this to Agnes?

How could I know that she was going to come all the way out here

to see for herself?Well, she has!

And no drunken bum is gonna break her heart!

Now, sit down!

I'’ll be at the hotel. I have to have a room for the night.

And don'’t let him out of your sight!

[door slams]

Henry Pike, Agnes.Of course! How are you?

And this must be Louise.Yes!

Oh, you don'’t look a day older, Henry.

Well, neither do you.[laughs]

You'’re as lovely as ever. Thank you.

Oh, uh... Isn'’t Tom with you?

No, Henry. Tom passed away last winter.

Oh, I'’m sorry to hear that.

Where'’s Solomon? Oh, he uh--

He'’s out of town, on business.

Oh. Well, we didn'’t come all this way to miss him.

We just have to wait until he gets back.

Mother, the expense!

He uh-- He may be gone several weeks.

Well, if he is, we can stay in his suite!

It'’s costing him $10 a day while he'’s away.

Solomon'’s... suite?

The one he keeps all year, Henry.

He'’s written us about it. It sounds lovely.

Yes. Well, um,

why don'’t you two look around town and have some lunch,

and um, I'’ll make sure the suite is ready.

Will you join us later, Mr. Pike?

Well, thank you, no, but uh...

I have some business to attend to.

Well, all right.

A fine mess you'’ve got yourself into. [sighs]

I'’m sorry, Henry, I'm sorry.

I might have known she wouldn'’t leave without seeing you.

Well, sir, she'’s going to see you.

What is the point? You said that--

I'’ve changed my mind.

Well, it might work. A few new clothes,

and a little luck, we might be able to pass you off.

Well, I can'’t, I just can'’t, Henry.

Well, you'’re going to! Unless you want her to find out the truth.

Well, I don'’t want her to--Then you do as I say!

Keep him here until I get back.

[sighs]

Can I get you some more coffee? No.

Now, Mr. Ross, whe--

You know, when I was a kid, you seemed like the bravest man in town.

You were a regular hero to us kids.

That was a long time ago, Sandy. Yeah.

Yeah, but I remember every word you ever wrote.

Why, you remember the Cantrell brothers,

the ones you helped send up for robbin'’ the stage?

That was... one of the biggest stories I ever covered.

That 30,000 in gold was never found.

Well, do you think it could still be up in Rainbow Cave?

Oh, could be.

Could be, but either way...

it made a good story,

and good stories sell newspapers. Oh, yeah.

Boy, if I could only find a good story idea.

You would. You would.

Sandy, I covered those caves from top to bottom.

I know! I know that, but...

but you'’re smarter.

I hope you are, Sandy. I hope you are.

You'’re sure no beauty, Sol.

But a shave and a haircut oughta help.

Now put on the hat, and turn around.

[whistles] Solomon in all his glory!

All right. Let'’s go.

It'’s him! [laughs]

Sol! Oh, Sol...

Hello, Aggie. Oh, my dear, you haven'’t changed a bit.

Not a bit! This is my daughter, Louise.

Hello, Uncle Solomon.Hello, Louise.

Sol, you look so successful!

Uh, Sandy Peters, I'’d like you to meet Mrs. Driscoll.

How do you do?

And their daughter Louise.Hello.

Hello.

Oh! We have so much to talk about.

Well, a lot has happened, Agnes.

Sandy, do you suppose I could talk you into taking

Louise for a buggy ride?Why, I'’d love to.

And why don'’t you two go up and get reacquainted?

I have some work to do.

I want to hear about everything, Sol.

[softly] Yes.

Tom did the best he could for us.

Now he'’s gone...

I don'’t know what to do.

Well, that'’s enough about me, what about you?

There'’s not very much to tell, Agnes.

Just the usual. Work, business--

You'’ve had a good life, Sol.

I'’m so proud of you.

I'’ve-I've missed most of the important things in life, Agnes.

Nobody really needs me.Nobody.

You'’re wrong.

Agnes, would you mind if I had a little brandy?

Oh! Of course!

How thoughtless of me.

The hotel sent it up.

A little more. Oh, certainly.

[chuckles][knocking on door]

I'’m sorry, Agnes, but uh...

we need Sol at the office.

What would you do without him at the newspaper, Henry?

I declare, he hasn'’t a moment!

Oh, he'’s had a few.

Shall we go, Sol?

You fool!

Even sober, you can'’t see what you'’ve done to yourself.

Henry, I will not take that from you.Yes, you will.

And while Agnes is in town, you'’re staying sober, and you'’re staying on the job.

I will not clean type!

I'’m not asking you to. You told Agnes you were an editor.

Now, be one!

You know I haven'’t written anything in ten years.

Well, you'’re gonna write for the next three days.

After she leaves town, what you do is your business.

All right. I'’ll try.

You sure will.

Because one of us will be with you every second.

What about Agnes?You tend to business.

I'’ll see to Agnes.

Welcome back, Mr. Ross.

Thank you, Sandy. Thank you.

Getting away has relaxed you, Henry.

And I don'’t know when I'’ve had a better time.

Neither to I. Not in 23 years. [chuckles]

You never married. Why?

Need you ask?

No, I-I shouldn'’t have.

What'’s um, waiting for you back home, Agnes?

The life Tom left me.

Is it enough?

No. There'’s not enough of anything.

You mean...

you have nothing to go home to?

Nothing.

That'’s why we came. We need Solomon'’s help.

Solomon'’s help?I would have asked him yesterday,

but you took him back to the office.

What is it, Henry?

Agnes...

Perhaps this is too soon after your loss...

It is.

We'’re not your responsibility, Henry.

I want you to be.I'’m deeply flattered.

But Solomon will help.

I'’ll talk to him as soon as he comes back.

But you promised to show me Rainbow Caves, Sandy.Right. I know, I know.

But something came up and I'’ve got to work.

Mm-hmm.

Uncle Solomon? Yes, my dear?

You'’re not gonna let him stand me up?

Well... What have I to do with it?

You'’re the boss, aren't you?

Well, uh...

Yes. Yes, I suppose I am, Louise.

Well then, let him have the day off!

Well, uh...

What can I do? You have me trapped.

Thank you, Uncle Solomon.

You just don'’t know how to handle him.

Mr. Pike thought I should stay.

I'’ll be all right, Sandy. You-- You go ahead.

Are you sure, Mr. Ross?

I'’m quite sure. Don'’t worry.

You go, and be careful.

Things aren'’t gonna fall apart, just because you'’re gone one day, Sandy.

We'’ll be back by 3:00.

[door closes]

Have you ever seen anything like it?Oh, it'’s beautiful!

And scary.

You know, I'’ve never brought a girl in here before.

I bet you know quite a few.

None that I'’d share this secret with, Louise.

[laughs] A cave full of hidden gold!

Not quite. But your uncle thinks it'’s still in here,

and so do I.

Look, uh, you wait here for me.

All right, but don'’t be long.

I won'’t. Look, there are plenty of torches here.

You just keep '’em lighted.Okay.

Be careful, Sandy.

Sandy?

Sandy, where are you!?

Thank you for a lovely day.

I meant want I said about us.

That was the nicest part.

I want to see Solomon. I won'’t be long.

Henry!

Solomon in all his glory.

[groans]

He'’s ill!

He'’s drunk.

He'’s been drunk for 10 years.

I don'’t believe you.

Do you believe this?

And this newspaper?

Mine. For the past ten years.

And the suite, all the rest of it?

For our benefit?I'’m sorry, Agnes.

Truly sorry. [groaning]

Wake up! Wake up, Sol!

Oh, Sol.

Sol, we needed you so.

I told Sandy to stay with you-- where is he?

Sandy? Why-- Sandy is--

[groans] ...gone to the Rainbow Cave with Louise.

They'’re back at 3:00, my dear.

3:00? Oh, Henry, it'’s after 7:00 right now!

I'’ll get the sheriff!

Nobody knows those caves better than your brother.

[grunts]But look at him!

Get some coffee. Lots of it!

We'’ll sober him up on the way out.

She was depending on you.

Sandy?

Sandy, can you hear me?

HENRY: Sandy?

I'’ll do my best to find him, Aggie.

Agnes, back there at the office, you said something about needing me.

Do you mean that?Now. And later, Sol.

Tom left us quite alone.

Maybe we can help each other.

[tearing up] Find them, please...

Good luck, Solomon.Thank you, Henry.

Sandy?

Louise? Sandy?

How long has he been gone?

About an hour.

Where you at? Sandy?

LOUISE: Uncle Solomon?

Uncle Solomon? Louise?

I'’m here!

How did you get this far down? What happened?

Sandy was farther down, I called,

and he answered me, and then he found me,

and the torches went out, and...

then we got lost and he fell on his head!

He'’ll be all right, honey. He'’ll be all right.

Look!

That'’s it! Louise, that'’s it!

[footsteps]

Louise, now! Louise, thank goodness!

I'’d about given you up.

They'’d almost reached the bottom, Henry.

Sandy! Where did you find that?

Down there. Just like you said, Mr. Ross.

You mean you found the gold?

Henry, this is the biggest story we'’ve had in ten years.

We,Solomon?

Well, you-- You made me an editor, didn'’t you?

I did.

Well, we'’vegot a story that will make every major paper!

Mr. Ross! I can see the headlines now, Sandy.

"30,000 in Lost Gold Found in Cave by Cub Reporter!"

Except for one thing, Mr. Ross. What'’s that?

Well, I don'’t know where I found it.

What?Well, I found it, but...

after the torch ran out, we wandered around down there for a long time.

Well, don'’t worry about it, son. We know it'’s there.

We'’ll find it again. Yes, sir.

But what are we standing around here for?

Stories like this sell newspapers!

Welcome back, Mr. Ross! How many children?

And that was the amazing story

of the restoration of Solomon'’s glory...

in the town or Amargosa, California.

Be with us next week for another true story

from the history of the Old West.