Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West

are stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, our heritage.

Hi there, and welcome to Death Valley Days.

During the years 1861 to 1865,

the War Between the States virtually stripped westward-moving settlers

of the United States Army protection.

With the armies fighting elsewhere,

the wagon trains heading West had to fend for themselves.

It wasn'’t long before passing unscathed through the Indian nations

became largely a matter of luck, a prayer,

or even a miraculous combination of both.

To Jason Tugwell, his wife Ellie, and their daughter Mary,

survival depended upon this miraculous combination,

plus two very unusual ingredients:

[ bleating ]

Jason?

Yes? Has the fever broken?

No. No change. We'’ll have to force it. I'’ll need more blankets.

MARY:Mommy? Go, Jason.

See Mr. Bascomb.Right.

[ bleating ]

Now, don'’t you worry, little Billy.

Your mistress is gonna be all right.

She just has to be.

Oh, Bill, how'’s your daughter?

She'’s no better, Mr. Bascomb.

My wife says we'’ll have to break the fever, so we'’ll need some more blankets.

Blankets? I guess I can help you.

Charlie! Bring some blankets from the supply wagon.

Thank you, Mr. Bascomb. I'’ll lend a hand.

Just a minute. I'’d like a word with you.Well, can it wait?

What do you figure'’s wrong with your daughter?

Well, bad water is my guess.

Plus the trip. It'’s been long and hard.

Me and the boys, we figure it'’s smallpox.

Sm-- Smallpox?

Why, that'’s not funny, Bascomb.

Wasn'’t meant to be.

Like I said, me and the boys were talking.

We'’ve decided we don't want you with this train.

Y-You don'’t want us. Well, now, what do you suggest,

we travel 200 miles across Indian country alone?

That'’s no concern of mine.

You can go on back or on to Salt Lake.

It'’s your choice.

Well, what kind of a choice is that?

Either way, we'’d be scalped within a day.

Now, you look. I paid you a hundred dollars

to take us through to Salt Lake and, by heaven, that'’s what you're gonna do.

We didn'’t figure on smallpox.

You--Here'’s your blankets.

Thank you, Mr. Bascomb.

I'’ll return these in the morning.

Keep '’em. We'’d just burn them anyway.

Mommy, I'’m awful hot.

I know, honey. It'’s the fever.

It'’ll be gone by morning. I'’m sure of it.

May I play with Billy then?

Yes. Yes, I promise.

Does he miss me?

He certainly does. He asks for you every day.

He says, "When can Mary come out and play with me again?"

Mommy, Billy'’s a goat.

Goats can'’t talk.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Well, here we are. [ grunts ]

You feeling a little better, honey?

Mommy says I may play with Billy tomorrow.

Oh, she said that, did she?

I said you may see Billy if you'’re feeling better.

I'’m gonna be better, Daddy.

Of course you are, sweetheart.

Uh, when you'’re through here, come on outside for a moment.

Is something wrong?

[ bleating ]

Try and sleep now, and I'’ll be right back.

What is it, Jason? What'’s wrong?

Bascomb wants us to leave the train.

Oh, Jason, he can'’t.

We couldn'’t last a day alone.

He says Mary has smallpox.

Smallpox?Shh.

It'’s an excuse, I think.

There'’s been Indian smoke all week long.

He figures we'’re just slowing down the train.

But to just leave us?

It'’s murder. Surely he realizes that.

Well, he may be bluffing.

But just in case, one of us better stay awake all night.

[ sighs ] We should'’ve waited for others like ourselves

instead of paying that traitor to take us through.

It'’s too late to look back now.

Shall I take the first watch?

No. I'’ll watch after Mary for a while.

You get some sleep.Okay.

But if you hear anything, anything at all, you wake me.

[ bleating ]

My rifle'’s gone.

[ bleating ]

Ellie! Ellie!

Oh, Jason, I'’m so sorry I fell asleep.

Our savings!It'’s gone. And my rifle.

I can understand taking money,

but stealing a man'’s rifle in this country-- that'’s murder.

What are we gonna do?

I-I don'’t know. I truly don'’t know.

We'’re not just gonna wait here?

No, no. We'’ll go on to Salt Lake, but...

Well, first we'’d better have some breakfast.

I'’ll look in on Mary.

[ bleating ]

You feel like a little breakfast this morning, honey?

ELLIE: Jason!

Jason! I didn'’t see them!

They were just here!Let go of her!

[ speaks in native language ][ bleating ]

Yours?It'’s my daughter's.

Child? Where is child?

[ gasps ]

[ speaking in native language ]

No! Don'’t...No!

Enough.

Where are guns?

We have none.

No guns?No.

[ whispering ]

Child is sick.

White one is medicine for girl?

No, it'’s a pet, nothing more.

The white one has gold eyes.

Is not medicine for white man?

[ bleating ]

Mm.What is?

A biscuit.

Bis-cuit.

Mmm. Biscuit.

Good.

That'’s right. Like bread.

Bread. You make?

Yes.

[ speaking in native language ]

Lone Eagle take.

We go.

Tell Chief Running Bear

of animal with gold eyes and biscuit.

No gun?

No gun.

[ horse whinnies ]

[ Billy bleating ]Oh, Jason, it'’s a miracle.

[ chuckles ] Maybe two miracles.

What two?

Well, honey, you'’re one of them,

and he'’s the other.

Thank you, Billy.

Well, you see to Mary, and I'’ll load up.

And, Ellie, you pray like you'’ve never prayed before.

[ bleating ]

Come on, Snip.

She any better?

I can'’t do any more.

Jason, she may die.

Oh, Ellie, don'’t say that.

God didn'’t spare us just to take Mary.

Spared us or reprieved us?

Jason, look.

Bascomb. [ Billy bleating ]

Oh, my God.

Oh, whoa, whoa now. [ horse sputters ]

Whoa.

That'’s less than 24 hours.

When I was a little girl Mary'’s age,

I saw a boy pulling the wings off a moth,

and I tried to stop him, but I couldn'’t.

And now I know how that moth felt

while he waited-- just waited to die.

Now, Ellie, we'’re not gonna die.

Now come on. Pull yourself together.

There'’s a girl with them.

All right. Now, they wouldn'’t take a girl on a war party, honey.

I bring chief.

Chief see gold-eyed one,

eat biscuits.

You make.It'’ll take time,

and we'’ve got to get to Salt Lake.

Our daughter is very well.

Squaw will take care of little one.

Mm.

Now wait a moment.

I'’ll go back with her. No.

You make biscuits.

You, you bring gold-eyed one.

MARY: Mommy.

Mommy, now can I play with Billy?

Her fever'’s gone.Oh, thank God.

But how?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

You'’re feeling better now, huh, sweetheart?

All better.

Try and get some sleep.

Then can I play with Billy?

[ chuckling ]Yes.

These can'’t be the same Indians.

They'’re the same ones, all right.

You'’re wrong.Am I?

Ellie, do you see the shirt that chief is wearing?

That'’s Bascomb's shirt.

And that'’s my rifle.

[ bleating ]

[ bleating ]

Ohh! It'’s no use.

I can'’t get Mr. Bascomb out of my mind.

It'’s a terrible thing, even for Bascomb.

But it'’s a week past. Now, dwelling on it won'’t help.

It could so easily have been us.

Yes, but it wasn'’t.

And baking biscuits is a small enough price to pay for our lives.

[ scoffs ]

I swear, I'’ve never in my life seen people eat so much.

[ chuckles ] Well, Salt Lake'’s not far off.

We'’ll soon be safe.

Are we gonna live there?

In Salt Lake? No, sweetheart.

We'’re going on to California.

Lord willing. [ hoofbeats approaching ]

Ellie.

Mary, get inside.

Now what? [ hoofbeats, distant ]

Jason, listen. [ gunshot, distant ]

[ horse whinnying, distant ]

[ gunshots, distant ]And we were riding right into that.

A wagon train?

I don'’t know.

Oh, those poor people.

Well, one thing'’s for sure, though.

What'’s that? They plan on letting us through.

As long as the biscuits hold out, anyway.

[ kiss ] Come on, Snip.

Well, it'’s over. They'’ve fired the wagon.

It'’s a nightmare. How horrible.

Is Mary all right?Yeah, she'’s fine.

I thank heaven she'’s too young to understand what'’s going on.

Well, you'’ll be telling her about it someday,

don'’t you worry. [ brush rustles ]

Jason.

He must be from that wagon train.

Leave him be, Ellie.

He'’s wounded. He needs help.

Ellie, if they find him with us, they'’ll kill all of us.

Now just leave him be.

Leave him die so we can live?

Have you forgotten so soon, Jason,

that'’s what Mr. Bascomb did to us?

No. Now, this is different. I'’m not thinking of myself.

You said someday I'’d tell Mary about this trip.

How we survived when no others could.

When she was old enough to understand, you said.

Jason, how old does she have to be

to understand leaving a man to die?

All right. Come on. We'’ll carry him.

[ bleating ]

[ sighs ]

He'’s lost a lot of blood.

Well, I judge us to be in Salt Lake by around noon tomorrow.

You think he'’ll make it?

I think so.

But there'’s something else.Oh, what?

We'’re out of flour.

We can'’t be!

Look again.It'’s no use.

I'’ve tried to stretch it out, but they eat so much.

Well, they won'’t believe us.

They'’ll search the wagon and find him.

Well, maybe we'’ll make it to Salt Lake.

Maybe.

It'’s gonna be a long 24 hours.

Keep Mary inside. Hide our friend.

What are we gonna do? I can'’t bake without flour?

I'’ll bluff it. I'll try for one of their rifles.

Uh, bis-cuits.

Uh, well, it takes time.

I have to, uh, set up the oven

and-- and-- and heat it and-- and make dough.

It, uh-- It takes time.

Ah, well...

Stay inside no matter what happens.

Ah, a chair. Chair.

You, uh, go on.

[ bleating ]

Well.

Biscuits.

Coming up.

[ Billy bleating ]

[ bleating ]

Go away, please.

We'’re out of flour.

Can'’t you understand?

Please, there'’s nothing here!

[ footsteps approaching ]

Jason!

[ blow lands ]

[ whimpering ]

Stop! Oh, Jason!

[ Mary crying ][ groans ]

Oh, Jason.

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ shouts ]

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshots continue ]

Well, appears we got here just in time.

Name'’s Young. Brigham Young.

Tugwell, sir. But how did you know about us?

There isn'’t a white man or an Indian between here and Sacramento

that doesn'’t know about you.I don'’t understand.

You see, we read Indian smoke, too,

and I'’d take kindly to one of your biscuits, Mrs. Tugwell.

[ laughs ] I'’m out of flour.

Uh, Mr. Young, you didn'’t come all the way out here for biscuits?

No. No, I didn'’t.

The Indians make mention of a gold-eyed white goat.

Billy?

I'’d like to buy it. I'’ll pay you well.

Uh, Mr. Young, please don'’t think we'’re not appreciative,

because of course we are, but you mean to tell me

you road all the way out here just to buy a goat?

Not a goat, a billy.

That doesn'’t make sense.

A lot of things don'’t make sense, Mr. Tugwell.

Your wagon is the first one to make it through in three months.

You have one thing my people need and don'’t have.

JASON: Oh?A billy to increase the herd

and guarantee our children enough milk for the winter.

Now, does that make sense? [ hoofbeats approaching ]

Your men are back.

The Indians won'’t bother you anymore, ma'’am.

We'’ll accompany you to Salt Lake.

Well, I'’ll admit, Mr. Young, it, uh, does seem quite a coincidence.

A coincidence, Mr. Tugwell, or something else?

[ bleating ]

[ hoofbeats approaching ]

Mr. Tugwell.Mr. Young.

Ma'’am.

I just left the man you saved.

He'’ll be all right.Good.

Well, I see you'’ve made some more of those famous biscuits.

Thanks to the flour you sent, yes.

You will join us, won'’t you?

I certainly will.

Let me take your horse.

Mmm.[ sputters ]

I see now why those Indians promised you safe passage to California.

[ laughs ] Thank you.

Mr. Young, will Billy have lots of children to play with?

Indeed, he will, honey.

And we'’ll get Billy Jr. on the first wagon to Sacramento.

Billy Jr.? I hope he comes real soon.

Oh, look.

You'’d better get used to it, Ellie.

You'’ve done more with your cooking than the rest of us could with guns.

You'’ve brought peace.

Don'’t matter for how long or for what reason,

it'’s still piece,

and you did it.

I'’ll fire up the oven.

When Jason Tugwell and his family left Salt Lake City

for the long journey to California,

they were welcomed by every Indian village

they passed along the way.

Brother Young kept his promise to Mary.

The following spring, Billy the Kid Jr.

was delivered to the Tugwell'’s new home in Sacramento.

Be with us again next week for another exciting story

of the Old West.