Original subtitles

Wait'll Dan Thorn hears of this.

Hear they come.

Good.

Highball freight number 56 blocked.

Entire line impassable.

Hold all trains.

Get me Dan Thorn.

Red board all along the main line.

Oh, why don't somebody get me Dan Thorn?

He's the only man can handle this.

I'm trying to get him, trying to get him.

Half my paperwork's ruined again because he's

out tramping the yard when he should

be here to give me authority.

What's coming off around here?

Ain't you guys playing railroad anymore today?

The entire division is held up.

Let's see that.

traffic.

My schedule's all ripped to pieces,

and we've had to hold up the limited!

Hold up the Olympian?

Are you off your nut?

Tell her to come through.

Well, half a mountain is on that track.

I'll clear the track.

Don't stand there looking at me!

Lift those red cords and keep traffic moving.

You!

Flash the board room to blow the whistle

and get the wreck crew out. You!

Phone Ed Ryan.

I won't be home to dinner tonight.

Give me a piece of that.

You office guys, put the Olympian in the hole.

Hey, you!

Pull out of there, you!

Come on, come on!

Move that stone out of there, will you?

Come on, you moochers!!

What do you think you're doing, working in a bank?

Boy, it's looking at labor like that

that's made a hobo out of me.

Can you imagine?

On a day like this?

The trouble with labor is the work that's connected with it.

Now, I figure that work is for workers.

So why bother your head about it?

Hey, Joe! , will you?

Listen, Dan. We can't make it.

We've got to send back for more men

another hour?

Not on your life!

Say, listen, there's not a man in 10 miles.

Who says so?

Scram, boys.

Scram.

Come on, come on!

Mr. Thorn, I'm a conscientious objector

from manual labor in any form.

Get over there!

Get over there!

Well, I yield only to superior force.

Come on!

Well, how did I overlook you?

Come out of there.

Get over there and get to work

What makes you think I will?

I got a couple of very good arguments for that.

Listen, I work when I want to.

And I don't want to now.

No?

Well, I'll be.

Hey!

Over this way, over this way.

Oh, Mr. Thorn, this is an extremely dangerous spot

right here.

Get over there!

All clear, Dan.

OK.

Take it away!

Joe, see that fella down there?

Put him in the caboose and.

Dan, he's only a tramp.

I don't know There's something about that guy.

Take him along!

All right.

Hey, a couple of you fellas come with me.

Hey.

You ought to know better than to start

an argument on a right of way, an old railroad man like you.

What?

What's this insubordination?

I smacked a guy.

Tough luck.

I've been in a few mix-ups myself.

He was the division super, too.

And he was about your size.

Well, you must think you're as tough as I am.

Well, if you and me are , I'll be on my way

Now, some people would let you do just that.

But me, I'm gonna give you a chance to put some of that gut

into a job.

Working the railroad again?

No chance.

The against you, super.

and for me.

I'm Dan Thorn, and what I say goes around here.

That means everybody, see?

Yeah, everybody but me.

Joe.

How'd you like to have a new man for your job?

Do you know engines?

Sure, he used to work on the Lake Division.

Doyle, meet Joe Geraghty.

He's the roundhouse foreman.

Glad to know you If Dan says you're all right,

it's OK with me.

Get busy on the big boy here.

It's next out.

There you are, boy.

There's your job

Yeah.

So you think I'm working, huh?

If them ain't greased in a half an hour,

it'll burn the heart out of the big fella.

Sure.

But I ain't working, understand?

I ain't working!

That's a fine way to leave an engine.

I'm going over to the shop, Dan.

I'll see you later.

All right, then.

Hey, Dan.

I was wondering if I could lay off on the next run

Why, Tom, you ain't put in for anything like that in 20 years.

Well, you see, well, I--

Oh, it's the wife.

Ain't she no better yet?

She's worse, Dan.

Much worse.

So you got everything you need?

You got a good doctor?

Yes, but see, I'm just a little frightened, Dan.

You go right back to her, and don't you

let me see you around these yards

till she's absolutely all right.

Thanks.

Go on, go on.

Say, you know, Dan, if anything happens to Tom,

he'll hit the booze again sure.

He knows better than that.

Why, I'd have to ruin him off the road.

But you know what he used to be.

That's right.

Chuck, keep an eye on him.

And if anything happens, let me know quick.

Oh, sure, dear.

You're, you're-- you're always thinking of me, ain't you?

Sure, no man had a better daughter than I have.

Shh.

The birds will hear you

Yeah, well, look here, will you?

The Donahue brothers are giving away

a kitchen table and two chairs to every newly

married couple this month.

Now, that's something for you to look forward to.

Well, that's quite an inducement, isn't it?

It is.

I must show this to Dan.

Oh!

Don't you dare!

But let go!

Let go!

Well, why shouldn't I show it to him?

He's a man that understands.

Where is he?

I haven't seen him today.

What time is it?

Hello!

Oh, there you are.

Another minute, you'd been late.

Not a chance.

You wouldn't think I'd be late with you waiting for me, Mary,

would you?

Hey, hey.

I'm gonna enter a complaint!

Somebody's getting a lot of attention

around here besides me!

Oh, sure.

Go on with you.

You wouldn't be jealous of her own father, would you?

Wouldn't I?

Say, I'm likely to be jealous as anybody.

What's that?

Hmm?

Oh, yes.

Say, Mary, I want you to do something for me.

I want you to go down to the roundhouse.

I got a new man down there.

He's a floater, and his name is Doyle.

Give him this bundle and this note, and see what he does,

huh?

Now, Dan, I wish you wouldn't bother

your head about those tramps.

You know it never turns our right.

Mary, a fella can go wrong a dozen times.

But if you're right once, it makes up for all the rest.

Will you do it?

Well, all right.

Well, I got here just in time, didn't I?

Give me that.

Hey!

Ain't you afraid you're gonna get those clothes dirty?

No, it gives my valet something to do.

You ought to try and wear overalls once in a while.

Your guys must be particular about getting your pants dirty.

I see you didn't notice that loose driving rod nuts.

What, those nuts loose again?

Oh, it's all right.

I fixed 'em myself.

She's all ready to roll.

Thanks!

Is your name Doyle?

Yeah, why?

Well, if your name is Doyle, this is for you.

Why didn't you say so in the first place?

Why, you didn't give me a chance.

You want to take my answer now?

Yes.

All right.

Just tell Thorn there's no chance.

I'm quitting.

I thought you would.

Hey, wait a minute!

Wait a minute!

What do you mean, you thought I would?

What makes you think I'm a quitter?

You think I'm here because I like it?

Well, I'm not.

And I'm leaving.

I'm not gonna--

All right.

Suit yourself.

Hey, wait a minute!

Wait a minute!

Hey, wait a minute!

What do you mean, suit myself?

We ought to kind of talk this over, hadn't we?

You, uh, live here permanently?

Yes.

Lady, give me them overalls.

Ah, she's a lucky girl.

I've often said it.

She's a lucky girl to be marrying a railroader

and a fine-looking man, too.

Hey, hey.

Stop throwing them apples.

Give me a match, will you?

But you are, Dan.

You are!

Uh, maybe, uh, not exactly handsome, but--

No, no.

But handsome is as handsome does.

Not exactly handsome?

Why, my pan looks like a street before they

laid the pavement down.

You wouldn't find Mary saying a thing like that.

No, you're going to make her happy, Dan.

Never failed to do anything I wanted to yet.

You sure haven't, boy.

You're always kingpin amongst us, even in the old days.

And ever since I got my smash and you

started to take care of-- -Pipe down.

--me and Mary

Pipe down.

Why, you're more than just a man to us.

You--

Hey, stop it!

Now, you-- you'll have me blushing!

Maybe I didn't say the right words, boy,

but you know how I feel, don't you?

You don't owe me a thing.

If it'd been the other way around,

you'd have done the same thing for me.

Sit still there.

I'll see who it is.

Yeah, this is the right place.

Come on in.

Well, how do you feel?

OK.

Here.

Come and have a bite to eat.

No, thanks.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Meet Ed Ryan.

We live here together.

Ed, this is Larry Doyle.

Hi.

Glad to meet you

You better put in some fuel.

We just took off a nosebag ourselves,

but there's plenty of grub on the stove yet.

And before you do that, maybe you better go

upstairs and clean up a little.

I left some clothes out for you.

When you're decent, why, come right on down.

Thanks.

I guess I need 'em, at that.

Go on.

It's, uh, to the left.

Hilda?

Yeah?

Set another place on the table and keep supper hot

on the stove, will you?

Yeah, we will.

All right.

Is that the, uh, boomer engineer you were talking

about?

Yeah, that's the kid.

You should have seen him talk back to me, trying to fight me,

and him two days away from his last square meal.

He's a game kid.

I know that kind.

They wind up in a jail or a general manager's job.

Yeah.

In a jail, most likely I never saw one of those floaters yet

that panned out right.

Ain't you?

No, I haven't.

Well, you're looking at one right now.

Say, if I hadn't got kicked in the pants

by a couple of old rails like you,

I'd have been a floater yet.

That kid's gonna make a good hothead.

Say, what's happened to Mary?

Ain't she coming down?

She's upstairs primping up for you.

Hey, can I get a towel?

Where are the towels?

Oh.

Hey!

Mr. Thorn?

Can I get a towel?

Hey, I got soap but-- oh, boy I-- oh, it's you!

What's the idea?

I live here.

That's a good idea.

Well, aren't you gonna say you're glad to see me?

Well, I will say you look a little better.

And of course you're glad to see me.

If you insist, of course, I'm glad to see you.

Of course you're glad to see me.

No, no, no, Ed.

I've got to get back to the shops.

You tell Mary I'll see her later.

So long.

So long.

All right.

Oh, Hilda, see that the food and the plates are kept hot.

Yeah, I will.

Now, where's Mr. Thorn?

He's gone to the shops.

Sit down. -Oh, thanks.

I wanted to thank him for these clothes.

They almost fit me.

Uh, sit-- sit down.

Hilda, will bring you in a bite to eat?

Well, I ain't gonna eat all alone, am I?

I guess you'll have to.

Dan and I have had ours.

Oh, here's Mary.

She hasn't had her supper yet.

Guess you thought I was never coming down

Mister, uh, Doyle, Doyle.

This is my girl, Mary.

Oh, we've been introduced before, once by Mr. Overalls

and again by Johnny Towel.

Sure, I said she's my girl.

I should be saying she's Dan Thorn's girl.

She's going to marry Dan Thorn.

Mrs. Thorn.

Yes, that's the right house. But--

Mr. Thorn is.

--absolutely on time.

I promise you. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

I'll see if I can get him.

Long distance, Mr. Thorn.

Tell 'em to call me later. What?

He can't talk to you right now.

Call him later.

I tell you, I'm not gonna lay anymore trackage on that spur.

Now get that.

Now what?

I tell you, every egg will arrive there intact

if I have to lay a new road bed all the way from here

to Chicago.

Goodbye.

Oh, Doyle, Dan Thorn wants you over at the office.

Yeah?

Yeah.

OK, soon as I wash up.

What?

Don't bother me!

Imagine any man in his right mind

picking up railroad as a business?

No, sir.

What?

Uh, yes, sir.

Who asked you, anyways.

Here, take this over to the roundhouse foreman.

No!

Well, hello, Mary.

Ain't this nice, you coming down here to see me.

Dan, you forgot the handkerchiefs I

laid out for you this morning.

Huh?

So I did.

That's thoughtful of you.

It's all right, Mary.

It's all right.

Makes me feel kinda close to you when I see you

doing little things like this

Oh, it's-- it's nothing at all, Dan.

You're the thoughtful one.

Look what you've done for all of us.

Oh, it's a pleasure to do things for you, Mary.

I don't like to have you running around among these tracks,

but you're the only thing that seems to brighten up

this tough, old railroad yard, and-- and it

sort of keeps me from going off my nut sometimes.

You know, I don't know if I could

go through with it if I didn't look forward to seeing you.

Hey, what do you guys think you're doing

down there, playing ping pong?

this company's meant to work with!

I guess I don't need to tell you how I feel about you, Mary.

Dan, I think you've been wonderful.

You want to see me?

Why, hello, kid!

How are you?

Yeah!

I've got something for you.

Come here.

Read this.

I hadn't ought to take this from you.

Oh, all right.

I want to be moving on.

I don't think I'll ever be happy around here.

What do you mean, happy?

You're gonna stick here because I tell you, see?

I guess you know what I want to say.

Oh, well, don't say it.

Hello.

Hello, Dan?

Say, this is Chuck.

Say, old Tom Johnson's wife died this morning.

Yeah.

He's on the loose.

He's in that joint down by the lower yards.

I did what I could, but after she passed away,

I couldn't hold him.

OK, Dan.

I'll keep it to myself.

Mary, I-- I'm sorry.

I've got to be leaving you.

I've got a top call, and--

Dan, you'll be back in time for the party tonight, won't you?

Party?

What party?

The old-timer's picnic.

By golly, I forgot all about it.

But I can't go, anyway, Mary.

Oh, you have to go, Dan.

No, I can't.

This is very important.

I got it.

You can go with Larry.

No.

No, I want to go with you.

No, no, no, no.

Now, listen, Mary, this is very, very-- now, you haven't

got much more time to dress.

You'd better-- and say, Larry There you are.

You can be celebrating your new rating and--

and help me out at the same time, huh?

And I'll try to drop in later.

Huh?

That's fine, that's fine.

Well, so long.

So long.

I guess that settles it.

I guess it does.

Do you want to go with me?

Yes.

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention,

please to the next feature on the program,

that mighty spectacle presented by our own boys

and on our own engines, a tug-of-war between two

colossal moguls of the run.

I can't-- I can't dance anymore.

I really don't dance.

Perhaps I'd better go home.

Maybe you're right.

I'll take you home, and I'll explain it to Dan.

I-- I just don't feel right about it.

You understand, don't you, Larry?

Well, sure.

I understand.

I feel the same way

I see, uh, Wall Street has dropped again today.

Scram.

The hospitality of this place is absolutely appalling.

So you're here, huh?

Well, you don't have to watch me.

I'm gonna drink tonight.

You hear?

And you or nobody else can stop me, hear?

I'm gonna drink tonight.

I ain't here to stop you How do you get that way?

Hey, give me a shot of that stuff, will you?

Well, here's to you, Tom.

Hey.

You can't do that.

Why can't I?

I guess a couple of old friends can have a drink together, huh?

Yeah, but you're the boss of this here division

You've got to think of the railroad!

Well, for that matter, you're an engineer.

You don't think a couple of drinks

is gonna hurt your throttle hand, huh?

Go on, let's make a night of it!

It's no use, Dan.

I'm through.

She's gone.

She's all that I had.

I'm through.

I got to quit, I tell you.

I'm gonna quit.

Quit, huh?

I never thought I'd hear Tom Johnson say a word like that.

Are you turning yellow?

No, Dan.

No.

Well, what else would you call it, you quitter?

Oh, but you don't understand.

Yes, I understand.

Your heart's broke 'cause your wife's gone.

But do you think you're gonna help matters with that stuff?

Why, we're railroad men.

We've got to keep the schedule.

What right have we got to drink, holding a throttle,

running a train with lives depend on us?

No, we got to keep them trains moving.

That's our religion, Tom.

That's our life.

That's what Bess used to say.

That's the way I felt at first, when I first met her.

And that's how she'd want you to be now, Tom.

That's how you are.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Let's go.

There you are.

Boy, it's a swell night, ain't it?

I love this time of the year.

Just smell those apple blossoms over by the woods.

Funny what a night like this does to you.

Just look at them stars.

And that moon-- it looks like a big headlight, don't it?

And that soft from the river.

I never heard you talk like that before, Larry.

Well, why shouldn't I?

Don't you suppose I've got?

Oh!

Larry, look!

That was, uh, young Larry Doyle's whistle, wasn't it?

Yes.

He's taking the general manager's car and the

dynamometer back to the yard.

Hmm.

He hasn't been around here much since the old-timers' party.

No.

Oh, well, that Dan Thorn's worked

wonders in that boy, Mary.

Well, I think Larry deserves a little credit himself.

No.

No.

Dan Thorn was responsible.

Dan Thorn, Mary.

He's a great man.

I know.

You needn't worry, Dad.

I'm gonna marry him.

Just a minute, Professor.

And how, may I ask, did you find your way onto this train?

Uh, Mr. Thorn, I have been patronizing your road

for a good many years.

And I cannot understand why I should

be jiggled around this railroad yard for three or four days.

It's absolutely imperative that I arrive

at Chicago before the 19th.

Everything depends on it.

Why can't you furnish me with adequate transportation

to take me to my destination?

Professor, the entire road is at your service.

See that train down there?

Yes.

That train goes straight through to Chicago.

It does?

With my compliments.

Thank you.

I shall recommended this road to all of my friends.

Thank you.

I, I, I, I'm going-- I'm going to report you for this.

I'm gonna tell all my friends.

Hey, hey, hey.

Put some valve oil on that laugh, would you?

Just fixed up an old customer of the road.

Hello, Dan.

Hello, Jim. How are you?

Fine.

Hello, Dan.

Hi, Mike.

Hello, Joe.

How are you?

Well, Jim, how'd you find things?

Everything all right, as usual.

Come on up, and I'll make out your report for you.

By the way, uh, I got what you wanted.

Huh?

You know, that, uh--

Oh, thanks.

See you later on.

Yeah.

Joe, I want to talk to you about those new.

OK

Hello, Mrs. Milbury.

Hello, Larry.

Hey, Chief, come on down here.

Larry, what do you mean, being late,

man that's been on time as regular as you have?

If this happens again, I'll fire you Ain't she looking swell?

Huh?

Yes.

Hey, now you can relieve me, see?

I ain't much over this dancing business.

Besides, I got to go over and see Ed Ryan.

I got a surprise on him.

Big surprise.

Excuse me?

What does he mean, he's got a big surprise?

Folks, folks, and ladies.

I'm not much at speech making, so I ain't

gonna make no speech at all.

But anyway, there's-- there's Dan Thorn.

Hey, hey, hey.

Come on, come on.

Get out.

What he wants to tell you is that, uh--

that I'm gonna have a vacation.

Well, well, I seem to be a kind of popular guy around here.

Everybody's glad I'm going.

Well, that wasn't what I want-- what I really wanted to say

was that, um, oh, well Mary Ryan and me's gonna be married.

Hello?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What?

A washout!

Dan!

A washout, huh?

Well, I'm not going.

I'm not going.

I don't care if it's the main line.

I don't care if the whole system falls apart.

I wish every train on the line would go into the ditch!

Had to happen tonight, the one night I've been saving.

All right.

I'll tell 'em you're not going.

That's--

Who says I'm not going?

Give me that phone.

Yeah?

Get the wrecking crew out.

Fire up the wrecking train.

Get all the emergency crews together.

Sure, I'm coming.

Ed, get your car out.

You're gonna drive us to the yard.

Joe, come on!

Boys!

Mary, too bad he has to leave.

Oh, this is a shame, Mary.

I'm awfully sorry.

Yes.

Yes, it's too bad.

Mary.

Mary.

Don't, Mary, don't.

Oh, oh, I can't go through with it, Larry.

I can't.

I can't.

You've got to go away with me.

You can't marry him.

You know that, don't you?

Don't you?

Oh, Larry.

Let's go away now, tonight, before he knows or guesses.

No.

I've got to talk it out with him.

I've got to tell him.

You can't talk anything out with him.

He'd kill us.

Or-- or maybe you'd kill him.

Either way would be worse than crazy.

Oh, I'm no good doing this to Dan Thorn

Don't you think it-- it hurts me?

He's taken care of us ever since I was a kid.

But I can't love him that way.

He'd know in the end, and it would hurt him more.

He's iron and steel and fire.

He's not flesh and blood like you and me.

This is something greater than railroads, greater than him.

Yes, I guess it is.

You're right.

We have just time to flag the express for Chicago.

Hurry, dear, and pack your things.

Come on!

Get it moving here, you guys!

Hey, move that out of there!

Come on!

Come on!

Everybody get moving here!

What's the matter with you?

Smack that out of there!

Take it out!

Come on, come on!

Give me!

What do you think you're doing around here?

Dan!

Dan!

They've gone away together!

I'll kill him!

Kill him with my hands.

What's the matter, Larry?

My foot's caught in the switch.

Oh.

What is it?

It's the limited!

Oh, Larry!

That's no use, Mary.

It's operated from the tower.

It's no use.

This thing's like a vice.

And I'm only going to get what I deserve, I guess.

Oh, no!

No, Larry!

No!

-Now, Mary, get off the track. -No!

I won't leave you!

Please, Mary! Get away!

No! No, I won't leave!

You can't stay here!

Mary, please, go on away!

Get off the track!

Please!

I won't!

I'm gonna kill you!

I'm gonna kill you!

No!

He has his foot caught in the switch!

Go ahead, Dan.

It's all right.

I got it coming to me.

No!

No, Dan! Don't!

No, don't!

Dan!

Doctor.

It's bad.

But Doctor, you've got to save him.

There must be something.

Only a brain surgeon with complete modern equipment

can help him.

There's nothing like that this side of Chicago.

He can't live more than five hours.

But out fastest run to Chicago is seven hours,

and we haven't got a through train on the schedule

till this afternoon.

The only chance is to get him to Chicago in five hours.

Oh, Dan.

It's all my fault. Oh, forgive me.

Hey, what does that gauge read now?

180.

Put it up to 200.

OK.

Oh, gee, it's tough.

There must be something we can do.

Not a thing.

It's a six-hour record run.

It can't be done.

I can do it.

What?

I can do it.

Why, don't you realize you couldn't keep

that engine on the rails going 100 miles an hour

all the way to Chicago.

It can't be done.

It's got to be done!

It's got to be done!

Maybe you can.

Put Dan in my special.

Give it right of way over everything.

You bet!

In that cab.

Look here.

This means sidetracking everything on the way.

The Olympian, the Pioneer, the whole timetable!

Why, this will cost a fortune, and all for one man

For one man?

You don't seem to understand.

This isn't only Dan Thorn.

It's every railroad man everywhere.

Here.

Hold everything east on the division.

OK.

Get me on the wire at once!

All right.

Red board is City.

All right.

Hey, give me that phone.

Give me that.

5:10.

It can't be done.

Just a little longer, Dan.

Just a little longer.

Is he alive?

Barely.

Come here, you!

This is the last time you'll ever ride this road.

If it's any news to you, it's the last time

I'll ever ride any road.

Ah, come on

Well, I don't know about you fellas handling a stretcher.

We'll take it easy, then, Doctor.

And you take the foot, and I'll take the head.

Coming out on this side.

Will he be conscious, do you think, when the train pulls in?

He's had his senses for more than two weeks.

Sure it was his own wish that he'd come back here

and die in his own division.

That's a funny remark for Dan Thorn to make.

I can't believe he wouldn't get well

from anything, if he wanted to.

guess that's the trouble.

He just doesn't want to get well

You know what it is he wants.

Wait a minute, boys.

Let Mary go in first.

Hmm?

Hello, Mary.

Oh, Dan.

Don't look at me like that.

It's all right, Mary.

It's all right.

You don't understand, Dan.

I've come back to you for always.

I understand.

I understand.

No, Dan, no.

I mean it.

I'm never going to leave you again.

The other was a mistake.

Hello, kid.

Thanks, Dan, for all you've done for me.

For you?

You didn't think I was gonna see the limited wrecked, did you?

Lying like this gives a man plenty of time

to figure things out.

I never had so much time before.

You know, people have got to marry

the things they love best.

You two, each other.

Me, the railroad.

I ain't gypping myself.

Dan?

Dan?

Too bad about Dan Thorn, ain't it?

I hear he's all through.

And he used to be a nice fella, too.

Go on, get the lead out of your feet

or I'll come out there and.

This ain't no smoking room!

This is a railroad!

All through is he?

Used to be a nice fella.

Say, that old caboose will be running on forever.