- 7 hours ago
Hoppy's gang takes refuge from a storm in a deserted church; in the middle of the night they find playing the organ a daughter of the deceased pastor.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Here he comes, here he comes, there's the truppets, there's the drums, here he comes,
00:10Aquilon Cassidy, here he comes.
00:30Well, we're not far from Coltsville, maybe we can find some shelter there.
00:41Shelter? What do you mean, Hoppy?
00:43Look at that storm ahead of us.
00:44This looks like a good place for us to stop, but that's a church.
01:03Well, what about us? It's not a bad place to spend a little time once in a while.
01:14Well, let's get the food and blankets off, we'll go inside and eat and bed down for the night.
01:27You're right, Hoppy, we're due for a storm.
01:29Sure sounds like it.
01:40Gee, this looks like a ghost church.
01:42It is. So's the town it belongs to.
01:46I've never been here before, but I remember hearing about how everybody moved away from here.
01:50Yeah, and I'd just as soon go with them.
01:52This place gives me the creeps.
01:55What was that?
01:56Oh, probably just a shutter banging in the wind.
02:00Got it drafty in here.
02:02Let's see what's in here.
02:09Oh, this looks better.
02:10Smells kind of musty.
02:13Oh, this'll do fine, California, and so will a little food.
02:16Coming right up, Hoppy.
02:18I'm sure glad we decided to stop here.
02:21So nice and quiet.
02:22Not a thing to disturb a good night's sleep.
02:25I ain't so sure of that.
02:26Now you're feeling my bones are mighty disturbing.
02:29Oh, that's just a rheumatism.
02:31When I put my head on those saddlebags,
02:33not even the prettiest gal in the world could make me open my eyes.
02:36Ha, ha, ha, ha.
02:37I was a gambling man.
02:38I wouldn't make any bets on that, would you?
02:40Me neither.
02:41Don't take the coffee.
02:42No.
02:45I'm gonna get this beautiful bed thing right now going on.
02:48We hadn't been asleep a half an hour
02:51when we are awakened by the music of an organ.
02:53I'm gonna get this beautiful bed thing.
03:05That's beautiful music.
03:30Oh, I'm sorry if we frightened you.
03:33You did startle me. There's seldom anyone here.
03:37Well, that's what we thought, so we came in here to spend the night out of the storm.
03:42I'm Hopalong Cassidy, and these are my two friends, California Carlson and Lucky Jenkins.
03:47Glad to know you, ma'am.
03:48Me too. I was thinking maybe it might be some angel out here playing.
03:52And you were pretty nearly right.
03:54I'm Susan Crowell, and this is my mother.
03:56How do you do?
03:57Susan's father was the pastor here, and he's buried in the churchyard.
04:00We come here each morning and evening to give simple prayer.
04:04I understand, Ms. Crown. I'm sorry we were here to interrupt you.
04:08Did you say you and your daughter live near here?
04:10Yes.
04:11Oh, I thought this place was deserted.
04:13It is, with the exception of Deacon Black and ourselves.
04:16Deacon Black?
04:17Oh, Mr. Black's not a real deacon.
04:19We just call him that because, well, he's a fine man who helped father with his work at church.
04:23When father was killed, Mr. Black just decided to stay on, helping any way he could.
04:28I see.
04:30Tell me, Ms. Crown, what happened to the people here?
04:32Why did they abandon their homes?
04:34Why, I don't like to talk about it.
04:37Bad luck has always come to those who have.
04:39Well, I'll talk about it.
04:40All began about four months ago.
04:43It was a nice enough little town then, and all of a sudden a shadow fell over it.
04:47What do you mean, Ms. Crowell?
04:49Well, people were afraid because there were shootings and strange disappearances.
04:54It got so no one knew who would be next, and they either kept their doors locked or started moving away.
05:00Well, there must have been someone they suspected.
05:02No, not a soul.
05:04That was the awful part of it.
05:07My own father was one of those who killed without warning, but we didn't move away like all the others.
05:14Well, I've seen a lot of trouble, but never without reason like this.
05:17I've had the same feeling ever since we've been here.
05:20This place ain't healthy for man or beast.
05:23And if we just had a little more time, we'd stay around and see what makes it so unhealthy.
05:27Oh, no, no, you mustn't do that.
05:29It's bound to cause more trouble.
05:30We ask only for peace and the privilege of coming to this little church.
05:34Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Crowell.
05:35We have to leave the first thing in the morning, and you can be sure that we all hope you have nothing but peace.
05:41Come, Susan.
05:42We'd better go now.
05:43It's a pretty bad night.
05:44I'll get my poncho and go with you.
05:46If you wish.
05:47Good night.
05:48Good night.
05:48Good night.
05:54Sort of wish I was going to.
06:01It's the end of the world.
06:02It's not the end of the world, but it could have been the end of Miss Susan.
06:05What do you mean?
06:06Well, if she'd been sitting at that organ, she'd have been killed when that thing came down.
06:10Oh, what a narrow escape.
06:12See that they get home safely, Lucky.
06:14I will.
06:16By golly, Hoppy, that could have been a terrible accident.
06:31You've got it wrong, California.
06:33It would have been murder.
06:34But...
06:34Murder?
06:36Sure.
06:36That beam wasn't right at her track.
06:38It's been sawed almost in tune.
06:39It was done very recently.
06:40Then who ever done it?
06:41Wanted to kill that girl because she's the only one that ever sits there.
06:44I'll split them like a rack of spare ribs.
06:47I'll tear them limb from limb.
06:49Say, how did he know that someone would be sitting there when that thing fell?
06:54I don't know.
06:54He must have figured on the vibration of that organ to break this thing loose.
06:58But in this case, that clap of thunder did it.
07:00Fortunately, she wasn't sitting there.
07:02I'd like to get to the bottom of this thing.
07:07A deserted town, a lot of killings, and nobody around but two women and a deacon.
07:13You know something, Hoppy?
07:15There's somebody else around here.
07:17You know something else?
07:19Sometimes your deductions are phenomenal.
07:22I'm a pretty smart fellow.
07:24Whoever was at the bottom of the whole mystery must still be in the neighborhood.
07:28I looked around trying to find some clue.
07:40Morning might bring some answers.
07:44And morning did.
07:46It sounded like the whole place was falling apart.
07:48Hold it.
08:03What's the idea of starting on that wall?
08:05What's going to hold the roof up?
08:06You said we were going to tear the joint down, didn't you?
08:08Sure, but you start from the top, not the bottom, generally.
08:12All right, get up on that roof.
08:16Hello, boys.
08:18Who are you?
08:21The name's Cassidy.
08:23I don't think I got yours.
08:24Ryker, what are you doing here?
08:26Well, it was storming last night, if you remember, and we came in here for shelter.
08:30I see the sun shining out now.
08:31Must be a nice day outside.
08:33It is.
08:34So why don't you and your boys get out there and enjoy it while you can?
08:37Listen, mister, my friends and I have been enjoying good health for a long time.
08:41We expect to keep right on doing it.
08:43Now, what's your business here?
08:44Well, I'll tell you.
08:45It's a good thing you were here last night.
08:48How's that?
08:49Because this church ain't going to be here tonight.
08:51We're tearing it down.
08:52Mr. Cassidy.
08:55Did I hear right when this man said he was going to tear our church down?
09:00You heard right, miss.
09:01Since when has it been your church?
09:03I think a young lady means that she and her mother come here to worship.
09:06And the church belongs to whoever uses it.
09:08Look, Hoppy, why are you arguing with this man?
09:10Let's throw him out of here and not worry Miss Susan anymore.
09:12Son, you got more nerve than you got brains.
09:17You're in a place where they used to give him burial services.
09:19And that's what you're going to get if you don't shut up.
09:21I think we've done enough arguing.
09:23Unless you've got the legal right to tear this place down, you're not touching a stick of it.
09:27You ain't the law around here.
09:29I got as much right to tear it down as you got to sleep in it.
09:32And I got the men to back me up.
09:34Now get this straight.
09:35You're getting out and I'm staying here.
09:37Gentlemen.
09:38Oh, Mr. Black, I'm so glad you've come.
09:42There's trouble here.
09:43Yes, I gather that from the doorway.
09:45Have patience and faith, child.
09:46I'll do what I can.
09:48I don't know you men, but you've chosen a place of peace to make trouble.
09:51May I ask what the difficulty is?
09:53Mr. Deacon, I'd like to baptize that critter with a little hot lamp.
09:56That's enough, California.
09:58Mr. Black, Miss Susan has told us about you and we're glad you came.
10:01In that case, I think you should put your gun away.
10:04Mr. Black, I can't understand why anyone would want to tear this church down without reason.
10:10Tear it down?
10:12Are you thinking of doing such a thing?
10:14No, I am.
10:15And you and all your gospel can't stop me.
10:17Who owns this church?
10:19I don't know.
10:21Since Coltsville has become a deserted town, it'd be hard to say.
10:25I've stayed on here with the hope that someday we'd have a congregation of good people back on these benches.
10:30Let's see it go now and shatter what little we have left.
10:36May I ask why you want to destroy this building?
10:39Sure.
10:39I found out that nobody owned the place and we need finished lumber.
10:43I'm building a mining camp on the way up the trail.
10:45Who ever heard of such a thing?
10:48Somebody has got to stop him.
10:50We'll do what we can.
10:51Won't we, Hopi?
10:52Well, I think that's up to Mr. Black.
10:55Well, when are you leaving?
10:56I got work to do.
10:58As soon as I'm sure you're a lot of miles from here.
11:02You're not tearing this building down so long as these people want it to stand.
11:06So that's it.
11:07You're staying.
11:08That's right.
11:09All right.
11:10But I'll be seeing you soon again.
11:12It's a big country.
11:13That's what I've heard.
11:14If you live long enough to get around to seeing it.
11:19All right.
11:20Come on.
11:20Come on.
11:24Well, we might as well get out of here.
11:26Hopi, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay on for a while.
11:30Those men might come back if they think we've all gone and...
11:33Well, at least they won't have their own way of it.
11:37All right, Lucky.
11:37And if anything comes up, you can get word to me at the ranch.
11:40As long as one of your men's staying.
11:42I'll be leaving, too.
11:43Goodbye, friend.
11:44Goodbye, sir.
11:45And bless you.
11:46Susan.
11:47Goodbye, Mr. Cassidy.
11:48Goodbye, Susan.
11:50California, have you got our horses?
11:52Lucky, come and help me with the gear.
11:55Oh, ma'am.
11:57Glad to have met you.
11:59I'm glad to be leaving.
12:09You all right, California?
12:11You sure you're all right?
12:12I don't know, Hopi.
12:13How do I know?
12:14Oh, they didn't get you.
12:16They must have been waiting for us to come out.
12:18What if they got Mr. Black?
12:19I don't know.
12:19I'll find out.
12:20What if they got in the back?
12:29See Mr. Black?
12:30No, but I see plenty of others.
12:31Looks like they're surrounding the place.
12:52Doesn't make sense.
12:54First they want us to leave.
12:55Now they're shooting so we can't get out.
12:56Make sure you should be meet up with women and them bullets.
12:59Then you're out for good.
13:00One thing's certain.
13:01So long as they keep us in, we can keep them out.
13:03Lucky, you go back with the women and watch those windows.
13:05We'll take care of this up here.
13:07Go with your man, Jack.
13:09Where do you want?
13:11Right over here.
13:13Take your mother over by the orchid.
13:18Lucky, listen.
13:19I don't know what...
13:20Susan, get down.
13:21I'm worried enough about you already.
13:23Why?
13:24What do you mean?
13:26Well, maybe I shouldn't tell you, but last night someone tried to kill you.
13:29Kill me?
13:30Why?
13:31I don't understand.
13:32Hoppy says that that beam was deliberately sawed so that it would snap at the least vibration
13:36and fall on the organ bench where you were sitting.
13:38We're getting a little more even.
13:59What's the idea?
14:16Just knocked off one of them muskrats.
14:18That's what I call ringing the bell.
14:20Now, one of these days, I'm going to ring your neck, but I guess that's a long face off.
14:23I hope so.
14:24Concentrating on the front of the building, I'm going out through that back room.
14:38Wherever you're going, good luck.
14:39Thanks, I'll be back sometime tonight.
14:41We'll take care of things here.
14:42Fine, if you need any extra ammunition, it's in my saddlebag.
14:45So long.
14:51He's leaving?
14:52Yeah, come on.
14:54I knew that Lucky in California could hold them off for the time being.
15:01I was going to try to get through to the local sheriff.
15:16Hey, stop!
15:20Shut up!
15:21Shut up!
15:25Shut up!
15:25We'll go away on that front of the floor!
15:27Let's go!
15:57I know a shortcut. Maybe we can hit him off.
16:27My search for the law led me to the office of the county clerk.
16:45Hey, clerk!
16:48I'd been promised help. I had learned a mighty important thing about the church property.
16:55Who is it?
17:10Me, Black.
17:12Black.
17:15Hi, Deacon.
17:17Good evening.
17:19How'd you get here all in one piece?
17:22Well, I went to the camp of those men and demanded that they let me through their lines.
17:26It's my daily habit to visit here, and no one shall stop me.
17:30Mighty brave of you.
17:31Oh, Mr. Black.
17:33Mr. Black.
17:36Good evening, child.
17:37I'm so glad you're here. I wish you'd talk to Mother. She needs your help.
17:41Of course, Susan. I'll be glad to.
18:03Lucky, you know something?
18:04Yes, since I met you yesterday.
18:07Little country church is as wonderful as a great cathedral, because it stands for the same things.
18:13Like marriage?
18:14Yes.
18:15My mother and father were married here. Perhaps I should be, too.
18:19You know, this is the place I'd like to be married.
18:26I've always heard that you kissed the bride after the ceremony.
18:32A fine army I have. One has his eyes wide open with love, and the other has his eyes closed with sleep.
18:42Hey.
18:43Hey.
18:48Hey.
18:49How are you, Hoppy?
18:50I was just closing my eyes to make believe you was here.
18:53Sure.
18:54Ain't the thing happened since you left.
18:55Except one shot that I know of.
18:57Yeah?
18:58But that one didn't do any harm.
18:59This is a pleasant surprise.
19:01I saw you were missing when I arrived tonight, but I made no inquiry because I thought you'd been...
19:06Well, seeing you here is just as much of a surprise. How did you make it?
19:09Well, as I told him, I went to the camp of those men and demanded that they let me through.
19:14Then they asked me to bring you a message.
19:16Well, the only message I want from them is that they'll clear out of here.
19:19You mean we have a chance?
19:21We can get out?
19:22Well, that's possible. I've learned a few things that might save the church and a lot of killings.
19:26I went to the county clerk in Fenwell, and among other things, I found that this church belongs to the town of Coltsville.
19:31It can't be bought and it can't be sold so long as it stands.
19:35To be honest, I don't know why anyone wants the place.
19:37Staying here proves nothing but that death is convenient to a church graveyard.
19:42Do you think you can get back to those men safely?
19:45Why, yes.
19:46Tell them that we're leaving this morning, but we're coming back.
19:51That you don't tell them.
19:53I don't want you to be too confident that I have enough information to get to the bottom of this.
19:57I still don't know what it's all about, but I've got a hunch who's behind it.
20:02Well, may I ask what you know?
20:03It's very little. And what I do know is all based on suspicion.
20:07But sometimes that can be as strong as the rope around a man's neck.
20:11My friend, gratitude has no depths. All I can say is, I'll deliver your message, and I appreciate from the bottom of my heart what you've told me. Good night.
20:21Good night, sir.
20:22Mr. Black, you're leaving. Please take me with you.
20:25You'd better stay here with Mr. Cassidy, my dear.
20:28Susan, take care of your mother.
20:29Please, Mrs. Cromwell.
20:34Now, get this straight. This is going to be the payoff.
20:37When we go in there, I want each one of you to make your bullets count.
20:40We're going to rush the place, and we're not coming out until it's cleaned up.
20:43What about the women?
20:45Ain't your fault if they get in the way.
20:47I don't like it. You'll do what you're told.
20:50I'm giving the orders around here.
20:52What did you just say, Riker?
20:53Oh, nothing, nothing, boss.
20:56I didn't know you were back. I was just telling the boys what we were going to do.
21:00You're going to do nothing until I tell you to.
21:02Remember?
21:04No further shooting.
21:23Hold it, Lucky. The man's wounded to see what he's up to.
21:34This place is getting busier than a barn at a cattle auction.
21:49California, let him in.
22:04We let him go on over the door.
22:06I sure hope there are an enemy because I hate to kill a friend.
22:14Friend, help me.
22:16Let him in.
22:24Why did you come here?
22:25I have something to tell you.
22:28Well, go on.
22:34Put him on that bench and do what you can for him.
22:36Get his feet.
22:37Get his feet.
22:44Hold it, Lord.
22:47Here, sir, and bring this.
23:07Hoppy.
23:17Hoppy.
23:18This man's pretty bad hurt.
23:19You know what you can for him.
23:22Uh-oh.
23:25Keep back.
23:38What is she doing, Hoppy?
23:49But...
23:50But who was that?
23:51Mr. Black.
23:52The Deacon.
23:53I can't believe it.
23:54Hoppy.
23:56Does that smell like oil?
23:57It is oil, Californian.
23:59It's oil, all right.
24:02I met Riker one night.
24:04And he found out I was an oil man.
24:07And he forced me to his house with a gun.
24:11Riker was working for a man who had found oil,
24:14but didn't know how to get it out.
24:18That was going to be my job.
24:20That's why he killed or scared everyone until they left town
24:22so he could take over.
24:23How did you know all this?
24:25I accidentally ran across a Bible up there
24:27that had a name inscribed in it.
24:29And through that, I found out who was buying all this property.
24:31It was a woman.
24:33Heh.
24:34I knew it all the time.
24:37Oh, no.
24:38It wasn't your mother, Susan.
24:40It was a woman by the name of Mary Brewster.
24:42That's the name I found in the Bible.
24:44She was his sister.
24:47Hoppy, did you forgot about the others?
24:48No, I didn't.
24:49Then, neither did Tom, the county clerk.
24:52Look out there.
24:59Well, we better get her gear together.
25:01California, get him bandaged up.
25:03Here.
25:05Oh, Mrs. Crowell, I'm sorry this has been such a trying ordeal,
25:09but at least you have your church.
25:12You'll find a couple of them in the church.
25:27Better take care of them, too.
25:29Thanks for everything, pal.
25:31It's all right, Hoppy.
25:32It's sure a nice way to start out a day, you know, holding up a lot of gophers.
25:37Say, they're an ugly looking bunch, ain't they?
25:39What are they after, Hoppy?
25:40Oil.
25:41Ground under the old church is full of it.
25:44Well, you might as well take them in, Tom.
25:46Maybe they can find some oil under the old jailhouse.
25:48It will sure give them a lot of time to try it.
25:51Well, now that the shooting's over, I suppose you'll be heading for home, huh?
25:54Yeah, I guess so.
25:56So long, Hoppy!
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