- 8 hours ago
The story of seasoned con man Henry Comstock comes to light when an old timer stakes a claim on the Cartwright's land; Little Joe romances a Paiute woman.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:20Sure hot work pushing all that cattle up into that high country.
00:23That water sure does look good, too.
00:25You know, the weight wash off some of this grit.
00:39Careful, little Joe.
00:40That's as close as you've come to taking a bath in months.
00:55Who are you?
00:56Never mind who I am.
00:58Just get off my land.
01:00Your land?
01:01What are you talking about, mister?
01:03You know what I'm talking about.
01:04You ain't deep, are you?
01:06No, we ain't deep, but are you sure you ain't got just a little bit too much sunshine, old-timer?
01:12Look, well, maybe you kind of got your directions mixed up.
01:18All right, now, don't anybody move.
01:20Why do you want to go do a thing like that for, old-timer?
01:22I know my rights.
01:24The law says that I can shoot trespassers on sight.
01:29Look, you're on the Ponderosa.
01:31I bought this land, mister, and there ain't nobody going to take it away from me.
01:37What?
01:51Let's go.
01:51All right.
02:22I don't want to kill anybody, but I will if you push me.
02:26Nobody's trying to push you, mister, but what makes you think this land is yours?
02:29I said I bought it.
02:31Twenty-five dollars, hard money.
02:34I got the bill of sale to prove it.
02:46I hereby sell you all the land between the east shore of Lake Tahoe and Sun Mountain for twenty-five
02:51dollars cash.
02:53Signed, Henry T.P. Comstock.
02:57Henry Comstock.
02:59Oh, Tom, I guess you were just one of the many who were taken in by our dear friend, Mr.
03:04Comstock.
03:05I guess you didn't know him any too well, did you?
03:07I don't have to know him.
03:08I got the bill of sale there to prove it.
03:11The bill of sale?
03:12That old thief is selling the territory of Nevada if he can get away with it.
03:15Looks like he did, too.
03:17You remember the first time we ever seen him, little Joe?
03:19What, that wild-eyed old mule of his?
03:21Yeah.
03:22That black stovepipe hat that made him look pious as a preacher.
03:30You know how many men have draped this tree?
03:33Twenty-eight men and one woman.
03:34We figure to make it a nice, round figure like 30.
03:38All right, let's get it over with.
03:41what the name of creation's your hurry
03:45mind if i have a last word with my friend friend you haven't got a friend within 50 miles of
03:51hang
03:51town lord i i'm ready whenever you say the word but lord i i hope you'll forgive me if i
04:03i don't have time to tell these boys about the big new movement going on around here
04:08what in thunder big movement you talking about changing the name of hang town to placerville
04:13you boys have any such goings on around here lord looks like you left these boys up in the hills
04:19too
04:19long you know the first law they passed was there'd be no more hangings within the city limits
04:27city limits how far are they clear to the top of the sierra nevada mountains that's a good hundred
04:32miles mighty ambitious town placerville lord you didn't tell these boys nothing you didn't tell
04:40them there's mighty touchy people around here too especially about any unnecessary hanging hanging
04:47you is about the most necessary thing a hard rock miner could ever do so we'll escort you the hundred
04:53miles over the sierra nevada and hang you there i thank you because mr henry tp comes stock you're
05:01about the crookedest slimiest most double-dealing weaseling lying thieving no good claim jumper that
05:07ever hit the state of california
05:11so
05:25so
05:26so
05:49Four hours.
05:51That took four hours to bring that thing down.
05:55Well, that is such a long time, little Joe.
05:57Not when it took 400 years for it to grow.
06:00400 years.
06:04Well, that was even before Columbus sailed out of Spain to discover America.
06:08Toss, there were trees that were living and growing in this forest.
06:12They were old when Christ pulled fish out of the Sea of Galilee.
06:27Don't cut unless you plant.
06:29That's right, House.
06:31That's why we're here.
06:32Not just to take from the land, but to give.
06:37Yes, sir.
06:40Can you see it?
06:42A hundred years from now, standing tall against the sky.
06:48Plant it, Adam.
06:50Sure, Paul.
06:51Yes.
06:56Well, little Ponderosa.
06:58See you around in a couple of hundred years when you're a big Ponderosa.
07:06Thousands of people who one day will come to this land are mighty thankful for what we've done.
07:12There's timber up there to build whole new cities.
07:16Launch fleets of ships.
07:21Hear that, Horse?
07:23Older Brother Adam is planning to build that Yankee fleet of his again.
07:26Yeah, well, it's going to take a mite more water than we've got hereabouts to float it in, little Joe.
07:29Water?
07:31Oh, now, you don't think Adam is planning to sail his ships on just plain old water, do you?
07:36I guess you two mountain boys haven't heard.
07:38Just so happens I'm planning on ships that sail across sand.
07:42I remember walking across about 600 miles of it the last time Paul sent me to Salt Lake City to
07:48file him claim papers.
07:49How would you like to be able to do it in under three days?
07:51Oh, come on now!
07:53From here to Salt Lake City in three days?
07:56How are you going to do that?
07:56I think he's going to fly through the air, Orr.
07:59Maybe two days.
08:00Oh, well, maybe one day.
08:03You talking about a railroad, son?
08:05I'd be talking about a railroad, Pa.
08:07Dreams are a mighty good things to have, son.
08:10You know what it takes to build a railroad?
08:13Track.
08:15Track that runs across sand, round mountains, and over rivers.
08:22Track ain't nothing but a lot of rail, and a bed of ties to lay it on.
08:29You'd cut down all these wonderful trees to provide ties for a railroad?
08:35I'd cut them down, pal.
08:38And I'd put new ones in that place.
08:41That does sound like a rifle shot.
08:45From the California side.
08:47Sounded to me like it'd come off the Ponderosa.
09:03Dorothy, if you don't move faster, you're going to be key witness to a-hanging.
09:19So he thinks he can sneak away on that old mule.
09:22Yeah.
09:23Out.
09:25Out.
09:38How do you feel about four men chasing one man on a mule?
09:42Well, maybe they have a reason for chasing him.
09:45I don't care for the odds.
09:47We sure could improve them, Pa.
09:48We sure could sweeten them up some at that, Pa.
09:54Yeah, we better stop them, too, before they stir up the Paiutes.
09:57Last time somebody stirred them up, three families of settlers paid for it with their lives.
10:03All right, boys, let's sweeten them.
10:21How far over you reckon them fellers are?
10:26About a half a mile, maybe.
10:29Yeah.
10:30It's just about what I figured.
10:33Hey, horse, even with that Sharps Buffalo gun you got, you don't figure you can hit a target at a
10:36half-mile distance.
10:39You watch that fella's hat.
10:44What in front of it was that?
10:47Um, um.
10:51Dorothy, that shot comes from the direction I thought it did?
10:55Ah.
10:57Horse, let me see that little old squirrel gun of yours for a minute.
10:59Sure, Adam.
11:00See that, Pa?
11:13Couldn't become stock.
11:15He didn't even have a rifle.
11:21I'm a little Joe.
11:21What was all this talk about?
11:22A half a mile?
11:25Good.
11:26You want to try it, little Joe?
11:27Yeah, I better.
11:28You, uh, right sure now?
11:30Well, I think I better if I want to stay living with this family.
11:32All right.
11:40Ow!
11:44That's a mighty fine old gun you got there, huh?
11:46A mighty good shooting.
11:48I just can't think any New Orleans boy learns to do by the time he learns to walk.
11:53Take a crack at it, Cole?
11:56Well, if I have to, just to show you young whippersnappers, go ahead.
12:03You can't miss now.
12:05Give me that rifle.
12:14I'm going to find you.
12:17We got to get out of here, Hick.
12:19They made men, they're devils.
12:21Where are they shooting from?
12:22That's what I want to know.
12:23I don't know where it's coming from, but it's the best darn shooting I ever saw.
12:25Good shooting, all right, but it's done by men like us, not devils.
12:32Thank you for looking favorably in the countess of this miserable center, Lord.
12:35Lord, I sure do appreciate it.
12:37I sure do.
12:38And to prove it, I won't lie or steal or ever jump any other fellow's claim again as long as
12:44I live.
12:45Strike me dead if I do, Lord.
12:47You strike me dead.
12:52Hick, I don't like this place.
12:54Fields haunted me.
12:55Why don't we go back to California?
12:56All right, let's go back.
12:57We only came here to get rid of that comp sack fella in the first place.
12:59Not get rid of him.
13:00Hang him.
13:01I promised myself to see that old thief hang that I made to keep that promise.
13:16Yeah, I think we scared those fellas off.
13:18They're heading back to California.
13:20Yeah.
13:22Yeah.
13:24Maybe they aren't.
13:28Quite an exhibitionist skill, my friends.
13:31Truly the best exhibition of the fine art of rifle shooting I've ever seen.
13:35Since the days of that esteemed gentleman, Quincy P. Strongheart.
13:39Ah, yes, I can see it all just as though it were yesterday.
13:42My boyhood chum, Quincy P. raised at my side.
13:46Inside of the stormy and treacherous waters of Lake Nippishama.
13:50What in the tarnation are you talking about, mister?
13:52What did you do to stir up all that excitement?
13:54It's probably one of them claim jumpers.
13:56They run out of California.
13:57Lad, I beseech you.
13:59Don't mention that evil place to me.
14:01I, Henry T.P. Comstock, who have roamed the four corners of the earth,
14:06have sailed every shore and coastline of the seven seas,
14:10never want to hear the name of that foul-sounding place again as long as I live.
14:15Why were you run out?
14:18I?
14:19You think I, Henry Comstock, was run out of California?
14:24Run out and told never to come back.
14:26How many claims did you jump?
14:29Did you hear that?
14:31Yeah, not you.
14:34Lord, right where I stand, right where I stand,
14:38if I, Henry Comstock, ever jumped,
14:40or even thought of jumping any other gold miners' claim,
14:45strike me dead.
14:50Not yet, Lord.
14:51I, I know I'm a miserable sinner,
14:54and certain things have been known to cling to my fingers,
14:56but I'm not ready yet, Lord,
14:59to meet the hellfires of retribution.
15:02Not yet, Lord.
15:04Not yet.
15:05Hellfires of retribution, hear that little joke?
15:07Well, I figure if a man's going to get religion,
15:09he might as well get it in a hurry.
15:12Dr. Comstock,
15:14before your time is up,
15:16I think there's room for at least one good meal in there
15:21to help, uh,
15:22see you through that final journey.
15:24Do my ears deceive me,
15:26or did I,
15:27did I hear you mention food?
15:32Well, gentlemen,
15:34when do we eat?
15:35You too, Dorothy.
15:37You go with me, too.
15:38Come.
15:42Gentlemen,
15:43I have feasted at the tables of kings
15:45and dined in the company of millionaires,
15:47but never,
15:48I repeat,
15:48never have I enjoyed such a meal as this.
15:51This is Hop Singh's doing,
15:52Mr. Comstock.
15:53In all your traveling,
15:54did you ever meet a fighter cook?
15:56My good man,
15:57worthy descendant of Confucius
15:58that you might be,
15:59I must compliment you
16:00on having acquired a skill in wizardry
16:02in the culinary arts
16:04unmatched in all this land.
16:07He no like the lip?
16:09No, he likes some Hop Singh.
16:12Oh, very good.
16:13I bling more.
16:14Got plenty more.
16:15Yeah, you do that, Hop Singh.
16:16You do that.
16:17Mr. Comstock,
16:18do you have any late news
16:20of my good friend Captain John Sutter?
16:23Sir, you're referring to
16:25Captain John Sutter
16:26of the Sacramento Valley?
16:28Are there any other Captain John Sutter's?
16:31Well, the poor man,
16:32he's a cause of sadness
16:34and melancholy
16:35to all of his friends.
16:37What's the matter?
16:37Is he getting worse?
16:38Not only getting worse,
16:39he's almost gone,
16:40as has his mind.
16:41Young man,
16:42pass that plate of sweet corn, please.
16:44You mean you're still hungry?
16:46I haven't seen corn
16:47as smooth and golden as this
16:49since I was a boy
16:50on the shores
16:50of Lake Simihushi.
16:52I thought you said
16:53over on the mountain
16:55Lake Nipishama.
16:56Nipishama one side,
16:57Simihushi on the other.
16:58Lots of lake
16:58on that neck of the woods.
16:59Well, just what neck
17:00of the woods was that?
17:03You boys familiar
17:04with foreign lands?
17:05No, no.
17:06We've never been
17:07out of the country.
17:08Why?
17:09Oh, it's a shame.
17:10You can't know too much
17:11about a wonderful country
17:13of my childhood, Canada.
17:14Oh, this Nipotski
17:16and Scouchy,
17:17Huachi,
17:17whatever you call it.
17:18Are they in Canada?
17:19On the other side
17:20of the Prangatang Mountains.
17:22Mr. Comstock,
17:23what about my friend
17:24Captain Sutter?
17:26Poor man.
17:27It's a pity
17:27what's happened to him.
17:29You wouldn't recognize
17:30him anymore.
17:33How bad is he,
17:35Mr. Comstock?
17:37Not just one more.
17:38Just a small one.
17:41Later.
17:42In fact, I think
17:43we've all had enough
17:44to eat for now.
17:46Hobsang?
17:47Yes, Mr. Cardlight?
17:49Do you like a dinner?
17:50Yes, dinner was very good,
17:51Hobsang, very good.
17:51Very good, Hobsang,
17:52and I do thank you.
17:54Very good.
17:54We'll have a coffee.
17:55Yes, Mr. Cardlight?
17:58Mr. Comstock?
17:59Brandy?
18:00I don't mind if I do.
18:01Thank you, sir.
18:02You're very kind.
18:04Nice little place
18:04you got here.
18:05Reminds me of the time
18:06I was the guest
18:07to Queen Victoria
18:07at Buckingham Palace.
18:10I'll write on down
18:10to the sawmill, Paul.
18:11Have them bring
18:11those trees in
18:12we cut down.
18:12Fine, Adam, fine.
18:13Oh, Adam,
18:16do you need any help?
18:19Come to think of it,
18:20we are a little
18:20short-handed.
18:22How would you like
18:23to work for us,
18:23Mr. Comstock?
18:24We pay good money,
18:25dollar American a day.
18:27Work?
18:28What kind of work is that?
18:30Oh.
18:30Hauling, cutting timber.
18:31Good, healthy outdoor work
18:33from sunup to sundown.
18:34Sunup?
18:35Oh, I'm afraid
18:36that's not the kind
18:37of work I do.
18:38Just what kind of work
18:39do you do,
18:40Mr. Comstock?
18:41I'd be real anxious to know.
18:42Yeah, well,
18:43I'm a merchant.
18:45Yes, that's what I am,
18:46a merchant.
18:46Oh, a merchant.
18:47Yeah.
18:48Sometimes I buy,
18:49sometimes I sell.
18:50It all depends
18:50on their state of business,
18:51among other things.
18:54Very good health, sir.
18:57Among other things,
18:58Mr. Comstock,
19:00you ever indulge
19:01in something called
19:03panning for gold?
19:05You mean you folks
19:06don't count on the folks
19:07who pan for gold?
19:09I told you I planted
19:11the first field of grain
19:11with John Sutter
19:12in the valley
19:13of Sacramento.
19:14Together we planted
19:15those hillsides
19:16with vines,
19:17with fruit-bearing trees.
19:19You know what they did
19:20to that land,
19:21those locusts,
19:22those ravagers
19:23who answered the cry
19:24of gold in California?
19:25They tore out those vines.
19:27They chopped down
19:28those trees.
19:29They trampled that wheat.
19:33Is it any wonder
19:34that John Sutter
19:35sits on his porch now,
19:36staring into the sun
19:37by the hour,
19:39recognizing no one,
19:40seeing nothing?
19:43You know about him,
19:44don't you?
19:44I know all about him.
19:47And that's why
19:48I came to the Ponderosa,
19:49my sons and I.
19:52That's why I made my vow
19:54that never
19:55would these thousand
19:57square miles
19:57of God-made country
19:59be delivered
20:00into the hands
20:01of those spoilers,
20:03those destroyers.
20:06Mr. Comstock,
20:09if I so much
20:10as see a man
20:11digging for gold
20:13anywhere
20:14on my land,
20:16I'll shoot him
20:17at sight.
20:19Gold?
20:20Gold?
20:20You don't mean
20:21there's gold up here
20:22in western Utah,
20:23do you?
20:24Well, that's what we
20:25keep telling those
20:25fellers over at
20:26Warshaw Diggins,
20:27Mr. Comstock,
20:28that they're just
20:28wasting their time.
20:29Ain't enough gold
20:30over there to fool with.
20:31Now, you think
20:32they'd listen to us?
20:33I don't know
20:33if there is
20:33about a gold miner.
20:34I think there must
20:34be three-fourths
20:35low-cone
20:36and the other
20:36fourth stupid.
20:37You said they
20:37found gold?
20:39What I said was
20:40that they didn't
20:40hardly find enough
20:41to fool with.
20:42Yeah, they pan
20:43all day,
20:43come up with
20:43just about enough
20:44by themselves,
20:44a bottle of whiskey.
20:45Now, if you were
20:46a whiskey merchant,
20:47Mr. Comstock,
20:48you should do
20:48rather well
20:48down at Warshaw.
20:50Warshaw.
20:50That's the name
20:51of the place, huh?
20:52Warshaw.
20:52That's what they call it.
20:53Twenty miles due
20:54east of the Ponderosa.
20:56Where are you going,
20:57Mr. Comstock?
20:58Then it was fine,
20:59gentlemen.
21:00I hate to rush,
21:00but duty calls.
21:02Duty?
21:03What kind of duty?
21:04Those miners
21:04at Warshaw.
21:05They're just waiting
21:06to buy and sell.
21:08Farewell, gentlemen.
21:13The fool.
21:14The gold-crazed fool.
21:17More.
21:19Maybe I'll
21:19follow him.
21:20Those fellows
21:21from California
21:21might still be after
21:22and be trying to kill him.
21:23Probably for good cause,
21:25Hoss.
21:26Now, I thought you worried
21:27about four-legged animals.
21:28Well, I reckon he's
21:29sort of like a four-legged
21:30animal himself.
21:31You might say
21:32like a jackass.
21:33Hey, can I go too, Pa?
21:35Every Saturday night
21:36there's a dance
21:36on a Dutch piece
21:37at the diggings.
21:38A dance?
21:39What, do they have
21:39any women to dance with?
21:41They got two or three.
21:42They're pretty big.
21:43So some gals
21:43that do the miner's washing.
21:44You ought to see them, Pa.
21:45They're big and raw-boned
21:46as Texas steers,
21:47but they can dance.
21:49Western Utah's growing up.
21:52All right, Hoss,
21:53you go after
21:54our friend the fool
21:55and little Joe
21:57and you go
21:57off the Dutch beats
21:58to your dance.
21:59Adam, what about you?
22:00What do you want?
22:00Hey, come on with us, Adam.
22:01No, I don't want anything, Pa.
22:02I've got work to do.
22:03But little Joe,
22:04I might just drop by
22:05and take a look
22:06at one of those
22:06big raw-boned women.
22:08Hey, why don't you do that, Adam?
22:09As a matter of fact,
22:10I'll save one for you.
22:11The biggest and rawest
22:12of the bunch.
22:13Yes, I bet you will.
22:19Boy, I sure would like
22:20to surprise him
22:21with a pretty little gal.
22:22There ain't no pretty gal
22:23who's in a hundred miles
22:23here, little Joe.
22:25Hey, what,
22:25I'm just thinking
22:26about one.
22:27Just one.
22:32Oh, you sure his ma
22:34wasn't part, Jack Rattick?
22:36Hoss,
22:38his ma was
22:39all woman.
22:42So was Adam's.
22:45So was yours.
22:47They left me sons, boy.
22:50They left me sons.
23:18Rich man, poor man,
23:19beggar man, thief.
23:21Which one do you think
23:22he is, Hoss?
23:23I reckon he's most likely
23:24been nearly all of them
23:25at one time
23:25or another, little Joe.
23:26Still think those fellas
23:27from California
23:28might be after him?
23:29I don't know.
23:31If they are,
23:32he's going to need
23:32some mighty fast help.
23:34Yeah, maybe so.
23:35And I got a real strange
23:36feeling that old crowbate
23:37can take care of just
23:38about anything
23:39that comes along.
23:48Oh.
23:50Good morning.
23:57Eat hearty.
24:00I guess the good lord
24:01watches over fools
24:02and little children.
24:04Well, just in case
24:04the good lord
24:05forgets for a minute,
24:06I think I better
24:06trail along after
24:07and keep an eye
24:08of you for trouble.
24:10I'll see you
24:10at the diggings tonight.
24:11You be sure and save me
24:12some of that tarantula juice,
24:13you hear?
24:14When I get to the diggings,
24:15I ain't going to have time
24:15for any tarantula juice.
24:16You stay out of that
24:17Paiute country.
24:18Remember what Paul said
24:19about stirring them up?
24:20Horace?
24:21What the heck would I want
24:22with any old Paiute?
24:23Oh.
24:26Oh.
24:38Oh.
26:40Sorry, Mr. Comstock. Did you hurt yourself?
26:42Nothing up with my boy. Nothing at all.
26:44We Comstocks are made of steel.
26:48Yes, I can remember my grandpappy at the ripe age of 93.
26:51Showed iron bars and spitting out nails.
26:54Yeah, I reckon you're all right at that.
26:56Well, the way you fell back there, I can swear you broke something.
26:59Son, you're looking at a man who did break something.
27:02He's linked with a past.
27:07How long has all this been going on?
27:10Well, a feller's been fooling around these mountains for years.
27:13Digging up one side and then down the other.
27:16Fighting that blue stuff over there, they call it.
27:18Blue stuff?
27:19Never heard of it.
27:19What's that?
27:21Well, I don't reckon anybody rightly knows.
27:23Except when it gums up something fierce.
27:24Makes it hard to get at the gold.
27:26Gold.
27:27Yeah, the gold.
27:30I like the sound of that word, son.
27:32It's like music to my ears.
27:34Yes, sir.
27:37From now on, I intend to confine all my valuable time to the Comstock load.
27:41The Comstock load?
27:43What's that?
27:45Everything that meets the eye, son.
27:48Everything that meets the eye.
27:50You just got here.
27:51How can you even think about naming all this after yourself when you only just got here?
27:54Son, I just got to show you how wrong a man can be.
27:58Because I got the feeling that I've been here practically all of my life.
28:03Greetings, gentlemen.
28:05Henry T.P. Comstock brings a greetings and salutation.
28:09Did you gentlemen file a legal claim for this particular piece of land?
28:13Legal claim?
28:14Now, what kind of a question is that?
28:15That's simple enough question, friend.
28:17You didn't file a claim, you're trespassing on my property.
28:21I'm requesting you to move on.
28:22Oh, Mr. Comstock, you can't do a thing like that.
28:25You only just got here.
28:26Son, the law's the law.
28:28The law says if a man don't file a claim, he ain't got any more right than a tinker.
28:32Now, you wait a minute.
28:33You just wait a minute.
28:35We filed a claim more than a month ago.
28:37Up at Dutch Pete's we did it.
28:39Dutch Pete's?
28:41Sounds like a purveyor of the old evil eye.
28:44Now, if you'd file this claim to a legal-like courthouse...
28:46Dutch Pete's legal-like courthouse is good enough for us, mister.
28:50And give me back that pan.
29:15Is this a private conversation, friend, or could you use a little company?
29:18Well, where'd you come from?
29:20I'll ask the questions, friend.
29:23How big of a claim you got here?
29:25Clear to the head of the mountain.
29:27And all of it ain't worth it.
29:29Don't say it.
29:30Think it, but don't say it.
29:33Quite a good-sized claim.
29:35How much gold?
29:36Gold?
29:37Say gold?
29:37I'll tell you, mister, there ain't nothing around here but this dang blue stuff.
29:42Gold.
29:44How'd you like to have yourself a partner?
29:47Partner?
29:48In what?
29:49Your claim, friend.
29:51Clear to the top of the mountain.
29:54If anyone will do, I'll give you...
29:55I'll give you $20...
29:59$17 American.
30:02$17?
30:03What did I tell you, mister?
30:05All this dang blue stuff ain't worth a nickel.
30:07$17, my good man.
30:08It's my final offer.
30:11I'll take it, mister.
30:12Mister?
30:13Huh?
30:13You just bought yourself half of this claim.
30:16$17, you know?
30:18Wait till I tell this little boy to start speech tonight.
30:21Pardon?
30:23There's something else you're going to do at Dutch Feats tonight, too.
30:25Now, it's properly arranged time.
30:28I want you to break...
30:29You follow me, friend?
30:30I'm both...
30:34Oh, no!
30:34I'm sorry!
30:36Come on, I'm out there!
30:37Come on, I'm out there!
30:59You brave man, you ride into Paiute Village alone.
31:04Chief Wintermark, I believe you know my father, Ben Cartwright.
31:07I know, Father.
31:09I think you know me, too, and my brothers, Horse and Adam.
31:11Matter of fact, Chief, didn't you trade Pai this pin-o-pony for a buffalo gun?
31:16You're from high up on mountain. Why you come here?
31:19Well, I brought you a little present, Chief.
31:21Pretty nice color, wouldn't you say?
31:23You bring this for me?
31:26Well, not exactly. It's for your daughter.
31:29When you see Saratucci?
31:30It was just a little while back, down at the river. She's taking a bath.
31:33Now, hold it, Chief. She's more than a mile away. Just one of many women.
31:38A knife.
31:46Are the women here much big? Plenty fat?
31:52Well, I wouldn't know, Chief. I didn't look at the other women.
31:55And what about this material?
31:57Got it from a peddler across the mountains from Sacramento.
32:00Said it was genuine silk.
32:04Not very strong. Not much good.
32:06Yeah, well, Chief, it's for a dress, not a horse blanket.
32:10Saratucci!
32:32You look like a real princess, ma'am.
32:35What do you think, Chief?
32:44Sure fine-tasting meat, Chief. What is it?
32:47Rattlesnook.
32:54It's real, very good.
32:57We have a lot. You eat more.
32:59Well, no thanks, Chief. I'm not a very big eater.
33:05How about you showing me that Appaloosie horse you were trying to sell me?
33:11I bring a horse.
33:13You eat more.
33:14Very good.
33:16Sure, Chief.
33:19I believe no thank you, ma'am. I'm not a very big eater.
33:23Hey, uh...
33:25You know how to make this into a dress?
33:28Into a dress?
33:30Here, look.
33:36See?
33:37You know, see what I mean here?
33:42Now, uh...
33:43Yeah, well, look. Now, it doesn't look too good on me.
33:45Look.
33:45You try it.
33:47Sort of, uh...
33:48Hey, you do it.
33:49That's it.
33:52That's...
33:53Yeah.
33:54Yeah.
33:56Are you getting the idea, Princess?
33:58Yeah, that looks nice.
34:00Hey, now, listen.
34:01There's a...
34:01There's a dance down at the Warshaw Diggins.
34:04A dance?
34:06You don't know dance.
34:08Look.
34:09A dance.
34:10Dance.
34:12Dance.
34:12Dance.
34:13Yeah, you know?
34:14You like to dance?
34:15Yeah, well, good. So do I.
34:16Now, listen.
34:17Don't tell Chiefie.
34:18All right?
34:19Good, because he'd scout me if he knew what I had in mind.
34:22Now, you meet me where the river meets the meadow.
34:25Just beyond the waterfall.
34:29Then, Princess, you and I are going to have ourselves a dance.
34:37Ah.
34:40Chief, that's what I call a horse.
35:08The End
35:26That's what I call a real hunk of woman.
35:30Hey, I'm too wrong with the party.
35:34Pinkeeper, bring me one of those.
35:37Never mind.
35:51Young fella, I come from Virginia, which, as you can know down here, is a pretty well-known fact hereabouts.
35:58You drunken coach, you don't even know where Virginia is.
36:03The old dominion, sir, the fairest of all the 35 states, land where I was born, sir.
36:10They're born and bred.
36:11And been soaking up to your teeth in corn liquor ever since.
36:15I know you're from Virginia.
36:17The old dominion, sir, the fairest...
36:19You wouldn't say that, friend.
36:21You ever seen the sunset on Lake Tomahawka?
36:23Oh, that's the prettiest...
36:24Where'd you get the girl, son?
36:25Hey, she's a real looker.
36:27Oh, Princess Sarah.
36:28Gentlemen.
36:31Gentlemen and ladies.
36:34I'd like to present to you the Princess Sarah Tucci.
36:37Princess Sarah for short.
36:38Daughter of Chief Winnemucca of our friendly neighbors, the Paiutes.
36:43Sir?
36:46Do I understand you to mean you were reckless enough to take this Paiute gal away from her
36:51kinfolk and bring her here?
36:54Excuse me.
36:55I just remembered I ordered a drink.
36:59Paiutes are so young, fool.
37:01Innkeeper, give me a...
37:03No.
37:04Oh, never mind.
37:09Remember what Paul said about him stirring up them Paiutes?
37:12Little brother, what you mean about stirring up the Paiutes, and what I mean about stirring
37:18up the Paiutes, is two entirely different stirring ups.
37:23Princess, may I have the next dance?
37:26Pardon me, ma'am.
37:31Hi, everybody.
37:33Grab your partner.
37:34We're going to do the Virginia Reel.
37:47Now forward again, left, home.
37:49We'll swing all the way back and play it again.
37:55Forward.
37:56Pardon me, little Brando.
37:58Doe.
37:59Doe, she, doe.
38:02See what I mean, little doe?
38:03Oh, Pat, why can't you use a skunk?
38:10Hey, Comstock's right.
38:11See the looker, boy.
38:14Because I prefer them wider in the shoulder, and brighter in the beam.
38:24Comstock, you like your dance?
38:25Dance?
38:26Yeah.
38:27Oh, dance, yeah.
38:28I'll tell you, hoss, I hurt my leg in the war of Lake Montefago.
38:30Well, how about one with me?
38:32Oh, with you?
38:33Oh, that's different.
38:34Excuse us.
38:39Yeah, let it go, hoss.
38:51Son, I'll trade you, Jenny, here, and throw in five ounces of gold dust.
38:56Anytime you want to switch partners.
39:13Princess, you sure are beautiful.
39:15No, you really aren't.
39:17I don't know if this is ever happening before, man, but you're so darn pretty.
39:38You take Saratucci away.
39:41Well, I didn't exactly take her away, Chief.
39:43I just asked her to go to a dance with me.
39:47What do you do?
39:48You call this dance?
39:51I guess I did get a little carried away, Chief, but she's a mighty pretty girl.
39:56She's a Paiute girl.
39:57She married him.
39:58Lean knife.
40:03Ah, congratulations, friend.
40:04Haven't been to a wedding for a long time.
40:07You know, I had an uncle once, Uncle Jonah.
40:09Not the one that got himself swallowed by the whale.
40:11No, sir, he's a different fellow entirely.
40:13He's my mother's brother.
40:14One that never did a day's lick of work in his life.
40:16Did manage to get himself married, though.
40:18Seven different times.
40:21Mr. Comstock.
40:22Yeah?
40:23I think you've done enough talking for one night.
40:25Well, I ain't had a chance to kiss the bride yet.
40:39My son, seek no trouble with the Paiutes, Chief Whitamaka.
40:44That one is young.
40:47Foolish.
40:48He will be punished if he's done anything wrong.
40:50But he will be punished by me, not by anyone else.
40:58He is your son?
41:01Yes, Chief.
41:03And she is your daughter.
41:08Take her home.
41:22You know, the thing I like about you younger brothers,
41:24you don't care how big a mess you get yourself into
41:26as long as someone else gets you out of it.
41:28Yeah, but you know something, older brother?
41:30I just knew you'd be here in time.
41:32Just in time to march you back home.
41:34I'll get there.
41:35Now, wait a minute, Paul.
41:36We can't go yet.
41:37Adam here ain't even had a match.
41:38Now, where'd that old big fat gal go to?
41:42Why, you horse-faced, spindle-legged old sidewinder,
41:45I said I was the one buying the lady a drink.
41:48But someone want a bath, friend?
41:50I'll race to have you talk at me.
41:52Innkeeper, pour this young lady's shot.
41:55Don't you touch that, ma'am.
41:57That's tough for poisoning you.
41:58Bartender, pour the little lady a drink of your best whiskey,
42:01the kind that we drink down at Virginia.
42:02My dear young lady,
42:04I've traveled to four corners of the earth,
42:06sailed to seven seas.
42:06I'm here to tell you the swill they drink in Virginia
42:08will run a skunk's gut.
42:16Ma'am, what I like about you,
42:18you sure drink whiskey like a lady.
42:20Hey, Adam,
42:21I know she's a little bit on the heavy side,
42:22but every bit of her show can dance.
42:24Fiddler, this is Saturday night.
42:25Let's have a little tea.
42:55Let's have a little tea.
42:57I'm rich, boys, I'm rich. You know what that means? I'm rich, I'm rich.
43:03I'm rich, boys, I'm rich.
43:07Courage in, Pike.
43:09That's a whole legend. A ledge 50 foot wide, a solid ladder goal.
43:13Major Bonanza!
43:14Where, Pike? Where? Where?
43:16Pike! We are friends and we tell you where it is.
43:20Up six mile canyon, head of the mountain near Dane.
43:22Let's go!
43:27I'm rich, boys, I'm rich. I'm rich. You know what that means, boys? I'm rich.
43:37Listen to me, man. Listen to me. Thank you. Thank you.
43:40Well, hurry up. What's on your mind?
43:42Just this. I hate to break your hearts, but all that gold out there, all that big strike, that's all
43:48on my land.
43:50Every bit of it's on my land.
43:51Your land? When did you stake a claim to it?
43:55This afternoon, friend. That's my partner there, Mr. Pike. We're going to call it the Comstock Loan.
44:01Is that true, Pike? Can you sell this old horse, see part of your claim?
44:05Now, wait a minute, wait a minute. Show you what kind of a guy Henry T.P. Comstock is.
44:09I'm going to cut each and every one of you in on a fabulous Comstock Loan for $100 apiece American.
44:15Cash on the barrelhead!
44:24It's all right, friend. It's all right.
44:26But it's gold. I really found gold.
44:28Here, friend. We'll talk about it later.
44:29It's gold, can't you see? It's gold!
44:36It's gold. It's gold. It's really gold.
44:39It's the richest I've ever seen in here. I've just given it away.
44:43I didn't know. I didn't know.
44:50Let's go, Pike! Let's go!
44:57Let's go, Pike! Let's go, Pike!
45:04Anybody want his money back?
45:06I'll give anyone double the money. Just say the word.
45:08You want it all for yourself, you old money grabber.
45:11No, we want to be rich, too. Now, you hear?
45:13Now, you get out of the way.
45:14Only then I'll show you where the richest pot is.
45:18Don't forget the best friend of partner you ever had.
45:21Let me pack weight for you.
45:22Yeah, let me wait for all the ginny.
45:36Just so it won't be a total loss,
45:40I hereby baptize this place.
45:44Virginia!
45:47That's not the way to do it, boys.
45:48Oh, shut up, you.
45:49Oh, no, this is going to be a great place someday.
45:52Fortunes will be made here.
45:54All make fortunes so great, we're going to need help counting our money.
45:59So don't have a fitting name.
46:01Shouldn't just call it Virginia.
46:02We ought to call it, uh...
46:05Virginia City!
46:13Hey, look who just showed up.
46:16Did you hear them?
46:17They found gold.
46:18Yeah, I hear them.
46:19Those are the guys after Mr. Comstock.
46:21They're not even thinking of Henry Comstock now.
46:24They're thinking of only one thing.
46:26Gold.
46:56Well, there it is, boys.
46:58What gold will do to men.
47:01You don't even feel like going with them.
47:03So do I, little Joe.
47:04It's funny what gold will do to a man, ain't it?
47:07So what it did to John Sutter's dream in the Valley of Sacramento.
47:22Well, there you have it.
47:24The story of Henry T.P. Comstock.
47:28He sure fooled everybody here, didn't he?
47:32Yeah, he did.
47:34But I guess, most of all, he fooled himself.
47:38That clay we jumped.
47:39You know, they've taken millions of dollars worth of pure silver out of there.
47:43And would you believe it?
47:45Old Henry sold that claim for, what?
47:48Eleven thousand dollars.
47:53Hearing that, I don't feel so bad about that worthless piece of paper there.
47:58Worthless?
48:00Well, I, uh...
48:02I wouldn't say it's exactly worthless.
48:06You paid, uh, twenty-five dollars hard money for it.
48:10What do you say, boys?
48:11Don't you think it'd be worth twenty-five dollars to have a memento of our dear departed friend?
48:20You know, I'll bet that old crow bait's still jumping claims.
48:26Here you are, old-timer.
48:27Twenty-five dollars and a little more.
48:29Well, thank you kindly.
48:31Let's go, boys.
48:32Take it easy, old-timer.
48:34We'll see you, old-timer.
48:36Yeah.
49:00We'll see you, old-timer.
49:39We'll see you, old-timer.
Comments