Lucky Texan, The (1934)

[bunniefuu]

[THEME MUSIC]

-Morning, stranger.

-Hi, old timer.

Guess you don't remember me.

-Can't say as I do.

Yet there's something

mighty familiar about you.

-Well, Jake, I guess it's a

long time since you taught me

how to trap coyotes

and ride rocks.

-Jerry Mason, as I live.

Well, well.

Man, how you've grown.

Why say, you're a regular

mountain, ain't you?

Heh.

Sit down here, and

let's talk it over.

-Well, there's not

much to tell, Jake.

I finished college, and--

-True to your

dad's last request,

you've come to

live with me, huh?

Huh?

-That's right.

-I can't tell you how

happy I am to see you.

-And I'm happy to

be here, too, Jake.

How about the ranch, the cattle?

-There ain't no cattle, son.

Rustlers got most of 'em,

and I sold what was left.

-Well, can't we

stock it up again

or start in some other business?

-Itching to get to work, huh?

Well, I was figuring on

opening up the blacksmith shop,

but-- what do you say

we fry us a chicken

and gargle some coffee?

What do you say, huh?

-Sounds like a good idea,

especially that chicken.

[LAUGHTER]

JERRY MASON: Well, no wonder

this horse was limping.

COWBOY: Well, got him fixed up?

-Yep.

Your horse picked

up a sharp rock.

No, no.

There ain't no charge.

Looks like you've been

through plenty of water.

-Oh, yeah.

Tried a shortcut about 12 miles

back yonder and got stuck.

-Oh.

-Had to come right down through

the middle of the creek.

-Hmm.

-And that's where he went lame.

-Well, good luck to you.

-Come on, Bruno.

-Hey, I just picked this

up at the post office.

-I'll bet I know who it's from.

Heh, I was right.

Heh, heh.

It's from Betty. [CHUCKLES]

Well, I was right.

It's from Betty.

-Betty?

-Yeah, my granddaughter.

Didn't you know I

had a granddaughter.

-I certainly did not.

-Yes sirree.

I'm her only living relative.

I've been sending her college

for a couple of years.

But she'll soon be

here to live with me.

Let's she what she's got to say.

Dear Grandy, I just

received my monthly check,

and thank you so much.

I can't wait until

school is over

so I can come and live with you.

Gee, just three months more, and

I'll be keeping house for you.

Please write me a

nice, long letter.

I do so enjoy hearing from you.

Lovingly, Betty.

Heh.

She's a fine girl, Jerry.

And I'm going to do everything

I can to make her happy.

Well, hello Friday. [CHUCKLES]

-Hello.

-She's the town dog.

Everybody feeds her.

[CHUCKLES]

-Ah, so you want to play, eh?

Say, Jake.

-Huh?

-Take a look.

That's that piece of quartz that

came out of the horse's hoof.

It's gold.

-Say, there's a

stringer in there

bigger than a 10-penny nail.

-If we only knew

where it came from.

-I do know.

That prospector said

he was forced down

the middle of a

creek 12 miles out.

Well, there's only one

creek out there, Jerry,

and it'll be a cinch

to backtrack it.

-Well, we're on our way right

now, and if we find anything,

I know a dog that's

going to have

a porterhouse steak

and a home for life.

-You said it.

-Right there's where

he left the crick.

Wait a minute.

Look at that.

-Say, that's the

real stuff, son.

According to this pan,

the crick's full of color.

-Hello.

Hello, Benson.

What can I do for you?

-In the first place,

you fellows buy gold?

-Certainly.

That's part of our business.

-Well, weigh this up, and

let's see what we got.

-Say, that's the pure stuff.

It's good as I've ever seen.

They've made a great

strike somewhere.

Let's see.

At $16 an ounce,

that'll come to $848.

-OK, we'll take

that in currency,

if it's just the same to you.

-OK.

All right, Joe.

-Now, listen.

We expect to bring in

many times that amount.

We think we've got rich strike.

But we don't want anybody

to know anything about it.

-But you'll tell us, won't you?

-We're not telling

anybody, Harris.

But when we do get ready to

let the location be known,

you'll be the first

ones in on it.

-Thanks.

-Come on, Jake.

We got to go buy a dog

a porterhouse steak.

-They've made a rich strike,

and it's up to us to locate it.

I wouldn't mind having old

man Benson's ranch either.

He used to run cattle.

Huh.

Of course, he doesn't know

it, but I got most of them.

-You know, Jake,

it's a good thing

we didn't file on that claim.

It'd have just tipped the

whole town off to the location

and confined our operation.

As it is, we can

work the whole crick.

-Yeah.

Your idea of

crossing Windy Flats

and entering the town

from the other side

sure had them puzzled.

Heh.

-It sure has.

They've been back-trailing

us now for two months,

and they always get

stuck at Windy Flats.

They think this mine's out

in the middle of the desert.

-Why don't we take

a little rest, son.

Just a few more days,

and Betty will be coming.

-Well, don't you think we better

be getting back and getting

some of this dirt

out of our hide?

-Yeah, I reckon you're right.

You know, you want to sure

look your best. [CHUCKLES]

-Hiya, Pete.

Well, well.

-Hello, Hank.

How's your old woman?

[CROWD CHATTER]

-She's all washed up, boys.

No pay dirt this time.

[DISAPPOINTED CHATTER]

-Hey, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

I tell you, we didn't

get a bit of color.

-What?

All the way there,

and you're coming

home claiming not

a bit of color?

What, are you crazy?

-Hold on now.

Wait a minute.

Tell you what I'll do.

I give you every nugget

you find in the pack.

[EXCITED CHATTER]

Yeah, go on ahead and search it.

-Here comes old Benson now,

and Mason isn't with him.

-Good.

Are the papers all ready?

-Everything.

-Hello, Jake.

-Hi.

-Afternoon.

-Well, what luck this time?

Not too bad.

Heh, not so bad.

[CROWD CHATTER]

-Let's see, at $16 an

ounce, that's $2,335.

How you having it?

In coin or bills?

-Well, bills is

easiest to carry.

-All right, Joe.

Sit down, Jake.

I've got to have your

signature this time, Jake.

The government demands

that I get a receipt

for all monies paid

out for all gold.

-Sure.

-Uh, Joe, stamp the

date on that, will you?

-There you are.

-And here's your money.

-Thanks.

Give me my canteen, will you?

I'll be seeing you

fellows again mighty soon.

-Goodbye.

Well, we got the

deed to the ranch,

and when he

eventually disappears,

we'll have this recorded.

Let's see what we

made on the nuggets.

-Well, how did we get this time?

-$2,335.

-Woo.

-I'm g hold our $500 of that,

pay on this blacksmith shop

tomorrow.

You know, Jerry,

I got an idea this

is going to be a

valuable corner someday.

And we ain't gonna let go of it.

-I think it's a good

investment, Jake.

-Hello, dad.

Say, you got a couple

of bucks you can spare?

-Gambling again, eh?

-Well, that's about all there

is to do around this town.

Gee, I wish I had a job.

-So do I. And remember, you

can't keep this up forever.

There's an end to everything.

-Hey, Al.

Come here a minute.

If you don't kick through

that dough you owe me,

I'm telling the town everything.

That'll just about throw

your old man out of office.

-Where am I going to get it?

-That's not up to me.

I don't care where you get it

or how you get it, but get it.

-Mr. Williams in?

-Yes, Jake.

You'll find him in his office.

-Come in.

-Hi, Mr. Williams.

-Hi, Jake.

I'm glad to see you.

-I want to pay off my debt

on the blacksmith shop.

-Well, that's fine.

Sit down.

I'll give you a

receipt for your money.

We'll put it into escrow.

You'll get your

deed in a few days.

-All right, Mr. Williams.

-How's the claim coming?

-Oh, still coughing

up a few color.

We won't be working it again

'till next spring, though.

-Howdy, sir.

-Hello, Higgins.

[CRASH]

-You better send for

the doctor, sheriff.

It's too late.

You've k*lled him, Jake.

-I k*lled him?

-You're not trying

to deny it, are you?

Didn't I hear you fighting?

BANK CLERK: You were the

only one in here, Mr. Benson.

-Somebody must have come

in through the back door.

That's the only way it

could have happened.

-Well, don't worry, old timer.

I'll have you out

of here in no time.

-This is Mr. Benson's

ranch, isn't it?

-Why, yes.

Are you Betty?

-And you're Jerry Mason.

-Well, why didn't you let us

know you were coming today?

-Well, I wanted to

surprise Grandy.

Why, where is he?

-Oh, uh-- well, uh-- you see,

when he gets out in the hills

prospecting, why, uh,

well it's pretty hard

to tell when he is coming back.

Won't you come in?

-Oh, gee, you don't know

how glad I am to be here.

[GIGGLE] But I just

can't wait to see Grandy.

-Well, I'm gonna ride out and

see if I can't locate him.

-Oh, I hope you find him.

-Now, just make yourself

comfortable, Miss Betty.

-Well, thank you.

And-- and I'll have dinner ready

for you when you come back.

-Well, that'll be great.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

-Well, got any news, Jerry?

-Nope.

I'm just going to give

this bank a once over.

-Well, uh, this may

not mean anything,

but, uh, Al, the

Sheriff's son has

been flashing a roll of bills.

Now, I know he hasn't

done anything to earn it.

He just paid me for

a horse I sold him.

Hmph.

-Did Al Miller give

you this money?

-He sure did.

-Where'd you get

that money, Miller?

-Well, I don't think that's

any of your business.

-Well, I'm making it my

business because that's

part of the money Jake

Benson paid the banker.

Now just where did you get it?

-As I told you before,

it's none of your business.

-Oof.

[AGITATED CROWD CHATTER]

-Oof.

[CROWD SHOUTS AND JEERS]

-Miller, tell these boys

where you got that money.

-None of your business.

-Oh, no?

-(STRAINED) I did it.

Ah, I did it.

Let me go.

-You hear that, boys?

-Yeah.

[SHOUTS OF APPROVAL]

-Stand up.

What do [INAUDIBLE], boy?

-[INAUDIBLE].

TOWNSPERSON:

[INAUDIBLE] get away!

-There he goes!

Hey!

[SHOUTS]

[SHOUTS OF CONCERN]

[CONCERNED CHATTER]

-Jerry'll get him.

He's [INAUDIBLE].

-He's got the best

horse of the two.

-I tell you, Sheriff,

Jake is innocent.

[CHEERS OF SUPPORT]

-Wait a minute then.

If what you say is true and my

boy is guilty of this crime,

I'll see that he gets the

full penalty of the law.

-Say, here comes Mason now.

-Yeah, there he comes.

-Halton Miller, I arrest you for

attempted m*rder and robbery.

And I'm going to do

my duty in helping

to exact the full

penalty for your crimes.

-I'm sorry, sheriff, that

it had to be your son.

[CROWD CHATTER]

-I'm sorry, Benson.

-That's all right.

I know just how you feel.

-Here's the rest of the

bank's money, Sheriff.

[CHEERS]

-[INAUDIBLE].

Glad I'm out.

Heh.

Never keep me caged up

in one of them things.

[CHEERS]

TOWNSPERSON: We knew

you wasn't guilty, Jake.

-It's a mighty good

thing you're out,

because guess who's

home waiting for you.

-Betty?

Well jumping Jehoshaphat.

-And maybe you think

I wasn't worried.

BETTY: Grandy.

-Betty.

Well, well, well, well.

Heh heh heh.

-Never going to see you.

-Thought so myself for a while,

but thanks to Jerry, here I am.

-I have dinner

all ready for you.

-Yeah, and I'm sure ready

for dinner. [CHUCKLES]

Crikey, that's the best

dinner I've had in years.

-And that goes for me, too.

-Well, I can see it

isn't going to be

very hard to please you two.

-Well, son, we won't

be working the mine

again 'till next spring.

You know we can't afford

to miss meals like this.

I think I'll go out tomorrow

and hide the sluice box.

In fact, I'll stake out

three claims along the crick,

and you can file on them.

After all, you know,

better be on the safe side.

-And while you're gone, I'll

take Betty around the ranch

and who her the town

and our blacksmith shop.

-Yeah.

And you can figure on me

being here for dinner.

BETTY: All right, Grandy.

[CHUCKLES]

-This town is located

about 6 miles up--

JAKE BENSON: --a few minutes?

-Pardon me a moment, Betty.

-[INAUDIBLE].

-You know they're taking young

Miller over to Cedar City?

-Is that so?

-Yeah, and I thought you

might like to know that Banker

William is going

to pull through OK.

-Well, that is good news.

-Is Jake Benson around?

-Why, no.

He went to his

claim this morning.

But he'll be back

this afternoon.

-Oh, thanks.

Benson's out at

his claim, and he

won't be back 'till

late this afternoon.

This is just what

we've been waiting for.

-Friday, there's some

nuggets that Jerry

don't know nothing about.

Ha.

Won't he and Betty be

surprised when they hear that.

[CHUCKLES]

Come on, Friday.

-Guess we got here just in time.

[DOG BARKS]

-Drop your hands, Benson.

We've decided it's about

time you were tipping us

off to this gold field of yours.

-Oh, so that's your game, eh?

Well, Jerry and me

found that gold for you,

and we ain't tipping

it off to nobody.

[DOG BARKS]

[g*nshots]

-He's done for.

-Yeah.

There's a canteen on that pouch.

Come on.

We've got to catch that mule.

-Here's the canteen,

sure enough.

[SNORTS AND GUFFAWS]

[DOG BARKS]

-Get him, boss.

No use, Harris.

I can't get it.

-Well, come on.

We've got to get out of

here and get back to town.

We can't afford to be seen here.

Get your horse.

-Now listen, Friday, I

want you to go get Jerry.

You understand?

Go-- go get Jerry.

Go get him.

[CROWD CHATTER]

-I think he's hurt.

-Why, that's Grandy's

horse, isn't it?

-It sure is.

-Say, here comes his pack.

-Yeah?

TOWNSPERSON: Here it comes.

BETTY: [INAUDIBLE].

[CONCERNED CHATTER]

-What do you suppose

has happened?

-I don't know, but

I'm going to find out.

[CONCERNED MURMURING]

-What's all the

excitement about?

-Why, o Jake's horse

and his pack came in.

-Is that so?

-[INAUDIBLE].

-[INAUDIBLE]?

-Yeah. [INAUDIBLE].

He never did this before.

-Friday.

Friday, where's Jake?

[DOG BARKS]

-You better go

back home and wait

'till you hear from me, Betty.

-All right, Jerry.

-What's the matter, old timer?

Are you all right?

-Oh, I'm only a

little bit dizzy.

I'm getting better every minute.

They only nicked me.

-What are you talking about?

Who nicked you?

-I'll tell you all about

it on the way home.

Come on.

Remember now, son,

not a word to Betty.

-What happened, Grandy?

Oh, you're hurt.

-Oh, it ain't nothing at all.

Horse throwed me, and I

lit square on my head.

What I need's a good feed.

-Oh, well I'll run

right uptown and get

you something nice then.

-Well, don't tell anyone

that your granddad is here.

-All right.

-Hey, son.

Open up that trunk and get

out my makeup case, will ya?

-Makeup case?

-Yeah.

-This it?

-That's right.

This here will stop it bleeding.

-Well, what in the world's this?

-Oh, heh.

That's just a souvenir of

my old theatrical days.

-I didn't know you

were an actor, Jake.

-Yep.

I wore that when I played in a

show called "Charlie's Aunt."

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Well, what the heck is this?

-Son, that's the

thing that helped

make Anna Held and

Lillian Russell famous.

-Oh, I see-- up

here like this, eh?

-No.

[LAUGHS] You durn yearling.

You got it in the

wrong spot. [LAUGHS]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

-Hello, Mason.

Has Benson come in yet?

-Not yet.

If he doesn't get in by night,

I'm going looking for him.

I reckon his horse threw him.

-We just called to

find out when we

could take possession

of this ranch.

-Take possession?

I don't understand.

-Well, maybe Benson

didn't tell you,

but we bought this

ranch a few days ago.

-Well, that's strange.

Funny, he didn't tell me.

You got a bill of sale?

-Why, certainly.

It's at the office.

Well then I'll have

Jake drop in tomorrow,

and he can advise you

when he's getting out.

-Well, that'll be fine.

We're anxious to get started on

the improvements on the place.

-Hey, what are

they talking about?

I ain't sold no ranch.

-Have you signed any

papers lately, Jake?

-No, I don't think so.

Wait a minute.

Yes, I did.

I signed a receipt for the money

we got from them last nuggets.

-Well, did you

look at it closely?

-No.

-Well, that's it then.

You probably signed a bill

of sale for the ranch.

That's why they were

trying to get rid of you.

They figured they could

claim the ranch then,

and nobody could deny it.

-Well, that dirty,

low down pole cat.

But we'll get 'em.

You wait 'till my

headache's better tomorrow.

We'll give 'em the

surprise of their life.

Hey, but you gotta go

file on them claims.

Take that canteen of nuggets,

and leave it at the bank

this time.

Here's the location

of them three claims.

Now, there's one for

Betty, you, and one for me.

-All right.

You better lie down and

get some sleep, Jake.

-Don't you forget yourself.

Remember, I'm

supposed to be dead.

-Aw, I ain't forgetting.

-There's Mason.

-It's that old Jake's

canteen on the saddle?

-Let's go see.

-He must have taken it off

the burro before we got there.

-[INAUDIBLE] there, boys?

-Oh, hello.

Hello.

I--

-Uh, you see, Sheriff.

We recognize this canteen It

belongs to old Jake Benson.

Whenever Jake brought

in his nuggets

to us, unknown to

anyone else, he

brought them in this canteen.

And we thought it

was kind of funny

that old Jake's disappeared

and Mason should have this.

-Well, where is Mason?

-He went in the courthouse.

-Pete, go in there and

see what Mason's doing.

I reckon he can explain this.

-He'd better be able to.

[HUMMING]

-He filing on a

mining claim, Sheriff.

-Huh.

Probably old Jake's claim.

-Well, we'll just wait

'till he gets here.

-Howdy, boys.

What's all the pow-wow about?

-Just how did you come to

have this canteen of nuggets.

-I don't care to answer

that question, Harris.

-Who's claim were you

just filing on, Mason?

-My own claim.

-Do you know anything about

Jake Benson's disappearance?

-Yes, I know he

hasn't come back.

-I'm sorry, Mason,

but I'll have to hold

you until we can locate Jake.

-That's fair enough.

When do I get my

preliminary hearing?

-First thing tomorrow morning.

-You better take charge

of those nuggets, Sheriff.

[CROWD MUTTERS]

-What are they going

to do to Mason?

-They think he k*lled old Jake.

-They do?

-What's happened?

What's wrong?

-Mason's up for m*rder.

-m*rder?

-Yes.

-Sheriff, may I please have

a moment with Mr. Mason?

-Well, yes.

I guess so.

Go ahead.

-Thank you.

Oh, Jerry.

-Now listen, Betty.

They think I've

m*rder*d your granddad.

Now don't say

anything to anyone,

but hurry home and

tell Jake that I have

a preliminary hearing

in the morning,

and for him to get there

without being seen by anyone.

-All right, Jerry.

Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

-[GIGGLES] So long.

-Grandy, they've got

Jerry locked up in jail.

-What's that?

-They think he m*rder*d you.

Now, Jerry says he's due

in court in the morning

and for you to be sure and

get there without being seen.

-I understand.

Heh.

Will I be there-- and how.

[CHUCKLES]

-So we're in the loop.

-A couple of weeks

ago, [INAUDIBLE].

-Yeah.

-Pardon me, gentlemen, but I'm

looking for the courthouse.

-You're standing

right in it, madame.

-Oh, for goodness sake.

I do love m*rder

trials, don't you?

But if I were a m*rder*r, I'd

much prefer the electric chair

than to have a rope around neck.

Wouldn't you?

-Listen lady, we're

not interested.

-Hmm.

But you're going to be.

[CROWD CHATTER]

-Well, here comes the

sheriff and Mason now.

-There he is.

-Yeah.

-My goodness, what big feet.

[LAUGHTER]

[CROWD CHATTER]

-Just a minute, boys.

Check your hardware.

-Come on.

Let's get in here.

This thing is just

about to start.

Come on.

Get in here.

The show's about to start.

[BANG OF GAVEL]

BALIFF: Hear ye, hear ye, hear

ye, The court of Sonoma County

is now open, Judge

McGill presiding.

Everybody be seated and

come to immediate order.

-Your honor, before you

proceed further with this case,

there's a few words

I'd like to say.

-And what is your name, madame?

-Veronica Mehitabel Benson.

-Any relation to Jake Benson?

-Oh, yes.

I'm his dearest relative.

-What do you want

to say, madame?

I wanted to say that

I've known the accused

since he was a babe in arms.

[LAUGHTER]

[BANGING OF GAVEL]

-Quiet, please.

-As I was about to say,

I knew him years ago,

and he was the sweetest thing.

[LAUGHTER]

[BANGING OF GAVEL]

-Come to the point, madame.

Well, I know who

shot Jake Benson.

[MURMURING OF CROWD]

The men are In this

court, your honor,

and I advise the sheriff not

to let anyone leave this room.

They tried to steal his mine.

They tried to steal his ranch.

And they shot him

down in cold blood.

[SHOCKED MURMURING]

-How do you know this, madame?

-Because I was there when

it happened, your honor.

[SHOCKED MURMURING]

-Sheriff, swear Miss Benson in.

[LAUGHTER]

-Order in court.

[LAUGHTER]

[BANGING OF GAVEL]

-Please, put down your dress.

-I ain't no lady.

I'm Jake Benson.

And there's the two

coyotes that shot me.

[SCREAMS]

-Come on, Benson.

There he goes!

-Try not to [INAUDIBLE].

-How do you run this durn thing?

-I'll do the driving.

[CROWD CHATTER]

[CRASH]

[COUGHS AND SPUTTERS]

-All right now, folks.

That'll look fine.

Now, just a minute.

Relax for a minute.

Now, here we g You must remember

that I've spent most all

of the afternoon trying

to get you in position.

Now hold it, just like that.

Still-- hold it.

Hold-- hold it.

Ready now?

[THEME MUSIC]