Death Valley (1982)

1
Checkmate.
What news of marathon?
Will Greece be saved?
The Persian sun will pass.
My brave heart.
Stop it, Daddy, stop it.
Hey, Dad, come on upstairs
and we can play
my new electronic game I bought.
Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy.
Oh, come on.
I don't think that's a good idea.
- Why not?
- Well, I just don't.
Mom could play with us.
Um, I don't think she would.
Why not?
Well, you see, it's like plants.
There's a time and a season
for things to grow and bloom
and then they fade and die away.
Your mother and I have, uh,
been through a lot of seasons together.
You mean you just
don't like each other.
No, no, no, no, I don't mean that.
Well, you don't.
No, we don't.
Why not?
I'm not the man
that she wanted me to be.
And she's not the woman
I fell in love with.
We both fell in love with a picture--
in our heads.
Not with each other.
Am I just a picture in your head?
No, no, no, no.
You're the only thing
I love in this world.
I don't want to go.
I know.
Do I have to?
Well, it'll be
a great vacation for you.
Yeah, who wants to go out west?
Oh, what do you mean?
Arizona, Death Valley--
all those horses and cowboys
and Indians.
Yeah, bang, bang-- great.
Your mother's got a friend out there.
She told me.
You might like him.
Well, you might.
Billy, she's lonely.
She's doing the best she can. I--
We're doing-- I--
Daddy?
I love you, Daddy.
Oh, I love you too.
Listen, will you write me a postcard?
Sure.
Continental Airlines
announces the arrival of flight 51,
service from New York to Chicago.
Passengers now deplaning at gate 24.
Enjoy your stay.
Thanks, had a great flight.
Enjoy your stay in Phoenix.
Mom, he's here.
Be careful, Billy.
Are you sure we're going
to see Death Valley?
Yes, I'm sure.
Hi.
Mmm. Man, I missed you.
I missed you too.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Well, how was your flight?
Uh, it was okay, it was okay.
I just wanted to get here, though.
Oh, Billy, Billy, this is Mike.
Mike, this is Billy.
Hi there, Billy, how ya doing?
Glad to meet you.
I heard a lot about you.
Oh, here.
I'll take it, it's my mom's.
Okay.
Well, uh, how was your trip?
Fine.
Uh, did ya sit by the window?
Yeah.
Billy, tell Mike what you saw.
I don't know, a bunch of clouds.
Billy, come on,
you saw the Grand Canyon.
Hey, hey, you saw the Grand Canyon?
We're going to see the Grand Canyon
from the ground, up close.
Really, it's one of the most
spectacular sights in the whole world.
So is Central Park.
Are we going to spend
our whole vacation here?
No, I'm with you, come on.
Wait 'til you see the trip
I got planned for us.
- You're going to love it.
- I hope so.
Listen to me, I'm telling you
this city has grown
a whole lot since you've left here.
- I can tell, it's amazing.
- Oh, yeah.
I sell some lots, you know.
I sold some parcels out here.
I've contributed to its growth.
- Really?
- Oh, yeah.
- Big, big lots?
- Oh, yeah, oh, huge.
Say, uh, hey, Billy, look up there.
See that building up there?
That's where your mother
and I went to high school.
Do you see it, Billy?
Remember, I told you those stories?
Yeah.
Hey, well my dad's
a professor at Princeton.
Oh, yeah, great.
Well, he's not exactly
a full professor.
Anyway, I really wanted
to go to New york.
And then after I was there a while,
I don't know, I kind of wanted
to come home again.
Even when I went to New York
to visit you, I missed it.
It's not that I didn't have
a good time, but, uh,
this is really home.
I know exactly what you mean.
Like, do you remem--
well, you probably don't remember
when I won
that silly contest, Miss, um--
oh, what was the--
miss Orange Blossom?
Yeah, um, Orange Growers Association.
How did you remember the name
of that contest?
Listen, I took your picture
for the paper, remember?
As a matter of fact, that's when
I started to fall in love with you.
You look terrific, Billy.
Yeah, a real cowboy.
Right, mom?
Very funny, get in the car.
You're hard to please.
Try to be nice to him, Billy.
Okay, I'll try.
That's my pal.
Here you go.
We're going into gold mine country,
full of claim jumpers.
You're going to need that.
That's the same kind of gun
that William H. Bonney,
better known as Billy the Kid,
used in 1875
when he shot it out
with the James Boys.
The James Boys didn't have
anything to do with Billy the Kid.
And this model
didn't come out until ten years
after Billy the Kid was
gunned down by Pat Garrett.
You're welcome,
Billy.
Sunny skies again today
here in Death Valley.
Bringing you
the tops in country favorites--
you hold my chair
And whisper in my ear
Those pretty words
A woman loves to hear
But love is more than just
a broken record of romance
i've got a funny feeling
it's the same old song and dance
Hey Billy, see these hills here?
This used to be gold mine country.
And, um, abandoned mine shafts
all up and down here.
And you make your proposition
And it's the same
old song and dance...
How did you know
all about this?
How about it, Billy,
you want to see a gold mine?
What do you say, Billy?
Billy, what do you say?
Sure.
There's no gold here.
It's just a lot of junk.
Come on, let's go have some lunch,
and get out of here.
A thousand miles from home
i know i heard my mom and dad
But Lord knows how i love them
Leaving home
the way i did was wrong
My dad was right when he told me
i was headed straight for ruin...
Donny, you hungry?
A thousand miles from home
I would go back
But how could I begin
to face Virginia
Who gave me love better
some guys never know
I could send them a picture
Simply signed Daddy's dead
But some how that don't seem right
A thousand miles from home
oh, what I'd give if I could
only be there Sunday morning
In a little white framed church
With all the friends I've known
Singing Amazing Grace
And going home to Sunday dinner
That sounds a lot like heaven
A thousand miles from home
I thought you were tired.
That sounds a lot like heaven
A thousand miles from home.
Here's Mo
Mitchell and her recipe of the day.
Donnie!
No. Please, no.
Well, here we are.
Gold mine country.
- Mom?
- Yeah.
Can I go look around?
Um, I don't know, Mike,
what do you think, is it safe?
Yeah, it's all right, go ahead.
But don't go too far.
Thanks.
Bye.
Anybody home?
You know, you just can't come walking
in to somebody's motorhome like this.
Sorry, Mike.
Mom?
Yeah.
Hey, what's the matter, Billy?
Never mind.
Is it mike?
Do you like him more than Dad?
Billy, I like them both
in different ways.
I'll always have
strong feelings for your dad
'cause he gave me you, didn't he?
Yeah, well, Dad's better looking,
and he's smarter.
Well, Mike's real smart too,
he really is.
Are you going to marry him?
I don't know.
A whole lot depends on you, partner.
If you do, we have to move to Arizona,
and I'll miss my friends,
and I'll never see Dad.
Well, you'll see your father.
He'll come down all the time
and you can go up
and visit him, really.
You like him, don't you?
Yeah, I do.
Billy, just promise me
that you'll give Mike a chance.
I mean, that's all he wants.
Well, I'll try.
That's all I wanted to hear.
I love you.
I don't know about you,
but I'm starved.
I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse.
This place, it's probably on the menu.
Come on.
Hey, what's the joke here?
Are you hungry enough
to eat a horse?
Uh, you bet.
This place, it's probably on the menu.
Well, we'll work on it.
I'll tell you, Billy, the red chili's
the best thing they have here.
When you eat it you feel like
you're out on the range
eatin' off a chuck wagon.
I want a hamburger, fries, and a Coke.
Howdy, folks.
Hi.
- Having a good trip?
- Yep.
I'm Hal, I'll be your waiter.
Yeah.
And, uh, have you decided
what you'd like?
Uh, not quite.
Well, take your time.
We got nothing but time
in the off-season.
Billy?
Billy, bet I know what you'd like.
You'd like a burger,
French fries, and a Coke.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's right.
- And I guess we'll have the chili?
- Yep.
Two large bowls of chili
and, uh, I'd like some milk.
I'll have some orange juice.
That's it.
That'll do it?
And do you know how
you'd like that?
Rare.
Rare. Well, you got it.
Billy, what's the matter with you?
Nothing.
Okay, fellas,
when you put that away,
come back and give us
a hand over here.
Okay, Art, you got it.
Get ready, Charlie.
All right, Charlie, start that winch.
It's coming. It's coming.
Hey, that's the RV we saw
this morning.
Yeah, I think you're right, Billy.
Maybe I better go up there
and tell that sheriff about that.
You guys stay in the car.
Hold it, Charlie.
Hold it a bit, hold it.
All right, all right, give it to 'em.
Hey, keep those kids away, will ya?
Get those kids out of there.
I'll call you if I need you.
Pardon me, officer.
Suppose someone sort of
found something,
then later on, it turned out
to be important.
What's "sort of found something"?
Is it anything like stole something?
Suppose it did,
what would the police do?
I don't know,
lock 'em up for 99 years?
Billy, did you steal
something from the hotel?
Yeah, well, I wish I could tell
you more, but that's all I know.
Well, you helped a lot.
At least now I know when that outfit
was in Gold mine Canyon.
Yeah, that's good.
Sheriff, I saw that RV today.
I know you did.
Listen, I told him
all about it already.
No, you didn't.
Sheriff,
I stole something from that RV.
And now I want to turn myself in,
even if it means 99 years.
Well, why don't you just
give me back what you stole
and maybe we can skip
the 99 years.
On the other hand,
stealing is a pretty serious matter.
Maybe you and me ought to have
a little private talk about it.
Sheriff, it's you and I,
not you and me.
Well, whatever.
Listen, I want you to tell me
everything you know
about this medallion.
There was this man at the hotel.
He's a waiter.
He was wearing one just like it.
- Is that right?
- Yeah.
And by the van,
there was this long old car
with bullets in the front.
It was following us
and then I saw it there.
Well, now that is something.
Will I be called
as a witness in the trial?
Well, it's a possibility.
But right now, I want
you to do me a favor, okay?
I want you and your folks
to go right on down there
and have a real good time
at that frontier town.
Will you do that?
How did you know
we were going there?
I'm the sheriff.
It's my business to know such things.
Besides, this road only goes
to one place.
Now, you folks have a good time
down there, you hear?
- Thank you.
- This'll be cleared up in no time.
Great.
Thanks, sheriff.
Thanks a lot.
Come on, Bills.
He's back at it again, Perry.
That girl's cut the same way
as those two last year.
Earl, why don't you just haul
this stuff to town
and stop playing coroner?
You know it's the same.
You ain't no closer to catching him
now than you was then.
I know.
But your blabbing about it
ain't going to do nothing
except maybe scare folks
around town half to death.
Now, will you get
that stuff out of there?
I got something I got to do.
You're too old for this job, Sheriff.
Hey, Billy,
how about it, huh?
Sure, Mom.
Hold it.
Draw, sidewinder,
or I'll kill you where you stand.
You got your iron there.
You better pull it,
or I'm going to blow you apart.
Got to watch out for these varmints.
Thanks, Sheriff.
Hey, that's great.
That'll be a buck, thank you.
Oh.
I got it.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
Well, pretty good shooting, Billy.
Hello, the house.
Anybody home?
Come on in.
I'm in the kitchen.
Hi, perry, how you doing?
Saw you drive up.
Just fixing myself
something to eat, come on in.
It smells great.
- You hungry?
- No, I just ate.
Uh, what are you cooking?
Uh, sit down.
How do you like the place?
You haven't been over here
since Daddy died, have you?
- No.
- I fixed the place up.
Cost me an arm and a leg.
Well, I'll bet it did.
I'll tell ya, things are gettin'
so expensive,
I don't know what
I'll be able to afford.
I don't work.
Maybe I need a secretary.
I used to love canned peaches.
I can't afford 'em anymore.
No way I could buy those.
Where's Stu?
Now, Stu's over at the Bullfrog.
What's he doin'?
Well, you know what he's doing.
Is he looking for gold?
Well, wouldn't be too far off.
No gold over there.
Okay, tell people that.
That's a good story,
you keep telling people that.
Hasn't been any gold
over there for 60 years.
I watched your dad work
that worthless hole for 50 years,
and all he come out
of there with was a sore back.
There's no gold over there.
Okay, that's--
that's a good story, Perry.
Tell 'em forget about the gold
and go for clip and save.
Do you use clip and save?
No.
You don't use this stuff because
you're on the county payroll, right?
You don't need to.
But some of us are finding it
a little hard to get by these days.
This is a good one.
You can get 75 cents off
on a six-pack.
You spend much time
around Greenwater Gulley?
No.
Not since I was a kid.
You know, Earl and I pulled
an RV out of there this afternoon.
Mm-hmm?
Three people in it, cut up.
Just like them others
we found over the years.
I don't understand.
Some lunatic running around here.
It makes me sick.
Look at these prices--
35, 20, 35.
There's some good stuff here.
You know, a little kid
that's staying over at the motel
found this medallion.
I thought it was yours,
but I see you're wearing yours.
Where did you find that?
A little kid found it
in the RV.
That's not mine.
I see that.
That's Stu's.
Well, give it back to him.
Oh, Stu's going
to be happy about this.
Look at that.
Where do you think
that came from?
- I don't know--
- See the work in that?
Think anybody does anything
like that these days?
You know how much that's worth?
You know what gold is these days?
You know where it's going?
Nobody knows where it's going.
I'll tell ya, people are gettin'
the fever for it now.
Everybody's looking for it.
Everybody wants it,
everybody's after it.
You know, you could help me,
if you would, you and Stu.
Sure.
I got to go back over to the gulley
and look around,
and you guys know that country
better than anybody.
I thought maybe if you'd ride over
with me and help me look around,
we might come up with something.
- Well, you want to go look around?
- Yeah.
Sure, that's no problem.
- The kid's at the motel?
- Yeah.
What's his name?
I-- I got it written down
out in the car.
Okay, well, let's stop by the motel
because I'd like to thank the kid.
Now, that's unusual-- somebody
who'd do something like that,
something worth that much.
Yeah, and we'll swing by
and pick up Stu at the Bullfrog.
Yeah.
I gotta get a shirt.
Shirt.
Have you redone the bedroom?
You like it?
Yeah, it looks fine.
Okay, you go ahead,
I'll get the door.
Okay.
Bravo! Bravo!
Got it.
Well, I could just tell that's going
to be a terrific shot.
- You think so?
- Uh-huh.
- Mom?
- Yeah.
Can I go to the museum?
Sure.
Hey, yeah, that's a good idea.
You got your gun?
Yeah.
I'm going to go in there
like Billy the Kid
and plug anyone
that gets in my way.
- Right, Mike?
- Hey, Billy.
- Well...
- Sorry, mom.
Well, go on, have a good time.
Thanks, mom.
You know, in spite
of what you think,
I think he's starting
to warm up to ya.
Well, yeah, he's got a funny way
of showing it, though.
I know, but it's--
it's just going to take time, Mike.
Yeah.
- You having a good time so far?
- Sure.
Really?
Yeah.
I'll buy you a beer.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- I could use one.
- Maybe two if you're nice to me.
Or three.
You're not getting too tired
to take me out tonight, are you?
Uh, alone?
- Mm-hmm.
- No.
You think you can handle it?
Yeah, I think I can.
Oh, hey, that's really a good shot,
don't you think?
Yeah.
Keep playing.
You heard what I said,
keep playing.
I told you I never wanted to see
you in these parts again, Black Bart.
I'll have to blow you away.
I got you, fall down.
Okay, you want to play?
I'll play with you.
Come on out.
Let's see if your gun's
as loud as your mouth,
Sheriff.
I'll pick where to make my stand.
Hold it. Smile, cowboy.
I got it, Harry.
Bang, bang, bang!
Whoo-hoo.
Mom, you should of seen it.
This outlaw chased me all over
and then he tried to shoot me.
But he shot the head right off
this fake Indian.
- Were you scared?
- No.
Hey, I told you you'd like it.
Thanks for bringing me, Mom,
it's excellent.
Well, here you go, you guys.
Uh, I'm gonna go upstairs
for a while, I think.
You have a good time, okay?
Uh, say, uh,
I think we ought to talk.
See, uh...
I know this is real hard on you.
It's not too easy for me either.
You're probably wondering,
who's this funny guy in cowboy boots
that's taking you on a vacation.
You're not sure what...
is happening.
I want us to be friends.
I know your mother's divorced.
You're not sure what happened.
I'm very fond of your mother.
I want her to be happy.
I want you to be happy.
I'd like to be happy.
See, I know your father's real smart
and he's a professor and, uh,
that's real good.
I'm not trying to replace your father.
But, uh, you know,
I'm pretty smart too.
I sell property around here.
I sell desert land to Arabs.
That's pretty hard.
I'm trying to make this
all work out between us.
If you give me a chance,
maybe it will.
Well, what do you say?
Yeah, well, you should think it over,
okay?
Okay, now, let me warn you,
he's going to try
to get away with murder.
I've seen him reduce really experienced
babysitters to mush in one night.
I've got a little brother like that.
You do?
How do you handle him?
Either I ignore him or I sock him.
Hey, look, he likes ice cream,
so later on, if the two of you
want some, here's some money.
- Thanks.
- You're welcome.
Hey, are you decent?
Uh, yeah, well, I'm dressed.
Oh, good. Let's get
this show on the road.
Okay.
Good night, Billy, I hate you.
- I hate you too.
- I hate you three.
Have a terrible time.
Good night, Billy.
Good night, Mike.
Come on, will you,
start this resignation.
No, no use, Taterbug,
that kid's got to get his schooling,
that's all there is to it.
We could find
a place in Dusty Bend.
That's the town
near the Circle J Ranch,
where we'd be workin'.
Listen here, old partner--
But not tied down like a couple
of old women, cooped up
in an office, and for what?
For an ornery,
no-account brat of a kid.
Would you like some chocolate?
Sure.
Thanks.
That's just what he is,
an ornery, no good, interfering brat.
Hey, look here,
you got no right to be talking
- about Buddy like that.
- Haven't I?
Say, listen, I'll put him
in an orphan's home.
That's what I'll do,
that's just where he belongs.
No, he don't,
and you nor nobody else
will put that kid in an orphan"s home.
What do you think of that?
Well, what are you going
to do with him then?
Well, I would--
well, doggone.
Quit this pen-pushing job
and get back to work
with self-respecting range-bred fellas
ought to be doing.
What've you
been up to, Taterbug?
Seen in the Abilene
Cattleman's Journal
calling for cow hands
over in the Dusty Bend country.
And I answered it.
And there's a job waiting there
for both of us.
But I'd rather be dumb
than be an old, fussy fossil...
You going to eat these chips?
No.
Okay if I...?
Sure.
Thanks.
Yes. And you're dead set
on the kid being educated?
That Stoneset Trail Company is no place
for a kid to get his schoolin', is it?
Besides, I'm tickled to death
right where I am.
Yes, you are.
Say, old time, will you watch
the office for a little while?
I want to run out and throw him
a little hay at darts.
Well, at least
he's got horse sense.
That's more than you've got.
All right, crab.
When does a woman know
That she's made up her mind?
When does her love finally show?
When can she tell
Now is the time?
When does she see
What her love can be
And where it can go?
It all depends
Where love should begin
Tell me--
That hombre that
crossed me this afternoon
is headin' right in to my trap.
Mmm, be sure
there's no slip up this time.
How about some ice cream?
Banana split.
I'll be right back.
I hate the scary part.
Them fellas I was messin' with
this afternoon may be layin' for me.
Yeah?
Yeah, let's slip around and go in
through the shadow of the buildings.
I'll take the one with the white hat.
Well, I guess those guys
won't shoot anybody else from behind.
Tater, take these hombres
along the horses.
Just for an adventure, I'll drink.
Turn, my ass.
Those people were dead
before they ever left the road.
How can you drive an RV
stacked in a closet
with about 800 stab wounds in ya?
Another murder
made to look like accident.
That's, uh, that's five in two years.
Sheriff knows who did it.
I saw him going down
to Peterson's a little while ago
with some evidence
some kid gave him.
He found it in an RV
or something down there.
Those Peterson's
will probably get that kid.
What kid?
Some damn tourist kid,
I don't know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, a sky pilot once said
that angels carried messages
up to heaven, Buddy.
He might tell him.
Come on, don't cry anymore.
All right, I won't cry no more.
Buddy, look here,
you got to buck up
and be a little man now.
If Tater knows you was crying
about him that way,
he'd feel awful bad.
- Good morning.
- Good morning, Miss Molly.
...how many people we should notify?
I guess me and Buddy...
Hi, Billy.
Go away.
What'd you do that for, Billy?
Now you've got
yourself stuck in there.
Just be quiet and go away.
It's the telephone.
Billy?
It's for you.
I don't care, answer it.
I'll tell you somethin', Billy.
What?
You got a hollow door here.
It's made in Japan.
Billy, I could bust
through this really easy,
but it would cause a mess.
So, what I could do is--
I can get the molding off,
and I think that's the way to go.
Are you all right in there?
Well, we got
a little problem here, but
I"ll get you out.
Just stay calm in there,
remember, most accidents
happen in the home.
There it is.
I don't believe that
they use doors like this.
I'll get you out.
As easy as pie.
Be careful of that water now.
When you're in the desert.
I'll have you out of there
in a second.
There we go.
Now just one little push
and we're home free.
Help!
Help! Help!
Billy? Where are you, Billy?
Come on out.
Let's play.
I miss you, Daddy.
Daddy!
Oh, Billy!
Billy!
Billy?
Billy! Billy!
Billy!
I think I know
how to find him, take it easy.
My son is missing.
Come on, how do you get
out to the Peterson place? Tell us.
What do you want
to go out there for?
- Because he's got my son.
- Just tell us how to get out there!
Well, it's east on the highway,
left on State Road G about a mile.
It's about a quarter of a mile
from the Desert Castle.
All right, now, now, call the sheriff.
Will ya, just tell the sheriff
we're going out there, come on.
Oh, where have you been,
Billy boy, Billy boy?
Oh where have you been...
All yours for only $59.95 at Bob's.
That's right, Bob's Bar Stools
and Dinettes,
Highway I-26 at Quano Road.
Ask for me, Bob Chatsky.
Thank you.
That's right, Bob.
Yeah, I want some of those
bar stools and dinettes.
Yeah, this inflation's killing me.
Don't leave home without 'em.
Reach out, reach out
and touch someone
Reach out, reach out
and just say hi
Oh, where have you been,
Billy boy, Billy boy?
Oh, where have you been
I have been to take a wife
She's the joy of my life
She's a young girl
And cannot leave...
...for this year's championship!
Bring the kids!
Bring the whole family!
Tickets are available
at the box office,
or at all ticket outlets.
Can't you go any faster?
- Are you all right?
- Yeah.
Billy?
Mom? Mike?
Mom?
Mom!
Billy, oh.
He's out there!
He's out there!
Behind the sofa, quick.
We're all after our gold, Daddy.
A little Savoy in New york, Daddy.
5:04 in London.
They won't bother us anymore.
Papa, I'm dancing on the roof!
And there ain't nothin'
you can do about it!
I'll get 'em, Daddy!
Mom! Mom!
Let's go.
What are we going to do?
I don't know.
Let's try this car.
No, no, no, no, please, please,
I don't want to go in that one.
Please, Mom, please,
I don't want to go in that one.
Please, Mom, please,
I don't want to go.
All right.
Let's go down the road, see if we can
get in that tourist castle we passed.
It'll be okay, Billy.
Mike'll take us home now.
Back, go on.
- Let's find a phone.
- Okay.
Uh, operator, get me
the highway patrol, please.
How do you feel?
Aw, I'm all right.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Is that them already?
Uh, you guys stay here.
I'm gonna go down there
and talk to 'em.
- It'll be all right.
- Okay.
How ya doing, Billy?
Okay.
Mike, what's the matter?
Mike, tell me what's wrong?
Mike!
Mike, look out!
Oh, please, no.
Oh, no, please leave us alone.
We haven't done anything.
Billy, no.
Billy!
Billy, run!
Run, Billy, run!
Mom! Mom!
Are you okay?
It's okay, baby.