Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1988): Season 1, Episode 9 - Annie Oakley - full transcript
[soft music]
[gunshots]
- There, there, Annie.
Come on, Annie, go to sleep.
Go to sleep.
Lyda, honey, you come here
and watch your sister
for a minute. Come on.
[laughs]
- Mommy!
- Folks always said there
was something a mite unusual
about little Annie.
She could kinda hold her on,
they said.
Right from the start.
Now, we got a lot of legends
taking up space here in America.
Some are true, some are truer.
But the truest of them all
is the legend
of Miss Annie Oakley.
You see, Annie really did live
and grew up right along
with our country.
And everything I'm gonna
tell you in this tale is true.
And actually did happen.
One way or another.
Now, as you may have noticed,
Annie's folks weren't fixed up
too luxurious.
But the first thing you ought
to know about legends is...
sometimes, they get their starts
in the humblest places.
Sometimes, that's what spurs
them on to become legends.
Leastways,
that's the way it was for Annie.
- Annie!
Annie!
Now where is that child?
[narrator]: Now if you had told
this little snip of a girl
she was gonna grow up
to see London and Paris
and Oklahoma City
and be famous around
the whole wide world,
I think she would've looked
at you a little strange.
Why, they scarcely
had enough to eat.
And after Annie's daddy
got himself sick and died,
they just couldn't have been
any worse off.
Another girl might have
sit-and-sighed,
but Annie, Annie Moses,
as she was called then,
she had this drive,
this all-fire determination
to do something, anything.
Even hauling out her pa's
old musket.
And that's where it all started.
[gunshot]
- Little John! Lyda!
Come on, settle down!
It's dinner time. Settle down.
[indistinct chatter]
You remember now,
if you don't eat all your nuts,
you don't get any berries. OK?
- Now there's something
a body could eat!
- Annie! How did you get that?
What did you do?
- I don't know, Ma.
I just kinda aimed
and I just know.
[narrator]: So, little Annie
started feeding her family
and selling her grouse
in the nearest town,
Greenville it was called.
And before you knew it,
she was all grown up.
Still with that same
uncanny aim.
- Oh! How you doin'?
Fifteen dollars?
Mama, I can't take that!
- It's for Cincinatti.
- Cincinatti?
- Honey, you've been working
like a dog
since heaven knows when.
- I know, Mama, but I like it.
And anyway, we're selling
out of Greenville and Meadville
and all the way down
to Asheville.
- Honey, we're set up pretty
good here now
and you haven't seen
your sister Lyda in years,
not since she got married.
And they just got that pretty
little house, she says.
And I know that they would be...
down right thrilled if you would
come and stay with them.
- I guess you're angling
to get rid of me.
- Reckon so.
It'll be a mighty good thing
for you, honey.
- Well, I guess I could go.
For a bit.
It's just such a long way away,
Mama, and...
I'm gonna miss you.
- You can write.
But you remember now,
the Pony Express rates
go down after 11pm.
- I know.
- Oh, Annie, I see good things
ahead for you.
You was always aimed
in the right direction.
- Oh, Mama.
[sentimental music]
I'm gonna be back.
- Oh, I know! I know...
- I love you, Mama.
[sigh]
- I reckon you'll be taking
the carriage to town.
- Nope.
I think I'm gonna take me
on that new railroad thing.
- Annie!
You can't!
[train whistling]
[up-tempo country music]
- Annie!
- Lyda?
[yelling]: Annie!
[high-pitched]: Lyda!
[laughs]
- Oh, what a perfect delight.
Oh, beloved sister, do come in.
Wait till you see it,
it's so pretty.
Joseph!
- Oh, Lyda, it's beautiful!
Now, what do you call
this area again?
Walnut Hills?
- Walnut Hills?
Oh Annie, this is East.
Walnut Hills,
we're practically in Hyde Park.
[laughs]
Really! Walnut Hills!
Next thing, you'd have us
living on the waterfront!
[chuckling]
Joseph!
Oh, my!
Oh, my!
Oh, my!
Where'd you get that rag?
- It's your dress,
don't you remember?
- Really? No.
No, I don't recall that.
No! I don't fancy I recall that!
[laughs]
- Where'd you get that laugh?
- What laugh?
I've always laughed like this.
- No, you didn't!
You use to laugh like this,
remember?
[Annie makes the sound
of a braying donkey]
- Oh, Annie!
I never laughed like that!
[high-pitched laughter]
[Annie imitates her.]
[Lyda laughs like before.]
Oh! Joseph, Joseph!
Joseph, this is
my beloved sister.
- Beloved sister.
You wouldn't by chance
be the beloved shooting ace,
would you?
- Joseph!
Now, Annie's coming here
to be a young lady now.
A refined, elegant,
fastidious young lady.
- You know, we've got this
refined, fastidious,
elegant shooting gallery that--
- Joseph! Now, you pay him
no mind, Annie!
- Where exactly is this refined,
elegant, fastidious
shooting gallery?
- It's at the refined, elegant,
fastidious beer garden.
- God blast it! I said no!
It's not what a lady does!
- Sh, sh, sh!
- Oh my...
Oh my.
Annie.
Annie, I know that you want
to do the right lady-like thing.
And I know, I just know
that you know
what the right thing
is to do now, don't you?
[shooting and bells ringing]
[gasping]
Yeeha!
I mean, how very very clever,
you dearest sister.
- Annie, this is incredible.
- Yeah?
- Annie, Annie!
I've got an idea.
- Now, Joseph.
- Will you shush!
Have you ever heard
of Frank Butler?
- Oh! Frank Butler?
Oh, now, Joseph, I don't think
this is proper.
Do you think we'd get
to meet him and all?
- Who's Frank Butler?
[country music]
- Isn't he something!
- Yep, and he ain't
bad-looking either.
- Oh!
- Well, good day to you,
friends.
Come to watch me practice?
- It's him! It's really him!
Oh, Mr. Butler!
Oh, Mr. Butler,
I'm such a big fan.
- Well, thank you.
- I admire you truly. I do.
- Thank you very much.
- Annie, show some respect.
- I don't fawn, Lyda.
[Joseph clears his throat.]
- Actually, we've...
We've got a little
challenge for you.
- Oh! A challenge, eh?
Little treat for the ladies?
- No, no, actually...
this is our challenge.
- Yeah, look, mister,
I don't have time for joking.
- Oh no, Mr. Butler, no!
It's no joke.
She's my sister and, um...
Yesterday, we were over
at the shooting gallery.
Oh, you should've seen her!
[screaming]: Bam, bam!
In a... lady-like way of course.
Oh, Annie, shoot something,
go on, show him!
- Not if he don't want me to.
- Oh, Mr. Butler, she's so good,
you wouldn't believe!
- Yeah, look, little lady.
You see, this ain't exactly
the same as a shooting gallery
and this isn't the stuff
that a little girl could do.
Now, I'll give you an example.
See, those cans
way, way over there.
I'm talking about those little
tincy, wincy--
[gunshots]
[Lyda chuckles.]
- Those ones?
- What's your name, girl?
- Phoebe Anne Moses.
But everybody calls me Annie.
- Alright, now, you see
those bottles there?
- Yeah.
- You take the one on the right,
I'll take the one on the left.
- Annie, Annie, maybe you should
let him win.
- I don't fawn, Lyda,
and I always do my best.
- Annie, it's not lady-like.
- Sh!
- Stop, stop!
- Yeeha!
[quietly]: Oh, my! Oh, my...
- Alright, let's try
the clay pigeons.
- Now, that is no way to talk
about my sister.
- Ladies first.
- Pull.
[excited screams]
It's off a little bit.
- Pull.
[gunshot]
[narrator]:
Well, Annie beat the pants off
Mr. Butler that day.
Funny thing was, Mr. Butler
didn't seem to mind a bit.
- Smile!
[laughs]
- Congratulations!
[narrator]:
So, Annie and Frank
set out together.
Young Frank had some mighty
fine plans for the two of them.
Just like Ma said,
Annie always seemed to aim
in the right direction.
[laughing]
[train whistle]
[rhythmic music]
- Well, I still say
we should've told them.
- Lyda could've never taken it.
Not in a million years.
- But that's why
I wanted to tell her!
Her baby sister,
part of a shooting team.
She'd have died.
- Not a team.
- What?
- Not a team.
I have a better idea.
Just you.
- Frank, what are you
talking about?
- Just you, all by yourself.
- Frank! Wait a minute.
- I've been thinking about it,
it's a good idea.
- I've got something
to tell you.
You don't look
like a Frank to me.
You look more like a...
Jimmy.
- Fair enough.
- Fair enough.
Now, what are you saying?
You're gonna give up shooting?
- Sweet peas, you know
I'm a practical man.
Now, I deal in realities.
And the reality
is that you...
have very green eyes.
Now, I mean,
there's more than that.
[sigh]
The reality is
that you shoot better than me.
- Oh!
- In fact, you shoot better
than just about anybody
I ever saw in my life.
- Oh, go on!
- Now, would I lie to you?
- Certainly!
For one thing, my eyes are blue.
- Honey, you're gonna be a star.
And I'm gonna be your manager.
- Jimmy, are you saying
you're gonna give up
shooting for me?
- I'm not giving anything up.
I'm gaining for us.
And we are a team.
For the rest of our lives.
Okay, the question is...
what's your stage name gonna be?
Now, it can't be Butler.
You've gotta have a name
of your own.
Annie Moses.
- Oh, no, Jimmy.
It's gotta be something special.
- Welcome aboard
the Erie Railroad, friends.
Next stop:
"Schimmel-Heimmer"...
[He names train stations.]
...and Oakley!
- Annie Schimmel-Heimmer.
Oh well, I'll think
of something.
- Okay, you.
- Well, where are we heading
now, Jimmy?
- I got a plan.
I got a plan.
You remember a fellow named
Buffalo Bill?
- Buffalo Bill Cody, the Scout?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Oh my!
I read all the books about him.
Buffalo Bill on the Prairie,
Buffalo Bill
and the Indian Girl...
Buffalo Bill...
Buffalo Bill Cody!
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
welcome to Buffalo Bill's
Rocky Mountain
and Prairie Exhibition.
Ah-ha!
Featuring...
some of the truest wonders
of the wildest prairies,
just as they really happened.
Yeeha!
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
a reenactment
of the famous Pony Express.
Yeeha!
Yeeha!
- Jimmy, I thought you said
this was a big name outfit.
[horse neighing]
- Now, roping demonstration
by Pete Williams.
- Yeeha!
[laughter]
- Mister Cody.
- What?
[chuckling]
I'm not Cody.
Cody's out.
Are you from the bank?
- My name's Frank Butler.
- You're not from the bank.
- Got a little proposition
for you.
- Look, look. Can't you see
I'm a busy man?
I got a show to put on here.
Frank Butler, the marksman?
- That's right.
- Yeah, I heard of you.
You're supposed
to be really good.
- Well...
- Maybe we could use you.
Of course, we're kind of
booked up right at the moment.
But why don't we...
we get together after the show.
We'll talk things over.
- Well, it's not me, you see,
it's my wife.
- I don't think I quite
rightly heard that.
For a moment there, it sounded
like you said your wife?
- Yeah, you heard me right.
Now, I'm being straight
with you, Cody.
She is a markswoman.
Now, she's much better than me.
What I was thinking, we could
make it a wild west show,
with her trick-shooting,
the whole thing.
- Listen, mister--
- Of course, there's a bit
of a problem now,
cause she's real busy what with
all her engagements and all,
but I was thinking, for you,
we could work something out.
[sighing]
- Listen, buddy,
let me give you a hint.
This is a big show.
This is... this is the big time.
This is big business.
Well, the gist of what
I'm trying to say here is:
you bring me
a trick shooter, fine.
A roper, okay.
But I got no place in this show
for a young girl.
What I need is someone
who could hit this.
[gunshot]
[horse neighing]
No!
[gunshot, horse neighing]
- Have a drink on me, Cody.
- Now, ladies and gentlemen,
Miss Annie Oakley.
[applause]
Ladies and gentlemen,
that fearless sharp shooter,
Miss Annie Oakley.
[applause]
[triumphant music]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the newest sensation
and brilliant markswoman,
that little girl
of the western plains,
Miss... Annie...
Oakley!
[cheering]
And now, Miss Oakley
will demonstrate
her uncanny and
devastating accuracy!
[gunshots]
[continuous applause]
And, just like any other wife,
Miss Annie tries
to get her husband
to cut down
on his card-playing.
[applause]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[soft music]
[gunshots]
[indistinct announcement]
- Your first story.
"By far, the star attraction
of the Wild West Show
was little Miss Annie Oakley,"
whose name should've been
Annie Shimmel-heimmer...
- Oh, it doesn't say that!
- Oh, it doesn't,
but it does say,
"star attraction".
You see, it's happening.
Oh, sweet pea, just like I said.
- Well, save it
and I'll send it to Mama.
- We're gonna have a room
full of these
before you're done, honey.
You're just getting
bigger and bigger.
- You sound kinda dreamy.
- No, you're bringing them in,
honey!
And Cody's building up the show.
You'll see.
- Princess!
I got someone here who'd like
to make your acquaintance.
- Chief Sitting Bull.
- Yeah.
The governor brought him
and a delegation of Indians
to see the show.
[speaking Native tongue]
- Miss Annie,
he says he is very honoured
to meet the greatest shooter
he has ever seen.
[chuckling]
- Oh, please tell him thank you
and that I'm deeply honoured.
[whispering]: That's it,
butter the old buzzard up.
- Cody!
- See if you can get him
to join the show.
- Cody!
- Come on, Chief Sitting Bull
in our show,
we could reenact
Custer's Last Stand.
- He has given you
an Indian name.
"Watanya Cicilla":
Little Miss Sure Shot.
- Little Miss Sure Shot!
Oh, that's beautiful.
- That's great! We'll use it
on the poster.
Tell him we'll give him
credit for it!
- Cody!
- Come on, princess,
I've been working on the old
buzzard all day long.
I would go to 40$ a week!
Tell you what.
Tell him I will pay him...
20$ a week.
Okay? 20 big round
American dollars.
[horses neighing]
[speaks Native tongue]
- The Chief has asked that...
he make you his honorary
daughter.
- His daughter....
Please tell him that...
my own father died
when I was just a little girl
and I would be...
honoured...
to have such a great man
as my father.
- See if you can get him
at a special dad's rate.
- Oh, Cody! Don't you ever stop?
- Will you please use your charm
to do something here?
Alright, alright.
Tell him...
Tell him I'm willing
to go as high...
as 25$ a week.
25, seven suns, seven moons.
25! Big money!
[speaks Native tongue]
- He'll sign.
- Good.
- 50 bucks.
- 50 bucks?
That's a fortune!
- Oh, come on, Bill!
- I wouldn't pay that to Custer
and he's dead.
- He is worth that,
and then some.
And that's what I get.
- Think of the headlines, Bill.
- And Miss Annie must ask him.
- Please, tell him
that I would be honoured
if he, my father,
would join us.
- Yeah, here,
have a seat, Chief.
- I hate trading with Indians.
- Oh, Cody!
- 50.
Thank you very much.
Old buzzard.
- I'm so happy
that you're joining us.
I hope you are
happy here with us.
- I'll be as happy
as an old buzzard can be.
[Frank laughs.]
[narrator]: Nevertheless,
Buffalo Bill did okay.
Turned out folks were
more than a bit curious
to see Sitting Bull.
Thousands of folks
poured in to see the show.
And before long,
Cody got himself the notion
of taking the setup
on the road.
[train whistle]
[soft music]
[gunshot]
And just like Jimmy said,
Annie kept getting bigger.
And bigger, and bigger!
And in no time at all,
it seemed they were headed for
the biggest town of them all...
a town whose name even today
strikes awe and admiration
into the hearts
of American men and women.
But Annie
was finding out stardom
wasn't all it was
cracked up to be.
- Annie! Annie!
- Annie, I hear it's all tricks,
ain't it?
- They're back again!
Cody, where have you been?
I have been
waiting and waiting for you!
- Oh, oh, the Queen summons me
to her humble abode.
Hello, Bull.
- I need your help, here, Cody.
This fan mail, I must be getting
200 letters a day.
- 200?
- Yes,
and between
the press conferences
and the interviews and the--
- You get 200 letters a day?
- Yes, and the photographers
are following me around
everywhere I go.
- They do?
That reminds me,
I want you wearing
something frillier.
- Frillier? I'm saying I don't
want them around at all!
- Not want photographers?
Where's your business sense,
woman?
This is New York!
This is the big time!
This is publicity.
I want you to start wearing
a bow on your hair.
Make yourself look younger.
Bye, Bull.
- A bow?
You want me to wear a bow
in my hair? Fine.
Fine, I'll just wear
a little bow in my hair.
He wants me to wear a bow
in my hair.
You know, he's got an entire
character written for me.
I gotta act a certain way,
I gotta dress a certain way.
I have to be sweet and demure.
He doesn't listen to a word
I say.
He doesn't listen to anybody.
And these people,
why won't they just
leave me alone?
They don't know me.
What do they want from me?
You know, it's all wrong.
It's just all wrong. I hate it!
- Annie.
- I hate it!
I just don't know
who I am anymore.
- Let me say something, Annie.
Have you ever thought
about the way
my people are portrayed
in the show?
And in every Wild West story
you hear?
They call us "savages".
Wild men who attack
peaceful settlers,
and ambush innocent soldiers.
It never occurs to anyone
that we've just been
defending our own land.
Our home.
Against foreign invaders.
- Your own land.
- The crowd boos me
when I ride out. Don't they?
Well, it used to disturb me.
But one day, I realized,
it doesn't matter.
- Oh, but it does.
It's wrong!
- No, Annie.
It's not what they think
that matters.
Your public is ephemeral.
It's what you think,
what you stand for...
your character...
That's what matters.
- But what is that?
I mean, who am I?
- You're a brilliant marksman,
Annie.
[speaking in native tongue]
[chuckling]
The romance of the West.
- I know, but I feel
like a runaway Colt.
With nothing to tether onto.
- You have your shooting.
You have me.
And you have Frank.
- And I have Greenville.
- Yes. Yes!
These are your roots,
Annie. Your home.
That's what you should cherish.
It's your core.
It's who you are.
History will remember you
as a brave and strong woman
who could shoot like an angel.
An angel who stood up
for herself.
These people mean no harm.
They just want to reach out...
and touch history.
- So when you're out there
riding around
and they're booing you like...
What you're saying to yourself
that whole time is...
"I know who I am.
I know who I am."
- No, Annie.
When they're booing me,
what I actually say
to myself is:
"50 dollars a week.
50 dollars a week."
[chuckling]
[narrator]: Annie started
feeling a mite better
after that.
She could see Buffalo Bill
was just a man
who loved his show.
- Ladies and gentlemen
of New York City.
Tonight, right here
on Staten Island,
in honour of the greatest state
in the union, the Empire State,
and with the aid of
the very latest
in modern wizardry,
eighties technology,
we are proud to present
our very first
night performnance!
Calcium flare! On!
[hissing and drums]
[cheering]
[triumphant music]
- That old Cody sure does like
these gadgets, doesn't he.
- And now,
America's national
entertainment,
the one and only,
genuine and authentic,
unique and original,
Wild West Show!
[cheering]
Including...
Including, as you know,
the war chief
of the Fighting Sioux,
that feared and famous warrior
of the Western Plains:
Chief Sitting Bull!
[booing]
And now,
may I introduce
our biggest star,
the fearless lass,
The lovely maid,
the little girl
with the magic gun,
Little Miss Sure Shot!
- See, you're a hit.
I told you, didn't I?
- You sure did, Jimmy.
[applause]
- Miss Annie Oakley!
[cheering]
[rhythmic music]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
And now, Miss Annie will display
her consummate
and incredible nerve...
and skill.
From an angle
never before tried,
Miss Oakley will shoot a bullet
at the tomahawk
with such accuracy
that the bullet will split,
shattering both crystal balls
with only one shot.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
And like every good wife,
at the end of the day,
Miss Annie sees...
that her man needs
to light up that smoke.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
But she also knows
that it's bad for him.
[gunshot]
[gasping]
[cheering]
- Annie dazzled alright.
And she was enjoying it.
Soon, she could handle
those press boys like nothing.
- Sure it ain't a trick, missie?
[gunshot]
- And she was enjoying
her fan mail too.
- Jimmy, look.
It's a letter from Mark Twain.
- Some fans were
as famous as she was.
- Yeah, but who's
this Samuel Clemens?
Look what Al Graham Bell
sent over.
- A telephone.
- Miss Oakley?
- Yes.
- I'm Thomas Edison.
- With all those new
telephones and telegrams
and railroads sprouting up,
word travelled like wildfire.
You see, she was starring
in the best and biggest show
of that time.
A show that brought
a little nostalgia back
to all those big new cities.
Folks just couldn't get out
fast enough to see the show.
Visiting the camp,
seeing those notorious
gunslingers,
the ferocious Indians...
And the daring, reckless cowboy
scouts in their natural habitat.
- Hello, Delmonico's?
Table for 20.
- And soon, Annie was
the very first superstar
this growing-up
country ever saw.
[gunshots]
Annie and Frank
had a high old time exploring
the newest big-city
contraptions.
Not to mention young Tom
Edison's newest invention.
- Move. Move!
Everyone does that.
- Maybe, uh...
Maybe make like you're shooting
something, sweet pea.
- Ah...
- With the rifle.
- Good.
[birds chirping]
Beautiful!
Perfect!
- Of course it's perfect.
She always is.
She's a superstar.
- And through it all,
Annie and Frank
still led themselves
a normal domestic life.
- Good night, baby.
- Oh, good night, sweet pea.
[mosquito buzzing]
- That blasted mosquito.
[gunshot]
London?
[laughing]
- Why not?
London, Paris,
maybe even Germany.
- But Bill,
what about Greenville?
- Greenville? Princess,
princess...
Get with it,
this is the eighties.
This is the big time.
Big cities!
Big-time show business!
You're gonna love London.
I promise you, you'll see.
We're gonna be twice
as big over there.
- Sure enough, the Wild West
was even a bigger hit in London
than it had been in New York.
Fact is, those English folks
had just about been dying
to see what we've been up to.
Ever since we had
that little spat with them
about 100 years back.
Thousands of people crowded in.
And by far, the star
of the show was
Little Miss Sure Shot.
How they raved about her!
Well, in their own way,
of course.
Not just in the ring, mind you.
But socially too.
All of England loved
her natural charm.
- Your Majesty.
Queen Victoria.
- Miss Oakley, fine, fine
shooting. Fine indeed.
- Oh, I'm just deeply honoured.
May I please present to you
my husband?
- It's a great pleasure--
- No, no, you bow.
- I'm sorry.
- Frank Butler.
It's your 50th jubilee,
isn't it?
Imagine being queen of England
for 50 years.
- Yes. Well, it is secure.
Not much chance of advancement.
But I suppose
when you're the head
of a sovereign state,
there isn't much further up
you can go.
Where do you come from,
my child? New York?
- Oh, no, no. I'm just
from a small little town.
A country town:
Greenville, Ohio.
But it's a fine place.
- No need to apologize.
Us, we prefer the country life.
- Really? You do?
- Yes.
The plain, homespun life.
- It is the best thing
in the world, isn't it?
- Rustic simplicity.
Windsor Castle.
Now that's simple living.
- You don't think I could ask
you just a small favour, do you?
You see, it'd be great
if I could just
get a little token
to show my mom that I met you.
A photograph perhaps, or...
- Oh, nonsense!
I'd be delighted. Delighted!
I must say, it's the least
I could do for the brilliant
marksman of the Western Plains
who conquered the British Empire
single-handedly.
[God Save the Queen playing]
Well, it's been lovely,
but we must go.
- Are you gonna stop by and see
Buffalo Bill before you leave?
- Yes, we'll try.
We'll try. [chuckling]
Oh, catchy tune.
Always cheers me up.
- Bye, now.
[laughing]
- The Queen came here?
And she didn't come to see me.
Did she forget
the name of the show?
- Oh, Cody.
- What a sweet and simple
little girl
of the Western Plains it is.
[chuckling]
You couldn't wait to get
that picture up on your wall,
could you?
No, you wanted everyone to know
that she came here to see you
and didn't come to see me!
I bet you just love that!
- Oh, you're just tired.
- Oh, an observant little girl
of the Western Plains.
Quick as a whip, how about that!
Any other gems
you'd care to drop?
Any other pearls of wisdom?
- Oh, well, you know the old
saying about pearls, don't you?
[coughing]
- Prefer fancy words for a girl
from Darke County.
- Oh, pretty fancy words
for a boy from Le Claire, Iowa!
- Chut!
- Oh, come on, Will.
No more fight. [chuckling]
- Oh, here comes the old charm.
That doesn't always work,
sweet cakes.
- Cody.
- Maybe with your pals,
Vicky and her--
- Cody!
- Okay, okay.
Uncle, uncle.
Oh, who needs it anyway?
- Oh, what in tarnation's
going on with you?
- Hey, sweet pea.
- What?
- Did Cody tell you about
the invitation?
- What invitation?
- Well, it's
from Prince Wilhelm.
You're going to Germany, honey.
You're gonna shoot
for the prince.
- Germany!
[gasping]
Me, by myself?
- That's right.
- Just like you always wanted.
- Oh, Cody, don't you ever stop!
- Oh, look at those
pretty green eyes.
- They're blue.
- You've had those eyes
on the number one slot
ever since the first day
you got here. Didn't you?
Yeah, I ought to have known
with all those metals
you're all the time wearing.
That should've been the tip-off!
- Did I walk in in the middle
of something here?
- You were just sitting there,
biding your time, waiting your
chance.
Well, go... Go on!
I'm sure Germany
will be very happy to see you.
And tell Billy boy "howdy"
from me.
[soft music]
- So, Annie went on
to Germany by herself
while the Wild West
stayed behind.
She was an international
superstar, now.
The toast of the world.
But that wasn't it for Annie.
Although she was famous,
something was missing.
Annie and Frank sailed back
to New York.
- Oh, Jimmy.
What did I do?
I always wanted Mama to see me
in a Wild West show.
Oh, Jimmy, what am I gonna do?
- Honey, you don't me to tell
you what to do.
You were always real good
at figuring out
your own answers, now.
What do you see in your heart,
sweet pea?
- I'd hate to tell you.
[sighing]
I miss that show.
- Well, then,
go pay a call on old Bill Cody.
You know they're right over
on Staten Island again.
- I wouldn't talk
to that buzzard,
not after what he said and did!
I wouldn't talk to him
if he came here banging
on that door,
hat in hand, begging me on.
[knocking on door]
Oh, thanks.
Here you go.
- Annie Oakley! Oh, my...
I'm Winthrop Gardner.
And me and my buddy Gordon,
we're gonna run away next summer
and join the Wild West.
- You're gonna run away?
- Yeah, I'm gonna be a marksman,
just like you, Miss Oakley.
- Now what does your mom say
about all that?
Isn't she gonna miss you?
- Nah.
- You know, Winthrop,
the Wild West,
it's a wonderful,
wonderful show to be in.
You know, it just might be
the best place a person
could ever be,
but home is a mighty
sweet place too,
and you ought not be hopping
and jumping up to leave it
too soon.
Believe me, I'd know.
And anyway, if I'm not mistaken,
you're not quite full-grown yet.
- I'm gonna be 12 years old
next fall.
- I'll make you a deal.
When you turn 18,
you come visit me
and I'll help you join
the Wild West.
- You will?
- I promise.
And I never break my promises.
- Well, okay, I guess.
But Miss Oakley, can I just go
get Gordon so he can meet you?
Please? Please?
- Okay, go on.
[gasps]
Pretty cute, these kids.
- You really do miss that show,
don't you?
[knocking on door]
- Young Gordon's pretty quick.
Yes, sir, the one, the only...
[soft music]
- I don't ask anything
but to come in, Miss Annie.
- Well, what is it, Bill?
Are your receipts down?
- Mighty harsh words.
But I reckon I deserve it.
- His receipts are down.
Well, come on in.
- Frank.
- Hello, Bill.
- You know, I'm not
coming back, Cody.
- I'm not asking you to, Annie.
I'm not saying anything. I...
I just want to...
[sighing] Well, I'm...
I'm not exactly the sort of man
who's very good at apologizing.
- Is that what this is?
- Could be.
- Well, I guess it's about
as close to something
resembling an apology
as I might get from you.
Now, supposing...
I was to come back.
- Don't be toying with me.
- I wouldn't do that.
- You mean, you might?
- There's just one thing.
It's Greenville.
Now you know, Bill,
I have been yearning
and yearning
to go back home with the show.
The whole show!
The whole Wild West.
I want my folk...
I want my momma to see me shoot.
I want all my people to see
what I do, to see my show.
- My show.
- I want my momma
to see me shoot.
It's my roots, that's what I am.
And that's what I ask.
- And then, you'd come back?
- Could be.
- Well, I could see
what I could do.
- Well, it's gotta be
Greenville.
If you give me Greenville,
I'll sign up right now.
- Oh, you're a tough one, Annie.
You always were.
I'll see what I can do.
- Well, you know, I have my old
contract right in this drawer.
And you know, I could just sign
it and date it now and save us
some time, and...
[sighing]
- The surprise in an hour.
Welcome home, princess.
Frank.
- Bill.
- Did you see me?
- Yes, I did.
- Did you see what he did?
He came in here...
just hoping...
- Mm.
- Not expecting nothing.
- No.
- Almost like a regular
human being.
- Take a look at this.
[soft guitar]
- That buzzard!
[laughing]
Cody!
[soft music]
- Ladies and gentlemen,
that little girl
from Darke County.
Your own native daughter,
the pride of Greenville,
that international superstar,
Miss Annie Oakley!
[cheering]
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
a trick never before tried.
Miss Oakley will shot a dime
out of her husband's hand,
using not her natural vision.
Not a mirror.
But the shiny blade...
...of a Bowie knife.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[rhythmic music]
- Annie, that was so spiffy!
And here are my little angels.
Anifern, and Cornelius Edgar.
- Hello.
Hi, Joe.
- Joseph, how are you?
- Frank, you're looking good.
- Thank you.
- Glad to tell you we finally
moved to Hyde Park.
- Well, congratulations.
That's wonderful!
- Oh, Momma.
I've been waiting, and waiting
and waiting to show you this.
- Oh, Annie.
I am so proud of you.
- You know that that was
the only thing that was missing?
I can be truly happy now.
- Oh, Frank, this is
so exciting.
And I see that you're still
as handsome as ever.
- Well...
[chuckling]
And you haven't changed
a bit either, Lyda.
[chuckling]
- Hello, Cody.
- Great show, Annie.
- Thanks.
I'd like to present to you
my momma.
This is Buffalo Bill Cody.
- Misses Moses,
this is a genuine pleasure.
One that I have too long
been denied.
I've been begging
and begging Annie
to let me bring my show
here to Greenville--
- Cody!
- Annie, he is just
like you said.
Only he's even more full
of blarney than I thought.
[laughing]
- Great to have you back,
princess.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Oh, you know I can't get along
without you.
Things just weren't the same
when you weren't here.
- Is that a real apology?
- The humblest.
- Oh, I never could
stay mad at you.
Oh, I'm so happy. [grunting]
Come here and meet
everybody else.
This is Lyda and this is Joe.
This is her children over there.
That's Anifern
and Cornelius Edgar.
This is Buffalo Bill Cody!
- How you doing?
To Greenville!
[all]: To Greenville!
- Well, after that,
they toured and toured.
Annie never missed a day.
Never missed a shot neither.
Finally, in 1910,
the Wild West folk
kind of went
their own separate ways.
In 1917, Cody went on to that
big showplace in the sky,
where no doubt he set himself
up a rip-roaring time.
And later around the 1920s,
Annie and Frank retired.
They couldn't help but marvel
at the changes they'd seen.
- Now, they got these X-rays.
Cameras that can see
right through you.
And those airplanes,
what was the name of that fellow
who flew across the Atlantic?
- Lindbergh.
- Lindbergh.
Gosh! Can you imagine
being able to...
to just pick up and fly
anywhere you wanted to?
- I don't know.
Who's ever dreamed
of something like that?
Look at these.
You know...
Annie, I feel like we kind
of watched this all happen.
We saw it all.
A great, big country growing up
right in front of our eyes.
[chuckling]
- With all those people.
- Yeah.
- Jimmy, they just gave me
so much.
- Oh, come on. Come on.
You gave them a bit
of yourself too, sweet pea.
The romance of the west.
- Oh, that was me.
- International superstar.
- Just like you always said,
Jimmy.
- Well...
[sighing]
It sure was something,
huh, sweet pea?
- I was something, Jimmy.
[soft music]
[soft country music]
Subtitles: difuze
[gunshots]
- There, there, Annie.
Come on, Annie, go to sleep.
Go to sleep.
Lyda, honey, you come here
and watch your sister
for a minute. Come on.
[laughs]
- Mommy!
- Folks always said there
was something a mite unusual
about little Annie.
She could kinda hold her on,
they said.
Right from the start.
Now, we got a lot of legends
taking up space here in America.
Some are true, some are truer.
But the truest of them all
is the legend
of Miss Annie Oakley.
You see, Annie really did live
and grew up right along
with our country.
And everything I'm gonna
tell you in this tale is true.
And actually did happen.
One way or another.
Now, as you may have noticed,
Annie's folks weren't fixed up
too luxurious.
But the first thing you ought
to know about legends is...
sometimes, they get their starts
in the humblest places.
Sometimes, that's what spurs
them on to become legends.
Leastways,
that's the way it was for Annie.
- Annie!
Annie!
Now where is that child?
[narrator]: Now if you had told
this little snip of a girl
she was gonna grow up
to see London and Paris
and Oklahoma City
and be famous around
the whole wide world,
I think she would've looked
at you a little strange.
Why, they scarcely
had enough to eat.
And after Annie's daddy
got himself sick and died,
they just couldn't have been
any worse off.
Another girl might have
sit-and-sighed,
but Annie, Annie Moses,
as she was called then,
she had this drive,
this all-fire determination
to do something, anything.
Even hauling out her pa's
old musket.
And that's where it all started.
[gunshot]
- Little John! Lyda!
Come on, settle down!
It's dinner time. Settle down.
[indistinct chatter]
You remember now,
if you don't eat all your nuts,
you don't get any berries. OK?
- Now there's something
a body could eat!
- Annie! How did you get that?
What did you do?
- I don't know, Ma.
I just kinda aimed
and I just know.
[narrator]: So, little Annie
started feeding her family
and selling her grouse
in the nearest town,
Greenville it was called.
And before you knew it,
she was all grown up.
Still with that same
uncanny aim.
- Oh! How you doin'?
Fifteen dollars?
Mama, I can't take that!
- It's for Cincinatti.
- Cincinatti?
- Honey, you've been working
like a dog
since heaven knows when.
- I know, Mama, but I like it.
And anyway, we're selling
out of Greenville and Meadville
and all the way down
to Asheville.
- Honey, we're set up pretty
good here now
and you haven't seen
your sister Lyda in years,
not since she got married.
And they just got that pretty
little house, she says.
And I know that they would be...
down right thrilled if you would
come and stay with them.
- I guess you're angling
to get rid of me.
- Reckon so.
It'll be a mighty good thing
for you, honey.
- Well, I guess I could go.
For a bit.
It's just such a long way away,
Mama, and...
I'm gonna miss you.
- You can write.
But you remember now,
the Pony Express rates
go down after 11pm.
- I know.
- Oh, Annie, I see good things
ahead for you.
You was always aimed
in the right direction.
- Oh, Mama.
[sentimental music]
I'm gonna be back.
- Oh, I know! I know...
- I love you, Mama.
[sigh]
- I reckon you'll be taking
the carriage to town.
- Nope.
I think I'm gonna take me
on that new railroad thing.
- Annie!
You can't!
[train whistling]
[up-tempo country music]
- Annie!
- Lyda?
[yelling]: Annie!
[high-pitched]: Lyda!
[laughs]
- Oh, what a perfect delight.
Oh, beloved sister, do come in.
Wait till you see it,
it's so pretty.
Joseph!
- Oh, Lyda, it's beautiful!
Now, what do you call
this area again?
Walnut Hills?
- Walnut Hills?
Oh Annie, this is East.
Walnut Hills,
we're practically in Hyde Park.
[laughs]
Really! Walnut Hills!
Next thing, you'd have us
living on the waterfront!
[chuckling]
Joseph!
Oh, my!
Oh, my!
Oh, my!
Where'd you get that rag?
- It's your dress,
don't you remember?
- Really? No.
No, I don't recall that.
No! I don't fancy I recall that!
[laughs]
- Where'd you get that laugh?
- What laugh?
I've always laughed like this.
- No, you didn't!
You use to laugh like this,
remember?
[Annie makes the sound
of a braying donkey]
- Oh, Annie!
I never laughed like that!
[high-pitched laughter]
[Annie imitates her.]
[Lyda laughs like before.]
Oh! Joseph, Joseph!
Joseph, this is
my beloved sister.
- Beloved sister.
You wouldn't by chance
be the beloved shooting ace,
would you?
- Joseph!
Now, Annie's coming here
to be a young lady now.
A refined, elegant,
fastidious young lady.
- You know, we've got this
refined, fastidious,
elegant shooting gallery that--
- Joseph! Now, you pay him
no mind, Annie!
- Where exactly is this refined,
elegant, fastidious
shooting gallery?
- It's at the refined, elegant,
fastidious beer garden.
- God blast it! I said no!
It's not what a lady does!
- Sh, sh, sh!
- Oh my...
Oh my.
Annie.
Annie, I know that you want
to do the right lady-like thing.
And I know, I just know
that you know
what the right thing
is to do now, don't you?
[shooting and bells ringing]
[gasping]
Yeeha!
I mean, how very very clever,
you dearest sister.
- Annie, this is incredible.
- Yeah?
- Annie, Annie!
I've got an idea.
- Now, Joseph.
- Will you shush!
Have you ever heard
of Frank Butler?
- Oh! Frank Butler?
Oh, now, Joseph, I don't think
this is proper.
Do you think we'd get
to meet him and all?
- Who's Frank Butler?
[country music]
- Isn't he something!
- Yep, and he ain't
bad-looking either.
- Oh!
- Well, good day to you,
friends.
Come to watch me practice?
- It's him! It's really him!
Oh, Mr. Butler!
Oh, Mr. Butler,
I'm such a big fan.
- Well, thank you.
- I admire you truly. I do.
- Thank you very much.
- Annie, show some respect.
- I don't fawn, Lyda.
[Joseph clears his throat.]
- Actually, we've...
We've got a little
challenge for you.
- Oh! A challenge, eh?
Little treat for the ladies?
- No, no, actually...
this is our challenge.
- Yeah, look, mister,
I don't have time for joking.
- Oh no, Mr. Butler, no!
It's no joke.
She's my sister and, um...
Yesterday, we were over
at the shooting gallery.
Oh, you should've seen her!
[screaming]: Bam, bam!
In a... lady-like way of course.
Oh, Annie, shoot something,
go on, show him!
- Not if he don't want me to.
- Oh, Mr. Butler, she's so good,
you wouldn't believe!
- Yeah, look, little lady.
You see, this ain't exactly
the same as a shooting gallery
and this isn't the stuff
that a little girl could do.
Now, I'll give you an example.
See, those cans
way, way over there.
I'm talking about those little
tincy, wincy--
[gunshots]
[Lyda chuckles.]
- Those ones?
- What's your name, girl?
- Phoebe Anne Moses.
But everybody calls me Annie.
- Alright, now, you see
those bottles there?
- Yeah.
- You take the one on the right,
I'll take the one on the left.
- Annie, Annie, maybe you should
let him win.
- I don't fawn, Lyda,
and I always do my best.
- Annie, it's not lady-like.
- Sh!
- Stop, stop!
- Yeeha!
[quietly]: Oh, my! Oh, my...
- Alright, let's try
the clay pigeons.
- Now, that is no way to talk
about my sister.
- Ladies first.
- Pull.
[excited screams]
It's off a little bit.
- Pull.
[gunshot]
[narrator]:
Well, Annie beat the pants off
Mr. Butler that day.
Funny thing was, Mr. Butler
didn't seem to mind a bit.
- Smile!
[laughs]
- Congratulations!
[narrator]:
So, Annie and Frank
set out together.
Young Frank had some mighty
fine plans for the two of them.
Just like Ma said,
Annie always seemed to aim
in the right direction.
[laughing]
[train whistle]
[rhythmic music]
- Well, I still say
we should've told them.
- Lyda could've never taken it.
Not in a million years.
- But that's why
I wanted to tell her!
Her baby sister,
part of a shooting team.
She'd have died.
- Not a team.
- What?
- Not a team.
I have a better idea.
Just you.
- Frank, what are you
talking about?
- Just you, all by yourself.
- Frank! Wait a minute.
- I've been thinking about it,
it's a good idea.
- I've got something
to tell you.
You don't look
like a Frank to me.
You look more like a...
Jimmy.
- Fair enough.
- Fair enough.
Now, what are you saying?
You're gonna give up shooting?
- Sweet peas, you know
I'm a practical man.
Now, I deal in realities.
And the reality
is that you...
have very green eyes.
Now, I mean,
there's more than that.
[sigh]
The reality is
that you shoot better than me.
- Oh!
- In fact, you shoot better
than just about anybody
I ever saw in my life.
- Oh, go on!
- Now, would I lie to you?
- Certainly!
For one thing, my eyes are blue.
- Honey, you're gonna be a star.
And I'm gonna be your manager.
- Jimmy, are you saying
you're gonna give up
shooting for me?
- I'm not giving anything up.
I'm gaining for us.
And we are a team.
For the rest of our lives.
Okay, the question is...
what's your stage name gonna be?
Now, it can't be Butler.
You've gotta have a name
of your own.
Annie Moses.
- Oh, no, Jimmy.
It's gotta be something special.
- Welcome aboard
the Erie Railroad, friends.
Next stop:
"Schimmel-Heimmer"...
[He names train stations.]
...and Oakley!
- Annie Schimmel-Heimmer.
Oh well, I'll think
of something.
- Okay, you.
- Well, where are we heading
now, Jimmy?
- I got a plan.
I got a plan.
You remember a fellow named
Buffalo Bill?
- Buffalo Bill Cody, the Scout?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Oh my!
I read all the books about him.
Buffalo Bill on the Prairie,
Buffalo Bill
and the Indian Girl...
Buffalo Bill...
Buffalo Bill Cody!
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
welcome to Buffalo Bill's
Rocky Mountain
and Prairie Exhibition.
Ah-ha!
Featuring...
some of the truest wonders
of the wildest prairies,
just as they really happened.
Yeeha!
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
a reenactment
of the famous Pony Express.
Yeeha!
Yeeha!
- Jimmy, I thought you said
this was a big name outfit.
[horse neighing]
- Now, roping demonstration
by Pete Williams.
- Yeeha!
[laughter]
- Mister Cody.
- What?
[chuckling]
I'm not Cody.
Cody's out.
Are you from the bank?
- My name's Frank Butler.
- You're not from the bank.
- Got a little proposition
for you.
- Look, look. Can't you see
I'm a busy man?
I got a show to put on here.
Frank Butler, the marksman?
- That's right.
- Yeah, I heard of you.
You're supposed
to be really good.
- Well...
- Maybe we could use you.
Of course, we're kind of
booked up right at the moment.
But why don't we...
we get together after the show.
We'll talk things over.
- Well, it's not me, you see,
it's my wife.
- I don't think I quite
rightly heard that.
For a moment there, it sounded
like you said your wife?
- Yeah, you heard me right.
Now, I'm being straight
with you, Cody.
She is a markswoman.
Now, she's much better than me.
What I was thinking, we could
make it a wild west show,
with her trick-shooting,
the whole thing.
- Listen, mister--
- Of course, there's a bit
of a problem now,
cause she's real busy what with
all her engagements and all,
but I was thinking, for you,
we could work something out.
[sighing]
- Listen, buddy,
let me give you a hint.
This is a big show.
This is... this is the big time.
This is big business.
Well, the gist of what
I'm trying to say here is:
you bring me
a trick shooter, fine.
A roper, okay.
But I got no place in this show
for a young girl.
What I need is someone
who could hit this.
[gunshot]
[horse neighing]
No!
[gunshot, horse neighing]
- Have a drink on me, Cody.
- Now, ladies and gentlemen,
Miss Annie Oakley.
[applause]
Ladies and gentlemen,
that fearless sharp shooter,
Miss Annie Oakley.
[applause]
[triumphant music]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the newest sensation
and brilliant markswoman,
that little girl
of the western plains,
Miss... Annie...
Oakley!
[cheering]
And now, Miss Oakley
will demonstrate
her uncanny and
devastating accuracy!
[gunshots]
[continuous applause]
And, just like any other wife,
Miss Annie tries
to get her husband
to cut down
on his card-playing.
[applause]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[soft music]
[gunshots]
[indistinct announcement]
- Your first story.
"By far, the star attraction
of the Wild West Show
was little Miss Annie Oakley,"
whose name should've been
Annie Shimmel-heimmer...
- Oh, it doesn't say that!
- Oh, it doesn't,
but it does say,
"star attraction".
You see, it's happening.
Oh, sweet pea, just like I said.
- Well, save it
and I'll send it to Mama.
- We're gonna have a room
full of these
before you're done, honey.
You're just getting
bigger and bigger.
- You sound kinda dreamy.
- No, you're bringing them in,
honey!
And Cody's building up the show.
You'll see.
- Princess!
I got someone here who'd like
to make your acquaintance.
- Chief Sitting Bull.
- Yeah.
The governor brought him
and a delegation of Indians
to see the show.
[speaking Native tongue]
- Miss Annie,
he says he is very honoured
to meet the greatest shooter
he has ever seen.
[chuckling]
- Oh, please tell him thank you
and that I'm deeply honoured.
[whispering]: That's it,
butter the old buzzard up.
- Cody!
- See if you can get him
to join the show.
- Cody!
- Come on, Chief Sitting Bull
in our show,
we could reenact
Custer's Last Stand.
- He has given you
an Indian name.
"Watanya Cicilla":
Little Miss Sure Shot.
- Little Miss Sure Shot!
Oh, that's beautiful.
- That's great! We'll use it
on the poster.
Tell him we'll give him
credit for it!
- Cody!
- Come on, princess,
I've been working on the old
buzzard all day long.
I would go to 40$ a week!
Tell you what.
Tell him I will pay him...
20$ a week.
Okay? 20 big round
American dollars.
[horses neighing]
[speaks Native tongue]
- The Chief has asked that...
he make you his honorary
daughter.
- His daughter....
Please tell him that...
my own father died
when I was just a little girl
and I would be...
honoured...
to have such a great man
as my father.
- See if you can get him
at a special dad's rate.
- Oh, Cody! Don't you ever stop?
- Will you please use your charm
to do something here?
Alright, alright.
Tell him...
Tell him I'm willing
to go as high...
as 25$ a week.
25, seven suns, seven moons.
25! Big money!
[speaks Native tongue]
- He'll sign.
- Good.
- 50 bucks.
- 50 bucks?
That's a fortune!
- Oh, come on, Bill!
- I wouldn't pay that to Custer
and he's dead.
- He is worth that,
and then some.
And that's what I get.
- Think of the headlines, Bill.
- And Miss Annie must ask him.
- Please, tell him
that I would be honoured
if he, my father,
would join us.
- Yeah, here,
have a seat, Chief.
- I hate trading with Indians.
- Oh, Cody!
- 50.
Thank you very much.
Old buzzard.
- I'm so happy
that you're joining us.
I hope you are
happy here with us.
- I'll be as happy
as an old buzzard can be.
[Frank laughs.]
[narrator]: Nevertheless,
Buffalo Bill did okay.
Turned out folks were
more than a bit curious
to see Sitting Bull.
Thousands of folks
poured in to see the show.
And before long,
Cody got himself the notion
of taking the setup
on the road.
[train whistle]
[soft music]
[gunshot]
And just like Jimmy said,
Annie kept getting bigger.
And bigger, and bigger!
And in no time at all,
it seemed they were headed for
the biggest town of them all...
a town whose name even today
strikes awe and admiration
into the hearts
of American men and women.
But Annie
was finding out stardom
wasn't all it was
cracked up to be.
- Annie! Annie!
- Annie, I hear it's all tricks,
ain't it?
- They're back again!
Cody, where have you been?
I have been
waiting and waiting for you!
- Oh, oh, the Queen summons me
to her humble abode.
Hello, Bull.
- I need your help, here, Cody.
This fan mail, I must be getting
200 letters a day.
- 200?
- Yes,
and between
the press conferences
and the interviews and the--
- You get 200 letters a day?
- Yes, and the photographers
are following me around
everywhere I go.
- They do?
That reminds me,
I want you wearing
something frillier.
- Frillier? I'm saying I don't
want them around at all!
- Not want photographers?
Where's your business sense,
woman?
This is New York!
This is the big time!
This is publicity.
I want you to start wearing
a bow on your hair.
Make yourself look younger.
Bye, Bull.
- A bow?
You want me to wear a bow
in my hair? Fine.
Fine, I'll just wear
a little bow in my hair.
He wants me to wear a bow
in my hair.
You know, he's got an entire
character written for me.
I gotta act a certain way,
I gotta dress a certain way.
I have to be sweet and demure.
He doesn't listen to a word
I say.
He doesn't listen to anybody.
And these people,
why won't they just
leave me alone?
They don't know me.
What do they want from me?
You know, it's all wrong.
It's just all wrong. I hate it!
- Annie.
- I hate it!
I just don't know
who I am anymore.
- Let me say something, Annie.
Have you ever thought
about the way
my people are portrayed
in the show?
And in every Wild West story
you hear?
They call us "savages".
Wild men who attack
peaceful settlers,
and ambush innocent soldiers.
It never occurs to anyone
that we've just been
defending our own land.
Our home.
Against foreign invaders.
- Your own land.
- The crowd boos me
when I ride out. Don't they?
Well, it used to disturb me.
But one day, I realized,
it doesn't matter.
- Oh, but it does.
It's wrong!
- No, Annie.
It's not what they think
that matters.
Your public is ephemeral.
It's what you think,
what you stand for...
your character...
That's what matters.
- But what is that?
I mean, who am I?
- You're a brilliant marksman,
Annie.
[speaking in native tongue]
[chuckling]
The romance of the West.
- I know, but I feel
like a runaway Colt.
With nothing to tether onto.
- You have your shooting.
You have me.
And you have Frank.
- And I have Greenville.
- Yes. Yes!
These are your roots,
Annie. Your home.
That's what you should cherish.
It's your core.
It's who you are.
History will remember you
as a brave and strong woman
who could shoot like an angel.
An angel who stood up
for herself.
These people mean no harm.
They just want to reach out...
and touch history.
- So when you're out there
riding around
and they're booing you like...
What you're saying to yourself
that whole time is...
"I know who I am.
I know who I am."
- No, Annie.
When they're booing me,
what I actually say
to myself is:
"50 dollars a week.
50 dollars a week."
[chuckling]
[narrator]: Annie started
feeling a mite better
after that.
She could see Buffalo Bill
was just a man
who loved his show.
- Ladies and gentlemen
of New York City.
Tonight, right here
on Staten Island,
in honour of the greatest state
in the union, the Empire State,
and with the aid of
the very latest
in modern wizardry,
eighties technology,
we are proud to present
our very first
night performnance!
Calcium flare! On!
[hissing and drums]
[cheering]
[triumphant music]
- That old Cody sure does like
these gadgets, doesn't he.
- And now,
America's national
entertainment,
the one and only,
genuine and authentic,
unique and original,
Wild West Show!
[cheering]
Including...
Including, as you know,
the war chief
of the Fighting Sioux,
that feared and famous warrior
of the Western Plains:
Chief Sitting Bull!
[booing]
And now,
may I introduce
our biggest star,
the fearless lass,
The lovely maid,
the little girl
with the magic gun,
Little Miss Sure Shot!
- See, you're a hit.
I told you, didn't I?
- You sure did, Jimmy.
[applause]
- Miss Annie Oakley!
[cheering]
[rhythmic music]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
And now, Miss Annie will display
her consummate
and incredible nerve...
and skill.
From an angle
never before tried,
Miss Oakley will shoot a bullet
at the tomahawk
with such accuracy
that the bullet will split,
shattering both crystal balls
with only one shot.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
And like every good wife,
at the end of the day,
Miss Annie sees...
that her man needs
to light up that smoke.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
But she also knows
that it's bad for him.
[gunshot]
[gasping]
[cheering]
- Annie dazzled alright.
And she was enjoying it.
Soon, she could handle
those press boys like nothing.
- Sure it ain't a trick, missie?
[gunshot]
- And she was enjoying
her fan mail too.
- Jimmy, look.
It's a letter from Mark Twain.
- Some fans were
as famous as she was.
- Yeah, but who's
this Samuel Clemens?
Look what Al Graham Bell
sent over.
- A telephone.
- Miss Oakley?
- Yes.
- I'm Thomas Edison.
- With all those new
telephones and telegrams
and railroads sprouting up,
word travelled like wildfire.
You see, she was starring
in the best and biggest show
of that time.
A show that brought
a little nostalgia back
to all those big new cities.
Folks just couldn't get out
fast enough to see the show.
Visiting the camp,
seeing those notorious
gunslingers,
the ferocious Indians...
And the daring, reckless cowboy
scouts in their natural habitat.
- Hello, Delmonico's?
Table for 20.
- And soon, Annie was
the very first superstar
this growing-up
country ever saw.
[gunshots]
Annie and Frank
had a high old time exploring
the newest big-city
contraptions.
Not to mention young Tom
Edison's newest invention.
- Move. Move!
Everyone does that.
- Maybe, uh...
Maybe make like you're shooting
something, sweet pea.
- Ah...
- With the rifle.
- Good.
[birds chirping]
Beautiful!
Perfect!
- Of course it's perfect.
She always is.
She's a superstar.
- And through it all,
Annie and Frank
still led themselves
a normal domestic life.
- Good night, baby.
- Oh, good night, sweet pea.
[mosquito buzzing]
- That blasted mosquito.
[gunshot]
London?
[laughing]
- Why not?
London, Paris,
maybe even Germany.
- But Bill,
what about Greenville?
- Greenville? Princess,
princess...
Get with it,
this is the eighties.
This is the big time.
Big cities!
Big-time show business!
You're gonna love London.
I promise you, you'll see.
We're gonna be twice
as big over there.
- Sure enough, the Wild West
was even a bigger hit in London
than it had been in New York.
Fact is, those English folks
had just about been dying
to see what we've been up to.
Ever since we had
that little spat with them
about 100 years back.
Thousands of people crowded in.
And by far, the star
of the show was
Little Miss Sure Shot.
How they raved about her!
Well, in their own way,
of course.
Not just in the ring, mind you.
But socially too.
All of England loved
her natural charm.
- Your Majesty.
Queen Victoria.
- Miss Oakley, fine, fine
shooting. Fine indeed.
- Oh, I'm just deeply honoured.
May I please present to you
my husband?
- It's a great pleasure--
- No, no, you bow.
- I'm sorry.
- Frank Butler.
It's your 50th jubilee,
isn't it?
Imagine being queen of England
for 50 years.
- Yes. Well, it is secure.
Not much chance of advancement.
But I suppose
when you're the head
of a sovereign state,
there isn't much further up
you can go.
Where do you come from,
my child? New York?
- Oh, no, no. I'm just
from a small little town.
A country town:
Greenville, Ohio.
But it's a fine place.
- No need to apologize.
Us, we prefer the country life.
- Really? You do?
- Yes.
The plain, homespun life.
- It is the best thing
in the world, isn't it?
- Rustic simplicity.
Windsor Castle.
Now that's simple living.
- You don't think I could ask
you just a small favour, do you?
You see, it'd be great
if I could just
get a little token
to show my mom that I met you.
A photograph perhaps, or...
- Oh, nonsense!
I'd be delighted. Delighted!
I must say, it's the least
I could do for the brilliant
marksman of the Western Plains
who conquered the British Empire
single-handedly.
[God Save the Queen playing]
Well, it's been lovely,
but we must go.
- Are you gonna stop by and see
Buffalo Bill before you leave?
- Yes, we'll try.
We'll try. [chuckling]
Oh, catchy tune.
Always cheers me up.
- Bye, now.
[laughing]
- The Queen came here?
And she didn't come to see me.
Did she forget
the name of the show?
- Oh, Cody.
- What a sweet and simple
little girl
of the Western Plains it is.
[chuckling]
You couldn't wait to get
that picture up on your wall,
could you?
No, you wanted everyone to know
that she came here to see you
and didn't come to see me!
I bet you just love that!
- Oh, you're just tired.
- Oh, an observant little girl
of the Western Plains.
Quick as a whip, how about that!
Any other gems
you'd care to drop?
Any other pearls of wisdom?
- Oh, well, you know the old
saying about pearls, don't you?
[coughing]
- Prefer fancy words for a girl
from Darke County.
- Oh, pretty fancy words
for a boy from Le Claire, Iowa!
- Chut!
- Oh, come on, Will.
No more fight. [chuckling]
- Oh, here comes the old charm.
That doesn't always work,
sweet cakes.
- Cody.
- Maybe with your pals,
Vicky and her--
- Cody!
- Okay, okay.
Uncle, uncle.
Oh, who needs it anyway?
- Oh, what in tarnation's
going on with you?
- Hey, sweet pea.
- What?
- Did Cody tell you about
the invitation?
- What invitation?
- Well, it's
from Prince Wilhelm.
You're going to Germany, honey.
You're gonna shoot
for the prince.
- Germany!
[gasping]
Me, by myself?
- That's right.
- Just like you always wanted.
- Oh, Cody, don't you ever stop!
- Oh, look at those
pretty green eyes.
- They're blue.
- You've had those eyes
on the number one slot
ever since the first day
you got here. Didn't you?
Yeah, I ought to have known
with all those metals
you're all the time wearing.
That should've been the tip-off!
- Did I walk in in the middle
of something here?
- You were just sitting there,
biding your time, waiting your
chance.
Well, go... Go on!
I'm sure Germany
will be very happy to see you.
And tell Billy boy "howdy"
from me.
[soft music]
- So, Annie went on
to Germany by herself
while the Wild West
stayed behind.
She was an international
superstar, now.
The toast of the world.
But that wasn't it for Annie.
Although she was famous,
something was missing.
Annie and Frank sailed back
to New York.
- Oh, Jimmy.
What did I do?
I always wanted Mama to see me
in a Wild West show.
Oh, Jimmy, what am I gonna do?
- Honey, you don't me to tell
you what to do.
You were always real good
at figuring out
your own answers, now.
What do you see in your heart,
sweet pea?
- I'd hate to tell you.
[sighing]
I miss that show.
- Well, then,
go pay a call on old Bill Cody.
You know they're right over
on Staten Island again.
- I wouldn't talk
to that buzzard,
not after what he said and did!
I wouldn't talk to him
if he came here banging
on that door,
hat in hand, begging me on.
[knocking on door]
Oh, thanks.
Here you go.
- Annie Oakley! Oh, my...
I'm Winthrop Gardner.
And me and my buddy Gordon,
we're gonna run away next summer
and join the Wild West.
- You're gonna run away?
- Yeah, I'm gonna be a marksman,
just like you, Miss Oakley.
- Now what does your mom say
about all that?
Isn't she gonna miss you?
- Nah.
- You know, Winthrop,
the Wild West,
it's a wonderful,
wonderful show to be in.
You know, it just might be
the best place a person
could ever be,
but home is a mighty
sweet place too,
and you ought not be hopping
and jumping up to leave it
too soon.
Believe me, I'd know.
And anyway, if I'm not mistaken,
you're not quite full-grown yet.
- I'm gonna be 12 years old
next fall.
- I'll make you a deal.
When you turn 18,
you come visit me
and I'll help you join
the Wild West.
- You will?
- I promise.
And I never break my promises.
- Well, okay, I guess.
But Miss Oakley, can I just go
get Gordon so he can meet you?
Please? Please?
- Okay, go on.
[gasps]
Pretty cute, these kids.
- You really do miss that show,
don't you?
[knocking on door]
- Young Gordon's pretty quick.
Yes, sir, the one, the only...
[soft music]
- I don't ask anything
but to come in, Miss Annie.
- Well, what is it, Bill?
Are your receipts down?
- Mighty harsh words.
But I reckon I deserve it.
- His receipts are down.
Well, come on in.
- Frank.
- Hello, Bill.
- You know, I'm not
coming back, Cody.
- I'm not asking you to, Annie.
I'm not saying anything. I...
I just want to...
[sighing] Well, I'm...
I'm not exactly the sort of man
who's very good at apologizing.
- Is that what this is?
- Could be.
- Well, I guess it's about
as close to something
resembling an apology
as I might get from you.
Now, supposing...
I was to come back.
- Don't be toying with me.
- I wouldn't do that.
- You mean, you might?
- There's just one thing.
It's Greenville.
Now you know, Bill,
I have been yearning
and yearning
to go back home with the show.
The whole show!
The whole Wild West.
I want my folk...
I want my momma to see me shoot.
I want all my people to see
what I do, to see my show.
- My show.
- I want my momma
to see me shoot.
It's my roots, that's what I am.
And that's what I ask.
- And then, you'd come back?
- Could be.
- Well, I could see
what I could do.
- Well, it's gotta be
Greenville.
If you give me Greenville,
I'll sign up right now.
- Oh, you're a tough one, Annie.
You always were.
I'll see what I can do.
- Well, you know, I have my old
contract right in this drawer.
And you know, I could just sign
it and date it now and save us
some time, and...
[sighing]
- The surprise in an hour.
Welcome home, princess.
Frank.
- Bill.
- Did you see me?
- Yes, I did.
- Did you see what he did?
He came in here...
just hoping...
- Mm.
- Not expecting nothing.
- No.
- Almost like a regular
human being.
- Take a look at this.
[soft guitar]
- That buzzard!
[laughing]
Cody!
[soft music]
- Ladies and gentlemen,
that little girl
from Darke County.
Your own native daughter,
the pride of Greenville,
that international superstar,
Miss Annie Oakley!
[cheering]
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
a trick never before tried.
Miss Oakley will shot a dime
out of her husband's hand,
using not her natural vision.
Not a mirror.
But the shiny blade...
...of a Bowie knife.
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[gunshot]
[cheering]
[rhythmic music]
- Annie, that was so spiffy!
And here are my little angels.
Anifern, and Cornelius Edgar.
- Hello.
Hi, Joe.
- Joseph, how are you?
- Frank, you're looking good.
- Thank you.
- Glad to tell you we finally
moved to Hyde Park.
- Well, congratulations.
That's wonderful!
- Oh, Momma.
I've been waiting, and waiting
and waiting to show you this.
- Oh, Annie.
I am so proud of you.
- You know that that was
the only thing that was missing?
I can be truly happy now.
- Oh, Frank, this is
so exciting.
And I see that you're still
as handsome as ever.
- Well...
[chuckling]
And you haven't changed
a bit either, Lyda.
[chuckling]
- Hello, Cody.
- Great show, Annie.
- Thanks.
I'd like to present to you
my momma.
This is Buffalo Bill Cody.
- Misses Moses,
this is a genuine pleasure.
One that I have too long
been denied.
I've been begging
and begging Annie
to let me bring my show
here to Greenville--
- Cody!
- Annie, he is just
like you said.
Only he's even more full
of blarney than I thought.
[laughing]
- Great to have you back,
princess.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Oh, you know I can't get along
without you.
Things just weren't the same
when you weren't here.
- Is that a real apology?
- The humblest.
- Oh, I never could
stay mad at you.
Oh, I'm so happy. [grunting]
Come here and meet
everybody else.
This is Lyda and this is Joe.
This is her children over there.
That's Anifern
and Cornelius Edgar.
This is Buffalo Bill Cody!
- How you doing?
To Greenville!
[all]: To Greenville!
- Well, after that,
they toured and toured.
Annie never missed a day.
Never missed a shot neither.
Finally, in 1910,
the Wild West folk
kind of went
their own separate ways.
In 1917, Cody went on to that
big showplace in the sky,
where no doubt he set himself
up a rip-roaring time.
And later around the 1920s,
Annie and Frank retired.
They couldn't help but marvel
at the changes they'd seen.
- Now, they got these X-rays.
Cameras that can see
right through you.
And those airplanes,
what was the name of that fellow
who flew across the Atlantic?
- Lindbergh.
- Lindbergh.
Gosh! Can you imagine
being able to...
to just pick up and fly
anywhere you wanted to?
- I don't know.
Who's ever dreamed
of something like that?
Look at these.
You know...
Annie, I feel like we kind
of watched this all happen.
We saw it all.
A great, big country growing up
right in front of our eyes.
[chuckling]
- With all those people.
- Yeah.
- Jimmy, they just gave me
so much.
- Oh, come on. Come on.
You gave them a bit
of yourself too, sweet pea.
The romance of the west.
- Oh, that was me.
- International superstar.
- Just like you always said,
Jimmy.
- Well...
[sighing]
It sure was something,
huh, sweet pea?
- I was something, Jimmy.
[soft music]
[soft country music]
Subtitles: difuze