The Wonderful World of Disney (1995–2005): Season 40, Episode 22 - Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan Adventure - full transcript

Paper!

Hey, mister!
Got a paper?

"Written on a typewriter."

By Frances Ella Fitz.

Well, Miss Fitz, that contraption
looks awfully complicated to me,

however it seems
satisfactory.

You have till Friday
to complete this.

Lunch break
at noon sharp.

The men are all excited.
You'd think we'd declared war.

What have we done?

Found gold in Alaska.



They're picking up nuggets the
size of baseballs with their bare hands.

Excuse me.

"The black sands
of Nome sparkle.

"Never before has such a bonanza
been within every man's grasp."

Imagine, picking gold
off the beach.

I could do that!

You certainly could not.

She's teasing, Mother.

I can't think of anything
worse than frontier life,

all mud
and mosquitoes.

Well, why don't you go
dancing with George and Alice?

I've lost all taste
for this tune.

Frances,
the light will...

Fade the upholstery.
...fade the upholstery, darling.



I know, Mother.

If only
I could sell a song.

Wouldn't that be fine!

Tell me what this needs.

A little spice.

Excuse me.
Tickets to Alaska?

Upstairs, sweetie.

Thank you.

Who's next, please?

Thank you, sir.

Keep in line,
gentlemen.

Sorry, ma'am. You're wanting
Philadelphia or Boston, I expect.

Over there.

Alaska's my destination,
thank you.

You don't look the type,
if I may say.

Oh, I am.

How much is a ticket
to Nome?

Four hundred.

That much?
How about a deposit?

How about full fare or nothing?
I only got a few left.

You'd think I was selling
tickets to paradise.

Sounds like heaven.

Don't believe everything
you read, little lady.

Team up with a syndicate, like they are,
for protection, that's my advice.

He's got tickets, Mr. Madison,
and he has experience.

Protection against what?

Thugs, bears, blizzards.

I wouldn't sell
an unaccompanied lass

a one-way ticket
to frozen hell

even if you had the money.
Which you don't!

Next!

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

That will be fine, but no later.
We leave Seattle by noon.

Excuse me. Mr. Madison?

Let me ring you right back.

Frances Ella Fitz.

P.T. Madison.

So, you're off
to Alaska.

Me, too, if there's space.

There's always room
for one more.

Oh. Thank you.

So, what does that entail?

You sign a contract, making you
the 24th member of my company.

I supply transportation, housing,
food, equipment, expertise, everything.

In exchange for what?

Well, once we get to Alaska to
stake our claims, we split the profits.

Half goes
to the company...

That's you.

The other half
is split equally.

Well, if I had the 400,
I could buy my own ticket.

But I have something
more valuable than dollars.

You do, eh?

Yes, I do.

I have this.

I demonstrated typing
at the World's Fair.

Mechanical writing?

I've heard
about such machines.

Well, I'm sure you have stacks
of letters and lists of supplies,

an important man
like yourself.

More than you can handle
with that contraption.

Hey, are you
transcribing this?

"Hey, are you
transcribing this?"

Twelve Sharps rifles,
500 rounds of ammunition,

six dozen tins of bacon,
four sacks of coffee,

two sacks of sugar,
400 weight of flour.

Whole wheat or white?

Sourdough.

"Sourdough."

So, perhaps we can work
something out?

Typing for 400.

You got parents?
My mother.

Got her permission?

With your help.

Can I bring my dog?

Careful. In Alaska
they eat dog.

Alaska?
There are wolves.

I've already signed
a contract, Mother.

Unsign it.
Immediately.

I'll be traveling
with a very experienced man.

Frances Ella!

He organizes
companies.

They say everything's
much safer in a group.

Frances.

People are
flocking, Mother.

They're dreamers.

That's right.
I can dream.

This is a nightmare.
You are absolutely not going.

I'll get it.
No.

If only you had other interests,
Frances, then perhaps...

A gentleman
caller for Fizzy.

Frances! How lovely.
For you.

For you, Mrs. Fitz.

This is the Alaska gentleman
I was telling you about.

P.T. Madison.

Pierce Thomas.

Your daughter has told me so
many wonderful things about you,

I feel honored at the privilege of
being able to set your fears at rest.

Perhaps Mr. Madison
would join us for sweets?

I'd be delighted.

Mrs. Fitz, if I were you,
I'd be gravely concerned

about your
daughter's reputation,

and I would most certainly wish
to confront the irresponsible person

who would propose
such an act of madness.

We concur entirely.

This pudding must have been
baked by angels. It's so light.

Truly?

But Mrs. Fitz, there are
no dangers in Alaska

when guided by
someone of experience.

Indeed, for those of spirit,
Alaska might actually be too tame.

Fortune comes
so easily.

Does it, Mr. Madison?

If you're so experienced,
and fortune has come so easily,

may I ask why you are
bothering to go again?

I wouldn't presume to insult
your intelligence with falsehoods.

I have been called a dreamer
and perhaps I am.

But for a man like myself,
Alaska has become a passion.

Make no mistake, I could be
comfortable for the rest of my life,

sleeping between silk sheets,
eating fine foods.

But for some of us,
Alaska is destiny.

And we can't argue
with destiny, now, can we?

I wouldn't presume to do
such a thing, Mr. Madison,

but naturally,
as a mother, I...

Would you care
for some more?

Oh, no, thank you.
I must decline.

Oh, no, thank you.
I must decline.

I have another appointment
with my backers.

It's been a pleasure
to set your fears at rest.

You're going to be very
proud of your daughter.

I'm already very
proud of Frances.

So, how could you doubt
her good judgment?

Well, I...
I'm not sure that I...

Don't fret, Mrs. Fitz.

Wednesday, train station, 8:00 sharp.

I appreciate you taking time
for my mother's inquiries.

Your Mr. Madison
seems quite tasteful

and very commanding.

The answer is no.

You all right,
Miss Fitz?

I suspect
I have a fever.

Not serious,
I hope?

It's contagious.

Are you finished?

Completely.

You're home
early, dear.

I've thought a lot
about this.

I'm going to Alaska.

I have to.

That's all I can say.

I know.

Oh.

You're really going?

There's never been
any stopping Fizzy.

There you are, Faust.

Miss Fitz, at the birth
of this century,

when there was just
open prairie,

it was a magnet
for wild visionaries,

pioneers, men
and women of spirit.

Now, as the century dies of old age,
with the mainland tamed,

a free spirit must head to the
frozen north into the unknown.

Excuse me.

I booked us a cabin.

Ah!

One cabin?
We have to share?

We have to share.
You may take the upper.

What about them?

This is our company.

We should all
introduce ourselves.

Mr. Madison,
I can't stay here.

You'll freeze
up on deck.

Hey, you got us jammed
in here like sardines.

Get used to it.

Alaska is vast, but
there isn't much indoors.

When we make our fortune,
you can buy yourself a hotel.

Mr. Madison,
you've been north.

Is it true you can just
scoop the nuggets up?

Some have. There'll be plenty
for every man and woman.

Monte Marks, from New York,
piano salesman.

Not anymore. You're a
gold miner now, mister.

Yes, sir.

I'm Ed Hawkins,
Chicago.

Former medical student, former
soldier, about to be a millionaire.

Yeah.

The name's Dow.
I'm a carpenter.

Tom Pratt, baker.
Bangor, Maine.

Cecil Whitney
from Cleveland. Dentist.

Barry Keown.
Pittsburgh.

Athlete. Got 25 gold
medals to prove it.

Lover. Got a string of
broken hearts to prove that, too.

Miss Fitz?

Oh, um,
I'm Frances Ella Fitz,

but you can all call me Fizzy.
Everybody does.

And I'm also from New York.

And let's see, I'm a typist and
a stenographer, a banjo player.

Have you seen my dog?

I'm sorry.
I haven't.

Is she your girlfriend?

Certainly not!

Then who said
she could belong?

Miss Fitz signed an 18-month
contract just like you.

She's a member
of this company.

She's a woman.

You hold that against her?

When it comes to hauling sled
and digging pay dirt, yeah, I do.

Look, she can't do
a man's work.

Why should
she get a man's pay?

I mean, this is gold
we're talking about.

You boys want to
give it away?

Why, I don't know
about that.

Miss Fitz,
nothing personal,

but an educated female like
yourself should know better

than to push
where she don't belong.

Mr. Keown,
this is my company.

No, we're the company,
Mr. Madison, and I say we have a vote.

Maybe in six months when she's
had a chance to prove herself.

Now.

Faust!

I'm no vet, but I think somebody
rubbed your dog with turpentine.

Who would do such a thing?

Mr. Hawkins,
please hold Faust.

Not you.

What do you want, lady?

You!

Why would you do
such a thing to my dog?

Your little mutt
made a mess.

Maybe I'll throw him
overboard.

Not my dog.

All those in favor of Miss Fitz
rounding out our company?

Yeah.
Yeah.

Those in favor of throwing
her and the dog overboard?

With a right like that,
she can't be all bad.

All right, Faust,
so it's not Coney Island.

But you can dig gold
nuggets instead of bones.

That's the beach?

Right there.
I got you, Fizzy.

Who's going to
take Faust?

Ed, you can
carry the dog.

Thank you, Madison. I...

This is the promised land.

You can set up
over here.

Rent's $1 0
a square foot.

This is public land, friend.

I disagree.

We'll move further down.
It's more convenient.

Come on, Faust.

- Come on, gentlemen.
This way.

Faust!

Gentlemen, trouble!

Come on,
let's take a look.

Let her go!

Back off if you don't
want her to die.

I got a company of men
back there, armed and eager.

Bull! You would have
shot already.

I'll cut her wide open.

You know, two can play
at that game.

He's bluffing.

Bluffing, eh?

Uh-huh.

You know, that reminds me
of the time I was in the Yukon.

Couple winters back.
Oh, now there was a gold strike.

Say, were you two
fellas there?

You sure look
awful familiar.

Yeah, I was there.

No, you weren't.

Gentlemen, please.

and there I was with a
sled load of sirloin steaks

surrounded by
drooling grizzlies.

Grizzlies?
Sure.

'Course, I couldn't let my
men starve, now could I?

No.

What kept you boys?

Welcome to Nome, Fizzy.

What happened?

They were
chloroformers.

What?

A fellow miner
must've flashed his gold.

He was lucky they knocked
him out with chloroform.

Well, if he woke up and fought,
they would've killed him.

Just like they
would've killed you.

Thank you for saving me.

I knew
she'd be trouble.

Miss Fitz will learn the ropes
and pull her own weight.

Typing was just a way
to pay my passage.

Now, it's the best known
law firm in Nome.

But I came here to mine gold,
not to work in an office.

Well, we could use
some liquid assets.

I thought you did this
for destiny, not for money.

Steady.
There we are.

Well, all my funds are tied up in
long-term investments. Gilt edge.

Sometimes destiny
needs a helping hand.

Is he all right?

Well, he's either
dead drunk or dead.

Oh, looks like someone
didn't like paying rent.

How can you be so...

What? Callous?

Fizzy, up here,
you make a mistake,

you freeze to death
in a minute.

You make an enemy,
you die in a second.

The speed and the high stakes,
that's what makes it exciting.

I can mine.
I know I can if you teach me.

We won't be
mining in the summer.

Well, surely
I told you.

First we have to set up
the cabins near the claims

to get through
the winter.

Then in the spring,
that's when the gold will flow.

Well, then,
I'll build cabins. I'll work hard.

I didn't travel all this way
to work in an office.

Well, building
is the easy part.

First, you have to
get everything there.

How much can
you carry, Fizzy?

Can you neck a loaded sled,
haul it through drifts?

You can be a real help.

There isn't much
cash in the kitty,

and well, your earnings will help
get us through until we hit pay dirt.

Ha! I'll meet you right here
at Wyatt Earp's Saloon.

We'll celebrate your gainful
employment with a hot breakfast.

I'm Frances Ella Fitz,
the typist.

Mr. Madison suggested
that I come by and...

No dogs
in this office.

But in New York...

This isn't New York.

I'm a qualified secretary
and stenographer.

Got one. Shut the door
on your way out.

Don't lose your nerve, Wyatt.
You owe me a mint of money.

There's plenty more
where this comes from.

My Calypso claim's
a honey pot of gold.

Excuse me, Miss.

Oh, Madison.
Fizzy!

Did you see
all of that gold?

Yes, I did.

There wasn't
any typing work.

Uh-huh.

Can't you just
borrow from the bank?

No, I'd have to beg Charles L. Birch,
the money lender.

Not exactly known for his
generosity or forgiving spirit.

So, you the new dance hall gal
we been expecting?

Excuse me?

The young lady
is with me.

She's part
of my company.

Sure you don't
want to work?

Oh, well,
lam looking...

No. She doesn't,
thank you.

She's going to be
a sourdough.

A sourdough?

I'm a gold digger, too.

Your typing's slow.
You can't spell.

You're drunk. You're stupid.
And you're fired!

Get out of here
and don't come back again.

You! You still
want the job?

Depends
on the terms.

Forty cents
per hundred words.

What about
carbons?

Nickel each.

Take it.

Here are my terms.

Eighty cents per hundred words
and a dime for every carbon

and I get to keep all freelance earnings.
I figure that's fair.

The young lady
figures fast.

Gold rush rates.

He'll never
accept that. Never.

Done.

And I get to
bring my dog.

Name's Wyatt Earp.

Congratulations,
little lady.

The only way you could've
made better money in Nome

is on my dance floor.

Keep those claim forms
coming, Miss Fitz.

Yes, sir.

Turn the lamp off
when you leave.

Come on in, your Honor,
this shouldn't take too long.

Judge,
we didn't write the law.

A few senatorial friends
did that for us.

Only American citizens
can claim mineral rights.

Sounds downright
patriotic to me.

We can't help it if
some of those dumb miners

can't prove
where they were born.

Oh, that Calypso
is a pretty find.

His loss is our gain.
Yours, too, Judge.

Say, Con rad,

where are you keeping the
Judge's little appreciation, hmm?

In the other room.

Darn girl left
the lamp burning.

I'll have to dock it
from her pay.

From our collection of
portraits of dead presidents.

Well, we know
what to do with miners

who don't respect the law,
don't we, Conrad?

This is most kind.

May I buy you
boys a drink?

I've got to show this
to Mr. Madison.

Oh.

Who's the gal?
That's no gal.

That's that typist working
for that thieving Conrad.

Calypso.

It's clear as day.

Oh, Fizzy, relax.

Who killed the miner
that owned Calypso?

They filed a claim
on his land

saying that he had
no right to work it

and when he wouldn't
give it up...

Fisher and Conrad are the
biggest lawyers in Nome.

The biggest crooks!
Read it!

"Previous owner could not
prove citizenship."

"Previous owner could not
prove citizenship."

None of these
poor men

carry around birth
certificates with them.

I don't know, Fizzy.
It looks legal to me.

That's their skill. Disguising just
how they rob these poor men.

Little lady, the rest of us
have got a long trip ahead of us

and I'm a hungry man.

There's something
terribly wrong, Madison.

Yeah, an empty plate.
Do your job. Fill it.

Easy, Barry.

Fizzy's been working double
days typing at that office.

Then she has to feed us.

You momma's boys want me
to make the meals?

Then we'd really
be done for.

Well, someone's going to have to
do galley service at winter camp.

Oh, while she stays here
being a Philadelphia lawyer?

Doesn't anybody care?

Maybe it's your imagination.

No, it is not
my imagination, Madison.

All right, I'll come
to the hearing.

Maybe I can explain the legalities
before you make these wild accusations.

This court is in session.

Court is in session!

How can you hold court in
the office of the guilty party?

I can hold court in a long-drop
outhouse if it so pleases me.

They're stealing
our claims!

Prove it.

Where's
your evidence, huh?

None of them can even read,
Your Honor.

Where do you think
you're going?

I'm getting a file.

Not now,
young lady!

Oh, but it's very important.
It's the Calypso file.

Miss Fitz, this court
is in session.

Get back to work,
Miss Fitz.

Ow!

This is my work, Mr. Conrad.
I wish to be accurate.

Let her do it!

These look just like the
portraits of the dead presidents

that you gave
His Honor in appreciation.

Yes, here it is.

Calypso, and
some other files.

All right, you stop that,
you hear me?

Those are confidential documents.
Leave her alone!

Leave her alone!

I'm sure some
of you boys can read.

Mr. Madison,
I wish to go home.

Hey, hey, hey.

You back off, sir. I don't
wanna have to shoot you.

Now, you get your hands off me,
this is an expensive suit.

You're not
going anywhere.

Yes, I am.

Back to New York,
where it doesn't smell rotten.

See you later, Miss Fit.

Fizzy, you've just
made enemies

out of the three most
powerful men in Nome.

This place is no place for us
until things settle down.

Fine. I'm going to New York.
I'll come back in spring.

A round trip to
New York isn't cheap.

I've worked long enough
to afford it.

Even without
severance pay.

Fizzy, has there been
some misunderstanding?

I mean, surely when
you signed the contract

I explained to you that half of
what you make goes to the company

and the other half
is split equally.

You mean, I get one twenty-fourth
of half of what I've earned?

And a share
in what we make.

But you haven't
made anything.

Well, that'll all change once
the boys build Madison City.

Madison City?
Sure!

The future mining
capital of the North.

I've sent a team
up on ahead.

We'll haul the last load.
That's where your money went.

Equipment.

Fizzy, what did you
say to those men?

I packed
all your things.

Fizzy, we're not staying here.
Nor can you.

Who is he?
That's Whiskers.

He's coming with us.
He knows about mining.

Us? Madison, I'm
going back to New York.

Fizzy, there is no money
for you to go back home

and you can't stay here.

Well, where are the dogs
to pull the sleds?

You're looking at them.
He says it's to save money.

Get ready
to mush, Fizzy.

What?

Got it, boys?

A little help
here, Pratt.

Hug the trees.

Watch your back.
Watch your back.

Up we go.
A little help.

Take the strap,
take the strap.

Here you go.

Up, UP, UP-

Got it there,
old timer.

All right.

You got it?

We'll wait for you, Fizzy.

Must you embarrass me?

Ladies have needs.

You gotta stay warm.

Thank you.

I think we're holding
them back, Faust.

Let's go back to Nome.

Come on, boy.

Come on.

Whoa!
Anyone seen Fizzy?

She caught up yet?

I haven't seen her.

Fizzy!

Fizzy!

Fizzy.

Fizzy!

Fizzy!

Fizzy, wake up!

Wake up! Fizzy!

Get on your feet
or you'll freeze.

Get up!

I didn't think
you were a quitter, Fizzy.

A quitter and a shirker.

And because of you
I'm going to die.

I can't leave you and I'm not
strong enough to carry you.

You're going to have to do this
on your own two feet.

If I go back to get the others
I'll never find you again

and you'll be frozen to death
10 minutes after you close your eyes.

I can't live with that.

So, I guess we'll both die.

And you put another
man's life in jeopardy.

I'm not a man.

Give the little lady
a splash.

Rub it in, tenderize the
bruised meat, my love.

It's darn good
sipping whiskey, too.

I wasn't thinking.
It's cold.

Numbs the brain.
Cold's the real killer.

A couple of life's surprises like this,
you'll be a real sourdough.

What's a sourdough?

The most valuable possession
up here, aside from a gold pan,

is a little biddy ball
of sourdough yeast.

It smells sour.

Makes sweet bread.

And it's alive,
and that's the secret.

Staying alive, through
the cold and the blizzards.

Anyone tough enough to last
the distance up here in Alaska,

they call a sourdough.

I don't think that
that's me.

Not yet.

Sorry I said those things.
I didn't want to lose you.

Ed, you're hurting her
tender skin. I'll take over.

Hold up. Hold up.
You all right?

Yeah.

Come on.
Come on.

That's not
the regular trail.

The regular trail adds
seven miles to our trip.

We'll take the old
Indian path.

Excuse me,
but we ain't Indians.

It's not home territory for us.

The regular trail's
longer,

but the going's easier.

Roadhouses all the way.
The Indian trail's uninhabited.

How about that,
Madison?

We have a tent. The short
cut will save expenses.

We have a tent. The short
cut will save expenses.

Put our lives at stake
for a couple of bucks?

This world was
never won by timidity.

Gentlemen, Fizzy, seven
extra miles is needlessly long

to haul these heavy sleds.

What if
we get lost?

I know this trail by heart.

Madison!

We have to know how much
longer this is going to take.

Another week.

That's what you said
seven days ago.

Now, don't worry.
I've done this before.

We're running out of food.

Which means we're going to
run out of strength.

And you won't give us a
clear answer about how long.

How long?

You don't know, do you?

Aside from a 1,000-foot climb,
hauling loaded sleds,

anything else
you haven't told us?

Now, don't make a
mountain out of a mole hill.

How much grub
is left, Fizzy?

Coffee for three pots,
a tin of beef,

can of tomatoes,
flour for four days,

two potatoes, one onion,

a frozen piece of bacon
we can chew on.

We've just hit a bit
of bad luck, that's all.

Take a break.

Another mistake,
another storm,

another week
turns into another month.

We'll be dead
from bad luck by then.

Let us not lose sight
of why we're here.

Our fortune lies ahead.

Once we get to Madison City,
we'll be far too rich

to remember
these tribulations.

If we ever make it
to Madison City.

It's probably just another
one of your dreams.

What do you think
you're doing?

Oh. I'm making a snow angel.

Haven't you ever made one?

That's for children.

You know, if you are going
to treat me like a child,

I will just have to
act like one.

Oh.

Hey, don't you dare, Fizzy!

Oh!
No! Don't.

Hey! Ah-ha!

You wouldn't.
Oh, yes, I would.

Oh, okay, okay!

All right, enough,
enough of this foolishness.

If we get wet,
we'll all be snow angels.

All right,
there you go.

Fizzy!

Keep moving. I don't
want you to freeze.

Mr. Pratt?

Mr. Pratt!

Mr. Pratt! Mr. Pratt!

Mr. Pratt! No!

Go, go get help, Faust!
Faust, go home.

Faust, go home!

Hello, Faust.

What is it, boy? Huh?

Trouble!

Died right in front of me.

It was so quick.

Somebody should
say something.

Pratt the baker.

Came to a dangerous place,
looking for gold.

He found
ill fortune instead.

What else
can you say?

Rest in peace.

You know,
Pratt was lucky.

He got buried. We're just
going to drop in our tracks.

No, we're starving
to death.

Hang on.

I got it. Hold on.

You all right?

We could eat Faust,
I suppose.

Never! I'd never do that.

Mr. Madison?

We'll get through
all right, old-timer,

and it won't be
by eating your dog.

Just making sure.

Nobody's going to
touch you, Faust.

No one.

Personally, I prefer
roast beef.

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

First you get rich,
then you get fat.

Gravy!
Lots of gravy!

Just one more mountain to climb.
Let's all pull together.

Are you sure this is
the right way? Huh?

'Cause if you're wrong,
I'm going to eat you raw before I die.

Where is it, Madison?
Where the hell is it?

I could've missed a turning.
It was a year ago.

Oh, I'm going to
kill him before l die.

If we fight, we're finished.

Maybe we already are.

Madison! Boys! Over here!
Over here! We're here!

There. You see.
I had no doubt.

One cabin? For me
and a dozen men,

who hardly bother to go
outside to relieve themselves?

We couldn't
build any more.

The supplies Madison
promised never arrived.

The money he promised never
arrived and nothing arrived.

Except for this trunk.

It was sent on when they
couldn't find you in Nome.

It was sent on when they
couldn't find you in Nome.

Well, I wasn't here to oversee things.
It'll be different now.

Get out!

What?

Get out! All of you!
Get out!

Fizzy, you can't have
this cabin to yourself.

Oh, I know
what I can't have!

I can't have a bed.
I can't have privacy,

but I swore the first thing I'd
do when I got to Madison City,

is have a bath!

I haven't washed
my hair in 52 days.

So? I haven't washed
mine in months...

I don't want to know!
Everybody out! Out!

Gentlemen, the lady's
asking us to leave.

Get out!

Take your muffins.

Out.

Dear Francis, I hope this reaches you
in time for your birthday.

I just couldn't resist it.

I know how much you like silk
and how pretty you look in it.

This is Mr. Edison's
clever new machine.

So, please put on
the cylinder.

It's Alice's song.

She's found a publisher
and is proving very popular.

Figure she'll be long?

You're gonna
ask her to hurry?

Whenever we play it,

Alice and I think of you,
my darling Fizzy.

All my love. Mother.

Fizzy, you're gonna want
to come out here.

Out!

Madison's under arrest.

What law
have I broken?

The one that says you can't
take a young lady to her death.

That's what we heard.
Rumors!

Which may be
exaggerated.

Mr. Madison didn't want me
to join him. I insisted.

And if there were
a telephone,

you could call Nome
for confirmation.

- Telephone?
- If.

Never mind telephones.

When Mr. Madison refused
my request, I trailed along.

I will swear to that
in any court of law.

Last year we shipped
his tender feet home.

Now he's back
without proper equipment,

endangering the lives of
another bunch of greenhorns.

Last year
was completely different.

I was badly let down
by my backers.

Miss, aside from being Marshall,
I'm also the Land Commissioner

and I'm certainly falling
behind in my paperwork.

Are you offering me a job?

Word is you can type.

Mr. Madison,
do you have a moment?

When we first met,

I thought...

I thought that you were
the most handsome man.

But I knew I should stay away
from you. Do it on my own.

Only I couldn't,
so I had to sign on.

Fizzy, we're going to
be rich.

You're dangerous.

You make promises.

I've never made promises.

Lord knows I wanted to.

Well, Fizzy, surely you must know
that I have feelings towards you.

I'm talking about
something else.

Oh!

Our trust.

You took our trust
for your own gain.

Now, I've got to
set my own course.

I came to Alaska
to mine gold, not

to be a typist,
or a dog.

Or anything worse.

Now, listen here, uh,
you're still under contract.

I'm going to take the job in
Council City so the boys don't starve.

But when
our contract is up,

I won't be
re-signing.

If I can survive this,
I can survive anything.

We'll see.

Morning!

There you go.

Mighty grateful.

Good indications?

Wouldn't like to
hazard a guess.

Good luck. Next!

Don't ask
what's for dinner, Faust.

We have a choice. Between
beans, beans and beans.

Dinner, my lady?

Whiskers!

I didn't know you were in town.
Did you leave Madison?

Aren't I the lucky one?

I got no contract
to hold me.

Came to look you up
as soon as I sobered.

Food? Real food?

Well, I thought...

I figured you might be running
a little low on your menu.

Rock bottom.

Hmm.

I won it at poker.

It ain't got no lice.

What would I do
without you?

Well, you might go home.

There's a... There's a
little something there

for a ticket.

You old sourdough.

Thank you,
but I can't go home.

Not yet.

Figured you might say that.

You know
where to find me.

Marshall?

Marshall MacNeil!

What, somebody
got killed?

No.

What are you doing
here so late?

I think I may have found a
small fraction on Ophir Creek.

Never!

On the Wild Goose holding.
About nine acres.

Perhaps someone
overlooked it.

It's a mighty
expensive mistake.

Ophir's producing
a ton of gold.

Is it ethical to use
information from this office?

Fizzy,

this isn't some poor
sourdough you're moving in on.

The Wild Goose
is a big company

with teams of lawyers,
surveyors, engineers.

If they messed up, tough.
These books are open to the public.

Anyone can come in here,
find what you found.

That's the law.
You're not breaking it.

How long
you been here now?

And what do you got
to show for it?

Stake those claims.
The sooner the better.

Over here!

Shh! Oh, tell the world,
why don't you?

Oh, shush, old man.

Where'd you learn how to boss,
young thing like you?

I was born with it.

Got what?

The fever.
It's boiling up your blood.

Why did you
come to Alaska?

Oh, can't recall.

Hmm. Must have had a dream, once.
Don't seem to recollect.

How about you?

What do you want
from your gold?

Big mansion,
fancy clothes?

Probably.
But it's more than that.

It won't be something
given to me.

It will be something
I will earn.

Now, stop talking, you old coot.
I've got gold to find.

Let the water sluice over,
while you shake gently.

Easy does it.

The water washes
away the dirt.

The water washes
away the dirt.

Gold's heavy.
Heaviest thing except lead.

So it sinks.

Maybe you'll see a trace.
Just a taste.

Maybe not.

There's nothing there.

Pay dirt, honey.
You got to use your eyes.

You mean...

That...
This... Sandy stuff is...

ls gold?

Those there are
good indications.

Good indications?

Good indications?

Good indications!

Good indications.

Faust! Faust! No!

Fizzy!

Hey!

Excuse me.

Hi! Monte.

Good evening, Fiz.

- Barry.
- Fizzy.

What are you
doing here?

Came into town
looking for you.

Heard you were celebrating.

Yes, oh, I've had
a bit of luck.

Me, too.

I've broken off
from Madison.

Did you?

Staked some claims of my own.
Good indications.

Me, too. Real good.

Okay.

So, what did you
want to talk about?

Us.

You're the prize, Fizzy.

And you shine brighter

and you're more precious
than all the gold.

Ed!

I guess you knew
that, uh,

men were going to fall in
love with you in a place like this.

Fizzy, I'm going to
New York for the winter.

I'll form a company, sell stock,
buy mining equipment.

If Madison can do it,
so can I, and better.

Sure you can.

What say we team up?

I don't know, Ed.

I haven't closed things up
with Madison yet.

That's easily taken care of.
He's in town.

Run out of money. Again.

Come with me, Fizzy.

Evening.

May I?

Uh...

Oh, my goodness, Fizzy,
don't you look divine.

Oh, thank you, Madison.

I have a proposition for you.

Oh?

Something big.

I don't want anything.

It was your idea.
That telephone line.

Mine?

Think of the time
it would save.

May I?

No.

Think of the time it would save
if you could just call Nome.

That's what you said.

I'm going to string wire
between Council City and Nome.

I've met a man who
has all the equipment.

He has the poles,
the wire, everything.

A telephone line?

Mmm-hmm.

Imagine that.

Where do I come in?

Oh, just bridging financing.

Three, four thousand
to cover labor and food.

Well, that's almost all the money
I have. You can't be serious.

Fizzy...

This is going to be the biggest thing
that has ever happened to you.

Like owning a
printing press for money.

You'll get all the funds you
need to mine your claims.

Like manna
falling from the sky.

If I lend you
my money... If.

There's no guarantee
I'd even be repaid.

You can't lose, Fizzy.

The equipment's here,
so you can always have that.

Once the line is up
and running, bingo!

What if it fails?

Well, how could it?

And if it succeeds,
what do I get?

Exactly.

Right now, there are enough
provisions in your cabin

to get you
through the winter.

Then when the line is finished,
half the profits.

Telephones are the future.

Don't tell me what I know.

See, you have vision.

I'm not asking you, Madison.

Fizzy?

Go ahead, Edward.
Show us your fancy steps.

He came at you
with sweet words, Fizzy.

You of all people should
know not to swallow them.

I've made no promises.
To you, to anyone.

A telephone line
from Council City to Nome.

She believes in that.

You believe in the
deal or the man?

Pretty tame stuff, Edward.
Let me show you how it goes.

It's a business
decision, Ed.

He'll sell you
a bill of goods, Fizzy.

No, you may not!

Edward, how passionate.

I always thought you
were a bit of a cold fish.

To win out in frozen Alaska,
you've got to have fire in your heart.

You've got to take chances.
You've got to push it to the limit.

- Stop it!
- Easy, Ed.

Calm down.

No. No.

I forget where I was.

We were discussing
New York.

I was hoping you'd
come with me, Fizzy.

Fizzy...

Ed!

Frances Ella Fitz,

will you marry me?

I came to Alaska to be a
rich man, to find treasure.

And l found it.

With you, I'd be the
richest man in the world.

Come with me.

And not just for a winter,
for the rest of your life.

Ed, I...

Are you all right, my sweet?

He won't be back.

I know.

A business deal.
That's it.

You look awful.

Thanks.

Why do I have the feeling
that you bring unwelcome news?

It's nothing personal.

You've said that before.

I was asked to
come here by the men.

By the men
or by Madison?

He asked me to ask you...

For more money?

You should know Madison.
He underestimated.

He always does.

But that's
Mr. Madison's problem.

Not exactly.

If we don't finish,
you lose every cent.

Guess Madison's got a way
of leaving out details, huh?

You didn't know
about the deadline.

The whole project
reverts back to the man

who bought the equipment
if we don't finish in time.

You must get
some pleasure out of this.

No.

I just want to get paid.

Ma'am.

Madison?

Fizzy! Nice to see you.

This is not
a social call.

Looks grand, doesn't it?

You told me
you had enough poles.

Well, I did.
I counted. I swear.

Folks have been stealing
the poles for firewood.

Why didn't
you keep watch?

And what about
this deadline?

Well, you knew
all about that.

Fizzy, surely I told you. It's been
in the contract the whole time.

I'd like to see
that contract.

Absolutely.

Well, it's in Nome.

At the bank
for safekeeping.

What's the penalty
if we don't finish on time?

The line reverts back.

And we lose everything?

Oh, Fizzy. We'll finish
up this line in jig time.

You know what?
I've already figured out

what I'm going to do
when we're done.

A friend of mine just
got back from China.

For heaven's sake, Madison,
get back to earth!

You have a major
problem to solve.

What about those trees?

The mountains
are covered in them.

Well, those are too green.
The poles have to be dry.

There's only
a few miles to go.

Green spruce
can hold wire temporarily.

We're finishing this
phone line, Madison.

Well, you want to
make the first call?

Who are you
gonna call, Fizzy?

You got a boyfriend
in Nome?

No, I don't.

I'm going to call
the Nome Gazette.

Tell them to run a notice
advertising my half for sale.

I'm going mining.

This is the Nome operator.

Hello?
Operator? Nome?

This is Nome.

I got the operator in Nome!

She got the operator.

Give me the Gazette.

Uh, Fizzy...
Don't.

The phone line
isn't for sale.

Excuse me, I'm free
to sell my half.

I told you, I have machinery
to buy and men to hire...

There was a clause
in the contract.

Madam,
I can connect you now.

Madam?

I didn't spot it
until too late.

The man who supplied
the equipment,

well, he has the right to
buy the line upon completion.

For how much?

Ten thousand.

I didn't think he'd come up
with the money, but he did.

So, your half pays back
what you put in.

All of that risk,

all of that work,

for no profit?

I... I miscalculated.

But you know, Fizzy,
we can do something else.

We?

Well, I have some interesting
notions, and you and I,

we make a great team.

Oh, this is
an awful public place.

But surely
I've told you, Fizzy.

You know
what's in my heart.

I need you,

and I have always wanted you
for my partner.

If that is what you want,

you're about a dozen broken
promises and broken dreams too late.

Yes,

you definitely
miscalculated.

Thirty thousand.

Do you understand
the terms of the loan?

In six weeks, August 20th,

you pay me back 45,000,

or the papers to your claim.

Thanks, Whiskers.

Fizzy's spent her money on the
newest, the biggest, and the best,

but we need strong backs
to make it work.

How about Barry?

Well, he's strong

and he's been left high and dry
by Madison, just like us.

But he might not appreciate
the new management.

Well, don't tell him
until we get there.

Huh!

We sure could
use his hard muscles.

It's his hard head
I worry about.

Hey, Barry!

You're not going to find pay dirt
at the bottom of that glass.

You want a job?

You watching
the calendar, old man?

You'd foreclose
on a lady?

I do business
democratically.

Everyone gets
treated the same.

Badly.

First one
in Alaska!

The engine turns
the water wheel,

and soon we'll have water
running through the sluices,

You wanted a job.

Good morning, Hank.

She's not going to
hire me.

Mr. Keown figures
he's unemployable.

I saw him work
on the phone line.

Seemed all right.

I said some things
earlier on...

Oh, no, you've said
some things right through.

Shall we get to work?

The Hidden Treasure Mine
is now in production!

It's not the river of gold yet,
not even a creek,

it's just
a nice little trickle.

I'm from New York.
I only know pianos.

We have to pay off
Mr. Birch tomorrow.

I'm from Pittsburgh.

Well?

It's a con rod.
It's broke.

I can fix it.

Okay, boys,
keep the water coming!

Get your buckets.

Get your buckets.

There's a little
over $5,000.

And I have an additional five
from the phone line.

That's 10.

I can add
and subtract.

The loan was $45,000.
You only have 10.

That leaves 35,000
to be paid, Miss Fitz.

Would you extend
my note?

Please? I'll pay
additional interest.

How much?

A $5,000 bonus if you
give me another six weeks.

Nice try.

I'll extend one week,
one week only, for $10,000.

If you default, I get the
machinery as well as the claim.

Take it or leave it.

I will see you in a week.

You have to
work it out, Fiz.

But the gold is there!

How did it go?

We have to take $45,000
out of this claim in seven days.

Don't get your hopes up.

We need to run
24 hours a day and go faster.

Can we make it?

We can make it.

Can we go faster?

Yes.

Is it dangerous?

Yeah.

Very dangerous?

I'll let you know when.

It's getting
dangerous.

If this thing blows...

I intend to be
right here!

Oh, Lord,
cut us some slack.

Fizzy, he's here.

Don't you want to check?

It's all gold.

So I see.

You need 2,000 ounces of this.
That's 125 pounds.

Yes, I can divide.

We haven't got
125 pounds in weights.

I weigh 105 pounds, clothed.

Will you
accept that?

I'll accept that.

And this
sack of flour.

Weighs 20 pounds.
Will you accept that?

I accept that.

Well, looks like the
Hidden Treasure Mine is mine.

I'm sorry.

I let you down.

There's no one to blame
but myself.

Faust?

Faust, no! Get out!

Will you look at that?

A little, bitty
New York typist

turns into a real
lady sourdough.

Worth her weight
in gold.

From here on in, boys,
it's ours. All ours!

Well, congratulations,
Fizzy.

Ha! I always knew
you could do it.

I came just as soon
as I heard the news.

Two words
for you, Fizzy.

Black gold. An ocean of it.
Right here under the snow.

You see, the future is oil.

There's a new gizmo called
the internal combustion engine.

It'll make
all this obsolete.

Madison, don't.

Black liquid gold.
It can be ours.

Shall I
throw him out?

I don't think
that's necessary.

I've managed to option
some oil leases, Fizzy.

With your funds,
we can develop them.

You'll always be
a dreamer, Madison.

Fizzy, this is no dream.

This one is reality.

Have I told you, the term
"fool's gold," where it came from?