secret of shadow ranch transcript

Dear Hannah,

Well, I made it to Shadow Ranch, but I'm afraid all is not well. The Rawleys, the people who own the ranch, have been called away on some kind of emergency. They had Dave Gregory (he's their foreman) pick me up at the airport. He gave me a phone number and told me to call the Rawleys at that number as soon as I got settled in, and refused to tell me anything else. In fact, he barely said two words to me the whole ride to the ranch!

What's worse, Bess and George aren't here yet, which is very strange, because even though we had to take different flights, we figured we'd get into Phoenix at about the same time. Being here without them feels odd; after all, the Rawleys are their aunt and uncle, not mine. I wouldn't even be here if Bess and George hadn't begged them to invite me out to the ranch for two weeks, too. Until about three months ago, the Rawleys owned a clothing store. Bess said it was always their dream to sell the store and buy a cattle ranch.

I hope they're okay, but frankly, as beautiful as Shadow Ranch is, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this place.

Love, Nancy

BR: Hello?

Hello, Mrs. Rawley. It's Nancy Drew.

BR: Nancy! Are you at the ranch?

Yes, and I'm a little concerned that you're not.

BR: That's because I told them not to. I wanted you to hear what happened from the horse's mouth, as it were. I thought you might worry otherwise.

But I am worrying. I can't help but think that something terrible's happened.

BR: Oh, everything's fine. I mean, it is now. It wasn't last night, of course.

ER: Everything woulda been fine last night if you hadn't made such a fuss.

BR: How could I not make a fuss? There was a rattlesnake in our bedroom for Pete's sake!

BR: Oh, yes, we are. Although I'm only here because Ed's here. He's the patient. I'm just here to keep him company.

ER: You can go home anytime you want.

BR: Someone's gotta keep you out of trouble. Next thing I know you'll be playing with scorpions.

ER: I wasn't playing with that snake, I was trying to shoo it out of the room.

BR: I told Ed to leave it alone and let one of the hands get it out of there, but no, Ed started poking at it with my yardstick, and all of a sudden, it leaped up and bit him.

BR: In the bedroom, dear. I could've sworn I mentioned that.

No, Mrs. Rawley, I mean, where did it bite him? On his arm, on his leg?

BR: On his arm, just below the elbow. Swelled up something awful. But fortunately...

OR How bad?

BR: Well, his arm swelled up something awful, and he was feeling pretty poorly by the time we finally got him here -

ER: I was fine. She's exaggerating.

BR: Oh, Ed, you wish. Anyway, dear -

BR: He's doing much better today, and the doctors think he'll be well enough to go home in a day or so.

ER: I'm well enough to go home right now.

BR: No, you're not. If I don't stay here with him, he'll get up and walk right out that door.

ER: No, I won't.

BR: Oh, nothing dear. Absolutely nothing.

OR Would you rather that Bess and George and I postpone our visit?

BR: Oh, good heavens, no. I won't hear of it. You're going to go on as if none of this ever happened.

BR: You just go get a horse from Tex - he's the head wrangler - and go riding to your heart's content. I told Shorty to go ahead with the cookout I planned for tonight and -

ER: The envelope. Have her take that envelope to Mary.

BR: Oh, good idea. There's an envelope in the rolltop desk in the den marked 'Mary.' If you could ride over to Mary Yazzie's and give it to her, we'd really appreciate it.

BR: Because of the way the roads are set up around here, it takes longer to drive to her place from the ranch than it does to get there on horseback.

BR: Dave'll tell you how to get there.

ER: She's gonna have to get that key to the desk from him, too.

BR: Oh, that's right. I always lock the rolltop. Dave has the key. Oh, dear, it seems like there was something else I wanted to tell you.

ER: The horse, Bet. Tell her about the phantom horse.

Did he say, 'phantom horse?'

BR: Yes, you see, last night we -

NURSE: Hello, Mr. Rawley. Time for those tests.

BR: Uh-oh. We have to go. Don't worry about us, dear. You just go have fun. Just be sure to wear a hat and drink plenty of water. It's gonna be another hot one. Bye!

No, wait, just tell me about the - Phantom horse?

BM: Hello?

Hi, Bess. It's me. I'm at the ranch. Where are you guys?

BM: Omaha.

BM: No joke, Nancy. We're in Omaha, Nebraska.

BM: Our plane had to land here so they could fix some radio problem, and now they're saying - it's Nancy.

GF: Hi, Nancy.

Hi, George.

BM: Now they're saying we may be here for hours.

BM: Yet. I mean...

BM: Who knows what's really going on.

GF: Yeah, no one around here ever gives you a straight answer.

BM: So what's going on there?

Last night Uncle Ed and Aunt Bet found a rattlesnake in their room.

OR Nothing much.

If you don't count the fact that last night Uncle Ed and Aunt Bet found a rattlesnake in their room.

BM: Omigosh! Are they okay?

Well, actually, it bit Uncle Ed.

GF: Is he all right?

He will be. Right now he's in the hospital. He'll probably be there for a day or two. Aunt Bet's staying with him.

BM: Omigosh...

And apparently a 'phantom horse' showed up at just about the same time as that snake.

GF: A phantom horse?

BM: Of all the times to get stranded in some stupid airport. Look, you just better keep us posted, Nancy Drew. That's all I gotta say.

BM: We're so bored, George just bought a book on nineteenth century clothing and accessories.

George did?

GF: It's the only thing in the bookstore here that looked halfway interesting. So if you need to know anything that's even remotely related to nineteenth century fashion, let us know, okay?

Sounds good to me.

BM: In the meantime, call Uncle Ed and Aunt Bet. I mean, not only have you got our curiosity going, but we're bored, Nancy, bored.

I hear ya. I'll talk to ya soon, okay?

BM and GF: You better!

BM: So what's going on there?

BM: Omigosh. You've got a mystery to solve, don't you. I can hear it in your voice.

GF: What's happened? Tell us!

All I know so far is, the Rawleys sent one of their ranch hands to pick me up at the airport instead of meeting my plane themselves.

BM: That is weird.

GF: Yeah, that doesn't sound like Uncle Ed and Aunt Bet at all. Are they there at the ranch?

Nope. The ranch hand who picked me up told me I could reach them at this phone number he gave me.

BM: So what'd they say?

I... haven't called them yet.

BM: So call them!

GF: Yeah, and as soon as you do, call us!

then the conversation picks back up at Bess saying "We're so bored."

JH: What is it this time?

Uh, excuse me?

JH: Nancy! Hi! Sorry, I thought you were somebody else.

FH: Hey, Nancy.

Hi, Frank.

JH: I thought you were this guy we're doing some work for.

You guys're on a case? That's great!

FH: No, it's not. Turns out the guy is a bit neurotic.

JM: He wants us to track down his missing laptop. He left it in a restaurant.

FH: Only he keeps calling us.

JH: Yeah, like every two minutes.

FH: He's become a real nuisance.

Maybe you should just quit.

JH: Can't.

JH: This guy's filthy rich. And if we find that laptop, he said he'd make us filthy rich.

FH: But the real reason we can't quit is, he's the son of our mother's best friend.

JH: Yeah. If we quit, we'd never hear the end of it. Uh-oh. We've got another call.

FH: Let him leave a message. For the nine millionth time. So Nancy. Tell us about the ranch.

JH: Whoa. How bad off is he?

He's still in the hospital, but they think he's going to be okay.

FH: They've got rattlesnakes around there, huh?

It showed up right after the phantom horse.

FH: Phantom horse?

That's what Mrs. Rawley said. She hung up before she could explain.

FH: Well, when she explains it to you, be sure to explain it to us.

FH: Let him leave a message. For the nine millionth time. So Nancy. Tell us about the ranch.

JH: Missing? What do you mean?

I mean, they're not here, and no one will tell me where they are. I have their phone number; I'm supposed to call them.

FH: So why haven't you called them?

JH: Now look, Nancy. Frank and I are witty and charming and interesting and great fun to talk to and all that, but are you nuts? You've got a mystery on your hands! Call them!

Right.

H: Hernandez.

Hi. Are you the sheriff?

H: Yes, ma'am.

My name is Nancy Drew. I'm staying at Shadow Ranch.

H: Oh, yeah? How's Ed doing?

H: 'Course. I'm the sheriff. I hear everything. He gonna pull through?

It looks that way, yes. They're going to keep him in the hospital for a day or two just to be sure.

H: Good, that's good. Only met him a coupla times, but I liked him. He and his wife - what's her name?

Bet. Short for Elizabeth.

H: They seemed real determined to make a go of that place. I like that. So.

H: What can I do for you?

H: Did you say 'phantom horse?'

Just before Ed was bitten by that snake, this glowing horse came galloping up outside, then went galloping away.

H: Glowing horse? Sounds like somebody's playing a joke. Friend of Shorty's, I'll bet. Trying to get a rise out of him. And probably succeeding, knowing Shorty.

H: I know 'em all. That doesn't mean I'm best buddies with them, but it's a pretty small world out here, and I've either known or known of those boys for years.

And they're all... stand up guys, as far as you know?

I'd vouch for every single one of 'em.

S: Hey. You must be Nancy. I'm the cook, Shorty Thurmond. Welcome to Shadow Ranch. C'mon over here 'n tell me about yourself.

S: You have talked to the Rawleys, right?

S: Sure do, see...

OR I have, and I still can't believe what happened to Ed.

S: That is creepy, isn't it. But the horse - that was even creepier. See...

S: I was just about to crawl into bed last night, when all of a sudden, this glowing horse comes galloping up outside.

S: It stops and rears and paws, whinnying and snorting, then it just wheels around and gallops off into the night.

S: It was Dirk Valentine's horse, ya know.

S: Now it's a phantom.

S: Dirk Valentine was an outlaw around here back in the 1880s. Legend has it he was in love with Frances Humber. She lived right here on Shadow Ranch.

S: Unfortunately, her daddy was the sheriff.

S: Because of him, Valentine was captured and eventually hanged. Ever since, the ghost of his horse has been roaming the desert, cursing whoever sees him with bad luck.

S: Story?

S: All I know is...

S: Ed Rawley sees the horse and what happens less than two minutes later? He gets bit by a rattlesnake. You do the math.

S: You have talked to the Rawleys, right?

S: I promised the Rawleys I wouldn't talk to you until after they did.

S: Do you have any idea how hard it is to have an interesting conversation with those two guys out there? It's impossible. So call the Rawleys then come right back.

S: Hey, there, Nancy. Man, I wish the Rawleys were here.

S: I'm really looking forward to you and me sitting down and having a nice conversation. Especially with all this weird stuff that's been going on.

S: I'm so busy getting all their chores done in addition to my own that I barely have time to talk to myself, let alone to you. Enough of me complaining. What's up?

D: You talk to the Rawleys?

D: He'll be okay. Getting bit by a rattler's no picnic, but it sounds like he's outta the woods.

D: It was the strangest thing I've ever seen.

D: Probably crawled in through a mouse hole sometime during the day and took a nap. Nighttime's when they're most active. Something the Rawleys found out the hard way.

D: Guess it's possible. Person would have to know how to handle snakes, of course, but then, if ya work in the desert, that's one of the things that's good to know.

D: Not since I've been here.

D: Guess you're gonna be asking me a lot of questions, huh.

D: The Rawleys said you were a detective.

D: I'm gonna be honest with you, ma'am. We were short a coupla hands to begin with, and now with the Rawleys gone, 'n everybody on edge over what happened last night...

D: Well, this is not a good time to be visiting Shadow Ranch, that's all.

D: Sorry to hear that. Well, to be honest, I'm not really. Driving back and forth to the airport takes a lot of time, and time's one thing we're all running kinda short of around here.

D: Sure do. They gave me their key ring at the hospital.

D: To get to Mary's shop, just follow the trail that goes northeast outta the corral. Can't miss it.

D: And I should probably warn ya.

D: She doesn't like the Rawleys.

D: No idea. Not really any of my business.

OR: How do you know?

D: It's just the feeling I get when I talk to her, that's all.

D: You call the Rawleys yet?

D: No offense, ma'am, but this here's a working cattle ranch. Somebody tells you to do something, it'd be a good idea t' get in the habit of doin' it.

D: Now if you'll excuse me...

T: So which one are you?

T: The Rawleys said they were gonna be invitin' some young ladies out here. I take it you're one of 'em.

T: Why not?

T: I brought three horses in this morning. Hardly fair t' keep 'em tied up all day if nobody's gonna ride 'em.

OR Yes, I'm Nancy Drew. And you are...?

T: I'm the head wrangler. You wanna ride, you come to me. You prove to me ya know what you're doin', I may just let ya.

T: I saw something. Just what, I still ain't sure.

T: Now if you wanna ride, listen up.

T: First thing you're gonna do is never ride 'less you're wearin' a hat 'n gloves, 'n 'less you got a full canteen of water.

T: You can wear that hat over there. It's Mrs. Rawley's. Got a helmet built right in. Her gloves're on the saddle you'll be using, 'n you can get a canteen from Shorty.

T: Then you're gonna saddle and bridle your horse. No need to brush him; I do that when I bring 'em in. Then you're gonna lead him to the mounting block in the corral and mount up.

T: Then I'm gonna ask you some questions. Ya can't ride outside the corral 'til ya get all the answers right.

T: Nope.

T: Long as you talk to me first.

T: When you're done ridin', you're gonna dismount, hook your horse up, take the saddle and bridle off and put 'em back where you got 'em. Always keep your gloves with your saddle.

T: Yep.

T: If you get off when you're on the trail, don't tie your reins to nothin', just drop 'em, 'n barrin an earthquake or somethin', ole Bob'll stay put.

OR Which horse would you like me to ride?

T: The bay over there. Name's Bob.

T: That's who I'm putting you on.

T: Nope.

T: With the Rawley's gone, the ranch is real short-handed. 'Fore you ride you're gonna have to go see if Shorty's got any chores that need doin'. Gotta get a canteen from him anyway.

S: Miss Nancy. How may I be of service?

S: Music to my ears. First thing you can do for me is go out to the garden and pick all the ripe vegetables. You know what ripe vegetables look like, don'tcha?

S: Good. 'Cause if you pick vegetables that aren't ripe yet, I'll be real ticked. You can put 'em in the vegetable basket that's hanging outside.

S: And one more thing. Sometime today I need you to build a cooking fire in the pit outside. I'll light it when I'm ready to start cooking.

S: And be sure to fill the bucket out there with water and leave it by the pit. You know, just in case something catches on fire that isn't s'posed to.

S: The Rawleys wanted to have a cookout tonight and by golly, we're gonna have a cookout no matter who is or isn't here.

BM: Hello?

Hey, Bess.

BM: Nancy! Our link to the world of excitement and intrigue and decent food! What's the latest?

GF: It was glowing?

BM: You're there investigating phantom horses, and what're we doing? A big fat nothing! That does it, George. We're suing the airline.

BM: Is this Valentine guy a phantom, too?

Uh, I don't think so.

BM: Well, how come his horse got to become a phantom and he didn't?

GF: Bess? Phantoms don't really exist. Okay?

According to legend, seeing the horse is bad luck.

BM: I believe it. I mean, look at what happened to the guy who owned him.

BM: You don't buy that it was an unfortunate coincidence?

GF: So you're saying someone used the horse to lure everyone outside, then put the snake in their room knowing no one would be watching?

It's possible, don't you think?

BM: But if you're right, it means someone wants to hurt Aunt Bet and Uncle Ed - Omigosh.

BM: If you're right, it means that someone is on the ranch.

And, whoever it is must be working with an accomplice. You know, someone to wrangle the horse.

GF: So everyone there is a suspect.

That's right.

BM: Well, you don't have to sound so happy about it.

FH: Now what?

Hi, Frank.

FH: Nancy! What a relief.

FH: He calls every three point two-five minutes. You can set your watch by him.

JH: But the good news is...

JH: He's being so obnoxious that we're working faster than we've ever worked before.

FH: We're going to solve this case in record time.

Like they say. Every cloud has a silver lining.

JH: Uh-oh. Incoming call. Think it's him?

FH: Three point two-five minutes. It's him.

Want me to hang up?

FH and JH: No!

FH: He can leave a message.

JH: So waht's going on there?

FH: We're listening.

Apparently this glowing horse came running up to the ranch house, caused everybody to go rushing out to look, then went racing off into the night.

JH: We get nut jobs who can't keep track of their computers, and what does Nancy get? Horses that glow in the dark. I mean, I know life isn't fair, but this is ridiculous.

D: Hello, Nancy. Somethin' I can do for ya?

D: 'Bout as long as the Rawleys've lived here. 'Bout three months, I guess. I was their first hire. First me, then Text, then Shorty.

D: He does his job and he does it good. Far as I'm concerned, that's all that's important.

To Ed and Bet Rawley,

Just because you fired me, don't make ANOTHER mistake and think that you've heard the last of me, because you haven't.

We all know that I deserved a second chance. Letting me go without giving me one was just plain WRONG.

In fact, know what your problem is? You don't believe in justice. But see, I do. That's the way my brother and I were raised. Justice always prevails, although sometimes it needs a little help.

You'll see,

Jane Nash

Got swored in as sheriff. It was the Fourth, so it was like all them celebrations was for me which of course they werent. Frances thought up a song and playt it on the piano for me. I forget how it went but it was pretty. I am lucky to have her fer a daughter.

Hereford Shupe come by with a plant he brung from New York which he called Harrison's Yellow. It lookt right dead to me, but Frances planted it out back and give it some water and alreddy it looks to be on the mend. She is 17 and can read and write good and knows her numbers. Hereford is thinking to marry her, but I sed she aint of that mind yet.

Frances has got eyes for a young man named Dirk. She sez he is from Prescott. Cappy sez when she plays the piano this Dirk makes everyone be quiet so he can hear good. I aint never seen her smile like she smiles now. I told her to bring him to the ranch for dinner but she sez he wont come becuz he is too shy but I wonder if that is the truth.

Got a letter from the sheriff over in Phoenix about this Dirk Valentine who is wanted for robbing 2 banks and a stage coach. The pikture with the letter lookt just like Dirk who Frances is sweet on. When I showt her the pikture she got real tearful and run off and now Dirk is gone and she won't say nothing about where he went.

Dirk Valentine is robbing banks and coaches and trains all over the territory. Frances sez he never ever shoots his gun and only steals from people that alreddy got plenty of money but that aint true becuz some of them trains he robbed was carrying money meant to pay miners their hard earned wages. He is nothing but a no-good greedy outlaw but Frances gets real mad when I say that. I fear she is still sweet on him and that she sees him when she knows I am bizzy and gets letters from him which she hides from me.

I got hold of a note Frances sent to Dirk and saw where they was going to meet. So I got a posse and we caught Dirk and now he is in jail. The judge is coming next week and I hear he is a hanging judge so Dirk most likely aint long for this world. Frances won't say nothing to me no more and sez she never will again.

Dirk sent a secret letter to Frances which Mason got hold of and give to me. I lockt it up so she wont never read it. Frances aint allowed to go see Dirk in jail of course and if she never sees the letter maybe she will think he dont like her no more and maybe she will stop liking him. Frances's ma would of knowed what to do bettern me. I wish she was still alive.

They hung Dirk at noon. I thought I would be glad but I aint.

Frances took Browney and my big saddle bag and is gone. She aint told no one where she was going, not even Cappy. But I know she will forget Dirk and when she does she will come home becuz she is a smart gal and will figure out that I did what I done for her.

My sister sez her little girl Ellie got a letter that sed Frances went East and was not of a mind to ever return. I hope this aint the truth because I miss her something awful.

The Harrison's Yellow which Frances sed was her favorite flower in the world is just a pile of brown stix now. I don't know how to look after delicate things like that so it is my fault that it died.

I aint seen or heard from Frances in a year. I tell people she is on her way home but when I look in my heart I know this is a lie. She will never come back to Shadow Ranch and it is my fault and I will just have to find a way to live with it.

(the last page is tear-stained.)

September 12, 1883

Dear Frances,

As usual, things did not work out like I planned. Just when I got everything fixed just right for you to go looking for the thing I hid for you, I go and get myself arrested.

But no matter what you hear, nothing is going to hapen to me. I will be fine and we will be together soon, I promise.

Meanwhile, you can keep busy by looking for what I hid. Start by using this piece of paper to mark where all the rock pictures are. They will tell you what to do next. Your favorite flowers, and the flowers on your favorites, start keeping them in mind, too.

I will leave a message for you in this here cell. Just in case they decide to move me to the jail down in Tumbleweed or something.

I like vexing your brain, because when you are thinking real hard, like when you are playing the piano, you are more beautiful than anything in the world. I am sure to be out of here before you find my treasure, but in case I am not, know that it is all yours, and that you are more precious to me than ten thousand treasures put together.

9 12 15 22 5 25 15 21

Dirk

P.S. I do not, and never will, hold what your father did to me against you.

BM: Hello?

Me again. What's the status of your plane?

BM: Nobody'll tell use a thing. And now a bunch of really dark clouds are rolling in.

GF: What's going on with you, Nan?

BM: No way.

It was locked up in this chest that belonged to her father. And the letter was never opened. According to his journal, her father intercepted it and locked it away before Frances could read it.

GF: So did you read it?

BM: Of course she did. I mean, she better have.

BM: Ooo, I love it when outlaws hide loot, don't you?

GF: What'd the letter say?

Well, evidently Dirk wanted Frances to have the loot he'd stashed, so he set up this elaborate treasure hunt for her. The letter contained all sorts of weird, obscure clues to help her find what he'd hidden.

BM: But if the letter was never opened...

GF: Frances couldn't've found the treasure.

BM: Omigosh. It could still be out there.

And somebody could be using that phantom horse to chase the Rawleys off the ranch because they wanna be the ones to find it.

BM: We're stuck here when we could be there with you, looking for hidden loot? That does it, George. We're suing the airline and the airport.