Original subtitles

Ryan, over here.

Wait.

How'd you know there's a fishing hole around here?

Sully told me about it a while back.

He'll be glad when he has time to go fishing again.

Decide what you want to do about your science project here, Brian.

No, I'm still having trouble with it.

When's it due?

Friday.

Well, Ms. Morales give you any ideas?

No.

She just said to use our imaginations.

Think we got enough?

I'd say.

Look at this feather.

Never seen one like it before.

Me either.

Hey, look.

Here's another one.

What's the matter, boy?

Look out!

Brian!

Are you all right?

More importantly, are you all right?

Yeah.

I'm dreadfully sorry.

I never would have attempted that experiment if I'd known anyone was

Maybe you shouldn't try to get up just yet.

Oh, goodness.

My beak.

It's all right, is it?

Your nose is just fine.

You've got a pretty serious cut on your forehead.

Oh, dear.

We'll take you to our ma.

She's a doctor.

A doctor?

No, I'm quite all right.

I really don't think I need a doctor.

She's a really good one. You'll see.

She'll pick you right up.

Come on.

Not far.

Now, Martin, if you don't mind, I'll need to remove... Not my wings.

I'd rather you didn't.

Well, I won't be able to do a thorough examination if you're wearing them.

Well, perhaps in the interest of science. Yes, yes, exactly, in the

interest of science. Thank you, Brian.

You really think you're going to be able to fly with these?

Yes. I believe it's possible, if I can achieve sufficient lift.

Lift?

You were trying to catch the updraft from that cliff, weren't you?

Excellent deduction.

Martin, I haven't seen you before.

Are you new to this area?

Well, I've been residing in the woods, just outside your lovely town, for some

weeks. Oh.

I'm surprised you've remained anonymous, being...

So unique.

What about you, Dr. Quinn?

You're rather a rare specimen yourself, are you not?

Me? Well, a woman doctor, you know, here in Colorado Springs.

Well, it took some time, but eventually the people of the town came to accept

me.

I'd prefer to monitor your condition for...

A day or two.

Just to be certain that you haven't suffered a concussion.

Would it be possible for you to stay here overnight?

Well, of course.

I mean, if you think that's best, scientifically.

Is there anyone you'd like us to contact?

No.

Kelly.

Afternoon, Brian.

Hello. These just come for you. Well, thank you, Daniel. No problem.

I'm Martin. This is Daniel Simon. He's our sheriff.

Daniel, this is Martin... I'm of the family Abishominis.

That's an unusual name. Where are you from?

London, originally. Then New York.

But since confinement in one place does not agree with me, I've been obliged to

be a rather migratory creature of recent years.

Well, welcome to town.

Well, thank you.

So you're saying that he actually jumped off a cliff?

Well, it wasn't exactly a cliff. It was only about 15 feet.

But he was trying to fly.

He seems nice enough, but he is a little odd.

Oh, Matthew.

Wait till you hear what his name was.

What was it, Mom?

Avis something or other?

Avis hominis.

Avis hominis.

Avis. Avis, that's the Latin word for bird.

And, uh... Oh, hominis.

It's Latin for the zoological classification of man.

Birdman.

What do you suppose a birdman eats, Mom?

I can't really say, Brian.

Somebody's whistling.

Well, see me.

Well, Michaela, it seems that your patient is up with the Lawrence.

He's been doing that since the crack of dawn.

Good morning, Dr. Quinn.

Good morning, Martin.

Please, stay there. We'll be right up.

What a beautiful day.

Yes, certainly.

Martin, do you feel all right?

I couldn't be better.

Ma, look at these.

Well, these are splendid, Martin.

They sure are.

Thank you.

I believe I'm close now.

To what?

Why, to flight, my boy.

To flight.

Oh, so far a minor logistical problem has kept me earthbound.

I keep toppling forward.

But the moment I work out how to balance myself... I built a flying machine

once. Did you?

But I crashed.

Ah, yes, well, so have I, many times.

But we must keep trying, mustn't we?

Hey, maybe I could build another flying machine for my science project.

Well, I could think of no worthy endeavor.

Perhaps Brian should be getting off to school.

I guess so.

Martin!

You wouldn't want to help me with my project, would you?

I would be delighted.

I don't think that's such a good idea.

Why not?

Well, I don't want you to get hurt.

Brian was seriously injured once when he fell from a tree.

Mom, I was just a kid then.

Besides, there's only going to be a model.

Not to sit in.

Brian, I'm not sure that Martin's up to this.

But I feel wonderful.

When shall we start?

How about right after school?

Excellent.

Oh, Daniel.

How's the patient?

Well, his vital signs are excellent.

Good. And I've ruled out any possibility of concussion.

Good.

But?

He doesn't believe that he's hurt.

Yeah.

I'm not sure what's causing his behavior.

It's possible he might have experienced some kind of trauma in the woods.

Maybe he's just playing crazy.

Is that possible with you as well?

Do you think he'd ever hurt anybody?

Oh, no.

I don't believe so. He's very gentle.

He seems quite homeless.

Well, still, Sully and me knew this strange fella named Sam back in the

camp.

He'd been mauled by a bear, and soon after that, he started seeing one behind

every tree and bush and stump.

This poor guy was scared of his own shadow.

So what happened?

Well, one night...

He thought he saw a bear out in the brush.

So he picked up a rifle and just started firing.

Only the bear turned out to be another miner.

He was a widower with six kids.

Did he kill him?

No, he just nicked him, but... The other miners were so mad that they

strung Sam up from the nearest tree before we could stop them.

Need a pen and telegram?

It'll work, too.

New York City Police Department.

Yes, sir.

Where do you think the wings ought to go?

Well, you see, I would say about here.

Although, having experienced the destabilizing effects of a sudden

firsthand, I would suggest... That we balance the model's front and rear wing

support quite precisely.

Otherwise... We'll crash.

Exactly.

Ah, behold, Brian.

The perfect flying machine.

See how he glides on the thermals?

Why, he barely moves his wings.

I believe if we are ever to fly, we must imagine ourselves as him.

Can you picture what he sees from up there?

How he soars through the clouds.

To be so free.

In the meadow with Brian.

This just came.

It seems that Martin matches the description of one Martin Chesterfield,

professor of science at New York University.

He walked out of a place called Bellevue three years ago.

Bellevue? That's an insane asylum.

except they're testing the wind velocity.

Yes, indeed.

And as I thought, the prevailing wind is from the south.

Although, I'm afraid we're going to be experiencing some turbulent weather over

the next few days.

We're hoping to build my flying machine tonight and test it tomorrow.

So you weren't planning on flying off the roof, Sven?

Flying should never be attempted without wings, my good man.

One can't fly without wings.

Martin, I was thinking.

Maybe we should make the rear support test something heavier, like cedar.

That would offset the weight of the wings and give us the balance that we

Yes, strong, but flexible enough to yield to a crosswind.

That's an excellent choice, Brian.

Would you excuse us?

Our deadline looms.

Of course.

What are we going to do about this guy, Michaela?

Well, it is wonderful of you to invite me to your home for dinner.

Perhaps you'd like to perch over there.

Hold tight.

What do you suppose that's all about?

Beats me.

You know anything about this, Horace?

Oh, I'm sworn to secrecy. Well, why don't you just go ahead and tell us and

it over with?

You know I can't, Jake. I took an oath.

Oh, yeah.

The oath.

Darn right, Jake.

Well, you can laugh, but that oath's something I live by.

It means I have to keep a lot of things private for a lot of folks, and I don't

intend on letting them down.

No, sir.

Those folks from the asylum are trusting me, and I ain't gonna say nothing.

Asylum?

You are smelled divine, Dr. Quinn.

Thank you, Martin.

Dr. Martin?

Yes, Dr. Quinn?

Now, as I understand it, your name means Birdman, does it not?

You know Latin?

And does that name imply that you actually are part bird and part man?

Indeed it does.

So there are times when you behave like a bird, and then there are other times

when you behave like a man.

Yes, exactly. For instance, in the field, definitely a bird.

And at this moment?

Excuse me.

What am I thinking?

I don't know. You're quite right, Dr. Quinn.

I was using field manners.

Quite different from table manners.

It's delicious.

Hey, everybody, look.

Oh, that's lovely, Brian. I'm calling it Moonrider 4.

Martin suggested it after I told him about my other flying machines.

Perseverance is an admirable quality.

Don't you agree, Dr. Quinn?

Oh, yes, indeed, Martin.

Looks like I don't have any choice.

Shake me.

You beat me again, Michaela.

Another game?

No, I don't think so.

May I challenge the winner?

You may.

Good luck.

I'm so glad you could join us for supper, Martin.

Pleasure's mine, Dr. Quinn.

Seldom do I dine in such congenial company.

I can't recall a more delicious home -cooked meal.

Well, thank you.

Do you care to dine out as well?

Indeed I do.

Why do you ask?

I wondered if you'd like to join me at Grace's Cafe tomorrow.

That would be most enjoyable.

Wonderful.

Though I do think that, um, well, since there's field manners and table manners,

it would tend to follow that there would be field attire and town attire as

well.

Right you are, Dr. Crane. I must have the proper attire. I shall acquire some

immediately upon arrival in town tomorrow.

Check.

Are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable staying in the house

Ah, I can think of no finer accommodation than to roost with my

Even though they are flightless.

Very well.

Good night, then.

Oh, Dr. Quinn.

Thank you for your very generous hospitality.

You're welcome, Martin.

Do you think if I was to take up residence in town...

That I might be as welcome there?

Perhaps that's something with which I might help you.

Is something wrong?

I hope you've fastened your windows, Dr. Quinn.

Because soon it's going to be very windy.

At least we had some warning.

will soon abate.

Martin, would you mind hanging on to Moonwright of Gore while I'm at school?

I don't want anybody seeing it until tomorrow.

Certainly.

I'm speaking.

Attempted test flight later.

Martin was right.

The wind had the bait.

And Martin, how did you know what the weather was going to be like?

Years of observing and emulating the behavior of my fellow avians.

Because he's a bird man.

Did you know, Dr. Quinn, that despite its desert habitat, the cactus wren...

Possesses as great a fondness for bathing as does the common loon.

Really? How interesting.

I guess you'd know about loons.

I'm reminded of the willow ptarmigan.

It's an arctic bird whose seasonal molting processes transform him into an

almost unrecognizable version of his former self.

It's nice of you to buy him a suit.

Let's leave it there.

You know, it's good on him, don't it?

Too bad he's still crazy.

You're very handsome, Orson.

I know of no other bird.

Which dons another's feathers.

But I'll try my best.

Dr. Mike.

Would you excuse me?

Sally, get this wire from Denver.

I hope nothing went wrong in his meeting with Senator Winston. Everything's

fine. But you remember those matches Sally made of the Longs Peak area?

Yes. Well, he needs it to send them to him right away before the senator leaves

for Washington.

I'll press so we can catch the five o 'clock train and get those maps on it.

Oh, possibly you can.

I'm told my friend Brian Cooper assisted with this publication from time to

time. Have you tried the school?

Oh, yes, of course. Here be a school. Thank you.

Excuse me.

Aren't you the man I saw yesterday on Michaela's balcony?

Ah, yes. Well, I do like to greet the morning from as high a vantage point as

possible.

Gives one perspective, you know.

Ah, perspective.

Well, I must say, you look considerably different now.

In fact, you look familiar.

Have we met before?

I don't believe so.

No, I have the distinct feeling we have.

I remember now.

I met you at a wedding reception hosted by the Goulds several years ago.

The New York Goulds. Ah, well, that would be my sister's wedding. Very happy

event. Then you must be Martin Chesterfield.

Yes, I was.

Trust me, larger third.

Pleasure to meet you.

It's quite unusual to have a member of such a distinguished family in our

Why, thank you, Mr. Lodge.

Well, good afternoon.

There you are, Martin.

He waved his hand.

Horace, I need to send a telegram.

Where to? New York.

Make it out to Mrs.

Alice Chesterfield Gould.

Thank you very much.

You're doing very well, Mars.

Taylor?

Can I speak to you for a minute?

Yeah, of course.

Would you excuse me?

So they sent me a telegram back.

Folks from Bellevue are sending somebody for Martin.

Or is it something else?

Turns out Martin's from a real prominent family.

Preston got in touch with them. They sent word back they think Martin's a

to himself.

They want me to keep him confined until somebody can come for him.

Confined? But he hasn't had anything to warrant being locked up.

Told you he was crazy.

Dr. Mike, are you really keeping that bird man here in town tonight?

Well, yes, we're all staying here with him.

The recovery room seems to have a calming effect on Martin. Bet he'd find

jail calming, too.

Jake, I know that what you saw earlier may have seemed disturbing.

Disturbing? Dr. Mike, the man's as crazy as a bed bug and he'll only be locked

up until somebody comes for him. But I still maintain that he's harmless.

Well, what if he's not?

As mayor, I've got a responsibility to the people of this town. Well, and as a

doctor, I have a responsibility to my patient.

Does that mean you're taking responsibility for him?

Yes, I suppose it does.

Well, I just hope you know what you're doing, then.

I thought you'd like to know that your human

family are very concerned about you.

They are?

They're sending someone from the hospital for you.

I was beginning to look upon Colorado Springs as home.

You've been so very pleasant to me.

I really do like it here so much better than where I was before.

I hate to go back there.

Must I go, Dr. Quinn?

Well, when the doctor comes here, if you like, I could speak to him and ask him

if you could stay.

But it'll be up to you to convince him that you can fit in here.

And it'll mean wearing town clothes and using table manners.

And most importantly, it means you must not do anything to endanger yourself.

Like jumping off cliffs.

I mean, I should be the very model of deportment.

Oh, Brian, tomorrow morning is going to be glorious.

A time to fly.

The project is due tomorrow, isn't it?

Yeah.

However... Well, since we didn't get to do the test flight, I'm kind

of worried she might... well, crash.

Ah.

Yes, well, there is that possibility.

Maybe I shouldn't try to fly her tomorrow.

No, Brian.

We must never cease to persevere.

even when all the odds are against us.

Yes, indeed.

Sheer perseverance has been the making of most of the geniuses of science.

Although I... I will have to give this stabilization problem a bit more

Well, it is getting late.

You need to rest.

Can you just leave?

Finally, yes.

Ma, do you think Martin's doctor is going to listen to you?

I don't know.

If he doesn't, they're going to lock him up, aren't they?

I'm afraid so.

But why?

What's he done that's so wrong?

He hasn't done anything wrong, Brian.

It's just that he's not like most people.

What's wrong with being different?

Unfortunately, his family seems to think he's a little too different.

His family?

When I thought I was a bird, you didn't have me locked up.

You were a child, Brian. You had fantasies. So did he.

Unfortunately, sometimes people who are, let's say, unique are disturbing to

those who are not.

And I like that he's unique.

In fact, I think he's one of the smartest people I've ever met.

I think so, too.

But I'm afraid that his family thinks otherwise.

So his family's rich, huh?

Rich.

Martin Chesterfield belongs to one of the wealthiest shipping families this

of the Atlantic.

I bet they're going to be real grateful to Dr. Mike for taking care of him.

There could even be some reward money involved.

Well, if there is, you better plan on sharing some of it with me.

I'm the one that cleaned him up.

I wouldn't count on any kind of financial remuneration from them, Jake.

Why not? Because from what I gather, Commodore Chesterfield is an extremely

conservative, straight -laced sort of fellow. So?

So, I rather doubt he assigns any value to this cuckoo bird son of his.

Well, thanks for the information.

You know, Jake, you should really be grateful to me.

For what?

If I hadn't sent that wire, Mr. Chesterfield wouldn't even be confined

now.

After all, he is insane.

I thought about that.

But Dr. Mike says he's harmless.

Well, she's probably right.

Forget I even mentioned it.

Right there. I don't understand.

Don't move.

Let me explain.

Jake.

What's going on, Sheriff? What's going on is this lunatic broke into my shop

tried to kill me.

Well, there must be some mistake.

Dr. Quinn. Shut up. Hold on, Jake.

Now, what happened exactly?

I found him robbing my shop. He come at me with a razor and I had to fire a shot

to stop him.

Please, let me explain.

Go on.

I was trying to retrieve something that I'd left in there.

I found him cutting a strip from that. Probably meaning to tie me up and slit

throat. No!

I knew it was dangerous to have someone like this around.

Martin would never hurt anyone.

What are you going to do about him, Sheriff?

I don't have any choice but to put him where he can't hurt anybody and nobody

can hurt him.

Not the jail.

It's for his own good, Michaela.

Can't get a word out of him.

Seems sick.

Morning, Mike.

Brought you some breakfast.

Thank you.

Um, Brian sent you this. He thought you might want to do some sketching.

Steal anything from anyone?

I know, Martin.

But it may be difficult to convince the doctor from Bellevue of that.

You said you left something at the barbershop?

I was trying to retrieve my hair.

But why did you need it?

Well, so that I could build a nest.

You see, I felt if the doctor knew that I had a place to live, well, he would be

more inclined to allow me to stay.

We may not be able to convince them of that now.

But even if we can't, your family must have missed you terribly. You must be

looking forward to seeing them.

I doubt that I will see them.

Surely they'll see you at the hospital.

They never did before.

Why, you and Brian, you've been more family to me than my own ever was.

Clearly, Martin doesn't have much of a family, no matter how prominent they

But they are his family, and there's legal guardians.

Well, they don't deserve to be.

Asylums should be reserved for the criminally insane.

Eccentric?

Michaela, keeping a wolf as a pet is eccentric, but thinking you're a bird,

that's crazy.

Possibly, but given the bedlam of an asylum, perhaps standing at a window and

looking out and imagining oneself to be a bird...

Able to fly away from all that madness.

Well, under those circumstances, perhaps that's the sanest behavior of all.

But isn't his family right about him being a danger to himself?

You notice the scars on his wrists?

Yeah. Manacles.

And they're often used in asylums.

And after three years of wandering through the wilderness alone, Martin's

nothing to himself to equal those scars.

and Dr. Mike flown the coop yet?

Since you asked, not well at all.

Well, that's why he belongs in the loony bin.

Spending time with a mental ill isn't a very effective way of restoring sanity.

What makes you think he ever had anything to restore?

Jake Martin was once a professor of science at a very prestigious

Well, that just proves my point.

He lost his marbles thinking about all them stupid ideas.

Well, perhaps he was just ahead of his time.

Are you saying that you think people are going to fly someday?

Dr. Mike, people weren't made to fly, and they're never going to.

How'd your project go today?

I had a minor logistical problem. What?

I crashed.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

That's all right.

Sometimes it takes a bunch of tries for a project to succeed.

Did you tell Martin about it?

Yeah. I took him to my flying machine after school.

Told him how close we were to staying airborne.

And how we just need to shift a little more weight near the tail for balance.

I was trying to cheer him up, but he seemed awful sad.

Ma, it ain't right.

Martin doesn't belong in an asylum.

He just simply doesn't fit in, Brian.

And just because of that, he's going to spend the rest of his life locked up?

Hey, Daniel.

What are you off to?

A doctor from Bellevue's coming in on a five o 'clock train.

That's a shame about Martin, isn't it?

Yeah, it sure is.

There's a lot of tough things about this job.

I'm finding that out.

Hey, Daniel.

I wish there was something we could do to help.

Yeah, me too.

Matthew.

You know, I never got around to fixing that drawer.

Drawer? Yeah, the one in the desk.

Always sticking.

Never got around to fixing it.

In fact, everything in that desk is just how you left it.

I'll see you.

See you.

Martin, we've come to get you out of here.

A jailbreak?

How exciting.

I know. I left the spare key in here.

I hope you're right, Matthew.

You the man from Bellevue?

I am.

Sheriff Daniel Simon.

I'm Dr. John Liberty.

Well, I'd better collect my patient.

He needs some assistance with these restraints.

Where is he?

Sheriff Simon, what the devil is going on?

I've got the only key right here.

Matthew. I owe you a debt of gratitude.

Just take care of yourself, Martin.

Here's some food.

Dr. Quinn, it's been an honor to have known you.

Good luck, Martin.

You can't leave without these.

I'm never going to forget you, my friend.

Me either.

Oh, right.

Almost, my God.

It's a strip from the pillowcase.

You figured out how to stabilize it.

Try it now.

Oh, please.

In the 1870s, two young boys named Orville and Wilbur Wright experimented

their first model aircraft.

They failed.

However, on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the same Wright

brothers finally achieved the first successful manned flight in history.