Original subtitles

The story of Grizzly Adams is big and powerful and beautiful.

They call me Mad Jack.

And me and my burro number seven been traipsing these slopes and valleys for a

long spell. So I know the story from the beginning. My friend Adams was accused

of a crime he didn't commit.

So he escaped into the mountains, leaving behind the only life that he

knew.

Now, that wilderness out there ain't no place for a greenhorn, and his chances

of surviving were mighty slim.

There was no time at all, for he was beaten down, ragged, and nearly starved.

Long about then, he come upon a grizzly bear cub, all alone and helpless.

Now, Adams knew that little critter couldn't survive without his help, so he

started right down that cliff, risking his own life.

To save it.

Now that cub took to Adams right off.

And that was when he discovered he had a special kind of way with animals.

They just come right up to him like he was a natural part of the wilderness.

But that bear cub, he was extra special.

As he growed, he became the best friend Adams ever had. And together, they

became a legend.

after the winter has thawed out the mountains and springtime has a chance to

come and warm things up, that's when Mother Nature sort of pokes her head out

and brings new life back to the wilderness.

This is a time, too, when the animals that Adams has been tending to during

winter are mended, ready to be released back to the forest.

Your leg looked like it healed just fine.

Why don't you try it out for me?

Nice and easy.

That's the last of the sick ones, Ben.

Howdy, Jack.

I didn't expect to see you.

Well, I wasn't expecting to be here.

But the way my bones have been acting up, I thought I'd better come over and

talk to you.

About your bones?

No, about the storm.

I tell you, the way my lumbago's been talking, we're going to have us a tidal

wave, hurricane, and tornado all rolled into one.

Most we're going to have, Jack, is some showers or two.

James Adams, we're going to have us a regular frog -floating, trash -moving

storm with some snow and sleep thrown in for good measure. You take my word for

it. You sure you just didn't stop by to sleep inside?

No.

I was warned outside, and I stay outside.

I just wanted to come over and warn you.

Well, as long as you and number seven are here, how about staying for dinner?

Food?

Well, of course food.

That was good, Adams.

I'm obliged to you and Ben.

Jack, it's starting to blow pretty good out there.

Just sleeping inside just this once wouldn't hurt, would it?

James Adams, I'm going to forget you ever said that.

Well, Ben, there goes a mountain man truly more stubborn than a mule.

Get enough to eat?

I guess I should lock her up real good, Ben, but I got a funny feeling there's a

certain mountain man going to be using this before the night's out.

Now, I generally kind of say I told you so, but if I was, then this would have

been a right sweet time to do it.

You see?

Nature decided to pick that very night. They just kicked up a ruckus.

It's warm and nice and safe in here.

Well, I thought you'd be showing up.

Well, I, uh, I, uh, just

thought I'd come in and check on you and the animals.

You all right?

Yeah, we're fine.

As long as you're here, why don't you stay a spell?

Well, if you and the critters here would feel safer if I was

inside, I'd be glad to.

You know, what if I was to bring in number

seven?

It ain't that I'm worried about the critter. It's just that, well, with me

here and Jim out there, he's going to be braying all night and keeping everybody

awake. What do you think?

I think it's a good idea.

I'll go get him.

There's nothing to be afraid of, Joshua.

Mary Lou and Dano. Just old Mad Jack.

He's going to be spending the night with her.

There now.

That's half of number seven.

Now, whoa!

Now, number seven, I don't want to be in there any worse than you do, but there

comes a time when we all got to use our good common sense.

Now, come on, number seven!

Well, one of you in here try to talk some sense into this critter.

And number seven will be thanking you, too, before this night's out. Now, get

in here.

Come on.

Get over here.

There you go. Now, get back in there.

Seven.

That's frosty. Get over there.

He's that big.

With a storm howling outside and them critters howling on the inside.

I got an inkling of what old man Noah must have went through in that arc of

Only that poor old fella, he had to put up with it for 40 days and 40 nights.

Ben, don't you be scared. I never heard of no storm that hurt no bear.

You're going to be all right.

You tried to dig yourself a place to hide?

Hey, Lou.

Now, this kind of weather I hear is good for your fur.

Joshua.

Storms like this that bring out the best in man are beasts.

Seeing how scared them critters looked, I did what Noah probably would have done

if he'd have been in my moccasins, which was to...

Try to comfort them as best I could.

Now, it ain't that I'm worried about you.

And I don't want you to think this is going to be happening regular.

Besides, you and me, we've been through worse storms than this.

You were saying, Jack?

Well, I was... Well, now, I know what you're thinking, but it ain't true. You

see, I just took that blanket because I didn't want it to get all wet over there

on the floor.

Now, I know a storm like this ain't easy for a greenhorn like you to take.

You just let old man...

The next morning, Adam's cabin looked like a ship that had been caught up in a

hurricane and bashed up on a reef.

Them little critters come out of the cabin like shipwrecked sailors hitting

land again.

lapped up that bright sunshine like it was sweet molasses.

Because they knew that old Mother Nature was a smiling down on them.

Looks as bad on the outside as it does on the inside.

It's going to take a lot of back -breaking work to put it all in shape

Well,

I guess we ought to get started on it.

Well, it looks like somebody already has.

Well,

don't just stand there halfway out. Come all the way out. It's beautiful out

here.

I got to get you in and then I got to get you out.

What's the matter with you anyway?

Van,

you got him in.

Maybe you can get him out.

Hmm?

Number seven is the most cantankerous thing. When you want him to move, he

won't. When you don't want him to move, he does.

Well, I guess if we're going to get this place cleaned up, we best get at it.

There's enough work here for all.

One thing about this mountain there, though.

A few hours of this sunshine and it'll look like nothing ever happened.

If that don't beat all.

What's that, Jack?

Man, you mention the word work and off he goes, just as purdy as you please.

Jack, wild critters don't care too much about roofs and chimneys.

What you see out here, this is their home.

Man's nothing but an intruder out here.

It all belongs to you, Ben.

So have as much fun in it as you can.

I guess it didn't sit too well with me when Adams told me I was an intruder

in these mountains.

But then when I give it a thought or two, I guess maybe he was right.

The wild critters was put here and this is their home. And this is where they

belong. And they're the happiest and most comfortable when they're in the

they was born to.

Now you take Ben.

Why a day don't go by that he don't start it off with a visit to his

rubbing tree.

A bear's claws are his tools, same as a knife is to a man, and it's important

that he keeps them sharp.

He uses them for things like burrowing or rooting for grubs or just any number

of things.

And there ain't a greater pleasure in this whole world than a roll in the

cool...

When Ben saw that bear cub, he figured he got separated from his mama during

storm. So seeing that the cub was all right, Ben went off in search of the

But Ben...

wasn't the only one interested in that cub.

cougar made a move he was going to be darn certain that the mama of that cup

wasn't any worse about which she wasn't ben's keen nose told him that

that cougar wasn't too far away

That cougar was about to make his move, and the little cub was a ballin' for his

mama like a calf at Brandon time.

It was lucky for the little fella that Big Ben happened along when he did.

Cougars are smart animals, smart enough to mosey off when a bear tells them to

skedaddle. This cougar was no exception.

Ben watched that cougar until he was satisfied that he had skedaddled good

proper.

When he turned to look at the cub, he was already running off, and Ben figured

this time he'd tag along just to see that he didn't get into any more

While Ben was taking care of that little bear cub, I was taking care of Adams

again as usual, teaching him how to fix the roof on his cabin after that storm.

You know, all that getting rained on last night sure didn't do my lumbago any

good. I just, oh, stove up.

Well, we're real lucky that sun's so bright. It's going to bake your bones

nice. We got enough work here to work the stiffness out in no time.

That's what I like about you, Adams.

You're always on the bright side of things.

I ever tell you about the time I met up with that tornado down in Oklahoma

territory? I guess you already heard that.

How about the time I spotted that prairie fire in Kansas?

Tell me something. Did you hear it from me or did you hear it from one of my

many admirers?

Well, if my memory's right, I think it was... I think it was you.

Yeah? Yeah, it was you that told me.

Say, did I ever tell you about the time I had to outrun that flash flood up in

the Tetons?

I tell you, there was a wall of water coming down...

in a coma.

It's good of you to come over here and help.

Ben

figured

that cub was out of harm's way, so he decided to enjoy, well, just being a

Ben was prepared for just about anything except for what he saw.

Yep, there was no doubt that the cub had found his mama.

And old Ben, well, he was just about as happy as that cub.

Did I ever tell you about the time I was down in the Oklahoma Territory?

There was these buffalos.

Well, if you've heard it, you don't have to get mad at me. Just tell me so.

What happened?

Oh, the coma in me was just a jaw and that's all.

Hey, hey, hey.

I suspect there's one critter that's got a bigger curiosity than a little bear.

And that's a big bear.

So when Ben heard that strange sound, he had to go and see what was causing it.

It was an old Indian shaman, or medicine man, who had come up here to sit on the

ledge and meditate.

You see, what happened was the old man's tribe had figured the shaman had lost

his special power.

So they sort of sent him away and got a younger fellow to take his place.

Well, that didn't leave the old shaman much he could do, but come up here to

and try to figure it all out.

That music sounded real nice to Ben.

He didn't know any of the words, but the tune was sort of catchy.

That

song

was such a toe -tapper, Ben just couldn't sit there no more without

Now, of course, the shaman had no way of knowing that Ben had just come for the

entertainment, not for supper.

So I guess you might could say he was just a hair on the scared side.

Of

course,

Ben didn't have no thought of hurting the shaman. He just figured this was

of the show.

All the shaman could do was just... lay there and wait for Ben to make his next

move.

Ben was wondering what happened to the music.

Looked to him like the shaman had fell asleep.

He kind of thought he ought to wake him up.

The shaman just couldn't believe all this were really happening to him.

To him it was a vision.

Something like a dream.

And this weren't really a bear at all. It was a...

Great Spirit come to take him off to the happy hunting grounds.

Yes, sir. It was just like his granddaddy had said.

Someday the Great Spirit will come for you. And when he comes, you got to be

ready to follow him anywhere he takes you.

So when Ben set out for parts unknown, the shaman wasn't going to be left

behind.

Now, it just so happens that the three warriors out scouting was a tribal

council who'd set the shaman out to pasture, so to speak.

They was worried about the shaman, so they had come out to see if he was all

right.

Bye.

Dukester.

When Ben had his fill of music, he decided to mosey on about his business,

whatever that might be.

The tribal council figured anyone that could sit and visit with a bear must

still have a heap of medicine left in him.

And they welcomed the old shaman back to the tribe with open arms.

Nikoma were trying to put the wrecked cabin back together, a little critter

friend of Adam's, a field mouse, come a -callin'.

You and I are going to have to come to some kind of an agreement.

If I keep throwing my timing off like that, I'm liable to lop off a finger or

foot.

How about if I just put you in my pocket?

How's that sound?

and if that's what you're thinking, then I'll thank you to remember that.

Cooling my feet.

That's what I get for babying you last night.

Making your life easy for me.

Well, I guess I better get that ax as well. It's risky.

Hey!

Come back here, you ring -tailed bandit. That's my sock.

Come on, stop.

Wait a minute.

Hey, maybe if there's one thing I can't stand, it's the feet. Now give me that

sock.

So intent on getting that tree down that he didn't see me coming.

Jack! Jack, look out!

Great heaven, it's getting so you can't walk in it. Get me out of here.

One of you stop that little thief. He's got one of my good socks.

Do you realize how painful it is to wear moccasins with no socks? Makes your

bunions swell up.

Go get him.

Just a perfectly good sock. Just flat out stone.

You can't.

Well, I knew I'd outsmart him.

West was beginning to fill with settlers, and Ben, for one, was starting

think that every one of them come right through his valley.

Don't you think we have enough, Lavinia?

I bet enough huckleberries to turn into one. Oh, just one more basket, Jonas,

and I'll make us a pie when we can't tonight.

Now, Ben had seen enough wagons in his time not to be overly curious about this

one.

But there was something in this particular wagon that was plum

And he was drawn to it like a chicken to a dune bug.

and smells in that wagon that Ben just couldn't resist sticking his nose and

rest of them in there.

Why, he'd never seen so many interesting things.

Lavinia, you have enough now.

Let's get rolling again.

We'll never make the river by nightfall.

Oh, all right, Jonas.

I vow you're the most impatient man.

I promise you, we're going to still be there by the time we arrive.

Very reassuring, Lavinia. Now let's go.

Them settlers didn't have a peppercorn of an idea that they had picked

themselves up an extra passenger.

Now, Ben hadn't any notion of going all the way to Oregon with those folks, but

there was just so darn many interesting things inside that wagon that he

couldn't pull himself away.

About that time, the lady started to smell something.

What are you sniffing at?

Don't you smell that?

Smell what?

What?

and poked his head out just to see what all the commotion was about.

And that's when Dumplin' and Noodles got wind of him.

first ride in the wagon weren't no fun at all.

He wished he was using his own four feet to get where he was going.

Old Ben never did think he looked good in a hat.

Well, leastways, they made the river before dark.

Now this is our chance to show them, too, that they can't get along without

All right, it's looking good.

Looking good.

You about ready, Jack?

We're ready when you are.

The coma?

Okay, heave away, Jack.

All right, number seven.

He's not you, is he?

Keep her coming.

Don't quit on me.

Right now.

Hold it, Jack.

Let's call on a leave.

All right, Nokoma.

You left an op -pop.

just a mite too far.

Jack?

Number seven?

I hear tell the weather's awful nice up in the Yukon territory this time of

year. Maybe you and me better just...

Kind of head up in that direction.

While me and number seven was thinking about a trip to a more hospitable

country, Ben had found himself a place that had to be a whole lot like heaven

a bear.

Lots of good things to nibble on.

And of course, after a heavy meal like that, it's only natural that a bear

get a little bit drowsy.

There was enough noise in this meadow to wake the dead, and Ben could see he

weren't going to get no peace at all.

One thing about the forest, though, there's lots of it. So Ben figured if he

couldn't get some quiet in this meadow, he'd, well, he'd try it down by the

stream.

Now, most times, Ben enjoys babies, particularly goslings, but he wasn't

enjoying them now.

He was seeking peace and quiet.

But they thought he was just passing the time of day with them.

Ben figured his friends was just going to keep on chattering and chattering, so

he decided to head back to the cabin for his little snooze.

How's your foot, Adams?

I consider it a 200 -pound beam, fella. It doesn't feel too bad.

You coming?

How's your arm?

Give me a take.

Well, I know it's probably felt better, but... You know,

I probably owe you two fellas an apology.

But it weren't entirely my fault, you know.

You might say number seven had a foot in it.

That's all right, number seven.

We weren't making fun of you.

We all know you was doing the best you could, weren't you?

Huh?

Well,

if that don't be all.

Now there's a critter that really knows how to live.

You could be any critter in the whole world you wanted to be.

What would you choose to be?

I don't know.

I never really thought about it.

But I'd always admire that big buckhorn deer.

The way he runs across them fields.

Hardly ever touches the ground.

A buck deer.

That's good.

Of course, I admire the beaver, too.

The way he sets his mind to doing something.

Enjoys his work.

The otter's nice, though. I don't think I've ever seen a critter have so much

fun doing nothing.

I should have known better than to ask you a question like that.

What?

It wouldn't bother you none if you was just a little old bitty field mouse

somewhere.

I reckon so.

Field mouse has got a purpose, too.

How about you, Nokoma?

What would you like to be?

There, Tharja.

An eagle.

How about you, Jack?

Well, now, no offense to you, but me, I'd want to be a

bear. And a grizzly bear at that.

You think Ben's got the kind of life that suits you, huh?

Got the kind of life that suits me?

Well, imagine being able to walk through the woods, not fearing a thing, nothing

to be wary of, just eat and sleep all day, lolling around in the sun.

That's the life for me.

Ben? How'd you like to trade moccasins with old Jack for a day or two?

Well,

does that answer your question?

There's a world where we don't have to run.

There's a time.