Original subtitles

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

They call me Mad Jack.

And me and my burl 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.

Everything and every animal has a sense of belonging.

Some folks call it the balance of nature.

But every now and again, something happens to kind of tip that balance a

It was harvest time in the vegetable garden that my friend James Adams had

planted out there next to his cabin.

Good morning, Joshua.

Like to try some of this corn I grew?

It's mighty good.

Here you go.

Take it easy.

I know it's good, but you gotta take your time.

Well, I can't give you some without giving Ben some.

Here you go, Ben.

Well, you've got yours over here, Josh.

Now just eat the corn, not the husk.

You eat that husk and you're going to end up with a stomachache.

Pretty good, isn't it?

I want you to try some of this lettuce here.

Ben likes lettuce better than the corn, Joshua.

Look who's here.

If it isn't Ginger, all growed up.

He's just in time for lunch, Ginger.

Well, with Ginger here, Robbie Carver can't be too far behind, Ben.

Hi, Mr. Adams.

Hi, Robbie.

How are you, son?

That fawn of yours is getting mighty big, isn't he? Yeah, he is.

Boy, as soon as we rounded that van, he took off like grease lightning once he

spotted your cabin.

You must be getting tired of chasing that deer.

Something wrong?

No.

You want to sit down and talk to me, Isabel?

Yes, sir.

How's your pa, Robbie?

Pa's fine.

It's ginger, Mr. Adams.

Is he sick again?

No, he hasn't been sick a day since you cured him last spring.

Trouble is, well, he keeps running away from the farm.

He'll go for two or three days and not come back, and I'll have to go and find

him.

What do you think the trouble is?

Don't right any no.

Pa thinks that now that he's all grown up...

Well, he has a bad hankering to go back to the wilderness.

Your pa makes a heap of sense, Robbie.

You take a cow.

Goat, sheep, cat.

Farm's a proper place for that animal.

They feel comfortable and at home there.

But a deer?

Well, his instincts are for the forest.

But Ginger's happy down at the farm with me.

Is he?

Is that why he keeps running away?

What am I going to do, Mr. Adams?

Paul says he won't make me let Ginger go.

He said that he thought I ought to bring him up here to you.

You know wild animals better than anyone in the mountains.

He said maybe you could help me decide what to do.

Mr. Adams, how did you get Ben to stay here with you?

I didn't, Robbie.

Ben made up his own mind.

In fact, he does every day.

There's something you gotta learn about wild animals, son.

Nobody owns them.

They live where they see fit.

And they belong to themselves.

But I can't ask Ginger what he wants.

Well, if you're willing, we'll take Ginger out and we'll find him a herd.

And we'll let him make up his own mind.

Kind of like Ben does.

If he wants to stay with you, he can.

But if you'd like to stay with the herd, we'll let him do that.

You willing to try that?

Well... Yes.

Good boy.

I guess Adams never took a walk in the woods with a heavier heart.

He knew what Ginger meant to Robbie, and he knew what Robbie meant to that deer.

Hello, the house!

Adam!

I got your supplies!

A garden!

He's going to turn himself into a farmer.

Well, once a greenhorn, always a greenhorn.

Jack.

Oh, no,

he ain't here.

I don't know, he's been off somewhere, there's no doubt. Anything I can do for

you?

Well,

how come you want to catch a wild mustang for the chief?

Oh, is he going to get married?

Hey, they make good wedding presents.

Yeah. Listen, since Adams ain't here, I'll go along and help you catch it.

Have I ever caught a wild mustang? Listen.

They didn't call me Mustang Jack for nothing. When I first come to this

we was up in the Wind River country.

I was chasing Mustangs up there. I did, and I furnished half the branches up

there with livestock.

When Ginger started taking some natural light to the animals, Adams figured he

best have another talk with Robbie.

Robbie, if Ginger decides to go back to his own kind, there's something I want

you to remember.

What's that?

Well, as pretty as your pa's farm is, there ain't no farm as pretty as this

wilderness.

Ginger have everything out here.

Trees, water, stream, beautiful mountains to run and play in.

All the animals living together like one great big happy family.

I know you're right, Mr. Adams, but...

Don't make me happy to say so.

I don't see any other deer out here, Mr. Adams.

Maybe they all moved, migrated to a different part of the mountain.

We couldn't leave Ginger here all by himself.

Being raised on a farm and all, he just wouldn't know what to do with himself up

here in this big wilderness.

We won't leave Ginger until he's found a family.

He decides he don't want one.

All right?

Puma, did I ever tell you about the time I caught two Mustangs in one loop?

I tell you, it was up over on the Long Ridge and...

It was the biggest wreck you'd ever want to see happen anywhere. They tore up

dirt for... Number seven.

Come on up here.

What in foreign nations got into you anyway? You cantankerous old bag of

Is something hurting you? You guess.

So that's what's pestering you.

You think that little burrow is separated from the herd.

Lost and lonely.

Like you and me was when we first met, huh?

Say, you think that maybe we could talk Nekoma into finding a

home for that little girl?

Now, just a minute, Nekoma.

Just hold on a minute. Them Mustangs can wait.

Now, I gotta...

Much better idea for a present for your chief.

What if you was to give him that little burrow yonder?

He hate burrows?

Never.

All that guff I give number seven, that's just in fun, ain't it?

Now,

Mustangs is all right.

But let me tell you something. Once you got a burrow for a friend, you got a

friend for life.

And for carrying things?

Well,

of course I want to give them a home.

Every creature on this green earth of God's needs a home and someone to care

them.

Bye, Stylator.

Dangerous.

You're talking to Mad Jack, the best burrow catcher in all of these here

mountains. Well, I'll have my burrow eaten out of the palm of my hand in no

at all.

Here's some deer tracks.

They're fairly fresh.

Looks like a small herd.

They can't be too far off.

Over there, son.

When Robbie seen that herd and watched as Ginger began communicating with him,

he knew there was no turning back.

It was the saddest single moment of his young life.

It was an awful time for poor little Robbie.

He didn't want Ginger to leave, and it was just as hard on the little critter.

His animal instincts seemed to be pulling him to that herd of deer, but

heart seemed to be wanting him to stay with Robbie.

To Adams and Ben watching, it seemed like it could go well either way.

It didn't take no mind reader to see that Ginger was finding it near

to make up his mind.

And then, for one cruel moment, it appeared like Ginger had decided to stay

Robbie.

But it just weren't meant to be.

Goodbye, Ginger.

I'll never forget you.

And there wasn't much doubt that Ginger felt the same way.

Painful as it was, little Robbie did a heap of growing up that day.

Looks like Ginger finally found himself a family, Robbie.

Mr. Adams?

Reckon we could follow him a bit?

See how he is?

I think the best thing is just to let him go, son.

I think our scent would just confuse him.

That's the most important thing there is.

Belonging to a family.

For man or for animal.

I know Mr. Adams.

Ginger's where he belongs now.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Go ahead, number seven.

What do you mean you don't understand? I'll tell you what I'm doing.

I'm going to send number seven in first.

That's the only way we're going to get close to that burl.

This scent is strong. It'll cover ours.

In fact, his scent's so strong that that little burl will just stand still

thinking he's got a cousin coming to call. Then all we've got to do is take

rope of yours, drop a little loop over his head, and he's ours.

Go on, seven.

Now, seven.

There's no time to... Number seven.

We want to help your little friend up there. We don't want to hurt him.

Well,

I don't know why he doesn't want to obey me.

Usually he does everything I tell him.

Now, seven.

You don't have to be worried about spooking that little friend of yours.

Don't you want him to belong to the chief and have a nice, happy home like

you've got?

You don't?

Sure you do.

Now, come on.

Seven, you're laying down on the job.

Hey, nephew, you cantankerous bag of bones. Now, just get up.

Easy now, Joshua.

Since your pa said he could

stay, maybe you wouldn't mind helping me around the cabin.

Yeah.

I'd like that.

Well, how about going over to the garden and picking us some nice fresh

vegetables?

You can start a fire and boil those vegetables you picked in that big black

collar I got in the cabin.

Think you can do that?

Ben and I are going to mosey on up and see if we can get some blueberries and

maybe even come across a patch of wild strawberries.

Mix them with some honey.

How's that sound to you?

Good. As if I can keep old Ben from sticking his head in one of them

and getting his nose stung.

Now, Ben, you listen to Mr. Adams, all right?

Don't you go getting your nose stung by some angry old bees.

You ready to go, Ben?

Let's go.

We'll be right back, Robbie.

Adams wanted them berries all right.

But he had something else on his mind.

He wanted to make sure things was going all right with little Ginger.

Morning.

I don't have time to chat with you right now. I'm looking for a herd of deer.

Some other time, little friend.

They had found the herd of deer, and Adams and Ben stayed up to win so the

wouldn't spook the swift little animals down in the meadow.

Little Ginger was now one of the family.

It appeared like his new folks were used to him by now, and he was right where

he belonged.

Well, Ben?

Ginger seems to be well taken care of.

Now we've got to worry about Robbie.

In the cabin, he'd come across the wagon he'd used to haul Ginger up to Adams'

last spring, when the little critter almost died.

Seeing that wagon just about broke Robbie's heart all over again.

Meanwhile, me and Nekoma was hot on the trail of that little wild burrow.

Well, we got our little friend boxed in, it looks like.

This is going to be as easy as falling off a log.

All right.

Steady, little fella.

Now, Nekoma, just leave me alone. I want to do this by myself. I just want to

show you how tame he really is.

Now, I don't need no sass out of you.

Since you don't choose to help, the least you can do is just sit quiet and

rattle our little friend here.

Did you see you're making him jittery?

No,

he's not mad.

He's just anxious for me to catch him, that's all.

Of course, he is a little jittery.

it, watch it.

I, uh, I just slipped, that's all. Just slipped.

I'm gonna get the little darling this time.

Easy now.

There you go.

Well,

we could say one thing about your friend.

Number seven, he sure ain't no kissing cousin.

Now, a deer herd don't have to see an animal

to know it's around, particularly if that animal happens to be a wolf.

The deer herd sensed the presence of the wolf and took off like a shot.

But poor little Ginger, he didn't know what was going on. He'd been a pet so

long he'd lost the herd instinct to sense danger.

Now that goat just couldn't believe his good luck.

It appeared like he had found the one deer in the whole world who wouldn't

off at the mere sight of him.

As for Ginger...

Well, since he had never seen a wolf before, he probably figured it was just

another animal friend dropping by to say hello.

Of course, when that wolf started coming at him like that, Ginger knew that he

had more on his mind than just getting excited.

Hopping over Robbie's fence might have caused a lot of trouble back at the

That practice was sure coming in handy now.

Lucky for Ginger, the wolf pup come along and seeing what her baby wanted

more important to the wolf than chasing any stray deer.

I know what you're thinking about Ginger, Bobby.

You're probably fretting about her, too.

When Ben and I were out getting these berries, we saw Ginger.

She was mixing with her new family.

She was doing well.

Mighty well.

Gee, I'd like to see him.

I think that'd be a good idea.

We'd have to keep a good safe distance, though.

Let's go take a look for her.

Come on.

Ginger's not out there, Robbie.

Best thing we should do is split up and look for him.

You go off that way.

Van, I want you to go off that way and look for Ginger.

finally comes and we all know it will what will we do

and how will we feel the time has to come

when we must give way to hopes that we feel and our

hearts we obey

mistake letting Ginger go.

I don't think he did, Robbie.

I know he's in terrible trouble.

I just know it.

Well, you and Ben and I'll keep tracking him till we find out he's not.

Meanwhile,

me and the coma was still tracking that wild burl.

Oh, would you look at that.

This is that little seller's lucky day.

I'm just going to shinny around that ridge and drop down on his back.

Here, you just sit tight.

and to show me affection.

It's teasing.

Well,

I didn't fall off.

I got off.

They don't like to be ridden too far the first time, and that's a fact.

Ain't that right, number seven?

Hey, I just figured out why that bird didn't want me to ride him.

He didn't like number seven's scent.

It scared him. Now, that's the truth. Now, number seven?

Why don't you go off and... You better not go that. Go off down yonder and feed

in the meadow for a while.

While I catch up my friend here.

All right.

You go on.

Go on, number seven.

See here, Robbie?

Ginger's tracks, and they're nice and fresh.

But he's separated from the herd.

Oh.

You're right.

But we can't be too far behind him.

Let's go.

Come on, Ben.

Ginger was now about as alone and lonely as he'd ever been in his whole life.

And one day he had lost Robbie and the deer herd.

And the likelihood of finding either must have seemed about as slim as a twig

a windstorm.

All he could do was just keep on moving and hoping for the best.

What'd you find, Ben?

Huh?

Good boy, Ben.

Good boy.

We've lost him, Mr. Adams.

Not for long, Robbie.

The question is, did Ginger cross the stream here?

Or did he go upstream or downstream?

Well, what are we going to do now?

We're going to widen the search.

Ben?

I want you to go upstream.

And if you find Ginger, I want you to guide him back to the cabin. Do you

understand? Uh -huh.

That a boy, Ben.

Ginger gonna be all right?

I didn't see any other animal tracks, Robbie, so I figured before too long

either Ben's gonna meet up with Ginger or we will.

Now, somewhere along the way, Ben and Seven met up. And somehow, the way those

critters talk between themselves, Ben got Seven to understand that Ginger was

lost and had to be found before nightfall.

Poor little Ginger.

On his first day in the forest, he had lost his sense of direction and was

starting to wander around in circles like a, well, like a greenhorn that

tell which way the wind is a -blowing.

Ginger had run into a sand hole.

Maybe one of the worst traps to fall into next to quicksand that they is

You're

right Robbie they are learned well

There's a pup with her too Which means she's more interested in a little one

than she is in ginger

Besides, if there was a wolf around here anywhere, a speedy deer like Ginger

could outrace him anytime.

It was a combination of Ben's tracking

ability and luck which brought Ben and Seven to the sand hole where poor little

Ginger was trapped.

Now, Ben told Seven to stand guard and keep Ginger from being lonely while he

scouted around to see what friends were handy to help out.

He got it.

He got it.

Yep.

He was just here, all right.

He's probably plum -tuckered out from all the exercise we've been giving him.

Come down here to water.

Now all we gotta do is find out where he's watering himself.

I bet his hide's just plum all eaten up with gnats and mosquitoes.

He's probably just brain...

Just like a berry, waiting to be picked.

Up here, there, where?

Well, I'm going to go over there and catch him. That's what I'm going to do.

Till I bang, Mike.

Kick me?

Never. That's the secret of the whole thing, is feed her in the water. They

can't kick you while their feet's in the water.

Now you just watch.

All right, little feller.

Now just take it easy, little feller.

Ain't gonna hurt you.

I just want for the chief.

That's the way, baby.

Ain't nobody gonna hurt you.

That's the way.

Ain't that nice?

You're gonna have yourself a nice home, huh?

Come on.

That's the way.

There. There you go.

Be there.

Whoa.

Oh, now, I told you.

It's just a matter of time till he learned to trust me.

Easy. Hold up.

Beware, it's Koksala.

Well, all them other times he was just showing how much he liked me. He didn't

want to make it easy, otherwise he wouldn't appreciate me.

Now, little fella, you're going to go in the coma?

And have yourself a nice home, huh?

Number seven kept an eye on Ginger, which, well, was about all that could be

done.

But when Ben came back without Adam to Robbie, it sure looked like there was no

way on this earth of getting poor Ginger out.

Now, when Hawk come along and started chattering, Ben saw that old dead tree

got himself an ID.

But the problem Ben faced was how to chop it down.

You got it.

Nicoma and me, we come across Adams and Robbie.

You're Adams!

Robbie was sure shaking about losing his fawn.

What are you two doing up here?

We're looking for Ginger.

I can't find him anywhere.

Where'd you get that burrow?

That there's no burrow. That there's a wedding gift to Nekoma's chief.

We went out and caught him. That's what we did.

So you lost Ginger, huh?

Yes, sir.

Well, now, Robbie, you quit your worrying.

Old Mad Jack's here now.

And he ain't lost an animal in 40 years. Besides that, we got Nekoma here.

He's one of the best trackers in these here mountains. Well, we'll find that

Ginger in no time at all if you watch.

Well. Thank you, Mr. Jack.

Where's number seven?

Oh, he's off somewhere. He's grazing.

He'll be along come mealtime. You watch.

Now, maybe Ben, Hawk, and Seven talked it over.

Or maybe it was pure luck.

But there was no way that tree could have got where it had to go if Ben

do it.

Getting that tree to fall in the hole was hard enough, but trying to make poor

Ginger understand it was his way of getting out was even harder.

lots of folks don't take with animals communicating, but it must have took the

powerful lot of animal palaver to get Ginger to take that first step.

But once Ginger was free, there was no way of

stopping him or even slowing him down.

Adam.

It's going to be getting dark soon, Robbie.

If we don't find Ginger tonight, I promise you we'll start at the crack of

Let's get going. You're slower than number seven.

Hard as they tried, Ben and Seven couldn't keep up with Ginger know -how.

It looked like things had gone from bad to worse.

There's your wedding present.

Give my regards to the chief.

I'll rustle us up some food.

Robbie, would you get me some kindling?

Keep your chin up. All right.

Ginger? Ginger?

Ginger, you've come back to me.

Mr. Adams.

Nicoma. Mr. Jack.

Something's wrong, Adams.

It's Ginger.

He came back.

I knew he would.

I just knew it.

So Ginger came back to you after all, Robbie?

Yes, sir.

Does that mean he wants to stay with me?

Well, I guess Ginger has made up his mind.

Then he wants to stay with me the way that Ben stays with you?

Well, I reckon so.

What do you think, Jack?

Well, it looks to me like Ginger's found a home with Robbie like number seven

has with me.

Which reminds me.

About mealtime.

Number seven should be.

Ben, number seven, where are you being?

Out lollygagging around, I suppose, while we've been nearly out of our minds

looking for Ginger.

Aren't you being a little hard on number seven and Ben, Jack?

Well, maybe I am.

Can't expect animals to do the work of us men, can you?

I got to get you looking nice and pretty, because you know what's going to

happen? The coma's going to take you up and give you to the chief as a wedding

present. Won't that be nice?

You're going to have just as nice a home as old number seven over there.

You know, I wish I had more time with you.

I could teach you some tricks, some real fancy ones.

Yes, sir. Maybe even better ones than old number seven over there knows.

Yes, sir.

There you go. That's going to be pretty.

Great.

Yeah.

Then, the next thing you know, you and me sit down and have ourself a nice

man to burrow talk.

Well,

good morning.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen a burrow do.

When did you find time to teach him how to do that, Jack?

Well, uh... Uh... This morning.

Before anybody woke up.

Sure is a mighty smart burro.

Well, didn't they teach you down at that settlement school that a pupil is only

as smart as its teacher?

Nakoma?

Maybe someday you can bring the chief's new burro down and visit Ginger and me.

See you next time around.

Bye. Bye, Jack.

Bye, Nokoma.

Bye, Robbie.

Bye, Adam. You know, Robbie, what Jack was saying about teachers and their

pupils?

Well, I learned a lot from you and Ginger yesterday.

Even though adults like your pa and myself think we can figure out problems

our heads.

Well, sometimes the heart of a boy and the instinct of an animal seem to make a

lot more sense.

Well, I guess I better be going. Thank you, Mr. Adams.

So long, Ben.

You be careful, Robbie.

Come on, little fella.

We're going home.

Deep inside the forest is a door into another land.

Here is our life and home.

We are staying here forever in the beauty of

this place all alone.

We keep on hoping.

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

there's a time we'll call our own.

Take me home.