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.

Now, here where I live, there's something for everybody.

Rugged peaks, easy -going foothills, tall timbers, Russian rivers, and lazy

streams. And this attracts all kinds of folks, each one coming into these parts

for a different reason. Some looking for freedom, some for adventure, and some

for riches. And some, like Adam, just looking for a place to live in harmony

with nature.

Morning.

You all look like you had a good night.

Morning, Joshua.

Well, Ben, first off, we'll clean up around here.

We'll stack that wood up alongside the cabin.

Thank you, Ben.

Working together, we'll get done in no time.

I appreciate you trying to help, Josh.

This is just a mite too heavy for you.

As soon as I start splitting up some kennel, then you can give us a hand.

Hock's here early this morning.

Hock looks like he's scoured out some trouble, Ben.

We better go check it out.

Now, I never knew a fellow like Adams.

Always ready to help right off when there was any sign of trouble.

Now... When he started following Hawk, he had no idea of knowing there was a

stranger out here in the wilderness looking for a place to try out some

wild ideas.

Me and number seven had just reached the summit on the way to Adam's cabin when

we spotted him.

And we was mighty puzzled at what we seen.

Perfect, Suzy.

Perfect. The thermal drafts are just right.

It was a worthy effort to come up here, huh?

Oh, we're going to fly, Suzy.

You realize we're going to show the whole world we can fly?

You know what that is?

That's one of them newfangled traps.

Yes, sir. That's what that feller's got.

All right.

Now, we're going to act like we don't know what it is. Just play it dumb.

Howdy.

Huh?

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just surprised to see anybody way up here.

That's quite a contraption you got there.

Contraption? Oh, yes, I...

Certainly hope it proves to be more than a contraption.

It looks to be big enough for bear.

A bear?

A bear, that'd be ridiculous.

Well, cougar anyway.

Cougar, huh?

Please excuse me. I've got things to do.

Devin?

Did you notice how he... Clammed up and quit talking?

Yeah.

We gotta figure out some way to stop that fella.

You can't take this contraption around and catch innocent animals.

Tell you what we'll do.

We'll come back and destroy this thing. That's what we'll...

Now,

number seven.

Quit cozying up to the enemy.

Nothing worse than a lovesick burrow. Now you just come away from there.

It's them saucy little cute ones that'll do it to you every time.

I remember one time down at Rondeau a long time ago.

There was this cute little redhead.

Big, beautiful eyes. They looked like a buffalo calves.

And she just kind of snapped them at me.

Well, I very foolishly... Now, Seven,

you're not paying one bit of attention to what I'm telling you, are you?

All right.

Have it your own way.

You just go mooning around, running into trees without seeing them, stumbling

over boulders.

When that starts to happen to you, you just remember it all started right here.

Right about then, Adams figured Hawk was signaling that the trouble was out

there close by and that Adams should hurry up to help.

Ben, you stay here.

I'm going to go have a look.

Doesn't look like you're in any trouble.

That sounds like it could be one of your cubs.

Looks like you got yourself in quite a fix.

Yeah.

Well, I guess that's what happens when you get curious about that big world

around you.

I know.

Well, no wonder you were right, Mama.

It's a fine -looking cub.

There you go.

Thanks, Hawk.

That's what I should have done.

I should have just...

Run that polecat plum off the mountain. What polecat should you run off the

mountain? What are you doing up here?

Well, Hawk tipped us off that there's a little cougar cub caught in a thicket.

She's back with her ma now. Everything's all right.

Well, everything ain't all right up on the summit.

I tell you, there's a yahoo up there that's got the biggest animal trap I

did see.

A big trap?

Big enough to hold Ben there.

That's the truth, Ben. I seen it with my own eyes.

Well, did you talk to him?

Well, I tried to, but he was as close -mouthed as a clam with a lockjaw.

Well, I'm going to head up that way and check it out. Come on, Ben.

I better go along with you. No telling what that varmint's up to. You may need

me to back you up.

Well, sure, you're anxious to go.

Can you believe that, Adams?

Number seven here just went plum -ga -ga over that trapper's mule.

What a magnificent setting for a man's first flight.

Hey, you know something, Susie?

It's ironic, but you're the only witness to this momentous occasion, huh?

Oh, thanks.

Thanks, I know you're with me.

He's working on his contraption.

And that's the only part of it. I'll tell you, it's a whopper.

Do you really think that thing's a trap?

Well, you gotta be.

They're always figuring out newfangled ideas to come up here and catch these

poor animals.

Well, it sure don't look like it.

Look at that.

He's starting to get in it.

Getting in his own crap.

He's strapping himself in.

Using himself for bait.

He's got to be daffier than I thought.

No, Jack.

You know what? He's going to try and fly.

Look it.

He thinks he's going to fly like a bird.

Or like a cuckoo.

That's what he gets for trying to fly in a trap.

Too bad.

Come on, Seven.

Come on.

Seven, you stay here with Ben.

You were lucky.

Are you all right?

A little shaken.

Well, this is my friend Jack. My name's Adams.

How do you do?

See, I know exactly why I failed. It was in the design. I don't think we got

your name.

My name?

Oh, right.

That's my name. Right.

Milton Wright. Yeah.

See, it was in the contour of the wing.

Right here.

I've got to be able to study a golden eagle.

Which, by the way, I understand are native to these parts.

Well, there's some up on the western slope. I'd be glad to take you up there.

You mean you're going to try to fix this contraption? It's a flying machine.

And yes, I plan to stay right here until I perfect it.

I mean, of all the places I've been, this spot right here happens to be the

ideal spot for launching man's first flight.

First f... f... You mean you expect to... to fly like a bird?

That's my dream.

It's more like a nightmare.

Jack, he's serious about this flying business.

He's evidently put a lot of work and thought and design in this machine.

Well, he'd have more luck if he could grow feathers.

Oh, here.

We'll help you get that.

After that tumble you had, you have a hard enough time getting yourself up the

hill. Thank you. You carry this.

It's Ben, Mr. Wright.

Ben? Ben?

Say hello to Mr. Wright.

How do you do?

Well, it certainly is a well -mannered bear.

Yeah, Ben's quite a credit to the grizzly family.

Where do you want us to put this? Oh, right over here will be fine.

Right down in here.

Okay, thank you very much. I really appreciate this.

Happy to help you out, Mr. Wright.

I'd like to come to the cabin with us.

Thanks, but no, I've got too much work to do right here.

Well, let's go.

Jack, I think I ought to stay here and keep an eye on Mr. Wright.

All right.

You keep an eye on him, and I'll keep an eye on number seven over there.

Look at that. Do you ever see such a lovesick Romeo?

Well, look at lover boy.

If you ain't a hopeless case, and you, you're not helping matters any by

him on.

Well, you are.

Looks like that redhead down at Rendezvous a long time ago.

Mr. Wright, do you have a tent?

Tent? No, just a bedroll.

We get some pretty heavy winds up here at the summit. Yes, I know, but they're

mostly favorable winds from my flying machine, right?

I gather you aren't from these parts.

No, Susie and I have had quite a journey.

It's worth it, though, just getting away from the ridicule.

Ridicule?

Yeah, you know, I mean, this little town that I come from, I'm afraid my flying

machine here is quite a target for laughter and taunts, you know.

I suppose that's what an inventor has to go through.

It doesn't bother me so much, but it's been really hard on my wife and our two

young sons.

But that could all change. It could all turn around with one successful flight.

Adams! Excuse me.

Are you coming or ain't you?

Jack Wright has no idea what he's up against up here in these mountains.

I thought I'd just stay behind and keep an eye on him.

Well, all right. Any lunkhead that thinks he can fly needs all the help he

get.

Come on, Romeo.

Well,

if that ain't the sorriest sound I ever heard.

Last time you sounded like that was when you ate that bushel of green apples.

I'll see you at the cabin.

Come on, Romeo.

Well, Adams did give that right feller a hand. A big hand.

With the help of Ben, of course.

Thank you, Ben.

Well, that ought to do it.

Oh, boy, what a construction.

It's called a wickiup.

You didn't have to go to all that trouble.

You're going to need it up here, Mr. Wright, to protect you from the winds

the storms.

It sure is sturdy.

It's a tripod in the center with a tight circle of poles leaning against it.

Then over that goes a thatching of grass and bark and pine boughs and then some

dirt.

What is it, Ben?

Ben wants to show us something.

Ben's mighty proud of this fire pit.

He hauled all the stones.

Let me ask you something. What are these sticks for?

Well, those are spark arresters.

You have to be very careful up here.

Pop a spark, it'll set a fire to the whole mountainside.

Oh, yes.

Yes, of course.

The wickiup's going to protect you from the prevailing winds.

Ah, the prevailing winds.

That's perfect for my next flight.

Now, Adams never would have left for the cabin if he'd have known where Wright

was planning to go and the heap of trouble he was going to find.

Wright was already gone when the coma happened along on his way to visit

Knowing the ways of the wilderness so well, he figured it had to be the

of greenhorns that would set up camp way up here on top of a mountain.

And he was mighty puzzled at the strange contraption lying there.

Now, when he came over for a closer look, He began to have second thoughts

this being a greenhorn's camp. That fire pit appeared like it had been made by a

real savvy mountain man.

Of course, he had no way of knowing that was Adams' work.

And there ain't none better than Adams.

Just like that wickiup Adams had put together. And the coma was mighty

with how it was built. Real strong and solid -like.

But he was still puzzled over that contraption.

For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what it could be or why it was here.

And he was real anxious now to find Adams and tell him about it.

There she is.

You're right. It was the craziest looking thing I ever saw in my life.

Here, watch this yellow.

Well, that's what I thought it was, too.

That's not a trap.

That's a flying machine, Nekoma.

Dog dog, eh?

Yeah.

Yeah. That man's going to fly in it.

The got boy?

Yeah, just like a bird.

I feel like you do, Nicoma. You want to fly like a bird. Next thing you know,

he's going to be wanting to lay an egg.

Did you see that man when you were up there?

Byda. He wasn't anywhere around?

Byda.

That's not good.

Well, I know it's a good wiki up in Fire Pit, but he didn't build that.

Adams built it.

Yeah.

He said he wanted to find a golden eagle.

Maybe that's where he is now.

That western slope's no place for a greenhorn to be wandering around.

Not by himself.

We've got to find him.

Come on, Ben.

When we set out for the cabin, we hadn't any idea Wright could get himself in

such a terrible fix.

Now, Wright figured he was a pretty fair amateur mountain climber, but he was

thinking about the mountains where he'd come from.

Those mountains were like molehills compared to these granite giants.

But he knew the golden eagle nested in the highest cliffs and crags, and

was going to stop him from getting there.

Wright's mind was on the golden eagle when he started to climb, so he weren't

paying much attention to where he tied up Susie.

And that meant trouble. He didn't realize them rocks he was kicking was

all around Susie.

And as he kept climbing, more and more of them kept showering down, scaring the

daylights out of poor Susie.

So when one of the rocks loosened the rope, that little donkey high tailed out

of there just as fast as she did.

Now climbing a steep rocky cliff in the high wilderness mountains takes a

special kind of know -how and a whole lot of experience.

And Wright didn't have neither, though he thought he did.

And to make things worse, he wasn't paying close attention to what he was

Now, when a greenhorn figures he knows more than he really does, and he ain't

concentrating on the task at hand, he's headed right smack into a dangerous

situation.

That's just what Wright was doing.

Adams and Ben had moved way out ahead of us as we was searching.

And a mighty lucky thing it was for Wright, because there was no way he

have saved himself a hanging like he was above the board.

Adams knew right off that Wright was in big trouble down the cliff, and he had

to move real quick to help.

Don't do that, Mr. Wright.

Stay right where you are.

Now, Adams' mind was a racing at top speed as he picked his way down the

He was trying to figure out how best to rescue Wright from his terrible

predicament. Then he saw that the rope down below had somehow wedged in a crack

on the cliff, and he knew now how he could haul Wright back up to safety.

It took a mighty tug, but Adams yanked that rope loose from the crack so he and

Ben could pull that Wright fellow out of there.

I'm going to need your help, Ben.

Hold on tight, Mr. Wright.

All right, Ben.

Pull it, Ben.

Pull it.

Hang on, Mr. Wright.

Here we go.

That's a good boy.

Here we go.

Hang on, Mr. Wright.

That's good, Ben.

We'll get you up.

That's good.

That's doing it, Ben. Keep pulling.

More, Ben.

I can see the top. It's close now.

Keep pulling.

That's doing it, Ben.

Just a little further, Mr. Wright. He's almost up, Ben.

Bless you, Adams.

You too, Ben.

Thank you, Ben.

Uh -oh.

Where's Susie? I left her right here.

There's something could have frightened her off, Mr. Wright.

Susie!

Here, Susie!

Here's her tracks.

They lead off this way.

wonder where Susie could have gone.

Well, Susie was safe now from all those fallen rocks, but you might say she was

a jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

A wolf showed up that looked mighty unfriendly to a little donkey that was a

greenhorn in these parts.

You know something, Seven?

You and me make a good team looking for Susie.

If anybody can find her, you and me should...

Seven?

Oh, Seven.

Well, what in tarnation happened to that critter?

I should have known Seven had sensed where his lady friend was and that she

a big problem.

He headed off to help live in proof of what love will do.

When he saw that Susie was in a heap of trouble, he just moved right

in to face the danger and started leading his lady friend to safety.

Why, it was enough to make an old mountain man misty -eyed.

I think Ben's picked up the scent. Come on.

Number seven left Susie safe and turned on the wolf to chase him away.

Then... Another wolf showed up, and that was just too much. Two wolves being

unfriendly was more than he could handle.

Yep,

things was looking mighty grim.

But right then, a friend of Seven's came and went on.

He let the wolves know they was unwelcome around there.

When a big grizzly sends out that message, wolves listen and pay heed.

Well, there was a lot of rejoicing when we all got together again.

Adams knew that Wright was plum -tuckered out and decided to see him

camp.

Where's Seb?

Well, would you look at that.

Here.

Hold it.

Come on, lover boy. You gotta go home.

Quite a day.

Quite a day.

Well, maybe I'll be more fortunate tomorrow, huh?

I mean, not that I wasn't fortunate today with you and Jack and Coleman, Ben

coming to my rescue, but maybe tomorrow I'll be lucky enough to find a golden

eagle. Mr. Wright, maybe you'll learn today that those golden eagle nests are

pretty dangerous areas.

Agreed, agreed.

It takes a really experienced mountain climber to get in those areas.

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.

I mean, I appreciate your concern for my safety, but my only goal in life is to

fly.

Well... I know now that the fault of my machine, it lies in the construction of

the wing.

It's in the contour of the wing and the displacement.

See, that's why I've got to be able to find a golden eagle to study, just in

case I discover something important.

Well, maybe I can help you.

What would another bird do?

Like a hawk, maybe.

A hawk?

A hawk!

Here, hold Susie for a minute, will you?

reading about Leonardo da Vinci.

He's that famous European painter and sculptor. Right, right. Well, he was a

of many talents, and in his sketches of flying machines... Oh, here it is, here

it is.

See that?

Well, that's really interesting.

Yeah, and it mentions in his book that he designed some of his wings after

of a hawk.

Well, we have a lot of hawks up here in the summer, Mr. Wright.

Yes, but unfortunately,

they too nest in inaccessible places like cliffs and ledges.

Well, I wasn't thinking of taking her to the nest. I was thinking of maybe

bringing the hawk to you.

Bringing the... I don't understand.

Stay here.

Hey, do you think he'd hold still long enough for me to make a sketch of him?

I think so.

Hawk and I have been friends for a long time.

Oh, this is a lot better than being out on a ledge.

You just hold still, Hawk.

Maybe one day you'll go down in history.

Can you get his wings out any without him flying?

Oh, perfect.

With Adams' help, Wright changed the design of the wings according to what

learned from the hawk.

Thanks for all your help, Mr. Adams.

Will I see you tomorrow?

We'll be here tomorrow, won't we, Ben?

I sure hope so, because tomorrow is going to be a momentous day in history,

because man is going to fly for the first time, huh?

See you tomorrow, Mr. Wright. All right.

this, Ben.

Everybody's up and around early this morning.

They all must know it's a special day.

Everybody except we know who.

Why don't you help number seven and see if you can get him up?

What's the matter?

Man, what are you doing?

Well, it's time to get up.

This is an important day in history.

Important why?

Why? Man's first flight.

Oh, all that.

Adams, that fellow's got about as much chance of flying as number seven here.

Well, I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Adams, if man was supposed to fly, the good Lord would have given him wings.

Well, what about swimming?

Man swims, and the good Lord didn't give him any fins.

Well, that's... Well, Jack?

Oh, it ain't fair you're making me think before I'm plumb woke.

Just think what a thrill it'd have been to be there when Newton discovered

gravity.

I can't see anything too thrilling about watching a man get conked on the head

with an apple.

Mr. Wright's put his whole life into this one special day.

I think the least we could do is to give him our support.

Well... I know you want to

go, you braying Casanova.

What do you say?

Well, if it'll keep you all from ganging up on me, I'll go. But first, let's

have us a nice bath.

Two mad jacks flapped.

Coming right up.

Good.

There.

Well, we won't miss today, Susie.

These corrections I've made, thanks to the hawk, that should make the

difference.

More lifting power and less wind resistance.

Also, I've made these wings rigid.

Thanks to Mr. Adams' suggestion.

Yeah, Susie, I know.

We've been through a lot together, but...

Today?

Today I know it's going to make it all worthwhile.

They did come.

Yes, Susie.

Number seven showed up too.

Good morning.

Morning, Mr. Wright.

You'll never know how much I appreciate this.

You got everything ready?

Couldn't be better. Even the heavens are cooperating.

No turbulence.

Favorable thermal drafts.

Everything's in order.

I don't know what he said, but he's asking for it.

You, uh, you better stay here.

Well,

I guess this is it.

Can we help you?

Yeah, would you help me on with the wings?

Get that handle, Jack. Got it.

He does it now.

That's my belt here.

Even our most honored guest is here to see man's first flight, Mr. Wright.

You should be here.

I mean, you and Mr. Adams made this all possible.

Seems like this calls for a speech or something.

Oh, no, no, no. That won't be necessary.

Just all of you being here is inspiration enough.

You're sure you want to do this?

Oh, now's the time.

Well... Good luck, Mr. Wright.

Thank you. You can do it.

I know.

Here we come.

Wait, Mr. Wright.

Let us give you a hand.

I'm so close.

Yeah, you sure gave her a good try.

You've got some nasty -looking bruises. You'd better attend to them.

like this contraption fared better than Wright did.

Seven, get yourself over here and make yourself useful.

Seven!

Wait.

So what's that for?

This is an herb plant.

It'll help heal the cuts and bruises on your face.

Here we go.

More than likely, we'd be doing that Mr. Wright a favor. Now, just hold still.

If we just left this contraption down here.

But we got to get it up to the top of the hill, so...

You can just earn your keep a little bit.

Now just wait up.

All right, let's get with it.

That's the way.

There you go.

Easy. I just can't figure out

what went wrong.

I'm positive it's not in the fall of the wings.

There you go.

That's Maverick.

Thank you very much.

Adams!

Adams!

What in the world?

I flew!

Why? That contraption of yours, that flying machine, I

took off.

And I flew!

Jack, this ain't no time for tall tales.

And it's no tall tale! I swear by the good book, I flew!

Well, if you say you swear on the good book, then we got to believe you.

But how could you possibly fly one when I could barely get off the ground?

I don't know.

I really don't.

Number seven was helping me get the glider up the hill.

A cougar jumped out, and then all of a sudden number seven was towing me down

the hill, lickety -split, and I just took off.

Then you were being towed. Yeah.

Well, that's it.

Don't you see the...

The speed, the momentum, that's what caused it to rise.

All right, that means that... That means that... Well, that there's nothing else

I can do up here.

So I'm going to return home now and I'm going to work on that speed factor for

takeoff.

You know, Mr. Wright, that could be the key.

I'm certain that's part of it.

Well, Jack and I both wish you a lot of luck.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, and... Well, if for some reason I... I don't realize my

dream of man flying... Who knows? Maybe my sons will.

Wilbur and Orville.

Adams.

You know, I think that flying of mine was just a fluke.

That could be.

Could be. I mean, you think that, uh...

someday a fella is gonna fly through the air like a bird.

I don't know about that. Thank you.

If you take that right, fella, the way he works, the time he puts in,

and all the failures, and he still intends to keep trying.

You gotta hand it to him. He's not one for giving up.

It's persistence like that that makes impossible things come true.

Yeah, but flying through the air like a bird.

Now, a feller might as well think he could fly up there to that moon.

That might happen.

Someday. Fly to the moon?

Never. You better get yourself some more of that black coffee, and the blacker

the better.

You remind me of something.

I've got something for you.

Looky here.

Mr. Wright sent this over to you.

He said that Susie wanted you to have it.

So you can wear it.

Sounds like Seven's got it pretty bad.

Well, he'll get over it. Just like me and that redhead down to Rendezvous.

I got over that. It only took three, maybe four

years.

Well, it ain't funny.

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

There's a time...