All language subtitles for Highway to Heaven S02E06 Birds of a Feather_Subtitles01.ENG

[theme song]

Boy, this place is great.

You know what we ought to do?

We ought to stop and have
a waterfront cookout.

Did you ever take a marshmallow
and roast it on a frank

and then dip it in chili sauce--

Oh, come on.

Isn't there anything you ever
think about besides food?

Yeah.

But I'm certainly not gonna
discuss that with an angel.

Well, I'm sorry.

The boss has got us on a
tight schedule on this one.

Work, work, work, work.

Whatever happened to
that "on the seventh day,

he rested" bit?

Hey, Mark, do me a favor.

Pull over up ahead, will you?

You changed your
mind about the cookout.

I knew you would.

Knew you would.

Here we go.

This is great.

Listen, Johnathan,
you pick a spot.

I'll head down to that little
market and pick up the goodies.

Jonathan.

Easy.
Take it easy.

I'm not gonna hurt you.
Take it easy.

You're OK.

What's wrong with him?

I don't know.

MARK: Doesn't look
like he got hung up

in telephone wires or anything.

No, no.

Something else is
happening here.

He's dead.

You all right, buddy?

Johnathan.

Mark, I wanna spend some
time here in Rose Beach.

Thought we were late
for an assignment.

I don't care.

There's-- there's work
we have to do here.

Johnathan, the
boss gave us a job.

He's expecting us
to get it done.

How's he gonna feel, you
suddenly turning renegade?

Please, this is
important to me.

As a favor, please.

How do you say no to an angel?

All right.

For a little while.

But mind you, it's against
my better judgment.

Thanks.

Look, I want you to get
a job at the Drake Plant.

While you're working there,
see what you can find

out about toxic waste dumping.

Some cookout, huh?

Yeah.

Say, excuse me.

I've just been hired.

I'm supposed to
report to the foreman.

I took a wrong turn somewhere.

Don't worry.

It happens to all the newcomers.
I'm just going your way.

Come on.
- Oh, thanks.

I'm Mark Gordon.

Rita Travers.

What do you do around here?

I'm Mr. Drake's
administrative assistant.

Sounds important.

Does glorified Gal Friday
sounds more down to earth?

Six fun-filled years of it.

And I've been up for
promotion for four.

Well, what's
jamming up the works?

[inaudible] too
good at my job.

Never could find
anyone to replace me.

Why don't you go
to another company?

There is no other company.

Drake's the only
industry in the area.

Don't get me wrong.

Mr. Drake's terrific.

I love working for him.

Speak of the devil.

There he is now.

The one in the white lab
coat is Donald Feeney,

our industrial engineer.

Oh, the foreman's office is
straight up those stairs,

first door on the right.

And welcome aboard.

Thanks for the help.

What happened to
the birds, mister?

I'm not quite sure.

Now, look, I'm a
stranger around here.

You kids know the Drake Plant?

Sure.

Our folks work there.

My dad, Burt Morgan, he's
been on line for two years.

My mother's Mr.
Drake's assistant.

She knows that place
inside out, Rita Travers.

Thank you.

Rita Travers, I'll
keep that in mind.

What you gonna do with
all the birds, mister?

First, I'm gonna let Rose
Beach know they passed on.

Then, I'm gonna try
to find out why.

Why do you care?

You're not from around here.

No.

But these birds are.

Well, anything we
could do to help, mister?

Sure.

First thing you gotta do is
stop calling me "mister."

Call me "Johnathan."

Rita?

Oh, Inspector Thomas.
How's everything?

Great.
[inaudible]

I'm on official business.

Well, I don't
see you down here.

Well, squeeze me in.

I've got a time bomb ticking
here and it's about to go off.

This plant could be
history as of today.

But why?

What's going on?

[inaudible], great to see you.

Gotta talk to you, Horton.

Now.

Come on in.

Yeah, we manufacture
parts for all kinds

of high tech industries.

You'll be working on
the line, with me.

Welcome aboard.

I got a feeling
you like it here.

After a year out of
work over in Colton,

I'm thankful to have a job.

Got a new baby on the way.

Good.
Congratulations.

Thanks.

What are you hoping for?

A boy or a girl?

Oh, already got a boy.

Kinda like a girl this time.

But you know, if it's
healthy, I'm happy.

Yeah.

I know what you mean.

You know, a big
factory like this,

there must be a lot of
chemical dumping going on, huh?

No.

Not that I know of.

Tetrachloroethylene.

What's this stuff?

It's just a cleaner.

We use it to scrub the
grease off the boards.

Oh, then, it goes right
down the drain, right?

Hey, pal, why
all the questions?

You some kind of EPA
spy or something?

Oh, no, no, no.

I just saw a dying seagull
on my way into town.

Got me thinking, you know?

Well, that's got nothing
to do with our plant.

Besides there's plenty
of birds around here.

One more or less
isn't gonna mean much.

Yeah, I suppose so.

[horn]

That's us.

Let's hit it.

Wanna grab a beer after work?

Sounds good.

You see, all these
figures belong over here.

[laughter]

I can't wait to tell that
at the next board meeting.

How about lunch next week?

Any time.

Just give me a ring.

You got it.

I'll be right back.

What was all the ruckus about?

Oh, you know Clayton.

Making mountains out of
molehills is his specialty.

But he said the
plant would close.

What does that mean?

Only that he's full of
more hot air than usual.

I don't see what the City
Health Department sees in him.

Well, I gotta go.

I'm meeting my wife
at the racquet club.

But I wanted to ask you--

If I'm 10 minutes late,
she'll go on a shopping

spree out of vengeance.

Women, don't ever try
to figure them out.

I'll do my best to
steer clear of them.

"Drake Industries is charged
with excessive environmental

abuses in the matter of
ground water contamination

of Rose Beach and environs."

[shouting]

Hey, gather around.

Birds of a feather
flock together.

You know what they say?

I ain't afraid of the
Birdman of Alcatraz.

Now, what you're looking at here
is the Birdman of Rose Beach.

Hey, you know where a
500-pound canary sleeps?

Anywhere he wants to.

Now, listen closely, my
friends, as I dazzle you

with my impressions of your
favorite feathered friends.

See if you can guess this one.

[bluebird call]

Hey.

Let me have one of those.

Yes, sir.

You got it?

It's your old bluebird.

Yes, the bluebird of happiness.

Not too happy when you're
not feeling well though.

How about this one?

[cardinal call]

Yes, indeed.

If you said cardinal,
you were right.

If you said bishop,
you were wrong.

Oh, and how about
this beautiful bird--

Son, what's going on?

[hawk call]

Oh, hi, Dad.

I'm just helping
that guy, Jonathan.

Let me have that.

Yes, ladies and
gentlemen, the hawk.

The hawk.

Not getting much response here.

Maybe I'll turn down
the bird calls--

What are you
trying to do, son?

Shut us down?

Give me those.

Now, just go on home.

But Pa--

Just go home.

[dance music]

Drake, Drake,
for goodness' sake.

[inaudible]

Hi, Mark.

Hi, Mark.

Hi, Mark.

[laughter]

There's a lunatic down
there in front of the plant.

Are you sleeping down there?

Call the police
and get rid of him.

Doing a little early spring
house cleaning, my dear?

I know I wasn't supposed
to see that, Mr. Drake,

but I have now.

And well, I wanna
know what it means.

According to that
report, we've been

dumping hazardous chemicals
right into the sewer system.

They may be coming
to the surface.

Rita, I love the
passionate way you do things.

But you really can't
believe everything

you read, especially when
it comes from someone

like Clayton Thomas.

Are you saying
the report is false?

No.

There's a fragment
of truth to it.

But we dealt with these
problem six or-- no.

Eight months ago.

We changed our solvents
to a non-toxic compound,

at great expense to us.

Right now, we're
totally shipshape.

Believe me.

Then, why did you write him
a check for $10,000, Mr. Drake?

[ominous music]

I never thought you'd stoop
to go through my accounts.

I don't have to
explain myself to you.

I hate to say it, sir,
but this time you do, to me

and the people of Rose Beach.

All right.

I did write that check.

But I promise you there is
nothing valid in that report.

It's just business as usual.

Confidentially, it was
Clayton's semi-annual payments.

For what?

For simply existing.

Pay-offs to government
agencies are

something you have to do to keep
the wheels turning smoothly.

I dislike it as much as anyone.

Then, the report is true?

HORTON: No.

Absolutely not.

He knew we dealt with
those problems months ago.

We did it discreetly, so as
not to alarm the community.

He wanted to let the
cat out of the bag,

because I was a little
bit late with my payment.

My god.

Yes.

It is upsetting, isn't it?

Rita, you've got to
stop being so naive,

because this is the
way things get done.

Look, I was raised here.

I care about these people.

Do you really think I would
do anything to harm them?

No.

Well, then, let it drop.

Because to reveal this now would
cause an unnecessary panic.

Trust me.
Trust me, Rita.

Will you?

Atta girl.

I bet you're wondering who
I am and what I'm doing here.

You're wondering
that, aren't you?

Well, I've been elected
by the birds of Rose Beach

to be their spokesman.

Of course, they wanted
to speak for themselves.

But they couldn't.

You know why?

Because they're dead.

They're dead.

And these are only
the beginning.

I'm talking about
groundwater contamination.

And the source of
that contamination

is Drake Technologies.

Oh, why don't you fly
back to your nest, you kook?

There's nothing
wrong with our plant?

There's a lot wrong
with this plant.

And these birds are
only the beginning.

Only the beginning.

The weak are always
the first to die,

small animals, birds,
and your babies.

And then, your elderly.

It's contamination
that's killing them.

And where is it gonna stop?

Or has it started
with you already?

Look at you all looking
at me like I'm a fool.

Why worry about this?

Huh?

Worry about the
important things.

Worry about the bomb.

Oh, we're gonna be
killed by the bomb.

Well, let me tell
you, none of you

are gonna die from the bomb.

You'll be dead long before
that, because you're

killing yourselves.

Because day in and day
out, you contaminate

the planet you live on.

You're gonna kill yourselves.

And the plant that you work
for, Drake Technologies,

is part of that murder.

Out of the way.

All right.

This is private property.

It's time to fly south.

[murmuring]

[siren]

Well, you were right.

You made the front page.

Yeah.

Let me see.

$300 to bail you out.

You know I'm flat broke?

You all right, buddy?

You look a little
green behind the gills?

I'm fine.

It's the ravages of being
a jailbird, I guess.

Well, excuse me for
not busting a gut.

I mean, the sight of that
paper took all the yuks I had.

Mark, the people have to know.

Johnathan, if Drake closes,
what about the people who

work there?

They've all got families.

I know that, but I'm
trying to prevent them

from being like those other
towns where the birth defect

rate is three times normal.

I wanna stop that from happening
here, if it isn't too late.

Oh, please, keep
digging at that plant.

I need your help.

OK.

OK.

You don't know
anything about this--

this Birdman.

What makes you so sure
he's telling the truth?

I don't know, Mom.

It's just a feeling.

I trust him.

Well, I trust Mr. Drake.

And he assures me that
the plant is clean.

But Mom, whatever
happened to those--

Has nothing to
do with the plant.

Eric, do you have any idea
what would happen to this town

if that plant closed down?

That would be the real
disaster, for everyone.

[melancholy music]

Look, I'm all for your
caring about wildlife.

All I ask is that you
do it responsibly.

And just stay away from strange
characters, like that Birdman.

OK?

I'd better go to school.

Good morning, Rita.

Mr. Drake, you're here early.

I wanted to talk to you
before the day got underway.

I've got something for you.

What is it?

It's a confidential
independent study,

Dr. Feeney conducted
last month, regarding

how Drake Technologies rates
in environmental areas.

And you will see we come
up smelling like roses.

I had them send it
up, because, well, I

want to put to rest any--

any lingering
doubts you may have.

Thank you.

I appreciate this very much.

Good.

You take your time with it.

You'll find it's full of a
lot of technical mumbo jumbo,

but you'll get the
gist of it I'm sure.

This means a lot to me.

I-- I--

What is it?

You seem upset.

It's Eric.

We had a bit of a run-in.

He's really upset about
that spate of dead birds.

I am too.

I'm sure they're flying
in from somewhere.

We're not the only plant
in the state, you know?

I know.

Say, there is one
other thing too.

Considering the astute way you
handled yourself yesterday,

I was forced to face
the fact that I've been

holding you back long enough.

How does Vice President in
Charge of Public Relations

sound to you?

We-- oh my God.

I--

Good.

It sounds very good.

Well, good, because
that's your next job.

Come with me.

Come on.

Here we go.

Right this way,
Madam Vice President.

And here we are.

I haven't bothered
to furnish it.

I thought you'd like to
decorate it yourself.

After all, it's your
own private office.

You like it?

Like it?

I've dreamed about
this for years.

Well, your dream's come true.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.

Wait til I tell Eric.

Hey.

How's it going?

What is this?

I mean, you've been avoiding
me like the plague all day.

News travels fast
in a town this size.

I know you bailed out
that crazy Birdman.

So?

So whose side
are you on anyway?

Hey, he's a good guy.

He's just doing what
he thinks is right.

Oh, yeah?

Is it right for him
to be telling my kid

that his old man is working in
a place that's breaking the law?

He's got no proof, mind you.

Jonathan wouldn't say
anything unless it were true.

Oh, come on.

He's just another one of
those loony do-gooders,

bleeding over a few birds.

Does he have a
family to support?

He doesn't.

No.

Well, I do.

He can afford to be an idealist.

I'm a realist.

I've got no choice.

Nice picture.

Always did like birds.

What do you want?

Just wanted to congratulate
you on your promotion.

Thanks.

Now, are you going to get out
or do I have to call security?

All right.

You know, your son Eric told
me you were a good listener.

I hope you don't make
him out to be a liar.

All right.

You've got 2 minutes.

I'll just take one.

I've been checking all
the waterways in the area.

I'm certain Drake
has been dumping

chemicals into the system.

Now, it's resurfacing, seeping
into the groundwater supply.

That's impossible.

I have just read the latest
documented scientific reports.

Oh, come on.

What documented
scientific reports?

The ones from Dr.
Feeney, Drake's

Chief Industrial Engineer?

Slight conflict of interest.

His recent raise would seem
to heighten that conflict,

wouldn't you say?

How do you know all that?

I just know.

Well, even if he did
get a raise, so what?

Dr. Feeney is above reproach.

I don't believe there's
anything to your allegations.

So if you don't mind,
I'd like you to leave.

Certainly.

Good luck with your new office.

It's a nice view.

It's wonderful to be
able to see the water.

I wouldn't swim in it though.

Jonathan, help me.

Richie, he's real sick.

What's the matter, pal?

I don't know.

I found a couple of dead
birds at Brighton Pond.

I got them out and
started feeling real sick.

I told you never
to touch those birds

unless you had gloves on.

I know.

But you don't wear them.

Here.

Let me see your hands.

How long you had that rash?

I just got it.

Oh, God.

I think I'm gonna be sick.
- It's all right.

Just let it on out.

That's it.

Oh, God.

What's happening to me?

Come on.

I'll get you to the doctor.

Come on.

That should do it.

I'll get started on the ad
campaign first thing tomorrow.

It's your project.

You handle it.

AMANDA: Mr. Drake?

Yes?

I just heard some awful news.

What is it, Amanda?

Well, apparently that bird
fella is in our emergency room

with a couple of kids.

And--

And what?

Spit it out, Amanda.

He says one of
them is contaminated.

Oh my God.

Eric.

Eric.

Are you all right?

Yeah, Mom.

But Richie, he got real sick.

STEPHANIE: It's a local allergic
reaction and nothing more.

The vomiting might be part
of the allergic response.

But the symptoms have abated.

He's fine now.

I don't get it, Dr. Dan.

Richie's never been
allergic to anything.

What's going on here?

JOHNATHAN: Richie brought me a
dead bird from Brighton Pond.

He put his hands in
the contaminated water.

The rash and the vomiting
started soon after that.

You know, every
time there's trouble,

you're right in the thick of.

Hey, Dad, it's
not his fault. He

told us not to touch anything.

I just forgot.

Look, I've checked all
the waterways in this area.

They're contaminated.

It may even be in
the drinking water.

I have had enough of your
irresponsible rabble rousing.

If you're not out of
here in 10 seconds,

I'll have you arrested.

Look, can we hold
off on the fighting?

I just want to know exactly
what is wrong with my kid.

It could be any one
of a hundred things,

a-- a reaction to an insect
bite, a chemical allergy.

The corticosteroid
salve I prescribed

will take care of the rash.

Please, don't worry.

Richie will be fine.

What's going on here?

You put some salve
on my kids arm,

but you don't really know
what's wrong with him?

There's nothing
to worry about.

Bull.

My kid is sick.

That's something to
worry about, doctor.

You've got kids too.

It could just as easily
have been Eric as Richie.

Mr. Drake, I wanna
believe there's nothing

wrong here at Rose Beach.

I just hope nobody has
to die before you find

out what's really going on.

Come on, son.

Let's go home.

He could be right.

Someone may have to die
before they'll do something.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

HORTON (PHONE): Mr. Egan.

I have told you never,
never to call me at my home.

I know that, sir.

But something has happened
since the board meeting.

MR. EGAN (PHONE): What is it?

That troublemaker I mentioned,
he's becoming a real problem.

Well, how close is he?

HORTON (PHONE): He's too close.

Something's gonna have
to be done and soon.

All right.

All right.

I'll handle it.

Hiya, birdie.

Thought we'd come by
and clip off your wings.

Folks around here are getting
tired of you, bird freak.

We want you out.

I'm not leaving.

Boys, I think
this little canary

needs some encouragement.

[ominous music]

So what do you
say now, birdie?

I'm not leaving Rose Beach.

You can tell your boss.

We don't have a boss.

We do this for fun.

Johnathan, you ought to see--

all right, you.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.
Come on.

You want some more?
Come on.

Let's go.

Hey.

Hey, that was very impressive.

I just wish you would've
gotten here soon--

[coughing]

--sooner.

We're getting out of here.

We're getting out
of here tonight.

No.

I can't go yet.

Johnathan, if the
boss wanted you here,

he would've given you the stuff.

I'm telling you,
man, it's a sign.

Now, we gotta get out of here.

Tomorrow.

I'll go tomorrow.

[ominous music]

[muttering]

Hey, birdbrain, you
better get out of here.

They'll throw you
in the clink again.

Hey, pal, I'm talking to you.

Hey.

Hey.

Oh my god.

He's dead.

Somebody, call the police.

Johnathan.

Johnathan, I told you, buddy.

I told you we should've gone.

[sobbing]

[disheartening music]

Oh, god, why?

Why?

Is this plainly enough to
get you people to wake up?

My god, don't you see?

It wasn't just toxic
waste that killed them.

It was ignorance
and it was greed.

All he wanted-- all
he wanted in the world

was to keep your water
from being poisoned.

He wanted you all to
stand up and fight.

He wasn't just talking
about your jobs.

He was talking about your lives.

This man--

[sirens]

I told you those gauges
were showing unusually high

readings of toxic discharge.

That Birdman there, that--

why he let himself get
contaminated, I'll never know.

Who cares why?

He's out of our hair.

All we gotta do is tough
it through the press

attention and everything
will get back to normal.

Are you crazy?

There's gonna be an autopsy.

When they cut that
guy open, what do

you think they're gonna find?

Sugarplums?

Or evidence of toxic
chlorinated hydrocarbons?

When that's out, the
Feds will be all over us.

There's not gonna
be an autopsy.

No autopsy?

Why?

Because I'm gonna
take care of it.

OK?

Don, one more thing.

Keep your mouth shut.

You've got a good two
years in the federal

penitentiary if you don't.

Make it quick.

[screaming]

And now, a special news
release from the city morgue.

Shirley Stark, what's
happening down there?

Bill, the most
astonishing turn of events.

The morgue has apparently
been broken into

and the body of the
mysterious Birdman is missing.

No one has any clue
as to its whereabouts.

Now, the authorities
aren't releasing

any information at this time.

We have tried to contact
Drake Technologies,

but they have no
comment at the moment.

They do say they
will hold a news

conference tomorrow morning.

So we hope to have more
information for you then.

Now, back to
regular programming.

WOMAN (TV): Come out, quickly.

This way.

MAN (TV): I always said
you were a sly one.

WOMAN (TV): Now, for
heaven's sake, leave here.

[chattering]

Hi.

Hello.

I'm sorry about your friend.

I liked him.

He had guts.

Did you see the
news last night?

Yes.

Then, you know they took his
body, Drake and his friends,

so they couldn't be an autopsy.

You don't know that.

Yes, I do.

And so do you.

But you don't have to worry.

They're not gonna catch him.

Guys like Drake don't
ever get caught.

He and his flunkies will
talk their way out of it.

And you know what that means?

That means my friend will
have died for nothing.

Nothing.

In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Good morning.

I'm Shirley Stark.

And I'm here at
Drake Technologies

speaking with the company
president, Horton Drake,

as well as Dr. Donald Feeney.

Now, gentlemen, last night
the body of Jonathan Smith,

known as the
Birdman, disappeared

from the city morgue.

Now, accusations
have been leveled

that he died of toxic
waste contamination

emanating from this plant.

Shirley, there's absolutely
no connection between that death

and our plant.

We are a clean
operation, operating

well within the EPA guidelines.

Doctor, do you
agree with that?

Yes, yes, wholeheartedly.

And I have documented
studies to offer as proof.

Then, what do you make of
the bizarre disappearance

of the Birdman's body?

Sabotage.

Pure and simple sabotage.

My guess is that some radical
ecological group stole the body

to avoid an autopsy, because
they know that it would reveal

the truth, that this Birdman did
not die of chemical poisoning.

All right.

[cheering]

HORTON: We are the ones
who wanted an autopsy.

We demanded it, because we
knew we'd be vindicated.

We're innocent and
everyone here knows it.

Wait.

I have something to say.

Get her the mic.

I'm Rita Travers,
Vice President

of Public Relations at Drake.

I have, in my possession, a
secret report that documents

Jonathan Smith's allegations.

This woman is not authorized
to speak for the company.

She was fired, as
an incompetent.

And she's simply
trying to get revenge.

I was told that the
problems in this report

had been dealt with.

I believed it.

But I now know
that it was a lie.

Toxic chemicals are being
dumped at this plant,

right into the sewer system.

And for some time now, they've
been seeping up to the surface,

contaminating our groundwater.

We're slowly being poisoned.

This is a pack of lies.

The birds are just the tip of
the iceberg, the first to go.

Look, I'm no expert, but do
we have to wait until our kids

get leukemia, until our--

our mothers have miscarriages,
our men go sterile?

Let's not wait for
the body count.

Let's not have
another Love Canal.

Jonathan Smith died for us.

he tried to help us.

Now, he's dead.

Let's make that
death mean something.

Will our jobs count for killing
ourselves and our families?

Please, clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

CROWD: Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

Clean up the plant.

[bittersweet music]

Well, you got it done, buddy.

You got it done.

[hopeful music]

Hey.

How about that cookout?

Cute, Jonathan.

Really cute.

[chuckling]

[theme song]