Original subtitles

They call me Mad Jack.

And if there's anybody in these mountains that knows the real story of

Adams, that'd be me.

So I'm putting it down and writing just the way it happened in hopes of setting

the record straight.

Now, 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 stopped.

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

a legend.

Take me home.

Take me home.

Mountains is about the prettiest thing a man can open his eyes to in the

morning.

They work a special kind of magic on you. Why, it's no wonder that Adams made

his mind to live out here.

I remember in the early days when he first got into the mountains, all green

not knowing a tree from a rock.

He had himself some rough times, but he never gave up.

Built a right nice cabin, too.

Settled in and got to know the land and all the animals.

That was back about the time when he first met up with young Robbie Cartman

his father.

This ain't gonna hurt you.

Let's get right down that water.

Now, Ben, you hold still.

Now, let's get some soap on you.

Come on, now. Sit down.

Hey.

Don't run away. I've got to rinse the soap off you.

All right. You rinse yourself off.

I'm about to take a bath myself.

Good morning there.

Now what are you after, Ben?

Don't get too close to that porcupine.

You're gonna get a nose full of surprise.

Good morning, you little pirate.

Now what are you doing?

Come on up here and see me.

Ben could use some help, so why don't you go for a little flight, Huffy?

Well,

I tried to get you a little help, but he just wasn't interested.

You're just going to have to handle that Porky all by yourself.

Fox fur.

I haven't seen any foxes here about.

If he's hurt, he probably didn't get very far.

Ben!

Ben!

Ben, there's blood on

this box there.

I need you to help me pick up the track. Can you do that?

Go ahead.

Get back, Ben. Get back. I don't think he's going to be taken kindly to any

bear.

Hello, little fella.

I'm not going to hurt you.

Come on.

Come on.

I'm not going to hurt you.

That's a good boy.

Easy, easy.

You were hit by a rifle ball.

I wonder if somebody was just hunting or maybe looking for me.

Let me see if that's broken.

Hang on, hang on.

It doesn't feel broken. All right, just take it easy.

Put a little weight on it, just a little bit.

In about a week or so, you'll be just fine.

Come on.

Take it easy. It's all right.

That's just old Ben.

You'll get used to him.

Come on, Ben.

Let's go.

Come on.

My guess is you just about ran yourself out.

Judging by the looks of these pads, another few days and a little food and

and some friends and you'll be just fine.

Ben, you just lie down and take it easy.

I kind of reckon you've had a hard time getting any food with that limp, haven't

you?

Let me get you something to eat here.

Take it easy.

Take it easy.

This will make you feel better.

There you go.

Eat a little of this.

Looks like you could use a little water.

There. That's better now, isn't it?

You know, if someone's looking for me, I think I'd like to find them first.

I just feel a little safer that way.

I ain't heard no shooting.

So they can't be too close.

But whoever it is, they're close enough.

Come on, Ben.

I think we better find that hunter before he finds us.

That little fox will just be fine here till we get back.

There's somebody out there looking for us.

We're gonna have to move on.

You know that, don't you, Ben?

Easy, Ben. Easy.

Easy.

Go around behind the tree.

NACOMA! NACOMA!

Adams, show that.

Let me tell you something.

If you're ever looking for anything in these mountains, just hope you run into

NACOMA. That Indian knows every leaf on every tree. Not only that, but he knows

what's hiding behind and inside of them.

What's the matter, NACOMA?

What is it?

Come on, Ben.

Let's go see what's wrong.

What about La Hill?

It's all burned out.

There's nothing left.

You got it.

Someone's been cutting trees.

The birds are leaving their nests.

The animals are losing their homes.

Someone's doing a lot of damage around here.

Who's responsible for these terrible things, Nakoma?

I don't understand why anybody would want to destroy the force like that.

It's a scout called Dean.

A boy.

That must be his father.

Settlers.

Pop, want some water?

Oh, yes.

Like this, son.

No, Pa, don't shoot it.

That boy's right.

Don't you shoot.

You have ten seconds to state your business, mister.

I'm just trying to be neighborly.

You folks planning on settling here? That's what I had in mind.

Is that meaningful to you? Yeah.

To me and all the animals that live in these mountains.

What do you mean?

I mean a fox came into my camp with a rifle crease through his shoulders.

And here you are trying to shoot a helpless raccoon.

That raccoon gets into our things every night. He's a pest.

He ain't no pest.

He's just trying to be playful is all.

Hi, shooter.

There's no reason to be scared. He won't hurt you.

What's your name? Robbie.

Son, put that animal down.

Our name's Carmen.

Mr. Carmen?

I don't mean you no harm.

My name's James Adams.

Where's Robbie's mother?

She's dead.

Five, six months back. Robbie.

We figured we'd...

Make a new start, me and Robbie.

That's a good little valley.

You lean to.

It's facing the wrong way. Smoke from the fire will blow into it. I guess you

didn't notice that.

Heading right into the wind.

You turn her about and she'll be all right.

Paul, look, it's an Indian.

Keep an eye on the tree, Robbie.

There's no need for that.

That's Nakoma.

He's a friend.

Nakoma?

I'd like you to meet our new neighbors.

Sure, don't you?

This is Mr. Cartman and his boy, Robert.

Don't touch no Indian, son.

It's plain to see you've never known any Indians.

And I don't aim to.

Well, the Indians can help you. They know the ways of the forest.

I know how to use this land.

All you know how to do is ruin it.

You don't know how to use it. Keep your advice, mister.

These mountains will feed you if you just give them a chance.

You don't have to cut nothing down or dig nothing up or kill anything.

If you live like an animal or an Indian.

We plan different, and we'll see just fine.

You're making a mistake.

Robbie's going to grow up not knowing these mountains can be a friend.

I can raise my own son.

Well, if you ever change your mind, you need some help, just cross that gorge.

Halfway up the other side of the mountain, that's where I live.

But one thing, don't take your rifle. That's my territory.

The animals up there are my friends, and I'm not going to let you harm them.

Ben?

Come on over here, Ben.

This is Ben.

I want you to take a good look at him. I want you to know him. We've been

together since he was a cub.

Sometimes he wanders off the mountain.

Would you like to pet him, Robbie?

Can I? Sure you can.

Get away, son. Come back here.

Ben's like Nekoma and me. We mean you no harm.

He's a friend.

And it's a good thing to have in the wilderness.

Let's go home, Ben.

Maybe we could have a bear someday.

Well, to keep, I mean.

No, son.

Son, a wild animal is a wild animal.

They're not to be trusted.

They can turn on you at any time.

Like Indians.

Whenever you see one coming, you just reach for your rifle. Oh, Pa, Mr. Adams

said that... Mr. Adams.

That man has been in the mountains for too long.

He's part animal, part Indian himself.

Now you get back to work, boy.

Come on, you got lots of chores to do.

Ha!

Advice from a man with a grizzly bear.

We meet again, my brother.

Ben,

Ben just can't stay put in one place for very long. Not when there's all sorts

of critters out in the woods wanting to play.

Of course, some of them aren't exactly the playful type, like mountain lions,

for instance.

Now, their idea of a good time is seeing if they can eat you in one bite.

That doesn't seem to bother Ben, though. He looks on everybody just the same.

Don't matter if they're big or small, mean or friendly.

He figures if they want to play, that's fine with him.

understand was Ben just wanted to play.

But talking to Big Cougar like that down from the tree ain't no easy task.

No, sir.

Sometimes you gotta try something more direct like shaking him down.

Although that ain't exactly the way to make yourself a friend for life.

playing with that mountain lion?

Well,

greenhorns is one thing these here mountains don't need no more of.

And young Robbie Cartman and his father were about as green as they come.

Surviving in these wild mountains is plenty different from pushing a covered

wagon across Kansas.

The woods is darker, the nights are colder, and unless you know what you're

doing, you can get into a mighty tough fix.

Gotta give young Robbie credit, though. Least he had enough sense to take heed

of Adams' advice.

His father, on the other hand, was saddled with the worst possible

greenhorn can have.

Mule -headed stubbornness.

Boy, that looks comfortable, Robbie.

You did well.

And I am ready for a good thing.

Come on, boy.

Just a little bit.

Good night, son.

alone, son. They're almost done.

You know that Robbie?

He's sure an appealing young 'un, isn't he?

I like that boy.

Ben, you did a real fine job of cooking.

They all done?

Yeah, they sure look good. All right, sit down, Ben.

Go on over and sit down.

Let me put them on a platter here.

Boy, they're just begging for us to eat them.

You all ready for dinner?

All right, I'm coming.

Why don't we say a little prayer before we eat?

Want to hang your head down?

Amen.

I'm going to give you the biggest one because you did the work and you sure

good.

more heat from the fire. We're not going to be smoked out. Let's go to sleep.

and you sleep back.

How's me, Ben?

And that's uninvited guests spending the night and then stealing your blanket

from you.

You know,

since I met up with Adams, I got myself a whole new way of looking at the

wilderness.

I'm even kind of getting to like the critters.

All of them. The strange looking ones.

The skittish ones.

The pretty little ones.

And even the smelly ones.

But I guess, best of all, I like the funny ones.

And there ain't a funnier animal alive than a raccoon.

You know, I think they come into the woods just to make the likes of me

Now, when you get stuck out on the end of a log with nowhere to go but down,

call that a predicament, especially when down below is nothing but cold water.

Of course, you know you've got to get in it sooner or later, but the hard part

is convincing yourself to let go.

If you're careful, hold on.

Oh, there's an old tree stump over there. Yeah, I just wanted to cut some

firewood. Just be sure you make room for a clear swing like I showed you.

There can't be anything back there to bounce it out of your hands.

I'll be careful.

All right.

Robbie, no, son.

No, that's the wrong way. Now, here, give me that, son. I'll do it myself.

But, Pa, I can do it. Never you mind.

There's no time now to teach you chopping. I can do it. You do it like

It's all right, son.

Wait right here.

Oh, my God, no.

I don't know what medicine do I use for wasp bites.

What do I do? What do I do?

I don't know what to do, son.

If you change your mind or ever need some help, halfway up that far mountain,

that's where I live.

Here, son.

You rest right here.

I'm going to go get Mr. Adams.

You'll know what to do.

He'll fix you up in just a second.

Now you stay here, sir.

I need water.

Easy little fox. You're all right.

You're feeling better already, aren't you?

Yeah.

That hawk's acting mighty peculiar, ain't he, Ben?

I think we ought to have ourselves a look.

Keep your eyes on that Hawkman.

There he is.

It's that settler.

Carpenter.

He looks pretty bad.

What happened to you?

It's Robbie.

Robbie.

I need your help, Adams. Any help you can think of. What is it? What's the

matter?

Some kind of wasp.

Black.

Like a ground wasp. Only the nest was above the ground.

I've never seen so many.

How many stings?

All over his body.

More than 20 stings like that on a small boy. That's as deadly as a rattler's

bite. I couldn't get him to answer me.

All right, take it easy.

I'll look after Robbie.

I can travel a lot faster alone.

Ben, Ben, get in a coma. Get in a coma, Ben. Go on, hurry up.

I sent Ben to get Nicoma. Nicoma will take care of you.

That Indian?

Yeah, that Indian.

He's going to save your stubborn life.

Just get to Robbie in time.

All right, just take it easy.

Mr. Adams told us our link is pointing the wrong way.

Maybe Ben has cubs, Pa. I could have one.

Nicole's not a bad Indian at all, Pa.

She's very nice.

Oh, Pa.

When's Ma coming?

I need her. It hurts.

This cool mud will take the fever down some.

You're going to be all right.

I wish Nekoma was here.

He'd sure know what to do.

Where's that Indian going?

He's gone to get some medicine.

Fever's dropping.

Well, he's not out of the woods yet.

He's still got that venom in him.

Let's pray that Nekoma's medicine gets it out of him in time.

I sure hate to be beholden to Indians.

You shouldn't feel beholden.

Nekoma's helping because he wants to.

How are you feeling?

Not good.

But not as bad as my boy.

Paul?

What is that smelly stuff?

An alien ship.

Duke's Day.

What do you mean?

Sly snail.

Well, the coma says it's got buckberry, possum hay, and leaves from the may

apple.

A jugular.

And elderberry leaves.

What do you do?

Make a poultice?

No. You drink it.

Drives the venom out of your system.

You drink it.

Then I'll drive that waster venom right out of your system. Maybe you'll feel

better in no time.

You sure that stuff's any good?

Robbie doesn't look like he feels too good to me.

Well, the coma says it's never failed. That's good enough for me.

Oh, and Robbie's really feeling better.

We're leaving this wilderness and going back to town. This ain't no place for

anybody unless he's an animal or an Indian.

Well, you make a mistake, Cartman.

If I ever had a boy like Robbie, I couldn't think of a finer place to raise

No matter what, we're leaving.

Keep feeding this to Robbie, and you get some of it yourself, too.

Now, goodbye, Robbie.

Do I see you again, Mr. Adams?

Well, the Indians say in the mountains that our paths always meet again.

Bye, Nakuma.

I hope our trails come together someday.

Do you, Nakuma.

And thank you for the medicine.

I know it'll make me better.

You got something?

Probably going to be all right.

Ben?

glad he's all right he's got a family i get a glimpse of a vixen a couple of

cubs every now and then well i figured as much he's been pretty discontent ever

since he got here yeah well it's safe for him to go back now why don't you sit

down thank you what i come for

how much I appreciate you making Robbie well.

I reckon that's what neighbors are for.

Back then when Robbie was so sick, I told you we was going to be leaving the

wilderness. But truth is, we got no place to go.

Well, you're more than welcome to stay here.

We got plenty of room.

Thank you.

I'm grateful.

And this time I intend to work with nature instead of against it.

Pa.

Oh, yeah.

I'd like to say thank you to that Indian, too.

I'm mighty beholden to him.

Nekoma?

Nekoma!

Mr. Carton's got something he'd like to say to you.

I wanted to say thank you, Nakoma, for saving me and my boy.

What you got?

Means friend.

Oh, you do.

Oh,

by the way, Nakoma, you gotta show me how to make that brew.

never know when them wasps are going to strike again.

And another thing, now, I know which direction to face or lean to, but...

Well,

I'm glad we're staying here.

I'm glad you're staying too, Robbie.

You are?

I sure am. Why?

Well, I think you got the makings of a real fine mountain man.

Me? A mountain man like you?

Would you teach me?

Sure, I'll teach you. Ben and I will both teach you.

When?

Well, it takes a long time to be a mountain man.

So we better get started right now.

Right now? Right now.

Come on.

Let's go.

Ben, let's go.

this place all alone we keep on hoping