Original subtitles

Up in the Pyrenees, there's about as pretty a patch

of country as you could ever hope to see.

Peaceful forests, raging rivers,

and Basque mountain men who've been feuding with France or Spain

for as long as anyone can remember.

Now and then, an American tourist gets caught in the middle

of one of these private wars, and that's when I usually get a call...

... when somebody's in trouble and needs some rescuing.

My mom was one of the great kitchen experimenters.

Japanese soup, Italian pasta, a terrific Basque stew.

This one didn't come close.

Hi. Dr Gates.

I've come to get you out of here. Name's MacGyver.

My God.

I'm glad to see you.

But I don't think I can sneak out of here disguised the way you came in.

It's the only towel I brought with me. Here, try that on.

- Would you mind? - Don't tell me you're shy.

Yeah.

Can you tell me why they grabbed me? I mean, I'm a geologist.

Well, we figure this group just didn't know

the difference between geology and physics.

They probably thought you could build them an atom bomb.

AII right, Iet's see what they got here.

- AII right, time to get out of here. - I'm all for that, but how?

While they're distracted.

Now, I'd be willing to bet

that someone's gonna be in a lot of hot water real soon.

Oh, my God.

Do you know how far it is down there?

No, ma'am, I don't.

But I can't do that. I don't know how to do that.

You gotta do it.

Another distraction?

Hurry.

MacGyver, are they still after us?

No. Chances are, those guys are all washed-up.

Ah, what a life I lead.

Riding the rapids in the Pyrenees Mountains one day,

and the next, crossing half the world to help out a friend

with a very weird problem in a very strange part of the Amazon.

I think I should get an unlisted phone number.

Still drawing pictures of everything, Charlie?

MacGyver.

How you doing, guy?

- So is this the cause of the problem? - I don't know.

AII we have is some very strange phenomena.

A dozen species of birds have been observed in desperate flight,

terrified by something in the heart of the rain forest.

"Here be tigers and unknown beasts"

Exactly, MacGyver. This is a mystery that needs solving.

That's why I'm so grateful you were able to arrange this expedition.

Just a small expedition, you and me.

It's good to see you again, Charlie.

Do you know you're the only person in the world who calls me "Charlie"?

Hey, Iook at that. Look at those birds, MacGyver.

Where are my binoculars?

Psittaciformes.

They're a hundred miles from their natural territory.

What could be upriver that's so frightening?

Here's your outpost, Charlie.

We're gonna need a guide when we get there, MacGyver.

Hope that won't be a problem.

- Oh, I guess we'd better get ready. - Take it easy, Charlie.

Smooth.

Now we gotta get this equipment ashore.

Charlie, go find a guide. I'II get the gear ashore.

Okay. Got the permits, there won't be any problems.

MacGyver.

- He says we can't have a guide. - Not exactly.

I am Commissioner Santos. There are no guides.

The Indian guides are all refusing to go deeper into the jungle.

- Any idea why? - They are superstitious.

They believe in dreams. Now they are dreaming of demons.

- I am sorry. - There must be a way.

- We gotta have a guide. - Hold on. Hold on.

Mr Santos.

Back in Arinos,

I kept hearing the name of a cocoa planter with a place around here.

- Trumbo? - Lucien Trumbo, an impossible man.

He Iives two days up the river, on the far side of nowhere.

Well, possibly we could radio this Trumbo,

- and he could provide us with a guide. - Dr AIden, he has no radio.

Even if he did, it's pointless to call him.

Well, certainly he must care about the ecology of the region.

He cares only about his cocoa plantation.

You see, I'm the government commissioner here,

which means I am the Iaw.

But Lucien Trumbo recognizes no Iaw, except his own.

That sounds Iike an interesting guy.

Maybe we ought to Iook this guy up.

The Iast time I saw Trumbo, he took a shot at me.

Morning.

- Think we'II be there this morning? - Maybe so.

You know, I was wondering.

If the Indians are so terrified, how does Trumbo keep his workforce?

Maybe they're more afraid of him.

MacGyver, something's not right. It's a Iittle too quiet out here.

Well, maybe this Trumbo's got some answers for us.

This river is getting pretty narrow, MacGyver.

We must be getting close.

SIow it down.

My God, what does it mean?

I don't know, a warning, maybe?

MacGyver, there's something ahead. That's it.

I am Lucien Trumbo. This is my Iand, and you're trespassing.

Can't you people read? The sign says "keep out."

This is outrageous. This man shot at us.

Charlie.

This is a scientific expedition.

I'm Dr Charles AIden,

and this is my associate, Mr MacGyver.

And we are from the Inter-Americas Institute of Tropical Ornithology.

And I am not interested in birds.

Hey, Mr Trumbo?

How Iong has that pump been giving you trouble Iike that?

- Are you an engineer? - Well, no, not exactly.

From the sound of her,

I'd say the old gal will be out of commission by the end of the day.

You got a busted piston in there. And I'II just bet that pump

is the key to your whole irrigation system.

- Perhaps I could ask you to repair it. - Perhaps you could help us out a Iittle.

- Luiz. - Grab the boat.

We need a guide to take us back into the jungle.

I'II not put any of my people in unnecessary danger.

Good day, gentlemen.

Well, maybe I'II take a Iook at that pump anyway.

Don't bargain, MacGyver.

Well, it's a shame to see a nice piece of machinery Iike that just ruin itself.

AII right, it's yours to fix.

- Got some place I can work on this? - Yeah.

- This is quite a spread. - I was here before the first buildings.

Trumbo had only eight acres then. And now, you can see.

How Iong you been with Trumbo?

He found me when I was a child in the jungle.

What about your own people?

The Amap� tribesmen attacked us.

They killed my father and took my mother.

I was too young, so they Ieft me. Trumbo found me.

He gave me a place.

- Pulled the piston. - Yeah, it's busted.

But we got Iucky, we found both pieces.

Not so Iucky.

My welding equipment uses acetylene gas, and the tanks are empty.

I've been waiting months for supplies.

Thank you, MacGyver, but I'm afraid your efforts were useless.

You know, you don't strike me as the type of fella who'd give up so easy.

I don't waste time on the impossible.

Maybe we can whip up something out of what you got around here.

EIectric arc welding.

I could use a man of your talents around here, MacGyver.

Well, the way I see things, Mr Trumbo, you don't need anybody.

Maybe a Iittle cheap Iabour, and a few good machines.

Hey, mister, I've fought this jungle back,

cut it down, created my boundaries, my world.

No one else had the will to do that.

And my Indians are paid well for their work, MacGyver.

The power of the American dollar. Half dollar, actually.

Why don't we see if we can get your pump going again.

I made my peace with this country a Iong time ago.

I don't try to change it or even understand it.

I hold what I have. That is all I need.

Personally, I Iike a Iittle variety, and some good people to share it with.

I used to feel Iike that once.

Until my wife died here.

Mr Trumbo, won't you reconsider and provide us with a guide?

I know there is something happening in the deep jungle.

We have shot animals trying to break down my fences.

They were out of control, running in panic from some danger.

But I will not risk any of my people.

Mr Trumbo, we'II be shoving off in the morning.

- Thank you for your hospitality. - Mr MacGyver.

The pump at the river helps to fill my dam.

It made it possible for me to build my plantation,

to hold it in drought, defend it in flood.

It's filling again. I'm grateful, MacGyver.

Then why won't you at Ieast consider the possibility?

I told you, I will not risk any of my people.

But I will guide you myself.

We Ieave at daybreak.

Okay.

What?

What could possibly cause panic flight

in both birds and small ground animals?

Well, that's a good question, Charlie.

There's an Indian village about 3 kilometres upcountry,

maybe they know more.

- Well, Iet's go. - Hold it.

What is it?

Listen.

That's this way.

Dear God.

Soldier ants.

That's incredible. No wonder every Iiving thing fled.

Look at them, in the billions.

Marabunta.

The Indians believe nothing can stop them.

Well, that is very close to the truth.

They Iive peacefully, 40, sometimes 50 years.

Gigantic ant civilizations in their remote colonies,

and they breed until some internal clock ticks

to its appointed moment, and they erupt.

An eating machine, two miles wide and 1 0 miles Iong.

Heading northeast.

The village.

There's a woman trapped under that canoe.

It's much too heavy to Iift. And if we roll it, it'II break her Iegs.

Hold on, you'II be all right.

Trumbo, give me a hand.

Get on the other side of the boat.

Thread this through when I give it to you.

Incredible.

That's fantastic. I've never seen anything Iike this.

Charlie, bring me that pole.

MacGyver, the ants are getting closer.

I gotta check the other side of the village.

Charlie.

AII right, I'II hold it. See if you can get her clear.

Fantastic.

This is incredible.

MacGyver!

- Over here. This way. - Charlie?

Charlie!

- Charlie! - Don't be a fool.

He's dead.

Put those branches closer to the wall.

The fire will have to stop them.

Charlie was a pretty good artist.

- He caught you. - Yeah.

Were you friends a Iong time?

I'm gonna miss him.

So you think the ants are gonna come towards us, huh?

Well, we saw the main army about 6 kilometres to the west

moving northeast, but they'II be blocked by the river.

- So they'II turn-- - Right into us.

I will be ready with fire at my front walls if necessary.

Wait a minute. You're not planning

on being here Iong enough to find out, are you?

Trumbo! The workers, they've all run away. Some have taken the boats.

Stop! No, you mustn't go. Stop! Listen to me.

Hear what I have to say. You know me. I've never Iied to you.

I will not try to tell you the ants are not a danger. They are powerful.

But we are powerful too.

Together, we conquered this jungle. I fought to make this place.

I will fight to keep it. We will fight!

- No. - No.

The ants will come. We will destroy them.

No. I have seen the ants before. We know what they can do.

- No, we will not stay. - You will obey me.

No, Trumbo!

Don't Ieave! Don't Ieave! You must stay and fight!

- Keep out of this, MacGyver! - They have a right to Ieave, Trumbo.

They're scared. Let them go.

AII right, Iet them run. I don't need them.

- I don't need anybody. - But the ants, they will kill you.

This plantation is my Iife. I will not give it up!

You can still call to the boat. They'II wait for you.

No, this is my home too. What about you?

Me? I'm kind of interested to see if that weld of mine is gonna hold up.

Come on.

I got an idea.

It has to do with all that water you got stored.

Now, as I understand things,

you got the river flowing up here and the tributary into it.

You got all these irrigation ditches too. Well, if you flooded the ditches,

they become Iike moats and maybe force the ants down into the river.

What do you think?

I think that's one hell of idea.

What if it fails?

- How you fixed for gasoline? - Some.

Well, I don't know how good ants are at swimming,

but I'd be willing to bet a good fire would get their attention.

What if that doesn't work?

I think we'd have to crack open that dam of yours.

FIood? It'II wipe out the entire crop.

It'II wash away the topsoil, maybe even this house.

I don't think it'II come to that, but we better get started.

Those ants are on their way.

- You got the garden hose? - Yeah. What are you doing?

I'm gonna build a flamethrower.

This Iittle bit of kitchen magic will thicken the gasoline,

stabilize it so it'II burn, not explode.

Listen, you got a hacksaw?

- I'II get one. - Good.

I hope we don't need all that.

The water in the ditches, that has to stop them.

- I'II send Luiz to the dam. - Yeah.

Luiz, you must stand guard at the dam and flood the ditches.

Keep the water level full so the ants don't cross.

If we need more water, we'll signal you.

Doesn't Iook so tough, does it?

After all I've done, fought to build here, this is what threatens it all.

You got that one, Trumbo.

Trouble is, a couple billion of his relatives are coming to the funeral.

Well, the ditches are full. Now we wait.

Well, the horses know something's going on.

Yes, the ants are here.

You better take a Iook at this.

They're coming across the water. The Ievel's too Iow.

Signal Luiz for more water.

The water isn't coming.

It's not happening.

Luiz wouldn't run.

Then he's dead.

No. Luiz! Luiz!

Trumbo.

- Damn, I think I tore something. - Trumbo, it's too Iate.

They're too close.

AII right, Trumbo, this is it. Start pumping.

Burn them.

- I feel Iike Nero, burning Rome. - Well, keep it coming, Nero.

Empty.

But we did it.

We did it.

What does it all mean, MacGyver?

I worked a Iifetime here, and it's gone in one afternoon.

Easy come, easy go.

So they do inherit the earth...

...in just a few more hours.

No.

They crossed the moat, they've survived the fire, they've won.

What more can we do?

BIow the dam, flood the fields, drown them.

BIow the dam? How? We have no dynamite.

No, but you got enough around here. I might be able to fake it.

Even so, there's a mountain of ants between here and the dam.

How would you even get there?

We're out of gasoline, and we're out of miracles.

So now's the time to start thinking.

And the first thing I started thinking about was how to take that dam apart.

Start with nitrate from fertilizer, cellulose from plant bark.

Stir, don't shake, with a drip or two of acid.

- So this is nitroglycerine. - Nitromannite, actually.

It's a Iittle Iess touchy, kind of a chemical kissing cousin.

AII right, fill this with this.

- Now, where's that garden hose? - What for?

I need to make a suit of armour.

Ready, MacGyver?

Good Iuck.

He did it.

MacGyver, you did it!

MacGyver!

MacGyver

MacGyver!

- What a mess. Look at this. - Well, so are you.

And who cares? We won.

And, hell, this is more than I started with.

I'II do it again.

Better this time.

- I'II bet you do. - I owe you one.

We know what I owe you. But I'm gonna ask you one more favour.

You come back in one year from now,

take a Iook at what you helped build.

You bet.

Come on.