Out of the Wilderness (1998) - full transcript
This is the story of a raven, considered by ornithologists to be the most intelligent of birds, who through its antics disrupts a family, even to causing enough problems that the town finally decides to put the bird on trial for its life. The tale is told in retrospect during that trial by the young girl who owns it.
[chimes ringing]
[wind howling]
[light orchestral music]
- [Clint] Nature teaches us
wondrous lessons
about ourselves.
It is often full of surprises.
This is a tale of one of
its little known heroes,
a trickster called the raven.
Scholars label it the
brains of the bird world.
It is so clever,
social and adaptable
that it's almost human.
We can learn from this raven.
Often it is just a question
of watching and waiting.
We never know what might happen.
[grand orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
- [Matt] With your
morning cup of coffee,
Matt McCord on FM 94, KJOX.
It's another glorious,
sunny day in the Rose City.
We're waiting and watching
with the rest of the nation
and all its animals for
today's controversial
raven hearing at the
Department of the Interior.
Millionaire buckskin lawyer,
Clint Dugan is in town
to defend animal rights and
the little girl, Melissa,
whose pet bird, Blackfeather,
has been held by the Feds
for mischievous conduct.
Now that's a real
jailbird for ya.
[typewriter keys clacking]
Judge Battle has ordered
a media blackout,
but our inside sources
will keep us posted.
Hey, that's our topic.
Do we have a caller?
Caller, you're on the air
with Mad Matt in the Morning.
[line beeping]
- [Woman] I don't get it.
Spotted owls, ravens.
Hey, why don't they stay in
the woods where they belong?
Why waste our time and
money on these loony animals
that don't belong
in our backyards.
[line beeping]
- [Matt] Right, maybe
we need public enemies.
Might as well go after the
bears, cougars, and ravens
that can't defend themselves.
Next caller, you're on line
three, go ahead, 94 FM.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[breathing heavily]
- Mr. Dugan?
- Mr. Carey, I presume.
- Uh, I'm, I'm sorry I'm late.
I had, I had a little
problem with the bike.
Oh, I'll be dressed in a second.
- Well, the great Clint Dugan.
I heard you might show up.
- Why, hello, Morgan.
Didn't expect to see you here.
- Well, catch up on the news
and I'll see you inside.
- Good luck to you, Morgan.
- Keep your luck, counselor,
you're gonna need it.
- What was that all about?
- Trouble.
Why didn't you warn me?
- Well, I, I, she was a
last minute substitution
from San Francisco.
Who is she, anyway?
- An enforcer for
the Ninth Circuit.
Someone high up wants
to win this case.
- Are you worried?
[laughing]
Well, 'cause if, you know,
if, if you're worried,
then, you know, I'm worried.
- Are we all right, then?
- Patty, Melissa, Ray,
I want you to meet
Mr. Clint Dugan.
- Thank you, Mr.
Dugan, for coming.
We need you.
- Well, actually, you're
in pretty good hands
with Dan Carey here.
I'm just along to
help out a little bit.
Hello, Melissa.
It's nice to meet you.
- I knew you'd come.
- Somehow I didn't
think you'd show.
One of the most famous
lawyers in the country,
I didn't think
you'd care about us.
- The only way to get
him to stop calling me.
He must've called me 100 times,
telling me about
a mysterious raven
who saved lives
and the young girl
who loved the rare bird.
Very intriguing.
- Well, thanks, Mr. Dugan.
She really loves that bird.
- Thank you.
- Hmm.
- [Woman] All rise.
Court is now in session,
the Honorable Judge Emmett
G. Battle, presiding.
- Good morning
ladies and gentlemen,
please be seated.
- Good morning, Your Honor.
- We're assembled for the
administrative hearing
in the matter of the
Department of the Interior
versus Talbot and
Blackfeather, et al.
The same rules apply
here as in open court.
Is that understood?
This is a closed hearing.
I barred the press to keep this
matter from becoming a zoo.
I'm not interested in publicity.
I'm interested in
upholding the law.
Now I direct you
to Proverbs 28:4.
- Buckle up, here we go.
- "Anyone who turns a
deaf ear to the law,
"even his prayers
are detestable."
Now let that be your
guidepost for this proceeding.
Is the government
ready, Miss Brown?
- We are, Your Honor.
- And the defense?
- Clint Dugan for the
defense, Your Honor.
I believe you know Dan Carey,
the defense attorney of record.
Yes, I know Mr. Carey.
And I know who you
are, Mr. Dugan.
Is the defense ready to proceed?
- Frankly, Your Honor,
I don't see how we can.
The most important party
to these proceedings
is not present.
- And who might
that be, Mr. Dugan?
- Why, Blackfeather, of course.
The raven who stands to lose
his life in these proceedings.
Under the Constitution,
the defendant is entitled
to face his accusers
in a court of law.
[scoffing]
- Objection, Your Honor,
this is a bird, not a person.
- Counselor, it is not
a bird, it is a raven.
A distinction,
which we will show,
is very important
to our defense.
- Your Honor, Mr.
Dugan's request is
completely out of line.
He mocks the court with
this capricious attempt
to shift the focus from the
material facts of this case.
- I assure you I could
not be more serious.
This raven has been
incarcerated for 13 months
and kept away from his family.
Now, if Your Honor does not
wish to see years of appeals,
the raven must be present.
- Don't threaten me, Mr. Dugan.
Is the raven here?
- Uh, yes, Your Honor.
Fish and Game have
him downstairs.
- [Emmett] Well let's
bring him up here ASAP.
- Your Honor, I, uh,
I know of no precedent
where, uh, for animals--
- [Emmett] Are you
questioning me, Mr. Smith?
- Uh, no, Your Honor.
I'll get the raven
right away, Your Honor.
- In the meantime, can
we proceed, if there are
no further objections?
Are there any, Mr. Dugan?
- Not at this time, Your Honor.
- [Emmett] Oh, good.
All right, Miss Brown, proceed.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
In the matter of the
Department of the Interior
versus Talbot, Blackfeather,
et al, the following charges
have been filed
against the defendants.
One, through wanton
and reckless trespass,
the bird named Blackfeather
companioned by
the Talbot family,
has directly, or indirectly,
caused several serious accidents
endangering human lives.
Thus, said bird is deemed
to be a public nuisance
and must be destroyed.
Two, resulting from
said bird's actions,
a considerable amount of
gold ore has been removed
from Federal land illegally
and it has been found
to be in the possession
of the Talbot family.
- Do you understand the
charges against you?
How do you plead?
- Not guilty, Your Honor.
- The Government
calls Melissa Talbot.
[Blackfeather caws]
[light orchestral music]
- Blackfeather!
Judge, may I please
say hello to him?
Please?
- [Emmett] Very well,
but let's make it fast.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Hey, Blackfeather,
how are you?
[Blackfeather caws]
Hey cutie, I missed you.
- Okay, let's not make this
more of a distraction
than necessary.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
Now Melissa, you can
testify from right there.
Raise your right hand, please.
Do you solemnly swear
to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
- I do.
- State your full
name and your age.
- Melissa Ann Talbot,
I'm 13-years-old.
- Hi, Melissa.
Are you comfortable?
Do you need any water?
You're kind of nervous, huh?
That's okay.
All I want you to do is
just tell everybody here,
in your own words, how
all of this got started.
[chimes ringing]
[wind howling]
- [Melissa] There was
a raven who had a home
not far from our home.
And even though it flew
over our place almost
every day, no one ever
noticed it except me.
[light orchestral music]
[raven caws]
The raven had a nest with
a baby, high in a tree.
That baby was Blackfeather.
[raven caws]
- Melissa!
Melissa?
Melissa?
- What?
- [Ray] I'm calling and calling,
it's like you can't hear me.
I need some more nails.
- [Melissa] Where are they?
- [Ray] They're right down
by the door to the basement.
- [Melissa] All
right, I'm coming.
[exhaling]
[raven caws]
- [Ray] Come on,
Melissa, keep it moving.
Time is money.
We don't get paid
for daydreaming.
- It's the same one.
- Same what?
- Same raven.
Every time it flies by it
makes that same funny call.
It's like grandma
with a bad cough.
It's weird.
- [Ray] Is that right?
- [Melissa] I wonder why he's
always hanging around here.
- I want you to get the paint
and work on the sign again.
- I knew you were
gonna say that.
- [Ray] Well, we've
got to get it finished.
The sooner, the better.
I want you to keep
an eye on the llamas,
they've been straying lately.
You hear me?
[helicopter whirring]
[raven caws]
[ominous orchestral music]
- [Melissa] There was danger
everywhere in the wilderness,
from both predators and man.
As Blackfeather's
mother soon found out.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[bird thudding]
Because we lived so far out,
people rarely
stopped by to see us.
And they never came
in helicopters.
So that should have been
all the more reason to be
excited about this visit.
But for some reason,
these smiling visitors
made me feel uneasy,
especially the one in the hat.
- Hey, Ray, how are you?
Good to see you again.
- [Ray] You too, how you doing?
- Good.
- Hi, George.
- Hi.
- You made a lot of
progress here, I see.
- Yeah.
- So you're still glad
you moved up here, then?
- Well there's no
turning back now.
[chuckling]
- I see you've got
yourself a little helper
since school got out.
- [Ray] And Melissa,
get back to work, okay?
- How's Patty?
- Ah, the wife's
working in town, now.
It's been harder than I thought.
I hope to have the place up and
running before fall, though,
if I can scrape
together enough money.
She should be home soon.
You guys want to come
in for a cup of coffee?
- No, that's okay,
that's okay, Ray, thanks.
I got a lot lined up today.
I just wanted to swing by
up here, and warn you about
a grizzly that's been shot
in this area, it's wounded.
It's probably a sow with cubs.
The hunter couldn't get off
another shot before it attacked.
He got chewed up pretty bad.
- [Ray] Geez.
- The doctors don't even
think he's gonna make it
so you just report in to us if
you see anything suspicious.
Why don't you get a phone up
here so I can give you a call.
- Yeah.
- All right?
Okay.
Oh, by the way, I hit a raven
on the way up here.
Yeah, the darn things
usually get out of the way,
you know what I mean?
[chuckling]
- Hey John, you should be
careful about those ravens.
They bring us bad luck.
- Now George, that's all
stories, superstition,
you know that.
Ray, we'll see you later.
- Oh yeah, thanks for coming.
- You keep your eyes open.
- Will do.
- [Melissa] That was the day
I learned that Blackfeather
became an orphan.
- [George] John, don't
make fun of those ravens.
- [John] Now George, now
don't worry about it.
I told you they're
stories and superstition.
You got nothing to worry about.
[John laughing]
- [Ray] Melissa,
that's coming along.
- [Melissa] Do you like it?
- The T's kind of big, but...
[helicopter whirring]
Come on, you can help
me clear some branches.
- Don't you want me to finish?
- Nah, first I want to
finish cutting the logs
for the third tourist cabin.
Otherwise that sign's
not gonna do us any good.
- [Melissa] Daddy
never wasted time
saying please when
asking me to help him.
In fact, he never asked
me to do anything.
He just ordered.
- [Ray] Come on.
- [Melissa] I was probably
the only kid in America
who looked forward to
going back to school.
- Now that's one of the
trees I tagged last winter.
- [Melissa] That's a big tree.
- [Ray] There's enough
lumber in that one
to frame a new cabin.
[light orchestral music]
[chainsaw whirring]
[Blackfeather caws]
- I was sure it was
the raven's nest,
and daddy was going
to destroy it.
I had to tell him.
Daddy, daddy, there's a nest.
- Melissa, get
back, get back now.
Go!
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Ray grunting]
Melissa!
[Melissa grunting]
- [Melissa] Daddy!
[Melissa screaming]
[tree thudding]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- Melissa?
[Melissa groaning]
Melissa!
Melissa!
Melissa, are you okay?
Melissa!
No, no, no, no!
[screaming]
Melissa?
Melissa!
- [Melissa] The nest, daddy.
The nest.
- The nest?
[Blackfeather caws]
It's okay, honey.
It's right here.
It's right by your leg.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Chainsaw.
The chainsaw.
[grunting]
I'll be back honey,
I'm going to get help.
[Ray screaming]
[truck crashing]
[electricity crackling]
[Ray grunting]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- [DJ] A little warming
trend this afternoon,
a chance of showers later--
[radio tuning]
[light rock music]
- [Ray] Patty!
- What in heaven's name?
- [Ray] It's Melissa,
she's pinned under a tree.
I pray to God we can save
her while there's still time.
- Oh my God.
- [Ray] My other
chainsaw's in the back.
Let's go.
[chainsaw whirring]
- Melissa, can you hear me?
Ray, I got her.
I got her.
[Blackfeather caws]
You're gonna be okay,
you're gonna be okay.
Melissa, can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
[dramatic orchestral music]
[Patty sobbing]
- Three weeks later
I came home from the hospital.
And I still couldn't
move my legs.
The doctors weren't sure
that I would ever be able
to walk again.
I was glad to have a new
friend to cheer me up.
He was kind of noisy
and he ate all the time,
but that didn't matter much.
He was always making
mom and me laugh.
Mom, I think he's ready.
- [Patty] Okay, honey.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] He's
gonna like this.
- [Patty] I hope
it's not too cold.
- [Melissa] Come on, come on.
[both laughing]
- [Patty] He really is cute.
- You gotta see this.
- Yeah, yeah, let, let me
get the phone hooked up.
- [Melissa] Daddy, he's
gonna quit doing it.
[Patty laughing]
- Mom, I want to get out.
I think the raven does too.
- [Patty] Oh, that sounds
like a good idea, honey.
The sun will do you some good.
Ray, could you help?
- [Ray] Patty, I got
to get back to work.
- Please, Ray.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Ray] All right.
- Thank you, daddy.
- [Ray] Yeah, don't mention it.
- [Melissa] My father's
dislike of the raven got worse.
He seemed angry and
distant toward me and mom.
I just kept hoping
I'd get better so he'd
stop being mad all the time.
Mom, on the other hand, grew
to like raven more and more.
I think she knew how important
this friendship was to me.
Mom, this is good.
- [Patty] Call when
you want to come in.
- Thanks, mom.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather chirping]
The raven had become
my very best friend.
I think he somehow
understood what I was
going through, you know,
with daddy not really
loving me and all.
[Blackfeather caws]
The raven, on the other
hand, was always showing me
that he loved me,
no matter what.
Hey, that tickles.
[ominous orchestral music]
Don't go far.
You can't fly yet.
[sighing]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
No!
Mom!
No, no!
No!
No!
Get away!
No!
Mom!
[screaming]
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
[screaming]
Get away!
Mom!
Get away!
Mom!
Awwww!
[fox whimpering]
- Melissa, Melissa!
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] The fox attack
had really scared me.
First, because I'd almost
lost my best friend,
and I couldn't bear
the thought of that.
And second, because
I'd hurt myself
even more when I fell
out of my wheelchair.
Things just seemed to be
getting worse and worse.
Except for my raven's
appetite, of course.
It just got better and better.
He never seemed to let
anything bother him.
Almost like he knew.
- [Patty] Melissa?
- [Melissa] Hi, mom.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Patty] How are you feeling?
- I named him Blackfeather.
- [Patty] Blackfeather?
- He responds to it, too.
It's better than going
glock-glock all the time.
- [Patty] Good
night, sleep well.
- [Melissa] Good
night, mom, Love you.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[footsteps approaching]
- How's she doing?
- Well, it wouldn't hurt
if you spent a little
more time with her.
That way you'd know
how she's doing.
- Are you gonna let her
keep that stupid bird?
I'm finding bird doo-doo
all over the place.
The darn thing stinks.
- That bird has a name.
She named it Blackfeather.
- [Ray] Yeah.
- That raven keeps her from
worrying about herself, Ray.
I want her to be put
back in the hospital.
She hurt herself again
today when she fell.
- [Ray] We're broke.
I can't even pay for the
existing medical bills.
- [Patty] I just pray to God
that she won't be
permanently paralyzed.
- Yeah.
- You've always been selfish.
I thought that when
you married me,
that you'd accepted Melissa
as your own daughter.
But instead you treat
her like some hired hand,
like your own personal grunt.
She needs to be allowed
to be a child, too.
- [Melissa] I think it was
the first big fight my parents
ever really had.
I'd never seen my mom get
mad about anything before.
But being an amateur didn't
seem to matter to her,
'cause it was real
obvious who lost.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Patty] Hi, Sandra.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Bye, daddy.
I'll be back soon.
I just, I just know I will.
By the time I get back,
Blackfeather will think
you're his mommy instead of me.
- Well, I think he'll remember.
And like you said,
you'll be back soon.
- [Melissa] It had to be one
of the worst days of my life.
I ached from head to toe
and I was going back
to the hospital.
My father would
barely speak to me,
and I had to leave
Blackfeather behind.
You could say I was
a little depressed.
- [Patty] Goodbye, Ray.
I'll try and call when I can.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] Goodbye, daddy.
Leaving Blackfeather
with my father was the
hardest thing to do.
'Cause I knew how much
he didn't like the raven,
but daddy had promised
me he'd take care of him.
So I figured everything
would be okay.
Guess I should have
found out exactly
what he meant by take care of.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Get lost, I fed
you an hour ago.
Beat it.
[light orchestral music]
You just never give up, do you?
Want some more?
[Blackfeather caws]
Hey what's my payback, huh?
[grunting]
[elevator dinging]
- [Nurse] Patty.
Hi, Patty.
- [Patty] Hi.
- Listen, Melissa's all
settled into her bed now.
She's fine for now.
The doctor wants to
run a series of X-rays.
This will give us a crystal
clear picture of the exact
extent of nerve damage
that Melissa has suffered.
- So we should know
by tomorrow if she'll
be all right then?
Her chances are
good, aren't they?
- I hope so.
[dramatic orchestral music]
- [Melissa] The doctor made
everything sound kinda hopeless,
the way doctors
can sometimes do.
And mom didn't take it too well.
That day is not one
of my better memories.
[telephone ringing]
- [Ray] Hi, this is Ray Talbot.
Leave a message.
[answering machine beeping]
- [Patty] Ray, I just
talked to Melissa's doctor.
She's not doing well at all.
Ray, there's a 50-50 chance
she'll never walk again.
She may be in the
hospital 60 to 90 days.
Please call the hospital.
I need to talk to you.
I know the costs will
be hard to handle.
Bye.
[phone clicking]
- [Melissa] One of daddy's
most endearing habits was
the way he blamed everybody
and everything else
for his own mistakes.
So, who could be surprised
when he put all the blame
for this mess on Blackfeather.
[dramatic orchestral music]
Not a day went by
that I didn't think
about Blackfeather and daddy.
In a book about ravens
which Nurse Blakely gave me,
it said, among other things,
how adult ravens were playful
to the point of mischievous
and that they loved to pluck
bright and shiny objects.
This sort of made me worry.
Blackfeather would be
almost full grown by now
and I couldn't see
daddy's quick temper
and a playful feathered pack rat
being a very good combination,
even in the best of times.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Pencil, pencil.
I can't find anything.
[upbeat orchestral music]
All right, you played
your little joke.
Give it to me.
I'm gonna count to three.
One.
Two.
You feathered maggot.
[Blackfeather chirps]
[Blackfeather caws]
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
You!
[ominous orchestral music]
Get out!
Go on, get out!
Go on!
Beat it!
[quirky orchestral music]
Not my nails!
Drop it!
This is it.
I've had it.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather chirps]
Huh?
Not my cigarette.
Why you!
Drop it!
Gimme that!
Drop it!
[grunting]
No!
[shed exploding]
That was my last cigarette.
What the...
[suspenseful orchestral music]
Where are you?
Come on out!
[growling]
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] Finally,
daddy's curious behavior
caused the raven to look for
other forms of entertainment.
He left the homestead
for long periods
to explore the wilderness,
make new discoveries,
and face other dangers.
Shiny things always
caught Blackfeather's
eye and when he saw
a gold nugget in the stream,
he just couldn't resist,
no matter what the danger.
[ominous orchestral music]
[wolf growling]
[wolf whimpering]
[light orchestral music]
Always ready to forgive,
Blackfeather returned
home time and again,
because home was
where he was happiest.
Unlike the raven, my
father rarely forgave
and he never forgot.
Unknown to any of us,
Blackfeather had a
secret place all his own.
A place he could decorate
with all the sparkling
treasures he collected.
A place he could go to escape
daddy's temper tantrums.
A throne from which he
could view his kingdom
in perfect safety.
It wasn't part of the plan
that daddy should find
this place, however,
so Blackfeather decided to
undecorate very quickly.
- What's the matter?
Cat got your tongue?
Got something to hide?
Huh?
[Blackfeather chirps]
[Blackfeather caws]
[gun firing]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[gun firing]
[gun firing]
- [Melissa] Firing the shotgun
seemed to drain the
rage out of my father.
A little voice within him
grew louder and louder
and he began to regret
letting his temper
get the best of him.
Especially when he discovered
one of his pot shots
may have hit Blackfeather.
[dramatic orchestral music]
After the shooting incident,
Blackfeather chose to make
the hollow tree his new home.
Only trouble was, all his
beautiful shiny things
were way down inside the tree.
Obviously, a major redecorating
effort was in order.
[grunting]
During one of his outings,
the raven decided to make
a detour into our yard.
As I said before, he was
a very forgiving raven.
- Now what are you up to?
- [Melissa] The sight of
those shiny lug nuts helped
Blackfeather to
forgive even faster.
[quirky orchestral music]
Caught up in the excitement of
finding a bright new plaything,
the raven let his guard down.
For a brief and
uncharacteristic moment,
daddy remembered the
promise he had made me,
which was just enough time
for Blackfeather to exchange
one toy for another while
making a spectacular escape.
Blackfeather never understood
why my father got
so mad whenever they
were playing games.
[phone ringing]
- Department of Fish
and Game, Holt speaking.
- Hi, John, it's Ray Talbot.
John, I've got a little problem.
Actually, it's a, a raven,
my little girl raised it
as a pet, and frankly,
[sighing]
this thing is ruining my life.
- Oh, come on, Ray.
A raven?
Come on.
- No, now this raven
is more dangerous
than any wounded grizzly bear.
That thing hospitalized
my daughter, all right?
It caused me to wreck my truck,
almost another one nearly
killed me, blew up my garage,
stole half my silverware,
God knows what else.
And now it's got my truck keys!
All right, now doggone it,
John, you've gotta help me.
- Ravens are a varmint.
Shoot it.
- I tried that.
That's not an option anymore.
Look, you're Fish and Game,
can't you just confiscate
it or something?
- Well, technically,
ravens are classified
as migratory birds.
And legally, you ought
to have a license
before keeping one in captivity.
Hang on a second.
- That's it, that's it.
I don't have any permits.
- Well is it caged, Mr. Talbot?
- For Pete's sake, John,
just, come and get it,
all right, before this
place looks like a war zone.
- Okay, well just catch it
and I'll come up
there later today.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Ray] Where are you?
Come on out.
[Blackfeather chirping]
- [Melissa] The
raven, of course,
sensed that daddy
was up to something.
But the sight of
polished silverware was
just too much to resist.
[quirky orchestral music]
- [Ray] That's it.
[grunting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
Yes!
Ha-ha-ha, woo!
- [Melissa] This time
it looked like daddy
had finally won the game.
Only daddy wasn't
playing a game.
And by the time Blackfeather
figured this out,
he was in a whole
lot of trouble.
- You know what they say, Ray.
Don't screw with mother nature.
- So, what are you
gonna do with him
when you get him back to town?
Twist his head off?
- Unfortunately, not right away.
No.
It just so happens,
there's a TV personality
coming into town in
a couple of days.
He's part of a remote live
broadcast, a news magazine.
He called the department
the other day.
Said he was looking for
tame, orphaned animals
to use in his broadcast.
So, we'll let him use the bird.
And then I'll dispose of it.
- One less headache for me.
- Whatever.
I'll see you around, Ray.
[laughing]
[engine revving]
- [Ray] What a relief.
- But it wasn't a
relief to Blackfeather.
Being put in a box and all.
He didn't know what to expect.
It turned out to be
just the first time
that Fish and Game
took Blackfeather away.
The trouble really
started when Blackfeather
went into town.
[dramatic news jingle]
- [Announcer] Up next,
KNK's live news hour.
The show that takes you
someplace new every day.
- [Woman] You can do it.
Come here.
He doesn't like this.
- Come on, there's eight million
people watching this show.
- [Woman] Come on, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
- [Terrence] Hold still.
- [Woman] Come on, come on.
- [Terrence] Ow, ow!
- [Man] Come on.
- Four, three, two.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
we are excited to be
broadcasting live outside
of Anchorage, Alaska
in this beautiful and very
unpredictable weather.
One of our guests is
now making his arrival.
And welcome Terrence and
his pet raven, Blackfeather.
That's wonderful.
- [Terrence] Thanks, Debbie.
Ow, ow!
- Wow!
- [Terrence] This is
a North American, ow.
- That's, you all right?
- [Terrence] North American
raven it's found here in
Alaska and in northern Canada.
[Blackfeather caws]
Ravens are considered sacred
by many cultures worldwide.
And many native people
in the north believe
these to be endowed with
supernatural powers.
- [Debbie] Is that right?
- [Terrence] They can
be very affectionate
and they can bring good luck
to people they decide to like.
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!
- A beautiful bird.
- [Terrence] Whoa, whoa!
There you go, ow!
- [Debbie] Is it
something you said?
- [Terrence] Well, I guess so.
Geez, you know they have
incredible memories.
They're considered to have
the IQ of a 10-year-old.
- Larry, ow!
- [Terrence] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- [Debbie] Get it away from me!
[screaming]
Get that thing away.
- Go to commercial, now!
- Somebody help!
Larry!
Ugh!
This is a fiasco!
Brilliant idea, Larry.
You know I almost got my
eye pecked out up there?
- You were sensational.
[Debbie screaming]
Our viewership is gonna
pull through the roof.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] While Blackfeather
wasn't one to hold grudges,
he was certainly able to
learn from his experiences.
He hadn't like that cage, or
the rough way those people
had handled him, so he
wouldn't allow himself
to be caught again.
He realized how important
his freedom was,
only after he had lost it.
[dramatic orchestral music]
But his nature was
friendly and forgiving.
And just because daddy
had put him in a box,
didn't mean all humans
would try to do so.
Being selective was the key.
Being selective and
having pretty toys.
[dog barking]
- [Annie] Ahh.
Come back.
Come back, birdie.
[dog barking]
Give me my toy back.
- Annie?
Annie!
Annie!
[dog barking]
Annie!
Annie!
Annie!
Annie!
- [Annie] Give me my toy.
[all shouting]
- [Woman] Watch the
road, watch the road!
Don't go in the ditch!
[shouting]
[woman shouting]
- [Woman] Let me outta here.
[shouting]
[man shouting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[RV exploding]
[laughing]
- Oh, Annie, thank
God you're safe.
- May I have a glass
of water now, please?
- Of course you may.
So tell me, Melissa,
was Blackfeather blamed
for that RV accident?
- He didn't do it.
- I know, but was he blamed?
Just yes or no.
- Yes.
- Objection.
Badgering the witness.
- [Emmett] Overruled.
- Your Honor,
since it is obvious
the witness is tired
and far from finished.
I move that we
continue after lunch.
- Very well, counselor,
if the prosecution
has no objection.
- No objections, Your Honor.
- This hearing stands
in recess until two p.m.
[gavel banging]
- Here you go, sweetheart.
- Thank you.
- You bet.
Now Melissa, when
you go back in there
you're gonna have to
testify some more.
Are you gonna be okay?
- Sure.
- Good girl.
[blowing]
- [Melissa] Dan?
- [Dan] Mm-hmm.
- Why do they wanna
hurt Blackfeather?
He's just a raven.
- One word, precedent.
The law is based on precedent.
If your raven goes unregulated
then other animals,
wild animals, like cougars
or bears, can go unregulated.
And somehow that could affect
the hunting and fishing laws
and that's a pretty big
thing in this country.
- Well, that doesn't
make any sense.
- Makes sense to the government.
That's why we have to
convince this judge
to act from his heart,
not just parrot the law.
No pun intended.
[laughing]
- So, how do you think
we're doing so far?
- Well, so far we're
helping them win their case.
Now, I'm trying to
access some ammunition.
But this expensive doorstop
here just won't cooperate.
My secretary, she talked me
into bringing this along.
Said it would make
things easier,
but it just keeps fighting back.
- Here, I know how
to work one of those.
My girlfriend has
one just like it.
What do you want it to do?
[chuckling]
- Boy, the world
sure is changing.
Okay.
Here's what I need.
[gavel banging]
- All right, ladies
and gentlemen, we're
back in session.
Let's proceed with
the government's case.
- That won't be
necessary, Your Honor.
[clearing throat]
The defense stipulates
to all charges.
We admit the bird has
been a public nuisance
and that gold was taken
from federal land.
- Then the defense calls
for a directed verdict
in its favor at this
point, Your Honor,
because it's warranted--
- Directed verdict?
- Motion is denied, Mr. Carey.
I don't know what
you boys are up to,
but I'm not gonna let you
make a joke of this hearing.
- We also strenuously object
to this ploy by Mr. Dugan.
This stipulation exemplifies
his usual courtroom
prestidigitation.
- Overruled, Miss Brown.
I'm gonna allow the stipulation
on all charges for expediency.
The government's
case is at rest now.
And you, Mr. Dugan,
I think I'm gonna give
you just enough rope
to hang yourself.
There will be no
directed verdict.
If you've got something
else, it better be good.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
The defense recalls
Melissa Talbot.
- [Emmett] Melissa,
let me remind you
that you are still under oath.
- Okay, Melissa, please tell us
what happened to Blackfeather,
and to your family,
after the RV accident.
[siren wailing]
- [Melissa] The predicaments
the raven got himself into
would have been quite funny
had Blackfeather's playfulness
not been misunderstood
by a number of people.
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Blanche, look at that!
- Don't take that,
don't take that!
- I know we should have
kept possession of the bird.
Even the wild ones are
becoming a nuisance.
They're all varmints.
All right, all right.
Yeah, we'll take care
of it immediately.
Yes.
Thank you for calling, sir.
Right now it's over at the
grocery mart on Aurora.
- What are you gonna do, John?
- You'll find out.
- Please don't do
nothing stupid.
- George, do I look like I'm
gonna do something stupid?
[light orchestral music]
- [Melissa] It wasn't long
before word had spread.
This odd raven was considered
nothing less than a
feathered terrorist.
So, in the lovely human
tradition of destroying
what we don't understand
or can't control,
many felt the solution to
this problem was quite simple.
- The raven's got my glasses.
- All right, all right,
you just stay out of the way
and let us take care of it.
Everyone step back.
Everyone step back,
please step back.
- Lower your aim
just a little bit.
- All right, sir,
just step back.
[gun firing]
[Blackfeather caws]
- John, they are
federally protected.
- Now you've done it, George,
I won't be able to get
within a mile of him.
- He's joining a flock.
- He's making it easy.
They all roost together at
the old Laughlin warehouse
on Kinnick River Road.
- What are you
gonna do about it?
- You'll find out.
- I'll have nothing
to do with it.
- Okay George, suit yourself.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- [Melissa] You could
say that Officer Holt
was taking this whole
thing a bit personal.
Blackfeather had
made a fool of him,
and nobody, especially a bird,
was gonna get away with that.
[John murmuring]
[ravens cawing]
[ravens cawing]
Officer Holt had the county
condemn the abandoned warehouse
so he could carry out his plan.
What he did was very
stupid and very mean,
but Blackfeather would
outsmart him again.
[shed exploding]
[gun firing]
[explosion booming]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- John stop!
John don't!
[warehouse exploding]
[George screaming]
Why'd you do this?
- I'm not gonna let
some little black bird
who's out of control
make a fool out of me.
This is my solution
to the problem.
- They don't deserve this.
- Well, it's a little
late now, isn't it?
[chuckling]
Look, back off.
What I do on my own time
is none of your business.
- [Melissa] To George,
the crime his partner
had committed was
the worst imaginable.
His people considered the
raven a creature of holiness.
To destroy such a
life was unthinkable.
Fortunately, Holt
had underestimated
one member of the flock.
- [George] Blackfeather.
- [Melissa] I had no idea what
was happening to Blackfeather,
but for some reason
I felt strangely sad.
The doctors here said they'd
done all they could for me.
There had been so few options.
Maybe that was what was wrong.
School had started without me.
And I sure miss my friends.
Especially one certain friend.
[children laughing]
There were stories from
my school friends about
a mysterious raven who
made regular visits
to the school yard, and
did some incredible things.
We all knew who it was.
Although Blackfeather did get
into some mischief in town,
he did a lot of good things
that no one really knew about.
- [Kid] Hey Billy, see
if you can catch this.
[kid laughing]
[light orchestral music]
[gasping]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] I finally
got to go home.
Nothing more could be done by
the people at the hospital.
And that's when I began
to realize that now
it was up to me.
I could complain about
what was wrong in my life
and sit around feeling
sorry for myself
or I could focus on the good
and believe that somehow
I could make it even better.
It was just a
matter of believing.
- We really appreciate your
giving us a ride home, Sandra.
- I wouldn't miss this
homecoming for the world.
He doesn't know about
it yet, does he?
- Nope.
♪ Sometimes you see
♪ What's not in sight
♪ You know that everything
is going to be all right ♪
♪ It just takes hope
♪ When all seems lost
♪ To hold on to love
♪ No matter what the cost
♪ With every step
♪ You're growing strong
♪ You learn to take each fall
♪ And turn it into a song
♪ With every tear
♪ You've come so far
♪ You've realized just
how strong you are ♪
- [Melissa] My homecoming was
not quite what we expected.
I really thought he'd
be happier to see me.
[dramatic orchestral music]
Daddy wouldn't talk about
Blackfeather's disappearance.
I think he must have
started to like the raven
and was hurt when he flew away.
I figured he was always meant
to be wild, so I was happy
he was where he should be.
But every time I heard
a raven caw I couldn't
help but look up, hoping
it was Blackfeather,
and he'd come home.
But it never was.
Blackfeather never came back.
And as the days passed and
one season changed to another,
the loneliness,
and loss I felt for
his leaving got buried beneath
the mounting tension at home.
Money worries seemed to
overshadow everything.
By the time the snow
came, we were in danger
of losing everything.
Daddy went hunting
caribou for food
for the long winter ahead.
[engine revving]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[gun firing]
[grunting]
[engine revving]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Ray screaming]
[wings fluttering]
[gasping]
[dramatic orchestral music]
[keys jingling]
- Blackfeather?
[sighing]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] How
Blackfeather was able
to find those keys
in the wreckage is a
mystery to this day.
They might have been
knocked loose on impact.
Or perhaps his love
of shiny collectables
was so overpowering that picking
through a fried snowmobile
meant nothing to him.
However he'd managed it though,
it was obvious he considered
them the ultimate prize.
[ominous orchestral music]
[wolf growling]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Ray screaming]
[gasping]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[keys jingling]
Blackfeather finally came home.
And he was trying to
tell us something.
[Blackfeather caws]
Is that Blackfeather, mom?
- I don't know.
[keys jingling]
[dog whimpering]
What on earth?
That's Ray's!
[suspenseful orchestral music]
Come on, come on.
- It was sure lucky
that Miss Blakely
came over that day
to show us her sled dogs.
After mom and Miss Blakely
helped me into the dog sled
we took off to find daddy.
We were scared that something
terrible had happened.
We followed daddy's snowmobile
trail as far as we could.
And when the trail disappeared,
Blackfeather led the way.
[Blackfeather caws]
Follow him.
Follow him.
[dog barking]
That's it, come on.
There he is, there he is!
- [Patty] Whoa, whoa boys!
Whoa!
- [Melissa] Daddy!
- [Patty] That's it.
- [Melissa] Daddy!
Daddy, Daddy.
- [Patty] Ray.
Ray.
- I thought I saw,
I, I,
[dogs barking]
I thought I saw Blackfeather.
- [Sandra] Come on guys!
Yaa!
[dogs barking]
- [Melissa] We were so
happy to find daddy okay.
And Blackfeather had come back.
But there was still something
in store for us that day.
Something we'd never forget.
[dogs barking]
[dramatic orchestral music]
- Stop, stop, stop.
- Whoa, whoa!
Ray, what is it?
- [Ray] There's a spoon
in that tree back there.
- [Sandra] Oh, I see it.
- [Melissa] Hey, I see it, too.
- [Sandra] It's
more than a spoon.
- [Melissa] Sandra,
look up there.
[light orchestral music]
- [Patty] It's my necklace.
I don't believe it.
- What are you doing?
- [Patty] I'm gonna cut it down.
[chainsaw whirring]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- What is it?
Patty?
- [Melissa] Blackfeather
not only led us to daddy,
but also to his
secret hiding place,
the hollow tree where he
had hidden all the gold
that he had found.
He wanted us to have it.
- [Patty] Oh, be careful.
- [Ray] This must
be Blackfeather's.
- [Patty] Blackfeather's?
- [Sandra] It's a fortune.
- And I know who to thank.
- [Melissa] I do too, daddy.
- [Patty] This is wonderful.
[grand orchestral music]
- Thank you Melissa.
That was very helpful.
- Well how much gold was there?
And where is it now?
- Right here, Your Honor.
Government Exhibit A.
688.4 ounces.
Worth approximately $270,000.
- [Emmett] Just a sample,
Mr. Smith, that'll be enough.
- Uh, yes, Your Honor.
- Your Honor, a mining
claim has since been filed
for 160 acres in the name
of Ray and Patty Talbot,
pursuant to the
Mining Act of 1872.
- May I see that?
- [Clint] Sure.
- Thank You.
- Your Honor, this paperwork
makes no difference whatsoever.
The gold was found in
the hollow of a tree,
not extracted from the land
and is not subject
to a normal claim.
The gold clearly belongs
to the Government.
- This is not about paperwork.
This is, well we all
know what it's about.
It's about gold.
Lots of gold.
A lot more than what
was on this table,
and the claim for that gold
has been clearly
established when that raven
took this gold and
Patty's necklace and
put it in that tree.
- Your Honor, Melissa's
hearsay testimony
does not constitute
proof of any kind.
The defense has not
shown this court
any evidence that the
bird ever had anything
to do with the gold at all.
- Not yet.
- Not yet?
- Uh, we have one more witness.
The defense would like to
call Professor Ernest C. Byrd.
Noted author and
ornithological authority.
- Objection, Your Honor.
This witness plays no role
in the material
facts of the case.
Defense has stipulated
to the charges.
The law is clear.
What's the point?
- May I remind the
court that this,
[sighing]
at the heart of this case,
it is a human thing.
The love of a young girl
for her beloved pet.
We are here to
seek out the truth.
To find compassionate justice,
not mere blind
compliance to the law.
And this witness can
help us find that truth.
- Mr. Dugan is
belaboring this issue.
Let us not forget the fact
that had this been a bear,
or a cougar, or some other
wild animal that had endangered
human lives that animal would
have already been destroyed.
- This is not just
another wild animal.
[sighing]
It is a very special being.
Mr. Byrd can help
us establish that.
- Sit, Miss Brown.
All right, Mr. Dugan, you
can call your witness.
Please take a seat and
raise your right hand, sir.
You solemnly swear
to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth
so help you God.
- Naturally I do.
- [Emmett] Well, state your
full name and your credentials.
- Ernest Byrd.
I'm a professor of ornithology.
I've written many books
about our feathered friends,
and a couple about ravens.
- Please, uh, acquaint the court
with the nature of ravens.
- Well the raven is a
member of the crow family.
It is much bigger than the crow,
which gives it its
imposing presence.
It is known as the
brains of the bird world,
because it's very intelligent
and, uh, very clever.
It has a wider variety
of calls than, well,
wider than any animal
in the kingdom,
except for humans, of course.
And in the wild, for
example, when you hear
[hooting]
that, you might think is
an owl, or perhaps the, um,
[imitating bird cry]
that could be the
spotted grouse.
Unless you see that
bird with your own eyes
because it could be our
friend, mister raven,
who can mimic many, many
sounds in the animal kingdom.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Ernest whistling]
[Blackfeather whistling]
[blowing lips]
[Blackfeather
imitating lips blowing]
[laughing]
[chittering]
[Blackfeather chittering]
[Emmett cawing]
[Blackfeather caws]
[all laughing]
You see, Judge,
they're very social,
very adaptable creatures.
They just make
wonderful companions.
They live to be about
70-years-old or so,
and they have a hobby.
They love to collect things.
Bright shiny things they love.
Oh, these are remarkable
little fellows.
[chuckling]
- Is there, uh, any
particular significance
between ravens and people.
- Significance?
Oh yes they do, indeed.
Did you know that it was
the raven that Noah sent
from the ark to see if
the rains had stopped?
I bet you didn't.
And also the American Indians
thought that the raven,
well, had the souls
of their ancestors.
They regard the
raven as guardians.
- Objection, Your Honor.
I love folklore just as
much as the next person,
but I fail to see
the relevancy here.
- [Emmett] Are you
going somewhere
with this soon, Mr. Dugan?
- Yes, Your Honor.
A little more indulgence please.
Professor Byrd, in your expert
opinion, is it possible for
Blackfeather to have developed
a bond or relationship
with Melissa?
- Oh, don't you know it.
You see, ravens mate for
life, unlike us fickle humans.
And they often bond
with people for life.
One person, one raven.
They like to bear rewards and
protect that special person,
and for Blackfeather,
I think that Melissa
is that very special person.
This relationship
is very unique,
one that's never happened to me.
- Ernest, are you
making all this up?
- Oh no, I could demonstrate
this if the court is willing.
- Now how could you
possibly do that?
- Release Blackfeather right
here and he'll show you.
- I call for the immediate
release of the bird, uh, raven.
- Objection, Your Honor!
It seems Mr. Dugan wants to
erect a circus tent and have us
all blithely follow him inside
to applaud this sideshow.
- [Emmett] Overruled.
I haven't been to the
circus in a while.
All right, Mr. Dugan,
release the defendant.
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Oh, Blackfeather, I love you.
[Blackfeather caws]
Oh, Blackfeather.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Your Honor, it
should be obvious, even
to the prosecution,
that to deprive this young
girl of her beloved pet
would be nothing short of
cruel and unusual punishment.
These two have a special bond.
I refer you to
Kings, Chapter 17,
verses two through six.
"And the word of the
Lord came unto Elijah,
"I have ordered the
ravens to feed you."
- "So he did what
the Lord had told him
"and the ravens brought
him bread and meat."
Yes, that's not exactly the
way it appears in Kings,
but your point will be noted.
I'm ready to pronounce judgment.
Will the defendants please rise?
[Blackfeather caws]
- Judge, can I say
something first?
- Very well, Mr. Talbot.
- I don't care about
the gold, Judge.
All I want is for Melissa
to have her pet raven back.
She hasn't fully recovered
because Blackfeather
hasn't been around.
And I haven't been
a very good father.
But I realize now how much
the raven means to her.
Please, Judge, find it in your
heart to give Blackfeather
back to my little girl.
Melissa,
I made some big
mistakes, and I am sorry,
but I'll make it up to
you honey, I promise.
- [Melissa] Daddy.
I love you, daddy.
- [Ray] I love you, too.
[sobbing]
- Thanks for your
thoughts, Mr. Talbot.
Now I'm gonna give you mine.
I'm very concerned with the
evidence presented here today.
The laws of this
country are precious.
And I'm sworn to uphold the law.
[sighing]
Regardless of what the
media reports, it is the law
that makes us safe at night.
We cannot trifle with the law.
There is a law, however, that
dates back to old England.
It's a law called
Treasure Trove.
Or sometimes known
as Finders, Keepers.
Now I find that it applies here.
Therefore, I rule the gold
belongs to the finder,
[Blackfeather caws]
Blackfeather.
And it is to be
managed by the Talbots.
Now I further find that
the claim of 160 acres
to be a valid claim,
provided that they build
and maintain a sanctuary
thereupon for birds.
[Blackfeather caws]
The raven, Blackfeather,
has taught us all
something here today
that's very important.
All of us on this planet
are one, under God.
A young girl nearly died
trying to save a raven.
In turn, that
raven has protected
and rewarded the girl's family.
The court shall not interfere
lightly with the extraordinary
bond between this
raven and Melissa.
It is stated in the 91st Psalm,
verse Four, "He shall cover
thee with his feathers.
"And under his wings
shall thou trust."
I therefore rule that
Blackfeather is to be returned
to Melissa and her parents.
It must be kept out
in the wilderness,
out of the city, where
he can be a pest.
I don't want him back in
my courtroom ever again.
This hearing is over.
[gavel banging]
- [Patty] Yes!
[Patty laughing]
- I didn't think you even
owned a Bible, Dugan.
- It's a pretty good read.
You ought to try it some time.
I'll, uh, loan
you mine any time.
- [Dan] Hey, where'd you
get that Bible quote?
- Laptop.
[laughing]
- Laptop.
[grand orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Clint] We can
learn from this raven.
Often, it is just a question
of watching and waiting.
We never know what might happen.
- [Melissa] Once I
made a full recovery,
Blackfeather went
away for a while.
Only to return to our bird
sanctuary with a mate.
Now there are two
ravens in our lives.
And who knows?
Maybe there's a baby
Blackfeather in our future.
Only God and the Northern
Lights know for sure.
[grand orchestral music]
[grand orchestral music]
[blowing lips]
[Blackfeather caws]
[gavel banging]
[Blackfeather caws]
♪ Sometimes you see
what's not in sight ♪
♪ You know that everything
is going to be all right ♪
♪ It just takes hope
♪ When all seems lost
♪ To hold on to love
♪ No matter what the cost
♪ With every step
♪ You're growing strong
♪ You learn to take each fall
♪ And turn it into a song
♪ With every tear
♪ You've come so far
♪ You've realized just
how strong you are ♪
♪ And little did you know
♪ You'd be the light
for someone else ♪
♪ Shining with unfailing love
♪ To help them
through this test ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ To bring back the look
of love to their face ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ Bring back the
love to their face ♪
♪ Sometimes the weak
are really the strong ♪
♪ It doesn't matter
if you're old ♪
♪ Or you're young
♪ When life gets tough
♪ Riding the winds on a storm
♪ We'll hold you up and
bring you safely home ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ To bring back the look
of love to their face ♪
♪ All the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ Bring back the love
♪ To their face
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
[wind howling]
[light orchestral music]
- [Clint] Nature teaches us
wondrous lessons
about ourselves.
It is often full of surprises.
This is a tale of one of
its little known heroes,
a trickster called the raven.
Scholars label it the
brains of the bird world.
It is so clever,
social and adaptable
that it's almost human.
We can learn from this raven.
Often it is just a question
of watching and waiting.
We never know what might happen.
[grand orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
- [Matt] With your
morning cup of coffee,
Matt McCord on FM 94, KJOX.
It's another glorious,
sunny day in the Rose City.
We're waiting and watching
with the rest of the nation
and all its animals for
today's controversial
raven hearing at the
Department of the Interior.
Millionaire buckskin lawyer,
Clint Dugan is in town
to defend animal rights and
the little girl, Melissa,
whose pet bird, Blackfeather,
has been held by the Feds
for mischievous conduct.
Now that's a real
jailbird for ya.
[typewriter keys clacking]
Judge Battle has ordered
a media blackout,
but our inside sources
will keep us posted.
Hey, that's our topic.
Do we have a caller?
Caller, you're on the air
with Mad Matt in the Morning.
[line beeping]
- [Woman] I don't get it.
Spotted owls, ravens.
Hey, why don't they stay in
the woods where they belong?
Why waste our time and
money on these loony animals
that don't belong
in our backyards.
[line beeping]
- [Matt] Right, maybe
we need public enemies.
Might as well go after the
bears, cougars, and ravens
that can't defend themselves.
Next caller, you're on line
three, go ahead, 94 FM.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[breathing heavily]
- Mr. Dugan?
- Mr. Carey, I presume.
- Uh, I'm, I'm sorry I'm late.
I had, I had a little
problem with the bike.
Oh, I'll be dressed in a second.
- Well, the great Clint Dugan.
I heard you might show up.
- Why, hello, Morgan.
Didn't expect to see you here.
- Well, catch up on the news
and I'll see you inside.
- Good luck to you, Morgan.
- Keep your luck, counselor,
you're gonna need it.
- What was that all about?
- Trouble.
Why didn't you warn me?
- Well, I, I, she was a
last minute substitution
from San Francisco.
Who is she, anyway?
- An enforcer for
the Ninth Circuit.
Someone high up wants
to win this case.
- Are you worried?
[laughing]
Well, 'cause if, you know,
if, if you're worried,
then, you know, I'm worried.
- Are we all right, then?
- Patty, Melissa, Ray,
I want you to meet
Mr. Clint Dugan.
- Thank you, Mr.
Dugan, for coming.
We need you.
- Well, actually, you're
in pretty good hands
with Dan Carey here.
I'm just along to
help out a little bit.
Hello, Melissa.
It's nice to meet you.
- I knew you'd come.
- Somehow I didn't
think you'd show.
One of the most famous
lawyers in the country,
I didn't think
you'd care about us.
- The only way to get
him to stop calling me.
He must've called me 100 times,
telling me about
a mysterious raven
who saved lives
and the young girl
who loved the rare bird.
Very intriguing.
- Well, thanks, Mr. Dugan.
She really loves that bird.
- Thank you.
- Hmm.
- [Woman] All rise.
Court is now in session,
the Honorable Judge Emmett
G. Battle, presiding.
- Good morning
ladies and gentlemen,
please be seated.
- Good morning, Your Honor.
- We're assembled for the
administrative hearing
in the matter of the
Department of the Interior
versus Talbot and
Blackfeather, et al.
The same rules apply
here as in open court.
Is that understood?
This is a closed hearing.
I barred the press to keep this
matter from becoming a zoo.
I'm not interested in publicity.
I'm interested in
upholding the law.
Now I direct you
to Proverbs 28:4.
- Buckle up, here we go.
- "Anyone who turns a
deaf ear to the law,
"even his prayers
are detestable."
Now let that be your
guidepost for this proceeding.
Is the government
ready, Miss Brown?
- We are, Your Honor.
- And the defense?
- Clint Dugan for the
defense, Your Honor.
I believe you know Dan Carey,
the defense attorney of record.
Yes, I know Mr. Carey.
And I know who you
are, Mr. Dugan.
Is the defense ready to proceed?
- Frankly, Your Honor,
I don't see how we can.
The most important party
to these proceedings
is not present.
- And who might
that be, Mr. Dugan?
- Why, Blackfeather, of course.
The raven who stands to lose
his life in these proceedings.
Under the Constitution,
the defendant is entitled
to face his accusers
in a court of law.
[scoffing]
- Objection, Your Honor,
this is a bird, not a person.
- Counselor, it is not
a bird, it is a raven.
A distinction,
which we will show,
is very important
to our defense.
- Your Honor, Mr.
Dugan's request is
completely out of line.
He mocks the court with
this capricious attempt
to shift the focus from the
material facts of this case.
- I assure you I could
not be more serious.
This raven has been
incarcerated for 13 months
and kept away from his family.
Now, if Your Honor does not
wish to see years of appeals,
the raven must be present.
- Don't threaten me, Mr. Dugan.
Is the raven here?
- Uh, yes, Your Honor.
Fish and Game have
him downstairs.
- [Emmett] Well let's
bring him up here ASAP.
- Your Honor, I, uh,
I know of no precedent
where, uh, for animals--
- [Emmett] Are you
questioning me, Mr. Smith?
- Uh, no, Your Honor.
I'll get the raven
right away, Your Honor.
- In the meantime, can
we proceed, if there are
no further objections?
Are there any, Mr. Dugan?
- Not at this time, Your Honor.
- [Emmett] Oh, good.
All right, Miss Brown, proceed.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
In the matter of the
Department of the Interior
versus Talbot, Blackfeather,
et al, the following charges
have been filed
against the defendants.
One, through wanton
and reckless trespass,
the bird named Blackfeather
companioned by
the Talbot family,
has directly, or indirectly,
caused several serious accidents
endangering human lives.
Thus, said bird is deemed
to be a public nuisance
and must be destroyed.
Two, resulting from
said bird's actions,
a considerable amount of
gold ore has been removed
from Federal land illegally
and it has been found
to be in the possession
of the Talbot family.
- Do you understand the
charges against you?
How do you plead?
- Not guilty, Your Honor.
- The Government
calls Melissa Talbot.
[Blackfeather caws]
[light orchestral music]
- Blackfeather!
Judge, may I please
say hello to him?
Please?
- [Emmett] Very well,
but let's make it fast.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Hey, Blackfeather,
how are you?
[Blackfeather caws]
Hey cutie, I missed you.
- Okay, let's not make this
more of a distraction
than necessary.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
Now Melissa, you can
testify from right there.
Raise your right hand, please.
Do you solemnly swear
to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
- I do.
- State your full
name and your age.
- Melissa Ann Talbot,
I'm 13-years-old.
- Hi, Melissa.
Are you comfortable?
Do you need any water?
You're kind of nervous, huh?
That's okay.
All I want you to do is
just tell everybody here,
in your own words, how
all of this got started.
[chimes ringing]
[wind howling]
- [Melissa] There was
a raven who had a home
not far from our home.
And even though it flew
over our place almost
every day, no one ever
noticed it except me.
[light orchestral music]
[raven caws]
The raven had a nest with
a baby, high in a tree.
That baby was Blackfeather.
[raven caws]
- Melissa!
Melissa?
Melissa?
- What?
- [Ray] I'm calling and calling,
it's like you can't hear me.
I need some more nails.
- [Melissa] Where are they?
- [Ray] They're right down
by the door to the basement.
- [Melissa] All
right, I'm coming.
[exhaling]
[raven caws]
- [Ray] Come on,
Melissa, keep it moving.
Time is money.
We don't get paid
for daydreaming.
- It's the same one.
- Same what?
- Same raven.
Every time it flies by it
makes that same funny call.
It's like grandma
with a bad cough.
It's weird.
- [Ray] Is that right?
- [Melissa] I wonder why he's
always hanging around here.
- I want you to get the paint
and work on the sign again.
- I knew you were
gonna say that.
- [Ray] Well, we've
got to get it finished.
The sooner, the better.
I want you to keep
an eye on the llamas,
they've been straying lately.
You hear me?
[helicopter whirring]
[raven caws]
[ominous orchestral music]
- [Melissa] There was danger
everywhere in the wilderness,
from both predators and man.
As Blackfeather's
mother soon found out.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[bird thudding]
Because we lived so far out,
people rarely
stopped by to see us.
And they never came
in helicopters.
So that should have been
all the more reason to be
excited about this visit.
But for some reason,
these smiling visitors
made me feel uneasy,
especially the one in the hat.
- Hey, Ray, how are you?
Good to see you again.
- [Ray] You too, how you doing?
- Good.
- Hi, George.
- Hi.
- You made a lot of
progress here, I see.
- Yeah.
- So you're still glad
you moved up here, then?
- Well there's no
turning back now.
[chuckling]
- I see you've got
yourself a little helper
since school got out.
- [Ray] And Melissa,
get back to work, okay?
- How's Patty?
- Ah, the wife's
working in town, now.
It's been harder than I thought.
I hope to have the place up and
running before fall, though,
if I can scrape
together enough money.
She should be home soon.
You guys want to come
in for a cup of coffee?
- No, that's okay,
that's okay, Ray, thanks.
I got a lot lined up today.
I just wanted to swing by
up here, and warn you about
a grizzly that's been shot
in this area, it's wounded.
It's probably a sow with cubs.
The hunter couldn't get off
another shot before it attacked.
He got chewed up pretty bad.
- [Ray] Geez.
- The doctors don't even
think he's gonna make it
so you just report in to us if
you see anything suspicious.
Why don't you get a phone up
here so I can give you a call.
- Yeah.
- All right?
Okay.
Oh, by the way, I hit a raven
on the way up here.
Yeah, the darn things
usually get out of the way,
you know what I mean?
[chuckling]
- Hey John, you should be
careful about those ravens.
They bring us bad luck.
- Now George, that's all
stories, superstition,
you know that.
Ray, we'll see you later.
- Oh yeah, thanks for coming.
- You keep your eyes open.
- Will do.
- [Melissa] That was the day
I learned that Blackfeather
became an orphan.
- [George] John, don't
make fun of those ravens.
- [John] Now George, now
don't worry about it.
I told you they're
stories and superstition.
You got nothing to worry about.
[John laughing]
- [Ray] Melissa,
that's coming along.
- [Melissa] Do you like it?
- The T's kind of big, but...
[helicopter whirring]
Come on, you can help
me clear some branches.
- Don't you want me to finish?
- Nah, first I want to
finish cutting the logs
for the third tourist cabin.
Otherwise that sign's
not gonna do us any good.
- [Melissa] Daddy
never wasted time
saying please when
asking me to help him.
In fact, he never asked
me to do anything.
He just ordered.
- [Ray] Come on.
- [Melissa] I was probably
the only kid in America
who looked forward to
going back to school.
- Now that's one of the
trees I tagged last winter.
- [Melissa] That's a big tree.
- [Ray] There's enough
lumber in that one
to frame a new cabin.
[light orchestral music]
[chainsaw whirring]
[Blackfeather caws]
- I was sure it was
the raven's nest,
and daddy was going
to destroy it.
I had to tell him.
Daddy, daddy, there's a nest.
- Melissa, get
back, get back now.
Go!
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Ray grunting]
Melissa!
[Melissa grunting]
- [Melissa] Daddy!
[Melissa screaming]
[tree thudding]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- Melissa?
[Melissa groaning]
Melissa!
Melissa!
Melissa, are you okay?
Melissa!
No, no, no, no!
[screaming]
Melissa?
Melissa!
- [Melissa] The nest, daddy.
The nest.
- The nest?
[Blackfeather caws]
It's okay, honey.
It's right here.
It's right by your leg.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Chainsaw.
The chainsaw.
[grunting]
I'll be back honey,
I'm going to get help.
[Ray screaming]
[truck crashing]
[electricity crackling]
[Ray grunting]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- [DJ] A little warming
trend this afternoon,
a chance of showers later--
[radio tuning]
[light rock music]
- [Ray] Patty!
- What in heaven's name?
- [Ray] It's Melissa,
she's pinned under a tree.
I pray to God we can save
her while there's still time.
- Oh my God.
- [Ray] My other
chainsaw's in the back.
Let's go.
[chainsaw whirring]
- Melissa, can you hear me?
Ray, I got her.
I got her.
[Blackfeather caws]
You're gonna be okay,
you're gonna be okay.
Melissa, can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
[dramatic orchestral music]
[Patty sobbing]
- Three weeks later
I came home from the hospital.
And I still couldn't
move my legs.
The doctors weren't sure
that I would ever be able
to walk again.
I was glad to have a new
friend to cheer me up.
He was kind of noisy
and he ate all the time,
but that didn't matter much.
He was always making
mom and me laugh.
Mom, I think he's ready.
- [Patty] Okay, honey.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] He's
gonna like this.
- [Patty] I hope
it's not too cold.
- [Melissa] Come on, come on.
[both laughing]
- [Patty] He really is cute.
- You gotta see this.
- Yeah, yeah, let, let me
get the phone hooked up.
- [Melissa] Daddy, he's
gonna quit doing it.
[Patty laughing]
- Mom, I want to get out.
I think the raven does too.
- [Patty] Oh, that sounds
like a good idea, honey.
The sun will do you some good.
Ray, could you help?
- [Ray] Patty, I got
to get back to work.
- Please, Ray.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Ray] All right.
- Thank you, daddy.
- [Ray] Yeah, don't mention it.
- [Melissa] My father's
dislike of the raven got worse.
He seemed angry and
distant toward me and mom.
I just kept hoping
I'd get better so he'd
stop being mad all the time.
Mom, on the other hand, grew
to like raven more and more.
I think she knew how important
this friendship was to me.
Mom, this is good.
- [Patty] Call when
you want to come in.
- Thanks, mom.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather chirping]
The raven had become
my very best friend.
I think he somehow
understood what I was
going through, you know,
with daddy not really
loving me and all.
[Blackfeather caws]
The raven, on the other
hand, was always showing me
that he loved me,
no matter what.
Hey, that tickles.
[ominous orchestral music]
Don't go far.
You can't fly yet.
[sighing]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
No!
Mom!
No, no!
No!
No!
Get away!
No!
Mom!
[screaming]
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
[screaming]
Get away!
Mom!
Get away!
Mom!
Awwww!
[fox whimpering]
- Melissa, Melissa!
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] The fox attack
had really scared me.
First, because I'd almost
lost my best friend,
and I couldn't bear
the thought of that.
And second, because
I'd hurt myself
even more when I fell
out of my wheelchair.
Things just seemed to be
getting worse and worse.
Except for my raven's
appetite, of course.
It just got better and better.
He never seemed to let
anything bother him.
Almost like he knew.
- [Patty] Melissa?
- [Melissa] Hi, mom.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Patty] How are you feeling?
- I named him Blackfeather.
- [Patty] Blackfeather?
- He responds to it, too.
It's better than going
glock-glock all the time.
- [Patty] Good
night, sleep well.
- [Melissa] Good
night, mom, Love you.
[dramatic orchestral music]
[footsteps approaching]
- How's she doing?
- Well, it wouldn't hurt
if you spent a little
more time with her.
That way you'd know
how she's doing.
- Are you gonna let her
keep that stupid bird?
I'm finding bird doo-doo
all over the place.
The darn thing stinks.
- That bird has a name.
She named it Blackfeather.
- [Ray] Yeah.
- That raven keeps her from
worrying about herself, Ray.
I want her to be put
back in the hospital.
She hurt herself again
today when she fell.
- [Ray] We're broke.
I can't even pay for the
existing medical bills.
- [Patty] I just pray to God
that she won't be
permanently paralyzed.
- Yeah.
- You've always been selfish.
I thought that when
you married me,
that you'd accepted Melissa
as your own daughter.
But instead you treat
her like some hired hand,
like your own personal grunt.
She needs to be allowed
to be a child, too.
- [Melissa] I think it was
the first big fight my parents
ever really had.
I'd never seen my mom get
mad about anything before.
But being an amateur didn't
seem to matter to her,
'cause it was real
obvious who lost.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Patty] Hi, Sandra.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Bye, daddy.
I'll be back soon.
I just, I just know I will.
By the time I get back,
Blackfeather will think
you're his mommy instead of me.
- Well, I think he'll remember.
And like you said,
you'll be back soon.
- [Melissa] It had to be one
of the worst days of my life.
I ached from head to toe
and I was going back
to the hospital.
My father would
barely speak to me,
and I had to leave
Blackfeather behind.
You could say I was
a little depressed.
- [Patty] Goodbye, Ray.
I'll try and call when I can.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] Goodbye, daddy.
Leaving Blackfeather
with my father was the
hardest thing to do.
'Cause I knew how much
he didn't like the raven,
but daddy had promised
me he'd take care of him.
So I figured everything
would be okay.
Guess I should have
found out exactly
what he meant by take care of.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Get lost, I fed
you an hour ago.
Beat it.
[light orchestral music]
You just never give up, do you?
Want some more?
[Blackfeather caws]
Hey what's my payback, huh?
[grunting]
[elevator dinging]
- [Nurse] Patty.
Hi, Patty.
- [Patty] Hi.
- Listen, Melissa's all
settled into her bed now.
She's fine for now.
The doctor wants to
run a series of X-rays.
This will give us a crystal
clear picture of the exact
extent of nerve damage
that Melissa has suffered.
- So we should know
by tomorrow if she'll
be all right then?
Her chances are
good, aren't they?
- I hope so.
[dramatic orchestral music]
- [Melissa] The doctor made
everything sound kinda hopeless,
the way doctors
can sometimes do.
And mom didn't take it too well.
That day is not one
of my better memories.
[telephone ringing]
- [Ray] Hi, this is Ray Talbot.
Leave a message.
[answering machine beeping]
- [Patty] Ray, I just
talked to Melissa's doctor.
She's not doing well at all.
Ray, there's a 50-50 chance
she'll never walk again.
She may be in the
hospital 60 to 90 days.
Please call the hospital.
I need to talk to you.
I know the costs will
be hard to handle.
Bye.
[phone clicking]
- [Melissa] One of daddy's
most endearing habits was
the way he blamed everybody
and everything else
for his own mistakes.
So, who could be surprised
when he put all the blame
for this mess on Blackfeather.
[dramatic orchestral music]
Not a day went by
that I didn't think
about Blackfeather and daddy.
In a book about ravens
which Nurse Blakely gave me,
it said, among other things,
how adult ravens were playful
to the point of mischievous
and that they loved to pluck
bright and shiny objects.
This sort of made me worry.
Blackfeather would be
almost full grown by now
and I couldn't see
daddy's quick temper
and a playful feathered pack rat
being a very good combination,
even in the best of times.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Pencil, pencil.
I can't find anything.
[upbeat orchestral music]
All right, you played
your little joke.
Give it to me.
I'm gonna count to three.
One.
Two.
You feathered maggot.
[Blackfeather chirps]
[Blackfeather caws]
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
You!
[ominous orchestral music]
Get out!
Go on, get out!
Go on!
Beat it!
[quirky orchestral music]
Not my nails!
Drop it!
This is it.
I've had it.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather chirps]
Huh?
Not my cigarette.
Why you!
Drop it!
Gimme that!
Drop it!
[grunting]
No!
[shed exploding]
That was my last cigarette.
What the...
[suspenseful orchestral music]
Where are you?
Come on out!
[growling]
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] Finally,
daddy's curious behavior
caused the raven to look for
other forms of entertainment.
He left the homestead
for long periods
to explore the wilderness,
make new discoveries,
and face other dangers.
Shiny things always
caught Blackfeather's
eye and when he saw
a gold nugget in the stream,
he just couldn't resist,
no matter what the danger.
[ominous orchestral music]
[wolf growling]
[wolf whimpering]
[light orchestral music]
Always ready to forgive,
Blackfeather returned
home time and again,
because home was
where he was happiest.
Unlike the raven, my
father rarely forgave
and he never forgot.
Unknown to any of us,
Blackfeather had a
secret place all his own.
A place he could decorate
with all the sparkling
treasures he collected.
A place he could go to escape
daddy's temper tantrums.
A throne from which he
could view his kingdom
in perfect safety.
It wasn't part of the plan
that daddy should find
this place, however,
so Blackfeather decided to
undecorate very quickly.
- What's the matter?
Cat got your tongue?
Got something to hide?
Huh?
[Blackfeather chirps]
[Blackfeather caws]
[gun firing]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[gun firing]
[gun firing]
- [Melissa] Firing the shotgun
seemed to drain the
rage out of my father.
A little voice within him
grew louder and louder
and he began to regret
letting his temper
get the best of him.
Especially when he discovered
one of his pot shots
may have hit Blackfeather.
[dramatic orchestral music]
After the shooting incident,
Blackfeather chose to make
the hollow tree his new home.
Only trouble was, all his
beautiful shiny things
were way down inside the tree.
Obviously, a major redecorating
effort was in order.
[grunting]
During one of his outings,
the raven decided to make
a detour into our yard.
As I said before, he was
a very forgiving raven.
- Now what are you up to?
- [Melissa] The sight of
those shiny lug nuts helped
Blackfeather to
forgive even faster.
[quirky orchestral music]
Caught up in the excitement of
finding a bright new plaything,
the raven let his guard down.
For a brief and
uncharacteristic moment,
daddy remembered the
promise he had made me,
which was just enough time
for Blackfeather to exchange
one toy for another while
making a spectacular escape.
Blackfeather never understood
why my father got
so mad whenever they
were playing games.
[phone ringing]
- Department of Fish
and Game, Holt speaking.
- Hi, John, it's Ray Talbot.
John, I've got a little problem.
Actually, it's a, a raven,
my little girl raised it
as a pet, and frankly,
[sighing]
this thing is ruining my life.
- Oh, come on, Ray.
A raven?
Come on.
- No, now this raven
is more dangerous
than any wounded grizzly bear.
That thing hospitalized
my daughter, all right?
It caused me to wreck my truck,
almost another one nearly
killed me, blew up my garage,
stole half my silverware,
God knows what else.
And now it's got my truck keys!
All right, now doggone it,
John, you've gotta help me.
- Ravens are a varmint.
Shoot it.
- I tried that.
That's not an option anymore.
Look, you're Fish and Game,
can't you just confiscate
it or something?
- Well, technically,
ravens are classified
as migratory birds.
And legally, you ought
to have a license
before keeping one in captivity.
Hang on a second.
- That's it, that's it.
I don't have any permits.
- Well is it caged, Mr. Talbot?
- For Pete's sake, John,
just, come and get it,
all right, before this
place looks like a war zone.
- Okay, well just catch it
and I'll come up
there later today.
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Ray] Where are you?
Come on out.
[Blackfeather chirping]
- [Melissa] The
raven, of course,
sensed that daddy
was up to something.
But the sight of
polished silverware was
just too much to resist.
[quirky orchestral music]
- [Ray] That's it.
[grunting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[light orchestral music]
Yes!
Ha-ha-ha, woo!
- [Melissa] This time
it looked like daddy
had finally won the game.
Only daddy wasn't
playing a game.
And by the time Blackfeather
figured this out,
he was in a whole
lot of trouble.
- You know what they say, Ray.
Don't screw with mother nature.
- So, what are you
gonna do with him
when you get him back to town?
Twist his head off?
- Unfortunately, not right away.
No.
It just so happens,
there's a TV personality
coming into town in
a couple of days.
He's part of a remote live
broadcast, a news magazine.
He called the department
the other day.
Said he was looking for
tame, orphaned animals
to use in his broadcast.
So, we'll let him use the bird.
And then I'll dispose of it.
- One less headache for me.
- Whatever.
I'll see you around, Ray.
[laughing]
[engine revving]
- [Ray] What a relief.
- But it wasn't a
relief to Blackfeather.
Being put in a box and all.
He didn't know what to expect.
It turned out to be
just the first time
that Fish and Game
took Blackfeather away.
The trouble really
started when Blackfeather
went into town.
[dramatic news jingle]
- [Announcer] Up next,
KNK's live news hour.
The show that takes you
someplace new every day.
- [Woman] You can do it.
Come here.
He doesn't like this.
- Come on, there's eight million
people watching this show.
- [Woman] Come on, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
- [Terrence] Hold still.
- [Woman] Come on, come on.
- [Terrence] Ow, ow!
- [Man] Come on.
- Four, three, two.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
we are excited to be
broadcasting live outside
of Anchorage, Alaska
in this beautiful and very
unpredictable weather.
One of our guests is
now making his arrival.
And welcome Terrence and
his pet raven, Blackfeather.
That's wonderful.
- [Terrence] Thanks, Debbie.
Ow, ow!
- Wow!
- [Terrence] This is
a North American, ow.
- That's, you all right?
- [Terrence] North American
raven it's found here in
Alaska and in northern Canada.
[Blackfeather caws]
Ravens are considered sacred
by many cultures worldwide.
And many native people
in the north believe
these to be endowed with
supernatural powers.
- [Debbie] Is that right?
- [Terrence] They can
be very affectionate
and they can bring good luck
to people they decide to like.
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!
- A beautiful bird.
- [Terrence] Whoa, whoa!
There you go, ow!
- [Debbie] Is it
something you said?
- [Terrence] Well, I guess so.
Geez, you know they have
incredible memories.
They're considered to have
the IQ of a 10-year-old.
- Larry, ow!
- [Terrence] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- [Debbie] Get it away from me!
[screaming]
Get that thing away.
- Go to commercial, now!
- Somebody help!
Larry!
Ugh!
This is a fiasco!
Brilliant idea, Larry.
You know I almost got my
eye pecked out up there?
- You were sensational.
[Debbie screaming]
Our viewership is gonna
pull through the roof.
[light orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] While Blackfeather
wasn't one to hold grudges,
he was certainly able to
learn from his experiences.
He hadn't like that cage, or
the rough way those people
had handled him, so he
wouldn't allow himself
to be caught again.
He realized how important
his freedom was,
only after he had lost it.
[dramatic orchestral music]
But his nature was
friendly and forgiving.
And just because daddy
had put him in a box,
didn't mean all humans
would try to do so.
Being selective was the key.
Being selective and
having pretty toys.
[dog barking]
- [Annie] Ahh.
Come back.
Come back, birdie.
[dog barking]
Give me my toy back.
- Annie?
Annie!
Annie!
[dog barking]
Annie!
Annie!
Annie!
Annie!
- [Annie] Give me my toy.
[all shouting]
- [Woman] Watch the
road, watch the road!
Don't go in the ditch!
[shouting]
[woman shouting]
- [Woman] Let me outta here.
[shouting]
[man shouting]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[RV exploding]
[laughing]
- Oh, Annie, thank
God you're safe.
- May I have a glass
of water now, please?
- Of course you may.
So tell me, Melissa,
was Blackfeather blamed
for that RV accident?
- He didn't do it.
- I know, but was he blamed?
Just yes or no.
- Yes.
- Objection.
Badgering the witness.
- [Emmett] Overruled.
- Your Honor,
since it is obvious
the witness is tired
and far from finished.
I move that we
continue after lunch.
- Very well, counselor,
if the prosecution
has no objection.
- No objections, Your Honor.
- This hearing stands
in recess until two p.m.
[gavel banging]
- Here you go, sweetheart.
- Thank you.
- You bet.
Now Melissa, when
you go back in there
you're gonna have to
testify some more.
Are you gonna be okay?
- Sure.
- Good girl.
[blowing]
- [Melissa] Dan?
- [Dan] Mm-hmm.
- Why do they wanna
hurt Blackfeather?
He's just a raven.
- One word, precedent.
The law is based on precedent.
If your raven goes unregulated
then other animals,
wild animals, like cougars
or bears, can go unregulated.
And somehow that could affect
the hunting and fishing laws
and that's a pretty big
thing in this country.
- Well, that doesn't
make any sense.
- Makes sense to the government.
That's why we have to
convince this judge
to act from his heart,
not just parrot the law.
No pun intended.
[laughing]
- So, how do you think
we're doing so far?
- Well, so far we're
helping them win their case.
Now, I'm trying to
access some ammunition.
But this expensive doorstop
here just won't cooperate.
My secretary, she talked me
into bringing this along.
Said it would make
things easier,
but it just keeps fighting back.
- Here, I know how
to work one of those.
My girlfriend has
one just like it.
What do you want it to do?
[chuckling]
- Boy, the world
sure is changing.
Okay.
Here's what I need.
[gavel banging]
- All right, ladies
and gentlemen, we're
back in session.
Let's proceed with
the government's case.
- That won't be
necessary, Your Honor.
[clearing throat]
The defense stipulates
to all charges.
We admit the bird has
been a public nuisance
and that gold was taken
from federal land.
- Then the defense calls
for a directed verdict
in its favor at this
point, Your Honor,
because it's warranted--
- Directed verdict?
- Motion is denied, Mr. Carey.
I don't know what
you boys are up to,
but I'm not gonna let you
make a joke of this hearing.
- We also strenuously object
to this ploy by Mr. Dugan.
This stipulation exemplifies
his usual courtroom
prestidigitation.
- Overruled, Miss Brown.
I'm gonna allow the stipulation
on all charges for expediency.
The government's
case is at rest now.
And you, Mr. Dugan,
I think I'm gonna give
you just enough rope
to hang yourself.
There will be no
directed verdict.
If you've got something
else, it better be good.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
The defense recalls
Melissa Talbot.
- [Emmett] Melissa,
let me remind you
that you are still under oath.
- Okay, Melissa, please tell us
what happened to Blackfeather,
and to your family,
after the RV accident.
[siren wailing]
- [Melissa] The predicaments
the raven got himself into
would have been quite funny
had Blackfeather's playfulness
not been misunderstood
by a number of people.
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Blanche, look at that!
- Don't take that,
don't take that!
- I know we should have
kept possession of the bird.
Even the wild ones are
becoming a nuisance.
They're all varmints.
All right, all right.
Yeah, we'll take care
of it immediately.
Yes.
Thank you for calling, sir.
Right now it's over at the
grocery mart on Aurora.
- What are you gonna do, John?
- You'll find out.
- Please don't do
nothing stupid.
- George, do I look like I'm
gonna do something stupid?
[light orchestral music]
- [Melissa] It wasn't long
before word had spread.
This odd raven was considered
nothing less than a
feathered terrorist.
So, in the lovely human
tradition of destroying
what we don't understand
or can't control,
many felt the solution to
this problem was quite simple.
- The raven's got my glasses.
- All right, all right,
you just stay out of the way
and let us take care of it.
Everyone step back.
Everyone step back,
please step back.
- Lower your aim
just a little bit.
- All right, sir,
just step back.
[gun firing]
[Blackfeather caws]
- John, they are
federally protected.
- Now you've done it, George,
I won't be able to get
within a mile of him.
- He's joining a flock.
- He's making it easy.
They all roost together at
the old Laughlin warehouse
on Kinnick River Road.
- What are you
gonna do about it?
- You'll find out.
- I'll have nothing
to do with it.
- Okay George, suit yourself.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- [Melissa] You could
say that Officer Holt
was taking this whole
thing a bit personal.
Blackfeather had
made a fool of him,
and nobody, especially a bird,
was gonna get away with that.
[John murmuring]
[ravens cawing]
[ravens cawing]
Officer Holt had the county
condemn the abandoned warehouse
so he could carry out his plan.
What he did was very
stupid and very mean,
but Blackfeather would
outsmart him again.
[shed exploding]
[gun firing]
[explosion booming]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- John stop!
John don't!
[warehouse exploding]
[George screaming]
Why'd you do this?
- I'm not gonna let
some little black bird
who's out of control
make a fool out of me.
This is my solution
to the problem.
- They don't deserve this.
- Well, it's a little
late now, isn't it?
[chuckling]
Look, back off.
What I do on my own time
is none of your business.
- [Melissa] To George,
the crime his partner
had committed was
the worst imaginable.
His people considered the
raven a creature of holiness.
To destroy such a
life was unthinkable.
Fortunately, Holt
had underestimated
one member of the flock.
- [George] Blackfeather.
- [Melissa] I had no idea what
was happening to Blackfeather,
but for some reason
I felt strangely sad.
The doctors here said they'd
done all they could for me.
There had been so few options.
Maybe that was what was wrong.
School had started without me.
And I sure miss my friends.
Especially one certain friend.
[children laughing]
There were stories from
my school friends about
a mysterious raven who
made regular visits
to the school yard, and
did some incredible things.
We all knew who it was.
Although Blackfeather did get
into some mischief in town,
he did a lot of good things
that no one really knew about.
- [Kid] Hey Billy, see
if you can catch this.
[kid laughing]
[light orchestral music]
[gasping]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] I finally
got to go home.
Nothing more could be done by
the people at the hospital.
And that's when I began
to realize that now
it was up to me.
I could complain about
what was wrong in my life
and sit around feeling
sorry for myself
or I could focus on the good
and believe that somehow
I could make it even better.
It was just a
matter of believing.
- We really appreciate your
giving us a ride home, Sandra.
- I wouldn't miss this
homecoming for the world.
He doesn't know about
it yet, does he?
- Nope.
♪ Sometimes you see
♪ What's not in sight
♪ You know that everything
is going to be all right ♪
♪ It just takes hope
♪ When all seems lost
♪ To hold on to love
♪ No matter what the cost
♪ With every step
♪ You're growing strong
♪ You learn to take each fall
♪ And turn it into a song
♪ With every tear
♪ You've come so far
♪ You've realized just
how strong you are ♪
- [Melissa] My homecoming was
not quite what we expected.
I really thought he'd
be happier to see me.
[dramatic orchestral music]
Daddy wouldn't talk about
Blackfeather's disappearance.
I think he must have
started to like the raven
and was hurt when he flew away.
I figured he was always meant
to be wild, so I was happy
he was where he should be.
But every time I heard
a raven caw I couldn't
help but look up, hoping
it was Blackfeather,
and he'd come home.
But it never was.
Blackfeather never came back.
And as the days passed and
one season changed to another,
the loneliness,
and loss I felt for
his leaving got buried beneath
the mounting tension at home.
Money worries seemed to
overshadow everything.
By the time the snow
came, we were in danger
of losing everything.
Daddy went hunting
caribou for food
for the long winter ahead.
[engine revving]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[gun firing]
[grunting]
[engine revving]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[Ray screaming]
[wings fluttering]
[gasping]
[dramatic orchestral music]
[keys jingling]
- Blackfeather?
[sighing]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Melissa] How
Blackfeather was able
to find those keys
in the wreckage is a
mystery to this day.
They might have been
knocked loose on impact.
Or perhaps his love
of shiny collectables
was so overpowering that picking
through a fried snowmobile
meant nothing to him.
However he'd managed it though,
it was obvious he considered
them the ultimate prize.
[ominous orchestral music]
[wolf growling]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Ray screaming]
[gasping]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
[keys jingling]
Blackfeather finally came home.
And he was trying to
tell us something.
[Blackfeather caws]
Is that Blackfeather, mom?
- I don't know.
[keys jingling]
[dog whimpering]
What on earth?
That's Ray's!
[suspenseful orchestral music]
Come on, come on.
- It was sure lucky
that Miss Blakely
came over that day
to show us her sled dogs.
After mom and Miss Blakely
helped me into the dog sled
we took off to find daddy.
We were scared that something
terrible had happened.
We followed daddy's snowmobile
trail as far as we could.
And when the trail disappeared,
Blackfeather led the way.
[Blackfeather caws]
Follow him.
Follow him.
[dog barking]
That's it, come on.
There he is, there he is!
- [Patty] Whoa, whoa boys!
Whoa!
- [Melissa] Daddy!
- [Patty] That's it.
- [Melissa] Daddy!
Daddy, Daddy.
- [Patty] Ray.
Ray.
- I thought I saw,
I, I,
[dogs barking]
I thought I saw Blackfeather.
- [Sandra] Come on guys!
Yaa!
[dogs barking]
- [Melissa] We were so
happy to find daddy okay.
And Blackfeather had come back.
But there was still something
in store for us that day.
Something we'd never forget.
[dogs barking]
[dramatic orchestral music]
- Stop, stop, stop.
- Whoa, whoa!
Ray, what is it?
- [Ray] There's a spoon
in that tree back there.
- [Sandra] Oh, I see it.
- [Melissa] Hey, I see it, too.
- [Sandra] It's
more than a spoon.
- [Melissa] Sandra,
look up there.
[light orchestral music]
- [Patty] It's my necklace.
I don't believe it.
- What are you doing?
- [Patty] I'm gonna cut it down.
[chainsaw whirring]
[suspenseful orchestral music]
- What is it?
Patty?
- [Melissa] Blackfeather
not only led us to daddy,
but also to his
secret hiding place,
the hollow tree where he
had hidden all the gold
that he had found.
He wanted us to have it.
- [Patty] Oh, be careful.
- [Ray] This must
be Blackfeather's.
- [Patty] Blackfeather's?
- [Sandra] It's a fortune.
- And I know who to thank.
- [Melissa] I do too, daddy.
- [Patty] This is wonderful.
[grand orchestral music]
- Thank you Melissa.
That was very helpful.
- Well how much gold was there?
And where is it now?
- Right here, Your Honor.
Government Exhibit A.
688.4 ounces.
Worth approximately $270,000.
- [Emmett] Just a sample,
Mr. Smith, that'll be enough.
- Uh, yes, Your Honor.
- Your Honor, a mining
claim has since been filed
for 160 acres in the name
of Ray and Patty Talbot,
pursuant to the
Mining Act of 1872.
- May I see that?
- [Clint] Sure.
- Thank You.
- Your Honor, this paperwork
makes no difference whatsoever.
The gold was found in
the hollow of a tree,
not extracted from the land
and is not subject
to a normal claim.
The gold clearly belongs
to the Government.
- This is not about paperwork.
This is, well we all
know what it's about.
It's about gold.
Lots of gold.
A lot more than what
was on this table,
and the claim for that gold
has been clearly
established when that raven
took this gold and
Patty's necklace and
put it in that tree.
- Your Honor, Melissa's
hearsay testimony
does not constitute
proof of any kind.
The defense has not
shown this court
any evidence that the
bird ever had anything
to do with the gold at all.
- Not yet.
- Not yet?
- Uh, we have one more witness.
The defense would like to
call Professor Ernest C. Byrd.
Noted author and
ornithological authority.
- Objection, Your Honor.
This witness plays no role
in the material
facts of the case.
Defense has stipulated
to the charges.
The law is clear.
What's the point?
- May I remind the
court that this,
[sighing]
at the heart of this case,
it is a human thing.
The love of a young girl
for her beloved pet.
We are here to
seek out the truth.
To find compassionate justice,
not mere blind
compliance to the law.
And this witness can
help us find that truth.
- Mr. Dugan is
belaboring this issue.
Let us not forget the fact
that had this been a bear,
or a cougar, or some other
wild animal that had endangered
human lives that animal would
have already been destroyed.
- This is not just
another wild animal.
[sighing]
It is a very special being.
Mr. Byrd can help
us establish that.
- Sit, Miss Brown.
All right, Mr. Dugan, you
can call your witness.
Please take a seat and
raise your right hand, sir.
You solemnly swear
to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth
so help you God.
- Naturally I do.
- [Emmett] Well, state your
full name and your credentials.
- Ernest Byrd.
I'm a professor of ornithology.
I've written many books
about our feathered friends,
and a couple about ravens.
- Please, uh, acquaint the court
with the nature of ravens.
- Well the raven is a
member of the crow family.
It is much bigger than the crow,
which gives it its
imposing presence.
It is known as the
brains of the bird world,
because it's very intelligent
and, uh, very clever.
It has a wider variety
of calls than, well,
wider than any animal
in the kingdom,
except for humans, of course.
And in the wild, for
example, when you hear
[hooting]
that, you might think is
an owl, or perhaps the, um,
[imitating bird cry]
that could be the
spotted grouse.
Unless you see that
bird with your own eyes
because it could be our
friend, mister raven,
who can mimic many, many
sounds in the animal kingdom.
[Blackfeather caws]
[Ernest whistling]
[Blackfeather whistling]
[blowing lips]
[Blackfeather
imitating lips blowing]
[laughing]
[chittering]
[Blackfeather chittering]
[Emmett cawing]
[Blackfeather caws]
[all laughing]
You see, Judge,
they're very social,
very adaptable creatures.
They just make
wonderful companions.
They live to be about
70-years-old or so,
and they have a hobby.
They love to collect things.
Bright shiny things they love.
Oh, these are remarkable
little fellows.
[chuckling]
- Is there, uh, any
particular significance
between ravens and people.
- Significance?
Oh yes they do, indeed.
Did you know that it was
the raven that Noah sent
from the ark to see if
the rains had stopped?
I bet you didn't.
And also the American Indians
thought that the raven,
well, had the souls
of their ancestors.
They regard the
raven as guardians.
- Objection, Your Honor.
I love folklore just as
much as the next person,
but I fail to see
the relevancy here.
- [Emmett] Are you
going somewhere
with this soon, Mr. Dugan?
- Yes, Your Honor.
A little more indulgence please.
Professor Byrd, in your expert
opinion, is it possible for
Blackfeather to have developed
a bond or relationship
with Melissa?
- Oh, don't you know it.
You see, ravens mate for
life, unlike us fickle humans.
And they often bond
with people for life.
One person, one raven.
They like to bear rewards and
protect that special person,
and for Blackfeather,
I think that Melissa
is that very special person.
This relationship
is very unique,
one that's never happened to me.
- Ernest, are you
making all this up?
- Oh no, I could demonstrate
this if the court is willing.
- Now how could you
possibly do that?
- Release Blackfeather right
here and he'll show you.
- I call for the immediate
release of the bird, uh, raven.
- Objection, Your Honor!
It seems Mr. Dugan wants to
erect a circus tent and have us
all blithely follow him inside
to applaud this sideshow.
- [Emmett] Overruled.
I haven't been to the
circus in a while.
All right, Mr. Dugan,
release the defendant.
[quirky orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- Oh, Blackfeather, I love you.
[Blackfeather caws]
Oh, Blackfeather.
[Blackfeather caws]
- Your Honor, it
should be obvious, even
to the prosecution,
that to deprive this young
girl of her beloved pet
would be nothing short of
cruel and unusual punishment.
These two have a special bond.
I refer you to
Kings, Chapter 17,
verses two through six.
"And the word of the
Lord came unto Elijah,
"I have ordered the
ravens to feed you."
- "So he did what
the Lord had told him
"and the ravens brought
him bread and meat."
Yes, that's not exactly the
way it appears in Kings,
but your point will be noted.
I'm ready to pronounce judgment.
Will the defendants please rise?
[Blackfeather caws]
- Judge, can I say
something first?
- Very well, Mr. Talbot.
- I don't care about
the gold, Judge.
All I want is for Melissa
to have her pet raven back.
She hasn't fully recovered
because Blackfeather
hasn't been around.
And I haven't been
a very good father.
But I realize now how much
the raven means to her.
Please, Judge, find it in your
heart to give Blackfeather
back to my little girl.
Melissa,
I made some big
mistakes, and I am sorry,
but I'll make it up to
you honey, I promise.
- [Melissa] Daddy.
I love you, daddy.
- [Ray] I love you, too.
[sobbing]
- Thanks for your
thoughts, Mr. Talbot.
Now I'm gonna give you mine.
I'm very concerned with the
evidence presented here today.
The laws of this
country are precious.
And I'm sworn to uphold the law.
[sighing]
Regardless of what the
media reports, it is the law
that makes us safe at night.
We cannot trifle with the law.
There is a law, however, that
dates back to old England.
It's a law called
Treasure Trove.
Or sometimes known
as Finders, Keepers.
Now I find that it applies here.
Therefore, I rule the gold
belongs to the finder,
[Blackfeather caws]
Blackfeather.
And it is to be
managed by the Talbots.
Now I further find that
the claim of 160 acres
to be a valid claim,
provided that they build
and maintain a sanctuary
thereupon for birds.
[Blackfeather caws]
The raven, Blackfeather,
has taught us all
something here today
that's very important.
All of us on this planet
are one, under God.
A young girl nearly died
trying to save a raven.
In turn, that
raven has protected
and rewarded the girl's family.
The court shall not interfere
lightly with the extraordinary
bond between this
raven and Melissa.
It is stated in the 91st Psalm,
verse Four, "He shall cover
thee with his feathers.
"And under his wings
shall thou trust."
I therefore rule that
Blackfeather is to be returned
to Melissa and her parents.
It must be kept out
in the wilderness,
out of the city, where
he can be a pest.
I don't want him back in
my courtroom ever again.
This hearing is over.
[gavel banging]
- [Patty] Yes!
[Patty laughing]
- I didn't think you even
owned a Bible, Dugan.
- It's a pretty good read.
You ought to try it some time.
I'll, uh, loan
you mine any time.
- [Dan] Hey, where'd you
get that Bible quote?
- Laptop.
[laughing]
- Laptop.
[grand orchestral music]
[Blackfeather caws]
- [Clint] We can
learn from this raven.
Often, it is just a question
of watching and waiting.
We never know what might happen.
- [Melissa] Once I
made a full recovery,
Blackfeather went
away for a while.
Only to return to our bird
sanctuary with a mate.
Now there are two
ravens in our lives.
And who knows?
Maybe there's a baby
Blackfeather in our future.
Only God and the Northern
Lights know for sure.
[grand orchestral music]
[grand orchestral music]
[blowing lips]
[Blackfeather caws]
[gavel banging]
[Blackfeather caws]
♪ Sometimes you see
what's not in sight ♪
♪ You know that everything
is going to be all right ♪
♪ It just takes hope
♪ When all seems lost
♪ To hold on to love
♪ No matter what the cost
♪ With every step
♪ You're growing strong
♪ You learn to take each fall
♪ And turn it into a song
♪ With every tear
♪ You've come so far
♪ You've realized just
how strong you are ♪
♪ And little did you know
♪ You'd be the light
for someone else ♪
♪ Shining with unfailing love
♪ To help them
through this test ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ To bring back the look
of love to their face ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ Bring back the
love to their face ♪
♪ Sometimes the weak
are really the strong ♪
♪ It doesn't matter
if you're old ♪
♪ Or you're young
♪ When life gets tough
♪ Riding the winds on a storm
♪ We'll hold you up and
bring you safely home ♪
♪ For all the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ To bring back the look
of love to their face ♪
♪ All the world is looking
♪ For a soft and
brighter place ♪
♪ You'd be the one
♪ Bring back the love
♪ To their face
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love
♪ Bring back the love