Buddy (1997) - full transcript

TRUDY: When I was a child,

I dreamed I lived in a forest
and was queen of the animals.

I loved that world
where the creatures ran wild

and only I could tame them,

where they taught me
their secret language

and only I could hear it.

It didn't matter
that I grew up.

I refused to surrender
my crown.

Now, when people ask
my husband, the doctor,
about me,

I think what they're
really asking is,

"Is she still crazy?"



Well, tell them, "Yes."

Tell them that I filled
your life with folly.

Tell them I haven't
finished dreaming

and I never will.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(CROWD CHATTERING)

Here we are.

Three, please.

How many?

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

Hey! Sit down!
WOMAN: Shh!

Shush yourself!

WOMAN: Usher!

This man is
bothering...
Me?



Talk to her!

(SCREECHING)

(AUDIENCE GASPING)

(CHIMP GIBBERING)

Miss?
Mrs. Mrs. Gertrude Lintz.

What are these
little...
Apes.

Just over from Africa.

This is Maggie Klein

and this dashing fellow
is called Joe Mende,

named after
the Mende tribe.

(WHISPERING)
Cannibals.

Come on, let's
watch the movie.

Turn around,
Maggie.

(CHITTERING)

(CHIMP CHITTERING)

(LAUGHING)

(GASPS)

(CHIMPS CHITTERING)

(CAR HORN HONKING)

(CHUCKLES)

Let me take your hat.
Thank you, Joe.

Go ahead, Joe.
Go on. Go on.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SHOUTING BIRD CALLS)

(DOGS BARKING)

(WHINNIES)

(SQUAWKING)

(SQUAWKING LOUDLY)

(CHIRPING)

(SQUEAKING)

(LOUDLY) Aah-ooh!

(MEOWING)

(CHIRPING)

(GRUNTS)

(CLUCKING)

Mmm-hmm.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

Dr. Lintz.

Hang on. Trudy!

TRUDY: Oh, Bill,
are you here?

No, I'm due at the hospital.
The phone's for you.

Have you seen
Joe and Maggie?

Yeah, they're up here.

They're pretending
to look at me
through binoculars.

(LAUGHING) Opera glasses.
They saw it at the movies.

Oh, yeah.
How stupid of me.

Send them down,
sweetheart.

Skedaddle.

Don't forget the phone.

I won't. Thanks.

(CHITTERING)

(GIBBERING)

(BLOWS RASPBERRY)

Go on, you two.
Get outta my kitchen.

It's not suppertime.

(BEATER WHIRRING)

(CHIMPS CHITTERING)

Didn't I tell you?

(IMITATING CHIMP
CHITTERS)

(SQUAWKS RASPBERRY SOUND)

Why they want
all you all around?

It's enough to drive a person
to the nuthouse.

Course, this place probably
already is the nuthouse.

(IMITATING BEATER)

(CONTINUING MIMIC)

(BEATER WHIRRING LOUDLY)

How long has
he been there?

What have you
done for him?

Nothing. You aren't
doing anything!

All right. All right,
I'm on my way.

(HOOTING)

(HOOTING)

Dick.

I won't be back
until late tonight.

Will you make sure Maggie
and Joe get their supper
and into bed on time?

Yes, Mrs. Lintz.

Ah, wish me luck.

Where are you going?
Philadelphia.

Philadelphia?
Yeah.

(GEAR GRINDS)

(WHEEZING)

TRUDY: Where is his mother?

No gorilla has ever
survived captivity
without its mother.

Not one.

How did you
expect him to?

We've had
other firsts here.

Oh. Of course
you have.

And I'm sure you're
very proud of yourselves.

What are you doing?

Taking him home.

(WHEEZING)

This is double pneumonia.
Very far advanced.

How far is very far?

Let's see if the heat lamp
helps him any.

He can't die.

Not every baby gorilla
can die the instant
people get a hold of it.

(WHISPERS)
Here.

I don't think he can eat,
sweetheart.

Mmm.

Well, if you don't eat,
how will I ever see
your bright eyes, hmm?

Beautiful little Buddy.

You named him.

Buddha.

But right away
he was Buddy.

Why did you do that?

You know it'll only
make it harder when he...

Just try, Buddy.

Come on.

Just try.

That's perfect, Maggie.

You're getting
better at that every day.

Isn't she, Joe?
Hmm?

You ready for breakfast?

(GIBBERING)

(SOFTLY) Wait.
Maggie, no.

Maggie.

Maggie. Maggie,
come on.

There's a sick baby
in there.

(SOFT SNORING)

He all right?

(CLICKS TONGUE)

(SIGHS)

I'll go warm the milk.

(SQUAWKING)
Go on, you two,
get out of my kitchen!

(BOTH SQUEALING)

Hey, hey! Now,
what's going on? Maggie.

(SQUAWKING)
Go on! Get out
of my kitchen!

Maggie!
What are you doing?

Maggie!

(CHIMP-LIKE GRUNTING)

(SHRIEKING)
DICK: Joe!

(CHARLIE SQUAWKING)

Maggie, don't
go up there.

(GASPS)

Joe!

Uh...

(SQUAWKING)
Uh-oh.

Joe!

(GASPS)

TRUDY: Put that down! Maggie!

Shame on you!

(RATTLE SHAKING)

(MOCK WAILING)

Maggie!
Whoo-oo-oo!

Here comes
the bogeyman.

(RATTLING CONTINUES)

(MOCKING GASPS) Joe!

Here comes
the bogeyman.

(SHRIEKING)

(GHOSTLY WAILING)

(SHRIEKING)

(WHIMPERING)

(LOW MOANING)

What in the world
can I do for you?

DICK: Come on, push up.
Okay, Joe.
Push up. Up. Good boy.

Maggie, come on.
Up, up, up.

(DISGUSTED SIGH)
Good. Up. Up.

That's ridiculous.

Up you go. Up, up.
Good girl!

Anything useful?

Oh, not so far.

There's almost
no information.

But at least
this Professor Spatz
has been to the Congo.

Finally something by someone
who's actually seen gorillas
with his own eyes.

(SIGHS)
No, no,
stay here awhile.

There's no change.

We've done everything
humanly possible.

Except pull him
out of it.

As long as he's
still breathing,
we've got to keep trying.

Do you know I've figured out
what it is, Trudy?

You have to save
this gorilla

so we finally have someone
in the house who can wear
my hand-me-downs.

(LAUGHING)

Bill!

Oh, good. I can still
make you laugh.

Oh!

Yeah, that's it.
You hold on tight.

(LABORED BREATHING)

(BREATHING STOPS)

TRUDY: Buddy looked up at me
with such trust,

but I didn't know anything.

I didn't know how to raise
a baby gorilla.

So, I went for advice
to that most dangerous
of species,

the expert.

Every detail is perfect.

Look at the teeth.

TRUDY: Where
did you get these?

They're specimens
I collected myself.

They're from all over
the world.

Mrs. Lintz, my dear,
certainly you have
questions for me.

I need information,
Professor.

I have a gorilla
living in my house.

What do they eat?
How do they
groom themselves?

When do the mothers
wean their young?

What are their daily habits?
But most of all,
what is their play like?

(SMUG CHUCKLE)

My dear woman,
the gorilla is an
unfathomable mystery.

He's completely
taciturn.

He's humorless,
introverted,
unresponsive.

He utterly lacks
what we would call

"imaginative invention."

May I ask how long you
actually spent with them
in the jungle?

Ten astonishing days.

You're kidding.

I would never jest about
something like that.

Survival in the Congo
is not to be taken lightly,
Mrs. Lintz.

No, I'm sure.

Well, thank you
for your time,
Professor Spatz.

But Mrs. Lintz,
what do you intend on doing
with your gorilla?

I'll raise him
the same way
I raised my chimps.

Which is?

As far as possible
like human children.

Oh! That's
preposterous!

Revolutionary as it
might seem to you,

I have encountered
no limits or
even real difficulties.

When they catch cold,
do you have any idea
what they need?

Chicken soup.

Hmm.

Buddy, Buddy, Buddy,
Buddy, Buddy! Whoo!

(GRUNTING)
Take a little bite.
Come on, just a little bite.

Open your mouth.

Come on.

Oh, Mrs. Lintz,
thank heaven you're back.

What is it?

He won't eat,
not for anything.

Oh, what do you mean?
Of course he will.
Here, here, here.

Hmm.

EMMA: I got to
chew it for him?

Well, it's the only way
he eats. You know that.

I got enough to do
without chewing up food
for monkeys.

Come here, Buddy.

(SIGHING)
I missed you.

Yes. Mmm.

(CHUCKLING)

Oh, that's a nice hug.

That's a nice hug.

Oh, Buddy.

Let me see you.
Let me see you.

(PANICKED SQUEAL)

(LAUGHS) Oh.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, here we go.

Here, let me just
take off my coat.

(SQUEALING)
Oh, my! Buddy!

(CHUCKLES)
Oh!

Taciturn, honestly.
Buddy.

Then you must
keep yourself calm.

Yes, that is easy for me
to say. Mmm-hmm.

Well, where is his
hand now, exactly?

Really.

Look here.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(SHRIEKING)
Buddy, please, I'm burning up,
for heaven sakes.

Buddy, what are you...

I'd recommend
two aspirins.
TRUDY: (SCREAMING) Bill!

No, not for him.
For you.

Well, plenty of butter
and a gentle pull
should fix that.

(BUDDY SHRIEKS)

TRUDY: Bill!
No, I think he's been punished
enough, don't you?

(SIGHS) Bill!

Yes, just natural curiosity
about his body.

Certainly.
TRUDY: Emma!

No, just trust your instincts.
You're a very good...

You're a very able mother,
Mrs. Warner.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

(BUDDY SHRIEKING)

Have mercy!

DICK: Don't. Now look,
you're making the baby cry!
Stop it!

Joe, please.
Maggie, let go.

Bend back
his fingers, Emma.

Bend back his fingers?
He might bite me!

Just try it.
We don't know
that he'll bite.

We don't know
that he won't either!

Will you at least
get Joe off my leg?

DICK: Joe, come on,
let go!

Oh! Help!

Joe, please don't do that!
Look at the baby's crying.
Maggie...

(SHRIEKING CONTINUES)
Well!

I suppose Buddy found
exactly what he wants.

What?
A warm, comfortable mother.

(SARCASTIC LAUGH)

A very warm,
very uncomfortable mother.

No, Joe!
Maggie, will you
stop screaming?

He will let go.
He's bound to.

He's bound
to let go sometime.

Oh, you're so funny,
darling, sometimes.

Oh. Oh!

Night, Trudy.

Good night, Bill.

(BUDDY GURGLING)
Night, Buddy.

Very funny.

(SIGHING)

(WHISPERING)
Bill.

Bill.

(SIGHING)
Oh, thank you.

(RELIEVED SIGH)

(CHUCKLES)

(GIGGLING)

(HAPPY GRUNTING)
Oh, no, you don't!

We're not going through
that again.

(LAUGHS)

Did I tell you we have
two more chimps coming today?

They're from a zoo,
just like you. Yes.

Yes.

Dick found them.

Yes. We'll move the chimps
into their own building

and then we'll move you
into the sunroom.

Oh, yes.

It'll be good for you.

Yeah. Here we go,
bright eyes.

(TOILET FLUSHING)
Maggie? Joe?
What're you...

(CHITTERING)

Maggie!

You're a very bad girl.

You can forget your bath
for today.

Come on up here.

Go to your room.

(WHINES)

Go on.

(MAGGIE SQUEALING)

(SNICKERING)

Joe.
Here we go.

Ah, here we go.

There.

All right.

Are you ready for
your first bath? Hmm?

(GRUNTS)
All right.

(UNEASY GRUNTING)

(PANICKED SQUEALING)
Whoa!

Buddy!
All right, okay!

(LAUGHING)
All right, Buddy!

There now.
That's much better.

Okay, then.
Cheer up, wee man.

(MEOWING)

(CHITTERING)

There.

I didn't know
you don't like water.

(SOFT GRUNTING)

There you go.

Got your nose.

I got your nose
a little bit.

Yes, I do.

(BOTH GRUNTING EXCITEDLY)

(HUMMING SOFTLY)

(GRUNTING MELODICALLY)

That's it!

(LILTING CONTINUES)

Ooh, that's pretty.

(DOG BARKING)
Venus, remember your manners.

Good dog.
Come on, Adonis.

(IMITATING MEOW)

(CAT MEOWS)

Hello, Joe.

(JOE SCREECHES)
Oh, no, Joe.

He's still too little
for you play with.

Come on
Stay in line.
Good dogs.

(MEOWS)

(SQUEALING)
Oh! Joe.

(SQUAWKING)
Kitty, kitty, kitty!

(MEOWING)

(ALL BARKING)

(SQUEALS)

(PANTING)

DICK: Whoa!

(ANIMALS CLAMORING)

Heel!

(IMITATING MEOW)

What...

DICK: I said, heel!

Uh-oh.

Aah! Ooh!

Oh, Dick!

Heel!

Sit!
All of you, down!

(SCREECHING)
Down.

Oh, don't worry, Buddy.
You can make friends
with them.

(SQUEALING)

(SNORTING)

(SPITS)

Buddy!

(GRUNTS)

What do you think
you're up to?
Uh-uh.

Buddy, no!

Shame on you!

(WHIMPERING)

(PITIFUL MOANING)

Buddy, Buddy, Buddy.
Shh. Shh.

It's okay.

It's okay.

(CHITTERING)

No, no, you two.
Not now.

(GRUNTS)

Come on, Joe.

Captain Jiggs.

Come on.

(MOANING CONTINUES)

I don't just
belong to you,
you know.

Well.
Maybe I do.

Don't worry.
She didn't mean it.

I know what'll
cheer you up. Look.

Here's a coin.

It's okay.
It's only a coin.

This is magic.
Ready?

It's in the air, in the air.
It's going in the hand.
It's in the hand.

Look what's in there.

It's gone!
It's gone!

Do you know
where it is?

(SNAPS FINGERS)
It was in Joe's ear!

That's magic.

TRUDY: Oh, you can
walk on two feet, Buddy.
You know you can.

(CRASHING)

Try. Just try.

Come on, just try,
Buddy. Oh!

Trudy, do you think
you'll be here by dessert?

Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm coming.

Don't know what
she's missing, does she?

You know, if I could just
get his mind off his fear,
he'd be walking now.

You know what?
Wait a minute.

Give me a couple
of those bananas.

You want some of that?

No, no, have
some of this.

With your cranberry sauce,
go on.

Up you go.

There. Hold these
right under your arms
and hold tight. Lettuce?

Here we go. There.
All right, now.

(GROANS)

What, Buddy?

What's wrong?

Oh, it's wilted.

Hmm, you'll keep that
green grocer honest yet,
won't you?

Is the celery fresh?

I hope so.

Oh, all right. Here.

Here we go.

All right.

All right, go on.
Go to the dining room.

No, no, don't eat it.
Don't eat it.
Go to the dining room.

Whoo-hoo!
There you have it!
Walking!

(SLURPING)

Buddy, hold your fork like...
Hold your fork like this.

Trudy.
There you go.

Yes? Sorry.

Buddy!
Your foot goes
on the floor.

(SIGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

Darling, I hate to be the one
to tell you this, but...

Before we know it,
he is gonna be huge.

Well, I imagine you know
how I feel about that.

Yes, well,
I'm not a gorilla.

Don't underestimate
yourself, darling.

You know you're capable
of almost anything.

Besides, Buddy's
a perfect gentleman.

Not with your foot,
Buddy.

Sweetheart,
do you know anyone

offhand

who has
a full-grown gorilla
in their house?

No.

But I have my suspicions
about that new fellow
down at the drugstore.

Oh.

All right, Buddy.

All right.

Now,

take your plate
to Emma.

She'll give you
dessert.

Okay.

(GRUNTING)

TRUDY: And so, my sweet Buddy
grew and grew.

A hundred pounds a year.

His massive size and strength
always competing with
his sensitivity and grace.

(CHITTERING)

(WHIMPERING)

Buddy.

Oh, it's all right, Buddy.
It's all right.

Night-night, Skippy.

Snuggle up,
Captain Jiggs.

It's cold out there.

Night, Joe.

Bedtime, Maggie.

Sweet dreams, Maggie.

(CHITTERING)

(GRUNTING)

Oh, Buddy!

Who let you out,
hmm?

It was that bad Maggie,
wasn't it?

Come on, Buddy.

All right.

Ready to go, Trudy?

Almost.

I'll warm up the car.

All right.
I'll be out
in a minute.

Make sure you leave
the blanket for him
at the foot of his bed

in case he needs it
during the night.
Yes, I know. Bye-bye.

Stay with me.

Because he prefers
the blanket to the quilt.

I know.

And he likes you
to fluff his pillow.

Yes, I know that,
Mrs. Lintz.

Come on, Buddy.
Good boy.

Oh! And, uh,
don't forget to leave on
a couple of lights,

because one's not enough.

(GRUNTING)
Yes, Mrs. Lintz,
I know all the particulars.

All right.

Come on, now,
good boy.

Easy, boy.
Stay with me, Buddy.

Oh, Dick, remember,
a little snack
around 9:00.

Yes. I think it would be best
if you went now, Mrs. Lintz.

Yes, all right.

Night-night, Buddy.

Look. See?

See, she's gone.

There, now.
It's okay, big man.

(SAD GRUNTING)
Good boy.

(FRUSTRATED GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

(CONTENTED GRUNTING)

(LAUGHING)
Oh, Bill.

Oh, my feet
are killing me.

That's what you get
for dancing on the table.

Listen, next time
we're invited to
one of these gala shindigs,

would you remind me
how much I hate them?

Maybe.

Don't you think
it does you good
to get out?

No. People
are such bores.

Oh, thank you
very much.

(LAUGHS)

(GRUNTING)

(LAUGHING)

Red's my favorite
color too, Buddy.

(HONKING)

(CHITTERING)

(HONKING CONTINUES)

(CHITTERING)

(BUDDY GRUNTING)

Easy, Buddy.

You've cleaned
enough right there.

Better move along before
you scrub all the linoleum
off the floor.

(GRUNTS)

(SQUAWKING)
Easy, Buddy.

The only useful one
out the whole bunch.

How'd you like
to learn how
to cook?

(GRUNTS)

Jane Aldrich, uh,

tells me that your
monkeys wear clothes
all the time.

They're apes.

Chimps and gorillas
are apes, not monkeys.

Oh.

Well, last I heard,
you raised dogs and
competed in dog shows.

Oh, Westminster,
Bunny.

She's won five times,
five consecutive years.

No one's broken
that record,
have they?

No, no
they haven't.

I also understand
that these, uh,
little fellows

brush their teeth and,
uh, wash their faces?

Jane also told me that
they even say their
prayers at night.

(CHUCKLES)
Is it all right
for him to...

Oh, Joe.

Yes, well, when they're
clean and dressed,

they're always
under better control.

They're mentally stimulated
and they're proud of
themselves, just as we are.

JOE: Do you realize what
you have accomplished,
Mrs. Lintz?

You are the
missing link.

(TRUDY LAUGHS)

TRUDY: Oh, Mr. Bowman,
there's such a long
way to go.

But I believe I may have
blundered on enough

to keep the scientists
picking up after me
for a good long while.

The difference between chimps
and gorillas, for instance,
is absolutely fascinating.

Why, when Maggie here
got her first Kiddie Kar...

Her first
Kiddie Kar?

Yes, well, she didn't
know what in the world
to make of it.

Oh, Mrs. Lintz.

The World's Fair
needs them.

You cannot
refuse us.

You must bring them
to Chicago.

Our organizers have
combed the globe,

gathering the fruits
of humanity's genius.

You belong there.
You must be there.

It is not by accident
that we've called it,

"The Century of
Progress Exposition."

The century
of progress.

Why, it wouldn't be
complete without you,

and what better example
of progress than you
and your apes.

(JOE AND TRUDY CHUCKLING)

Oh, aren't these the most
fantastic times we live in?

Oh, yes. Yes,
they are, Mr. Bowman.

(CHUCKLES)
They are.

Whoo, Buddy!

(GRUNTS)

(SNORTING)

Oh, my God!

May I have a bite
of your banana, Buddy?

Oh, it looks delicious.
Thank you.

Would you?

(BOTH CHUCKLING)

No, no,
thank you.

Hmm.

None of the chimps
will do that.

Not one of them will
share food with me.

Buddy, open your mouth.

(TRUDY CHUCKLES)

Okay, let go now.

You see? He's as
gentle as a lamb.

(GRUNTS)

Then why is there
a chain on his door?

Oh, well.

He doesn't know his
own strength sometimes.

(LAUGHS SHEEPISHLY)

I'll think about
the World's Fair,
Mr. Bowman,

and I'll let you know
in a week or two.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

(LAUGHING UNEASILY)

(CHARLIE LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)

Don't you like
them, Charlie?

(CHARLIE LAUGHS MOCKINGLY)
Shh!

(SQUAWKS)

It's definite.
Mr. Bowman brought
the contract this afternoon.

We're off to Chicago
in a month.

Well, that's terrific.

I only wish I could
drop everything
and come with you.

Well, you can't do
that to your patients.

Yeah. Do we have
any mustard?

I'll get it.

I'm just sorry I'm
gonna miss you there
in all your glory.

Oh, well,
my glory's here.

The World's Fair
is just an adventure.

Oh, that
looks delicious.

Do me a favor, Trudy.

Oh, a bigger glass?

No. Don't take Buddy.

Why not?

'Cause I don't
think it's safe.

Not for you, not for him,
not for anybody.
I honestly don't.

Oh, horsefeathers.

Tomato would be good
on those, don't you think?
Oh, knife!

Look, indulge me.
Just for a minute.

How many people has
Buddy ever been around
at one time?

I know we have
more than one knife
in this kitchen.

You can answer the question
with the fingers of one hand,
Trudy.

Do you know how many people
go to these things?

Millions.

Well, we have
our own pavilion.

Millions of people
won't be seeing
Buddy all at once.

Gertrude.

Well, they won't!
That's ridiculous!

There's nothing
to worry about.

TRUDY: In the annals
of fair-making,

no show ever matched
"The Century of
Progress Exposition."

Visitors swarmed to Chicago
from everywhere.

Eighty miles of free exhibits,
spectacles and pageants
were the wonder of the nation.

The scene of new adventure,
new knowledge, new experience.

The chimps loved the crowds.
They were natural performers.

Ladies and gentlemen.

We're very privileged
to have you with us today.

So come on in
and enjoy the show!

(APPLAUDING)

(CHEERING)

DICK: Thank you.
Thank you very much,
ladies and gentlemen.

(CHATTERING)

(DRUMS AND HARMONICA PLAYING)

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING CONTINUES)

I beg your pardon.
I know that no one
is permitted back here.

Oh, no,
don't worry,
Father.

His eyes are not
the eyes of an animal.

There isn't the slightest
doubt, is there?

No, there isn't,
Father.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(CROWD EXCLAIMS)

(ALL EXCLAIM)

(LAUGHING)

(LAUGHING)

Whoo, Buddy!

You'll have your turn
on stage this afternoon.

Okay?

(TRAIN RUMBLING)

(GRUNTING)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(CHATTERING)

(THUDS)

(GRUNTING UNEASILY)

(BELL RINGS)

(HISSING)

(SNORTING)

(TRIBAL DRUMS PLAYING)

You wait here.

(ALL LAUGHING)

(CHITTERING)

(TRIBAL DRUMS CONTINUE)

(GRUNTING)

(APPLAUSE)

TRUDY: Maggie?

(CROWD SCREAMING)

(NEIGHING)

Gorilla's out!

(ALL YELLING)

(SCREAMING)

(SNORTS)

(PIANO PLAYING)

(BUDDY WHIMPERING)

(GRUNTS)

(TRIBAL DRUMS INCREASING)

MAN: Over there!

(WHIMPERING)

Buddy!

Buddy!

Buddy!

Hey, wait, stop!

Found him yet?
No, not yet.

I'd like to get
out and walk.

Yes, ma'am.

(GRUNTS)

MAN: Mrs. Lintz!

Stop!

Please, get back.

Buddy?

Buddy?

Buddy.

(SNIFFLING)

(WHIMPERING)

Oh, Buddy.

(WHIMPERS)

I was so worried
about you.

Where were you?

Whoo, Buddy!

Buddy!

(LAUGHS)

Buddy, let me down.

Whoa.

You let me go.

(LAUGHING)

Buddy, let me go.

Mrs. Lintz?

Oh, call my assistant,
Dick Croner.

And tell him to bring
a truck down here.
Right away.

Buddy, let me down now.

Oh, and I need
a pan of milk.
Okay.

Oh, whoo! Buddy.

(LAUGHS)

Let me down.

Oh, Buddy.

Look what I've
got for you.

Milk.

You must be starving.

Dick's here, Buddy.

Time to go.

Yeah.

(SIGHS)

Oh, Buddy,
they're all alike.

You must have sat
in every single one
ten times by now.

(GRUNTS)

(BANGING ON DOORS)

(WHIMPERING)

(HORN HONKING)

(DOGS BARKING)

Oh, hello, Emma.

CHARLIE:
Hello, Emma!

EMMA: Welcome home!

(DOGS CONTINUE BARKING)

(GIGGLES) Oh!

Oh, come here, come here,
come here, come here.

(DOGS WHIMPERING)

Hi.

Oh, I missed you!
I missed you!

Hey, what kind
of hello is that?

We're still friends,
aren't we?

(SQUAWKING)

Is he gonna
be all right?

He'll be fine,
now that we're home.

Come on.
Oh, I'm so glad
to see you.

Thank you for not saying,
"I told you so."

Oh, did I forget?

I told you so.

Oh, I'm so happy
to be back.

TRUDY: Oh, that's beautiful.
Look.

TRUDY: And I was
happy to be back.

Now, more than anything else,
I wanted a new start.

For me, for all of us.

But most of all,
for Buddy.

TRUDY: Buddy!
Come and join us, Buddy!

(PIANO PLAYING)

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(LAUGHTER)

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

(TRIBAL DRUMS PLAYING)

It's freezing
out there.

EMMA: Miserable.

I'll take Dr. Lintz's mail
up to him in the study.

I'll go brew some tea.

(TRIBAL DRUMS CONTINUE)

(TRUDY GASPS)

(BUDDY ROARS)

(TRUDY SCREAMS)
TRUDY: Buddy!

Buddy, stop it!

No!

(TOY RATTLES)
Buddy!

(BUDDY ROARS)
TRUDY: No!

(GRUNTING)

I just can't stop
thinking about it.

Thank God
she's all right.

It's a nightmare, Joe.

It's an absolute
nightmare.

Pour me another,
would you?

(WHEEZES)

(GRUNTS)

You ready
to go in yet?

Oh, just a little
while longer.

Ah, it's nice to be
outside, isn't it?

Oh, it's very nice.

Trudy.
Mmm-hmm?

Have you decided
what to do about Buddy?

What are you saying?

(GRUNTING)

I'm sorry, Buddy.

You know I can't
let you out.

Hey.

Look what I've
got for you.

See?

It's your favorite.

It was my fault.

I startled him.
He didn't mean it.

So you've said,
over and over.

Am I a bad person, Bill?
Was I wrong?

Should I have let him
die when he was a baby?

Would that have been kinder?
Would that have been
the right thing to do?

No, sweetheart.

I'd give anything to be
able to send him home.

That's what he needs.
He belongs in the jungle.

He belongs with his own kind.
That's what he's aching for.

Then why don't we?

Because the truth is,
is he wouldn't survive there.

He wouldn't have a clue how.
This is it.

This is the only world
he's ever known.

He sleeps in a bed, Bill.

He sleeps in a bed.

Come on.

Eat your dinner.

We can't let him
out of that cage,
and you know it.

Yes, we'll be able to.

Why would you want to?

What have you
got to prove?

What?

I haven't lost
control over him.

You don't really
believe that.

I haven't.

(SIGHS)

(GRUNTING)

(SOFT GRUNTS)

Buddy.

(BUDDY MOANS)

(SIGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

Look, Buddy.

Poor Trudy.

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING CONTINUES)

Go sit in your
chair, Buddy.

Don't disobey me, Buddy.

I can't have lost you,
now go sit in your chair.

(POT CLATTERS)

Shame on you!

Go sit in your chair now!

(GROWLS)

(GASPS)

Oh.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(WHIMPERS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(WHIMPERING CONTINUES)

(DOOR OPENS)

(BUDDY SNORTING)

(WHIMPERING)

(WHIMPERING CONTINUES)

(WHISPERING)
Buddy.

Don't be afraid.

It's just a storm.

It's all right, Buddy.

(WHIMPERING)

It's all right.

You're okay.

Don't be afraid,
Buddy.

It's all right,
Buddy.

It's all right,
Buddy.

Easy.

(WHIMPERS)

That's it.

That's it.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Don't be afraid.

You'll be safe, Buddy,
you'll be safe.

Trudy's here.
Trudy's here.

It's okay, Buddy.

You're all right,
Buddy.

It's all right,
Buddy. Stairs.

One at a time.

Here we go.

(SIGHS)
Let go a little,
Buddy.

It's too tight.

Buddy,

you'll be fine.

You're hurting me,
Buddy.

Buddy, let go.

Let go, Buddy,
please.

Okay, that's better.

Here we go.

Good boy.

Good boy.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Good boy.

Okay, Buddy.

All right,
you're still with me.

Look at this beautiful,
perfect pear.

Oh, yeah.
Look at that.

You can tell it's ripe,
can't you?

Smell.

See, Buddy? Look.

So good.

It'll taste more gorgeous
than any pear in the history
of pears, Buddy.

Good boy, Buddy!

Buddy, look.

Look at that.

It's yours, Buddy.

It's your pear
for being such
a good boy.

There we go.

That's a good boy,
Buddy.

Such a good boy.

Here we go.
Let's go.

That's good,
Buddy.

There we go.

Good Buddy.

(GRUNTS)

Buddy, wait!

(GRUNTS)

(GASPS)

(GROWLING)

(CLATTERING)

(GROWLS)

You mustn't shoot!

Only if we have to,
Mrs. Lintz.
Now where is he?

On my signal.
Do you hear me?
On my signal only!

(SCREECHING)

(BUDDY GRUNTING)

(SCREECHING)

(ROARS)

(ROARING)

CHARLIE: Oh, Buddy!

Wonderful, Buddy.

Wonderful.

Oh.

Wonderful.

Oh.

Oh, Buddy.

(GRUNTS)

(WHIMPERING)

TRUDY: I knew
Buddy could think,
that he could love.

What I hadn't wanted to face
was how deeply he could hurt.

Bill was right.

Buddy didn't belong
here anymore.

But the heart is stubborn.

The heart won't always listen.

Thanks to you, here's a
first the zoo can really
be proud of, eh, Mrs. Lintz?

Oh, well,
I hope it works.

Of course
it'll work.
It's excellent.

Look at it, Tru.
It's bound to
inspire people.

(SIGHS)

We need to make sure we
plant enough walnut trees.

Buddy's crazy
about walnuts.

And I forgot
the gooseberry bushes.

Gosh, we need to get
some gooseberry bushes.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, and it's also time
we got started on the
jungle for the chimps.

(ENGINE PUTTERING)

Oh, he's here.

I told you about this place,
but I bet you didn't
believe me, did you?

There are caves
to go into
when it rains.

And all kinds
of trees, Buddy.
Walnut trees.

And some open areas
where it's just grass.

Here they come.
Look!

The big one
from Dallas, see?

And the mother
and baby from Ohio.

And there's the wee one
from here.

(GRUNTS)

I know you don't
remember, Buddy.

But you belong with them.

(SIGHS)

Try, Buddy.

Just try.

TRUDY: Letting Buddy go
was the hardest thing
I've ever had to do.

Here, I hoped,

was a place where he
could finally be happy

and safe.

All of us,

all animals on earth,

are happiest when
we are understood.

I will be grateful to him
as long as I live.