Project Grizzly (1996) - full transcript

[ Wind howling ]

[ Crow cawing ]

[ Laboured breathing ]

WELL, I'LL TELL YA.

THIS IS BRINGING BACK...

A LOT OF MEMORIES.

THIS IS...

SO CLOSE TO...

TO WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED WITH THE OLD MAN,

IT'S ALMOST EERIE.

'CEPT THIS LITTLE, UH,



THIS LITTLE MEADOW HERE, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT,

WAS ABOUT MAYBE 50 FEET WIDER ON EACH SIDE,

BUT THIS IS JUST WHAT, THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS.

IT WAS JUST LIKE A BOX CANYON WHEN I MET THE OLD MAN.

HE CAME OUTTA THICK BUSH ON A SMALL TRAIL,

'CEPT THEN I HAD A RUBBER DINGHY BLOWN UP

OVER TOP OF MY HEAD SO I WAS WALKING LIKE THIS.

HAD A 40, 50 POUND KNAPSACK ON MY BACK,

HAD AN ALUMINUM SLUICE IN MY LEFT HAND

AND A 22 CALIBRE RIFLE IN MY RIGHT.

SO I'D BE WALKING LIKE THIS.

AND THEN I'D COME TO A, WHAT WAS LIKE AN OPEN AREA.

I HAD THICK, CONIFEROUS AND DECIDUOUS FORESTS ON MY LEFT AND TO MY RIGHT

AND IT WAS OPEN TO THE FRONT BUT THERE WAS BUSH THERE.



AND ANOTHER 100 FEET WAS MY SECONDARY TRAIL

WHERE I HAD TO LEAD TO MY BASE CAMP.

AND I COULD, WELL FOR THREE DAYS I HAD BEEN FEELING THIS, UH,

THIS PRESENCE THAT WAS WATCHING ME ALL THE TIME,

IT WAS REALLY, IT WAS WHACKING MY MIND OUT FOR DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS.

AND THEN I HIT IT ON THE MEADOW.

I HAD COME TO A FULL STOP BECAUSE I'M LIKE THIS,

AND I COULD FEEL, I MEAN I COULD FEEL THAT SOME- THING WAS WATCHING ME.

I MEAN IT WAS RIGHT THERE.

SO I THREW UP LIKE THIS AND THE DINGHY WENT ONE WAY,

AND I'M LOOKING AROUND LIKE THIS, AND I CAN, I CAN JUST...

I COULD SEE IT RIGHT OFF TO THE FAR LEFT,

STANDING OVERTOP OF A STUMP, JUST PRETTY AS YOU PLEASE,

LIKE A HUMAN BEING... GRIZZLY BEAR.

[ Bears growling ]

AND EVER SINCE THAT DAY, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD,

I'VE NEVER FIGURED OUT WHY IT HAPPENED.

NEVER. NEVER FROM THE MEDICINE MEN TO THE PSYCHOLOGISTS,

TO THE DREAM ANALYSTS, TO EVERYBODY.

IT JUST HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED,

AND IN THAT THE BEAR DIDN'T KILL ME,

I'VE BEEN ON HIS TRAIL EVER SINCE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Horses snorting/ galloping ]

[ Whistling ♪♪♪ ]

Interviewer: AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF WORK,

TROY HURTUBISE HAS DESIGNED AND BUILT A SUIT OF CLOTHING

THAT IS GUARANTEED TO PROTECT HIM AGAINST A GRIZZLY BEAR ATTACK.

TROY'S ON THE PHONE FROM NORTH BAY, ONTARIO. HI. GOOD MORNING.

Troy: [ On phone ] Good morning, how are you?

FINE. THIS TIME YOU'VE REALLY DONE IT, EH?

Well, it's taken a while but like you say,

yeah, finally we got there. It's about time.

YEAH, 'CAUSE YOU AND I HAVE TALKED A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES.

Yes, we have. A couple other times over the years.

BUT THIS IS THE SUIT?

Yeah, yeah, this is the suit.

$100,000 later and 7 years research,

We finally got to a suit capable of doing what we want

with regards to grizzly research.

NOW, DESCRIBE IT FOR ME, TROY. HOW BIG IS IT?

Ah, well, I'm 5'8" and when I close myself inside the suit,

I'm looking at about 7, 7'2".

That's the height of it. The weight's 147 pounds,

which is relatively light for its protec- tion capabilities.

And, uh, it's extremely large.

I mean, the head itself, the outer head,

There's, like, two chambers to it.

The outer head is, ah, you're probably looking at, you know,

2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet.

Troy: [ In suit ] I'M FOCUSING ON YOU. OKAY.

♪ I'VE GOT SPURS... ♪

♪ THAT JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE ♪

NO. UPHILL IS, IS,

OOH, GOING TO BE...

VERY... VERY DIFFICULT.

HERE.

Troy: [ Panting ]

LOWER IT DOWN THERE.

A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR LEFT.

THE LOG IS GOING TO BONK ME.

ARE YOU READY, TROY? I'M READY.

HERE IT COMES.

OKAY, GIT ON, GIT ON HIM, GUYS, GIT ON HIM.

GET THAT OFF.

GET IT OFF.

[ Mixed conversations ]

YOU KNOW WHAT THE AMAZING THING IS?

YOU KNOW THOSE JOUSTING COMPETITIONS?

HALF THE MEN DIDN'T EVEN DIE GETTING HIT.

IT'S WHEN THEY FELL OFF THE HORSE. YEAH.

IT'S WHEN THEY FELL OFF THE HORSE, THEY BREAK A LEG

OR BREAK THEIR NECK, YEAH. YEAH.

IT'S NOT SO YOU GET HIT BY THE LANCE AND YOU'RE NOT THINKING,

"OH, THAT HURT." YOU'RE THINKING, "OH, MY GOD, I'M FALLING."

AND THAT'S IT, WHEN THEY FELL OFF THE HORSES,

THEY NEEDED 2 MEN TO PICK THEM UP. YEAH, OH, YEAH!

STAND BY. HERE SHE COMES.

[ Heavy sigh ]

YOU OKAY? MM-HM.

[ Grunting ]

OKAY, TAKE HER OFF.

I GOT IT. OKAY. [ Sigh ]

HOW'D THAT ONE GO? BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

'CAUSE I HAD THAT, UH,

THAT STUFF IN MY MOUTH, YEAH. IF I HAVE A MOUTHPIECE,

A MOUTHPIECE YOU CAN DO THAT ALL DAY LONG.

I GOT THE AIR BAGS IN THE BACK, EH,

SO MY NECK HASN'T GOT A LOT OF PLACE

SO THAT'LL BE PERFECT FOR THE GRIZZLY.

I CAN, I CAN TAKE WHAT HE CAN GIVE ME.

WITH THAT, THERE'S NO PROBLEM, THAT LOG THERE,

IF THAT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME,

AND I FEEL GREAT, LIKE REALLY GREAT.

AND ACTUALLY, UH, MY LEFT HAND WAS ASLEEP, IT'S NOW AWAKE.

[ Laughter ] IT GOT THE BLOOD FLOWING.

NOW IF HE'S GOT THE SAME POWER, WHICH I DOUBT IT,

EVEN THE DOCTORS OF PHYSICS AT McMASTER UNIVERSITY,

THEY SAID THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE SAME,

IF YOU'RE GONNA SIMULATE THE SWAT OF A GRIZZLY BEAR,

YOU'VE GOTTA GO WITH A 300, 400 POUND LOG,

40 FEET ELEVATED, THEY DID THE PSI, THE G-FORCE.

THEY SAID THE GRIZZLY SWAT WILL NOT SUPERSEDE THAT.

SO I'M SAYING EVEN IF THAT IS WHAT A GRIZZLY CAN DO TO ME,

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT

TWO OR THREE TIMES CONSECUTIVELY.

BOY OH BOY, I'LL TELL YOU, THAT SURE TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE.

AND SHE STILL HELD UP.

GOOD GIRL, HO-HO, BOY.

HOO!

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Troy: THE BEAR THAT ATTACKED ME WAS A GRIZZLY,

BECAUSE I WAS IN HIS TERRITORY.

SEE ALL THE GRIZZLIES HAVE A LITTLE TUFT HERE?

WELL, HIS WAS PURE WHITE. IT WAS GHOST WHITE.

AND IT LOOKED LIKE AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD.

SO WHEN WE CAME IN CONFRONTATION,

BEFORE HE HIT ME, UM,

IT WASN'T A BEAR TO ME,

BECAUSE THEN OF COURSE, THAT'S THE WAY I AM.

TOO MUCH TIME IN THE BUSH, THE WIFE SAYS I'M NUTS.

BUT I TALK TO THINGS, THEY BECOME REAL,

SO I HAD TO GIVE HIM A NAME, SO HE CAN ASSOCIATE

AND SO I COULD ASSOCIATE WITH HIM.

SO I CALLED HIM "OLD MAN" BECAUSE HE HAD THE BEARD.

THAT'S WHAT I ASSOCIATED WITH.

SO NOW, WHENEVER I SEE A GRIZZLY, IT'S THE "OLD MAN".

AND WHEN I'M GOING INTO HIS TERRITORY,

I'M GOING INTO THE OLD MAN'S TERRITORY.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

YOU JUST LOVE THAT, EH, BUD?

NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT.

BUT IT'S ALREADY CURED, MY MAN,

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT LIKE A BUCKSKIN LIKE YOU THINK THERE.

THE DEER'S GONE.

Troy: URSUS ARCTUS HORRIBILIS.

OH, EH, BOY. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE BEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHOEVER GAVE HIM THE NAME OF THAT

BUT THAT'S WHAT PART OF THE NAME MEANS.

THEN YOU'VE GOT "BEAR" IN IT.

WHEN YOU GET THIS CLOSE TO A GRIZZLY,

THIS IS ABOUT HOW CLOSE I WAS, SO, UH, YEAH,

IT, IT TAKES ME BACK TO THAT, UH,

TO THAT, TO THAT MOMENT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE, WHEN I LOOK INTO THEIR EYES.

UH, UH, EVERY GRIZZLY'S THE OLD MAN,

BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME,

WITH REGARDS TO THE EYES.

SMALL, LITTLE, FATHOM- LESS PITS SUNK DEEP BACK IN THE HEAD THERE.

AND I, I... THEY'VE A FACE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS ONE HERE.

[ Clears throat ] SO WHEN I LOOK AT A GRIZZLY LIKE THIS

AND I'M THIS CLOSE, IT'S LIKE, "OH, YEAH,

WE'VE MET BEFORE."

EH?

[ Drum roll ]

Interviewer: WELL, YOU USED TO HIT IT WITH TWO BY FOURS.

Troy: YEAH. YEAH, WE WANTED TO, UH...

Interviewer: NOT A LOT OF BEARS CARRY BOWS AND ARROWS.

Troy: NO, BUT THEY HAVE SHARP CLAWS AND TEETH,

SO WE ASSUMED OUR, UH, OUR PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING,

SOME OF CANADA'S BEST ARE GOING TO BE SHOOTING

IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES THIS SUMMER.

CAPTAIN KEITH CUNNINGHAM WAS WITH US,

AND HE WAS, UH... Interviewer: HE SHOT AT YOU?

YEAH, NINE MILLIMETRE BARETTA SHOTGUNS WITH SABOT SLUGS.

NOW, IF THAT CAN'T PENETRATE THE OUTER BODY OF THIS SUIT,

CLAWS AND TEETH WON'T.

Troy: I GOT A GOOD SPRAY ON THAT ONE.

HIT ME OFF THE SHOULDER.

BOY, SHE SURE TAKES HER OFF, EH?

Troy: LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

OOH, STILL INTACT, EH?

NOTHING TO THE BALLOON AT ALL.

PERFECT.

Troy: REMEMBER WHEN THEY SHOT ALL THE BULBS OFF THE CHRISTMAS TREE?

AND YOU GAVE THEM SHIT.

OH, BOY, YOU WERE NOT IMPRESSED, EH?

AND THAT WAS A NICE, LITTLE GUN. YEAH, THAT WAS...

THAT WAS A HAND GUN. THAT WAS A HAND GUN,

A LITTLE PELLET GUN WITH THE GAS CHAMBER.

AND YOU AND UNCLE JOHN AND YOUR DAD SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM

WHILE I WAS IN MAKING THE TURKEY.

AND YOU SHOT ALL THE BULBS OFF MY CHRISTMAS TREE.

I DIDN'T SHOOT THE BULBS OFF THE TREE. I WAS A KID.

I DIDN'T EVEN GET, I NEVER GOT TO SHOOT THAT GUN ONCE.

OH, YOU DID SO. YOU WERE SITTIN' ON UNCLE JOHN'S LAP,

HE WAS HOLDING YOUR HAND. AND YOU SHOT ALL MY FAVOURITE...

I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THEM LEFT FOR GOD'S SAKES.

YOU SHOT THEM ALL OFF MY TREE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GUN.

I THINK DAD TOOK IT APART TO CLEAN IT ONE DAY,

AND NEVER FIXED IT. AND NEVER FIXED IT.

NEVER GOT IT BACK TOGETHER.

THAT WAS A NICE, LITTLE GUN TOO.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU BUILT THE VOLCANO?

OH, NO. DON'T TELL THAT ONE. THAT BURNT DAD'S HAIR RIGHT OFF.

OH, THAT WAS BAD. LIKE, HE BUILT A VOLCANO

THEN LEFT BLAIR ALONE IN A ROOM. I WAS 14.

I WAS 14. THEN HE'S RUNNING OUT IN THE KITCHEN

TO GET WATER TO COME IN AND THROW ON TOP OF THE VOLCANO.

REMEMBER THE BRADY BUNCH, WHERE THE GUY,

WHERE PETER BUILDS THE VOLCANO?

WELL, I BUILT ONE OF THESE IN THE BEDROOM

EXCEPT I WAS USING REAL GAS. YES!

AND I LIT IT AND IT CAUGHT THE WALL ON FIRE

AND IT CAUGHT ALL THE CURTAINS ON FIRE.

BUT IT WASN'T A BIG FLAME. IT WAS A BIG FLAME

BUT IT WASN'T A BIG FLAME. AND BLAIR

WAS IN THE BEDROOM. WAS SITTING ON THE BED, WATCHING HIM.

SO I SAID, "SHHH! DON'T SAY NOTHING, BLOOD. DON'T SAY NOTHING,

YOU'LL GET ME IN TROUBLE. I'M GONNA RUN OUT AND GET SOME WATER."

SO I RAN OUT AND GOT WATER, AND I DIDN'T KNOW

IF YOU MIX WATER WITH GASOLINE.

WELL, SHE COULD SEE THE FLAME THROUGH... WE WERE WATCHING TV,

I COULD SEE THIS FLAME OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE

AND I'M THINKING, "WHERE IS THAT BIG LIGHT COMING FROM?"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" I REMEMBER THAT.

HE NEVER HIT ME. HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING.

HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND I KNEW SERIOUS SHIT WAS GOING ON.

[ Bears growling ]

THE URSUS MARK I WE HAD,

JUST STRICTLY HOCKEY,

AND FOOTBALL PLASTICS AND THAT,

AND I WENT OUT AND SPENT $1000 ON COWHIDE

BECAUSE WE WERE GONNA DO THE DOG SCENES AND BLACK BEAR SCENES, EH.

AND COWHIDE WOULD WITHSTAND THE POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH OF A DOG OR A BEAR.

SO I COME DOWNSTAIRS AND I GOT IT ALL GLUED TOGETHER, EH,

THERE'S THE OLD MAN,

AH, SHIT, HE HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS IN HIM.

AND HE'S SITTING THERE AND HE'S JUST CONTEMPLATING

AND HE'S LOOKING AT ME LIKE THIS AND HE SAYS,

"OH, JEEZ", HE SAYS, "THIS IS GONNA DO WONDERS."

HE SAYS, "GET OVER HERE."

SO I COME OVER THERE AND HE,

HE GRABS A PIECE OF LEATHER ON THE LEG AND "RIP".

HE SAYS, "THERE YOU GO, THERE'S YOUR LEG THERE,

IT'S GONE OVER THERE." AND HE GRABS THE CHEST,

RIP, THERE IT GOES OVER THERE.

SO HE GOES AT THIS THING, THE GUY WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

HE GOES AT THIS THING IN A WEEK. I WATCH HIM,

I JUST WATCH HIM DO THE WHOLE THING.

AND HE, AND HE BUILDS THIS ONE-PIECE SUIT, PURE LEATHER.

IT WEIGHED LIKE 80 POUNDS SOLID LEATHER.

AND HE'S GOT A ZIPPER, THIS HUGE BROAD ZIPPER.

EVERYTHING ZIPPERED DOWN THE BACK AND YOU,

I'VE ALREADY GOT MY SUIT ON AND YOU WALK INTO THE OU...

THE OUTER SHELL OF LEATHER AND IT ZIPS UP THE BACK

AND THERE'S, OH! IT WAS PHENOMENAL. IT WITHSTOOD THE BLACK BEARS,

IT WITHSTOOD ALL THE DOGS, YOU KNOW.

BUT, THE PROBLEM WITH MY FATHER, WHY I CAN NEVER BRING HIM ON EXPEDITIONS,

WE BROUGHT HIM ONCE AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE.

I LOVE HIM BUT, UH, UM, TOO MANY CHIEFS.

MY FATHER LIKES TO BE IN COMMAND, TOO,

SO WHEN I GO WITH MY FATHER

IT'S ALWAYS LIKE YOU'RE PITTING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

[ Drums beating ]

Troy: SEE THIS STUFF HERE, YOU SEE,

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT YEAH...

HE DIDN'T HAVE NO BUDGET, DAD. HE USED TO...

I REMEMBER MY FATHER HAND CUTTING THESE

WITH A HATCHET ON THE BOTTOM, OVER 1000 POLES,

AND THEN BURNING THE TOPS.

CHARBURNING THE TOPS BY HAND IN AN OPEN PIT.

HE DIDN'T HAVE NOBODY TO HELP HIM.

THEY HAD NO BUDGET.

THEY WERE REALLY BURNT. YEAH.

LOOK AT THAT, EH. LIKE, YOU KNOW,

IF YOU CAN LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND IN LIFE, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, UH,

PA EVER COMPLAINS ABOUT NEVER DOING NOTHING IN LIFE,

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, LIKE HE ALWAYS WANTED

TO LEAVE SOME- THING BEHIND?

LOOK AT THAT. YOU GOT ME TRAPPED.

I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING THE RIGHT WAY.

THIS IS 20 YEARS AND I STILL GET TRAPPED.

NOW SEE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN STONED TO DEATH.

THEY'D BEEN POURING HOT WATER... THERE'S THE CAT- WALK RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S THE CATWALK. SEE?

AND I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS AND I STILL GET SCREWED WITH IT.

SEE, IT'S THAT SIDE RIGHT THERE. THAT YOU HAVE TO GET IN.

I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO, I GUESS A SON ALWAYS DOES,

ALWAYS WANTS TO MAKE, UH, HIS FATHER PROUD OF HIM.

AND EVEN AT 40, 50,

IF I WAS 50, I'D STILL BE TRYING TO MAKE MY FATHER PROUD OF ME.

IT'S JUST THIS, THIS THING.

GOD MUST INSTILL IT IN YOU WHEN YOU'RE A KID

AND YOU GOTTA LIVE WITH IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

BUT, UH, WHEN I CREATED THE SUIT AND I WORKED WITH IT

AND I KNOW MY FATHER WAS VERY ENTHUSED WITH IT

AND HE SAW WHERE I WAS GOING AND HE WAS WITH ME ON MY DREAM.

UM, I ALWAYS WOULD SAY, IN MY MIND, WHEN I THINK OF MY FATHER

I THINK OF THE INDIAN VILLAGE THAT HE BUILT.

I MEAN THIS IS A MONUMENT IN MY MIND AND, UH,

WHEN I WAS BUILDING THE SUIT, I COULD SEE WHERE I WOULD SAY,

"OKAY, I'M THE SAME AGE MY FATHER WAS WHEN HE BUILT THE VILLAGE,

SO HE'S BUILDING THE VILLAGE AND I'M BUILDING THE SUIT."

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Troy: MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ARE HERE, MY ONLY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

THIS IS IT, THIS IS WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED.

AND IT WAS ONLY THREE YEARS. BUT YOU KNOW,

WHEN I LOOK AT MY CHILDHOOD, IT WAS LIKE

IT MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN 50.

IT SEEMED LIKE WE LIVED AN ETERNITY RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS WHERE EVERY- THING STARTED FOR ME,

I THINK IN LIFE FROM, UH,

KNOWING WHAT THE BUSH WAS ALL ABOUT,

AND MY FIRST GAME OF CHESS WITH MY FATHER.

YOU KNOW, HUNTING, MY FIRST BOW,

FISHING, ANYTHING THAT I EVER DID WAS,

IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE AT THE INDIAN VILLAGE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Horse neighing]

[ Drums beating ]

Troy's voice: THE BIGGEST FEAR I HAVE,

SINCE I CAN REMEMBER IN MY TEENS,

AND THE ONE THAT CAUSES ME THE MOST TURMOIL IN MY LIFE,

IS, UM, MONOTONY.

BEING BORED, BEING AVERAGE.

I'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME THE EDGE.

AND WHEN I RUN OUT OF THE EDGE, I'M IN BIG TROUBLE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Troy: OKAY IN THE BACK?

THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE,

I GRADUATED AS A NATURAL RESOURCES TECHNOLOGIST.

UH, SEVEN YEARS OF BEAR RESEARCH, AND WITH REGARDS TO COLLEGE,

I NEVER WORKED A DAY IN MY FIELD.

THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I GRADUATED INTO A RECESSION

AND STARTED INTO THE SCRAP METAL BUSINESS.

YEAH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS LIKE A TYRANNO- SAURUS REX RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS LIKE 100 GRIZZLY BEARS.

MY SUIT IS ABOUT TWO SECONDS AND THEN I'M DEAD IN THIS.

THIS IS THE WIFE'S EX-CAR HERE.

AAAH, BOY. I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOT A BIG JACQUES COUSTEAU,

JUST A LITTLE JACQUES COUSTEAU.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD I WANT

WITH MY RESEARCH TEAM, MY SUIT,

AND BE ABLE TO DO RESEARCH WHEREVER I WANTED.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Troy's voice: YOU WANT TO LEARN THE BEHAVIOURAL ASPECTS OF BEARS,

YOU GOTTA LIVE WITH THEM. YOU'VE GOTTA SEE WHAT THEY SEE,

YOU CAN'T, IT'S, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM JUST STUDYING THEM FROM FILMS.

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM STUDYING THEM EVEN ON LOCATION,

BUT FROM AN OPTICAL POINT.

UM, YOU HAVE TO SIT WITH THEM, BE THERE.

THEY'RE WALKING AROUND YOU. YOU'RE SEEING WHAT THEY'RE SEEING,

YOU'RE SMELLING WHAT THEY'RE SMELLING,

YOU'RE WATCHING HOW THEY INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER

AT THREE, FOUR FEET AWAY.

THAT'S CLOSE QUARTER BEAR RESEARCH.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Bear growls ]

THIS IS WHERE WE HOLD THE FORT. YEAH.

THIS IS WHERE I GET IN SHIT FROM MY WIFE ALL THE TIME.

MY FIRST TWO YEARS OF MARRIAGE I USED TO COME HERE ALL THE TIME

AND THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAD TO COMPROMISE.

I'M ALLOWED OUT EVERY, EVERY SECOND NIGHT.

FROM 11:00 O'CLOCK 'TIL, AND IT'S TIMED PERFECT, EH.

11:00 O'CLOCK... 1:30, GO HOME.

NOW, THERE YOU GO NOW. YOU SEE THAT BEAR RIGHT THERE?

YEAH. THAT WAS THE SAME ONE LAST YEAR,

THAT'S THE ONE TONIGHT.

I'LL BET YOU FIVE TO ONE THAT WAS THE SAME ONE. LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH. THAT WAS A BIG BEAR.

OH YEAH. AND HE WAS BIGGER THAN THAT.

LOOK AT THE HEAD ON THAT BEAR.

LIKE THAT IS A BIG BEAR, BOY.

AND HE WAS BIGGER THAN THAT.

Man: THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN THERE.

YEAH, YEAH.

BIG, BIG BEARS. OH, HE WAS BEAUTIFUL. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN

THE WHITE CREST COMING DOWN THERE AND THAT'S RARE.

YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF BLACK BEARS LIKE THAT.

HE HAD A CREST COMING DOWN ON HIM LIKE THAT. OH.

JUST WHITE, JUST PURE WHITE "V",

YOU KNOW, TYPICAL "V".

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. OH.

Man: DID YOU HAPPEN TO START ON A SONG FOR US YET?

Men: YEAH. WHAT ABOUT OUR SONG?

YEAH. PICK A GOOD TITLE THERE AND...

PLAY THAT CHARO BELL.

NO, NO, BUT I KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE HEADING.

[ Singing ] ♪ ALBERTA BOUND

YEAH. ♪ ALBERTA BOUND

THERE WE ARE.

THIS IS, THIS IS PURELY CANADIAN.

SEE, WE DO THIS SOMETIMES 3:00, 4:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

♪ ALBERTA BOUND ALBERTA BOUND ♪

♪ IT'S GOOD TO BE

♪ ALBERTA BOUND

♪ ALBERTA BOUND ALBERTA BOUND ♪

♪ THE BOYS ARE GRIZZLY BOUND ♪

♪ ALBERTA BOUND

♪ ALBERTA BOUND ALBERTA BOUND ♪

WHAT ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES?

♪ GOOD TO BE IN GRIZZLY BOUND ♪

OH. I GOT A GRIZZLY, RIGHT ON.

[ Drum roll ]

Interviewer: SO TELL ME, I WANT TO KNOW

WHAT YOU DID THIS TIME THAT YOU DIDN'T...

'CAUSE I'M TOLD YOU WENT OFF THE ESCARPMENT.

Troy: YEAH. WELL, TO TEST THE SUIT TO THE FULL LIMITS,

IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOVERNMENT STILL WASN'T PLEASED

WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IN DOING OUR RESEARCH,

IF A BEAR DID ATTACK THAT I WOULD BE SAVED

OR COME OUT OF IT UNSCATHED, SO THIS MARKUP...

Interviewer: IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD TO ME THE FIRST TIME.

Troy: IT DID BUT IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THOSE.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE BUILT ANOTHER SUIT

WHICH WE HAD PLANNED TO DO. AND RE-DID THE TEST,

THIS TIME MAGNIFYING IT TO, TO, HOW WOULD ONE SAY, REFUTE ALL.

WE PUSHED THE TRUCKS UP, THE 3 TONNE TRUCKS,

AT 50 KILOMETRES AN HOUR. AND THEN OF COURSE WE...

Interviewer: A 3 TONNE TRUCK RAN INTO YOU AT 50 KILOMETRES AN HOUR?

Troy: 18 TIMES.

AND THEN WE... Interviewer: WAIT, NO WAIT.

[ Laughter ]

Interviewer: NOW DON'T LAUGH, THIS IS SERIOUS SCIENCE.

Troy: I KNOW BUT MOST PEOPLE LOOK AND SAY,

"JEEZ, THIS IS A LITTLE LUDICROUS."

Troy's voice: IT WAS MY FATHER'S IDEA, WITH THE PICKUP TRUCK,

AND THE BIKERS WITH REGARDS TO BIG MEN.

BEING AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, HE...

HE LOOKED AT THE TESTINGS WE HAD ORIGINALLY DONE

WITH NORMAL SIZE MEN, YOU KNOW, 150, 180 POUND

AND HE SAID, "THE PUBLIC ISN'T GONNA BUY IT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS MONSTROUS GRIZZLY BEAR

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A NORMAL SIZED MAN

HITTING YOU WITH BATS AND BOARDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BUY IT. YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM REALITY."

[ ♪♪♪ ]

ALL RIGHT, SHOULD BE ENOUGH.

[ Groans ]

OHO, JEEZ, I CAN JIG AROUND.

HI, DEEBLE-DEE-DEE.

GET THAT UPPER BODY OFF AND I FEEL GREAT.

OH, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU DID, EH?

LOOK AT THAT, EH? TOOK A LOT THOUGH.

I HEARD SOMEBODY BANGING AWAY.

LIKE A WOODPECKER OUT THERE.

SHE FINALLY BROKE. THAT TAKES A LOT TO BREAK THAT THOUGH, EH?

OH, LOOKA THAT, EH. OUT SHE WENT.

Troy's voice: I'M CLAUSTROPHOBIC TO BEGIN WITH.

LIKE BAD CLAUSTROPHOBIC.

OH, MAN, I'M TELLING YOU IT IS JUST...

[ Whistles ] IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SCARES YOU MOST.

WHEN YOU GET INTO THIS SUIT

AND THEY LOCK THAT UPPER BODY ON ME,

AND THEY SHUT THAT HEAD. I KNOW, YOU SEE,

THIS IS WHERE THE MARTIAL ARTS COMES IN,

DEEP CONCENTRATION OR I GO PSYCHOTIC.

I MEAN, YOU COULD DIE. YOU CAN HAVE A HEART ATTACK IN HERE.

I KNOW THAT WHEN IT'S LOCKED ONTO THE CHEST

AND THE HEAD COMES DOWN,

I, ALONE, CANNOT GET OUT OF THE SUIT.

Troy: [ In suit ] NO WAY. I'M GONNA SINK! GET ME OUT!

OKAY, HERE. HERE...

BACK HER UP, J.P. NO, I'M STUCK.

THAT'S IT! GET ME OUTTA HERE.

GET ME OUT! OH, FUCK!

OKAY, HANG ON. PULL ME OUT.

OKAY, OH, HANG ON.

TAKE THE ARMS OFF, LET ME GET A GOOD STANCE.

TAKE THE ARMS OFF AND THE UPPER BODY. FUCK IT.

SHE'LL NEVER DO IT.

IT'S QUICKSAND.

FUCK, YOU SINK A FOOT AND A HALF IN THE MUD.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

Troy's voice: I FIND MYSELF BORED WITH BLACK BEARS,

AFTER ALL THE RESEARCH. IF I'M SITTING IN THE DUMP AND THEY'RE ALL AROUND ME,

YOU FALL ASLEEP AT TIMES. IT'S, IT'S... YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEE THE GRIZZLY.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE IN GRIZZLY COUNTRY

AND THE ADRENALINE... YOU START TO RIDE THE THUNDER.

THERE IT IS AND YOU CAN FEEL IT, YOU CAN FEEL IT,

AND, BOY, YOU GET CLOSER TO IT AND CLOSER.

AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE IT, YOU'RE JUST...

YOU'RE ON THE THUNDER AND YOU'RE JUST RIDING IT.

WELL, HERE IT IS, THE MARK VI.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

SEVEN YEARS, $150,000. LOTTA PAIN,

LOTTA SACRIFICE, LOTTA BULLSHIT.

BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. GO AHEAD, ROY, LIFT HER UP THERE.

WE'LL TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT.

THIS IS MY PRIDE AND JOY OF THE WHOLE SUIT.

THIS IS MY BABY, THE UPPER BODY.

THIS SITS FROM MY MIDDLE CHEST TO THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THE STRESS, LIKE THIS HERE.

NOW, YOU CAN PARK A TRUCK ON THIS CHEST,

YOU CAN PARK A TRUCK ON MY SHOULDERS.

4000 POUNDS AND NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I'M NOT GONNA FEEL ANYTHING.

ALL THE STRESS IS GONNA BE ON THE STOMACH AND THE LOWER BACK.

BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, IF YOU GET INSIDE OF IT LIKE THIS,

YOU CAN STICK YOUR HAND IN BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY WHERE MY SHOULDERS SIT,

SO I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING UP HERE.

YOU CAN BANG ON THAT ALL DAY LONG IF YOU WANT

AND NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME.

THIS IS MY LITTLE LIFESAVER HERE, THE PROVERBIAL BLACK BOX.

AIRPLANES USE THEM IN CASE THEY CRASH.

YEAH, IF I DIE, MY SON GETS TO PLAY IT AND, UH,

MY LAST WORDS IS "SON, DON'T SCREW AROUND WITH THIS KIND OF BULLSHIT.

WE DON'T WANT YOU DOING THIS, YOUR MOTHER'LL HAVE A FIT."

BUT WHEN THE GRIZZLY'S ON ME

AND HIS TEETH ARE POPPING AND HIS JAW'S POPPING

AND HE'S GROWLING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO RECORD IT ALL.

AND WE'LL GET ACTUAL VOICE AUDIO FROM THE BEAR THAT CLOSE IN.

THIS WHOLE FRONT HERE CONTAINS, UH, TITANIUM.

SO YOUR FIRST LAYER'S RUBBER. HE'LL RIP THAT OFF, GUARANTEED.

HE'S GOT SIX-INCH CLAWS, HE'S GONNA RIP IN THERE.

THOUGH THIS RUBBER, UH, COMES FROM MINNESOTA.

THIS STUFF IS SO STRONG, IT'LL STOP A HIGH-SPEED DRILL,

POP IT RIGHT OUT OF THE BIT. THIS STUFF'S SO STRONG, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

EVEN AN EXACTO KNIFE HAS A HARD TIME ON THIS.

BUT WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF ADVANTAGE.

HE RIPS OFF THE RUBBER, THAT'S FINE.

HE'S GONNA HIT A WALL OF TITANIUM.

BEYOND THE WALL OF TITANIUM, HE'S GONNA HIT CHAIN MAIL.

THEN HE'S GONNA HIT TEK PLASTIC.

THEN HE'S GONNA HIT ANOTHER WALL OF TITANIUM.

AND THEN HE'S GONNA HIT ANOTHER WALL OF TEK PLASTIC,

THEN HE'S GOT SIX-INCH AIR BAGS.

IF HE GETS THAT FAR, HE CAN HAVE ME, THERE'S NO PROBLEM THERE.

WE'LL GIVE HIM THAT FOR THE DAY. BUT THERE SHE IS,

SHE'S WELL-PROPOR- TIONED, 32 POUNDS. SHE SITS WELL ON ME.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL.

[ Whistling ♪♪♪ ]

Robot: [ On screen ] ... come quietly, or there will be trouble.

[ Whistling ♪♪♪ ]

[ Chatting ]

WATCH OUT, HONEY. NOT IN THE WATER, BABY.

Troy: YOU NEVER SAY NOTHING, MOM. ME?

Troy: YOU'RE ALWAYS QUIET.

SINCE I STARTED THIS SEVEN YEARS AGO,

YOU'VE NEVER SAID ONE THING. DON'T YOU FEAR?

DON'T YOU? I KNOW YOU. BUT YOU DON'T LET NOTHING OUT ON THIS ONE.

Mother: I'M NOT EVEN CON- CERNED ABOUT YOU,

LIKE I'M NOT CONCERNED. I KNOW IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE.

BUT I'VE JUST KNOWN ALL YOUR LIFE THAT'S,

YOU'VE ALWAYS LIVED DANGEROUSLY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND BELIEVE ME, TROY,

THEY'VE GOT LEAGUES OF ANGELS AROUND YOU.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING OVERTIME WITH YOU.

Both: [ Laughing ]

THEY SAY, "THERE GOES THAT FOOL AGAIN."

BLAIR I DON'T WORRY ABOUT 'CAUSE I KNOW HE'S,

BLAIR WOULDN'T TAKE ANY DANGEROUS CHANCES LIKE YOU DO.

YEAH. SO, HE STAYS BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT YOU...

HE'S JUST A SUBTLE GUY, EH. YEAH.

UH... I'LL HAVE A DRAG. THANK YOU, SIR.

I CAN'T TALK WITH A CIGARETTE IN MY MOUTH, THOUGH.

THANK YOU, SIR. OH, THAT'S GOOD, OH.

HEY, THAT'S A BATTLE AND THAT'S A PREMO- NITION DREAM THERE.

IT STARTS OFF ALWAYS THE SAME. I'M FALLING INTO THIS, UH,

LIKE A BLACK ABYSS, AND IT'S DARK,

AND I JUST KEEP FALLING, FREE-FALLING.

AND IT'S EROTIC IN THE WAY THAT I'M TOTALLY,

THE FEAR THAT'S COMING OVER ME IS JUST CRIPPLING.

AND AS I'M FALLING, I WANT TO GET OUT OF IT

BUT THEN I WANNA GO DOWN DEEPER 'CAUSE I WANNA EXPLORE.

SO I'M FIGHTING BETWEEN GOING DOWN AND COMING UP.

I USUALLY COME UP. AND WHENEVER THAT DREAM OCCURS,

ALWAYS SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. SO FROM NOW ON I...

WHATEVER I'M GONNA DO THAT DAY, I DON'T DO IT.

WELL, LIKE THE MEDICINE MAN SAID,

HE SAID IF IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE NIGHTMARE -

A PERSON, A BEING, AN ANIMAL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

BUT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE DEMONIC,

THEY'RE, THEY'RE AFRO- BEINGS AND DEMONS

COMING AT YOU AND IT'S LIKE, I DUNNO.

HE THINKS I'LL DIE AT THE HANDS OF A GRIZZLY.

THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT.

SO THAT REALLY LOOKS GOOD FOR THE ROCKIES IN ABOUT A WEEK.

THE WIFE'S NOT TOO PLEASED. THAT WAS HIS THEORY.

HE SAYS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE OLD MAN,

YOU'LL MEET HIM AGAIN, AND, UH, IF THE ENCOUNTER HAPPENS

LIKE IT DID BEFORE, YOU'LL DIE.

BUT HE SAYS LIKE ALL THE NATIVES, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO DIE.

SO I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE WAITING ANYWAY. BUT THAT'S WHY I GOT THE SUIT.

SEE, I GOTTA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE OUT THERE.

Announcer: In the dead of night a bear attacked campers

at Lake Louise, Alberta.

OH, OH, OH. Five people were injured,

four of them are being treated for cuts, bites and punctures.

Park wardens are now out looking for a grizzly and her cub.

Christine McNab reports.

Christine: Park wardens say the grizzly bear ripped through three tents

at around 3:00 o'clock this morning. THREE TENTS!

Two people, including a German and an Australian tourist,

were badly injured, with bites and gashes.

They're in a Calgary hospital and will have surgery today.

Another Australian and a woman from Montana

JESUS! were also hurt, but not as badly.

They're in the Banff hospital and doctors are stitching them up.

IN BANFF OF ALL PLACES. Here in Lake Louise

the campground is closed, as are many of the trails.

Park wardens are warning people on bicycles and on foot

to stay well away from the area.

Park wardens are still on the lookout for the bear.

They think it's a medium- sized grizzly with a year and a half year old cub.

They believe this bear has... MEDIUM-SIZED GRIZZLY, WE GOT A FEMALE.

... ripped unoccupied tents apart earlier this week and also chased a cyclist.

Chief warden says if they find the bear,

she and her cub will likely be destroyed. JESUS.

Christine McNab, CBC News, Lake Louise.

JESUS! FIVE INJURED! UNBELIEVABLE. FIVE INJURED.

35 MILES FROM WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE.

AND HER TERRITORY, SHE CAN WALK THAT IN FOUR HOURS.

IF THEY DON'T SHOOT HER, WE'LL MEET HER, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THAT'LL BE SOMETHING. BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THIS HUGE BEAR.

THEY'RE NOT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE THIS DIFFERENT,

THIS MISCONCEPTION HERE OF THESE MON- STERS COMING OUT.

YOU WATCH. I'LL BET SHE'S JUST BIGGER THAN A BOUVIER,

THIS BEAR WILL BE 180 POUNDS,

210 POUNDS, UNDERFED. UNBELIEVABLE.

Announcer The anti-smoking group...

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Troy's voice: IT'S ALWAYS THE TRIP UP ON ALL THE EXPEDITIONS.

IT'S NOT THE ACTUAL SITTING WITH THE BEARS OR DOING THE RESEARCH,

WHICH IS IRONIC, YOU'D THINK IT WOULD BE.

IT'S THE ANTICIPATION, THE ADRENALINE, THE RUSH.

[ Helicopter whirring ]

UH, TROY'S GOING TO BE MOVING ALONG THE TRAIL

THAT'S ALONG THIS TREE LINE

ON THIS LARGE, BLONDE RIDGE LINE DOWN HERE.

AND, UH, BY THE TIME HE GETS AROUND

TO ABOUT THE CORNER OF THAT RIDGE LINE,

WE EXPECT THE BEAR TO BE TAKING OFFENCE

TO HIM BEING IN ITS TERRITORY,

AND WE'LL BE HITTING HIM SOMEWHERES THERE.

RICO, YOU AND I, AS SOON AS WE GET TROY DRESSED

AND ON HIS WAY DOWN OVER IN HERE, HE'LL BE,

WE'LL BE COMING DOWN OFF OF THAT,

THAT RIDGE LINE AND GETTING DOWN

INTO THE LOW, OPEN GROUND DOWN IN THROUGH HERE.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS IF TROY STUMBLES OR FALLS IN THERE,

WE CAN JUST CUT RIGHT BACK UP TO THE RIDGE LINE,

STAND HIM BACK UP WITH, WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUSS AND MUSS,

GET RIGHT BACK DOWN IN AGAIN AND HE CAN CONTINUE ON.

SURE, DOWN THERE.

WE'LL MOVE RIGHT AROUND INTO THE LOW GROUND OVER HERE

SO THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION TO MOVE UP

AND PROTECT AND DEFEND AS REQUIRED.

Troy: ALL WE WANT, THE WORST TO HAPPEN TO THAT BEAR

IS THAT HE'S PISSED OFF. LIKE, YOU KNOW,

I DON'T WANT NO INJURY TO HIM.

Troy: RIGHT.

NOW SEE, THERE'S A BIG SCENARIO WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT, RIGHT?

YEAH, WHAT IF I, YOU KNOW.

Man: IF YOU FALL,

I THINK YOU'RE GONNA LAY THERE FAIRLY FLAT. Troy: OKAY.

AND WE'LL JUST COME, WE'LL JUST COME RIGHT BACK UP,

STAND YOU BACK UP AND GO RIGHT BACK DOWN.

AND RON'LL BE ON YOUR ASS

WHERE THAT BEAR IS, RIGHT, RON?

CALL ON RADIO, IN OTHER WORDS DON'T,

IF YOU, IF HE DECIDES TO BREAK OFF, EATING,

BECAUSE WE GOT A LITTLE COMMOTION,

HE PICKS US UP. HE'LL PICK US UP IN THE WIND, EASY.

UH, HE STARTS MOVING TOWARDS THE TREE LINE.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA SIGNAL, SAY, "HE'S ON THE RUN."

SO HE COULD BE COMING OUT ANYWHERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUT THERE'S NO POINT IN JUST LEAVING YOU THERE.

THERE'S NO POINT IN CAN- CELLING THE WHOLE THING

JUST 'CAUSE YOU FELL DOWN.

WE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THE CHANCE OF HIM SEEING, OF HIM,

OF THE NOISE, AND HIM RUNNING OFF,

WHICH, WHICH ISN'T LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

WE'LL JUST GO UP THERE, STAND YOU BACK UP,

GET YOU GOING AGAIN AND JUST COME RIGHT,

THERE WON'T BE ANY NOISE FROM US.

OKAY. WHEN I YELL, "WHISKY,"

AND I'M IN TROUBLE, OR I WANT TO GET OUT OF THE SUIT,

AND THE OTHER GUYS ARE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THERE,

AND YOU GUYS ARE IN THIS POSITION HERE,

IT'S NOT GONNA BE JUST ONE POP

AND THEN THE, THE BIRD BOMB GOES OFF.

IT'S GONNA BE LIKE THIS, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

SO YOU LET 'EM GO, KEITH. JUST SHOW ME HOW SHE'S GONNA GO.

Troy: AND THEN THE BIG ONES HERE,

YOU GOT ONE OF THOSE, RICO?

BIG BABIES?

THESE ARE A LIFE- SAVER RIGHT HERE.

NOW BESIDES, YEAH, YEAH, NOW.

THIS IS, MY UNCLE JOHN'LL HAVE THESE

AND HE'LL BE COMING DOWN THE RIDGE.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS, WHAT THE HELL THESE THINGS ARE?

THEY'RE JUST LIKE A BIG FIRECRACKER.

YOU LIGHT THEM THE SAME WAY YOU DO A TRIP FLARE.

AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE FUSE ON THEM,

ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN THROW THEM

AND THEY GO OFF WITH A BIT LOUDER BANG THAN WHAT YOU SAW.

LOTS OF SMOKE. YEAH. LOUD FLASH, LOTS OF SMOKE.

AND THAT SHOULD STARTLE THEM AS WELL.

SO WE'VE GOT THESE CONTINUOUSLY FIRING OUT OF THE GUN,

AND THEN WE GOT UNCLE JOHN

JUST LOBBING THESE THINGS IN, JUST LIKE GRENADES.

SO YOU GOT A LOT GOING ON. AND THEN YOU GOT, UH, RICO.

AND YOU GOT, UH, TWO OF THE OTHER WRANGLERS UP THERE,

FIRING INTO THE AIR, OR MAYBE BLOWING UP DIRT IN FRONT OF THEM.

SO WITH ALL THIS COMMOTION AND THAT,

HOLY JEEZ, I'M GONNA TELL YOU,

HE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A POSSESSED BEAR

TO STILL BE STICKING AROUND, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

[ ♪♪♪ ]

BASICALLY, EVERYTHING UP HERE IS A, IS, IS THE EDGE FOR ME.

I MEAN, MY FIRST HORSEBACK RIDING,

THE FIRST TIME IN THE ROCKIES,

UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING. MY FIRST TIME 10 METRES FROM A GRIZZLY.

NO, BUT I FEEL A LOT... THE EDGE IS THERE

AND IT'S FABULOUS TO GET THE RUSH OF ADRENALINE.

I MEAN, THE GRIZZLY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE THERE,

JUST THE THOUGHT OF IT BEING THAT DISTANCE

IS ENOUGH TO GET THAT ADRENALINE FLOWING,

BUT WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT THREE GOOD MEN HERE

THAT, UH, THAT ARE GOOD TO HAVE BEHIND YOU,

YOU KNOW, AT YOUR BACK, HOPEFULLY IN THE FRONT.

HOPEFULLY ANYWHERE THEY'RE STANDING.

I MEAN, IT FEELS PRETTY SAFE.

BUT, UH, TO BE HONEST, PRETTY, WELL,

ANY TIME I'M AROUND TROY, I HAVE THE EDGE. SO...

BUT I DON'T GO LOOKING FOR IT FOR MYSELF.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WENT TO VIETNAM, I SUPPOSE,

WAS, WAS FOR THE FUN, TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE,

AND TO GET A, A FEEL FOR WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN COMBAT.

WE WERE OUT ON A MISSION

THAT HAD A REAL QUIET AREA OF OPERATION,

NOTHING HAPPENED.

AND, AND WE WERE GETTING FIDGETY AND NEEDED THE FIX

AND SO WE PLAYED THE GAME THAT WE CALLED "OUTRUN THE HAND-GRENADE".

AND, UH, AND THE RULES WERE QUITE SIMPLE.

YOU PULLED A HAND- GRENADE OUTTA YOUR BELT,

YOU PULLED THE PIN, YOU POPPED THE SPOON,

AND YOU HAD TO SET IT AT YOUR FEET.

YOU COULDN'T THROW IT AT YOUR FEET,

YOU HAD TO POP THE SPOON, SET IT AT YOUR FEET.

AND THEN YOUR CHOICE WAS TO EITHER RUN

JUST AS HARD AND FAST DOWN THE TRAIL AS, THAT, UNTIL IT WENT OFF.

OR, UH, YOU WOULD SELECT A PIECE OF GROUND

THAT HAD JUST THE SLIGHTEST LITTLE DEPRESSION IN IT.

AND THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM MAYBE A COUPLE OF STEPS AWAY

TO, TO JUST AN ARM'S LENGTH AWAY.

AND YOU'D JUST GET DOWN IN THAT DEPRESSION

AND LAY AS FLAT AS YOU CAN UNTIL IT WENT OFF.

AND THEN YOU'D SORT OF FEEL AROUND

AND EVERYTHING IS, UH, IS STILL IN ONE PLACE.

AND YOU'D GET UP AND... AND FEELING GOOD

'CAUSE YOU HAD THAT ADRENALINE, ADRENALINE RUSH.

Troy: I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION,

"WHAT'S YOUR EDGE?" NOT "WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR?"

I'M NOT HERE TO FLY WITHOUT A PARACHUTE, THAT DON'T LOOK GOOD.

NO, I'M HERE FOR THE GRIZZLY.

I'M HERE FOR THE PRESERVATION PART OF IT.

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHEN THE NEXT ONE'S GONNA BE.

I DON'T KNOW.

Man: WE GOT POLAR BEARS JUST UP THE HILL.

Men: YEAH. YEAH.

Troy: ANOTHER SUIT.

EASY, BOY. EASY.

HOLY SHIT! THOSE ARE THE BIG BOYS. HOO, BOY. YEAH.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ On radio ] Uh, this is Keith.

Troy's gonna try and, uh, and use the suit here

and walk along this little trail that goes around this little point.

What kind of a, a visual do you have on, on the trail here? Over.

This is Ron. From the location where I'm at right now,

I can see your extreme left and I can see the extreme right.

I can see all the people down below me

and it's just a perfect spot should a bear come out at any angle,

I'll be able to cover it from here. Over.

This is Keith. Okay, that sounds good.

Once you see Troy starting to move,

can you start a watch and, uh,

time it to the edge of the gully on the other side?

This is Ron. That shouldn't be any problem.

I can see him perfectly from where I'm at.

It's just a matter of you letting me know

when he's actually gonna start the first step,

and as soon as he does that,

I'll be able to start the timing.

I think he's gonna have a little bit of a rough time, though,

because the terrain is a bit rough

and that suit's awful heavy, and we'll see how it goes. Over.

Man's voice: ...IF THE GUY GOES OVER THE FRONT, COMES UP...

LOOK AT THAT. YOU LIKE THAT STANCE?

YOU LIKE THAT?

THAT'S A AABB, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

COULD YOU STAND BEHIND ME, PLEASE.

YOU GOTTA HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR.

I MEAN THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS YOU CAN DIE.

AND AS IN "THE LEGENDS OF THE FALL",

THE CHIEF SAID, "IS A GOOD WAY TO DIE."

UNTIL THAT THING'S BARRELLING OUT OF THE BUSH.

YEAH.

UNTIL THE THING COMES BARRELLING OUT OF THE BUSH,

THEN ALL VIEWS CHANGE.

LOOK AT KEITH. HE'S WORRIED, HE'S GOT PEANUTS.

Keith: OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM. ARE WE GONNA GET GOING HERE OR WHAT?

THOSE LEGS ARE TOO FAR APART, BLOOD.

THAT'S IT.

NOW I'LL NEED MY UNCLE JOHN IN THE BACK

'CAUSE HE'S GOT THE TALLEST SHOULDER.

YOU HOLD THE FRONT, BLAIR. 'MEMBER WHEN...

WE HAVE IT ALL WORKED OUT.

HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT. HE'S NOT EVEN LISTENING.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT ALL WORKED OUT. ALL RIGHT.

JEEZ, YOU KNOW? I'M TELLING YOU.

[ On radio ] This is Keith...

WHOOPS. SORRY.

Rico and I are now moving down the side of the ridge line. Over.

BOY, SHE'S BEEN GOING IN A LOT EASIER, EH.

I'M IN ALREADY. GOOD MAN.

'KAY, JUST C'MON OVER HERE.

[ On radio ] This is Ron. I've got him covered good from where I'm at,

so if Rico takes the centre of the whole thing

and then you take the extreme right up in that little gully,

that, we should have everything covered all the way around. Over.

This is Keith. Okay, that's a plan.

We'll go with it. Nothing more. Out.

YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE CRAZY,

I MEAN ALL THIS RESEARCH AND ALL THIS TIME

AND HOPE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT MY HONEST OPINION?

IF A GRIZZLY IS FEEDING ON THAT, UH, UH,

FOOD UP THERE THAT HE'S KILLED OR WHATEVER,

WHEREVER HE IS, I'M GONNA ROUND THAT BEND,

AND HE'S GONNA TAKE ONE LOOK. HE'S GONNA BE GONE SO FAST MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN.

HERE'S WHAT'S GONNA HAVE TO HAPPEN.

AND IT COULD WORK.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO DRESS RIGHT AT THE VERY TOP.

YEAH, I WOULD. THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. RIGHT OVER THERE.

GRIZZLY'S EATING, RIGHT? OKAY.

GRIZZLY'S IN SIGHT, THE GRIZZLY'S EATING.

WE GET THE CALL FROM RON.

WE WALK RIGHT UP TO THE TOP.

THAT'S WHERE THE SUIT'S GONNA BE TETHERED TONIGHT,

RIGHT AT THE VERY TOP,

SO LIKE 100 FEET FROM THIS GRIZZLY BEAR.

[ Crash ]

Troy: SON OF A BITCH.

NO, LEAVE IT FLAT DOWN.

HILLS, FORGET IT. I NEEDED A MEADOW IS WHAT I NEEDED.

MINUTE I HIT A BUMP, I'M GONE.

GRAB IT BACK THERE.

GET THAT ARM OUT THERE.

OKAY, THERE.

YEAH, THESE, THESE ARE WHAT'S KILLING ME HERE.

WHOO, BABY.

TOO, UH, TOO MUCH PADDING ON.

WELL, I BLEW THAT. SON OF A BITCH.

WELL, IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A MEADOW OR IT'S GONNA BE NOTHING

'CAUSE I CAN'T WALK TWO FEET.

NO FLEXIBILITY, NO FLEXI- BILITY, NOT ENOUGH TIME.

AH, SHIT. WELL...

YEAH. NO. I'M LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER IN THIS THING UP HERE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

NO, I NEED A...

I NEED A MEADOW. I NEED FLAT GROUND.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY.

THE ONLY WAY IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, BOYS.

[ Wind howling ]

[ On radio ] Rico, Ron, this is Keith.

Rico, send over.

Ron, send over.

This is Keith.

Uh, this ground is way too, uh,

too rough for Troy to use the suit. Over.

WHY IS IT ALWAYS SNOWING WHEN I GET UP HERE, GUYS?

OH BOY, THIS IS VERY BAD, GUYS.

LOOKING REALLY ROUGH HERE. BOY.

JEEZ, I ALMOST DARE MYSELF TO TAKE OFF THIS HAT.

BUT NOT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA.

THIS IS A DELICATE OPERATION HERE. YOU MISS...

DID THIS ONCE...

UP IN THE CARIBOU.

TOOK ABOUT THREE POUNDS OF FLESH OFF.

GOTTA HAVE THE KNIFE JUST RAZOR SHARP.

GOTTA HAVE SOME HOT WATER.

NOW, IT'S NOT...

AS CLOSE AS A RAZOR

OR YOUR MONEY BACK BUT...

YOU LOOK A LITTLE BETTER.

THIS IS INTERESTING HERE,

THAT MY UNCLE JOHN BROUGHT UP.

A BIG BANFF ATTACK HERE.

[ Reading ] I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

GRIZZLY ATTACK...

RELIVED.

[ Wind howling ]

Troy: IF IT'S NOT LONE- LINESS KICKING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU,

AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF, TWO WEEKS, YOU KNOW,

I'VE BEEN THERE, IT'S, IT'S, UH, FEAR.

AS FRANK HERBERT ONCE SAID, "FEAR IS THE MIND CRIPPLER."

SO YOU'RE LYING IN BED AND IT'S NIGHTTIME,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,

LITTLE SOUNDS, THAT IF IT WAS DAYLIGHT,

YOU WOULD JUST WALK OUT AND SEE A RABBIT HERE,

A CHIPMUNK OVER HERE OR A BIRD IN A TREE.

THEY START ESCALATING AND YOUR MIND'S JUST,

JUST WALKING ON A PLANE. YOU'RE ON THE DARK SIDE NOW, SEE?

NOW YOU'RE IN SOME SERIOUS SHIT.

AND YOU'VE GOT 20 GRIZZLY BEARS OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR,

AND, UH, IT JUST STARTS EATING THE MIND

TO SUCH A DEGREE, YOU SNAP.

AND WHEN I USED TO SNAP, I USED TO...

NOTHING BUT LONG JOHNS ON,

COME THROUGH THAT CABIN DOOR WITH A SHOTGUN

AND JUST LET LOOSE FOUR OR FIVE ROUNDS INTO ABSOLUTELY BLACKNESS.

Troy: [ Screaming ] LEAVE ME ALONE! [ Gunshots ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Man: [ Laboured breathing ]

YEAH...

YEAH, ELK HERE.

MY OLD BOY HERE HAS BEEN FEEDING ON ELK.

NOW, WOULD OTHER BEARS SMELL THIS? OH YEAH.

YOU GOTTA LOOK NOW.

THEIR EYESIGHT AND HEARING'S...

ABOUT, ABOUT AS GOOD AS OURS.

HALF THE EXPERTS SAY BETTER,

HALF THE EXPERTS SAY THE SAME, BUT HIS SCENT NOW.

HE'LL PICK UP A DEAD KILL AT SEVEN MILES.

SO YOU GOTTA FIGURE IF THERE'S OTHER,

NOW IT DEPENDS ON HIS TERRITORY. GRIZZLIES' TERRITORIES VARY.

IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERTS LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW,

IT'S A SET NUMBER BUT THAT'S A CROCK OF SHIT.

FEMALES HAVE IT SMALLER THAN THE MALES

'CAUSE THE MALES LIKE TO ROAM AND THAT

BUT THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE FROM 100 MILES TO 700 MILES,

DEPENDING ON THE BEAR AND DEPENDING ON THE TERRITORY.

SO HE'S GOT A GOOD LARGE TER- RITORY OUT HERE

AND YOU KNOW THERE'S OTHER ONES AROUND.

AND THEY'RE SMELLING IT, TOO.

Man: IF HE'S LAYING UP ON THIS KILL,

HOW FAR AWAY MIGHT HE BE RIGHT NOW?

Troy: WELL, THIS IS HIS BABY,

AND IF HE'S FED ON IT FOR A HALF DECENT AMOUNT OF TIME

AND HE HAS, HE'S NOT FAR OFF.

I'M SURE HE'S ALREADY SMELT US AND HE'S ALREADY HEARD US.

AND HE'S UP THERE JUST SITTING AROUND.

BUT, UH, YOU KNOW,

THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS DOWN HERE, YOU SEE.

AND WE'VE NEVER RECORDED AN ACCOUNT OF A GRIZZLY

TAKING ON A PARTY OF FIVE OR MORE MEN.

NEVER, IN ALL THE RESEARCH,

AND THAT'S WAY BACK TO LEWIS AND CLARK DAYS.

HE WON'T CRUSH THE BONES, EH?

HE'LL JUST EAT THE MEAT?

Troy: HE'LL EAT THE MEAT, DEPENDS ON THE BEAR.

I'VE SEEN THEM CRUSH BONES.

YEAH? THEY WILL EAT BONE?

YEAH, THE MARROW INSIDE.

DEPENDS HOW HUNGRY HE IS.

DEPENDS WHAT KINDA MOOD HE'S IN.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, MAN.

THEIR HABITS ARE JUST THE SAME.

YOU GET 'EM ON THE WRONG DAY, YOU GET 'EM ON THE RIGHT DAY,

DEPENDS ON WHAT HE'S GONNA WANT.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

BUT I DON'T LIKE STAYING AROUND HERE TOO LONG, GUYS,

SO LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN,

I'M A LITTLE EDGY HERE SITTING AROUND SOME, KILLING A BEAR.

HOW YOU DOING UP THERE, RIC?

LET'S JUST, YEAH, WE'LL JUST BACK AROUND DOWN HERE, GUYS,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO START HEARING "WOOF, WOOF."

THEN IT'S TIME TO GO HOME REAL QUICK.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

MANY A MAN HAS SNICKERED AT ME,

AND MANY A MAN HAS LAUGHED.

EVEN MEN UP HERE LIKE THIS, IT NEVER MADE ANY SENSE TO ME.

THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER...

ABOUT CARRYING KNIVES AS BIG AS I DO IN THE BUSH.

BUT IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU TALK TO ANY MAN

THAT'S EVER LIVED IN MOUNTAINS LIKE THIS,

AIN'T NO TRAPPER ALIVE, AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN MAN ALIVE

WORTH HALF THEIR WEIGHT IN SPIT,

CARRIES LESS THAN AN ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK OR A BOWIE ON HIM.

A GUN'S ONE THING, A GUN CAN BE DROPPED.

A GUN CAN RUN OUT OF BULLETS AND A GUN CAN GET WET.

A KNIFE IS ALWAYS WITH YA.

YOU PACK IT INTO COUNTRY LIKE THIS, IT'S WEIGHT.

AXES, FORGET IT. YOU NEED A BOWIE KNIFE.

NOW, A BOWIE LIKE THIS, THIS IS A NINE AND A HALF INCH BOWIE.

AND ANY MOUNTAIN MAN WORTH ANYTHING

CARRIES A BOWIE KNIFE BIGGER THAN THIS, A LOT BIGGER THAN THIS.

I'VE MET MEN IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THIS IS WHAT THEY CARRY.

THIS THING HAS 1000 PURPOSES IN THE BUSH FOR IT.

YOU DON'T CARRY A KNIFE UNLESS YOU CAN USE IT.

I GO IN THE BUSH, I DON'T USE A GUN.

NEVER. DON'T BELIEVE IN GUNS. I SWEAR BY MY KNIVES.

THEY SAVE YOUR LIFE 1000 TIMES AROUND.

IF A GRIZZLY'S GONNA COME AT YOU,

AND I'M NOT SAYING KNIVES ARE GONNA SAVE YOU,

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU'VE GOT A GUN,

AND THAT GRIZZLY'S 50 FEET, 100 FEET AWAY FROM YOU.

YOU'VE GOT ONE SHOT. I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHO YOU ARE

OR HOW STEADY YOU ARE. YOU'VE GOT ONE SHOT AT THAT GRIZZLY.

AND IF HE'S STILL COMING AT YOU, THAT GUN,

YOU MIGHT AS WELL USE THE BARREL ON HIM.

OR YOU CAN USE THE STOCK ON HIM, THAT'S USELESS.

BUT IF YOU'VE GOT SOME HALF DECENT KNIVES,

AT LEAST YOU'VE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE WITH ANIMALS.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE REASON WHY, WHEN I GO INTO THE MOUNTAINS

OR I GO INTO THE BUSH OR ANY MAN GOES INTO THE BUSH,

THEY DON'T CARRY KNIVES FOR THE FOUR- LEGGED ANIMALS,

THEY CARRY KNIVES FOR THE TWO-LEGGED ANIMALS.

'CAUSE NOWADAYS IT'S A LOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

YOU GOT A LOTTA WACKOS UP THERE,

AND IT'S KNIVES THAT YOU WANT AT CLOSE QUARTERS.

AND IF YOU CAN USE A KNIFE, THIS IS A BOWIE KNIFE,

YOU CAN THROW A BOWIE KNIFE BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM A THROWING KNIFE.

SO THE BOWIE YOU KEEP FOR YOUR PERSONAL THINGS,

LIKE THINGS YOU GOTTA DO AROUND THE CAMP AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A THROWER.

IT'S ALSO A STABBER FOR CLOSE-IN QUARTERS

AND IT'S A THROWING KNIFE. AND IF YOU GET YOUR RANGE,

MINE'S A SLOW, MINE'S A SHORT RANGE.

IF I'M A FOOT OUT THIS WAY, I'M NO GOOD.

BUT THE FARTHER YOU THROW A KNIFE,

THE OPPONENT YOU'RE THROWING AGAINST

HAS TIME TO SEE IT AND HE CAN MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

I USUALLY GO 10, 15 FEET, AND IF YOU GET A GOOD BALANCE,

NOW WATCH, I'LL SCREW UP,

BUT IF YOU GET A GOOD BALANCE ON THE KNIFE

AND YOU GOT A GOOD THROWING KNIFE.

I SWEAR BY MY KNIVES. THEY CAN LAUGH ALL THEY WANT,

I SWEAR BY MY KNIFE. AND I NEVER MET ANY MAN WORTH HALF A SHIT

UP IN THE MOUNTAINS THAT EVER LAUGHED.

HE LOOKS AT THE KNIFE AND HE SAYS, "NICE KNIFE."

THEN HE LOOKS AT THE MAKE OF THE KNIFE.

AND THEN HE LOOKS AT IF YOU CAN USE THE KNIFE,

AND THEN HE'S GOT RESPECT FOR YOU. SO I'LL TAKE MY KNIVES

AND THEY CAN SNICKER AND LAUGH ALL THEY WANT.

[ Drum ♪♪♪ ]

Troy: IT'S GOT ME REAL PISSED OFF WITH IT.

DAMN SNOW COMING DOWN LIKE IT IS, IT HASN'T STOPPED ALL DAY LONG.

WE GET A COUPLE MORE DAYS OF LIGHT SHIT LIKE THIS

AND THEN ONE GOOD HEAVY FALL AND IT'S DONE.

HE'S GONNA BE SO FAR INTO HIS DEN, FORGET IT.

SO, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE REAL, REAL LUCKY

IF WE EVEN SEE A GRIZZLY.

YEAH, LIKE THIS IS, UH, THIS IS BAD.

OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS JUST SHOT TO SHIT.

[ Crow cawing ]

I'M STANDING HERE LIKE THIS AND I'M WATCHING THIS THING

COMING AT ME JUST STREAMLINE.

NOW, HIS EARS ARE PINNED BACK

AND THE FUR'S IN REAL TIGHT

AND HE'S COMING REAL FAST, LOW TO THE GROUND.

AND NOW WE'RE ON A, IT'S NOT WINTER THEN,

WE'RE ON ALMOST LIKE A, LIKE A FIELD OF GLASS.

AND HE HITS MAYBE 20 FEET IN FRONT OF ME

AND HE HITS THE BRAKES, AND HE JUST SLIDES,

JUST SLIDES ALL THE WAY. NOW I'M STANDING HERE,

THE OLD MAN JUST STANDS UP RIGHT HERE, JUST LIKE THIS.

THAT CLOSE. NOW HE'S ABOUT LIKE THIS.

AND HE'S LOOKING UP AT ME LIKE THIS.

NOW I'VE LOST ALL MY FACULTIES.

I'VE SHIT MYSELF,

I'VE PISSED MYSELF AT THIS POINT.

AND, UH, I'M ALL DONE.

I'M STANDING THERE AND I AM JUST ABSO- LUTELY SHELL-SHOCKED.

AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS BEAR, AND IT WASN'T,

IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE SIZE OF THE BEAR OR THOSE,

THOSE LITTLE BEADY EYES OR THAT MASSIVE SKULL,

THOSE LITTLE BEADY EYES THAT JUST SINK BACK.

IT WAS THE STENCH OF THAT SON OF A BITCH.

I MEAN, AT THIS DISTANCE,

HE'S HERE NOW AND I'M RIGHT HERE.

AND I'M LOOKING AT HIM LIKE THIS,

AND OF COURSE I'M NOT MOVING 'CAUSE I'M OFF IN ANOTHER WORLD,

I'M SO SCARED. AND WE'RE PLAYING THIS GAME

BACK AND FORTH OF LOOKING. AND I'M WAITING,

IN MY MIND, FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN,

SOMEONE TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE. WELL, HE MAKES THE FIRST MOVE,

HE COMES IN WITH HIS SNOUT AND JUST LIKE A HORSE,

BUCKING YOU LIKE THIS. HE SNAPS ME IN THE CHEST,

EVERYTHING HE'S GOT. SO NOW I FLY BACK.

I'M DOWN LIKE THIS.

NOW I'VE GOT THE KNAP- SACK THAT'S POINTING ME UP LIKE THIS.

NOW THE GUN GOES ONE WAY,

THE SLUICE GOES THE OTHER WAY,

I'VE GOT THIS DAMN KNAPSACK ON MY BACK FULL OF GEAR.

AND OF COURSE I CAN'T EVEN,

I CAN'T EVEN LAY DOWN WHERE I'M NOT LOOKING AT HIM

'CAUSE I'M FACED UP LIKE THIS.

NOW I'M LAYING HERE AND HE HASN'T MOVED.

HE'S NOW STANDING WHERE I WAS STANDING.

AND HE'S JUST LOOKING AT ME. AND YOU CAN HEAR...

[ Huffing heavily ]

SWINGINING HIS HEAD BACK AND FORTH.

AND HE'S WHACKING THE GROUND WITH HIS PAWS LIKE THIS HERE.

SO I GET BACK UP LIKE THIS NOW,

BECAUSE WHEN I'M LAYING THERE, AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS OLD MAN,

ALL THE THEORIES OF ALL THE EXPERTS ARE COMING THROUGH MY MIND NOW.

I HAVEN'T READ NOTHING ON GRIZZLY BEARS

BUT FROM WHAT I'VE WATCHED FROM T.V. THEY SAY, "PLAY DEAD."

AND I'M LAYING THERE AND I'M TRYING TO CON- TEMPLATE PLAYING DEAD,

PLAYING DEAD POSSUM WITH THIS 400, 500 POUND GRIZZLY

COMING OVER THERE AND RAKING ME WITH CLAWS AND TEETH.

AND I SAID, "BULLSHIT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN."

NOW, AS I'M STANDING HERE HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT ME.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE EYES HIT YOU.

JUST BLACK WITHIN BLACK.

JUST, JUST THE DEPTH IS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND HE'S JUST EATING RIGHT INTO MINE.

NOW, I COULD SEE THE RIFLE ON THE RIGHT- HAND SIDE OF ME

FROM MY PERIPHERAL VISION, BUT HEY,

YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE GRIZZLY BEAR AND I'M LOOKING AT THE GUN.

BUT I CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GUN. THERE'S NO WAY

AND BESIDES, THAT LITTLE 22 ISN'T GOING TO DO NOTHING BUT PISS HIM OFF.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS CALM COMES OVERTOP OF MY WHOLE BODY,

JUST FLUSHES RIGHT THROUGH THE VEINS, JUST RIGHT OUT THE FEET.

AND IT WAS JUST EUPHORIC, JUST BEAUTIFUL,

BECAUSE I KNEW, RIGHT THEN, I'M GONNA DIE.

SO WHAT I DO IS I DRAW A BLADE

HALF OUTTA SHEATH, JUST LIKE THIS.

NOW, HE DOESN'T SHOW WHETHER HE CATCHES THE INFRACTION OR NOT

BUT I KNEW DAMN WELL HE CAUGHT IT.

SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS BEAR, AND HE'S LOOKING AT ME,

AND NO SOUND. HE'S NOT JAW POPPING.

HE AIN'T SWINGING HIS HEAD, HE'S JUST LOOKING AT ME, JUST LIKE THIS.

SO I DRAW. AND I'M STANDING THERE.

AND I LOOK AND I SAY, "ALL RIGHT, OLD MAN,

YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME SURE AS I'M STANDING HERE,

BECAUSE YOUR FIGHTING PROWESS IS 50 TIMES MINE,

AND I KNOW I'M GONNA DIE. BUT I AM SO PISSED OFF

WITH ALL THE BULLSHIT YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH,

I'M GONNA TAKE BOTH OF THESE BEFORE I GO DOWN,

SURE AS GOD MADE LITTLE GREEN APPLES,

AND I'M GONNA SHOVE 'EM RIGHT UP YOUR ASS AND THAT'S A FACT."

AND I JUST STOOD THERE.

AND WE WAITED.

AND IT WAS LIKE TIME STOOD STILL.

AND HE LOOKS, AND HE GOES LIKE THIS.

JUST LIKE THIS. SIDE TO SIDE. AND I SWEAR TO GOD,

IF A BEAR COULD SMILE, HE COULD DO THAT.

AND IT WAS LIKE, YEAH, OKAY, I CAN SEE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

HE TURNS AROUND, A FULL 180 DEGREES AND HE JUST WALKS AWAY.

IT WAS THE SUN THAT HIT ME, AND IT WAS LIKE

YOU JUST WOKE UP OUT OF THIS, THIS NIGHTMARIC STATE,

AND YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND AND YOU'RE SAYING, "WHOO."

AND THERE'S MY GUN AND THE SLUICE

AND THE BACK, AND MY PACK IS SITTING OVER THERE,

AND MY KNIVES ARE LIKE THIS, AND I'M JUST, WOW.

AND EVER SINCE THAT DAY, FROM THAT DAY FORWARD,

I'VE NEVER FIGURED OUT WHY IT HAPPENED. NEVER.

NEVER. FROM THE MEDICINE MEN

TO THE PSYCHOLOGISTS TO THE DREAM ANALYSTS,

TO EVERYBODY. IT JUST HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENED,

AND IN THAT THE BEAR DIDN'T KILL ME, I'VE BEEN ON HIS TRAIL EVER SINCE.

BUT WHAT DO YOU DO, YOU KNOW? I'VE HAD DREAMS ABOUT IT.

NOT NIGHTMARES WHERE HE ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH AND KILLS ME.

NOW I'VE HAD DREAMS OF THE OLD MAN, AND THAT'S KIND OF NICE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY TIME I EVER REALLY SEE HIM IS IN MY DREAMS.

[ On radio ] Keith, this is Ron. Over.

Keith, over.

Ron: He's just disappeared now behind that clump of groves

and, uh, we can't see him anymore.

So we're just gonna keep an eye out here

to see if we can spot him again, over.

This is Keith. That's the plan.

Everybody stay alert 'cause we got one in the area. Out.

Troy: I SPOTTED THE OLD MAN

COMING DOWN, UP THE TRAIL THERE, SAW HIS TRACKS.

HE'S NOT HUGE BUT HE'S HALF DECENT SIZE.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN 500 FEET AWAY. HE SWUNG BACK AROUND.

AND THEN I SPOTTED HIM AGAIN DOWN ON THIS RIDGE HERE.

HE'S WORKING HIS WAY DOWN 'CAUSE WE GOT A DEAD KILL DOWN HERE.

THERE'S A HORSE THAT DIED

ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS AGO

AND HE'S BEEN FEEDING ON IT NOW FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

SO WE'RE EXPECTING HIM TO CROSS THIS MEADOW HERE

AND GO ON DOWN THIS COULEE.

WE MIGHT GET A REAL GOOD SHOT AT HIM,

SEE WHAT HE'S UP TO.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE SPOTTED HIM THERE A WAYS OUT IN THE TREE LINE,

BUT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPOOKED

'CAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE UP IN THE HILLS,

SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT HIM OUT.

BUT HE MIGHT COME IN.

WE CAME IN TOO QUICK.

WE CAME IN, WE WEREN'T SITTING HERE FIVE MINUTES

AND HE COME OFF THE RIDGE.

HE SAW US ALL AND FORGET IT, HE'S NOT COMING IN.

THEY GOT EYESIGHT AS GOOD AS WE DO.

AND IF WE SAW HIM, HE SAW US.

[ On radio ] Keith, this is Ron, over.

This is Keith, over.

Keith, you'd best break out the Royal Chinette

'cause we got company coming.

This is Keith. Sounds like you got one spotted.

Where is he? Over.

Ron: If you take a look back to where we come from

towards the foothills,

You'll find the green trees

as it starts breaking out into the prairie here.

He's just breaking out there, just behind the poplar grove. Over.

Troy: JESUS, LOOK AT THAT.

GOD, HE'S BIG.

I BETCHA HE'S 600 POUND EASY. GOTTA BE.

GOD, LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE SON OF A BITCH.

THIS IS HIS TERRITORY RIGHT NOW.

LIKE HE'S BOSS, KING SHIT RIGHT NOW.

OH, IF I HAD THE SUIT ON, JESUS CHRIST!

THIS IS LIKE FATE LAUGHING AT ME.

IT'S JUST LIKE, I DIDN'T EVEN WANNA SEE THE BEAR.

SON OF A BITCH. IF I HAD THE SUIT, I COULD PUT IT ON,

EVERYTHING COULD WORK, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THE SUIT'S 10 MILES UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WE CAN'T GO UP ON HORSEBACK TO GET IT

'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T GOT ENOUGH HORSES

AND IT TAKES THREE HORSES TO BRING THE DAMN SUIT DOWN.

THE CHOPPER ISN'T COMING IN 'TIL TOMORROW

AND EVEN IF I HAD THE SUIT BETWEEN ME AND THE BEAR RIGHT NOW,

PUTTING IT ON ISN'T GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

LOOK AT THE BLOODY TERRAIN. I MEAN THE FIRST DAY OUT HERE

WE FIND OUT THAT, UH,

THERE'S NO TERRAIN UP HERE THAT I CAN PUT THE SUIT ON. I CAN'T WALK TWO FEET

WITHOUT FALLING ON MY FACE.

BUT I MEAN, I SHOULD'VE HAD THE SUIT.

WHEN I'M SITTING THERE WITH THE OLD MAN, WHEN WE FIRST MET,

I WAS DEAD, I WAS HIS. IF HE WANTED ME, I WAS DEAD.

HERE'S THIS 500, 600 POUND GRIZZLY, UH,

RIGHT IN MY FACE.

I COULD NEVER EQUAL THAT, WOULDN'T WANT TO EQUAL THAT,

GOOD GOD, BUT I'M SAYING NO, YOU CAN NEVER,

I COULD NEVER COME CLOSE TO THE TOTAL,

JUST BONE CHILLING FEAR.

EVEN SEEING A GRIZZLY, IF HE WAS RIGHT ON TOP WITH THE SUIT ON.

NO, WOULDN'T BE THE SAME.

HOLY JEEZ, I MEAN, UH, UH,

THE BEST GROUND THEY'VE GOT IN THE ROCKIES,

THE NEXT SUIT HAS TO GIVE ME 85 PERCENT FLEXIBILITY

OR I-I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

YOUR LAST TWO HOURS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,

YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR A BLOODY WEEK,

AND THE LAST TWO HOURS, THE OLD MAN COMES OUT TO SAY, "HI."

AND THEN YOU GOTTA GO. AND ALL YOU'RE THINKING AS YOU'RE GOING IS,

"I'M GOING BACK TO THE CITY."

OH, JEEZ, WHAT A FEELING, GOOD GOD, SHOOT ME NOW, YOU KNOW.

BACK TO THE CITY. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST,

YOU WANTED TO STAY THERE, YOU KNOW.

BUT THE SNOW'S COMING IN

AND, UH, SO YOU DREAM ABOUT NEXT YEAR,

AND THE YEAR AFTER, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING. KEEPS ME GOING, ANYWAY.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

CLOSED CAPTIONED BY COMPREHENSIVE DISTRIBUTORS

♪ THE BEAST IN ME

♪ IS CAGED BY FRAIL AND FRAGILE BARS ♪

♪ RESTLESS BY DAY AND BY NIGHT ♪

♪ RANTS AND RAGES AT THE STARS ♪

♪ GOD HELP THE BEAST IN ME ♪

♪ THE BEAST IN ME

♪ HAS HAD TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH PAIN ♪

♪ AND NOW IT'S SHELTERED FROM THE RAIN... ♪

♪ AND IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE ♪

♪ MIGHT HAVE TO BE RESTRAINED ♪

♪ GOD HELP THE BEAST IN ME ♪

♪ SOMETIMES IT TRIES TO KID ME ♪

♪ THAT IT'S JUST A TEDDY BEAR ♪

♪ AND EVEN SOMEHOW MANAGE ♪

♪ TO VANISH IN THE AIR

♪ AND THAT IS WHEN I MUST BEWARE ♪

♪ OF THE BEAST IN ME

♪ AND EVERYBODY KNOWS

♪ THEY'VE SEEN HIM OUT DRESSED IN MY CLOTHES ♪

♪ PATENTLY UNCLEAR

♪ IF IT'S NEW YORK

♪ OR NEW YEAR'S

♪ GOD HELP THE BEAST IN ME ♪

♪ THE BEAST IN ME

[ ♪♪♪ ]