Flipper (1964–1967): Season 3, Episode 25 - Devil Ray - full transcript

A large sting ray has shown up in Coral key park and everyone is afraid of it. Porter is told he must get rid of it - one way or another.

- Boy, this sure is a
nice spot Flipper found.

- Yeah, we oughta call it quits now.

This oughta do it.

We've got enough specimens
now to make our exhibit

the best at the Marine Fair.

- Boy, I'll say.

Flipper!

Flipper!

- You know, Flipper should
have found something by now.

I told dad we'd be back long before this.

- I know.



Flipper!

There he is Sandy.

Sandy something’s chasing
him, something big!

Look.

- It's a Devil Fish, biggest
one I've ever seen too!

- What about Flipper, it's chasing him.

- Don't worry about him.

Nothin' can catch him.

But we better go and tell dad in a hurry,

they're heading to the park.

♫ They call him Flipper

♫ Flipper flipper faster than lightning

♫ No one you see is smarter than he

♫ And we know Flipper lives
in a world full of wonder



♫ Lying there-under under the sea

- I'm sure it was a Devil Fish dad.

- Manta Ray would be a
better name for it Sandy.

I didn't know there was one around here.

They usually like warmer
waters, like a gulf stream.

- It looked just like the
ones I saw in the Bahamas.

- He was a monster dad,
you should've seen him.

- Yeah they can get real big Bud, but,

usually they're harmless
unless they're provoked.

. Dad?

Do you think something
could've provoked him?

I mean he was chasing him and all.

- I don't think so Bud.

I think Flipper was just
curious like we are.

Let's try the TV.

- Dad, look there's Flipper!

And he's okay!

- There it is dad!

- Oh Sandy you were right,
it is a Manta, and a beauty.

- Scary.

- Gigantic isn't it?

- I bet he weighs at least half a ton.

- Oh man, I'd hate to bump into him.

- You know Bud,

it cause you a little damage,

but there's nothing to be afraid of.

They're usually harmless.

- And I'm not afraid of him exactly.

It's just I'm glad I'm in the
launch and he's down there.

- I'm gonna get a picture of that guy

for the Marine Research Institute.

And I'm gonna show ya'
that they're friendly.

- You're gonna dive in with him?

- I sure am.

Look, Flipper's not afraid.

Let me have that camera.

Thanks Bud.

- Wow it's coming at him!

- Relax, dad knows what he's doing.

- Look at that, he's hitching a ride.

- Now I sure hope dad's
right about this guy.

He didn't say he was going to try that.

- Where's dad now?

- There he is.

- Gee dad, you were great.

- I can hardly believe it.

- I hope you boys aren't
afraid of manta rays anymore.

- You mean Devil Fish?

Not me.

- Me neither.

- As soon as I finish my
report, I'll let you have

those pictures for your exhibit.

- Now we're sure to win
first prize at the fair.

- I know.

And Flipper's got a new friend.

- Who's that?

- Mickey.

- Mickey, Mickey who?

- Mickey Manta.

- On.

- Shark!

Look out!

- Killer ray!

- Devil Fish loot.

Monster of the deep attacks.

I gotta tell Flipper
about this right away.

Flipper!

Oh.

- Morning Porter.

- Frank.

- Hi Sandy.
- Hi.

- Have you seen the headlines?

- Yes I've seen the headlines.

- Well take a look at these telegrams.

People are worried

and frightened that the manta is a killer.

- Ah Frank that's just
some bright reporters

idea on how to scare people.

It's nonsense and you know it.

- Yes, I know it, and you know it.

But there tourists won't believe it.

Look at those complaints.

The phones in my office haven't
stopped ringing all morning.

Porter you have got to
get rid of that manta.

- Get rid of him?

Frank do you know what a job that is?

That means I'm gonna have to net him,

and take him all the way
out to the gulf stream.

- If he can't be netted, he
may have to be destroyed.

Can you think of anything better?

- No, I can't.

All right, I'll do what I have to.

- I know you will Porter.

I'll be in my office if
you need to contact me.

- All right.

- So long Sandy.

- Bye.

- We've been out, to
your manta ray friend.

Now listen Flipper, the park
superintendent was just here.

And he said all the people
in the park are afraid

of the manta ray.

The city's newspaper already
had something to do with

some guy being attacked.

He also said Flipper, if
the manta ray is not netted

and taken away from here,
he'd have to be killed.

Now this is where you have to act fast.

I want you to take the
manta ray and hide him,

far away from here, understand?

Go on Flipper, hide him.

And don't bring him back,
no matter what anybody says.

. Dad?

- Yeah?

- I thought it was the
superintendents job to preserve

wildlife, not destroy it.

- Well that's true Sandy, but
his primary responsibility's

for the safety of the people in this park.

Though sometimes I think
the people are wilder

than the animals.

- You're not gonna kill it are ya'?

- I don't want to.

- Maybe we can get Flipper to lure him out

into the open sea.

- No, he'd turn right around
and follow Flipper back in.

What we have to do is round
up a crew and try and net him,

if we can net him.

- Yeah but when he sees that net,

won't he attack and get wild?

- Probably.

It's a chance we're gonna
have to take, come on.

It's gonna be all right Bud.

- What do you mean?

- Dad's phoning for a crew now,

they're gonna take that manta far enough

out to sea, he won't be
able to find his way back.

- Flipper's gonna flip
over losing his friend.

- It's better than having
it killed, isn't it?

- I talked to Jess Prewitt.

They're rounding up a gang,

they'll be ready to go within the hour.

- I'll go get Flipper
to bring the manta ray.

- Well wait a minute dad.

I just told Flipper to hide the manta.

- You did what Bud?

- Well dad it's Flipper's friend,

and I don't want to see him destroyed.

- Bud, no one's going to hurt that manta.

- But the superintendent said that...

- Now believe me,

the only way to save that
manta is to have Flipper bring

him to us so we can net him.

- But if Flipper sees
him taken out to sea,

he'll think I've tricked him.

- Whatever Flipper thinks
Bud, its' the only way

we can save his friend.

- Well, if it's the only way dad,

I'll tell Flipper what I have to.

- Okay, I'll go with Bud.

- Flipper!

Flipper!

Flipper!

Sandy, couldn't we keep
the manta in the pen?

- A manta can't live in a pen Bud.

They live on plankton.

Besides he'd only break out anyway.

- Flipper's never gonna
forgive me for this.

How will I ever make him trust me again?

Flipper!

Flipper!

Flipper.

You have to do something for me.

And it's really important.

Sandy, you better tell him.

- Listen Flipper,

you know your friend the manta ray?

Flipper, listen.

The manta ray, I want you to
go and get him, you understand?

Flipper, listen.

Get him and bring him back here, okay?

Well, I guess you better tell him Bud.

- Now listen Flipper,

I want you to take the manta to the point,

by the old fishing pens okay?

I told you to hide him,
but I changed my mind.

Now go on Flipper, go on.

See he won't listen to me either.

- We've gotta make him listen Bud,

we haven't got much time.

- All right.

Now listen Flipper.

I want you to get the manta ray.

No one's gonna hurt him.

Go on.

Flipper's never going
to trust me again Sandy.

- It'll be all right Bud.

We had no choice.

Come on, let's go.

- Bud, I'm starting to wonder if Flipper's

gonna bring that manta at all.

- I did tell him though dad, I really did.

- Yeah I know you did son.

- Look there's Flipper.

- The manta's with him, I know he is.

- Yeah you're right, there he is.

And just in time too,

cause there's the crew
that's gonna net him.

Alright Bud, I think you
better take Flipper home

and put him in his pen.

- Do I have to dad?

- You've got to son.

Flipper may not know what we're
trying to do for the manta

is the best thing for him.

Go ahead.

- Flipper!

Flipper listen.

I gotta take you home.

Home Flipper, do you understand?

Listen Flipper, your friend will be okay.

Come on, let's go.

- Let's stand and watch from here Sandy.

They'll get enough
trouble netting that manta

without having to worry about us.

- Listen Flipper, I gotta
put you in your pen okay?

And then I gotta tell
you about your friend.

I don't want to, but I have to.

Now come on Flipper, go in.

Good boy.

- He's putting up a good fight.

- He sure is.

Alright Sandy, they got him.

Let's go home.

- Flipper, what I have to say is this.

Everything I told you
before about your friend,

it wasn't exactly the truth.

What I mean is, there's
men out there right now

trying to catch him.

But not to hurt him or anything.

Just to take him where
he'll be safe, you know?

I couldn't tell you before

cause I knew you'd miss him too much.

I know you'll never believe me again but...

Flipper!

Flipper!

Flipper!

- No luck Bud?

- No dad, Flipper just swam right off.

I guess he doesn't want
to have anything to do

with me anymore.

- No Bud, I don't believe that.

- Dad I really don't blame him.

I mean we did take his
best friend away from him.

- We did what we thought was right.

And I'm sure Flipper understands that.

- That might be too late.

- I don't think so Bud, look.

- It's Flipper, he's come back!

- He's not only come back,
but he's brought a friend.

It looks like Lorelei.

- Hey dad wait a minute,

if he's come back that means

he's not mad at me anymore right?

- That's right.

- Flipper, you're not mad
at me anymore are ya'?

Then everything's okay.

♫ Everyone loves the king of the sea

♫ Ever so kind and gentle is he

♫ Tricks he will do when children are near

♫ And how they laugh when he's near

♫ hey call him Flipper
Flipper faster than lightning

♫ No-one you see is smarter than he

♫ And we know Flipper lives
in a world full of wonder

♫ Lying there-under under the sea