MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 3, Episode 19 - The Endangered - full transcript

( Suspenseful
theme music playing )

♪ ♪

( Adventurous theme plays )

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

( Rock music blaring )

MacGyver: Maybe I was tired.

At least, that's what
I kept telling myself.

I'd been following
these two for a week.

They'd landed clerk jobs

with a government
contractor three months ago.



A week later, they were
stealing top secret documents

that kept them in limos,
parties, and very mean company.

( Loud music continues )

♪ ♪

Two shots of rum... 151, please.

Matches?! Do you
have any matches?!

Miss, do you have any matches?!

( Cocks gun )

( Gunshot )

Pilot: He missed?

He just flat missed?

Yeah. I couldn't believe it.

So, what were you
doing asking for matches?

I was going to make a fireball.



A diversion.

That didn't work; So
what'd you do then?

I mean, it must have
come out all right.

Yeah, it did.

But it had nothing
to do with me.

It was luck.

The gun jammed.

( Hammer clicking )

Pilot: That the gal
you're coming to visit?

MacGyver: Yeah.

Nice.

Real nice.

Well, well, well... (
Laughs )... MacGyver.

You sure don't give
a girl much notice.

Think I'd give you
a chance to say no?

No.

MacGyver: When things get
tough, sometimes I turn to a friend.

Other times, I just want
to hide in the mountains.

This time, I found
myself doing both.

I'd come to see Karen Miller.

We had a thing for
each other in college,

but after a couple
of years together,

She was ready for something
a little more permanent.

I wasn't.

So, I kept on moving,

And she put on the
badge of a park ranger.

Well, there's the
office, and this is home.

I like it.

Nice backyard.

Gets a little cold at night,

But the neighbors are quiet.

It's nice.

I love it.

What, no more dreams

of French drapes
and swimming pools?

No. I was converted by one of
those nature nuts, remember?

Who's this guy?

That's hooter.

Hey, hooter.

You look good, MacGyver.

Think so?

Always did.

Make yourself at home.

Your feet have grown.

They're Sam's.

Sam?

Yeah, there's a Sam.

Sam sheehan.

He's one of the rangers here.

Great guy.

You didn't just expect
to fly back into my life

after three years, did you?

You'll get to meet
him late tonight.

He's out on the north Ridge.

So, is this, uh, Sam?

No.

( Clearing throat )

That's badger.

You'll get to meet him tomorrow.

Sam knows you're here.

I told him everything.

Yeah, and I also
told him not to worry.

That you're just a friend now

and you've had a rough time

And you're just looking
for a short vacation.

Am I right?

Well, yeah.

Uh, sure. Of course.

( Door opens and shuts )

Karen: Hi.

Sam: Hey, honey.

Is that him?

Karen: Yeah, he's sleeping.

He's a nice guy.

You're really going to like him.

Sam: Yeah, sure.

Karen: Come to bed.

( Door shuts )

So, how many grizzly
you got up here?

About 100.

Or one for every 3,000 tourists.

Meaning...?

Meaning they're almost extinct.

Just like every other animal

that's mean-tempered,

feels soft, or can't do tricks.

Well, did you ever think
about teaching them

to be useful around here?

What?

Well, like, uh, making
jewelry, selling souvenirs,

Picking up garbage...
Park stuff, you know?

( Chuckling )

So, is this badger?

No, that's Marla.

Number 51.

She's been tagged and
tracked for about ten years.

She's not going to think

We're trying to steal
her fishing hole, is she?

No, don't worry.

She knows that when
she's cranky around me

and this tranquilizer
kit, it's instant nap time.

( Growling )

Mmm.

You know how to
tell the difference

between a black
bear and a grizzly?

How?

Climb a tree.

If it follows you
up, it's a black bear.

If it knocks the tree down,

It's a grizzly.

Yeah.

( Chuckling ):
That's an old joke.

I'm an old boyfriend.

Ah, there's something
about this place.

Whenever people
go into the wild,

They get this feeling,
like they belong.

Like coming home.

How long do you
think you'll stay?

Well, that's kind
of hard to say.

Why didn't you
tell me about Sam?

I... didn't think he
had much to do with it.

You said you needed a break.

What would you say if
I made it a little longer?

I'd say you had
your chance once.

Yeah, well, that was
before someone taught me

a very dangerous
lesson at very close range.

Gets you to thinking.

About old girlfriends?

About things that are important.

That's badger.

Or his marks, anyway.

MacGyver: He's a big guy.

He's a good nine
feet when he's hungry.

Badger's kind of the
granddaddy around here.

At least he hobbles
around like one.

These are his tracks here.

Weighs about 800 pounds.

I patched him up once after
a fight with a younger animal.

MacGyver: What is it?

Blood.

Poachers.

Karen?

( Engine starting )

Karen!

What the hell do you
think you're doing?!

The tires, MacGyver...
I was going for the tires.

I'm sorry, I... I didn't know.

Karen: I can't deal
with this, MacGyver.

Not now.

I've got to catch
those poachers,

And you've got to catch a plane.

At least let me help.

You can help... by going.

( Sighs )

Look, Karen...

I know this poacher business
has got to take priority,

but that shouldn't
mean we can't talk.

About what?

You and I closed the
book a long time ago.

The only reason you
came here is because

that close call made your
life flash before your eyes,

and my picture just
happened to come up.

I wouldn't have come at all

If you'd told me about Sam.

I guess I just needed
to see you again

to know it was really over.

Look, Karen...

You've always been the one

That spins my head around.

All through college,
all that camping

and independence stuff
you drilled into my head

until it stuck.

And then you changed your mind.

Yeah, I wanted to be a ranger.

You wanted to be a ranger.

You wanted to be a pilot.

You wanted to go to Africa.

And every time I agreed
and tried to be part of it,

you changed your mind.

Look, Karen...

( Sighs )

I didn't come here to get
between you and Sam.

I...

Look...

You can catch a
bus at trapper skips.

The seaplane leaves at noon.

I've got a job to do.

( Low, indistinct chatter )

Bernice, that gentleman
needs some more coffee, please.

So, have you folks
made up your mind?

Why can't I just
have a hamburger?

We specialize in
wild game, ma'am.

We have fresh
venison, elk, squirrel,

or how about a nice bear steak?

Woman: I was just feeding

bears.

That's park life, ma'am.

This here is all wild game

hunted out on the big
ranches around here.

It's legal meat, shot
on private property.

And does it taste different?

Will you stop
flapping your lips?

We can get a hamburger anyplace.

We'll, uh, both
have the bear steaks.

So, What'll it be, cherokee?

Uh, how about a salad?

And?

House dressing.

Is there a place I can wash up?

Yeah, just around there.

Would you mind keeping
an eye on my stuff?

- Sure.
- Thanks.

Yeah, that's better.

Cook: Okay.

Wyatt! Eddie!

Just the two men I want to see.

Bring me a nice fat deer, huh?

Skipper, how about
some bear steak?

Hey, what are you doing to me?

I asked for venison.

You got bear.

800 pound grizz.

Dropped him in one shot.

Who are you
trying to kid, Porter?

You're no hunter.

You're just a meat man.

I ask for deer,
you bring me deer.

I ask for rabbit,
you bring me rabbit.

You hillbilly butchers
brought me bear last week.

Well, I tell you something.

The tourists don't
like your damn bear.

Especially something

as mule-tough as grizzly.

Now, come on... hey!

Ed: We're hunters,
you little runt.

You hear me?

We're hunters!

You can milk the
tourists all you want.

You want deer?

Then why don't you pay the city

Prices and have it
hauled all the way up here?

We're the ones taking the
risks, hunting in the park!

( Panting )

Now, I am trying to
make a living here.

I had a deal with you guys.

I asked for deer.

It's not that difficult.

There's thousands of deer

running around
all over the woods.

Hey, guys, we're
friends, ain't we?

Hey, look, here's a hundred.

Leave me the grizz.

For god's sake, bag me a deer.

Come on.

We got to give them
what they want, huh?

We all do.

MacGyver: I had flown 1,000
miles to work out some of

my own problems, and I
ended up hurting Karen.

I didn't mean to,
but it happened.

I figured one way to
make it up to her was

To get positive identification
on these poachers.

( Brakes squeak )

Damn, that skip burns me up.

Let it go, ed.

You got the corn?

Under the tarp.

( Rain falling )

( Grunts )

( Birds singing )

King snake here.

Clear on highland.

Man: Roger, Karen.

Keep in touch. Over.

Will do.

Psst!

You two could scare
off deer in three counties.

What are you trying to do, Earl?

Get me a king-size
buck's the general idea.

You'll get your chance, hotshot.

Ed: There's your buck.

I'll take the little one.

This is king snake,

responding to gunshots
northeast of crow's nest.

( Static on walkie-talkie )

You read me?

( Static )

Sam!

( Static continues )

Park service! Freeze!

Miss your flight?

Yeah.

Don't shoot me for it.

You heard the shots?

Yeah, I heard.

Do you mind telling me
what you're doing here?

Well, some guys
were selling bear meat

back at the cafe, so
I trailed them here.

Thought they might be

the ones you were looking for.

I figured I owed you one.

Saw their truck
about a mile back.

I, uh, made sure
they'd be walking out.

Yeah, well, we're
out of radio range.

I'll have to arrest them myself.

All right, there's a
good place to do that

A little ways back.

We can take 'em.

All right.

I'll take it from
here... come on.

You're a mean
man with a 308, ed.

Set 'em down.

What is it?

Somebody's been

on this trail since
we came through.

Could be a ranger track.

No way.

Well, I'm not gonna
take any chances.

Well, what-what are we gonna do?

Just be cool, Earl.

You stay on the trail.

You come with me, Earl.

Here we go.

Wait a minute.
There should be...

Hold it! Park service.

Karen!

Don't move.

Pick up that gun,
get the knapsack.

You, hand me that radio.

Earl: Tranquilizer
gun in here, ed.

Ed: Take it.

( Gasping )

She's hurt.

Now you've done it.

Shut up.

Look, put it down.

They don't know us from nobody.

All he sees is your mask.

Let's go.

Don't follow us.

Oh, I'm sorry, MacGyver.

Shh.

Just take it easy.

Nice and easy.

The bullet just grazed you.

I'll stop the bleeding,

But we're gonna
have to get moving.

Not you, ed.

Earl, maybe, but not you!

I did what I had to do.

You want to go to prison
for shooting a deer?

Not to mention paying the fines.

They'd take everything

- we got.
- Earl: Oh, man.

That's squat compared
to what it's gonna cost us

For shooting that ranger.

I only winged her.

Besides, they
never saw our faces.

We're home free.

- ( Starter clicking )
- Damn!

It's dead?

I'll check it.

Oh god, what are
we gonna do now?

Can you fix it?

Wyatt: The
distributor cap's gone.

They know the truck.

They know who we are already!

We're home free, huh?

We're out of this.

Don't worry about it.

You shot a ranger, ed.

What do you mean,
we're out of it?

We go in,

and we finish 'em both off.

That's how.

Which way, Karen?

Uh, there's a... a field
station with a radio

about a mile upstream,

and then another
two into the woods.

( Groaning )

Well, let's send them
downstream on the other side.

( Groans )

( Grunts )

( Pained groaning )

Earl: Oh, man, you
really nailed her!

Wyatt: Be quiet, Earl.

Only way they could be headed

is to camus creek.

Yeah? Upstream or down?

Cut through the Meadow.

If they're headed downstream,

you'll be able to get
ahead of them there.

We'll go straight
across, work our way up.

If you spot 'em, fire
off a couple of rounds.

We'll do the same.

Karen, you still with me?

Sorry. Sorry, I'm not...

No, no.

We'll just keep moving.

Look!

Think they crossed it?

Wyatt: Drift looks about right.

Better call in Earl.

( Two gunshots )

They could be onto us.

We can break trail
for the cabin here.

( Groans )

Well, where are they?

Bandanna across the
creek says they crossed

Here.

Makes sense.

There's no trace of
a trail downstream.

Let's get after 'em.

Look at this.

What's that?

Handkerchief dropped here...

There's no footprints anywhere.

Look at this.

It's fresh broke.

My guess is they
chucked this bandanna

From over there to set
us off the wrong way.

And they stayed
over on the other side.

Couldn't be downstream.

I-I would have seen 'em.

Well, then they got
to be goin' upstream

on the other side of the river.

Well, they ain't quite as smart
as they thought, are they?

Let's go.

How much further to the cabin?

As the crow flies, about a mile.

As the wounded walk,

We're gonna have
to take the long way.

I'm in no shape
for hill climbing.

( Groans )

You're in no shape for anything.

You got to rest.

Okay.

Oh... what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna give them a choice.

Stay here, okay?

Hold it.

They're headed this way.

From the looks of that track,

he must be helping her a lot.

She's not gonna
last much longer.

Let's go.

( Sighs )

I'll be darned.

What is it?

It's my distributor cap.

Hey, be careful.

It's our chance out.

Out?

They don't know us.

They don't want to know us.

They're saying,
just take our truck

and leave in peace.

It's too

Late for that. We
got 'em on the run.

Well, if we find 'em,

and we kill 'em,
who's running then?

May-may-maybe he's right, ed.

Let's just fly.

Let's just get in
the truck and...

Shut up!

( Cocks rifle )

Go on, shoot.

You're gonna hang
me out to dry anyway.

Do it face-to-face.

You're crazy.

Both of you.

I've had it.

T-To hell with you both.

( Screams )

They gave us a chance, ed.

They gave us nothing!

I'm gonna Bury 'em.

I'm gonna Bury 'em both.

Karen.

( Panting )

How are you feeling, baby?

I think both our
chances would be better

If you had left me
and came back.

Uh-uh.

We're going to
that cabin together.

Got it?

Come on.

Easy, easy.

That ranger's cabin
is on the other side

Of this Ridge.

Now, the way I got it figured,

if that's where they're headed,

that wounded girl's
gonna force 'em

To go around the Ridge.

We go straight over the top,

we're gonna beat
'em by at least an hour.

What about Earl?

By the time he wakes up,

it's all gonna be over.

Red bear, this is mobile one.

Any word from Karen? Over.

Man: Nothing on highland.

Suggest you call Sam. Over.

Okay people, let's go.

Woman: Okay, let's go.

Man: All right.

We made it.

I told you we'd be all right.

Fix that.

Now what?

We wait.

( Grunts )

Come on, let's rest.

All right.

( Grunting )

( Helicopter passing )

Down here!

Oh, come on.

Come on, Karen, stay with me.

We got to let them
know where we are.

- ( Grunts )
- Easy.

( Helicopter passing )

They're looking for 'em.

They ain't gonna find 'em.

No sign of them at base nine.

( Over radio ): You
see anything, Sam?

You'd have heard about it.

Just keep looking.

We're pushing up
for the north border.

( Engine starts )

This is...

( Grunts ) No good, MacGyver.

Just go on ahead.

Once you radio for help,

it's only a matter of time.

Just forget it.

We're getting out
of here together.

You understand?

Okay.

( Clanks stones )

( Groans )

What is that?

It's called limonite.

The Indians used to
use it in cave paintings.

( Rocks scraping )

amazing what you can do

with decomposed rock, huh?

Where you going, Wyatt?

I'm heading left.

I'm not going to Canada!

Well, then go to jail.

Just gonna run
out on your family?

I won't do it, ed.

I won't kill 'em,
it's not worth it.

Why don't you come with me?

You run out on me now,

and I swear, you'll
never stop running.

I'll find 'em,

I'll Bury 'em on your land.

When the law comes,

it'll be you and your family.

That's the price
you're gonna pay

If you run out on me now.

( Gasping )

All right, come on.

Okay.

( Groans )

Easy, okay.

Okay, okay.

Wait a minute.

Okay.

( Groans )

Here.

- I think we made it.
- Yeah.

Karen: Here.

You'll need these keys.

I don't think so.

There's no lock on the door.

That's impossible.

That door's never left unlocked.

Well, it is now.

Karen: What is it?

MacGyver: That's
a hunting blind.

But I'd be willing to bet

they're not after deer.

( Sighs )

Come on.

Easy.

( Groans )

What are you gonna do?

I'm not exactly sure yet.

- It'll come to me.
- Oh!

I hope.

I do know I have to
try and even the odds.

Stay put.

I'll be back.

This is stupid.

Maybe Earl come around
and got a drop on 'em.

Maybe they're
having a tea party.

No, this fella's good.

He's not turning back.

He wants to finish this
just as much as we do.

We'll wait.

MacGyver: There's
a fine line in nature

that divides the
hunter from the hunted.

The trick was to turn
the situation around.

The tools I had available

were nature, Karen's coat,

And the tranquilizer
darts in her backpack.

The first thing I had to do

Was to give them something
to shoot at that wasn't me.

Chopper three to search party.

Looks like they're on their way

to base nine after all.

Copy chopper three.

The poachers had
taken the tranquilizer gun

but left the darts.

So what I needed was a way

to propel one a distance
of about 40 yards.

What I had was the
barrel of a flashlight,

and the elastic cord
from Karen's coat.

♪ ♪

So I could be in
two places at once,

It became necessary
to invent a time delay.

A fuse that would
last long enough

to get me into another position.

Something doesn't feel right.

They'll be here.

♪ ♪

( Loud snap )

( Firing guns )

MacGyver: ( Whistles ) Yo!

( Grunts )

Ed!

Park service,
hold it right there!

Don't shoot! I give.

Don't shoot!

Check out the cabin.

Ranger: There's
another one over here!

( Groaning )

Sam: Thanks, MacGyver.

You sure know

How to show a girl a good time.

Just like always.

Oh, it wasn't that bad.

No.

It wasn't.

- There you go.
- Thanks.

Well, I guess it's safe to say

those guys won't be hunting

in your territory again, huh?

No, I think the only thing

They'll be hunting
for is parole.

Thanks, MacGyver.

I said a lot of things.

I...

You don't have to
explain anything.

I know how you feel.

No... you don't.

You've found your place.

It's here... with Sam.

Now I know why we
never said good-bye.

Too damn hard.

Let's not.

Take care.

Yes, ma'am.

( Door closes )

( Engine starting )