Your Worst Nightmare (2014–…): Season 3, Episode 9 - Into the Wild - full transcript

LOOK AT YOU.

WE'D MAKE A BEAUTIFUL
FAMILY, YOU KNOW THAT?

BIG, STRONG SONS
AND DAUGHTERS

AS PRETTY AS THEIR MAMA.

DON'T.

NOW, STAY STILL.

STOP. GET OFF OF ME.
NOW, YOU JUST HUSH.

GET OFF OF ME.
STOP.

MY DADDY WAS RIGHT.

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE
A GREAT WIFE.

MORE THAN 50 MILES NORTH
OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK,



23-YEAR-OLD KARI SWENSON
HAS PLANNED THE PERFECT SUMMER

WORKING AT MONTANA'S
LONE MOUNTAIN GUEST RANCH.

I THINK HER LIFE WAS PROBABLY
CONSIDERED IDYLLIC, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, SHE WAS JUST A - -

A VIBRANT, YOUNG PERSON
WITH WONDERFUL GOALS IN LIFE

AND ENJOYING THE - -

THE GORGEOUS MOUNTAINS
OF MONTANA.

BUT,
LURKING IN THE SHADOWS

OF THIS LUSH MOUNTAIN
LANDSCAPE LIES A DANGER

THAT THREATENS TO CHANGE

THE COURSE
OF KARI'S LIFE FOREVER.

HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

LET'S ADJUST THAT GRIP
A LITTLE BIT.

THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD
ALAN GOLDSTEIN



HAS BEEN TRAINING GUESTS
ON THE RANGE THE PAST 2 YEARS.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE

IF YOU MOVE THE STOCK UP JUST A
LITTLE BIT ON YOUR SHOULDER.

MY DAD LOVED THE OUTDOORS.
AND HE LOVED PEOPLE.

AND HE HAD A DEEP COMPASSION
FOR ANIMALS AND NATURE.

AND I THINK MONTANA

AND THE PEACEFULNESS
OF THE MOUNTAINS

AND BEING THAT CLOSE TO NATURE

WAS PROBABLY CALLING TO HIM

FOR A LONG TIME OR SOME PLACE
OTHER THAN FLINT, MICHIGAN.

YOU'RE PULLING
TOO HARD ON THE TRIGGER.

EXCUSE ME?

YOU JUST GOTTA CURL
YOUR FINGER REAL SMOOTH.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD
LISTEN TO HER, HON.

WELL, IF YOU THINK IT'S SO EASY,
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT A TRY.

COME ON, KARI.
GO AHEAD.

SURE.
WHY NOT.

THAT WAS BEGINNER'S LUCK.

HOW'D SHE DO THAT?

YOU JUST GOTTA KEEP
ON PRACTICING, OKAY?

SURE.

JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE RANCH,

FATHER- AND-SON
MOUNTAIN MEN

DON AND DAN NICHOLS

HAVE BEEN LIVING OFF
THE GRID FOR YEARS.

THE NICHOLS, THEY'D
STAYED IN THE GENERAL AREA

OF WHAT I'LL CALL
THE SPANISH PEAKS,

BIG SKY, AND THE BEAR TRAP AREA.

AND THEY,
THEY PILFERED CABINS.

THEY DID THINGS
TO GET FOOD TO SURVIVE.

I RECKON WE'LL HEAD WEST
A FEW MORE MILES.

THERE SHOULD BE
A CREEK OUT THAT WAY.

WE COULD HEAD EAST
INSTEAD, TOWARDS BOZEMAN.

IT'S BE NICE
TO GET A HOT SHOWER,

SLEEP IN A BED
FOR JUST A NIGHT OR TWO.

THAT REALLY WHAT YOU WANT?

DON WAS RAISED IN THE AREA.

AND DAN NICHOLS, HIS SON,
HE WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HIM.

AND - - AND THAT WAS BASICALLY
HIS WORLD WAS HIS SON.

NO, LISTEN TO THIS.

SHE JUST GRABS THE RIFLE
RIGHT OUTTA THAT GUYS HANDS.

AND SHE GOES,
"ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST

CURL YOUR FINGER
AROUND THE TRIGGER."

AW, NO.
BOY.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
AND THE...

HEY, HERE SHE IS,
OUR OWN LITTLE ANNIE OAKLEY.

HEY, ANNIE.

WHAT ARE YOU TELLING
HIM, ALAN?

ONLY THE TRUTH.

NOTHING WRONG.

WE KEEP GETTIN'
THESE WEEKEND WARRIORS, MAN.

I'M TELLIN' YA.

LONE MOUNTAIN RANCH WAS A PLACE

THAT PEOPLE CAME
FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE

TO INTERACT WITH NATURE

AND TO BE CLOSER TO NATURE,

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A GUIDE

TO TAKE THEM
OUT INTO THE WOODS

AND TO EXPLORE
THE MOUNTAINS.

KARI AND MY DAD
WERE FRIENDS AT THE RANCH.

SHE WORKED THERE AS A WAITRESS
IN THE RESTAURANT.

YEAH,
IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY.

THE RANCH WAS AMAZING.

THE PEOPLE WERE SUPER FRIENDLY.

I COULD SEE WHY
HE WAS HAPPY THERE.

I FORGOT
TO TELL YA.

I SAW THE MOST AMAZING THING
YESTERDAY, A GRIZZLY BEAR.

WHERE?

OUT ON THE LAKE TRAIL.

I MEAN, HE WAS JUST GRAZIN'
IN THE MEADOW ALL BY ITSELF.

SHE WAS AN ATHLETE.

AND SHE THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO,

SEE A,
GRIZZLY BEAR IN THE WILD.

I'LL HAVE TO
HEAD OUT THERE

AND SEE IF I CAN FIND
YOUR BEAR MYSELF.

NO. NO.
DON'T GET TOO CLOSE, NOW.

WHAT? YOU THINK SHE'S
SCARED OF THE BEAR?

THE BEAR OUGHTA
BE SCARED OF HER.

I GUARANTEE YA.
IT TAKES ONE LOOK,

IT HIGHTAILS IT BACK
INTO THE WOODS.

I'M SURE IT WILL.

I THINK ANYBODY WOULD ADMIT

THAT IF YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE
TRACKING A GRIZZLY BEAR,

YOU MIGHT WANNA TAKE
SOMETHING WITH YOU

THAT COULD PROTECT YOU FROM - -

FROM THAT ANIMAL.

I GOTTA GO.

BUT I'LL SEE
YOU GUYS LATER.

OKAY.

NO.
I'M SERIOUS.

NEXT TIME, YOU GOTTA SEE HER
WHEN SHE'S IN ACTION.

I'M GONNA COME BY.
SHE'S A GREAT SHOT.

YOU KNOW THAT.
MY GOSH.

COUPLE MORE MILES,
AND WE'LL CALL IT A DAY.

WE SHOULDA STOPPED
A COUPLE MILES BACK.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT'D BE
THIS ROUGH A HAUL.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE,

DAN HAD BECOME INVOLVED
IN A RELATIONSHIP

WITH A LITTLE BIT
OLDER WOMAN THAN HE WAS

AND BECAME VERY ATTACHED TO HER.

AND DON DIDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

AND - - AND HE TOOK DAN AWAY
FROM THAT SITUATION.

AND THEY WORKED THERE,
I BELIEVE, FOR A FULL YEAR,

GETTING MONEY BUILT UP
SO THEY COULD COME BACK HERE

AND LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS.

YOU GETTIN' TIRED
OF ALL THIS, AIN'T YA.

IT'S FINE, DAD.

NO.
IT AIN'T.

LISTEN, DAN.

LOOK.

I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA
NEED SOMEONE.

ALL RIGHT?

I GOT YOU.
NO.

I'LL BE GONE SOON.

YOU CAN'T BE OUT HERE
ALL BY YOURSELF.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU
TRYIN' TO SAY, DAD?

I'M JUST THINKIN'
OUT LOUD.

DON NICHOLS WAS LOOKING

FOR A WOMAN
TO BE DAN'S WIFE.

THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR A FEMALE, PERIOD.

WITH EVERY FREE
SECOND KARI HAS ON THE RANCH,

SHE'S TRAINING
FOR AN UPCOMING RACE,

ONE THAT REQUIRES MORE THAN
BEING AN ACE WITH A RIFLE.

KARI WAS A BI-ATHLETE SEEKING

TO MAKE THE U. S. OLYMPIC TEAM.

SO, IT'S A VERY COMMON THING
FOR ATHLETES TO - -

TO RUN AND TRAIN
ON VARYING TERRAIN.

AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A NORDIC,

ATHLETE LIKE A BI-ATHLETE.

THAT WOULD BE PART
OF KARI'S NORMAL ROUTINE.

THE TERRAIN AROUND ALDRIDGE

LAKES WAS UNDULATING
AND CHALLENGING ENOUGH

THAT SHE'D HAVE TO WATCH
HER FOOTING QUITE A BIT.

AND IT'D BE EXCELLENT
TRAINING FOR HER SPORT.

YOU SCARED ME.

HELLO, DARLIN'.

SHE ENCOUNTERED THEM
ON THE TRAIL.

AND - - AND SHE WAS - -

SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY
PUT OFF BY THEM,

BY THEIR APPEARANCE
AND THEIR DEMEANOR.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M DON.

THIS IS MY SON, DAN.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR HIKE.

IT WAS JUST A BAD
LUCK OF THE DRAW

FOR HER TO ENCOUNTER THEM

BECAUSE THEY WERE SHOPPING.

AND SHE JUST HAPPENED
TO FALL IN THE CART.

TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD
KARI SWENSON'S MORNING

RUN HAS JUST BEEN CUT SHORT
BY TWO MOUNTAIN MEN.

COULD YOU
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?

ALL RIGHT?

I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T
DO THAT, DARLIN'.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I HAVEN'T GOT ANY MONEY.

NO.
WE DON'T NEED MONEY.

HELP!

TO ME, THEY WERE JUST MORE OF
A FATHER-SON CRIMINAL ELEMENT

IN THE MOUNTAINS,

LOOKING TO CAUSE
SOME KIND OF TROUBLE.

THEY KIDNAPPED KARI
BECAUSE SHE WAS PRETTY.

AND THEY THOUGHT
SHE'D MAKE A GOOD WIFE.

SHE'LL DO, WON'T SHE?
YEAH.

SHE'LL DO JUST FINE.

SHE SMELLS NICE.
YEAH.

REAL PRETTY.

ALL RIGHT. COME ON.
LET'S GO.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU'RE COMIN' WITH US.
NO.

YEAH.
NO!

THEY BASICALLY CHAINED HER UP

LIKE A DOG ON A LEASH

AND TOOK HER AWAY WITH 'EM.

NO!

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!
COME ON, DAN.

YOU WALK OR I'LL DRAG YOU.

NO. NO.

COME ON.
PLEASE.

I LIKE A FIGHTER.
NO.

LET ME GO.

BACK AT THE LONE MOUNTAIN RANCH,

KARI'S COWORKER,
ALAN GOLDSTEIN,

IS STARTING
TO WONDER ABOUT HER.

HEY.
HAVE YOU SEEN KARI LATELY?

NOT SINCE LUNCH.
WHY?

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BY
MY CABIN ON THE WAY TO DINNER.

I THOUGHT SHE'D BE HERE.

THERE HAD BEEN REPORTS
OF A GRIZZLY IN THE AREA.

THEY WERE AFRAID
THAT SHE MIGHT'VE BEEN

CONFRONTED WITH THE BEAR

AND WAS EITHER UP A TREE

OR HAD SPRAINED HER ANKLE

AND WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT.

THIS ISN'T LIKE HER.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.

I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR HER.

MEANWHILE, KARI'S
CAPTORS LEAD HER FARTHER

AND FARTHER AWAY FROM THE RANCH.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD
KEEP HEADIN' NORTH OR

IF WE SHOULD TACK OFF WEST.

IT'S FLATTER TO THE NORTH.

YEAH, BUT THERE'S MORE
TREE COVERS TO THE WEST,

MORE COVERAGE IN CASE SOMEBODY
COMES LOOKIN' FOR HER.

THEY WERE JUST VILE MEN
RUNNING FROM THE LAW

AND LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS.

YOU'RE REAL PRETTY,
YOU KNOW THAT?

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'D BE GOOD
FOR MAKIN' BABIES TOO.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S HEAD OFF THIS WAY.

YOU'RE GONNA LIKE
IT OUT HERE WITH US.

YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU'LL SEE.

I CAN'T STAY OUT HERE
WITH YOU FOREVER.

HEY, YOU LISTEN
TO ME?

YOU'RE PART OF
THE FAMILY NOW, DARLIN'.

ALL RIGHT?
SO LET'S GO.

MY FRIENDS ARE GONNA
BE LOOKING FOR ME.

YOU KNOW THAT.

THERE'S A LOTTA LAND
OUT HERE.

THE CHANCES OF THEM
FINDIN' YOU - - PRETTY SLIM.

COME ON, NOW.

SHE WAS TRYING TO
LEAVE TRACES OR MARKINGS

AND STEPPING IN SOFTER SOIL
TO LEAVE SOME HUMAN PRESENCE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'
BACK THERE, SWEETHEART?

NOTHING.

NOW, I SAID LET'S GO.

COME ON.

I'M BEAT, OKAY?
I NEED A BREAK.

LATER, ONCE WE
GET SOME MILES

BETWEEN US
AND THAT RANCH OF YOURS.

HOW'D YOU KNOW I WORK
AT THE RANCH?

YOU LEARN A LOT
FROM WATCHIN'.

COME ON.

COME ON.

AS THE AFTERNOON TICKS
BY WITH KARI STILL MISSING,

HER COWORKERS' CONCERN GROWS.

WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS,

WHEN SHE DIDN'T
SHOW UP FOR WORK,

THEY - - THEY HAD
THAT TEAM ORGANIZED.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. LISTEN UP.
COME ON, GUYS.

THE LAST ANYONE'S SEEN
KARI WAS DURIN' LUNCH.

SO SHE COULDN'T HAVE
GONE TOO FAR.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS
WE'RE GONNA SEARCH AS LONG

AS WE CAN UNTIL IT
GETS TOO DARK OUT.

NOW, WE'RE GONNA SPLIT UP
INTO FOUR TEAMS.

AND WE'RE EACH GONNA
TAKE ONE QUADRANT.

WE'LL TAKE
THE EAST.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
COME ON. LET'S GO.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET HER.

KARI.

KARI.

KARI, ARE YOU OUT HERE?

ON THE NIGHT THAT
SHE DIDN'T COME BACK,

SOME PEOPLE DID GO UP IN TOWARDS
THE END OF THE ROAD

AND CALL HER NAME.

AND THEY DID THINK,
AT THE TIME,

THAT MAYBE SHE HAD
BUMPED INTO A BEAR

OR SOMETHIN' LIKE THAT OR FALLEN

AND HURT HER LEG

AND COULDN'T COMMUNICATE
WITH ANYBODY.

JIM SCHWALBE WOULD PERSONIFY,
IN MY OPINION,

A CONSUMMATE,
FIRST-CLASS HUNTER, TRACKER,

WOODSMAN, VERY ADEPT

IN THE BACK COUNTRY,

VERY COMFORTABLE
IN THE WILDERNESS

AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE
IN SENSE OF DIRECTION,

EVEN IN HEAVY
CANOPIES OF TREES.

KARI.

IT IS NO SURPRISE MY FATHER
WOULD GO LOOKING FOR HER.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE

TO STAND UP

AND GO TO THE AID OF HIS FRIENDS
AND HIS FAMILY.

KARI.

KARI.

IT'S JUST A DEER.

WHAT'S THAT FOR?

PROTECTION.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT WE'LL FIND OUT HERE.

MY FATHER ABHORRED VIOLENCE.

UM, HE THOUGHT THAT KILLING
ANOTHER HUMAN BEING

JUST FOR THE SAKE OF KILLING
WAS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS

THAT YOU COULD DO.

BUT HE USED A GUN
WHEN HE NEEDED ONE.

UM, HE USED IT FOR PROTECTION.

KARI.

NIGHT FALLS,

AND KARI IS STILL
MILES AWAY FROM HOME.

THEY TOOK HER
INTO THEIR CAMPSITE

AND CHAINED HER
TO A LOG AND A - -

AND A TREE.

THAT'S ABOUT DONE.

GO AHEAD.

NO, THANKS.

I DON'T LIKE SQUIRREL.

MORE FOR US, THEN.

THEY THREATENED TO KILL HER

IF SHE CALLED OUT FOR HELP

OR MADE ANY NOISE

THAT WOULD ATTRACT PEOPLE
TO THEIR CAMPSITE.

I'M GONNA GET MORE WOOD.
BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK I WILL HAVE A TASTE.

I RECKONED YOU MIGHT.

THAT'S DELICIOUS.

I GOTTA - - A LEG CRAMP.

I'M JUST GONNA,
STRETCH IT OUT.

THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S ALL.

YOU KNOW, YOU STICK
OUT HERE LONG ENOUGH,

YOU WON'T EVEN
MISS YOUR OLD LIFE.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING
OUT HERE YOU NEED?

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

WE HUNT OUR OWN FOOD.
WE FIND OUR OWN WATER.

NO GOVERNMENT
SPYIN' ON US,

TRYIN' TO TAKE OUR MONEY,
TAKE OUR LAND.

NO PEOPLE TELLIN' US
WHAT WE OUGHTA DO

AND WHERE WE OUGHTA DO IT.

ONLY WAY NOT TO GET SPIED ON,
STEPPED ON,

KICKED AROUND
IS LIVIN' OUT HERE.

WAY I SEE IT,
WHAT CHOICE DO WE GOT.

WHERE THE HELL
ARE YOU GOIN'?

I'M JUST GETTING SOME WATER.

THAT'S ALL.
LIAR!

I RECKON THIS IS WHAT
YOU'RE AFTER?

NO.
YEAH. IT IS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS... NO.
YOU THINK YOU'RE SMARTER

THAN US HILLBILLIES,
DON'T YOU?

NO.
YEAH, YOU DO.

YOU'RE JUST LIKE
ALL THE REST OF 'EM,

AREN'T YA?

WELL, FORGET THAT, MISSY.
FORGET ALL THAT.

I WILL SHOW YOU WHO'S
IN CHARGE HERE.

I WILL SHOW YOU
WHO'S IN CHARGE.

YOU GOT ANY
LAST WORDS, MISSY?

HOURS AFTER BEING
ABDUCTED BY TWO MOUNTAIN MEN...

WHERE THE HELL
ARE YOU GOIN'?

I'M JUST GETTING SOME WATER.

KARI SWENSON IS WONDERING

IF SHE'LL EVER MAKE IT
OUT OF THESE WOODS ALIVE.

YOU GOT ANY
LAST WORDS, MISSY?

HE TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS
REALLY GOING TO GET BEAT UP

IF SHE DIDN'T STRAIGHTEN UP.

I WILL KILL YOU.

AND WE'LL JUST FIND
OURSELVES ANOTHER GIRL.

YOU HEAR ME?
PLEASE DON'T.

YOU GIVE ME ONE
GOOD REASON WHY NOT.

DAD!
WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?

I CAUGHT THIS ONE TRYIN'
TO MAKE A BREAK FOR IT.

SHE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE
WITH THOSE CHAINS ON.

I RECKON SHE COULD IF SHE GOT
HER HANDS ON THIS, BOY.

HEY.

COME ON.

DANNY DIDN'T ASSOCIATE HIMSELF

WITH HIS FATHER
IN THE SAME WAY.

HE DID NOT SEE HIMSELF
AS THE BAD GUY.

KEEP SOME PRESSURE
ON THERE.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

I'M FINE.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

WE CAN NOT BE...
YOU SHOULDN'T'VE DONE THAT, BOY.

I KNOW, DAD.

BUT, I LIKE HER.

BACK AT THE RANCH,
DAY BREAKS WITH NO SIGN OF KARI.

BUT SEARCH EFFORTS
ONLY GROW STRONGER.

A SEARCH TEAM LEADER FROM

THE BIG SKY AREA
IN GALLATIN COUNTY

PUT TOGETHER
THAT FIRST SEARCH TEAM.

I WAS RUNNING THE,
LAW-ENFORCEMENT RADIO SYSTEM

AND COORDINATING LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND SEARCH OFFICIALS.

KARI.

IT WAS JUST EXTREMELY BUSY.

KARI.

MY DAD HAD LIVED
ON THE RANCH FOR 2 YEARS.

I'M QUITE CERTAIN THAT HE KNEW
THOSE MOUNTAINS VERY WELL.

HE AND ALL OF THE SEARCHERS
THAT THEY CALLED TO ACTION

WERE LOOKING FOR SIGNS,

UM, OF - - OF A HUMAN
BEING HAVE - -

HAVING BEEN THERE, UM,
PARTICULARLY ANY SIGN OF KARI.

AND SOON ENOUGH,
THEY FIND SOMETHING.

HEY.
LOOK AT THIS.

KARI'S BEEN HERE.
THAT'S FOR SURE.

YEAH.
QUESTION IS WHERE'D SHE GO?

COME ON.
LET'S GO THIS WAY.

THERE'S A CREEK
A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT WAY.

I'M GONNA GO
FILL UP FOR US.

YOU GONNA BEHAVE YOURSELF
WHILE I'M GONE?

WHERE AM I
GONNA GET TO?

YOU MUST REALLY
LOVE YOUR FATHER.

OF COURSE I DO.

I MEAN THE WAY THAT YOU
STAYED OUT HERE

WITH HIM SO LONG.

I CAN SEE YOU WANNA GO HOME.

THIS IS MY HOME,
YOURS TOO.

YOU COULD TAKE ME BACK
TO THE RANCH, YOU KNOW.

AND I'D EXPLAIN
HOW YOU HELPED ME.

AND YOU WOULDN'T GO
TO JAIL OR ANYTHING.

WHAT ABOUT MY FATHER?

YOU TRYIN' TO
TURN ME AGAINST HIM?

NO. NO.
GIVE HIM UP TO SAVE MYSELF?

NO. I WOULDN'T
DO THAT. SORRY.

YOU'RE HURTING ME.
YOU'RE HURTING ME.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHIN'.

ME AND MY FATHER
ARE STICKIN' TOGETHER

NO MATTER WHAT.

I THINK THE BOND BETWEEN
FATHER AND SON WAS GIGANTIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE
DYSFUNCTION IN DON'S LIFE

WENT RIGHT TO THE SON.

AND IT JUST WASN'T RECOGNIZED
FOR THE SEVERITY THAT IT WAS.

LOOK AT YOU..

WE'RE GONNA A BEAUTIFUL
FAMILY, YOU KNOW THAT?

BIG, STRONG SONS AND DAUGHTERS
AS PRETTY AS THEIR MAMA.

DAN DON'T.
DON'T.

NOW, STAY STILL. STOP.
STOP, GET OFF OF ME.

NOW, YOU JUST HUSH.
GET OFF OF ME!

STOP IT!

MY DADDY WAS RIGHT.

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A GREAT WIFE.

KARI!

KARI!

I THINK, DON PROBABLY
PANICKED A LITTLE.

THEY JUST WANTED
TO GET OUTTA THERE.

DANNY!
NOW, THERE'S YOUR DRINK.

WE GOTTA GO.
SOMEONE'S COMIN'.

GET UP.
WHO'S COMIN'.

I DON'T KNOW.
SOMEBODY'S LOOKIN' FOR HER.

GET UP.
NO.

COME ON.
THIS WAY.

THEY'RE GONNA FIND US.
NO. THEY WON'T.

AND IF THEY COME NEAR US,
WE'LL KILL 'EM.

KARI!

I'M HERE!

I'M HERE!
SHUT THE HELL UP!

DAN DREW HIS PISTOL

AND PUTTING IT
AGAINST KARI'S CHEST.

YOU MAKE ANOTHER SOUND,
YOU'RE DEAD. YOU HEAR ME?

COME ON.
LET'S JUST KEEP MOVIN', DANNY.

YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID,
DIDN'T YOU?

KEEP MOVING
AND SHUT YOUR TRAP.

KARI!

I SAID MOVE IT!

I AM MOVING.

HIS GUN DISCHARGED.

AND - - AND KARI WAS SHOT.

THE WHOLE THING
WOULD'VE BEEN UTTER CHAOS.

YOU MAKE ANOTHER SOUND,
AND YOU'RE DEAD.

AFTER BEING KIDNAPPED

AND MARCHED FOR MILES

THROUGH THE MONTANA WILDERNESS,

KARI SWENSON'S LIFE
IS SUDDENLY ON THE LINE.

I SAID MOVE IT!

I AM MOVING!

WHAT WAS THAT?

MUST'VE BEEN A HUNTER.

THERE WERE ABOUT 28 PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THAT SEARCH.

AND TWO OF 'EM
WERE GOLDSTEIN AND SCHWALBE.

NO, NO, NO.
IT'S COMIN' FROM OVER THERE.

COME ON.
LET'S GO.

KARI!

KARI!

THEY HAD HEARD SOUNDS

AND TOOK A LOWER TRAIL

AND APPROACHED THE CAMP.

KARI HAD TAKEN A SHOT
IN THE CHEST.

I SHOT HER.
I SHOT HER.

IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THIS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

HEY.
SETTLE DOWN, ALL RIGHT?

WE GOTTA KEEP MOVIN'.

DAN HAD TURNED TO SHUT KARI UP

AND FIRED HIS GUN AND SHOT KARI.

SHE WAS DESPERATELY WOUNDED.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO SHOOT HER.

OF COURSE NOT.

WHAT DO WE DO?
HOW DO WE GET HER...

HEY. FORGET HER,
ALL RIGHT? LISTEN.

WE GOTTA TAKE CARE
OF OURSELVES NOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SHE WASN'T THE RIGHT
ONE FOR YOU ANYWAY.

THEN NICHOLS, AT THAT POINT,

REALIZED THAT KARI WAS NOT GONNA
BE ABLE TO GO WITH THEM,

THAT SHE WAS WOUNDED.

YOU'RE GONNA UNDO THAT CHAIN,
TIE HER TO THAT TREE.

COME ON, NOW.

COME ON, BOY.

WHERE'S YOUR GUN?

GO.
JUST KEEP GOIN'.

SCHWALBE CAME ACROSS THE CAMP.

KARI SWENSON WAS LAYIN'
ON THE GROUND.

AND SCHWALBE WENT INTO THE CAMP

TO KARI, SEE IF
HE COULD HELP HER.

KARI!
HELP ME.

KARI, DON'T WORRY.
HOLD ON, KARI.

HEY. DON'T MOVE.
DON'T MOVE.

I'M GONNA HELP HER.

YOU GOT A GUN IN THERE?

IT'S JUST A FIRST-AID KIT.

I - - I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
IT JUST HAPPENED.

LOOK.
I'M GONNA HELP MY FRIEND.

DON'T.

JIM THOUGHT THAT DON NICHOLS
WAS A BIT PANICKY.

BUT HE WAS REALLY
TRYING TO - -

TO HELP AT THAT POINT
KEEP HER ALIVE,

WHEN ALL THE CHAOS ERUPTED.

YOU'RE SURROUNDED.
DROP YOUR WEAPONS.

MY FATHER, BECAUSE
HE WAS IMPETUOUS, YELLED,

"THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS.
YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY 200 MEN."

HE THOUGHT BECAUSE
THEY HAD COME IN,

THAT NICHOLS WOULD BELIEVE
THERE'S A - -

A NUMBER OF OTHER
PEOPLE ALSO ARMED.

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

HE HAD UNCOVERED HIMSELF

JUST ENOUGH
TO ENABLE DON NICHOLS

TO SHOOT HIM.

NO!

JIM SCHWALBE,
SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED,

JUMPED UP AND SCAMPERED
UPHILL TOWARDS ALAN,

SAW THAT HE WAS DEAD,

AND, RAN FOR HELP.

IN HIS HASTE TO VACATE, UM,
TO SAVE HIS LIFE,

JIM HAD LEFT
HIS SLEEPING BAG THERE.

TIME TO GO, SON.

AT THAT POINT, THEY BROKE CAMP

AS FAST AS THEY COULD AND LEFT.

THEY HAD GATHERED UP
ALL THEIR BELONGINGS.

AND THEY SPLIT,
LEAVING KARI THERE

AND THE DECEASED GOLDSTEIN.

MEANWHILE,
A LITTLE MORE THAN A MILE AWAY,

THE SEARCH PARTY IS
STILL ACTIVELY WORKING

WHEN THEY'RE
UNEXPECTEDLY INTERRUPTED.

HELP. HELP.
WHOA, WHOA.

CALM DOWN.
WHAT HAPPENED?

GUYS!

I FOUND HER.
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

YOU - - YOU FOUND KARI?
SHE'S SHOT.

WHERE?
AND ALAN.

SHE WAS PROBABLY
IN SHOCK AT THAT POINT.

THEY FLED THE SCENE,
LEAVING HER THERE.

AND, OF COURSE,
SHE HAD BEEN SHOT.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF HER
SURVIVING THERE

MIGHT'VE BEEN QUITE LIMITED.

TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD
BI-ATHLETE KARI SWENSON HAS BEEN SHOT

AND LEFT FOR DEAD DEEP
IN THE MONTANA WILDERNESS.

SHE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE CHEST.

SHE FOUND SCHWALBE'S
SLEEPING BAG

AND SOME WATER

AND DECIDED TO STAY
WHERE SHE WAS.

AS KARI FIGHTS FOR HER LIFE,

HER ABDUCTORS FLEE
THROUGH THE WOODS,

KNOWING A SEARCH PARTY
IS STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

WHAT IF THEY CATCH UP TO US?
THEY WON'T.

BUT, DAD...
THEY WON'T.

AND IF THEY DO,
THEY WON'T TAKE US ALIVE.

COME ON.

JIM SCHWALBE CAME
RUNNING INTO OUR HEADQUARTERS.

AND HE ANNOUNCED

THAT SHE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED

AND DESCRIBED THE SHOOTINGS.

THIS WAY!

WE DID NOT HESITATE.

WE GOT HER OUT OF THERE AS - -
AS SOON AS WE COULD.

HERE. COME ON.

KARI.

KARI.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

STAY WITH ME.
COME ON.

STAY WITH ME.
WE'RE GONNA GET YOU OUTTA HERE.

COME ON.
COME ON, GUYS.

NEED THE FIRST-AID KIT.

KARI WAS RESCUED
WITHIN 4 HOURS.

IF SHE HADN'T BEEN SHOT,

THEY WOULD'VE GONE HIGHER

IN THE MOUNTAINS
WITH HER, MOST LIKELY.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE...

IT'S HARD TO KNOW
HOW LONG IT WOULD'VE BEEN

BEFORE THEY FOUND HER.

THEY CALLED
IN A MEDEVAC HELICOPTER.

AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY
HOISTED OUT OF THE - -

THE SCENE AREA BY BASKET.

IN THE COMMUNITY
OF BIG SKY,

THEY WERE EXTREMELY RELIEVED.

AND, OF COURSE, BEING
A OLYMPIC-CALIBER ATHLETE,

THERE WAS A LOT
OF CONCERN NATIONWIDE

WITH THE WELL-BEING OF KARI

AND WHETHER SHE COULD RECOVER
AND COMPETE AGAIN.

I THINK ANYONE ON THE SEARCH
AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

I WOULD SAY, WAS A HERO.

IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE HAPPENING

THAT ALAN ENDED UP GETTING SHOT.

BUT HE HAD HEROIC, INTENT.

MY DAD IS ABSOLUTELY A HERO.

HE GAVE HIS LIFE
FOR ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

AND HE GAVE IT SELFLESSLY.

MY FATHER RECEIVED
THE CARNEGIE MEDAL

FOR HEROISM POSTHUMOUSLY.

AND INSCRIBED ON THE MEDAL

IS "GREATER LOVE HATH
NO MAN THAN THIS,

THAT HE WOULD LAY HIS LIFE
DOWN FOR HIS FRIENDS."

AND THAT WAS MY DAD.

WITH KARI SAFELY RESCUED
FROM THE MOUNTAIN, OFFICERS

TURN THEIR ATTENTION
TO FINDING KARI'S CAPTORS.

THEY FLED INTO
THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS

TO THE BACK COUNTRY

AND LIVED OFF THE LAND,

PROBABLY POACHING
AND, FISHING AND - -

AND OTHER WAYS TO SURVIVE.

THERE WERE SOME SIGHTINGS
OF 'EM IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF A SEVERAL-MONTH SEARCH.

DOZENS OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS FLOOD THE WOODS,

INCLUDING FORMER RODEO RIDER

AND MADISON COUNTY
SHERIFF JOHNNY FRANCE.

WE HAD HORSE BACKERS.

WE HAD, UM,
TWO HELICOPTERS HUNTING,

LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

ALL DAY, THEY USED
EVERY POSSIBLE THING THEY COULD.

I MEAN, THEY DID.

BUT THESE BACKWOODS
STRETCH FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES.

AND NO ONE KNOWS THEM
BETTER THAN THE NICHOLS.

WE CHASED 'EM AROUND UP THERE

IN THE MOUNTAINS
FOR ABOUT 5 1/2 MONTHS.

I WOULD LOOK AT THOSE MOUNTAINS

AND WONDER OF WHAT DAN

AND DON NICHOLS WERE DOING,

IF THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME.

THEN,
NEARLY 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

SHERIFF JOHNNY FRANCE
GETS AN UNEXPECTED LEAD.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

MY FOSTER BROTHER-IN-LAW

SPOTTED THEIR,

SOME SMOKE
ON HIS PROPERTY UP THERE.

COLD SPRINGS RANCH,
WHICH IS THE RANCH

THAT JOHNNY FRANCE GREW UP ON,

HE KNEW EVERY INCH OF IT.

THANK YOU.
I'LL CHECK IT OUT.

BEING JOHNNY AND
THE PERSON HE IS,

THE LAST THING HE WANTED
WAS A BUNCH OF GUNFIRE

AND INNOCENT LIVES LOST.

THAT WAS ON HIS MIND,

AND - - AND THE FACT THAT - -

THAT DARKNESS
WAS APPROACHING.

IT'S ALREADY LATE IN THE DAY.

AND RADIOS ARE IN
AND OUT ON THE MOUNTAIN.

SO SHERIFF FRANCE SEES
ONLY ONE OPTION AT HAND.

HE HEADS FOR THE CAMPSITE ALONE.

SO, WHY DID I GO IN ALONE?

I WENT BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT I GOT PAID FOR.

HE WENT IN,
AS QUICKLY AS HE COULD.

AND HE LOCATED THEM.

AND - - AND HE GOT
THE DROP ON 'EM.

JUST VERY SIMPLY,
HE GOT THE DROP ON 'EM.

DON'T MOVE.

HEY.

I'M NOT GOIN'
TO PRISON, SHERIFF.

I CAN'T SEE WHERE ELSE
YOU WOULD BE HEADED.

DON SAID THAT HE WAS
GOING TO, SHOOT ME.

AND I INFORMED HIM
THAT, THE,

SECOND SHOT WOULD BE HIS SON.

I USED HIS SON KIND OF
AS A PAWN, I GUESS.

PUT THAT RIFLE DOWN.

DAD, TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

DON'T WORRY.
HE WON'T SHOOT YOU.

DON'T TEST ME, DON.

I'LL DO WHAT I HAVE TO.
YOU KNOW THAT I WILL.

NOW, I SAID,

"I DON'T WANNA KILL ANYBODY.

BUT I WILL IF YOU MAKE ME."

PUT THAT WEAPON DOWN.

DAD.

HE HAD TO TALK DAN
AND DON NICHOLS

INTO PUTTING DOWN THEIR ARMS

AND SURRENDERING.

I MEAN, JUST WITHIN MINUTES

AFTER HE FINALLY HAD THEM
WHERE THEY - -

THEY HAD PUT DOWN
THEIR ARMS AND - -

AND THE SITUATION
WAS UNDER CONTROL,

WITHIN MINUTES, THE HELICOPTERS
CAME OVER THE RIDGE

AND BROUGHT ALL THE ASSISTANCE
HE NEEDED

TO BRING A PEACEFUL END TO IT.

DON AND DAN NICHOLS

ARE ARRESTED AND CHARGED
WITH KIDNAPPING.

DON NICHOLS IS
ADDITIONALLY CHARGED

FOR THE MURDER
OF ALAN GOLDSTEIN.

DAN WAS CONVICTED
OF A LESSER CHARGE.

HIS FATHER IS STILL
IN MONTANA STATE PRISON

AND PROBABLY WILL BE
TILL HE DIES.

THE LAST LETTER
I WROTE WAS IN 2012

TO THE PAROLE BOARD,

TELLING THEM WHY
DON NICHOLS DESERVED TO SPEND

THE REST OF HIS NATURAL
LIFE IN JAIL.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE
HE MURDERED MY FATHER.

AND HE ASSAULTED KARI.

AND HE DOESN'T DESERVE
TO BE A FREE MAN.

FOR ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A NIGHTMARE EVERY YEAR.

MY FATHER WAS KILLED
ON MY 15TH BIRTHDAY.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
CRYING SINCE THEN.

I MISS MY FATHER EVERY DAY.

BUT KARI SURVIVED.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

KARI SWENSON MAKES
A FULL RECOVERY

FROM HER EXPERIENCE IN THE WOODS

AND EVEN GOES ON TO COMPETE IN
THE WORLD BIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER.

I THINK KARI SWENSON'S TRAINING,
AS A BI-ATHLETE

AND ALSO

JUST AS IN HER
GENERAL CHARACTER

ALLOWED HER TO SURVIVE.

SHE HAD THE SPIRIT TO SURVIVE.

TODAY, SHE WORKS
AS A VETERINARIAN

AND CONTINUES TO PURSUE HER
LOVE OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

WHERE KARI WAS
ABDUCTED,

FOR NEW PEOPLE
COMING INTO BIG SKY,

AND IT IS A RESORT COMMUNITY.

BUT IT'S, UM, FOR THOSE OF US
WHO WERE THERE,

IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHIN'
WE'LL NEVER FORGET.