Call Of The Wild

---

Go!

Where nature rules,

beauty reigns.

What?

That's something your

grandma used to say.

I never get tired

of this drive.

Isn't it something?

I see trees, Grandpa...

...and snow.

So...

Your mom and dad are

traveling around Europe.

And they didn't take me.

I'm so happy you're

here, Buttercup.

Mom said you

could use some company.

Well, you're not

just company...

...you're family.

Too bad you didn't come in

a day earlier.

We could've watched

the Race to the Sky.

One of the biggest dog sled

races in the country.

Dog sled race?

What century is this?

You would've enjoyed it.

Very exciting.

Dogs are magnificent.

If you want me to slow down

so you can enjoy the view

just say the word.

You mind

if we stop in town?

I need to go to the post office.

How far is town?

We're here.

This is town?

Yep.

I love this town.

You don't get this

back in Boston.

This is it.

Want to see our post office?

That's very tempting, Grandpa,

but I think I'll wait here.

Damn, boy.

That is the fourth race

you've lost.

Fourth!

You're starting to embarrass me!

In front of the entire town.

The sled runners are bent from the

accident last week and the dogs are tired.

- Maybe we should let them rest.

- Excuses, excuses, excuses!

You're nothing but a

mother-loving excuse machine!

- Oh, here.

- Good race, Ozzie.

Quit your moping.

Heep.

Is that any way you treat a boy?

Why don't you mind your

own business, Hale.

Shouldn't you be home...

...having a heart attack?

Come on!

- Hi, Mr. Hale.

- Hi, Jack.

Did you see the race? I came in

fourth in the junior division.

Fourth?

I was running first

until the last few turns.

I notice you tend

to brake on the turns

just when those dogs

really want to run.

Grandpa? I'm cold and bored.

I'm cold and bored.

Well, we'll get you home

and we'll get you toasty.

Ryan, this is Jack Ferguson,

lives next door.

That's my granddaughter.

She's from Boston.

City girl, huh?

I should get the dogs fed.

It's nice to meet you, Ry.

- Whatcha looking at?

- Do you have satellite TV?

No, but I got hot chocolate.

Come on.

Your mom gave me a list of

chapters you need to read

so you don't fall

behind in school.

Looks like a lot of work.

Not really.

I'm pretty good in school.

Uh-huh.

You still play soccer?

No?

You were a pretty fine

player, weren't you?

The Beacon Hill girls

don't play soccer.

- They say it's for tomboys.

- Uh-huh.

The Beacon Hill girls?

Brittney and Chloe. They're the

most popular girls in my class.

Oh, and they're

friends of yours.

I tell people they are,

but...

I don't think they say

the same about me.

Oh, I see.

They have the best cell phones,

the coolest clothes...

Brittney goes skiing in Italy.

And Chloe's family owns

a house in St. Barts.

Impressive.

And I'm stuck here

in Montana.

Oh...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

A sad fate for

any little girl.

Bed time,

Buttercup.

Would you like me

to read you a story?

Grandpa, I'm ten.

Oh. Right. Yeah.

Sorry.

Hi, are you staying

at Mr. Hale's?

- Yeah.

- We're collecting pine cones.

Wanna come?

Pine cones?

Gosh, that sounds

really exciting.

She's not from around here,

Rusty. Let's go.

These mountain people are crazy.

- What's all this?

- My wish book.

- All the things I want.

- What is this?

- A clip for your hair.

- Forty dollars?

Chloe has one.

It's really cool.

I see.

Mom and dad won't let me

have most of this stuff.

They say not getting everything

I want builds character.

I think I would have a lot of character if they

surprised me and got me everything I want.

You do, huh?

But I never get any good

surprises in my life.

Oh...

The world is full of surprises,

if you look at it

with the right eyes.

That sounds like grandpa talk.

But thanks for trying

to cheer me up.

Hello.

Hey.

What's up?

I heard something.

You don't have ghosts, do you?

No.

Probably a raccoon.

They like to show up and

make a mess of the garbage

when I forget to lock

the trash cans.

Let's surprise them.

- It's a dog.

- Just a dog?

Not just a dog.

One heck of a dog.

Look at the size of him.

Careful...

...it might be feral.

Feral?

Wild. There's some

wild dogs around.

This dog's in bad shape.

We better call the vet.

He's been fighting.

Probably with a bear or a bobcat.

Could be some internal bleeding.

Is he going to die?

It doesn't look good.

He's hardly breathing,

may have punctured a lung.

And, Bill,

that's not a dog...

...not entirely, anyway.

- What do you mean?

- Well, look at him.

He's got a lot of wolf in him.

He's a hybrid.

Can we keep him?

Look... This animal is

in pretty bad shape, Bill.

I could operate,

but I think the only reasonable

option would be...

...put him to sleep.

You mean to kill him?

He didn't do anything.

- You can't just kill him.

- Right.

If he wants to die

he can die here.

But I'm not going

to let you kill him.

Tell you what.

How about I check in

on you tomorrow?

I'm guessing by then the only

question will be...

...disposal.

Hold it right there now.

We're talking about a wolf here,

right? Like...

I mean, is it safe?

He's in no condition

to harm anyone.

And he looks like he's

more dog than wolf, anyway.

It's safe.

Thanks, Doc.

- All right.

- All right.

OK, Ry...

Let's let him sleep and we'll

see how he is in the morning.

Can we put a heater

out here for him?

Sure.

Thanks, Grandpa.

This is Call of the Wild

by Jack London.

One of my favorite books

when I was just a little bit

older than you.

But kids these days,

well...

This isn't about bunny rabbits

or fairies or something is it?

It's about a dog.

"Buck did not read

the newspapers

or he would have known

that trouble was brewing..."

Who's Buck?

Buck is a dog.

The writing gets kind of fancy,

do you mind if I paraphrase now and again?

- Paraphrase?

- Mm-hm.

Put it into my own words.

- OK.

- All right.

"You see, it was 1897

and gold was discovered

in the Yukon."

- That's in Canada.

- Right.

"Now, down in sunny California

there was a dog named Buck

who lived on a huge estate.

Buck was four years old.

Part St. Bernard and

part Scotch Shepherd.

He was large and very smart,

and he lived like a king.

On the property worked a

gardener who had a dark heart.

When he learned that there was

a good market for strong dogs,

he took Buck to meet a strange

man down the road one night.

Money changed hands

and the gardener handed

the leash to the other man.

Buck could not know that when

this second man led him away

he would never see

his home again."

How about we continue

this tomorrow night?

I'm not sleepy yet.

Keep reading.

Ryan!

Buttercup!

Butter... Buttercup!

Ry.

What are you doing?

He's feeling better.

How long have you

been out here?

Just since the sun came up.

He thinks he's a dog.

He wants to be friends.

- Can I keep him?

- Ry, that is a wild animal.

Not anymore.

I gave him a name.

Really?

Buck.

I want you to understand that,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes