Dolphin Tale Page #5

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It's just a big old storm. We'll be okay.

He's scared.

Hey, when you're finished up there,

come on down, will you?

Got some other things

I need your help with.

Kyle.

Figured you could use a hand.

And maybe one good leg.

Hey, Dr. Clay, Hazel, Reed.

This is my cousin Kyle.

And my Aunt Alyce.

- Hey, how you doing? Nice to meet you.

- Hi.

It's okay. I can do this.

Ah, ahh...

Hold your hand out.

Come on.

The best guess is what?

Including structural damage...

...the truck, rescue equipment,

electrical systems...

...something in the range of 500,000.

So this is it.

Gloria, I really feel like we've exhausted

all of our options here.

So we're all in agreement, then.

We go ahead with the sale?

In favor?

I'll call Mr. Hordern and tell him.

We found homes for all the fish

and the animals.

Including Winter?

Clay...

The plain truth is no one wants

an animal with her disability.

No dolphin has ever been known

to lose its entire tail and survive.

Every aquarium in the country

says it's hopeless.

Well, they haven't met Winter.

Listen, Dr. McCarthy is looking into

some new materials, right?

He says he can have

a new tail ready by...

What if she rejects that one too?

She won't. Two weeks.

Just give me two weeks.

I can't.

There is no money.

We have to start thinking

about putting Winter down.

It's the kindest thing we can do.

- No.

- I don't have a choice.

Of course you do.

Dr. McCarthy said we only need...

Dr. McCarthy stopped work.

I asked him to.

Why?

Come over here.

I'm out of time.

I'm out of money.

I have to close down.

Dad, how could you let this happen?

I don't keep secrets from you, Hazel.

I never have.

I'm telling you kids this because I think...

Because I think it's time

you start saying your goodbyes.

Excuse me.

Is this the Clearwater Marine Hospital?

Oh, yeah. Sorry, our sign blew down.

Thank you. We drove all the way down

from Atlanta.

If y'all were closed,

I don't know what I would have done.

- We've come to see the dolphin.

- Her name's Winter, Mommy.

Her cousin was here with a school group

and told us about her...

...and ever since then,

it's all my daughter talks about.

After the storm,

we went online to see if she was okay...

...but we couldn't find anything.

She's fine. All the animals are.

You think it'd be okay

if we just had a little peek?

Sure, I guess.

Thanks.

Hi.

Hi.

Wow.

Oh, my goodness.

Look at that huge skeleton.

- Wow.

- Wow.

Oh, look up there.

You see it?

Come over here, guys.

Wow.

It's cool, huh?

Where's Winter?

Just wait a sec.

Mommy, she's just like me.

But you said there wasn't a solution.

This is a solution.

- You don't understand...

- I do.

You need money. I get that.

But Winter can raise a lot of money.

That lady drove eight hours

to bring her daughter here.

And other people would do that too.

- We need a website.

- With a webcam.

- Make donations.

- A big carnival.

Everybody could see her new tail.

Guys, I'm really proud of you.

I love the ideas...

...but they're just not realistic,

you know?

It wasn't realistic to save Winter

in the first place, but you did it.

I am really sorry, guys. I really am.

It just wouldn't be enough.

Remember that poem I used to read you

when you were little?

I must down to the seas again

To the lonely sea and sky

And all I ask is a tall ship

And a star to steer her by

You're a good sailor, Clay.

You know the sea and sky

better than any man I ever met.

But you are sorely lost now, son.

You're giving up.

Because you're afraid you can't save her.

And you don't want to watch that

happen again.

Well...

...Winter might die.

I don't know.

But I do know you can't give up on her.

You never did on Holly.

It was the bravest, most beautiful thing

I ever saw.

Just because we haven't got

to where the star's pointing us...

...doesn't make it the wrong star.

That dolphin's taking us all somewhere.

We just haven't figured out where yet.

Sawyer?

So you want to talk me through

this fundraising stuff again?

Okay, you're gonna help me with

the baking and food committee.

I need you

on the decorations committee.

Yeah, Gloria, I know. Ha, ha.

I know it sounds crazy.

I need you to stall him.

As long as you can.

It's a big benefit for the Marine Hospital.

We're calling it "Save Winter Day."

You can? Great.

- Hey.

- Hey.

This is quite the operation

you got going on here, huh?

Yeah. I just hope we can

sell enough tickets.

Dr. McCarthy?

Thank you so much for calling me back.

I just wanted to make sure that...

- Have a good weekend, Sandra.

- Thanks.

So...

I wondered if I could ask you a favor.

Sure.

Okay, move it to the left.

Farther, farther.

Okay.

Okay, slide it out more.

More.

A little more.

Little more.

- Uh-oh.

- Ah!

Never mind.

Maybe we should make it a little bigger.

Hey, guys.

You might want to come see this.

- See what?

- It's a surprise.

Thanks, Jerry.

Just months ago, little Winter was found

tangled in the ropes of a crab trap.

Her tail seriously damaged.

Rushed to Clearwater Marine Hospital,

it appeared she might not survive.

But the plucky animal did,

although her tail did not.

And without a tail, how could she swim?

Well, she taught herself to

with a wiggling motion, side to side.

But it's not a happy ending yet.

That unusual swimming motion

is damaging her spine...

... which could lead to paralysis.

The solution? Make her a prosthetic tail.

And with the help of prosthetic designer

Dr. Cameron McCarthy...

... they're doing just that.

But it will take time and money.

So Winter's best friend,

11-year-old Sawyer Nelson...

... has created a website,

SeeWinter. com...

... with a live webcam where you can

log on and meet her for yourself.

Or better yet, meet her in person on

Save Winter Day, Saturday the 27th.

And, as an added bonus...

... you'll be treated to a very special

sporting event.

Two of America's top young swimmers...

... Florida's Kyle Connellan

and Donovan Peck...

...have agreed to race head-to-head...

- Really?

... with all proceeds going to benefit

Winter and the Marine Hospital.

So come and meet two...

... of our finest athletes

and one heroic little dolphin.

I guarantee she'll steal your heart,

just like she did mine.

All right, a little more.

Farther.

All right, down.

All right.

Sawyer. Sawyer. He's here.

- Good work, guys.

- Come on.

McCARTHY:
All right. Cross your fingers

and toes if you got them.

Oh, it's beautiful.

McCARTHY:

Yeah, the joints are a little more flexible.

So it should feel more natural. Hmm?

Here you go.

Can we show this to her?

It's okay.

You okay?

Hold it in front of her eye. Let her see it.

Here.

You ready?

- Okay, let's do this.

- Good girl.

Come on.

I got it.

McCARTHY:
Clay? Make sure you snug it

right up close to the stump. Real close.

Okay.

You got it?

Well, it fits, that's for sure.

That's about as snug as I can get it.

Can you see?

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