Flipper

[Man] I've lived all my life

on the sea.

So did my father.

So will my son.

I've seen the giant creatures

of the deep,

the great whales,

making their passage

to northern feeding grounds,

and the last herds

of the sea elephant.

I've watched the cunning

maneuvers of killer whale...

As they leaped

into the air...

And hit the sea with the sound

of a Cannon shot,

frightening the sea elephants

and sea lions into the water,

where they would

become easy prey.

The shark,

lacking this cleverness,

prowled for what smaller fish

he could find.

The giant octopus,

fearsome-looking but timid,

has many a time

avoided my boat.

But the dolphins,

the dolphins always

seemed to come right up

to the Fisherman's boat

and ride the bow wave

with the speed

of a torpedo.

Curiously,

they seemed at times

to be talking to each other

and to be looking at us.

I used to watch them

for hours,

studying them,

thinking and remembering

the stories I'd heard

about them.

But I didn't

really know the dolphins

until my son, a child,

as in the Bible,

led me to an understanding

of their kind.

It was a few years ago

when the red plague destroyed

almost all edible fish

in the Florida keys.

Like the fishermen above,

the surviving creatures below

were hungry.

Even the swift dolphin

was able to find no food.

The fish were poisoned

by the plague.

Their lifeless bodies

were spread throughout the sea.

Pa, maybe this time

the fish will be alive.

Maybe the red tide

didn't come out

this far.

Maybe.

But we're going

to find fish if we

have to go 2o Miles out

and clear to the bottom.

They're dead.

Well, let's

get rid of them.

Used to be you'd

throw out an anchor,

you'd hit a fish.

Pa, look!

Dolphins.

They're sure

making time.

They're probably

looking for fish

the same as we are.

It shouldn't be

as hard for them.

[Thunder]

What's the matter, pa?

[Wind howling]

Is something wrong, pa?

Hazel must have

changed her course.

The weather station

this morning said

she was headed west.

She's coming north now.

Amplifier's gone.

I should have

carried a spare tube.

You're not scared,

are you?

No, pa.

Lash down everything loose.

We're going to make a run

for home.

Message block, son.

Good boy.

Read it.

"Return to port.

"Coast guard patrol boat

will intercept you.

"Hurricane hazel

now heading north.

Winds increasing

up to 8o knots."

But you knew that

already.

I should have known it

an hour ago. Hold fast.

[Boat horn honks]

You Porter ricks

out of coral key?

That's right.

We've been trying

to raise you.

Radio's out.

You heard from Nick velakis,

another boat like mine?

Just had him

on the radio.

He says he can

make it in all right

ahead of the storm.

I can't

take you a-tow.

Do you want to

come aboard?

Risk my boat?

No, thank you. We'll make it.

Pa, are we going

to make it?

I promised your ma we'd

be home before dark.

Come on, Zack, hurry up.

It's terrible

outside the channel.

I haven't seen

your folks go by yet.

You better go and get them.

Mr. l.C. Porett,

you old fool.

Stop nagging that boat

and get on up there

to the post office.

And leave mirabel?

I'd rather

leave my wife.

There's Porter.

Porter ricks' boat.

Come on, Porter!

Come on, mirabel!

Porter, where the halifax

you been?

Nick velakis come in yet?

I ain't seen him.

Come on!

Everybody's going in

and heading for the

post office.

Sandy, if your mother's not

already at the post office,

you get home

and help her, you hear?

Ok, pa.

Give me that line.

Where the blazes

you going now?

I'm going to put that boat

up at willow creek.

She'll be safe there.

You ain't got time.

Give me that line!

This boat's my living!

Kim.

Gee, I'm sorry.

Where have you been?

The whole town's been worried

about you and your father.

Is my mother inside

the post office?

No. I was just

going to see if--

you go back inside.

I'll get her.

Gee, you're lucky.

A hurricane

on your first visit.

Son!

Ma!

Where's your pa?

He's taking the boat

up willow creek.

Ma, what about Pete?

Can I take him?

Everyone's allowed

one luxury.

Go get him.

Pete!

Pete, where are you?

Pete!

Pete!

[Bird squawks]

Pete, come down here.

We got to get to

the post office.

Pete, I'll whale

the tar out of you

unless you come down here!

Pete,

come down here.

We got to get to

the post office.

Your ma all right?

Ma's ready to go.

Get Pete and come.

Come on down here,

Pete!

Porter!

You didn't worry?

I did.

Will it be here

when we get back?

The boat's safe.

We can always build

another house.

Dang-blast you,

you stubborn old bird!

Come on, Sandy.

Pete won't come.

We can't wait.

He'll be killed.

Pelicans have lived

through more hurricanes

than we'll ever see.

Come on!

Can I bring

my boat in, miss hettie?

No, sir,

Mr. l.C. Porett.

You can come in,

but you can't

bring the boat.

I can't leave mirabel

out here.

She'll blow away.

"Parcels in

any post office

of the United States

"shall not exceed

1oo inches

in length

and girth combined."

Section 135.32,

postal laws

and regulations.

I don't want to mail

mirabel anywhere.

The same applies

to holding in

storage.

Are you coming in?

Not without my mirabel,

I ain't!

I'm pretty sure we got

ahold of everybody

that didn't go inland,

except Nick velakis.

His boat's still out.

Well, if the phone goes out,

we've still got the radio.

Yes, well, we're

fairly comfortable here.

If the water level

don't rise,

think we'll

make it all right.

[Baby whimpering]

Nick must have run

with the wind,

put in at one

of the other keys.

He would have called me.

The phone lines

might be down.

When he's safe,

I feel it.

Stella, he has to

be all right.

Nobody knows the sea

like Nick.

The sea,

it kills even those

who know it.

[Thunder]

I'm not worried

about myself.

I just hope

my father and cousin

aren't trying to come

out from the mainland.

The state police don't let

anybody on the causeway

once the hurricane

warning goes up.

Well, I bet he's

sure worried about me.

What? With you

staying with hettie?

You know what she says.

Uh-uh.

No hurricane

would dare blow down

a U.S. post office.

[Pounding on door]

Miss hettie?

[Pounding]

Miss hettie?

Miss hettie?

It's still no,

Mr. l.C. Porett.

Don't make no difference,

miss hettie.

Mirabel just blew away.

Oh, Mr. porett,

come in.

Oh, Mr. l.C. Porett,

you poor, dear man!

[Ring]

Post office.

Who's calling?

Who? Parker?

Oh. He wants you.

Miss hettie white speaking.

Yes, Mr. Parker.

I'm looking at her

this very moment,

safe, high and dry.

Aren't you, Kim?

Now, don't you worry,

Mr. Parker.

As soon as hazel leaves,

you come right on out.

Of course,

we'll take good care--

hello. Hello?

Hello!

Well, line's down.

[Crash]

That means the water's

over the causeway.

Yeah, we could have water

in here, like in '58.

Winds to 12o.

Gusts to 16o.

Barometer is still falling.

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