Flipper Page #4

the other day?

About losing things

and--and people you love?

Uh-huh. Like flipper

and Nick velakis.

Like everybody.

Everybody?

Not you and mom.

In time, everybody, son,

but that's not

to think about now.

What we've got to

make up our minds to

is to find fish.

Look ahead to better

days, new friends,

and, for you...

School, come September.

How come the hurricane

hit everything but

the schoolhouse?

Flipper!

Boy, am I ever glad

to see you!

You say something?

Uh, no, sir.

Stay down. Pa doesn't think

you're a good influence.

Sandy!

You'll fall overboard!

Hey,

where are you going?

[Screeching]

Flipper, where are you going?

You want us

to follow you?

You see something?

I thought I saw

some fish jumping,

toward shore.

Well, that's green point.

I don't see anything.

I thought I did.

Well, hang on.

Sandy! Come here!

Pa! Look!

Healthy,

live pompano.

What made you try

off green point?

Well, Sandy

saw them jumping.

Well, I didn't

exactly see them...

Tomorrow I'll be back

there at first light.

And, Martha, tomorrow

I'm bringing back

a boatload.

Son, by the way,

when I'm gone,

will you fix that wire?

Ok.

[Tap tap tap]

[Tap tap tap]

[Barking]

Flipper!

Where have you been?

Sure missed you!

[Barking]

You didn't have to

stay away that long.

[Barking]

[Screech]

Flipper, come here!

Flipper, come up here!

Flipper, don't do that!

[Squawk]

Hey, where are you?

[Screeching]

Flipper, no!

Flipper, no!

[Screeching]

You ate

all of pa's pompano!

[Screeching]

That's pa coming now.

[Barking]

[Screeching]

All of them.

Every last one.

That dolphin got

every last one of them.

Pompano's selling in ocala

for better than $1.00 a pound,

and you let a dolphin

into the fish pen.

What have you got

to say for yourself?

Pa, the fish

you caught today,

couldn't I help you

get them into the pen?

There were no fish

at green point.

Yesterday's catch

was just an accident.

Yes, sir.

What's wrong

with you, boy?

How old are you, 12?

Almost in your teens?

Or are you 9

or 7 or 5?

A child who doesn't

have the sense to know

what his next meal

depends on?

Answer me!

The fence, the yard,

the nets--

not one of your chores

done, and now this!

Are you growing up

or down?

Aren't you getting

any sense of

responsibility,

of obligation,

discipline?

Or are you hanging on to

a "feed me, dress me,

blow my nose" childhood?

Answer me! Are you--

I'm sure he would...

If he could.

Sandy, you better

go to your room.

One more thing.

Tomorrow you'll

go out by yourself.

And by yourself,

you'll find the fish

to replace what

that dolphin ate.

And you'll keep

going out every day

till you've replaced

every pound of them.

Yes, sir.

Why?

Because it was

the truth.

But you were too rough.

He's just a boy.

Well, he's

got to grow up.

Nevertheless,

he is a boy.

He's hurt.

He's crying.

He still has to be

told the truth.

The way you

told him? Shouting?

Nearly taking

his head off?

Well, you should have

stopped me.

I did.

Look, Martha,

I love that boy--

then why don't you

tell him?

Men just don't

talk that way.

Maybe they should.

Maybe.

Look, sweetheart...

I grew up with the sea.

The sea is never soft.

And he is

a Fisherman's son.

[Screeching]

Flipper!

[Barking]

Flipper!

Where are you going?

Is it for me?

[Splash]

Can you get me

another one?

[Screech]

Oh, flipper!

[Screech]

Near Kingman reef,

huh?

There's never

been fish there.

What made you try?

I...I just had

a feeling.

Well, never mind why.

Let's go back and see.

[Motor starts]

Pa, will they be

alive this time?

Only one way

to find out, son.

Pa!

Wow. This could mean life

for coral key again.

We'll stop at the wharf

and tell them,

then we'll go home.

Only this time,

I'll make sure

the fish gate

stays closed.

But flipper

was the one that--

flipper can find

his own fish.

Easy, folks.

There's enough

for everybody.

Here's a big,

fat one.

Hold out your

sack, there.

Sandy, you keep it going

with Mr. porett, will you?

Keep them coming,

lad.

Well, what do you think?

Good as it ever was,

but for commercial,

there has to be tonnage.

Is there

tonnage?

There's never been any

at Kingman reef before.

Well, there is now.

Maybe it has to do with

the red tide or it could be

a new current through

Kingman channel.

Baxter, you and I could sample

the whole area in one day.

I'll be at your place

at 7:
00 in the morning.

Mmm! Smells good.

Ahh!

Lord, whose bounty sustains us,

we ask thy favor.

Unite our hearts

in family love.

Strengthen our will

to serve thee in peace.

We thank thee, o lord,

who bringest forth food

from the sea for us all. Amen.

Pa, when the lord

brings forth food,

he gets help

sometimes, doesn't he?

Well, the lord helps those

who help themselves.

I mean, the lord,

for instance, would ask

one man to help another?

Of course.

Well, sometimes wouldn't

the lord ask dolphins

to help people?

What's on your mind, Sandy?

It was flipper who

led me to Kingman reef.

Flipper, huh?

Yes, pa.

Well, maybe you saw the same

dolphin, and maybe you didn't.

Doesn't matter.

Try to understand, son.

If the dolphins come,

they tear our nets.

They eat our fish.

They chase the rest away.

Now, they may be your friends,

but when the fish are scarce,

they're a deadly enemy.

If they come,

we'll kill them.

We have no choice.

Even flipper?

Even flipper.

[Screeching]

[Motor starts]

Flipper!

Flipper!

Where are you?

[Whistles]

[Whistles]

[Whistling]

We ought to be getting

pretty close now.

Dolphins.

Hundreds of them.

If we kill a few,

maybe the rest will run.

Look, po. There's one

that got inside.

I'll get him.

[C*cks gun]

Wait, Baxter.

See something?

Sandy!

And so, after flipper

killed the shark,

he lifted me up and

brought me back to you,

just like you

told us about arion,

the Greek poet.

You believe me,

don't you, pa?

I saw it.

And, pa, there are

lots of fish,

millions and

millions of them.

And it was flipper

who led me to them.

Aren't there plenty

for all of us?

I think it was written

for us today to share

with the dolphins,

not to kill them.

& everyone loves

& the king of the sea &

& ever so kind

and gentle is he &

& tricks he will do

when children appear &

& and how they laugh

when he's near &

& they call him flipper &

& flipper,

faster than lightning &

& no one, you see,

is smarter than he &

& and we know flipper lives

in a world full of wonder &

& flying there under,

under the sea &&

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes