Life is Wild s01e01 Episode Script

Is there anything better than a family trip? Not that I can think of.
Can you turn that down? What? I can't hear you.
I'm hungry.
Just hang on a little longer, pal, okay? I have to go to the bathroom.
Okay, well, we're almost there, honey.
How do you know? You never been here before.
You know, that is good point.
Danny, pull over the car.
Okay.
Coast is clear.
Oh, is it hot.
Yeah Africa hot.
Well, we are in Africa, sunshine.
It is more beautiful than I remember.
Hmm.
Would you look at how beautiful Dad! What? Dad.
Okay.
In the car.
In the car, now.
Dad! Girls, come on.
Get in, come on.
Get in the car.
Go, go, go, go, go.
Whoa.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa.
?? Good job.
(under breath): That's it my love.
Ƭ Okay You just go on.
You go on.
You just go on.
-= (sighs): People the African bush elephant.
Have you ever seen anything so magnificent? It was pretty hard to watch with all that ridiculous flapping.
Dad, let's save the elephant admiration for later, okay? Yeah, before he comes back to admire us again.
Right.
GIRL: So, what's a nice girl from New York doing in the middle of the African bush? People do funny things when they think they're family's falling apart.
Some take a trip to Disneyland, some go to extensive counseling, well, it seems others I'm sorry.
I thought you just said Africa.
South Africa.
For a year.
You're not serious.
That's cute, guys, but I have a yearbook meeting.
Sit down.
Okay, we know it's big news and sudden, and it seems out there.
Out there? Making us go to Knott's Berry Farm was out there, this is sick.
Him I would expect this from, Mom, but you? This is all your fault! This is all his fault.
It's nobody's fault.
It-it's a chance for us all to get closer as a, as a family.
We could have a real adventure.
Whose family? His or ours? We're all one family now.
I'm not going! No way! GIRL: When my mom died three years ago I decided it was up to me to hold the family together.
Because it hit dad and my brother Chase pretty hard.
Then dad married Jo last year and we all tried to bring the two families together, even Jo's daughter Mia.
Well, except Jesse, my new stepbrother from hell.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am finally getting this wrong side of the road thing down.
Dad? Yeah? Should we call him grandpa? Granddad? Uh, Gramps? Well, why don't we see which one he is first, okay? Do you think the lodge will have a spa? Oh, I'm sure.
He did say that the lodge was cutting edge, state of the art technology.
The website said the tranquil surroundings and delights will make our feeling of well-being linger long after our farewell.
GIRL: We went to stay with my grandfather at his lodge.
Here's what I know about him: my mom ran away from South Africa the day she finished school and never talked to him again.
Well we are officially here! What happened to this place? This is it? Are you sure this is it? Yeah, this is it.
I mean, it's a little more run down than I remember but this is definitely it.
We're staying here? Perfect.
Well wait, where is everyone? The website said we'd be met by a friendly staff who would show us to our spacious suites with African decor and stunning views.
Well, we got stunning views.
Dad, come here! What is it, sweetie? What is it, baby? He's not breathing.
Maybe he's dead.
No, he's not dead, sweetie.
Art.
Arthur.
Art! Who are you? What do you want? Whoa, whoa, it's okay.
It's us.
We made it! Now, what do you want? A parade.
Welcome to The Blue Antelope.
The oldest lodge in the area.
Built over a hundred years ago.
Oh! Never seen a lizard before? Usually when they're this close to my feet, they have a strap and heels.
If a lizard bothers you, I'd hate to think what the snakes will do.
Snakes? Snakes? There you go.
Do you I did.
One bullet each.
If anyone sees Ricky, leave him be.
He's a temperamental soul.
Who's Ricky? Warthog.
Of course.
Look.
It's mom when she was little.
She was so pretty.
Yeah.
Don't you want to look? Ah, maybe later.
You've got your mother's eyes.
What do I have of mom's? Her elbows.
Spitting image.
You know what I'd really like, um, just to Skype my friends, say hi, let them know I'm here.
Is there a computer or a business center? Yeah, sure.
Between the fitness center and the hair salon.
Yeah.
Ah! One year.
No big deal.
It'll fly right by.
Yep, just zip right by.
Oh, yes, hi! You must be Ricky.
Hi, I'm Katie.
Oh, my God.
I'm conversing with a warthog.
Katie, get a grip.
It's just one year.
It'll look great on my college application.
Hey.
Yeah.
Not bad.
If you're shooting an episode of Pimp My Lodge.
Okay, it's a little rustic, but Dad, I've got your back.
You know I always do, but for the record, I really liked my life back home.
I miss my friends and there was definitely some flirtage between me and Jason Moore before we left, so all I'm saying is if this whole adventure thing goes really wrong I'm blaming you.
No pressure.
Understood.
Sweetie who's Jason Moore? Dad.
Sorry.
I want to promise you something, one day you will look back on this entire experience and you know what? You will thank me.
Well, you better hope so because your legacy as a father is hanging in the balance right now.
So, the whole flirting thing, how serious was that? Nice try.
Very, very nice try, but I am going to change out of the clothes I've been wearing for the past 24 hours, so Okay, yeah.
What are you doing? Oh, gee, I don't think these have been changed since the Boer War.
Danny, I assumed that this was a working lodge not the Bates Motel.
And when I offered to help Art run the place and he said, "Sure," I assumed that there was something to run.
Okay.
Why are we here? Because we're crazy.
But why are we here? Because Jesse wanted to get his lip pierced and God knows what other body parts because he got expelled and almost got arrested, because New York wasn't working for us.
Because we want our family to work and because it can work.
And it should work and if it takes picking it up and moving it to Africa then that is what we'll do.
You find me another woman who can say all that and reference the Boer War God.
I love you.
Doctor Clarke.
Yes.
I am Kula from the village.
Oh, very nice to meet you.
I hope your trip down here was, um, easy? Well, we made it.
Yeah, come on inside.
Oh, no, no.
No, thank you, doctor.
The people at the village are waiting for you.
Oh, I wasn't gonna start working for a couple of days.
There's a baby goat that won't survive a couple of days.
He needs a vet.
You are the vet.
He is.
You wanted to make a difference.
I'll get everyone unpacked.
I'll see if the kids want to come.
Thank you.
I'll take a nap.
We need to be going right up there.
Okay.
All right, Kate, the market runs down this road if you want to look around.
DANNY: You guys gonna be okay? Let's go.
One second.
I never thought that I'd actually say this but you two stick together.
DANNY: How long has it been since you've had a vet through here? Mokita was our vet, but he moved to Namibia.
Not so long ago.
They're all here to see me? Let's get going.
Yeah.
So what do we do now? We? There's no we.
You're the reason I'm 10,000 miles away from my friends.
You're on your own.
All right.
Wait, where are you going? ???? t there.
??The family of this goat was wiped out by it.
A lioness? That's kind of odd, isn't it? Lion's don't usually go near people.
Well, they do if they're wounded.
And those are the most dangerous kind.
??This one was shot by poachers.
Here.
Thank you.
You must be the doctor's daughter.
I'm Tumelo.
Tumelo Masakel.
"The doctor's daughter.
" (laughs): I'm Katie.
Don't worry about my friends.
They think I'm standing here to talk to you.
It's got nothing to do with you.
I wanted to meet your father.
Duly noted.
No, it's nothing it's nothing personal.
I was I was hoping maybe to assist him.
I want to be a vet.
One day take care of all the mega vertebra of the Bush.
Mega vertebra? Large animals.
Large, beautiful animals.
The giraffes, elephants, your rhinos So, is that technical speak, or are you just a nerd? Well, look, when it comes to animals, I'm a nerd.
Yeah.
(laughs) But otherwise, I'm I'm quay.
"Quay"? What does quay mean? Well, just look at me, and it's meaning will become readily apparent.
No, nothing.
Not a clue.
Sorry.
(laughs): And no offense, but I don't get all the hype about the animals.
Well, then, you're missing out.
And Bavaral will be very disappointed.
Who's Bavaral? My sister.
Hmm.
??tomorrow at 4:00 to introduce you.
Okay.
A little forward, but maybe that's a cultural thing.
So, why didn't you steal it? Steal what? The whiskey.
What are you talking about? Well, I was going to commend you on your technique.
That was a very artful dodger.
Listen, uh I know where we can get some good whiskey.
He met my mother here.
Well, not literally here.
Not on this path, but in South Africa.
The Peace Corps.
Oh, your mother's South African? She was.
She died three years ago.
Oh, I'm I'm sorry.
That-That makes you half South African.
That man just ate a bug.
Yeah, I-I I know.
It's-It's a It's a cricket, it's a cricket.
It's really good.
I mean, you want to try one? Maybe some other time.
Oh (both laugh) Huh.
What are those? ??Pellets.
Let's see who can spit further.
Your turn.
Mia.
Mia, Mia, Mia! Do not put that in your mouth, don't put it in your mouth, don't put it in your mouth.
Please.
It's just animal dung.
The words that every mother wants to hear.
That's great.
Um, could you guys-- I don't know-- play baseball over there for a minute? Could we not encourage the children to play with animal excretions or any other kind for that matter? So, you're the high-powered divorce lawyer who makes a living out of other peoples' misery? Well, usually, it's their marriages that are making them miserable, and I just try to make them happy.
But, uh, I am looking forward to taking some time off.
My job keeps me at the office more than I'd like, and, uh, away from my family.
Danny told me about Jesse being expelled.
Which is part of why we're here-- new environment.
I thought you were here to help me run my lodge.
Yeah, and I thought it was a working lodge.
Or so you lead me to believe.
Oh, lodge is retired, like me.
It's not easy running a bed and breakfast when you're the only one making the beds and the breakfast.
I am here now, and I'm eager to help, and I'd love to bring it out of retirement, and hopefully, pry you out of retirement, too.
Let me clear the air.
I know this is your home, and I will do everything I can to respect that.
Okay.
Let me clear the air.
I don't like lawyers.
Never did.
Katie, you sure you didn't see him? I think an American teenager with a skateboard and a surly attitude would be kind of hard to miss.
He took off.
Why would he take off? I don't know.
Because that's what he does.
JESSE: Thanks for the drinks.
You sure you don't want a lift? It's really not too far.
I haven't seen a flat surface since I've been here.
I'm not passing this one up.
Well, uh, just remember, you know, the traffic goes on the other side of the street.
Yeah.
And your lodge is just a mile down the road on the right, okay? Roll, dude.
How could he do this again? We looked all over that town.
And all the roads, too.
Boy could be anywhere by now.
Hope he's careful with that wounded lioness out there.
Oh, well, thank you, Art.
Okay, I'm going to go back out and look.
I'll go.
You'll never find your way in the dark.
Can't believe you guys thought moving here would change him.
What are you doing up? Those noises outside.
You mean my dad and your mom? No.
Those animal sounds.
They're birds or something.
(squawking) But how do you know they're not bears? Or tigers? Or monsters? Because there are no bears or tigers in Africa.
You didn't say anything about monsters.
Why didn't you say anything about monsters? Okay, okay, okay.
Come here.
You know, it's okay to be homesick.
I know.
I am.
A little.
Are you? Yeah.
I am a little, too.
Where were you? I saw the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
What, are you drunk? No.
It's just a nice, crack eye.
Don't talk to your mom that way.
You know, how about you just stick to saving cows or sheep? Or whatever large farm animal it is you brought us here to save? Don't talk to me that way.
Or what? Jesse, just go inside, and we'll talk about it in the morning.
Why? I'm only saying what you're thinking.
You don't want to be here anymore than I do.
You know, you dragged my family halfway around this world that you wenttell all of to big, bad Africaback home and helped save poor people, but I am never going to forgive you for bringing us here.
Well, I hate to break it to you, Jesse, but you are here.
You may not like it, but your family is now my family.
I love your mother, I love Mia, and as much of a pain in the ass as you can be sometimes, I know there's a good person buried somewhere deep in there.
Now, you can ignore me, you can hate me, bus what? I'm not going anywhere.
So, you might as well get used it.
Well, I'd rather be in jail with my real father than here with you.
I have some coffee on the stove.
If you could serve that intravenously, that would be much appreciated.
How are you doing? Jet lag-- bad; coffee-- good.
No.
I mean, about coming here.
Can't be easy at your age.
Nothing's easy at my age.
You were my age once, right? No, I was born this way.
My mother never forgave me.
You handle evything so composed.
Well, that's the one thing I got from Mom.
She always dealt.
Even when she found out she was sick, she never lost it.
Not once.
Just like Claire.
She was too busy making sure we were all okay.
Especially Chase.
They were really close.
I'm more like Dad.
Look what I found.
Do you know who that is? Uh yeah.
He's that guy.
That guy? (laughs): That'll go over well.
That's Nelson Mandela.
No? Okay.
Well, I'm home-school you later.
I haven't seen that shirt for a long time.
It belonged to your mother.
You can keep it if you want it.
Thanks.
What happened between you and Mom? Why did you guys stop talking? That's in the past, and I don't live in the past.
Guys, don't play ball in the house! Oh.
My gosh.
Mom! Danny! Lion! Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my! Gosh, he's so cute! Look at that.
He's so cute.
Hi, there.
Is he lost? Feels a little dehydrated.
Why isn't he with his mom? ART: I don't think he's lost.
Probably abandoned.
An injured lioness out there.
I think it's her cub.
Why would she abandon him? Oh, sometimes when an animal is hurt, they'll do anything for food, even abandon their babies.
I'll tell you what.
I'm going to go to the vet's hut and see if I can find an I.
V.
and some fluids.
Help yourself.
Help myself to what? (chuckles): Oh Love what you've done with the place.
I don't think Art's used this place since he stopped having animals around here.
He used to have animals here? When Mom grew up here this place was bustling.
They had elephants, giraffes.
It was a regular game reserve.
That's what made your mother want to be a vet.
I can see the appeal.
Yeah, so how you doing? Me? Hmm.
I'm okay.
Dying to get a look at my MySpace page, but withdrawal symptoms should go away eventually, so You know, Katie, you don't always have to be such an adult.
If you miss Mom, we can talk about it.
Mom's gone, I mean, what's the point in missing her? Well, she would be happy that we're here.
She loved this place.
How do you think Simba's holding up? Simba needs someplace a little cleaner than this.
Hmm.
(chuckles) Maybe Art know a place where we can take him.
KATIE: Now, this is whatI call a lodge.
JESSE: It doesn't suck.
ART: It caters to tourists.
Thought you'd might like it.
And they have a vet clinic? Colin Banks pulled the nicest one in the region.
This is his amusement park and the animals are his rides.
Here's the carnival barker himself.
Ah, and to what do we owe this great honor, Arthur? I thought I'd show them how not to run a lodge.
You mean successfully? Are these your guests? We're his family.
Hi, Danny Clarke.
Oh, the American vet.
Welcome.
Thank you, very much.
We found this little guy this morning.
I was hoping I could examine him here.
Of course.
Follow me.
Do you, uh, mind if we look around? Oh, be my guest.
The pool's over there, and the spa, is just around that corner.
A lodge with a spa, how novel.
Come on you guys.
Come.
This is our other pool, and my eternally hardworking children.
This is Oliver and Emily.
Hello.
Hi, how's it going? Good to see you.
Yeah, nice to meet you.
Clinic's this way.
Great.
You guys okay? We'll manage.
Hi.
I'm Oliver.
This is my sister, Emily.
Hi, I'm Katie, this is Jesse.
Ye, hey.
Are you two brother and sister? He's my stepbrother.
Well, her lunatic father duped my mother into marrying him, and then he had a nervous breakdown and now we're here.
Yeah, that's exactly how it went down.
Do you want to tell me how it went down? Seriously, you want to do this here? (arguing) Do you guys want a rum punch? Please, thank you.
Yeah.
There's no rum in this.
Yeah, that's a little game we play with the bartender.
We ask for a rum punch with extra rum, he makes it with no rum.
That sounds like a great game.
You got a better one? When you come up with a better one, let me know.
Um, this is a great place.
Heaven on earth.
You want me to give you a tour? Oh, I'd love that.
Yeah? Yeah.
All right.
See ya.
Yeah.
You know, we're really a very close family.
It's a great pool.
COLIN: You know, when I bought this place, it was completely rundown.
Just like The Blue Antelope.
Now we're turning guests away.
(growling) People love Africa.
The continent, the fantasy.
The secret is to give them both.
Is she okay? Yeah, a little hungry and scared, but look at her, she's fine.
Oh, look at these giraffes.
They're so cute.
Yeah, they're everywhere.
When I first got here, I was like that.
Now, it's just a giraffe.
They don't have that much personality.
Yeah, well, look at that neck.
Anything with a neck like that has a tremendous personality.
When did you arrive? Yesterday.
Give it a week.
You'll get used to them.
One day, you're taking the One train, the next thing you know, you're hanging out with giraffe's in Africa.
For what it's worth, when my folks first moved us here, I hated it.
Now, I never want to leave, it's paradise.
You can do what you want, whenever you want.
Well, you can.
I don't know anyone.
I'm 10,000 miles away from my life and friends.
Well, you'll have to make new ones then.
Let's name the kitten.
He's not a kitten.
How about Mittens? No way, we're not naming a lion cub Mittens.
Why don't you try and think of something a little more "liony.
" Oh, okay.
How about Mr.
Whiskers? Dad! Why don't we call him Isicubu.
It means "one who is searching" in Zulu.
I like Mr.
Whiskers better.
You guys figure it out, I've got to change.
You do that, Dr.
Doolittle.
Hey, don't pull that again, blaming my father for your stupidity.
I'm sorry, did I mess up your flirting? Just because you feel guilty that we're all here, do not blame it on me or my dad.
It's not my fault we're here, your dad's a raging nut case.
You're so selfish.
You're this self-involved freak.
You're the reason we're here.
You're just blaming my dad because you hate my dad, because it's easier to hate my dad than your dad.
Don't you ever talk about my dad.
Don't talk about my dad.
Fine.
Fine.
Dad, what are you doing in there? Dad! Dad! One animal did all this? One very powerful animal.
She was looking for food.
She was looking for Isicubu.
What if it comes back? Yeah, what if it comes back? Lions don't usually come this close to people.
She's lost her fear of humans.
I'll be ready for her.
You lot, come with me.
Everybody stay by the house.
Don't you have to get to work at the township? Well, yeah, but, you know, after this I figured I'd hang around.
Right, you're gonna wrestle the lioness with your bare hands? Actually, I thought I'd reason with her.
Go, they need you.
Art and I will handle this.
You sure? Mm-hmm.
Does Isicubu look sick to you? I'd look sick with you bugging me all the time.
We're not bugging him.
Jesse, leave them alone.
He needs his mom.
I know it, that's why he's sick and he's not going to get better until he's with her.
Short of handing that cub back to his mom, he's not going to see her again.
Your sister's right.
We'll take care of him until he's strong enough and then we'll release him.
That's all we can do.
You don't realize what a luxury a dishwasher is until you don't have one.
I don't mind doing dishes.
Yeah, I know, you're weird like that.
Yeah, well, when my mom died, people kept bringing over food.
Our sink started looking like the Sears Tower of dirty plates.
Kept getting higher and higher and Dad was in no state to clean.
So it was either step up and do dishes, or use paper plates.
Must be weird to be here where your mom grew up.
It's not my home.
You know? That lion cub, Chase thinks its mom is going to come get it so they can be together again.
He thinks the same thing about our mom.
He just doesn't get that Mom's not going to come back.
Things don't always have to come back for them not to go away.
That's got to be Tumelo.
We're not no.
I'm not going any further than this.
Come on.
No.
Come on.
Bavaral, it's Katie.
Katie, it's Bavaral.
This is your sister? We've know each other a long time.
When she was a baby, she was attacked by a hyena.
We helped her heal.
Ever since then Bavaral and I have been very close.
Well, I hope she doesn't get offended when I don't shake her hand.
She doesn't like the taste of Americans.
(gasps) I can't believe I'm sitting this close to a cheetah.
This is so cool.
This is quay.
Oh, please, somebody get me a camera.
Shut up.
(laughs) It's a great image.
Well, somebody's got to do something if we're going to open this place, 'cause Art is retired.
And enjoying my golden years.
Hey, what's in that basket? Fresh eggs.
The goat has recovered.
Gift from the family.
Hello, sweetie, how's Tu Tumelo.
It was fun, we saw some cool stuff.
I played with a cheetah.
Nice.
Did she just say she played with a cheetah? Well, I do believe she did.
This one was with the Brit or the African? How do you say "ho" in Zulu? Shut up, loser.
Enough.
Where's Chase? Chase! Chase! He was inside playing with Mia.
Where's Chase, sweetie? He was taking a walk with Isicubu.
(groans): Oh, man.
That's it.
Go find your mom.
Here.
Right over there.
Right over there.
There's the cage.
Chase! I can't do this.
I can't just stand here.
Katie Katie! Katie, wait! Whoa, stay with me.
Chase? Chase? You're not allowed to go in there.
Oh, you telling me not to break the rules? That's funny.
Chase! Katie, stop.
It's not safe.
I'm not going to just stand here while my little brother is out there.
I don't expect you to understand that, because all you care about is yourself! Chase! Shh.
What do we do? Be quiet.
Maybe she'll go away.
Chase! Dad! Chase! Buddy.
(sobbing): Dad, I got lost.
I'm sorry.
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.
Are you okay? You okay? Yeah.
We're gonna die.
Just calm down and shut up.
How am I supposed to calm down if we're going to die? Do something.
What do you want me to do? I don't know.
Don't leave me.
Shh, shh, shh.
Hey.
Hey.
Ooh, ooh.
Are you trying to make it angrier? I said shut up.
Oh! I'm not going to hurt you.
I'm just going to back away slowly.
Slowly and leave you alone.
Do you mind if I let go now? Yeah, I'd really like that.
What are you doing?! Do something! Help her! Save her! That was a powerful tranquillizedart How long is she out for? Well, let's hope long enough to get the poacher's bullet out.
All right, well, I'll be at the main house.
Guests to tend to.
Ring if you need anything.
He probably faints at the sight of blood.
He was kind enough to let us use his clinic, Art.
You're going to need some help.
How drunk are you? How drunk do I need to be? Jesse, wash your hands.
Me? No no, I can't.
You don't have a choice.
I don't even know what I'm doing.
Jesse, please, just wash your hands.
What are you doing here? I heard about the lioness.
Yeah, my dad's helping her over at Mara.
Yeah, I know.
Well, you should go.
He'd let you watch-- maybe even help.
At Mara? No, no, I can't go there.
Why not? It's complicated.
I'll explain it some other time.
So why are you here? Well I just came to see you.
You know, make sure you're okay.
Really? Yeah.
Your grandmother and I got married up here.
We loved it.
It was your mom's favorite spot, too.
When Claire was a girl and she needed to be alone, she'd come up here.
You must come here a lot.
I haven't been up here since your mom left.
Why did you and my mom stop talking? When your mother was born, South Africa was a different country.
Apartheid was the law.
She was always against it.
She hated it.
That's why she left and ran away to America.
That doesn't explain why you two stopped talking.
Oh you didn't hate it.
And now? Times have changed.
South Africa's changed.
We believed funny things back then.
Doesn't make it right, but because of what I believed in, I lost your mother.
Biggest mistake I ever made.
When your mom was your age, she gave me these.
Zulu beadwork.
Colors ???? Some of that ??? And ??? Converts ??? what does this one mean? Happiness Didn't work so well for me maybe you will get better luck Yeah.
I need to drink.
How she doing? Well,??? hopefully she's a good fighter I was just thinking the same thing I heard u guys did well I tell u ???? the most amazing thing i've done in my entire career U haven't had that looking in your eyes since you know a long time It's the coffee it's pretty what's that Oh ??? Art gave it to me it was mom's U know How ??? I can feel it here U know it's like she's with us I know what you mean i miss her So much Me too.
Hey Katie This ??? SO ???? And there??? I jumped in Now I ??? Really? Oh it's ???? Can we??? ???? Yeah???? One u??? NO??? Is it ???? toothbrush yeah are u sure well ???? SO no wonder it run away Ok kiddo There's no???? I need??? She might not remember She will DAD Katie did you see that Did u see Yeah I did dad feel like a celebration what's called for SO ???? And the ???? Without drama or insult or lifelong hates It was ???? It almost feel like mom was there And I think maybe she is