Maybe I was tired.
At least, that's what I kept telling myself.
I'd been following these two for a week.
They'd landed clerk jobs
with a government contractor three months ago.
A week later, they were stealing top secret documents
that kept them in limos, parties,
and very mean company.
Two shots of rum -- 151, please.
Matches?! Do you have any matches?!
Miss, do you have any matches?!
He missed?
He just flat missed?
Yeah. I couldn't believe it.
So, what were you doing asking for matches?
I was going to make a fireball.
A diversion.
That didn't work; so what'd you do then?
I mean, it must have come out all right.
Yeah, it did.
But it had nothing to do with me.
It was luck.
The gun jammed.
That the gal you're coming to visit?
Yeah.
Nice.
Real nice.
Well, well, well...
MacGyver.
You sure don't give a girl much notice.
Think I'd give you a chance to say no?
No.
When things get tough, sometimes I turn to a friend.
Other times, I just want to hide in the mountains.
This time, I found myself doing both.
I'd come to see Karen Miller.
We had a thing for each other in college,
but after a couple of years together,
she was ready for something a little more permanent.
I wasn't.
So, I kept on moving,
and she put on the badge of a park ranger.
Well, there's the office, and this is home.
I like it.
Nice backyard.
Gets a little cold at night, but the neighbors are quiet.
It's nice.
I love it.
What, no more dreams of French drapes and swimming pools?
No. I was converted by one of those nature nuts, remember?
Who's this guy?
That's Hooter.
Hey, Hooter.
You look good, MacGyver.
Think so?
Always did.
Make yourself at home.
Your feet have grown.
They're Sam's.
Sam?
Yeah, there's a Sam.
Sam Sheehan. He's one of the rangers here.
Great guy.
You didn't just expect to fly back into my life
after three years, did you?
You'll get to meet him late tonight.
He's out on the north ridge.
So, is this, uh, Sam?
No.
That's Badger.
You'll get to meet him tomorrow.
Sam knows you're here.
I told him everything.
Yeah, and I also told him not to worry.
That you're just a friend now and you've had a rough time
and you're just looking for a short vacation.
Am I right?
Well, yeah.
Uh, sure. Of course.
Hi.
Hey, honey.
Is that him?
Yeah, he's sleeping.
He's a nice guy.
You're really going to like him.
Yeah, sure.
Come to bed.
So, how many grizzly you got up here?
About 100.
Or one for every 3,000 tourists.
Meaning...?
Meaning they're almost extinct.
Just like every other animal that's mean-tempered,
feels soft, or can't do tricks.
Well, did you ever think about teaching them
to be useful around here?
What?
Well, like, uh, making jewelry, selling souvenirs,
picking up garbage -- park stuff, you know?
- So, is this Badger? - No, that's Marla.
Number 51.
She's been tagged and tracked for about ten years.
She's not going to think
we're trying to steal her fishing hole, is she?
No, don't worry.
She knows that when she's cranky around me
and this tranquilizer kit, it's instant nap time.
Mmm.
You know how to tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly?
How?
Climb a tree.
If it follows you up, it's a black bear.
If it knocks the tree down, it's a grizzly.
Yeah.
That's an old joke.
I'm an old boyfriend.
Ah, there's something about this place.
Whenever people go into the wild,
they get this feeling, like they belong.
Like coming home.
How long do you think you'll stay?
Well, that's kind of hard to say.
Why didn't you tell me about Sam?
I... didn't think he had much to do with it.
You said you needed a break.
What would you say if I made it a little longer?
I'd say you had your chance once.
Yeah, well, that was before someone taught me
a very dangerous lesson at very close range.
Gets you to thinking.
About old girlfriends?
About things that are important.
That's Badger.
Or his marks, anyway.
He's a big guy.
He's a good nine feet when he's hungry.
Badger's kind of the granddaddy around here.
At least he hobbles around like one.
These are his tracks here.
Weighs about 800 pounds.
I patched him up once after a fight with a younger animal.
What is it?
Blood.
Poachers.
Karen?
Karen!
What the hell do you think you're doing?!
The tires, MacGyver -- I was going for the tires.
I'm sorry, I... I didn't know.
I can't deal with this, MacGyver.
Not now.
I've got to catch those poachers,
and you've got to catch a plane.
At least let me help.
You can help -- by going.
Look, Karen...
I know this poacher business has got to take priority,
but that shouldn't mean we can't talk.
About what?
You and I closed the book a long time ago.
The only reason you came here is because
that close call made your life flash before your eyes,
and my picture just happened to come up.
I wouldn't have come at all if you'd told me about Sam.
I guess I just needed to see you again to know it was really over.
Look, Karen...
You've always been the one that spins my head around.
All through college, all that camping
and independence stuff you drilled into my head
until it stuck.
And then you changed your mind.
Yeah, I wanted to be a ranger.
You wanted to be a ranger.
You wanted to be a pilot.
You wanted to go to Africa.
And every time I agreed and tried to be part of it,
you changed your mind.
Look, Karen...
I didn't come here to get between you and Sam.
- I... - Look...
you can catch a bus at Trapper Skips.
The seaplane leaves at noon.
I've got a job to do.
Bernice, that gentleman needs some more coffee, please.
So, have you folks made up your mind?
Why can't I just have a hamburger?
We specialize in wild game, ma'am.
We have fresh venison, elk, squirrel,
or how about a nice bear steak?
I was just feeding bears.
That's park life, ma'am.
This here is all wild game
hunted out on the big ranches around here.
It's legal meat, shot on private property.
And does it taste different?
Will you stop flapping your lips?
We can get a hamburger anyplace.
We'll, uh, both have the bear steaks.
So, what'll it be, Cherokee?
Uh, how about a salad?
And?
House dressing.
Is there a place I can wash up?
Yeah, just around there.
Would you mind keeping an eye on my stuff?
- Sure. - Thanks.
Yeah, that's better.
Okay.
Wyatt! Eddie!
Just the two men I want to see.
Bring me a nice fat deer, huh?
Skipper, how about some bear steak?
Hey, what are you doing to me? I asked for venison.
You got bear.
800 pound grizz. Dropped him in one shot.
Who are you trying to kid, Porter?
You're no hunter. You're just a meat man.
I ask for deer, you bring me deer.
I ask for rabbit, you bring me rabbit.
You hillbilly butchers brought me bear last week.
Well, I tell you something.
The tourists don't like your damn bear.
Especially something as mule-tough as grizzly.
Now, come on... Hey!
We're hunters, you little runt.
You hear me? We're hunters!
You can milk the tourists all you want.
You want deer?
Then why don't you pay the city prices
and have it hauled all the way up here?
We're the ones taking the risks, hunting in the park!
Now, I am trying to make a living here.
I had a deal with you guys.
I asked for deer.
It's not that difficult.
There's thousands of deer running around all over the woods.
Hey, guys, we're friends, ain't we?
Hey, look, here's a hundred.
Leave me the grizz. For God's sake, bag me a deer.
Come on.
We got to give them what they want, huh?
We all do.
I had flown 1,000 miles to work out some of
my own problems, and I ended up hurting Karen.
I didn't mean to, but it happened.
I figured one way to make it up to her was
to get positive identification on these poachers.
Damn, that Skip burns me up.
Let it go, Ed.
You got the corn?
Under the tarp.
King Snake here.
Clear on Highland.
Roger, Karen. Keep in touch. Over.
Will do.
Psst!
You two could scare off deer in three counties.
What are you trying to do, Earl?
Get me a king-size buck's the general idea.
You'll get your chance, hotshot.
There's your buck.
I'll take the little one.
This is King Snake,
responding to gunshots northeast of Crow's Nest.
You read me?
Sam!
Park Service! Freeze!
Miss your flight?
Yeah.
Don't shoot me for it.
You heard the shots?
Yeah, I heard.
Do you mind telling me what you're doing here?
Well, some guys were selling bear meat
back at the cafe, so I trailed them here.
Thought they might be the ones you were looking for.
I figured I owed you one.
Saw their truck about a mile back.
I, uh, made sure they'd be walking out.
Yeah, well, we're out of radio range.
I'll have to arrest them myself.
All right, there's a good place to do that a little ways back.
We can take 'em.
All right.
I'll take it from here -- come on.
You're a mean man with a 308, Ed.
Set 'em down.
What is it?
Somebody's been on this trail since we came through.
Could be a ranger track.
No way.
Well, I'm not gonna take any chances.
Well, what-what are we gonna do?
Just be cool, Earl.
You stay on the trail.
You come with me, Earl.
Here we go.
- Wait a minute. There should be... - Hold it! Park Service.
Karen!
Don't move.
Pick up that gun, get the knapsack.
You, hand me that radio.
Tranquilizer gun in here, Ed.
Take it.
She's hurt.
- Now you've done it. - Shut up.
Look, put it down.
They don't know us from nobody. All he sees is your mask.
Let's go.
Don't follow us.
Oh, I'm sorry, MacGyver.
Shh. Just take it easy.
Nice and easy.
The bullet just grazed you. I'll stop the bleeding,
but we're gonna have to get moving.
Not you, Ed.
Earl, maybe, but not you!
I did what I had to do.
You want to go to prison for shooting a deer?
Not to mention paying the fines. They'd take everything we got.
Oh, man.
That's squat compared to what it's gonna cost us
for shooting that ranger.
I only winged her.
Besides, they never saw our faces.
We're home free.
Damn!
- It's dead? - I'll check it.
Oh God, what are we gonna do now?
Can you fix it?
The distributor cap's gone.
They know the truck.
They know who we are already!
We're home free, huh?
We're out of this. Don't worry about it.
You shot a ranger, Ed.
What do you mean, we're out of it?
We go in,
and we finish 'em both off. That's how.
Which way, Karen?
Uh, there's a... a field station with a radio about a mile upstream,
and then another two into the woods.
Well, let's send them downstream on the other side.
Oh, man, you really nailed her!
Be quiet, Earl.
Only way they could be headed is to Camus Creek.
Yeah? Upstream or down?
Cut through the meadow.
If they're headed downstream,
you'll be able to get ahead of them there.
We'll go straight across, work our way up.
If you spot 'em, fire off a couple of rounds.
We'll do the same.
Karen, you still with me?
Sorry. Sorry, I'm not...
No, no. We'll just keep moving.
Look!
Think they crossed it?
Drift looks about right.
Better call in Earl.
They could be onto us.
We can break trail for the cabin here.
Well, where are they?
Bandanna across the creek says they crossed here.
Makes sense.
There's no trace of a trail downstream.
Let's get after 'em.
Look at this.
What's that?
Handkerchief dropped here --
there's no footprints anywhere.
Look at this.
It's fresh broke.
My guess is they chucked this bandanna
from over there to set us off the wrong way.
And they stayed over on the other side.
Couldn't be downstream.
I-I would have seen 'em.
Well, then they got to be goin' upstream
on the other side of the river.
Well, they ain't quite as smart as they thought, are they?
Let's go.
How much further to the cabin?
As the crow flies, about a mile.
As the wounded walk,
we're gonna have to take the long way.
I'm in no shape for hill climbing.
You're in no shape for anything. You got to rest.
Okay.
Oh... what are you gonna do?
I'm gonna give them a choice.
Stay here, okay?
Hold it.
They're headed this way.
From the looks of that track, he must be helping her a lot.
She's not gonna last much longer.
Let's go.
- I'll be darned. - What is it?
It's my distributor cap.
Hey, be careful.
It's our chance out.
Out?
They don't know us. They don't want to know us.
They're saying, just take our truck and leave in peace.
It's too late for that. We got 'em on the run.
Well, if we find 'em,
and we kill 'em, who's running then?
May-May-Maybe he's right, Ed.
Let's just fly. Let's just get in the truck and...
Shut up!
Go on, shoot.
You're gonna hang me out to dry anyway.
Do it face-to-face.
You're crazy.
Both of you.
I've had it.
T-To hell with you both.
They gave us a chance, Ed.
They gave us nothing!
I'm gonna bury 'em.
I'm gonna bury 'em both.
Karen.
How are you feeling, baby?
I think both our chances would be better
if you had left me and came back.
Uh-uh.
We're going to that cabin together.
Got it?
Come on.
Easy, easy.
That ranger's cabin is on the other side of this ridge.
Now, the way I got it figured, if that's where they're headed,
that wounded girl's gonna force 'em to go around the ridge.
We go straight over the top,
we're gonna beat 'em by at least an hour.
What about Earl?
By the time he wakes up, it's all gonna be over.
Red Bear, this is Mobile One.
Any word from Karen? Over.
Nothing on Highland.
Suggest you call Sam. Over.
Okay people, let's go.
Okay, let's go.
All right.
We made it.
I told you we'd be all right.
Fix that.
Now what?
We wait.
Come on, let's rest.
All right.
Down here!
Oh, come on.
Come on, Karen, stay with me.
We got to let them know where we are.
Easy.
They're looking for 'em.
They ain't gonna find 'em.
No sign of them at Base Nine.
You see anything, Sam?
You'd have heard about it. Just keep looking.
We're pushing up for the north border.
This is...
...no good, MacGyver.
Just go on ahead.
Once you radio for help,
it's only a matter of time.
Just forget it.
We're getting out of here together.
You understand?
Okay.
What is that?
It's called limonite.
The Indians used to use it in cave paintings.
Amazing what you can do with decomposed rock, huh?
- Where you going, Wyatt? - I'm heading left.
I'm not going to Canada!
Well, then go to jail.
Just gonna run out on your family?
I won't do it, Ed.
I won't kill 'em, it's not worth it.
Why don't you come with me?
You run out on me now,
and I swear, you'll never stop running.
I'll find 'em, I'll bury 'em on your land.
When the law comes, it'll be you and your family.
That's the price you're gonna pay if you run out on me now.
- All right, come on. - Okay.
- Easy. - Okay.
Okay, okay.
- Wait a minute. - Okay.
Here.
- I think we made it. - Yeah.
Here.
You'll need these keys.
I don't think so.
There's no lock on the door.
That's impossible. That door's never left unlocked.
Well, it is now.
What is it?
That's a hunting blind.
But I'd be willing to bet they're not after deer.
Come on.
Easy.
What are you gonna do?
I'm not exactly sure yet.
- It'll come to me. - Oh!
I hope.
I do know I have to try and even the odds.
Stay put.
I'll be back.
This is stupid.
Maybe Earl come around and got a drop on 'em.
Maybe they're having a tea party.
No, this fella's good.
He's not turning back.
He wants to finish this just as much as we do.
We'll wait.
There's a fine line in nature
that divides the hunter from the hunted.
The trick was to turn the situation around.
The tools I had available were nature, Karen's coat,
and the tranquilizer darts in her backpack.
The first thing I had to do
was to give them something to shoot at that wasn't me.
Chopper Three to search party.
Looks like they're on their way to Base Nine after all.
Copy Chopper Three.
The poachers had taken the tranquilizer gun
but left the darts.
So what I needed was a way
to propel one a distance of about 40 yards.
What I had was the barrel of a flashlight,
and the elastic cord from Karen's coat.
So I could be in two places at once,
it became necessary to invent a time delay.
A fuse that would last long enough
to get me into another position.
Something doesn't feel right.
They'll be here.
Yo!
Ed!
Park Service, hold it right there!
Don't shoot! I give. Don't shoot!
Check out the cabin.
There's another one over here!
Thanks, MacGyver.
You sure know how to show a girl a good time.
Just like always.
Oh, it wasn't that bad.
No.
It wasn't.
- There you go. - Thanks.
Well, I guess it's safe to say those guys won't be hunting
in your territory again, huh?
No, I think the only thing they'll be hunting for is parole.
Thanks, MacGyver.
I said a lot of things. I...
You don't have to explain anything.
I know how you feel.
No... you don't.
You've found your place.
It's here... with Sam.
Now I know why we never said goodbye.
Too damn hard.
Let's not.
Take care.
Yes, ma'am.