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Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.
THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARRIVES.
Woman: HAT! HAT! HAT!
Man: HO, HO!
Otto: CHRISTMAS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE WE THINK ABOUT
WHAT WE COULD DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
Narrator: CHRISTMAS ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD IS
NO ORDINARY CELEBRATION.
[ LAUGHS ]
Atz: PEOPLE NEED EACH OTHER, AND AT TIMES LIKE CHRISTMAS,
THAT'S JUST THE PREFECT TIME
TO SHOW THAT NEED AND RECIPROCATE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
[ YODELS ]
OH [BLEEP] [ GRUNTS ]
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
♪ BUT LIFE IS SIMPLE, LIFE IS GOOD ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN' LIKE YOU SHOULD ♪
♪ HEY, HEY ♪
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S STRUGGLE, STRIFE ♪
♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪
♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪
♪ YES, WE'LL STAY ♪
♪ RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
WHOA.
IT'S SLIPPERY.
WHOA.
Jane: KILCHERS DON'T REALLY GO OUT
AND BUY EACH OTHER CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
THEY GIVE EACH OTHER THINGS LIKE HELPING EACH OTHER OUT
OR SOMETHING THEY'VE HAD THAT THEY'RE NOT USING
THEY KNOW YOU CAN USE.
[ YODELS ]
HEY, ATZ. HEY, JANE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? BONFIRE TIME?
YEAH, I'M BUILDING A FIRE...
Atz Lee: NICE.
...JUST SOMETHING TO WARM UP AROUND
WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON THIS THING.
BROUGHT SOME STUFF FOR THE OLD FAMILY TREE.
SWEET.
HOLIDAYS FOR THE KILCHERS --
GIFTS KIND OF IN THE MATERIAL SENSE AREN'T
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING
THAT REALLY COMES FROM THE HEART,
SOMETHING THAT, REALLY, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
WITH YOUR FAMILY AND WITH NEIGHBORS.
HEY, OTTO, WERE YOU GONNA WRAP A LINE AROUND THE WHOLE TREE?
YEAH, LET'S GO AROUND AND 'ROUND. WHAT THE HELL?
[ CHUCKLES ] WELL, THIS SHOULD BE FUN.
CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND, YOU KNOW, AS A CHILD GROWING UP,
IT WAS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW --
IT WASN'T ABOUT LOTS OF PRESENTS UNDERNEATH THE CHRISTMAS TREE
AND BRAND-NEW, FLASHY, SHINY TOYS, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS ABOUT PRACTICAL ITEMS,
THINGS THAT YOU NEEDED FOR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE YOUR LIFE A LOT EASIER --
A NEW PAIR OF BOOTS, A WARMER JACKET --
AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT YOU GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED.
YOU WANT AN UN-COILER?
I NEED AN UNHOOKER.
AN UNHOOKER -- AS OPPOSED TO A ***?
Shane: [ CHUCKLES ] AS OPPOSED TO ***.
I COULD BE AN UNHOOKER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S FLANNEL.
FLANNEL TURNS ANY WOMAN INTO AN ANTI-***.
LABOR AND TIME. THOSE TWO THINGS --
THAT'S THE BIGGEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE.
AND YOU HAVE NO GLOVES.
WHAT A WILDERNESS WOMAN.
Otto: CHRISTMAS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE WE GO,
"STOP THINKING ABOUT JUST ME FOR A MOMENT.
THIS AIN'T ALL ABOUT JUST ME."
FINDLAY ABBOTT LIVES ON AN ISLAND ACROSS KACHEMAK BAY,
AND HE IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE FROM, OH, THE EARLY '60s.
FINDLAY LEADS A SOMETIMES HERMIT-LIKE,
SOLITARY EXISTENCE ON THE ISLAND THESE DAYS.
HE TALKED TO ME ONCE ABOUT HIS LONELINESS,
AND HE SAID HE'D ALWAYS BEEN LONELY.
AND SO I'VE JUST DECIDED TO GIVE MY YAK TO FINDLAY.
FINDLAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN LOVE WITH YAKS.
EVER SINCE HE MADE A TREK TO THE HIMALAYAS
IN HIS YOUTHFUL YEARS, HE'S WANTED A DAMN YAK.
HE'S BEEN IN LOVE WITH YAKS,
SO I'M GONNA GIVE HIM THIS YAK FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
Eivin: HOW ARE WE GETTING HER ACROSS?
CONSTRUCTOR.
JUST GONNA TAKE HER TO THE BEACH...
WELL, SHOULD BE BIG ENOUGH FOR HER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S NOT AN EASY THING.
I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS YAK PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
ACTUALLY, SHE'S KIND OF BECOME A FRIEND.
CHRISTMAS IS GIVING A GIFT, GIVING SOMETHING UP,
MAKING SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE BETTER.
IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.
[ JACKIE GRUNTS ]
Eivin: I AM GONNA KIND OF MISS THE YAK A LITTLE BIT.
SHE'S KIND OF GOT THIS ORNERY CHARACTER THAT --
I'LL BE SAD TO SEE HER GO.
SHE DOESN'T LIKE ME THAT MUCH.
Otto: SHE SPOOKS BY ANY LITTLE THING.
SHE COULD JUST HAVE A "YAKOUT."
COME ON, GIRL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THIS ISN'T AS EASY AS WE THOUGHT, HUH?
HEY, JACKIE, WE WILL CATCH YOU.
MIGHT HAVE TO CORNER HER SOME.
MIGHT HAVE TO PUT HER IN THE CHUTE.
COME ON, GIRL
OH, VERY NICE.
Eivin: FINDLAY LIVES ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY,
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO EASY TASK
GETTING A YAK ACROSS 30 MILES OF OCEAN
OUT TO THE ISLAND WHERE HE LIVES.
COME ON, GIRL, STICK YOUR HEAD IN THERE.
OKAY, CLOSE IT. EXCELLENT.
IT MEANS TAKING OUR YAK TO THE BEACH.
I HAVE TO PUT HER ON A BOAT TO GET HER THERE.
DO YOU STILL WANT ME TO TAKE MY HORSE --
TRY TO KEEP THE COWS BACK?
I NEED TO HAVE THE HORSE SO WE CAN KEEP THE COWS AWAY.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA GET THE HORSE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE BETTER GET GOING BEFORE I KIND OF TEAR UP OR SOMETHING.
I'M... EVERYBODY ELSE IS READY...
I KIND OF GOT A BIG CREW TOGETHER TODAY.
IT'S CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND PEOPLE --
WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES DOING STUFF TOGETHER,
SO EIVIN WANTED TO HELP.
CHARLOTTE'S HERE. JANE'S HERE.
CHARLOTTE'S COUSIN ROSS MANAGED TO [Chuckling] SHOW UP.
MAYBE WE DON'T QUITE NEED EVERYBODY,
BUT IF ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, WE MAY BE REALLY HAPPY.
SO WE'RE GOING A LITTLE BIT OVERMANNED.
COME ON, WACKY YAK JACK. LET'S GO FOR A LITTLE HIKE.
BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE CAMARADERIE
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE THING,
AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING ON THIS ADVENTURE TOGETHER.
AND, ACTUALLY, SHE'D LIKE YOU MAYBE TO BE AHEAD ANYWAY
SO SHE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON YOU.
YAKS ARE VERY DEFENSIVE.
I HAVE TO BE ON FOOT BECAUSE SHE WILL FOLLOW ME.
I'M NOT SURE SHE'D REALLY FOLLOW ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SHE'S NEVER BEEN BEHIND A HORSE,
AND THE HORSE HAS NEVER BEEN AROUND A YAK,
AND THAT COULD JUST BE DISASTER.
I GOT TO TAKE THE YAK DOWN THROUGH THE CATTLE.
Eivin: I'M GONNA GO RUN INTERFERENCE.
LET'S GO CHASE SOME COWS.
Jane: WHERE DO YOU WANT ME?
Otto: SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ME AND THE CATTLE, OFF TO THE SIDE.
OKAY.
Jane: WE'RE ALL GONNA BE SOME SORT OF SUPPORT.
WE'RE GONNA NEED TO KEEP THE COWS AWAY FROM HER
TO KEEP THAT FROM BEING A DISTRACTION.
YOU'RE COMING DOWN HERE?
Eivin: KEEP THE COWS OFF THE HAY!
[ HORSE NEIGHS ]
WELL, THAT WAS EASY.
Otto: THAT YAK'S A LOVELY CRITTER,
BUT YOU NEVER CAN TELL WHEN SHE'D GO YAK ON US.
COME ON, GIRL.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [ GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ] OH [BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO, LET'S GO! COME ON.
[ GRUNTS ]
OH, MY GOD.
YAKS ARE COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
HEY, GIRL.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH.
THEY HAVE THEIR EPISODES,
AND THEN THEY'LL JUST TURN AROUND AND GO,
"WHAT WRONG WITH YOU?"
AND, LIKE, THEY'LL JUST TOTALLY STOP,
WALK UP TO YOU, AND GO, "WHAT'S WRONG?"
AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.
♪ YAK COME BACK ♪
♪ DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO ♪
WOW! IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BLACKOUT, YOU KNOW?
THEY HAVE A YAKOUT.
SO, WE DECIDED TO CHANGE OUR APPROACH HERE.
I'VE DECIDED TO HAVE CHARLOTTE GO AHEAD OF ME WITH THE HAY
SO THE YAK CAN KIND OF SEE THE HAY.
AND SHE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE PUTT PUTT,
AND WE CAN JUST KIND OF USE CHARLOTTE AND THE HAY
AS A BIT OF A ROADBLOCK
TO KEEP HER FROM TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF ME.
SO, NOW WE'RE HERE.
EVERYTHING IS ALL GO.
GONNA TAKE THE CONSTRUCTOR FROM WHERE I PARKED IT
AND BRING IT OVER TO THE BEACH AND LOAD THE YAK.
Eivin: DAD WENT TO GET THE BOAT.
IT'S FRICKING COLD THIS MORNING.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY FEELING LIKE WINTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T HAVE SNOW YET,
BUT IF IT WEREN'T CLEAR SKIES,
I THINK WE'D BE IN TWO FEET OF SNOW RIGHT NOW.
Jane: IT HAS TO BE A HIGH TIDE FOR OTTO'S BARGE TO COME IN
'CAUSE TIDES ARE SO EXTREME IN ALASKA.
SO, WE GOT A NICE HIGH TIDE,
AND WE GOT TO TIME IT JUST RIGHT.
AND THEN, HE'S GOT TO COME IN,
AND WE HAVE TO LOAD THIS YAK QUICK
AND GET OUT OF HERE
BECAUSE THE TIDES ARE GONNA CHANGE SO QUICK
AND IT'S A PRETTY BIG BARGE HE'S GOT.
Otto: GOOD! WHOO!
AFTER HIGH TIDE, THE WATER STARTS RECEDING
FROM KACHEMAK BAY AT A FAIRLY FAST RATE,
AND I'VE ONLY GOT A MATTER OF MINUTES,
MAYBE A HALF AN HOUR AT THE MOST,
BEFORE THE WATER'S GONE DOWN TO THE POINT
WHERE I CAN'T LEAVE FOR ANOTHER 24 HOURS.
AND THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
Eivin: HOLIDAYS FOR THE KILCHERS,
IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CHRISTMAS DAY FOR US,
BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GIVE A GIFT OF TIME...
HI.
...STOPPING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST HELP A FRIEND,
A FAMILY MEMBER, A NEIGHBOR,
AND IT'S KIND OF A WAY THAT YOU CAN
HELP SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING THEY COULDN'T DO FOR THEMSELVES
OR BY THEMSELVES.
IT'S KIND OF A NICE THING TO DO THIS TIME OF YEAR.
COME ON, YAK.
Otto: I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT HER BEING ON THE BOAT,
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO GET HER ONTO THE BOAT.
[ JACKIE GRUNTS ]
[ GRUNTS ] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[ SIGHS ]
Jane: DOING GOOD! OH, LOOK AT THAT!
THERE YOU GO.
LOTS OF HAY FOR YOU. [ CHUCKLES ]
MY LIFE AS A HOMESTEADER
INVOLVES HELPING PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I CANNOT NOT CONSIDER SOMEBODY ELSE'S NEEDS.
THERE ARE THESE PERIODS THROUGHOUT OUR YEAR
WHERE WE REFLECT ON CERTAIN THINGS.
MAYBE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER, AT SOLSTICE,
WE REFLECT ON THE ABUNDANCE AND THE LENGTH OF THE DAY,
AND PEOPLE REJOICE FOR THAT.
AND SO CHRISTMAS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE WE GO,
"WOW. LET'S REFLECT ON ALL THE GOOD THAT'S AROUND HERE.
"LET'S REFLECT ON THE HAPPINESS.
"LET'S REFLECT ON THE JOY THAT WE'RE HERE,
AND LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE."
Narrator: COMING UP, OTTO AND FAMILY PUSH ON
THROUGH THE WATERS OF KACHEMAK BAY.
Otto: WE GOT A LONG ROUTE HERE.
THERE'S POTENTIALLY SOME ROUGH WATER AHEAD OF US.
YAK ON THE HIGH SEAS.
Narrator: ATZ SR. BRAVES THE ELEMENTS FOR A FELLOW HOMESTEADER.
Atz: LEGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. IT CAN GET PRETTY ROUGH.
Narrator: AND ATZ LEE DEVOTES HIS TIME TO STOCKING STUFFERS.
[ YODELS ]
Narrator: OTTO, CHARLOTTE, EIVIN, AND JANE ARE
MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS KACHEMAK BAY
ABOARD OTTO'S BARGE.
THIS 30-MILE JOURNEY HAS A SIMPLE GOAL --
TO DELIVER JACKIE THE YAK
TO A LONELY ISLAND-DWELLING NEIGHBOR NAMED FINDLAY ABBOTT.
Otto: THIS YAK TRIP IS KIND OF THIS TOTALLY WILD,
UNPREDICTABLE, AND SOMEWHAT FLUID ADVENTURE.
OUR ROUTE IS GONNA TAKE US --
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LONG ROUTE HERE.
WE GOT TO GO PAST SOME ISLANDS,
AND THERE'S POTENTIALLY SOME ROUGH WATER AHEAD OF US.
OUR TARGET IS TO GET TO YUKON ISLAND SAFELY
AND HOPEFULLY WITHOUT A SEASICK YAK.
♪ MEET FINDLAY ABBOT ♪
♪ HE SAID HE'D LOVE YOU FOR ALL TIME ♪
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW, JACKIE SEEMS TO BE KIND OF SUBDUED
AND ACTUALLY ENJOYING KIND OF THE SOCIAL LIFE
HERE AT THE MOMENT,
AND SO SHE HASN'T ACTUALLY BEEN THAT DIFFICULT.
[ JACKIE GRUNTS ]
OKAY, GUYS, WHEN WE LAND, I WANT YOU TO DO THE GATE AGAIN.
OKAY.
AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA --
'CAUSE IT'S A LITTLE ROUGH HERE,
WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND THE POINT
JUST A LITTLE WAYS TO LAND, OKAY?
OUR HOPE IS WE CAN JUST LAND CLOSE TO FINDLAY'S
AND WALK THE YAK DOWN THE BEACH
AND ROLL THE HAY UP ON THE BEACH
AND HAVE IT ALL WORK GOOD.
ANYTHING ELSE?
WHO'S DRIVING THE BOAT?
RIGHT NOW?
OTTO. [auto]
[ CHARLOTTE LAUGHS ]
Jane: LAST NAME PILOT.
THIS IS "OTTO" PILOT.
THIS IS OTTO KILCHER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Otto: ONCE WE APPROACH YUKON ISLAND,
THERE'S FINDLAY WALKING UP THE BEACH.
Eivin: MY DAD WENT TO SCHOOL.
THAT'S HOW HIM AND FINDLAY KIND OF MET EACH OTHER
YEARS AGO.
THEY KIND OF HAD A LITTLE, TINY SCHOOL ON THE ISLAND THERE,
AND I THINK THEY NEEDED A COUPLE EXTRA KIDS
IN ORDER TO HAVE ENOUGH KIDS
FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED A SCHOOL.
AND SO, MY GRANDPARENTS, YULE AND RUTH,
THEY PRETTY MUCH FARMED MY DAD OUT TO GET RID OF A KID
AND FILL IN THE SCHOOL
AND, YOU KNOW, SO MY DAD SPENT SOME TIME
OVER ON THE ISLAND JUST GOING TO SCHOOL.
Otto: LOOKING BACK, ALL THOSE YEARS, I MEAN,
IT'S SUCH A LONG WAY AGO, YOU KNOW?
IT'S 50 YEARS AGO THAT I SPENT SOME OF MY CHILDHOOD
ON THIS ISLAND WITH A BUNCH OF GIRLS, YOU KNOW?
HUH. WOW!
WHAT A TRIP.
Charlotte: HEY, FINDLAY!
HI!
Otto: HEY, FINDLAY!
YOU READY FOR A YAK, MY FRIEND?
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING HER.
COME ON, GIRL.
OKAY. TAKE IT EASY.
SEE HOW SMART SHE IS?
[ Chuckling ] WHOA!
I KNOW! WOW. SHE DID THAT REALLY WELL.
YOU'RE FREE!
Otto: I JUST WANTED YOU TO HAVE THAT YAK,
AND YOU DON'T OWE ME ANYTHING.
WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS A LONG TIME, AND I, YOU KNOW,
I THINK IT'S THE COOLEST THING.
WE'RE GIVING THE YAK A LIFE. WE'RE GIVING YOU A FRIEND.
AND WE'RE GIVING THE YAK FREEDOM.
AND SHE'S GONNA BE GREAT COMPANY.
SHE'S REALLY SMART.
YOU THINK AFTER A WHILE,
WHEN SHE REALLY GETS USED TO THE PLACE,
I CAN LET HER GO IN THE MEADOW?
I THINK SO.
YEAH, AND SHE'LL STAY AROUND
AS LONG AS SHE'S BEING FED?
LIKE THEY SAY, SHE'LL WARM UP TO YOU
AFTER YOU GET TO KNOW HER A FEW TIMES.
UH-HUH. YEAH.
HOPEFULLY SHE DOESN'T GORE ME.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'LL BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT.
[ CHUCKLES ] A LITTLE CONCERNED.
ALWAYS BE CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, THAT -- YOU NEVER KNOW.
IF SHE FREAKS OUT AND RAISES HER HEAD,
SHE'D GET YOU UNDER YOUR RIB CAGE
AND RIP OUT YOUR HEART.
YEAH, I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD A COUPLE GIRLFRIENDS
THAT HAVE DONE THAT, SO...
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, I MIGHT HAVE RIPPED OUT THEIR HEART, TOO.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S A ROUGH DEAL.
YEAH.
Otto: LEAD ON.
FINDLAY HAS BEEN THIS, YOU KNOW, TYPICAL HOMESTEADER --
COLLECTOR OF THINGS AND DOER OF THINGS
AND HAVING STUFF TO DO THOSE THINGS WITH.
SO, EVERYTHING THAT WASHES UP ON A BEACH
THAT SEEMS TO BE CONCEIVABLY USEFUL,
FINDLAY HAS IT.
MAN, YOU GOT A BUNCH OF COOL [BLEEP] HERE.
I GOT TO LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? OH, THAT'S A CLAMP!
ISN'T THAT A COOL CLAMP?
WOW!
YOU COULD MAKE ONE LIKE THAT.
ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?
WOW!
LOOK AT THIS.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH PADDLES AND ENOUGH SPARE BOATS
AND ENOUGH SPARE BOAT PARTS AND ENOUGH SPARE MOTOR PARTS
AND ENOUGH THINGS ON A HOMESTEADER ISLAND.
I MEAN, I THINK OF A HOMESTEAD.
THINK ABOUT A HOMESTEADER ON AN ISLAND.
YEAH, THAT PUTS A WHOLE NOTHER DIMENSION TO IT.
YOU COULD BE MAROONED THERE WITH NOTHING LEFT BUT...
A BUOY FOR YOUR SOCCER BALL, MAN.
OH, CHECK IT OUT -- A MAILBOX!
DID YOU USED TO GET YOUR MAIL OVER HERE?
[ CHUCKLES ]
YOU KNOW, WHEN I BUILT THAT LITTLE STAND
OUT ON THE POINT
FOR PEOPLE TO SIT AROUND AND WAIT,
I PUT THIS MAILBOX BACK FROM THE BEACH, YOU KNOW,
NEXT TO THE STAND, AND I THOUGHT,
"WELL, THIS WILL BE OUR MAIL-DROP SPOT
WOW!
BUT VERN AND BRIAN SAID,
"WE AIN'T HAVING ANY MAILBOX HERE!"
AND THEY TOOK IT DOWN.
DANG!
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAILBOX, DO WE, HONEY?
NO, WE DON'T HAVE A MAILBOX.
CAN YOU USE THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
OH, WE WOULDN'T TAKE YOUR MAILBOX, FINDLAY.
OH, HEY, LISTEN, A YAK?
I WOULDN'T TAKE YOUR YAK IF YOU WOULDN'T TAKE A MAILBOX.
REALLY?
NO, YOU'RE DOING THE YAK A FAVOR.
WOW, WE GOT A MAILBOX, MAN. LIKE, WE'RE UPTOWN NOW.
"MAMA, WE'VE COME TO TOWN.
WE'VE GOT US A MAILBOX."
A RURAL-ROUTE MAILBOX -- OOH.
WELL, NOW, HERE'S A CLASSIC, OTTO.
HUH?
HERE'S A CLASSIC.
YOU SEE, IT STILL TURNS OVER.
OH, MY FRICKING GOD. WHAT IS IT?
WELL, THIS IS A BRITISH SEAGULL 5.5 HORSE,
BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF MOTORS
THAT WERE IN USE WHEN WE MOVED HERE.
NOBODY EVER WENT ANYWHERE WITHOUT THE OLD SEAGULL MOTOR,
AND THAT THING, YOU COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON.
EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY A HALF A KNOT [CHUCKLES]
YOU GOT HOME WITH THAT MOTOR.
COME ON, OTTO, YOU NEED THAT SEAGULL.
OH, FINDLAY, THIS HAS BEEN IN YOUR FAMILY FOREVER.
I COULDN'T TAKE THAT FROM YOU.
NO, MY FAMILY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS.
IT IS PRETTY COOL.
Otto: WELL, YOU KNOW, MY INTENTION WAS JUST TO GO THERE
AND LEAVE THIS YAK AND SEE A BIG SMILE ON FINDLAY'S FACE,
BUT TRUE TO FINDLAY'S NATURE -- HE'S VERY RECIPROCAL,
AND HE WANTED ME TO HAVE THAT MOTOR.
AND SO I THINK I WOULD HAVE INSULTED HIM BY NOT TAKING IT,
EVEN IF I DIDN'T WANT IT.
AND I KIND OF WANTED IT.
YEAH.
I COULD PUT THAT ON MY FOUR-WHEELER.
THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY COOL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
NOW, THAT WOULD BLOW FINDLAY'S MIND --
ARRIVING ON YUKON ISLAND ON MY FOUR-WHEELER
WITH THAT MOTOR.
HMM?
OKAY.
BYE, JACKIE.
YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS.
I HOPE SO.
YOU TAKE CARE.
AH, WE'RE GONNA GET TO BE FRIENDS.
GIVE HER GRAIN.
SHE LOVES TO BE SCRATCHED
ON THE HEAD AND ON THE SHOULDERS.
SHE SEEMS TO BE GETTING COMFORTABLE HERE.
YEAH. SHE LOVES COMPANY.
REAL SOCIAL.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I NEED, TOO.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, WELL, FINDLAY, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY HER.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SAYING I NEED A FEMALE AROUND HERE.
THANKS SO MUCH.
OH, IT'S MY PLEASURE, OTTO.
BESIDES, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YEAH, FINDLAY, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING,
AND THANKS FOR TAKING OUR GIRL,
AND WE'LL BE IN TOUCH.
Otto: HELPING PEOPLE IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR
IN OUR HEALTHY LITTLE WALK THROUGH LIFE.
I THINK A LARGE PART OF OUR POPULATION
PRETTY MUCH DOESN'T INTERACT WITH ANYBODY ELSE
IN A GIVING WAY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, ME, ME, TAKE, ME, TAKE, YOU KNOW?
AND THEN, SUDDENLY, WELL,
THERE'S THIS DAY, AND IT'S A GOOD THING.
THANKS, FINDLAY.
BYE.
GREAT SEEING YOU.
CHARLOTTE, GREAT SEEING YOU.
ONE LAST HUG.
OKAY.
GOODBYE.
Jane: I'M REALLY GLAD I WAS A PART OF GIVING A WILD ANIMAL
TO A WILD MAN ON AN ISLAND.
SO, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS FOR ME,
BUT IT'S REALLY UNIQUE, IT'S REALLY KILCHER,
AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, ACTUALLY.
Otto: OKAY!
BYE, FINDLAY!
[ Chuckling ] BYE!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
SEE YOU, FINDLAY!
[ CHUCKLES ]
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER!
[ LAUGHS ]
FINDLAY: OKAY, GIRL. [ CLEARS THROAT ]
HMM?
WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT, HUH?
YEAH. YOU'LL GET USED TO THAT.
WE'RE GONNA BE GOOD FRIENDS.
YEAH.
Narrator: COMING UP, ATZ SR. FACES THE BITTER COLD
FOR HIS NEIGHBOR'S LOST HERD.
THAT'S GONNA *** ME OFF.
AND ATZ LEE MINES FOR GIFTS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Merry Christmas.
OH [BLEEP]
[ DOG BARKS ]
[ DOGS GROWL ]
HEY, YOU GUYS. CANSE, OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
Jane: MY DOG'S BEEN ATTACKING MY ORNAMENTS.
THEY ALL LOOK LIKE MAGICAL, FUN TOYS.
WELL, KILCHER CHRISTMASES ARE A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN THE CHRISTMASES I GREW UP WITH.
MINE WERE MORE EXTRAVAGANT,
AND THEN THE KILCHER CHRISTMAS IS MORE ABOUT, LIKE,
JUST GIVING YOUR TIME OR YOUR EFFORT TO SOMETHING.
I HAVE MY ALIENS, WHICH ARE BOBBERS AND FISHING LURES.
DO YOU LIKE THIS GUY -- SNAZZY SQUID?
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS.
CAN YOU DO ONE OF MINE, SHANE?
Shane: MAYBE.
[ Laughing ] NICE. I LOVE THAT ONE!
IT'S A "SQUIDMAS" DECORATION.
AH, AH. PSHH. HEY!
JANE, YOUR DOG RAN OFF WITH THE SQUID.
WHAT?
[ Chuckling ] BUT DOESN'T IT HAVE A FISH HOOK IN IT?
Jane: IT DOES! SO TAKE IT FROM HIM.
WILLOW, NO! NO! NO!
NO! NO!
NO!
Narrator: FOR THE KILCHER FAMILY,
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT SHARING THE RESOURCES
THAT ALASKA PROVIDES THEM.
Atz Lee: WHEN YULE DID ARRIVE IN KACHEMAK BAY,
HE PICKED A SPOT THAT WAS PRETTY UNIQUE TO THE AREA.
THERE WAS AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF COAL.
IT WAS ALL OVER THE BEACH.
THERE'S HUGE VEINS OF IT THAT RUN ALONG THE BLUFFS,
AND AS THE WINTER STORMS AND FALL STORMS ENCROACH
UPON THE BLUFFS, IT ACTUALLY ERODES THE BLUFFS,
AND THESE BIG PIECES OF COAL WILL FALL OUT DOWN ON THE BEACH.
COAL'S PROBABLY THE MOST IDEAL WAY
TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE HEATED.
SO WE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THE BEACH
AND GET SOME COAL FOR THE FAMILY.
AND CHRISTMAS ROLLS AROUND.
IT'S THE PREFECT TIME TO KIND OF GIVE THEM A GIFT,
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BE VERY PRACTICAL.
MY BROTHER, SHANE, CAME OUT TO HELP.
ALWAYS GOOD TO SPEND TIME WITH MY BROTHER,
AND GETTING COAL WAS SOMETHING WE USED TO DO A LOT AS KIDS.
HEY, WHERE ARE YOU?
[ Chuckling ] HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
WELL, SHE LIVES.
HOW'S SHE RUNNING?
SHE'S DOING ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S SEE HOW SHE HANDLES THE BEACH.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT.
COAL BURNS A LOT LONGER AND HOTTER.
YOU KNOW, A PIECE OF COAL ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LOAF OF BREAD
WILL ACTUALLY BURN ABOUT EIGHT HOURS OVERNIGHT,
AND IN THE MORNING, WHEN YOU GET UP,
THERE'S THIS NICE BED OF COALS THERE,
AND YOU CAN KEEP IT GOING.
YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE A FIRE GOING
FOR A MONTH AT A TIME.
ONCE A MONTH, THEY'LL LET IT BURN OUT,
EMPTY ALL THE ASHES OUT OF THERE, FIRE IT UP AGAIN,
GET SOME KINDLING WOOD, GET THE WOOD COALS GOING,
COAL ON TOP OF THAT, GOOD TO GO FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
AND THAT BEATS THE HELL OUT OF CHOPPING WOOD
ALL WINTER LONG.
AIN'T NOTHING EASY ABOUT GETTING COAL
EXCEPT FOR THE FACT YOU ONLY GOT TO DO IT ONCE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
Shane: MOST OF THE TIME, PEOPLE WHO USE COAL FOR FUEL,
THEY HAVE TO MINE IT, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WASH IT.
HERE ON THE HOMESTEAD, THE OCEAN DOES ALL THE WORK FOR US
AS THE WAVES COME UP AND THE STORMS HIT.
YOU KNOW, THEY HIT THOSE BLUFFS
AND SLOWLY ERODE THE BLUFFS,
AND BIG CHUNKS OF COAL FALL OUT OF THOSE COAL VEINS.
AND THEN THE OCEAN TUMBLES THEM AND POLISHES THEM
AND CLEANS THEM UP FOR US,
AND WE JUST HAVE TO PICK THEM UP.
Atz Lee: IF YOU TAKE A PIECE OF COAL AND YOU BREAK IT OPEN,
IF CAN SEE A LOT OF SEDIMENT AND RESIDUE AND DIRT
AND STUFF IN THERE, IT'S NOT GONNA BURN AS CLEAN.
THAT'S A GOOD PIECE. LOOK AT HOW NICE AND BLACK.
THERE'S NO SAND, NO SEDIMENT IN IT.
SO, YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE PIECES OF COAL
THAT ARE AS HEAVY AND BLACK, SOLID, SHINY COAL,
AND THE DENSER, THE BLACKER, THE SHINIER THE PIECE OF COAL,
THE BETTER THE QUALITY, BASICALLY.
AND THOSE PIECES WILL ACTUALLY BURN LONGER,
BURN HOTTER, AND LEAVE LESS RESIDUE IN YOUR STOVE.
I MEAN, THIS IS ACTUALLY LIKE PETRIFIED PEAT MOSS AND SEDIMENT
AND WOOD THAT GOT COMPRESSED INTO THE COAL VEIN.
THIS -- IF YOU TRY TO BURN STUFF LIKE THIS,
IT MAKES THESE THINGS CALLED CLINKERS,
WHICH IS LIKE THE METALS
AND UNBURNABLES LEFT OVER FROM COAL.
NOT GOOD FOR YOUR STOVE.
LET'S GET THIS STUFF WE GOT STACKED UP.
IT'S LIKE EVERY ONE OF THESE IS
A NIGHT OF A HEATED HOUSE RIGHT THERE.
[ GRUNTS ]
GRANDPA WOULD BE PROUD.
[ SIGHS ]
WE GOT TO HURRY OR THE ROAD'S GONNA GET
ALL SNOTTY AS THE FROST MELTS.
YEAH, WE BETTER GRAB THIS AND TRY TO RUN FOR IT, HUH?
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH.
CHRISTMAS IS AN EXCHANGE OF TIME, BASICALLY.
YOU'RE GIFTING EACH OTHER THE LABOR AND TIME
THAT YOU SPENT DOING ONE THING
THAT ANOTHER PERSON DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO.
COAL KIND OF HAS A BAD REPUTATION
OF BEING SOMETHING THAT YOU GET ON CHRISTMAS
IF YOU'VE BEEN BAD, BUT IN ALASKA, IT'S, YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE, REALLY,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IN THE WINTERTIME,
YOU CAN'T GO GET COAL ANYMORE.
SO, IT'S A PRETTY UNIQUE GIFT, AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT I THINK EVERYBODY CAN APPRECIATE IN THE FAMILY.
Moosebird dinner for two,
silver salmon fillet for a week.
Merry Christmas.
IT'S KIND OF A DARK TIME OF YEAR,
SO EXTRA HEAT FOR THE STOVES
AND A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD IN THEIR TUMMIES,
AT LEAST THEY'LL BE HAPPY AND WARM FOR AN EXTRA WEEK.
OH, WOW!
HOWDY!
HOW YOU DOING?
I STOPPED BY MIKE'S ON MY FINAL ROUND THERE.
HE'S KIND OF MY CLOSEST NEIGHBOR.
SO, PULLED IN THERE,
SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CHIMNEY.
PROBABLY OUT OF EVERYBODY,
HE APPRECIATES THAT GIFT THE MOST.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GET YOU THROUGH A WHOLE WINTER,
BUT THIS IS THE OLD VARIETY SURF AND TURF HERE.
YOU GOT NICE SILVER FILLET.
WOW. THANK YOU.
Mike: YOU KNOW, THE DOLDRUMS OF WINTER RIGHT NOW,
EVERYTHING'S ICY.
AND ATZ SHOWED UP.
IT ENDED UP BEING
THE MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
I COULD EVER HAVE RECEIVED.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING INSIDE
THAT MIGHT WARM UP YOUR WINTER'S EVENING A LITTLE BIT
IF YOU'D CARE TO TRY.
Atz Lee: IT'S A RARE THING.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN APPRECIATE GETTING COAL,
AND HE ENDED UP GIVING ME SOMETHING BACK.
PRETTY NICE OF HIM -- LITTLE BOTTLE OF MOONSHINE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH?
JUST A LITTLE BIT WILL DO YOU.
YOU KNOW, THAT AIN'T BAD.
[ COUGHS, CHUCKLES ]
GOT A KICK TO IT. I THINK...
YOU GET A LITTLE, UH...
...YOU COULD LIGHT YOUR LANTERN WITH THIS [BLEEP]
WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THING.
YOU CAN LIGHT YOUR WAY WITH IT.
YOU CAN START A FIRE WITH IT.
YOU CAN CATCH A LITTLE BUZZ WITH IT.
HEY [CHUCKLES]
AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT HOME WITH YOU...
OH, YEAH?
...I'VE GOT MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
RIGHT ON, MAN.
OH, YEAH, I CAN GO HOME AND SHARE THIS WITH THE MRS.
IT'S THOSE SIMPLE THINGS.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GIVING EVERYBODY
A WHOLE LOT OF COAL AND ENOUGH FOOD
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER,
BUT IT'S JUST KIND OF A WAY THAT I CAN SAY THANKS
FOR HELPING ME OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS, ATZ.
CAREFUL ON THE ICE OUT THERE.
YEAH, ESPECIALLY AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF THIS STUFF, HUH?
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
MAN!
Narrator: COMING UP, ATZ SR. BRAVES THE ELEMENTS
FOR A FELLOW HOMESTEADER.
WHOO-AH!
Atz: LEGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. IT CAN GET PRETTY ROUGH.
Atz: HERE, CHARLOTTE, LET ME HELP YOU.
LET ME GIVE YOU A HOOK. HERE.
OH, VERY COOL.
WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS, OF COURSE, LIKE EVERYBODY,
MY MEMORIES GO BACK TO WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
WHOO-HOO! GOOD, ATZ. THAT'S PERFECT.
PART OF IT WAS THE GOING OUT AND GETTING A TREE, FOR SURE.
Shane: AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME SQUIRRELS AROUND HERE
IN ABOUT A WEEK WITH SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING NESTS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
BEING PRETTY SECLUDED, NOT SEEING PEOPLE A LOT,
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON USUALLY MEANT SOMEBODY DROPPING BY
OR US GOING SOMEWHERE.
WE WOULD SKI TO THE NEIGHBORS. WE WOULD WALK DOWN THE ROAD.
SO I HAD PRETTY FOND MEMORIES OF NOT SO MUCH JUST LIKE,
"HERE'S CHRISTMAS DAY," BUT IT'S A WHOLE SEASON.
IT BUILDS UP.
AND THERE'S A SPECIAL FEELING IN THE AIR,
AND IT ALWAYS INCLUDED OTHER PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORS
'CAUSE THAT WAS EXCITING, GETTING TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE.
Narrator: AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,
JUST 20 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
ATZ SR. AND HIS WIFE, BONNIE,
ARE ON A MISSION TO HELP LOCATE AN OLD FRIEND'S LOST CATTLE.
GOOD MORNING. AND A LOVELY DAY IT IS.
WELL, HEY.
HI, BRUCE.
Atz: YEAH, BRUCE WILLARD --
OLD-TIME HOMESTEADER AROUND HERE.
HE'S ABOUT 12 YEARS OLDER THAN I AM.
HE CAME HERE WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 10,
SO HE CAME HERE ABOUT WHEN I WAS BORN.
HIS HOMESTEAD IS BACK WAY BACK BEYOND THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,
SO HE'S SOMEONE I'VE KNOWN.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP KNOWING HIM.
Narrator: THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF PREDATORS HAS FORCED THE HERD
AWAY FROM THEIR USUAL GRAZING LANDS.
A WINTER STORM IS COMING.
THE CATTLE MUST BE FOUND QUICKLY
AND RETURNED TO THE SAFETY OF THE CORRAL.
WE WERE RAISED NEEDING OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU COULDN'T DO IT ALL YOURSELF.
PEOPLE WOULD COME ALL THE WAY FROM ACROSS THE BAY
IN A LITTLE ROWBOAT
TO HELP MY DAD FINISH THE LOGS ON THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE.
SO, IT WAS A THING OF NECESSITY WHERE HOMESTEADERS,
SETTLERS NEEDED EACH OTHER,
AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE FOR SOMEBODY,
THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE THERE FOR YOU IN A HEARTBEAT.
WHOO-AH!
Atz: FORTUNATELY, BRUCE, YOU KNOW, HE CALLS HIS CATTLE
EVERY MORNING WHEN HE FEEDS THEM,
SO THEY ARE USED TO HIS CALL.
SO, WHEN HE'S OUT LOOKING FOR THE COWS,
HE JUST GIVES HIS HOLLER, AND THEY'LL ANSWER --
AT LEAST GIVE IT A DIRECTION TO GO TO.
WHOO-AH!
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
COME ON!
Atz: THE COWS ANSWER EVEN FROM FAR AWAY,
AND MOST OF THEM THEN COME RUNNING AND BUNCH UP.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
Bruce: ATZ, I GOT THEM ALL!
OKAY. LET'S HEAD THEM ON DOWN.
UP, UP, UP, UP!
TO GET FROM THE TRAIL ALONG THE RIVER UP TO THE CANYON,
THERE'S A BIG MEADOW OF NATURAL, WILD GRASS,
AND IT'S BEEN SO RAINY THIS FALL THAT THAT FIELD TURNED
INTO A TOTAL BOTTOMLESS PIT.
Atz: GO, COME ON!
THE HORSES WERE SINKING IN ALL THE WAY TO THEIR BELLIES.
THE COWS WERE SINKING ALL THE WAY IN.
HYUP! HYUP! HYUP! COME ON.
HYAH! COME ON! COME ON!
[ WHISTLES ]
OUT OF THE BOG. COME ON.
I'VE NEVER IT THIS WET IN THIS COUNTRY BEFORE.
SO, THAT WAS THE FIRST LEG,
JUST TO GET THEM DOWN TO THE TRAIL.
HYAH! HYUP! HYUP! COME ON! COME ON!
THE OLD-TIMERS HERE AND THEIR OFFSPRING STILL HAVE
THAT FEELING OF COMMUNITY -- HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
THEY STILL HAVE THAT IN THEM,
AND I CAN STILL CALL THEM DAY OR NIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THAT MENTALITY.
THEY'RE HERE NOW, SO ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
Narrator: THE HOMESTEADERS CORRAL THE CATTLE,
BUT A FINAL HEAD COUNT UNCOVERS A PROBLEM.
SEVERAL COWS AND THEIR CALVES ARE STILL MISSING.
WELL, WHERE IN THE HELL DID THEM THINGS GO?
WHERE IN THE HELL WOULD THEY HAVE GONE,
UNLESS THEY'D HAVE WANDERED INLAND?
WELL, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE COWS OR THE CALVES.
THEY MUST HAVE BRANCHED OFF SOMEPLACE.
Atz: IT'S GETTING COLD.
THE NEXT DAY'S GONNA BE REALLY ICY,
HARDER YET TO MOVE CATTLE.
SO NOW THE PROBLEM IS
WE GOT TO MOVE THIS HERD UP TO BRUCE'S HOMESTEAD.
ARE WE GONNA LEAVE THOSE THREE OUT THERE,
GO GET THEM AFTER IT SNOWS?
SO, THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM THAT, YOU KNOW,
BRUCE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT.
IT'S GONNA *** ME OFF.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE TEMPERATURES DROP TO BELOW ZERO...
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
...BUT ATZ SR. IS DETERMINED
TO FIND HIS FRIEND'S LOST CATTLE.
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING ISN'T JUST GIVING PRESENTS.
BACK THEN, IT WAS DOING THINGS FOR PEOPLE -- DOING FAVORS.
MAYBE YOU BROUGHT THEM SOME FIREWOOD.
MAYBE YOU BROUGHT THEM SOME COAL.
BUT MANY TIMES, YOU JUST STOPPED BY
AND HELPED THEM OUT.
SO, IN ESSENCE, THEN, THE GIFT IS TIME.
YOU'RE GIVING SOMEBODY SOME OF YOUR TIME,
HELPING THEM DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HARD
FOR THEM TO DO ON THEIR OWN.
HOLY [BLEEP]
WELL, I WAS COMING UP TO GO FIND BRUCE'S MISSING COWS,
AND LO AND BEHOLD -- CHRISTMAS MIRACLE --
HERE THEY COME ACROSS THE FLATS.
HOW YOU DOING?
I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD SHOW UP, ATZ.
WELL, MARK IS A LOCAL COWBOY.
HE'D HEARD A BELLOWING DOWN THERE,
AND THEY WERE HEADING UP TOWARDS HIS RANCH.
SO HE TURNED AROUND
AND CHASED THEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THANK A LOT FOR BRINGING THEM THIS FAR,
AND I'LL TAKE THEM ON.
YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM ON YOUR OWN,
NO, I'LL TAKE THEM.
SO, HE HAD HEARD THE CATTLE AND GONE OUT OF HIS WAY...
OKAY. THANK YOU, DUDE.
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN.
...IN A HELPFUL, NEIGHBORLY KIND OF WAY,
TO BRING THEM DOWN.
OKAY.
JUST THE WAY IT IS UP HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY,
ESPECIALLY AROUND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
PEOPLE DO THINGS TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT,
AND WE'RE TALKING NEIGHBORS THAT ARE 20, 30 MILES APART
HELPING EACH OTHER OUT HERE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I JUST GOT TO TAKE THEM ON ACROSS THE FLATS
DOWN TO THE CORRAL, AND THEN, THEY'LL BE THERE FOR TONIGHT,
AND THEN TOMORROW'S ANOTHER DAY.
IT GOT ICIER AND ICIER,
AND THE COWS WERE HAVING MORE AND MORE TROUBLE.
AND THERE WAS A REALLY GREAT COW IN THE LEAD, PICKING HER WAY,
TRYING TO FIND A LITTLE PIECE OF THE MUD TO STAND ON.
BUT THE CALVES ESPECIALLY WERE JUST SLIPPING, SLIDING, FALLING.
IT'S HARD FOR HORSES AND COWS BOTH.
HORSES ACTUALLY, IN MY OPINION, DO MANAGE BETTER.
THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, CUPPED HOOF,
AND THEY CAN LEARN TO WALK ON ICE PRETTY GOOD.
COWS, WITH THE SPLIT HOOVES,
THEY'RE JUST NOT AS ADEPT ON THE ICE,
ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER ONES, THE LESS-EXPERIENCED ONES.
AND LEGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN.
THROW A HIP OUT OF JOINT WHEN A COW GOES DOWN
AND DOES A SPLIT, SO IT CAN GET PRETTY ROUGH.
COME ON! HYUP! HYUP! HYUP!
Narrator: THE SLOW-MOVING CATTLE TAKE SIX HOURS IN THE BITTER COLD
TO MAKE IT THE LAST FIVE MILES TO HIS FRIEND'S CORRAL.
Atz: YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BREAK A LEG,
SO YOU JUST GOT TO GO REAL SLOW AND LET THEM PICK THEIR OWN WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MOVING MAYBE TWO MILES AN HOUR,
SO IT MIGHT BE A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE I GET TO THE CORRAL.
BUT YOU JUST GOT TO TAKE IT SLOW.
FINALLY GOT TO THE CORRAL JUST ABOUT DARK
AND FIGURED THAT'S WHERE THEY'D SIT OVERNIGHT.
I THANK YOU MUCH.
YES, SIR.
AND WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.
THANK YOU, BONNIE.
OKAY, GUYS, DON'T STEP ON...
PEOPLE NEED EACH OTHER, AND AT TIMES LIKE CHRISTMAS,
THAT'S JUST A PERFECT TIME TO SHOW THAT NEED
AND RECIPROCATE AND HELP PEOPLE OUT.
WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: COMING UP, CHRISTMAS ON THE HOMESTEAD
REACHES NEW HEIGHTS.
Eve: WHOA.
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S CRAZY!
Otto: HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS, HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS.
HO, HO, HO!
Charlotte: SO, FINDLAY, HERE'S THE QUESTION --
DID OTTO FIND A DEAD MAN ON THE BEACH BY THE TEAHOUSE?
I WAS TELLING CHARLOTTE THAT I'D FOUND A DEAD MAN
ON THAT BEACH WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
SHE'S LIKE, "NO WAY."
WELL, HERE'S THE STORY.
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
IT WAS A REAL COLD AND DIFFICULT WINTER,
AND WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF ANY FIREWOOD.
AND THEN THERE WAS THIS HUGE WESTERLY STORM.
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
AND IT BROUGHT IN, LIKE, A TWO-FOOT THICK OF BARK
ALL UP AND DOWN THE BEACH.
AND AT THAT SAME TIME, THE KIDS AND OTTO SAW
WHAT LOOKED LIKE A BODY FLOATING BY.
IT TURNED OUT THAT THE BODY WAS A BLACK-BEAR CARCASS,
BUT THEY FOUND A SKULL -- A HUMAN SKULL --
ON THE SAME BEACH, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED TO BE HUMAN.
EW, CREEPY.
Otto: AH, YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, DID YOU?
Shane: CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY.
IT'S HARDEST WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR FAMILY AROUND,
BUT FOR EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, SO, I THINK THAT'S --
CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT FAMILY.
YEAH, THEY'RE LITTLE LIGHTS TO LIGHT ON THE TREE.
SO, WE PUT THE TINFOIL AROUND THEM
'CAUSE WE WERE AFRAID IF IT WAS WINDY,
THEY WOULD JUST BLOW OUT IF ALL WE DID IS
HANG THE LIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE CANDLE ON THE TREE.
SO, THERE THEY ARE.
Eivin: HOMESTEADING IS KIND OF A SOLITARY LIFESTYLE,
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS YOUR HOMESTEAD GROWS,
YOU'VE GOT MORE FAMILY AROUND,
AND IT REALLY BECOMES HELPING PEOPLE OUT.
AND CHRISTMAS IS A GREAT TIME OF YEAR
WHEN EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN.
OUR DAYS ARE SO SHORT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING SO MUCH OUTSIDE,
AND IT'S SO COLD THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO MUCH OUTSIDE.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST A GOOD OPPORTUNITY
TO KIND OF SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY.
CAN WE USE THE EXCAVATOR AND GET ONES WY UP HIGH?
YEAH.
DO YOU WANT TO BRING THE EXCAVATOR DOWN
SO SOMEBODY COULD GO UP ON IT AND HANG SOME STUFF UP HIGHER?
YEAH. IT'S TIME. LET'S DO IT.
Jane: WELL, ON THE HOMESTEAD,
WE'RE NOT REALLY BUYING EACH OTHER GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS.
IT'S MORE LIKE BARTERING OR TRADING OR HELPING --
MOSTLY HELPING.
Atz Lee: IT'S ALL OF US --
EACH INDIVIDUAL FAMILY KIND OF HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.
AND I THINK CHRISTMAS KIND OF REPRESENTS THAT
AND REFLECTS THAT WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER
AND JUST REALLY MAKES US REALIZE, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT JUST ME, JANE, AND MY TWO KIDS.
IT'S A BIGGER TEAM.
IT'S OTTO'S FAMILY. IT'S ATZ'S FAMILY.
IT'S ALL OF US BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER
AND ACCOMPLISH TASKS
THAT NONE OF US COULD DO ON OUR OWN.
I NEED ORNAMENTS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM TO YOU ONE BY ONE.
I LIKE THAT.
Woman: HOLY [BLEEP]
Shane: IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR AN EARTHQUAKE SIMULATION.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HERE'S A WHOLE DAMN BAGFUL, SON.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCING BUCKET DROOP?
ARE YOU TALKING [CHUCKLES] TO ME OR THE EXCAVATOR?
THE EXCAVATOR.
OH.
I GOT A LITTLE BUCKET DROOP, MYSELF.
OH, MY GOD.
HEY, HE'S GOT TO WEAR THIS HAT.
YEAH.
Jane: UH, SIR.
[ British accent ] HELLO? YES, SIR?
OH. ATTENTION.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S FOR YOU TO WEAR.
OH!
COME ON.
[ IMITATES GROAN ]
ATZ LEE, YOU SCROOGE, PUT IT ON!
UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU WON'T BURST INTO FLAME.
HO, HO, HO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DO YOU WANT TO START DOING LIGHTS?
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA START ON THAT.
Atz: I GREW UP WITH A BIG PAIR OF MOOSE ANTLERS
OVER A CABIN DOOR,
AND WHAT BETTER THING TO PUT ON THE TOP OF THAT TREE?
'CAUSE SOMETHING SPECIAL SHOULD GO ON THE TOP OF THE TREE.
[ JANE CHUCKLES ]
HEY HEADS UP, UNDERNEATH.
I DON'T WANT TO DROP A RACK ON SOMEBODY IN CASE IT DOES.
OKAY.
IF THIS THING GOES, IT'S GONNA GO.
IF IT GOES, HE'S GONNA THROW IT.
YEAH.
Charlotte: OH, MY GOD!
EIVIN, YOU LOOK LIKE AN ANIMAL.
Atz: IT'S LIKE A BIG STAR. IT'S LIKE A BIG STATEMENT.
THOSE BIG ANTLERS REALLY REPRESENT
THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND A GREAT YEAR.
PLUS, IT'S A REAL WORK OF ART -- A PAIR OF ANTLERS.
OH, THAT'S JUST GONNA BE REAL NICE.
Jane: YEAH, THAT LOOKS GOOD.
♪ AND ANTLERS IN A BIG, SPRUCE TREE ♪
I THINK THAT'S IT.
EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT?
Charlotte: YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
WAIT TO GO, ATZ LEE. THAT LOOKS GOOD.
Atz: DECORATING THE TREE WAS A BIG TOGETHER THING,
AND I'M THERE WATCHING MY ADULT SONS
HELPING DECORATE THE TREE,
WATCHING ATZ UP THERE PUTTING THE ANTLERS,
WATCHING SHANE HANG STUFF FROM THE TREE.
YOU REMEMBER THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
GOOD JOB, ATZ LEE.
Charlotte: NICE!
HEY.
AH, WELL DONE, GENTLEMEN.
AND LADIES!
GOOD WORK, ATZ LEE!
WELCOME BACK TO EARTH.
Otto: CHRISTMAS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER
AND CONNECT WITH FAMILY IN A SPECIAL WAY.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, SWEETHEART.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
AND THIS YEAR, IT'S GONNA BE EVEN BETTER YET
'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE, LIKE, A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK,
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIKE, "WOW!"
I CAN DO THAT.
WELL, GOOD JOB, GUYS.
GOOD JOB, YOURSELF, MAN.
YEAH, ATZ LEE, GOOD JOB.
Otto: NICE DECORATIONS, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE THERE.
YEAH, WHAT ABOUT THE STICK?
AGH!
OH, MY GOD.
Jane: OH, WAY OFF.
OH, NICE! SO CLOSE.
[ ALL CHEER ]
EIVIN!
THANKS, EIVIN!
DON'T YOU KNOW I'M THE SNOWBALL MASTER AROUND HERE?