02x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

["One Step Closer" playing]

[Jane] "Ailuropoda melanoleuca."

[grunting]

[Jane] How's it going, David?

[David] Not good.

-Just remember, reach up then pull up.
-Yeah.

[grunts] I've got the reach up part.

[grunts] It's the pull up part
that's… [grunts] …hard.

[Greybeard chattering]

Show-off.

Hi, Greybeard.

Why are we climbing up trees again?

To find a giant panda!

[David] Aren't they usually on the ground?

Yeah, but they're also great climbers.

Even the baby cubs will climb
to get away from their predators.

Predators?

Yep. Like the snow leopard,
jackal and yellow-throated marten.

-I know a Martin.
-It's a type of weasel.

-Yep, sounds like Martin.
-[rustling]

[chattering]

Greybeard spotted something.

Please don't tell me it's a predator.

No it's a…

[gasps] …giant panda.

She's so beautiful.

Where? Where? I wanna see.

Where is she?

[groaning]

Whoa!

David, quiet, or you might scare her away.

Our job is to observe
and not get too close.

Wild animals should never
get comfortable around people.

[panda groaning]

It looks like she's looking for something.

[footsteps approaching]

Um, Jane?

This is our chance to figure out
why giant pandas

-have six fingers on their paws.
-Jane.

They're the only member
of the bear family with six--

Jane!

What is it, David?

[squealing]

A baby panda.

I think he's trying to get close to me.

Don't move.

If the mom sees you, she might think
you're a predator and defend her baby.

Is that a nice way of saying "attack me"?

He's definitely getting comfortable.

She's going the wrong way.

[groans]

He must be too far up the tree
for her to see him.

Baby pandas are supposed to stay
with their moms until they're three.

I'll try to get ahead of her
and bring her back.

-What am I supposed to do?
-[baby panda squeals]

I think I love him.

Just stay there.

And don't pet him.

We're just observing, David.

Hurry, Jane.
He's pulling his best cute moves.

[Jane] I've always wanted to do this!

Whoo-hoo! There she is!

[panda groaning]

Don't worry,
I'll get your baby back to you!

-[Maria] There you are.
-[screams, grunts]

-What are you doing?
-Well…

And why does Greybeard have my scarf?

It's a zip line.

We're trying to figure out why
Ailuropoda melanoleuca

has six fingers on their paws.

Ailuro-what?

It's the scientific name for giant panda.

And why do you need to
figure this out in my room?

Softer landing.

[radio static]

[David] Um, Jane?

Just a second, David.
I might be getting in trouble.

Definitely getting in trouble.

[sighs] I've got some trouble too.

[whimpers]

You can clean this up
after I pick you up later tonight.

Where are you going? Mom?

Andre's taking me out.

-On a date?
-Yes.

I told you I was going on a date

and you said you were going to China on,
I'm guessing, your panda adventure.

Ailuropoda melanoleuca research mission.

[sighs]

That one looked nice.

I don't know why I'm feeling so nervous.
[sighs]

Because you like him.

Yeah, I guess I do.

You look really pretty, Mom.

Thanks.

[cell phone buzzes, chimes]

[sighs] It's time. I'm late.

"Be right down." [sighs]

[sighs]

Too much?

-A little.
-[sighs]

[sniffs]

[baby panda squeals]

Don't get too close.

Don't get comfortable.

Just observe.

It'll be okay, baby.

-Jane will know what to do.
-[whimpering]

Are you copying me?

Copy this.

-[squeals]
-Baby!

Okay, try this.

[sighs]

[chuckles]

[Maria] David's dads offered to watch you,

and we're just going
to the restaurant down the street.

So if anything happens,
ask them to give me a call.

-Okay?
-Okay.

-But only for emergencies.
-Okay.

Real ones,

not like how to put a tracking device
on a panda or something like that.

That's not what we're doing.
It's way harder than that.

[Maria] So what are you two doing then?

We have to get a baby panda back
to his mom before he gets used to us.

Is getting used to people
that bad a thing?

People are one
of the panda's biggest threats.

When wild animals get used to people--

-It's never a good thing for the animal?
-Exactly.

[sighs] Why is this thing taking so long?

Mom, relax. It's going to be fine.

You're right. You're right. [chuckles]

[elevator dings]

-[exclaims, laughs]
-[laughs]

Uh, not quite
the reaction I was hoping for.

-[chuckles]
-[inhales sharply]

I-I thought I'd just come up
and escort you down.

No, I'm sorry. It's fine.

Uh, so good to see you here.

I mean, I know that you live here

and I live here,
but we don't live together. [chuckles]

[laughs]

-Hey, Andre.
-Hey, Jane. [chuckles]

These are for you.

Oh. I should have gotten you something.

[groaning]

[elevator dings]

They're beautiful. Thank you so much.

I remember you saying
how much you like traveling,

so I got you some flowers
that are a bit more exotic.

Is that bamboo?

It is. Good eye.

-That's a giant panda's favorite food.
-Ah.

Are you saving another animal today?

-Always.
-[Andre chuckles]

-[chuckles]
-[knocks]

Whoa.

-Someone's ready for their big date.
-Mmm.

-Who's the lucky guy?
-[chuckles] I guess I am.

[chuckles] I'm Andre.

And I am impressed.

By that bouquet of flowers.

-[chuckles]
-I'm Lucas.

Ah.

And I am King Kevin.

It's nice to meet you both.

Oh, we'll be back before Jane's bedtime.
Thanks again for watching her.

-Yeah, no problem.
-And take your time, Maria.

We're just having
a princess-themed movie night.

David is in his wing of the castle.

-His bedroom.
-[chuckles]

Bye, Mom. Bye, Andre.

-Yeah. Bye, Andre.
-[mouths] Stop it.

-Remember when we went on dates?
-[chuckles]

[Millie] Is the popcorn ready?

Coming, milady.

David?

I'm in here.

What are you doing?

Hiding. I think Rollie thinks I'm his mom.

[whimpering]

You named him?

I tried not to, but… [sighs] …look at him.

[squeals]

Rollie.

Because he loves to roll around.
I taught him how.

What do you mean?

He copies everything I do except
for hiding and jumping jacks,

but we're working on it.

That's how some baby animals learn,
by copying their parents.

Which is why we need
to get him back to his mom.

His real mom, David.

So he can learn to be a panda,
not a person.

Where did he go?

-Come back, Rollie!
-[breathes heavily]

[Dino Dana on TV] Definitely going
to get thrown off worse than Knight Riley.

-[Riley] In your dreams.
-[David] Rollie.

[Dad] Yes, well,
let's hope you get hurt more.

-[Dino Dana] Really?
-[David] Get back here.

-[Dana's dad] You fell on your face.
-[chuckles]

Other than that, seemed pretty similar.

-Rollie, no!
-[squeals]

What are you two doing?

Your server will be right with you.

-Thank you.
-Thanks.

Nice choice.

It's Jane's favorite.

-Oh, vegetarian--
-Vegetarian, yep.

[both laugh]

So, why does she like animals so much?

It's a long story.

I'd love to hear it.

Losing a baby panda.
That's what we're doing, Millie.

It's "panda-monium." [sighs]

-I think he's heading towards the park.
-We can't let him get used to us.

Then how do we help him
get back to his mom?

I'm not sure.
Wild animals need to stay wild,

otherwise, they might
think people want to help,

and not all people do.

So, what are we supposed to do? Nothing?

What if you didn't look like people?

She's right.

Sometimes animal caretakers
will dress like the babies' moms,

so they don't get attached
to them as people.

But how are we gonna look like pandas?

Dad and Pop's stuff?

Great idea, Millie.

Let the panda transformation begin.

Joust!

[growling]

Is it just the two of us watching this?

I was kind of getting into it.

-Can we borrow some clothes? And phone?
-And your pillows?

-And can we go to the park?
-And can I get some more popcorn?

So I come back into the living room,
and she'd woken up

and was watching the news,
which I'd left on.

She was, like, four. Maybe five.

And it was a story on animals and plants,
and how many of them are disappearing

-in the world.
-How many?

Something horrible, like a million species
are going to go extinct

-if we don't do anything.
-[sighs]

And so, I go over to her and she's crying.

-Aw, poor Jane.
-Yeah.

She said she just couldn't understand,
if we knew animals were disappearing,

why we wouldn't come together
and do something about it.

Well, so, what did you say to her?

What could I say?
I mean, how do you answer that?

What did you do?

I went online. [sighs]

I looked up people trying
to make a difference

like Greta Thunberg and David Suzuki and--

-Jane Goodall.
-Mm-hmm.

[laughs]

She especially loved
that they have the same first name.

I bet.

After that, she did anything she could
to help save animals.

Even if it meant occasionally
getting on my nerves to do it.

[both chuckle]

But she really does
want to save the world.

We need more people like Jane.

Both Janes.

[cell phone buzzes]

[sighs]

"Can we borrow your makeup?"

-Yeah, I-- [chuckles]
-[chuckles]

[cell phone buzzes]

She said yes.

What if she said no?

Huh.

See the mom or the baby panda, Greybeard?

[chatters]

[chatters]

-Want me to help do yours?
-Sure.

So, what's the plan?

Dress like pandas.

Find baby. Bring baby back to mom.

Figure out why mom has six fingers.

I wish I had six fingers.
It would make this go a lot faster.

[Greybeard screeching]

-[Jane] She's here.
-[panda groans]

What do we do?

I'll find Rollie while you and Greybeard
figure out how to bring the mom to me.

I wanted to find Rollie. He could be
in all kinds of adorable trouble.

Okay, fine. You find Rollie,
and Greybeard and I can--

Good plan.

I'll walkie you when I find him.

-Do you wanna help me finish my makeup?
-[chattering]

[David] Rollie?

Rollie?

Rollie, where are you?

You haven't seen a cute baby panda
around here, have you?

Other than me.

[Jane] Any sign of him?

-Nothing yet. You?
-No.

Let me know when you find him.

-Baby pandas need their moms to survive.
-[David] Poor Rollie.

If I was a scared baby panda,
where would I be?

I'd climb up something!

Not in the tree. What about…

-[Rollie whimpers]
-I know that fluffy bum.

-Let's split up. Hoot if you see anything.
-[chatters]

[huffing, groans]

Anything, Greybeard?

[chatters]

[cackling]

What is it, Greybeard? Did you find her?

[cackling continues]

She's behind me, isn't she?

I hope these costumes work.

[panda groaning]

-[David] Oh, Rollie. It's okay.
-[whimpering]

A very smart kid named David told me,
a panda, to find you.

-[squeaking]
-Look who's a happy panda now.

Jane, good news. I found him.
Any luck with the mom?

-Yeah. She found me…
-[panda snoring]

…and she's not letting me go.

I think she thinks I'm her baby.

[David] Great.
Maybe she'll follow you here.

I don't think she wants to go anywhere.
She's sleeping.

[grunts]

And now I know
why they call it a bear hug. [grunts]

[squeaking]

-I think Rollie's getting hungry.
-[Jane] Food!

-I could use food to lure her to you.
-Good idea.

What do pandas eat?

Mostly bamboo.

Where you gonna find bamboo?

I know just the place.

Greybeard,
I need you to swap places with me.

[chattering]

Greybeard.

You know,
I read about Jane Goodall in college.

I'm trying to remember her quote
which got to me.

Something her mom said to her.

"If you really want something,
you're gonna have to work hard.

You'll have to take advantage
of every opportunity.

-But don't give up."
-Mmm.

Jane recites that one too.

She would love talking to you.

I hope her mom does too.

[screams, gasps]

Mom, I need some of your flowers!

-[sighs]
-Just the bamboo parts.

[both laugh]

Greybeard, I got the bamboo.

[Greybeard snoring]

Greybeard, wake up. We've got to go.

-[blows raspberry, vocalizing]
-[squeaks]

Panda-sitting is harder than I thought.

Don't worry, Rollie.
Your mom's gonna be here soon.

[panda groaning]

[David] There she is. Follow me, Rollie.

[Rollie squealing]

[David gasps] It's working, Jane.

Aw. They couldn't bear to be apart.

-See what I did there?
-[Greybeard chattering]

Yeah, we both did.

[Rollie squeaking]

[Jane] David, look.

Yeah, bamboo doesn't look that tasty.

[sighs] No.

She's using her sixth finger to help hold
and peel the bamboo so she can eat it.

Kind of like a thumb?

That must be the reason
they're the only bear with six fingers.

Because they're the only bear
that eats bamboo?

Exactly. And a lot of it.

[David] And now she's showing her baby
how to do it.

Baby pandas really do need
their moms, huh?

And the occasional help from nice people.

But only from a distance.

Right.

I'm gonna miss Rollie.

Can we interfere just a little bit longer?

We can always visit and watch him
from places like this,

but it's important that--

I know, I know.

They need to stay wild. [sighs]

Bye, Rollie. I love you.

[Rollie squeaking]

We're not done observing yet.

-What do you mean?
-There's still so much to learn,

like why they're black and white.
What else do they eat?

-How long do their babies--
-But they left.

-And we're going to follow.
-What, how?

Just because we can only watch them
doesn't mean we can't have fun doing it.

-Ready?
-Absolutely.

For what?

[chattering]

[Greybeard shrieks]

[David] Whoo-hoo! Yeah!

[Jane] Whoo!

-[Jane] Help save the pandas.
-[Greybeard chatters]

[Jane] David?

-Hi, Jane.
-Why are you still dressed like a panda?

-I just miss Rollie so much.
-Me too.

But are you sure you don't wanna change
before our call with Dr. Binbin Li?

She researches giant pandas.
I think she'll like it.

Hi, Jane.

Hi, David.

-[both] Hi, Binbin.
-Why are you a panda, David?

We dressed up like giant pandas
to help a baby panda get back to his mom.

I named him Rollie.

We were careful
to not let him get too used to us.

Good thinking.
You make an excellent panda.

I know. Thank you.

Have you ever had to dress up
like a panda, Binbin?

Yes. Take a look.

-[Jane chuckles] Awesome panda onesie.
-[David] Looks comfy.

You probably never wanted
to take it off. Right?

Actually, these panda costumes are sprayed
with panda pee,

so I take it off right away
once my research is complete.

-Ew.
-Why are they sprayed with pee?

[Li] It's important for us not only dress
like a panda, but also smell like a panda,

because pandas have
a great sense of smell.

When they're released into the wild,
they don't get used to humans

and can survive on their own.

Those mountains look amazing behind you.
Where are you, Binbin?

This is a panda reserve,

one of the protected areas
where wild pandas live.

Why do they need a protected area?

The major threat
for giant pandas is habitat loss.

They were disappearing and listed
as an endangered species for a long time.

So, the solution is
to create protected areas

to protect their home
and increase their numbers.

-And did it help?
-Yes. Here, take a look.

After 60 years,

all the conservation efforts and programs
that helped pandas to have more babies.

Now their numbers are increasing.

So, instead of an endangered species,
they are listed as a vulnerable species.

So, does that mean giant pandas
don't need our help anymore?

Vulnerable still means
they're being threatened,

so it's very important for us
to continue our efforts to protect them.

How do you keep track
of how many pandas are there?

Is someone counting them?
'Cause it was hard for us to find any.

Good question. China is the only place
where giant pandas live in the wild.

And takes 2,300 people
over four years to count them.

Have you ever seen a giant panda
in the wild?

Yes. And I have a photo of that panda too.

It was the first but also the last time,

because it's so rare
to spot them in the wild.

But it was that sighting pushing me

into the direction
of wildlife conservation work.

-So did you always love pandas?
-Yes, and other wildlife species as well.

Giant panda is an umbrella species,
which means by protecting their home,

we also protect other species
who share the same home.

What other animals live in China
with the giant pandas?

Let me show you.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys.
Golden pheasants.

Giant salamanders,

one of the largest amphibians
in the world.

So, by helping giant pandas,
you're helping other animals too.

-Yes.
-What can we do to protect them?

So, you can start to share

what you have learned about pandas
and their environment

and that everything we buy
uses natural resources.

When we buy something new,

it uses natural resources
from the environment.

And this will not only impact
giant pandas' home,

but also other species as well.

So, I challenge everyone to go a year
without buying any new clothes

if you don't have to.

-Easy. I love re-using the same clothes.
-Super!

-Nice talking to you. Bye.
-Bye, Binbin.

Bye, Binbin. Thank you.

Hey, Jane. Maybe I could stay
in this panda outfit for a year.

It is cute.

But what if our next animal
is a snow leopard,

jackal or a yellow-throated marten?

-Don't they eat pandas?
-Exactly.

I think I'll take it off then.

Good night, Jane.

Good night, Rollie. Wherever you are.

Night, David.

[Maria] Jane, time for bed.

["One Step Closer" playing]