04x06 - A Fin Romance/Follow That Hat

[bunniefuu]

Hey, everyone-- it's me, Molly!

♪ Molly of Denali

Let's go!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

[laughing]: Whooo!

♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪

♪ She is ready to explore

♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪

♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪

Yeah!

♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪

♪ Always by her side And Trini!

♪ Discovering the outdoors

♪ On adventures day and night

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ Through fields of fireweed

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ From tundra to the sea

Mahsi'choo-- let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

Yeah!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

♪ Come on ♪ Let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

♪ She's Molly of Denali

MOLLY: "A Fin Romance"

MOLLY: Woo-hoo!

I can't believe we get to count belugas again!

Quyanafor letting us come, Professor Locklear.

All part of my sneaky plan to create new whale lovers!

[Suki barks]

[gasps] I see some! Down there!

[excited squeal] And there's a baby!

LOCKLEAR: You must be our baby beluga

good luck charm, Molly.

[plane motor roars]

They're easier to see from up here.

That's why we do most counting from the air these days.

Getting an accurate count

helps us make sure

the beluga are thriving. [equipment pings]

Huh? W-what's that person doing in the water?

♪

LOCKLEAR: Surfing!

Cook Inlet is famous for its bore tides.

Wha...?

If they're so boring, why are they famous?

[laughs] It's not that kind of bore.

A bore tide is a rush of seawater

that makes a wave as it moves water

from a bay into an inlet.

We've always called Cook Inlet Tikahtnu-- Big Water River.

You can surf on a bore tide for miles!

TOOEY AND MOLLY: Wow!

I'll bring some surfboards over if you want lessons.

Uh-huh! Yes, please!

LAYLA: Uh, no surfing today.

Storm's coming.

[groans]

LOCKLEAR: Tomorrow it is, then.

Hm.

I wonder if the baby beluga is afraid of the storm.

I'm sure the baby's mother is there with it

making it feel safe.

Now, let's get some sleep.

[birds chirping]

LAYLA: Molly! Tooey! Wake up!

♪

You have to see this!

[Suki barking]

Suki made a new friend!

MOLLY AND TOOEY: Wow!

[whale chirps, Suki barks]

Aw! That is adorable!

[phone chimes]

MOLLY: Suki is friends with a beluga.

[splashing]

♪

[laughs] Hang ten, surfer dog!

[sniffs]

[camera clicks]

ALL: Aww!

So cute!

I want to rub noses with a beluga.

Same here.

But they're protected.

People aren't supposed to get anywhere near them.

Huh.

That's weird.

What?

Where's the baby's mother?

And the rest of the pod?

Mom?

Do you think they got lost from each other in that big storm?

Who's ready to hang ten?

Uh, what happened?

The mother being separated from the baby is a real problem.

Baby belugas can't survive on their own.

If the mother is close enough,

she can find the baby using her sonar.

Sonar?

Like submarines have?

Similar.

Remember we talked before about how belugas find food?

Uh-huh.

They make clicks to bounce sounds off of things.

LOCKLEAR: That's right!

[whales clicking and chirping]

Belugas also make certain clicks and chirps

to tell their family and pod who they are.

So belugas have names?

Uh, we call them acoustic nametags.

But yes, if the mother is close enough,

she can chirp out her name...

And the baby can chirp back.

And they can find each other!

But if she's too far away...

They can't hear each other.

[sighs]

Is there a way to tell how far apart they are?

I know a way!

♪

[plane motor roars]

♪

Look! There's the pod!

LOCKLEAR: See the river flowing into the inlet?

Salmon swim up those rivers this time of year to lay their eggs.

The belugas are probably feeding on the salmon.

Are the mom and baby close enough to find each other?

[sonar beeping]

LAYLA: They're about miles apart.

Oh, I'm afraid not. I need to make some calls.

♪

We have permission to help, but no boat.

The motor would interfere with the belugas' sonar.

Maybe we can get

two helicopters and a giant tub,

like the size of a dumpster,

with ropes.

Lower the tub in the water,

scoop up the baby,

and deliver him to his mother.

Mmm, what if the baby jumps out?

Okay.

We get a bunch of firehoses

and turn 'em all on at the same time

to make one giant wave and whoosh the baby to its mother!

[Suki barks]

[splashing] ♪

[gasps] Tooey! You're a genius!

I am? Are you looking up where to find firehoses?

We don't need hoses.

The bore tide will make a wave for us.

Mom and Professor Locklear said

it can take you miles up Tikahtnu.

But they didn't say how many miles.

Yes!

Mom! Professor Locklear!

I need to learn to surf fast!

I would love to teach you to surf,

but right now we need to focus on saving the baby beluga.

I know!

Remember you said you can surf the bore tide

for miles up Tikahtnu?

And Mom, you said the baby's mom is miles away.

So I looked it up and this link says,

"The Cook Inlet bore tide

can sometimes carry surfers as far as miles up the inlet."

That would get us to the mom!

Yes, but how does our surfing get the baby closer to the mom?

Because...

the baby loves following Suki.

[whale chirps]

And Suki loves following me.

So if I surf up the inlet, and Suki is with me...

The baby might follow Suki to its mom!

♪

Molly! Wait!

The next bore tide is in minutes.

Well, that is not enough time for you to learn how to surf.

Especially not on a bore tide.

It's just too dangerous, honey.

But the baby needs his mom.

Well, if we had paddleboards, I'd feel better.

You've had a lot of experience on those.

Uh, did you say paddleboards?

Because I have some of those too.

LAYLA: Hello down there!

[Suki barks]

Bore tide is on its way,

and the pod is up ahead. See you at the channel!

Roger-- are you sure you're okay with Molly doing this?

LAYLA [over radio]: She's a paddleboard pro. She's got this.

Here we go-- fingers crossed the baby follows us.

♪

Oh wow.

Call the baby, Suki!

[barks]

[chirps]

[chirps]

Whoo-hoo! [Suki barks]

Look, Professor Locklear!

The baby is riding the wave too!

Looking good down there!

TOOEY: They're going so fast!

[whale chirping, Molly giggles]

Let's go, baby beluga!

[sighs]

[radio beeping]

LAYLA [over radio]: Lots of sandbars up ahead.

Will the bore tide be enough to get the baby through?

As long as the baby goes down the middle.

♪

Aanaii,little baby!

Stay with us!

[chirps]

Aanaiito the middle!

[groans]

[barks]

[chirps]

[howls]

Yes, Suki! Good girl.

[laughs] We made it! How's our pod doing?

They're still there.

[sonar beeping] LAYLA: Only a few hundred

feet more.

Come on, bore tide!

Take them all the way!

Just a little further, baby!

The tide's slowing down.

The baby may be too tired

to swim the rest of the way without this wave.

Oh, please keep going, wave.

♪

[gasps] I see a beluga!

LOCKLEAR: Just a little bit further!

[chirps]

[whale clicks, chirps]

[chirps]

[chirps]

[chirps]

[gasps] It's the mom!

They found each other! They found each other!

[laughs] Thanks to you and Suki!

[barks]

Whoo-hoo![laughs] Yes!

MOLLY: Whoo-hoo! Yes! [laughter]

Hey, everyone!

Molly here to answer

your questions about life in Alaska.

Robert in New Mexico asks,

"Where can you go to see whales in Alaska?"

Let's find out.

ALL: Hi, Molly.

GIRL: Today we are on a mission to find a whale.

Our friend told us about a place

where you can sometimes see a beluga whale.

She said that that spot was along Seward Highway.

It was on a beach, and it was called Beluga Point.

I think we're gonna need

a bit more information to find this place.

I'm typing in "Beluga Point" on Google.

If we could find a picture of it on the internet,

we would know what it, it would look like if we passed it.

GIRL : This is what Beluga Point looks like.

GIRL : Guys, I'm gonna look up a map

so we know how to get there.

Print it.

GIRL : We're circling where Beluga Point is.

We're gonna take this with us so we know where to go.

Guys, look to the beach,

'cause that's what side Beluga Point is on.

BOY:Wait.

Here's the rocks.

Is this the beach?

There is, like, little rocks, and I think it's Beluga Point.

♪

GIRL : I saw the sign of Beluga Point.

GIRL : Ah!

WOMAN: Beluga Point

is on Dena'ina land.

We're Dena'ina Athabascan.

♪

GIRL : Beluga is very important to some of our people.

They would hunt for beluga in springtime for food.

♪

Beluga! GIRL : I see it!

GIRL :Out of the water, it just looks like a white blob.

GIRL : Yeah, I see him.

GIRL : We knew Beluga Point was along Seward Highway,

but we didn't know where.

So we combined all the facts we knew

with the photos and the maps online

to figure out where Beluga Point was.

It was fun and important to explore Dena'ina Elnen.

Elnenmeans land.

ALL: Chin'an,Molly!

Mahsi'choo.

Thanks for asking, and see you next time.

MOLLY: "Follow That Hat"

MOLLY: I'm so excited, Shchada'a!

A whole day of fishing, just you and me!

It's a beautiful day for it-- schroonchyaa.

[Molly sighs]

Whew. I hope the fish are biting today.

Oh, we'll catch some fish all right, don't worry.

I made sure to wear my lucky fishing hat.

Whenever I wear my hat, I always catch a lot of fish.

We might catch too many fish.

[chuckles] Well, remember, you never know

what you're gonna bring in from the water.

We'll see how the day goes.

Now, let's see if I can figure out

how this fancy new fishing rod works.

Hm.

You've been fishing lots of times, Shchada'a.

You don't know how it works?

[chuckles] I don't know how this fishing rod works.

It's a brand new one from your dad.

But it's not like any fishing rod I've ever used.

This reel has so many buttons,

you'd think it'd not only catch the fish,

but take it home and cook it for you too.

Well, as long as it doesn't eat the fish.

[laughing]

Let's check the directions-- here,

I'll read and you cast.

You should be the first one to try out the rod

since you're the one with the lucky hat.

[giggles] Okay! Let's fish!

[clears throat]

"How to do a perfect cast.

Press the red button with your thumb."

MOLLY: Red button.

GRANDPA NAT: Then "Squeeze the blue button with your finger and hold."

MOLLY: Blue button.

GRANDPA NAT: "Pull back, then flick the rod forward and release."

[grunts, lure thuds]

Oh. Well, that didn't work.

Here, I'll give it a try. Stand back.

[chuckles]

Uh, how does it go again?

Press the red button with my thumb?

Uh-huh.

Then "Squeeze the blue button with your finger and hold.

"Pull back, then flick the rod forward and release."

[grunts, gasps]

MOLLY: Oh no!

My lucky fishing hat!

[panting] It's floating away!

Oh Molly, I'm so sorry!

♪

And it's gone.

[sighs]

Hm, come on, Shgguya. Let's go get that hat back.

Are you sure, Shchada'a?

We have to get it back. It's lucky, right?

Uh-huh!

[giggles] Then let's go!

♪

Keep an eye out, Molly, it can't have gotten too far.

[panting]

Look! Over there!

[frog ribbiting]

Mr. Neeghaii! Can you help us get that hat?

[frog ribbits]

Maybe we can use that fishing rod to hook the hat.

Oh, great idea! Let's try it.

Read me the directions again.

Maybe we're doing something wrong.

Hm, "Press the red button with your thumb."

GRANDPA NAT: Red button.

MOLLY: Then "Squeeze the blue button with your finger and hold."

GRANDPA NAT: Blue button.

MOLLY: "Pull back, then flick the rod forward and release!"

Ah...

[grunts with effort] [branch snaps]

[gasps] Ah!

GRANDPA NAT: Oh no!

[frog ribbits]

Oh...

[groans]

Uh, follow that hat!

[birds chirping]

[Grandpa Nat panting]

Oh! It's floating out into the lake!

Now what do we do?

Um...Hmm.

[Mr. Patak humming]

Oh! It's Mr. Patak!

And he has a beedoye!

[hums] MOLLY: Mr. Patak!

Mr. Patak! Oh!

Hello there, Molly, Nat-- is there something the matter?

We were wondering if we might be able to borrow your beedoye.

It's a hat emergency!

A hat emergency?

Here. Take my canoe.

Mahsi',Mr. Patak.

Do you see your hat anywhere?

Not yet. It floated pretty far out.

Well, let's keep paddling.

♪ [paddles splashing]

MOLLY: [gasps] Oh!

There! My hat! My hat!

[laughs] Paddle on this side so we can steer the canoe!

[both grunting, straining]

MOLLY: Almost there...

Almost there.

Let's see if we can get close enough

and you can grab it with your oar.

MOLLY: I'm so close.

I can feel myself getting luckier already!

♪

[bird screeches]

[gasps]

[Molly groans]

That wasn't very lucky.

That kiit'ranmust have been trying to catch a fish,

but instead it caught your hat!

[chuckles]

Let's see if we can follow it.

♪

Keep paddling! We can't let that hawk get away!

[hawk screeches]

Ooh! It dropped your hat!

Yes!

♪

No! No!

Ah, sure is high up there.

And too dangerous to climb those small branches.

[sighs] Any other ideas?

Hm.

[frog ribbits]

[ribbiting continues]

Oh! You had your chance to help us before, Mr. Neeghaii.

[both chuckle]

Uh, you want to try and use this reel again?

Hmm.

That rod and reel is so fancy and button-y.

There's gotta be something in the directions we're missing.

"Press the red button with your thumb."

Then "Squeeze the blue button with your finger and hold."

[gasps] I think I've got it!

Shchada'a, can I see the fishing rod?

Hmm.

The directions say to press the red button first.

Which we did every time.

But the directions don't say to let go of the red button

before we squeeze the blue one.

What if we tried holding the red button

while we squeeze the blue one?

Hoo-hoo, good catch, Molly!

That might just work. Want to give it a try?

Uh-huh! Let's go fishing.

[Grandpa Nat panting]

How's this distance feel, Molly?

Little farther.

Right there.

Okay, let's try this one more time.

GRANDPA NAT: "Press the red button with your thumb."

[exhales]

Pressing the red button.

[grunts]

But don't let go of the red button.

Not letting go of the red button.

GRANDPA NAT: Then "Squeeze the blue button with your finger and hold."

Let's do this, blue button.

[grunts]

[exhales]

GRANDPA NAT: "Pull back, then flick the rod forward and release!"

[grunts]

♪ [wind whistling]

[ribbits]

♪

[laughter]

Yeah! [squeals] I got it! I got it!

[laughs] You got it all right, Molly!

Now, reel her in!

♪ [reel winding]

[reel winding]

Ha ha! The catch of the day!

Hold it up so we can see it.

[laughs] Ta-da!

[camera clicks]

Welcome back, lucky hat.

[sighs]Hoo-ee.

When I saw my hat go into the water,

I was so sure that I'd never see it again.

Mahsi'choofor helping me get it back.

You're very welcome, Shgguya.

And mahsi'for helping me.

Now I know how to use this fancy rod and reel.

[both giggling]

Well, it's been quite a day.

I suppose it's time for us to pack it up and head for home.

But Shchada'a!

I just got my lucky fishing hat back!

We've gotta go catch some fish!

[chuckles] You got it.

[fishing rod casts out]

[laughs] A perfect cast!

Mahsi', Shchada'a.

Wait a minute-- we're still using Mr. Patak's beedoye!

We forgot to give it back!

Mr. Patak! We forgot to bring back your canoe!

[laughs] Keep it as long as you like!

Maybe now that you've caught your hat,

you can catch some fish!

[frog ribbits]

[giggles] Mahsi'choo!

[water splashing]

[gasps]

[reel winding]

[gasps]

[laughs] Look at that!

Ooh, it's a big one. [chuckles]

MOLLY [laughing]: See? Lucky.

♪

♪