The Seal Man

R.T. Carr, Editor

Exploring the West

(Transcript of Television Program broadcast 1 year after discovery of Dusty Books' diary)

Announcer:
And now John Rawlings, featured in another episode of Exploring the West, the T.V. program that goes everywhere to find everything historical. John and his trusty cameraman Phil travel the West, just for you.

John Rawlings:
Hello again and welcome to 'Exploring the West'. We're on a skiff right now at low tide just off the Famous Cliff House in San Francisco. We're going out to Seal Rock, a spot of historical interest as well as ecological. And zoological. As you can see...Phil make sure to pan over and get a shot of the seals for the folks...there are permanent sunbathers on this little island, Seals and Sea Lions. Our guide today is Ranger Sharon Hom, you might remember her from the program we did a few months back on the caves of the Presidio. Well this is all a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as well. This rock has been out here a long time according to Sharon, who is as you might remember a bit camera shy. But she's a great guide!

(POV inside the skiff coming up to the Rock)

John Rawlings:
Well, we made it. And because it is low tide there was little peril, and I'm glad for Phil on this one, since he can hold the camera steady and not suffer from seasickness. Remember we're just off of Ocean Beach, which can get pretty wild, since that is the Pacific Ocean out there. So let's get out and poke about a bit. This is an area not visited by humans in ages, maybe centuries, and now it is a protected refuge site of the National Recreation Area. We have to watch out for the Sea Lions, just in case there is aggressive behavior. That why we brought Sharon along...for protection...she's an expert on animal behaviors, no kidding! So while Phil is setting up the next shot and we make sure we are safe, we're going to stop camera for a moment...and remember if this wasn't PBS you'd have a commercial here...and if this is a pledge break...gotcha!

(Camera comes up with a soft fade, well dollied on a tripod. It is pointing at the Cliff House, panning over to Rawlings. He looks over his shoulder nervously at the Ranger, who has obviously just been telling him something before the camera was turned on. She looks at it self consciously...and finally blurts out)

Ranger Sharon:
That Big fellow there is in a playful mood...we have to watch out for him...

(Camera pans over to a Very Fat Seal moving his head up and down and snorting...the rest on the rock might as well be dead; they are comatose at any rate.)

John Rawlings:
Well don't be bashful if he starts to get active, OK? By the way you accidentally spoke on Camera for the first time...do you want us to cut it out?

Ranger Sharon:
I did? (Obviously pleased)...No you're kidding me...it was easier than I thought...

(She sort of daydreams for a while...lost in her new experience...camera picks up the Big Sea Lion now lumbering toward all of them...There is some confusion. The camera jerks violently and we realize that Phil has jumped out of the way and lost his balance. Trooper that he is, he keep the camera rolling...Rawlings is frozen stiff, glued to the spot, his microphone shaking in his hands. Camera pans now to Ranger, who has placed herself between our TV crew and the Sea Lion)

Ranger Sharon:
What's with you, big fella...Want to play, huh?

(She playfully pushes him off in to the water as one might play with a big dog. From a fanny pack she pulls out a piece of dried squid and feeds it to the Sea Lion...We realize that this was not as bad a thing as it looked...and possibly it might have been a 'trick'.)

John Rawlings(recovering):
Now you know why Ranger Sharon is along! First trip she saves me from falling into a sinkhole in the caves, and now she saves both of us from that Big Monster!

(He spots something near Phil...points with a bit of wonder...)

(Camera pans down near where Phil fell...we see a small portion of Phil's leg...he is wearing shorts and hiking boots...focuses in on a rock that has been moved in the confusion...out of it is sticking an oilskin pouch...)

John Rawlings:
Phil...I think you've uncovered something...See that hollow space? It was under that rock you moved when we were almost attacked.

(Camera reveals what is described)

John Rawlings:
Well this is one for the books! We accidentally move one of the rocks and find a piece of history... maybe...I'm remembering what we found in a little cabin up near Virginia City...so I'm hopeful, since very few people ever make it out here, that this is a real find...I'm going to let Ranger Sharon retrieve this and we'll take it to the proper authorities and see what is inside. I think we've had enough excitement out here today.

We are going to film another segment over on shore at the site of the old Sutro Baths, just over there. This has been Ranger Sharon Hom, my Cameraman Phil and me, John Rawlings, for 'Exploring the West.'

(Camera fades as Rawlings hugs the Ranger, thankfully, and she reaches over and Shakes Phil's hand.)

(Fade to Black)