 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Bill and the Rangers are heading for real danger this time, but this is a different kind of danger. The terror is small, so small it can't be seen with a naked eye. Yes, that's right, bacteria, minute in size, but deadly in effect. Then there are three monkeys in the story too, and as all monkeys will, they keep the ball rolling. What's the story about? I can't tell you that. Just listen to the story, The Monkey Chase. Let's drop over to the laboratory of Dr. Victor Powers, well-known bacteriologist who has made outstanding discoveries for the benefit of everybody's health. Dr. Powers is currently working on an improved vaccine for the treatment of influenza. Just now, Dr. Powers and his assistant Herb Longfield are talking things over in the lab. Well, Doctor, three monkeys are beginning to develop a first-class case of influenza. Yes, kind of hard on the little fellas, but that's what we want. Only be careful, Herbert. Don't worry, sir. I'll protect myself. I may know her to die from a flu germ. In another two days, we'll be able to test the new vaccine. See what's the reaction. Yes, they should have the flu in its advanced stages by that time. Be sure to have your mouth and nose covered. Mucous spray is extremely dangerous. Dr. Powers, I wish you'd stop lecturing me. You'd think I didn't know a thing about bacteriology the way you're talking. I just don't want you to make a fatal mistake, Herb. I'm sorry. I know you have my interested heart. Maybe I'm just hungry. Well, what do you say we have lunch? It's past noon. Good idea. I'll lock the door. All right, let's go. Yeah, I think it's fun, isn't it, Jody? Sure is, Mark. How long did your mom say you could be away? I have to be home before Pop gets there. We've got a couple of hours to then, and our bag's half full. Yeah. Hey, Mark, look at this old clock, would ya? Huh? Let's take it home and see what makes a tick. Give it a nice tick. I'll put it in the bag. Yeah. Hey, Mark, look. Monkeys. Monkeys? Where? Right over there, see? In the window. Hey, you're lying. Both are monkeys. What a place to see monkeys. Hey, let's go watch them. Okay. They sure act funny, don't they? Yeah. They don't seem to have much pet though. No. Hey, I know. Let's open the window so we can see them better. Not on your life. They'll get out. Oh, no, they won't, Mark. We'll just open it a little bit. Okay, Jody. I don't think we can get the window open. You must be locked. Push harder, Mark. Okay. Look, you get on one side, and I'll get on the other. Okay. Say when. Now. This window's tough. Yeah, you said it. Come on. Give it all you've got. Okay. One big push. Now. Oh, boy. Hey, Mark, that's too wide. They'll get out. Yeah. We're going to get it down somehow. Hey, look, they see the open window, Mark. They're coming closer. You keep them in. I'll try to get the window down. Okay, but hurry up. Oh, I can't watch this. Try harder. The monkeys are going to try to get out any minute. Get back here, you. I can't keep all three back at once. Hurry up, Mark. I'm trying, Johnny. I can't move there. Grab that one, Mark. He's trying to get out. I can't get in. He wants the others. I'm getting him, Johnny. He wants the others, Mark. They're getting out. Watch the window. I can't. Oh, there they go. Oh, boy. What are we going to do now? Oh, I'm going to do. I'm going to get out of here. Yeah, me too. Before we get arrested. So that you've had lunch, how do you feel? Great, Doc. That's just what I needed. Herb. Where are the monkeys? Dr. Powers, the monkeys are gone. What? That's impossible. How'd they get out? Through the window. It's open. They must have got an open somehow. Either that or someone else did. Do you rethink somebody took them? If they did, they took on a cargo of death. What are we going to do? We've got to find them. They'll start an epidemic. There's only one thing to do. Call the sheriff. Operator. Operator. Hello, Sheriff speaking. Well, yes, Doctor. What can I do for you? I can what? Great day. Well, how did that happen? Certainly. I'll be over on the double. And, Doctor, I'm going to bring Bill Jefferson along with me. Excellent. One thing more. Yes? Right. I'll be on my way as soon as I call Bill. Little do the citizens of Naughty Pine realize why three ranger cars weave quickly through the traffic. There's nothing unusual about that. It's happened often. Four squads of sheriff's police head for the lab on other streets. The cars pull up at the land. The sheriff sends some of his cars around in the alley. Bill has his boys park their cars far apart along the street. None of them seem to be in a hurry. Casually, they walk toward the lab. No sirens, no alarm. All his carefully plans are there'll be no panic among the citizens of Naughty Pine. Some of the men stay in the squads. Bill, Henry, Gray, Wolf, and Stumpy head for the lab. The sheriff and some of his men are already inside. Let's find out what they're going to do. Well, gentlemen, your opinion. How did those monkeys get out? Well, the window wasn't jimmy, Doctor, so it must have been unlocked to get it open. Who opened it? It's another question. What do you say, Bill? Well, I agree with Cal. Only I have an idea. Who may have done it? What? Well, go ahead, Bill. We're listening. Come over here and look out the window, Cal. Well, there isn't anything out there, Bill. Some of my men looked back at this place over. Well, they missed it then. They did? Well, here, let me see. There's nothing out here except an old gunny sack. That's right, Cal. Stumpy took a look inside the sack. Found an old clock, some discarded toys, and a broken pair of old binoculars. That's nothing but junk. Yeah, just plain junk. Stumpy's experienced eyes also picked up some small footprints in the dust under the window. You think the junk and the footprints make a clue, Bill? Yes. I think this is the work of boys. Boys about eight to twelve years old. Boys? Oh, you figure that, Bill. Well, that's as easy as falling off a log. What age boys go alley-picking to see what kind of junk they can take home to litter up the house? But how would they know? They can see through the window. Great day, I believe you're right, Bill. I wouldn't want to make a positive statement, but I think the boys would see the monkeys, get curious, and they may have opened the window to get a better look out. You and re-quitters took off like scared rabbits. Well, well, why didn't I think of that when I had the monkeys put in a room? I never dreamed. Of course our main problem is to find those animals and bring them back before they infect the entire town. Right. We could send a general alarm and have the whole town look for them. Well, I don't think that would be the best way, Carol. Who knows, the whole town might get panicky. Bill's right, Carol. The only way to do this is on the QT. Only we've got to find those animals and the boys, too, if they are the guilty parties. Okay. What do you think we ought to do, Bill? I'd like to have all our men here so they'll know what we're up against and what we're trying to do. It'll save time to tell them all at once. All right. Let's take five minutes and run the permit. Fine. Everybody be back here in five minutes. Attention! Can you have your attention, man? This is going to be short and to the point. Dr. Powers, will you give us the story of the dangers of infection and so forth? Gladly, Bill. Gentlemen, as a doctor, a specialist in bacteriology, I want to say this is a most serious situation. These monkeys have been infected with the most virulent influenza virus, and it kills people like flies once it gets loose. Don't get near the animals. If you see them, don't hesitate to shoot. And don't even touch them after they're dead. I must know all who have been exposed so I can treat them. I myself will take care of the proper disposal of the dead animals and the disinfection of the area. Those animals have to be found and found quickly. We must work with the utmost urgency and secrecy so that a panic will not be precipitated and knotty pine. Thank you, Dr. Powers. Any questions, men? I'm ready to go. All right, now here's the plan. We'll go out in groups of two. Sheriff and I... Mark, are you going home right away? Party's on, Jody. Do you think the police will find out who let the monkeys out? I don't know. I don't think anybody saw us. We didn't let them out on purpose. No. Are you going to tell your pop? I ain't breathing a word to no one. Not yet, anyhow. You scared? Yeah, me too. Let's go sit down by the chicken coop. I'm tired. Me too. Boy, I never ran so fast in my life. Jody, look by the chicken coop. One of the monkeys. Hey, maybe we can catch him. Then we can give him back, huh? Yeah. Let's watch what he does. Hey, Mark. Our chicken coop door's open. It hasn't been locked since Pop sold the hens. Do you think the monkey'd go inside? Well, I don't know. I hope so. Hey, don't let him see you. He might take off. How are we going to get him in the coop? Well, I don't know. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if he does. He's right in front of the door now. You think maybe if we wash him, he'd go inside? Yeah, it might work. Hey, let's try it. Not too fast. Ready? Yeah. Let's go. Don't yell at him. Keep running. He hasn't seen us yet. Let's spread out and wash him fast. Push him into the coop if you can. Good idea. Run. Quick, grab a door. One down and two more to go. Yeah. While the two boys are gloating over the capture of one of the disease-laden animals, the Rangers and the police carry on their search. Each man knows the importance of his mission. They're alert. Every tree, every bush, every porch. Every house top is scanned with x-ray carefulness. Branching out from the laboratory, each city area is searched while Bill, Cal, and Henry mark their maps. Henry, tell Jim to cut us in direct to the dispatcher station. Oh, sure, Bill. Well, Bill, we don't have too much of the city left to search. We're beginning to look like we're wasting our time. Don't give up the ship, Cal. His monkeys are small and they're hard to see. I guess you're right, Bill. We're not looking for gorillas. Oh, I've built a direct hookup to our cars. Thanks, pal. Let me have the mic. I'll mark the areas as the boys call in, Bill. Okay, Cal. There it goes. Calling all cars. Bill, calling all cars. Stand by for new orders as you call in. Over. Okay, Gray Wolf. You and Stumpy start searching the outskirts of town between Route 3 and Johnson Highway. Report again in 15 minutes. Over. Tom, as soon as you get through with sector 10, move over to sector 14. Boundaries are 7th and 10th streets north of East Boulevard. Over. Car 1 to all cars. Report in 15 minutes. Keep searching. Locked until we're blue on the face. Marry a sign of them critters yet. My radio report nobody see monkeys. How'd Bill expect us to catch those freaks of grease lightening? All we got is two feet. Those rascals have four hands and a tail. Not like having four hands and skyhook. I'd say those critters are halfway to Africa by now. All we can do is keep plucking. Yep. Too bad those fellas have the flu bug. We can let them go visit their relatives, Stumpy. You see them? Me not sure. Look where I point. I don't see a thing. We walk quite hard tree and watch. All right, sonny. Better get old Betsy ready just in case. You see anything old-timer? Nope. But I'm looking. Maybe I not see, but I think I see. Well, you've seen them. They're all right. I never knew you to see wrong before. What's top branches? You see right, sonny. There's two of them up in that there tree. And there's not a tree near by that they can jump onto. We got them treed, all right. You keep watch. I call Bill from car. Okay. Let me try to get off that tree. I'll bounce the rifle ball right off their pumpkin heads. This is Bill, Gray Wolf. Over. Good. Is there any danger if they're getting away? Good what, Gray Wolf? They try to get away, shoot them. We'll be there in a jiffy. Over. I'll let it count for two of them. I would better pick up Dr. Powers. Right. Let's go, Cal. Pick up the doc at the lab and head for 618 North Hill Road. Good work, Gray Wolf. We got over here as fast as we could. They over in big tree where a stumpy watch. Okay. Cal, you'd better call a couple of cars to keep the neighbors back. They don't want them closed when we shoot. Okay, Bill. I can see some movement in the tree, Tom, even from here, Bill. So can I. Hey, I can see them playing now. Hey, there's two of them all right. For sick monkeys, they jump around the fast. Hello, Stumpy. This is Dr. Powers. Howdy, doc. I guess you're too. Jumping jacks have come to the end of the trail. I'm afraid so, Stumpy. Can you see them, doctor? Yes. And you still agree they're to be destroyed? Absolutely. They're deadly contagious, Bill. All right, Stumpy. Shoot them when you're ready. Okay, sonny. Just two shots, old timer. Right. A minute, won't you? That's one. Good shooting, Stumpy. That relieves me some. That does it. All right, boys, let's go. Dr. Powers will finish up here. Where are we going now, Bill? There were three of these creatures. I'll find the third. What are your plans now, Bill? I don't know yet, Cal. Let's talk about it back at headquarters. Good. Henry, take us back to the office, will you? Well, sure. I'll see if you'll get in the car. I guess that would help, huh? Cal, Cal, wait a minute. Ah, reporter. They never miss. You got a story for me, Bill. Story? What do you mean? What I mean, what's going on? Why are your men calling the whole town inch by inch? Why won't Dr. Powers let anybody near the dead animals? Come on, fellas. There's some kind of a story here, and I'd like to get it. I'm sorry, Al, but I can't give you the story now. Why not, Bill? But I've always given you fellas a break. Yes, you have, Al. I appreciate it. Believe me, I'd like to give you the story, but now isn't the time. Well, how about you, Cal? I'm sorry, Al. No comments now for the sake of the public welfare. Say, Al, I'll make your promise. Okay, let's have it. You'll get the story first as soon as we can release it. I'll buy that, Bill. Thanks. I'll see you later. Let's go to the office, Henry. Ah, it's good to sit down for a while. Yeah. Bill, how do you think we're going to catch monkey number three? The only way I can think of is make another search of the city. Maybe spread out a couple of miles outside of Naughty Pine. Yeah, I guess that's the only way. Oh, boy, I'm tired. Not good. Okay. Ranger headquarters, Bill speaking. Yes, doctor. You think he got it from one of the monkeys? I sure am. Where's the boy live? Hey, that's only a couple of blocks and where two of the monkeys were found. Right. Get your hat, Cal. We've got a lead. Hello, Dr. Powers. My boy's pretty sick. But why all the rangers? You fell as a bodyguard or something? We can't answer that yet, Carl. May we come in? Oh, excuse me, doctor. Sure, come on in, gentlemen. I was so startled to see the rangers. I forgot what you'd come for. Come on, Jody's in the first bedroom. Well, we'll have a look at him. Here's Jody, doctor. Mm-hmm. We have a clean towel and some water. We'll find out if Jody has the flu and short order. Just relax, son. Well, has he got influenza, doctor? Yes, Carl, I'm afraid he has. Well, does that mean he's... Injection I give him will keep the infection down. Don't worry, it's not fatal. Well, thanks a lord for that. Jody? Yes? Have you any idea where you might have been exposed to influenza? I don't know. Who's the young fella I saw sitting in the living room? Oh, that's Mark. Mark, will you come in here, please? Well, doctor, why all the questions? He'll tell you in a minute, Carl. There's nothing to get worked up over if we can get the right answers. You call me Dr. Powers? Yes, he did, son. You don't look so frightened. We just wanted to ask some questions. Go ahead, Bill. Thanks, doctor. Jody? Mark? You know who I am, don't you? Ranger Bill. I've come to help you, not hurt you. Just answer the doctor's questions and everything will be all right. Just a minute, gentlemen. What's wrong here? What have the boys done? Or should I say, what do you think they've done? Well, you have the right to know, since your son may be involved. Forty-eight hours ago, three monkeys escaped to an open window and the doctor's been on for the monkeys. And that's the whole story, Carl. You mean the monkey's sick, Bill? What monkey, Jody? We've been talking about three monkeys, not one. I mean, you mean I could get sick like Jody, too? You most certainly can, Mark. Well, how about it, fellas? Have you got something to tell us? We didn't mean to let the monkeys out, Bill. Well, honestly, we didn't. We got the window open a little, and then it flew up, and we couldn't get it down again. We tried to stop one, and they all got out. They were too fast-forced. We tried to stop them. Then we got scared and ran home. We thought you might say we took the monkey. Whoa, now take it easy, boys. Are you going to arrest this Bill? Of course not, Jody. Anybody can make a mistake. We've got two of the monkeys already. All Dr. Powers wants is to find the third one. Isn't that right, Doc? Yes, Bill, that's right. We must find the third monkey so nobody else gets sick. Do you know where he is, son? Yeah. He's out in our chicken coop. We caught him right after he escaped. Thanks, Jody. That's all we wanted to know. Stumpy, hurry outside. You've got one more job to do. Right away, but... Why, smile on your face, Stumpy. The monkey was dead when I got out to the chicken coop. Well, why should that make you smile, old timer? You think I like shooting those harmless critters? It's all right, Stumpy. He was pretty sick. Well, it's all over now. I'll pay for the monkeys. Nonsense, Carl. You mean you're not mad at us, Doctor? No, son, I'm not. You boys told the truth. That makes up for losing the monkeys. The monkeys can't infect anyone else. That makes me happy. Now, Jody, I've got to give you a shot in the arm. Do you mind? No, Doctor. Not if it makes me well. Good boy. Well, fellas, this ends the monkey chase. Yep, it sure does, sonny. Whoever thought that two curious boys and three sick monkeys could turn this whole town upside down? That's right, Stumpy. It isn't always the big things that make the loudest noise. Boys and girls, you notice that Jody and Mark told the truth even though they knew the possible consequences. Always tell the truth. We'll see you next week for more adventure with... RANGER!