yellowstone is spinning back toward the sun. though officially, winter has just begun, its days are already numbered. the fox is trying to sleep in, but it's no use. the neighbors are celebrating the dawn. once he's up, he's bound to be hungry.

but there's no breakfast hiding under the snow. he sets off along the bank of the yellowstone river, just upstream of the mighty falls. in the shadow of the falls, a lone otter is finishing a fish.

[ calls ] it's the injured youngster, still nursing his foot. he calls, but no one answers. his family is nowhere in sight. another small figure has been watching. a coyote has a slim chance of actually taking an otter. his best hope is to scare one into dropping a fish. at this time of year, his finest meals come from someone else's table. no otter, no fish. the coyote must move on.

something in the distance catches his attention. wolves. in yellowstone, wolves are a coyote's worst enemy. but he's in luck. the wolves are hunting, and if they succeed, there will be a carcass, and a feast. from half a mile away, the coyote follows every move.

he needs the wolves to win this battle. but the bison mount a strong defense. all the coyote can do is watch and wait. a snowfall muffles the voices of trumpeter swans. [ calls ] this is the first winter for these cygnets. by next christmas, they'll be as white as the falling snow. [ calls ]

a stillness settles over everything. murphy: the reason i keep coming back in the winter -- it's an opportunity to come out and see this, this... country that's quiet. it's sort of like -- it's my church, it's my cathedral, it's what i like here. narrator: high up in her den, the grizzly is alone, but that's about to change.

deep in hibernation, her body is preparing for one more amazing feat. last summer, she mated. she entered her den as a mother-to-be. soon, she will give birth. a quiet darkness winds its way through the forests of yellowstone. and it's in this cold, winter darkness that the lights of christmas burn so bright. ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ ♪ comfort and joy ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪

♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ and a happy new year ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ we wish you a merry christmas ♪ ♪ and a happy new year [ cheers and applause ] narrator: inside the snow lodge, visitors share the magic of christmas eve. but this year, they've left their homes and much of the 21st century far behind. ♪ sleep in heavenly ♪ peace ♪ sleep in heavenly peace narrator: outside in the night,

yellowstone remains much as it was that first christmas some 2,000 years ago. christmas day sparkles in the cold. it shines on a once and forever wilderness, a miracle in the modern world.

the fox is up early this morning. a hawk has already been hunting. and freshly printed in the snow is the signature of a trumpeter swan. devoted visitors gather early in lamar valley.

they're hoping to see wolves on christmas day. i'm just really hooked on wolves. i think they're great-looking animals. when you are wolf-watching and you're not seeing any wolves, you're seeing bald eagles, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, coyotes, badgers, everybody else is here -- and you always get to see something. and if you're not even seeing animals, look how gorgeous it is, you know, just the scenery alone. here come the -- look, look, look. we got a dog! hold on, something's coming in. what is it, a coyote? no, it's -- unh-unh, no. it's a wolf! we got a wolf! we have a wolf. oh, my -- all righty! well, see? that's what it's all about! that, that moment. there he is, it's a black -- nice.

narrator: a young black wolf and her parents are attempting to cross soda butte creek, but winter presents challenges even for them. they are wise to be cautious. there'll be no river crossing today.

down along the yellowstone river, the otter family has come together. even the lame youngster is in their midst. it's a christmas reunion, and today, they have an appreciative audience. man: do they normally stay in families? man: quite often, we see three of them together in this stretch of river, and today's actually been

the first time this winter that i've seen four at one time. quite often, we see eagles somewhere around the otters, or coyotes somewhere around the otters. actually, right there! there's a bald eagle right in that tree. there's a bald eagle right there, look at that. [ laughing ] good spot. narrator: this is yellowstone's special gift -- to experience for ourselves the world that used to be, to enter the same fierce, wild place john colter did two hundred years ago, and still find it so alive. [ howling ]

[ wolf barking in distance ] murphy: anybody who's sat out on a hillside in the winter, when it's so still, and heard a wolf -- there's no price tag you can put on it. they'd empty their pockets to hear it again. [ wolf howling in distance ] murphy: yellowstone has given me a lot of gifts. and it's given the entire world a lot of gifts. it's done that for over 130 years. it's an example for what's possible, it's an example for what was.

and we can improve on some things, but we cannot improve on this. we can't improve on this at all. narrator: just outside the park, time picks up its usual pace. man: happy new year! narrator: down in jackson hole, christmas ends as it began, with the magic of lights dancing in the dark.

new year's eve welcomes in the future, a future in yellowstone, full of the promise of the past. two little grizzly bears have been born into the new year. only 4 pounds each, they're tiny next to their 400-pound mother. she is still in hibernation, but the cubs are busy playing. they're preparing for a world their ancestors ruled,

and that still belongs to them. in spring, when they are ready, yellowstone will be waiting. and, white and shining like a beacon, it will be waiting for us as well to celebrate the wilderness next christmas... and all the christmases to come.

the polar bear, built to survive the farthest reaches of the arctic. but pressing north, a fierce rival -- the grizzly. previously, these bears would rarely meet. but that is changing. the arctic is melting. is the grizzly bear poised to claim the arctic, or will the polar bear hang on? now you can watch "nature" online. go to pbs.org to screen complete episodes from this season and seasons past. visit "nature" online for production updates from the field. well, here we are on the alaska coast. go behind the scenes with our filmmakers. we also used a borescope lens, and that allowed us to put the lens right into a flower. and get connected with "nature's" online community. all at pbs.org.

"nature" is made possible in part by... leave it untouched inspby your presence.re.. capture its image and preserve it forever. canon -- living and working together to appreciate today and care for tomorrow. the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. plus $4.95 shipping. to order, call 1-800-336-1917.

to learn more about what you've seen on this "nature" program, visit pbs.org. available now from shoppbs... is time travel possible? do you exist in another universe? the questions are infinite. the answers start here.

"nova: the fabric of the cosmos." to order, visit shoppbs, or you could download on itunes. turn to pbs... for stories that define the american experience. it was wild and out of control the flash apparently official revealing our strengths... it shall be called the hoover dam our struggles. he said it is madness beyond measure putting you into history... and taking you to the moment. we have a liftoff these are our stories. it's felt experience our american experience. only on pbs.

[dramatic music] ♪ [metallic clicking] [growling]

[grunting] [rustling] [whining] [crackling] [snarling and growling]

[dog whining] thud! thud! thud! >> [screaming] [typewriter keys clacking] >> you may inform the secretary of the royal society that i have entitled

my michaelmas lecture "darwin's fundamental error." >> that'll raise a few hackles, sir. >> will it not. i must be off. you can acknowledge all of these. there's a good chap. thanks. >> father? >> my dear. >> did you hear how roy barked last night? it was dreadful. >> no, no i didn't. did you hear him, bennett? >> i can't say i did, sir. >> he kept on and on. he howled too. i'm sure someone got into the garden. >> an intruder? >> well, yes, because... oh, father, someone looked in at me, at my window. >> impossible. you must have been dreaming. oh, edith, nobody could reach your window. it's far too far off the ground. >> i am sure

i wasn't dreaming. >> bennett, you take charge, or i shall be late for the faculty meeting. i leave you in your fiance's care, my dear. if he proves as good a husband to you as he has amanuensis to me, you'll be a fortunate woman. allay her fears, bennett. i know you can. >> can you believe me? >> not easily, no. as your father said-- >> come and look. >> i'm awfully busy. i've got these notes on simicitaris to type and then the proof of your father's-- >> jack. i know i wasn't dreaming, and you know roy doesn't bark at nothing. i want you to see for yourself. you must. please. and then, after the barking woke me, i heard another sound from just below here. >> from below? >> there and there. do you see? the ivy's pulled away. i must have fainted. the next thing i knew, it was dawn.

>> you're quite quite certain you didn't dream this, edith? >> quite. jack, i insist you believe me. >> very well. >> and that you inform sherlock holmes of the facts. >> oh, darling. >> or i shall reconsider our engagement. >> but why? >> i could not give my hand to a man who doubts my word.

>> "watson, come at once if convenient. if inconvenient, come all the same." >> holmes? i got your note, and it is inconvenient. damned inconvenient. >> your old wound is troubling you. >> no. >> i prefer to differ. your step was uneven on the stairs. >> i have a full surgery, holmes. >> you must excuse a certain abstraction of mind, watson. >> i see. >> it's a tangled scheme. and we're looking for the loose

end which might unravel it. one such might reside in the question "does professor presbury's daughter wake or dream?" >> i'm summoned here for no more than this? >> you've heard of presbury? >> of course. who hasn't? he's our most distinguished natural scientist. >> he's a widower with one daughter. she insists someone appeared at her window last night. ms. presbury's bedroom is on the second floor and is completely inaccessible to even the most agile cat burglar. read this. it arrived by the 1:00 post. ah, the author already arrives ahead of his time. a most precipitate young man. mr. bennett, my friend and colleague, dr. watson. >> how do you do, mr. bennett? >> please sit down. >> uh, no, forgive me, i... mr. holmes, i fear i've made a grave error of judgment.

i should not have been in touch with you at all. i've wasted your time entirely. >> you've discovered a rational reason for ms. presbury's fears? >> no, no, i can't say that. well, it's, uh, it's a delicate matter, but i must beg you to proceed no further. i can, of course, recompense you. >> mr. bennett, your letter was less than frank, was it not? >> i set out the facts. >> not all, i suspect. probably out of loyalty to your fiancee, ms. presbury. >> you're aware of that? >> as i am of your employer's engagement to ms. alice morphy, the daughter of the famous comparative anatomist. she resides next door to the presburys, does she not? >> how do you know of the engagement? >> the times, july the 1st, september the 5th, respectively. >> mr. holmes' memory is of a photographical order. >> quite so. oh, dear. >> mr. bennett, i do appreciate your predicament.

as a scientist and a rationalist yourself, i dare say you are reluctant to accept the evidence insisted upon by ms. presbury. further, as her father's trusted assistant, to have recourse to me must smack to you of disloyalty. >> exactly. i'm part of the family, except that edith, ms. presbury, she was so upset that she... >> mr. bennett, who would you prefer to alienate? your prospective wife or her celebrated father? >> you give me a choice of evils. neither. >> then furnish me with the facts, and i will see how i can help you. you may rely on the discretion of both of us. >> well. >> would you, for example, describe ms. presbury as an impressionable, fanciful girl? >> no, quite the reverse. >> ms. alice morphy. perhaps professor presbury's engagement to her came to you as something of a surprise. he is, after all, three times her age. >> and this velour? >> i prefer that one,

with the osprey feathers. >> could you ask him, do you think? >> father's extremely proud of his orchids. >> i hate them. they're so-- oh, i don't know-- so impure, somehow. >> do please ask him not to send them anymore. there's a sweet friend, edith, please? >> can you not ask him? >> i couldn't. i daren't, i'm such a coward. >> well... >> oh, please. you've got so much more character than me. you're as strong as he. >> but alice, if you dare not ask this of my father, how will you ever manage those deeper conflicts that occur even in the happiest of marriages? >> oh, i don't know. i'm so frightened. >> of marrying my father? >> i wish... no, please don't ask. let's not speak of it.

>> ah, what do you think of this one? >> neither ms. presbury nor i consider her father's infatuation with ms. morphy to be entirely appropriate. rather excessive. >> and her parents had no objections to the marriage? >> the professor is a respectable widower. >> and a wealthy man. when may i call? >> call? >> to view ms. presbury's window. to determine for myself its accessibility or otherwise to an intruder. shall we say 11:00 tomorrow morning? >> professor presbury will be at his college. >> that's of no matter at present. my enquiries are purely logistical. >> i have never had any secrets from the professor. >> mr. bennett, let me refer you to your first question, which you have, in fact, answered. you're more inclined to ms. presbury's party than you are to your employer's. >> yes, yes i dare say.

>> thank you. good day. good day. >> holmes, you're prying into the affairs of a perfectly respectable family. >> why is bennett so reluctant to tell the truth? >> loyalty. it's as plain as a pikestaff. >> let us hope so. >> yet he wrote to me under duress. do you notice his handwriting? the crossing of the "t"s with such deep indentation? and then upon his arrival, his endeavors to call the whole thing off. no, there's more to this than meets the eye. >> i do not agree. >> this case is unworthy of you. >> i must return to my surgery. >> maybe i'll see you tomorrow. [door shuts]

>> father. >> my dear, i trust you slept better. >> oh, yes. last night, i removed to the guest bedroom. >> oh, no need, surely. it was but an ugly dream. >> father, alice has asked me... >> yes? >> the truth is, she does not care for orchids. >> she doesn't? well, why did she not say so? >> well, she was afraid to. you forget how formidable you are, father.

>> oh, the silly girl. well, then, she shall have roses. yes, two dozen red roses. roy was quiet enough last night. >> not to rouse him, sir. >> docility itself. marked change, macphail. >> ay, he's grown accustomed to his shackles. poor beast. [dog whimpering] >> shall we go up? >> if ms. presbury has no objection. >> i understand the necessity. >> let us lead the way, my dear. >> i'm glad you're more yourself today, watson. you were a veritable bear yesterday. >> touch liverish, perhaps.

>> this is where the figure appeared? >> yes. >> there's no ladder on the premises that could reach this height? >> no. >> was the window ajar? >> yes, i keep the door locked. >> did the hand touch the windowpane? >> i don't know; i fainted. >> of course you did, of course you did. oh, it's a formidable elevation. yet the ivy's strong, hedera algeriensis, tore away just here. ah. ms. presbury, your father has returned prematurely. >> oh, no, he mustn't know you're here, mr. holmes. >> that can scarcely be avoided. however, let us go down. >> the back stairs? >> certainly not.

>> bennett, what did you do with my lecture? who the devil are you, sir? >> father, i'm sorry. >> mr. sherlock holmes. >> who? >> the detective. >> professor presbury, my card. >> 221b, hardly an address to inspire confidence. >> i have never sought to inspire confidence in others. i have quite enough of my own. may i introduce my colleague, dr. watson? >> you may leave at once, the pair of you. >> they are here at our request. >> but not mine, edith. and you, bennett. you should have consulted me before resorting to such methods. a common detective and his accomplice. really. now, sir, allow me to escort you from the premises. my assistant had no authority to engage you in this matter.

kindly enquire into it no further. should you persist, i shall have no hesitation in calling the police. lestrade of the yard is well known to me, so beware. >> i would hesitate in calling lestrade, professor, if you wish to have the mystery solved. [dog growling] >> there is no mystery, sir. none. [growling and snarling] now be gone with you. or would you have me release my dog? believe me, he'll not distinguish between a hired snoop and a low intruder. [growling and snarling] now, will you be gone, sir, will you? >> we shall, sir, we shall, but you are over the mark. kindly watch your words. >> as a breed, despite their ferocious appearance, those dogs are seldom vicious. i'm surprised that roy needs chaining at all. unless it is for your safety as much as ours. [barking and growling]

a dog reflects family life, watson. >> does it indeed? >> whoever heard of a frisky dog in a gloomy home, or a sad dog in a happy one? snarling people have snarling dogs. you observed the presburys' irish wolfhound as well as i. he growled quite as much at his master as he did at us, two complete strangers. >> that animal did not reserve its animosity solely for the professor. >> well, we'll seek verification from young bennett when he arrives. i sent word by way of jock macphail, after our meeting at the goat and compasses. >> another of your agents, holmes? >> the presburys' coachman.

his charge is roy. i joined him last night for what he calls a wee goldie. ah, here's bennett, precipitate as ever. come in! >> good morning. >> mr. holmes, dr. watson. i must apologize for your unfortunate encounter yesterday, but also... >> there's no need. in fact, it has provided the very first clue to this odd affair. do sit down. >> thank you. mr. holmes, i cannot pretend i am happy to have answered your summons. >> of course. and i continue to appreciate the division of your loyalties. it's no small wonder that you have withheld so much. roy first attacked his master on the evening of september the 2nd, did he not? >> how can you know that? >> as the professor came from his study into the hall, you restrained the dog. on this occasion, he was merely shut up in the scullery. next morning, he was as right as rain, or so macphail informs me. >> macphail.

>> who better than the family coachman to advise me how matters might truly stand? >> forgive me, mr. holmes. i should have told you myself, but-- >> but you didn't. the second attack occurred 13 days later. again the professor was in the hall. fortunately this time he was able to put the study door between himself and the altered animal, was he not? >> edith wanted roy chained from that moment. >> but her father overruled her. >> he insisted that he was still a dear, affectionate dog. that he wasn't congenitally vicious. >> but not after the third attack. >> no, he did agree then that he had to be restrained. >> and roy was banished to the chain in the stable yard. >> yes. >> macphail believes that the change in roy's behavior stems from about two months ago. >> i think it may have. i didn't keep a strict note of it. >> consult your fiancee, bennett, and macphail. a precise log of these events may yet prove pertinent. i observed that the professor lectures at the university at 2:00 this afternoon. i shall call then. >> no, i couldn't

possibly agree, no! >> bennett, ms. presbury did not dream. someone or something looked in upon her. it is my conviction that your fiancee is in grave danger. >> from whom? >> no, sir, from whom or from what. as secretary, you handle the professor's correspondence. >> oh, yes, it's my responsibility to open every letter. >> has it always been ms. presbury's habit to lock her bedroom door at night? >> um, no, well... well, she told me that... >> yes? >> it was after roy began to behave so strangely. >> that she, too, became afraid of the dog? >> mr. holmes, you mustn't touch his desk! >> bennett! thank you.

inform me of the correspondence the professor had with someone called dorak... inhabiting cornlede. oh, no, no, no, commercial road, of course. it would appear that the professor answers such correspondence himself. >> well, again, um-- >> again you've been reluctant to speak. >> yes. some eight weeks ago, he told me that certain missives might arrive from east central marked by a cross under the stamp. >> a code? >> and did they, regularly? >> irregularly. i was to leave them unopened and speak of them to no one. >> you said missive. they were not letters?

>> well, some were; others were small packets. >> and did you observe professor presbury's replies? >> no, they didn't pass through my hands. >> yet the evidence would suggest that he did respond. >> to the hindu, the dog is a traditional enemy of the monkey. >> what is that, watson? >> what? nothing. >> jack. oh, i, i wasn't aware... >> no, i couldn't tell you; you'd already gone out. i see. i've invited alice to take tea with us. >> do not be too severe upon your fiance, ms. presbury. he has acted for the best. and please, will you continue to lock your door at night? the prowler who looked in upon you is no ordinary creature. good day. >> jack, you shouldn't have brought him in here. >> i didn't want to, but he insisted. he says there's grave danger. >> was that sherlock holmes? the sherlock holmes?

>> your observation goes to the very heart of this business, watson. concerning the monkey and the dog. the very heart of it. if you'd be so kind as to accompany me to the university, you can drive on to the commercial road, enquire after dorak. >> that's not an address, holmes. the commercial road's a mile long from moorgate east to limehouse. >> then ask a costermonger where dorak's shop. >> shop? >> come on, watson, i'm going to be late. >> the equatorial rain forests of africa, asia, and southern america are filled with the sound and movement of a multitude of species from the primate family. to continue therefore, this, um, physical activity, the swinging amongst branches, the flying leaps from treetop to treetop, and loud, raucous calling not only defines territorial rights in the forest-- for example,

for food gathering, the tender shoots of tree and shrub are particularly prized but also is frequently, among the males, a ritual display, either to ward off unwelcome intruders or to impress a particular female with the sexual potential of the performer. thank you, gentlemen. [applause]

[knocking] [doorknob turning] >> good afternoon. >> looking for something, are you? >> um, i believe there's some livery stables here or nearby. >> no, we've got a knacker's yard next door, that's all. >> oh, right, right you are. it's a dead end, cock. >> no, i can see a way through. yes. >> are you a narc or what? >> not at all. >> out. >> i'm sorry? >> i said out.

you just can't take a hint, can you? >> i beg your pardon. >> i said out, and i meant out. no admittance, mate. >> these are commercial premises. >> what do you mean by that? >> i mean it's a shop. >> it must be early closing day. >> this is ridiculous. >> is it? my dear lestrade, i am astonished that you, a man of your standing, should call upon so petty an errand. >> professor presbury objects most strenuously to your investigations, mr. holmes. his complaint is that of unjustified harassment. >> the justification has yet to be proved. has presbury informed you of the facts? >> of course. >> and your conclusions? >> a girl, half asleep, mistook a cat or a bird

or both for an intruder. that's all. a trifle. >> such a simple explanation. however, it begs the question of the family dog, does it not? >> does it? what dog? >> presbury did not mention roy's part in this affair? strange. clearly a partial witness. i suggest you ask him. you're not in full possession of the facts of this complex case. >> trust you to say there's more to it than meets the eye, mr. holmes. >> i never concern myself in anything without that stimulus. >> if you persist, you may find yourself at the wrong end of a private prosecution, you know. professor presbury is a determined man. >> then we're fairly matched, are we not? >> i knew it. well, i've said my say. mr. holmes. >> lestrade. all right, [animal noises]

>> you can do it? >> yeah, easier than matston. poor old fella. [dramatic music] ♪ >> 144. >> hmm? >> commercial road. >> oh, you located dorak, good. >> he appears to run a general store, as far as i can tell. sells er