MovieChat Forums > Centennial (1978) Discussion > The Last Episode - QUESTIONS

The Last Episode - QUESTIONS

posted 9 years ago by ben-thayer
5 replies | jump to latest

Ok, couple questions about the last episode.

First, the trial. According to Wiki:

1940: Congress enacted legislation known as the Bald Eagle Protection Act. This act prohibited selling, killing, or possessing the species

1962: Congress amended the act, extending the ban to golden eagles and the law became the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BEPA). This law protects the bird's feathers, eggshells, and body parts.

1972: The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was amended again with several different aspects such as increasing the civil penalties for violating provisions increased to a maximum fine of a $5,000 and one year of imprisonment for first conviction. If second conviction occurs, a $10,000 and two years of imprisonment will take place.

Killing a bald eagle is a federal offense. Calendar would've been in BIG trouble for killing eagles, but the series said he advertised killing them openly and was responsible for more than a hundred killings, and then only got a $50 fine.

WHAT???

Next, the debate.

Garrett seemed to take a contradictory stance. At one point he quotes Elly Zendt's letters saying she could see the Rockies from 105 miles out. He tells Andy Griffith they're 10 miles away and says they can't see the Rockies from all the pollution.

Then during the debate they talk about Central Beet (the company that processes sugar beets). Garrett seems to be against the closing of central beet, which would affect the local population's livelihood. Wendell says is one of the major causes of pollution and they need new technologies..."it sounds a bit like Buck Rogers".

I thought I had it wrong, but backing it up and re-watching confirmed it...Garrett takes a stand against closing Central Beet.

Again...WHAT???

[–] ben-thayer 9 years ago

Anyone???

At all???

[–] milo44 9 years ago

I don't remember Andy Griffin in Centennial , as for the beets .. don't know .. I just like sitting back and watching this mini series .. esp compared to what is on the other channels .. and it's one of my favs along with Lonesome Dove .. Hope you get the answers to your questions , but I wouldn't bet on it .. lol .

"A man that wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough".

[–] kassandra227 9 years ago

first question:

it was not so much about the law regarding the killing of the eagles. they mention that all the hunters in Colorado will back Calendar. Paul Garrett says: "Not me."

the issue for me is not so much that a jury sided with Calendar, but that the case was not held in federal court rather than state court. truthfully, for killing a bald eagle, there's no question it should be tried in federal court.

second question: i noticed that too. it seems like a contradiction in Garrett's position. i can conclude two things. the first is that Harvey Brumbaugh is Hans' grandson and since Hans was a major figure in Centennial's history, he was speaking up for him in a way. the second is that without the pulp, etc from Central Beet, Garrett himself would find costs of cattle feed to be more expensive. i guess a third alternative is that Garrett might not be completely against industry, but just want to control it as much as possible.

when Wendell says "it sounds a bit like Buck Rogers," i think he is talking about his own alternatives to the way of life; like running cattle through a breeding camp, possibly in Alabama. i am watching the episode right now and it really seems that way.

"The earth isn't something we can keep taking from without ever thinking about giving back. The river is something you protect ever inch of its course. We need to get back to some basic principles if we're going to have a future worth having."

[–] crood 7 years ago

Yes, Garrett is as much about maintaining the traditions as he is conserving the environment. Wendell is looking at new, bigger industries and possibly eliminating the traditional industries in Colorado (cattle ranching, beet farming).

Interestingly enough, in the novel there was already a lot fighting over Central Beet and the stockyards which people wanted moved out of town. Harvy Brumbaugh said F'it, I'm moving everything east. In other words the argument in the mini-series had already been decided on in the novel.

[–] kassandra227 9 years ago

what Garrett says is:

"the mile high city just might not be high enough anymore. the University of Boulder has copies of the letters that Ellie Zendt wrote when she came west with Levi in 1845. i remember reading where she said that when they were 105 miles away, she could see the Rockies so clearly that they could pick out the valleys. now look at 'em. That just might be the saddest sight in America. ten miles away and you can't see anything. just that lens of filth. Could be that one day when you want to see the unspoiled grandure of Colorado, you'll have to go to Wyoming."

i see that he was not saying that they were 10 miles away from the Rockies, but that because of the smokestacks and pollution, you could not see 10 miles away from where they were driving.

note: i took that direct quote from the episode, which i am watching right now.

"The earth isn't something we can keep taking from without ever thinking about giving back."