The Story of Private Bruno

An orphaned black bear cub is smuggled from Maine onto a Prince Edward Island air base in Canada by a young American pilot. The bear, named Bruno, is soon discovered and is named the Official Base Mascot for his duration there. When the war ends, Donald Davidson, a technician on the base, deems it his responsibility to keep the bear since its original owner died on a mission months earlier and there would be little chance of Bruno's survival on an island long void of bears. Donald makes a deal with the air force and transports Bruno over 1000 miles to his new home on the farm in September 1945. When seven year old Jack Davidson returns home through the corn field after being chased by a group of bullies, he's confronted by the giant bear tied to the clothesline outside his home. Jack, the youngest of ten children grows to love Bruno as the bear becomes accustomed to life on the busy farm. Bruno is seen as a bit of a novelty by the older Davidson children and their friends quickly becomes a bit of a celebrity in the small farming community, showing off his many tricks and skills he's learned in his time on the base. As autumn deepens and the weather cools, Bruno's demeanor changes as he becomes more aggressive and irritable as his instinct to hibernate takes hold. When Jack is hit on his bicycle in front of the Davidson farm by Moodie, a selfish, narcissistic Reeve of the Township, Moodie blames the boy for the accident and demands payment for damages to his vehicle from Jack's father Hugh, who happens to be deputy-reeve. It's then when Moodie meets Bruno, who's decided the politician is no friend of Jack's or his. Meanwhile, Moodie has tragic plans for Bruno in a bid for political gain by serving the bear at a New Year's Dinner at the American Embassy. The story of Private Bruno is told from the visiting room of a retirement home by Grampa Jack as he tries to relate to his grandson who's got some time before his flight across country.