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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                  SCHEDULE 13G





                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. 4)

                                  Beard Company
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    07384R408
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                 April 28, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:


           [ X ]  Rule 13d-1(b)

           [   ]  Rule 13d-1(c)

           [   ]  Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).




                                PAGE 1 OF 8 PAGES






                                                                           

-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------
CUSIP No.   07384R408                                      13G                   Page  2  of  8  Pages
-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only).

           Manulife Financial Corporation
           I.R.S. No.

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*                      (a)  |_|
                                                                                  (b)  |_|


    3      SEC USE ONLY

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Canada

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       5     SOLE VOTING POWER

                             -0-

    Number of
      Shares
   Beneficially
     Owned by
       Each
    Reporting
      Person
       With
                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       6     SHARED VOTING POWER

                             -0-

                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       7     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             -0-

                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       8     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             -0-


---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Life Insurance Company.

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   10      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

           N/A

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   11      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

           See line 9, above.
---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           HC

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
                                PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES





                                                                           

-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------
CUSIP No.   07384R408                                      13G                   Page  3  of  8 Pages
-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only).

           John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
           I.R.S. No. 04-3483032

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*                      (a)  |_|
                                                                                  (b)  |_|


---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3      SEC USE ONLY

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Delaware

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       5     SOLE VOTING POWER

                             -0-

    Number of
      Shares
   Beneficially
     Owned by
       Each
    Reporting
      Person
       With
                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       6     SHARED VOTING POWER

                             -0-

                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       7     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             -0-

                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       8     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             -0-


---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           None, except through its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, John Hancock Life Insurance Company.

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   10      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

           N/A

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   11      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

           See line 9, above.

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           HC

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
                                PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES





                                                                           

-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------
CUSIP No.   07384R408                                      13G                   Page  4  of  8  Pages
-----------------------------------------                                        --------------------------------------

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only).

           John Hancock Life Insurance Company
           I.R.S. No. 04-1414660

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*                      (a)  |_|
                                                                                  (b)  |_|


---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3      SEC USE ONLY

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

           Commonwealth of Massachusetts

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       5     SOLE VOTING POWER

                             367,476

    Number of
      Shares
   Beneficially
     Owned by
       Each
    Reporting
      Person
       With
                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       6     SHARED VOTING POWER

                             -0-

                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       7     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             367,476


                    -------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       8     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                             -0-


---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

           367,476

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   10      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

           N/A

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   11      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

           14.9%

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   12      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

           IC, IA

---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
                                PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES




         This amendment to the Statement is being filed to reflect the merger on
April 28, 2004 pursuant to which John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation and Manulife became
the ultimate beneficial owner of the securities included in this filing held by
John Hancock Life Insurance Company.

     Attention:  Intentional  misstatements  or  omissions  of  fact  constitute
Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)

         Item 1(a)    Name of Issuer:
                      --------------
                      Beard Company

         Item 1(b)    Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                      -----------------------------------------------
                      Enterprise Plaza, Suite 320
                      5600 North May Avenue
                      Oklahoma City, OK  73112

         Item 2(a)    Name of Person Filing:
                      ---------------------
                      This filing is made on behalf of Manulife Financial
                      Corporation ("MFC"), MFC's direct, wholly-owned
                      subsidiary, John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
                      ("JHFS"), and JHFS's direct, wholly-owned subsidiary, John
                      Hancock Life Insurance Company ("JHLICO").

         Item 2(b)    Address of the Principal Offices:
                      --------------------------------
                      The principal executive offices of MFC is located at 200
                      Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1E5; JHFS
                      and JHLICO are located at John Hancock Place, P.O. Box
                      111, Boston, MA 02117.

         Item 2(c)    Citizenship:
                      -----------
                      MFC is organized and exists under the laws of Canada. JHFS
                      is organized and exists under the laws of the State of
                      Delaware. JHLICO is organized and exists under the laws of
                      the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         Item 2(d)    Title of Class of Securities:
                      ----------------------------
                      Common Stock

         Item 2(e)    CUSIP Number:
                      ------------
                      07384R408

         Item 3       If the Statement is being filed pursuant to Rule
                      ------------------------------------------------
                      13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:
                      -----------------------------------------------------------

                      MFC  (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with
                                   ss.240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).

                      JHFS (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with
                                   ss.240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G).



                                PAGE 5 OF 8 PAGES




                      JHLICO:       (c) (X) Insurance Company as defined in ss.3(a)(19) of the Act.

                                    (e) (X) Investment Adviser registered under ss.203 of the Investment
                                            Advisers Act of 1940.

Item 4   Ownership:
         ---------

                      (a)    Amount Beneficially Owned:
                             -------------------------
                             JHLICO has direct beneficial ownership of 367,476
                             shares of Common Stock: 234,030 are shares of Common
                             Stock and 127,758 are shares of Common Stock issuable
                             upon exercise of 27,838 shares of Series A Convertible
                             Voting Preferred Stock. As of April 14, 2004, the
                             conversion ratio was approximately 4.7937 shares of
                             Common Stock for each share of Series A Convertible
                             Voting Preferred Stock. The conversion ratio is
                             adjusted from time to time upon Beard's issuance of
                             warrants and other events.

                      (b)    Percent of Class: 14.9%
                             ----------------

                      (c)    Number of shares as to which the person has:
                             -------------------------------------------

                             (i)    sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                                    JHLICO has sole power to vote or to direct
                                    the vote of the 367,476 shares as discussed
                                    in Item 4(a) above.

                             (ii)   shared power to vote or to direct the vote: -0-

                             (iii)  sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                                    JHLICO has sole power to dispose or to
                                    direct the disposition of the 367,476 shares
                                    as discussed in Item 4(a) above.

                             (iv)   shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: -0-

         Item 5       Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
                      --------------------------------------------
                      Not applicable.

         Item 6       Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
                      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                      Not applicable.

         Item 7       Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which
                      ---------------------------------------------------------
                      Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent
                      -----------------------------------------------------
                      Holding Company:
                      Not applicable.

         Item 8       Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
                      ---------------------------------------------------------
                      Not applicable.

         Item 9       Notice of Dissolution of a Group:
                      --------------------------------
                      Not applicable.

         Item 10      Certification:
                      -------------
                      By signing below the undersigned certifies that, to the
                      best of its knowledge and belief, the securities referred
                      to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course
                      of business and were not acquired and are not held for the
                      purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing
                      the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
                      acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
                      participant in any transaction having that purpose or
                      effect.



                                PAGE 6 OF 8 PAGES




                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief,
each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.


                                                     Manulife Financial Corporation

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                               ------------------------------------------
                                                               Name:  Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:  Senior Executive Vice President

                                                     John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                              -------------------------------------------
                                                              Name:   Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:  Senior Executive Vice President and
                                                                      General Counsel


                                                     John Hancock Life Insurance Company

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                              -------------------------------------------
                                                              Name:   Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:  Senior Executive Vice President and
                                                                      General Counsel



                                PAGE 7 OF 8 PAGES






EXHIBIT A
                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

         Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the undersigned hereby agree that only one statement containing the information
required by Schedule 13G (or any amendment thereof) need be filed on their
behalf with respect to the beneficial ownership of any equity securities of
Beard Company or any subsequent acquisitions or dispositions of equity
securities of Beard Company by any of the undersigned.


                                                     Manulife Financial Corporation

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
                                                               Name:   Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:   Senior Executive Vice President

                                                     John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                              -----------------------------------------------
                                                              Name:    Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:   Senior Executive Vice President and
                                                                       General Counsel


                                                     John Hancock Life Insurance Company

                                                     By:       /s/ Wayne A. Budd
                                                              -----------------------------------------------
                                                              Name:    Wayne A. Budd
Dated:  May 7, 2004                                           Title:   Senior Executive Vice President and
                                                                       General Counsel






                                PAGE 8 OF 8 PAGES