Don Bluth’s Watership Down (Transcript)

(As the opening credits roll, we see a long watercolor painting of field of rabbits. At the end, where a light-brown rabbit is hiding in the brambles, the scene transitions to that of a cartoon, as the rabbit slowly comes out from the brambles.)

Rabbit - (Quietly) Hazel, I see it. (a rabbit comes out of the brambles) A cowslip. You can have it.

Hazel - Thanks, Fiver. But, you should have it. (Fiver looks at the cowslip.) go on. But, eat it fast before the Owsla arrive. (Fiver hesitantly approaches the cowslip, and eats it. Partway through, Fiver notices another cowslip, plucks it off and gives it to Hazel) Oh, Are you sure? (Fiver nods) Ok, Fiver. But, I’ll give it to Zinnia. (The scene changes to Hazel and Fiver traversing the fields with Hazel holding a cowslip in his mouth, as the sun was going down, Fiver stops, and a few seconds later, Hazel notices, and comes back to see Fiver grasping his heart.) What’s wrong, Fiver? (He looks at the construction equipment and vehicles.)

Fiver - I see it... (His eyes turn yellow as He sees the equipment turning black, and the fields around it turn into a red color) whatever those things are, they’re black as night, as the fields around them are covered in blood.

Hazel - Blood? We should head back. (He and Fiver run on, running past a sign, saying, “This land, composed of Six Acres is to be developed with high quality residences, by Sutch and Martin Ltd. of Newbury, Berkshire, England.)

(The scene changes to a burrow, where Hazel gives a Cowsliip to Zinnia, a grayish-brown female rabbit)

Zinnia - Is that for me? (Hazel nods as Zinnia slowly eats it.)

Hazel - My brother, Fiver found it, and... (Zinnia nuzzles Hazel’s neck, then He hears Fiver groaning) Fiver. (Rushes off to another burrow, where finds Fiver tossing) Fiver, wake up! What’s wrong? (Fiver wakes up, and his yellow eyes turned brown)

Fiver - Oh, Hazel. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I saw. We have to leave, Hazel.

Hazel - We?

Fiver - Yes. Everyone in the warren. We have to speak with the Chief.

Hazel - Alright. Even though He might not believe you. (Hazel and Fiver run toward a giant tree, and encounter a brutish rabbit with more fur around his neck.) Bigwig?

Bigwig - Hazel. This isn’t like you to be up ni-frith.

Hazel - Me and Fiver would like to see the Chief. Please, Bigwig. I never asked before.

Bigwig - Hmm. Very well. He’ll probably demote me. I’ll be a moment. (goes in a hole) Chief Rowan, two rabbits would like to speak with you. (voice fades as Fiver’s eyes turned yellow and is twitching.) ...Very well. (Bigwig pops out.) You can come inside. (Hazel and Fiver go inside, as some of the rabbits approach and listen in. Inside the Chief’s burrow, Hazel and Fiver, with Bigwig following, see an elderly rabbit eating lettuce, and Bigwig runs next to Him.)

Rowan - Oh. Walnut. I mean, that’s your name is it?

Bigwig - (Quietly) It’s Hazel, Sir. And His brother, Fiver.

Rowan - S-Speak a little louder, Bigwig. I’m deaf on this side.

Bigwig - (Speaks louder) Hazel and his brother, Fiver.

Rowan - Oh. Hazel and Fiver. Sorry. I knew your mother well. So, what is it you want?

Hazel - Well, Yesterday, Fiver saw something out of the ordinary in his vision. Some manmade things, in a black color, and everything surrounded covered in the color of blood. I mean, last autumn, He predicted a flood coming, and when a wire is set, around our home. And they were all correct.

Rowan - Can you get to the point?

Hazel - Fiver thinks a danger will be coming to the warren. We have to leave, and fast!

Rowan - Hmm. You’re saying We should leave the safety of our warren, where there’s good weather, no illnesses, and no elil? I must think about it.

Fiver - No! It’ll be too late! We have to leave!

Hazel - Fiver, calm down! (Fiver leaves) Sorry, sir. (Leaves the burrow.)

Rowan - Hmm. Bigwig?

Bigwig - Y... Yes, Sir?

Rowan - You must take duty as an officer very seriously. Now, I want you to watch over those two carefully.