Racso and the Rats of NIMH (film)/Transcript

Any ideas to make a script of Racso and the Rats of NIMH (film).

Chapter 1
(?)

Jonathan Brisby:

Elizabeth Brisby: So I must mend this scarf and I will pick his favorite foods in his knapsack. In case, he doesn't reach thorn valley in time for dinner tomorrow and I must clean out the cupboard to make room for the beans that the children will be bringing.

(?)

Male voice: Mrs. Mouse! Come on out!

Jeremy: Mrs. Brisby, I forgot your name.

Elizabeth Brisby: Goodness, Jeremy. Calm down and tell me what's wrong.

Jeremy: I can't take timothy to school tomorrow. It's an emergency! I have to go home right away my mother's very sick. She flew into a ladder and broke her wing.

Elizabeth Brisby: Now. Now.

Jeremy: My cousin brought the news this morning. I went to Mr. Ages and he says that she may not fly for a whole month and he gave me some powder for her to swallow after dinner.

Elizabeth Brisby: You did well and you can fly home. Your Mother will need your help.

Jeremy: But what about Timothy? School starts next week and I was supposed to fly him to Thorn Valley tomorrow.

Elizabeth Brisby: We will manage. You must stay with your mother while she needs you.

Jeremy: Will she die?

Elizabeth Brisby: I'm afraid not. Just make sure she takes Mr. Ages powder. Within a month, her wing should be as good as new.

Jeremy: Thank you. Oh, thank you.

Elizabeth Brisby: You're welcome.

Jeremy: See you later!

(?)

Jonathan Brisby:

Elizabeth Brisby:

Timothy: Of course I can do it, Mother. Father.

Elizabeth Brisby: I know exactly how the river winds and where the trail goes north. The trip from there will only be one day, but the whole trip will take four days.

Timothy: I'd get there the day before school that is if I leave tomorrow. What about food? I'm not sure you can carry a four-day supply. I won't have to carry that much.

Elizabeth Brisby: The autumn olives are out everywhere. We had some for lunch today and the acorns will be at their best. I do love fresh acorns. I know how much she wants to go, but I'm not promising anything. I'll think about it while you sleep.

(?)

Martin: I think you should let Timothy go. He's starting to grow up. Today picked more beans than any of us and school means so much to him.

Elizabeth: I know that, but it's a long journey with many dangers and Timothy has never traveled alone.

Martin: I wish I could go with him, but I don't want to leave Bretta for so long and I still have more harvesting to do.

Elizabeth: Of course.

(?)

Chapter 2
(?)

Elizabeth Brisby: You may go.

(?)

Elizabeth: Why?

Timothy: To make a splint. In case, I should break my leg.

(?)

Timothy: Thorn Valley is here. (?) In case you need me or decide to come and visit.

(?)

Elizabeth: The rats will be good to you. Please send word of how you are Timothy and don't travel at night.

(?)

(?)

(In his dream, (?))

Timothy: Hawk!

(?)

(?)

Male voice: Help! Help! Help!

(?)

Chapter 3
(?)

Timothy: Here! Grab this!

(?)

Male: You … You saved me.

(?)

Rat: Saved by a mouse. Wait till my family hears about this.

(?)

Timothy: My name is Timothy Brisby. Who are you?

Male: I'm Racso. How do you do?

(?)

(?): It was nice to meet you.

(?)

Timothy: Good bye.

Racso: Good bye.

(?)

Timothy: Since you're going my way, I'll wait and walk with you.

(Timothy and Racso walked and walked. (?))

Racso: I've got to stop and rest.

Timothy: (?)

Racso: Good. Have you eaten?

Timothy: Not since breakfast.

Racso: I've got something good to eat. (?) Here.

(?)

Timothy: What is it, Racso?

Racso: It's candy.

Timothy: what's a candy?

Racso: I don't think there was anyone on earth who didn't know exactly what candy is.

Timothy: I didn't think there was anyone on earth who would go into a stream if he couldn't swim.

(?)

Racso: Here. (?) Eat it.

Timothy: It's good.

Racso: You may have the whole bar. I brought an entire bag with me. They've been quite heavy to carry, but there aren't many left now.

(?)

Timothy: Would you like a kidney bean?

Racso: Where did you get it?

Timothy: I picked them in Mr. Fitzgibbon's field.

Racso: Oh. Then you must be a field mouse.

Timothy: That's right.

Racso: I'm not a field rat. I'm a city rat. I left my family and all my girlfriends. They cried, of course, and they pleaded, but I told them I had to go. I'm in pursuit of a better life. I have friends here in the country rats who can read and write.

Timothy: What are the rats names?

Racso: Actually, I don't know their names, but I know they live somewhere in this direction.

Timothy: Have you met them before?

Racso: No, but I'm sure they will be glad to meet me.

Timothy: How will you find them?

Racso: I'll keep walking in this direction. Then I'll turn and follow the trail where the river splits. If what my old man says is right, it will be about one day's threat from there.

Timothy: So your father is a friend of theirs.

Racso: Well, he was.

(?)

Racso: He once shared a cage with one of them at a laboratory called 'NIMH.' Scientists taught them how to read and gave them special shots to make them smart. They got so smart that they figured out how to escape. My dad lived with them for a while. They had a big nest with electric lights and running water and the big refrigerator, but there was a fight and my dad and some of the other rats left.

Timothy: And what happened then?

Racso: I don't know everything. All I know is that my old man was in an accident so bad that the rest of his friends were killed. He was burned, but he managed to save himself after he got better. He went back to the city instead of the colony. He found my mom and moved back in with her and after that, my sister and I were born.

(?)

Racso: Learning is important. I've got to educate myself. I can't spend my whole life lying around in the sewers eating garbage.

Timothy: Have you been to school?

Racso: There are no schools for rats in the city. My dad taught me a few things, but then he got scared. He said education had almost killed him and it had killed six other rats. He said those shots the humans gave him and turned him into a misfit. He said if there's one thing I need to remember is that I'm a rat and nothing more.

Timothy: How did you convince him to let you come here?

Racso: I didn't. I ran away. I'm on my own now. I'm going to get my education and become a scientist. I'm going to make discoveries and become famous. I'll be on TV and on the cover of magazine.

Timothy: But how did you know where to go?

Racso: My dad had an accident in a town called Smithville, so I asked different animals and birds, which highway went toward it and they told me it turned out. There were big green signs along the highway, but I couldn't read them. I bribed a squirrel to lead me into town. I gave him three candy bars and the local rats knew how to get to Mr. Fitzgibbon's farm. Then I met this dumb crow who told me how to get to Thorn Valley. I offered him candy, but all he wanted was a silver cigarette paper. I pulled out of the trash that morning.

Timothy: What was the crow's name?

Racso: I don't know. Jimmy or Jerry or something like that. He was all shook up because his mother was sick and he wanted the silver paper for a present for her. What a jerk.

Timothy: His name is Jeremy. May not be the smartest bird in the world, but he's kind-hearted and he would have given you the directions for nothing. You didn't have to bribe him.

Racso: My old man taught me that nobody gets something for nothing.

Timothy: Your old man?

(?)

Timothy: I'll show you. (?) Rat. Any of certain rodents genus Rattus and allied genre distinguished from mice by their larger size and differences in teeth the best known species are the brown or Norway rat. The black rat and the roof rat. (?) Mouse. any of numerous species a small rodents especially the house mouse found in human habitations throughout the world compare vole.

Racso: You … You … You … You … You can read! Will you teach me please? I'll give you anything you want. If only you would teach me, Timothy.

Timothy: I won't teach you, But I have a friend who will. Rat friends. They have a school at Thorn Valley and they teach almost every subject you can name reading, writing, carpentry, math, astronomy …

Racso: The rats of NIMH.

Timothy: I'm on my way to school right now and you may come with me.

Chapter 4
(?)

Racso: Just one more word. Is this the letter b?

Timothy: we've got to move on. It's only a few hours until twilight and we'll have to stop them.

(?)

Rasco: I'll make a campfire.

(?)

Timothy: It's perfect. The high edges will shelter us from the wind and is probably lined with feathers too. Anyway, it would be dangerous to make a fire on such a windy day.

(?)

Rasco:

(?)

Racso: What's for breakfast?

Timothy: I've got beans and oats, but I'd be willing to bet. There'll be autumn olives down by the river they're berries. Have you ever tasted them?

Racso: I think my mother brought some home from the market once. What I'm not sure.

Timothy: Come on. You always poke under the bushes first with a stick. To make sure, there aren't any snakes hiding there snakes can be very nasty.

Racso: I'll remember that.

(?)

Racso: For lunch, they'll be perfect with the candy bars.

(?)

Racso: I'm thirsty and too hot.

(?)

Racso: I'm sorry, but I have to take a nap.

Timothy: Perhaps we could just sit down and rest for a minute.

Racso: Sure. Don't.

(?)

Racso: I'm afraid I'm used to sleeping during the day. In the city, we, rats, are most active at night when the humans are asleep. I guess that's why being out in the sunlight makes me so tired.

Timothy: Country animals don't go out after dark if they can help it. Owls hunt at night.

Racso: I have in the herds of hours.

Timothy: We'll have to find a place to sleep.

(?)

Racso: I couldn't sleep. it's so beautiful out. There's a full moon come and look.

Timothy: What time is it?

Racso: I don't know.

(?)

Racso: I have never seen anything so beautiful. In the city and nights like this, we all come out and play. You see rats everywhere dancing, running, jumping. They call it moon fever.

Timothy: I've never been outside the house at night.

(?)

Racso: I don't think I can go back to sleep.

Timothy: I feel wide awake myself.

Racso: I know that you're worried. We didn't travel far enough today. I wouldn't mind walking a mile or two right now.

(?)

Timothy: All right, but we'll have to be careful, really careful.

(?)

Chapter 5
(?)

Cynthia: Hey, mother. We got a letter. Open it.

((?) note by Justin.)

Cynthia: Who sent it? What does it say? What is it?

Elizabeth: Timothy hasn't arrived in Thorn Valley.

Cynthia: What day was he supposed to get there? He left five days ago, so he should have arrived yesterday, but, mother, they didn't know that he was coming on foot and you know Timothy can dawdle.

Elizabeth: That's true.

Cynthia: He'll get there.

Elizabeth: Of course she will. Let's not think about it, until we get further news.

(The crow (?))

Elizabeth: Who are you? Who are you and why are you here?

(?)

Owl: Come in.

(?)

Owl: Mrs. Elizabeth Brisby, you may wonder why I have sent for you.

Elizabeth: Yes.

Owl: I have sent for you because I believe that I have killed your son.

(?)

Owl: Two nights ago, I went out hunting in north woods where the river splits. I was hungry and I saw two rodents on the path in the moonlight. I dove for the larger a small rats, but the smaller one rushed to protect him. I picked him up and he shouted his name here. (?) Timothy Brisby. He was your son, was he not?

(?)

Owl: I dropped him when I realized who he was, but I had grabbed him with my talons. I'm afraid that I pierced his heart.

(?)

Owl: He died a hero like his father that may be some comfort to you.

(?)

Owl: You have other children. You must go home to them. You must prepare to make a long journey away from this country. Men with great machines are working at the north end of Thorn Valley. They are destroying the mountain there and they planned to destroy the woods and farms as well.

(?)

Owl: I killed your son because I had to eat. There was a reason, with men, it often seems that there is no reason at all.

Elizabeth: Money. (?) I have heard it said that men do what they do for pieces of paper called money.

(?)

Elizabeth: Fly North. Fly to the North woods along the river. It's like close to the ground where there is a path. I'm looking for someone there.

Crow: It is nearly dark.

Elizabeth: There will be moonlight. (?) Hurry, there's no time to lose.

(?)

Chapter 6
(?)

Voice: Timothy. Timothy. Timothy.

(?)

Timothy: Someone is talking. Someone is talking to me.

(?)

Rasco: You're alive!

(?)

Timothy: What day is this?

(?)

Timothy: How much food is left?

Racso: Don't worry about that.

(?)

Racso: Tomorrow morning, I want you to find a willow tree.

Timothy: They grow along the river. Willow bark relieves pain.

Racso: I don't think I can recognize a widow tree.

Timothy: I'll describe it and you can take my knife to cut the bark off.

Racso: Won't you be frightened if I leave you?

Timothy: Yes, but I want you to go. The sooner I feel better, the sooner we will be able to leave.

Racso: Don't move. There's a big bird flying back and forth over the path. I covered the both up with leaves, so it couldn't see us. It's flown past again and again as if it were searching for someone.

Timothy: Someone to eat.

Racso: He's calling somebody and and the funny part is, its voice doesn't sound like a bird, but I couldn't make out what it was saying.

Timothy: Could it be the owl returning for his prey? Owls had been known to trick all, but the most cautious mice. We must stay hidden.

(?)

Timothy: It's dangerous for us to camp here day after day. We're certain to be noticed by other animals and not all of them are friendly.

(?)

Racso: I ate earlier.

(?)

Racso: You tried to walk?

(Timothy (?))

Racso: Don't cry. I got you into this mess and I'm going to get you out of it. I've already decided what to do. I'm going to build a sling and pull you along the trail. I'll get you to Thorn Valley if it's the last thing I ever do.

Chapter 7
(?):

Racso: Just leave it all to me. Last year, I snuck around the behind the baseboard at the movie theater and saw a show about how to live in the words. It was called, "The Last of the Mohicans." There was an Indian in the movie who was kind of short for his age and looked a lot like me and he made a sling to move his wounded friend.

Timothy: Animals who live in the wild have certain rules about how to act in the woods. I've been thinking that it would be useful to review them with you.

Racso: I probably knows him already, but you can tell me if it will make you feel better.

Timothy: The first one is always cover up your trail.

Racso: Of course, i just happened to like to flip my tail around that song.

Timothy: I could tell where you'd walked that means an enemy could too. The second rule is this. If you hear something coming even from far away, take cover.

Racso: I hid us from that birds the other night, didn't I? And that bird was looking for someone even in the dark. I could tell that it flew back and forth over the path again and again.

Timothy: What if that bird had not been the owl? Here's another rule. Never light a fire in the woods.

Racso: The Indians did.

Timothy: We're not Indians. Anyway, they were careful. They knew how to make a fire without setting the woods on fire.

Racso: So do I. I toasted marshmallows the night before I met you. I melted chocolate squares right in the middle of the marshmallow. The girl scouts do that, you know? It's a famous dessert.

Timothy: Racso! I put that fire out myself the next morning. You could have burned the whole forest down and killed us both.

Racso: You'd better rest now. You're getting upset over nothing, Timothy. And if there's one thing we don't need right now is a worried little field mouse.

(?)

Racso: Wrap the ends of this around your paws a couple of times, so that it can't slip out. (?) When you're ready, I'll get up on all fours and run up the bank as quickly as I can it may hurt but at least you should be over with fast.

(?)

Racso: We're ready to go.

Timothy: Where's the paper bag?

Racso: It's empty.

(?)

Racso: I have to rest a while. Did you once mention that your family ate acorns?

Timothy: Look under there. There will be hundreds of acorns on the ground. Bring me a couple and I'll show you how to eat them.

Racso: (?) It's bitter. I like berries, but I don't like acorns.

(?)

Racso: We've reached the spot where the river splits. I can see a large stream flowing off to the left.

(?)

Racso: I'm hungry.

Timothy: Is there any food left in the knapsack?

Racso: It's for you.

(?)

Racso: You eat it.

Timothy: I like the beans just as much. (?) Here.

(?)

Racso: I thought I heard something. (?) Let's hide. (?) I don't see anything.

Timothy: Shh! (?) What is it, Rasco? What do you see?

Racso: Rats. Four large rats.

Timothy: What do they look like lift me up, so I can see. (?) More. More.

(?)

Timothy: Justin. Justin!

Racso: Timothy, Be quiet! What are you doing?

Timothy: Justin!

(?)

Racso: He's coming right this way.

Timothy: Justin!

Racso: Take cover! He's going to kill us both.

Timothy: Justin.

Large rat: Timothy! (?) Thank goodness. We found you at last.

Chapter 8
(?)

Justin: When you didn't show up, we knew something was wrong. Then we heard about Jeremy's mother and we realized you'd be coming on foot. We decided to wait three more days before we started looking. We even sent a message to your mother at Fitzgibbons.

Timothy: She'll be worried.

Justin: We'll let her know you've been found.

Isabella: Poor Timothy! I hate owls. Don't you, Justin?

Justin: We should prepare to return to Thorn Valley. If we leave here now, we can arrive there by nightfall.

(?)

Racso: Is something funny?

Isabella: No. Nothing at all.

Racso: What is it?

Isabella: If you must know, it's your hat. Where did it come from?

Racso: Out of the trash can. My dad said it used to belong to a doll. It fits perfect, don't you think?

(?)

Racso: What's so funny? Don't you have any hats at Thorn Valley?

(?)

Isabella: You got me in trouble with Justin.

(?)

Justin: We have only about one mile to go before we reach Thorn Valley, but that mile is the most difficult part of our trip. We must cross over the mountain and descend into the valley and there are only about three hours of daylight left. We must decide now whether we want to finish the journey this afternoon, or whether we should camp for the night and arrive tomorrow morning.

Brutus: I can go faster. Timothy is very light.

Brendan: I'm ready to go on. I'm not as strong as Brutus, but I'll pull the sling for as long as I can.

Isabella: I'll do whatever you want to do, Justin.

(Racso (?))

Justin: Pulling the sling by yourself must have been tiring. Let's stop and eat and rest for a while. Then you can decide whether you want us to go on with the journey tonight.

(?)

Justin: How do you feel now?

Racso: What's better? I'm ready to go on.

(?)

Justin: The sooner we get medical care for Timothy, the better off he'll be. On the other hand, it's going to be hard for you to finish this journey today. You haven't had the physical training that we have and the mountain trail is steep. This is my suggestion. Brendan, you walk with Racso. If he gets too tired, the two of you should camp overnight and finish the trip tomorrow.

(?)

Brendan: We do this in case one of us should slip. If you feel someone falling, grab onto the rock nearest you and hold on tight.

(?)

Brendan: Look how the rivers flooded to the north there. Justin says we have to find out why we might even send out an exploring party.

Racso: I could be one of the leaders. I know a lot about the woods and about scouting. I learned it from a movie about the Indians.

(?)

Brendan: The rat with the eye patch is Nicodemus. He's the founder of the community. He's nice, but he's strict.

Racso: What about the female?

Brendan: She's Hermione. We elected her to be presiding rat this year to call the meetings and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak. You'll get to know her because she's the school teacher and Justin is the head of rat security.

(?)

(?): We welcome you to the community of Thorn Valley, Racso. We hope your visit with us will be a pleasant one. We do not often have visitors from the outside world. We are always eager to learn what is happening there. For our life at Thorn Valley has made us a bit isolated you see. Thank you for taking care of Timothy when he was hurt. I shall write to my dear friend, Mrs. Brisby, tonight to let her know that he is here and I shall mention your parts in caring for him and bringing him here.

Racso: Thank you.

(?): As for you, I hear that you've made yourself a hero and knowing your father as I did and also Mrs. Brisby. I'm not surprised. Welcome back, Timothy, we hope you'll have a good year at school.

(?)

Isabella: Justin says to show you to your bed. You'll be sharing a room with Timothy.

(?)

Chapter 9
(?)

Racso: Where was Timothy?

(?)

Brendan: Good morning, Racso. Did you sleep well? I'll bet you're hungry. I'm going to take you to the cafeteria for breakfast. After that, you'll get the whole tour.

Racso: Just let me get my hat and slick down my fur.

(?)

Brendan: The bedrooms were built along a high bank, so that they could be lighted by the sun or moon. Some of the storerooms on the insides. ere have no windows. We like those with beeswax candles.

Racso: I thought you'd have the electric lights.

Brendan: We used to when the colony lived under the rose bush at the Fitzgibbons. I was too little to remember, but I've heard the others talk about it. But we were stealing electricity from the farmers, and the leaders didn't think it was right to do that.

(?)

Brendan: We use those mostly in colder weather. The soup we made last night was special, for Timothy's homecoming.

Racso: Timothy? You think he's a star.

Brendan: Where are the others? (?) We get up with the sun. Most of the colony is hard at work by now: gardening, harvesting, gathering wood, weaving baskets, digging up the ground for a new water main. The babies are in the nursery - that's just down the hall and to the left - and of course, the young rats are in school. I'm to take you to see Nicodemus. Then I'll go back to school myself.

(?)

Brendan: If you don't mind, I'll go past my room and pick up my books.

Racso: Would you give me a pen since you have more than one?

Brendan. No. You must make your own. Until you do, you're right on the floor with a sharp stick all the beginners learned that way.

(?)

Brendan: Hey, Racso! Give that back!

Racso: Give what back?

Brendan: Give me my pen!

Racso: You don't really need two pens. You can write with both paws at once. can you?

(?)

(?): Give him his pen immediately, Racso. And you, Brendan, you go on to school.

(?)

(?): Please sit down. I'll join you in a moment.

(?)

(?): Tell me about yourself.

(?)

Racso: I was born in the city. My family is very poor and lives in the basement wall of an abandoned house. My father works all night hauling garbage from the central market to an orphanage of little rats whose parents died from rat poisoning, but he wants me to have an education, so he sent me here. A strange rat came to the orphanage and told my father about Thorn Valley that there was a school here and plenty of food and this year, my parents decided I was old enough to come.

(?): But how did you come to be here?

Racso: I followed the highway to Smithville, and then i found out where the Fitzgibbons live and I met the big crow over there. I gave the crow a shiny cigarette paper and he told me where to go, and then, I met Timothy.

(?): I don't have any useful liars. I'm going to set you aside, set you outside, and you can go back where you came from.

Racso: No. I don't want to.

(?): Will you tell me the truth this time?

Racso: Yes. Please.

(?): Well?

Racso: Jenner is my father. I know you don't like each other anymore, but please let me stay here anyway I really wanted to learn to read and write.

(?): Jenner? You mean he's alive?

Racso: He was the only one who survived the accident.

(?): Alive! (?) Where is he now?

Racso: At home in the city.

(?): If only we had known. We could have helped him. The papers said there were seven dead.

Racso: He managed to creep away. He was badly burned, but he lay in a deserted basement while his wounds healed. There wasn't anything to eat. By the time he was strong enough to crawl out the window, he was practically starving.

(?): My poor friend.

(?)

(?): What happened to him?

Racso: He crawled along the ditch besides the highway, until he was strong enough to walk and then he walked, until he came to the city when he found my mother he was covered with scars.

(?): If only we had known. We could have gone after him and brought him back. We could have kept him in the infirmary, until he was well.

Racso: Is that there that you didn't?

(?): Why?

Racso: I was born after the accident, so I don't know what he was like before the accident, but my mother says he changed he's bitter and scared all the same time. He won't go out of the nest because he doesn't want the others to see his scars and whenever we go out, he gets scared.

(?): Scared of what?

Racso: I'm not sure he's scared that something will hurt us. A car, a person, another animal, even where is that the telephone pole will fall on us or a building will topple while we're inside looking for food.

(?): Paranoia.

Racso: He didn't want me to learn to read. He felt that the more I learned the more dangerous, my life would become because I would want to learn even more and see more … He wanted me to stay in the rat hole with him and eat garbage and sleep, but I couldn't do that.

(?): So you ran away?

Racso: I don't want the others to know.

(?): Know what?

Racso: About Jenner. He's my dad.

(?): Why not?

Racso: Because he left … Because he was a troublemaker …

(?): Your father had a strong convictions and he followed them. That takes courage.

Racso: He doesn't have any friends now. He doesn't care about anyone. Only me, and my mother and sister.

(?): He must love you a great deal. I shall try to send him a message, so that he'll know you arrived here safely. And since you've requested it, I won't tell the others about Jenner.

Racso: Timothy already knows.

(?): Yes, Timothy … I wrote to Elizabeth Brisby this morning. Our doctor, Elvira, thinks that he will make a quick recovery. We appreciate your taking such good care of him.

Racso: Thank you.

(?): As for you … We haven't talked about whether you should stay.

Racso: I want to stay.

(?): Why?

Racso: I want to be a scientist. I want to be a hero, like Jonathan.

(?): (?), but nobody's a hero. The Thorn Valley is not in the business of raising heroes. Heroes are creatures of an adversity, war, fire, accident, or disaster. Our dreams for Thorn Valley don't include the tragic circumstances that produce heroes. What we want is a community where rats cooperate to provide food and shelter, where work and pleasure are part of everyone's life.

Racso: But (?) heroes. (?) leaders.

(?): Leaders, yes. But leaders are no more heroic than the rat who carries more grain than she really has to, or the student who does not lose his temper when another rat takes what is rightfully his. (?) I have to go see if Arthur's back. He's our chief engineer. he went with a few others to the Trout River to check on the flooding there, and he's due to return this morning. I won't be long. Perhaps you'd like to sit here and think until I come back.

(?)

Chapter 10
(In the classroom, (?))

Racso: Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

Hermione: That's wonderful! You've learned a lot in just three weeks, Racso.

(?)

Sally: We're finished. Come and look at what we've done.

(?)

Racso: I can see the emerald pond.

Sally: There's the playground.

Racso: And here are the entrances to the nest - the front door, the back door, and the emergency door.

Sally: Here's where the creek flows out of the Trout River and winds around until it gets to the dam at the pond … and here's the swimming hole … and here's the spot where we catch crayfish - you can tell because there's a bin toward the south right there.

(?)

Racso: But I can swim! What am I going to do? Who would save me?

Hermione: We've faced other problems, Racso, and we've always found solutions. Just last fall we invented a trap to catch a red-tailed hawk who had built a nest on the cliff north of here. We blindfolded her and carried her to the other side of the mountain, where we let her go. And no one got hurt.

Racso: But what about the life preserver?

(?)

Brendan: Maybe Timothy will save you again.

(?)

Racso: Just leave Timothy out of this!

(?)

Racso: Is it really just for us? The ones I've seen have always been for human kids.

Timothy: Arthur helped us build it last spring. The whole class worked on it together.

Racso: I want to go on the slide! I want to swing on the grapevine!

Timothy: Go ahead. There's only one rule that we take turns. Everyone gets to go once before anyone goes twice.

(?)

Racso: But I don't like to take turns. And anyway, the others had lots of turns before I ever got here. I need a chance to catch up.

(?)

Hermione: There's a meeting tonight. We'll be talking about the flooding and trying to figure out what to do.

Rasco: Do the children go?

Hermione: Of course. We couldn't possibly make a decision as a group without having the children there.

Racso: Will we vote about what to do?

Hermione: Only if there's widespread disagreement. Usually, after a long discussion, we agree among ourselves on what seems best. But when we can't agree, we vote, and the majority rules.

Racso: Even the children vote?

Hermione: Everyone but the very small babies. So listen carefully and think hard. You may be the one who will solve the problem.

(?)

Hermione: Quiet down! Get ready to think!

Justin: All of you know that the Trout River, which is fed by the stream and pond outside, has risen almost three feet in the last two months. We've measured the rainfall as we usually do, and we know that there hasn't been enough rain to cause this kind of flooding. The flooding is being caused by something else. We have made three short trips to the Trout in the past two weeks, but so far we haven't been able to find a clue to what's happening.

Arthur: I think we should send scouting parties in both directions along the river for a distance of 10 miles. They should leave early next week and plan to be gone for two full weeks. When they return, we can discuss what they found and work from there.

(?)

Justin: Each party should have six or seven rats in it. They should be rats who like to walk and have keen powers of observation.

(?)

Justin: Brendan, Sally, Jean, Francis, Max, Brutus, Tom, Becky … I need three more.

Racso: Me! Me!

Justin: Beatrice and Frank … (?) Are you sure you're well enough?

Timothy: I'm sure.

Elvira: I'll send an extra dose of dried broth, just in case. But I think he'll do fine.

(?)

Justin: Next time, …

(?)

Brendan: Where's Racso?

Timothy: He left after the scouting parties were chosen. I think he felt hurt he wasn't picked.

Brendan: I expect Justin wanted rats who could read. Racso's learning fast, but he couldn't read anything on his own yet.

Christopher: I wish I could go. I didn't even bother to raise my paw. My parents won't let me. They think I'm too wild.

Brendan: There's always next time.

Christopher: Racso and I will have a good time. There'll be plenty to do right here at Thorn Valley.

Brendan: Plenty of trouble to get into, you mean. You and Racso should get along just fine.

(?)

Chapter 11
(?)

Arthur: My group will travel due South from Thorn Valley until we reach the river about midday tomorrow. From there, we'll follow the riverbank until the canyon makes it impossible. If we haven't found anything by then, we'll climb the canyon wall and follow it outside the state forest into human territory.

Justin: We'll had due South along the river. I expect the terrain there to be wooded with sloping hills - that's what the crows have said. But no matter what we find, we'll plan to meet you back here at the end of two weeks.

Arthur: Good luck.

(?)

Arthur: Up another six inches.

(?)

Beatrice: I felt it too. It reminds me of the feeling of thunder in the sky before you can really hear it.

Frank: Perhaps it's about to storm.

Arthur: We should set up camp well back from the water.

Max: I'm hungry.

(?)

Timothy: What could it be?

Arthur: I'm not sure.

(?)

All rodents: What's that?

(?)

Arthur: Dynamite. It's a powder used by humans to blow holes in the Earth. It's very dangerous, although not as powerful as an earthquake or a volcano. It can level a mountainside if they use enough of it.

(?)

Timothy: What are they using it for here?

Arthur: I don't know. But I'd be willing to bet -

(?)

Frank: Wait. Listen.

(?)

All: Arthur!

Beatrice: What is it?

Arthur: I'd know that sound anywhere. The last time I heard the day the humans ruined the nest under the rosebush at Mr. Fitzgibbons' farm. It's a bulldozer.

(?)

Max: What are they building?

Arthur: We should rest. When it's dark, we'll go down and investigate.

((?) Beatrice (?))

Arthur: We were worried. What have you found?

Beatrice: They plan to flood the valley.

Arthur: A dam? Why would they want to build a dam in the middle of the forest?

Beatrice: Their plans are in the trailer. I'll show you.

(?)

Max: We won't let them do it. We just won't.

Chapter 12
(?)

Racso: I thought they had caught you. I thought we'd never see you again.

(?)

Christopher: I've heard she's mean.

Racso: Who told you that?

Christopher: My cousin. One day, she stepped on a pea plant when she was playing tag and Bertha yelled at her. She thinks vegetables are wonderful and delicious and children are a nuisance.

(?)

Bertha: I will meet you back here at four. I expect each task on the list to be performed thoroughly and well. The two of you will be working in square two-B.

(?)

Bertha: If there are no more questions, I'll be on my way.

Racso: But we never asked the first question.

(?)

Racso: What are they?

Christopher: Cabbages?

Racso: Even I know better than that - cabbages are round.

Christopher: Whatever they are, we have to do the things on this list to them.

Racso: Which of the things on the list shall we do first?

Christopher: The first one.

(?)

Racso: Here.

(?)

Christopher: Well, hurry up! What does it do?

(?)

Christopher: What's so funny?

Racso: You, that's what.

Christopher: I may be funny, but nobody's going to be laughing long if we don't get started on this work. Now, what are we supposed to do first?

Racso: How would I know? I can't read.

Christopher: But I can't read either.

Racso: I know.

(?)

Christopher: It's ruined.

(?)

Racso: We have to pick them.

(?)

Christopher: Peppermint!

Racso: Of course. We used to make mint tea during the cold weather.

Christopher: Tea. (?)

Racso: In the city, we eat it in candy. Haven't you heard of peppermint patties?

Christopher: No.

(?)

Christopher: I've never tasted candy. But I've heard that it isn't good for you.

Racso: That's ridiculous. I used to eat the doggy time and look at me.

Christopher: You are a little short for your age.

Racso: That's because I could never get enough of it. No. Believe me, Christopher, if there's one thing that dawn valley needs is candy.

Christopher: Maybe we could use this mint to make some. There's a cookbook in the kitchen. Isabella works there. She could look up the recipe and read it to us.

Racso: Wonderful.

(?)

Racso: There's a treat for you in the meeting room.

(?)

Racso: Let's lie down and rest for five minutes.

(?)

Bertha: Ahhhh!

(?)

Bertha: You ruined it!

(?)

Mitchell: What happened here?

(?)

Bertha: They ruined it.

(?)

Bertha: I gave them explicit instructions! I wrote it down!

(?)

Racso: We can't read.

(?)

Mitchell: Do you have plans for this?

(?)

Christopher: Yes, we wanted to make a wonderful surprise. It will be something new, and I'm sure you'll all like it a lot.

(?)

(?): Surprise?

Mitchell: I like surprises.

Berhta: I'm going to tell everyone. I'm going to tell them that they ruined my mint patch.

Mitchell: Our mint patch. And if it hadn't been picked soon, the cold would have destroyed it anyway.

(?)

Christopher: What do we get the surprise?

Racso: What color is it?

Christopher: Is it bigger than a cabbage? Is it smaller than a peanut?

(?)

Chapter 13
(?)

Chapter 14
(?)

Chapter 15
(?)

Chapter 16
(?)

Chapter 17
(?)

Chapter 18
(?)

Chapter 19
(?)

Chapter 20
(?)

Chapter 21
(?)

Chapter 22
(?)

Chapter 23
(?)

Chapter 24
(?)

Chapter 25
(?)

Somewhere in the ending
(The humans are building the dam because the Thorn Valley flooded and the rats of colony and council will (?).)

Somewhere in Chapters
Brutus:

Justin:

Johnathan:

(?)

(?): Where are we?

Elizabeth: (?)

Timothy: Thank you.

Rat: (?)

Timothy: (?) I'm Timothy. Who are you?

Rat: I'm Racso. (?)

(?)

Racso: Jenner is my father. He's the one who planned to destroy your home to move out the garden. Mr. Fitzgibbon.

(?): Where are we gonna find the (?)?

(?): We here to rescue you.