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.

(The scene changes to the area, where Fiver saw the construction equipment, where Hazel and Fiver are eating some grass.)

Fiver - I’m sorry, Hazel.

Hazel - You don’t have to apologize, Fiver. The chief can be unreasonable when it’s ni-frith.

Rabbit - What are those things Fiver’s looking at? (Bigwig, along with a black-tipped grayish-blue rabbit and a Yellowish rabbit approached the two)

Fiver - Bigwig?

Hazel - He brought Blackberry and Dandelion.

Fiver - Why are you here?

Blackberry - Bigwig told Us about what Fiver said.

Dandelion - We weren’t sure if Fiver’s right, but, want to come with you.

Hazel - Sure. You can come. But, Bigwig, why are you--?

Bigwig - I left the Owsla. The Chief wanted me to keep watch over you.

Blackberry - So, those are the things that are making Fiver uneasy. (Looks at the construction equipment) I don’t know what they are, but they look sinister.

Bigwig - Hazel, Fiver? We’d better tell almost everyone about this.

Dandelion - Almost?

Bigwig - Most of the Owsla are devoted to Rowan, they won’t listen to reason. Now, here’s what We’ll do. (the rabbits huddle together and whisper. The scene changes to night, where 2 human-shaped silhouettes approach the construction equipment, the scene pans to two small rabbits exiting the warren without being seen by the Owsla, and go under the brambles carefully)

Fiver - How are you feeling, Pipkin?

Pipkin - Fine. But, I wish my parents were here with me... (He and Fiver meet up with Hazel and Zinnia)

Voice - You’re here, too?

Fiver - Huh? Dandelion?

Voice - No, It’s Hawkbit. (He and Dandelion approach Hazel)

Hazel - I’m glad you came.

Hawkbit - Thank you. But, where are the others? (Blackberry runs toward the others,) well, speak of the Black Rabbit of Inle. (With Blackberry is a robust dark-gray rabbit, and two light-gray rabbits.) She brought Buckthorn, Speedwell, and Acorn.

Hazel - We’ll wait for Bigwig, and then We’ll leave together,

Bigwig - You don’t have to wait. (He and a gray rabbit with white spots reach Hazel’s group) I brought Silver with me.

Dandelion - Silver? But, He’s a member of the Owsla and the Chief’s nephew.

Bigwig - True, but He had a hard time with the others, making fun of his fur color. But, We have to leave, now. (they all leave the field) Toadflax saw Me leave and is informing the Chief.

Voice - Stay where you are. (the rabbits stop in front of a dark gray rabbit) You’re all under arrest for Spreading dissention, desertion, and intent to mutiny.

Silver - Captain Holly.

Holly - Captain Silver, You’re under arrest as well, for failing to inform Toadflax. Now, all of you come quietly-- (Silver tackles Holly, who was about to bite Silver’s arm, but Bigwig kicks Him) Bigwig?! What do you think you’re doing?

Bigwig - There’s still a chance for you, Holly. Tell all the rabbits to leave the warren, because if you don’t-- (Toadflax attacks Bigwig, as the other Rabbits assist Bigwig and Silver tackles Toadflax.)

Holly - Grr... You’ll all pay with your lives. (Runs off)

Bigwig - We can’t stay here, (He and the rest of the rabbits run for their lives)

Fiver - Silver, that was brave of you attacking Toadflax.

Silver - Well, if I could, I’d have tackled Him a hundred time for all the times He bullied me.