An American Tail

Gussie Mausheimer:
Wewease the secwet weapon.

Tiger:
You lost your family? I lost my family, too, years ago, I mean. Eight brothers. Ten sisters. Three fathers.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Ah, Mr Curious, so you've discovered the herring.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Herring? I thought they were fish.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Herring is fish.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Really, Papa?

Papa Mousekewitz:
Oh, yes. There are many kinds of fish, and herring is one of them.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
All kinds?

Papa Mousekewitz:
Tiny fishes, not so tiny fishes, fishes as big as this boat.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Wow. Let's go up and see the fish.

Mama Mousekewitz:
It's the end of the world.

Papa Mousekewitz:
No, it's worse.

Papa Mousekewitz:
And for you, Fievel, a new hat. And not just any new hat. A new hat that has been in the family for three generations. It belonged to me, my father, and my father's father, and now it belongs to you. Happy Hannukah.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
It's too big.

Mama Mousekewitz:
You'll grow.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Oh, I nearly forgot. Here, Fievel, your hat.

Mama Mousekewitz:
The hat, it fits!

Papa Mousekewitz:
My son! Now, you are a mouse.

Tiger:
Listen, I like mice.

Tiger:
Oh, no. Not like that. You see, I don't eat red meat at all. I'm a vegetarian. Oh, a little fish now and then, but what I really like is a nice piece of... shh... broccoli.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Fievel, this is the last time I take you to America.

Papa Mousekewitz:
In America there are mouseholes in every wall.

Mama Mousekewitz:
Who says?

Papa Mousekewitz:
Everyone. In America there are bread crumbs on every floor.

Mama Mousekewitz:
What ridiculous nonsense!

Papa Mousekewitz:
In America you can say anything you want, but most important - and this I know for a fact - in America there are no cats.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Won't it be great when we finally get to America, where we don't have to worry about cats? There are no cats in America. But back home in Mother Russia... Ahh.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Our family was travelling through the snow to Minsk / Suddenly Papa saw those huge pawprints / When I heard him screaming I fainted dead away / And I woke up an orphan... Oy vey!

Henri:
Q'est que çe? A little immigrant. Now they are coming by bottle.

Tony Toponi:
Stick with me, kid.

Tony Toponi:
Hey, hey, hey! What, are we engaged or something?

Bridget:
This is America. We have freedom of speech. We can say "cat" here. Cat, cat, cat, and double-cat!

Gussie Mausheimer:
We must have a wawwy.

Honest John:
A wawwy? What's a wawwy?

Gussie Mausheimer:
You know, a warge gathewing of mice for a weason.

Honest John:
Oh, a rally!

Gussie Mausheimer:
That's what I said, a wawwy.

Bridget:
Honest John, this little mouse has lost his family. Do you by any chance know the Mousekewitzes?

Honest John:
Oh... Hmm. Are they registered to vo - Hic! - ote?

Bridget:
They just got off the boat.

Honest John:
Sorry, don't know them yet.

Gussie Mausheimer:
Why did we come here to America? For fweedom! Why are they building that statue on the harbor? What does it stand for? Fweedom! What do we want?

Tiger:
I'm your guard, Tiger. Don't make any sudden moves, 'cause I'm crafty and I'm quick. I've got the instints of a cat. What am I saying? I am a cat.

Warren T. Rat:
Now throw down that kid!

Tony Toponi:
Oh, yeah?

Tony Toponi:
Bullseye!

Warren T. Rat:
Disregard the nose. What's in a nose? A nose by any other name would smell as sweet...

Warren T. Rat:
Hey, who are you gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Henri, what's that over there?

Henri:
Oh, that is more America.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Can we go see it?

Henri:
You will, my little American. Someday, you will.

Warren T. Rat:
If music be the food of love, play on, McDuff, play on.

Digit:
I don't know which is worse, the music or the Shakespeare?

Gussie Mausheimer:
What's come over me? I'm hugging a cat!

Warren T. Rat:
You're fired.

Tiger:
Good. I'm glad. I never like you.

Tiger:
I'm your guard, Tiger. Don't make any sudden moves, 'cause I'm crafty and I'm quick. I've got the instincts of a cat. What am I saying? I am a cat!

Tiger:
You lost your family? Oh, dear. That's terrible. I lost my family, too. Years ago, I mean. [sobs] 8 brothers. 10 sisters. 3 fathers.

Tiger:
Listen... I like mice-- [Fievel cries] Oh, no. Not like that. You see, I don't eat red meat at all. I'm a vegetarian. Oh, a little fish now and then, but what I really like is a nice piece of... shh... broccoli.

Tiger:
(after Warren fires him) Good. I'm glad. I never liked you. And besides, your music stinks!

Tony Toponi:
Hey, Filly! I been lookin' all over for ya! [chuckles] Pardon the expression, but ah, you look like somethin' the cat dragged in. [chuckles again]

Tony Toponi:
Stick with me, kid. [Fievel holds on tightly to Tony's arm] Hey, hey, hey! What, are we engaged or something?

Warren T. Rat:
Remember what Shakespeare said, and I quote: "Opportunity knocks but...er, but..err... but... but... but once! Taken at the tide, 'twill lead to fortune. If denied, 'twill never return."

Warren T. Rat:
[After his false nose has been shot off by Tony] Disregard the nose! What's in a nose? For a nose by any other name would smell as sweet--[Tony knocks off his false ears]

Warren T. Rat:
Hey, come on! Who are ya gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?

Warren T. Rat:
Don't worry, gentlemen. There are plenty of mice in Hong Kong.

Warren T. Rat:
Hey, I wonder how you say "trust me" in Chinese.

Tanya Mousekewitz:
Papa, why'd they change my name to Tilly?

Papa Mousekewitz:
Fievel, this is the last time I take you to America.

Papa Mousekewitz:
We'll be alright. As long as we're together, we'll be alright.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Ah, so, Mr. Curious, you've discovered the herring.

Papa Mousekewitz:
Fievel, you'll get hurt!

Bridget:
This is America! We have free speech! We can say "cat" here! Cat, cat, cat, and double-cat!

Gussie Mausheimer:
Today was the wowst day evewr. Those cats are kiwwing eveweone. They don't even know the diffewences between wich and poowa! The wetches.

Gussie Mausheimer:
As you know, I have dedicated by wife to hewping those who awe wess fowtunate than mysewf....er, that's evewyone. And now, I need you to hewp me.

Gussie Mausheimer:
We must have a wawwy!.....You know, a wawwy. A warge gathewing of mice fow a weason.

Gussie Mausheimer:
Money is not evewething. I know because I have money, and I have evewething. But what awe they worth without fweedom?

Gussie Mausheimer:
We have a pwan. E Pwuweibus Unum.

Gussie Mausheimer:
Wewease the secwet weapon!

Gussie Mausheimer:
I am hugging a cat!

Gussie Mausheimer:
Why do we come to Amewica? For fweedom. Why did they buiwd that statue, what does it stand fowr? Fweedom. So, what do we want?

Gussie Mausheimer:
There's a dead mouse on that tabwe.

Gussie Mausheimer:
When awe you going to the cats, what do you do to make them come hewre?

Honest John:
[At the wake of Mickey O'Hare - he is rather intoxicated] Poor lad. So young. He never had a chance to vote. Well, he'll vote from now on. I'll see to that. [Shakily writes Mickey's name on a notebook under "Ghost Votes"]

Henri:
Qu'est-ce que c'est? A little immigrant. Now they are coming by bottle.

Henri:
This is just an island at the doorway where I, Henri Le Pigeon, am putting up my Statue of Liberty.

Henri:
Now, are you ready to go and find your family?

Mama:
Fievel! Tanya! Stop that twirling, twirling! I mean it!

Papa:
But Mama, it's Hannukah.

Mama:
For you, every night is Hannukah.

Papa:
For Tanya, a new babushka. Happy Hannukah.

Tanya:
Oh, Papa, thank you.

Mama:
You have only one parent?

Tanya:
Thank you, Mama.

[Warren is playing the violin]

Warren:
Rats! This nose, this nose keeps getting in the way.

Digit:
You could stop playing.

Warren:
That's funny. I've never known a cockroach with good taste, but I've known plenty that taste - heh, heh - good.

Digit:
[nervously] Heh-eheh. Play, play, play!

Henri:
Where is your mama, your papa, huh?

Fievel:
I don't know. They were on a boat to America.

Henri:
Then you are in luck, my little immigrant. This is America.

Fievel:
America. But I thought it was bigger.

Henri:
Oh, it is bigger. All of that is also America.

Henri:
I know, my little immigrant. You want to find your family. And you will.

Fievel:
But how? They're so far away, and it's so big. I'll never find them anyway.

Henri:
J'me excuse pardonnez, but did you say never? So young, and you've already lost hope! This is America, the place to find hope. If you give up now, you will never find your family. So never say never.

Henri:
Now, are you ready to go find your family?

Fievel:
Yes!

Henri:
Chantal! Take my little friend to Immigration. You will find your family there. Everyone goes through Immigration. I would take you there myself, but then I would never finish my statue.

Fievel:
Henri, you said never.

Henri:
Oh, so I did!

Fievel:
I'm looking for my family.

Warren:
Hey, you've come to the right fella, kid. I know exactly where they are. Follow me.

Fievel:
But Henri said I would find them here.

Warren:
Have it your way, kid. But remember what Shakespeare said, and I quote: "Opportunity knocks but... uh, but..."

Digit:
Psst! Once.

Warren:
"... but-but-but once! Taken at the tide, t'will lead to fortune. If denied, t'will never return."

Fievel:
Do you really know where my family is?

Warren:
Heh heh, trust me, kid. Trust me.

Papa:
Ah, so, Mr. Curious, you've discovered the herring.

Fievel:
Herring? I thought they were fish.

Papa:
But, Fievel, herring are fish.

Fievel:
Really, Papa?

Papa:
Oh, yes. In the ocean, there are many kinds of fish, and herring is one of them.

Fievel:
All kinds?

Papa:
Yes. Tiny fishes, not so tiny fishes, fishes as big as this boat.

Fievel:
Wow! Let's go up and see the fish!

Tiger:
I like butterflies with big, golden wings, and blue and green tips.

Fievel:
Me too!

Tiger:
Yeah? I like Swiss cheese ice cream.

Fievel:
Me too! Me too!

Tiger:
You too-too? Hmmmmm. Wait a minute. What's your favorite book?

Fievel:
Hmm, the Brothers Karamousov.

Tiger:
[laughs] The Brothers... I can't believe it! I can't believe it!

Fievel:
Look, Papa! water! Is it the ocean?

Papa:
Yes. Keep walking.

Fievel:
Look, Papa! Smoke! Is the boat on fire?

Papa:
No! Keep walking!

Mama:
Well, mister "There are no WHATS in America"? Hmm?

Papa:
[laughs sheepishly] Cats.

Digit:
Would you please put out that filthy thing? I'm suffocating down here!

Warren:
You don't like it? Hey, you know you're not the only cockoroach in New York City. There are millions of roaches who give their left feet to work for Warren T. Rat.

Digit:
Good! Fire me! I'm fed up with that filthy smoke in this pocket! I've seen kitchen shelves cleaner than this place! Look at my suit!

Warren:
Tiger, how did he get away?!

Tiger:
He overpowered me.

Warren:
You're fired!

Tiger:
Good, I'm glad. I never liked you. And besides, your music stinks!

Papa:
In America, there are mouse holes in every wall.

Mama:
Who says?

Papa, Tanya, and Fievel:
Everyone!

Papa:
In America, there are bread crumbs on every floor.

Mama:
You're talking nonsense!

Papa:
In America, you can say anything you want, but most important - and this I know for a fact - in America, there are no cats.

Gussie:
We must have a wawwy.

Honest John:
A wawwy? What's a wawwy?

Gussie:
You know, a wawwy-- A warge gathewing of mice for a weason.

Honest John:
Oh, a rally!

Gussie:
That's what I said! A wawwy.

Warren:
Just throw down that kid!

Tony:
Oh, yeah? [knocks off Warren's fake nose with his slingshot] Bullseye!

[the crowd murmurs]

Warren:
Disregard the nose. What's in a nose? A nose by any other name would smell as sweet...

[Tony knocks off Warren's fake ears]

Crowd:
Great whiskers! He's a cat! [other voices] Hey! A cat! A cat! Cat!

Warren:
Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute. Who are you gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?

Warren:
If music be the food of love, play on, McDuff, play on.

Digit:
[miserably] I don't know which is worse, the music or the Shakespeare?

Tiger:
[playing cards] I got it! I got it! I got it! Rummy!

Cat:
Tiger, for the hundredth time, we're playing poker.

[Fievel sees Warren's true form from behind the mirror]

Fievel:
Warren T.!

Warren:
[sees Fievel] You!

Fievel:
You're not a rat, you're a cat!

Warren:
How'd you get in here? Come here, you little...

[he grabs Fievel, but Fievel bites him, pushes the mirror on him, and runs off]:

Warren:
Gentlemen, cat's out of the bag. [throws the mirror off him and to the ground] Get me that mouse!

Tony:
Tony Toponi's the name. Put her there erh-

Fievel:
Fievel. Fievel Mousekewitz.

Tony:
Fievel? Ooh, that name's got to go! I know...Philly!

Fievel:
[giggles] Philly?

Tony:
Yeah, fits you perfect.

Orphan #1:
Hey, what's your story?

Fievel:
I'm looking for my family.

Orphan #2:
Hey, fellas! He's looking for his family.

Orphan #1, Orphan #3:
[mockingly] He's looking for his family!

Orphan #3:
I stopped that a long time ago.

Orphan #2:
At least you know who they are.

Orphan #1:
Why are you looking for them? They should be looking...

All orphans:
...for you!

Orphan #3:
They don't care. Forget 'em.

Fievel:
[angry] You're right! They don't care, and if they did, they would have found me! Well, if they don't care, I don't care! I hope I never see them again!

Orphan #2:
Yeah! Forget 'em! You're one of us now!

Orphan #1:
Here. Make yourself a bed.

[They toss hay over Fievel.]

Orphan #1:
Ha-ha-ha! Pitiful.

Fievel:
[tearfully] I'll never find them again, anyway. Never. Never. Never. This is my home now.

Mouse Cop:
We've got to do something about them cats.

Honest John:
Besides paying Warren T. Rat for no protection.

Mama:
Oh, my little boy, back from the dead. America, what a place.

Papa:
My Fievel. I thought I would never see you again.

Fievel:
Never say never, Papa.

Papa:
Oh, I nearly forgot. Here, Fievel, your hat.

[he drops the hat back on his son's head; this time, Fievel strains, and moves the hat up with his ears]

Mama:
Your hat, it fits!

Papa:
My son! Now, you are a mouse.

Meet Fievel. In his search to find his family, he discovered America.

Mama:
Well, Mr. There-Are-No-Whats-In-America? Hmm?

Papa:
Cats. [laughs sheepishly]

Tiger:
[playing cards] I got it! I got it! I got it! Rummy!

Cat:
Tiger, for the hundredth time, we're playing poker.

Tiger:
[chuckles nervously] I knew that. I knew that, but who can concentrate with all that, you know, noise?

Cat 2:
Hey, Tiger, when the boss plays, it's culture.

Fievel:
I want to get out of here.

Tony:
[chuckles] You and me both.

Fievel:
I have to find my family.

Noodles:
Oh, shut up! Go to sleep.

Pee Wee:
[offscreen] Pipe down.

Roc:
[offscreen] Oh, be quiet!

Fievel:
I wish we had that mouse with the long hair. She could drop her hair out the window, and we can all climb down.

Worker:
Sure. Out the window.

Pee Wee:
Oh, fairy tales!

Tony:
Wait a minute. This kid may have something. Tony Toponi's the name. Put her there, eh--

Fievel:
Fievel. Fievel Mousekewitz.

Tony:
Fievel? Ooh! That name's got to go. Hey, I'll tell you what, though. Filly!

Fievel:
[giggles] Filly?

Tony:
Yeah, fits you perfect. Hey, Filly. You got any idea where your family is? Filly! Filly Mousekewitz! Hey, Filly! Sheesh!

Fievel:
[stops in front of other passengers] Look Papa, water. Is it the ocean?

Papa:
Yes. Keep walking.

Fievel:
[the passenger right behind Fievel ushers him to continue walking, but he stops again] Look Papa, smoke. Is the boat on fire?

Papa:
[slightly annoyed] No no no! Keep walking!

Fievel:
[is ushered again by the same passenger; once again, he stops, but this time, he is knocked off the rope, but hangs onto Papa's tail] Look Papa, birds! Are they seagulls?

Seagulls:
Keep walking!!

Papa:
[pulls Fievel back up onto the rope in front of him with his violin bow] Keep walking!

Passengers [piling through Papa:
to Fievel] KEEP WALKING!!!

Fievel:
I just wanted to see.

Papa:
[sighs] Fievel, this is the last time I take you to America.

Fievel:
[looks back and waves] Buh-bye!

Fievel Mousekewitz:
Papa!

Fievel Mousekewitz:
But there are no cats in America. What are you all afraid of? Cats, cats, cats, cats. Papa told me. Everyone knows it. There are no cats.

Fievel Mousekewitz:
[to Gussie] He's not a rat. He's a cat. He's their boss!

Fievel Mousekewitz:
I'll never find them again anyway. Never. This is my home now.

Papa Mousekewitz:
FIEVEL!!!

Bridget:
Wait a minute! Honest John, at Tammany Hall.

Gussie Mausheimer:
Wawwen, you'we thwough. Washed up, wuined! Heh... You'ww never get another cent fwom any mouse, anywhere.

Henri:
Never say "never".