P Puppy
It does look stupid, Mom.
Not as stupid as sheep, mind you, but pigs are definitely stupid.
[clears throat]
Excuse me. No, we're not.
Good heavens! Who are you?
Yes, that's your breed, dear. What's your name?
Well, what did your mother call you to tell you apart from your brothers and sisters?
Our Mom called us all the same.
She called us all "Babe."
H Horse
[neighs]
Perhaps we shouldn't talk too much about, uh, family. [whinnies]
[sobbing]
I want my Mom. [crying]
[stares at Babe, then goes up to him]
There, there…you've got to be a brave boy, now. I left my mother when I was your age, and my puppies will have to leave me soon. But I'll keep the eyes on you, if you like, just till you find your feet. [Rex shows up, sees Babe] The little pig's a bit low. He's going to sleep with us, just till he finds his feet.
[whimpers]
Until he finds his feet. [leaves]
P Puppy
But, Mom, he'll wet the bed?
Shh, listen. [to Babe] If you do want to do anything, you'll go outside, won't you? Good boy.
[The Hoggetts and Rex return home from the church. They walk inside, and Esme noticed that Duchess is covered in paint. She and Arthur also find the whole house is a mess. Behind the broken alarm clock are two sets of footprints in bright paint. One set is red and webbed. The other set is pointy and blue. Rex ponders what's going on] [Cut to the council inside barn, during the evening, Babe is covered in blue paint] [sighs]
It was my mistake. I was trying to loosen facts up a little. But, no. Today proves that it doesn't work. From now on, we'll all respect the rules. To each creature, its own destiny and every animal in its proper place. And a pig's proper place is under the old cart, not in the barn and absolutely never in the house. Is that understood?
Now, Pig, regarding the company you keep. Being young, it's hard to discriminate, so I'll make it easy for you. I forbid you to speak to or consort with that duck ever. Do I make myself clear?
H Horse
It means, young man, that you must not go anywhere near that duck.
And as for the fugitive duck, when he shows himself, let him know this, being a duck he must behave like a duck. No more of this crowing nonsense. He should accept what he is and be thankful for it. That goes for all of us.
Rex continued long into the night. Elsewhere, there was more talk. The subject was Christmas dinner and whether that year the main course would be roast pork or Duck a l'Orange.
And pork is a nice, sweet meat. Then there's the crackling. That always adds interest and texture.
[Soon Babe is pink again. The puppies are sold to other farmers who needs sheepdogs. Rex has no patience with Fly's disgrace, but Mr. Hoggett pats her gently, and Babe licks her snout]
Fly, may I call you Mom?
[Fly nuzzles the piglet tenderly. At last, Babe has truly found his place on Hoggett's farm. As the nights grow longer and colder, Babe grows bigger. First, Mr. and Mrs. Hoggett's daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren come to visit. The farmhouse is suddenly filled with all sorts of bright, shiny facts. There is singing and laughter. And the people pile brightly wrapped boxes under a tree inside the house]
Hello!
The Hoggetts' son-in-law: Hey, folks, how are you? Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! How's my favorite girl? Nanny has a jellybean. Give us a kiss. And guess what we're having for Christmas dinner? Roast pork.
The Hoggetts' granddaughter: I hate pork.
Darn silly carry-on, if you ask me.
H Horse
The cat says they call it Christmas.
Christmas! Christmas dinner, yes. Dinner means death. Death means carnage! Christmas means carnage! CHRISTMAS MEANS CARNAGE!! [runs off in fear]
[Then one day, Mrs. Hoggett washes the mud off Babe and measures his taut belly with a tape measure. But Fly knows. She has seen other animals taken into the building near the barn. It is the fashion of nature, that doesn't stop her from feeling mournful]
Eating pigs! Blaah! Barbarians!
[runs up to Maa]
You're going back to the fields, Maa.
Oh, young'un, tragic there ain't more of your kind. I'll be thinking of you always.
I could come and visit you, Maa.
I'd like that, but...well, we shouldn't hope for too much. [gets yanked as the cart pulls forward, she follows]
[humming the tune of "Jingle Bells"]
La la la, la la la, la la la lala. La la la, lala la la, lalala la la la la, hey!
[We cut to the Arthur and Esme cooking up some Christmas dinner]
And then, it was Christmas Eve, and time had run out for the pig.
H Mrs. Hoggett
Are you doing him tonight, then?
H Mrs. Hoggett
Sure. The blood will drain by morning.
H Mrs. Hoggett
What's that?
H Mrs. Hoggett
What on earth are you rambling on about?
Exchange to miss out on the best ham prize at next year's fair, is all. Nice plump haunches he's getting. Beautiful. Yet...silly to wait, I suppose so.
