Fly the Border Collie The Bosses only eat stupid animals like sheep and ducks and chickens.
Voiced by Miriam Margolyes 
Babe (1995) · 37 quotes
Babe (1995) · 37 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in Babe (1995): in 17 of its 37 quotes
Most scenes with: Babe (11), Narrator (5), Maa (4)
It's only your first try. But you're treating them like equals. They're sheep; they're inferior.
More lines from Fly the Border Collie
1 quote Fly the Border Collie Scenes with Fly the Border Collie
15 scenes
Puppy
It does look stupid, Mom.
Fly the Border Collie Not as stupid as sheep, mind you, but pigs are definitely stupid.
Fly Good heavens! Who are you?
I'm a Large White.
Fly Yes, that's your breed, dear. What's your name?
I don't know.
Fly Well, what did your mother call you to tell you apart from your brothers and sisters?
Our Mom called us all the same.
Fly And what was that, dear?
She called us all "Babe."
Fly [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.
Puppy
But, Mom, he'll wet the bed?
Fly Shh, listen. [to Babe] If you do want to do anything, you'll go outside, won't you? Good boy.
Fly Babe? Babe? [rushes out of the barn, then she runs around the house] Babe? Babe? [Rex is shown under the wagon watching Fly calling Babe and she approaches him, informing of what Duchess has done to Babe] Babe's run away? Rex? Please?
[Rex regrets at what he had done earlier and changed his heart, gets up]
Call the boss. [Fly then barks at the window to alert Arthur of Babe run away, then they are shown following Babe's tracks and Rex rushes forward and finds Babe in the graveyard, shivering from the rain] He's over here! Hold on, pig. You'll be home soon. [Fly and Arthur approach him ready to bring him back home]
Fly If those sheep won't talk to Babe. The boss is going to look like an idiot. I don't know what to do.
There's only one thing. [Fly tries to speak, but is cut off] I've got to go! I'll try to be back in time. :[runs off, as Arthur looks on with concern]
Dash
[Quack-a-doodle-doo!] [The next morning, Babe is cuddled up against Fly until he hears the strange sound. It is Ferdinand the duck, crowing with all his might to greet the dawn before the rooster has his chance. The puppies warn Babe that Ferdinand is "off his rocker"]
We'll catch him and eat him one day, won't we, Mom?
Fly [yawns]
Yes, guilty. Now come along.
Fly [The dogs leave the barn and go to the doghouse for their breakfast. Babe waddles after them. But Fly stops the piglet before he can push through the doggy door]
Babe, you wait here.
Aren't pigs allowed?
Trip
[Cut to inside the house] [snickering]
Not live ones.
Fly [Cut to outside the house] [to Babe]
Sorry, dear. Only dogs and cats inside the house.
Why?
Fly That's just the way things are! [goes inside]
Fly [The same fact happens later as Babe tries to follow the sheepdogs to the fields]
Not you, dear.
Why not?
Fly We have to do dogs' work. You're a pig. Your job is to stay here and eat your food. We'll be back at the end of the day.
[Babe is very confused. He does not even know what a sheep is. He looks around the busy farmyard. Hens bustle in their coop. Ducks wash in the pond. And no one pays the slightest attention to him. Then he hears something new]
Darn wolf! Never do leave a body alone. [Babe investigates inside the pen] Nag, nag, nag, all day long. Go here, go there, do this, do that. [coughing]
I'm not a wolf.
Oh, I knows all that. Calls yourself a sheepdog. But you don't fool none of us.
I'm not a sheepdog, either. [moves to look through a gap between the planks of the pen]
Well, I'll be dipped! What are you?
Pig. Large White. What are you?
Ewe.
Not me, who are you?
That's what I am! I - am - a - ewe!
Oh, you're a sheep! [goes inside the barn to see Maa]
The name's Maa. And I'm stuck in this little box till the Boss makes me well again.
What's wrong with you, Maa?
Foot rot. And I've had a nasty cough. And I'm not as young as I used to be. [coughs]
[Outside the barn, Esme hears the sheep bleating. She shrugs and harvests more vegetables. Back inside the barn]
You don't look very old to me.
Too kind. First kind word I've heard in donkey's years. You seem a nice young chap, not like them wolves. Treat you like dirt, they do so. Bite you as soon as look at you, the–
Bite you?
And worse. Much worse. Savages!
Fly would never be mean.
Who's that?
She's my mu – she's the sheepdog here.
Fly, is that it? Black-and-white? Teeth sharp as a steel trap? [Babe nods] All them wolves is cruel to us sheep. Always have been. No brains, no heart. [She coughs again] Wouldn't want to see a gentle soul like you mixing with the likes of them.
[Now Babe is more mixed up than ever. Is his new mother really bad? That evening as Fly comes in from the fields, she gives Babe's face a big, slurpy kiss. As he nuzzles against her, Babe decides that the old sheep may be wrong. Perhaps Maa is confused because she is sick. Babe hopes she will get better soon]
At any other time, the pig would've been tickled pink by his first visit to the sheep fields. But now, there was fear in the air. Maa and her kind were under threat.
[Babe wriggles through the fence and runs across the field to join the frantic sheep. Woolly flanks press against him as the sheep are herded toward the truck]
Hey, Frank, feel like pork for dinner tonight?
Young'un! You're alive!
Maa! What's going on? Who are these men?
Frank
I'll get him out. Come around, Sniff! [whistles]
[Sniff runs up while jumping on the flock]
Where's our boss? It doesn't seem right. [gets knocked over by Sniff]
[Babe runs for dear life, with the dog barking and snapping at his heels. He wriggles back through the fence and runs squealing louder to the farmhouse. The Hoggetts' granddaughter opens her last Christmas present in a greedy excitement to reveal the beautiful, extravagant, ultra-realistic handcrafted dollhouse her maternal grandfather, Arthur, made for her, unexpectedly lets out a loud, anguished shriek]
[upon seeing her granddaughter heartbroken]
What's wrong, dear?
The Hoggetts' granddaughter: [complaining and sobbing] It's the wrong one! [shrieking tearfully as we see Arthur smirking at his granddaughter's tantrum, trying not to laugh] I WANT THE HOUSE I SAW ON THE TELEVISION!! [crying]
[comforting her granddaughter]
Oh, there, there.
[We see see the Hoggetts' daughter chuckling and grinning at her daughter's tantrum. We see Fly and Rex past the fireplace. Fly watches this scene with pity in her eyes as if to say "Poor little tyke", but Rex lays down on the floor, looking away without showing any care or worry about his owners' granddaughter. Mr. Hoggett sees Fly's ears perk up at the sound. She starts barking. Something is wrong. The farmer races away in his truck. The dogs run across the fields. Rex reaches the other truck first. It is yet empty. The thieves hit the tailgate shut and smash through the fence at top speed. Rex is yet barking until Fly and Hoggett arrive. They are followed by an exhausted Babe. Hoggett pats Fly's head]
Nice dog. [Fly jumps into the truck bed. Then the farmer lifts Babe up behind her] Nice pig.
Fly [That night, it is all over the farm that Mr. Hoggett thinks Babe is a watch-pig. Rex sulks because he hasn't heard Babe first. But Fly beams as she licks Babe's wounded tail]
I'm very proud of you, my boy.
I'm going to be a nice sheepdog if I grow up, aren't I?
Fly None of my pups would have done any better than you did so today.
Mrs. Hoggett
[The next morning, in the cozy farmhouse kitchen, the Hoggett family look over their Christmas presents. While his daughter and wife speak about the new fax machine, Hoggett gazes out the window. He sees the pig chasing chickens. And while he watches, Babe carefully separates the white hens from the brown, just as he's seen Fly shed certain sheep from the flock]
...a washing machine, a radio, a new alarm clock. I think it's a lovely fax machine, darling, but can't you use it?
The Hoggetts' daughter: We already have one, Mom. That's the entire idea. We can send faxes to each other. Now, don't be afraid of it just because it's new.
The Hoggetts' son-in-law: These accounts are a real concern, Arthur. Every month your expenditure is bigger than your income. It's eating up your reserves the entire time. You need to modernize, get some sort of cash flow going. You're yet using a horse and cart, for heaven's sakes. Dad?
Funny, that.
The Hoggetts' son-in-law: Wait, what?
These chickens, that pig.
The Hoggetts' son-in-law: What's the pig had to do with anything?
Nothing. Just look at them. The browns and the whites. [doesn't warn his family, but the next morning, he decides to see if he's really seen a pig herding chickens] Come, Rex. Come, Fly. [turns to Babe] Come, Pig. [Babe hesitates] Come, Pig!
Fly [Rex tries to hide his shock as Babe follows the dogs through Hoggett's automatic sheep-gate]
Maybe he's pleased with you for what you did yesterday.
I didn't do much.
Fly Well, if it wasn't for you, darling, they could've stolen the entire flock.
Is Rex unhappy with me?
Fly Oh, he'll be alright. Just stay out of his road today.
[Babe does watch, very carefully, as Fly and Rex circle the flock of sheep]
Way to be, Fly. Rex, come by!
[The dogs bark fiercely and nip at woolly flanks. The panicked sheep run through a gate into the sorting yard]
You're so fast. I'd never be able to fly like you can.
Fly Pigs aren't built to fly, darling. But speed isn't the fact. It's attitude. They just have to know who's boss.
Fly [During the evening, while Babe is sleeping under the cart, Fly bravely walks up to Rex, who is lying on the front porch, very jealous]
Rex? [Rex doesn't answer] I know it was hard for you today, watching all that happening. But surely it's not worth all this misery. Please, darling. Not on such a beautiful night.
Farmer Hoggett
[attacks Fly in a fit rage, as Farmer Hoggett notices and goes outside to intervene]
Get down! Down, Rex! [Rex accidentally bites his hand] Rex...
[Rex stops fighting as he realizes what he had done horribly wrong and steps back in shame, and Esme Hoggett gives him a frustrated and disgusting look on her face]
A dark cloud had descended on the valley. And the pig felt that the dangers were all his fault. But he was certain, he knew how to set things right.
[in an attempt to apologize for being better than him]
Um, excuse me, sir. But I-I-I-I think all this trouble-
Vet
[But before Babe can conclude his sentence, Rex growls and snarls frustratingly at Babe, who becomes so frightened that he squeals louder and runs off. Rex attempts to apologize, but fails, and he puts his head down sadly. Farmer Hoggett noticed this. Later, Rex is muzzled during the vet's visit]
Well, it's not distemper. Can't be rabies. Must be the hormones.
What about Hoggett's notion, the dog being jealous of the wee pig?
Vet
Oh, I don't see that myself.
No. Then what have we done?
Vet
Well, you can keep him locked up or snip, snip. I can do it Tuesday.
Arthur Hoggett
No.
Vet
Or Wednesday.
Hoggett doesn't want the dog operated on. He's a breeding dog.
Vet
Well, now, I can sedate him, of course, but he'll be useless as a working dog. [injects Rex] Now I'm gonna give you some pills to put in his food.
Arthur Hoggett
Good dog.
A pig doing the work of a sheepdog? With Rex out of action and Fly injured from the fight, Farmer Hoggett had no choice.
Maa! Maa! The boss has to give you some medicine.
Oh, dear, I thought so! It's horrible stuff, that.
I know, but it's for the best.
Oh, our young'un, if you say so.
[With that said, the old sheep walks right up to Hoggett and takes her medicine, easy as you please]
Shoo! Shoo!
[Now, a pig doing the work of a sheepdog seems like a full miracle to Farmer Hoggett. He can't deny what he has seen with his own eyes. In the fertile field of his imagination, his daydream swiftly grows into a certain plan. He will take Babe to the trials]
As the thought first came to him, Farmer Hoggett dismissed it as mere whimsy, but like most of his harebrained ideas, it wouldn't go away.
[That afternoon, Hoggett takes Fly and Babe to a field bustling with sheepdogs and Bosses and reluctant-looking men with clipboards]
What are they doing here?
Fly It's a sheepdog trial.
Then it's like a competition for sheepdogs.
Fly And their bosses. It's like an obstacle curse.
How do they decide who wins?
Fly Well, it's time and mistakes. You get points for how fast you are and they take points away for every mistake. Every time a sheep goes the wrong road, that's a mistake and you lose points.
Looks like fun!
Fly Oh, for a sheepdog, there's no prouder moment. You know, Rex and I used to...never mind.
Was Rex a champion?
Fly He had the makings of the biggest champion there ever was, but it wasn't to be.
What just happened?
Fly A while back if Rex was in his prime, the winter rains brought a grand flood to the valley. Rex and the boss got most of the flock onto the high ground. Then Rex went back to look for the strays. He found them. They'd been stranded by the rising water. He tried to herd them across to safety, but they wouldn't budge. Too afraid and too foolish to save their own skins. It was freezing cold and the water kept rising. Rex stayed with them right through the night. By morning, the sheep were drowned. But until they found Rex, he was barely alive.
Oh, Mum!
Fly Two weeks rest in front of the fire saw him back on his feet, but his hearing was never the same again. He'd never let anyone know, but he's almost totally deaf.
Is that why he's so, you know, frustrated?
Fly That's not the half of it. All this was barely a month before the Grand National Challenge. He tried his best, but he couldn't hear the boss's calls, and it slowed him up. The cold truth is that, but for the foolishness of sheep, Rex would've been the champion of champions.
[While Fly was narrating, Farmer Hoggett walks up to the dazed and muzzled Rex. He takes the muzzle off, and gently pets Rex, who is now calmed down with depression]
Mom. Mom! Mom! Can we start work early today?
Fly Oh, dear, it's not even dawn yet. You can go to work until the rooster crows. Go back to sleep.
[In fact, Babe is so eager, he tries to get the rooster to crow early the next day]
Excuse me. Hello, sir. Excuse me, but it's almost dawn and......
Rooster Wait, what?
I'm sorry to disturb you, but it's almost dawn, and I wondered if you'd mind crowing just a few moments early this morning.
Rooster Get out of here!
But, well, see I just...
Rooster Get lost!
Oh, okay Rooster.
[Babe hears terrified bleating. He runs to the aid of the flock. There are sheep tangled in the fence wire. The rest runs to and fro, with three wild dogs snarling and snapping at their heels. The growling dogs pull down a ewe. As the Christmas Eve rustlers come, Babe has felt fear mixed with frustration]
Now the pig understood why the sheep called all dogs wolves. And he was filled with a deep and horrible rage.
[Babe charges the nearest wild dog and knocks it on its side. The next one he bites as hard as he can. Babe tastes blood] [All three dogs run howling apart with their tails between their shaking legs. Babe chases them to the far fence] [As he is sure they are gone, Babe turns back to the frightened flock, which is gathered around the fallen ewe]
Maa! Maa! Are you alright?
Hello, young'un.
Oh, Maa, can you get up?
It's over, Maa. The wolves have gone far off. I'll get the boss up here to look after you. You'll be alright. You'll be alright! [but her eyes are far apart. Her head droops and life leaves her] Oh, Maa! Maa! [chokes back sobs, then bleating depressed as the sheep saying his name] MAA!! MAA!! MAA!!! MAA!!! [the Boss's truck rumbles up]
[Fly cannot meet Babe's eyes]
Fly knew that there was only one fate for any creature that took the life of a sheep on Hoggett Farm.
But Fly could never believe that Babe was a sheep-killer, so she remained in the field to do something she'd never done before... talk to the sheep.
Fly Tell me. Who killed the old one?
Wolf!
Fly Wolf. Is that the only words you half-wits know?
Wolf!
Fly Are you saying it was a dog?
Babe! Where's Babe?
Fly Was it wolf or Babe?!
Wolf! Where's Babe?! Wolf! Babe!
Farmer Hoggett was carrying something in the crook of one arm. A kind of black, shiny tube.
Come, pig.
The pig had a vague memory that shiny tubes produced food and guessed that some quite unexpected reunion would come out of the two small round mouths.
Fly [yelling]
QUIET!!!!
Fly decided to speak very slowly, for it was a cold fact of nature that sheep were stupid, and no one would ever persuade her otherwise.
Fly [straining]
Please, please would you be so kind as to tell me what happened?
Fly Please, tell me what just happened this morning.
The sheep spoke very slowly, for it was a cold fact of nature that wolves were ignorant, and nothing would convince them otherwise.
Babe came! He saved us! The wolves killed Maa. But Babe drove the wolves away!
Fly Thank you. Thank you! Thank you all very much!
Pleasure talking to ya.
Mrs. Esme Cordelia Hoggett
[Farmer Hoggett loads shells on his shotgun and aims it at Babe with a rope tied up on his neck. Fly is shown rushing back to the farm and barks repeatedly. Arthur lowers his shotgun and looks at the door. Hearing Fly barking, he turns back to Babe and aims his shotgun again at Babe, getting ready to murder him. As he is about pull the trigger, a voice calls him from outside]
Hoggett! Hooey! Hoggett! ARTHUR! [Fly is shown running toward the shack. Farmer Hoggett walks out of it as she passes him to get inside] Well, there you are! What do you think? That was the police on the telephone. They said there are wild dogs about. Apparently, the Mitchells lost six lambs this morning. [notice the shotgun on his hand] What on earth are you doing here with that gun?!
[looks at his shotgun, realizing the mistake he almost made]
Oh, err... nothing. [Esme frowns at him, but lets out a sigh and walks back into the house as we see Farmer Hoggett with a pleading look on his face upon learning the truth and removes the shells on his shotgun]
[Meanwhile, in the farmyard, a scrawny, bedraggled bird lands in a puddle. Ferdinand the duck looks even worse than usual.]
So, uh... what's happening?
Oh, no.
Fly [Arthur Hoggett is happily watching TV––with Fly and Babe] [Suddenly, there is a bright flash of lightning and a huge clap of thunder. The TV goes black and all the lights go out. Hoggett checks the fuse box, but that isn't the damage. Then he decides to go to bed] [Fly suggests that Babe gets some sleep, as well]
You'll need to be on top form tomorrow.
[Babe cuddles closer to the fire]
Night, Mum.
[The little pig sleeps, but he has bad dreams. He awakens on the morning of the Nationals with a bit of a cold and feeling quite hesitant]
[Facts do not improve at the field of competition. The weather is gloomy. And as the Boss takes him to the sheep pen on a lead, Babe can't help noticing how many people stare]
Stay there.
[The sheep yet ignore him. But one turns to see the source of the sound. Babe gasps. The sheep's face is fully black, with a most unfriendly expression. She doesn't look like any sheep he has ever seen]
Baaaaa!
[Babe tries again]
Oh, boy. I've never met a sheep with such a strong, dark face. Are they feeding you well?
Fly Babe, I'll try.
Fly [Fly pushes in front of Babe and shouts at the sheep]
Alright, blockheads! Pay attention over here! Now, you pay attention to what this pig has to say to you or I'll come in there and tear you to shreds!
Fly [Fly sighs]
Hadn't thought of this. Keep trying, keep speaking to them. I'll see what I can do so.
Fly [Fly's furry brow knots with thought]
Need to go. I'll try to be back in time.
[Then she goes away as fast as she can. Rex stops her on her road out of the fairground]
You can't make it, but I can.
Fly [Fly is surprised]
But you...you...
Don't worry. I won't let the little feller down. [With that said, he turns into a blur of speeding fur]
[While Rex is gone, Fly, Babe and Hoggett watch the other competitors run their trials. Mrs. Hoggett also watches the trials on TV with the other Country Women. The ground is slippery with mud, and even the best dogs have many twaddles] [Eventually, Rex reaches the Hoggett farm]
Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
[Rex has no time for the fears of foolish sheep]
Shut up, you morons! The little pig's in trouble.
What trouble has come to our Babe, wolf?
The sheep at the trials won't speak to the little feller. He doesn't know what to do.
[The flock whispers in confusion. Some think it is wrong to help a wolf, even if the wolf is trying to help Babe. But eventually, their love for the little pig wins out]
Stay here, wolf.
I asked you to stay here, wolf. Do what you're warned by an old sheep for a chance, and we'll see what we can do for you.
[Rex waits while the sheep come up with a plan. Eventually, the old sheep turns to Rex]
We've had something that might help Babe. But us sheep don't like giving it to no wolf.
Paaa-a-assword!
[But before they will give Rex the password, the sheep makes him promise to treat them nicely and politely and not to bite them, and most of all never to use the password to harm another sheep in any fashion]
I promise you that. I'll make sure the pig knows it, as well. Don't you worry. The password is safe with me.
