Wilbur I can talk!
Voiced by Henry Gibson 
Charlotte's Web (1973) · 21 quotes
Charlotte's Web (1973) · 21 quotes
Most-quoted character in Charlotte's Web (1973): in 11 of its 21 quotes
Most scenes with: The Goose (4), Charlotte (4), Old Sheep (4)
I miss Fern.
More lines from Wilbur
3 quotes Wilbur Wilbur Charlotte? Charlotte?! CHARLOTTE!!
Wilbur Then, write this in your webs when, you learn. This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end.
Scenes with Wilbur
7 scenes Wilbur (singing)
Isn't it great that I articulate?/Isn't it grand that you can understand?/I don't grunt/I don't oink/I don't even squeak or squawk/When I wanna say a-somethin', I open up and talk! I can talk! I can talk, talk, talk, I can...
Why don't you keep it down?
Wilbur I can talk!
Wilbur [to a lamb]
Wanna play?
Lamb
[to an old sheep]
May I, Papa?
Certainly not. In the first place, you can't get out of your pen. In the second place, sheep do not play with pigs.
Wilbur Why not?
Oh, it's a matter of status. Sheep, for instance, are highly regarded by Zuckerman, because we furnish him with good quality wool. With pigs, on the other hand, it's just a matter of time.
Wilbur Time before what?
Before they're fat enough to kill.
Wilbur (incredulously)
What did you say?!
Oh, everybody knows that. In the fall, you'll be turned into smoked bacon and ham. And then, just as soon as the cold weather sets in, they'll kill you.
Wilbur Ohh! (faints)
Templeton.
Hmm.
Salutations.
Wilbur What?
Salutations.
Wilbur What are they? And where are you?
Salutations are greetings. It's my fancy way of saying hello.
Lamb
[Charlotte is looking for a new message to write in her web]
How about "Pig Supreme"?
No good. It sounds like a rich dessert.
How about terrific, terrific, terrific?
Cut that down to one terrific and it will do nicely. I think terrific might impress Zuckerman.
Wilbur But Charlotte, I'm not terrific.
You're terrific as far as I am concerned. (Templeton hits Wilbur in the face with his tail as he walks by; Charlotte glares at him) Does anybody know how to spell it?
I think it's T, double-E double-R, double-R, double-I, double-F, double-I, double-C-C-C.
What kind of an acrobat do you think I am? It would take me all night to write that.
I would advise you not to consult geese in matters of spelling. The word is spelled T-E-R-R-I-F-I-C.
Please! Let me spell it my way.
Wilbur [After the goose's eggs have hatched]
Congratulations! How many are there?
There are seven.
Seven is a lucky number.
[proudly]
Luck had absolutely nothing to do with it! It was really good management and hard work.
What are you going to do with it?
[sternly]
You can have it! Roll it away and add it to that nasty collection of yours! Be careful! A rotten egg can be a regular stink bomb!
[patting the egg]
I know what I'm doing. I handle stuff like this all the time. [And with that, Templeton rolls the egg away.]
Wilbur [about Zuckerman raising him to be slaughtered]
Is it true what the old sheep says? Is that awful thing true?!
It's a dirty-irty trick, but it's true.
Wilbur I don't want to die! I want to stay here in my warm manure pile! I want to breathe the beautiful air, and lie in the beautiful sun!
Wilbur [breaking into tears]
I don't want to die! I don't want to die!
[speaking for the first time, this time from an unseen location]
Quiet, Wilbur! Now chin up!
Wilbur Who said that?
Do you want a friend?
Wilbur Yes, I want a friend. But I want to live, too!
Well, chin up. I'll be your friend and I'll try to save your life. I've been watching you, and I like you.
Wilbur I can't see you. What do you mean "chin up"?
Now go to sleep. You'll see me in the morning, and I'll explain everything then.
Wilbur's stomach was empty, and his mind was full. And when your stomach is empty and your mind is full, it's always hard to sleep. But sleep and Wilbur finally found each other.
Getting to be famous didn't change Wilbur one bit. Through all the crowds and publicity and glamour, he stayed the same old Wilbur. He was glad when the crowds stopped coming and he could be with his real friends again. Even Mrs. Fussy fell for the message in the web, and let Henry come over to see the famous pig.
Henry
[Wilbur notices Fern and Henry, they petted him; suddenly a hornet almost stung Fern!]
A hornet! Duck!
Wilbur [Henry pushes Fern duck down as a hornet lands to wreck Charlotte's web. Wilbur discovered the web was wrecked in dismay]
Ohh...
Fern
[Charlotte climbs up to the web, she wraps the hornet up]
It's all right, Wilbur. Everybody knows you're some pig.
