(He looks up to see some Angela Glummox, Jessica Quilligan, Thomas "Tommy" Cow-Bear and Katie the Yak)
Good morning, class. Are you ready?
(The strange jungle animals drop down onto his back.) (offscreen)
Look out below! (He lands hardly on Horton’s back.)
Tommy’s on board. Katie, you there?
(lands on his back)
Ha-ah-a.
Okay. (The kind elephant escorts the kids to a lush tree, then stops.) Shh. There it is. (refers to a leaf on a twig) This is one of the jungle's most amazing creatures. The leaf bug. In order to protect itself from predators, it disguises itself as a leaf. (He pokes at it, with no response from the leaf. And then he climbs on the tree and tries to pull it off.) This one's got quite a deep grip. Come on, little buddy! Don't be shy! (He falls back from the tree.) I guess I was mistaken, kids. (leaf bugs were all over him) There are obviously no leaf bugs in this area. Even if they're... (notices the leaf bugs) OH! THEY’RE ON ME!! (rolls around) Get them off! (accidentally sucks up a leaf bug, which gags in disgust, and bangs his head) I think I swallowed one. (He blows his trunk, and slams it on the ground, trying to get the bug out, before turning to Tommy.) Tommy! PULL IT OUT!!!
(The animal kids pull on Horton’s trunk and he swings them around. Meanwhile, a purple kangaroo and her son were hopping through the jungle of Nool.)
Then, hopping a “humph!" was Sour Kangaroo,
the type who's convinced(buffalo-like animal from species of Yawling Yak notices Sour approaching and hides in the grass) she knows better than you.
(A Deer-whose-horns-are-connected-from-one-to-the-other full of chicken-like birds from species of Sala-ma-gooxes sees Sour coming as the birds on the Deer-whose-horns-are-connected-from-one-to-the-other's antlers flied off while the mammal hides in the water.) She made every law and then forced every rule
as self-proclaimed head of the Jungle of Nool. (Sour humphed when she sees the kids try to get the bug out of Horton. Her son, Rudy, looks at them in confusion.)
RK Rudy Kangaroo
Why can't I play with the other kids. Mom?
How many times have I told you that the jungle is no place to act like a wild animal?
(The young animals then flew into the bushes and Horton spits out the leaf bug. As it tries to fly, Katie catches it with her tongue and eats it like a frog. Jessica's and Angela's mothers look at it and talk to Sour)
Mrs. Glummox (amused): My, that Horton certainly is eccentric.
Mrs. Quilligan (pointing at Horton): And that children are learning so much from him.
(Sour looks at her angrily) Sour Kangaroo (sarcastically): Learning to be a bunch a hairbrain half-wits. (proudly; she pats his son on the head) And that's why my Rudy is pouch-schooled.
So, while Kangaroo stood there sneering a sneer...
Horton, that was the best time I've ever had in my life! What are you gonna show us next?! (Soon, a speck arrived near Horton.)
Once again the speck floated right by Horton's ear.
And he heard it again! Just a very faint yelp,
as if some tiny person were calling for help.
(He imagines a helpless Who hanging onto the speck in Dr. Seuss illustration, then cuts back to Horton.)
And you know what he thought? What he thought there must
be someone on top of that small speck of dust.
Or even a family. It just might be so.
A family with children just starting to grow.
WB Who-Boy
(He then imagines a helpless Who family hanging onto the speck.)
I WANNA LIVE!
(Out of his thought, Horton decides to quickly save that speck.)
Uh… i gotta go! Katie, you’re in charge! (He runs off)
(As he runs off. Katie she opens her mouth to release the leaf bug, which chases after the other kids, who run away from it. Soon, Horton ran pass the mothers.)
Wait! Come back.
W Wickershams
(Cuts to chimpanzee-like apes of the species The Wickersham as they are chanting for Yummo Wickersham)
One more, one more, One more, one more.
(Yummo Wickersham has a bunch of bananas in his mouth, managing to fit one more as one of the bananas stick out their nose, splitting open, and they all cheer. Cuts to the two Yummo's younger brothers named Nuts and Nits at the top of the tree)
NW Nits Wickersham
Hear someone coming!
NW Nuts Wickersham
Get me those!
(He takes the bananas and can see Horton running by the bananas, blocking his view.)
Wait!
NW Nuts Wickersham
Sound the alarm!
(Nits Wickersham reaches higher into the tree and grabs another Wickersham's leg, biting it and causing them to scream out in pain, alerting the other Wickershams of Horton's presence.)
Excuse me! Pardon my stampede!
(The Wickershams are flung above the trees)
Sorry, Wickershams. I promise I'm gonna clean all this up later!
Bring the ammo!
(Two Wichershams by his sides grab some bananas with a mischievous chuckle, and stick them under Yummo's armpits, and in slow motion, shows as he crushes the bananas with his armpits, like a minigun. Then back to real motion to show how fast the bananas are being launched at Horton.)
I love the smell of the bananas in the morning.
W Wickersham
(The Wickershams reveal from the leaf tree to show a big ball that's made of bananas)
Banana in the Hole!
(The big banana ball is being launched at Horton.)
Come on, guys! We're all mammals! (in slow-motion) Woah! (As Henry Kissinger) I feel the diplomatic process is beginning to break down. (In regular motion, he slips through a pile of banana peels, sliding through until he sees that speck) There you are. I got ya. I got ya. (He tries to get that speck with his trunk, but to no rescue; while running after the speck) Hi, kids.
(to Horton)
Listen, Horton, turns out I need your help a little bit. Apparently, if that speck keeps moving around, our whole world… could be obliterated. So I need you to find us Whos a safer, more stable home… and fast.
No problem, Mr. Mayor. Let's see… (looks at a flower) Wow! That's a nice view.
(A giraffe-like creature of the species Zatz-It eats the flowers. Horton gets scared.)
Hello, is everything okay?!
(A grape falls on Horton's head. He looks to find out where the grape came from, and it was two woodpecker-like birds who are pecking a pile of grapes, taking turns trying to knock them down, causing them to fall and hit Horton, Horton then dodges 2 more, and a anteater-like creature with a vacuum-like snout of the species Nink walks by consuming flowers, nearby some termite-like insects with bladed teeth. Horton gasps in fear.)
What's going on up there?
(A Zatz-It eating the flowers, the two birds who are now pecking the grapes at the same exact time, just slightly off from each other, Horton gasps in shock.) (freaking out)
OH NO!
(The same thing loops every time and it cuts to the insects eating what it looks like a tree, but is actually just a flower. Horton screams then runs to a hill)
THIS ENTIRE JUNGLE IS A HOUSE OF DEATH!!! (he stops panicking and looks up) Oh, wait. There's a good spot.
And it's then Horton saw at the top of Mount Nool
(the camera flies to Mount Nool's cave with a sunflower, the one that started this whole mess in the first place) a small cave that looked peaceful and quiet and cool,
where a sunflower grew proud and tall from the ground.
There, he knew every Who would be safe. Would be sound.
I found it, Mayor. The perfect place. Right up there. At the top of Mount Nool.
(The mayor was startled when Miss Yelp entered the office)
I wish you could-
(The mayor muted the horn, then starts rubbing it)
Haha, oh, shiny. Haha...
The Who-Centennial Committee is waiting for you to look over the giant meatball for the Edible Parade. Oh, and then you're due at the dentist for your Who-root canal.
You know, sticking “Who” in front of everything doesn’t make it hurt less. Just wastes time! (Miss Yelp closes the door) I don’t… wanna go. (to Horton) Listen, Horton, I gotta go. (packs most of his things in his suitcase, including his coffee and his goldfish) Apparently, there’s a problem with the giant meatball.
You just take care of that meatball, sir, and leave the freaking out to me.
So then Horton began his long, perilous trek,
determined to save the small world on the speck.
Horton was faithful and stalwart and kind.
I got you. Don't worry. I'll protect you!
He was a brave hero... at least in his mind.
(uses his ears as a ninja hood)
We must become invisible. Travel silently. For there are forces that would seek to destroy us.
(The camera zooms in on Horton's head as it transitions into an anime-style sequence. A giant tree sprouts up from the ground, blocking his path.)
Huh?! So you think you can sneak up on me, huh?! (combat noises) It is clear that you are no match for my technique. Hey! (kicks a branch, but it snaps back and smacks his butt with an awkward shot of a red mark from below.) I see you have mastered the way of the snapping branch. Watch me tumble! (He jumps from branch to branch to the top of the tree.)
OS Off-Screen Voice
Morton Mouse, go!
You are fast, Horton, but the Kangaroo has monkeys! (Monkeys can be seen flying in from the distance.)
Hm? I will make monkeys of these monkeys. It is their destiny. (He does a Dragon Ball-style to fire a beam of energy at the monkeys.) For the clover!
C Clover
(cuts to a cute, anime style, with Morton looks in awe.)
Horton is the greatest hero of them all, haaaa!
(Cuts back to the same anime style) Horton and Morton: Horton! Morton! GO! (Horton runs forward, screaming, but is stopped by Morton.)
But Mount Nool is that way! (Horton felt dumb-founded for a sec.)
Ha-ha-ha! To the top of Mount Nool! As fast as lightning! Away, I go. (He starts to jumpkicks, but snaps back to reality as he trips, landing on a flower.) Oh, sorry little fellow. You'll be fine. Just think healing thoughts.
(Katie gets bumped by a log repeatedly)
We've all got our own clovers with worlds on them!
In my world, everyone's a pony, and they all eat rainbows, and poop butterflies!
That's beautiful, Katie ! (Katie she puts her flower on the top of her head and walks away)
In a... really weird way.
My world is called Jessicaland, and everyone worships Queen Jessica because Jessica is so beautiful.
Jessica, that was awesome.
(As they talk about their specks with their worlds, Sour is picking some fruits from a tree and she saw his son, with an orange flower and grabs it to her)
Rudy!
RK Rudy Kangaroo
Mom, be careful! My best friend Thidwick lives on that!
Rudy, no one lives on this, it's not possible. (She crushes the flower in front of him.)
RK Rudy Kangaroo
What...?
RK Rudy Kangaroo
Mom, Mom, please, you're so weird! Don't do this to me!
Honey, go to your room. (Pushes Rudy's head to her pouch) Horton! (Horton and his class look away, while Jessica and Angela scream in terror and run away at the sight of Sour. Rudy's mother kicks Katie from bush, sending her flying over a tree resembling a football goal, but surprisingly, she finds it amusing)
(to Horton)
What do you think you're doing?
Oh, you guys with worlds are in trouble! (he run away)
Have you forgotten what we've discussed?
Oh no, I'm an Elephant and Elephants never forget, it's a curse really! I remember, I was on my head and you said hmm and I looked up and you said ,what are you doing?, and I said the thing about the speck, then you pulled my ears and you poked me in the forehead...
Heey, JoJo. Wooooow, lotta liquid. Loottta liquid. Just the person I wanted to see. Yeah, I realize that we have not been seeing eye-to-eye lately, and most of it is my fault. It's true. You know what I've been trying to do? I've been trying to impose my vision of your future on you. Let me make this perfectly clear. JoJo... you can be whatever kind of Mayor you wanna be. Hands on, strong and silent, outspoken, it's up to you. Well, good. I feel so much better. I am expecting big things from you, young man. Big things! Alright. Good night. Good stop! Good talk.
Then, JoJo snuck out, feeling lonely and sad,
and tragically misunderstood by his Dad. And where was he going at such a late hour?
Up to Whoville's abandoned star study tower.
A place where the boy felt contented and free.
A place he could be what he wanted to be
(JoJo enters the abandoned observatory) And what was inside there, I'd say if I could. But up above, the Kangaroo was up to no good.
RK Rudy Kangaroo
(?)
Can I come out now, Mom?
No, Rudy. Stay in your room.
RK Rudy Kangaroo
But Mom...
Stay inside. ahem... Mr. Vladikoff? (gets jumpscared by vulture-like monster and yelps.)
Yes, I realize you're busy. But I need your help. It's Horton. He's become obsessed with a clover. And he actually thinks there are little people on it. I want that clover destroyed!
Sure, what a big deal this is… for you, bro.
I'd do it myself, but being a lady, I prefer not getting my hands dirty. But I hear you have no problem with that.
No. No problem. Easy peasy. But... I will only do this for a price. In exchange for a brand new pair of- No... this. Little Kangaroo.
Quiet, Rudy. Mommy's thinking it over. (to Vlad) Huh... well thaaanks, but on second thought, I think I'm going to have the Wickersham Brothers take care of this for me.
Yeah, of course, Wickersham. I mean they're-they're classy operation, y'know they did- WAIT, NO! YOU CAN'T GO WITH WICKERSHAM!
No no, no no, the Wickershams would be perfect for this job.
But... they're monkeys! Is not scary!
Uhh, thanks anyway. Maybe next time.
Wait! Here is what I will do to precious clover. I will take it, I will crush it… …And I will devour it. (He begins to choke on a bone he swallowed) Bigger than it look! One second! (retch) Holy moly! (He manages to cough it up and pull it out.) Then I will regurgitate it… …And then, I will devour it second time! So… two times devoured!
Sounds nice... But I think I'll talk to the Wickershams.
Here is best part. I do all... (mispronounced) g-g-gratis. That's free, bro. What do you think? (He nods excitedly, knowing he wants the deal)
YES! SCORE! Thanking you! You won't regret! (He flies away laughing, forgetting to flap and falls for a moment, before getting back up with a cackle.)
(Back to Horton as he is sleeping alone with the clover and he feels cold so he warm himself. Fade to black.)
(Back at Who-Ville, every Who, including the Mayor, heard what Sour said about through the horn, gasps of shocked)
They don't believe we're here. (to the Who's) We got to make some noise! We are here! We are here! We are here!
MW Men Whos
We are here! We are here! We are here!
LW ladies Whos
We are here! We are here! We are here!
(to the Charimans)
Come on! (to the Whos) Everybody! (All of the Who's start saying "We are here!" repeatedly) We are here. We are here. We are here.
(Back in Nool, the Wickershams brings in a cauldron of Beelzenut Oil through the angry mob. When dropped on the ground, Horton sees a splash of it killing a flower near it)
(enraged)
THIS WILL TEACH YOU NOT TO MAKE UP STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE ON SPECKS!!!!
(as the mob comes closer to Horton.)
Listen. There they are!
(He holds the clover to let them listen. Willie Cow-Bear, tilts his head and lifts his right ear in confusion, while Mrs. Glummox, Mrs. Quilligan, and one of the Wickershams also look at him in confusion. However, he hears nothing because, looking at Quilligan, he shakes his head no. They become furious again)
WC Willie Cow-Bear
Cage him!
(The animals in Jungle of Nool start to surround Horton) (to the speck)
It's not working. I can hear you. But, their ears aren't strong enough.
(Back in Whoville)
We need to be louder. Get every Who to make noise! Everyone!
(All Whos start getting louder while shouting "We are here!" with horns and anything to make noise. Jojo, taking noticed, starts running off before the Mayor takes noticed.)
JoJo, where're you going? We need every voice, JoJo!
(The Wickershams start roping Horton up to be pulled to the cage)
You need to make some noise down there. Or we all be destroyed.
(The Mayor starts playing the tom-toms, with the Chairman's confusion)
The Mayor grabbed the tom-toms and starting to smack it.
(A female Who says "Here!" in an high opera voice with the horns playing)
And all over Whoville, They whooped up a racket!
(Dr. Larue was about to knock the door, until it opens itself to let a really long horn playing, with much of the Who's playing it. Cut to a montage of Whos making noises)
They rattle tin kettles, they beat on brass pans!
On garbage pail tops and old cranberry cans!
They blew on bazookas and blasted great toots!
On clarinets, oom-pahs, boom-pahs and flutes!
(A green, overweight Who plays a really small flute before a symphony of horns plays. Cuts to the Who's still being louder and saying "We are here!" repeatedly)
There! (to Horton) Can they hear us now?
Listen! Please! It's the most beautiful thing ever.
I don't think so. But, keep trying. (The Wickershams starts pulling Horton to get on the cage) Never give in! (tries to struggle, but the Wickershams pulls him harder) Are you sure that every Who down in Whoville is trying?
(The Mayor looks at every Who still saying "We are here!" and making noise, then he sees Sally with a megaphone) Sally O'Malley-McDodd: We are here! We are here!
Where's JoJo?
Sally O'Malley-McDodd: Probably up the old observatory.
(As the Mayor runs to the observatory, we then cut back to Horton, who is still struggling to get in the cage. The Wickersham inside the cage looks horrors as he is crushed by Horton's butt. The Wickershams then pokes Horton through the closing gate)
(We then cut to the Mayor, blessing for his godspeed, as he is catapult through the observatory) (Back at the Jungle, the Wickershams keep poking Horton's butt, and pulls his nose longer)
That's not supposed to STRETCH THAT FAR!!! (His tail is also being stretched as well)
(Back at Who-ville, The Mayor struggles to open the door with wood planks until he noticed a tiny door and opens it to see a bunch of instruments playing inside, with him being amazed and saw Jojo, who is adjusting an instrument)
(Horns kites violins bells drums cymbals) (Back at Nool, Horton is still struggling. But the Kangaroo walks to Horton and yanks the clover. She angry on her face.) (sadden)
You're making a mistake.
RK Rudy Kangaroo
(As Sour walks to the pot, she shows the residents of the Jungle of Nool the speck, with the residents all cheer as they're preparing for this moment.)
But Mom!
Sour Kangaroo: This doesn't concern you, sweety. BACK IN THE POUCH!
Everybody, don't stop! Keep going! This is gonna do it! (to Horton) Can they hear?
(Most of the Whos stop after realizing it's not louder enough) (to JoJo)
No matter what happens, I couldn't ask for better, son. (Because of his father's advice, he takes the horn and runs through the stairs) Hey, JoJo? (To the Whos) Come on! Keep going!
JM JoJo McDodd
(As they reach the top of the stairs, JoJo lets out a really big noise through the horn)
Y-Y-Y-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-P-P-P!!!!
(She drops it. But the Rudy he grabbed and i caught it)
RK Rudy Kangaroo
I hear it! I hear it! They are there!
(The crowd looks at Rudy as roping and caging stops)
And that "Yopp!", that one small extra "Yopp!" put it over.
W1 Wickersham 1
(as the Wickershams let Horton out of the cage)
I hear it.
(Sour looks at son)
Rudy. (She tries to give Rudy the clover) Give me that! Come, Ru...
(Rudy jumps out of mother's pouch, away from his mother.) (smiling nervously)
Rudy, get back in the pouch, now.
RK Rudy Kangaroo
(he turns his head to his mother)
No, Mom.(Horton is clued up)
Uh, Wickershams! Get that clover!
(Rudy stops in front of the Wickersham Brothers. They let him pass while glancing at the Rudy's mother) (shocked)
Well...A..Anybody take it from him.
(The crowd all glances and growls of the Sour. Yawling Yak, Deer-whose-horns-are-connected-from-one-to-the-other and Cow-Bear looking at her with angry. Sour sighs in humiliation. Her son approaches Horton and gives him his clover)
(to the speck)
You did it, Mayor. You did it.
(Back in Whoville.)
We did it!
OW Obnoxious Who
YEAH!!! (Tries to high five somebody, but one Who high fives him)
JM JoJo McDodd
Dad, you're one of the Greats!
(Back at the Jungle of Nool)
Wow! Easy, everyone. Easy! (looks down) Oh hi, Vlad. (The animals gasp in shock, knowing. But, out of nowhere, it's actually a bunny named Vlad. He holding the cookies, the one Horton was confused about earlier, and wants him to have one) Well, I shouldn't. But...
(He takes a cookie, but when he starts to eat it. But Sour, she defeated. He later shows up to her and wants her to have a cookie. Sour then smiles and uses his umbrella at the speck, knowing to let go of her past)
Oh man, that is nice touch. I'm a mess of this, right? Emotional! Here come the water slide. (starts to cry)
Wow. (chuckles) There are so many people to thank. The good people of Nool who put me on a cage and poke me with sticks...
My buddy, Morton, for being the only who stood by me. Well, not right by me. He's hidden in the bushes sending me good thoughts. He's small.
Dude, you are a warrior poet.
And most of all, I'd like to thank to the Mayor of Whoville. Who believed me from the beginning.
Oh, Horton, we're going to miss you.
JM JoJo McDodd
What are we gonna do without you, Horton?
Ah, don't worry. I'll always be around. (sings to the lyrics of "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by REO Speedwagon) (He holds Willie Cow-Bear in a dancing gesture, stroking his head) And even as I wander, (he puts her arms around him and Mrs. Quilligan) I'll keep you in sight.
(sings)
You're a candle in the window.
Sally O'Malley-McDodd: (sings) On a cool dark winter's night.
HA Horton and Mayor
(singing)
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.
Whoo, little too high for me.
(sings) Baby, (He, Sour Kangaroo and Mrs. Quilligan go in the direction of snapping their fingers)
I can't fight this feeling any more.
(sings)
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
(Katie then starts flying out of existence) (sings)
And if I have to crawl upon the floor.
Sally O'Malley-McDodd: (sings) Crawl upon the floor.
(sings)
Come crashing through your door.
(sings)
Crashing through your door.
W Whos
(sings)
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore.
JM JoJo McDodd
(sings)
I can't fight this feeling anymore (Cut back to the Jungle of Nool, where Horton, along with Rudy's mother, who is holding an umbrella over the clover, are walking towards Mount Nool to set up Who-ville, with the other animals following them. The camera zooms out.)
And so, all ended well for those, Horton and Whos.
And for all in the jungle, even Kangaroos.
So let that be a lesson to one and to all.
A person's a person...
(As it zooms out, turns out that the Jungle of Nool, like Who-ville, is a tiny speck (and only one of many) in spacewith.)... no matter how small.
(Katie still flying out of existence, ending the film)
