You went up to the surface again, didn't you? Didn't you?!
Ariel Nothing happened.
[exasperatedly]
Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of those barbarians. By... By one of those... humans!
Ariel Daddy, they're not barbarians!
They are dangerous! Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by some fish-eater's hook?!
Ariel I'm 16 years old! I'm not a child anymore!
Don't you take that tone of voice with me, young lady! As long as you live under my ocean, you'll obey my rules!
Ariel But if you would just listen!
NOT another word! And I am never, NEVER to hear of you going to the surface again! IS THAT CLEAR?!
(Ariel disappointedly swims away)
Teenagers. Dey think dey know everything. You give dem an inch, dey swim all over you.
Do you think I was too hard on her?
Definitely not! Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I'd show her who was boss! None o' dis flitting to the surface and other such nonsense. No, sir! I'd keep her under tight control.
[smiles]
You're absolutely right, Sebastian.
Ariel needs constant supervision.
Someone to watch over her. To keep her out of trouble.
And YOU are just the crab to do it!
[The scene cuts to a sunken shipwreck.] [One of Triton's daughters, Ariel, appears on the mass of a sunken ship looking at something, until she hears a voice.] [from a distance]
Ariel, wait for me...
Ariel [waving him over]
Flounder, hurry up!
[catching up is a small yellow and blue fish named Flounder]
You know I can't swim that fast.
Ariel [pointing to a sunken ship]
There it is. Isn't it fantastic?
Yeah... sure... it - it's great. Now let's get outta here.
Ariel [Flounder begins to swim away, and Ariel yanks his fins towards her.] [angrily]
You're not getting cold fins now, are you?
[Ariel swims towards the ship. Flounder follows after her.]
Who, me? No way. It's just, it, err... it looks - damp in there. Yeah. And I think I may be coming down with something. Yeah, I got this cough.
Ariel [Flounder coughs unconvincingly.]
All right. I'm going inside. You can just stay here and - watch for sharks.
[Ariel swims inside through a porthole.]
O.K. Yeah - you go. I'll stay and - [suddenly realizing what's she's said] what? Sharks! Ariel?
[He tries to squeeze through the porthole but gets stuck.]
Ariel... I can't... I mean- Ariel help!
Ariel [laughs]
Oh, Flounder.
[whispering]
Ariel, do you really think there might be sharks around here?
Ariel [Ariel comes back to help him.]
Flounder, don't be such a guppy.
[A huge Great White shark passes behind them as Flounder squeezes in.]
I'm not a guppy. [Flounder finally squeezes through and explores the ship with Ariel] This is great - I mean, I really love this. Excitement, adventure, danger lurking around every corner...
[Flounder sees a skull and screams. He crashes into a pillar, causing wooden beams to fall down.]
ARIEL!
Ariel [He swims frantically away, knocking over Ariel.]
Oh, are you okay?
[Flounder shakes intensely.]
Yeah, sure, no problem, I'm okay...
Ariel Shhh...
Ariel [Ariel swims to an upper level of the ship. Resting atop a heap is a silver fork.]
Oh, my gosh! Oh my gosh! [picking up a fork] Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?
Wow, cool! But, err, what is it?
Ariel I don't know. But I bet Scuttle will.
[Ariel puts the fork in her bag. The shark swims by outside.]
What was that? Did you hear something?
Ariel [distracted by a pipe]
Hmm, I wonder what this one is?
Ariel Flounder, will you relax? Nothing is going to happen.
[The shark appears in front of the porthole, behind Flounder, jaws wide open. He chomps down on the glass.]
SHARK! SHARK! WE'RE GONNA DIE!
[The shark bangs his head on the ceiling of the ship. He chases Ariel and Flounder, and they swim for an upper deck. Flounder screams as the shark breaks through the floor, chomping towards them. Ariel's bag gets caught on a plank and she goes back for it.] [Flounder swims towards a porthole and gets stuck again.]
Oh, no!
[Ariel pushes him through and wriggles out behind him. Flounder screams as the shark bursts through the wall and chases them around the ship's mast.] Flounder bumps into a crossbeam. The shark lunges towards Flounder but misses as Flounder sinks towards the bottom with a dazed look. Ariel spots him and swims down to get him, dropping her bag.]
[The shark races towards them, but his head gets stuck in the ring of an anchor. Ariel picks up her bag, which has landed near her]
You big bully.
Ariel [Flounder blows a raspberry. The shark snaps at him, and Flounder swims with Ariel towards the surface.] [laughing]
Flounder, you really are a guppy.
[The scene cuts to the surface.] [On a tiny island, a storyteller seagull named Scuttle hums a song and looks through his telescope.] [singing]
1492, dah-de-dum dee-do-do, rum-dim-dim, dee-do-dee-do
Ariel [Scuttle sticks his telescope on his head]
Scuttle!
[looking through the telescope the wrong way, making Ariel appear farther away, shouting]
Whoa! Mermaid off the port bow! Ariel, how you doin' kid?
[Scuttle lowers the telescope to reveal Ariel at wing's length]
Whoa, what a swim!
Ariel Scuttle - look what we found.
[Ariel pulls up her bag and hands it to Scuttle.]
Yeah - we were in this sunken ship - it was really creepy.
Human stuff, huh? Hey, lemme see.
[Scuttle drops an anchor. It catches on his foot and knocks him off his perch. Rummaging through Ariel's bag after stepping over Flounder, he takes out the fork.]
Oh! Oh! Look at this. Wow - this is special - this is very, very unusual.
Ariel What? What is it?
It's a dinglehopper! Humans use these little babies... '[Scuttle flicks the fork, but catches it] to straighten their hair out.
[Scuttle twirls the fork around his feathers on top of his head.]
See - just a little twirl here an' a yank there and - violee!
[Scuttles feathers go up in a poof.]
You got an aesthetically pleasing configuration of hair that humans go nuts over.
Ariel [Scuttle hands the fork back to Ariel.]
A dinglehopper!
[in reference to the pipe]
What about that one?
[Scuttle shows Ariel and Flounder a tobacco pipe]
This, I haven't seen this in years. This is wonderful! A banded, bulbous snarfblatt.
AA Ariel and Flounder
Oh!
Now, the snarfblatt dates back to pre-hysterical times when humans used to sit around and stare at each other all day. [comes face to face with Ariel] Got very boring. So they invented this snarfblatt to make fine music. Please allow me. [blows into it, only to have seaweed and water come out] Oops.
Ariel [realizing what Scuttle said]
Music?!
Ariel Oh, the concert! Oh, my gosh, my Father's gonna kill me!
[inspects the "snarfblatt" further]
Maybe you could make a little planter out of it or somethin'.
Ariel [takes it back]
Uh, I'm sorry! I've gotta go! Thank you, Scuttle!
[she and Flounder swim back home]
Anytime, sweetie! Anytime.
[watching Ariel from her lair via Flotsam and Jetsam]
Yes. Hurry home, Princess. We wouldn't want to miss old Daddy's celebration, huh? Would we? [scoffs] Celebration, indeed. Oh, bah! In my day, we had fantastical feasts, when I lived in the palace. [closeup of her eating a shrimp] Now, look at me. Wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving! While he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. [to her eels] Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton's undoing. [fade to black]
[King Triton is admonishing Ariel in the throne room]
I just don't know what we're going to do with you, Little Lady.
Ariel Father, I'm sorry, I just forgot, I...
As a result of your careless behavior...
Careless and reckless behavior.
The entire celebration was, er...
Well, it was ruined! That is all, completely destroyed! This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now thanks to you, I am the laughingstock of the entire kingdom!
[angrily; swimming up to King Triton]
But, sir, it wasn't her fault! I mean. Well, first, this shark chased us. Yeah, yeah! And we tried to… But we couldn't. And then, "grr!" And… and we, whoa! Ah, and then, we were safe. But then, this seagull came, and it was "this is this, and that is that, and…"
"Seagull"? What? Oh. You went up to the surface again, didn't you? Didn't you?!
Ariel Nothing... happened.
[exasperatedly]
Ariel, how many times must we go through this? You could've been seen by one of those barbarians, by... by one of those... Humans!
Ariel [angrily]
Father, they're not barbarians!
They are dangerous. Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter snared by some fish-eater's hook?
Ariel [angrily; losing patience]
I'm 16 years old. I'm not a child anymore.
[angrily; frustrated]
Don't you take that tone of voice with me, Little Lady. As long as you live under my ocean, you'll obey MY rules.
Ariel [furiously]
But if you would just listen—
[angrily]
NOT ANOTHER WORD! And I am never, NEVER to hear of you going to the surface again. IS THAT CLEAR?!
[Ariel disappointedly swims away in agreement]
Hmph. Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.
Do you think I-I was too hard on her?
Definitely not. Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I'd show her who was boss. So none of this flitting to the surface and other such nonsense. No, sir - I'd keep her under tight control.
[smiles]
You're absolutely right, Sebastian.
Ariel needs constant supervision.
Someone to watch over her, to keep her out of trouble.
[pokes Sebastian]
And you are just the crab to do it.
[Cut to Sebastian walking down corridor.]
How do I get myself into these situations? I'm supposed to be writing symphonies, not tagging along after some headstrong teenager. [Sees Ariel and Flounder sneaking off and follows.] Hmm? What is that girl up to? [He barely makes it into the grotto and sees Ariel's collection.] Huh?
Ariel If only I could make him understand [Sebastian covers his mouth in disbelief.] I just don't see things the way he does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things - could be bad. [Ariel swims around referencing various items in her collection. Sebastian frowns and stays out of sight. Ariel dances with Flounder and sings about her dream of being part of the human world. As Ariel's hair floats around her, she gazes up at a hole at the top of her grotto.] [Singing] Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? / Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? / Wouldn't you think I'm the girl? / The girl who has everything? / Look at this trove / Treasures untold / How many wonders can one cavern hold?/ Lookin’ around here you'd think / Sure, she's got everything. / I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty / I've got whozits and whatzits galore. [Sebastian looks through a pair of glasses; Ariel opens a box of wine cork removers] You want thingamabobs? I've got twenty! / But who cares? / No big deal. / I want more / I wanna be where the people are. / I wanna see, wanna see ‘em dancin’ / [plays with dancing music box] Walkin’ around on those, what do you call ‘em? / Oh, feet / Flippin’ your fins, you don't get too far. / Legs are required for jumpin’, dancin’ / Strollin’ along down a, what's that word again? Street / Up where they walk, up where they run / Up where they stay all day in the sun. / Wanderin’ free, wish I could be part of that world. / What would I give if I could live out of these waters? / What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand? / Betcha on land they understand / Bet they don't reprimand their daughters. / Bright young women, sick of swimmin’. / Ready to stand? / [reads a book] And ready to know what the people know / Ask them my questions and get some answers. / [looking for the portrait] What's a fire and why does it, what's the word? / Burn? / When's it my turn? / Wouldn't I love / love to explore that shore up above? [Swims to the top of the grotto and sticks her hand out; she then sadly sinks back down to the floor] / Out of the sea / Wish I could be, part of that world…
Ariel [Sebastian has been struggling around and now comes crashing down making a lot of noise.]
Sebastian!?
Ariel? What, are you… How could you… what is all this?
Ariel It, err, it's just my... collection.
Oh. I see. Your collection. Hmm. IF YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE, HE'D—
You're not gonna tell him, are you?
Ariel Oh, please, Sebastian, he would never understand.
Ariel. You are under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I'll take you home and get you something warm to drink. [A ship passes by overhead]
Ariel Now, what do you suppose…?
[Ariel swims out of the grotto and up towards a ship. Above the surface, fireworks explode in the sky around ship. Ariel gasps and looks on, amazed. Sebastian and Flounder surface beside her.]
Ariel, what - what are you- [gasping] Jumpin' jellyfish! [Ariel leaps to the ship.] Ariel, Ariel! Please come back!
[Ariel climbs up the ship and watches a party on board eye-level at the deck. Three sailors play music as the others dance a jig. Max, a shaggy sheepdog barks and scampers around the dancers.] Prince Eric: [whistles] Max, here, boy. [Max runs to Eric. Ariel touches her cheek where Max licked her.] Hey, come on, mutt, whatcha doin', huh Max? Good boy, good boy.
[Max jumps on Eric and barks. Ariel sees him and is lovestruck. Scuttle flaps down towards her, speaking loudly.]
Hey, there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?
Ariel Scuttle, be quiet! They'll hear you.
Oooh, I gotcha, I gotcha. We're bein' intrepidatious. WE'RE OUT TO DISCOVER!
Ariel [grabs his beak and looking around and sees Prince Eric]
I've never seen a human this close before. Oh- He's very handsome, isn't he?
[looking at Max]
I dunno; he looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me.
Ariel [laughs]
Not that one! The one playing the snarfblatt!
[holding his arms out]
Silence! Silence! It is now my honor and privilege to present our esteemed Prince Eric with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday present.
[Grimsby gestures towards a large object covered in cloth and tied with a red ribbon.] [knocking Grimsby on the back]
Ah, Grimsby - ya old beanpole, you shouldn't have.
[Sailors cheer and whistle.]
I know. Happy birthday, Eric!
[A large, gaudy statue of Eric, holding a sword and stepping atop a giant royal crest is revealed. Max growls.]
Gee, Grim. It's, uh, it's, uh - it's really somethin'.
Yes, I commissioned it myself. Of course, I had hoped it would be a wedding present, but...
[grabbing the telescope from Grimsby]
Aw, come on, Grim, don't start. Look, you're not still sore because I didn't fall for the princess of Glowerhaven, are you?
[Eric looks out of the telescope for a second before tossing it back to Grimsby, who catches it clumsily.]
Oh, Eric, it isn't me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right girl.
[Eric sits on the railing of the ship looking out towards the sea.]
Well, she's out there somewhere. I just - I just haven't found her yet.
Well, perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough.
Believe me, Grim, when I find her, I'll know - without a doubt. It'll just - bam! - hit me - like lightning.
S Sailor
[Grimsby and Eric look up to the sky as thick clouds of lightning and thunder appear and the sky grows dark turned green for a hurricane.]
HURRICANE A'COMIN'! STAND FAST! SECURE THE RIGGIN'!
[Thunder rumbling, Eric and the sailors run to different parts of the deck as rain starts to fall and giant waves swell up, rocking the ship. The crew pulls hard on ropes tied to a sail.] [In the ocean, a wave crashes over Flounder and Sebastian. On board, Scuttle holds onto a rope.]
Whoa! The wind's all of a sudden on the move here!
[A gust of wind blows Scuttle away.]
Yo! Ariel!
[On board, the captain tries to jump onto the ship's wheel, but it spins out of his hands. The ship crashes through storm and a wave passes over the deck. Eric runs to the wheel and grabs it.] [On the side of the ship, Ariel loses her grip on the ropes and falls into the water. Swimming underneath, she swims up the stern and sees a flash of lightning hit a sail. A fire breaks out smells like barbecue, and the ship looms towards jutting rocks. Ariel gasps.] [pointing ahead]
Look out!
[The ship rams into the rocks and all are thrown overboard, except Max. Eric's statue sinks down below the waves beside Grimsby coughing, who flaps his arms about.]
Grim, hang on! [Eric pulls him into a lifeboat, then sees Max still on the ship. The dog barks as flames flash in front of him.] Max! [Eric dives back into the water and climbs up the side of the burning ship smelling like barbecue. As he leaps onto the deck, one of the masts breaks and crashes down. Eric leaps out of the way. Flames spread.]
Eric!
[Eric looks over deck. The flames reach a barrel of gunpowder, and the ship explodes. The sailors and Grimsby and Max look on from their lifeboat, staring in horror. Ariel swims to the ship to find Eric. He floats on a board, unconscious and rolls off, sinking into the water. Ariel dives down to grab him and swims to the surface. On the beach, Eric lies on his back, unconscious, with Ariel leaning over him. Scuttle lands beside them.]
Ariel Is he - dead?
[Scuttle opens Eric's eyelid.]
It's hard to say.
[Scuttle puts his head up against Eric's foot.]
Oh, I - I can't make out a heartbeat.
Ariel No, look! He's breathing. [moving his hair from his face] He's so beautiful.
Ariel [Sebastian and Flounder have washed up. They watch as Ariel caresses Eric's cheek and sings longingly. Sebastian drops his jaw in disbelief and Scuttle closes it.]
What would I give to live where you are? / What would I pay to stay here beside you? / What would I do to see you smiling at me? / Where would we walk, where would we run / If we could stay all day in the sun? / Just you and me, and I could be / Part of your world.
[The sun parts through the gray clouds and Eric's eyes flutter open as he touches Ariel's hand, only seeing her waist up. He watches as the golden sunlight lights up behind her. Max barks and runs to lick Eric's face. Grimsby approaches and she dives into the water.]
Eric! Oh, Eric. You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don't you?
[Grimsby helps Eric up and he shakes his head.]
A girl - rescued me... She was - singing... she had the most - beautiful voice.
Ah, Eric, I think you've swallowed a bit too much seawater. Off we go. Come on, Max.
[Max stands in the water, barking towards Ariel and her friends.] [to Flounder]
We just gotta forget this whole ting ever happened. The Sea King will never know. You won't tell him, I won't tell him. I will stay in one piece.
Ariel [Ariel hoists herself upon a rock to watch Eric leave. Behind her, Flotsam and Jetsam rise from the water.]
I don't know when, I don't know how / But I know something's starting right now / Watch and you'll see, someday I'll be / Part of your world
[Cuts to Ursula's lair.] [Ursula watches Ariel through a magical bubble.]
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can't stand it - it's too easy. The child is in love with a human. And not just any human - a prince! [sarcastically] Her Daddy'll love that. King Triton's headstrong, lovesick girl would make a charming addition to my little garden.
[Attached to the floor, hundreds of sad shriveled merfolk squirm and shake. Ursula laughs evilly.]
A Andrina
[Cuts to Atlantica Palace.] [Cuts to Mersisters' dressing room.]
Ariel, dear, time to come out. You've been in there all morning.
A Attina
[Ariel emerges from behind a curtain, humming "Part of Your World" to herself.]
What is with her lately?
Ariel [Ariel picks a red flower and swims away. She bumps into her father.] [bumps into his Father]
Oh! Uh... Morning, Daddy.
A Attina
[Ariel puts the flower in his hair and swims off, spinning in circles. He chuckles.]
Oh, she's got it bad.
A Andrina
Isn't it obvious, Father? Ariel's in love.
[King Triton picks the flower from his hair and looks at it.] [Cuts to the undersea rocks. Sebastian paces on a rock.]
O.K. So far, so good. I don't think The King knows.
[Orange flower petals fall around Sebastian. One lands on his face, and he blows it off.]
But it will not be easy keeping something like this a secret for long.
Ariel [The camera rises up to reveal Ariel picking orange flowers.]
He loves me... hmm, he loves me not... He loves me! I knew it!
[Ariel hugs the last flower petal. Sebastian joins her on the rock.]
Ariel, stop talking crazy.
Ariel I gotta see him again - tonight! Scuttle knows where he lives.
[Ariel begins to swim away. Sebastian grabs onto her fins.]
Ariel? Please. Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?
Ariel I'll swim up to his castle. Then Flounder will splash around to get his attention, and then with... -
[Sebastian gets in front of her face.]
Down here is your home! Ariel, listen to me. The human world, it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there.
[Sebastian and various other sea creatures sing to Ariel to convince her living in the ocean is the best life.]
The seaweed is always greener / In somebody else's lake / You dream about going up there / But that is a big mistake / Just look at the world around you / Right here on the ocean floor / Such wonderful things surround you / What more is you lookin' for? / Under the sea / Under the sea / Darling it's better / Down where it's wetter / Take it from me / Up on the shore they work all day / Out in the sun they slave away / While we devotin' / Full time to floatin' / Under the sea
Down here all the fish is happy / As off through the waves they roll / The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they in their bowl {a fish is seen in a bubble} / But fish in the bowl is lucky / They in for a worser fate / One day when the boss get hungry
DV Deep Voice Fish
[bubble around him pops]
Guess who's gon' be on the plate?
Oh, no, under the sea / Under the sea / Nobody beat us / Fry us and eat us / In fricassee [fish swim around Ariel] / We what the land folks loves to cook / Under the sea we off the hook / We got no troubles / Life is the bubbles / Under the sea (under the sea) / Under the sea (under the sea) / Since life is sweet here / We got the beat here / Naturally (naturally) / Even the sturgeon and the ray / They get the urge 'n' start to play / We got the spirit / You got to hear it / Under the sea / The newt play the flute / The carp play the harp / The plaice play the bass / And they soundin' sharp / The bass play the brass / The chub play the tub / The fluke is the duke of soul / (Yeah) / The ray he can play / The lings on the strings / The trout rockin' out / The blackfish she sings / The smelt and the sprat / They know where it's at / And oh that blowfish blow
[As Sebastian sings the first chorus, Flounder swims past the bunch but is pulled back by a fish, who shimmies with him. He pulls free and finds Ariel, whispering in her ear. She smiles and swims away, following him.]
Yeah, under the sea (under the sea) / Under the sea (under the sea) / When the sardine / Begin the beguine / It's music to me (it's music to me) / What do they got? A lot of sand / We got a hot crustacean band / Each little clam here / Know how to jam here / Under the sea / Each little slug here / Cuttin' a rug here / Under the sea / Each little snail here / Know how to wail here / That's why it's hotter / Under the water / Ya we in luck here / Down in the muck here / Under the sea!
[Sebastian does not notice and continues his song and dance with the sea creatures. Everyone points to Ariel's empty place as the grand finale and turns away disappointed.]
Ariel? Oh... somebody's got to nail that girl's fins to the floor.
Sebastian! Sebastian, I've been looking all over for you. I've got an urgent message from The Sea King.
[tugging at Sebastian]
He wants to see you right away. Uh, something about Ariel.
[Sebastian gasps.]
He knows!
Ariel [Cuts to Ariel's Grotto. Ariel and Flounder enter the grotto.]
Flounder, why can't you just tell me what this is all about?
You'll see. It's a surprise.
Ariel [sees the statue of Eric in the middle of the cave]
Oh, Flounder- Flounder you're the best! It looks just like him. It even has his eyes. [speaking to the statue] Why, Eric, run away with you? This is all so... so sudden... [Ariel laughs and twirls around. She gasps as she sees Triton glaring in the entryway.] Father?
[Flounder hides behind a chest.] [angrily confronts Ariel in her grotto]
I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed.
Ariel But Dad, I...
Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?
Ariel Father, I had to...
Contact between the human world and the merworld is strictly forbidden! Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that!
Ariel He would've died!
One less human to worry about!
Ariel [angrily]
You don't even know him.
Know him? I don't have to know him! They're all the same: Spineless, savage, harpooning fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling...
Ariel DADDY, I LOVE HIM!
[Ariel gasps in shock, as she has accidentally slipped the truth. Sebastian cringes in horror.] [Horrified at what Ariel said]
No. [and also losing control of his outrage and glaring with his daughter] Have you lost your senses completely?! He's a HUMAN, you're a MERMAID!
Ariel I don't care!
[angrily; losing patience]
So help me, Ariel, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it.
Ariel [With his trident at full power, Triton furiously points it towards one of Ariel's treasures and angrily blasts it. The blast is so intense that it scares Ariel, including Sebastian]
FATHER? NO, NO, PLEASE! [But King Triton, in his rage, refuses to stop. He continues furiously pointing his trident at one artifact and then another, mindlessly destroying everything in his path] DADDY, STOP! FATHER, STOP IT! [She swims to her angry Father and tries stopping him, but it’s no use. The only treasure left in the grotto is the statue of Prince Eric. Seeing that he is now focused on that, Ariel turns to her angry Father] FATHER, NO! [But King Triton angrily ignores the pleas of his frightened daughter and angrily blasts the statue. Pieces of the statue fly around the grotto as the explosion subsides. The trident calms down as she looks in horror at where the statue was. Her grotto, full of many treasures just minutes ago, is now a barren cave with much debris. Overcome with sadness, she collapses onto the ground and starts sobbing. King Triton sternly looks at his daughter, but them he realizes that he went too far as he glimpses at Ariel with remorse before leaving. Sebastian and Flounder are the only ones left in the grotto and are terrified at what just happened. Feeling terrible for Ariel, Sebastian approaches the crying girl and tries to comfort her.]
Ariel [softly]
Just go away.
F Flotsam
[Sebastian, remorseful in agreement for reluctantly leading King Triton into the grotto, which resulted in the destruction of Ariel's treasures, leaves somberly with Flounder. Ariel was now on her own, sobbing over losing her treasures, all that she collected for years, and the Prince Eric statue, the newest and most fascinating treasure of them all. She was now left with nothing.] [The camera pans out to show the destroyed grotto. Flotsam and Jetsam peer out over a shelf.]
Poor child.
J Jetsam
Poor, sweet child.
F Flotsam
She has a very serious problem.
J Jetsam
If only there were something we could do.
F Flotsam
But there is something.
Ariel [stops crying for smelling hickory grotto]
Who... who are you?
J Jetsam
Don't be scared.
F Flotsam
We represent someone who can help you.
J Jetsam
Someone who could make all your dreams come true.
FA Flotsam and Jetsam
Just imagine...
J Jetsam
You and your prince...
FA Flotsam and Jetsam
Together... forever... [they form a heart]
Ariel I don't understand.
J Jetsam
Ursula... has great powers.
Ariel [gasps and places a hand to her heart.]
The Sea Witch? [shaking her head] Why, that's... I couldn't possibly... no! Get out of here. Leave me alone!
J Jetsam
It was only a suggestion.
Ariel [Jetsam flicks the statue's broken face towards Ariel. She picks it up.] [looking at the face]
Wait.
FA Flotsam and Jetsam
Yes?
I didn't mean to tell, it was an accident.
[Ariel passes by with Flotsam and Jetsam. Alarmed, Sebastian swims up.]
Ariel - where are you going? Ariel, what are you doing here with this riff-raff?
Ariel [determinedly]
I'm going to see Ursula.
[Sebastian gasps and grabs onto Ariel's fins.]
Ariel, no! No, she's a demon, she's a monster!
Ariel [looking back at Sebastian]
Why don't you go tell my father? You're good at that.
[Ariel shakes Sebastian off.]
But... But I... [to Flounder] Come on.
[Sebastian and Flounder follow them.]
V Vanessa
[The wedding boat departs from the dock. Ariel stands at the docks watching. She sinks to the ground, burying her head and cries. Sebastian looks up at her and sadly bows his head. A tear rolls down her cheek and falls in the water. Nearby, Flounder cries too. Over the ship, Scuttle swoops down over the sky.]
What a lovely little bride I'll make / My dear, I'll look divine [Scuttle peeks through a porthole to see "Vanessa" singing to herself.]/ Things are working out according / To my ultimate design [She throws a hairpin at the Angel figure in her mirror. He gulps, realizing the bride is not Ariel.] / Soon I'll have that little mermaid / And the ocean will be mine [Vanessa steps onto her vanity, crushing a bottle. She twirls around and pulls the mirror towards her. Scuttle sees her reflection is that of Ursula.]
The Sea Witch! Oh no... She's gotta- I gotta... [In a rush to leave, he bumps his head on the porthole. He flies back to Ariel.] Ariel! Ariel! Ariel, I was flying, I wa - of course I was flying - An' - I s- I saw that the watch - the witch was watchin' a mirror, and she was singin' with a stolen set o' pipes! [Scuttle picks up Sebastian and clanks him against the ground repeatedly.] Do you hear what I'm tellin' you?! The Prince is marrying the Sea Witch in disguise!
[Ariel drops her jaw, realizing that Eric is marrying Ursula in disguise.] [rubbing his head]
Are you sure about this?
Have I ever been wrong? I mean when it's important!
[Ariel looks to the setting sun and hears Ursula's voice in her head.]
Before the sun sets on the third day...
[Ariel leaps into the water and splashes around helplessly. Sebastian cuts free some barrels for Ariel to hang onto.]
Ariel, grab on to dat. Flounder, get her to that boat as fast as your fins can carry you!
[Flounder loops himself onto the rope and pulls Ariel along to the boat.]
I've gotta get to the sea king. He must know about this.
What - What about me? What about me?
You - find a way to stall dat wedding! [dives into the sea to find King Triton]
Stall the wedding. Wh- what am I - what - that's it! [Scuttle squawks and takes off for the lagoon, alerting the other birds. Bluebirds and flamingos follow him. Starfish, lobsters, dolphins, and sea lions look up. The animals follow Scuttle.] Move it! Let's go! We've got an emergency here!
B Bishop
[Cut to: Deck of Eric's boat] [Vanessa and Eric walk down the aisle. Max snarls at her as she passes by, and she kicks him. A short bishop stands at the end of the aisle.]
Dearly beloved...
[We cut to the Ocean] [Flounder pulls Ariel.]
Don't worry Ariel. Ugh…… we…… we're gonna make it. We're almost there.
B Bishop
[Cut to: Deck of Eric's boat]
Yes, um, do you Eric, take Vanessa, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for as long as you both shall live?
[Vanessa looks out to the sun, noticing it's almost set.]
I do.
B Bishop
[Scuttle squawks.]
Eh, and do you... [A squadron of bluebirds swoop down from the sky, led by Scuttle, aimed directly towards Vanessa. She ducks. They circle around and fly under her white dress. Max barks. Guests are alarmed as sea lions get on deck. Pelicans fly overhead and dump beaks full of water on Vanessa. A lobster pinches her nose and starfish smother her and screams.] [Oblivious to the commotion] then by the power invest-
V Vanessa
Get away from me you slimy little- [A sea lion tosses her in the air on his nose. Ariel arrives and climbs up the ship. The sea lions toss Vanessa into the wedding cake. She pops out, furious, and three dolphins squirt water in her face. Scuttle squawks in her face.] Oh, why you little- [Vanessa wrings Scuttle's neck. Max breaks free from his leash. Max bites Vanessa in the rear and Scuttle pulls at Vanessa's necklace, which goes flying through the air. The shell of Ursula's necklace was broken into pieces, and Ariel's voice was heard singing and inserted back into Ariel.]
Ariel Eric.
[Max barks happily at her.]
You - you can talk. You're the one.
V Vanessa
[Eric runs to her and grasps her hands.] [now in Ursula's own voice]
Eric, get away from her!
[Ursula covers her mouth.]
It - it was you all the time.
Ariel Oh, Eric, I - I wanted to tell you.
V Vanessa
[The sun sets as they are about to kiss, and her legs turn back into a tail.] [as Ariel turns back into a mermaid]
You’re too late! [cackles wickedly] YOU’RE TOO LATE!!!!
[Vanessa rips out of her dress and turns back into Ursula. The crowd gasps in shock and disgust.]
So long, Lover Boy.
[She slithers across the deck, grabs Ariel, and dives over the edge of the ship.]
Ariel!
Poor little princess, don't be frightened, it's not you I'm after. I've a much bigger fish to—
[Triton points his glowing trident at Ursula.]
Hmph!
Why, King Triton! Ha ha ha… How are you?
Not a chance, Triton! She's mine now. We made a deal. [as she shows Triton the glowing scroll as Flotsam and Jetsam restrain Ariel]
Ariel Daddy, I'm sorry! I—I-I didn't mean to. I didn't know—
[Triton zaps a beam at Ursula and the contract, which remain unharmed.]
You see? The contract's legal, binding and completely unbreakable… even for you. Of course, I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain. The daughter of the great sea king is a very precious commodity. [The contract is released by Ursula and its golden light swirls around Ariel] But - I might be willing to make an exchange for someone even better... [as she touches her tentacle to Triton's crown]
[We Cut to Eric's boat] [Eric rows a small boat out to sea.]
Eric! What are you doing?
Grim, I lost her once. I'm not gonna lose her again.
[We Cut to Back Under the water] [Ariel becomes increasingly small and shriveled to resemble the souls in Ursula's garden, presumably meaning that she’s turning a polyp. She holds out the contract.]
Now! Do we have a deal? [Triton looks away and signs over Ariel's signature using his trident.] Ha! It's done then! [The magical golden current holding Ariel releases her and takes over Triton, turning him into one of Ursula's souls.]
Ariel No... Oh, no!
[Ursula cackles.] [Cut to above water] [Eric stands in his rowboat, harpoon in hand.] [Cut to: under water] [Only Triton's crown and trident remain.]
Oh, Your Majesty...
Ariel Daddy?
At last. [as she picks up the crown and puts it on.]
Ariel No.
It's mine. [as she holds the trident and cackles to herself. Ariel angrily springs at her.]
Ariel You... [angrily swimming and attacks Ursula] YOU MONSTER!!!
[throws Ariel down and points the trident at her]
Don't fool with me ya little brat! Contract or no- Ahh!
[Eric's harpoon grazes Ursula's arm. He watches under water.]
Why, you little troll!
Ariel Eric! Eric, look out!
[to Flotsam and Jetsam]
After him!
[Flotsam and Jetsam chase Eric as he swims back to the surface. He reaches his boat, but they pull him back under water.]
Come on!
[Sebastian and Flounder attack. Sebastian pinches one eel's tail while Flounder flaps his fins in the other's face.]
Say goodbye to your sweetheart. [Ursula aims the trident at Eric, but Ariel yanks her hair, causing the beam of lightning to hit Flotsam and Jetsam, who burn to crisp, smelling like burning ash.] Babies! My poor, little poopsies.
Ariel [Ursula holds their remains and her eyes go wild. Seeing Ariel escaping, Ursula begins to grow, huff, and release a black cloud of ink. Flounder and Sebastian cower.] [Cut to: above water]
Eric, you've got to get away from here.
[A spike on Triton's crown comes between Eric and Ariel as a gigantic Ursula rises from the water, laughing manically. Eric and Ariel jump into the water and clutch each other, looking up to see Ursula towering over them.]
You pitiful, insignificant, fool!
[One of Ursula's tentacles crashes down into the water.]
Now I am the ruler of all the ocean! The waves obey my every whim!
Ariel [Ursula raises the trident and swirls it, creating a storm with lightning. A wave sweeps Eric away.]
Eric!
The sea and all its spoils bow to my power! [She swirls the trident in the water, creating a whirlpool. The spinning funnel reaches the ocean floor, churning up sunken ships. Ariel dodges the wreckage. One of the ships veers towards Eric and he tries to swim away, but he is shoved under water. Gliding along the bottom of the ship, he grabs onto a rope and hoists himself up the side and onto the deck. She was cackling] So much for true love! [As Ursula is about to bring her trident down on Ariel, Eric steers the ship into her. She is impaled by the sharp bow. Ursula screams in pain. Her eyes flash and her body is filled with lightning as the ship goes down on top of her. Her tentacles writhe as the ship sinks into the sea.]
Cut to: under water
[The trident sinks down along with debris.] [Cut to: Ursula's Lair] [The shriveled souls of the Atlanticans trapped in Ursula's lair are set free and swim out of the lair. The trident falls back to Triton, who transforms back into himself.]
[Cut to: shore] [Eric lies on the beach and Ariel gazes from a distance seated on a rock. Triton and Sebastian look on.]
She really does love him, doesn't she, Sebastian?
[Sebastian nods.]
Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty. Children got to be free to lead their own lives.
You - always say that? [sighs] Then, I guess there's just one problem left.
And what's dat, Your Majesty?
How much I'm going to miss her.
[Sebastian looks up at Triton. The King's trident glows and he touches it to the water. It forms a glowing golden path to Ariel. She looks down, surprised as her tail glows and smiles at her father.] :[Eric wakes up and sees Ariel rising from the water, wearing a shimmering purple gown. She walks towards him, arms open wide, on legs. Eric runs to her and twirls her around. Their lips meet in a kiss, which fades into their wedding day. Max jumps up between them and licks them. Guests on the ship cheer. Carlotta cries and uses Grimsby's handkerchief as a napkin. In the ocean, merpeople gather around the ship and wave. Triton and Ariel's mersisters smile and wave. Scuttle brings Flounder up to the side of the ship. Scuttle flaps away and winks. Ariel kisses him and pats Scuttle's head. On the wedding cake, Sebastian sits between two cake toppers of Ariel and Eric. He hugs them, smiling tearfully. Suddenly, he sees Louis raising a knife over him. He jumps off and the chef cuts the cake in half. He scampers down the walkway as Louis throws a knife at him and chases him around the deck. Sebastian snips a rope with his claw and a wooden beam swings into Louis' face. His teeth fall out and he collapses. Sebastian jumps into the water between Scuttle and Flounder.]
Yes, [bowing] Thank you, thank you.
Ariel [On the ship, Ariel looks over the railing at her father. A fountain of water raises him up and they hug.]
I love you, Daddy.
C Chorus
[Behind them, Eric bows to King Triton. Triton nods. Touching Ariel's cheek, Triton returns to the water. Ariel blows him a kiss. Eric steps up and Ariel slips her arm through his.]
Now we can walk / Now we can run /Now we can stay all day in the sun / Just you and me / And I can be / Part of your world / Ah-ah-ah-ah / Ah-ah-ah / Ah-ah-ah, ah
[In the water, Triton sweeps his trident in the air, forming a sparkling rainbow in the sky. The merpeople wave as the ship sails off and they dive below the water. Ariel and Eric kiss.]
