[inside a derelict tractor]
Mr. Ages? Mr. Ages? Is anybody home?
Mr. Ages Go away!
Mr. Ages What is it?
Mr. Ages, may I please speak to you?
Mr. Ages What?
I said, "May I please speak..." [Mr. Ages appears, coughing behind Mrs. Brisby] [shocked gasp] "...with you?" Oh, thank goodness. I'm so glad you're home.
Mr. Ages Confounded machine! You never know when it's going to up and blow!
Yes. I don't suppose you would remember me.
Mr. Ages Yes, you're Mrs. Brisby. And I'm sorry about your husband's death. Now if you'd excuse me.
Mr. Ages Great Jupiter, woman! What do you want?!
Mr. Ages, I know you don't like visitors, but this is an emergency. Please--
Mr. Ages [a sudden explosion shatters the tractor, sending Mr. Ages down in a basket. Mrs. Brisby comes over to him as he nears the basket.]
Ma-- [coughs] Madam, that is an emergency.
[worried]
Oh, Mr. Ages, my son Timothy is so sick.
Mr. Ages Timmy? The one with the spider bite? Oh, just give him some pepsissiwa root and--
[interrupts; more worried]
No! No, he's sick with a fever.
Mr. Ages Well, I suppose I could fix up something.
Mr. Ages Follow me, but don't touch anything. Understand?
R Rat
[Mr. Ages is grabbed from behind by a disguised rat while guiding Mrs. Brisby through the rose bush]
Reveal thy name...
Mr. Ages [Recognizes the rat's voice; annoyed]
Justin! You featherhead! Get your hands off me!
Okay, okay! Just a joke! I didn't mean any harm. The meeting's already in progress.
Mr. Ages What's this all about?
[Gestures at Mrs. Brisby]
Who, may I ask?
Mr. Ages Oh, yes. She can be trusted. This is no stranger. [To Mrs. Brisby] My dear, may I present Justin, the Captain of the Guard. Justin, this is Mrs. Brisby.
[Amazed]
Not Mrs. Jonathan Brisby?
Mr. Ages Yes, the same.
[Takes off his hat and bows]
It is an honor and a privilege, m'lady.
Mr. Ages If we could dispense with the formalities?
[reaches the site of the botched move]
Oh, Mr. Ages! What happened?! [gasps] The children...!
Mr. Ages Th-They're fine. [breaks into tears] Nicodemus...is...dead.
Oh... [hugs him] Oh, no. [Jenner looks back at her with a scowl as she recomposes herself] You're in great danger. NIMH is coming.
Come, come. Let's...return to the rose bush.
Yes, in the morning. You will all die unless you leave the farm tonight.
Please! You must believe me!
R2 Rat 2
What if it's true?!
R3 Rat 3
We'll all be killed!
Don't listen! She's hysterical!
[flies into a rage and backhands her]
YOU get out! [throws off his cape and draws his sword] I've had enough!
Martin [From inside the fallen house]
Hello! Is anybody out there?
Martin Mom!
Mother, are we almost moved?
Soon, now. [slumps against the house in despair; suddenly, it begins to sink into the mud] It's sinking... It's sinking... [panics] JUSTIN! THE BLOCK! IT'S SINKING!
What?! [sees; to the rats] Come on!
Mr. Ages Oh, no... There must be a...there must be a cave-in...below!
R Rat
Pull the line! Justin!
[to Mrs. Brisby]
Here, tie these lines. I'll get a line around the stone. Now! Brutus, quick, get some rope! Tie off those block lines! Hurry it up, come on! MOVE IT!
