Watership Down Quotes
A group of rabbits flee their doomed warren and face many dangers to find and protect their new home.
[first lines]
Narrator: Long ago, the great Frith made the world. He made all the stars and the world lived among the stars. Frith made all the animals and birds and, at first, made them all the same. Now, among the animals was El-Ahrairah, the Prince of Rabbits. He had many friends and they all ate grass together. But after a time, the rabbits wandered everywhere, multiplying and eating as they went. Then Frith said to El-Ahrairah, "Prince Rabbit, if you cannot control your people, I shall find ways to control them." But El-Ahrairah would not listen and said to Frith, "My people are the strongest in the world." This angered Frith, so he determined to get the better of El-Ahrairah. He gave a present to every animal and bird, making each one different from the rest. When the fox came and others, like the dog and cat, hawk and weasel, to each of them, Frith gave a fierce desire to hunt and slay the children of El-Ahrairah.
Narrator: Long ago, the great Frith made the world. He made all the stars and the world lived among the stars. Frith made all the animals and birds and, at first, made them all the same. Now, among the animals was El-Ahrairah, the Prince of Rabbits. He had many friends and they all ate grass together. But after a time, the rabbits wandered everywhere, multiplying and eating as they went. Then Frith said to El-Ahrairah, "Prince Rabbit, if you cannot control your people, I shall find ways to control them." But El-Ahrairah would not listen and said to Frith, "My people are the strongest in the world." This angered Frith, so he determined to get the better of El-Ahrairah. He gave a present to every animal and bird, making each one different from the rest. When the fox came and others, like the dog and cat, hawk and weasel, to each of them, Frith gave a fierce desire to hunt and slay the children of El-Ahrairah.
[after General Woundwort's last stand against a dog]
Narrator: General Woundwort's body was never found. It could be that he still lives his fierce life somewhere else, but from that day on, mother rabbits would tell their kittens that if they did not do as they were told, the General would get them. Such was Woundwort's monument, and perhaps it would not have displeased him.
Narrator: General Woundwort's body was never found. It could be that he still lives his fierce life somewhere else, but from that day on, mother rabbits would tell their kittens that if they did not do as they were told, the General would get them. Such was Woundwort's monument, and perhaps it would not have displeased him.
Black Rabbit: Hazel... Hazel... you know me, don't you?
Hazel: I don't know.
[the apparition reveals himself to be the Black Rabbit, and Hazel gasps]
Hazel: Yes, my lord. I know you.
Black Rabbit: I've come to ask if you'd like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you'd like it. You've been feeling tired, haven't you? If you're ready, we might go along now.
[Hazel looks at all the younger rabbits of Watership Down]
Black Rabbit: You needn't worry about them. They'll be all right, and thousands like them. If you come along now, I'll show you what I mean.
Hazel: I don't know.
[the apparition reveals himself to be the Black Rabbit, and Hazel gasps]
Hazel: Yes, my lord. I know you.
Black Rabbit: I've come to ask if you'd like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you'd like it. You've been feeling tired, haven't you? If you're ready, we might go along now.
[Hazel looks at all the younger rabbits of Watership Down]
Black Rabbit: You needn't worry about them. They'll be all right, and thousands like them. If you come along now, I'll show you what I mean.
Black Rabbit: Hazel? You know me, don't you?
Hazel: I don't.
[the visitor reveals himself as The Black Rabbit]
Hazel: Oh, yes, my Lord... I know you.
Black Rabbit: I've come to ask if you would like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you'd like it. You've been feeling tired, haven't you? If you're ready, we might go along now.
[Hazel pauses to look back at his rabbits]
Black Rabbit: You needn't worry about them. They'll be alright, and thousands like them. If you'll come along, I'll show you what I mean.
[Hazel lies down and dies]
Hazel: I don't.
[the visitor reveals himself as The Black Rabbit]
Hazel: Oh, yes, my Lord... I know you.
Black Rabbit: I've come to ask if you would like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you'd like it. You've been feeling tired, haven't you? If you're ready, we might go along now.
[Hazel pauses to look back at his rabbits]
Black Rabbit: You needn't worry about them. They'll be alright, and thousands like them. If you'll come along, I'll show you what I mean.
[Hazel lies down and dies]
Bigwig: Hyzenthlay.
Hyzenthlay: Sir?
Bigwig: I'd like to talk with you.
Hyzenthlay: I'm in the mark and under your orders, sir.
Bigwig: Do you remember a pale grey rabbit called Holly you helped escape some while ago?
Hyzenthlay: You've made a mistake, sir.
Bigwig: Listen, Hyzenthlay. Listen carefully. I'm from a warren where life is free. Where you can do is as you wish. I've come to bring you all out of Efrafra.
Hyzenthlay: You might be a spy sent by the council.
Bigwig: You know I'm not. Will you join us? And persuade your friends as well, trust me. My friends are not far away.
Hyzenthlay: [Voice is breaking] My courage, my... spirit is so much less than it was.
Bigwig: We can escape Efrafra. Believe me.
Hyzenthlay: Yes... I think I do.
[She smiles]
Hyzenthlay: Sir?
Bigwig: I'd like to talk with you.
Hyzenthlay: I'm in the mark and under your orders, sir.
Bigwig: Do you remember a pale grey rabbit called Holly you helped escape some while ago?
Hyzenthlay: You've made a mistake, sir.
Bigwig: Listen, Hyzenthlay. Listen carefully. I'm from a warren where life is free. Where you can do is as you wish. I've come to bring you all out of Efrafra.
Hyzenthlay: You might be a spy sent by the council.
Bigwig: You know I'm not. Will you join us? And persuade your friends as well, trust me. My friends are not far away.
Hyzenthlay: [Voice is breaking] My courage, my... spirit is so much less than it was.
Bigwig: We can escape Efrafra. Believe me.
Hyzenthlay: Yes... I think I do.
[She smiles]
Hazel: Lord Frith, I know you've looked after us well, and it's wrong to ask even more of you. But my people are in terrible danger, and so I would like to make a bargain with you. My life in return for theirs.
Frith: There is not a day or night that a doe offers her life for her kittens, or some honest captain of Owsla, his life for his chief. But there is no bargain: what is, is what must be.
Frith: There is not a day or night that a doe offers her life for her kittens, or some honest captain of Owsla, his life for his chief. But there is no bargain: what is, is what must be.
Bigwig: Hazel? It is Hazel, isn't it?
Hazel: It is.
Bigwig: What are you doing here?
Hazel: [Motioning to Fiver] We want to see the chief rabbit, Bigwig.
Bigwig: We? You mean he wants to see him too?
Hazel: Yes.
Fiver: I must.
Bigwig: What on earth for?
Fiver: Well, I...
Holly: Bigwig? What do they want?
Bigwig: They want to see the chief rabbit.
Holly: What for?
Fiver: Well, I...
Holly: Send them away.
Bigwig: I'll take care of it, Holly.
[Turns back to Hazel]
Hazel: Look, Bigwig, when have I EVER asked to see the chief rabbit?
Bigwig: [Thinks over, hesitating] All right, all right. Wait here.
[Goes into warren, speaks to Chief Rabbit for a moment, comes back up]
Bigwig: Come along then. Though I'll probably get my ears chewed off for this...
Hazel: It is.
Bigwig: What are you doing here?
Hazel: [Motioning to Fiver] We want to see the chief rabbit, Bigwig.
Bigwig: We? You mean he wants to see him too?
Hazel: Yes.
Fiver: I must.
Bigwig: What on earth for?
Fiver: Well, I...
Holly: Bigwig? What do they want?
Bigwig: They want to see the chief rabbit.
Holly: What for?
Fiver: Well, I...
Holly: Send them away.
Bigwig: I'll take care of it, Holly.
[Turns back to Hazel]
Hazel: Look, Bigwig, when have I EVER asked to see the chief rabbit?
Bigwig: [Thinks over, hesitating] All right, all right. Wait here.
[Goes into warren, speaks to Chief Rabbit for a moment, comes back up]
Bigwig: Come along then. Though I'll probably get my ears chewed off for this...
General Woundwort: Your name?
Hyzenthlay: Hyzenthlay, sir.
General Woundwort: I'll be frank with you. You're safe here. Well get on with it!
Hyzenthlay: Sir, several of us propose an expedition for a new warren. Somewhere else.
General Woundwort: A new warren? Out of the question!
Hyzenthlay: But you don't understand. The system is breaking down.
General Woundwort: Explain that.
Hyzenthlay: Some of us can't produce litters, we're overcrowded.
General Woundwort: I want no further discussion about it.
Hyzenthlay: We'll go as far as you like!
General Woundwort: Here or anywhere else!
Hyzenthlay: I...
[she is approached threateningly by Campion]
Hyzenthlay: [meekly] Thank you, sir.
[she leaves]
General Woundwort: Campion, have her watched.
Hyzenthlay: Hyzenthlay, sir.
General Woundwort: I'll be frank with you. You're safe here. Well get on with it!
Hyzenthlay: Sir, several of us propose an expedition for a new warren. Somewhere else.
General Woundwort: A new warren? Out of the question!
Hyzenthlay: But you don't understand. The system is breaking down.
General Woundwort: Explain that.
Hyzenthlay: Some of us can't produce litters, we're overcrowded.
General Woundwort: I want no further discussion about it.
Hyzenthlay: We'll go as far as you like!
General Woundwort: Here or anywhere else!
Hyzenthlay: I...
[she is approached threateningly by Campion]
Hyzenthlay: [meekly] Thank you, sir.
[she leaves]
General Woundwort: Campion, have her watched.
Pipkin: [while all are digging in the rain] What's happening back home, I wonder? Think, when we lived in our own burrows? Dry, soft, warm bodies...
Dandelion: [to Hazel] Look, we can't go on like this.
Silver: It keeps getting worse and worse wherever we go. Where ARE we going?
Hazel: It won't be much longer, then we can all rest.
Silver: How MUCH longer?
Pipkin: We never should have left.
Blackberry: Suppose Fiver's all wrong?
Pipkin: We want to go back and find out.
Hazel: Go back? After all we've been through?
Bigwig: And probably get killed for wounding Captain Holly? An Owsla officer? Talk sense, for Frith's sake!
Dandelion: [to Hazel] Look, we can't go on like this.
Silver: It keeps getting worse and worse wherever we go. Where ARE we going?
Hazel: It won't be much longer, then we can all rest.
Silver: How MUCH longer?
Pipkin: We never should have left.
Blackberry: Suppose Fiver's all wrong?
Pipkin: We want to go back and find out.
Hazel: Go back? After all we've been through?
Bigwig: And probably get killed for wounding Captain Holly? An Owsla officer? Talk sense, for Frith's sake!
Bigwig: [They're being chased by a dog at the stream's edge] Come on! What d'you think will happen when he picks up our scent? Those that can swim swim. The others... will have to make out the best they can.
Hazel: That's not good enough! We all got into this together, we'll all get out of it together!
Hazel: That's not good enough! We all got into this together, we'll all get out of it together!
Bigwig: Aren't you going to silflay?
Blackavar: I don't silflay at this time, sir.
Sherbil: Tell him why you're here, Blackavar.
Blackavar: [Mumbles] I've come here for the mark...
[Chervil swipes at him to make him speak up, and he does]
Blackavar: I... I... I've come here for the mark to see me. I... I've been punished for trying to leave the warren.
[Chervil glares]
Blackavar: The council were merciful...
[Chervil threatens him again, and Blackavar cowers]
Blackavar: The council were merciful.
Sherbil: He keeps trying to run away. Captain Campion caught him this time. The council ripped his ears and says he has to show himself every morning early silflay as an example to the others. If you ask me, he won't last much longer. He'll meet a blacker rabbit than himself one of these nights.
Blackavar: I don't silflay at this time, sir.
Sherbil: Tell him why you're here, Blackavar.
Blackavar: [Mumbles] I've come here for the mark...
[Chervil swipes at him to make him speak up, and he does]
Blackavar: I... I... I've come here for the mark to see me. I... I've been punished for trying to leave the warren.
[Chervil glares]
Blackavar: The council were merciful...
[Chervil threatens him again, and Blackavar cowers]
Blackavar: The council were merciful.
Sherbil: He keeps trying to run away. Captain Campion caught him this time. The council ripped his ears and says he has to show himself every morning early silflay as an example to the others. If you ask me, he won't last much longer. He'll meet a blacker rabbit than himself one of these nights.
Kehaar: [sitting in the mouth of a run while Bigwig is trying to get out past him from behind] Vat home? Dis home? Where are mates? Where are chicks? Mate make eggs. Me sit on eggs, hatch eggs, many eggs. Ve feed chick. Egg robbers come, we fight! YARK, YARK!
[Bigwig pushes through underneath Kehaar]
[Bigwig pushes through underneath Kehaar]
Hazel: [while running to the farm to save his rabbits from Woundwort] Lord Frith, I know you've looked after us well and it's wrong to ask even more of you, but my people are in terrible danger! So I would like to make a bargain with you... my life in return for theirs.
Frith: There is not a day or night that a doe offers her life for her kittens or some honest captain of Owsla his life for his Chief, but there is no bargain. What is is what must be.
Frith: There is not a day or night that a doe offers her life for her kittens or some honest captain of Owsla his life for his Chief, but there is no bargain. What is is what must be.
[Woundwort emerges from the hole and sees his soldiers fleeing at the sight of the dog]
General Woundwort: Come back! Come back, you fools!
Campion: Run!
General Woundwort: Come back! Come back and fight! Dogs aren't dangerous!
[the dog drops a dead Efrafan and then comes in slow-motion after Woundwort, who tries to lunge away from the dog and disappears off-screen]
General Woundwort: Come back! Come back, you fools!
Campion: Run!
General Woundwort: Come back! Come back and fight! Dogs aren't dangerous!
[the dog drops a dead Efrafan and then comes in slow-motion after Woundwort, who tries to lunge away from the dog and disappears off-screen]
[Confronting Bigwig leading a mass defection of Efrafans]
General Woundwort: Bigwig, you traitorous...!
[to a subordinate]
General Woundwort: Captain, get this miserable group back to their marks. I'll settle you myself, Bigwig. There's no need to take you back.
Bigwig: Come and try, you cracked-brain slave driver!
General Woundwort: Bigwig, you traitorous...!
[to a subordinate]
General Woundwort: Captain, get this miserable group back to their marks. I'll settle you myself, Bigwig. There's no need to take you back.
Bigwig: Come and try, you cracked-brain slave driver!
