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A Bug's Life

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A Bug's Life is a 1998 American CGI-animated film about an oddball ant named Flik, who recruits circus bugs to defend his colony from grasshoppers.

Directed by John Lasseter. Written by Andrew Stanton.
Music by Randy Newman and includes "The Time of Your Life". Written and performed by Newman.
An epic of miniature proportions.(taglines)

Flik

  • Your Highness, don't you see? We could send someone to get help!
  • Here I go. For the colony, and for the oppressed ants everywhere!
  • I Know It's A Rock, Don't You Think I Know A Rock When I See A Rock I've Spent A Lot Of Time Around Rocks!
  • Oh no, they've finished collecting the food. We've got to get the queen now. Once she's safe, we move on Gypsy's signal.
  • You're wrong, Hopper. Ants are not meant to serve grasshoppers. I've seen these ants do great things, and year after year they somehow manage to pick food for themselves and you. So-so who is the weaker species? ANTS DON'T SERVE GRASSHOPPERS! IT'S YOU WHO NEED US! We're a lot stronger than you say we are... And you know it, don't you?
  • [outtakes] To infinity and beyond! [laughs] I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. I mean, really, can y... can you blame me? Okay. Okay, let's go for real now.

Princess Atta

  • They come, they eat, they leave. They come, they eat, they leave.
  • You see, Hopper. Nature has a certain order. The ants pick the food, the ants keep the food, and the grasshoppers leave!
  • Leave the island?!

Hopper

  • [first words] So, where is it? WHERE'S MY FOOD?! [echoes]
  • Are you saying I'm stupid?
  • Do I look... stupid... to you? Let's just think about the logic, shall we? Let's just think about it for a second. If it was up there, would I be coming down here, [leans over Atta] to your level, LOOKING FOR IT?! Why am I even talking to you? You're not the queen. [prods Atta's face with his antenna] You don't smell like the queen.
  • Oh, I see! Under new management. So it's your fault.
  • Uh-uh-uh. First rule of leadership: everything is your fault.
  • What's the matter? You're scared of grasshoppers? You don't like Thumper?
  • You are mindless, soil-shoving losers put on this Earth to serve us.
  • HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING ALL SUMMER?! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?!
  • WELL, GUESS WHAT... you just lost!
  • [Yelled To The Ant Colony Like A Slave Driver] ALL RIGHT, GET MOVING! [Pushes All The Ants Into Line] Get Going, Move Your Abdomens Now!
  • [last words] Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls. [as the bird, a real one, roars] AAAAAH!!!! [He drops Flik; the bird seizes him] Aaaaah! Aah! Aah! Oh! [The bird caught him and holds him over to her chicks] A-AAAAAAAH!!! Ah! No! No! NOOO, NO, NO, NO! Aah! Aah! Aah! A-AAH-AAAH-AAAAH!!!! AAAAAAAAAH!!!! No! OH, NOOOOOOOO!!! AH! OH, NO! NO, NO, NO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! [The camera zooms in on the chicks' mouths as Hopper screams again]

Dot

  • The name is Dot.
  • No! Bad grasshopper! Bad grasshopper! Go home!

Queen

  • Just be confident, dear. You'll be fine.
  • Oh, it'll be fine. It's the same, year after year. They come, they eat, they leave. That's our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's our life. [laughs.]
  • Now, Dot, be nice to your sister.
  • [whistles] Okay, everyone, single file. Food to offering stone and into the anthill. Now, let's go!
  • But, Hopper, since it's almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather food for ourselvesǃ
  • Perfect? What's so perfect?
  • Oh, now why didn't I think of that? Oh! Because it's suicide!

Heimlich

  • Someday, I will be a beautiful butterfly, and then everything will be better.

Francis

  • SO, being a ladybug automatically makes me a girl! Is that it, fly boy? Huh?
  • Judging by your breath, you must have been buzzing around a dung heap all day!
  • Anytime, pal! I'm gonna pick the hairs out of your head one by one! You name the place! Yeah, 'cause when you get there, YOU ARE DEAD!
  • I heard that, you twig!
  • Let's face it. We stink.
  • To the audience we'll never have.
  • Shoo, fly. Don't bother me.
  • Your Majesty, ladies and Gentlemen, boys & girls of all ages, our troupe here guarantees a performance like no other, why when your grasshopper friends get here, we are gonna KNOCK... THEM... DEAD...!!!

Slim

  • You always cast me as the broom! The pole! The stick! A splinter!
  • Come on Francis, you're making the maggots cry!

Manny

  • From the most mysterious reaches of uncharted Asia, I give you the Chinese Cabinet of Metamorphosis!
  • You Listen To Me My Boy, I've Made A Living Out Of Being A Failure And You Sir Are Not A Failure!

Gypsy

  • Shh. He's in a trance.
  • Manny, we're on!
  • Stage is the other way, dear.
  • Manny? Manny!
  • I can't believe the troupe is breaking up. We've always been together.
  • [gasps] A talent scout.
  • It seems we've been booked for an extended engagement.
  • I know. The bird.
  • Lieutenant Gypsy reporting for duty.
  • That's the Flik we know and love.

Rosie

  • And that's how my twelfth husband died...so now I'm a widow. I mean, I've always been a black widow, but now I'm a black-widow widow.

Dim

  • Dim don't wanna go.

Tuck and Roll

  • You're fired!

P.T. Flea

  • [repeated line] Flaming Death!
  • Uh, no refunds after the first two minutes.
  • You're all fired.
  • Bugs will pay big bucks to see, a bonfire that is starring me!

Molt

  • [first words, from off-screen] Yeah, where's the food?
  • Why go back to Ant Island at all? I mean, you don't even like grain!
  • [last words] Yes, Mr. Flea. Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Right away, sir. And, um, I just wanted to thank you for giving me a chance, because it's an honor to work with creative giants such as yourself. Shutting up.

Mr. Soil

  • Do not panic. Do not panic! We are trained professionals. Now, stay calm. We are going around the leaf.
  • Oh, nonsense. This is nothing compared to the twig of '93.
  • That's it. That's it. Good! You're doing great! There you go. There you go! Watch my eyes. Don't look away. And here's the line again.
  • Good job, everybody!
  • I don't think we need to involve the queen in this. She's got enough on her plate already: training her daughter.
  • What do you think you're doing?!
  • Then help us. Don't help us.
  • Ludicrous!
  • He looks absolutely ferocious!
  • I tell you a tale of heroes so bold, who vanquished our grasshopper enemies of old.

Dr. Flora

  • Oh, my. There's quite a gap, Mr. Soil. Shouldn't we tell the Queen?
  • Oh, yes, Princess Atta. The poor dear.

Thorny

  • Oh, it's Flik!
  • [swipes the telescope from Flik and throws it near Dot's feet] All right, listen! The Princess doesn't have time for this! You wanna help us fill this thing?! Then get rid of that machine, get back in line, and pick grain, like everybody else!

Cornelius

  • Like everybody else!
  • Harvester! Why, we harvested the same way since I was a pupa!

Others

  • Scared Ant #1: No, no, no, Oh, no. Oh, no. I'M LOST!! Where's the line?! It just went away! What do I do?!
  • Scared Ant #2: Help!
  • Scared Ant #3: We'll be stuck here forever!
  • Cockroach Waitress: Hey, who ordered the Poo Poo Platter?
  • Mosquito Waitress: Here you go, Slick. Enjoy.
  • Slick: Ow! OW!! HEY I SAID NO SALT!!
  • Drunk Mosquito: Hey, bartender, Bloody Mary, O positive.

Dialogue

[First lines; The movie begins as the line of ants march to the stone, one ant spots a shadow moving across the ground. He looks up and gasps. A leaf is falling from the overhead tree]
Scared Ant #1: [gasps] No, no, no, Oh, no. Oh, no.
[the leaf lands in front of one of the worker ants in the food line]
Scared Ant #1: I'M LOST!! Where's the line?! It just went away! What do I do?!
Scared Ant #2: Help!
Scared Ant #3: We'll be stuck here forever!
Mr. Soil: Do not panic. Do not panic! We are trained professionals. Now, stay calm. We are going around the leaf.
Scared Ant #1: Around the leaf. I-I-I don't think we can do that.
Mr. Soil: Oh, nonsense. This is nothing compared to the twig of '93. [gestured for the line of nervous ants to come towards him] That's it. That's it. Good! You're doing great! There you go. There you go! Watch my eyes. Don't look away. And here's the line again.
Scared Ant #1: [gleeful shout] Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Soil!
Mr. Soil: Good job, everybody!
Dr. Flora: Oh, my. There's quite a gap, Mr. Soil. Shouldn't we tell the queen?
Mr. Soil: I don't think we need to involve the queen in this. She's got enough on her plate already: training her daughter.
Dr. Flora: Oh, yes, Princess Atta. The poor dear.
Princess Atta: Oh... Wind's died down. They'll be here soon.
Queen: Just be confident, dear. You'll be fine.
Princess Atta: Ah! There's a gap. There's a gap in the line! What are we gonna do?!
Thorny: It's okay, Your Highness. Gaps happen. We just lost a few inches, that's all.
Princess Atta: Oh, right. [hovers over Thorny's shoulder]
Thorny: Your Highness, I can't count when you hover like that.
Princess Atta: Oh, of course. I'm sorry. [chuckles] Go ahead.
Queen: Guys, go shade someone else for a while. Okay, Atta. Now what do we do?
Princess Atta: Oh! Don't tell me. I know it. I know it. What is it?
Queen: We relax!
Princess Atta: Right.
Queen: Oh, it'll be fine. It's the same, year after year. They come, they eat, they leave. That's our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's our life. [laughs. Atta laughs too] Isn't that right, Aphie? Oh, you're such a cute little aphid. [As she sets Aphie down, the two ant boys pop out of a hole in the ground]
Reed: Ditch Dot!
Grub: Yeah, yeah!
Dot: Hey, come back here! [tries to hover after the boys. But drops to the ground]
Queen: Dot!
Dot: Yes, Mother.
Queen: What did I tell you about trying to fly?
Dot: Not until my wings grow in.
Queen: Right.
Dot: But, Mom...
Princess Atta: Dot, you're a young queen ant, and your wings are too little to be...
Dot: I was talking to Mother! You're not the queen yet, Atta!
Queen: Now, Dot, be nice to your sister.
Dot: It's not my fault she's so stressed out.
Princess Atta: [sighs] I know, I know. [sighs] I'm always acting like the sky is falling.
Mr. Soil: [Off-screen] Look out! [A huge stalk of grain falls on top of her]
Queen: Atta!
Thorny and Dr. Flora: Princess Atta! Princess Atta!
Dr. Flora: Hey! Stop that!
Mr. Soil: What do you think you're doing?!
Dr. Flora: You could have killed somebody over here!
Flik: [looks up and gasps, running over] I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Thorny: [annoyed] Oh, it's Flik.
[Cornelius groans]
Flik: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I'm sorry! [The council members lift the stalk, freeing Atta; Flik exclaims] Princess Atta!
Princess Atta: Flik, what are you doing?
Flik: Oh... Oh, this? This is my new idea for harvesting grain! No more picking individual kernels! You can just cut down the entire stalk!
Princess Atta: Flik, we don't have time for this.
Flik: Exactly! We never have time to collect food for ourselves, because we spend all summer harvesting for the Offering! But my invention will speed up production.
Princess Atta: [groans] Another invention?
Flik: Yeah, and I've got something for you, too. [Picks up a blade of grass and folds it into a cone]
Princess Atta: [sighs] Flik!
Flik: Since you're gonna be queen soon, you could use this to oversee production. [borrows a dewdrop from Dr. Flora's flower] Dr. Flora, if I may.
Dr. Flora: [gasps] Oh!
Princess Atta: This is all very nice, but...
Thorny: What?
Flik: Just an ordinary blade of grass and a bead of dew, right?
Princess Atta: Flik, please.
Flik: Wrong! It is, in fact... [drops the dewdrop in the middle of the blade] A telescope!
[Dot and Queen laugh]
Princess Atta: It's very clever, Flik, but...
[Flik peers at Atta through the telescope]
Flik: Hello, princess! My, aren't you looking lovely this morning! Not, of course, that you would need a telescope to see that...
Thorny: [swipes the telescope from Flik and throws it near Dot's feet] All right, listen! The Princess doesn't have time for this! You wanna help us fill this thing?! Then get rid of that machine, get back in line, and pick grain, like everybody else!
Cornelius: Like everybody else!
Princess Atta: Please, Flik. Just go.
Flik: I'm sorry. I was... I was really just trying... [Thorny and Cornelius gesture pointing for Flik to go] Trying to help.
Cornelius: "Harvester"! Why, we've harvested the same way ever since I was a pupa.
Flik: [Looks to the sky and gasps] They're here!
Ants: They're here!
Dot: Mom! Where are you?!
Ants: They're coming! Run!
Queen: Dot! Dot!
Dot: Mom!
Princess Atta: Single file!
Dot: Mom!
Queen: Thank heavens!
Princess Atta: Please, everyone. Uh, food the offering stone.
Queen: [whistles] Okay, everyone, single file. Food to offering stone and into the anthill. Now, let's go!
Ant #4: Go, go, go, go.
Princess Atta: Come on. Keep movin', keep movin'. Good! Okay. That's everyone.
[She flies into the anthill with the others]
Flik: Hey! Hey, wait for me! [runs up to the offering stone, tangled up in his harvester] Get the food to the offering stone, then into the anthill.
[Flik takes off his harvester and sets it on the offering stone. It vibrates off the platform and falls the ground. The stalk-holder flips out and knocks one of the supporting rocks loose. The offering stone tips over, and the food starts falling off. Suddenly, we hears the crash and Flik turns around and sees the food falling off!]
Flik: [screams] No! No, no, no, no, no! Oh, oh!
[Flik grabs the leaf's stem to save the food, but his attempts are futile. Every single piece of food falls off. Looking over the edge, Flik watches in horror as the very last piece falls into the creek]
Flik: Oh, no. Princess Atta! Princess Atta! Princess Attaaaa!
[In the anthill, the whole colony is waiting for the grasshoppers to have their feast then leave]
Princess Atta: They come, they eat, they leave. They come, they eat, they leave.
Flik: Excuse me, pardon me. Pardon me, excuse me. Coming through. Excuse me. Excuse me. Sorry, sorry. [he runs through the crowd to make his way to Atta] Coming through. Princess Atta, there's something I need to tell you.
Princess Atta: Not now, Flik.
Flik: But, Your Highness, it's about the offering!
Princess Atta: Shhh!
Grasshopper: [off-screen] Hey, what's going on?
Molt: [first words; off-screen] Yeah, where's the food?
[All ants gasp]
Princess Atta: [furious with Flik] What did you do?
Flik: [nervously] It was an accident?
[The grasshoppers kick through the roof and drop into the anthill]
Molt: Boo! Where's the food?!
[As the ants try to hide. A tall, brown grasshopper named Hopper. A lands in front of Flik and two other ants]
Flik: Hopper.
[Hopper paces back and forth]
Hopper: [first words] So, where is it? WHERE'S MY FOOD? [echoes]
Princess Atta: I-Isn't it up there?
Hopper: What?!
Princess Atta: The food was sitting on a leaf on top-
Hopper: [interrupts] EXCUSE ME?!
Princess Atta: Are you sure it's not up there?
Hopper: Are you saying I'm stupid?
Princess Atta: No.
Hopper: Do I look... stupid... to you? Let's just think about the logic, shall we? Let's just think about it for a second. If it was up there, would I be coming down here, [leans over Atta] to your level, LOOKING FOR IT?! Why am I even talking to you? You're not the queen. [prods Atta's face with his antenna] You don't smell like the queen.
Queen: She's learning to take over for me? Hopper.
Hopper: Oh, I see! Under new management. So it's your fault.
Princess Atta: No, it wasn't me, it was--
Hopper: Uh-uh-uh. First rule of leadership: everything is your fault.
Princess Atta: But-but-I-
Hopper: [crouching beside Atta] It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, Princess. One of those circle-of-life kind of things. Now, let me tell you how things are supposed to work. The sun grows the food, the ants pick the food, the grasshoppers eat the food--
Molt: [interrupts] And the birds eat the grasshoppers! Hey, like the one that nearly ate you, you remember? You remember? Oh, you shoulda seen it.
Hopper: Molt.
Molt: This blue jay has him halfway down his throat, okay? And Hopper's kicking and screaming, okay? And I'm scared, okay? I'm not goin' anywhere near, okay? [Hopper furiously approaches Molt] Aw, come on. It's a great story. [Hopper grabs his antennae] Ow, ow, ow!
Hopper: [pushes him against a wall] I swear, if I hadn't promised Mother, on her deathbed, that I wouldn't kill you, I would kill you!
Molt: And believe me, no one appreciates that more than I do.
Hopper: Shut up! I don't wanna hear another word out of you while we're on this island, do you understand me? [Molt whimpers] I said, do you understand me?!
Molt: Well, how can I answer?! You said I couldn't say another word! [Hopper enraged is about to punch him] Ah! Remember Ma!
Hopper: [punches another grasshopper; calms down] Hey, I'm a compassionate insect. There's still a few months till the rains come, so you can all just try again.
Queen: But Hopper, since it's almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather food for Ourselvesǃ
Hopper: Listen, if you don't keep your end of the bargain, then I can't guarantee your safety! And there are insects out there that will take advantage of you! Someone could get hurt. [He snaps his fingers and calls out Thumper who scares Dot; she tries to run away. But is caught by Hopper; he brings her face-to-face with Thumper] What's the matter? You scared of grasshoppers?
Flik: [whispering] Dot!
Hopper: You don't like Thumper?
[Dot whimpering]
Flik: [steps forward] Leave her alone!
Hopper: [turns to Flik] You want her? [holds Dot above Flik] Go ahead. Take her. [Flik stands down in fear] No? Then get back in line. [Flik goes back in line; releases Dot, who returns to her family] It seems to me that you ants are forgetting your place. So let's double the order of food.
[Hopper walk to the exit, Flik gasps]
Princess Atta: No! But-But-
Hopper: We'll be back at the end of the season, when the last leaf falls. [pulls a skin flake off Molt and lets it slowly drop like a leaf] You ants have a nice summer. LET'S RIDE!
[The grasshoppers all fly away and the ant colony stares at Flik, who chuckles nervously]
[Later, Atta banging a gavel inside a large courtroom with the Queen and the Council of Elders]
Princess Atta: Flik, what do you have to say for yourself?
Flik: Sorry. I-I'm sorry for the way I am. I didn't mean for things to go so wrong. I...especially didn't want to make you look bad, Princess.
Princess Atta: Well Flik, you did.
Flik: I was just trying to help.
Mr. Soil: Then help us. Don't help us.
Flik: Help? Help? Help?
Princess Atta: Flik, you are sentenced to one month digging in the tunnels.
Thorny: Uh, excuse me, Your Highness. Need I remind you of Flik's tunnel-within-a-tunnel project?
Flik: Helpers to help us. That could... That's it! We could...
Thorny: It took the whole engineering department two days to dig him out. Send him to Health and Ant Services.
Dr. Flora: Heavens, no!
Flik: We could leave the island. The riverbed's dry right now. We could just walk right across the riverbed. We could go get helpers. We could! We could leave, sure. We could go find helpers to help us. It's perfect!
Queen: Perfect? What's so perfect?
Flik: Your Highness, don't you see? We could send someone to get help!
[Ant council gasps]
Princess Atta: Leave the island?
Queen: Why didn't I think of that? Oh, because it's suicide!
Thorny: She's right. We never leave the island.
Cornelius: Never leave!
Thorny: There's snakes and birds and bigger bugs out there!
Flik: Exactly! Bigger bugs! We could find bigger bugs to come here and fight and forever rid us of Hopper and his gang!
Mr. Soil: Ludicrous!
Dr. Flora: Who would do a crazy thing like that?
Flik: I'll volunteer. I'd be very happy to volunteer.
Queen: [laughs] You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no one's gonna help a bunch of ants.
Dr. Flora: At least we could try. Oh, I-I could... I could travel to the city. I could search there!
Princess Atta: If you went, you'd be on that silly search for weeks.
Thorny: Royal huddle. [whispering] Great idea, princess. It's perfect.
Cornelius: Exactly.
Princess Atta: Wait a minute. What did we just decide here?
Mr. Soil: To let Flik leave.
Cornelius: While we keep harvesting to meet Hopper's demands.
Dr. Flora: You see? With Flik gone, he can't...
Princess Atta: He can't mess anything up! [After talking with the Council] Flik, after much deliberation, we have decided... to grant you your request!
Flik: Really?
Queen: Really?
Princess Atta: Uh, really.
Flik: Oh! Thank you, princess. Thank you so much for this chance. I-I-I won't let you down, I promise, I promise, I promise, I promise.
Princess Atta: Yeah, yeah, that's fine, that's fine. No, forget it, forget it.
Flik: But I should probably help repair some of the damage before I go, don't you think...
Ant Council: No! No, no!
Princess Atta: Just go. Just go.
Cornelius: Just leave!
Flik: [suavely] Don't worry! The colony is in good hands! Bye, now.
[Soon, the ants started cheering for Flik's departure]
Flik: [breathes in] All right. Hey, fellas. Beautiful morning, huh?
Grub: [Sliding down a clover. Reed follows] My dad says he gives you one hour before you come back to the island crying.
Flik: Does he now?
Reed: My dad doesn't think that.
Flik: He doesn't huh?
Reed: Nah, he's betting you're gonna die.
Flik: Oh.
Reed: Yeah, he says if the heat doesn't get you, the birds will.
Dot: Well, I think he's gonna make it.
Reed: Nobody asked you, Your Royal Shortness.
Grub: Yeah, Dot. What do you know?
Flik: Hey, hey, hey. Ease up, all right? Come on. She's entitled to her opinion, too. Ohh...
Grub: So go, already. Hey!
Reed: The city's that way!
Flik: I know.
Reed: You're supposed to look for bugs, not dandelions!
Dot: You leave him alone, He knows what he's doing.
Flik: That's right! Here I go! For the colony and for oppressed ants everywhere! Whoa...
Dot: Wow!
Flik: Hey!
Dot: Bye, Flik!
Flik: Wow. Whoa!
Dot: Good luck, Flik!
Flik: Bye! [hits a rock]
Dot: Flik!
Flik: [muffled] I'm okay!
Reed: [saying what should have been said by Grub] Your dad's right. He's gonna die.
Dot: You just watch. He's gonna get the bestest, roughest bugs you've ever seen!
Rosie: Get back! Get back! Get back, you horrible beast! I have no fear!
Dim: Oh! [whimpers]
Rosie: Oh, no.
[Dim stars crying. The other flies start booing]
Rosie: Oh, I'm so sorry, Dim. An owie?
Dim: Owie! Owie, owie! [sobs]
Rosie: Okay, show Rosie the owie. All right, Dim. It's okay.
Fly Mom: [disappointed sighs] I have been in outhouses that didn't stink that bad. This is ridiculous. What a disappointment.
P.T. Flea: [gasps] No!
Complaining Fly: You! Come here! I want my money back!
P.T. Flea: Uh, no refunds after the first two minutes!
Cockroach: Popcorn! Stale popcorn!
P.T. Flea: We're losing the audience! You clowns get out there now!
Heimlich: I hate performing on an empty stomach!
P.T. Flea: Do your act, Heimlich, then you can eat!
Slim: P.T., what's the point?
P.T. Flea: Not now, Slim.
Slim: What's the point of going out there? They'll only laugh at me.
P.T. Flea: That's because you're a CLOWN!
Slim: No, it's because I'm a PROP! You always cast me as the broom! The pole! The stick! A splinter!
P.T. Flea: You're a walking stick! IT'S FUNNY! NOW, GO!
Slim: You parasite.
[The other flies are booing. Slim and Francis prance in the arena with flowers on their heads]
Slim: [dryly] Tra-la-la-la-la. Spring is in the air, and I'm a flower with nothing interesting to say.
Francis: [high-pitched] Ah!
Slim: A bee!
Heimlich: I am a cute little bumblebee!
[Heimlich begins chasing Slim and Francis around the arena]
Heimlich: Here I come!
[Slim and Francis are dramatically screaming]
Heimlich: [panting] Slow down, you flowers! Oh! Candy corn! [pants] Here. Let me help you to finish it.
Fly Brother #1: [to Francis] Hey, cutie! Wanna pollinate with a real bug? [laughs]
Francis: [flies up to the pair of flies and angrily throws his hat off] SO, being a ladybug automatically makes me a girl! Is that it, flyboy?! Huh?!
Fly Brother #2: Yikes!
Fly Brother #1: She's a guy!
Heimlich: [holding a candy corn] Francis, leave 'em alone! They are poo-poo heads!
P.T. Flea: Not again! [hops off]
Francis: Judging by your breath, you must have been buzzing around a dung heap all day!
Slim: Come on Francis, You're making the maggots cry.
[The baby maggots wail. Large wings with eye spots fan out. They belong to a moth, Gypsy, who preens and warms up her voice in a dressing room. Gypsy operatic vocalizing]
P.T. Flea: All right, we're dying out there. Gypsy, quick, you and Manny...
Gypsy: Shh. He's in a trance.
[An elderly praying mantis, Manny, is shown in the room rubbing his temples with his eyes closed]
P.T. Flea: Well, get him out of it! You and your husband are up now!
Gypsy: Manny, we're on!
Manny: Oh? Yet again, it is up to me to rescue the performance. Gypsy, come.
[Gypsy humming. Manny crashes and groans]
Gypsy: Stage is the other way, dear.
Manny: Yes, of course.
[We cut to Francis, whose face is reflected multiple times in the fly's eyes]
Francis: Anytime, pal! I'm gonna pick the hairs out of your head one by one!
Fly Brother #1: Take your best shot!
Francis: You name the place!
Fly Brother #2: Oh, yeah?
Francis: Yeah, 'cause when you get there, YOU ARE DEAD!
Slim: [picks up Francis] Francis, let me handle this. That's no way to speak to a lady.
Francis: I heard that, you twig!
P.T. Flea: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present Manto the Magnificent and his lovely assistant, Gypsy!
[?]
Manny: From the most mysterious regions of uncharted Asia, I give you the Chinese Cabinet of Metamorphosis!
P.T. Flea: Rosie, whole troupe! On stage! Finale! Now!
Rosie: [trying to put a band-aid on Dim] Okay, I just need a little time to...
P.T. Flea: Now!
Rosie: Coming. Coming. Tuck, Roll. Let's get moving, guys. We're up next.
[?]
Rosie: Don't you understand? We are up!
Tuck and Roll: Up-a! Up-a! [speaking gibberish]
[Tuck jumps onto Roll's shoulders]
Tuck and Roll: Hey!
Rosie: Hey! They don't understand me.
Manny: I summon the voice of Confucius...
Circus Fly: Get off the stage, you old hack!
Manny: [yelps] I demand to know who said that! [grunts]
[A berry splatters in his face]
Manny: How dare you! [yelps]
[More berries hit Manny. The other flies booing]
Manny: Ingrates!
[Fruit continues to hit Manny as he storms offstage. Gypsy remains inside the food container]
Gypsy: [muffled] Manny? Manny!
Fly Brother #2: I only got 24 hours to live, and I ain't gonna waste it here! Come on!
[P.T. runs to a matchbox and takes a match]
P.T. Flea: I've just about had it with these losers! [Strikes the match and hops onto his thimble in the center ring] FLAMING DEATH!!!
[The leaving flies stop to look]
P.T. Flea: I hold in my hand, The match! The match that decides whether two bugs live or die this very evening! In a moment, I will light this trail of matches, leading to a sheet of flypaper doused in lighter fluid! Aimed directly at the flypaper are Tuck and Roll, the pillbug cannonballs! The cannon will be triggered by Dim, trained to jump at the sound of this bell, set to go off in 15 seconds. Our pill bugs' only hope of survival is our mistress of the high wire, Rosie! Secured to a web line of exact length, Rosie will plummet down to these two posts, spinning a web of safety in less than 15 SECONDS!!! Not good enough, you say? Well, what if they were all BLINDFOLDED?! [The cast puts on blindfolds. The flies hurry back to their seats.] Ladies and Gentlemen, may I suggest that those of you with weak constitutions leave the arena, for this act is so dangerous that if the slightest thing should go wrong...
[Roll tightens Tuck's blindfold too tight, and they both slap each other, launching Tuck into P.T. He drops the lit match and triggers the line of Matches]
P.T. Flea: No!
Rosie: Go?! Whoa! Okay, through the tunnel...
Gypsy: Whoa!
[Gypsy falls onto the timer, causing it to ding and signaling Dim to jump. Dim laughs]
Rosie: Okay, that's done!
[P.T. flies through a hole left in Rosie's web and sticks to the flypaper]
P.T. Flea: Whoa!
Heimlich: Aaah!
Francis: P.T.!
Slim: Oh, no!
Gypsy: Oh, dear.
[The flame continues approaching. P.T. Flea attempts to pull himself off. P.T. Flea panics and grunts]
Francis: Water! We need some water!
Slim: Water, water, water, water!
[The other flies laughing]
P.T. Flea: [panicking] Help! [grunting] Get me out of here.
[P.T. successfully pulls himself off the flypaper and walks off laughing triumphantly until the flypaper falls on top of him and is ignited by the flame]
Fly Brother #1: Wow!
[The flypaper burns away, leaving behind a charred P.T.standing midstep]
Rosie: It's the-the web. I'm sorry, it's--
P.T. Flea: You're all fired.
Francis: We got the water!
Heimlich: Here we come, P.T.!
Slim: We'll save you.
[Francis, Slim and Heimlich toss water onto P.T. Flea, who floats within it]
Fly Brother #1: [clapping] Whoo! Whoa!
Fly Brother #2: Burn him again!
[Two mosquitoes fly near a bug zapper; one flies towards it, as if in a trance]
Harry's Friend: No! Harry, no! Don't look at the light!
Harry: [entranced] I can't help it. It's so beautiful...! [gets zapped, falls into a big garbage can] Woo hoo!
Flik: Try not to look like a country bug. Blend. Blend in.
Bug #1: Hey, buggy! Hey, buggy!
Bug #2: What do you expect? The Guy's a tick.
Flik: Wow! The city! [impressed laugh]
Bus Beetle: Making all stops to the septic tank, including standing water, empty bean can and dead rat! Watch your stingers. All aboard!
Bug #1: Hey, watch it.
Bug #2: Get out of the way!
Flik: Oh, sorry.
Snail: Ow! Watch where you're going!
Flik: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I didn't... Oh, sorry!
[Off-key violin sawing]
Flik: Oh, I'm really, really, sorry. That was an... An accident.
[Flik turns around to Bug Bar and sees a bee kicking two flies out]
Wasp: Hey, tough guy! I'll show you who's tough! AND STAY OUT!
Flik: Tough bugs! [heads to Bug Bar]
[Inside, bugs sit, drink and talk as a saloon piano plays]
Cockroach: I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly...
Flik: Wow...
Fly: Move it!
Flik: Whoa!
Fly: Hey, waiter! I'm in my soup! I've been working out. Feel my wing. Yo! Two Black Flags over here! All right.
Bug: Hair of the dog you bit.
Cockroach Waitress: [in the bar] Hey, who ordered the Poo Poo Platter? [a bunch of flies swarm the dish she holds in the air]
Mosquito Waitress: Here you go, Slick. Enjoy.
Slick: [takes one bite and his mouth starts to bubble] Ow! OW!! HEY I SAID NO SALT!!
Bug: Buzz off!
Flik: Oh, pardon me, sir. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment. I represent a colony of ants, and I'm looking... I'm looking for tough bugs, you know, mean bugs, the sort of bugs...
Slim: Fired by a flea, how humiliating!
Francis: Let's face it. We stink.
Tuck: You fired!
Roll: You fired!
Tuck: You fireeeeeed!
Rosie: [in disgust] Oh, will you SHUT UP?!
Tuck: Hey!
Roll: You fired!
Heimlich: Someday I will be a beautiful butterfly, and then everything will be better.
Gypsy: I can't believe the troupe is breaking up. We've always been together.
Manny: Farewell, my friends.
Francis: To the audience we'll never have.
[Slim sips his drop of water, the Fly Brothers enter the Bug Bar.]
Slim: [gasps and whispers] Francis! Your boyfriends from the circus are here!
[Thug enters, Francis gasps]
Fly Brother #1: There she is.
[Francis nervously popping lips]
Fly Brother #2: Hello there, girlie bug.
Francis: Shoo, fly. Don't bother me.
Fly Brother #1: Say, why don't you tell our pal, Thud.
[Thud slams down behind Francis. Thud growls]
Fly Brother #1: What you said to us at the circus?
Fly Brother #2: Yeah. Something about buzzing around a dung heap?
Flik: Excuse me. Hi, I represent an ant colony, and we're just...
Drunk Mosquito: Hey, bartender! Bloody Mary, O-positive. Aha! [given a drop of blood] Oh, yeah... [slurps it quickly and passes out]
Flik: Sir?
Fly Brothers: [singing] Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home.
Fly Brother #1: Not so tough now, are you? All right, clown. Get up and fight like a girl.
Flik: YOU'RE PERFECT! Oh, great ones! I have been scouting for bugs with your exact talents!
Gypsy: [gasps] A talent scout.
Flik: My colony's in trouble. Grasshoppers are coming! We've been forced to prepare all this food.
Manny: Dinner theater!
Heimlich: Food?
Flik: [pleading] PLEASE! Will you help us?!
[?]
Fly: Where are they?
Slim: We'll take the job!
Flik: Really?
Heimlich: Yah! Yah!
Grub: Hey, look who's playing lookout again. Little Speck!
Dot: The name is Dot.
Reed: Well, Spot, you still looking for Flik?
Grub: Forget it, Dot. That loser's never coming back.
[They spot Dim]
Dot: Flik! Flik did it! Flik did it!
Reed: What?
Grub: Quit shoving!
[Dim flies away]
Flik: This is it! This is Ant Island!
Dot: Flik! Over here! Flik! Flik!
Flik: Hey!
Dot: He did it! He did it! Yay! He did it! He did it!
Reed: Cool!
[Ant boys yelp]
Thorny: At the rate these leaves are dropping, we're gonna need a miracle.
Cornelius: That's right! We need a miracle!
[The troupe begins descending with a droning buzz]
Cornelius: Run for your lives!
[The ants run for cover as Flik and the bugs land]
Francis: Ta-da!
[?]
Flik: [has just realized the "warrior bugs" are from the circus] Your Highness! The warriors have called a secret meeting to make plans for circus... Uh, circumventing the oncoming horde, so they can trapeze... Trap them with ease!
Princess Atta: Well, shouldn't I come, too?
Flik: No! Ha ha ha! Sorry. No, no, see it's classified in the DMZ, gotta go ASAP, you know, strictly BYOB. Bye!
Rosie: [hears a loud commotion] What's that?
Manny: That, my friends, is the sound of applause!
[The ants cheer loudly for Flik for saving Dot from the bird]
Francis: Applause! I'm in Heaven!
Princess Atta: You don't think I've offended the warriors, do you?
Flik: You? No!
Princess Atta: Oh, good. Because, you see, when you first brought them here, I'd thought you'd hired a bunch of clowns!
Flik: [voice suddenly higher] You did?
Princess Atta: Don't tell 'em I said that! That's all I need: another "royal blunder".
Flik: Princess! you're doing a great job.
Princess Atta: Thanks. You're sweet. You're wrong, but sweet. I know what everyone really thinks.
Flik: I don't follow.
Princess Atta: Everyone, the whole colony. Nobody really believes I can do this job. It's like they're all watching me. Just... just...
Flik: Waiting for you to screw up.
Princess Atta: Flik, I owe you an apology.
Flik: For what?
Princess Atta: Well, I haven't been that nice to you, and I'm sorry. If there's any way I can make it up to you... Hey! I know! How would you like to be the queen's official aide to the warrior bugs?
Flik: Me?
Princess Atta: Oh, sure. You've got a great rapport going with them, especially after that rescue. It was very brave. Well, not every bug would face a bird! I mean, even Hopper's afraid of 'em!
Flik: Say that again.
Princess Atta: I said, Even Hopper's afraid of birds!
Flik: Thank you. [kissing Atta's hand]
[Atta smiles]
Flik: We are going to build a bird: a bird we can operate from the inside...
Manny: ...which will then be hoisted above the anthill, and right when Hopper and his gang are below, we launch the bird, and scare off the grasshoppers! It's going to take...
Princess Atta: ...everyone's involvement to make this plan a reality. I know it's not our tradition to do things differently, but if our ancestors were able to build this anthill, we can certainly rally together to build this bird!
[The ants cheer wildly]
[Axel and Loco are talking to Molt]
Loco: We go all the way back there and it starts to rain? We might as well be suckin' bug spray!
Molt: Ooh, don't even say that! You know something? You're making a lot of sense. I mean, why take the risk? You should tell Hopper!
Axel: Good idea. But... y'know it's not really our place. I mean, you're his brother. That makes you like... the vice president of the gang.
Molt: Wow! It kinda does, doesn't it? Okay, I'll tell him! [leaves] Boy, I should talk to you guys more often.
Loco: What if Hopper doesn't like it?
Grasshopper: Then at least the genius will get smacked and not us.
Molt: Vice President Molt. [laughs; he flies to Hopper, who's getting a massage]
Hopper: Ah, that's good. That's good. A little lower. Lower, lower.
Molt: Heya, Hop.
Hopper: [annoyed] Go Away.
Molt: That's fine. Then I won't tell you my idea.
Hopper: Good.
Molt: Okay, okay. I'll tell ya anyway. Y'see, I've been thinking, okay, which is something that I do, y'know, being vice president and all, and this is a thought, and it was mine - why go back to Ant Island at all? I mean, you don't even like grain!
Hopper: WHAT?!? [stands up and walks to Molt threateningly]
Molt: [scared] You're right! I didn't think it was such a good idea myself. Actually, it wasn't even my idea. It was Axel and Loco's! They talked fancy to me! I GOT CONFUSED!
[Hopper stops and thinks; he then comes up to the other grasshoppers; the mariachi band stops playing]
Hopper: Guys... order another round, because we're staying here!
[The other grasshoppers cheer]
Hopper: What was I thinking? Going back to Ant Island. I mean, we just got here, and we have more than enough food to get us through the winter. Right? Why go back?
[The mariachi band plays "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and the rest of the gang begins to party again]
Hopper: But... there was that ant that stood up to me.
Axel: Yeah, but we can forget about him!
Loco: Yeah, it was just one ant!
[The rest of the gang laughs agrees, mocking the ants]
Hopper: [sarcastically laughs] Yeah, you're right! It's just one ant!
Loco: Yeah boss, They're puny!
Hopper: Hmm, puny. Say, let's pretend this grain is a puny little ant. [throws the grain at Loco] Didn't that hurt?
Loco: Heh! Nope.
Hopper: Well, how about this one? [throws another grain at Axel]
Axel: Are you kidding?
[The other grasshoppers laugh]
Hopper: Well, how about this?
[He pulls the lid off the jar, releasing an avalanche of grain that buries and kills Axel and Loco, leaving the other grasshoppers shocked. Hopper then climbs on top of the grain pile]
Hopper: You let one ant stand up to us, then they all might stand up. Those puny little ants outnumber us a hundred to one. And if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life! It's not about food. It's about keeping those ants in line. That's why we're going BACK! Does anybody else wanna stay?
[The grasshoppers spread their wings]
Molt: He's quite the motivational speaker, isn't he?
Hopper: LET'S RIDE!
[The grasshoppers fly off to Ant Island]
Princess Atta: You mean, you're not warriors?
P.T. Flea: Are you kiddin'? These guys are the lousiest circus bugs you've ever seen, and they're gonna make me rich!
Thorny: You mean to tell me that our entire defensive strategy was concocted by clowns?!
Francis: Hey, hey, hey, hey. We really thought Flik's idea was gonna work.
[All ants gasp and angrily turn to Flik, while the fireflies put a spotlight on him]
Francis: [realizes his mistake] Oops.
Princess Atta: [sternly] Tell me this isn't true.
Flik: No, you don't... You don't...
Mr. Soil: This couldn't have happened at a more inopportune time! The last leaf is about to fall!
Dr. Flora: We haven't collected any food for the grasshoppers!
Thorny: If Hopper finds out what we almost did--
Queen: [angrily] Hopper is NOT going to find out. We're going to hide all this, and pretend it never happened. [angrily points to the Circus Bugs] You bugs were never here, so I suggest you all leave.
Flik: [gets in front of the Circus Bugs] But the bird! The-the-the bird will work!
Queen: I never thought I'd see the day when an ant would put himself before the rest of his colony.
Flik: [shocked] What?
Queen: The point is Flik, you lied to us.
Flik: No, no, no, no! I just--
Princess Atta: [walks to Flik, hurt with disappointment] You lied, Flik. You lied to her. You lied to the colony! You lied to ME! And like an idiot, I believed you.
Flik: But I was just afraid that if you knew I'd gotten circus bugs. [looks at Princess Atta still mad, sighs Sadly] I just wanted to make a difference.
Princess Atta: I want you to leave Flik, And this time, don't Come back.
[Flik sadly hangs his head in sadness, Dot gasps and Aphie whimpers. Flik & the Circus Bugs then sadly leave]
P.T. Flea: Tough crowd. [Snaps the reins and the wagon rolls off] Yee-haw!
Dot: [sadly tries to run after her friend and the bugs. But the mother stops her and holds her back as Flik and the bugs leave] Flik.
Hopper: YOU LITTLE TERMITES! I GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE, AND THIS IS ALL I GET?!
Princess Atta: But, Hopper, we ran out of time!
Hopper: HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING ALL SUMMER?! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?!
Princess Atta: No, no! Please!
Hopper: WELL, GUESS WHAT... you just lost! [Thumper scares Ants] NOT ONE ANT SLEEPS UNTIL WE GET EVERY SCRAP OF FOOD ON THIS ISLAND!!!
Molt: Just do what he says. You don't want to make him mad, believe me!
[Hopper jumps front of the Queen]
Hopper: No, no, no. You're staying with me. [grins] Your Highness.
Grasshopper Seeker #1: Just shut up a minute, will ya? I think I heard something over here, have you checked over there?
Grasshopper Seeker #2: No, not yet.
Grasshopper Seeker #1: Well, then, go over there and check it out!
Grasshopper Seeker #2: Wait a minute... Hey, I think I found something. [picks up Dot's blueberry bandana] Hee, hee, cool! [places it on to of his head] Hey, how do I look?
Grasshopper Seeker #1: Like an idiot.
Grasshopper Seeker #2: I don't know, maybe it'll, uh, keep me dry in the rain.
Grasshopper Seeker #1: You moron, we'll be outta here before it rains, didn't you hear Hopper? After the ants pick all the food, he's gonna squish the queen to remind them who's boss, then she's dead, they cry, boo-hoo, we go home, end of story!
Grasshopper Seeker #2: Oh, cool, I love our job.
Dot: Stay here I'm gonna get help.
P.T. Flea: [singing] I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich, I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich, I'm gonna be the richest flea in the land! Ka-Ching! The Streets'll be paved with golden retrievers, I'm rich, rich, rich, that's who I am!
[Inside the wagon, the Circus bugs looks at Flik from behind feels depressed]
Slim: Poor fellow.
Francis: Hey, maybe we can cheer him up a bit.
Heimlich: Don't worry Flik, The circus life isn't so bad.
Slim: Yes, you can be part of our act.
Francis: Here! Like this.
Slim: Slapstick! Get it? I... I'm a walking stick. Oh, never mind.
Dot: [From Off-screen] Flik!
Flik: [Noticed Dot Calling Her Friend] Dot?
Dot: Flik, wait! Wait!
Flik: Dot, you're flying! What are you doing here?
Dot: [panting] You have to go back, Hopper moved into the anthill & his gang's eating everything!
Heimlich: Oh, no!
Manny: Good heavens!
Dot: And I heard a grasshopper say that when they're finished, Hopper's gonna squish my mom!
Heimlich: Oh, not the queen!
Rosie: We got to do something!
Slim: How?
Rosie: Come on, you guys, think!
Gypsy: I know. The bird.
Manny: Yes, of course.
Slim: The bird! That's brilliant.
Heimlich: Ja!
Flik: [depressed] The bird won't work.
Francis: What are you talking about? It was your idea.
Dot: But you said that everything...
Flik: [depressed] Forget everything I ever told you All right Dot? Let's face it The colony is right I just make things worse; That bird is a guaranteed failure. [sighs] Just like me.
Manny: You listen to me my boy, I've made a living out of being a failure And you sir are not a failure!
Rosie: Oh but Flik, you've done so many good things.
Flik: Oh yeah, Okay show me one thing I've done right?
Dim: Us.
All: Yeah, yeah.
Manny: Dim is right my boy, You have rekindled the long-dormant embers of purpose in our lives.
Slim: And if it wasn't for you, Francis would have never gotten in touch with his feminine side.
Francis: Oh, yeah?! Well... [chuckles] You know what? He's right.
Gypsy: Lieutenant Gypsy reporting for duty.
Francis: Kid, say the word, and we'll follow you into battle.
Manny: We believe in you, my boy.
Dot: Flik, please?
[Flik doesn't move as Dot flies off and picks up a rock from the ground and brings it to her best friend]
Dot: Pretend it's a seed okay?
Flik: [slowly lifts his head up with a smile spreads on his face] Thanks Dot.
[Dot hugs her friend]
Francis: [to Slim] Hey, what's with the rock?
Slim: Must be an ant thing.
Flik: All right, let's do it.
Gypsy: That's the Flik we know and love.
Heimlich: Ooh-whoo-whoo!
Manny: We're on!
Rosie: So, what do we do first?
Hopper: [Yelled To The Ant Colony Like A Slave Driver] ALL RIGHT, GET MOVING! [Pushing All The Ants Into Line] Get Going, Move Your Abdomens Now!
Flik: [Watches The Grasshoppers Gather The Ants] They're Rounding Everyone Up.
Francis: [To The Firefly] Hey, Turn Your Butt Off.
Flik: [Watched The Ants Gather The Food] Oh No, They've Finished Collecting The Food. We've Got To Get The Queen Now. Once She's Safe, We Move On Gypsy's Signal.
Slim: Ladies and Gentlebugs, larvae of all stages, rub your legs together for the world's greatest Bug Circus!
[The circus wagon arrives with the circus music playing]
Hopper: WAIT A MINUTE! [music screeches to a halt]
Heimlich: [sotto voce] I think I'm going to wet myself!
Francis: [sotto voce] Steady...
Hopper: What's going on here?
Princess Atta: Well, uh...
Slim: Uh, yes. We were invited by… Princess Atta, as a surprise for your arrival.
Hopper: Squish Them.
[Slim and Francis gasp; the grasshoppers advance on the circus bugs; Dim, scared, backs into the cannon, launching Tuck and Roll out of it; they dance in front of the grasshoppers, singing their usual gibberish, then get into a mock fight]
Hopper: Now, that's funny.
[He and the other grasshoppers sit back laughing]
Hopper: I guess we could use a little entertainment. Looks like you did something right for once, Princess.
Manny: Oh, the pain... the pain! [pretends to die]
P.T. Flea: There goes my magic-act! Flaming Death!
Slim: No! P.T.!
P.T. Flea: [sets the mechanical bird aflame] Ah, a direct hit!
Dot: Flik! Flik, Help us!
[The bird crashes; Dot & her friends emerge]
Princess Atta: Dot!
Flik: Okay! Everybody out! Hurry!
[Coughing]
Princess Atta: Where's Dot? Has anyone seen Dot?
[Hopper seizes Dot]
Hopper: Whose idea was this?! Huh?! Was it yours, princess?
Princess Atta: Just get behind me, girls. It'll be okay.
Flik: Leave her alone, Hopper! The bird was my idea! I'm the one you want!
[Hopper drops Dot and snaps his fingers. Thumper attacks Flik. The ants, troupe, and even Molt are horrified. Hopper snaps his fingers and Thumper withdraws]
Hopper: Where did you get the gall to do this to me?!
Flik: You were gonna squish the Queen.
[The ant colony gasps.]
Dot: [To Atta] It's true.
Hopper: I hate it when somebody gives away the ending. [orders Thumper to strike Flik again] You piece of dirt! No, I'm wrong. You're lower than dirt. You're an ant! [to the ant colony] Let this be a lesson to all you ants! Ideas are very dangerous things! You are mindless, soil-shoving losers, put on this Earth to serve us!
Flik: You're wrong, Hopper! [gets up weakly, pauses] Ants are not meant to serve grasshoppers! I've seen these ants do great things, and year after year they somehow manage to pick food for themselves, and you! So who is the weaker species?! ANTS DON'T SERVE GRASSHOPPERS! IT'S YOU WHO NEED US! [murmuring in the crowd] We're a lot stronger than you say we are... And you know it, don't you?
[Hopper knocks Flik back down and prepared to crush him, But Atta intervenes]
Hopper: Well, princess.
Molt: Uh, Hopper? I hate to interrupt, but um...
[Hopper then sees all the ants preparing for a final battle.]
Hopper: YOU ANTS STAY BACK!
[The ants and Circus Bugs take a fighting-stance.]
Molt: [backs away scared along with the other grasshoppers] Oh, this was such a bad idea.
Princess Atta: You see, Hopper, nature has a certain order. The ants pick the food, the ants keep the food, and the grasshoppers... leave. [the colony charge].
Dot: No! Bad grasshopper! Bad grasshopper! Go home! [Thumper roars, and Dim roars loudly, and Thumper was scared and leaves; Dim and Dot gives a high-five] Yeah!
[During the rain, Hopper lands in front of Flik]
Flik: [gasps] Hopper!
Hopper: You think it's over?!
Flik: [backs up to the bird's nest] No, no, no. No, I can explain!
Hopper: All your little stunt did was buy them time.
Flik: No please, Please Hopper!
Hopper: [starts choking Flik] I'll get more Grasshoppers and be back next season, but you won't! [Bird enters; Hopper looks up] Well, what's this? Another one of your little bird tricks?
Flik: [smiles] Oh, Yep.
Hopper: [last words] Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls. [bird shrieks] AAAAAH!!!! [drops Flik; he tries to run, but the bird quickly catches up in front of him] Aaaaah! Aah! Aah! [Before the bird seizes him] Oh! [Bird snatching Hopper in its beak and then holds him over her chicks in his nest] A-AAAAAAAH!!! Ah! No! No! NOOO, NO, NO, NO! Aah! Aah! Aah! A-AAH-AAAH-AAAAH!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!! No! OH, NOOOOOOOO!!! AH! OH, NO! NO, NO, NO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!
[The camera zooms in on the chicks' mouths as Hopper's horrified scream fades.]
[Last lines; The next morning, in a conch sounds. Thorny and other ants, using their own harvesters to cut down and harvest grain stalks, stop work at the sound of the conch]
Thorny: Come on boys!
[Dot and other children are playing in the frame of the fake bird, now surrounded by flowers]
Ant Boy: Hey, Princess Dot! Wait up!
Queen: I finally get a second to relax, and I got to get out of my chair. Come on! You can rub lotion on me later, shade boy.
Cornelius: Yeah, hubba-hubba.
[The Queen and Cornelius walk down toward the ants and circus bugs joyfully gathering among blooming flowers]
Firefly: Oh, thank you!
Manny: Thank you.
Gypsy: You're too kind.
Slim: The least we could do.
Manny: All in a day's work.
Slim: Any time.
Rosie: Dim!
[Dim opens his shell to reveal ant kids attempting to secretly ride him]
Dim: Oh...
[The ant boys moaning]
Rosie: I'm so sorry kids, I wish you could come along too.
[Daisy tearfully hugs Francis. Daisy and the Blueberry troops are all crying with Dot]
Francis: [quavering] I'm not gonna cry. I'm not gonna cry.
[Tuck and Roll perform a skit using Hopper's severed antenna.]
P.T. Flea: Hey, let's go. We got a schedule to keep. Come on. Let's go.
[A number of acrobat ants cartwheel into the wagon]
Ant acrobats: Hup, hup, hup, hup, hey!
P.T. Flea: Hey, Tiny! Let's get this show packed up! We got paying customers hatching!
[Molt carries supplies into the wagon]
Molt: [last words] Yes, Mr. Flea. Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Right away, sir. And, um, I just wanted to thank you for giving me a chance, because it's an honor to work with creative giants such as yourself. [P.T. motions the fireflies to close the wagon door] Shutting up.
[P.T. jumps on top of the wagon]
P.T. Flea: You sure you can't come on tour with us?
Flik: Sorry. My place is here.
Princess Atta: [quietly] Good answer.
P.T. Flea: Oh, well. Your loss. One minute, insects!
[Flik and Atta walk over to the circus troupe]
Princess Atta: I want to thank all of you for giving us back our hope, our dignity... and our lives.
Slim: And to you, Princess Atta. You have given us so much. Please accept this gift from us bugs to you ants.
[Manny twirls a leaf and produces a large rock, handing it to Atta]
Manny: For you!
Princess Atta: Oh! [chuckles] It's a rock.
[Manny, Slim, & Francis congratulate each other]
Cornelius: What's with the rock?
Thorny: Must be a circus thing.
Dot: [Giggles].
Rosie: Well Flik, you really goofed up. [quavering] Thanks.
Flik: [quavering] Yeah, You too.
[Rosie begins to congratulate for Flik as a hero, followed by the rest of the troupe and the entire ant colony celebrating their victory. Atta kisses him on the cheek. The queen removes her crown, placing it on Atta's. Atta tosses her tiara to Dot, who flies up and catches it on her head and giggles]
P.T. Flea: [sniffles] All right. Now it's getting mushy. We're out of here! [Snaps the reins and the millipedes pulling the wagon move as the bugs take off and Dim grabs lifts the wagon into the air]
Grub: Whoa!
Rosie: See you next season!
Slim: See you Flik!
Gypsy: Bye! We miss you already!
Tuck & Roll: You fired!
Slim: [gasps] We forgot Heimlich!
[A chrysalis hangs on a nearby tree root. It opens to reveal Heimlich's face]
Heimlich: I'm finished! Finally, I'm a beautiful butterfly!
[Heimlich struggles and slides out of the chrysalis, looking largely the same as before but now a green and blue color and with two bulges on his back. Heimlich grunts. Two tiny butterfly wings pop out of the bulges]
Heimlich: Mein wings! Oh, they're beautiful!
Flik: Heimlich! The wagon's taking off! You better start flying!
[Flik and other ants lift up Heimlich]
Heimlich: But I am flying! And from way up here, you all look like little ants!
[Francis and Manny fly down and carry Heimlich away.]
Heimlich: Auf Wiedersehen!
Manny: Farewell!
Flik: Bye!
Slim: And thank you!
[Atta and Dot lift Flik up and land on the root. They wave goodbye to the circus troupe. Thorny and the harvester-wearing ants line up]
Thorny: Present stalks!
[The ants face backwards]
Thorny: Harvester, salute!
[The harvesters launch their stalks into the air, crashing into each other and producing firework-like showers of grain. Flik and Atta hold hands as they and Dot continue waving goodbye. The circus troupe flies away from the island, now surrounded by water and whose tree now bears pink blossoms]

RANDY NEWMAN lyrics (The Time of Your Life)/Outtakes

Randy Newman: Was a bug, little bug, hardly there / How he felt, what he dreamed, who could care? / Without any evidence / His flaws were many / He was full of confidence / Some people haven't any / Didn't have much common sense / It's highly overrated / He just knew that he'd come through...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round this one time / As far as I can tell / He could be wrong about that / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life so live it well.
Man #1: [beeps] Speed!
Man #2: Marker.
Director: And action!
Hopper: Are you saying I'm stupid?
Princess Atta: No.
Hopper: Do I look... stupid... to you?
Princess Atta: [laughs] I'm sorry!
Hopper: [beeps] Are you saying I'm stupid? Oh!
Princess Atta: I'm sorry! I got it. No, no. Just do it again. I'm fine.
Hopper: [beeps] Are you saying I'm stupid?
Princess Atta: Yes! [laughs]
Hopper: This is the 15th take, I cannot work like this. I will be in my trailer.
Princess Atta: I need a break.
Man #2: [beeps] Marker.
Rosie: Whoa, Flik, honey, we are not about to... [hammer banging] Is someone hammering? [Slim sighs] Could we hold the work, please? People?
Slim: [ringing] Am I in this shot? You can see me, right?
Director: [beeps] And action!
Flik: To infinity and beyond! [laughs] I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Really, can y... can you blame me? Okay. Okay, let's go for real now.
Director: Okay, cut!
Flik: Sorry.
Molt: [beeps] Why go back to Ant Island at all? I mean, you don't even like grain!
Hopper: WHAT?!? [stand up and walks to Molt threateningly]
Molt: [scared] You're right! I didn't think it was such a good idea myself. Actually, it wasn't even my idea. It was...
Cameraman: Watch it!
Molt: [crashing] I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Is the camera broke? Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Did I ruin the take?
Princess Atta: [beeps] And thank you for findin' 'em, Flik.
Flik: Me? Oh, oops, ow, ow.
Princess Atta: Ow, ow, ow!
Flik: Uh, oh, oh no. Oh no, oh...
Princess Atta: This really hurts, guys.
Flik: I'm sorry, I'm... Oh!
Princess Atta: Can we cut? Ow!
Dr. Flora: [beeps] So, is there a Mrs. Ant, you have to tunnel home to? Oh, I'm sorry! I thought he was real. [laughs] Ooh, dear. Put that thing in my car.
Man #2: [beeps] Marker.
Princess Atta: Flik, after much deliberation... Whoa! [rattling, banging, Flik and other ants laughing]
Slim: [beeps] Ohh, I... Ow. Oh. My eye! Oh. No, no. Seriously, I've got berry juice in my eye! [Hopper laughs] It stings! Stop acting. I'm serious. Oh, stop the camera!
Queen: [beeps; laughing; gurgling; liquid trickling] Uh-oh. Towel! I need a towel over here! [Flik laughs]
Director: Cut!
Thumper: [beeps; roars] I'm sorry, I'm sorry. [Dot groans] Can we... Can we cut? It's just that I don't think I'm coming across. Hmm. Oh, oh, I know. I know. I could lather up a bunch of spit. Ooh, ooh, that's good. I got it, J.L. Alright! One more for me.
Man #1: [beeps] Speed!
Man #2: Marker!
Director: Action!
P.T. Flea: Spinning a web of safety in less than 15... Bleh!
Randy Newman: It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life so live it well...| Like us all, he started small / Then he grew / When the time came he knew what to do / He knew in order to succeed / They'd have to work together / He turned a rock into a seed / And they were changed forever / Then they had the strength they'd need / To get through stormy weather / Do or die, you gotta try...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / He could be wrong about that / It's the time of your life so live it well...| Isn't it a bit surprising / How one's fortunes ebb and flow / And only to the enterprising / Does the magic fortune cookie go / Believe me...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life so live it well... [chorus singing]

Taglines

  • An epic of miniature proportions.

Cast

Teaser Trailer

[The CGI Walt Disney Pictures logo appears, followed by the Pixar logo. Then the screen fades to black, then from black to reveal a giant leaf. A blue ant named Flik walks in from the right of the shot and sits on the edge of the leaf. Francis the Ladybug flies in from behind the camera and lands on the edge of the leaf while the twin pill bugs, Tuck and Roll walk up to Flik. Behind them, Manny the Praying Mantis, Slim the stick bug, and Dim the Rhinoceros Beetle walk into the shot. A black widow spider named Rosie walks under the leaf as Gypsy the gypsy moth, Manny's wife, flies in from the left and lands. Crunching noises are heard and the bugs shriek as the leaf breaks apart. Then the camera pans over to Heimlich the caterpillar, who was eating the stem of the leaf]
Heimlich: Oh, I didn't know it was connected. I'm sorry!
[Heimlich continues eating as the logo for the movie fades in from the left, but disappears, with subtitles fading in saying "Coming from Walt Disney Pictures November 1998"]
Wikipedia
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