The Borrowers Page #5

clue where I was going, Spiller'!

The attention of the scientific

community will tomorrow

be focused on the zoological

department of a London University.

Professor Jonathan Mildeye...

That's him!

- You're alive!

Argh!

- Arrietty, run!

Argh! You're pulling my face off!

- Let him go!

JAMES GROANS:

He was going to squash you.

- No, he wasn't!

Are you all right?

This is Spiller.

He's an idiot.

Hey!

- That... Who is he?

His name's Professor Mildeye.

He has them in his laboratory.

So they're still alive, then?

- For now.

.. and if it's true, it will be one of

if not THE greatest discovery in

natural history we've ever known.

Here, I got you this.

It should be comfortable.

The mattress has real

springs and everything.

Wow, it's beautiful.

SPILLER SIGHS:

I don't mean to sound ungrateful,

but is this the only one you have?

What's up with it?

- Oh, nothing! It's perfect,

it's just that there's only one of it.

What's the problem? There's

plenty of room for both of us.

Well, Gran's upstairs now and

I can't risk taking another.

Do you really think we're going

to be able to pull it off?

I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

DOOR OPENS:

I'd better get to bed.

Night, James.

- Night. Hold on tight.

Come on. Saved you a spot.

I knew I'd win you round in the end.

WOAH!

GROANS:

SIGHS:

All these years, I've wanted to get away.

I miss them.

REPORTER:
'.. where the

lecture is due to begin.

'We're hearing from a reliable source

that Professor Mildeye has in fact

'managed to capture one

of the creatures, and...

there's speculation he'll reveal it to us.

'The interest is huge and scientists

from all over the country

'have descended upon the university

'eagerly awaiting this

morning's presentation.'

LAUGHS AND HUMS TO HIMSELF

Ah, are we primed?

The camera's set up, ready

to broadcast across the net.

We've already had over a

million hits on the site.

I've been waiting for this moment all my life.

Years of ridicule,

ostracised for expounding a theory

that has turned out to be correct.

I've always been solid behind you.

And soon they all will be.

I shall join the pantheon of

scientific greats - Darwin, Mendel.

Crick, Watson.

Mildeye.

Are you OK?

Hold on tight.

If you want to get out,

this is your last chance.

Nah, you'd miss me too much.

ENGINE STARTS:

Oh, no!

This doesn't feel good!

Come on, climb!

We're not going to make it!

Climb!

SCREAM:

BREATHES A SIGH OF RELIEF

You nervous?

It's OK to admit it. Even I am a little bit.

You can do this.

You know, Spiller, you're a complete idiot!

So you've said.

And...and quite annoying.

Actually, very. And arrogant!

Completely and utterly.

But I'm glad you're here.

You know, despite, you being you.

If I wasn't, you wouldn't like me.

Probably not.

So you DO like me?

SCREAM:

Pull the cord! Pull it!

There's the air vent.

Wait! Arrietty!

- What?!

So? Do you?

Do I what?

You know.

Spiller, we haven't got time

for any of your stupid games!

SCOFFS:

- Unbelievable!

CHATTER:

LAUGHS:

- The penmanship and enthusiasm.

They're almost childlike.

Well, she's getting on now.

Her hands are a bit shaky.

So what would you suggest I give her next?

Erm, silk stockings, perhaps?

But there is something else you

could do to get my gran's attention.

Go on?

- Those creatures of yours.

Homo sapiens redactus?

Yeah. She hates them,

wants them all wiped out

and I know where you can find

a whole load more of them.

Keep back! That's my

husband you're molesting.

Homily, don't start!

The Professor wants them to get

a good look at your anatomy.

I don't care what you call it,

you're not getting your

hands on my husband's!

Come here.

Dad's in his underpants and Mum's

shouting. So I guess they're OK.

PHONE RINGS:

Prof...

I'm on my way now.

I want those clothes off

by the time I get back.

Oh, Pod, I don't know how

much more I can take of this.

It's going to be all right.

How? How is it going to be all

right?! How can you say that?!

Because Arrietty's just about to save us.

- What?!

Arrietty.

- Yes!

Now grab the thread!

We haven't much time!

OK, grab it.

- OK.

You first.

- But I...

.. get inside and see

whether the organs are...

Pull! That's it, that's it!

GASP AND GROAN:

The boy made the most

extraordinary suggestion.

He claims that there are whole communities

of these Borrowers living underground.

Hey, I've got the car. I'll be waiting for you.

Thanks! You're amazing!

'Thanks, you're amazing!'

Are you jealous?!

- Hey, I don't do jealous.

Right, if anything, he's probably

jealous of me...if anything.

Come on!

I thought I'd never see you again!

Pull!

.. great warrens of them beneath

our very feet as we speak.

The implications of them are extreme...

Thank you.

Where are you going, boy?

Pull!

You gotta keep going!

- I'm trying!

You have secured the specimens?

What is it? Why've you stopped pulling?

- He's about to be seen!

The beans are coming!

- Are you sure?

If she says so, I believe her.

- Hurry!

Pull!

Oh! Where's my card?!

Come on!

- Oh, come on!

Ah, it's no use! Hold him steady!

GROAN:

What are you doing?!

We can't give up now!

We haven't got a choice!

- Spiller!

Hold him! Hold him!

- Pull!

SNIGGERS:

So you thought you'd get away, did you?

See you around some time.

- No, wait! Spiller!

Get him, get him!

Spiller!

- Go! I'll be fine! Run!

We'll be caught if we go

back for him now. Run.

We've got to go! Run!

- No. This way, this way!

Ha! Have you found him?! He's

got to be there somewhere!

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

Homily, just let her get on with it.

TYRES SCREECH:

Relax, stay calm.

- Get us out of here now!

Come on, you little beggars!

Etty?

No, I...I can't... I can't just leave him.

He risked his life to save you.

- We'll go back for him.

But now, we really need to get out of here.

The little swine.

I suggest we get moving now!

Etty, trust me, please.

Right!

TYRES SCREECH:

What? It's... They're getting away!

Get that specimen!

THE CAR BANGS ALONG THE VEN

Oh, no!

Disperse! Disperse!

Get out of the way! Get out of the

way. Come on, get out of the way!

Oh, no!

SCREAM:

Watch out!

Get out the way!

Ah!

Stop that infernal contraption!

No!

MUZAK PLAYS:

What?!

Arrietty, I think you've done really well,

but I think your mother's right,

and I think I should drive now.

You two worry too much.

LIFT DINGS:

SCREAM:

Someone stamp on it! Stop it!

Somebody stop that! Somebody stop

those wretched little creatures!

Please! Stop, they're getting away! Oh!

Somebody, please!

Don't let them escape!

No! No!

Don't just jump out of the way!

Stop that car!

Etty!

- It's all right, we'll fit underneath them.

I don't think that's what

your father's worried about!

SCREAM:

No, no! Boy, stop!

Stop, stop that boy!

He's got...

Come...come... Oh, God!

SIGHS:

If anything's happened to Spiller...

- He'll be fine.

If Mildeye's got him, we're going back.

Wait, something's happening.

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