Hazel[venting to Fiver about the Owsla] "You know the rules." I'm sick of the rules. I wonder where there's a place for us in this warren at all. There's too many rabbits and too little good food as it is without the Owsla stealing from us.
[Hazel stops when he sees Fiver staring at the horizon.]
This is where it comes from. The thing in my dream. Look. The field... all filled with blood.
Hazel
It's only the light of sunset, Fiver.
Brother, I know everyone thinks I'm strange, even you sometimes, but you have to believe me. Something will come to this place, something foul and fierce. We need to warn everyone.
Hazel
We're outsiders, Fiver. People don't listen to us.
Well, we must make them listen.
Hazel
And how do you propose we do that?
[Cut to Hazel and Fiver talking to Bigwig]
Hazel
We only need a few moments with Threarah, Bigwig, and we wouldn't ask if it weren't important.
[short pause] Alright, go on. But if I get my head bitten off, I'll come looking for you.
[Hazel and Fiver go into the burrow and talk to Threarah, who's eating]
TThrearah
So you were saying, your brother senses things.
Hazel
Ahh... yes. Sometimes. Images in his head and... ah, I don't know how to say it, but he was right before; and he knew the flood was coming last autumn.
TThrearah
Ah, I see. And what has he sensed this time?
I don't know what it is. But it's bad. It's so bad, you have to get everyone to leave. Tonight, Threarah, please.
TThrearah
[unconcerned] My goodness. Everyone? Tonight? Ha! The entire warren, and you want me to tell them that we all have to go? Well... I'll give that some very serious thought.
[desperately] You're not listening! There is no time! I can feel the danger like a wire around my neck! Threarah, you have to act now! NOW!
[Fiver's big "NOW" echoes outside, where Bigwig and a few other rabbits hear. Threarah, still not believing Fiver, loses his patience.]
TThrearah
Bigwig! Hazel, I think your brother needs to rest for a while. Why don't you take him out for some fresh air?
Hazel
Shh. Yes, Threarah.
[They both leave, while Bigwig enters the burrow]
TThrearah
[to Bigwig; angrily] I told you I wanted to be left alone, you fool! And you let a bunch of outskirters wander in here!
Hazel... Hazel, that was our answer. We have to go.
Hazel
Are you really sure, Fiver?
I'm telling you now as your brother, as your friend, this warren will soon be laid waste. We can leave now, or we can be destroyed with it.
Hazel
[sighs] Alright, we need to spread the word to as many rabbits as possible. But be careful. If the Owsla get wind of this, there will be trouble.
[Hazel and Fiver are hiding under the bridge at nighttime, waiting for other rabbits to join. Suddenly, they hear footsteps nearby and gasp.]
Hazel
Dewdrop? Dewdrop?
It's Blackberry and Bluebell. And we bought Hawkbit and Dandelion too.
Hazel
Get down here before you're seen.
Right you are. [they get under the bridge]
HHawkbit
Aye, is everyone...? Where are the does? I presumed there'd be does.
Hazel
This can't be everyone. It can't be. Maybe we should go back, try to convince some of the others.
She's not coming, Hazel. [the rabbits gasp when they hear a tin can hitting a rock and flowing in the stream] There have been more and more of those strange things recently. They come from humans.
Hazel
Alright, let's go.
Hazel
Owsla!
[The rabbits try to flee, but are cut off and surrounded by Owsla soldiers, led by Captain Holly]
You're all under arrest for spreading dissension and inciting to mutiny!
You more than anyone need to listen, Captain Holly. Something is coming to this place, something foul and fierce.
Hazel
Just let us go. Even if you are bigger, there are more of us. We fancy it'd be a good fight.
[Bigwig enters the scene]
[angrily] The Threarah nearly tore my ears off tonight after I let you two in. Told me I'm lucky not to be kicked out of the Owsla! Lucky to still have my privileges! Well... [brief pause before Bigwig turns to face Holly] Well I'm sick of being in the Owsla.
I'm sick of being in this warren! I'm sick of obeying your orders and THROWING THE LINE!
Thlayli, be careful now! Think about what you're doing!
Go now, Captain Holly, or we'll kill the lot of you.
[Holly and the others leave]
[to Hazel's group] Someone must've told them what you're up to. We need to move before they come back with the entire Owsla.
Hazel
Along the line of the stream and through the meadow, everyone. Then into the woods. Come on!
[The rabbits leave. Hazel looks one last time at the Sandleford warren, disappointed that Dewdrop isn't coming.]
The does have seen it, the bird who saved us is gone. They're exhausted and scared--
Hazel
But they have to move on. They'll die if they stay here.
[Hazel looks at the does, who stare back at him, waiting for a response]
CClover
Speak from your heart, Hazel-rah.
Hazel
My name is Hazel, and I am chief rabbit of your new home. I know that it will take time for me to earn your trust, and hopefully your friendship, but it is a privilege for me to do so, and to serve each and every one of you, both old and new. You have fought so hard to earn your freedom, but now, you must fight to keep it. Because the battle for liberty is one which has no end. And if we fall fighting, if we stop running, then at least we knew what it was like to run. I stand here, not asking you to follow me, but to follow each other. Let’s help raise each other to our strongest selves! Let’s go home.
Hazel, we rally up anyone at silflay and take them down into the honeycomb at once.
Hazel
Alright, Holly, go. Bigwig, go and tell Strawberry to collapse all the entrances for the wood run and the big root.
Wait, where are you going?
Hazel
I'm going to buy us some time.
Hazel
Bigwig, go.
Is there anything I can do, Hazel?
Hazel
Have you been able to make any sense of your visions? The hrududu, the ropes?
No, I don't know what any of it means.
Hazel
Don't worry. Get back to the warren with the others and try to keep everyone calm.
[Hazel leaves to try to reason with Woundwort]
Hazel
I am a friend of Thlayli, yes.
Ha! He's some chief rabbit. Sending you out here instead of coming himself. [darkly] We are going to destroy you.
Hazel
I imagine you planned to take our warren by surprise, attack us at dawn, when we moved out to silflay. But you approached downwind and up here on the Downs, the wind is changeable. That’s what gave you away.
An inconvenience, nothing more. By closing off some of your tunnels, you're merely delaying the inevitable.
Hazel
You should know that you won’t find it easy. You will leave with far fewer bucks. We should come to better terms. If we start a new warren in the belt of woods halfway between our two homes, we could share resources. Rabbits have enough enemies as it is, without fighting between us. You'd be seen as a leader of vision. You'd be seen as a leader of genius.
It, er, might be worth considering, sir.
It amuses me that you feel you're in a position to strike a deal. Let's see if you feel the same way after three days without food.
Hazel
Very well.
Tell your chief rabbit that I look forward to seeing him again. [Hazel leaves] Each of you take your bucks and cover one of the entrances. Nothing leaves this warren and lives.
Watership Down · 22 quotes
