A Bug's Life

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.

An epic of miniature proportions.(taglines)

Flik

• [after Heimlich suggests that he tell the truth] They can't! They can't know the truth! The truth, you see, is bad! I will be branded with this mistake for the rest of my life! My children's children will walk down the street, and people will point and say "Look! There goes the spawn of Flik the loser!" Oh, oh, oh, you know, all right fine. Yeah okay. Just go. But could you do me a little favor before you leave? If you could squish me.

Hopper

• I swear, if I hadn't promised mother on her deathbed that I wouldn't kill you, I would kill you!
• 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.
• It seems to me that you ants are forgetting your place. So let's double the order of food. [Princess Atta: No! But-But-] We'll be back at the end of the season, when the last leaf falls. You ants have a nice summer. LET'S RIDE!
• Guys, order another round, because we're staying here! 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?
• 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?
• YOU LITTLE TERMITES! I GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE, AND THIS IS ALL I GET?!
• HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING ALL SUMMER?! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?! [Princess Atta: No, no! Please!] WELL, GUESS WHAT... you just lost. NOT ONE ANT SLEEPS UNTIL WE GET EVERY SCRAP OF FOOD ON THIS ISLAND!!!
• 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!

Manny

• You listen to me, my boy. I've made a living out of being a failure, and you, sir, are not a failure!

Dialogue

[First lines; As the line of ants marched to the stone, one ant spotted a shadow moving across the ground. He looked up and gasped. A leaf was falling from the overhead tree]

Scared Ant #1: [gasps] No, no, no, Oh, no. Oh, no.

[a 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. [Quietly 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!

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] Isn't that right, Aphie? Oh, you're such a cute little aphid. [As she sets Aphie down, the 2 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. [A huge stalk of grain falls on top of her]

---

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] Princess Atta!

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!

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.

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]

Atta: [sighs] Flik!

Flik: Since you're gonna be queen soon, you could use this to oversee production. [borrows a dewdrop from Dr. Flora] Dr. Flora, if I may.

Dr. Flora: [gasps] Oh!

Atta: This is all very nice, but...

Thorny: What?

Flik: Just an ordinary blade of grass and a bead of dew, right?

Atta: Flik, please.

Flik: Wrong! It is, in fact... [drops the dewdrop in the middle of the blade] A telescope!

[Dot and Queen laugh]

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: All right, listen! 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!

Atta: Please, Flik. Just go.

Flik: I'm sorry. I was... I was really just trying... Trying to help.

Cornelius: Harvester. Why, we've harvested the same way ever since I was a pupa.

---

[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.

[Flik shuts up and bites his finger in fear, waiting for the inevitable]

Princess Atta: Not now, Flik.

Flik: But, Your Highness, it's about the offering!

Princess Atta: Shhh!

Hopper: [first words] Hey, what's going on?

Molt: [first words] Yeah, where's the food?

[all ants gasp]

Princess Atta: [angrily to Flik] What did you do?

Flik: [all ants turn to him, nervously] It was an accident?

[An ugly foot punches a hole in the ground followed by several more feet punching more holes as the grasshoppers drop into the anthill]

Molt: Boo! Where's the food?!

[As the ants try to hide, a tall, brown grasshopper lands in front of Flik and two other ants]

Flik: Hopper.

[Hopper paces back and forth around]

Hopper: 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 in 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 into 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 antennae] You don't smell like the queen.

Queen: She-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: [annoyingly interrupts Hopper] 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 kickin' and screamin', 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 angrily grabs his antennae] Ow! Ow! Ow!

Hopper: [violently 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 want to 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: [furiously turns and angrily punches another grasshopper; calms down, becoming reasonable] 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 ourselves!

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 evilly 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? You don't like Thumper?

Flik: [steps forward] Leave her alone!

Hopper: [turns to Flik] You want her? [He 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.

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 entire 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.

[An ants cheering]

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! [pained grunt]

Dot: Flik!

Flik: [muffled] I'm okay!

Reed: Your dad's right. He's gonna die.

Dot: You just watch. He's gonna get the bestest, roughest bugs you've ever seen!

---

[Dim roaring]

Rosie: Get back! Get back! Get back, you horrible beast! I have no fear!

Dim: Oh! [whimpers]

Rosie: Oh, no.

[Dim crying, the other flies 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: [frustrated sighs] I have been in outhouses that didn't stink that bad. This is ridiculous. What a disappointment.

[A small flea in a top hat, P.T. Flea, jumps outside the tent]

P.T.: [gasps] No!

Complaining Fly: You! Come here! I want my money back!

P.T.: Uh, no refunds after the first two minutes!

Cockroach: Popcorn! Stale popcorn!

P.T.: We're losing the audience! You clowns get out there now!

Heimlich: I hate performing on an empty stomach!

P.T.: Do your act, Heimlich, then you can eat!

Slim: P.T., what's the point?

P.T.: Not now, Slim.

Slim: What's the point of going out there? They'll only laugh at me.

P.T.: 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.: You're a walking stick! IT'S FUNNY! NOW, GO!

Slim: You parasite.

[The other flies 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 dramatically screaming]

---

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?!

Thud: [groan]

Fly: Where are they?

Slim: We'll take the job!

Flik: Really?

Heimlich: Yah! Yah!

---

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!

---

Atta: You don't think I've offended the warriors, do you?

Flik: You? No!

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?

[laughs nervously]

Atta: Don't tell 'em I said that! That's all I need: another "royal blunder".

Flik: Princess! you're doing a great job.

Atta: Thanks. You're sweet. You're wrong, but sweet. I know what everyone really thinks.

Flik: I don't follow.

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.

Atta: Flik, I owe you an apology.

Flik: For what?

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?

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.

Atta: I said, Even Hopper's afraid of birds!

Flik: Thank you.

---

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…

Atta: … everyone's co-operation 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!

[Applause]

---

[Axel and Loco 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 threatingly]

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 plays]

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 agrees, mocking the ants]

Hopper: [sarcastically] 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: Nope.

Hopper: Well, how about this one? [Hopper 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] 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]

---

Atta: You mean, you're not warriors?

P.T.: 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.

Atta: [sternly] Tell me this isn't true.

Flik: No, you don't understand me.

Cornelius: This couldn't have happened at a more inopportune time! The last leaf is about to fall!

Atta: 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 Circus Bugs] You bugs were never here, so I suggest you all leave!

Flik [gets in front of Circus Bugs] But the bird! 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, it's not true, I just-!

Atta: [walks to Flik, hurt and angry] 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] I just wanted to make a difference.

Atta: I want you to leave, Flik. And this time, don't come back.

[Flik hangs his head in sadness, Dot gasps. Flik and Circus Bugs then sadly leave]

P.T.: Tough crowd. [Snaps the reins and the wagon rolls off] Yee-haw!

Dot: [sadly, while the Queen holds her back as Flik and the bugs leave] Flik...

---

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: [nervously] I think I'm going to wet myself!

Francis: [out of the corner of his mouth] Steady...

Hopper: What's going on here?

Atta: Well, uh...

Slim: Uh, yes. We were invited by Princess Atta as a surprise for your arrival.

Hopper: Squish 'em.

[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 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.

---

Hopper: 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, pause] 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! We're a lot stronger than you say we are... And you know it, don't you?

[Hopper knocks Flik back to the ground and prepares to stomp on him to his death, but the princess stops him]

Hopper: Well, princess.

Molt: Uh, Hopper? I hate to interrupt, but um...

[Hopper then sees all the ants who are now angry at him, preparing for a final battle.]

Hopper: YOU ANTS STAY BACK!

[The ants puts their arms around each other to fight, including Circus Bugs.]

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!

---

[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! [a bird pops up; Hopper looks up] Well, what's this? Another one of your little bird tricks?

Flik: [smiles] Yep!

Hopper: Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls!

[The bird roars, Hopper screams and drops Flik. He tries to run away, but the bird blocks him, picks him up by his beak and flies mid-air above the nest where the chicks were hatched.]

Hopper: [last words] No, no! No, no, no! [screams] No! OH, NOOOOOOOO!!! OH, NO, NO, NO! [The camera zooms in on the chicks’ mouths]

---

P.T.: 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.: Hey, Tiny! Let's get this show packed up! We got paying customers hatching!

[Molt carries supplies into the wagon]

Molt: 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]

Molt: [last words] Shutting up.

[P.T. jumps on top of the wagon]

P.T.: You sure you can't come on tour with us?

Flik: Sorry. My place is here.

Atta: [quietly] Good answer.

P.T.: Oh, well. Your loss. One minute, insects!

[Flik and Atta walk over to the circus troupe]

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!

Atta: Oh! [chuckles] It's a rock.

[Manny, Slim and 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 clap for Flik, followed by the rest of the troupe and the entire ant colony. Atta kisses Flik 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. Dot giggles]

P.T.: [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 lifts the wagon into the air]

Grub: Whoa!

Rosie: See you next season!

Slim: See you, Flik!

Gypsy: Bye! We miss you already!

Tuck: You fired!

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!

Taglines

• An epic of miniature proportions.

Cast

• Dave Foley — Flik
• Kevin Spacey — Hopper
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus — Princess Atta
• Hayden Panettiere — Dot
• Phyllis Diller — The Queen
• Richard Kind — Molt
• David Hyde Pierce — Slim
• Joe Ranft — Heimlich
• Denis Leary — Francis
• Jonathan Harris — Manny

• Madeline Kahn — Gypsy
• Bonnie Hunt — Rosie
• Mike McShane — Tuck & Roll
• John Ratzenberger — P.T. Flea
• Brad Garrett — Dim
• Bill Farmer — Scared Ant #3
• Roddy McDowall — Mr. Soil
• Edie McClurg — Dr. Flora
• Alex Rocco — Thorny
• David Ossman — Cornelius

External Links

• A Bug's Life quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Media related to A Bug's Life on Wikimedia Commons