The Incredible Shrinking Forest/Transcript

The following is a transcript from the thirteenth episode of Bambi's second season, "The Incredible Shrinking Forest".

Act 1
(Intro)

(Fades to a scene of the meadows of the Great Forest, with the title card showing for about 5 seconds. Zooming into the grass, we see a group of the worker ants, who are gathering fallen apples from the apple trees. Soon after they begin their return to the anthill, they are trampled on by Thumper, running through the meadows. Angrily mumbling incoherent gibberish, they retreat back to the apple trees to try again.)

(This triggers a Wile E Coyote-esque montage (that's 30 seconds long) of the ants' several attempts to retrieve their fruit, constantly being interrupted by the forest habitants, unknowing of the harm they'd cause to them. After the last scene, the ants, steaming with rage, scamper off to the Anthill.)

(In the anthill lies a great city, the Ant Society. Contrasting from the calm, free style of the Great Forest, the Ant Society is a large functioning, very busy environment. In the Great Hall at the center of the city, the ants conduct a meeting about the troubles they have had. 3 worker ants bark to a Council of sorts.)

Worker Ant 1: We work hard, day after day, to get our society food.

Worker Ant 2: We threaten our LIVES to get it for us all.

Worker Ant 3: But what do we get in return?

All 3: TRAMPLED!

Council Ant: Simmer down, simmer down. I understand we've had a large loss of food and suppli-

Science Ant: Yes, we have been at a loss off general supplies needed for life at a substantial, EXPONENTIAL rate.

(Silence)

Worker Ant 1: In English?

Science Ant: Problem. Big problem.

(The council ant pushes the scientist away.)

Council Ant: Anyhow; I see only one way to get our troubles to stop. We will seek the magic of the alchemists, they will know what to do.

(The ants seek out the Alchemist Ants, who provide a plan to potentially shrink the forest animals and teach them a proper lesson. However, it requires the workers to go and retrieve specific items needed for the spell.)

Alchemist Ant: We will need branches fallen from the trees, blades of grass from the meadows, and 1 stem plucked from an apple.

(An odd request, but one the workers needed to accept. They did what was asked, and soon the spell would be ready. However, the spell is too big for the ants. They bicker about how they would be too small to enact a spell that's large, when the Alchemist stops them.)

Alchemist Ant: I always have a plan. Luckily, one of the hunters out on the surface left a magnifying glass behind yesterday. We will use it, projected towards the sun and the meadows, to spread the spell through to the animals.

(After setting it up, the spell is enacted and Bambi and Thumper, who are both playing around in the meadow, stopped playing as they begin to shrink.)

Bambi: Thumper, is the grass getting taller?

Thumper: Either that, or we're gettin' SMALLER!

(Soon enough they are reduced to the size of ants, and are lost and confused at what happened.)

Bambi: What happened?

(They wandered around the place they once knew all too well for a bit, with Thumper becoming worried.)

Thumper: I dunno, Bambi. Maybe we got smaller? (Bambi gave a confused look) In any case, I really hope that we-

(Just then, however, Thumper comes face-to-face with a worker ant, shocking the two animals. They are then apprehended by many more worker ants, who then throw them into the anthill. The deer looks around the Ant Society, amazed at what it's really like.)

Bambi: This is where the ants live? I thought it was just a simple hole!

Thumper: (scratches his head) So how many of us are shrunk down to this size?

Worker Ant: Take a gander behind you.

(They look behind themselves to see almost EVERY resident of the Great Forest; Flower, Faline, Ronno, Edgar, Friend Owl, and many more.)

Worker Ant 2: You aren't getting out until you've learned how to respect the small and meek.

Bambi: But we never knew you had a society! This is unfair! I want to go back!

(The Worker ants shake their heads.)

Worker Ant: Maybe when you learn a proper lesson, THEN you'll earn your way back.

Bambi: And if we don't?

Worker Ant 2: Then there WILL be other consequences.

("Other consequences" echoes in Bambi's mind. Soon, he begins to imagine just what those other consequences may be... First, he imagines the entire forest being forced into cages, and sent into a prison, with no escape, all the while they beg to be released. Next, they are shrunken down to the size of the ants, and eaten. Finally, she imagines everyone being forced to work at an even smaller size, whilst being stepped on by the ants, who now look like giant monsters compared to them. Through all 3, vivid begs to go home are heard from everyone, including Bambi. Realizing how bad the consequences really are, Bambi eventually decides to just give in and work like an ant along with most of the other forest inhabitants.)

Bambi: Well... I've tried being like an ant before. Guess it can't hurt to try working like you guys for the day.

(The ants cheer, happy that Bambi and his friends are going to work like them in order for them to learn about their society.)

(We fade to the Queen's throne, where the shrunken forest inhabitants are being assigned jobs. Some are given the duties of getting fruit fallen from the trees, some store the food, some deliver ant pupas, and there are even jobs assigned to help the Grasshoppers store for the winter as it could be hard for them. Bambi helps with storing food, among other forest animals (which we never see). As Bambi is storing the food, we pan to the worker ants and the queen ant, who are watching him and the other animals.)

Worker Ant: You think they'll make progress?

Queen Ant: (nods) Of course they will, with time.

(Bambi, of course, being new to helping with the ants, couldn't store the food well enough, as they fall down to the ground. He then sighs as he proceeds to store the food again.)

Queen Ant: They might not be good at first, but practice makes perfect. They'll figure it out, eventually.

(We fade to a montage of forest animals working on their jobs, as Thumper and his family trying to gather fruit that have fallen from the trees, only for them to mess them up. The worker ants, along with Thumper and his mother, all look at Thumper's sisters crossly. We then see The Great Prince and Friend Owl (among others) deliver ant pupas, but Friend Owl clumsily drop one of them, but one of the worker ants manages to catch it, while The Great Prince looks crossly at Friend Owl, who chuckles a bit. Lastly, we see Flower try to help the grasshoppers store for the winter, but as he tries to climb up to its body, Flower stumbles and falls to the ground, dropping the food he had gather for it in the process. As the grasshopper looks confused, so did Flower.)

Flower: Whoops. Didn't mean to cause that, or do that...

(But the grasshopper hopped away, with Flower shrugging.)

(We fade to the queen's throne, where the queen ant is judging their performances.)

Queen Ant: Well, difficult training for battle against the bigger enemies aside, it could've gone better. But at least you clearly don't deserve to be punished, yet... Like I said, though, practice makes perfect, so I hope you will do better tomorrow on your jobs.

(Everyone agreed to the queen ant's response. We then fade to the sleeping grounds, where Bambi is trying to sleep, until Thumper wakes him up.)

Bambi: Yes, Thumper?

Thumper: Bambi, I'm sawrry for what happened today.

Bambi: I know, Thumper, but I guess I actually kind of like working like an ant.

Thumper: What d'ya mean?

Bambi: I mean, having a carefree life is better, but what choice do I have? It's not like anyone's been disrespecting the queen ant as of now.

Thumper: YOU MEAN THEY WILL BE PUN- (gets shushed by Bambi) (quietly) Oh, right... They're sleeping.

Bambi: We got to get some rest for tomorrow, pal. I mean... What's the worse that can happen?

(The duo heads to sleep as we fade to black for commercial break.)

Act 2
(After the commercial break is over, we fade to the forest where the leader of the sly foxes, Hunter, is searching the forest for any potential prey, but so far, they have found nothing. As he keeps searching the forest, his minions, Red and Willy, rush up to him.)

Red: Have you seen any prey lately?

Hunter: I don't think so. Maybe they've all been captured by hunters.

Willy: (shakes his head)

Hunter: I thought as much. Besides, even if they did, we'd probably be captured as well. Best keep looking.

(They continue to look around until they spot an anthill where a group of ants is heading.)

Hunter: Hey, guys. I think I spotted something.

(His minions rush over to see what it was.)

Willy: Is it the forest animals?

Hunter: I can't really tell, I'll have to get a closer look.

(He looks real closely at some of the "ants", which are actually the shrunken forest animals.)

Hunter: Hmm... Seems like "weird ants" to me.

Red: Maybe the ants got transformed into animals?

Willy: Or perhaps the ants made copies of the forest animals?

Hunter: Nah.

Willy: Wait! Then that must mean...

Red: They have shrunken to ant si-

Hunter: Oh, quit yer yiping! The ants might hear us! (Willy shrugs) Yes, they're forest animals, alright.

Willy: Wonder how they shrunk to ant size?

Red: Maybe we gave them shrinking potions as a prank!

Willy: Or perhaps they shrunk down because of a mysterious fog?

Hunter: Or maybe the ants decided to see how... Nah, forget it. You thinking what I'm thinking?

Red: Umm... Yeah, I think so. Do we attack the ants?

Hunter: Exactly. When the time comes for the final fate of the forest animals, we attack them and the ants. That oughta show them who's the bigger animals in the forest! (evil laugh)

(We pan over to the anthill, then fade to Bambi and some of the other forest animals storing food, having made better progress and actually being able to do it this time around. They look over to the Queen Ant, who proceeds to smile.)

(We then proceed to see a montage of Bambi and his friends becoming better at their jobs, along with the other forest animals (sans Ronno, who still messes up on his jobs), with Thumper and his family actually gathering fruit that has fallen from the trees and bringing them to the anthill, The Great Prince and Friend Owl delivering ant pupas like it's nobody's business, and Flower actually helping the grasshoppers store food for the winter.)

(Meanwhile, Ronno is trying to figure out a way to get out of the anthill.)

Ronno: Grrrr! I don't wanna work for those stupid ants! Job after job I keep failing despite my confidence that I will do them right! I need to get out of here NOW! But how? (ponders) Maybe... If a spell caused me to shrink down, maybe I can get the ant alchemists to make me big again, and then I'll step on them and their other "weird" buddies before they have the chance to shrink me down once more! (smirks and chuckles evilly) I like your plan, Ronno.

(Ronno leaves the ant queen's throne as he leaves the other forest animals behind.)

(In another part of the anthill, a worker ant was carrying a fruit that has fallen from a tree to the queen ant when...)

(BAM! Ronno accidentally bumps into a worker ant, making it drop its fruit in the process.)

Worker Ant: What in the-? My... Fruit... (Ronno snickers for a bit) You! I know you did this! You have just disrespected the ant colony! The queen ant will hear from us about your disgraceful actions!

Ronno: Yeah right! As if I wanted to get out of the anthill by working like an ant!

Worker Ant: If you keep this up, you might as well be eaten!

Ronno: But, I'm sorry for...

(But it was too late. The worker ant has already stormed off, leaving Ronno to angrily stare at him.)

Ronno: Hmph! That worker ant really has got some nerve! (looks at the fruit and ponders) You know, that fruit has given me an idea... An awful idea! (mischievous laugh)

(We fade to Bambi and his friends working on their jobs, like they usually do. Things are going well until...)

???: STOP!!! I know you have set him up.

(Ronno and a group of ant monarchs show up in the city, leaving Bambi and his friends bewildered.)

Bambi: But... we...

Ant Monarch #1: But nothing! Ronno told us about your evil plan!

Thumper: Evil plan? We would never do such a thing!

Ant Monarch #2: You just did. (Thumper gasps) You have set Ronno up to knock over the fruit!

Bambi: (gulps) Well, guess even being like ants have some curveballs thrown at you from time to time.

(Thumper nods, before he, Bambi and the other forest animals besides Ronno are escorted off to the queen's throne for a trial.)

Ant Monarch #1: Ronno? You are coming with us.

Ronno: But I helped you in my scheme!

Ant Monarch #2: And your scheme wouldn't have happen if you'd just apologize to the worker ant that you bumped into!

(Ronno groans, as he is escorted to the queen's throne, too, as we fade to black for the commercial break.)

Act 3
(After the commerical break is over, we see the queen's throne room, where Bambi, his friends, Ronno, and all the other shrunken forest animals are being escorted to for the trial.)

Queen Ant: So, I have heard that you have disrespected my lovely society, yes?

Bambi: Well, I...

Ronno: Of course, I did, doofus! And so did they!

Queen Ant: Well, then. I hereby commence the trial of Bambi vs. Ant Colony!

Bambi: (quietly to Thumper) This isn't going to end well for us. Don't you think?

Thumper: (quietly to Bambi) I didn't think it would come to this, but yet here we are, and I don't like where this is goin'.

Worker Ant: So it all started when I gathered up fruit that has fallen from the tree for the queen ant, when Ronno came running towards me, and he "accidentally" bumped into me, making me drop my fruit in the process! I got angry at Ronno, but then he looked at the fruit and...

Queen Ant: I think I've heard enough of your story. Care to tell me how it happen?

Worker Ant: Well, I wished it would've been an accident, but I-I think that Bambi has told Ronno to knock over the fruit so that they can try to get the growth spell from the ant alchemists so that they can make themselves normal size again!

Queen Ant: I see... Any evidence against it or that supports it?

The Great Prince: Well, I don't believe that we'd-

Ronno: Be responsible for getting me to bump into the worker ant on purpose? Of course they are!

(The Great Prince and Friend Owl exchanged scared looks at each other, and so did Bambi and Thumper.)

(Meanwhile, however, an even bigger problem is on their hands.)

Hunter: Alright, when the queen ant announces the final fate of Bambi and his friends, we'll stomp on the anthill and destroy it, then we'll finally be able to get rid of Bambi and his friends once and for all!

Willy: And then?

Hunter: And if Kitsune's not shrunken down, we'll take him back and finally make him one of us.

Willy: Oh, so that's the plan. (Hunter nods) Just making sure.

(We cut back to the queen ant's throne. As the queen ant is looking at evidence, Bambi and his friends are looking more and more worried.)

Queen Ant: Let's see... According to the evidence, this means that all of you forest animals are GUILTY!

(Everyone is shocked to find out about the forest animals' final fate, as we cut back to Hunter and his minions.)

Hunter: Stomp on the anthill on my mark.

(The foxes prepare to stomp on the anthill, as we cut back to the queen ant.)

Queen Ant: As for punishments, The Great Prince and Friend Owl will be eaten by ants! (gasps can be heard from just about everyone)

(We cut back to Hunter.)

Hunter: Ready...

Queen Ant: Bambi, your friends will be locked up, and all the other forest animals aside from those friends of yours will work in the anthill forever!

(Bambi is becoming scared, as we cut to Willy licking his whole mouth. We cut back to the Queen Ant)

Queen Ant: And as for you and Ronno, you will be shrunken down even further to the point where we are now giants, and you will both be stepped on constantly! Now then, any last words?

(Bambi and Ronno looked at each other with worry.)

Queen Ant: Well, then... Take it away, alchemists!

(The alchemist ants gets out of their seat and prepare the shrinking spell.)

(We cut back to Hunter.)

Hunter: NOW!

(The foxes start raising their paws up in the air.)

(We cut back to the alchemist ants, who are about to enact the spell at Bambi and Ronno to shrink them down even further when suddenly...)

(BOOM! An earthquake is heard, and everyone in the throne room takes cover. As the dust settles, they couldn't believe their eyes.)

Queen Ant: What in the ant agony is that?

(The forest animals and the ants rush out the throne to find...)

Hunter: (evil laugh) Think you can get away with punishing Bambi and his friends? Not if we can do the punishment ourselves!

Bambi: I know it's you! You've nearly destroyed the ant civilization!

Willy: Awww... Look! It's that teensy-weeny deery-looking ant!

Bambi: I'm not an ant! I'm a deer!

Hunter: No matter what you are, we are gonna squish you until every single one of you is squashed!

Queen Ant: Warriors, battle positions now!

Thumper: Time to show 'em how big of a punch a ant-sized duo can bring!

(Bambi nods, as he and the rest of his friends prepare to battle the foxes and protect the colonies. Ronno, however, runs off and hides from all the action taking place.)

TBC...

(Eventually, the foxes have all been taken down, and the colonies have been protected thanks to the help of Bambi and his friends. As they all cheered, the queen ant walks over to the group)

Queen Ant: I must say, you do pack quite a big punch against those bigger foxes.

Bambi: We sure do!

Queen Ant: Well, you know what they say, a deal's a deal.

(The queen ant nods to the alchemist ants and enact a growing spell at Bambi, Thumper, and Flower, and thus they begin to grow again.)

Thumper: Umm, Bambi? Are those other friends of ours gettin' smaller?

Bambi: No. I think we're getting taller.

(Eventually, Bambi, Thumper, and Flower return to normal size, with the other animals stuck at ant size.)

Friend Owl: Well, hehe. Didn't know that day would come when I would be shrunken down to ant size, and then see you and the foxes as if you're... big!

Bambi: Umm... Aren't you going to return the rest of the animals to normal size?

Queen Ant: Including Ronno? No, Bambi. We'll keep him and the foxes and decide what to do with them after we return the rest of the animals who helped us defend the colonies. (Bambi and Thumper look at each other confusingly) But first, we have some... size business to take care of.

(Just then, the foxes recover and they noticed that Bambi, Thumper and Flower are all normal size.)

Flower: Oh, no...

Hunter: Well, well, well... Looks like you've managed to return to normal size, after all!

Red: And now, we'll finally be able to make you three our dinner.

Thumper: Not if the ants have anything to say about your destruction to their colonies.

(The foxes growl, but before they could do any harm to the trio, the shrinking spell is enacted, and the foxes begin to shrink.)

Red: Umm, Boss? Is it just me or are these animals getting big-?

Hunter: That's not important! ATTACK!

(The foxes proceed to leap at the trio, but by the time the shrinking spell is finished, leaving the fox trio the size of ants, they couldn't do any harm to the now-seemingly huge forest animal trio. As they look up in shock, they see Bambi, Thumper, and Flower, who are now giants compared to the foxes.)

Bambi: Who's the "weird ant", now, Hunter?

(The foxes get scared and try to flee but they quickly get apprehended by the worker ants along with Ronno, and proceed to carry them into the anthill.)

Thumper: Think we should leave?

Flower: Maybe we should just let the ants grow everyone except Ronno and the foxes back to normal size.

(Both Bambi and Thumper nod. Later on, everyone is back to normal size, as Bambi and his friends are looking at the anthill and the queen ant.)

Queen Ant: I think that's everyone. Now I think you should go and have fun, but please do be more careful with the Ant Society next time.

Bambi: Will do!

(Bambi's friends all leave, while Bambi and Thumper stay back to watch the Queen Ant head back into the anthill before Bambi and Thumper return to their homes.)

Thumper: Well, that certainly was a fun time in the anthill, but boy, am I glad to be back to havin' a carefree life.

Bambi: Couldn't agree more, buddy! After all, you can't disrespect the society of ants, or else you may suffer consequences.

(As Bambi is talking, we pan over to the anthill, then fade to the city, as we pan over to the queen's throne, as Ronno and the foxes are ready to face their punishments.)

Queen Ant: Hunter, Red, Willy, for trying to attack our race, squish us all, and ruin our society, you will be locked up in the ant prison until you decide to be more nice to the ants, like a certain fox that I know...

Hunter: Mark my words, puny queen. (Hunter and his minions get taken by the ant monarchs) You haven't seen the last of us!

Queen Ant: As for you, Ronno, because you've set up nearly the entire forest up for a false act, I shall have you become so small that you will look like an ant compared to us!

Ronno: But, I...

Queen Ant: But nothing!

(Ronno gets hit by the shrinking spell and begins to shrink down even further.)

Ronno: IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!

(Eventually, Ronno is so small that ants could step on him. And that is what the ant monarchs try to do, but Ronno escapes and tries to get away from them before bumping into the worker ant that he accidentally bumped into earlier, and looks up in fright, as his fears of being stepped on by an actual ant that looks like a giant are realized.)

Ronno: Hey! I want to apologize for what happened to-

Worker Ant: I know you! You knocked over my fruit and claimed it was on purpose! (Ronno looks scared) So this is for setting our friends up for a false act!

(The ant lifts his leg, preparing to step on Ronno.)

Ronno: Mommy...

(The ant forces his leg down on Ronno, squishing him in the process, but he's still alive.)

Worker Ant: How's THAT for a taste of revenge, coming from a worker ant? (leaves to do his work) Hope you learn your lesson, little bug! (laughs)

(We pan down to see Ronno, who is struggling to free himself.)

Ronno: So much for working like an ant...

(We fade to black as the credits then roll, ending the episode.)