I'll never forget that summer.
I spent a week in the old house where my mother grew up.
Almost there, now. Feeling all right?
Yes.
How many times have I told Haru not to block the driveway?
- I'll be back in a sec. - Okay.
Haru!
You're blocking the driveway again.
Sho?
Where are you?
Don't touch!
These aren't for you.
- Arrietty! - Yes?
You've been outside again!
And you might want to clean up this room, young lady.
It's like my own little garden.
If you were to ask me, it looks like a great, big mess.
Oh! Look! Is that a bay leaf?
Ah! I guess this means your birthday has come a little bit early.
That'll do for a whole year!
But the bay tree's so far away.
What if a human being saw you?
Please be careful.
I'm always careful.
The world is full of dangerous creatures.
Your great uncle...
...was eaten by a toad. I know.
It's just these flowers just smell lovely.
So they do.
With a bit of sugar, I could make some juice out of this.
Wait till tonight. I'll borrow some for you.
You'll what?
It'll be my first borrowing!
I've been practicing night and day.
Father's home!
Hello, Father.
- Father, I wanted to ask you about... - I've seen a boy in the house.
What?!
I saw him too.
Oh, there's no way he could have seen me!
I was safely hidden behind the bay leaf.
Father, are we still going? borrowing this evening?
I won't hear of it. It's too dangerous.
But he's only a boy. It'll be fine.
Father, I've been looking forward to this for so long.
Children can be more terrifying than grown-ups.
It'll be fine!
Young boys need to go to bed early.
Oh, thank you, Father!
But Pod...
This boy seems to be ill, so you needn't worry.
But still...
It'll be all right, Mother. I'll be extra careful.
Our Arrietty's going to be 14 soon.
She's going to have to learn to get by in the world
when we're not here to help her.
Sometimes I feel like we're the last Borrowers left in the world.
And if there's anything you need, just ask Haru to help you.
All right.
Haru, I'm depending on you.
Yes, Madam.
Let's pull down the screen. Keep the bugs out.
Shouldn't you wear something a bit darker?
No! This'll be all right!
Try and remember to borrow some tissue paper.
And even a cube of sugar, perhaps?
We could have it to sweeten the juice I shall be serving for tea later.
But... only if you can.
We'll be back home soon.
Please be careful.
Of course.
Arrietty!
Bye.
Excuse me!
Arrietty, would you hold these for me, please?
Yes, Father.
Arrietty, hold on tight!
Arrietty.
Ready?
Oh, Father, it's all so big!
The world of the human beings.
The sugar's in that pot.
Just wait here.
Father, you're great!
Now, let's get that tissue.
Father, look!
Then let that be your first borrowing.
But be careful, it's sharp.
Yes.
Father, borrowing is such fun!
Look. Down there.
Rats. Steer clear of them. They're trouble for us.
I'm not afraid.
If they were to come, I can defend with this!
Sometimes it's best not to go looking for danger.
What is this place?
The human beings made it, to house all of their dolls.
This would be perfect for us!
I'm sure Mother would love that dresser over there.
These things aren't for borrowing.
Anything goes missing, they'd know right away.
So don't tell your mother.
Oh...
No need to be afraid of me.
Hey.
I saw you, out in the garden today.
My mother... she told me about you.
She saw little people here when she was young.
Was it you she saw?
Was it?
I'm so sorry, Father.
The boy saw me outside in the garden today.
I should have been a bit more careful.
I hope he didn't frighten you.
I think it's best we don't tell Mother.
It'll only worry her.
All right.
You don't always have to run.
Take the time to watch them first, then decide.
We're back.
Safe and sound!
Something wrong?
Things didn't go well this time.
This light gave out, so we had to make our way back early.
Oh, dear.
It meant we couldn't get your sugar.
Not to worry. At least you're home safe and sound.
Arrietty, you found something.
Show your mother your very first borrowing.
What a pretty pin.
Time for bed.
Well, good night then.
She looks completely worn out.
Shall I make her some tea?
Sho!
Come in the house. You'll catch cold out there.
What? A cube of sugar? So where was it?
It was left by the grating.
It's probably the same one I dropped last night.
What?
What do you mean, you dropped it?
Don't touch it, Arrietty! Is that understood?
It's a trap.
They're going to track us down and then they'll catch us!
We'll just have to stop borrowing for a while.
Maybe they already know where we are.
Pod, we'll have to move!
This is such a lovely house.
Now we'll have to start again.
Well, shall we see how things go?
Eat. Soup's getting cold.
Why did it have to be the sugar?
Thank you, Arrietty.
I wanted to hang the clothes out while the sun's up.
It's a pleasure. I love doing laundry.
I'm going to take a little nap.
- See you later. - All right.
So you came back to me.
Hey, please. Don't go.
You have to leave us alone.
I just... wanted to tell you that.
I want... to talk to you.
Human beings are dangerous.
If we're found, we'll have to move away.
My parents told me so.
So you have your family, then? I envy you.
You don't have one?
I supposed I do, but I almost never see my father,
and my mother's always working and barely has any time for me.
Is that so?
I would really like to know your name.
You can call me Sho.
Do you even have one?
Well, do you?
Of course, I have a name!
It's Arrietty.
Arrietty?
Arrietty...
That's a very pretty name.
Would you it be possible for me to see you, then?
Even if it's just for a moment?
Ah, just a little peek.
Ah, please.
What's going on in here? Aagh! A crow!
Can't come in here! Get out!
What got into that bird? I've never seen one behave like that before.
Perhaps it's time for their nesting season.
I'll need to replace this screen. Now where do we keep them?
Master Sho, it's high time.
You should, er...
You should take some of your medicine now.
Thank you, Haru.
I really feel fine, thanks.
The nesting season, eh?
Have yourself a lovely long rest.
Father!
- I told you to stay away. - I'm sorry.
I thought I should take care of it myself.
Father, he really didn't see me.
Your actions put your family in danger.
I won't say it again. Understood?
Yes.
I think it's time to start looking.
For a new home.
Oh, Pod.
"You forgot something."
Hello? Got a package for you.
Thanks a lot for the drink. It's so hot today.
Do you know of any good pest control companies around here?
Oh, let's have a look.
Here's one. Squeaky Klean Services Pest Control.
Squeaky Klean Services. I'll write it down.
You having problems with some mice?
Maybe it's mice. Maybe it's something more interesting.
Between you and me, it's little people.
I've seen it myself.
I hear a crow tried to fly into your room.
I hope it didn't scare you.
I'm fine, Aunt Sadako. Haru chased it away.
I've never seen anything like it.
A huge, great beast of a crow!
Excitement is the worst possible thing in the world for his heart.
Haru, Sho came here for some peace and quiet.
If anything were to happen before the operation...
- Of course, madam. - Gracious!
I realize Sho's mother's work is terribly important to her.
But to go abroad on business and leave a sick child behind?
It's never easy for a young boy to be without his mother.
You shouldn't worry about it. I'm all right.
I suppose the divorce was inevitable.
But why can't she be here, when her only child needs her so?
Aunt Sadako, who made that little wooden house in my room?
It looks amazing.
You mean the dolls' house?
It belonged to your mother when she is small child.
She had to leave it here years ago when she moved away.
It was Mum's?
My father had it made specially to order
as a place for all the little people to live in.
Little?
Father always said he once saw little people in our home.
He waited for years in the hope of seeing them again.
He always said that the house was a present for them.
I'm afraid they never did show themselves again.
Not in my father's lifetime, and regrettably, not in mine.
Master Sho, I don't suppose you saw any little people in your room?
Unfortunately not.
The dolls' house has been passed down from my father.
I'm sure your mother would be very happy for you to have it now.
Do you mean that?
Yes. Have you looked inside? It's really quite beautiful!
- Haru, would you be so kind as to turn off the lights? - Madam.
This is the living room.
All the furnishings were hand made by a real furniture maker.
Beautiful, don't you think?
Here's the library on the first floor. There's even a study.
Wait until you see the next room. That's my personal favourite.
Haru, would you be so kind?
Why, certainly. I think it opens this way.
It's wonderful!
It is perfectly detailed and just like the real thing.
Even the oven works. You could use it for baking.
Ah, it's beautiful!
It is a pity Father's dream never came true.
And it's been so long...
Maybe the little people are gone now.
Mother, these same pictures have been here for years.
Can't we change them?
I truly love those pictures.
I always dreamt one day I'd get to see the real ocean.
Anyway, there's no point changing now.
Father's a bit late.
I hope he didn't get caught in that downpour.
- It's Father! - Sounds like... Is that the back door?
Father, are you okay?
I've twisted my leg.
Luckily, Spiller here helped me.
Pod?
Oh, no! You're hurt! Hurry. Bring him in.
Does it hurt?
No. It's not broken. I'll be fine in no time.
Come in. I'll get you some cold water.
Here's a towel. Dry yourself.
Who are you?
I knew it. It's not just the three of us after all.
I go home.
Please don't. Stay with us, have some tea!
Why don't I tend to your father, and you get Spiller a cup of tea.
Of course.
Thank you, Spiller. Father's so lucky you came along.
We're so indebted to you.
Spiller, have you seen other Borrowers?
You see, we thought we might be the only ones that were left in the whole world.
I think this many.
Ah, then Kav and Lobi must be all right!
Is that a bow you have? Can I look?
And you use this for borrowing?
Give that back, Arrietty. It's not a toy.
Give.
Got to go.
But we're just about to eat something. Wouldn't you like to join us?
You eat this?
Cricket's leg!
Want some? Is so good.
No, thank you.
Get well.
I thank you again.
I'll see him out.
Did you go to looking for a new home, then?
After I tripped and fell in the woods, I couldn't move until Spiller found me.
You were lucky.
Spiller knows the land on the other side of the river really well.
He's told me he knows a few places where we could look to build a new home.
That's good, I suppose.
I'm not looking forward to sleeping rough.
I wonder if we'll find anything as nice as this, though.
I'm glad there's more like us. It makes me feel better.
Oh, Spiller, do you live at home with your family?
Family? No, just me.
Oh, right. Please come visit us again.
- My mother makes a really amazing stew. - Okay!
Haru?
Arrietty, your stitches need to be neater.
You'll have to start over.
What is this big bag for? Why would we need it?
I think I'll go and see how Father is.
Father, may I come in?
How's your leg?
I'll be walking very soon.
Father?
Are we going to move away?
Human beings have seen us, We have no choice but to move.
I don't think that every human being is dangerous.
Arrietty,
long before you were born, there were two other families living in this house.
One of them went missing. They just disappeared.
The other one moved away.
They were seen by human beings.
No matter what happens, this family must survive.
Father...
Oh my! What's happening? Earthquake!
Mother!
It won't open.
Frame's buckled.
No, the wall!
Homily!
I've always dreamed of having a kitchen like this.
Gather only the things we need.
We won't be able to carry all that.
And Homily, take nothing from the doll house, please.
I'll go ahead and make sure it's safe.
- Stay here with your mother. - Yes.
You finally came back.
So, what do you think of the new kitchen?
Our house is in a really big mess.
But it doesn't matter. I came to say goodbye today.
Can I look at you?
Beautiful!
We're going to move away from here.
We've been seen by human beings.
Borrowers aren't meant to be seen.
Borrowers?
We borrow things from human beings.
We take things we need and they won't miss.
Soap, cookies, sugar. Electricity and gas, too.
Even my great-grandfather was a Borrower.
Nobody's seen them? Never?
Probably.
I think this is all my fault.
Niya, don't be like that. Be nice to her.
Arrietty, are there other little people like you living hidden away in the house?
No, it's just my father and mother and I.
What about elsewhere?
I'm sure there's more. But I've only met one so far.
Oh.
So, one day, you might be the only one left.
Huh?
Every year, you get less and less.
That would mean you're a doomed species.
That's not true!
There's lots more of us. Spiller said so!
Spiller?
He's one of us.
And Spiller says there are many more of us out there.
Do you have any idea how many people there are living in the world?
Six point seven billion.
Six point seven... billion?
And how many of you?
I don't know.
There's probably just a few of you left.
Before my mother told me, I didn't know borrowers even existed.
There are so many rare species that have already died out.
I've only read about them in my schoolbooks, though.
So many beautiful creatures...
have ended up dying out as the environment changes.
It's sad, but maybe that's what fate has in store for the borrowers.
Fate, you say?
You're the ones who change things, and we're the ones who have to move away.
Father said that we must survive by all means.
So, we're moving away even though it's dangerous.
We'll make do. We always have. You don't know anything about us, but we will survive this!
And we will not just simply die out!
I'm sorry. You're right, of course.
In fact, I'm the one who's going to die out.
What?
It's my heart.
They're going to operate on it next week, but it's hopeless.
Your heart?
I've been sick since I was a little child. I could never play with other kids.
When I saw you, I wanted to protect you, but I failed.
I can't even do that.
I hope that you'll forgive me.
Your illness is really that bad?
What on earth is this doing in here?
The kitchen from the dolls' house!
I found you!
What is it?
My mother. I heard her voice.
This really is a great kitchen.
And you're not the only one here... I bet.
I have to go.
Let me out! Help me!
The ceiling's been mapped.
- Hello. Pest Control. - Hello? Squeaky Klean Services?
- Yeah, that's us. - Can you make an urgent house call?
- Yeah, sure. - We've something small in the house, but not mice.
Not mice?
I don't want them killed.
You need trapping services?
Yes, I want you to trap them.
Sho! Sho!
Sho!
Arrietty!
My mother's gone!
Someone took the roof off. I think a human being got her!
Mother...
I'll help you find her.
Someone's locked the door.
Let's try the room next door.
That won't budge!
Wait!
Here's a way in.
Amazing!
No, that's not it.
Further down, you'll see a dirt track. You turn in there.
- So, before the bridge? - No, no, after it!
Haru's opened this.
Then Haru must've taken Mother some place.
Are you all right?
What's taking them so long?
Mother! Where are you?
But I'd locked the...
Lock?
Can I have some hot milk, please?
Yes, of course. Of course. Just a moment.
Thanks so much.
So hungry! Do you have any cookies?
Mother!
- Mother! - Arrietty!
Here... I am!
I'm up here, Mother.
Oh! Arrietty!
Oh, at last! They finally found the right road. Nincompoops!
Another human being!
Mother, It's okay.
Afternoon, Ma'am.
We'd like to take a look around the house first, if it's all right by you?
Take your time.
- Now, who could do this be? - I found them under the floor.
- Haru? Haru! - Madam!
What are they doing here?
Why, Madam! The little people are here.
Little people?
Yes! Little people who steal.
It's true. Really!
They steal things from all over the house.
That's why so much was going missing.
Haru, what's got into you?
All this time I thought it was my imagination.
Well, it wasn't!
You certainly didn't need to call in pest control.
We'd better hurry. The house is full of them!
You'll believe me when you see this.
This is their nest.
Nest?
It looks like a pile of old junk to me.
Aagh! What?!? What happened? I swear I saw it.
- I swear! - Haru, I'm sending the pest controllers away.
Now, just wait a minute.
The dolls' house!
Master Sho, may we come in?
Of course.
Hard to believe, they've even stolen the little kitchen.
You'll see, it's gone.
Not gone.
This kitchen always looks so nice.
Please, please wait, Madam! I caught one in a jar.
That's strange. I wonder what's troubling Haru.
What wonderful fresh herbs.
Ah! Someone has been making tea!
It's just as my father said. There are little people living here.
Yes, there are.
So, Haru really did see them.
Though she accused them of stealing.
They weren't stealing at all!
- They're Borrowers. - Sorry?
I mean, erm, I... I wish I could see them.
I'm sure they're here somewhere.
I think so, too.
Hello. 'Lo, excuse me, Madam!
Is there any place you'd like us to start?
Oh! Are you all right?
It got out.
I had it right in here!
It's not my imagination! There are little people!
I'll get one, that I swear!
How far... is it... to where we're meeting Spiller?
It's just at the end of these woods, and then we head down the river.
I'm... so exhausted. I really don't think I can make it that far.
Let's move.
I can't do this.
Better eat something now. We're likely to be walking through 'til sunrise.
Uh?
I'm sorry.
We had to leave our lovely house because of my stupid selfishness.
That's in the past.
We'll make another lovely home with the three of us together.
I'm going outside for some air.
Don't stray too far.
It's Niya!
Niya?
Just a little further.
Spiller!
That's everything.
Now. Let's get moving!
Okay.
Mother! Are you all right?
Arrietty!
Sho!
Arrietty...
We're just about to leave.
I'm glad I got here in time.
Niya showed me the way.
Thank you. Look after yourself.
I've brought you this.
I'd be very happy if you could accept it this time.
Oh, thank you.
I must go now.
When's your operation?
In two days.
I'll be okay. It's you that's given me the courage to live.
It'll bring you luck.
Thanks.
Thank you for having protected me.
Arrietty...
You take... care of yourself.
Goodbye!
Arrietty, you're in my heart now and for always.
I will never forget you, ever.
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