In the beginning, the great Frith made the world,
and he made the stars by scattering his droppings
over the sky.
Now El-ahrairah was a prince of the rabbits,
and he had so many wives and so many kids that even Frith
couldn't count them.
They ate all the grass and clover in the entire world.
Now, Frith could have killed the Prince Rabbit there and then,
but he needed him for his hijinks and tricks.
So, instead, he determined that there would be a meeting
of all the animals of the world
and upon each he would bestow a gift.
Upon the homba, he gave great cunning.
Upon the hawk, sharp talons.
Upon the cat, silent feet.
Upon the weasel, great speed.
Upon the wolf, great teeth.
All to hunt and slay the children of El-ahrairah.
These animals became the elil,
the thousand enemies of rabbits.
It was a few days later when El-ahrairah heard
of all of this, and went to see Frith.
You have condemned my people to lives of fear, Lord.
Do you not wish to see what blessing I have for your people,
Prince Rabbit?
To my bottom give your blessings!
Very well.
Grow a tail to confuse those chasing you,
and legs to outrun them.
Grow ears to hear any of your thousand enemies
from miles away.
All the world will be your enemy,
prince of a thousand enemies.
And when they catch you,
they will kill you.
But first, they must catch you.
Digger, listener, runner.
Prince with the swift warning,
be cunning and full of tricks,
and your people will never be destroyed.
Fiver?
I'm going to get you! Got you!
Hello, little one! Hi, Hazel!
Do you think there will be a lot of does out this evening?
Is that all you ever think about, Hawkbit?
No, actually, but do you think there will be lots of does
out this evening? Give it a rest, will you?
I was... I was just asking!
It's not all I think about, actually.
There's lots of things I think about.
Fiver?
The season would have to be calculated by light values alone.
You do know I stopped listening a long time ago, right?
Sometimes I don't know why I bother, quite honestly.
Fiver?
No. No.
Fiver!
Wake up, Fiver!
You're having another one of your nightmares, brother.
Hazel, it was the strangest dream.
It's OK, Fiver. Look, let's go get something to eat.
I think I spotted some sow thistle down by the stream,
and I haven't eaten anything decent in days!
I dreamt something was coming to Sandleford.
I think... I think it might mean we're in danger, Hazel.
And Captain Holly was in it, and there was a huge...
Captain Holly?
Fiver, I think Captain Holly can take care of himself.
They usually do in the Owsla.
I know, I know, and no-one likes hearing about someone else's dreams.
But this was...Dewdrop.
I dreamt something was coming to Sandleford.
My dream was about Captain Holly, he was...
It's him, again!
Is he still looking?Hazel?
Do you like him?
Look, Fiver, sow thistle! Finally, something good to eat.
Oi, you two.
You know the rules.
Sow thistle is reserved for members of the Owsla, don't you know that?
Move along.
"You know the rules." I'm sick of the rules.
I wonder whether 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.
This is where it comes from.
The thing in my dream.
Look.
The fields are filled with blood.
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.
But we're outskirters, Fiver.
People don't listen to us.
Well, we must make them listen.
And how do you propose we do that?
Go away.
He's busy.
We only need a few moments with the Threarah, Bigwig,
and we wouldn't ask if it weren't important.
All right, go on.
But if I get my head bitten off, I'll come looking for you!
So, you were saying, your brother senses things?
Yes, sometimes images in his head.
I don't know how to say it, but he was right before.
And he knew the flood was coming last autumn.
I see.
And what has he, erm, 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!
My goodness. Everyone?
Tonight?
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.
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!
Bigwig!
Hazel, I think your brother needs to rest for a while.
Why don't you take him out for some fresh air?
No, but...Yes, Threarah.
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.
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.
Right, 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.
Bluebell, Blackberry, there's a danger coming.
Hey, listen. There's a danger coming to Sandleford.
Hazel will lead us to safety.
Join us at Frith-Down under the bridge.
Good heavens. I mean, good gracious.
I mean, that is to say,
Hazel, if your brother has taken firm stock in such a portent...
I think what Blackberry's trying to say is, we're in!
Hey, there's a danger coming to Sandleford.
Hazel will lead us to safety.
Join us at Frith-Down under the bridge.
What was all that about?
But I don't understand.
Sandleford is our home, Hazel.
Look, there's a danger coming.
My brother sensed it, and he's often right about these things.
But what if it's more dangerous out there than it is here?
We're meeting at Fu Inle, by the cattle grid.
Come with us.
Come with me.
Let me think about it, OK?
Dewdrop?
Dewdrop.
It's Blackberry and Bluebell, and we've brought Hawkbit
and Dandelion too.
Get down here, before you're seen. Right you are!
Wait, wait, wait. This everyone?
Where are the does? I presumed there'd be does?
This can't be everyone.
It can't be. It can't be.
May be we should go back? Try to convince some of the others.
She's not coming, Hazel.
There's been more and more of those strange things recently.
They come from humans.
Fascinating.
All right, let's go.
Not so fast!
Owsla!
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.
Just let us go.
Even if you are bigger, there are more of us.
We fancy it will be a good fight.
The Threarah nearly tore my ears off tonight after I'd let you in.
Told me I'm lucky I'm not kicked out of the Owsla.
Lucky to still have my privileges!
Well...
Well, I'm sick of being in the Owsla.
Thlayli...
I'm sick of being in this warren.
I'm sick of obeying your orders and toeing the line.
Thlayli, be careful now.
Think about what you're doing.
Go now, Captain Holly,
or we'll kill the lot of you.
Someone must've told them what you're up to.
We need to move before they come back with the entire Owsla.
Along the line of the stream and through the meadow, everyone.
Then into the woods. Come on!
Do you think this is where the black rabbit of Inle lives?
In a stone warren of dead rabbits, filled with disease and death?
Please, stop talking.
With black eyes that burn like the fires of hell,
and a cold, grey expression with sorrow beyond imagining?
Bluebell, you're making everyone nervous.
Hazel, this was your plan.
Where are we going?
We just need to get clear of the old warren,
and then I guess we'll find somewhere to stay.
You guess?
He guesses!
Who is leader here, anyway?
No-one, by the looks of it.
They're up ahead!
Owsla! Everyone, run!
Get them!
Quick, let's go. Come on!
Close them down!
This is a nice surprise, Hazel!
I say we go deeper into the trees and hide.
No, no, no. We have to cross the river, here.Cross it?
Maybe some of us could cross it, but you and Bluebell are worn out.
If Fiver says we cross here, we cross here.
They're here, I see them!
Faster, faster. Get them!
We'll never outrun them now. We're done for.
Go on, get 'em!
Faster, they're getting away.
Faster, faster. They're catching up.
Blackberry, any suggestions?
I had a rather splendid idea, but then the blasted
thing disappeared again!
About the strange things that Fiver and I saw,
the human things that move on top of the river.
On top of the... It was...
There!
Everybody, follow me!
Where are they going?
Here, quick. Get on this thing.
You two, push it further into the water.
Push!
Quick! Close them down!
Oi! What's going on?
He's getting away!
This way!
Come on, lads, faster!
Try and find a way across.
Get them!
Cut them off!Go on, Toadflax.
Come on! Run faster.
Come on! Seize them!
Kick, kick. Keep kicking!
Go, go, go!
I'll see you again, Bigwig.
I promise you that!
And next time, there won't be a river between us.
I'm counting on it!
Everybody, listen up.
Now that I'm official storyteller - I've decided I am the official
storyteller of the group, by the way - I have to make it
into a legendary tale.
The story of how Hazel led our escape over the raging rapids.
It was Blackberry who had the idea.
Yeah, but you were the one who stayed calm and lead us on our way.
I tell you, he's what I call a chief rabbit.
Hazel-rah.Hazel-rah.
Chief rabbit.
Frith in a wasps' nest!
The day I call you chief rabbit, Hazel, that'll be the day.
I'll stop fighting that day, an' all.
I know we have to find a new home, but we're like sitting ducks
out here in the open.
And why does it have to be so far away?
I guess because Fiver said.
Because Fiver says? Fiver says a lot of things.
What if Fiver says to jump out of a bush and tickle a wolf?
Because Fiver says. Hazel's no fool, Hawkbit.
He knows that we need to take Fiver with a pinch of salt
every now and then.
What was that?Up ahead.
Through the hedge.
What is it?
It doesn't smell natural.
It's a road.
Have you never seen one before or something?
Don't know much about things, do you, Hazel-rah?
Why don't you teach me, Bigwig?
The men put the black stuff there so that the hrududil can run on it.
They are harmless, so long as you leave them alone by night.
See that?
They don't hurt you.
As a matter of fact, I don't think they're alive at all.
You say they're not dangerous, Bigwig, but look at that.
A yona.
Why would it kill a yona?
Yonil hunt at night.
That's what I'm trying to say to you.
In the dark, the hrududil have these big lights,
and they draw creatures close.
And if they shine on you, you go tharn, and then they crush you.
You let me know if you want me to teach you
about anything else, Hazel.
We have to keep moving, there's too many elil at night
to stay still without a warren.
Come on!
Fiver?
What is it?
There!
That's where we're going.
That down.
That's our home.
We head for the down.
Where are we going to sleep, Hazel?
Yeah, where are we going to sleep?
There'll be more elil out soon, and it's far too late
to try and dig scrapes.
Shh!Bigwig.
Quiet, Fiver. I thought something was...
Something's here.
What is it?
Maybe it's the black rabbit of Inle.
Nonsense. There's no such thing.
Wake up, now, everybody.Bigwig!
What is it? What's going on?
Corvil! A reckoning of them.
We should run.
Let me try and talk to them.
Talk to them?! Hazel, no!
We understand that this might be your home.
We are only here because we've got nowhere else to go.
Get off me!
Someone should draw them away, give the rest of us a chance.
Are you mad?! You'll never outrun a corva.
I'll go.
He's serious!
That is one fast rabbit.
He's got them distracted, let's go!
There he is! No!
Dandelion, put him down!
Got him!
Run, Dandelion! Run!
One step closer, and I'll pull your tail feathers out and stuff
them down your throat, you embleer corva!
Agh!
All right. Day's breaking, we should stop.
No, we keep moving.
Are you giving me an order, Hazel?
Because I didn't realise anyone had made you chief rabbit.
After all, it was me who helped us escape Sandleford,
Blackberry who rescued us at the stream,
and Dandelion who saved us from your stupid mistake
with the birds!
We followed you here because you promised us
a better life, Hazel. A better life!
Things will improve, when we reach the Down.
Yes! Yes!
The Down, the place we're heading for no reason,
other than Fiver had a feeling about it!
Well, as there's no does here, I'm going to attempt to dig
myself a scrape. Is that OK?
Not because I want to rest, but because this is where I'm staying.
Bigwig was right.
I'm not a leader.
I'm not strong like him, I'm not smart like Blackberry,
I'm not fast like Dandelion, and I don't have stories to lift
everyone's spirits like Bluebell
or visions to keep us from harm, like you.
You've led us this far, and none of us are dead.
Isn't that a miracle in itself?
It's blind luck is what it is,
and we could use another dose of that right now.
What on earth is that rabbit doing?
Who are you, and what do you want?
My name is Cowslip.
I come from a warren just across the field here.
I don't want anything from you.
You look tired. Have you come a long way?
So what if we have?
That doesn't mean we can't defend ourselves.
I don't doubt that for one second.
Our warren's not as big as we'd like,
but there's enough food to go round.
And if you'd like to live with us, we'd welcome you.
These scrapes you have don't look too comfortable,
and there's more heavy storms on the way.
Anyway, if you'll excuse me, I hate the rain.
Well, that was unexpected.
We're going, right?
He seemed nice, I liked him.
Let's go, let's go right now.
But why did he invite us there?
It makes no sense to share with us.
I've got a feeling... Here we go.
I've got the feeling we should have nothing to do
with that rabbit or his warren.
That we ought to leave this place at once and head to the Down.
What do you think, Hazel? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We all know what Hazel thinks.
He thinks the same as Fiver.
I think we should go to Cowslip's warren.
These scrapes are no good in this weather,
and I fancy taking the chance to get warm,
and have some sleep.
Sky above us!
Every living creature for miles must know that's there.
Everyone, keep your wits about you.
Friends.
We are glad you've come.
Allow me to take you down...
..to the Great Burrow.
Look at the roof!
The roots of the tree keep it stable, it's genius!
Clever rabbits.
Look at the size of them!
They could rip us to pieces in a second!
Hazel, may I be the first to welcome you all to our warren.
Thank you. We are glad to be here.
This is a fine warren you have.
When you said it wasn't as big as you'd like,
we were expecting something a lot smaller.
Were there more of you living here once?
Why don't you just settle in here?
I think you'll find there's everything you'll ever need.
I've got a bad feeling, Hazel.
Why are all the rabbits here so big?
Fiver, it's just for one night. It'll be OK.
Hello, you must be Hazel! My name's Strawberry.
It's so exciting that you're here,
I'm so excited to make friends with you!
Unless you don't want to be friends. I mean, it's fine if you don't.
We can be friends.Brambles!
I knew we'd get on!
Come on, I'm going to take you all on a tour of the warren.
I'm pretty good at tours, by the way.
We'd love to.
There are so many empty burrows, plenty of room for you all.
I'll find a burrow for you close to mine,
so that if you've got any questions you can come and find me and say...
Why are there so many empty burrows?
I don't know, perhaps they had the white blindness here.
I can't smell any signs of the disease, though.
Here we are! Now, the newcomers don't usually get to come down here,
but, since we're officially best friends,
I'm going to make an exception!
Enchanting, isn't it?
A rabbit called Laburnum did it.
We call it a shape.
It's where we come to give praise to Frith.
But what... What's it for?
Careful! We don't want to damage it.
We're so blessed to have it.
It's such a special place to come to.
Especially when you're feeling sad.
What do you make of all this, Fiver?
Fiver?
Kingcup! Kingcup, come and meet Hazel.
I didn't realise.
He's gone.
It's getting late, let's find a place for you all to sleep.
Hazel!What, what's going on?
Nothing, silly goose!
Come on, we have to go and get some flayrah.Flayrah?
It's far too early to go raiding gardens for lettuce.
Frith in a basket!
Flayrah!
Try it. It's a carrot.
Well?
How is it?
Horrible.
I wouldn't bother, I wouldn't bother.
Yes!
So juicy!
I'm in heaven! This place is better than heaven.
This place has carrots!
Yes!
Take it away from me! No, leave it here.
You need to get control of Fiver.
This place is perfect, and we don't want the rabbits
here thinking we don't appreciate their hospitality because of him.
All right?
I'll talk to him.
Fiver, have you been out here all night in the rain?
Why don't you come and eat some of the flayrah?
Eating food that's been left by men?
No, I'll have nothing to do with it.
Fiver, are you trying to make me angry?
I'm the one who should be angry. These rabbits...
There's something about them that's sad and lost.
Like...
Trees in November.
I've got a feeling that there's something...
What proof have we got that your feelings have ever been right?
Why didn't you have a feeling about the birds who attacked us?
Maybe the truth is that there never was anything bad
back at the old warren. Maybe we left everything
behind because of you for no reason! Maybe I left Dewdrop for no reason!
Dewdrop was the one who told the Owsla we were leaving!
Hazel, I heard her telling Captain Holly.
No. I don't believe you.
Hazel, you know I wouldn't make this up.
Go back into that warren, or I will drag you in there myself.
No! Hazel, I won't. I won't go back.
Go!
Hazel, I have to say, this place is paradise.
I've got my own burrow, there's a lot of very nice does here,
let me tell you, and the food... No wonder these scoundrels are so fat.
I don't know, I just wanted to say that I...
I was wrong about you.
I'll follow you anywhere.
To Hazel!To Hazel.
Hazel-rah!Hazel-rah!
Hazel-rah?
Frith's beard. You did well, Hazel.
Don't let it go to your head.
Everyone!
Everyone...
I thought we might welcome our new guests by hearing some stories.
Yes, we have a wonderful storyteller amongst our number.
Bluebell.
Did you just give me a compliment, Blackberry?
I didn't think you liked me.
I didn't say I liked you, I said you were a good storyteller.
From this moment on, we're inseparable!
Does and bucks and kits up past their burrow times,
I give you the story of El-ahrairah and the King's Lettuce.
They say there was a time when El-ahrairah and his followers
lost all their luck.
Their enemies drove them out and they were forced to live
down in the marshes of Kelfazin. Now where the marshes...
Devoted are we to the path he decides.
Praise be to Frith for our food.
Blessed are we to be his humble servants.
Wise are we to accept his will.
Devoted are we to the path.
And from that day to this, no power on earth can keep a rabbit
out of a vegetable garden
for El-ahrairah prompts them with a thousand tricks!
The best in the world!
Nice one, Bluebell.
That was very nice.
We don't tell the old stories much.
El-ahrairah doesn't mean much to us.
But he was a trickster.
Rabbits always need tricks!No.
Rabbits need dignity, and the will to accept what Frith
has decided for them.
Devoted are we to the path he decides.
Frith lies in the evening sky.
The clouds are red about him.
I am here, Lord Frith.
I am running through the long grass.
Take me with you.
Dropping behind the woods far away to the heart of the light.
The silence.
For I am ready to give you my breath, my life!
This rabbit...
He smells like wounds, like pain and rot.
..in autumn the leaves come down yellow and brown...
Hazel...
Hazel, the roof!
The roof here is made of bones!
They're not bones, Hrairoo. They're tree roots.
They're not bones.
Far into the earth we go...
And the berries.
You stay here, Bigwig. I'll deal with this.
Don't tell me what to do, Hazel!
You had your chance to deal with Fiver, now it's my turn!
I will go with you, I will be rabbit of the leaves, in the deep...
Fiver!
You wretched little black beetle!
You're one tantrum away from getting us all kicked out!
I'm sorry, but I'm going to the Down.
You wouldn't have a hope in hell!
You'd be dead before night-Frith.
You're closer to death than I, Bigwig.
This place is death.
There is shadow in every corner of it.
Hazel, you said that you could never make a good leader
because you're not the fastest nor the strongest nor the smartest.
But what makes a great leader is that you believed in us
and brought out the best in us.
Goodbye, brother.
Fiver, wait!
If you say this place is rotten, then it's rotten and we leave.
We began this adventure together, we'll finish it together.
I'll go and tell the others we need to leave.
I'm not letting you get to the others, Hazel.
If you want to leave, go. The rest of us are staying here.
Let me go, Bigwig!
You're not chief rabbit, Hazel, and you never will be!
If you want to take the crazy dream of your brother as reality
then do it elsewhere! You're finished here!
I'm going back to the warren now.
If you follow me there, I'll kill you both.
Hazel, something's got him.
Thlayli?
Listen, you're in a snare.
Now, what did they teach you to do in the Owsla?
Bigwig, tell me what to do!
Fiver, run and get the others.
Bite...dig...bite.
Bigwig's in a snare, you have to come quick!
Nobody leaves!
Frith has decided that it is Bigwig's turn,
and so it will be.
Turn? What do you mean, turn?
A day less for one means a day more for us all.
Listen here.
Over the last few days, me and my friends have been chased,
clawed, bitten, drowned,
and if you don't get out of the way right now...
You'll find out just why we've made it this far.
Let them leave, Cowslip!
Out of our way!
You think you're any safer out there than you are here?
You'll be dead by sunset.
Hazel, is he alive?I don't know!
He told me to dig and bite.
Bigwig?
No!
It's narrower down there, we could bite through.
Hurry.Fiver, come on.
You're the smallest.
Quickly, brother, quickly!
Come on, Fiver!
There's got to be something else we can do.
Bigwig, you hold on, you hold on!
Fiver, hurry.
You can do it, Fiver.
Quickly!
Bigwig, stop!
Push this thing.
It's getting tighter. Bigwig, stop pulling!
He's almost there...
Bigwig?
Bigwig!
It's out, you're free.
I can't hear him breathing.
My heart has joined the thousand,
for my friend stopped running today.
Fiver, clean your face now.
The smell of blood will attract elil.
Where are the other rabbits?
They tried to stop us coming to help.They what?
Cowslip said it was Frith's will.
That a day less for one means a day more for everyone else.
Bigwig?
Bigwig, you're all right!
I thought I'd lost you, brother.
Do you think you can walk?
I can try.
The man who set the snare is going to be back soon. Let's go!
Shh! Who's that?
You've a nerve coming here.
Please, I didn't know Cowslip would try and stop you.
I'd like to come with you, if you'd have me.
And why should we?
Why don't you go back to all your friends in there?
I don't have any friends.
People don't like to make friends here in case they get...
You can come, Strawberry, but it's our ways now.
If we say hop, you hop. Understood?
Now what? Where do we go from here?
We should go back and kill Cowslip.
We should kill the lot of them!
No, Bigwig.
There's no need to go and fight them.
All we have to do is to leave them there.
The Down that you saw, you really had a feeling about that?
Yes, I did, Bigwig.
That Down is our home.
We made it!
There's great views all around.
We'll be able to see any elil coming from miles away.
Well done, Hazel-rah.
In terms of digging a warren, we'll have to investigate what type
of soil we're dealing with and then make a more comprehensive...
Stop trying to kiss me!
That is not a thing we do! Bluebell!
Zorn.
Captain Holly?
What's happened to him?
Sandleford. It's gone.
It's all gone.
Fiver, you were right about everything.
You knew the story before it was even told.
There is something else.
You're not safe here.
No-one is safe.
Get back out here!
No!Out the way!
Sir, the wide patrol picked up the scent of a large band
of rabbits near the Down.
Unfortunately, sir, they lost them.
Tell them not to return until they're located.
Leave one alive for questioning.
Hazel.Holly.
Are you ready to tell me your story?
The night you left Sandleford, the Threarah decided
there was no point risking lives by trying to follow you further.
The next day, it began.
Run!
Come on, run!
Get everyone to the slack run! Something's come!
Run!
In the end, my injuries were sustained, not at the hands
of humans but at the claws of my own friends and family,
desperately trying to escape.
Why would the humans do that?
I don't know.
All I know is that where there are humans, there is death.
We must stay clear of them at all costs.
Shall I continue, Hazel-rah?
I don't know how, but I managed to dig my way out
near the green slip.
Alone, I tracked you across fields, meadow and marshland.
And it was on the morning of the third day when I thought
I'd found you.
By Frith!
Did the Efrafans do this to you?
What? Who are you?
They're coming.Who are?
The Efrafans, you fool!
Promise me you'll leave these hills and never return.
If you stay here, they'll find you.
Now run!
Get out of here before they see you.
I can't believe Sandleford's gone.
Yes, Fiver was right.
Bucks don't dig, we can't dig.
Look at this scrape, for Frith's sake.
Looks like it was dug by a moon-crazed badger.
Could you just... Could you be...
Look what you're doing!
Will you cut it out?
Stop, you two, stop!
Digging a new warren is hard enough without us fighting.
I know we need to be safe from the Efrafans, but bucks can't dig.
Look, we need does.
He's right. You say this is home now but without does,
it can never be so.
As diggers, as mothers, as companions.
They'd bring us balance and a reason for living.
There was at least one doe in the hutch on the farm
we passed through.Was there?
I don't remember.
Don't remember?
You were staring into her eyes like they were filled with carrots.
Don't remember. What about the farm we passed?
No, nobody goes back to the farm. Nobody goes near the humans.
We are eight bucks and one doe, Hazel.
If that balance isn't addressed, there will be fighting amongst us.
There will be blood spilt, and as leader,
that blood will pool at your feet.
If we just raid the farm, we can avoid all that by freeing
the does there. You don't understand!
No-one goes back to the farm, no-one goes near humans,
and that is an order.
Frith's fury, the heavens are falling down!
It's enormous.
What is it?
Argh!
Be careful, Hazel.
That thing looks like it could tear your leg off.
I think he's starving.
And it looks like it may be wounded.
We need to feed him. Quickly, everyone, let's dig up some grubs.
Are you mad? Why would you save the life of a creature
that could kill us?
I might be mad, but that thing may be our best hope.
Right, best hope.
It's got wings, it can see things we can't,
it can go looking for other warrens.
He can see does.
Well, you heard him.
Dig up some worms now.
There we are.
Thank you.
I spotted some thistle over by the woods earlier,
I wondered if you wanted to go with me and silflay
for a little while later on.
Hawkbit, you're so sweet.
Remember what I said about Dandelion.
Someone told Strawberry I had the white blindness,
and I think it was you.
Prove it.
Call this a meal? Bring me more worms.
Worms! Hey!
They're pink wiggly things that live in the ground.
Keep 'em coming, come on, come on.
Right. It looks like he's coming round a little.
He's the most loathsome creature I've ever met.
This plan of yours better work, Hazel.
Massive ears but no brains whatsoever.
Hello, again. What's your name, bird?
Kehaar. What's it to you?
Kehaar.
How were you hurt, Kehaar?
Hurt? I'm not hurt. Who's hurt?
Are you hurt?
All right, maybe a bit, but you should've seen the other guy.
If you must know, a pesky farm cat jumped me by surprise.
What do you care?
I have a favour to ask. You see, our warren needs does and...
Pardon you.
When you're stronger, of course, we were wondering
if you wouldn't mind flying up on your magnificent wings
and seeing if you can spot any other warrens where there might be does.
Tell you what, let me have a wee think about it.
No.
He's growing on me.
What's the plan now, Hazel-rah?
Maybe we could ask a field mouse to make some does out of straw?
Hawkbit?
Dandelion?
Stop it, stop it right now!
Dandelion, stop!
What on earth is going on?
You two, stop!
You'll pay for that, Dandelion!
Both of you, go calm down.
I warned you there'd be fighting!
And mark my words, without does, this is only the beginning of it.
Fiver, Bigwig, we leave for the farm at dawn,
the rest of you, stay here.
I don't want to risk all of us.
Remember, any sign of humans and we leave immediately.
Come on.
Rope.
Fiver.
Tom, you're going to have to talk to Lucy.
She don't listen to me any more.
I'll talk to her when she's back from school.
I don't know why you're getting your knickers in such a twist!
Because the teachers are saying she's not at school!
Bigwig, you keep watch.
All right, all right, I'll talk to her.
Hello?
Hello. My name's Hazel.
My name's Clover.
When I saw you the other day, I knew it wasn't a dream.
There are rabbits that live under the sky.
We've come to get you.
To break you free.Get me free?
What do you mean he's come to free us?
Would we still live in the hutch? What does he mean?
He's come to free us?
When you're free, you live underground in fields.
You can eat when you want, you can even run about.
Can't you, Hazel?
Listen, you need to be quick.
The humans are inside but sometimes they come out this time to gather
wood for the fire.Did you hear that, Thlayli? Stay sharp.
I'm always sharp, Hazel.
Bigwig doesn't get distracted.
OK, there are two straps that hold the door in place.
I think they're made of something soft.
Tom, for goodness's sake!
Why on earth would you leave my grandmother's plate
on the side like that?
You clumsy git. It's not my fault.
Go on, nothing there.
Hello, who are you?
Me? I'm Bigwig.
Good to meet you.
Cheer up, Holly.
Hazel should have let me go with them.
I was the one who tried to stop you leaving Sandleford.
And had I succeeded...
You owe us nothing, Holly.
You were obeying orders.
Don't feel guilty, no rabbit here holds that against you.
See you later, bunnies! Bye-bye!
At least we don't have to feed the bird any more.
Good riddance!
"Our warren needs does!"
Stupid rabbits.
Ooh.
My wing.
If I ever get my beak on that cat,
I'll rip its dirty, rotten ears off!
Hey, guys!
Stop, guys, come here! Come here, come here, come on, come on, listen!
Listen to me, listen to me, right. Wait, stop right there.
Listen. Because I'm a decent sort of a bird,
you know, because I like to do what's right,
I decided to come back and tell you that there is a warren
away to the east of here.
It's got a load of does.
Now, as payment for this information...
Does? Did he say something about does?
I hope you're not thinking what I think you're thinking.
We should leave for the warren Kehaar speaks of at first light.
If there are does there, we have to see if they will join us.
Does, does, does.
That's all you stupid rabbits think about.
Hey, wait, what about my food?
Come on, guys! Hello!
It won't give.
Let me try again.
Since I first saw you, I've dreamed of this day.
You don't know what it's like living in a box,
not being able to see the sky.
I just want to be able to run, Hazel.
You will, I promise you you will.
Why do they keep you in this thing? I don't know.
I guess they think they're being kind to us.
The humans aren't completely bad.
In fact, that little girl seems quite nice.
I think they just lack understanding.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to believe that.
It's too tight to the wood.
I can't get my teeth around it.
Right, stand away from the door.
Fiver, help me push it inwards.
Faster! Faster!
Are you inside yet?
Bigwig!
Bigwig!Bigwig, no.
Get off me, you flea-ridden furball!
Get out of here. You have to help Bigwig.
Leave! I'm fine.
Tom! It's that bloomin' cat again!
Bigwig, Bigwig, we need to go.
Go and get that bloomin' cat in, will you?
I could have held off that cat long enough for you to get into
the hutch, but you blew the whole damn scheme by being too squeamish.
What in the name of Frith has gotten into you?
I'm leader, that's what's gotten into me, Bigwig.
You're leader!
A leader who could drown in a puddle of water?
You've got the fear in you.
I can see it in your eyes, your mind's going tharn.
That's the truth of it.
The truth of it is that if I make one bad decision,
like the Threarah did at the old warren, we all end up dead.
I'm sure Hazel said that we should stay back
at the Down, didn't he? Remember? Blackberry?
Will Hazel be mad when he finds out we left?
Blackberry? Remember?
Blackberry?I don't know.
Well, when will you be back?
Shall I wait up for you? No.
Will you promise you'll find somewhere safe to sleep?
Make sure you find somewhere safe to sleep.
Bluebell, be quiet.
You've rabbited on so much that we've gone too far
for you to go back now, anyway.
No, this is a mistake.
I've gone on an adventure by mistake!
I wonder how many does will be at this place!
Blackberry. Blackberry?
If you're coming along, you can't be making jokes
at inappropriate times. What's that supposed to mean?
It means you have a tendency to be a liability.
How dare you call me a liability?!
I never even wanted to come along.
I mean...
Are you sure this is a good idea, Holly?
From what the bird said, it sounds like this warren
has too many does.
We'll just let them know that any who want to leave
are welcome to join us. There we go.
There's the belt of woods Kehaar mentioned. We're halfway.
We'll stop here for the night.
I hope Strawberry, Hawkbit and Dandelion will be OK
back at the Down.
Bluebell, what did they say when you told them we were leaving?
Was that my job?
Maybe they left because they saw how Dandelion almost
mortally wounded me.
I'm so worried for them.
I hope they're safe. You hope they're safe?
What about us?
We've been abandoned, it's going dark, we've no warren
and there's a new type of elil in these hills.
We'll be lucky to last the night.
Brambles, I've just had a great idea.
Why don't we dig the warren?
Imagine the others' faces if when they get back,
we've built them a place to sleep.
A place to feel safe and warm.
And cosy, it has to be cosy.
Agreed. I will help you with that while Hawkbit feeds Kehaar.
Why don't you feed Kehaar? I don't know.
Maybe I'm afraid he'll mortally wound me.
Slugs in a burrow, stop! You are both helping me dig the warren,
and I don't want to hear another word out of either of you
or we won't be friends any more.
You two have quite a way with the females!
How could you resist such charm?
Hey, wait! What about my worms?
Can you smell fox?
I can definitely smell fox.
There's a distinct foxy flavour to the air, right?
The fox scent is a couple of days old,
we should be fine for the night.
Should be fine. Should be fine. Should be fine.
Did you hear something?
What was that?
Bluebell...
you don't have to, but tell us a story?
Once upon a time, in the deepest, cruellest winter the world
has ever known, El-ahrairah's people were starving,
so El-ahrairah set out to find the only being he thought
could save them.
The Black Rabbit of Inle.
He struggled on and on
until eventually he arrived at the Caves of Inle.
The mouth of which appeared before him like the maw
of a giant monster trying to eat the sky.
And then before the prince, that nightmare figure emerged
like a toxic void.
And in his heart, El-ahrairah knew that there
were no more tricks to be played.
The old yarns are the best
and you spin them so well, storyteller.
My name is Captain Orchis.
My friends and I are from a little warren nearby called Efrafa.
We'd love you to join us.
Come along.
Quickly now.
Well, what's the plan, Hazel? Do we go back?We rest.
Of course we go back! We rest for a while.
I need to think.
I want her free, Hrairoo, but Bigwig's right.
The fear is taking hold of me.
What are you afraid of, brother?
It's Holly. Ever since he told me about what the humans did
at the old warren, I've not been able to stop thinking about it.
It follows me into my dreams.
What if it breaks me?
I'll just have to put you back together again.
I'd feel a lot better about going back in there,
if you'd seen something.
No.
I don't want to go beyond any more.
Just as the weight of knowing what has passed is crushing you,
so am I crushed by the weight of knowing what may become.
All right, Hrairoo. I'm sorry.
If I do this, you never ask me again.
Leave me.
Holly, I don't have a good feeling about this.
Stay calm, everything will be fine.
That is the biggest rabbit I have ever seen.
What is this place?
My esteemed guests...
..welcome to Efrafa.
Come on.
No talking!
Get back to the warren, does.
Are you the fool who's supposed to be supervising this mark?
Well...Concentrate, Sergeant.
Give these does an inch and they'll be gone.
Now get them down to the holding.
Thank you, sir. Erm, Captain Vervain?
Brother, what's this?
We have come to ask...
Silence! You will speak when you are spoken to directly
and not before.
I picked these up on the wide patrol.
One for the council.
I will take them down with me.
Move on up there!
Hurry up!
Wait here until the council is ready to see you.
What if they separate us, Hyzenthlay?They won't.
Leave the talking to me. So long as we stay together...Sh.
Can I help you with something?
So they got you in the end?
I'm sorry?
Three days ago, a little way from here,
it was definitely you.
I told you to run for your life.
Who did this to you?
Sainfoin, the council want Blackavar paraded around each of the marks
at silflay, as an example.
Take him down to the deep burrows.
Right, vermin. You're in first.
You lack animality.
What did you say to me?
You have no integrity.
Animals don't behave like men.
If they have to fight, they fight. If they have to kill, they kill.
But they don't set their wits to devise ways
of hurting other creatures.
If you speak out of turn to me again, I will have your tongue.
Next time you see me, you better wish yourself invisible.
What's happening here, Holly?
What have we got ourselves involved in?
Fiver.
Fiver!
Fiver! It's all right, it's all right.
What did you see? I don't know. I don't.
I couldn't see clearly enough.
Just answer me this.
If we go back, will we get the does out?
Yes.
I don't... Yes.
Thank you, Fiver.
Now go and sleep.
It's going to be a busy night.
Listen here, those does are to be separated
and re-marked accordingly.
You three, you're next.
Move it!
Come on, move it.
These are the rabbits Captain Orchis captured when he was out assessing
the wide patrol, sir.
They were down by Caesar's Belt.
The little one tells stories.
I just thought of a joke. Don't you dare.
What did I say about making inappropriate jokes?
You, at the front.
Speak.
We are from a warren not too far away.
We came to request that some of your does
be asked if they'd like to join us.
Let me get this straight.
You came to Efrafa to ask if you could take our does?
Enough.
Vervain is right.
Gifting our does is out of the question.
I take it back. THAT'S the biggest rabbit I've ever seen.
No, no. We can't leave here without putting our case forward properly.
Leave here?
Who on earth said you were ever going to leave here?
We really do feel it would be beneficial for both
our warrens, captain...
My name is Woundwort.
General Woundwort.
OK.
I don't know why does think they're so good at digging.
We got pretty far with this tunnel.
Maybe one of us should go and help Strawberry out,
since she's been digging on her own.
Wow, nice tunnel!
OK, I think I've finished.
How did you dig two tunnels in the time it took us to dig a li...
Whoa!
My!
Wow.
The roots aren't as thick as the ones at Cowslip's warren,
so I had to leave some to hold up the roof.
I thought we could call it the Honeycomb.
What do you think?
I...
I think it's incredible.
I think you've given us a place we can feel safe, Strawberry.
I think you've given us a home.
All right. You've had enough time to make your mind up, Hazel.
If we're going, we have to do...
Fiver? Fiver, wake up.
Where's Hazel?
What in Frith?
Where are they taking us?
You're going to be marked.
On which leg determines where you'll live in Efrafa,
what time you can go out, to eat, pass hraka.
This is just a prison.
They tell us it's to keep us safe from humans and elil.
They tell us it's better to give up a little liberty in exchange
for safety, but it is a load of old lendri beard.
Be careful.Hurry up!
Who's first?
I'll go first.
I'm not scared.
Why don't the rabbits here try to escape?
Hyzenthlay? Your name is Hyzenthlay, isn't it?
Keep your voice down!
In Efrafa, even the soil has ears.
If, by some miracle, we did manage to get out,
they destroy everyone you left behind.
Don't avert your eyes, captain. You're party to this.
I'm following orders.
That's what soldiers do.
Take it from me - what makes a good soldier isn't always
what makes a good rabbit.
Move it.
What's your name?Bluebell.
Bluebell, I want you to close your eyes
and think of something you really like.
Spring morning, eating sweet sow thistle, sun on my back.
You there. You're next.
Hyzenthlay, I can see you're a good rabbit, a strong rabbit.
Let's make a break for it tonight, together.
We'll take as many with us as we can.
You know nothing of me, Holly, and I nothing of you.
How do I know you're not one of them?
# Save me from this slow
# Silent vertigo
# When all these voices say I should let go...
# I'll only want you more
# I just, I just want you close
# Heaven, heaven only knows
# When all these voices...
# ..say I should let go
# I'll only want you more
# Moonlight spills over these lonely hills... #
Well, I suppose I must like you little bit.
I take it they moved you in here because of what we did to the door.
She pushed pieces of metal in to hold it in place.
If you can get them out, and we push from inside,
I think it'll give.
That's out!
After three.
One, two, three.
Come on, Clover. It's time.
We need to move quickly.
The human and the cat are in the room with fire.
So, are we free now?
Not quite. We have to get outside to the fields.
This isn't freedom yet.
What the Frith are you doing?
Laurel! Try and concentrate.
I think it cut deep.
It won't stop bleeding.
We have a choice to make.
We can stay or we can run.
All right, listen up, left hind mark.
I want to introduce you to Blackavar.
Look hard at this rabbit and remember him when you think
of disobeying General Woundwort.
Remember him when you think of running away.
Well, that settles it, then.
Yes, I think it does.
On my word, run and don't look back.
I'll take them with me.
You there!
Run!Stop!
Bigwig, always good to see you, brother.
Well, I can't let you have all the fun now, can I?
You're not so tough when you're backed into a corner, are you?
No.
Everyone run! Quick!
Tom!
Fiver, come on now! What on earth are you doing?
My God!
Lucy! Get in here!
Your rabbits have got out again!
Come here, you.
Ooh, I gotcha!
Up here, quickly!
Lucy, they're only running up the stairs!
They really stuffed up my decorating!
Hazel!
My leg! Holly, I can't run fast enough.
We're nearly there, Blackberry. We're nearly...
There's no end to this place.
You rabbits have made a very grave error.
Hyzenthlay!
Run!
Alarm, alarm!
Well? Get after them.
Chase them down!
Enjoy this moment, Hyzenthlay.
This is the last time you're ever going to stand beneath the stars.
Clover!
Clover!Not so clever now, are you?
You embleer pfeffa. Everyone scarper, quick!
I can't, Holly. Leave me.
Just keep going, just keep looking ahead!
Run! Faster, you swines!
Tear them to pieces!
Blackberry!
Keep moving forward! Keep moving forward.
Don't look into the light!
Gotcha.
Bluebell, Holly, don't look into the light, you'll go tharn.
Agh!
Just make sure you don't shoot any of our Lucy's.
If they get shot, they get shot.
They're a blummin' nuisance.
Ooh! Crikey! You've got to warn me first!
Get into the ditches!
Come on, now, hide!
Where have you gone, you blighters?
I sees you.
Go on.
Clover!
What the heck was that?!
Right, you little...
Bluebell, you saved me.
You're a hero.
I think I much preferred it when I was a liability.
What was that?
I don't know.
I...
Frith has decided that it's not our time to stop running.
You'd better not have shot one of Lucy's.
It was a wild 'un.
There. Blood. I told you I shot it.
Come on now, it's late.
If he's out there, you'll find him in the morning.
We searched everywhere. There's no sign of him.
Let's go back. I'm going back.
He might still be alive.No.
Not in the dark, not tonight.
Tonight we go back to the Down.
Hazel chanced his life to free you, and we're not throwing
that away by having you wander around
in the shadow of a farmer's gun. You understand?
It's my fault. I saw it...
I saw it in my vision.
I should have seen it was Hazel. I didn't know.
The only one at fault tonight was the farmer, Fiver.
Hazel was right.
There's a terrible evil in the world, and it comes from men.
All other elil just do what they do to live on the earth to get food.
But men will never rest until they've spoiled the earth
and destroyed the animals.
Hazel.
Who are you?
I go by many names but your people know me as the Black Rabbit.
Am I...
Am I to walk with you now?
All walk with me, Hazel.
It is but for a brief moment called life that you leave my side.
I'm afraid.
There's no more to fear in death than in the changing of the seasons.
If you keep this in your heart, Hazel,
you will become a truly great leader of rabbits.
One worthy of joining my Owsla.
# My mother said I'm too romantic
# She said you're dancing in the movies
# I almost started to believe her
# Then I saw you and I knew
# I don't say a word
# But still you take my breath
# And steal the things I know
# There you go
# Saving me from out of the cold
# Fire on fire
# When I'm in a cave
# With this much desire
# Together we're winners
# They say that we're out of control and some say we're sinners
# But don't let them ruin
# Our beautiful rhythms
# Cos when you unfold me
# And tell me you love me
# And look in my eyes
# You are perfection
# My only direction