EFL Movie Study Guide for:
Finding Nemo
from www.krigline.com www.krigline.com.cn
Story:
A "down under" undersea cartoon adventure. After tragedy makes Marlin (a
clownfish) an overprotective father, his only surviving son (Nemo) rebels,
and is captured off Australia's Barrier Reef by a Sydney dentist. While the
fish in the dentist's aquarium plan Nemo's escape, Marlin and his unlikely
helper, Dori, face sharks, jellyfish, currents, seagulls and more in an
incredible journey to find his son. You'll be moved by this parent's love
and the lessons both father and child learn along the way. (2003, Oscar for
Best Cartoon; Family comedy, Adventure; 100 min)
Setting: Ocean around Australia
Note 1: You will hear Australian accents and a few Australian phrases
that people in other parts of the English-speaking world don't use. I don't
know if the American film-makers got such things right, but it is a good
reminder that there is no ONE way to speak English!
Note 2: As of January 2005, IMDB.com said this film was the
bestselling DVD of all time in the world with 22 million copies sold.
Note 3: A film's subtitles sometimes show "oral English" terms that
are not really words (so English-learners should not write things like
this): wanna = want to; gotta = have got to; gonna = is going to. Likewise,
an apostrophe is sometimes used to replace a "g" when reporting oral
English: for example: ridin' = riding, takin' on = taking on
Characters:
Marlin: the "dad" in this story (his wife and other kids were eaten by a
baracuda or some similar large fish); his species is called "clownfish" and
there are jokes about this ("clowns" are supposed to be funny)
Nemo: Marlin's only surviving son
Dory: a blue fish with "short term memory loss"—she can't remember things
except for a few seconds
Bruce: leader of the shark club (the other two are named Anchor and Chum)
Crush: an adult sea turtle (150 years old)
Squirt: a baby sea turtle
Gill: the "leader" of the dentist's aquarium fish
Peach: an aquarium starfish
Deb: an aquarium fish who thinks the reflection is her "twin" named Flow
(the other aquarium creatures are named Bloat, Gurgle, Bubbles, & Jacques)
Nigel: a pelican who is friends with the fish in the dentist's aquarium
A few terms and sayings (vocabulary):
aquarium: a box with glass sides so that people can see the fish inside
(esp. for pet fish)
buddy: (positive) friend. "My buddy is a mechanic; he can
help you." (negative) sometimes used to address an unfamiliar male who is
bothering you. "All right buddy, what's your problem?! Stop following
me!"
conscience: the part of your mind that helps you decide what is right and
wrong
dialect: a regional language, with major differences from the language
spoken in nearby areas (地方话)
dodgy: (BrE) involving danger or not working properly. "This job is a bit
dodgy (dangerous)." "The lifts in this old building are a bit dodgy (often
broken)."
duck: [v] a command to lower your head quickly to avoid danger (低头吧!);
[n] a common water bird (鸭子)
to favor (sth): to prefer sth (or sb) when you have choices. "He's been
favoring his German drill over the others lately."
fella: slang for "fellow" or person. "Can you fellas move that table for me?
Thanks."
filter: a machine or screen that makes air or water cleaner by removing
unwanted things (like pollution, dust or chemicals)
fin: part of a fish that helps it move in the water (like a bird's wing)
gasp: a quick breath that shows surprise or pain
gears: metal pieces of a machine that transmit motion from the motor to
wherever it is needed (in this case, to a fan)
to hatch: used to describe what happens to an egg when it breaks so that the
"baby" inside can come out; also can mean "to form (a plan) in secret"
impressions: (usually plural) to copy the speech/behavior of a famous person
in order to get people to laugh. "His impressions are very funny, especially
of rock stars."
inflate/deflate: to fill/release air, such as when you blow up a balloon or
let the air out
jellyfish/jellies: a sea animal that can sting you with poisonous parts of
its body (海蜇)
mate: (BrE) friend, pal, chum, buddy; (AmE) marriage partner, unless
attached to a noun like workmate, roommate, etc.
mister: full spelling of "Mr."; sometimes used to address a man if you don't
know his name ("Sir" is normally a better choice); parents also sometimes
call their male child "mister" when they are upset with the child's
behavior. "You had better stop that, mister!"
to offend: to make someone emotionally upset by being rude or unkind. "You
offended him."
pledge: a serious promise or agreement; some meetings start with members
reciting a memorized, public "pledge"
practical joke: a trick you play on someone, like on April Fools' Day,
intended to be funny but not harmful
red flag: (AmE) something that alerts you about a problem or danger (a red
flag is also an international symbol of communism, but Americans often use
it idiomatically to mean a warning sign)
sheila: Australian term meaning "young woman"
skeleton: a person's or animal's bones without flesh on them, but still in
the right order
Phrases & expressions from the movie:
"Crikey": (BrE) expression to show that you are surprised and displeased
"Did your man deliver?": Did your husband do what he promised?
"Dude!": slang way to refer to a person, often thought of as "cool"--this is
primarily used (at least with the kind of accent you hear in the film) with
beach lovers and surfers, and in particular such people in California (most
people don't talk like this)
"in harm's way": in danger, esp. the danger of war
"(the) odds are": it is likely. "Odds are, one will like you." = One will
probably like you.
"On your mark, get set, go!": a phrase used to start a race; runners begin
when they hear "go"
to say sth "under your breath": in a quiet voice so that only people very
close to you can hear
Discussion:
1. Tell your partner which character you liked best and why? For example:
the "dad" turtle, one of the sharks, the pelican, Nemo, Marlin (his dad),
Dory, Gill or someone else in the film
2. Were you ever separated unexpectedly from your parents? Tell your partner
or small group about the experience.
3. Many of the main characters had a "special problem" or "handicap," such
as Pearl's short tentacle, Nemo's "lucky fin," Gill's scars, Dory's memory
problems, or even the sharks' unwanted reputation and "addiction." What is
your "special problem"? What does this film teach us about people with
"handicaps"?
4. I've heard that some children tried to set their parents' pet fish free
(by flushing them down the toilet) after seeing this movie. Do fish "belong
in a box"? What about other pets—is having a pet a good or bad thing?
Explain your answer.
5. The description of this film says: "You'll be moved by this parent's love
and the lessons both father and child learn along the way." What lessons did
both Marlin and Nemo learn "along the way"?
Sentences or conversations from the movie:
(there are more at
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266543/quotes;
imdb's website is a great place to find
movie facts and more)
Note: some of these have been shortened or simplified a little for my
students; others stick to the subtitles even if they aren't exactly like the
dialog.
Say these dialogs out loud with your friends; it will help you prepare to
watch the movie. Blue parts below are particularly
important.
1. Marlin: So, Coral, when you said you wanted an ocean view, you didn't
think you were going to get the whole ocean, did you? Huh? [deep breath] Oh,
yeah. A fish can breathe out here. Did your man deliver, or did he
deliver?
Coral: My man delivered.
Marlin: And it wasn't so easy.
Coral: Because a lot of other clownfish had their eyes on this place.
2. [the parents are looking at their 400 unhatched children]
Coral: We still have to name them...
Marlin: [Do] You want to name all of them, right now? All right. We'll
name this half Marlin Jr., and then this half Coral Jr. Okay, we're done.
Coral: I like Nemo.
Marlin: Nemo? Well, we'll name one Nemo, but I'd like most of them to be
Marlin Jr.
Marlin: What if they don't like me?
Coral: Marlin! There's over 400 eggs. Odds are, one of them is
bound to like you.
3. Marlin: Now, what's the one thing we have to
remember about the ocean?
Nemo: It's not safe.
Marlin: That's my boy.
4. Nemo: Hey dad! Maybe when I'm at school, I'll see a shark.
Marlin: I highly doubt it.
Nemo: Have how ever met a shark?
Marlin: No, and I don't plan to.
Nemo: How old are sea turtles?
Marlin: Sea turtles? I don't know.
Nemo: Sandy Plankton from next door, he says they live to be about a
hundred years old.
Marlin: Well, if I ever meet a sea turtle I'll ask him, right after I'm
done talking to the shark.
5. [1st day of school; the kids are bragging about their special
problems or weaknesses, like Nemo's "lucky fin," which never grew to
full size]
Pearl: See this tentacle? It's actually shorter than all my other
tentacles, but you can't really tell, especially when I twirl them like
this. [twirls her tentacles]
Sheldon (seahorse): I'm H2O intolerant. [sneezes]
Tad: I'm obnoxious. [i.e., adults think I'm rude and unpleasant to be
around]
6. [Nemo lives in a sea anemone]
Mr. Ray: All new explorers must answer a science question. You live in
what kind of home?
Nemo: An anemonemone. Amnemonemomne.
Mr. Ray: OK, don't hurt yourself.
7. Bob: Hey, you're doing pretty well for a first-timer.
Marlin: Well, you can't hold on to them forever, can you?
Bill: You know I had a tough time with my oldest out at the drop off.
Marlin: They've just got to grow up some… - The drop off? They're going
to the drop off? What are you, insane? Why don't we fry them up now and
serve them with chips?
Bob: Hey Marty, calm down.
Marlin: Don't tell me to be calm, pony boy.
Bob: Pony boy?
Bill: You know for a clownfish, he really isn't that funny
Ted: Pity
8. Pearl: Hey. You guys made me ink. [an octopus can create a cloud of "ink"
to help it escape danger]
Nemo: What's that?
Tad: I know what that is. Sandy Plankton saw one. He said it was called
a "butt". [he means "boat"]
Pearl: That's a pretty big butt.
Sheldon [swims out a little]: Oh, look at me. I'm going to touch the
butt….
Marlin: [finds Nemo thinking about going out to
"touch the butt" like his friends] Nemo! No! … You know what? OK, I was
right. You'll start school in a year or two.
Nemo: No, Dad! Just because you're scared of
the ocean...
Marlin: Clearly, you're not ready, and you're
not coming back until you are. You think you can do these things, but you
just can't, Nemo!
Nemo: I hate you.
9. [Nemo has gone to the boat]
Marlin: Nemo! You'll get stuck out there and I'll have to go get you
before another fish does. Get back here! I said get back here now! Stop! You
make one more move, mister... [Nemo lifts his fin] Don't you dare! If
you put one fin on that boat…! Don't touch the boat! [Nemo touches the boat]
Nemo!
Tad: [Whispering] He touched the butt.
10. Dory: I've seen a boat.
Marlin: You have?
Dory: It passed by not too long ago. Follow me. [few seconds later] Will
you quit it? What, the ocean isn't big enough for you? You got a problem,
buddy? Huh? Do you, do you, do you? You want a piece of me? Yeah, yeah!
Ooh, I'm scared now! Stop following me, OK?
Marlin: What are you talking about? You're showing me where the boat
went.
Dory: Hey, I've seen a boat. It passed by not too long ago. It went this
way.
Marlin: Wait a minute, you already told me which way the boat was going.
Dory: I did? Oh, no.
Marlin: If this is some kind of practical joke, it's not funny,
and I know funny. I'm a clownfish.
Dory: I'm sorry. I suffer from short term
memory loss. I forget things almost immediately. It runs in my family. At
least, I think it does.... Where are they?
Marlin: Something's wrong with you, really.
Bruce [a large shark]: Hello.
[Marlin gasps, Dory swims up]
Dory: Well, hi!
Bruce: Name's Bruce. [offers fin, Marlin backs up] It's all right. I
understand. [turns away] Why trust a shark, right? [quickly returns and
snaps at Marlin and Dory, then laughs]
Bruce: So, what's a couple of bites like you doing out so late?
Marlin: Nothing, we're not doing anything, we're not even out.
Bruce: Great! Then how would you little morsels like to come to a little
- a little get-together I'm having?
Dory: You mean like a party?
Bruce: Yeah, that's it, a party! What do you say?
Dory: Oh, I love parties! That sounds like fun.
Marlin: Parties are fun, and it's tempting, but we really have to...
Bruce [Takes Dory and Marlin by the fin]: Aw, come on. I insist.
Marlin [Nervous]: Okay, that's all that matters.
Dory [looking at mines—undersea bombs]: Hey, look, balloons. It is
a party.
Bruce: Mind your distance, though. Those balloons can be a bit dodgy.
You wouldn't want one of them to pop.
Bruce: Anchor! Chum! We've got company.
Anchor: Well, it's about time, mate!
Chum: We've already gone through the snacks, and I'm still starving!
Anchor: We almost had us a feeding frenzy.
Chum: Come on, let's get this over with.
Sharks: [after the meeting "comes to order"—i.e., begins] Let us all say
the pledge: I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am
to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not
food.
Chum: Except dolphins! They think they're so cute. [mocking] "Look at
me, I'm a flippin' little dolphin, let me flip for you. Ain't I something?"
Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Do you all have
your friends?
Anchor: Got mine. [a small fish hyperventilating (shaking) with fear]
Dory: Hey, there!
Bruce: How about you, Chum?
Chum: Oh, I... seem to have misplaced my friend. [a fish skeleton
peeks from Chum's teeth; Chum quickly sucks it back in]
Bruce: That's all right, Chum. I had a feeling this would be a difficult
step. You can help yourself to one of my friends.
Chum: [Taking Marlin] Thanks mate. A little chum for Chum, eh?
Bruce: I'll start the testimonies. Hello. My name is Bruce. It has been
three weeks since my last fish. On my honor, or may I be chopped up and made
into soup.
Chum: You're an inspiration to all of us!
Anchor: Amen!
Bruce: Who's next?
Dory: Pick me, pick me!
Bruce: Yes. The little Sheila down [in] the front. Come on up
here.
Dory: Hi. I'm Dory. And, well... I don't think I've ever eaten a fish.
[the sharks applaud]
Chum: Wow, that's incredible!
Bruce: Good on you, mate!
Dory: Whew. I'm glad I got that off my chest.
Bruce: All right, anyone else? How about you, mate? What's your problem?
Marlin: Me? I don't have a problem.
Bruce: Oh, OK.
All sharks together: Denial.
Marlin: OK. My name is Marlin. I’m a clownfish.
Chum: A clownfish? Really? Tell us a joke.
Marlin: Well, I actually do know one that's pretty good. There was this
mollusk, and he walks up to a sea cucumber. Normally, they don't talk, sea
cucumbers, but in a joke everyone talks. So the sea mollusk says to the
cucumber... [sees the mask] Nemo!
Chum: [laughing] Nemo! Ha ha! Nemo... I don't get
it.
Bruce: For a clown fish, he's not that funny.
Marlin: No. Nemo's my son, he was taken by these divers.
Dory: Oh my, you poor fish.
Chum: Humans. Think they own everything.
Anchor: Probably American...
Bruce: Now there is a father-- Looking for his little boy. [starts
crying] I never knew my father!
Marlin [looking at an address on the diver's mask]: What do these
markings mean? I can't read human.
Dory: Then we've got to find a fish that can read this. Hey, look!
Sharks!
[Marlin and Dory are each pulling on the mask; it snaps and hits Dory in
the face]
Marlin: Oh, I'm really sorry. Are you okay?
Dory: You really clocked me there. Am I bleeding? [a wisp of blood
floats from Dory's nose]
Bruce: Dory, are you okay... [Sniffs the blood] Ooooooooo, that's
good...
Chum, Anchor: Intervention!
Bruce: Just a bite!
Anchor: Now you hold it together, mate!
Chum: Remember, Bruce! Fish are friends, not food!
Bruce: Food! I'm having fish tonight.
Dory [as Bruce bangs against the door of the sunken submarine]: Who is
it?
Marlin: Dory, help me find a way out!
Dory [to Bruce]: Sorry. Come back later. We're trying to escape. [then
reading a door] Look, here's something. "Es-cap-e…" I wonder what that
means? That's funny. It's spelled just like the word "escape."
Marlin [to Dory]: Wait a minute! You can read?
Dory: I can read? That's right, I can read!
Anchor [as Bruce hungrily chases Marlin and Dory]: He really doesn't
mean it, you know! He never even knew his father!
11. [in the dentist office in Sydney]
Nemo: I wanna go home. Does anyone know where my dad is?
Peach: Honey, your father's probably back at the pet store.
Nemo: Pet store?
Bloat: Yeah. Like, I'm from Bob's Fish Mart.
Gurgle: Pet Palace.
Bubbles: Fish-O-Rama.
Deb: Mail Order.
Peach: eBay.
Gurgle: So, which one is it?
Nemo: I'm from the ocean.
Gurgle: Oh, the ocean. THE OCEAN? AAAH! He hasn't been decontaminated
yet! Jacques! Clean up!
Jacques: Oui. Oo, la mer! Bon! [Spins Nemo around
as he cleans him] Voilà. He is clean.
Bubbles: So, the Big Blue. What's it like?
Nemo: Umm... big and blue?
Bubbles: I knew it.
Deb: Kid, if there's anything you need, just ask your Auntie Deb. That's
me. Or if I'm not around, you can talk to my sister, Flo. [swims up and
talks to her own reflection] Hi, how are ya? [then to Nemo] Don't listen to
anything my sister says, she's nuts!
[Peach tells the aquarium fish to look at the dentist and his
patient]
Deb: What have we got?
Peach: Root canal--and by the looks of those X-rays, it's not going to
be pretty. [Dentist drills and patient screams]
Bloat: Dam and clamper installed?
Peach: Yep.
Bubbles: What did he use to open?
Peach: Gator-Glidden drill. He's been favoring that one lately….
Now he's doing the Schilder technique.
Bloat: He's using a Hedstrom file.
Gurgle: That's not a Hedstrom file, that's a K-Flex.
Bloat: It has a teardrop cross section, clearly it's a HEDSTROM.
Gurgle: No, K-FLEX.
Bloat: HEDSTROM.
Gurgle: K-FLEX.
Bloat: HEDSTROM. [inflates] Oomp. There I
go. I need a little help over here.
Deb: [sighs] I'll go deflate him.
Gurgle [after dental patient spits]: Oh, the human mouth is a disgusting
place.
Nigel [a pelican; flies in and meets Nemo]: Hello. From my neck of the
woods, eh? Sorry if I ever took a snap at you. Fish gotta swim, birds
gotta eat.
12. [the dentist says that Nemo is going to Darla's
birthday present]
Bloat: Uh oh. Darla.
Nemo: What's wrong with her?
Gurgle: She wouldn't stop shaking the bag.
[Close up of the dead fish in the photo]
Bubbles: Poor Chuckles.
Deb: He was her present last year.
Bloat: Hitched a ride on the porcelain express
[i.e., the toilet].
Peach: She's a fish killer!
[a frightened Nemo gets stuck in the filter intake and cries for help]
Gill: Nobody touch him!
Nemo: Can you help me?
Gill: No. You got yourself in there, you can get yourself out.
Deb: Ah, Gill...
Gill: I just want to see him do it, Okay? Calm down. Alternate wiggling
your fins and your tail.
Nemo: I can't. I have a bad fin.
Gill: Never stopped me [Turns to show Nemo his wounded fin] Just think
about what you need to do. [Nemo gets out] Perfect.
13. Dory: Hey, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down, know what you've
got to do?
Marlin: I don't want to know.
Dory: [singing] Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep
swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
Marlin: Dory, no singing. Now I'm going to get stuck with that song...
Now it's in my head.
Dory: Sorry.
[Dory and Marlin are in pitch darkness looking for the mask]
Marlin: Dory, do you see anything?
Dory: Ahh! Something's got me!
Marlin: That's just me. I'm sorry.
Dory: Who's that?
Marlin: [exasperated] Who's that? Who else would it be? It's me!
Dory: Are... are you my conscience?
Marlin: [sighs] Yes, I'm your conscience. We haven't spoken for a while.
How are you?
Dory: Eh, can't complain.
Marlin: Good. Now, Dory, do you see anything?
Dory: [a deep-sea fish's light approaches] Yes, I see... a light. Hey,
conscience, am I dead?
Marlin: No, I see it too. [they swim up to the light]
Dory: It's so pretty.
Marlin: [mesmerized] I'm feeling... happy, which is a big deal for me.
Dory: I want to touch it... [she does; the light bobs quickly away] Oh!
Marlin: [singing] I'm gonna be your best friend... [a big scary fish
comes into view] Good feelings gone.
14. Marlin: What did it say? What did the mask say?
Dory: P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. [gasps] I remembered what it
said! I usually forget things, but I remembered it that time!
Marlin: Wait! Where is that?
Dory: I don't know. But who cares! Ha ha! I remembered! P. Sherman, 42
Wallaby Way, Sydney. I remembered it again!
15. [during a "welcome ceremony," the first night in the dentist's aquarium]
Bloat: Nemo, newcomer of orange and white, you have been called forth to
the summit of Mount Wannahockaloogie to join with us in the fraternal bonds
of tankhood.
Nemo: Huh?
Peach: We want you in our club, kid.
Nemo: Really?
Bloat [dramatically]: If you are able to swim through... the Ring of
Fire!
[Nothing happens]
Bloat: [Under his breath] Turn on the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire!
Jacques: Oops! [turns on the "bubble" volcano]
[after some chanting, Nemo swims through the bubbles]
Gill: From this moment on, you will now be known as Sharkbait.
Bloat, Gurgle, Bubbles: Sharkbait! Hoo ha ha!
16. [Gill explains his plan to get Nemo out of the
aquarium]
Gill: You see that filter?
Nemo: Yeah.
Gill: You're the only one who can get in and
out of that thing. We need you to take a pebble inside there and jam the
gears. You do that, and this tank's gonna [going to] get filthier and
filthier by the minute. Pretty soon, the dentist will have to clean the tank
himself, and when he does, he'll take us out of the tank, put us in
individual baggies [plastic bags], then we roll ourselves down the counter,
out the window, off the awning, into the bushes, across the street, and into
the harbor. It's foolproof! Who's with me?
Bloat, Deb & Bubbles: I.
Gurgle: I think you're nuts.
17. Marlin: I think it's best if I carry on from here by myself…. I just
can't afford any more delays and you're one of those fish that cause delays.
Sometimes it's a good thing. There's a whole group of fish. They're delay
fish.
Dory: You mean... [whimpers] You mean you don't like me?
Marlin: No, of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't want
to be with you. It's a complicated emotion. Don't cry.
18. School of Fish: Hey, hey! You like impressions? [i.e., do you
want to see us imitate things/places]
Dory: Mmm-hmm.
School of Fish: Okay, just like in rehearsal, gentlemen. [the fish
regroup to form a swordfish] So, what are we? Take a guess.
Dory: Oh, oh, I've seen one of those.
School of Fish: I'm a fish with a nose like a sword.
Dory: Wait, wait, umm...
Marlin: It's a swordfish!
School of Fish: Hey, clown boy! Let the lady guess. [Takes form of
lobster] Where's the butter?
Dory: Ooh! It's on the tip of my tongue...
Marlin: [under his breath] Lobster.
School of Fish: Saw that. [Takes form of octopus] Lots of legs, swims in
the ocean.
Dory: Clam!
School of Fish: Close enough. [Takes form of pirate ship, starts
singing] "Oh, it's a whale of a tale, I'll tell you, lad..."
Dory: Oh, they're good.
Marlin: [exasperated] Would somebody please just give me directions?
School of Fish: [mockingly] Would somebody please just give me
directions? [Marlin leaves]
Dory: Hey, what's wrong?
Marlin: What's wrong? While they're busy doing their little impressions,
I'm miles from home with a fish that can't even remember her name.
Dory: Boy, I bet that's frustrating.
Marlin: Meanwhile, my son is out there.
Dory: Your son Chico?
Marlin: Nemo. But it doesn't matter, because no one in this entire ocean
is going to help me.
Dory: Well, I'm helping you.
[Marlin leaves; the fish give Dory directions to Sydney through the EAC
(East Australia Current)]
School of Fish: Oh and one more thing: when you come to this trench,
swim through it, not over it.
Dory: Trench. Through it, not over it. I'll remember. [swimming to catch
up with Marlin] Hey wait up. I gotta tell you something. [She sees the
trench, but already forgot the advice] Whoa. Nice trench.
Dory: Come on, let's go.
Marlin: No, no! Bad trench, bad trench! Come on, we'll swim over this
thing.
Dory: Whoa, partner. Little red flag going up. Something's
telling me we should swim through it, not over it.
Marlin: Are you even looking at this thing? It's got death written all
over it!
Dory: I'm sorry, but I really, really, really think we should swim
through.
Marlin: And I'm really, really done talking about this. Over we go.
Dory: Come on, trust me on this one.
Marlin: Trust you?
Dory: Yes, trust. It's what friends do.
19. Dory [she starts playing with a baby jellyfish]: Hey little guy.
I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine. Come on, little squishy [baby
talk; the jellyfish stings her] Ow! Bad squishy!
[soon they are surrounded by jellyfish]
Marlin: This is bad, Dory. Very bad.
Dory: [Bouncing on top of a jellyfish] Hey, watch this. Boing! Boing!...
Marlin: Dory!
Dory: You can't catch me!
Marlin: Dory, don't bounce on the tops! They will... not sting you. The
tops don't sting you! That's it!
Dory: Two in a row. Beat that.
Marlin: Dory, listen to me. We're going to play a game.
Dory: A game? I love games! Pick me!
Marlin: Here's the game. Whoever can hop the fastest out of the
jellyfish wins.
Dory: Out, got it!
Marlin: Rules, rules! You can't touch the tentacles, only the tops...
Dory: Something about tentacles, got it.
Marlin: No, it's not something about them, it's all about
them.
Dory: On your mark, get set, go!
Marlin: Wait, Dory!
[Marlin and Dory are racing through the jellyfish forest. Marlin starts
talking to himself]
Marlin: So, we're cheating death now, that's what we're doing, and we're
having fun at the same time, I can do this, just be careful...
Dory: Yeah, be careful I don't make you cry when I win!
Marlin: Oh I don't think so!
Dory: Give it up old man, you can't fight evolution, I was built for
speed!
Marlin: The question is Dory, are you hungry?
Dory: Hungry? Why?
Marlin: 'Cause you're about to eat my bubbles! Duck to the left!
Right…
20. Gill: [Catches Nemo staring at his broken fin]
My first escape. Landed on dentist tools. I was aiming for the toilet.
Nemo: The toilet?
Gill: All drains lead to the ocean, kid.
Nemo: Wow. How may times have you tried to get out?
Gill: Ah, I lost count.
Gill: Fish aren't meant to be in a box, kid. It does things to you.
21. [note: Crush is a big turtle/tortoise, and his
personality is like people who spend a lot of time on the beach, using
"beach" and surfer slang; I don't recommend that English-learners imitate
these turtles' English]
Crush: Dude? Focus dude... [Marlin wakes up] Oh,
he lives.
Marlin: Oh... What happened?
Crush: Saw the whole thing, dude. First you were all like "whoa", and we
were like "whoa", and you were like "whoa...”
Marlin: What are you talking about?
Crush: You, Mini-Man, takin' on the jellies. You've got serious thrill
issues. Awesome.
Marlin: Oh, my stomach. Ohh.
Crush: Oh, man. Hey, no hurling [i.e., vomiting] on the shell, dude, ok?
Just waxed it.
Marlin: So, Mr. Turtle?
Crush: Whoa, Dude. Mister Turtle is my father. The name's Crush.
Marlin: Crush, really? OK, Crush. I need to get to the East Australian
Current. EAC?
Crush: [Laughing] You're ridin' it, dude! Check it out!
22. [a baby turtle falls off the back of another
turtle and out of the current]
Marlin: [freaks out] Oh, my goodness!
Crush: Whoa. Kill the motor, dude. Let us see
what Squirt does flying solo. [i.e. "Take it easy; let's see what my son
does by himself"]
Squirt [gets back into the current by himself]:
Whoa! That was so cool! Hey dad! Did you see that? Did you see me? Did you
see what I did?
Crush: You so totally rock, Squirt! So give me
some fin. [they slap fins] Noggin. [they bump heads, then Crush introduces
Marlin to his son]: Oh. Intro- Jellyman, offspring. Offspring, Jellyman.
Squirt: Jellies? Sweeeeet.
Crush: Totally…. Oh, it's awesome, Jellyman.
The little dudes are just eggs. We leave 'em on a beach to hatch, and then,
coo-coo-cachoo, they find their way back to the big ol' blue.
Marlin: All by themselves? But, how do you know
when they're ready?
Crush: Well, you never really know. But when
they know, you'll know--you know?
23. Nemo: Gill. I'm sorry I couldn't stop the...
Gill: No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I was so ready to get out, so
ready to taste that ocean, I was willing to put you in harm's way to
get there. Nothing should be worth that. I'm sorry I couldn't get you back
to your father, kid.
[the dentist is getting ready to pull a patient's tooth when Nigel flies
into the window. The dentist spins around, ripping the patient's tooth out]
Patient: Aaah!
Dentist: Oh... well, that's ONE way to pull a tooth. [he chuckles] Good
thing I pulled the right one, eh Prime Minister.
24. Gill: All right, gang, we have less than 48
hours before Darla gets here. This tank will get plenty dirty in that time,
but we have to help it along any way we can. Jacques--no cleaning!
Jacques: I shall resist.
Gill: Everybody else, be as gross as possible.
Think dirty thoughts. We're gonna make this tank so filthy the dentist will
HAVE to clean it. [Bloat belches] Good work.
25. Crush: Alright, we're here dudes! Get ready! Your exit's coming up, man!
Marlin: Where? You mean the swirling vortex of terror?
Crush: That's it!
Marlin [sarcastically]: Of course it is.
Crush: OK, first, find your exit buddy. [Marlin and Dory grab each other
quickly]
Crush: Okay. Squirt here will now give you a rundown of proper exiting
technique.
Squirt: Good afternoon. We'll have a great jump today! Okay, crank a
hard cutback as you hit the wall. There's a screaming bottom turn, so watch
out. Remember: rip it, roll it, and punch it.
Marlin: It's like he's trying to speak to me, I know it. [to Squirt] You
know, you're really cute, but I don't know what you're saying. Say the first
thing again.
Crush: OK, Jellyman! Go, go, go!
Marlin: Crush, wait. How old are you?
Crush: Hundred and fifty, dude, and still young. Rock on.
26. Dory: Well, let's just ask someone for directions.
Marlin: Who do you want to ask, the speck? There's no one here!
Dory: This is the Ocean silly. We're not the only two in here…. There's
somebody. Hey!
Marlin: Dory! Now it's my turn. I'm thinking of something dark and
mysterious. It's a fish we don't know. If we ask it directions, it could
ingest [eat] us and spit out our bones.
Dory: What is it with men and asking for directions?
Marlin: I don't want to play the gender card right now. You want to play
a card, let's play the "let's not die" card.
Dory: Trust me on this. [to a shadow in the distance] Excuse me?
Whoo-hoo! Little fella? Hello! His son Bingo...
Marlin: Nemo.
Dory: ...Nemo was taken to, um...
Marlin: Sydney
Dory: ...Sydney. And it's really, really important that we get there as
fast as we can, so can you help us out? Come on, little fella. Come on.
Marlin: Dory? I'm a little fella. I don't think that's a little fella.
Dory: [they realize it is a large whale] Oh! Big fella. Maybe he only
speaks whale. [slowly and deeply, imitating the whale] Mooo... Weeee neeeed...
tooo fiiind his son.
Marlin: Dory? What are you doing? Are you sure you speak whale?
Dory: Can youuu give us diiirectionsss?
Marlin: Dory! Heaven knows what you're saying! See, he's swimming away.
Dory: Come baaaaack.
Marlin: He's not coming back. You offended him.
Dory: Maybe a different dialect. Moooohhhmmooo...
Marlin: Dory! This is not whale. You're speaking like, upset stomach.
Dory: Maybe I should try humpback [whale dialect].
Marlin: No, don't try humpback.
Dory: Woooooo! Woooooo!
Marlin: Okay, you actually sound sick.
Dory: Maybe louder. Rah! Rah!
Marlin: Don't do that!
Dory: Too much orca. Did it sound a little orca-ish?
Marlin: It doesn't sound orca. It sounds like nothing I've ever heard!
It's just as well. He might be hungry.
Dory: Oh don't worry. Whales don't eat clownfish. They eat krill.
Krill: Swim away.
Dory: Oh look. Krill.
27. Gill: Look at that. Would you look at that? Filthy. Absolutely filthy.
And it's all thanks to you, kid. You made it possible. Jacques! I said no
cleaning!
Jacques: I am ashamed.
Peach [waving her arms like children in the snow making "snow angels"]:
Look, Scum angel.
Gurgle [sees Bloat eating dirt]: Bloat, that is disgusting!
Bloat: Tastes pretty good to me.
Gurgle: Doesn't anyone realize? We're swimming in our own...?
Peach: Shhh! Here he comes.
Dentist: Crikey. What a state. Barbara, what's my earliest
appointment tomorrow?
Receptionist: 10:00, Luv.
Dentist: Leave it open, would you? I've gotta clean the fish tank before
Darla gets here.
28. Marlin [depressed, inside the whale]: I
promised Nemo I'd never let anything happen to him.
Dory: Huh. That's a funny thing to promise.
Marlin: What?
Dory: Well, you can't never let anything
happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun
for little Harpo.
Marlin: What's going on?
Dory: Don't know. I'll ask him. Whaaaa... I think he's said we've
stopped.
Marlin: Of course we've stopped. Stop trying to speak whale. You'll make
things worse. What is that noise? The water's going down. It's-it's-it's
going down! Look! Already it's half-empty.
Dory: Hmm... I'd say it's half-full.
Marlin: Stop that! It's half-empty!
Dory [after a whale groan]: That was a little tougher. He either said we
should move to the back of the throat, or he wants a root beer float.
Marlin: Of course he wants us to go there. That's eating us. [wagging
his tail on the whale's taste bud] How do I taste, Moby? Do I taste good?
What is going on?
Dory: Whaaaaat…
Marlin: No, no more whale! You can't speak whale!
Dory: Yes I can!
Marlin: No, you can't! You think you can do these things, but you can't,
Nemo!
Dory: He says it's time to let go. Everything is going to be alright.
Marlin: How do you know something bad isn't going to happen?
Dory: I don't.
29. Dory: DUCK!
Marlin [looks up]: That's not a duck, it's a... pelican! [pelican eats
them] NO! I didn't come this far to be breakfast! [Marlin makes himself get
stuck in the bird's throat]
[Other pelicans watch Gerald gagging on his breakfast]
Bird: Hey, Nigel. Would you look at that? Sun's barely up and Gerald's
had more than he can handle.
Nigel: Reckon somebody ought to help the poor guy. [no one moves, so
Nigel adds (sarcastically)] Well, don't everybody fly off at once. [flies
over] All right, Gerald. Fish got your tongue?
30. Nigel: [quietly] Okay, don't make any sudden moves. Hop inside my
mouth... if you want to live.
Marlin: Hop in your mouth, huh? And how does that make me live?
Seagulls: Mine?
Nigel: Because I can take you to your son.
Marlin: Yeah, right.
Nigel: No, I know your son. He's orange and has a gimpy fin on one side.
Marlin: That's Nemo!
31. [Nigel takes Marlin & Dory to the dentist's office]
Marlin: Where's my son? Where's Nemo?
Bloat: [pointing frantically] Dentist! Dentist!
Marlin: What's a dentist? What is that? Nigel, get in there!
Nigel: I can't go in there!
Marlin: Oh, yes you can!
32. Marlin: It's over. We were too late. Nemo's gone and I'm going home now.
Dory: No. No, you can't... STOP. Please don't go away. Please? No one's
ever stuck with me for so long before. And if you leave... I just, I
remember things better with you. I do, look. P. Sherman, forty-two...
forty-two... I remember it, I do. It's there, I know it is, because when I
look at you, I can feel it. And I look at you, and I... and I'm home.
Please... I don't want that to go away. I don't want to forget.
Marlin: I'm sorry, Dory. But I do.
33. Nemo: Excuse me. Are you all right?
Dory [exasperated]: I don't know where I am... I don't know what's going
on. I think I lost somebody but I can't remember...
Nemo: It's OK. I'm looking for someone, too. Hey, we can look together.
Dory [sniffles]: I'm Dory.
Nemo: I'm Nemo.
Dory: Nemo?... That's a nice name.
Nemo: Where are we, anyway?
Dory [reading the pipe]: sy... shi... Sydney. "P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way
Sydney" [flashback—she remembers the trip] Aah! Nemo! You're Nemo!
Dory [to crabs]: Have you seen an orange fish swim by? It looks just
like him. [points at Nemo]
Nemo: But bigger.
Crab: Yeah, I saw him, Bluey, but I'm not telling you where he went, and
there's no way you're gonna make me. [Dory holds Crab out of water for the
seagulls to see]
Seagulls: Mine. Mine. Mine.
Crab: Ahh! All right! I'll talk! I'll talk! He went to the fishing
grounds!
34. Marlin: Hey. Guess what?
Nemo: What?
Marlin: Sea turtles? I met one, and he was 150 years old.
Nemo: 150?
Marlin: Yep.
Nemo: Sandy Plankton said they only live to be 100.
Marlin: Sandy Plankton? You think I would cross the entire ocean and not
know as much as Sandy Plankton? He was 150, not 100.
35. Marlin: ...and the sea cucumber looks over to the mollusk and says,
"With fronds [leaves] like these, who needs anemones?" [supposed to sound
like the cliché: "with friends like these, who needs enemies"]
[Everyone laughs]
Mr. Ray: Well, hello Nemo. Who's this?
Nemo: Exchange student. [i.e., a student visiting for a few months from
another country/place]
Squirt: I'm from the EAC, dude.
Mr. Ray: Sweet!
Nemo, Squirt: Totally!
Mr. Ray: Next stop: knowledge!
Nemo: [swims up quickly to Marlin, giving him a hug] Love you, Dad.
Marlin: I love you too, son.
Nemo: Dad? You can let go now.
