# Chicken Run

Chicken Run is a 2000 British clay animation film produced by DreamWorks Animation, Aardman and Pathé and distributed by Universal Pictures, This is a story about a band of chickens who seek escape from their coop before their owners, mild-mannered egg farmer Mr. Tweedy and his overbearing wife, make them all into chicken pot pies. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget was a sequel in 2023.
    Directed and written by Peter Lord and Nick Park.
    Music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

## Willard Tweedy

* I'll teach you to make a fool out of me!
* NOW LET THAT BE A LESSON TO THE LOT OF YOU! NO CHICKEN ESCAPES FROM TWEEDY'S FARM!
* I know just the one.
* I told you they was organized!

## Dialogue

    [First lines; The movie begins with Ginger has just dug a hole with a spoon to get under the fence. She signals Bunty, Babs, and three other chickens to come over to the fence, but they make a loud noise once they come to the fence]
    Bunty: [loud whispering] Shush!
    Babs: [whimpers]
    [Bunty tries to get under the fence, but she is too big. Willard Tweedy hears this and turns around.]
    Bunty: I'm stuck!
    [Ginger rolls her eyes and goes to help Bunty get under the fence, but Edwina, Babs and the other chickens are making too much noise trying to push Bunty under. Once Ginger arrives to the rescue, she puts her wing over Bunty's beak so that Willard Tweedy doesn't hear her. Unfortunately, the noise of Edwina, Babs and the other chickens trying to push her under the fence attracts the attention of the dogs. Ginger hears the dogs and sees Willard Tweedy trying to hold them back]
    Ginger: Get back!
    [Dogs barking and are about to attack ginger. But Melisha Tweedy opens the front door]
    Melisha Tweedy: [her first words] Mr. Tweedy.
    [Willard Tweedy looks at her]
    Melisha Tweedy: What is that chicken doing outside the fence?
    Willard Tweedy: [his first words] Oh, [giggles] I don't know I...
    Melisha Tweedy: Just deal with it. Now!
    [Melisha Tweedy slams the door back to bed. Willard Tweedy's face. Willard takes Ginger to a coal bin.]
    Willard Tweedy: [to Ginger] I'll teach you to make a fool out of me. [throws her in the coal close the bin, turns he goes to the other chickens] Now let that be A Lesson to the Lot of You! No Chicken escape from tweedy's FARM! [He go back to the house and ready for bed]
    [Edwina has been sentenced to the chop after she fails to produce any more.]
    Ginger: Edwina. Bunty, why didn't you give her some of yours?
    Bunty: I would have. She didn't tell me, she didn't tell anyone.
    [Bunty, Babs and another hen sneak towards Hut 17 with knitted masks over them. Bunty bangs the door, and Ginger lets them in when she sees who it is, except for Babs, who just stands there. Ginger then pulls Babs in by her wing]
    Babs: Ohh!
    [Nick bangs the door, and Ginger looks to see who it is.]
    Nick: You called? Nick and--
    Fetcher: Fetcher.
    Nick: At your service.
    [Ginger comes out the door. Suddenly, she hears dogs barking and sees Mr Tweedy looking out the farmhouse window]
    Ginger: Over here!
    [She leads Nick and Fetcher to a corner.]
    Ginger: We need some more things.
    Nick: Right you are, Miss! [opens a lunchbox and holds up a couple thimbles] How about this quality, hand-crafted tea set?
    Ginger: Um, no...
    Fetcher: [holds up a drain plug on a chain] Or this lovely necklace and pendant?
    Ginger: Well, it's lovely...
    Nick: [holds up a badminton birdie] Or how about this little number that's all the rage in the most fashionable coops in Paris. Simply pop it on like so... [pops it on Ginger's head, feathers side up so that she looks like an Indian] And as the French hens say, "Voila!"
    Fetcher: That IS French.
    Nick: And that's two hats in one, Miss. For parties... [turns the birdie over, making it look like a wedding veil] ...For weddings! Uh, madame! This makes you look like a vision, like a dream.
    Fetcher: Like a duck!
    [Nick glares at him]
    Ginger: No, thank you. [takes off the birdie and shows a diagram of a catapult] We're making this. We need these things. Can you get them?
    Nick: Ooh-hoo-hoo, ooh, this is a big job, Miss. Uh, bigger than the other ones. No, no, this is gonna cost.
    Ginger: Same as always: one bag of seed. [hands Nick a bag of chicken feed]
    Nick: You call this pay?!
    Fetcher: It's chicken feed!
    Ginger: What else could we give you?
    Nick: Eggs.
    Ginger: Eggs?!
    Fetcher: Eggs. [holds up an egg cup and licks his lips]
    Ginger: We can't give you our eggs. They're too valuable.
    Nick: And so are we. [packs up to leave] After you, Fetcher.
    Fetcher: [pausely] After I what?
    Nick: Move!
    Ginger: Think everyone, think. What haven't we tried yet?
    Babs: Uh...
    Bunty: We haven't tried NOT trying to escape.
    Babs: [happily] Hmm. That might work.
    Ginger: What about Edwina? How many more empty nests will it take?
    Bunty: Well, perhaps it wouldn't be empty if she'd spent more time laying and less time escaping!
    Ginger: So laying eggs all your life and then getting plucked, stuffed and roasted is good enough for you, it is guilty?
    Babs: It's a living.
    Ginger: Do you know what the problem is? The fences aren't just around the farm, they're up here [Points to head]. There is a better place out there, beyond on the hill, outdoors, trees and grass. You imagine it, with fresh grass and green.
    Agnes: And who feeds us?
    Ginger: We feed ourselves.
    Hen: Where is the farm?
    Ginger: There is no farm.
    Babs: Then where does the farmer live?
    Ginger: There is no farmer, Babs.
    Babs: Is he on holiday?
    Ginger: He isn't anywhere! Don't you get it? There's no role call, no dogs, no coups and locks and keys, and no fences!
    Bunty: In all my life, I've never heard such a fantastic... LOAD OF TRIPE. [The chickens start murmuring] Let's face the facts, ducks. The chances of US getting out of HERE are 1,000,000 to 1.
    Ginger: Then there's still a chance.
    [After everyone is yelling]
    Rocky Rhodes: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa! Let's back up and start from the top. Where am I?
    Ginger: Uh, you're right, how rude of us. We're just very exci– [clears throat] This is a chicken farm.
    Babs: And we're the chickens. [winks]
    Rocky Rhodes: Ah, I'm with you so far. Chicken farm, chickens...
    Fowler: [about Rocky] I don't like the look of this one. His eyes are too close together.
    Ginger: Fowler, please!
    Fowler: And he's a yank!
    Rocky Rhodes: Easy, pops. Cockfighting's illegal where I come from.
    Bunty: And where is that, exactly?
    Rocky Rhodes: Ah, just a little place I call The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.
    Mac: Scotland!
    Rocky Rhodes: No! America!
    Chickens: Oooh! America!
    Fowler: Poppycock! Pushy Americans, always showing up late for every war. Overpaid, oversexed, and over here! [exits Hut 17]
    Rocky Rhodes: Hey, what's eatin' Grandpa?
    Ginger: Uh, don't mind him, mister.... Mister...?
    Rocky Rhodes: The name's Rocky. Rocky the Rhode Island Red. "Rhodes" for short.
    Agnes: "Rocky Rhodes"?
    Rocky Rhodes: Catchy, ain't it?
    Ginger: Um, Mr. Rhodes, is this you?
    Rocky Rhodes: Uh... who wants to know?
    Ginger: A group of rather desperate chickens. You see, if it IS you, then you just might be the answer to our prayers.
    [Rocky nervously looks at the chickens, who giggle anxiously]
    Rocky Rhodes: Well, then, call me a miracle, doll face, 'cause that's me.
    Chickens: Oooh!
    Ginger: [Off-screen] And what brings you to England, Mr. Rhodes?
    Rocky Rhodes: Why, all the beautiful English chicks, of course.
    [Ginger makes a speech to the hens with Rocky behind her]
    Ginger: I knew it was possible.
    Rocky Rhodes: Oh, it's possible alright.
    Ginger: I knew the answer would come.
    Rocky Rhodes: Amen!
    Ginger: We're all going to FLY over that fence, and Mr Rhodes is going to show us how, right?
    Rocky Rhodes: That's r... W-w-what, did you say "fly"?
    Ginger: You can teach us.
    Rocky Rhodes: No, I can't. [The other hens sigh in despair] Listen. Shh! You hear that? [silence] That's the open road calling my name and I was born to answer that call. Bye! [dashes out the coop]
    Babs: He must have very good hearing.
[circus truck]
    Ginger: So that's it. You're from the circus.
    Rocky Rhodes: [alarmed] Shh!
    Ginger: You're on the run, aren't you?
    Rocky Rhodes: [pulls Ginger behind Hut 17] You wanna keep it down?! I'm trying to lay low here!
    Ginger: I should turn you in right now!
    Rocky Rhodes: You wouldn't… would you?
    Ginger: Give me one reason why I shouldn't.
    Rocky Rhodes: Because I'm... cute? [Ginger stares at him and squawks loudly, he quickly clamps her beak shut] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! What kind of crazy chick are you? Do you know what'll happen if he finds me?!
    Ginger: It's a cruel world.
    Rocky Rhodes: I've just decided, I don't like you.
    Ginger: I've just decided, I don't care. Now show us how to fly.
    Rocky Rhodes: With this wing?!
    Ginger: Teach us, then!
    Rocky Rhodes: No!
    [Ginger squawks again]
    Melisha Tweedy: (smiles) He's valuable, you say?
    Circus Man: Sure.
    Melisha Tweedy: [to Mr Tweedy] Get the torch.
    Rocky Rhodes: [clamps her beak shut again] Now you listen here, sister. I'm not going back to that life! I'm a lone free ranger; emphasis on "free"!
    Ginger: And that's what we want - freedom! [Rocky notices the Tweedys approaching] Fancy that, they're coming this way.
    Rocky Rhodes: Uh, no! Uh, no, they're after me!
    Ginger: Teach us to fly, and we'll hide you.
    Rocky Rhodes: And if I don't...? [Ginger starts to squawk again when Rocky clamp her beak shut this instant she does] Was your father, by any chance, a vulture?!
    Ginger: Do we have a deal? [Offers her wing to seal the deal. Rocky reluctantly agrees and Ginger pulls him behind Hut 17]
    Rocky Rhodes: Time to make good on that deal, doll–
    Ginger: [grabs his beak] The name... is Ginger. [knocks on the wall of Hut 17. A hidden door opens and two chickens grab her and Rocky and take them inside]
    [Fowler is forced to share his bunk in Hut 1 with Rocky]
    Fowler: Absolutely outrageous! Asking a senior officer to share his quarters! And with a non-commissioned Yank, no less! Why, back in my day, I'd never...
    Rocky Rhodes: Hey, you weren't exactly my first choice either. And scoot over! Your wing's on my side of the bunk.
    Fowler: Your side of the bunk!? The whole bunk is my side of the bunk!
    Rocky Rhodes: [snapping back] Just... What's that smell, is that your breath?
    Fowler: [grumbling] It's absolutely outrageous.
    Rocky: So, you wanna fly? Well, it ain't gonna be easy, and it ain't gonna happen overnight either. You see, flying takes three things - hard work, perseverance and... hard work.
    Fowler: You said "hard work" twice!
    Rocky: That's because it takes twice as much work as perseverance. [licks a feather and shows it to the hens, making all of them except Ginger laugh]
    Fowler: Codswallop! [muttering] Cocky Yanks think that they know it all... [goes back into Hut 1]
    Ginger: I thought you were going to teach us how to fly.
    Rocky: That's what I'm doing.
    Ginger: [chuckles] Isn't there usually some flapping involved?
    Rocky: Hey, do I tell you how to lay eggs? Relax. We're making progress.
    Ginger: Really? I can't help feeling we're going round in circles. [points to the chickens, who are indeed, spinning around in circles]
    Rocky: What the...? Hey! Cut it out! You're making me dizzy! [The chickens stop, and start wobble around uneasily and toppling over] Yeah. I think they're ready to fly now.
    Ginger: Good, 'cause they certainly can't WALK anymore.
    Nick: We slipped into the farmer's room, all quiet, like...
    Fetcher: [interrupting] Like a fish!
    Nick: Yeah, and we- [pauses] Like a FISH? You stupid Norbert.
    [After Ginger has told the chickens that the Tweedys are planning to kill them all]
    Rocky: Listen, I've met some hard-boiled eggs in my day, but I'd say you're about 20 minutes!
    Ginger: And what's that supposed to mean?
    Rocky: It means you gotta lighten up. You see, over in America, we have this rule - "If you want to motivate someone, don't mention death!"
    Ginger: Funny. Over here, the rule is "always tell the truth"!
    Rocky: Uh, and hey, that's been working like a real charm, hasn't it? Here's some free advice: you want them to perform? Tell them what they wanna hear.
    Ginger: You mean lie? [exits Hut 1]
    Rocky: [sighs] Here we go again. You know what your problem is? You're... difficult!
    Ginger: Why, because I'm honest? I care about what happens to them. Something I wouldn't expect a lone free ranger to know anything about!
    Rocky: Hey, if this is the way you show it, I hope you never care about me!
    Ginger: I can assure you, I never will!
    Rocky: Good!?
    Ginger: FINE!
    [The pie machine has been built and Mr and Mrs Tweedy looks at it]
    Willard Tweedy: Ooh! That's champion, that is. What is it?
    Melisha Tweedy: It's a pie machine, you idiot. Chickens go in, pies come out.
    Willard Tweedy: Oh! What kind of pies?
    Melisha Tweedy: [sarcastically] Apple.
    Willard Tweedy: My favourite!
    Melisha Tweedy: [forcefully] Chicken pies, you great lummox! [calmly] Imagine it! In less than a fortnight, every grocer's in the county will be stocked with box upon box of "Mrs Tweedy's Homemade Chicken Pies".
    Willard Tweedy: Just "Missus"?
    Melisha Tweedy: Woman's touch. Makes the public feel more comfortable.
    Willard Tweedy: Uh, right. How does it work? [about to pull the gearshift]
    Melisha Tweedy: [slaps Mr Tweedy on the hand] Get me a chicken and I'll show you.
    Willard Tweedy: I know just the 1. [walks out to get Ginger] ?
    [on finding out Rocky can't fly. Inside joke, see Trivia]
    Bunty: I knew he was fake all along. In fact, I'm not even certain he was American.
    Willard Tweedy: [being attacked by the chickens] MRS TWEEDY, THE CHICKENS ARE REVOLTING!?
    Melisha Tweedy: [sarcastically, with her back turned, not paying attention] Finally, something we agree on.
    Ginger: Listen. We'll either die free chickens or die trying.
    Babs: Are those the only choices?
    Nick: [aboard the flying machine] The exits are located here and here. In the quite likely event of an emergency, put your head between your knees and-
    Fetcher: Kiss your bum goodbye!
    Ginger: Alright, Fowler! Ready for take-off!
    Fowler: Behind you all the way!
    Ginger: But... you're supposed to be up there! [points to the cockpit] You're the pilot!
    Fowler: Don't be ridiculous. I can't fly this contraption.
    Ginger: But... but back in your day. The Royal Air Force.
    Fowler: 644 Squadron, Poultry Division! We were the mascots.
    Ginger: You mean you never actually FLEW the plane!?
    Fowler: Good heavens, no! I'm a CHICKEN! The Royal Air Force doesn't let chickens behind the controls of complex aircraft!
    [The chickens hear this and start chattering in a panic.]
    Hen: We're all gonna die!
    Ginger: You have to fly it. You're always talking about back in your day. Well, today is your day!
    Bunty: You can do it, you old sausage.
    [Fowler pulls himself together, stands and salutes.]
    Fowler: Wing Commander T.I. Fowler reporting for duty. [The hens cheer; Fowler impatiently talks over them, heading for the cockpit.] Come on, what are you waiting for? Let's get this crate off the ground!
    [On the flying machine]
    Fowler: We need more power!
    Mac: I cannae work miracles, Cap'n! We're giving her all she's got!
    [Ginger slaps Rocky]
    Ginger: THAT'S for leaving. [pulls him close] And THIS is for coming back.
    [Loud nose occurs, the crate is pulled down slightly and the chickens scream]
    Fowler: Great Scott! What was that?
    Mac: A cling-on, Cap'n, and the engines can't take it!
    [Melisha Tweedy scares Rocky and Ginger]
    Ginger: Oh my goodness. Babs! Scissors!
    Babs:[knit toothbrush lipstick scissor] Bingo!
    Ginger: Lower me down.
    Rocky: But... Ginger...
    Ginger: Just do it.
    Fowler: Increase velocity!
    Babs: What does that mean?
    Bunty: It means PEDAL YOUR FLIPPIN' GIBLETS OUT!!
    [Melisha Tweedy climbs the lights]
    Ginger: LOWER!
    Rocky: I'm trying!
    [Melisha Tweedy climbs the lights]
    Ginger: [billboard] FOWLER! LOOK OUT!
    Rocky: GINGER! [Rocky Starts firing eggs at Melisha Tweedy]
    Rocky: FIRE! FIRE!
    Fetcher: Oh, me eggs. [Ginger loses Babs' scissors]
    Rocky: MORE AMMO, HURRY!
    Nick: WE'VE GOT NO MORE EGGS!
    Rocky: GINGER! LOOK OUT!
    Melisha Tweedy: [Snarling. Melisha Tweedy breaks the wire with axe and Ginger fakes her death]
    Rocky: NOOOOO!!! [Ginger duck and cover looks up at Melisha Tweedy]
    Melisha Tweedy: [Groans. Ginger reveals the broken christmas lights in front of Melisha Tweedy]
    Melisha Tweedy: HUH?
    Ginger: Bye-bye! [Melisha Tweedy screams after her side of the wire is lets go]
    Fowler: BOMBS AWAY!
    Melisha Tweedy: [her latest words] MR. TWEEDY! [All the chickens cheers for victory]
    Rocky: Oh, that was good, that was GOOD!
    Fowler: The Old Bird bought it! [Laughing]
    Willard Tweedy: Mrs. Tweedy, Mrs. Tweed-- (Oh, no!) [Melisha Tweedy shrieking and gasping. Willard Tweedy closed the door slowing down and pie machine explodes] (Look out for exploded!)
    Rocky and Ginger: WHOA! [Gravy leaks down the door]
    Willard Tweedy: [his latest words] I told you they was organized. [Melisha Tweedy gets angry, and the door falls flat on her]
    [Last lines]
    Nick: 'Ey, 'ey, here's a thought. Why don't we get an egg and start our own chicken farm? That way we'll have all the eggs we could eat.
    Fetcher: Right. We'll need a chicken then.
    Nick: No. No, we'll need an egg. You have the egg first. That's where you get the chicken from.
    Fetcher: No, that's cobblers. If you don't have a chicken, where you gonna get an egg?
    Nick: From the chicken that comes from the egg.
    Fetcher: Yeah, but you have to have an egg to have a chicken.
    Nick: Yeah, but you gotta get the chicken first to get the egg, and then the egg, you get the chicken out.
    Fetcher: Hang on. Let's go over this again.
    [The screen puts up, "The End", then the credits scene]
    [Very last lines, the screen puts up, "The End", then the bonus credits scene]
    Nick: The egg, obviously. Rollin' along happy as Larry, then, crack! Hatches into the first chicken.
    Fetcher: Yeah, but where'd the egg come from, then?
    Nick: What do you mean, where'd it come from?
    Fetcher: Egg comes rollin' along, happy as Larry. It's wonderin', where'd it come from? Without a chicken, you get no egg to come rollin' along.
    Nick: Well, conversely, without an egg to hatch into the chicken, there will be no chicken to lay the other egg that hatches into the chicken that lays the egg I mentioned in the first place.
    Fetcher: So we got two eggs now?
    Nick: No, we're still talking about the very first egg.
    Fetcher: But what happened about the very first chicken?
    Nick: He's in the very first egg! Aren't you listenin'?
    Rocky: Uh, guys. Guys? Tryin' to enjoy paradise over here.
    Nick: Oh, sorry, guv.
    Fetcher: Beg your pardon.
    Nick: Won't happen again.
    Rocky: Thanks.
    Nick: Gitface.
    Fetcher: Pillock.
    Nick: Thinks he's such a big shot 'cause he's got his name on a poster. These show biz folk are all the same.
    Fetcher: Yeah, the rats are the stars, carefully. Yeah, they are. Of course they are.
    Nick: Yeah, yeah, yeah, they are. Of course they are. We do all the work, he gets all the credits.
    Fetcher: But he does get all the birds. He gets everything.
    Nick: Yes, he does. Everything.
    Fetcher: You said it, mate.
    Nick: I know.

## Deleted Dialogues

    [Melisha Tweedy grabs the wire and both Rocky and Ginger walk slowly up to the rear]
    Ginger: Oh No. SHES GRABBED ON!

## Taglines

* This Ain't No Chick Flick!
* Escape or Die Frying.
* A Few Good Hen.
* There's Nothing More Determined Than Poultry With A Plan.
* She's Poultry In Motion.
* Feathers Will Fly!
* The Lone Free Ranger.
* It's Chicken Impossible.
* A Chicken Will Rise!
* The Cluck Stops Here.
* Run, Don't Walk!

## Voice cast

* Julia Sawalha — Ginger the hen
* Mel Gibson — Rocky the rooster
* Lynn Ferguson — Mac
* Jane Horrocks — Babs
* Imelda Staunton — Bunty
* Benjamin Whitrow — Fowler
* Phil Daniels — Fetcher
* Timothy Spall — Nick
* Tony Haygarth — Willard Tweedy
* Miranda Richardson — Melisha Tweedy
* John Sharian — ringmaster
* Jo Allen, Lisa Kay and Laura Strachan — Additional Chickens

## Rolleliste

* Rocky – Søren Pilmark
* Ginger – Annette Heick
* Mac – Jette Sievertsen
* Babs – Trine Pallesen
* Mr Tweedy – Per Pallesen
* Mrs Tweedy – Anne Marie Helger
* Fowler – John Hahn-Petersen
* Fetcher – Torben Zeller
* Nick – Claus Bue
* Bunty – Ellen Hillingsø

#### I mindre roller

* Vibeke Dueholm
* Louise Engell
* Puk Scharbau
* Lars Thiesgaard
* Julian T. Kellermann
* Helene W. Moe

#### Technical Credits

* Instruktør – Lars Thiesgaard
* Oversættelse – Hans Kristian Bang
* Producer – Svend Christiansen

## External links

* Chicken Run quotes at the Internet Movie Database
* Chicken Run at Rotten Tomatoes
* The official site