The Backyardigans and The Secret of NIMH

***The Backyardigans and The Secret of NIMH*** is the fifth adventure in *The Backyardigans' Adventures Series* to be created by Hiatt Grey.

## Plot

Mrs. Brisby, a widowed field mouse, lives in a cinder block with her children in a field on the Fitzgibbons' farm. She prepares to move her family out of the field as plowing time approaches, but her son Timothy has fallen ill. She visits Mr. Ages, a friend of her late husband, Jonathan, who diagnoses the illness as pneumonia, provides Mrs. Brisby with medicine, and warns her that Timothy must stay inside for at least three weeks or he will die. On her way home, Mrs. Brisby befriends Jeremy, a clumsy but friendly crow. They both narrowly escape from the Fitzgibbons' cat, Dragon.

The next day, Mrs. Brisby discovers that Farmer Fitzgibbon has started plowing early. Although her neighbor Auntie Shrew helps her disable his tractor, Mrs. Brisby knows she must devise another plan. Jeremy takes her to meet The Great Owl, who tells her to visit a colony of rats that live beneath a rose bush on the farm and ask for Nicodemus, their wise and mystical leader.

Mrs. Brisby enters the rose bush and encounters an aggressive guard rat named Brutus, who chases her away. She is led back in by Mr. Ages, and is amazed to see the rats' use of electricity and other technology. She meets Justin, the friendly captain of the guard, Jenner, a ruthless, power-hungry rat opposed to Nicodemus, and finally Nicodemus himself. From Nicodemus, she learns that many years ago her husband, along with the rats and Mr. Ages, were part of a series of experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH for short). The experiments boosted their intelligence, enabling them to escape, as well as extending their lifespans and slowing their aging process. However, they are unable to live only as rats, and need human technology to survive, which they have accomplished only by stealing. The rats have eventually settled on the decision to leave the farm and live independently. Nicodemus gives Mrs. Brisby an amulet, and tells her it will awaken when the wearer is courageous.

Because of the rats' relationship with Jonathan, they agree to help Mrs. Brisby move her home. First, they need to drug Dragon to sleep so that they can complete the move safely. Only Mrs. Brisby can do this, as the rats are too big to fit through the hole leading into the house; Jonathan was killed by Dragon in a previous attempt, while Mr. Ages broke his leg in another. That night, she puts the drug into the cat's food dish, but the Fitzgibbons' son, Billy, catches her. While trapped in a birdcage, she overhears a telephone conversation between Farmer Fitzgibbons and NIMH and learns that the institute intends to exterminate the rats the next day. Mrs. Brisby then escapes from the cage and runs off to warn the rats.

As a rainstorm approaches, the rats begin moving the Brisby home, with the children inside, using a rope and pulley system. Jenner, who wishes for the rats to remain in the rose bush, sabotages the assembly with his reluctant accomplice, Sullivan, causing it to fall apart and crush Nicodemus to death. Mrs. Brisby arrives and tries to warn the rats about NIMH's arrival, but Jenner attacks her and attempts to steal the amulet. Sullivan alerts Justin, who comes to Mrs. Brisby's aid. Jenner mortally wounds Sullivan and engages Justin in a sword fight, which ends with the dying Sullivan killing Jenner and saving Justin's life.

The Brisby home begins to sink into a mud puddle and the rats are unable to raise it. Mrs. Brisby's will to save her children gives power to the amulet, which she uses to lift the house and move it to safety. The next morning, the rats have departed from the farm with Justin as their new leader and Timothy begins to recover. Jeremy soon meets Miss Right, another crow who is just as clumsy as he is, and they fall in love.

## Trivia

* Dora Márquezt, Boots, Backpack, Map, Isa, Tico, Benny, Sagwa Miao, Dongwa Miao, Sheegwa Miao, and the Rockhopper crew (Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel, and Kevin) guest star in this film.