Animal Farm (1954)

[bunniefuu]

To the world we all know,

which may or may not
be the best world possible,

once again Springtime had come.

But all the magic of Spring was not enough
to conceal the misery of Manor Farm.

Once thriving and fruitful, the
farm, and its owner, Mr Jones,

had fallen on evil days.

Beset by problems of his own making,
Mr Jones had turned to drink

and for his misery he
had found poor company.

On the evening our story begins,

it was later than usual when Mr Jones came
home from his drinking to make his rounds.

Damned old hens.

Good for nothing beasts...

eat their heads off.

Arrguh!

On this night

all the animals had agreed that
as soon as Mr Jones was in bed,

they would gather in the main
barn for a secret meeting,

called by Old Major,

the prized boar hog

who, because of his years, was
regarded by far the wisest of the animals.

The other pigs started
first for the meeting

being clever and
fond of taking the lead.

They were followed by Boxer, largest
and strongest of the horses,

and his devoted friend Benjamin,
the donkey.

All the other animals, great and
small, were anxious to get there.

For such a meeting had
never been held before.

Old Major had been ailing

and now, he had made known,

there were some things he
wanted to say to his fellow animals,

before it might be too late.

It took a while
for all to find their seats.

The pigs had taken up the best positions
immediately in front of the platform,

among them Snowball,

determined to get a good view.

And Napoleon,
equally determined and even less polite.

What was that?

No.

No, it wasn't Mr Jones.

At last everyone could be
settled to hear Old Major.

My dear friends...

I have lived a long life...

I have had much time for thought
as I lay alone in my stall.

I won't be with you...

much longer...

and before I die there's
something I want to tell you.

Few of us will ever know the
blessings of a peaceful old age.

You... Boxer...

when you have given the
last of your great strength...

What then?

Whatever we produce is taken from us.

Stolen from us... and sold.

Our children are born...
to cold and hunger.

Look at them while you can.

You porkers...

do you know what the future holds for you?

Do we deserve such a fate?

Is this farm too poor to support us all?

No, comrades.

Manor Farm is rich.

But we'll never get our rightful
share from Farmer Jones.

Overthrow this evil tyrant...

and we shall be rich and free.

Comrades...

REVOLT!

But remember...

When you have got rid of Jones...

don't adopt his vices.

We animals... are brothers;

large or small;

clever or simple; fur or feathers;

now and forever...

All animals are EQUAL!

The very next morning,

sooner perhaps than Old
Major would have predicted,

the animals found their
situation quite unbearable.

And so, almost before they realised it,

the animals had fought and won!

They had casualties to mourn, and those
who d*ed left children to be cared for.

But Manor Farm was theirs

and they lost no time in destroying everything
that reminded them of hateful Mr Jones.

When it came to Mr
Jones's house, the animals hesitated.

Napoleon showed the way.

But Snowball took the lead in entering
the place where their tyrant had lived.

They agreed that
Jones's house was no place for them.

All, that is, except Napoleon.

Meantime,

Snowball led the other animals
in organising a new society

which they now named Animal Farm.

So that all might see and agree

the laws of Animal Farm were
inscribed in a prominent place

to be remembered and obeyed forever.

No animal shall sleep in a bed.

No animal shall drink alcohol.

Four legs good, two legs bad.

Wings count as legs.

Four legs good,

two legs bad.

Four legs good,

two legs bad.

No animal shall k*ll another animal.

All animals are equal!

Tending the farm by themselves
posed problems for the animals,

but the pigs could figure a
way round every difficulty.

Boxer was the admiration of everybody.

He had been a hard
worker in Jones's time

but now he seemed more
like three horses than one.

Instructed by Snowball, other animals
worked out the rest for themselves.

And the farm work was done like magic.

The success of their
efforts delighted everyone

including sly Napoleon and his
constant companion Fat Pig Squealer.

That summer, the animals,
without any help or any interference,

made a going proposition of Animal Farm.

The fields yielded richly and they were cut
and gleaned with diligence and devotion.

With the harvest safely home,
the animals had time to think of the future

and, at a meeting in the big barn,
many resolutions were put forward.

It was always the pigs
that made the resolutions.

Comrades... our first five months'
plan... is a farm-wide triumph.

And the time has come...
to spread the glorious news,

so that our downtrodden
comrades on other farms

will break their chains...
and join... the Animal Revolution.

Go! Tell the wonders of
Animal Farm to the world.

Some animals,
content with their lot,

were unimpressed with
tales of peace and plenty.

Others, happy in their own surroundings,
were alarmed at the thought of any change.

But wherever they were having a bad
time, animals listened with interest.

In certain quarters the
rebellious behaviour of a lot of dumb animals

caused indignation
and much conversation.

But nothing was done about it

for the drunken Mr Jones and
his cronies did not know what to do.

Snowball felt that education was
the animals' next necessity.

Some of the animals were
brighter than others, of course.

B, C, D.

E!

Four legs good, two legs bad.

Snowball set himself to solve
the problem of power on the farm.

And so did Napoleon.

In January there
came bitterly hard weather.

Inexperienced management brought
shortages to Animal Farm.

But Snowball continued
his thinking for the future.

And in such thoughts he was not alone!

Comrades, I have prepared a
new plan for Animal Farm.

Here it is; all it needs is your vote.

At first we will have to
work more and eat less.

But my plan... will bring us electricity.

It will mean a warm barn in winter...

A light... in every stall... sty and roost.

Luxury for all.

Comrades, in one short year Animal
Farm will be the finest in the world.

Dreams, dreams.

A vote for my plan is a
vote for the life beautiful.

It's a lie.

I promise you a four-day week.

Bosh.

Perhaps a three-day week.

Nonsense.

A one day week.

With Snowball disposed of

Napoleon stepped up confidently
to take charge of Animal Farm.

And Fat Pig Squealer became his
obedient follower and assistant.

Comrades, Snowball is a traitor!

What was he really planning?

To bring back Jones!

Now... let's have no more of
these useless meetings... eh?

From now on, I'll protect your interests...

and I'll make your decisions.

Let me show you my plan for Animal Farm.

Four legs good, two legs bad.

Hip Hip Hooray.
For "Napoleon" Mill.

And so the windmill was started after all.

Nothing could have been
achieved without Boxer

whose strength was greater than that
of all the other animals put together.

Superintended by the pigs

all the animals worked long
shifts which lasted from dawn till dusk.

Rations were shortened for the workers

but the pigs, by virtue of their
brain work, were plentifully provided for.

But the greatest inspiration
came from Boxer

who, with his friend Benjamin,
worked early and late, in season and out.

One evening after
working long and late, as usual,

Boxer and Benjamin
made a curious discovery.

Word of what now went on at night in Jones's
house spread quickly through Animal Farm.

Some of the animals thought they
remembered a law against beds

but obviously they were mistaken.

And now... other changes in the
laws of Animal Farm were in store.

Those ungrateful beasts of yours!

Cheer up, they won't last.

Another winter will
bring them to their knees.

Anyway, where are
they going to buy the things they need?

In Mr Jones's circle,

the subject of shortages at
Animal Farm was a popular one.

And a sharp trader named Whymper was
just the sort to do something about it.

Comrades! Our leader,
as wise as he is beloved,

has decided to trade
with the outside world.

Not for gain, of course, that would be
unworthy of our noble principles.

You hens... are to have the honour of making
the first contribution. All your eggs.

I know how proud you
are of this privilege...

The chickens seemed
to remember Old Major saying

that their eggs should
never be taken from them.

The innocent
suffered with the guilty.

And the chicken's uprising was short-lived.

Comrades I have made a terrible discovery.

There are traitors among us!

Yes, comrades,
in league with Jones and Snowball.

To destroy Animal Farm!

Who else is guilty?

Stand up and confess.

The revolution is now complete.

We have no more use for that song.
Singing it is now forbidden.

Under penalty of DEATH!

Trade between Animal Farm and
the outer world now became quite brisk.

As might be expected, Mr Whymper's profits
inspired others to seek their share.

Or at least, give vent to their jealousy.

Mmm...
Animal Farm seems to be making money.

For Whymper.

Who ever heard of animals running a farm.

Have you seen their wind mill.

- Come on, let's kick them out.
- Yeah, kick them out.

The original owner was
not invited to join this movement.

His neighbours let him
know his day was done.

Comrades. The enemy has
mobilised all his forces against us.

We must save Animal Farm from the hateful
enemy. At all costs we animals must unite.

Now is the time to fight -
to die for Animal Farm.

Let us show them
all that Animal Farm is strong.

Now began the
heartbreaking job of rebuilding.

And as before, Boxer and Benjamin
worked hardest of all.

By now supervision of the work
by pigs was hardly necessary.

So they had time for
less laborious pursuits.

Long after the
other animals left the job...

Boxer and Benjamin worked on and on,
giving their all, year in, year out.

A new generation of pigs grew up

endowed with what were considered arts
and graces very flattering to Animal Farm.

And its presiding genius!

But still the windmill was not finished.

And Boxer's injured foot
got worse instead of better.

It looked as though Boxer were dead.
But he wasn't. Not quite.

Boxer's hurt bad, he'll never
work again. What do we do?

While Napoleon and
Squealer made plans for Boxer,

Benjamin predicted he could look forward
to a well-earned rest and retirement.

Next day the windmill work went on
as usual, but now without Boxer.

And during the morning what
appeared to be an ambulance arrived.

Only Benjamin suspected
it wasn't an ambulance.

The other animals finally recognised the
death wagon from Mr Whymper's glue factory.

I was with him right to the end.

His last words were "Forward
comrades long live Napoleon".

As for the wicked rumour that
Boxer was sold to a glue factory.

Our beloved leader would never do that.

Long live Napoleon.

Long live Napoleon!

And that night,
the pigs drank to Boxer's memory

in the whiskey they
had bought with Boxer's life.

Years passed, the seasons came and went.
Their short animal lives sped by.

The completed windmill stood as a monument
to its builders' faith and sacrifice.

But the animals' revolution
was only dimly remembered.

Outwardly Animal Farm
appeared prosperous,

but the animals themselves
were no better off,

with the exception of the pigs,
and their supreme leader, Napoleon.

This pig-run enterprise now had many
of the frills of real civilization

and one fine day, pig delegates from
far and wide arrived at Animal Farm

to celebrate the
coming of a new era.

When reports of this great
change reached them,

other animals
everywhere were incredulous.

Dismayed and indignant, they headed
towards Animal Farm from all directions,

instinctively uniting, once again,
in common cause.

Loyal followers,

on farms owned and operated by pigs...

there is order and discipline.

Our lower animals do more work
and eat less than on other farms.

Well, this... will encourage you to make
your lower animals work even harder

and eat even less.

To a greater Animal Farm!

To peace and plenty under pig rule.

To the day when pigs own and
operate farms everywhere.

To the animals it
now seemed that their world,

which may or may not someday
become a happy place to live in,

was worse than ever for ordinary creatures,

and another moment had come when
they must do something about it.