Fluke (1995)

[bunniefuu]

(FEEDBACK/VOICES OVERLAPPING)

MAN:

I ask you to listen

with an open mind,

forgetting for a moment what

you believe and don't believe.

This is how it started.

On a night like this.

On a two-lane country road

not far from here.

Hey, Jeff!

Pull over!

(HONKS HORN)

(WHIMPERS)

(SIREN)

(SPEAKS CHINESE)

(BARKING)

It's that same mutt

causing all the racket.

He's done nothing

but bark since the other

pups were adopted.

Tomorrow you can

put him to sleep.

For now, put him

in the can.

(WHIMPERS)

(MAKES KISSING NOISES)

Come here, boy.

Uncle Jerry's got a special

treat for you today.

Stop that dog!

(DOG WHINING)

Now...

Now...

Now you're history!

(EXCLAIMS)

(HORN HONKS)

(SHRIEKING AND LAUGHING)

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

(HEAVY METAL MUSIC PLAYING)

(KISSING NOISES)

(KISSING NOISES)

Come here,

little fellow.

Come on. We'll keep

each other warm.

Come on.

Come on.

(CHUCKLES)

MAN: These two connecting

circles. They mean forever.

It's beautiful.

Will you be with me forever?

Yes, Tommy.

Forever.

(COUGHS)

"My fancies are fireflies.

"Specks of living light,

twinkling in the dark."

Poetry is food for the soul,

little puppy.

(SIGHS)

We've seen better days.

Oh, well. Here, let's

play a little game.

Now...

See, we have three

walnut shells.

One, two, three.

Three walnut shells.

And we put the little jewel

under one.

We move 'em around.

Move 'em around.

There. Where is it?

Where's the jewel?

Good puppy. Good puppy.

Okay. Here we go again.

Now, where is it? Where is it?

Good puppy.

Good puppy.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good puppy. Good puppy!

He's such a smart little guy.

Thank you.

It was just a fluke.

He's my little fluke.

Yes!

Fluke by nature,

Fluke by name.

(COUGHS AND SPLUTTERS)

I... I don't feel

very well, Fluke.

I think I'll take

a nap before we go.

(BARKING)

MALE VOICE:

Rise and shine, squirt.

Don't let 'em

catch you sleeping here.

That old dogcatcher

gets up mighty early

lookin' for easy targets

just like you.

Did you run away,

or did they pull that old

"drive across the bridge

and dump the pup" trick?

You can talk?

Don't be goofy.

I'm a dog, pal.

But you're not barking.

What you're saying

to me are words.

It's a mental thing.

It's what I want you to know

and what you want

me to know.

That's all it is.

But... But...

Didn't you ever meet anyone

who could communicate?

No, never.

Well, now you have.

They call me Rumbo.

What about you?

Fluke.

Mmm-mmm.

I smell hunger

with a capital "H".

Whaddya say we get

something to eat?

What about Bella?

I'm afraid Bella

had to move on, my friend.

You won't be seeing her

anymore.

Hey, come on. It's chowtime.

Let's roll.

Rumbo, wait up.

I have to do something.

Whoa, what have we

got here?

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

That's not the way

we do it, squirt.

Now, check this out.

Three paws down, firmly,

while number four

reaches for the sky.

Oh.

Now that's class!

Rumbo, help! Help!

Hey, squirt, we're goin' to

eat and you're takin' a bath.

Get outta there. Come on.

Come on. You can do it.

Come on.

There.

You okay?

Yeah. I'm okay.

Well, that's one

way of gettin' rid

of your fleas.

What's that...

What's that smell?

I mean, I love it. I love it.

Hey, hey! Be cool.

Knock it off.

Ow!

Come on back here.

Come on.

It's taken me years

to build this route

and I'm not gonna let

some rookie ruin it for me.

Now, you just sit there

and watch the master.

Hey, Rumbo.

What's goin' on?

What'll it be?

Coming right up, sir.

There you go.

Now, who is this?

Listen here, Rumbo,

you know I can't be feeding

all your buddies.

Just let me

handle this.

Hey, Bert, how about something

for the pup?

I bet you want something

for the pup too, huh?

Ow!

Now, you two, out of here.

I got payin'

customers to tend to.

Okay, now. Listen up.

You're gonna meet the boss,

but he don't have a lot

of patience with dogs,

so when he talks to you,

just wag your tail and go

into your puppy routine,

all right?

Okay.

You are gonna love this place,

kid. Lots of nice shade

and soft places to lay.

It's the only place I know

you can chase car tires

and not worry

about gettin' run over.

(RUMBO CHUCKLES)

MAN: Uh-huh, yeah.

All righty. I'll have to call

you back, all right?

(MAN COUGHS)

Rumbo, where the hell

you been all night? Huh?

What do you have,

a sweetheart?

What!

Just go to him.

He called me a girl.

People make mistakes.

Now forgive him and get over

there and wag your tail.

What's he doing?

He's being affectionate.

Well, it hurts.

Well, love hurts.

What's this say?

"Fluke". What the hell

kinda name is that?

Ah, that's a nice dog.

(WHIMPERS)

RUMBO: Hey. Hey!

What's going on?

I guess I was dreaming.

You were what?

Uh, dreaming.

I was seeing

pictures inside my head.

Pictures ain't got

no business being

inside your head.

Next time you just growl

and chase 'em away.

Rumbo, have you always

been a dog?

What you talkin' about?

What else could I have been?

I don't know. A human.

A two-legger? Me?

Rule number one:

stop askin' dumb questions.

It's just that...

No "buts,"

no "ifs," no "ands."

Stop talking all this

nonsense. It's sack time.

Good night.

Good night, Rumbo.

RUMBO: Oh, man!

This is too good to be true.

What are we gonna do, Rumbo?

Take a good look, squirt.

We done hit

the promised land.

Oh, holy smoke!

D'you think

this'll be all right?

All right? The guy

walked away.

That's what I consider

formal invitation.

Everything smells so good.

Mmm-hmm.

Mmm-mmm! (CHUCKLES)

I knew I smelled pumpkin!

Hey!

BERT: Yeah, so I'm

sittin' there just

waitin' for the light,

this woman bangs

into the back of my car.

$500 damage and

they raise my insurance rates.

Now you tell me if that

makes any sense.

(BARKING)

Fluke?

Fluke. Cool it.

(CUSTOMER COUGHING)

Don't mind that dog.

He's harmless.

RUMBO: What's with you?

There's something about him.

Can't you smell it, Rumbo?

That'll be $1.85.

All right. Thank you.

Oops.

Sorry about that.

Hey! Hey!

Get off me!

Fluke, you cut that out.

That dog is vicious, mister.

He attacked me.

You can't keep a dog like that

in a public place.

You hear what I said?

I heard you. Now go on, man.

You're making

the dogs nervous.

Go on, get outta here!

It's all right.

Everything's all right.

Shh, shh. It's all right.

It's all right.

Quiet. It's okay.

Sorry, pooch. I guess

you're gonna have to find

something else to read.

What's up?

You look like you

just saw a ghost.

I saw someone

I used to know.

An old friend?

I think... He's a m*rder*r.

I hear they were your dogs.

My dogs never bit

anybody normal.

Well, that dog

ought to be put to sleep.

The dogs had their shots

and you ain't gonna die

from that little scratch.

I could complain

to Animal Control. I could

make a lot of trouble for you.

Mike...

All right?

Now get outta here.

RUMBO: Uh-oh.

I think it's time to split.

Hey! Hey, Rumbo! Rumbo!

Rumbo, get back here!

Come on, you guys.

Time for supper.

Daddy's back.

Hey! Hey, Rumbo! I see you.

You're gonna get yours.

Okay, Fluke.

You did your time.

(RINGING TONE)

WOMAN:

Hello?

Hello?

Hello? Is anybody there?

(LICKING)

Who's this?

What the hell...

Hey, Fluke!

Hey! Fluke!

(GROANS)

Oh, these dogs.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Hi. Who's calling?

You called, lady.

Who you lookin' for?

No, you called me.

Who is this?

I didn't call anybody.

The only other person in

this office was Fluke,

and he couldn't have called

because he's a dog, lady.

Rumbo, I wasn't

always a dog.

And neither were you.

Right! Last week

I was Snow White.

Well, how do you know

who Snow White is?

It's something you knew

in your past,

it's something

you read in a book.

That's ridiculous.

Don't you see?

You can't face it.

You're lying to yourself.

I'm happy who I am.

But I'm not.

I lived in a house.

I had a family.

I had a life once, Rumbo.

You got one now.

A damn good one.

I'm gonna find them.

If you're gonna go chasing

after humans in your head,

you're going alone.

And don't bother coming back!

Rumbo! Wait!

Get him in the truck.

There you go.

You're right.

He's just the right size.

(MACHINE BEEPING)

(HORN HONKING)

Forever.

(BEEPING QUICKENS)

This is impossible.

What's going on,

Sylvester?

(ALARM BLARES)

Come on, squirt.

We gotta get outta here.

Can you walk?

I think so.

Got it. Now let's roll.

Rumbo, I can't see.

Grab my tail.

Ow! Hey, easy with

the teeth, now.

Watch your step.

Here we go.

Blue skies ahead.

sh**t the dog.

I can't sh**t the dog!

Maybe we should

stop here for a minute.

They'll never find us here.

I think maybe I'll lay down

for a while.

How are your eyes?

A little better.

Rumbo, you're bleeding.

Listen to me, squirt.

You stay in these woods

until your eyes heal.

What do you mean?

I'm staying with you.

I don't think

I can help you

any more, squirt.

Rumbo,

why you talking like this?

You're gonna be all right.

Forget it. There's nothing

you can do.

Come closer.

Look,

we've got to stay together.

You and me, like always.

I can't make it

without you, Rumbo.

I had another dream.

My family's in danger.

Fluke, things aren't always

what they seem.

Rule number one:

there's no going back.

You can't be sorry about

what's been, squirt.

You got to be.

Please. I have to know.

Am I the only one?

You were a man once, too.

Weren't you, Rumbo?

Remember that snapshot

behind old Bert's counter?

That was me. In another life.

Bert was my brother.

Hmm. I never really missed

being a two-legger.

But the sea...

Huh. I wish I could

smell the sea again.

All I know is you were

the best friend I ever had.

I'll miss you.

Rumbo, don't leave me.

Maybe we'll meet again,

squirt.

Next time around.

No.

Rumbo?

(SOBS) No.

Rumbo's words kept

ringing in my ears:

"There's no going back."

But my family was in danger.

I had to go to them.

(BELL RINGING)

We're gonna be late.

Wait up.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

Let's go.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

Cool. Hey, boy.

GIRL: Oh, sweet puppy.

GIRL 2: Neat dog.

(ENGINE STARTS)

Move it, pooch.

(GASPS)

Get down. Get away.

Look at this!

Mom, he's not gonna bite us.

Get down!

Get away.

This dog is crazy.

Get down! Get away

from the car!

What is with this dog?

Brian, shut your door.

Shut it. Shut it.

CAROL: What's wrong with it?

I've never seen

a dog act like this.

Mom, the windows are up.

He can't do anything to us.

Let's go. We're going home.

My god, it scared me.

(FLUKE BARKING)

It's the dog from school.

No, no, Brian.

Don't open the door.

What's going on?

My god. How did he get here?

Uh, that's okay,

Libby, thanks.

Mom, we have to feed him.

He must have run

all the way here.

Come away from the door.

Come on.

He must be thirsty.

Brian, we don't know

anything about that dog.

Stubborn dog.

Brian, come and eat.

I'm not hungry.

CAROL: There's a big

juicy cheeseburger here

with your name on it.

Come on and eat your supper.

I don't think I can eat

with that sad

creature staring in at me.

He probably hasn't

eaten for days.

All right.

He can stay for just one meal,

then he's gone. Deal?

Deal.

Ah!

I told you, Mom.

He's really nice.

Good boy.

(SNEEZES)

Bless you! I think

he likes us.

Do you think anybody

owns him?

Well, let's see

if he's got a tag here.

Here it is.

Oh, there's no address.

It just says "Fluke".

Hi, Fluke.

Fluke.

Mom, I know we made

a deal and I respect it.

But can't we keep him...

Just for a little while?

Brian, why don't you

get up off the floor?

Just until we find

his owner?

You can't put him

on the street now.

I mean,

he could be hit by a car.

You are just like your father.

A con artist.

Your father used to brag

he could sell ice

cubes to the Eskimos.

Well...

He can stay on one condition.

He has to have a bath,

right now. He's filthy.

(GROANS)

Energize.

(IMITATES g*nf*re)

Gotcha.

BRIAN: Gotcha.

Fluke, have you seen Data?

Hey.

My dad used

to do that.

(WHIMPERS)

Okay, Fluke, this is

your bed for the night.

I'll see you

in the morning.

(GASPS)

What are you doing here?

See you later, Fluke.

Come on, Brian.

We're gonna be late.

What's the matter,

Fluke? Hmm?

What's the matter?

You're a sweet boy.

You're a very sweet dog.

Playing with Brian,

doing things that I never

had time for when I was a man,

made me realize

how precious every moment is.

This was where I belonged.

Somehow, sooner or later,

I'd find a way to tell

them who I really was.

(CLATTER)

Brian!

(GASPS)

Fluke...

Did you escape

from a circus, or what?

Tom looked so

silly in this hat.

Ready, Brian?

All right.

Come on, Fluke! Let's go.

♪ We're off to see the Wizard

♪ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

♪ Because, because,

because, because, because

♪ Because of

the wonderful things he does

♪ We're...

off to see the Wizard

♪ The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

♪ Because, because,

because, because, because... ♪

WOMAN ON TV:

I love you.

More than you know.

TOM:

She was

even more beautiful

than I remembered.

I would have given anything

to tell her

how much I loved her.

More than fields

I have planted with my hands.

I love you more

than morning prayers.

Shh, Fluke. Stop whining.

I'm trying to

watch the movie.

It's okay, Fluke.

(VEHICLE APPROACHES)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Come in. The door's open.

Hi, Jeff.

Hi.

No, Fluke! No! Jeff!

No. Fluke!

Fluke, no!

What are you

gonna do to him?

Please, don't hurt him!

Open the door!

You all right?

Hello.

Give me Animal Control.

Don't call them!

Brian, please! No, no,

we've got a dog that's going

crazy on our front lawn.

Brian, honey,

go to your room.

It'll be okay. Please, go.

Yes, please.

6241 Willow Drive.

I don't know

what got into him.

I don't know

why he's acting like this.

Well, something's

wrong with that dog.

Good evening.

What seems to be

the problem, sir?

Well, my friend's kid

brought home some stray

that just went berserk.

It bit me.

It's a large, brown mutt.

He might still be

around here somewhere.

I don't know.

OFFICER: We're not going

to find him out there.

OFFICER #2: He's gone.

We'll call Animal

Control in the morning.

Thanks for coming out.

If it happens again,

give us a call.

Well, there's

nothing more I can do.

Are you okay? I mean...

Yeah.

It didn't break the skin.

Don't go yet.

Why don't you

stay for a bit?

JEFF: They'll take him

to the pound.

CAROL: I don't wanna

call the pound.

You know what they

do to dogs there.

I can't do that to Brian.

Don't whine, Fluke.

They'll hear you.

Something about

that dog...

Brian?

Yes, Mom?

You okay?

Yeah. I just need a Kleenex.

Good night, kiddo.

'Night, sweetheart.

Quiet, Fluke.

Come, Fluke.

Good boy.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

JEFF: Listen, it came

off the streets. You don't

know where it's from.

Could have rabies.

You know, it just wasn't

a good idea to let him in.

He's so gentle.

I don't know what

came over him.

But he attacked me,

which means he could easily

turn and attack either of you.

Maybe he was

trying to protect us.

Brian has become

very attached to that dog.

I haven't seen him

this happy in years.

What about you?

Are you okay?

I've been thinking

about Tom a lot lately.

Me, too.

CAROL: You

think he's happy?

JEFF: I hope so.

I keep thinking if I'd only,

maybe if I'd...

Hey.

If I'd only known

what he was going through.

Listen, I thought that

we agreed we weren't gonna

do the "ifs" anymore.

I think that

we've got to try to...

Put this behind us.

I love you, Fluke.

Oh, hey, hey, hey!

Good morning, huh?

(COUGHS)

What's going on?

You're so warm.

Mom, I've gotta find...

No, I want you to go

back to bed.

I wanna take

your temperature.

But, Mom...

No, you're not going anywhere.

You have a fever.

Go on. Back to bed.

Morning, Rose.

You're early this morning,

Mr. Newman.

How was the trip?

Work.

A lot of hard work,

Rose, as usual.

Well, I hear you're

actually taking

a vacation this year.

Well, Carol

made me promise.

Now, is that likely

to turn into a honeymoon?

Well, if I had my way,

it would.

How is she?

Much better, thanks.

She still

misses him at times,

but we all do.

Yes, we do.

Have a good one.

You, too.

Jane, can you please

bring me that file?

How'd it go?

Fine, thanks.

Is that it?

Yeah, this is it.

No, I mean for the night.

My family's waiting.

And your wife called.

You have dinner

reservations at 8:30.

Listen, could you please

call her and tell her that

I won't be able to make it.

Anything else?

No.

Thank you.

Just don't stay

too late, Mr. Johnson.

Good night.

Good night.

Well, I see our brave

captain is still at the helm.

(PHONE RINGS)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(PHONE RINGING)

CAROL:

Jeff, it's me.

But... You called

Tom's old office.

I did? Oh, God,

I'm so scared.

What's happened?

I can't find Brian.

The only thing I can think

is that he's out there

looking for that dog.

Jeff, he has a fever

and it is already

below freezing outside.

Listen, I'm leaving

right now, all right?

Don't worry. We'll find him.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Hurry.

Bye-bye.

(GROWLING)

I didn't care if I

was dying or not.

I'd had my revenge.

Then suddenly it came to me

and I remembered

what really happened.

Well, I see our brave

captain is still at the helm.

Somebody's gotta work.

Especially in

a business whose profits

are off 30% in the last year.

You have heard that

we're in a slowdown?

Everybody's off.

So what's the cure?

Everybody go home

at 5:00 every night?

It's 8:45.

So what do you think

of the prototype?

I asked them to set it up

for you this morning.

Did you notice?

I read your specs.

It's twice as efficient

as any braking system

on the market.

But who can afford it?

It's twice as expensive.

It could save

thousands of lives.

Maybe, but it's

not cost-effective.

Not cost-effective!

I never thought I'd hear

something like that from you.

Tom, when we started

all of this,

we wanted to combine

our talents

to do something positive.

Make money by

helping people. Remember?

We were young then.

Everything's different now.

I don't believe that.

Neither do you.

It's so easy for you

to criticize my life,

isn't it?

Do you have

any idea how many

responsibilities I have?

No.

No, because you don't live

in the real world.

You're a dreamer.

You always have been.

Well, I'll take that

as a compliment.

We're not going

to throw money away

on your dreams.

This company is in trouble

and somebody has to take

responsibility.

No, our company

is not in trouble.

We're just going through

a slow period

and you think it's

the end of the world.

Tom, what the hell

is wrong with you?

You've got the kind of life

that any man would envy.

I envy it.

You've got a great wife,

a beautiful kid...

Leave them out of it.

Like you do?

We're not going to

develop this brake system.

Well, as a partner

and head of design,

I say we are.

As a partner and

head of finance,

I say that we're not!

Not!

Hey, you've lost it, man.

I don't even

recognize you anymore.

Come back here.

We're gonna settle this

right now.

Come back here!

Pull over!

Pull over.

Are you crazy?

You're gonna get

us both k*lled!

Let's talk about this, can we,

like a couple of adults.

It's useless trying to race

because you know I always win.

Tom!

Tom!

Oh, God. Tom?

Tom?

(SOBS)

Oh, God! Tom...

Oh, what had I done?

Everything had been my fault.

Jeff had always

been a true friend.

Even after my death.

I had to help him.

Fluke.

Go find Brian. He's sick.

He can't stay out

in this cold.

Go find him.

BRIAN: Daddy?

Daddy?

I can't find him anywhere.

Maybe from where you are,

you can see Fluke.

Help me find Fluke, Daddy.

Please.

Please.

Mr. Grimes!

Hey, Mr. Grimes! Wait!

Mr. Grimes!

Wait!

I know where he is.

Fluke.

I knew you'd come.

(BARKING)

Brian!

Brian. Brian. It's Mommy.

Hi, Mom.

Come on.

Fluke kept me warm, Mom.

Okay. Let's go to the car.

Come on.

Okay, put your arms

around my neck.

Here you go.

Okay.

I was dreaming, Mom.

I was dreaming,

and Fluke spoke to me.

He told me not to cry.

He said he had to go away.

Okay, stay here

and keep warm.

I'll be right back.

Come, Fluke.

Come with us.

Come on, boy.

Let's go home now.

Come on, Fluke.

Of course, I had to go away.

I loved them too much

to get in the way

of their happiness.

Jeff would be there now,

in a way that I hadn't been.

I didn't know how to live

as a man and I didn't know

how to live as a dog.

Now I understand

that life is something

to be cherished in every form.

So this is my story.

Perhaps I was made

to remember so that

I could share it with you.

And perhaps there are

many out there like me,

hiding behind the eyes

of simple creatures.

Maybe even

someone close to you.

MALE VOICE:

Rise and shine, squirt.

Now, don't let 'em

catch you sleepin' here.

Rumbo?

Ha-ha! You didn't think you

could get rid of me that

easy now, did you, squirt?

Rumbo,

I can't believe it's you.

You better believe it.

Come on over here.

Come here.

We've got a lot

to talk about.

But first,

let me tell you something

about being a squirrel.

Rule number one...