First Easter Rabbit, The (1976)

[bunniefuu]

Surprised to see me here
instead of Santa Claus?

Well, I can't say
that I blamed you

Since it is Christmas here.

Me?

Just call me
G.B. For now.

Yep, I'm back in time,

Many Christmases ago.

Right there,
in that very house,

Is where our story begins.

The story of
the first Easter rabbit.

And, you know, we came
within a hare's breadth,

If you'll excuse the pun,

Of never having
an Easter rabbit at all.

Don't remember, do you?

You know all about Christmas

And Christmas- Y things,

Like how Santa came to be,

Frosty,

And Rudolph,
who guided the sleigh.

But how about that rabbit

Who comes every Easter day?

* There's that rabbit *

* Taking some blue
from the sky *

* There's that rabbit *

* Mixing up buttercup dye *

* There's that rabbit *

* Painting his green
everywhere *

* A magical hare *

* That rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Easter's his garden to tend *

* Our cottontail friend *

* That rabbit *

* That rabbit *

* That rabbit *

See that little guy

With the sprig of holly
in his stuffed paws?

That's one special rabbit.

Though I admit, he may not
look like it right now.

He was a Christmas present

For a little girl
named Glinda.

Oh, mommy, I love him.

Thank you.
I love him.

I'm glad, dear. You'll have
to think of a name for him.

I will.

But for now,
I'll call him stuffy.

Oh, look,
it snowed last night.

Can I go outside now, please?

Yes, dear, but be sure
to bundle up.

G.B.: Meanwhile,
in the nearby woods,

A trio of real-Live rabbits

Were hatching
a ridiculous caper.

Now, let me
get this straight--

We're gonna dig a long tunnel

Under all the carrot patches
in the neighborhood

While nobody's around.

And when spring comes,
we're gonna come back

And steal the carrots
from underneath.

Totally undetected.

We come not, friends,

To steal your hearts,

But your carrots.

G.B.: You've now met Spats,
Whiskers, and Flops--

3 of the slickest
con bunnies around.

Alas, my men. Behold that
silly-Looking rabbit

Sitting over there.

Hey, look, he's strange.

He hasn't
got any hind legs.

[Sniff sniff sniff]

His odor is unsniffable.

Undetectable.

He ain't a rabbit at all.

He isn't real.

But I am real. I am.

I am.

G.B.: Poor stuffy.

He knew he wasn't real

Like the other rabbits.

And that made him
very unhappy.

But he was Glinda's
favorite toy,

And as the months passed,
so did his sadness

Because he was loved.

But one day,
something happened

That was to affect
everybody's life.

Little Glinda took ill.

I'm afraid
it's scarlet fever.

Oh, dear, my poor little girl.
What can I do?

Well, the first thing is to burn
all of the bed clothes.

And, oh, yes,
that old stuffed rabbit.

Burn it all at once.

G.B.: Now, taking away
a child's favorite toy

Is no easy matter.

And how would she ever
explain to little Glinda

That stuffy had to be--

Well, you know...

even I hate to say it.

Oh, dear, it's getting late.

I think I'll leave all this
for burning tomorrow.

Our rabbit friend
thought to himself,

"What's the use
of being loved

If it all ends like this?"

Who-- Who are you?

My name is Calliope.

I take care
of all the playthings

That children have loved.

And when they're
old or worn out--

Ha ha ha-- Then I come
and take them away with me

And turn them
into real.

Why? Wasn't I real before?

You were real to the little girl
who loved you.

And now you shall be real
to everyone.

G.B.: Stuffy was mystified,

But he hadn't heard
the most important part.

Now that you are real,

I have a special
mission for you.

You have been chosen to be
the first Easter rabbit.

But why me?
I'm nobody.

And why do we need
an Easter rabbit?

G.B.: A good question,
wouldn't you say?

But Calliope
had a good answer.

She explained to stuffy
why all the holidays of the year

Needed symbols

To help people
remember them.

* Springtime needs someone
to remind all the children *

* of her special holiday *

* They can form
the lovely habit *

* of saying, "Easter's here
'cause there's that rabbit" *

* There's that rabbit *

* taking some blue
from the sky *

* There's that rabbit *

* mixing up buttercup dye *

* There's that rabbit *

* painting his green
everywhere *

* A magical hare *

* That rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Helping the spring
do her tricks *

* There's that rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Chiseling
chocolate chicks *

* There's that rabbit *

* there's that rabbit *

* Far from
your typical jack *

All: * Each year,
he'll be back *

G.B.: * That rabbit *

* Easter needs
that funny bunny *

* Like christmas
needs the tree *

* It's a fact,
I'm sure you'll agree *

* Easter needs little old me *

Ha ha ha.

G.B.: * There's that rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Playing his egg-Rolling game *

* There's that rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Everyone's
calling his name *

* There's that rabbit *

* There's that rabbit *

* Easter's
his garden to tend *

All: * Our cottontail friend *

G.B.: * that rabbit *

All: * That rabbit *

* That rabbit *

And to begin,

You must go to Easter Valley,

Where the golden
Easter lily blooms

And it's always springtime.

It's over the hills,
to the west of the sun,

And beyond the third mountain.

Ha ha ha. Now, someone
will show you the way.

Easter is only 2 weeks away,

So hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.

But beware-- Beware of zero.

[Echoes]

But who? How?

Wait. D-Don't go.

I have so many questions.

Think I'll begin with a hop.

He's coming around.

Just a nasty bump
on the noggin.

What's your handle, kid?

My name? It's, uh...

it's-- Gee, I almost forgot.

Heh. I'm the new Easter rabbit.

Boy, he's a dilly,
isn't he?

And, uh, where were you
hopping to so madly?

I'm off to find Easter Valley,

Where the golden
Easter lily is.

And--

Hmm, golden Easter lily, eh?

Ahem. Excuse us for a moment.

[Whispering]

Since you're obviously
not in the best of health,

My companions and I
feel it our duty

To accompany you
on your journey.

Gee, that's great.

Let's get started.

Calliope: zero.

[Echoes]

But beware of zero?

What was that?

Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.

G.B.: But it was
something, indeed,

For the Easter rabbit

Had remembered Calliope's
warning about Zero.

Brr-uce? Brr-uce?

I'm coming--

Ooh-Ooh--Zero-o-o!

Brr-uce?

What have you found out about
the road into Easter Valley?

Did the elves know anything?

Not a thing.
Not a thing.

I'd give up.

G.B.: You see, zero and Brr-uce

Were in charge of keeping
the north pole nice and white.

Everything was all lovely

And covered with snow

Except Easter Valley.

Zero had never been able
to find the secret road

Into Easter Valley,

And so it stayed green

All the year long.

We can't give up, Brr-uce.

We just can't.

There has to be a way.

Heh heh heh heh heh.

Heh heh heh heh heh.

G.B.: Well, by the time
our friends

Had reached
the third mountain,

They were totally exhausted

And ready to turn back.

[Whistling sounds]

Say, it seems that bird

Is indicating
a direction to follow.

What have we got to lose?

Calliope: Someone
will show you the way.

[Bird continues whistling]

She's leading us
away from the wall.

If you ask me, we're
barking up the wrong tree.

What do you think, Flops?

I'd say we were
barking up the wrong tree.

[Whistling]

The tree.

It must be hollow.

Why doesn't one of us
give it a try?

I shall be as expeditious
as possible.

And be quick about it, too.

Zero: hmm, if my
calculations are correct,

He should reach
the other side

Just about...now.

* I am calling
you-Ou-Ou-Ou *

Hang in there, flops.
We're coming over.

G.B.: Everything
you could imagine was there

And one person who seems
downright out of place--

Santa Claus.

Heh heh heh.

Just trying
to be neighborly.

You see, I'm all finished
with my job,

And I had a little spare time,

So I thought I might be able
to help you get started.

But we'll never be able
to do the job in time.

There are so many boys and girls
all over the world.

And we only have
a few weeks.

Well, why not pick just one
small town for a test?

Then, next year,
you can tackle them all.

That's what I did
first time out.

Great idea, Santa.

And I know
just the town.

Excuse me for butting into
the festivities, Santa,

But what's in it for us?

Giving presents is a talent.

One that the three of you

Have obviously never had
a chance to explore.

Why not try it just once, hmm?

You can start by giving

Just a little gift of love
to a child.

You'll be surprised at how much
you'll get back in return.

You won't regret
helping me, fellas.

Just one thing,
Santa, sir--

Is he really

The first
Easter rabbit?

Heh heh heh.

Indeed he is, Spats.

Now I must be off.

Blitzen.

Good luck. Heh heh.
Good luck.

Well, they've gone
and done it, Brr-uce.

Somehow they've managed

To get into Easter Valley.

And they're bound to find
the golden lily.

We've got to find a way in.

G.B.: Crafty old Zero
knew one thing

That no one had bothered to tell
the new Easter rabbit--

That the golden Easter lily

Kept the valley
warm and green

All year long.

If it were to disappear,

Springtime would
disappear with it.

* There's that rabbit *

* Playing his
egg-Rolling game... *

Why so glum, chum?

Oh, it's nothing.
It's just that...

I've been thinking about
little Glinda again.

How is she, doctor?

She's sleeping now.

She's going to be just fine.

Oh, thank you, doctor.

That's-- That's the best
thing I could hear.

Oh, I forgot.

She seems to be mumbling
something about

Somebody called
Stuff or Stuffy?

Something like that.

Oh, he was her favorite toy.

Heh heh. A silly old
stuffed rabbit.

Oh. Well, I'm sure she'll
forget about it in a few days.

Now you spend a little time

Looking after yourself
for a change.

Good-Bye, doctor.
And thank you.

[Knocking]

Stuffy. Oh, Stuffy,
you've come back.

You've come back.

Glinda, what are you
doing out of bed?

And what was that noise
I heard in here?

Oh, mother,

It was Stuffy.

He came back.
He came back.

And he was really real.

And there's
going to be a parade

And everything
on Easter sunday.

Come now, dear.

Let's get back into bed.

And I'm going to wear
my new pink dress

And my new straw bonnet
that you got me.

Mother, all of my clothes.

Where are they?

G.B.: Glinda's mother
had no choice

But to tell her the truth.

Don't cry, mother.

Who needs silly old
parades, anyway?

Oh, darling.

[Sobbing]

It's that tree down there.
It must be hollow.

Ooh-Ooh, that's the way
into Easter valley.

I'm sure of it.

Excellent, brr-uce.

Excellent.

Heh heh heh.
Tomorrow, Brr-uce,

Tomorrow will be the end,

The end of Easter Valley!

Heh heh heh heh heh.

G.B.: Well, the next day
was saturday,

The day before
Easter sunday.

I think we shall have
a white Easter,

If my eyes
do not deceive me.

A white what?

Hey, look.

It's beginning to snow.

Yeah, it's really coming down.

Now...

now I've got it all.

Heh heh heh.

The valley and the golden lily
are mine.

Gee, Zero, are you
just gonna leave 'em

Snowed in like that?

Ooh-Ooh,
they may never get out.

Brr-uce, who cares?

Heh heh heh.

Let 'em all freeze
for all I care.

Heh heh heh heh.

G.B.: Brr-uce was beginning
to have second thoughts

About what they had done.

Brr-uce decided
there was only one thing

Left for him to do.

So he rolled,

Getting fatter
by the minute.

It's as if someone out there
doesn't like us.

Unh. Unh. Ohh.

It's... stuck.

The snow must
be up to the roof.

I can't budge it an inch.

[Screech]

Santa, Santa...

ooh-Ooh, I got to
speak to you.

G.B.: Brr-uce told Santa
the situation,

And Santa knew
what he had to do.

[Bells jingle]

Ahoy down there.

Come on up. It's me--
Santa Claus.

All: Santa Claus?

I know what's happened.

Bring everything
up the chimney

And begin loading the sleigh.

G.B.: They loaded all the eggs
and baskets and bonnets

Onto the sleigh,

And just as it was getting dark,

They had finished
and were on their way.

He came.

Stuffy was here.

Mother, mother, look.

And there's a note with mine.

It says, "don't forget
our date.

Main street and fifth avenue
at 12 noon sharp."

Well...

[knock on door]

Morning, Elizabeth.

Why, good morning, doctor.

We didn't expect you today,

Being it's
Easter sunday and all.

Jonathan, please.

And this is not
a professional call.

I brought these
for you and Glinda.

[Stammers] Jonathan,

You shouldn't have.

Oh, it's beautiful.

Can I try it on, mother?

Of course. Now hurry.
The parade starts at noon.

The news is all over town.

But how did you know
we needed--

Heh heh.
A little bird told me.

[Bird whistles]

Stuffy, oh, stuffy,
you're here.

* Never saw you look *

* Quite so pretty before *

* Never saw you dressed *

* Quite so lovely,
what's more *

* I could hardly wait
to keep our date *

* This lovely Easter morning *

* and my heart b*at fast *

* as you came through the door *

* for *

* in my Easter bonnet *

* with all
the frills upon it *

* I'll be
the grandest lady *

* in the Easter parade *

* I'll be all in clover *

* and when they
look you over *

* I'll be
the proudest fellow *

* in the Easter parade *

G.B.: * in your Easter bonnet *

* with all the frills upon it *

* you'll be the grandest lady *

* in the Easter parade *

* I'll be all in clover *

* and when they
look you over *

* I'll be the proudest fellow *

* in the Easter parade *

* on the avenue *

* on the avenue *

* fifth avenue *

* fifth avenue *

* the photographers
will snap us *

* and you'll find that
you're in the rotogravure *

* oh, I could
write a sonnet *

* about your Easter bonnet *

* and of the girl
I'm taking *

* to the Easter parade *

Brr-uce, you miserable
rolly-Polly snitcher.

When I get
my hands on you,

I will melt you down
to a tennis ball.

You will do nothing.

I'm warning you, Zero.

Either you put
the golden Easter lily

Back in the valley

So that springtime
can come back,

Or I'm moving
out of the pole.

I've got a good offer from
the south pole, you know.

And I've been
considering it.

[Mutters]

You'd leave me all alone here?

No elves?

No sunday-Night dinner
with Mrs. Claus' home cooking

And those little noodles?

No midnight rides
with the reindeer?

Just me all alone here

By my-- By myself?

[Blubbering]

What good
is all of this?

What good
is anything

Without friends
to share it?

[Sobbing]

I'd even miss Brr-uce.

[Both sobbing]

Hey, who's that?

Me? I'm Zero.

Sorry to drip and run,

But this weather is bad
for my health. Bye.

And, oh, yes...

Happy Easter.

Gee, he doesn't seem
like such a bad guy.

I wonder what
all the fuss was about.

Well, at least this time,
we've got a year's start.

Huh, Whiskers?

Right you are, G.B.

So you found me out
at the very end.

That's right.
I was stuffy.

Many, many
years ago, that is.

And so the Easter lily

Brought eternal spring
with it.

The chickens
could lay their eggs,

And the world would know
that next year and every year,

I'd be back again.

Happy Easter!