Charlotte's Web (1973)

Rex Allen: Narrator

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Narrator : Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.

• Narrator : Wilbur's stomach was empty and his mind was full. Well, when your stomach is empty and your mind is full, It's hard to fall asleep. But sleep and Wilbur finally found each other.

• Narrator : And so, Wilbur came home to his beloved manure pile in the barn cellar. Around his neck, he wore a medal of honor. In his mouth, he held a sack of spider's eggs.

  [Mr. Zuckerman takes Wilbur's medal, polishes it, and hangs it over the cellar doorway] 

  Narrator : Wilbur no longer worried about being killed, for he knew that Mr. Zuckerman would keep him as long as he lived.

• Narrator : The autumn days grew short. One evening, just before Christmas, snow began falling, and cold settled on the world.

  [we see Fern and Avery sledding down a hill in front of the Zuckermans' barn] 

  Narrator : All winter, Wilbur watched over Charlotte's egg sac as though he were guarding his own children. And after many long days and nights, the snows melted and ran away.

• Narrator : Once she had promised Wilbur she was going to save his life, Charlotte was determined to keep her promise. Day after day, she hung from her web and waited patiently for an idea to come to her.

• Narrator : People who'd come to see Wilbur when he was "Some Pig", came back again now that he was "*Terrific*".

• Narrator : [Six weeks later]  Wilbur was what the farmers call a "spring pig", which means he was born in springtime. By the time he was six weeks old, he'd grown so, you'd never have known he started life as a runt. Wilbur had gotten so big, in fact, that John Arable decided that it was time he stopped being a pet, and start being a pig.

  Arable : [At the Arable house]  He's got to go, Fern.

  Fern Arable : Papa, no!

  Arable : You've had your fun raising a baby pig, but Wilbur's got to be sold. He's not a baby anymore and his brothers and sisters are already sold.

  Fern Arable : [Fern starts crying and runs outside]  Oh Papa!

• Fern Arable : Oh Wilbur!

  [crying] 

  Narrator : The next day was the saddest one Fern and Wilbur had ever known, for the young pig was taken from his home under the apple tree, and sold down the road to Fern's uncle, Homer Zuckerman.

  [truck moves] 

  Fern Arable : [crying]  Goodbye, Wilbur... goodbye Wilbur... goodbye...

  [sobs] 

• [first lines] 

  Narrator : This old world is filled with wonders, but to me there is no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime, when the sun is just lifting from the sky line. The air is so sweet and everywhere you look, little miracles are happening. Buds swell into blossoms, eggs hatch, young are born. Everything's off to a fresh start, and life is good and busy and brand new... Around the barnyard, big families are a blessing. The more the merrier. Root and grunt, push and shove, room for everyone. Well, everybody except the runt... John Arable had been up since daybreak. He'd seen the size of the pig, but he wasn't looking forward to what had to be done.

  [John Arable picks up the axe] 

  Fern Arable : [carrying a bowl of eggs]  Good morning, Papa.

  Arable : [looks at Fern]  Morning, Fern.

• Narrator : The sun grew warmer, and morning came sooner. The land was *good* and green again. *Everywhere*, there were signs of life renewing itself.