A TELEVISION SET-tuned to a DOCUMENTARY. As an old fashioned World GLOBE rotates in a sea of clouds, the EIFFEL TOWER slowly comes into view over the horizon, dwarfing FRANCE underneath it.T.V. NARRATORAlthough each of the world’s countries would like to dispute this fact, we French know the truth; the best food in the World is made in France. The best food in France is made in Paris, and the best food in Paris, some say, is made by Chef Auguste Gusteau. We see images of GUSTEAU: cooking, signing his cookbook, in front of his famous restaurant. Gusteau is in his early forties, but his massive girth makes him look older. T.V. NARRATOR (CONT’D)Gusteau’s restaurant is the toast of Paris, booked five months in advance, and his dazzling ascent to the top of Fine French Cuisine has made his competitors envious. He is the youngest Chef ever to achieve a five star rating. Chef Gusteau’s cookbook “Anyone Can Cook!” has climbed to the top of the best-seller list. But not everyone celebrates its success. A tall, gaunt, severe-looking MAN with fish-belly white skin appears on the TV screen. SUPER: ANTON EGO-FOOD CRITIC”. Beneath that, in italics, is his moniker: The Grim Eater.EGOAmusing title, “Anyone Can Cook”. What’s even more amusing is that Gusteau actually seems to believe it. I, on the other hand, take cooking seriously and no-- I don’t think “anyone” can do it... TITLES (OVER BLACK): The SOUND of wind rattling barren branches...WALT DISNEY PICTURES PRESENTS A PIXAR FILM
...and we FADE IN to reveal:FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE - LATE AFTERNOONA light rain falls on a SMALL FARMHOUSE. The last remaining dead leaves tremble in the gusts. The quiet is shattered by a LOUD GUNSHOT that lights up the inside of the cottage. CAMERA pushes down and in toward a single window.RATATOUILLEAs we move closer, we begin to hear muffled SOUNDS OF STRUGGLE; furniture being bumped, dishes breaking, an indescribable CRASH, followed by an OLD LADY’S SHRIEK.We’re close to the WINDOW now, when it is suddenly SHATTERED by a COOKBOOK. Instantly the action FREEZES.Underneath its splayed pages, shielding himself from the shards of splintering glass is, inexplicably, a RAT--REMY. He’s scrawny, frightened, almost comic. It’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards the little guy.REMY (V.O.)This is me. I think it’s apparent I need to rethink my life a little bit. What’s my problem? First of all--OUTSIDE THE FARMHOUSE - DUSK - WEEKS EARLIERA SILHOUETTE darts out from behind a wooden barrel, pausing upright against a blood red sky. Mangy, sinister, the opposite of Remy. This is how most humans see RATS.REMY (V.O., CONT'D)--I’m a rat. Which means life is hard. Assured the coast is clear, the SINISTER RAT scampers out into the yard, followed by DOZENS MORE RATS. The RATS move across the expanse of grass toward a COMPOST HEAP, which sits in the middle of a field under the darkening sky. Resourceful and well coordinated, the rats grab bits of decomposing food and carry it off. REMY is among them, drearily going through garbage. 2.
REMY (V.O.)And secondly-- I have a highly developed sense of taste and smell.Suddenly he catches a SCENT; which leads him to uncover a nearly untouched piece of PASTRY, a discarded NAPOLEON.REMY(sniffing Napoleon)Flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla bean, small twist of lemon...The Napoleon suddenly erupts, and out pops Remy’s pudgy brother EMILE, covered in cream and completely oblivious to the destruction he’s wrought. EMILEYou can smell all that? Wow. You have a gift.Again the ACTION FREEZES.REMY (V.O.)This is Emile. My brother. He’s easily impressed.RESUME ACTION: An older rat, DJANGO, comes into view. He snorts dismissively, plucks an APPLE CORE from the compost.DJANGOSo you can smell ingredients. So what? REMY (V.O.)This is my Dad. He’s neverimpressed. He also happens to be the leader of our clan. Remy catches another scent and FROWNS; this new scent is different somehow, wrong. He follows the scent to Django--REMY (V.O.)So what’s wrong with having highly developed senses? Django is about to eat the APPLE CORE when Remy lunges at him, snatching the core from his hands. REMYWhoa whoa whoa! DON’T EAT THAT!!3.
SHED - MINUTES LATERStill holding the APPLE CORE, Remy sniffs the air, following a scent to a tarp in the corner. He lifts it, REVEALING: a can of RAT POISON. The other rats REACT. Django’s impressed.REMY (V.O.)Turns out that funny smell was rat poison. Suddenly Dad didn’t think my talent was useless. I was feeling pretty good about my gift. Until Dad gave me a job-- FARMHOUSE - COMPOST PILE - DAYA line of rats file past REMY, holding up rotted scraps of food so that each one passes under his nose. REMY (V.O.,CONT’)--that’s right-- “poison checker”.As Remy sniffs with all the gusto of a lifelong DMV employee, the line shuffles forward with each “clean”.REMY(sniffs before each one)Clean... clean... clean-erino... cleaneriffic... close to Godliness--The rat under inspection stands there, unsure as to whether or not he’s been approved. REMY (CONT’D)--which means “clean”. You know-- “Cleanliness is... close to--?” (no response)Remy waits, expecting the rat to get his joke. Beat.REMY (CONT’D)...never mind. Move on...The rat moves on. Remy rolls resumes his bored inspection.INSIDE ATTIC - LATE AFTERNOONDjango & Remy stand on a beat-up chair, overlooking the rat clan as they go about their day. 4.
REMY (V.O.)Well, it made my Dad proud.DJANGONow don’t you feel better, Remy? You’ve helped a noble cause.REMYNoble? We’re thieves, Dad. And what we’re stealing is-- let’s face it, garbage.DJANGOIt isn’t stealing if no one wants it.REMYIf no one wants it, why are we stealing it? They continue to quarrel. It’s clear this is an old argument.REMY (V.O.)Let’s just say we have different points of view. ATTIC - NIGHT Django and Emile are gobbling up an assortment of RUBBISH, which is in fact dinner. REMY watches them, appalled. He looks down at his own plate in disgust. REMY (V.O., CONT’D)This much I knew: if you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff. He pushes the rotted food away. Django reacts.REMY (V.O.)But to my Dad--DJANGOFood is fuel. You get picky about what you put in the tank, your engine is gonna die. Now shut up and eat your garbage.REMYIf we’re going to be thieves, why not steal the good stuff in the kitchen? Where nothing is poisoned.