Follow That Bird (1985)

Caroll Spinney: Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Bruno the Trashman

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Daddy Dodo : Excuse me, was there a big yellow bird on this plane?

  Big Bird : Well, only me.

  Mommy Dodo : [not catching on]  Oh, too bad. Maybe he'll be on the next plane.

• Mr. Snuffleupagus : Oh, Bird, this is goodbye. You're leaving Sesame Street.

  Big Bird : Well, I'm not really leaving. I'm just going away.

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : Oh.

  Big Bird : Besides, as soon as I get to Ocean View, you can come and visit.

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : I can?

  Big Bird : First thing, ol' pal. I wouldn't go if you couldn't come and visit.

• Big Bird : [sees the WB logo]  Sesame Street is brought to you today by the letters W and B.

• Oscar the Grouch : [singing]  Let this be the Grouch's cause: Point out everybody's flaws! / Something is wrong with everything, except the way I sing!

• Miss Finch : Come on, Big Bird, you don't want to miss your plane.

  Maria : Just a minute. Give us a big hug, Big Bird.

  [they embrace] 

  Maria : Don't forget to write.

  Big Bird : I won't, Maria.

  Count : Don't forget to count!

  Big Bird : Okay, Count.

  Bob : And don't forget to dress warmly, okay, Big Bird?

  Big Bird : I've got my muffler, Bob.

  Grover : Don't forget to breathe! In and out!

  Big Bird : I always do, Grover.

  Linda : [signs "Don't forget to read books"] 

  Big Bird : I'll read every day.

  Cookie Monster : Oh, Bird, don't forget to eat!

  Big Bird : I won't, Cookie Monster.

  [Oscar comes slowly out of his trash can] 

  Big Bird : Well, goodbye, Oscar.

  Oscar the Grouch : [surprised]  What? Why, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

• Big Bird : Hey, I've got a great idea. Let's play make-believe. I'll be Snow White.

  Donnie Dodo : But you're not Snow White.

  Marie Dodo : You're bright yellow.

  Donnie Dodo : Yeah.

  Big Bird : [not choosing to notice this remark]  And you could be the Seven Dwarves.

  Donnie Dodo : But we're not dwarves.

  Marie Dodo : We're birds.

  Big Bird : I said we just could make believe. You know, pretend? Uh, use your imagination.

  Donnie Dodo : Oh, okay. I'll pretend I'm Donnie.

  Marie Dodo : And I'll pretend I'm Marie.

  [Big Bird sighs with disgust] 

• Truck Driver : So you are the bird on the run.

  Big Bird : Oh, yeah, and I can't wait to get back to my real home on Sesame Street. I figure I can walk back there in, oh, about three hours.

  Truck Driver : Three hours?

  [shakes his head] 

  Truck Driver : More like three weeks, buddy.

  Big Bird : Three weeks? Oh, no. I'll never get home!

  Truck Driver : Sure, you will. You've just got to keep going. Pick up your feet and follow your beak.

• Miss Finch : You know, Big, you shouldn't be living here all alone.

  Big Bird : Well, I'm not all alone. Why, there's Gordon and Susan and...

  Miss Finch : But they're not birds like we are.

  Big Bird : I know, but they're nice people.

  Miss Finch : But you should have a home and a family.

  Big Bird : Well, I am home. I like it here on Sesame Street.

  Miss Finch : Wouldn't you like to be with your own kind? Wouldn't you like to live in a big, beautiful bird house with a nice bird family of your own? And a brother bird, and a sister bird, and a father bird, and a mother bird? And sing and play bird games all day long? Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?

  [Big Bird imagines life with a bird family] 

  Big Bird : Gee, I think I'd like that!

  Miss Finch : Good! Because in a lovely city called Ocean View, Illinois, there's a fine feathered family waiting just for you!

  Big Bird : Really? Oh, when can I leave?

• Daddy Dodo : Who's Mr. Sniffuplaga

  [struggles with the name] 

  Daddy Dodo : Sniffleblguh

  Big Bird : Snuff-Snuffleupagus.

  Daddy Dodo : Yeah.

  Big Bird : Well, he's my best friend.

  Mommy Dodo : What kind of a bird is he?

  Big Bird : He's not a bird. He's a Snuffleupagus.

  [the Dodos laugh] 

  Donnie Dodo : Snuffle-guppy-gus.

  Daddy Dodo : But your best friend should be a bird.

  Big Bird : Why?

  Mommy Dodo : Because you're a bird. Isn't that right, Daddy?

  Daddy Dodo : That's right, Mommy. And you should be with your own kind: birds.

  Mommy Dodo : You'll find lots of birds your own age.

  Daddy Dodo : And make some new best friends. Now come on out and hunt for worms.

  Big Bird : But I don't want to hunt for worms! I want Snuffy to come and visit! And if he can't come and visit, I don't want to be here anymore! I want to go home!

  Mommy Dodo : But you ARE home!

• Big Bird : [to a truck of turkeys]  Hey, fellas, can you give me a lift? Talk to who?

  [turns to see a man loading another crate of turkeys into the truck] 

  Big Bird : Oh, say, you must be the driver.

  Truck Driver : Well, what can I do for you, big fella?

  Big Bird : Well, do you have room for just one more?

  Truck Driver : I don't take no riders. This here's a turkey truck.

  Big Bird : Oh well.

  [Then a thought hits him] 

  Big Bird : But my friend Oscar always says that I'm a big turkey!

  Truck Driver : Well, I don't guess I can argue with that. Hop in.

• Floyd : You're the biggest chicken I've ever seen.

  Big Bird : Oh, I'm not a chicken actually. I'm a bird on the run.

  Ruthie : Oh yeah. Floyd, he's the bird on TV who ran away.

  Big Bird : Oh, I didn't run away. I'm going back to my real home on Sesame Street where I belong.

  [yawns] 

  Ruthie : Are you tired?

  Big Bird : Well, maybe a little. I sure wish I had a place to sleep.

  Ruthie : Have you ever slept in a barn?

  Big Bird : [looking toward the barn]  Hmm.

• Big Bird : Gee. There's still no sign of Sesame Street. Nothing but amber waves of grain. I think I'm lost. What'll I do? I wish Snuffy were here. Then I'd be lost with my best friend.

  [at that moment, a mirage-like image of Snuffy appears in the field] 

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : Hello, Bird.

  Big Bird : Snuffy? I thought I'd never see you again! I can hardly see you now.

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : That is because you are imagining me, Bird.

  Big Bird : Oh. Well, it's so good to almost see you. I suppose a hug is out of the question, you being imaginary right now.

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : You could imagine that we're hugging, Bird.

  Big Bird : That's right. How brilliant. Here it comes.

  [Big Bird and Snuffy try to hug, but keep passing through each other] 

  Big Bird : Oh, I'm afraid this isn't working, Snuffy. For hugging, you need the real thing.

  Mr. Snuffleupagus : Don't worry, Bird. We can hug for real when you get back to Sesame Street.

  Big Bird : ''If'' I ever get back to Sesame Street. But I will.

• Oscar the Grouch : [driving into a junkyard]  This is where I wanna be - grouch paradise! Just look it at. It's like a work of art.

  Telly Monster : It is different, Maria.

  Maria : Oscar, I want you to turn this car around right now and head for Toadstool!

  Oscar the Grouch : Ah, an angry face in a beautiful place - heaven.

• Big Bird : Say, there's a lady named Miss Finch who's chasing me and, uh, do you mind if I hide in your fun fair?

  Sam Sleaze : Why, no, not at all. We have the perfect place for you to hide. Right here in our hiding cage.

  [Locks him up] 

  Sam Sleaze : You'll be safe here.

  Sid Sleaze : Yeah, real safe.

  Big Bird : Gee, thanks.

  [Sid and Sam laugh] 

  Sam Sleaze : Let's go!

  Big Bird : Ha, ha, ha! Oh, gee, I sure am a lucky bird.

• [first lines] 

  Announcer : Ladies and gentlemen, would you please rise for the Grouch Anthem.

  Oscar the Grouch : No, no, no! With the Grouch Anthem, you stay sitting down! Down in front there!

• Oscar the Grouch : [after the Grouch Anthem]  Well, anyway, you've seen the best part of this movie, so sit back, relax, and have a rotten time!

• Oscar the Grouch : Nice work, turkey!

• Miss Finch : Are you all right, Big? You are Big Bird?

  Big Bird : [looking himself over]  Yeah, I guess I am.

  Miss Finch : [facing the camera]  This is worse than I thought!

• Big Bird : Isn't flying wonderful? It makes me feel like a bird.

• Sam Sleaze : What's the matter, don't you like your cage?

  Big Bird : My cage? My, my, MY CAGE?

• [In a car chase between the Sleaze Brothers truck and the Volkswagen, the cage opens] 

  Big Bird : Gordon, look, the doors are open!

  Gordon : I know, now-now, come on!

  Big Bird : Come on? Gordon, you know I can't fly.

  Gordon : JUMP!

  Big Bird : I'm not even supposed to do this! Why, you should never jump from a moving truck! Why... I shouldn't even be standing up!

  Gordon : You have my permission! Just this once. NOW, COME ON!