The Little Mermaid (1989)
Pat Carroll: Ursula
Photos
Quotes
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Ursula : Yes, hurry home, Princess. We wouldn't want to miss old Daddy's celebration, now, would we? Huh. Celebration, indeed. Oh-ho, bah! In my day, we had fantastical feasts, when I lived in the palace. And now look at me. Wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving, while he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em something to celebrate soon enough. Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key to Triton's undoing.
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Ariel : But without my voice, how can I...
Ursula : You'll have your looks, your pretty face. And don't underestimate the importance of body language!
[singing]
Ursula : The men up there don't like a lot of blabber / They think a girl who gossips is a bore / Yes, on land it's much preferred / for ladies not to say a word / After all, dear, what is idle prattle for? / Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation / True gentlemen avoid it when they can / But they dote and swoon and fawn / On a lady who's withdrawn / It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man.
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Ursula : [her last words] So much for true love!
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Ursula : Well, angelfish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.
Ariel : Can you do that?
[this gives Ursula an evil idea, but she pretends to be kind]
Ursula : [politely] My dear, sweet child. That's what I do. It's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself, poor souls with no one else to turn to.
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Ursula : [singing] If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet / You've got to pay the toll / Take a gulp and take a breath and go ahead and sign the scroll! / Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys / The boss is on a roll / This poor unfortunate soul!
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Ursula : And there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know.
Ariel : But I don't have any...
Ursula : I'm not asking much. Just a token really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is your voice.
Ariel : My voice?
Ursula : You got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing. Zip!
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Ursula : [watching Flotsam and Jetsam knock the boat with Ariel and Eric in it about to kiss] Nice work, boys. That was a close one. Too close. The little tramp!
[sighs]
Ursula : She's better than I thought. Well, at this rate, he'll be kissing her by sunset for sure.
[smashes through her potions]
Ursula : Well, it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles.
[throws a bottle with a butterfly in it, into her cauldron]
Ursula : Triton's daughter will be mine! And then I'll make him writhe. I'll see him wriggle like a worm on a hook!
[laughs, transforming into Vanessa]
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Ursula : Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol' princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just any kiss, the kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human, permanently. But if he doesn't, you'll turn back into a mermaid, and you belong to me!
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Ursula : [to Eric] So long, lover boy.
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Ursula : [after Ariel makes her vaporize Flotsam and Jetsom] Babies! My poor little poopsies.
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Ursula : Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude. One might question your upbringing.
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Ursula : Now I am the ruler of all the ocean! The waves obey my every whim!
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Ursula : [singing] I admit that in the past I've been nasty/They weren't kidding when they called me, well a witch/But you'll find that now-a-days/I've mended all my ways, repented, seen the light and took a switch/true? Yes. And I fortunately know a little magic/It's a talent that I always have possessed, but now dear lately, please don't laugh/I use it on behalf, of the miserable, lonely and depressed!
[conjures a fat mermaid and a skinny merman]
Ursula : [to Flotsam & Jetsam] Pathetic!
Ursula : [Continues singing] Poor, unfortunate souls! In pain, in need! This one longing to be thinner, that one wants to get the girl and do I help them?
[snaps fingers and the pair become fit and hug each other]
Ursula : Yes, indeed! Now it's poor, unfortunate souls, so sad, so true! They come flocking to my cauldron crying "Spells, Ursula, please!" and I help them? Yes, I do! Now it's happened once or twice/someone couldn't pay the price/and I'm afraid I have to rake them across the coals!
[turns them into seaweed people]
Ursula : Yes I have had my share of complaints but on the whole I've been a saint!... to those Poor Unfortunate Sou-uls!
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Ursula : [Scuttle hums the wedding march and hears Vanessa singing] What a lovely little bride I'll make / My dear, I'll look divine / Things are working out According to my ultimate design
[throws pin at angel vanity]
Ursula : Soon I'll have that little mermaid / And the ocean will be mine
[looks into mirror and sees Ursula's reflection]
Scuttle : [sees whats going on in the ship] The Sea Witch! Oh. no! She's gonna... I gotta..
[crashes into ship with a loud ding]
Scuttle : Ariel!
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Triton : Ursula, stop!
Ursula : Why, King Triton! How are you?
Triton : Let her go!
Ursula : Not a chance, Triton! She's mine now!
[showing him the contract]
Ursula : We made a deal.
Ariel : Daddy, I'm sorry! I... I didn't mean to! I didn't know!
[Triton tries to destroy the scroll with his trident, but nothing happens]
Ursula : You see? The contract's legal, binding, and completely unbreakable, even for you. Of course, I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain. The daughter of the great sea king is a very precious commodity. But I might be willing to make an exchange for someone even better.
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Ursula : You're too late! You're too late!
[evil laughter as she transforms from Vanessa back to her true self]
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Prince Eric : [released from Ursula's spell; Ariel has her voice back] Ariel?
Ariel : Eric.
Prince Eric : You... you can talk? You're the one.
[runs up to Ariel]
Ursula : Eric, get away from her.
Prince Eric : It was you all the time.
Ariel : Eric, I wanted to tell you.
Ursula : Eric, no!
[the sun sets as they are about to kiss and her legs turn back into a tail]
Ursula : You're too late! You're too late!
[Vanessa rips out of her dress and turns back into Ursula; She slithers across the deck, grabs Ariel]
Ursula : So long, lover boy.
Prince Eric : Ariel!
