- Hold your end up higher.
- I am.
- You are not.
- Don't worry about me.
Mm.
- Hey, isn't that suit charcoal?
- No.
Looks charcoal grey to me.
Some gray polyester blend.
Couldn't you find a black suit
for your father's funeral?
- It's black.
- It's grey.
- It's black. Black.
- Grey. Grey!
Fine, it's black.
It's the greyest black
I've ever seen.
- The colour doesn't matter!
- Oww!
I'm sorry, Pop. I'm sorry!
- Quick! Get him out of there!
- He's halfway to the harbour by now.
Ah, well.
(Man) "I leave you
not just a model factory...
"but something infinitely
more valuable.
"The future of string...itself."
(Explosion, shouting)
"And thus it is my dying wish...
"that my two sons
run Smuntz String together."
Great. Stick a "For Sale" sign up,
see what we can get.
Ernie, we're not supposed to sell it.
We're supposed to run it.
Either way, this godforsaken museum
piece is not worth a dime, is it?
Some things are more important
than money, Ernie.
The financially challenged
always say that.
Uh, please, please.
"I also bequeath to you
my personal effects,
"including my ceramic egg,
"half box of Cuban cigars..."
Oh! Yes, yes, yes, yes.
- "M-my collection of spoons."
- (Clattering)
(Ernie) My goodness,
what a treasure. What a legacy.
Spoons! Spoons!
So many spoons, so little time.
Oh! And, of course, something
no household should be without.
The ceramic egg! Ooh-hoo-hoo.
Can I have the egg?
Can l? Huh? Huh?
- No. I want you to have it.
- Fine, I'll take it!
If you find any real estate
on that desk, let me know.
It seems there is also a house.
- (Together) A house?
- Yes, 5120 Nortondale.
Your father acquired it
many years ago as payment of a debt.
H-he never lived there,
but i-i-it's interesting.
It seems the previous owner was found
locked in a trunk in the attic.
Wait a minute. Is it worth anything?
Well, he was able to borrow
$50,000 against it.
Really? So, what is its value today?
$50,000.
Great. A worthless house
and a broken-down string factory.
Oh, well. At least the day
wasn't a total loss.
Thanks for the stogies, Pop.
Wait. You can't go. W-we
have to go through all these papers.
You'll have to excuse me.
- I've got a date with the mayor.
- (Thunder rolls)
(Reporters chattering)
Mr Mayor! Mr Mayor, over here!
Mr Mayor!
Will your recent triple heart bypass
affect your campaign strategy?
Now, Leslie, I'm just here to eat.
(French accent) Ah, monsieur
le maire, Madame maire,
welcome to Chez Ernie.
What an honour it is
to have you in my humble bistro.
Suivez-moi. You brought the little
ones. The little bicycle thieves.
Bonjour! Our very best table.
- Have you lost weight?
- Oh, l...
- I think so! I think you may be!
- (Laughs)
Je suisse enchante
pour votre beaute.
- You know?
- Oh, monsieur Ernie...
Excusez-moi. Au revoir, les enfants!
(Sighs)
The air's not so thin at the top.
Just like the old man to die
before I hit it big.
Remember, everyone.
Attention to detail is vital!
Presentation is everything.
No, no, no, no, no!
These I must deliver myself.
(Roars)
Duck a I'Orange
avec du quack sauce...
And for ze Mayor,
la specialite de la maison,
Lobster Loaf a la Ernest
ou la bibliotheque.
- Oh...
- Bon appetit.
(Exhales)
- Ah, bonjour!
- How does it feel...
to serve the mayor
after his re-election?
- Well... May I call you Leslie?
- Of course.
Crunchy! Hmm. I love the almonds.
Leslie, cuisine,
she is a fickle mistress...
Ee-yew! Look! (Squishing)
- A cockroach!
- (Shocked whispering)
That's only half a cockroach.
Daddy! You ate the head!
Honey, are you OK?
(Screaming)
(Mayor's wife) Not again!
Was this an accident or murder...?
Clear!
- I can do that better!
- (Crying)
(Man) Smuntz String
is a relic of history.
You don't make string by twining
two strands together any more.
No. You make it simple,
singular, strong, with nylon.
Bu-but that's not string.
Tha-that's cord.
- Exactly.
- Twine is yesterday. Cord is today.
Zeppco was interested in your factory
but your father refused to sell.
We are hopin' you're smarter.
Zeppco is willin'
to buy you out...
and bring this museum
into the 21st century.
We'd keep you on as a consultant,
with a huge salary and hefty pension.
So...
what do you say?
(Sighs)
- My sons...
- (Whispers) Ernie.
- Ernie!
- Yeah. Just a sec.
I want you...to have...something.
My most prized possession.
(Sighs) Oh, it's
a piece of st-string.
Not just any string. THE string.
I found it my first day in America.
- What's with the string?
- I've had it 60 years.
Here! I want you two to share it.
Maybe it'll bring you
closer together.
- You haven't talked much lately.
- Yeah.
- Ah! What are you doing?
- I'm breaking it in half.
- No! I want you to share it.
- No?
- Forever.
- Sure, Pop, sure.
You carry it the first 50 years,
I'll take it the next.
- Sure.
- And turn up the morphine drip.
(Father) I heard that.
Promise me...
that you will never sell...
Smuntz String...
to one of those big conglomerates.
Keep it between you.
Brothers. Family.
- Promise.
- I promise, Pop.
- (Lars) I promise.
- So, you were sayin'?
I'll have to pass.
What?
"A world without string is chaos."
For once the Smuntz name
was worth something!
- No, no! Don't!
- Oh!
You... You used to love string!
That was when I was dating
the son of a wealthy string magnate!
Not now, when I am married to the
owner...of a worthless death-trap!
I thought you'd be happy!
I stood up for myself today!
April, I've got new ideas.
You know, I've got big plans!
Don't you see, Lars?
That's all you've ever had are plans.
But my life is passing me by,
and l...l need more!
There's no air in the middle class,
Lars. I can't breathe here.
Please, April, don't go.
I'm not going anywhere.
(TV) 'ln a few moments, the joy
of the holidays was shattered...
'and the world changed
for many people.
'Mayor McKrinkle died at 4:30pm,
'at Our Lady of Sorrows Hospital.
'Doctors say
the cause of death is...
'heart failure due to
the mayor's culinary disaster.
'And once the hottest restaurant...
'Chez Ernie is scheduled
for demolition.'
I-l don't think I ordered
my cheese sandwich with capers.
- 'We go live to Leslie Reinhart.'
- Sorry.
'lf this tragedy has a villain
it is Ernie Smuntz.
- 'Once a local...'
- Ernie, you're on TV!
What? Oh.
You know what this is? I'll tell ya.
- Guilt by accusation.
- No capers.
But that's just grilled cheese.
What's the point?
Why don't they eat out of a trough?
Which one of you palateless sheep
sent my sandwich back?
Hi, Ernie!
Lars?
(Ernie) When I'm in the kitchen,
I cook.
I can't control everything in there.
(Lars) You know,
it isn't fair to blame you.
- You didn't do anything wrong.
- But society likes to persecute.
A scapegoat, someone to demonise.
The same thing happened to Galileo.
Really? That's unbelievable.
With a cockroach and everything?
No. The point is, I put everything
into that restaurant.
It was my livelihood and my home.
In one fatal bite,
it was all taken away from me.
If only we could sell the factory.
I'd let you stay with me, you know,
but, uh, April threw me out.
- Oh, that's too bad.
- Yeah, well, don't worry about me.
April's been like this
since high school.
- She'll be back. I...
- Would you look at them?
Sleeping in the street. Pitiful.
If I had a house, I'd sleep in it!
- Remember how close we were as kids?
- No.
Hey! Merry Christmas!
Yeah, I was on top once too.
But there's only one way to go from
there, and that's down, baby, down!
Oh!
Ernie.
Ernie! Ernie, there was
a quarter in there.
A quarter? You think so small, Lars.
Look at the bigger picture.
You have no home, no wife, no money.
You have no discernible talents.
How can you ignore that?
Ernie, it's Christmas.
Instead of dwelling on what we lack,
let's be thankful for what we have.
# lf only in my dreams #
(Ernie) What a dump.
Wow! I can't believe Pops
never told us about this house.
It's huge.
(Ernie) This is
the kind of house he'd have.
It's just like him. Cold and spooky.
- Wow! Did you feel that?
- What?
I got a chill. You shouldn't
talk about Pop like that.
Really? What's this do for you?
Thanks for nothing,
you string-sucking old loon!
He didn't mean it, Pop.
Ernie! Ernie!
Only one bed.
I'll flip you for it.
Heads.
- (Scratching)
- E-Ernie?
- Ernie. Ernie.
- (Groans)
- You asleep?
- I was.
- (Scratching)
- How can you sleep through that?
- What? I don't hear anything.
- Shh-shh-shh. That.
Listen. Hear it?
It's coming from upstairs.
(Scratching)
(Door creaks)
Mothballs.
(Screaming)
H-hey, stop it! Hey! Ow!
(Grunting)
(Whispering) Ernie! Ernie!
(Groaning)
(Rattling)
(Ernie grunts)
- (Thunderclap)
- (Screaming)
Wait. Wait a minute. Stop. Stop!
Look. Look, look, look.
It's only a toy.
(Screaming)
Ah, shut up!
(Scratching)
It's coming from up there!
One, two, three!
(Panting) Ooh!
- It's just a mouse.
- What?
- It's just a mouse. Never mind.
- (Straining)
Hey, there are some posters up here.
Oh! Stand still!
(Yells)
(Spitting)
- They're blueprints.
- Wow!
Wait a minute.
Look at this date. 1876.
A centennial house could actually
be worth something.
Look, this must be the architect.
Look.
Charles Lyle LaRue.
- Charles Lyle LaRue.
- Charles Lyle LaRue?
(Thud)
Charles Lyle LaRue.
Charles Lyle LaRue!
Charles Lyle LaRue!
I'm actually standing
in the missing LaRue!
- It's bold yet subtle.
- Classical yet non-traditional.
The missing LaRue.
The rumoured design completed before
his committal isn't a rumour.
Before his committal?
I'm just glad he finished it...
before they carted him off
to the laughing academy.
So, what do you think a magnificent
edifice like this is worth?
Properly restored, of course.
Well, his Parma Charnel House
went for six...
But that was 10 years ago,
and it didn't have this moulding.
I see. I can't get enough
of good moulding.
- Did you hear that? $600,000.
- Phew.
Alexander Falko!
Back!
Gentlemen, congratulations.
Congratulations on your find.
I'm a great admirer of LaRue.
- Glass of rainwater, please.
- The leading collector of LaRues.
Sort of like collecting stamps,
but bigger?
I'll get to the point. LaRue.
I have his books and his letters.
You see these shoes?
- (Together) LaRues?
- No, but he would love them.
Vegetarian snack. I own... (Chewing)
42 LaRue houses. 42.
I want to make it 43.
You tell me how I'm going to do this.
Tell me how I will do this.
Help me. How will I do this?
Well, I'm, uh, glad you asked.
His Parma Charnel House
went for six, ten years ago,
but it didn't have this moulding.
A find like this today
is worth twice as much.
- He's a LaRue connoisseur.
- Guilty as charged.
Gentlemen, I'm going
to make you an offer.
No, no, no, I couldn't be so crass
as to allow you to do that.
But you are welcome
to come to the auction.
- Auction?
- Auction, yes.
It would be unfair of us to deprive
others of the chance to bid.
Um...
May I have one moment
with my brother, please?
- Sure. Of course.
- Thank you.
- What is this?
- It's the...
- What is this? No.
- It's the first I've heard...
- What are you doing?
- Answering your prayers.
These pigeons are ripe for plucking.
Put them in a room
to outbid each other?
- We'll make $700,000, $800,000 easy.
- Man, you're smart!
Oof!
- You'll get it...
- Don't talk to me!
So, when is the, uh,
earliest we can set the auction?
I suppose all arrangements
could be completed within the week.
- A week it is.
- Great!
- You're smarter than you look.
- (Together) Thank you.
But know this.
I have never paid more than $10
million for a house in my life!
OK, see you, then.
Yeah. Thanks for stopping by.
Ten million linen napkins.
Five million bales
of top-grade cotton fibre.
Forty thousand hot lamps complete
with rotating plate-warming trays.
Two thousand twine threaders,
gleaming under real lights.
(Ernie) My own chain of restaurants.
(Lars, echoing) April can have
anything she's ever wanted!
(Faintly) Cars, coats, china.
She loves china.
(Fan blades whooshing)
(Ernie) I'm gonna build
a swimming pool...
full of pina coladas
and a college girls.
(Lars) lf only Pop
could've seen this house!
He did. He just wasn't
smart enough to sell it.
We've turned a corner.
Our future is staring us in the face.
All we have to do is grab it,
baste it, and scarf it down!
Aha! We've finally found
our friend's home!
Well, I bought
a present for ya, buddy.
Ernie, i-it's just a little mouse.
Do we really have to kill it?
Yes. Listen to me.
A single vermin can bring you down.
Believe me, I know. (Snap) Ah...
(Snoring)
- (Snap)
- (Gasps)
(Sighs)
- I trust you slept well.
- Oh! Like a baby.
Hey, last night,
did you hear the, uh...
Oh, yeah. Let's see.
- Well, where'd he go?
- Maybe it snapped by itself.
I don't believe it.
He snapped the trap, ate the olive,
and left the pit just to mock us.
You're giving him
a little too much credit.
Mice don't mock.
They don't have a sense of humour.
He's not sitting in his hole
in a smoking jacket,
sipping cognac,
giggling "I left the pit."
The trap snapped itself,
the olive flew off, and he ate it.
But now he knows we're here,
he won't come near us.
We won't be seeing that... Mouse!
(Both shrieking)
Aha! Ow!
(Screams)
What are you doing, ya stupid nitwit?
Don't let him get away!
(Laughs)
(Yelling)
(Bloodthirsty screaming)
Ow!
Ow!
Are you trying to kill me?
Ah, the mouse!
(Ernie) Let me see. Let me see!
(Lars) Can you see him?
Get me my Gouda.
- Careful, careful!
- Don't touch me. You'll snap it.
You're not doin' it right.
(Lars) Put it on carefully.
(Ernie) I am.
(Ernie) Oh, relax. It's cheese.
Bon appetit.
That takes care of that. Huh?
(Hammering)
Oh! Oh!
Hey!
Hey! What are you doin'?
(Squeaking)
(Chugging)
(Squeaking)
Lars! Gimme a hand with this.
(Lars) You sure this tub
fits with the house?
Jacuzzi tub, Lars.
It's a Jacuzzi tub.
And this isn't just a house.
It's a LaRue.
Of course it fits the decor.
- Luxury is timeless.
- How much, Ernie?
(Sighs) It was a steal at $1200.
(Lars) $1200?
You spent our last money on a tub!
(Ernie) A Jacuzzi tub!
You have to spend money
to make money.
They threw in the cardboard lady too.
(Screaming)
(Screaming)
(Yelling)
(Screaming)
- (Sighing)
- Well...
(Lars sighing) Don't you think
this is a little...much?
Never underestimate your opponent.
Say he has mastered a way to empty
a mousetrap without getting caught.
If he snaps one of these babies,
a chain reaction
will start snapping them all.
The law of averages
says one has to nab him.
(Sighs) Not bad.
Yes. Well, I like
to use both sides of my brain.
Come on, let's hit the sack.
(Sighing)
- Have you figured it out yet?
- Shut up.
I'm thinking. I'm thinking!
Ernie. Ernie!
Keep perfectly still. This is it.
- What's he doing?
- I don't know.
That was good.
Shh! He's goin' for the cherries!
You said mice like Gouda.
Not in the morning!
They need fruit for energy.
(Screaming)
(Whimpering)
- (Screaming)
- (Ernie) Oh, no!
Ow! Ow.
(Both grunting and groaning)
- Aah... Ow!
- D-D-D-D-D-D-D.
There he goes!
- Juice!
- Got it!
(Laughing maniacally)
This game is over!
(Cheering and yelling)
(Laughing)
- I think it's working!
- Yeah.
- (Thump)
- Whoa! Uh! I felt something.
(Lars) Ooh, ooh, ooh. Keep sucking!
(Slurping)
Goddamn, that mouse stinks! (Cackles)
Dead animals always do.
- Ohh!
- (Both laughing maniacally)
- (Lars) Keep sucking!
- (Rumbling)
(Lars) Oh, yeah, this'll get him!
(Liquid rumbling)
(Squelch)
- What's this?
- We're foreclosing on your house.
You quit paying your mortgage.
Oh, wait a minute, there's some
mistake, this house is paid for.
It was, but you borrowed against it.
If you don't pay the $1200,
we repossess it.
- $1200?
- Well, how long do we have?
One week from, uh...five days ago.
(Panting) But, uh, that's two days!
We don't have the time
or energy for this.
We're in the midst
of an extensive renovation.
Looks like you're off
to a great start.
(Lars) Ask your boss for an advance.
Pay him back later.
(Ernie) Couldn't your workers
forfeit their salaries?
If you hadn't spent all our money
on that tub, we might be able to pay.
- It doesn't help to start crying.
- (Shrieking)
No, Fluffy! No!
No! I want my kitty!
No, no, no!
(Rings bell)
- (Distant meowing)
- That one's cute.
- He doesn't have a killer instinct.
- (Purring)
(Meows)
(Bell ringing, buzzing, hissing)
(Ringing bell)
Morning, gentlemen. I'm Maury.
Can I help you?
Uh, hi, Maury. W-we need a cat.
(Maury) Find the one you want
and I'll spay or neuter it myself.
(Lars) Well, these are all kittens.
We were hoping for an older cat.
One with experience.
Most people like cute little ones.
Experience with what?
- Mouse hunting.
- All cats are good mousers.
But we have huge rats,
the size of sumo wrestlers.
So, we need a ferocious feline
with a history of mental illness.
I'm talkin'...one mean pussy.
Yeah! A vicious cat,
difficult to love.
Do you have any of those
knocking around?
Funny you should ask. I had all
but given up on anyone wanting him.
We were about to gas him again.
(Both) Again?
He's spent most of his whole life
in that box, I expect.
- (Growling)
- "Catzilla"?
The guys who clean up call him that.
But you can call him
anything you want.
I'd say he looks like a "Fluffy."
(Snarling)
Ah, poor little Catzilla.
You want a home, don't you?
You wanna get out of here.
Well, you're gonna have
to kill, kill, kill for it.
- (Yowling)
- You're a stupid cat, aren't you?
- (Growling)
- Yes, you are. And ugly. Extremely.
(Yowling)
(Electricity crackling)
- Oh! Oh, you little bastard.
- We'll take him.
- (Cat screeching)
- Here, boy.
(Growling)
(Squeaking)
(Yowling)
Ooh...He's got the scent now.
Yeah, uh, go get 'im, boy.
Oh, easy, easy, easy, easy!
Wow. I almost feel sorry
for the little fella.
(Together) Almost! (Laughs)
(Growling)
(Growling)
(Roaring)
(Meowing)
(Notes playing)
(Cat yowling)
(Ernie) Don't
worry about that mouse,
start thinking about
how to get $1200.
(Lars) Don't worry,
the workers will help us.
You see, the truth is...
- we don't actually have any money.
- (Muttering)
We may have to defer
your next paycheque or...or two.
- (Angry muttering)
- So we can pay the mortgage.
It's the missing LaRue!
(Lars) There's no need
for violence!
(Lars) Put that thing down. Whoa!
(Banging)
- Ernie!
- What's the matter?
Well, the, uh, workers...
didn't react very positively.
(Angry shouting)
No?
Uh, what are you doing?
- You could fit through here, right?
- What? I guess so.
Come on. (Screams)
(Yells)
But, Lars, that was our last resort!
We'll have to
find money someplace else.
Gosh, it's a shame nobody's
interested in buying the factory.
Yeah, yeah, it's a shame.
But who'd be stupid enough, right?
(Chuckling) Yeah.
(Growling)
- (Snap)
- (Yowling)
- (Snapping)
- (Yowling)
(Yowling)
(Growling)
(Surprised meow)
(Sad meow)
Ah, you must be...Caesar.
I'm glad you could get here
so quickly...
Shh!
(Tapping echoes)
(Sniffs)
You have mice.
He's good.
(Whispering) 5120 Nortondale.
January 4th, 0800 hours.
Don't forget to get
toothpaste and Saran Wrap.
We're in sort of a hurry. I wanted
to warn you about this mouse.
Yeah! You got asbestos, all right!
I'll bet it's up
in the ceiling, mostly!
Shouldn't take me more
than a day or two to remove it.
(Silence)
OK, then.
Um, uh, so, we're gonna go upstairs!
All right, well,
we'll all go upstairs!
Yeah.
OK, then. Yeah.
What are you doing?
- He's not listening any more.
- Oh.
Good. Well, you're the expert.
I hope you can take care
of this, whatever it takes.
We've been trying
to catch this menace all week.
Here's your problem.
Normal people are not...
psychologically equipped
to catch mice.
You have to get inside their mind.
You have to know what
they want...need.
You have to think like a mouse.
If you can do that...
if you can think like a mouse...
you can anticipate their moves.
Then, boom! Sayonara, mouse.
Well, you got some great stuff...
Whoa! Never touch that!
(Screaming)
- All right!
- What is it?
The big one.
It's a flea bomb!
Works on mice too.
It better. Because we
can't handle any more intrusions.
Sure. That's how you perceive it.
But to that mouse,
you are the intruder.
(Shouting)
We can make
enough string to meet our orders.
Just so we can keep the LaRue.
- Good luck.
- Wait! Where are you going?
I have to run a little errand.
All you have to do
is make $1200 worth.
Light a match,
they're frightened by fire!
(Shouting)
(Straining)
(Screams)
Unsanitary creature.
Defecating...in the dining room.
0915. Evidence found.
Mus communis. Ugh. Male.
Ten to, uh, twelve
centimetres long,
with a... hmm...
What's this?
A slight calcium deficiency.
That's interesting.
Hi. This is Ernest Smuntz
of Smuntz String.
Is this Zeppco lnternational?
Vinny? Hi, Vinny.
Oh, I'm glad I can call you Vinny.
My brother and I have decided
to reconsider your offer.
I'd love to discuss
selling our factory to you.
Oh, no, not at the office.
How about Ellman Square
under the big clock at noon?
(Horn honking)
(Brakes screeching)
(Chiming)
(Knocks)
Uh, you, you must be
Mrs Lars Smuntz?
I'm afraid that status
is in transition.
Oh, well, is Lars in? I'd like to
discuss preparations for the auction.
The auction?
(Panting)
Careful, Lars.
You might catch a cold.
April!
You look like you could use
some warming up.
(Caesar) 1300 hours. I've activated
the Squeak Seeker 2000.
I'm about to join with the prey.
I'm experiencing malfunction
with the screen. Stand by.
Junk.
Nothing works.
Ah, nuts!
(Yelling)
(Yelling)
EKG, a C-spine, a chest x-ray
and pelvis. Now move!
$1200...
Mr Smuntz, you've been hit by a bus.
I feel fine. What time is it?
You may have had a concussion.
Doc, I have to get out of here.
I still have a chance.
We saved your hat.
- I'm sorry. Are you family?
- Yes, we are sisters.
There's some paperwork
I need you to fill out.
I don't even know them!
Oh, I'm Hilde, and this is lngrid.
- We are hair models from Belgium.
- Belgium. How exotic.
Doc. I need to find a phone before
I miss out on the deal of my life.
- He's delirious.
- I am not their brother!
- I don't have any sisters!
- Are you OK? I came when I heard.
Why are you wearing a pink overcoat?
Because April gave us the $1200!
She gave you the money?
She didn't hear about the auction?
I didn't even tell her about the
auction until after she took me back.
She just showed up at the factory
and begged me to take her.
(Sighs) We made love in a way
I've only ever seen in nature films.
Wow. I almost can't believe it.
I can open up another restaurant,
you're back with April,
you can even keep
that worthless factory.
It's funny
you call the factory worthless,
because there's something I probably
should have mentioned...
Yeah? Well, I guess
I have something to confess too.
Hey, isn't that Caesar's truck?
- Oh, my God!
- Caesar! What happened?
- Please, he's not well.
- Did you kill the mouse?
What's that? Horse?
Fiendish! I won't eat it. (Yells)
(Clicking teeth and squeaking)
How'd you find him?
911 call. No voice, but we heard
screaming in the background.
He was locked in a trunk
in the attic.
We'll call you if we get any leads.
(Rewinding)
What's that?
(Footsteps, door creaking)
(Caesar) 'Put that down.
What is that?' (Yelling)
(Muffled groaning, crashing)
'That tickles!'
(Screaming, banging)
I don't think we're dealing
with an ordinary mouse.
(Crashing)
My kitchen!
Looks like Caesar decided
to make himself a sandwich.
(Ernie) Pickles, arugula and capers.
He toasted the side
with the cheese...
but not the other side,
so the arugula doesn't wilt.
How did he know that?
- Hello.
- Hello.
Ow!
Ow!
(Yells)
Aha!
- Do you see him?
- Yeah, I see him.
Lars, I'm stuck!
Get me out of here! I can't breathe!
- I-l'll get a flashlight.
- Hurry!
(Hissing)
- Here, Ernie, I got it.
- I can see that.
Wh... Oh!
Hang on, Ernie.
The flashlight's broken.
- OK, Ernie. I got a light.
- Great.
(Sniffing)
(Ernie) Lars,
do you smell something?
Smells like gas.
(Screaming)
(Lars groaning)
(Strangled groans)
(Whimpering)
(Both whimpering and muttering)
(Lars) What are you gonna do?
Kill that unspeakable thing.
- Come on, Ernie...
- Stand back!
I'm a man on a mission!
- This is how accidents happen!
- (Laughing)
- Come on, put the gun down.
- I'll blow his furry head off.
and splatter his devious mouse brain
from here to kingdom come!
No, no! You'll blow
a hole in the wall.
It'll be worth it!
Think of the auction! For God's sake!
Think of the money! They'll cut our
price if there's bullet holes.
- The money?
- Yeah, the money, the moola.
- (Ernie) There he goes.
- Shoot! Shoot!
Yes...You hit the piano!
You hit the piano...
- Look...
- Shh!
What are you, crazy? The only thing
you haven't hit so far is the mouse!
Give somebody else a chance
with that gun.
- You're doing a wonderful job.
- (Tin rolling)
Whoa! You got him!
(Laughing)
(Lars) G-g-get him!
- See you in hell, mouse!
- (Laughing)
Fire!
God, I hate that mouse!
(Phone ringing)
(Ernie) 'After the beep,
start talking.'
(Vinny) 'Mr Smuntz,
this is Vinny from Zeppco calling.
'We waited in the square for an hour,
but you never showed.
'We do not appreciate
being treated this way,
'especially after your brother
already turned down our offer.
'Consider our proposal withdrawn.'
(Dialling tone)
- Betrayed by my own brother!
- Betrayal?
Don't talk to me about betrayal. You
should have told me about that offer!
- Half that factory is mine.
- And half is mi...
And half is mine, including the half
that you tried to sell.
And would have,
if it hadn't been for that bus!
Bus? You can't leave well enough
alone, can you? You ruin everything!
Me? You...you blame me for this?
Look! You blew a hole in the floor!
I distinctly remember
somebody yelling, "Shoot!"
You've never listened to me before!
- And you know why?
- Why?
Because I have no respect for you!
Spending your whole life
in that stupid factory!
It's tragic.
You think I didn't have
ambitions of my own in my life?
- Come on. You loved string.
- I didn't love string!
You and Pop were always running
something through your fingers.
It didn't matter what I did!
I made a special rack
of lamb for his 70th birthday...
- Oh, no!
- Yes! You remember.
I slaved over that meal,
making sure everything was perfect.
Did he say, "Thanks, Ernie,
it was delicious"? No.
He only noticed the string
I had tied it with.
He was crazy!
But I still wanted his approval.
I didn't leave, Lars. I was cast out.
There you go again!
Blaming everything else but yourself.
You think you're a success! Huh?
Well, you...can't...cook!
- I hate you!
- And I hate you!
- Not as much as I hate you!
- Yeah?
Yeah. Double. Double!
Oh, give me something!
I'm gonna brain you!
Here it is!
Oh, yeah, give it to me! Go ahead!
(Ernie, laughing) You killed him!
I-l didn't even know he was there!
All the trouble we'd have saved
if we'd just thrown fruit at him!
(Lars) Look! H-He's still breathing!
Kill him! Kill him!
Find a blunt object!
There. Let him have it.
- I-l...
- What are you waiting for?
- I can't just hit him.
- Why not?
Well, look at him. He's pathetic.
Pathetic? He's Hitler with a tail.
This is The Omen with whiskers.
Nostradamus didn't see this.
- W-well, he's a living thing.
- Not for long. Gimme that!
I can't!
(Sobs) God!
Look at him just lying there.
It just doesn't feel
very sportsmanlike.
Do something! He's coming to.
(Scratching)
Ah, I forgot to put holes in the box.
(Laughing wickedly)
Hasta la vista,
you little rat bastard!
- Come on. We got work to do.
- Two days till pay-day, my friend.
It's the architectural find
of the decade. Oh, let's go...
- Shall we?
- Yes.
- It wasn't easy, but we made it.
- Mm-hmm.
Ernie, I want you
to have something.
Pop's lucky piece of string.
- I'm glad you kept it.
- He, uh, he wanted us to share it.
I don't know why, but...
I think if he were here right now,
he'd be proud of you.
I think he'd be proud of us.
Hello, ladies.
How magnificent! Welcome!
Lars, you remember lngrid and Hilde.
(Both) Hello.
(Ernie) Ladies, your hair
is positively biblical!
(Together) Oh, thank you.
Well, if you will excuse me,
I have to check on my crepes.
Keep the champagne coming. The
more they drink, the higher they bid.
You boys put on quite a shindig here.
Thank you so much, Mr Falko.
You know, it would be
very, very sad...
if you boys put on this auction
and nobody bid.
That would put a real crimp
in our evening, but...
there's no danger of that.
I don't know. There's a lot of
Eurotrash scarfin' the shrimps.
I tell you what.
You call off the auction...now...
and I will write you a cheque...
for ten millions.
As insanely generous as that is,
I have to decline,
but I appreciate
your thoughtful concern.
Enjoy the party.
Are you interested in spooling?
Oh, sure. My father...
I mean, my brother and I
own a string factory.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
I would love to see
your factory sometime.
Really?
April. What a surprise.
Dropping by for no reason, I suppose?
Does a wife need a reason?
Oh, are you entertaining?
- You mean "ex-wife"?
- Not quite yet.
- Ah, hakuna matata.
- This crepe...c'est magnifique.
- The raisins are a nice touch.
- Good, aren't they?
Raisins?
(Screams)
Ladies and gentlemen,
please take your seats.
We are about to start the auction.
I don't know whether to
congratulate you or wish you luck.
- Wish us luck!
- Hello, April.
- Oh, hello.
- Nice to see you again.
- I didn't know you knew our lawyer.
- It's just an expression.
Thank you, for joining us
for this momentous occasion
the auction of our one item,
- the missing LaRue.
- (Applause)
I would like to introduce the owner
of this architectural wonder,
- Mr Ernest Smuntz.
- (Applause)
Thank you, all, for coming.
When my father left this
extraordinary house
to my brother Lars...
and myself, uh, we...
had no idea what surprises
were in store for us or...
what was going to happen next.
(Ernie)
Uh, when Quincy Thorpe of the, uh...
Historical Society
told us of its value,
you, uh...you could have KNOCKED...
us over with a feather. We...
didn't know what...HIT US!
(Bangs gavel)
The renovation was exhausting
but ultimately rewarding.
- The house was in terrible disrepair
- (Murmuring)
but nothing that a few nails...
(Banging)
and old-fashioned
elbow grease couldn't fix.
- People are eager to start bidding.
- What? The bidding?
- The bidding!
- All right. Thank you.
- Thank you, Mr Smuntz.
- (Scattered applause)
No matter what happens, keep going.
Built in 1876, the last LaRue
in existence has five bedrooms...
- Did you see him? I thought so.
- Yes!
- He ate the string.
- What?
The string. Pop's lucky string!
The son of a bitch ate it!
- Why didn't you tell me you saw him?
- I didn't, but I found this.
- You should have weighed him.
- I'm sorry.
- Did you see where it went?
- It can't go far.
Well, shall we start
the bidding at $1 million?
Now, we all know we're here
to bid on the missing LaRue.
Shall we start at $500,000?
$500,000
from the gentleman from Japan.
- Now, can I hear a million?
- A million!
- I'll give you one and a half.
- I have $1.5 million. Two?
(Gasping) There he is!
(Auctioneer) Ladies and gentleman,
all the carpets and tapestries...
- are from Northern Turkey.
- Oh!
Now, can I have an advance on 1.5?
May I have two?
Can I have two,
ladies and gentlemen?
- Two million!
- I have $2 million.
I have $2 million, ladies and
gentlemen. Can I have an advance?
Can I have an advance on $2 million?
I'd like to draw your attention
to the Lincrusia details...
of the gold and silver-leafed
copper and pewter.
Ladies and gentlemen, can I have
an advance? An advance on $2 million.
May I hear $3 million? I have three
from the lady from New York City.
- What are you doing?
- Uh, uh, uh...nothing!
Get your hand
out of there immediately!
Wait! Wait just a minute!
- Wait!
- Now, may I hear $4 million?
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
(Man) Four million.
- Ooh!
- $4 million from the gentleman.
I got it!
Uh, the sheikh bids $5 million.
Thank you, sir. I have $5 million.
- $5 million.
- (Hysterical laughing)
Any advance on $5 million?
Ladies and gentlemen, $5 million.
An advance? Ladies and gentlemen,
it's the missing LaRue.
The bidding stands at $5 million.
(Lars) I've got you now!
- Hold on tight, I'll get it out.
- (Unzips)
Uh, $5 million for the missing LaRue.
- Have you got it yet?
- I'm not sure.
Ladies and gentlemen,
will someone give me $6 million?
- Six million.
- Thank you, sir.
Hilde, the spool is smoking!
May I have an advance?
An advance, ladies and gentlemen.
Can I have an advance on six?
The bidding stands at $6 million.
- $7 million.
- $7 million. Thank you.
- Any advance on seven?
- (Laughs)
(Screaming)
Keep her away from the walls!
The house is priceless!
C-c-can I have 7.5?
(Confused shouts)
I have $8 million over there.
$8 million going once,
$8 million going twice...
$8 million?!
You should have taken the cheque!
You shut up! You...
- Ten millions!
- $10 million. Can I have 11?
$11 million
from the gentleman from Japan.
- (All shrieking)
- 12. 13. 14. 15.
Aha!
- $16 million from Ernie Smuntz.
- No!
- 17 million!
- $17 million. Thank you, sir.
Any advance on 17?
Good idea.
When I say, turn it on full blast.
We'll flush him out.
Now!
- $18 million.
- $18 million from the lady.
You don't have that kind of money.
- Ernie?
- Not now.
- 20 millions.
- 20 million. Can I hear 21?
$21 million from the gentleman.
- Any advance?
- 22 million. That's my last offer.
22 million going once...
- 25 millions.
- $25 million dollars.
Thank you, sir. $25 million.
The bidding stands at $25 million.
Do I have an advance?
$25 million going once,
$25 million going twice...
(All screaming)
Going...going...
(lndistinct grumbling)
Hey! Don't go!
The water was just a...
a demonstration of...
of how durable...
a LaRue really is.
How about that?
Now you know this house
will last forever.
(Laughing)
- Pop's lucky string.
- I guess we got him.
Yeah, I guess we did.
(Snoring)
(Machinery starting)
What was that?
Lars! Look!
It's string.
It's cheese.
The factory has been retrofitted
to manufacture cheese-based products.
- I see.
- This is our new lactose-free line.
- What is that?
- That's quality control.
Here you go. Knock yourself out.
Oh. No good, huh? Otis, more curry.
OK. Try this one.
Huh? It's mozzarella and herring.
You can taste the herring, right?
I've got an idea
for a caviar-brie swirl
and peanut butter and jelly for kids.
But I really want
to talk about marketing.
You should be our spokesperson.
I know some people who've used
a mouse as a spokesperson.
You see, I want to turn this into the
string cheese factory of tomorrow...