BEHIND THE STORY...
This is the pitch that caught the attention of Disney’s development department. They were at work trying to formulate a sequel to the Disney 1976 hit THE RESCUERS. It should not have been hard, as the film was based on a series of children’s books. In fact the original movie’s plot was mostly taken from the third novel. However, Disney's team seemed to be stumped. The one thing I heard over and over from friends at the studio was that they wanted the story to take place in an unusual locale. The first had been in a swamp. The sequel needed to be equally exotic. For awhile, they worked on an idea taking place in the frozen north.
My idea was to go to an opposite of a wet climate, the desert. I wrote out the story and sent it off. By the time the development department got this proposal, they had already decided on Australia. However, the studio was impressed that I hit several key story points in my pitch that they had been trying to get the studio directors to include, most importantly a romantic rival for Bernard. This began a series of meetings in which I pitched a number of feature ideas, one that almost went into production.
Shortly after production had begun on RESCUERS DOWN UNDER, several in the studio expressed dismay at the new project. For a brief time, it was considered to scrap the Australian locale and try something new. One animator at the studio had done some drawings of Bernard and Bianca driving in remote control cars. (At the moment, many of the animators owned ‘rc’ cars and spent break time racing each other.) It occurred that a chase scene of mice in remote control cars could make a great ending for a film. I whipped up a secondary pitch using the idea. Folks at Disney liked the idea, and especially liked the idea of San Francisco as a background. But with production on DOWN UNDER now in full swing, it was decided not to switch storylines.
And now my pitches...
RESCUERS II
An Animated Feature Proposal by John Cawley - October 8, 1986
When Miss Bianca hears that Bernard is lost in the desert, she goes with a scruffy Desert Rat in hopes of finding him. However, Bernard appears after the pair have left, and realizes that Miss Bianca may be in danger. Bernard heads off to the desert to find them. While Bianca and the Rat search for a lost rat family, Bernard must utilize the assistance of a goofy Kangaroo Rat in his attempt to find Miss Bianca.
Main Characters
MISS BIANCA - a white mouse that can truly be called a lady. Miss Bianca is cultured and graceful, yet able to deal with the danger and excitement offered by the Rescue Aid Society's many challenges.
RUSTY - a Desert Rat with little of the social graces found in the diplomatic world of Miss Bianca. Like most "great adventure" figures he hopes his manly actions will make up for his "un-gentleman-like" behavior.
BERNARD - a gray mouse whose strength isn't so much courage as persistence and dedication, especially where Miss Bianca is concerned. Though in love with Miss Bianca, Bernard does not wish to make it known to her until he has proven himself worthy of her.
HERMAN - a foolish Kangaroo Rat whose flippant attitude shows little concern for anything except his having fun. He doesn't understand Bernard's strong desire and concern for others. However, he finally bends to Bernard's pleas for assistance.
SHARON - a roadrunner often used by the desert rats for transportation. a true "cow-girl" she lacks most of the city-slickness of Miss Bianca but has a wild beauty and true love of nature.
ORVILLE - An Albatross often used by Miss Bianca and Bernard as transportation even though his flying record is as shaky as his trips.
A Summary
Something is missing when the regular meeting of the Rescue Aid Society is called to order... or more precisely "someone" - Bernard. Miss Bianca requests the meeting be delayed until her friend and partner arrives but the others feel that Bernard's tardiness is to be expected. Their feelings change with the appearance of Rusty, a rather uncouth desert rat.
He presents a message indicating that Bernard has become lost in the dessert while searching for a rat family. Since the society has little interest in rats or the desert, Miss Bianca states she will go alone. However, Rusty tells her he will act as her guide and even has passage, via train, to the area. The two head off with Miss Bianca both shocked and slightly charmed by the earthy qualities of Rusty.
The next day, Chairman Mouse is finishing up paperwork when Bernard arrives with his notice of a "postponement" of the meeting. When Bernard sees the rat's note and the Chairman sees Bernard's it is obvious they are both forgeries! Bernard fears that Miss Bianca may be in danger. Chairman announces he will begin the necessary work of calling a special meeting. Bernard says there isn't time. Seeing that the note is written on paper from Death Valley, he tells the Chairman he will start his search there.
Meanwhile, on the train, Miss Bianca asks why Rusty created the phony message from Bernard. Surprised that she wasn't fooled, he states that there really is a rat family lost in the desert and felt that the Society would not help look for rats in the desert. Miss Bianca agrees with his assessment and asks about Bernard. When told of the other note, she fears that Bernard may try to follow them. Rusty laughs and says no one would be foolish enough to go to the desert without a guide.
Bernard knows that trains are not as fast as flying, so charters Orville to fly his to Death Valley. Due to his heavy schedule, though, Orville can only fly Bernard over Death Valley. Bernard will have to bail out and fend for himself once there. At first hesitant, Bernard finally agrees.
The speed of modern trains combined with the erratic flying of Orville allows both parties to arrive the same day in Death Valley. Miss Bianca and Rusty head to a rat colony on the edge of town. However, when Bernard bails out, the desert winds cause him to miss the main section of town and head out over the desert. Upon landing he meets up with Herman, a silly kangaroo rat. Bernard finally persuades the character to assist him. By hanging on to his long tail, Bernard is hopped to where Herman says the only rats in the desert are.
When Miss Bianca is introduced to the rats, they show a great deal of respect. After some preliminary work, it becomes clear to Miss Bianca that someone, most likely a human, has captured the family. Since they have not been found in town, the captors must be living in the desert. The rats state there are people living in a small park in the dessert. Rusty and Miss Bianca head towards the park on the back of Sharon, a roadrunner. Upon arriving, they find a single trailer apparently owned by a trapper as a variety of traps with different animals surround the location. As the pair examines the trailer, Rusty admits this was far simpler than he thought. An unexpected noise causes the pair to turn and find themselves face to face with a wolf spider.
A much battered and hot Bernard is seen clutching Herman's tail as the twosome reach the edge of the same camp Rusty and Miss Bianca are investigating. Herman tells Bernard that the humans at the camp have a family of rats. Since the humans appear to be gone, the pair head towards the trailer.
Rusty is able to get Miss Bianca and himself away from the spider and into the trailer. It is now apparent many of the formerly caged animals are loose. The pair calls for the family and discover their cage is on top of a counter. However they learn an escaped rattlesnake is also in the trailer. When they reach the top, they see the caged family and begin to head towards them when the rattler is heard. Rusty tells Miss Bianca to run for the cage.
Reaching the trailer, Herman bounces Bernard up to the windowsill. At first all they see are the rat family, which is a disappointment to Bernard. They then notice the snake sitting behind the cage and Bernard states they will have to create a diversion to get the family out of there. Suddenly, Bernard sees Miss Bianca running towards the cage.
Using Herman's bouncing ability, Bernard is able to secure Miss Bianca from the cage while Rusty distracts the snake. In the maneuver, the snake falls off the countertop. The foursome now has the needed muscle and time to get the family out of the cage. They then exit via the window with the help of Herman and some string.
As Sharon takes the large group back to town, Miss Bianca and Bernard have a happy reunion. Once safely in the rat colony, the rats present Miss Bianca and Bernard with honors. Miss Bianca thanks Rusty for a wonderful trip and for being a "gentleman inside" and kisses him. As Bernard and Miss Bianca get on the train for home, Bernard keeps asking her what she meant by her comment to Rusty. When Miss Bianca laughs at Bernard's jealousy, he states he's not jealous, just curious.
RESCUERS II: “Missing Bianca”
An Animated Feature Proposal by John Cawley - November 24, 1986
Miss Bianca and Bernard arrive in San Francisco for a brief vacation from their many assignments. Before they can even reach their hotel, a masked mouse kidnaps Miss Bianca.
Bernard goes to the (mouse) police for help. There he meets the chief of police, Inspector Scallone, a friend of Miss Bianca. The case is assigned to Officer Nelson, a rather un-assertive police mouse.
In a darkened underground room, Miss Bianca faces her kidnapper – Inspector Scallone. At first shocked, Miss Bianca then learns that the “Inspector” is an imposter who has previously kidnapped her friend, the real Inspector Scallone. The imposter hopes to control the city by becoming the new crime king in the guise of the head of police.
Scallone gives Nelson and Bernard a “tip” that leads them into a trap, but they escape. Bernard uses the few clues they have and a “slip” by Scallone to come to the conclusion that the Inspector is behind the crime.
Meanwhile, Miss Bianca, with the help of the real Inspector, escapes, alone, into the dark catacombs of their prison. When the imposter discovers that Nelson and Bernard are alive and that Bianca has escaped, he sends the police to arrest Bernard for the murder of Miss Bianca – a crime he will commit.
Arriving back at Police headquarters, Bernard is checking out Scallone’s car when the police begin their pursuit. Nelson is able to discover the location of Miss Bianca – Alcatraz Island. He then helps Bernard escape the police dragnet using Scallone’s car.
Bernard and Nelson arrive at Alcatraz Island and locate the real Inspector. Bernard then heads off in search for Miss Bianca. He finds her and is able to lead her to the surface only to come face to face with the imposter. The pair are saved when Nelson, the real Scallone and police arrive to arrest the imposter.
As they leave police headquarters, Bernard and Bianca begin plans for their much delayed vacation.
text, image and format © John Cawley
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