General Woundwort Quotes in Watership Down (1978)

General Woundwort: Why throw your life away?

Bigwig: Hraka

[rabbit for "excrement"]

Bigwig: ... sir!

General Woundwort: Come out!

Bigwig: My Chief's told me to defend this run.

General Woundwort: [Stunned] YOUR Chief?

[Woundwort emerges from the hole and sees his soldiers fleeing at the sight of the dog]

General Woundwort: Come back! Come back, you fools!

Campion: Run!

General Woundwort: Come back! Come back and fight! Dogs aren't dangerous!

[the dog drops a dead Efrafan and then comes in slow-motion after Woundwort, who tries to lunge away from the dog and disappears off-screen]

General Woundwort: Your name?

Hyzenthlay: Hyzenthlay, sir.

General Woundwort: I'll be frank with you. You're safe here. Well get on with it!

Hyzenthlay: Sir, several of us propose an expedition for a new warren. Somewhere else.

General Woundwort: A new warren? Out of the question!

Hyzenthlay: But you don't understand. The system is breaking down.

General Woundwort: Explain that.

Hyzenthlay: Some of us can't produce litters, we're overcrowded.

General Woundwort: I want no further discussion about it.

Hyzenthlay: We'll go as far as you like!

General Woundwort: Here or anywhere else!

Hyzenthlay: I...

[she is approached threateningly by Campion]

Hyzenthlay: [meekly] Thank you, sir.

[she leaves]

General Woundwort: Campion, have her watched.

[Confronting Bigwig leading a mass defection of Efrafans]

General Woundwort: Bigwig, you traitorous...!

[to a subordinate]

General Woundwort: Captain, get this miserable group back to their marks. I'll settle you myself, Bigwig. There's no need to take you back.

Bigwig: Come and try, you cracked-brain slave driver!

[after they've been fighting]

Bigwig: I told you once that I was trying to impress you... I hope I have.

General Woundwort: And I told you I would kill you myself! There's no white bird here, Bigwig!

General Woundwort: [after Kehaar the bird attacks him] Get away, you damn white bird!

Campion: The new officer, sir! He's gone!

General Woundwort: Bigwig?

Campion: He's wounded Chervil, taken a crowd of the mark with him.

General Woundwort: Embleer Frith! I'll blind him. *I'LL BLIND HIM!*