بخش 06

Sorry.

Is Linguini’s dish done yet?

Ja. It’s as bad as we remember.

Just went out.

Did you taste it?

Ja, of course, before he changed it.

Good. What?

How could he change it?

He changed it as it was going out the door!

They love it!

Other diners are already asking about it, about Linguini.

I have seven more orders!

That’s wonderful.

I’d like one of those.

Special order!

What is that?

Special order! Special order!

Special order!

To Linguini.

Congratulations, Mr. Linguini.

Cheers, ja?

Drink now, there’s plenty.

Take a break, Little Chef.

Get some air.

We really did it tonight.

Got your toque!

Oh, seriously now.

I’d love to have a little talk with you, Linguini, in my office.

Am I in trouble?

Trouble?

No.

A little wine, a friendly chat.

Just us cooks.

The plongeur won’t be coming to you for advice anymore, eh, Colette?

He’s gotten all he needs.

Toasting your success, eh, Linguini?

Good for you.

I just took it to be polite.

I don’t really drink, you know.

Of course you don’t.

I wouldn’t either if I was drinking that.

But you would have to be an idiot of elephantine proportions not to appreciate this ‘61 Chateau Latour.

And you, Monsieur Linguini, are no idiot.

Let us toast your non-idiocy.

Remy!

Emile?

I can’t believe it!

You’re alive!

You made it!

I thought I’d never see you guys again!

We figured you didn’t survive the rapids.

And what are you eating?

I don’t really know.

I think it was some sort of wrapper once.

What?

No.

You’re in Paris now, baby.

My town.

No brother of mine eats rejectamenta in my town.

Remy! You are stealing?

You told Linguini he could trust you.

And he can. It’s for my brother.

But the boy could lose his job.

Which means I would, too.

It’s under control, okay?

More wine?

I shouldn’t, but.

Okay.

So, where did you train, Linguini?

Train?

All right.

Surely you don’t expect me to believe this is your first time cooking?

It’s not.

I knew it!

It’s my.

Second, third, fourth Fifth time.

Monday was my first time.

But I’ve taken out the garbage lots of times before that.

Yes, yes.

Have some more wine.

Tell me, Linguini, about your interests.

Do you like animals?

What?

Animals?

What kind?

The usual, dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, rats.

I brought you something to.

No, no, no, no!

Spit that out right now!

I have got to teach you about food.

Close your eyes.

Now take a bite of.

No!

No!

No!

Don’t just hork it down!

Too late.

Here.

Chew it slowly.

Only think about the taste.

See?

Not really.

Creamy, salty sweet, an oaky nuttiness.

You detect that?

Oh, I’m detecting nuttiness.

Close your eyes.

Now taste this.

Whole different thing, right?

Sweet, crisp, slight tang on the finish.

Okay.

Now, try them together.

Okay.

I think I’m getting a little something there.

It might be the nuttiness.

See?

Could be the tang.

That’s it.

Now, imagine every great taste in the world being combined into infinite combinations.

Tastes that no one has tried yet!

Discoveries to be made!

I think.

You lost me again.

Yeah.

But that was interesting.

Most interesting garbage I ever.

Hey!

What are we doing?

Dad doesn’t know you’re alive yet!

We’ve got to go to the colony!

Everyone will be thrilled!

Yeah!

But.

What?

Thing is, I kind of have to.

What do you “have to” more than family?

What’s more important here?

Well, I.

It wouldn’t hurt to visit.

Have you had a pet rat?

No.

Did you work in a lab with rats?

No.

Perhaps you lived in squalor at some point?

Nopety nopety no.

You know something about rats!

You know you do!

You know who know do whacka-doo.

Ratta-tatta.

Hey!

Why do they call it that?

What?

Ratatouille.

It’s like a stew, right?

Why do they call it that?

If you’re going to name a food, you should give it a name that sounds delicious.

Ratatouille doesn’t sound delicious.

It sounds like “rat” and “patootie.”

Rat patootie.

Which does not sound delicious.

Regrettably we are all out of wine.

My son has returned!

And finding someone to replace you for poison checker has been a disaster.

Nothing’s been poisoned, thank God, but it hasn’t been easy.

You didn’t make it easy.

I know. I am sorry, Dad.

Well, the important thing is that you’re home.

Yeah, well, about that.

You look thin. Why is that?

A shortage of food, or a surplus of snobbery?

It’s tough out there in the big world all alone, isn’t it?

Sure, but it’s not like I’m a kid anymore.

Hey.

Hey, boy.

What’s up?

I can take care of myself.

I’ve found a nice spot not far away, so I’ll be able to visit often.

Nothing like a cold splash of reality to make you.

Visit?

I will.

I promise.

Often.

You’re not staying?

No.

It’s not a big deal, Dad. I just.

You didn’t think I was going to stay forever, did you?

Eventually, a bird’s got to leave the nest.

We’re not birds.

We’re rats.

We don’t leave our nests.

We make them bigger.

Well, maybe I’m a different kind of rat.

Maybe you’re not a rat at all.

Maybe that’s a good thing.

Hey!

The band’s really on tonight, huh?

Rats. All we do is take, Dad.

I’m tired of taking.

I want to make things.

I want to add something to this world.

You’re talking like a human.

Who are not as bad as you say.

Oh, yeah?

What makes you so sure?

Oh, man.

I’ve been able to observe them at a close-ish sort of range.

Yeah?

How close?

Close enough.

And they’re, you know, not so bad as you say they are.

Come with me.

I got something I want you to see.

You know, I’m going to stay here.

Make sure the floors and countertops are clean before you lock up.

Wait.

You want me to stay and clean?

Is that a problem?

No.

Good boy.

See you tomorrow.