The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant is a 1999 Warner Bros. animated film that centers on a young boy named Hogarth Hughes who discovers and befriends a giant robot.

Directed and written by Brad Bird, based on the 1968 novel The Iron Man by Ted Hughes.

Some secrets are too huge to hide.taglines

• I believe you. What if it is Sputnik, or a flying saucer from Mars? I bet we could find it.
• [after seeing Giant; calmly] So, I guess you're not gonna hurt me, huh? [Giant holds his hand out as Hogarth cringes and gasps, thinking Giant is gonna pound him, but but he reveals the shut-off switch that lands on the ground; shocked] The Shut-Off switch. [to Giant] You saw me save you. [Giant looks at him innocently] So... where are you from? You came from the sky, right? From up there? [Giant looks up] Don't you remember anything? Hmm, maybe it's that bump from your head. [Giant places his finger on his head, feeling the dent] Do you talk? You know words? "Blah, blah, blah," like that? Can you do that? Blah, Blah, Blah?
• Wig out. It means crazy. You know like, uh- [makes a crazy face and babbles; Giant mimics him] No, no! Don't do that! That's the kind of stuff that makes them shoot at you.
• So she says, "Uh-uh. You don't have a challenge. You need a challenge." So now I'm challenged, all right. I'm challenged to hold on to my lunch money because of all the big mooses who want to pound me, because I'm a shrimpy dork who thinks he's smarter than them. But I don't think I'm smarter, I just do the stupid homework. If everyone else just did the stupid homework, they could move up a grade and get pounded too. Is there any more coffee?
• [he has just had espresso with Dean, and is not used to its effects] So, she moved me up a grade because I wasn't fitting in, so now I'm even more not fitting in. I was getting good grades, you know, like all A's. So my mom says, "You need stimulation" and I go, "No, I'm stimulated enough right now."

• Two nights ago, at approximately 1900 hours (7:00 P.M.), S.A.T com radar detected an unidentified flying object entering Earth's atmosphere, losing contact with it two-and-a-half miles off the coast of Rockwell. Some assumed it was a large meteor, or a downed satellite, but my office in Washington received a call from someone reporting an actual encounter with the object. This is no meteor, gentlemen, this is something much more serious.
• Hey, mind if I ask you a few questions there, buckaroo? Now, why would you tell your mom about a giant robot, slugger? So, what'd you see at the power station, huh, tiger? Tell anyone else about this, buddy? How big is this thing, Ranger? Been in the forest lately, Junior? Hey, where you goin'? Champ? Slugger? Hey, Cowboy, where you goin'? Where you goin'?
• Yes, sir.

• Would you say grace, please?
• Aww, now I do.
• [still talking with Dean] Hmm, I see why Hogarth sneaks out here.

• Sorry, kid. I didn't really see anything. But if we don't stick up for the kooks, who will?
• That's for sure.
• You mean, you know about that?

• [sternly] Step outside, Mansley.
• Go to Code Red! Repeat, Code Red!

• I'm telling the truth, dang it! It came from outer space. I saw it! And it was headed toward land. I called the government in Washington. Maybe it was a sputnik, or... or an invader from Mars. That's what it is, an invader from Mars! It was a spaceship of some kind. An unidentified flying object...

[First lines; The movie begins with Sputnik 1 orbits from the distance to the right and to the left towards the viewer as the camera pans to reveal the planet Earth and the sunrise, in Earth 1957, the storm is brewing around the side of North America, the sputnik orbits away and the camera pans past the moon and a bright dot is seen in the distance. It zooms in rapidly past the viewer to reveal itself as a comet and the camera pans back to planet earth where the comet is heading towards the eye of the storm. The camera zooms in towards the storm, and the flash transitions the scene to an ocean waving rapidly, somewhere off the coast of Maine. Suddenly, a boat appears in the ocean.]

Earl Stutz: Mayday! Mayday! [the scene changes to Earl piloting his boat] This is The Trawler Annabelle. I've lost my bearings, and I'm taking on water. My last good reading is 44 degrees north, 68 degrees-- [he begins to notice the comet crashing landing in the distance]

Radio Voice: Portland Station to Annabelle. What is your position?

Earl Stutz: [grabbing the radio to reply] I don't know exactly, Portland. Off the coast somewhere near Rockwell! Wait. [he notices a lightbeam in the distance] The lighthouse! I see it!

[The lightbeam turns around and another lightbeam appears, Earl's relived look fades away. The boat then crashes into the metallic structure, causing the hull to break apart and Earl to fall through the window and on deck. Earl looks up and gasps and as the camera pans upwards to reveal the silhouette of a giant robot with glowing white eyes. Earl slowly backs away, but the waves engulf him and wash him off the boat. Earl begins to swim up the surface as the boat sinks, the waves crash into the rocky cliff and they drain away to reveal Earl had made it on one of the rocks. He looks up as the camera pans up several rocky features to see an actual lighthouse, its lightbeam engulfs the screen.]

---

Annie: Over here, honey!

Hogarth Hughes: Hey, Mom, you won't believe our good luck. Guess what I found?

Annie: Hogarth, we've been through this before. No pets.

Hogarth Hughes: But he's not a pet, mom. He's a friend.

Annie: Hogarth, we've got to rent a room this year if we're gonna make ends meet, and no one wants to live in a place with shredded upholstery.

Hogarth Hughes: You'll never know he's there. I'll keep him in a cage.

Annie: Until you feel sorry for him and set him free in the house. You remember the raccoon, Hogarth? [shudders] I remember the raccoon.

---

Man: Unidentified? Knowing you, Earl, I'd say it was either whiskey or beer.

[others laugh]

Dean: Hey! I saw it too.

Man: I rest my case.

[others laugh]

---

Hogarth Hughes: Hello, this is Hogarth Hughes speaking. Who's calling please?

Annie Hughes: [over phone] Hogarth, honey, I'm really sorry, but... [she's cut off when a waitress comes out of the kitchen] Oh! [to the waitress, sarcastically] Thank you. [to Hogarth, on phone] ...I need to work late tonight. There's some cold chicken in the icebox. You can have that and some carrots.

Hogarth Hughes: I'm way ahead of you, Mom. [opens a bread box to reveal bread and Twinkies]

Annie Hughes: [over phone] Good, I'll make it up to you, okay?

Hogarth Hughes: Okay.

Annie Hughes: [over phone] I love you, honey.

Hogarth Hughes: Me, too. [almost hangs up]

Annie Hughes: [over phone] Oh, and Hogarth, no scary movies, no late snacks, in bed by 8:00. Got it?

Hogarth Hughes: Come on, Mom. It's me, remember?

[Later that night, Hogarth is watching a black and white movie on TV. The clock reads "8:05"]

Man: Why, the porpoise can communicate telepathically, Miss Mullon. [Hogarth fills the Twinkie with Whipped Cream and eats it] If we can transplant at least 15% of their brain matter into ours, we may be able to...read minds. [glass shatters, and the camera reveals that a brain is on the floor] Darn. A perfectly good brain wasted. [to Miss Mullon; leaving the Lab] I think you've seen enough. How about a nightcap? Let's say my place.

Hogarth Hughes: [annoyed] Oh, jeez.

Miss Mullon: I was thinking the same thing. [giggles] Mind reader.

Man: [realizing] Darn. I seem to have left my keys in the lab. [Hogarth eats popcorn, and a man goes back to the Lab to get his keys he tries to turn on his light, but the light switch is not working] Hmm.

[the Brain moves slowly on the floor]

Hogarth Hughes: [mouthful] You're gonna get it.

[The man picks up his keys and hears shattering noises as Hogarth hears something]

Man: Who's there?

[Hogarth goes upstairs and carries his toy gun]

Man: [frightened] No. No! NO!!!

[Hogarth runs downstairs and sees the Brain Monster attack the man on TV, but the screen quickly turns to static]

Hogarth Hughes: [annoyed] Oh, come on! [bangs the TV trying to make it work but with no effect] Stupid antenna.

---

Kent Mansley: [first words] Kent Mansley, United States Government, Unexplained Phenomena Department.

Marv: Marv Loach. I--

Kent Mansley: What happened here?

Marv: Not sure. Sometimes, the line'll snap if the weather is bad, sure. [Marv Loach and Kent Mansley walk through the wreckage of the power station where Kent makes a report] But for a whole tower to get twisted up like that, whoa! It's got me beat. It's almost like it was bitten off. By some Enormous Beast.

Kent Mansley: [writing the notes down] "Enormous Beast." Yeah. What do you think? Escaped gorilla?

Marv: Uh, what department is that again?

Kent Mansley: Frankly, I'm not at liberty to reveal the particulars of the agency I work for, and all that that implies.

Marv: [whispers] You mean, uh, National Security?

Kent Mansley: [chuckles] Let's put it this way. Every once in a while, things happen that just can't be rationalized in a conventional way. People want to know that their government has a response. I am that response. So, were there any witnesses?

Marv: Well, sir, if you'll just follow me. [Kent follows Marv to his truck. Marv opens his truck and takes out what's left of Hogarth's BB Gun.] We did find this. [Kent examines the damaged BB Gun] United States Government, huh? Guess that means something big's happenin' here, eh?

Kent Mansley: No, Marv. Big things happen in big places. And the sooner I fill out my report, the sooner I can get back to them. [he walks away with the BB Gun; to himself] Enormous beast, yeah. [he chuckles as he enters his car] Biggest thing in this town is probably the homecoming queen. [Kent notices his broken car; alarmed] OH, MY GOD!

[Kent jumps out, terrified, and his fedora falls off. He then quickly runs back to the power station. Afterwards, Giant's arm emerges from the trees. Kent is escorting Marv to his car.]

Kent Mansley: Come on, Marv, come on. I need a witness.

Marv: Okay, I'm comin', I'm comin'.

Kent Mansley: It's around the corner. Come on, pick up the pace here.

Marv: Don't pull so hard, Mr. Manley, easy on the work shirt.

Kent Mansley: [panicking] You've never seen anything like it. It's like a big, big chomp out of the side of the car.

Marv: Take it easy.

Kent Mansley: It's like a bite out of a ham sandwich, like a-- [he becomes shocked to see his car is gone, and his fedora and the BB gun remains; gasps in shock]

Marv: [confused] What, um-- What are we looking at here, Mr. Manley?

Kent Mansley: Something big, Marv. [he picks up the damaged BB gun] Something big.

---

Hogarth Hughes: [calmly] So, I guess you're not gonna hurt me, huh? [The giant robot holds his hand out as Hogarth cringes and gasps. He reveals the shut off switch.] [surprised] The shutoff switch. [To Giant] You saw me save you. [the Giant looks at him innocently] So... where are you from? [the Giant doesn't answer him] You came from the sky, right? From up there? [Giant looks up] Don't you remember anything? Hmm. Maybe it's that bump on your head. [Giant places his finger on the Head, feels the dent] Do you talk? You know words? "Blah, Blah, Blah," like that? Can you do that? Blah, Blah, Blah?

Giant: [in a rusty voice] Blah, blah, blah.

Hogarth Hughes: [cringes] Well... you get the idea anyway. [picks up a rock] See this? This is called a rock. Rock.

Giant: Rock!

Hogarth Hughes: Good.

Giant: [picks up a boulder] Rock?

Hogarth Hughes: Yes!

Giant: [picks up a tree] Rock!

Hogarth Hughes: No, no. That is a tree. [points to boulder] Rock... [points to tree] ...tree. Get it?

Giant: [looks at boulder] Rock. [looks at tree] Tree.

Hogarth Hughes: That's right! [to himself] Wow, my own giant robot, I am now the luckiest kid in America! This is unbelievable. This is the greatest discovery since, I don't know, television or something. I gotta tell someone. I should call some-- No. They'll panic. [to Giant] People will always wig out and start shooting when they see something big like you.

Giant: [confused] Hmm?

Hogarth Hughes: Oh. "Wig out". It means, "crazy". You know, like, uh-- [makes a face as he babbles; Giant mimics him] No, no! Don't do that! That's the kind of stuff that makes them shoot at you.

---

[Hogarth sees the Giant's hand in the kitchen]

Hogarth Hughes: Oh, my God. Um, uh... oh, my God! We... thank you for the... er, food that mom has put in front of us and stop!... uh, the Devil... from doing bad things? And er, get out of here!... Uh, Satan? Go! Go so... that we may live in peace. Amen.

Annie: Amen. That was... hmm, really unusual, Hogarth.

Hogarth Hughes: [speaking quickly] Forgot to wash my hands!

Annie: [as Hogarth races out of the room] What--? Okay.

---

[Hogarth opens the door and sees Kent Mansley.]

Kent Mansley: Hey there, Scout, Kent Mansley, I work for the government. [Hogarth quickly closes the door and he gasps]

Annie: Hogarth? [Kent bangs the door and rings the doorbell] Hogarth? [Hogarth opens the door]

Kent Mansley: Hey there, Scout, Kent Mansley... [smile disappears] work for the government. Your parents home?

Hogarth Hughes: We're eating.

Kent Mansley: Mmm, boy.

Annie: Who's there, honey?

Kent Mansley: [stares at Annie's chest; huskily] Well, hello there. [clears throat and regains composure] Do you have a telephone I could use?

Annie: Yes, there's one in the kitchen.

Kent Mansley: Well, thank you. Thank you very much. [to Hogarth] Here. [puts his fedora on Hogarth's head] Pretend you're a gangster. [chuckles]

[Kent calls General Rogard's home phone number.]

---

[The general picks up while watching a western on TV.]

General Rogard: [annoyed] Damn it, Mansley, you called me at home for this?

Kent Mansley: You don't understand, sir. It-it-it-- It ate my car!

General Rogard: And you saw this happen?

Kent Mansley: No, I didn't actually see it. It went off into the... woods.

General Rogard: So, you don't have any evidence.

Kent Mansley: But-But sir, I've got an eyewitness!

General Rogard: An eyewitness with a concussion.

Kent Mansley: [shouts] This thing i--! [covers his mouth and lowers his voice] This thing is a menace. It-It-It-It tore up a power station and-- [phone falls, and he picks up] --and caused a train wreck!

General Rogard: What did? Tell me again, Mansley, and this time, listen to yourself.

Kent Mansley: [sighs; wearily] A giant metal monster. [Rogard guffaws on the other end. Kent sees a kitchen mitt that seems to mock him.] Please, sir. I've got a feeling about this one. [flips the oven mitt]

General Rogard: That's lovely, Kent. But let me try to explain how this works: If you told me you'd found, say, um, a giant footprint, I might send over an expert to make a plaster cast of it. Hell, you get me a photograph of this thing, and I could probably get some troops over there! But you tell me you've got a feeling.

Kent Mansley: All right, then fine. You want evidence? I'll get you evidence, and when I do, I'm gonna want a memo distributed.

General Rogard: [sarcastically] That sounds swell, Kent.

Kent Mansley: I'm gonna want that memo carbon-copied, and redistributed, [Rogard hangs up.] and-- [Kent stops, and tries to hang up the phone, which falls off the receiver, twice; he gets angry, yelling incoherently and bangs the phone against the receiver several times, then composes himself.] Hi. Thanks for the use of your phone. [goes outside the door and puts his fedora back on.] Well, thank you for the use of your phone, Mrs.--?

Annie: Hughes. Annie Hughes. And this is my son, Hogarth.

Kent Mansley: Thank you, Annie. Hobart.

Hogarth Hughes: It's Hogarth! [to himself] Jerk. [grumbles irritably]

Kent Mansley: [starts car] "Hogarth"? What an embarrassing name. Might as well call him Zeppo or something. What kind of a sick person would name their kid Hogar--? [stops and looks over to Hogarth's smashed B-B gun which says, "Hog Hug," instead of "Hogarth Hughes."] "Hog Hug". "HOG HUG"?! [realizes] HOGARTH HUGHES!

---

Annie: Hogarth? What is going on up there? Are you alright?

Hogarth Hughes: [grunting] I'm...fine!

Kent Mansley: You know, this sort of thing is why it's so important to really chew your food.

[Annie turns and gives Kent a disgusted/annoyed "Really?" look. Hogarth pushes the Giant's hand out of the window, and it lands on the ground with a thud.]

Annie: Hogarth? [Hogarth zips down his pants] Hogarth? [opens the door]

Hogarth Hughes: Mom! [Annie exclaims seeing Hogarth sitting on the toilet] A little privacy?!

Annie: Sorry. [as she closes the door, it hits Kent, who yells in pain; to Kent] Sorry.

Kent Mansley: [rubbing where the door hit him] Ow.

Annie: Oh, Lord, he's been acting strange lately.

Kent Mansley: That hurt.

[Hogarth sighs in relief then he stands up and zips up his pants. He sees the giant's hand go into the shed. Kent leaves the house and goes to his car as he puts his fedora back on]

Kent Mansley: Thank you again, Annie. Good night, Hogarth. I'm sure we'll see each other again... [gets in his car] ...real soon. [starts the car and drives away then Hogarth and Annie go back inside the house.]

---

Dean: You'd be surprised how many people wanna steal scrap. But, man, once I turn it into art, I can't give it away. I mean, what am I, a junkman who sells art, or, or an artist that sells junk? You tell me.

Hogarth Hughes: I like it, I think. Listen you're not gonna call my mom, are you? She doesn't know I'm out.

Dean: Don't worry, kid. Look, it's not my style to report a guy to the authorities. [The Giant waves to Hogarth before he closes the shade.] I'm gonna have some coffee. What do you want, some milk, or what? Milk?

Hogarth Hughes: Coffee's fine. [Dean gives him a dumbfounded "Really?" look; scoffs] Yeah, I drink it. I'm hip.

Dean: [skeptically] I don't know. This is espresso, you know? It's like coffee-zilla.

Hogarth Hughes: I said, I'm hip. [Dean shrugs as he starts to make coffee. A bit later, Hogarth speaks rapidly under the effects of espresso] So, she moved me up a grade because I wasn't fitting in, so now I'm even more not fitting in. I was getting good grades, you know? Like, all A's. So, my mom said, "You need stimulation," and I go, "No, I'm not stimulated enough right now!"

Dean: That's for sure.

Hogarth Hughes: [continuing] So, she goes "Uh-uh. You need a challenge. You don't have a challenge." So now I'm challenged, all right. I'm challenged to hold on to my lunch money, because all of the big mooses who wanna pound me because I'm the shrimpy dork who thinks I'm smarter than them. But I don't think I'm smarter, I just do stupid homework! If everyone else just did the stupid homework, they could move up a grade and get pounded too. Is there anymore coffee?

Dean: Look, it's really none of my business, kid, but who cares what those creeps think, you know? They don't decide who you are, you do. You are who you choose to be. [a crashing sound is heard from outside; shocked] Did you hear that?

Hogarth Hughes: No, wait. Stop! [Dean comes out of his home with a crowbar in his hand, he looks around. Then, he turns around and suddenly caught sight of Giant on the other side of his warehouse.] It's okay.

Dean: [alarmed] My God...

Hogarth Hughes: He isn't gonna--

Dean: [panicking; grabs Hogarth] RUN, KID! RUN! [they run off, Dean's voice attracts Giant's attention, and he jumps up angrily. The Giant lands in front of them, they run the opposite way]

Hogarth Hughes: It's okay, he isn't-- [he gets cut off when Giant slams his hand in their way. They turn around and they trip] It's okay, he isn't gonna hurt me.

[Suddenly, Giant grabs hold of Dean by the collar of his night robe]

Dean: Whoa! Hey, hey! [he gasps when the Giant raises him high]

Hogarth Hughes: Don't squash him! No, don't! Do not... [Giant narrows his eyes at Dean, then he looks at Hogarth, confused] [softly] ...squash him. His name is Dean. We like Dean. [Giant draws his attention back to Dean, but he doesn't narrow his eyes]

Giant: Dean. [Dean gasps, and cowers in fear]

Dean: [sees Giant eating some metal junk and shakes with fear as he is about to take a sip of his coffee] So...where'd, uh- Where'd he come from?

Hogarth Hughes: He doesn't remember. He's like a... little kid.

Dean: Little. Yeah. [starts chuckling, then stops] Wait a minute. You can talk to him?

Hogarth Hughes: Kinda. He can't say a lot of words yet, but he can understand things pretty good.

Dean: Oh, yeah, I see.

[Hogarth and Dean start chuckling as the Giant is still eating some metal junk, then they stop]

Hogarth Hughes: He needs food and shelter.

[Dean gets up from his chair, pours his coffee onto the ground, and walks back into his office and shuts the door. 37 minutes later, Hogarth is still pleading to Dean to let Giant stay in the junkyard, but to no avail.]

Hogarth Hughes: You got plenty of room here; this place is perfect!

Dean McCoppin: Go away.

Hogarth Hughes: I can have him push the door down. You know I can!

Dean McCoppin: [opens the door] Hogarth, I-I-I can't hide it here!

Hogarth Hughes: Him. Not it.

Dean McCoppin: Whatever. You don't even know where he came from, or what the hell he is!

Hogarth Hughes: He's my friend.

Dean McCoppin: Yeah, yeah. What am I? Am I your friend? [starts walking back into his office] Bring some Franken-bot with out-of-state plates over here and make me change my tune. I don't like that jazz. [lays down on his couch] God, I'm tired.

Hogarth Hughes: So, he can stay?

Dean McCoppin: Tonight. Tomorrow- I-I don't know about tomorrow.

[Hogarth closes the door and breathes a sigh of relief]

---

Hogarth Hughes: [exasperated] I'M GOING OUT! [takes his jacket]

Annie: Well, why don't you take Mr. Mansley with you, show him the sights?

Hogarth Hughes: Oh, Mom, the sights?

Kent Mansley: [puts his fedora on] Hey, I'd love that. Give us a chance to get acquainted, swap some stories. Huh, chief?

[scene changes to Dean talking to Giant]

Dean: There are two kinds of metal in this yard: Scrap and art. If you gotta eat one of them, eat the scrap. What you currently have IN YOUR MOUTH IS ART!

Giant: [takes the Art Scrap out of his mouth] Hmm. Art?

[Dean looks at him, annoyed. Giant mashes up the Scrap some more, trying to repair it.]

Dean: Forget it. Forget it. [Giant puts down the damaged Art Scrap on the ground.] It's gone. It's-- [Dean notices the readjustment of the Art Scrap and is amazed] Hmm. That's not bad.

---

[Inside the pharmacy, Hogarth and Kent having root beer floats.]

Hogarth Hughes: First, you take a Chocolate Bar. Any bar will do.

Kent Mansley: Oh.

Hogarth Hughes: Do you mind if I, uh--?

Kent Mansley: No, knock yourself out, skipper.

Hogarth Hughes: [crumbles up choco-lax] You crumble up the chocolate into little pieces, [stirs the Ice Cream] then you kind of stir it into the ice cream. See?

Kent Mansley: Yes, I see. What do you call this, again?

Hogarth Hughes: Landslide. It's new. Very new. [tosses choco-lax wrapper in a garbage can without Kent noticing]

Kent Mansley: Mmm. Landslide. Topnotch. Mmm. [Hogarth makes a landslide with a regular chocolate bar.] You know, Hogarth. We live in a strange and wondrous time. The Atomic Age. But there's a dark side to progress, Hogarth. Ever hear of Sputnik?

Hogarth Hughes: Yeah, it's the first satellite in space.

Kent Mansley: Foreign satellite, Hogarth, and all that that implies. Even now, it orbits overhead... Boop! Boop! ...watching us. We can't see it, but it's there. Much like that giant thing in the woods. We don't know what it is or what it can do. I don't feel safe, Hogarth. Do you?

Hogarth Hughes: [puzzled and confused] What are you talking about?

Kent Mansley: What am I talking about? [angrily] What am I TALKING ABOUT?! [his yelling causes everyone to turn and stare at Kent as the music in the pharmacy stops playing. Kent slowly begins to corner Hogarth] I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR GOLDARNED SECURITY, HOGARTH! While you're snoozing in your little jammies, back in Washington, we're wide awake and worried. Why? Because everyone wants what we have, Hogarth; Everyone! You think this metal man is fun. But who built it? The Russians? The Chinese? The Martians? Canadians?! I DON'T CARE! All I know is we didn't build it, and that's reason enough to assume the worst and blow it to Kingdom Come! Now, you are going to tell me about this thing, you are going to lead me to it, and we are going to destroy it before it destroys us!! [Kent's stomach suddenly begins to gurgle, causing his glare to fade away and his eyes to widen] Just hold that thought and stay right there! Uh-oh! [rushes to the bathroom, and the camera quickly pans to reveal Hogarth left the Pharmacy]

---

Dean: [sets up his chair] This can't last forever, Hogarth. We gotta tell somebody about him.

Hogarth Hughes: Ah, you worry too much. [climbs up the rock boulder] Hey, Dean! Watch this!

Dean: [sits down on his chair] All right, we're watchin', we're watchin'.

Hogarth Hughes: This one's for professionals only! [jumps in the lake] Banzai! [Giant looks down at Hogarth in the lake. Hogarth emerges from the water, shivering] C-C-Come on in! Th-Th-The water's great!

Dean: [chuckles] No, thanks.

Hogarth Hughes: You -wweenie! [to Giant] Come on in! It's really, really refreshing. [Giant walks away] What? You too? You... big baby! [hears running footsteps approaching and Dean also hears the footsteps while reading the newspaper.]

Giant: [jumps] BANZAI! [lands in the water and does a giant splash. Dean, who is reading his newspaper, notices the wave approaches, he hides behind his newspaper. The wave lands on the road and Dean gets all wet. Hogarth is hanging from a tree as he laughs.]

Hogarth Hughes: Whoo!

[Dean is on the washed road as a truck approaches him.]

Truck Driver: Hey!

Dean: Yeah?

Truck Driver: You're right in the middle of the road!

Dean: Yeah?

Truck Driver: All right. [drives away]

Dean: I think that's enough fun for one day.

---

[Kent is in the bathroom with red lighting at Hogarth's house. He hangs the drying photos from Hogarth's camera. As one photo starts clearing up, he hears knocking.]

Annie: Are you okay in there, Mr. Mansley? I'm back with that toilet paper you needed.

Kent Mansley: [chuckles] Thanks! I think I'm feeling better now. Much. [sees the photo of Hogarth and Giant] Much better.

---

[Hogarth and Giant are in the woods. Giant sighs happily at the beauty of the vast forest.]

Hogarth Hughes: It's beautiful! [gasps and sees a deer] Hey, look. [quietly] It's a deer.

Iron Giant: Deer?

Hogarth Hughes: Shh. Let's get closer.

[The Giant walks and points at the deer. The deer sees the Giant and Hogarth. The Giant kneels down holding out his finger Hogarth and Giant smiles as the deer curiously sniffs Giant's finger. Then the deer hears a twig snap, and it leaves.]

Hogarth Hughes: Hmm, well, I guess he decided to--

[Suddenly, a gunshot is heard, and birds fly past them, the Giant is surprised, and sees the Hunters kneeling over the deer they just shot as they turn to see the Giant.]

Hunter: [alarmed] It's the monster! [they both drop their guns and run into the woods]

Hogarth Hughes: [shocked] Oh, no. [The Giant sees the deer is dead, and slowly reaches his finger down, touching it, to no avail] It's dead.

Iron Giant: [sadly] Dead? [he tries to pick up the dead deer]

Hogarth Hughes: Don't do that!

Iron Giant: [lets go of the dead deer; to Hogarth, confused] W-Why?

Hogarth Hughes: It's dead. Understand? They... shot it, with that gun. [Giant sees the gun his eyes narrow and turn red] Hey, what's wrong?

Iron Giant: [snaps out of it] Gun.

Hogarth Hughes: Yes. Guns kill.

Iron Giant: Guns kill.

---

[Later that night, Giant and Hogarth are at Dean's junkyard. Giant feels very sad about the deer. Hogarth walks up to him.]

Hogarth Hughes: I know you feel bad about the deer. But's it not your fault. Things die. It's part of life. It's bad to kill. But it's not bad to die.

Iron Giant: You die?

Hogarth Hughes: Well... yes, someday.

Iron Giant: I die?

Hogarth Hughes: I don't know. You're made of metal. But you have feelings, and you think about things, and that means you have a soul. And souls don't die.

Iron Giant: Soul?

Hogarth Hughes: Mom says it's something inside of all good things. And that it goes on forever and ever. [pats Giant's face and walks away. Giant lies on the scraps, and he looks up at the midnight.]

Iron Giant: Souls don't die.

---

[Hogarth goes to barn putting his bicycle away and the Shadow Figure of Kent]

Kent Mansley: You're late for dinner, Hogarth. [Frightened, Hogarth runs to the door, but Kent blocks him and locks the door, trapping Hogarth.] Your mom's worked late tonight, Hogarth, so it's just us guys. And we're gonna have a little chat. [shoves Hogarth into a chair] Sit down! [turns on a lamp] How's that? A little too bright? Good. [chuckles] Forgive me, Hogarth, I wanted you to learn something.

Hogarth Hughes: What can I learn from you?

Kent Mansley: You can learn this, Hogarth, that I can do anything I want whenever I want if I feel it's in the people's best interest. The Giant Metal Man. Where is it?

Hogarth Hughes: I don't know what you're talking about.

Kent Mansley: You don't? Well...

[Kent lays pictures in front of Hogarth; first the one is of a piece of metal that Hogarth lured the Giant with] Does this ring a bell? [Hogarth doesn't answer] No, how 'bout this?

[Kent lays another picture which Hogarth accidentally took of himself with the Giant behind him] You have been careless, Hogarth.

Hogarth Hughes: It doesn't prove anything.

Kent Mansley: It's enough to get the army here with one phone call.

Hogarth Hughes: Then what's stopping you?

Kent Mansley:[pushes the shoves the lamp off the Table] [angrily] WHERE'S THE GIANT?! [grabs Hogarth by the jaw] You can't protect him, Hogarth, any more than you can...protect your mother.

Hogarth Hughes: My mom?

Kent Mansley: [lets go of Hogarth's jaw and sighs] It's difficult to raise a boy all alone. We can make it more difficult. In fact, we can make it so difficult it would be irresponsible for us to leave you in her care, and all that implies. You'll be taken away from her, Hogarth.

Hogarth Hughes: You can't do that!

Kent Mansley: Oh, we can, and we will.

Hogarth Hughes: [lowers his head; defeated] He's in the junkyard. McCoppin's Scrap, off Culver Road.

Kent Mansley: Ah, the junkyard. Of course! Food for the metal-eater. I wouldn't worry about this, Hogarth. It isn't really happening. This is only... a bad dream.

[Kent shoves a chloroform rag on Hogarth's mouth as he moans. leaving him unconscious as faded things appear around his room, and the scene switches to Hogarth in bed hearing voices then he wakes up hearing Kent talking on the phone.]

Kent Mansley: [on phone] Yes, sir. This thing is real, sir. I not only have incontrovertible evidence, General. I know where it's hidden. I don't know who built it, but it's here. It's massive and we're running out of time.

[Hogarth wakes up in the bed and he listens to Kent talk on a lifer]

Kent Mansley: There's no doubt we should act. The only question, sir, is, "Can you afford not to?" Excellent, sir. You won't regret it. Thank you, sir. [hangs up telephone]

[Hogarth hides behind his bedroom door, and he tries to escape but he is blocked by Kent]

Kent Mansley: The army arrives in the morning, Hogarth, don't get cute.

[Hogarth glares angrily at him as he slowly backs away into his room then he closed the door]

Hogarth Hughes: [quietly] I gotta warn Dean.

[Hogarth runs to his bedroom window he tried to open it then he sees his window is nailed shut. Kent opens the door glaring at him and Hogarth glares back]

Kent Mansley: I'll be watching you. [He sits down on Annie's bed with a cocky smile. Hogarth continues glaring at him as he goes into his bed. He puts on his army helmet; he folds his arms and puts on his goggles to hide his eyes from Kent. Kent smiles evilly as Hogarth glares angrily at him. They stare at each other for hours. Kent grows tired and Hogarth appears to fall asleep. Kent smiles at this and looks at his watch. The next morning, he wakes up and looks at Hogarth's bed. He smiles when he thinks Hogarth is still asleep Suddenly, he walks past.]

Hogarth Hughes: [walks by] Morning, Kent.

[Kent gasps and walks into Hogarth's bedroom. He pulls the bed sheets only to see pillows and the helmet, which falls to the floor. While Kent fell asleep, Hogarth (who had faked sleeping under his goggles) got out of bed and called Dean to warn him. Annie enters the room.]

Annie Hughes: [comes in] For some reason, the army is in our front yard, Mr. Mansley.

Kent Mansley: [smiles] Please call me Kent.

---

[Hogarth watches General Rogard yelling berating Kent over a dumb investigation outside the window while he smiles smugly]

General Rogard: [angrily] DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH HARDWARE I BROUGHT OUT HERE?! YOU JUST BLEW MILLIONS OF UNCLE SAM'S DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR BUTT!!!

Annie: [talking to Dean] I gotta admit, I'm relieved that this is what Hogarth was talking about. I mean, I was beginning to think it was real. I mean, don't get me wrong. I like it. But um, do you need all this stuff on the surface?

Dean: Well, um, no, actually.

Annie: Well, just sort of-- It seems kind of slapped on. You know, not as thought-out as this other piece.

Dean: You like that one?

Annie: Yeah.

General Rogard: [still berating Kent] You'll be chief inspector of Subway toilets by the time I'm finished with you! [gets in the jeep] Now pack up. I'll expect you back in Washington to clear out your office. [signals the soldier to drive away, pointing to the road]

Kent Mansley: [softly defeated] Yes, sir.

---

Dean: Get back! [the Giant looks at Dean in confusion] I said "Get back!" I mean it!

Giant: No. Stop. Why?

Hogarth Hughes: It was an accident; He's our friend.

Dean: [to Hogarth] He's a piece of hardware, Hogarth. Why do you think the army was here? He's a weapon. A big gun that, that walks!

Giant: I... I... I not gun.

Dean: Yeah, what's that? Huh? [points at a hole, by the Giant's Eye Gun, in a school bus] You almost did that to Hogarth!

Giant: [sees hole in bus; shocked] No. [he runs away as it begins to snow]

Hogarth Hughes: Come back! [runs to follow Giant]

Dean: Hogarth. Hey, stop!

Hogarth Hughes: Giant! Come back!

Dean: [picks up Hogarth's toy gun; realizing] It was defensive. He reacted to the gun. [As Hogarth continues running down the road, Dean arrives on his motorcycle to catch up to him.] You're not gonna get there fast enough on foot. [Hogarth smiles, and he hops on Dean's motorcycle]

---

Boy 1: See, I told you it was a big hoax. Dad said-- [a second boy gasps upon seeing the Giant]

Boy 2: Give me the binoculars.

Boy 1: What? What?

Boy 2: [looks through the binoculars] Hey, there it is. I see it! [the Giant walks away] It's big. It's walking away.

Boy 1: [takes the binoculars] Give me those.

Boy 2: Over there. See it? See it?

Boy 1: [surprised] The monster! Holy cow!

[The balcony railing breaks, and the boys fall. Their binoculars catch onto a flagpole. As they both hang on for their lives, the wood pieces fall onto the street and almost hit a civilian.]

Man: Watch it!

Boy 2: [scared] HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME! [The Giant hears their cries for help] I DON'T WANNA FALL! [the crowd from below runs at the incident as Annie Hughes at the Diner sees what's going on]

Boy 1: I'M SLIPPING! I CAN'T HOLD ON MUCH LONGER!

[The crowd gasps as the Giant arrives at the scene of the disaster. He slides across the ground as the boys fall off the flagpole. Fortunately, they land safely in his hand. The crowd is surprised upon seeing the Giant saving the boys' lives. They run to their dad.]

Boy 1: Dad!

Boy 2: Daddy! [They both hug their father, and he smiles at the Giant]

Man: He saved those boys.

Woman: It's friendly.

[cut to Dean and Hogarth riding on the motorcycle looking for the Giant. As the convoy drives by, we see Kent in his car, upset over being fired by Rogard. He looks back at Dean and Hogarth heading towards the town where the Giant is. Kent gasps.]

Kent Mansley: What?! [He looks at the Giant again] What?! [He bumps into the truck in front of him. Suddenly, the truck behind him runs into him, destroying his car. He gets out of his car and yells at the soldiers, lying about the Giant "attacking" the town.] Stop! Look! Look behind you! The giant, it's attacking! It's stomping the town! I was right! [General Rogard turns and sees the Giant]

General Rogard: [alarmed] Sweet Mother of God.

Kent Mansley: Look, damn you!

---

Dean: [to Kent as he approaches him] Kent, he only reacts defensively. If you don't shoot, he's harmless. You gotta tell the general!

Kent Mansley: This is all your fault, beatnik. If you hadn't--

Dean: [interrupting] Would you shut up and listen?! You gotta make them stop! The Giant's got the kid with him!

Kent Mansley: I'll take care of it.

---

General Rogard: [takes radio from a soldier frozen with fear] All battleships fire at the robot! Now! NOW, DAMN IT, NOW!

[The battleships offshore fire on the Giant, drawing its' attention away from the army and it begins marching toward the shore to confront the new threat]

General Rogard: Nothing can stop this thing; We've hit it with everything we've got!

Kent Mansley: Not everything, General; the bomb. [Rogard removes his glasses and stares in shock] The Nautilus has first-strike capability and is not far offshore.

General Rogard: You scare me, Mansley. You want us to bomb ourselves in order to kill it?!

Kent Mansley: General, the Giant seems to follow whatever attacks it. We can lure it away from the town, then destroy it.

General Rogard: [to one of his soldiers] Radio the Nautilus. Tell them to target the robot and await my command.

---

Nautilus Pilot: This is Nautilus. What's the Giant's current position?

Soldier: [through radio] 67.71972 degrees west by 44.50177 degrees north.

Nautilus Pilot: Locked and loaded.

Annie: [caressing Hogarth] Oh, my baby, I'm so sorry.

Hogarth Hughes: [regains consciousness; to Dean] Stop the car.

Annie: [surprised] Hogarth! Oh, my God! Honey, you're all right!

Hogarth Hughes: Get back! We've gotta help him!

Dean: Are you crazy, kid? You're lucky to be alive. We're taking you to a hospital. [sees the Army; stops truck.]

Soldier: Everyone, out of the car! We are to evacuate the area. [pulling Dean of out the truck]

Dean: What are you talking about? We gotta get this boy to a hospital.

Soldier: What boy?

Dean: [sees the truck is empty; shocked] Hogarth!

[Hogarth runs up to Giant as Dean and Annie look on.]

Annie: [worried] Hogarth, no!

[Giant targets the battleship as Hogarth arrives to stop him.]

Hogarth Hughes: Hey! No! STOP!

[Giant turns to Hogarth and he shoots to sky, narrowly missing the battleship, as the army reacts in shock. Kent looks at General Rogard.]

General Rogard: [to Nautilus, through radio] This is General Rogard. Ready the attack and prepare to retreat to the fallback position.

Annie: No! No! Stop! My son is out there!

[camera cuts to Hogarth as Giant points his weapon at him.]

Hogarth Hughes: No, wait! It's me, Hogarth, remember? It's bad to kill. Guns kill. And you don't have to Be a Gun. You are what you choose to be. You Choose. [cringes, as braces for impact] Choose.

Giant: [his eyes return to normal] Hogarth. [returns to his normal form, feeling regretful, as he moans.]

Hogarth Hughes: It's okay, It's okay. We gotta show them you're good.

[Giant turns around, and the camera cuts to inside the Nautilus submarine.]

Nautilus Sailor: Nautilus to Rogard. Missile armed and ready.

General Rogard: What are you saying? He's friendly?

Dean: Yes! Attacking him is triggering a defense mechanism.

Kent: Don't listen, General! Destroy the monster while we still have the chance!

[soldiers arm their rifles, after hearing the Giant's footsteps]

Dean: General, you shoot now, and the whole thing starts all over again!

Kent Mansley: Stop it now, General; Our future's at stake!

Soldier: Orders, sir?

Dean: Which is why you have got to stop, General!

Rick: [alarmed] It's getting closer! Orders, sir?!

Hogarth Hughes: Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

Annie: Hogarth!

General Rogard: Hold your fire! The boy's alive?

Kent Mansley: It's a trick; Launch the missile!

General Rogard: Are you mad, Mansley? All units, stand down! Rogard to Nautilus. Come in, Nautilus.

[Giant angrily stares at Kent for knocking Hogarth unconscious, and Kent is alarmed]

Nautilus Sailor: [through radio] This is Nautilus, standing by.

Kent Mansley: [snatches radio; screaming] LAUNCH THE MISSILE NOW!

[Nautilus captain pushes the red button, launching the missile up to the sky.]

General Rogard: [grabs Kent by his trench coat] [angrily] That missile is TARGETED TO THE GIANT'S CURRENT POSITION! WHERE'S THE GIANT, MANSLEY?!

Kent Mansley: [sees the Giant holding Hogarth in his hands standing behind him] Wha-? Ohhhh....W-W-We can duck and cover! There's a fallout shelter right there. If we hur--

General Rogard: There's no way to survive this, YOU IDIOT!

Kent Mansley: [shocked] You mean... we're all going to--?

General Rogard: To die, Mansley. For our country.

Kent Mansley: [his last words; alarmed] Screw our country, I WANNA LIVE! [shoves a soldier out of a jeep and starts to drive away, but the Giant blocks the jeep with his hand, preventing him from escaping.]

General Rogard: Hold him, men. [soldiers aim their rifles at Kent.] Make sure he stays here, like a good soldier.

[an air raid siren goes off and the crowd gets worried and scared. Giant puts Hogarth down then he walks up to Annie and hugs her.]

Hogarth Hughes: [shocked] Oh, no! [looks to where the missile is heading.]

Giant: Hmm.

Hogarth Hughes: It's the missile. When it comes down, everyone will die. [Annie places her hand on Hogarth's shoulder.]

Man: There it is! [the crowd sees the missile up in the sky as Giant looks at it then he looks to crowd knowing that the missile will kill everyone, and bravely looks at the missile.]

Annie: Shouldn't we get to a shelter?

Dean: [shaking his head] It wouldn't matter.

Giant: I fix. [Hogarth feels surprised, and he walks up to Giant.]

Hogarth Hughes: Giant? [Giant kneels down and gently places his finger at him.]

Giant: Hogarth. You stay. I go. [gently lifts Hogarth's chin, and sadly waves his other finger] No following. [backs slowly]

Hogarth Hughes: [softly] I love you.

[The Giant takes off as Hogarth looks on and Annie comforts him. As the missile starts to descend, the Giant flies up into outer space, aiming himself towards it, to save the town.]

Hogarth Hughes: [through memory] You are who you choose to be.

Giant: [last word; heroically] Superman.

[The Giant closes his eyes and flies straight into the missile, which explodes in a massive atomic fireball, as Annie, Dean and Hogarth shield their eyes from the blinding light. The townspeople and soldiers cheer as Rogard solemnly removes his helmet in respect for the Giant's sacrifice]

General Rogard: [solemnly] Let's go home.

---

[last line]

Hogarth Hughes: See you later.

[The jawbolt rolls away as the camera pans up to the sky then the camera changes to Langjokull Glacier, Iceland. Giant's parts go toward Giant as the camera pans to the Giant's face. He opens his eyes and smiles, then the movie cuts to black, and then the credits roll.]

• Some secrets are too huge to hide.

• The story of a boy and a giant from another world who became a hero on this one!

• Something humongous is among us.

• It came from outer space!

• Eli Marienthal - Hogarth William Hughes
• Vin Diesel - The Iron Giant
• Harry Connick, Jr. - Dean McCoppin
• Christopher McDonald - Kent James Mansley
• Jennifer Aniston - Annie Hughes
• Cloris Leachman - Mrs. Tensedge
• James Gammon - Foreman Marv Loach/Floyd Turbeaux
• John Mahoney - General Shannon Rogard
• M. Emmet Walsh - Earl Stutz

• The Iron Giant quotes at the Internet Movie Database