The Lorax

I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.

And I'd like to say a few words, if you please.

Regarding the story that you're about to see

it actually happened. Just take it from me.

But there's more to this story than what's on the page,

so please pay attention while I set the stage.

We open in Thneedville, a city they say that was plastic and fake,

and they liked it that way!

A town without nature, not one living tree.

So, what happened to them?

Cue the music! Let's see.

Buzz. Buzz.

In Thneedville, it's a brand new dawn

With brand new cars and houses and lawns

Here in Got-all-that-we-need-ville

In Thneedville, we manufacture our trees

Each one is made in factories

And uses 96 batteries

In Thneedville, the air's not so clean

So we buy it fresh

It comes out this machine!

In Satisfaction's- guaranteed-ville

In Thneedville, we don't want to know

Where the smog and trash and chemicals go

I just went swimming, and now I glow

In Thneedville, we have fun year round

We surf and snowboard right in town

We thank the Lord for all we've got

Including this brand new parking lot!

Parking lot!

Oh, look, it's Aloysius O'Hare

Aloysius O'Hare

The man who found a way to sell air

And became a zillionaire

Hip-hip-hooray!

In Thneedville, we love living this way

It's like living in paradise

It's perfect! And that's how it will stay

Oh, yeah!

Here in Love-the-life-we-lead-ville

Destined-to-succeed-ville

We-are-all-agreed-ville

We love it here in...

Thneedville!

Yes!

Oh, hi, Ted.

Oh, hey, Audrey. Hi.

Did your ball land in my backyard again?

What? No.

A model airplane, this time.

Hey, do you want to see something cool?

Come on.

Whoa!

Did you...

Did you paint this?

Do you like it? What?

Are you kidding? This is amazing!

What are those?

Those are trees. Real ones.

They used to grow all around here.

And people said that the touch of their tufts

was softer than anything, even silk.

And they smelled like butterfly milk!

Wow! What does that even mean?

I know, right?

Oh, yeah.

What I want more than anything in the whole world is to see

a real living tree

growing in my backyard.

So if, say... I'm just thinking out loud here.

If a guy somehow got you one...

I'd probably marry him on the spot.

I bet that sounds crazy. Does that sound crazy?

No! Not crazy.

Not crazy at all.

Ted, honey, don't play with your food.

You, either, Mom.

So, Mom, do you happen to know if there's any place

where I could get a real tree?

Ted, we already have a tree. It's the latest model.

Yeah, but I mean a real one

that grows out of the ground or whatever.

You know, a real tree.

Really?

You would rather have some dirty, messy

lump of wood that just sticks out of the ground?

And it does what? I don't even know what it does.

What's its purpose?

Look at what we've got.

It's the Oak-amatic. The only tree with its own remote.

Summer, autumn, winter,

and disco!

Mom? Come on, Ted. Get into it.

Dance with the tree.

Oh, it hurts, Mom. Please stop.

So, anyway...

Let's just say I need a tree.

Where would I go? What do I do?

Then you know what? You need to find the Once-ler.

The What?

Mom, it's not really the time for one of your magical fables, okay?

That's right, I forgot.

I'm old and can't even remember to put my teeth in.

Stand down. That's not what I meant.

No, really, I forgot my teeth.

Would you be a dear and go get them for me?

Sure, Mom.

Okay, here's the deal.

The Once-ler is the man who knows what happened to the trees.

You want one, you need to find him.

The Once-ler? Mmm-hmm.

Okay. Grammy, is this a real thing

that we're talking about now?

Oh, he's real all right.

Well, where can I find him?

Far outside of town where the grass never grows

and the wind smells slow and sour when it blows.

And no birds ever sing, excepting old crows.

Quit doing that.

That's the place where the Once-ler lives.

Wait, outside of town?

People used to say if you brought him 15 cents,

a nail

and the shell of a great, great, great grandfather snail,

he would tell you everything.

Hmm.

Mr. O'Hare, what we've got for you

is something that is going to take O'Hare Air

to the next level.

Now, Mr. O'Hare, I know what you're thinking.

One, "I've gotten rich selling people air that's

"fresher than the stinky stuff outside."

Two, and here is the important one,

"How can I possibly make even more money?"

We can tell you, sir! We can tell you.

Check out this commercial, huh?

Well, here goes another lame Saturday.

Dude, I don't think so!

Huh!

Hey!

Man!

Oh, yeah!

What!

Yeah!

O'Hare purified air. Freshness to go.

Please breathe responsibly.

Ah?

Oh, my goodness. Yeah! Love it

You got to be kidding me.

You really think people are stupid enough to buy this?

Our research shows that if you put something in a plastic bottle,

people will buy it.

Exactly. And...

And what's more, when we build a new factory

to make the plastic bottles,

the air quality is just going to get worse.

Which will make people want our air even more,

and drive sales where?

Through the roof!

So, in other words, the more smog in the sky,

the more people will buy.

See, that's why he's the genius! It even rhymes!

I'm aware it rhymes.

Coats. Big.

What do you two knuckleheads want?

I'm in the middle of a meeting!

What?

Why is he leaving town?

No one ever leaves town!

See what he's up to.

Whoa!

Huh?

Whoa! Whoa.

Oh, man.

Whoa!

All right.

Okay.

What the...

Whoa!

Who are you?

Who are you and what are you doing here?

I'm Ted. I'm Ted.

I can't breathe. Are you the Once-ler?

Oh, man. Didn't you read the signs?

No one is supposed to come here.

Get out of here and leave me alone!

And don't let the boot hit you on the way out.

The boot?

Hello!

Ow!

Listen! People say that if someone brings you this stuff

that you will tell them about trees.

No, no, no!

Trees?

Yeah, real ones.

You know, that grow out of the ground?

Hello?

Sorry, it's just...

Well, I didn't think anyone still cared about trees.

Well, that's me. The guy who still cares. I'm here.