Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

My name is Chance.

I know it sounds odd, but most names do if you think about 'em long enough,

maybe even yours.

I was abandoned when I was very young.

I lived on the streets, scrounging for food, sleeping wherever I could.

That seemed like fun at first, but

pretty soon it landed me behind bars.

But I don't like to talk about that.

Let's talk about after that when I got my second chance...

and my name.

You see, this family came along, and...

and, I guess you could say, they rescued me...

'cause they adopted me and brought me to live with them at their house.

But it was their home, not mine.

Still, it sure was an improvement over, well, over that other place.

Lots of space, fresh air,

plenty of interesting things to explore...

and all the underwear I could eat.

- Chance! - Sassy?

You've just woke me up from a very deep catnap.

What's the matter, Sassy? You get up on the wrong side of the litter box?

Even a very great beauty needs her beauty sleep!

Beauty sleep? You'd have to sleep for like... a month.

Oh, you are such a typical dog.

Indeed. The house was full of new clothes to be shredded...

on account of the family was growing.

You see, Bob was joining the family by marrying Laura.

Her little girl was Hope. Hope belonged to Sassy.

The little boy, Jamie, was supposed to belong to me, but I didn't need anyone else.

I was a loner.

Still, I had to admit it, he did have a lot of very good ideas.

He was the one who named me Chance.

Laura's older boy was Peter.

He belonged to Shadow. Shadow was faithful.

Shadow was loyal. Shadow was a chump.

He just sat down there while I had all the fun upstairs.

Chance, stop! The blouse is dead.

That's right, but I gotta shred it...

into teeny, tiny little pieces, and I really...

I swallowed a button.

Oh, what a shame! Too bad it wasn't a zipper.

Hey, you better beat it, powder puff, or you're gonna end up dog meat.

Is that any way to speak to a petite dewdrop?

You big flat-faced butt-sniffer!

Shadow, down.

I really should give that pup a talking-to.

Uh... I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You may kiss the bride.

Who is this?

Somebody new, 'cause I never forget a face.

Oh, whoa! Food! Food! Hello, food.

Hey, wait, wh-whoa! Where ya goin'?

Hey, you with the food, drop it!

Drop it! Drop it!

They wanna serve that on the floor, I think.

Yeah, down here on the floor, kind of an alfresco thing.

I know what I'll do, I'll give him the look.

- Sorry, fella, not for doggies. - Flying meat!

Hot, hot, hot!

I wonder if I could have that dog stuffed.

Yech! Green stuff! I hate that. Who eats this stuff?

Bingo! Now we're talkin' turkey.

Back off, old man!

You're just jealous 'cause I smelled it first.

- Would a rolled-up newspaper mean anything to you? - No. Why?

All right! Okay. Just wanted to smell it.

To make sure it was safe for people.

- I'm keeping my eye on you, pup. - Yeah, I'm just gonna go, uh... mingle.

Hey, how are ya? Nice to see ya! Hey, nice shoes. I should know.

Hey ya, bud. Nice tie. How're ya doin'?

You want me to show you a place where you can bury that food?

What do you think? Give me a little?

Hasta la vista.

What was that? Broccoli! Ptui!

They're not taking these pets to San Francisco with them, are they?

No. Laura has a friend from college who has a ranch up near Bishop

and she's agreed to keep the animals while they're gone.

Ladies, please, you gotta help me.

I'm starving, and I can't remember when I had my last meal

and I'm an orphan and I'm weak and I'm helpless

and if you don't feed me, I'll shrivel into a pile of bleached bones so please.

Go on, shoo!

What, do you want, shake a paw, shake hands? Is that worth most of your food? All your food?

Shoo, I said. Go on.

Doesn't even know how to shake right. You need training.

You need the training.

Ah, great. And I suppose you know a better way.

Yes. I'll get food by acting like I don't want food.

- That's stupid. - I'll prove it.

You don't have to prove it. I believe you're stupid.

Oh, Sassy, I wish we didn't have to go away.

I'm going to miss you so much.

Just watch me work.

- Hungry? - No.

But it's shrimp. You like shrimp.

- I couldn't possibly. No, no, no, no. - Come on. It's good.

I can't. I just can't.

I have those four pesky ounces still hanging on from Christmas.

- Well, if you insist. - Told you.

- It works. I don't believe it. A twofer. - Have another one.

- I gotta remember this. - It's like I said all along, poopsie:

Cats rule and dogs drool.

- Get a life. Get nine of 'em. - It's true.

Cats are smarter than dogs and more attractive...

and we don't drink from the toilet.

Why not? Uh-oh. Moving food. Gotta go.

Must follow. Must follow. Must follow.

- It's Peter against Shadow. He's coming up! - I'm gonna get it, Peter.

- Come on. I'm gonna get it. - Peter steals it!

- You gotta bounce it better than that, boy. - Shadow makes the jump. Peter takes it!

Come on. I'm gonna get it.

- Scores it! - I can still do this pretty well, huh?

You're my favourite boy in the world.

Oh, I love you, Peter.

I hate this mushy stuff. I got a cake to catch.

Hey, guys.

You know, Shadow's gonna have a ball at Kate's ranch, aren't ya, boy?

Gonna be sunshine and fresh air, lots of room to run.

I still don't see why we can't take him to San Francisco with us.

Peter, I want him to be able to go as much as you do.

- We gotta think about what's best for Shadow, don't we? - Well, yeah.

I mean, we're gonna be living in pretty tight conditions.

Besides, my work there is temporary.

We'll be back before you know it.

What if he doesn't understand? What if he thinks I abandoned him or something?

Are you kidding? He's gonna be so busy chasing horses...

and bothering chickens, and you're gonna be busy.

- There's tons of stuff for both of you guys to do. - There's tons of stuff we can do here, together.

Yeah.

Come on, Shadow.

Okay. Now, act like you don't want it.

- Attention, everyone! - Goin' in.

My bride tells me it's time to cut the cake.

I hope you've all saved room because the mother of the bride made it herself.

I couldn't possibly. Really. I'm dieting.

- Chance! - I got a pound to lose off my hips and I'm...

Oh, man! Don't tell me to do that. Sorry.

Dig in everybody! There's plenty for everyone!

No! Stay there.

Sassy!

You have to stay there or you can't play.

Cats are smarter than dogs, huh? Right.

- She doesn't even know the meaning of the word "stay". - No. Stay there!

The savage beast spots his unsuspecting victim.

Slowly he sneaks through the tall grass.

- Don't even! - Moving in for the ambush.

- Keep away from me, you mutt! - He runs. He leaps!

Yes!

My poor baby! Are you all right?

He threw me in the big litter box!

- Nice shot, Chance. - That's why they call it the catapult.

- You got a lot to learn, pup. - Call the vet, now!

I'm telling Mom what your stupid dog did!

I've never in my life! I think my fur is falling out!

- I'm losing my fur! - Hey, it's time to hit the road, guys!

I wanna get going before it gets too late.

Luggage? Why luggage?

I think... I need to eat some grass.

That's Grandma's cake!

Yuck! Come on, Shadow.

I learned an important lesson that day:

Cake and polyester don't mix.

You know, I was actually starting to like doing things with the whole family.

They weren't so bad, for people.

They were all so happy together. And Shadow, and even Sassy, seemed happy.

I was beginning to think that maybe this time,

with this family, things were gonna be different, better.

Tah-dah! Bat dog!

Well, if it isn't the newlyweds!

Hi, kids!

- Hi! Oh! - Hi!

- How was the wedding? - Excuse me. Pardon me. Look out. Comin' through. Look out.

Whoa, this place is a smell-o-rama. Hallelujah!

I've died and gone to Kentucky!

- Wish I could've made it. - We wish you could've been there.

- Hey, you! Congratulations! - Thanks.

I don't know how to thank you enough for what you're doin'.

You're kiddin'. The more the merrier. I just have to take that one short trip I told you about.

- You're going away? - I help drive the horses to winter grazing every year.

- Just for a couple of days. - Who's gonna take care of Shadow and...

My neighbour, Frank. He always watches the animals while I'm gone.

Don't worry. He's very trustworthy. Do you have a minute to come in?

Wish we could, but we got a long way to go.

Chance! Come here, boy! Chance!

This is Miss Kate, Sassy.

She's a nice lady, and she'll take good care of you.

- Won't you? - Yes, ma'am.

Chance! Come here, boy! Chance!

Hey, gimme that Frisbee! Here. Good boy, Chance.

- How far can you throw that Frisbee? - Pretty far.

- Can you throw as far as that field over there? - Maybe you better do it.

Hey! Now look what you did. You let it escape.

Don't worry. I'll wrestle it to the ground...

and chew it up so good it'll never fly away again.

I hope he doesn't forget me.

Okay!

- I'm gonna miss you so much. - I know.

I know you're sad. I wish I knew why.

We'll be back to visit next week, okay? I promise.

What's wrong?