Forever Magical
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Tomorrow is Another Day
In June 29, 1977 Disney released its 23rd full length animated feature The Rescuers. Out of all the films I recall seeing as a child in the theater I have the strongest memories of this film probably due to the fact that I played the record so many times I know the film by heart. I can still recite large portions of the dialog even though it has probably been years since I’ve sat down and watched it. Back before home vcr’s were so common Disney would release large LPs that were a read-along but contained substantial portions of the film’s actual dialogue. The LP would also have select pictures from the film, too to keep the film fresh in my mind.
The film is about a young orphan girl, Penny who gets mixed up with some villainous characters, Madame Medusa and her sidekick, Mr. Snoops to escape the orphanage. The two want her to retrive a large diamond from a cavern in the swamp that has an opening too small for an adult. Penny sneaks out a message in a bottle at the film’s beginning. During the credits we watch this tiny lone bottle drift across the water, past large boats that appear to nearly smash it, through large waves brought on by storms until it rests in the NYC harbor. It is retrieved by the Rescue Aid Society, a group of mice from around the world who help those in trouble. Bernard and Bianca are selected for this mission.
Their journey begins at the Morningside Orphanage where Penny’s message in a bottle was addressed. They chat with Rufus, an aging mouser. He talks about how sad she was when a couple picked another little girl "’cause she was prettier than me." Sometimes when I wasn’t picked first for kickball or as a dance partner throughout elementary school I’d remember this scene and how she held onto to her raggedy old Teddy bear who was her best friend. While I didn’t ever memorize Rufus’ speech I’d remember its sentiment that she was (and I felt I was) something special and someday someone would come just for me. He told her, "Faith is a bluebird you see from afar, its for real and for sure as the first evening star, you can’t touch it or buy it or wrap it up tight but its there just the same making things turn out right."
Even though Rufus shares this bit of optimism he is quick to show his realistic, maybe even pessimistic side when he responds moments later to Bernard and Bianca’s declaration that they are going to save Penny, "two little mice, what can you do?" Looking back on it now I wonder if I caught the hint that it can be hard to maintain a truly optimistic outlook.
During Bernard and Bianca’s journey to Devil’s Bayou to find Penny we are treated to a song entitled, "Tomorrow is Another Day." The ballad reflects the continuing theme of looking to the future for brighter days that sunshine follows the rain. Bad times don’t last forever, tomorrow is another day. Another day to reach out for your dream.
Once in Devil’s Bayou Bernard and Bianca encounter Madame Medusa’s crocodiles Nero and Brutus who have captured Penny as she tried to escape through the swamps. One has Penny hanging by her panties and the other holds the teddy by one arm. Bernard and Bianca who are riding in a leaf are swept around feverishly in the wake of the two beasts. These bad guys seem pretty hard to beat.. Even Bernard begins to questions their efforts, "what can two little mice do?", he asks. But Miss Bianca reminds him of their duty to rescue those in need. Now that Penny has been captured once again Madame Medusa calls her up to her room for a chat. Penny asks when she’ll be returned to the orphanage so she can be adopted. Medusa’s response is a very cold, "what makes you think anyone would want a little girl like you?"
I’m sure we have had all had people say things to us that hurt to the very core of our being. They somehow know what our must vulnerable spot is emotionally and hit it right on the head. Medusa’s comment is that kind, the kind that can break a spirit if you let it. Penny has one solid dream. Sometimes she doubts if it will come true and then this evil woman comes along and tells her that dream will not happen. I can remember crying in the theater. I could feel the heartache. I was shorter and have a clubfoot and so I’d get teased about that. It wasn’t a big deal but sometimes it felt like it was. So I’d silently hum or think about the words to the song that followed that scene, "Someone’s Waiting For You." The song was nominated for an Academy Award. It’s a song of hope and love. The first few lines are "Be Brave Little One, Make a Wish for each sad little tear, hold your head up though no one is near, Someone’s Waiting for You." While the song plays Penny who is on the dilapated riverboat in the swamp looks up to the sky. She sees a few twinkling stars which harken back to the reassuring words offered to her Rufus to hold on to her dream. She hugs her teddy bear and prepares for bed a bit more sure that her dream will come true. Then Bernard and Bianca appear on her pillow and announce they are there to rescue her. Penny’s first question is if they brought someone bigger. Bianca responds, "Well, if we work together and have a little faith." Which sparks Penny to recall Rufus’ comments mentioned earlier and while at first glance it seems pretty unreasonable that a little girl and two mice can escape two adults and two very large crocodile the three heroes devise a plan that sounds achievable. Unfortunately their plans are thwarted and the villains take Penny out to the cave to retrieve the Devil’s eye.