Exploring the Reef

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[opening lines] The ocean. From above, a simple blanket of water. But below, a complex world full of color, life, and wonder. This is the coral reef, a timeless thing of beauty for all to enjoy. And yet, mankind's actions have destroyed over one quarter of the world's reefs. [camera cuts to him on board a sailbot] Please join me as we explore the fragile beauty of nature's underwater world. I will be your guide and your host. I'm Jean-Michel Cousteau. [main theme plays, trumpet fanfare]

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[referring to different kinds of gastropods] Even the lovely Spanish Dancer...

Marlin:
Did someone say "dancing"? [disco begins] Ah, ah, ooh-ooh! [Dory and Nemo appear onscreen dancing] Clear the reef, Papa's back in town! Ooh!

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Stop! Let me talk! [angry] The ocean, where you live, evaporates to form clouds. The clouds produce snow, the snow melts, feeding rivers, irrigation, drinking water, then down drains through sewers, all back to the sea! Everyone, everywhere, affects the ocean!

Dory:
Wow! Amazing!

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Finally, you're listening!

Dory:
[with a conch shell up to her ear] Yeah, I can hear the ocean!

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[yelling] Arr?tez maintenant! Je ne peux pas travailler comme ?a! [cut to "Please Stand By" screen, with cartoon Cousteau and elevator music]

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[after talking about how human activity is harming coral and making it turn white] In fact, tonight is the one magic night of the year when healthy corals reproduce. There, it is happening!

Marlin, Nemo, Dory:
[small pink spheres, actually coral eggs, float through the water] Ooh, oh.

Dory:
Look at that!

Nemo:
Whoa!

Dory:
Amazing!

Marlin:
Look at this.

Dory:
[swims frantically around to all the coral eggs] Happy birthday, coral. Happy birthday, happy birthday. Happy - happy birthday.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Incredibly, the corals release their eggs in a single night, so that even the hungriest fish cannot eat them all.

Nemo:
[a shot is shown of a coral spewing out its eggs into the water at high speed] What's it doing? [Marlin covers Nemo's eyes] Dad!

Marlin:
When you're a little older, son.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[concluding] For we are as connected to the planet as the corals are to the algae living within them. And just as we...

Nemo:
Algae living inside coral? That's creepy.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
No, it is not!

Nemo:
Yeah, it is.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Isn't.

Nemo:
Is.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Isn't!

Nemo:
Is!

Dory:
No, it's normal! See, they work together...

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
That's...

Dory:
Algae are plants that make food for the coral and the corals fertilize the algae.

Marlin:
But when there's pollution, the coral can't get enough food from the algae.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Look! What...?

Nemo:
Wow! You guys know a lot about the reef.

Dory:
Well, it's not hard. You just have to pay attention and listen.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[yelling] Then why won't you listen to me?

Dory:
Oh, hi! Who are you?

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
I am Jean-Michel Cousteau! [trumpets blare main theme] Cut, cut! [whimpering] Cut, cut, cut. [cut back to his sailboat] Upstaged by fish. This would have never happened to Papa. [looks up] Goodbye. I am... Jean-Michel Cousteau. [trumpets blare, music ends]

Nemo:
[after the film] Keep exploring the reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau at oceanfutures.org.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
[about the coral] It has developed an amazing releationship with algae, a tiny plant that lives inside the coral's body. This connection is deli...

[Dory rises up the screen, close to the camera, Cousteau clears his throat]

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
This connection is delicate, and the introduction of additional nutrients can upset this balance, leaving the reef at risk.

[Dory pokes her head in again, Cousteau clears his throat]

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Little fish, I'm trying to make a documentary film.

Dory:
A film! A film! I've always wanted to be in a film.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
I was just explaining the delicate balance between coral and the algae living within its body.

Dory:
[laughing] "Algae living inside the coral's body" Come on! That's creepy.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
No it isn't.

Dory:
Yes it is.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Isn't.

Dory:
Is.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Isn't.

Dory:
Is.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Isn't.

Dory:
Whatever.

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
No, it is not "whatever". It's true.

Dory:
How do you know? Are you a coral?

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
I'm Jean-Michel Cousteau!

[trumpets blare, Dory looks confused]

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
And I've studied the ocean all my life.

Dory:
[French accent] Well, I'm Dory! [normal voice] And I practically live in the ocean!

Jean-Michel Cousteau:
Good for you. But now I must continue to make my film. So long, Dory.

Dory:
[screen wipe pushes her away] Hey!