The Secret of NIMH (1982)

Derek Jacobi: Nicodemus

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Presenting Mrs. Brisby with a glowing amulet] 

  Nicodemus : Courage of the heart is very rare. The stone has a power when it's there.

• Nicodemus : My child, we can no longer live as rats. We know too much.

• [first lines] 

  Nicodemus : Johnathan Brisby was killed today while helping with the plan. It is four years since our departure from NIMH and our world is changing. We cannot stay here much longer. Johnathan was a dear friend. I am lost in knowing how to help his widow. She knows nothing about us or the plan. Perhaps best that I do nothing at present. I shall miss him. Johnathan, wherever you are, your thoughts must comfort her tonight. She will be waiting and you will not return. Farewell... my friend.

• Nicodemus : Johnathan, wherever you are, your thoughts must comfort her tonight. She will be waiting and you will not return.

• Nicodemus : In the beginning, we were ordinary street rats stealing our daily bread and living off the efforts of man's work. We were captured, put in cages, and sent to a place called NIMH. There were other animals there in cages. They were put through the most unspeakable tortures to satisfy some scientific curiosity. Often, at night, I would hear them cry out in anguish. Twenty rats and eleven mice were given injections. Our world began changing.

• Nicodemus : Johnathan, your wife has come at last. Perhaps now I can repay you for your kindness to me. Yet Mrs. Brisby may serve the rats of NIMH more than we her. Jenner, I fear, could do her harm. He is consumed by a lust for power. Thus far, the amulet has remained safely hidden. But if he finds it, heaven help us.

• Nicodemus : Johnathan couldn't tell you about NIMH because the injections slowed the aging process. You see, you would have grown old while he remained young.