Princess Daisy (film character)

Princess Daisy appears in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film as the princess of Dinohattan, the sole remaining city in a parallel world inhabited by evolved dinosaurs.

Daisy is an intelligent and analytical young woman who, perhaps in large part due to her saurian-heritage, is incredibly passionate about dinosaurs and paleontology. Even before discovering her origin as a dinosaur she felt a strong connection to dinosaurs and could relate to the idea of "trying to be human."

This passion later projects itself into a strong connection for the parallel world she discovers is home as well as the growing desires of a "reptile brain." It is only her relationship with Luigi that grounds her humanity and prevents her from completely losing herself to those urges.

History

The film begins with Daisy’s mother smuggling a metallic pod into our world while being pursued by General Koopa. Koopa had previously slaughtered the Portal-Keeper ruling elite in a military coup, sparing only she due to his love for her. Knowing that he would force her to merge the dimensions she escaped her captivity and fled into our world where she began to make her way through the streets of New York City. Eventually she arrives at a cathedral where she deposits the pod on its steps, inserting a gleaming shard into it before covering it with a shawl and frantically knocking on the door before fleeing again. An elderly nun opens the door just as she leaves and sees the pod, kneeling down to take it inside.

The newly-hatched Daisy at St. Theresa's Cathedral

Daisy's mother then crosses the street, nearly being hit by a car before climbing down an open manhole that leads towards an abandoned subway shaft. She peers around, anxious and fearful when Koopa steps from the shadows from behind and grabs her, demanding "the rock." Trying to escape, Daisy's mother causes a cave-in that both kills her and seals the tunnel, preventing Koopa from entering our world to retrieve Daisy and the shard.

Back at the cathedral, several nuns surround the pod which rests on an alter. The elderly nun from before removes the meteorite shard from it, causing the pod to open and reveal an egg inside. The egg begins to hatch and break apart until we see the infant Daisy, crying with life while her mother dies to save her. The elderly nun holds the meteorite shard up, which gleams as the scene cuts.

Daisy is next seen twenty years later as a paleontology student with a passion for dinosaurs that she doesn't quite understand. Her passion has brought her to work as the crew-leader at a digsite alongside the East River funded by New York University. However, the dig is being hounded by Anthony Scapelli, a construction and plumbing mogul, because it had previously been the site of a construction project until the discovery of dinosaur bones forced him to step aside. At this point in the film, Scapelli has personally decided to visit the digsite in an attempt to settle his problem. Flanked by suited-goons, he demands to speak with whoever is in charge. This turns out to be Daisy who hops down from a ramp and asserts herself as "the boss." Unfazed by the girl, Scapelli sleazily eyes her body and threatens both her and the site if she doesn't end the digging soon. Worried, Daisy leaves another student in charge while she enters the city to call the university to request increased security.

Meanwhile, Spike and Iggy, Koopa's bumbling henchmen, sit in their car eating "dog" while discussing their failure to capture the right "girl." It is then that Iggy notices Daisy crossing the street and decide she's the girl they've since failed to locate. They begin to tail her and attempt to snatch her on the street but are thwarted due to their own stupidity. Daisy continues, unaware of the attempt on her life and arrives at a payphone currently being used by Luigi, who, stunned by her beauty, offers its use to her.

Unfortunately, Daisy soon finds that the university cannot offer any more security. Dismayed, she approaches Luigi and his brother Mario to thank them for allowing her use of the phone. Mario, realizing his younger brother's infatuation with the girl, offers her a ride back to the digsite. Unsure, Daisy notices Spike and Iggy watching her from their car and accepts the brothers' offer, believing them safer than the two men she suspects are Scapelli's goons. The three talk along the way and get to know each other enough for Daisy to accept a dinner invitation from Luigi for later that night.

During the dinner Daisy reveals to Mario, Luigi, and Daniella that she was abandoned and that she never removes the meteorite shard she wears around her neck as it is all she has of her past. Luigi admits that he also never knew his mother or father and was raised by his brother Mario, which prompts a shared gaze between the two and a moment of understanding. At Mario and Daniella's urging, Luigi offers to walk Daisy home following the meal.

During the walk home Luigi expresses embarrassment at his awkwardness. Daisy responds by explaining that she herself is embarrassed by her passion for dinosaurs, which she feels is a weird fascination to have. In the end, both are reassured by the others insecurity and smile, which leads to Daisy offering to bring Luigi to the digsite to show him the fossils they have found.

The two race to the digsite where they slip through the chained fence and walk towards the tunnel leading to the fossil pit. There's no security, which Daisy explains to Luigi is the reason she was using the phone earlier. She also explains to him how the fossils came to be found the the trouble Scapelli has been giving the crew. Underground, Luigi asks whether Daisy finds the place creepy. She says, to the contrary, it feels strangely "comfortable" to her.

Trivia

• Although the character is named for Princess Daisy, her appearance and chief inspiration came from Princess Toadstool.

Quotes

• "I'm the boss here."
• "Thank God you're here! I mean, you're a plumber, right?"
• "Luigi, help me!"
• "Uh, I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat anything with a face."
• "I hope he's alright."
• "Only I can stop it."
• "Luigi, Mario! You gotta come with me, I need your help."
• "You're never gonna believe this."