Coraline Page #16

CORALINE (CONT’D)

(shrugs)

Fine. Don’t tell me...

Extending her hand, Coraline starts to turn back.

CORALINE (CONT'D)

...it's a deal-

But the Tall Other Mother HAS DISAPPEARED and the tapping

now is the FAUCET DRIPPING in the sink.

Coraline EXHALES, walks to the sink, stares at the

dripping faucet.

CORALINE (CONT'D)

What does she mean “wonders?”

Out the kitchen window, the FANTASTIC GARDEN LIGHTS UP,

answering her question. She FURROWS HER BROWS, thinks

this was too easy.

CORALINE (CONT’D)

Hmmm.

CUT TO:

EXT. OTHER GARDEN - SAME

Coraline walks through the gates. The bright magic of the

garden is DARKER NOW, with areas of black against areas

of glowing flowers.

She passes the PITCHER PLANTS, and the one with the frog

suddenly SWALLOWS the animal.

She goes up the steps past the BLEEDING HEARTS, which now

LEAK STICKY RED JUICE that runs down the wall.

At the top, a few SNAPDRAGONS, feeble now, SNAP at her.

She KICKS them down. Behind her, a brick tree ring OPENS

like a monster’s MOUTH and five HUGE, PALE SNAPDRAGONS

sneak towards her. They ATTACK, knock her to the ground,

spilling her bag.

CORALINE:

No!!

They GRAB CORALINE at her ankles, knees, hips, waist, and

shoulder, and start to ROLL HER UP TOWARDS THE STONE

MOUTH.

Coraline is just able to GRAB her GARDEN SHEARS. She CUTS

OFF one mutant snapdragon's head, then another, until she

is free. The HEADLESS STEMS retreat into the rock mouth.

Coraline, winded, goes to gather her spilled things when

a trio of HUMMINGBIRDS/WASP HYBRIDS SWOOP IN. They don't

attack her; instead they poke their long beaks into the

TRIANGLE CANDY WITH THE HOLE and LIFT OFF.

CORALINE (CONT’D)

Stop!!

Coraline chases them, but they're getting away. As she

crosses the little bridge, she takes off her cap and

FLINGS IT LIKE A FRISBEE at them. SCORE! They fall to the

ground, near the eyebrow shrubs, sawdust spilling out.

She picks up the triangle candy.

CORALINE (CONT’D)

Why steal this?

With a look of what does she have to lose, she holds it

up to her eye and GASPS.

CORALINE (CONT’D)

Wow...

EVERYTHING IS BLURRY GREY like a pencil drawing, all

color gone. She scans the garden, turning slowly. As she

turns back to where she started, she sees something,

right in front of her: a BURNING RED EMBER -- A GHOST’S

EYE!

CORALINE (CONT’D)

That must be it.

She lowers the stone from her eye, to see that the

ghost's eye is the FADED STICK SHIFT KNOB from the

preying mantis tractor, which STANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF

HER with the Other Father, a SQUAT PUMPKIN MAN, at its

controls, his own hands IMPRISONED IN THE MECHANICAL

PIANO HANDS.

HEADLIGHTS GLARE and the tractor ROARS TO LIFE. The

mechanical hands FORCE Other Father to SHIFT GEARS, and

the tractor LURCHES at Coraline, its arms SLASHING. She

yells, backs away. Other Father calls in a garbled voice:

OTHER FATHER:

Sorrry, so sorrry, Motherrr making meeee.

Coraline backs onto the little bridge that spans the

fountains as the tractor moves in.

OTHER FATHER (CONT'D)

Don’t waaaanno hurrrrrt you.

The Other Father tries to steer the tractor away, but the

mechanical hands are stronger. It moves onto the bridge -

STUPIDLY SMASHING THROUGH THE PLANKS in front of it.

Halfway over, it lurches, then STARTS TO FALL THROUGH THE

HOLE IT HAS CREATED. The tractor hangs precariously for a

moment.

Other Father KICKS away one mechanical hand, and with ONE

HAND FREE, manages to PULL OFF THE SHIFT KNOB.

OTHER FATHER (CONT'D)

Taaaake it!!!!!

Coraline DIVES FORWARD and just GETS THE KNOB before the

tractor and Other Father fall away and SINK UNDER THE

WATER.

Rippling out from Coraline like a gray wave, the entire

GARDEN BECOMES ASHEN AND DEAD.

Coraline CATCHES HER BREATH, shaken. The ghost eye/gear

knob GLOWS RED, no magic candy necessary.

BOY GHOST:

Bless you, miss, you found me! But

there’s two eyes still lost.

CORALINE:

Don’t worry, I’m getting the hang of it!

Coraline looks past the greyed garden towards the Other

House. A LUNAR ECLIPSE has begun, the full moon a pale

acid green.

Coraline looks concerned, then resolved, and then she

heads towards the house. A haunting version of Spink and

Forcible's show song starts to play...

EXT. OTHER HOUSE, STAIRWAY TO SPINK AND FORCIBLE’S - SAME

CORALINE'S POV DOWN STAIRWAY: chaser lights circle the

door at half-speed. Haunting show song continues.

REVERSE ON Coraline. She carefully descends towards CAM.

INT DOWNSTAIRS THEATRE - SAME

WE SEE her flickering shadow and then Coraline appears

behind the entry curtains. She steps close, pulls the

curtain open. Song stops.

POV ON THEATER, quiet and dark save for light coming

through entry curtains. She spots usher's FLASHLIGHT on

the ground.

ON CORALINE - she picks it up, clicks it on, and STEPS

FORWARD. She sweeps the light beam around, apprehensive,

then HEARS SOMETHING overhead. She aims flashlight up and

startles a NEST OF BAT-DOGS - half Scotties/half bats.

One bares his teeth and GROWLS. She clicks off the light

and shivers.

On stage, one spotlight and footlights FADE UP on a huge,

wrapped SALTWATER TAFFY. It hangs from ropes and

sandbags.

She cautiously climbs up onto the stage. A HUMAN-SIZED

TAFFY THING - striped pale pink and green - can just be

seen through the wrapper. She holds her TRIANGLE CANDYWITH-

HOLE to her eye. There is a BLUE-WHITE GLOW coming

from inside the wrapper.

Coraline PUNCHES A HOLE through the paper, steels

herself, then reaches inside. She touches something

sticky and cold and inhuman. Clenching her teeth, she

grabs hold and pulls out two clasped-together COLD, TAFFY

HANDS - Young Spink and Forcible's.

Her heart thumps. She PRIES the TAFFY HANDS open like

scallop shells until a large PEARL-on-a-ring is revealed.

CORALINE:

(realizing)

The pearl!

The hands suddenly GRAB HER! She SCREAMS. Young Spink and

Forcible, twisted together into one taffy monster, THRUST

THEIR HEADS FROM THE BAG!

TAFFY MONSTER:

Thief!! Give it back!

Coraline PULLS AWAY, STRETCHING the candy arm out across

the stage! The taffy monster THRUSTS OUT another paired

arm, and starts DRAGGING ITSELF TOWARDS CORALINE, ropes

swaying on pulleys.

TAFFY MONSTER (CONT'D)

(in unison)

You thief! Thief! Thief! Thief! Give it

back! Thief! Give it back! Give it back!

Thief! Stop thief! Thief! Stop!

Coraline, desperate, gets an idea. She clicks on her

flashlight and aims it at the BAT-DOGS. They GROWL with

annoyance, OPEN their wings.

The taffy monster is GETTING CLOSER! Coraline hurls the

flashlight at the bat-dogs and HITS THEM. Angered, they

TAKE WING TO ATTACK HER -just like she planned!

Bat-dogs are closing on the left, the taffy monster on

the right! She waits to the very last second, and then

DIVES OUT OF THE WAY!

BAT-DOGS AND TAFFY MONSTER COLLIDE! Coraline's hand is

released by the taffy hands, leaving her the PEARL. The

bat-dogs and taffy monster - stuck together and still-asstone

- turn to dead, grey ash, as does the stage and

theater.

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