Coraline Page #9

CORALINE (CONT’D)

Yah! Whooo-oooh! That was great!

OTHER MR. BOBINSKY

Very very thank you, lady and gentleman.

On cue, the entire jumping mice band DISAPPEARS INTO

OTHER MR. B’S SLEEVES while the drum major SWINGS UP from

the man’s moustache and onto his head, where he’s quickly

hidden by the tall black hat.

CORALINE:

We loved it, Mr. B. It was ... so ... so-

OTHER MR. BOBINSKY

(coaching)

Ahhhhhh--

CORALINE:

A-mazing!

OTHER MR. BOBINSKY

You are very velcome anytime you like,

you and also your good friend there.

She happily turns to Other Wybie, beaming with joy.

OTHER MR. BOBINSKY(CONT'D)

Dosvedanya, Coraline.

Bobinsky takes her hand to kiss it.

INT. CORALINE’S OTHER BEDROOM - SAME

Other Mother kisses SLEEPING CORALINE’S forehead, sits

back in the bedside chair. Other Father, close by, pulls

a cotton candy cone off Other Wybie and munches it.

Coraline's Other Parents smile warmly, knowing something

secret that makes them glad.

PULL BACK MATCH:

DISSOLVE:

INT. CORALINE’S BEDROOM - DAY

EARLY MORNING. Coraline once again wakes in own bed in

the real world, the little doll – left on the chair – now

clutched against her chest.

CORALINE:

Ughhh.

Her gaze moves from the doll to where she left the cheese

by the door. It’s GONE. This is much too confusing.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME

Coraline tries the small door in the corner wall. It’s

locked. What the heck?

EXT. SMALL OFFICE BUILDING IN TOWN - DAY

--SQUEALING brakes, as the Jones’ JEEP pulls up in front

of “Northwest Garden” headquarters. TOWNSFOLK in

SHAKESPEAREAN COSTUMES stand about, advertising a local

festival. Coraline is sharing her latest dream:

CORALINE (V.O.).

... there were garden squash like balloon

animals AND snap dragons.

ON FAMILY:
Coraline continues from back seat as her

father and mother review their work pages.

CORALINE (CONT'D)

Oh, and upstairs I saw a real mouse

circus, not pretend like the crazy man’s

in our house.

Her parents, preoccupied, ignore her.

CHARLIE:

You sure you won’t come?

MEL:

(indicates neck brace)

Don’t fret, Charlie, they’ll love the new

catalog. At least, they’ll love my

chapters.

Gives her an “aren’t you funny” look, opens door. Mel

looks back at Coraline.

MEL (CONT’D)

I did not call him crazy, Coraline. He’s

drunk.

She makes the hand-thumb bottle sign. Charlie leans in to

Coraline, pinches her nose.

CHARLIE:

Well, I guess I’ll see you around, you

dizzy dreamer.

Coraline cuts him off, embarrassed.

CORALINE:

Da-ad! I’m not five anymore.

Dad sighs, heads up the steps to his appointment as Mel

and Coraline drive off.

INT. UNIFORMS DEPARTMENT STORE - SAME

PRESIDENT'S DAY SALE. Mel piles gray blouses, a navy

skirt, white socks onto the arms of a CLERK.

Sitting alone on some stairs, Coraline sees a pair of

fancy GREEN AND ORANGE GLOVES.

As she tries them on, a YOUNG RASCAL in costume with

sword BOUNCES PAST her down the stairs on a WHEELED STEP

STOOL - his FATHER in pursuit.

YOUNG RASCAL:

My kingdom for a hooooooorse!!!!

There's an off screen crash, then the step stool rolls

back to Coraline. She gets an idea.

Mel is checking out school blouses, when Coraline rolls

past, first one direction, then the other, modeling the

colorful gloves. Without looking up, her mom tells her:

MEL:

Put them back.

CORALINE:

But Mom, the whole school’s gonna wear

boring gray clothes. No one will have

these.

MEL:

Put them back.

Coraline mutters:

CORALINE:

My other mother would get them.

MEL:

Maybe she should buy all your clothes.

Coraline scowls and stomps away to return the gloves.

INT. CAR - SAME

Coraline and Mel are driving home, shopping bags in back.

CORALINE:

So what do you think’s in the other

apartment?

MEL:

I don’t know. Not a family of Jones

imposters.

CORALINE:

Then why’d you lock the door?

MEL:

(shorter than previous)

Oh, I found some rat crap and... I

thought you’d feel ... safer.

CORALINE:

They’re jumping-mice, Mom! And the dreams

aren’t dangerous; they’re the most fun

I've had since we've moved here.

MEL:

Your school might be fun.

CORALINE:

With those stupid uniforms? Right.

MEL:

Had to give it a try.

They pull into their DRIVEWAY.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

Mel pulls out salsa, mustard, catsup, stale tortillas

from the fridge.

Mel

How do you feel about a mustard-ketchupsalsa

wrap for lunch?

Coraline, carrying in the bags from outside, makes a

face.

CORALINE:

Are you kidding me?

MEL:

Mmm... Had to go food shopping anyway.

Dad’s planning something special.

Coraline squinches up her nose.

CORALINE:

Gross-gusting.

MEL:

(brightens )

You wanna come along? You can pick out

something you like.

Coraline plops down in a chair.

CORALINE:

Oh, like the gloves?

Mel reaches out and musses Coraline’s hair. The girl

pulls away.

MEL:

Look, Coraline... if things go well

today, I promise I’ll make it up.

CORALINE:

That’s what you always say.

Mom rolls her eyes, shaking her head, and opens the door

to leave.

MEL:

Won’t be long.

Shuts the door.

CORALINE:

(mutters)

But I might be...

She leaves.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME

Coraline pulls open the key drawer, looking for the small

black key. Not there. She looks around, then spots it

hanging on a hook above a door. She stands on a chair and

snags it.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME

Coraline stoops in front of the small door and pushes the

key into the keyhole and unlocks the door.

She listens for her mother’s car. Nothing. Grasping the

key between thumb and forefinger, she closes her eyes,

she pulls the door open.

ANGLE ON CORALINE: A SOFT BREEZE MOVES her hair. She

knows before her eyes open that the BRICKS ARE GONE.

CORALINE:

(triumphant)

I knew it was real!

She opens her eyes, smiles, and CRAWLS FORWARD.

ANGLE ON CORALINE THROUGH WINDOW. CAMERA PULLS BACK and

we FIND the BLACK CAT, perched on the wet window sill,

OBSERVING Coraline as she disappears into the tunnel.

With a look of concern, he exits frame.

INT. OTHER KITCHEN - NIGHT

Lunch is ready and waiting for her: foot-long hotdogs

with relish; grilled cheese sandwiches with gherkins;

curly-fries; piles of coleslaw and potato salad; five

flavors of soda-pop. There’s a NOTE attached to a GIFTWRAPPED

BOX:

OTHER MOTHER (V.O.)

Dearest Coraline,

Miss Spink and Miss Forcible have invited

you downstairs after lunch. I hope you

like the new outfit I made you! Love,

Mother.

Coraline tears open the box and finds a pair of beautiful

BLUE BOOTS, BLACK CORDUROY TROUSERS, and a METALLIC GREY

SWEATER WITH TWINKLING STARS.

She holds up the sweater to her body, smiles, then puts

down the clothes and digs into lunch.

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