Corpse Bride Page #2

INT. EVERGLOT ENTRY HALL - DAY

Finis and Maudeline step down the grand stairway. It's cold and imposing, feeling more like a financial institution than a home. They are the very image of old world high society.

NELL:

Marriage is a partnership,

A little tit for tat.

You'd think a lifetime watching us

Might have taught her that.

INTERCUT VAN DORTS.

ALL FOUR PARENTS

Everything will be perfect,

Once everything is perfect.

Assuming everything goes...

(big finish)

According to plan!

The Everglot's BUTLER opens the door, regarding the Van Dorts with barely concealed disdain.

The two mothers offer each other false smiles.

MAUDELINE:

(to Finis, under her breath)

Smile, darling, smile...

With tremendous effort Finis' mouth twists into a forced smile.

FINIS:

(to Maudeline, under his breath)

Let's get this over with, shall we?

(loudly)

Well Hello! What a pleasure. Welcome to our home.

The parents come together in an awkward ritual of handshakes, bows and air-kisses.

William Van Dort shakes Maudeline's hand.

WILLIAM:

Why, you must be Miss Victoria. You don't look a day over twenty!

He winks to Finis as Nell cringes with embarrassment.

Maudeline turns toward the Butler.

MAUDELINE:

We will be taking tea in the west drawing room. We still await Pastor Galswells.

(an afterthought)

Tell Victoria that the Van Dorts have arrived.

The parents turn as a group and head for the drawing room, leaving Victor standing in the hallway, forgotten.

Victor stands in the sudden silence, unsure of what to do. Looking around nervously, his glance falls on a nearby room across the hallway. The door is ajar, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of a PIANO.

He hesitates, then slips into the room.

CUT TO:

INT. EVERGLOT MUSIC ROOM - DAY

A large dreary room with drab, formal paintings dominated by an enormous piano, the size of a small boat.

Victor is irresistibly drawn to it. He sits and touches the keys caressingly. On the piano he notices a small vase holding a single stem of winter jasmine. He begins to PLAY, at first haltingly, then losing himself in the music.

His song is sad but dreamy.

CUT TO:

INT. VICTORIA'S BEDROOM - DAY

Victoria is nervously adjusting her dress when the MUSIC suddenly floats up to her.

CUT TO:

INT. TOP OF THE STAIRS DAY

Victoria stops, transfixed, then continues down the steps, following the sound of the PIANO.

CUT TO:

She peers into the doorway of the drawing room, where the parents have gathered. William Van Dort relates a boring tale, gesturing ever so slightly as he speaks.

WILLIAM:

I never understood why men needed black shoes _and_ brown shoes, when a quick coat of paint can turn one into the other!

Nell cringes, mortified. The Everglots sit with stern scowls frozen on their faces.

Crossing to the other side of the entryway, Victoria comes to the music room. She quietly enters.

INT. EVERGLOT MUSIC ROOM - DAY

Victor is seated at the piano, his back toward the door. He plays, lost in his MUSIC.

VICTORIA:

How lovely.

Startled, Victor jumps in his seat, BANGING his knees on the piano, causing the lid to drop with a loud, reverberating thud.

He turns to see Victoria, looking pretty as a picture, standing behind him.

VICTOR:

(flustered)

Oh... I... do forgive me. I...

VICTORIA:

You play beautifully.

VICTOR:

I... I do apologize, Miss Everglot. How rude of me to...

Victoria comes over to him impetuously.

VICTORIA:

The song. What is it called?

VICTOR:

Oh, it was... just something I came across.

VICTORIA:

Came across where?

VICTOR:

Well... It was inside me, I guess.

VICTORIA:

How nice you found a way to let it out.

(beat)

Mother won't allow me near the piano. Music is improper for a young lady. Too passionate, she says.

Victor nervously rubs his aching knees.

VICTOR:

If I may ask, M-Miss Everglot...

VICTORIA:

Perhaps, in view of the circumstances, you could call me, 'Victoria.'

VICTOR:

Yes, yes, of course. Well, Victoria..

VICTORIA:

Yes, Victor?

VICTOR:

Tomorrow we are to be...

(can't say it)

Mm... Mm...

VICTORIA:

(smiles)

Married.

VICTOR:

Yes. M-Married.

She sits down beside him on the piano bench.

VICTORIA:

Since I was a child, I've dreamt of my wedding day. I always hoped to find someone I was deeply in love with. Someone to spend the rest of my life with.

(a beat)

Silly, isn't it?

VICTOR:

Yes. Silly! Ha!

A beat. He looks at her.

VICTOR:

N-no. Not at all.

They both LAUGH nervously, moving a tad closer. Victor accidentally knocks over the small vase. He grabs the scarf from his pocket just as Victoria takes out her handkerchief. As they both hastily clean up the spill, their hands touch. They look at each other.

Suddenly in the doorway is PASTOR GALSWELLS, who fixes them with a stern, forbidding glare. The parents are clustered behind him.

Victor hastily stuffs the flower in his pocket.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

(thundering)

What impropriety is this? You shouldn't be alone together! Here it is one minute before five, and you are not at the rehearsal. You might be late!

VICTOR:

Oh dear... we... we...

MAUDELINE:

(coldly)

Come at once.

CUT TO:

INT. EVERGLOT DRAWING ROOM - EARLY EVENING

The group has gathered in the drawing room to rehearse the wedding ceremony. Seated are Finis and Maudeline, William and Nell.

The front of the room has been set up as a makeshift altar. An elaborately-carved table holds a pair of candles and a chalice.

Pressure is high. It's the social event of the decade, and Maudeline Everglot has left nothing to chance. She's like a 19th Century Martha Stewart, obsessively planning to the tiniest detail.

Pastor Galswells presides, holding a book and an ornamental holy scepter. Victor trembles in nervous agony as Pastor Galswells glares at him.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

Let's try it again. Shall we, Master Van Dort?

Victor lifts his left hand and takes three steps back.

VICTOR:

Y-Yes, sir. Certainly.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

(hisses)

Right.

VICTOR:

(agreeing)

Right.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

RIGHT!!!

Victor hastily lifts the correct hand.

VICTOR:

Oh, right! With this... this...

PASTOR GALSWELLS

(annoyed, prompting)

Hand...

VICTOR:

Hand, yes... with this hand, I will...

He takes Victoria's elbow, but gets flustered at touching her.

VICTOR:

Oh, forgive me, I, er...

PASTOR GALSWELLS

Continue!

Victoria takes three steps forward. Victor accidentally takes four.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

Three steps! Three! Can you not count!

Victor quickly backs up, stepping on Victoria's toe.

VICTOR:

(mortified)

Oh dear! P-pardon me. Uhm. three steps...

Nell fans herself in distress as Maudeline and Finis look on with utter disgust.

PASTOR GALSWELLS

Never mind. Let's just pick it up at the candle bit.

VICTOR:

The candle bit?

PASTOR GALSWELLS

The candle! The candle! Can you remember nothing?

VICTOR:

(horrified)

N-no, no, of course not... I mean _yes_!

Victor takes a lit candle.

VICTOR:

With this candle...

BARKIS BITTERN, the Everglot's lawyer, enters and hands Finis some papers to sign.

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