Corpse Bride Page #9

VICTOR:

(walks up to her)

I... I think you dropped this.

Without looking up she takes the flowers.

VICTOR:

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lied to you about wanting to see my parents. Truth is, I'm happier not to see them.

Corpse Bride doesn't respond. The Maggot pops out of her ear.

MAGGOT:

Oh, save it for the living girls, Vic. I think you've said quiet enough already.

The Black Widow emerges. They perch on her shoulders, one on either side.

VICTOR:

I never meant to...

BLACK WIDOW:

I've had dozens of husbands, and none of them as heartless as you. You should be ashamed.

VICTOR:

But, I...

MAGGOT:

You're married now and there's nothing that anyone can do about it. You might as well get used to it.

CORPSE BRIDE:

Don't bother. You can't force him to like me.

VICTOR:

But I do like you. Truly. It's just this whole evening hasn't gone quite, well, according to plan.

After a beat, Victor sits down on the bench next to her. He starts playing along. Corpse Bride looks up at him, surprised, but keeps playing, as he improvises.

It's nothing fancy, just simple fun like "chopsticks." Something Victor would never have played in the company of others before.

The music picks up as they play. It's almost like a "Dueling Banjos" thing: Corpse Bride plays a riff, and Victor echoes it back with an unexpected spin.

They're starting to truly enjoy themselves.

Corpse Bride takes a solo, her skeletal hand breaking free from her wrist and running on its fingers down the length of the keyboard. It dances there, doing a little "soft shoe" melody before the Corpse Bride, laughing, picks up her hand and snaps it back into place.

CORPSE BRIDE:

(giggling)

Pardon my enthusiasm.

VICTOR:

(shyly)

I like your enthusiasm.

An awkward beat. Victor and Corpse Bride look at each other.

Suddenly a LOUD CRASH is heard from the kitchen. Scraps comes running out through the door with Mrs. Plum in pursuit.

MRS. PLUM

Who let that filthy beast in my kitchen!

We FOLLOW Scraps and Mrs. Plum out into the village square.

EXT. VILLAGE SQUARE - SAME TIME

The place is bustling as the Dead prepare for the upcoming party.

Bonejangles and the Skeletones, who have been warming up, break into SONG to inspire the hard-working crowd.

This leads to a "spontaneous" musical number in which skeletons stagger back and forth arranging heavy tables as steaming platters are laid out with tightly choreographed precision, like a Busby Berkeley musical.

Mrs. Plum leads the singing, (think "Everybody Eats When They Come to My House" by Cab Calloway) as the trays of odd, gnarled "food" hit the table. The whole village gets into the act, arranging dead flowers and hanging decorations.

Paul the Head Waiter scurries between people's feet, darting from place to place, supervising the activities.

As the MUSIC continues, Corpse Bride, feeling her old cheerful self again, gazes at the party preparations swirling around her. Her eyes settle on Victor, in his filthy, tattered jacket.

She studies him carefully, shaking her head.

Black Widow emerges from Corpse Bride's ear and WHISTLES. Suddenly, dozens of fellow spiders descend from above and land on Victor. Victor closes his eyes in horror.

Without missing a beat, the spiders swarm over him. They repair his tattered suit in Land of the Dead style. The plain, austere fabric is now interwoven with glistening spider webs, and glows with a sinister elegance.

Victor opens his eyes and looks down in astonishment.

Corpse Bride beams as party preparation, and the MUSIC, reach fever pitch.

A group of skeletons stagger under the weight of a grotesque, towering wedding cake, decorated with tangled roots and spider webs.

It tilts and sways precariously from side to side. It's so massive that skeletons dance on the first three layers. Mrs. Plum, on top of the cake, puts the finishing touches on as the MUSIC ENDS, giving way to excited chatter and applause.

The excitement is interrupted by the clamor of --

A BELL RINGING.

PAUL THE HEAD WAITER

(O.S.)

Coming through, coming through! New arrival!

He ushers in the new arrival, a confused-looking elderly man. It is Mayhew, the Van Dorts' coachman.

VICTOR:

Mayhew!

MAYHEW:

Young Victor!

VICTOR:

How nice to see you!

(realizing what this means)

Er, I mean, I'm so sorry...

MAYHEW:

(looking around, wonderingly)

So... so peaceful! No one barkin' orders at me night and day. Oh, pardon me, Master Van Dort.

VICTOR:

No, no, I understand. How is everyone?

MAYHEW:

All right, I suppose. They're still wonderin' where you slipped off to. Oh, and Miss Victoria -­

VICTOR:

(instantly)

Yes?

MAYHEW:

She's getting married this evening.

VICTOR:

What? Married to whom?

MAYHEW:

Barkis Bittern.

VICTOR:

(shocked)

B-Barkis Bittern!? The Everglots' lawyer?

MAYHEW:

Aye, with you gone and all. They didn't want to waste the cake.

VICTOR:

Barkis Bittern? But... But, how could she?

MAYHEW:

Time to pick up the pieces and move on, I suppose.

SKELETON:

(O.S.)

Hey, mate! Speakin' of pickin' up the pieces... come give us a hand with this table!

MAYHEW:

So much for 'eternal rest.'

He walks off to help as Victor digests this new information. The Corpse Bride watches Victor with growing concern -- his thoughts have already returned to Victoria.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. VICTORIA'S BEDROOM (LAND OF THE LIVING) - SAME TIME

Finis and Maudeline speak to a pale, trembling Victoria.

MAUDELINE:

That's enough, Victoria. The wedding has been planned for months. All my relatives, direct descendants of the Duke, are probably in their carriages right this moment!

(dismissive)

This is just a small change. It won't make any difference.

VICTORIA:

(faintly)

But, mother...

FINIS:

(interrupting)

Barkis will make a fine husband.

VICTORIA:

I don't love Barkis.

MAUDELINE:

And I remind you, that is irrelevant! The wedding is on, according to plan.

They close the door, sealing her in the room.

CUT TO:

INT. EVERGLOT DRAWING ROOM - DAY

Barkis stands proudly in front of the mirror, lips curled into an arrogant sneer, as Hildegarde hovers around him, pins in her mouth, making adjustments to the high-collared wedding suit.

Barkis' sneer quickly transforms into an obsequious smile as Finis enters the room.

BARKIS:

I must thank you again, sir, for the unexpected honor of...

FINIS:

(straightening his own tie in the mirror)

Cut the small talk. You're an Everglot now, and Everglots do not mince words. I expect this wedding to come off without a hitch. Do I make myself clear?

BARKIS:

Absolutely, sir. Without a hitch. Crystal clear, sir.

FINIS:

Excellent.

BARKIS:

(piously)

I shall not disappoint you, sir.

(pointedly)

Most certainly not in remembering my vows.

He jumps as Hildegarde has, apparently by accident, poked him with a pin. He glares at her. She looks back at him, the soul of innocence. Barkis returns his gaze to the mirror, and smiles approvingly at his own reflection.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote