Inkheart

Since the dawn of time...

... storytellers have enchanted

audiences with their words.

But there is an even rarer gift:

There are those,

who by reading out loud...

... can bring characters to life.

Out of books and into our world.

Go to sleep now. Shh.

Go to sleep, baby girl.

- Maybe this will work. Let me read to her.

- She's too young.

- No.

- Shh.

Why don't you read to me?

"Once upon a time,

there was a dear little girl...

...who was loved

by everyone who met her...

...but especially by her grandmother,

who would've given her anything.

Once she gave her

a little hood of red velvet."

What was that?

What?

I don't know. Nothing.

"Red velvet that suited her so well...

...that she refused to wear

anything instead of it.

So she was called

Little Red Riding Hood."

Most of these Silvertongues,

as they are known...

... prefer to keep their skills a secret.

But some do not even know

that this gift is theirs...

... until it is too late.

- Is this the right way?

- Next turn on the left.

Are you sure?

Because I think we missed it.

Who's the driver? Dad.

Who's the navigator? Me.

- Have I ever got us lost before?

- No.

No.

Oh, hey. Look, a Sasquatch.

Hey! Oh, the turning, left, left, left!

The Alpine Antiquarian Bookshop

should be at the end of this street...

...and on the right-hand

side of the square.

Good.

By the way, how come every bookshop

we go to is a thousand years old?

Why can't we go to one...

...that sells hot chocolate

and books that are actually new?

What good would a bookbinder

like me be in a new bookstore?

- I love old books. The marbled pages...

- End papers, the leather binding...

This is my kind of place.

- Maybe you'll find it here, Mo.

- Find what?

That book you're always looking for.

- I'm not looking for anything particular.

- You don't think I've noticed?

You never leave a bookshop unless

you've checked every corner.

- Don't we?

- No, you always come away disappointed.

Sometimes your eyes

are even a little red.

It's because old books are dusty.

Hey, look, Harriet the Spy.

I'm going inside. You want to come?

- The Secret Garden!

- Or I guess you could stay here.

Afternoon. I'm Mortimer Folchart.

Ah! The famous book doctor.

Well, you're just in time.

Look at this poor patient.

- Uh-oh.

- Do you think we can save him?

- I think the prognosis is good.

- Excellent.

- Quite the collection you have.

- Yes.

- If you'd like to look around, be my guest.

- Thank you.

Fine, intelligent eye.

What do you say to calling him

Black Beauty?

Oh, my dear child.

lmagine, Heidi.

Capricorn's men were looking

for Dustfinger in the wrong place.

Southwest end of Treasure Island.

He hadn't left the village.

He hadn't even tried.

Dustfinger was in Basta's house.

What is that? Coming over

the hill? It's a beast of some kind!

Dustfinger.

He doesn't like to be tickled.

And you should be more careful.

His name's Gwin.

And I know he looks charming...

...but you know what they say

about books and covers.

Uh... Yeah, I do.

I also know what they say about

talking to strangers. Excuse me.

But I'm not a stranger, Meggie.

You won't remember me, we only

met once, and you were quite small.

But I'm no stranger.

Hello, Silvertongue.

I was just having a talk

with your daughter.

Meggie, go wait for me in the van.

It's all right, he's a friend.

- Dad.

- Do it now!

Let's you and me go for a little walk.

I've been looking for you.

I've been one step behind you for years.

Waiting for you to find what it is

you've been searching for.

Just tell me what you want.

I want you to put right

the wrong you did nine years ago.

And I'm here to warn you,

Capricorn knows where you're staying.

His men are there now waiting for you

and your daughter to come home.

- He wants you to read for him.

- Well, he's out of luck.

I don't read aloud anymore.

If he finds you, you really think

you'll have a choice?

I could help you stay hidden,

but I won't.

Not unless you promise to send

me home. I've been here too long.

Send me home, Silvertongue.

- Read to me.

- I'm sorry, I can't help you.

It's too dangerous. It's uncontrollable.

If you won't help me,

I'll find someone who can.

Just give me the book.

What book? I don't have the book.

- You don't have the book?

- No.

I've searched everywhere.

I don't have it.

What's in the bag?

Did you finally find one?

It's funny, isn't it? Strange, my turning

up here right at that very moment.

You know, there are times in life

when the stars just simply align.

But this is not one of those times!

Dad!

- Meggie!

- What's happening?

I told you to stay in the van! Run!

Get in, get in!

Come on. Start!

Stop! I'm trying to help you!

- What are you doing? Leave it alone.

- I want to see the book!

You're not to touch that book,

understand?

I don't understand.

I don't understand at all.

What is that book? Why did the

freaky man with the scars want it?

- Why did he call you Silvertongue?

- I can't tell you.

- You have to tell me.

- No. I have to protect you.

And your mother.

My mother? What has this

got to do with my mother?

Meggie, please just...

I'm scared, Mo.

Meggie, I'm going to take care of you.

I always have, and I always will.

At least tell me where we're going.

We're going to Italy.

You have a great aunt there. It's

very important that we get there. Okay?

Please, Meggie. No more questions.

So she's friendly,

this great aunt of mine?

You'll like her.

Would you please

stop ringing that damn bell!

After a while.

She's kind of an acquired taste.

Right.

What?

Elinor.

Well, for the love of Thomas Hardy.

I'm so glad you've finally made

your way back here, Mortimer.

My poor books

are in a terrible state of disrepair.

Don't worry. I'll take care of it.

Don't play with your food, child.

You're not a toddler.

Look at her, she's as thin

as a soap bubble.

Oh, she so reminds me

of her mother.

Not just when she opens her mouth,

if she ever does. Speaking of...

We haven't heard from her,

if that's what you mean.

Oh, well, no matter.

I grew up without a mother.

Didn't do me any damage whatsoever.

No, my mother just suddenly dashed off

on safari one day and never came back.

It's what the women in our family seem

to do, they just go off on adventures.

Not me, I prefer to stay where I am.

But your mother...

Well, she wanted the real thing.

My mum wanted me.

And then one day she was gone,

without explanation.

- Is that what you call an adventure?

- No, that's what I call abandonment.

Well done, Elinor.

Oh, well, you know it's the truth.

Mum did not abandon us.

No. No, she didn't.

Well, then what really happened to her?

I'm not a child anymore.

I'm all grown up.

Almost.

Enough to know the most important

thing that's ever happened to me.

Don't you think I've realized

why I'm not in regular school?

And why we're always

traveling around from place to place?

All these years

you've been looking for Mum.

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