ParaNorman Page #14

the living dead, come to take us

all to Hell! We gotta stop them

before they get away!

109 EXT. TOWN HALL - MOMENTS LATER 109

In the alley down the side of the old Town Hall, the

zombies tiptoe through the shadows. They look slightly

the worse for wear; some have lost limbs, others have

large holes in them. One has a toilet plunger stuck on

her head.

The Dead Judge looks up at the sky. The turgid

supernatural storm RUMBLES closer, pressing down upon the

nearby rooftops.

The Judge motions to the other zombies to hurry, and

grabs hold of the Town Hall’s side door. He rips it open,

and furtively motions the zombies to file inside.

110 EXT. MAIN STREET - CONTINUOUS 110

SHERIFF HOOPER:

Move along now people, there isn’t

anything to see here!

The townsfolk around her refuse to be allayed by this.

Perry and Sandra have emerged dubiously out of their car

and watch from the periphery, utterly bewildered.

Mrs Henscher, newly arrived and wearing her avocado face

mask like war paint, shakes her shotgun and points down

the street.

MRS HENSCHER:

I saw them! I saw them! The

zombies are in the Town Hall!

The information sweeps across the crowd like wildfire.

Several faces turn to Henscher, who is pleased to have an

engaged audience and hams it up shamelessly, coming on

like Braveheart in curlers.

ParaNorman 64.

110 CONTINUED:
110

MRS HENSCHER (CONT’D)

Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs

of war!

The faces around her don’t react; waiting patiently for a

clearer translation.

MRS HENSCHER (CONT’D)

Let’s rip ‘em apart!

Mrs Henscher points the crowd toward the Town Hall.

Despite Hooper’s protests, the townsfolk are on lynch mob

auto pilot and surge like a force of nature along the

Main Street toward the Town Hall plaza.

111 INT. TOWN HALL, ARCHIVES - LATER 111

Dozens of books and cardboard boxes lie scattered across

the floor. The glass cabinets around the room have been

ransacked as the kids drag documents off shelves and

rummage through binders.

Norman sits on the floor flipping through sheet after

sheet of records. Courtney wades through documents toward

him, holding up a fist full of old rolled-up papers.

COURTNEY:

We’re not going to find it in

here, Norman! This is useless!

ALVIN:

Yeah, I know, and it’s also really

boring.

MITCH:

I thought I was driving the van.

No one told me I was gonna have to

do this other dumb stuff.

NORMAN:

If I’d known there was so much

reading involved, I would have

brought a completely different

group of people who hate me.

Neil suddenly YELLS out victoriously. Everyone turns to

him, hardly believing he might have found the answer. He

waves a book triumphantly above his head and grins at

everyone.

NEIL:

Yes! Book number one! Finished!

That is right, twenty six pages,

oh yeah!

Everyone GROANS and turns back to their bickering.

ParaNorman 65.

111 CONTINUED:
111

COURTNEY:

I can’t believe this is your plan!

I’m gonna get bitten and start

eating peoples’ brains! I’m

supposed to be Vegan!

Mitch suddenly SHOUTS out from the doorway.

MITCH:

Guys! There’s something moving out

there! I think it’s the zombies!

ALVIN:

(hysterical)

Hide!

MITCH:

Oh, no it’s not. It’s just grown

ups.

ALVIN:

(more hysterical)

Hide!

112 EXT. TOWN HALL - SAME 112

The square outside is awash with threatening townsfolk,

led by Mrs Henscher and Deputy Dwayne. Some charge up the

Town Hall steps, JEERING and WHISTLING.

113 INT. TOWN HALL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS 113

Blurry silhouettes move across the outside of the window,

occasionally SMACKING against them with their fists.

A brick SMASHES through a window and CLATTERS across the

floor between Courtney’s feet.

114 INT. TOWN HALL ARCHIVES - CONTINUOUS 114

The kids start to hurry toward the lobby, leaving Norman

sitting amongst the spilled documents.

MITCH:

That sound. Y’know what that is?

That’s not awesome... things...

NORMAN:

Guys, come on!

ALVIN:

Just give it up, weiner!

NORMAN:

We have to keep trying!

ParaNorman 66.

114 CONTINUED:
114

COURTNEY:

We tried and look what happened!

(sighs)

I’m scared, Norman, and I can’t

listen to this any more.

Norman looks at the faces in front of him. The kids are

scared and confused and angry. Even Neil has nothing

encouraging to offer.

Norman’s brow furrows.

NORMAN:

You never listen! No one ever

listens! I’m scared too, but I’ve

still gotta do this.

COURTNEY:

I do too listen! And whatever it

was you just said, it’s not

working! You think you’re going to

go out there and do your talking

to the dead thing and this is all

going to be okay? What are you

going to do, ask the zombies not

to eat you?

NORMAN:

I should’ve known you wouldn’t

understand! No one ever does!

COURTNEY:

Norman, you need to stop all this

weird stuff and start living in

the real world!

NORMAN:

Everyone in the real world thinks

I’m a freak! And you know what,

maybe they’re right, maybe I am a

freak! But I never asked for your

help... just go! Get out!

Courtney, Mitch and Alvin back off a half step as Norman

advances on them.

MITCH:

Jeez, that was dramatic.

Courtney shoots him a look as if she’s about to fight

back, then shakes her head and shoves her way through the

door.

She turns to go, snapping at the other kids behind her.

COURTNEY:

C’mon!

ParaNorman 67.

114 CONTINUED:
(2) 114

One by one, the kids turn and file out, but Neil still

insists on remaining, folding his arms defiantly.

NEIL:

I’m not going anywhere. You can’t

make me.

Mitch shrugs and picks his brother up, scooping him under

one arm and carrying him out the door.

MITCH:

Dude, you’re really heavy.

NEIL:

I’m not speaking to you. You can’t

make me.

Norman watches the doors shut behind them, and his anger

begins to ebb. Alone in the archive room, he slumps to

his knees feeling useless and frustrated.

115 INT. TOWN HALL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS 115

In the lobby, no one can hear him over the sounds of the

mob. The kids have nervously approached the barricade at

the front door, hoping to appeal to the figures outside.

COURTNEY:

Um, excuse me? Hello?

Unmistakably living hands and arms suddenly SMASH through

the barricade, clawing into the Town Hall. The kids

recoil from the windows, SCREAMING as they bat

ineffectually at the grasping hands.

116 EXT. TOWN HALL - CONTINUOUS 116

Slob Guy reaches in through a gap in the broken woodwork,

managing to grab a hold of something.

SLOB GUY:

They’re in there alright! I can

feel its clammy flesh!

117 INT. TOWN HALL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS 117

Neil SCREAMS as Slob Guy gropes at his chubby arm.

117A INT. TOWN HALL ARCHIVES - CONTINUOUS 117A

Norman notices his backpack on the floor in front of him,

the book of fairy tales poking out. He picks it up and

runs his hand absently over the embossed leather cover.

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