ParaNorman Page #15

ParaNorman 68.

117A CONTINUED:
117A

Something CLATTERS behind him, and Norman hears someone

approaching.

NORMAN:

Hello?

He turns around to face his friend and finds himself

staring up at a zombie, moving toward him along the dark

aisle, pale moonlight shining off its exposed bones.

Norman GASPS.

He realizes zombies are converging on him from all

directions, barring his way out through the door. The

Dead Judge GROANS as he approaches.

Norman backs away, clutching the book to his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye Norman spots another doorway

in the shadows of the wall behind him and moves toward

it, calling out desperately.

NORMAN (CONT’D)

Help! Somebody help me!

118 INT. TOWN HALL STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS 118

Norman runs up a tight stairwell leading to the roof of

the building, the zombies just a few steps beneath him.

119 EXT. TOWN HALL - CONTINUOUS 119

MRS HENSCHER:

Let’s burn ‘em out!

Obligingly, a couple of townsfolk hurl Molotov cocktails

at the windows.

120 INT. TOWN HALL LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER 120

The kids manage to pull back just as a burning bottle

flies over their heads, SHATTERING glass. It lands in the

middle of the room and a puddle of burning alcohol

spreads across the floorboards.

Tendrils of black smoke are also beginning to creep under

the edge of the front door.

The kids stand in a group, terror-stricken as the smoke

thickens and flames begin to lick along the floor.

Courtney is quick to lose what remains of her composure.

ParaNorman 69.

120 CONTINUED:
120

COURTNEY:

We’re all gonna DIE!

121 EXT. TOWN HALL, ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS 121

Norman heaves himself through a tiny hatchway onto a flat

roof at the highest point of the building. He shuts the

hatch, inching away as the zombies beneath beat on it

with their hands.

Norman finds himself backed up against a flimsy wooden

rail, which CREAKS warningly. He leans over and sees the

square beneath, filled with angry people. He has nowhere

left to run.

Above him the red sky RUMBLES, clouds churning into a

ghastly grinning mouth.

122 EXT. TOWN HALL - CONTINUOUS 122

Far below, the gathered townsfolk grow increasingly

erratic. A pair of visiting tourists happily take in

their surroundings with their cell phones and cameras.

Sandra tugs at her husband’s arm as they are buffeted by

the increasingly erratic townsfolk.

SANDRA BABCOCK:

Oh my gosh, do you think this has

got anything to do with Norman?

Perry waves her hand away irritably.

PERRY BABCOCK:

Of course not!

He is interrupted by a SHOUT as someone sees Norman’s

tiny figure silhouetted against the raging sky on the

roof of the building.

LIBRARIAN:

Everyone look!

Perry and Sandra see their son begin gesticulating wildly

at the clouds.

SANDRA BABCOCK:

Perry, do something!

He cups his hands around his mouth and YELLS at Norman.

PERRY BABCOCK:

Norman! Get down from there this

instant! You’re supposed to be

grounded!

ParaNorman 70.

123 EXT. TOWN HALL, ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS 123

Distraught, Norman bellows into the sky, waving the bookangrily above his head.

NORMAN:

You horrible old witch! Is this

what you want?

The roiling face above him seems to CACKLE mercilessly.

124 EXT. TOWN HALL - CONTINUOUS 124

The mob begins to lurch to all new stupid conclusions asNorman waves his arms at the clouds.

Necromancer!

MRS HENSCHER:

FEMALE TOURIST:

This is all his doing!

SANDRA BABCOCK:

Norman!

Perry feels the shift in the crowd. They’re not just

baying for blood. They’re about to start baying for his

son’s blood.

125 EXT. TOWN HALL, ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS 125

Norman continues YELLING at the sky, waving the book.

He madly flicks through the pages, attempting to readaloud over the ROARING wind.

NORMAN:

Once upon a time in a far-off landthere lived a king and queen... ina magnificent castle...

The horrible cloud face above him CACKLES monstrously,

drowning out the story.

NORMAN (CONT’D)

Why won’t you listen to me? Why

are you doing this?!

The face in the clouds turns inside out as a tongue oflightning spits out. It SMACKS into the book held infront of Norman’s chest, lifts him up off his feet and

throws him back onto the old timbers of the roof.

The air is knocked out of Norman as, trailing smoke, heSMASHES through the wood into the fiery chasm of thebuilding beneath.

ParaNorman 71.

125 CONTINUED:
125

CAMERA follows him as he plummets, SCREAMING, and is

enveloped in thick black smoke.

There is a loud THUD, and silence.

126 INT. TOWN HALL, OLD COURTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS 126

Norman lies on the floor, shifting painfully. With some

effort he sits up, rubbing his head.

The book in his hand is now a blackened cinder with a

large smoldering hole gouged through the middle.

Norman realizes he is no longer inside the burning

building. Around him indistinct shapes begin to pool into

clarity. He is in the courthouse, but three hundred years

ago, and a trial is about to begin.

A crowd of onlookers gather around a platform at the head

of the room where officious-looking gentlemen in austere

Puritan clothing stand around a table. Two dour men in

black skull caps are seated, an empty chair between them.

Norman moves unnoticed through the crowd toward the

platform. The hubbub of the townsfolk dies down.

The imposing figure of Judge Hopkins, tall and august,

marches out of a side chamber, steps up onto the wooden

dais and seats himself silently between his solemn peers.

He glares down at Norman with cold, humorless eyes.

JUDGE HOPKINS:

Agatha Prenderghast of his

Majesty's Province of

Massachusetts...

As the Judge’s voice continues, Norman sees played out

against it a MONTAGE of the preceding court case.

The notary stands up, waving a wad of testimonies.

JUDGE HOPKINS (V.O.) (CONT’D)

...on this day you have been

arraigned for the horrible crime

of witchcraft...

A pale woman fiddles nervously with the ribbon on her

bonnet as she is questioned by the Judge.

JUDGE HOPKINS (V.O.) (CONT’D)

...witnessed by those whose

testimonies have been heard.

A wiry woman with a pinched face gestures fearfully with

her arms as she recounts her evidence.

ParaNorman 72.

126 CONTINUED:
126

JUDGE HOPKINS (V.O.) (CONT’D)

You have, by this court, been

found guilty...

NORMAN:

No!

A young farmhand bows his head shamefully, as he adds

further ammunition to the prosecution.

JUDGE HOPKINS (V.O.)

...and it is passed on you,

according to your grievous

crimes...

Another village woman SOBS into a handkerchief as she

tells her story.

QUICK CUTS of the accusers, one after the other, as the

Judge finishes his verdict. The notary, the preacher, the

townsfolk. All point at Norman.

JUDGE HOPKINS (CONT’D)

...execution.

Camera swings slowly around Norman to reveal AGGIE

PRENDERGHAST, standing in chains right behind him.

AGGIE:

No!

Norman reacts with horror. The “witch” cowering next to

him is no more than eleven years-old. Her long hair is

unkempt and dirt on her face is streaked with tears from

her eyes. Her manacles have been specially made to fit

her tiny wrists, and weigh her to the floor. She SNIFFS,

scared and confused.

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