ParaNorman Page #3

ALVIN:

That was good, right guys?

Norman mutters as they leave, but not loud enough so as

anyone might hear.

NORMAN:

Flies don’t talk.

Across the hall, Neil continues to watch with sympathy,

but he is already being hurried along by his friend

SALMA, a nerdy Indian kid with braces.

SALMA:

Neil, come on. Let’s go.

14 INT. SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY 14

Amidst stacked bleachers, foam mats and stray dodge

balls, a crudely constructed stage fills one end of the

gymnasium. Mediocre art class scenery represents a

colonial town, complete with plywood hills, chapel and

crescent moon dangling perilously from a basketball hoop.

In a director’s chair far too small for the job is MRS

HENSCHER, an imposing woman with spectacles and beret who

looks like she smells of too-much perfume.

At the front of the stage wearing a pilgrim hat and

carrying a large scroll, is NORMAN. He is surrounded by

kids whose attempts at home made period costume leave a

lot to be desired.

ParaNorman 11.

14 CONTINUED:
14

MRS HENSCHER:

You stink of illiteracy!

(a beat)

Pilgrims? The Mayflower? Don’t any

of you know anything about the

history of this town?

Mrs Henscher tries her best to remain unfazed.

MRS HENSCHER (CONT’D)

Puritans were strict and devout

settlers, who came here to build a

home, a place without sin. What is

it now Salma?

Salma is holding her hand up. She looks like the Wicked

Witch of the West. Even beneath green makeup and plastic

warty nose, it is clear she is not best pleased.

SALMA:

Why is the witch always a hideous

old crone with a pointy hat and a

broomstick? I don’t believe it’s

historically accurate, Mrs

Henscher!

Mrs Henscher’s knuckles clench white around her script.

She attempts an understanding smile, in the same way a

shark might.

MRS HENSCHER:

It’s not supposed to be. It’s

supposed to sell postcards and key

chains.

(claps hands)

So let’s try it again. Top of page

six, Norman.

Norman skips ahead on his scroll.

NORMAN:

The founding fathers of Blithe

Hollow discovered an evil witch

amongst them...

MRS HENSCHER:

No no, Norman, with gusto! Like

this!

Waving her arms theatrically, she bellows Norman’s lines,

milking every syllable for effect.

MRS HENSCHER (CONT'D)

They put her on trial and hanged

her!

(MORE)

ParaNorman 12.

14 CONTINUED:
(2) 14

MRS HENSCHER (CONT'D)

But the vengeful witch cursed her

accusers, seven of them in all, to

die a horrible and gruesome death,

and rise from their graves as the

living dead; their souls doomed to

an eternity of damnation!

(a beat)

Now I want you to try that again,

but with conviction! My reputation

is at stake here, and I won’t have

this turn out like that wretched

Kabuki debacle of oh-nine!

As she launches into her lecture, Norman notices a change

in the room. The lights dim, the wind outside picks up,

and indistinct shapes flicker at the corners of his eyes.

Norman glances around at the other kids on the stage, to

see if they are seeing what he is seeing. For a split

second the children are replaced with faded figures in

real Puritan dress. Seven solemn figures.

As he turns around nervously, Norman sees the suggestion

of another place fizzing in and out of the shadows...

MRS HENSCHER (CONT’D)

Norman! Are you listening to me,

boy?

Norman is brought back to the real world with a start,

and nods timidly from behind his scroll.

NORMAN:

Sorry, Mrs Henscher.

MRS HENSCHER:

So am I. Now, unless there’s any

other issues, let us resume...

They put her on trial and hanged

her!

Neil turns excitedly to Norman.

NEIL:

Ooh! This is my moment!

He shuffles toward Salma and swings his branch around,

not realizing Alvin has slung the hangman’s noose around

Norman’s neck.

Norman is yanked off balance and staggers into Neil who

keels over, rigid branch arms unable to stop his fall. He

lands on top of Salma, her kicking legs sticking out from

under him as though Dorothy’s house had just landed on

stage.

The kids break into uncontrollable LAUGHTER.

ParaNorman 13.

14 CONTINUED:
(3) 14

Boom, baby!

ALVIN:

Sorry!

NEIL:

Mrs Henscher flings her script into the air, her facebeet red.

MRS HENSCHER:

Oh, you useless bunch of...

The school bell RINGS drowning out her howling voice.

15 INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY, LOCKERS - LATER 15

As kids hotfoot it out of the building as quickly aspossible, Norman stands pitiably in front of his locker.

Fresh graffiti reads “SEE YOU TOMORROW, FREAK”.

Norman heads for the door, and pretends not to hear whenNeil shouts out behind him.

NEIL:

Norman, wait up!

16 EXT. MAIN STREET - LATER 16

Norman keeps going, but Neil quickly catches up, beamingintently at the side of his head.

NORMAN:

I keep telling you, Neil. I liketo be alone.

NEIL:

So do I. Let’s do it together!

You shouldn’t let them get you

down. They always do stuff likethat to me.

Why?

NORMAN:

NEIL:

Because I’m fat. And my allergies

make my eyes leak. And I sweatwhen I walk too fast. And I have a

lunchbox with a kitten on it. And

I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Iguess there’s a whole bunch of

stuff.

NORMAN:

Doesn’t it bother you?

ParaNorman 14.

16 CONTINUED:
16

NEIL:

Nah. You can’t stop bullying, it’s

part of human nature. If you were

bigger and more stupid, you’d

probably be a bully too. It’s

called “survival of the thickest”.

17 EXT. URBAN STREET - DAY 17

Norman and Neil walk away from the school along a tree

lined street at the end of which stands a huge

commemorative statue. It is a grotesque effigy of the

evil witch from the local legend.

MR PRENDERGHAST (O.S.)

Psssst!

The boys stop. It seems to be coming from the witch.

NEIL:

That statue just “pissst” at us!

Wild-eyed Mr Prenderghast suddenly leaps in front of

them, startling them as he staggers closer.

MR PRENDERGHAST:

You know who I am?

NEIL:

The weird stinky old bum who lives

up the hill?

MR PRENDERGHAST:

(points to Norman)

I was asking him.

NORMAN:

Yes. I know. I was told not to

talk to you. Sorry.

Mr Prenderghast steps in front of Neil, leaning closer to

Norman and whispering conspiratorially.

MR PRENDERGHAST:

And you know why you’re not

supposed to talk to me?

Norman tries to back away.

MR PRENDERGHAST (CONT'D)

I can see ghosts too! And I know

that’s not all you’ve been seeing

lately, is it? Bad omens? Things

you can’t quite explain? Strange

faces peering through the veil?

Norman’s eyes widen further.

ParaNorman 15.

17 CONTINUED:
17

MR PRENDERGHAST (CONT’D)

And I’ll bet no one told you about

the witch’s curse, did they?

NORMAN:

Actually, we’re learning about it

in school..?

NEIL:

(beaming proudly)

I’m a tree!

Mr Prenderghast impatiently turns his back on Neil and

leans close to Norman.

MR PRENDERGHAST:

There’s something you really need

to know! This is the most

important thing you will ever

hear! The fate of everyone depends

on it! Now listen close... The

witch’s curse is real, and you’re

the one who has to stop it!

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