The Boxtrolls Page #13

HERBERT:

I’ve tried adjusting the dongle and

there doesn’t seem to be any

possible solut-- Oh look, you’ve

solved it!

Fish laughs with Herbert. Herbert hands Baby Eggs to Fish,

and he holds the child at arm’s length.

HERBERT (CONT’D)

Who’s up for a jelly break?

Fish stares at Baby Eggs as Herbert eats a spoonful of jelly.

They smile at each other.

HERBERT (CONT’D)

(voice fades)

I tell you I could eat this stuff

for the rest of my life.

DISSOLVE TO:

ANOTHER NIGHT:
Fish and Shoe enter the back yard and freeze

as they step into light.

HERBERT (CONT’D)

But one night...

In the second story windows, menacing silhouettes of Snatcher

and Gristle loom over Herbert, who clutches baby Eggs to his

chest.

Snatcher’s muffled voice can be heard threatening Herbert and

the baby.

SNATCHER (O.S.)

Come on! I’m being reasonable. I

can be unreasonable.

69.

EGGS (V.O.)

Snatcher wanted him to build

something...

HERBERT:

I-- I’m an inventor, not a killer!

Eggs (V.O.)

But he refused...

LIGHTNING CRASHES.

Fish stares up at the window. At Snatcher’s loud threat,

Shoe runs away.

EGGS (V.O.)

And when the Redhats tried to take

me away from him...

Snatcher’s silhouette moves menacingly towards Herbert.

SNATCHER:

Maybe if I hold on to your son...

Herbert shoves Snatcher away. Snatcher growls.

HERBERT:

Not my boy!

Herbert kicks Gristle and opens the window. He places the

baby into a box pulley system that dangles from the upper

floors. He untethers the rope, yelling to Fish.

HERBERT (CONT’D)

RUN! PROTECT MY--UGHH!

Herbert is tackled by Gristle.

Fish watches the crying baby lower to the ground in an Eggs

box. He is frozen with fear.

EGGS (V.O.)

And then they...

Snatcher CLUBS Herbert across the head and Herbert goes down

hard. Dead. The baby CRIES.

Snatcher looks out the window, panting from exertion, and

sees Fish staring up in shock.

70.

Thunder BOOMS, lightning FLASHES, and RAIN POURS DOWN as Fish

bolts through the gate and out of the yard with Baby Eggs

still in the Eggs box.

BACK TO:

INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - NIGHT

Eggs holds his box, staring forlornly down at his label.

WINNIE (O.S.)

They what?

EGGS:

(whispered)

They killed him.

Fish is silent. Eggs bows his head and walks away.

Winnie and the boxtrolls watch him quietly.

(1550) FATHERS

EXT. EGGS NOOK - MOMENTS LATER

Eggs sits alone on the edge of his nook, looking out over the

cavern. Winnie quietly walks up and sits next to him.

WINNIE:

I think that kind man was your

father.

BEAT:

EGGS:

(looks up, confused)

What’s a father?

She has to think.

WINNIE:

Um... well... a father is the one

who raises you... looks after you.

Loves you.

EGGS:

Oh! Like Fish.

WINNIE:

Yes...

71.

Winnie looks at Fish, who bends down to lap water from a

bucket of water like a dog.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

... No. They’re supposed to be like

that man in the story. Someone

who’ll do anything to help you.

They always listen and never get

angry...

Winnie warms to this conversation. She’s half talking to

herself. Eggs hangs on every word.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

They guide you when you don’t know

what to do. They’re there when it’s

dark and you’re scared or lonely,

and they are never, ever too busy

to talk to you...

Winnie stops, suddenly sad.

EGGS:

You have a father!

Eggs stands, bouncing excitedly.

EGGS (CONT’D)

We can tell him I’m the Trubshaw

Baby... and the boxtrolls didn’t

eat me. And he’ll stop Snatcher!

WINNIE:

(embarrassed)

Well, he doesn’t really listen to

children.

EGGS:

He’s a father, isn’t he?

WINNIE:

You don’t know what he’s like.

EGGS:

But he’s the only father we have.

Eggs grabs Winnie by the shoulders. He releases her when she

shies away.

EGGS (CONT’D)

Please help us.

Winnie SIGHS. She stands to meet Eggs, eyeing him.

72.

WINNIE:

If I agree to help, you have to do

exactly as I say.

EGGS:

I promise!

WINNIE:

All right, first thing’s first...

off with the box.

Eggs GULPS.

(1600 OWB) OFF WITH THE BOX

INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - DRESSING AREA - NIGHT

A wide-eyed Fish stands holding Eggs’ EMPTY BOX. Around him

other Boxtrolls stare horrified at a boxless Eggs.

BOXTROLLS:

(terrified)

AAAAAAAAh!

Eggs screams along with the boxtrolls, holding his chest.

Winnie points, reprimanding the howling crowd.

WINNIE:

(sternly)

Stop that!

The boxtrolls instantly shut up - more afraid of Winnie than

a boxless boxtroll.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

(to boxtrolls)

Alright, you petty thieves. Bring

me your loot!

The watching boxtrolls look excited -- ‘That’s easy’! They

race off in different directions..

QUICKER CUTS:

-Winnie tears a large piece of BLUE FABRIC in half.

-Specs offers her an arm-load of PEWTER CUPS.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

Oh, thanks.

-Shoe offers Winnie his OLD ALARM CLOCK.

73.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

No.

-Winnie threads a needle.

-Specs offers Winnie a pair of LAMPS, she takes the SHADES.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

This might work.

-Shoe offers Winnie a SAW.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

No.

Shoe growls and walks off.

-Bucket offers Winnie a JAR OF BUTTONS.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

Oh yes!

-Winnie holds up the jar and selects a BUTTON.

-Shoe offers Winnie a TOILET PLUNGER.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

No!

Shoe angrily tosses the plunger aside and storms off.

-Fragile offers Winnie a pair of shoes. She excitedly swipes

them from his hands.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

Yes!

Fragile is frightened and hides, whimpering.

REVEAL Eggs in the broken mirror dressed in a surprisingly

fashionable suit made of trash.

He looks like the Little Lord Fauntleroy of the junk yard.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

You look like a proper boy.

The boxtrolls look like proud parents. They nod and grumble

in approval.

Eggs looks at his warped reflection in an old, broken mirror.

He looks stunned by his own transformation.

74.

EGGS:

(to himself)

Me... a proper boy.

Eggs smiles sweetly, standing tall.

WINNIE:

How do we get out of this place?

CUT TO:

INT. CAVERN - PNEUMATIC TUBES

A MOMENT LATER:
Specs turns an ANCHOR attached to the wall.

Winnie stands underneath the cracked bell, the mouth of the

PNEUMATIC TUBES, confused.

FWOOMP! A shocked Winnie gets sucked up a PNEUMATIC TUBE

while Eggs watches, bemused.

WINNIE:

AHHHHHHHH!

(1700 PTY) PARTY

EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT

Eggs and Winnie (woozy, her hair frazzled from the tube ride)

crawl out of a manhole.

WINNIE:

Come on, Eggs.

They climb the Guild stairs together. Winnie pats down her

hair as Eggs lopes past her like a nervous boxtroll. He wipes

his nose with the back of his hand, wipes it on his pants,

adjusting his disguise as he reaches for the door handle.

WINNIE (CONT’D)

(shrieks)

STOP!

Eggs stops, eyes wide. Winnie pushes him away from the door.

They stop in front of the tall guild door. Sounds of party

guests can be heard. Winnie turns to Eggs.

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