The Making of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Page #2

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But look|There's nothing underneath

No ghouls, no witches here|to scream and scare them or ensnare them

Only little cozy things|secure inside their dreamland

What's this

The monsters are all missing|and the nightmares can't be found

And in their place there seems|to be good feeling all around

Instead of screams, I swear|I can hear music in the air

The smell of cakes and pies|are absolutely everywhere

The sights, the sounds|they're everywhere and all around

I've never felt so good before

This empty place|inside of me is filling up|I simply cannot get enough

I want it, oh, I want it|Oh, I want it for my own

I've got to know, I've got to know|what is this place that I have found

What is this

Christmas Town?

Hmm.

Ho-ho-ho-ho!

Ho-ho-ho-ho!

Hmm.

- This has never happened before.|- It's suspicious.

- It's peculiar.|- It's scary.

Stand aside. Coming through.

We've got to find Jack!

There's only 365 days left|till next Halloween!

Three sixty-four!

Is there anywhere|we've forgotten to check?

I looked in every mausoleum.

We opened the sarcophagi!

I tromped through|the pumpkin patch.

I peeked behind|the cyclops' eye.

I did! But he wasn't there.

It's time to sound the alarms!

Frog's breath|will overpower any odor.

Bitter!

Worm's wart. But where,|where is that worm's wart?

Sally? ls that soup ready yet?

Ah. Coming!

Lunch!

Ah, what's that?

Worm's wart! Mmm!

And frog's breath?

Wh-What's wrong? l-l thought|you liked frog's breath.

Nothing's more suspicious|than frog's breath.

Until you taste it,|I won't swallow a spoonful.

I'm not hungry. Oops.

You want me to starve...

an old man like me,|who hardly has strength as it is.

Me, to whom you owe|your very life.

Oh, don't be silly.

Mmm! See? Scrumptious!

Did anyone think|to dredge the lake?

Oh, this morning.

- Hear that?|- Ah, what?|- Shh.

Zero!

- Jack's back!|- Jack's back! Jack's back!

- Where have you been?|- Call a town meeting and I'll|tell everyone all about it.

- When?|- Immediately!

Town meeting! Town meeting!

Town meeting tonight!

Town meeting!|Town meeting tonight!

Listen, everyone!

I want to tell you|about Christmas Town.

There were objects so peculiar|they were not to be believed

All around things|to tantalize my brain

It's a world unlike anything|I've ever seen

And as hard as I tried|I can't seem to describe

Like a most improbable dream

But you must believe|when I tell you this

It's as real as my skull|and it does exist

Here, let me show you.

Ooh!

This is a thing|called a present

The whole thing|starts with a box

- A box|- Is it steel|- Are there locks

- Is it filled with a pox|- A pox, how delightful, a pox

If you please.

Just a box with|bright colored paper

And the whole thing's|topped with a bow

- A bow|- But why|- How ugly|- What's in it, what's in it

That's the point of the thing|Not to know

- It's a bat|- Will it bend|- It's a rat|- Will it break

Perhaps it's the head|that I found in the lake

Listen now|You don't understand

That's not the point|of Christmasland

Now pay attention|We pick up an oversized sock

And hang it like this|on the wall

Oh, yes, does it still|have a foot

- Let me see, let me look|- Is it rotted and covered with gook

Um, let me explain.

There's no foot inside|but there's candy

- Or sometimes it's filled|with small toys|- Small toys

- Do they bite|- Do they snap|- Or explode in the sack

Well, perhaps they just spring|out and scare girls and boys

What a splendid idea|This Christmas sounds fun

I fully endorse it|Let's try it at once

Everyone, please|Now not so fast

There's something here|that you don't quite grasp

I don't know.|Do you get it?

Well, I may as well|give them what they want.

And the best I must confess|I have saved for the last

For the ruler|of this Christmasland

Is a fearsome king|with a deep, mighty voice

Least, that's what|I've come to understand

And I've also heard it told|That he's something to behold

Like a lobster huge and red

When he sets out to slay|with his rain gear on

Carting bulging sacks|with his big great arms

That is so I've heard it said

And on a dark cold night|under full moonlight

He flies into a fog|like a vulture in the sky

And they call him

Sandy Claws

Well, at least they're excited

But they don't understand

That special kind of feeling|in Christmasland

Oh, well.

Hmm.

Hmm.

There's got to be a logical way|to explain this Christmas thing.

You've poisoned me for the|last time, you wretched girl.

Oh, my head!

The door is open!

- Hello!|- Jack Skellington!

- Up here, my boy.|- Doctor, I need to borrow some|equipment.

Is that so? Whatever for?

I'm conducting a series|of experiments.

How perfectly marvelous!

- Curiosity killed the cat, you know.|- I know.

Come on into the lab|and we'll get you all fixed up.

Hmm. Experiments?

Zero, I'm home!

Interesting reaction!|But what does it mean?

You can come out now|if you promise to behave.

Sally?

Sally?

Oh, gone again!

Hmm.

Oh!

Something's up with Jack|Something's up with Jack

Don't know if we're ever|going to get him back

He's all alone up there|locked away inside

- Never says a word|- Hope he hasn't died

Something's up with Jack|Something's up with Jack

Christmastime|is buzzing in my skull

Will it let me be|I cannot tell

There's so many things|I cannot grasp

When I think I've got it|and then at last

Through my bony fingers|it does slip

Like a snowflake|in a fiery grip

Something here I'm not quite getting|Though I try I keep forgetting

Like a memory|long since past

Here in an instant|Gone in a flash

What does it mean|What does it mean

In these little bric-a-brac|A secret's waiting to be cracked

These dolls and toys confuse me so|Confound it all, I love it though

Simple objects, nothing more|But something's hidden through a door

Though I do not have the key|Something's here I cannot see

What does it mean|What does it mean

What does it mean

Hmm. Hmm.

I've read these Christmas books|so many times

I know the stories|and I know the rhymes

I know the Christmas carols|all by heart

My skull's so full|it's tearing me apart

As often as I've read them|Something's wrong

It's so hard to put|my bony finger on

Or perhaps it's really not as deep|as I've been led to think

Am I trying much too hard

Of course|I've been too close to see

The answer's right in front of me|Right in front of me

It's simple really, very clear|Like music drifting in the air

Invisible but everywhere

Just because I cannot see it|Doesn't mean I can't believe it

You know I think this Christmas thing|is not as tricky as it seems

And why should they have all the fun|It should belong to anyone

Not anyone in fact, but me|Why I can make a Christmas tree

And there's no reason I can find|I couldn't handle Christmastime

I bet I could improve it too|And that's exactly what I'll do

Eureka!

This year,|Christmas will be ours!

Patience, everyone. Jack has|a special job for each of you.

Dr. Beetlestein.

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