The Nightmare Before Christmas Page #12

A SMALL CROWD:

gathering beneath Jack's window.

>>>>> JACK'S OBSESSION

TWO VAMPIRES:

(quietly sing)

Something's up with Jack, something's up with Jack...

A THIRD VAMPIRE adds his voice...

THREE VAMPIRES:

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

Flanked by two corpses, a SLATHERING BEAST lumbers up, singing...

SLATHERING BEAST

He's all alone up there, locked away inside...

The CORPSE on his right joins in...

BEAST AND CORPSE

Never says a word...

Then BOTH CORPSES and the beast sing...

BEAST AND TWO CORPSES

... hope he hasn't died...

Then the whole crowd sings...

CROWD:

Something's up with Jack...

... Something's up with Jack...

... Something's up with Jack...

Sally stays back, separate from the crowd, silent.

CUT TO:

INT. TOWER. DAY/SAME TIME.

Jack stands in the center of his room, a demon possessed,

surrounded by Christmas mayhem -- the glittery decorations and

toys and books strewn all about him.

He sings:

JACK:

Christmastime is buzzing in my skull.

Will it let me be? I cannot tell.

There're so many things I cannot grasp...

When I think I've got it, then at last

Through my bony fingers it does slip

Like a snowflake in a fiery grip.

Something's 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 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 the door.

Though I do not have the key,

Something's there I cannot see.

What does it mean? What does it mean?

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 read them, something's wrong...

So hard to put my bony finger on...

A thought strikes Jack. He takes a new tack... He whirls

around, singing...

JACK (CONT'D)

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!

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.

Enthusiasm takes the place of torment. Joy lightens Jack's

tortured soul.

JACK (CONT'D)

You know I think this Christmas thing --

It's 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 could make a Christmas tree.

And there's no reason I can find

That I couldn't handle Christmastime.

I bet I could improve it too!

And that's exactly what I'll do!

Jack hurries to the window and throws it open.

JACK:

(shouts out)

EUREKA!

BELOW,

the crowd is relieved.

CROWD:

Ahhh....

They smile up at their beloved Skeleton Jack. All except for

Sally.

SALLY:

(sadly to herself)

Oh Jack... Now what fever has

engulfed you? Your poor

sensitive mind...

Sally stares up at him...

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN HALL. DAY.

A LINE of waiting Halloweeners extends out the entrance doors.

The word, 'Christmas,' buzzes in the air.

Sally stands in line with everyone else -- somewhere near the

back, just behind the members of the Street Band. She practices

what she's going to say to Jack when it's her turn --

SALLY:

(whispers almost

inaudibly to herself)

Jack, you must let go of this

insanity. Don't make this

mistake. Taking over Christmas

is no way to fill the gaping

hole you feel inside.

Sally cowers as she hears the Mayor call:

MAYOR (O.S.)

DR. FINKELSTEIN TO THE FRONT OF

THE LINE! DR. FINKELSTEIN,

STEP RIGHT INSIDE!

Sally ducks out of sight behind the FURRY BEHEMOTH in back of her

as the

EVIL SCIENTIST:

hobbles by. Looking for Sally, he peers through his pince-nez at

the faces he passes.

MAYOR (O.S.)

(shouts again)

DR. FINKELSTEIN! WE'RE LOOKING

FOR DR. FINKELSTEIN!

The Evil Scientist hobbles through the front door.

CUT TO:

INT. TOWN HALL. DAY/CONTINUOUS TIME.

At the end of the hall is Jack.

To one side of him is his Christmas treasure trunk filled to the

brim with dolls and toys and decorations.

On the other side, the Mayor sits at a table. Before him is an

open scroll -- a long list. With his raven feather pen, the

Mayor enthusiastically marks off items and occasionally scribbles

notes:
forging ahead with the making of Christmas, he and Jack

are giving out assignments to the citizens of Halloweenland.

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