The Nightmare Before Christmas Page #5

Trying again, Zero grabs Jack by the leg, wrapping his mouth

around Jack's skinny shin bone.

JACK:

No. No playing today, Zero...

I'm just not in the mood.

Zero lets go and Jack marches wretchedly forward.

CUT TO:

INT. EVIL SCIENTIST'S HOUSE. KITCHEN. NIGHT/LATER.

CLOSE ON:

AN EMPTY JAR MARKED "DEADLY NIGHT SHADE."

SALLY:

drops in the fresh sprigs of the herb.

EVIL SCIENTIST (O.S.)

Sally?

Alarmed, Sally screws the lid back on -- as quickly as she can

with only one arm -- and hides the jar at the back of a cabinet.

THE EVIL SCIENTIST

is a twisted silhouette in the doorway behind Sally.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

You came back.

Gasping guiltily, Sally spins around.

SALLY:

Yes.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

For this.

He holds up Sally's torn-off arm -- as well as a large shiny

needle threaded with a long strand of thread.

SALLY:

Yes.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

Didn't I tell you? I'm always

right, you know, my dear...

Aren't I?

SALLY:

Yes.

Smiling his mad grin, the scientist gestures into the room behind

him.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

Shall we?

He makes way for Sally.

After a beat, Sally nods. Resigned, she trudges past him.

He jauntily follows her.

CUT TO:

INT. EVIL SCIENTIST'S LABORATORY. NIGHT/LATER.

The Evil Scientist carefully sews Sally's arm back on -- evenso

the stitches are crude and the fit awkward. The expression on

her face is more tragic than ever.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

You're mine, you know. I made

you.

SALLY:

I know.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

If you went away, what would

become of me?

SALLY:

I'm grown up now. I have to

leave some time.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

Of course you do, and I want

you to... but there's no need

to hurry it along, is there?

SALLY:

I can't help it.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

That's twice this month you've

slipped Deadly Night Shade into

my tea and run off. People

might get the wrong idea and

think you're unhappy at home.

Sally whimpers sadly.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

I do the best I can to make it

comfortable for us here.

SALLY:

I know.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

But I guess my best just isn't

good enough.

As anxious as she is to be away from here, Sally can't bear the

thought of hurting anybody and instinctively tries to make him

feel better.

SALLY:

That's not true. It's a

beautiful home, wonderfully

comfortable... I'm indebted to

you for everything... It's

just...

EVIL SCIENTIST:

Just what?

SALLY:

Just me, I suppose... I'm

restless. I can't help it.

The scientist smiles, feeling Sally under his sway again. He

pats her consolingly, then finishes sewing on her arm and makes

an elaborate knot at the end of his stitches. He snips the

thread and puts away his sewing kit.

EVIL SCIENTIST:

It's a phase, my dear. It'll

pass. We need to be patient,

that's all.

Sally heaves a big sigh.

SALLY:

That's all....

She looks off tragically. Outside, it's sunrise.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST. DAWN.

Still bowed by the depth of his despair, unaware of time, or

distance, or anything, Jack wanders through the gloom of the

forest. Zero floats protectively at his side.

Suddenly, Jack is stabbed by a ray of light from the rising sun.

JACK:

Ow!

Cringing, he stops in his tracks. When he dares to look around

him, it is as though he has just been woken up from a dream.

JACK:

Where am I?

Zero barks his haunted ghost bark. Jack seems to notice the dog.

JACK:

Zero! Where are we? We've

never been here, have we, boy?

Jack takes a few steps one direction and looks curiously, then a

few steps in another direction and looks -- and looks.

JACK:

It's some place new.

Zero circles Jack, whirling him around, trying to aim him back

toward home. But Jack resists. He wants to see whatever there

is to see.

He proceeds deeper into the woods.

CUT TO:

EXT. JACK'S TOWER. DAY.

The Mayor's hearse pulls up in front of Jack's tower. The Mayor

climbs out, arms brimming with blueprints and plans. He struts

to Jack's door -- his self-confident face on -- and bangs the

knocker.

MAYOR:

Jack?!

He waits for an answer. There isn't any. Even this little bit

of suspense brings out the Mayor's other face -- this one is

scared, self-doubting.

MAYOR:

Jack?! You home?!

There's still no answer.

The mayor squints out into the street. Clearing his throat, he

barks confidently at PASSERS-BY:

MAYOR:

(to various passers-

by)

Have you seen Jack?... Have

you seen Jack?...

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