THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Continue)
SALLY
Dear Doctor... Please don't
come after me again. Please
let me go this time. I am all
grown up and need to find my
own life now. I hope you will
understand, some day at least.
Signed -- Sally. P.S. I'll
come visit very soon. P.P.S.
There's fresh soup in the
'fridge. P.P.P.S. It isn't
spiked.
She adds some x's and o's to the bottom of the letter, then sets
it on the pillow of her bed where the doctor will be sure to find
it.
She takes a needle and spool of thread out of her drawer, stuffs
them into her dress, then without warning,
JUMPS OUT HER WINDOW
with suicidal abandon.
CUT TO:
EXT. EVIL SCIENTIST'S HOUSE. NIGHT/CONTINUOUS TIME.
Sally lands on the street outside -- sprawled, torn apart,
stuffing flowing out, stitches burst.
In a moment, she flops upright. She pulls out the needle, the
thread, threads the needle and, glancing every so often over her
shoulder at the Evil Scientist's house, hurriedly proceeds to sew
herself back together again.
The job done. She stashes the needle and thread and wobbly (her
stitches are looser than the doctor's) gets to her feet to go --
only she's sewed one of her legs on backwards -- so that when she
takes a step, her legs walk in opposite directions and she falls
right over.
She lets out a little moan of frustration. Swivelling, she looks
back at the house, afraid of getting caught...
She works even faster now, ripping out the stitches on the leg
she replaced backwards and basting it back on facing forwards.
These stitches are really huge and ungainly. Still, they're
substantial enough to allow her to get to her feet and totter
away, though limping rather badly.
CUT TO:
INT. JACK'S TOWER. SUNRISE.
Jack has worked through the night and continues to work,
concentrated, intent, doing his methodical best to study
Christmas.
-- He stares at an image of Sandy Claws he's drawn on the
chalkboard -- with giant red lobster hand and elaborate
raingear -- then erases it.
-- He leafs back and forth through the Christmas books, every
so
often stopping briefly on an image -- RUDOLF, THE RED-NOSED
REINDEER OR FROSTY, THE SNOWMAN OR AN ANNOTATED ILLUSTRATION OF
"THE STOCKINGS ARE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE."
-- He scrapes a little bit of the shininess off a Christmas tree
ball. With a mortar and pestle, he grinds the flake of shininess
to a sparkling powder, then sprinkles the powder over himself as
if it were fairy dust. He strikes a pose and waits -- but no
transformation occurs. In another beat, he turns back to his
work table, freshly determined.
JACK
Sooner or later this Christmas
will yield up its secrets to
me. I'll crack it! I will!
-- He studies a strand of tinsel under the microscope. It
reflects his own hollow eye socket back to him.
CUT TO:
EXT. JACK'S TOWER. DAY.
Hiding in the shadows of the building across the street, Sally
stares up at Jack's room.
She pulls back out of sight once -- when the Evil Scientist
passes, obviously looking for her -- but steps out again as soon
as he's gone.
Other citizens of Halloween look up at Jack's windows as they
pass and shake their heads with concern, but only Sally keeps a
vigil.
CUT TO:
INT. JACK'S TOWER. DAY/LATER.
Jack stands at the chalkboard where he's scribbled elaborate
formulae: Good Cheer + Roasting Chestnuts + Sandy Claws =
Christmas Fun. Sugar Plums + Christmas trees + Rudolf, the Red-
Nosed Reindeer = Christas Fun. Presents + Mistletoe + Snowballs
= Christmas Fun. If A = B and B = C and A = C, then what isn't
D?
He feverishly crosses out some phrases, corrects others,
substitutes, modifies.
CUT TO:
EXT. JACK'S TOWER. DUSK.
Using a pulley, Sally surreptitiously hoists up a basket of food.
CUT TO:
INT. JACK'S TOWER. DUSK/CONTINUOUS TIME.
A TOY STEAM ENGINE
now chugs along tracks laid around the perimeter of Jack's room.
Puffing smoke, it hauls a string of open cars filled with
Christmas dolls and toys. Jack adds more toys as the tiny train
cars pass him.
He looks up at the ODD SCRAPING SOUND of Sally's food basket
knocking against the window.
AT THE WINDOW,
he unhooks the basket and lifts it in. Inside is dinner,
lovingly wrapped in a napkin -- a skeleton chicken, a couple of
apple cores, and a cold bottle of newt juice.
Jack leans
OUT THE WINDOW
to see who sent this to him. His gaze locks with Sally's -- far
below. A beat. He nods his thanks. She waves -- slowly, in
tragic sympathy. He pulls back into his tower.
ON THE GROUND,
Sally keeps staring faithfully up at Jack's window.
IN HIS TOWER,
Jack dances around a Christmas tree, giddily tossing on
decorations.
CUT TO:
EXT. JACK'S TOWER. NIGHT.
Sally is back at her post across the street, watching
JACK'S WINDOW
where a TALL CANDLE BURNS.
AS IF IN TIME-LAPSE, the candle burns all the way down while the
NIGHT PASSES INTO
EXT. JACK'S TOWER. DAY.
Sally sleeps curled in the doorway across the street. She wakes
to
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.
At the moment, Jack discusses dollmaking with a COUPLE OF LARGE
VAMPIRES... One of the vampires cradles an example of a BABYDOLL
in the palm of his hand. As he rocks it, its eyes close if it's
lying down, but open when it's brought upright. The doll also
cries -- bleating sadly.
The Vampires make a face at one another.
ONE VAMPIRE
What kind of noise is that for
a baby to make?
The other vampire shrugs.
JACK
Can you handle it?
OTHER VAMPIRE
We can improve it too.
JACK
I knew it!
The Vampires scurry off, still studying the babydoll -- looking
for other improvements.
Jack turns to the Evil Scientist.
JACK
Doctor -- just the man I wanted
to see.
Jack pulls a book out of his trunk. He leafs through it to a
PICTURE OF SANTA'S REINDEER hooked up to the sleigh and shows the
Evil Scientist.
JACK
I need some of these.
The Evil Scientist peers closely at the picture of the reindeer
in Jack's book, making quick calculations.
EVIL SCIENTIST
These...? Their construction
should be very simple, I think.
THE MAYOR
bellows again, practically in the Evil Scientist's ear.
MAYOR
DR. FINKELSTEIN!
EVIL SCIENTIST
(snaps)
Right here.
The Mayor glares at him resentfully.
MAYOR
It's about time.
The Mayor makes a big show of checking off the doctor's name.
Next, three mischievous Trick Or Treaters scuttle up to the
Mayor's table. They are small but insidious. Professionals.
Their names are LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL.
LOCK
We're here! You sent for us!
SHOCK
Specifically.
BARREL
By name.
LOCK
Lock.
SHOCK
Shock.
BARREL
Barrel.
The Mayor announces the little Trick Or Treaters:
MAYOR
Oogie Boogie's Boys to see you,
Jack!
JACK
Excellent.
The Evil Scientist shuffles off with the book.
The Mayor studies his list again:
MAYOR
What a smashing success our
Christmas will be!
Jack waves Lock, Shock & Barrel over...
JACK
I have a very important, very
delicate job for you.
They come close and huddle before him. Jack whispers his plan
--
they titter, half-whispering themselves.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE TOWN HALL. DAY/LATER.
The three little Trick Or Treaters tip-toe out, still tittering
and whispering. They sing:
>>>>> THE SCHEMING SONG
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap Mr. Sandy Claws...?
LOCK
I wanna do it...
BARREL
... Let's draw straws.
SHOCK
Jack said we should work together.
BARREL
Three of a kind...
LOCK
... Birds of a feather.
SHOCK
Now and forever...
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
... Weeee!
They scoot out of sight around a corner.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN. DAY/LATER.
Lock, Shock & Barrel head toward their digs out of town.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
Lock him up real tight
Throw away the key and then
Turn off all the lights.
LOCK
First we're going to set some bait
Inside a nasty trap and wait.
When he comes a-sniffing we will
Snap the trap and close the gate.
SHOCK
Wait! I've got a better plan
To catch this big red lobster man.
Let's pop him in a boiling pot
And when he's done we'll butter him up!
CUT TO:
EXT. OOGIE BOOGIE'S DUNGEON. DAY/LATER.
Lock, Shock & Barrel arrive at the ominous stinking place.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws
Throw him in a box
Bury him for ninety years
And then see if he talks.
BARREL
Then Mr. Oogie Boogie Man
Can take the whole thing over then.
He'll be so pleased I do declare
That he will cook him rare...
They zip down the cellar stairs.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Weeee!
The dank, crumbling stairs lead to...
CUT TO:
INT. LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL'S PART OF BOOGIE'S DUNGEON. DAY.
Once in their corner of the dungeon, the little Trick Or Treaters
start to gather the things they'll need to do their job.
SHOCK
I say that we take a cannon
Aim it at his door and then
Knock three times and when he answers
Sandy Claws will be no more.
LOCK
You're so stupid, think now --
If we blow him up to smithereens,
We may lose some pieces and then
Jack will beat us black and green.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws
Tie him in a bag
Throw him in the ocean
And then see if he is sad.
There is a bone-chilling stirring in the next room. All three
of
the little Trick or Treaters react. As one, they shoot over to
the corner furthest away from the sounds and lower their voices:
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Because Mr. Oogie Boogie
Is the meanest guy around,
If I were on his Boogie list,
I'd get out of town.
BARREL
He'll be so pleased by our success
That he'll reward us too I bet.
Perhaps he'll make his special brew
Of snake and spider stew...
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
MMMMMMM...!
SHOCK
We're his little henchman
And we take our job with pride.
SHOCK AND BARREL
We do our best to please him,
And stay on his good side.
LOCK
I wish my cohorts weren't so dumb.
BARREL
I'm not the dumb one...
SHOCK
... You're no fun.
LOCK
Shut up and listen...!
The other two stop...
LOCK
I've got something, listen now,
This one is real good, you'll see.
We'll send a present to his door
Upon there'll be a note to read.
BARREL
Now in the box, we'll wait and hide
Until his curiosity
Entices him to look inside...
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
And then we'll have him, one, two, three!
Fully exuberant again, they gleefully collect their last few
necessities.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
Beat him with a stick.
Lock him up for ninety years
And see what makes him tick.
They head back up their cellar steps.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN. DAY/LATER.
The three Trick or Treaters race through a deserted lot.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws,
Tie him in a knot
Put him in a coffin,
How we'd like to see him rot.
CUT TO:
EXT. HALLOWEENLAND CEMETERY. DAY/LATER.
Lock, Shock & Barrel skip among the tombstones.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws.
Chop him into bits
Mr. Oogie Boogie is
Sure to get his kicks.
CUT TO:
EXT. EDGE OF FOREST. DAY/LATER.
Lock, Shock & Barrel head for the forest that Jack wandered
through.
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Kidnap the Sandy Claws.
See what we will see,
Lock him in a cage
And then throwaway the key.
They reach the very edge forest -- they are still in the light;
one step ahead, it is dark and gloomy.
Lock, the natural-born leader of the three, stops in his tracks
in the last possible light. The other two bump into him, in
succession. Then all three crouch down at once. Beat.
Simultaneously giggling, they suddenly streak forward into the
woods and, in a moment, are swallowed up into the
PITCH-BLACK.
The only evidence of them left is the sound of their giggles.
The giggles recede, then fade...
CUT TO:
EXT. TOWN HALL. DUSK.
No part of the line stands outside now. The few citizens left
still waiting for assignments stand...
CUT TO:
INT. TOWN HALL. DUSK/CONTINUOUS TIME.
A very anxious Sally stands at the head of the line, in a panic,
going over and over what she intends to say:
SALLY
(almost inaudibly)
Jack, you must let go of this
insanity... This is a
mistake...
Behind her the Furry Behemoth waits patiently.
JACK
works with the Street Band. Demonstrating, he shakes a harness
piece studded with sleigh bells. The bells jingle cheerfully.
JACK
Okay. Now you.
The members of the Band rattle their bones in response -- shaking
legs and arms, echoing the jingle of the bells, but with their
own distinctive hollow CLANK.
Jack laughs, enormously pleased.
JACK
Perfect!... Now let's try
this...
Using various jingling bells, Jack shakes out the tune to "Jingle
Bells."
The Band clanks the tune right back -- phrase for phrase.
SALLY
watches with an increasing sense of doom as her turn with Jack
nears.
Jack heartily shakes hands and back-slaps the three members of
the street band. They head off practicing...
JACK
(calls after)
Thanks! You're the absolute
best!
He turns to Sally -- who stands frozen, wide-eyed, her heart a
wild bird trapped in the cage of her chest. He smiles
encouragingly at her.
JACK
Hi. I've saved a really
special job for you.
He gestures for her to step closer.
Stiffly, she does.
JACK
(confidentially)
I want you to be the one who
makes my Sandy Claws outfit.
She looks stunned. Jack nods eagerly and pats her, mistaking her
silence for awe at the responsibility.
JACK
I know you can do it.
He enthusiastically proceeds to describe the costume:
JACK
It's bright red, the reddest
red you can imagine -- both the
jacket and the pair of pants...
The boots are black. There's a
big black belt that goes around
the middle... Oh, and there's
white trim on the cuffs and
collar.
Swallowing hard, Sally looks up at him, her wide eyes moist. Her
voice is tiny.
SALLY
Are you sure, Jack?
Jack suddenly looks confused. He stops mid-gesture --
JACK
Am I sure?
Brow furrowing, he stares at the ceiling and thinks.
Sally holds her breath, hoping...
Finally, Jack shrugs.
JACK
Well... the trim is
traditionally white from
everything I've studied, but if
you think green would give it
more dash... I trust your
judgement. I know you'll do a
great job. Whatever you
decide!
AT THAT MOMENT,
Lock, Shock and Barrel race in dragging behind them a big sack
with something squirming inside!
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
Jack! Jack! We caught him!
We've got him!
JACK
strides excitedly to meet them, leaving Sally.
SALLY
flees, mortified, miserable. She had hoped to help Jack, to
spare him the pain of his enterprise, to save him from himself...
Floppy and weak (her legs lost some stuffing in her jump from the
Evil Scientist's window), she runs as best she can, arms and legs
pinwheeling...
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL,
in a frenzy of giggling, open the big sack and who should jump
out but the
EASTER BUNNY.
Jack's face drops. He turns on the three Trick Or Treaters.
JACK
(loud)
That's not Sandy Claws!
SHOCK
It isn't?
BARREL
Who is it then?
JACK
(louder)
Not Sandy Claws!
The three shrink back.
LOCK
We followed your instructions.
BARREL
We went through the door...
SHOCK
...In the tree.
JACK
Which door!?
LOCK
The door.
JACK
WELL, TAKE HIM BACK!
Jack turns to the Easter Bunny and speaks loudly and slowly to
him, hoping to be understood.
JACK
I'm very sorry for the
inconvenience, sir.
He scowls at the three Trick Or Treaters.
JACK
Shall I send somebody else for
Sandy Claws?
LOCK, SHOCK & BARREL
No!
BARREL
Not at all!
SHOCK
We can handle it.
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