Script

THE NEVERENDING STORY

Based on the book by Michael Ende

Screenplay by Wolfgang Peterson

1984

FADE IN:

Limahl’s “The Neverending Story” plays as the

CREDITS PLAY OVER a dazzling display of some

great clouded storm. THE NOTHING. Great masses of

clouds swirl and churn and collide on the screen.

As the FINAL CREDITS play we…

CUT TO: Bastian’s bedroom

Our story begins as our young friend awakes from a dream. Bastian quickly sits up as if awakening from a nightmare. He looks at a picture of his mom with a sigh and then he picks up the book beside him and marks his spot.

CUT TO: Kitchen.

Bastians father is working on some sort of concoction in the kitchen blender, while Bastian sits at the dining table straining to open jelly for his toast. They exchange a good morning between each other, but they are relatively quiet.

Father:

Morning Bastian

Bastian:

Morning Dad

Bastian continues to struggle with the jar until his hand hurts. His father turns to him and gives him a hand. He seems to easily open the jar. As Bastians father returns to his task of the morning drink concoction Bastian breaks the silence.

Bastian:

I had another dream Dad, about Mom.

His father pauses at the blender, but doesn't look

at him and then he continues creating his

drink.

Father:

I understand son, but we have to get on with things, right? (Bastian looks dejected at this answer.) Bastian we each have responsibilities. We can't let Mom's death be an excuse

for not getting the old job done, right ?

Bastian half-heartedly smears butter on his toast. His father approaches the table and sits down. Time for a father to son talk.

Father:

Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk.

I got a call from your math teacher yesterday.

She says you were drawing horses in your math book.

Bastian:

Unicorns. They were unicorns.(mimics a unicorn)

Father:

What ?

Bastian:

Nothing….

Father:

She also says that you haven't been turning your homework

in on time. And I'm very disappointed you didn't even try out for

the swim-team.

( Pause )

As for those riding lessons you've been wanting

you say you love horses yet you seem to be afraid to get on a real

one. Now, Bastian, you're old enough to get your head out of the

clouds and start keeping both feet on the ground. Alright ?

(he takes a sip of drink.)

Bastian:

Ok.

Father:

Stop daydreaming and start facing your problems.

Ok ? (ruffles Bastians hair)

Bastian:

Ok (he says with a half hearted smile)

Father:

Ok. Right I think we've had a nice little talk we should have more. (he gulps down his drink and gets up to leave.) Have a nice day and don't be late to school again.

Bastian:

(Bastian turns to him) But yesterday I wasn't…

END SCENE

FADE IN: City street

Out on the street 3 bullies are laughing. As Bastian walks out, they stop.

Bully 1:

Hey look it's the weirdo.

Bully 2:

Hey weirdo, got any cash for us today ?

Bastian turns and runs.

Bully 1:

Hey follow! That's it weirdo. You can't get away

you jerk ! You're dead chicken!

They yell chasing after him. They chase him down an alley where they corner him and catch him.

Bully 3:

Where's you're money man ?

Bastian:

I don't have any!

Bully 1:

No money? Momma's little boy is holding out

on us. You ain't got any money on ya, you go

in the garbage can

All three bullies shove Bastian into a nearby dumpster.

Bully 3:

Maybe chicken can lay an egg in there. (They laugh as they return to the street.)

Bastian comes out of the dumpster and enters the street brushing garbage off himself. The bullies see him and stand up straight.

Bully 1:

Hey man, who said you could get out of the garbage ?

Get back in there.

(They smile at each other and start towards him.)

Bastian:

Oh no not again. No not again! (He starts running)

Bully 2:

Where do you think you're going wimp? (They chase after him, He ducks into a bookstore and the boys run by. )

NEXT SCENE: Coreander’s Book store

Bastian watches from inside the store as the

three bullies go running by. He sighs felling relief,

but is suddenly startled by a ruff bulldog voice

from somewhere in the store.

Coreander:

Get outta here. I don't like kids.

Bastian walks toward the area he heard to

voice from, and finds an old man siting in

a chair reading. He turns and looks at him.

Coreander:

You still here boy? Didn't you hear what I said?

Bastian:

Um, I was.. (he stutters motioning to the door.)

Coreander:

You're hiding aren't you?

Bastian:

No I was just... (he stutters more)

Coreander:

The video arcade is down the street . Here we just sell small rectangular objects that are called books. Require a little effort on your part and make no b..b..b..beeps. On your way please

Bastian:

I KNOW books. I have 186 of them at home!

Coreander:

Bah. Comic books.

Bastian:

No. I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan…

Coreander:

Whoa whoa whoa. Who are you running away from? (he says with new interest.)

Bastian:

Just some kids from school.

Coreander:

Why ?

Bastian:

They wanna throw me in the garbage.

Coreander:

Why don't you give them a good punch in the nose, eh?

Bastian:

Oh, I dunno.(he looks down at his shoes)

The man turns away from him again. Bastian looks at the book he has. His interest has been aroused.

Bastian:

What's that book about?

Coreander:

Oh, this is something special.

Bastian:

(Bastian moves in closer.) Well, what is it ?

Coreander:

Look. You're books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe.

Bastian:

But that's what I like about them.

Coreander:

Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.

Bastian:

What do you mean?

Coreander:

Listen (he motions for him to come nearer.)

Coreander:

Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you ?

Bastian:

Yes.

Coreander:

Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape ?

Bastian:

But it's only a story.

Coreander:

That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe.

Bastian:

And that one isn't ?

Coreander:

Don't worry about it.

Bastian:

But, but you just said it was.... (the phone rings and Coreander puts the book under a newspaper to try and hide it.)

Coreander:

Forget about it. This book is not for you. (he gets up and gets the phone.)

Bastian watches him. As he talks on the phone Bastian uncovers the book. The title on the book reads, The Neverending Story. above these words is a symbol on the cover. The symbol is two snakes intertwined with each other and biting each other's tail. As the old man hangs up the phone, Bastian grabs the book and runs out. The old man smiles to himself and looks down at his desk proud to have finally gotten rid of the annoying child.

ANGLE: Coreanders desk

On his desk in place of the book is a note pad barely legible writing on it, it reads:

" Don't worry, I'll return your book."

END SCENE

NEXT SCENE: Bastians school.

With the book under his shirt Bastian runs through the hall of his school. He stops outside his classroom, then cautiously looks through the small slit of a window in the classroom door. What he sees is his class already started on a very important math test.

Bastian:

The Math test, oh no.

CUT TO: school attic

Bastian runs up the stairs leading to the school's attic, finds the key and goes inside. There are all sorts of old scholastic objects in the attic. He finds a stack of old gym mats and pulls one out. He sits down and pulls out the book, then he begins reading.

ANGLE- Bastian- CLOSE UP:

Bastian:

It was midnight in the Howling forest. The wind whistled through the tops of the ancient trees. Suddenly, something enormous crashed and rumbled through the eerie woods.

FADE OUT TO: Fantasia

WIDE SHOT: View of small camp.

We see a snail look up and there's a small man beside him. There is a Nighthob and his sleeping bat nearby. Suddenly the calm of the camp is interrupted by a great rumbling similar to an earthquake.

Nighthob:

What's that ? (the ground shakes.)

ANGLE: Rockbiter

A huge tricycle comes to a stop in front of them. It is made entirely from stone, as is the giant riding it. The Rockbiter speaks to them in a deep, friendly voice.

Rockbiter:

Excuse me, would it be alright if I joined you this evening?

Tiny:

Uh huh.

Rockbiter:

You see I've been traveling all day.

(he climbs off his tricycle.He rolls it backward and then sits down. The ground beneath him shakes. He sniffs the air and then says, as if he has discovered a secret of theirs)

Ah hah ! Now I see why you picked this camp. "

He picks up a large rock and sniffs it.

Rockbiter:

A delicious looking limestone rock. Nice bouquet, must be a real vintage here.

Nighthob:

Yes, you're right. Those delicious rocks are the reason we camped here alright.

Then he runs over to the little man.

Nighthob:

Psst. is he a nutcase?

Tiny:

No, he's a Rockbiter.

Nighthob:

Oh a Rockbiter. A Rockbiter!?

The Rockbiter starts eating the limestone he is holding. Pieces fall all over the place. One piece falls on the snail.

Rockbiter:

Ooops, sorry.

Then he burps.

Oh, pardon me !

Nighthob:

Pardoned.

Rockbiter:

Mmm. That was limestone, with a dash of quartz. Very tasty. Where I come from in the north we used to have exquisite gourmet rocks, only now...now they're all gone.

Nighthob:

Huh, I know how it happened.

The Rockbiter makes a boyscouts honor sign.

Rockbiter:

I swear it wasn't me.

Nighthob:

Hah ! Heck no.

Tiny:

I think I know what it was, tell us more.

Rockbiter:

Near my home there used to be a beautiful lake, but then it was gone.

Tiny:

Did the lake dry up?

Rockbiter:

No, it just wasn't there anymore. Nothing was there anymore. Not even a dried up lake.

Tiny:

A hole ?

Rockbiter:

No, a hole would be something. Nah, it was nothing. And it got bigger and bigger. First there was no lake anymore and then finally, no rocks.

Nighthob:

Hah! If he keeps stuffing his face like that, soon there won't be any rocks left here either!

(Nighthob complains to the little man. As he starts to walk away, the little man grabs him.)

Tiny:

Nighthob, this could be serious!

Rockbiter, what you have told us is also occurring where I live in the west ! A strange sort of Nothing is destroying everything.

Nighthob:

Yes, we Nighthobs live in the south. And it's there too.

Rockbiter:

So, so it's not just in our part of Fantasia?

Nighthob:

Maybe, it's already everywhere...

(Nighthob hisses looking around suspiciously smelling the air.)

Maybe our whole land is in danger. What can we do?

Rockbiter:

My people are sending me to the Ivory Tower, to the Empress for help

Nighthob and Tiny:

We are..

Tiny:

We are on the same mission. After all, if the Empress can't save us, who could?

Nighthob:

Then why are we all just standing around here instead of taking off for the Ivory Tower?

Tiny:

Right, what are we waiting for ?

The little man climbs on his snail while the Nighthob tries to wake up his bat.

Nighthob:

Hey wake up! We can't just hang around here. Prepare for take off! Stupid bat!

Rockbiter:

We, we can't wait for a snail. Can I carry you?

Tiny:

Don't worry, it's a racing snail.

Rockbiter:

Oh, but we can't even wait for a racing snail.

The little man goes peddling off on the snail. Nighthob finally wakes up his bat and climbs on as

Rockbiter:

It really is a racing snail.

Nighthob:

And nobody gives a hoot about me and my stupid bat.

CLOSE UP: Rockbiter

Rockbiter:

Maybe I'll take a few of these yummy gourmet rocks, eh.. for the road.

As he bends down to pick some up, he stands straight up again and realizes he hears the nothing coming.

Rockbiter:

Oh no. The nothing!

CUT TO: A golden sunset

View of the sky and Nighthob on his bat.

Nighthob:

Look there it is. The heart of Fantasia.

View of Rockbiter and little man. They stop as they see the Ivory Tower.

Rockbiter:

I never knew it was that beautiful. Oh.

EXT. VIEW-Ivory Tower

Wide angled view of the nearing Ivory Tower. It shimmers in its only light as the sun sets behind it.

Nighthob:

Stay awake. I told you to stay awake.

We span the whole length of this Ivory Tower. It is said to be as big as a city. We pass over the base of the tower, then it’s mid section, and finally we near the very top of the structure. It is very intricate here. We begin to zoom in on the Magnolia pavilion. The very tip of the Ivory Tower, the place that the Empress lives.

Nighthob:

The home of the Empress. She's our only hope.

FADE OUT:

INT. VIEW- Ivory Tower- The Empresses court

The door to the Empress's room opens into the courtyard. Lots of creatures from Fantasia await help from the Empress. The Empress's head servant comes out of her room and speaks to them all.

Carion:

Friends, I know why you are all here. The nothing is destroying our world. I also know that you have come to beseech the Empress for help. But I, I have terrible news. The Empress herself has become deathly ill. There seems to be a mysterious link between her illness and the nothing. She is dying. So she cannot save us...

There is much commotion among the creatures gathered there, but he continues.

But there just might be one chance. The plains people who

hunt the purple buffalo have among them a great warrior and

he alone has a chance to fight the nothing and save us. He is

our only hope. His name is Atreyu.

CUT TO: School attic- Bastian

View of Bastian. He looks up from the

book and grabs his school bag. He looks

at the Indians on the front.

Bastian:

Atreyu..

Bastian:

The Empress had already sent for the great warrior. When he finally appeared on the terrace of the Ivory Tower, he carried with him the hopes of all Fantasia."

View of a young Indian boy walking up the stairs to the old man.

Bastian:

A little boy

Close up of Atreyu as the old man speaks to him.

Carion:

I'm sorry, but this is not the time nor place for children.

I must ask you to leave.

Atreyu:

If you don't want me here,

you shouldn't have sent for me.

Carion:

It was not you we sent for. We wanted Atreyu.

Atreyu:

I am Atreyu.

Carion

Not Atreyu the child, Atreyu the warrior.

Atreyu:

I am the only Atreyu with the plains people, but I'll be happy to go

back to hunting the purple buffalo.

Carion:

No wait !

Atreyu pauses as the old man continues..

Come back please.

Atreyu walks back up the stairs. The old man looks at him more urgently now.

Carion:

If you truly are the Atreyu we sent for, you

would be willing to go on a quest?

Atreyu:

Yes of course, what kind of a quest?

Carion:

To find a cure for the Empress .....and to save our world.

No one can give you any advice except this, you must go

alone and you must leave all your weapons behind.

It will be very dangerous.

Atreyu:

Is there any chance of success?

Carion:

I do not know, but if you fail the Empress will surely die

and our whole world will be destroyed.

Atreyu's eyes grow large and he closes them

and hangs his head down. Then he opens

them back up and looks at the old man

determinedly. He takes off his bow and

quiver of arrows.

Atreyu:

When do I begin ?

Carion:

Now and you must hurry Atreyu,

the nothing grows stronger everyday.

He motions him to come nearer.

Carion:

Take this. (He holds up a necklace that has the same

symbol as the front of the book. He fastens it on Atreyu.)

" The Auryn" Could be heard whispered

throughout the court filled with creatures.

Carion:

He who wears the Auryn speaks for the Empress.

It will guide and protect you.

END SCENE: view of Atreyu and his horse galloping away from the ivory tower. –Fade out

FADE IN: Dark cave

View of a dark cave and we hear

Bastian:

At the same time, elsewhere in Fantasia, a creature

of darkness also began his quest.

We see two evil eyes open abruptly followed by a horrid howl in the cave and then a wolf as black as night runs out.

CUT TO: Atreyu & Artax

View of Atreyu and Artax near a stream.

Atreyu is sleeping and we hear

Bastian:

They had been traveling aimlessly for almost a week,

but they could not find a cure for the Empress. Neither

Atreyu or his horse, Artax, had the vaguest suspicion

that the creature of darkness, the G'mork, was already

tracking them down.

Artax crosses the small stream and wakes up Atreyu by nuzzling him.

Atreyu:

Wha ? What is it Artax. Is it time to go already

Oh, I know what you want. It's time to eat,

huh? Good idea.

Bastian:

No, it's a great idea!

Bastian looks up from the book with a smile

and grabbs his lunch from his back pack

and begins to devour it.

VIEW of Bastian holding half the sandwich. He looks at it.

Bastian:

No, not too much. We still have a long way to go.

VIEW of Atreyu and Artax traveling again.

G'mork arrives were they had been and catches

their scent, and takes off following their trail.

CUT TO: Swamps of Sadness

Bastian:

Atreyu and Artax had searched the Silver Mountains,

the Desert of Shattered Hopes, and the Crystal Towers

without success. And so, there was only one chance left.

To find Morla, the ancient one, the wisest being in

Fantasia who’s home was the Shell Mountain

somewhere in the deadly Swamps of Sadness.

Atreyu jumps off Artax and pulls him along through the swamp.

Bastian:

Everyone knew that whoever let the sadness

overtake him would sink into the swamp.

Atreyu pulls his horse along saying reassuring things the whole time.

Atreyu:

That's it. You’re doing fine Artax.

Suddenly Artax stops and Atreyu pulls on the reigns. Artax doesn't budge

Atreyu:

Come on Artax, what's the matter? What's wrong? Come on boy!

I understand, it's too difficult for you. (He tries pulling him in a

different direction and steps into a puddle up to his waist.

Suddenly he notices that Artax is sinking)

Atreyu:

Artax you're sinking! Come on turn around, you have to!

Now ! Come on! Artax !

He goes closer to him and hugs him.

Atreyu:

Fight against the sadness Artax. Artax, please.

You're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you.

You have to try, you have to care. For me, I'm your

friend, I love you.

(Artax doesn't move and Atreyu

slaps the puddle sending water flying toward the

horse. He yells at him again.)

Artax, you're sinking! Come on, turn around, you have to, now!

Come on! Artax! Fight against the sadness, Artax. Artax, please,

you're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have

to try. You have to care, for me, you're my friend, and I love you.

Artax! Stupid horse! You've gotta move or you'll die! Move, please!

I won't give up! Don't quit! Artax! Please!

(then he pleads with him.)

Move please. I won't give up! Jump quick! Artax please!

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

SPLIT VIEW: of Atreyu sitting on a log crying as he looks at the spot where Artax had once been, and of Bastian looking up from the book. Both have tears streaming down their face, Bastian blows his nose on his handkerchief. Bastian turns the page.

VIEW: of Atreyu walking through the swamps crying. He stops suddenly and we see a mountain.

Atreyu:

The Shell Mountain.

VIEW: of Bastian as he looks up from the book.

Bastian:

Morla the ancient one.

WIDE VIEW:

Atreyu climbs up the muddy mountain and calls for Morla several times. The mountain starts moving and he grabs a tree branch. The branch breaks and he slides down the mountain, hurting his shoulder. He lands in the swamp ground below and turns and crawls away to a tree nearby that faces the mountain. He climbs it and sees a giant turtle head coming out of the mountain. Bastian screams and Atreyu and Morla look around.

Bastian sits up SURPRISED.

Bastian:

But that's impossible, they couldn't have heard me.

Atreyu:

Are you Morla, the ancient one?

Morla:

Not that it matters but yes.

Atreyu:

Please help me Morla. Do you recognize this?