Coraline (2009) Movie Script

(BOBINSKY COUNTING IN RUSSIAN)
(CAR HONKING)
(BOBINSKY CURSES IN RUSSIAN)
MOVER: We're here! Time to muscle up.
(BOTH GRUNT)
(GIGGLES)
(GROANS)
(DOOR CREAKING)
(PEBBLES CLATTERING)
Hello?
Who's there?
(CAT SCREECHES)
(GASPS)
(PANTING)
(GASPS)
(MEOWS)
(SCREAMS)
You scared me to death, you mangy thing.
I'm just looking for an old well. Know it?
Not talking, huh?
Magic dowser, magic dowser,
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
Show me the well!
(HONKING)
(GASPS)
(SCREAMING)
Get away from me!
(CORALINE GRUNTS)
Ooh.
Let me guess. You're from Texas or Utah,
someplace dried-out and barren, right?
I heard about water witching before,
but it doesn't make sense.
I mean, it's just an ordinary branch.
It's a dowsing rod.
Ow!
And I don't like being stalked,
not by psycho nerds or their cats!
He's not really my cat. He's kind of feral.
You know, wild.
Of course, I do feed him every night,
and sometimes he'll come to my window
and bring me little dead things.
Look, I'm from Pontiac.
Huh?
Michigan. And if I'm a water witch,
then where's the secret well?
You stomp too hard and you'll fall in it.
Oh!
See?
(HOLLOW THUDDING)
It's supposed to be so deep,
if you fell to the bottom and looked up,
you'd see a sky full of stars
in the middle of the day.
Ha!
Surprised she let you move in.
My gramma, she owns the Pink Palace.
Won't rent to people with kids.
What do you mean?
(STAMMERING) I'm not supposed to
talk about it. I'm Wybie. Wybie Lovat.
Wybie?
Short for Wyborne.
Not my idea, of course.
What'd you get saddled with?
I wasn't saddled with anything. It's Coraline.
Caroline what?
Coraline. Coraline Jones.
(SCOFFS) It's not real scientific,
but I heard an ordinary name like Caroline
can lead people to have
ordinary expectations about a person.
(GRUNTS IN EXASPERATION)
LOVAT: Wyborne!
I think I heard
someone calling you, Wyborne.
What? I didn't hear anything.
I definitely heard someone,
Why-Were-You-Born.
LOVAT: Wyborne!
Grandma!
(CHUCKLES UNCOMFORTABLY)
Well, great to meet a Michigan water witch,
but I'd wear gloves next time.
Why?
'Cause that dowsing rod of yours,
it's poison oak.
(EXCLAIMS)
(BLOWING RASPBERRY)
(SPLASHING)
I almost fell down a well yesterday, Mom.
Uh-huh.
I would've died.
That's nice.
Hmm.
So, can I go out?
I think it's perfect weather for gardening.
No, Coraline. Rain makes mud.
Mud makes a mess.
But, Mom, I want stuff growing
when my friends come to visit.
Isn't that why we moved here?
Something like that.
But then we had the accident.
It wasn't my fault you hit that truck.
I never said it was.
I can't believe it.
You and Dad get paid to write about plants,
and you hate dirt.
Coraline, I don't have time for you
right now,
and you still have unpacking to do.
Lots of unpacking.
(SARCASTICALLY) That sounds exciting!
Oh. Some kid left this on the front porch.
WYBIE: Hey, Jonesy.
Look what I found in Gramma's trunk.
Look familiar? Wybie.
(GROANS)
CORALINE: Huh.
A little me? That's weird.
What's his name, anyway?
Wybie. And I'm way too old for dolls.
Hey, Dad. How's the writing going?
Dad!
Hello, Coraline and Coraline doll.
Do you know where the garden tools are?
It's It's pouring out there, isn't it?
(SCOFFS)
It's just raining.
What'd the boss say?
Don't even think about going out,
Coraline Jones!
Then you won't need the tools.
(GROANS)
(SQUEAKS)
(SQUEAKING)
(GROANS)
You know, this house is 150 years old.
So?
So explore it.
Go out and count all the doors and windows
and write that down on
List everything that's blue. Just let me work.
(TYPING)
(SIGHS)
Ew!
(EXCLAIMS)
(SQUEAKS)
(SCREAMING)
No. No, no, no. No.
(SCREAMING)
One boring blue boy
in a painfully boring painting.
Four incredibly boring windows
and no more doors.
All right, little me. Where are you hiding?
Huh?
Hey, Mom. Where does this door go?
I'm really, really busy.
CORALINE: I think it's locked.
Please!
(GROANS)
Will you stop pestering me
if I do this for you?
(WHIMPERING)
Fine.
(CREAKING)
Bricks? I don't get it.
(SIGHS)
They must've closed this off
when they divided up the house.
You're kidding.
And why is the door so small?
We made a deal! Zip it!
You didn't lock it.
(MOM EXCLAIMING IN FRUSTRATION)
(SINGING) Oh, my twitchy-witchy girl
I think you are so nice
I give you bowls of porridge
And I give you bowls of ice cream
(GROANS IN DISGUST)
Why don't you ever cook, Mom?
Coraline, we've been through this before.
Your dad cooks, I clean,
and you stay out of the way.
I swear I'll go food shopping
soon as we finish the catalog.
Try some of the chard.
You need a vegetable.
It looks more like slime to me.
Well, it's slime or bedtime, fusspot.
Now what's it gonna be?
Think they're trying to poison me?
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
Don't forget about me, guys. Okay?
Good night, little me.
(MOUSE SQUEAKING)
(CONTINUES SQUEAKING)
(CORALINE GASPS)
Whoa!
Huh?
(SNIFFING)
Mmm. Something smells good.
(OTHER MOTHER HUMMING)
Mom? What are you doing here
in the middle of the night?
You're just in time for supper, dear.
You're not my mother.
My mother doesn't have
(STAMMERS)
(MIMICS STAMMERING)
(CHUCKLES) Buttons? Do you like them?
I'm your other mother, silly.
Now go tell your other father
that supper's ready.
Well, go on. He's in his study.
(PIANO PLAYING)
CORALINE: Hello?
Hello, Coraline.
Wanna hear my new song?
My father can't play piano.
No need to.
This piano plays me.
(EXCLAIMS IN SURPRISE)
(PLAYING MERRY TUNE)
(SINGING) Making up a song about Coraline
She's a peach, she's a doll
She's a pal of mine
She's as cute as a button
in the eyes of everyone
Who ever laid their eyes on Coraline
When she comes around exploring
Mom and I will never, ever make it boring
Our eyes will be on Coraline
I'm sorry,
but she said to tell you the food's ready.
Mmm.
Who's starving? Raise your hand.
Whoa!
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
(OTHER FATHER CLEARS THROAT)
We give our thanks and ask to bless
our mother's golden chicken breast.
(OTHER FATHER LAUGHING)
(TINKLING)
(SNIFFING)
Mmm!
CORALINE: This chicken is good.
Hungry, aren't you?
Do you have any gravy?
Well, here comes the gravy train.
Choo, choo!
Huh.
Another roll? Sweet peas? Corn on the cob?
I'm real thirsty.
Of course. Any requests?
Mango milkshake?
Home?
We've been waiting for you, Coraline.
For me?
OTHER FATHER: Yep.
Wasn't the same here without you, kiddo.
I didn't know I had another mother.
Of course you do. Everyone does.
Really?
OTHER MOTHER: Uh-huh.
And soon as you're through eating,
I thought we'd play a game.
You mean like hide-and-seek?
Perfect. Hide-and-seek in the rain.
What rain?
(EXCLAIMS IN SURPRISE)
What about the mud?
We love mud here.
Mud facials, mud baths, mud pies.
It's great for poison oak.
How'd you know I
I I'd love to play,
but I better get home to my other mother.
But I'm your other mother.
I mean my other, other mother.
Mom number one?
(OTHER FATHER EXCLAIMS)
I think I should get to bed.
Of course, sweetheart. It's all made up.
But
Come along, sleepyhead.
(CORALINE GASPS)
Wow.
DRAGONFLY: Hello, Coraline.
DRAGONFLIES: Hello, hello, hello, hello.
What's shaking, baby?
Hello.
GIRL: Hey. How's it going, Loper?
Where's your swampers and chook?
Cripes almighty! How are my best trolls?
I can't wait till summer.
You're both coming, right?
We're already here, Coraline.
Gone to Oregon.
CORALINE: Oh.
The mud.
(YAWNS)
See you soon.
See you soon.
(YAWNS)
(GASPS)
It's gone. My poison oak! It's gone!
Huh.
(KETTLE WHISTLING)
It was incredibly real, Mom.
Only you weren't really you.
You were my other mother.
Buttons for eyes, huh?
Coraline, you only dreamed
you ate all that chicken.
Take your multivitamin at least.
You were in the dream, too, Dad.
You had wild-looking pajamas
and orange monkey slippers.
(LAUGHS) Orange?
My monkey slippers are blue.
Psst! Can you get me some of that
magic mud you were talking about?
Because I have a terrible case
of writer's rash on my
(MOM CLEARS THROAT)
If the real Charlie Jones
wants his pages edited,
he better wrap them up ASAP.
Coraline,
why don't you go visit downstairs?
I bet those actresses
would love to hear your dream.
Miss Spink and Forcible?
But you said they're dingbats.
Mmm-hmm.
Bobinsky. Bobinsky. Bobinsky.
(SNIFFS)
(GROANS)
(EXCLAIMS IN DISGUST)
Hello?
I think our mail got mixed up.
Should I leave it outside, or
(EXCLAIMS)
(CLUCKING)
CORALINE: Hmm.
Secret!
(GASPS)
Famous jumping mouse circus not ready,
little girl.
Circus?
Oh, uh
I brought this for you.
(SNIFFING)
(SIGHS CONTENTEDLY)
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Huh?
New cheese samples.
(BOBINSKY GRUNTS)
Very clever using this mix-up
to sneak my home and peek at mooshkas?
Mooshkas?
The mice!
Oh!
Sorry. I'm Coraline Jones.
And I am the Amazing Bobinsky.
But you call me Mr B
because amazing I already know that I am.
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
Ha!
You see, Caroline, the problem is
My new songs go oompah, oompah,
but the jumping mice play only toodle-toot,
like that.
Is nice but not so much amazing.
So now, I switch to stronger cheese
and soon, watch out!
Here, have beet. Make you strong.
Do svidaniya, Caroline.
Coraline.
Oompah, oompah. Toodle-toot. Toodle-toot.
Hey, Caroline!
(SPEAKING RUSSIAN)
Wait!
No!
(BOBINSKY GRUNTS)
The mice asked me to give you message.
The jumping mice?
They are saying
do not go through little door.
(GASPS)
Do you know such a thing?
The one behind the wallpaper?
But it's all bricked up.
Bah. So sorry. Is nothing.
Sometimes the mice are little mixed-up.
(GRUNTS)
They even get your name wrong, you know?
They call you Coraline instead of Caroline.
Not Caroline at all.
Maybe I work them too hard.
(DOGS BARKING)
Cease your infernal yapping.
How nice to see you, Caroline.
Would you like to come in?
We're playing cards.
Still Coraline, Miss Spink.
Miriam! Put the kettle on!
April, I think you're being followed.
It's the new neighbor, Miriam. Caroline.
She'll be having the oolong tea.
No! Oh, no, no.
I'm sure she'd prefer jasmine.
No, oolong.
Ah. Jasmine it is, then.
(SIGHS)
Come on, boys.
Are those dogs real?
Our sweet departed angels.
Couldn't bear to part with them,
so we had them stuffed.
Now, there's Hamish the third
Go on. Have one.
It's hand-pulled taffy from Brighton.
Best in the world.
SPINK: The third, the ninth, yes.
The fourth, I'm right.
And Jock Jr., Jock Sr.,
Jock the third, the fourth,
and that's Jock's second cousin
thrice removed.
I'll read them if you like.
Read what?
Your tea leaves, dear.
They'll tell me your future.
Drink up then. Go on.
No, not all of it. Not all of it.
That's right. Now hand it over.
Oh!
Oh, Caroline.
Caroline, Caroline, Caroline.
You are in terrible danger.
Oh, give me that cup, April.
Your eyes are going.
My eyes? You're blind as a bat.
Well, not to worry, child.
It's good news. There's a tall,
handsome beast in your future.
A what?
Miriam, really.
You're holding it wrong. See? Danger.
CORALINE: What do you see?
SPINK: I see a very peculiar hand.
FORCIBLE: I see a giraffe.
Giraffes don't just fall from the sky, Miriam.
Oh, Lord.
(DOG YIPS)
Well, what should I do?
Never wear green in your dressing room.
Acquire a very tall stepladder.
And be very, very careful.
(GASPS)
Now, was there something
you came to tell us?
No. I guess not. Thanks for the tea, though.
FORCIBLE: Toodle-oo.
SPINK: Cheery-bye.
FORCIBLE: Do you have
any nice queens for Mummy?
(DOG YIPS)
Danger?
(RATTLES)
(EXCLAIMS)
Great! The village stalker.
Ow!
I wasn't stalking you.
We're hunting banana slugs.
What do you mean we?
(CAT MEOWS)
Ha! Your cat's not wild. He's a wuss puss.
What? He hates to get his feet wet. Jeez.
Wuss puss.
So, that doll. Did you make it look like me?
Oh, no. I found it that way.
It's older than Grandma.
Old as this house, probably.
Come on.
Blue hair, my swampers and raincoat?
Dang! Check out Slugzilla.
You're just like them.
Huh?
I meant my parents.
They don't listen to me either.
Uh-huh. You mind?
(MIMICS CHOMPING)
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMS)
Hmm.
Ew!
You know, I've never been inside
the Pink Palace.
You're kidding.
Grandma'd kill me.
Thinks it's dangerous or something.
Dangerous?
Well, she had a twin sister.
So?
When they were kids,
Grandma's sister disappeared.
She says she was stolen.
CORALINE: Stolen?
(MEOWS)
Well, what do you think?
I don't know. Maybe she just ran away.
LOVAT: Wyborne!
Look, I gotta go.
Wait a minute.
(SQUEAKING)
(SQUEAKS)
(OTHER MOTHER HUMMING)
Welcome back, darling.
Hi.
So thoughtful of you
to send this nice cheddar, Coraline.
Cheddar? Oh! The mice bait.
Would you go fetch your father?
I bet he's hungry as a pumpkin by now.
You mean my other father.
Your better father, dear.
He's out in the garden.
But my parents don't have time to garden.
(SHUSHING)
Mmm!
Go on.
(CORALINE GASPS)
Oh!
(LAUGHS)
Hey.
I love your garden!
Our garden, Coraline.
(SQUEALING)
Stop tickling me!
Daughter in distress.
(TRUMPETING)
(LAUGHING)
Tickle no more, you dragon snappers.
Well, she says it's time for dinner,
breakfast, food.
Hop on, kiddo.
I wanna show you something.
CORALINE: I can't believe you did this.
OTHER FATHER: Mother said you'd like it.
Boy, she knows you
like the back of her hand.
Mmm. So good.
I love dinner-breakfast-food.
Coraline, Mr Bobinsky has invited you
to come see the jumping mice perform
after dinner.
Really? That know-it-all Wybie
said it was all in Mr B's head.
I knew he was wrong.
Well, everything's right in this world, kiddo.
Your father and I will clean up
while you and your friend head upstairs.
My friend?
Great. Another Wybie.
Hello, Why-Were-You-Born.
Hello!
I thought you'd like him more
if he spoke a little less. So I fixed him.
So he can't talk at all?
Nope.
Hmm.
I like it.
Now, run along, you two, and have fun.
You're awful cheerful
considering you can't say anything.
It didn't hurt, did it, when she
(LAUGHS)
CORALINE: Whoa!
(CARNIVAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Cool!
(LAUGHING)
(CLUCKING)
(CANNONS BOOMING)
CORALINE: Look at you!
(CORALINE LAUGHS)
OTHER BOBINSKY: Lady and gentleman,
for to tickle your eyes and ears
and making hearts to thump,
I, Sergei Alexander Bobinsky,
am introducing my astoundishing,
stupendulous and amazing
jumping mouse circus!
(SQUEAKING)
My name!
(FANFARE PLAYING)
(CIRCUS MUSIC PLAYING)
It's wonderful, Wybie.
(DRUM ROLL)
Wow!
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
Yahoo! That was great!
Very, very thank you, lady and gentleman.
We loved it, Mr B. It was so So
Ah
Amazing!
You are very welcome anytime you like.
You and also your good friend there.
Do svidaniya, Coraline.
(KISSES)
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
CORALINE: There were garden squash
like balloon animals and snapdragons.
Oh, and upstairs, I saw a real mouse circus.
Not pretend like the crazy man's
in our house.
You sure you won't come?
Don't fret, Charlie.
They'll love the new catalog.
At least they'll love my chapters.
I did not call him crazy, Coraline.
He's drunk.
Well, I guess I'll see you around,
you dizzy dreamer.
Dad! I'm not five anymore.
(GEARS CRANKING)
(STRUMMING)
(EXCLAIMS IN SURPRISE)
My kingdom for a horse!
(CRASHING)
Put them back.
But, Mom, the whole school's gonna wear
boring gray clothes. No one will have these.
Put them back.
My other mother would get them.
Maybe she should buy all your clothes.
CORALINE: So what do you think
is in the other apartment?
I don't know.
Not a family of Jones imposters.
Then why'd you lock the door?
Oh!
I found some rat crap,
and I thought you'd feel safer.
They're jumping mice, Mom,
and the dreams aren't dangerous.
They're the most fun I've had
since we've moved here.
Your school might be fun.
With those stupid uniforms? Right.
Had to give it a try.
How do you feel about a mustard,
ketchup, salsa wrap for lunch?
Are you kidding me?
Had to go food shopping, anyway.
Dad's planning something special.
Grossgusting.
You wanna come along?
You can pick out something you like.
Oh. Like the gloves.
(MOM SIGHS)
Look, Coraline, if things go well today,
I promise I'll make it up.
That's what you always say.
Won't be long.
But I might be.
I knew it was real.
(PURRS)
OTHER MOTHER: Dearest Coraline,
Miss Spink and Miss Forcible
have invited you downstairs after lunch.
I hope you like the new outfit I made you.
Love, Mother.
(BURPS)
(CAT MEOWS)
Wybie's got a cat like you at home.
(MEOWS)
Not the quiet Wybie.
The one that talks too much.
You must be the other cat.
No, I'm not the other anything. I'm me.
Um I can see you don't have button eyes,
but if you're the same cat,
how can you talk?
I just can.
Cats don't talk at home.
No?
Nope.
Well, you're clearly
the expert on these things.
After all, I'm just a big fat wuss puss.
Come back. Please?
I'm sorry I called you that. I really am.
How'd you get here?
I've been coming here for a while.
It's a game we play.
She hates cats and tries to keep me out,
but she can't, of course.
I come and go as I please.
The other mother hates cats?
Not like any mother I've ever known.
What do you mean? She's amazing.
You probably think this world
is a dream come true, but you're wrong.
The other Wybie told me so.
That's nonsense. He can't talk.
Perhaps not to you.
We cats, however,
have far superior senses than humans,
and can see and smell and
Shh!
I hear something. Right over
(MEOWS)
(SNIFFING)
(ORCHESTRA TUNING)
Hey, Wybie.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
She's practically naked!
(SINGING) I'm known as the siren
of all seven seas
The breaker of hearts by the bay
So if you go swimming
With bowlegged women
I might steal your weak heart away
(DOGS BARKING)
Oh, my God.
(SINGING) A big-bottomed sea witch
May Bob through the waves
And hope to lead sailors astray
But a true ocean goddess
Must fill out her bodice
To present an alluring display
(DOGS BARKING)
Oh! Beware of old oysters
too large in the chest
Let's banish them from the buffet
I'm far more nutritious
You smell like the fishes
Did I hear a banshee?
You're sea green with envy
This mermaid enchantress
No, I, Birth of Venus
Will send sailors swooning
Will send sailors swooning all day
(SCREAMS IN PAIN)
(BOTH EXCLAIMING)
(DOGS BARKING)
I can't look.
Ready to break a leg, Miriam?
Our lives for the theater, April.
(DOGS BARKING)
(CHUCKLES)
OTHER FORCIBLE: What a piece of work
is man! How noble in reason!
OTHER SPINK: How infinite in faculty.
In form, in moving
how express and admirable!
OTHER FORCIBLE: In action like an angel.
OTHER SPINK: In apprehension
how like a God!
(SCREAMS)
OTHER FORCIBLE:
The beauty of the world!
(CORALINE LAUGHING)
OTHER SPINK: The paragon of animals!
Yeah!
(SCREAMING)
(CORALINE LAUGHING)
(DOGS BARKING)
Hey, there.
Was it wonderful, dear?
Oh, yeah. They swooped down
and pulled me right out of my seat,
Spink and Forcible,
only they weren't old ladies.
That was just a disguise. But then,
I was flying through the air, and it was
It was magic.
You do like it here, don't you, Coraline?
Uh-huh.
Good night, Wybie.
You could stay here forever if you want to.
Really?
Sure.
We'll sing and play games,
and Mother will cook your favorite meals.
There's one tiny little thing we need to do.
What's that?
(CHUCKLING) Well, it's a surprise.
For you, our little doll.
Black is traditional.
But if you'd prefer pink
or vermillion or chartreuse
(GASPS)
Though you might make me jealous.
No way!
You're not sewing buttons in my eyes!
But we need a yes
if you want to stay here.
So sharp you won't feel a
Ow!
There, now. It's your decision, darling.
We only want what's best for you.
I'm going to bed. Right now!
Bed?
Before dinner?
I'm really, really tired. Yeah.
(YAWNING)
I just need to sleep on things.
Well, of course you do, darling.
I'll be happy to tuck you in.
Oh, no, thanks.
You've done so much already.
You're welcome. And I
We aren't worried at all, darling.
Soon you'll see things our way.
DRAGONFLIES: What's wrong, Coraline?
Don't you wanna play?
Yeah! I wanna hug your face!
GIRAFFE DOLL: Get a grip, soldier!
GIRL: Hey!
BO Y: Hey!
Where's your buttons, Loper?
You want to stay, don't you?
Going home tonight, robots,
and I won't be back.
(GRUNTING)
Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
(ECHOING) Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
OTHER MOTHER:
a tiny little thing we need to do.
CORALINE: Go to sleep.
Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
OTHER FATHER:
So sharp you won't feel a thing.
CORALINE: Go to sleep. Go to sleep.
OTHER MOTHER:
Soon you'll see things our way.
Mom! Dad!
(GASPS)
Oh, God. I'm still here?
(PIANO PLAYING)
Hey, you!
Where's the other mother?
I wanna go home.
All will be swell,
soon as Mother's refreshed.
Her strength is our strength.
Mustn't talk when Mother's not here.
If you won't even talk to me,
I'm gonna find the other Wybie.
He'll help me.
No point.
He pulled a long face,
and Mother didn't like it.
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
(CAT MEOWS)
And what do you think you're doing?
Well, I'm getting out of here.
That's what I'm doing.
Huh?
Something's wrong.
Shouldn't the old well be here?
Nothing out here.
It's the empty part of this world.
She only made
what she knew would impress you.
But why? Why does she want me?
She wants something to love, I think.
Something that isn't her.
Or maybe she'd just love something to eat.
Eat? That's ridiculous.
Mothers don't eat daughters.
I don't know. How do you taste?
(LAUGHING)
CORALINE: Huh?
But how can you walk away from something
and still come back to it?
Walk around the world.
Small world.
(FANFARE PLAYING)
Hang on.
(MOUSE SQUEAKING)
Stop! He's one of the circus mice!
(SQUEAKING)
(GASPS)
I don't like rats at the best of times,
but this one was sounding an alarm.
Good kitty.
They say even the proudest spirit
can be broken with love.
(GASPS)
(OTHER MOTHER CHUCKLES)
Of course, chocolate never hurts. Like one?
They're cocoa beetles from Zanzibar.
(EXCLAIMS IN DISGUST)
I want to be with my real mom and dad.
I want you to let me go.
Is that any way to talk to your mother?
You aren't my mother.
Apologize at once, Coraline!
No!
I'll give you to the count of three.
One.
Two.
Three!
Ow!
What are you doing? Ow! That hurts!
You may come out when you've learned
to be a loving daughter.
(SCREAMS)
(PANTING)
(GHOSTLY MOANING)
(GASPS)
Who's there?
TALL GIRL GHOST: Hush! And shush.
For the beldam might be listening.
You You mean the other mother?
Who are you?
Don't remember our names,
but I 'member my true mommy.
Why are you all here?
GHOST CHILDREN: The beldam.
She spied on our lives
through the little doll's eyes.
BOY GHOST: And saw that we weren't happy.
TALL GIRL GHOST:
So she lured us away with treasures.
And treats.
SWEET GIRL GHOST: And games to play.
BOY GHOST: Gave all that we asked.
SWEET GIRL GHOST:
Yet we still wanted more.
TALL GIRL GHOST:
So we let her sew the buttons.
BOY GHOST: She said that she loved us.
TALL GIRL GHOST: But she locked us here.
GHOST CHILDREN: And ate up our lives.
Well, she can't keep me in the dark forever.
Not if she wants to win my life.
Beating her is my only chance.
Perhaps, if you do win your escape,
you could find our eyes.
Has she taken those, too?
Yes, miss. And hidden them.
BOY GHOST: Find our eyes, mistress,
and our souls will be freed.
I
I'll try.
(GASPS)
(CORALINE GRUNTING)
Wybie?
(CORALINE GASPS)
Did she do this to you?
I hope that feels
Shh!
(CORALINE GRUNTS)
OTHER MOTHER: Coraline? Is that you?
Let's go!
(CORALINE GASPS)
OTHER MOTHER: Coraline!
Come on! She'll hurt you again.
OTHER MOTHER: Coraline!
How dare you disobey your mother!
(GASPS)
OTHER MOTHER: Coraline!
(PANTING)
I'm home!
Anybody here?
Hello? Hello, hello!
Real Dad?
Real Mom?
Oh, Mom's groceries!
Ugh!
(FLIES BUZZING)
That's disgusting.
(DOORBELL RINGING)
I missed you guys so much, you'll never
Oh. The Wybie that talks.
Huh?
(CHUCKLING)
Yeah, so, you know that old doll I gave you?
Um
My grandma's real mad.
Says it was her sister's.
The one that disappeared.
You stole that doll, didn't you?
Well, it looked just like you, and I figured
It used to look like this pioneer girl,
then Huck Finn Jr.,
then it was this Little Rascals chick
with all these ribbons and braids and
Grandma's missing sister.
I think I just met her. Come on.
(STAMMERING) Listen,
I'm really not supposed to
Whoa!
She's in there.
Can you Can you unlock it?
Not in a million years.
But it wouldn't matter.
She can't escape without her eyes.
None of the ghosts can.
(EXCLAIMS IN DISBELIEF)
Yeah. So I really need to get that doll.
Great! I'd love to get rid of it.
Where are you hiding, you little monster?
You and Grandma been talking?
The doll's her spy.
It's how she watches you,
finds out what's wrong with your life.
The doll is my grandma's spy?
No. The other mother.
She's got this whole world
where everything's better.
The food, the garden, the neighbors.
But it's all a trap.
(GULPS)
Yeah, I think I heard
someone calling me, Jonesy.
Don't believe me? You can ask the cat.
The cat? I'll just tell Grandma
that you couldn't find the doll. Ow!
You're not listening to me!
That's 'cause you're crazy!
(WYBIE SCREAMING)
(CORALINE SCREAMING IN FRUSTRATION)
(PANTING)
CORALINE: You creep!
Crazy!
Crazy?
You're the jerk wad that gave me the doll!
Mom! Dad!
(PHONE RINGING)
Pick it up, Dad. Pick it up.
Dad! Where
DAD ON ANSWERING MACHINE:
Hi! I'm digging in my garden right now,
but leave a message
and I'll get right back to you.
Where have you gone?
(WHIMPERS)
(SPINK GRUNTS)
Uh Don't you only make wings
for the dead ones?
Just looking ahead, dear.
Angus hasn't been feeling very well of late.
FORCIBLE: April? Aren't you getting ready?
We've lost our ride, Miriam.
Caroline says her parents
have vanished quite completely.
What?
We've waited months for those tickets.
I suppose we could walk.
With your gammy legs?
It's nearly two miles to the theater.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh, yes. Your missing parents.
We know just what you need.
Miriam, get That's right.
How is 100-year-old candy gonna help?
(DOGS WHIMPERING)
(SCREAMING)
There you go, sweetie.
What's it for?
Well, it might help.
They're good for bad things sometimes.
(CHUCKLING) No.
They're good for lost things.
SPINK: It's bad things, Miriam.
FORCIBLE: Lost things, April.
Bad.
FORCIBLE: Lost.
(WHISPERS) Bad things.
Lost.
Bad.
Lost.
Bad.
Lost.
Bad.
FORCIBLE: Lost!
Good night, Mom.
Good night, Dad.
(SNIFFLES)
(SOBBING)
(CAT PURRING)
CORALINE: Hello. How did you get in?
Do you know where Mom and Dad are?
(GASPS)
Mom? Dad!
(GLASS SQUEAKING)
(GASPS)
(GRUNTING)
(SCREAMS)
(PANTING)
(MEOWS)
How did this happen?
(CORALINE GASPS)
She's taken them.
They're not coming back, are they?
Mom and Dad.
Not on their own.
Only one thing to do.
(CLATTERING)
You know,
you're walking right into her trap.
I have to go back.
They are my parents.
Challenge her, then.
She may not play fair, but she won't refuse.
She's got a thing for games.
Hmm.
Okay.
(WIND WHISTLES)
OTHER MOTHER: Coraline?
Mom?
Coraline! You came back for us.
Mom!
(SIGHS WITH RELIEF)
Darling, why would you run away from me?
(GASPS)
(LAUGHING)
Where are my parents?
Gosh, I have no idea
where your old parents are.
Perhaps they've grown bored of you
and run away to France.
They weren't bored of me. You stole them!
Now, don't be difficult, Coraline.
Have a seat, won't you?
(GARBLED CHATTERING)
(RAT SQUEAKING)
Mmm.
Why don't you have your own key?
(GARBLED) Only one key.
Shh!
The garden squash need tending,
don't you think, pumpkin?
(GARBLED) Squish-squash, pumpkin sauce.
(GLASS SQUEAKING)
Mom?
Dad?
(GLASS CONTINUES SQUEAKING)
Where'd she hide you?
(BELL TINKLING)
OTHER MOTHER: Breakfast time!
(HUMMING)
CORALINE: Be strong, Coraline.
(HUMMING CONTINUES)
Why don't we play a game?
I know you like them.
Everybody likes games.
Uh-huh.
OTHER MOTHER:
What kind of game would it be?
An exploring game. A finding things game.
And what is it you'd be finding, Coraline?
My real parents.
Too easy.
And the eyes of the ghost children.
Huh.
What if you don't find them?
If I lose, I'll stay here with you forever
and let you love me.
(CORALINE SIGHS)
And I'll let you sew buttons into my eyes.
Hmm.
And if you somehow win this game?
Then you let me go. You let everyone go.
My real father and mother,
the dead children,
everyone you've trapped here.
(EXCLAIMS)
Deal.
Not till you give me a clue.
Oh, right.
In each of three wonders
I've made just for you,
a ghost's eye is lost in plain sight.
And for my parents?
(CHUCKLES)
Fine. Don't tell me.
(SIGHS)
It's a deal.
(GASPS)
(SIGHS)
What does she mean, wonders?
Hmm.
(CROAKS)
Ugh!
No!
(GRUNTS)
(BUZZING)
(GASPS) Stop!
Why steal this?
(CORALINE GASPS)
Wow!
That must be it!
(GARBLED) Sorry.
So sorry. Mother making me.
Don't wanna hurt you!
Take it!
(PANTING)
Bless you, miss. You found me!
But there's two eyes still lost.
Don't worry. I'm getting the hang of it.
(FAINT RUMBLING)
(OTHER SPINK SINGING)
(RUSTLING)
(SNARLS)
(GASPS)
(GROWLS)
The pearl.
(SCREAMS)
Thief!
Thief!
Give it back!
Give it back!
Thief!
Thief!
OTHER SPINK: Give it back!
Thief!
Thief!
Thief!
Thief!
Give it back!
Thief!
Thief!
Give it back!
Give it back!
Thief!
Give it back!
Give it back!
Thief!
Thief!
Thief!
Stop! Stop! Thief! Thief!
OTHER FORCIBLE: Thief! Stop!
Hurry on, girl. Her web is unwinding.
Oh, Wybie.
Evil witch! I'm not scared!
(CREAKING)
Hello, galoobooshka.
I'm Coraline.
Is this what you're looking for?
Uh-huh.
You think winning game is good thing?
You'll just go home and be bored
and neglected,
same as always. Stay here with us.
We will listen to you and laugh with you.
If you stay here,
you can have whatever you want.
Always!
You don't get it, do you?
I don't understand.
Of course you don't understand.
You're just a copy she made
of the real Mr B.
(DISTORTED) Not even that anymore.
(SQUEAKS)
(GASPS)
No!
(SCREAMING)
(GRUNTS)
No!
(SCREAMS)
No!
(GROANS)
Oh, God. I've lost the game.
I've lost everything.
(SOBBING)
(CAT MEOWS)
I think I mentioned
that I don't like rats at the best of times.
I think you might have said
something like that.
It looked like you needed this one, however.
Thank you.
I'm heading inside.
I still have to find my parents.
Come on, quickly!
(PANTING)
(CAT GROWLS)
So you're back.
And you brought vermin with you.
(MEOWS)
No. I
I brought a friend.
You know I love you.
(OTHER MOTHER SIGHS)
You have a very funny way of showing it.
So where are they? The ghost eyes?
Hold on. We aren't finished yet. Are we?
No, I suppose not.
After all, you still need to find
your old parents, don't you?
Too bad you won't have this.
(CHUCKLES)
Be clever, miss.
Even if you win, she'll never let you go!
I already know where you've hidden them.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, produce them.
They're behind that door.
Oh, they are, are they?
(GLASS SQUEAKING)
(WHISPERS) There.
Mom. Dad.
(OTHER MOTHER COUGHING)
Go on. Open it. They'll be there, all right.
You're wrong, Coraline. They aren't there.
Now you're going to stay here forever.
No, I'm not!
(CAT SCREECHING)
(OTHER MOTHER SCREAMS)
(CAT SCREECHING)
OTHER MOTHER: No!
(MEOWS)
You horrible cheating girl!
(GASPS)
(SCREAMS)
(OTHER MOTHER CACKLING)
(MEOWING)
(OTHER MOTHER CACKLING)
No! Where are you?
You selfish brat!
(GRUNTS)
(LAUGHING)
You dare disobey your mother?
(CORALINE GRUNTS)
(GROWLING)
Please shut it!
(SCREAMING)
(GRUNTING)
(OTHER MOTHER SCREAMING)
OTHER MOTHER:
Don't leave me! Don't leave me!
I'll die without you!
(BANGING)
(SCREAMS)
(PANTING)
(GASPS)
(DOOR OPENING)
MOM: Coraline, we're home.
Mom! Dad! I missed you so much!
(DAD CHUCKLES)
Missed us? Oh, no.
You broke my favorite snow globe.
I didn't break it.
It must've broke when you escaped.
And cut your knee.
Coraline, I asked you
to count all the windows,
not put your knee through them.
But
Well, get yourself cleaned up.
We're going out tonight.
(EXCLAIMS) We got a lot to celebrate.
You're talking about your garden catalog?
Of course. What else?
CORALINE: But look at the snow on your
What's gotten into you, Coraline?
(DAD EXCLAIMING)
(CORALINE LAUGHING)
So, gonna order the tulips?
What's that?
For the garden party?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Dad! So, Ma, invitations?
Don't forget the invitations.
Even Bobinsky?
Mr B's not drunk, Mom. He's just eccentric.
(DAD LAUGHING)
Good night, Coraline.
(MEOWS)
Oh.
Hello again.
You still mad?
I'm really sorry I threw you at her,
the other mother.
It was all I could think of.
I think it's time, don't you?
To set them free?
It's a fine, fine thing you did for us, miss.
Well, I'm glad it's finally over.
It is over and done with for us.
What about me?
You're in terrible danger, girl!
But how? I locked the door!
It's the key, miss.
There's only one, and the beldam will find it.
'Tain't all bad, miss.
Thou art alive. Thou art still living.
(GASPS)
I gotta hide this somewhere,
somewhere she can never
(MEOWS)
Out of my way!
CORALINE: (SINGING)
Oh, my twitchy-witchy girl
I think you are so nice
I give you bowls of porridge
and I give you bowls of ice cream
I give you lots of kisses
And I give you lots of hugs
But I never give you sandwiches
With grease and worms and mung
(GRUNTS)
beans
(SCREAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(POUNDING)
(HORN HONKING)
(SHOUTING)
(COUGHING)
(SCREAMING)
(GASPS)
(GRUNTING)
(SCREAMS)
(CORALINE EXCLAIMS)
(SCREAMS)
(PANTING)
(BOTH GRUNT)
(SPLASHING)
(WYBIE PANTING)
I'm really sorry I didn't believe you
about all this evil stuff, Coraline.
Why did you change your mind?
Well, Grandma showed me this picture
after I called you crazy.
It's her and her sister,
before she disappeared.
The Sweet Ghost Girl.
LOVAT: Wyborne! Come home!
Oh, man. What am I gonna tell her?
Just bring her by the house tomorrow.
We can tell her together.
We We can?
You know, I'm glad you decided to stalk me.
(CORALINE CHUCKLES)
(LAUGHS UNCERTAINLY)
It wasn't my idea.
(MEOWS)
CORALINE: Thanks for helping me,
Miss Spink, Miss Forcible.
Oh, look, April. Pink ladies!
Actually, it's just lemonade.
How's Angus doing?
Oh, much better, dear,
but he can't duck his wings forever.
DAD: Here comes a burp.
(DAD BURPS)
MOM: Charlie!
Excusez-moi, but that pizza,
that was delicious.
CORALINE: Cold drinks?
Oh, yeah. Great.
You were right, Coraline. I really hate dirt!
But the tulips look nice.
CORALINE: Thanks, Mom.
(BOBINSKY MUTTERING)
That is possible.
(CORALINE CLEARS THROAT)
CORALINE: How are the mooshkas, Mr B?
They tell me that you are savior, Caroline.
And soon as they are ready,
they wish to give
special thanks you performance.
LOVAT: Wyborne, I know where I'm going.
I grew up here.
CORALINE: Welcome, Miss Lovat!
Oh. Hello.
I'm Coraline Jones.
I've got so much to tell you.
MOM: Here.
DAD: Thanks.
SPINK: Do you want to pop
a little gin in it, dear?
FORCIBLE: Of course.
(PURRS)