Corpse Bride
script used with courtesy of IMSDb
Screenplay by
Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler & John August
February 18, 2004
INT. VICTOR’S ROOM – EXTREME CLOSEUP – DAY
We GLIDE OVER beautiful, shimmering lakes of color. PULLING OUT, we find the colors make up the patterns on a butterfly’s wing, drawn in miraculous detail on a large sketch pad.
VICTOR, a handsome 19-year-old with a gentle, slightly dreaming quality, adds tiny finishing touches to the sketch. His Victorian-style room is filled with drawings and paintings of all sizes, mostly of butterflies. There is one prominent painting of Victor with a friendly- looking dog.
The drawing done, Victor lifts a glass bell jar. A butterfly escapes, flits around the room and out of the open window.
EXT. TOWN SQUARE – DAY
We FOLLOW the butterfly on its flight around the town. The streets are cobblestone. The architecture is cold and severe. Hues are muted and grim: the butterfly is the only really colorful thing in view. Stiff-looking TOWNSPEOPLE walk along — nodding very formally, and without warmth, when they pass each other. A church BELL CHIMES the first of four strokes. The TOWN CRIER strides into the square and rings his big HAND
BELL.
TOWN CRIER Four o’clock and all’s well! MUSIC begins to grow — a methodical MARCH. As the butterfly floats along a line of shops, we see:
The GREEN GROCER… arranging fastidious little piles of withered onions. The gentle RUSTLE adds a rhythm to the song.
The WATCHMAKER… checking and re-checking the large clock that hangs in front of his shop, resetting the second hand until it’s just so. The clocks TICK like metronomes.
The BAKER… wearily adding another plain brown loaf to the pyramid that stands in his window. Each loaf as dry and flavorless as the next.
The BUTCHER… whose arm rises and falls mechanically, filling the air with a constant CHOPPING sound on the downbeat.
WIDOWMUNCH, the seamstress, sits among bolts of cloth, all shades of gray. Her SEWING MACHINE CHUGS along in rhythm to the MUSIC.
As the butterfly floats off, we STAY ON the entrance of a large stately house. We are back at the home of Victor’s family, the Van Dorts.
The front door opens, and out steps WILLIAM VAN DORT. He’s a slouch-shouldered gentleman who speaks from behind his drooping mustache.
WILLIAM Where is Victor? We might be late! Victor leans out of an upstairs window. With zero enthusiasm …
VICTOR Coming, Father.
WILLIAM Right, right. Very good.
Victor’s mother, NELL VAN DORT, is a plump, pushy Victorian matron. She gazes across the town at the Everglot Mansion with its two imposing gables.
She begins to sing, “According to Plan.” Nell has the voice of an opera diva. William, who talk-sings most of his lines, is the gentle voice of reason.
NELL/WILLIAM A beautiful day! A very nice day. For a wedding! A wedding rehearsal. A practice run .. . . . . of a sort . . . Of what’s to come. Assuming nothing goes wrong. That is why everything, Every last little overlooked thing, Must … Go … (MORE)
(CHORUS) According to plan! Our son will be married, According to plan! We will be carried According to plan! Into the halls Of high society! Have tea with the Queen! At parties to be seen, Dressed in pale aubergine, We’ll forgot who we’ve beeeeen. They look into each other’s eyes, agreeing …
NELL/WILLIAM This is a fortunate day, For those of recent fortune. Victor arrives beside them. With his gangly legs and stiff collars, he always seems miserably uncomfortable.
WILLIAM Where is Mayhew? We might be late! On cue, the Van Dort carriage pulls up, announced by the HACKING COUGH of MAYHEW, the driver.
INT. THE CARRIAGE – DAY
Victor sits across from his parents, who are squeezed together uncomfortably as the carriage CLATTERS across the cobblestones. MUSIC CONTINUES UNDER…
WILLIAM Victoria Everglot is quite a catch. Isn’t she, Victor?
VICTOR I wouldn’t know, Father. I’ve never had a word alone with the girl. Nell and William share a look.
NELL/WILLIAM Well, first you say … How do you do? (CONTINUED)
NELL/WILLIAM(CONT’D) Then commenr on her beaury. Saying such rhings — Even if lies – – Are Jusr a husband’s dury. Don’r rry robe funny, Don’r rry robe quick, You’re nor very clever; You’ll never be slick.
VICTOR So I should be myself?
(ANNOYED) You haven’r been hearing ar all!
WILLIAM Victor, this is our one chance to buy what money can’t respectability!
NELL Remember, the Everglots are the oldest, noblest family around, descendants of the Grand Duke of Everglot …
INT. EVERGLOTDRAWINGROOM- CLOSEUP OF AN IMPOSING
PORTRAIT – DAY
of the DUKE OF EVERGLOT. We PULL OUT, REVEALINGan enormous room furnished with high wing-backed chairs, an elaborate gray sofa, curlicue side tables and heavy drapes.
MAUDELINEEVERGLOT, an imperious Victorian matron with extremely high hair and an imposing bosom, stands by the window, watching the Van Dort carriage approach from across the square.
She sings to her round, importantly-frowning husband,
FINIS EVERGLOT.
MAUDELINE/FINIS A terrible day! Now, dear … A terrible family! I won’t hear it!
MAUDELINE/FINIS (CONT’D) So common, so coarse, Nouveau riche … Oh, it couldn’t be worse. Yes it could.
(SHE SIGHS) They could be bankrupt landed gentry. Penniless like us.
FINIS Whoever thought putting fish into cans could be so profitable?
MAUDELINE This … is … why …
HAUDELINE/FINIS According ro plan! Our daughrer will wed, According ro plan! And we will be led, According ro plan! Our of rhe deprhs Of deepesr pov’rry! Who would have guessed our daughrer, Ugly as an orrer, Would be rhe only valuable rhing We have ro offer.
INT. VICTORIA’S BEDROOM- DAY
5 .
VICTORIA EVERGLOT. Despite a pretty, sweet young girl. laced into tight corsets by what her mother thinks, she’s At the moment, she is being her elderly maid, Hildegarde.
VICTORIA Oh, Hildegarde, do loosen it a tiny bit. Hildegarde hesitates, then quickly loosens the corset. She helps Victoria put on a gray, high-collared dress.
(CONFIDING) Hilde, I’m nervous. What if Victor and I don’t like each other?
There is a shocked, severe LAUGH from the doorway. Victoria and Hildegarde whirl to see the imposing figure of Maudeline. Finis is at her side.
MAUDELINE For heaven’s sake, Victoria! ‘Like’ each other? As if that has anything to do with marriage? Do you suppose your father and I ‘like’ each other?
VICTORIA But surely you must, a little?
(IN UNISON) Of course not!
VICTORIA But, you had me, didn’t you?
FINIS You were conceived in a fit of … (what’s the word?) responsibility!
The cathedral-like DOORBELL ECHOES through the mansion. Maudeline turns on her heel. Without looking back —
MAUDELINE Get those corsets laced properly! I can hear you speak without gasping!
EXT. EVERGLOT MANSION – DAY
The Van Dorts stand before the massive front doors.
(TO VICTOR) You really should be grareful, For everyrhing we’ve done. Who else would sacrifice so much For rhe good of rheir son?
INT. EVERGLOT ENTRY HALL – DAY
Finis and Maudeline step down the grand stairway. It’s cold and imposing, feeling more like a financial institution than a home. They are the very image of old world high society.
NELL Marriage is a partnership, A little tit for tat. You’d think a lifetime watching us Might have taught her that. INTERCUT VAN DORTS. ALL FOUR PARENTS Everything will be perfect, Once everything is perfect. Assuming everything goes …
(BIG FINISH) According to plan! 7 . The Everglot’s BUTLER opens the door, regarding the Van Dorts with barely concealed disdain. The two mothers offer each other false smiles.
MAUDELINE (to Finis, under
HER BREATH) Smile, darling, smile … With tremendous effort Finis’ mouth twists into a forced smile.
FINIS (to Maudeline, under his breath) Let’s get this over with, shall we? (loudly) Well Hello! What a pleasure. Welcome to our home. The parents come together in an awkward ritual of handshakes, bows and air-kisses. William Van Dort shakes Maudeline’s hand.
WILLIAM Why, you must be Miss Victoria. You don’t look a day over twenty! He winks to Finis as Nell cringes with embarrassment. Maudeline turns toward the Butler.
MAUDELINE We will be taking tea in the west drawing room. We still await Pastor Galswells.
(AN AFTERTHOUGHT) Tell Victoria that the Van Darts have arrived. The parents turn as a group and head for the drawing room, leaving Victor standing in the hallway, forgotten. Victor stands in the sudden silence, unsure of what to do. Looking around nervously, his glance falls on a nearby room across the hallway. The door is ajar, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of a PIANO. He hesitates, then slips into the room.
INT. EVERGLOT MUSIC ROOM – DAY
A large dreary room with drab, formal paintings dominated by an enormous piano, the size of a small boat. Victor is irresistibly drawn to it. He sits and touches the keys caressingly. On the piano he notices a small vase holding a single stem of winter jasmine. He begins to PLAY, at first haltingly, then losing himself in the music. His song is sad but dreamy.
INT. VICTORIA’S BEDROOM – DAY
Victoria is nervously adjusting her dress when the MUSIC suddenly floats up to her.
INT. TOP OF THE STAIRS DAY
Victoria stops, transfixed, then continues down the steps, following the sound of the PIANO.
INT. EVERGLOT ENTRY HALL – DAY
She peers into the doorway of the drawing room, where the parents have gathered. William Van Dort relates a boring tale, gesturing ever so slightly as he speaks.
WILLIAM I never understood why men needed black shoes .lllld brown shoes, when a quick coat of paint can turn one into the other! Nell cringes, mortified. The Everglots sit with stern scowls frozen on their faces. Crossing to the other side of the entryway, Victoria comes to the music room. She quietly enters.
INT. EVERGLOT MUSIC ROOM – DAY
Victor is seated at the piano, his back toward the door. He plays, lost in his MUSIC.
VICTORIA How lovely. Startled, Victor jumps in his seat, BANGING his knees on the piano, causing the lid to drop with a loud, reverberating thud. He turns to see Victoria, looking pretty as a picture, standing behind him.
(FLUSTERED) Oh … I … do forgive me. I …
VICTORIA You play beautifully.
VICTOR I … I do apologize, Miss Everglot. How rude of me to … Victoria comes over to him impetuously.
VICTORIA The song. What is it called?
VICTOR Oh, it was … just something I came across.
VICTORIA Came across where?
VICTOR Well … It was inside me, I guess.
VICTORIA How nice you found a way to let it out.
(BEAT) Mother won’t allow me near the piano. Music is improper for a young lady. Too passionate, she says. Victor nervously rubs his aching knees.
VICTOR If I may ask, M-Miss Everglot …
VICTORIA Perhaps, in view of the circumstances, you could call me, ‘Victoria.’
VICTOR Yes, yes, of course. Well, Victoria …
VICTORIA Yes, Victor?
VICTOR Tomorrow we are to be … (can’t say it)
(SMILES) Married.
VICTOR Yes. M-Married. She sits down beside him on the piano bench.
VICTORIA Since I was a child, I’ve dreamt of my wedding day. I always hoped to find someone I was deeply in love with. Someone to spend the rest of my life with.
(A BEAT) Silly, isn’t it?
VICTOR Yes. Silly! Ha!
A beat. He looks at her.
VICTOR N-no. Not at all. They both LAUGH nervously, moving a tad closer. Victor accidentally knocks over the small vase. He grabs the scarf from his pocket just as Victoria takes out her handkerchief. As they both hastily clean up the spill, their hands touch. They look at each other. Suddenly in the doorway is PASTOR GALSWELLS, who fixes them with a stern, forbidding glare. The parents are clustered behind him. Victor hastily stuffs the flower in his pocket.
(THUNDERING) What impropriety is this? You shouldn’t be alone together! Here it is one minute before five, and you are not at the rehearsal. You might be late!
VICTOR Oh dear … we … we …
(COLDLY) Come at once.
INT. EVERGLOT DRAWING ROOM – EARLY EVENING
The group has gathered the wedding ceremony. William and Nell. in the drawing room to rehearse Seated are Finis and Maudeline, The front of the room has been set up as a makeshift altar. An elaborately-carved table holds a pair of candles and a chalice. Pressure is high. It’s the social event of the decade, and Maudeline Everglot has left nothing to chance. She’s like a 19th Century Martha Stewart, obsessively planning to the tiniest detail. Pastor Galswells presides, holding a book and an ornamental holy scepter. Victor trembles in nervous agony as Pastor Galswells glares at him.
PASTOR GALSWELLS Let’s try it again. Shall we, Master Van Dort? Victor lifts his left hand and takes three steps back.
VICTOR Y-Yes, sir. Certainly. Right. Right.
PASTOR GALSWELLS RIGHT!!! Victor hastily lifts the correct hand.
VICTOR Oh, right! With this … this … Hand …
PASTOR GALSWELLS (annoyed,
VICTOR Hand, yes … with this hand, I will. .. He takes Victoria’s elbow, but gets flustered at touching her.
VICTOR Oh, forgive me, I, er …
PASTOR GALSWELLS Continue! Victoria takes three steps forward. Victor accidentally takes four.
PASTOR GALSWELLS Three steps! Three! Can you not count! Victor quickly backs up, stepping on Victoria’s toe.
(MORTIFIED) Oh dear! P-pardon me. Uhm. three steps … Nell fans herself in distress as Maudeline and Finis look on with utter disgust.
FASTOR GALSWELLS Never mind. Let’s just pick it up at the candle bit.
VICTOR The candle bit?
PASTOR GALSWELLS The candle! The candle! Can you remember nothing?
(HORRIFIED) N-no, no, of course not … I mean y_e_s_! Victor takes a lit candle.
VICTOR With this candle … BARKIS BITTERN, the Everglot’s lawyer, enters and hands Finis some papers to sign.
BARKIS I beg your pardon, sir. These are most important …
FINIS (waving him off) Not now, Barkis.
BARKIS The pre-nuptials. Finis quickly signs the papers and hands them back, all the while scowling at Victor. Barkis TUT-TUTS in sympathetic disapproval. (We sense a private scheming thought.)
VICTOR With this candle … this candle …
\.____.
Victor tries to light the other candle. He’s having a hard time. For several long seconds he fiddles with the wick as the others watch. Finally, leaning close, he gets the candle to light. Victor sighs with relief, accidentally blowing the candle out. From her chair, Nell groans.
(EXPLODING) Do you not wish to be married, Master Van Dort?
VICTOR No! No! Victoria looks up in surprise.
VICTORIA You do not?
VICTOR No! I meant no, I do no, er, not wish to be married, that is, I very much want — Pastor Galswells HITS him with the holy scepter.
PASTOR GALSWELLS Pay attention! Have you even remembered to bring the ring?
VICTOR The ring … yes! Of course … He pulls the ring out of his pocket, and fumbling, drops it. Everyone GASPS at this sacrilege.
( THUNDERING) Dropping the ring! This boy doesn’t want to be married! Even Victoria is starting to get worried now.
VICTOR I’ll get it!
\ , ____
Victor scrambles on his hands and knees, desperately grasping for the ring as it rolls under Maudeline’s chair. He reaches, fumbling blindly under the hem of her long dress as she stares at him with barely-contained outrage. Victor scrambles to his feet, holding up the ring triumphantly.
OTHER FIRE.
VICTOR Got it! does this, Victor accidentally KNOCKS OVER the lit candle and Maudeline’s dress starts to CATCH Everyone tries to put it out.
(FURIOUSLY) Enough! This wedding cannot take place until he has properly prepared! Pastor Galswells POINTS wrathfully towards the door.
PASTOR GALSWELLS Young man, learn your vows! Humiliated, Victor STUMBLES out. All this being too much, Victoria faints, then almost in unison Nell, Maudeline and finally William FAINT dead away.
EXT. EDGE OF VILLAGE – EARLY EVENING
The Town Crier watches a distraught Victor as he crosses the old stone bridge, passing the Village Church, and heads toward the dark woods beyond. Victor plunges into the woods. Spindly birches give way to dark foreboding trees. Victor mutters desperately to himself.
VICTOR With this hand, I will … I will. .. He tries it again.
VICTOR With this hand, I empty your cup. No. That’s not it.
VICTOR (CONT’D) Your cup will never empty, for I will light your way. No. With this candle, I lift your sorrow … no, no. Oh, it’s no use. CROWSflap from tree to tree, through the darkening forest. the forest as if someone else following him as he wanders There is a haunted feel to is watching him.
A DESOLATE CLEARING
where, long ago, an ancient tree had toppled over. Moonlight streams in through the gap in the forest canopy. CROWSroost in the surrounding trees, CAWING noisily. Victor sits, mumbling the vows. The CAWINGof the CROWS becomes more insistent. Victor looks up, and realizing that he now has an audience, decides to really go for it. He stands with a theatrical flourish.
VICTOR With this hand, I lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, I will be your wine … The SQUAWKINGGROWSLOUDERfrom the branches overhead.
VICTOR (looks up to the
CROWS) Thank you.
(CONTINUING) With this candle, I will light your way in darkness … Victor begins to get his confidence back. He takes the ring out of his pocket. Tangled with it is the jasmine from the music room. Victor stares at it for a moment, and gathers strength for the grand finale. With a dramatic flourish, he kneels.
VICTOR With this ring … He slips the ring on a small twisted root that extends from the ground.
(TRIUMPHANTLY) I ask you to be mine! Suddenly the crows fall silent. A faint WIND RUSTLES through the trees. Victor looks up into the branches, where the crows silently stare down at him. The root TWITCHES, unnoticed. Still watching the crows, Victor reaches for his ring … The root suddenly encircles his wrist. Horrified, Victor tries pull free as the CROWSSCATTER with a cacophonous CAWING, wings FLAPPING. Victor desperately PULLS, ripping a MASS OF ROOTS AND DIRT from the ground. Sprawling backwards, he sees a skeletal arm clamped around his wrist. Victor SCREAMSand flings it away as the ground splits open in front of him. A ROOT-COVEREDFIGURE, wearing a tattered wedding gown, SPRINGS from the frozen earth to reveal the CORPSE BRIDE. The ring sparkles in the moonlight.
CORPSE BRIDE You may kiss the bride! Victor scrambles backwards, turns and RUNS frantically, stumbling through thickets and branches. He falls and, getting up, realizes that he’s tripped on a GRAVESTONEin an old abandoned graveyard. The Corpse Bride moves towards him. Victor runs for his life, dodging between the crooked tombstones. He CRASHESblindly through the branches of the bare, brittle trees that seem to block his escape. He stumbles across a small creek as the Corpse Bride pursues him. As Victor dashes blindly through the trees, the crows fly in his path. He reaches the edge of the woods and sprints towards the footbridge.
EXT. VILLAGE FOOTBRIDGE – CONTINUOUS ACTION
Victor reaches the footbridge and stops to catch his breath. He turns back, peering at the dark forest. It is oddly silent. Suddenly, the crows BURST from the trees, flying straight at him. He turns to run, and freezes in horror … The strangely-alluring figure approaches him from the other side of the bridge.
EXT. VILLAGE SQUARE – SAME TIME
The Town Crier peers towards the footbridge, holding his lantern. He can just barely see Victor, and what seems, from this distance, to be a woman in a long gown embracing him. The Town Crier frowns disapprovingly.
EXT. VILLAGE FOOTBRIDGE – CONTINUOUS ACTION
The Corpse Bride moves towards gather, swirling around them. stands motionless. She slowly skeletal hand the wedding ring Victor as the crows Overcome by fear, Victor lifts her veil. On her glistens in the moonlight. Huge eyes dominate her pale face. She leans towards him, her bony hand touches his chest as the crows encircle them, forming a solid field of black …
EXT. THE LAND OF THE DEAD – PERPETUAL TWILIGHT
The crows EXPLODE away in a gust. Bride are standing in another land misshapen buildings in the b.g. Victor and the Corpse entirely, with The Corpse Bride is gabbling, giddy and elated.
CORPSE BRIDE You were wonderful. So passionate. It was everything I dreamed of. As the Corpse Bride talks, a BLACK WIDOW SPIDER descends from her veil.
Victor takes a couple of steps back, looking fearfully at the Corpse Bride’s face. The Black Widow fires a strand of web at The sticky strand is incredibly strong. is able to reel him back in. Victor’s chest. The tiny spider
BLACK WIDOW Now, dear, where do you think you’re going? The Bride’s eye pops out, and a MAGGOTpeers out of the socket. The Maggot looks and sounds like Peter Lorre.
MAGGOT I don’t like him. He’s creepy. The Corpse Bride pops her eye back in. Maggot rides on her ear.
CORPSE BRIDE Oh Victor! I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.
VICTOR How… How do you know my name?
CORPSE BRIDE You think I’d marry a stranger? Corne on! The Corpse Bride leads Victor away, running.
INT. TOWNSQUARE (LAND OF THE DEAD) – CONTINUOUSACTION
The Corpse Bride pulls Victor into echo of the town square up above. shadowy PASSERS-BY.
VICTOR the square — a lurid Victor spies some Help! you have to help me, I’ve been kidnapped by … The Passers-by turn round. are corpses and skeletons. Victor sees that they, too, He stops in his tracks.
VICTOR … the dead! From every direction, CORPSES IN EVERY IMAGINABLESTATE OF DECAY come running, or hobbling, or oozing.
Victor recoils in horror. The crowd moves in closer.
SCISSORHEAD Now he’s a fresh one. DEAD LADY WITH FLOWERS Very fresh. A precocious SKELETONBOY curiously pokes Victor with a stick.
SKELETONBOY He’s still soft! The VARIOUS HORRORSgather round Victor, fascinated.
CORPSE BRIDE He’s my husband. He gave me this ring! The Corpse Bride, beaming, extends her arm to show her ring to the gathered crowd.
(“HOW TOUCHING”) Aaaaahhhhhh.
(“BLIND TERROR”) AAAAAAHHHHHHH! A BEHEMOTHshakes Victor’s hand vigorously.
BEHEMOTH Pleased to meet you. Oh! His arm stayed on! BEEHIVE WOMANprods and pokes at Victor.
BEEHIVE WOMAN He’s still breathing! Everyone listens very closely to Victor’s panting chest.
MOSS MAN He is! My word, living flesh! Is his heart beating too?
BEHEMOTH I’ll take it out and have a look! Behemoth crams his hand into Victor’s mouth.
CORPSE BRIDE Please, leave him alone. He’s only just arrived. Behemoth pulls his hand out. As she turns back to Victor, her left eyeball pops out, revealing Maggot again, who addresses the townsfolk.
MAGGOT We saw the whole wedding. It was romantic! Black Widow emerges behind the Maggot.
BLACK WIDOW He reminds me of my 3rd, 7th, 24th and 63rd husbands.
MAGGOT Before you ate them?
MAGGOT There was one thing missing, though. He forgot to kiss the bride. Gradually, the entire crowd begins to CHANT:
CROWD Kiss her! Kiss her! Corpse Bride giggles, slightly embarrassed. Victor can take no more. His spindly legs buckle as he FAINTS. FADE TO BLACK.
INT. PUB (THE LAND OF THE DEAD) – LATER
Victor’s eyes slowly open.
FROM HIS POV
a huge, blurry SKULL floats in front of him, filling his field of vision. As it slowly comes INTO FOCUS, he sees it’s not a huge skull after all. It’s the forms of a crowd leaning over him, silhouetted against the light. Corpse Bride leans over him.
CORPSE BRIDE Are you alright? BACK TO SCENE Several skeletons help Victor into a chair as he looks around in wide-eyed horror. He sees that he’s in … A PUB of some kind. Green flames flicker in the fireplace, casting shadows along the crazily tilting walls. Rib-like beams rise toward the ceiling. Dark figures move through the crowded room and gypsy-like music fills the smoky air. Coffin-shaped shelves behind the bar are filled with odd and ancient-looking bottles. PAUL, THE HEAD WAITER, pokes his head INTO FRAME. PAUL THE HEAD WAITER
(TO VICTOR) Have a drink, dear boy. It’ll calm your nerves. A glass slides toward Victor. The CAMERAPULLS BACK to reveal Paul the Head Waiter is in fact, only a head. A swarm of BEETLES have emerged from the stump of his neck and scurry across the bar, pushing the glass towards Victor. PAUL THE HEAD WAITER (to Corpse Bride) Ma cherie, where have you been hiding yourself? It’s been ages. The beetles quickly return, carrying Paul off to serve his next customer. As the Corpse Bride chats merrily away, Victor scans the room. A group of SKELETONS and CORPSES play billiards in a far corner. Nearby, a DEAD GENTLEMANsits puffing his pipe, as double smoke rings blow from his eye holes. WELLINGTON, a tall, ragged skeleton, dressed in the remains of a military uniform, has a CANNONBALLHOLE in his chest. He plays chess with a DEAD DWARF, also clad in the tattered remains of a uniform, with a large sword thrust through his breastbone. A HANGEDMAN, noose still around his neck, plays darts with a few other CORPSES. Another ROTTING CORPSE sits near the dartboard, reading the newspaper, oblivious to the occasional dart landing in his head. At one end of the room is a small stage, where a band of SKELETONS are playing on bizarre instruments made from salvaged scraps and bits of bone.
MRS. PLUM, the cook, is a rotting, blue-skinned old lady surrounded by a cloud of flies. She pushes a cart between the tables, serving soup from a large tureen. As she ladles it out, her jawbone drops into the bowl. It’s all a bit much for Victor. He takes a gulp of his drink. Victor sees his chance. He grabs the sword in the Dead Dwarf’s back, and waves it around, clearing a space in the shocked crowd. The sword still has the Dead Dwarf general attached. The BAND stops playing. Victor’s trying to act tough, but his terror is evident to everyone. His hand shakes.
VICTOR Keep away! I’ve got a … Dwarf. And I’m not afraid to use him! I want some answers! Now!
WELLINGTON Answers. I think you mean
answers.
VICTOR Thank you, yes, answers! I need answers. Why am I here? Who is she? What is she? The houselights dim, leaving a single spotlight hitting the stage, where BONEJANGLES, front-man for THE SKELETONS, steps forward.
BONEJANGLES Since you’re askin’ … (snaps his fingers) Hit it, boys! The Skeletons launch into a lively number, a “Minnie the Moocher”-type ballad where the crowd sings along,
pounding their glasses on the bar to keep time.
BONEJANGLES GIVE A LISTEN – – YOU CORPSES WHO STILL HAVE AN EAR, TO THE SONG OF THE DAMSEL WE ALL HOLD SO DEAR. A MAIDEN WHOSE BEAUTY WAS KNOWN FAR AND WIDE, WHO’D SOON BECOME KNOWN AS OUR
(LUSTILY) DIE, DIE, WE ALL PASS AWAY, OUR BEAUTIFUL BRIDE’S THE REMAINS OF THE DAY.
BONEJANGLES SHE SAT IN HER COACH WITH HER FINE DIAMOND BROOCH AND RODE THROUGH THE WOODS WHERE THE ROBBERS WOULD HIDE. TO GET AT THE BANGLE THE POOR GAL WAS STRANGLED! SAD WAS THE DAY SHE BECAME THE
(ROBUSTLY) BREATH, BREATH, THEY CHOKED OUT
HER BREATH THE BRIDE’S WEDDING DAY WAS THE DAY OF HER DEATH! Wellington takes a verse.
WELLINGTON SHE FELL IN THAT SPOT AND IN NO TIME SHE WENT ROTTEN. THE LOAM WAS HER HOME AND SHE
CRIED — HOW SHE CRIED! FOR WHAT MAN WOULD HAVE HER THIS LONELY CADAVER? NEVER A BRIDESMAID BUT ALWAYS A BRIDE!
ALL DIE, DIE, WE ALL HAVE TO DIE, A TOAST TO THE GIRL WHO’S GOT MUD IN HER EYE!
DEADDWARF SHE SWORE ON HER GRAVE THAT SHE’D SOMEDAY FIND LOVE. WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT WOULD COME FROM ABOVE? AFTER MANY LONG YEARS WITH WORMS IN THE SOIL, TODAY’S WHEN THE VICTOR IS GETTING THE SPOILS!
(LUSTILY) VIC, VIC, LET’S HEAR IT FOR VIC!
\ –~– \..______,
VICTOR Pardon me, fellows, I’m going to be sick. The Hanged Man takes a verse.
HANGED MAN AS A WIFE SHE ‘LL BE PERFECT, NO WORRIES ‘BOUT THAT! SHE’ LL NEVER GET OLDER, SHE’LL NEVER GET FAT! SHE CAN’T GET MUCH COLDER WHO WOULDN’T LIKE THAT?
MRS. PLUM WOULD YOU MIND FOR A MOMENT REMOVING YOUR HAT? Mrs. Plum SMACKS the Hanged Man with the soup ladle. Maggot pops out of the Corpse Bride’s eye socket.
(CHANTING) FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES BURIED! RIGOR. MORTIS, THEN YOU’RE MARRIED!
BLACK WIDOW HAPPY HUSBAND HUNTING GROUNDS IN THE EARTH WHERE LOVE ABOUNDS!
BONEJANGLES TODAY THERE IS LAUGHTER THROUGHOUT THE HEREAFTER
IN HER TOMB IN THE GLOOM
THERE’S A GROOM BY HER SIDE!
ALL AND SO THEN IN CLOSING AS WE KEEP DECOMPOSING THINGS TURNED OUT QUITE WELL FOR
THE LOVELY CORPSE BRIDE! The pub is swirling with activity as the Dead dance and laugh. The song ends. The Corpse Bride plants a big kiss on Victor’s cheek. He is absolutely stunned.
EXT. EVERGLOTMANSION (LAND OF THE LIVING) – NIGHT
The village square is dark, except for a few lights coming from Everglot Mansion. All is silent, but for the HACKINGCOUGHcoming from Mayhew, who sits shivering on the Van Dorts’ carriage parked in the drive.
INT. VICTORIA’S BEDROOM- NIGHT
Victoria is sewing together several patches of material to make the corner of the quilt. So far, it’s only as big as her lap. Hildegarde attends her, clearly concerned for the girl.
VICTORIA Perhaps the Pastor was right. And Victor doesn’t want to marry me. She casts her patchwork aside.
VICTORIA I’m being silly. He’s have turned up by now. bound to Right? Victoria gets up and walks to the door, followed by Hildegarde.
INT. EVERGLOTDRAWINGROOM- NIGHT
The Van Dorts drawing room. doorway. and the Everglots are gathered in the Victoria enters, staying close to the
NELL I’m sure he’ll be back shortly. He’s terrified of the dark. In fact, when he was a boy he used to … The Butler announces a new visitor;
BUTLER Master Barkis! Barkis enters the room and walks over to Finis.
BARKIS May I have a word with you, sir?
(WITHOUT MOVING) Yes. Go on. Barkis beckons the Town Crier into the room.
BARKIS Tell them what you told me.
The Town Crier RINGS his BELL, as loud as he ever does in the square. He speaks in the same deafening tones. Everyone else flinches from the volume. OBJECTS RATTLE and fall off shelves.
TOWNCRIER HEAR YE, HEAR YE! VICTOR VAN DORT SEEN THIS NIGHT ON THE BRIDGE IN THE ARMSOF A MYSTERYWOMAN. THE
DARK-HAIREDTEMPTRESSAND MASTER VAN DORT, 19, SLIPPED AWAYINTO THE NIGHT! AND NOWTHE WEATHER–
BARKIS Enough. The Town Crier leaves the room. Everyone is stunned — especially Victoria.
NELL Mystery woman? He doesn’t even know any women!
BARKIS Or so you thought. But alas, he has gone.
VICTORIA Victor …
BARKIS Do call for me if you need any
assistance — in any way. Barkis eyes Victoria, the same way a cat looks at a pet parakeet. He then takes his leave.
MAUDELINE Oh, the humiliation! Who else knows about this? Good heavens, Finis, what shall we do?
