The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
EXT SOMEWHERE DOWN RIVER – MUD FLATS EVENING
The wagon is parked on waste ground. It looms out of nowhere illuminated by a light leaking from within.
We hear PERCY’S angry voice.
PERCY O/S Maybe you were holding them upside down.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS What?
PERCY That cards! The bloody Tarot cards!
DOCTOR PARNASSUS O/S (distraught and angry) Enough, Percy! Enough!
TONY O/S I made a mistake. A big mistake. I know that and I’m sorry.
INT THE STAGE – CONTINUOUS
The angry troupe huddles amongst the clutter of props and jumbled scenery. TONY is on trial.
DR. PARNASSUS is sitting in a corner, head in hands. He seems utterly destroyed.
ANTON You’re a l-liar. You’ve been lying to us all along. Who are you? Who were those thugs?
TONY I am not a liar!
ANTON No?
TONY No! I just… didn’t divulge everything I knew.
PERCY Comes to the same thing.
TONY Absolutely not. Not in law.
ANTON You stole their money.
TONY No. I didn’t.
ANTON That’s what they said.
TONY Are you going to believe them before you believe me?
PERCY Why not?
TONY Because they’re irredeemably bad people, and I’m essentially good. I know that sounds terribly prim and arrogant and self righteous, but I’m trying to be honest. Look, the truth is… in order to get my charity off the ground I needed capital.
ANTON looks askance.
TONY (CONT’D) (in response to Anton) Yes, I know, and you’re right, but that’s the way the grown-up..the real world works. You can’t make omelettes without soiling your hands. Or should that be the other way round? Anyway, I – with hindsight very foolishly – accepted a loan from people who seemed to me, at the time, to be very decent and sincere. There was absolutely no way I could have known that they were part of a ruthless organised crime syndicate and that they wanted to use my charity to launder money. I made a mistake. And I have to live with that. I’m sorry. What more can I say?
VALENTINA wants to believe TONY. ANTON and PERCY don’t.
VALENTINA (distressed but basically sympathetic) Oh Tony.
TONY But, can we not talk about me for a moment.. I want to thank the Doctor for letting me experience the most sublime, inspiring ….
ANTON So why were they trying to k-kill you? “Again!” is what they said.
TONY What?
ANTON (answering his own question) The first time they hung you from the b-bridge… right?… B-because you stole their money.
TONY Stop saying that! I didn’t steal it! I didn’t have it. I’d had to invest in infrastructure. I needed more time. When you run a charity you have to give lots of money away. You wouldn’t believe the red tape. The Charity Commission are a bunch of fascists. It’s incredible. I mean… c’mon give me a break…I almost died today.. and I said I’m sorry… and anyway….. this was supposed to be a special day…it’s Valentina’s birthday.
He pulls out the LOUIS VUITTON WOMAN’S beautiful necklace from his pocket.
TONY (CONT’D) Happy birthday. For a beautiful woman.
He puts it around Valentina’s neck. VALENTINA smiles. ANTON glowers.
ANTON The marks on your face…
TONY Marks?
ANTON They scrawled something on your forehead. Symbols… Signs…
TONY looks uncomfortable, tries to rub his forehead clean.
PERCY You had some of those when we rescued you.
ANTON Yes, what’s that about?
But, before he can say anything, there’s a knock on the door which startles everyone. They exchange looks.
DR. PARNASSUS is frightened but hides this from the others.
The knock is repeated. PERCY starts to get up.
DR. PARNASSUS (sotto voce) No! Leave it!
PERCY sits down.
The knock comes again.
VALENTINA (sotto voce to the DR.
PARNASSUS) Who is it?
DR. PARNASSUS (sotto voce) It’s too late… for visitors.
Once more someone knocks. Everyone is edgy. Particularly
PERCY.
The knock comes again.
PERCY (sotto voce, agitated) Please can we answer the door? I can’t stand not answering the door, or the telephone, or whatever. It’s not in my nature. I won’t sleep for weeks if we don’t answer the door! Sorry!
DR. PARNASSUS gets up, goes to the door, opens it and steps outside, closing the door behind him.
VALENTINA, ANTON, PERCY and TONY exchange looks.
PERCY (CONT’D) (embarrassed) Sorry, I just… I’ve got a thing about…
EXT OUTSIDE THE WAGON THAT MOMENT
DR. PARNASSUS and MR NICK move away from the door and go around to the front. The stage is half-opened.
The horses are standing steaming nearby.
DR. PARNASSUS (very down) I know… It’s over….you’ve won…
MR NICK Four rotten Russkies?
DR. PARNASSUS And the girl..from the pub.
MR NICK shakes his head.
MR NICK Sally doesn’t count. Do you, gal?
SALLY (the woman thrown out from the wagon as they escaped from the pub mob) steps out of the shadows, puts her arms around NICK
DR. PARNASSUS You’re joking… toying with me. Like a cat with a mouse… As is your privilege.
MR NICK Sal didn’t get to make a real choice. You were gaga. Out for the count. Wouldn’t be fair…And you’ve got four, thanks to your friend Tony. So… we’re even… it’s not quite over.
He smiles, lights a cigarette, takes a deep drag…
MR NICK (CONT’D) Not quite. (checks his watch) Oh,oh, look at the time…it’s 11.
…and he wanders off into the darkness with SALLY. Somewhere, a clock strikes 11.
DR. PARNASSUS, agitated, watches him go.
VALENTINA (V.O.) Father?
DR. PARNASSUS looks round to find VALENTINA standing next to him. He starts to round up the horses.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Valentina… my darling girl. We must do another show! Now! Quickly! Get ready to move out!
VALENTINA Who was that?
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Somebody asking the way. Where’s Tony?
VALENTINA I overheard you… He wasn’t asking the way.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Please! Get everybody together. Another show! Tony! Percy!
VALENTINA I want to know what’s going on.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (harnessing the horses) Not now.
VALENTINA Yes, now! I want to know the truth!
DOCTOR PARNASSUS The truth?
VALENTINA What are you hiding?
DOCTOR PARNASSUS There are more important things, at this moment!
VALENTINA It’s something to do with that bloody rambling story you were telling me the night we found Tony isn’t it?
PARNASSUS sighs. Stops. He checks his watch
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Yes.
VALENTINA So tell me.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS What I told you was… the truth. I really am thousands of years old. I have been immortal. I have been mortal. And I have had many dealings with the devil. Too many.
VALENTINA (fearful) What are you saying?…
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Remember the woman I was telling you about?.. the one I was so desperately in love with.. so in love that I made a deal with the devil? That was your mother… …she was so beautiful, so enchanting…so…
Looking at VALENTINA, DR. PARNASSUS sees her morph into the BEAUTIFUL WOMAN appearing. He almost swoons.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (CONT’D) … so young. She was everything I had ever dreamed of. I made a choice. I bargained away my immortality. I regained my youth… and I won her. I did! I won her…!
The BEAUTIFUL WOMAN morphs back into VALENTINA.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (CONT’D) …but at a price…
DR. PARNASSUS looks haggard. He closes his eyes. He sways and loses his balance.
VALENTINA stops him from falling.
VALENTINA What price?
DR. PARNASSUS (anguished) It’s too terrible…
VALENTINA Tell me…
DR. PARNASSUS I… The price of my obsession… (he groans) I can’t say it.
VALENTINA Say it.
DR. PARNASSUS You.
VALENTINA What?
DR. PARNASSUS I was mortal again… on condition that… any children I fathered… would, on their sixteenth birthday… belong to him.
VALENTINA (stunned) Him?…
VALENTINA can’t take it in.
VALENTINA (CONT’D) But… didn’t…
DR. PARNASSUS Your mother never knew. She died before I had to tell her.
VALENTINA I don’t believe this! It can’t be true. It’s just another of your wretched stories… A cruel story!
DR. PARNASSUS If only…
VALENTINA Why do you say these things?
DR. PARNASSUS It’s true. Every word. But all is not lost.
VALENTINA looks at him.
DR. PARNASSUS (CONT’D) (feverishly) A new wager… The first of five. If I win… you’re free… you’re mine again.. and we can win! Where’s Tony? We can still win!
VALENTINA By playing games with the devil!?
DR. PARNASSUS With one more show. The day isn’t over.
VALENTINA No!
DR. PARNASSUS Valentina.
VALENTINA All my life you’ve made me play `Beauty’, `Truth’, `Justice’… filled my head with dreams and high ideals. All that crap! While… all the time…! The devil was right! You’re arrogant! Vain and arrogant! I’m just another one of your stupid wagers!… You’re beneath contempt.
She rushes off into the dark night.
DR. PARNASSUS Valentina! That’s not true! It’s not like that! Wait! Come back! Valentina!
A dark silhouette stands in the shadow of the wagon. It’s TONY. What has he heard?
INT THE WAGON MOMENTS LATER
DR. PARNASSUS rushes into the wagon.
PERCY is already on his feet, having heard the DOCTOR shouting.
ANTON What’s happened?
DR. PARNASSUS Valentina… She’s… she’s gone…
ANTON rushes out.
PERCY stops by DR. PARNASSUS before he exits.
PERCY Telling the truth… Always a bad idea.
EXT MONTAGE OF SCENES NIGHT
ANTON, running, calling for VALENTINA.
PERCY is scouring the area on horseback.
ANTON running though a newspaper-filled tip, sees a headline on one of the newspapers. Stops.
EXT THE WAGON A LITTLE LATER
PARNASSUS, a bottle in his hand, is lurching around.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS You fool! You monstrous fool! You should be dead.
He starts to violently bang his head against the side of the wagon.
Suddenly the stage begins to unfold. PARNASSUS looks up, unable to see what or who is doing this. He drunkenly stumbles around the side to see TONY pulling ropes.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (CONT’D) What are you doing?
TONY Saving Valentina.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (befuddled) What?… How?
TONY I overheard you. You only need one more to win. Me! I’ll be that one. I’ll take the risk to save Valentina and, hopefully, you sir. We’ve still got a few minutes.
Tony steers DOCTOR PARNASSUS towards his glass column.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS Yes! Yes! Of course! Of course! Thank God! Thank God!
TONY (to himself) How about thanking me?
DR. PARNASSUS What?
TONY I expect nothing in return.
DR. PARNASSUS (trying to go into a trance) No. You’re a saint… A saint.
TONY Only Valentina’s hand in marriage, if she’ll have me…
DR. PARNASSUS (not listening) Oh, my head…
TONY And, as your son-in-law… perhaps… initiation into the secrets of the trance.
DR. PARNASSUS No! I can’t do it!
TONY But… (realizing Parnassus is referring to his inability to go into a trance) Why not?! What’s wrong?
DR. PARNASSUS My mind… I can’t concentrate… I’m too upset…
TONY You must do it! You have to do it! It’s the only way to save your daughter!
DR. PARNASSUS (distraught) I know…
TONY (sitting PARNASSUS down) Concentrate. You must concentrate. (clearing the way to the mirror) I’ll make the right choice. I’m sure of it. I can feel how right it is already.
TONY leaps back to steady DR. PARNASSUS who looked as though he were about to topple off his pillar.
TONY (CONT’D) Oh God!… Doctor… We can save her.. you and me. I need this. We both need this. Please. The trance.
PARNASSUS quiets down. Starts mumbling.
TONY rushes to the mirror. Steps through. He finds himself standing amongst the stage scenery. Nothing else.
TONY (CONT’D) Bugger!
He steps back out of the mirror. Goes to PARNASSUS who is weeping.
DR. PARNASSUS It’s no good!
TONY shakes him hard.
TONY PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!… Sir. Concentrate…or you’ll have lost her forever.
PARNASSUS slowly goes into a sobbing kind of trance state.
TONY confirms he is in a trance, then rushes to the mirror.
VALENTINA O/S Tony…oh, Tony..
What?! TONY stops. Looks around. There in the shadows huddles VALENTINA, sobbing.
VALENTINA (sobbing) It’s useless… Hopeless… I thought I was strong, but I don’t even know how to run away…
TONY hesitates.. No time! He looks back to PARNASSUS who seems to still be in his trance. Hesitates. Then rushes to
VALENTINA.
TONY It’s alright… it’s alright… Don’t cry. It’s going to be alright, believe me.
VALENTINA This stupid theatre…!… That’s all I’ve ever known…! I’ve always believed it was something precious, but it’s not… it’s a lie…I hate it!
TONY lifts her up, putting his arm around her.
TONY Everything’s going to be alright… I’ll take you away. I’ll show you the world. My world. The great big beautiful world I’ve always dreamed of… You’ll love it.
VALENTINA, grateful, clings to TONY.
TONY (CONT’D) Yes?
VALENTINA Maybe.
TONY C’mon then.
They turn to the mirror but, an off-stage clearing of the throat makes them look round to see ANTON watching them. He’s holding a torn and dirty piece of newspaper.
ANTON Ah, there you are, Tony. Here’s something m-might interest you. (reading) ‘Missing: D-disgraced head of children’s charity’.
TONY No!
TONY tries to snatch the paper but ANTON steps back.
ANTON N-not a bad p-picture, Tony. Listen to this Valentina… it’s about Tony’s b-beautiful world..
DOCTOR PARNASSUS O/S Valentina! Where are you?
PARNASSUS is still in his trance but, mumbling.
ANTON …Anthony Shepherd, who was arrested last week on charges of…
VALENTINA is surrounded. Confused.
TONY (to Valentina) Valentina, Don’t listen to that. I’m innocent. This is the work of people who are trying to destroy me! Evil people! Believe me! Look, I’ll show you the truth!
TONY pulls VALENTINA towards the mirror.
ANTON tries to stop him, but TONY pushes him back, off the stage. He crashes to the ground.
TONY (CONT’D) (grabbing VALENTINA) Hurry!
TONY and VALENTINA disappear through the mirror.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS (sobbing in his trance) Valentina! Forgive me.
INT/EXT DR. PARNASSUS’ DRUNKEN IMAGINATION
Mist and rain descend as TONY and VALENTINA run through the darkened shapes of the shampoo-commercial landscape – now tattered, ragged, and wind blown. Darkness reigns.
TONY This isn’t right. This is all wrong. Which way?
Soaked and cold they spy a welcome sight. A uniformed valet with an open umbrella stands by the door of a sleek limo.
VALET Your car is here, Mr.Tony.
TONY Ah, Lester, just in time.
TONY ducks under the umbrella and helps VALENTINA into the car ahead of himself.
As she slides across the seat she notices the driver – bowler hatted and smoking a cigarette.
VALENTINA No! Tony, don’t get in! Get away!
She pushes TONY back and scrambles out…dragging him back out into the dark rain.
The driver turns around. It’s MR.NICK.. looking vexed.
VALENTINA and TONY struggle through the rain. Suddenly, they find themselves in deep water up to their chests. They are sinking. Through the mist they see a boat. It is the gondola that transported the LOUIS VUITTON LADY.
TONY Help! Over here!
The boatman turns the boat in their direction. TONY tries to pull himself on board. The boatman reaches down to help.
BOATMAN Give me your hand
It’s MR. NICK. VALENTINA recoils, drags TONY off the boat.
TONY Stop! What are you doing! We’ll drown!
VALENTINA No we won’t. This is the way.
She points to jumbled rocks just visible in the darkness. They drag themselves onto them. The rocky monoliths appear to be the same as the landscape ANTON climbed over when he was searching for DIEGO, the son of THE FAMILY FROM HELL.
And, like a repeat of that experience, from behind the ridge rises the Parnassus-faced Mongolfier balloon. But, now the eyes stream tears and rain pours down. In the basket is
ANTON.
ANTON Don’t d-do it. Don’t g-go on. Not with him! He’s all lies.
VALENTINA Just like my father. Leave me alone. I don’t care anymore. I want a new life.
TONY Valentina…
He pulls her away..towards a little tumble-down cottage. Warm candlelight glows in the windows, smoke curls from the chimney. They run to the door. TONY bangs on it. Someone can be heard unlatching the locks inside.
A child’s crying cuts through the wind.
VALENTINA turns and sees a little girl sitting on the path… among flapping laundry. She rushes to her, tries to pick her up but, the little girl resists..
VALENTINA Tony, help me, she’s heavy.
The door has just opened and TONY is halfway through. He turns, irritated.
TONY What is it now?! Can’t we just go inside and get dry.
Behind him, in the warmth, stands the old BABOUSHKA.
Seeing that VALENTINA is really struggling with the little girl, TONY reluctantly goes to help. The little girl, on seeing TONY, tries to break away but, he holds on to her.
TONY (CONT’D) (shouting angrily) Ostanobuite bas menshi schit!
The litle girl goes quiet. VALENTINA looks at TONY with surprise. The BABOUSHKA looks angry. Suddenly a light begins to suffuse TONY and the little girl. A small orchestra can be heard playing garden party music.
VALENTINA You did it! You made the right choice!
The light fills the screen and we find…
…TONY, sleekly groomed and immaculately dressed, holding the smiling little girl. She too has been cleaned and buffed. The sun shines. He stands in…
EXT CHARITY GARDEN PARTY DAY
…a large well kept lawn covered with smart guests, BUSINESS
PEOPLE, POLITICIANS, POP STARS, CELEBS…
Behind and beyond them is an impressive country house.
A small orchestra is playing. There is a marquee.
WAITERS and WAITRESSES move amongst the assembled notables bearing trays of drinks and food.
TONY is the focus of attention. A TV current-affairs/news JOURNALIST with CAMERA CREW is following him around.
TONY Sustainability’s great, if you can achieve it. The problem is, in many cases you simply can’t, for a whole variety of reasons.
TONY smiles and shakes the hand of someone in a wheelchair.
A GROUP OF GUESTS burst into spontaneous applause. Everybody loves and admires TONY. He smiles boyishly.
He moves on. The TV CREW stay with him.
JOURNALIST Aren’t you running the risk of entrenching the need for charity by increasingly institutionalising it?
TONY Look, charity, like poor little Olga… (referring to the little girl) …is always with us, to coin a phrase…
VALENTINA appears. She is beautifully dressed, coiffed, made- up, she looks stunning.
TONY (CONT’D) (to VALENTINA) Ah, there you are, my lovely.
She and TONY exchange broad smiles. They’re in love. He pulls her to his side and puts his arm around her. The photographers snap away.
JOURNALIST And what’s your message to the Prime Minister?
TONY (laughs engagingly) I wouldn’t presume to have a ‘message’ for the Prime Minister… Fortunately for the Foundation, I think we pretty much see eye to eye on most things.
Now we hear a distant buzzing. EVERYBODY looks up.
They see a speck in the sky, it’s the PRIME MINISTER’S approaching helicopter…
TONY and the posse of JOURNALISTS and PHOTOGRAPHERS rush off leaving VALENTINA standing alone.
EXT HELICOPTER LANDING PAD DAY
The PRIME MINISTER and his WIFE get out of the helicopter, followed by their AIDES. TONY and the PRIME MINISTER shake hands for THE TV CAMERAS.
VALENTINA watches from a distance..ignored.
INT BALLROOM NIGHT
A huge chandelier illuminates a grand ornate ballroom where wealthy guests, in evening dress, are being seated at tables by liveried ushers. Large beautiful photographs of the underprivileged children of the world line the walls. A great banner reads “Suffer The Little Children Benefit Ball”
The PRIME MINISTER and his WIFE are seated at the head table, facing the dais, bubbly and expectant. Security is heavy.
INT ENTRANCE HALL NIGHT
TONY is conferring with his speech writers and assistants as VALENTINA descends the staircase looking utterly stunning in a beautiful gown. TONY bows, romantically kissing her hand. He turns her to admire their reflections in a gilt mirror…the perfect, beautiful, dream couple.
TONY You look gorgeous, my love. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.
The little girl, OLGA, and a little boy are brought forward. They are dressed in ethnic clothes. TONY takes OLGA’S hand…offers the little boy’s hand to VALENTINA. She takes it in her own. The four of them start to walk to the door leading to the ballroom.
TONY (CONT’D) (looking to everyone) This is a vitally important moment for the future of the Foundation. The children of the world are depending on us.
ANTON (V.O.) Valentina!
VALENTINA Anton!?
TONY and VALENTINA look around. ANTON is nowhere to be seen but, his voice continues.
ANTON (V.O.) All of this is false! It’s nothing to do with you! It’s all him. It’s his imagination!
TONY Call security, somebody.
ANTON (V.O.) It’s all rotten! A naked lie! You’ve got to understand!
The LITTLE BOY is tugging VALENTINA’S arm. She looks down. It’s ANTON. A child-size ANTON.
ANTON (CONT’D) Look at this…
He produces the newspaper with TONY’S photo and news story.
ANTON (CONT’D) …`Tony Liar’..
TONY What? How?…
TONY lunges for him but, ANTON dodges out of the way.
ANTON (reading and dodging) ‘The disgraced director of the children’s charity “Suffer the Little Children, who was arrested last..
Security guards have rushed in.
TONY Stop him. Silence the little bastard!
ANTON (dodging the guards) …who was arrested last week on charges of involvement in the sale of organs from third world children to wealthy Westerners’…unghh!
TONY has grabbed little ANTON and starts hitting him.
TONY And now he doesn’t stutter! You see!? It was all an act to get cheap sympathy!
VALENTINA (pulling TONY off ANTON) Take your hands off him!! Stop it!
TONY Get off me! What are you doing? (lashing out and hitting VALENTINA in the face) You’ve betrayed me! Haven’t you? You let him in…into my world, you bitch!?.. after all I’ve lavished on you…OW!!
Little ANTON has leapt on TONY’s back and sunk his teeth into TONY’S ear. TONY throws him off and starts beating him.
INT THE BALLROOM CONTINUOUS
In the glittering ballroom a children’s choir sings.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR “We are the world..we are the children…”
Behind the choir the double doors of the ballroom crash open… exposing TONY violently beating up an `ethnic child.’
Stunned silence as the horror of this happy scene sinks in.
Then…
GUESTS My God! Somebody stop him! He’s a monster! Get him!
As one they leap to their feet.
TONY looks up and freezes. At the same time the walls of the ballroom begin to crack and disintegrate. TONY’S world starts to fall apart… literally.
The floor around TONY falls away into an abyss leaving only a narrow escape route. He hurls ANTON aside and dashes away as the GUESTS pursue him. ANTON avoids being trampled but, loses his footing and falls over the edge.
VALENTINA Anton!!!
VALENTINA, fighting through the angry GUESTS, rushes to the edge of the abyss. ANTON is struggling to hold on to a broken floor joist that protrudes several feet down from the side of the cliff face.
ANTON Valentina!..help me. Please.
His grip slips. VALENTINA reaches for him, grasps his hand.
VALENTINA Forgive me, Anton. I was wrong.
ANTON I know… I’m not a child.
And.. ANTON REVERTS TO HIS NORMAL SIZE…AND WEIGHT.
ANTON (CONT’D) I love you, Valentina.
ANTON slips out of her grip, plummeting into the abyss.
VALENTINA Noooo!
Suddenly, VALENTINA is jerked backwards by her hair.
TONY Who’s behind this!? Eh!? You didn’t come up with this all on your own did you!!!??? (slapping her) No! Someone’s got at you. Someone’s paid you!!!… Who!!!??? Tell me!!!
DR. PARNASSUS(O.S.) Valentina! My darling daughter! There you are!
They turn to see PARNASSUS in the distance (where once the ballroom stood) stumbling towards them, drunk, desperate. As he moves forward a new landscape is created behind him.
TONY rushes towards PARNASSUS.
TONY You old bastard! This is all your doing!
DR. PARNASSUS (drunkenly) All my doing?… I’m merely the facilititatater, dear boy.
GUESTS (O.S.) There he is! Stop him! Leave her alone. Get him!
Throwing his arm around TONY, PARNASSUS spins him around to face the MOB rushing towards him.
DR. PARNASSUS I create the opportunities. Is it my fault if your not up to it?
Tony wrenches his arm free and violently shoves the drunken DOCTOR right into the path of the frenzied MOB. PARNASSUS is trampled underfoot in their rush to catch TONY.
VALENTINA Father! No!
PARNASSUS’S body lies broken on the ground. Frantically, VALENTINA rushes to him, throwing herself on her father’s battered body, sobbing hysterically.
VALENTINA (CONT’D) NO..NO NO… Please.. father..it’s all my fault. What have I done?…
With siren wailing, an AMBULANCE arrives, screeching to a halt. PARAMEDICS pull VALENTINA away. They check PARNASSUS for signs of life and begin to lift him onto the gurney. VALENTINA can’t control herself and tries to throw herself onto his body. The PARAMEDICS struggle with her.
PARAMEDIC (with a severe stutter) P-p-p-lease m-mis-s, there’s-s n-n-othing y-y-y-you c-can d-d-o, he-he-he’s d-d-dead…
VALENTINA wrenches herself out of their grasp howling like an animal and rushes away out of earshot before the PARAMEDIC can finish speaking.
PARAMEDIC …d-dead drunk.
A bottle falls from the DOCTOR’S hand and explodes in a million fragments as it hits the ground.
The shimmering fragments coalesce into a fractured mirror corridor down which a multi-reflected VALENTINA runs – sobbing like a madwoman – lashing out at her reflections, some of which are flashbacks of her flirting with TONY, irritated with ANTON, angry with PARNASSUS.
VALENTINA (to her reflections) You little fool! You’re to blame!.. for everything… I hate you!
The multi-reflection broken mirror corridor ends at two mirrors identical to the one used in the Imaginarium. The one to the left is marked ‘His’ with a bowler hat, the other to the right ‘Hers’ with a bonnet. She hesitates.
VALENTINA (CONT’D) (laughing madly) So this is to be my choice!!
MR NICK appears out of the “His” mirror – a burst of flame behind him.
He makes a sweeping gesture inviting VALENTINA to enter the mirror marked ‘Hers’.
VALENTINA, heads for the mirror marked ‘His’. MR NICK blocks her path.
MR NICK Now, there’s absolutely no need for that. That’s just plain contrariness.
VALENTINA tries to get around him.
MR NICK (CONT’D) You think you deserve punishment but you’re a kid – you have no idea…trust me.
VALENTINA feints another direction. MR NICK blocks her.
VALENTINA (a crazed look) Wrong. I’m 16…I’m a woman now..
She spins around him…he blocks….a kind of dance between them begins – confusingly reflected in the mirrors. A tango can be heard.
VALENTINA (CONT’D) …a selfish bitch, everyone I love dies…I’m…
MR NICK …only fit for hell? If only.
He looks at Valentina with lascivious intent. He’s tempted, briefly, but resists it.
MR NICK (CONT’D) No… your pop would never speak to me again. And that’d be a shame. Let’s dance.
Reflected in the swirling mirror fragments, they tango until he spins her towards the right hand mirror. She sails through – and, with a mad smile, throws him a kiss.
The mirror closes with a burst of flame. The briefest flash of DR. PARNASSUS face is reflected in the mirror fragments.
DOCTOR PARNASSUS O/S Valentina!!!!!!
MR NICK turns, realizing he has been looking into a mirror fragment reflecting the two mirrors. The writing on the Valentina’s mirror reads “His”.
MR NICK Damn!… I’ve won.
EXT STRANGE MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE
DR. PARNASSUS is sitting alone on a prominent bluff (the same one he tried throwing himself off many years ago) He’s distraught. Tears run down this cheeks. A distant bell tolls midnight.
MR NICK appears behind PARNASSUS…sits down beside him.
MR NICK Funny how things work out, isn’t it?
He lights a cigarette.
MR NICK (CONT’D) It’s not what I had in mind y’know… this.. Valentina, being the fifth… It doesn’t seem right… She’s supposed to be the prize, the star prize… not part of the bloody score… And you lumbered with eternal life all over again… What a bummer, eh?
No response from PARNASSUS. A Tarot cards drops from his hand. It is The Hanged Man.
MR. NICK points to the plain far below. Across the harsh ground, TONY is running for his life…pursued by the MOB.
MR NICK (CONT’D) I hope they get that bastard. Tear him limb from limb… But they won’t… He leads a charmed life, that one… I’ve been trying to nail him for years… I thought I had him this time. But, there’s always some prat comes to his rescue… Talk about the luck of the Devil. (he laughs) Those weird markings you found on him… on his forehead… Those satanic-symbol, so-called, things… What’s all that about?… Maybe they protect him in some way… I’ve never been into that black-magic stuff myself… Can’t seem to get the hang of it… I know, pathetic isn’t it?…
PARNASSUS ignores him, sunk even deeper into despondency.
MR NICK (CONT’D) God, I hate to see you like this. Look, I tell you what… If you can get the lowdown on those satanic markings, or.. wait.. better still, if you can wipe that self- righteous little creep off the face of the universe… I’ll give you Valentina back.
A beat. Slowly, PARNASSUS looks up.
MR NICK (CONT’D) How about it?
EXT SOMEWHERE ON THE MOUNTAIN
TONY, sweating, panting for breath, is running up the mountain.
Below, the MOB is still in hot pursuit.
TONY reaches the summit. In front of him, is his salvation – an empty gibbet. A noose hangs from the crossbeam.
TONY Thank God for that!
TONY relaxes a little.
We can hear the mob now, struggling up the mountain.
TONY digs into one of his pockets and pulls out the brass tube that he has always kept close.
TONY opens his mouth and is about to slip the tube down his throat when he spots the Hanged Man Tarot card lying at his feet. A hand from behind him snatches the tube away.
TONY, startled, turns to find himself looking up at DR.
PARNASSUS.
PARNASSUS is standing on a chair with the noose around his neck. He smiles and opens his hand. The metal tube has vanished.
TONY panics. The MOB is getting closer.
With his other hand DR. PARNASSUS produces the tube from TONY’S ear.
TONY (CONT’D) (desperate) Give me that!
DR. PARNASSUS gestures at the CROWD.
DR. PARNASSUS Give us a moment, please.
The CROWD goes into very slow motion…but twice as angry.
DR. PARNASSUS teases TONY with magic.
DR. PARNASSUS (CONT’D) Here’s your tube… Here’s mine. (producing a second tube) But mine’s just a cheap counterfeit… Look, it breaks… (he breaks it) But here’s another…
TONY Stop!
DR. PARNASSUS You’re not amused?
TONY (desperate) You’ve been talking to the devil, haven’t you? Let me guess what he said… If you manage to kill me, he’ll release Valentina. Yes? Am I right?… I am aren’t I? It’s all lies. He can’t release her. And why not? Because he doesn’t have her. He can’t have her because she’s the prize. (gaining confidence) He doesn’t have five wins. But if you kill me he will, won’t he? You’ll have lost Valentina forever!
DR. PARNASSUS does a double hand shuffle.
DR. PARNASSUS Choose.
TONY This is ridiculous!
DR. PARNASSUS Choose!
TONY chooses.
TONY You’ve got to believe me! For all our sakes!
DR. PARNASSUS Are you sure you made the right choice?
TONY Look…
DR. PARNASSUS Let’s find out.
He slides the tube down his throat and kicks the chair away.
He drops… dangles from the rope…the noose tight around his neck.
At the same moment, the MOB resumes normal speed and roars up the mountain.
Is PARNASSUS dead?
Working very fast, TONY hoists him over his shoulder and wrestles the noose loose. He drops PARNASSUS on the ground. He’s stunned but still alive.
The MOB is closing in.
TONY slaps DR. PARNASSUS hard between the shoulder blades.
The tube pops out of the DOCTOR’S gullet. TONY catches it.
TONY Gotcha!
TONY swallows the tube as the MOB surge around the gibbet, grabbing him, beating him, and then lifting him onto the chair, tightening the noose around his neck.
Although battered, TONY winks smugly at DR. PARNASSUS, but his mood changes when he sees DR. PARNASSUS spit out several more fake tubes, then, gagging, force the real one up and out of his gullet.
With a look of realization and horror, TONY drops to his death as the MOB kicks the chair away from under him.
The MOB cheers. Yes, he’s dead.
DR. PARNASSUS tosses the metal tube to MR NICK who steps coolly out of the MOB, cigarette in his mouth.
DR. PARNASSUS (hoarsely) There are three cardinal rules. One, there’s no black-magic, only cheap tricks. And… er… I forget the others. Now, where’s my daughter?
MR NICK How should I know? You’re her father. (with needle) Her loving father.
DR PARNASSUS looks askance at MR NICK.
MR NICK (CONT’D) She’s free… isn’t she?
MR NICK smiles and blows smoke in PARNASSUS’S face. The smoke fills the screen and becomes…
