Dawn. The early light of day streams down on HART CITY,
an imaginary city in America, bringing the place into
illumination.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Once upon a time there was a
little chimney sweep, and his name
was Tom. He lived in a large city.
IMAGES OF THE BUSTLING CITY - Houses of varying sizes,
from small to large and magnificent. Stores. Roads. Parks.
Train tracks. People walking on the streets, sitting on
benches, conversing in parks. All the elements that you
would expect to see in a large city appear on screen.
INT. LARGE HOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY
Within an elegantly furnished room, a SWEEPING sound can be
heard emanating from an ornate fireplace. It is the sound
of Tom (age 11), working within the chimney scape.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
For Tom, there were always
plenty of chimneys to sweep.
Soot falls down onto the fireplace. The sound of
Tom COUGHING and SPLUTTERING can be heard.
INT. THE ORPHANAGE/TOM’S ROOM - NIGHT
In a small, messy and drab room, Tom looking
disheveled, sits at a battered desk, appearing as if he
is reading a book.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
He could not read nor write and
did not care to do either.
Frustrated with his inability to read, Tom throws the book
against the wall, it falls to the ground. He moves on to
his work materials, examining the brushes and sweepers
before gently placing them in a large hessian sack.
2.
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
A Chimney Sweep's Burden
INT. MANSION/INSIDE CHIMNEY - DAY
A day of heavy work lies ahead in the grand home of a
customer. Tom cries as he climbs the walls of a chimney -
darkness all round with only a shred of light beaming
from the top. This is hard and miserable work.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
He cried when he had to climb
the dark flues, rubbing his
knees and elbows raw.
Successive IMAGES of a tired looking Tom working within
the chimney and also in the fireplace, appear onscreen.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
As for chimney sweeping, and being
hungry, and tired, he took all
that for the way of the world.
Never once imagining or believing
another life could be found.
EXT. MR. GRIMES’ COTTAGE - DAY
At Mr. Grimes’ small run down cottage, Tom is tending to
an overgrown, and unkempt garden -- One of the many
unending chores set by Grimes.
An elegantly dressed STABLE BOY riding a horse, enters Mr.
Grimes’ property.
STABLE BOY
I must speak with Mr. Grimes.
TOM
He is not here. What do you want?
STABLE BOY
Mr. Grimes must come to the
Estate tomorrow morning.
TOM
What for?
STABLE BOY
Mr. Goff’s chimney sweep has
gone to prison and the chimneys
need sweeping.
The Stable Boy rides away. Tom watches the Stable
Boy jealously until he has disappeared from view.
3.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
The Encounter at the Spring
EXT. MR. GRIMES’ COTTAGE - DAWN
It is the following day. Tom and Mr. Grimes set out for
Mr. Goff’s Estate. Grimes rides on a donkey, and Tom, who
carries a sack of chimney brushes, walks behind Mr. Grimes
and the donkey.
MONTAGE
A) Tom and Mr. Grimes walk through the city, past closed
shopfronts. It is quiet and eerie at this hour of the
morning. They encounter some STRANGERS. Mr. Grimes
greets them but he is ignored.
B) The city has been replaced by country landscape. Dusty
roads. Farms and fields. The sounds of birds chirping.
Cows on the pasture. Tom observes the countryside with
great interest.
END MONTAGE
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Tom and Mr. Grimes meet a poor IRISH WOMAN. Taking a strong
liking to the Irish Woman, Mr. Grimes calls out to her.
MR. GRIMES
(smoking a pipe)
This is a hard road. Would you
like to get up and ride behind me?
IRISH WOMAN
No, thank you. I’d sooner walk
with your little boy here.
MR. GRIMES
You may please yourself.
The Irish Woman walks over to Tom and kindly smiles at him.
Tom looks away. They continue walking.
TOM
Where do you live?
IRISH WOMAN
Far away by the sea.
TOM
I should like to go to the sea.
4.
IRISH WOMAN
Perhaps one day you will.
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE/A SPRING - LATER
The trio, exhausted from traveling, stop to rest. Mr.
Grimes climbs down off his donkey, hurries to the spring,
and begins to wash his face.
Tom and the Irish Woman cut and gather flowers. After a
few moments, Tom stops, and stares at Mr. Grimes.
TOM
Why, Mr. Grimes, I never saw you
do that before.
MR. GRIMES
And you never will again.
TOM
I wish I might go and dip my
head in the spring.
MR. GRIMES
Come along.
TOM
I don’t care for you!
Ignoring Mr. Grimes, Tom runs to the stream, and begins to
wash his face. Furious, Mr. Grimes lunges towards Tom,
grabs and violently shakes him. The Irish Woman leaps to
Tom’s defense.
IRISH WOMAN
Are you not ashamed of yourself,
Grimes?
Mr. Grimes is startled and taken aback by the Irish Woman
knowing his name. How could she know his name? He looks
at her suspiciously.
MR. GRIMES
No, nor never was yet.
IRISH WOMAN
True for you. If you ever had been
ashamed of yourself, you would have
gone over into Vendale long ago.
5.
MR. GRIMES
What do you know about Vendale?
IRISH WOMAN
I know a lot and about Vendale
and about you, too.
MR. GRIMES
You do?
Mr. Grimes lets go of Tom. He has a new target now. With
great intrigue, Mr. Grimes walks to the Irish Woman,
contemplating an attack on her. He stands aggressively
before her. Courageously, the Irish Woman stares
defiantly at Grimes.
IRISH WOMAN
Yes, I was there.
MR. GRIMES
You are no Irish Woman by your
speech.
IRISH WOMAN
Never mind who I am.
MR. GRIMES
You intrigue me.
IRISH WOMAN
I saw what I saw, and if you strike
that boy, I can tell what I know.
Mr. Grimes, frightened by threats of exposure, returns
to his donkey, preparing to ride away.
IRISH WOMAN (CONT’D)
Stop! I have one more word for
you both, for you will both see
me again before all is over.
Tom and Mr. Grimes turn in her direction, giving the
Irish Woman their full attention.
IRISH WOMAN (CONT’D)
Those that wish to be clean,
clean they will be, and those
that wish to be foul, foul they
will be. Remember.
The Irish Woman walks through a gate into a meadow and
disappears. Mr. Grimes rides after her. Tom follows.
6.
MR. GRIMES
Hey! You come back! You come back!
Genres:
["Drama","Historical","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
A Suspicious Welcome
EXT. THE MEADOW - MOMENTS LATER
Tom and Mr. Grimes reach the meadow. The Irish Woman is
nowhere to be found. Mr. Grimes looks dumbfounded. Where
has she gone? Tom smirks. He has found an ally at last.
EXT. THE ESTATE/GATES - DAY
Monumental iron gates with stone posts surround the
magnificent and expansive Estate. On top of the posts
sit ferocious looking stone GARGOYLES, with sharp teeth
and horns.
Mr. Grimes rings the BELL, and a CARETAKER appears and
opens the gates.
CARETAKER
I was told to expect you. Now be
so good as to not let me find
anything on you when you come
back. I shall look sharp for what
does not belong to you.
MR. GRIMES
Not if it’s in the bottom of my
bag.
Mr. Grimes and the Caretaker LAUGH.
CARETAKER
If that’s the type you are, I
may as well walk up with you.
MR. GRIMES
I think you best had.
EXT. THE ESTATE/LONG AVENUE - MOMENTS LATER
The Caretaker, Mr. Grimes and Tom walk along a long
avenue surrounded by lime trees. A strange MURMURING
NOISE is heard.
TOM
What is that noise?
7.
CARETAKER
The noise is from the bees
around the lime flowers.
TOM
What are bees?
CARETAKER
They make honey.
TOM
What is honey?
MR. GRIMES
Shut your mouth!
CARETAKER
Leave him alone. He’s a civil young
boy, and that’s more than he’ll be,
as long as he stays with you.
Mr. Grimes CHUCKLES, very pleased with himself.
TOM
I wish I lived in such a
beautiful place.
The Caretaker and Mr. Grimes begin to talk in lowered
voices. Muffled sounds...an inaudible conversation.
MOMENTS LATER
Mr. Grimes squeezes the Caretaker’s shoulder.
MR. GRIMES
Do you have anything against me?
CARETAKER
Not now.
MR. GRIMES
Then don’t ask me any questions
until you have, for I am a man
of honor.
Mr. Grimes and the Caretaker are amused, and both ROAR
with LAUGHTER.
8.
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Chimney Sweep Chaos
EXT. THE ESTATE/MANSION - MOMENTS LATER
Tom, Mr. Grimes and the Caretaker arrive at the Mansion,
an aristocratic and elegant place. The garden flowers are
in full bloom.
Tom and Mr. Grimes are led by the Caretaker to the
back entrance which is used by employees.
INT. THE ESTATE/HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Entering the opulent mansion, Tom feels so out of place,
with his torn clothing and scuffed shoes. Mr. Grimes
feels right at home, as he puts on false airs and
jealously observes the contents of the mansion.
The HOUSEKEEPER appears, wearing a black uniform with a
white apron. She greets Tom and Mr. Grimes in the
hallway. She is all business, and does not concern
herself with any formalities.
HOUSEKEEPER
You will take care of all the
chimneys. I will show you where
to begin.
MR. GRIMES
(to Tom)
You’ll mind that, you little
beggar!
The Housekeeper walks down the hallway, leading the way
as Tom and Mr. Grimes follow her.
INT. THE ESTATE/STUDY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The Housekeeper leads Tom and Mr. Grimes into an enormous
room. The furniture is covered with sheets of brown paper.
HOUSEKEEPER
And now you can begin.
Mr. Grimes kicks Tom up into a chimney. Tom YELPS.
INT. THE ESTATE/CHIMNEY - LATER
After a long day at work, Tom, tired and confused, has
become lost in the chimney pathways. Uncertain of his
starting point, he goes back and forth along the
chimney pathways. Confusion etched on his face.
9.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
How many chimneys Tom swept, I
cannot say, but he swept so many
that he got tired and puzzled.
Tom climbs down a chimney he assumes leads to the study
room, where he began his work. Unfortunately this is
not so.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
So Tom fairly lost his way in them.
INT. THE ESTATE/ELLIE’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Tom emerges from the chimney to find himself standing on a
rug in a large and exquisitely decorated bedroom. Tom
GASPS at the beauty of the room.
Tom examines a photograph on the wall in a gilded frame.
The photo depicts MR. GOFF and his WIFE with their
CHILDREN, including ELLIE.
Looking at the bed, Tom sees Ellie sleeping. She looks like a
porcelain doll. Tom catches sight of his dirty and ragged
reflection in a mirror. Horrified, Tom bursts into tears, and
moves quickly to escape but trips over a small stool.
The noise awakens Ellie. She sees Tom and SCREAMS.
The NANNY bursts into the room and grabs Tom. Tom
wriggles out of her arms, and with great speed darts to
an open window.
EXT. THE ESTATE/GARDENS - CONTINUOUS
Tom emerges from Ellie’s bedroom window, and climbs down a
large tree. He runs through the cultivated gardens, making
a dash for his livelihood.
INT. THE ESTATE/ELLIE’S BEDROOM - SAME
From the bedroom window, the Nanny frantically screams
for help.
NANNY
Stop thief! Help! Help! Help!
10.
EXT/INT. THE ESTATE - SAME
The STAFF hear the Nanny’s shrieks, and spring into action.
Commotion ensues.
A GARDENER, throws down his scythe, cuts his shin yet
runs after Tom.
The Housekeeper, inside the mansion, upon hearing the
Nanny’s shouting, abandons her cooking, and runs to
pursue Tom.
The Stable Boy, accidentally releases the HORSES from
the stable, and joins in the chase for Tom.
Startled by the Nanny’s shouting, Mr. Grimes mistakenly lets
all the soot out of the soot bag before joining the pursuit.
The Irish Woman, walking towards the house, swiftly
changes direction to follow Tom. Somehow she knows what is
going on and also where Tom is heading.
Hearing all of the mayhem, Mr. Goff’s Wife lazily looks
out of a window. Her wig falls into the garden.
Genres:
["Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Tom's Journey to the Valley
EXT. THE WOODS - DAY
As the pursuit continues, Tom has reached the woods.
Frantically, Tom squeezes into a heavy cover of
rhododendrons. He is entangled, as the space is tight.
Boughs hold his arms and legs back, and graze his face
and body. Fear engulfs him.
TOM
I must get out of this!
With all his might, Tom forces his way through
the rhododendrons till he reaches a stone wall.
TOM (CONT’D)
I must not stay here because
somebody will find me.
Tom climbs over the stone wall.
EXT. THE WOODS - SAME
The Staff run in the opposite direction to Tom. They
are oblivious to where he is actually located.
11.
EXT. THE WOODS - SAME
The Irish Woman knowingly climbs over the stone wall,
and walks calmly along the wall towards Tom. Strangely,
the Irish Woman detects Tom’s whereabouts.
EXT. HILL TOP - LATER
Tom reaches a hillside, tired and out of breath, he stops
to recuperate. Huge SPIDERS vigorously shake their webs
until they are invisible. Brown and gray LIZARDS fearfully
scurry under the shrubs and rocks.
Tom sees a BEAR and her CUBS. The bear lies on her back,
rolling and stretching her body in the sunshine. The
cubs play around her.
An agitated bird, a GROUSE and his WIFE enter.
GROUSE
Cur-ru-u-uck, cur-ru-u-uk-murder,
thieves, fire-cur-u-uck-kick-the
end of the world is come-kick-
kick-kick-kick.
The Grouse Wife irritatingly rolls her eyes, having
heard all of this before.
TOM
It is not the end of the world!
I tell you it is not the end of
the world yet.
GROUSE WIFE
I have told him the same.
GROUSE
Kick-Kick-kick, my dears, the end
of the world is not quite come, but
I assure you, it is coming the day
after tomorrow.
GROUSE WIFE
(skeptical)
Kick-kick-kick, go and catch
spiders, go and catch spiders.
Kick.
Tom hears the sound of CHURCH BELLS, and is struck by
a sudden idea.
12.
TOM
Where there is a church, there
will be people. Perhaps, someone
will give me some food and a place
to rest.
Tom looks out from the hill. He is stunned by the
immensity of the view.
TOM (CONT’D)
Why, what a big place the world is!
BEHIND TOM
are the woods.
IN THE DISTANCE
Tom sees the river turning into the sea.
IN FRONT OF TOM
is a rocky valley filled with trees. At the bottom of
the valley is a large stream.
NEXT TO THE STREAM
Tom sees a cottage beside a small school. An OLD LADY is
slowly weeding in the garden. The CHURCH BELLS ring
again. Tom moves down the hillside, towards the cottage.
Genres:
["Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
A Kindly Act
EXT. VENDALE - DAY
Tom walks in the direction of the cottage. The path
is strewn with long grass and wild flowers.
TOM
Ah! This will suit me fine!
Feverish and ill, Tom rests. MIDGES run all over him. FLIES
settle on his nose. GNATS pick at his hands. Unbeknown to
Tom, the Irish Woman is nearby, quietly observing him.
EXT/INT. VENDALE/OLD LADY’S COTTAGE - NIGHT
The cottage is surrounded by hedges cut into a variety
of shapes. Tom stands outside the open cottage doorway
and peers in.
An Old Lady sits by a fireplace, dozing, with a large CAT
at her feet. She wears spectacles.
13.
The cottage is filled with prints on the walls. A cuckoo
clock CHIMES. The Old Lady awakens and notices Tom.
OLD LADY
Who are you and what do you want?
TOM
My name is Tom. I am a chimney
sweep.
The Old Lady is displeased, and makes no secret of
her feelings.
OLD LADY
A chimney sweep! Get away from
here! I’ll have no sweeps here.
TOM
Water!
OLD LADY
Water? There is plenty in the back.
TOM
But I can’t get there.
Exhausted and sick, Tom collapses on the doorstep.
OLD LADY
(softly)
He’s sick and a baby’s a baby.
TOM
Water.
OLD LADY
I’ll give you milk. Wait here a
moment.
The Old Lady walks away into the kitchen.
Genres:
["Drama","Historical","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A Helping Hand in the Woods
INT/EXT. VENDALE/OLD LADY’S COTTAGE - MOMENTS LATER
The Old Lady returns to the doorway where Tom rests. She
offers Tom bread and a cup of milk. Tom drinks the milk
and is partially revived.
OLD LADY
Where did you come from?
14.
TOM
(pointing)
Over there.
OLD LADY
Are you sure you are not lying?
TOM
Why would I?
OLD LADY
And how did you get up here?
TOM
I came over from the woods.
OLD LADY
And you have not been stealing
then?
TOM
No. I don’t feel well.
OLD LADY
Why don’t you eat the bread?
The Old Lady offers the bread to Tom. He shakes his
head, clutching his stomach.
TOM
I can’t.
OLD LADY
It’s good enough, for I made it
myself.
TOM
I can’t...Is it Sunday?
OLD LADY
No. Why should it be?
TOM
Because I hear the church bells
ringing so.
OLD LADY
You are ill. Come with me. I’ll
put you up somewhere. Come along
now. You need to rest.
Tom tries to stand but is too weak to do so alone. With the
help of the Old Lady, Tom gets back on his feet. Leaning on
the Old Lady, Tom slowly makes his way towards the barn.
15.
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Sleepwalking and Fairy Tales
INT. VENDALE/BARN - NIGHT
Lying on a bed of hay, Tom talks in his sleep. The sound
of CHURCH BELLS ring loudly.
TOM
I must be clean, I must be clean,
I must be clean.
TOM’S DREAM
OLD LADY
Oh, you’re so dirty, go and be
washed.
IRISH WOMAN
Those that wish to be clean,
clean they will be.
BACK TO SCENE
TOM
(sleep talking)
I must be clean, I must be clean.
The CHURCH BELLS ring in Tom’s head. Tom sleepwalks out
of the barn, mumbling to himself.
TOM (CONT’D)
I must be clean. I must be clean.
EXT. STREAM - NIGHT
The Irish Woman slips into the stream, where she is
surrounded by green water weeds and water lilies.
The WATER FAIRIES at the bottom of the stream surface
and hold her. Here, the Irish Woman is Queen of the
Fairies, their beloved leader.
FAIRY #1
Where have you been?
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES
I have been smoothing sick people’s pillows
and whispering sweet dreams
into their ears.
FAIRY #2
What else?
16.
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE
FAIRIES Doing all I can to help those who
will not help themselves, and
little enough that is though.
FAIRY #1
You must rest.
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE
FAIRIES But I have brought you a new
little brother and watched him safe all
the way here.
The Water Fairies LAUGH.
FAIRY #3
How wonderful to have a new
brother!
FAIRY #1
Delightful!
FAIRY #2
And when shall we meet him?
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF
FAIRIES Soon my dears. Very soon.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Tom's Watery Transformation
EXT. A MEADOW - NIGHT
Tom stands in a meadow, beside a clear stream.
TOM
I must be clean, I must be clean.
Tom looks downwards into the rushing water. The TROUT,
frightened by Tom, move quickly, swimming into hiding.
TOM (CONT’D)
I will be a fish. I will swim in
the water.
Tom slowly walks into the water. The CHURCH BELLS ring
in Tom’s head.
TOM (CONT’D)
Ah, I must be quick. The church
bells are ringing quite loud now.
Tom moves further into the water and starts to
bathe himself.
17.
TOM (CONT’D)
The bells will stop soon. The
door will be shut, and I shall
never be able to get in.
EXT. STREAM - SAME
The Irish Woman/Queen of the Fairies instructs the
Water Fairies. They listen eagerly.
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE
FAIRIES But mind, he must not see you or
know that you are here.
FAIRY #1
Why must he not know about us?
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES
Like the creatures which perish and
from the creatures which perish,
he must learn. Without your
interference or guidance.
FAIRY #2
He will have much to learn.
IRISH WOMAN/QUEEN OF THE
FAIRIES So you must not play with him, or
let him see you, but only keep
him from being harmed.
The Queen of the Fairies floats down the stream as the
Water Fairies attentively and adoringly watch her.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
The Water Baby's Transformation and the Search
INT. STREAM - NIGHT
Lying on a rock, Tom sleeps in the stream. He SNORES loudly.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The reason for his falling into such
a sleep is very simple and yet
hardly anyone has found it out.
The Water Fairies appear and start the process of turning
Tom into a Water Baby. They hold their wands towards him,
giving them a slight shake. Gills start to form around
his neck.
Tom is asleep throughout the transformation. Sparkles and
magical imagery surround Tom as he undergoes his change.
18.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
It was merely that the fairies
took him. There must be fairies,
for this is a fairytale.
The Water Fairies continue to work their magic on Tom,
putting him through his alteration into a Water Baby. He
starts to shrink in size, new clothing forms on his body,
a one piece.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
How can one have a fairytale if
there are no fairies?
INT. THE ESTATE/ELLIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Mr. Grimes and Mr. Goff attempt to determine what
happened during the melee with Tom. They both interview
Ellie to gather information about the incident.
ELLIE
I saw the chimney sweep running
to the window. He was crying.
MR. GOFF
What did he say?
ELLIE
Nothing. I was very frightened.
MR. GOFF
Did he take anything?
ELLIE
No.
Mr. Goff sees marks of soot on the rug only, thus realizing
Tom never strayed from the rug in order to steal.
MR. GOFF
It was all a terrible mistake. A
terrible mistake. Oh dear!
(to Mr. Grimes)
Go home. I shall give you a
reward if you return him to me.
19.
INT. VENDALE/BARN - MORNING
The concerned Old Lady looks for Tom in the barn, but
cannot locate him.
EXT. HARTHOVER FELL/HILL TOP - LATER
Mr. Grimes, Mr. Goff, a SEARCH PARTY and three SEARCH DOGS
are scouting for Tom. The sniffer dogs stop at a hill top,
and start barking as they look down the valley. The search
party comes to a halt, and they all gaze down the valley.
MR. GRIMES
That rogue, I tell you, he has
gone down there. In hiding
somewhere there I suppose.
MR. GOFF
If we find him at all, we shall
find him lying at the bottom of
the hill.
Mr. Goff nervously mops his brow with a handkerchief.
What have his staff done?
INT. VENDALE/OLD LADY’S SCHOOL - LATER
The search party arrive at a school. Mr. Goff enters the
school. CHILDREN sitting at their desks turn to look at
the well dressed Mr. Goff.
MR. GOFF
How are you?
The Old Lady seated at her desk, slowly stands and
walks over to Mr. Goff.
OLD LADY
Welcome to Vendale, but you’re not
hunting this time of the year?
MR. GOFF
No.
OLD LADY
What makes you look so sad this
morning?
MR. GOFF
I’m looking for a lost child, a
chimney sweep who has run away.
20.
OLD LADY
You’ll not harm the poor little
boy if I give you news of him?
MR. GOFF
Not I. I’m afraid we hunted him
out of the Estate all on a
miserable mistake.
OLD LADY
So he told me the truth after all.
A heart will guide you right, if
you will but listen to it.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Tom's Aquatic Adventure
INT/EXT. STREAM - DAY
Tom is now a WATER BABY with a set of external gills around
his neck. He is smaller than his human form, encased in a
one piece. He has extremely sensitive supersonic hearing
and the ability to see extraordinarliy long distances and
in murky water.
Tom swims in the stream, awkward and unused to his new
form. He gleefully observes the animal and plant marvels in
the stream.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And Tom? In fact, the fairies had
turned him into a Water Baby. A
Water Baby? You never heard of a
Water Baby? Perhaps not.
Tom is mesmerized as he stares at his reflection in
the water. He pulls funny faces and GIGGLES.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
There are a great many things in
the world which nobody ever heard
of and a great many things, too,
which nobody will ever hear of.
Tom plays in the water, dipping under and above the water.
He LAUGHS, delighted with his new found freedom. His
worries and problems about Mr. Grimes and being a chimney
sweep now over.
21.
INT. STREAM - LATER
Tom watches CADDIS #1 an aquatic insect build a house. She
sticks some pebbles, wood, and live shells together to
make a patched house.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But there are no such things as
Water Babies? How do you know that?
Have you been there to see?
Tom looks on at the high-spirited behavior of the CADDISES.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
And if you had been there to see,
and had seen none, that would not
prove that there were none.
A number of CADDISES also build their houses with
pebbles, wood, shells and twigs. CADDIS #2 finds a long
stick, and attaches it to her backside. She struts around
proudly and performs a dance.
CADDIS #2
Hurrah! My sister has a tail, and
I’ll have one, too.
The Caddises imitate her. They tumble over and waddle
into one another. Tom LAUGHS at their antics.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But surely, if there were Water
Babies, somebody would have caught
one at least? Well, how do you
know that somebody has not?
Tom greedily eats aquatic plants. He is so happy in
the water world.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Tom did not remember any of his
old troubles, being tired, or
hungry, or sent up dark chimneys.
Tom moves along the gravel based bottom, gazing at the
WATER BOATMEN which run out of and under the stones.
22.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
Tom's Misadventures in the Water Forest
INT. STREAM - LATER
Deep into the stream, Tom arrives at the water forests and
meets a RED BELLY TURTLE, CRAYFISH, MINNOW and two Caddises.
They SING.
RED BELLY TURTLE
(singing)
Clear and cool, clear and cool.
By laughing shallow and dreaming
pool.
Tom reaches out to touch a Water Boatman and is bitten.
CRAYFISH
(singing)
Cool and clear, cool and clear. By
shining shingle and foaming wear.
Caddis #1 polishes her home as she sings.
CADDIS #1
(singing)
Under the stream where we all sing
and the ivied wall where the
church bells ring.
SALAMANDERS swimming by, stop and become an AUDIENCE to
the SINGERS. They HUM to the tune.
CADDIS #2
(singing)
Play by me, bathe in me, Mother
and Child.
The red belly turtle plays a piano.
MINNOW
(singing)
Dank and foul, dank and foul.
By the smoky town in its murky
cloak.
The Salamanders start to dance.
RED BELLY TURTLE
(singing)
Foul and dank, foul and dank. By
wharf and sewer and slimy bank.
Darker and darker the farther I go.
The Red Belly Turtle, Crayfish, Caddis #1, Caddis #2 and
the Minnow perform a dance, as they sing together.
23.
SINGERS
(singing)
Baser and baser the richer I
grow. Shrink from me, turn from
me, Mother and Child.
CADDIS#2
(singing)
Strong and free, strong and
free. The floodgates are open,
away to the sea.
The Minnow playfully attacks the Water Boatman.
MINNOW
(singing)
Free and strong, free and
strong. Through the streams as I
hurry along.
Caddis #1 twirls again and again.
CADDIS #1
(singing)
To the golden sands and the
leaping bar and the tide that
awaits me afar.
All the creatures sing together for the final verse.
SINGERS
(singing)
As I lose myself in the infinite
main, Play by me, bathe in me,
Mother and Child.
A SCHOOL OF TROUT swim towards Tom. Irritated, he
attempts to catch them with his hands, but they slip
through his fingers. A massive OLD TROUT runs into Tom
and angrily pushes him away.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But I am sorry to say, Tom was
very fond of tormenting creatures
for mere sport.
Tom’s swims along, restless and lonely his bad behavior
continues. He comes across CADDIS #3 who is enclosed
within a house. Curious, Tom breaks the door made of shell
and peers inside the house. Caddis #3 pops her head out.
A GROUP of Caddises admonish Tom for his behavior.
24.
CADDIS #2
What a shame! How would you like
to have someone breaking your
bedroom door in?
CADDIS #4
Oh, you nasty, horrid boy. There
you are at it again.
CADDIS #1
She had just laid herself up for
a fortnight’s sleep.
CADDIS #2
She would have come out with
such beautiful wings.
CADDIS #1
And now you have broken her door,
and she can’t mend it because her
mouth is tied up for a fortnight.
CADDIS #2
She will die!
CADDIS #4
Who sent you here to worry us
out of our lives?
Tom looks sheepish after receiving a scolding from
the Caddises. He embarrassingly swims away.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Musical","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
The Nymph's Transformation
INT/EXT. THE STREAM - CONTINUOUS
Tom is perched on a rock underwater, eating a meal of
aquatic plants. A DRAGONFLY NYMPH enters, with six legs, a
big stomach and a weird head with two big eyes. Tom looks
on aghast at the sight of the Dragonfly Nymph.
TOM
Oh, you are an ugly fellow to be
sure!
Tom, ever so disrespectful, makes faces at the Dragonfly
Nymph. Annoyed, the Dragonfly Nymph pops out a long arm with a
pair of pincers on the end and holds onto Tom’s nose.
TOM
Yah, ah! Oh, let me go!
25.
DRAGONFLY NYMPH
Then let me go. I want to be quiet.
I want to split.
The Dragonfly Nymph slowly releases his grip on Tom’s nose.
TOM
Why do you want to split?
DRAGONFLY NYMPH
Because my brothers and sisters
have all split and turned into
beautiful creatures and I want to
split, too.
TOM
Aren’t you frightened to split?
DRAGONFLY NYMPH
Don’t speak to me! I am sure I
shall split. I will split!
The Dragonfly Nymph climbs a green water weed stem to the
surface of the stream. Tom follows the Dragonfly Nymph, his
head emerging from the water. He watches the Nymph with
keen interest.
The Dragonfly Nymph swells and stretches - CRACK, PUFF, BANG
- then opens all down its back. Out of the inside emerges
an exquisite DRAGONFLY. Tom stares spellbound. The
Dragonfly sits in the sun, his lovely colors beginning to
appear on his body, blue, yellow and black with spots and
rings emerge. Out of his back, four wings rise, his eyes
grow large.
TOM
Oh, you beautiful creature!
Tom puts out his hand to try and touch the Dragonfly.
The Dragonfly flies away into the air.
DRAGONFLY
No! You cannot catch me. I am a
dragonfly now, the King of all
the Flies.
The Dragonfly moves back near Tom, hovering in the air.
Wings flapping wildly.
DRAGONFLY (CONT’D)
I shall dance in the sunshine and
have a beautiful wife like
myself. I know what I shall do.
26.
The Dragonfly flies away from Tom and LAUGHS.
TOM
Oh! Come back, come back, you
beautiful creature!
DRAGONFLY
And why should I come back?
TOM
I have no one to play with, and
I am so lonely here.
DRAGONFLY
What is in it for me?
TOM
If you will but come back, I
will never try to catch you.
DRAGONFLY
I don’t care whether you do or
not, for you can’t.
TOM
I won’t.
DRAGONFLY
When I have looked about this
pretty place, I will come back
and have a chat about all I have
seen on my travels.
(looking at a tree)
Why, what a huge tree this is!
What huge leaves on it!
The Dragonfly flies away into the distance, Tom
winsomely and helplessly looks on.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
A Crab, an Otter, and a Misunderstood Man
EXT. STREAM BANK - DAY
Tom sits on the stream bank absorbing the sunlight. His
legs submerged and dangling in the water. While deep in
thought contemplating his journey thus far, A LAND HERMIT
CRAB crawls across the stream bank, holding himself with
great pride.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
Much obliged to you, indeed, but
I don’t want it yet.
27.
TOM
Want what?
LAND HERMIT CRAB
Your leg, which you are kind
enough to hold out for me to sit
on. Dear me! What a troublesome
business a family is! So you live
under the water? It’s a low place.
TOM
It’s not so bad.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
I lived there for some time and was
very shabby and dirty. But I didn’t
choose that that should last.
TOM
No, I imagine you wouldn’t.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
So I turned respectable and came
up to the top and put on this
suit. It’s a very businesslike
suit, don’t you think?
Tom closely examines the Land Hermit Crab.
TOM
Very neat and quiet indeed.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
Yes, one must be quiet and neat
and respectable, when one becomes
a family man. But I’m tired of it,
that’s the truth.
The Land Hermit Crab topples over, and sits on his side
for a few moments before regaining his composure.
TOM
I would not know anything about
having a family.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
I’ve done quite enough business, I
consider, in the last week, to
last me my life.
TOM
And what will you do instead?
28.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
I shall go out and see the world
and have a dance or two. Why
shouldn’t one be happy if one can?
TOM
And your family?
LAND HERMIT CRAB
Oh! My wife is a very plain,
silly creature, and that’s the
truth. If she chooses to come,
why she may, and if not, why I go
without her. Here I go!
The Land Hermit Crab suddenly turns pale.
TOM
Why, you’re ill! You’re dead.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
No, I ain’t! This is me over here
and that’s my outside shell.
The Land Hermit Crab has left his exoskeleton behind on
the stream bank. Now a soft mollusc.
LAND HERMIT CRAB
(CONT’D) Ha! You could not do such
a trick as that. Ha, ha! Ain’t I a
pretty fellow now?
TOM
You certainly are.
HERMIT CRAB
(singing and dancing)
My wife shall dance and I shall
sing to merrily pass the day. For
I hold it quite the wisest thing,
to drive dull care away!
Suddenly, STRANGE NOISES from further upstream are
heard, some COOING and WHINING.
Tom and the Hermit Crab see five OTTERS rolled into balls
rolling over and over down the stream, coming their way.
TOM
What are they?
29.
HERMIT CRAB
I have no idea.
Tom moves closer to the Otters, who wrestle, bite and
scratch one another. The MOTHER OTTER sees Tom. She
darts away from the rest of the Otters.
MOTHER OTTER
Quick, children, here is
something to eat!
The Mother Otter moves towards Tom with her set of sharp
teeth, grinning mouth and wicked eyes. Tom quickly slips
in between some water lily roots.
MOTHER OTTER (CONT’D)
Come out, or it will be worse
for you.
Tom stares at her from between two thick water lily
roots. He sticks out his tongue at her and vigorously
shakes the water lily roots.
MOTHER OTTER (CONT’D)
Come away, children, it is not
worth eating after all. It is only
a nasty eft, which nothing eats.
TOM
I am not an eft! Efts have tails.
MOTHER OTTER
You are an eft. I know you have
a tail.
TOM
I tell you I have not. Look here!
Tom turns around to show the Mother Otter that he has no
tail. He points to his backside. The Mother Otter
ignores him.
MOTHER OTTER
I say you are an eft and therefore
you are, and not fit food for the
likes of me and my children.
TOM
I am not an eft.
MOTHER OTTER
You may stay there till the
salmon eat you. Ha! They will eat
you and we will eat them.
30.
The Mother Otter LAUGHS wickedly.
TOM
What are salmon?
MOTHER OTTER
Fish, you eft, nice fish to eat.
They are the Lords of the Fish and
we are the Lords of the Salmon.
(laughs)
We hunt them up and down the
pools and drive them up into a
corner, the silly things.
TOM
Why do you call them silly?
MOTHER OTTER
They are so proud and bully the
trout till they see us coming and
then they are so meek and we
catch them.
TOM
Oh!
MOTHER OTTER
(licking her lips)
We just bite out their soft
throats and suck their sweet juice
and then throw them away and go
and catch another.
(to her children)
They are coming soon, children,
coming soon.
At the thought of the tasty salmon, the Mother
Otter excitedly performs somersaults in the water.
TOM
And where do they come from?
MOTHER OTTER
Out of the sea, eft, the great
wide sea, where they might stay
and be safe if they liked.
TOM
Do you like the sea?
MOTHER OTTER
Yes, we prefer days rolling in the
waves and sleeping snug in the
warm dry rocks.
31.
(to her children)
Ah, that is a merry life, too,
children, if it were not for
those horrid men.
TOM
Yes, I am familiar with horrid men.
The Mother Otter looks at Tom suspiciously.
MOTHER OTTER
(examining Tom)
And now I come to look at you, they
are actually something like you, if
you had not a tail and gills.
TOM
I told you already, I do not have
a tail.
MOTHER OTTER
(crying)
They speared my poor dear
husband as he went out to find
something for me to eat.
TOM
Yes, men, they can be brutal. I
know something about that.
MOTHER OTTER
We were very low in the world
then. But they speared him, poor
fellow, and I saw them carrying
him away on a pole.
(to her children)
All, he lost his life for your
sakes, my children, poor dear
obedient creature that he was.
Tom looks on, from within the safety of the water weeds,
as the Otters swim away.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
The Storm's Fury
INT. STREAM - DUSK
Tom dozes in the stream, with the Trout, cuddling their
smooth sides. Gray clouds form over the stream. There
is THUNDER and LIGHTNING. Rain begins pouring heavily.
The rocks in the stream shake. Hail falls.
The stream rises and starts rushing wildly. Tom clings
onto a rock, so as not to be taken downstream. The storm
brings out the WORMS. The Trout move in to gobble them up.
32.
The EELS come rushing up to the surface from the bottom
of the stream. They are all out of hiding, panic stricken
and pushing past Tom.
EELS
We must run! We must run! What a
thunderstorm! Down to the sea, down
to the sea! Down to the sea, we go!
The Mother Otter swims past with her brood. The Otters
hungrily look at the eels swimming past. They lick
their lips.
MOTHER OTTER
(to Tom)
Now is your time, eft, if you
want to see the world.
(to her children)
Come along, children, never mind
those nasty eels. We shall
breakfast on salmon tomorrow.
Down to the sea, down to the sea!
THREE GIRLS with their arms around each others’ necks
float past.
GIRLS
Down to the sea, down to the sea!
TOM
Oh stay! Wait for me! Down to
the sea? Everything is going to
the sea, and I will go, too.
Goodbye, trout!
The Trout ignore Tom, as they are too busy eating worms.
The water lilies and aquatic plants sway uncontrollably in
the chaos of the storm.
The current of the stream forces Tom along towards the sea.
He moves past FISH that mistake him for food, and attempt
to eat him. Unknown to Tom, they are warned away by the
Water Fairies and retreat.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Lost and Found: Tom's Encounter with the Salmon
EXT/INT. SALMON RIVER - SUNSET
Tom looks out of the river into the far distance, towards
the vastness of the sea. He is overwhelmed by the sheer
size of the sea.
33.
TOM
That must be the sea. If I go on
into it, I shall surely lose my
way.
Frightened, Tom dives under the river and settles within
the crack of a rock.
TOM
I will stop here and look out for
someone to tell me where to go.
INT. SALMON RIVER - DAY
Tom awakens to see a proud looking LARGE SALMON nearby,
with a grand hooked nose and curling lip. The Large Salmon
is speaking lovingly to his wife, LADY SALMON.
LARGE SALMON
My dear, you really look
dreadfully tired. You must not
overexert yourself.
LADY SALMON
I am fine.
LARGE SALMON
Nonsense! Do rest yourself behind
this rock.
The Large Salmon pushes the Lady Salmon gently with his
nose, towards the rock where Tom rests. The Large Salmon
suddenly sees Tom, and glares at him fiercely, threatened
by his presence.
LARGE SALMON
(aggressively)
What do you want here?
TOM
Oh, don’t hurt me! I only want to
look at you, you are so handsome.
The Large Salmon is taken aback by this compliment, and
is suddenly embarrassed.
LARGE SALMON
Ah? I really beg your pardon. I
see what you are, my little dear.
34.
TOM
You do?
LARGE SALMON
I have met one or two creatures
like you before and found them
very agreeable.
LADY SALMON
One of them showed my husband a
great kindness lately, which we
hope to be able to repay.
LARGE SALMON
I hope we shall not be in your way.
As soon as this lady is rested, we
shall proceed on our journey.
TOM
So you have seen things like me
before?
LARGE SALMON
Several times, my dear. Indeed, it
was only last night that one at
the river’s mouth came and warned
us of some new nets.
LADY SALMON
And he showed us the way round
them in the most obliging way.
Tom is elated at the prospect of finding other Water Babies.
TOM
So there are Water Babies? Then
I shall have someone to play
with. How delightful!
LADY SALMON
Were there no Water Babies up
this stream?
TOM
No! And I grew so lonely. I
thought I saw three last night,
but they were gone in an instant.
LADY SALMON
How unfortunate.
35.
TOM
So I went, too, for I had
nothing to play with but
caddises, dragonflies and trout.
The Lady Salmon wrinkles her nose in distaste.
LADY SALMON
Ugh! What low company!
LARGE SALMON
My dear, if he has been in low
company, he has certainly not
learned their low manners.
LADY SALMON
But how sad for him to live among
such creatures as caddises, the
nasty things, and dragonflies, too!
LARGE SALMON
And, as for trout, everyone
knows what they are.
The two Salmon curl their lips in disgust. Tom is
intrigued by their negative response.
TOM
Why do you dislike the trout so?
LARGE SALMON
My dear, we do not even mention
them, if we can help it.
LADY SALMON
For I am sorry to say they are
relations of ours who do us no
credit.
TOM
How so?
The two Salmon exchange glances. Should they share
their story?
LARGE SALMON
A great many years ago, they
were just like us, but they were
so lazy, cowardly and greedy.
LARGE SALMON
Instead of going down to the sea
every year to see the world, they
(MORE)
36.
LARGE SALMON (CONT’D)
chose to stay in the streams and
eat worms.
LADY SALMON
And they are very properly
punished for it.
TOM
And how have they been punished?
The Large Salmon snorts with contempt.
LADY SALMON
They have grown ugly and are
actually so degraded in their
tastes that they will eat our
children.
LARGE SALMON
Why, I have actually known one of
them to propose to a lady salmon,
the impudent little creature.
LADY SALMON
I should hope that there are very
few ladies of ours who would
degrade themselves by listening to
such a creature for an instant.
The Lady Salmon shudders.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
The Water Baby's Rescue
EXT/INT. SALMON RIVER - NIGHT
Tom settles on a rock at the river bank. He gazes at the
bright moon and stars splashed across the night sky. He
watches the river flow under the moonlight, and observes
the swaying firs and birches.
He hears the owl’s HOOT, the fox’s BARK and the
Otter’s wicked LAUGH. Tom returns underwater.
INT. SALMON RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
A bright red light moves through the river. Tom is
alarmed. Should he warn the Salmon? It is too late.
Several Salmon are deeply hypnotized by the light.
MAN #1 (O.S.)
Here we shall fish.
37.
EXT/INT. SALMON RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
Tom peers through the surface of the water to see the
outline of two MEN. Man #1 holds a spear and Man 2#, a
flashlight. Man #1 spears a Salmon and lifts it out of
the water.
MAN
Take this. He’s a big one and
hold your hand steady.
Tom, filled with fear, returns underwater.
An argument ensues between the two men. They struggle with
one another. The sound of two PUNCHES being thrown. A
SPLASH is heard as one of the men falls into the water.
A dark silhouette in front of Tom.
TOM
Perhaps the water has made him
fall asleep as it did me.
Tom swims closer to the Man, and is horrified to learn
that the stranger is none other than his miserable
employer, Mr. Grimes.
TOM
Oh dear me! Now he will turn into
a Water Baby. What a nasty
troublesome one he will be!
The Water Fairies appear and take Mr. Grimes away.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Mr. Grimes did not turn into a
Water Baby. The fairies carried
Mr. Grimes away and put him where
they put everything. Exactly where
it ought to be.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Tom's Disappointment
INT/EXT. SALMON RIVER - DAY
Tom continues his journey along the river to the sea,
moved along by the strong current. He passes villages,
bridges, and boats, on his way to the sea.
38.
INT. SEA - DAY
Groups of BASS excitedly leap in and out of the water and
hungrily devour SHRIMP as they move through the water.
A happy go lucky SEAL swims by. Tom waves hello.
TOM
How do you do? What a beautiful
place the sea is!
SEAL
Good tide to you. The sea
certainly is a beauty!
TOM
This is my first time in the sea.
SEAL
Are you looking for your
brothers and sisters? I passed
them all at play.
TOM
Oh, then I shall have friends at
last!
Tom claps his hands and whoops with glee.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE SEA - DAY
Tom swims in the ocean, still searching for the unseen
Water Babies. A strange SOUND is heard. Could it be the
Water Babies at last?
Two blinking eyes buried under the sand, stare at Tom.
Believing that he sees Water Babies, Tom begins to
quickly scrape away the sand.
TOM
Don’t hide! I do want someone to
play with so much!
A TURBOT surfaces, knocks Tom over and flops away along
the bottom of the sea. Tom is dejected. It was no Water
Baby after all.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
To have come all this way and
faced so many dangers and yet to
find no Water Babies!
39.
Tom is overwhelmed with sadness and cries. The Seal
swimming past, is concerned, and stops to console Tom.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
How hard! Well, it did seem hard.
But even little babies, cannot
have all they want without waiting
for it.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Tom's Unending Search
EXT. SEA/BUOY - DAY
Tom sits on a buoy, mournfully looking out over the sea.
SEAGULLS fly overhead and float on the surface of the ocean.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And Tom sat upon the buoy for
weeks, looking out to sea and
wondering when the Water Babies
would come.
A SHARK rubs his side on the buoy, sunbathes in the sun
and cheekily winks at Tom.
Tom refuses to give up his search on finding other
Water Babies. Bass swim by.
TOM
Have you seen any Water Babies?
The Bass ignore Tom, too busy eating shrimp as they
move through the water.
A SEA SNAIL floats in.
TOM
Where do you come from, you
pretty creature?
SEA SNAIL
Where I come from, I know not. And
where I am going, who can tell?
(shrugs)
I float out my life in the ocean
with the warm sunshine above my
head.
(yawns)
And that is enough for me.
TOM
And have you seen any Water Babies?
40.
SEA SNAIL
(thinking)
Yes, perhaps I have seen the
Water Babies. I have seen many
strange things as I sail along.
The Sea Snail floats away.
A big lazy SUNFISH with a small mouth swims in. Tom
turns his attention to this strange creature.
TOM
Have you seen the Water Babies?
SUNFISH
I’m sure I don’t know. I don’t
know. I’ve lost my way.
TOM
Where were you going?
SUNFISH
I meant to go to Chesapeake. I’m
afraid I’ve got it wrong somehow.
TOM
This is useless. You are as lost
as me.
SUNFISH
Dear me! It was all by following
that pleasant warm water.
TOM
It is beautiful.
SUNFISH
I’m sure I’ve lost my way. I’ve
lost my way. Don’t talk to me. I
want to think.
The Turbot reappears and accidentally bumps into Tom again.
TOM
Oh, it’s you again. Where do you
come from? And why are you so
sick and sad?
TURBOT
I come from down South.
41.
TOM
And how did you end up here?
TURBOT
I wandered North.
TOM
Have you seen any Water Babies
near here?
TURBOT
Yes...Now I am mending every day but
I am very sick and sad. Perhaps I
shall never get home again.
TOM
And what about the Water Babies?
TURBOT
They helped me last night, or I
should have been eaten by a
great porpoise.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
Encounter with Polonius the Lobster
EXT. SEASHORE/ROCK POOLS - DAY
Tom’s search for other Water Babies continues. He explores
the rock pools, and suddenly discovers the rude and
conceited POLONIUS THE LOBSTER. He cuts up seaweed with
his claws, places it in his mouth, and munches loudly.
POLONIUS
You couldn’t do that.
TOM
Have you seen any Water Babies?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Yes. I have seen them often. But
I do not think much of them.
TOM
Why?
Polonius the Lobster continues to eat while he rudely
talks through mouthfuls, oblivious to his bad manners. He
is in a world of his own.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
They are meddlesome little
creatures.
42.
TOM
That can’t be so.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
It’s true! They go about helping
fish and shells which get into
scrapes.
TOM
And what is wrong with that?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Well, for my part, I should be
ashamed to be helped by little
soft creatures that have not even
a shell on their back.
TOM
I am a Water Baby.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Yes, I know! I recognized what
you are! As for me, I have lived
quite long enough in the world to
take care of myself.
Polonius dismisses Tom with one of his claws, and
resumes eating.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
The Professor's Catch and Ellie's Fall
EXT. SEASHORE/ROCK POOLS - SAME
Ellie and PROFESSOR MULBERRY, walk along the rocks,
near where Tom and Polonius the Lobster are situated.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Professor Mulberry was a Professor
at the university and also a friend
of Ellie’s Father.
ELLIE
I don’t care about all these
things because they can’t play
with me or talk to me.
The Professor turns to look at Ellie with great disapproval.
PROFESSOR
You should care.
ELLIE
If there were little children in
the water now and I could see
them, I should like that.
43.
PROFESSOR
Children in the water?
ELLIE
Yes. I know there are children
in the water and mermaids, too,
and mermen.
PROFESSOR
What makes you think that there
are children in the water?
ELLIE
I saw them all in a picture at
home, of a beautiful lady
surrounded by dolphins and with
babies sitting in her lap.
The Professor casts his hand held net into a rock pool.
PROFESSOR
You must show me this picture.
ELLIE
It hangs on the staircase. I have
dreamed about it a hundred times.
It is so beautiful that it must
be true.
PROFESSOR
No man is forced to believe
anything to be true, but what he
can see, hear, taste or handle.
ELLIE
But why are there not Water Babies?
PROFESSOR
Because there ain’t.
Tom gets caught in the hand held net. The Professor
pulls the net out of the water, and removes Tom.
PROFESSOR (CONT’D)
Dear me! What a large pink
Holothurian with hands, too. It
must be connected with Synapta.
The Professor moves his face closer to Tom, studying
him closely through his spectacles.
44.
PROFESSOR (CONT’D)
It has actual eyes! Why, it must
be a Cephalopod. This is most
extraordinary!
TOM
No, I ain’t.
ELLIE
It is a Water Baby.
PROFESSOR
Water-fiddlesticks, my dear. You
must have dreamed of Water Babies
last night, your head is so full of
them.
Tom bites the Professor’s finger. The Professor drops
Tom onto a bed of seaweed.
PROFESSOR
Oh! Ah! Yah!
ELLIE
But it was a Water Baby. I heard
it speak. Ah, it is gone!
Tom jumps from one rock to another before diving into the
ocean. Ellie hurries after Tom. She slips and hits her
head on a rock. The worried Professor moves towards her,
calling out to her.
PROFESSOR
Ellie! Ellie! Ellie!
There is no response from Ellie. She lies motionless on a
rock. The Professor lifts Ellie in his arms and begins
the walk to the Estate.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Children"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
The Lobster Pot Trap
INT. THE ESTATE/ELLIE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW
A FAIRY watches on....
The Professor and the Nanny look over Ellie as she lies in
bed. Ellie occasionally moves, remaining unconscious and
delirious. After a few moments the Professor and Nanny
exit the room.
The Fairy on the lookout, beckons the other Fairies to come
forth. The Fairies fly through the window. They place a
pair of wings on Ellie and hug her.
45.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And nobody heard or saw anything
of Ellie for a very long time. And
this is why they say that no one
has ever yet seen a Water Baby,
for the Fairies take them away.
The Fairies and Ellie fly out of the bedroom window.
INT/EXT. SEA - DAY
A round cage. Trapped in it, an ashamed Polonius the
Lobster, twiddling his claws furiously. Polonius
instantly recognises Tom, and waves a feeble hello with
one of his claws.
TOM
What? Have you been naughty and
have they put you in lock up?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
I can’t get out.
TOM
Why did you get in?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
After that nasty piece of dead
fish.
TOM
Where did you get in?
Polonius points to the top of the lobster pot.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Through that round hole at the top.
TOM
Then why don’t you get out
through it?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Because I can’t.
(moving his claws)
I have jumped upwards, downwards,
backwards and sideways, at least a
hundred times, and I can’t get out.
Tom inspects the lobster pot.
46.
TOM
Stop a bit. Turn your tail up to
me and I’ll pull you through.
Polonius turns his tail towards Tom, who attempts to pull
Polonius out from the top of the lobster pot, but instead
the Lobster accidentally pulls Tom into the lobster pot.
TOM
Hello! Here is a pretty business.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
What are we to do?
TOM
Now take your great claws and break
the points off those spikes, and
then we shall both get out easily.
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
Dear me! I never thought of that,
and after all the experience of
life that I have had!
The Mother Otter returns. A large grin on her face.
MOTHER OTTER
(to Tom)
Yar! You little meddlesome
wretch, I have you now. I will
serve you out for telling the
salmon where I was!
The Mother Otter climbs onto the lobster pot. She pushes
her head through the hole in the top of the lobster pot.
The Lobster grabs her nose and stubbornly holds on.
The Mother Otter squeezes into the pot. The Lobster tears
at the Mother Otter and the Mother Otter tears at the
Lobster. In the melee, they shove, push and thump Tom.
The need for an escape. Tom jumps onto the Mother Otter’s
back and climbs out of the top hole of the lobster pot.
Tom tries to help the Lobster get out by grabbing the tail
of the Lobster and attempting to pull him out. But the
Lobster holds onto the Mother Otter.
TOM
Come along, don’t you see she is
dead?
The Mother Otter is dead, but the Lobster does not let go. A
FISHERMAN begins to pull the lobster pot out of the water.
47.
TOM
Come along, you stupid old stick-
in-the-mud, or the fisherman will
catch you!
The lobster pot is hauled out of the water and left on
the boat’s side. Polonius sees the Fisherman and gives a
final snap on the lobster pot. Polonius escapes but
leaves his claw behind on the Mother Otter’s nose.
TOM
Why did you not let go?
POLONIUS THE LOBSTER
It was a matter of honor.
Polonius twiddles his one claw furiously.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
Tom Meets the Water Babies
EXT. SEASHORE/ROCK POOLS - DAY
Tom is exhausted from his searching journey. Finally, the
elusive Water Babies appear. As Tom starts to settle by
the rock pools he stumbles across WATER BABY #1 sitting on
the sand, busy working at a rock.
WATER BABY #1
Why, you are not one of us. I
have not seen you before. You are
a new baby!
TOM
Yes I am.
Tom and Water Baby #1 hug one another.
TOM
Oh, where have you been all this
time? I have been looking for you
for so long. I have been so lonely.
WATER BABY #1
We have been here for days. There
are hundreds of us about the rocks.
TOM
Hundreds you say?
WATER BABY #1
How was it you did not see us or
hear us when we sing?
48.
TOM
I have seen and heard things
like you.
Water Baby #1 continues to smooth the sand down around
the rock.
WATER BABY #1
Come and help me, or I shall not
finish before my brothers and
sisters return.
TOM
What shall I help you with?
WATER BABY #1
At this poor little rock. A
great clumsy boulder came
rolling by in the last storm.
TOM
What work is to be done now?
WATER BABY #1
Now I must plant it again with
seaweed and coralline.
Tom and Water Baby #1 plant seaweed and coralline around
the rock. They are both absorbed in the task.
MOMENTS LATER
Other WATER BABIES stream past, LAUGHING and
ENJOYING themselves.
WATER BABY #2
We must leave for home or the tide
will prevent us from doing so.
WATER BABY #1
We have put all the rock pools in
order and nobody will see where
the ugly storm swept in.
The Water Babies file one by one into the water, heading
in the direction of St. Branden’s Fairy Isle.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And this is the reason why the
rock pools are always so neat,
because the Water Babies come
onshore after every storm.
49.
The Water Babies swim in single file towards St.
Branden’s Fairy Isle.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
And where is the home of the
Water Babies? In St. Branden’s
Fairy Isle, of course!
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
The Punishing Fairy of St. Branden’s Isle
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - DAY
IMAGES of St. Branden’s Fairy Isle. A land sunk under the
waves and overgrown with plants. The isle’s roots are
made of caves.
The floors are kept clean by CRABS who eat all of the
scraps. As guards, there are many WATER SNAKES dressed
in green, red and yellow velvet.
Tom places pebbles in the SEA ANEMONES mouths, giggling
as he does so.
WATERBABY #2
Stop tormenting the sea animals.
Take care what you are at. Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid is coming.
Tom ignores the advice he is given. He is far too busy
enjoying his antics. He continues on scaring some crabs
into hiding under the sand by pulling funny faces.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But Tom never heeded the warnings he
received, till early one morning
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid arrived.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - DAY
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID is wearing a black bonnet, black
shawl and large green glasses. She has a large nose and
carries the Waterproof Gazette under her arm.
She inspects the Water Babies who all stand in a row, with
their hands behind their backs. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid
begins to give the Water Babies treats: sea cakes, sea
apples and sea toffee. Tom watches on, his mouth waters,
and his eyes grow round and large.
It is Tom’s turn. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid puts a pebble in
his mouth.
50.
TOM
You are a very cruel woman.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
And you are a very cruel boy.
TOM
I am not.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Who put pebbles into the sea
anemone’s mouths to take them in
and make them fancy that they
had caught a good dinner?
Tom frowns, perplexed at how Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid discovered his wrongdoing.
TOM
Who told you that?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You did yourself this very minute.
TOM
I did?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Yes, everyone tells me exactly
what they have done wrong, without
knowing it themselves.
(sighs)
So there is no use trying to
hide anything from me.
TOM
I will not do so.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid shakes her finger at Tom.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Now be a good boy and I will put
no more pebbles in your mouth.
TOM
Thank you.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
If you put none in other creatures.
TOM
I did not know there was any
harm in it.
51.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Then you know now.
TOM
Yes.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
People continually say that to me.
TOM
They do?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
The lobster did not know that
there was any harm in getting into
the lobster pot, but it caught him
all the same.
TOM
Dear me, she does know everything!
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid sits on a throne. She opens the
Waterproof Gazette and begins scanning the pages. Shifting
her attention back and forth from the newspaper to Tom.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
And so if you do not know that
things are wrong, that is no
reason why you should not be
punished for them.
TOM
Perhaps.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Though not as much, my little
man, as if you did know.
TOM
Well, you are a little hard.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Not at all. I am the best friend
you ever had in all your life.
TOM
I have never had a best friend.
The Water Babies move in closer to Tom and Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid, surrounding them. They are fascinated by
the exchange between Tom and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid and
watch them both eagerly.
52.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I cannot help punishing people
when they do wrong. I like it no
more than they do.
TOM
I am glad to hear of that!
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I am often very sorry for them. But
I cannot help it.
TOM
And why is that?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
For I work just like an engine.
The Water Babies exchange glances with one another. Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid puts the Waterproof Gazette down and
looks at Tom.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
(CONT’D) Full of wheels and springs and
am wound up, so that I cannot help
going.
TOM
Was it long ago since they wound
you up?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I was wound up once and for all,
so long ago that I forget all
about it.
TOM
Dear me, you must have been made
a long time ago!
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID I
never was made. I shall go on
forever, for I am as old as
Eternity, and yet as young as Time.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid looks away into the distance. A
sad and distracted look on her face.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID (CONT’D)
You thought me very ugly just now,
did you not?
Tom puts his head down. He blushes with shame.
53.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID (CONT’D)
I am very ugly. I am the ugliest
fairy in the world. And I shall
be, till people behave themselves.
TOM
Sorry.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
And then I shall grow as
handsome as my sister. Her name
is Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby.
TOM
You have a sister?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Yes. She begins where I end, and I
begin where she ends, and those
who will not listen to her must
listen to me.
TOM
And will I meet her?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Soon. Now, Tom, every Friday I
come down here and call up the
little children and serve them as
they served others.
The Water Babies groan in memory of her punishments. Tom,
suddenly scared, moves under a rock. Two crabs angrily
creep away.
TOM
Ma’am, may I ask you a question?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Certainly.
Slowly, meekly, Tom crawls out from under the rock. The
two crabs gleefully return to their place of comfort under
the rock.
TOM
Why don’t you bring all the bad
men here and serve them out, too?
All those, like Mr. Grimes.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I am familiar with him.
54.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I saw him fall into the water long
ago, so I expected him to be here.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I look after them all, and they
are in a very different place from
this because they knew that they
were doing wrong.
TOM
And what about chimney sweeps?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
As for chimney sweeps, my sister
has sent good people to stop
that sort of thing.
TOM
She has?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
And very much obliged to her I
am, for if she could only stop
the ill-use of poor children.
Tom claps his hands in delight and appreciation.
TOM
That would be marvelous.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I would grow handsome. And now, be
a good boy. Do as you would be
done by, which you did not.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
A Mother's Song in the Fairy Isle
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - DAY
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY, tall and attractive, is
surrounded by adoring Water Babies. The delighted
Water Babies dance and clap their hands.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
(to Tom)
And who are you, you little
darling?
WATER BABY #3
Oh, that is the new baby! He
never had a Mother.
55.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
Then I will be his Mother.
She takes Tom in her arms and whispers to him. Tom
becomes sleepy.
TOM
Don’t go away. This is so nice.
I never had any one to cuddle me
before.
WATER BABY #4
You have not sung us a song.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
Well, I have time for only one. So
what shall it be?
WATER BABIES
The doll you lost! The doll you
lost!
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
(singing)
I once had a sweet little doll,
dears, the prettiest doll in the
world.
The Water Babies place Tom in the middle of a
circle formation and dance around him.
(MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
Her cheeks were so red dears, and
her hair was so charmingly curled.
Tom dances with the Water Babies. The Crabs and Water
Snakes enter, drawn in by the song.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
But I lost my poor little doll
dears, as I played outside one day.
Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby lifts some Water Babies into
her arms.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
And I cried for her more than a
week, dears, but I never could
find where she lay.
56.
The Water Babies and Tom clap their hands to the rhythm
of the song. The Crabs and Water Snakes dance.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
I found my poor little doll, dears,
as I played outside one day.
OCTOPUS swim in, their arms swinging to the beat. The
Crabs, Water Snakes and Water Babies continue to dance,
this time performing moves in unison.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
Folks say she is terribly
changed, dears, for her paint is
all washed away. And her hair not
the least bit curled.
The Water Babies hug and kiss one another on the cheeks.
A number of Water Babies crowd around Tom, hugging him.
They overwhelm him.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
(singing)
Yet, for old sake’s sake she is
still, dears, the prettiest doll
in the world.
At the completion of the song the Water Babies
happily applaud.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY (CONT’D)
Now will you be a good boy for my
sake and torment no more sea
animals till I come back?
TOM
And you will cuddle me again?
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
Of course I will, you little duck. I
should like to take you with me,
only I cannot.
Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby kisses Tom on the forehead.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
So Tom really tried to behave and
tormented no creatures ever
again. Yet it was not enough to
keep him out of trouble.
57.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Musical"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
The Prickly Price of Greed
EXT/INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/SECRET ROOM -
Tom is obsessed with the sea sweets given by one of the Twin
Fairies. He has sneakily followed Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid to
discover the hiding place of the sweets.
Tom peering from the doorway into the secret room, sees
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid taking some sweets from a mother of
pearl cabinet. Mrs. Bedonebysasyoudid magically disappears
into thin air, leaving the cabinet unattended.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/SECRET ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Tom stands in front of the cabinet. The cabinet door is
unlocked, the door partially open. Tom pulls out sweets
and begins to consume them.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Some people may say, "But why
did she not keep the cupboard
locked?" It may seem a very
strange thing.
Unknown to Tom, a disappointed Mrs Bedonebyasyoudid is
watching him. Tom continues to greedily consume the sweets.
NARRATOR
(V.O.)(CONT’D) I am quite sure
that she knows best.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid takes off her spectacles, arches
her eyebrows. Her eyes are filled with tears.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
(to herself)
Ah, you poor little dear! You
are just like all the rest.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - DAY
It is a Friday. The Water Babies stand in a row with their
hands behind their backs. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid is handing
out sea sweets, in an orderly fashion, one by one.
Tom, covered in prickles due to the overconsumption of the
magical sea sweets, stands before her. Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid looks curiously at him and offers him
sweets. Scared, Tom shakes uncontrollably from head to toe.
58.
TOM
No, I don’t want any. I can’t
bear them now.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I should like to cuddle you, but
I cannot. You are so prickly.
Ashamed over his deceitful behavior, Tom starts crying.
TOM
I took sea sweets from the
hiding place.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I will forgive you. I always
forgive everyone the moment they
tell me the truth of their own
accord.
TOM
Then you will take away all
these nasty prickles?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
That is a very different matter.
You put them there yourself and
only you can take them away.
TOM
But how can I do that?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Well, I shall fetch you a teacher
who will show you how to get rid
of your prickles.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid clicks her fingers and disappears.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Children"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
The Water Baby Teacher
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - LATER
Tom is still covered in prickles, awaiting the return of
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid with his teacher. He is accompanied
by a Crab and a Water Snake.
CRAB
So you will be taking lessons soon.
TOM
Yes. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid will
be returning with a teacher.
59.
WATER SNAKE
Are you looking forward to it?
TOM
Anything to get rid of these
prickles.
CRAB
They are rather unsightly.
WATER SNAKE
Hideous.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid arrives with the teacher. To Tom’s
amazement, he discovers the teacher to be the young girl
from the Esate...Ellie. She is now a Water Baby too.
Smaller in size, with gills around her neck and dressed in
a one piece, with the same long flowing hair.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
There he is, and you must teach
him to be good, whether you like
it or not.
ELLIE
(begrudgingly)
I know!
Understanding Ellie’s dismay. Tom bursts into tears.
Will the prickles ever really go away?
TOM
Oh, please stay. Teach me how to be
good and help me cure my prickles.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/CLASSROOM - DAY
Ellie, stands in front of the classroom blackboard. Tom’s
prickles are still present. As Ellie studies Tom, a look
of recognition flits across Ellie’s face.
ELLIE
Dear me! Why, I know you now. You
are the chimney sweep who came
into my room.
TOM
And I know you, too, now. I saw
you at the Estate.
Tom walks away from his desk and excitedly moves to Ellie.
They begin to talk to one another in an animated manner.
60.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And they began telling each other
their stories. Then they set to work
at their lessons. They went on till
two years were past and gone.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/CLASSROOM - DAY
Tom is standing at the blackboard, working out the
solution to a mathematical problem. He turns to Ellie who
is seated at the front desk, curiosity fills him.
TOM
Where do you go to when you
leave here?
ELLIE
To a very beautiful place.
TOM
Where is this place and what is
it like?
ELLIE
It is the most beautiful place in
the world. It is worth all the
rest of the world put together.
TOM
Miss Ellie, I will know why I
cannot go with you when you go or
I shall have no peace and give you
none either.
ELLIE
You must ask the fairies that.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid magically appears, standing next
to Ellie. She has heard all of Tom’s wishes.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Little boys who are only fit to
play with sea animals cannot go
there.
TOM
Why can I not go there?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Those who go there, must go first
where they do not like and do what
they do not like, and help
somebody they do not like.
61.
ELLIE
Tom, I did not like coming here at
first. I was afraid of you, Tom,
at first, because...
TOM
Because I had prickles? But I am
not prickly now, am I, Miss Ellie?
ELLIE
No. I like you very much now and
I like coming here, too.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Perhaps you will learn to like
going where you don’t like and
helping someone that you don’t
like, as Ellie has.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Children"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Tom's Accusation and Ellie's Disappearance
INT. ST BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE - DAY
Tom sits within a cave looking forlorn. Crabs creep past
consuming debris. An Octopus teases Tom with his arms,
but he is not tempted to join in the play.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And all the while Tom was eaten
up with curiosity to know where
Ellie went after school.
Two Water Babies swim past, and try to entice Tom into
playing with them, but he refuses to participate.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
So he began to lose interest in the
sea palace and all its creatures.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/CLASSROOM - DAY
Ellie is seated at a desk in the front of the classroom.
Tom is busy, writing furiously in a notebook. He looks up
at Ellie.
TOM
Well, I am so miserable here. I’ll
go, if only you will go with me.
ELLIE
I wish I might, but the Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid says that you
must go alone.
62.
TOM
I know what she wants me to do.
She wants me to go after that
horrid Grimes!
Tom angrily closes his notebook, and throws his
pencil across the room. Ellie is startled by Tom’s
display of anger.
ELLIE
And how do you know that?
TOM
I don’t like him. And if I find
him, he will turn me into a
chimney sweep again. That’s what I
have been afraid of all along.
ELLIE
No, he won’t. I know as much as
that. Nobody can turn Water
Babies into sweeps or hurt them.
TOM
I see what you want! You are
persuading me to go because you
are tired of me and want to get
rid of me.
Ellie begins crying. Something is terribly wrong. But
what is it?
ELLIE
Tom, Tom! Tom! Where are you?
Ellie and Tom can no longer see each other. As Ellie is
calling Tom, her voice becomes fainter and fainter, until
it is replaced by a deathly quiet. Silence.
TOM
Oh, Ellie, where are you?
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
The Journey Begins
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/CAVES - MOMENTS LATER
Panic stricken and confused, Tom swims amongst the rocks
and caves, desperately looking for Ellie.
TOM
Ellie! Ellie! Ellie!
But Ellie is nowhere to be found. Only the ECHOES of
Tom’s voice resounding through the caves are heard.
63.
INT. ST. BRANDEN’S FAIRY ISLE/CAVES - LATER
Despair has taken over Tom as he sits beside a pillar,
crying. Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid appears, again, seemingly
out of nowhere.
TOM
Oh dear, oh dear! I have been
naughty and I have killed Ellie.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID Not
quite that, but I have sent her
away, and she will not come back
again for I do not know how long.
Grief is suddenly replaced by anger, and Tom glares
angrily at Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid.
TOM
How cruel of you to send Ellie
away!
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Pooh!
TOM
However, I will find her again,
if I have to go to the World’s
End to look for her.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid sits on a rock, and lifts Tom onto
her lap. She holds him close.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You must go out now and see the
world, if you intend ever to be a
man. And you must go by yourself.
TOM
All alone?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
As everyone else that ever was
born has to go and see with his
own eyes.
TOM
And what shall I see?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
There are many fine things to see
in the world. What a curious
place it is, if people would only
be brave, honest and good in it.
64.
TOM
I am frightened.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Do not be afraid of anything you
meet, for nothing will harm you.
TOM
How do you know?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
That my little man is a secret.
Just remember all your lessons
and do what you know is right.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid removes Tom from her lap, and
stands up. Tom has one final request.
TOM
Only if I might see Ellie once
before I went!
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Why do you want that?
TOM
Because...because I should be so
much happier if I thought she had
forgiven me.
Tom’s wish is granted, and Ellie suddenly
materializes, smiling at Tom.
TOM
I am going, Ellie! I am going if
it is to the World’s End. But I
don’t like going at all.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Pooh! Pooh! Pooh! You will like
it very well and you know that at
the bottom of your heart.
TOM
I know I won’t.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
But if you don’t, I will make
you like it.
TOM
Now, I am ready to be off, if
it’s to the World’s End.
65.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
That is a brave boy. But you must go
farther than the World’s End, if you
want to find Mr. Grimes, for he is
at the Other End of Nowhere.
TOM
Farther than the World’s End?
How can that be?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You must go to Shiny Wall, and
then you will come to Peacepool
and Mother Carey’s Haven.
TOM
And what should I do there?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
And there Mother Carey will tell
you the way to the Other End of
Nowhere, where you will find Mr.
Grimes.
Tom looks confused. How will he make the journey
without knowing any of the directions?
TOM
But I do not know my way to Shiny
Wall, or where it is at all!
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Little boys must take the trouble
to find out things for themselves,
or they will never grow to be men.
TOM
And how will I find my way?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You must ask all the creatures in
the sea and the birds in the air.
TOM
Well, it will be a long journey,
so I had better start at once.
(to Ellie)
Goodbye, Miss Ellie, you know I
must go out and see the world.
ELLIE
I know you must, but you will
not forget me, Tom. I shall wait
here till you come back.
66.
Ellie smiles, shakes hands with Tom and waves goodbye. Tom,
ever so determined to succeed, bravely waves farewell.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Here begins the account of the
wonderful things which Tom saw on
his journey to the Other End of
Nowhere.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
The Lullaby of the Sea
EXT/INT. SEA - DAY
An expanse of ocean blue, vast and rolling waves....A ship
with DOLPHINS swimming in circles around it. The
DOLPHINS leap in and out of the water.
TOM
Do you know the way to Shiny Wall?
DOLPHIN #1
Haven’t got a clue what that is.
DOLPHIN #2
Sorry we can’t help you.
DOLPHIN #1
Perhaps you could ask someone else.
EXT. SHIP DECK - MOMENTS LATER
On the ship deck stands a MOTHER holding a BABY. She
softly sings a song to her child.
MOTHER
(singing)
Soft, soft wind, from out of the
sweet south sliding.
Lovingly, the Baby touches his Mother’s face. Tom
listens intently, enchanted by the song. The Dolphins
perform somersaults.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
(singing)
Thin, thin threads of mist on
dewy fingers twining, weave a
veil of dappled gauze to shade my
baby and me.
Tom and the Dolphins sway to the music.
67.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
(singing)
Deep, deep Love, within your own
abyss abiding. Pour yourself
abroad, on earth and air and sea.
The Dolphins leap in and out of the water. Tom
whistles along to the song.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
(singing)
Worn weary hearts within hiding,
shield from sorrow, and grief my
helpless baby and me.
The Baby sees Tom, smiles and holds out his hands.
Tom smiles and waves to the Mother and child.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
(to the baby)
What do you see, my darling?
The Mother follows the gaze of the Baby and sees Tom.
She shrieks.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
Babies in the sea?
The Mother waves to Tom.
MOTHER (CONT’D)
Wait a little, darling, only a
little. Perhaps we shall go with
you.
The ship disappears into the horizon.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
The King's Cryptic Advice
INT. SEA/HERRING KINGDOM - DAY
The extravagant Herring Kingdom, all gold gilded furnishings
and edges. The castle is dripping in opulence....The KING OF
THE HERRINGS sits on a throne, with a spectacular crown
on his head. Perhaps now, Tom will find out the
directions he so desperately needs.
TOM
Your Royal Highness do you know
the directions to The Shiny Wall?
KING OF THE HERRINGS
No...If I were you, young
gentleman, I should go to the
(MORE)
68.
KING OF THE HERRINGS (CONT’D)
Allalonestone, and ask the last of
the Gairfowls.
TOM
And who is this Gairfowl?
KING OF THE HERRINGS
She is of a very ancient clan, very
nearly as ancient as my own.
A HERRING SERVANT enters and hands the King of the
Herrings a silver goblet filled with wine. The King Of
Herrings irritatingly waves the servant away.
TOM
How could she possibly help me?
KING OF THE HERRINGS
She knows a good deal what these
modern upstarts don’t.
TOM
Thank you.
Tom is about to leave when the King of the Herrings
calls out to him.
KING OF THE HERRINGS
I say, can you fly?
TOM
No.
KING OF THE HERRINGS
Because, if you can, I should
advise you to say nothing to the
old lady about it.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
The Lonely Gairfowl
EXT. ALLALONESTONE - DAY
Close up of the face of the GAIRFOWL, an old lady bird
creature. The camera pulls back to reveal the Gairfowl,
with a black velvet gown and spectacles, standing on a
rock. Instead of wings she has two little feathery arms.
GAIRFOWL
(singing and dancing) Two
little birds they sat on a stone.
One swam away and then there was
one. With a fal-lal-la-lady.
69.
The Gairfowl ignores Tom, too self absorbed in her song
and dance.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
(singing and dancing)
The other swam after and then
there was none. And so the poor
stone was left all alone. With a
fal-lal-la-lady.
Tom bows before her. The Gairfowl peers at Tom over
her spectacles.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
Have you wings? Can you fly?
TOM
Oh dear, no, ma’am. I should not
think of such a thing.
GAIRFOWL
Then I shall have great pleasure
in talking to you, my dear.
TOM
Likewise.
GAIRFOWL
(fanning herself)
It is quite refreshing nowadays
to see anything without wings.
Tom tries to talk but he cannot get a word in.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
They must all have wings now,
every new upstart sort of bird.
The Gairfowl stretches out her short feathery arms,
looking each arm over in turn.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
What can they want with flying
and raising themselves above
their proper station in life?
TOM
I’m sure I don’t know.
GAIRFOWL
(waving her arms wildly) In
the days of my ancestors, no
birds ever thought of having
wings and did very well without.
70.
TOM
I would imagine so.
GAIRFOWL
And now they all laugh at me
because I keep to the good old
fashioned ways.
TOM
Do you know the way to Shiny Wall?
GAIRFOWL
Shiny Wall? Who should know
better than I?
The Gairfowl glances in a mirror and adjusts her gown.
TOM
Have you been there?
GAIRFOWL
We all came from Shiny Wall
thousands of years ago.
TOM
What would be the way to Shiny
Wall?
GAIRFOWL
(ignoring Tom)
But now, what with these vulgar
winged things, gentle folk’s lives
are all spoiled, and one can
hardly venture off the rock.
TOM
Why can’t you leave the rock?
GAIRFOWL
Why for fear of being flown
against by some creature...what
was I saying?
The Gairfowl looks admiringly into the mirror, and
preens herself.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
I am the last of my family.
TOM
You are alone like me.
71.
GAIRFOWL
We came and settled on this rock
many years ago. But men shot us.
The Gairfowl imitates men shooting guns.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
And knocked us on the head and took
our eggs...but what was I saying?
TOM
I forgot.
GAIRFOWL
At last, there were none of us
left except on Gairfowlskerry,
which no man could climb. Even
there we had no peace.
TOM
No peace? What happened?
GAIRFOWL
For one day, the land rocked, the
sea boiled, and down tumbled the
old Gairfowlskerry into the sea.
The Gairfowl tumbles into the water and then returns
to perch upon the rock.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
The other birds of course, all flew
away. But we were too proud to do
that. Some of us were smashed to
pieces and others drowned.
TOM
How awful!
GAIRFOWL
I am told that another
Gairfowlskerry has risen out of
the sea close to the old one.
TOM
Perhaps you could return there?
GAIRFOWL
Oh no! It is such a poor flat
place that it is not safe to live
on. And so here I am left alone.
72.
TOM
If you only had wings, then you
might all have flown away, too.
The Gairfowl laughs bitterly.
GAIRFOWL
Yes, young gentleman. And with
such hindsight I should not have
been all alone now.
TOM
How is that, ma’am?
GAIRFOWL
Why, a gentleman came here and
after some time, he wanted to
marry me.
TOM
How wonderful!
GAIRFOWL
Well, I can’t blame him, I was
young and very handsome then, I
don’t deny.
TOM
You still are.
The Gairfowl looks at herself in the mirror, admiring
her image, and nodding in agreement.
GAIRFOWL
But you see, I could not hear of
such a thing because he was my
deceased sister’s husband, you see?
TOM
Of course not, ma’am. She was
very much diseased, I suppose?
GAIRFOWL
You do not understand me, my dear.
The Gairfowl accidentally falls into the water. She
gathers herself and then returns to the rock.
GAIRFOWL (CONT’D)
I mean that, being a lady, I felt
it my duty to snub him, and to
keep him at his proper distance.
73.
TOM
You did what you had to do. But
please which is the way to Shiny
Wall?
GAIRFOWL
I once pecked him a little too
hard. He tumbled backwards off
the rock, and really, it was very
unfortunate.
TOM
What was unfortunate?
GAIRFOWL
It was not my fault. A shark coming
by saw him and snapped him up.
TOM
Oh dear!
GAIRFOWL
Since then I have lived all alone.
The Gairfowl cries tears of oil.
TOM
I know what it is to be all
alone in the world.
GAIRFOWL
(crying)
And soon I shall be gone, and
nobody will miss me, and then the
poor stone will be left all alone.
TOM
But please, which is the way to
Shiny Wall?
GAIRFOWL
Oh, you must go, my little dear,
you must go.
TOM
Yes, I must.
GAIRFOWL
Let me see, I am sure...my poor old
brains are getting quite puzzled.
Tom is exasperated. He is unable to get the directions
from the Gairfowl to Shiny Wall.
74.
TOM
Please, I must know. I have to
reach Shiny Wall soon.
GAIRFOWL
Do you know, my little dear, I am
afraid, if you want to know, you
must ask some of these vulgar
birds, for I have quite forgotten.
A FLOCK of Mother Carey’s invented CHICKENS fly past.
TOM
(shouting)
Do you know the way to Shiny Wall?
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#1 Shiny Wall? Do you want Shiny
Wall? Then come with us and we
will show you.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 We are Mother Carey’s own
invented chickens and she sends us
out over all the seas.
Tom bows to farewell the Gairfowl.
GAIRFOWL
(singing)
And so the poor stone was left all
alone. With a fal-lal la-lady.
Tom swims to the flock of Mother Carey’s Invented Chickens.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN #1
First, we must go to Allfowlsness
and wait there for the great
gathering of all the birds.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 There we will be sure to find
some birds which are going to
Shiny Wall.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN #1
But you must promise, that you will
not tell anyone about Allfowlsness.
TOM
I won’t. But why?
75.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#1 So that people do not go there
and shoot the birds.
Tom climbs onto Mother Carey’s Chicken’s #1 back. They
fly through the sky in the direction of Allfowlsness.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
A New Ally: The Mollymawks
EXT. ALLFOWLSNESS - DAY
On the shore of Allfowlsness there are hundreds of BIRDS,
CHIRPING, QUACKING, and making a CACOPHONY of noise.
Swans, ducks, pelicans, crows, eagles, hawks, and swans
have gathered along the shore.
Mother Carey’s Chickens with Tom, fly in, and land on
the shore.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 Would anyone here going to
Shiny Wall, be willing to take
this one here, there with them?
BIRD #1
I am going to Spain.
BIRD #2
I’m flying to Canada.
BIRD #3
I am making my way to Japan.
BIRD #4
If only I could help you, but
I’m traveling to China.
BIRD #5
Italy.
BIRD #6
Australia.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#1 We will show you part of the
way, but we are only going as far
as Jan Mayen’s Land.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 After that, you’ll have to fend
for yourself.
76.
EXT. SKY - DAY
Mother Carey’s Chickens with Tom, fly across the bright
blue sky. In the distance, they spot a shipwreck.
EXT. SHIP DECK - MOMENTS LATER
Mother Carey’s Chickens leave Tom on the ship deck. It is
the same ship Tom saw earlier. As the birds look for
food, Tom spots a little cot. In it, the Baby, sleeps.
Tom nears the cot, but a small DOG appears and barks
aggressively at him, keeping Tom at bay. A huge sea wave
crashes onto the deck. The Baby and Dog are washed
overboard into the sea.
TOM
Oh, the baby, the baby!
EXT. SEA - CONTINUOUS
The Water Fairies arrive and magically turn the dog into a
WATER DOG. The Water Dog dances, and BARKS at the
JELLYFISH and MACKEREL. The Water Fairies take the Baby
away. Tom, aghast, looks on from the ship deck.
EXT. JAN MAYEN’S LAND - DAY
Mother Carey’s Chickens, Tom and the Water Dog, arrive
at Jan Mayen’s land, which is a rocky, and volcanic
island terrain. They land on the shore.
On the shore, A FLOCK of MOLLYMAWKS are busily eating a
dead whale. Tom and the Water Dog alight off Mother Carey’s
Chickens.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#1 These are the birds to show you
the way. We cannot help you
farther North.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 We don’t like to get among the
ice pack. But the mollies dare fly
anywhere.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN #1
Come, come, you lazy, greedy
lubbers.
77.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN
#2 This young gentleman is going
to Mother Carey.
MOTHER CAREY’S CHICKEN #1
And if you don’t attend to him, you
won’t earn your discharge from her.
MOLLYMAWK #2
Greedy we are, but lazy we ain’t.
MOLLYMAWK #1
And, as for lubbers, we’re no more
lubbers than you. Let’s have a
look at the kid.
Mollymawk #1 flies into Tom’s face and closely
scrutinizes him. After a few moments, satisfied by what
he sees, he addresses the other Mollymawks.
MOLLYMAWK #1 (CONT’D)
Come along. We’ve eaten enough
blubber for today. We will work
out a bit of our time by helping
the kid.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
The Mollymawks' Redemption
EXT. THE SKY - DAY
The Mollymawks fly across the sky with Tom and the Water
Dog on their backs. It is a sunny, light filled day. Tom,
is curious about his guides.
TOM
Who are you, you jolly birds?
MOLLYMAWK #1
We are the spirits of the old
skippers who hunted whales
hundreds of years ago.
MOLLYMAWK #2
But because we were greedy, we
were all turned into mollies, to
eat whale’s blubber all our days.
MOLLYMAWK #1
But lubbers we are none and could
sail a ship now against any man
in the seas.
78.
MOLLYMAWK #2
And it’s a shame of those imps
to call us so.
MOLLYMAWK #1
But because they’re Mother
Carey’s pets, they think they may
say anything they like.
TOM
And what is your name?
MOLLYMAWK #1
My name is Hendrick Hudson, and a
right good skipper was I. And my
name will last to the world’s end,
in spite of all the wrong I did.
They fly over giant icebergs. There are shipwrecks
amongst the icebergs.
TOM
And what wrong did you commit?
MOLLYMAWK #1
I was a hard man in my time. I
was so cruel to my sailors, that
they set me adrift in a boat.
MOLLYMAWK #2
So now he is the King of all
Mollies, till he works out his
time.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Mother Carey's Haven
EXT/INT. THE SHINY WALL - DAY
Arriving at the Shiny Wall...the Water Dog and Tom
alight from the Mollymawks. Tom looks around but cannot
see the Shiny Wall. He is confused.
TOM
And where is the Shiny Wall?
MOLLYMAWK #2
Down there.
TOM
What am I to do?
MOLLYMAWK #1
Dive under the flow, to be sure,
if you have courage.
79.
TOM
I’ve not come so far to turn
back now, so here goes.
MOLLYMAWK #2
A lucky voyage to you! We knew
you were one of the right sort.
So goodbye.
TOM
Why don’t you come, too?
MOLLYMAWK #1
We can’t go yet! We can’t go yet!
Tom and the Water Dog dive down under the water towards
the Shiny Wall.
INT. BOTTOM OF THE SEA - MOMENTS LATER
Tom and the Water Dog swim in the lower depths of the sea.
Vast and deep expanse of blue.
INT. MOTHER CAREY’S HAVEN - DAY
Tom and the Water Dog surface at Mother Carey’s Haven. A
large town, carved from ice. An enormous pool, sits in
the middle of the town. This is Peacepool.
There are a number of WHALES in Peacepool. Tom
approaches one whale.
TOM
Which is the way to Mother Carey?
WHALE
There she sits in the middle.
Tom can only see an iceberg in the middle of the pool.
He looks puzzled. The whale notices Tom’s confusion.
WHALE
That’s Mother Carey, as you will
find when you get to her. There
she sits making old creatures into
new all year round.
TOM
How does she do that?
80.
WHALE
That’s her concern, not mine.
The Whale yawns so wide that JELLY FISH swim into his mouth.
TOM
I suppose she cuts up a great whale
like you into a group of porpoises?
The Whale LAUGHS so hard that the grateful jelly fish
are expelled from his mouth.
Tom approaches the iceberg. He sees that it is a lady made of
marble, sitting on a marble throne. From the feet of the
throne, newborn CREATURES made from sea water swim away.
MOTHER CAREY, a very old lady, sits on a throne with
her chin in her hand, looking down at Tom with two big
blue eyes.
MOTHER CAREY
What do you want, my child? It is
long since I have seen a
Waterbaby here.
Tom bows solemnly before Mother Carey.
TOM
I need to get to the Other End of
Nowhere. How do I reach it?
MOTHER CAREY
You ought to know yourself, for
you have been there already.
TOM
Have I? I’m sure I forgot all
about it.
MOTHER CAREY
Then look at me.
Tom looks into her big blue eyes, he recalls the
directions to The Other End of Nowhere.
TOM
Thank you. Then I won’t trouble you
anymore. I hear you are very busy.
MOTHER CAREY
I am never more busy than I am now.
81.
TOM
I heard, that you are always
making new animals out of old.
MOTHER CAREY
(laughs)
Some may fancy. But I am not going
to trouble myself to make things.
I sit here and make them make
themselves.
TOM
You are a clever fairy, indeed.
MOTHER CAREY
(laughs)
Know, silly child, that anyone can
make things, if they will take
time and trouble enough.
TOM
You mean, me too?
MOTHER CAREY
But it is not everyone who, like
me, can make things make
themselves.
TOM
I would like to know how to do
that.
MOTHER CAREY
And now, you are sure you know the
way to the Other End of Nowhere?
Tom suddenly finds himself dumbfounded. He has forgotten
the directions. Tom shakes his head.
MOTHER CAREY
That is because you took your
eyes off me.
Tom looks into Mother Carey’s eyes and recalls how to
reach The Other End of Nowhere. As he looks away from her,
he forgets the directions.
TOM
But what am I to do? For I can’t
keep looking at you.
82.
MOTHER CAREY
You must do without me, as most
people have to do, for most of
their lives.
Tom is bewildered by his dilemma. What is he to do?
TOM
Who will guide the way?
MOTHER CAREY
Look at the dog instead, for he
knows the way well enough and
will not forget it.
Mother Carey places a necklace around Tom’s neck. Tom
gingerly touches it. He has never been given such a
fine gift before.
TOM
And what is this for?
MOTHER CAREY
You may meet some ill-tempered
people, who will not let you pass
without this passport of mine.
TOM
Thank you.
MOTHER CAREY
Especially keep your eye on the
dog, who goes by instinct and
therefore can’t go wrong.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And so, Tom and the Water Dog
set forth and visited many
strange places on their way to
The Other End of Nowhere. A few
of these places you will now see
for yourself....
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
The Bogy and the Gold Dust
INT. BOTTOM OF THE SEA - LATER
Super: Bottom of the Sea
Tom follows the Water Dog, along the sandy ocean floor. They
arrive at a large hole in the bottom of the sea, and stop. Tom
peers over the hole, where hot water and steam gush upwards
into the sea with a very loud sound of HISSING.
83.
Pebbles fly upwards from the hole, and hit Tom in the
face. The steam, as it rushes out, collects mud, and
stones which it throws upwards. Repeating again and again.
Parts of the ground are torn and flung into the sea. Tom
is suddenly and vigorously tossed through the sea.
Tom lands at the feet of a BOGY. The Bogy has many wings.
In its stomach are a pair of eyes and its mouth.
BOGY
What do you want here, getting
in my way?
TOM
I am on a mission to get to The
Other End of Nowhere. I have been
sent by Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid.
BOGY
I am too old to be taken in that
way. You are here after gold. I
know that for certain.
TOM
Gold! What is gold?
The Bogy swims above the hole. As the steam rises, the
Bogy smells the steam with his nostrils. When the steam
moves through his opened wings, gold dust falls from them.
The Bogy spins round and round very fast.
BOGY
Now is your time, youngster, to
get down, if you are in earnest,
which I don’t believe.
TOM
You’ll soon see.
Tom and the Water Dog jump down the hole.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
The Sea of Laputa Library and the Overworked Creatures
EXT. THE WORLD OF LITTLE PEOPLE - DAY
Super: The World of Little People
Tom and the Water Dog are washed ashore onto The World of
Little People. Books lie in piles of hills. Tom sees
LITTLE PEOPLE writing and reading little books.
84.
LITTLE PERSON #1
You mustn’t go West, I tell you.
It is destruction to go West.
TOM
But I am not going West.
LITTLE PERSON #2
The East lies here, my dear. I
assure you this is the East.
TOM
But I don’t want to go East.
LITTLE PERSON #3
Well then at all events,
whichever way you are going, you
are going wrong.
Tom is confused by all of the directions and
instructions that he is receiving.
LITTLE PERSON #4
Hush all! I cannot concentrate
on my reading.
LITTLE PERSON #1
Look ahead, only look ahead and
we will show you what you never
saw before.
LITTLE PERSON #2
I can see quite plainly you are
a very naughty Water Baby!
Tom looks on helplessly.
LITTLE PERSON #3
We will hang your dog for your
insolence.
Tom and the Water Dog hurriedly make an escape.
INT. SEA OF LAPUTA/LIBRARY - DAY
Super: Sea of Laputa
A neat library...row upon row of books...A SWORDFISH,
HARP SEAL and BLUR MARLIN are seated around a large study
desk covered with open books, pens and paper. They are
hard at work.
85.
Tom and the Water Dog stand near them, ignored for a
few moments until the Water Dog starts barking.
SWORDFISH
I can’t learn my lesson, the
examiner is coming. I can’t learn
my lesson. Do come and help me.
The Harp Seal beckons for Tom to come closer.
HARP SEAL
Can you show me how to extract
this square root?
TOM
And what good on earth will it
do you if I did tell you?
The Harp Seal excitedly jumps up and down in his seat.
HARP SEAL
The Examiner will be comimg soon!
The Examiner will be coming soon!
BLUE MARLIN
Can you tell me the name of the
place that nobody ever heard of,
where nothing ever happened, in
a country which has not been
discovered yet?
HARP SEAL
Can you tell me anything at all,
about anything you like?
TOM
About what?
HARP SEAL
About anything you like. For as
fast as I learn things, I forget
them again.
Overwhelmed, Tom and the Water Dog begin to walk away
when Tom stumbles over a SEA TURTLE.
SEA TURTLE
I do apologize on their behalf.
TOM
What happened to them?
86.
SEA TURTLE
You see, there were many
delightful creatures here once,
and might have been so still, if
they had only been handed over to
me at the Sea of Laputa.
TOM
And why were they not handed to
you?
SEA TURTLE
(angrily)
Their foolish parents, instead of
letting them pick flowers, and
dance as little creatures should,
kept them always at lessons.
TOM
I have never had parents. No one
has ever kept me at lessons.
SEA TURTLE
Working, working, working.
TOM
If dear Mrs.
Doasyouwouldbedoneby knew of it,
she would fix everything.
SEA TURTLE
It would be of no use. They can’t
play now even if they tried.
TOM
Poor things.
SEA TURTLE
But the Examiner of all Examiners
will be here soon. So you had
better get away, or he will
examine you and your dog.
TOM
Yes, we better go.
SEA TURTLE
There is no escaping out of his
hands.
TOM
We’ll be on our way.
87.
SEA TURTLE
But when he is thrashed, so Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid has promised me,
I shall be pleased.
The Sea Turtle smiles with satisfaction, at the thought
of the Examiner being punished.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
The Backward Giant
EXT. THE GREAT LAND OF HEARSAY - DAY
Super: The Great Land of Hearsay
MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN SCREAM and run from a GIANT, who
holds a large butterfly net. The Giant’s clothes, are
full of pockets and brimming with bottles, microscopes,
telescopes and boxes.
The Giant is running backwards. Tom darts between his legs.
GIANT
What? Who are you? And why don’t
you run away like all the rest?
The Giant takes out a bottle from his pocket, and
attempts to collect Tom.
TOM
No, no, no! I’ve been round the
world and through the world-
GIANT
Ah, I would like to travel the
world.
TOM
And up to Mother Carey’s Haven,
beside being caught in a net and
called a Holothurian, to be
bottled up by a giant like you!
The Giant puts away his bottle in one of his pockets.
GIANT
Ah, you lucky little dog! If I
had only been where you have
been, to see what you have seen!
The Giant rummages through his pockets, looking
for something to eat.
88.
TOM
Well, if you want to do that, you
had best turn into a Water Baby.
GIANT
Turn into a baby, eh? What an
extraordinary idea!
TOM
Yes.
GIANT
If I could do that, and know what
was happening to me, I should
know everything then. But I
can’t. Ah, you lucky little dog!
Taking an enormous chocolate biscuit out of one of his
pockets, the Giant begins to eat. Biscuit pieces rain
down on Tom.
TOM
But why do you run after all
these poor people?
GIANT
My dear, it’s they that have been
running after me, for hundreds
and hundreds of years.
TOM
Hundreds of years? You must be
very old!
GIANT
Throwing stones at me till they
have knocked off my spectacles
and calling me a malignant.
(slapping his face)
Goodness only knows what they mean!
TOM
It is not a compliment. I know
something about being called
names. Mr. Grimes-
GIANT
And hunting me round and round,
though catch me they can’t, for
every time I go over the same
ground, I go faster.
89.
TOM
That is certainly an advantage.
GIANT
While all I want is to be
friends with them and to tell
them something beneficial.
TOM
That is very considerate.
GIANT
But I suppose I am not a man of
the world and have no tact.
The Giant takes a large handkerchief out from a pocket,
and dabs at his tear-filled eyes.
TOM
But why don’t you turn round and
tell them so?
GIANT
Because I can’t. You see, I must go
backwards, if I am to go at all.
TOM
But why don’t you stop and let
them come up to you?
GIANT
Well, only think. If I did, all
the animals would fly past me and
then I should catch no more new
species.
TOM
What would be so wrong if that
occurred?
GIANT
I would grow rusty, moldy and die.
The Giant shudders at the thought of dying, and wipes
his eyes with the large handkerchief.
TOM
You wouldn’t want that.
GIANT
I don’t intend to do that, my
dear. For I have a destiny before
me. Though what it is I don’t know
and don’t care.
90.
TOM
Don’t care?
GIANT
No. Do the duty which lies nearest
you, and catch the first beetle
you come across is my motto.
The Giant puts his handkerchief back into an
overflowing pocket.
TOM
Strange motto.
GIANT
And I have thrived by it for some
hundred years. Now I must go on.
TOM
So must I.
The Giant walks backwards, and runs into the steeple of
a church. The steeple crashes to the ground.
The Giant pokes around the rubble at his feet. He lifts
a few specimens out from the rubble. The Giant takes a
magnifying glass from his pocket, and peers through it,
studying the specimens.
GIANT
An entirely new Oniscus and
three obscure Podurellae!
TOM
What are you saying?
The roof of the church caves in. A PRIEST and SHRIEKING
CHURCH GOERS run out of the doors, and jump out of the
windows. Out of the dust flies a BAT. The Giant catches
and bottles it.
GIANT
This is even more important! Here
is a species which many insist is
confined to the Buddhist temples
of Tibet.
The Giant begins to run after the people. The people
begin to run after the Giant.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And many other adventures followed
until Tom and the Water Dog
reached The Other End of Nowhere.
91.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
The Tears of Redemption
EXT. THE OTHER END OF NOWHERE/PRISON - DAY
GUARD #1, stands before the prison door. Tom and the
Water Dog approach the stern looking Guard #1.
GUARD #1
What business have you here?
TOM
I am here to see Mr. Grimes. Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid sent me. I have
a pass from Mother Carey.
Tom fearfully holds up the necklace for Guard #1,
who inspects it carefully.
GUARD #1
All right, pass on. I had better
go with you, young man.
INT. THE OTHER END OF NOWHERE/PRISON - MOMENTS LATER
Tom, Guard #1 and the Water Dog move down a long hallway
arriving at an iron door. Guard #1 presses a doorbell.
GUARD #2 opens the iron door.
GUARD #2
What case is this?
GUARD #1
If you please, it is no case.
Only a young gentleman who wants
to see Grimes.
GUARD #2
Grimes? Grimes is up chimney number
345. Come along, but it will be
of no use.
TOM
Why?
GUARD #2
He is the least remorseful, most
hard-hearted, foul-mouthed man
here.
TOM
It sounds like nothing has changed.
92.
GUARD #2
He thinks about nothing but beer
and pipes, which are not allowed
here.
INT. CHIMNEY NO. 345/PRISON - LATER
Mr. Grimes is held firmly in place in a chimney enclosure
made of mortar and bricks. Mr. Grimes is attempting to
light his pipe.
GUARD #2
Attention, Mr. Grimes, here is a
gentleman who has come to see you.
MR. GRIMES
My pipe won’t draw. My pipe won’t
draw.
GUARD #2
Keep a civil tongue and attend!
Guard #2 hits Mr. Grimes over the head.
MR. GRIMES
Hey! Why, it’s Tom! I suppose you
have come here to laugh at me,
you spiteful little-
TOM
No, Mr. Grimes it is not so.
MR. GRIMES
I don’t want anything except
beer, and that I can’t get, and
to light this pipe, and that I
can’t get either.
TOM
I’ll get you one.
Tom picks up some live coal to light the pipe, but it
is extinguished.
GUARD #2
It is no use. His heart is so
cold that it freezes everything
that comes near him.
MR. GRIMES
Everything is always my fault.
You know, if my arms were only
free, you dare not hit me!
93.
Mr. Grimes rubs his sore head.
TOM
But can’t I help you in any
other way? Can’t I help you get
out of this chimney?
GUARD #2
No, he has come to the place
where everybody must help
themselves. It’s all up to him.
MR. GRIMES
Oh, yes, of course, it’s me. Did
I ask to be brought here into the
prison? Did I ask to be set to
sweep your foul chimneys?
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid magically appears. The Guards
bow respectfully to her.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
No. No more than did Tom, when
you behaved to him in the very
same way.
TOM
Oh, don’t think about me. That’s
all past and gone. Good times, bad
times and all times pass over.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You are a kind hearted young man.
TOM
May I help poor Mr. Grimes? May not
I try and get some of these bricks
away that he may move his arms?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You may try, if you like.
Tom pulls at the bricks with all his strength, but
the attempts prove futile. The enclosure around
Grimes is unmoveable.
TOM
I have come all this way, to help
you, and now I am of no use at all.
MR. GRIMES
You had best leave me alone. You are
a forgiving boy, but you’d best be
off. The hails coming soon.
94.
TOM
What hail?
MR. GRIMES
Why, the hail that falls every
evening here. It drops on my
head and knocks me about.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
That hail will never come any more.
I have told you before what it was.
MR. GRIMES
I have forgotten your words.
Guard #2 attempts to strike Mr. Grimes, but Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid catches his arm, and stops him.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
It was your Mother’s tears, those
which she shed for you, but your
cold heart froze it into hail.
MR. GRIMES
Why will the hail end?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Because she is gone to heaven
now and will weep no more for
her graceless son.
MR. GRIMES
So my old Mother’s gone, and I was
never there for her! A good woman
she was, and might have been a
happy one in her school in
Vendale, if it hadn’t been for me
and my bad ways.
Tom gasps, recalling his memory of the Old Lady
from Vendale.
TOM
Why I met your Mother. But she
wasn’t very fond of chimney sweeps.
MR. GRIMES
She had good reason to hate the
sight of a chimney sweep.
TOM
Why was that Mr. Grimes?
95.
MR. GRIMES
I ran away from her and took up with
the sweeps and never let her know
where I was, nor sent a dollar to
help her. Now it’s too late.
Mr. Grimes cries. His pipe drops out of his mouth, falls
to the ground, and breaks.
MR. GRIMES
Oh, dear, if I was but a little
one again, how differently I would
go on! But it’s too late now.
TOM
Don’t cry, Mr. Grimes.
The two Guards stare angrily at Mr. Grimes.
MR. GRIMES
So you go along, you kind little
one.
TOM
You will get out of here.
MR. GRIMES
But I’m beat now. It’s all my
own fault, but it’s too late.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Never too late.
Mr. Grimes’ tears wash the soot off his face, and make the
mortar melt, so that he is freed from his chimney cell.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Will you obey me if I give you a
chance?
MR. GRIMES
As you please. You’re stronger
and wiser than me.
MRS BEDONEBYASYOUDID Be
it so then, you may come out. But
remember, disobey me again, and
into a worse place you will go.
MR. GRIMES
But I never disobeyed you. I
never had the honor of setting
eyes upon you, till I came here.
96.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Never saw me? Who said to you
those that will be foul, foul they
will be?
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid has transformed into the Irish Woman.
Mr. Grimes gasps.
MRS BEDONEBYASYOUDID/IRISH
WOMAN I gave you your warning then. Every
bad word that you said, every
cruel thing that you did, you were
disobeying me.
MR. GRIMES
If I’d only known.
The Irish Woman alters back into the form of Mrs.
Bedonebysasyoudid.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
You knew well enough that you
were disobeying something.
(to the Guards)
Take him away and give him his
ticket of leave.
Guard #1 handcuffs Mr. Grimes.
GUARD #2
And what is he to do, ma’am?
MRS BEDONEBYASYOUDID Get
him to sweep out the crater of
Etna. He will find some men there,
who will teach him the business.
GUARD #2
Yes, ma’am.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
But mind, if that crater gets
choked again, and there is an
earthquake, I shall investigate.
Mr. Grimes is led away by the two Guards.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID (CONT’D)
Tom, your work here is done. You
may as well go back.
97.
TOM
I shall be glad to go.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
I will take you up the
backstairs, but I must bandage
your eyes first.
TOM
Why?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
For I never allow anybody to see
those backstairs of mine.
Two sets of white bandages magically appear in Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid’s hands.
TOM
I am sure I shall not tell anybody
about them, if you bid me not.
MRS BEDONEBYASYOUDID So
you think, my little man. But you
would soon forget your promise if
you got back into the land world.
TOM
I shall not forget my promise to
you.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
If people only once found out
that you had been up my
backstairs, you would have them
emptying their pockets and
offering you place and power.
TOM
I am sure that would not happen.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Crying to you, "Only tell us the
backstairs secret. Save us from
the consequences of our own
actions, and from the cruel fairy,
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid!"
TOM
I would not say a word.
98.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Do you not think that you would
be a little tempted then to tell
what you know?
TOM
But why would they so want to
know about the backstairs?
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
That I shall not tell you. So come
now, I must bandage your eyes.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid wraps bandages around Tom’s eyes
and then the Water Dog’s eyes.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
The Queen Revealed
EXT. ST. BRANDEN’S ISLE - MOMENTS LATER
Tom and the Water Dog have returned back to the
magnificence of St. Branden’s Isle. The Water Babies
APPLAUD and CHEER at Tom’s return from his journey. Mrs.
Bedonebyasyoudid removes the bandages from Tom’s eyes.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Now, you are safe up the stairs.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid unwraps the bandages from around
the Water Dog’s eyes.
Tom sees Ellie sitting on a rock. How he has missed her!
TOM
Oh, Miss Ellie! It is good to be
back.
Ellie stands and walks to Tom. She is delighted at
his return.
ELLIE
Tom, it’s so good to see you
again! I have been sitting here
waiting for you for so long, till
I thought you were never coming.
TOM
I held the same fears.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Attention, children. Are you
never going to look at me again?
99.
ELLIE
We have been looking at you all
this while.
MRS. BEDONEBYASYOUDID
Then look at me once more.
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid is now Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby.
Ellie is astounded.
ELLIE
Oh, who are you, after all?
TOM
You are our dear Mrs.
Doasyouwouldbedoneby.
MRS. DOASYOUWOULDBEDONEBY
To you, but look again.
Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby is now Mother Carey.
TOM
You are Mother Carey.
MOTHER CAREY
To you, but look again.
Mother Carey is now the Irish Woman.
TOM
You are the Irish Woman who met
me the day I went to Harthover!
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And when they looked again, she
was neither of them and yet all of
them at once.
The Irish Woman is now the Queen of the Fairies.
QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES
My name is written in my eyes.
Now read my name.
A dazzling strong light shines so bright that Ellie and
Tom cannot read her name.
QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES (CONT’D)
Not yet, young things, not yet.
Ellie and Tom exchange glances and hold hands. The Water
Dog barks.
100.
QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES (CONT’D)
Tom has won and become fit to go
with you, and be a man because he
has done the thing that he did
not like.
Genres:
["Fantasy","Adventure","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
A Fairytale Come True
EXT. THE ESTATE - DAY - YEARS LATER
The grandeur of the mansion at the Estate is bathed
in sunlight. A team of GARDENERS tend to the garden.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
So Tom went home with Ellie. And he
is now a great man of science. And
knows everything about everything.
INT. THE ESTATE/STUDY ROOM - DAY
Within an elegant large room with a marble fireplace, and
beautiful furnishings, ADULT TOM, now a young man in his late
twenties, is seated at a desk cluttered with books and
papers. Ellie is seated on a fancy chair, reading a book.
Their TODDLER sitting on the floor, plays with her toys.
NARRATOR (V.O.)(CONT’D)
But remember always that this is a
fairytale and only fun and
pretense, and therefore you are
not to believe a word of it...even
if it is true.
FADE OUT.