Coraline Page #5

CORALINE:

(to herself)

Huh... a little me? That’s weird.

She crumples the note, both annoyed and charmed.

MEL:

What’s his name, anyway?

CORALINE:

Wybie. And I’m way too old for dolls.

But Coraline takes it with her and leaves the room.

INT. STUDY - SAME

CHARLIE Jones, 40, goose-necked and gangly with thinning

dark hair, HUNT-AND-PECKS at his ancient computer,

surrounded by boxes of GARDENING MAGAZINES and empty

coffee cups. Coraline, with doll, opens the SQUEAKY DOOR.

He doesn’t turn.

CORALINE:

Hey Dad, how’s the writing going?... Dad?

He ignores her reflection in his computer screen as he

types away, green letters on black. She CLEARS HER

THROAT.

CHARLIE:

Hello, Coraline...

(notices doll’s reflection)

And... Coraline doll?...

CORALINE:

D’you know where the garden tools are?

He hears rain outside.

CHARLIE:

It’s pouring out there, isn’t it.

CORALINE:

Humph, it’s just raining.

CHARLIE:

What’d the boss say?

CORALINE:

(mocking)

“Don’t even think about going out,

Coraline Jones.”

CHARLIE:

Then you won’t need the tools.

Coraline GROANS, stamps her feet. Charlie just taps

harder on the keys. Pouting, she makes the door squeak,

opening and shutting it till he can’t take any more. He

spins around.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

Uhhh, you know, this house is a hundred

and fifty years old.

CORALINE:

So?

CHARLIE:

So explore it!

He grabs a pen and pad, holds it out.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

Go out and ... count all the doors and

windows and write that down. List

everything blue!

(begging)

Just let me work.

She rolls her eyes, takes paper and pen and leaves.

MONTAGE, VARIOUS - SAME

HALLWAY NEAR STAIRS

Coraline, with doll, jumps on BUMP in carpet that moves

with each jump.

LAUNDRY ROOM/WINTER GARDEN

She wipes off the misted glass so she and the doll can

see out, then writes in her pad: 7 leaky windows. A drop

of water lands on the pad, smearing the ink. She adds

really between 7 and leaky windows.

HALLWAY NEAR STAIRS

Coraline thumps the carpet bump again and pounds up the

stairs.

PARENT'S ROOM/BATHROOM

A FRAMED PHOTO sits in the foreground on a beside table.

It shows a younger, happier Coraline with her parents by

the BEAR FOUNTAIN at the Detroit Zoo. RACK FOCUS to

bedroom door as it swings into the room, with Coraline

hanging on it. She drops to the ground and, doll and pad

in hand, decides to check out the bathroom.

When she pulls aside the mildewed shower curtain she

finds a hundred skittering SILVERFISH BUGS.

CORALINE:

Ewww!

Disgusted, she jumps into the tub and smashes as many as

she can.

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