Atreyu:

The Neverending Story Script Page 6 of 6

Good old Falkor, can you see anything ? Anything at all ?

Falkor:

No, all the land is gone.

Atreyu:

I know, and all because I failed.

Falkor:

You tried.

Atreyu:

Do you suppose the Ivory Tower is still standing?

Falkor:

Let's hope so, Atreyu. Let's hope so.

Atreyu looks down at the amulet dangling from his neck, and gets an idea that might just help them.

Atreyu:

Let the Auryn guide you.

(He clutches the medallion with his hands )

If the Ivory Tower still stands take us there.

CLOSE UP-

VIEW-

The Auryn starts glowing and the fragments move, behind them standing in all its glory is the ivory tower.

Atreyu:

Falkor ! The Ivory Tower !

They approach the tower. And it appears to have been spared by the Nothing. We span over all its beautiful features before we come to rest at the court before the Empresss chamber.

VIEW- Bastian. He leans forward and whispers

Bastian:

The Empress

VIEW-

Atreyu walks up the stairs that lead to the Empress's room. The chamber door begins to open. He pauses and looks back at Falkor.

Falkor:

Go on.

He enters the room and the door closes behind him. Before him was the Childlike Empress in person. She sits silently on her bed, her gaze never leaves Atreyu.

Childlike Empress:

Atreyu, why do you look so sad?

He takes off the Auryn and hands it to her. She looks at it, and then him for an explanation.

Atreyu:

I have failed you Empress.

Childlike Empress:

No, you haven't. You've brought him with you.

Atreyu:

Who ?

Childlike Empress:

The Earthling child. The one who can save us all.

The Neverending Story Script Page 6 of 6

Atreyu:

You knew about the Earthling child ?!

Childlike Empress:

Of course. I knew everything.

(Atreyu grows angry with her)

Atreyu:

My horse died, I nearly drowned, and I just barely got away from the nothing. For what ?! To find out what you already knew ?!

Childlike Empress:

It was the only way to get in touch with an Earthling.

Atreyu:

But I didn't get in touch with an Earthling !

Childlike Empress:

Yes, you did.

Bastian sits up slowly as we hear what she's saying.

Childlike Empress:

He has suffered with you. He went through everything you went through. And now, he has come here with you. He's very close. Listening to every word that we say.

Atreyu looks around, as does she.

Bastian:

What ?!

Two fragments of Fantasia collide and explode shaking the Tower Violently.

Atreyu:

Where is he ? If he's so close, why doesn't he arrive ?!

Childlike Empress:

He doesn't realize that he's already a part of the Neverending Story.

Atreyu:

The Neverending Story, what's that ?

Childlike Empress:

Just as he is sharing all your adventures, other's are sharing his. They were with him when he hid from the boys in the bookstore.

Bastian:

But that's impossible!

Childlike Empress:

They were with him when he took the book with the Auryn symbol on the cover, in which he's reading his own story right now.

Bastian:

I can't believe it, they can't be talking about me.

The Ivory Tower cracks. Atreyu turns around to see where it cracked, then he turns back to the Empress.

Atreyu:

What will happen if he doesn't appear?!

Childlike Empress:

Then our world will disappear, and so will I.

Atreyu:

How can he let that happen ?!

Childlike Empress:

He doesn't understand that he's the one who has the power to stop it. He simply can't imagine that one little boy could be that important.

Bastian:

Is it really me ?

Atreyu:

Maybe he doesn't know what he has to do !

Bastian:

What do I have to do ?!

Childlike Empress:

He has to give me a new name. He's already chosen it, he just has to call it out.

Bastian:

It's only a story, it's not real. It's only a story.

The Ivory Tower shakes and cracks some more. Atreyu falls over backward and is knocked unconscious.

Bastian:

Atreyu ! NO!

Childlike Empress:

Atreyu !

EXT. VIEW- the courtyard is being taken away by the Nothing. Because of Bastians new found disbelief the Nothing has grown stronger and is now attacking the last remaining part of Fantasia.

Childlike Empress:

Bastian, why don't you do what you dream, Bastian ?

Bastian:

But I can't ! I have to keep my feet on the ground!

Childlike Empress:

Call my name ! Bastian, please ! Save us !

Bastian:

All right, I'll do it. I'll save you. I will do what I dream!

He climbs up to the window and opens it. He leans out into the storm and calls out the name he had chosen for her.

Bastian:

MOONCHILD!

NEXT SCENE- Darkness, pure and black as night. We hear Bastian speak.

Bastian:

Why is it so dark?

Empress Moonchild:

In the beginning it is always dark.

A small light appears and starts growing until the two childrens faces are illuminated. It is coming from an object in Moonchild's hand. Bastian looks at it.

Bastian:

What is that ?

The Neverending Story Script Page 6 of 6

Empress Moonchild:

One grain of sand. It is all that remains of my vast empire.

Bastian:

Fantasia has totally disappeared ?

Empress Moonchild:

Yes.

Bastian:

Then everything has been in vain.

Empress Moonchild:

No, it hasn't. Fantasia can arise in you . In your dreams and wishes Bastian.

Bastian:

How ?

Empress Moonchild:

Open your hand.

She puts the grain into his hand and he looks at it.

Empress Moonchild:

What are you going to wish for ?

Bastian:

I don't know.

Empress Moonchild:

Then there will be no Fantasia any more.

Bastian:

How many wishes do I get?

Empress Moonchild:

As many as you want. And the more wishes you make, the more magnificent Fantasia will become.

Bastian:

Really ?

Empress Moonchild:

Try it.

Bastian:

Then my first wish is...

Moonchild follows his gaze and smiles.

CUT TO- Bastian riding Falkor

Below them Fantasia has been reborn. Everything appears as before.

Bastian:

Falkor, it's even more beautiful than I thought.

Falkor:

Like it ?

Bastian:

Falkor, it's wonderful !

(Bastian looks around.)

Falkor, it's like the nothing never was.

They fly over Rockbiter, the Nighthob, and the little man. Bastian waves to them and Rockbiter waves back. They change their direction and suddenly below them is a great endless field, the Great Plains. Bastian looks down and sees a familiar face from his imagination, only now its real.

The Neverending Story Script Page 6 of 6

Bastian:

Atreyu ! Artax !

Atreyu looks up, laughs, and waves as he and Artax are headed for home.

Falkor:

What would you like to wish for next?

Bastian leans over and whispers in his ear. Falkor laughs.

CUT TO- View of the three bullies talking out on the street where they had chased Bastian the day before. They look up at the sky as Falkor and Bastian appear and start chasing them. They scream

Bully:

A monster !

Bastian:

Yea ! Look there they are ! Get 'em Falkor. Let's see how you like it chickens!

Bully:

Down here !

(one of them cries pointing to the alley. They start to rest, but Falkor chases them down there too. They start running again.)

Bastian:

We're gonna get you guys !

They run down the alley and jump into the dumpster as Falkor flies by them, laughing. They peer out of the dumpster and then duck back in.

VIEW- of buildings and the sky. We hear a voice, a narrator.

Narrator:

Bastian made many other wishes and had many other amazing adventures before finally returning to the ordinary world . . . But that's another story.

The Neverending Story Script Page 6 of 6