The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington:
(part of "What's This?") There's children throwing snowballs Instead of throwing heads. They're busy building toys And absolutely no one's dead!

Jack Skellington:
(part of "Jack's Obsession") Just because I cannot see it doesn't mean I can't believe it!

Jack Skellington:
(to the Easter Bunny) I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, Sir.

Jack Skellington:
I am the Pumpkin King! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Jack Skellington:
Well, at least they're excited, But they don't understand That special kind of feeling In Christmas Land. Oh well....

Jack Skellington:
Interesting reaction! But what does it mean?!

Jack Skellington:
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!!

Jack Skellington:
EUREKA! This year, Christmas will be OURS!

Dr. Finkelstein:
You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl!

Dr. Finkelstein:
Careful now, my precious jewel.

Dr. Finkelstein:
You can come out now, if you promise to behave. Sally? Sally?! [growls in frustration] GONE AGAIN!

Dr. Finkelstein:
Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath!

Oogie Boogie:
Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be... DOUBLE DEAD!

Oogie Boogie:
WHAT?! YOU TRY AND MAKE A DUPE OUT OF ME?!

Oogie Boogie:
Well, come on! Bone Man!

Oogie Boogie:
My bugs! My bugs!

Narrator:
'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems, In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams; For the story that you are about to be told Took place in the holiday worlds of old. Now you've probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.

Santa:
Skeletons!

Horn player:
Nice work, bone daddy.

Jack:
Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year. And the year before that. And the year before that...

Dr. Finkelstein:
Hmmm. What's this? Wormswort... and frog's breath?

Sally:
What's wrong? I thought you liked frog's breath.

Dr. Finkelstein:
Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath! Until you taste it, I won't swallow a spoonful!

Sally:
I'm not hungry.

Dr. Finkelstein:
Curiosity killed the cat, you know.

Jack:
I know.

Kid:
Santa?

Jack:
Merry Christmas! And what is your name?

Kid:
I... um...

Jack:
That's alright. I have a present for you anyway. There you go, sonny! [Jack slips out up the chimney, cackling as he goes.]

Mother:
And what did Santa bring you, Honey?

[The kid shows his parents his present:
a shrunken head.]

Mother and Father:
AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!

Jack[flying away]:
Merry Christmas!

Jack:
The job I have for you is top secret, it requires craft, cunning, mischief...

Shock:
And we thought you didn't like us, Jack.

[Lock, Shock and Barrel giggle at this.]

Jack:
Absolutely no one is to know about it, not a soul! Now... (whispers for a time) and one more thing... leave that no-account Oogie Boogie OUT OF THIS!

Barrel:
Whatever you say, Jack.

Shock:
Of course, Jack.

Lock:
Wouldn't dream of it, Jack.

[The three giggle again and share looks as they have all crossed their fingers.]

(After Jack asks to make Santa comfortable)

Barrel:
Where're we taking him?

Shock:
Where?

Lock:
To Oogie Boogie of course. There isn't anywhere in the whole world more comfortable than that. And Jack said to make him comfortable, didn't he?

Barrel & Shock:
Yes, he did.

Santa:
(from inside the bag) Haven't you heard of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men?

Lock, Shock & Barrel:
NO! (Burst out laughing.)

Dr. Finkelstein:
That's twice this month you've slipped Deadly Nightshade into my tea and run off.

Sally:
Three times.

Dr. Finkelstein:
You're mine, you know! I made you! With my own hands.

Sally:
You can make other creations! I'm restless. I can't help it.

Dr. Finkelstein:
It's a phase, my dear, it'll pass. We need to be patient, that's all.

Sally:
But I don't want to be patient.

Mayor:
We've got to find Jack! There's only 365 days left 'til next Halloween!

Werewolf:
364!

Mayor:
Is there anywhere we've forgotten to check?

Clown:
I looked in every mausoleum!

Witches:
We opened the sarcophagi!

Mr. Hyde:
I tromped through the pumpkin patch.

Vampire:
I peeked behind the cyclops' eye. I did, but he wasn't there.

Mayor:
It's time to sound the alarm!

Sally [To Oogie Boogie while lashed to the roulette wheel with Santa] You wait 'til Jack hears about this! By the time he's through with you, you'll be lucky if you--

Mayor:
[On the speakers while driving his hearse] The King of Halloween has been blown to smithereens. Skeleton Jack is now a pile of dust.

Sally:
[Gasps]

Jack:
[Bursting out of a tombstone in the Halloween Town Cemetery] Come on, Zero, Christmas isn't over yet! [Runs through Halloween Town countryside]

Oogie Boogie:
[To Sally while leering at her] What's that you were saying about luck, ragdoll?

Jack:
[Arrives at Oogie's lair and sees Sally and Santa tied up]

Sally:
[Cries for help]

Santa:
[from the distance] You monster! You fiend!

(Jack hears her cries for help and sneaks into Oogie Boogie's lair.)

Oogie Boogie:
Seven! Looks like it's Oogie's turn to boogie now!

Sally:
[Screams]

Oogie Boogie:
[With short jerks of the table lever] 1 2 3 4...[With fast jerks of the lever] 5 6 7! [Laughs maniacally]

Santa:
This can't be happening!

Oogie Boogie:
Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust. [Mockingly] Ohh...I'm feeling weak... with hunger! One more roll of the dice... ought to do it. [Laughs and throws the dice into a skull. The dice come out and read Snake Eyes]

Oogie Boogie:
[Enraged] What?! Snake Eyes?! [Bangs his fist on the table and the dice read eleven] Eleven! [Laughing Menacingy] Looks like I won... the Jackpot!

{When Lock, Shock and Barrel have brought the Easter Bunny to Halloween Town instead of Santa.}

Jack:
That's not Sandy Claws!

Shock:
It isn't?!

Barrel:
Who is it?!

(The Easter Bunny hops around the room and sniffs Behemoth.)

Behemoth:
BUNNY!

(The Easter Bunny is terrifed and leaps back into the bag he was kidnapped in.)

Jack:
NOT Sandy Claws! Take him back!

Lock:
We followed your instructions.

Barrel:
We went through the door.

Jack:
Which door?! There's more than one! Sandy Claws is behind the door shaped like THIS! (Holds up a Christmas tree shaped cookie. Barrel and Shock look at Lock who looks awkward for a second before Shock stangles him.)

Shock:
I told you!

(The trio fight in anger. Annoyed, Jack roars and makes a terrifying face which instantly stops Lock, Shock and Barrel's fight and they gasp looking nervous.)

Jack:
(To the Easter Bunny still in the bag) I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, Sir. (To Lock, Shock and Barrel) Take him home first! And apologize again! Be careful with Sandy Claws when you fetch him. Treat him nicely!

Lock:
Got it!

Shock:
We'll get it right...

Lock, Shock and Barrel:
Next time!

Jack:
Forgive me, Mr. Claus. I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday.

Santa:
Bumpy sleigh ride, Jack? The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to her! (indicating Sally) She's the only one who seems to make any sense in this insane asylum! Skeletons... bogeymen...

Jack:
I hope there's still time!

Santa:
To fix Christmas? Of course there is! I'm Santa Claus!

Saxophone Player:
Nice work, bone daddy.

Jack:
Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year, the year after that, and the year before that.

Mayor:
[pulling up to the gate to Jack's house in his car in front of the instrument players who jerk awake] Morning, gents. [the Mayor goes through the gate and up the stairs to Jack's front door, humming "This is Halloween" as he goes. He walks right up to Jack's door and rings his screaming spider doorbell, still humming. There is no response. The mayor still hums placidly, then rings the screaming spider doorbell again before stopping his humming.] Jack, you home? [There is still no response. The mayor's happy face switches to his worried face and he knocks on Jack's door. His worried face switches to his happy face again] Jack, I've got the plans for next Halloween! I need to go over them with you so we can get started. [His face switches from happy to worried again] Jack, please! I'm only an elected official here. I can't make decisions by myself. [He puts a bull horn to his mouth and yells up at Jack's tower] Jack, answer me! [over balances, trips, and rolls down the stairs, landing at the gate.]

Accordion Player:
He's not home.

Mayor:
Where is he?

Saxophone Player:
He hasn't been home all night. [the Mayor groans and faints]

Dr. Finkelstein:
The door is open!

Jack:
Hello?

Dr. Finkelstein:
Jack Skellington! Up here, my boy!

Jack:
Doctor! I need to borrow some equipment.

Dr. Finkelstein:
Is that so? What ever for?

Jack:
I'm conducting a series of experiments.

Dr. Finkelstein:
How perfectly marvelous! Curiosity killed the cat, you know.

Jack:
I know.

Dr. Finkelstein:
Come on into the lab, and we'll get you all fixed up.

(As Lock, Shock and Barrel try to shove Santa Clause into Oogie Boogie's lair)

Santa:
: Don't do this! Naughty children never get any presents!

Shock:
I think he might be too big!

Lock:
No, he's not. If he can go down a chimney, he can fit... down... here!

Oogie Boogie:
[leaps onto the spinning shredder] So long, Jack! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Jack:
[pulls a string that opens Oogie Boogie's arm, releasing his bugs] How dare you treat my friends so SHAMEFULLY! [He rips Oogie Boogie's burlap sack clean off]

Oogie Boogie:
NO! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! MY BUGS, MY BUGS...! [his repetitive screams of "My Bugs!" get distorted as the bugs spill into the pot and got incinerated, except for the last one which is trying to escape, but Santa squashes it with his foot]

Clown:
It's over!

Behemoth:
We did it!

[Clown and Behemoth do the stomach bump]

Wolfman:
[to Mr. Hyde and Cyclops] Wasn't it terrifying?

Mr. Hyde and Cyclops:
[in unison, as Mr. Hyde strangles Cyclops by the neck with a chain link] What a night!

Police Officer:
Attention. Attention, citizens. Terrible news. There is still no sign of Santa Claus. Although the imposter has been shut down. It looks like Christmas will have to be cancelled this year. I repeat: The imposter has been shot down, but there is still no sign of the real Santa Claus... [fades off in the distance]

Sally:
[examining Jack in his newly-finished Santa suit] You don't look like yourself, Jack. Not at all.

Jack:
Isn't that wonderful? It couldn't be more wonderful!

Sally:
[holds up the clipboard sketch of him] But you're the Pumpkin King!

Jack:
Not anymore! [breaks it over his knee] I feel SO much better now!

Sally:
[pulling a loose thread from his cuff] Jack, I know you think something's missing, but -

[accidentally catches his finger]

Jack:
[lightly] Ow.

Sally:
Sorry.

Jack:
You're right. Something *is* missing. But what? I've got the beard... the coat... the boots... the belt...

Shock, Lock, Barrel:
[come in] Jack! Jack! This time we found him!

Barrel:
This time we really did!

Jack:
This time we really did.

Lock:
He sure is big, Jack!

Barrel:
And heavy!

Santa:
[bursting out the bag] Let me out!

[the Halloween citizens gasp in awe]

Jack:
Sandy Claws - in person. What a pleasure to meet you. [prepares to shake but then looks down when their HANDS touch] Wh - ! Why, you have *hands*! You don't have claws at all!

Santa:
[dazed] Where am I?

Jack:
Surprised, aren't you? I knew you would be. You don't need to have another worry about Christmas this year.

Santa:
What?

Jack:
Consider this a vacation, Santy. A reward. It's your turn to take it easy.

Santa:
B-But there must be some mistake!

Jack:
See that he's comfortable... Just a second, fellas! Of *course*! *That's* what I'm missing! [takes Santa's hat]

Santa:
B-But...

Jack:
Thanks.

Santa:
Hang on - you just can't - [has the bag thrown over him again] Hold on! Where are we going now? [the henchmen leave with him]

Jack:
Ho, ho, *ho*! No... [monotone] Ho, ho, ho. Ho...

Sally:
This is worse than I thought. Much worse. I know! [leaves to get fog juice]

[Under the orange disk of the moon, in a place called Halloweenland, the creatures of the night are busy. Smirking jack-o-lanterns dance in the graveyard. Werewolves howl. Corpses, vampires and witches join their voices in a ghoulish chorus of glee. Tonight is their favorite night of all:
Halloween]

[And it has been a splendid one. As they gather down in the center of town to celebrate, everyone agrees on that. They also agree that such a night will not have been possible without the help of their leader, the king of Halloween, Jack Skellington]

[Everyone cheers wildly as Jack steps into the town square]

Vampire:
You were a shriek, Jack.

Werewolf:
It was terrifying!

Witch:
You're a witch's fondest dream.

[They cheer again as the Mayor claps Jack on his rickety shoulders]

Mayor:
Thanks, Jack! We owe it all to you! Why, without your leadership------

[Jack cuts him off]

Jack:
Not at all, Mayor. [But the Mayor doesn't notice that anything is wrong. He is too intent on keeping the crowd's attention focused on where it shall be; on himself]

Mayor:
It's now my pleasure to give out the wonderful prizes. Our first award goes to the vampires, for most blood drained in a single evening. Congratulations, Fanged Ones! Second prize is to the Dark Lagoon Leeches, who also have a real taste for blood...

[The crowd cheers again, and Jack takes the opportunity to slip off. It is strange, but all the applause makes him feel horrible. He needs to go someplace that will cheer him up. He heads for the graveyard]

[He is so preoccupied that he never notices the frail, melancholy figure of Sally the Rag Doll watching him. Sally is mournful, as well, and with nice reason. She has been created by the town's official Evil Scientist. Try as she may, and she has tried many times, Sally can't seem to escape from him. Although he is confined to a wheelchair, he guards her jealously]

[in Christmas Town; Santa is reading the list]

Santa:
Kathleen? Bobby? Susie? Yes, Susie's been nice. Nice, nice, naughty. Nice, nice, nice. There are hardly any naughty children this year. [hears a Jingle Bells doorbell] Now, who could that be? [opens the front door to see Lock, Shock and Barrel]

Lock, Shock and Barrel:
Trick-or-treat!

Santa:
Huh?

[They then jump to stuff Santa into the bag]

[as the military canon are kept on firing, it hits one of the reindeer skeleton, then the back of the sleigh]

Jack:
They're trying to hit us. [calls to Zero] ZERO! [Zero looks back at Jack, the military canon made a target and fires. It hits the entire sleigh Jack is driving, now falling] MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-IGHT!!!

[Jack crash-lands into the cemetery. Back in Halloween Town, the Mayor and the citizens are shocked and sad for Jack's death. The wolfman howls in tears.]

Mayor:
[in tears; walks to his car] I knew this Christmas thing was bad idea. [gets in] I felt it in my gut. [starts the car and drives away, through megaphone] Terrible news, folks! The most tragedy of our time! Jack has been blown to smithereens! Terrible, terrible news!