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The Neverending Story Script

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The mere existance of this script would not even be here it is wasn't for one endurant individual. Thank you Robyn for your hard work and dedication.



The Neverending Story
Script

Opening Credits
Limahl theme song, and scenes of clouds that are actually moving

Warner Bros. and Producers Sales Organization present

A Bernd Eichinger Bernd Shaefer Production

A Wolfgang Peterson Film

THE NEVERENDING STORY

Noah Hathaway

Barret Oliver

And introducing Tami Stronach

Moses Gunn

Patricia Hayes

Sydney Bromley

Executive Producers Mark Damon John Hyde

Associate Producer Klaus Kähler

Production Executive Anna Gross

Co-Producer Günter Roarbach

Supervising Sound Editor Mike Le Mare, G.B.F.E.

Conceptual Artist Ul De Rico

Production Designer Rolf Zehetbauer

Music Composed by Klaus Doldinger and Giorgio Moroder

Editor Jane Seitz

Screenplay by Wolfgang Petersen and Herman Weigel

Director of Special and Visual Effects Brian Johnson

Executive in Charge of Production Robert Gordon Edwards

Director of Photography Jost Vacano B.V.K.


Bastian quickly sits up as if awakening from a nightmare. He looks at a picture of his mom and then he picks up the book beside him and marks his spot. Next scene: His father is getting something out of the refrigerator while Bastian is straining to open jelly for his toast.
" Morning Bastian"
" Morning Dad"
Bastian looks at his hand like it hurts. He can't open the jar. His dad walks over and opens it for him. His dad starts putting milk, orange juice, and an egg in the blender.
" I had another dream Dad, about Mom." Bastian states sadly. His father pauses at the blender, but doesn't look at him and then he continues his drink.
" I understand son, but we have to get on with things, right ?" Bas looks dejected.
" Bastian we each have responsibilities. We can't let Mom's death be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right ?"
Bas half-heartedly smears butter on his toast. His father approaches the table and sits down.
" Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk. I got a call from your math teacher yesterday. She says you were drawing horses in your math book." Bas looks at him.
" Unicorns. They were unicorns." he states.
" What ? "
" Nothing" he sighs.
"She also says that you haven't been turning your homework in on time. And I'm very disappointed you didn't even try out for the swimteam. As for those riding lessons you've been wanting, you say you love horses yet you seem to be afraid to get on a real one. Now, Bastian, you're old enough to get your head out of the clouds and start keeping both feet on the ground. Alright ? " he takes a sip of his drink.
" Ok."
" Stop daydreaming and start facing your problems. Ok ?" he ruffles Bas's hair.
" Ok"
" Ok. Right I think we've had a nice little talk we should have more." he walks behind Bas.
" Have a nice day and don't be late to school again." he says as he's leaving.
Bas turns to him, " But yesterday I wasn't."
Out on the street 3 bullies are laughing. As Bas walks out, they stop.
" Hey look it's the weirdo."
" Hey weirdo, got any cash for us today ?"
Bastian turns and runs.
" Hey fellow! That's it weirdo. You can't get away you jerk ! You're dead chicken!" they yell chasing after him. They chase him down an alley where they finally catch him.
" Where's you're money man ? "
" I don't have any! "
" No money? Momma's little boy is holding out on us. You ain't got any money on ya, you go in the garbage can" They say and shove him in a dumpster. As they walk off one says:
" Maybe chicken can lay an egg in there." They laugh and return to the street. They lean up against a lightpost.
Bas comes out of the dumpster and enters the street brushing garbage off himself. The bullies see him and stand up straight.
" Hey man, who said you could get out of the garbage ? Get back in there. " one says. They smile at each other and start towards him.
" Oh no not again. No not again! " he starts running.
" Where do you think you're going wimp? " They chase after him . He ducks into a bookstore and the boys run by.
" Get outta here. I don't like kids." says a ruff voice. Bas jumps but heads toward it. An old man sits in a chair reading. He turns and looks at him.
" You still here boy? Didn't you hear what I said? "
" Um, I was..." he stutters motioning to the door.
" You're hiding aren't you?"
" No I was just..."
" The video arcade is down the street . Here we just sell small rectangular objects that are called books. Require a little effort on your part and make no b..b..b..beeps. On your way please." he goes back to reading.
" I KNOW books. I have 186 of them at home." he exclaims.
" Bah. Comic books."
" No. I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohigans, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan........."
" Whoa whoa whoa. Who are you running away from? " he says with new interest.
" Just some kids from school."
" Why ? "
" They wanna throw me in the garbage."
" Why don't you give them a good punch in the nose, eh?"
" Oh, I dunno." he looks down at his shoes.

The man turns away from him again. Bas looks at the book he has. " What's that book about? "
" Oh, this is something special."
Bas comes closer. " Well, what is it ?"
" Look. You're books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe. "
" But that's what I like about them."
" Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again."
" What do you mean? "
" Listen" he motions for him to come nearer.
" Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you ?"
" Yes."
" Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape ? "
" But it's only a story."
" That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe."
" And that one isn't ? "
" Don't worry about it."
" But, but you just said it was...." the phone rings and the man puts the book under a newspaper.
" Forget about it. This book is not for you." he gets up and gets the phone. Bas watches him. As he talks on the phone Bas uncovers the book. It's called The NeverEnding Story and has a weird symbol on the cover. The symbol is 2 snakes intertwined with each other and biting each other's tail. As the old man hangs up the phone, Bas grabs the book and runs out. The old man smiles to himself and looks down at his desk. His notepad has messy writing on it that says: " Don't worry, I'll return your book."

With the book under his shirt Bas runs through the hall of his school. He stops and looks into his class window.
" Math test, oh no."
He runs to the school's attic, finds the key and goes inside. There are all sorts of weird things in the attic. He finds a mat and pulls it out. He sits down and pulls out the book, then he begins reading." It was midnight in the Howling forest. The wind whistled through the tops of the ancient trees. Suddenly, something enormous crashed and rumbled through the eerie woods.
View of woods. We see a snail look up and there's a small man beside him. There is a Nighthob and his stupid bat nearby. " What's that ? " cries the Nighthob as the ground shakes. A huge tricycle comes to a stop infront of them. It is made entirely from stone, as is the giant riding it. All the sudden he speaks to them in a deep, but friendly voice.
" Excuse me, would it be alright if I joined you this evening? "
" Uh huh." stutters the terrified little man in response as the giant continues.
" You see I've been traveling all day." he says and climbs off his tricycle.
He rolls it backwards and then sits down. The ground beneath him shakes.
He sniffs the air and then says, as if he has discovered a secret of theirs," Ah hah ! Now I see why you picked this camp. "
He picks up a large rock and sniffs it.
" A delicious looking limestone rock. Nice bouquet, must be a real vintage."
The Nighthob looks at him weird, " Yes, you're right. Those delicious rocks are the reason we camped here alright. "he says in a hissy voice. Then he runs over to the little man.
" Psst. Is he a nutcase? " he asks.
" No, he's a Rockbiter." the little man responds.
" Oh a Rockbiter. A Rockbiter !? "

The Rockbiter starts eating the limestone he is holding. Pieces fall all over the place. One piece falls on the snail.
" Ooops , sorry." he says
Then he burps." Oh, pardon me ! "
" Pardoned." says the Nighthob.
" Mmm. That was limestone, with a dash of quartz. Very tasty. Where I come from in the north we used to have exquisite gourmet rocks, only now...now they're all gone." says Rockbiter sadly.
Nighthob sneers, " Huh, I know how it happened."
The Rockbiter makes a boyscouts honor sign. " I swear it wasn't me."
" Hah ! Heck no." laughs the Nighthob.
" I think I know what it was, tell us more." says the little man.
" Near my home there used to be a beautiful lake, but then it was gone."
" Did the lake dry up? " asks the little man.
" No, it just wasn't there anymore. Nothing was there anymore. Not even a dried up lake."
" A hole ? "
" No, a hole would be something. Nah, it was nothing. And it got bigger and bigger. First there was no lake anymore and then finally, no rocks." he bites another rock.
" Hah! If he keeps stuffing his face like that, soon there won't be any rocks left here either" Nighthob complains to the little man. As he starts to walk away, the little man grabs him.
" Nighthob, this could be serious! " he tells him. He then turns to the Rockbiter.
" Rockbiter, what you have told us is also occurring where I live in the west ! A strange sort of nothing is destroying everything."
" Yes, we Nighthobs live in the south. And it's there too." says the Nighthob.
" So, so it's not just in our part of Fantasia? " Rockbiter asks.
" Maybe, it's already everywhere..." Nighthob hisses looking around suspiciously.
" Maybe our whole land is in danger. What can we do? " he continues.
" My people are sending me to the Ivory Tower, to the Empress for help." says Rockbiter.
" We are.." the Nighthob and little man begin together. The Nighthob stops.
" We are on the same mission. After all, if the Empress can't save us, who could? " says little man
" Then why are we all just standing around here instead of taking off for the Ivory Tower?" says the Nighthob.
" Right, what are we waiting for ?" says little man
The little man climbs on his snail while the Nighthob tries to wake up his bat.
" Hey wake up! We can't just hang around here. Prepare for take off! Stupid bat!"
" We, we can't wait for a snail. Can I carry you? " Rockbiter says.
" Don't worry, it's a racing snail." little man says.
" Oh, but we can't even wait for a racing snail."
The little man goes speeding off on the snail. Nighthob finally wakes up his bat and climbs on as Rockbiter says.." It really is a racing snail."
Nighthob complains to himself.." And nobody gives a hoot about me and my stupid bat."
As he rides off Rockbiter looks down and says.." Maybe I'll take a few of these yummy gourmet rocks, eh.. for the road."
As he bends down to pick some up, he stands straight up again and realizes he hears the nothing coming." Oh no. The nothing! " He gets on his tricycle and starts peddling.
View of the sky and Nighthob on his bat.
" Look there it is. The heart of Fantasia." he says to his bat.
View of Rockbiter and little man. They stop as they see the Ivory Tower.
" I never knew it was that beautiful. Oh." says the awed Rockbiter.
View of the Ivory Tower and then view of Nighthob.
" Stay awake. I told you to stay awake." he says nudging the bat.
View of the Ivory Tower from different angles. Nighthob says " The home of the Empress. She's our only hope."
The door to the Empress's room opens into the courtyard. Lots of creatures from Fantasia await help from the Empress. The Empress's head servant comes out of her room and speaks to them all.
" Friends, I know why you are all here. The nothing is destroying our world. I also know that you have come to beseech the Empress for help. But I, I have terrible news. The Empress herself has become deathly ill. There seems to be a mysterious link between her illness and the nothing. She is dying. So she cannot save us..."
There is much commotion among the creatures gathered there, but he continues.
" But there just might be one chance. The plains people who hunt the purple buffalo have among them a great warrior and he alone has a chance to fight the nothing and save us. He is our only hope. His name is Atreyu."
View of Bastian. He looks up from the book and grabs his school bag. He looks at the Indians on the front. " Atreyu." he says and puts the bag away.

He continues reading. " The Empress had already sent for the great warrior. When he finally appeared on the terrace of the Ivory Tower, he carried with him the hopes of all Fantasia." View of a young Indian boy walking up the stairs to the old man.
Bastian sits up.. " A little boy " he says amazed.
View of Atreyu as the old man speaks to him.
"I'm sorry, but this is not the time nor place for children. I must ask you to leave."
" If you don't want me here, you shouldn't have sent for me."
View of Nighthob.. " Is he a nutcase ?"
View of Atreyu and the old man.
" It was not you we sent for. We wanted Atreyu."
" I am Atreyu."
The old man laughs." Not Atreyu the child, Atreyu the warrior."
" I am the only Atreyu with the plains people, but I'll be happy to go back to hunting the purple buffalo. " he says and heads down the stairs.
" No wait ! " the old man calls.
Atreyu pauses as the old man continues.. " Come back please."
Atreyu walks back up the stairs. The old man looks at him more urgently now.
" If you truly are the Atreyu we sent for, you would be willing to go on a quest?"
" Yes of course, what kind of a quest?"
" To find a cure for the Empress .....and to save our world. No one can give you any advice except this, you must go alone and you must leave all your weapons behind. It will be very dangerous."
" Is there any chance of success? " he asks timidly.
" I do not know, but if you fail the Empress will surely die and our whole world will be destroyed." the old man tells him honestly.
Atreyu's eyes grow large and he closes them and hangs his head down. Then he opens them back up and looks at the old man determinedly. He takes off his bow and quiver of arrows. Everyone gasps at his bravery.
" When do I begin ? " he asks strongly.
" Now and you must hurry Atreyu, the nothing grows stronger everyday."
He motions him to come nearer. " Take this." He holds up a necklace that has the same symbol as the front of the book. He fastens it on Atreyu.
Nighthob says " The Auryn" as if it is sacred to all Fantasia.
" He who wears the Auryn speaks for the Empress. It will guide and protect you." says the old man. Bastian leans back, smiles and links his hands together.
View of a dark cave and we hear Bastian's voice reading: " At the same time, elsewhere in Fantasia, a creature of darkness also began his quest." We see two evil eyes in the cave and then a wolf runs out.
View of Atreyu and Artax near a stream. Atreyu is sleeping and we hear Bastian's voice again. " They had been traveling aimlessly for almost a week, but they could not find a cure for the Empress. Neither Atreyu or his horse, Artax, had the vaguest suspicion that the creature of darkness, the G'mork, was already tracking them down."
Artax crosses the small stream and wakes up Atreyu by nuzzling him.
" Wha ? What is it Artax. Is it time to go already?" as the horse starts eating the grass, he laughs. " Oh, I know what you want. It's time to eat, huh? Good idea."
View of Bastian " No, it's a great idea ! " he says and pulls out a sandwich from his bag.
View of Atreyu and Artax eating. View of Bastian holding half the sandwich. He looks at it. " No, not too much. We still have a long way to go." he says.
View of Atreyu and Artax traveling again.
G'mork arrives were they had been and is angry because they're gone. View of Atreyu and Artax in a desolate looking swamp land. We hear Bastian's voice reading.
" Atreyu and Artax had searched the Silver Mountains, the Desert of Shattered Hopes, and the Crystal Towers without success. And so, there was only one chance left. To find Morla, the ancient one, the wisest being in Fantasia whose home was the Shell Mountain somewhere in the deadly Swamps of Sadness." Atreyu jumps off Artax and pulls him along through the swamp.
" Everyone knew that whoever let the sadness overtake him would sink into the swamp." we hear Bastian continue.
Atreyu pulls his horse along saying reassuring things the whole time. " That's it. You're doing fine Artax."
Suddenly Artax stops and Atreyu pulls on the reigns. Artax doesn't budge.
" Come on Artax." he says and pulls harder. " What's the matter? What's wrong? Come on boy! "
He smiles, " I understand, it's too difficult for you." He tries pulling him in a different direction and steps into a puddle up to his waist. Suddenly he notices that Artax is sinking.
He panics and starts screaming at him. " Artax you're sinking! Come on turn around, you have to! Now ! Come on! Artax !"
He goes closer to him and hugs him. " Fight against the sadness Artax. Artax, please. You're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try, you have to care. For me, I'm your friend, I love you." Artax doesn't move and Atreyu slaps the puddle sending water flying toward the horse. He yells at him again.
"Artax, you're sinking! Come on, turn around, you have to, now! Come on! Artax! Fight against the sadness, Artax. Artax, please, you're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you. You have to try. You have to care, for me, you're my friend, I love you. Artax! Stupid horse! You've gotta move or you'll die! Move, please! I won't give up! Don't quit! ARTAX! PLEASE!" then he pleas with him.
" Move please. I won't give up! Jump quick! Artax please! "
View of Atreyu sitting on a log crying as he looks at the spot where Artax had once been. View of Bastian looking up from the book. He has tears streaming down his face and blows his nose on his handkerchief. View of Atreyu crying again. Bastian turns the page.
View of Atreyu walking through the swamps crying. He stops suddenly and we see a mountain. " The Shell Mountain." he says. Bastian looks up." Morla the ancient one."
Atreyu climbs up the muddy mountain and calls for Morla several times. The mountain starts moving and he grabs a tree branch. The branch breaks and he slides down the mountain, hurting his shoulder. He lands in the swamp ground below and turns and crawls away to a tree nearby that faces the mountain. He climbs it and sees a giant turtle head coming out of the mountain. Bastian screams and Atreyu and Morla look around.
Bastian sits up " But that's impossible, they couldn't have heard me."
" Are you Morla, the ancient one ?" Atreyu asks.
" Not that it matters but yes." it yawns.
" Please help me Morla. Do you recognize this? " he says holding up the Auryn.
" Well, we haven't seen the Auryn in a long time."
" We ?" he looks around " Is there someone else here too?"
"We haven't spoken to anyone else for thousands of years, so we started talking to ourselves." she sneezes and blows Atreyu out of the tree, but he climbs back up.
" Morla, I bring terrible news. Did you know that the Empress is very ill?"
" Not that it matters, but yes. Actually we don't care."
" If I don't save her, she'll die! There's a terrible nothing sweeping over the land. Don't you care about that? ! "
" We don't even care whether on not we care."
She starts to sneeze again and Atreyu grips the tree." Do you have a cold?"
" No, we're allergic to youth." she says and sneezes.
" You know how I can help the Empress don't you?" he demands.
" Not that it matters, but yes."
" If you don't tell me and the nothing keeps coming, you'll die to! Both of you! "
" Die ? That at least would be something." she starts to sneeze again, but doesn't so Atreyu relaxes his grip on the tree.
" Please tell me. You said you knew the answer."
She sneezes and blows him out of the tree. She becomes agitated. " We're tired of sneezing, go away. Nothing matters."
He climbs back up the tree angry with her." That's not true. If it didn't really matter to you then you'd tell me."
" Hah hah, clever boy."
" Tell me please !"
" We don't know, but you can ask the Southern Oracle."
" How can I get there? "
" You can't . It's 10,000 miles away."
"But that's so far" he says holding his shoulder and leaning his head on the tree.
" That's right. Forget it. Good night." she says and goes back in her shell.
The school bell rings and Bastian sits up with a start. The school day is over and everyone is leaving. Bastian walks out as the lights turn off. The attic is scary now because it is dark and stormy. Bastian grabs his stuff and runs out of the attic, but then comes back. He shakes his head. " No. Atreyu wouldn't quit now." He starts to walk back to the mat, but lightning comes and makes him jump backwards. A wolf head falls down in front of him and he screams.
View of Atreyu stumbling, exhausted through the swamp. He falls several times and has to stop for rest. His shoulder really hurts him. Atreyu stumbles into a puddle up to his neck and we see the wolf running after him. As Atreyu starts to faint he looks up and sees a dragon coming towards him from high in the sky. The wolf reaches him right as the dragon picks him up. The wolf howls in anger as he misses the boy. Bastian flops down on his back and sighs.
Bas sits back up and starts reading again. " After days and nights of unconsciousness, Atreyu slowly opened his eyes and found himself in strange surroundings. He was clean and his wounds were dressed."
View of Atreyu waking up. His is asleep behind the arm of the dog-like dragon. He lifts it's arm so he can get away. The dragon opens one eye, then closes it." Shew." he says looking back at it.
The dragon wakes up as Atreyu runs away. When he spoke his voice was full of good humor.
" Leaving so soon, hmm? "
" Uh, I was just going..... I have to ...... I was trying to ..." he stutters.
" Sneak away? "
" Yea..... I mean no. No!"
" I like children." the dragon laughs.
Atreyu gulps and asks " For breakfast? "
" Never ! I'm a luck dragon. My name is Falkor."
" And my name is.."
" Atreyu. And you're on a quest."
" How'd you know that?"
" You were unconscious and you talked in your sleep."
" Wha? "
Falkor starts straining to reach his ear, but his arm's to short. " Could you get round and scratch behind my right ear? " he asks.
Atreyu smile and moves towards it." I can never quite reach it." Falkor adds.
Atreyu starts scratching a spot." Here? "
" Oh yea. Huh huh huh, oh. That's so good. Thank you." he says with his tongue hanging out.
Atreyu laughs and then goes and stands in front of him and they start talking again.
" So little fella, you're on you're way to the Southern Oracle?"
" Yes, but it's hopeless. It's too far away!"
" Oh, I wouldn't necessarily say that."
" Do you know how to get there?"
" Why sure, it's right around the corner."
" How'd all this happen?!"
" With luck !"
" You've already brought me the entire 10,000 miles?"
" No, only 9,891, as the dragon flies." he smiles.
" You're amazing! "
" Having a luck dragon with you is the only way to go on a quest. Things will work out fine Atreyu. Never give up hope and good luck will find you."
" It's good to have a friend again. " he says growing sad at the thought of Artax.
" You have more than one. Look." he says motioning behind Atreyu.
Atreyu goes to a small entrance and bends down to look in. A tiny old man sits writing in a book and an old lady comes in humming a tune. She throws some worms into a pot and stops to eat one. Atreyu closes his eyes disgusted. Atreyu smile as they start fighting.
" Get out of my light wench. You're disturbing my scientific work."
" You and your scientific work. What the boy needs now is one of my potions."
" The boy will need my scientific advice much more."
" Yes, yes, but not until he's well. Get back to your own place. I'm always finding you in my place! " she says forcing him to get up.
" I'm going." he says heading towards a corner.
Atreyu clears his throat to get their attention. The old man stands up.
" He's well! Now it's my turn with him."
The lady stops him." Oh no you don't! I decide when he's well. It's your turn when I say it's your turn."
Atreyu smiles. She gets a cup full of what's in the pot and comes to stand infront of him.
" Well, little man, still in pain ?"
He puts a hand on his shoulder then takes it off and speaks to her. " Um, a little, but it's all right."
" I like that. The patient telling the doctor it's all right. It has to hurt if it's to heal."
She stops and sniffs the cup then holds it out to him.
" Here. Drink that."
He takes it from her and starts drinking. His face shows that he thinks it tastes bad.
" Good, huh? That's my batwing broth. There's eye of newt in there, tree mold, old lizard brains, scales from a rancid sea serpent."
Atreyu looks at the cup like he's sick. The old man stands and speaks to him.
" Just where did you and your dragon come from? What are you onto? Anything of interest to the scientific community? "
" My name's Atreyu. I came here to find the Southern Oracle."
" Oh, you've come to the right place my boy."
" Here we go again." the old lady laughs.
" I am somewhat of an expert on the Southern Oracle."
" It's my scientific specialty." the old lady says to Atreyu.
" It's my scientific specialty." the old man says.
" Why don't you sit down and be quiet for once ?!" she turns and says to the man.
" You keep quiet wench."
" Oh !"
" It's now my turn." Atreyu laughs at them.
The man comes to the front of the room and stand in front of the lady. He bows and says:
" My name is Engywook. Uh, she's Urgl. Ever heard of me? "
" I don't think so."
" You don't move in scientific circles."
Atreyu smiled apologetically and shook his head no.
" I am the expert on the Southern Oracle. Oh you've come to the right place my boy."
Urgl starts to leave" There's no fool like an old fool" she says as she passes Engywook.
" Wait. Stay here. To the observatory." he says stopping her.
" To the winch ,wench !"
View of Urgl turning a handle of a large machine that pulls the basket to the top of a high ledge on one of the surrounding rocks. Atreyu follows him on the ground.
" Come on lazy bones, can't you go any faster ? " he yells at his wife.
" I've been studying the mystery of the Southern Oracle for years, someday I'll publish my book : A Century of Studying The Southern Oracle by Professor Engywook, volume one The Early Years." he continues to Atreyu.
" Have you ever been to the Southern Oracle ?" he asks.
Engywook seems shocked at the idea." Well, what do you think? I work scientifically."
As Atreyu pulls himself up on the ledge he sees 2 great sphinx-like statues. The man looks into a weird sort of telescope and then tells Atreyu to.
" Is that the Southern Oracle ?"he asks.
" Well, no. It's the first of the 2 gates you must pass through before you reach the Southern Oracle and get me the final information for my book. Of course, most people never get that far."
" Why ?"
" The sphinx's eyes stay closed until someone who does not feel his own worth tries to pass by. Ah ! Here comes one that looks fancy."
View of a man in fancy armor approaching the gate.
"Let's see what he really thinks of himself" says Engywook as Atreyu watches through the telescope.
The man starts to hesitate. Engywook says in a teasing voice: "Go on scaredy cat. Oh, go on!"
" Oh, it's my turn, let me see." he tells Atreyu. Atreyu ignores him.
" I'm the scientist." Engywook insists, still Atreyu ignores him.
" He's going on. I think he's gonna make it." Atreyu says.
" The sphinx's eyes, are they open are shut? Let me see !"
" They're shut." he says looking back and forth between them.
" No wait ! The eyes are open ! " Atreyu cries .
Lasers shoot out of the sphinx's eyes and zap the man. The horse runs off. Atreyu looks up, shocked.
" Oh no! Did he make it ? Did he? " Engywook asks.
Atreyu shakes his head." No" he whispers.
" Fancy armor doesn't help much. The sphinxes can see straight into your heart. Listen boy, next time let me see what happens ! It's my telescope."
Atreyu sets his jaw determinedly." I'm gonna try it." he says.
He starts climbing down as Engywook calls after him" No ! Don't go yet. I haven't told you about the next gate. It's even worse than this one. Atreyu ! Atreyu !"
Atreyu continues on and approaches the gate. As he walks up the eyes stay closed.
" He'll never make it." the old man cries repeatedly.
Atreyu does fine until he sees the fallen man, who is just a charred skeleton. He panics and starts looking back and forth between the 2 sphinxes. The old man cries out.
" Don't start to doubt yourself now ,be confident ! "
Bastian cries out as Atreyu is still panicking
" Be confident , be confident."
The eyes open and Bas cries out.
" Run Atreyu run ! "
" Run Atreyu !" the old man calls out.
Atreyu looks straight ahead and Bas calls out.
" Run now! "
Atreyu runs through the gate and just barely makes it. He turns and looks back, then sighs.
Engywook is so happy he jumps in the basket and falls out when he gets back to where Falkor and Urgl are.
" He made it ,he made it !" he calls.
Urgl is giving Falkor a shot." You could do with a dose of juicy vitamins too." she tells Falkor.
" He made it, Atreyu, he made it through the sphinx gate. I always said he could do it." Engywook tells them dusting himself off.
" Oh good ! But that's no reason for you to go falling out of the basket again" Urgl says.
" I knew he would be safe." Falkor says.
" Nonsense ! You don't understand anything! The worst one is coming up. Next is the Magic Mirror gate. Atreyu has to face his true self."
" So what ? That won't be too hard for him." Falkor asks.
" Oh ! That's what everyone thinks. But kind people find that they are cruel, brave men discover that they are really cowards. Confronted with their true selves most men run away screaming !" Engywook says.
View of Atreyu in a blizzard. He approaches the Mirror gate and looks into it. After a while, he sees Bas reading the story. Bas looks up then throws the book across the room.
" No. This is going too far." he says.
He pauses and looks at the book. " What if they really do know about me in Fantasia?"
He picks the book back up.
View of Atreyu. He sticks his hand through the Mirror and then pulls it back out. Then he walks through the gate.
Bas lights a candle and reads some. Then he sits up." The Southern Oracle?"
Atreyu approaches another gate with 2 sphinxes. As he approaches they start speaking to him.
" Do not be afraid. We will not harm you. We have been waiting for you a long time Atreyu." they say in unison.
" Are you the Southern Oracle? "
" Yes, we are."
" Then you must know what can save Fantasia !"
" Yes we do."
"Well, what is it ?"
" The Empress needs.... a new name."
" A new name. Is that all ? But that's easy ! I can give her any name she wants."
" No one from Fantasia can do it, only a human child."
" A human child ? Where can I find one?"
" They can only be reached beyond the boundaries of Fantasia. You must hurry Atreyu. We do not know how much longer we can withstand the nothing."
The sphinxes start crumbling. Atreyu runs away calling for Falkor.
View of Falkor with Atreyu on his back. They are flying over Fantasia.
" Hurry Falkor, the nothing's everywhere."
" Don't worry. We'll reach the boundaries of Fantasia."
" Do you know where they are ?"
" I have no idea."
" Then how are we supposed to find them?"
" With luck."
" Faster Falkor, faster."
" All right ! Hang on tight!"
They start flying faster. View of Atreyu and Falkor flying over different scenery.
Bas looks out the window at the sky.
" What a shame they don't ask me. My mother, she had such a wonderful name."
He closes the window and goes back to reading the book.
" On and on they flew until they reached the Sea of Possibilities where they could go no further."
View of Falkor and Atreyu. The sky is gray and it's incredibly windy.
" Look Atreyu, the nothing."
The wind blows them around and then Falkor is blown on to his side. Atreyu falls off and screams. The window bursts open and Bas climbs up and closes it." Atreyu !"
View of Atreyu on a beach. The Auryn is gone. He stands up and looks at the sky.
" Falkor !Falkor !Where are you? Falkor !"
View of Falkor calling for Atreyu." Atreyu ! Atreyu !"
" Falkor !" Atreyu cries from an abandoned city.
Atreyu leans against a large stone, but it starts moving. It's Rockbiter. Atreyu backs up and looks at him. He shows Atreyu his hands.
" They look like big, good, strong hands. Don't they?"
Atreyu looks down.
"I always thought that's what they were. My little friends. The little man with his racing snail, the Nighthob, even the stupid bat. I couldn't hold on to them. The nothing pulled them right out of my hands. I failed. "
Atreyu looks down, feeling terrible. "No you didn't fail. I'm the one who was chosen to stop the nothing. But I lost the Auryn, I can't find my luck dragon, so I won't be able to get past the boundaries of Fantasia."
They hear a crush and look around. Rockbiter speaks to him.
" Listen, the nothing will be here any minute. I will just sit here and let it take me away too. They look like big, good, strong hands. Don't they?" he sniffs.
Rockbiter starts crying as Atreyu shakes his head yes and fights the tears.
Atreyu is in a different part of the city. A large crack forms in the street he's walking down. Atreyu dodges falling rocks and enters an opening. On the walls are paintings of everything that's happened. The Empress giving the Auryn to her servant, Atreyu and Artax riding, Atreyu trying to save Artax in the Swamps of Sadness, Morla, and Falkor.
As Atreyu turns a corner he sees a painting of a wolf, then he turns another corner and sees the wolf hiding in a smaller opening. He growls at Atreyu as he approaches.
" If you come any closer I will rip you to shreds."
Atreyu squats down where he's at and looks at the wolf. " Who are you?"
" I am G'mork. And you, whoever you are, can have the honor of being my last victim."
" I will not die easily. I am a warrior."
G'mork laughs." Brave warrior, then fight the nothing."
" But I can't ! I can't get beyond the boundaries of Fantasia."
G'mork laughs and Atreyu grows angry.
" What's so funny about that ?"
" Fantasia has no boundaries." he laughs.
More rocks fall.
" That's not true. You're lying."
" Foolish boy. Don't you know anything about Fantasia? It's the world of human fantasy. Every part ,every creature of it, is a piece of the dreams and hopes of mankind. Therefor, it has no boundaries."
There's another crash and more rocks fall.
" But why is Fantasia dying then ?"
" Because people have begun to loose their hopes and forget their dreams. So the nothing grows stronger."
" What is the nothing ?!"
" It's the emptiness that's left. It's like a despair, destroying this world. And I have been trying to help it."
" But why ?"
" Because people who have no hopes are easy to control. And whoever has control has the power."
A large crash shakes the ground. Atreyu regains his balance and turns back to the wolf. He gives him a cold look then asks him, " Who are you really ?"
"I am the servant of the power behind the nothing. I was sent to kill the only one who coulda stopped the nothing. I lost him in the Swamps of Sadness. His name was Atreyu."
The ground shakes and Atreyu falls over backward. He grabs a long, sharp piece of broken stone and stands up. He then yells at G'mork.
" If we're about to die anyway, I'd rather die fighting. Come for me G'mork ! I am Atreyu!"
G'mork growls and jumps at him making a deep gash in his chest before Atreyu kills him.
View of Falkor diving into the ocean and getting the Auryn off a piece of coral.
Atreyu comes out of the opening and latches onto a tree as the nothing takes away a lot of the surrounding land. Atreyu calls out for Falkor again.
" Atreyu, hang on!"
As Atreyu gets lifted off the ground, Falkor grabs him. Bas sighs and continues reading.
" That was the end of Fantasia. Only a few fragments remained of this once rich and beautiful world had been left by the nothing."
Fragments of Fantasia are floating around in space. Atreyu sits up on Falkor. He has on the Auryn once more. He looks around and then down at Falkor.
" Good old Falkor, can you see anything ? Anything at all ?"
" No, all the land is gone."
" I know, and all because I failed."
" You tried."
" Do you suppose the Ivory Tower is still standing? "
" Let's hope so, Atreyu. Let's hope so."
Atreyu gets an idea suddenly.
" Let the Auryn guide you."
He clutches it and says, "If the Ivory Tower still stands take us there."
The Auryn starts glowing and fragments move. Atreyu leans forward and points.
" Falkor ! The Ivory Tower !"
They approach the tower. View of Bas. He leans forward and whispers, " The Empress"
Falkor lands in the courtyard. Atreyu walks up the stairs that lead to the Empress's room. He pauses and looks back at Falkor." Go on."
He enters the room and the door closes behind him. She sits on her bed and looks at him as he comes in." 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. " I have failed you Empress."
She smiles." No, you haven't. You've brought him with you."
" Who ?"
" The Earthling child. The one who can save us all."
" You knew about the Earthling child ?!"
She smiles again." Of course. I knew everything."
Atreyu grows angry at her." My horse died, I nearly drowned, I just barely got away from the nothing. For what ?! To find out what you already knew ?!"
" It was the only way to get in touch with an Earthling."
" But I didn't get in touch with an Earthling !"
"Yes, you did."
Bas sits up slowly as we hear what she's saying." 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 doesn't believe it. " What ?!"
Two fragments of Fantasia collide and explode.
" Where is he ? If he's so close, why doesn't he arrive ?!" Atreyu asks.
" He doesn't realize that he's already a part of the NeverEnding Story."
" The NeverEnding Story, what's that ?"
" 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."
" But that's impossible! " Bas cries out.
" 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."
Bas stands in a corner." 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." What will happen if he doesn't appear?!"
" Then our world will disappear, and so will I."
" How can he let that happen ?!"
" 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."
" Is it really me ?" Bas says out loud.
" Maybe he doesn't know what he has to do !" Atreyu yells at her.
" What do I have to do ?!" Bas cries out.
" He has to give me a new name. He's already chosen it, he just has to call it out."
" It's only a story, it's not real. It's only a story." Bas says.
The Ivory Tower shakes and cracks some more. Atreyu falls over backward and is knocked unconscious." Atreyu ! NO!" Bas cries.
" Atreyu !" The Empress cries.
Outside view, the courtyard is being taken away by the nothing. The Empress starts crying." Bastian, why don't you do what you dream, Bastian ?"
" But I can't ! I have to keep my feet on the ground!" Bas is crying too.
" Call my name ! Bastian, please ! Save us ! "
" All right, I'll do it. I'll save you. I will do what I dream!" Bas says
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. " Moonchild !"
Darkness, pure and black as night. We hear Bastian speak.
" Why is it so dark? "
" In the beginning it is always dark." Moonchild says.
A small light appears and starts growing until the can see each other. It is coming from an object in Moonchild's hand. Bastian looks at it.
" What is that ?"
" One grain of sand. It is all that remains of my vast empire."
" Fantasia has totally disappeared ?"
" Yes."
" Then everything has been in vain."
She smiles." No, it hasn't. Fantasia can arise in you . In your dreams and wishes Bastian."
" How ?"
" Open your hand."
She puts the sand into his hand and he looks at it.
" What are you going to wish for ?"
" I don't know."
" Then there will be no Fantasia any more."
" How many wishes do I get?"
She smiles." As many as you want. And the more wishes you make, the more magnificent Fantasia will become."
" Really ?"
" Try it."
"Then my first wish is..."he says and looks up.
Moonchild follows his gaze and smiles.
View of Bastian flying on Falkor. Fantasia is back to normal." Falkor, it's even more beautiful than I thought."
" Like it ?"
" 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 fly over some plains.
" Atreyu ! Artax !"Bastian cries as he sees them.
Atreyu looks up, laughs, and waves as he and Artax are headed for home.
" What would you like to wish for next? "Falkor asks.
Bastian leans over and whispers in his ear. Falkor laughs.
View of the three bullies talking. They look up at the sky as Falkor and Bastian appear and start chasing them. They scream " A monster !"
" Yea ! Look there they are ! Get 'em Falkor. Let's see how you like it chickens!"
" Down here !" one of them cries pointing to the alley. They start to rest, but Falkor chases them down there too. They scream and start running again.
" We're gonna get you guys !" Bastian cries.
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. A narrator says," Bastian made many other wishes and had many other amazing adventures before finally returning to the ordinary world. But that's another story."