THE BOXTROLLS
Written by
Irena Brignull & Adam Pava
Based on the book "Here Be Monsters" by
Alan Snow
1.
(0050 PRO) PROLOGUE
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE ALLEY - NIGHT
Lightning strikes, illuminating a vine covered wall as the
camera moves across a dark alley filled with CARDBOARD BOXES
and CRATES. They boxes have stylized LABELS; the box in
front is labeled FOCUS FEATURES.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS running on cobblestones and LABORED BREATHING.
HERBERT (O.S.)
No. Not my boy!
Lightning strikes again, highlighting the boxes and rubbish
in the alley. Something is coming. Whatever it is, its
breath is hurried and animalistic.
SFX: A BABY CRIES out.
Stumpy CLAWED FEET wrapped in rag run past a boxed labeled
LAIKA. The camera follows the shadowed figure as it runs
along cobblestones to the end of the lane. The creature
pauses under an arched entryway and turns, revealing GLOWING
EYES, a large mouth full of wonky teeth, and a BABY SHAPED
BUNDLE in its arms.
LIGHTING CRASHES as the BABY wriggles and cries.
CUT TO:
EXT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
CLOSE ON: A FIST pounds a door.
SNATCHER
(WHEEZING)
Wake his lordship.
SFX: A SERIES OF LOCKS being unlatched on the door.
A BUTLER opens the double doors, frowns. He starts to close
the doors but Snatcher pushes against the effort.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
The unspeakable has happened.
(GASP) We must speak of it
immediately!
A voice calls out from behind them.
2.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (O.S.)
(TIRED)
What is it, Snatcher?
The butler moves aside, revealing a regal man with a white
hat at the top of an ornate marble staircase.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
LORD PORTLEY-RIND looks on from the mezzanine. The man in
the red hat casts a long shadow across the gleaming checkered
floors of the Cheese Guild.
SNATCHER
(GESTURING THEATRICALLY)
Boxtroll monsters have stolen a
child.
CLOSE ON: Lord Portley-Rind, perfectly groomed and perfectly
horrified.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(AGHAST)
No.
CLOSE ON: ARCHIBALD SNATCHER in the door, backlit by
streetlights, sheets of rain falling behind him. He's a big
man, but out of shape (all belly and no butt), with long
shreds of greasy hair sprouting from beneath his crooked hat.
SNATCHER
(NODS)
They're no doubt picking their
teeth with his adorable baby bones
by now!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
A horrible tragedy.
(beat, flippant)
Let's deal with it in the morning!
Portley-Rind turns to go.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
STOP!
The Butler closes the door, but Snatcher shoves his foot in
the way.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(STRUGGLING)
Oh, oof! That's not the worst of
it! Next they'll come after...
3.
The Butler shoves at the door, slapping and shoving
Snatcher's face until the door slams shut. Snatcher opens the
mail slot and yells through it.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
...OUR CHEESES!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(GASP)
My Gouda!?
SNATCHER
(LOW)
They'll stop at nothing.
Portley-Rind suddenly flings open the doors, stares wide eyed
at Snatcher. He is crouched on the ground near the mail
slot.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
You're the town exterminator. I'll
pay whatever it takes.
Snatcher stands slowly.
SNATCHER
Oh, I don't want money.
He steps into the house and into the light, REVEALING his
greedy face for the first time. He smiles an oily smile.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I want one of those.
Snatcher points to the WHITE HAT on Portley-Rind's head. Lord
Portley-Rind grabs his hat protectively.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
A White Hat? You?! Absurd!
Snatcher turns to leave, moving towards the damp Market
Square.
SNATCHER
Alright then. But prepare to say
bye bye to your Brie. Cheerio to
your Cheddar. Goodbye to your...
Portley-Rind's resolve disappears. He raises his hand as if
to stop Snatcher from leaving.
4.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(DESPERATE)
Very well. Every boxtroll gone.
With proof!
Snatcher stops halfway down the stairs in the pouring rain,
his back still turned to Portley-Rind.
SNATCHER
(LOW PURR)
For a white hat?
CLOSE ON: Snatcher's grinning face as he turns back toward
Portley-Rind.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I will destroy every last boxtroll
in this town!
LIGHTNING CRASHES as Snatcher laughs maniacally.
SMASH CUT TO:
TITLES: "THE BOXTROLLS"
(0100 MON) MONSTERS
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE - WORLD VIEW - SUNSET
WIDE VIEW OF CHEESEBRIDGE, a steep hill-town that looms over
the countryside. A jumble of roofs, a tangle of twisting
alleys, and perched at the summit, the imposing Cheese Guild
Hall. The last rays of the setting sun disappear.
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE STREETS
--a deep voice echoes out of a scratchy MEGAPHONE.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Hear ye! Hear ye! Good citizens of
Cheesebridge, the curfew is in
force. Don't dawdle or the beasts
will tear you limb from limb!
CLOSE ON: A FABRIC BANNER reading "BOXTROLL EXTERMINATORS".
The banner hangs on a strange rattletrap TRUCK that winds its
way up the city streets. Sinister looking men in BLOOD RED
TOP HATS hang onto the running boards. The most sinister of
them all, Snatcher, rides on the roof.
5.
SNATCHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
They will add your flesh to their
rivers of blood and mountains of
bones.
As the truck passes, PEDESTRIANS gasp and hurry into their
houses, heeding the amplified warning. A CHEESEMONGER at The
Cheesery pulls his FOLDING SIGN from the sidewalk and hurries
inside. A COUPLE stops mid-conversation and heads indoors. A
MAN CARRYING A CRATE brings his load into his shop,
abandoning the crate sitting at the curb. Two FEMALE
TOWNSFOLK head off down the street.
CLOSE ON: Archibald Snatcher as the truck rounds a corner.
He holds a MEGAPHONE TUBE to his mouth and orates as he zeros
in on a BOY playing ball in the street.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Child! Do you want to end up like
the Trubshaw Baby?
The boy watches the truck as it passes, curiosity changing to
horror.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Dragged underground and feasted
upon one year ago this very night?!
The terrified boy shakes his head and GASPS as he is yanked
inside by his MOTHER. His BALL bounces out of his hands and
rolls across the cobbles.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Lock your windows! Bolt your doors!
Hide anything that is not bolted
down.
One man grabs his DOOR KNOCKER and bolts inside.
Another man grabs his MAILBOX.
Another a BARBER POLE.
With a terrified look the last man peers out of the peep hole
in his door, then slams it shut.
SNATCHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Hide your cheese. Hide your tender
and delicious babies!
6.
EXT CHEESEBRIDGE STREETS - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
The wind blows trash down the empty streets. Snatcher's
vehicle, rattling from its boiler, prowls past with Snatcher
still calling out his warning until the sound fades in the
distance.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Beware the bloodthirsty monsters!
They'll fry your eyes, gnaw on your
knees, gobble your gizzards...
Beware! BEWARE!
After Snatcher's truck has passed the CAMERA lands on: A
MANHOLE. Carved in the heavy iron cover is a warning: "HERE
BE MONSTERS".
A LONG BEAT OF SILENCE. The manhole cover slowly twists and
lifts, a pudgy blue hand emerges. Two pairs of yellow,
glowing eyes peer out. The creatures talk in expressive but
unintelligible GURGLES. Down the street, two more manhole
covers lift.
In pairs and in gangs, these BOXTROLLS -- so called for the
cardboard boxes they wear -- emerge from the sewers and
scurry through the streets of the besieged town. Their long,
forboding SHADOWS creep across walls plastered with posters
that read: "CHEESEBRIDGE: A GOUDA PLACE TO LIVE", "REDHATS -
BOXTROLL EXTERMINATORS".
We watch them scurry through streets and alleyways, gurgling
quiet directions to each other. They move swiftly and travel
in packs. We see a lone boxtroll jump and pull himself in to
his box as a DOG BARKS. He pops back out of his box and moves
along quickly.
CLOSE ON: what appears to be a LARGE BOXTROLL MONSTER peering
around the corner of a moonlight street. Its glowing eyes
turn toward the camera as it sways slowly. Five more pairs of
eyes light up within the large, boxy shadow and SIX BOXTROLLS
separate from the mass, popping off to run their errands
while the coast is clear.
BIRDS EYE VIEW: Groups of two and three boxtrolls snake their
way down streets, skirting carefully around areas lit by
street lamps.
In a small lane, groups of boxtrolls stop to collect
mechanical stuff. They work together, using their boxes as
tools and props.
SIX BOXTROLLS stack up in the background to steal a SHOP
SIGN, while THREE BOXTROLLS cooperatively steal the WHEEL
from a WOODEN CART.
7.
One boxtroll uses his box to prop up a corner while the other
two release the wheel from the axle. A LONE BOXTROLL crosses
the frame to see what treasures he may find in a trash bin;
as he knocks it over with a CLANG, TWO BOXTROLLS scurry past
and stack together, stealing the HOUSE NUMBER from the front
of a brownstone.
CLOSE ON: the boxtrolls' booty - the shiny brass number `2',
the shop sign for `TIMELESS TIMEPIECES', the wheel that rolls
along between two boxtrolls.
Six other boxtrolls on the hunt stack together against a
fence. We watch as one boxtroll makes it over the top,
cooperatively pulling the others into the alley behind him.
(0200 BXT) BOXTROLL EXTERMINATORS
EXT. CHASE ALLEY - NIGHT
CLOSE ON: The inside of a trash can as the lid is removed.
Two BOXTROLL HANDS wriggle into view over the rubbish, fill
of NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, an APPLE CORE, a BANANA PEEL, and a
FISH CARCASS. The boxtroll gurgles "EWW" and "BLECH" sounds
as he moves these unwanted items aside. He gurgles with joy
when a bit of brass is revealed.
FISH, a nervous 4-foot tall, wonky-toothed, pointy-eared,
gangly-limbed boxtroll, pulls an old broken ALARM CLOCK from
the trash barrel. He is in a large alley, filled with old
boxes, crates, broken items and tarps strewn about.
Fish stares curiously at the object, turning it over in his
hands and holding it to his ear, listening. He shakes the
clock and hears loose gears RATTLE.
FISH
Hmm...
Fish opens the clock face and gurgles, intently toying with
the mechanical interior. After a moment, the clock begins to
TICK with activity. Fish gurgles excitedly and closes the
clock face, holding it to his ear to listen to the rhythmic
ticking.
FISH (CONT'D)
(GURGLES) Oh yeah...
Fish's eyes go wide as the clock's alarm RINGS, attracting
the attention of an uglier, 2-foot-2 boxtroll.
SHOE
Huh?
8.
As Fish stands proudly admiring the sound of his ringing
alarm clock, SHOE bounces around his feet.
SHOE (CONT'D)
(GURGLES) Gimme that!
Shoe, short and feisty, grabs the alarm clock from Fish and
scampers away with it. Fish watches as Shoe climbs a stack of
crates and hisses back at him, sniffing at his new prize.
Fish scowls at Shoe and returns to the rubbish pile, shaking
his head and muttering.
Behind him a half-dozen boxtrolls methodically pick through
an assortment of trash barrels and old boxes. It's like a
troop of monkeys at the dump. They find mechanical stuff,
inspect it, and then either drop it into their box to keep or
toss it back into the trash.
A filthy TEDDY BEAR WITH A MUSICAL KEY is discarded by
another boxtroll, landing with a THUNK and A FEW TINNY
MUSICAL NOTES. Fish turns excitedly.
FISH
(CURIOUS)
Ohhhh...
He picks up the teddy bear and cranks a key in its back as
Shoe toys with the stolen alarm clock. The teddy bear plays
MUSIC. Fish gurgles along to the tune and bobs his head,
enjoying the moment.
Again, Shoe notices Fish has found something interesting. He
shoves the alarm clock into his box, stealthily sneaks up on
Fish and makes a grab for the teddy bear! Fish refuses to let
go and they squabble over it. Suddenly all the boxtrolls snap
to attention, their ears alert--
EXT. CHASE ALLEY
The creepy RATTLING SOUNDS of the Redhats' truck returns.
All the boxtrolls hide in their boxes. The "camouflage"
works. Their boxes fit in perfectly with the trash barrels
and packing crates.
The rattling comes closer... closer... then STOPS.
BAM! HEADLIGHTS light up the alley.
Three men dismount from the truck and cast long shadows
across the alley and all of the boxes: the giant MR. TROUT,
the beanpole thin MR. PICKLES, and the short, pit bull MR.
GRISTLE.
9.
The boxtrolls don't run -- they just KEEP HIDING IN THEIR
BOXES.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
GENTLEMEN!
Snatcher spreads his arms theatrically and wades into the
garbage-strewn alley.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Look at all these boxes left lying
about. How curious, how peculiar. I
do believe... evil is afoot.
Gristle chuckles and breaks into a psychotic grin.
MR. GRISTLE
(COLD BLOODED)
HAHAHA. FOOT.
MR. PICKLES
Huh.
Fish peeks out of his box momentarily, then retreats when he
sees the Redhats advancing into the alley.
Mr. Trout and Mr. Pickles absentmindedly check boxes for
boxtrolls, but Mr. Gristle methodically stomps and smashes
every box he can. When he finds a box with a boxtroll, he
uses a CRICKET BAT to WHACK it back to the others to load
onto the truck.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
You ever seen someone's foot be
evil, Mr. Trout?
MR. TROUT
I believe the boss meant evil is
nearby, Mr. Pickles.
MR. PICKLES
My foot had a pretty nasty bunion
once. I wouldn't say the foot
itself was evil.
MR. TROUT
No, it's just a fancy-man's word
for vicinity.
MR. PICKLES
Wrinkly ol' bunion looked like my
grandmum. Had to saw her off. The
bunion, not my grandmum.
10.
Mr. Gristle spots a shivering box and positions himself over
it, cricket bat in hand.
MR. GRISTLE
Ah, yes. FOOT!
WHACK! Gristle kicks the box, and it flies toward Mr. Pickles
and Mr. Trout.
MR. TROUT
There's one!
Mr. Pickles scoops it up in a dog catcher's net.
MR. PICKLES
Come on, ya squirmy monster. Your
days of evil-doin' are over.
Mr. Gristle finds another shivering box. He swings his bat.
MR. GRISTLE
BOOM!
WHACK! A box slides over to Trout. A dizzy boxtroll pops out
for a moment, groaning. Trout taps its head and the boxtroll
retreats.
MR. TROUT
You really think these boxtrolls
understand the duality of good and
evil?
MR. PICKLES
They must, right? Why else would
they hide from us. We are the good
guys.
Mr. Pickles strolls off with both boxtroll and net.
MR. GRISTLE (O.S.)
(hitting more boxes)
Nice! NICE!
WHACK! Another box slides over to Trout. Trout scoops up the
box before the creature can get away. The boxtroll's legs
dangle below as it is carried away.
MR. TROUT
Yeah... I suppose we are.
CLOSE ON: Fish and Shoe, in the shadows at the edge of the
alley, gurgle to each other while the Red Hats are
distracted. Their heads stay hidden in their boxes as they
waddle slowly out of the alley.
11.
Mr. Gristle is too preoccupied with smashing other boxes to
notice them. He grunts and laughs with the effort.
Snatcher spots Fish and Shoe as they exit the alley and
points at them.
SNATCHER
MR. GRISTLE!
MR. GRISTLE
Hmm?
SNATCHER
ACQUIRE THEM!
Brandishing his cricket bat, Gristle springs after Fish and
Shoe.
MR. GRISTLE
Acquire! ACQUIRE! HAHAHA!
The boxtrolls pop out of their boxes and RUN!
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE STREET
Gristle closes in on them as they sprint down an alley. The
boxtrolls join hands and vault over a fence like a Slinky
toy.
Gristle smashes THROUGH the fence--
MR. GRISTLE
COME BACK AND LET ME HIT YOU!
--but the boxtrolls have disappeared. Gristle stalks down the
street and disappears around a corner.
After Gristle disappears, two boxes that are holding up a
broken street cart suddenly move. It's Fish and Shoe hiding
in plain sight.
Once they are sure they are not being followed they open a
drainage pipe and slip underground into the sewers--
(0300 UDW) UNDERWORLD Eggs
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - ENTRANCE CHUTES
-- where they leap into cardboard-lined BOXTROLL CHUTES. They
drop through the chutes, sliding on the cardboard, until they
join up with other boxtrolls returning from a night of
gathering.
12.
They descend deeper underground until they are collected
together in a funnel-shaped cave and one by one drop onto an--
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN
-- elaborate conveyor belt system for a roller coaster ride
into a HUGE DARK SPACE with blinking lights and a cacophony
of MECHANICAL NOISE. Fish, Shoe and boxtrolls of all shapes
and sizes shoot off the end of the conveyor belt and tumble
across the floor.
ON FISH AND SHOE where the alarm clock lands on the floor as
they tumble to a halt. Shoe grabs the clock possessively,
hisses at Fish, and runs away laughing. He has his treasure.
Fish shrugs it off and rights himself, raising a hand to his
mouth.
FISH
(GURGLED QUESTION)
"Eggs?"
REVEAL THE CAVERN, the hub of the boxtroll world. It's full
of workshops, interconnected machines and a constellation of
lights that make it look like a subterranean Coney Island
amusement park. Fish stands in front of a large STALAGMITE,
around which the mechanical underground city is built.
FISH (CONT'D)
(GURGLED QUESTION)
"Eggs?"
WHEELS - a boxtroll riding a unicycle - zooms quickly past,
humming.
FISH (CONT'D)
(TO WHEELS)
"You see Eggs?"
Wheels shrugs his shoulders and rides away as OIL CAN - the
smallest boxtroll - tumbles from the conveyor belt and rights
himself with a squeak. Oil Can pulls, well, an OIL CAN from
inside of his box and scurries off.
Fish makes his way to the base of a waterwheel made from
scraps of metal.
High overhead, the boxtroll KNICKERS - a picture of
underpants adorning the front of it's box - struggles with an
armful of light bulbs while swinging from a rope. Two small
boxtrolls hold the rope steady below.
13.
SPARKY, a boxtroll wearing welding goggles, and a small
boxtroll named BUCKET work side by side on an electrical
generator, fitting dinner forks into a toaster as makeshift
fuses.
FISH (CONT'D)
(GURGLED QUESTION)
"Eggs?"
Sparky and Bucket look up from their work and give Fish
directions to find Eggs.
SPARKY AND BUCKET
(gurgled in unison)
"Over there!"
In the background, Oil Can climbs down a pipe to grease up
the generator and then scrambles back up the pipe.
Fish heads off as Sparky and Bucket turn on the toaster and
get ZAPPED! They jerk and squirm as electricity courses
through their boxes and they collapse on the ground. The
strands of light bulbs flicker and light up.
Sparky and Bucket smile and beat their boxes in delight -
they fixed the generator. The two boxtrolls holding the rope
let go and beat their boxes. Knickers falls to the ground.
KNICKERS
AHHH!!!!
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - GARDEN - CONTINUOUS
Fish arrives at a SUBTERRANEAN GARDEN where boxtrolls sit
among huge cabbages eating ladybugs and slugs. Fish stops in
front of FRAGILE, a giant, slow moving, dim-witted boxtroll.
Fragile slowly mists a seedling plant.
FISH
(GURGLED)
"Eggs?"
Fragile just stares at Fish until Fish gets frustrated and
leaves. Fragile slowly points, in the direction opposite
Fish's path.
FRAGILE
(GURGLES SLOWLY)
Eggs.
14.
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - PNEUMATIC TUBES - CONTINUOUS
ON A BOXTROLL'S REAR END. He scratches the backside of his
box and - WHOOSH! - is sucked up into the air, revealing
Fish.
Fish steps up to a huge PNEUMATIC TUBE driven by a dozen
antique vacuum cleaners and calls up to SWEETS, a toothless
boxtroll with a set of old human dentures in his mouth.
FISH
(GURGLED)
"Eggs?!"
Sweets stops, thinks, gets an idea and starts to speak just
as SPECS, a myopic boxtroll with an elaborate head gear of
eye glasses, twists an ANCHOR switch, turning on the
pneumatic tubes. First his DENTURES, then Sweets, are sucked
up into the tube. Fish watches Sweets go and then sees Oil
Can standing on top of the tubes oiling stuff.
FISH (CONT'D)
"EGGS?"
Oil Can stops oiling the tubes.
OIL CAN
(GURGLED)
"He's up there!"
Oil Can points up at a small cave high on the cavern wall.
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - EGGS' NOOK
Fish arrives at the opening of the small dark cave. In the
shadows of the nook is a shape. It appears to be a very small
boxtroll.
FISH
(GURGLED)
Eggs?
EGGS
(low, feral growls)
Out of the shadows waddles the small boxtroll. The first
thing that comes into the light is his box with an EGGS LOGO
printed on the front, then appears the dirty face of a feral-
looking 2-YEAR-OLD HUMAN BOY, EGGS.
Fish flashes a wonky-toothed smile at Eggs.
15.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Fish!
Fish plays a game of hide and seek with the found teddy bear.
He makes the arm, then another arm, then the head appear from
the arm and head holes of his box. Baby Eggs is enthralled.
He excitedly launches himself at Fish. They play wrestle over
the toy until Eggs grabs it from Fish and scampers away.
Eggs hugs the bear. So cute. Then... RIPS ITS HEAD OFF!
He reaches into the teddy bear's chest cavity and pulls out
the MUSIC BOX. He tosses the gutted bear body away and tries
to get it to work. When he can't figure it out he holds it
up to Fish.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Fish?
Fish winds the music box, gurgling an explanation of how it
works. Music fills the dark nook.
Eggs giggles with delight as the gears work again. They both
close their eyes and hum along to the music.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(HUMS TUNE)
Do do doo do doo...
EGGS (CONT'D)
(hums along with music)
They stop humming when the giant clock chimes signaling the
end of the boxtroll "day".
CUT TO:
(0400 GRU) GROWING UP BOXTROLL
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - CLOCK
CLOSE ON: the clock as the large hands representing the moon
and the sun flip.
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - SLEEPING PILE
As the lights go out, Knickers and the other boxtrolls gather
at the center of the cavern to sleep in a big, communal stack
of boxes like one big family.
16.
The sleeping pile is stacked tight and high. Fish and Eggs
climb to the top of the pile. Fish holds Eggs up so he can
pull a chain to turn out the last light in the cavern.
Baby Eggs lies looking straight up. The ceiling of the cavern
is dotted with lots of small lights and slowly turning
machines -- it looks like the flickering of stars. Baby Eggs
happily drifts off to sleep, snuggling the head he ripped
from the teddy bear.
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE ALLEY - NIGHT
The boxtroll clock chimes, signaling it is night above ground
and time to wake up! Eggs swings from the light bulb and
YELLS!
EGGS
Wake up!
The box pile explodes and falls apart as all the boxtrolls
are startled awake.
- EGGS NOOK: Fish winds up the teddy bear's MUSIC BOX and
adds it to a MUSIC MACHINE, built out of assorted junk and
driven by the teddy bear's music box.
Eggs pounds a hammer on a typewriter at the bottom of the
machine and Fish pulls out a saw and draws a bow across it.
Together they play a croaking music-mechanique song.
- Eggs rides on WHEELS' shoulders. Wheels makes gurgling
sounds like he is revving his engines. They ride around the
base of the CONVEYOR BELT, watching boxtrolls roll down from
the CHUTES.
Wheels swerves to avoid boxtrolls as they tumble off of the
conveyor belt, holding Eggs out to Fish as he rolls into
view. Fish catches Eggs and runs with him held like a
football.
- Fish in the cavern nook. He pulls out a prize bit of junk -
a 78 rpm album by the QUATTRO SABATINO. Eggs' eyes go wide.
EGGS
OOOH! Hee hee hee.
Fish puts the record on the player and lowers the needle.
Baby Eggs holds on to the record player, shaking his bottom
to the beat and dancing, while Fish plays a MUSICAL SAW with
his BOW. Eggs dances and turns to Fish, beating his box
approvingly.
17.
- CLOSE ON: A roiling pile of BUGS as boxtroll hands, and one
baby human's hand, reach in and grab fists full of bugs.
Boxtrolls munch up mouthfuls of bugs and Eggs chomps away
with them, just another monster.
- Eggs and Fish play music in the nook, their music machine
is evolving. First Eggs shakes the jar of buttons, then he
strikes a beat on a cowbell.
- Eggs is chasing Oil Can. He trips on his box and falls flat
on his face, popping out of his box by mistake. Oil Can sees
Eggs empty box and FREAKS!
OIL CAN
AAAAHHH!
Oil Can's wailing gets all the boxtrolls in the cavern to
turn, see the empty box and SCREAM! It's a collective
communal melt down - Fish runs up to Eggs in a panic, crams
his box back on and GURGLES the rule-
FISH
(GURGLED)
BOXTROLLS NEVER TAKE OFF THEIR
BOXES!
- Baby Eggs and Fish continue to play their music in the
nook. Eggs hit the cowbell expertly with a spoon and dances,
smiling and laughing.
DISSOLVE TO:
- 11 YEAR OLD EGGS laughing absolutely rocking out to the
music machine with the Quattro Sabatino song mixed in. Eggs
plays the WASHBOARD while Fish plays his saw. The jar of
buttons and the cowbell have been added to the music machine.
- Close on several PILL BUGS crawling on the cavern floor.
Shoe pokes them and they curl into a ball. He gathers them
up and growls happily from behind a pile of junk, eyeing
Eggs.
Eggs hides behind a little barrier of corrugated metal with
his own pile of pill bug balls. Shoe hurls a bug at Eggs and
misses, hitting the metal.
EGGS
Ha! Missed me!
Eggs tosses a bug at Shoe, and Shoe smugly laughs as the bug
flies into a tube. While he laughs, the bug shoots out from
the tube, smacking him on his nose. OOF!
18.
- Eggs and Fish are grooving along to their music machine.
Eggs transitions from the washboard to smashing light bulbs
with a SKILLET.
Outside of the nook, other boxtrolls bob their heads happily
along with the music.
- CLOSE ON: Eggs as he slides on a "new" HELMET made out of
junk. It is fitted with lights so he can see in the dark.
PULL OUT. Eggs stands beneath the pneumatic tubes as the
boxtrolls gather around him. Specs throws the switch and
Eggs is sucked up the tubes, the boxtrolls beat their boxes
in excitement. Shoe unceremoniously steps into the tube while
the others celebrate.
- The shadowy shapes of Fish, then Shoe, then a super excited
Eggs spring out of a manhole and scamper into the night.
Soon after, Shoe finds an umbrella, Fish holds up a busted
wheel.
SHOE
Ahh!
FISH
Oooo!
Eggs finds his first real "treasure" in an alleyway - a
broken EGG BEATER.
EGGS
(EXCITEDLY)
Oooh!
- Wheels zooms towards us carrying a MAIL BOX. Eggs pushes
Shoe in a wheelbarrow as Fish runs along, all cheering with
their loot. Suddenly BLAM! Wheels is hit by a BOLAS! Eggs
leaps into a barrel and the others hide as the Redhats climb
down from their truck and carry Wheels away.
MR. GRISTLE
HA HAAA!
MR. PICKLES
Another villain off the streets!
Eggs starts to move, to go after Wheels. Fish holds him
back.
EGGS
(protesting, quietly)
Wheels!
(MORE)
19.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(as Fish holds his arm)
What?!
FISH
(shaking his head)
Hide.
Eggs stares after his friend and slowly slips down to hide in
a barrel.
- Like monsters from a child's nightmare the Redhats loom out
of the darkness, smash boxes and collect boxtrolls.
- The boxtroll sleeping pile dwindles as more and more
boxtrolls are kidnapped.
- Another night of scavenging as a garden gate hinge SQUEAKS!
Eggs and Fish continue running but Oil Can can't help himself
- he stops to oil the gate.
Oil Can doesn't realize Gristle is standing right behind him
aiming a medieval looking BLUNDERBUSS BOLAS GUN!
BLAM! He fires point blank, capturing Oil Can. The little
boxtroll's oil can flies down the street and lands in front
of Eggs' hiding spot. Eggs WHIMPERS.
- SLEEPING PILE: The significantly smaller community tucks in
for the night as the now rusty water wheel squeaks in the
background. Eggs looks forlorn and holds Oil Can's oil can.
Fish GURGLES reassuringly to him.
As Fish slips into his box to sleep, Eggs SIGHS and looks up
at the greatly reduced number of "stars" (light bulbs) in the
ceiling. The water wheel squeaks constantly in the
background.
CUT TO:
(0500 WPR) WINIFRED PORTLEY-RIND
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT
Eggs scampers through thick fog across a large Market Square
encircled by regal buildings. At the far end stands the
impressive CHEESE GUILD.
Fish and Shoe lag behind.
EGGS
(WHISPERED)
This way.
20.
Shoe runs face first into a STREET LAMP - BOOM! - sending
gears and baubles clattering to the cobbles.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(LOUDER)
Shoe! Come on.
SHOE
(GURGLES ANGRILY)
Eggs and the boxtrolls' silhouettes skitter across the
square, over to a small side alley. There is a LOUD CLANG! as
Eggs and the boxtrolls run into a trash barrel, sending the
trash can lid noisily rolling across the square.
PAN UP the Cheese Guild... a LIGHT COMES ON IN A WINDOW.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - WINNIE'S BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
IN THE WINDOW, peeking from behind an ornate curtain, a young
girl watches the trash can lid fall over and wobble to a
stop.
The young girl, WINNIE (12, red-hair, nightgown) GASPS with
fear -- and fascination -- then whips the curtains closed.
WINNIE
(EXCITED WHISPER)
Boxtrolls! (SHUDDER) They could
come eat my face off at any moment.
(EXCITED)
I'd better warn father.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - MEZZANINE
Winnie runs down a staircase towards a set of double doors.
The SOUND of LAUGHTER and WAFFLING VOICES grows as Winnie
approaches the door.
Winnie knocks gently. No response. She knocks harder. Still
no response. She impetuously pushes the door open.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - TASTING ROOM
It's a Victorian MAN CAVE. A dark, ornate rotunda with walls
lined with cases of RARE CHEESES. At a table stacked with
FINE CHEESES, four men are seated, wearing gleaming WHITE
HATS.
21.
BOULANGER, an old man in a STEAM-POWERED WHEEL CHAIR, snoozes
at one end of the table while the short, rotund LANGSDALE and
tall, thin, beak-nosed BRODERICK roar with laughter at the
other end. Standing imperiously in the middle, and wearing
the most ornate white hat, is LORD PORTLEY-RIND.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Settle down, men, settle down.
Important town business to discuss.
First on the docket: more
complaints of crumbling bridges.
LANGSDALE
Speaking of crumbling... is that a
new blue cheese I see?
Broderick stands and leans into the cheese, breathing deeply.
BRODERICK
Does smell delicious.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
I suppose we could do with a nibble
first.
They taste cheeses like snobs tasting fine wines -- sniffing,
rolling it on their tongues, spitting in buckets, etc.
BRODERICK
Mmm... Pungent...
LANGSDALE
Complex...
BRODERICK
I'm tasting notes of... plum!
Boulanger snores.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(mouth full, reading
DOCKET)
All good fun, but we do have this
school funding initiative to vote
on. Been sitting here for months.
All in favor of--
BRODERICK
--Cutting open the Roquefort next?
ALL
AYE!!
Lord Portley-Rind tosses the docket behind him, giving in.
22.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Well, okay, okay. A quick reminder,
tomorrow is Trubshaw Baby
Remembrance Day.
(PERVY)
And we all know what that means...
a performance by Madame Frou Frou.
A burst of STEAM shoots out of Boulanger's wheelchair.
BOULANGER
A VISION!
BRODERICK
Now there's a woman...
LANGSDALE
... With some cheese on her bones!
Portley-Rind leans in like he has a secret, and slowly
caresses a piece of brie as he says:
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
A lady like that is like a fine
brie. Raw. Dangerous.
(DEEP SNIFF)
Maybe a little stinky, but one
taste and you'll be begging for...
mmm . . .
Lord Portley-Rind nuzzles the brie and kisses its crust.
WINNIE (O.S.)
Father!
Suddenly, he looks up he sees:
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
WINIFRED!
He SQUEEZES the cheese in his hand, which EXPLODES all over.
A hunk of the brie lands on his hat. He jumps up and storms
over to the door. The White hats murmur and gasp.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Winifred go on. Off to bed. Off to
bed! Come on, come on.
WINNIE
But Father! I saw boxtrolls again!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Shoo. Shoo. Shoo.
23.
Portley-Rind's eyes keep sliding back toward the room behind
him, where the others are tasting another fine cheese.
WINNIE
They're right outside. They could
come rip the flesh off my bones any
moment!
Behind them: LOUD grunts of satisfied tasting.
WHITE HATS (O.S.)
(IN UNISON)
Would be a shame to miss this,
Portley-Rind!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(CALLING BACK)
Yes, yes one moment!
(to Winnie, distracted)
Winifred, proper girls should not
be obsessing over grotesque
monsters.
Portley-Rind's attention is directed to the shenanigans going
on behind him.
WINNIE
I'm not obsessed! I just can't stop
imagining them gnawing off my toes
and stringing them together as a
necklace! Father? Father.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(NOT LISTENING)
Mmm hmm. Yes.
Portley-Rind turns back and pats Winnie on the head like she
is a little dog.
WINNIE
(TESTING HIM)
If they kidnapped me and slurped up
my intestines like noodles, would
you give up your white hat to save
me?
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(still not listening)
Hmm? Um. Yes, Winifred.
WINNIE
Father!
24.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
What? Uh... White Hat? Right.
(looks at his hat)
What.. Oh, seems to have been
smudged by a bit of brie. Be a dear
and have the butler give it a wash,
would you?
He hands a stunned Winnie his White Hat and turns her toward
the stairs.
WINNIE
BUT--
He closes the door on her before she can finish her thought.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - MEZZANINE
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (O.S.)
Now gentlemen, I apologize...
sorry! Back to important White Hat
business... Pass the Camembert!
Winnie is hurt and frustrated. She looks down at the White
Hat in her hands. Her eyes narrow.
WINNIE
I'll give your hat a wash all
right.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - WINNIE'S BALCONY - NIGHT
High on the front of the Guild, Winnie bursts through a set
of french doors and onto a balcony holding the white hat, her
face an angry scowl.
She tosses Lord Portley-Rind's hat, frisbee style, out into
the night sky. The hat glows in the moonlight as it sails
across the Market Square.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE
The white hat hits the ground in the middle of the square.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - WINNIE'S BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
She smiles, satisfied, dusts her hands.
WINNIE
Ha!
25.
Then, her smile slowly melts as she realizes this was not her
brightest move. She hears raucous laughter from the Tasting
Room.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Uh oh.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL
CLOSE ON DOOR as Winnie quickly unbolts the locks and cracks
the door.
(0550 TWH) THE WHITE HAT
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT
Winnie cautiously peeks out of the Guild. The light behind
her casts a long strip across the empty Market Square.
Mist swells in the small pools of light from streets lights.
The rest is swathed in dark shadows. The hat is clear across
the square.
Steeling herself, Winnie creeps out and down the stairs, her
fancy satin slippers are silent. She gets to the bottom of
the stairs and looks around. Nobody there.
The white hat looms from a distance. She gasps, realizing
how far she has to go.
She creeps forward a few more steps and hears a noise. She
hears something skittering along out in the fog and makes a
terrified SQUEAK. She covers her mouth.
Something is watching her.
WINNIE
Who... who's there?
A shape steps forward from the darkness of a nearby alley,
but is obscured by mist. Two little lights cut through the
vapor.
Winnie scrunches her face slightly, focusing intently on the
figure.
The shape creeps a little closer. A hunched-over silhouette,
with glowing round eyes. It's a boxtroll monster!
Winnie gasps. She stays put and turns her head to the side,
screwing up her face with curiosity as the figure stands
upright.
26.
The figure takes another step towards her. REVEAL it is Eggs.
He lifts his goggles. The light from the street lamp reveals
his face. He is guarded but curious and mimics Winnie's
expression.
She gasps in wonder, the hat momentarily forgotten.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(CALLING OUT)
Who are you, boy?
Eggs looks confused.
EGGS
Boy?
Fish and Shoe suddenly grab him from behind and pull him out
of Market Square.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(to Fish and Shoe)
Why would she call me that?
Suddenly, BRIGHT LIGHTS hit them! It's the REDHATS' TRUCK!
Eggs and the boxtrolls sprint around the square, chased by
the Redhats.
MR. PICKLES
They're right there, Mr. Trout!
WITH WINNIE as she watches Eggs and the boxtrolls sprint out
of the square just a few steps a head of the Redhat's truck.
MR. GRISTLE
We're right behind you. HA hahaha!
Winnie stares, slack-jawed as the truck's lights disappear
down the hill, then she turns and reaches for her father's
hat, but it's gone, instead she sees--
-- a big shadowy figure holding the hat and staring at it
lustily -- Archibald Snatcher. Winnie GASPS.
SNATCHER
Hmm. Someone's out past curfew.
Very dangerous.
Winnie is speechless for a moment, then-
WINNIE
I... I saw a boy.
Snatcher still stares at the hat.
27.
SNATCHER
All I saw was filthy boxtroll
monsters.
Snatcher finally looks at Winnie with an oily, false smile.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Miss Portley-Rind. Allow me to
escort you home.
Snatcher leans down and offers his arm to Winnie. She snubs
him.
WINNIE
I can escort myself, thank you.
Winnie turns her back to Snatcher and he gives a grunt of
frustration and restraint. She turns back to collect the
hat.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
If you'll just give me my father's
hat back.
Winnie grabs for the hat. Snatcher swishes it out of her
reach and heads for the stairs into the Guild.
SNATCHER
Yes, how did this hat find itself
aaaaall the way out here?
Winnie runs after him.
WINNIE
The... wind! Blew it, right out the
window. Very windy tonight!
Snatcher looks doubtful. He licks his finger and holds it up.
SNATCHER
Hmmm. Must've died down. Suddenly!
Snatcher heads right to the front door.
WINNIE
There's no need to go inside.
SNATCHER
Oh, but as a gentleman, I insist.
Snatcher shoves open the doors, pushes his way into the foyer-
(0600 SPR) SNATCHER AND LORD PORTLEY-RIND
28.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT
-- and approaches the foot of the main stairs.
SNATCHER
(CALLING OUT)
Lord Portley-Rind!
CLOSE ON the TASTING ROOM DOORS.
SFX Muffled voices of White Hats enjoying themselves suddenly
stop.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (O.S.)
(MUFFLED)
Did you hear something?
Winnie winces. She turns to Snatcher who is admiring the
white hat again.
WINNIE
(DESPERATE)
Can I have the hat back now?
Snatcher puts the hat behind his back, grins and pulls Winnie
up the stairs by her wrist, toward the Tasting Room.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(PLEADING)
Please.
Portley-Rind bursts out to see Snatcher ascending the stairs.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
What in Gouda's name is going on?
Archibald Snatcher?
SNATCHER
Deepest apologies, your Lordship.
But I found something out in the
street that belongs to you.
Snatcher gestures behind him revealing a sheepish Winnie. As
he turns he also reveals the white hat. Portley-Rind rushes
down the stairs to meet Snatcher half way and GRABS THE HAT.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
My White Hat!
Winnie looks stricken.
WINNIE
Huh?
29.
As Portley-Rind pulls on the hat, Snatcher refuses to let it
go, so they tug each other up and down the stairs.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
I'll take that... Now, now,
Snatcher one doesn't acquire a
white hat by simply--
(STRAINING)
--picking it up... off the street.
Portley-Rind finally wins the tussle and grabs the hat back.
He growls under his breath at the smudges left on the brim.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
(WITH EMPHASIS)
A white hat indicates privilege,
prestige, position!
(THEN)
It must be earned.
He removes a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabs at
the hat's brim.
From the top of the stairs the other Guild members chime in.
LANGSDALE
With Valor!
BOULANGER
Chivalry!
BRODERICK
Or being rich! That's how I got it.
Snatcher looks up at them and bows, removing his red hat.
SNATCHER
Oh, don't I know it, sirs.
Snatcher climbs the stairs and gets face to face with Portley-
Rind.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Fortunately, we still have our
little... agreeeeement.
Portley-Rind grimaces, remembering.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Um.. ehhh...
Snatcher opens his arms, gesturing widely, as he recites the
particulars of the deal.
30.
SNATCHER
When I destroy every last boxtroll
in this town, I shall earn my white
hat... and join you in the Tasting
Room.
Snatcher takes a step toward the Tasting Room door and looks
longingly into its warm, inviting interior. The White Hats
reach back and slam the doors shut. Snatcher's face falls.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Good lord.
(twists his mustache)
Not sure who should be more
terrified - the boxtrolls or us.
The White Hats chuckle. Snatcher's expression drops into a
scowl. Portley-Rind puts his hat back on.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Now, how the devil did my hat get
outside in the first place?
Snatcher smirks and gestures toward Winnie.
SNATCHER
I was told the wind had something
to do with it.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
The wind, eh?
Portley-Rind looks at Winnie and frowns.
WINNIE
Father, I'm sorry--
SNATCHER
(INTERRUPTING)
Sorry! Can't stay. Too much work to
do.
(DOFFS HAT)
Miss Portley-Rind, your Lordship,
Sirs. I bid you good night. I'm
sure we'll be seeing each other
again very, very soon.
Snatcher oozes out the door. Portley-Rind looks at Winnie and
shakes his head.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(EXASPERATED)
Hmmmm.. Winnie...
31.
Winnie is about to defend herself when Snatcher pops his head
back in and points to his head.
SNATCHER
Don't forget. I'm a size six-and-a-
half. Order ahead.
As he finally leaves, his hat gets caught in the door and he
lets out a frustrated growl/groan.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(UNDER BREATH)
Ugh!
Winnie pleads her case from the foot of the stair case as the
White Hats return to their cheese.
WINNIE
Father, I'm sorry! I didn't mean
to. Well, at first I did, but I
think this situation offers a great
opportunity for a father and
daughter to discuss their feelings--
Portley-Rind rolls his eyes and turns back to the Tasting
Room.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
--WAIT! I saw something out there.
A boy with boxtrolls--
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(INTERRUPTING)
Not another word.
WINNIE
But Father I really-
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Bed!
Portley-Rind shuts the door leaving Winnie alone. She looks
back towards the front doors.
WINNIE
I did see a boy...
(0700) FISH CAPTURED
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE STREET - NIGHT
CLOSE ON: Fish, Eggs and Shoe sprinting down a twisting and
turning street. The Redhats' vehicle is right behind them.
32.
Eggs' helmet is blown off while he runs. It flies onto the
street behind them and is crushed under the Redhats' truck.
MR. PICKLES
(YELLING)
Hark! Here come The Exterminators!
MR. GRISTLE
Exterminate! HA ha ha ha!
MR. TROUT
But don't that sound like we're the
villains?
MR. PICKLES
Huh.
ON TWO BOXTROLLS, SPARKY AND SNIPS, GATHERING A FEW BLOCKS
AHEAD: BAM! They are hit by headlights as Fish, Eggs and Shoe
come running between them.
EGGS
RUN!
Sparky and Snips hide in their boxes.
MR. PICKLES
Hark! Here come The
Exterminators... OF JUSTICE!
MR. GRISTLE
(SCREAMING INSANELY)
WE EXTERMINATE JUSTICE!
Mr. Pickles and Mr. Trout look at each, both terrified of Mr.
Gristle.
MR. GRISTLE (CONT'D)
Faster!
EGGS
Grab hold!
Eggs, Fish and Shoe join hands and leap from the streets onto
rooftops. As they careen from roof to roof, the boxtrolls
tuck into their boxes, but Eggs can't fit in his box. He
wraps his arms around Fish's box and rides on Shoe's box.
The Redhats' vehicle skids around the bend and swerves
through the streets until it gets below them. Gristle's head
sticks out, wind whipping his face like a dog.
MR. GRISTLE
HA HA HA!
33.
MR. PICKLES
Over there Mr. Trout!
Pickles nervously aims a BOLAS GUN, clearly not comfortable
with the weapon. He fires, and a WEIGHTED BOLAS shoots out...
but, misses Eggs and the boxtrolls badly.
Eggs, Fish, and Shoe tumble off of the rooftops. They fall
through the air before bouncing from a store AWNING and
landing on the cobblestone street.
Eggs leads the boxtrolls toward a drain pipe.
EGGS
This way!
Gristle FIRES his sawed off BOLAS GUN as the truck skids!
MR. GRISTLE
(LAUGHING)
My turn! HA HA!
The bolas whizzes toward Eggs and the fleeing boxtrolls as
they leap into a drain pipe!
INT. SEWER - DAY
ON FISH as a the weighted bolas wrap around his box. His
feet are pulled out from under him as he reaches out toward
his friends.
FISH
Egg!
The bolas rope is attached to the Redhats truck, just outside
of the sewer pipe. The rope tightens as they begin to wind
up the slack.
Eggs and Shoe turn to see Fish grabbing the sides of the
slick sewer, trying not to be pulled away. Eggs scrambles
around Shoe, hiding in his box, and rushes to Fish as he is
dragged down the pipe towards the Redhats.
Eggs grabs Fish's hand, but the Redhats are too strong. Fish
frantically cries out.
FISH (CONT'D)
Eggs! Eggs!
EGGS
No!
34.
Eggs can't hold on and Fish's hand slips free, he's pulled
out of the pipe CRYING!
FISH
EGGGGS!
Fish is yanked out of sight. Eggs is left lying on the
ground, gasping ffor breath. His best friend is gone.
SILENCE.
Eggs startles as Shoe touches his shoulder. He looks up and
Shoe shakes his head, resigned. Shoe takes Eggs' arm and
slowly leads him deeper into the pipe bend, toward home.
(0750 EGC) EGGS' CHOICE
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - EGGS' NOOK
CLOSE ON the spinning Quattro Sabatinos record.
Eggs sits hunched over in despair with one finger resting on
the music machine, causing it to play very, very, slowly.
Behind Eggs we see Shoe's face appear. He stares at Eggs.
BEAT
Shoe throws a bug at Eggs. It bounces off his head. No
reaction, so Shoe does it again... still no reaction.
BEAT
Shoe enters the nook. Eggs looks at him. Shoe holds out two
hands full of yummy bugs.
SHOE
(gurgles) Bugs for dinner?
Nothing.
Shoe sighs, and puts a bug in his mouth.
EGGS
(QUIETLY)
Why do we do this, Shoe...
Shoe stops eating, opens his mouth as if to answer then
pauses, agape. The bug crawls out and up onto the top of his
head. Shoe thinks, gurgling.
35.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Carry on like everything is normal?
They drag us away and we do
nothing...
The lucky bug extends it's wings and flies away. Shoe doesn't
react. He doesn't know what to say.
SFX: THE CLOCK GOES OFF SIGNALING TIME TO SLEEP.
Shoe glances out of the cave as the remaining boxtrolls start
to make what's left of the communal sleeping pile.
Shoe looks back and forth between Eggs and the sleeping pile.
He knows he should stay, but the sleeping pile is really
coming together out there. With a whine of frustration for
his friend, he shakes off some bugs for Eggs to eat and
leaves.
Eggs sighs and looks over to the corner where Fish's old saw
and bow lean against the wall.
The bugs Shoe left crawl up Eggs' arm and he angrily shoves
them away and notices the Quattro Sabatino's RECORD COVER.
CLOSE ON: The faces of the four singers, each one festooned
with an elaborate mustache, and then on to their orange and
brown striped coats and finally focussing on their straw
boater hats. Eggs lowers it to reveal--
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - DRESSING AREA - LATER
--Eggs REFLECTION IN AN OLD CRACKED MIRROR. He is wearing a
disguise based on the singers from the Quattro Sabatino's
record cover (which he holds in his hand). He has made a
striped jacket by sewing strips of orange fabric to an old
coat and found a filthy old straw boater. He has even drawn a
twirled Van Dyck mustache on his face with a lump of coal.
EGGS
(HOPEFUL)
I look like one of them.
(DOUBTFUL)
(SIGH) Sort of.
He looks at the pile of sleeping boxtrolls as they snore. He
looks back at the mirror.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(DETERMINED)
I'll find you, Fish!
36.
He tiptoes out into the cavern and sneaks off into the
shadows.
INT. SEWER - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
In a pitch black sewer, a thin ray of sunlight shoots down
from a hole in a manhole cover.
Eggs' filthy hand, wrapped in torn strips of fabric, reaches
into the light. Dust motes drift around his hand and glow.
The reflected light illuminates Eggs' wide eyed face.
(0800) DAYLIGHT
DOWN SHOT: Eggs climbs up toward the manhole. He has to
squint at the bright sunlight.
EGGS POV: Looking up at the manhole until the bright light
fills the screen.
SFX: As we go into the light, the sound of the streets of a
bustling city gets louder and louder.
EXT. MARKET STREET - DAY
CLOSE ON: A heavy cast iron manhole as it grinds open.
Blinding sunlight pours in.
Eggs' dirty face peeks out. His eyes go wide.
EGGS
(AMAZED)
Wow...
KLANG! A fat man steps on the manhole cover and slams it
shut.
EGGS (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Ahh!
A beat. The manhole opens again (KLANG!!), and again is
slammed shut as it is driven over, by a CART that stops.
Eggs shoves the manhole open and clambers out. For a second
he's reassured at how calm it is then the cart moves off and
he is left crouching in the middle of a busy street. He looks
up and is BLINDED BY THE SUN. AAARGH!
DRUM BEATS and a CYMBAL CRASH! Eggs jumps out of the way as a
ONE MAN BAND marches through, almost running him over. He's
pushed and shoved by a festive crowd...
37.
EGGS (CONT'D)
AHHHH!!!
TOWNSPERSON 1
Outta the way!
Until he backs into an OLD TIMEY BACKDROP painted with lurid
images of monstrous boxtrolls stealing a wailing baby.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Get yer picture taken with the
Trubshaw Baby! A humorous keepsake
for this dark and dreadful day!
EGGS
AHHHH!! (rights himself) Eek.
Eggs stumbles backwards into the crowd where he is crushed
between pedestrians until he is lifted off the ground and
carried along.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Ehh! Oof. Eek!
Above Eggs the bright sun distorts the faces in the crowd
like in a fever dream.
Eggs is carried along, his feet lifted off of the ground by
the bustling crowd.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Hey. Oww!
The crowd parts and he is dropped to the ground at the foot
of a stage with a loud OOF!
(0900 MFF) MADAME FROU FROU
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - DAY
Everyone hushes as a too enthusiastic CARNIVAL BARKER'S voice
introduces the act.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Ladies and gents, From the long-
lost land of Crackerslovakia --
MADAME FROU FROU!
MADAME FROU FROU bursts through the curtains. She's a big,
sexy, voluptuous woman, exotic in a weird Eastern European
MAE WEST kind of way.
38.
MADAME FROU FROU
(HIGH-PITCHED LADY-VOICE)
Helloooo Cheesebridge! Hello
darlinks! Thank you! Thank you! My
darlinks!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Yoo hoo! I'm your biggest fan,
Frou Frou.
Portley-Rind and the White Hats call from their exclusive
podium in the center of the crowd. Winnie and a very bored
Lady Cynthia Portley-Rind stand next to Lord Portley-Rind.
MADAME FROU FROU
Lord Portley-Rind, you are TOO
much.
(FLIRTING)
Or maybe just enough! Rowrr!
Frou Frou gives him a wink as Lady Portley-Rind elbows him in
the stomach.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Oof. Very good.
Frou Frou takes center stage.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Today I shall perform ze sad tale
of ze Trubshaw baby! But first, I
need a helper from ze audience!
Winnie jumps up and down, waving her hand enthusiastically.
WINNIE
(raises hand, jumps)
Me! Pick me! Me!
MADAME FROU FROU
(pretending not to see
WINNIE)
Anyone? Anyone at all? Nobody?
TOWNSFOLK BOY
Excuse me, I'd like to--
Winnie roughly elbows the boy out of the way--
WINNIE
Move aside! Pick me...
-- and climbs up on stage without being asked. Eggs is
transfixed - It IS the girl from last night!
39.
MADAME FROU FROU
(FALSELY WELCOMING)
Ah! Little Miss Portley-Rind, you
shall play ze sweet little baby
Trubshaw.
Frou Frou gives Winnie a bonnet.
WINNIE
I saw a boy with boxtrolls last
night! Maybe your audience would
like to hear-- OOF!
Frou Frou shoves a pacifier in Winnie's mouth and scoots her
behind the curtains.
MADAME FROU FROU
Stick to ze script, my darlink!
Frou Frou walks to the BARREL ORGAN and turns the BRASS
HANDLE. Once it is wound, she takes her place at center
stage, a FAN poised coyly over her face.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Ten years ago a plot was hatched
Where evil was with cunning matched
Whoever left their doors unlatched
Would find their infant children
SNATCHED
BY BOXTROLLS
ON EGGS watching the show, shocked.
EGGS
What?!
Back to the show.
MADAME FROU FROU
Oo no Boxtrolls
Winnie and Mr. Pickles, without his red hat and wearing a
fake mustache, come dancing out on stage as Papa Trubshaw and
Baby Trubshaw. Pickles struggles to pick up Winnie and hold
her like a baby.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Trubshaw Senior loved his kid
The same as regular father's did
If you don't want to share his
PLIGHT
Make sure that you are locked up
TIGHT
FROM BOXTROLLS
40.
Winnie dances in place and pretends to sleep as Pickles walks
off stage.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
For this night Baby's Dad Trubshaw
Quite forgot to lock his door
And as soon as he began to snore
The Boxtrolls came in to withdraw
POOR BABY
Those vile Boxtrolls
A trap door opens in the stage floor and Mr. Gristle climbs
out dressed in a crude BOXTROLL COSTUME made from papier-
mâché. Gristle GROWLS.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
So lock your windows, bolt your
DOORS
Or Boxtrolls with their creepy
CLAWS
Will take your children in their
PAWS
And drag them down to feed their
JAWS
BOXTROLLS
The crowd HISSES as Gristle grabs Winnie and pushes her down
the trap! Gristle makes CHOMPING and NOM NOM sounds.
GRISTLE
RAWR!
Pickles runs onto the stage melodramatically pantomiming a
heart-broken father searching for his missing child.
MADAME FROU FROU
Mister Trubshaw went quite wild
When he found out he'd lost his
CHILD
He did what any Dad would do
He ran off swiftly to pursue those
BOXTROLLS
Mr. Gristle returns and stalks Pickles from behind--
CROWD
No! / Behind you!/ Look out man!
He's behind you!
--And, a bit too enthusiastically, shoves Pickles down
through trap door.
41.
MADAME FROU FROU
"Help, help, help me please won't
you?"
But the Boxtrolls did what
BOXTROLLS DO
They snatched him up and began to
CHEW
Until there was no residue
Of Trubshaw.
Mr. Trout throws an arm full of papier-mâché BONES onto the
stage. Gristle picks one up, shoves it into his papier-mâché
jaws and taunts the audience like a villainous professional
wrestler.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
They pulled him down into their
NEST
Hardly pausing to digest
They left his bones but ate the
REST
Never be a dinner guest
OF BOXTROLLS
Oo those Boxtrolls
CROWD
Booooo!
EGGS
But she's lying.
A man standing next to Eggs overhears and looks down at him.
Eggs pales and pulls his disguise tighter.
MADAME FROU FROU
And that's the story of the
TRUBSHAW KID
Don't do what Father Trubshaw did
If you see Boxtrolls don't placate
THEM
Catch 'em and exterminate them
BOXTROLLS
Frou Frou wallops Gristle with her fan. The crowd cheers her
on as she beats the crap out of him in a not-very-ladylike
fashion. The crowd is whipped into a frenzy!
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Kill those Boxtrolls!
Eggs is crushed by the furious crowd as they chant along with
Madame Frou Frou.
42.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Kill those Boxtrolls!
CROWD
Kill those boxtrolls!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND/WHITE HATS
Don't forget about our party
tonight, Frou Frou!
Eggs looks around at the frantic crowd, he sees Winnie
exiting out the back of the stage. She dusts herself off and
heads back into the crowded market. Eggs follows her.
(1000 EFW) EGGS FOLLOWS WINNIE
EXT. MARKET SQUARE
As Winnie makes her way across the crowded square Eggs
follows her.
- When he sees the One Man Band coming closer, he ducks down
into a box shape as if he could hide like a real boxtroll.
When the danger is passed he looks up and sees Winnie
disappearing into the crowd.
- Eggs runs to catch up and has to jump over a vendor pushing
a cart.
TOWNSPERSON 2
Hey? What the...
- Eggs falls in behind Winnie a she nonchalantly circles the
tent of a cheese seller. She suddenly looks back and STARES
RIGHT AT EGGS! Eggs hides behind a Swiss cheese.
Winnie ignores him and heads off down the street with Eggs
still following until she--
EXT MARKET SQUARE - ARCADE - DAY
--Lunges around a corner and disappears! Eggs runs after her,
turns the corner and she's gone. Suddenly she jumps out in
front of him.
WINNIE
What do you want!
Eggs, startled, instinctively hides in a barrel. Winnie peers
in at him.
43.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
You're the worst pickpocket I have
ever seen.
She tosses him a coin.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Here, buy yourself a book on how to
be a better thief.
She walks away shaking her head.
Eggs climbs up out of the barrel.
EGGS
Wait! I saw you last night.
Winnie freezes, eyes wide. She slowly turns back to him. He
looks down, too scared to look her in the eye.
EGGS (CONT'D)
And they took Fish, and... I don't
know where they took him...
He looks up and Winnie is right in front of him.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Ah!
WINNIE
You were with the boxtrolls last
night?
Eggs wipes the coal dust mustache from his face.
EGGS
Yes.
WINNIE
(EXCITED)
Whoah! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW
IT!
Winnie gleefully dances about as Eggs climbs out of the
barrel.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Father didn't believe me but I KNEW
IT! How did you escape?!
EGGS
We went underground and they--
44.
WINNIE
(INTERRUPTING)
Did they drag you down to their
hideous caves?
EGGS
Huh?
Eggs backs up as Winnie advances, intensely presses him for
information.
WINNIE
Were there mountains of baby bones
and rivers of blood?
EGGS
What?
WINNIE
Did they eat your family?
EGGS
MY FAMILY-
WINNIE
Did they let you watch?!
(PAUSE)
I mean, make you watch?!
She grabs him by the shoulders.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
TELL ME EVERYTHING!
Freaked out and frustrated, Eggs BITES HER ON THE ARM. She
freezes. They stare at each other, Eggs panting, her in
shock. She looks down at her arm flabbergasted.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
You bit me.
EGGS
I need to find the Men in Red Hats!
Winnie looks at the bite mark again.
WINNIE
You bit me with your mouth.
EGGS
The Men in Red Hats!
45.
WINNIE
The boxtroll exterminators? They
live down on Curd's Way.
EGGS
How do I get there?
Winnie points to the Milk Street sign that they are standing
under.
WINNIE
Curds Way? Milk turns into it.
The one man band drops a CYMBAL: BA DUM CHHHH!
Eggs turns to go, then hesitates.
EGGS
It's not true, you know.
(ANGRY)
We don't eat babies!
He runs off down the street.
WINNIE
We? What do you mean we?
Eggs rounds a corner and is gone.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Come back here! TELL ME EVERYTHING!
She takes off after him.
(1100 SLR) SNATCHER'S LAIR
INT SNATCHER'S FACTORY - SAME TIME
CLOSE ON Fish's frightened face peeking out from under his
box lid. REVEAL he's in a cage, being stared at by the three
Redhats -- Pickles, Trout and Gristle.
Gristle reaches up and pokes him with a cricket bat.
MR. GRISTLE
(SINISTER WHISPER)
POKE.
MR. PICKLES
You ever wonder what they're
thinkin' `bout, Mr. Trout?
46.
MR. TROUT
I imagine they're evaluating their
life choices.
MR. PICKLES
Ah. Wonderin' why they chose to be
evil, disgusting monsters instead
of good guys like us!
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Wrong, Mr. Pickles!
They turn to see Snatcher, coming down a long walkway behind
them, backlit by tall windows. He finishes drying his face
with a towel, then walks towards them, orating THEATRICALLY:
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
A boxtroll cannot CHOOSE a new life
because a boxtroll does not ASPIRE
to be anything more than a weak,
lowly pest.
(A BEAT)
But a man -- a great man!
(tosses towel, arms wide)
And his...
MR. TROUT
Colleagues?
MR. PICKLES
Best chums?
SNATCHER
... stooges
(THEN)
... can choose to change their
lives. Our dreams are in our grasp!
Snatcher lifts Mr. Gristle into the air.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Let us be dream-graspers, fate-
snatchers, destiny-takers! Let us
grasp our dreams and shove them
down everyone's throat! Am I not
right?
MR. GRISTLE
THROAT!
SNATCHER
YES!
47.
Snatcher throws Gristle and Pickles catches him in his arms,
holding him like a small child. Gristle smiles maniacally.
MR. PICKLES
That's why your name is the boss,
boss!
MR. TROUT
I'mnotastooge, am I?
Pickles releases Gristle as they follow Snatcher.
SNATCHER
Now, gentlemen. What better way to
dream than to walk in the shoes of
those to whom we aspire? Mr.
Pickles, fetch the--
MR. PICKLES
Shoes?
MR. TROUT
Clogs?
MR. GRISTLE
(brandishing cricket bat)
BAT!
SNATCHER
Cheese.
Snatcher walks away as Trout and Pickles blanche. Their faces
go from rapt attention to apprehension. Gristle just keeps
his deranged grin.
MR. TROUT
Oh no.
MR. PICKLES
Oh dear.
MR. GRISTLE
Nice! Heh heh heh heh heh...
(1200) EGGS SAVES FISH
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE - WORLD VIEW
Cheesebridge looms quietly overhead. The camera slowly pans
DOWN AS--
48.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND
Eggs reaches an intersection and stops at the street signs:
MILK AVE and CURDS WAY. He looks around at the industrial
wasteland. In the distance is one lone building with a bloody
red top hat painted on the huge wooden door.
Eggs heads toward it.
INT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY
CLOSE ON Snatcher's grimy hands holding up a white hat made
out of paper.
SNATCHER
Men, don your white hats.
Snatcher lowers the paper hat onto his head. Across the table
from him the Redhats replace their red hats with paper white
hats. They all sit at a table set with cracked crockery and
mismatched plates.
MR. PICKLES
Are you sure about this, boss? You
know what cheese can do to you...
SNATCHER
(tucking a napkin into his
COLLAR)
Unless you are referring to how
cheese brings men of respect and
power together in brotherhood, no,
I do not know what...
(LOOMING MENACINGLY)
"Cheese. Does. To. Me."
MR. PICKLES
(GULPS) That's what I meant then.
SNATCHER
Marvelous! Then let us begin.
Trout takes a little piece of cheese out of a package labeled
"EXTRA MILD CHEDDAR". He focuses and cuts off the tiniest
little sliver and puts it on a plate, inspects it and slices
it into an even smaller piece... then slices it again... and
again... and again... and--
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(YELLS)
ENOUGH!
49.
Snatcher bangs his fist on the table. Startled, Pickles and
Trout jump. Then Trout puts a tiny slice of cheese on a plate
and very slowly rotates the top of the table like a Lazy
Susan. It takes forever for Snatcher's plate to arrive in
front of him.
Snatcher loses patience and spins the table so that a plate
lands in front of him. As he moves to pierce the cheese with
his fork, the plate shifts to the left. He glares at Mr.
Trout and Mr. Pickles, who turned the table top. They
immediately return the plate.
The Redhats stare nervously as Snatcher stabs the curd and
raises it to his lips and places it on his tongue. He chews,
relishing it, then swallows.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(SMILING)
Mmmm!
The Redhats relax. They take a tiny piece of cheese each and
eat it.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I say, old chaps, it's quite, um...
QUITE--
MR. TROUT
--Aromatic? Oaky? With an undertone
of a mother's smile on a warm
spring day? Hmm...
SNATCHER
Yes! Those things! Etcetera
etcetera, big words, chummy
banter...
As the Redhats look on in horror, red spots appear across
Snatcher's face. He scratches at them absently.
MR. PICKLES
(whispered to Trout)
Someone's got the cheese fits
again.
MR. TROUT
(SHUDDERS)
Ohhh...
(whispered to Gristle)
Quickly, quietly, get the leeches.
Gristle scurries away, crossing behind Snatcher.
50.
MR. GRISTLE
QUIETLY!
SNATCHER
(SLURRED)
Where is he going? Is he getting
more cheese?
Snatcher's lips instantly PUFF UP into huge, wobbly,
distended FISH LIPS. The Redhats stare--
MR. GRISTLE
Quietly!
SNATCHER
What?
MR. PICKLES
(SCARED)
I think you've had enough for
today, boss.
In the background, Eggs' silhouette appears in the soot-
covered window. He wipes away the grime to look in.
EXT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY - DAY
Eggs looks away from the window up at a large, rickety AIR
DUCT attached to the side of the building. He climbs into the
duct, leaving his disguise behind.
INT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY - DAY
BACK TO SCENE. Snatcher's face is now grotesquely misshapen
and one eye has swollen shut like Quasimodo.
SNATCHER
(slurred by swollen lips)
Isn't this nice? Chewing the
cheddar with the big cheessses.
Holding my own--
(GULPS CHEESE)
--With sssophissstication and
sssavoir faire!
Pickles, and Trout sit nervously at the table and stare at
him.
MR. PICKLES
(SUPER WORRIED)
Yup. Nothing terrifying about that.
51.
MR. TROUT
(rubs his neck, nervously)
Uh huh huh...
SNATCHER
Thisss is where I belong!
He leans back in his "throne" and begins orating again.
MR. TROUT
Spot on, as always, sir.
Eggs appears peeking out of the air duct high on the factory
wall.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
You're not wrong, boss.
SNATCHER
(ANGRY)
Well not here! In this rotten
factory!
Snatcher quickly leans forward, slams his fist on the table
and stands.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I belong up there!
Eggs shrinks back into the duct, afraid that Snatcher has
noticed him.
MR. TROUT (O.S.)
I'm agreeing so I don't upset you.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
Very clever.
ON SNATCHER as he lurches up from the table and points toward
the city. Eggs retreats slightly into the duct in response to
Snatcher's erratic movements.
SNATCHER
In the tasting room, supping on the
choicest cheeses... Everyone in
town bowing down to me, like a
gentleman, a lord with a white hat!
ON EGGS: He spots Fish in a cage suspended above the floor.
EGGS
Fish!
He leaps onto a hanging chain and climbs.
52.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
You've never been wrong, boss.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
It's a time-honored tradition.
In the background, Snatcher stands up quickly, sending his
chair flying and stalks around.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(FRUSTRATION)
Aaaarrgh!
Eggs climbs across the rafters, above the Redhats as--
MR. TROUT
Now, now boss... Don't get yourself
all worked up.
MR. PICKLES
Use your breathing.
--Pickles and Trout follow Snatcher nervously, like guards at
an insane asylum.
ON SNATCHER: as they move in to comfort him but he rails back
at them, arms flailing.
SNATCHER
Stand back peasants! You don't
touch your King!
ON EGGS: as he works his way through ceiling girders. He
jumps from the rafters to a loose chain.
SNATCHER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
King Archibald Snatcher. Yes, I
shall be king too, why not?
MR. TROUT (O.S.)
Stay with us, boss.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
Tell us more about when you'll be
king.
Eggs lands quietly. He peeks out from behind a crate and
sees Snatcher climb onto the table to get away from Trout and
Pickles.
SNATCHER
HE won't let me! That pompous
Portley-Rind and his gaggle of
giggling sycophants.
53.
Fish's cage hangs in between.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
Now, now Boss, you be careful up
there.
Eggs runs to Fish's hanging cage and climbs on.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Father always said if you worked
hard, you'd get a white hat! And
what did he ever get! NOTHING!
EGGS
(WHISPERS)
Fish.
FISH
(STARTLED)
Ahhh!
Fish hides in his box making the cage swing and SQUEAK.
ON GRISTLE: In the corner where he leans into a filthy FISH
TANK pulling out slimy, wriggly LEECHES and dropping them
into a jar.
Gristle jerks up and hones in on the sound like a bat. He
stares as the cage slowly spins threatening to reveal Eggs.
MR. TROUT
Hurry Mr. Gristle, were losing him.
Gristle turns back to harvesting leeches just as Eggs swings
into view. PHEW!
Eggs swings himself back out of sight.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
I've worked my hump off for this
town!
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
And it's growing back.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Wading through wet garbage in the
middle of the night, crawling after
monsters! What has Portley-Rind
ever done. Eat some cheese, run the
government, NOTHING!
54.
ON FISH: as Eggs watches the Redhats argue. Snatcher
unsteadily climbs on top of the table and continues his
tirade.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
What has Portley-Rind ever done.
Eat some cheese, run the
government, NOTHING!
Fish pokes his head back out of his box.
FISH
Eggggs!
EGGS
SHH!
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
Come on down from there, boss.
Eggs throws the lock on Fish's cage and hops down, holding
the door open.
MR. TROUT (O.S.)
Just put one giant blob-shaped foot
in front of the other.
EGGS
(WHISPERING)
Let's go... Come on, come on!
Fish shuffles out of the cage, murmuring with fear.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
(ANGRY)
I'll rip that hat off of Portley-
Rind's head... WHOA HOAH!
THUNK! Fish hides in his box and Eggs hunkers down as if he
had a box, but Snatcher wasn't talking to them.
MR. PICKLES
Boss, boss!
MR. TROUT
Boss!
ON SNATCHER: He has lost his balance and crashed to the
floor. Trout and Pickles twist their hands, unsure of what to
do, as Snatcher lays atop the broken table.
SNATCHER
(GROGGY)
I'm alright. Just give me a hand.
55.
Snatcher holds up his cheese-covered hand and the hand
suddenly SWELLS UP into a grotesque meat glove!
MR. PICKLES
(DISGUSTED)
Ugh. Mother of sausages!
MR. TROUT (O.S.)
Holy meat glove!
Eggs looks horrified at the sight of Snatcher's giant hand.
Fish won't come out of the box so Eggs is forced to lug him
like a sack of concrete to the wall beneath the heating duct.
Trout and Pickles help Snatcher up.
MR. TROUT (CONT'D)
Upsy daisy now, boss. Let's get you
a nice cuppa tea--
Snatcher SMACKS Trout away with his swollen hand - (YELP!)-
MR. PICKLES
AAAH! Mister Snatcher!
-- and stares at Pickles. His eyes are swollen nearly shut
and blink spastically.
SNATCHER'S POV: Blurry and distorted at first, then, at each
blink, Pickles morphs into Lord Portley-Rind, white hat and
all.
MR. PICKLES/PORTLEY-RIND
Huh?
(UNEASY)
... What is it, Mr. Snatcher?
SNATCHER
You.
MR. PICKLES/LPR
Me?
SNATCHER
GIVE ME THAT HAT!
He LUNGES AT PICKLES (AHHHH!) and chokes him with his giant
cheese hand!
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I'll make those brie stuffed pigs
bow down to me! I'm going to be
somebody!
56.
Pickles wrestles Snatcher's swollen face into a headlock.
MR. PICKLES
AHH! I got him! Do it!
MR. TROUT
MR. GRISTLE NOW!
MR. PICKLES
NOW! NOW! NOW!!
Gristle runs up and hurls the jar of leeches onto Snatcher's
face.
MR. GRISTLE
LEECHES!
SNATCHER
AHHHHH! UGH. OOF. GAHHH!
Snatcher grunts and yells then everything goes silent, except
for the sucking sound of the leeches. Mr. Trout shrinks away
and Mr. Gristle grins, enjoying the spectacle.
ON EGGS: Eggs is horrified by the sight of the leeches
sucking on Snatcher's swollen face.
EGGS
Eww!
(TO FISH)
You have got to help me, Fish!
FISH
(gurgles) Okay.
Fish sticks his right arm out of the box.
EGGS
(groan) Uggggh.
Eggs grabs Fish's arm and swings the whole box over his
shoulder so he is wearing Fish like a back pack. Then Eggs
grabs a pipe on the wall and climbs toward the duct.
They swell up larger and larger as Snatcher's face shrinks
back down to normal. They drop off one at a time and squish
at Snatcher's feet.
Snatcher flicks off the last few leeches and flips his hair.
His face is marred with red spots from the suckers but has
returned to its normal size.
57.
SNATCHER
(GROGGY)
Oh, hello. Where were we?
MR. TROUT
We was about to... uhh...
MR. GRISTLE
(quietly, gestures with
the empty jar)
Leeches.
MR. TROUT
... Put that new boxtroll to work.
Ain't that right, Mr. Pickles?
Mr. Pickles stumbles over, rubbing his sore neck.
MR. PICKLES
That is correct.
SNATCHER
Ah yes... right. Open the workshop
Mr. Trout!
Trout runs to a lever and pulls it.
(1250 EMS) EGGS MEETS SNATCHER
INT SNATCHER'S FACTORY - DAY
The factory is filled with load-grinding sounds as a steam
wheel turns. Huge timbers in the wooden floor PULL OPEN,
REVEALING A DARK PIT BELOW in the FACTORY SUB-LEVEL.
Eggs and Fish are still a few feet short of the air duct.
Eggs heaves Fish halfway into the duct and has to stretch out
over empty space to push him in.
Snatcher and the Redhats reach Fish's empty cage.
SNATCHER
Huh? Where is the beast?
Eggs pushes Fish half into the duct while hanging from the
swinging cage. Fish is looking straight down, suddenly his
eyes go wide!
FISH
Huh?
Eggs follows his gaze and looks down.
58.
EGGS
(gasps) But.. you're all alive!?
BIG REVEAL: IN THE DARK PIT ARE DOZENS OF ENSLAVED BOXTROLLS
in chains! They surround a massive, unrecognizable machine.
They work on different sections drilling, welding, wrenching,
etc.
Oil Can looks up and spots Eggs and Fish.
OIL CAN
Eggs?
BOXTROLL PRISONERS
Eggs! Eggs! EGGS!
Then amidst all the weird gurgling a HUMAN VOICE calls out.
PRISONER
Huh?
EGGS
Huh?
Eggs looks and sees a strange man HANGING UP SIDE DOWN
amongst the boxtrolls. His head is covered with a wild mop of
tangled hair and a long beard and mustache dangle from his
face.
Pickles looks up and spots Eggs straddling the cage and the
duct. He points up, the Redhats follow his gaze.
PICKLES
There he is...
Snatcher stares at Eggs' dirty, panicked face.
SNATCHER
It can't be. It's not possible.
(ANGRY )
It's not right!
MR. PICKLES
That's our boxtroll! Give `im back!
SNATCHER
(SHOVES PICKLES)
Don't stand there gawking. Get him!
MR. GRISTLE
Chase time!
Gristle laughs with delight and bolts off, tossing his white
paper hat to the ground. Snatcher looks to Trout.
59.
SNATCHER
Mr. Trout!
Mr. Trout pulls a lever and the cage Eggs is standing on
jerks up. Fish falls the rest of the way into the duct and
disappears.
FISH
AHHHHHH!
The cage drops! Eggs leaps onto a rafter as the cage crashes
to the factory floor!
SNATCHER
TEN YEARS and NOW you show up?!
Eggs looks down as the floor closes over the boxtroll
prisoners faces.
OIL CAN
Eggggs!
EGGS
What are you doing with them?
SNATCHER
You'll find out soon enough!
Pickles runs past fumbling with a bolas gun as Gristle leaps
onto the nearest hanging cage and points at Trout with his
cricket bat.
MR. GRISTLE
Up!
Trout pulls a lever and Gristle rides the cage up into the
rafters like a pirate.
MR. GRISTLE (CONT'D)
I'M FLYING ON A CAGE!
He leaps off the cage and grips his cricket bat with his
teeth. He swings through the rafters on ropes, all the while
laughing like a maniac. He lands in front of Eggs and swings
the bat aloft.
MR. GRISTLE (CONT'D)
HA! (swings) RAH!
Eggs shrieks and runs across the skinny girders. Gristle
follows on his heels.
SNATCHER
SHOOT MR. PICKLES! Shoot!
60.
Pickles nervously aims his bolas gun at him.
MR. PICKLES
It'd be easier if he'd stop moving!
Gristle runs behind Eggs, swinging his bat at his head. Eggs
avoids being hit but loses his footing.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
Stop moving!
Eggs falls, hits a beam hard, and grabs the bottom edge of a
girder. He hangs there, an easy shot.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
Thank you.
Gristle raises his bat to strike. Pickles fumbles for the
trigger. There's no way they can miss.
EGGS
(defiant, scared)
Boxtrolls don't hurt anyone! Let
them go!
SNATCHER
Yes, well, I need them. They're my
ticket to a white hat, Trubshaw
Baby!
WINNIE (O.S.)
TRUBSHAW BABY!?
Everyone freezes and whirls around. Pickle's shoots
distractedly - POP! - but the net misses Eggs and loops
around a rafter.
MR. PICKLES
Oops.
Winnie stands in the open doorway of the factory.
WINNIE
(TO EGGS)
I knew there was something strange
about you!
Winnie notices Gristle wielding a cricket bat, Pickles a gun,
and Snatcher looking sheepish.
SNATCHER
(NERVOUSLY)
Miss Portley-Rind! What a surprise!
(MORE)
61.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Does your.. does your father know
you're here?
WINNIE
(DISMISSIVE)
No of course not!
(up to Eggs)
But wait til I tell him! The
Trubshaw Baby! Alive!
Winnie sees Trout towering over her.
MR. TROUT
(REGRETFULLY)
Sorry, miss.
Winnie looks at Snatcher in horror and confusion. Trout picks
her up in his big hands.
WINNIE
What are you doing? Unhand me!
SNATCHER
Looks like the Boxtrolls have a new
victim, miss. And her name is YOU.
Gristle remembers Eggs. He swings his bat over his head and
brings it down but Eggs leaps, grabs the rope from Pickles'
missed shot, and SWINGS LIKE TARZAN towards the door that
Winnie opened.
Trout panics as he sees Eggs swinging towards him. He holds
Winnie up to protect his face. Eggs barrels into Trout's
belly, knocking him backward and getting him wedged in the
door.
(1300 WCH) WASTELAND CHASE
EXT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY - DAY
Eggs and Winnie tumble outside the factory and roll to a stop
in a cloud of dust.
SNATCHER
They're getting away Mr. Gristle!
WINNIE
(PANICKED)
What have you dragged me into?
Fish calls to them from a manhole.
62.
FISH
Eggs! Eggs! Eggs! Eggs!
EGGS
RUN!
Eggs and Winnie run.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND
Still running Eggs and Winnie suddenly hear a loud CRASH!
Behind them Gristle comes crashing through a high window
swinging on a chain.
MR. GRISTLE
I'm swinging on a chain!
EGGS/WINNIE
AHHH!
Eggs and Winnie slide into the manhole that Fish holds open.
They make it in and slam it shut just in time for Mr. Gristle
to face plant on top of it.
MR. GRISTLE
Stuck on a manhole!
Trout finally pops out of the factory doorway. He and Mr.
Pickles come running up to the motionless Mr. Gristle,
standing over him.
MR. TROUT
Oww...
MR. PICKLES
Don't make no sense. That's evil
prevailing over good.
Snatcher arrives.
SNATCHER
(TO TROUT)
If Lord Portley-Rind finds out that
boy is alive, it will ruin
everything I've worked for!
MR. TROUT
You mean, we worked for?
Snatcher glares at Mr. Trout, silent.
63.
MR. PICKLES
I think we're all saying the same
thing here.
MR. TROUT
I don't think we are.
SNATCHER
(ANNOYED)
Bah...
Snatcher walks away, frustrated.
MR. PICKLES
But, just in different ways.
(1400 FMR) FAMILY REUNION
INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - ENTRANCE CHUTES - MOMENTS LATER
Winnie screams as she flies down the chutes, into the cavern,
down the conveyor belt, and crashes into the boxtroll
sleeping pile.
INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - NIGHT
Winnie lays amongst the scattered boxes. She pushes herself
upright, coughing. Boxtrolls poke their heads out all around
her and stare.
WINNIE
(gasp) Ohh!
Winnie gets as far away from the boxtrolls as she can,
bumping into Knickers as she shuffles backwards.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
STAY AWAY FROM ME! Someone, help!!!
Wealthy girl in danger!
She pushes herself against a wall. The boxtrolls gather,
curious. Winnie spots Shoe nearby, with worms and bugs
dangling from his mouth. She hides behind a cabbage,
whimpering.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
If you're going to eat me just get
it over with. I'm sure I'm
delicious.
Suddenly there is the sound of happy boxtrolls gurgling and
drumming their boxes.
64.
Winnie peeks out. The boxtrolls are surrounding Eggs and Fish
and celebrating their return. No one is paying any attention
to her.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Hmm?
FISH
(GURGLING EXCITED HELLOS)
EGGS
It's not just us. All the others
are alive too!
EGGS (CONT'D)
We saw them!
WINNIE
(behind the crowd)
What's going on?!
EGGS
(IGNORING HER)
Oil Can, Wheels, all of them!
SPECS
(GURGLES)
EGGS
Yes!
CLOCKS
(GURGLED)
Where are they?
EGGS
I don't know, but The Redhats have
them building something in their
factory.
WINNIE
(SHOUTING)
I said what's going on? Why aren't
they ripping out our eyeballs and
eating our faces?
The boxtrolls wince at the sound of Winnie's screaming voice
and some of them drop into their boxes. Eggs turns to look at
her.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
And where are the rivers of blood
and mountains of bones?! I WAS
PROMISED MOUNTAINS OF BONES!
65.
The rest of the boxtrolls squeak in fear and drop into their
boxes. Eggs looks pointedly at the boxtrolls, then back at
Winnie.
EGGS
I TOLD you, we don't eat people!
WINNIE
Why do you keep saying "we"? You're
not one of them! You're a boy!
EGGS
(INCREDULOUS)
No I'm not, I'm a boxtroll! Eggs
the boxtroll.
He points to his box like it's the most obvious thing in the
world.
WINNIE
Oh really? Then let's see you fit
in your box.
EGGS
I... I can't right now.
WINNIE
Mm hmm.
EGGS
(DEFENSIVELY}
I'm long-boned.
The surrounding boxtrolls gurgle in agreement with Eggs. But
as his argument with Winnie gets louder the boxtrolls shrink
away from the two humans.
WINNIE
You don't talk like them!
EGGS
I- I have a speech impediment!
WINNIE
Your ears aren't pointy!
EGGS
(tugging on his ears)
I slept on them funny!
Winnie is getting exasperated.
66.
WINNIE
Oh for goodness sake. Give me your
hand!
Winnie lunges forward and grabs Eggs' hand, but he resists.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(WRYLY)
I don't bite.
Eggs stops resisting and she quickly unwraps the rags from
his hand.
EGGS
Hey!
Winnie takes Fish's hand and holds it up next to Eggs hand.
WINNIE
See? You're not like them.
She drops Fish's hand and holds up her own. She presses her
hand to his hand, five fingers to five fingers.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
You're one of us. You're a boy,
Eggs. Or should I call you the
Trubshaw baby?
A beat. Eggs pulls his hand away and stares at it, his face
confused.
Then he looks at Fish, who is looking at his own hand in
bemusement.
EGGS
It's not true is it Fish? I'm a
boxtroll like you, aren't I?
Fish shakes his head, "No". Eggs looks dumbstruck.
WINNIE
See?! I was right!
(TO FISH)
Now admit it, admit you stole him!
FISH
Gurglegurglegurgle!
WINNIE
(TO EGGS)
Is he confessing?
67.
EGGS
He says I was... given to him.
WINNIE
Ha, right again! I- ...wait, what?
Winnie and Eggs are both flabbergasted.
EGGS
I was given to you?
Fish nods his head. Yup.
Eggs' legs give way beneath him. He stumbles back and sits
down on the floor.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Who gave me to you?
Fish starts gurgling and keeps gurgling, his face suggesting
that he's conveying something from long-long ago...
FISH
[GURGLE GURGLE]
Winnie stands by Eggs, watching Fish curiously.
WINNIE
What's he saying?
EGGS
Oh, sorry. He says a long time ago
there was a kind man--
DISSOLVE TO:
(1500 TBB) TRUBSHAW BABY
INT. TRUBSHAW KITCHEN (FLASHBACK) - NIGHT
Fish and Shoe stand beside a rubbish bin, tinkering with a
WHIRLIGIG CONTRAPTION.
EGGS (V.O.)
-- The one man in town who saw they
weren't monsters...
SFX: A baby GIGGLES.
Fish and Shoe startle and hide in their boxes. The whirligig
clatters to the ground.
68.
EGGS (V.O.)
... But builders... like him.
POV FISH: Herbert Trubshaw stands at an open window to his
second-floor workshop, holding a BABY in his arms. Instead of
chasing them away he SMILES at them.
Fish and Shoe slowly lift their heads out of their boxes,
returning the smile.
DISSOLVE TO:
ANOTHER NIGHT: Herbert, baby Eggs, and Fish sit on the back
stoop and discuss an invention. As Herbert talks, Fish
casually takes it from him and tweaks it.
HERBERT
I've tried adjusting the dongle and
there doesn't seem to be any
possible solut-- Oh look, you've
solved it!
Fish laughs with Herbert. Herbert hands Baby Eggs to Fish,
and he holds the child at arm's length.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
Who's up for a jelly break?
Fish stares at Baby Eggs as Herbert eats a spoonful of jelly.
They smile at each other.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
(VOICE FADES)
I tell you I could eat this stuff
for the rest of my life.
DISSOLVE TO:
ANOTHER NIGHT: Fish and Shoe enter the back yard and freeze
as they step into light.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
But one night...
In the second story windows, menacing silhouettes of Snatcher
and Gristle loom over Herbert, who clutches baby Eggs to his
chest.
Snatcher's muffled voice can be heard threatening Herbert and
the baby.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Come on! I'm being reasonable. I
can be unreasonable.
69.
EGGS (V.O.)
Snatcher wanted him to build
something...
HERBERT
I-- I'm an inventor, not a killer!
Eggs (V.O.)
But he refused...
LIGHTNING CRASHES.
Fish stares up at the window. At Snatcher's loud threat,
Shoe runs away.
EGGS (V.O.)
And when the Redhats tried to take
me away from him...
Snatcher's silhouette moves menacingly towards Herbert.
SNATCHER
Maybe if I hold on to your son...
Herbert shoves Snatcher away. Snatcher growls.
HERBERT
Not my boy!
Herbert kicks Gristle and opens the window. He places the
baby into a box pulley system that dangles from the upper
floors. He untethers the rope, yelling to Fish.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
RUN! PROTECT MY--UGHH!
Herbert is tackled by Gristle.
Fish watches the crying baby lower to the ground in an Eggs
box. He is frozen with fear.
EGGS (V.O.)
And then they...
Snatcher CLUBS Herbert across the head and Herbert goes down
hard. Dead. The baby CRIES.
Snatcher looks out the window, panting from exertion, and
sees Fish staring up in shock.
70.
Thunder BOOMS, lightning FLASHES, and RAIN POURS DOWN as Fish
bolts through the gate and out of the yard with Baby Eggs
still in the Eggs box.
BACK TO:
INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - NIGHT
Eggs holds his box, staring forlornly down at his label.
WINNIE (O.S.)
They what?
EGGS
(WHISPERED)
They killed him.
Fish is silent. Eggs bows his head and walks away.
Winnie and the boxtrolls watch him quietly.
(1550) FATHERS
EXT. EGGS NOOK - MOMENTS LATER
Eggs sits alone on the edge of his nook, looking out over the
cavern. Winnie quietly walks up and sits next to him.
WINNIE
I think that kind man was your
father.
BEAT
EGGS
(looks up, confused)
What's a father?
She has to think.
WINNIE
Um... well... a father is the one
who raises you... looks after you.
Loves you.
EGGS
Oh! Like Fish.
WINNIE
Yes...
71.
Winnie looks at Fish, who bends down to lap water from a
bucket of water like a dog.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
... No. They're supposed to be like
that man in the story. Someone
who'll do anything to help you.
They always listen and never get
angry...
Winnie warms to this conversation. She's half talking to
herself. Eggs hangs on every word.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
They guide you when you don't know
what to do. They're there when it's
dark and you're scared or lonely,
and they are never, ever too busy
to talk to you...
Winnie stops, suddenly sad.
EGGS
You have a father!
Eggs stands, bouncing excitedly.
EGGS (CONT'D)
We can tell him I'm the Trubshaw
Baby... and the boxtrolls didn't
eat me. And he'll stop Snatcher!
WINNIE
(EMBARRASSED)
Well, he doesn't really listen to
children.
EGGS
He's a father, isn't he?
WINNIE
You don't know what he's like.
EGGS
But he's the only father we have.
Eggs grabs Winnie by the shoulders. He releases her when she
shies away.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Please help us.
Winnie SIGHS. She stands to meet Eggs, eyeing him.
72.
WINNIE
If I agree to help, you have to do
exactly as I say.
EGGS
I promise!
WINNIE
All right, first thing's first...
off with the box.
Eggs GULPS.
(1600 OWB) OFF WITH THE BOX
INT BOXTROLL CAVERN - DRESSING AREA - NIGHT
A wide-eyed Fish stands holding Eggs' EMPTY BOX. Around him
other Boxtrolls stare horrified at a boxless Eggs.
BOXTROLLS
(TERRIFIED)
AAAAAAAAh!
Eggs screams along with the boxtrolls, holding his chest.
Winnie points, reprimanding the howling crowd.
WINNIE
(STERNLY)
Stop that!
The boxtrolls instantly shut up - more afraid of Winnie than
a boxless boxtroll.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(TO BOXTROLLS)
Alright, you petty thieves. Bring
me your loot!
The watching boxtrolls look excited -- `That's easy'! They
race off in different directions..
QUICKER CUTS
- Winnie tears a large piece of BLUE FABRIC in half.
- Specs offers her an arm-load of PEWTER CUPS.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Oh, thanks.
- Shoe offers Winnie his OLD ALARM CLOCK.
73.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
No.
- Winnie threads a needle.
- Specs offers Winnie a pair of LAMPS, she takes the SHADES.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
This might work.
- Shoe offers Winnie a SAW.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
No.
Shoe growls and walks off.
- Bucket offers Winnie a JAR OF BUTTONS.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Oh yes!
- Winnie holds up the jar and selects a BUTTON.
- Shoe offers Winnie a TOILET PLUNGER.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
No!
Shoe angrily tosses the plunger aside and storms off.
- Fragile offers Winnie a pair of shoes. She excitedly swipes
them from his hands.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Yes!
Fragile is frightened and hides, whimpering.
REVEAL Eggs in the broken mirror dressed in a surprisingly
fashionable suit made of trash.
He looks like the Little Lord Fauntleroy of the junk yard.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
You look like a proper boy.
The boxtrolls look like proud parents. They nod and grumble
in approval.
Eggs looks at his warped reflection in an old, broken mirror.
He looks stunned by his own transformation.
74.
EGGS
(TO HIMSELF)
Me... a proper boy.
Eggs smiles sweetly, standing tall.
WINNIE
How do we get out of this place?
CUT TO:
INT. CAVERN - PNEUMATIC TUBES
A MOMENT LATER: Specs turns an ANCHOR attached to the wall.
Winnie stands underneath the cracked bell, the mouth of the
PNEUMATIC TUBES, confused.
FWOOMP! A shocked Winnie gets sucked up a PNEUMATIC TUBE
while Eggs watches, bemused.
WINNIE
AHHHHHHHH!
(1700 PTY) PARTY
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT
Eggs and Winnie (woozy, her hair frazzled from the tube ride)
crawl out of a manhole.
WINNIE
Come on, Eggs.
They climb the Guild stairs together. Winnie pats down her
hair as Eggs lopes past her like a nervous boxtroll. He wipes
his nose with the back of his hand, wipes it on his pants,
adjusting his disguise as he reaches for the door handle.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(SHRIEKS)
STOP!
Eggs stops, eyes wide. Winnie pushes him away from the door.
They stop in front of the tall guild door. Sounds of party
guests can be heard. Winnie turns to Eggs.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
You don't scratch there in public!
That's why they're called...
(WHISPERED)
... privates.
75.
Winnie looks around to make sure nobody saw that.
EGGS
(WHISPERED)
Okay.
WINNIE
For this is to work, there are a
few things you need to know. When
you meet someone, you must look
them in the eye and shake hands.
Eggs OPENS HIS EYEBALLS STUPIDLY WIDE and WIGGLES HIS HANDS
in the air like a lunatic.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
What are you doing?! Put those
down!
She pulls his hands down.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Like this.
Eggs puts his left hand out. She slaps it away.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
The other one.
EGGS
Oh, right.
She shoves his hand into hers -- a proper shake.
WINNIE
Then you say,
(SNOBBISH)
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
EGGS
(IMPERSONATING WINNIE'S
SNOBBISH VOICE)
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
WINNIE
And you say that even if you're not
pleased to meet them.
Eggs looks confused, but nods yes anyway. A look of doubt
comes over Winnie's face.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(SIGHS)
Just stick close, okay?
76.
She opens the huge doors and the elegant sound of chamber
music and civilized conversation pours out.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT
ON THE GUILD DOORS: as a BUTLER holds an enormous cheese tray
out for party guests. Lady Cynthia pierces cheese with her
fork and the tray whirls away.
LADY CYNTHIA (O.S.)
Is that all that is left of the new
Roquefort? (trails off)
Winnie enters and Eggs follows her, standing tall and
straight like a stiff little wooden soldier. Eggs stares
around, curious.
EGGS
Which one is your father?
WINNIE
(SARCASTIC)
Lord Portley-Rind. He's usually
making speeches about cheese.
They search the crowd for Lord Portley-Rind.
LADY CYNTHIA (O.S.)
Oh, Winifred!
Winnie stops, forces a smile. Eggs ducks down and covers his
head.
WINNIE
Hello, mommy dear.
Winnie's mother, LADY CYNTHIA - a high strung, slender stick
of a woman - appears.
LADY CYNTHIA
(NOTICES EGGS)
Oh. Who is this?
Eggs peeks out from under his hands and looks up, timidly.
EGGS
I'm Eggs?
WINNIE
(INTERRUPTING)
--Bert. Eggsbert. Is a normal
name... that he has.
77.
Lady Cynthia looks flustered, but tries to keep up
appearances.
LADY CYNTHIA
Eggsbert. How nice, I... umm, adore
names from the bible.
Lady Cynthia reaches for Winnie's hand, but Eggs suddenly
grabs and shakes it vigorously.
EGGS
Its a pleasure to meet you.
Winnie winces. Lady Cynthia is flustered as Eggs continues to
wiggle her arm about. Winnie whispers to Eggs.
WINNIE
No, no. You kiss a lady's hand.
(Winnie makes KISS SOUNDS on the
back of her hand)
Eggs releases Lady Cynthia. She gasps and straightens, taking
Winnie's hand.
LADY CYNTHIA
(FLUSTERED)
Darling, it's time to take off that
dress and... burn it.
Lady Cynthia drags Winnie away.
WINNIE
(CALLING BACK)
Don't move. I'll be right back.
EGGS
But which ones are the ladies?!
Eggs looks around, finding himself amongst formally dressed
aristocrats. He tries to slink away but bumps into a couple.
LADY BRODERICK
Oh!
SIR BRODERICK
Ahem!
The couple turns around to stare incredulously at Eggs. He
stares at them, agape, then remembers what Winnie taught him.
He stands very straight and sticks his hand out to Sir
Broderick.
78.
EGGS
(SNOBBISH)
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Sir Broderick smiles and shakes his hand.
SIR BRODERICK
Very good.
EGGS
Even if I don't mean it!
SIR BRODERICK
(INSULTED)
What? Well, I never!
Sir Broderick tries to lead his wife away, but Eggs grabs her
hand and kisses it!
EGGS
And, it's a pleasure to meet you.
(KISS SOUNDS)
Two kisses later with no effect, Eggs licks Lady Broderick's
hand.
LADY BRODERICK
Nooo!
She is disgusted and SHAKES HER HANDS in the air to get the
lick off. She walks off wailing.
EGGS
I was right!
Eggs misunderstands her hand shakes as "shaking hands" - he
bulges out his eyes and waves hands in the air exactly like
Winnie told him not to.
Sir Broderick hustles his wife away. Eggs saunters off,
shaking his hands at everyone.
EGGS (CONT'D)
It's a pleasure to meet you... it's
a pleasure to meet you... it's a
pleasure to meet youuuuu! Oooooh!
Eggs is distracted as a LADYBUG buzzes in. It lands on a
flower arrangement in the middle of A TABLE FULL OF CHEESE.
Eggs grabs the bug and is about to put it in his mouth, when:
SIR LANGSDALE (O.S.)
[GRUNT!]
79.
Eggs turns to see Sir Langsdale putting an OLIVE on a stack
of cheese and crackers. Langsdale shoves the stack into his
mouth, smacking with approval.
Eggs places the ladybug on a CRACKER STACKED WITH CHEESE, and
then eats it. Sir Langsdale sees him eat the bug and is
appalled.
SIR LANGSDALE (CONT'D)
Hmm? Well I could just...
Sir Langsdale storms off. Eggs doesn't notice. He goes down
the table, shoveling various cheeses into his mouth.
EGGS
(MOUTH FULL)
Yum. Mmmthatsgood.
BOULANGER (O.S.)
(clears throat loudly)
Eggs looks up and sees two aristocrat ladies and Boulanger
using forks to nibble politely.
FEMALE ARISTOCRAT A (O.S.)
Eww.
A lady aristocrat pointedly taps her plate with the fork,
signaling to Eggs.
EGGS
(MOUTH FULL)
Huh? Oh!
BLARRG! He SPITS the chewed cheese back on to a plate, grabs
a fork, and gingerly nibbles at the regurgitated food. The
ladybug rests on top then flies away. He shovels a forkful
into his mouth.
THUD. Ladies faint. Eggs watches them nonchalantly while
SMACKING his mouthful of cheese.
BUTLER (O.S.)
Ladies and Gentlemen... Lord
Portley-Rind!
He puts down the plate and fork quickly as Lord Portley-Rind
appears.
Eggs joins the crowd that has gathered around the Cheese
Guild staircase as Portley-Rind orates.
80.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Distinguished members of the cheese
guild. We were here to celebrate
the successful fund-raising for a
new children's hospital! But my
fellow White Hats and I decided the
money would be better spent on
this. I present: THE BRIEHEMOTH!
He whips a sheet off a giant WHEEL OF CHEESE. Everyone gasps
and applauds. Eggs walks toward the stairs. Suddenly, he is
grabbed from behind.
MADAME FROU FROU
Zere you are!
Madame Frou Frou's crazily painted face looms over him.
People nearby turn and stare. He/She suddenly pulls Eggs
away.
MADAME FROU FROU (CONT'D)
Come. Such a naughty boy! We have
so much to discuss.
(SNATCHER'S VOICE)
Alone.
Eggs' eyes go wide as he realizes who it is.
EGGS
YOU'RE SNATC--
SMACK! Madame Frou Frou covers his mouth, and hugs him close,
LIFTING HIM OFF THE GROUND.
MADAME FROU FROU
(SNATCHER'S VOICE)
Come to snitch on old Snatcher did
you?
As Madame Frou Frou carries him away, he waves to people in
the crowd as if nothing untoward was happening.
SIR BRODERICK
Hello, Frou Frou!
MADAME FROU FROU
Nice to see you, too!
He/She shoves Eggs through a curtain into--
81.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - COAT ROOM - NIGHT
--The dark corner of a closet. Madame Frou Frou advances on
Eggs.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
You really think Portley-Rind will
help a nobody like YOU? In this
town, you want help, you've got to
help yourself! That's what a man
does!
Snatcher adjusts his dress.
EGGS
You're a liar! When I tell Winnie's
father the truth, he'll-- OOF!
Eggs' tries to run out of the closet. Snatcher shoves him to
the floor.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
He'll THANK ME! Because all your
little boxtroll friends are going
to die - tonight.
EGGS
What?!
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
That will make me the most
respected man in this town.
Snatcher talks to himself as he rifles through the coats
searching for something.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(WHILE SEARCHING)
They'll have no choice but to give
me a white hat.
Snatcher finds what he's looking for - a long SCARF.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER (CONT'D)
They'll parade me into the tasting
room on their shoulders!
He winds the ends around each fist and snaps it tight as he
stalks toward Eggs.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER (CONT'D)
And I'm not going to let that be
ruined by some little boxtroll
sewer rat.
82.
Snatcher is about to strangle Eggs when the curtain is
suddenly pulled aside and light fills the closet.
SIR LANGSDALE
Yoo hoo, Madame Frou Frou... You
promised your snookums a dance!
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
(deep Snatcher voice)
I did?
(as Frou Frou)
I did! Ha! But of course!
(1750 DAN) DANCE
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT
Sir Langsdale pulls Madame Frou Frou out of the closet and
walks her out on to the dance floor. He gooses her.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
Oooh! Vatch your hands, monsieur!
SIR LANGSDALE
(LAUGHS LASCIVIOUSLY)
ON EGGS, as he slowly exits the closet. He awkwardly adjusts
his collar as he takes in his surroundings. Couples are
joined together in a WALTZ, filling the entrance hall with
activity.
Eggs looks up at Portley-Rind at the top of the stairs, then
at the impenetrable wall of dancers. He tries to walk through
the crowd and is nearly trampled. There is no way to get to
Portley-Rind without causing a scene.
Winnie runs up, now in a new, clean YELLOW DRESS.
WINNIE
There you are.
EGGS
(URGENT)
We have to get to your father!
WINNIE
You can't just cut through.
Winnie sizes up the situation: Portley-Rind across the room,
the dance floor between them. Suddenly her face brightens.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
We'll dance!
83.
EGGS
We'll WHAT?
Winnie grabs Eggs by the shoulders and pulls him onto the--
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - CONTINUOUS
-- Dance floor, joining the swirling lines of waltzing
couples.
WINNIE
Like this. One two three... one two
three.
Winnie continues counting the steps as she guides Eggs to the
center of the dance.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
Just make a box.
EGGS
You made me get out of my box!
WINNIE
With your feet, silly!
Eggs looks down, concentrating very hard. He gradually
catches on.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
That's it, Eggs. You're dancing!
She laughs. Eggs lets down his guard and joins in laughing.
For a moment they forget why they are at the party. They spin
crazily around the room, looking back and forth at each
other, until Eggs looks past Winnie and sees Snatcher/Frou
Frou glaring at him.
EGGS
Snatcher is here.
WINNIE
Who? Where?
Winnie sees Madame Frou Frou waltzing with Sir Langsdale.
Frou Frou breaks from Langsdale as partners change, lunging
toward Eggs. Broderick catches her hand and pulls her back
into the waltz.
SIR BRODERICK
My turn, Madame.
84.
WINNIE
(confused, gasps)
Frou Frou?
- Eggs and Winnie try waltzing across the floor toward
Portley-Rind, but before they can reach the stairs, the dance
forces them apart. New partners whirl them in opposite
directions.
EGGS
Winnie!
- Eggs ends dancing with Female Aristocrat B, the lady he
licked.
EGGS (CONT'D)
I uh...
- Madame Frou Frou heads for Eggs again as partners swap but
Sir Langsdale, her biggest fan, leaves Lady Cynthia and grabs
her.
SIR BRODERICK
(LASCIVIOUS LAUGHTER)
Ah ha ha ha!
- Frou Frou/Snatcher grabs Sir Broderick by the face and
shoves him away. She grabs Lady Cynthia, pulling her close
with a hand wrapped around her face, dancing directly toward
Eggs.
LADY CYNTHIA
(startled, confused)
Ooh!
WINNIE
Uh oh!
(yells to Eggs)
EGGS LOOK OUT!
- Eggs turns in time to see Frou Frou/Snatcher racing toward
him. He ducks under ladies' gowns, crawling across the dance
floor. As he passes under each lady, their dresses shoot up:
LADIES
(SCREAMS!)
- Frou Frou/Snatcher whips up ladies' dresses looking for
Eggs, until she/he get slapped across the face while peeking
under a skirt. Frou Frou/Snatcher sees Eggs crawl out from
under a dress, toward the stairs and Lord Portley-Rind.
- Portley-Rind stands sniffing and caressing his giant
cheese, oblivious to the chase happening right below him..
85.
- Eggs races up the stairs on all fours, his feral side
coming through. Frou Frou/Snatcher GRABS his leg.
EGGS
Ahhh!
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
(SNARLS)
Portley-Rind turns in time to see Eggs go totally feral--
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
What is going on here?
-- and BITE Madame Frou Frou's hand!
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
OWWW!
Snatcher shoves Eggs and send him flying right into the giant
cheese wheel. The wheel rocks off its pedestal, and rolls
down the stairs!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
NO NO NO NO NOOOO!
Lord Portley-Rind chases after the cheese, trying to stop it.
Everyone stops dancing and watches as the cheese wheel rolls
through the foyer. The butler opens the door and it rolls out
the front door...
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT
... Down the Guild steps... through the Market Square... down
the streets... lower and lower, until it's out of view. We
hear a SPLASH as it reaches the river.
INT. CHEESE GUILD - ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT
Portley-Rind stands frozen in shock at the foot of the
stairs.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
What have you done!?
Eggs begins to speak... haltingly at first... but then
growing in confidence.
EGGS
Lord Winnie's Father...
The crowd and Portley-Rind all turn and stare at Eggs.
86.
EGGS (CONT'D)
People of the upper world --
Archibald Snatcher has lied to you
all!
Frou Frou/Snatcher looks at the crowd and GULPS!
EGGS (CONT'D)
He told you that boxtrolls are
monsters -- that they steal
children -- but they don't. They
would never hurt anyone. I know
because...
Eggs looks to Winnie. She nods, encouraging him.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Because... I am the Trubshaw Baby!
A long beat. CLOSE ON LORD PORTLEY-RIND as he seems to be
thinking intensely...
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Do you know how expensive that
cheese was?
EGGS
What?!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(FLIPPANT)
We might as well have built a
children's hospital!
WINNIE
Did you hear a word he said?!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(dismissive, to Winnie)
Not now.
WINNIE
BUT FATHER--
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(points to White Hats)
Have you any idea how long it will
take my men to fish it out of the
river?!
The White Hats look worried. Boulanger rolls forward in his
wheelchair and adjusts his hearing horn.
87.
LANGSDALE
Ahh. What?
BOULANGER
Eww... the river?
Eggs moves down the stairs.
EGGS
If you won't listen to me, ask
Snatcher himself.
Eggs PULLS OFF SNATCHER'S WIG. A long beat, as Snatcher looks
caught.
CROWD
(SHOCK)
GASP!/ Oh my!
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
(whimpers) You have me. I am not a
true red head.
LADY CYNTHIA
(sympathy for Frou Frou)
Poor woman.
SIR LANGSDALE
(sympathy for Frou Frou)
For shame.
Now the crowd turns ANGRY.
CROWD MEN
How rude! / The lad's fuddled! / An
outrage! / The very thought!
(MORE)
I saw him bite a bug on a cracker!/
He must hate cheese! / He's a mad
man! / I believe her's wearing a
lamp shade as a sleeve!
CROWD LADIES
Nasty boy! / Oh, he's awful!
(MORE)
That's the one who crawled under my
dress! / I knew he was up to no
good the second he goosed me. / My
husband is angry so I am too!
Portley-Rind angrily climbs the stairs to Eggs.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
You insult our guest of honor?
88.
He grabs the wig away from Eggs.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Who are you?!
EGGS
(SHEEPISH)
A proper boy.
WINNIE
He is with me father.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
You know this... creature?
WINNIE
He's my friend. What he said is
TRUE--
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Enough!
WINNIE
But...
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Winifred!
Winnie gives in and bows her head. Eggs is stunned and hurt.
Portley-Rind turns on him.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
(TO EGGS)
I don't want to see you again, do
you hear me?
EGGS
But he's not a...
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Leave my house. Now!
Eggs walks slowly down the stairs. As he passes, Frou
Frou/Snatcher smiles an evil grin.
Eggs glares at Snatcher and walks past Winnie without even
looking at her. She looks heartbroken.
The crowd shuffles away from Eggs as he walks out the door.
The butler wordlessly shuts it behind him.
The music begins again and the crowd goes back to chatting.
Portley-Rind hands the wig back to Madame Frou Frou and leads
her down the stairs.
89.
SNATCHER
Zees parties are so confusing. No?
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
There, there. You poor, poor dear.
Winnie watches Lord Portley-Rind pass.
CUT TO:
(1800 BKE) BROKEN EGGS
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - NIGHT
CLOSE ON a manhole cover. Eggs is opening the cover in the
center of the square. They meet at the very spot they first
saw each other.
WINNIE
Eggs, wait!
EGGS
(BITTER)
You said fathers were supposed to
help. That they took care of kids.
WINNIE
(sigh) Well, they're supposed to.
EGGS
People are just mean and selfish.
They're monsters.
Eggs climbs down into the manhole.
WINNIE
Not all of us. You aren't.
Eggs stops climbing.
EGGS
Well, I don't want to be a boy
anymore.
Eggs starts down again. Without looking up at her, he extends
a hand.
EGGS (CONT'D)
It was a pleasure meeting you.
WINNIE
Eggs...
90.
EGGS
And, Winnie, I really do mean it.
Winnie sadly watches Eggs climbs down into the dark.
(1900 HMR) HOME RUINED
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - DAY
Fish is waiting with the remaining boxtrolls as Eggs spits
out of the chute, back into the cavern.
BOXTROLLS
Eggs!
They gather around and DRUM THEIR BOXES, excited. Eggs looks
at the crowd, frowning.
EGGS
We have to leave the cavern.
The boxtrolls stop drumming.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(STERNLY)
We're not safe down here anymore.
Come on...
Eggs pushes through the boxtrolls heading for the pneumatic
tubes.
SHOE
Eggs?
Fish follows him, pulling the EGGS box out of his front flap
and holding it out. The other boxtrolls don't move.
Eggs turns back toward them.
EGGS
(ANGRY)
I said, we have to leave now!
The boxtrolls shake their heads and GURGLE nervously. Some
shrink away from him as he shouts.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(FRUSTRATED)
Snatcher is planning something! We
have to get out of here.
Knickers simpers, rubbing his hands together and pulling his
box up higher.
91.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Come on let's go. Now!
The boxtrolls hide in their boxes like scared little kids
pulling sheets over their heads during a thunder storm.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(ANGRY FRUSTRATION)
Get up! No! NO!
(shaking Knickers out of
HIS BOX)
Don't don't just hide!
(tries to shake Ink loose)
What are you doing?!
Eggs looks around for Fish.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(PLEADING)
Fish, help me.
Fish quickly unfolds Eggs' box and offers it to him, smiling.
Eggs SMACKS the box out of Fish's hands!
EGGS (CONT'D)
NO! I'm not a boxtroll!
Fish shrinks away and hides in his box as Eggs comes closer,
shaking and whimpering.
EGGS (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean it.
Please come out. Fish.
Suddenly, the whole cavern rumbles... dust and pebbles drop
from the ceiling and bounce on Fish's box. Eggs stares at the
ceiling.
EGGS (CONT'D)
(SCARED)
He's here.
The boxtrolls look up, confused. The cavern RUMBLES and
SHAKES. LIGHTS GO OUT one by one... the giant chandelier
FLICKERS, GOES OUT AND DROPS TO THE CAVERN FLOOR. SMASH!
INT. BOXTROLL CAVERN - DAY TO NIGHT
A hole opens in the cavern roof. Spinning blades of a digging
machine pierce the ceiling. Large chunks of rock crash down,
as the enormous MECHA BOX DRILL drops into the cavern!
92.
Boulders and dust rain down. Through the murk, Eggs sees a
huge metal box covered in bits of scrap metal, with gaps
revealing an interior of huge gears and cables all spinning
and twisting like the guts of a giant watch. The whole
machine has an ad hoc, made-from-assorted-scrap-and-junk feel
that is unique to a boxtroll creation.
ON EGGS as his eyes go wide.
Two big spot lights BLAST ON like eyes, and the mecha box
drill rises up on three legs. As it rises, it tears walkways
and lights from the cavern walls.
BOXTROLLS
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
As it turns, it rips the intricate boxtroll clock from its
stalagmite and sends it crashing down. The mecha box looks
like a monstrous, giant mechanical boxtroll.
The mecha box's spotlight "eyes" cut through the dust and
darkness, catching each fleeing boxtroll, making them
instinctively STOP RUNNING and HIDE in their boxes!
Snatcher's head appears out of the top. He still has his
Madame Frou Frou white pancake makeup on, with a slash of
crimson lipstick, making him look crazier than ever.
SNATCHER
How's that for an entrance!
Trout, Pickles and Gristle emerge from beneath the machine.
MR. PICKLES
(CHEERING)
Dramatical!
MR. TROUT
Don't you mean "dramatic"?
Mr. Gristle laughs insanely.
Snatcher hits a lever and a large MECHANICAL ARM unfolds from
the drill. Snatcher laughs heartily as he plays with his new
toy, opening and closing the CLAW at the arm's end. He
swings the claw at stalactites, sending them crashing to the
ground.
EGGS
AHH!
Eggs shoves boxtrolls out of the way as the rocks fall to the
cavern floor.
93.
Some jump out of the way and Snatcher swings again, sending
the clawed arm into Eggs' nook, smashing the music machine.
Eggs drags boxtrolls towards the pneumatic tubes -- but they
stay in their boxes refusing to move.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Get up! That thing will kill you!
SNATCHER
My, my, what a surprise. Don't look
like your little friends wanna run,
does it?
(THEN)
How strange, how peculiar. No,
wait, it's exactly as I expected!
Eggs stacks a group of boxtrolls under the tubes, all of them
still tucked into their boxes, and pleads.
EGGS
You have to get up. Please!
SNATCHER
NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, TRUBSHAW!
Eggs turns the anchor switch and the boxes start to rise into
the tubes. The mecha box's claw arm GRABS the tube and rips
it out of the machine. Cocoa falls! There's no way out.
Eggs jumps out of the way as the mecha claw arm drops the
tube overhead. He rights himself and gasps up at Snatcher in
at the mecha drill controls.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Time to earn my white hat!
Snatcher pulls another LEVER and releases the VACUUM ARM. It
slithers toward a group of boxtrolls. Eggs whimpers as
Snatcher hits the lever's BUTTON to begin the suction.
The boxtrolls in front of Eggs get sucked up by the mecha
box's vacuum arm. He tries to hold on a boxtroll mid-suction
but it is ripped away.
EGGS
No!
The mecha box's vacuum arm turns on other boxtrolls.
Sweets and Knickers grab hold of boulders. Knickers nearly
loses his/her bottom box as he/she is hoovered up. Sweets'
teeth are sucked out of his mouth, then he is sucked up.
94.
A panicked Eggs looks around, eyes wide.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Fish! Shoe!
Eggs grabs Fish and Shoe by their arms, where they try to
hold themselves together. He tries to run with them in tow.
Gristle clubs Shoe toward the vacuum arm with his cricket
bat, where he is sucked up.
Eggs and Fish huddle together as Snatcher rides up,
headlights blaring. Eggs has to shield his eyes from the
blinding light.
Eggs picks Fish up, wrapping his arms around the box as best
he can.
EGGS (CONT'D)
NO! Please!
SNATCHER
Give up, Trubshaw! Boxtrolls lost
looooong time ago. These miserable
pests will never be a match for a
man with dream!
(THEN)
MR. GRISTLE!
Eggs holds Fish tightly and tries to run but Gristle fires
his bolas gun after him. It wraps around them and they fall
to the ground. Eggs lands hard and hits his head, knocking
him unconscious. Fish peeks out of his box, fretting.
FISH
Eggs? Eggs?
Snatcher flips levers and switches, grinding gears and
sending flames out of the drill's FURNACE GRILL as the
machine stands. He points to Eggs.
SNATCHER
ACQUIRE THEM!
As Snatcher stomps away, the Redhats step in and pull Fish
out of the bolas rope. Fish's head comes out of his box and
screams.
FISH
(SNARLS FEROCIOUSLY)
He HISSES AND BARES HIS TEETH at the Redhats! Pickles and
Trout jump back! Gristle knocks Fish unconscious with the
butt of his rifle. Trout and Pickles recoil.
95.
MR. PICKLES
Never seen one do that before!
MR. GRISTLE
THAT BOXTROLL WAS MAD!
Gristle walks back toward the mecha box, laughing. Pickles
look shocked at Fish's flaccid body. Trout picks up the limp
Eggs and slings him over his shoulder.
MR. PICKLES
Goodness always triumphs over
evil... right Mr. Trout?
(Trout walks away)
Mr. Trout?
Pickles picks up Fish and follows Trout.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
(CONVINCING HIMSELF)
I'm still sixty to seventy percent
certain that's us. A couple of good
guys vanquishing evil and all that.
ON EGGS in the mecha drill's CAGE. He lies passed out atop a
pile of boxtrolls. As the mecha box climbs back up the hole,
it pushes a huge stalagmite over and the rest of the cavern
collapses down around it.
INSIDE THE MECHA BOX CAGE, EGGS' SEMI CONSCIOUS POV: he looks
at the home he once knew, now destroyed. His eyes close.
FADE TO BLACK.
(2000 CCB) CRUSHED CARDBOARD
INT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY BASEMENT - NIGHT
Eggs wakes to find himself back in his box and in a hanging
cage. A figure swings back and forth in the foreground,
whispering.
PRISONER (O.S.)
(WHISPERED)
Jelly. Jelly!
EGGS
(GROGGILY)
What the...?
Eggs starts and looks up through cage bars - a strange man
hangs upside down by a pair of iron boots.
96.
His bright, crazy eyes peek out from a tangled mass of
scraggly beard and long hair. This PRISONER stares intently
at Eggs.
PRISONER
When I'm good I get jelly. I like
jelly. JELLY!
EGGS
(WHISPERS)
Who are you?
PRISONER
Who am I? Who are you?
EGGS
(confused, defeated)
I don't know.
Eggs turns away. LONG BEAT
PRISONER
Boy? Or Boxtroll?
Eggs doesn't answer.
PRISONER (CONT'D)
Dresses like a boxtroll, but, uh...
looks like a boy.
(GIGGLE)
A boy-troll? Yes, or a box-boy?
(EXCITED)
A new species. Never seen before.
Eggs looks toward the sound of footsteps.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
(humming... then in normal
VOICE)
Ohhh... nooo boxtrolls!
Eggs watches as Snatcher comes down a dark stairway and walks
up toward the Prisoner.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(SINGING)
Trubshaw senior loved his kid, same
as regular faaaaathers did....
Snatcher smacks the Prisoner and tugs on his beard. Eggs'
eyes dart back and forth between Snatcher and his long lost
father, HERBERT TRUBSHAW.
97.
EGGS
(to the Prisoner)
He's my, you're my... are you my
father?
HERBERT
JELLY!
Herbert chuckles in an unhinged kind of way. Eggs' face
falls.
SNATCHER
He was once. Won't get much out of
him now, though. A decade hanging
upside down scrambled his noodles
good.
Snatcher spins Prisoner Herbert around.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(RE: mecha box)
Still, did a fine job designing
this beauty. Best inventor in town,
your dad. Working with the best
little builders.
Snatcher spins Eggs' cage so he can see the Redhats stacking
the boxtrolls into a pile, underneath a menacing-looking box
crusher.
Fish and Shoe poke their eyes out above their boxes, then
immediately dart back inside, scared.
EGGS
No, no no, don't hide. Fish! Shoe!
RUN! Get up, get up and run!
Sparky. Sweets, run!
SNATCHER
Yell all you want, boy. They ain't
gonna run. You can't change nature.
Eggs pants and lowers his head, defeated. More and more
boxtrolls are placed on top of each other. The whole pile
SHIVERS in fear.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(CALLS DOWN)
I'm coming down, men! I want to
pull the crushing lever myself!
(wistful, to Eggs)
It's the little moments.
98.
Snatcher heads down. Herbert chuckles again. Eggs slowly
looks at him.
HERBERT
Yes. I see it now! A mutation of
nature. Self-imposed metamorphosis.
(THEN)
Boxboy! You did it!
EGGS
I don't understand.
HERBERT
You changed your nature. Tell them.
Herbert gestures toward the shivering box pile. He still has
crazy eyes, but for a moment, he stares right at Eggs. Maybe
he's lucid after all. Eggs can't tell.
EGGS
I tried. They won't listen.
Eggs turns away from Herbert and bows his head. Snatcher
flips a lever, starting the machine. Eggs starts, holding on
to the bars as he stares intently.
HERBERT
You did it. You made you. Tell
them. Tell them. Tell them!
Eggs watches as the gears continue to turn and the crusher to
rise. The pile of boxtrolls shiver with fear.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
Boxboy! BOXBOY!
(THEN)
My son.
Eggs looks up and turns to Herbert.
EGGS
Father?
Despite being upside down and covered with hair, Herbert
looks almost sane.
HERBERT
Son! They can change. They can do
it! Tell them.
BEAT. Eggs looks from Herbert's face to the still shivering
boxtrolls.
99.
EGGS
Fish, Fish, everyone! Listen! I'm a
boxtroll and I stopped hiding, so
you can too! Stand up for
yourselves! We can fight back!
Don't be afraid anymore. Sparky!
Fragile! Get up! Get up and fight!
The box pile stops shivering and settles. Are they listening?
Eggs swings his cage around and he pleads.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Just stand up and take a step.
Please! Do it for me!
A beat. Then...
SNATCHER
Well, good speech.
Snatcher pulls a lever, and--
SMASH! The box crusher flattens the entire pile of boxtrolls.
EGGS
No! No! No! NOOOOOO!
(CRYING)
Fish, Shoe, Sparky...
Herbert is smiling and mumbling the same thing over and over.
HERBERT
Look what you did. Look what you
did! (laughs)
EGGS
(TEARFUL)
Yeah. Yeah look what I did. They're
crushed.
Snatcher appears, coming up the stairs. Eggs looks up at
Snatcher in horror.
MR. TROUT
(REGRETFULLY)
Hey, Boss, your monsters are all
loaded.
SNATCHER
(staring right at Eggs)
All but one.
100.
Eggs looks up, terrified.
CUT TO:
(2100 SAS) SNATCHER'S ASCENSION
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE - WORLD VIEW - JUST BEFORE DAWN
The wide view of rooftops and chimneys in golden morning
light is marred by the SMOKE of a coal furnace. The Mecha Box
Drill makes its way slowly up the hillside town.
EXT. CHEESEBRIDGE STREETS - CONTINUOUS
Snatcher's amplified voice booms out of a scratchy
loudspeaker and through the sleepy morning streets, rousing
the townsfolk. Lights appear in windows.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Hear ye! Hear ye! Good citizens of
Cheesebridge, come out of your
homes! The curfew has been lifted!
QUICK SHOTS OF TOWNSPEOPLE, the reverse of the opening scene
of the movie:
- A man OPENS his peep-hole and looks around.
- Another OPENS his door and looks up as a shadow passes over
his house.
- A MOTHER swings her door open and a LITTLE BOY rushes
outside to see: Snatcher riding atop the giant mecha drill as
it lumbers up the winding streets towards Market Square.
Trout and Pickles follow behind, with Mr. Gristle riding the
back of the Mecha Drill.
TOWNSFOLK BOY
Whoah! What is it?
FEMALE TOWNSFOLK 1
It's Snatcher!
SNATCHER
Fear not, the monsters have been
vanquished! Your streets are SAFE!
MR. GRISTLE
(VERY MENACING) SAAAFE!
Trout and Pickles walk along behind the machine, amongst the
gathering crowd, worried.
101.
The townspeople smile in relief and wonder, and step out of
their doors.
MALE TOWNSFOLK (?)
The curfew is over?
MR. TROUT
Yeah...
FEMALE TOWNSFOLK 1
That's incredible.
They begin to follow after the mecha drill.
SNATCHER
Join me! Your purger of pests! Your
white knight who has taken back the
night!
As Snatcher continues his ascension, all kinds of
townspeople, women, children, rush to join the parade. The
Mecha Drill's heavy iron legs smash into the cobblestones as
it walks up the hill.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - CHEESE GUILD - DAWN
The crowd arrives at the stairs of the guild with the mecha
box. Snatcher beams with pride as he calls out through the
whiney loudspeaker.
SNATCHER
Lord Portley-Riiiiind!
The door cracks open and Lord Portley-Rind looks out.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I come bearing the most delightful
news.
He blinks in amazement at the scene before him - Snatcher
atop a giant machine, a huge expectant crowd around him.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Mr. Snatcher, what the devil is
this?
SNATCHER
(TRIUMPHANT CHUCKLE)
Show him lads.
The Redhats release the crushed boxes from the cage so they
fan out dramatically at the foot of the stairs.
102.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Flattened to extinction. Every
last, slimy one of them.
The crowd applauds.
Up at her balcony, Winnie hears the noise and comes out to
investigate.
WINNIE
(GASP)
SNATCHER
Your lordship, I said I would not
rest until I caught every last
boxtroll and I am a man of my word.
He hits a switch and the mechanical arm swings around to
present Eggs, wearing the evil-boxtroll costume Mr. Gristle
wore in the Madame Frou Frou show. The mask covers Eggs' face
and his hands are bound behind his box. His feet and hands
are covered with grotesque claws.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
With this boxtroll, I will end
their reign of terror.
Up on her balcony, Winnie stares at the monster. CLOSE ON the
EGGS LOGO on its box.
WINNIE
EGGS!
SNATCHER
(to crowd, arms wide)
I'd say that deserves a white hat,
don't you?
The crowd cheers.
SHOPKEEPER WOMAN A
A white hat for Mr. Snatcher!
MALE TOWNSFOLK (O.S.)
Our hero! / Be-hatify the man!
Lord Portley-Rind steps nervously forward.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Yes, well. I'm not sure... We'd
have to take a vote...
The crowd begins chanting loudly.
103.
CROWD
(in unison, chanting)
WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT!
The Redhats stand with the crowd, Gristle chanting along with
them. Pickles and Trout look uncomfortable.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
There's probably some, uh,
paperwork... then have a hat
shipped in...
Snatcher moves the machine forward, dangling the "boxtroll"
out front, daring Portley-Rind to deny the mob.
SNATCHER
No. Methinks a deed of this
magnitude deserves something a bit
more... significant.
Portley-Rind stares up at him blankly.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
I want YOUR hat.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
My hat?
Snatcher looks appealingly back at the crowd, who are good
and riled up.
CROWD
(in unison, chanting)
WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT!
SHOPKEEPER WOMAN A
WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT!
BOY
WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT!
The crowd moves forward, pressing closer to the Cheese Guild
stairs. They continue calling for Lord Portley-Rind's hat.
MR. GRISTLE
CHANTING! CHANTING! CHANTING!
MALE TOWNSFOLK
WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT! WHITE HAT!
Lord Portley-Rind gestures to the crowd to calm down.
104.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(through gritted teeth)
All right. All right. As soon as
that boxtroll is dead, you may
have... my... hat.
Lord Portley-Rind casts down his eyes, beaten.
(2150 SCR) SNATCHER'S CORONATION
EXT MARKET SQUARE - DAWN
Snatcher hits a button and the mecha box is lowered to the
ground.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Yes. And then we can eat cheese
together.
(EXCITED)
In the Tasting Room.
Snatcher laughs and climbs down from the mecha drill. Gristle
has removed his hat and taken a knee, Snatcher uses his head
as a step stool.
MR. GRISTLE
Haha, FOOT!
He hands a REMOTE CONTROL to Trout, who is huddled nervously
with Pickles. Gristle stands and returns his hat to his head,
grinning.
SNATCHER
Do the honors.
Snatcher strides off towards Portley-Rind.
MR. PICKLES
(whispers to Trout)
I thought this was all gonna be a
show, like with Frou Frou.
(pulls out fake mustache)
I brought my mustache and
everything.
MR. TROUT
This really does stretch the limits
of the term "hero", doesn't it?
Gristle glares at them. He GROWLS, threateningly.
MR. GRISTLE
HAT! (CLEARS THROAT LOUDLY)
105.
Pickles quickly puts on his mustache and Trout presses the
button to raise the mecha box. Eggs in his monster disguise
swings on the chain.
Snatcher steps in front of Portley-Rind. He removes his red
hat.
SNATCHER
(CALLING OUT)
Musician, drum-roll!
ON the One Man Band, who excitedly strikes up a drum roll.
Snatcher tosses his red hat away.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Mr. Trout! Lower the beast down.
Trout reluctantly maneuvers Eggs over the furnace's mouth.
Eggs struggles to free himself. He presses a button and the
furnace doors OPEN WIDE and white-hot flames pour out of the
coal fire.
CLOSE ON EGGS as his eyes widen, flames reflected in them.
He struggles.
Snatcher takes a knee, and presents his head. Portley-Rind
reluctantly removes his hat, breathing hard.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Repeat after me: With this hat, I,
state your name...
SNATCHER
With this hat, I, Archibald
Penelope Snatcher...
Trout begins to lower Eggs into the furnace. He and Pickles
are sweating, intensely reluctant to kill the boy. Portley-
Rind slowly begins to lower the white hat onto Snatcher's
head.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
With profound esteem for dairy and
dairy products... proudly swear to
uphold the dignity of the White
Hat.
The hat creeps lower as Portley-Rind matches the last
boxtroll's progress toward the flames.
SNATCHER
(repeating after Portley-
RIND)
(MORE)
106.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Proudly swear to uphold the dignity
of the White Hat.
Suddenly, Winnie bursts out the front doors and sees Eggs
moving closer and closer to death.
WINNIE
Father! Father!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Not now, Winifred!
Exasperated, Winnie runs to Pickles and Trout.
WINNIE
STOP! STOP!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (O.S.)
And henceforth, whereupon and
thereupon... the placing of this
hat... we shall conclude by...
ushering our newest member into a
world of privilege, pride, and
pasteurized dairy!
MR. TROUT
I can't, miss. Apologies.
MR. PICKLES
We're just doing our jobs.
WINNIE
Your JOBS? Are you pest
exterminators or evil henchmen?!
MR. PICKLES
(long, hurt gasp)
I knew that's how people saw us.
ON EGGS, mumbling against his mouth gag.
WINNIE
You don't have to do this!
MR. TROUT
She has a point, Mr. Pickles. This
could be our chance for redemption.
MR. PICKLES
A second chapter!
MR. TROUT
People love a flawed hero!
107.
The FEET of Eggs' BOXTROLL COSTUME are licked by flames as he
creeps closer to the furnace.
WINNIE
(HURRIEDLY)
Sure, yes, whatever! Just let him
go!
Pickles and Trout stare at each other, unsure of what to do.
ON SNATCHER and the white hat hovering so tantalizingly close
to his head.
ON EGGS as he shuts his lids tightly against the coal fire.
ON the One Man Band, who is looking a little tired and sweaty
from a really long drum-roll.
Back to Trout and Pickles, who smile at each other.
MR. TROUT
Yeah?
(at Mr. Pickles' nod)
Yeah.
Trout stops the machine and the mechanical arm reverses it's
direction, moving Eggs away from the fire.
EGGS
(behind the gag)
Huh?
Snatcher growls as Lord Portley-Rind swiftly pulls his white
hat away.
ON the One Man Band as he finally stops his drum-roll, and
collapses exhausted.
Trout and Pickles turn to Winnie.
MR. PICKLES
Redeemed!
MR. TROUT
(TO WINNIE)
Thank you, miss.
Gristle LUNGES IN, seizes the controller.
MR. GRISTLE
Ha HA!
108.
WINNIE
(PROTESTS)
STOP IT!
Winnie tries to take the controller from Gristle, but he
snaps his teeth at her menacingly.
Gristle turns the mecha drill arm back on! Eggs resumes his
descent.
Mr. Trout pulls Winnie out of the way.
MR. TROUT
Watch yourself.
The tips of Eggs' boxtroll-suited feet are licked by the
flames, and he pulls them up out of the way.
Gristle laughs heartily at Eggs' precarious situation.
MR. GRISTLE
Ha Ha HAAAAA!
In the quiet hush of the ceremony, suddenly a faint sound can
be heard GROWING LOUDER.
HERBERT (O.S.)
Jelly! JELLY!
Jelly!
Gristle turns to the sound.
MR. GRISTLE
Hmm?
Through the mouth of the boxtroll costume, Eggs sees--
(2200 TNT) THE NAKED TRUTH
-- Snatcher's vehicle comes shooting into the square! It is
covered in boxtrolls.
HERBERT
I like Jelly!
Fish is stacked on Shoe in the driver's seat. Fish steers,
Shoe works the pedals. Herbert sits in Snatcher's seat,
laughing in delight, his hair and beard whipping in the wind.
He giggles into the megaphone while the boxtrolls holler and
cheer.
HERBERT (CONT'D)
JELLY! Ha ha ha ha!
109.
Eggs excitedly murmurs through his gag.
Winnie smiles.
WINNIE
FISH!
The truck SKIDS to a stop, spilling NAKED BOXTROLLS
EVERYWHERE!
CROWD (OVERLAPPING)/ MR. TROUT
BOXTROLLS! / And they're NAKED! /
AAAAAH! / NAKED TROLLS! / EWW! No
wonder they wear boxes!
ON Gristle as he's overrun by naked, angry boxtrolls!
MR. GRISTLE
OHH! EWW -- NAKED!
ON SNATCHER AND PORTLEY-RIND:
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
What is going on here?!
SNATCHER
I... I am befuddled as your
lordship! I... I crushed them
myself!
Portley-Rind places the white hat back on his own head.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Evidently not! That was the closest
you will ever come to a White Hat.
(THEN, twirling his
MUSTACHE)
I hope you enjoyed it.
Fish grabs the mechanical arm remote control from Gristle's
hands. He uses it to lift Eggs away from the furnace's mouth.
The naked gaggle of boxtrolls carries Gristle away and throws
him into a barrel labeled "LEECHES".
Fish releases Eggs from the mechanical arm, sending him
flying into a CHEESE TENT. He tumbles out on to the market
square, covered in Gouda and Swiss. Ecstatic boxtrolls and
Winnie swarm him. Off come the gloves and mask and a relieved
Eggs pops up. Winnie hugs him!
FISH AND BOXTROLLS
(IN UNISON)
Eggs!
110.
EGGS
(TO BOXTROLLS)
You're alive! You're all alive! But
how?! I saw you crushed!
Fish happily GURGLES his answer. Eggs' face lights up with
joy, reacting to each gurgle like it's a revelation.
WINNIE
(INTERRUPTING)
AHEM?
EGGS
Oh... sorry. He says they were
hiding and then they heard me
yelling at them...
FLASHBACK TO:
INT. SNATCHER'S FACTORY - FLASHBACK - NIGHT
Eggs begging the boxtrolls to save themselves, but this time
we see it from the REVERSE ANGLE.
EGGS (O.S.)
... We can fight back! Don't be
afraid anymore. Sparky! Fragile!
Get up! Get up and fight. Stand up!
Fight back. Please! Do it for me!
What Eggs couldn't see is the boxtrolls, led by a NAKED Fish,
squirm out of the back of the boxtroll pile. They are
terrified, but they all do it until Knickers freezes at the
threshold.
SNATCHER (O.S.)
Wow, good speech.
Fish has to grab Knickers and pull him out just as SMASH! THE
CRUSHER CRASHES DOWN!
We even hear Herbert's laughing and calling out to Eggs as
the naked boxtrolls stack together and hide out of sight.
HERBERT
Boxboy! Look what you did!
BACK TO:
EXT MARKET SQUARE - DAWN - CONTINUOUS
Fish and Eggs hug tightly.
111.
EGGS
You got out of your boxes! You did
it!
The townspeople peek out of their hiding places, confused.
WORKMAN A
The boy is friends with a
boxtroll?!
SHOPKEEPER LADY
But boxtrolls are monsters.
Winnie turns to the townspeople.
WINNIE
Boxtrolls aren't monsters. They
never ate the Trubshaw Baby, he's
right there with Fish and-- (GASPS)
Winnie stares at Herbert, the hairy lunatic standing next to
Eggs. Eggs smiles up at Herbert.
EGGS
My father.
WINNIE
Your father?
HERBERT
(smiling at Eggs)
Look what you did.
EGGS
You were right. Thank you.
HERBERT
(BOWING)
Jelly.
The townspeople stare at Herbert.
SHOPKEEPER LADY
Herbert Trubshaw?
MALE WORKMAN A
The inventor?
SHOPKEEPER LADY
Alive?
The crowd murmurs angrily.
112.
CROWD (OVERLAPPING)
Oh get out of here. / Snatcher said
he was killed. / How can that be? /
How is this possible? / He lied to
us?
SHOPKEEPER B
Snatcher lied!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
He lied to us and to poor Madame
Frou Frou!
Everyone turns toward Portley-Rind as he looks around for
Snatcher.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Snatcher!
But Snatcher is gone.
Suddenly the shrill accent of Madame Frou Frou rises above
the crowd. They look up as the mechanical arm of the mecha
box drops Snatcher into the cockpit.
MADAME FROU FROU/SNATCHER
(taunting in Frou Frou's
VOICE)
We could've been somezing special,
but you've broken our agreement.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Why is he talking like Madame Frou -
Oh my God!
(BOWS HEAD)
I regret so much.
Snatcher pulls levers and grinds gears again. The crowd gasps
and shrinks away from him. He turns the mecha box toward
Portley-Rind and uses the mechanical arm to reach for the
white hat.
SNATCHER
(in Snatcher's voice)
I'll take my white hat now.
Portley-Rind ducks and weaves to avoid the huge, snapping
claw.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
AHHHH!
Snatcher gets frustrated and SMASHES THE STAIRS! Portley-Rind
sprints off the stairs and out into the square.
113.
(2350 BTL) BATTLE REDUX
Portley-Rind sprints off the stairs and out into the square
as Snatcher SMASHES TENTS WITH THE CLAW! Snatcher drives the
mecha box, stomping after him and right toward the crowd.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
RUN!
Lord Portley-Rind runs through the square and the mecha box
chases him, SMASHING the tent out of the way with its giant
iron fist!
The frightened townspeople SCREAM and run!
ARISTOCRAT MALE A
The curfew's back on! IT'S BACK
ONNN!
CROWD
AHHHH!
CUT TO EGGS AND THE GANG as Fish finishes putting on his box.
EGGS
No more hiding, right?
FISH
(GURGLES "RIGHT!")
Fish nods. Eggs turns to Knickers.
EGGS
(DETERMINED)
RIGHT?
Knickers flashes his best `angry face' and throws down his
box, preferring to fight in his FRILLY UNDERWEAR!
KNICKERS
(GURGLES a war cry)
EGGS
(to all the boxtrolls)
You built that thing! You can take
it apart!
Eggs charges forward with all the boxtrolls!
EGGS AND BOXTROLLS
ROAWRRR!
114.
CUT TO Portley-Rind cowering behind Snatcher's vehicle,
holding his white hat to his head. Snatcher stalks by in the
background, the mecha box drill sending cobbles flying.
SNATCHER
Loooord POORTLEY-RIIIIND!
(SMASHES TENTS)
Come out, come out, come out!
Suddenly, the mecha box lurches. Snatcher loses his footing.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
Whoah whoa.
Snatcher looks down and sees boxtrolls climbing up the legs,
tearing pieces off. Shoe hisses at him.
CUT TO shots of hero boxtrolls wreaking havoc on the machine:
- Sweets grabs a pulley cable on one of the mecha drill legs.
SWEETS
(GURGLING SWEARS)
Chmeey! @#$%&!
EGGS
(TO SWEETS)
Tear it down!
Sweets bites the cable and it snaps in half.
- Sparky and Bucket remove pieces of the motor and get
SHOCKED! They look a little charred as they pull out
electrical elements and throw them away.
- Knickers rages, wailing on the side of the machine in his
frilly underpants. He smashes his paws through a piece of
sheet metal, pulling out a hose. It releases steam as he hold
the hose triumphantly over his head.
SNATCHER
Get your grimy paws off of my
machine!
Snatcher pulls a lever and the furnace ROARS to life, spewing
flames from the front grill. The boxtrolls near the grill
cringe away.
Snatcher deploys the spinning chassis. The box rotates,
picking up speed as the boxtrolls try to hang on. They grab
on to each other when they lose grip on the mecha box. Fish
holds on to Eggs' ankles.
115.
EGGS
(shouts to Fish)
We need to put out the fire!
Fish nods at him. He is knocked by another flying boxtroll
into the square.
Fish lands near Winnie! She scowls and walks off with
determination while Fish rubs his aching head.
CUT TO Portley-Rind still cowering. Hands GRAB THE WHITE HAT
OFF OF HIS HEAD.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
(gasp) AHH!
Boxtrolls fly across the square and hit the ground, skidding
into tents and store fronts.
CUT TO Snatcher as he spins around in the mecha drill control
seat, laughing like a mad man.
WINNIE (O.S.)
Oh Mister Snatcher...
He spots Winnie waving the hat and DANCING A WIDE PIROUETTE.
Snatcher hits a lever and the spinning slows. He woozily
tries to find her, off kilter from the momentum.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
... how did this hat get alllll the
waaayyy out here?
Snatcher forgets about Portley-Rind and stomps after Winnie.
SNATCHER
You vile little brat!
Winnie RUNS as the mecha drill clamors towards her.
WINNIE
Ooh!
Suddenly Pickles and Trout run up beside Winnie, both
hatless.
MR. TROUT
(RUNNING)
Perhaps we can be of some
assistance, miss.
Winnie hands the hat to Pickles and ducks out of the chase.
He examines the hat while running.
116.
MR. PICKLES
So this is what all the fuss is
about?
Pickles places the white hat on his head and turns to Trout.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
What do you think, Mr. Trout?
A mecha drill leg SMASHES the cobbles beside Pickles. He
tosses the hat to Trout.
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
`Ere you have a go.
Mr. Pickles tosses it to Mr. Trout, who puts it on
momentarily.
MR. TROUT
I think white quite suits me.
Trout tosses the hat back to Pickles, teasing Snatcher as a
mecha leg misses him. He tosses the hat to Winnie.
CUT TO a wider view of Market Square as Winnie, Pickles, and
Trout play keep away with the white hat, tossing it around
like a frisbee. Snatcher spins the mecha box around, trying
to grab the hat.
WINNIE
Over here!
SNATCHER
You ungrateful stooges!
Pickles, now holding the hat, taunts Snatcher.
MR. PICKLES
Is this what you wanted, boss?
Pickles tosses the hat high. It soars past Snatcher's head.
Snatcher fails to grasp it, then Lord Portley-Rind.
SNATCHER
Mine!
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Mine!
Suddenly, Herbert leaps up and grabs the white hat.
HERBERT
JELLY!
117.
Herbert laughs as he runs around, weaving between the mecha
drill legs. Portley-Rind chases after him.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
It's not funny! No, no, no!
Herbert gives an extra-jaunty laugh and ducks away from a
mecha leg quickly. Portley-Rind runs SMACK into it, falling
to the ground.
CUT TO Gristle as he climbs woozily out of the leech barrel.
MR. GRISTLE
Ohhhh...
BACK ON Herbert as Snatcher keeps up the chase, hot on his
heels.
SNATCHER
(TO HERBERT)
Come back, you loony!
Herbert runs past Gristle and hands him the hat just as
Snatcher swings the massive mechanical arm.
HERBERT
Jelly!
MR. GRISTLE
HUH?
Gristle gets WHACKED, sending the white hat sailing into the
air and Gristle sailing across the square.
The hat is caught by Winnie. Snatcher chases her, corners her
and is about to crush her with the arm when the gears GRIND
in protestation.
CUT TO Eggs, Shoe, and Oil Can on the mecha arm joint. They
sneer at Snatcher. Shoe giggles as he removes a final gear
from the arm. The arm hangs in the air for a moment then
suddenly FALLS OFF and CLANGS TO THE GROUND with Shoe and Oil
Can!
EGGS
Whoops!
SPARKY/BOXTROLLS
(GURGLE YELL!)
Eggs watches the arm fall, worried about his friends. He
doesn't notice Snatcher looming over him. Furious, Snatcher
swings a LARGE WRENCH at Eggs' head.
118.
SNATCHER
Stop destroying my indestructible
machine!
Eggs barely ducks out of the way and falls, catching a hold
of the arm joint and scrambling up to the front of the box.
Snatcher keeps swinging the wrench again - KLANG! -, tracking
Eggs. He SMASHES the left headlight of the mecha drill and
reels back to swing again when--
Eggs grabs onto a lever, pulls it hard, and the mecha box
tilts violently back, sending Snatcher tumbling to the edge.
Smoke starts coming out of the furnace.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
AHHHHHHH!!!!
Eggs presses the red button and THE VACUUM ARM SWINGS DOWN
LIKE A GIANT ACCORDION.
EGGS
Fish, grab hold!
ON CUE, Fish and Shoe scream directions. A group of boxtrolls
run up to the vacuum arm and grab hold. They form a
caterpillar conga-line to stretch it toward THE CENTER OF THE
SQUARE.
FISH
(GURGLES "PULL!")
Shoe pulls the manhole cover away from the hole.
ON EGGS as he looks out over the square. Snatcher looms in
the furnace smoke.
EGGS
That's right! Pull it over there!
Suddenly, Snatcher appears behind him.
SNATCHER
YOU FILTHY MONSTER!
EGGS
AHHHH!
Snatcher grabs Eggs by the shoulders and forces him down over
the edge of the mecha drill control booth.
ON THE BOXTROLLS as Fish grabs the mouth of the vacuum and
jumps down into the sewer, dangling ABOVE THE WATER! The
vacuum can't reach!
119.
FISH
(GURGLED) Uh oh.
(GURGLED)
IT DOESN'T REACH!
WINNIE
IT DOESN'T REACH! PULL IT HARDER!
ON EGGS as Snatcher grasps his neck, threatening.
SNATCHER
(with effort, strangling
EGGS)
You think you can win and live
happily ever after! They'll never
accept the likes of us!
Eggs pushes against Snatcher's chest, trying to get free.
ON WINNIE, SHOE and the others as they STRAIN to pull the
vacuum arm closer. Trout and Pickles have joined in.
WINNIE
ALL TOGETHER!
MR. TROUT
Now!
MR. PICKLES
Pull!
CLOSE ON the mecha box's legs as they are dragged toward the
manhole, pushing up cobblestones as they go.
WITH Fish as the tube reaches the water. He scrambles up the
vacuum tube as it crashes into the water, hard.
MEANWHILE, Snatcher and Eggs struggle, their hands on each
others' throats.
EGGS
I'm nothing like you. You're the
monster!
Snatcher pulls him close and GROWLS.
SNATCHER
MONSTER?
Snatcher GROWLS and rears back with the wrench! Eggs reaches
over and SLAMS down the vacuum ON SWITCH!
120.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(SURPRISED)
Huh?
FOOOMP! Water is sucked up in HUGE GULPS that race up the
tube!
WATER HITS THE RED HOT FURNACE! BOOM! An EXPLOSION of steam
and smoke fills the screen, obscuring our view.
ON THE WHITE HAT as it sits on the cobblestones. Lord Portley-
Rind picks it up with a chuckle and places it on his head.
He twirls his mustache with delight.
ON THE MECHA DRILL as it stands still, steam dissipating
around its carcass. The vacuum arm is now just a stump of
steel and shredded canvas.
The boxtrolls and townsfolk stare at it through the steam.
A LONG BEAT OF SILENCE is broken by shouts:
WHITE HATS (O.S.)
WE'VE DONE IT!/ HUZZAH!/ THREE
CHEERS FOR US!
Sir Langsdale, Sir Broderick, and Sir Boulanger crest the
hill at Milk Street, pushing the giant CHEESE WHEEL that
rolled into the river.
SIR LANGSDALE
We got the cheese.
(they see the devastated
SQUARE)
Lord... Portley-... Rind?
They stand in the entrance to the destroyed square, jaws
agape. Glasses broken, an almost blind Gristle stumbles out,
looking battered and worn.
MR. GRISTLE
UGH! I HAVE LOST A LOT OF BLOOD.
Gristle looks up to see Snatcher and Eggs still clinging to
the mecha box as it falls toward him! He spots Snatcher and
watches as the box gets closer...
MR. GRISTLE (CONT'D)
Boss?
Timbeeeeer! The mecha box drill crashes on to Mr. Gristle and
sends Snatcher and Eggs flying SPLAT! into the GIANT CHEESE
WHEEL! SMOKE, STEAM, AND MELTED CHEESE SPLATTER EVERYWHERE!
121.
The crowd watches while Fish runs to look for Eggs in the
huge mound of cheese. Suddenly, Eggs GASPS and breaks through
the cheese. Fish rushes to him.
FISH
(CONCERNED)
Eggs? EGGS!
The townspeople CHEER!
CROWD
YEEEEAAAAYYY!
Winnie beams and runs to join Eggs and Fish when something
suddenly ERUPTS OUT OF THE CHEESE IN FRONT OF HER!
SNATCHER
RAWR!!!
CROWD
(FROM HAPPY)
YEEEEAAAAYYYY!
(TO DISGUSTED)
EEEEWWW!
A GIANT, SWOLLEN HAND grabs Winnie and pulls her toward --
SNATCHER-MONSTER.
WINNIE
(MUFFLED SCREAM)
He's pulled himself out of the cheese and he is not in good
shape. Think Elephant Man stung by bees.
ON TROUT and PICKLES. They reel in disgust.
MR. PICKLES
(COWERING)
Eww!
MR. TROUT
Not again.
ON EGGS and FISH: Eggs is dumbstruck. Fish gags, cheeks
full.
Lord Portley-Rind runs up to Snatcher, pleading.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Winnifred!
The monster snatches Winnie up under his misshapen arm and
staggers out of the mound of cheese.
122.
SNATCHER
(TO SNATCHER)
GIF. ME. MY. HAT.
Portley-Rind twists his hands.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Well... what about Broderick's hat?
It's just as white and fluffy.
ON WINNIE as she squeals in protestation from behind
Snatcher's monstrous, swollen hand.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Oh take it.
Portley-Rind removes his hat and hands it to Snatcher.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND (CONT'D)
Just let go of my daughter.
Snatcher takes the hat with his sausage fingers. He pulls
Winnie closer to him.
SNATCHER
YEAH! ARSHBALL SHNASHER, YOOFINE'LY
DONE IT!
CLOSE ON, Snatcher's beaming face. He waves the White Hat
over his head and does an awful little dance.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
NOW TO THE TASHTING ROOM!
(2400 TTC) TO THE TASTING ROOM
INT. CHEESE GUILD - TASTING ROOM - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
CLOSE ON: Portley-Rind's hat being held aloft by one
grotesquely swollen hand.
SNATCHER
Men, don your White Hatsh...
Snatcher lowers the hat onto the top of his head.
REVEAL Snatcher is sitting at the Tasting Room table, still
clutching Winnie under his swollen arm. She whimpers in fear.
123.
Portley-Rind, wearing Snatcher's red hat, and Eggs and Fish,
wearing pilfered white hats, sit on the other side of the
table. Fish's hat slips down over his eyes, too big for his
pointy head.
A small, ornately covered cheese tray sits in front of Lord
Portley-Rind.
EGGS
Please, Snatcher, let her go. You
don't have to do this--
Snatcher interrupts Eggs and slams a meaty fist down on the
table!
SNATCHER
ISH TASHTING TIME!
Winnie whimpers. Portley-Rind, Eggs, and Fish look nervous.
Awkward silence.
Lord Portley-Rind clears his throat and gestures to the
cheese tray.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
I present the tastiest cheese known
to man. Made from the milk of the
male, lactating fruit bats in
Borneo. Aged for centuries in
SECRET--
SNATCHER
(interrupts, angry)
Shut up! Enough shtalling.
Portley-Rind lifts the lid off the cheese tray, revealing a
small greenish portion of powerful looking cheese. A waft of
stink fills the air and everyone recoils. Fish stabs a fork
into the cheese.
Eggs pushes the cheese tray across the table, face drawn in
disgust. It stops in front of Snatcher. He lifts the fork in
his ham-sized swollen fist and removes a curd. He gives the
cheese a looong SNIFF.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(snifffff) Yesh... rich bouquet,
cheesy cheese-like... OW!
Winnie BITES his puffy hand, breaks free of the headlock, and
runs into the arms of her father. They hug.
124.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
Oh, my Winnikens!
Snatcher stares at her in disbelief.
SNATCHER
You bit me... wif yor... MOUTH?!
Eggs looks at Winnie. She shrugs.
Snatcher growls, shrugs it off, and raises the forkful of
cheese to his mouth... then pauses. His STOMACH GURGLES
loudly. Everyone else recoils, scared. Fish hides in his box.
LONG PAUSE
Snatcher raises the cheese to his mouth again.
EGGS
(GENTLE PLEA)
Don't do it. It won't change who
you are.
His hideous, swollen head turns back to Eggs and he blinks.
For a moment he looks sad, almost like he wants to listen to
Eggs.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Cheese, hats, boxes - they don't
make you. You make you.
Snatcher looks sharply at Eggs.
SNATCHER
I have made me, boy.
Snatcher looks back to the curd, ready.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
This is my dessshhtiny.
Snatcher opens his mouth wide.
ON EGGS, WINNIE, FISH, LORD PORTLEY-RIND as Snatcher slowly
places the curd on his tongue. They are terrified.
Snatcher chews loudly.
Snatcher swallows. He glances down to his stomach...
Eggs and Fish flinch, expecting something terrible to happen.
Even Portley-Rind and Winnie cower.
A beat.
125.
Everything is fine. Everyone relaxes. A feeling of relief
washes over Snatcher. His face brightens.
SNATCHER (CONT'D)
(POMPOUS)
Mmm, aromatic?... Oaky?... With an
undertone of a mother's smile on a
WARM SPRING--
BOOOOOM!!!
He explodes.
EXT. WIDE OF CHEESEBRIDGE - DAY
The top of the Guild explodes with a puff. The sound of the
explosion is delayed slightly because of the distance.
A beat as the smoke hangs in the air. The grazing cows gently
MOO.
(2600 PMY) PLEASED TO MEET YOU
EXT. MARKET SQUARE ALLEY - DAY
We see the clear, blue sky over Cheesebridge for a moment
before tilting down into Market Square.
WINNIE (O.S.)
There I was, trapped in his sweaty
armpit...
Madame Frou Frou's cabaret cart has been repainted, with a
new sign reading "WINNIE". Winnie stands mid-stage orating
her horrific tale.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
...Until he swelled like a balloon
and.. POP! --
BLAM! A boxtroll bursts out of the trapdoor below the stage,
releasing a cloud of confetti that explodes everywhere. They
perform for a mixed crowd of townspeople and boxtrolls.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(ARMS WIDE)
-- An ocean of guts exploded over
us like a hurricane of YUCK!
126.
The crowd applauds, townspeople clap their hands and
boxtrolls drum their boxes.
Lord Portley-Rind and Lady Cynthia applaud the loudest.
LORD PORTLEY-RIND
My little angel. My weird little
angel.
Winnie curtsies deeply, head down.
EGGS
Winnie!
Winnie looks up and spots Eggs standing at the edge of the
crowd. Under his arm he is holding an old record album.
WINNIE
Huh?
EGGS
(quietly, to Winnie)
Where's Fish?
WINNIE
(sotto voce, quietly to
EGGS)
Uhh.
Winnie shrugs, "I don't know" and starts another story.
WINNIE (CONT'D)
(to the audience)
And now I will tell the heroic
story of the Naked Boxtrolls and
the Crusher of DOOOOOOM!
Winnie gestures to the stage curtain, which moves to reveal
Knickers - wearing only his knickers - standing beneath a
mock cardboard `1 TON' WEIGHT.
Eggs walks away from the stage as boxtrolls scramble to get
better seats.
CUT TO:
The square is cleaned up from the battle and there are a few
new additions. Eggs spots Oil Can, hard at work lubricating
the cables for the One Man Band's kick drum. Oil Can smiles
and they both move on to REVEAL:
A tent with a sign for SPARKY'S SCRAP SHACK - a boxtroll
appliance repair service - hanging from it.
127.
SIR LANGSDALE stands next to his toaster as Bucket and Sparky
peer inside it.
SIR LANGSDALE
It hasn't worked right in years!
Boulanger speeds around the repair tent, making rusty squeaks
with each wheel rotation. An excited Oil can squeals and
chases Boulanger's wheelchair.
SIR LANGSDALE (CONT'D)
I said I like it burnt, then she
says well I don't! So here I am.
Suddenly Eggs appears next to Langsdale.
EGGS
You guys seen Fish?
Bucket and Sparky grunt "No" and get back to work. They both
raise forks and prepare to plunge them into the toaster.
EGGS (CONT'D)
Thanks!
Eggs walks away as Langsdale backs up.
SIR LANGSDALE
Oh. I... I don't think that's a
good idea.
As Eggs walks away, a loud BZZZT sound and a bright light go
off behind him.
CUT TO:
Specs mans a control switch at a BOXTROLL MANHOLE exit. He
throws the switch and Sweets shoots up out of the manhole,
blown by a strong wind. He lands just as Eggs walks up.
EGGS
Have you seen Fish?
Specs shrugs `No' but Sweets brightens--
SWEETS
(TOOTHLESS MOUTH)
Mushurgle, mushmoogle,
mushmushgurgle...
He mumbles until his teeth suddenly shoot up out of the
manhole. He grabs them, jams them in--
128.
SWEETS (CONT'D)
Nope.
Sweets walks off. Suddenly the sound of a loud HONK! Eggs
looks up as.
HERBERT (O.S.)
Ahh, there he is.
FISH
Eggs!
Snatcher's vehicle appears. Herbert is driving and Fish is
riding in Snatcher's old seat.
A new logo has been painted over the old silhouette of a
rampaging boxtroll. In its place is a kinder silhouette of a
boxtroll holding a light bulb, surrounded by a circle made of
three arrows - it's the prototype of the international sign
for recycling.
Eggs holds up the record - a new copy of the QUATTRO
SABATINO'S album from the old music machine.
EGGS
Look what I found!
Fish gurgles happily as Eggs hands him the album and climbs
aboard the vehicle.
HERBERT
Brilliant, son!
CLOSE ON: The record being put on the player on top of the
vehicle. The record begins to play.
Fish sits back in Snatcher's old seat, Eggs holds on to the
side.
EGGS
And now we go like this.
Fish and Eggs start rocking out, bobbing their heads to the
music like they used to. Fish and Eggs hum to the tune.
HERBERT
Ahh. I've missed so much.
He joins them in the head-bobbing.
WIDE: As the music swells we follow the vehicle as it winds
it's way across the market and away through the arch.
129.
As the music fades away, two familiar silhouettes pause from
sweeping up some trash.
MR. TROUT
Aww, ain't that lovely?
Trout empties his dust bin into a TRASH BARREL. A loud
snuffle can be heard.
MR. PICKLES
Yeah... all happy `n tidy.
Shoe sticks his head out of the barrel, covered in dust.
SHOE
(GURGLES ANGRILY)
MR. TROUT
Like the end of a story, if our
lives were a story.
Shoe climbs out of the barrel. He pulls Lord Portley-Rind's
white hat out of the trash. It is filthy and torn. Shoe
frowns at it, tears a frilly ribbon off the top, and tosses
the rest back in the trash.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
Not sure what we'd do next, though.
Shoe looks around defensively, grunts quietly, and scampers
to the center of Market Square. We follow him into the dark
as he jumps down an open manhole.
(2700 CRED) END CREDITS
(2750 UNV) UNIVERSE
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - DAY - CONTINUOUS
Pickles and Trout are still awkwardly standing around, not
sure what to do next.
MR. PICKLES
Hmm.
MR. TROUT
Just keeping the streets clean...
MR. PICKLES
Free from evil.
MR. TROUT
Yep.
130.
MR. PICKLES
Ya ever think about the universe,
Mr. Trout?
The camera pulls out gradually --
MR. PICKLES (CONT'D)
What if our world is just like a
tiny speck...
MR. TROUT
A tiny little speck!
MR. PICKLES
And there are giants looking down
on us?
MR. TROUT
And every time we move...
MR. PICKLES
It's actually them moving us.
-- Revealing that Market Square is a set.
Pickles and Trout stare at each other. A beat.
MR. TROUT
Seems a bit tedious.
Pickles blinks.
MR. PICKLES
Like that, just there, me blinking.
That would've taken them a day.
The camera keeps pulling out and lights and the stage table
can be seen.
MR. TROUT
Me moving my arm. Five hundred men!
MR. PICKLES
I mean, none of them are going
home. They're having to do this
bit. And now this bit. And this
bit. I mean, this should stop.
CUT TO BLACK.
MR. TROUT (O.S.)
I think it throws up notions of
free will.
131.
MR. PICKLES (O.S.)
It's too much. And then they'd have
had to've done me talking about the
blink. And it never ends. I think
they make a meal of it, to be
honest. I don't know how they get
the time. They've got to have other
jobs. It's more like a hobby.
Y'know, like stamp collecting,
something you do in your free time.
THE END
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