by Laura Phillips and Terry Jones. Story by Dennis Lee

FADE IN ON:

1 EXT: SKY - DAY

A WHITE BIRD soaring. The sky is a glorious explosion of blue and

mauve and lavender. The setting sun washes the clouds with a delicate

pink tint. The bird swoops and spirals and we are right there with

him. Then suddenly, below us, an extraordinary sight appears.

2 EXT: LABYRINTH - DAY

It is the labyrinth, an enormous maze of incredible mandala like

intricacy. From our magnificent vantage point, WE ARE BARELY ABLE TO

MAKE OUT its details: the twisting walls interrupted here and there

by lush forest, the complex web of waterways, the forbidding castle

at the core. It is vast and magical, frightening and compelling at

the same time. We would love to linger, perhaps fly lower and get a

better look at this wondrous place, but the bird flies on

3 EXT: GLADE - DAY

It is an idyllic setting, warm and inviting. The late afternoon sun

washes everything with a pink glow. Between the water and a line of

lush fruit trees is a flower-strewn glade. A FIGURE emerges from the

trees and walks toward the water. It is a YOUNG WOMAN dressed in a

flowing white dress that swirls around her in the breeze. The pink

light burnishes her hair and causes a gold circlet she wears on her

head to glow. She is breathtaking, a vision of innocence and grace.

She stops to pick a flower and then turns suddenly as if she has

heard something.

GIRL: Is it you?

She takes a few hurried steps and then stops, smiling shyly

GIRL: Your Highness!

The GIRL curtsies deeply and then looks up through lowered lashes,

the shy smile still dancing on her lips. And then WE PULL BACK TO

REVEAL a crown perched on a head of tight curls. WE ARE LOOKING

THROUGH the crown at the girl as she rises slowly, then looks boldly

at the PRINCE.

GIRL: Do not be swayed by my pleasure at the sight of you, my lord.

For though my father, the Duke, has promised you my hand, I cannot

consent to be yours until the evil that stalks our land from highest

hill to deepest dale is ...

Suddenly the GIRL stops speaking, a look of stunned confusion on her

face.

GIRL: ... from highest hill to deepest dale ... (her brow furrows in

concentration and then) Damn!

She burrows one hand into the deep sleeve of her gown and pulls out a

rolled-up soft-cover book. She rifles through the pages.

The PRINCE is not a prince at all, but a SHEEPDOG wearing a tin foil

crown. He thinks his work is over and it's time to play and he lunges

happily towards the GIRL who isn't a princess or even a duchess, but

15-year-old SARAH.

SARAH is knocked over by the playful DOG. Beneath the gown which WE

CAN NOW SEE is homemade and not very grand at all, WE SEE faded jeans

and running shoes.

SARAH: Get off me, you monster!!

The DOG grabs the book out of her hand and runs away with it, hoping

to be chased. SARAH doesn't follow, she just sits up and pulls the

grass out of her tangled hair and sighs with frustration. The DOG

comes back over to SARAH, its tail wagging hopefully.

SARAH: If you value your mangy life, Merlin, you'll hand it over.

The DOG obediently drops the book.

THE BOOK

On the cover it says, _MEANDER'S QUEEN a play in three acts by Robin

Zakar_. SARAH reaches for it and we hear a clock tower begin to chime.

SARAH leaps to her feet.

SARAH: Oh no, Merlin! We're really late! Why does everything have to

happen to me!!!?

MERLIN prances around her happily, his foil crown in his mouth. SARAH

pulls it out of his mouth and throws it in a nearby trash basket. He

rushes after it and peers into the basket, wanting to fetch.

SARAH: It's all your fault, you miserable mutt!!

She hikes up her dress and runs into the trees. MERLIN whimpers and

tags along behind her.

4 EXT: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREES - DAY

SARAH comes bursting through the trees and runs down a hill toward

the street. WE PULL BACK and WE CAN SEE an enormous steel mill on the

other side of the river. And now WE NOTICE that the light isn't pink

any more but sort of dull and hazy, and the idyllic glade is barely a

suburban park, and this is just an ordinary day in a very ordinary

place.

5 EXT: AN OLD RAMBLING HOUSE - DUSK

SARAH runs up a path to an older, rambling house. She goes through

the front door, MERLIN hot on her heels, and neither one of them sees

the beautiful SNOW-WHITE BIRD that lands in a tree beside the path.

6 INT: INSIDE THE ROUSE - EVENING

SARAH bursts through the front door and makes a beeline for the

stairs. She almost makes it. SARAH'S MOTHER appears in the hallway.

MOTHER: _Sarah_, where have you been?!!!

SARAH abruptly stops and changes to an elegantly graceful ascension

of the stairs.

SARAH (in an affected voice): I can't talk to you now. I'm in

rehearsal.

She continues grandly on and heads for her room.

MOTHER: You were supposed to be home an hour ago to baby-sit for

Freddie! Don't we at least deserve an explanation?

SARAH stops and leans over the railing. She speaks with a

melodramatic solemnity.

SARAH: As Meander's Queen, I've been ... meandering. Dither me not

about explanations.

With that she turns and heads for her room. On the door is a sign

that says: "Admittance by Invitation Only." SARAH'S FATHER comes into

the hall.

FATHER: What's that all about?

MOTHER: It's a part in a play, (raising her voice) but that's no

reason to...

SARAH turns in her doorway. She calls down.

SARAH: Chasten not your Queen, _Peasant_!

She dramatically sweeps into her room.

7 INT: SARAH'S ROOM - NIGHT

SARAH slams the door and leans against it, playing the scene.

FATHER (VO): _Sarah_, that's no way to talk to your mother!

SARAH (mumbles to herself): She's not my mother.

SARAH takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She can hear footsteps

and SOMEONE comes to the other side of the door.

SARAH ignores her STEPMOTHER and kicks off her running shoes.

With a practiced gesture SARAH removes her jeans while leaving her

gown in place.

STEPMOTHER (VO): _Sarah_, when I tell you to be home at five, I

expect you to be home at five.

SARAH quickly shifts to her STEPMOTHER's attitude -- hands on hips,

and silently mimes her words.

SARAH: Yes, Madame!

7A INT: UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

STEPMOTHER: And don't "Yes Madame" me!

FATHER: Is she all right?

STEPMOTHER (frustrated): Of course she's all right! I left the

Bernsteins' number on the kitchen table ... Freddie might be coming

down with a cold so call us if he seems even the least bit

uncomfortable ...

SARAH (VO) (sighs): Yes, Mother.

STEPMOTHER: Oh! I give up!

She hurries down the stairs.

FATHER: We'll see you later, baby. And remember ...

7B INT: SARAH'S ROOM - NIGHT

SARAH speaks along with him, mimicking.

SARAH & FATHER (VO): Don't open the door to strangers.

We hear him leave. SARAH waits a beat and then turns and opens her

bedroom door.

SARAH: And don't call me baby! (she slams the door shut; mimicking

her parents) Precious little Freddie might be coming down with a cold

...

She sighs and looks around. This is really her world, her retreat,

and she knows and controls every inch of it. The shelves are filled

with an orderly array of childhood dolls and toys. The books are

lined up neatly in the bookcase and if we could see them up close we

would see that they were placed in alphabetical order -- and

according to the year they were acquired. She walks over to her

dresser. She checks herself out in the mirror above the chest of

drawers and adjusts the golden circlet which has been knocked askew

by her run. She then stops for a moment and looks at the photographs

on the dresser. One of her FATHER, her MOTHER and herself as a LITTLE

GIRL. Another picture of her MOTHER in a newspaper clipping is taped

to the mirror. The headline says, "Linda Williams a Smash in New

Play." A cover of a Playbill is also tacked on to the mirror. It says

_Best of Both Worlds_ starring Linda Williams. SARAH then reverently

opens a music box -- the kind with a twirling dancer inside -- and to

the strains of an unbearably tinny version of "Greensleeves" she

begins to rehearse.

SARAH: Do not be swayed by my pleasure at the sight of you, my Lord

...

Suddenly, something stops her cold.

SARAH (yelling angrily): Someone has been in my room!

Through the mirror WE SEE what she sees: an empty space on one of the

shelves. She swirls around and rushes out the door.

8 INT: THE HALLWAY - NIGHT

SARAH bursts out of her room.

SARAH: Where's Lancelot?

She stomps down the hallway.

SARAH: Where's my bear?!!

9 INT: NURSERY - NIGHT

SARAH enters FREDDIE's room. She searches the nursery.

SARAH: Nobody listens to a thing I say.

She opens a toy box and rifles through it.

SARAH: How many times have I told them to stay out of my room ...

She gets to the crib and looks down. FREDDIE is wide awake, gurgling

at Lancelot, SARAH's tattered old teddy bear.

SARAH: And you, you can just give me back my bear!

She yanks it out of the crib and leaves. FREDDIE looks hurt and his

face starts to cloud up.

10 INT: SARAH 'S ROOM - NIGHT

SARAH is curled up on her bed, cuddling her bear. MERLIN sits beside

her. She looks at the DOG.

SARAH: You're the only one who understands me, Merlin.

He licks her face. She gets up and holds the bear out in front of her.

SARAH: Do not be swayed by my pleasure at the sight of you, my lord

...

She is interrupted by FREDDIE's cries.

SARAH: Go to sleep, Freddie!

The cries get louder. SARAH sighs and repeats her favorite litany.

SARAH: Why does everything have to happen to me?

11 INT: NURSERY - NIGHT

SARAH enters and approaches the howling INFANT.

SARAH: I don't need this.

She pulls the blanket up over him and attempts to tuck him in.

SARAH: There, isn't that nice ...

But FREDDIE doesn't think so. He pushes the blanket off and howls

even louder. SARAH sees one of his toys on the floor and picks it up

and gives it to him. She speaks through gritted teeth.

SARAH: Want your nice toy?

But FREDDIE doesn't. He flings the toy across the room. SARAH bends

over the crib and speaks softly.

SARAH: You know, Freddie, I heard that the only thing to do with a

baby who won't stop crying is to get some goblins to come over and

teach him a lesson ...

FREDDIE lowers his screams to a whimper, but a loud whimper.

SARAH: How would you like that, kid? A nasty evil goblin ...

FREDDIE is quiet for a moment, almost as if he is considering. Then

he really howls. SARAH sighs and picks him up. She begins to pace

back and forth, and starts to hum. FREDDIE goes back to a mere

whimper.

SARAH: Oh, you like that, do you?

She begins to hum even louder and more melodically as she places the

BABY back into the crib. She then begins one of the moat macabre

lullabies you could ever imagine. She sings of how scary the dark is,

how "the shadows on the wall like to eat you when you're small" and

how "a baby doesn't stand a chance when the Goblins start their

dance." She throws herself into her performance; adding to it a wild

dance that has her whirling around the room, leaping into the air,

making strange shadows on the wall. Finally, the dance ends when too

many crazed pirouettes result in her stumbling against FREDDIE's

dresser. She staggers a bit and then the lights blink as a crack of

thunder is heard, followed by a flash of lightning.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Little FREDDIE is wailing. He hasn't understood a thing that SARAH

has sung but he can sense that something is wrong.

SARAH: Ah, c'mon, Freddie. It was just a song.

They are interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. SARAH reacts with

a gasp of surprise. FREDDIE, for some inexplicable reason, is

suddenly quiet.

12 INT: FOYER - NIGHT

SARAH approaches the front door with some trepidation. She starts to

open it, then realizes what she is doing. She fastens the chain and

only then opens the door.

13 EXT: HOUSE - NIGHT

SARAH'S POV

Through the door opening SARAH can see a very elegantly dressed,

quite good-looking MAN of an indeterminate age. He has a worldly air,

or is it other-worldly? Before he can speak a flash of lightning

illuminates his face. He is a mesmerizing sight and SARAH can't help

but gawk.

MAN: Excuse me, is this the home of Sarah Williams ... Sarah

Williams, the actress?

SARAH's jaw drops.

SARAH: That's me.

MAN: Allow me to introduce myself ... (he holds out his hand) I'm

Robin Zaker.

SARAH squeals with delight.

SARAH: You wrote the play!

He smiles.

SARAH: Just a second.

14 INT: FOYER - NIGHT

SARAH's hand hesitates over the chain for just a moment, and then she

unfastens it and opens the door. ZAKAR enters and extends his hand.

ZAKAR: It is an honour, Miss Williams. I understand you make a

delightful Queen Meander.

SARAH: Well, we've just started rehearsal, but how did you know?

ZAKAR: I was passing through this part of the country and heard that

it was going to be done here. This is the first amateur production of

the play, which of course is delightful for me.

SARAH: You know we were supposed to open tonight, but we got delayed.

The firemen had to use the hall.

ZAKAR: Yes, I know, that's why I wanted to stop by to see you.

They are interrupted by a particularly loud crash from upstairs. And

then FREDDIE begins to howl.

SARAH: That's my brother ...

There is another crash and SARAH starts up the stairs.

SARAH: I'll be right back!

ZAKAR watches her run up the stairs. He glances around and then walks

right to the liquor cabinet and takes out a bottle.

15 INT: NURSERY - NIGHT

FREDDIE in standing in his crib crying his eyes out. SARAH rushes in

and sees that the storm has blown open the basement window and it is

crashing against the wall. She rushes to close it. FREDDIE's screams

are piteous.

SARAH: Oh, Freddie ...

There is more thunder, and then lightning flashes across the darkened

room.

ZAKAR (VO): Perhaps I can soothe him ...

SARAH gasps and whirls around. ZAKAR is framed in the doorway. He has

a drink in his hand. SARAH holds the BABY close.

SARAH: You shouldn't be up here!

ZAKAR (smoothly): I just wanted to help ...

SARAH rushes by him, still clutching the BABY.

16 INT: HALLWAY - NIGHT

SARAH comes out of the nursery and hurries down the stairs. ZAKAR

follows. FREDDIE is still crying.

SARAH: Maybe you'd better leave ...

She gets to the bottom of the stairs. FREDDIE whimpers. ZAKAR is

making her very nervous.

SARAH: ... I, uh, don't think I care to talk to you about the play.

He is right behind her, almost too close.

ZAKAR: Neither do I.

SARAH is shocked and disturbed by this.

SARAH: What!

ZAKAR reaches over and smoothes FREDDIE's hair.

ZAKAR: I'm more concerned about the baby, of course.

SARAH pulls FREDDIE out of his reach.

SARAH: Freddie's just fine.

But he isn't. He's still crying. ZAKAR reaches into his pocket and

pulls out a coin. Be runs it over his fingers right in front of

FREDDIE's face. The BABY stops crying.

ZAKAR: There, isn't that better?

SARAH (nervously): Uh, sure ... but you really have to leave ...

ZAKAR ignores her and heads into the living room.

ZAKAR: I'm not just a playwright, as you can see ... bring him in

here and I'll do some other tricks for him ...

SARAH: No! You've got to ...

But he is already in the living room. She follows, still holding the

BABY.

17 INT: LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

ZAKAR is sitting on the sofa, looking very comfortable. SARAH stands

in the doorway, not sure what to do. Reluctantly, she goes and sits

down across from him.

ZAKAR: Now watch this, Freddie ...

He reaches into his breast pocket and tugs on the handkerchief there.

It comes out followed by many others, all different colours. SARAH

rolls her eyes. This is not that exciting a trick. FREDDIE isn't

impressed, either. In fact he starts to cry again.

ZAKAR: So you're going to be like that, are you, Freddie? Well, you

know what that means?

He leans across the table and SARAH pulls the BABY closer.

ZAKAR: It's time to call the goblins!

SARAH: What?!!

SARAH is surprised to hear this, to say the least. It echoes her

silly threat to FREDDIE earlier.

ZAKAR: Yes. That's what we do with bad babies ... we send for the

goblins!!

And with that he reaches into yet another pocket and pulls out a

poorly made, very silly-looking goblin hand puppet. SARAH laughs

with relief. ZAKAR, his hand in the puppet, talks in a high-pitched,

unconvincing goblin voice.

ZAKAR: You like goblins, don't'cha, Freddie? (singsong) but I bet

your sister doesn't ...

SARAH rolls her eyes at this, and then gasps. Because for one very

strange moment, the puppet keeps bouncing, but both of ZAKAR's hands

are visible! And then the puppet seems to move away from the table,

and disappear! FREDDIE claps his hands with delight. SARAH jumps out

of her chair.

SARAH: Where is it?!!!

ZAKAR points to a large cabinet against the wall.

ZAKAR: It's in there.

SARAH: Impossible!

ZAKAR: See for yourself.

SARAH hesitates for a moment, and then places FREDDIE carefully on

the rug. She then marches over to the cabinet and throws open the

door.

ANOTHER ANGLE

the puppet, grinning wildly from inside the cabinet.

ANOTHER ANGLE

SARAH gasps and involuntarily slams the door. She whirls around to

face ZAKAR.

SARAH: How did you do that?!!

ZAKAR leans back into the sofa.

ZAKAR: Magic.

SARAH: Oh sure ...

She nods, skeptically. She can't see -- but WE CAN DEFINITELY SEE --

the cabinet door slowly open behind her, and out of it comes a tiny,

fierce-looking GOBLIN! This is not a puppet, but a living creature

that moves quickly out of sight with an exaggerated tiptoe. SARAH is

busy with another problem. She doesn't see FREDDIE!

SARAH: Where's Freddie?!!

ZAKAR shrugs. In a panic, SARAH begins to look around this room. She

calls for FREDDIE and, as she passes in front of the living room

doorway, WE CAN SEE something scurry across the hallway. SARAH stops

and listens.

SARAH: Freddie?

But it wasn't a BABY she heard. Behind her there is more scurrying as

CREATURES begin to appear from various parts of the room. We hear

faint snickering. She turns to ZAKAR, terrified.

SARAH: Where is he?!!

ZAKAR points to the chair SARAH was sitting in. She is behind the

chair and can't see anything. But when she comes around in front of

it she sees FREDDIE comfortably ensconced in the cushions. And he's

playing with the goblin puppet! SARAH reaches over and grabs the

puppet out of his hands. She flings it across the room and scoops up

the BABY.

SARAH: Who are you?!!!

ZAKAR throws back his head and laughs, then suddenly leaps off the

sofa and lands very close to her.

ZAKAR: I've been known by many names ... but the one I prefer is

_Jareth, King of the Goblins_!!!

SARAH holds FREDDIE close and backs away.

SARAH: I don't believe this!

Amidst thunder and lightning JARETH flings his arms up into the air,

and he is suddenly dressed in strange, medieval garb, a cloak

swirling around him. And what's worse, much, much worse, is that

suddenly GOBLINS are everywhere! Popping out of drawers, from under

chairs, swinging off the chandeliers. SARAH turns and runs out of the

room.

18 INT: FOYER - NIGHT

It's worse in here! The GOBLINS are pouring down the stairs, SOME

slide down the bannister! SARAH tries running into another room, but

is soon back, followed by a DOZEN MORE! She barely makes it to the

front door and struggles to open it with the BABY in her arms. The

GOBLINS pull her back and laugh wildly. They fling her right into

JARETH's arms. He scoops FREDDIE up and whirls away from her. SARAH

tries to grab the BABY back but the GOBLINS get between them.

SARAH (hysterical): Give him back, you monster! Give him back!

JARETH only laughs and starts to swirl gracefully. FREDDIE laughs

with delight and SARAH struggles to reach him. With a superhuman

effort she pushes through the MASS OF CREATURES and grabs onto

JARETH's fluttering cloak. It's like being caught up in a whirlwind

of incredible force.

SARAH (screaming): I ... won't ... let ... you ... take ... him!

But it's too late. SARAH's feet leave the ground and she is pulled

with them and the whole MASS OF GOBLINS. JARETH and FREDDIE swirl up

through where the ceiling would have been, up into the blackness.

There's a QUICK MONTAGE OF SHOTS: JARETH's laughing face; SARAH,

desperate as her fingers are losing their grip; FREDDIE, who's having

a great time; GOBLINS, ALL gleeful; then -- JARETH's garment pulls

out of SARAH's grip. She falls OUT OF FRAME, a silent scream on her

face.

19 EXT: LABYRINTH - DAY

A WIDE PEACEFUL SHOT

The sky is pink, and the WHITE BIRD swoops by us as WE TILT DOWN TO

SEE the exterior wall of the labyrinth. It is a high masonry wall

that extends off in either direction. Along the wall are various

ornamental bushes and there is a small figure of a dwarf, his back to

us, peeing into a tiny pond. It looks for all the world like one of

those ornamental garden sculptures. But it isn't. This is HOGGLE. In

a CLOSER SHOT, which is quite discreet, HOGGLE finishes peeing, and

goes over to a particularly lush shrub. A few butterfly-like

creatures, flower fairies, flit around the bushes.

HOGGLE: An' how's me pride an' joy!

He leans forward to sniff one of the magnificent blossoms, sighing

with pleasure as he does. But before he can indulge he is stopped by

the whistling sound of a falling object. SARAH falls from the sky and

lands right on his prize shrub! Incensed, he screams with fury.

HOGGLE: What is this? Look what you done! You murderer!

SARAH struggles out of the broken shrub.

SARAH: What are you saying, you horrible little man?!

HOGGLE: I ain't horrible, I'm _Hoggle_. And just look! You've

destroyed me prize blossoms!

He realizes the extent of the damage to his prize specimen.

HOGGLE: I'll get ya for it, you big oaf!

And he picks up a spray can and goes after SARAH. But she's had

enough. After the nightmarish kidnapping of FREDDIE and a drop from

the deepest space, this guy is child's play. She reaches out and

pulls the can from HOGGLE's hands. She then grabs him by the

shirt-front and practically lifts him off the ground.

SARAH: Oh no you don't! If anyone's getting anything around here,

it's me ... now where' my brother?!!

HOGGLE: I ain't sayin' nothin' 'til ye let me go!

SARAH sighs and lets go.

SARAH: I'm sorry. But this just hasn't been my day.

HOGGLE looks at his crushed shrub again.

HOGGLE: Ye ain't the only one.

SARAH ignores him and stares at the massive wall behind them.

SARAH: And I don't understand any of this!

HOGGLE shakes his head and sighs.

HOGGLE: Now where have I heard that before.

SARAH: What do you mean?

HOGGLE: I mean, everyone who comes here thinkin' they can make it

through the labyrinth says sumthin' like (mimicking Sarah in a whiny,

high pitch) ... I don't understand this, whatever am I doing here,

how will I ever get home ...

SARAH: What makes you think I'm here to get through a labyrinth?

HOGGLE shakes his head again.

HOGGLE: Can't think of any reason why you'd be standin' here in front

o' this gate if you weren't.

SARAH doesn't understand what he is talking about but when she looks

up she can't believe her eyes.

ANOTHER ANGLE

A huge gate where just a moment ago there nothing but smooth, endless

wall. SARAH gulps in disbelief. Then the huge wooden doors fly open

and a terrified CREATURE runs out, full speed, screaming for his

life. Right behind him come TWO MENACING GOBLINS riding on strange

BEASTS. They are armed and dangerous looking. They quickly catch up

with the CREATURE and drag him, screaming piteously, back through the

gate. Before the gates close SARAH can see MORE GOBLINS, what seems

like hundreds of them. SOME are mounted, MOST of them are armed. And

beyond them a walled passageway seems to go on forever. Then the

wooden doors slam shut.

SARAH: Oh, no! Not more goblins!

HOGGLE: That's Jareth's goblin army, and that other poor fool musta

been caught meanderin' where he had no business.

SARAH: What will they do to him?

HOGGLE: I don't like to think about things like that.

SARAH shudders.

SARAH: I wonder if things can get any worse?

HOGGLE sighs knowingly.

HOGGLE: He's taken sumthin' o' yours, ain't he?

SARAH is clearly surprised.

HOGGLE: Jareth, our high an' mighty king ...

SARAH nods, excited that someone has a grasp of the situation.

HOGGLE: Bet he's gone and taken sumthin' you love.

SARAH (shrugging): Close. He's got my baby brother.

HOGGLE laughs derisively.

HOGGLE: Baby snatchin'! That's low.

SARAH: So I've just got to do something!

HOGGLE: Like what?

SARAH: Get Freddie back, of course!

HOGGLE: Then ya'd have ta make it through the labyrinth, 'cause

Jareth's castle is at its very center.

SARAH looks at the gates and gulps.

SARAH: Is it difficult?

HOGGLE snorts with derision.

HOGGLE: Is me prize shrub crushed into oblivion?

SARAH is reaching the breaking point.

SARAH: Look, I'm sorry about your bush! But it's not like I asked to

have some weirdo come and take my baby brother and then drop me out

of the sky!

HOGGLE: Well, I didn't ask for some overgrown flower fairy to drop on

me prized possession, neither!

SARAH: Oh, this is ridiculous!

And she stalks off to the gate, mumbling all the way.

SARAH (to herself): ... standing here wasting time talking to some

weird guy who should be living under a bridge ...

She is almost at the gate when she freezes with fear. Through the

gate she can hear the cheers and jeers of the GOBLINS, and what might

be the wailing of their poor CAPTIVE. There's no way she wants to

risk facing that horrific CREW. HOGGLE has come up behind her and as

she backs away from the gate she bumps into him. She shrieks and

whirls around.

HOGGLE: That ain't the only way in, ya know!

SARAH is very relieved to hear this.

SARAH: It's not?!

HOGGLE: Course it ain't. There's many a route in ... just only one

way out.

SARAH: Well show me one! I've got to find my brother!

HOGGLE sighs impatiently. Be fingers a belt that he wears, rattling

it in an obvious manner. It in hung with every kind of watch and

bracelet and ring you can imagine.

HOGGLE: Information like that has a price ...

SARAH, taken aback by the amount of loot he's acquired.

SARAH: I could give you this ...

She takes the gold circlet off her head. HOGGLE isn't interested.

HOGGLE: I had sumthin' o' this caliber in mind ...

He takes her hand and WE SEE that she is wearing a beautiful ruby

ring. SARAH shakes her head vehemently.

SARAH: No. My mother gave me that.

HOGGLE eyes it greedily.

HOGGLE: She could give ya another ...

SARAH: No, she couldn't. (sadness crosses her face suddenly) She

lives real far away ...

The sadness disappears just as suddenly. She holds out the circlet.

SARAH: This is all you get.

He grabs the circlet and bites it.

HOGGLE: Bah! It's paste!

Something catches SARAH's eye. It is one of the tiny FLOWER FAIRIES.

She leans over for a better look.

SARAH: No it's not, it's plastic.

HOGGLE's eyes light up at that and he grunts with satisfaction as he

strings the circlet onto his belt. SARAH reaches out her hand to the

FAIRY.

SARAH: What a beautiful little thing ...

HOGGLE reaches for the spray can.

HOGGLE: Let me at it!

SARAH is enraged.

SARAH: You murderer! How can you kill such beautiful creatures?!!

Just then the FAIRY gives SARAH a vicious bite. She shakes it off her

hand and cries out in pain.

SARAH: It bit me!

HOGGLE quickly sprays the offending FAIRY and it falls to the earth,

screaming all the way.

HOGGLE: Of course it bit ya! There's nuthin' more vicious than a

flower fairy. Any fool knows that!

SARAH sucks on her wounded hand and tries not to cry.

HOGGLE (sighs): But you don't know nuthin', do ya?

A tear trickles down SARAH's cheek. HOGGLE sighs.

HOGGLE: I got a feelin' I'm gonna regret this. (he stalks off) Come

with me an' I'll show ya a way in.

SARAH hurries after him. As they walk along the endless wall HOGGLE

looks at the circlet and polishes it on his sleeve.

HOGGLE (thrilled): Plastic!

20 EXT: LABYRINTH - DAY

Another part of the wall. HOGGLE pushes a bush aside and shows SARAH

a tiny door. She looks at it dubiously.

HOGGLE: This'll take ya into the maze, that's the first part of the

labyrinth ...

SARAH: The first part! What comes after that?

HOGGLE gets down on his knees and starts to crawl through the door.

HOGGLE: Then there's the Garden Maze, then the Forbidden Forest ...

SARAH: That sounds inviting ...

He is through the door. He is still talking but SARAH can't hear him.

She quickly tries to follow.

SARAH: Wait! Wait! I can't hear you ...

21 INT: LABYRINTH - DAY

HOGGLE is through the door.

HOGGLE: ... then comes the castle ...

SARAH's head appears.

HOGGLE: ... that's surely where Jareth's keepin' the babe ...

He looks down at SARAH, she is through the door to her waist and

straining to get the rest of herself through. HOGGLE sighs and grabs

her hand. With a groan he tugs on her and pulls her through the

doorway. She lands flat on her face.

HOGGLE: Ya don't seem ta be able ta do nuthin' without my help, do ya?

He chuckles and SARAH gives him a look that could kill as she gets up

and dusts herself off. She looks around and the environment seems

rather benign. The brick walls are open to the sky, here and there a

flower peeks through a crack.

SARAH: Oh, I think I can handle it. In fact, this place doesn't seem

so bad at all.

And with that, she jauntily heads down the nearest corridor.

22 INT: CORRIDOR 1 - DAY

SARAH turns a corner and comes face to face with a FACE. It is huge

and grotesque and protrudes out of the wall.

FACE: Go back! Go back before it's too late!

SARAH screams and backs away from it, moving further down the

corridor. She backs into something and whirls around. It is ANOTHER

FACE.

FACE 2: Turn back while you still can!!

SARAH turns and runs back the way she came.

SARAH: Hoggle!

23 INT: LABYRINTH - DAY

HOGGLE is still standing by the door, an amused smile on his face.

SARAH comes rushing toward him.

SARAH: Oh, I'm so glad you're still here! They were horrible ...

HOGGLE: You don't mean the False Alarms, do ya?

He shakes his head and goes off in the direction that SARAH just came

from.

HOGGLE: If ya gonna let a little thing like them scare ya, Missy, ya

haven't a hope o' makin' it to the castle.

SARAH quickly follows.

SARAH: False Alarms?

24 INT: CORRIDOR 1 - DAY

The corridor of faces. HOGGLE enters and the FACES start in on their

routine. SARAH comes up behind him, shuddering at the ghastly sight.

FACE 1: This is the path of no return!

FACE 2: Beware! Beware!

HOGGLE: Just ignore 'em.

SARAH: Are you sure?

HOGGLE sighs and turns to the NEXT FACE.

FACE 3: Abandon all hope ...

HOGGLE: Oh, shut up, will ya?

SARAH is wide-eyed at HOGGLE's defiance.

FACE 3: But I was just getting to the best part!

HOGGLE: All right. But don't expect us to pay any attention.

FACE 3 (winks at Sarah): You're going to love this ... Abandon all

hope ye who enter here, for this is the road to destruction!!!

HOGGLE (bored): Very nice ...

SARAH is dumbstruck. HOGGLE takes her hand and yanks her along.

FACE 3: Come back any time ... I mean, you're doomed, doomed!

25 INT: CORRIDOR 2 - DAY

HOGGLE and SARAH continuing down a similar corridor.

HOGGLE: Ya see, things aren't always what they appear to be around

here, Missy ...

SARAH (shrugging): Whatever. All I'm interested in is getting my

brother back from that creep.

She starts to look around for something.

HOGGLE: I admire yer determination, but it takes more'n that to beat

Jareth.

SARAH picks up a rock.

SARAH: Well, maybe I'm beginning to get the hang of this labyrinth

business.

She takes the rock and uses it to mark an X on the floor.

SARAH: See, now I'll know which way we came in case I get lost.

HOGGLE (sighs): Missy, goin' back the way ya came is par fer the

course around here, what ya want to do is go forward.

SARAH: Look, Hoggle! I've got to find Freddie and I don't need you to

discourage me!

HOGGLE: And I don't need to be wastin' me time goin' around in

circles with you!

SARAH: That's fine with me! (she starts off) I know you're only after

my ring, anyway!

She turns a corner and HOGGLE looks after her, hurt and pity crossing

his face. He takes a few steps in her direction and an officious

little creature, a BRICKKEEPER, emerges from the brickwork of the

floor, takes out the cobblestone that SARAH marked, and replaces it

with the marked side hidden. It looks up at HOGGLE.

BRICKKEEPER: Some people got no respect for property!

HOGGLE sticks his tongue out at the CREATURE just as it goes back

into its hole.

26 EXT: AERIAL SHOT - DAY

The WHITE BIRD flies over the maze and WE SEE SARAH marching along.

She thinks she's going forward but she's heading right for HOGGLE.

27 INT: CORRIDOR 2 - DAY

SARAH emerges into the corridor and comes face to face with HOGGLE.

SARAH: But ...

She whirls around to look behind her, then back at HOGGLE again.

SARAH: ... but you were just behind me! I'm sure of it!

HOGGLE shakes his head as she runs by him and looks down at the floor.

SARAH: My mark! It was right here!

HOGGLE comes up beside her.

HOGGLE: I told ya, Missy. Things aren't what they appear to be around

here ...

JARETH (VO): Except when they are.

ANOTHER ANGLE

JARETH, in all his glory. SARAH and HOGGLE whirl around and BOTH gasp

with surprise and fear.

JARETH: We meet again ... Sarah.

SARAH: Where's Freddie?!! What have you done with him!?

She starts to rush toward JARETH but HOGGLE holds her back.

JARETH: Nothing ... yet.

He walks toward them and they automatically step backwards. He looks

down at HOGGLE.

JARETH: And what have we here ... Hoghead, isn't it?

HOGGLE is humiliated.

HOGGLE: Me name's Hoggle.

JARETH: Ah, yes. Now I remember. (he moves closer to Hoggle) You're

the greedy little coward who lives outside the gate. Shouldn't you be

back there minding your own business ... Hedgehog?

He chucks HOGGLE under the chin, and is quite rough about it. HOGGLE

fumes silently. SARAH doesn't like this.

SARAH: Why, why don't you pick on someone your own size?

He looks her up and down.

JARETH: Whom did you have in mind?

SARAH tries to brazen it out.

SARAH: I don't have time for any games. I want Freddie, and I want

him now!

JARETH throws back his head and laughs.

JARETH: Ah, Freddie. An adorable little imp. I'm really growing

rather fond of him.

SARAH: Where is he?!!

JARETH: He's in my castle, and seems to be enjoying himself immensely.

He ambles toward them and they can't help themselves, they BOTH step

backwards.

JARETH: In fact, he likes being with goblins so much, I'm considering

turning him into one.

SARAH thinks this is crazy.

SARAH: You can't do that!

JARETH (grinning): Oh yes I can.

SARAH looks down at HOGGLE and speaks under her breath.

SARAH: Can he?

HOGGLE nods glumly.

JARETH: But let's make it interesting. I won't do it for ... thirteen

hours. If you make it to the castle before then you might be able to

save him. If not, well, I think little Freddie will mike an adorable

goblin prince, don't you?

He laughs and holds up both hands and WE SEE that they are empty. He

then closes them and when he opens them again there is a gold watch

in one hand. He throws it to SARAH, but HOGGLE intercepts it and eyes

it greedily. Annoyed, SARAH snatches it out of his hand. She looks at

it and sees that it has 13 hours marked on it. When she looks up

again, JARETH is gone.

WORM (VO): Well, good riddance to bad rubbish!

SARAH and HOGGLE BOTH jump and then look at where the voice is coming

from. It is a little WORM, poking its head out of a hole in the

brickwork.

WORM: That's what the missus always says, she does. Why the last time

she found that one around here she sent him packing.

SARAH: Jareth?!

WORM: She don't take to his kind of nonsense, that's for sure. Now,

how about a nice cup of tea? The missus has a kettle on.

SARAH looks down at HOGGLE, who shrugs. She then looks up at the WORM

and gives him a beaming smile.

28 INT: CORRIDOR 2 - DAY

SARAH and HOGGLE are sitting on the floor.

SARAH: Do you think Jareth will give Freddie back if I make it on

time?

HOGGLE: It's hard to say, Missy. But if I were you, I'd worry 'bout

first things first.

SARAH: What do you mean?

HOGGLE: I means ya got ta find the castle before ya can go savin' the

babe and I mean ta see that ya do!

SARAH is thrilled and leans over and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

SARAH: Oh, Hoggle! Thank you, thank you so much!

HOGGLE gets all flustered and tries to act gruff.

HOGGLE: Seems to me I could be gettin' that ring from ya after all if

I plays me cards right.

SARAH regards him affectionately.

SARAH: I know you don't mean that. You're helping me because you're

really nice.

HOGGLE: I ain't nice! I just likes the way ya stood up ta him is all.

(he is thoughtful for a moment; almost to himself) Too bad more've us

haven't had the guts to do the same.

The WORM reappears.

WORM: How about a biscuit? The missus just took a fresh batch out of

the oven.

SARAH: Thanks, but we really don't have any time. We've got to get to

the castle.

HOGGLE: Ya wouldn't happen to know a shortcut, would ya?

WORM: Well, you might try taking that first left.

SARAH and HOGGLE look down the corridor.

SARAH: But there isn't any left turn.

Just then a strange FIGURE seems to come through the left wall and

walks toward them. He is dressed in long flowing robes and wears a

hat shaped like a bird.

WORM: See, there's a left turn right there, where that Wise One just

came in.

SARAH: A Wise One! Maybe he knows the best way to the castle!

HOGGLE: I wouldn't bet on it.

But SARAH is excited about the possibility of getting more help.

SARAH: Excuse me, Sir. Could you tell us the best way to get to the

castle?

WISE ONE: The best way to the castle, hmmm. I'm glad you asked that

question.

To SARAH's and HOGGLE's surprise, the HAT joins into the conversation.

HAT: Now you've done it, gone and asked him a question. We'll be here

all day!

WISE ONE: A castle, or fortress, or as it is sometimes known, a

stronghold or citadel -- or, that which has a turret and barbican,

but usually not a portcullis ...

HAT: What did I tell you? There's no stopping him now.

WISE ONE: ... often there is a rampart or bulwark, and then a parapet

-- perchance an actual vallum or counterscarp ...

HAT: Shut up down there!

WISE ONE: ... and for entrenchment; a moat, drawbridge and sally-port

...

SARAH looks at HOGGLE.

SARAH: This was not one of my better ideas.

HAT: Well, I told you that, didn't I? But nobody ever listens to me!

He looks down at the still mumbling WISE ONE.

HAT: Enough! Nobody cares!!

The WISE ONE blinks and looks at SARAH and HOGGLE.

WISE ONE: Did one of you say something?

SARAH thinks quickly.

SARAH: Oh, no. We never talk to strangers.

WISE ONE: That's very wise. An idea worth savoring.

HOGGLE nudges him.

HOGGLE: Yeah, but keep it under your hat!

HOGGLE thinks this is hilarious. The HAT doesn't.

HAT: Ve-ry funny!

The WISE ONE continues on his way.

WISE ONE: The stranger, hmm. I'm glad you brought that up. The

stranger; one not indigenous, also known as the alien, or one from

beyond the sea ...

HAT (hysterical): I quit! I can't take it anymore!

And then they are gone, passing through the righthand wall as if it

wasn't there. SARAH watches after them, stunned.

SARAH: How did he do that?!!

HOGGLE: And how can we make sure he doesn't come back?

SARAH gives him a look and turns to the WORM.

WORM: Just go over to that bit of wall there and walk right through

it. The important thing is to forget what you think you know. It

doesn't apply around here.

SARAH and HOGGLE walk down to the part of the wall where the WISE ONE

entered. Once there, they can see that a section of the wall is

actually a passageway-width behind the rest of the wall. SARAH yells

back to the WORM.

SARAH: Thank you! And tell the missus we're sorry we missed her

biscuits!

And then they walk through the wall and are gone.

29 INT: CORRIDOR 3 - DAY

SARAH and HOGGLE appear through the wall and SARAH laughs with

delight. HOGGLE wasn't as pleased with the experience and feels the

wall as if testing to see if it really happened. SARAH sees that they

are in a corridor where the walls are crumbling and she climbs up to

the top of one and looks over.

ANOTHER ANGLE

SARAH'S POV - THE TURRETS OF THE CASTLE

SARAH (excited): I can see the castle! It doesn't look far at all!

HOGGLE is still feeling around the wall, trying to figure out how

they got there. SARAH jumps down and starts to run down the corridor.

SARAH: Come on, Hoggle. Let's go!

HOGGLE sees her retreating figure and hurries after her.

30 INT: CASTLE - DAY

JARETH's great hall. He stands by a window and looks out over the

labyrinth -- from this vantage point he can see clear across it: the

hovels that surround the castle walls, the arid plain that leads to

the dense forest, encircling that, the complex maze. He seems lost in

thought. The WHITE BIRD enters the window and lands on his shoulder.

Behind him FREDDIE is having a grand time. His slippery crawl is too

much for the GOBLINS that scurry about, trying to mind him.

Meanwhile, a particularly stupid looking GOBLIN begins to approach

JARETH. He saunters across the room and is stopped short by a FEMALE

GOBLIN. She grabs hold of his shirt and hisses a warning.

FEMALE GOBLIN: Remember! It's bow and scrape ... bow and scrape ...

The STUPID GOBLIN nods and she lets him go. He then continues his

approach to JARETH, only this time he does a little bow and then

scrapes his foot across the floor, then repeats the action.

STUPID GOBLIN (to himself): Bow 'n scrape ... bow 'n scrape ...

JARETH turns and sees the GOBLIN.

JARETH: Well, what is it?

The GOBLIN can't answer and do his bow-and-scrape at the same time so

continues his painfully slow approach.

STUPID GOBLIN: ... bow 'n scrape ... bow 'n scrape ...

Annoyed, JARETH walks over to the GOBLIN and lifts him up by his

shirt front. The GOBLIN is still bowing.

JARETH: I said, what is it?!!!

STUPID GOBLIN: Th ... the girl and Hoggle, sire. Th ... they're

halfway th .... through th ... the maze.

JARETH drops the GOBLIN hard on the floor. FREDDIE sees this and

laughs with delight. JARETH walks over and scoops the BABY up in his

arms. He then carries him over to the window. He calls over to an

ARMED GOBLIN by the door.

JARETH: I think it's time they had some company.

ARMED GOBLIN: Yes, Sir!

Be then salutes, causing his visor to close on his face, then

stumbles around looking for the door. JARETH shakes his head.

JARETH: You'll make a much better goblin than that, won't you,

Freddie!

FREDDIE's response is to clap his sticky baby's hand on to JARETH's

face. JARETH, pretending he doesn't mind, carefully removes it. He

then looks down to the courtyard below.

31 EXT: CASTLE - DAY

JARETH'S POV

ARMED GOBLINS are pouring out of the castle.

32 EXT: CORRIDOR 4 - DAY

SARAH and HOGGLE are striding down a corridor. They are about to come

to a corner.

SARAH: Are you sure Jareth can turn Freddie into a goblin? I mean,

that's really weird ...

They turn the corner and HOGGLE stops short. SARAH becomes alarmed.

SARAH: What is it?

HOGGLE gestures for her to be quiet and then we can hear what he

hears -- marching. They look back the way they came.

ANOTHER ANGLE

SARAH'S AND HOGGLE'S POV - A BATTALION OF ARMED GOBLINS, marching

right towards them!

ANOTHER ANGLE

They look at each other, then turn and run. HOGGLE tries to get

through the wall the way the WORM showed them.

HOGGLE (quoting the worm): Just forget what you think you know and ...

He smacks headlong into the wall. He stops to rub his nose and SARAH

flies by him.

SARAH: Come on!

33 INT: CASTLE - DAY

FREDDIE is now sitting on the lap of a GOBLIN, happily bopping it on

the nose. JARETH snaps his fingers and a GROUP of sleepy MUSICIANS in

the corner stumble over themselves to pick up their instruments. They

begin to play and JARETH looks out the window and begins a song. He

sings about the labyrinth; what it is -- his domain, and what it is

to OTHERS -- a test, a proving-ground, not for the faint of heart.

34 INT: MAZE MONTAGE - DAY

While JARETH sings, SARAH and HOGGLE try to escape from the GOBLINS.

They get a lead on them for a while and come to another corridor with

crumbling walls. They scamper up to get a look at their position and

see dust rising from several parts of the maze. The GOBLINS are

everywhere.

In another corridor, they are stopped in their tracks by DOZENS OF

LITTLE FUZZY CREATURES who scurry towards them out of the way of the

oncoming GOBLINS. They turn and run back the way they came and as

they do WALL CREATURES chatter nervously and then disappear into the

cracks between the bricks.

In a corridor with very short walls they are able to see the tips of

spears on either side of them, going in the opposite direction.

They enter a corridor with several arches curving over it, forming

small, intermittent bridges. Thinking they are safe, they stop for a

breath, and soon realize that a BATTALION is right behind them. They

scurry up the walls, and as the song comes to an end, they each lie

across an arch hopefully out of sight of the GOBLINS below.

35 INT: ARCHED CORRIDOR - DAY

SARAH and HOGGLE huddle above the corridor on their arches as TWO

GOBLINS bring up the rear.

GOBLIN 1: I can kill better than you can.

GOBLIN 2: But I'm better at maiming. Everybody says so.

And they are gone. Shaken, SARAH and HOGGLE slide down from their

hiding places.

SARAH: Do you think they're gone?

HOGGLE: Sure they are. Goblins ain't known fer their intelligence, ya

know. They has as much trouble findin' their way through the maze as

you do.

He folds his arms and leans against the wall.

SARAH: I'm not sure, but I think you just called me stupid ...

Suddenly HOGGLE yells and disappears. He has accidentally leaned on

another secret wall opening. SARAH quickly follows.

36 INT: CORRIDOR 5 - DAY

HOGGLE and SARAH are now in the long circular corridor that divides

the maze from the beginning of the second ring of the labyrinth --

the Garden Maze.

HOGGLE (excited): I think I know where we are!

SARAH: That'll be a nice change.

He ignores her and looks around excitedly.

HOGGLE: This place is the end o' the maze! Th