Sunday Scene: Bastian Meets Mr. Coreander

One of my favorite movies as a child was The Never Ending Story. This movie, and others like it like Labrynth, Willow, The Princess Bride, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, etc, are very likely why I have always been a fan of the fantasy genre. In the following scene, Bastian has ran away from the bullies and found himself in a bookstore with the curator Mr. Coreander. It is one of the earliest scenes in the movie and sets everything up very nicely.

As I got older and realized what took place in the bookstore was more than an old man arguing with a kid, I thought about Mr. Coreander's argument about how Bastian's books were fine, but his book was special. I mean, elementary psychology at work at the least! How do you get a kid to do an activity you want them to do over a similar activity they want to do? Make them believe your activity is better and then tell them they can't do it. Brilliant! I found the script here. Click the jump for the specific scene.





Bastian has been running from the bullies and ducks into a bookstore.

Mr. Coreander
Get out of here. I don't like kids.

Bastian walks toward the voice and finds an old man sitting in a chair.

Mr. Coreander
You still here boy? Didn't you hear what I said?

Bastian
Um I was (motions to the door)

Mr. Coreander
You're hiding aren't you?

Bastian
No, I was just...

Mr. Coreander
The video arcade is down the street. Here we just sell small rectangular objects that are called books. Require a little effort on your part and make no b-b-b-beeps. On your way please.

Bastian
I know books. I have 186 of them at home!

Mr. Coreander
Bah. Comic books!

Bastian:
No. I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans, Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan...

Mr. Coreander
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Who are you running away from? (with new interest)

Bastian
Just some kids from school.

Mr. Coreander
Why?

Bastian
They want to throw me in the garbage.

Mr. Coreander
Why don't you give them a good punch in the nose, eh?

Bastian
I dunno. (looks down)

Mr. Coreander turns away from Bastian. Bastian sees the book that Mr. Coreander has and is interested.

Bastian
What's that book about?

Mr. Coreander
Oh, this is something special.

Bastian
(moves closer) Well, what is it?

Mr. Coreander
Look. Your books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe.

Bastian
But that's what I like about them.

Mr. Coreander
Yes, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.

Bastian
What do you mean?

Mr. Coreander
Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid was attacking you?

Bastian
Yes

Mr. Coreander
Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape?

Bastian
But it's only a story.

Mr. Coreander
That is what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe.

Bastian
And this one isn't?

Mr. Coreander
Don't worry about it.

Bastian
But. But you just said it was-

The phone rings and Mr. Coreander puts the book under a newspaper to hide it.

Mr. Coreander
Forget about it. This book is not for you. (he gets up to answer the phone)

Bastian watches Mr. Coreander as he goes to answer the phone. As Mr. Coreander talks on the phone, Bastian uncovers the book titled THE NEVER ENDING STORY. Above the title is a symbol of two snakes intertwined and biting each other's tail. As Mr. Coreander hangs up the phone, Bastian grabs the book and makes a run for it. Mr. Coreander smiles, glad to be rid of the child.

Pan to the desk. On a legal pad, Bastian has left a barely legible note saying "Don't worry, I will return your book."

***

On a side note... do you remember the character Teeny Weeny in the movie? He is one of the first 3 characters introduced from Mr. Coreander's book along with Nighthob and Rockbiter. Well the guy that played that part, Deep Roy, also played in Dr. Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (as the oompa loompa!) over the years. Also, the kid that played Atreyu, Noah Hathaway, stopped acting in the early 80's, made a brief reentrance in the mid 90's but is back with 4 productions coming out this year! He has grown up nicely I might add.

Love is love, no matter the back story. <3 DS