Atreyu:

The Neverending Story Script Page 4 of 6

Do you know how to get there?

Falkor:
Why sure, it's right around the corner.

Atreyu:
How'd all this happen?!

Falkor:
With luck !

Atreyu:
You've already brought me the entire Ten thousand miles?

Falkor:
No, only nine thousand eight hundred and ninety one,as the dragon flies.

Atreyu:
You're amazing!

Falkor:
Having a luck dragon with you is the only way to go on a Quest. Things will work out fine Atreyu. Never give up hope and Good luck will find you.

Atreyu:
It's good to have a friend again.

Falkor:
You have more than one. Look.

(motioning behind Atreyu.)

Atreyu goes to a small entrance and bends down to look in. A tiny old man sits writing in a book and an old lady comes in humming a tune. She throws some worms into a pot and stops to eat one. Atreyu closes his eyes disgusted. Atreyu smile as they start fighting.

Engywook:
Get out of my light wench. You're disturbing my scientific work.

Urgl:
You and your scientific work. What the boy needs now is one of my potions.

Engywook:
The boy will need my scientific advice much more.

Urgl:
Yes, yes, but not until he's well. Get back to your own place. I'm always finding you in my place!

Engywook:
I'm going.

Atreyu clears his throat to get their attention

Engywook:
He's well! Now it's my turn with him.

Urgl:
Oh no you don't! I decide when he's well. It's your turn when I say it's your turn.

VIEW -She gets a cup full of the mixture in the pot and comes to stand in front of him.

Urgl:
Well, little man, still in pain ?

He puts a hand on his shoulder as he speaks to her. Testing the bandage.

Atreyu:
Um, a little, but it's all right.

Urgl:
I like that. The patient telling the doctor it's all right. It has to hurt if it's to heal.

(She stops and sniffs the cup then holds it out to him.)

Here. Drink that.

(He takes it from her and starts drinking.)

The Neverending Story Script Page 4 of 6

Urgl:
Good, huh? That's my batwing broth. There's eye of newt in there, tree mold, old lizard brains, scales from a rancid sea serpent.

Atreyu looks at the cup like he's sick. The old man stands and speaks to him.

Engywook:
Just where did you and your dragon come from? What are you onto? Anything of interest to the scientific community?

Atreyu:
My name's Atreyu. I came here to find the Southern Oracle.

Engywook:
Oh, you've come to the right place my boy.

Urgl:
Here we go again.

Engywook:
I am somewhat of an expert on the Southern Oracle.

Urgl:
It's my scientific specialty.
(she mocks Engywook)

Engywook:
It's my scientific specialty.
 

Urgl:
Why don't you sit down and be quiet for once ?!

Engywook:
You keep quiet wench.

Urgl:
Oh !

Engywook:
It's now my turn.

Engywook:
My name is Engywook. Uh, she's Urgl. Ever heard of me?

Atreyu:
I don't think so.

Engywook:
You don't move in scientific circles.

Atreyu smiled apologetically and shook his head no.

Engywook:
I am the expert on the Southern Oracle.  Oh you've come to the right place my boy.

Urgl:
There's no fool like an old fool.

Engywook:
Wait. Stay here. To the observatory. he says stopping her. To the winch ,wench !

CUT TO:
View of Urgl turning a handle of a large machine that pulls a Basket carrying Engywook to the top of a high ledge on one of the surrounding rocks. Atreyu follows him on the ground.

Engywook:
Come on lazy bones, can't you go any faster ?  I've been studying the mystery of the Southern Oracle for years, someday I'll publish my book : A Century of Studying The Southern Oracle by Professor Engywook, volume one The Early Years.

Atreyu:
Have you ever been to the Southern Oracle ?

Engywook:
Well, what do you think? I work scientifically.

As Atreyu pulls himself up on the ledge he sees 2 great sphinx-like statues.  The man looks into a improvised sort of telescope and then tells Atreyu to do the same.

Atreyu:
Is that the Southern Oracle ?

Engywook:
Well, no. It's the first of the 2 gates you must pass through before you reach the Southern Oracle and get me the final information for my book. Of course, most people never get that far.

Atreyu:
Why?

Engywook:
The sphinx's eyes stay closed until someone who does not feel his own worth tries to pass by. Ah ! Here comes one that looks fancy.

VIEW of a man in fancy armor approaching the gate.

Engywook:
Let's see what he really thinks of himself

(Atreyu watches through the telescope. The man starts to hesitate.)

Go on scaredy cat. Oh, go on!

Engywook:
Oh, it's my turn, let me see.

(Atreyu ignores him.)

I'm the scientist.

Atreyu:
He's going on. I think he's gonna make it.

Engywook:
The sphinx's eyes, are they open are shut? Let me see !

Atreyu:
They're shut.

(he looks back and forth between them.)

No wait ! The eyes are open !

Rays of pure light shoot out of the sphinx's eyes and zap the man. Atreyu looks up, shocked at the sight he had seen.

Engywook:
Oh no! Did he make it ? Did he?

Atreyu:
(Atreyu shakes his head.)No.

The Neverending Story Script Page 4 of 6

Engywook:
Fancy armor doesn't help much. The sphinxes can see straight into your heart. Listen boy, next time let me see what happens ! It's my telescope.

Atreyu:
(Atreyu sets his jaw determinedly.)I'm gonna try it.

Atreyu starts climbing down as Engywook calls after him

Engywook:
No ! Don't go yet. I haven't told you about the next gate. It's even worse than this one. Atreyu ! Atreyu !

Atreyu continues on and approaches the gate. As he walks up the eyes stay closed.

Engywook:
He'll never make it. He'll never make it.

Atreyu does fine until he sees the fallen man, who is just a charred skeleton. He panics and starts looking back and forth between the 2 sphinxes.

Engywook:
 (The old man cries out.)  Don't start to doubt yourself now ,be confident !

Bastian:
(Bastian cries out )  Be confident , be confident.

The eyes open and Bastian cries out.

Bastian:
Run Atreyu run !

Engywook:
Run Atreyu !

Atreyu looks straight ahead and Bastian calls out.

Bastian:
Run now!

Atreyu runs through the gate and just barely makes it. He turns and looks back, then sighs. 
Engywook is so happy he jumps in the basket and falls out when he gets back to where Falkor and Urgl are.

Engywook:
He made it ,he made it !

View: Urgl is giving Falkor a shot.

Urgl:
You could do with a dose of juicy vitamins too.

Engywook:
He made it, Atreyu, he made it through the sphinx gate.  I always said he could do it.

Urgl:
Oh good ! But that's no reason for you to go falling out of the Basket again?

Engywook:
Oh hogwash!

Falkor:
I knew he would be safe.

Engywook:
Nonsense ! You don't understand anything! The worst one is coming up. Next is the Magic Mirror gate. Atreyu has to face his true self.

Falkor:
So what ? That won't be too hard for him.

Engywook:
Oh ! That's what everyone thinks. But kind people find that they are cruel, brave men discover that they are really cowards. Confronted with their true selves most men run away screaming !

VIEW:  of Atreyu in a blizzard. He approaches the Mirror gate and looks into it. After a while, he sees Bastian reading the story. Bastian looks up then  throws the book across the room.

The Neverending Story Script Page 4 of 6

Use nav bar to continue to page 5