Mirrormask (2005) - full transcript

l am queen of everything
in this part of town.

l am queen of the city
and queen of the towers

and queen of the small
little wiggly things.

And everyone
who looks at me,

"So she is such
a wonderful queen

"and not ever embarrassing
at all, and so normal and
goes to school,

"and has nothing
to worry about

"except..."

(EXCLAlMS)

But l am the queen of evil,
and l must warn you,

you cannot escape my
cunning use of black
magic markers!



Pingo, have you
seen Helena?

No. Come, take over.

Sorry. One minute.

Two adults and
two kids, please.

(WHlSTLlNG)

Mr. Valentine,
l knew you would
come to save our city.

VALENTlNE: Well, l am
a very important man.

You're going to be
a very dead man
in a minute.

l think he's very brave,
well, not really brave,
Mr. Valentine.

Right.

So l suppose you are
going to turn us all
into spiders

or three-legged
chairs or something.

(QUEEN OF EVlL SlGHS)

You may think l'm
a hardhearted black sock,



but underneath this
dark woolly exterior
is a naked pink foot.

Have you seen Helena?

l thought she's
out front with you.

Hang on, if you're here,
who's selling tickets?

Pingo.

(BANGlNG ON DOOR)

Helena.

l'm drawing.

You're not even
dressed yet.

Come on, you're
not a kid anymore.
l shouldn't have to...

l don't want to go.
l feel like an idiot,
l look like an idiot.

Not again.
We can't have this
conversation again!

You don't look like an idiot.
Nobody looks like an idiot,
it's just...

(COOS)

Yeah. One minute.

Helena.
lt never ends.

"Helena, juggle, Helena,
sell the popcorn, Helena,
smile for the punters."

You know your dad keeps
this circus running on
charm and peanuts.

lt's his dream.
Exactly. lt's his thing.

Why should l suffer for it?

You're not.

All of those kids in there,
they want to run away
and join a circus.

Great. They can have my life.
l want to run away and join
real life.

Helena, please.
No.

Be reasonable.
Come on, open the door.

Helena!

Okay!
l'm getting dressed.

There is no need
to shout at me.

l'm not...

You're going to be
the death of me.

l wish l was.

Selfish.

So selfish, Helena.

lf you knew what it takes
for your dad and me to keep
this circus going...

Like you ever
stop telling me.

Real life.

l don't think you could
handle real life, Helena.

HELENA: Real life.
You couldn't handle
real life. Silly cow.

(FlRECRACKERS EXPLODlNG)

(ClRCUS MUSlC PLAYlNG)

Helena Campbell,
what have you been
saying to your mother?

Nothing.
Later.

Right, everybody.
Big smiles and...

(CROWD CHEERlNG)

Ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls,

let me hear you put
your hands together

for the very lovely Joanne!

(JAZZ MUSlC PLAYlNG)

That's our cue.

Your appreciation,
ladies and gentlemen,

for the queen
of the Spanish web,

the very beautiful Joanne.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls,

from darkest Peru,

Raymondo and Fortuna!

l love you!

Yes?

(WHlSTLlNG)

l realize.

l know l shouldn't let
her get under my skin...

(EXCLAlMS)

But she's so very,
very good at it.

(WHlSTLlNG)

Well, that's easy
for you to say.

Hey , bambino,
you want to juggle
with the bananas?

Uh-uh. No way.
You know what you get
if you juggle the bananas.

No. What do you get
if you juggle with
the bananas?

Gorillas!

Gorillas?

(TEMPO lNCREASlNG)

You say gorillas?

l'm sure you said gorillas.

(KlDS CHEERlNG)

Joanne, you were cutting
it a bit fine there, love.
You had me worried.

lt's not Mrs. Campbell,
Mr. Campbell, it's me.

She's over there.

Mum!

NAN: Something
quintessentially French.

l've never been
to France, you know.

Your late Uncle Bozzy,
he used to say, "What have
they got that we haven't got,

"Nan, my love,
and how about a nice
few days in Frinton?"

Five letters,
beginning with a "P."

Poodle, Petal...

MAN: Paris it is,
Mrs. Bagwell.

NAN: Paris?

MAN: ...and one set of plates
and a Thompson holiday for two
in Swansea.

Okay, Mr. Bagwell, your turn.

l went to Monaco once
when your auntie Flo
was ill,

and your uncle Vernon
wanted someone to saw
in half.

l told him l don't mind you
two staying, but l draw
the line at animals.

l'm not feeding them.

lf your lot want to come
over here it will be nice
to see you,

but l'm just going upstairs
to have a cup of coffee
with Mrs. Greenberg.

She's got a cafeteria,
you know. l have to go.

Was that Dad?

On the phone?
Yes, that was your dad.

Now, you watch
this with me.
lt's educational.

l asked you to let me talk
to him, if he called, Nan.

He's not going to be able
to keep them happy much
longer, you know.

There, you see,
that was educational.

Keep who happy?

Don't worry, love,
your dad will see to it.

And give my
love to your mum.

Yeah, l'd better go,
okay, Nan?
Yes.

Bye now.
Bye-bye, love. Bye.

(GRUNTS)

Hey!

Does it look that bad?

Helena.

lsn't your dad with you?
l've got papers for him
to sign.

No, he wanted to come,
but he couldn't make it.
lt's just me.

l know Dr. Witherspoon
left him a message.

He's at the bank.
He's seeing the manager
this afternoon.

Listen, l don't want
you tiring her out.

What do you think
l'm going to do?
Take her dancing?

Hey, Mum.

Helena.

Hello, love.

No Dad today, then?

They'll phone him, l expect.

Here.

How are you feeling?

(COUGHS)

l'd rather be
juggling bananas.

Where's your fruit?

Hmm?

l brought you
fruit yesterday.

She didn't take it,
did she?

Did she?

No.

(CHUCKLlNG)

They've put it away, love.
l'm not to eat anything today.

Why not?

lt's just routine, you know.

How's your aunt Nan?

She'll be down
on Saturday.

You're not being
a bother, are you?

She lost her
teeth yesterday.

l said, "lf Mum was here,
she'd find them.

"She's amazing
at finding things."

She said, "lf your mum can
find them, she must be
a miracle worker."

They'll be staring
her in the face.
They always are.

They were in the fridge.

(BOTH CHUCKLlNG)

You're a good girl.

A good girl, love.

You know,

Mum, l didn't mean
what l said.

"There was a little girl

"She had a little curl
Right in the middle
of her forehead

"When she was good,
she was very, very good"

Helena.

MORRlS: Look, all l'm saying
is that with a little time

we can be back on the road.
l think we'll be better
than ever.

MAN: lt's been 1 0 days.
That's 1 5 shows we've missed.

Why must everything
grind to a halt?

(WHlSPERS) Hi, Eric.

Hey, Helena.
MORRlS: l can't
leave Joanne now.

Can l get through,
please.

MAN: lt's for her
we're here.

lt's too late in the
season for the rest of us.

lf we knew that the circus
was going to be back on
the road in,

let's say a week,

we could find stuff
to tide us over till then.

We are going to Quebec,
me and my sisters. We are
rats sinking the leaving ship.

Dad, can l have
a word, please?

Stean, please.

Oh, l'm sorry.

Look. l'm coming, love.
Just hold those thoughts.

ls everything
all right?

You were meant to be
at the hospital today.

You told them about
the bank manager?

Yes, Dad.

They want you to
phone Dr. Witherspoon.

Now?

Yes.

(WHlSTLlNG)

Maybe this'll be
a blessing for some of us.

l know you always
wanted off the road.

Yeah, not like this.

lt's his dream.

Dreams only get
you that far, darling.

After that, you need cash.

Your mother's...

They're operating
on her tonight.

MORRlS: Hey, bambino.

This is really good.

What's it called?

lt's just a drawing.
lt's not called anything.

Okay.

Mum says you should have taken
the circus on to Scotland.

MORRlS: She's not
the only one.

What do you think?

(HELENA SNlFFLES)

l don't know, Dad.

You know, everyone at
the hospital knew Mum's
operation was tonight,

and nobody told me.

They didn't want
to worry you.

Should l be worried?

No, she's going
to be okay.

Really, you said
before she will be

having the operation,
and then she'll be up
and about again.

lt depends on what
they find tonight.

What do you mean,
what they find?

See? Now you are worried.
That's why...

l wasn't worried
until you told me
not to worry.

Anyway, you're worried.
You only do that when
you're worried.

l wanted to go and
see her tomorrow.
Can l still do that?

We'll see.

l still haven't
said sorry.

Not really sorry,
not so she believes me.

(SOBBlNG)

l shouldn't have
shouted at her.
lt's all my fault.

Hey, now don't say that.
lt's not your fault,
don't be silly.

lt's not anybody's fault.

These things happen.

lt's just life.

HELENA: lt's just stupid.

lt's freezing.

Come on.
Let's go back down.

Come on, you're going
to catch your death.

You need to wear Dad's coat.
What about that? lt's a treat.

You look like
a real artist. Come on.

(DOOR CLOSlNG)

(THUNDER RUMBLlNG)

NAN: Penny for your
thoughts, love.

Nothing to think.

Good night, Nan.
Good night, lovey.

MAN OVER TV:
Well, good luck anyways.

Sweet dreams.

(THUNDER RUMBLlNG)

(ClRCUS MUSlC PLAYlNG)

(LAUGHlNG)

(MUSlC PLAYlNG AT A DlSTANCE)

Dad?

(MUSlC CONTlNUES PLAYlNG)

MAN 1: l'm only going
to take 10% off.

MAN 2: l'm the manager.

MAN 1: Okay. Fair enough.

Eric?

Quiet, please!

We must have perfect silence
while we rehearse.

Eric, is thatyou?

Can we also not distract our
accompanist, ifwe don't mind?

Some of us are
rehearsing here.

Eric, what are you
doing here?

Catch the last ball,
and we stop.
And we turn and we bow

and we say, "Can we have
a brave volunteer,"
blah, blah, blah...

Hey, you. You can be
the brave volunteer.

What?

What's your name?

Helena.

What's wrong
with yourface?

My face?
Whatever.

And it's music maestro,
please.

l know lots of songs.
But they all sound
a bit the same.

Okay, come on,
wejust need some creepy,
dangerous kind of music. Go.

l know you or
someone like you.

Come on, maestro,
this is our big finish.

(EXCLAlMS)

No, don't touch him.

Come on quickly.
Let me try.

What are you doing?
Come on!

Whatwas that thing?

One ofthe many things
to avoid in life.

Like, losing a comrade
and a lifelong companion
and a soul mate

while attempting
to rescue little girls.

What the hell have
you got on yourfeet?

HELENA: What?

ls that some sort
of sickjoke?

Treading on little
rabbity-type animals
with every step,

that'sjust nasty.

They're not real.

l'm sorry about
yourfriends.

l thought the
violinistwas Eric.

He's a friend of mine.

But itwasn't.

l don't really
knowwhere l am.

You're in one of
the otherthings
to avoid in life.

What, ajunk room?

No, trouble.

(GRUNT)

VALENTlNE: There!

(GRUNTlNG)

VALENTlNE: Don't irritate it!

HELENA: What is it?
VALENTlNE: Just a sphinx.

Throw it a book.
What?

Throw it a book,
it likes books.

Okay.

Finders Keepersby Joe Grey,

A Short History
of Future Fruit
by Douglas Prawnhead.

Anything, it's not
going to read it!

Right. Not a disaster. Okay.

Think. Okay, grab a couple
of really big books!

Okay.

Throw it on the floor.

Butwhy? l like books.

Please, come on.

No, useless.

lt's really got to feel
like it's being rejected.

Horrible, offensive,
badly constructed book.

Right.

Nasty, poorly paced book

with a soppy ending
that l didn't believe
in for one minute!

HELENA: How does this work?

VALENTlNE: So long as they
think you don't like them,

they migrate back to the city
library and we get a free ride
out ofthis hole.

l think...

Yes, l think we may
have found her.

VALENTlNE: What did
you say your name was?

Helena.

lt's a bit drab, isn't it?
You know, you should think
about changing that.

Go for something with a bit
of dignity and style

mixed with
a bit of romance.

Something like Valentine.

Why? What's your name?

Valentine.

(SCOFFS)

We were going to leave
the city today for good
as soon as we'd rehearsed.

HELENA: l'm so sorry.

Musicians, you know.

l can find another
fiddle player.
They're a dime a dozen.

lt's Bing.

You can't replace ajuggler.
No one around here can juggle.

l can.
Of course you can. Yeah.

Where am l going to find
someone who can juggle
like that?

l already said...

Hopeless. lt's a
complete disaster.

Poor old Bing.

He was one in a million.
He was me best mate.

l'll never everforget him.

Well, onward and upward!

Had you known him long?
Who?

You can juggle.
l said l could.

Well.

You don't have a mask.
And you're very dull.

Butyou're certainly
betterthan nothing,
now thatwhat's-his-name...

Does everyone here
have a mask?

Of course.

How do you know ifyou're
happy or sad without a mask?

Or angry?
Or ready for dessert?

l've got a face.

So let's get out oftown.

Follow the rest
ofthese oddments.

Where are they all going?

VALENTlNE: l have no idea.

Excuse me.
Yes?

Sorry, where are
you all going?

We're leaving the city.
Heading forthe hills.
lt's not safe here any longer.

Shadows completely ate
my house yesterday.

lsn't anyone going to do
anything about it?

Since the queen fell asleep,
there's not a lot they can do.

They're looking forthe charm,
to sort it all out,
butwe're off out of it.

Overthe hills and
far away, Bernard.

This is bizarre.

So these shadows,
where do they come from?

The Dark Lands.
Overthe border,
overthere.

You know, this used
to be a nice city,

plenty of opportunities
to do a deal here and
a little deal there.

l mean, you wouldn't
think it to look at me,
but l'm a very important man.

l've got a tower.

There she is, Sergeant.

lfyou don't mind,
could we have a little
word with you?

Careful, Constable.
She's dangerous all right.

Look at that
changeable expression.

l'm not dangerous.

Dangerous.
Not dangerous. Same thing.

Am l under arrest?

Not exactly, miss.
Or should l say, "Princess"?

HELENA: This is ridiculous.

We'rejust making sure
you get safely to the palace.

But l don'twant
to go to the palace.

And l'm not a princess.

Excuse me, officers.

This young lady
happens to be my
business partner,

juggling associate
and my close personal friend.

VALENTlNE: l think there's
been some mistake.

Wait!

lt's me.

l'm asleep.

This isjust a dream.
lt's not real.

Next.

Right,

and you reckon
that's the charm?

Yes.

l have to say, to me,
it looks rather like
half a brick.

Not really.

Well, a bit.

lt is half a brick, isn't it?

Um...

Good try.
Thanks for coming.

Next.

The charm.

No, that's actually
a chicken.

The charm!

This must be quite
painful foryou,
but really it is a chicken.

l keep trying to tell him.
Hejust doesn't listen.

Excuse me, Prime Minister.
We caught the Princess.

Goodness gracious,
you caught her,
well, that's splendid.

Look at that face.
Gives you the willies!

Well, young lady.

l suggestyou give back
whatyou've stolen,

orwe shall have to stake
you out forthe shadows.

l haven't stolen anything.
l only got herejust now.

This is all just
a stupid dream!

(LAUGHlNG)

Lying won't help you.

Nowwhat have you
done with the charm?

Yes, you look like her,

butyou're not her, are you?

(SlGHS)

She said she
was a princess.

Are you a princess?

l'm not anyone.

l'm just me.

l'm Helena Campbell.

Well, then explain yourself.
What are you doing here?
Why have you come to our city?

Shall we lock her up foryou?
Extort a confession?

Deny her ice cream?

For heaven's sake,
look at her.

Listen to her.
She's not her.

l mean, she's not her.

(SlGHS)

l wonder.

Who am l meant to be?

Follow me.

Take over, Spiny.
You're in charge.

(WHlMPERlNG)

HELENA: ls she dead?

No, she's asleep.

This was herfavorite room.
She could see the sun
from here.

We used to have
a marvelous sun,

shone like anything,
all overthe place.

Once we had days, nights,
with suns and moons and all
those little twinkly things.

The citywas filled with joy.
We would entertain each other
with our astonishing skills.

"Excuse me, sir,
are you in show business?"

"No, l'm not."
"Then kindly getyour
feet offthe stage."

Those days are gone.

HELENA: Butwhat happened?

The balance was broken.

(TRUMPETlNG)

This is the City of Light.

Across the border
is the Land of Shadows.

We had our queen,
just as they had theirs.

Then one day,
a girl like you came to
our city from the darkness.

She told us she
was a princess.

Our queen took her in,
we had a party.

The next day,
the princess had vanished,

and without the charm,
we couldn'twake the queen.

Dangerous shadows and black
birds and terrible things
came out ofthe darkness.

You keep talking
about a charm.

What kind of a charm?

lt's a gateway.

The scales on which
the whole world balances.

What does it look like?

l don't know.

Right.

How big is it?
l don't know.

What kind of places
could it be in?

l don't know.

What do you know?

l think l'd know
it if l saw it.
Would you?

l don't know.

What if l have seen
and l didn't know it?
What if itwas the chicken?

No, l don't think
itwas the chicken.

Helena?
Mum?

l wish there was something
l could do to help.

This is my dream.

l'll find it foryou.
l'll wake her up.

That's very kind ofyou,
young lady, it really is.
But it's too late.

Soon, the citywill fall
completely into shadow.

This palace and
the Queen will be gone.

Just let me try.

ltwould be like
looking for a needle...

No, not a needle, something
smallerthan a needle,
in a haystack,

when you don't even know
ifyou're in the right field.

l mean, as propositions go,
l have to say,

it's completely, utterly,
unarguably, quintessentially
hopeless.

Look!

What does it mean?

lt means that it's maybe not
quintessentially hopeless.

VALENTlNE:
So did he mention a reward?

HELENA: The reward is we wake
the Queen and save the world.

VALENTlNE:
No, reward: money, jewels.

You can't come into these
quest things withoutyour
manager present.

HELENA: You're not my manager.

VALENTlNE: We'll sort out
the contractual stuff after.

Where are we going, again?

We need to find where
the charm might be.

Where do you go
for information?

VALENTlNE:
The library. Of course.

lt's full of books and...
Predominantly books.

Excuse me.

Shh.

Excuse me, we're looking for
""A really useful book.""

lnformation, paperbacks.

Top floor, you'll need a net.

That princess that
theywere talking about.

Did you ever meet her?

To be honest,
all you people
look alike to me.

With no properfaces,
you could be anybody.

Hang on! l've got
a properface.
Can you do this?

(GlGGLES)

That's disgusting.

Valentine, l had no idea
books had such different
personalities.

(CLEARlNG THROAT)

ln the beginning,
she found herself in
a new and empty space.

And all was white

and the corners were a bit
flaky, and the carpetwas
a bit manky,

but itwas a good space.

And she sat in the center
and saw a clean white sheet
of void.

She held the charm
to herface.

And reflected in the charm
was a city of lost horizons
and tall and towering stories.

And just as it had been
reflected in the charm,
so it appeared in the void.

And when there was
no more room,

she turned it over
and continued on
the other side.

So the void was filled
from cornerto corner
on both sides.

A city offront and back.

A city of light and shadow.

Then she rested on her bed
and dreamed of her creation

and the lives
that inhabited it.

And in the days that followed

there were other voids
and other lights and
other shadows.

The charm, she placed beneath
the sign ofthe queen

to show the city that
she knew itwould never
be finished,

because the citywas
her life and her dream

and itwould live forever.

Thank you, l think.
l'm not quite sure
l understood it all.

Yeah, well, who does?
l certainly don't.

Hello. l think
you've made a friend.

'"A really useful book.""

"Rememberwhat
your mother said."

"Why don'tyou look
out the window?"

VALENTlNE: Really useful?
Utter piffle. Sounds perfectly
useless to me.

HELENA: "Placed it beneath
the sign ofthe queen."

VALENTlNE:
lt's all rubbish, isn't it?
Doesn't mean anything.

The Queen's sign.

The Queen's sign is the sun.
ltwas all over her bedroom.

And look, at the end ofthat
little street, that's where
we need to go.

You really are a
useful book, aren'tyou?

You'd bettertake
the book with you.

lfyou leave it behind,
itwill just depress
the rest ofthem.

Before you know it,
they'll start molting.
Pages everywhere.

That's really kind ofyou.
Thank you.

Oh, sure.

Stop it.

VALENTlNE: So we find
this thing quickly,
save the world,

they give us the
contents ofthe treasury,

and we can be out
ofthe city by tomorrow.

You stick with me, kiddo.
You'll have a tower all
ofyour own.

Almost as nice is mine.
That'sjust for starters.

Forgetjuggling.
We'll do what rich people do.

We'll bathe in

fish.

Eat our own weight
in chocolate buttons.

Learn to play the concertina.

HELENA: l definitely
don't need a manager.

Actually, l'm not sure
l even need you.

VALENTlNE: Now, do you think
l'd look good in a crown?

l've always thought
l was more of a hat
person myself.

HELENA: l knew there was
something familiar about
the houses here.

They all look like
things l drew.

What are we
looking for, again?

How do we know
when we've found it?

Shh!

l wonder...

HELENA: Now that's odd.
l should be in there,
shouldn't l, if l'm asleep?

You're asleep?

Well, yes.

l think we've rather
definitely established
that, Valentine.

This is all just a dream.
But look at it.

l can't see anything.
lt'sjust a window.

lt's my bedroom!

lt's not.
lt's somebody'sjunk room.

HELENA: You don't see
my bedroom in there?

Look. My bed, mywardrobe,
my moon mask,

my little cuddly sea anemone.

Whetherthis is
a dream or not,

we're definitely
heading the rightway.

VALENTlNE: Well,
this is where l stop.

HELENA: What?

"Giants orbiting"?

Sounds a bit iffy,
doesn't it? Good luck.

l'll be here when
you come back.
lfyou come back.

Right.

Look at that.

Halt! You shall not pass.

l bet l shall.

Riddle.
Riddle?

Answer my riddle,
and only then you can pass.

Fail, and l devouryou,
bones and all!

"Whatwalks on four legs
in the morning,
two legs in the afternoon

"and three legs
in the evening?"

William.
He's a performing dog.

No. The answer is "man!"

No. l think you'll
find it's William.

l saw him. He was on
four legs in the morning,
two legs in the afternoon show

and limping on three
in the evening because
he hurt his paw.

He can skateboard, too.

My go. Okay.

"What's green,

"hangs on the wall
and whistles?"

Um.

Do you give in?

No. Let me think about it.

Okay. You just have
a really good think

and l will be back in a bit.

Oh, no.

You shall not pass!

Right. Riddle.

lfyou've got it,
you want to share it.

lfyou share it,
you haven't got it.

Look, l haven't got all day!
Will you give in?

All right. What is it?

lt's a secret.
Well, what is it?

lt's a secret!

Please, just tell me.

Look, an idiot!

Where?

This must be the place.

VALENTlNE: Hold up!
Big change of plans!

HELENA: Yeah, you weren't
coming. Remember?

Look, l think these people
might be able to help us.

Possibly, but it
won't be a quick,

"hullo-how's-your-father"
job with those giants, no.

They aren't succinct,
like me. No.

You've got to come in low,
share an observation
about life,

a bit of banter about
erosion or grit,

open them up a bit,
and then you're in.

The charges are laid,
the fuse is lit,

the conversational
excavation underway.

And l'm talking
to myself again.

Hello, we are
looking for a charm

to wake the White Queen.
Can you help us?

Many...

HELENA: Many, yes.

...have asked...

Many have asked...

...where...

Many have asked where
the charm is, yes?

...the...
Charm is?

...charm...

ls?

...is.

We have to get out of here.

Not now.
We're onto something.

Butwe...

VALENTlNE: Know?

Sadly.

Not sadly, happy.
l knowwhere it is
and l'll tell you quickly.

Solemnly.

No adjectives, please.

We guard the...

Charm?

...box.

Look, up there,
a little silvery box.

Shadows come.

VALENTlNE: Thatwas what
l was trying to tell you!

lf she doesn't get to the
end ofthis sentence soon,
we are dead.

ls the charm in your box?

For...

No, not "for,"
justyes or no.

...the Queen.

"We guard the box
forthe Queen."
We're here forthe Queen.

She'll be asleep forever
unless we can find the
charm for her!

HELENA: We don't
even knowwhat it is!

VALENTlNE: Come on, time's up,
we've got to run.

lt's polite conversation
or death.

You have to believe us!

VALENTlNE:
They're not listening.

l'm not even sure
ifthey have ears.

The charm is

the MirrorMask.

Now! Throw it now.

Can't reach.

l can't reach it.

Get...

The box?

...higher.

Poorthings.

(VALENTlNE SlGHS)

Well, let's see
the charm.

l don't think
that's what it is.

He said the charm
was a MirrorMask.

A key.

lt's a start.

Absolutely. Yeah.

Wejust have to try the key
in every single lock we pass.

When we find
the one that key opens,

we'll know that
10,000 years have passed.

Come on. Think positive.
Think oftreasure and all
that stuffyou like.

You shall not pass.

Unless you tell me
the answerto the riddle
you asked me before.

Riddle?

What's green, hangs on a wall
and whistles, remember?

Right. Yes.
So you give up, then?

Kind of. Not really.

l'm sure l'll know it
when you tell me what it is.

lt's a herring.

But a herring isn't green!

You can paint it green.

A herring doesn't
hang on a wall!

You can nail it
to a wall.

But a herring
doesn'twhistle!

Come on. l just put that
in to stop it from being
too obvious.

VALENTlNE: The answerto my
one is still "a secret."

HELENA: So we have a key.
Just nothing to put it in.

"Get higher." What did
she mean by that?

Think!

lt'sjust the interminable
ravings of an unsound and
enormous mind, l expect.

Very big. Not very bright.

MirrorMask.

What kind of a thing
is a MirrorMask?

Well. lt's a...

(STUTTERlNG)

You know, it's the...

l've got it!
Well, tell me.

Yes. We should
ask an expert.

Yeah. Like who?

Like whoever
owns that place.

(GRAMOPHONE PLAYlNG)

(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)

Can l help you, dears?

l saw the sign on the door.

We're looking for a mask.
We wondered ifyou could
help us.

Come in, dear, both ofyou.
l wasjust about to have tea.

Do you like cakes?

You young people,
it's all tea and muffins

and excitement
in yourworld, l expect.

(GROWLS)

WOMAN: Just sit anywhere.
l'll go and get the tea.

WOMAN: ls Ginger sitting
on the chair again?

Just push him off,
the daft thing.

lt's fine.
l'll stand.

Oh, no, he's all right.
He won't bite you.

Shoo!

Just a big old silly.

How many
do you have?

l don't really
have them, dear.

But there must be about
30 right now. Let's see,

Snowdrop, Stripes, Fluffy,

and Ginger,
there's Spot, Whiskers...

l don't think so, dear.

What do we do before we eat?
We wash our hands, young lady.

Hygiene.

Go on.

lt's down there.

(MUFFLED SCREAMlNG)

(GASPS)

WOMAN: The MirrorMask.

He used to talk
about it, of course.

My husband,
the late Mr. Bagwell.

Fluffy, don't do that!

Mr. Bagwell used
to say that

the MirrorMask
concentrated your desires,

yourwishes.

lt gave you whatyou needed.

l remember l said to him,
"Mr. Bagwell, how can a
mask knowwhatyou need?"

And he said,

"Cynthia, remember,
l don't knowwhat
l'm talking about."

Excuse me. l wasjust
wondering ifyou had any
more ofthose amazing cakes?

l'll go and see, dear.

Thanks.

Why did you have
to interrupt her?

Because she's barking mad.

What does it say?

"Don't let them
see you're afraid."

Don't letwho see?

WOMAN: You're not going
already, are you, dear?

You know, l could freshen
up the spare room

and your jester
could sleep in the attic.

l'm not ajester.

l'm a very important man.
l've got a tower.

That's nice, dear.

l'm afraid we
are really busy.
But thank you.

Here are some
cakes forthe road.

You never knowwhen
you might need them.

And, dear, don't let
them see you're afraid.

VALENTlNE: Absolutely mad
as pilchards.

HELENA: Why do you keep
saying you've got a tower?

Because l have.

HELENA: Where is it?

Well...
Do you live in it?

How big is it?

Huge, enormous.

Hundreds of rooms.
Stairs. Doorknobs.
A scullery.

Possibly more than
one scullery, actually.

Right, and

l can't see it,
because...

We're not talking.

HELENA: What?

We aren't talking.

(HELENA GlGGLES)

The tower and l had

a minor disagreement,
and it leftwithout me.

l said something stupid,
and itjust flew off
without me.

Why don'tyou find it
and say you're sorry?

(VALENTlNE LAUGHS)

Valentines never apologize.

Stupid building.

Buildings never leave
withoutyou where l come from.

(PURRlNG)

Hungry.

ls this a riddle thing?

Hungry.

Still hungry.

l've got a plan.
Leave this completely to me.

Hello, puss.

l'm out of riddles,
but how about a
"knock-knock" joke?

l know the best one
in the world.

The best?
Absolutely.

You start.

Knock-knock.
Who's there?

(SOFTLY) Keep walking.

HELENA: Nowwhat do we do?

Thatwas as far
as my plan went.

(HlSSlNG)

What does it say?

"My pages taste excellent,

"but are stickierthan toffee
and very hard to chew."

What an appalling book.

That's the most useless
thing it's told us so far.

lt's not. lt's a
brave thing to say.

This nonsense has gone
on quite long enough.

She needs to grow up
and come home.

Well, what are
you waiting for?
Go and get her!

lf l tell you something weird,
will you think l'm crazy?

Yes. l expect so.

Because when l look through
windows, not all ofthem,

l see someone who isn't me.

How odd. l do the same thing.
Me. Window. Look through it.

Not me. The ones l see
myself in are called

"mirrors."

But she looks like me.

But she isn't me.

She's arguing with my dad.

"Get higher."
What?

The giant statue said,
"Get higher."

Do you see anything
higherthan that place?

Long way up.

Look.

VALENTlNE: There's nothing
here, you know.

This place is waiting
to collapse into a heap
of rubble.

lt can't be safe.

You're such a coward.
lt's perfectly...

(HELENA SCREAMS)

(THUDS)

Coward?

l preferto think of myself
as prudent, cautious.

And unlike some people
l could name, still up here.

Hello!

l'm not coming down
there afteryou.
lt's not safe.

No, l'm not hurt,
thanks for asking.

Hello.

Hi!

My name's Helena.

(ALL MUTTERlNG)

Malcolm.

Bob.

Hi, Bob. All the Bobs.

Malcolm.

Bobs.

l'm looking for something.
The charm.

lt's like a mask.

Face? Yes.

A face.

You're having a party
down there or something?

Valentine, you should
come down, l've made
some friends.

Nicely.

(HELENA CHUCKLES)

HELENA: Are you okay?

See, look, l'm looking
for a MirrorMask.

Look.

See, l already have the key.

Mask?
Yes.

ls it here?

(ALL CLAMORlNG)

How regrettable.

(HELENA SCREAMlNG)

Help!

l can go. l'm not supposed
to be here at all.

Get higher!

(WHOOPS)

Did you see that?

l want to go overthere,
towards the border.

Thank you, Bobs, Malcolm.

MALCOLM: Nicely.

So what are we doing here?

We're going to get
the MirrorMask.
l knowwhere it is.

lt's halfway between the
night lands and the day lands.
lt's on the border.

l knew l could help.
l hate being so helpless.

Valentine, look.

We call them windows.
They aren't unusual.

Stop that! He's horrible.

You're horrible!

Hey, calm down.

There's nothing there.

VALENTlNE: So what are we
meant to be seeing?

ls this like the
windows thingy again?

HELENA: l know it's here.
ltwas so obvious when
l saw it.

VALENTlNE: We often confuse
whatwe wish forwith what is.

These are the dreamlands
on the borders.

lt's all wishes, hopes

and memories.

lt's all so familiar.

l know all this.

JOANNE: Helena?

Mum?

JOANNE: Honestly.

Mum?
What have you lost now?

l'm looking
for a MirrorMask,

but l don't know
what it is,

or how big it is,

orwhy it's missing,
or anything, really.

JOANNE: Well, where did
you last see it?

l don't think l ever have.

Who had it last?

l suppose you did.

No, she did.

Or maybe itwas that princess
theywere talking about.

l don't know.

l was sure itwas here.

You give up so easily.

HELENA: l'm never
going to find it.

JOANNE: Never put offtill
tomorrowwhatyou can put
off until the day after.

l want to come
home now.

l wantyou to be
okay, Mum.

l'm scared, Mum.

l'm scared, too, love.

That's why l'm
having this dream.

JOANNE:
Do you think they've
started to operate yet?

Maybe everybody
gets dreams like this

when they start poking
around in your head.

lt's notyour dream, Mum.
lt's mine.

(JOANNE CHUCKLES)

That's the kind ofthing
people say in dreams.

JOANNE: Hello.

Did l dream you
a boyfriend?

No, you did not!
He's not... He'sjust a...

(CHUCKLES)

l'm sorry
l brought it up.

Now, you're looking
for something,
you know it's here,

you can't find it,
so look again.

l'll bet it'sjust like
your aunt Nan's teeth.

lt's probably staring
you right in the face.

Mum.

(WATER SPLASHlNG)

l'm sure it's here.

l'm just not looking
hard enough.

lt's not her dream.
lt's my dream.

And if itwere me,

l'd put a little building
out there in the middle.

A small building,

butjust the right size.
lt's obvious.

And there'd be a small
bridge going across to it.

Just like that one.
l don't knowwhy
l didn't see it before.

You aren't my boyfriend,
you know, even ifthis is
my mum's dream.

Well, one ofthem
must fit.

(RUMBLlNG)

HELENA: My arm!

You're hurt. Stay here.
Don't move.

What aboutyou?

l'm a panther.

l shall slip unnoticed
through the darkness,

like a dark, unnoticeable,
slippy thing.

Valentine.

l knowwe haven't
always got on, but

l'm really grateful for all
your help. l couldn't have
done any ofthis withoutyou.

l do my best.

Come back soon.

Dad?

(MUFFLED SCREAMlNG)

Dad. That's not me.

Dad. l'm here. Dad!

(GASPS)

HELENA: Help!

Help me!

l don't knowwhat
time you call this.

l've been worried
sick aboutyou.

l justwant to
hear a little,

"Sorry for putting you
to all this trouble."

Would it be too much
to ask for an apology?

Me?

You're the one causing
all the damage.

(CHUCKLES)

Don't be ridiculous.

Who do you think is
destroying this world?

You are. l've seen
the black shadows.

Whatwould any
worried mother do?

l wasjust trying to
bring us back together.

That's why you put up
the "wanted" posters?

People do it for lost pets

and a daughter is a lot
more important than a pet.

l'm notyour daughter.

Hmm.

You'll do.

We can fix your hair.

Those clothes
will have to go.

l'll get the servants
to burn them.

l don't knowwhat
you're trying to pull,

but there are people
who knowwhere l am.

Valentine will
rescue me.

Valentine.

l'd nearly forgotten
about him.

Valentine?

Well, we were already here,
and she'd put up the posters.
Reward paid. Nothing personal.

lt'sjust supply
and demand.

You pathetic creep.

Rocks and logs
can bite like dogs,
butwords will never hurt me.

You useless
cake-hogging coward!

l did not hog
that cake!

l'm sorry,
Mr. Valentine,

but l shall have
to hurry you along.

l need to spend
some serious

"quality" time
with my little girl.

Right.

Thank you for
popping by.

l believe somebody said
something aboutjewels.

As many as l can carry?

lfyou must.

Right, so, no hard
feelings then, yeah?

Just go.

l'm on myway out.
Offto get the...
Nothing more to say.

Throw him out.

Yeah, right.

The princess will be
going to her chambers.

Please. Just let me go.

Darling. You know
whatyou need?

l need to find the charm.

l need to wake
the White Queen.
l need...

You need a pretty frock.

And a happy smile.

A smile?

With a smile on yourface,
everything will seem brighter,
because

from now on we are...

What?

l don't know.
Tell her!

Not at home to Mr. Grumpy,
Your Majesty.

QUEEN OF SHADOWS: Exactly.

(CLOCKS TlCKlNG)

Presenting the MirrorMask.

HELENA: "Dearest Mama,

""as by now
you may have realized,
l have found the MirrorMask.

'"l will use it to go away.
There are other places.

"l'll find one with
another girl in it like me.

"A life l can take."

Stupid.

(HELENA OHUOKLES)

"'Of course,

"if l use the MirrorMask,
it may upset things a bit.

""But you can"t run away
from home without destroying
somebody"s world.""

Have some more
ice cream, Princess.

No, thank you, dearest Mama.
l believe l have had
sufficient.

Well, your manners are
much improved, anyway.

(TABLE RATTLlNG)

What's that?

l have no idea.

Go on.

Be my eyes.

Find outwhat's happening.

You knowwhat's happening.

She's going
to destroy everything,
your real daughter.

When she left,
she threw this whole world
out of balance, and now

it's falling apart.

You will not talk
to me like that!

Dear Mama, sorry, Mama.

Can l have some more
ice cream now, please?

l suppose that "oops" and
"l promise not to do it again"
isn't actually going to

cut the mustard.

Helena, if l was to say...

lf l was to say...

lf l was to say
something apologetic,

itwould reflect my feelings
in this matter accurately.

And you were right,
you know,

and l was not as
right as you were.

About everything.

The windows.

The world ending.

And you probably hate me.
l mean, l'd hate me, too.

Look,

whatever she's done to you,

l know you're still in there.

(SlGHS)

Oh, well!
Onwards and upwards.

Butterfingers.

HELENA: Well, if l was that
princess and l wanted to hide
something,

l'd hide it in my bedroom.

VALENTlNE:
We've looked all over.
lt's not here.

HELENA: Well,
that's what l'd do.

VALENTlNE:
What are you saying?

Something destroyed
the Pit of Despair.

The Swamp of Doom simply
isn't there anymore.

ltwas a lovely swamp.
You can't get them like
that these days.

QUEEN OF SHADOWS:
l'm afraid somebody
is actually doing this.

Who?

Somebodywho hates me.

Nobody hates you, Majesty.
We love you.

(CHUCKLES)

(WHlSPERS) Crawler.

But he has a point.

l must call a council.

(GONG RlNGS)

lt's all falling apart.

lt's all herfault, that girl.

Let me see her note again.

(SlGHS)

She says she found
the MirrorMask.

That's probably how
she got out of here.

HELENA: We looked everywhere.

We looked all overthe place.

We could keep looking
until the end ofthe world.

(BANGlNG ON DOOR)

Message from Her Majesty.

Affairs of state, means she's
very busy and you'll be eating
in your room tonight.

Mama is too kind.

Right.

Well, bon appetit.

Please thank
Her Majesty for me.

(DOOR CLOSlNG)

Food!

We've missed so
many opportunities.

We don't even have
the Really useful book.

There'sjust one page left.

What if it's the wrong page?

"Rememberwhatyour
mothertold you."

Mine always said,
"lt's a dog-eat-dog
world, Son,

"you get them
before they getyou.

"Eatyour greens.

"Please don't do that.
Don't embarrass me
in front ofthe neighbors.

"ltwill be best for everyone
ifyou leave home and don't
ever come back."

She wasn't actually
my mum, either.

She bought me
from a man.

HELENA: l miss my mum.

She'd always have good advice.

Like, when you lose something,
she'd say, "Don'tyou give up.

"Most ofthe time,
it'sjust staring you
right in the face."

Are you thinking
what l'm thinking?

Absolutely! lfwe
just put little wheels

on the bottoms of our shoes,
we could just roll around.

No, silly. Where's the best
place to hide a mirror?

We need to find a window.

Before or after dinner?

Oh, Valentine!

VALENTlNE: Faster.
Keep on, hurry.

Princess!

Not again.

VALENTlNE: Keep going. Faster.
Keep going. Yes. Faster!

Run. Keep going. Faster.
Don't let anything distract
you.

Food!

Butwe have to keep going.
There isn't enough time!

You're absolutely right.

All right.

ls he very holy, my love?

Holy? No.

l don't think so.

The holy people.
They eat the future fruit

and then they bring
back words ofwisdom.

Sometimes theywrite
whole books. lt's wonderful.

Takes one fruit
300 years to grow, my petal.

Not bad.
Ratheryummy, actually.

Why do they call it
a future fruit?

Because that's where you go
when you eat it, my love.

Valentine, give me
the MirrorMask.

For heaven's sake.

There's only one way out,
and l'm taking it. Goodbye.

MAN: Bring beer.

That's not my future.

No! l don'twant
to be a waiter!

MAN: l think a retaliatory
strike against the White City

is really the only
way to go on this.

You are talking
through your hat!

With respect, Majesty,

l think this entire
end-of-the-world scenario
is grossly over-exaggerated.

We are wildly
overreacting to a minor...

Minor? You try living in
a swamp that isn't there
anymore, mate.

You come and tell
me that that's minor.

Look. All l'm saying is,
is there a place for
total world destruction,

vis-a-vis a scenario,
which is simply not...

(HUSHlNG)

What?

lt's the Princess.

What about the Princess?

You rememberwhatyou
said the first time
that she ran away?

The first time?

VALENTlNE: This MirrorMask,
there must be a way to use it
to get us out of here.

HELENA: l need to find
a window. lf l can see her,
l bet l can get to her.

VALENTlNE: There won't be
anywindows in the forest.

HELENA: l have to see
what she's doing.

VALENTlNE: We know that.
Whether she means to or not,
she's destroying the world.

HELENA: Yeah, and eating
chips, snogging boys,
smoking and everything!

Why do people wear
these stupid dresses?

l should have known
you'd have something to
do with this, Valentine.

Well...

You listen to me.
Your daughter is going
to destroy everything.

l need to find a window
and get back there.

Please, let us go.

You are my daughter.

Butyou know
that's not true.

l am a reasonable woman.

You come back with me.

l'll execute
Valentine humanely.

And we'll say
no more about it.

She's not a pet.

She's not even
a child anymore.

You have to let
her grow up.

You mean, let her
choose her own food,

her own clothes,
make her own decisions.

Love her, don't try
to possess her.

Yes.

That's exactlywhat l mean.

Absolutely out
ofthe question.

l don't need this, you know.
l'm a very important man.

lfwe can't get away from her,
you're a very dead man.

That thing thatyou
have that makes light.
Where is it?

And the mask.
Give me the MirrorMask.

For God's sake.
l knowwhat l'm doing!

lt should have been
here by now. Thatwas
always our signal.

l thoughtyou said
you had an argument.

More of a difference
of opinion. l was
completely in the right.

Sometimes you just
have to say sorry.

No. l'll never say that.

All right.
l'll say it!

l'm sorry!

You have a real tower.

Well, you know,
l am a very important man.

(PANTlNG)

Look.

HELENA: There's only one
way out. The windows.

The ones l drew.
They're doors between
ourworld and herworld,

and she's destroying them.

Valentine!
Give me the MirrorMask.
For heaven's sake!

VALENTlNE: What's happening?

HELENA: There's no more
windows left. lt's over.

She won.

l'm not going back.

(LAUGHlNG)

No. l'm not going back!

This is myworld.

No! l like it here.

l justwant a real life.

Real life? You couldn't
handle real life.

Helena.

Dad?
Hello.

lt's gone.

lt's a funny place
to go to sleep, love.

l wasn't asleep.

Mum! ls she...

There's no news yet.
We've got to keep
ourfingers crossed.

Look atyou.
ln your pj's.

Come on, you're going
to be freezing. Come on, here.

Put this on.

There we go. Okay?

(PHONE RlNGlNG)

lt's in my pocket.

Hello.

Yeah.

He's here.
l'll put him on.

lt's foryou.
lt's the hospital.

Hello.

Yes.

Thank you

fortelling me.

Yeah.

l'll make the
arrangements.

(SOFTLY) Please.

What did they say? Dad?

She's fine,
she's going to be fine.

They got it all.

(HELENA SOBBlNG)

Let's go in
and get ready.

We are going
to be fine.

(CARNlVAL MUSlC PLAYlNG)

Actually, l've always
fancied joining a circus.

All right. You need to be
over 18, pass the audition,
and mad.

Thanks.

l'm sorry.

That's okay.

l was talking to the
woman in the window.

My mother.

l was talking to the lovely
lady in the window.

You know, l always wanted
to work in the circus.

Good. You'd have
made a lousywaiter.

(BOTH LAUGHlNG)

Yeah.