Bridge to Terabithia

BIRDS CHIRRUPING

PANTING

THUNDER

PANTING

GRUNTING

-You girls want some toast?

-Yes, please.

Ellie, where's your cereal bowl?

I'm not hungry.

You need to eat something.

I'm not hungry, Mom.

You need to have something before you go to school.

-Do you want some jelly on it?

-Yes, please.

Watch it, Brenda. Don't mess my clothes up.

Billy Baker's in my math class this year.

-Oh, did he flunk, too?

-Shut up.

-Hey.

-You're one to talk.

Are you excited about your first day of school?

Yeah.

Eww, you stink. Mom, he stinks.

We have a rule he's got to shower before he eats with us.

Girls, stop picking on your brother

and just eat your breakfast.

WATER RUNNING

May Belle, honey, here's your juice.

Thanks.

OK, who hid my sneakers?

Jess, you could hardly call them sneakers any more.

-I threw them out.

-What?

-Mom...

-I'm sorry,

but I will not send any child of mine to school looking like some hobo.

There's a perfectly good old pair of Brenda's that I put out for you.

These are girls' ones.

It's the fan belt this time, but I got another one.

Ellie, honey, here you go.

What's the matter with you?

-There's a big race today.

-And?

My sneakers.

I've got a perfectly good pair for him to use.

Yeah, these are girls' ones. I can't race in these.

You couldn't race in your old ones, either.

He needs some new sneakers, Mary.

We don't have anything left for extras right now.

-< Excuse me! <

-Heh. You're excused.

They make 'em the same. You got your chores done?

Just about to.

CHATTERING CONTINUES

CLATTERING

CLANKING

PANTING

HORN HONKS

PANTING

I try to keep my pit stops under 10 seconds, ace.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

Give it to me.

-Give it.

-Hey, that's my lunch!

I found it!

Ugh.

ALL LAUGH

-DRIVER:

-OK, that's enough.

Consider it a free lunch programme, farmer boy!

All right, settle down.

-Good one, Janice.

->

What do you call your teacher again? I want to tell Alexandra.

"Monster Mouth." Now scoot.

Alexandra, they call her "Monster Mouth" Myers.

I said scoot!

A few ground rules for this classroom -

no talking. No chewing gum. No electronic devices.

-Be forewarned.

-BEEPING

If you download any essay off of the internet,

you will be downloaded into detention.

So, let's start the year off on the right foot

and all do our own work. I expect you to take notes.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep-beep-beep-beep-beep.

Know what that is? My loser detector.

CONTINUES BEEPING

Jesse Aarons!

I got it from your sisters. I certainly do not need it from you.

-Oh, man.

-That goes for you as well.

He hit me. Uhh.

You're dead meat.

Scott Hoager and Gary Fulcher, be quiet!

Now, back to what we were discussing

before we were so rudely interrupted.

Sweet sneaks, Aarons.

You wear your sisters' hand-me-down underwear, too?

He asked you a question, Twinkle Toes.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Good morning, kids. Welcome back.

I hope you had a great summer.

Mrs Myers, this is Leslie Burke,

who will be joining your class.

Leslie, welcome to Lark Creek.

Thanks.

Thank you, Principal Turner.

-CLASS WHISPERS

-Well, Leslie, um,

you'll just have to sit at my desk this morning,

until we can figure out where to squeeze you in.

CLASS GIGGLES

(EXHALES) I like to start out the year with a little fun.

I want you all to write a one-page essay about your favourite hobby.

-CLASS GROANS

-Yes?

Mrs Myers, when you say one page,

did you mean both sides of the paper?

You can just do one side, Madison.

I'll do two.

-<

-Yeah, that's cool.

No way! < It was so amazing.

< Can I get a cut of this?

-<

-You can have, like, two bucks out of it all.

But hey, I'm getting most of it, OK?

-Excuse me.

-Got a dollar?

Um, no.

Then you're going to have to use your pants. Heh.

-What's your problem?

-You got that backwards, freak.

You got the problem.

That's right, new girl.

Nice feet.

You say something?

Um, what I said was, have you ever heard the story

about the trolls under the bridges

who collect tolls from unlucky travellers?

Trolls? What is she talking about?

Nice try, beanpole.

It's still a dollar.

INDISTINCT CHEERING AND CHATTERING

HE EXHALES

Yeah! Hyah! Hyah!

-Let's do it. Do it.

-Yeah, we've got Hoager.

Next grade, line up. Let's do this thing. Come on.

Fulcher, Hoager, get in here.

Get ready. Come on. Let's get this race started. Come on.

-Beep, beep, beep.

-Dead meat.

Back behind the line. You know how it goes. Back behind. Come on.

Hey, new girl. This is just for guys.

Hey, I'm talking to you!

What's the matter, Hoager? Afraid a girl's going to beat you?

On your mark. Get set.

-Dead meat.

-Go!

ALL CHEER

Go, Hoager!

Go, Hoager! Get in there, Hoager!

Go! Go! Go, Jess, go!

Whoo-hoo! Come on!

Come on! You can do it! Come on, Jess!

Go, Jess! Go!

HE PANTS

Jess, Jess, did you win?

Hey. Jess, right?

Uhh! Idiot!

What?

-See you tomorrow.

-Ten seconds, ace.

Thank you.

Are you following me?

Uh, no. I live over there.

We're neighbours? You got little sisters?

No. Just me.

Oh.

You got any Barbies?

Yeah. I think I have a few. You got any?

Yeah. I have one... and a half.

And a half?

One got cut in half playing super extreme Barbies.

Never heard of that before.

You flush the toilet with them in it,

you drop them from the upstairs window...

stuff like that. It's really fun.

Hmm. Sounds like fun.

Well, I'll see you around.

Yeah. See ya.

-See ya.

-Hey, guys.

-Hey, Dad.

-Hey, I'm just going

to get some supplies. You want to come?

Yeah. Sure.

See ya.

-MOM:

-Yeah, there we go. This will make it feel better.

BRENDA: She spilled it. How come it's my fault?

When I ask you to watch the baby, I mean watch the baby, Brenda.

It's Ellie's turn.

I'm doing my algebra.

Put a little more cream on there.

-Hey!

-You girls are going to have to start helping out

a lot more around here.

May Belle!

How many times have I told you? Stay out of my stuff.

-It wasn't me.

-It was, too, you.

You can't prove it!

Is there a problem here, you two?

-Daddy!

-Hey, sweetie.

Is he picking on you?

She was in my stuff.

What stuff?

How'd that race go?

There's this new girl moved in next door.

She beat all of the boys, even Jess.

Make sure you take out the garbage before supper.

One drop...

and that's the magic. Here comes May Belle's flowers.

Heh.

Are these ever going to grow?

This greenhouse is going to be filled with your purple flowers -

May Belle's flowers.

I always wanted the one that had, like,

purple all over it. They are so cool.

I think these things are going to grow fast.

-Me, too.

-I bet you come out here tomorrow,

-it's going to be filled with them.

-Yeah.

BELL RINGS

-The bell's going to ring!

-Forgot my math book!

Good morning, everybody!

CLASS: Good morning, Ms Edmunds!

Aren't you glad that summer's over?

ALL: No!

No? I am.

Come and get your instruments.

-Can I play the woodblock?

-Yes.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

-Ms Edmunds...

-Mm-hmm?

May I please play the castanets?

Yes, you may. Everybody ready for music?

Take a picture. Lasts longer.

It's awfully quiet.

# Old McDonald had a farm... #

-CLASS: No!

-No?

-You don't like that song?

-No!

Then make some noise. Come on.

THEY BANG INSTRUMENTS

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# I seen you walkin' down in Chinatown

# I called you, but you could not look around

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends? #

LAUGHTER AND CHATTERING

# ..I bring my money to the welfare line

# I see you standing in it every time

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# Why can't we be friends?

# The colour of your skin don't matter to me

# As long as we can live in harmony... #

We just saw this video yesterday.

-Whatever.

-Change it!

Give it... give it to me!

Stop it, you guys. You're always fighting.

I can't wait till I get a place of my own.

I want to watch this.

-DAD:

-We just can't keep going like this.

Honey, uh, I've only got what I've got to work with.

You gotta figure out a way to get down on this.

I know. I know it's a problem, but I'm going to try to get more this month.

And maybe you can pick up another shift at the store.

Dead meat.

THEY LAUGH

Wow.

You're really good at drawing...

like, better than any kid I've ever seen.

Uh, thanks.

I want to share this composition for two reasons -

one, it uses adjectives well.

And two, it's clear the author paid attention

to what she saw and what she was feeling,

which is important for any writing.

Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

by Leslie Burke.

Leslie, why don't you read it for us?

Oh, man. Can you believe this?

Humph.

"I'm moving gently forward

"over the wild and beautiful, unexplored world below me.

"I'm floating in silence,

"and breaking it up with the sound of my breath.

"Above me, there's nothing but shimmery light,

"the place where I've come from

"and will go back to when I am done here.

"I'm diving.

"I'm a scuba diver.

"I'm going deeper,

"past the wrinkled rocks and dark seaweed

"toward a deep blueness where a school of silver fish wait.

"As I swim through the water, bubbles burst from me,

"wobbling like little jellyfish as they rise.

"I check my air.

"I don't have as much time as I need to see everything,

"but that is what makes it so special."

Thank you, Leslie. Now, tonight at 7.00

on Channel 4, there is a special

about an undersea explorer, Dr Bob Ballard.

I want everyone to watch and write one page

about what you've learned. Leslie?

Um, what if you can't watch this programme?

If you inform your parents it's an assignment, I'm sure they won't object.

But...what if you don't have a TV?

CHILDREN LAUGH

My dad says the TV kills your brain cells.

Your dad doesn't know anything.

We watch TV, like, every day.

I rest my case.

Well, then, Leslie, you don't have to write this essay.

You can pick something else to write about.

Yeah, like, how to live in a cave.

-LAUGHTER

-That's enough, Mr Hoager.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

Hey, Leslie, come here.

What are you going to write your essay on?

Bats in caves?

LAUGHTER

-Here comes Janice! <

-New kid's in Janice's seat.

What does she think she's doing?

Jess! Jess! The big kids will kill her!

Do you have a death wish? The back row's for eighth-graders.

That's right, beanpole. Move it.

Out of my way, farm boy.

SHE EXHALES

CHATTERING CONTINUES

You're really asking for it.

Seems to me, she gives it out whether you ask for it or not.

So, might as well have some fun.

Getting Janice all wound up

is a weird way of having fun.

Well, what's your idea of having fun?

-I don't know.

-Well, you want to do something?

I don't know.

Let's do something. Definitely. What should we do?

-You can't do it.

-Do what?

What we're doing.

Hey, May Belle! I don't use my Barbies so much any more.

If you want, you can have them.

To keep for permanent?

-Sure.

-Thanks.

You're lucky to have a sister.

Yeah, I got four of 'em, and I'd trade 'em all for a good dog.

I'd love to have a dog.

Now let's go before she changes her mind.

Race you to the end of the road.

On your mark, get set, go!

BOTH PANT

BOTH LAUGH

Come on, Jess!

Come on!

BOTH PANT AND LAUGH

What about sharks?

You ever see any sharks

while you're scuba-ing or whatever?

I've never gone scuba-diving in my whole life.

You lied in your essay?

No. I made it up.

It's different from lying.

Those drawings you make...

you really seen all those things yourself?

No, but...

Hey! Look at that! Cool!

That's been there for ever. I...I wouldn't trust it.

Come on. Just try it.

OK.

You got it? That's it.

Thanks.

What are you doing?

Getting up higher.

OK.

SHE GIGGLES

Wow! That was so much fun.

You have to try it. Come on.

Uh.

HE CHUCKLES

OK.

Let your head hang back and watch the clouds. Feels like flying.

We need a place, just for us.

Huh?

You know, where there's no Janice Averys or Scott Hoagers.

Yeah, but when we go back to school,

there they are waiting.

Yeah, but...

someplace better than just not being at school.

What if there was a magical kingdom that only we knew about?

I don't know. What if?

OK, well...

what if the only way we could enter it

was by swinging on this enchanted rope?

-Enchanted rope?

-Yeah.

Come on.

Leslie!

Leslie!

Leslie... HE PANTS

-Come on.

-Wait up.

FLUTTERING

FLUTTERING

-Ahh!

-Aah!

We shouldn't be in here. This isn't our land.

Not so loud. They'll hear you.

What are you talking about?

Hey! What's that?

Whoa.

Jess, look at this. Wow.

Too bad for them. They got so close.

What are you talking about?

-To the kingdom.

-CHIMES RING

-What's that?

-What?

Th...that sound. I've heard it before. Someone's out there.

That's the sound of the prisoners rattling their chains.

What prisoners?

The prisoners of the dark master.

HE GASPS

-We should go.

-Wait. Jess, look.

What is it?

Look at this.

Wow. This is amazing.

Wow.

This is it.

Warriors.

Um, try dragonflies.

No. They're warriors... from the treetop provinces.

I...I don't know this game.

What game? This is for real.

This is the ruins of a once great fortress

whose people have been imprisoned.

Jess, you and I have been sent to free them.

Prisoners of the dark master, hear me!

We have come to free you.

Do you hear us? Show me that you hear us!

WIND WHISTLES

You just got lucky timing. The wind's been blowing off and on all day.

Can't hear you!

WIND ROARS

HE CHUCKLES

# Yeah, yeah

# You're scared you'll fall... #

Go straight home. I'll see you soon.

OK. See ya!

# ..Sometimes it seems impossible

# But your hopes and dreams

# Are closer than they seem

# Why not give yourself a chance?

# Nothing's going to hold you back

# Everything you want is right there waiting

# What you want to do

# Got to have some faith in you

# Don't you know that you can have it all?

# If you try

# And you just believe you can, you will

# Reach inside

# Don't be scared to dream

# You'll never know until

# Until you try... #

INDISTINCT LAUGHTER AND CHATTERING

# Got me a '57 Chevy

# She's low, sleek and black

# Someday, I'll put her on the interstate

# And never look back

# Someday, I'm finally going to let go

# I know there's a better way

# I want to know what's over that rainbow

# I'm going to get out of here some day... #

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

# Some day... #

Hey,

don't you think we should give her a hand?

Uh, she...she's fine.

Beep-beep-beep-beep. Ha ha ha!

Don't forget, there are four of us.

Uhh!

< Uh-oh, it's Janice!

-Janice, are you OK?

-What's the problem?

-Jess Aarons tripped me... on purpose.

-Uh...

OK, Aarons. Hit the road.

But he didn't do anything.

-Go.

->

-It was definitely him.

-I know.

What happened to you?

Janice Avery is a very talented person.

She can shoot ketchup packets over four rows of seats.

Jeez.

Can I wash up at your house?

My mom sees this, and she'll be all over the principal and everybody,

and my life will be over.

Oh. Hello.

Oh. Um, Mom, this is Leslie.

-Hi, Leslie.

-Hi.

-It's nice to meet you.

-Thank you. You, too.

So, are you and your family getting settled in OK?

Yes, ma'am.

That's nice.

Come on. See ya later.

Not too late, OK, honey?

Weird and weirder.

Hey. Be glad he's found a friend.

Where's your dad work?

At home, same as my mom.

-They're writers.

-Writers?

What do they write about?

Fiction.

That explains you.

What do you mean?

Well, you like to make things up.

And that's what your parents do for a living.

You know a lot about hardware?

No. Why?

Well, your dad works at a hardware store.

OK.

All I'm saying is that you are who you are...

not your parents.

Well, if they work at your house,

you must get to hang out with them a lot.

Not really.

What's that?

Grenade.

There are no grenades here.

HE GRUNTS

Come on! HE IMITATES EXPLOSION

Squirrels!

Part squirrel, part Scott Hoager.

Squoger.

Squoger!

The sneaky foot soldiers of the dark master.

-They're attacking!

-We need ammo!

BIRDS CAW

This is not good.

-See them? Up there?

-Yeah.

Do you? Really?

Yeah.

BEEPING

Aah!

HE GRUNTS

SQUEALS AND WAILS

Les...

Leslie?

Leslie! Leslie!

Come on. You can see the whole kingdom from up here.

HE CHUCKLES

Isn't this cool? We can do anything here.

Look at it. It's all ours...

from the mountains to the oceans.

ANIMALS BLEAT

What am I looking for, exactly?

You'll see. Just close your eyes...

but keep your mind wide open.

HE EXHALES

BIRDS CHIRP

Heh..

Wow.

What do we call this place?

Terabithia.

Ssh. Everybody tiptoe. OK, ready?

ALL: Happy birthday!

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday, dear Jess

# Happy birthday to you! #

Make a wish.

-Yay!

-What'd you wish for?

->

MUSIC: "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" by Annasophia Robb

This is cheap junk.

No, it isn't. I love it.

How can you love something that doesn't even work?

I don't think we have the hang of it yet, Dad.

You know what? Keep the box. We'll see if we can take it back.

Daddy, there's something in the greenhouse.

That's the last thing I need... some animal chewing its way in here.

What are you going to do if you catch it?

Well, these vegetables are part of our livelihood.

We can't afford to share them with any animal that gets in here.

-So, you're going to kill it?

-Have to.

Well...

Well, he's not going to get in here now, right, Dad?

Hope not. But if he does, you just let me deal with it.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

No. Why don't you go on and do your homework? I'll clean this mess up.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

Under the seat.

I heard it was your birthday yesterday.

Like it?

Wow.

It must have cost a fortune.

What's it matter what it costs?

I don't know.

Well, I can take it back and get a cheaper one,

if you want.

Thanks...a lot.

# Jess and Leslie sitting in a tree

-MUFFLED:

-# K-I-S-S-I-N-G... #

MUFFLED RHYME CONTINUES

THEY GIGGLE

Look - the squoger and the vulture.

Hey, here he comes.

And a guy who can stand up to a squoger is scared of a Hoager?

Ms Edmunds?

-(GASPS) He speaks.

-Can I help you with those?

You sure can. And you just made my day.

-Great.

-Ooh. I'll get that one.

Thank you.

Hey, guys.

Oh, hi, boys.

HAMMERING

How come you're so good at that?

-Good at what?

-Building stuff. I mean,

you're really good at it for a girl.

Same way I'm fast... for a girl.

You know what I mean.

You're pretty good at art...for a boy.

OK, OK, truce.

Don't your parents even notice any of this stuff's missing?

Not when they're in the middle of writing a book.

-RUMBLING

-What's that?

Show yourselves!

CRACKLING

BOTH SCREAM

It's a giant troll.

No, it's a giant tree that almost killed us.

You think that tree just fell all by itself?

Come on.

When the dark master saw that the squogers weren't scaring us away,

-he sent a giant troll.

-Uh, how big?

Whoa.

That's how big its feet are.

You really think so?

What else could it be?

What should we do?

TREES CREAK

If we had a troll-hunter, we could track its scent

and sneak up on it.

Hey, look at that! Come on!

I think it went that way.

We rule Terabithia, and nothing crushes us!

I'll race you to the rope.

WIND WHISTLES

I love this place! LESLIE LAUGHS

CAGE SLAMS SHUT

Go on, get out of here, and don't come back.

What do you think you're doing?

I took care of it for you.

Did you, now? Now, how'd you do that?

I took him way into the forest. He's not coming back now, Dad. I promise.

Oh, did he tell you he's going to stay the hell out of the greenhouse?

No. Just trust me. He went out there, and he's not coming...

Jess, you need to understand something, OK?

This is not one of your cartoons or whatever.

This is just a pest that eats up our food,

money we earn, and time we don't have.

OK.

Now, get your head out of the clouds and do as I say.

OK.

INAUDIBLE

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Good night, sweetheart.

Sweet dreams.

Lights out, Jess.

DOOR CLOSES Night, Dad.

Are we slaying the giant troll after school today?

You've got your head in the clouds, Leslie.

Huh?

There is no giant troll, all right?

Well, you better not let the Terabithians hear you.

They thought you were their king.

DOG WHIMPERS

Alexandra, my daddy gave me Twinkies.

And neither one squished, cos I didn't put them next to my drink.

May Belle, I'd shut up about those Twinkies if I were you.

You're just mad cos I got some and you didn't.

Whatever. Just don't come crying to me when you lose 'em.

I'm going to eat 'em, not lose them.

Jess! Jess!

Janice Avery stole my Twinkies!

Janice Avery stole my Twinkies!

What did I tell you, May Belle? You should have kept your mouth shut.

She's over there. What are you going to do about it?

And she makes you pay to pee.

-It's a dollar, Shorty.

-But I don't have a dollar.

That's not fair, is it?

Peeing's definitely supposed to be free.

Free to pee. Free to pee!

CHILDREN CHANT: Free to pee! Free to pee!

CHANTING CONTINUES

I want my Twinkies, Janice Avery.

What Twinkies, Twinkie?

You're supposed to beat her up. You're my brother.

May Belle...

do you know what would happen if I were to pick a fight with her?

You'll get your butt kicked.

LAUGHTER

No, I'd get kicked out of school for fighting a girl.

What's that going to prove?

-She stole my Twinkies.

-Aw.

Come on.

THEY LAUGH

It's all right, May Belle.

We'll get her back. Won't we, Jess?

Uhh...

CRICKETS CHIRP

-LESLIE:

-'Don't let the Terabithians hear you.

'They thought you were their king.'

HE SIGHS

Jess! Jess!

-Oh...hi!

-DOG WHIMPERS

Look at you!

That is your very own certified,

purebred, giant troll hunter.

He's for me?

Yeah, and he just took a giant pee all over my sweatshirt.

Wow, Jess. Thank you.

I name you Prince Terrien,

giant troll hunter extraordinaire...

-PT for short.

-DOG BARKS

Hey! I think he smells a troll. Come on.

HE BARKS

VULTURES CAW

Oh, no! We've got company!

VULTURE: Dead meat! Dead meat!

-Dead meat! Dead meat!

-Hairy vultures!

-What's that?

-BARKING

CRACKLING

It's a giant troll.

Nice feet.

Run!

Aah! Aah!

Oh, my gosh!

-I think we lost it.

-FOOTSTEPS THUD

HE BARKS

Leslie...

-CREAKING

-What's its weak spot?

-Does this thing even have a weak spot?

-I don't know!

TROLL GROWLS

He's just making it madder. PT!

TROLL CHUCKLES

That's it! That's its weak spot.

It's ticklish.

-Ew.

-Gross!

-Troll toe jam.

-Heh.

Good boy, PT. Good boy.

-Good dog.

-CREAKING

What's Janice's weak spot, you think?

Eighth-grade girl...

probably eighth-grade boys.

Who's she got a crush on?

I don't know. Let's see...

Coolest boy in eighth grade is probably...

Willard Hughes.

-That's it.

-What's it?

OK. Write,

"Dear Janice..."

-You do it.

-No way.

Boys' handwriting sucks. No offence.

-HE SIGHS

-It's got to be you.

OK. "Dear Janice,

"you're the most amazing and beautiful person I've ever known."

How do I know which desk is hers?

It's the one with dried-up blood and dusty old bones.

'I do not know if you know this about me,

'but I need to tell you.

'I think you're so cool.'

You are the coolest over all the other girls in our school.

OK. Write this.

'Let's find out if what I think we have is real.'

HE GASPS

Oh, um, Mr Bailey.

-Huh?

-I was looking for you.

Me? Why?

Um, I think someone threw up in the girls' room.

All right, I'll take a look.

"Meet me by the bus after school today.

"We can ride home together and talk about us."

'Underline and capitalise the "us".

'All my love, Willard.'

You know, if we get caught, they're both going to kill us.

I got your note.

What are you talking about?

That was really sweet.

-I'm saving these two seats.

-For who?

Willard Hughes is going to ride Janice home today.

What are you talking about?

Willard and Janice. They're totally in love.

HE SCOFFS In your dreams.

Well, you better tell Willard that,

cos it looks like he's heading home in his own bus.

THEY ALL GASP

CHILDREN LAUGH

Look at Janice! >

Hey, Janice, what happened?

Didn't Willard know he's totally in love with you?

THEY ALL LAUGH

Where's your boyfriend, Janice? >

LAUGHTER CONTINUES

Mm-hmm.

What just happened? >

-JANICE:

-He just walked away.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-You want to go?

-Yeah.

I want to come.

You can't.

It's a free country!

Don't you dare follow us,

or I'll tell Alexandra that you still suck your thumb

and sleep with Mr Blanky.

So, what do you say?

They must have finished their book.

How do you know?

Hey, Leslie.

We need your help.

Come on.

Hey, Mom.

Hey, Leslie, come on.

All right, let's go. We're on a mission.

Hey, this is my friend, Jess.

Can he help?

So, you're the infamous Jess.

Hi, I'm Judy.

Leslie tells me you're good with a paint brush.

Why don't you grab one and get going?

Come on!

I am determined to have this wall finished

so when the late sun hits it,

we can watch it catch fire.

PARENTS LAUGH

Now, that's one steady hand, Jess.

That's an artist's hand. Am I right?

Yeah.

You know, the best prize that life offers

is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

That's Teddy Roosevelt said that, not me.

# Nothing's ever what it seems

# You think you've got it figured out

# Then find yourself another layer

# And life can bring you to your knees

# I'll lift you till you're flying

# Do you want to live it now or later... #

Wow.

-Wow.

-JUDY: What did I tell you?

Was it worth it?

HE CHUCKLES

Hey, guys.

Jess, get started on your homework, OK?

I'm going to be managing the store on weekends,

starting in a couple of weeks,

so I'm going to need you to pick up on some chores around here.

You know, the best prize that life can offer is

working hard at work worth doing.

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

ALL GRUNT

HE SIGHS

Hey.

Have you taken art classes?

No, I...

I just made them up myself.

You're really talented.

Jess, don't let those other kids get in your way.

Oh, here you go.

Thank you.

HE SIGHS

I just went to use the girls' room.

Someone's in one of the stalls, crying her eyes out,

and I think it's Janice Avery.

It can't still be that trick we played on her, can it?

No way. But come here.

INDISTINCT WHISPERING

JANICE SOBS

Free to pee!

-Get out of here!

-SCREAMING

Get out of here now!

SHE SOBS

JANICE SOBS

You should go talk to her.

You kidding?

That's not, like, a skinned knee crying,

that's, like, crying about something serious.

Besides, it's the girls' bathroom. I can't go in there.

I don't want to go in there alone.

What's the matter?

A girl who can stand up to a giant troll

is afraid of some dumb eighth-grader?

JANICE SOBS

SHE EXHALES DEEPLY

# Ooh, child Things will get brighter

# Ooh, child

# Things are going to get easier

# Ooh, child Things will get brighter

# Some day, yeah

# We'll put it together and we'll get it all done

# Some day, when your head is much lighter

# Some day, yeah

# We'll walk in the rays... #

Go on, tell me.

No. I don't want to tell you.

-Why not?

-I'll tell you there.

INDISTINCT CHATTERING

He, like, came up to me.

I'm pretty sure he likes me.

No way! I like Tony! >

Her dad gets really mad at her.

So? My dad gets mad at me.

Pretty much all the time.

-He hits her.

-Oh.

And some neighbour heard them yelling so loud,

they called the police. And it got out.

And all the seventh- and the eighth-graders know about it.

Whoa.

Which explains, like, a lot.

Well, what did you say to her?

Well, I told her about not having a TV

and everyone laughing at me.

And that I know what it's like

to have everyone think I was weird.

Then what'd she say?

She asked me for advice.

Janice Avery asked you for advice?

Yeah.

And?

Well, I told her just to pretend

that she had no idea what anyone was talking about,

and in a few weeks' time,

everybody would just forget about it.

THUNDER RUMBLES

Man...

Then I gave her a piece of gum.

We should go.

Yeah.

Want to come back tomorrow?

I can't. I got chores.

How about the next day?

Sunday we go to church.

-Can I come?

-You'd hate it.

No, I think it'd be cool.

Uh, girls can't wear pants.

I've got dresses, Jess.

You in a dress?

That'd be a sight!

See ya!

# The old rugged cross

# The emblem of suffering

# And shame

# And I love that old cross... #

HE CHUCKLES

# ..Where the dearest and best

# For a world of lost sinners

# Was slain

# So I'll cherish

# The old rugged cross... #

ANGELIC VOCALISING

BELL TOLLS

That's what we need - bells in Terabithia.

I'm really glad I came.

That whole Jesus thing,

it's really interesting, isn't it?

It's not interesting. It's scary!

It's nailing holes through your hands.

It's cos we're all vile sinners.

God made Jesus die.

You really think that's true?

It's in the Bible, Leslie.

You have to believe it, and you hate it.

I don't have to believe it,

and I think it's beautiful.

You got to believe the Bible, Leslie.

Why?

Cos if you don't believe in the Bible,

God will damn you to Hell when you die.

Wow, May Belle.

Where'd you hear that?

That's right, huh, Jess?

God damns you to Hell if you don't believe in the Bible.

I think so.

Well, I don't think so.

I seriously do not think

God goes around damning people to Hell.

He's too busy running all this.

HAMMERING

-DAD:

-Hey, Jess. Give me a hand.

Yeah. I'm coming.

HAMMERING

Get my drill out of the greenhouse.

HE SIGHS

You haven't managed to kill those things yet?

Not funny.

Look.

Ever thought of putting them in the sun?

Jess. Jess.

Where are my keys?

What?

My keys. You never gave them back to me.

-Think!

-I put the drill down right here.

Jess, the keys to the store are on there,

the register, all of them.

They have to replace those locks,

it's 600, 700 out of my pay cheque.

They got to be right around here.

If I don't have those keys

to open up this weekend...

I'll find them, Dad. I promise.

Why don't you just draw me some damn money

to pay for it? How about that?

Make yourself useful and draw me some damn money.

I said, I'll find them.

HE SIGHS

You look awful.

What's the matter?

I lost the keys where my dad goes to work,

and now, now he has to get new keys made and locks.

-May Belle?

-And...

Please don't anyone get mad at me.

What?

He... Jess,

I know where your dad's keys are.

You do?

You know the bells we talked about making?

Well, it was meant to be a surprise.

All that clanking metal and junk.

And May Belle wanted to help.

And you let her?

May Belle, why did you tell me

you found the keys on the ground?

They were on the ground.

Yeah, on the ground in the greenhouse.

What's the matter with you?

Dad's ready to kill me.

I was waiting for the right time.

So, you know where the keys are?

HE EXHALES DEEPLY

BELL RINGS

INDISTINCT SHOUTING

See you later.

Tell Mom I'll be home in a little bit.

Are you going to tell Dad it was me?

Don't worry. It's my job to get Dad's keys back.

See you later.

Whoa. Look how high it got.

Come on. Let's go.

"Get your head out of the clouds, boy.

"Draw me some money.

"Make yourself useful and draw me some money."

What are you going on about?

"This isn't one of your cartoons.

-"This is serious."

-Jess...

I mean, what's so great about being serious all the time, anyway?

Tell me that.

HE GASPS

What if the dark master gets the keys first?

I'm not scared of any dark master,

and those are my dad's keys.

DOG BARKS

BEEPING AND GROWLING

JESS GRUNTS

DOG BARKS

CREATURES CHATTER AND BEEP

Leslie, get behind me.

Jess, turn around. There's more.

Here, take this.

-HE GRUNTS

-Jess!

SHE GRUNTS

PT, get him.

DOG BARKS

CREATURE HOWLS AND YELPS

-Good boy, PT.

-DOG BARKS

GROWLING

Yeah!

Dead meat! Dead meat!

Dead meat! Dead meat!

BOTH: Run!

Come on! Faster!

Dead meat!

Dead meat!

CAWING

Dead meat! Dead meat! Dead meat!

Dead meat! Dead meat!

Told you they were grenades.

SHE SCREAMS

Jess!

I got you, Leslie!

-Let go!

-I got you!

Up ahead! Get ready!

They'll catch us.

Leslie, we're the fastest in Terabithia.

BOTH PANT

He's watching us.

Where... where are the keys?

Here, open this.

ANGELIC VOCALISING

ANIMALS CHITTER

Where are Terabithian warriors when you need them?

I don't know.

Great. Now there's three of us.

WINGS HUM

-Wow.

-Now we're even.

BOTH: Attack!

CHITTERING

Dead meat! Dead meat!

Dead meat! Dead meat! Dead meat!

Come on.

Come on, PT.

Dead meat!

CAWING

Be careful! You're almost there.

SQUAWKS

Dead meat! HE SCREAMS

-Jess!

-Aah!

HE SCREAMS

-Jess!

-Aah!

SHE GASPS

Hey.

THUNDER RUMBLES

PT WHIMPERS

KEYS JANGLE

SHE GRUNTS

-See ya!

-Yeah, see ya.

SHE LAUGHS

HE SIGHS

Jess! I called you three times.

It's your girlfriend.

She's not my girlfriend.

Hey.

-MS EDMUNDS:

-Hello, Jess.

Wait. Who is this?

I know it's a Saturday, but it's your teacher, Ms Edmunds.

I was planning on taking my nephews

into the city to the museum,

and my sister changed her plans last minute, so I had a thought.

Hey, Mom.

Hmm? Is it the baby?

No, she's fine. May Belle's got her.

Teacher wants me to go on a field trip today.

Mm-hmm.

Is that OK?

Mmm.

Ms Edmunds? Yeah, I can go.

-All set?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yes, ma'am.

Forget something?

No. I'm... I'm good.

# I want to feel

# I want to really know

# I got to be the one now

# To tell you that you'll forever shine

# I want to feel Want to feel

# I want to see the sun

# See the sun

# I want to be the one now

# To tell you that you'll forever shine... #

Wow.

Do you like it?

Yeah.

It's Brueghel.

It's one of my favourites.

I wonder if he started out in notebooks like you.

I know Da Vinci did.

It's amazing how much detail's put into it.

You've been to a museum before, right?

No, it's my first time.

Really?

Yup.

Well, then I'm honoured.

It's such a nice day out.

It's been raining so much this month,

I began to think it was like that Japanese myth

where the sun goes into the cave

and vows never to come out.

You know about everything.

Mmm. Not by a long shot.

But I do try to keep an open mind,

and you'd be surprised what finds its way in there.

That's what Leslie Burke says.

She told me to keep my mind wide open.

Leslie Burke is right.

Mind like yours wide open,

you could create a whole new world.

Thank you very much.

You're very welcome.

Maybe we could do this again some time.

Absolutely.

Hey, guys.

-MAY BELLE:

-see? I told you.

Oh, my God, Jess!

Oh!

Where in God's name have you been?

Where have you been?

Mom...

I asked you.

It wasn't like I...

They thought you were dead.

Brenda, hush.

Dead?!

What's going on?

Your friend Leslie's dead.

She drowned in a creek this morning.

Apparently, she tried to swing across on a rope, and it broke.

They think she hit her head.

No...

No, it's...it's not that kind of rope.

It...it couldn't break. It...wouldn't have.

But it did.

I'm sorry, son.

No, you're lying.

She's not even dead. You're lying!

-Jess!

-SHE SOBS

RADIO CHATTER

-That poor girl.

-Shh.

Hi, honey. You want some breakfast?

I...I got to do my chores first.

Your dad's doing everything today. You just sit down.

Jess, your father and I thought we'd go over to the Burkes' today

and pay our respects - just the three of us.

Paying what?

DOG BARKS

Prince Terrien, shh.

You must be Jess.

I'm Mr Aarons. This is my wife Mary.

Very sorry about your loss.

I'm so sorry.

Hi, Jess.

If there's anything we can do, we're right next door.

Sorry we're meeting under these circumstances...

She loved you, you know.

You know, Leslie, she never had much luck

making friends at her old school.

We were hoping that when we moved out here, she would...

She said if it wasn't for you...

Jess, you're the best friend she's ever had.

I want to thank you for that.

You're welcome.

My wife and I were wondering about the service...

We've decided to bring Leslie back home until the service.

Jess.

Next time, we should invite Leslie to go.

She'd like that.

Hey, kid...

Sorry about your friend.

The purpose of object pronouns...

So, looks like you're the fastest kid in the class now, huh?

I-It's a joke, dude.

Uhh!

HE GRUNTS AND SCREAMS

Are you nuts?

Jess Aarons, go wait for me out in the hall.

Silent reading until I get back.

CLASS CHATTERS

Jess...

..when my husband died...

people kept telling me not to cry.

People kept trying to help me to forget.

But I didn't want to forget.

-Excuse me.

-SHE SNIFFLES

Heh. The things that girl came up with.

I don't get students like her too often.

So, I realise...

that if it's hard for me,

how much harder it must be for you.

GUITAR PLAYS

# Some day, I'm finally going to let go

# I know there's a better way

# I want to know what's over that rainbow

# I'm going to get out of here some day... #

Uhh!

Hurry up. We're going to miss the bus!

SHE SIGHS

Hey.

Leslie!

CHIMES RING

-< GIRL:

-Jess!

Leslie?

-<

-Jess!

Leslie!

Lesl...

Jess, help me. I can't get across. Hurry!

May...May Belle?