grinch
1 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 1
Seen is the disgusting GRINCH homestead, clothes thrown about, broken glass on the floor, old bowls of cereal sitting serenely atop stacks of newspaper that are reporting events clearly far too old to be recent (i.e. "Man invents telephone!").
Pan left, catching every inch of the house's interior in all of its unhygienic splendor.
BOOK ON TAPE begins to speak as a narrator would, and starts as the camera begins to
pan.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas alot.
MAX, the GRINCH's dog, walks by, sniffing at an old sandwich. He displays a look of disgust and continues n.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
But the Grinch who lived just North of Who-ville, did NOT!
A bird smacks into one of the few grimy windows.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
The camera continues to pan.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
GRINCH interrupts quickly and angrily after "may have been...". His voice gives us the idea that he is drunk, and it makes it virtually impossible to hear the rest of the line.
GRINCH (V.O.)
WOULD YOU SHUT THE HELL UP?!
As he finishes, the camera finally pans to the BOOK ON TAPE on the extreme left part of the screen. It is a cheap black tape player, its griminess matching the rest of the cave. GRINCH smashes the tape player with a half-empty brown bottle of beer. The BOOK ON TAPE begins to squeak mercilessly.
Pan left a bit farther to reveal the back of the back of the chair that the GRINCH sits in. He yells in frustration before grabbing the tape player. As he hurls it against the wall the camera cuts to a shot from the angle of the wall. Seen is the tape player flying at the camera, which smashes just above the camera.
The shards of plastic settle before the GRINCH rises. The camera pans to follow him. He stumbles towards the kitchen, mumbling about how stupid the whole idea of a tape player is, and how they make out all Grinches to be uncivil, living in a cave (This muttering must be at relatively audible, otherwise audiences will criticize the fact that the GRINCH does not live in a cave).
Cut to the kitchen, the GRINCH stumbles in. He yanks his refrigerator door open, in the process ripping the entire door off. He shouts a series of expletives before slamming the door onto the floor, he kicks it extremely hard, injuring his foot.
He grabs his foot with his hands, clearly in pain. This is a mistake. He loses his balance, hopping backwards on one foot twice before beginning to fall backwards. He crashes through the flimsy screen-door of his house.
2 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 2
A small, filthy yard is revealed, gray-brown snow on the ground. Patches of grass poke through it. To the left is a large hill leading down to Who-ville below.
The GRINCH smashes through the door, tripping down off of his creaky wooden deck that is complete with a few grimy, white, plastic lawn chairs.
He falls to the ground, spread-eagle. Cut to a shot directly above him as he stares upwards, past the camera.
Christmas carols are heard in the background, sung by some of the WHO's.
The GRINCH begins to look angrier as the seconds pass. As the song ends, he shouts.
GRINCH
I... HATE... CHRISTMAS!
He holds the "a" in "Christmas" for a second or two.
OPENING CREDITS ROLL HERE
3 -- Who-ville -- Center of Town -- 3
Seen is the center square of Who-ville, the view is from above it, zooming in slowly. Stores line every inch of the square's perimeter, all the stores with Christmas lights in their window's, full of fake snow. Crowds of WHO's move from shop to shop, browsing. They bear shopping bags full of gifts, wear cutesy Santa Hats. Some sit on benches with their loved ones or significant others, some admire the huge trees decorated with care.
Fresh snow is on the ground, covering everything. Children enjoy the snowfall by indulging in snowball fights.
A reporter talks to her camera, holding a microphone. Various WHO's are behind her, waving at the camera and being stupid.
REPORTER
(has hand on earpiece, takes it off as she begins talking) I couldn't put it better myself, Jim. As you can see, the little Who boys and girls are out in full force today. If we could just...
She wades awkwardly through the sea of WHO's that has accumulated throughout the beginning of her short speech. She is clearly frustrated as, by the time she gets to the location she was traveling to, the crowd is blocking her.
REPORTER
(growing more and more frustrated) I'm just... Well, there was a really fantastic snowball fight going on here, but... well, these nice people just decided... you know... (at the end of her rope). Well, let's just see what we have going on in this little shop.
She has difficulty maneuvering to the shop next to her, which turns out being a service station. MOONSHINER, appearing to be an ordinary WHO but for a slightly more disheveled look, leans against a dumpster, smoking.
REPORTER
(glances around, completely fed up.) Well, that's all from town square! This has been Lucy Who, Who-ly News, Who-ville.
CAMERAMAN
And... we're off.
The REPORTER hits herself repeatedly on the head with a microphone.
Pan to the gas station.
4 -- Who-ville -- Ext. Gas Station -- 4
Cut what was the far corner of the gas station, town square now to the extreme right side of the shot.
MOONSHINER, seen previously leaning against the dumpster now on the far side of the gas station, walks towards what is now the nearest corner. The GRINCH is leaning against the side wall of the gas station, the MOONSHINER leans against the front wall.
MOONSHINER
(discreetly, to GRINCH) You got the money?
The GRINCH drops a bill of currency, in view of the MOONSHINER, who looks at it before walking back to behind the gas station. The GRINCH picks up the money before following MOONSHINER. He stumbles slightly.
5 -- Who-ville -- Behind Gas Station -- 5
The GRINCH pulls out a small stack of bills, handing it to MOONSHINER, who counts it.
GRINCH
(as MOONSHINER is counting) I hate prohibition. Alcohol never (drunk hiccup) hurt anyone.
MOONSHINER grunts and put the money in his back pocket. He reaches into his jacket and proceeds to pull out two paper bags, both of which contain a largish glass bottle (each of which are not visible, but the shape of the bag gives them away.) The GRINCH glances into both before putting them into his coat. The MOONSHINER walks one way, towards the square, and the GRINCH walks the opposite way, towards a dimly lit back alley behind the stores.
6 -- Who-ville -- Alley next to town square -- 6
To the right are a few dilapidated houses, to the left are the backs of the various stores. This part of town is more depressing; the snow is a dirty gray, various garbage cans lie around, some of them spilled onto the ground. A few rats scurry about; crows sit in trees.
The GRINCH walks down the street a small way before four POLICEWHO's on motorcycles quickly descend upon him. They each wear a visored helmet. The GRINCH looks frightened.
POLICEWHO 1
Open your jacket.
GRINCH
No... I don't...
POLICEWHO 2
Sir, we're gonna need you to-
GRINCH
(stepping back) I'm not gonna...
POLICEWHO 3 and POLICEWHO 4 grab him, and POLICEWHO 2 reaches into his jacket, pulling out the paper bags. He rips out a bottle.
POLICEWHO 2
Well, well...
GRINCH
I swear, I was just going to-
POLICEWHO 2 hurls the bottle at the asphalt, it shatters. The GRINCH falls to his knees, pushed by POLICEWHO 3.
GRINCH
Please, just...
POLICEWHO 2 pulls out a baton, bringing it back behind him before bringing it crashing down. Just before it hits, however, cut to...
7 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 7
In place of where the baton would have hit the GRINCH, the GRINCH slams the screen door shut from the inside. He stumbles into his home.
8 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 8
The GRINCH continues to stumble about, heading for the kitchen. His face is seen as the camera cuts to a kitchen shot; he is looking slightly worse for the wear. He is completely beat up.
He opens the freezer door (the refrigerator side door has been jimmied back on with the use of duct tape), and pulls out ice, spilling much of it on the floor. He swears and drops the rest of the ice on the floor. He rummages through a few cabinets, breaking some glasses in the process. He finally finds a plastic bag and fills it with ice. He stumbles through his living room to a sofa, collapsing on it and putting the bag of ice to his head.
He flips on the television. An advertisement comes on.
ANNOUNCER
Are you the kind of Who where everything seems to go right, but you can never seem to convince people of it? What you need is this QuickCapture Goody-Goody Camera! It straps directly to your arm, and when ever anything good is happening, it senses your quickened pulse and begins to record. (more quickly) Disclaimer: it also may record activities in which physical stress is present. Consult your doctor for more information.
The GRINCH breaks out into a string of swearing as the camera fades out.
"People Are Strange" by The Doors is heard.
9 -- Who-ville -- Various Shops -- 9
Scenes 9, 10, and 11 are all part of a montage scene showing the GRINCH preparing to "steal" Christmas. He is incredibly drunk and throughout should be stumbling wildly, laughing at random, and yelling at innocent children.
"People Are Strange" continues to play in the foreground throughout as well.
The GRINCH purchases the following items from various shops. The director should use his best judgment as to what order.
10 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 10
Late afternoon, sun is low in the sky.
The GRINCH stumbles towards his front door, weighed down by the burden of his purchases that are all in the bag.
It is snowing.
11 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 11
The GRINCH stumbles inside and drops his bag next to the kitchen table.
He quickly surveys the mess on the table and uses a single arm to shove everything off to the ground.
Cut to a shot next to the table, angle up to see everything being shoved off, heading towards the camera, burying it.
Cut back to the previous shot. The GRINCH empties his bag onto the table. MAX wanders over, and the GRINCH quickly grabs the dog and duct tapes the reindeer hat to his head. He breaks into a maniacal laugh as the camera fades out.
In a few seconds, "People Are Strange" ends.
12 -- Who-ville -- Who neighborhood -- 12
Above a picturesque WHO neighborhood. It is still snowing; the sun has set. It is clearly night.
Zoom slowly on the neighborhood, moving down the street. Lights go off in various windows.
The GRINCH moves down the street, a dark figure in his Santa suit carrying his bag. As usual, he is drunk. He stumbles towards a dark house, MAX trailing behind him, the reindeer hat still on him.
13 -- Who-ville -- Above WHO House 1 -- 13
Tight shot on the edge of the snowy WHO house, as if the camera is sitting on the roof.
The anchor of the GRINCH's scaling rope flies up, hitting the roof with a clunk. It slides down to catch on the gutter.
14 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 1 -- 14
Wide-shot of the WHO house, the GRINCH can be seen climbing up on the scaling rope he just threw. On the ground below him is his bag, a rope leads from it to the GRINCH. MAX wanders around the yard aimlessly.
Zoom in as he reaches the top. He takes the rope leading to the bag from his belt and pulls the bag up with it.
He throws the bag into the chimney and jumps after it, leaving his scaling rope hanging off the side of the house.
15 -- Who-ville -- Int. WHO House 1 -- 15
A picturesque interior. The house is well-furnished, but not gaudily so. Two candles burn on the mantelpiece, suppling the only light. A Christmas tree is seen, it has clearly been decorated with care. Light Christmas music is heard.
The GRINCH comes sliding down the chimney.
He stumbles quickly over to the tree and starts grabbing all the stockings on the mantelpiece, shoving them into his bag. After he finishes, he moves over to the Christmas tree, beginning to drag it towards the door. He stops for a second, exhausted. He looks over at the candles. He pauses, and then an evil grin spreads across his face.
"I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones comes on in the foreground, introducing another montage.
16 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 1 -- 16
The GRINCH's head pops out of the chimney, blackened with soot. He heaves his bag onto the roof before jumping out after it. Smoke from the chimney is subtly noticeable.
He throws his bag off the roof before jumping out after it, landing in the snow. He stands up.
Cut to a shot directly behind him, the house in the background, out of focus. He is looking at the house. He turns around, his face still in focus. He puts on an evil grin and walks off-screen, the house comes into focus, a blaze can be seen raging through the window.
17 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 2 -- 17
Two propane tanks sit next to the house. Inside, a Christmas tree can be seen through a bay window.
Two silenced pistol shots are heard from off-camera, hitting the propane tanks. They erupt in flame. The window breaks.
Cut to the GRINCH, who is shoving a new clip into his pistol and laughing hysterically. He picks up his bag and runs off. MAX follows him.
18 -- Who-ville -- Int. WHO house 3 -- 18
Distorted through a clear glass vase, the GRINCH can be seen armed with a baseball bat. He swings through, smashing the vases, revealing another picturesque little WHO home. The GRINCH destroys as much as he can with his bat (paintings, lamps, etc.)
19 -- Who-ville - Int. WHO house 4 -- 19
The GRINCH breaks into the window of another WHO home. He grabs the top of the Christmas tree and begins dragging it towards the door, but is interrupted by little CINDY-LOU WHO, who is dressed in a night gown. She looks at him, confused.
Dialogue continues over music.
CINDY-LOU WHO
Santy Claus, why, why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?
GRINCH
(feigning sweetness) Why, if it isn't little Cindy-Lou Who. I'm just bringing the tree back to my shop to fix a short in the lights.
She seems satisfied with this answer. The GRINCH continues after a pause.
GRINCH
Do you want a drink of water, sweety?
CINDY-LOU WHO nods, a little tentative now.
The GRINCH walks to the kitchen and puts the drain stop in before turning on the water. He walks back in to the living room, walking over to CINDY. He is suddenly in a rage.
GRINCH
(shouting at CINDY-LOU) I'LL GIVE YOU A DRINK OF WATER!
He picks her up, she begins screaming. He drags her to the kitchen and holds her head under the water. She struggles for a few seconds before going limp. He lets her collapse to the floor.
The camera stays tight on CINDY as the GRINCH walks out, laughing.
She opens her eyes.
Music continues.
20 -- Who-ville -- Center of town -- 20
The GRINCH stumbles through the center of the town, laughing, spinning around, flailing his arms, etc. As the camera zooms out, we see the town is in bad shape, smoldering shells of houses are commonplace, cars are turned over, Christmas trees litter the street. The lights in a store blink.
Fade out, music fades out.
21 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 21
A shot of the GRINCH home, covered in a fresh batch of white, clean snow. Birds can be heard chirping. It is late morning.
22 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 22
Light streams in the window.
The GRINCH is seen snoring, slumped across an armchair, looking disheveled. He is still in his Santa suit.
MAX wanders over, licking the GRINCH on the face.
The GRINCH wakes up suddenly, falling to the floor. He swears.
He wanders over to the kitchen, taking out a beer from his refrigerator. He walks out the front door.
23 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 23
The GRINCH walks out the front door. He walks over to the edge of the hill, looking at an aerial view of Who-ville. He admires the destruction he caused on the previous night's rampage.
He turns to go back inside when the sound of music drifts lightly towards him. He turns around to look at the source, and sees a single WHO in the middle of the Town Square, singing. A few Who's join him, and now it is obvious that they are singing a Christmas carol. More WHO's begin to flood in.
Cut to a tight shot on the GRINCH's face. After a short pause he sniffs, and a single tear drops down his face.
Cut to a tight shot from the angle of the ground. The tear hits it, and suddenly the back of the GRINCH can be seen, sprinting towards Who-ville.
24 -- Who-ville -- Center of Town -- 24
The carolers are now in full force, hundreds of WHO's forming a circle centered in the square. The GRINCH bursts from the alley and falls down. He picks himself up quickly and runs towards the center of the square. He bursts through the circle of carolers. They stop, staring at him.
He falls to his knees.
GRINCH
(yelling) I'm sorry! I don't know what I was thinking! I'm... I'm sorry!
He collapses into tears.
There is a silent pause, with no sound but the GRINCH's sobbing. A single WHO walks over to him, patting him on the back.
A WHO begins clapping.
Two or three join him before the entire circle bursts into astonished applause.
Pan around behind all of the carolers, the camera moving in a circle. The GRINCH can be seen, the single WHO still comforting him. The GRINCH rises, slowly. The applause dies down.
Cut to a shot of the GRINCH and the single WHO, still standing next to him, comforting him. The WHO slowly stops, walking back to his spot in the circle peacefully.
Tight on the GRINCH, who begins smiling, wiping a tear from his face.
Suddenly, a gunshot rings out. The GRINCH looks stunned, and he falls down to off-screen.
In the background, CINDY-LOU WHO is seen, holding a shotgun. She has a satisfied grin on her face.
Cut to an aerial shot of Who-ville, zoom out slowly.The body of the GRINCH can be seen in the snow, red snow surrounding him. The WHO's continue caroling, CINDY LOU-WHO joins the circle.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
CREDITS ROLL
THE END
Seen is the disgusting GRINCH homestead, clothes thrown about, broken glass on the floor, old bowls of cereal sitting serenely atop stacks of newspaper that are reporting events clearly far too old to be recent (i.e. "Man invents telephone!").
Pan left, catching every inch of the house's interior in all of its unhygienic splendor.
BOOK ON TAPE begins to speak as a narrator would, and starts as the camera begins to
pan.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas alot.
MAX, the GRINCH's dog, walks by, sniffing at an old sandwich. He displays a look of disgust and continues n.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
But the Grinch who lived just North of Who-ville, did NOT!
A bird smacks into one of the few grimy windows.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
The camera continues to pan.
BOOK ON TAPE (V.O.)
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
GRINCH interrupts quickly and angrily after "may have been...". His voice gives us the idea that he is drunk, and it makes it virtually impossible to hear the rest of the line.
GRINCH (V.O.)
WOULD YOU SHUT THE HELL UP?!
As he finishes, the camera finally pans to the BOOK ON TAPE on the extreme left part of the screen. It is a cheap black tape player, its griminess matching the rest of the cave. GRINCH smashes the tape player with a half-empty brown bottle of beer. The BOOK ON TAPE begins to squeak mercilessly.
Pan left a bit farther to reveal the back of the back of the chair that the GRINCH sits in. He yells in frustration before grabbing the tape player. As he hurls it against the wall the camera cuts to a shot from the angle of the wall. Seen is the tape player flying at the camera, which smashes just above the camera.
The shards of plastic settle before the GRINCH rises. The camera pans to follow him. He stumbles towards the kitchen, mumbling about how stupid the whole idea of a tape player is, and how they make out all Grinches to be uncivil, living in a cave (This muttering must be at relatively audible, otherwise audiences will criticize the fact that the GRINCH does not live in a cave).
Cut to the kitchen, the GRINCH stumbles in. He yanks his refrigerator door open, in the process ripping the entire door off. He shouts a series of expletives before slamming the door onto the floor, he kicks it extremely hard, injuring his foot.
He grabs his foot with his hands, clearly in pain. This is a mistake. He loses his balance, hopping backwards on one foot twice before beginning to fall backwards. He crashes through the flimsy screen-door of his house.
2 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 2
A small, filthy yard is revealed, gray-brown snow on the ground. Patches of grass poke through it. To the left is a large hill leading down to Who-ville below.
The GRINCH smashes through the door, tripping down off of his creaky wooden deck that is complete with a few grimy, white, plastic lawn chairs.
He falls to the ground, spread-eagle. Cut to a shot directly above him as he stares upwards, past the camera.
Christmas carols are heard in the background, sung by some of the WHO's.
The GRINCH begins to look angrier as the seconds pass. As the song ends, he shouts.
GRINCH
I... HATE... CHRISTMAS!
He holds the "a" in "Christmas" for a second or two.
OPENING CREDITS ROLL HERE
3 -- Who-ville -- Center of Town -- 3
Seen is the center square of Who-ville, the view is from above it, zooming in slowly. Stores line every inch of the square's perimeter, all the stores with Christmas lights in their window's, full of fake snow. Crowds of WHO's move from shop to shop, browsing. They bear shopping bags full of gifts, wear cutesy Santa Hats. Some sit on benches with their loved ones or significant others, some admire the huge trees decorated with care.
Fresh snow is on the ground, covering everything. Children enjoy the snowfall by indulging in snowball fights.
A reporter talks to her camera, holding a microphone. Various WHO's are behind her, waving at the camera and being stupid.
REPORTER
(has hand on earpiece, takes it off as she begins talking) I couldn't put it better myself, Jim. As you can see, the little Who boys and girls are out in full force today. If we could just...
She wades awkwardly through the sea of WHO's that has accumulated throughout the beginning of her short speech. She is clearly frustrated as, by the time she gets to the location she was traveling to, the crowd is blocking her.
REPORTER
(growing more and more frustrated) I'm just... Well, there was a really fantastic snowball fight going on here, but... well, these nice people just decided... you know... (at the end of her rope). Well, let's just see what we have going on in this little shop.
She has difficulty maneuvering to the shop next to her, which turns out being a service station. MOONSHINER, appearing to be an ordinary WHO but for a slightly more disheveled look, leans against a dumpster, smoking.
REPORTER
(glances around, completely fed up.) Well, that's all from town square! This has been Lucy Who, Who-ly News, Who-ville.
CAMERAMAN
And... we're off.
The REPORTER hits herself repeatedly on the head with a microphone.
Pan to the gas station.
4 -- Who-ville -- Ext. Gas Station -- 4
Cut what was the far corner of the gas station, town square now to the extreme right side of the shot.
MOONSHINER, seen previously leaning against the dumpster now on the far side of the gas station, walks towards what is now the nearest corner. The GRINCH is leaning against the side wall of the gas station, the MOONSHINER leans against the front wall.
MOONSHINER
(discreetly, to GRINCH) You got the money?
The GRINCH drops a bill of currency, in view of the MOONSHINER, who looks at it before walking back to behind the gas station. The GRINCH picks up the money before following MOONSHINER. He stumbles slightly.
5 -- Who-ville -- Behind Gas Station -- 5
The GRINCH pulls out a small stack of bills, handing it to MOONSHINER, who counts it.
GRINCH
(as MOONSHINER is counting) I hate prohibition. Alcohol never (drunk hiccup) hurt anyone.
MOONSHINER grunts and put the money in his back pocket. He reaches into his jacket and proceeds to pull out two paper bags, both of which contain a largish glass bottle (each of which are not visible, but the shape of the bag gives them away.) The GRINCH glances into both before putting them into his coat. The MOONSHINER walks one way, towards the square, and the GRINCH walks the opposite way, towards a dimly lit back alley behind the stores.
6 -- Who-ville -- Alley next to town square -- 6
To the right are a few dilapidated houses, to the left are the backs of the various stores. This part of town is more depressing; the snow is a dirty gray, various garbage cans lie around, some of them spilled onto the ground. A few rats scurry about; crows sit in trees.
The GRINCH walks down the street a small way before four POLICEWHO's on motorcycles quickly descend upon him. They each wear a visored helmet. The GRINCH looks frightened.
POLICEWHO 1
Open your jacket.
GRINCH
No... I don't...
POLICEWHO 2
Sir, we're gonna need you to-
GRINCH
(stepping back) I'm not gonna...
POLICEWHO 3 and POLICEWHO 4 grab him, and POLICEWHO 2 reaches into his jacket, pulling out the paper bags. He rips out a bottle.
POLICEWHO 2
Well, well...
GRINCH
I swear, I was just going to-
POLICEWHO 2 hurls the bottle at the asphalt, it shatters. The GRINCH falls to his knees, pushed by POLICEWHO 3.
GRINCH
Please, just...
POLICEWHO 2 pulls out a baton, bringing it back behind him before bringing it crashing down. Just before it hits, however, cut to...
7 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 7
In place of where the baton would have hit the GRINCH, the GRINCH slams the screen door shut from the inside. He stumbles into his home.
8 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 8
The GRINCH continues to stumble about, heading for the kitchen. His face is seen as the camera cuts to a kitchen shot; he is looking slightly worse for the wear. He is completely beat up.
He opens the freezer door (the refrigerator side door has been jimmied back on with the use of duct tape), and pulls out ice, spilling much of it on the floor. He swears and drops the rest of the ice on the floor. He rummages through a few cabinets, breaking some glasses in the process. He finally finds a plastic bag and fills it with ice. He stumbles through his living room to a sofa, collapsing on it and putting the bag of ice to his head.
He flips on the television. An advertisement comes on.
ANNOUNCER
Are you the kind of Who where everything seems to go right, but you can never seem to convince people of it? What you need is this QuickCapture Goody-Goody Camera! It straps directly to your arm, and when ever anything good is happening, it senses your quickened pulse and begins to record. (more quickly) Disclaimer: it also may record activities in which physical stress is present. Consult your doctor for more information.
The GRINCH breaks out into a string of swearing as the camera fades out.
"People Are Strange" by The Doors is heard.
9 -- Who-ville -- Various Shops -- 9
Scenes 9, 10, and 11 are all part of a montage scene showing the GRINCH preparing to "steal" Christmas. He is incredibly drunk and throughout should be stumbling wildly, laughing at random, and yelling at innocent children.
"People Are Strange" continues to play in the foreground throughout as well.
The GRINCH purchases the following items from various shops. The director should use his best judgment as to what order.
- Duct Tape
- Reindeer Hat
- Santa Outfit
- 9mm Pistol, ammunition, and silencer
- Scaling Rope
- Large Red Bag (similar to that of Santa Clause's bag full of toys)
10 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 10
Late afternoon, sun is low in the sky.
The GRINCH stumbles towards his front door, weighed down by the burden of his purchases that are all in the bag.
It is snowing.
11 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 11
The GRINCH stumbles inside and drops his bag next to the kitchen table.
He quickly surveys the mess on the table and uses a single arm to shove everything off to the ground.
Cut to a shot next to the table, angle up to see everything being shoved off, heading towards the camera, burying it.
Cut back to the previous shot. The GRINCH empties his bag onto the table. MAX wanders over, and the GRINCH quickly grabs the dog and duct tapes the reindeer hat to his head. He breaks into a maniacal laugh as the camera fades out.
In a few seconds, "People Are Strange" ends.
12 -- Who-ville -- Who neighborhood -- 12
Above a picturesque WHO neighborhood. It is still snowing; the sun has set. It is clearly night.
Zoom slowly on the neighborhood, moving down the street. Lights go off in various windows.
The GRINCH moves down the street, a dark figure in his Santa suit carrying his bag. As usual, he is drunk. He stumbles towards a dark house, MAX trailing behind him, the reindeer hat still on him.
13 -- Who-ville -- Above WHO House 1 -- 13
Tight shot on the edge of the snowy WHO house, as if the camera is sitting on the roof.
The anchor of the GRINCH's scaling rope flies up, hitting the roof with a clunk. It slides down to catch on the gutter.
14 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 1 -- 14
Wide-shot of the WHO house, the GRINCH can be seen climbing up on the scaling rope he just threw. On the ground below him is his bag, a rope leads from it to the GRINCH. MAX wanders around the yard aimlessly.
Zoom in as he reaches the top. He takes the rope leading to the bag from his belt and pulls the bag up with it.
He throws the bag into the chimney and jumps after it, leaving his scaling rope hanging off the side of the house.
15 -- Who-ville -- Int. WHO House 1 -- 15
A picturesque interior. The house is well-furnished, but not gaudily so. Two candles burn on the mantelpiece, suppling the only light. A Christmas tree is seen, it has clearly been decorated with care. Light Christmas music is heard.
The GRINCH comes sliding down the chimney.
He stumbles quickly over to the tree and starts grabbing all the stockings on the mantelpiece, shoving them into his bag. After he finishes, he moves over to the Christmas tree, beginning to drag it towards the door. He stops for a second, exhausted. He looks over at the candles. He pauses, and then an evil grin spreads across his face.
"I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones comes on in the foreground, introducing another montage.
16 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 1 -- 16
The GRINCH's head pops out of the chimney, blackened with soot. He heaves his bag onto the roof before jumping out after it. Smoke from the chimney is subtly noticeable.
He throws his bag off the roof before jumping out after it, landing in the snow. He stands up.
Cut to a shot directly behind him, the house in the background, out of focus. He is looking at the house. He turns around, his face still in focus. He puts on an evil grin and walks off-screen, the house comes into focus, a blaze can be seen raging through the window.
17 -- Who-ville -- Ext. WHO House 2 -- 17
Two propane tanks sit next to the house. Inside, a Christmas tree can be seen through a bay window.
Two silenced pistol shots are heard from off-camera, hitting the propane tanks. They erupt in flame. The window breaks.
Cut to the GRINCH, who is shoving a new clip into his pistol and laughing hysterically. He picks up his bag and runs off. MAX follows him.
18 -- Who-ville -- Int. WHO house 3 -- 18
Distorted through a clear glass vase, the GRINCH can be seen armed with a baseball bat. He swings through, smashing the vases, revealing another picturesque little WHO home. The GRINCH destroys as much as he can with his bat (paintings, lamps, etc.)
19 -- Who-ville - Int. WHO house 4 -- 19
The GRINCH breaks into the window of another WHO home. He grabs the top of the Christmas tree and begins dragging it towards the door, but is interrupted by little CINDY-LOU WHO, who is dressed in a night gown. She looks at him, confused.
Dialogue continues over music.
CINDY-LOU WHO
Santy Claus, why, why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?
GRINCH
(feigning sweetness) Why, if it isn't little Cindy-Lou Who. I'm just bringing the tree back to my shop to fix a short in the lights.
She seems satisfied with this answer. The GRINCH continues after a pause.
GRINCH
Do you want a drink of water, sweety?
CINDY-LOU WHO nods, a little tentative now.
The GRINCH walks to the kitchen and puts the drain stop in before turning on the water. He walks back in to the living room, walking over to CINDY. He is suddenly in a rage.
GRINCH
(shouting at CINDY-LOU) I'LL GIVE YOU A DRINK OF WATER!
He picks her up, she begins screaming. He drags her to the kitchen and holds her head under the water. She struggles for a few seconds before going limp. He lets her collapse to the floor.
The camera stays tight on CINDY as the GRINCH walks out, laughing.
She opens her eyes.
Music continues.
20 -- Who-ville -- Center of town -- 20
The GRINCH stumbles through the center of the town, laughing, spinning around, flailing his arms, etc. As the camera zooms out, we see the town is in bad shape, smoldering shells of houses are commonplace, cars are turned over, Christmas trees litter the street. The lights in a store blink.
Fade out, music fades out.
21 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 21
A shot of the GRINCH home, covered in a fresh batch of white, clean snow. Birds can be heard chirping. It is late morning.
22 -- Int. Grinch Home -- 22
Light streams in the window.
The GRINCH is seen snoring, slumped across an armchair, looking disheveled. He is still in his Santa suit.
MAX wanders over, licking the GRINCH on the face.
The GRINCH wakes up suddenly, falling to the floor. He swears.
He wanders over to the kitchen, taking out a beer from his refrigerator. He walks out the front door.
23 -- Ext. Grinch Home -- 23
The GRINCH walks out the front door. He walks over to the edge of the hill, looking at an aerial view of Who-ville. He admires the destruction he caused on the previous night's rampage.
He turns to go back inside when the sound of music drifts lightly towards him. He turns around to look at the source, and sees a single WHO in the middle of the Town Square, singing. A few Who's join him, and now it is obvious that they are singing a Christmas carol. More WHO's begin to flood in.
Cut to a tight shot on the GRINCH's face. After a short pause he sniffs, and a single tear drops down his face.
Cut to a tight shot from the angle of the ground. The tear hits it, and suddenly the back of the GRINCH can be seen, sprinting towards Who-ville.
24 -- Who-ville -- Center of Town -- 24
The carolers are now in full force, hundreds of WHO's forming a circle centered in the square. The GRINCH bursts from the alley and falls down. He picks himself up quickly and runs towards the center of the square. He bursts through the circle of carolers. They stop, staring at him.
He falls to his knees.
GRINCH
(yelling) I'm sorry! I don't know what I was thinking! I'm... I'm sorry!
He collapses into tears.
There is a silent pause, with no sound but the GRINCH's sobbing. A single WHO walks over to him, patting him on the back.
A WHO begins clapping.
Two or three join him before the entire circle bursts into astonished applause.
Pan around behind all of the carolers, the camera moving in a circle. The GRINCH can be seen, the single WHO still comforting him. The GRINCH rises, slowly. The applause dies down.
Cut to a shot of the GRINCH and the single WHO, still standing next to him, comforting him. The WHO slowly stops, walking back to his spot in the circle peacefully.
Tight on the GRINCH, who begins smiling, wiping a tear from his face.
Suddenly, a gunshot rings out. The GRINCH looks stunned, and he falls down to off-screen.
In the background, CINDY-LOU WHO is seen, holding a shotgun. She has a satisfied grin on her face.
Cut to an aerial shot of Who-ville, zoom out slowly.The body of the GRINCH can be seen in the snow, red snow surrounding him. The WHO's continue caroling, CINDY LOU-WHO joins the circle.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
CREDITS ROLL
THE END
<< Home