NEW MOON
Written By
Melissa Rosenberg
Adapted from the Novel by
Stephenie Meyer
SECOND DRAFT
Dec. 21, 2008
*CREDITS OVER:*
A FULL MOON FILLS THE FRAME -- Luminous, tinged with gold. *
Slowly, a penumbral shadow begins to spread across the *moon’s surface, darkening it from left to right...*
BELLA (V.O.)
“These violent delights have violent ends...”... until the moon is enveloped in shadow; a new moon... *which disappears into the darkness.*
OVER BLACK - A RUFFLED TULIP appears, isolated against the *blackness. *
BELLA (V.O.)*
“... And in their triumph die, like *fire and powder...”
*HOLD ON the tulip as the background FADES UP around it to *reveal we’re now in -- *
EXT. FOREST - ECU ON THE TULIP - DAY*
It’s surrounded by the dark, lush, greenery of the forest *floor. *
“... Which, as they kiss, consume...”
*SUDDENLY A FOOT SLAMS DOWN next to the tulip, nearly *crushing it. As the foot immediately lifts off again, it *grazes the tulip, knocking its petals off –
*ON THE RUNNING PAIR OF FEET *They abruptly change direction. Race on.
INCLUDE BELLA *SWAN, desperately searching the woods -- SHORT, SURREAL CUTS *of her frenetic quest
--BELLA
Edward!
Ahead, through the darkness of the thick forest, she SEES *SUNLIGHT; a clearing. She hurtles toward it
--EXT. MEADOW – DAY
BELLA
-- as Bella bursts into the sunlight. It’s the meadow where *Edwardrevealedhis skin in the sun. But he’s not here now.
*Instead, Bella SEES --ACROSS THE MEADOW -- AN OLD WOMAN, white hair framing her withered face. Bella’s eyes widen with surprise as she recognizes –
BELLA... Gran?
GRAN looks as surprised as Bella. Bella smiles and waves, as does Gran. Bella starts toward her but –
EDWARD (O.S.)
Bella...She spins to the voice behind her to SEE –
EDWARD emerge from the forest, his alabaster skin in sharp *contrast to the shadows. She beams at him, relieved, in love... until he moves to edge of the shade, inches from sun’s rays--
*BELLA
Stop - she’ll see!
But Edward just smiles and steps into the sunlight.
*Sunbeams SHATTER off his skin like a thousand rainbow *shards, as if he were made of diamonds. An awesome sight.
JUMP CUT TO: Edward now inches from Bella, still glistening, entrancing her. She wraps an arm around his waist, then arranges her face into a calm expression. They turn to –
*Gran, whose expression is calm, too. Gran’s arm is extended, as if she also holds someone.
JUMP CUT TO: Bella and Edward, only feet from Gran now. Bella’s about to present Edward, but then SEES that --Gran mimics Bella’s movement exactly. With growing horror, Bella reaches out to Gran... and touches glass!
*PULL BACK TO FIND Gran is now surrounded by a GILDED FRAME.
*It’s a MIRROR, mounted on a wall with wallpaper reflecting a *surreal dreamlike version of the forest behind Bella. *
Oh my God.
-- as she realizes that’s not Gran; it’s Bella, sixty-five *years older.
2.
Bella spins to her perfect, eternally 17-year-old Edward. He takes her now WRINKLED, age-spotted hand. Kisses it. Then he leans in very close to her 83-YEAR-OLDFACE and *whispers into her ear --*
EDWARD
Happy birthday.
SMASH TO:
*INT. BELLA’S BEDROOM
- MORNINGON BELLA - her eyes snap open. She lies atop her bed. A book, “ROMEO AND JULIET,” lays open on her chest. Bella sits up, the dream still weighing on her...
INCLUDE HER ROOM, cluttered with pictures of Edward, of the *Cullens; memorabilia of all things Edward.
A KNOCK on the door. CHIEF CHARLIE SWAN enters carrying two gifts, one wrapped, one not.
CHARLIE
Happy birthday, Bells.
Dad, we agreed, no gifts.
At least mine’s not wrapped. He hands it to her. It’s a digital camera. Bella’s pleased, despite herself.
Okay, this is actually kind of great. Thanks, Dad.
(re: wrapped gift)Goes with this one from your mom. We coordinated - well, she coordinated me.
Bella opens the wrapped gift to reveal a SCRAPBOOK.
To put your pictures in, record your senior year -- man, senior year. How’d you get so old so fast?
Not that old.
3.
I don’t know. Is that a wrinkle?
Bella races to the mirror, searches her face.
I was kidding.
So not funny, Dad.
EXT. FORKS HIGHWAY – DAY
An AERIAL VIEW of this lush, green, overcast landscape; the rainy world that is Forks. FIND Bella’s old truck as it lumbers down the two-lane highway...
It was just a dream... but also my worst nightmare.
*EXT. FORKS HIGH SCHOOL - PARKING LOT - DAY Bella climbs out of her truck, shouldering her book bag. She looks around the parking lot, seeking Edward –
*MIKE (O.S.)
Wherefore art thou, Bella?
She turns as MIKE, ERIC, ANGELA and JESSICA approach.
MIKE
You finish the Shakespeare assignment?
JESSICA
He means will you finish his assignment?
No, I don’t -- okay I do.
I can help you with it -- but first --(pulling out her camera)I need a picture. My mom’s expecting a scrapbook full of memories.
ANGELA(holds up her own camera)
I take ‘em, I don’t pose for ‘em.
You dotoday. *
4.
She pushes Angela to the others; they arrange themselves –
*JESSICA
You’ll photoshop my nose if it looks *big, right?*
ERIC
Don’t worry, I’m in the picture; no one will be looking at you guys.
Jessica scoffs, Angela points her camera at Bella; Mike and Eric joust -- Bella aims—
*FULL FRAME - THE CAMERA’S DIGITAL SCREEN *It FREEZES on them, fun, delightfully carefree... but when *the camera lowers, their playfulness has dissipated as they *see someone behind Bella. She turns to see -- *EDWARD climbing out of his silver Volvo.
MIKE*(dry)*
Oh good. Cullen’s here.
*JESSICA*(drier)*
Yay.
*The friends, uncomfortable, move off –
ERIC*
Check ya later.
-- But Bella doesn’t register their tone. She’s transfixed *by Edward who approaches, eyes never leaving hers. He *reaches her, washing away all her concerns –
-- except that one. Her face falls.
Don’t remind me.
EDWARD*
Your birth is definitely a day to *celebrate.*
BELLA*
Not for me.*
5.
Eighteen is a little early to be *worrying about your age.
It’s one year older than you.
Bella, I’m ninety.
True. Maybe I should be creeped out *that I’m dating such an old guy.
*EDWARD*(smiles, amused)*
Yes, it’s the age that’s creepy, not *the fact that you’re dating a vampire.
*Then he kisses her, tenderly, adoringly. She kisses him *back... despite their restraint, the passion mounts... until he pulls away. As always, both are left wanting more. Edward nods toward the school building --*
Class.
*BELLA*
Right. Class.
*Catching their breath, they start toward school...but *Edward stops, hearing something in his mind. Irritated.*
Someone wants you.
JACOB (O.S.)
Bella!
JACOB BLACK, 16, jogs up, carrying a used car part, long, black ponytail wagging. He looks 18 due to his tall, muscular body, but the gregarious Jacob is a little klutzy, *still catching up to his growth spurt. He nods to Edward, who moves off to the side but eyes them.
God, Jacob, what are they feeding you on that rez, steroids? You’re huge.
JACOB
Wouldn’t seem so drastic if you came around more.
6.
I will, soon. But isn’t your school, like, ten miles that way?
JACOB(re: car part)
Just here buying this for the Rabbit. I’m almost done with the rebuild. Gotta come take a ride when it’s done.*(asif remembering) Oh, and hey, happy birthday. Your dad told my dad.
So...He pulls from his coat a small woven DREAMCATCHER, feathers *dangling from it. He hands it to her.
I saw it the other day and thought of you - it catches bad dreams.
This, I need. It’s great.
The bell’s about to ring.
The bell RINGS. Jacob gives Edward an amiable smile, with *just a hint of snark.*
JACOB*
Ooh, look at you, all psychic.*
I don’t have that particular gift. *But I can read a watch. I’m clever *that way.
*They share a tight smile. Bella intercedes, squeezing *Jacob’s arm. *
Bye, Jake, and thank you.
Edward guides her away. As they walk off –
*EDWARD
How come Jacob Black gets to give you a gift and I don’t?
He’s just a friend.
7.
“Friends” don’t spend two weeks looking for the perfect dreamcatcher.
Stop reading his mind if he bothers you so much.
Little hard to tune out.
She just laughs, but Edward looks back at Jacob with resentment. Jacob holds his gaze.
INT. FORKS HIGH SCHOOL - CORRIDOR – DAY
Edward and Bella enter the double doors -- suddenly a small, wrapped gift appears in Bella’s face.
ALICE presents it.
ALICE
Happy –
Shh!
-- Alice whispers in her ear as she hugs Bella –
ALICE-- birthday.
Over Alice’s shoulder, Bella sees JASPER, keeping his distance. He offers her a pleasant nod. She tries to hide *Alice’s present, hoping no one noticed
Alice, didn’t I say no gifts?
*ALICE
You did. I didn’t. I’ve already seen you open it and guess what? You love it.
You had a vision about my birthday.
And about the green dress you’ll be wearing to your party tonight. Great color on you.
... My party? *
8.
ALICE*
Please? It’ll be fun.*
BELLA*(beat, confused)*
I... guess I can deal --*
ALICE*(hurriedly)*
-- Great! See ya at seven!
*Alice hugs her again and races off before she can change her *mind. Which is when Bella realizes --*
Wait, Jasper, no fair with the mood *control.
*He offers an apologetic bow before Alice drags him away. *
Vampires. You can’t trust them.
*CUT TO:CLOSE ON A T.V. MONITOR - Zeffirelli’s ‘68 “Romeo and Juliet” plays. The suicide scene.
ROMEO
Arms, take your last embrace, and lips, O you, the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss...
PULL BACK TO INCLUDE --INT. FORKS HIGH SCHOOL - ENGLISH CLASS – DAY
The room is dark as we PAN OVER the class, some students entertained, some moved, Mike trying not to fall asleep. The teacher, MR. BERTY, mouths every word --
Here's to my love! (drinks)O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick.
FIND Edward and Bella in the back of the room, desks pushed together, whisper-talking.
I hate being... celebrated.*
9.
Come on, the last real birthday any of *us had was Emmett’s - I think Bing Crosby was on top of the charts. (then)*You’ll be helping us feel normal for a *night.
*Bella sits back, knowing she’s trapped.
He kisses her hand.*
There are worse tragedies than a *birthday. Look at Romeo. He’s *responsible for his wife’s death. Who *could live with that?*(looks at the screen)*... Though I do envy him one thing.*
BELLA(blanches slightly)
Juliet’s alright... if you like that obviously beautiful sort of thing.
Not the girl - the suicide.(off her look)*Nearly impossible for my kind. But humans, a little poison, dagger to the heart. There are so many options.*
BELLA(appalled)
Why would you even think about that? He turns her wrist over, runs his hand over the horseshoe *shaped SCAR on her forearm.*
EDWARD(shrugs)*
I considered it. Once. When James *had you trapped. *
FLASHPOP TO “Twilight” - In the ballet studio, JAMES grabs *Bella’s arm and BITES –
*BACK ON EDWARD - pained.*
I didn’t know if I’d find you in time. If I’d gotten you killed –
It wouldn’t have been your fault –
10.
Either way, I had a plan. *
What plan?*
There are... ways for us. At least *one way. I would have gone to Italy, *provoked the Volturi...*
The who?*
MR. BERTY*
...
TWILIGHT188