DVDizzy Forum

I found a script of the early version of the ending for Disney's The Little Mermaid! It's actually been passed around a few pages on the internet. I lost the page I originally found this.

I know a lot of people complained about the large amount of Little Mermaid threads already, but this didn't fit with the discussion or the DVD press release threads, so I thought it should stand on its own, since it is pretty big (in size and in deal).

I had told UncleEd I was gonna post this, but I finally did way late....sorry.

There are a lot of interesting things in here. Does anyone remember when in the press release for The Little Mermaid Special Edition 2-Disc DVD, it listed one of the songs as:

“Poor Souls,” a cabaret-style tune delivered by Ursula following Ariel’s transformation from mermaid tail to legs

Well, the song is called "Poor Souls" in this early script! For those of you who listened to the commentary on the DVD, you know that the shark that chases Ariel and Flounder, whose name is Glut, was originally going to return later in the story, and Flounder was going to defeat him. Well, if you didn't already know how that was going to happen, read this script to find out! Interestingly, a lot of the things that happen in this script but didn't happen in the movie made it into some of the books based on the movie, I know because I read a coloring book with words that had Scuttle bringing the mirror up and Ursula being defeated differently. But Flotsam and Jetsam tried to stop Ariel from getting to the ship instead of Glut in that book. One thing that is mentioned towards the end of the script is a "whale's skeleton and pool of light". So Ursula's lair could be a whale or a sea dragon or a monster, but I guess it was once planned as a whale. I really doubt they decided on a whale in the finished film, because I've never seen a whale that looks like this:


The "pool of light" could be just some glow around the skeleton, but in that same coloring book I read, it said Ursula watched Ariel in her "shimmering pool", and it was referring to a pool of light or something in her cauldron, where you could draw what Ursula sees. Anyway, there are tons of other interesting things I'll let you guys comment on.

There may be some spelling or grammar mistakes, or even missing or half-finished dialogue. This is either some original mistakes or I copied the script wrong, but all I did was copy and paste, so I didn't deliberately change anything:


<center>The Little Mermaid Early Original Script</center>

It is a bright, sunny morning. Scuttle is excitedly flying toward the palace.


INT. ARIEL'S BEDROOM


Ariel is asleep in her bed with a happy smile on her face. She is dreaming of romance with Eric. Sebastian is also asleep, on the stand beside the bed, SNORING loudly. Scuttle swoops through the window and enters the bedroom.


SCUTTLE
(shouting)
Ariel! WAKE UP!!!


Sebastian wakes up with a jolt in reaction to Scuttle's screaming. Scuttle flies over to Ariel and frantically pulls at her clothes and her hair. She wakes up groggily.


SCUTTLE (cont.)
I just heard the news!
Congratulations, kiddo! We did it!


Ariel stares at the seagull blankly.


SEBASTIAN
What is dis idiot babbling about?


SCUTTLE
(winking conspiratorily)
Right! As if you two didn't know!
The whole town's buzzin' about the
Prince getting' himself hitched this afternoon!


Sebastian and Ariel both look at each other, astonished. Scuttle shakes Ariel's hand.


SCUTTLE
You crazy kidder! Just wanted
to wish you luck! Catch ya later Wouldn't
miss it!


Scuttle takes off out the window leaving a perplexed Ariel and Sebastian. Ariel lights up hopefully. Could this mean her dream might actually be coming true? Suddenly they hear Eric's voice shouting from downstairs.


ERIC (O.S.)
Ariel! Ariel, come down here!
I've got something to tell you!


Ariel beams, her heart leaping. She gives Sebastian a big kiss, grabs a robe and happily runs out the door. Sebastian hurries after her.


PALACE HALLWAY


Ariel comes dashing down the long flight of stairs with a big smile on her face. But then she stops dead in her tracks. Eric is with a very beautiful, dark haired MAIDEN. Grimbsy and Carlotta are standing toward the back of the room, looking somber. As Eric speaks, there is something odd about his manner. He seems almost as if he were in a hypnotic trance. The maiden clings tightly to Eric.


ERIC
Ariel I I'd like you to meet Vanessa
She saved my life a few weeks ago. I've
Been trying to find her ever since


The maiden smiles sweetly at Ariel. Ariel draws back in shock and confusion. How can this be? Sebastian watches from the staircase. He is also perplexed.


ERIC (cont.)
We're we're going to be married
on board ship at sea this afternoon
at sunset. I I want you to
be there, Ariel I


Ariel is crushed. She shakes her head in disbelief. Her whole world is collapsing around her. She looks over at Grimbsy and Carlotta. They are obviously distressed about the situation but there is nothing they can do. Angry and confused, trying to fight back her tears, she reels away from Eric and races out of the room.


ERIC (cont.)
Ariel ?


Eric starts after Ariel but the maiden gently pulls him back. She kisses him sweetly. Unseen by anyone but the audience, a diabolical smile crosses her face. The scarf around her neck lips slightly and we see the nautilus shell, with Ariel's voice, handing around her neck.


DISOLVE TO:


EXT. SEAPORT AFTERNOON


The brightly decorated wedding ship is departing the harbor. It's passengers include Eric and the maiden, Grimbsy and Carlotta, Max, and the wedding party. The sun is looming brightly in the sky.


EXT. DOCK


Ariel is sitting on a platform on the dock, watching the wedding ship depart in the distance. Her bare feet dangle in the water. She looks very sad and forlorn. Her heart is broken. Flounder nuzzles up to Ariel in a comforting gesture. Sebastian leans over to her, overcome with emotion.


SEBASTIAN
(on the brink of tears)
What can I say! Humans are slime!
Dere is no doubt about it!


Ariel forces a smile and gently pets Sebastian. Then, as she looks wistfully at her reflection in the water, we hear a faint reprise of "Life Under the Sea" in a melancholy strain. She sees a school of fish swim by and seems lost in thought about the world she left behind. She gazes out at the departing wedding ship which is now just barely visible on the edge of the horizon. She looks up at the sun.


ANGLE ON THE SUN ARIEL'S P.O.V.


It is low in the sky. Sunset is not far off. We hear the voice of Ursula reciting her conditions echoing in Ariel's mind.


URSULA (cont.)
before the sun sets on the third day
the third day the third day


EXT. WEDDING SHIP AT SEA


Scuttle is happily flying toward the wedding ship. He reacts, puzzled, as he hears the sound of Ariel's SINGING, coming from the ship. He flies down to investigate. The voice is emanating from a porthole in the lower deck. Scuttle peers inside.


INT. SHIP'S CABIN SCUTTLE'S P.O.V.


The maiden is alone in the cabin donning a beautiful wedding dress. She is singing a variation of the Witch's song "POUR SOULS."


URSULA
WHAT A LOVELY LITTLE BRIDE I'LL MAKE
MY DEAR I'LL LOOK DIVINE
THINGS ARE WORKING OUT ACCORDING TO MY
ULTIMATE DESIGN
SOON I'LL HAVE THAT LITTLE MERMAID
AND THE OCEAN WILL BE MINE


She LAUGHS as she passes in front of a mirror. Scuttle's eyes widen. The reflection in the mirror is that of


SCUTTLE
(gasps)
The Sea Witch!!


EXT. OUTSIDE PORTHOLE ANGLE ON SCUTTLE


Scuttle is completely flustered. He flies around in ten different directions at once.


SCUTTLE
Oh no!! She's gonna Somebody's gotta
What am I gonna I've gotta
(screeches loudly)
ARIELLLL!!!


Scuttle takes off, flying in a wild frenzy back to shore.


EXT. DOCKS


Ariel is still with her friends sitting on the dock.


SCUTTLE
(screaming)
Ariel!!


They look up and see Scuttle circling overheard. Scuttle spots them and crashlands on the dock next to Ariel.


SCUTTLE (cont.)
(out of breath)
Ariel the Prince he's
he's not marrying you!


SEBASTIAN
We know dat, you dodo!


SCUTTLE
I I was flying looked in the
porthole I saw I saw I saw


Sebastian WHACKS the gull sharply on his beak.


SCUTTLE
THE SEA WITCH!!! The Prince is
marrying the Sea Witch in disguise!!


They all react in shock and surprise.

SEBASTIAN
Are you sure about dis?


SCUTTLE
Have I ever been wrong?


Ariel looks out to sea. The boat is just barely visible on the horizon.


FLOUNDER
Wh-what are we g-gonna do?!


Sebastian looks around desperately. He spots a barrel tied to a post. He SNAPS the rope with his claws. The barrel tumbles into the ocean, floating on the surface.


SEBASTIAN
Ariel! Grab on to dat!


Ariel jumps into the water, holding on to the barrel to stay afloat. Sebastian dives in after her. He grabs the rope and thrusts it at Flounder.


SEBASTIAN (cont.)
Flounder! Get her to dat boat as
Fast as your fins can carry you!


FLOUNDER
(nodding)
R-r-right!


Flounder takes off, pulling the barrel, with Ariel on top, in the direction of the boat.


SEBASTIAN
I got to get de Sea King! He got to
know 'bout dis!


SCUTTLE
What about me?


SEBASTIAN
You got to find some way to stall
dat wedding!


Sebastian swims off. Scuttle flies around nervously.


SCUTTLE
Stall the wedding? How do I
What can I


Scuttle lights up as he gets an idea. He immediately flies off, emitting a strange CAWING, horn-like sound that resembles a military call to arms.


ANGLE ON THE SUN


It is now beginning to set over the horizon.


EST. WEDDING SHIP


On the upper deck of the ship, the wedding ceremony is beginning. The MINISTER, an extremely elderly gentleman, is standing at a podium at the front of the ship. There is a great deal of pomp and circumstance. Some buglers blow a FANFARE, and everyone quiets down. A group of musicians begin a variation of a WEDDING MARCH.


The maiden, looking resplendent in the beautiful wedding dress, starts down the aisle. Eric follows, dressed to the hilt, still with a slightly dazed look on his face. Grimsby, Eric's best man, walks behind him. Eric and the maiden take their place in front of the podium.


MINISTER
(speaking very slowly
and deliberately)
We are gathered here today


EXT. SKY ABOVE OCEAN


Scuttle is soaring through the skies, SHRIEKING out his call to arms at a fever pitch.


ANGLE ON TURTLE


A SEA TURTLE pokes his head out of the water.


TURTLE
Sounds like an emergency!


Scuttle swoops down over the turtle, emitting his YELL. The turtle takes off after Scuttle.


ANGLE ON OTTERS


Scuttle flies by a group of OTTERS, sunning themselves on rocks. When they hear his call they perk up, start clapping their pays excitedly, and dive into the water.


ANGLE ON BEACH


Scuttle soars past a long beach crowded with sea creatures. They all respond to his call to action. Some LOBSTERS and a STARFISH hurry into the water. A group of SEA GULLS all take off, flying in formation behind Scuttle.


EXT. ARIEL AND FLOUNDER ON WATER'S SURFACE


Ariel is grasping on to the barrel as Flounder pulls. The wedding ship looms in the distance. Even though Flounder is flapping his fins like mad, the barrel is creeping along.


EXT. UNDERWATER


Glut the shark is sauntering menacingly through the water. He looks up and notices the underside of Ariel and Flounder as they soar by. Glut licks his chops and starts after them.


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


Flounder is tiring.


FLOUNDER
(out of breath)
I... I can't do it


Glut's shark fin emerges on the surface of the water. He is running on a parallel track with Ariel and Flounder. He is closing fast. Ariel notices the shark fin. She tries to get Flounder's attention, but can't make a sound.


FLOUNDER (cont.)
This b-barrel is too heavy


Ariel yanks hard on the rope, turning Flounder's head just as Glut looms out of the water, mouth open wide. Flounder does a wild take as Glut SLAMS into them. Ariel is knocked off the barrel, flailing in the water.


EXT. WEDDING SHIP


The wedding ceremony is progressing. The maiden is getting anxious, wishing the minister would pick up the pace. She looks at the sun. It is now halfway set.


MINISTER
(to Eric)
keep thee only unto her so
long as you both shall live?


Eric hesitates. The maiden looks in his eyes, compelling him.


ERIC
I I do


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


Ariel is desperately clutching the barrel while Glut, mouth open hungrily, moves in for the kill. Flounder knows he has to do something. Then he gets an idea. He takes a big GULP and summons all his courage. As Glut closes in on Ariel, suddenly Flounder shoots out of the water right in front of Glut's face, waving his fins and sticking out his tongue. Glut frowns angrily, turns away from Ariel, and starts chasing Flounder. Flounder lures Glut through the loop of rope to the barrel. Glut is lassoed by the rope. Flounder tears off after the ship. Glut pursues flounder, dragging Ariel along the water in the process.


ANGLE ON THE SUN


It is now barely visible over the horizon.


EXT. WEDDING SHIP


The ceremony is continuing.


MINISTER
As long as you both shall live?


MAIDEN
(with just a hint of arrogance)
I do!

EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


Flounder, with Glut right behind him, approaches the ship. Ariel quickly jumps off the barrel and grabs on to the rigging. She is exhausted and barely able to hang on. Glut stays on the heels of Flounder. Flounder swims toward the barrel. For the first time, we see the word, "GUNPOWDER", painted on the barrel. Flounder desperately shoves the barrel into Glut's open mouth, then dives for cover. Glut is about to bite down on the barrel.


EXT. WEDDING SHIP


There is a loud offscreen EXPLOSION momentarily rocking the boat. A shower of water cascades onto the deck. Then the bent up French horn we saw Glut swallow earlier clunks down amidst the startled wedding party.

MINISTER
(recovering)
Uh where was I? Oh yes
(clears his throat)
Then by the power vested in me
I hereby pronounce you man
and


Suddenly there is the sound of loud CAWING, echoing from above. Everyone looks up to see Scuttle and his batallion of seagulls invading the ceremony. People turn to the sides of the boat where an army of sea creatures, otters, turtles, lobsters, etc., have climbed up rope and rigging and are plopping on to the deck amidst the flabbergasted wedding party. They completely disrupt the ceremony in a wild comic frenzy of activity.


The animals zero in on the maiden bride. The sea gulls are pulling her hair. Some lobsters snap at her tush. Enraged, she angrily knocks them away.

MAIDEN
(shouting viciously)
Get away from me you slimy little


She realizes she has let down her guard and is no longer the picture of sweetness and innocence. Eric looks at her strangely. Immediately she reassumes her former attitude and clings to Eric.


MAIDEN (cont.)
(meekly)
Oh Eric! Eric I'm frightened!


Eric starts fighting off the creatures, defending his bride-to-be. Scuttle realizes he's got to find some way to reveal to Eric the true identity of the maiden. He gets an idea. He flies down to the lower deck of the ship.


EXT. MAIDEN'S CABIN


Scuttle flies into the cabin and grabs the mirror off the wall. It is heavy and he has difficulty maneuvering with it. He exits the cabin, carrying the mirror.


EXT. UPPER DECK


Scuttle emerges on to the upper deck clinging to the heavy mirror. He starts toward the maiden. But just as Scuttle is about to get the mirror into position, he SLAMS into a beam and drops the mirror. It SMASHES to the floor. The maiden smiles, relieved. But then, as the Prince looks down toward the floor, his eyes open wide. The invasion of the sea creatures has caused the floor of the deck to be covered in water. Eric can see the reflection of the maiden in the water. Only it is not the maiden. It is the Sea Witch. The shock breaks the effect of the maiden's spell. Eric draws away from the maiden in horror.


MAIDEN
Eric what's wrong?


The maiden reaches forward to embrace Eric. He pushes her away. Suddenly Grimsby points toward the opposite side of the boat.


GRIMSBY
(shouting)
Look!


Everyone looks in the direction Grimsby is pointing. The all GASP and then a HUSH comes over the crowd. Ariel has finally managed to climb on to the deck. She is soaked and bedraggled and on the verge of collapse. She starts to faint. Eric rushes over to her.

MAIDEN
(shouting)
Eric, get away from her!


Eric embraces Ariel and cradles her in his arms.


MAIDEN (cont.)
Eric
(in Ursula's voice)
Eric, stop!


Everyone reacts in shock as the maiden's youthful voice changes to the low croaky voice of the Sea Witch. The maiden quickly covers her mouth with a reaction that says, "Did that come out of me?"


Eric looks deeply into Ariel's eyes. The emotions well up inside of him. He slowly leans forward, about to kiss her.


MAIDEN
(in Witch's voice, screaming)
NO!!!


ANGLE ON THE SUN


The last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon. The reflection of the light on the water disappears.


UPPER DECK


Ariel can feel her body starting to change. She gets a panicked look on her face and pulls away from Eric.


ERIC
What's wrong?


MAIDEN
(in Witch's voice, laughing)
You're too late! You're too late!!


Ariel frantically breaks away from Eric and dives into the water, just as the lower half of her body begins to glow magically and she changes back into a mermaid. Eric observes this transformation in wide eyed disbelief. The Witch's offscreen voice is CACKLING victoriously. Everyone turns to look back in the direction of the maiden. They are horrified as the maiden transforms into the Sea Witch and dives into the sea.


EXT. UNDERWATER


In a furious chase, the Witch pursues the little mermaid through the ocean depths.


URSULA
You can't get away, angelfish!
You're mine now!


Flotsam and Jetsam spring into view, swimming tailgunner fashion, on each side of the Witch.


URSULA
(shouting)
Flotsam! Jetsam! Get her!!


Flotsam and Jetsam zoom after Ariel.


EXT. UNDERWATER KELP FOREST


Sebastian has rounded up the Sea King and the two of them are racing to the rescue.


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


Eric is in a small rowboat, frantically searching for Ariel.


ERIC
(calling out)
Ariel! Ariel, where are you?


Suddenly Flounder springs out of the water and makes excited SQUEALING NOISES at Eric.


ERIC (cont.)
(startled)
You you know where she is?


Flounder nods and SQUEALS emphatically. Eric follows Flounder from the boat..


EXT. UNDERWATER CORAL REEFS


Ariel, chased by Flotsam and Jetsam, ducks in and out of a maze of coral reefs. The two eels are about to grab Ariel. Quickly she uncorks a steam jet and dodges as the eels go spraying out of the scene. For a moment it looks like she is in the clear. Suddenly, Flotsam and Jetsam spring up on each side of her. She is surrounded. They close in. The only direction Ariel can move is upward. She rapidly swims toward the surface.

EXT. OCEAN'S SURFACE


Ariel's head shoots out of the water. In the distance, Eric and Flounder see her. Then Ariel is forcefully yanked back down into the water as Flotsam and Jetsam get their coils around her.


EXT. UNDERWATER CORAL REEFS


Flotsam and Jetsam wrap themselves tightly around Ariel. She is trapped, unable to move. The Sea Witch closes in on Ariel. Ariel struggles helplessly.


URSULA
Tsktsktsk Poor little princess.
Don't be frightened
(smiles deviously)
It's not you I'm after. You're merely
the bait. I've got much bigger fish to


Suddenly a BOLT of ENERGY fires past her.


TRITON (O.S.)
Ursula stop!


Ursula whirls and sees Triton approaching with Sebastian beside him. He is pointing his trident at her. She smiles sardonically.


URSULA
Why King Triton! How are you? It's been
such a long time, hasn't it?


The King raises his trident.
TRITON
Let my daughter go!


URSULA
Kill me if you like! But I'll take this
Little minnow with me! She's mine
Now! We made a deal


Ursula FLASHES Ariel's contract in front of Triton. He glares at it and angrily FIRES a bolt of energy full force at the contract. The energy DISSIPATES leaving the contract intact.


URSULA (cont.)
(laughing)
You see! It's all fair and square and
Completely unbreakable, even for you!


The Sea King stops, immobile. Ursula turns to Ariel, but the hesitates and looks slyly back at the Sea King.


URSULA (cont.)
'Course I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain
The daughter of the great Sea King is a very
precious commodity


She saunters up toward the Sea King with a flirtatious attitude. She playfully pinches his cheek.

URSULA (cont.)
But I might be willing to make an exchange
For someone even better


Sebastian gets a horrified look on his face as he realizes what she is up to. Ariel realizes also. Ariel shakes her head vehemently as if to say "No, father! Don't do this!" She furiously struggles, in the grip of Flotsam and Jetsam.


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


The waters are becoming more turbulent as Flounder and Eric try to reach the spot where they saw Ariel. There are ominous RUMBLES of THUNDER in the sky.


EXT. UNDERWATER CORAL REEFS


The Sea Witch and the King are in the midst of working out their agreement. There is a heavy solemnity hanging over the proceedings.


TRITON
(measured)
You will agree that none of my daughters
will be harmed in any way?


URSULA
(anxious)
Fine! Fine! I won't touch a hair on their
Precious little noggins! Now, do we have a deal?


The Sea King nods solemnly. Instantly, Ariel's contract rewrites itself, replacing Ariel's signature with Triton's. As Ariel and Sebastian watch in horror, the Witch raises her arms, preparing to perform her snake spell on the Sea King. The waters around them begin swirling, turning into whirlpools illuminated by bright FLASHES of magical light.


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


Eric's boat is bouncing on the turbulent waves. Storm clouds are forming in the night sky and the winds are accelerating.


Eric looks down and can see the bright FLASHES of light beneath the water's surface. He grabs a harpoon from out of the boat, takes a deep breath and plunges into the water.


EXT. UNDERWATER CORAL REEFS


At the spot where Triton had been we see a glowing ball of magical light. The light dissipates revealing a hideous polyp, writhing helplessly in the ground. Triton's crown and trident lay to its side. Ariel and Sebastian are aghast. Ursula puts on the crown and picks up the trident.


URSULA
(laughing hideously)
Dear Triton! I hope you'll enjoy the
Garden as much as I'll enjoy the palace!


ANGLE ON ERIC AND FLOUNDER


Eric, grasping his harpoon, is holding his breath while treading water. He sees Ursula LAUGHING in the distance beside Ariel in the coils of Flotsam and Jetsam. He starts toward them.


ANGLE ON URSULA


She turns and sees Eric.


URSULA
Well, wellIf it isn't lover boy! How perfect!


Ursula smiles gleefully and points the trident at Eric. She FIRES a bolt of energy. He is just barely able to dodge it. She HOWLS delightedly and FIRES several times in rapid succession. Eric keeps frantically dodging. Then he whirls, raises up, and hurls his harpoon at Ursula. IT grazes her shoulder. She grabs her arm, wincing in pain, then turns on him, enraged.


URSULA
(shouting)
Why you little fool!


Ursula FIRES a tremendous bolt. Once again, Eric barely dodges as the rocks behind him EXPLODE. Eric is tiring and running out of breath. He desperately tries to swim toward the surface of the water before he passes out.


While the Triton polyp watches helplessly, Flotsam and Jetsam let go of Ariel and take off after Eric. Sebastian and Flounder jump into the fray, trying to help the Prince.


As Ursula prepares to fire again, Ariel leaps at her pulling on the Witch's fins with all her strength.


Flotsam and Jetsam latch on to Eric and start pulling him back down. Flounder and Sebastian battle the eels. Sebastian frantically SNAPS at them with his claws while Flounder gives the eels a couple of sharp WHACKS in the head. The eels let loose of Eric.


Ursula knocks Ariel away and prepares to take another blast at Eric. Ariel SLAMS back into her and the shot goes awry, hitting Flotsam and Jetsam. The two eels SHRIEK as they instantly disintegrate. Now Ursula is consumed with rage. She takes off after Eric as he approaches the surface.


EXT. WATER'S SURFACE


There is a violent storm with THUNDER, LIGHTNING, fierce WINDS and RAIN. Eric emerges near his boat, GASPING for air. He hurls himself into the boat just as Ursula BURSTS out of the water. Eric grabs another harpoon and prepares to thrust it at the Witch. Ursula FIRES and the boat is hit, EXPLODING. Eric is shot back into the water. His harpoon goes flying.


Ursula, insane with anger, moves in on the dazed Eric. She points the trident and prepares to fire point blank at him. Ariel SLAMS into Ursula again and the trident is knocked out of the Witch's grasp. Ursula violently slings Ariel into a coral rock formation. Ariel hits her head hard and loses consciousness.


Ursula, eyes blazing, reels back toward Eric. He is going for the trident. He is about to grasp it when Ursula furiously leaps at him, smothering him in her fishy appendages. While Eric frantically struggles in her grasp, she viciously drags him back down into the drink.


EXT. UNDERWATER


As Sebastian tries to retrieve the trident, Ursula is simultaneously drowning and strangling Eric. She is consumed with rage. Eric is near death, but with one last ditch burst of energy, he is able to wrench his arm free and grab the trident from Sebastian. He FIRES. The Witch is hit with a tremendous BOLT of ENERGY. She lets out a blood curdling SCREAM and slowly dissolves into dark, black foam. The only thing left of her is the nautilus shell containing Ariel's voice, which sinks toward the floor of the ocean.


Eric passes out, completely drained. Sebastian and Flounder go to him and help him back up toward the surface.


ANGLE ON NAUTILUS SHELL


It HITS the ocean floor and breaks open, releasing the glowing light of Ariel's voice.


ANGLE ON ARIEL


She is sprawled on the ocean floor, groggily starting to come to. The glowing light moves over to her and passes inside of her. Her eyes widen and she touches her throat.

EXT. SEA WITCH'S DOMAIN


We see the death of the Witch is having a magical effect on everything under her control. The ground around her domain starts to VIBRATE. The whale's skeleton and pool of light crumble into dust. A magical GLOW passes over the garden of polyps. They transform into happy, healthy mer folk again. Even Harold is back to his old self.


EXT. CORAL REEFS


A magical GLOWING LIGHT transforms the Triton polyp. Once again he is back to his original regal form.


EXT. BEACH


Sebastian pulls Eric onto the edge of the beach. Flounder helps. Then Sebastian and Flounder quickly dive below the water's surface.


EXT. UNDERWATER


Triton and Ariel tightly embrace, overcome with emotion. Sebastian and Flounder swim over to them.


TRITON
(softly)
It's allright, sweetheart It's allright


ARIEL
Oh daddy! Daddy, I'm so sorry! I
Love you so much!


Sebastian and Flounder look at each other, amazed that Ariel has gotten her voice back. Ariel warmly hugs her father, smiling happily. But then, very gradually, her smile fades. A sad look comes over her face as she remembers her lost Prince. Her gaze slowly drifts up toward the surface of the water.


DISSOLVE TO:


EXT. BEACH


Eric is lying unconscious at the edge of the beach. He starts to stir slightly.


ANGLE ON ARIEL


She is watching Eric longingly from a rock, out in the water, a short distance from the beach. This scene parallels the earlier scene when Ariel had saved Eric's live and was watching him from the water.


ANGLE ON TRITON AND SEBASTIAN


They surface and observe Ariel. Triton watches his daughter, then looks back toward Eric, the object of her heart's desire. Triton observes them for a long beat. He looks thoughtful. He turns toward Sebastian.


TRITON
That...that human saved my life


The Sea King SIGHS. He is on the verge of making a monumental decision. He looks over at Sebastian with an attitude that says, "Should I?" Sebastian understands and nods pleadingly. The Sea King looks back at his daughter and smiles. He gestures and a magical glow comes out of his trident.


ANGLE ON ARIEL


The magical glow engulfs Ariel, shimmering brightly.


ANGLE ON ERIC


He shakes his head a bit. He is starting to regain consciousness. Suddenly he hears Ariel's voice SINGING.


ARIEL (O.S.)
NOW WE CAN WALK
NOW WE CAN RUN
NOW WE CAN STAY ALL DAY IN THE SUN


Eric sees Ariel coming toward him, once again in human form. She kneels down beside him and takes his hand. The two embrace and kiss passionately. The camera TRUCKS IN tight on the couple kissing.


DISSOLVE TO:


EXT. WEDDING SHIP DAY DAY


We pull back from the couple kissing and see that it is now a wedding kiss aboard ship. The couple have just been pronounced man and wife.


The entire wedding party aboard the ship, including Carlotta and Sir Grimsby, are all APPLAUDING and CHEERING jubilantly. Max encircles them excitedly. Sebastian and Chef Louis, now the best of friends, are sitting beside each other happily swaying to the music.


As the CAMERA continues PULLING BACK we see that surrounding the ship, in the water, are Ariel's father, sisters, Harold, and other mer folk, Flounder, and other sea creatures. Scuttle is soaring above the ship. Everyone is APPLAUDING happily. The fish are bouncing up and down on the water and CLAPPING their fins together.


Back on the ship, Sebastian's blissful smile fades as he looks up and sees Chef Louis coming right at him, brandishing a big, shiny knife. Sebastian's eyes roll into his head as he faints as WHOOSH, the knife comes down. Pulling back, we see Louis has just cut a piece of wedding cake directly below Sebastian's perch. Sebastian recovers and smiles weakly as Louis offers him some cake.


Ariel tosses her bridal bouquet out onto the ocean. Triton picks it up. He looks up at his daughter with an expression of both happiness and sadness. She returns his look. Triton and all the sea characters wave to Ariel and Eric as the ship departs, moving against the horizon. We pull back to an extreme long shot as a stirring chorus does a final reprise of "PART OF YOUR WORLD."


FADE OUT


THE END

thanks a lot for the script is there more changes? something about ariel?.
and i didn't like that ending becuase eric killed ursula,sebastian borgth the triton and what ariel did? fainted:p but still thanks for the script .

Your welcome. What did you mean about more changes for Ariel? Are you asking if I found anything else like this sctipt? Because this is the only thing like it I found.

I remember reading this somewhere before and then losing the link to it. You're a life-saver. *saves ending to his computer*

I always thought this ending would be very interesting to see animated. For one, it makes Ursula more human in her battle with Eric, which would force the audience to view her less like a monster. It also fills in a lot of the holes left open in the movie. Like, how does Flounder manage to carry Ariel that far to the boat? Why does Ariel's dress suddenly disappear when she enters the ocean at sunset? What leads Eric to the spot where Ursula and Triton are making their deal? Does Triton fear that Ursula will harm his other daughters? How come Triton doesn't just kill Ursula then and there?

But it's obvious this script was written long before the characters were completely thought out. For instance, it mentions the Sea Witch's fins at one point, so... And I can also understand why they didn't bring the "everyone dies with the witch" into the film, too. If that had happened, then Triton and all the polyps would have died as well. Not only would that be too outrageous for a Disney film, it would also leave Ariel without her legs.

One thing I really liked though, was how Ariel was more active in fighting Ursula. Not that Ariel isn't so in the film, it just doesn't show as much. Many criticize her for not taking on Ursula herself instead of waiting on Eric to do it, but it's kind of hard to do when you can't climb a boat with fins and someone's about to pin you down with a pitchfork. (This same view falls on Jasmine a lot, too)

Also, who's Harold?

Disney Duster, thanks for posting this- it's interesting!

Disney's Divinity- I was wondering about Harold, too? I'm wondering if he's kind of like Urchin, Ariel's friend. It was extremely action-packed and exciting (well, so is the finished version). Flounder was already carrying Ariel on the barrel before Glut came, right? So I don't think that really explains how he carried her part of the way (but maybe after that he was just trying to get them away from Glut...even though it kind of sounded like after Glut came, Flounder wasn't pulling Ariel on the barrel anymore)...?

Disney Duster wrote:Your welcome. What did you mean about more changes for Ariel? Are you asking if I found anything else like this sctipt? Because this is the only thing like it I found.

yes,anything else about her like the scripts or more things like the script,it will be great .

That's cool I love reading early scripts to see what is different and what's the same between the finished film. I wonder if they were going to have Ursula be a mermaid. That's weird I can't picture her being anything but an octopus

Ah, I'm glad I could help, Disney's Divinity! You know, I also kind of thought that Ursula becoming giant made things less personal, and it just wouldn't make sense for Ursula to be huge because it seemed un-queen like, she wanted to rule the seas, not make herself a monster...but after thinking about it, Ursula was already a huge character of monstrous size and attributes (the tentacles), and many times gods were depicted as huge creatures, and Triton is based on a god of the sea, and now she's taking Triton's place...besides, I like the more creative idea of her own powers stirring up the ship that kills her. A few questions, I have for you:

Disney's Divinity wrote:It also fills in a lot of the holes left open in the movie. Like, how does Flounder manage to carry Ariel that far to the boat? Why does Ariel's dress suddenly disappear when she enters the ocean at sunset? What leads Eric to the spot where Ursula and Triton are making their deal? Does Triton fear that Ursula will harm his other daughters? How come Triton doesn't just kill Ursula then and there?

I really liked Glut's reappearence and the clever way they got Ariel to the boat, but it did detract from the story. My first question is where does it explain what happened to Ariel's dress? Could you quote it for me or tell me where it is in the script? As for Eric being led to the spot, Ariel and Ursula didn't have time to get far from the boat before Triton found them, and I thought the magical glow of Triton becoming a polyp shining on the waves was enough to show Eric where they were. And lastly, when it came to Ursula saying that Ariel would be taken with her, I don't think she meant that by Ariel being bound to her, she would die as well. Because then the other souls would have died too, just like you pointed out. So do you think she could have just held Ariel in front of her, so that Triton's energy would kill Ariel simply because Ursula was holding onto her physically?

Anyway, I figure that Harold is simply a character they were planning on being one of Ariel's friends, but he turned into a polyp when he came to Ursula for help. But that is merely my guess. Ariel was gonna have a dolphin friend as well, and he got deleted...

I think this script is good for people to see how hard they work on these movies. The finished movie is much better because they thought past this script. They removed Glut's return because it would have just diverted from the main plot, they realized that if Eric only broke out of the spell because he discovered the maiden was an ugly sea witch, that would be superficial (what if the real girl who saved him really had been ugly and she was only pretty by magic?), and they realized it was much better for Ariel to have her voice and be more vocal in the end, as well as more concious and active.

Ariel'sprince wrote:yes,anything else about her like the scripts or more things like the script,it will be great .

I'm sorry but I don't know of anything more except some lyrics to some alternate versions of the songs Ariel sings. Would you like me to pm (private message) them to you?

Jay wrote:That's cool I love reading early scripts to see what is different and what's the same between the finished film. I wonder if they were going to have Ursula be a mermaid. That's weird I can't picture her being anything but an octopus

Yea, Ursula was originally going to be a skinny mermaid! Then a fat mermaid, then a fat eelmaid (half human, half eel)...they experimented with lots of ideas. If you get the 2-Disc DVD, you could see some designs for her!

And speaking of Usrula being planned as a mermaid first, UncleEd, take a look at this:

He is about to grasp it when Ursula furiously leaps at him, smothering him in her fishy appendages.

Mermaids are half human and half fish! The only way they are mammal is that in being half human, they are half mammal. So they're half fish and half mammal, but still half fish! I know you asked why they don't have gills, but just like I said their tails going up and down is more graceful and attractive than side to side, the merfolk having gills would be unattractive, too. And Eric would know that Ariel was a mermaid because he saw her face for an instant and he would have seen her gills!

Disney Duster wrote:

Ariel'sprince wrote:yes,anything else about her like the scripts or more things like the script,it will be great .

I'm sorry but I don't know of anything more except some lyrics to some alternate versions of the songs Ariel sings. Would you like me to pm (private message) them to you?

it's the songs from the magic behid the music? if it those songs so i heard them already,but can you upload the pictures from the coloring book of scuttle show eric that venessa is ursula and flatsom and jestsome try to stop ariel from going to the ship? it will be great if you do .
how do you know about the part that ariel see a skuell in ursula's lair? is it a coloring book or what? and i didn't understand what you said about ursula and her fishy part.

Thanks so much Disney Duster!!!!!

You know, I read this online a long time ago, but the link later disappeared. Thanks for putting it on here.

This version was good, but I like the final one better. I felt that this early script just dragged on, and I really didn't like the fact that Ariel doesn't get her voice back till the very end.

I wonder who Harold might be? Sounds like an interesting character.

I also wonder why Grimsby & Carlotta might be somber. In the final film, I think Grimsby was thrilled with Eric's choice of Vanessa.

It's funny how it says Vanessa's Song is a variation of "Poor Souls" but to me, it doesn't sound like it.

Thanks a bunch! The only thing I wish had stayed was the Glut attack. I see some similarities to what ended up in Hercules, proving good ideas never die.


In the Art of the Little Mermaid book they show Ursula's tenticles with her face on heach one for the climax. I'm glad they didn't do that either.

It's really neat, Disney Duster. Thank you. I love the Glut idea.

Disney Duster wrote:Ah, I'm glad I could help, Disney's Divinity! You know, I also kind of thought that Ursula becoming giant made things less personal, and it just wouldn't make sense for Ursula to be huge because it seemed un-queen like, she wanted to rule the seas, not make herself a monster...but after thinking about it, Ursula was already a huge character of monstrous size and attributes (the tentacles), and many times gods were depicted as huge creatures, and Triton is based on a god of the sea, and now she's taking Triton's place...besides, I like the more creative idea of her own powers stirring up the ship that kills her.

Of course, I enjoy the original ending better, I only pointed out that it'd be interesting to see a human sized Ursula fighting Eric. In my opinion, the fact that Ursula becomes huge helps to cement Ariel's mistake and punishment. Ariel (even unknowingly) traded her entire kingdom and family over to a cruel dictator for three days' hopeless chance. It's only fair to make it seem as if the entire ocean is coming back to haunt her (which it would seem like with all the whirlpools, sunken ships and tidal waves everywhere). Many assume that the whole conflict doesn't really change Ariel's personality because she never apologizes to Triton, but I always thought the battle with Ursula, the near death of Eric and the enslavement of her father was supposed to imply that she'd learned her lesson (and Triton his).

I really liked Glut's reappearence and the clever way they got Ariel to the boat, but it did detract from the story.

I only said that it better explains how Ariel got to the boat, I never said it should've stayed in the final film. I would find it too strange that the same shark that they fought at the beginning somehow managed to find them again just when it was convenient.

My first question is where does it explain what happened to Ariel's dress? Could you quote it for me or tell me where it is in the script?

From the script, it said that Ariel jumped into the water before Ursula even transformed back into herself. Leaving the time for Ariel to be alone off-screen, you could assume she just tore the dress off so that she could swim faster. The real question is...did she really have those seashells on under her dress the entire time?

As for Eric being led to the spot, Ariel and Ursula didn't have time to get far from the boat before Triton found them, and I thought the magical glow of Triton becoming a polyp shining on the waves was enough to show Eric where they were.

Going by the movie, it seemed like the wedding ship sailed back to the port and then Eric went back out to find them from there. I don't know if I'd be able to randomly pinpoint the location where they were that way. And the glowing light appeared very small on the waves. He could've rowed in the completely wrong direction and never have seen it.

And lastly, when it came to Ursula saying that Ariel would be taken with her, I don't think she meant that by Ariel being bound to her, she would die as well. Because then the other souls would have died too, just like you pointed out. So do you think she could have just held Ariel in front of her, so that Triton's energy would kill Ariel simply because Ursula was holding onto her physically?

Kill me if you like! But I'll take this
Little minnow with me! She's mine

It sounds more like Ariel would die with Ursula, not that Ursula was holding Ariel in front of her. Then there's the fact that the script re-enacts the scene where Triton shoots Ursula's contract, leading one to believe that Ariel was being held by Flotsam and Jetsam in this original script just as she was in the movie. But there would be too many complications and contradictions with that concept, which is most likely why they decided to drop it.

Anyway, I figure that Harold is simply a character they were planning on being one of Ariel's friends, but he turned into a polyp when he came to Ursula for help. But that is merely my guess. Ariel was gonna have a dolphin friend as well, and he got deleted...

This is most likely the reason he was cut, too. If Ariel had known someone Ursula had kept as a polyp, then she'd never be persuaded to make a deal then.


Also, do you know of any lyrics for the previously planned "Pour Souls"? I'd never heard of it until now. Or is it just the song that Ursula sings as Vanessa (which I always assumed was unimportant and unnamed because it isn't even on the soundtrack)?

Disney's Divinity wrote:

Disney Duster wrote:Ah, I'm glad I could help, Disney's Divinity! You know, I also kind of thought that Ursula becoming giant made things less personal, and it just wouldn't make sense for Ursula to be huge because it seemed un-queen like, she wanted to rule the seas, not make herself a monster...but after thinking about it, Ursula was already a huge character of monstrous size and attributes (the tentacles), and many times gods were depicted as huge creatures, and Triton is based on a god of the sea, and now she's taking Triton's place...besides, I like the more creative idea of her own powers stirring up the ship that kills her.

Of course, I enjoy the original ending better, I only pointed out that it'd be interesting to see a human sized Ursula fighting Eric. In my opinion, the fact that Ursula becomes huge helps to cement Ariel's mistake and punishment. Ariel (even unknowingly) traded her entire kingdom and family over to a cruel dictator for three days' hopeless chance. It's only fair to make it seem as if the entire ocean is coming back to haunt her (which it would seem like with all the whirlpools, sunken ships and tidal waves everywhere). Many assume that the whole conflict doesn't really change Ariel's personality because she never apologizes to Triton, but I always thought the battle with Ursula, the near death of Eric and the enslavement of her father was supposed to imply that she'd learned her lesson (and Triton his)

wait,are you saing that ariel need to get a *punishment*? punishment for what? she wanted to make her dream come true so she need to get a punishment? and from the sea because she think land is a better place? i don't really get you but you really scared me .

Disney's Divinity wrote:

Disney Duster wrote:Ah, I'm glad I could help, Disney's Divinity! You know, I also kind of thought that Ursula becoming giant made things less personal, and it just wouldn't make sense for Ursula to be huge because it seemed un-queen like, she wanted to rule the seas, not make herself a monster...but after thinking about it, Ursula was already a huge character of monstrous size and attributes (the tentacles), and many times gods were depicted as huge creatures, and Triton is based on a god of the sea, and now she's taking Triton's place...besides, I like the more creative idea of her own powers stirring up the ship that kills her.

Of course, I enjoy the original ending better, I only pointed out that it'd be interesting to see a human sized Ursula fighting Eric. In my opinion, the fact that Ursula becomes huge helps to cement Ariel's mistake and punishment. Ariel (even unknowingly) traded her entire kingdom and family over to a cruel dictator for three days' hopeless chance. It's only fair to make it seem as if the entire ocean is coming back to haunt her (which it would seem like with all the whirlpools, sunken ships and tidal waves everywhere). Many assume that the whole conflict doesn't really change Ariel's personality because she never apologizes to Triton, but I always thought the battle with Ursula, the near death of Eric and the enslavement of her father was supposed to imply that she'd learned her lesson (and Triton his)

wait,are you saing that ariel need to get a *punishment*? punishment for what? she wanted to make her dream come true so she need to get a punishment? and from the sea because she think land is a better place? i don't really get you but you really scared me .

The story of Ariel does require a punishment. Yes, she follows her dream but she goes about it wrong. She in essence makes a deal with the Devil and loses and we see the fruiation of that. SHe does ultimately get her wish granted, but who grants it? Her father. She only gets what she wants with her father's blessing and he makes it happen. To say that the disobediant Ariel need not deserve a punishment is ludicrous. A lot of the people who don' t like this movie don't even see that her father gives her what she wants. They just see it as a story of a rebellious girl getting her own way with no punishment. Ariel does get punished and even her family gets some of that. This is true to life when many teenagers do things behind their parent's back.


I hope this explains it better for you.

UncleEd wrote:The story of Ariel does require a punishment. Yes, she follows her dream but she goes about it wrong. She in essence makes a deal with the Devil and loses and we see the fruiation of that. SHe does ultimately get her wish granted, but who grants it? Her father. She only gets what she wants with her father's blessing and he makes it happen. To say that the disobediant Ariel need not deserve a punishment is ludicrous. A lot of the people who don' t like this movie don't even see that her father gives her what she wants. They just see it as a story of a rebellious girl getting her own way with no punishment. Ariel does get punished and even her family gets some of that. This is true to life when many teenagers do things behind their parent's back.


I hope this explains it better for you.

i don't think she need a punishment or that she's a mischef little girl who make things her way which mean she need to be punished.
she have dreams but nobody want to help her,even her father (that becuase of him all this happend,not becuase of her),she know what ursula does to merpeople but what choise does she have? i don't think that she actually thougth that ursula can help her,she don't have any choise so she goes to ursula.
well,i just i think it's a movie about a mermaid who want to make her dreams come true but nobody gonna help her so she make things happend,not a film about "a stupit little girl who made things her way and must be punished",not at all.

wait,are you saing that ariel need to get a *punishment*? punishment for what? she wanted to make her dream come true so she need to get a punishment? and from the sea because she think land is a better place? i don't really get you but you really scared me

Yes, Ariel had a dream. I understand that. I can even understand that she went behind her father's back to make it come true. What I think deserves punishment though, is the fact that she made a reckless deal with a maligned sea witch.

"a stupit little girl who made things her way and must be punished"

I never said Ariel was a selfish girl who wanted things to go her way. I only think that she made a mistake and therefore deserved to be punished for it. The movie's about how a girl who's misunderstood goes through a struggle to make her dreams come true. Besides, I also said that she and Triton were punished by the deal with Ursula. Triton was punished because he was xenophobic, overprotective and stubborn. Ariel was punished because she made a hasty decision that risked her entire kingdom (even though it's obvious she didn't consider that at the time). Overall, the movie's just a retelling of countless parent-teen conflicts.

If I really thought of Ariel that way, would The Little Mermaid still be my favorite movie? I doubt it.

I just wish the movie would have included Ariel singing at the end, Jodi sounded very beautiful on the deleted scene. I would loved to have seen it animated.

Disney's Divinity wrote:

wait,are you saing that ariel need to get a *punishment*? punishment for what? she wanted to make her dream come true so she need to get a punishment? and from the sea because she think land is a better place? i don't really get you but you really scared me

Yes, Ariel had a dream. I understand that. I can even understand that she went behind her father's back to make it come true. What I think deserves punishment though, is the fact that she made a reckless deal with a maligned sea witch.

"a stupit little girl who made things her way and must be punished"

I never said Ariel was a selfish girl who wanted things to go her way. I only think that she made a mistake and therefore deserved to be punished for it. The movie's about how a girl who's misunderstood goes through a struggle to make her dreams come true. Besides, I also said that she and Triton were punished by the deal with Ursula. Triton was punished because he was xenophobic, overprotective and stubborn. Ariel was punished because she made a hasty decision that risked her entire kingdom (even though it's obvious she didn't consider that at the time). Overall, the movie's just a retelling of countless parent-teen conflicts.

If I really thought of Ariel that way, would The Little Mermaid still be my favorite movie? I doubt it.

so you're it's not really a punishment-it's just something that supost to fix them and show them that they were worng? if you put it that way so i think you're rigth.
and about the last part-i meant for people who don't like the movie,not for you becuase i know who love the little mermaid (it's my favorite film too ).