THE LITTLE MERMAID
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The complete script
Compiled by Corey Johanningmeier
Portions copyright (c)1989 by Walt Disney Co.
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(An ocean. Birds are flying and porpoises are swimming happily.
From the fog a ship appears crashing through the waves)
Sailors: I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue
And it's hey to the starboard, heave ho
Look out, lad, a mermaid be waitin' for you
In mysterious fathoms below.
Eric: Isn't this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face . . .
a perfect day to be at sea!
Grimsby: (Leaning over side.) Oh yes . . . delightful . . . .
Sailor 1: A fine strong wind and a following sea. King Triton must be in a
friendly-type mood.
Eric: King Triton?
Sailor 2: Why, ruler of the merpeople, lad. Thought every good sailor knew
about him.
Grimsby: Merpeople! Eric, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense.
Sailor 2: But it ain't nonsense, it's the truth! I'm tellin' you, down in the
depths o' the ocean they live. (He gestures wildly, Fish in his hand flops
away and lands back in the ocean, relieved.)
Sailors: Heave. ho. Heave, ho. In mysterious fathoms below. (Fish sighs and
swims away.)
(Titles. Various fish swimming. Merpeople converge on a great undersea
palace, filling concert hall inside. Fanfare ensues.)
Seahorse: Ahem . . . His royal highness, King Triton! (Triton enters
dramatically to wild cheering.) And presenting the distinguished court
composer, Horatio Thelonious Ignatius Crustaceous Sebastian! (Sebastian
enters to mild applause.)
Triton: I'm really looking forward to this performance, Sebastian.
Sebastian: Oh, Your Majesty, this will be the finest concert I have ever con-
ducted. Your daughters - they will be spectacular!
Triton: Yes, and especially my little Ariel.
Sebastian: Yes, yes, she has the most beautiful voice. . . . [sotto] If only
she'd show up for rehearsals once in a while. . . . (He proceeds to podium
and begins to direct orchestra.)
Triton's daughters: Ah, we are the daughters of Triton.
Great father who loves us and named us well:
Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Atina, Adella, Allana.
And then there is the youngest in her musical debut,
Our seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you,
To sing a song Sebastian wrote, her voice is like a bell,
She's our sister, Ar-i . . .
(Shell opens to reveal that Ariel is absent.)
Triton: (Very angry.) Ariel!!
(Cut to Ariel looking at sunken ship.)
Flounder: (From distance.) Ariel, wait for me . . .
Ariel: Flounder, hurry up!
Flounder: (Catching up.) You know I can't swim that fast.
Ariel: There it is. Isn't it fantastic?
Flounder: Yeah . . . sure . . . it - it's great. Now let's get outta here.
Ariel: You're not getting cold fins now, are you?
Flounder: Who, me? No way. It's just, it, err . . . it looks - damp in there.
Yeah. And I think I may be coming down with something. Yeah, I got this
cough. (Flounder coughs unconvincingly)
Ariel: All right. I'm going inside. You can just stay here and - watch for
sharks. (She goes inside.)
Flounder: O.K. Yeah - you go. I'll stay and - what? Sharks! Ariel!
(He tries to fit through porthole.) Ariel . . . I can't . . . I mean-
Ariel help!
Ariel: (Laughs.) Oh, Flounder.
Flounder: (Wispering.)Ariel, do you really think there might be sharks around
here? (Shark passes outside.)
Ariel: Flounder, don't be such a guppy.
Flounder: I'm not a guppy. (Gets pulled through porthole.)This is great - I
mean, I really love this. Excitement, adventure, danger lurking around
every corn- YAAAAHHHHHHHH!! Ariel!! (He sees a skull, crashes into pillar
causing cave in, and swims frantically away, knocking over Ariel.)
Ariel: Oh, are you okay?
Flounder: Yeah sure, no problem, I'm okay . . .
Ariel: Shhh . . . (Seeing a fork.) Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Have you ever
seen anything so wonderful in your entire life?
Flounder: Wow, cool! But, err, what is it?
Ariel: I don't know. But I bet Scuttle will.
(Puts fork in bag. Skark swims by outside.)
Flounder: What was that? Did you hear something?
Ariel: (Distracted by pipe.) Hmm, I wonder what this one is?
Flounder: Ariel . .
Ariel: Flounder, will you relax. Nothing is going to happen.
Flounder: (Seeing Shark looming behind him.) AAHHHH!! Run!! Run!! We're
gonna die!! (Shark chases them all around. Ariel's bag is hung up. She
goes back for it. Shark almost gets them. They head for porthole.) Oh No!!
(They crash through and go round and round. Flounder gets knocked silly
but Ariel saves him and traps Shark) You big bully. THBBBTTTT . . .
(Shark snaps at him and he swims away.)
Ariel: (Laughing.) Flounder, you really are a guppy.
Flounder: I am not.
(On surface. Scuttle on his island humming and looking through his
telescope.)
Ariel: Scuttle!
Scuttle: (Looking through the telescope the wrong way, shouting.) Whoa!
Mermaid off the port bow! Ariel, how you doin' kid? (Lowers telescope to
reveal Ariel at wing's length.) Whoa, what a swim!
Ariel: Scuttle - look what we found.
Flounder: Yeah - we were in this sunken ship - it was really creepy.
Scuttle: Human stuff, huh? Hey, lemme see. (Picks up fork.) Look at this.
Wow - this is special - this is very, very unusual.
Ariel: What? What is it?
Scuttle: It's a dinglehopper! Humans use these little babies . . . to
straighten their hair out. See - just a little twirl here an' a yank
there and - voiolay! You got an aesthetically pleasing configuration
of hair that humans go nuts over!
Ariel: A dinglehopper!
Flounder: What about that one?
Scuttle: (Holding pipe) Ah - this I haven't seen in years. This is wonderful!
A banded, bulbous - snarfblat.
Ariel and Flounder: Oohhh.
Scuttle: Now, the snarfblat dates back to prehistorical times, when humans used
to sit around, and stare at each other all day. Got very boring. So, they
invented the snarfblat to make fine music. Allow me.
(Scuttle blows into the pipe; seaweed pops out the other end.)
Ariel: Music? Oh, the concert! Oh my gosh, my father's gonna kill me!
Flounder: The concert was today?
Scuttle: (Still contemplating pipe.) Maybe you could make a little planter
out of it or somethin'.
Ariel: Uh, I'm sorry, I've gotta go. Thank you Scuttle. (Waves.)
Scuttle: Anytime sweetie, anytime.
(Cut to Flotsam and Jetsam, then Ursula in background watching magic
projection of Ariel swimming.)
Ursula: Yeeeeeees, hurry home, princess. We wouldn't want to miss old daddy's
celebration, now, would we? Huh! Celebration indeed. Bah! In MY day, we
had fantastical feasts when I lived in the palace. And now, look at me -
wasted away to practically nothing - banished and exiled and practically
starving, while he and his flimsy fish-folk celebrate. Well, I'll give 'em
something to celebrate soon enough. Flotsam! Jetsam! I want you to keep an
extra close watch on this pretty little daughter of his. She may be the key
to Triton's undoing. . . .
(Fade to the palace throne room where Ariel is being admonished.)
Triton: I just don't know what we're going to do with you, young lady.
Ariel: Daddy, I'm sorry, I just forgot, I -
Triton: As a result of your careless behaviour -
Sebastian: Careless and reckless behaviour!
Triton: - the entire celebration was, er -
Sebastian: Well, it was ruined! That's all. Completely destroyed! This
concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now thanks to
you I am the laughing stock of the entire kingdom!
Flounder: But it wasn't her fault! Ah - well - first, ahh, this shark chased us
- yeah - yeah! And we tried to - but we couldn't - and - grrrrrrrrr - and -
and we - whoooaaaaaa - oh, and then we were safe. But then this seagull came,
and it was this is this, and that is that, and -
Triton: Seagull? What? Oh - you went up to the surface again, didn't you?
DIDN'T YOU?
Ariel: Nothing - happened. . . .
Triton: Oh, Ariel, How many times must we go through this? You could've been
seen by one of those barbarians - by - by one of those humans!
Ariel: Daddy, they're not barbarians!
Triton: They're dangerous. Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter
snared by some fish-eater's hook?
Ariel: I'm sixteen years old - I'm not a child anymore -
Triton: Don't you take that tone of voice with me young lady. As long as you
live under my ocean, you'll obey my rules!
Ariel: But if you would just listen -
Triton: Not another word - and I am never, NEVER to hear of you going to the
surface again. Is that clear? (Ariel leaves, crying.)
Sebastian: Hm! Teenagers. . . . They think they know everything. You give
them an inch, they swim all over you.
Triton: Do you, er, think I - I was too hard on her?
Sebastian: Definitely not. Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I'd show her who was
boss. None of this "flitting to the surface" and other such nonsense. No,
sir - I'd keep her under tight control.
Triton: You're absolutely right, Sebastian.
Sebastian: Of course.
Triton: Ariel needs constant supervision.
Sebastian: Constant.
Triton: Someone to watch over her - to keep her out of trouble.
Sebastian: All the time -
Triton: And YOU are just the crab to do it.
(Cut to Sebastian walking down corridor.)
Sebastian: How do I get myself into these situations? I should be writing
symphonies - not tagging along after some headstrong teenager. (Sees Ariel
and Flounder sneaking off and follows.) Hmm? What is that girl up to? (He
barely makes it into cave and sees Ariel's collection.) Huh?
Flounder: Ariel, are you okay?
Ariel: If only I could make him understand. I just don't see things the way he
does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things - could be
bad.
Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl
The girl who has ev'rything?
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin' around here you'd think
Sure, she's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
(You want thingamabobs?
I got twenty)
But who cares?
No big deal
I want more
I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see
Wanna see 'em dancin'
Walkin' around on those
(Whad'ya call 'em?) oh - feet
Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down a
(What's that word again?) street
Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free
Wish I could be
Part of that world
What would I give
If I could live
Outta these waters?
What would I pay
To spend a day
Warm on the sand?
Betcha on land
They understand
Bet they don't reprimand their daughters
Bright young women
Sick o' swimmin'
Ready to stand
And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions
And get some answers
What's a fire and why does it
(What's the word?) burn?
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love
Love to explore that shore above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world
(Sebastian has been struggling around and now comes crashing down making
a lot of noise.)
Ariel: Sebastian!?
Sebastian: Ariel - what, are you mad? How could you - what is all this?
Ariel: It, err, it's just my - collection. . . .
Sebastian: Oh. I see. Your collection. Hmmm. IF YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THIS
PLACE HE'D -
Flounder: You're not gonna tell him, are you?
Ariel: Oh, please, Sebastian, he would never understand.
Sebastian: Ariel. You're under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me,
I'll take you home and get you something warm to drink. (A ship passes by
overhead.)
Ariel: What do you suppose?. . .
Sebastian: Ariel? Ariel!
(On surface. Fireworks in the sky around ship. Ariel looks on,
amazed. Sebastian and Flounder arrive.)
Sebastian: Ariel, what - what are you- jumpin' jellyfish! Ariel, Ariel!
Please come back! (Ariel swims to ship and watches party until Max finds
her.)
Eric: (Whistles.) Max, here boy. Hey, come on, mutt, whatcha doing, huh
Max? Good boy. (Ariel sees him and is stricken.)
Scuttle: Hey there, sweetie! Quite a show, eh?
Ariel: Scuttle, be quiet! They'll hear you.
Scuttle: Oooh, I gotcha, I gotcha. We're being intrepidatious. WE'RE OUT TO
DISCOVER! (Ariel grabs his beak.)
Ariel: I've never seen a human this close before. Oh - he's very handsome,
isn't he?
Scuttle: (Looking at Max) I dunno, he looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me.
Ariel: Not that one - the one playing the snarfblat.
Grimsby: Silence! Silence! It is now my honour and privilege to present our
esteemed Prince Eric with a very special, very expensive, very large birthday
present.
Eric: Ah, Grimsby - y'old beanpole, you shouldn't have.
Grimsby: I know. Happy birthday, Eric! (Large, gaudy statue of Eric is
revealed. Max growls.)
Eric: Gee, Grim. It's, err, it's, err - it's really somethin'. . . .
Grimsby: Yes, I commissioned it myself. Of course, I had hoped it would be a
wedding present, but . . .
Eric: Come on, Grim, don't start. Look, you're not still sore because I didn't
fall for the princess of Glauerhaven, are you?
Grimsby: Oh, Eric, it isn't me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you
happily settled down with the right girl.
Eric: Well, she's out there somewhere. I just - I just haven't found her yet.
Grimsby: Well, perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough.
Eric: Believe me, Grim, when I find her I'll know - without a doubt. It'll
just - bam! - hit me - like lightning. (Lightning and thunder appear and the
sky grows dark.)
Sailor: Hurricane a'commin'!! Stand fast! Secure the riggin'! (Storm hits.)
Scuttle: Whoa! The wind's all of a sudden on the move here. (He is blown
away.) Oh! Ariel . . . (Ship crashes through storm. Lightning starts a fire.
A rock looms ahead.)
Eric: Look out! . . . (Ship crashes and all are thrown overboard except Max.)
Grim, hang on! (Sees Max.) Max! (Goes back to save him.) Jump Max! Come
on boy, jump! You can do it Max. (He saves Max but is trapped on board.)
Grimsby: ERIC! (Ship explodes. Ariel finds Eric near drowning and pulls him
away.)
(On beach. Ariel is sitting next to an unconscious Eric.)
Ariel: Is he - dead?
Scuttle: (Opens Eric's eyelid.) It's hard to say. (Puts his ear against Eric's
foot.) Oh, I - I can't make out a heartbeat.
Ariel: No, look! He's breathing. He's so, beautiful.
What would I give
To live where you are?
What would I pay
To stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you
Smiling at me?
Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun?
Just you and me
And I could be
Part of your world
(Sebastian and Flounder have washed up and are watching scene. Max and
Grimsby approach. Ariel hurries away.)
Grimsby: Eric! Oh, Eric. You really delight in these sadistic strains on my
blood pressure, don't you?
Eric: A girl - rescued me. . . . She was - singing . . . she had the most -
beautiful voice.
Grimsby: Ah, Eric, I think you've swallowed a bit too much seawater. Off we
go. Come on, Max.
Sebastian: We just gotta forget this whole thing ever happened. The sea king
will never know. You won't tell him, I won't tell him. I will stay in one
piece.
Ariel:
I don't know when
I don't know how
But I know something's starting right now
Watch and you'll see
Some day I'll be
Part of your world
(Flotsam and Jetsam appear. Fade to Ursula watching from her chamber.)
Ursula: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. I can't stand it - it's too easy. The
child is in love with a human. And not just any human - a prince! Her
daddy'll LOVE that. King Triton's headstrong, lovesick girl would make a
charming addition to my little garden.
(Fade to palace. Then sister's dressing room.)
Andrina: Ariel, dear, time to come out. You've been in there all morning.
(Ariel emerges, singing to herself.)
Atina: What is with her lately?
Ariel: Morning, Daddy. (Ariel swims off.)
Atina: Oh, she's got it bad.
Triton: What? What has she got?
Andrina: Isn't it obvious, Daddy? Ariel's in love.
Triton: Ariel? In love?
(Cut to Sebastian pacing on rock outside.)
Sebastian: O.K. So far, so good. I don't think the king knows. But it will not
be easy keeping something like this a secret for long.
Ariel: (Picking petals off a flower) He loves me . . . hmmm, he loves me
not. . . . He loves me! I knew it!
Sebastian: Ariel, stop talking crazy.
Ariel: I gotta see him again - tonight! Scuttle knows where he lives.
Sebastian: Ariel - please. Will you get your head out of the clouds and back
in the water where it belongs?
Ariel: I'll swim up to his castle. Then Flounder will splash around to get his
attention, and then with -
Sebastian: Down HERE is your home! Ariel - listen to me. The human world -
it's a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there.
The seaweed is always greener
In somebody else's lake
You dream about going up there
But that is a big mistake
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you lookin' for?
Under the sea
Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea
Down here all the fish is happy
As off through the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they in their bowl
But fish in the bowl is lucky
They in for a worser fate
One day when the boss get hungry
Guess who's gon' be on the plate
Under the sea
Under the sea
Nobody beat us
Fry us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We got no troubles
Life is the bubbles
Under the sea
Under the sea
Since life is sweet here
We got the beat here
Naturally
Even the sturgeon an' the ray
They get the urge 'n' start to play
We got the spirit
You got to hear it
Under the sea
The newt play the flute
The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass
And they soundin' sharp
The bass play the brass
The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul
(Yeah)
The ray he can play
The lings on the strings
The trout rockin' out
The blackfish she sings
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it's at
An' oh that blowfish blow
Under the sea
Under the sea
When the sardine
Begin the beguine
It's music to me
What do they got? A lot of sand
We got a hot crustacean band
Each little clam here
know how to jam here
Under the sea
Each little slug here
Cuttin' a rug here
Under the sea
Each little snail here
Know how to wail here
That's why it's hotter
Under the water
Ya we in luck here
Down in the muck here
Under the sea
(They discover that Ariel has left with Flounder.)
Ariel? Ariel? Oh . . . somebody's got to nail that girl's fins to the floor.
Seahorse: Sebastian! Sebastian, I've been looking all over for you. I've got
an urgent message from the sea king.
Sebastian: The sea king?
Seahorse: He wants to see you right away - something about Ariel.
Sebastian: He knows!
(In palace throne room. Triton looking at flower.)
Triton: Let's see, now. . . . Oh, who could the lucky merman be? (Notices
Sebastian.) Come in, Sebastian.
Sebastian: (Sotto) I mustn't overreact. I must remain calm. (Five octaves
higher than normal) Yes - (loco) yes, Your Majesty.
Triton: Now, Sebastian, I'm concerned about Ariel. Have you noticed she's been
acting peculiar lately?
Sebastian: Peculiar?
Triton: You know, moaning about, daydreaming, singing to herself. . . . You
haven't noticed, hmm?
Sebastian: Oh - well, I -
Triton: Sebastian. . . .
Sebastian: Hmmm?
Triton: I know you've been keeping something from me. . . .
Sebastian: Keeping . . . something?
Triton: About Ariel?
Sebastian: Ariel . . . ?
Triton: In love?
Sebastian: I tried to stop her, sir. She wouldn't listen. I told her to stay
away from humans - they are bad, they are trouble, they -
Triton: Humans? WHAT ABOUT HUMANS?
Sebastian: Humans? Ho ho ho ho. . . . Who said anything about humans?
(Fade to Ariel and Flounder entering cave.)
Ariel: Flounder, why can't you just tell me what this is all about?
Flounder: You'll see. It's a suprise.
Ariel: (Sees statue of Eric.) Oh, Flounder- Flounder you're the best! it looks
just like him. It even has his eyes. "Why, Eric, run away with you? This
is all so - so sudden. . . . (Turns around and sees Triton.) Daddy! . . .
Triton: I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I
expect those rules to be obeyed.
Ariel: But Daddy!-
Triton: Is it true you rescued a human from drowing?
Ariel: Daddy, I had to-
Triton: Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly for-
bidden. Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that!
Ariel: He would have died-
Triton: One less human to worry about!
Ariel: You don't even know him.
Triton: Know him? I don't have to know him. They're all the same. Spineless,
savage, harpooning, fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling-
Ariel: Daddy, I love him!
Triton: No . . . Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're
a mermaid!
Ariel: I don't care.
Triton: So help me Ariel, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the
only way, so be it. (Begins to blast the artifacts with his trident.)
Ariel: Daddy!. . . No . . . No, please- Daddy, stop!. . . Daddy, Nooo!!. . .
(He blasts statue. Ariel begins crying and he leaves, ashamed.)
Sebastian: Ariel, I . . .
Ariel: (Still crying.) Just go away. (He leaves and Flotsan and Jetsam appear.)
Flotsam: Poor child.
Jetsam: Poor, sweet child.
Flotsam: She has a very serious problem
Jetsam: If only there were something we could do.
Flotsam: But there is something.
Ariel: Who - who are you?
Jetsam: Don't be scared.
Flotsam: We represent someone who can help you.
Jetsam: Someone who could make all your dreams come true.
Flotsam and Jetsam: Just imagine -
Jetsam: You and your prince -
Flotsam and Jetsam: Together, forever. . . .
Ariel: I don't understand.
Jetsam: Ursula has great powers
Ariel: The sea witch? Why, that's - I couldn't possibly - no! Get out of
here! Leave me alone!
Flotsam: Suit yourself.
Jetsam: It was only a suggestion.
[Jetsam flicks the statue's broken face towards Ariel.]
Ariel: [Looking at the face] Wait.
Flotsam and Jetsam: Yeeeeeeeeeess?
(Cut to outside of cave with Flounder and Sebastian.)
Flounder: (snif) Poor Ariel.
Sebastian: I didn't mean to tell, it was an accident. (Ariel passes by.)
Ariel - where are you going? Ariel, what are you doing here with this
riff-raff?
riel: I'm going to see Ursula.
Sebastian: Ariel, no! No, she's a demon, she's a monster!
Ariel: Why don't you go tell my father? You're good at that.
Sebastian: But . . . But, I . . . (To Flounder.) Come on. (They travel towards
Ursula's cavern.)
Flotsam and Jetsam: This way. (Ariel enters and is hung up in the garden of
souls.)
Ursula: Come in. Come in, my child. We mustn't lurk in doorways - it's rude.
One MIGHT question your upbringing. . . . Now, then. You're here because
you have a thing for this human. This, er, prince fellow. Not that I blame
you - he is quite a catch, isn't he? Well, angel fish, the solution to your
problem is simple. The only way to get what you want - is to become a human
yourself.
Ariel: Can you DO that?
Ursula: My dear, sweet child. That's what I do - it's what I live for. To help
unfortunate merfolk - like yourself. Poor souls with no one else to turn to.
I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light and made a switch
True? Yes
And I fortunately know a little magic
It's a talent that I always have possessed
And here lately, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, lonely and depressed
(Pathetic)
Poor unfortunate souls
In pain
In need
This one longing to be thinner
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them?
Yes, indeed
Those poor unfortunate souls
So sad
So true
They come flocking to my cauldron
Crying, "Spells, Ursula please!"
And I help them?
Yes, I do
Now it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals
Yes, I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
Now, here's the deal. I will make you a potion that will turn you into
a human for three days. Got that? Three days. Now listen, this is import-
ant. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get dear ol'
princey to fall in love with you. That is, he's got to kiss you. Not just
any kiss - the kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on
the third day, you'll remain human, permanently, but - if he doesn't, you
turn back into a mermaid, and - you belong to me.
Sebastian: No Ariel! (He is silenced by Flotsam and Jetsam.)
Ursula: Have we got a deal?
Ariel: If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again.
Ursula: That's right. . . . But - you'll have your man. Life's full of tough
choices, innit? Oh - and there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the
subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing, you know.
Ariel: But I don't have any -
Ursula: I'm not asking much. Just a token, really, a trifle. You'll never even
miss it. What I want from you is . . . your voice.
Ariel: My voice?
Ursula: You've got it, sweetcakes. No more talking, singing, zip.
Ariel: But without my voice, how can I -
Ursula: You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the
importance of body language! Ha!
The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore
Yes, on land it's much preferred
For ladies not to say a word
And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man
Come on, you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I'm a very busy woman
And I haven't got all day
It won't cost much
Just your voice!
You poor unfortunate soul
It's sad
But true
If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet
You've got to pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll!
Flotsam, Jetsam, now I've got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul.
(Ariel signs contract.)
Paluga, sarruga, come winds of the Caspian Sea.
Now rings us glossitis and max laryngitis,
La voce to me!
Now . . . sing!
Ariel: (Sings.)
Ursula: Keep singing! (Giant magical hands rip out Ariel's voice and give it to
Ursula. She laughs as Ariel is changed into a human and rushed to the surf-
ace by Flounder and Sebastian.)
(Fade to beach. Eric and Max are walking near castle.)
Eric: (Playing flute.) That voice. I can't get it out of my head. I've looked
everywhere, Max - where could she be? (On other side of rocks Ariel is
washed up. Sebastian and Flounder are exausted. Ariel sees her legs and is
amazed.)
Scuttle: Well, look at what the catfish dragged in! Look at ya! Look at ya!
There's something different. Don't tell me - I got it. It's your hairdo,
right? You've been using the dinglehopper, right? No? No huh, well let me
see. New . . . seashells? No new seashells. I gotta admit I can't put my
foot on it right now, but if I just stand here long enough I know that I'll -
Sebastian: SHE'S GOT LEGS, YOU IDIOT! She traded her voice to the sea witch
and got legs. Jeez, man . . .
Scuttle: I knew that.
Flounder: Ariel's been turned into a human. She's gotta make the prince fall in
love with her, and he's gotta ki- he's gotta kiss her. (Ariel tries to get
up.)
Sebastian: And she's only got three days. Just look at her. On legs. On human
legs! My nerves are shot. This is a catastrophe! What would her father say?
I'll tell you what her father'd say, he'd say he's gonna kill himself a crab,
that's what her father'd say! I'm gonna march meself straight home right now
and tell him just like I shoulda done de minute- (Ariel grabs him.) . . . and
don't you shake your head at me, young lady. Maybe there's still time. If
we could get that witch to give you back your voice, you could go home with
all the normal fish, and just be . . . just be . . . just be miserable for
the rest of your life. All right, all right. I'll try to help you find that
prince. Boy. What a soft-shell I'm turning out to be.
Scuttle: Now, Ariel, I'm tellin' ya, if you wanna be a human the first thing
you gotta do is dress like one. Now lemme see.
(Cut to Eric and Max. Max smells Ariel and gets excited.)
Eric: Max? Huh . . . what, Max!
Scuttle: (Whistles.) Ya look great kid. Ya look - sensational. (They hear Max.
He arrives and chases Ariel up on a rock.)
Eric: Max . . . Max - Quiet Max! What's gotten into you fella? (Sees Ariel.)
Oh . . . Oh, I see. Are you O.K., miss? I'm sorry if this knucklehead
scared you. He's harmless, really - . . . you . . . seem very familiar . . .
to me. Have we met? We have met? I knew it! You're the one - the one I've
been looking for! What's your name? (Ariel mouths "Ariel" but no words come
out.) What's wrong? What is it? You can't speak? (Ariel shakes her head.)
Oh. Then you couldn't be who I thought. (Ariel and Max look frustrated. She
tries pantomime.) What is it? You're hurt? No, No . . . You need help.
(She falls into him.) Whoa, whoa, careful - careful - easy. Gee, you must
have really been through something. Don't worry, I'll help you. Come on . . .
Come on, you'll be okay.
(Fade to Ariel in bath playing with bubbles.)
Carlotta: Washed up from a shipwreck. Oh, the poor thing. We'll have you
feeling better in no time. [Picks up Ariel's "dress"] I'll just - I'll just
get this washed for you.
(Cut to Sebastian in dress getting washed.)
Woman 1: Well you must have at least heard about this girl.
Woman 2: Well, Gretchen says . . . (Sebastian is dunked.) . . . since when has
Gretchen got anything right. I mean really, this girl shows up in rags and
doesn't speak-
Sebastian: Madame, please ! . . .
Woman 2: . . . not my idea of a princess. If Eric's looking for a girl, I know
a couple of highly available ones right here . . . (Sebastian dives into
kitchen and sees various fish cooking. He faints.)
(Cut to castle dining room.)
Grimsby: Oh, Eric, be reasonable. Nice young ladies just don't - swim around
rescuing people in the middle of the ocean and then - flutter off into
oblivion, like some -
Eric: I'm tellin' you, Grim, she was REAL! I'm gonna find that girl - and I'm
gonna marry her.
Carlotta: Ha Ha. Come on honey. Don't be shy. (Ariel enteres in a beautiful
dress.)
Grimsby: Oh, Eric, isn't she a vision?
Eric: You look - wonderful.
Grimsby: Come come come, you must be famished. Let me help you my dear. There
we go - ah - quite comfy? Uh. It's - It's not ofen that we have such a lovely
dinner guest, eh Eric? (Ariel starts combing hair with a fork. They look
dumbfounded and she is embarrased. She sees pipe and brightens.) Uh, do you
like it? It is rather - fine . . . (She blows its contents into his face.
Eric laughs.)
Carlotta: Oh, my!
Eric: Ahem, so sorry Grim.
Carlotta: Why, Eric, that's the first time I've seen you smile in weeks.
Grimsby: (Wiping his face.) Oh, very amusing. Carlotta, my dear, what's for
dinner?
Carlotta: Oooh, you're gonna love it. Chef's been fixing his specialty,
stuffed crab.
(Cut to Sebastian watching Louis cook. He is humming to himself.)
Louis:
Les poissons
Les poissons
How I love les poissons
Love to chop
And to serve little fish
First I cut off their heads
Then I pull out the bones
Ah mais oui
Ca c'est toujours delish
Les poissons
Les poissons
Hee hee hee
Hah hah hah
With the cleaver I hack them in two
I pull out what's inside
And I serve it up fried
God, I love little fishes
Don't you?
Here's something for tempting the palate
Prepared in the classic technique
First you pound the fish flat with a mallet
Then you slash through the skin
Give the belly a slice
Then you rub some salt in
'Cause that makes it taste nice
Zut alors, I have missed one!
Sacre bleu
What is this?
How on earth could I miss
Such a sweet little succulent crab?
Quel dommage
What a loss
Here we go in the sauce
Now some flour, I think
Just a dab
Now I stuff you with bread
It don't hurt 'cause you're dead
And you're certainly lucky you are
'Cause it's gonna be hot
In my big silver pot
Toodle loo mon poisson
Au revoir!
(Sebastian hops back and Louis grabs him again.) What is this? (Sebastian
pinches his nose and a battle ensues. Louis knocks over a large cabinet.)
(Cut to dining room. Huge crash is heard.)
Carlotta: I think I'd better go see what Louis is up to.
(Back to kitchen. Louis is trashing the place.)
Louis: Come out you little pipsqueak and fight like a man!
Carlotta: Louis! What are you doing?
Louis: Well - I - I was just - er, er, I'm sorry, madame.
(Cut back to dining room.)
Grimsby: You know, Eric, perhaps our young guest might enjoy seeing some of the
sights of the kingdom. Something in the way of a tour?
Eric: I'm sorry, Grim, what was that?
Grimsby: You can't spend all your time moping about, you need to get out. Do
something, have a life. (Grimsby lifts his plate's cover to reveal Sebastian
cowering in the salad.) Get your mind off -
Eric: Easy, Grim, Easy. (Ariel lifts her own plate cover and signals for
Sebastian to hide there. Sebastian rushes across while no one is looking.)
It's not a bad idea. If she's interested. Well - whaddaya say? Would you
like to join me on a tour of my kingdom tomorrow?
(Ariel nods vigorously, leaning heavily on her plate's cover.)
Grimsby: Wonderful, now let's eat, before this crab wanders off my plate.
(Fade to Ariel watching Eric and Max from balcony.)
Eric: Come here boy! . . . Arrr . . . (He sees Ariel and waves. She is emb-
arassed and goes back inside.)
Sebastian: This has got to be, without a doubt, the single most humiliating day
of my life. I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, young lady.
Now - we got to make a plan to get that boy to kiss you. Tomorrow, when he
takes you for that ride, you gotta look your best. You gotta bat your eyes -
like this. You gotta pucker up your lips - like this. (He sees she is
asleep.) Hm. You are hopeless child. You know dat? Completely hopeless . . .
(Fade to undersea palace. Seahorse swims up to Triton.)
Triton: Any sign of them?
Seahorse: No, Your Majesty. We've searched everywhere. We've found no trace
of your daughter - or Sebastian.
Triton: Well, keep looking. Leave no shell unturned, no coral unexplored. Let
no one in this kingdom sleep until she's safe at home.
Seahorse: Yes sire. (He leaves.)
Triton: Oh, what have I done? What have I done?
(Morning at castle. Ariel and Eric leave for their tour. Ariel is amazed
by everything.)
Flounder: (As they pass water.) Has he kissed her yet?
Sebastian: Not yet.
Flounder: Ohh . . . (Ariel and Eric go dancing and see the town.)
Scuttle: Yo, Flounder! Any kissing?
Flounder: No, not yet.
Scuttle: Hmm. Well they - they better get crackin'. (They leave town and Ariel
drives, almost crashing. They end up rowing on a still lagoon in the even-
ing.)
Flounder: Move over - move your big feathers. I can't see a thing.
Scuttle: Nothing is happening. . . . Only one day left, and that boy ain't
puckered up once. O.K. All right, this calls for a little vocal romantic
stimulation. Stand back. (He flies over and sings very badly.)
Eric: Wow. Somebody should find that poor animal and put it out of its misery.
Sebastian: Jeez, man, I'm surrounded by amateurs! You want something done,
you've got to do it yourself. First, we got to create the mood.
Percussion. . . . Strings. . . . Winds. . . . Words. . . .
There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don't got a lot to say
But there's something about her
And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl
Eric: Did you hear something?
Sebastian:
Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
Possible she wants you too
There is one way to ask her
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
My oh my
Look like the boy too shy
Ain't gonna kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Ain't that sad?
Ain't it a shame?
Too bad, he gonna miss the girl
Eric: You know, I feel really bad not knowing your name. Heh - maybe I could
guess. Is it, err, Mildred? O.K., no. How 'bout - Diana? Rachel?
Sebastian: Ariel. Her name is Ariel.
Eric: Ariel? Ariel? Well, that's kinda pretty. O.K. - Ariel. . .
Sebastian:
Now's your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Boy you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don't say a word
And she won't say a word
Until you kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Don't be scared
You got the mood prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Don't stop now
Don't try to hide it how
You want to kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Float along
And listen to the song
The song say kiss the girl
Sha la la la la
The music play
Do what the music say
You got to kiss the girl
You've got to kiss the girl
You wanna kiss the girl
You've gotta kiss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl
(The boat tips over.)
Eric: Whoa, hang on - I've gotcha. (Flotsam and Jetsam congradulate each
other.)
(Cut to Ursula's cavern.)
Ursula: Nice work, boys. That was a close one. Too close. The little tramp!
Oh, she's better than I thought. At this rate, he'll be kissing her by
sunset for sure. Well, it's time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles!
Triton's daughter will be mine - and then I'll make him writhe. I'll see him
wriggle like a worm on a hook! (Laughing, she transforms into a human with
Ariel's voice.)
(Fade to castle at night. Eric is playing the flute and contemplating as
Grimsby approaches.)
Grimsby: Eric, if I may say, far better than any dream girl, is one of flesh
and blood, one warm and caring, and right before your eyes. (He sees Ariel,
sighs, and tosses away flute. He is distracted by Ursula/Vanessa singing with
Ariel's voice and is placed under her spell.)
(Scuttle flying toward castle in morning.)
Scuttle: Ariel! Ariel, wake up! Wake up! I just heard the news. Congratula-
tions, kiddo, we did it!
Sebastian: What is this idiot babbling about?
Scuttle: Right - as if you two didn't know, uh? The whole town's buzzin' about
the prince gettin' himself hitched this afternoon! You know, he's getting
married! You silly sidewalker! I just wanted to wish you luck. I'll catch
you later, I wouldn't miss it! (Ariel brightens and runs downstairs, only to
see Eric and Vanessa together.)
Grimsby: Well, uh - err, Eric. I-it appears that I was mistaken. This mystery
maiden of yours does - in fact exist. And - and she is lovely. Congratula-
tions, my dear.
Eric: We wish to be married as soon as possible.
Grimsby: Oh, yes - of course, Eric, but, er - but these things do take time,
you know. . . .
Eric: This afternoon, Grimsby. The wedding ship departs at sunset.
Grimsby: Oh, oh - very well, Eric - as you wish. (Ariel runs off crying.)
(Cut to late afternoon as wedding ship starts to leave. Ariel on pier
crying bitterly as Sebastian and Flounder look on.)
(Cut to Scuttle flying and humming to himself.)
Vanessa: 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!
Scuttle: (Seeing real Ursula in mirror.) The sea witch! Oh no . . . She's-
I gotta. . . (Runs into side of ship. Flies off to find Ariel.) Ariel!
Ariel! Ariel. I was flying, I wa - of course I was flying - An' - I s- I
saw that the watch - the witch was watchin' a mirror, and she was singin'
with a stolen set o' pipes! Do you hear what I'm tellin' you? THE PRINCE
IS MARRYING THE SEA WITCH IN DISGUISE!
Sebastian: Are you sure about this?
Scuttle: Have I ever been wrong? I mean when it's important!
Flounder: What are we gonna do!? (Ariel hears Ursula's voice in her head as the
sun drops.)
Ursula: . . . Before the sun sets on the third day. . . . (Ariel jumps in water
but can't swim well. Sebastian sends down some barrels.)
Sebastian: Ariel, grab on to that. Flounder, get her to that boat as fast as
your fins can carry you!
Flounder: I'll try.
Sebastian: I've gotta get to the sea king. He must know about this.
Scuttle: What - What about me? What about ME?
Sebastian: You - find a way to STALL THAT WEDDING!
Scuttle: Stall the wedding. Wh- what am I - what - that's it! (He flies off to
rally the animals and fish.) Move it, let's go, we got an emergency here!
(Cut to wedding in progress. Max growls at Vanessa but she kicks him.)
Priest: Dearly beloved . . . (Flounder is pulling Ariel toward ship.)
Flounder: Don't worry Ariel. ugh - we - we're gonna make it. We're almost
there.
Priest: Yes, um, do you Eric, take Vanessa, to be your lawfully wedded wife,
for as long as you both shall live?
Eric: (Under spell.) I do.
Priest: Eh, and do you . . . (Birds and animals swoop in for attack, causing
great chaos.) . . . then by the power inves-
Vanessa: Get away from me you slimy little- Oh, why you little- (In the
struggle, the shell holding Ariel's voice it broken and it goes back to her.
Eric comes out of the spell as she sings.)
Eric: Ariel?
Ariel: Eric.
Eric: You - you can talk. You're the one.
Vanessa: Eric, get away from her!
Eric: It - it was you all the time.
Ariel: Oh, Eric, I - I wanted to tell you.
Vanessa: ERIC NO! (The sun sets and Ariel becomes a mermaid.)
Ursula: You're too late! You're too late! So long, loverboy.
Eric: Ariel! (Ursula and Ariel go overboard.)
Ursula: Poor little princess - it's not you I'm after. I've a much bigger fish
to -
Triton: Ursula, stop!
Ursula: Why, King Triton! Ha ha ha - How ARE you?
Triton: Let her go.
Ursula: Not a chance, Triton! She's mine now. We made a deal.
Ariel: Daddy, I'm sorry! I - I - I didn't mean to. I didn't know -
(Triton attacks the contract with a fierce blast from his trident, to no
avail.)
Ursula: You see? The contract's legal, binding and completely unbreakable -
even for YOU. Of course, I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain.
The daughter of the great sea king is a very precious commodity. But - I
might be willing to make an exchange for someone even better. . . .
(Cut to Eric rowing away from ship.)
Grimsby: Eric! What are you doing?
Eric: Grim, I lost her once. I'm not going to lose her again.
(Back to Ursula and Triton.)
Ursula: Now! Do we have a deal? (Triton signs contract.) Ha! It's done then.
(Ariel is released and Triton is withered as Ursula laughs.)
Ariel: No . . . Oh, No!
Sebastian: Oh, your majesty . . .
Ariel: Daddy? . . .
Ursula: (Picks up crown.) At last, it's mine. Ho, Ho . . .
Ariel: You - You monster!
Ursula: Don't fool with me you little brat! Contract or no- AAAAHH! (She is hit
with a harpoon thrown by Eric.) Why you little troll!
Ariel: Eric! Eric look out!
Ursula: After him! (Flotsam and Jetsam attack.)
Sebastian: Come on! . . .
Ursula: Say goodbye to your sweetheart. (Ariel makes her miss Eric and blast
Flotsam and Jetsam.) Babies! My poor, little poopsies!
(On surface as Ursula grows beneath.)
Ariel: Eric, you've got to get away from here.
Eric: No, I won't leave you.
Ursula: (Now very large.) You pitiful, insignificant, fool!
Eric: Look out!
Ursula: Now I am the ruler of all the ocean! The waves obey my every whim!
The sea and all its spoils bow to my power! (She wrecks havoc, creates a
whirlpool and raises some shipwrecks.)
Ariel: ERIC! (He gets on board one of the ships as Ariel falls to the bottom
of the whirlpool. Ursula attempts to blast her.)
Ursula: (Laughing wickedly.) So much for true love! (As Ursula is about to
finish Ariel, Eric steers the ship into her. She is impaled and dies most
horribly. Eric collapses on the shore. The trident falls back to Triton and
everything reverts to normal.)
(Fade to morning with Eric on beach and Ariel watching from a distance.
Triton and Sebastian look on.)
Triton: She really does love him, doesn't she, Sebastian?
Sebastian: Well, it's like I always say, Your Majesty. Children got to be free
to lead their own lives.
Triton: You - always say that? (sighs) Then I guess there's just one problem
left.
Sebastian: And what's that, Your Majesty?
Triton: How much I'm going to miss her. (He turns her into a human and she goes
to meet Eric. They kiss which fades into kiss on wedding day. Everyone is
happy. Sebastian is attacked by Louis. He beats Louis up and returns to the
sea.)
Sebastian: Yes, Thank you, thank you. (Ariel and Triton hug.)
Ariel: I love you Daddy.
(Big finale while "Part of Your World" music plays. Ship sails off as
Ariel and Eric kiss.)
All: Now we can walk,
Now we can run,
Now we can stay all day in the sun.
Just you and me,
And I can be,
Part of your world.
THE END