Original subtitles

Subtitles created by Fingersmaster. Enjoy!

- Morning, Bastian. - Morning, Dad.

I had another dream, Dad.

About Mum.

I understand, son.

But we have to get on with things, right?

Bastian, we each have responsibilities.

We can't let Mom's death...

..be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right?

Yeah.

Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk.

I got a call from your maths teacher yesterday.

She says that you were drawing horses in your maths book.

Unicorns. They were unicorns.

What?

Nothing.

She also says you haven't been turning in your homework on time.

And I'm very disappointed that you didn't even try out for the swimming team.

As to those riding lessons you wanted,

you say you love horses

and yet you seem to be afraid to get on a real one.

Now, Bastian, you're old enough to get your head down out of the clouds, and...

start keeping both feet on the ground, right?

OK.

Stop daydreaming...

Start facing your problems,

OK?

- OK. - OK.

There, I think we've had a nice talk.

We should have more.

You have a good day, son. Don't be late for school again.

But yesterday, I wasn't.

Hey, it's the weirdo!

Hey, weirdo, got any cash for us today?

Come on wimp...

- Let's get him! - Yeah!

Hey!

You're dead, weirdo!

You can't get away, you jerk!

- You're dead, chicken! - We're gonna get you!

- Where's your money, man? - I don't have any!

No money? Mama's boy's holding out on us.

If you ain't got no money on ya,

- you can go in the garbage can. - No!

No!

- Yeah, all right! - Way to go!

Maybe the chicken can lay an egg in there.

Hey, man, who said you could get out of the garbage?

- Get back in there! - No, not again.

- No, not again! - Where do you think you're going, whimp?

Where did he go?

He went that way! Which way?

That way!

Get outta here! I don't like kids.

Are you still here? Didn't you what I said, boy?

- I was... - You're hiding, aren't you?

- No, I was just... - The video arcade is down the street.

Here we just sell small rectangular objects.

They're called books.

They require a little effort on your part and make no b-b-b-b-beeps.

- On your way, please. - I know books.

I have 186 of them at home.

Comic books.

No, I've read 'Treasure Island', 'The Last of the Mohicans',

'Wizard of Oz', 'Lord of the Rings',

'20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', 'Tarzan'...

Come.

So...

Who were you running away from?

Just some kids from school.

Why?

They wanna throw me in the garbage.

Why don't you give 'em a good punch in the nose?

Well...

I don't know.

What's that book about?

Oh, this is something special.

Well, what is it?

Look,

your books are safe.

By reading them...

you get to become...

Tarzan or Robinson Crusoe.

But that's what I like about 'em.

Ah, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.

What... what do you mean?

Listen...

..have you ever been Captain Nemo,

trapped inside your submarine,

while the giant squid is attacking you?

Yes.

Weren't you afraid you couldn’t escape?

But it's only a story.

That's what I'm talking about.

The ones you read are safe.

And that one isn't?

Don't worry about it.

What's so different about it?

Nothing

But... but you just said it was...

Forget about it.

This book...

is not for you.

Koreander's.

Oh, yes.

No, I don't have it,

but I can find it for you.

THE NEVERENDING STORY

Might take me a couple of weeks.

All right...

I'll order it for you.

Bye.

Don't be angry, I'll bring it back soon.

It was midnight in the Howling Forest.

The wind whistled through the tops of the ancient trees.

Suddenly, something enormous

crashed and rumbled through the eerie woods.

What's that?

What is this?

Excuse me.

Would it be all right if I joined you this evening?

You see, I've been travelling all day.

Now I see why you picked this camp.

Now...

A delicious-looking limestone rock.

Nice bouquet.

Must be a real vintage year.

Yes, you're right.

Those delicious rocks are the reason we camped here, all right.

Is he... a nut case?

- No, he's a rock biter. - A rock bi... A rock biter?

Hey!

Now...

Sorry.

Poor baby.

That was limestone with a dash of quartz.

Very tasty.

Where I come from in the north,

we used to have exquisite gourmet rocks.

Only now... now...

..they're all gone.

I know how it happened.

I... I swear it wasn't me.

No.

I think I know what it was. Tell us more.

Near my home, there used to be a beautiful lake.

But, then...

then, it...

it was gone.

Did the lake dry up?

No, it just wasn't there any more.

Nothing was there any more.

Not even a dried-up lake.

- A hole? - A hole would be something.

No, it was nothing.

And it got bigger and bigger.

First, there was no lake any more,

and then finally...

no rocks.

If he keeps stuffing his face like that,

soon there won't be any rocks here either.

Night Hob, this could be serious!

Rock Biter, what you have told us

is also happening where I live in the west.

A strange sort of nothing is destroying everything.

- Yes. - Yes.

We night hobs live in the south,

and it's there too.

So... it's... it's... not just in our part of Fantasia?

- Maybe... - Yeah?

..it's already everywhere.

Maybe our whole land is in danger.

What can we do?

My people are sending me to the Ivory Tower, to the Empress for help.

We are on the same...

We are on the same mission.

After all, if the Empress can't save us, who could?

Then why are we all just sitting around here

- instead of taking off for the Ivory Tower? - Right!

- What are we waiting for? - That's right...

- This way. - Yes! Yes!

Let's go now.

Hey, wake up.

Come on, old girl.

We can't just hang around here.

Wake up. Ready for take-off.

Stupid bat!

We can't wait for a snail.

Can I carry you?

Don't worry, it's a racing snail.

But... but... but, we can't even wait for a racing snail.

Tally-ho!

Hey... it really is a racing snail.

And nobody gives a hoot about me and my stupid bat.

Maybe I'll take a few of these yummy gourmet rocks...

for the road.

The Nothing.

Look!

There it is.

The heart of Fantasia.

I never knew it was that beautiful.

Stay awake!

I told you to stay awake.

The home of the Empress.

She's our only hope.

Friends,

I know why you are all here.

The Nothing...

..is destroying our world.

I also know that you have come to beseech...

the Empress for help.

But I...

I have terrible news.

The Empress herself has become deathly ill.

There seems to be a mysterious link...

between her illness and the Nothing.

She's dying.

So she cannot save...

us.

But there just might be one chance.

The Plainspeople who hunt the purple buffalo...

have among them a great warrior,

and he alone has a chance to fight the Nothing...

and save us.

He is our only hope.

His name...

is Atreyu.

Atreyu.

The Empress had already sent for the great warrior.

When he finally appeared on the terrace of the Ivory Tower,

he carried with him the hopes of all Fantasia.

A little boy.

I'm sorry,

but this is not the time nor place for children.

I must ask you to leave.

If you don't want me here, you shouldn’t have sent for me.

- Is he a nut case? - It was not you we sent for.

We wanted Atreyu.

I am Atreyu.

Not Atreyu the child...

Atreyu the warrior!

I'm the only Atreyu of the Plainspeople.

But I'll be happy to go back hunting the purple buffalo.

No, wait!

Come back, please.

If you really are the Atreyu we sent for,

you would be willing to go on a quest?

Yes, of course.

What kind of a quest?

To find a cure for the Empress...

..and to save our world.

No-one can give you any advice, except this...

You must go alone,

you must leave all your weapons behind.

It will be very dangerous.

Is there any chance of success?

I do not know.

But if you fail,

the Empress will surely die,

and our whole world will be utterly destroyed.

When do I begin?

Now.

And you must hurry, Atreyu.

The Nothing grows stronger every day.

Take this.

The Auryn.

He who wears the Auryn...

speaks for the Empress.

It will guide and protect you.

- Wake up! - Farewell, Atreyu!

Take care.

At the same time,

elsewhere in Fantasia,

a creature of darkness...

also began his quest.

They had been travelling aimlessly...

for almost a week,

but they could not find a cure for the Empress.

Neither Atreyu, nor his horse, Artax,

had the vaguest suspicion...

that the creature of darkness, the Gmork,

was already tracking them down.

What? What is it, Artax?

Is it time to...

..go? Already?

I know what you want.

It's time to eat.

Good idea!

No. It's a great idea!

No. Not too much.

We still have a long way to go.

Atreyu and Artax had searched the Silver Mountains,

the Desert of Shattered Hopes, and the Crystal Towers

without success.

And so, there was only one chance left...

To find Morla, the Ancient One,

the wisest being in Fantasia,

whose home was the Shell Mountain,

somewhere in the deadly...

..Swamps of Sadness.

Come on, boy. Come on.

That's the boy.

That's the boy.

It's OK.

You're doing fine, Artax.

That's right.

Come on, Artax.

What's the matter?

What's wrong?

Come on, boy!

What's the matter?

I understand.

It's too difficult for you.

Artax! You're sinking!

Come on! Turn around!

You have to! Now!

Come on! Artax!

Fight against the Sadness, Artax!

Artax, please.

You're letting the sadness of the swamps get to you.

You have to try.

You have to care.

For me.

You're my friend.

I love you.

Artax! Stupid horse!

You've gotta move, or you'll die!

Move, please!

I won't give up! Come, quick!

Artax, please!

The Shell Mountain.

Morla. The Ancient One.

Morla!

Where are you?

Morla!

But that's impossible!

They couldn’t have heard me.

Are you Morla?

The Ancient One?

Not that it matters,

but yes.

Please, help me, Morla!

Do you recognize this?

Well...

..we haven't seen the Auryn...

in a long time.

We?

Is there someone else here, too?

We haven't spoken to anyone else...

for thousands of years.

So, we started talking to ourselves.

Morla, I bring terrible news!

Did you know that the Empress is very ill?

Not that it matters,

but yes.

Actually, we don't care.

If I don't save her, she'll die!

There's a terrible Nothing sweeping over the land!

Don't you care about that?

We don't even care...

whether or not we care.

Do you have a cold?

No.

We're allergic...

to youth.

You know how I can help the Empress, don't you?

Not that it matters,

but yes.

If you don't tell me, and the Nothing keeps coming,...

you'll die too!

Both of you!

Die?

Now...

that, at least, would be something.

Please, help me.

You said you knew the...

We're tired of sneezing.

Go away.

Nothing matters.

That's not true!

If it didn't really matter to you, you could tell me.

Clever boy!

Tell me, please!

We don't know.

But you can ask the Southern Oracle.

How can I get there?

You can't.

It's 10,000 miles away.

But that's so far.

That's right.

Forget it.

Goodbye.

No.

Atreyu wouldn’t quit now.

After days and nights of unconsciousness,

Atreyu slowly opened his eyes,

and found himself in strange surroundings.

He was clean, and his wounds were dressed.

Leaving so soon?

I... I was just going to...

I... have to...

I was trying to s...

Sneak away?

I like children.

For breakfast?

Never.

I'm a Luck Dragon.

My name is Falkor.

- And my name is... - Atreyu.

And you're on a quest.

How'd you know that?

You were unconscious.

And you talked in your sleep.

What?

Could you... get round...

and scratch behind my right ear?

I can never quite reach it.

Here?

Yeah.

Yeah!

That's so good!

Thank you.

So, little fella,

you're on your way to the Southern Oracle?

Yes. But it's hopeless!

It's too far away!

I wouldn't necessarily say that...

You... you know how to get there?

Why, sure!

It's right around the corner.

How did all this happen?

With luck.

You've already brought me the entire 10,000 miles?

No. Only 9,891.

As the dragon flies.

You're amazing!

Having a Luck Dragon with you...

..is the only way to go on a quest.

Things will work out fine, Atreyu.

Never give up,

and good luck will find you.

It's good to have a friend again.

You have more than one.

Look.

Get out of my light, wench!

You're disturbing my scientific work!

You and your scientific work!

What the boy needs now...

..is one of my potions!

The boy will need my scientific advice much more.

Yes, yes.

But not until he's well.

- Get back to your own room. - I'm going this way.

I'm always finding you in my place.

He's well!

Now, it's my turn with him.

Oh, no, you don't!

I decide when he's well.

It's your turn when I say it's your turn.

Well, little man. Still in pain?

A little. But it's all right.

I like that!

The patient telling the doctor it's all right?

It's all right when I say it's all right.

It has to hurt, if it's to heal!

Here...

Drink that.

Good?

That's my bat wing broth.

There's eye of newt in there.

Tree mould, old lizard brains,

scales from a rancid sea serpent,

flavoured with sand worms.

Organicly grown, of course!

Just where did you and your dragon come from?

What are you onto?

Anything of interest of the scientific community?

He thinks he is the scientific community!

My name's Atreyu. I came here to find the Southern Oracle.

Here we go again!

You've come to the right place, my boy.

I am somewhat of an expert on the Southern Oracle.

It is my scientific speciality.

It's my scientific speciality!

Why don't you sit down...

..and be quiet for once?

You keep quiet, wench!

It's now my turn.

My name is Engywook. She's Urgl.

- Ever heard of me? - I don't think so.

You don't move in scientific circles?

I am the expert on the Southern Oracle!

You've come to the right place, my boy!

There's no fool like an old fool.

Wait! Stay here.

The observatory!

To the winch, wench!

Come on, lazybones!

Can't you go any faster?

I've been studying the mysteries of the Southern Oracle for years.

Someday, I'll publish my book.

'A Century of Studying the Southern Oracle'

by Professor Engywook.

Volume 1, 'The Early Years'.

Have you ever been to the Southern Oracle?

What do you think?

I work scientifically!

That's what you think!

Look!

Is that the Southern Oracle?

Oh, no!

It's the first of the two gates you must pass through...

..before you reach the Southern Oracle...

..and get me the final information for my book!

Of course,

most people...

..never get that far.

Why?

The sphinxes' eyes stay closed...

..until someone who does not feel his own worth...

tries to pass by.

Here comes one that looks fancy.

Let's see what he really thinks of himself.

Look. Look!

Go on, scaredy-cat!

Oh, go on!

Oh, it's my turn. Let me see.

I'm the scientist!

He's going on.

I think he's gonna make it!

The sphinxes' eyes...

..are they open or shut?

Let me see!

They're shut.

No, wait!

The eyes are opening!

Oh, no!

Did he make it? Did he?

No.

Fancy armour doesn't help.

The sphinxes can see...

straight into your heart.

Listen, boy!

Next time, let me see what happens!

It's my telescope!

- I'm gonna try it. - No!

Don't go yet!

I've not told you about the next gate!

It's even worse than this one!

Atreyu!

Atreyu!

He'll never make it!

He'll never make it!

Oh, no.

Don't start to doubt yourself!

Be confident!

Be confident! Be confident!

Run, Atreyu! Run!

Run, Atreyu!

Run! Now!

He made it! He made it!

He made it!

He made it!

He made it!

It has to hurt, if it's to heal!

He made it!

Atreyu! He made it through the Sphinx Gate!

I always said he could do it.

Oh, good!

But that's no reason for you to fall out of the basket again.

I knew he would be safe.

Nonsense!

You don't understand anything!

The worst one is coming up.

Next is the Magic Mirror Gate.

Atreyu has to face his true self!

So what?

That won't be too hard for him.

That's what everyone thinks.

But kind people find that they are cruel.

Brave men discover that they are really cowards!

Confronted with their true selves,

most men run away...

..screaming!

This is going too far.

What if they...

..really do know about me in Fantasia?

The Southern Oracle?

Do not be afraid.

We will not harm you.

We have been waiting for you...

..a long time, Atreyu.

Are you the Southern Oracle?

Yes, we are.

Then you must know what can save Fantasia!

Yes, we do.

Well, what is it?

I have to know!

The Empress...

..needs...

..a new name.

A new name?

That's all?

But that's easy!

I can give her any name she wants!

No-one from Fantasia...

..can do it.

Only a human child...

..can give her this new name.

A human child?

Where can I find one?

You can only find one...

..beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.

If you want to save our world,

you must hurry!

We don't know how much longer...

..we can withstand the Nothing.

Falkor!

Falkor!

Hurry, Falkor! The Nothing's everywhere!

Don't worry.

We'll reach the boundaries of Fantasia.

- Do you know where they are? - I have no idea.

Then how do we find a human child?

With luck!

Faster, Falkor. Faster! We have to hurry!

All right! Hang on tight!

Yeah!

What a shame they don't ask me.

Mum,

she had such a wonderful name!

On and on they flew,

until they reached the Sea of Possibilities,

where they could go no further.

Look, Atreyu. The Nothing!

Falkor!

Hang on!

Falkor!

Atreyu!

Atreyu!

Falkor!

Falkor!

Where are you?

Falkor!

Atreyu!

Where are you?

Atreyu!

Falkor!

Falkor.

Atreyu!

They look like big, good,

strong hands, don't they?

I always thought that's what they were.

My little friends,

the little man with his racing snail,

the Night Hob,

even the stupid bat,

I couldn’t hold on to them!

The Nothing...

pulled them right out of my hands.

I failed.

No, you didn't fail.

I'm the one who failed.

I was the one chosen to stop the Nothing.

But I lost the Auryn.

I can't find my Luck Dragon.

So I won't be able to get beyond the boundaries of Fantasia!

Listen...

The Nothing will be here any minute.

I will just sit here

and let it take me away, too.

They look like good,

strong hands, don't they?

Morla?

Artax!

Artax!

Leave me alone!

Can I help you?

If you come any closer...

...I will rip you to shreds.

Who are you?

I am the Gmork.

And you, whoever you are,

can have the honour of being my last victim.

I will not die easily.

I am a warrior.

Brave warrior!

Then fight the Nothing.

But I can't!

I can't get beyond the boundaries of Fantasia.

What's so funny about that?

Fantasia has no boundaries.

That's not true!

You're lying!

Foolish boy.

Don't you know anything about Fantasia?

It's the world of human fantasy!

Every part,

every creature of it,

is a piece of the dreams and hopes of mankind.

Therefore,

it has no boundaries.

But why is Fantasia dying, then?

Because people have begun to lose their hopes,

and forget their dreams.

So, the Nothing grows stronger.

What is the Nothing?

It's the emptiness that's left.

It is like a despair...

destroying this world,

and I have been trying to help it.

But why?

Because people who have no hopes...

are easy to control.

And whoever has the control...

has the power.

Who are you really?

I am the servant...

...of the power behind the Nothing.

I was sent to kill the only one...

who could have stopped the Nothing.

I lost him in the Swamps of Sadness.

His name...

was Atreyu.

I have stalked him for so long,

I am almost too weak to kill you.

But I will find the strength.

Let me give you new strength, Gmork!

If we're about to die anyway,

I'd rather die fighting!

Come for me, Gmork!

I am Atreyu!

Falkor!

Falkor!

Atreyu!

Got you!

That was the end of Fantasia.

Only a few fragments...

of this once rich and beautiful world...

had been left by the Nothing.

Good old Falkor,

can you see anything?

Anything at all?

No.

All the land is gone.

I know.

And all because I failed.

You tried.

Do you suppose the Ivory Tower is still standing?

Let's hope so, Atreyu.

Let's hope so.

Let the Auryn guide you.

If the Ivory Tower still stands,

take us there.

Falkor!

The Ivory Tower!

The Empress.

Atreyu...

Why do you look so sad?

I have failed you, Empress.

No,

you haven't.

You brought him with you.

Who?

The earthling child!

The one who can save us all.

You knew about the earthling child?

Of course.

I knew everything.

My horse died,

I nearly drowned,

I just barely got away from the Nothing!

For what? To find out what you already knew?

It was the only way to get in touch with an earthling.

But I didn't get in touch with an earthling!

Yes, you did.

He has suffered with you.

He went through everything you went through.

And now, he has come here...

with you.

He is very close,

listening...

to every word...

we say.

What?

Where is he?

If he's so close, why doesn't he arrive?

He doesn't realise he's already a part of the Neverending Story.

The Neverending Story?

What's that?

Just as he is sharing all your adventures,

others are sharing his.

They were with him...

when he hid from the boys in the book store.

But that's impossible!

They were with him when he took the book...

with the Auryn symbol on the cover,

in which he's reading his own story...

right now.

I can't believe it!

They can't be talking about me!

What will happen if he doesn't appear?

Then our world will disappear.

And so will I.

How can he let that happen?

He doesn't understand that he's the one...

who has the power to stop it.

He simply can't imagine...

that one little boy could be that important.

Is it really me?

How could I make any difference?

Maybe he doesn't know what to do!

What do I have to do?

He has to give me a new name!

What if he doesn't come up with the right name?

He's already chosen it.

He just has to call it out!

Where is he? Why isn't here?

He still does not have the confidence.

But it's only a story. It's not real!

It's only a story!

Atreyu, no!

Atreyu!

Don't you have the courage...

to save us?

Bastian.

I wish I could!

Why don't you do what you dream, Bastian?

But I can't!

I have to keep my feet on the ground!

Call my name!

Bastian! Please!

Save us!

All right! I'll do it! I'll save you!

I will do what I dream!

Moon Child!

Why is it so dark?

In the beginning, it is always dark.

What is that?

One grain of sand.

That is all that remains of my vast empire.

Fantasia has totally disappeared?

Yes.

Then, everything's been in vain.

No, it hasn't.

Fantasia can arise in you,

in your dreams and wishes, Bastian.

How?

Open your hand.

What are you going to wish for?

I don't know.

Then there will be no Fantasia...

any more.

How many wishes do I get?

As many as you want.

And the more wishes you make,

the more magnificent Fantasia will become.

Really?

Try it.

Then, my first wish is...

Yeah!

Falkor, it's even more beautiful than I thought!

Like it?

Falkor, it's wonderful!

Falkor, it's like the Nothing never was!

Look!

Atreyu! Artax!

What would you like to wish for next?

That'll only cost a couple of dollars.

Did you see it on TV?

It's truly neat.

Yeah!

Yeah!

Look, there they are!

It's a monster!

Get 'em, Falkor!

Let's see how you like it, chickens!

Down here!

We're gonna get you guys!

Bastian made many other wishes,

and had many other amazing adventures,

before he finally returned to the ordinary world.

But that's another story.

-- English --