4/17/92 (Sci-Fi--Solomon/Rowe) Script Discussion

[ultimateemail5000]

Here's the OFFICIAL forum for discussion of the 2/19/92 Parker Bennett & Terry Runté Script.

Overview: Once production started to move forward producers Roland Joffé and Jake Eberts began to worry that the project had skewed too far from the original vision of a childrens' film. In hopes of returning to that spirit while also preserving the current production they hired writers Ed Solomon and Ryan Rowe to act as script doctors to the previous work by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais. This new script was written without input from the directors, which would form a rift between them and the producers throughout the duration of the project.

The aim of this new script was to remove or lighten the mature undertones, in favor of a lighter and more practical adventure for the family. Many key scenes were rewritten with a smaller budget in mind, including the climax which now saw Koopa de-evolved into a Yoshi-like creature rather than the original towering T. rex. Most prominent is the addition of a Disneyesque wedding sequence for the film's ending in which Mario marries girlfriend Daniella; this subplot would remain in the film, only to be cut in the editing room.

Click HERE to download the script or HERE to read our other early scripts!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

PHLIBBIT UPDATE--9/23/10: I went ahead and restructured the layout of how this thing is looking a little bit--it should be easier to follow, and this will be especially important as new chunks of pages are added.

Just wanted to let everyone know I Just won an SMB draft script in an auction on eBay and I also bought another draft of the 91 script, that are in official Light Motive Studio folders, one looks like it has some coffee stains. Maybe it's from the guy who got splashed with hot coffee. I doubt it though. The script is dated April 17 1992. A month after Phlibbit's version so I bet there is barely any difference. The other script is dated July 17 1991, I'm pretty sure that is the same script that finally made it to the internet earlier this year.

I'll keep you guys updated once I get the scripts in the mail.

Updated Sept 23 2010
7 Pages have been added.

Update Sept 28 2010
Pages 18 and 19

Please note someone (I would say one of the writers) wrote in pencil HOMO SAPIEN so I added "**" around them, adn that is what that means. Also added page numbers in the corner.

[Serum]

Cool, if you have a scanner, you should upload it for everyone to read.

[ultimateemail5000]

Cool, if you have a scanner, you should upload it for everyone to read.

Actually I might do that, that way if the readers can see what the pages in the script exactly look like, and I don't want to type it all up. I don't have it yet, it litterly just ended 3 minutes ago. I was actually typing up the thread when there was 30 seconds left to go, just hoping I'd win them. I actually sniped the 91 draft at the last second, I feel bad for that bidder.

[Phlibbit]

eBay links PLZ

[ultimateemail5000]

eBay links PLZ

Here you go

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SA:US:1123

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SA:US:1123

Does that 91 draft look like the one that got onto the internet earlier this year? I hope it's atleast slightly different I would like to read it. Hopefully the 92 draft isn't as boring as the one you posted. Toward the end of that one I just completely had no idea what was going on in the story.

Oh yeah which reminds me, did anybody happen to snag the Goomba prop gloves they had a month ago? I kept forgetting to bring it up on the forum, my bad.

[Phlibbit]

Wow, this is great. Just a guess, but the Parker/Jennewein may just be the script that we already have. However, I'm extremely interested in the Solomon/Rowe draft. Based on the period of Solomon's involvement and the date on the script, it should somewhat resemble the film we got. However, it may be an expanded draft, before filming, and have lots of what could possibly be deleted scenes. I'm super interested to see these things. Get them up ASAP, lol.

[1upmushroom]

You know, I am a little curious as to what that script says.

[ultimateemail5000]

Wow, this is great. Just a guess, but the Parker/Jennewein may just be the script that we already have. However, I'm extremely interested in the Solomon/Rowe draft. Based on the period of Solomon's involvement and the date on the script, it should somewhat resemble the film we got. However, it may be an expanded draft, before filming, and have lots of what could possibly be deleted scenes. I'm super interested to see these things. Get them up ASAP, lol.

Whenever it comes in the mail I'll scan the pages a year or two later ; Is the Ed Solomon who wrote this script the same Ed Solomon who wrote Bill and Ted? If he is I can't believe he went from Bill and Ted to SMB.

[Phlibbit]

Yep, it sure is.

[Prime Evil]

Might be the same Ed Solomon who co-wrote Men in Black too.

[ultimateemail5000]

Might be the same Ed Solomon who co-wrote Men in Black too.

Yeah....Will Smith.......Bill and Ted is way better.

[ultimateemail5000]

To Phlibbit(this is in another thread, and I really don't know why I posted this in their, but I deleted it as it would be necessary so I dont necro post anywhere), honestly I read that draft once you put the whole thing up so I honestly can't remember much of my feelings toward everything. All I remember was reading it off to a good start and then it kind of went down hill and I got lost.

But the good news here is, I recieved both scripts in the mail today, on my birthday. I read the first few pages of the 92 draft and it's very close to the movie so far, which is kind of nice so I know what's going on. The 91 script seems to be the exact same draft that hit the internet earlier this year, but it's still cool because I have hte official Light Motive copy. I'm kind of worried about scanning the pages because they are in a nice folder like book with the LightMotive label on the covers, I may just transcript it. Once I get down to it I will get it uploaded. This is my birthday and I must party for now. Happy Holidays, and new years right now, and if you can't accept happy holidays, well then f%#%^ you. hahahaha

[ultimateemail5000]

Ok, I don't remember if this was in Phlibbits script, but Scapelli is called Canelli. Very Italian...

[ultimateemail5000]

Ok so like, I don't know when I'll have this script scanned and up. Honestly I don't want to take it out of the folder because theyre in such great condition. But from the first couple pages, I swear this thing is really close to the final script. I noticed most of hte script is used for the cassette story. Mostly the beginning. It's almost word by word from what I remember of the cassette,

I'm just letting you guys updated on this, I'm stlil trying to figure out what to do. I know how tos can and what not, but it's just losing the value of it I guess.

[Phlibbit]

That's why it took so long for me to get mine done because I just didn't want to take the thing apart and scan every page; typing it just seemed easier.

[ultimateemail5000]

That's why it took so long for me to get mine done because I just didn't want to take the thing apart and scan every page; typing it just seemed easier.

Yeah I now understand why it took you so long. If I ever herrassed you for taking forever, I am sorry. hahaha. I'd type it but it's alla bout getting the modivation for it. We'll see what happens.

[Serum]

That's why it took so long for me to get mine done because I just didn't want to take the thing apart and scan every page; typing it just seemed easier.

Yeah I now understand why it took you so long. If I ever herrassed you for taking forever, I am sorry. hahaha. I'd type it but it's alla bout getting the modivation for it. We'll see what happens.

Speaking from experience, it's actually only about a thirty-minute process to scan a one-hundred and so page script. It doesn't take that long.

[Redstar]

Depends on your scanner, your computer, how many times you screw up and have to re-scan, etc. Just the tediousness is probably the worst.

[Serum]

Depends on your scanner, your computer, how many times you screw up and have to re-scan, etc. Just the tediousness is probably the worst.

Regardless, it's easier than typing the script up.

[1upmushroom]

Depends on your scanner, your computer, how many times you screw up and have to re-scan, etc. Just the tediousness is probably the worst.

Regardless, it's easier than typing the script up.

Gotta give him a point for that logic.

[ultimateemail5000]

To Merrit, when things so suddenly change in your life your not to sure if you have time for such things. Sorry guys.

[Redstar]

Depends on your scanner, your computer, how many times you screw up and have to re-scan, etc. Just the tediousness is probably the worst.

Regardless, it's easier than typing the script up.

But not nearly as fun, I should say.

[Serum]

Depends on your scanner, your computer, how many times you screw up and have to re-scan, etc. Just the tediousness is probably the worst.

Regardless, it's easier than typing the script up.

But not nearly as fun, I should say.

It may not be as fun, but it eliminates the possibility of typing the wrong word, or missing a word.

[marioblaster]

Don't they have scanners that can digitize the B&W images and render text? They got those speech programs in which you talk into a microphone and the computer types what you say.

Or have I been watching too much tv?

[1upmushroom]

Just A question, but are you put the script online?

[ultimateemail5000]

I present you all...the first 10 pages of hte script, 11 including the title page. I transcripted htis as much as I could, so if there are spelling errors my bad.

[ultimateemail5000]

Once I have the entire thing done I will save it as a fil and send it to Phlibbit to have it turned into a file for the site. Special thanks to Phlibbit talking me into getting to work on this.

[Phlibbit]

Thanks for getting this thing started.

Got a suggestion: perhaps when you post these, you could put each "page" in a quotes box, with the page number right before it in bold? That would help break up some of the length.

And, you could post the entire thing so far at the top of the page as you update--I could do that part if you'd like.



And in regards to the actual script:

Drat--I bet there isn't much more to Koopa chasing Daisy's mother than what we've seen. Still an addition I really want to see reinstated into the film.

I do like the additional references to Mario and Luigi's father, and their brotherly relationship is better featured so far.

"Mario-anger." Ha!

I loved seeing how the "Doug and Mike" scene likely played out on film, complete with the "nobody touches my tools" line intact.

This scene also reveals that Scapelli was, at one point, a plumber who apprenticed with Mario!

It's also great to see how this Restaurant scene merged with how the Mario Brothers initially meet Daisy--and I'm pretty sure all this was filmed.


Can't wait to read more!

[Redstar]

Interesting how the destruction of the dinosaurs is explained very closely to how it was depicted in the final film. I wonder if that scene was trimmed in any way to allow for the addition of the animated prologue and the "dimensional gateway" animation. It certainly doesn't look like it could sustain itself as the opening.

It is weird that the footage we know was cut isn't as lengthy or detailed as we had thought. I'm sure it was filmed differently and possibly fleshed-out during that process, but it is surprising how scant the script is so far compared to the earlier drafts.

[Prime Evil]

"Mario-anger." Ha!

"Brooklyn Rage!"

[Redstar]

UE5000 updated his first post with the pages he'd already transcribed as well as seven new ones.

I kinda prefer how the movie worked things out. Luigi comes off much less like a goober compared to the script and, surprisingly, it seems paced better. The script is going by rather quick for my taste. We get very little time on each event. Perhaps because they cut out the Mario and Luigi part we were able to concentrate on Luigi and Daisy meeting for the first time a little more?

It's also surprising that exact narrative and lines of dialogue from the original script have carried over into the shooting script. Great to see Parker and Terry and Dick and Ian's work still at play.

[Phlibbit]

I did a reworking of what UE5000's done so far--got it in quotes and bold page numbers to break it up a bit. I also fixed any blatant misspellings as I found them--I left in stuff I didn't know to change or inflections or onomatopoeia and stuff like that.

[incognitus]

It's almost the same as the Super Mario Bros. Audio Poster!

[ultimateemail5000]

Two more pages have been added.

[Phlibbit]

Great! Keep it up!

You had this section on page 19 repeated three times:

DAISY
I've been interested in this stuff
as long as I can remember. I'm just
drawn to it. It's weird, really.
Just tell me if this is boring.

She stops, angling her flashlight up to a STRATA OF ROCK,
running along the WALL...

I took the liberty of fixing it for you. Thanks for putting it in the quotes format.

One thing I'm really noticing in this script is the overabundant use of making sure that everyone knows that Mario's last name is "Mario." And in Mario's conversation with Daniella, it seems like Mario's middle name is also Mario!

[Redstar]

One thing I'm really noticing in this script is the overabundant use of making sure that everyone knows that Mario's last name is "Mario." And in Mario's conversation with Daniella, it seems like Mario's middle name is also Mario!

Not only that, but he's apparently the fourth Mario to be named this way!

But when he gets in...SPIKE AND IGGY appear out of the
shadows... and PULL THEMSELVES THROUGH THE BARRED WINDOWS.

Hm. So are Spike and Iggy supposed to be boneless or double-jointed? I can't think of a particular reptile that fits this connection (perhaps a snake), but I am reminded of rats and how easily they squeeze through barriers.

I can understand why they removed this: firstly, it'd have been killer for the special effects team to pull off and, secondly, it's just scary. There's an ambiguity that would leave some thinking they killed Daniella, so the revised scene of them grabbing her on the doorstop gives the distinct (and correct) impression they're kidnapping her.

DAISY
Okay, this is a layer of
carboniferous sandstone. It doesn't
crop up on any geological map of the
area. And get a load of...this.

I like Daisy knowing what she's talking about. This excerpt also gives the implication that the instability of the dimensions has basically created a mishmashed fossilized record. That's really cool.

[Prime Evil]

One thing I'm really noticing in this script is the overabundant use of making sure that everyone knows that Mario's last name is "Mario." And in Mario's conversation with Daniella, it seems like Mario's middle name is also Mario!

Not only that, but he's apparently the fourth Mario to be named this way!

Huh. I took that to mean that Mario had been married three times. Isn't it Daniella who says, "When are you going to make me Mrs. Mario M. Mario, the Fourth?"

...

Oh. I just defeated my own logic. Shows you where my mind is.

[Phlibbit]

^Now that is a valid argument. However, when you think about what that means, she's just the "Mrs." companion to the name that follows.

So, if she was Mrs. John Doe, she would be the wife of John Doe.

If she was Mrs. John Doe, the Fourth (or, Mrs. John Doe IV), she would be the wife of John Doe, the Fourth.

See how that works?

[Prime Evil]

^Now that is a valid argument. However, when you think about what that means, she's just the "Mrs." companion to the name that follows.

So, if she was Mrs. John Doe, she would be the wife of John Doe.

If she was Mrs. John Doe, the Fourth (or, Mrs. John Doe IV), she would be the wife of John Doe, the Fourth.

See how that works?

I guess I just needed to know where the emphasis was. From Mario's attitude in the script presented, my interpretation would be quite valid.

Also, I now know what the problem is with the movie we actually got: it really didn't do enough to humanize the characters. The little scene with Mario and Luigi about Daisy was one of the best things I've ever read in any of the scripts. It gives Luigi that extra little dimension to his personality.

[Serum]

Has anyone heard much more about this draft? Do we have a scanned copy on one of our hard-drives? I think this should be uploaded along with the "rainbow" draft.

This script seems to be extremely close to the finished film and I think we can gain a vast amount of insight from it by reading the "deleted scenes" and eventually comparing them with the director's cut (which I'm sure we're going to get...I'm an optimist) and deleted scenes and other bits taken from the finished film/cut we know of.

I have a scanner in my house, it works and I could easily scan all the scripts if someone would just send them to me. It'd really be no problem at all. In fact, it'd be a pleasure-- I'm anxious to hear what Solomon and Rowe had to say about our favorite plumbers and see what their adventure was like through their eyes...