Bastian MOONCHILD!
Played by Barret Oliver 
The NeverEnding Story (1984) · 19 quotes
The NeverEnding Story (1984) · 19 quotes
2nd most-quoted character in The NeverEnding Story (1984): in 6 of its 19 quotes
A line from BastianNo, not again. No, not again!
More lines from Bastian
1 quote Bastian Scenes with Bastian
4 scenes Bastian I had another dream, Dad. About Mom.
Bastian's Father I understand, son. But we have to get on with things, right? [Bastian doesn't reply] Bastian, we each have responsibilities. We can't let Mom's death be an excuse for not getting the old job done, right?
Bastian Yeah.
Bastian's Father Son, I think it's time you and I had a little talk. I got a call from your math teacher yesterday. She says that you were drawing horses in your math book.
Bastian Unicorns. They were unicorns.
Bastian's Father What?
Bastian Nothing.
Bastian's Father She also says that 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?
Bastian Okay.
Bastian's Father [smiles]
Stop daydreaming. Start facing your problems, okay?
Bastian Okay.
Mr. Koreander Are you still here? Didn't you hear what I said, boy?
Bastian Um, I was...
Mr. Koreander You're hiding, aren't you?
Bastian No I was...
Mr. Koreander 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 bee-beep-beeps. On your way please.
Bastian I know books! I have 186 of them at home.
Mr. Koreander Aah, comic books.
Bastian No, I've read Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans, The Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tarzan, ...
Mr. Koreander Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... Who were you running away from?
Bastian Just some kids from school.
Mr. Koreander Why?
Bastian They wanna throw me in the garbage.
Mr. Koreander Well why don't you give em' a good punch in the nose, hmm?
Bastian Well, I don't know... [he notices the book that Mr. Koreander was reading] What's that book about?
Mr. Koreander Oh, this is something special.
Bastian Well, what is it?
Mr. Koreander Look, your books are safe. While you're reading them you get to become Tarzan, or Robinson Crusoe.
Bastian But that's what I like about 'em.
Mr. Koreander Ah, but afterwards you get to be a little boy again.
Bastian What do you mean?
Mr. Koreander Listen. Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine, while the giant squid is attacking you?
Bastian ...Yes.
Mr. Koreander Weren't you afraid you couldn't escape?
Bastian But it's only a story.
Mr. Koreander That's what I'm talking about. The ones you read are safe.
Bastian And that one isn't?
Mr. Koreander Don't worry about it.
Bastian But you just said it was... [phone rings]
Mr. Koreander Forget about it. This book is not for you.
The Childlike Empress Atreyu, why do you look so sad?
I have failed you, Empress.
The Childlike Empress No, you haven't. You brought him with you.
Who?
The Childlike Empress The earthling child. The one who can save us all.
You knew about the earthling child?
The Childlike Empress 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?!
The Childlike Empress It was the only way to get in touch with an earthling.
But I didn't get in touch with an earthling!
The Childlike Empress 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.
Bastian What?!
Where is he? If he's so close, why doesn't he arrive?
The Childlike Empress He doesn't realize he's already a part of The NeverEnding Story.
"The NeverEnding Story"? What's that?
The Childlike Empress Just as he is sharing all your adventures, others are sharing his. They were with him when he hid from the boys in the bookstore.
Bastian But that's impossible!
The Childlike Empress 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.
Bastian I can't believe it! They can't be talking about me?
What will happen when he doesn't appear?!
The Childlike Empress [in a grave tone]
Then our world will disappear and so will i.
How could he let that happen?!
The Childlike Empress 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.
Bastian Is is really me? How could i make any difference?
MAYBE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE HAS TO DO!!
Bastian WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?!
The Childlike Empress He has to give me a new name.
WHAT IF HE DOESN'T COME UP WITH THE RIGHT NAME?!?
The Childlike Empress He's already chosen it. He just has to call it out.
The Childlike Empress He still does nott have the confidence.
Bastian It's only a story. It's not real, it's only a story! [The Nothing continues to consume the tower and another quake from The Nothing kills Atreyu] ATREYU NOOOO!!!
The Childlike Empress [seeing Atreyu's death]
ATREYU!
The Childlike Empress [Back in the attic, a frightened Bastian cowers as The Windows are blown open by the storm as one of them is shattered by a fallen tree branch. Meanwhile, The Ivory Tower is moments away from being entirely consumed by The Nothing] [to Bastian]
Don't you have the courage to save us, Bastian?
Bastian [now scared and terrified]
I WISH I COULD!!
The Childlike Empress Why don't you do what you dream, Bastian?
Basitan
[on the verge of tears]
BUT I CAN'T! I HAVE TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND!!
The Childlike Empress [as the Ivory Tower is seconds away from being consumed by the nothing]
Call my name! Please, call my name! BASTIAN, PLEASE!!! SAVE US!!!
Bastian Why is it so dark?
The Childlike Empress In the beginning, it is always dark.
Bastian What is that?
The Childlike Empress One grain of sand. It is all that remains of my vast empire.
Bastian Fantasia has totally disappeared?
The Childlike Empress Yes.
Bastian Then... everything's been in vain.
The Childlike Empress No, it hasn't. Fantasia can rise anew. From your dreams and wishes, Bastian.
Bastian How?
The Childlike Empress Open your hand. [places the grain in the palm of his hand] What are you going to wish for?
Bastian I don't know...
The Childlike Empress Then there will be no Fantasia anymore.
Bastian How many wishes do I get?
The Childlike Empress As many as you want. And the more wishes you make, the more magnificent Fantasia will become.
Bastian Really?
The Childlike Empress Try it.
Bastian [starting to smile]
Then my first wish is...
Bastian [The Empress looks up and smiles too, and Bastian is shown riding on Falkor through the sky over a reviving Fantasia]
YEAH! Falkor, it's even more beautiful than I thought!
Like it?
Bastian Falkor, it's wonderful! Falkor, it's like the Nothing never was!
