When asked why he doesn't stand up for himself, Bastian only shrugs. His interest roused, Coleander strikes up a conversation and finds out that Bastian is hiding from some bullies. Carl Conrad Coreander ( Thomas Hill) scoffs at Bastian, thinking him to be another child interested only in arcade games and comic books but Bastian names all the real books he has read, including Treasure Island and The Lord of the Rings. This time, they give chase but Bastian loses them by ducking into an old bookstore.

Bastian eventually gets out but doesn't make it very far until he encounters them again. When Bastian produces none, they throw him into a garbage dumpster. On the way to school, Bastian comes across some bullies from school ( Chris Eastman, Darryl Cooksey, and Nicholas Gilbert) who demand that he hand over his money. His father then leaves for work, telling his son that he needs to 'keep his feet on the ground' and pay attention at school more. Bastian tries to explain that he wanted horseback riding lessons instead but his father retorts that Bastian is too afraid to even get on one, much less ride it. 'Unicorns,' corrects Bastian under his breath, but his father continues, noting that Bastian did not try out for the swim team. Bastian's father, who has not gotten over the tragedy himself, merely notes that it seems Bastian has allowed his mind to stray and brings up the fact that he received a letter from Bastian's teacher about how he was drawing horses in his math book. He shares a tense conversation with his father ( Gerald McRaney) about how he dreamed of his mother (assumed to have passed away due to illness). Young 10-year-old Bastian Balthazar Bux ( Barret Oliver) prepares for another day of school one morning.

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