by Jack Wallen
SERVANT
Oh my. It seems we have found our way into the kitchen where the most ghastly of all deaths took place.
THE LIGHTS BLAST ON TO REVEAL A YOUNG GIRL CHOPPING AWAY AT A TABLE WITH A CLEAVER. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE IS CHOPPING AWAY AT AN ARM.
The death of none other than Sir Gaultier at the hands of Priscilla McDervot.
PRISCILLA
One, two Prissy’s gonna chop you. Three four your fingers fall to the floor. Five six…
PRISSY SEES SCOTT AND STARTS SLOWLY WALKING TOWARD HIM.
Seven, eight it’s far too late. Nine, ten gonna chop again!
PRISSY LIFTS UP THE CLEAVER AND THE LIGHTS GO BLACK. WHEN THE LIGHTS COME BACK UP PRISSY IS GONE AND SCOTT IS CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR. AFTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE HE JUMPS UP SMILING AND LAUGHING.
SCOTT
That was the best. Oh man I can’t believe how real that seemed. I thought I could even smell blood on her fake knife. Wow.
SERVANT
This concludes your tour of the Gaultier House. I am thankful you have all made it through…intact. Please feel free to visit us again soon.
THE SERVANT OPENS UP A DOOR WHICH LEADS TO THE EXIT. THEY ALL LEAVE BUT SCOTT HANGS BACK FOR A MOMENT. HE SPIES SOMETHING INTERESTING. IT IS A BOOK HIDDEN SOMEWHERE ON A SHELF. THE BOOK IS SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN HIS POCKET. SCOTT QUICKLY HIDES THE BOOK IN HIS JEANS AND WALKS OUT NERVOUSLY.
DAD
So Scotty, what did you think?
SCOTT
That was the most awesome haunted house ever. Can we come back? Please?
MOM
From the looks of it this place comes back every year. So next Halloween you can bet we’ll bring you back.
DAD
It’ll be our Halloween tradition.
SCOTT
But I want to come back tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.
MOM
I’m afraid the house is only open until Halloween. What good is a haunted house after Halloween?
DAD
It’s like snow after Christmas.
MOM
Or turkey after Thanksgiving.
DAD
Mmmm thanksgiving leftovers. Turkey sandwiches. Turkey pizza. Turkey salad. Turkey loaf. Turkey and peanut butter…
MOM AND SCOTT
Gross.
MOM
Okay, maybe turkey after Thanksgiving wasn’t the best example.
THE FAMILY LEAVES TALKING ABOUT TURKEY. THE LIGHTS BRIEFLY REMAIN ON THE GAULTIER HOUSE WHERE GINGER IS SEEN LOOKING THROUGH A WINDOW AFTER SCOTT.
SCENE SIX: THE BOOK AND THE BULLIES
SCOTT IS SITTING AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE EATING CEREAL AND READING THE BOOK HE “FOUND”. HE IS COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN THE BOOK AND DOES NOT HEAR SALLY ENTER THE ROOM.
SALLY
Morning sunshine.
THIS SCARES SCOTT INTO NEARLY KNOCKING OVER HIS BOWL. SALLY LAUGHS.
I scared you? Wow, that’s a first. I never thought I’d see the day.
SCOTT
Har har…very funny.
SALLY
What are you reading?
SCOTT
It’s a book about the Gaultier House.
SALLY
The what house?
SCOTT
The haunted house I went to last night doofus.
SALLY
Oh yeah. Dorkus. How was it?
SCOTT
Oh man it was awesome! You wouldn’t have believed the scares they put on. It was the best haunted house ever. Even the guy that lead us through was creepy.
SALLY
We better get going. You can tell me about it on the way to school.
SCOTT GATHERS HIS BACKPACK, GRABS HIS BOOK, AND THE TWO LEAVE THE HOUSE.
SCOTT
There was one moment when I was sure this woman was gonna chop me up into bits.
SALLY
I bet you nearly peed your pants.
SCOTT
How’d you know?
SALLY
I know my Scottie.
THE SCHOOL BULLIES COME ON STAGE AND SEE SCOTT AND SALLY. THE HEAD BULLY CROSSES DIRECTLY TO SCOTT.
BULLY 1
Whatcha readin’ Spooky?
THE BULLY GRABS THE BOOK. SCOTT INSTANTLY STARTS GRABBING FOR IT.
Not so fast there Spooky.
SCOTT
My name’s not Spooky!
BULLY 1
Your name is whatever I decide to call you. And I choose Spooky. So your name is Spooky from now on. Got that Spooky?
BULLY 2
Yeah, got that Spooky?
BULLY 1
The Gaultier Diaries. Ooooh sounds lame. Hey boys, what do you make of this book?
BULLY 1 TOSSES THE BOOK TO BULLY 2 WHO TOSSES THE BOOK TO BULLY 3
BULLY 2
Not a big fan of books.
BULLY 3
Unless they’re picture books right?
BULLY 2
Shut up. I can read.
THE BULLIES CONTINUE PASSING THE BOOK AROUND EACH STOPPING TO READ A PASSAGE.
BULLY 1
“The house still has that old familiarity to it. As I enter unto it’s halls I find myself comforted by its embrace. When I leave it’s hallowed walls I feel a longing need to return.” Ah poetry.
BULLY 2
“Another century has passed and still we hide the truth. I fear our secret will eventually follow us all to the grave.”
BULLY 3
“I grow weary of hiding. I would like nothing more than to step out into the mid-day sun without wearing the mask I have so come to hate.”
SCOTT
SCOTT IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET HIS BOOK FROM THEM. HE CHASES IT AS THEY THROW IT. SALLY HAS DISAPPEARED TO RETRIEVE A TEACHER.
Give me my book.
BULLY 1
Who said this was your book? I think I have it now. Finder keepers, creeper. Now why don’t you and your girlfriend take a hike Spooky.
SCOTT
My name is not Spooky.
SCOTT RUNS AT BULLY 1 AND TACKLES HIM. SCOTT IS TRYING TO GRAB HIS BOOK FROM THE BULLY AS THE OTHER BULLIES ENTER THE FRAY TRYING TO PULL SCOTT FROM BULLY 1. EVENTUALLY SALLY AND THE TEACHER ENTER THE SCENE.
TEACHER
Boys! Stop this instant. Tell me what is going on here?
SCOTT
They were picking on me and stole my book.
TEACHER
Is this true?
NONE OF THE BULLIES REPLY.
I want you three in the principles office right now.
THEY DON’T BUDGE.
March!
THEY FINALLY WALK OFF SLOWLY.
Are you okay Scott?
SHE HANDS HIM HIS BOOK (BUT NOT BEFORE LOOKING AT IT).
SCOTT
Yes ma’am. Thank you.
TEACHER
Scott, you really should be careful about showing your true face around those boys. It could cause you more trouble than it’s worth.
SCOTT
I don’t understand.
TEACHER
Don’t give them anything to use against you. If you show them how much you like haunted houses, monsters, and horror movies they’re going to call you names like Spooky. Don’t show them that side of you. It’s not worth it.
SCOTT
But wouldn’t that be like lying?
TEACHER
No Scott, it’s just protecting yourself. I’m not saying you should be ashamed or embarrassed by those parts of you – I’m just saying you should carefully chose who you share them with.
SALLY
Like me.
TEACHER
Exactly.
SCOTT
Yes ma’am.
TEACHER
Let’s head inside.
THE THREE HEAD INTO THE SCHOOL.
SCENE 7: POST HALLOWEEN CLEAN UP
THE HOUSE. MORE SPOOKY MOVEMENT. THIS TIME GAULTIER AND THE REST ARE CLEANING UP AFTER THE HAUNTING SEASON. THE MOOD AND THE MUSIC ARE BOTH VERY SOMBER.
SCENE 8: BACK AT MONSTERVILLE
SCOTT HAS TAKEN IT UPON HIMSELF TO RETURN TO MONSTERVILLE. ONLY THIS TIME, HE IS ALONE. WALKING AROUND MONSTERVILLE IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE NORMAL PEOPLE. WHAT SCOTT DOESN’T KNOW IS THAT THESE ARE THE MONSTERS WEARING HUMAN MASKS.
SCOTT
I can’t believe I’m doing this. Mom and dad will kill me if they find out I came her by myself.
HE SEES THE GAULTIER HOUSE
There it is.
HE GOES UP TO THE DOOR AND TRIES THE HANDLE. THE DOOR CREAKILY OPENS AND SCOTT WEARILY ENTERS. WE SEE SCOTT INSIDE THE HOUSE NOW. HE IS OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE SPOOKED BUT KEEPING HIS WITS ABOUT HIM. EVEN THOUGH THE HAUNTED HOUSE IS “CLOSED” THERE ARE STILL CREEPY SOUNDS AND SIGHTS TO BEHOLD. SCOTT SLOWLY MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH THE MAIN ROOM AS HE LOOKS AROUND. BEFORE HE GETS THROUGH THE ROOM HE GETS THE FEELING SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING HIM. GINGER (IN MONSTER MODE) IS SOMEWHERE IN THE ROOM – SCOTT DOES NOT KNOW THIS. AS SCOTT LEAVES THE ROOM GINGER APPEARS. HER GENTLE. HAUNTING GIGGLE FILLS THE ROOM AS SHE MOVES ON TO FOLLOW THE BOY.
SCOTT
WHISPERING
Hello? Is anyone here?
GINGER’S GIGGLE IS HEARD. SCOTT IS NOT SURE OF WHAT HE HEARD BUT HE’S SURE HE HEARD SOMETHING. HIS FEAR IS BUILDING A BIT.
Hello? Who’s there?
SCOTT WALKS THROUGH ANOTHER ROOM AND GIVES IT THE ONCE OVER. THERE ARE STILL SOUNDS COMING FROM ALL AROUND HIM. HE IS BECOMING JUMPY. HE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM WHERE ANOTHER DOOR LIES. RIGHT BEFORE HE OPENS THE DOOR HE QUICKLY TURNS TO SEE GINGER COMING THROUGH THE DOOR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM. THEY SEE ONE ANOTHER AND SCOTT INSTANTLY FREEZES IN TERROR. GINGER QUICKLY REALIZES WHY AND DUCKS BEHIND A TAPESTRY OR CURTAIN TO CHANGE TO HUMAN MODE. WHEN SHE REAPPEARS SHE LOOKS LIKE A NORMAL, CUTE GIRL. SHE SMILES AT SCOTT.
GINGER
Hi.
SCOTT
Hi.
GINGER
I’m Ginger.
SCOTT
I’m Scott. Do you live here?
GINGER
Yeah.
SCOTT
So you’re part of the haunted house?
GINGER’S NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS QUESTION. AT FIRST SHE THINKS SCOTT MIGHT KNOW HER SECRET. SCOTT REALIZES HE’S CONFUSED HER.
I mean – do you get to be in the haunted house when it’s open?
GINGER
REALIZING WHAT HE MEANS
Oh yes. Of course. This is my dad’s house. It’s been in the family for centuries.
SCOTT
It’s really cool.
GINGER
Really?
SCOTT
Yeah. Why?
GINGER
Most people find it odd. Of course most people don’t visit it anytime after All Hallows Eve.
SCOTT
You mean Halloween?
GINGER
Yeah. Halloween.
SCOTT
It’s the best haunted house I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of ‘em.
GINGER
Really? Where are the others?
SCOTT
Well, mostly the Haunted Fun House at the fair. But I’ve seen a lot in movies. I love horror movies.
GINGER
You do? That’s neat. I like them too. I watch movies all the time.
SCOTT
What’s your favorite horror movie?
GINGER
THINKING
Oh, House On Haunted Hill.
SCOTT
I saw that one. I liked it a lot.
GINGER
I love movies about haunted houses. They always remind me of home.
SCOTT LAUGHS
Why are you laughing?
SCOTT
I’m sorry. I just never thought I’d meet a girl that felt the same way as I do.
GINGER
Really?
SCOTT
Yeah. Most of the kids at school make fun of me. They call me Spooky because I like scary things.
GINGER
I like it. Spooky is a good nickname.
SCOTT
No. It hurts my feelings.
GINGER
Why? I thought you liked scary things. Being spooky would make you a scary thing. So you should like it.
SCOTT
But they don’t mean it that way. The are making fun of me and the things I like.
GINGER
Oh. That’s not nice of them at all.
SCOTT
No, it’s not.
GINGER
But I still like the name Spooky. But don’t worry. I won’t call you Spooky. I promise.
SCOTT
Well, if you really like it so much…I guess you can call me spooky and I won’t mind.
GINGER
Okay Spooky.
THEY SHARE A LAUGH.
So why are you hear? The haunted house is closed for the rest of the year. Did you hope to see it again?
SCOTT
Sort of. I mean I know the house is closed but I just wanted to see how you did it all. It was the most amazing and realistic haunted house I’ve ever seen.
GINGER
You’re really that interested in it?
SCOTT
Yeah. It’s what I want to do when I grow up – make scary movies and haunted house and write scary stories.
GINGER
Oh fun! I’d be glad to show you around the house if you like. Most of the haunts have left but there are other things you might enjoy seeing.
SCOTT
Will you show me?
GINGER
It would be my pleasure.
