Among You (30 page)

“
If you cannot fulfill this bargain, why did you bother coming all the way back to the motherland, coward?”

Valiskil hung his head and shut his eyes tight against the sight of the witch. An image of Skorsdan flashed from his memory. They’d been best friends for over a century. At the fragile age of twenty-one, the two boys made a pact to be there for one another. Valiskil knew if the roles were reversed, Skorsdan wouldn’t hesitate to do what needed to be done.

“
Fine,” Valiskil looked up. “I’ll bring you Babbette Gaultier. In return, you will bring Skorsdan back.”

The witch pulled out a scroll and then, with lightning-quick reflexes, plunged the tip of a quill pen into Valiskil’s right forearm. The boy screamed in agony as the pen was removed. “Why did you do that, bitch?”

“
To seal the document and the deed.” She handed the blood-tipped quill to Valiskil. “Sign your name before the blood dries. Once signed, the pact cannot be broken without consequences most tragic.”

Valiskil grabbed the pen and signed his name to the document.

“
Now, be gone. Bring the girl back and you shall see your precious Skorsdan once again.”

As he left the underground hovel of the Witch, the sound of her eerie laughter washed over his back. Valiskil returned the mask to his face as he approached the taxi, weary of what he had just set into motion.

Monsterville

by: Jack Wallen, Jr

Copyright © 2004

SCENE 1: INTRODUCING GAULTIER HOUSE

THIS SCENE WILL ESTABLISH THE GAULTIER HAUNTED HOUSE. IT IS A SIMPLE AND QUICK SCENE WHERE LIGHTS ARE DIM TO BRING THE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE GHOSTS AND GOBLINS ZIPPING ABOUT THE HAUNTED HOUSE. SOME OF THE ACTORS WILL BE MOVING AROUND IN THE SHADOWS BUT DONE SO VERY SUBTLY SO THAT THE AUDIENCE ISN’T SURE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING. THERE SHOULD BE SOUNDS AND VOICES TO HELP BUILD A SPOOKY ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL SOON BE SHATTERED BY TRUTH.

SCENE 2: THE HAUNTED HOUSE AND THE BEST FRIEND

SCOTT IS SITTING AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE EATING HIS MORNING CEREAL BEFORE SCHOOL. HIS MOTHER IS IN THE KITCHEN WITH HIM. SCOTT IS READING A NEWSPAPER.

SCOTT

Mom, did you see this?

MOM

What honey?

SCOTT

This new haunted house. Oh man can we go? Can we?

MOM

Why don’t you tell me about it first.

SCOTT

It’s called the Gaultier House. It says it’s been around for over a century and it’s one of the only truly haunted houses in the area.

HE QUOTES FROM THE ARTICLE

“You’ve never known fear until you’ve attempted to make your way through the haunted house that started them all. If you think you can handle the scariest moments of your life, come to our house. Real ghosts. Real monsters. Real frights guaranteed.”

Oh mom I have to go. Please?

MOM

I’m sure your dad would love to take you dear.

SCOTT

Score!

THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR

MOM

Come in Sally.

SALLY ENTERS. SHE IS BRIGHT AND FILLED WITH LIFE.

SALLY

Morning morning. It’s a great day for a walk to school and I’m here to…

SCOTT

Sally, have you heard about the new haunted house? Have you? Have you? It’s called the Gaultier House and it’s gonna be the scariest haunted house ever. Wanna go? Do ya? Do ya?

SALLY

And you wonder why everyone calls you…

SCOTT

OFFENDED

You promised!

SALLY

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything…

SCOTT

SCOTT GRABS HIS BACKPACK, HIS LUNCH, THE NEWSPAPER, AND STORMS OUT OF THE HOUSE. SALLY AND HIS MOM ARE LEFT STANDING.

SALLY

I didn’t mean anything Mrs. Sellers. Honest, I was just….

MOM

I know dear. You probably should run after him and apologize. I’m sure you can smooth things out. You know how he hates that nickname.

SALLY

I know. I just wasn’t thinking.

You two better get going or you won’t catch him before he reaches school.

SALLY

You’re right. Thanks Mrs. Sellers. Bye.

MOM

Bye Sally.

SALLY CHASES AFTER SCOTT AND CATCHES HIM BEFORE HE REACHES THE SCHOOL.

SALLY

Scott, wait.

SCOTT DOESN’T STOP

Please Scott. I didn’t mean to…

SCOTT STOPS AND TURNS

SCOTT

Call me Spooky? You know how much I hate that.

SALLY

I’m sorry. Really.

SCOTT

Swear you won’t say it again?

SALLY

Pinky swear.

THEY DO A SYMBOLIC HAND SHAKE WITH THEIR PINKIES.

SCOTT

So, do you wanna go to the Gaultier House with me?

SALLY

Nah.

SCOTT

Why not?

SALLY

I just don’t like to be scared.

SCOTT

Oh man…how could you not? Being scared is the best. It makes you feel so alive and so…so…I don’t know…scared. I can’t explain it, but horror is just something we have to have.

SALLY

Maybe you do. I’m just fine without it. Besides, being scared makes my hair frizzy and I don’t like frizzy hair.

SCOTT

Are you sure you don’t wanna go? You don’t know what you’ll be missing.

SALLY

Sure I do. I’ll be missing screaming, hiding my eyes in my mom’s skirt, peeing my pants, and feeling my heart jump out of my chest. No thanks.

SCOTT

Fine. Have it your way.

SALLY

I will thank you.

SCOTT

Good, you’re welcome.

SALLY

That didn’t make sense. Good, you’re welcome? Hello, my name is You’re Welcome.

SCOTT

No, it’s Smelly Sally. Sally Sally Smelly Sally. Smells like she was born in an alley. Sally Sally Smelly Sally.

SALLY

SHE STARTS CHASING SCOTT

Stop it Scott.

SCOTT

Sally Sally Smelly Sally.

SALLY

I’ll say it if you don’t stop.

SCOTT

HE STOPS

Fine.

SALLY

Fine.

THEY STICK THEIR TONGUES OUT AT ONE ANOTHER AND EVENTUALLY START LAUGHING LOUDLY.

SCOTT

Why don’t you want to go to the Gaultier House?

SALLY

Okay, okay – I was grounded. I can’t.

SCOTT

Grounded? You? How?

SALLY

For talking back to my mom.

SCOTT

Wow, I never thought I’d see the day when…

A GROUP OF THE SCHOOL BULLIES APPEAR, ALL STARING AT SCOTT AND SALLY WITH EVIL INTENT. WITHOUT A WORD TO ONE ANOTHER SCOTT AND SALLY BOTH TAKE OFF RUNNING. THE BULLIES TAKE OFF AFTER THEM CALLING THEM NAMES.

SCENE 3: GAULTIER GETTING READY FOR HALLOWEEN

LIGHTS COME UP SHADOWY AND SPOOKY BACK AT THE GAULTIER HOUSE. AGAIN THE LIGHTING IS LOW SO WE’RE NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON. THINGS ARE MOVING AROUND. WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IS GAULTIER IS PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE HOUSE TO GET READY FOR THE MUCH-CELEBRATED DAY OF HALLOWEEN. HE IS SINGING A RATHER FUNERAL-DIRGISH SONG. THERE ARE OTHERS HELPING HIM. TO THE AUDIENCE IT WILL LOOK LIKE THE HOUSE IS TRULY HAUNTED. A THUNDERCLAP IS HEARD AND THE LIGHTS GO BLACK.