Among You (31 page)

SCENE 4: THE JACK O’ LANTERN AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE

SCOTT IS SITTING ON THE FLOOR CARVING A PUMPKIN. MOM IS IN THE ROOM WITH HIM.

SCOTT

We learned the story behind the Jack O’ Lantern today.

MOM

Yeah? You wanna share?

SCOTT

It was an mean old Irish man named Stingy Jack who liked to play tricks on everyone. One day he played a trick on the devil and trapped him in a tree. So Stingy Jack made a deal with devil that he would let him out of the tree if the devil promised not to take his soul. The devil agreed and Jack set him free. When Stingy Jack died and went to heaven St. Peter told him he was too cruel to be in heaven so he had to go to the other place. When he got to the other place the devil made good on his bargain and told Jack he’d have to wander the darkness between Heaven and “H”, “E”, double hockey sticks. But Stingy Jack was scared of the dark so the devil tossed him an ember from the flames of “H”, “E”, double hockey sticks and Jack put the ember in a hollowed out turnip. So Stingy Jack roamed the darkness lighting his way with his Jack O’ Lantern.

MOM

How did it get form a turnip to a pumpkin?

SCOTT

The Irish realized that pumpkins were easier to carve out so that’s what they used. They put candles in the pumpkins to keep Stingy Jack and evil spirits away.

SCOTT HAS FINISHED CARVING HIS JACK O’ LANTERN AND SHOWS IT TO HIS MOM.

MOM

Ooooh scary! What a wonderful job you did. Here let’s put a candle in it and see what it looks like.

SHE LIGHTS A CANDLE, PUTS IT IN THE PUMPKIN AND TURNS OUT THE LIGHTS. THE PUMPKIN GLOWS EERILY LIGHTING UP SCOTT’S AND MOM’S FACES. DAD COMES IN AND FEIGNS BEING SCARED BY THE SITE.

DAD

Ahhh! It’s an evil spirit. Help! Get me outta here!

MOM FLICKS ON THE LIGHT

SCOTT

Gotcha! You were scared.

DAD

I sure was. Let me see. Wow, what a Jack O’ Lantern. That’s your best one yet.

SCOTT

You really think so?

DAD

I know so. Don’t you think honey?

MOM

Simply the finest Jack O’ Lantern ever. I’m sure that’ll keep Stingy Jack away from our house.

DAD

Stingy who?

MOM AND SCOTT LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER AND LAUGH.

Did I miss something?

MOM

Only the most enlightening history lesson ever taught in this house.

DAD

Tell ya what, why don’t you fill me in on the way to the haunted house!

DAD STEPS OUT.

SCOTT

Oh boy!

MOM

Why don’t you ask Sally if she wants to go.

SCOTT

She can’t. She’s grounded.

MOM

Sally? Grounded? I never thought I’d see the day.

SCOTT

She talked back to her mom so they grounded her.

MOM

Can’t argue with that. Well, why don’t you ask one of your other friends?

SCOTT IS SILENT

You can ask anyone.

SCOTT IS STILL SILENT

What’s wrong Scottie?

SCOTT

Since we’re going to the haunted house instead of trick or treating, can I get some candy on the way?

MOM

I’ve already taken care of that.

MOM PULLS OUT A PLASTIC PUMPKIN FILLED WITH CANDY.

Trick or treat!

SCOTT

Oh boy! Thanks mom.

DAD PEEKS HIS HEAD INTO THE ROOM. HE’S WEARING A MASK AND TRIES TO SCARE MOM AND SCOTT. HE DOES SCARE MOM BUT NOT SCOTT.

DAD

Got ya!

MOM

Yes you did. And I’ll get you back mister.

SCOTT

That was awesome dad. Where did you get the mask?

DAD

Oh I’ve had it hiding around for a while. I was just waiting for the right time to bring it out. Guess I found the right time. Let’s go!

SCENE FIVE: INTRODUCING THE GAULTIER HOUSE

THEY ALL LEAVE THE HOUSE. LIGHTS SHIFT TO THE GAULTIER HOUSE. WE HEAR LIGHTENING, WIND, SCREAMS, AND OTHER SPOOKY SOUNDS. IN THE HOUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH BEING SCARED OUT OF THEIR WITS. AFTER A MOMENT SCOTT, DAD, AND MOM ENTER THE STAGE NEAR THE GAULTIER HOUSE. THERE ARE PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT ALL IN WHAT SEEMS LIKE MONSTER MASKS. THESE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY THE CITIZENS OF MONSTERVILLE IN “MONSTER MODE”. MOM, DAD, AND SCOTT MAKE THEIR WAY TO PAY FOR THEIR TICKETS AND INTO THE HOUSE. THEY ARE GREETED IN AN ANTICHAMBER BY A SERVANT WHO WILL “LEAD” THEM THROUGH THE HOUSE.

SERVANT

Good evening. Welcome to Gaultier House. I am its servant and have been for decades. This house is my master and, once you have witnessed the horrors that live on the other side of this door, you will understand why I remain so faithfully by its side. This house is centuries old…far older than the country in which it now stands. You see, Gaultier House was brought over from England where it served a very disturbed family. The original Gaultier family were a murderous lot who thrived on the torture and killing of their servants. They would place an advertisement looking for a servant, and, once hired, the servant would withstand a most heinous gauntlet of tortures, horrors, and ultimately their demise. But the house is not only haunted by the victims of the insane family. Oh no. The Gaultier family unknowingly hired the deranged daughter of one of their previous victims who made sure that no member of the family made it out alive. Every member of the Gaultier family met their doom many, many years ago on this very day…All Hallows Eve.

Beyond these doors the haunts are very real. Do not disturb, touch, or dwell too long in one area lest you meet the same demise the Gaultier family met. For you see – the mad daughter of the slain servant still roams the halls of Gaultier house.

A SCREAM IS HEARD SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE AS A DOOR BEHIND THE SERVANT MYSTERIOUSLY OPENS. FOG ROLLS OUT OF THE DOOR AS HE GESTURES FOR THE FAMILY TO FOLLOW HIM. THEY DO. THE SPOOKS BEGIN.

SCOTT

Are you scared mom?

MOM

Who me? Maybe.

SCOTT

Dad? You scared?

DAD

Heck yeah I’m scared. Did you see the look on that servants face? He looked like he really believed what he was saying.

SCOTT

Do you think any of it’s true?

DAD

I don’t know. Maybe.

AS THEY GO THROUGH THE HOUSE GINGER BEGINS TO STEALTHILY FOLLOW THEM. AT TIMES THEY MIGHT BECOME AWARE THAT THEY ARE BEING FOLLOWED. THEY COME TO THE FIRST ROOM – THE KITCHEN.

SERVANT

This is where one of the very first servants met her doom.

A SPOOK DRESSED AS A VICTORIAN SERVANT JUMPS OUT TO SCARE THEM. MOM JUMPS INTO DAD’S ARMS. SCOTT IS ENTHRALLED.

ALICE (THE SERVANT)

Please help me. Mr. Gaultier frightens me so. I’m afraid I will soon…

SOMETHING FRIGHTENS ALICE AND SHE SCREAMS AND HIDES IN THE CORNER.

Oh please sir, don’t let the master come near me. Please save me from his wretched evil plots and schemes.

A LOUD THUMPING FOOTFALL IS HEARD FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING OF A CREAKY DOOR. ALICE SCREAMS AGAIN AS THE LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF. WHEN THE LIGHTS COME BACK UP ALICE IS GONE.

SERVANT

Poor dear Alice. Mr. Gaultier was most unkind in her undoing. Now please follow me.

THEY ALL LEAVE THE ROOM. GINGER STEPS INTO THE ROOM (IN FULL MONSTER MODE) AND OFFERS A LIGHT GIGGLE AND FOLLOWS ON.

SCOTT

This is so cool!

MOM

I think I know how that poor woman felt back there.

DAD

I heard that.

MOM

Just kidding dear.

SERVANT