Among You (33 page)

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.