Mischief Night (A Screenplay)

FADE IN:

EXT. YARD – NIGHT

A pair of shoes are suspended on a narrow branch in a tree high off the ground.

CUT TO:

INSERT SHOT – A length of rope is wrapped around one of the branches.

CUT TO:

The pair of shoes stand still for a moment longer and then suddenly drop from the branch. With a loud SNAP, the rope goes taut and swings lazily in the air. The body below twitches once and goes still. From up in the tree we can hear startled SHRIEKS and SCREAMS echo from below.

A SNICKER is heard O.S. The rope is suddenly pulled back upwards into the tree and the lifeless body is propped back up on the tree branch by unseen hands.

CUT TO:

A little girl approaching the yard where the hanging tree stands. We can only see her from behind, but we can tell that she’s about ten years old with long blond hair. She approaches the house with a purposeful pace. As she comes close to the tree, the body suddenly drops from above and snaps into its death throes once again.

The little girl pauses and stares at the hanging body with no audible reaction. She reaches out and pushes aside the body, revealing it to be a mannequin. As she passes by, the dummy is withdrawn by the rope and back into the tree. The little girl walks up to the steps of the house and RINGS the doorbell.

A second or two passes before an excitable man (referred to as JOKESTER) answers the door. We can still only see the little girl from behind, but from this angle, it’s obvious that she is thrusting a Trick-R-Treat bag expectantly towards the man.

JOKESTER
O-ho! Well, now what do we have here?!

He CHUCKLES and acknowledges the little girl with an exaggerated greeting.
JOKESTER
I’m serious, what are you supposed to be?

He continues smiling but the girl simply thrusts the candy bag forward again. His smile drops slightly.

JOKESTER
Ah, the strong, silent type eh? Well, now, my creepy little creature, I think I know exactly what you’re here for! You just wait right there and I’ll get you a little treat.

He steps away. The girl simply stands on the doorstep, as motionless and silent as ever. He returns and holds a brightly colored lollipop to her. She reaches for it eagerly, but he withdraws his hand quickly and smirks.

JOKESTER
Nuh-uh, you’ve got to come into my
(in an exaggerated “evil” voice)
Haaaaunted hooouse if you want your treat!

The little girl pauses for a moment and glances left and right. Finally she takes a tentative step inside. Jokester grins.

JOKESTER
That’s it. Just a little closer and you’ll get your treat.

Suddenly, a loud SCREECH is heard as a furry monster mask explodes around the doorjamb on a spring loaded contraption. The little girl takes a step back, but still emits no sound of surprise. Jokester bursts into raucous LAUGHTER. LAUGHTER can be heard from outside as well, as his accomplice in the tree joins in his GUFFAW.

JOKESTER
I’m sorry honey, but Halloween brings out the worst in me. I didn’t mean to scare you…or did I?
(goofy laugh)
Hold on, I promise I’ll get you something.

The girl steps back onto the porch. Jokester comes back with a bowl chock full of multi colored candy. As he steps back into the light, he pauses momentarily. The little girl has been joined by four more people. Three children, two are obviously boys while one is draped in a standard “ghost” bedsheet obscuring their gender. The fourth stands a little further back and appears to be an adult or teenager, dressed in street clothes. We can still only see the quintet from the rear.

JOKESTER
Oh! I see we have more guests! Sorry kids, I don’t have time to do the usual routine. Just help yourselves.

As the children reach for the bowl, a furry clawed hand suddenly bursts from the middle of the candy stash. Jokester LAUGHS again as he demonstrates the monster glove hidden in the false bottom of the bowl. The children turn to look at one another, silent and obviously not amused. Jokester remains oblivious to their lack of reaction and continues to LAUGH obnoxiously. His lack of attention prevents him from noticing the little girl giving a nod of approval to her friends.

He glances upwards and waves to the chaperone standing at the rear. No reaction. He remains blissfully unfazed as he brandishes the monster glove at the kids once more.

His laughter morphs crudely into a SCREAM of agony and shock as the little girl snaps forward with lightning speed, a pair of scissors clutched in her tiny hand. The scissors plunge forward and swiftly snip off one of Jokester’s gloved fingers. He falls back with another SCREAM as the four children tackle him. All along, his friend in the tree remains unaware, imagining the screams to be Jokester hamming it up for the kids.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

The three other children pin Jokester down while the little girl pulls a latex mask from seemingly out of nowhere. Jokester’s SCREAMS become MUFFLED as we see that his head has now been covered with a clown mask. He thrashes wildly as the little girl sits on his chest to pin him down. She brandishes a strange, nozzle apparatus and plunges it into the nose holes of the mask.

Jokester’s screams INTENSIFY as what appears to be hot wax begins to seep from the nose holes. The girl slices thin slits in the sides and top of the mask and fills them up with wax as well. She holds her hand back behind her and makes a motion. A roll of duct tape is handed to her and she dips out of view, her actions with the tape unknown. She stands up and steps back.

After a brief moment of silence, Jokester leaps to his feet. He struggles to pull off the mask but only manages to agonizingly rip at his own skin, as the wax has begun to harden and adhere to his flesh. With nowhere else to go, he races out of his house, SCREAMING in desperation and fear, racing past the chaperone (who remains silent and still) in the process.

The children watch him run down the street, SCREAMING all the way. They silently collect the candy from the ground. One of the little boys snatches up the severed finger and slips it into his bag.

CUT TO:

EXT. YARD – NIGHT

The children head back into the yard. The ghost child grasps the hand of one of the boys. The other boy and the girl hold hands with the chaperone as they begin to stroll away. The ghost makes odd hopping motions while he/she walks.

As they approach the street, we get a good look at their costumes. The first little girl (“BIRDIE”) is dressed in a dark gown. Her mask resembles a porcelain masquerade style mask with a long beak extending from the front. Tied to other side of this beak with cords of black ribbon, are two pairs of scissors.

One of the little boys, the other one walking with the chaperone is wearing a furry little monster mask with an open face (“BEASTIE”). His face appears cris-crossed with a pattern of scars, the skin of his “mask” a dark and crispy textured black. His eyes are milky, like cataracts. His grin reveals rows of little sharpened fangs.

The other little boy wears a standard skeleton costume (“BONEY”) except that the bones attached the black leotard, extend outwards and have a realistic “depth” to them.

He is holding hands with CLYDE, a child of unidentified gender (although most likely a boy, given the name) clad in a standard white bedsheet with a pair of eye holes cut out. However, this bedsheet is stained with red streaks and lumpy brownish-red material. He/she also walks with a bizarre hopping gait.

The CHAPERONE accompanies the children and is clad only in jeans and a dark hoodie, with the hood pulled up and his face obscured.

As the five head away, Beastie suddenly pulls away. He raises a finger to motion “one minute” and approaches the tree. He reaches into his bag and pulls out something lumpy and misshapen. He pulls back and heaves the object into the tree. A heavy SMACK is heard and, after a CRASHING of branches, the Jokester’s buddy tumbles out of the tree. Somehow, on his way down, his own neck became entangled with the rope he was using on the mannequin. With a vicious SNAP, the man’s neck breaks and his body is left swaying motionless from the tree.

The others watch silently.

Beastie flashes an “OK” sign with his furry thumb and forefinger and rejoins hands with the Chaperone. The quintet walk out of the yard and down the street.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

Dead leaves sweep across the walk, bathed in the dim glow of countless jack-o-lanterns and black-light bulbs. The children and their Chaperone continue to walk hand in hand. A pair of trick or treaters pass by them, a man and a boy walking side by side. The man is wearing a dark suit and a creepy white mask that sports a toothy grin and dark horns. The little boy is wearing orange pajamas and a burlap sack over his head . The sack is decorated with cute button eyes and a stitchwork smile. The odd little boy waves to the children as they pass by and they return his greeting. The man in the devilish mask reaches low to high five Beastie.

Occasionally, the kids stop and point towards one of the houses. When they come across a decidedly festive and appropriately spooky house, the children hop up and down with silent glee. Chaperone ushers them along.

Clyde and Boney’s attention, in particular, are drawn to a house with little handmade ghosts and skeletons hanging from the tree on string. They point at the decorations excitedly and gesture to one another. Entranced as they are, they fail to notice the bulky teenager approach them from behind.

As the PUNK approaches the pair, we can see the other three of the group, standing further down the street, simply watching and waiting.
PUNK
You little guys like this house?

The two nod excitedly.

PUNK
I live there, you know. Tell ya what, I’ll make you guys a deal ok?

The kids listen attentively.

PUNK
You kids give me anything you have in those little bags of yours and I’ll show you something REALLY scary.

Clyde quickly thrusts his bag forward, but Boney pulls it back and shakes his head. The two gesture between one another and finally come to an agreement. They both hand their candy bags to the Punk. He snatches them up quickly.

PUNK
Thanks, guys. Now, as promised..

He simply grasps both kids by their heads and shoves them down to the ground. He CHUCKLES to himself and shakes his head.

PUNK
Happy Halloween, guys!

He turns to walk away. As he heads off, Clyde steps forward and kicks him hard in the shin. The Punk YELPS in surprise.

PUNK
You little shit! You think you’re tough huh?!

Clyde raises two obscured fists into a fighting pose. The punk sneers.

PUNK
Don’t even bother, unless you want to spend tonight lying in the gutter. You think I’m afraid to hit a little kid? Even your big brother over there
(gestures to Chaperone)
Is too chicken shit to do anything! What’s the matter, asshole?! You spineless?

Chaperone simply stares back silently. Punk smirks again and shoves Clyde away again.

PUNK
(continuing; muttering to himself)
Not even worth my time.

As he walks away, Clyde approaches him from behind one more time. Punk feels a tapping on his back and GROANS.

PUNK
You just don’t learn do you, you little-

His threat is cut off with a WET GURGLE followed by a TEARING sound. Blood suddenly pours forth from his mouth and his eyes roll back into his head. Suddenly, his face seems to cave in on itself. His body pitches forward, to reveal Clyde standing behind him, with the Punk’s entire spinal column clutched in his bloody robes. Punk’s skull remains attached to the top, eyeballs leaking blood and fluid, rolling wildly while the mandibles chatter on reflex.

Clyde motions Boney over to him. He holds out the vertebrae and skull which Boney happily accepts. Boney places the skull over his own head and it fits miraculously. The spine flows behind his costume like a ponytail. Boney tests out his new, exposed and raw eyeballs by blinking them and then blinking out something obscene in morse code. Clyde falls back in silent laughter. He motions to the sack of skin on the ground.

Both Clyde and Boney grip the skin and effortlessly toss it into the tree. It drapes down amongst the skeletons and ghosts like a ghoulish tapestry. Both children re-collect their candy bags and hurry off down the street to join back up with the gang.

CUT TO:

EXT. PORCH #2 – NIGHT

The group gathers and bunches together on the porch of a basic, undecorated and rather bland house. Birdie rings the doorbell and a cheerful looking woman answers the door. We’ll call her “WOMAN”

WOMAN
(chuckling)
Oh my Goodness, you all look amazing! Sooo scary! Honey, come see these kids!

Her husband, MAN, appears behind her and takes in the sight of the kids.

MAN
Fantastic, you all look great.

WOMAN
It’s wonderful to see some kids who are so creative and enthusiastic.

MAN
Yeah, there’s too many kids wearing Scream masks or Spider-Man costumes running around.

WOMAN
Except for that one guy in the Avatar costume, what was he, like 18?

MAN
Yeah, blue body paint and nothing else but a loincloth. I think someone called the cops on him, he kept sticking his ponytail into the jack-o-lanterns.

As they blather on, the kids simply stand in place, bags at the ready.

WOMAN
Oh geez, sorry kids. Listen to us ramble on. Tell ya what, for putting up with two old fogies and for being so gosh darn creative, we’ll give you double helpings!

The two dip their hands into the candy bowl and dump in large handfuls of candy into each sack. The children glance down at the bags and then at each other. Birdie nods in approval.

Without a word, she, Boney and Clyde wave to the pair and scamper back down the porch steps. Beastie stays behind and eyes them up. He holds out a paw, straight forwards…and slaps a high five to the Man. He blows a sweet little monster kiss to the Woman and hurries to catch up with his friends.

MAN
(simultaneously with WOMAN)
Happy Halloween!

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

The kids inspect their bags and sift through the candy. Birdie glances around the neighborhood and points to another house nearby, this one also without decorations.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, BATHROOM – NIGHT

CU of an eyeliner pencil as it draws a long horizontal stripe across a cheek. PULL BACK to reveal SAMANTHA STRODE, mid 20’s, lustrous black hair, attractive and knows it. She is talking on the phone with her friend, DANIELLE, while she draws stripes on her face. Upon further inspection, it is obvious she is drawing faux whiskers on her face. She wears a pair of cat ear attachments in her hair and her nose is painted black. For all intents and purposes, she is preparing a stereotypical “sexy cat” costume, complete with tail.

SAM
…I know, I know, can you believe that?

DANIELLE
(over phone)
It doesn’t make any sense to me at all.

SAM
I don’t think it was supposed to. I mean, he KNEW I was only going out with him as a favor to his sister right?

DANIELLE
Babe, I really don’t think he did. You did kind of string him along.

SAM
Well, it doesn’t matter. I hear he’s gay anyways and he was using me to get closer to Kevin.
DANIELLE
Wouldn’t surprise me in the least. So when the fuck are you coming over to pick me up?

SAM
(mock astonishment)
Language!

DANIELLE
Oh shut up. We both know dirtier things have come out of your mouth..and gone in!

SAM
(jokingly)
You bitch!

Both girls GIGGLE as Sam finishes touching up her face. She grimaces as she presses a dab of foundation to her cheek.

SAM
Damn..

DANIELLE
Hm?

SAM
My birthmark..I hate it..

A tiny birthmark stands out against the heavy makeup on her right cheek. It forms a strange pattern, three small dots arranged in a triangular fashion and a jagged horizontal line beneath it. She dabs at it frantically to cover it up.

DANIELLE
Well I like it. It’s sexy.

SAM
(distracted)
Yeah, yeah…

She steps back satisfied with her makeup and makes sure that the birthmark is completely obscured.

DANIELLE
So you never answered my question.

SAM
Oh well, I’m just about done, I should be over in about 20 or so and then we can take off.
DANIELLE
All right, well don’t keep me waiting. Seriously, I don’t want any sloppy seconds tonight.

SAM
(scoffs)
Filthy.

DANIELLE
Oh, you know it.

SAM
(chuckling)
Bye.

She makes a small KISSING noise into the phone. Danielle repeats the sentiment on the other line. Sam straightens her cat ears and is interrupted by the RINGING doorbell. She SIGHS and storms off to the entryway.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, ENTRYWAY – NIGHT

She opens the door and scowls at the trick-r-treaters outside. There are two children, one wearing a Scream mask and the other in a Spider-Man outfit.

SAM
No candy!

Before the kids have a chance to speak, she SLAMS the door on them. As she turns to walk back into the house, the doorbell RINGS again. She SIGHS in frustration and opens it angrily.

SAM
NO CANDY!

However, she doesn’t slam the door as she is stunned silent by the sight before her. A man named JAKE stands on her doorstep, naked except for a loincloth, blue body paint and prosthetic pointy ears. He whips his head in an exaggerated manner to show off his long black (fake) ponytail.

JAKE
It’s alright baby, I’m sure you’ve got some other sweet stuff for me. Want to help me open Pandora’s Box?

SAM
What the-? Fuckin’ perverted smurf!
JAKE
Hey wait, I’m not a smu-

She SLAMS the door before he can finish. As she walks away, there is a small YELP on the other side of the door, followed by a RIPPING sound. A loud KNOCK resounds on the door. Sam ignores it and walks on. The KNOCKING increases to an absurd level. Finally she relents and flings the door open angrily.

SAM
WHAT?!

She frowns in surprise at the unusual costumed children before her. Birdie, Boney, Beastie and Clyde (now covered in both red and mysterious blue splotches) are standing on her doorstep with Chaperone hovering in the background. Beastie quickly flings a long, black hairy object into the bushes where it lands with a SPLAT. The four kids hold out their bags.

SAM
Sorry kids, no candy tonight. Now beat it, I’m late for a party.

She SLAMS the door shut again but this time it only closes partially. Birdie has her foot in the door and is blocking it from closing. She holds her bag out again.

SAM
What the hell is your problem, little girl? I said I don’t have any candy, now go away!
(to Chaperone)
Mister, come get your kids before I knock them off my porch!

Chaperone regards her with his usual silent stare. Sam shakes her head in confusion and disgust and shoves Birdie’s foot away, quickly closing the door. She MUTTERS wordlessly to herself and heads back into the bathroom.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, BATHROOM – NIGHT

Sam touches up her makeup one more time. She adjusts her low cut top, making sure to display an ample amount of cleavage. She SMACKS her lips to inspect her black lipstick when a thunderous POUNDING noise comes to her attention.
SAM
Damn it, what now?

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, ENTRYWAY – NIGHT

Sam passes by her large bay window on her way to the entryway. A sudden THUD sounds from the window. She glances over to see a large, brown splatter mark staining the glass. More THUDS sound from the front door. She angrily strides up and pulls it open, scowling at the four small figures outside. Boney rears back and hurls an object at Sam, deliberately missing and causing it to smack the wall beside her.

She glances at it and sees that it is a brown, lumpy substance with stringy red material embedded in it. She grimaces at the grisly object and jumps when another one SMACKS into the pavement at her feet.

SAM
You little bastards, I’m going to call the cops!

She singles out Birdie in particular as she has another one of the small, egg shaped objects loaded and ready to throw.

SAM
I recognize YOU. You’re that little Stephens brat. Well, I’ve got news for you, kid. Your mother’s a whore! I know it, the neighborhood knows it and now you know it!

Birdie simply stares back at her before cocking her head to one side as if trying to comprehend what she heard.

SAM
Yeah, you heard me. Get off my property before I have you all tossed in juvie!

She stares in their direction and gradually the children back down and wander soundlessly off to the street. Satisfied, Sam closes the front door. The children regroup in the street and gesture amongst one another. From down the street, the sound of MUFFLED SCREAMING can be heard. Birdie points to her friends and makes an arcane motion with her hand. The others nod enthusiastically.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, ENTRYWAY – NIGHT

Sam stands behind the close door SEETHING angrily. A gentle KNOCKING sounds out the door. Sam wastes no time in hurling the door open, ready to admonish the children. She is unexpectedly thrown back by a form that comes charging erratically into the house.

Sam recovers from the blow to see the thrashing and SCREAMING form of a man in a clown mask, clutching a large butcher knife. Sam SHRIEKS in horror and stumbles backwards. The man in the mask hobbles forward, seemingly unable to walk without staggering. He continues to BABBLE incoherently, each sentence punctuated by a frantic SCREAM.

Sam regains her footing and dashes blindly into the kitchen.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, KITCHEN – NIGHT

She hesitates momentarily before making a dash for the back door. That tiny lapse in judgement is enough time for the blathering clown to stumble his way into the kitchen. He staggers again, colliding hard into the door with a BANG, forcing Sam back against the counter. He turns to stare at her with blood-shot, anguished filled eyes. He MOANS softly and staggers forward. Sam presses back against the counter, paralyzed with fear.

SAM
(shakily)
Wait, wait, wait a second.

The man ignores her plead, instead staggers forward again, almost sounding as if he is SOBBING, from within the mask. He tumbles forward, knife flailing wildly. With instinct and adrenaline in full gear, Sam reaches out and catches the man’s wrist with a SCREAM. The man barely regards her touch, just stares back at her with his eerily pain stricken eyes. Lacking any other options, Sam hauls back and knees the clown man in the crotch.

The man utters a small, meek SQUEAL of surprise and tumbles forward yet again. He loses his footing in an ungainly fashion and spins to the floor. Sam ducks out of his way and during his descent, the man catches the sharp edge of the counter with his throat. A meaty SQUISH is heard and the man collapses in a heap.
Sam scoots away fearfully and stares at the fallen, still body of the man. She carefully inches forward and nudges the knife away from his hand with her foot. However, the knife doesn’t budge. She kicks it again and the knife remains in its position, clutched in his hand. In the chaos, she had failed to notice the silvery lining of the man’s hand and, upon closer inspection she notices that the knife is actually duct taped to his hand.

SAM
What the-?

She quickly reaches and out grasps the clown mask with both hands, eager to get some answers from her assailant. The mask refuses to budge, and a stretchy CREAKING sound can be heard. She gives the mask one more hard tug but it doesn’t budge. As she begins to relax her grip on the latex, the man suddenly springs to action. He lashes forward with the knife, GURGLING incoherently. Sam SHRIEKS and leaps backward. The man trashes wildly on the floor. Finally he glances upwards at her with and stares with wild eyes. He fumbles with the clumsily taped knife and thrusts it awkwardly towards himself. With a GROAN of agony, the man frantically plunges the knife into his own throat.

A torrent of blood washes forth as the mystery man’s life ebbs slowly away. Sam is left befuddled and horrified at the grisly scene unfolding on her kitchen floor. A moment later, the man is dead. Sam stares at his corpse with wide eyes. Tears begin to trickle out, smearing a portion of her cat whiskers. SNIFFLING quietly to herself, she plucks the telephone off of its cradle and dials 911.

The phone RINGS once and is answered.

SAM
(continuing; tearfully)
Hello? I need to report an uh…an assault…and..God, I don’t know what happened..

Silence on the other end.

SAM
Hello?

Sound suddenly bursts forth from the phone, a strange low DRONING noise, not unlike a swarm of bees. The odd noise segues into an eerie CRACKLING sound, akin to burning leaves. The sounds alternate one after another until Sam finally hangs up in frustration. She dials again but gets the same result. She tries another number at random, only to hear the same strange NOISES.

Sam swallows hard and gently places the phone back down. She runs her hands wearily through her hair and then has a sudden realization.

SAM
(continuing; to herself)
Oh shit, those kids!

She stares at the carnage on her floor for a second before dashing off.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, ENTRYWAY – NIGHT

She runs to the front door and flings it open, expecting to find the mangled bodies of the children on her doorstep. Instead, she finds nothing. As she glances downward, however, she spots a pumpkin resting on her doorstep, carved with a traditional Jack-o-lantern smile. Oddly enough, it also has six horizontal black stripes painted on its side, three for each side of the “face”.

She stares at the strange object for a moment. Without warning, a tiny hand inexplicably shoots out of the gaping pumpkin grin. It lashes forward and swiftly slices into Sam’s leg with a pair of scissors, opened to maximum width. Sam SCREAMS in shock and pain and falls backwards.

She looks up in shock, just in time to see two tiny arms push their way out of the leering smile. A tiny form squishes its way out from inside the pumpkin. The gourd suddenly explodes with a wet SPLAT leaving a tiny figure curled up like a fetus, dripping with seeds and stringy yellow pumpkin innards. The tiny arms grope the floorboards of the porch for purchase and the figure pulls itself upright, suddenly rising to a height of about three feet. A long, snout like protrubance extends from within the yellow mess.

Birdie stands upright, brushes off a bit of the pumpkin goo and stares back at Sam silently. Sam has been rendered speechless. Birdie cocks her head to the side momentarily, still covered in “afterbirth”. She silently thrusts a gooey trick-r-treat back forward, expectantly.

Sam answers with a wild SCREAM of disbelief and disgust, kicking the door shut with a SLAM.
Sam clambers to her feet and staggers backwards in a daze. She wanders, almost aimlessly, down the hall, before heading towards her room. On the way, she passes by the large bay window in her living room. A THUD resounds from the room and she hesitates for a moment before investigating cautiously.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Sam approaches the window carefully as the THUDS continue. As she reaches the window, she jumps back with a start. The children are outside, lobbing the lumpy egg shaped objects at the window. Chaperone stands beyond, watching as silent and still as ever. For the first time, Sam notices the consistency of the objects. Another one THUDS into the window pane just at her eye level.

She stares at it intently. A lumpy, brownish black ,viscous matter is splattered across the window pane, stringy red material strewn throughout the muck. Sam steps back with a GASP as she notices teeth, nails and even a stray eyeball stained amongst the mulch that now lies splattered across her window in a nightmarish mosaic.

The children caper wildly around outside and, from sheer morbid curiosity, Sam peers forward to see what they are up to. They are prancing and frolicking around the tree in her yard, tossing ribbons and streamers to and fro. The streamers soar through the air with an unnaturally weighted pitch and Sam GASPS yet again when she notices their true nature.

The grayish-red streamers that are now strewn amongst the tree branches in her yard are in fact, entrails and intestines. The children continue to fling the viscera with glee and Sam can only imagine where they obtained the gore.

Like a demented tapestry, the guts hang throughout her yard, crisscrossed into various patterns and weaving to and fro amongst the branches. The children all pause simultaneously from their activity. They turn to stare directly at Sam, through the window.

They all remain motionless, save for Boney who raises a defiant middle finger to her. He grasps his upraised digit with his other hand and easily snaps it off. Blood sprays forth from the severed finger, but he pays it no heed. Instead he hurls the finger at the window where it bounces off with a CRACK. The others set about placing Jack-o-Lanterns in seemingly random spaces throughout the yard. The children resume their “decorating”, Boney’s vertebrae ponytail flailing wildly behind him.
All of this seems to be too much for Sam to process and she steps away from the window, still in a silent daze. She averts her eyes from the carnage and silently walks into the bedroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, BEDROOM – NIGHT

Sam isn’t even crying anymore, the events seemingly rendered her numb to any emotion. She glances around her room for a moment and then sits at the computer on her desk. She pauses for a moment as if not knowing exactly what to do. As she maneuvers the mouse aimlessly over the screen, tears begin to again slowly leak from her eyes.

Glancing to the left of the keyboard, she notices her cell phone. With a SOB of relief, she reaches for it but movement catches her eye. The computer monitor has changed. The screen had gone black and the only image is that of a leering, orange, flame lit Jack-o-lantern face. The hideous grin stares back from the screen mockingly. Sam quickly flips the monitor off.

Still seated at the desk, she picks up her cell and dials Danielle’s number.

The phone RINGS three times before it is answered.

DANIELLE
Hello?

SAM
(shakily)
Thank God, Dani! Where are you??

DANIELLE
Hello? Anyone there?

SAM
Dani, it’s Sam! Can you hear me?

DANIELLE
Oh! Hey sweetheart, how’s it goin’? You’re late you know, I’m getting kind of antsy.

SAM
Danielle, listen to me. Call the police and tell them to get to my place as quickly as they can. I can’t explain right now, just hang up and call them, please!
DANIELLE
Wait a minute, the police? You didn’t start a party over there without me did you?

SAM
I’m serious! I am NOT joking, hang up and call them, NOW.

DANIELLE
Sam, I’m not going to do that.

SAM
Dani, do this for me..please. If you don’t, I think…I think I’m going to die. There’s already a dead man in my kitchen.

DANIELLE
Really? Is he cute?

SAM
What the fuck is your problem, aren’t you listening to me?!

DANIELLE
Yeah, I am, but Sam, YOU need to listen.

Sam SNIFFLES and waits for her friend to explain.

DANIELLE
All you need to do is give them some candy and they’ll leave you alone. That’s it. It’s as simple as that.

Beat.

SAM
Wait, what are you talking about? How do you-

DANIELLE
it’s “Trick-or-Treat”, Samantha. It’s not that complex. You give them their treats or they’re going to play tricks. And once they get tired of playing tricks on you, they’re going to finish their job and move on to the next house.
SAM
Wait, what job? Who? What the fuck are you even talking about??

DANIELLE
“Who?” Seriously? The children, you dumb bitch. This night…this special, glorious night…started out differently. But now, it belongs to the children, they represent the very soul of All Hallows.

SAM
I don’t-

DANIELLE
It is their duty, their lifeblood, their purpose of being…to create mischief. They’re just having fun, just like ordinary little kids.

SAM
These are NOT ordinary little kids, how do you know all this?? Why me? I want this to END!

DANIELLE
They don’t like being mistreated. If you just give them what they want, they’ll leave you alone. You shouldn’t be so rude, so conniving. It’s people like you who need to know what this night is about. And if you disrespect it…if you disrespect US..you will, truly understand the meaning of..shall we say…fun and games!

SAM
(quietly)
This isn’t Danielle, is it?

Silence on the other end.

SAM

Where is she?

More silence.
SAM
Please just make this stop. I’ll give you whatever you want. Just leave me alone.

Beat.

A sudden, shrill GIGGLE pierces the silence on the phone.

DANIELLE
We’re coming to get you, Sammy. It’s going to be lots of fun! What a wonderful evening this will be!

The line disconnects.

Sam clutches the phone for a moment before hurling it against the wall. She breaks down into a SOB.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

The room is silent and dark, as Sam is still locked away in the bedroom.

The window suddenly CRASHES inward with a SHATTER of glass. Beastie comes sailing in, after being hurled through the window by his comrades. The others pile into the living room after him, Clyde hopping up and down all the while. The children gather their composure for a moment and then set off down the hall to the locked room.

SPLIT SCREEN

Left Half – The children advance down the hall. They reach the door and set to work, attempting to break it down. Beastie scratches away with his claws, Birdie chisels with her scissors, Boney breaks off his left Humerus and starts beating at it, Clyde reaches under his/her sheet and inexplicably pulls out a large shard of glass. The kids continue to beat, claw and scratch at the door while Chaperone watches.

Right Half – Sam cowers on her bed, shivering uncontrollably while the sounds of THUDS and SCRAPES reverberate through the room. Zoom In Cuts, pulling increasing closer to her as the sounds grow LOUDER AND LOUDER. She finally SCREAMS ear piercingly and the sounds abruptly STOP.

CUT TO:
INT. SAM’S HOUSE, BEDROOM – NIGHT

Sam cautiously crawls to the foot of the bed. Suddenly, a scrap of orange paper is slid under the door. She slowly crawls to the paper, snatches it up in one quick motion and scoots back on the floor, to the edge of the bed.

The note reads “GIVE US SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT” in childish scrawl.

Sam CHUCKLES in spite of herself, and fetches a pen off the desk. She jots down a note of her own: “WHAT DO YOU WANT? I DON’T HAVE ANY CANDY.”

She slides the note back under. Almost instantly, it slides back her way.

“WE WANT SOMETHING SWEET”

She writes back.

“GET ANYTHING YOU WANT FROM THE KITCHEN AND LEAVE ME ALONE”.

They respond.

“WE ALREADY TOOK THE JOKE MAN. HE WAS YUMMY BUT TOO SALTY. TAKE US TO GET SOMETHING SWEET”.

Sam writes back.

“FUCK OFF.”

They respond.

“YOU’RE SILLY.”

With that, the door suddenly crashes off its hinges. Clyde backs away from the door, lowering Boney, after having used his skull as a battering ram. Sam erupts into hysterics.

SAM
NO NO NO NO NO LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!!

The children quickly surround her at the edge of the bed. Birdie reaches out tentatively and caresses the cut on Sam’s leg. The blood vanishes at her touch and Sam flexes her leg to test it out. The wound has healed.

SAM
What-? I don’t..

Silently, the children, lift her to her feet. Birdie and Beastie gingerly grab her hands. Clyde and Boney lead the way as Sam allows herself to be led out of the room and ultimately out of the house by the kids.

CUT TO:

EXT. DRIVEWAY – NIGHT

The children lead Sam out of the house and towards her car, a cerulean colored compact car. Some of the carnage that has befallen her home decorates the car as well. The children lead her to the driver’s side door and gesture towards it.

Without a word, Sam brushes some of the lumpy viscera off the door handle and hops in.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S CAR – NIGHT

She sits in the seat, her eyes darting left and right nervously. Birdie clambers in the seat behind her, Beastie in the middle back seat and Boney behind the passenger’s seat.

The passenger’s side door opens and Chaperone sits down. He turns to look at her and Sam gets a good look at what lies under his hood. Unfortunately, it is still too dark to get a good look. Clyde clambers into the passenger seat and sits on Chaperone’s lap, bunching his/her feet up around his/her knees.

Sam glances down, seeing Clyde’s uncovered feet for the first time. They are mottled black and bluish-yellow stains, akin to a giant bruise. Dried blood stains the feet and Sam suddenly realizes why Clyde hops everywhere. His/her feet are embedded with dozens of shards of broken glass. They protrude from the child’s feet in multiple angles, different sizes and shapes, all covered in dried blood.

Clyde glances up and sees Sam staring at the feet. Sam looks up and stares at Clyde for a moment. Clyde simply shrugs nonchalantly, then reaches over and gives Sam a pat on the shoulder. Sam takes a DEEP BREATH. Birdie raps on the headrest behind her and tosses something forward. With a JINGLE, Sam’s keyring lands in her lap.

SAM
You know I’m only doing this because-

She trails off. The children all lean forward expectantly. Chaperone continues staring forward.
SAM
Shit…I don’t even know..

She EXHALES and starts up the car. She glances into her rearview mirror and notices, with shock, that a good portion of her normally jet black hair has turned a dingy gray. She EXHALES quickly and turns away from the startling image.

SAM
Where are we going?

Behind her, Birdie reaches over to Boney and grasps his hand. With a SNAP, Birdie breaks off Boney’s hand at the wrist. Birdie tosses the skeletal appendage up front where it CLATTERS on the dashboard. It lies still for a moment before it suddenly springs to life. The hand waves at Sam and she simply stares back dumbfounded. After a moment, the hand makes a circular motion as if to say “come on” in an impatient manner. Sam backs down the driveway.

The children remain silent as Boney’s hand stands up straight and beckons forward. Sam proceeds down the street. As she approaches an intersection, the hand turns and points to the right. Sam follows the spectral appendages directions.

SAM
So um..what exactly are you guys?

She CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY at her attempt at small talk. Silence is her answer. Boney’s hand waves a single finger at her in a scolding motion.

SAM
…Ok.

The hand directs her to make a left. Sam complies.

SAM
You know, this isn’t the worst Halloween I’ve ever had.

Silence

SAM
No, really!

Silence and stony stares all around.
SAM
I know, you don’t believe me but it’s true. Last year, um…last year I went to a Halloween party with my boyfriend. He wandered off to play Beer Pong with a friend. The festive kind, you know, with the cups of blood and the eyeballs painted on the balls? You guys ever play?

No answer. Sam follows the hand to another left.

SAM
Yeah me either. Besides, you’re all too young to drink. Except this guy!
(she motions to Chaperone with a nervous CHUCKLE)
Anyways, it was never really my thing. So there, I am, watching a scary movie on TV…I think it was…what’s that movie with the mutant slugs that turn people into zombies?

Silence.

SAM
Yeah, “Night of the Creeps”. Anyways, I’m watching that, on the couch, sandwiched between a stoned vampire and a drunk Pope. Now there’s an odd couple for you, huh?

She GIGGLES nervously.

SAM
So I get bored and I go to find Doug – That’s…WAS..my boyfriend. And someone tells me he went upstairs.

She makes a right.
SAM
So I go upstairs and I hear his voice. He’s yelling “Thrill me!Thrill me!” over and over again. Sounds kind of bizarre right? So I go into the room where I hear his voice and guess what I find?

Movement from the middle seat behind her. Beastie leans forward, cups one hand and crudely inserts and withdraws his index finger repeatedly into the empty space.

Sam LAUGHS.

SAM
Yup, that’s right! There he is, in his Jedi costume, coat and all, fucking some tramp in a Wonder Woman outfit. I’ll tell you guys this, I don’t think the force will ever be strong with him again, after the ass kicking I gave him.

She SIGHS.

SAM
And I knew…that this year, I’d end up remembering what happened. It’s not just that either..I’ve just had..some really messed up things happen to me y’know? Except for the parties, I hate everything this night stands for. That’s why you guys are messing with me isn’t it? Something about me not having any Halloween spirit? What is this all like some royally fucked up version of A Christmas Carol?

The children in the backseat tilt their hands from side to side, motioning “more or less”

SAM
We’ve been driving a long time, where the hell are we going?

Her answer is a point to the right from the hand. She makes a quick turn into a shopping center. The entire parking lot is empty and a single grocery store looms in front of them.

Sam looks at the name of the market, in glowing red letters: “HAIN’S”

She raises an eyebrow in curiosity and the hand motions for her to stop.

As Sam shifts the car into park, the hand suddenly leaps off the dashboard and onto her shoulder. It brushes her hair in an almost affectionate manner. Sam flinches reflexively and the hand jumps off her shoulder and back to it’s owner. With a sharp CRACK, Boney reattaches his appendage.

SAM
Ok I guess, everybody out?

The children in the backseat pile out. In the front passenger seat, Clyde leans back against the gear shift and thrusts his/her glass covered feet at the passenger window, SHATTERING it. Sam stares in surprise as Clyde quickly clambers out the broken window and out of the car. Chaperone calmly opens the door containing the shattered window and steps out.

The children resume their hand holding positions and lead Sam across the parking lot to the store.

CUT TO:

INT. HAIN’S GROCERY STORE – NIGHT

The automatic doors slide open and Sam enters pushing a bright red shopping cart. A strong, earthy scent greets her and GAGS slightly at the foul odor. She looks around with confusion.

The store seems to resemble a standard grocery store. Eight numbered aisles, perfectly symmetrical columns leading down towards the rear of the store. Harsh, fluorescent lighting buzzes overhead as the distinguishable, breezy theme song from “A Summer Place” echoes from the MUZAK.

Although the walls and the aisles of the store are of blinding white, pristine sheen, the floors are covered in some type of odd black growth. It creeps and crawls across the floor like an onyx ivy, fungus like in its dominance over the buildings floor. Despite the large size of the building, there is only one checkstand. Appropriately enough, a lit-up sign positioned above the checkstand displays an infinity numerical symbol.

Positioned at the checkstand is a clerk wearing a white cloak, almost indistinguishable against the piercing sheen of the lighting. What is noticeable, however, is the jack-o-lantern that the clerk wears on top of their head. The mask looks impossibly bulky and cumbersome. Upon entering the store, the clerk takes notice of the group and flashes a “peace” sign with two, albino-esque, impossibly thin fingers. After it greets the group, the clerk simply stands stock still, staring forward, seemingly into an empty void.

Sam takes in the oddity of the store for a moment before Beasty and Birdie start forward, pulling her along. Beastie hops onto the edge of the cart and happily hangs on as Sam pushes it forward. The cart rides over the black fungus on the ground with SQUELCHING noises, but still presents a surprisingly smooth ride. Sam hasn’t said a word or seemingly reacted to her odd surroundings, taking it all in stride amidst the strangeness of her night.

Birdie leads the group down the center aisle and stops in front of a large display of candy. Chaperone and the children fan out around Sam, forming a wide spaced semi circle, as if to block any chance of escape. Birdie gestures to the candy. Sam SWALLOWS HARD and grabs the first bag she sees. It is a bag of M&M’s…she goes to place the candy in the cart when she is met with a harsh stinging sensation in her thigh. She CRIES OUT.

She looks down to see Birdie poking her with her scissors.

SAM
Wha-?

Birdie and the children all shake their heads “no” in a simultaneous motion. Tentatively, Sam places the M&M’s back on the counter. She picks up a bag of fun-size Snickers. Birdie jabs her again. SIGHING, Sam returns the bag and picks up a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups…another jab. Sam GROANS and angrily slams the bag back onto the counter.

SAM
Ok what?! Show me what you want so I can get the hell out of here!

Birdie nods enthusiastically and picks up a bag from the bottom shelf. Sam glances it over.

SAM
“Maggot Balls”?

The children all nod while Clyde hops up and down in joy. Sam rolls her eyes and tosses it into the cart. Beastie hops off the cart and helps Birdie load every bag of Maggot Balls into the cart. Suddenly, the children fan out down the aisle and begin picking up bags and boxes of candy. As they race back to the cart and deposit their sweets, Sam glances down to read the labels.

“Gangreno Bars, (now with Dipping Pus!)”

“Chewy-Chew Cadavo-Pops (filled with real embalming fluid!)”

“Sour Stitches (Just pop off and eat, for a gooey, oozing treat!)”

“Cranial Chews” (Xtra large 1900 cc size)

“SoulTakers Hard Candy (What damned soul will YOU devour? Try all 8!)”

Sam continues to take it all in stride. She glances at Chaperone who simply stands there, silent and still as ever.

SAM
(continuing; to Chaperone)
You let them eat all this shit? You know it will rot their teeth right?

She GIGGLES nervously. She feels a tugging on her cat tail and looks down. Clyde hands her a small foil wrapped packager. She takes it from him and reads it.

“SICK (Sick Insane Crazy Killers) Trading Cards, Series One. Collect the whole set, from Bundy to Zodiac! Look inside for special 3D motion cards of your favorite SICK superstars in action. And don’t forget to look for the special limited edition rookie card of Dennis “BTK” Rader!”

SAM
Ugh, whatever.

She tosses the package into the overflowing cart with a roll of her eyes. Clyde actually jumps with excitement and embraces her leg in a hug. Sam grimaces with discomfort.

SAM
Ok, are we done now?

The children all nod eagerly. Sam turns around and proceeds across the fungus warped floor towards the check stand. As she emerges from the aisle, she glances to the left and spies a deli counter. A hulking shirtless man stares at her from behind the counter. He wears a black cloth hood with seemingly no eye or mouth holes of any kind. He turns to walk away and Sam notices his back covered in strange geometrical and spiral shaped scars. The strange man proceeds through a pair of double doors. As the doors swing open, Sam briefly hears the sound of blood curdling SCREAMS burst forth, followed by a strange GRINDING sound. Sam shudders and proceeds to the checkstand.

The pumpkin headed clerk snaps out of its trance and acknowledges her with a nod of its head. Sam notices, to no surprise whatsoever, that the mask is an actual, genuine Jack-o-Lantern. Upon closer inspection, strange iridescent shapes swirl and spin within the darkness of the Jack-o-Lantern’s head. Sam stares at the cold abyss of the pumpkin’s hollow skull and teeters for a moment. She quickly looks away from the quick and regains her composure.

The clerk stares back at her silently and then shrugs nonchalantly. It begins to ring up the assortment of grotesque candies (and Clyde’s trading cards).

SAM
So, what do I uh…what do I owe you?

Silently, Chaperone bends down and picks up Birdie, placing her on the conveyor belt of the checkstand. Birdie quickly moves over to Sam, whips out her scissors and, in one swift motion, chops a lock of hair off of Sam. Sam jumps back startled.

SAM
Hey, what are you doing?!

Birdie hands the lock of hair to the pumpkin clerk. The clerk pops open his drawer. Sam recoils from the unexpected haircut and leans forward to glance in. In place of money, the drawer is stuffed with bloody teeth, nails, various bits of viscera, an eyeball or two and a few strands of hair. The clerk adds Sam’s lock to the collection and closes it up.

The clerk motions with a wave of its hand that they are free to go. Sam doesn’t speak or react, simply begins to walk out. Before they can leave, the clerk holds up its finger to “wait a minute”. It beckons the four children and they scamper over. The clerk reaches into its piercing white robes and pulls out four, identical and perfectly ordinary red lollipops. It hands the treats to each of the children and pats them on their heads. It waves a friendly farewell to Sam. Sam tentatively raises her hand in acknowledgement. As she turns to leave, she glances back to the deli counter. The large, scarred man is back, now covered in blood but still hooded. He sees her staring and blows her a silent kiss. Sam shudders and proceeds outside in a more rapid manner.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S CAR – NIGHT

The children all clamber into the seats, with Clyde sitting on Chaperone’s lap again. He/she rests their glass impaled feet on the dashboard and leans back against Chaperone.

He/she quickly rolls back over and into the back seat, wrestling the bags of candy away from Boney. A small scuffle breaks out with the kids slapping and batting each other to claim ownership of the treats.

SAM
Hey…HEY!

Sam tries to get their attention but they continue to fight. She turns to Chaperone.

SAM
What exactly is your purpose here? Aren’t you going to break them up?

Chaperone, of course, does not respond. Simply stares straight forward as usual. Sam SIGHS in frustration. She quickly starts up the car and drives forward. Right before she exits the lot, she accelerates and then abruptly breaks, bolting the children forward. Clyde, the only one not wearing their seat belt, is blasted forward where he/she knocks against the front windshield. Clyde quickly scrambles back down and sits on Chaperone’s lap. The rest of the children suddenly freeze up.

SAM
I’m sorry it had to come to that but..

She trails off as she casually glances in the rear view mirror. The children remain stock still, except for Birdie who is trembling silently. Beastie reaches his paw up and wipes away a non existent tear while Boney covers up his exposed eyes with his hands.
SAM
You guys really didn’t like that, did you?

They all shake their heads “no” simultaneously.

SAM
That happened before to you guys, didn’t it? Probably a few years ago I bet?

They all nod.

SAM
Interesting. Ok, I won’t do it again, but you guys have to promise to behave ok?

They all nod eagerly.

SAM
Well…ok, then!

She pulls out of the parking lot and starts to drive away. As she glances in her rear view mirror, she notices, with no surprise at all, that a perfectly empty lot stands where the grocery store once was.

As she drives along, Clyde leans forward and reaches out. She instinctively recoils, but the cloth draped hand instead gingerly brushes her cheek.

She frowns in confusion, before she notices that Clyde is rubbing and inspecting her birthmark.

SAM
(continuing; smirking)
You can have it if you want. I hate the damn thing.

Clyde glances at her for a second and then begins to wrap his/her hands around Sam’s cheek.

SAM
Whoa wait, I take it back. I’d prefer to uh, keep it.

Clyde pulls his/her hand back and sits back on Chaperone, pouting.
SAM
Um, here. You can have these instead.

Sam takes off her cat ears band and hands them to Clyde. Clyde inspects it for a moment. He/she bends the band at the ends, slips it over his/her head and then roughly shoves the ends of the bands through the cloth, directly into where his/her ears should be. The result are comically extended cat ears, save for the blood pouring out of the side of Clyde’s head. Clyde CLAPS happily.

SAM
(continuing; nervously)
Looks great.

She looks back again, where the other kids are still snarfing their candy. She notices that Birdie only has one pair of scissors tied to her beak, the other hand is clasped in her lap.

SAM
You guys aren’t going to leave me alone after this are you? You’re going to kill me, right?

Beastie begins to shake his head, but Birdie reaches out and makes him stop. She gestures to Sam and then shrugs.

SAM
Yeah, that’s what I thought. This isn’t about me being disrespectful. This is about you guys wanting a playmate, you’re just toying with me like…nevermind. There’s no rhyme or reason for this is there? This is all just fun and games to you, huh?

The other children nod enthusiastically. Clyde simply cocks his/her head to the side.

SAM
Alright. Fuck it. If I’m going to die anyways..

With that, she jerks the steering wheel sharply to the right and accelerates wildly. The car screams forward and before the children can react, smashes headlong into a tree. Sam braces for the impact and is tossed bodily back against the seat by the exploding airbag. Metal SHRIEKS and glass SHATTERS as the car comes to a sudden and direct halt.

CUT TO:

Exterior shot, angling down at the car wreck. All is quiet for a moment. There is no reaction to the wreck. Not a single porch light goes on, no dogs bark, nobody comes out to investigate.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

Sam pushes back the air bag and staggers out of the car. She has a bloody nose and a couple of bruises but is otherwise ok. She rubs her leg as the stab wound from earlier seems to have reopened. She hobbles around the side of the car to inspect the damage. The three children in the backseat are motionless. The passenger’s side door is open and Chaperone lies sprawled across the seat, his upper torso lying out the door and on the sidewalk. A large hole is splintered in the windshield. Sam glances down at the hood and sees Clyde’s battered and twisted body, spine bent an unfathomable angle, lying across the hood of the car. A gash has been torn in the cloth and Sam can only glimpse something black and wet looking beneath the shroud.

Sam SNIFFLES and takes a step back. Suddenly, Clyde’s body twists violently and begins to shudder and spasm on the hood. With a violent SNAPPING sound, his/her backbone slides back into place. Clyde sits up on the hood of the car and casually dusts off broken glass. Sam begins to back away when Clyde notices her. He/she holds out their enshrouded hands in a motion of pity. A WHIMPERING draws her attention and she realizes, with a start, that this is the first real sound she’s heard any of the children make. Against her better judgement, Sam takes a step forward.

Clyde reaches out slowly and again caresses her birthmark. In spite of herself, Sam begins to cry. As she does, a thick, black liquid spills from one of Clyde’s eye holes. Sam notices for the first time that the eyes below the sheet are a luminous emerald tone.

SAM
For a sadistic demon child, you have pretty eyes. You’re the sweet one of the bunch aren’t you? Maybe it’s all this shit affecting my head but I like you the best. Are you going to kill me too?

She GIGGLES almost maniacally. Clyde reaches out again. Sam tentatively grasps the child and lifts him/her off of the hood, setting Clyde on the ground.

Clyde leans forward and hugs her leg in gratitude. She wipes the blood from her nose and, in a justifiably cautious manner, pats Clyde on the head.

SAM
This can’t keep going. All I wanted to do was have some fun tonight, I didn’t ask for any of this.

Clyde hangs his/her head in shame.

SAM
It’s ok..I forgive YOU at least.

She pats Clyde on the head again when the children in the crushed back seat begin to stir. Clyde glances back with wide eyes and then thrusts his/her hands forward quickly, ushering Sam along. Before she leaves, Sam kisses her hand and presses it to Clyde’s sheet, leaving a small smudge.

SAM
Thank you, Casper. And uh, thanks for not taking the whole “I just tried to kill you in a car wreck” thing personally.

Clyde slaps his/her hand on his/her forehead in exasperation at the pet name. Sam smirks and takes off running down the street, as fast as her injured leg can carry her.

As she departs, the other children pulls themselves out of the wreck, broken bodies expanding and resetting in a symphony of grotesque POPS and SNAPS. Chaperone picks himself up off the ground.

The children look around wildly for Sam. They gesture frantically, wordlessly. Birdie pauses in her gesturing and advances on Clyde. She angrily grabs him/her by the sheet and pulls Clyde forward. Birdie gestures to the lipstick smudge on Clyde’s sheet. Clyde shrugs but Birdie doesn’t buy it. She pulls her scissors off of her beak and jams it into one of Clyde’s eyes. Beastie smacks Clyde upside the head.

Clyde cowers and Boney gestures to the others. He motions to a trail of blood spots, spilled from Sam’s injured leg. Birdie flashes a thumbs up to Boney and the children follow the trail, dragging along a reluctant Clyde. Before they leave the scene of the wreck, Beastie grabs the bags of smashed candy from the wreck and continues to chow down on the mulch inside.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

Sam staggers as quick as she can down the dark and silent street. She doesn’t glance back as she hobbles up to the closest house. She quickly POUNDS on the door and SCREAMS wordlessly, hoping for some sign of life from within the dwelling. After a brief moment, Sam GROANS in frustration and turns away from the house. She hobbles across the yard and begins to POUND on the door of the next door house. Again, nobody answers. SOBBING frantically, Sam reaches down and picks up a large stone from the walkway. She heaves back and prepares to chuck the stone at the door, but then second guesses herself.

She SNIFFLES and wipes her nose, smearing some of the mascara running down her cheek.

She SIGHS and takes off down the street, but not before giving a nervous glance behind her.

CUT TO:

EXT. SAM’S HOUSE, ENTRYWAY – NIGHT

Sam fumbles with her keyring before finally opening her own front door. She glances left and right before she steps inside. Her first step in the house is met with a loud CRACK.

She glances downward and lifts her foot to reveal a smashed red lollipop on the ground. Before she can comprehend this, a blinding pain reverberates across her shin. Sam CRIES out and topples to the ground.

She quickly rolls over and looks upward, terrified, in time to see Beastie hovering over her, grinning wickedly. He lifts his hairy little paw into the air, dripping blood. He raises the paw higher into the air and opens his charred mouth, catching the droplets of blood as they rain down.

Before Sam can react, Birdie appears from nowhere and rams her knees into Sam’s chest, pinning her to the floor. Chaperone looms in the doorway and Boney appears behind him, dragging a reluctant Clyde. Sam tentatively reaches out towards Clyde, but withdraws her hand when Birdie unstraps a pair of scissors from her beak. Birdie slowly lifts her mask slightly upwards, keeping her face mainly covered, but allowing her mouth to be seen. She smiles and Sam recoils in horror.

Birdie’s lips are cracked and bleeding. When she smiles, we see that she is missing several teeth and her mouth is perpetually bleeding.

BIRDIE
Meow!

SAM
Wha-what..?

Birdie lowers her mask back down and caresses Sam’s face with the scissors. She sets the scissors gently aside and with one swift motion, peels a strip of flesh from Sam’s cheek. Sam SHRIEKS in pain. Birdie lifts the strip up and we can see that it is black and red…blood and a painted on whisker, torn from her cheek with ample precision. Birdie slides the strip of flesh under her mask and slurps it like a noodle. She lowers her hand to repeat the torture.

Sam slowly maneuvers an object out of her pocket. With a GRUNT of effort, Sam swings upwards. She is holding the large stone she had taken from her neighbor’s walkway. The rock collides with Birdie’s face with a loud CRACK. Birdie stumbles backward and topples over. Sam dashes off. Beastie helps Birdie to her feet. Birdie’s mask is cracked, the beak hanging at an awkward angle. A chunky black and red viscous substance pours from the crack, as if the mask is an extension of Birdie’s flesh.

Birdie SNARLS and hurls her second pair of scissors with all the precision of a ninja shuriken. The blades sail swift and true down the hall, narrowly missing Sam as she ducks around the corner. The blades THUNK into the wall and stay suspended. Birdie CRACKS her beak back into position and gingerly rubs it. She motions for the others to follow as they continue to drag Clyde along with them.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, HALLWAY – NIGHT

Sam dashes down the hall as fast as she can, closing each door as she passes it.

CUT TO:
INT. SAM’S HOUSE, BATHROOM – NIGHT

Sam closes the door behind her, keeping the lights turned off. She glances around quickly. She quietly opens the medicine chest and glances inside briefly. Seeing nothing to serve as a weapon, she leaves it open, not wanting to risk anymore noise. She maneuvers into the bathtub and glances upward at the tiny window. She SIGHS. She glances upward and quickly and quietly disconnects the first half of the rings holding the shower curtain to its rod. She cowers in the back corner of the bath tub, seemingly out of options.

A moment passes and she listens intently, SNIFFLING quietly.

She can hear the other doors opening as the children search for her in each room. She clutches her stone at the ready and stares at the closed bathroom door.

The mind wracking quiet is suddenly cut short by a strange SQUELCHING noise. Sam nervously peeks from around the curtain and spies a strange, small trail of blood leading from under the bathroom door and up to the bathtub. She glances downward and pulls back with a frightened SQUEAK.

A single raw eyeball is rolling up the side of the tub, sticking easily to the smooth side and leaving a trail of blood behind it. The stringy optic nerve flops behind the phantom organ as it continues its ascent. It reaches the top of the tub and rolls in. It spins around and stares directly at Sam.

The two lock “eyes” for a moment before the eye spins away. Suddenly, the nerve endings stiffen into a makeshift pointer. It points directly at Sam and begins to spin wildly. With a loud CRY, Sam heaves back and smashes the eye to a pulp with the stone.

Suddenly, the bathroom door SMASHES off its hinges with a thunderous CRASH. The children pile in, Boney clutching his empty eye socket and rubbing it in an annoyed fashion. They make a direct beeline for the tub, but Sam gets the drop on them, she stands up swiftly and yanks the rest of the shower curtain. The remaining rings easily snap off and Sam hurls it on the encroaching imps, ensnaring them in her makeshift net. They struggle wildly under it as Sam leaps over the writhing pile..only to find her path blocked by Chaperone. She hesitates and stares at the inky void beneath his hood. She clobbers him with the stone, but the spectre doesn’t even budge. He doesn’t recoil nor does he retaliate. He simply stares. Sam tentatively moves forward and simply inches past Chaperone, who makes no move to stop her. Behind her, in the bathroom, Beastie’s paws and Birdie’s scissors have made short work of the curtain trap. Sam races back towards the living room, blood dripping from her face and from her ragged shin.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM’S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Sam races back towards the entryway but is cut short. From behind her, Boney removes his head and hurls it into the room like a bowling ball. His skull connects with her shins. The long, sinewy vertebrae that trails from Boney’s skull encircles Sam’s legs like a snake, effectively tying them together. She collapses with a SHRIEK.

Boney emerges into the living room, black and red goop spurting from his headless torso. He wiggles his fingers at her in a mockingly greeting fashion. Sam struggles to stand under the weight of the ensnaring spinal column but to no avail. The three children advance on her. Sam stops struggling and drops her head back onto the floor with a defeated SIGH. She closes her eyes and BREATHES softly, quietly.

A moment passes but no attack occurs.

Sam lifts her head curiously and spies Clyde, standing before her, brandishing a large shard of glass, freshly plucked from his/her feet. Boney’s skull lies shattered on the carpet next to her. She stands up tentatively and watches the stand off briefly. The other three children stare back silently at Clyde. Without a sound, they converge on their brethren.

Beastie slashes, Birdie cuts and Boney hammers using his femur as Chaperone watches, silent as ever. Blood sprays up in splashes as Clyde is decimated by his/her companions.

SAM
(softly)
Thank you again, Casper.

She quickly, yet gingerly, staggers out through the broken window and into the yard.

CUT TO:

EXT. YARD – NIGHT

Sam staggers into the yard as the sounds of carnage continue to emanate from within the house.

SAM
(to herself)
This is going to end NOW.
She grabs one of the many random Jack-o-lanterns from the yard and hurls it through the window. She picks up another one and raises it defiantly.

SAM
COME ON, YOU FUCKING BRATS!

As soon as her battle cry escapes her lips, the Jack-o-Lantern in her hand shudders. It begins to glow and Sam drops the decoration, her hand smoldering from the sudden heat emanating within it. The second it touches the ground, the pumpkin dashes forward, opens its jagged smiling mouth and clamps its jaws around Sam’s ankle.

Sam only manages to utter a soft SQUEAL of shock. She stumbles backwards, but the pumpkin keeps a sure hold on her ankle. With a wet RIP, her entire foot tears away from her body. Sam SIGHS with shock and stumbles backwards. But she doesn’t fall. She instead becomes propped upright, her arms entangled in the lengths of entrails that still hang in T.P. Fashion from the tree. Sam can only breathe in quick, exhausted, SHOCKED breaths as blood pumps from her freshly footless ankle.

The pumpkin GROWLS softly as it continues to chew on its prize. The beastly decoration is picked up and then brutally SMASHED to bits on the ground. Birdie bends down, picks up the severed foot sniffs it. She hands it to the other children who eagerly sniff the appendage before giggling silently.

Sam SCOFFS in spite of herself, as blood oozes from her various, brutal wounds.

The three children approach her and yank on the entrails. Some of them fall off the tree, causing Sam to topple to her knees. She GASPS in pain as her stump falls out from underneath her. She looks to each of the children, one after another.

SAM
I’m sorry I was…the way I was..I know I’m not perfect..I may not be a nice person but..I have my reasons and..I didn’t deserve this…I didn’t..

The children glance at one another and shrug. Beastie holds up a finger as if he has an idea. The three dash off and then immediately return, dragging a broken, battered, but still intact, Clyde. They toss the cloth enshrouded child onto the ground in front of her. Beastie walks up to Sam runs his claw across her bloody cheek. He turns to the fallen Clyde and touches his claw to the white sheet that covers Clyde. He steps away and Sam sees that he has childishly scrawled in Sam’s own blood on the sheet.

THE CANDY WAS ICKY.

Sam hangs her bleeding head and CHUCKLES softly. Clyde suddenly stirs on the ground and stands up. The other children back away. Through the torn sheets, Sam can see Clyde’s shining green eyes. Clyde limps up to Sam and gingerly runs his/her sheet covered hands across her face, across her gray streaked hair, across her birthmark.

CLYDE
Like you. Tried. Not strong. Be my friend. Make you happy as can.

Sam begins to openly cry at the sound of a sweet little girl’s voice emerging from under Clyde’s blood soaked sheets.

CLYDE
Have fun with us. With me.

Clyde glances to the other children and stares intently at them.

CLYDE
(continuing; to the children)
SAVE HER.

They throw their hands up in exasperation and back away. Clyde steps back, but beckons to the darkness behind them. Chaperone emerges from the shadows.

Chaperone advances upon Sam. He reaches out and gently lifts Sam’s face by her chin. Sam SNARLS in defiance

SAM
(angrily)
Thrill me!

Chaperone keeps a strong grip on her chin and with his other hand, he lowers his hood.

We can only see Chaperone from the back, a bald, skinless, ageless head. The smooth, stonelike surface of his head gleams with a multitude of ever shifting colors and hues, rotating and converging like a corrupted kaleidoscope.
Sam stares directly at the unseen visage of Chaperone. Her breath begins to emerge in RAGGED WHISPERS. Her eyes begin to cloud over. Thin black tendrils begin to extend from her eyes and softly embed themselves into her face.

A loud BUZZING, CRACKLING, sound begins…softly, but eventually overwhelmingly intrusive. ZOOM IN on the back of Chaperone’s head. The shifting colors overwhelm the screen, our point of view. The sounds INTENSIFY. The colors begin to rotate and swirl faster and faster until only it all converges into

BLACK

SILENT

FADE IN:

A soft purple glow emerges from the darkness.

As it glows brighter, we can see that it is in fact, a black light bulb set in a street light.

PAN DOWN from the street light to show a walkway set before a front yard, littered with dead leaves. A small breeze shuffles the leaves. Cheesy, cardboard tombstones and rubber body parts litter the yard. Six dark forms suddenly emerge and walk towards the house.

CUT TO:

EXT. YARD – NIGHT

The six forms approach the camera view in single file.

The first is a little girl. She is dressed in a dark gown. Her mask resembles a porcelain masquerade style mask with a long beak extending from the front. Tied to other side of this beak with cords of black ribbon, are two pairs of scissors.

The next is a little boy, wearing a furry little monster mask with an open face. His face appears cris-crossed with a pattern of scars, the skin of his “mask” a dark and crispy textured black. His eyes are milky, like cataracts. His grin reveals rows of little sharpened fangs.

The other little boy wears a standard skeleton costume except that the bones attached the black leotard, extend outwards and have a realistic “depth” to them. The skull of his costume seems glued and patched together, covered in a multitude of fine cracks.
Behind them, walks a young adult or teenager clad in standard street clothes, jeans and a dark hoodie.

Behind him comes two more children, holding hands. One is a little girl clad in a standard white bedsheet with a pair of eye holes cut out. However, this bedsheet is stained with red and blue streaks and a lumpy brownish-red material. She also walks with a bizarre hopping gait.

Holding her hand is another little girl. This one is wearing a simple black dress, with cute little faux cat ears sitting upon her hair. Her hair hangs in loose strings, jet black save for an odd streak of gray. The child walks with a lope and leans on her bedsheet bedecked friend for support.

The children walk up and ring the doorbell.

CUT TO:

EXT. PORCH #3 – NIGHT

A chipper, GOOF of a man with red hair, sporting a goofy bowtie answers the door.

GOOF
Howdy, kids! You guys are out kind of late, aren’tcha?

The children eerily remain silent. They all stare directly at the man without moving.

GOOF
You guys don’t say much do ya? Won’t your parents get- whoops, sorry, didn’t see ya back there!

He waves to the obvious chaperone for the children, who hovers at the end of the walk. He gets no response. The goofy man frowns but waves it off.

GOOF
Didja guys see my cool tombstones?

He gestures to the yard.

GOOF
See that one? “Here lies Holly Ween”..and that one, “RIP Tom B. Stone”….get it? That’s funny, right guys?

The kids simply stare at him. They then, in one unison move, thrust out their trick-or-treat bags.

GOOF
Ohh, I know what you guys want! How silly of me, hold on and I’ll get you a treat!

He ducks away and returns. He holds out several large, heavy objects and drops them with a THUNK into each bag. The children each reach in and pull out an apple.

They glance at one another and then hold their bags back out to him.

GOOF
Now, now, kids, only one apple per customer! They’re a lot healthier than any icky candy, don’tcha know!

The children whisper amongst themselves silently and then thrust the little girl with the cat ears forward. The goofy man bends down on one knee so he can get a better look at her costume.

GOOF
You’re a cute little kitty, aren’t you? I bet that’s your nickname huh? “KITTY”?

Kitty looks to her friends seemingly for approval. They all nod eagerly. Kitty steps forward out closer into the light. The goofy man withdrawals at the sight of her face. It is wrinkled and puckered, seemingly the face of an old woman. Her eyes are clouded over and a scar runs across the length of one of her cheeks. Above the scar is an old shaped patch, possibly a birthmark. Its jagged line and three small dots curiously resemble the smile of a Jack-o-Lantern.

GOOF
Wow, that’s-

His voice is cut off with a startled CRY as Kitty swiftly headbutts the man, knocking him solidly off his feet. Beastie and Boney grab the man by the ankles and drag him down the porch steps. Kitty takes her apple and shoves it into his mouth. Beastie and Boney prop the man’s head against the edge of the step, the apple poised on the edge. Birdie nods in approval. Kitty reaches into her bag and withdraws a large stone. She steps back and smashes it forward, effectively curb stomping the goofy man’s head. His face smashes forward, smashing the apple against the step, concaving his neck with a brutal CRACK. Broken teeth fly like chiclets. Boney scrambles around to pick them up. He adds them to his repetoire, as he now sports a bright, beautiful, bloody smile. He CHATTERS his teeth wildly, sending his friends into a silent fit of laughter. The other kids take out their apples and hurl them at the goofy man’s corpse.

They turn to walk away back down the walkway.

Each child passes the camera’s view on their way out, including the Chaperone.

Clyde excitedly clasps Kitty’s hand and pats her happily on the back. They skip happily after the rest of their friends, eager to cause more mischief.

ZOOM IN on a Jack-O-Lantern at the edge of the walkway. It sports, a silly, non threatening smile.

SLOW PUSH IN on the silly pumpkin.

Suddenly, a heavy object drops from above smashing the pumpkin with a wet SPLAT

SLAM CUT to

BLACK

UNKNOWN CHILD
Hee hee heeeeee!

THE END.