Among You (34 page)

GINGER

You’re really that interested in it?

SCOTT

Yeah. It’s what I want to do when I grow up – make scary movies and haunted house and write scary stories.

GINGER

Oh fun! I’d be glad to show you around the house if you like. Most of the haunts have left but there are other things you might enjoy seeing.

SCOTT

Will you show me?

GINGER

It would be my pleasure.

SCOTT

You sure are different than other girls. I don’t know what it is but something is different about you.

GINGER TRIES TO HIDE HER FEAR OF WHERE THE CONVERSATION IS GOING AND CHANGES THE SUBJECT.

GINGER

What was your favorite part of the house?

SCOTT

Oh gosh, I don’t know. It was all so perfect. The servant was really creepy. His first speech was the best.

GINGER

I wrote that!

SCOTT

You’re kidding? Wow…you have a knack for knowing what’s spooky.

GINGER

You think?

SCOTT

I know. How did you come up with that story? The whole Gaultier family and everything?

AGAIN GINGER BECOMES A LITTLE LEERY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER.

GINGER

Where do you go to school?

SCOTT

Eastwood Middle.

GINGER

You have a lot of friends?

SCOTT

Not really. Just Sally.

GINGER

She your girlfriend?

SCOTT

Sally? Ew…no! She’s just my best friend. Gross.

GINGER

I didn’t mean to…

SCOTT

That’s okay. Where do you go to school?

GINGER

Monstervi -

GINGER QUICKLY REALIZES HER SLIP

I mean…uh…Castleview Middle.

SCOTT

Neat. Do you go to school in a castle?

THEY SHARE A LAUGH.

GINGER

I like you Scott. You’re different and I like that.

SCOTT

Yeah…I like you too Ginger.

THERE IS A SHORT SILENCE AS THEY LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.

So how did you pull off some of the effects in the house? Some of the make up was so realistic. And the ghosts and sounds. I want to know how you did it all.

GINGER

Um…well…it all comes pretty naturally for us. We’ve been doing this sort of thing for a long, long time. I guess you could say it runs in the family.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE’S A THUNDEROUS BELLOWING SOUND. AT FIRST IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE A ROARING AND STOMPING. EVENTUALLY IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT SOMEONE IS YELLING GINGER’S NAME. IT IS GAULTIER FROM OFF STAGE.

GINGER

Oh no.

SCOTT

What is it? What is that?

GINGER

That’s my dad. He’ll be so angry if he sees I have an uninvited guest. Oh my dear. You have to go before he sees you.

SCOTT

Why? What…

GINGER

Just sneak out the way you came. Please.

SCOTT

Okay. I don’t understand…

MORE BELLOWING ONLY LOUDER

And I guess I don’t need to.

GINGER

Will you come back and visit again? Please?

SCOTT

Of course I will. Soon. I promise.

GINGER

Thank you Scott. Goodbye.

SCOTT

Bye.

AND HE’S GONE. AS SOON AS HE LEAVES GAULTIER ENTERS IN FULL MONSTER MODE.

GAULTIER

SEEING GINGER IN HER HUMAN MASK.

Ginger, why are you wearing that inside this house? You know that is not allowed.

GINGER QUICKLY REALIZES SHE IS STILL WEARING HER MASK AND DUCKS TO TRY TO HIDE FROM HER FATHER. WHEN SHE APPEARS SHE IS IN FULL MONSTER MODE.

GINGER

Sorry father. I was just playing.

GAULTIER

There are better things to play at my dear.

GINGER

Yes father. May I be excused?

GAULTIER NODS AND GINGER QUICKLY EXITS THE ROOM. GAULTIER IS LEFT ALONE. HE SENSES SOMETHING HAS BEEN AFOOT IN THE ROOM. HE STARTS LOOKING AROUND AND SNIFFING.

GAULTIER

Something isn’t right in here. I can smell it. It’s floating in the air like mist on the Moors. Oh how I do miss the Moors. It smells…it smells…familiar.

GAULTIER EXITS SILL SNIFFING THE AIR. THE SOUND OF WIND BLOWS ACROSS THE STAGE HOPEFULLY BILLOWING CURTAINS AS THE LIGHT FLASHES, FADES, AND COMES UP ON THE PLAYGROUND WHERE SCOTT IS SITTING DOWN, READING HIS BOOK AGAIN.

SCENE 9: THE BOOK AND THE THREAT

SCOTT IS SITTING ALONE READING HIS BOOK AGAIN. AFTER A MOMENT SALLY ENTERS AND SITS BESIDE HIM.

SALLY

Are you still reading that book?

SCOTT

Oh my gosh Sally! I went back to the Gaultier house last night. I met a girl that lives there.

SALLY

Oh really?

SCOTT

Yeah. She’s going to show me how they did all the effects and stuff. It was so cool.

SALLY

Did your mom and dad take you?

SCOTT

No.

SALLY

Well how did you get there?

SCOTT

I sort of snuck out.

SALLY

You what?

SCOTT

You heard me.

SALLY

Scott, what’s wrong with you? You can’t do things like that. What if you get hurt? Or worse?

SCOTT

I’m not going to get hurt.

SALLY

You don’t know that.

SCOTT

I promise I’ll be careful.

SALLY

You mean you’re going back?

SCOTT

I have to Sally. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I have to know how they did it.

SALLY

Did what?

SCOTT

The haunted house.

SALLY

You’re impossible!

JUST THEN THE BULLIES ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.

BULLY 1

Look who it is! It’s ol’ Spooky.