Fun Halloween Short Challenge

[dpaterso]

Do my eyes deceive me?!

We're 2 days away from Halloween, and there's no sign of a fun Halloween Contest??

How about it folks? Anyone up for it?

Maximum 5 pages, Halloween theme, by midnight your time on the 31st.

If there's enough interest, how about we do this anonymously? Email me your entry, I'll collect them all together into one file and post 'em on my website with just the titles, not the author names. Followed by a 3-day read-and-vote period.

Reply if you're interested, and state your preference for the anonymous thing or if you'd just prefer to post your entry in this thread.

-Derek DPaterson57@aol.com
My Web Page - sci-fi, fantasy, horror, cyborgs, AIs, dragons, vampyres. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Mrs. Harker, I doubt if you measure danger the way I do.

[dpaterso]

Or, or I'm thinking, you know, m-maybe not. And that's okay too.

-Derek
My Web Page - sci-fi, fantasy, horror, cyborgs, AIs, dragons, vampyres. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
There - that's a hundred thousand dollar concept. You owe me ten grand. ~Filmwonk

[VickiLee]

I'm in, dpat - work best under the gun...

Not sure if I'll email it to you or post it here, depends on how good I think it is. Of course, if I have now made it known that I am the only entrant it may tip everyone's hand as to who wrote the only entry...do you think they'll make the connection?

V

[ihavebiglips]

I'm in, dpat - work best under the gun...

Not sure if I'll email it to you or post it here, depends on how good I think it is. Of course, if I have now made it known that I am the only entrant it may tip everyone's hand as to who wrote the only entry...do you think they'll make the connection?

V

Maybe I'll write one tonight at work. I'm sure I'll be bored enough.

[VickiLee]

By the way...what would I win for coming in second?

edited to say: damnit biglips - you beat my second post and ruined my little joke...;)

[ihavebiglips]

By the way...what would I win for coming in second?

edited to say: damnit biglips - you beat my second post and ruined my little joke...;)

Begging the question... what would I win for coming in second? ;)

[VickiLee]

FADE IN

INT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

OCTOBER 28

A classroom decorated to the hilt for Halloween. The room
full of 5th graders are all seated quietly, listening to the voice
coming over the school intercom.

VOICE
The winning class of this year’s HAUNTED CLASSROOM
will be exempt from detention and homework for one full week.

The classroom erupts into cheers and whistles, echoing
the distant sound of other classes down the hall celebrating.

INT SCHOOL OFFICE - DAY

The originator of the intercom voice turns off the mic and turns
to her assistant.

PRINCIPAL
By all that’s holy, Mary, we are going to win the school
spirit award this year and rub it in Montecino Elementary’s face.

EXT FRONT OF SCHOOL - DAY

Kids spill loudly out of the front doors and run their various
directions.

Two boys that were seated in the classroom moments
ago are slowly walking and talking to eachother.

CHILD ONE
My dad can build an awesome hangman’s tree and we can
get my mom to tie the hangman’s noose...she is a girl scout leader.

CHILD TWO
My mom can sew a Headless Horseman’s costume...

Their voices trail off as they walk down the street.

INT TRACT HOUSE - NIGHT

OCTOBER 29

A woman yelling and screaming, interspersed with bangs
and crashes, from down the hall. A low muffled voice,
pleading, is cut off with another torrent of obscenities.

Child Two is curled up in the corner of the living room with
his arms over his head. There is broken bric-a-brac and
the torn up remains of what is obviously a headless
horseman’s costume littering the floor. A framed photo
of Child Three with a smiling Mom and Dad stare out at him
through the shattered remains of a cheap frame.

EXT SUBURBAN HOUSE - NIGHT

Child One is in the well manicured yard trying desperately
to hammer a nail into a sadly designed hangman’s tree.

He gives up and walks to the sliding glass door separating
the backyard from the house. Pulls it open to see his father
on the computer at his desk. His mother is passed out on
the couch with an open bottle of booze in her lap.

CHILD ONE
Dad.

Nothing.

CHILD ONE (CONT’D)
Dad...

DAD
Just a Godd*mn minute.

Tears gather in Child One’s eyes but he swallows hard.

CHILD ONE
Dad, you told me that an hour ago...and an hour before
that and I really need help -

Exasperated, dad lifts his eyes and cuts him off.

DAD
Listen to me carefully, I do not have time for your
nonsense right now. This deadline is killing me. You
should not have promised my help. You are so selfish.
You have no idea how much you cost me. It’s because
of you that I have to work so hard.

CHILD ONE
But I can’t do...

DAD
How do you think I keep this nice house over your head?
Now leave me alone so I can finish this.

Child One slides the door slowly closed, his reflection
in the glass shows no emotion. Dried tears leaving a
trail on his cheeks.

INT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

OCTOBER 30

The room has been rearranged and the building blocks
of a haunted house are in place. The children continue
to paint scenery and cut out black paper bats. Child One
and Child Two are trying push a bale of hay into just the
right spot.

CHILD ONE
My dad said hanging a rope from the ceiling would be
cooler than having a big old wooden thing in here.

CHILD TWO
I guess.

CHILD ONE
Did your mom sew the headless horseman’s costume?

Child Two looks down.

CHILD TWO
Yea, sure...well my dad did. It looks great, I’ll bring it
tomorrow.

CHILD ONE
Good. You watch, we’ll have the best haunted house in
the school...I promise.

EXT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - NIGHT

The full moon spotlights the fall leaves as the breeze
carries them in a crazy dance across the schoolyard.

EXT TRACT HOUSE - NIGHT

Everything is still and quiet. All house lights are off.

EXT SUBURBAN HOUSE - NIGHT

Everything is quiet as a shadow passes over the moon.
The wind gusts and rattles the screen on the sliding glass
door until it pops off it’s track and hits the ground with a crash.

EXT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY

OCTOBER 31

Loud and happy children in a huge array of costumes
are waiting anxiously with their parents be let into the
school. A banner proclaiming JACKSON ELEMENTARY
HALLOWEEN HAUNTED CLASSROOM CARNIVAL is strung
up over the entrance.

EXT. BACK OF SCHOOL - DAY

Child One and Child Two quietly open the janitor’s door,
look around, and run across the deserted ball field toward
the road on the other side.

INT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

The shades are drawn but daylight still peeks through,
showing the completed transformation of classroom into
a suitably scary haunted house.

A shapeless hooded form, with bits of crumpled computer
paper sticking out of it’s clothes, is hanging precariously
from a creaking beam by it’s neck. A headless horseman
stands guard in the corner outfitted in a an old, ratty,
red stained bathrobe with the grotesque face of a carved
jack-o-lantern atop it’s neck.

The door is still closed but excited voices can be heard
coming closer. Childish shrieks of fright and the chuckling
of parents paint a very familiar Halloween atmosphere.

The door bursts open and children come pouring in with
their parents behind them.

INT SUBURBAN HOUSE - DAY

Child One and Child Two come out of the bathroom dressed
in their costumes. Child One is dressed in a brand new store
bought costume and Child Two is wearing an old one made
of his dad’s work coveralls - several sizes too large.

They turned to each other and Child One takes the tail of his
shirt and wipes a rusty colored mark off of Child Two’s face.

Child Two has tears in his eyes.

CHILD ONE
Didn’t I promise you we would have the best haunted
house in the school. No one can beat what we did.

They walk down the hall towards the door leaving the
bathroom door open to a scene of bloody towels and
counter tops.


FADE OUT





DISCLAIMER:
Be kind - this is the first draft with no notes and it's already been a long day. I would have cleaned it up more but I know I won't have any time tomorrow to do that and dpat is such a stickler for deadlines. :)

[pstudios]

:rolling: Well I thought I'd give it a shot.

PS: I was home alone trying to concentrate on the last image. The punk disc ended 1/2 hour before. The quiet was broken when my closet door flew open behind me and a cold chill came out. Sorry guys. I have to save this story 4 next year. And just when I thought I'd hit a rare dull moment!

Happy Halloween!:devil:

So here it is:


FADE IN:

EXT - HACKER FARM - HALLOWEEN NIGHT

A weathered, run-down farmhouse, surrounded by woods and a
residential road, is illuminated by the porch light's eerie
glow.

The sign on the mailbox reads "Hacker".

Tricker treaters are out and about. Two FAT BOYS dressed as
action heroes pass the drive.

BOY #1
Yuck! I'm not going there!

A beat up car with NY plates stalls in front of the driveway.

A MAN and WOMAN, late 20's, get out and look around. The man
raises the hood. A huge plume of smoke overtakes them.

They exchange looks and walk up the drive. The man knocks on
the door. A hick, JOHNNY HACKER, early 30's answers and
looks at the couple.

WOMAN
Our car stalled. Do you think we could
use your phone?

JOHNNY
Why sure ma'am!

Johnny extends his arm and gives a long handshake that about
shakes her arm off.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)
My name is Johnny Hacker! Nice to meet
you ma'am!

The man reluctantly extends his hand. Johnny gives him the
same kind of handshake and the man's hand comes off. It's a
prosthetic.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)
I'm sorry sir. This is awful. I'm very
sorry sir.

EXT - HACKER'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
The couple can't emerge fast enough out the door.

JOHNNY
Jake'll have it running like a kitten in
no time. Y'all have a good night.

The couple give Johnny hurried nods and rushes away.

A MOTHER appears with a LITTLE BOY AND GIRL dressed as
goblins. She pushes them toward Johnny. He puts candy in
their bags.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)
Why boy are you scary!

LITTLE BOY
And you're gross. The whole town knows
that.

The two kids stick out their tongues, make raspberries, burps
and other obnoxious sounds.

Their mother grabs them.

MOTHER
I'm suprised at you. Now apologize!

The kids ignore her.

MOTHER (CONT'D)
I'm sorry Mr. Hacker.
(To the kids)
I have a mind to wash your mouths out
with soap.

She hurries the children away.

Two attractive COLLEGE GIRLS and their KID BROTHERS approach
the door.

Johnny passes out candy to the boys.

JOHNNY
Why you girls are mighty pretty!

The girls exchange glances and giggle.

GIRL # 1
What a nerd!

They hurry their brothers away, as they all laugh at Johnny.

EXT - RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT

LOUISE SLASHER, 30, plain, but attractive walks her son
TIMMY, 8, up the street.

Other kids taunt and tease him.

EXT - HACKER'S FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
Louise and Timmy approach the door. Johnny answers. Timmy
smiles.

TIMMY
Tricker treat.

Johnny gives Timmy candy.

TIMMY (CONT'D)
Thanks sir.

JOHNNY
Sure. Y'all new around here?

LOUISE
Yes sir. We just moved here from
Mississippi.

JOHNNY
Welcome to Leesville ma'am I'm Johnny
Hacker!

They just about shake each other's hands off.

LOUISE
I'm Louise Slasher and this is Timmy.

JOHNNY
Why hi Timmy!

Johnny and Louise glance at each other.

JOHNNY (CONT'D)
May...maybe this is too forward. Would
you like to come in and have some hot
cider?

TIMMY
Yeah!

LOUISE
I don't see any harm.

INT - JOHNNY'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Johnny, Louise and Timmy share cider and laugh. Johnny pours
Louise another cup.

There is a loud CRASH outside.

They all jump. Johnny gets up grabs a shotgun. Runs to the
front door and peeps out.

TWO HOODED DEMONS run off into the woods. Johnny FIRES a
shot.

Johnny notices his ceramic jack-o'-lantern is smashed. He
closes the door, returns to the kitchen and leans the shotgun
in the corner.

LOUISE
What was it?

JOHNNY
Golly! I don't know. Reckon I scared 'em
with the boom boom alarm.

Timmy laughs.

Louise glances at Johnny. He grins.

LOUISE
Well it's late and we better get home.
Johnny sees Louise and Timmy to the door.

JOHNNY
I can walk you.

Louise turns and hesitates.

LOUISE
Thank you, but we'll be fine.

Louise hesitates again, takes Timmy's hand and they start
down the drive.

INT - JOHNNY'S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Johnny hears Louise scream.

He grabs the shotgun and runs out the door.

EXT - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT

TWO HOODED DEMONS knock the gun out of Johnny's hand. Louise
and Timmy watch in horror.

Johnny and the two demons fight. They throw punches at each
other. Johnny is a good fighter, but the demons start to get
the better of him.

Johnny falters backward and his foot lands on a garden hoe.
It flies into the air, hits one of the of the demons on the
head and knocks him out cold.

Louise and Timmy cheer.

Johnny spots the rake, picks it up and swings it at the other
demon. Johnny continues to swat the demon with his rake. The
demon to hobbles off beat.

TIMMY
Golly! You beat 'em without the boom boom
alarm.

Johnny smiles. Louise rushes over, hugs him and gives him a
kiss on the cheek. Timmy applauds.

EXT - HACKER FARM - DAY

The farmhouse has been restored and the yard is neatly
manicured.

The sign on the new mailbox reads "Johnny and Louise Hacker".

FADE OUT.

THE END

Saved this as text w/ line breaks, but it didn't foremat too well.

Jennifer

[dpaterso]

FADE IN:

EXT. 1800S MANSION HOUSE - NIGHT

Lightning splits the stormy sky as a carriage approaches.


EXT. MANSION HOUSE ENTRANCE - NIGHT

The carriage stops, a grim MANSERVANT steps forward, pulls
down the steps, opens the door.

LADY BARBARA WAKEFIELD, 17, a refined beauty, climbs out.

LADY BARBARA
See that the child is brought
inside.

She enters the house.


INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT

GRENVILLE WAKEFIELD, 40, silver hair at his temples, blocks
Barbara's path.

GRENVILLE
Did you bring it? Is the thing
here?

LADY BARBARA
Yes, Grenville. The... thing...
is here.

Grenville grins with delight as the Manservant carries a
sleeping peasant BOY, 7, into the house.

GRENVILLE
Splendid.


INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT

Barbara stands at the fireplace staring into the flames.

The Manservant carries the sleeping Boy in and places him
on a couch. Grenville shoos the Manservant out and closes
the door.

GRENVILLE
I see no reason why we cannot
proceed immediately.

Grenville lifts the lid off a varnished wooden box. Inside,
some kind of early scientific instrument, looped copper
tubes feed into an empty glass bottle.

LADY BARBARA
Listen to me Grenville. What you're
doing... what WE have been doing...
is wrong.

GRENVILLE
Too late now, duckling. Our souls
are already doomed to burn in Hell
for eternity. All we can hope for
is to amuse the Horned One enough
that we sit at his table.

LADY BARBARA
You're sick, Grenville. You need
help.

GRENVILLE
I'm doing this in the name of
science. What's your excuse?

LADY BARBARA
Don't dare speak to me like that.

Grenville picks up a metal syringe with a huge needle.

GRENVILLE
The question is, do you wish to
retain your beauty and youth, or
would you rather turn into a
wrinkled old hag with no teeth?
Take a moment, duckling. Think it
over. Let me know what you decide.

Barbara turns away and closes her eyes, tormented.

Grenville is just about to stick the needle into the boy's
head when a KNOCK at the door stops him.

GRENVILLE
Nothing must interrupt my work!
See to it.

Barbara opens the door, the Manservant mutters into her
ear.

GRENVILLE
What's that, what's he saying?

LADY BARBARA
We have visitors. People from the
village. I'll speak to them.
Grenville... it would be best if
you kept quiet. If the boy were
to wake up and panic--

GRENVILLE
Oh very well. But science cannot
wait forever. Neither can you.
Be swift, duckling.


EXT. MANSION HOUSE ENTRANCE - NIGHT

A crowd of ANGRY PEASANTS awaits Barbara at the door.

LADY BARBARA
We have already made a donation to
the poorhouse.

PEASANT MAN
Begging your pardon, your ladyship,
but we ain't here for hand-outs.

PEASANT WOMAN
Never mind begging no pardons, I
wants me Jinty back.

LADY BARBARA
What on earth is a "jinty?

PEASANT WOMAN
Jinty's me boy, and you took him.

Angry MURMERS from the crowd.

PEASANT MAN
Steady now! Mind your manners!
Ain't nothing proved. Not yet.

LADY BARBARA
Am I to believe you are here because
of some child?

PEASANT WOMAN
We got witnesses saw your carriage.
And now Jinty's gone a-missing.

LADY BARBARA
Good heavens. Did you check the
roadside ditches on your way here?

PEASANT MAN
Ditches?

LADY BARBARA
If the poor boy hitched a ride on
the back of my carriage, then
perhaps he fell off? You know
what children are like. An exciting
adventure, a jolly jape. But quite
dangerous. One slip and... The
very thought makes me shudder.

The Peasants look at each other in surprise.

PEASANT MAN
Mayhap we should go back and look
for the boy.

PEASANT WOMAN
We would have seen him!

LADY BARBARA
He could be lying in the mud,
perhaps with a broken leg, mewling
pitifully for his mother. Only
you didn't hear him. You passed
him by, intent upon coming to my
house to accuse me of, of, I don't
know what.

The Peasant Woman bursts into tears.

PEASANT WOMAN
I wants me Jinty back!

PEASANT MAN
We'll find him. Come on!

The Peasant Man tugs his forelock to Barbara in embarrassed
apology. The Peasants leave. Lady Barbara smiles, but
this quickly fades as her conscience torments her again.


INT. SITTING ROOM - NIGHT

Yellow liquid drips from the copper tubing into the glass
bottle. Grenville watches, delighted.

Barbara sits staring at the empty couch, the Boy is gone.

GRENVILLE
What these creatures don't
understand is that they exist to
serve the upper classes. They
really shouldn't complain just
because one of their pups goes
missing. Before you know it that
woman will give birth to another
litter. It's all they do. Breed,
breed, breed.

LADY BARBARA
You seek to distance yourself from
your crimes.

GRENVILLE
Never! I take full responsibility
for my actions. When I share my
discoveries with the world my fellow
scientists will laud me. After
all, I have at my fingertips the
secret of eternal youth. And you,
my sweet love, are living proof.
Here you are in full bloom, with
not a single wrinkle blemishing
your alabaster complexion. Thanks
to me. Come to think of it you
never say thank you Grenville,
thank you for sparing me the agonies
of growing old so that the simple
people hereabouts think I'm your
daughter and not your older sister.

LADY BARBARA
You have not discovered anything,
save how to take essence from one
body and gift it to another. And
I, I am... I am your experiment.

She gets up and exits, slamming the door.


INT. ENTRANCE HALL - NIGHT

Barbara meets the Manservant, who's wet and muddy as if
he's just come in. She gives him a quizzical look. He
nods. She sighs, and goes upstairs.


INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT

Barbara sits at her dressing table brushing her long hair.
A KNOCK, Grenville enters. He places the glass bottle,
filled with yellow liquid, on the dressing table. He exits
without speaking. Barbara stares at the bottle.

She looks in the mirror again, and starts in surprise.
Behind her stand dozens of pale-faced, dark-eyed PEASANT
CHILDREN. But when she turns round there's no one there.

She buries her face in her hands and sobs.


EXT. 1800S MANSION HOUSE - DAY

The storm has passed, it's a beautiful morning.


INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE BEDROOM - DAY

Grenville raps gently on the door. No answer. How odd.


INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Grenville enters. He stares in horror when he sees--

Barbara, still sitting at her dressing table. Her head is
bowed. Her long hair is now pure white. Her clothing
hangs loose on her as if her body has shrunk.

Grenville snatches up the glass bottle. The yellow liquid
is untouched.

GRENVILLE
What have you done, duckling?

She slowly raises her head, stares at her wrinkled old
woman face in the mirror.

LADY BARBARA
I have done... what one of us...
had to do.

Grenville goes down on one knee and takes her hand.

GRENVILLE
And what of me, duckling? What
shall I do without you?

Barbara touches the gray hair at his temple.

LADY BARBARA
Perhaps... you are old enough now?

Grenville jumps up, taken by this thought.

GRENVILLE
Yes. Perhaps I am. It's my turn!

He drains the glass bottle. He pants with excitement.

GRENVILLE
I feel it working. I feel it!

The gray at his temples vanishes. He becomes visibly
younger. He examines his face in the mirror, thinks it's
wonderful. He smiles at Barbara. When he looks in the
mirror again he's even younger, 20s, late teens...

GRENVILLE
Duckling...

In moments he's a wild-haired boy in his early teens, his
shirt is like a tent.

GRENVILLE
Won't you tell it to stop, duckling?

LADY BARBARA
I don't think I can.

Grenville becomes a boy of 10. Younger, he's 7 now.
Younger still, a wide-eyed 5-year-old. He's 3. He's 2.
He's a toddler, lost in a sea of adult clothes. He falls
down. His baby eyes stare up at Barbara in horror.

She closes her eyes and looks away. A BABY CRIES once.
Barbara bows her head. Her hairbrush falls from her hand,
lands beside the empty pile of clothes.

THE END

[ihavebiglips]

Good to see you writing again, D.

You win. :D

[dpaterso]

Arf arf! I haven't read the other entries yet, but methinks scribbling a short has helped put me in the mood for the NaScrWriMo (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43132) that BottomlessCup suggested should run this month in parallel with NaNoWriMo.

Well done to everyone who participated, for a moment there I feared we'd all become too adult to enjoy a little fun writing now and again. :)

-Derek
My Web Page - sci-fi, fantasy, horror, cyborgs, AIs, dragons, vampyres. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57)
Eww! Why is it that every conversation you people have has the word 'corpse' in it?

[Harbinger]

Dammit. That's what you get for not reading Writing Exercises thread in a while. I'd have been well up for this contest. Ah well.

Some good stuff ere.

Surely it's a christmas contest next!?