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The Halloween Tree (1993)
[instrumental music]
(male narrator) It was a small town by a small river and a small lake. In a small northern part of a Midwest state. There wasn't so much wilderness around that you couldn't see the town. On the other hand, there wasn't so much town around that you couldn't see and feel and touch the wilderness. And the town was full of fences to walk on and sidewalks to skate on. And the muted cries and laughter of boys and girls. Full of costumes, dreams and pumpkin spirits preparing for the greatest night of the year. Better than Easter, better than Christmas. Halloween. [dog barking] [tin clacking] (female #1) 'Jenny,you're gonna raise the dead' 'with all that racket down there.' (Jenny) 'Just lookingfor another broom, mom.' (mom) 'You can alwaysuse the new vacuum cleaner.' Ha ha, very funny. Pip is really gonna love this. [pleasant music] (male #1) 'A little more on my own. There.That's it.' 'Oh, yeah, by the way, dad..' 'Sorry about using up all your gauze.' It's okay, Ralph. I-I just hope no one needs any first aid , tonight. Or you have to go to the bathroom anytime soon. Gotta go, can't keep Pip waiting. [growling] [growling] Yeah.Bet it'll even scare Pip. [growling] 'Tom Skeleton, you're one lucky boy.' A name like Skelton on this kinda night. [clock chiming] Oh-oh. Oh, Pip's gonna kill me for being late. [gauze ripping] Woo! [gnarling] [tin clacking] [doorbell ringing] (children in unison) 'Trick-or-treat.' (children in unison) Trick-or-treat. - Yeah. - Ha ha ha. - Alright, we made it. - It's gonna be great. I'm ready for the treats. But I get more candy than you do, Wally. - You and who else? - Take that back. - Come on, Wally. - Hey, you guys, stop it. Wait, where's Pip? He's never been late for a Halloween in a million zillion years. - Bet its some kinda trick. - Sure it is. For once, let's surprise him. Come on. (Tom) Pip! (male narrator) Ah, yes, Joe Pipkin. Some say, that on the day he was born all the soda pop bottles in the world fizzed over. Pipkin, who could yell louder, sing better and eat more popcorn. Pip, the greatest boy who ever lived. [wind blowing] [panting] There's his house. - Huh? - Impossible. It can't be. What? (Jenny) 'Where are the jack-o-lanterns?' And the corn shocks on the porch. (Wally) 'And monsters clinging to the roof.' Something's wrong, awfully wrong. [dramatic music] Oh, Pip. [siren wailing] [siren wailing] Hey, Tom, look at that. (Wally) 'Oh, my gosh, it's a note.' 'What's it say?' "Dear Tom, and all the gang, didn't mean to spoil "your Halloween. Off to the hospital. Something about appendicitis, don't worry." 'Signed, Pip.' Appendicitis? You can die from that, right? "P.S. Go ahead without me, I'll catch up. Ready, set, go." But we can't start Halloween without Pip. It wouldn't be official. There's a shortcut to the hospital. No, tha-that shortcut. Come on, you all heard him. Ready, set, go! [instrumental music] Think Pip's gonna be surprised, Tom? He did say to start Halloween without him. It'll be worth it to see the look on his face. Woodside, comin' through. Jenny, wait. Stop. Wait up. Oh! [brakes squealing] [gasps] There. There's the shortcut. (Wally) 'Not the ravine.' Eh, got any other shortcuts to choose from, Tom? Ralph does have a point there. I think. What did I tell you? Look. (Tom) 'It's Pip. Pip!' Hey, I-I can see right through him. Nah, it's just this funny moonlight. The important thing is, he isn't sick. But what about the hospital? Don't you get it? It was a joke all the time. The ambulance, that note on the door. What a trickster. Hey, Pip. You sure had us fooled! Where's your Halloween costume? (Tom) 'Hey, Pip, wait up.' Not you too, Tom. Come on, Wally. [gulps] (male narrator) The ravine. The ravine was filled with varieties of darkness. Night, shadows, toad eyes and raven beaks. The ravine, the birth place of wild mushrooms. Pale toadstool, whispers and ripping's which call "Come, stay, linger and hide. "Hide here forever. Never go. Stay, stay." [mumbling] [panting] Huh? Woo! Now, you know, I never believe in haunted houses. 'But that sure look likes one haunted house to me.' (male narrator) Ah, yes. The house looked like it had been cut of black marble. With many chimneys, the roof seemed a vast cemetery. Each flue signifying the burial place of some old forgotten God of fire. (Tom) 'This is the best prank he's ever played.' But it's not fair. He's gonna trick-or-treat ahead of us. Yeah, Pip always gets the most candy. But that house is haunted. Darn right, otherwise why would Pip lead us to it. [gulping] Oh, yeah. [wind blowing] [leaves rustling] (Wally) 'Oh, my gosh.' [wood creaking] [stairs clattering] [gasp] [organ music] This is no time to hold back, Tom. Remember? Ready, set, go! [squeaking] [all panting] [growling] (Jenny) 'Why, it's a Marley knocker.' You know, a Christmas carol, Scrooge and Marley. So, who's gonna knock? You! - Mm-hmm. - Okay then, I'll do it. [doorbell bellowing] [squeaking] [rumbling] [rumbling] Oh, great, now you've done it, Jenny. (male #2) 'Enter.' [wind blowing] Oh, my gosh. [shouting] Tom! - Ah. - Ah. - Ooh. - Ah. [door closing] Why have you disrupted me? And my business? - I.. - I.. Please, sir. Trick? (all kids) Or treat? Oh,I really have no time for this. [ticking] (Jenny) 'But sir, it's Halloween and--' So, you've tricked me? Is that it? What woulda treat be then, eh? Hm? Well, uh,we saw our friend coming here. If you let him out, that'd be a treat. (all kids) 'Yeah.' Who are you? I'm...name's Tom Skeleton. Know why are your wearing bones, boy? Bah, didn't think so. - And you? - My friends call me-- Why so dressed upin an ancient mummies rags? Hm? Time's up. And you...the big one. M-me sir? Why a monster's face? Hm? - And what about you, girl? - Jenny. Why are you wearing a costume of a witch? Hm? No thoughts, eh? Oh, I'm wasting my breathe. All dressed up for All Hallows' Eve. But you don't know why, or what or even from where. - Pity. - And you, sir? Eh, who are you? Oh, yes, of course, hm, I beg your pardon. Moundshroud is the name. 'Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.' 'Is that not a fine name, children?' Does it...ring? But I have work to do, tonight. No treats...only trick. So, if you'll excuse me. 'I'm onquite a tight schedule.' Huh! Pip! - You-you're a ghost. - 'So, there you are.' Stop! We still have our appointment, you and I. Now, see what you've done. - 'Pip.' - 'Pipkin.' (Wally) 'Woo, there must be a million of 'em.' 'Pumpkins!' Look at 'em all. A pumpkin tree. (Moundshroud) 'No, a Halloween tree.' (male narrator) The pumpkins on the tree were not mere pumpkins. Each had a face sliced in it. Each face was different. Every nose was a weirder nose. Every mouth smiled hideously in some new way. A thousand grimaces and twice times the thousand glares of fresh cut eyes. Each blink held the remnant holiday spirit of years gone by. Pipkin, where are you going? - We're over here. - Why is he goin' up the tree? Uh. (Moundshroud) 'Don't bother. Now, stay up there.' Argh. No, Pip, it's too high. Come down from there. What are you.. (Tom) 'Huh! Look!' (Jenny) 'That pumpkin!' (Tom) 'It looks just like, Pip.' [cracks] Argh! [wind blowing] Come on, we gotta help him. Children, no. No more interference. (Jenny) Hold on, Pip, don't move. [pumpkin howling] You've had your fun, boy. Don't touch that. 'Got you.' It belongs to me. Bring it here. [dramatic music] Inexcusable. Inexcusable behavior! - Pip, Pip. - Over here, Pip. - Hey, Pipkin. - Oh, my gosh. Pip! [wind blowing] - He's melting. - Where'd he go? (Pipkin) 'Help me!' 'Help me!' [dramatic music] No! Bother, bother, bother, I say. 'Do you've any idea what you've done?' Now, my entire night's schedule is thrown off. What'd you do with Pip? Where did you send him? Oh, I didn't send him anywhere, skeleton. - Where is he? - Yeah. Oh, he must not have liked my company. So, he escaped. Escaped, I might add,with a pumpkin that is my property. Well then, Cara-Clava.. Clavicle. But you may call me, Mr. Moundshroud. Whatever your name is, you bring him back right now. [wind howling] (Moundshroud) 'If only life were that easy. Hm.' By now, Pip's escaped to the undiscovered country. No telling how long it will take me to find him again. Find him? [gasping] Can we go with you? We can help. Impossible. You've helped quite enough already. Thank you. But anything's possible on Halloween, right? Ha! What do you know about Halloween? 'Four meddlers come barging into my house.' 'Blundering into my business.' Not even knowing why. You are dressed as a skeleton, witch, mummy or.. Hm, wait a minute. It is a long trip. And it's hours before dawn. So, I've...we should have enough time. If we fly fast enough. (all kids) Yes. And far enough. (all kids) Yes, yes. We might be able to catch Pipkin. Grab his pumpkin fire soul and have a scavenger huntas well. 'So you can find out who you are. What you are made off.' And retrieve your Pipkin at the same time. Well, will you come with me? And solve three mysteries in one? (all kids) Yes! What fun then. The undiscovered country it is. Feast your eyes, a thousand Halloweens wait out there to swallow us whole. That barn, and on the sides of the barn 'the makingsof an October Kite. You see?' This way, skeleton. This road, mummy. 'This fence, witch. This meadow, monster.' Do you see? Do you see? (male narrator) And they did see. They saw the poster paper tapestry of circus beasts. Pasted on the barn side years ago. It was as if the captured animals were waiting to be released. - Oh. - Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Let's build the kite then, shall we? [zapping] Time for you to help. [roaring] - Huh. - Uh. [zapping] (male narrator) They seized huge rows of animals from the weathered walls. They tore off patches of fangs. Scripts of piercing eyes and sheets of claws and tails. The unshackled beasts cried. and assembled in freed leaps and bounds. [growling] Oh, my gosh! [growling] - Will it fly us? - I thought you'd never ask! [roaring] (Tom) 'It won't fly straight.' A tail. We need a tail. [kite squawking] Right, boy. Who else for the tail? - I'm next. - Not before me. - Ah. - Ah. [laughing] Fly. [laughing] 'Fly.' Ah, I just remembered I hate heights. Two times two is four. Four times four is sixteen. Sixteen times sixteen is.. [dogs barking] 256 is 65500.. It's Pip. Pip. Seven hundred and forty. Pip. 'Pipkin.' Where's he going? Not where? When? Four thousand, Halloweens ago. Pipkin with my pumpkin has gone ahead. Or should I say, passed. [zapping] (male narrator) The moon began to blink, faster and faster it began to wax to wane. Until a 1000 times over it flickered. And then flickering changed the landscape below. [dramatic music] (Tom) 'Egypt.' 'But it's brand new.' 'That means we really have gotten back in time.' Four thousand years. Hey. [music continues] [children shouting] [tribal music] O-oh, o-oh. Ar-are those real life ghosts? They prefer being called spirits. - Tryin' to get into the houses? - True. And the food on the porches is for them? (Moundshroud) 'Seems so.' Why, it's good old-fashioned trick-or-treat. - Four thousand years ago? - Yes, imagine that. Ah, look there. 'That ghost, uh, spirit.' Sure, let's sneak up on him. (Tom) 'Pip.' (Jenny) 'Hold on wait.' 'Here we are.' Enter. Sit. You're welcome. - Ah. - Okay. [all murmuring] [sniffing] Ew! - Ah! - Uh. [gasping] Oh, my gosh. 'Who's that?' Our great-grandfather. Don't make a fuss. 'He doesn't look very good.' Oh, he's been dead for 67 years. So, what's he doing here? Once a year, at the feast of the ghosts we invite him out to sit with us. Eat. Don't you wish we had a custom like this back home? Dinner for the dead. Ow! Oh. [clanking] What? Help! Well, children. Seems we won't have time for dessert. [all shouting] [growling] Come on, Mr. Moundshroud, he's getting too far ahead. Huh! [laughing] The time is come. Hurry. Race, run. Your three mysteries await. [all panting] [gasps] - Wow. Just look at these. - They're giants. [groaning] Pip, didn't go in there, did he? Yes. - Oh, great. - Go ahead, Tom. - No, Ralph should go first. - It's all yours, Wally. No, you first. I insist. [rattling] Betcha, Pip sent this out here to show us the way. [rattling] [shouting] It's got me. (Jenny) 'Hold on.' 'We're coming after you.' [grunting] Wait up. You, with the mummy wrappings and mummy face. Who? Me? Day is killed by night. Summer by winter. 'Osiris the sun God destroyed by his brother, darkness.' The seasons. Is tha-that what the Egyptians thought of Halloween? - You tell me. - Ah. [metal clanking] Why do you wear that costume? 'Oh, you're a mummy, boy.' 'Because that's how Egyptians' 'dressed up their dead for eternity.' Spun around in a cocoon of threads. They hoped to come forth like fresh butterflies in some far dear-loving underworld. Know your cocoon, boy. Touch the strange stuffs. Then, then every day was Halloween day then. Yes, every day, Ralph. Very good. [clinking] [chanting] But, but what about Pipkin? It may be too late. They are wrapping him up as a gift to eternity, now! You don't mean like, right now? Save them, Ralph. [screaming] I'm coming, Pip. (Pipkin) 'Ralph.' Pipkin? 'Ralphy, is that you?' Yeah, yeah it's me. I'm gonna get you out of here. 'I'm fading.' No, you can't leave now. What about all our plans? You said someday you'd teach me how to bat left-handed. And you're the only friend who's never made fun of my wearing glasses. 'Learning to bat left-handed isn't so hard, Ralphy.' [groaning] [footsteps approaching] [chanting] Oh, great. Now what do I do? [chanting continues] [hissing] [wailing] [all screaming] Come along, Pipkin. You've had your fun. You and I have an appointment to keep. You must keep it. [pumpkin mumbling] No! [wind howling] Ah! The air vents. Come on. Yes. Find him. Catch him. Wait up, Ralph. Hurry, but don't fall. - Oh, my gosh. - Wally, don't jinx it, okay? Oh. [all together] 'Pip!' Hurry back. Four corners, kids. Grab on. [laughing] He can hide, but if we hurry, we can go seek. [laughing] (all kids) Oh! [wind howling] [growling] Oh, my gosh, look down there. Wally, don't you dare tell me how high we are. Time to celebrate, children. (Moundshroud) 'Happy New Year.' (Tom) 'No, it's Halloween.' (Moundshroud) 'Well, maybe in our time it's All Hallows' Eve.' 'But in this time, it's New Year's Eve.' 'The true end of summer, and cold start of winter.' 'Happy New Year.' [cheering] Down in the crowd. Is that him below? No, he's there above. [all screaming] [all gasping] What is this place? Where are we? When are we? It's old time, children. Ancient times. Stonehenge. (Moundshroud) You need courage tonight. It's the Dark Ages, and this is the longest darkest night in all dark time. - Oh, my gosh. - What? What? Is that you, Pip? (Moundshroud) 'In these dark times, people thought' 'that on this special night' 'those who had died during the year were turned into beasts.' 'Became animals.' Dogs, wild boars or worst of all...cats.' [mewing] 'Black as bad luck. Black as sin.' [gasping] Pip? 'Black as night.' [mewing] Easy, pip. Steady, boy. We-we, we'll save you. No, I'll get him. Come here, Pip. [mewing] Pip. No, come back. Tom, I-I think this is the last year ever go trick-or-treat with you guys. Okay? Peek-a-boo. (male narrator) There was a hustle of brooms in the broom works. An immense traffic jams of brooms for witches to perch upon. It was as if all earth's forests gave up their branches in one broom and fling. And scouring autumn fields cut clean and throttled tight such cereal grains as made good sweepers, thrashers, and beaters. [rustling] Hey, you know what that is? A Broom Festival. And they're making brooms. But not ordinary brooms. Touch them. Feel them. Broomsticks for witches. For you. Me? Whoops! (all) Ah. [screaming] [shouting] Ride him, Jenny. Anyone else care to try it? [snapping] - Whoa. - Whoa. [laughing] Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. [mumbling] Jenny, listen to me. No, I wanna be back on the ground. Just put me back on the ground. (Moundshroud) 'Where's your spirit of adventure?' Witches have nothing to fear from their brooms. Betcha, it's no different from riding your bike. My bike, like my bike. Hey, you're right. [laughing] Now, how about follow the leader? [hens clucking] [laughing] Look. [tribal music] [all chanting] [gasping] I can't believe it. While flying, I saw, I saw.. Pip. Was it Pip? No. Witches. Everywhere. Of course. It can't be Halloween without witches. - Then they really were witches? - Well, yes and no. - Could they fly broomsticks? - Not really. - They could talk to the dead? - Nope. Make hairy warts grow on people? Sorry, no. Make people jump by sticking pins in dolls? Not to my knowledge. Well, heck then, what could they do? Nothing. (all kids) Nothing? (Moundshroud) 'Ah, plenty claimed they could.' But that was just a means to protect their privacy. Ever wondered what the word witch really means? Well, no. Not until tonight. Ha ha ha. Wished that information. In the Dark Ages anyone with half a brain, any knowledge had his wits about him. Yes. So, anyone too smart was called.. [all together] A witch. Exactly. And the really smart ones, ones with the wits called it Magic. Magic. [all chanting] (male narrator) In every town, in every tiny village the old religions hid out. And all the little lollygagging cults all flavors and types scrambled to survive. By every crossroad and by every haystack dark forms jumped across flames as fires burned everywhere. (Moundshroud) 'In the end all Europe was a cloud of witches' smoke.' Anyone want to be a witch? No, no, not me. 'Pip!' Wonderful, let's play tag. Now, Pip, the pumpkin doesn't belong to you anymore. [both grunting] Hold on, Pip. [screaming] Grab on. Hurray. Let's show 'em, Jenny. Some switch, huh, Jenny? You saving me, huh? Don't fall, Pip. What if I need you to talk me down out of an apple tree again? Tighter, Pip. If I ever lost you.. Hey, no tears. Wouldn't you just hate to have Tom see you cry? - Yeah. Fun and games are over. - No, they're not. Follow me if you can. Ready, set, go. There's got to be two zillion, ten billion acres of air wrapped round the world. Which half-acre is he headed for? - Now, what? - I'm still a witch, right? I got the wits, follow me. You heard her. Let's go. There. There he is. Well, is he here? Gotta be. I can feel him in my bones. Where is he, Mr. Moundshroud? Where, you may ask. Hm. Why, hiding out. Protecting his pumpkin soul. How observant of you, skeleton. But to be precise, it is my pumpkin. Come out, come out, wherever you are. I have a riddle for you, monster. - Can't you ask someone else? - No, no, it's your turn now. What's bigger and stronger than demons and witches? A place so big, it holds back the night and nightmares? What's bigger than devils and ghosts? Bigger? Bigger? Ah.. - A cathedrals? - Well done, monster. Yes. Places where a running and renegade child can hide and take sanctuary. Sanctuary. Sanctuary. Sanctuary. [all kids] 'Sanctuary.' [bell tolling] [tolling continues] - 'Help.' - Pip. Ralph, Wally, Jenny. [laughing] I think we're getting warmer. [gasping] Something wrong, Mr. Moundshroud? Yeah, you fool half the night to catch Pip. So how come you're not going up to get him? Well, simply because, there are some places where I'm not as welcome as others. Ah, why don't you collect Pip for me? Please. Wally. [panting] But how do we reach him? There are ways. After all, tonight of all nights is still.. - Halloween. - Precisely. So why not finish building the cathedral, with your feet? Are you kidding? No, call the stones with your feet. You coming, Mr. Moundshroud? Ha ha ha, you know I'm always with you. Carry on. Come on, guys. Pip is counting on us. [stone rumbling] Leap? Run. They will follow. Oh! Step lightly. - Sorry, Wally. - Ah. - Oh! - Bravo. (male narrator) They ran on pure, windy light, only to have bricks, and stones and mortar shuffle like cards, deal themselves solid and take form beneath their toes and heels. [laughing] [glass clinking] [wood rumbling] Oh, enough. [zapping] There, much better, much better. [stones rumbling] [thunder rumbling] Notre Dame, I think we've built Notre Dame. [thunder rumbling] - But this can't be Notre Dame. - Why not? Can't you see what's missing? - Monster faces. - You know, stone devils. Marble demons. [growling] (Moundshroud) 'Gargoyles.' Ever wonder why we like dressing up as monsters, beasts, and ornery critters? Monsters remind us of all the dark nights 'and all fears and nightmares.' [growling] Go ahead, monster. They're waiting for your summons. [whistling] (male narrator) The unemployed of all midnight Europe shivered in their stone sleep. And came awake. All the old beasts, all the old tales and unused demons put by, reared at the whistle and in spectral dust devils of propulsion, arrived. [thunder rumbling] [whimpering] (Moundshroud) 'Monster, there's your carved stone quarry.' Gargoyles, now the building is finished, Tom. (Pipkin) 'Tom, Jenny, Ralph, Wally, are you here?' Where are you, Pip? (Pipkin) 'Here.' Oh, my gosh! (Pip) 'Ge-get me, get me out of here.' - I'm scared. - It's Gargoyle language? He can talk when the rain comes out of his mouth. Or the wind blows over his teeth. Come on, just a little bit higher. You can do it. No cutting in line, plenty for all. One at a time. Hold it. I'm the only live Gargoyle here. - Right, Mr. Moundshroud? - Indeed. So, it's up to me. Tom, right. Rob, left. Together now. [squealing] Whoa! Oh, Pipkin, what's happened to you? - I think I'm dying. - You are not! You tried, Wally. All of you did. Shut up! Shut up, will you? Don't quit, keep running, escape, we'll follow. - Gotta go now, Wally. - No, no, Pip, you can't! Wait, will you? Remember that time, those fireworks I stored in my bedroom. The one's who started the fire. Uh, sure smoked up your house. An-and you took the blame for me. I never thanked you for that. Oh! Wally. Come on, two points. Toss it right up here. - Goodbye, Wally. - No, Pip, I won't let you go. No! Ah! (Wally) 'That's it. Get the pumpkin.' [shouting] Oh. [squawking] No. I'm coming, Pip! [zapping] Come on, we can't loose him now. There's no escape. I'll chalk his course to a final graveyard. [thunder rumbling] [squawking] (Moundshroud) 'Well, we've arrived children.' 'Our final destination.' [instrumental music] But where are we? Listen, guitars! And those must be skeleton bones. No, marimbas and xylophones. Castanets. (all together) 'Hooray!' That sounds like a bon fire. [squawking] (all together) 'Mexico!' (Wally) 'Look, all the graveyards!' 'Where are all those people going?' (Moundshroud in Spanish) El Dia de los Muertos. (Tom) The Day of the Dead. Back home, we'd never think going to a graveyard on Halloween. But this looks like fun! (all together) Yeah! Alright! [squawking] (Ralph) 'Look at little funerals for sale!' Are those real coffins? [giggling] - Hey! Look! - What's this? Whoa! The newspapers are full of bones! Mexican Halloween's are sure better that ours. Huh! Pipkin! He must be around here some place. (all together) Oh...Ah! [screaming] Oh! O-oh! Sweet skulls! Sweet skulls! - Crystal sugar candy skulls! - Oh! What's going on? (Moundshroud) 'Sweet skulls! Sweet skulls. Crystal sugar candy skulls.' (Tom) 'Hey, look at the candy heads.' Tell me your name, I give you your skull. Tom! How about Ralph? Ha ha. - Um, um, Wally! - Ha ha ha, Jenny! Oh! Ha ha ha. [laughing] Hold them in your palms. Bite it, swallow it and survive. Come out the far black tunnel of Halloween and be glad, oh, so glad you are alive! Ha ha ha. [munching] Hey, we better look for Pip now, it's getting late. Yes! For All Hallows' Eve it to be away. Head's up! [dramatic music] [children giggling] Hey! What's goin' on? [all screaming] [dramatic music] Whoa! Whoa! - Ooh. - Ah. - Ah. - Ooh. [bats chirping] - That was fun. - What's next? No more time for games, children. [laughing] The night ends here. [door squeaking] Dow-down in that hole? Down in the catacombs, he's waiting. Simon says, "Bring him up." [moaning] [gulping] And be extra careful with my pumpkin. We'll bring him up but we'll keep him for ourselves. Bravery spoken. Pip would have liked that. Hurry the dawn is approaching. [panting] [all gasp] 'Mummy's.' Their families couldn't pay the rent on their graves. So the grave digger put them down here. [coughing] A little too dry for me. Shh. [coughing] What're you doing there, Pip? I have to stay. I'm trapped. But if you stay there you'll stay forever. Tourist will buy tickets to come look at you. Pip, come on out it's just us. Huh. [groaning] (Wally) 'Oh, my gosh.' They're alive. - What do we do? - I don't know. Tell me, why do you wear bones skeleton? Because of my name. Oh, have you learnt nothing tonight, boy. Because maybe if we face death eye ball to eye ball it loses its power over us, it can't scare us. Excellent, Tom. [gulping] So I've got to save, Pip. Alone. Ah. (Ralph) 'You can do it.' 'Don't look back! Don't look back!' 'Just go straight!' Woo! Woo! Woo! Oh, Pip, don't die. I'm sorry. So sorry. What do you mean, Tom? You came through. No, all this tonight is my fault. I once wished for something to happen to you so I could be leader for a change. But I never thought something like appendicitis. Ah, don't be silly, Tom. I'll let you lead anytime. Huh? What's happening? Pip! No! Ha ha ha! This truly has been fun, hasn't it? And I know just where I'm going to hang this. No! I got to him first. I won. Sorry, this never was a contest. It's rent was past due, it's simple and plain. - That's not fair. - You cheated! You said if we came with you and solve the mysteries of Halloween, we could save Pipkin. Children, it's business. With his illness, his rent came due and there was no payment. He's mine now! - Well, we tried. - We did our best. Let's go home. No! Wait! Mr. Moundshroud, I'll make his payment for him. You? What could you possibly have to pay with? Money? Currency? Coin of the realm? What if uh.. (Moundshroud) 'What if what, boy?' Well, what if I gave you, uh, something of value. Say, A year of my life. Oh! You'd do that for him? Yes. A year from the end of my life. It's yours if it would save Pip. One precious year from the far burned out candle end of your life, eh? Think before you answer! You won't miss it now, but 60 years from today to 72 or 80 when I come for payment, you may regret it. Is he worth it, this friend of yours, hm? More than you'll ever know. Hm. One boy's love. (Jenny) 'Take one of mine too.' - And mine. - I'm in. Four for one makes good business, doesn't it? Yes! I like it! Here then! Chew, swallow, swallow and chew. [instrumental music] - Pip! - Wait! Come back! Where's he going? After all this, only one place. Home! But we saved him, didn't we? Will he live, Mr. Moundshroud? Come! Our night journey is over! One last game of musical chairs! (male narrator) Moundshroud sprung about like a whirlwind. His arms flung out, cut the air in slicing grabs and swoops that shook the mummies in earthquakes of bones. Fall down, whistled the whirlwind. Fall up, was the echo. They tumbled through the sky like a self made storm. It was the end of their 4000 year flight. From Egyptian crypts. To English broom fields. To French quarry works. To Mexican bone yards. They swooped homeward. Once around the court house. And twice around the pumpkin burning tree. And a final time around old Moundshroud's house. Where dust sifted out windows to greet them. [windows rattling] And that children is Halloween! All rolled up in one. Night and day. Summer and winter. Life and death. Four thousand years ago, 100 years or this year. (Moundshroud) 'One place or another.' 'The celebrations are all the same.' [speaking in Spanish] El Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead. Feast of ghosts. All Hallows' Eve. Halloween! I thank you for a most amusing and profitable evening. And after what you've done for your friend. One I will never forget. [bell tolling] - But what about-- - Run! See for yourselves! The last grand trick-or-treat! [laughing] [instrumental music] [music continues] (Tom) 'Look! It's his pumpkin.' (Wally) 'Oh, my gosh! He must be okay.' Hi, guys. - Pipkin! - You are alive! Hooray! They took my appendix out. For a while, I thought I was a goner. Imagine that. Anyway, thanks for...everything. Huh? What are you talking about? We didn't do anything. - Nothing. - Heck. Gosh. Is that so? Well, I had dreams about Pyramids, Stonehenge Paris and Mexico. Like I said, thanks. (male narrator) Then a great, wondrous, happy, tiredness gathered in their eyelids and arms and feet. The witch and mummy and monster and skeleton ran back to their own houses to remember this special night that they would never in all their lives, ever forget. Old Moundshroud blew out one last candle. Causing it to flicker and flare. The wind blew in and out the fresh cut mouth with the whispered song. A 1000 pumpkins were seized and blown into the sky. That is all but one pumpkin. Pip's pumpkin. Pip's spirit and soul. That was traded for and saved on that Halloween night So long ago. [music continues] |
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