Original subtitles

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(CROWS CAWING)

(BOY GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

(MUSIC INTENSIFIES)

(CONTINUES PANTING)

(GRUNTS)

Thank God.

Where's...

(TWIGS CRACKING)

-(LAUGHTER) -(BOY BREATHING HEAVILY)

(ECHOING LAUGHTER)

(LAUGHTER INTENSIFIES)

(LAUGHTER TURNS INTO CACKLING)

(GASPS)

(LOUD CRACKLING)

(ROARING)

(BOY SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING STOPS)

OFFICER: (OVER RADIO) Any available units

near William Street and Vineyard Haven?

Hey, kid, what you doing out here?

Ronnie? Ronnie Harlow, is that you?

Dispatch, let's give Miss Harlow a call.

I think I just found her boy.

OFFICER: (OVER RADIO) I have the missing juvenile

at Mile Marker 22.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(CROWS CAWING IN DISTANCE)

(CAR DOOR CREAKS AND SHUTS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(ENGINE STARTS)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(FERRY HONKS HORN)

WOMAN: Come on, let's go.

(CAR ENGINE IDLING)

WOMAN: Careful. I told you to stay by...

(CAR REVVING)

(KIDS LAUGHING AND CONVERSING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO)

WOMAN: Noah?

Noah, I need your help.

NOAH: Yeah, okay, Mom.

Almost finished.

WOMAN: It's the busiest time of the season

and your little sister did all of your chores.

NOAH: Uh, one second.

WOMAN: You're gonna be late for your game.

Coming.

(CHATTER CONTINUES OVER RADIO)

WOMAN: Noah, come on!

-Hey, Noah. -Yeah?

I'm not gonna be able to make it to your game today.

Mom, it's okay. I understand. I'm used to it by now.

Now I don't know what you expect me to do.

Hey look, it's your new arrival.

WOMAN 2: Good morning, dear.

NOAH: Good morning, ma'am. Enjoy your stay.

Um, Noah...

-I love you. -Love you too.

Your son?

Yeah.

He seems like a nice young man.

Oh, he's a handful.

Yeah, well, they all are at that age.

Trouble from sunrise to supper.

Uh, I'm Abby.

-You must be Miss Halverson. -Mmm-hmm.

Uh, we were expecting you...

I put my car and most of my belongings

in storage for the summer.

So I'll just need a place to, uh, park my bike.

Of course.

I hope this will be okay for you.

This'll do just fine.

Now,

when I agreed to let you write this column for the paper,

I was thinking more like 100 words

on the upcoming Little League season

or new ice cream flavors over at Mad Martha's.

But this... I can't run this.

Why not?

"Peeping Tom strikes in Chilmark.

"Locals unsettled."

Miss Ashby said she saw a man

looking through her bedroom window.

What if I told you it's the same Miss Ashby

who goes down to the station every week

to file a missing person's report

on her husband, Walter,

who's been dead these past eight years.

Okay, but they did find size 11 men's footprints

right outside of her window.

You are wasting your time with all this.

Look, I moved here because Martha's Vineyard

is the safest summer destination in all America.

Families come from all over the country to vacation here.

They pick up the Gazette,

they want to read about sunshine, lollipops.

Not misdemeanor offenses. You catching my drift?

Look, I think it's nice and all

that you want to follow in your father's footsteps.

But, do me a favor.

Give me a story I can run.

COMMENTATOR: Lampkey winds up and throws the pitch...

(CROWD CHEERING)

COMMENTATOR: He's heading to second.

He's moved to the third.

That brings up Edgartown's potential winning run...

-Batter up! -It's Big Ben Driskel!

BOY: Come on, Ben. You can do it.

Come on, Ben. You've got this.

COMMENTATOR: This is Edgartown's

last chance of winning the season opener.

Down a run with two outs, here in the city.

(CROWD CHEERING)

Watch this.

(COMMENTATOR SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

It's going, it's going.

It's gone!

A home run for Ben Driskel,

as Edgartown wins the season opener 5-4.

Yeah!

-(LAUGHS) -COMMENTATOR: What a game!

(CROWD CHEERING)

EUGENE: What kind of a peace do I mean?

And what kind of peace do we seek?

Eugene, what did I say about the whole JFK thing in public?

Well, if I'm going to be president one day,

-I need to practice. -NOAH: Practice?

Couldn't even get elected president of student council.

(ALL LAUGH)

(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)

Whoa, whoa. Hold up, will ya?

Noah, why'd you take us down this way?

SAMMY: Is this old man Carruthers' property?

I've heard stories about him at my parents' dinner parties.

Some people think he was a spy, a bank robber.

Some people even think he's in witness protection.

Which one's the truth?

Summer of '65.

His wife and kids up and vanished without a trace.

Nobody can prove he did it.

You know, I bet their bodies

are still buried somewhere on this property.

There's a story behind this fence.

This could be my ticket to getting my article

published by the Gazette.

If I could prove he did it...

Something like this will make the front page.

It can even go national.

I mean, you're always dragging us around this island

looking for trouble for your stupid stories.

Eugene is right.

I'm sorry, Noah.

I mean, I don't know about this.

Be that way, then.

BEN: Noah, wait. EUGENE: Okay, whoa.

SAMMY: Hold on. Hold on. EUGENE: Wait, wait, wait.

Hold on. Hold on. It's...

There's literally... Guys, look.

-Come on. Go. -Oh, my God.

No, I really think we should turn back.

-(SHUSHES) -No, seriously.

Guys, we shouldn't be doing this.

SAMMY: This better be good.

I'm missing Columbo reruns for this.

Guys, guys, I see him.

EUGENE: I didn't think he came out in the daylight.

What's he doing now?

Digging.

EUGENE: What?

SAMMY: Maybe you're right, Noah.

Killers keep all sorts of trophies

buried in their backyard.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

-What was that? -NOAH: I don't know.

-But I'm gonna find out. -EUGENE: What?

What? Hey, guys,

there's still time to turn back.

Oh.

EUGENE: Really don't think we should do this.

(SHUSHES)

No, seriously. There's a sign outside, man.

It's private property. No trespassing.

Do you know what that means?

-BEN: (SHUSHES) Stop it. -We'll get arrested for this.

Seriously, guys.

He probably killed somebody with this thing.

BEN: Yes, he probably did kill somebody!

(CLANGING)

Hide.

-Shh! -(DOOR CREAKS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

-(WHIRRING) -(GASPS)

-(WHIRRING CONTINUES) -(MUFFLED WHIMPER)

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

(WOOD CREAKS)

We're good.

(SCREAMS)

(ALL SCREAMING)

NOAH: Let's go, let's go, let's go.

-BEN: Run! Come on. -(EUGENE SCREAMS)

SAMMY: Come on, let's go.

Come on, guys. Come on. Let's get out of here.

-SAMMY: Guys, come on. -Noah, come on, let's go!

I... I left my backpack. I have to go back.

Forget your backpack. Let's go. Come on.

I can't. My notebook's in there.

Forget your backpack. Let's go.

Forget about it. It's not worth it.

Noah, come on.

SAMMY: Come on. We have to go. Let's go, guys.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY OVER RADIO)

BEN: Noah. You up there?

NOAH: What are you doing out so late?

I got something for you.

Wicked!

-This is like the real thing. -BEN: It's just like Nomar.

Yeah, now you got something to wear

to our first game at Fenway.

No, you're kidding.

I'd have to mow 1,000 lawns before I could afford that.

BEN: Or not.

(BEN CHUCKLES)

NOAH: No way. Thanks, man. BEN: I got you.

I told you we'd go to a game one day.

What's wrong?

I'm never gonna leave this island, am I?

Hey, man, you're going to get off this island. Okay?

You are going to be a great journalist.

You might even write a story about me one day

when I make it to the big leagues.

I got one more surprise for you.

-Where'd you get those? -(BEN CHUCKLES)

I swiped them from my old man.

Look, this girl, Ellie,

we're gonna go for a night swim,

and we're gonna set off the first fireworks

-of the summer. -Whoa, whoa, wait. Ellie...

Ellie Evans?

Yeah. Yeah. You know her?

I know her all right.

Holy smokes.

-You like her. -Since we were kids.

You know, I can't even work up the courage

to go say one word to her,

and you come and swoop her up like Tom Cruise.

Hey, why don't you come hang out with us tonight?

Oh, no. I... I... I can't.

I'm... I'm sorry, man.

NOAH: It's all right. It's cool.

-Boo! -(GASPS)

-(LAUGHS) -You got me.

Your face.

-So, did you bring it? -Yeah.

-Of course. -Let's see.

-Whoa. -Yeah.

-Where did you get this? -Well, I can't tell you that.

-ELLIE: Oh, my God. -(BEN LAUGHS)

ELLIE: Is this legal?

-Last one in? -Race you there.

(WATER SPLASHES)

(CHUCKLES) Oh, my God, look at your hair.

BEN: Oh, yeah? Gotta really look at yours.

-ELLIE: It's perfect. -Shut up.

No, you shut up.

WOMAN: (IN HOARSE VOICE) It's dangerous for children

to be out in the ocean so late at night.

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

Ben?

(WOMAN CACKLES)

(OMINOUS WHISPERING)

What's she doing up there?

I don't know. But I think we should get out of here.

Yeah. I don't want to be here anymore.

(WATER SPLASHES LOUDLY)

BEN: Ellie, where'd she go?

ELLIE: I can't see her.

-I can't... (SCREAMS) -BEN: Ellie!

-Ellie! -(SCREAMS)

Ellie!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(BOTH PANTING)

-What was that? -I don't know. Just go!

Go, Ellie, go!

(ELLIE WHIMPERING)

Go! Come on!

BEN: Ellie!

-Ellie, wait! -Ben!

(BEN SCREAMING, MUFFLED)

Ben!

(GASPS)

Ben!

Ellie! Go! Go!

-Ben! -(MUFFLED SCREAM)

Ben, no!

(LOUD CRACKLING)

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

NOAH: Carruthers.

(POLICE RADIO BEEPS)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION OVER POLICE RADIO)

OFFICER: Doctor said Ben will be just fine.

All of his scans came out negative.

There's nothing to suggest any sort of trauma,

other than a little water in his lungs.

A perfectly healthy young man.

Did he say anything about what happened?

Yeah. I think he's been going through

sort of a form of PTSD.

It's totally normal for a situation like this.

He...

goes out in the ocean.

It's cold.

He's disoriented, he's... It's a riptide.

-He's scared. -Yeah.

Right now...

time's the best medicine for Ben.

I don't condone sneaking out, but...

I do wish someone could've been there

with him last night.

-You know... -Yeah.

I just keep telling myself

maybe this never happened if he...

if he hadn't been out there all alone.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, Ben.

Oh, dude, you got the whole island in a frenzy.

Whoa. You might even make the six o'clock news.

Ben.

Ben?

Ben?

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)

Hey, you were with Ben last night, weren't you?

What happened?

I heard his mom say he was pulled down by the current.

No.

There was someone else out there with us.

What are you talking about?

I don't know what happened.

-(ELLIE SNIFFLES) -It's okay.

You can tell me.

An old woman, she jumped into the water.

But what pulled him under was something else.

There was this flash of light.

(VOICE BREAKING) I didn't know what to do.

I just swam.

It's okay. You were scared. You didn't do anything wrong.

(ELLIE BREATHING HEAVILY)

You believe me?

I believe you.

I can still hear it, you know, her cackling.

I can still hear it every time I close my eyes.

It was like...

like a witch.

We have to tell the police about this.

-They have to know -I tried.

They didn't believe me. Neither did my mom and dad.

I'm sorry, Noah.

REPORTER: About finding the boy, Ben Driskel,

can you tell us exactly what happened?

The kids are always jumping off this pier, you know.

(MUSIC FADES OUT)

-(THUDS) -(GASPS)

The word "trespass" mean anything to you?

NOAH: I'm sorry. I was just, um...

I came to say thank you for returning my bag.

And, uh, I'm sorry about the other day.

Me and my friends kind of lost our way.

GENE: Yeah, funny.

A lot of kids seem to lose their way onto my property.

Hey, um... how'd you know where I lived?

GENE: Oh, you weren't hard to find, kid.

You wrote your initials in your pack.

You gotta be careful where you put your name.

A lot of bad people out there can use it against you.

It's good to know. Thanks.

Well, you found your way in here.

Just follow the breadcrumbs and find your way out.

You know, my friends and I kind of thought you were like,

digging up a body or something.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?

Fit right in with the rest of your body of work.

You read my book?

You did, didn't you?

Yeah, if you're gonna trespass in my shed back there,

I'm gonna trespass in your backpack.

-(POLICE RADIO BEEPS) -(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

Are you a cop or something?

Not anymore.

So you know about investigations

and stuff like that?

The reason I ask is...

My friend was almost killed at a jumping bridge last night.

The police say he got pulled in by the tide,

but that's not what happened.

Somebody pulled him under, an old lady.

A witch.

Uh-huh. And you saw this witch, yeah?

Well, no, a girl told me.

Better than a dog.

Listen, I know this sounds crazy,

but can you just talk to my friend?

Why don't you give that Fox Mulder fella a call?

He'd help you.

-You know... -I'm retired.

Jerk!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Hey, Noah, bring this up to Miss Halverson's room.

-Leave it outside the door. -Okay.

She specifically asked not to be disturbed.

Fine.

-(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING) -(INDISTINCT CHANTING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(CHANTING STOPS)

(DRAMATIC CHORD PLAYS)

(EERIE VOICE ECHOING)

GENE: (ON TV) Hey, get the lead out, Hank. Come on.

Don't forget this. Don't forget this.

GENE: Oh, the B51. How could we forget that?

Sure you don't want that in the meantime?

It's gonna be a long time before you see it.

Daddy, when are we gonna dig this up?

GENE: Oh, I don't know.

Till you're about 45 years old...

REPORTER: A teenager is recovering today

after nearly drowning late last night

at the jumping bridge.

Police say the boy, Ben Driskel,

was swimming alone

when he was caught in a rip current.

He was discovered home

by his mother in the early morning hours.

-(BALL THUDS) -UMPIRE: Strike three!

What, are you blind, ump?

Your strike zone's been crap all day!

Get your eyes checked, huh?

Hey, I can make the strike zone larger if you want.

All right. Listen up, people.

I'm not gonna have those childish outbursts

on my ball field.

This is baseball, not daycare.

SAMMY: Noah. Take it easy. Jeez.

-What has gotten into you? -I'm fine.

-You don't seem fine. -I'm fine!

GENE: Hey, kid.

Make sure your hips lead your hands.

That's where all your power comes from.

Of course, that's when you're not looking at strikes

or mouthing off to the ump like a damn fool.

So you're a cop and a hitting coach now, too?

Hey, I'll talk to that friend of yours.

Wait, so you believe me?

No, I didn't say that. I said I'd talk to him.

Heads up, heads up.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

-NOAH: Come on. -(GENE GRUNTS)

Is this absolutely necessary?

-I'm afraid so. -Right.

People on this island are scared of you.

Especially moms.

Yeah, well, creeping out of the bushes like this

ought to really put their fears to bed.

-Ben, this is Mr. Carruthers. -Uh, Gene.

Hi, Ben.

Ben?

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Hi.

-Does Ben smoke weed? -No.

You mind if I check you out there, Ben?

-Sure. -Okay.

Let me see. Neck.

So can you tell me what happened down there?

You know, by the bridge.

I was swimming.

It was dark.

Tried to swim back to shore...

But I couldn't.

The water kept pulling.

But that's not what Ellie said.

One second.

How did you get back to shore, Ben?

Tried to keep my head above water.

Bright flash.

Washed up on the beach.

You're gonna be just fine, kid. (GROANS)

That's it?

-Where are you going? -Well, you know,

I got to get back to the castle before sundown.

You know, I'll take the forest path.

I don't want the townsfolk to see me.

-Pitchforks, fire, ooh. -Yeah, that's not funny.

-Yeah. -This is serious.

Look...

If he was pulled under water and held down, like you said,

that would have required some force.

That kind of force would leave a mark

on his arms, his neck, something.

If there was a struggle, he'd have bruises,

nail marks, scratches.

Not to mention the fact

that there is no such thing as witches.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to retiring.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

Hey, why'd you lie back there?

You know, Ellie told me what happened.

Now what are you hiding? I thought you were my friend.

I didn't lie.

Sorry.

Hey, um, I brought something for you.

Your favorite.

Go on, eat 'em.

(SPITS)

Gross.

NOAH: Mom, something happened to Ben that I can't explain.

ABBY: Hey, keep your voice down.

You're gonna disturb the guest

and you're going to scare your sister.

NOAH: She should be scared. Something is out there.

(ARGUMENT CONTINUES IN THE BACKGROUND)

-Oh. -Mmm.

(CHUCKLES) I'm sorry. Did I scare you?

I don't like when they argue.

HALVERSON: Of course you don't.

Mmm.

Are you familiar with Peter Pan?

Mmm-hmm. It's one of my favorites.

HALVERSON: You know, when I was a little girl,

my family used to argue a lot.

And you know what I would do?

Mmm-mmm.

I would close my eyes

and I would think of lovely, happy thoughts.

(WHISPERING) Maybe that's something that you can do.

Think about all the things that you love.

LILLY: I like being with my best friends.

ABBY: Look, I am sorry that your father isn't here.

But you know what?

It isn't easy for me either.

So you need to stop taking your frustrations out on me.

How about you stop pretending

you wanna be here any more than I do?

Mom. Mom.

LILLY: (MUMBLING) ...chocolate.

Lilly honey?

NOAH: What are you doing?

Thinking happy thoughts.

(LILLY GIGGLES)

I'm telling you, something happened to Ben

that I can't explain.

You know, he came home, but he's not the same.

It's like he's a zombie out of Night of the Living Dead.

If it was a witch...

SAMMY: (EXHALES DEEPLY) Hmm.

...it's as if she took something away from him.

That's it, Noah.

I know you need some big hotshot article

for the paper you're writing,

but this is getting out of hand.

This isn't about some article for the paper.

This is about what happened to Ben.

Yeah, but witches aren't real, man.

Just because some girl you have the hots for

tells you something doesn't make it true.

Look, I know things have been tough

since you lost your dad.

What's he got to do with this?

It seems like ever since he's been gone,

you've been searching for evil

around every corner of this island,

when there just ain't none to be found.

If you don't wanna believe me, then don't believe me.

But somebody...

Something is still out there.

If we sit around and do nothing,

kids are gonna get hurt.

Including us.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(STRUMMING MELLOW TUNE)

(FIREWORKS WHISTLING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES)

(MOUTHING)

BOY: Good luck, Kevin.

(LAUGHTER)

KEVIN: Hey, we should really keep on the fire.

It's dangerous out there.

They call this place "no man's land"

for a reason, you know.

My grandpa said that in World War II

they used this place as a bombing range.

(SHUSHES)

Sorry.

I'm just trying not to get blown to bits

before I get my driver's license.

-(GIRL SHUSHES) -(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

-(ROARING) -(KEVIN SCREAMING)

(LOUD EXPLOSION)

Apparently, a boy accidentally set off

some unexploded ordnance

during an illegal beach party.

They were lucky no one was killed.

I am happy to report that the only injuries

appear to be a minor case of shell shock from the blast.

-Kevin? -(PHONE RINGING)

REPORTER: This is the third incident...

ABBY: Noah, it's for you.

It's the typewriter repair man.

Hello?

GENE: Why the hell do you still own a typewriter?

Are you crazy?

You can get me into so much trouble calling me here.

The boy.

Did you know him?

There was this time when I did, yeah.

Did you see the look in his eyes?

The vacant look. Same as Ben.

Yeah, nobody's home.

Meet me at the docks in an hour.

Where are we going?

No man's land.

I need to have a look at those woods.

Don't you think they've been searched already?

-Not by me. -(LINE DISCONNECTS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(EXCLAIMS)

Two sets of tracks here,

coming back from the party back there, going in there.

One of them's Kevin's,

the other, I think it's a girl.

NOAH: You can tell all of that from the footprint in the mud?

Oh, yeah. I got socks older than you, son.

I've been doing this a long time.

Listen, why don't you hang back here?

I best go in there alone.

What?

GENE: No. Stay here. Really, it's safer.

-I'm not a kid, you know! -Yeah, you are.

(CROW CAWING)

(GENE GRUNTS)

(EXCLAIMS) Kid, you scared the...

Didn't I tell... You got a hearing problem?

Yeah. I didn't come all this way to sit by that fence.

Now what are you looking at?

A coronary, if you don't get back here.

Quit jumping out of the bushes on me.

Now I want you to stay behind me.

You step where I step, all right?

It's kind of dangerous out here.

I don't want you all over the place.

Hey, this place is kind of spooky.

Yeah.

A fellow could bury a kid in these woods

and nobody would ever find him.

(CHUCKLES)

It's a joke.

You need to loosen up, kid. Come on.

Ooh, hang on.

Something happened here.

That's weird. The footprints change.

Yeah, Kevin ran off this way.

He's running, running, running.

He got to about here, and...

Then it stopped.

Whoever did the...

Whoever did the chasing ran off this way.

Kevin kept meandering over there... (EXCLAIMS)

-(GENE GRUNTS) -Ooh!

-You all right? -Yeah, I'm just resting.

Piece of advice, kid.

Don't get old. (GRUNTS)

Whoa.

Whoa, man.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

I think I've seen this material before.

I think at the jumping bridge.

Well, whoever set this bad boy off...

it sure wasn't Kevin.

There's no way he could have got out of here

without getting splattered, you know.

Something doesn't add up here.

Well, whoever set it off, I don't get it.

There's no blood, no guts, no nothing.

It's like impossible.

(GENE EXHALES HEAVILY)

I'll be damned.

Looks just like a broom, doesn't it?

Oh, shut up.

There is a witch on the island.

This can't be real.

It is. All of it.

Here. I've done some research.

Okay.

So witches need to feed on kids

to survive and replenish their many powers.

And if they don't, they can become weak

and they could die.

They can change their forms

to blend in like normal people.

And they can even use spells

to control stuff with their mind.

I think there's something you guys should know.

I made a call to the bullpen.

Got our closer.

What are you talking about? Who?

-Oh, my... -What are you, nuts?

Hey, guys, it's okay. I invited him.

EUGENE: Stay back, man.

SAMMY: Yeah. Back off. GENE: Easy, fella.

-NOAH: Put the bat down. -I ain't putting the bat down.

SAMMY: Whoa, whoa. NOAH: Sit.

Well, there's more of you.

I'm going to have to dig a mass grave now.

What?

(CHUCKLES)

NOAH: Will you two lighten up?

'Kay, Gene. This is Gene.

Sammy, Eugene, this is Gene. He's a detective.

-Retired. -NOAH: All right, listen up.

We know she lured Kevin in those woods,

just like she did Ben.

But she made a mistake this time.

Set off an explosive by accident.

So she's dead then? Nothing could survive that.

I'm not so sure. I can't explain it.

I mean, there was no blood, no body, nothing.

No, there wouldn't be,

'cause that's not how you kill a witch.

Hey, at the end of this Brothers Grimm story,

the guy uses silver buttons as bullets to kill the witch.

Silver bullets only work on werewolves,

-not witches. -Not true.

They kill monsters. Yeah.

(CHUCKLES)

What, you don't believe in monsters?

Yeah, I believe in real monsters.

I mean, I've been chasing them my whole life.

But what you're talking about,

that's a wart-wearing fairy tale.

Guys, none of this makes any sense.

Witches eat kids, right?

They don't turn them into brain-dead zombies

and then send them home in time for supper.

Theoretically, yes.

But what if this witch is different?

Tell him that you told me.

All right, well, let's say this... this...

-Witch. -...this suspect

used to live in the town or on the outskirts of town

and they abduct children over a period of time.

Stick 'em in the pot like you say.

But after a handful of children go missing...

People start to catch on.

Yes. And like all serial predators...

They move.

Yeah, they go to the next place.

And they start to recycle their old behaviors again

because you can't fix these creeps.

Okay, so... How do we find her?

Well, Kevin followed her in the woods willingly,

and I'm certain of that.

But for that to have happened,

she must have made him feel safe, comfortable.

She could have posed as a friend or...

or an old lady.

Because that's what Ellie said she was

when she jumped off the bridge and came after Ben.

So that means she could be anyone at any time,

just like the T-1000.

NOAH: Right. We have to find her.

It's only a matter of time before she feeds again.

Well, if you want to believe in fairy tales,

it's up to you, but I will admit

that there is something rotten in Mayberry.

I'll call an old buddy of mine at the bureau.

See if I get some extra resources on this.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled.

If you see anybody suspicious, particularly with burn marks,

scarring, a wound maybe, from that blast...

Do not accept poison apples from old ladies, all right,

with warts on their noses and broomsticks.

EUGENE: (SIGHS) Let's get out of here.

NOAH: Hey, hey, um...

Uh, the book you gave me, I've been reading it, but...

I don't get it.

What has Richard Nixon got to do with me?

Oh. Just get to the end of the book, kid.

(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

(SEAGULL SQUAWKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING)

(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYS)

(GASPING)

NOAH: She's leaving.

(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(DOORKNOB RATTLES)

(PANTING)

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(GASPS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUFFLED GASP)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

(WAVES SPLASHING)

Do you really think it's her?

NOAH: Yeah.

All of this started as soon as she arrived for the summer.

I don't know why I didn't see it till now.

She was at the jumping bridge, watching,

the day after Ben was taken.

(SIGHS) I heard her chanting this weird chant

in her bedroom one time.

You know, she comes and goes all hours,

and the moment she comes back,

she doesn't want to be disturbed.

And look at how she dresses.

So why'd you have me bring my mom's camcorder?

You're gonna make her watch my mother's home videos...

(IN HOARSE VOICE) ...till she shrivels up and dies?

No, I'm gonna follow her

and wait till she makes her move.

And when she does, we'll have proof this time.

I don't know, guys. I mean...

My mom doesn't really like me

riding around the island like this, you know.

SAMMY: She doesn't? We have to know.

I'm not really a good liar, so...

And you want to be a politician?

Guys, guys, she's on the move.

-Come on. -Okay, come on.

NOAH: Look, she's turning towards the harbor.

SAMMY: Guys, this is awesome.

I feel like Gene Hackman in The French Connection.

NOAH: Do you see all those kids up there?

That's the children's theater.

EUGENE: All-you-can-eat buffet for witches.

NOAH: I think that's where she's headed.

You guys spread out and flank her.

-I'll follow her. -SAMMY: Let's do this.

EUGENE: You got it man.

(CHILDREN CHATTERING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

NOAH: No!

-(HALVERSON SCREAMS) -(NOAH EXCLAIMS)

SAMMY: Everyone, watch out! There's a witch!

EUGENE: She's down! She's down!

You're under citizen's arrest.

(HALVERSON EXCLAIMS)

GIRL: Oh, my God!

The Holy Water didn't work!

I told you the movies you watch aren't real, idiot!

Everybody, stay away from this woman.

She's a witch!

Every kid here is in danger.

I'm not a witch!

I'm Virginia Halverson.

I'm a children's author.

I came here to give a reading to these people.

(SPUTTERS) What about the kids' drawings?

-Yeah. -Those are references.

I'm an illustrator.

Okay, but how do you explain

the list of names in the bedroom?

(FURIOUSLY) You were in my room?

How dare you!

But... but... How do you explain

the chanting in foreign tongues?

-Yeah. -I pray in Latin!

Is that okay?

MAN: Come on, kids. Get off the stage.

WOMAN: Get out of here.

I'm... I'm so sorry, people. Um, I'll be right back.

-I just need a minute or two. -MAN: Come on!

(CROWD BOOING)

Come on, man.

Any luxurious hotel would welcome me with open arms.

Miss Halverson, please reconsider.

(HALVERSON SIGHS)

But I chose you, this beautiful house.

And all I asked for was a little respect and privacy

while I worked on my new book.

I understand. I am so sorry.

I trust that you will mail back the balance

that I prepaid for the rest of the summer.

Of course.

Mmm.

(SIGHS)

Mom, I'm so, so sorry.

-I... I... just... -Get out of my sight.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(GRUNTS)

Who's that?

Oh.

Hey.

Wow. One of those days, huh?

-Moms. -Really? Well, come on in.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Want a beer?

I'm kidding. (CHUCKLES DRYLY)

I'll get you a drink anyway.

Here you go.

A little hot choc fixes everything.

I was supposed to be at this game with Ben.

Oh, yeah? You ain't missing much.

This is the best seat in the house, you know.

Hell of a game, baseball.

Some of the best memories of my boyhood.

Yeah, there's magic in baseball.

(CHUCKLES DRYLY)

So you gonna tell me what happened

at the bookstore today?

Police scanners.

Yep, I don't miss much.

You learned a valuable lesson today.

One wrong accusation can ruin a person's reputation forever.

Yeah, that and my mom's entire business for this summer.

-So... -She'll come around.

Moms always do.

I just hate to let her down, you know.

GENE: Mmm.

Especially ever since my dad's been gone.

I'm sorry. Are they separated or...

No, um...

-He passed a few years ago. -Oh.

He was a journalist.

You know, he would travel the world

and tell people about his stories.

I couldn't wait for him to get home.

You know, so he could...

tell me all about his adventures.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Till...

the last assignment he was on, there was an accident,

and he never made it back home.

GENE: Oh, I'm sorry.

It's the little things I miss the most.

You know, how...

he used to come in my room with the golf club,

and clear the room full of monsters

-before I went to bed. -(CHUCKLES)

Yeah. He sounds like he was doing his job as a good dad.

I used to do the same thing for my boy.

Only I used a baseball bat.

I guess the monsters were bigger back then.

How old's your son?

Well, he'd be 40, this October.

(SPUTTERS) I'm... I'm... I'm sorry.

Yeah, he was five.

I was driving him home from school

and, you know, right front tire blew out,

so I pulled over to change the tire.

You know, he was just in the backseat,

blowing bubbles out the window.

You know, it was a hot day...

And a fellow on a motorcycle came the other way and said,

"Hey, you need some help?"

I said, "No, I can handle it." So he took off.

You know, I got the tire off the car and jack under it.

And that's when that man on the motorcycle came back,

grabbed my son through the window and took off.

I jumped in the car to chase him on three wheels.

The rim was scraping on the concrete.

I spun out and I hit a tree.

And they disappeared around the corner.

That's the last time I saw my boy.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

Monsters.

Yeah. Monsters.

Yeah. My wife and I, that tore us up pretty good.

And we tried to stick it out, but the marriage didn't last.

I spent the last 30 years just looking for him and...

doing what I do, but nothing but dead ends.

Well, I still hope that one day

he'll just up and knock on the door.

(GENE SIGHS)

What's all this?

Well, this is your basic detective work.

I mean, it's only a beginning,

but I got a buddy at the bureau

who sends me names

of all the missing kids in New England.

I mean, the cases that haven't been solved.

And as the names come in,

I'll be able to stick more pins in.

And then I'm hoping a pattern might emerge

where I can find routes of travel,

or maybe some kind of predatory cycle.

NOAH: Ben is not missing.

But he's lost all the same.

Oh, yeah, there's definitely something weird going on here.

You know, I think first thing in the morning,

I'll go and talk to the Chief

and tell him there's some kind of predator here in town.

I'm going with you.

Um, okay. Um...

Let me do the talking, all right?

When you start mentioning broomsticks,

they'll put us both in the nuthouse.

(ENGINE REVVING)

WITCH: What's your name, dear?

I'm Suzy Baker, would you like...

(ROARING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

GENE: And there's been two incidents

on this island already that we know of.

And it could be more if we sit back and do nothing.

I suggest you get your deputies

to patrol the beaches, parks, anywhere kids congregate.

Maybe... maybe initiate a curfew.

You know, tell 'em to hang in groups.

Be careful after dark, that kind of thing.

Okay, you know, you are overreacting here.

Can you imagine the hysteria that would cause?

CHIEF: These incidents are not out of the ordinary.

It just happens every summer.

EDGAR: Yeah. The boy swims out too far,

gets carried away by the current.

Okay, prepubescent teen gets in an accident

out in no man's land.

It's just kids being kids.

That's all there is.

Yeah, at first sight, yes. But the evidence suggests

that someone else was involved here.

I mean, there's this strange set of prints out there

in no man's land with the Lampkey kid.

And then there was a similar kind of fabric material

found at both sites.

Okay? Plus, they both have

this vacant look in their eyes.

Lights are on, nobody's home. There's something going on.

What are you saying? You think they're related?

Uh, yeah, that's what I'm saying.

EDGAR: I gotta say, I don't think you know

what you're talking about.

I was on the scanner this morning.

Yeah, I'm watching you people.

But I heard an unusual amount of calls

coming in from parents,

whose kids disappeared for short windows of time.

All right? Now you can't pull the wool over my eyes

like the rest of your readers.

You have a responsibility here to tell the truth.

I don't need to stand for this!

Don't tell me how to run my paper.

(OVERLAPPING ARGUMENT)

Back off. Back off.

Gene, you claim someone else

was involved in these incidents?

Who exactly are we looking for?

NOAH: It's a witch.

We found the broom in no man's land.

Noah...

She's feeding on their souls and putting 'em in some kind of...

some kind of spell and sending them back to their families.

(LAUGHS) Okay.

A witch? Huh? Ain't that rich.

That kid doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.

He's got a vivid imagination, all right.

All right. Well, you ain't wrong about that, Gene.

That boy comes to the Gazette all the time

trying to publish all sorts of hogwash.

Not what this island needs, all right?

That'd be a shame if his little theory

was mistaken for truth.

Rumors spread pretty quick on this island.

You should know that more than anyone.

You hold a lot of power on this island, Edgar...

by choosing what you run in the paper.

(SIGHS) You don't want to warn people, okay, fine.

But, it's on you.

EUGENE: That was so good. SAMMY: Where should we go?

EUGENE: Oh, boy.

Hey, guys. What are you doing?

We were actually just on our way home...

Yeah. Yeah.

I've been looking for you guys.

I've been thinking. I need to talk to you.

No, I actually can't hang out today. So...

But I need to talk to you guys.

Maybe another time.

Oh.

You just can't hang out with me.

EUGENE: I'm sorry, man.

It's my mom. She thinks you're a bad influence.

Yeah, and I almost got grounded

for the rest of the summer on account of you.

But you know what's out there.

SAMMY: No, we don't, Noah. And neither do you.

None of your stories ever add up.

You're not some reporter for the Boston Globe.

You're just a kid, and you need to stop

before someone gets hurt.

Okay, well...

You guys enjoy your summer then.

EUGENE: That was a little harsh, okay.

Mmm-hmm.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTS)

-(CROWD CHEERING) -SAMMY: Come on, Ben.

Come on, Ben.

Come on, Ben. You've got this.

Come on, Ben. You can do it.

(BALL THUDS)

Strike three. You're out.

You okay, bud? Huh?

Someone gonna come help their friend back to the bench?

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

EUGENE: What kind of a peace do I mean?

What kind of a peace do we seek?

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC BUILDS UP)

(MUSIC FADES OUT)

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

Eugene!

You out there?

Eugene!

(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)

-(TWIGS SNAPS) -(GASPING)

(RUSTLING)

Eugene. Eugene. Oh, no!

-Eugene! Eugene! -(GRUNTING)

Thank God. What are you doing out here?

It came after me, man.

-What? -It chased me in here.

What came after you?

(WHIMPERING)

WITCH: Why don't you stop sticking your nose

where it doesn't belong?

(SCREAMS) Come on!

Run, Eugene, run!

(WITCH CACKLES)

It was her.

The witch. It's true. She's... she's real, man.

Yes, that's what I've been telling...

Stay away from me!

I'm done with all this!

Red algae. Great.

Okay. Okay.

(CAR ENGINE REVS)

(NOAH GASPS)

(EXCLAIMING IN FEAR)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(EVIL LAUGHTER)

(PANTING)

What the hell?

Car chased me. I... I escaped.

(PANTING)

(GRUNTS)

No car out there.

You all right?

Relax, you know, take a breath.

You okay?

Why the hell would you care?

You... you made me look

like a stupid little kid down at the diner.

Yeah, you're right. I threw you under the bus, didn't I?

That was wrong what I did. And I'm sorry.

It's nothing personal. It's just those guys,

they wouldn't, you know, understand.

They wouldn't believe.

You believe me, right?

Yes. I believe there's something out there.

Look, I'm gonna need your help on this. All right?

From here on in, it's just you and me. Okay?

Friends?

-Friends. -Okay.

Good. Come here. I want to show you something.

Missing children.

Three or four in any given town,

right across New England, all right.

But this place, this town here in New Hampshire,

this is the most recent amount

of unusual disappearances, okay?

And their names are... Let's see.

Melanie Daniels, Jimmy McMurphy,

Charlie Morgan and Ronnie Harlow.

And then, guess what I find this morning.

This missing boy found wandering in the woods.

It's Ronnie Harlow.

He has the same look as the others.

What if Charlie Morgan was her last supper?

After him, she started changing her ways.

Like she was feeding off pieces of their souls.

And what if Ronnie Harlow...

What if he was the first one

she was using this new method on?

Her test subject.

Yeah, I don't know about that,

but I'll tell you what I do know is,

that Ronnie Harlow is the first one of these kids

to go missing and turn up again

with that weird look on his face, okay.

I'm gonna go out here.

I'm gonna drive out to New Hampshire tomorrow

and talk to Ronnie's parents.

What are you gonna tell them?

Tell you the truth, I'm not sure.

This is a parent's worst nightmare.

Really wrecks a relationship.

Hey, um...

Do you think you're ever gonna connect with your wife again?

Yeah. You know, I think that ship has sailed.

There's still time.

No, we're different people now.

Maybe that's a good thing.

I'm not a kid anymore. It's not that simple, Noah.

I mean, your youth...

that just disappears a little piece at a time.

Every heartbreak, every loss...

Before you know it, you're just... an old man.

And it happens in a heartbeat.

You wanna live the rest of your life

alone and miserable, that's fine.

But I don't wanna hear any more of that "I'm an old man" BS.

Because at least you're still here.

You think any of these kids wouldn't have given anything

for another chance to grow old?

I'll call you a car and get you home.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

NOAH: Hi, Mom.

Hey.

Hey... Noah.

Uh... I want to talk to you.

What did I do this time?

I wanna show you something.

You know, your father used to say

he cared more about the people in the story

than the story itself.

I... I know you think that I'm not supportive

of you becoming a writer

because of what happened to your dad.

I loved your father very much.

You know, and...

every time he left,

it was like a little piece of my heart went with him.

It's the same way that I feel

every time you leave the house.

What is all this?

Is this Dad's stuff?

And now it's yours.

Thought it might mean something to you.

Writer to writer.

Besides, you're old enough to have it now.

You grew up on me so fast, Noah.

Love you, Mom.

(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

(MUSIC TURNS SUSPENSEFUL)

(OMINOUS CHANTING)

(CHANTING STOPS)

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY ON TV)

BOY: (GARBLED VOICE) Daddy.

(GENE GRUNTS)

BOY: (ON TV) Come get me, come get me.

GENE: (ON TV) Hey, get the lead out, Hank. Come on.

BOY: Daddy...

Why'd you let him take me, Daddy?

You let the monsters get me.

You let them take me, Daddy.

(IN DISTORTED VOICE) Why'd you let the monsters

get me, Daddy?

(PANTING)

Why?

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(ENGINE STARTS)

(ELECTRICAL BUZZING)

(SHATTERS)

(GASPS)

(CUCKOO CLOCK CHIMING)

♪ I was born to haunt you! ♪

(OVERLAPPING DISCORDANT SOUNDS)

(SOUNDS STOP ABRUPTLY)

-Please, no. -(SHATTERS)

(NOAH PANTING)

(OBJECTS CLATTERING)

(TYPEWRITER KEYS CLACKING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

Okay.

(OPERATIC SINGING ON TV)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Ronnie, we have a visitor.

Hey, honey. He's a detective.

He's gonna help you, okay?

Does he always watch opera?

To be honest, I don't think he's watching at all.

There's others like him, isn't there?

Otherwise, you wouldn't have come all this way.

Yeah.

Hey, Ronnie.

My name is Gene.

Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?

I believe something happened to you recently.

Would you like to tell me about that?

Hey...

You mind if I have a look around?

Look around.

Yeah. Thanks, Ronnie. I will.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTS)

Monsters.

(TIRES SCREECH)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES)

Okay.

(MUSIC BUILDS)

(MUSIC TURNS SINISTER)

COMMENTATOR: Up now the leadoff hitter

and left fielder for Edgartown...

Number seven, Noah Reed.

Noah Reed is one for two today.

And has one run batted in.

(CROWD CHEERING)

UMPIRE: Strike one.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(TIRES SCREECH)

(ATTIC DOOR OPENS)

NOAH: It's about time. What took you so long?

What was so important you need to speak to us right away?

I know who it is.

-What are you talking about? -The witch. I know who it is.

Again with this?

You need help. Come on, Eugene. Let's go.

Guys. I'm serious.

All right. Who is she, then?

It's not a she.

He.

The umpire? You've got to be joking.

It's him.

He has the burn on his arm from the explosion

and the same red algae-stained shoes.

And he was out there with Eugene and I in those woods.

It's him. And we have to find him.

-I know where he lives. -What?

Where?

I was handing out flyers one day

over at Chilmark's General Store...

He was riding home on his bike.

He even took a flyer from me.

It's just off state road.

Where do you think you're going?

NOAH: I'm going to his house.

Let Carruthers do it. Don't be stupid.

Yeah. I'm not sure I can do this, man.

NOAH: Gene's in New Hampshire. It's literally us or no one.

No? Fine.

I'll go in alone.

All right, man. Fine. I'm coming.

-What? -Wait up.

I'm sorry, Sammy.

(GRUNTS) Okay, okay. I'm coming, guys.

(CROWS CAWING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

EUGENE: This is it. I'm sure of it.

NOAH: Yeah, that's the car that chased me.

All right, you guys ready to do this?

If not us, who?

If not now... when?

Besides, you've got your story of the century.

Let's do this.

(DOOR CREAKING)

EUGENE: Can you see anything?

SAMMY: Just a messy kitchen.

NOAH: Keep quiet.

He could be anywhere.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Okay, guys. Let's go.

NOAH: Keep your eyes open for anything

that can give us proof that he is the witch.

-(GLASS CLINKING) -(ALL GASP)

-EUGENE: What was that? -(NOAH SHUSHES)

(SAMMY GASPS)

EUGENE: This place is definitely haunted.

Guys, split up.

EUGENE: Did you hear that?

SAMMY: No, I didn't hear anything.

EUGENE: I heard it again! Get off me!

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

EUGENE: The shoes...

SAMMY: What the heck?

EUGENE: (DEEP BREATHING) Oh, my God...

(BOTH GASP)

Guys, you gotta see this.

Look.

Ronnie, Kevin, Ben, me. This is it.

(GRUNTS)

(BASEBALL BAT CLATTERS)

(SINISTER MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHIMPERING)

(DRAWER OPENS AND CLOSES)

(SCREAMING)

You kids ever been on a diet?

No, I bet not at your age.

I've been fasting for a few months now.

And it isn't pleasant.

You become irritable.

Headaches, anxiety, cravings. Oh...

The cravings.

(SAMMY CRYING)

I'm afraid there's not gonna be

a fairy tale ending for you children.

(EUGENE CRYING)

You couldn't just leave well enough alone, could you?

You've jeopardized my whole retirement plan.

All the years of saving and planning.

It's become hard for an old witch like me.

Eating children,

moving three, four times a year.

Town to town,

living deep in the woods like an animal.

But here, there's an endless supply of children

that come to me each and every summer.

All it requires...

is a little self-control.

I mean, drinking a child's youth,

it just... Oh, it doesn't...

It doesn't satisfy the cravings, you know.

But perhaps a few little snacks will.

Yeah. Yeah.

But who first?

No!

Eenie meenie...

miney mo.

No, no, no, no!

Catch a child

by the toe.

If he hollers, let her go.

And...

you...

are...

it.

EUGENE: No!

(GROWLS)

(ALL SCREAMING)

Go ahead, fight.

Taste better that way.

(GRUNTS)

Don't you worry, dear boy,

I'll keep an eye on your friends.

(GASPING)

Oh, and your poor mommy too.

(BOTH GASP)

EUGENE: Let's go. We gotta get out of here.

Come on. Come on.

(SAMMY YELLS)

-(GROWLS) -Eugene!

You disgusting little girl!

(SAMMY SCREAMS)

(SCREAMS)

EUGENE: Come on, let's go!

Why you... (GROWLS)

(GUNSHOTS)

(WITCH GRUNTS)

(GROWLS)

Okay.

(WITCH LAUGHS)

NOAH: Gene, hurry.

(SCREAMS, GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

EUGENE: Oh, the silver bullets work.

Get the hell out of here, you kids!

SAMMY: Noah, come on. This place is burning up.

-Hey, what can I do to help? -Scram!

Get out of here! That's a witch!

EUGENE: We have to get out of here.

SAMMY: We have to go get help.

This place is burning up. We have to go.

EUGENE: We have to call the fire department!

NOAH: Gene!

Gene!

(PANTING)

Gene?

Gene.

Gene.

Gene.

-(SOFT THUD) -(GASPS)

(RATTLING)

GENE: Noah, I thought I...

(WITCH GROWLS)

Gene.

Gene?

-(GENE GROANS) -NOAH: Gene!

(LAUGHS WICKEDLY)

(SCREAMS)

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(NOAH STRAINING)

WITCH: Goodbye, dear boy.

(ROARING)

(GUNSHOT)

-(SCREAMS) -(GUNSHOT)

(GUNSHOT)

(INDISTINCT ECHOING VOICES)

Monsters.

(GUNSHOT)

(WITCH SHRIEKING)

(GENE PANTING)

-Is she... -Ding-dong.

Come on, kid. Let's get out of here

before we find out she's got a sister.

(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)

(SIREN BLARING)

(INDISTINCT ECHOING VOICES)

(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

NOAH: My father once said...

he cared more about the people in the story

than the story itself.

I spent my summer thinking a story like that

only existed across the waters from this island.

But I found it here.

Hidden behind an old wooden fence

children dared not to climb.

About a man they never tried to know.

(INHALES AND EXHALES DEEPLY)

A father...

a husband...

a public servant.

A true friend.

(SIGHS)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

Well, what do you think?

Damn, kid, you can write.

This is a hell of a man here. I wish I could have known him.

Thanks, Noah.

I hear some of the kids are starting to wake up.

So all's well in Mayberry again.

Yeah, almost. Ben is still, um...

different.

Well, you might have to give that some time, be patient.

Oh...

Sorry it took me so long to get this back to you.

Oh, no, hang on. That's a gift. You keep it.

Most kids grew up reading comic books.

Batman, Superman.

So when I read that book,

that's when I knew that writers could be heroes, too.

You keep at it.

Well, I'm gonna be on the road a while. Uh...

Yeah, so I guess this is goodbye.

Just for a moment. Put her there.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Yeah. You know how to get ahold of me, right?

-NOAH: Yeah. -Run across

any vampires or werewolves, give a holler.

Yeah.

Drive safe.

-Yeah, you, too. -Yeah.

(GENE CHUCKLES)

(CROWD CHEERING)

Safe!

-Yeah, Noah. -EUGENE: Go for it, man.

COMMENTATOR: That brings up Edgartown's

big cleanup hitter, Ben Driskel.

BOY: Come on, Ben.

Hurry up!

Come on, Ben.

Strike!

WOMAN: You got it, Ben.

It's okay. It's all right.

Come on, Ben.

EUGENE: You got this, Ben.

Ben, please.

UMPIRE: (VOICE ECHOES) Strike two!

(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

(UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING)

(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)

(ALL CHEERING)

GIRL: Go, Ben! BOY: Go, Ben!

-Yes! -Yeah!

COMMENTATOR: Let's hear it for Big Ben Driskel.

What a great game!

Yes, baby!

-EUGENE: Go, Ben! -Go!

Ben?

What'd I miss?

ALL: (CHANTING) Ben! Ben! Ben! Ben! Ben!

(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(WITCH CACKLING)

-(CACKLING ENDS) -(MUSIC FADES OUT)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)