How do you like my new litter box?
(sinister laugh)
Halloween-- is it just a date on the calendar
that people from England don't know about...
or is it a state of mind...
or is it a state of... being?
I, frankly, don't know...
but come along on our Halloween journey
and maybe by the end, we'll all know.
(woman screaming)
Is this lining real satin?
¶ ¶
¶ Secrets ¶
¶ You're never gonna know ¶
¶ You're never gonna get it ¶
¶ Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah ¶
¶ Secrets, secrets ¶
¶ Secrets. ¶
¶ ¶
Sabrina, could you help me pick up
some stuff this afternoon?
"Water balloons, toilet paper,
dry ice, rotten eggs"?
One more thing-- could you find out
where the biology lab gets those pigs in formaldehyde?
Is your mom on another one of her crazy diets?
Hey, we only have...
33 hours and 12 minutes left till Halloween night.
We got to start planning our pranks and tricks now.
I can't.
Dreama and I are going to go look
for after-school jobs today.
We figured the best time to do it would be after school.
But this could be our last hurrah.
My dad says that
the Westbridge city council's
going to make it illegal
for kids over the age of 17 to trick-or-treat.
That's just wrong.
Huh... and I was going to march
against sweatshop labor in the Orient,
but now I've got this.
I can't believe how few glamorous, high-paying
after-school jobs there are
for inexperienced teenagers.
Life is so unfair.
So...
have you decided if you're an existentialist
an idealist or a nihilist?
Actually, currently, I'm an unemployed-ist.
I thought you were in my philosophy class. Sorry.
Can you believe it--
a real, live college student was talking to you?
College is going to be so great.
We'll get to take classes like philosophy
and hang out in places like this
with guys who... take philosophy.
Why don't you get a job here?
That'd be great.
This place is so cool
and none of the furniture matches.
Do you know how to make coffee?
No, but, if my cat can do it when he's half-asleep,
how hard can it be?
Oh, excuse me, um...
I'd like to speak to the manager.
You from the health department? No.
Then, I'm the manager.
I'm also the cashier, the table busser
and the bouncer.
As a matter of fact, you know what they call me?
What?
Josh.
Oh, well, excuse me,
Mr., Uh, Josh, um...
I'm looking for a job.
You are, huh?
You got any experience?
"Experience"?
I travel with my own Melitta filters.
So, you've got no idea how to make coffee?
None.
MAN: Could I get
a little service?
Oh, I'm sorry.
Oh!
Nice save!
If you can pour as well as you catch, you're hired.
Fantastic!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
This is going to make it hard
to negotiate salary, isn't it?
So... was the roller coaster scary?
"Scary"?
They make you sign an organ-donor form
before letting you on.
We rode upside-down
holding boiling soups and lawn darts.
HILDA: And still...
not scary.
Here it is the Halloween season
and we can't find one thing to scare us.
Perhaps we should give
that dentist who works without novocaine another try.
In just a few hours,
people will be mistaking me for Juan Valdez.
All right...
let me know what you think and be brutal.
Oh... (gags)
Oh, come on, it can't be that bad.
You try it.
It's fine...
just a little chewy.
It's been decades
since I've enjoyed the sweet taste of terror.
Your wait has come to an end, my fright-craving friend.
Suppose the three of us go to a graveyard
and I'll read some of the ghost stories
I've written-- The Tales of Salem.
See? The mere prospect paralyzes you with fear.
No... but your sad little suggestion gave me an idea.
You know who writes stories that are truly scary?
Edgar Allan Poe.
You're right.
Hey, let's make use of our time-travel clock
and invite him for a Halloween dinner.
Don't tell me you're scared by sissy-pants Poe.
Are you implying that the author
of "The Tell-Tale Heart" isn't scary?
His stories are scary,
'cause I gave him all his best ideas.
If it weren't for old Salem,
you'd be shivering to "The Tell-Tale Kidney."
Okay, here's the correct way to bus a table.
First, the trash.
Try to avoid screaming "yuck" at the top of your lungs.
I once saw my vice-principal in his boxer shorts.
Not a peep.
Next, the mugs, all right?
I like to pretend
the half-full ones mean good luck.
And then, you reach the mother lode--
a whole quarter tip!
You think you can handle that table?
Yeah. Just hand me a germ-laden rag
and I'm on it.
Oh, by the way, I know it's last minute,
but is there any chance
you could work the night shift on Halloween?
You mean, while everyone else is goofing off,
I get to make coffee
and wash dirty cups?
And clean the spill tray.
All this and minimum wage?
Where do I get my shots?
Great news, Hildie--
Edgar Allan Poe RSVP'd.
We're on our way to being truly scared.
Oh... he even wrote it in blood.
Actually, I think that's red crayon.
Good-- there's scary and there's gross.
(chuckles)
Hi, Sabrina.
How's our favorite coffee maker?
Uh, the correct term is "barista."
I love my job.
College kids are so sophisticated.
They talk about art and literature
and foreign films.
By the way, who's Jack Kerouac,
what's Cubism and can I get a futon?
Hey, while you're here, can you give us a hand?
Edgar Allan Poe is coming for dinner.
We want the house to be really scary,
so he'll be comfortable.
I thought the sound of clanking chains might be nice.
(chains clanking)
I was thinking more along the lines
of thunder and lightning.
(thunder crashing)
So much for the toolshed.
Let's get decorating.
It's my turn to hang up the skeleton.
You're dreaming.
You always get to hang up the skeleton.
Well, then, it's tradition-- gimme.
Don't make me separate you two.
What is it about this holiday
that makes people act so immature?
Well, she started it.
Pranks and hokey horror stuff.
You know, lucky for me, I've got plans for Halloween.
I'm going to be working at the coffee house.
Sabrina, you're a witch.
Witches can't run away from Halloween.
Watch me.
I'm done with all this kid stuff.
(man moaning eerily)
Okay, that was ominous.
Yeah, and it didn't scare me a bit.
Me, either.
SALEM: You know, I've been thinking
of revising my will and leaving you
my entire collection of Pez dispensers.
What do you want?
A ride to the graveyard tonight, please?
No can do.
I've got to work.
(eerie moaning)
Oh, that's right.
You've got that nice boss-- real generous guy...
always thinking of others, giving of himself.
Your point?
Think he'd give me a ride
to the graveyard?
You know, I'm really surprised
our special pumpkin- flavored coffee
hasn't been more popular.
You think it has anything to do with the fact
that it's a hideous shade of orange
and it tastes like pumpkin?
BOTH: Trick or treat.
None of the above.
Great costumes, huh?
You wouldn't believe how hard it was
to find ones that fit...
and it's flame-retardant.
Aren't you a little old for this?
Not until the city council passes that law.
Tonight is going to be a Halloween
for the record books.
We're going to warm up by egging Coach Koch's house,
work in a cow-tip or two
and, time permitting, wrap things up by streaking
across Old Lady Blankenship's front yard.
I'm glad to see you've added subtlety
to your bag of tricks this year.
Hey, Harv, come on, why are we still standing here?
We should be out there, burning poop.
Hey, I know how you love Tootsie Pops,
so I'll save any I get for you.
Uh, wash your hands first.
Cute kids.
I guess that's what happens when pregnant women smoke.
Well, I've got to get to the library
and finish my essay on Shakespeare's comedies.
I've compared-- now, I'm ready to contrast.
Wait a minute-- you're going to leave me here
to run things by myself?
Yeah, that's why I asked you to work tonight.
I really need someone I can trust.
The last guy I left here rented it out to bikers.
But how do you know you can trust me?
I've only worked here one day and I have very shifty eyes.
I'll only be a couple of hours.
I'll be back in time to help you close up.
But what if someone comes in here
and wants to order something?
You give it to them?
I promise you
Halloween night here is so easy.
The place is a morgue.
(eerie moaning)
Josh was right.
I can handle this...
and he's depending on me...
(eerie moaning)
and that's not scary.
ZELDA: You're a witch, Sabrina.
You can't run away from Halloween.
And that's just the onset of senility.
Uh...
may I help you?
I want to chop you up in little pieces.
You want what?
I want a cup of coffee.
Okay, I'm just letting
my imagination get the best of me...
but if I turn around and he's got an ax,
he loses the benefit of the doubt.
Okay, um, well, would you like
to join our biscotti-of-the-month club?
(cash register keys clicking)
I-I don't think I'll be back.
This coffee's so strong, it could wake the dead.
(eerie moaning)
"Wake the dead."
What was that guy talking about?
I mean, this batch was almost liquid.
See? Everything is fine.
So far, I've served five or six people
and not a single attempt on my life.
(loud crash)
(screams)
All right, calm down.
It's just the muffin tray.
Muffins aren't remotely scary.
They're fat-free.
I'm going to die!
Hi, Dreama.
Hilda, I'd like you to meet Mr. Poe.
It's such a pleasure to meet you.
Thanks for the ride.
That voice-- it's so scary.
May I take your cape?
No garment could be scarier.
This is the stuff of nightmares.
The only thing scary about that cape
is that he died in it and never had it cleaned.
Well, if no one wants to listen to my horror stories,
I'll just go shred some beloved sweaters.
Apparently, an AA meeting just let out.
Would you mind giving me a hand back here?
I've never really made a cappuccino before.
Oh, well, that's where good, old-fashioned
American ingenuity comes in handy.
Okay, and a little magic.
Frothy milk, nice and hot-tay,
whip me up two lowfat lattes.
(making steaming noise)
Okay, there you go.
There you are.
Listen, Zelda forgot to pick up the one thing
that will make Edgar Allan Poe feel at home.
An open bar?
A black cat. Forget it.
Fine. Then I'll go with my second choice.
Quoth the raven, "bite me."
Finally, we get a moment to relax.
I know. You know, I have to admit
before you got here, I was feeling sort of...
(thunder crashing)
afraid.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
It's just a severe thunderstorm.
On a calm, cloud-free evening.
This has nothing to do with my aunts trying to warn me
that I couldn't avoid Halloween.
(eerie moaning)
Stop that!
Oh, good. I thought that was my stomach.
What kind of people go out for coffee
in weather like this?
(moaning and groaning)
The flesh-eating, zombie kind.
(both screaming)
Mmm! Oh!
Ladies, that was the best meal
I've had in years.
In the afterlife, they don't cook with salt.
Can you believe how much roast beef he ate?
Talk about the pig and the pendulum.
And four desserts.
Well, thatll teach you to serve rum cake.
Still, we're lucky
to have the scariest writer of all time
as our Halloween guest.
Mr. Poe, would this be a good time
for you to read us a story?
Absolutely.
If you don't mind, I'd like to read something new.
(screams)
I'm just practicing.
(pounding)
I could be wrong,
but I don't think that lock was built
to withstand an onslaught from the undead.
What are we going to do?
I don't know.
Wait a minute.
We're witches.
I don't feel like visiting with walking corpses today.
Please make those zombies go away.
(pounding)
Uh-oh.
We're going to have to get rid of them
the old-fashioned way.
What's that?
Help! Help! Help!
Help! Help! Help! Help!
(thunder crashing)
(chains clanking)
Zelda, would you mind turning down your thunder?
If you turn down your clanking chains.
(clearing throat)
Very well.
A poem by Edgar Allan Poe.
(phone rings)
What is that ringing?
A telephone.
That's how we communicate these days.
Haven't you people ever heard of e-mail?
Salem, get the phone!
Go ahead and curdle our blood.
(spitting)
(mimicking Hilda): Salem, we're too busy being scared out of our wits
to answer the phone.
(normal voice): Hello.
Salem, exactly what did my aunts mean
when they said that I couldn't avoid Halloween?
I'm fine. How are you?
Salem!
If you run away from Halloween,
Halloween will find you--
and it won't be happy.
Oh! And... and once Halloween has found you,
how do you get it to unfind you?
That'll require research.
(growling)
Do it, and hurry!
Right. Like I've got nothing better to do
than save your anti-Halloween butt.
Of all the ways to go--
death by zombie!
I can't bear to look!
What are they doing?
Are they clawing at our flesh?
(music playing)
Actually, they're having a party.
(loud dance music playing)
¶ ¶
(screaming)
(screams)
¶ ¶
I'm so fired!
Josh is going to be back any second
and I'm pretty sure
zombies are messier than bikers.
(phone rings)
Excuse me.
Oh! Oh! Sorry. Ooh!
Ugh! Just because their bodies are rotting
doesn't mean they can't shower once in a while.
Hello.
SALEM: Here's the deal.
To get out of your predicament,
you have to experience the fun of Halloween.
Fun? I'm up to my arms in... arms!
If I may suggest some fun,
think of a trip to the graveyard
to listen to Salem's horror stories.
(dial tone)
Hello?
(growling)
What fresh hell is this?
You don't understand.
My boss trusted me to keep an eye on this place.
If he comes back and it's not...
(screams)
This is what happens
when you try to reason with someone who's decaying.
Toilet paper!
Oh, great, just what I need--
more Halloween fun.
Wait a minute.
That is what I need.
It's Harvey and Brad.
Harvey, quit TP'ing the Christian Science Reading Room
and get over here!
Interesting clientele.
What's that smell?
This is our last year we can trick-or-treat, right?
So let's make it count.
Gee, Sabrina,
we thought you were too mature for Halloween.
Oh, stop talking and start TP'ing.
They're leaving.
Woo-hoo! We broke the spell.
Oh, wait.
Who forgot their foot?
What did I tell you about Sabrina's pranks?
Her family takes Halloween very seriously.
And you keep telling me they're not weird.
Harvey, you were right, you know?
Why not just loosen up and enjoy Halloween
as long as little kids
aren't making fun of us to our faces?
You're the best.
POE: "I love you enough
"to let you walk,
"but I love you too much to let you run.
"But you don't want to walk.
"You want to run.
Let's skip."
Part 17. Excuse me,
Mr. Poe.
I don't mean
to interrupt, but we thought
that you were going to read us something less dull.
She means something scary.
Horror?
I haven't done that tripe in years.
There's a much bigger market in inspirational writing.
Is that what this is?
Hilda, he's our guest.
We have to be polite.
"Rainbows and sparkles, kittens in a box..."
He's going down.
See you guys later.
And, uh...
don't let all the crickets loose
in Mr. Kraft's house till I get there.
Okay, a quick cleanup, and I'm home free.
So I don't get fired and take a lot of flak,
please help me clean up before my boss gets...
Sabrina?
Oh... Josh. Hi.
What happened to this place?
Look at all this toilet paper.
Oh, you wouldn't believe
how many kids came dressed as Mr. Whipple this year.
I'm sorry.
I know it's easy to get behind on your busing
when you're the only one here, but...
Am I fired?
I mean, I know I have to clean up and all,
but after that, am I fired?
Well, it is Halloween.
People should have fun.
And we are insured.
Hey, what's that?
I don't see any...
(screaming)
Wow, I guess this was worth $14.95.
Are you okay?
Yeah, as soon as my heart starts beating again, I'll be swell.
Well, I heard you liked them, so I brought you a Tootsie Pop.
Thanks.
So really, I'm not fired?
"Though she screamed as loud as she could,
"not a sound could be heard
"for the water slowly but inexorably rose
"over her face, and then...
Poor Salem. He was so determined to read his stories
whether anyone listened or not.
"...until, at last, she was no more."
The end.
See?
I told you they were scary.
My first mortal Halloween!
I had such a great time.
Yeah, it was fun.
Your boss, Josh, he's great.
Yeah, there's just one thing that bothers me about him.
What?
I have a huge crush on him.
So, what is it we learned in this week's episode?
That, try as you may,
you cannot run away from Halloween.
That you never really know what lurks beneath
your neighborhood sewer grate.
And that...
those zombies were really scary.
(yells)
Oh, right. My coffee.
Hey, where's my biscotti?