THE TELLER'S TALES We open on a computer,and on the computer,as always,is the Teller's Tales webpage. In the middle of the computer screen,on the small webcam screen,the Teller is once again sitting in his story room. THE TELLER Welcome once again to The Teller's Tales. Today's story is about life,death,and decomposition. All of which I'm a big fan of. This one's called- EPISODE 6: GRANDMA LIVES The screen flickers and we end up looking at- EXT. A CEMETARY-DAY-A GROUP OF MOURNERS ARE GATHERED AROUND AN OPEN GRAVE WITH A CASKET SITTING ON TOP OF IT. STANDING AT THE TOP OF THE CASKET IS A PREACHER,WHO IS LEADING THE MOURNERS IN PRAYER. A light snow is falling, joining the few inches that are already on the ground. As the preacher continues praying,we look the casket over,then look at the grave's headstone. At the top of the headstone is the name WOODS,and in the middle are two linking wedding rings. On the left side of the rings is the name- EDWIN MICHAEL. 1925-1996. On the right side is- HELEN JANE. 1929- Helen's year of death hasn't been put on the stone yet, but it's her funeral we're witnessing. PREACHER Amen. CUT TO BLACK. EXT. THE WOODS FAMILY HOME-NIGHT-ESTABLISHING. A TWO STORY IN SUBURBIA,THE FRONT PORCH WRAPPED WITH RED AND GREEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. INT. THE HOUSE-THE DINING ROOM-THE WOODS FAMILY IS SITTING AT THE TABLE EATING SUPPER. THE FAMILY CONSISTS OF- FATHER ALAN,MOTHER MICHELLE,14 YEAR OLD SON BRANDON,AND 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CHRISSY. THERE'S AN EMPTY CHAIR AT THE TABLE. HELEN'S CHAIR. ALAN It's gonna take a while to get used to not having mom around the house. MICHELLE It'll be strange for a while. BRANDON It's gonna take a while to get used to the silence. Chrissy giggles,trying not to. ALAN What do you mean by that? BRANDON It's just that Grandma was always barking out orders... ALAN Brandon! MICHELLE Be respectful. BRANDON I'm not saying it to be mean, but it's the truth. She did boss us around alot. Not just me and Chrissy,she bossed you guys around too... And Dusty that time he was over last month. ALAN You can't hold her accountable for the things she did in the last month. She wasn't in her right mind. MICHELLE I don't think this is appropriate for the dinner table. ALAN We can't talk about my mother at the dinner table? MICHELLE Talking about her is fine, but we're getting a little... We're just getting into things that aren't appropriate for dinner time,that's all. If we're going to talk about these things it should be in the livingroom, after dinner. BRANDON Wait, I don't want to talk about it. ALAN Then you should have kept your smart remarks to yourself. BRANDON I didn't think it'd become such an issue, or I would have. ALAN Well next ti... Alan is interrupted when a knocking comes from offscreen. MICHELLE Is somebody here? ALAN Sounds like it. The knocking sound comes again and Alan gets up. MICHELLE Who would be here so late? ALAN Probably another neighbor with food. Alan heads for the front door. INT. THE FRONT ROOM-AS ALAN WALKS TOWARD THE DOOR THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE KNOCKS AGAIN. ALAN Hold on. Alan reaches the door,unlocks it,and opens it,revealing- HELEN,standing on the front porch in her burial dress, which is now covered with dirt and wet from snow. HELEN It's about time. ALAN Mom? Helen brushes past Alan and walks into the house. ALAN Mom? HELEN Yes,Alan,what do you want? ALAN What... HELEN "What"'s a good question,I'd like to know how I ended up standing out in the snow,in my best dress,and freezing half to death... And what's that smell? Food? Helen walks out of the room. ALAN What... INT. THE DINING ROOM-HELEN ENTERS,AND EVERYONE FREEZES IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING. Brandon was in the middle of raising a spoonful of food to his mouth. The food falls off the spoon and into his lap. He doesn't notice. MICHELLE He...Helen? CHRISSY Grandma? HELEN Having supper without me I see. Helen sits down in her chair and looks over the food. HELEN I'd really like to know what's going on around here. Helen looks up at Michelle,Brandon,and Chrissy. HELEN What's wrong with you all? Why are you staring at me? Brandon drops his spoon and runs out of the room. Chrissy follows. HELEN Well that wasn't polite. MICHELLE H-Helen,I... I... Michelle slowly stands up out of her chair,shaking. MICHELLE I... Y-you shouldn't be here. HELEN Why shouldn't I? MICHELLE Alan?! There's no answer. Michelle backs up against the wall and starts to head for the doorway to the front room,sliding along the wall and keeping her eye on Helen. MICHELLE Alan?! Still no answer. HELEN Michelle,what is going on? MICHELLE You shouldn't be here... you... Michelle reaches the doorway and turns around to enter the front room,running into Alan,who has just stepped into the doorway and is in a daze. Michelle screams,causing Alan to scream too. HELEN You people have lost your manners and your minds! Helen turns her attention back on the food. HELEN That turkey looks good... CUT TO BLACK. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-SOON-A FAMILY MEETING IS GOING ON,WITH MICHELLE AND ALAN SITTING ON THE COUCH AND HELEN SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR. THE ONLY LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE RED AND GREEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS OUTSIDE. Michelle has a death grip on Alan's arm,and Brandon and Chrissy are standing by a doorway,ready to run. ALAN Mom,you died on Sunday. We just had your funeral earlier today... HELEN Alan, don't talk like that. I'm an old woman,I could go at any time,and you're talking that way? When I am gone you'll be sorry. ALAN You were gone. You were gone for 3 days. Don't you remember? HELEN The last thing I remember was feeling sick to my stomach,and going to bed before dinner last night. ALAN Feeling sick... Mom,that was two months ago. You went to the doctor the next day, you found out you had cancer. HELEN Alan,I told you to stop saying those kinds of things! ALAN I'm sorry,but... How do you think you ended up outside tonight? HELEN That I don't know. But I certainly don't think it was because I died and crawled out of my grave! That's ridiculous. I'm very disappointed with all of you,I can't believe you'd treat me this way. INT. THE KITCHEN-SOON-ALAN AND MICHELLE ARE TALKING, BY THEMSELVES. MICHELLE What do you think? ALAN I can't believe this is happening. MICHELLE None of us can... But it is. So we have to figure out what we're gonna do about it. ALAN What can we do? She's my mother, it's not like we can just turn her in for research or something. We have to keep her safe... MICHELLE And how do we do that? ALAN We keep her in the house. We don't let people see her. MICHELLE That could get complicated. ALAN But it has to be done. She never really left the house anyway,so that shouldn't be a problem. The kids just won't be able to have friends over,and after what happened with Brandon's friend they wouldn't have been allowed anyway if mom was alive. As she is again. MICHELLE So we just keep her around and treat her the same way we have for the last few months? ALAN Basically,yeah. MICHELLE But... God,Alan,it's so damn creepy. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-BRANDON AND CHRISSY ARE STILL STANDING BY THE DOORWAY,STARING AT HELEN. Helen is staring back at them. HELEN Having fun? BRANDON Huh? HELEN Having fun playing your little game? BRANDON Uh... HELEN Could you atleast turn the TV on for me? BRANDON I... HELEN Come on,turn the TV on for your poor old granny. Quit playing your tricks. Brandon looks at Chrissy. Chrissy shakes her head. CHRISSY (whisper) Don't do it. Brandon looks back at Helen. HELEN You let your little sister boss you around now? Brandon looks at Chrissy again,then back at Helen,then starts to walk forward. He's walking toward the coffee table,which is about 5 feet infront of Helen. Laying on the table is the TV remote. Brandon stops at the coffee table,on the opposite side from the one Helen and the remote are on. He reaches over the table,but can't reach the remote. He takes another step forward,putting his knee on the table. As he starts to reach for the remote again- HELEN Don't lean on the table! Brandon yells and jumps back off the table. HELEN Come around it. Brandon slowly,cautiously starts to walk around the table. He reaches the other side,picking up the remote,and aims it at the TV,turning the TV on. A sitcom comes on the TV just in time for a laugh track to kick in,and Helen leans forward and grabs Brandon by the arm and pulls him toward her. Chrissy screams and runs out of the room. Brandon screams and struggles while Helen pulls him toward her,but at the same time he doesn't want to struggle to hard because... she's still his Grandma. Helen wraps her arms around Brandon and leans her face toward his,appearing to be about to bite a chunk out of his face. Instead she just gives him a peck on the cheek. HELEN See,I don't bite like the dead people in those movies you watch. Helen lets Brandon go and he takes a few steps away. HELEN So I must not be dead,huh? EXT. THE HOUSE-DAY-WHILE WE LOOK AT THE HOUSE WE SEE, IMPOSED- TWO WEEKS LATER. INT. THE HOUSE-THE KITCHEN-BRANDON IS AT THE SINK, FILLING A GLASS FULL OF ICE WITH WATER. HELEN (O.S.) Brandon! I said bring me water! BRANDON I'm bringing it! HELEN (O.S.) What?! BRANDON I said I'm bringing it! Brandon turns the sink off and walks out of the room. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-HELEN IS HALF-SITTING,HALF-LAYING ON THE COUCH,WATCHING A SOAP OPERA. Brandon walks in and sets the glass of water on the table beside the couch. BRANDON There you go. HELEN Finally! Now bring me a blanket,it's frigid in this house! INT. BRANDON'S BEDROOM-BRANDON ENTERS AND SHUTS THE DOOR,SIGHING. BRANDON Dad,hurry home. HELEN (O.S.) Brandon!! BRANDON (to himself) Jesus... (loud) What?! HELEN (O.S.) Get back down here! BRANDON God,please... Kill her again. Brandon opens his door and walks out. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-HELEN IS STILL ON THE COUCH. Brandon enters. BRANDON What do you want? HELEN Where's your sister? BRANDON Why didn't you just call her? HELEN Don't get smart with me young man. BRANDON She's in the dining room,doing her homework. HELEN Did you do your homework? BRANDON Yes. HELEN Don't lie to me. BRANDON I'm not lying... Offscreen the front door opens,shuts,then Alan walks in in a suit,carrying a briefcase. ALAN Hey mom,how was your day? HELEN Great until Michelle went to work. These kids don't listen to a thing I say. ALAN Brandon... BRANDON Dad,I've done everything she's told me to do since I walked in the door! ALAN Then why did she say you don't listen? BRANDON Because she's a living dead bitch, that's why! ALAN Brandon! HELEN You should wash his mouth out with soap Alan. Alan grabs Brandon by the arm and pulls him out of the room. INT. THE DINING ROOM-CHRISSY IS SITTING AT THE TABLE DOING HOMEWORK. Alan and Brandon enter. ALAN Brandon,what do you think you're doing, using that language infront of your grandmother,and even worse,saying those kind of things about her? BRANDON It's the truth,dad. She's a bitch! She's worse than before she died,and as far as I'm concerned,she should have stayed dead! Alan slaps Brandon. ALAN You stop talking that way! That's it buddy,you're staying in your room for the rest of the day. You're not to do anything,and you're not getting any supper. BRANDON Fine by me,if I can't leave my room it means that I can't be that zombie's slave for the rest of the day. Brandon walks out of the room. ALAN Your grandmother is not a zombie! INT. BRANDON'S ROOM-LATER-BRANDON IS LAYING ON HIS BED, STARING AT THE CEILING. TEARS ARE ROLLING FROM HIS EYES. Light knocks come from the door. Brandon wipes his eyes. BRANDON What? CHRISSY (O.S.) Can I come in? BRANDON Yeah. The door opens and Chrissy comes in. She shuts the door behind her. BRANDON I fucking hate her Chrissy. CHRISSY I know... She is worse than before. I didn't think that was possible. BRANDON And even worse,she's dead. It's not like she actually needs all the shit she has me do. It not like it matters anymore. She could lie naked in the snow for a week and she wouldn't be any worse off. But I still wouldn't mind doing things for her, if only she wasn't so damn bitchy. CHRISSY I know what you're talking about, you don't have to explain it to me. I feel the same way. BRANDON It's gonna take too long for her rot, if that's what's gonna happen... I wish she'd just die again. CHRISSY So do I. Brandon sits up. BRANDON Really? CHRISSY Y...yeah,why? BRANDON I don't know. Just a thought. CHRISSY What thought? BRANDON Maybe we could make her die again. CHRISSY What do you mean? BRANDON We could kill her. It'd have to be in a way that mom and dad wouldn't know, or we'd be in a shitload of trouble. But she's really already dead,so it wouldn't be like murder,right? CHRISSY I guess not... BRANDON We should kill her. CHRISSY Well,how would we do it? BRANDON I don't know. Does she breathe? CHRISSY I think so. BRANDON Maybe we could suffocate her. CHRISSY I don't know,Brandon. It's dangerous, we could get in trouble. BRANDON We'd have to be careful, you're right. But I still think we should try. They sit in silence for a few seconds. BRANDON So,what do you think? Should we do it? Chrissy sighs. CHRISSY It's worth a try. BRANDON Alright. We'll try it tonight. INT. ALAN AND MICHELLE'S ROOM-NIGHT-ALAN AND MICHELLE ARE ASLEEP IN BED. We pull back,through the open door,and we're- INT. THE HALLWAY-BRANDON AND CHRISSY ARE LOOKING IN ON THEIR PARENTS. Brandon silently shuts the door. BRANDON Let's do it. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-BRANDON AND CHRISSY COME DOWN THE STAIRS AND ENTER THE ROOM. INT. HELEN'S ROOM-HELEN IS ASLEEP IN BED. The door silently opens and Brandon and Chrissy enter. Helen is asleep on the side of the bed that's closest to the door,so Brandon and Chrissy walk around the bed to the other side,where Brandon pulls the extra pillow off the bed. They then walk back to Helen's side of the bed. They stand beside Helen,looking at her. They then look at eachother. Brandon raises his eyebrows questioningly. Chrissy nods. They lunge forward,both putting the pillow on Helen's face and holding it down tightly. As soon as the pillow is on her face Helen starts to struggle and thrash around. Brandon and Chrissy put as much weight as possible on the pillow. Helen manages to claw Brandon's face with her fingernails, drawing blood,but Brandon just grimaces and keeps his weight on the pillow. After about a minute,Helen stops moving. Brandon and Chrissy wait a few more seconds,then look at eachother. CHRISSY (whisper) Did she...? BRANDON (whisper) I think so... They wait a few more seconds,then take their weight off the pillow. They take a few steps away from the bed. CHRISSY (whisper) Is that it? BRANDON (whisper) I think so... CHRISSY Thank God. Helen suddenly sits up in bed,yelling and flinging the pillow off her face. Brandon and Chrissy try to hold back their screams as they turn around and run out of the room. Helen looks toward the door,but Brandon and Chrissy are already gone. HELEN (loud whisper) Little shits! INT. BRANDON'S ROOM-BRANDON AND CHRISSY ARE STANDING NEAR THE DOOR,QUIETLY FREAKING OUT. CHRISSY What do we do,Brandon? BRANDON I don't know. CHRISSY We have to do something! BRANDON What can we do,Chrissy? Run away? CHRISSY Oh... Chrissy starts crying. BRANDON Hold it together,Chrissy,maybe we won't get in trouble. CHRISSY How can we not get in trouble? BRANDON Maybe she won't realize what was happening... CHRISSY She clawed your face! Brandon wipes the blood off his cheek. BRANDON Shit. Well,maybe... Footsteps are heard outside in the hall. BRANDON Hide! Brandon runs to his bed and gets in. Chrissy goes to the closet,opens the door,and gets in, shutting the door behind her. Brandon lays in bed,looking up at the ceiling,eyes darting around as he listens to the footsteps get closer and closer to his door. They finally reach the door. Then,a soft knocking comes. Brandon doesn't answer,just keeps looking at the ceiling. The door starts to slowly swing open. Brandon clamps his eyes shut. HELEN (O.S.,whisper) Braaaandooonnn... Brandon keeps his eyes shut. Footsteps start to come across Brandon's room. HELEN (O.S.,whisper) Brandon,are you awake? INT. THE CLOSET-CHRISSY IS SITTING ON THE FLOOR, LEANING ON THE DOOR,HOLDING A SHIRT TO HER FACE TO QUIET THE SOUNDS OF HER CRYING. INT. THE BEDROOM-BRANDON IS STILL FAKING SLEEP. Helen steps up beside his bed and looks down at him. HELEN (whisper) I had a dream tonight... In my dream, I was talking to your grandfather. BRANDON'S P.O.V-WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DARK INSIDE OF OUR EYELIDS. HELEN (O.S.,whisper) He told me you were all right,that I am dead... But he said that I'll be with him soon. Our eyelids flicker open and we're looking up at Helen. HELEN Because he'll be here tomorrow. Helen slams a pillow down on our face. We leave Brandon's P.O.V. and watch as Helen suffocates Brandon with the pillow. HELEN Death isn't what it used to be. I don't know why. Brandon thrashes and struggles,but Helen keeps her weight on the pillow. HELEN But I'd rather be here than in the ground. Brandon soons stops moving. Dead. Helen waits a couple seconds,then takes her weight off the pullow. HELEN You'll see. Helen walks around the end of the bed and toward the closet door. INT. THE CLOSET-CHRISSY HAS STOPPED CRYING TO LISTEN TO WHAT'S GOING ON. From the other side of the door comes silence. Then- HELEN (O.S.,whisper) Chrissy... Chrissy sobs. EXT. THE HOUSE-THE NEXT EVENING-WE LOOK AT THE HOUSE, THEN WE CUT TO A SHOT ABOUT 3 FEET INFRONT OF THE FRONT DOOR. A man in a suit steps up infront of us. He knocks on the door. After a few seconds the door opens and Helen stands there in her best dress,smiling. HELEN Edwin! INT. THE HOUSE-THE FRONT ROOM-EDWIN,HELEN'S FORMERLY DEAD HUSBAND,STEPS INTO THE HOUSE. EDWIN Helen... What's happening? HELEN It'll all come back to you in time. Helen hugs Edwin,then gives him a quick kiss. HELEN It's so good to see you again. Helen holds Edwin by the hand and leads him into the dining room. HELEN You're just in time for supper. INT. THE DINING ROOM-HELEN AND EDWIN ENTER. Supper is laid out on the table. HELEN The others should be joining us soon. Helen pulls out a chair for Edwin and he sits down. As he does,Brandon comes walking in,still in his bed clothes. HELEN Oh,here they come already! Brandon looks around,a confused look on his face. HELEN Have a seat hon. Brandon takes a seat at the table as Chrissy walks in,also still in her bed clothes and with a confused look on her face. HELEN Your parents should be here in a few minutes,then we can eat. INT. ALAN AND MICHELLE'S BEDROOM-ALAN AND MICHELLE ARE IN BED,MICHELLE WITH A KNIFE STUCK IN HER CHEST AND ALAN WITH A PILLOW ON HIS FACE. Michelle slowly sits up,and Alan begins to stir. CUT TO BLACK. OPEN AGAIN ON: CU OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN,AT THE TELLER'S TALES SITE. The Teller is on the webcam screen. THE TELLER It's nice to see families working out their differences and becoming a happy unit again,isn't it? That does it for this Tale, I'll have another one for you in less time than it takes the dead to rise. Until then, sweet dreams. FADE TO BLACK. THE END