THE TELLER'S TALES In the darkness we hear a dial-up connecting to the net,then we open on a computer. On the computer is The Teller's Tales website,and on the webcam The Teller is in his story room. THE TELLER Hello. Today's Tale is another holiday themed story. You may have seen a few different versions of this story, but this one's done with some of the old Teller's Tales style. It's called- EPISODE 8: HO HO HOMICIDE The screen turns white. The whiteness slowly turns out to be a flurry of snow,and we're- EXT. A ONE STORY COUNTRY HOUSE-NIGHT-CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE ALL OVER THE HOUSE. In one window is a Santa face made of red and white lights. INT. THE HOUSE-A BEDROOM-THE SANTA FACE IS IN THIS ROOM'S WINDOW. Sitting up in bed is MARY WOODERSON. She's watching the TV that's at the foot of the bed and is showing the 10 o'clock news. On the news 2 newscasters are sitting at a desk, and one of them is talking. NEWSCASTER Police and sheriff departments in the Junction County area have issued an All Points Bulletin this evening for a male caucasian reported to have brutally murdered 12 people in the Willard area last Christmas season. Authorities say that the man,Frank Hooper,a patient at the Chicago Junction Institute For The Criminally Insane,escaped earlier this evening and should be considered extremely dangerous. Some viewers may remember Hooper as Satan Claus,a name given to him by some reporters because he wore a Santa Claus costume during his murder spree. Whether or not... Mary turns the TV off as her husband WILLIAM walks out of the bathroom,buttoning his shirt. He shuts the door to the bathroom,locking it with a little hook latch. William sits down on the edge of the bed and starts putting shoes and socks on. MARY It doesn't seem right. WILLIAM What doesn't seem right? MARY You having to work on Christmas Eve. WILLIAM Gotta make the bacon. Don't worry about it, I'll be home by the time Noah gets up. MARY Why couldn't you ask Dusty to take your spot tonight? He doesn't have a family to be with tomorrow... WILLIAM Dusty's at home with a broken ankle. MARY Oh yeah. WILLIAM Like I said... William finishes putting his shoes on and turns around to look at Mary. WILLIAM I'll be home in time to open presents. MARY Remember we have to go to my parent's tomorrow afternoon. WILLIAM I know. I went to bed early tonight for a reason. I'm also gonna see about fixing your trunk. But we might have to take it in to the shop for that. William kisses Mary. WILLIAM Don't worry. William stands up off the bed. WILLIAM I gotta go. INT. ANOTHER BEDROOM-MARY AND WILLIAM'S 6 YEAR OLD SON, NOAH,IS LAYING IN BED,STARING UP AT THE CEILING. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-SITTING ON TOP OF THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM IS A GLASS OF MILK AND A PLATE WITH 2 COOKIES ON IT. William grabs the glass of milk,takes a big drink, then sets the glass back down. He grabs one of the cookies and walks out of the room. INT. NOAH'S ROOM-NOAH IS STILL STARING AT THE CEILING. Offscreen we hear a door shut. Noah quickly sits up,getting very excited. He jumps out of bed and runs for the door. NOAH Mom! Dad! INT. MARY AND WILLIAM'S BEDROOM-THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN AND NOAH RUNS IN,JUMPING ON THE BED,WHERE MARY HAS GONE BACK TO WATCHING THE NEWS. NOAH Mom! What was that noise? MARY Noah,what are you doing up? NOAH I heard Santa! MARY What did you hear? NOAH I heard the door... MARY That was your father going to work. NOAH It was? MARY Yes. NOAH Oh... (beat) Well,has Santa come yet? MARY Not yet. NOAH Why not? MARY Were you asleep? NOAH Yes. MARY Were you really? You know Santa won't come if you lie. NOAH No... I was awake. MARY Well that's why he hasn't come yet. You have to be asleep. Come on. Mary gets out of bed and heads for the door. Noah follows. NOAH But I can't sleep... INT. NOAH'S ROOM-SOON-NOAH IS LAYING IN BED AND MARY IS SITTING BESIDE THE BED. MARY You want me to read something? NOAH Yeah! MARY What? NOAH The poem. MARY 'Twas the Night Before Christmas? NOAH Yes. MARY Again? How many times did your dad read that to you earlier? NOAH Just three times. MARY Oh,is that all? NOAH Yeah. Then he just quit. MARY Well I better read it to you then. Three times just isn't enough,is it? NOAH Nope. Mary grabs a small book off the top of Noah's bed and opens it. MARY Ready? NOAH Yep. MARY Ok. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house,not a creature was stirring,not even a mouse. Noah is reciting the poem with his mom,his lips moving but no sound coming out. MARY The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,in hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. CUT TO: INT. NOAH'S ROOM-SOON-NOAH IS ASLEEP IN BED. MARY (V.O.) The children were nestled all snug in their beds,while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-THE CHRISTMAS TREE IS ALL LIT UP, BUT THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE PRESENTS UNDER IT. Mary is drinking a cup of egg nog and has a nearby closet open. She pulls a large suitcase out of the closet,revealing a bunch of presents hidden in the back. EXT. THE HOUSE-THE LEGS OF SOMEONE IN A SANTA CLAUS COSTUME STEP INFRONT OF US AS WE LOOK AT THE HOUSE. INT. THE HOUSE-MARY IS SETTING PRESENTS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE. Loud noises start coming from outside. MARY (V.O.) When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Mary goes to the window and opens the blinds. MARY (V.O.) Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. MARY'S P.O.V-OUT IN THE SNOW COVERED,MOONLIT YARD THE PERSON IN THE SANTA CLAUS COSTUME IS TEARING APART A MINIATURE DECORATION OF SANTA IN HIS SLEIGH PULLED BY THE EIGHT REINDEER. MARY (V.O.) The moon on the breast of new fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below when what to my eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. The man in the costume pulls the little Santa out of the sleigh and throws it toward the house. MARY What the hell... EXT. THE HOUSE-WE WATCH THE MAN KICK THE REINDEER TO PIECES,LAUGHING AND YELLING- MAN On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen! On Comet,on Cupid,on Donder and Blitzen! The man looks up at the house. MAN'S P.O.V-AS HE LOOKS AT THE HOUSE THE BLINDS ON THE WINDOW MARY WAS LOOKING OUT OF QUICKLY SHUT. MARY (V.O.) His eyes,how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The man walks toward the house. INT. THE HOUSE-THE KITCHEN-MARY COMES RUNNING IN AND HEADS FOR THE PHONE. EXT. THE HOUSE-THE PSEUDO SANTA IS AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE,RIPPING THE PHONE LINE OUT AND LAUGHING. MARY (V.O.) He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. INT. THE HOUSE-THE KITCHEN-MARY RAISES THE PHONE TO HER EAR. NO DIAL TONE. MARY Shit! Mary slams the phone down. INT. NOAH'S BEDROOM-THERE'S A CLATTERING SOUND OUTSIDE THAT WAKES NOAH UP. His eyes flutter open,and he's looking right at the window at the foot of his bed as the man in the Santa costume walks by,not looking in. NOAH Santa! INT. THE KITCHEN-MARY IS MAKING SURE THE SIDE DOOR IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM IS LOCKED. Noah comes running into the room. NOAH Mommy! Mommy! MARY Noah! Shh,be quiet... NOAH But mom,I just saw Santa Claus! He's outside! MARY Be quiet Noah. Mary grabs Noah's hand and starts to pull him out of the room. As she does the side door shudders as something hits it from outside. Mary screams,turning to the door. The door shakes again,and this time something bursts through a small area of the door. We cut to a shot beside the door and see that it's the tip of an old rusty axe. EXT. THE HOUSE-THE MAN PULLS THE AXE OUT OF THE DOOR, THEN BRUTALLY SWINGS IN BACK INTO THE DOOR. INT. THE HOUSE-MARY AND NOAH RUN OUT OF THE KITCHEN. NOAH Mom,what's going on? Mary doesn't answer,she just keeps pulling Noah through the house. INT. THE KITCHEN-THE SIDE DOOR COLLAPSES AND THE MAN ENTERS. MARY (V.O.) He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. The man starts across the kitchen,snow falling off his boots. INT. A HALLWAY-MARY AND NOAH RUN INTO THE HALL AND GO INTO THE FIRST DOOR THEY REACH. INT. THE ROOM,WHICH IS THE BATHROOM-MARY PULLS NOAH IN AND SHUTS THE DOOR,LOCKING IT. Noah is crying. NOAH Mom,why is Santa so mad? MARY I don't know. NOAH I've been good... Noah starts sobbing. Mary kneels down and hugs Noah. MARY It's alright,Noah. That's not Santa. That's just a mean man pretending to be Santa,and we have to get away from him. We're going to get away from him. NOAH Why is he after us? MARY I don't know,honey. I don't know. Mary stands back up and goes to the window in the back of the room,sliding it open. The window is about 5 feet above the floor and doesn't open very much. Mary would be able to pick Noah up and put him through,but she wouldn't be able to go through herself. MARY Damn. Footsteps come from outside the door and Mary turns to face the door. The shadow of feet appear at the bottom of the door. INT. THE HALL-THE MAN REACHES THE BATHROOM DOOR AND STOPS,LEANING AGAINST THE DOOR,PUTTING HIS EAR UP AGAINST IT. He listens,but silence comes from the room. He furrows his brow,then- NOAH (from in the room) Mom... MARY (in the room,interrupts) Shh... The man smiles,then takes a step back from the door, raising the axe. MARY (V.O.) He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work. The man swings the axe into the door. INT. THE BATHROOM-MARY HOLDS BACK A SCREAM,BUT NOAH DOESN'T HOLD BACK A SCREAM OF HIS OWN. Mary rushes Noah toward a door on the back side wall of the bathroom. She tries to open the door but it stops after an inch. INT. MARY AND WILLIAM'S BEDROOM-THE DOOR MARY IS TRYING TO GO THROUGH IS THE DOOR WILLIAM CAME THROUGH AND LOCKED EARLIER. INT. THE BATHROOM-MARY SLAMS HERSELF AGAINST THE DOOR AS HARD AS SHE CAN. INT. THE BEDROOM-THE HOOK LATCH IS TORN OUT OF THE WALL AND THE DOOR FLIES OPEN. INT. THE BATHROOM-MARY AND NOAH RUSH INTO THE BEDROOM JUST AS THE MAN MANAGES TO BURST THROUGH THE BATHROOM DOOR. INT. THE BEDROOM-MARY AND NOAH RUN TO A WINDOW BESIDE THE BED AND MARY OPENS IT. MARY Noah,run to the Burleson's. Tell them what's happening. NOAH But... MARY Just do it! You have to! Mary picks Noah up and drops him out the window. EXT. THE HOUSE-NOAH DROPS TWO FEET TO THE FLOOR OF A WOOD PORCH THAT WRAPS AROUND THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. Noah stands and turns to the window. NOAH Mom,come on! INT. THE BEDROOM-THE MAN STEPS INTO THE ROOM. Mary looks over at him. MARY I can't Noah. NOAH Mom! Mary shuts the window. The man chuckles and takes another step into the room. NOAH Mommy! Mary jumps onto the bed at the same time as the man starts to run toward her. She runs across the bed and jumps off,slamming into the door to the hallway. The man comes at her,raising his axe. Mary grabs the doorknob,throws the door open,and runs out into the hall. INT. THE HALL-MARY RUNS DOWN THE HALL,THE MAN RIGHT BEHIND HER. EXT. THE HOUSE-NOAH RUNS OFF THE PORCH. INT. THE HOUSE-MARY RUNS INTO THE KITCHEN. The linoleum floor is covered in water from the snow off the man's boots and Mary slips,falling to her back on the floor. MARY'S P.O.V-ON HER BACK,LOOKING UP AT THE CEILING. The man steps into our view,brandishing his axe and looking down at us. MAN Ho. Ho. Ho. The man starts to swing the axe at Mary's head. Mary grabs the man's leg and pulls,and since the floor is so slick she manages to pull him off his feet. He falls to the floor on his side,the axe slamming into the floor right infront of his face. Mary scrambles to her feet and heads for the doorway. EXT. THE HOUSE-MARY RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE AND RIGHT INTO NOAH. NOAH Mom! Let's go! MARY Noah,I told you to leave! NOAH I was scared for you! MARY Well come on... They're in a small walkway between the house and the garage,and Mary pulls Noah to the garage door. She opens it and they enter. INT. THE GARAGE-MARY AND NOAH ENTER,GOING TO MARY'S CAR. Mary reaches the driver's side door and tries to open it,but it's locked. MARY Oh,shit! NOAH What? What's wrong? MARY Your father had the keys,they're still in the house. The man suddenly bursts into the garage,slamming the axe into Mary's car over and over in a rage,busting out the windows and chopping into the hood and roof. Mary and Noah run toward the front of the vehicle but the man jumps up onto the car's hood. They turn and run toward the back of the car. The man runs across the top of the car. Mary and Noah reach the back of the car. The trunk is being held shut by a hook strap,and Mary pulls the strap off. The trunk flies open,hitting the man as he starts to jump down onto it and knocking him back onto the top of the car. Holding hands,Mary and Noah run to the garage door as the man rolls off the car and starts after them. EXT. THE GARAGE-SINCE THE MAN IS RIGHT BEHIND THEM MARY AND NOAH ARE FORCED TO RUN BACK INTO THE HOUSE. INT. THE HOUSE-THE KITCHEN-THE FLOOR IS STILL WET AND MARY AND NOAH SLIP. Mary doesn't fall but Noah does,hitting his head on the side of the counter. Noah falls to the floor,unconscious,partly held up since Mary's still holding his hand. MARY Noah! Mary picks Noah up and continues running across the kitchen. When Mary is halfway across the kitchen the man enters, running at top speed. Mary runs into the next room,and the man catches up to her halfway across the room. He grabs her and shoves her forward. There is a divider between this room and the next,the livingroom,that is made partly of wood poles. Mary holds Noah tightly against her as she slams against the poles and goes through them,falling into the livingroom. INT. THE LIVINGROOM-MARY LANDS ON HER BACK,STILL HOLDING NOAH. She sits up and scrambles backwards,ending up against the Christmas tree. The man walks in,and slowly starts walking toward Mary and Noah,who are now pretty much just sitting ducks. The man steps up infront of them and raises his axe, whistling "Jingle Bells". Mary closes her eyes,silently praying. The man is about to swing the axe. Then jingling sounds come from behind him. A confused look comes across the man's face and he starts lowering his axe,turning around. From a floor level shot we look at the man as he turns around. The legs of someone else in a Santa costume step infront of us. The man drops his axe,looking amazed. A gloved hand hits him right in the face,sending the man falling unconscious to the floor. Mary seems to have passed out,Noah still in her arms. We see a quick montage of shots- Presents being placed under the tree by the savior in Santa clothes. Santa taking the cookie William left on the plate and a drink of the remaining milk. The man being dragged out of the house by Santa. The montage ends on Mary and Noah,sleeping under the tree. Time goes by and the shot of Mary and Noah gets brighter as the sun rises outside. Noah eventually stirs,waking up. As Noah wakes up so does Mary. NOAH Mom? MARY Noah,are you ok? NOAH Yeah... What happened? Mary looks around. MARY I... I don't know. NOAH Where'd the bad Santa go? MARY I'm not sure. Mary stands up. Noah looks over at all the presents under the tree. NOAH Santa came! The real Santa came and saved us! Mary looks confused,and William suddenly rushes in. WILLIAM Mary,what the hell's going on?! The side door... William stops when he sees the state Mary and Noah are in. WILLIAM Are you two ok? Mary and Noah run to William and throw their arms around him,crying. WILLIAM I've missed something here. MARY So have I,but I'll tell you all about it later. For now just hold onto us. William puts his arms around his crying wife and son, and we freeze on this. MARY (V.O.) He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" CUT TO BLACK. OPEN AGAIN ON: EXT. THE COMPUTER,STILL ON THE TELLER'S TALES WEBSITE AND SHOWING THE TELLER ON THE WEBCAM,IN HIS STORY ROOM. THE TELLER So the ending was a little happier than the endings to most of my Tales,but even The Teller can get into the holiday spirit on a very rare occasion. I'll see you all again,next Tale. FADE TO BLACK. THE END