Mr. Crocket (2024) Movie Script
[low-pitched, eerie sounds]
- [children's song playing]
- ...is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
[distorted]
Whenever you're in trouble...
[distorted singing]
[laughter]
[speaker] That was really good.
That was really good, boys and girls.
[laughter echoes]
[on TV] Oh, it's so good to see
my friends: Judah, Melanie, and Jane!
Yes! How's your day goin'?
- [Jane] Good.
- And you?
- Amazing, Mr. Crocket.
- Good! "Amazing, Mr. Crocket!"
And Judah!
- Incredible!
- Incredible!
- [footsteps approach]
- Let's do some numbers!
- Darren, dinner.
- [Mr. Emanuel Crocket] Now
One, two, three, it's easy to see
- Let's learn how to count in--
- [TV static]
...countries
Cuatro, cinco, seis,
can you pick up the pace?
Boy, don't make me get up from this chair.
It's more fun to learn
when ya make it a race
[stepfather] Now. You hear me?
Yes!
[laugh echoes]
I don't know what you waitin' on.
Eat up.
Try it, honey.
It's good for you. Here.
Don't baby the boy.
Eat!
Hey! Don't forget your veggies.
[deep rumble]
I'm sorry, I'm full.
Hey.
We both work our asses off
to provide for you,
and I'm not gon' be
disrespected in my house!
You wanna be treated
like a fuckin' baby?
- I'll treat you like a baby then.
- [Darren] No!
- [stepfather] Eat.
- I'm full!
- [stepfather] I said eat.
- I don't wanna!
- [mother] Stop!
- [TV static]
[stepfather] Now keep goin'.
[sighs]
- You gonna thank me for this shit one day.
- [door closes]
[muffled] Somebody's gotta teach him
how to be a man... Damn!
- [dark, unsettling music playing]
- [TV static]
[lights flickering]
[door creaks]
[creepy laughter]
Mr. Crocket?!
Who the fuck are you?
Language.
Who's ready for a second course?
- [horror sting]
- [yelling]
- [Mr. Crocket laughs]
- [screaming]
- [Demonic Chair grumbling]
- [weakly] The fuck?
Dessert for the young man
who ate all his veggies!
- [Darren] Wow, awesome!
- [laughs]
[panicking]
Let me go, man. Please, man.
Go?
But it's family dinnertime.
Aren't you gonna eat, Kevin?
[demonic voice] Yeah, Kevin.
You haven't cleaned your plate.
[Kevin whimpers]
- [stammers] Uh, I can't eat that shit!
- Such a dirty mouth. [laughs]
Ya know, nutrition is the cornerstone
of a healthy life and good attitude.
If you don't eat right,
you can get the grumpies,
and no one likes
a Grumpy Gus, right, Chair?
You betcha.
[Mr. Crocket, Darren laughing]
So, I'm going to help you step up
- and be a big, strong man, Kevin.
- [Kevin grunting]
You see, so far,
you've been a really, really
[whispers]
bad example for your stepson.
I'm going to give you a chance
to show him how it's done.
One last... chance.
[Kevin whimpering]
[Mr. Crocket mimics propeller]
[Kevin] [resisting]
Mm-mm. Mm. Mm.
[Mr. Crocket getting louder]
- [shouts] We're comin' in for a landing!
- No!
- No!
- [Demonic Chair laughing]
[Mr. Crocket] [muffled]
Come on now! You can do it, Kevin!
Yes, we are!
Open up!
Come on, open wide!
- You can do it! You can do it!
- [Kevin resisting]
Come on! Ahh!
Come on, say it.
Open up! Open up, Kevin!
I guess force-feeding doesn't
feel that good, huh, Kevin?!
- Fine!
- [spoon clatters]
- [heavy breathing]
- Guess we're going to have to do this
the more direct way.
- No. [whimpers]
- Uh-huh.
[knife slices]
- [entrails sloshing]
- [sing-songy] Yummy yummy
For your tummy
Here, you got to finish all your food.
Come on, let's go.
- In we go! Oh, go in there.
- [Kevin wailing]
Don't spit it out!
Oh, I think it's time
for Grandma's chicken!
- [Kevin wails]
- Oh, yeah!
Don't forget your iron.
That's a very good idea, Mr. Chair.
- [iron hisses]
- Ah. Ah.
Yeah! Yeah!
[laughs]
[sings] You gotta eat right,
you gotta eat well
[Demonic Chair, Darren] [singing]
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
[Kevin]
[sobbing] Rhonda, help me!
[Mr. Crocket]
All that stuff about how to be a man!
- What happened?! Who's a man now?!
- [Demonic Chair laughing]
[screaming]
[TV static]
[screaming fades out]
- [children's song plays]
- A friend like you is a friend like me
[Mr. Crocket] [echoes]
Children, hear my song.
Whenever you're in trouble...
Call out to me.
You can call on me
I'll find you.
...in a heartbeat
- [TV static]
- I'll save you
from all the mommies and daddies
that don't deserve your love...
the way I do.
[TV static]
[TV clicks off]
[echoes] Who's next?
I'm always watching.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
[keys jingle softly]
[sighs]
[Major] Why are we here?
I wanna go home.
- [Major sighs]
- Because Daddy was sick
for a long time,
and we did everything we could...
and this is how we say goodbye.
This is how Daddy
would want us to say goodbye.
Okay?
Let's go.
[soulful organ music playing]
[door opens, closes]
- Baby.
- [Major] Hm?
- Come on.
- No. No, I'm not goin' in there!
Sweetheart, listen to me.
I know this is hard, honey...
[softly] but we have
to do this for Daddy... okay?
Can I have my game, please?
Yeah? Okay.
You behave.
Let's go, come on.
Well, thank you all for being here
to help celebrate my husband's life.
[sniffles] Um...
I feel like I'm lookin' out
at everybody that made him him.
As the absolute pride
of Shurry Bottom,
[sniffles] he got to be all up in
all y'all's business. [laughs]
[sniffles]
And, um, y'all gave him a lotta names.
Some of you knew him as Baby Bev.
Some of you called him Coach B.
A lotta you just called him J...
[sniffles]
[cries] but for me...
- [sniffles] he was my everything.
- [game trills and beeps]
[muffled voice echoes]
[solemn music playing]
Thank you.
[quiet, indistinct chatter]
[creepy, ominous music playing]
- [music fades out]
- [indistinct chatter]
I'm so bored.
Can I go outside?
Yeah, baby.
Stay where I can see you.
[upbeat music playing quietly]
Oh, he got a mouth on him.
You know, with Jerrel gone,
it's gon' be up to you
to keep that in check,
and a good whoopin's the only way.
Swear to Jesus, that's the best advice
I could ever give you.
[muffled]
What does that even mean, "I'm bored..."
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [muffled chatter]
[muffled, echoes]
Spare the rod, spoil the child...
[radio static, channels changing]
[mumbling]
You like football?
My son loved football too.
You know, you remind me
of him, you really do,
but you're not gonna end up like him.
Nah, I swear, not if you're with me.
Hey, let me go!
[muffled chatter]
- [Major] Hey, let me go!
- [Rhonda] Come on.
Let me just get a closer look at you.
- No, stop!
- Don't you wanna be my friend?
We could all use more friends.
Oh, oh, do you wanna sing the song?
The song that friends sing together?
[sings]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
- Let go of me! Mom!
- Good, good.
When he comes, you run!
You hear me?
[inhales] You pull hard
and you run as fast as you can!
[Major] [muffled yelling]
Get off of me! Mom!
- [normal] Mom!
- [screams] Get your hands off my child!
The fuck is wrong with you?!
- [Rhonda] No, I-I--
- Get outta here!
I just wanted to warn him
to-to keep him safe. [inhales]
Get the fuck off my property
before I beat your ass!
He's comin'!
You understand?
He wants your boy.
He wants Major.
So don't you never let him go.
You hear me?
'Cause he will never come back.
[breathing heavily]
He'll stay with him forever.
[singing softly]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on...
[music fades out]
[light, unsettling music playing]
- [Major] Daddy, Daddy!
- [sniffles]
[bed rattling]
- [door creaks]
- Major? Major, hey, you're dreaming.
Hey, I'm here. Hey.
- [Major gasps, pants]
- Wake up.
- Hey, baby.
- No.
- I want Daddy.
- [Summer sighs]
[sighs]
Daddy isn't here anymore, honey.
I'm sorry.
I wish he was here, too,
but, um... maybe one day,
when the time comes,
we'll see him again.
Why can't I see him now?
[sighs] You want the truth?
I'm just as lost
and as sad as you are.
Between...
the bills, and taking care of you,
and keepin' a roof over our heads,
I honestly have no idea what to do.
[deep breath]
But I tell you what,
one thing is never gonna change, Major.
We will never be alone going through this.
You and me, we will
always, always have each other.
[sighs]
One second.
- [item rattles]
- Keepin' it real, I'd be a horrible coach.
- I was always shit at sports.
- [Major chuckles]
But...
if you ever have a scary dream again,
or if you ever need me for anything,
you just blow that whistle,
and I will do my best to pick up
right where Daddy left off.
And maybe sometimes,
when I really need you,
you can be a good boy
and help Mommy out too?
'Cause we're a team... right?
- Right.
- [Summer chuckles]
[kisses]
I love you.
[whistle blowing]
- Alright, scooch your big butt over.
- You're the one with the big butt.
- Says who?
- Me.
Okay.
Proud of it too.
Mm. [kisses]
- [whistle blowing]
- [hip-hop music playing]
Right at me?
The road gets rocky like Marciano
You think of givin' up,
but you can't though
The picture that you watch,
change the channel
- Load your brain with some...
- Dang it!
Oh, my God. Major, do you have
any idea how much that costs?
[yells] I don't care!
'Cause remember, y'all,
it takes two to tango
So don't let 'em try
to play ya like a banjo
[doctor] [on cassette player]
If your child is throwing a tantrum,
remember, it's just a means
of testing their own power.
So, if they're curious about
what it means to be in control,
let them be in control.
- [blows whistle]
- You can't catch me!
- You're too slow!
- Oh, oh, am I?
[blows whistle]
Major!
Not gonna chase you!
[doctor]
To truly connect with your child,
you must first connect with yourself.
Let go of any anger or frustration.
Achieve the Zen you need
to be a role model they deserve.
Let the people see my name
and see my chain
This is awesome.
You know, I think you
missed a spot over there.
Oh, I got it.
Be who you wanna be
if you seek out bliss
I know the world takes
a little time to see our best
[doctor] Radical tip.
Instead of spanking your child,
allow your child to spank you
in a hands-on demonstration
of the value of em--
[stops recording]
[running footsteps]
- [Summer] Major.
- [whistle blowing]
I'm begging you to please stop.
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [whistle blowing]
[loud thunk]
[whistle blowing]
[soft, curious music playing]
[singers vocalizing]
[ambient nature sounds]
[door creaks]
Hm.
[dark, brooding music playing]
- [whistle blowing]
- Major.
Major... check this out.
I got somethin' for you.
Hello, boys and girls!
Welcome to Mr. Crocket's World!
[sings] And a friend like you
is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
Yes! [laughs]
Oh, it's so good to see my friends.
- I have a special treat for you.
- [Summer] Have fun, Major.
- [Mr. Crocket] Can you guess what it is?
- [children] What?
- It's Magical Marker Time!
- [group cheers]
And with my Magical Marker,
if you can think it, I can draw it.
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [kids cheering]
A basketball. Woo!
Oh! [laughs]
- [TV static]
- Whatever you can do,
and you can bounce it
however you wanna bounce it.
And you know how
I feel about bullies, right?
- [Melanie] Not in Mr. Crocket's World!
- [Mr. Crocket] There you go, Melanie!
[unsettling music playing]
[static]
[Mr. Crocket speaks
indistinctly on TV]
[Judah] [on TV]
Move all of the things on the board...
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[Judah] [distorted] Does Squawky Bird
prefer vanilla cake or bread crumbs?
[distorted] Ooh, that is a good question!
What do you think, Tickles?
- [Tickles the Clock] Bread crumbs!
- Bread crumbs! [laughs]
[screams]
[video distorts]
[static]
[TV clicks off]
Hey.
[whines] No, come on!
[whining]
[Mr. Crocket] [distorted on radio]
...friend like you
Dad?
Daddy, wake up.
- Daddy.
- What the fuck! What the fuck!
[panting]
I told you to stay in your room.
The TV's broken.
You gotta come fix it.
You pull this shit with your mom?
[clicking buttons, smacks TV]
[exhales]
It's dead.
There's nothin' I can do about it.
- Grab a new one soon.
- But I was watching--
[screams] I don't care! Okay?!
It is one damn night!
You are a big enough girl
to entertain yourself, Carey, okay?
Now... I'm gonna go take care of
some important grownup stuff,
so you do not come out of here
until I open this door.
You understand?
[softly] Okay.
[bottles clinking]
- [Carey] [sings] A friend like you
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- Is a friend like me
- [distant siren wailing]
A friend like us
Is a friend like me
Whenever you're in trouble
- [deep rumbling]
- [lights buzzing]
- [knocks on TV screen]
- [TV clicks on]
[slow knocks on TV screen]
[scared] Who's there?
[pants]
- [horror sting]
- [glass shatters]
[rocking chair creaking]
You were supposed to "Just Say No."
Who the fuck are you?
I'm just a friend.
I heard some raised voices
and wanted to see
if everything was alright.
Yeah, well, you must be
hearing things then, friend,
because... nobody was yelling here, okay?
So, I-I'm, I'm gonna need you to leave.
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
'Scuse me, what the fuck
do you think you're doing?
Hey! I told you to leave.
Oh, but I'm enjoying your chair.
Uh, it feels great.
You know, hey, good taste, Bill.
You get a gold star.
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [gun clicks]
- [Bill] You listen to me, asshole.
I'm gonna need you
to get the fuck out of my house.
Oh, Bill... you're mistaken
about two things.
First, your gun seems
to be having some issues.
[bubble echoes]
Oh, beautiful bubbles.
[laughs] You like bubbles, Bill?
And secondly...
this is my house now.
I'm going to be brutally honest
[whispers] with you, Bill.
[normal] I'm here because you failed
your sacred duty as a parent...
and I'm afraid for that slipup...
[softly]
I'm going to have to teach you a lesson.
[panicky] What the f--
What the fuck is this?
What-- [panting]
What the fuck is goin' on?
What? Why can't I move?
[normal] To start with,
something tells me that no one ever...
taught you about the magic of sharing.
Like, sharing your time
and your love with that little Carey.
Oh, but that's okay, Bill...
'cause I have a song
to teach you [whispers] all about it.
Huh.
[sings]
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
- You give me what's yours
- [Bill panting]
And I'll give you what's mine
And we'll share together all the time
- Sharing means caring, can't you see?
- [Bill panicking, gags]
Sharing means trust
- Between you and me
- [gun clicks]
- You give me what's yours
- [pulls trigger]
- [bubble pops]
- And I'll give you what's mine
[gagging]
And we'll share together
- All of the time!
- [blood splatters]
- [Carey] [sings] Is a friend like me
- [door creaks open]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
Friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you...
in a heartbeat
[unsettling music playing]
[Rhonda] [softly]
When you see him, run, run, run.
[panting] No, Carey, run.
No, no.
[Rhonda gasps]
[breathing shakily, crying]
And your friend
next to you is staring at it!
Share to your left,
share to your right.
That's the best thing to do
and the most fun, so remember...
[sings]
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing is trust
between you and me
- [TV static]
- [distorted singing]
[deep, rumbling moan]
- [TV static]
- [normal] You and me...
Fuckin' public television.
I want my damn donation back.
Alright, Major.
That's enough TV time.
- Yeah--
- [TV clicks off]
[angrily] Hey!
It is time for a Mr. Crocket break, alright?
Don't you wanna go outside?
We could play football.
I don't wanna play football!
I want Mr. Crocket!
You've been watchin'
this video for days now, honey.
It's not good for you.
[dark, brooding music playing]
You--
Major!
Don't you dare.
[glass shatters]
I swear to God,
if you don't put that down--
I want Mr. Crocket back!
[whispers]
I'm not playin' with you, boy.
You put your father's
trophy down right now.
[trophy rattles]
[yells]
What the hell is wrong with you?! Huh?!
Oh, my G-- I bust my ass
every day lookin' after you,
and this is how you wanna act, huh?
This is how you wanna repay me
by bein' the biggest pain in my ass?
Oh, my God,
I'm done with your shit!
I'm done, I'm done!
If this is how you're gonna act,
you don't wanna be on my team, fine!
Alright? I quit.
I quit being your fuckin' mother. I quit!
[tense music playing]
Don't start crying.
[scoffs]
Major, go to your room.
Stop lookin' at me
and go to your room right now.
[Major crying]
[door opens, closes]
[tense, brooding music playing]
[static]
[electricity warbling]
[crying]
- [music fades out]
- [dog barking]
[exhales]
[lights buzzing]
[unsettling music plays]
[Mr. Crocket, children] [singing on TV]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us
- Is a friend like we
- [deep rumbling]
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
- [Mr. Crocket laughs]
- [TV clicks off]
[remote thuds]
- [TV clicks on]
- Friend like you is a friend like me
- A friend like us is a friend like we
- What the fuck?
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
- [TV clicks off]
- [remote thuds]
- [TV clicks on]
- In a heartbeat
- A friend like you is a friend like me
- Oh no. Uh-uh.
A friend like us is a friend like we
- [volume increases]
- Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
[TV crashes, shatters]
[panting]
[broken glass clinking]
[TV thuds]
- [thuds]
- [unsettling music playing]
[static]
[Mr. Crocket groans]
[spits]
[TV sparking]
[yells]
- Hello there.
- [horror sting]
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
[sparking, tinkling]
Hey!
- [bat clatters]
- [mother panting]
[VCR running]
[crunching]
- [flames whoosh]
- [yells]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
Friend like you is a friend like me
[Major] [sings]
Friend like us is a...
[screaming] Major! Major!
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- Major! Major!
[Mr. Crocket, Major] [singing]
Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on me
- Major!
- I'll be there to protect you
- In a heartbeat
- [Summer panicking]
Say goodbye to Mommy, Major.
Goodbye, Mommy.
Honey! Baby, no! Major, don't!
Major, don't go in there!
[Major] Whoa!
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
[hangers rattle]
- [hitting wall]
- [panting]
[softly]
Oh, my-- Oh, my God.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
Oh, my...
[siren wailing]
[police radio chatter]
[police officer 1]
Another runaway?
[police officer 2]
Who can blame him?
Junkie mom rantin' about
some people walkin' through walls.
[police officer 1] Shit.
Sounds like he dodged a bullet takin' off.
[police officer 2]
He's a smart kid.
[tense music playing]
[children] Major!
[laughter]
[Boogaloo Blue]
Welcome home, Major!
[laughter]
Yes! [laughs] He's right!
Welcome home, Major!
- [Major] Wow.
- In my world,
you don't never, ever have to worry
about bad grownups hurting you again.
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
- [laughter]
[Mr. Crocket, kids] [singing]
No bad grownups, no bad grownups
- No bad grownups, no bad grownups
- [sun laughing]
- [thundering]
- No bad grownups
[laughter]
- [horror sting]
- [screeches]
[tense, unsettling music playing]
[siren wailing]
[neighbor]
I'm next door, right over there.
Been watchin' this place for years.
Uh, hey, I'm sorry.
[neighbor]
Might just crack the case open.
- Okay.
- [Summer] Hey, can you, uh,
can you tell me
what all this is about?
Ooh, don't get me started.
I knew this was gonna happen.
I knew it!
Been tryin' to get the cops
involved with him for years.
- With who?
- This deadbeat junkie.
All types of lowlifes
in and outta there.
Cops think it was a suicide,
but I know that there's
some other shit involved.
Look at that place.
He's all over the walls.
Walked in on the whole thing,
and now, I ain't gon' be able
to sleep for a year.
- You got any idea who--
- They was long gone.
Shit. All that and they
ain't even take nothin'?
Just busted out the screen on his TV?
Fuckin' dope fiends.
Nothin' makes sense with them.
And the worst part is,
they can't find his little girl.
Eight years old.
Goddamn shame.
He's killin' parents
and takin' more kids.
Hey, where'd you say you lived again?
Hey, hey!
[eerie, unsettling music playing]
[reel clanks]
[clanks]
[clicking]
[softly] What?
[reel clanks]
[clanks]
[music fades out]
[children's song playing]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
- Whenever you're in tr--
- [TV static]
Well, hello there.
I see that you've been lookin' for me.
Well, here I am, silly goose!
Why don't you, uh,
come a little closer...
and say... hellooo!
[softly]
Stop looking for us, Summer.
Unless you want to join
your husband in hell,
believe me, Summer, I can arrange it.
[horror sting]
- [Summer screams]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
[ominous music playing]
[muffled eerie sounds]
[softly] Oh, my God.
[panting]
- [muffled speaking]
- [speaker] ...everything that you've
- been trying to tell me.
- I'm sorry. Who are you?
Sorry. My name is--
It's Eddie Briggs.
I saw your flyers about your boy.
Major, right?
Look, I believe it all, 'bout...
[softly] Crocket.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
[swings creaking]
[singers vocalizing]
I'm sorry, it's just--
[Summer takes deep breath]
It's a lot.
Yeah, believe me, I-I-I get it.
This is, [chuckles] uh...
my Lauren.
[sadly] Oh.
She's been missing five months now.
No leads, no... no traces.
The cops seem to think that
her mother took her, but I know better.
[sighs] [softly]
What does he want with them?
[Eddie Briggs]
I don't know... Family?
Yeah, maybe he thinks
that we fucked up as parents.
- [children laughing]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
I mean, I read that
he died 20 years ago,
but somehow he can
come through the fuckin' TV?
- I, I don't know--
- I mean, how is any of this real?
[Eddie] But I can't explain it...
[voice muffles]
[laughter]
[Eddie continues muffled, indistinct]
- I feel like I'm losing my mind!
- Hey, you're not.
[Mr. Crocket singing]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [ominous music playing]
- Hey! Run away from--
- Stop, stop, stop!
Okay, it's alright.
- I thought that was--
- No, you need to relax.
Alright? Look, you know what
always cheers me up?
A little ice cream,
just some ice cream. [laughs]
What the fuck are you talkin' about?
He has my son.
And we're gonna find him,
and my daughter too, I promise.
- [scoffs] You don't know that.
- No, hey, I know that you survived,
which is why I needed to find you.
Look, in all my searching,
you're the only person
who's seen him and come out alive
and that has to mean something.
He's comin'!
He wants your boy.
I'm not the only one.
- What?
- There was this homeless woman.
She was singin' the song
before I even got the VHS.
I mean, I thought that
she was trying to take Major...
but I think she was trying
to warn me about Crocket.
No, maybe she's like us.
Maybe she, she lost a kid.
She may have even filed
a missing child's report
with details that are just like ours.
I've actually got a couple
friends in the department.
If, uh, we can get a name on her,
and she's known around here,
we may be able to track her down.
Do you, uh, think
I could just get your info?
- Yes.
- Maybe we can attack this together.
Tomorrow, we comin' for his ass.
[dark, brooding music playing]
[quietly] Babe?
I can't believe it. I can't. [gasps]
Oh, you don't understand
how much I miss you.
[sighs] How's Major?
How's little man holdin' up?
[sighs] He's... gone.
He was taken from me.
What?
Someone took our child?
You let someone take our child?!
No, I didn't.
You probably drove him away.
You never let him have any fun.
What?
- [horror sting]
- [squelching]
[unsettling music playing]
You might as well accept it, Summer.
He's never coming back.
[squelching]
He doesn't wanna come back.
He's happier...
[distorted] with me.
[yelling]
[skin peeling]
[gasps]
[maniacal laughter]
I told you I'd send ya to hell.
- [gasps]
- [growls]
[panting]
[knocking on door]
[unsettling music playing]
- [knocks on door]
- Christ!
[groans]
[knocking]
[speaker] [whispers]
Hey... Summer.
Boy...
don't you ever knock
on my door like that
- in the middle of the night again.
- Look, I'm-I'm sorry. I just,
just needed to talk to you.
- They invented phones for a reason.
- Yeah, I know, but I found her.
- Who?
- Turns out that there is,
there is a homeless woman
with a missing child who filed a report.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah, Rhonda Harper.
They got a last known location for her.
- It's just a ways out.
- Let me get changed.
[Eddie] Okay, okay.
[engine starts]
- [children's music plays in car]
- Shit. [chuckles]
Um, sorry. Th-That's--
It's, it's my daughter's.
- That's sweet. Mm.
- Yeah.
[unsettling, tense music playing]
[radio channels distorting]
[dog barking]
- [Summer] Rhonda?
- [Eddie] Rhonda?
- [Summer] Rhonda?
- [Eddie] Rhonda, if you're out here,
we don't wanna hurt you,
we just wanna talk.
- [cans clanging]
- Shit.
- [tense music playing]
- [Summer whimpers]
Who sent you?!
What was him?
What the fuck, Eddie?!
Drop the knife now.
Let her go.
[Summer pants]
This is my home!
Hey, Rhonda.
Hey, we've met before.
We've met before.
Crocket took my son,
just like he stole yours.
You tried to warn me,
but I didn't listen then,
and I'm so sorry about that,
but I am here now,
and I am, I am here to listen.
Major... lost his daddy.
So much pain in that boy.
Crocket feels it.
How'd you know he'd come for my son?
- [music fades out]
- [TV static]
[Eddie] Whoa.
- [distorted voices]
- [unsettling music playing]
[Rhonda] He used to come to me...
in my dreams...
told me to give up,
to let Darren go, but I can't.
What mother could?
So, I kept on looking,
hunting Crocket,
and I realized...
he must be watching us...
monitoring us through the airwaves
to see which kids he wanted to take.
I could almost feel it
running through me, his power,
and I wondered
if I could tap into that signal,
receive it somehow...
if I had enough power of my own.
So, I came out here and built this.
Are you saying you can connect
with him... with his mind?
If he's coming into our world...
But it's all jumbled,
a mess of flickering channels,
bad reception,
this endless stream of rage and sadness.
So, if you know where he's gonna be
and who he's gonna take,
- why haven't you stopped him?
- I tried...
but he's too strong.
And I lost everything the first time:
my son, my mind.
[crying]
It broke me, and I, I can't, I can't,
- I can't face him again.
- [Summer] Hey, it's okay.
You're not alone.
Rhonda, we've got your back...
but you have to try...
for our kids, for Darren.
We have to confront him.
Can you show us how?
- [dark, tense music playing]
- [TV static]
Rhonda?
[Tickles the Clock laughing]
[Rhonda] Right now, he's searching,
monitoring happy children.
They bring up happy memories
from long ago.
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
[distorted speaking]
[Mr. Crocket]
Go hide! One, two, three.
Where'd you guys go?
You guys are makin' this
really hard on Mr. Crocket.
Oh! [laughs] I found you, Anthony.
I found you, I found--
[TV static]
[Rhonda] Something's wrong.
His mind, it's everywhere.
[parent] [on TV]
Kelli, I'm talking to you! Stop it!
- [Rhonda] He sees a child in pain.
- [child yelling]
Her pain opens old wounds...
[distorted] Mr. Crocket--
[Rhonda] ...a bad memory.
I've seen it before.
Hello, girls and boys. [laughs]
I am your new best friend, Mr. Crocket,
and-and here to help me today is,
uh, my best pal, uh, Benny the Bison.
[as Benny]
Hello, boys and girls.
Uh, my name is Benny the Bison.
[chuckles]
[TV static]
[as Mr. Crocket] Um--
Whoa, whoa! Come on, man!
No, no, no!
I asked you to do one goddamn thing.
Hold the fucking string!
- [crew member] Fuck you.
- No, fuck you! Where you going?!
You non-string-holding motherfucker!
- Holy shit.
- [as Benny] You're a failure, a joke,
and a loser.
You will never amount to anything.
- [TV static]
- [as Mr. Crocket] Oh.
[pins drop]
[as Benny] You're a loser,
loser, loser, loser, loser, loser.
[as Mr. Crocket] Fuck you, okay?!
Don't you ever talk to me that way,
you ignorant motherfucker!
- [as Benny] Loser.
- [as Mr. Crocket] Shut up!
- [as Benny] Loseeer.
- [Mr. Crocket screams]
[Rhonda]
His anger, he can't control it.
[Mr. Crocket] Say it with me! Loser!
I'm not a loser! I'm not a loser!
- [Mr. Crocket grunting]
- Why are we watchin' this?
It means he's gonna strike.
[Mr. Crocket]
I guess this ends our friendship.
[screams]
[parent] [on TV]
Kelli, I'm not gonna tell you again.
- It's bedtime.
- [Rhonda] There.
He's got a location.
[parent]
You have school in the morning.
- Stop it!
- [Rhonda] Did you see that?
- An address.
- [child screams]
Oh yeah? Make me!
[screams]
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [TV static]
Rhonda.
[distorted laughter on TV]
Rhonda.
Rhonda, we got the address.
We know where he's gonna be.
Wake up, wake up!
[exhales]
You did it.
We know where to find him.
Now let's go get the fucker.
- [Rhonda trembling]
- Rhonda.
Hey, Rhonda.
Hey, come on.
We need all the help we can get.
Do you ever wonder
if they're better off... with him?
With Crocket? Fuck no,
what are you talkin' about?
I should've stood up for him.
I shouldn't have... [crying]
What did you do...
that drove your boy away?
W-- [sighs]
He only comes when you've hurt them.
Summer... we gotta move.
We don't know when he got here.
Rhonda, listen to me. Hey.
What a boy needs is his mother.
- [soft, dramatic music playing]
- Do you hear me?
[dog barking]
Come on.
I got you.
[Rhonda breathes heavily]
[tense, unsettling music playing]
[door creaks]
[electricity buzzes]
[TV static]
[gun clicks]
[hushed] I don't know what
you think you're gonna do with that.
[ominous music playing]
- [Rhonda gasps]
- [Summer] Shh.
[Kelli] [muffled]
Will Boogaloo Blue be there?
[Mr. Crocket] [muffled]
Oh yes, he will.
The whole gang will be there
waiting for you.
[Kelli] Wow!
[normal]
Go on, my child. Go on through.
I'll be there before you can say,
"Benny Bison's brains were battered"
10 times fast.
- [bright sound shimmering]
- [chuckles]
[nearby clattering]
[groans]
[heavy footsteps]
[Mr. Crocket groans]
[footsteps]
[tense sting]
[lights flickering]
I know someone's in here.
It is very bad manners
to not introduce yourself.
[footsteps approach]
Come out, come out
wherever you are.
- [grunts]
- [Rhonda yells]
- Ah!
- [Rhonda grunts]
- [Summer] Rhonda!
- [Eddie] This way!
[unsettling, tense music playing]
[Summer] Rhonda!
- [Mr. Crocket grunts]
- [Rhonda yells]
- We have to go back!
- It's--
Fuck. Come on.
Come on, come on.
- [sparkling sounds]
- [static]
[gasps]
[fire crackling]
[quiet, unsettling music playing]
[panting]
[singers vocalizing]
[music intensifies]
- [thunder cracking]
- [static]
- [heavy footsteps]
- [metal creaks]
[Mr. Crocket's laugh echoes]
[loud footsteps]
- [Boogaloo Blue roars]
- [Summer screams]
Blue, Blue, wait, wait, wait.
- [Boogaloo Blue roars]
- [Eddie screams]
[Mr. Crocket screeching]
[laughing]
[Boogaloo Blue grumbling]
You are such a good friend, Blue, mm?
- [Boogaloo Blue growls]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
Now go find me the other one.
[laughs]
- Welcome.
- [Summer gasps, screams]
[Summer panting]
You need a hug. Sit!
[ropes whipping]
[Demonic Chair] Comfy?
Enough...
Just restrain her, okay?
But leave it at that. [chuckles]
I have other plans for her.
- [bell rings]
- [child screams]
But first, it sounds like it's story time!
[Tickles the Clock]
Story time. Story time. Story time.
[Mr. Crocket]
Are you ready, boys and giiirls?!
Oh, come on in.
Come on in, come on in.
Oh, look at you guys.
You're so beautiful.
- Oh!
- Major, Major!
Major, sweetie. Honey, wake up!
Major, wake up! We gotta run!
Major, baby, hey. Wake up.
Listen to Mama, wake--
[Mr. Crocket]
Oh, so what story shall we tell today?
[mimics children] "Oh, please
tell us your story, Mr. Crocket."
[normal]
No, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm sure you're sick
of hearin' that by now.
[mimics children] "No, never, ever,
Mr. Crocket. It's our favorite."
[normal] O-kay, if you insist.
[laughing]
Truth be told...
it's my favorite, too.
[Demonic Chair growls]
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
O-kay.
- [angelic singing]
- Here we go.
[sparkling sound]
Once upon a time,
there was a little boy named Emanuel.
- Me.
- [children laughing]
And I was just your size
a long, long time ago,
and just like you,
I wished for better parents.
- My father was a very, very bad man.
- [father laughing]
He would hit me nearly every day,
for no reason at all
other than the fact that
I was the only one left
who couldn't run away.
But you know what?
I kept eating all the food I could find,
so that I can keep growing
bigger and stronger,
and soon, I made sure
my father never hit me again.
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
I made it look like an accident,
so the police couldn't put me in time-out.
[laughter]
And that's when I knew
that it was my calling
to protect all the girls
and boys in the world,
e-especially from those parents
who weren't any good
at loving their children.
And most of all,
I dreamed of having my own family,
so that I could be a good parent
to all the kids in the world.
[exhales]
Everything was going so well.
[through book] Hello, boys and girls.
Welcome to Mr. Crocket's World!
[normal] And then one day,
I met one special boy on my set,
a boy with sad eyes.
I knew there was something
wrong at his home.
So, I offered the boy, Anthony...
a place to stay,
but no one really understood
that I only wanted
what was best for the boy.
[through book]
Oh, what would I do without you, Squawky?
- [siren wailing, bangs on door]
- [police officer] Open up! Police!
[banging on door]
Freeze!
- [police officer 1 yelling]
- [stabbing]
[police officer 2 groans]
- [police officer 2 yelling]
- [stabbing]
[Anthony panting]
- [police officer 3] Hey!
- [gunshots]
[slow motion yell]
[unsettling music playing]
- [body thuds]
- [Anthony sobs]
[singers vocalizing]
[Anthony cries out]
[Mr. Crocket]
But that wasn't the end of my story.
I made a deal to send
bad parents' souls to hell...
in exchange for a world of my own.
[dark music playing]
And now, I bring
good children, worthy children
to my paradise to play forever.
[inhales]
And I will protect you...
[giggles]
and I'll make you happy
in aaall the ways you ever desired.
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
No pain, no anger,
no yelling, no spanking,
no, no, no, no, no veggies,
or time-out, or bedtime!
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
[all] [chanting]
No bedtime, no bedtime!
No bedtime, no bedtime!
You're snatchin' kids over bedtime.
That's insane!
[sighs]
[panicking] Eddie, now, now. Get the kids.
Get the kids, save your daughter.
[dramatic music playing]
He was the only adult that ever loved me.
[chuckles]
When he came for me,
I... I wanted to stay with him...
[Demonic Chair growls]
...forever.
What's going on?
What are you doing?
I used to dream about this place, Summer.
I could... I could feel him out there.
I've been trying to come home to him
since I was nine years old,
and thanks to you, I've made it.
Oh, God.
You're Anthony.
I can't let you destroy this paradise,
and break up our family.
Oh, my G--
[heavy breathing]
Major, Major, wake up, baby!
You gotta run! Run, Major! Wake up!
I'm sorry.
[Demonic Chair]
Do it, pussy.
[Mr. Crocket] Anthony?
- Come here.
- Okay.
Get closer.
It's me, it's me.
Uh!
- Uh, no, no, no, no.
- Why?
What are you t--
- Who are you?
- I'm Anthony.
The, [chuckles] the boy from
the story book, do you remember?
Anthony?
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Anthony is an innocent young boy.
You are an old, bitter, insane man
who has done nothing with his life!
- You don't belong here.
- No, I do.
- No, you don't.
- I-I do!
- No, you don't.
- [screams] I do!
- [screams] You don't belong here!
- I do!
[children] [singing]
You don't belong here
- I do, I do, I do.
- You don't belong here
- You don't belong here
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- I do! I do, I do.
- [Mr. Crocket] No!
[exhales] Blue, Blue.
No, no, I'm your friend.
- [roars]
- [yelling]
Oh, oh, God!
[laughs]
- [growling, roars]
- [squelching]
[unsettling music playing]
[roars]
- [whimpering]
- Blue... don't play with your food
in front of the children.
You sick fuck.
[softly] Oh.
I can sense that you're angry.
Sometimes our feelings can...
grow a little too big
for our bodies to handle.
You should try counting
backwards from five,
and taking big, deep breaths, Summer.
[inhales deeply]
[exhales slowly]
[laughs]
Remember, Summer, you're the boss
when it comes to your feelings.
- Fuck you.
- Mm.
Your friend's objective didn't
play out so well for him, Summer.
However, fairness is
one of my most important lessons.
So... I'm going to give
you a shot, Summer.
- [Demonic Chair growls]
- [Summer grunts]
[Summer gasping for air]
Major... come here.
Go on...
Take your son back.
Yeah? Bring him home,
if that's what he desires.
Major, I'm your mother.
He does not know you.
He does not love you.
But I do.
Major, you have to choose
who would you like your parent to be.
I'm sorry, baby.
Mommy was wrong to say all
of those things, but I didn't mean them.
Major, the only thing I want
in the world is what is best for you.
Please, baby. Just... trust me.
[soft, dramatic music playing]
[static]
Come on, baby.
Sweetie, it's me, it's me.
Look... Yes, there you are, yes.
I told you I would--
I will always be there for you.
- Mom?!
- Yes, sweetie.
[soft, touching music playing]
[Mr. Crocket whimpers]
[laughs] That was touching.
I am taking my son
and gettin' the hell outta here.
You hear me, you asshole?
But that isn't what he wants.
He wants to stay with me,
don't you, Major?
You see, he called out to me
after you said you wanted
to quit bein' his mother.
Major, you wanna be with
the person who would never say
he wouldn't wanna be a father to a boy
as special and as wonderful as you are.
[Summer] Major.
[soft, tense music playing]
I'm sorry, Mommy.
- [static]
- [Mr. Crocket] Yes! [cackles]
Well, it's been
so much fun having visitors,
but I think it's time
we say goodbye to our guest now.
But before she goes,
how about we play
one last game with her, huh?
What will it be?
Oh, Barrel of Monkeys?
- [children] No!
- No. Hopscotch?
- [children] No!
- No!
We wanna have more fun!
Hmm.
[gasps] Ah! I got it. [chuckles]
The greatest game of all.
Hide-and-seek.
[Tickles the Clock cuckoos]
Hide-and-seek time.
Yeah, hide-and-seek time.
I love hide-and-seek.
[Mr. Crocket]
But we'll make it even more fun.
Whoever lands the death blow
on Summer wins the game
and an endless bowl of ice cream!
- [cheering]
- Alright! Let's play!
Run!
- [children snarling]
- [tense music playing]
[Mr. Crocket]
Let's see how you do in the dark.
- Get her!
- [lights click off]
- [Summer panting]
- [children's laughter echoing]
[keys jingling]
[laughter]
- [child hisses]
- [Summer gasps]
- [metal creaking]
- [child laughs]
[indistinct whispering]
- [child snarls]
- [Summer screams]
[hissing]
[growls]
[panting, gasps]
- [horror sting]
- [Squawky Bird screeches]
[fighting, grunting]
[screeches]
- [slices]
- [screeching]
[Squawky Bird choking]
[Summer panting]
- [grunting]
- [screeching]
[panting]
[dark, dramatic music playing]
- [Summer yelps]
- Found you.
- [snaps]
- [lights click on]
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
Darren, listen to me.
Hey, hey. Um, I saw your mother.
She wants me to bring you home.
She loves you. She loves you.
She misses you.
I can take you to her.
Mr. Crocket says freeze. [laughs]
Major, come here, son.
What I'm teaching you today
is a lesson that I had
to learn the hard way too
when I was a little boy,
that sometimes... to grow up...
we have to say goodbye to our past.
Mm-hmm.
I did it with my dad too...
and now
it's time you become someone...
- [marker sparkling]
- ...special.
- [Mr. Crocket chuckles]
- Please stop.
- [blade slices]
- [Mr. Crocket chuckles]
[whistle blows]
[laughs]
[exhales]
That's my son. [sniffles]
[whispers] Go on.
[echoes] Move.
[singers vocalizing]
[Summer] Major.
[exhales] I love you, baby.
[cackling]
[sniffles]
[cackling]
[soft, dramatic music playing]
[static]
Huh?
[gasps, panics]
Major!
- [static]
- [singers vocalizing]
- What are you doing, Major?
- I am takin' the kids,
and we're gettin' the fuck
outta this shithole!
- It's over.
- It's not over
until Mr. Crocket says it's over.
[laughs]
We still have more playtime.
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
You don't know
who the fuck you're talkin' to!
Oh, that rainbow book motherfucker
is a candy-ass bitch next to me.
No, no, no, no, no!
I was forged in the fires
of hell and abuse!
- [roars]
- [slices]
- [gasps]
- [squelching]
[sobs]
Shurry Bottom, born and raised, bitch.
[body thuds]
[zapping]
Let's go, kids.
We're gettin' the hell outta here.
- [portal zaps]
- Come on.
[dark, dramatic music playing]
[zaps]
[groaning]
[zaps]
Come back!
Major, come on, baby. Let's go.
No! [panting] Please.
Don't, don't leave me.
Let me go. Let me go!
Playtime isn't over.
[grunts]
[cries out, sobs]
Don't worry, son.
Wherever you go,
I'll be there in a heartbeat.
[zaps]
- [static]
- [light music playing]
[singers vocalizing]
[birds chirping]
I heard you pulled through.
You're a bad motherfucker.
[chuckles, sniffles]
I, uh, I brought someone
who wants to see you.
[chuckles, sobs]
Mom!
[slow, emotional music playing]
[Summer] All the other kids
are still being assigned homes,
but I just wanted to make sure
you two found each other.
I... I just-- I don't even have
the words to thank you.
Oh, no. Please don't.
Just will you promise me
that you'll let it all go?
Forgive yourself.
Nobody has all the answers.
We're all just doin' the best we can.
And we do it alone.
Okay?
I'm gonna do my best to try
to follow my own damn advice.
[both laughing]
Take care of your mama.
[Rhonda] [cries] Thank you.
["I'm Going All the Way"
by Sounds of Blackness playing]
Whatever it takes to make it
I'm going all the way, yeah
I may be down...
- Yeah, I got it, I got it!
- Oh!
- Alright!
- [both] Bam!
Who needs a VCR?
That was a horrible high five.
Let's do it again.
Alright, come on.
- Hike!
- I've had some problems
Heartache and pain
- [cheering]
- Tryin' to find the answers
I been rackin' my brain
- [blowing whistle]
- Oh, but as I thought about it
- Go Major! Go Major!
- Began to come clear
To get myself together
and go on from here
Whatever it takes to make it
I'm going all the way
- [pencil scribbles]
- Oh, yes I am, oh, yes I am now
I may be down sometimes...
[guidance counselor]
Mrs. Beverly, thank you so much
for meeting about Major's
situation at school.
I mean, I-I can't say
I'm surprised to hear
that Major's having some
trouble readjusting.
[inhales] He's been through
a lot the past few months.
As much as we wanna accommodate
Major's healing process...
- Mm-hmm.
- ...I'm afraid we can't put the safety
- of our staff at risk.
- What do you mean?
[dark, brooding music playing]
[counselor]
Major has severe issues
when it comes to
adult discipline and authority.
[Summer] [exhales]
Uhh...
There's no way
my Major's responsible for this.
I'm afraid the first place we always
have to start with this sort of thing
is the parenting.
Well, uh, I've always told Major
t-to stand up for himself,
- but I've n-never--
- No, Mrs. Beverly,
I wasn't suggesting you...
but is it possible that the influence
of the male parental figure in his life--
Well, Jerrel, Major's father,
he passed away recently, um--
I mean your new relationship.
Relationship?
What do you mean?
[counselor]
There's a lot of talk...
fear really, around the schoolyard...
about Major's new father figure.
The children keep away
from Major because...
they're afraid this man is
going to come and get them,
and snatch them up through their TVs.
[gasps] Oh, my God.
Can you... tell us
a little bit about this person?
Please help us.
[Major humming]
[box rattles]
[Mr. Crocket] [echoes]
That's my boy.
[Mr. Crocket's laugh echoes]
[screams]
- [static]
- [children's song playing]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
Yes! [laughs]
That was really good.
That was really good, boys and girls.
[laugh echoes]
Now you know what you gotta do
when you see fruits and vegetables
in front of you, right?
You know the answer.
Ya got to eat right
Ya got to eat well
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
Ya got to eat right
Ya got to eat well
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
Fruits and vegetables,
they make your body strong
All of that junk food,
they do your body wrong
Fruits and vegetables,
they make your body strong
But beware of that junk food,
they do your body wrong
You know that junk food
never gave anybody any energy.
They'll just make you sleepy and tired.
[yawns]
[laughs] Alright, now.
You know when you got
a toy in your hand
and you got a friend
standing there staring at it?
Well, you know what to do.
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
You give me what's yours
And I'll give you what's mine
We'll share together all the time
[laughs] Oh yeah!
Share to your left and share
to your right now, boys and girls.
That's the best thing to do
and the most fun!
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
You give me what's yours
And I'll give you what's mine
We'll share together all the time
[ominous music playing]
[music cuts out]
[singers vocalizing]
[light music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music fades out]
- [children's song playing]
- Ya won't strike gold
From diggin' up your nose
It won't taste great
addin' boogers to your plate
Ya won't strike gold
From diggin' up your nose
It won't taste great
addin' boogers to your plate
- [children's song playing]
- ...is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
[distorted]
Whenever you're in trouble...
[distorted singing]
[laughter]
[speaker] That was really good.
That was really good, boys and girls.
[laughter echoes]
[on TV] Oh, it's so good to see
my friends: Judah, Melanie, and Jane!
Yes! How's your day goin'?
- [Jane] Good.
- And you?
- Amazing, Mr. Crocket.
- Good! "Amazing, Mr. Crocket!"
And Judah!
- Incredible!
- Incredible!
- [footsteps approach]
- Let's do some numbers!
- Darren, dinner.
- [Mr. Emanuel Crocket] Now
One, two, three, it's easy to see
- Let's learn how to count in--
- [TV static]
...countries
Cuatro, cinco, seis,
can you pick up the pace?
Boy, don't make me get up from this chair.
It's more fun to learn
when ya make it a race
[stepfather] Now. You hear me?
Yes!
[laugh echoes]
I don't know what you waitin' on.
Eat up.
Try it, honey.
It's good for you. Here.
Don't baby the boy.
Eat!
Hey! Don't forget your veggies.
[deep rumble]
I'm sorry, I'm full.
Hey.
We both work our asses off
to provide for you,
and I'm not gon' be
disrespected in my house!
You wanna be treated
like a fuckin' baby?
- I'll treat you like a baby then.
- [Darren] No!
- [stepfather] Eat.
- I'm full!
- [stepfather] I said eat.
- I don't wanna!
- [mother] Stop!
- [TV static]
[stepfather] Now keep goin'.
[sighs]
- You gonna thank me for this shit one day.
- [door closes]
[muffled] Somebody's gotta teach him
how to be a man... Damn!
- [dark, unsettling music playing]
- [TV static]
[lights flickering]
[door creaks]
[creepy laughter]
Mr. Crocket?!
Who the fuck are you?
Language.
Who's ready for a second course?
- [horror sting]
- [yelling]
- [Mr. Crocket laughs]
- [screaming]
- [Demonic Chair grumbling]
- [weakly] The fuck?
Dessert for the young man
who ate all his veggies!
- [Darren] Wow, awesome!
- [laughs]
[panicking]
Let me go, man. Please, man.
Go?
But it's family dinnertime.
Aren't you gonna eat, Kevin?
[demonic voice] Yeah, Kevin.
You haven't cleaned your plate.
[Kevin whimpers]
- [stammers] Uh, I can't eat that shit!
- Such a dirty mouth. [laughs]
Ya know, nutrition is the cornerstone
of a healthy life and good attitude.
If you don't eat right,
you can get the grumpies,
and no one likes
a Grumpy Gus, right, Chair?
You betcha.
[Mr. Crocket, Darren laughing]
So, I'm going to help you step up
- and be a big, strong man, Kevin.
- [Kevin grunting]
You see, so far,
you've been a really, really
[whispers]
bad example for your stepson.
I'm going to give you a chance
to show him how it's done.
One last... chance.
[Kevin whimpering]
[Mr. Crocket mimics propeller]
[Kevin] [resisting]
Mm-mm. Mm. Mm.
[Mr. Crocket getting louder]
- [shouts] We're comin' in for a landing!
- No!
- No!
- [Demonic Chair laughing]
[Mr. Crocket] [muffled]
Come on now! You can do it, Kevin!
Yes, we are!
Open up!
Come on, open wide!
- You can do it! You can do it!
- [Kevin resisting]
Come on! Ahh!
Come on, say it.
Open up! Open up, Kevin!
I guess force-feeding doesn't
feel that good, huh, Kevin?!
- Fine!
- [spoon clatters]
- [heavy breathing]
- Guess we're going to have to do this
the more direct way.
- No. [whimpers]
- Uh-huh.
[knife slices]
- [entrails sloshing]
- [sing-songy] Yummy yummy
For your tummy
Here, you got to finish all your food.
Come on, let's go.
- In we go! Oh, go in there.
- [Kevin wailing]
Don't spit it out!
Oh, I think it's time
for Grandma's chicken!
- [Kevin wails]
- Oh, yeah!
Don't forget your iron.
That's a very good idea, Mr. Chair.
- [iron hisses]
- Ah. Ah.
Yeah! Yeah!
[laughs]
[sings] You gotta eat right,
you gotta eat well
[Demonic Chair, Darren] [singing]
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
[Kevin]
[sobbing] Rhonda, help me!
[Mr. Crocket]
All that stuff about how to be a man!
- What happened?! Who's a man now?!
- [Demonic Chair laughing]
[screaming]
[TV static]
[screaming fades out]
- [children's song plays]
- A friend like you is a friend like me
[Mr. Crocket] [echoes]
Children, hear my song.
Whenever you're in trouble...
Call out to me.
You can call on me
I'll find you.
...in a heartbeat
- [TV static]
- I'll save you
from all the mommies and daddies
that don't deserve your love...
the way I do.
[TV static]
[TV clicks off]
[echoes] Who's next?
I'm always watching.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
[keys jingle softly]
[sighs]
[Major] Why are we here?
I wanna go home.
- [Major sighs]
- Because Daddy was sick
for a long time,
and we did everything we could...
and this is how we say goodbye.
This is how Daddy
would want us to say goodbye.
Okay?
Let's go.
[soulful organ music playing]
[door opens, closes]
- Baby.
- [Major] Hm?
- Come on.
- No. No, I'm not goin' in there!
Sweetheart, listen to me.
I know this is hard, honey...
[softly] but we have
to do this for Daddy... okay?
Can I have my game, please?
Yeah? Okay.
You behave.
Let's go, come on.
Well, thank you all for being here
to help celebrate my husband's life.
[sniffles] Um...
I feel like I'm lookin' out
at everybody that made him him.
As the absolute pride
of Shurry Bottom,
[sniffles] he got to be all up in
all y'all's business. [laughs]
[sniffles]
And, um, y'all gave him a lotta names.
Some of you knew him as Baby Bev.
Some of you called him Coach B.
A lotta you just called him J...
[sniffles]
[cries] but for me...
- [sniffles] he was my everything.
- [game trills and beeps]
[muffled voice echoes]
[solemn music playing]
Thank you.
[quiet, indistinct chatter]
[creepy, ominous music playing]
- [music fades out]
- [indistinct chatter]
I'm so bored.
Can I go outside?
Yeah, baby.
Stay where I can see you.
[upbeat music playing quietly]
Oh, he got a mouth on him.
You know, with Jerrel gone,
it's gon' be up to you
to keep that in check,
and a good whoopin's the only way.
Swear to Jesus, that's the best advice
I could ever give you.
[muffled]
What does that even mean, "I'm bored..."
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [muffled chatter]
[muffled, echoes]
Spare the rod, spoil the child...
[radio static, channels changing]
[mumbling]
You like football?
My son loved football too.
You know, you remind me
of him, you really do,
but you're not gonna end up like him.
Nah, I swear, not if you're with me.
Hey, let me go!
[muffled chatter]
- [Major] Hey, let me go!
- [Rhonda] Come on.
Let me just get a closer look at you.
- No, stop!
- Don't you wanna be my friend?
We could all use more friends.
Oh, oh, do you wanna sing the song?
The song that friends sing together?
[sings]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
- Let go of me! Mom!
- Good, good.
When he comes, you run!
You hear me?
[inhales] You pull hard
and you run as fast as you can!
[Major] [muffled yelling]
Get off of me! Mom!
- [normal] Mom!
- [screams] Get your hands off my child!
The fuck is wrong with you?!
- [Rhonda] No, I-I--
- Get outta here!
I just wanted to warn him
to-to keep him safe. [inhales]
Get the fuck off my property
before I beat your ass!
He's comin'!
You understand?
He wants your boy.
He wants Major.
So don't you never let him go.
You hear me?
'Cause he will never come back.
[breathing heavily]
He'll stay with him forever.
[singing softly]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on...
[music fades out]
[light, unsettling music playing]
- [Major] Daddy, Daddy!
- [sniffles]
[bed rattling]
- [door creaks]
- Major? Major, hey, you're dreaming.
Hey, I'm here. Hey.
- [Major gasps, pants]
- Wake up.
- Hey, baby.
- No.
- I want Daddy.
- [Summer sighs]
[sighs]
Daddy isn't here anymore, honey.
I'm sorry.
I wish he was here, too,
but, um... maybe one day,
when the time comes,
we'll see him again.
Why can't I see him now?
[sighs] You want the truth?
I'm just as lost
and as sad as you are.
Between...
the bills, and taking care of you,
and keepin' a roof over our heads,
I honestly have no idea what to do.
[deep breath]
But I tell you what,
one thing is never gonna change, Major.
We will never be alone going through this.
You and me, we will
always, always have each other.
[sighs]
One second.
- [item rattles]
- Keepin' it real, I'd be a horrible coach.
- I was always shit at sports.
- [Major chuckles]
But...
if you ever have a scary dream again,
or if you ever need me for anything,
you just blow that whistle,
and I will do my best to pick up
right where Daddy left off.
And maybe sometimes,
when I really need you,
you can be a good boy
and help Mommy out too?
'Cause we're a team... right?
- Right.
- [Summer chuckles]
[kisses]
I love you.
[whistle blowing]
- Alright, scooch your big butt over.
- You're the one with the big butt.
- Says who?
- Me.
Okay.
Proud of it too.
Mm. [kisses]
- [whistle blowing]
- [hip-hop music playing]
Right at me?
The road gets rocky like Marciano
You think of givin' up,
but you can't though
The picture that you watch,
change the channel
- Load your brain with some...
- Dang it!
Oh, my God. Major, do you have
any idea how much that costs?
[yells] I don't care!
'Cause remember, y'all,
it takes two to tango
So don't let 'em try
to play ya like a banjo
[doctor] [on cassette player]
If your child is throwing a tantrum,
remember, it's just a means
of testing their own power.
So, if they're curious about
what it means to be in control,
let them be in control.
- [blows whistle]
- You can't catch me!
- You're too slow!
- Oh, oh, am I?
[blows whistle]
Major!
Not gonna chase you!
[doctor]
To truly connect with your child,
you must first connect with yourself.
Let go of any anger or frustration.
Achieve the Zen you need
to be a role model they deserve.
Let the people see my name
and see my chain
This is awesome.
You know, I think you
missed a spot over there.
Oh, I got it.
Be who you wanna be
if you seek out bliss
I know the world takes
a little time to see our best
[doctor] Radical tip.
Instead of spanking your child,
allow your child to spank you
in a hands-on demonstration
of the value of em--
[stops recording]
[running footsteps]
- [Summer] Major.
- [whistle blowing]
I'm begging you to please stop.
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [whistle blowing]
[loud thunk]
[whistle blowing]
[soft, curious music playing]
[singers vocalizing]
[ambient nature sounds]
[door creaks]
Hm.
[dark, brooding music playing]
- [whistle blowing]
- Major.
Major... check this out.
I got somethin' for you.
Hello, boys and girls!
Welcome to Mr. Crocket's World!
[sings] And a friend like you
is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
Yes! [laughs]
Oh, it's so good to see my friends.
- I have a special treat for you.
- [Summer] Have fun, Major.
- [Mr. Crocket] Can you guess what it is?
- [children] What?
- It's Magical Marker Time!
- [group cheers]
And with my Magical Marker,
if you can think it, I can draw it.
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [kids cheering]
A basketball. Woo!
Oh! [laughs]
- [TV static]
- Whatever you can do,
and you can bounce it
however you wanna bounce it.
And you know how
I feel about bullies, right?
- [Melanie] Not in Mr. Crocket's World!
- [Mr. Crocket] There you go, Melanie!
[unsettling music playing]
[static]
[Mr. Crocket speaks
indistinctly on TV]
[Judah] [on TV]
Move all of the things on the board...
[indistinct chatter on TV]
[Judah] [distorted] Does Squawky Bird
prefer vanilla cake or bread crumbs?
[distorted] Ooh, that is a good question!
What do you think, Tickles?
- [Tickles the Clock] Bread crumbs!
- Bread crumbs! [laughs]
[screams]
[video distorts]
[static]
[TV clicks off]
Hey.
[whines] No, come on!
[whining]
[Mr. Crocket] [distorted on radio]
...friend like you
Dad?
Daddy, wake up.
- Daddy.
- What the fuck! What the fuck!
[panting]
I told you to stay in your room.
The TV's broken.
You gotta come fix it.
You pull this shit with your mom?
[clicking buttons, smacks TV]
[exhales]
It's dead.
There's nothin' I can do about it.
- Grab a new one soon.
- But I was watching--
[screams] I don't care! Okay?!
It is one damn night!
You are a big enough girl
to entertain yourself, Carey, okay?
Now... I'm gonna go take care of
some important grownup stuff,
so you do not come out of here
until I open this door.
You understand?
[softly] Okay.
[bottles clinking]
- [Carey] [sings] A friend like you
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- Is a friend like me
- [distant siren wailing]
A friend like us
Is a friend like me
Whenever you're in trouble
- [deep rumbling]
- [lights buzzing]
- [knocks on TV screen]
- [TV clicks on]
[slow knocks on TV screen]
[scared] Who's there?
[pants]
- [horror sting]
- [glass shatters]
[rocking chair creaking]
You were supposed to "Just Say No."
Who the fuck are you?
I'm just a friend.
I heard some raised voices
and wanted to see
if everything was alright.
Yeah, well, you must be
hearing things then, friend,
because... nobody was yelling here, okay?
So, I-I'm, I'm gonna need you to leave.
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
'Scuse me, what the fuck
do you think you're doing?
Hey! I told you to leave.
Oh, but I'm enjoying your chair.
Uh, it feels great.
You know, hey, good taste, Bill.
You get a gold star.
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [gun clicks]
- [Bill] You listen to me, asshole.
I'm gonna need you
to get the fuck out of my house.
Oh, Bill... you're mistaken
about two things.
First, your gun seems
to be having some issues.
[bubble echoes]
Oh, beautiful bubbles.
[laughs] You like bubbles, Bill?
And secondly...
this is my house now.
I'm going to be brutally honest
[whispers] with you, Bill.
[normal] I'm here because you failed
your sacred duty as a parent...
and I'm afraid for that slipup...
[softly]
I'm going to have to teach you a lesson.
[panicky] What the f--
What the fuck is this?
What-- [panting]
What the fuck is goin' on?
What? Why can't I move?
[normal] To start with,
something tells me that no one ever...
taught you about the magic of sharing.
Like, sharing your time
and your love with that little Carey.
Oh, but that's okay, Bill...
'cause I have a song
to teach you [whispers] all about it.
Huh.
[sings]
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
- You give me what's yours
- [Bill panting]
And I'll give you what's mine
And we'll share together all the time
- Sharing means caring, can't you see?
- [Bill panicking, gags]
Sharing means trust
- Between you and me
- [gun clicks]
- You give me what's yours
- [pulls trigger]
- [bubble pops]
- And I'll give you what's mine
[gagging]
And we'll share together
- All of the time!
- [blood splatters]
- [Carey] [sings] Is a friend like me
- [door creaks open]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
Friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you...
in a heartbeat
[unsettling music playing]
[Rhonda] [softly]
When you see him, run, run, run.
[panting] No, Carey, run.
No, no.
[Rhonda gasps]
[breathing shakily, crying]
And your friend
next to you is staring at it!
Share to your left,
share to your right.
That's the best thing to do
and the most fun, so remember...
[sings]
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing is trust
between you and me
- [TV static]
- [distorted singing]
[deep, rumbling moan]
- [TV static]
- [normal] You and me...
Fuckin' public television.
I want my damn donation back.
Alright, Major.
That's enough TV time.
- Yeah--
- [TV clicks off]
[angrily] Hey!
It is time for a Mr. Crocket break, alright?
Don't you wanna go outside?
We could play football.
I don't wanna play football!
I want Mr. Crocket!
You've been watchin'
this video for days now, honey.
It's not good for you.
[dark, brooding music playing]
You--
Major!
Don't you dare.
[glass shatters]
I swear to God,
if you don't put that down--
I want Mr. Crocket back!
[whispers]
I'm not playin' with you, boy.
You put your father's
trophy down right now.
[trophy rattles]
[yells]
What the hell is wrong with you?! Huh?!
Oh, my G-- I bust my ass
every day lookin' after you,
and this is how you wanna act, huh?
This is how you wanna repay me
by bein' the biggest pain in my ass?
Oh, my God,
I'm done with your shit!
I'm done, I'm done!
If this is how you're gonna act,
you don't wanna be on my team, fine!
Alright? I quit.
I quit being your fuckin' mother. I quit!
[tense music playing]
Don't start crying.
[scoffs]
Major, go to your room.
Stop lookin' at me
and go to your room right now.
[Major crying]
[door opens, closes]
[tense, brooding music playing]
[static]
[electricity warbling]
[crying]
- [music fades out]
- [dog barking]
[exhales]
[lights buzzing]
[unsettling music plays]
[Mr. Crocket, children] [singing on TV]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us
- Is a friend like we
- [deep rumbling]
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
- [Mr. Crocket laughs]
- [TV clicks off]
[remote thuds]
- [TV clicks on]
- Friend like you is a friend like me
- A friend like us is a friend like we
- What the fuck?
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
- [TV clicks off]
- [remote thuds]
- [TV clicks on]
- In a heartbeat
- A friend like you is a friend like me
- Oh no. Uh-uh.
A friend like us is a friend like we
- [volume increases]
- Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
[TV crashes, shatters]
[panting]
[broken glass clinking]
[TV thuds]
- [thuds]
- [unsettling music playing]
[static]
[Mr. Crocket groans]
[spits]
[TV sparking]
[yells]
- Hello there.
- [horror sting]
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
[sparking, tinkling]
Hey!
- [bat clatters]
- [mother panting]
[VCR running]
[crunching]
- [flames whoosh]
- [yells]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
Friend like you is a friend like me
[Major] [sings]
Friend like us is a...
[screaming] Major! Major!
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- Major! Major!
[Mr. Crocket, Major] [singing]
Whenever you're in trouble
You can call on me
- Major!
- I'll be there to protect you
- In a heartbeat
- [Summer panicking]
Say goodbye to Mommy, Major.
Goodbye, Mommy.
Honey! Baby, no! Major, don't!
Major, don't go in there!
[Major] Whoa!
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
[hangers rattle]
- [hitting wall]
- [panting]
[softly]
Oh, my-- Oh, my God.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
Oh, my...
[siren wailing]
[police radio chatter]
[police officer 1]
Another runaway?
[police officer 2]
Who can blame him?
Junkie mom rantin' about
some people walkin' through walls.
[police officer 1] Shit.
Sounds like he dodged a bullet takin' off.
[police officer 2]
He's a smart kid.
[tense music playing]
[children] Major!
[laughter]
[Boogaloo Blue]
Welcome home, Major!
[laughter]
Yes! [laughs] He's right!
Welcome home, Major!
- [Major] Wow.
- In my world,
you don't never, ever have to worry
about bad grownups hurting you again.
- No, no, no, no, no, no!
- [laughter]
[Mr. Crocket, kids] [singing]
No bad grownups, no bad grownups
- No bad grownups, no bad grownups
- [sun laughing]
- [thundering]
- No bad grownups
[laughter]
- [horror sting]
- [screeches]
[tense, unsettling music playing]
[siren wailing]
[neighbor]
I'm next door, right over there.
Been watchin' this place for years.
Uh, hey, I'm sorry.
[neighbor]
Might just crack the case open.
- Okay.
- [Summer] Hey, can you, uh,
can you tell me
what all this is about?
Ooh, don't get me started.
I knew this was gonna happen.
I knew it!
Been tryin' to get the cops
involved with him for years.
- With who?
- This deadbeat junkie.
All types of lowlifes
in and outta there.
Cops think it was a suicide,
but I know that there's
some other shit involved.
Look at that place.
He's all over the walls.
Walked in on the whole thing,
and now, I ain't gon' be able
to sleep for a year.
- You got any idea who--
- They was long gone.
Shit. All that and they
ain't even take nothin'?
Just busted out the screen on his TV?
Fuckin' dope fiends.
Nothin' makes sense with them.
And the worst part is,
they can't find his little girl.
Eight years old.
Goddamn shame.
He's killin' parents
and takin' more kids.
Hey, where'd you say you lived again?
Hey, hey!
[eerie, unsettling music playing]
[reel clanks]
[clanks]
[clicking]
[softly] What?
[reel clanks]
[clanks]
[music fades out]
[children's song playing]
[Mr. Crocket] [sings]
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
- Whenever you're in tr--
- [TV static]
Well, hello there.
I see that you've been lookin' for me.
Well, here I am, silly goose!
Why don't you, uh,
come a little closer...
and say... hellooo!
[softly]
Stop looking for us, Summer.
Unless you want to join
your husband in hell,
believe me, Summer, I can arrange it.
[horror sting]
- [Summer screams]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
[ominous music playing]
[muffled eerie sounds]
[softly] Oh, my God.
[panting]
- [muffled speaking]
- [speaker] ...everything that you've
- been trying to tell me.
- I'm sorry. Who are you?
Sorry. My name is--
It's Eddie Briggs.
I saw your flyers about your boy.
Major, right?
Look, I believe it all, 'bout...
[softly] Crocket.
[soft, unsettling music playing]
[swings creaking]
[singers vocalizing]
I'm sorry, it's just--
[Summer takes deep breath]
It's a lot.
Yeah, believe me, I-I-I get it.
This is, [chuckles] uh...
my Lauren.
[sadly] Oh.
She's been missing five months now.
No leads, no... no traces.
The cops seem to think that
her mother took her, but I know better.
[sighs] [softly]
What does he want with them?
[Eddie Briggs]
I don't know... Family?
Yeah, maybe he thinks
that we fucked up as parents.
- [children laughing]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
I mean, I read that
he died 20 years ago,
but somehow he can
come through the fuckin' TV?
- I, I don't know--
- I mean, how is any of this real?
[Eddie] But I can't explain it...
[voice muffles]
[laughter]
[Eddie continues muffled, indistinct]
- I feel like I'm losing my mind!
- Hey, you're not.
[Mr. Crocket singing]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
- [ominous music playing]
- Hey! Run away from--
- Stop, stop, stop!
Okay, it's alright.
- I thought that was--
- No, you need to relax.
Alright? Look, you know what
always cheers me up?
A little ice cream,
just some ice cream. [laughs]
What the fuck are you talkin' about?
He has my son.
And we're gonna find him,
and my daughter too, I promise.
- [scoffs] You don't know that.
- No, hey, I know that you survived,
which is why I needed to find you.
Look, in all my searching,
you're the only person
who's seen him and come out alive
and that has to mean something.
He's comin'!
He wants your boy.
I'm not the only one.
- What?
- There was this homeless woman.
She was singin' the song
before I even got the VHS.
I mean, I thought that
she was trying to take Major...
but I think she was trying
to warn me about Crocket.
No, maybe she's like us.
Maybe she, she lost a kid.
She may have even filed
a missing child's report
with details that are just like ours.
I've actually got a couple
friends in the department.
If, uh, we can get a name on her,
and she's known around here,
we may be able to track her down.
Do you, uh, think
I could just get your info?
- Yes.
- Maybe we can attack this together.
Tomorrow, we comin' for his ass.
[dark, brooding music playing]
[quietly] Babe?
I can't believe it. I can't. [gasps]
Oh, you don't understand
how much I miss you.
[sighs] How's Major?
How's little man holdin' up?
[sighs] He's... gone.
He was taken from me.
What?
Someone took our child?
You let someone take our child?!
No, I didn't.
You probably drove him away.
You never let him have any fun.
What?
- [horror sting]
- [squelching]
[unsettling music playing]
You might as well accept it, Summer.
He's never coming back.
[squelching]
He doesn't wanna come back.
He's happier...
[distorted] with me.
[yelling]
[skin peeling]
[gasps]
[maniacal laughter]
I told you I'd send ya to hell.
- [gasps]
- [growls]
[panting]
[knocking on door]
[unsettling music playing]
- [knocks on door]
- Christ!
[groans]
[knocking]
[speaker] [whispers]
Hey... Summer.
Boy...
don't you ever knock
on my door like that
- in the middle of the night again.
- Look, I'm-I'm sorry. I just,
just needed to talk to you.
- They invented phones for a reason.
- Yeah, I know, but I found her.
- Who?
- Turns out that there is,
there is a homeless woman
with a missing child who filed a report.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah, Rhonda Harper.
They got a last known location for her.
- It's just a ways out.
- Let me get changed.
[Eddie] Okay, okay.
[engine starts]
- [children's music plays in car]
- Shit. [chuckles]
Um, sorry. Th-That's--
It's, it's my daughter's.
- That's sweet. Mm.
- Yeah.
[unsettling, tense music playing]
[radio channels distorting]
[dog barking]
- [Summer] Rhonda?
- [Eddie] Rhonda?
- [Summer] Rhonda?
- [Eddie] Rhonda, if you're out here,
we don't wanna hurt you,
we just wanna talk.
- [cans clanging]
- Shit.
- [tense music playing]
- [Summer whimpers]
Who sent you?!
What was him?
What the fuck, Eddie?!
Drop the knife now.
Let her go.
[Summer pants]
This is my home!
Hey, Rhonda.
Hey, we've met before.
We've met before.
Crocket took my son,
just like he stole yours.
You tried to warn me,
but I didn't listen then,
and I'm so sorry about that,
but I am here now,
and I am, I am here to listen.
Major... lost his daddy.
So much pain in that boy.
Crocket feels it.
How'd you know he'd come for my son?
- [music fades out]
- [TV static]
[Eddie] Whoa.
- [distorted voices]
- [unsettling music playing]
[Rhonda] He used to come to me...
in my dreams...
told me to give up,
to let Darren go, but I can't.
What mother could?
So, I kept on looking,
hunting Crocket,
and I realized...
he must be watching us...
monitoring us through the airwaves
to see which kids he wanted to take.
I could almost feel it
running through me, his power,
and I wondered
if I could tap into that signal,
receive it somehow...
if I had enough power of my own.
So, I came out here and built this.
Are you saying you can connect
with him... with his mind?
If he's coming into our world...
But it's all jumbled,
a mess of flickering channels,
bad reception,
this endless stream of rage and sadness.
So, if you know where he's gonna be
and who he's gonna take,
- why haven't you stopped him?
- I tried...
but he's too strong.
And I lost everything the first time:
my son, my mind.
[crying]
It broke me, and I, I can't, I can't,
- I can't face him again.
- [Summer] Hey, it's okay.
You're not alone.
Rhonda, we've got your back...
but you have to try...
for our kids, for Darren.
We have to confront him.
Can you show us how?
- [dark, tense music playing]
- [TV static]
Rhonda?
[Tickles the Clock laughing]
[Rhonda] Right now, he's searching,
monitoring happy children.
They bring up happy memories
from long ago.
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
[distorted speaking]
[Mr. Crocket]
Go hide! One, two, three.
Where'd you guys go?
You guys are makin' this
really hard on Mr. Crocket.
Oh! [laughs] I found you, Anthony.
I found you, I found--
[TV static]
[Rhonda] Something's wrong.
His mind, it's everywhere.
[parent] [on TV]
Kelli, I'm talking to you! Stop it!
- [Rhonda] He sees a child in pain.
- [child yelling]
Her pain opens old wounds...
[distorted] Mr. Crocket--
[Rhonda] ...a bad memory.
I've seen it before.
Hello, girls and boys. [laughs]
I am your new best friend, Mr. Crocket,
and-and here to help me today is,
uh, my best pal, uh, Benny the Bison.
[as Benny]
Hello, boys and girls.
Uh, my name is Benny the Bison.
[chuckles]
[TV static]
[as Mr. Crocket] Um--
Whoa, whoa! Come on, man!
No, no, no!
I asked you to do one goddamn thing.
Hold the fucking string!
- [crew member] Fuck you.
- No, fuck you! Where you going?!
You non-string-holding motherfucker!
- Holy shit.
- [as Benny] You're a failure, a joke,
and a loser.
You will never amount to anything.
- [TV static]
- [as Mr. Crocket] Oh.
[pins drop]
[as Benny] You're a loser,
loser, loser, loser, loser, loser.
[as Mr. Crocket] Fuck you, okay?!
Don't you ever talk to me that way,
you ignorant motherfucker!
- [as Benny] Loser.
- [as Mr. Crocket] Shut up!
- [as Benny] Loseeer.
- [Mr. Crocket screams]
[Rhonda]
His anger, he can't control it.
[Mr. Crocket] Say it with me! Loser!
I'm not a loser! I'm not a loser!
- [Mr. Crocket grunting]
- Why are we watchin' this?
It means he's gonna strike.
[Mr. Crocket]
I guess this ends our friendship.
[screams]
[parent] [on TV]
Kelli, I'm not gonna tell you again.
- It's bedtime.
- [Rhonda] There.
He's got a location.
[parent]
You have school in the morning.
- Stop it!
- [Rhonda] Did you see that?
- An address.
- [child screams]
Oh yeah? Make me!
[screams]
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- [TV static]
Rhonda.
[distorted laughter on TV]
Rhonda.
Rhonda, we got the address.
We know where he's gonna be.
Wake up, wake up!
[exhales]
You did it.
We know where to find him.
Now let's go get the fucker.
- [Rhonda trembling]
- Rhonda.
Hey, Rhonda.
Hey, come on.
We need all the help we can get.
Do you ever wonder
if they're better off... with him?
With Crocket? Fuck no,
what are you talkin' about?
I should've stood up for him.
I shouldn't have... [crying]
What did you do...
that drove your boy away?
W-- [sighs]
He only comes when you've hurt them.
Summer... we gotta move.
We don't know when he got here.
Rhonda, listen to me. Hey.
What a boy needs is his mother.
- [soft, dramatic music playing]
- Do you hear me?
[dog barking]
Come on.
I got you.
[Rhonda breathes heavily]
[tense, unsettling music playing]
[door creaks]
[electricity buzzes]
[TV static]
[gun clicks]
[hushed] I don't know what
you think you're gonna do with that.
[ominous music playing]
- [Rhonda gasps]
- [Summer] Shh.
[Kelli] [muffled]
Will Boogaloo Blue be there?
[Mr. Crocket] [muffled]
Oh yes, he will.
The whole gang will be there
waiting for you.
[Kelli] Wow!
[normal]
Go on, my child. Go on through.
I'll be there before you can say,
"Benny Bison's brains were battered"
10 times fast.
- [bright sound shimmering]
- [chuckles]
[nearby clattering]
[groans]
[heavy footsteps]
[Mr. Crocket groans]
[footsteps]
[tense sting]
[lights flickering]
I know someone's in here.
It is very bad manners
to not introduce yourself.
[footsteps approach]
Come out, come out
wherever you are.
- [grunts]
- [Rhonda yells]
- Ah!
- [Rhonda grunts]
- [Summer] Rhonda!
- [Eddie] This way!
[unsettling, tense music playing]
[Summer] Rhonda!
- [Mr. Crocket grunts]
- [Rhonda yells]
- We have to go back!
- It's--
Fuck. Come on.
Come on, come on.
- [sparkling sounds]
- [static]
[gasps]
[fire crackling]
[quiet, unsettling music playing]
[panting]
[singers vocalizing]
[music intensifies]
- [thunder cracking]
- [static]
- [heavy footsteps]
- [metal creaks]
[Mr. Crocket's laugh echoes]
[loud footsteps]
- [Boogaloo Blue roars]
- [Summer screams]
Blue, Blue, wait, wait, wait.
- [Boogaloo Blue roars]
- [Eddie screams]
[Mr. Crocket screeching]
[laughing]
[Boogaloo Blue grumbling]
You are such a good friend, Blue, mm?
- [Boogaloo Blue growls]
- [Mr. Crocket laughing]
Now go find me the other one.
[laughs]
- Welcome.
- [Summer gasps, screams]
[Summer panting]
You need a hug. Sit!
[ropes whipping]
[Demonic Chair] Comfy?
Enough...
Just restrain her, okay?
But leave it at that. [chuckles]
I have other plans for her.
- [bell rings]
- [child screams]
But first, it sounds like it's story time!
[Tickles the Clock]
Story time. Story time. Story time.
[Mr. Crocket]
Are you ready, boys and giiirls?!
Oh, come on in.
Come on in, come on in.
Oh, look at you guys.
You're so beautiful.
- Oh!
- Major, Major!
Major, sweetie. Honey, wake up!
Major, wake up! We gotta run!
Major, baby, hey. Wake up.
Listen to Mama, wake--
[Mr. Crocket]
Oh, so what story shall we tell today?
[mimics children] "Oh, please
tell us your story, Mr. Crocket."
[normal]
No, no, no, no, no, no.
I'm sure you're sick
of hearin' that by now.
[mimics children] "No, never, ever,
Mr. Crocket. It's our favorite."
[normal] O-kay, if you insist.
[laughing]
Truth be told...
it's my favorite, too.
[Demonic Chair growls]
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
O-kay.
- [angelic singing]
- Here we go.
[sparkling sound]
Once upon a time,
there was a little boy named Emanuel.
- Me.
- [children laughing]
And I was just your size
a long, long time ago,
and just like you,
I wished for better parents.
- My father was a very, very bad man.
- [father laughing]
He would hit me nearly every day,
for no reason at all
other than the fact that
I was the only one left
who couldn't run away.
But you know what?
I kept eating all the food I could find,
so that I can keep growing
bigger and stronger,
and soon, I made sure
my father never hit me again.
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
I made it look like an accident,
so the police couldn't put me in time-out.
[laughter]
And that's when I knew
that it was my calling
to protect all the girls
and boys in the world,
e-especially from those parents
who weren't any good
at loving their children.
And most of all,
I dreamed of having my own family,
so that I could be a good parent
to all the kids in the world.
[exhales]
Everything was going so well.
[through book] Hello, boys and girls.
Welcome to Mr. Crocket's World!
[normal] And then one day,
I met one special boy on my set,
a boy with sad eyes.
I knew there was something
wrong at his home.
So, I offered the boy, Anthony...
a place to stay,
but no one really understood
that I only wanted
what was best for the boy.
[through book]
Oh, what would I do without you, Squawky?
- [siren wailing, bangs on door]
- [police officer] Open up! Police!
[banging on door]
Freeze!
- [police officer 1 yelling]
- [stabbing]
[police officer 2 groans]
- [police officer 2 yelling]
- [stabbing]
[Anthony panting]
- [police officer 3] Hey!
- [gunshots]
[slow motion yell]
[unsettling music playing]
- [body thuds]
- [Anthony sobs]
[singers vocalizing]
[Anthony cries out]
[Mr. Crocket]
But that wasn't the end of my story.
I made a deal to send
bad parents' souls to hell...
in exchange for a world of my own.
[dark music playing]
And now, I bring
good children, worthy children
to my paradise to play forever.
[inhales]
And I will protect you...
[giggles]
and I'll make you happy
in aaall the ways you ever desired.
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
No pain, no anger,
no yelling, no spanking,
no, no, no, no, no veggies,
or time-out, or bedtime!
[Mr. Crocket, children laughing]
[all] [chanting]
No bedtime, no bedtime!
No bedtime, no bedtime!
You're snatchin' kids over bedtime.
That's insane!
[sighs]
[panicking] Eddie, now, now. Get the kids.
Get the kids, save your daughter.
[dramatic music playing]
He was the only adult that ever loved me.
[chuckles]
When he came for me,
I... I wanted to stay with him...
[Demonic Chair growls]
...forever.
What's going on?
What are you doing?
I used to dream about this place, Summer.
I could... I could feel him out there.
I've been trying to come home to him
since I was nine years old,
and thanks to you, I've made it.
Oh, God.
You're Anthony.
I can't let you destroy this paradise,
and break up our family.
Oh, my G--
[heavy breathing]
Major, Major, wake up, baby!
You gotta run! Run, Major! Wake up!
I'm sorry.
[Demonic Chair]
Do it, pussy.
[Mr. Crocket] Anthony?
- Come here.
- Okay.
Get closer.
It's me, it's me.
Uh!
- Uh, no, no, no, no.
- Why?
What are you t--
- Who are you?
- I'm Anthony.
The, [chuckles] the boy from
the story book, do you remember?
Anthony?
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Anthony is an innocent young boy.
You are an old, bitter, insane man
who has done nothing with his life!
- You don't belong here.
- No, I do.
- No, you don't.
- I-I do!
- No, you don't.
- [screams] I do!
- [screams] You don't belong here!
- I do!
[children] [singing]
You don't belong here
- I do, I do, I do.
- You don't belong here
- You don't belong here
- [dark, brooding music playing]
- I do! I do, I do.
- [Mr. Crocket] No!
[exhales] Blue, Blue.
No, no, I'm your friend.
- [roars]
- [yelling]
Oh, oh, God!
[laughs]
- [growling, roars]
- [squelching]
[unsettling music playing]
[roars]
- [whimpering]
- Blue... don't play with your food
in front of the children.
You sick fuck.
[softly] Oh.
I can sense that you're angry.
Sometimes our feelings can...
grow a little too big
for our bodies to handle.
You should try counting
backwards from five,
and taking big, deep breaths, Summer.
[inhales deeply]
[exhales slowly]
[laughs]
Remember, Summer, you're the boss
when it comes to your feelings.
- Fuck you.
- Mm.
Your friend's objective didn't
play out so well for him, Summer.
However, fairness is
one of my most important lessons.
So... I'm going to give
you a shot, Summer.
- [Demonic Chair growls]
- [Summer grunts]
[Summer gasping for air]
Major... come here.
Go on...
Take your son back.
Yeah? Bring him home,
if that's what he desires.
Major, I'm your mother.
He does not know you.
He does not love you.
But I do.
Major, you have to choose
who would you like your parent to be.
I'm sorry, baby.
Mommy was wrong to say all
of those things, but I didn't mean them.
Major, the only thing I want
in the world is what is best for you.
Please, baby. Just... trust me.
[soft, dramatic music playing]
[static]
Come on, baby.
Sweetie, it's me, it's me.
Look... Yes, there you are, yes.
I told you I would--
I will always be there for you.
- Mom?!
- Yes, sweetie.
[soft, touching music playing]
[Mr. Crocket whimpers]
[laughs] That was touching.
I am taking my son
and gettin' the hell outta here.
You hear me, you asshole?
But that isn't what he wants.
He wants to stay with me,
don't you, Major?
You see, he called out to me
after you said you wanted
to quit bein' his mother.
Major, you wanna be with
the person who would never say
he wouldn't wanna be a father to a boy
as special and as wonderful as you are.
[Summer] Major.
[soft, tense music playing]
I'm sorry, Mommy.
- [static]
- [Mr. Crocket] Yes! [cackles]
Well, it's been
so much fun having visitors,
but I think it's time
we say goodbye to our guest now.
But before she goes,
how about we play
one last game with her, huh?
What will it be?
Oh, Barrel of Monkeys?
- [children] No!
- No. Hopscotch?
- [children] No!
- No!
We wanna have more fun!
Hmm.
[gasps] Ah! I got it. [chuckles]
The greatest game of all.
Hide-and-seek.
[Tickles the Clock cuckoos]
Hide-and-seek time.
Yeah, hide-and-seek time.
I love hide-and-seek.
[Mr. Crocket]
But we'll make it even more fun.
Whoever lands the death blow
on Summer wins the game
and an endless bowl of ice cream!
- [cheering]
- Alright! Let's play!
Run!
- [children snarling]
- [tense music playing]
[Mr. Crocket]
Let's see how you do in the dark.
- Get her!
- [lights click off]
- [Summer panting]
- [children's laughter echoing]
[keys jingling]
[laughter]
- [child hisses]
- [Summer gasps]
- [metal creaking]
- [child laughs]
[indistinct whispering]
- [child snarls]
- [Summer screams]
[hissing]
[growls]
[panting, gasps]
- [horror sting]
- [Squawky Bird screeches]
[fighting, grunting]
[screeches]
- [slices]
- [screeching]
[Squawky Bird choking]
[Summer panting]
- [grunting]
- [screeching]
[panting]
[dark, dramatic music playing]
- [Summer yelps]
- Found you.
- [snaps]
- [lights click on]
[Mr. Crocket laughing]
Darren, listen to me.
Hey, hey. Um, I saw your mother.
She wants me to bring you home.
She loves you. She loves you.
She misses you.
I can take you to her.
Mr. Crocket says freeze. [laughs]
Major, come here, son.
What I'm teaching you today
is a lesson that I had
to learn the hard way too
when I was a little boy,
that sometimes... to grow up...
we have to say goodbye to our past.
Mm-hmm.
I did it with my dad too...
and now
it's time you become someone...
- [marker sparkling]
- ...special.
- [Mr. Crocket chuckles]
- Please stop.
- [blade slices]
- [Mr. Crocket chuckles]
[whistle blows]
[laughs]
[exhales]
That's my son. [sniffles]
[whispers] Go on.
[echoes] Move.
[singers vocalizing]
[Summer] Major.
[exhales] I love you, baby.
[cackling]
[sniffles]
[cackling]
[soft, dramatic music playing]
[static]
Huh?
[gasps, panics]
Major!
- [static]
- [singers vocalizing]
- What are you doing, Major?
- I am takin' the kids,
and we're gettin' the fuck
outta this shithole!
- It's over.
- It's not over
until Mr. Crocket says it's over.
[laughs]
We still have more playtime.
[Mr. Crocket laughs]
You don't know
who the fuck you're talkin' to!
Oh, that rainbow book motherfucker
is a candy-ass bitch next to me.
No, no, no, no, no!
I was forged in the fires
of hell and abuse!
- [roars]
- [slices]
- [gasps]
- [squelching]
[sobs]
Shurry Bottom, born and raised, bitch.
[body thuds]
[zapping]
Let's go, kids.
We're gettin' the hell outta here.
- [portal zaps]
- Come on.
[dark, dramatic music playing]
[zaps]
[groaning]
[zaps]
Come back!
Major, come on, baby. Let's go.
No! [panting] Please.
Don't, don't leave me.
Let me go. Let me go!
Playtime isn't over.
[grunts]
[cries out, sobs]
Don't worry, son.
Wherever you go,
I'll be there in a heartbeat.
[zaps]
- [static]
- [light music playing]
[singers vocalizing]
[birds chirping]
I heard you pulled through.
You're a bad motherfucker.
[chuckles, sniffles]
I, uh, I brought someone
who wants to see you.
[chuckles, sobs]
Mom!
[slow, emotional music playing]
[Summer] All the other kids
are still being assigned homes,
but I just wanted to make sure
you two found each other.
I... I just-- I don't even have
the words to thank you.
Oh, no. Please don't.
Just will you promise me
that you'll let it all go?
Forgive yourself.
Nobody has all the answers.
We're all just doin' the best we can.
And we do it alone.
Okay?
I'm gonna do my best to try
to follow my own damn advice.
[both laughing]
Take care of your mama.
[Rhonda] [cries] Thank you.
["I'm Going All the Way"
by Sounds of Blackness playing]
Whatever it takes to make it
I'm going all the way, yeah
I may be down...
- Yeah, I got it, I got it!
- Oh!
- Alright!
- [both] Bam!
Who needs a VCR?
That was a horrible high five.
Let's do it again.
Alright, come on.
- Hike!
- I've had some problems
Heartache and pain
- [cheering]
- Tryin' to find the answers
I been rackin' my brain
- [blowing whistle]
- Oh, but as I thought about it
- Go Major! Go Major!
- Began to come clear
To get myself together
and go on from here
Whatever it takes to make it
I'm going all the way
- [pencil scribbles]
- Oh, yes I am, oh, yes I am now
I may be down sometimes...
[guidance counselor]
Mrs. Beverly, thank you so much
for meeting about Major's
situation at school.
I mean, I-I can't say
I'm surprised to hear
that Major's having some
trouble readjusting.
[inhales] He's been through
a lot the past few months.
As much as we wanna accommodate
Major's healing process...
- Mm-hmm.
- ...I'm afraid we can't put the safety
- of our staff at risk.
- What do you mean?
[dark, brooding music playing]
[counselor]
Major has severe issues
when it comes to
adult discipline and authority.
[Summer] [exhales]
Uhh...
There's no way
my Major's responsible for this.
I'm afraid the first place we always
have to start with this sort of thing
is the parenting.
Well, uh, I've always told Major
t-to stand up for himself,
- but I've n-never--
- No, Mrs. Beverly,
I wasn't suggesting you...
but is it possible that the influence
of the male parental figure in his life--
Well, Jerrel, Major's father,
he passed away recently, um--
I mean your new relationship.
Relationship?
What do you mean?
[counselor]
There's a lot of talk...
fear really, around the schoolyard...
about Major's new father figure.
The children keep away
from Major because...
they're afraid this man is
going to come and get them,
and snatch them up through their TVs.
[gasps] Oh, my God.
Can you... tell us
a little bit about this person?
Please help us.
[Major humming]
[box rattles]
[Mr. Crocket] [echoes]
That's my boy.
[Mr. Crocket's laugh echoes]
[screams]
- [static]
- [children's song playing]
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
A friend like you is a friend like me
A friend like us is a friend like we
Whenever you're in trouble,
you can call on me
I'll be there to protect you
in a heartbeat
Yes! [laughs]
That was really good.
That was really good, boys and girls.
[laugh echoes]
Now you know what you gotta do
when you see fruits and vegetables
in front of you, right?
You know the answer.
Ya got to eat right
Ya got to eat well
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
Ya got to eat right
Ya got to eat well
Take a great, big bite
It's so good for your health
Fruits and vegetables,
they make your body strong
All of that junk food,
they do your body wrong
Fruits and vegetables,
they make your body strong
But beware of that junk food,
they do your body wrong
You know that junk food
never gave anybody any energy.
They'll just make you sleepy and tired.
[yawns]
[laughs] Alright, now.
You know when you got
a toy in your hand
and you got a friend
standing there staring at it?
Well, you know what to do.
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
You give me what's yours
And I'll give you what's mine
We'll share together all the time
[laughs] Oh yeah!
Share to your left and share
to your right now, boys and girls.
That's the best thing to do
and the most fun!
Sharing means caring, can't you see?
Sharing means trust
between you and me
You give me what's yours
And I'll give you what's mine
We'll share together all the time
[ominous music playing]
[music cuts out]
[singers vocalizing]
[light music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music fades out]
- [children's song playing]
- Ya won't strike gold
From diggin' up your nose
It won't taste great
addin' boogers to your plate
Ya won't strike gold
From diggin' up your nose
It won't taste great
addin' boogers to your plate