Are You Afraid of the Dark (2019) s01e02 Episode Script

1 - It seems that one of your fellow classmates went missing this morning.
- No, no, no.
- I am sufficiently spooked.
- I've never seen this in the daytime before.
- Yeah, looks super different.
Like, less spooky.
- I prefer it spooky.
- Guys.
- Take a seat.
- I just wanna say that-- - Explain yourself.
- Yeah, seriously, What's going on? - I'm just as in the dark as the rest of you.
- What? - How is that possible? - Rachel, it's just--none of this makes any sense.
- None of this makes any sense to me either.
I made up the story.
I have nightmares about a creepy carnival, and I turned those nightmares into a story.
That's it.
- And now the creepy carnival is real.
- Maybe it's not the same carnival.
Mr.
Tophat's not on the flier.
- It's literally called the Carnival of Doom.
Maybe it's a coincidence? - I went there before this meeting to check it out.
- Bring the chain link fence here now! - Two more in the back of the truck! That stays with the top! Bring it down as soon as he's done framing it.
It is just like I imagined it.
- And I Googled the Carnival of Doom.
- Ditto.
- Yeah, same.
- Okay, we all did.
We're not dumb.
- The point is the Carnival of Doom has no social media presence.
Nothing at all.
No website, no Wikipedia, nothing, nada, zip.
- Maybe we're gonna have to look in places more physical.
- So are you suggesting we look in old newspapers or go to the library? - Yeah.
I already did that.
There's nothing anywhere.
Okay, I spent the entire lunch period looking.
- There's only one way we're gonna find out if this is the same carnival from my story.
We should go tomorrow night.
Together.
- This Thursday? I really--I really can't.
I have lots of plans? Really serious plans.
- Yeah, and I'm not going to an evil carnival.
- Sounds fun, but hard pass.
- Yeah, no offense, Rachel, but I'm staying far away from that place.
- There's something else you guys need to consider.
I don't even wanna say it out loud because I hope I'm wrong.
Nearly all of my nightmares about Mr.
Tophat involve him taking kids.
Just like my story.
If this carnival is the carnival from my nightmares, the same carnival from my story-- Adam went missing the same day the carnival came to town.
I think Mr.
Tophat took him.
Now, am I still going alone, or are you all going to join me? - Nope - No.
- The hardest no imaginable.
- Yeah, what you just said made it ten times worse.
- I declare this meeting of the Midnight Society closed.
- Come on, let's go.
- I hate to say it, but maybe inviting Rachel to join the Midnight Society was a mistake.
- I don't know.
- I think we should have a vote at the next meeting.
- Let's talk at school tomorrow, okay? - Fine.
Maybe inviting Rachel to join the Midnight Society was a mistake.
- I think we should have a vote at the next meeting.
- Oh, hey, sorry.
Hey, I knocked on your door but-- - I decided to walk by myself.
- Oh, I-- - I'm used to doing things alone, Gavin.
- When this is all over, we will have some issues to discuss.
But someone Convinced us that we shouldn't let you go to the carnival alone tonight.
We'll help you find Adam.
- Can I help you with those? - I'll--I'll help too.
- Me too.
- Studies show signs like these don't work.
But sure, I'll tape some litter to the walls, why not? - Where to? - Town square.
- I was in the Boy Scouts with Adam, and whenever we went camping, he'd wander off to pee and end up getting lost.
- So, by the fifth time, they asked him to stay home.
- Thanks, young lady.
- So, maybe, Mr.
Tophat isn't real.
- Maybe the carnival's completely normal, and he's just wandering around the forest enjoyingnature.
- And if he's not? If it is a super evil carnival? What are we supposed to do about it? - We should talk to your brother.
- What a laugh.
He'd never help us in a thousand years.
- Her brother is a cop.
- Maybe someone else can ask him for help.
- I'm doing everything I can, ma'am, I promise.
Officer Hideo Yamato speaking.
- Hi, this is Jonathon Townsend the Third speaking.
And I'm calling about a hot tip about a crime.
I am--I'm an adult, not a child.
- Uh, okay, Mr.
, um-- Mr.
Townsend the Third, to what case are you referencing? - Uh, if you're looking for the missing child, I think you should go to the opening night of the carnival.
You might find some clues.
- The carnival? What makes you think there's a connection between the two? - Uh I don't--I don't know.
J-just go to the carnival.
B-bye.
- Jonathan Townsend the Third? - That went really well.
- No, it did not.
- We should all head home.
Let's meet at the carnival at 7:30, okay? - All right.
- You're such a weirdo.
Kidding.
- Later.
- That was stupid.
- You're stupid.
- Please.
- You ready? - Sure.
- You seem tense.
- Nightmare.
- Mr.
Tophat? - The one and only.
- Everything's gonna be all right, Rachel.
We'll figure this out.
Together.
- You sound like the parents in my story.
We all know how that turned out.
- Yeah.
Speaking of parents, you think your mom would give us a ride to the carnival? What? I like your mom.
She seems really nice.
Actually she's the weirdest person I've ever met.
- Mm-hmm.
- Sorry.
- So, you're going to the carnival together, huh? - Mom.
- Gavin, what do your parents think about you dating at this age? - We're just meeting friends, you know, it's not a date.
- I remember my first date.
I mean, it was not that long ago, but I was so nervous.
Oh, sweating everywhere.
- I'm really sorry about my mom.
- Rachel, I had no idea you liked me like that.
- I--I don't, no, I swear we're just friends.
That's it, that's all we are.
Just friends--friends, that's it.
- Okay, relax, I know.
I'm kidding.
Of course.
We're justbuddies.
- I'm not dead yet - Well, looks like we're here.
- Love you, Rachel.
- Akiko, you brought one of your crew? - I wouldn't usually slum it in the documentary space, but a good story's a good story.
- Cool.
You make movies? - No, I make films.
- This is Josie.
- 'Sup.
- My cinematographer.
- You know, I like documentaries.
- I like cinema.
- I don't know what that means.
- Hey.
- To be clear, we did not come here together.
- To be clear, I don't know why that matters.
- Josie, I need a moment with my acquaintances.
You go ahead.
- You've called me your friend on, like, many occasions.
- Don't be needy.
Look, I know we all agreed to come here together, but Josie and I are gonna do our own thing.
If this really is a super evil carnival, and Mr.
Tophat is kidnapping kids, it will be mega helpful to get video evidence of the whole thing.
- Akiko.
Akiko, what're you doing here? - Um, going to the carnival.
What else would I be doing? - Can we talk? What do you want? - I got some weird tip today from some goofy kid who was pretending to be an adult.
And Irish? - It was clearly Scottish.
- Okay, the accent was great.
- That accent was horrible.
- Anyway, he claimed that Adam's disappearance has something to do with the carnival.
And it seemed like nonsense at first, but then I talked to Adam's mom, and she said that Adam walks the same route every morning with his dog, and that route would have led him right here.
I-I thought I should look into it.
You know, they don't call us Argenta's finest for nothing.
- That wasn't supposed to be a compliment, you know.
- I know, just--okay, let me know if you kids see anything odd tonight, okay? Please? - Yeah, whatever.
- Hey, be safe, call me if you need anything, yeah? - So, four of us are going on a detective mission, and one of us is making a documentary? - Slash exposé, but sure.
- Ramblers, let's get rambling.
- You've always wanted to say that, haven't you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Whoa-oh - Akiko, you can't film here.
- Please, I'm a rebel.
- Louise! Hi.
- Ah! - Why are you hiding? - Who is she with? - What if someone sees me hanging out with him? - Graham? - Tonight could mess up the social status I spent years creating.
- Relax.
You're not "Loser-ese" anymore.
And besides, Graham isn't even that bad.
- Guys, there's a clown with glasses.
Just like Rachel's story.
This is insane.
He's not gonna have eyes.
- Graham, Graham, shh! - He's not gonna have eyes! I'm gonna freakin' cry.
This is so scary.
- Graham! - I'm trying to calm down.
- Tickets, tickets.
What? - Would you mind taking off your glasses? - My glasses? - Yeah.
- Why would I wanna do that? - Just do it, please? - Cool, thanks.
- Excuse me, have you seen this kid? - What kid? - Next.
- That's disgusting.
- Do you always carry these around with you? - Be prepared, Rachel.
That's the Boy Scouts motto.
Be prepared.
- Are you prepared for the carnival? - Absolutely not.
- Okay.
- Documentary time.
Let's go! - I never knew organ music could be so terrifying.
I might have to use it sometime.
- Use it? For what? - Well, I'm a composer.
Aspiring, sort of? Or at least I use basic stuff.
Little Tangerine Dream, little Vangelis, a lot of Wang Chung.
- I'd love to hear it sometime.
- So, what are we thinking? - I'm thinking I should have stayed home and watched a Hammer movie.
- Could it be the same carnival? Maybe, I don't know.
- No sign of Mr.
Tophat.
- Everyone enter the big tent.
Tonight's spooky festivities will begin right inside.
Everyone report directly to the big tent.
- I'm going to the big tent.
Who's going with me? - Welcome to tonight's main event.
It is my honor to introduce to you the master of ceremonies - Please don't be him, please don't be him.
- The king of the carnival, and friend to no man.
You may call him Mr.
Tophat.
- It's him.
It's really him.
- Oh, hello, Rachel.
Welcome to the show.
- No.
- No! - Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, my enemies, my children, my people.
Tonight is a very special night.
And when I say that tonight is a very special night, I mean it is a very special night indeed.
Because tonight is opening night.
You came here for an experience.
You came here to live your fullest life.
You came here because the outside world is dull and dreary and safe.
You are here because-- - Free admission, baby! - Yes, it did not cost you money, but nothing in this world is free.
And it may cost you everything else.
So, now that I have your undivided attention, I'd like to ask you for a little bit more.
I'd like to ask for your obedience.
I'd like to ask you for your allegiance.
And I'd like to ask you all to have the greatest time imaginable.
Welcome to the Carnival of Doom.
Now of course, you know, there will be thrills and chills, but remember no matter how these things may seem, it's all part of the show.
- How do you know when you're having a heart attack? 'Cause I think I'm having a heart attack.
Am I too young to have a heart attack? - Now, among the rides and attractions here at the carnival, is a very small golden coin.
It looks--what, oh, just-- It looks a bit like this.
This golden coin - I've seen that coin in my nightmares.
- grants you admission to a secret part of the carnival.
Will you be the lucky one to find it? Will you find this passport to paradise? Good luck.
And remember It's all part of the show.
- Adam? - Where is Rachel going? - Excuse me, excuse me.
Sorry.
Adam! Adam! Excuse me.
Adam! - Cotton candy! Cotton candy here! - Excuse me.
Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Excuse me.
- You, young lady! Right here.
- Rachel.
- I saw Adam.
- Wait, where? Are you sure? - I don't know, I--uh-- - Oh, hello, Rachel.
Welcome to the show.
- Rachel! Rachel, hey, hey.
- I think I'm losing my mind.
- Or maybe we're both losing our minds because I see him too.
- That smile will haunt my dreams forever.
- Wait, where'd he go? - I think he was headed towards the tunnel of love.
- No, no, no, he was going to the Ferris wheel.
I'm sure of it.
- Remember the special opening night hours The park closes at 10:00 PM.
- We don't have much time.
- Okay, let's split up into two groups of two.
One group goes to the Ferris wheel, the other to the tunnel of love.
- I'll go with Rachel.
- You want me to hang out with Graham, alone, in public? - Let's hurry, guys.
Keep an eye out for that gold coin.
- We are? Okay, that'll work out.
- Yeah, just text them and tell them where we are.
- Do you see Adam? - Maybe he got on the ride.
- Hey, let's take five and hydrate.
Can I see your phone? What the-- This is amateur hour operating.
Mr.
Tophat's not even in the frame.
- What? That makes no sense.
He was standing right there.
- Are you saying he's invisible? Wait, he might be invisible.
- Yes, it did not cost-- - No way.
He is.
- Oh, my God, that's Adam.
- And it may cost you everything.
- Akiko.
- Hideo.
You still at the carnival? - Something wrong? - Adam is here at the carnival.
I have proof.
Okay, I was recording Mr.
Tophat's show and I-- - Akiko.
Akiko, is something wrong? - I think there are two scary clowns staring at us right now.
- I count four.
- A little direction would be helpful, Akiko.
- Um, I'm thinking--run! - This is Akiko, don't leave a message.
- Hey, I need to speak to someone in charge.
Now, boys, please, come on.
- Hey, I'm sorry about what I said in the car.
- It's no biggie.
Yeah, we're chill.
Totally, yeah.
- So did you have someone back in your old town? - Someone? - Like a boyfriend.
- No.
No, I didn't.
- I could've.
But-but life is about choices.
And I-I choose to not have one.
- Same.
- Like, on purpose? - Yeah.
Why be impatient? Eventually the right girl will come along.
- She's here.
Fine, fine.
Fine.
- There is a young constable here to see you.
- Send him in.
- So-- - I know why you're here.
It's about the boy who went missing, isn't it? - How'd you-- - Now, let's see if I can't shed a little light on the situation.
- I don't see Adam anywhere.
Did you hear that? - It's just the ride.
Hey, is that the-- - It's the gold coin.
I can't reach it.
- I'm--I'm afraid of heights.
- You're afraid of everything.
- But I'm really afraid of heights.
- Do I look like I care? - I think, maybe, you should.
- It's a little late now, Graham, we're here.
- Why'd it stop? - Is this supposed to stop? - This is too high, Louise.
This is entirely too high.
- Nothing bad is gonna happen on this ride, Graham.
Just relax.
- Uh, this is weird.
- What's going on? - I got you.
- I've almost got it, it's just too far.
Feels like it's stuck to the bottom like you can't even-- - Rachel! I got you! - Get off! - Hold on! - Go, go! - Come on! We're waiting! - Oh, my gosh.
Louise.
Louise.
Nothing bad is gonna happen on this ride? That counts as bad.
This is really, really bad.
It's up, up high, we're dead.
We're gonna die.
We're gonna die! - Get off! - Help! Help! - We're gonna die.
- Graham, there's another one.
Bolts don't unscrew themselves, right? - How many people do you think touch this in a day? - We've got bigger issues than your germophobia right now, Graham.
- I can freak out about multiple things at once.
- It's okay, it's okay.
Breathe, breathe, come on, come on, come on, please just breathe.
- Stop talking! No! Ugh! - Help! - Get off of her! - Over here! Hide! Are we good? - Shh.
I think so.
- Boo.
- Somebody help! It's got me! - Graham.
- Is anyone gonna help us? - Help? - It's about time.
- When you entered the park, you agreed not to record anything you saw with a phone or camera.
- Thus you forfeited the right to your own property.
Fork it over.
- Not our phones.
- A fate worse than death.
- Have a great night at the Carnival of Doom.
Good-bye.
- Wait, was this-- - All part of the show? Why did we go to a free carnival? - The skeletons were obviously a part of the ride.
- Do you think anybody fell for that? I knew that.
- Yeah.
M-me too.
It was s-superobvious.
- Yeah.
- This is too wild for me.
I'm going home.
- Wait.
What about Adam? - Who knows what you saw in that video.
It could've been anyone.
- Is this a mutiny? Are you abandoning your captain? - I'm tired, I have no camera, there's nothing to abandon.
- Clowns suck.
- Akiko, hey.
- Okay, so we thought we were gonna die, and then we didn't die, and then we realized it was all part of the show.
- We had basically the same experience.
Except we knew it was part of the show the entire time.
- Wow.
- Yeah, totally what he said.
- Okay, we were recording the show, and I realized we got footage of Adam.
- Can we see it? - A bunch of creepy clowns took our phones.
This was not a successful evening in my book.
- The carnival closes in five minutes.
Five minutes, everyone.
- I am not going anywhere until I find Adam.
- Hideo! Hey, sorry I couldn't call you back.
Clowns took my phone.
- You called me? - Earlier.
About Adam? I told you I saw him.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, Adam.
The missing kid from your school.
Why would he be here? - That's why you came.
You were looking for him.
- Nah, no, I just came to check out the festivities.
Now, you kids get home safe.
- That was mega creepy.
- Okay, we are definitely coming back here tomorrow and getting to the bottom of this.
- Let's go.
- You okay? Listen, we'll find Adam.
Okay? I promise.
- If we do find him, after, are you guys gonna cut me loose? - What do you mean? - I overheard Akiko and Louise last night.
They were talking about a vote.
- Oh, that.
No, no, look.
As soon as you joined, everything got crazy so fast, and Akiko--she's just being protective.
Y'know, she cares about us.
But it's not personal.
- It felt personal.
- One of the older kids in the group gave this to me when he graduated.
He said it'd been passed down The Midnight Society for decades.
I was the new kid around the campfire.
You know, always nervous.
I wasn't sure if I belonged.
But it was like he wanted me to know that I was one of them, you know? As long as I'm in the Midnight Society, there will always be a place for you around that fire.
- Thanks.
- Can I walk you to school in the morning? - Absolutely.
- Come on.
Let's go home.
- Am I driving you? - Not today.
- That's Gavin, we're going to school together.
- Ooh, Gavin.
- No, Mom.
- Hello.
- Hi.
Uh, sorry to bother you.
I'm Theo, your neighbor, Gavin's father.
- Hello there, Gavin's father, - Uh, you can just call me Theo.
- Is there a Mrs.
Gavin's Father? - No, no, no, nope.
Not anymore.
- Hmm, the plot thickens.
- Mom! - Why did you decide to grace us with your presence, this morning? - Why did I decide to grace you? Well, Gavin, my son--have either of you seen him? He wasn't in his bed this morning when I woke up.
- Oh, he wasn't.
- No.
Maybe he wanted to get an early start, and he's already at school.
He's done that before.
He hasn't always been the best at communication.
- Oh, communication is very important in any relationship.
Wouldn't you say? - Well if either of you hear from him, please let me know.
It was good meeting you--both of you.
- It was, indeed.
Wow.
That man is ten kinds of handsome.
Oh, honey.
What's wrong? Are you okay? - Gavin said he would walk with me to school this morning.
- Oh, sweetie.
Rejection isn't always personal.
You know, a young boy's mind is a complicated labyrinth filled with hormones and insecurities.
It's gonna be okay.
- He took him.
- Who took him? - Mr.
Tophat.
- Mr.
Who, now? - The carnival.
- I'm confused.
- The one you drove us to last night.
- Who drove? Drove who? - Me and Gavin.
- Oh, you and Gavin went on a date? - Oh, I'm so proud of you.
- You need to take me to school right now.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
- Louise, Louise, thank God.
- Oh, hey.
Are you okay? - What did we do last night? - We? - The five of us, where did we go? - We didn't go anywhere.
I stayed at home.
I went to bed early.
- No, no, no, not you.
Please.
- What's going on? And have you seen Gavin? - Excuse me, please excuse me, sorry.
Graham.
- Hey.
- I'm gonna ask you a question.
I need you to just tell me the truth, please, I-- - Okay, okay.
Slow down.
What--what's happening? - Do you remember the Carnival of Doom? - Yeah, yeah.
- You remember? Thank God.
- Yeah, it starred Bela Lugosi, and it was like eight out of ten.
Great movie.
- No, no, Mr.
Tophat.
The big tent.
Does any of this ring a bell? - No.
Was that in the movie? - This has to be a dream.
This has to be some kind of nightmare.
It's all part of the show.
It's all part of the show.
It's all part of the show.
I'm going to end this.
New school new life new locker With notes that make you wonder What kinds of stories likes the Midnight Society She told the tales of Mr.
Tophat A man that's friends to no one It's all part of the show - You've all told scary stories for longer than I even know.
But right now, you're in the middle of a real one.
And we've reached the final act.
- After them! - Mr.
Tophat must be destroyed.
- Were you in our out? - Shoot.
- I hope you are ready for the main event.