02x07 - You Can't Scare Me

[bunniefuu]

[ Wind Whistling ]

[ Dog Barking ]

[ Man ]
Goosebumps.

Viewer beware.

You're in for a scare.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Man ]
Leah, wait up now. [ Grunts ]

I got it. I got it.
Keep going there. Ho! Ho!

- Yeah, that's good.
- [ Chuckles ]

[ Man, Indistinct ]
Easy now. Easy.

It's starting to rain, Leah.
I'm getting real muddy.

Maybe we should
go home now, huh?

- No. I'm having too much fun.
- Okay, okay.

Leah, don't go there.

Grandpa will get your ball for you.

Can you?

[ Straining ]

[ Screams ]

[ Gasps ]

- Grandpa! Grandpa!
- [ Mud Gurgling ]

[ Screams ]

[ Roaring ]

[ Screams ]

[ Roaring ]

But it was too late.

Neither of them
were ever seen again.

They were two more victims of
the mud monster of Muddy Creek.

- That was an excellent report.
- Mmm, thank you.

But you do understand
it was only a legend, right?

Yes. My grandfather told me
the story when I was really little.

See, in my research,

I found that every town
has scary stories and legends.

- "In my research"?
- Little Miss Perfect.

Eddie, do you have something
you'd like to say to the class?

- Uh, no.
- Then please be quiet.

Why do you think people
come up with stories like that?

People have a need
to create monsters.

It helps us believe that
the real world isn't as scary

as the monsters we dream up.

She talks like a book.

But of course, monsters
only exist in our imagination.

[ Girl ]
That's not necessarily true.

There are scientists that
believe Big Foot really exists

and the Loch Ness monster too.

[ Teacher ] But do you have
proof that monsters exist?

Yeah, you're looking at one.
Its name's Courtney.

Proof?
Of course not, Ms. Prince.

See, if I had proof, we wouldn't
be having this little discussion.

- You got a point there, Courtney.
- [ Courtney ] I know.

- A snake!
- Don't be such a chicken. It's for her.

- Ah, a snake for a snake.
- Exactly.

- That's very thorough, Courtney.
- I know. Thank you.

[ Eddie ]
That's so excellent.

You're right about that, Eddie. That
was an excellent report, Courtney.

And we're looking
forward to hearing yours,

if you can ever get it out
of your computer.

But it really is stuck in there.

If you wanna download it to a disk,
I'm sure I can help you print it.

Maybe Courtney
can help you, Eddie.

I can't wait until lunchtime.

[ Both Hissing ]

[ Chattering ]

- This is gonna be good.
- Shh. She'll know something's up.

- Mr. Finley, how are you?
- Very well. Thank you for asking.

- And your family?
- How nice of you to ask. They're fine.

What a kiss-up!

- Well, you have a nice day, Courtney.
- You too, Mr. Finley.

- You're not eating?
- No, I left my lunch at home today.

All right already.
Get to lunch.

- Then please, have a little of mine.
- Oh, no. No, I couldn't.

Please, I insist. My mom,
she always packs too much anyway.

Well, thank you
very much, Courtney.

- She's giving it to Finley.
- Great. We'll get both of them.

And maybe if we're lucky, Mr. Finley
will think Courtney did it on purpose.

[ Mouths Words ]

Yes.

Eh, I can't.

- No.
- But...

it's smoked salmon with cream cheese.

Smoked salmon?

Oh, I can't say no to that.

[ Screams ]

- [ Girl Screams ]
- [ Children Groaning ]

- Courtney, get it off me!
- It's okay. It's okay.

- It's just a corn snake.
- [ Sighs ]

[ Moans ]

I'm sorry, Mr. Finley.
I had no idea.

Someone must have put it in my bag.

Oh, man. Hey, j-j-just
take that away from me.

- Please.
- It's harmless, really.

- You-- You're not scared?
- No.

I love all creatures.
Would you like to touch it?

Well, I don't-- You know,
I don't-- I-- No.

I understand your reluctance,
Mr. Finley.

- Most people are afraid of snakes.
- Huh? Great idea, Hat.

[ Moans ]

You're getting all tied up
there, aren't you?

[ Girl ]
Hey!

[ Chattering ]

- I got another idea, Eddie, my boy.
- Forget it.

- Ah, this one's a beauty.
- No, thanks.

That's the thing about
computers these days.

Anyone can figure 'em out.

Oh. Sorry, Eddie.
I-- I didn't see you.

- I'm very sorry.
- What's your idea?

- No way. I ain't doing it.
- Chicken.

I know you are, but what am I?

That's so funny I forgot to laugh.
You get it.

- No way.
- Are you scared of everything?

- No.
- Then prove it.

Okay, you got something
to put it in?

- I don't wanna do it.
- Come on, man. It's just a bug.

It's a bug.

- [ Chattering ]
- Hurry up, Eddie!

- I'm trying.
- [ Woman ] You've thought about this?

- [ Courtney ] It's really fun.
- This really isn't necessary.

[ Door Unlocking ]

Courtney, you know you don't
need to do any extra work.

You've already got an A-plus.

Yeah, but I was hoping
I could get something higher.

- There is no such thing.
- Are you sure?

We're in science class.
We can invent one.

I hate her.

Courtney, I wish there
were more students like you.

And I wish there were
more teachers like you.

- Quit tickling my leg.
- Shh! I'm not.

You're not?

[ Gasps, Muffled Shouts ]

- It's okay. It's okay.
- [ Panting ]

- Would you like a ride home?
- No, it's okay.

I like to walk. It gives me
time to think about my classwork.

Don't forget to shut the door
behind you when you're through.

[ Gasps ]
Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

- Oh, gosh.
- It's okay. Shh.

- Don't yell. It scares. That's when it--
- Help!

[ Together ]
Help! Help!

Help!

Don't move.

Hello. It's okay,
tarantula. It's okay.

Tarantulas hardly ever bite. And
even if they do, it doesn't hurt.

Like the snake,
it's a misunderstood creature.

Would you like to touch it?

- No. It's okay.
- Uh, no, no. We'll take a rain check.

[ Sighs ]

Oh, my gosh.

[ Gurgling ]

[ Ms. Prince ] Here's today's
Muddy Creek Observer.

"The Legend of the Mud Monsters"
was written by Courtney King.

"Coney" again?

I think we should
all give Courtney a hand.

It's not every day we have a
famous writer in our midst.

Well, I'm not exactly famous yet.

Well, you're published.
That's the first step.

[ Scoffs ] Spare me.

Eddie.

As a published author, what would
you say the value of writing is?

Well, when I was a child, I used
to be afraid of mud monsters.

But as I started to do
my research, I realized...

that there was nothing
to be afraid of.

I was basically afraid
of the unknown.

So I should say thank you,
Ms. Prince.

Thank me? Why?

I guess writing this report
helped me confront my fears.

Now I'm not scared of anything.

- [ Gasps ]
- [ Ms. Prince ] Very good.

[ Whispering ] Now I know
how we can get Courtney.

Look, all I'm saying is if
you're not scared, prove it.

- How?
- Meet Eddie and me at Muddy Creek.

After school.
We dare you. Right, Eddie?

- Yeah.
- You two don't ever give up, do you?

See, I told you she was
afraid of mud monsters.

No. I'll be there.
I promise.

- [ Bell Rings ]
- [ Snapping Fingers ]

- How come I have to be the mud monster?
- 'Cause it was my idea.

- So how do I look?
- Like-- Like someone covered with mud.

You think she believes in them?
You know, deep down?

She will after tonight.
If you'll just hold still.

Yep, that's better.

Hmm.

- Whoa.
- [ Grunts ]

Oh, man! Aah.

- [ Laughs ]
- [ Spits ] Ah, man.

Eddie!

[ Groaning ]

- [ Growls ]
- Hey.

You better hide.
She's gonna be here any sec.

Okay, when she shows up
I'll bring her here,

and you jump out and tell her

you're gonna turn her
into a mud monster.

I can't wait to see it. Big, brave
Courtney begging for her life.

Um--

And, uh, put some more
mud on, okay?

[ Hat ]
Courtney!

Hey, Courtney!

Courtney!

Courtney, where are you?

Courtney!

Oh.

Eddie, I told you
to stay where you were!

Hey, Courtney!

Courtney!

Courtney, where are you?

[ Gurgling ]

Eddie, you're supposed
to be hiding.

Wow, you look great.
You find more mud?

Eddie?

- [ Roaring ]
- [ Screaming ]

[ Roaring Continues ]

[ Roaring Continues ]

[ Growling ]

[ Panting ]

[ Roaring Continues ]

[ Screams ]

[ Panting ]

[ Screams, Gasps ]

- [ Screams ]
- Hey, it's just me, Eddie.

Eddie, listen to me.
There's a real mud monster out there!

- [ Roaring Continues ]
- There's no such thing.

- I'm not kidding! We gotta move!
- Look, there's no such thing.

Think about it.
Monsters aren't real.

- [ Growling ]
- I saw, Eddie.

You're just imagining.

It was probably just the fog
in the swamp or something.

I'm scared, Eddie.

Isn't it interesting how people
keep on trying something...

that has no chance of succeeding.

Here we have two adolescents of
average or below intelligence...

trying to outwit an adolescent

of much higher than
average intelligence.

I'm not bragging.
I'm just stating the facts.

But what is really interesting
is your persistence--

what keeps you going.

It reminds me of some lab rats
I once saw in some science experiment.

Lab rats?

They keep on shocking
the poor little things,

but they keep on insisting
to have their food pellet.

- [ Eddie ] Can you believe her?
- Kind of pathetic when you think about it.

- M-Mud!
- Mud?

- M-Monster!
- Oh-ho. A mud monster.

A mud monster is behind me.
I see.

[ Low Growl ]

- You are right.
- [ Growls ]

Uh-uh. Don't interrupt.
I can feel your anger.

- [ Sighs ]
- What?

But why?
That's what we need to look at.

Now, isn't that better?

Now, we have to talk about
your aggressive behavior.

[ Sighs ]

You can't expect
sympathy from people

if you're always
attacking them, you know.

Well-adjusted monsters just
don't do those sorts of things.

Correct me if I'm wrong,
but inside this monster we all see,

I think we have an
emotionally wounded creature.

It wasn't until
I admitted to myself...

that there was nothing wrong
with being perfect...

that I was able
to totally accept myself.

It means to work
on your self-growth...

and definitely do something
about your impulsive behavior.

Hear me out.
Hello there. Hello.

Are you even listening to me?

[ Camera Shutter Snaps ]

[ Man ] Courtney,
when did you first realize

you were dealing with a monster?

As I told the president earlier,
when he phoned to congratulate me,

I always suspected that
there might be some truth

to the legend of the mud monster.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

Only Courtney could talk
a mud monster to death.

I also told him that being a hero
comes with lots of responsibility.

That's why saving the lives
of two frightened little boys,

Hat and Eddie,
was something I had to do.

- [ Groans ]
- Oh, brother.

I'll never forget the look of
absolute terror in their little faces.

[ Camera Shutter Snaps ]

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

Oh, darn. The rain.

Shall we reconvene at city hall?

- Some monster!
- Yeah. Just a big dirt clod.

I really thought we had her
this time. Let's just admit it.

- We'll never b*at Courtney.
- Yeah.

- Shouldn't we get out of the rain?
- What for?

Yeah.

I just gotta tell you,
Eddie. Life just isn't fair.

Oh, thanks, man.

- [ Roaring ]
- [ Both Screaming ]