01x00 - Trick or Treat

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR: Man
lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

You're a rich man,
Gideon Hackles.

[chuckles]

Oh, I like the sound
of that, Mr. Bundles.

And so, I'm sure, so do you.

For as I get richer, so does
the firm of Biddle and Bundles.

Oh, we'll never get rich,
driving here every month

from Philadelphia at


We always do the
books at this hour

so as not to interfere with
my regular business day.

Could you pass me that?

Why not hire a sales clerk
for the store, Mr. Hackles?

You can certainly afford help.

I can afford a lot of
things I don't have.

I don't want them.

I don't need them.

I don't trust clerks.

Clerks are lazy, unreliable.

[thunder rumbles]

Clerks steal from you.

Would it be possible for me
to have another cup of coffee?

You want another cup of coffee,

I shall have to
charge you four cents.

Four cents.

Four.

My cost, plus a 20% profit.

I never overcharge,
I never cheat,

but I expect to collect
every penny that's due me.

That's the secret of my success.

[chuckling]


earned my first penny.

You're a clever
man, Mr. Hackles.

Oh, it isn't the
clever inventions

that have made me rich, Mr. B.

It's the ordinary ones,
clasps and fasteners.

Most people spend mere
pennies all too willingly.

I, on the other
hand, collect them.

Another cup of coffee.

That, that will
cost you four cents.

Well, that seems
certainly a fair price.

I'll, I'll have another,

I'll have another
cup, yes, please.

Here, you can add these
to this month's receivables.

More IOUs.

Everyone in this town
must owe him money.

[Hackles laughs]

Almost everyone, Mr. B.

Almost everyone.

Oh, thank you,
Mr. Hackles, thank you.

There are a few in town
who, who don't owe me.

The smart ones.

Most people in this
valley are content

to be downtrodden
sl*ves to their crops.

sl*ves to the weather.

They're careless little people
leading careless little lives.

Some might think it careless

to keep a fortune hidden
about in canvas sacks.

I don't trust banks.

I don't trust anyone.

That's why I'll have
to ask you to sign.

Your signature, please.

An IOU for four cents.

The coffee, Mr. B.

I told you I take every
penny that's due me.

Why don't we simply deduct
it from this month's statement?

We've already
prepared an invoice.

What's that?

What's what?

That.

Did you hear it?

[clinking] Did you feel it?

You must feel it.

Death. Coldness.

[clinking] The sudden
coldness in the room!

What is it,
Mr. Hackles, what is it?

Oh, the lights,
the lights, no, no!

[eerie moaning]
It's coming closer!

[Hackles screams]

[creature moaning]

[laughing]

[Hackles laughing harder]

It's Halloween, gentlemen.

Halloween, have you forgotten?!

My favorite season.

[laughs]

[cuckoo chiming and cuckooing]

Well, well, bright
and early, Mr. Kimble.

A good example
for the boy there.

Oh, we're up this time
most every day, Mr. Hackles.

That's the way on a farm.

Now, I just wanted to
make this here payment.

And, uh, to tell you that we
won't be by your house tonight.

[cash register bell rings]

Oh, yes.

Yes, this is your, your
first autumn in the valley,

isn't it, Mr. Kimble?

Pity we had such bad
crops your first year.

You've built up a considerable
debt in a very short time.

But your credit is good
with me, Mr. Kimble.

Just as long as I have
your farm as collateral.

I, uh, I do have your
farm as collateral, don't I?

Yes, yes, I do have the farm.

Now, what was
this about tonight?

All my customers, those
with children, of course,

make it a tradition of
dropping by my home

on Halloween for trick-or-treat.

It's a tradition I insist on.

I insist on.

We'd like to be excused.

Since you're new to the valley,
Billy, perhaps you don't know.

At every Halloween,
I take all these IOUs,

and I hide them in my house.

Then I invite all you
young trick-or-treaters

to come and search for them.

And if you find them,

all of your father's debts
are forgiven, forgotten,

canceled forever.

Your father can
make a fresh start.

It's all up to you, Billy.

It's all up to you.

Dad, why can't I go?

Nobody's ever
found those papers.

They probably aren't
even in the house.

The papers are in
the house, Mr. Kimble!

And in an obvious place.

I don't cheat. I don't have to.

People make their
own misfortunes.

[shop bell rings]

[bell rings]

I heard what you do
to the children, Hackles.

I've never harmed a
single hair on a single head.

Come tonight, Billy.

Save your father from ruin.

The papers will all be there,

and nothing can stop you as
long as your resolve is strong.

You'll succeed as
long as you remember

never to listen to your heart.

Never lose sight of your goal.

And remember there's
nothing as powerful as money.

I can do it.

I really know I can do it.

No, Bill.

We won't be there
tonight, Mr. Hackles.

Maybe I'd better look at
your records more carefully.

Perhaps the payments
should be higher.

Oh, go ahead, take the
farm if that'll make you happy.

I'd rather that, than let
my boy visit you tonight.

I'm just surprised the
others let their children do it.

Those parents make
their children do it.

Charge this to your
account, Mr. Muldoon?

Yes. You know I can't pay cash.

Of course in my day, we made
our own costumes out of rags.

I trust that this means that
Timothy will be with us tonight?

My Timmy's gonna find

what he's looking
for tonight, yes, sir.

I've toughened him
up with me strap.

I've toughened him up enough
to beat you at your game.

Yes, sir.

Tomorrow morning, the
Muldoons are gonna be out of debt

for the first time in
their entire history.

Sign, please.

[snickering]

[cackles]

[humming tune]

[owl hoots]

[chuckling]

[humming]

[chuckles]

[chuckling continues]

[door knocker thuds]

GIRL: Trick or treat,
Mr. Hackles, trick or treat?

Trick or treat, huh?

I've never been treated
to anything in my life.

I've worked for my
fortune and so should you.

Who are you?

Bess.

Bessie McGillicuddy.

Come in, Bessie.

[pulley squeaking]

[door creaking]

Finders keepers, Bessie.

Come in.

[wolf howling in distance]

It's okay, Bessie, it's okay.

Go on in.

[wolf howling in distance]

[door creaking]

[door slamming] [gasps]

HACKLES: Your family's
IOUs are waiting, Bessie.

Can you find them, hmm?

[clock chiming]

[gasps]

[hooting]

[thunderclap]

That's a good girl, Bessie.

You're getting warmer.

Warmer. I'm gonna be all right.

Everything is
gonna be all right.

[whispering]: You're
not alone, Bessie.

[electricity crackles]

HACKLES: There are
goblins here tonight.

Don't move.

[evil laughter]

[screaming]

Mommy!

[evil laughter echoing]

Mommy!

[laughing] [evil laughter]

[laughter continues]

[screaming]

[laughing]

KIMBLE: Are you
angry with me, Sarah?

SARAH: No, I'm proud of you.

Just sad to think
that everything

you worked so hard for

could be taken away
by that vicious old miser.

Well, we've all
worked hard together.

We'll try together again,

so long as we can
believe in each other.

BILLY: I can do it.

I will find those IOUs.

HACKLES: Oh...

you're very warm.

No, what's that?

What's that?

No, what's that?

[bat squealing]

[kids screaming]

[bat squealing]

Backwards.

People in this valley
have it all backwards.

This is a backward place.

[knocking on door]

TIMMY: Trick or
Treat, Mr. Hackles.

Trick or Treat. [devious laugh]

HACKLES: Oh...

I've been waiting for you,

Timothy Muldoon.

[door creaking]

Dad.

Go on, Tim.

Go in there and find our papers.

Make sure you
come out with them.

HACKLES: Yes, Timmy, come in.

[door creaks and shuts]

You must be making
too much noise.

You're bothering the spirits.

My father says there's
no such thing as spirits.

[crow cawing]

[thunder cracking]

HACKLES: Ooh, the
spirits are very angry tonight.

[thundering]

[wind howling]

[thunder crashing]

There's no such
thing as spirits!

HACKLES: Can you
save your father, Timmy?

Are you tough enough?

Tough enough to face
the haunted house?

[devious chuckle]

[pulley squeaking]

[man screaming]

You're right,
Timmy, you're right.

There are no such
things as spirits.

[woman screaming]

Did you get the papers, son?

Do you have 'em?

There's no such thing as demons.

[man moaning]

[wolf howling]

Now it's getting very cold.

Cold. Ahh!

Colder still.

[pulley squeaks]

[thundering]

[old woman screaming]

[pulley squeaking]

[wolf howling]

[maniacal laughter]

[eerie laughter]

Oh, that's better.

Yes, that's it, you're
getting warmer.

No such thing.

There's no such thing.

[growling]

[screams]

[maniacal laughter]

[laughing]

Backwards.

People in this valley
have it all backwards.

[straining]

[growls] [gasps]

[sighs with relief]

[gasps]

[two taps on door]

[distant dogs barking]

[three taps on door]

[eerie moaning]

[rattling]

[cackling]

Trick or treat?

[cackling]

Who are you?

You can't trick
an old trickster.

There're no treats
for grown-ups tonight.

Trick or treat?

Who are you?

Rickert?

Muldoon?

No, no, no, no.

No grown-ups.

Never on Halloween.

[cackling]

Who are you?

Trick or treat?

[cackling]

[sustained cackling]

[cackling continues]

[cackling louder]

[cackling continues]

[gasps]

No!

[cackling continues]

No.

No!

My money.

My money!

[cackling]

[gasping]

[laughing maniacally]

HACKLES: No!

No. No.

No.

My money. My money.

My money! My money!

[eerie moaning]

No!

My money.

Money. Money.

Money.

Money!

My money.

[whimpering]: My money.

You're getting warmer.
You're getting warmer.

[moaning] Warmer,

getting warmer.

Much, much warmer.

[moaning] You're

getting hot.

You're

getting hotter.

You're getting hot.

Gideon, much, much hotter.

Much hotter.

[sinister laugh]

[hissing]

[sinister laughter]

I can do it.

I can really do it.

Trick or treat, Mr. Hackles?

Trick or treat?

[door creaking]

[cackling]

I know it's you, Mr. Hackles.

You don't scare me.

You don't...

[sustained cackling]

[cackling trails off]

NARRATOR: The
darkside is always there,

waiting for us to enter,

waiting to enter us.

Until next time,

try to enjoy the daylight.