01x06 - We've Got Spirits, Yes We Do

[bunniefuu]

(theme music)

Remember, Dad and I

are both working late tonight.

Dinner's in the fridge,

350 for 20 minutes.

You excited about that field trip today?

ELLA'S MOM: What a beautiful theater.

I don't think

I've been back there since

Yeah, since we took you and Zoe

to see Annie.

That was such a fun day.

(tuts)

You two girls belting out "Tomorrow"

on the way home.

(SOLO by Jennie playing on the phone)

And your dad went

and got those magic beans

and put that awesome beanstalk

in the backyard.

- I was listening.

- Oh, she speaks.

It's a miracle.

(music fades out)

(indistinct chatter)

Oh, hey, there's Zoe now.

- Mom, what are you

- Wait, I

I was just gonna say hi.

No. No, me and Zoe aren't friends anymore.

Yes, I know you're not as close

as you used to be

We're not close, period.

She's all about her clothes,

and the tennis team,

and her amazing new bestie.

(dramatic music)

Listen, I'm I'm sure

that's just a phase and

I don't wanna be friends with her.

I just

(sighs)

I don't know,

let's not talk about Zoe anymore.

Okay, love you.

I'm going solo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lo ♪

(school bell ringing)

MS. CORNISH: Okay, guys, listen up.

For your performance pieces,

it can be a poem,

it can be a monologue.

It can be a movement piece,

just so long as it's about you.

I want you to lay your souls bare.

MS. CORNISH: Okay?

Now, for today's field trip.

As theaters go,

the Fox is hallowed ground.

So, I expect everyone

to be on their best behavior.

I'm gonna do

an interpretive dance about Alan.

That's my tortoise.

I named him after Alan Turing,

you know, like the father of AI.

My Alan's smart,

but not like Alan Turing smart, obvi.

Do you have pets?

- I have a dog.

- MS. CORNISH: Ella and Sydney?

Do you mind chatting some other time?

Oh, not at all.

(chuckles)

MS. CORNISH: Um, okay.

Off to the buses, everybody.

(indistinct chatter)

Um, Ms. Cornish?

I was wondering if I could write something

- and submit it to you

- Uh-uh.

This is a performance class.

Everybody performs.

Off to the buses.

Come on.

(horn honks)

TOUR GUIDE: Every architectural detail

was painstakingly recreated

after the fire of '38.

All based on the original blueprints

which, if you care to see,

are on display in the upstairs lounge.

- So boring.

- TOUR GUIDE: Sadly, the fire claimed

the lives of an acting troupe

that was rehearsing at the time.

Behind me, you'll see a tribute

to their memories.

- ZOE: Ella's been staring.

- Speaking of which,

who here likes ghost stories?

If you join me in the theater,

I'll tell you a ghost story

that will make you shake in your shorts.

(students exclaim)

(whispers)

She keeps staring.

It's rude to stare.

I wasn't staring.

Kinda were.

But I wasn't, I was just looking

at something behind you.

What? Was it a ghost?

(both snicker)

(breathes heavily)

It's said the spirits

of these dead thespians

haunt the theater to this day.

Legend has it,

they're looking to pluck the living

and drag them

into their phantasmal acting troupe

forever.

Late at night,

their wailing can be heard emanating

from this very stage.

During a 2014 production of The Music Man,

the lead actor was so spooked,

he quit the show.

I won't divulge his name.

(whispers)

But it rhymes with Keil Datrick Tarris.

(light switching)

(indistinct chatter)

TOUR GUIDE (whispers):

Could that be them now?

(rattling)

Oh, and what's this?

Unfinished Business?

Why, that's the play they were rehearsing.

It appears the ghosts

wanna hold auditions.

Who among you is brave enough

to risk winning an otherworldly role?

The young lady down front and

you in the back.

TOUR GUIDE: Why don't you join us?

Um, I, I have to go to the bathroom.

I'm sorry, I can't.

(laughter)

(deep sigh, mumbling)

Keep it together, Ella. Keep it together.

(exhales)

(dramatic music)

- (overlapping chatter)

- MS. CORNISH: Keep moving!

Hey, stop fighting!

- Sam and Noah, really? Come on.

- She said what?

Stop fighting!

(ominous music)

(door closes)

(electricity powering down)

(gasps)

- (indistinct vocalizing)

- (whoosh)

(traffic noise in distance)

(breathes deeply)

(exhales)

(sighs)

(thuds)

(rattles)

(rattling continues)

- (rattling)

- Come on. Come on.

(grunting)

- (sighs)

- (distant creaking, clinking)

(spooky music)

(creaking, clinking)

Hello?

ELLA: Hello?

(distant rumble)

(exhales)

Sorry, excuse me,

I was on a field trip when I got lost.

(spooky music continues)

(vocalizes indistinctly)

(vocalizing continues)

(suspenseful music)

- (doors creaking)

- (indistinct vocalizing)

(fizzes)

(hissing, whooshing)

- (thuds)

- (breathes heavily)

(screams)

What on earth is that racket?

ROSIE: We have a visitor.

It's a girl.

I'll say.

Can she see us?

Of course, she can see us.

Why else would she be terrified?

This isn't happening.

This isn't happening.

This isn't happening.

This is a dream. Please be a dream.

You can see us, can't you?

VIVIAN: A bit of a mumble mouth,

isn't she?

No worries.

We'll have her transformed in no time.

No. No, please, please, please,

do not turn me into a ghost, please.

I meant transform you into an actor.

You see? That tour guide.

Always making us out to be

the phantoms of this forsaken opera.

We're dead, sweetie.

But we're not scary, really.

I'm Rosie.

That's Vivian, and

Raymond hi.

Hi.

I suppose I need no introduction.

(classical music playing)

Uh

Oscar Anderson.

Oscar was in a bunch of movies

before they had sound.

Or decent actors.

What'cha doing here all alone?

Um, I'm not sure. I, um

I was, I was scrolling through TikTok,

and, and then

I was listening to a podcast.

ELLA: I don't know,

I, I must have fallen asleep.

I mean, now my phone's dead,

and I don't have an adapter

so I can't reach anyone but

Anyone follow that?

I heard "phone".

Wait a minute.

You

I recognize you.

ELLA: Yeah.

Yeah. You're, you're those actors.

(giggles)

The ones that died in the fire.

(Rosie, Oscar, and Raymond sigh)

Yeah, we're them.

(inhales)

What's your name?

Ella.

Ella.

Well, tonight, you're Agnes.

VIVIAN: Someone find her a script.

Eighty-two years stuck in limbo

and we finally have a full cast.

We can rehearse our show

the way it was meant to be rehearsed.

Here she goes. Stand back.

As actors, we are heirs

to a sacred tradition begun by the Greeks,

handed down to Shakespeare,

and entrusted to us.

"The show must go on"

isn't merely an expression,

but a promise that

we will persist in even the most

Hello?

It's everyone. They say we get it.

(chuckles)

We're getting married

this weekend in Tahiti.

Well, it's about time.

You've been together a whole week.

Do I detect a note of jealousy?

(clears throat)

- Do I detect a note of jealousy?

- Oh, um

Can't we all please stop fighting?

No!

Bigger!

They have to hear you

in the nosebleeds. Again.

Can't we all please stop fighting?

No, you stand up straight.

(inhales)

I

Oh, forget it.

I'll show you.

Viv, what are you

(exhales sharply)

- You want to project like so.

- VIVIAN: You want to project like so.

- Can't we all please

- VIVIAN: Can't we all please

(exhales)

I don't want to.

(grunts)

- Don't fight it, dear.

- VIVIAN: Don't fight it, dear.

(grunts)

- Can you please stop this

- ROSIE: Viv!

Leave the girl be!

(grunts)

- Fine.

- VIVIAN: Fine.

- (grunts)

- (whooshes)

(sighs)

(breathes shakily)

Well?

Go on.

Can't we all please stop fighting?

I don't

(sighs)

- I'm not an actor.

- (bell chiming)

(wind howls)

It can't be.

- What's happening?

- (chiming)

Run!

(thrilling music)

(gasps)

Ella!

(clattering)

ROSIE: It's been decades.

I thought we were done with it.

Done with what? What is that?

We call it "The Critic."

Because only a critic could be so cruel.

(loud thud)

I can't believe it's back.

Probably couldn't bear

another minute of Oscar's overacting.

But why tonight?

- (wind howling)

- (objects clatter)

Think it's because of me?

(clattering)

(Raymond sighs)

That's the only explanation.

We've got to get her out of here.

How? The doors are locked.

There must be some other way

out of this old firetrap.

Does this place have a basement?

You've been here 80 years,

and you don't know

if this place has a basement?

Yeah, we don't do much exploring.

(chuckles)

We're actors, not architects.

Architects.

There's got to be a way out somewhere.

I have an idea.

You have a hairpin?

You could try to pick the lock.

Sure,

or there's that.

(light music)

"Use in case of emergency."

You're trapped with a bunch of ghosts,

and a demon skull

could show up any minute.

I'd say it's an emergency.

(thrilling music)

- (yells)

- (shatters)

(pants)

(chuckling)

That was actually kinda fun.

Great swing, Ella.

Very powerful.

Easy, tiger.

OSCAR: Well, surely

you've seen some of my films.

The Pastor Plays Pinochle

or my turn as a farmer in Do Re Moo.

Don't worry, dear.

Nobody saw them back then either.

- (elevator bell rings)

- (door rattling)

VIVIAN: You never met a line

you didn't butcher.

OSCAR: You chew up so much scenery,

- it's a wonder you still have teeth.

- VIVIAN: Oh, hey.

ELLA: There's a door down here

that looks like it leads to a fire escape.

Have they always been like that?

RAYMOND: Every night for 83 years.

This is nothing.

You should have seen Vivian in her heyday.

Boy, she could rip you to shreds.

There was a girl in our troupe.

Vivian made her cry almost every day.

How come?

Vivian said it was

'cause she wasn't a good actress.

But between you and me,

I think she was jealous.

- Hmm.

- OSCAR: Yes, you have. You have

ELLA: There's the door.

What happened?

Vivian kicked her out

the night of the fire.

Funny thing is,

she ended up saving her life.

You kinda remind me of her.

Her name was Dolores Fiotakis.

- Dolores Fiotakis?

- I heard that.

How dare you mention

that conniver's name in my presence.

That frivolous flapper

couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

- She was a joke.

- RAYMOND: Viv, it's not her fault.

(bell chiming)

(indistinct vocalizing)

Uh-oh.

(actors clamoring)

(machine clattering)

(tense music)

- (gasping)

- (liquid sloshing)

(exhales)

(sudden music sting)

(muffled screaming)

(screams)

(tense music)

(panting)

"Please, stop."

What does it want us to stop?

You mean besides Vivian's acting?

Oh, that's rich.

Coming from a C-list Valentino

such as you?

- C-list? I'm one of the great actors of

- VIVIAN: Yes.

- Tell me all about your list.

- Oh, put a sock in it, you two!

Don't worry, honey.

If there's a way out of here,

we'll find it.

We best split up.

Um, me and Ella could go together?

Um, mm-hm.

Then when I was seven,

I played Little Jimmy in a production

of Here Comes Big Jimmy at the Fontaine.

But we closed after two performances.

It wasn't all bad, though,

'cause that's where I met Teddy.

He was one of the other kids.

Me and him became best friends.

We did everything together after that.

Told each other jokes, secrets,

got into all kinds of trouble.

We were like brothers, you know?

He's probably a

ghost, by now.

(sighs)

I had a friend like that.

We met in elementary school.

My mom said it was like

we both found our twin.

(chuckles)

We did everything together,

but our favorite thing to do was sing.

You sing?

I mean, I

I sing just for fun sometimes.

Me and Zoe started out

singing old musicals.

When we got older, we eventually

just started writing our own songs.

(chuckles)

They were whatever at first, but

they were starting to get

pretty good, actually.

(sentimental music)

And then everything changed.

How?

Zoe didn't wanna hang out as much anymore.

She had her new friends.

So, I, uh

I wrote a song about

how much I missed her,

and I recorded myself singing it,

and I sent it to her.

And then the next day,

I walked into school,

and I saw Zoe and all of her friends.

She was showing them my video.

They were all just laughing at me.

I mean

I wanna move on.

I wanna make new friends,

but it feels like I'm just,

like I'm stuck in a sort of, um

Limbo.

Yeah.

I used to beat myself up

if I missed a cue or messed up a line.

I'd go off and sulk.

But Dolores?

She set me straight.

Dolores

That's the one that Vivian

Kicked out, yeah.

Can I hear one of your songs?

Oh, um

Please?

(whispers)

Okay.

I will cherish ♪

I will cherish every moment ♪

Wow.

(exhales)

What's wrong?

There's something I need to show you.

(clinks)

(sighs)

When did you find it?

(sighs)

You always knew it was here, didn't you?

It's just

(inhales)

It's been a long time

since I got to talk

to somebody my own age.

- I'm, I'm sorry, I shouldn't

- Don't be.

It's fine, really.

I'm glad we had time to talk.

I'll go get the others.

(whispers)

Okay.

(sentimental music)

ROSIE: Boy, are we gonna miss you.

Promise you'll come back and visit?

- I promise.

- VIVIAN: And soon.

We can't properly rehearse

without an Agnes.

Tonight, with you, all of you, I've

I've felt more like I used to.

Like me.

Thank you.

(sobs)

You're shameless.

Stop trying to upstage her, you ham.

(bell chiming)

Hurry, dear. Go.

(clinking)

(rattling)

- (clattering)

- (shatters)

What?

What do you want?

(tense rock music)

Dolores.

(ghostly crescendo)

- ROSIE: Honey, run!

- VIVIAN: Quick, run!

RAYMOND: It's coming back!

- (Rosie screams)

- Run!

Ella!

(Raymond grunts)

OSCAR: So many regrets!

So many things left unsaid!

I have something I need to

Milking your big death scene

for the second time, I see.

Oh, let's talk about milking!

Can I please just tell you

Your soliloquy in Susquehanna,

that was milking!

Will you just shut up for one second?

That they heard in the nosebleeds.

I know who The Critic is.

"Please, stop.

Can't we all please stop fighting?"

It's an Agnes line from the play.

Dolores's line.

She was here during the fire,

and ever since.

The Critic is Dolores Fiotakis?

But why would she come back now?

I was playing her part.

That's no surprise.

She was a demon on Earth, too.

Was she?

Dolores wasn't a demon,

she was a sweetheart.

And you hated her.

Perhaps I wasn't as kind

- as I could have been. I

- OSCAR: Oh, stop, Viv!

You were threatened!

It's not too late.

You can tell her you're sorry.

Excuse me?

ELLA: Dolores?

Can you please let them down?

(dramatic music)

Hi, Dolores.

- (roaring)

- (Rosie squealing)

(exhales)

Viv, why don't you take it from here?

- No, no, no.

- OSCAR: Great idea.

- OSCAR: It's about time.

- Go ahead.

I'm sorry.

ELLA: Uh, Viv?

They need to hear you in the nosebleeds.

Try it again.

(tuts, inhales)

This may come as a shock, Dolores.

But even though I'm an actor,

I have insecurities.

I saw someone young and talented

with a bright future.

Made me jealous.

So, I took it out on you by being cruel.

For that, I'm truly sorry.

You deserved better from all of us.

I should have been there for you

like you were there for me.

OSCAR: Dolores, I

I knew you were suffering.

And I did nothing.

OSCAR: I'm sorry.

(roars)

No, no!

Dolores, you're hurt and angry.

Look, I get it.

I really, really get it.

I've been there,

but sometimes you gotta

make peace with people,

with the past.

And start thinking about what's next.

Otherwise, you'll just stay

stuck in one place

forever.

(sentimental music)

(low rumbling)

Hi, Dolores.

(sighs)

It's great to see you.

It's great to see you, too.

All of you.

Gosh

(chuckles)

It feels good to let go of that.

DOLORES: I'm sorry about tonight.

You taking my role, it

I guess my demons got the best of me.

I've been there.

(sighs)

You really were quite terrifying, Dolores.

(chuckles)

Sublime performance.

(chuckles)

VIVIAN: Oh, speaking of.

Can't help but think,

we finally have a full cast again.

We're through, Martin.

You hear me?

(exhales)

OSCAR: It appears

I have an extra ticket to Tahiti.

- Know anyone who might be interested?

- Oh, hmm.

I do.

I do.

ELLA: Bravo.

Whoo!

(tinkling)

(keys jingling)

(dramatic music)

MS. CORNISH: Okay, class.

We have Ella's performance up next.

(indistinct whispering)

(loud thumping)

(rhythmic thumping)

They say that friends are for a reason,

a season, or a lifetime.

But I admit I get upset ♪

Not knowing who is who ♪

I'm afraid to get too close ♪

It's like I'm seeing ghosts ♪

But when I stop to think about it ♪

I'm fine because I know ♪

I will cherish ♪

I will cherish every moment ♪

I don't care if ♪

If I only have today ♪

So open up the curtains ♪

This is my stage ♪

I don't have to be afraid, be afraid ♪

I will walk through every door

being brave ♪

I'll be brave ♪

- (students applauding)

- (chuckles)

(cheerful classical music)