The Dark Recesses
OPENING SCENE:
EXT DAYTIME SHOT OF POKEY OAKS
MS. KEANE'S VOICE: The city of Townsville is a safe place!
BUTTERCUP'S VOICE: But that's not what people say!
BUBBLES'S VOICE: Yeah, it's scary!
CUT TO:
INT SHOT OF POKEY OAKS
MS. KEANE: What exactly are people saying?
BLOSSOM: That Pokey Oaks has a a basement, and it's haunted!
BUBBLES: By a ghost!
MS. KEANE: Oh, that's just silly!... I'll tell you what - you can spend your recess looking for this fictional basement, and if you find it, you can go down and play with this ghost.
BUTTERCUP: We don't want to play with him, we want to bust him!
MS. KEANE (rolling her eyes): Whatever.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT SHOT OF POKEY OAKS
MS. KEANE: Recess!
CHILDREN: Yay!
[The CHILDREN methodically and seriously examine the classroom. Finally BUTTERCUP encounters something in the cloakroom.]
BUTTERCUP: Hey! Come look at this!
[The CHILDREN flock to her.]
CUT TO:
A CLOSEUP OF BUTTERCUP
[She becomes darker as she reaches towards the CAMERA.]
CUT TO:
A POV BEHIND BUTTERCUP
[She pushes aside a panel. We see stairs and a railing. The CHILDREN turn around and glare accusingly at the CAMERA.]
WHIP PAN TO:
MS. KEANE
[She forces a smile and looks away nervously.]
WHIP PAN TO:
THE CHILDREN
[They suddenly turn and scurry down the stairs.]
CUT TO:
INT SHOT OF A BASEMENT IN DEEP BLUE
BUTTERCUP: Where's the light switch?
BLOSSOM: Eyes on high beams!
[The PPG'S eyes light up.]
BUBBLES: There! (she switches it on): Okay, where's that ghost?
BUTTERCUP: Come out, Mr. ghost. we want to see you.
BLOSSOM: If you're a law-abiding ghost, you have nothing to fear.
A BOY'S VOICE: Go away.
CHILDREN: Huh?
WHIP PAN TO:
A SMALL BOY SITTING ON A CHAIR
[Beside him there's a lamp, some books, lunch boxes, juice boxes, and apple cores. The CHILDREN approach him.]
BLOSSOM: Who are you?
MS. KEANE'S VOICE: Stephen?
[He gets off the chair and presses his face against the wall, trying to hide.]
STEPHEN: Go away.
BLOSSOM: What's going on, Ms. Keane?
MS. KEANE: Stephen had a bad experience with bullies. Everyone thought he'd run away.
STEPHEN: I won't go back. You can't make me go back.
MS. KEANE You don't have to go to school, Stephen. Your parents can get you a tutor. The important thing is that we get you back home. Your parents miss you dearly.
[BUBBLES flies up and hugs STEPHEN.]
BUBBLES: Oh, you poor boy!
CUT TO:
HEARTS AND STARS
NARRATOR: And so, the day, and Stephen are saved, thanks to the Powerpuff Girls!
[The PPG appear.]
NARRATOR: Oh, thank you, Girls! My wife and I are so glad to have Stephen back!
SOUND EFFECTS: Bump.
BLOSSOM: What was that?
NARRATOR: Oh, just an old juice box falling over.
The End