Episode 4: Master of Death
Before the semester break, Principal Bump had announced that a group of students would have to make a film during the holidays for the Film Festival in Bonesborough where several schools present their films. The students who volunteered were: Luz, Amity, Gus, Willow, Viney, Mattholomule, Matt, Rob and a boy named Frank. On a warm day, these groups filmed in the sports hall of Hexside.
James: (laughs eerily) You can't escape me. No one escapes me. Should you... hidden in this closet? (Cabinet door is opened; Matt anxious sound) Aha! Who do we have there?
Matt: (anxious sound) No, no! (James laughs eerily) Not the axe!
James: Say goodbye!
Matt: No, I... (Bluster) Oh, crap!
James: Uh! Look forward when you run Matt.
Matt: I didn't see the ropes. There was also the headlight. He dazzled me. (Clapping hands)
Bump: As far as I know, that wasn't part of the script.
Gus: This is all because we don't have a real film set, only the sports hall. We urgently need an authentic location.
Rob: And besides, we urgently need a replacement for Viney otherwise we have to remove the role of the witch from the script.
Matt: Great! So we will never finish our horror film for the film festival.
Luz: Oh, please don't be pessimistic Matt. Bump said that he solved our problem.
Bump: Right! Here comes the replacement for Viney! Come Boscha!
Willow: Boscha?!
Gus: Okay, now I agree with Matt too.
Bump: As a supervisor of your project, I have found a suitable replacement for Viney.
Boscha: Hey nerds, I would never voluntarily participate in your film, but Bump forced me to do so.
Bump: (clears himself) Well then. These are all those who participate in the film.
Boscha: What ever...
Bump: Mattholomule and Viney are unfortunately ill at the Common Mole and can not participate. But now we have you Boscha and James Jones.
James: Yep.
Amity: Great! Now we have Boscha in our team...
Luz: Calm down Ams, the main thing is that we make a good film.
Boscha: And where do you want to shoot the movie?
Willow: Nowhere. We have not yet found a suitable house.
Amity: Wait and see Willow. I got the number of an old lady who might give us her house for free.
Luz: Aha...
Amity: Right after the rehearsal I want to call her.
Gus: OK Amity, the rehearsal is now finished.
Amity: (laughs) Alright i`m gonna call her now.
Bump: Frank!
Frank: Yeah?
Bump: Have you already thought about whether you want to take over the director post in addition to your role?
Frank: Yes, I think this could be an interesting experience. In general, such an art project is a very welcome change for me to the scientifically potions-oriented covens that I usually visit.
Rob: (quiet) Hey James!
James: (quiet) Hm?
Rob: (quiet) Frank sometimes reminds me a bit of you I have to say.
Matt: (laughs softly) Yes, he looks like you too.
Rob: Mhm!
James: (quiet) Not at all! (loud) Um, on the subject of art project. It's actually a horror comedy, isn't it? A less ornate mixture of trash, splatter and explotation film.
Frank: Trash? Noo!. "Hell without an emergency exit" is horror at its finest. A gang of four youth from Bonesborough pursues a bank robber into the coastal mountains. He hides in a house, but this is inhabited by an evil wizard.
James: Aha...
Frank: She summons a ghost that takes possession of one of the boys. Then he wants to kill everyone. In the end, however, the hero saves his friends and the possessed boy kills the wizard.
Matt: Yes, and by the way Boscha, Gus plays the wizard. Yes, and I am... (laughs) T-Rex the hero.
Frank: This will be the shocker of the year.
Rob: Mhm, probably rather the total flop. (Frank indignantly loud)
Bump: I want you guys to be careful with the film equipment that Edalyn has provided you.
Luz: Yes, we do our best sir. (Door is opened and closed) Hey, Ams! What do you do for a face? Didn't the house thing work out?
Amity: Yes, yes! I reached Misses Scotto. We have a filming location.
James: And?
Willow: What kind of house is that?
Amity: It stands lonely on a cliff not far from here. The old lady said that she has moved out because she can no longer take care of the big house alone.
James: Aha!
Amity: It is empty. But electricity and water have not yet been switched off.
Rob: And, uh, we have the house all to ourselves?
Amity: Yes. We can live there all weekend and shoot the movie.
Rob: Great!
Amity: I can pick up the key from Misses Scotto today.
James: That sounds good.
Luz: So no reason for your mood-spoiling mourning face Amity.
Gus: Yeah.
Amity: (sighs) But there is one more thing. .
Frank: And what?
Amity: Misse Scotto's husband was a well-known showman. His puppets are still in the house. The old lady asked us not to get too close to them.
Gus: What?
James: The dolls are certainly valuable. But strange that she didn't take them with her when she moved.
Amity: No! She was happy to finally get rid of the things. To be honest, (whispering) she said that the dolls are dangerous.
Luz: What?
Gus: Aha...
Matt: Dangerous?
Amity: Yes! And one more thing: we should beware of the death...
XXX
Immediately after the film rehearsal, the three detectives let they Amity given them the address of the old lady. She lived in a tasteful residential complex Bonesborough. The Mystery Trio rang Scotto's doorbell and after some time she opened.
Angela Scotto: Yes, please?
James: Hello Madam! We wanted to go to Misses Scotto. Are you Misses Scotto?
Angela: Exactly. How can I help you?
James: We are from the film group and...
Angela: (interrupts) Of course, the film group.
James: Mhm!
Angela: I was expecting only a girl, Amity was the name.
Rob: Yes, unfortunately she could not come.
Angela: And now you want to get the house key?
Rob: Exactly!
Angela: Come in.
Mystery Trio: Thanks!
Angela: Sit there, you have to tell me what you are up to. I used to be a big movie fan.
James: Aha!
Angela: That's why I'm all the more happy when I can help aspiring filmmakers. Uh, Amity has already told me that it's a horror movie.
Matt: Yeah.
Angela: Of course, the house is wonderfully suitable for this.
James: You think it's good as a backdrop for scary scenes?
Angela: Well, that too. One might think that the rooms would be enchanted.
James: Aha...
Rob: Really?
Angela: And then there are the puppets.
Rob: What?
Angela: But don't worry! They cannot harm you as long as they are banned.
Matt: Uh... banned?
Angela: Well, the puppets are already very old. An ancestor of my husband made them over four hundred years ago in the Savage Ages. It is said that he created each of them on a full moon night and placed a spell in their bodies.
James: Aha...
Angela: So he could talk to them and the dolls answered him.
James: And then?
Angela: When the plague came over the city, a puppet offered the puppeteer to save his life. The artist had to give him his heart for this.
Matt: Mhm...
Angela: He survived and became known as the Master of Death.
Matt: Oh!
Angela: But death did not want to be so easily to trick. So for all these years he has been searching for the souls that are still due to him.
Rob: Aha! But your husband died, didn't he?
Angela: Correct! After the death of our youngest son Freddy, my husband Dario stopped with puppetry...
James: Mhm!
Angela: ... and has thus left the ranks of the masters. He wanted nothing more to do with the whole thing.
Matt: That with your son, i`m very sorry about it.
Angela: Oh, we had always hoped that one of our two sons could take on this role, but they both died young in the end.
Matt: Yeah...
James: (sighs) And what happened to the puppets?
Angela: Shortly before his death, my husband became very restless and he had drawn a spell circle around the dolls with chalk.
Rob: What?
Angela: Since then, they can no longer practice their magic and death cannot find the house.
Matt: Aha! S... s... so the circle also protects us?
Angela: Only as long as it is intact.
Matt: Aha!
Angela: A year ago, I accidentally damaged the circle.
James: And then?
Angela: That same night, things happened that I still can't explain to this day.
James: What, for example?
Angela: I have heard disembodied voices. (James' astonished sound) They spoke to me in metronian the old language in the Savage Ages.
Matt: Metronian...
Angela: One of the dolls had wet hair as if she had been swimming shortly before.
Rob: Oh, and then?
Angela: And then the figure of death appeared one night at my bedside. The following day I fell into the pool and almost drowned.
Matt: Horrible! And then?
Angela: In my husband's study, in addition to the spellcircle formula, I found a large collection of newspaper clippings, copies and letters.
James: Yeah?
Angela: Uh, a lot of them were about the dolls. But there was also a report about a woman,... who drowned in our pool.
Matt: That is terrible. (Paper rustles)
Angela: In this box I kept all my husband's documents.
James: When did that happen to the woman?
Angela: Oh, long before I moved into the house. There was this terrible pool already there. My husband liked it very much. But I wanted to have it concreted back then.
Matt: Yeah, yeah.
Rob: Um, madam, uh, can I look at these documents?
Angela: Of course. I made copies of it for safety before moving. You are welcome to take this one with you.
Rob: That's very nice. Thank you!
Angela: You will see that the young woman was not the first death in the circle of the puppets.
Matt: Uh!
James: Actually, we are Miss Scotto here on behalf of our film team. But by chance we are not only hobby filmmakers but also private detectives. Fittingly, we specialize in mysterious occurrences and mysteries of all kinds. Here is our card.
Angela: (reads already) "The three investigators. We take care of every case. Mystery Trio. First detective: James Jones. Second detective: Matt Jones. Research and Archive: Rob Jones."
James: Yes! We could find out what the puppets are really all about.
Angela: (sighs) I would be happy if there was a logical explanation behind all this. But I still advise you to be careful. I already told your friend on the scroll that the chalk must never be blurred.
Matt: Alright!
Angela: You may enter and out of the circle, but you must never break the line. When this happens, none of you are safe anymore.
XXX
The next day, the Mystery Trio drove to Angela Scotto's house. The others were also on the road, most of them had their parents fly with the Palisman.
Rob: Uh, I read all the copies of Misses Scotto yesterday.
James: Uh, we have to turn left onto this road there Matt.
Matt: Yes, understood!
James: Has a woman actually died in the house of the Scottos?
Rob: Yep.
James: Humph! And the other deaths that Miss Scotto was talking about?
Rob: Yes, uh, seventeen hundred and sixty a servant of the Scottos was mysteriously killed. And, uh, thirty years later, a singer who had performed with the puppets died.
James: So if we can manage it in time in addition to filming, we should try to separate the myths from the facts in the puppet case.
Rob: Yes, then we can start right away. We are there.
Matt: Oh! (Engine dies; Car doors are opened and slammed shut; steps; birdsong; amazed sounds of the three)
James: An impressive building. Probably architecturally based on the style of a Venetian palazzo.
Matt: What is a Venetian? But you're right, but it looks pretty old and lonely.
Rob: Not much longer. There's the rest of the team moving in, with Palismans, oh that's the Owl Lady in the back.
Eda: Have fun making the film, Luz!
Luz: Thanks Eda!
James: Uh, brothers!
Rob: Yeah?
James: It is better if the others do not notice our investigation.
Matt: Why?
James: Because otherwise everyone wants to get involved instead of shooting the film.
Boscha: Hey Jones!
Matt: What?
Boscha: Did your father give you the junkyard stuff we need?
Matt: Yes, he has Boscha. I have the ingredients for several liters of film blood,... two plastic axes... (laughs) and a pretty real-looking Giraffe.
Luz: Perfect!
Willow and Gus: Hey Guys!
Amity: Hey!
Luz: Friennnds! (hugs them)
Rob: Well, then let's go to the house.
Frank: Alright, lets go.
Willow: What a beautiful courtyard.
Matt: (disgusted) Uah! Nobody can get me into this disgust-pool. Especially not after the story with the water corpse.
James: (quiet) Shut up, Matt!
Luz: Water corpse?
Rob: Yes, uh, Matt is just kidding.
Matt: Yeah...exactly...
Rob: Uh, so, um, I'm going to unlock the door. (Keys clink; Door is unlocked and opened; amazed sounds)
Amity: The furniture is covered with cloths.
Matt: Mhm!
Frank: Yes, but only the furniture. Check this out!
Luz: Oh! Well, they look like Pinocchio's evil relatives.
Boscha: Wha..? Pino what?
In the corner of the large room hung a good dozen puppets. Each of them was about one meter tall and highly artfully crafted.
Frank: They must be ancient. Look at the king with his chain mail.
Matt: They all don't look very friendly.
Willow: Yeah...
Matt: And even less do I like this skeleton doll with the scythe here.
Rob: Well, that's death.
James: We should not touch the dolls. They could be damaged.
Rob: Yes, and the circle of chalk here, we should not break it.
Amity: What is that?
Rob: Oh, that's just a superstition.
Matt: D... do... Don... don't step on it Gus!
Gus: What do you mean?
Matt: Its a spell circle.
Amity: Spell circles protect against dark magic...
Matt: Yes, and that's why we leave this circle as it is.
Boscha: Pfff! Weakling...
Rob: Always on guard our Matt, huh? (laughs)
Matt: Always!
James: Um, listen! Misses Scotto asked us to be very careful in the attic. The stairs are rotten. And the electrics here don't seem to me to be very trustworthy either.
Willow: Yes, that's right! There are cables hanging out of the wall. And you better not get there otherwise you will still be roasted.
James: Yes!
Frank: I've already walked off the rest of the rooms upstairs, guys.
Rob: Aha
Frank: On the first floor there are three habitable bedrooms and a bathroom.
Boscha: Tz, great! Well, then I first bring up my stuff and then I mix the film blood for the shoot.
Boscha went upstairs.
Willow: So, I really don't know why SHE is here.
Luz: Give her a chance, Willow!
Willow: I really don't know how you can say that! Even though she treated you just as badly.
Luz: I know... i know.
Willow: Uh, whatever. Let's start filming as long as we still have daylight. I'd rather be done when the sun goes down.
Everyone: Alright.
XXX
When the first scenes were finally in the box, the darkness was already like a black blanket over the property. The three detectives rolled up the cables while the others prepared dinner in the kitchen. The Mystery Trio inspected the dolls.
Rob: Stupid cables here. (sighs) If it continues so slowly then we can never do the shooting and the case on a weekend.
James: Yes, thats right. That's why it's time for us to examine the puppets.
Matt: Maybe we will find a simple explanation for all the magic.
James: It may already be too late for investigations. After all, Misses Scottos moved out a year ago. When someone tried to chase her out of the house, he did it. At first glance, I can't see anything unusual about the puppets.
Matt: Hmm...
James: It may be necessary to examine the clothing.
Matt: Maybe we will find the heart of the Master of Death.
Rob: Yeah...
Matt: Humph! So here are neither speakers nor hearts or... or whatever. The guy here is the purest Ken.
James: Who is Ken?
Rob: Ken! Is a doll that Luz showed us. She said something with boyfriend of Barbie.
James: Aha...
Rob: Is also a creppy doll.
Matt: Hey! Hey, take a look!
Rob: Whats wrong?
Matt: The queen here wears a heart-shaped medallion around her neck.
James: Yeah?
Matt: This can be... (Click) this can be opened.
James: And?
Rob: Show us!
Matt: Look!
Rob: Oh! An old black and white photo is in there and, still a tiny piece of paper. (Paper rustles) Ey, there's something on it.
James: What?
Rob: Hold on! (reads already) "My dying heart is the key." Wait a minute, and that... and the photo that... that can be taken out. Here! There is also something on the back. (reads already) "Freddy, six years."
James: So far, however, there has been no talk of a Freddy. Show me Rob!
Matt: Maybe one of the... of the deceased sons of Misses Scotto. But what's the point of the text with the, uh, dying heart? (Door opens)
James: Pscht! Gus and Frank are coming.
Rob: (quiet) No, no, no Matt! Pack the stuff back! Quickly! Come on!
Frank: So, here are the drinks and later there is also something to eat.
Mystery Trio: Ah!
Frank: Apple Blood, Rob?
Rob: Uh, uh, yes, uh, thank you!
Gus: You guys are still playing with the dolls.
Matt: Um...
Gus: Well, what does the lady wear under the skirt Jones? (Frank laughs)
Matt (blushing): Uh, uh, w... w... We... w... w... w... We... we were only interested in the craftsmanship.
Gus: Sure.
Rob: You've been pretty unbearable since witch puberty, Gus!
Gus: (laughs)
Frank: You're welcome!
James: Ah, thank you! (drinks) Well, then let's set the table on the terrace.
Rob: OK! (Steps; Door is opened; Crickets chirp)
Matt: Uh! In the twilight, the pool looks even scarier.
James: You are right. (coughs) Really spooky and...
Suddenly, Luz came up to James from the corner and shouted at him. James was frightened and almost fell over.
Luz: Oh dude! (laughs)
James: Are you crazy!?
Luz: You look like you've seen a ghost. I thought you weren't so scared. (laughs)
Matt: Uh, James? Are... Are you okay?
Rob: Everything alright?
James: Oh... (coughs) it's nothing. Let's finally eat.
Matt: Yeah, you're probably hungry (laughs)
XXX
In the middle of the night, Rob suddenly startled from sleep. Because he heard a door slammed shut.
Rob: What was that? Matt!
Matt: Yes, I... I've heard it too. Was that a door?
Rob: I do not know. Be quiet!
Rob and Matt heard voices in the hallway, they were disembodied voices. And they spoke into a language that the two boys could not understand.
Rob: Who can that be?
Matt: I wake up James. James! Hey, James! I... James? Uh...
Matt tried to wake James up, but when he realized it, the bed was empty.
Rob: What do you have Matt?
Matt: J... James is gone.
Rob: What?!
Matt: He is not in bed!
Rob: What? Maybe he's only on the toilet.
Matt: Yes! Or something happened.
Rob: So we should check what's going on out there. Come!
Matt: Misses Scotto said something about disembodied voices. I don't want to meet them.
Rob: Yes, but a disembodied voice can't hurt you. Now come Matt!
Matt: Alright! But... but you go ahead, okay?
Rob: Alright, alright!
Matt and Rob got out of their beds, and walked out of their bedroom, and sneaked out in the hallway. But they didn't see anyone. They walked and suddenly saw something written on a wall. But they couldn't see it.
Rob: What is there?
Matt: Wait, i makea light spell.
Rob: Okay.
Matt: (frightened sound) Titan! Check this out! Someone wrote something on the wall. With blood.
Rob: Hold on! No! No, this is just red chalk. What does it say? (reads already) "Rekna streno bremo." That's Metronian I think.
Matt: What does that mean? And... and above all w... w... Who was that?
Suddenly, Rob heard footsteps to their direction.
Rob: Pst, wait! Someone is coming.
Matt: Oh! (Rob sighs) James! And I thought...
In front of them stood James. But something was wrong with James, he looked lifeless, and had eyes closed.
Rob: James! (James moans again and again in between) James, whats wrong with you! He looks so strange. Are you doing well James? James!
Matt: Does he sleepwalk? James! James, don't stare at me like that.
Rob: Hey Matt! Look what he has in his hand.
Matt: A piece of red chalk.
Rob: Yes!
Matt: Why are you doing that James? Di... Did you write the message on the wall? S... since when can you write metronian?
Rob: Matt! There's something wrong with him.
Matt: Yes, I see that too. Go away! Away from me! Rob! I think the... the puppets have taken possession of James!
Rob: Matt!
Suddenly, a door was opened and the Girls stood open at the door.
Willow: Hey! Can you talk somewhere else? Luz has already thought of you as ghosts. She is scared.
Matt: Yes, she wasn't so wrong. We are actually dealing with ghosts.
Boscha: Oh please...
Frank: (Door opens) What's going on here?
Matt: James is'... is possessed with the puppets.
Luz: What? We need to get help. I call Eda!
Amity: Hey! Calm down. Wait! Hey James! James, wake up!
Amity gave James a slap in the face and James screamed. Matt dropped his flashlight out of fear. And that caused the whole group to panic.
Gus: We need light!
Rob: Yes, yes, yes, yes, here is a light switch. My Titan, chill out guys! Matt just dropped the lamp. That's all that happened. Why did you make a light spell before when you had the lamp Ma- oh don't matter. James! James!
James: Huh?
Rob: Are you doing better now? James!
James: Where... Where am I?
Matt: Ha! I think the puppet demon left him.
Rob: How are you?
James: I'm dizzy.
Frank: Should we call the Healing Coven?
James: No no no! It... I'm fine. I... Oh, I don't understand that. The last thing I can remember is that I... that I went to bed normally.
Matt: Yes, yes, yes, you were from a... a puppet possessed...
James: What?
Matt: ... and wrote on the wall. There, look!
James: Huh? W... what... What does that mean?
Frank: This is a quote from a poem.
Matt: Can you read this?
Boscha: Yes, I can read that too. We had this language in Potion's class.
Frank: Yes so I can read. " "Abandon all hope, you who enter!" And according to the guy who invented the poem. This is the inscription on the gate to hell.
James: And that's what I wrote with this chalk here?
Rob: Yes, you still have the chalk in your hand.
Matt: The puppets let you write that. Good that we woke you up, otherwise they would have lured you to themselves in the end so that you blur the spell circle.
Luz: Okay guys that's all a bit to much for me today.
Amity: Let's go to sleep Luz.
Boscha: Pfff...weaklings.
Frank: Guys! We should all go back to sleep.
Matt: But... but... but you James, yeah, I will handcuff you to the bed. Just for safety in case the puppets take possession of you again that night...
XXX
The next morning, the group experienced their next surprise.
Luz: (groans) Good morning!
Matt: Morning!
Luz: Have any of you already done something to drink?
Willow: Nope, morning Amity!
Amity: Good Morning!
Suddenly, the group was awakened by a call from their half-sleeping.
Frank: Hey Guys! Check this out!
Everyone went to the next room, where they saw Frank looking down in shock.
Gus: The spell circle! Someone blurred the chalk!
Frank: Yeah!
Matt: Then the puppets called James to them at night to destroy the circle on their behalf.
Boscha: (nervous) Don't be so afraid because of a few crumbs of chalk. It...
Luz: That all goes a bit too far for me...
Willow: (interrupts) Luz is right. We have to get out of here. If we stay here, we will get involved with dangerous powers.
XXX
James, together with Matt, decided to look for a hidden speaker in the house that could have played the creepy voices. Meanwhile, Rob was supposed to go back to Bonesborough with a puppet to get a professional opinion from a well-known toy restorer. A short time later, the third detective entered a shop filled to the ceiling with antique toys.
Rob: Hello!
Jimmy Torreo: Good morning!
Rob: Uh, are you, um, Mister Torreo?
Jimmy: Indeed i am. Well? What are you bringing me?
Rob: Uh, well, my friends and I we just have such a small problem with a few... Puppets.
Jimmy: Aha!
Rob: Um, here! (Mr. Torreo laughs) Maybe you can tell me something about it.
Jimmy: Ah, yes! This doll is definitely antique.
Rob: Yeah?
Jimmy: And, uh, it's an exceptionally beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
Rob: Yes, it... it comes from the Savage Ages.
Jimmy: Aha!
Rob: Allegedly, it is over four hundred years old.
Jimmy: Yes, I believe you.
Rob: This doll of death here belonged to a private collection of other puppets. It's said, um, that they, well, have magical abilities.
Jimmy: (laughs) Old toys are often attributed to mystical powers, which was really the case in the past. But this is not the case today, only rarely are there dolls that are enchanted. That's more of a thing in the moonlight conjuring. But no wonder that this is said about this doll.
Rob: Yeah?
Jimmy: After all, some of them are able to enchant even adults. (Rob laughs) Let me try the puppet.
Rob: Here! (Wood clangs) Yes, amazing! Death now looks very much alive.
Jimmy: (laughs) And I'm not even a very good puppeteer. You should have experienced the old Scotto. He was able to move his puppets so artfully as if they were real living beings.
Rob: Old Scotto? Did you know him?
Jimmy: Uh, unfortunately not personally.
Rob: Uh, this puppet there belonged to him.
Jimmy: Wow,a real Scotto puppet.
Rob: Yeah!
Jimmy: Oh, i... i... I should have recognized it right away.
Rob: Tell me, are these dolls particularly valuable?
Jimmy: Of course, old puppets on toy exchanges sometimes bring good prices, but you don't will be rich with the sale.
Rob: Mhm! Yes, it is said that one of Scotto's dolls has a real heart.
Jimmy: Some teddies and dolls have sewn-in hearts made of fabric.
Rob: Mhm! Uh, could there be something like that in this doll?
Jimmy: Well, I can have a look.
Rob: Yes, if that is possible. (Click and rustle)
Jimmy: Here! Under the arm, exactly where a real witch's heart would be, is a small flap.
Rob: Oh! And?
Jimmy: But the cavity is empty.
Rob: Ho! Mhm! Bad luck! Yes, then I will probably have to examine the other dolls for such a flap.
Jimmy: Uh, if you find something extraordinary, you have to tell me about it.
Rob: (sighs) I do that immediately.
Jimmy: And, uh, wait young man.
Rob: Yes?
Jimmy: Uh, Anne Crow, an old friend of mine, used to be an avid watcher of Scotto's plays.
Rob: Aha!
Jimmy: Yes, maybe she can tell you more about the dolls and the family of the Scottos.
Rob: Uh, does she live nearby?
Jimmy: Yes! I'll write down her address for you. (Paper crackles; Writing noises) Uh, Anne Crow...
XXX
Before Rob went to Misses Crow, he wanted to pay Misses Scotto a short visit to ask her about the mysterious medallion of the Queen Puppet. Before he could ring the bell, a woman with a child approached the apartment building.
Woman: So, now let me go Alexa. Mom has to unlock the door. (Key clangs; Door is unlocked)
Child: Hello!
Rob: Hi!
Child: Do you also want to go to the house?
Rob: Yes! I want to go to Misses Scotto.
Woman: Well then come in. She lives on the second floor.
Rob: Thank you! (Door will be closed)
Rob hurried up the stairs. As soon as he arrived on the first floor, he heard a door being opened on the floor above him.
Freddy Scotto: Mom! This is a mistake!
Angela: Now please go Freddy.
Freddy: Mom! I, uh...
Angela: (interrupts angrily) Don't scream around here! Where did you get your bad manners?
Freddy: I'm already leaving. But that doesn't mean I'll just forget about it. Bye Mom! (Door closes; quick steps)
Freddy ran downstairs and walked past Rob.
Rob: (whispers to himself)That was Freddy,... the boy in the photo and the medallion. But he... he should be dead.
XXX
Two hours later, the Mystery Trio sat in their room at Scotto's House and used a small break from filming for a meeting. Rob's descriptions were particularly informative.
Rob: Well, and, uh, then of course I followed this supposedly dead Freddy.
James: Aha!
Rob: He went to a small guesthouse. Well, and with my irresistible charm I actually managed to pull some information about the undead guest out of the nose of the girl at the reception.
Matt: (laughs) What a wonder?
Rob: Listen! He actually stays in the guesthouse under his real name: Freddy Scotto.
James: Hm...
Rob: But what is even more spectacular friends: The girl at the reception was able to eavesdy on a scroll call from which it was clear that Freddy was sitting in the conformatorium for a long time.
Matt: Oh!
James: Extremely interesting!
Rob: Yes! But he has an alibi for last night. Freddy Scotto did not leave the guesthouse for a minute, according to the girl.
Matt: Hm...
Rob: Accordingly, he cannot have written the metronian message on the wall.
James: And why didn't you go to this Anne Crow, who supposedly knows so well about puppet theatre?
Rob: Yes, it was already too late. After all, I can't leave you hanging here, right?
Matt: Ah, all right. I have a longer break from filming this afternoon and can take over this job.
Rob: You see James, problem already solved.
James: Brothers! Let's put a question mark on Scotto`s secret first. What we definitely know, however, is that Freddy is not dead.
Rob: Exactly!
James: Yes! Consequently, Misses Scotto lied to us about this.
Matt: Yes, it looks like that. But what do we do now?
James: It's best to drive to the acquaintance of Mister Torreo afterwards and let tell you something about the puppet pieces.
Matt: Alright!
James: All traces lead again and again to the dolls. And so I think they should be at the heart of our investigation.
Matt: Yes, that sounds good. I can now need some distance from this House.
XXX
After Matt set off, filming continued at the Scotto House. And there it happened: Gus, in the role of the witch hunter, just wanted to pounce on his victim. Close to the wall, he jumped from ambush into the air... (Gus screams; electric siren)
Luz: Attention!The shelf. It tilts!
James: Watch out! (Bluster; Crash)
The shelf tipped over on Gus. And Gus was lying under the shelf, bleeding from his head.
Gus: Oh, I... I'm dying!
Frank: You are bleeding from the head!
Willow: (sighs) That was close.
Amity: That could have turned out badly. Here I help you to get up Gus.
Gus: Thanks, ouch I'm bleeding.
Frank: How did that happen?
Gus: That damn cable on the wall gave me a violent blow. I guess I tore the shelf down.
Luz: I tell you guys, the puppets cursed. They will kill us.
Amity: Calm down, Luz. Everything is fine.
Willow: It was an accident. I told you all to stay away from the wall. The cable there is fully energized.
Boscha: (shy) Everything allright, Gus?
Gus: What interests you? You probably think that's great.
Boscha: No...no never. Um.
Frank: Guys you should not underestimate electric shocks!
Gus: Exactly.
Frank: Yeah, the heart can stop at such a beat and it can lead to serious complications.
Willow: I could take him to the Healing Coven Clinic.
Gus: Yes!
Willow: Not that he actually dies.
Boscha: Yes! That would be really annoying if we had a dead corpse at the end, right? (laughs)
Gus: This is about my life!
Willow: I'll accompany you to the clinic, okay?
Frank: Good! So, and we clean up and only shoot the scene where Muffin kills the witch.
Willow: Don't be angry with me, but I'd rather stay in Bonesborough afterwards. We'll see you again tomorrow.
Amity: No problem! I stay here with Luz.
Boscha: If you want, I can sleep on the couch tonight, then since you alone in the room. With Luz. You know.
Amity (blushing): Umm...
Luz (blushing): Great idea. Um, yeah. Thanks.
Boscha: Yeah whatever.
XXX
After filming, Frank disappeared into the bathroom to take a hot shower. Meanwhile, James, Rob, Luz and Amity went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Rob: Yes, then I'll peel potatoes for better or worse.
James: Alright
Amity: James?
James: Yes?
Amity: If you both want, I and Luz will give you some space to investigate tonight.
Luz: Yeah!
James: Huh? What do you mean?
Luz: (laughs) Do you think me and my clever girlfriend wouldn't have thought that you were investigating?
Rob: What?
James: Investigate? I... I don't know how you two come up with that.
Luz: Oh, too bad! Then you certainly don't want to know what we discovered.
James: (sighs) A... all right, I'll admit it. We are working on a case.
Rob: And, um, you would help us a lot if you told us what you guys discovered.
Amity: A hidden door.
James: What?
Rob: Where?
Amity: Well, upstairs in the hallway. There is a closet there. Luz wanted to climb in to scare me.
Luz: That's when I realized that there was no back wall at all. So the closet is right in front of an open door. And that, in turn, leads to another closet.
Rob: Ah, so, and... and... and the closet would then have to be in the room of... of Frank and Gus.
Luz: Exactly! And Frank's clothes, they were lying around everywhere.
James: Then... then Gus and Frank could go to the hallway at night,... (Scroll rings) without going through our room.
James replied his scroll.
James: Yes? Matt? Uh, uh, Matt! Where are you?
Matt: In the library.
James: Shouldn't you visit Misses Crow?
Matt: Yes, I've been there. She was able to tell me that a puppet performance particularly stuck in her mind. "Death of a Harlequin".
James: Aha!
Matt: Mhm! It was also the last piece Dario Scotto performed.
James: Oh!
Matt: Misses Crow still has me an old black and white photo. It depicted Dario Scotto with his two sons Freddy and Fabrio. What's strange about it is that Fabrio seems familiar to me. Although that can't really be the case.
James: Yes, this is indeed strange. Tell me, could you also find out what the play "Death of a Harlequin" was about?
Matt: Mhm! It's about a queen who has a harlequin murdered. But it was her own son. The prince who has disguised himself to... to make the king laugh.
James: Mhm!
Matt: In any case, death comes to fetch the prince. And he tells the queen that he will leave her alive forever so that she can regret the deed for eternity.
James: Well! And, um, could Misses Crow also tell you something about Fabrio, the older of the two sons?
Matt: No, she don't. But Miss Bennett from the library. Fabrio Scotto was in the Emperor's Coven, in the Coven Potions...
James: Okay.
Matt: ... specifically... for the potions in the field of neurobiology. Half a year ago, he died in a car accident.
James: Ah, then Misses Scotto at least told the truth about one son.
Matt: Exactly. By the way, his brother Freddy was not at the funeral because he was sitting in the conformatorium because of drunk driving and driver escape. The greatest thing, that's coming now.
James: What?
Matt: The dead Fabrio and his partner have a son. And we know him very well.
James: Frank!
Matt: How do you know? Uh, they don't even have the same last name.
James: Just this much: Frank has no alibi for the last night and he can talk Metronian. You also mentioned that Fabrio and his partner were not married. Therefore, the son could also have a different surname than his father, namely that of the other father.
Matt: (laughs) As is so often the case, you are right. But... yes, there's something else I need to tell.
James: And what is it?
Matt: I have made myself aware of the topic of sleepwalking.
James: Oh! So what?
Matt: So, the trigger for your sleepwalking, that could be strong potions.
James: What?
Matt: Yes! Others start their nightly tours after a terrible experience.
James: So n... neither is true in my case.
Matt: Well, I still hope you're just sleepwalked. The idea that the puppets have you under control is not really good.
James: Oh Matt! There is always a logical explanation.
Matt: Yes, then you should find it. And, uh, don't wait for me with dinner, okay?
James: Alright!
Matt: See you later!
James: Mhm! (Cracking in the line; Zipper is closed) So, slowly the clues condense into a complex image. If Frank really pulls off a scary show here, he only has one place from which he can plan everything.
Rob: Yes of course! You mean the attic.
James: Exactly! I think it's time to take a closer look at the attic.
Rob: (whispering) That will probably have to wait even better. Frank comes back.
Frank: Well, all right with you guys?
Rob: Yes, uh, quite well.
Luz: It couldn't be better here. Why shouldn't it be worse?
Frank: (laughs) Great!
Amity: We cook. We just make, um, potatoes.
Rob: Exactly!
XXX
It took a long time until they finished the meal and Frank made a book and made a light spell and disappeared into the courtyard to read there.
James: Rob!
Rob: Yeah?
James: As long as Frank is outside, we have the freedom. You go to the attic and I'll look the harlequin puppet for as long as I can.
Rob: Why the harlequin of all puppets?
James: The medallion read: (quoted) "My dying heart is the key." We know from the harlequin that he dies in Scotto's own play. In addition, the harlequin is the son of the king just as Freddy is the son of the puppet master.
Rob: Hm, so does that now mean that I should go to the attic alone?
Luz: I can go along.
Amity: And I could keep an eye on Frank!
James: Great Idea!
Amity: Then I sit down quite inconspicuously in the pool and hang out there a bit.
XXX
When Luz and Rob opened the small door in the attic with a glyph, the two teenagers were met with musty heat. He let the glow of light glide magically over the floor and discovered footprints in the dust. In the light, a desk and a box with small bottles became visible. Rob and Luz got closer and discovered some magazines and several books.
Rob: What is this? (Paper rustles) All medical and psychological topics. A book about... What is that? Anxiety, panic attacks...
Luz: Here lies a piece of paper. What does it say? (reads already) "Subjects respond to exogenous stimuli and show the suspected symptoms."
Suddenly, the two were surprised by Frank from behind.
Frank: Well, well, well! (Rob and Luz frightened sound) So it was only a matter of time before one of you would find my little lab.
Rob: Frank!
Frank: (laughs) With three detectives under one roof, no secret can be kept for long.
Luz: Wow, how... how to... how to... how did you get here... I mean...
Frank: Oh, you... you want to know how I get up here? And this despite the fact that Amity was supposed to spy on me. Well, I mixed her a sleep potion into her Apple Blood.
Luz: WHAT?! You've been watching us all the time, haven't you?
Frank: Yes so is it. And I allowed myself to scare you a little.
Rob: Let me guess: It has something to do with your dead father, doesn't it? Do you want to continue his attempts?
Frank: It was already clear to me that you three detectives would become a problem. But I definitely wanted Matt on the team. I desperately needed someone who was superstitious.
Rob: Understand! You wanted a group of witches that you could easily scare.
Luz: A group that escalates each other into total panic.
Frank: The candidates has a hundred points. Welcome to the control center of fear!
XXX
Meanwhile, James was engrossed in his work. He had opened the harlequin's robe and discovered a hidden flap. Behind it was a small key and a thin rolled up paper. (flap squeaks; Paper rustles)
James: Oh man! The font is damn small. (reads already) "Dear Freddy! If you're reading this, I'm probably no longer among the living and you're looking for your rightful inheritance as a master of puppets. The mermaids of the dead lagoon have the answer. Press the button and get ashore what is yours."
Suddenly, James hears a door being opened. And there Freddy stood in front of James.
Freddy: Frank? You're Frank, right?
James: (faltering) Uncle Freddy?
Freddy: So you recognize me even after all these years. But do you know why I'm here?
James: Um, because of your heritage?
Freddy: Correct! My legacy. The inheritance that you and my mother want to steal.
James: Uh, that's not true. I'm only here because I'm making a movie with friends.
Freddy: And that's why you're researching the puppets? You can't sell me for stupid.
James: Ok then! I... I know of the secret of the Scotto masters and... and i`m gonna to help you find your heritage.
Freddy: Ah, yes? Then give it to me!
James: Here uncle! (Paper rustles) I just found this note in the harlequin puppet.
Freddy: (reads nuzzling) "... Master of Puppets... Mermaids of the dead lagoon..." The text doesn't tell me anything. What's the point of the dead lagoon?
James: The dead lagoon, also called Laguna Morta, is the freshwater part of the lagoon of Boling Isles, while the saltwater part is called the Laguna Viva, which is the living lagoon.
Freddy: Fresh water?
James: Yes, this could mean a pond or a lake nearby.
Freddy: Apart from the Boling Sea, there is no water in the area.
James: And whether there is water here, the pool. It is not particularly deep and... and it is filled with fresh water.
Freddy: Our pool. Yes! On the tiles on the wall there is a mosaic with two mermaids.
James: If we drain the water to the tiles, we can look at the motif. Perhaps it will give us another clue to the secret of... uh, grandfather.
Freddy: Alright! If you just want to do something stupid, I'll stab you with this abonimation blade
James: Hey! What is this? Y... you... you don't have to threaten me.
Freddy: I don't trust anyone. We are now going very slowly into the yard. Forward! (Steps; Door is opened and closed; Water dripping) We have to turn on the pool lights.
James: I think it's broken and has a loosing connection.
Freddy: I don't care. Turn them on!
James: Alright.
James turned on the pool light and it started.
Freddy: Well! It does work.
James: Yes! Now it's off again.
Freddy: I don`t care! You now go into the pool and dive.
James: Uh, what?
Freddy: The drain is located at the bottom of the basin somewhere on the left.
James: But...
Freddy: You have to loosen the shutter and operate the slider. Go now! Who's there?
Matt came from his trip into the yard and saw the two near by the pool.
James: Matt!
Freddy: What are you doing here?
Matt: I, uh, I wanted to visit my friends.
Freddy: Then you too can dive down there. You look much sportier to me than my scrawny nephew.
Matt: Nephew...? Uh, w... w... what are you looking for exactly?
James: The drain. He must be in there somewhere on the ground.
Matt: But i... in the broth I can look for hours.
Freddy: Then you just look for hours. Go now! You are now going to the diving station.
James: (quiet) Oh man!
Suddenly, the pool lighting came back on. And that gave the whole pool an electric shock.
Matt: (frightened sound) What... What is that?
James: The pool lighting is back on. It has a loosing connection Matt. Ah, now it's off again.
Matt: The... the water was just briefly under electricity!
Freddy: I don't care. You dive down there now or I will stab your friend here with the blade!
Matt: But... but you can't ask me to...
Freddy: (interrupts) Go now!
Matt: (anxious) I... I have no other choice.
Matt undressed himself and jumped into the water.
XXX
Meanwhile with Luz and Rob.
Rob: So Frank! So what about your father's experiment and studies, hm?
Frank: My father did a neurological study on the possibilities of a potion blockade of anxiety and stress. He wanted to prove that certain substances in potions can influence anxiety reactions.
Luz: Dios mio... Wait a minute! W... w... what does that mean in normal language?
Frank: (sighs) He has been involved in brain research to develop new potions against anxiety.
Luz: Aha!
Frank: But he was never able to finish his project. And when he died, the matter was simply stopped. My grandmother and I we were angry.
Rob: Mhm! Well, and you didn't want your father's work to be forgotten.
Frank: Exactly! But after Hexside I will complete his work.
Rob: And why are you already terrifying the whole Isles?
Frank: (sighs) Because grandmother encouraged me to keep researching. Until I can really get started, I try to study and document fear in all its forms.
Luz: And the film project gave you a good opportunity to do studies. (Frank laughs) Pretty clever, I have to say. You made Amity call your grandmother.
Frank: Thats right!
Rob: And the horror tale about the puppets came from your grandmother.
Frank: Mhm!
Rob: Tz! She conveyed it surprisingly credibly, I have to say.
Frank: Yes, the records she gave you were real. Only the story with the drowned in the pool was fake. I then arranged the rest and the effect was terrific. Last night you were all so scared. Only with James did I have to resort to more drastic means.
Rob: You gave him a potion?
Frank: Oh, just a small drink cholecystokinin tetrapeptide, short, uh, CCK-4. It causes artificial panic attacks. I mixed them into his Apple Blood.
Luz: (sighs) With James as a victim, you were able to host the perfect horror scenario.
Frank: Yeah!
Rob: Well! In the hallway, you left the message on the wall and then played a tape with whispering voices from the attic.
Frank: (laughing) Correct! And then coincidence came to my aid. James once stood in the door and stared into the void.
Luz: What?
Frank: He is sleepwalked, probably one of the side effects of CCK-4. I just had to put the chalk in his hand and disappear again.
Rob: Tell Me Frank, do you know that your uncle Freddy is back in town?
Frank: What?!
Rob: Mhm! I met him at your grandmother's apartment.
Frank: Uncle Freddy is back?
Rob: Yeah!
Frank: Did he do anything to Grandma?
Rob: I don`t think so.
Frank: He is dangerous. Grandmother warned me about him.
Luz: What? Is he even more dangerous than you?
Frank: Uncle Freddy is convinced that he is the new master of death. He takes this whole puppet story very seriously. Grandmother is terribly afraid of him.
Rob: Yes then... yes, then we should make sure that we get away from here, and quickly!
XXX
Matt searched in the water but found nothing. He reappeared to the impatient Freddy.
Matt: (coughs) There... there is nothing. Please let me out again before the pool is energized again.
Freddy: Not before you have opened the spout boy.
Suddenly the pool energized again. And Matt screamed.
James: Matt! Matt! He got an electric shock. I have to go to him. You need to...
Amity: Whats going on here?!
James: Amit-
Luz, Rob and Frank came to Freddy from behind. Rob made a plant spell and captivated Freddy. Luz took the Abonimation Blade out of his hand. And made him clear with a fire glyph that he should not defend himself.
Rob: James! Frank, Luz and I took Freddy by surprise and knocked him down.
James: We need to turn off the power and pull Matt out of the pool. He got an electric shock.
Rob: What? OK! I'll get him!
Rob jumped into the water and pulled Matt out of the water.
Rob: I have him!
James: Take my hand!
Rob: Yes! (strained sounds; Water splashes) Come Matt. Matt! Wake up! James! Matt is no longer breathing!
Amity: We need to call the Healing Coven!
James: Now come Matt, come on!
Rob: Oh Titan, it's too late.
Luz: Oh God! (Matt coughs and gasps)
Rob: Oh, he`s waking up!
James: He opens his eyes!
Rob: Matt!
Matt: What was going on?
James: You got an electric shock and almost drowned.
Matt: In... in the pool?
Frank: Yes! And for a moment it looked like death would win this time. But we still have to call the Healing Coven.
Angela: That can wait.
Frank: (frightened sound) Grandma!
Freddy: (groans) Mom!
Angela: The young girl from your guesthouse was kind enough to tell me that you are probably here, my son.
Frank: He almost killed Matt! Grandma!
Freddy: Grandmother? Then the scrawny boy is not my nephew but you?
Frank: Who else am I supposed to be Uncle Freddy?
Freddy: It doesn't matter now. It's my legacy mom. Dad hid it in the pool for me so you wouldn't find it.
Frank: Whatever is hidden there, it is grandmother's. You gambled away all claims to your share when you drunkenly built a car accident.
Freddy: Really, Frank? Then it's time for me to tell you something about your fine father.
Angela: You won't! You will now get into the pool and get out your father's legacy. And then I'll give it to Frank. He is a good boy and continues your brother's work. You, on the other hand, have always been only interested in this whole puppet-bullshit!
Freddy: But mom...
Angela: (interrupts) Go now!
Matt: This family seems to me to be criminal through and through.
Freddy: In the broth, the drain is not to be found.
Angela: The drain is about one meter from the back edge of the pool on the right side.
Freddy: All right!
Freddy was released by Luz and dived down. Freddy didn't take long to find the shutter. When he dived for the second time, the water flowed off gurgling. Then the tiles with the floating mermaids became visible. After several attempts, Freddy put both index fingers on the faces of the mermaids and the record gave way. A square black hole became visible in the pool wall. Freddy reached in and pulled out a waterproof plastic box. With her he climbed out of the pool. (Freddy strained sounds)
Angela: Put the thing on the table! (Box rattles)
Frank: The box is closed. We have to break it up.
James: Wait! Try this key here. It was in the harlequin puppet.
Angela: I will open the box. Give me the key!
James: Uh, here! (Box opens)
Angela opened the box and took out a doll.
Angela: What is this?
Frank: A puppet.
Freddy: The Prince.
Luz: There is still a piece of paper.
Angela: Read already! (Paper rustles)
Luz: (reads already) "Dear Freddy! I made this doll for you. You will be a good puppet master. I wish you a long and happy life and hope that one day you will also make a puppet for your eldest son. Dad."
Angela: I can`t believe this!
Freddy: (laughs) You didn't expect that, did you?
Angela: Be quiet!
Freddy: I'm not going to do that! I never had an accident.
Frank: (stammers) What do you mean?
Freddy: Your father drove drunk through Bonesborough at the time, Frank. He rammed another car and committed driver escape. The Emperor`s Coven were on his heels, but Mom was afraid that the truth would harm the career of her oh-so-brilliant favorite son. That's why she forced me to take the blame on me. Because Mom was convinced that only her model son Fabrio was good.
Angela: And, i was right.
Freddy: I gave in and made a false confession to Emperor's Coven. No one had any doubt that I was the driver. Of course, my fine brother played the game well and was happy to be off the hook.
Angela: We had to save his career Freddy.
Frank: (quiet) Oh Titan!
Freddy: And it wasn't the last time. The conformatorium might have saved my brother's life. But so he raced drunk into a wall.
Angela: He was a gifted potion brewer!
Freddy: But a danger to himself and all those who have encountered him in road traffic. And now that he's dead, Frank has to serve for all your plans...
Matt: (interrupts) Is'... is'... is'... is'... is now please enough the family drama? (coughs) I would like to have a Healing Covenist, and as soon as possible.
Suddenly, Boscha came out. And looked at everyone confused.
Boscha: What's going on here?
Angela: Who is that?
Boscha: Oh! I can probably ask who you are. In addition, I would like to know what is going on here.
Angela: Get out of here!
Boscha: What the heck? What kind of psycho-grandma are you?
Angela: You little brat!
Angela made a fire spell and shot it at Boscha. And she hit her with the spell. Boscha was lying on the floor. Unconscious.
Amity: Oh no!
Frank: Grandma!
Angela: What... what have i done?
Luz: You... you shot Boscha.
Matt: Now death has won.
Boscha: (groans) You... you shot me.
Rob: What?
Frank: Boscha!
Boscha: These will be some nasty burns.
Frank: Thanks to the Titan! Oh my-
James: Miss Scotto! You will have to answer in court for false testimony and attempted bodily harm.
Angela: Keep your loud mouth shut, you brat!
Frank: I can't believe all that. You lied to me for years grandma.
Luz: Ha, not just you. I would say that she is completely crazy.
James: And I would say the case is solved.
Frank: (sighs) Good! Then we can also shoot the final scene in peace.
Matt: What? You... you're still thinking about the movie Frank?
Frank: Of course! And one thing I can promise you: It's going to be a blast!
So everything turned out for the better. Even if the film was last place in the Film Festival, everyone had their fun, and would never do something like that again. And the Mystery Trio is waiting for the next case.
End of Episode 4!
That was Episode 4! I hope you liked it! Write me a review! And see you next time!