A Dead Like Me Halloween
by Moonswirl and Pixydust
Disclaimer: Not ours, blah blah...
Rating: PG-13 [language and stuff]
Summary: Take a wild guess
Authors' note: [Moonie] Pixydust and I wrote this story yesterday, but since we didn't get to discuss it until today, we weren't able to post it then. Hope you enjoy it anyway! Please be kind, this is my first DLM fic And a big thankyouthankyouthankyou to PD for writing this with me You rock!!
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[A group of trick-or-treaters run down a sidewalk laughing, their bags full of Halloween candy. They weave in and out of the crowd of people, singing Halloween songs, and arguing over who got the best candy. George watches them with a wistful smile on her face as she parks her bike in front of Der Waffle Haus.]
GEORGE (VO): Halloween. The time of year known for trick-or-treating, jack o' lanterns, hay rides, and ghosts and ghouls. I liked to think of Halloween as sort of a ransom holiday. You know, one of those "Give me some candy, or suffer the consequences" kind of thing. Halloween always kind of held a special place in my heart. Not only did you get free candy from other people, but it was the one day of the year when I could truly be what I wanted to be. Whether it was a witch, doctor, psycho killer, whatever, my Halloween costume was who I was.
[A group of children run past George, screaming and laughing. One trick-or-treater, dressed as a ghost, slams into George, almost knocking her over. The ghost runs ahead of George and turns around, looking at her.]
GHOST: Watch where you're going, stupid!
[The ghost runs off, running to catch up with his friends.]
GEORGE (VO): I'm leaning towards the psycho killer costume now.
[George casts a malicious glance towards the kids, then walks into Der Waffle Haus. There's decorations and the staff is in costume. Rube, Mason, Roxy, and Daisy are already at their table, some are eating breakfast.]
ROXY: What is with the costumes?
RUBE: This is... pre-Halloween.
DAISY: Like a dress rehearsal?
MASON: No, the street's stores are giving a "Trick or treat" option to kids who can't on the actual night.
DAISY: That's nice.
GEORGE (Off-Screen): What is?
[She arrives, sits in the booth.]
DAISY: Pre-Halloween.
GEORGE: Oh...
[Rube caps his pen and waits to get the others' attention.]
RUBE: Alright folks, it's that time of the year again.
[There's a collective groan from Mason, Roxy, and Daisy. George is confused.]
GEORGE: Time for what?
RUBE: Halloween. It makes the Gravelings...
DAISY: Hyper...
MASON: Over-achieving...
ROXY: Little bastards...
RUBE: I think she gets the point.
GEORGE: So... what does this mean?
[Rube hands-out the post-its. Each of them has about three or four.]
GEORGE: You're kidding me, right?
RUBE: Afraid not.
GEORGE: How the hell am I supposed to work?
RUBE: You got one on the way, one there, one on your lunch, one after. It shoudln't be a problem.
GEORGE: One there?
[She checks the post-its. Sure enough, the second says "P. Mack - Happy Time - ETD: 10:17am."]
GEORGE: Paul the janitor? (checks first post-it) I better go if I don't want to miss that one...
[She grabs a couple of strawberries from Daisy's plate.]
DAISY: Hey!
[George grins and turns to leave. When she does, she spots three kids running in and to the counter.]
KIDS: TRICK OR TREAT!
[George doesn't move, almost in a trance as she watches the kids.]
GEORGE (VO): I hadn't really thought about it until now, but there was something I would miss having with my family... Halloween.
[Flashback to Lass home, years ago. Little George is dressed as a bee as she comes running into the kitchen.]
GEORGE (VO): My family had fun. It was one day where everything was fine and we were happy. I almost liked it better than Christmas.
[Joy and Clancy smile as Little George "buzzes around". Clancy picks her up and she laughs.]
GEORGE (VO): Even years later, and despite our constant fights, Reggie and I had a great time.
[It's now maybe a year or two before George died. She is dressed as a nurse, and Reggie is a sheep-hearder type (think Toy Story), complete with long staff. They walk down a street together.]
REGGIE: Another apple.
GEORGE: Well don't worry about it. When I go over there next week I'll do... something.
[Both smle. A couple of kids Reggie's age run by, stopping in front of them.
BOY 1: Hey Reggie, still need a babysitter, uh?
REGGIE: She's my sister.
[The kids laugh. Reggie is fuming. She grabs her staff with two hands and whacks the boys on the head. They tru to dodge before running off.]
BOY 2: FREAK!
REGGIE: (shouts) You run, Marcowitz!
[The sisters share a look, before walking on laughing.]
GEORGE: (sigh) And I'd been doing so good lately...
[Back at Der Waffle Haus, George is still standing there with a faraway look on her face. The kids have left but she's still there. Mason notices her there and taps Rube on the shoulder, nods his head toward George. The four look up at her before turning back to each other. The experience of many years in their field shows on their faces. Rube stands, Mason as well. He grabs George's first post-it without her noticing and leaves as Rube sits her back in the booth.]
RUBE: You alright peanut?
[She wipes at a few errant tears, head down.]
GEORGE: No.
DAISY: It's normal, you know?
GEORGE: It sucks.
RUBE: Want to tell us about it? You don't have to but you can.
GEORGE: (nods) Yeah. (plays with strawberry) Halloween with my family, it was... the best. I didn't think I would miss it that much.
ROXY: We all have moments like these. You'll be alright.
GEORGE: I guess. (stands) I should get to work. I'll see you later.
[She leaves. Daisy looks after her, a pensive look on her face. That look is suddenly replaced by a look not needing a light bulb to be identified as an idea. She spins toward Rube and Roxy.]
DAISY: I need to call in a favor.
by Moonswirl and Pixydust
Disclaimer: Not ours, blah blah...
Rating: PG-13 [language and stuff]
Summary: Take a wild guess
Authors' note: [Moonie] Pixydust and I wrote this story yesterday, but since we didn't get to discuss it until today, we weren't able to post it then. Hope you enjoy it anyway! Please be kind, this is my first DLM fic And a big thankyouthankyouthankyou to PD for writing this with me You rock!!
------
[A group of trick-or-treaters run down a sidewalk laughing, their bags full of Halloween candy. They weave in and out of the crowd of people, singing Halloween songs, and arguing over who got the best candy. George watches them with a wistful smile on her face as she parks her bike in front of Der Waffle Haus.]
GEORGE (VO): Halloween. The time of year known for trick-or-treating, jack o' lanterns, hay rides, and ghosts and ghouls. I liked to think of Halloween as sort of a ransom holiday. You know, one of those "Give me some candy, or suffer the consequences" kind of thing. Halloween always kind of held a special place in my heart. Not only did you get free candy from other people, but it was the one day of the year when I could truly be what I wanted to be. Whether it was a witch, doctor, psycho killer, whatever, my Halloween costume was who I was.
[A group of children run past George, screaming and laughing. One trick-or-treater, dressed as a ghost, slams into George, almost knocking her over. The ghost runs ahead of George and turns around, looking at her.]
GHOST: Watch where you're going, stupid!
[The ghost runs off, running to catch up with his friends.]
GEORGE (VO): I'm leaning towards the psycho killer costume now.
[George casts a malicious glance towards the kids, then walks into Der Waffle Haus. There's decorations and the staff is in costume. Rube, Mason, Roxy, and Daisy are already at their table, some are eating breakfast.]
ROXY: What is with the costumes?
RUBE: This is... pre-Halloween.
DAISY: Like a dress rehearsal?
MASON: No, the street's stores are giving a "Trick or treat" option to kids who can't on the actual night.
DAISY: That's nice.
GEORGE (Off-Screen): What is?
[She arrives, sits in the booth.]
DAISY: Pre-Halloween.
GEORGE: Oh...
[Rube caps his pen and waits to get the others' attention.]
RUBE: Alright folks, it's that time of the year again.
[There's a collective groan from Mason, Roxy, and Daisy. George is confused.]
GEORGE: Time for what?
RUBE: Halloween. It makes the Gravelings...
DAISY: Hyper...
MASON: Over-achieving...
ROXY: Little bastards...
RUBE: I think she gets the point.
GEORGE: So... what does this mean?
[Rube hands-out the post-its. Each of them has about three or four.]
GEORGE: You're kidding me, right?
RUBE: Afraid not.
GEORGE: How the hell am I supposed to work?
RUBE: You got one on the way, one there, one on your lunch, one after. It shoudln't be a problem.
GEORGE: One there?
[She checks the post-its. Sure enough, the second says "P. Mack - Happy Time - ETD: 10:17am."]
GEORGE: Paul the janitor? (checks first post-it) I better go if I don't want to miss that one...
[She grabs a couple of strawberries from Daisy's plate.]
DAISY: Hey!
[George grins and turns to leave. When she does, she spots three kids running in and to the counter.]
KIDS: TRICK OR TREAT!
[George doesn't move, almost in a trance as she watches the kids.]
GEORGE (VO): I hadn't really thought about it until now, but there was something I would miss having with my family... Halloween.
[Flashback to Lass home, years ago. Little George is dressed as a bee as she comes running into the kitchen.]
GEORGE (VO): My family had fun. It was one day where everything was fine and we were happy. I almost liked it better than Christmas.
[Joy and Clancy smile as Little George "buzzes around". Clancy picks her up and she laughs.]
GEORGE (VO): Even years later, and despite our constant fights, Reggie and I had a great time.
[It's now maybe a year or two before George died. She is dressed as a nurse, and Reggie is a sheep-hearder type (think Toy Story), complete with long staff. They walk down a street together.]
REGGIE: Another apple.
GEORGE: Well don't worry about it. When I go over there next week I'll do... something.
[Both smle. A couple of kids Reggie's age run by, stopping in front of them.
BOY 1: Hey Reggie, still need a babysitter, uh?
REGGIE: She's my sister.
[The kids laugh. Reggie is fuming. She grabs her staff with two hands and whacks the boys on the head. They tru to dodge before running off.]
BOY 2: FREAK!
REGGIE: (shouts) You run, Marcowitz!
[The sisters share a look, before walking on laughing.]
GEORGE: (sigh) And I'd been doing so good lately...
[Back at Der Waffle Haus, George is still standing there with a faraway look on her face. The kids have left but she's still there. Mason notices her there and taps Rube on the shoulder, nods his head toward George. The four look up at her before turning back to each other. The experience of many years in their field shows on their faces. Rube stands, Mason as well. He grabs George's first post-it without her noticing and leaves as Rube sits her back in the booth.]
RUBE: You alright peanut?
[She wipes at a few errant tears, head down.]
GEORGE: No.
DAISY: It's normal, you know?
GEORGE: It sucks.
RUBE: Want to tell us about it? You don't have to but you can.
GEORGE: (nods) Yeah. (plays with strawberry) Halloween with my family, it was... the best. I didn't think I would miss it that much.
ROXY: We all have moments like these. You'll be alright.
GEORGE: I guess. (stands) I should get to work. I'll see you later.
[She leaves. Daisy looks after her, a pensive look on her face. That look is suddenly replaced by a look not needing a light bulb to be identified as an idea. She spins toward Rube and Roxy.]
DAISY: I need to call in a favor.