CHAPTER TWO

WITCH UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL YARD – AFTERNOON

PJ is licking the two chocolate-salty ice-creams in his hands. In the background, he is followed by Marnie, Dylan; and Marlene, and Sarox, and Max, who observe their surrounding in either fascination or intimidation.

PJ: Ah, it's been a really long time. I've been away from home a little way too long! This is so good!

Max: (Whispers to Marlene and Sarox) If you ask me, I think he's been away for a really long time to be able to act like that.

Sarox and Marlene can't help but burst into laughs.

Marnie: (To the trio) So, first time in town for you three?

Sarox: Yeah. I've never seen anything like this before. It's so different from the other worlds.

Marlene: (Fascinated) There are so many witches and fairies and other creatures here. No wonder PJ loves this town so much.

Marnie: Our family and other witches created this world with other creatures one-thousand years ago.

This piece of information surprises the trio.

Sarox, Marlene and Max: Really?!

Marnie: (Nods) Yeah. (Reminds herself) Hey, that reminds me. It'll soon be celebration of Halloweentown's 1000 anniversary.

Sarox: (Fascinated) Really?

Marnie: Yeah! Why don't you guys come and see it? It's gonna be fun.

Dylan: Yeah, just more magic and a group of witches and warlocks waiting to show off. She does that every year.

Annoyed by her little brother, Marnie punches him on the shoulder.

PJ continues to lick his ice-creams, but then suddenly, in a blink of an eye, they disappear into thin air. PJ doesn't notice until he realizes he's licking the air.

PJ: (Shocked) Wha? What happened? Where are my ice-creams?

Sarox and the others catch up to him and find his ice-creams missing.

Sarox: What happened?

PJ is getting wheepy.

PJ: M-My ice-creams...

They make sure to calm him down. Then Marnie and Dylan notice that three girls walk by them with an amusing yet mean smile on each of their faces. They are the three Sinister Sisters - Scarlett and the twins, Sage and Sapphire. It doesn't take long before Sarox, and Marlene, and Max also notice the evil-looking girls.

Scarlett: Who invited those creeps?

Sage and Sapphire burst into laughter. Then they realize that it was they who made PJ's ice-creams disappear. Marlene is upset, but Dylan doesn't show a single expression of anger, in fact, he looks like he's under the girls' love spell.

Max: Did they make PJ's ice-creams disappear with magic?

Marnie: You bet.

Sarox: But… I thought magic wasn't allowed in the school.

Marnie: That is why they only use it when no teacher is watching. Those girls are a pain in the ass.

Marlene: Who are they?

Dylan: (hypnotized) Scarlett... Sage... and Sapphire. Me amo, my charming Sinister sisters.

Sarox, noticing Dylan's hypnotized state, goes to ask Marnie:

Sarox: Is he always like this around them?

Marnie: Always. Ever since the first day he met them. He's especially infatuated with Scarlett; the ringleader of the sisters.

The Sinister sisters continue to walk away. Dylan is still glancing at them, which bothers Marnie more than anything in the universe.

WITCH UNIVERSITY - PUBLIC LIBRARY – AFTERNOON

Dylan opens a door to a room in the public library, followed by Marnie and the quartet. PJ has calmed down now. Marnie and Dylan study the place in bewilderment.

Dylan: (Reads some book titles on the desk) "Cromwell women", "Cromwell legacies", "History of Cromwell witches"...

Marnie: All the books in here are about our family!

Dylan: Um, yeah, I caught the fame.

Sarox: So what're we doing here exactly?

Marnie: I'm looking for information about an ancestor of ours named S. Cromwell.

Marlene: Why?

Marnie: Because of a silver box that I found in the chamber of ancient runes. The chancellor said that there was something in there that belongs to my family and wanted me to have it, so she gave me the spell to summon it. And when I did, the box came to me. The problem is I can't get it open, I've tried every thinkable method, but it wouldn't even budge. So we're coming to the library to see if there's anything we find out about her and how to open the box.

Dylan: And she wants to find out what she hid in it. She's always fascinated with magic.

Marnie: Oh, come on. Aren't you the least curious?

Dylan: Nope, I think whatever this S. Cromwell hid inside the box was hidden in it for a reason and I get the feeling it's supposed to stay that way.

Marnie: (Dismisses) Let's just grab a book and see there's anything that'll tell us who S. Cromwell was.

Dylan: Fine, just give me a minute.

Marnie: A minute? Okay, I know you're fast, "bookworm", but...

Dylan: I'm more than fast. I'm... magic.

Marnie: Did you just use the "M" word?

Dylan: (confesses) I used magic to speed-read, okay?

Marnie is shocked to hear this from her brother who dislikes magic.

Dylan: Not here, but in high school.

Marnie: I can't believe it. No wonder you skipped a grade! And you're always against being magical.

Dylan: It's the only thing I use my powers for, I swear.

Sarox: (Interrupts) Uh, okay! That's enough! Remember, this is a library. You talk too loud, you get caught.

Marnie: Okay. (To Dylan) Just do it.

Dylan sits down on a chair at the desk then points his hands at the books on the shelves and magically pulls them out and float in the air in circular motion. Then, Dylan changes course to the books on the desk, and they begin to fly at the same direction also. Then turns around and points to the last books behind him. When all the books in the room are lifted off the ground, Dylan lowers his hands and speed-reads the books that fly past his eyes. Sarox, PJ, Marnie, Marlene and Max watch on in patience and amazement. About thirty seconds later, Dylan drops focus and the books fall to the floor. He looks up with a grin on his face.

Dylan: I know what's in the box!

Marnie: What? What's in the box?

Before he could continue, they are interrupted by footsteps coming up behind them. Marnie and the others turn around and see a blond, young man - Ethan Dalloway - at the door.

Ethan: Hi.

Marnie doesn't look happy to see him.

Marnie: Hi.

Dylan: Hey, Ethan. What's up?

Ethan: Oh, I'm just looking through some books for my homework. (to Marnie) What about you, Marnie?

She stands up and slowly steps closer toward Ethan. Her expression is clear anger and hatred.

Marnie: Well, you know, we did come here to study. But then I saw the warlock who teamed up with his father in attempt to steal my family's magic, so I just lost the interest. (to the others) Come on, guys. Let's go!

With that, she leaves the room without waiting. The others feel like they have no choice but to follow her. When Dylan walks past Ethan, he greets him goodbye.

Dylan: See ya, Ethan.

Ethan: (Sadly) Yeah, see ya.

WITCH UNIVERSITY - PUBLIC LIBRARY HALLWAY – AFTERNOON

Sarox and the others catch up to Marnie.

Max: Who is he?

Dylan: Ethan Dalloway, the son of a man who once tried to steal our family's magic, but didn't succeed.

Max: How did you stop them?

PJ explains.

PJ: They found out that he and his father were working on an evil plan to dominate the world by stealing their family magic and stopped them in time by reporting to the council.

The trio are shocked by his knowledge of Ethan and his father's doing.

Max: PJ, you know about that?

PJ: (Nods) It happened last year.

Dylan: (Continues) The council took away Ethan's father's powers as punishment, but because Ethan didn't signed up to work with him voluntarily, he was let off the hook.

Marnie: Which is why we can't let him know what we're up to. If he finds out, we'll be in big trouble.

Dylan: Oh, come on, sis. He didn't date you to hurt you, he was just used by his dad. Besides, he's been apologizing since the council decided punishment on his dad. Why won't you consider accepting his apology? This Ethan guy isn't gonna be in one place for long, you know.

Marnie: Just tell me what's in the box!

From the look of her eyes, her brother can tell that she doesn't want to bring up old history, so he changes the subject.

Dylan: It's a magical power called the Gift. The box' inscription stands for "Splendora Cromwell", our family ancestor from one thousand years ago. She was the last witch to wield the Gift before she locked it into the silver box and buried it.

Marnie: And?

Dylan: That's all I know, there were pages missing.

Marnie: Did it say how to open it?

Dylan: No.

WITCH UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL YARD – AFTERNOON

They exit the library.

Max: But why did this Splendora-girl bury it in the first place?

Dylan: All I know is she buried it on the night she was supposed to be crowned queen.

Marnie: Queen?

Dylan: Yes - queen. As in royal, fairytale-like, ruler of the world; queen. But I don't know what else happened before or after that, that's all it said. The next stuff was about how grandma Aggie invented more than five thousand potions for over fifty years or how many years she could travel in wormholes.

The scene dissolves into…

WITCH UNIVERSITY – OFFICE – AFTERNOON

… An image in the center of a big cauldron, beside it stand two middle-aged men – Dr. Grogg and Silas Sinister – and a middle-aged woman – Chancellor Goodwin. Max' voice is heard through the cauldron.

Max: (Off-screen) Some info that is.

Chancellor Goodwin: It's almost time. Soon, we will reach our goal.

Silas: Who are those kids walking with the Cromwell siblings?

Chancellor Goodwin: I don't know, I've never seen them before.

Silas: Find out who they are. We mustn't let anything go wrong with our plan. Marnie Piper is the Cromwell witch we have been waiting for to fulfill our plan.

The Sinister sisters – Silas' daughters – enter and interrupt their conversation.

Silas: Girls!

Scarlett: Hi, daddy!

Sage & Sapphire: Hi, daddy!

They each finds a seat across the adults, facing them. Silas is the only one among the adults to smile at the girls.

Silas: Girls, you have done wonderful jobs. I am so proud of you.

Scarlett: (dismissive) Yeah, sure.

Sage: I don't get it, daddy. Why does that Marnie "Viper" have to open that box? Everybody in this world knows you're like super-powerful. Why don't you open it yourself?

Sage's words anger Dr. Grogg. He steps forward and screams.

Dr. Grogg: SILENCE!

This stops the girls from talking.

Dr. Grogg: Only a Cromwell shall open the box of the Gift.

Silas calms him down.

Silas: Grogg! Grogg!

Once Dr. Grogg stops, Silas turns his attention back to his daughters.

Silas: Girls, you see, in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled, Marnie Piper must open the box herself.

Scarlett: (annoyed) Oh, okay. But how are we gonna make her open the box by Halloween Night?

Chancellor Goodwin: We will make her open it… one way or another. By the way, do you know who those four kids are?

Sapphire: You mean those four odd-looking creeps who were with Marnie and her dumb brother? No idea. Just met them in the school yard.

Silas: Then I want you to find out who they are, because I get the feeling that they will be trouble for us.

Scarlett: Fine, but I'm not going anywhere near them. Especially that Dylan and that big, fat dog-boy.

WITCH UNIVERSITY - MARNIE'S DORM – AFTERNOON

Marnie opens the door to her dorm and enters, followed by the quartet, minus her brother, who is not present. The room is three times bigger than the usual dorms, and the bed somehow resembles that of a royal bed. Marlene looks around the room in impression.

Marlene: Wow! Marnie, this is amazing.

Marnie: Isn't it? It's the best dorm in the entire school. The chancellor actually gave it to me.

PJ sits down on a chair. Max sees the silver box on Marnie's desk and goes to examine it. Next to the box lies an Arabic oil lamp.

Max: Hey, Marnie, is this the silver box you were talking about?

Marnie: Yeah. Hey, wait, I wanna introduce you to someone.

She goes to Max' side and picks up the lamp and rubs it. As respond, the lamp's nozzle emits a pink light and turn into an Arabic girl. The quartet are caught by surprise.

Marnie: Everyone, I'd like you to meet my roommate, Aneesa.

Marlene: Your roommate is a genie?

Aneesa: The first to enter Witch University. My parents are very proud.

Max and PJ look attracted to her.

Max: Tell me, do you have any cousins?

Aneesa smiles as Marnie steps forward to interrupt.

Marnie: All right! Stop it, you're scary!

Marlene and Sarox step forward and pull away PJ and Max' sight from Aneesa.

Marlene: (to Aneesa) Sorry about this. They don't usually act like that.

Aneesa: It's okay. (turns to Marnie) So, how'd it go with the library research?

Marnie: We found out that the box belonged to a witch named Splendora and that she hid something called "the Gift" in it. But it doesn't say how to open it.

Marlene comes up with an idea.

Marlene: Hey, I got it! Why don't we try Sarox' Keyblade? It can pretty much unlock anything.

Max: It's worth a shot.

Marnie: Sure, I'd like to try anything.

Sarox points his Keyblade in front of the keyhole of the silver box and shoots out a harmless beam, but before it could reach the keyhole, a magical sphere bounces off the magic.

Everyone becomes disappointed.

Max: What happened?

PJ: Some sort of reflective magic bounced off Sarox' Keyblade.

Marnie: Well, it was worth a shot. Thanks, Sarox.

Sarox: Sorry I couldn't help.

Marnie: Don't worry about it.

Suddenly, without warning, a bell rings on Marnie's arm. She folds up her sleeve and reveals the witches' glass attached to her wrist.

Sarox: What's that?

PJ: That is a witches' glass. Witches and warlocks use those to contact each other. Like cellphones.

He nods. Marnie opens the lid. Inside is the image of her mother, Gwen Piper.

Gwen: Hi, sweetheart. How are you?

Marnie: I'm fine, mom.

Gwen: Well, good. I-I'm fine, really... I'm fine.

Marnie: Mom, you can't do this to me. It's forbidden to use magic in Witch University now. You can get me expelled if I get caught.

Gwen: What?

There's a knock on the door.

Marnie: I gotta go, mom.

Gwen: Wha- wait...

She shuts the lid before her mom could say anything more and heads to the door. When she opens it, the visitor turns out to be Luke - her best friend. Her expression tells she can't be any more happier.

Marnie: Luke!

Luke: Hey!

They greet each other with a tight hug. Luke looks at the people behind her and sees PJ.

Luke: PJ? Long time.

PJ: Yeah!

PJ steps forward and they greet each other with a hand-tag.

Luke: What're you doing here?

PJ: The same reason as you're here, I'm guessing. (realizes) Oh, by the way, these are my friends - Sarox, Marlene and Max. Guys, this is Luke.

Sarox, Marlene & Max: Hey.

Luke: Hi.

Aneesa: Hello, I'm Aneesa. Marnie's roommate.

Luke: How'd you do? (to Marnie) So, I'm free now. You wanna go and grab a bite?

Marnie: Actually I just ate. How about tonight?

Luke: Sure, no problem. Hey, how 'bout you guys? Care to join us?

PJ: I have no problem.

Max: Sure, that sounds good.

Marlene: I'll probably get hungry tonight anyway. (looks to Sarox) What about you, Sarox?

Sarox: Sure, why not?

Sarox comes up with an idea.

Sarox: Hey, I have an idea. Why don't we ask Gene to join us tonight too?

Marlene: Sure. He could use a little fun.

Marnie: Who's Gene?

PJ: He is a genie, like Aneesa.

Aneesa: Really?

PJ nods at Aneesa.

WITCH UNIVERSITY – HALLWAY – AFTERNOON

A transparent to almost invisible figure moves down the hallway outside of Marnie's dorm. "It" hides behind a wall to its right, waves its arm and turns visible again, revealing Scarlett. She opens the lid on her witches' glass and contacts her father while leaving.