[Evening. The sun has disappeared behind some gray clouds covering the entire sky. The clouds hover over a dark forest somewhere in the state of Oregon, covered in pure, white snow — and in this forest, a mysterious house is present. The house is tall in height and has a sign attached to the rooftop. The sign says the following in all capital letters: THE MYSTERY SHACK.]
[Going over to the backside, a young teenage boy named Dipper is chopping firewood by taking one wooden log at a time and placing them on top of a tree stump — he then chops them in half using an ax.]
Dipper: (Grunting) HYAAH!!
[He successfully chops a wooden log with a forceful swing.]
[When "Dipper" turns around to wipe off sweat from his face, a better angle of his face is shown. As it is now winter and snowing outside, he is dressed in a red bomber jacket and blue mittens, completed with a beanie on his head with a snowflake pattern — he also has black winter boots.]
Grunkle Stan: Alright, you've worked hard enough — pack it up and get over here!
[A distant, familiar voice shouts at Dipper from the back porch. He turns around to the house and sees Grunkle Stan standing there holding a cup in his hand, filled with warm chocolate. He is only wearing a gray coat and red-striped shorts, exposing his legs and knees to the bitter cold.]
[Dipper puts the ax aside and runs over to his great-uncle.]
Dipper: (While panting) Puh! T-Thanks for stopping me before I tore myself apart...
Grunkle Stan: Eh, don't mention it. Not a single teenager your age can handle chopping that much firewood!
[Grunkle Stan hands him the bottle of soda. Dipper removes the cork and drinks from it rapidly.]
Dipper: (He stops drinking and exhales) I could handle chopping wood for a whole hour if I wanted to — does that mean I'm stronger than a regular teenager?
Grunkle Stan: Yeah, but only barely... (Feeling superior, he points at himself) But if you want to be as strong as your Great Uncle, however, you'll have to chop wood for five hours straight!
Dipper: I can do that, too! (He makes a smug grin) Shall we make it a challenge and see if I can last that long?
Grunkle Stan: Erm... I would make it a challenge if I could — but I have another job for you, unfortunately.
Dipper: What kind of job?
Grunkle Stan: I need you to go with the girls for some holiday activities.
Dipper: (He exclaims in dismay) What?! W-With Mabel and her friends?!? I can't do that — I have other plans with Grunkle Ford!
Grunkle Stan: I don't think he'll mind if you go out and try to get into the holiday spirit. (Cheerfully) You'll finally understand our ways of celebration here in Gravity Falls!
Dipper: Sorry, Grunkle Stan, but what exactly is the meaning behind this "Celebration" I've heard about? All you do is walk out on the streets, hoping that someone invites you into their home. (He becomes uncomfortable) ...which sounds kind of creepy, now when you think of it.
Grunkle Stan: It's called "Jollysharing", and it's about being kind to others and giving them shelter in the bitter cold!
Grunkle Ford: He's right about that...
[Grunkle Ford appears behind the corner of the house and advances toward them. He is dressed in his regular brown coat and red sweater.]
Grunkle Ford: (He remarks) Jollysharing is also a great way of getting to know other people!
Dipper: (He becomes more pleasant) G-Grunkle Ford! Tell me — how are things going with the anomaly we've been talking about?
Grunkle Ford: It's going quite well! It's a shame you're going to be out eating gingerbread cookies while I capture it.
Dipper: W-Why can't I come with?
Grunkle Ford: I was the one who suggested to Stanley that you should go out and enjoy Christmas, since I did it a lot here when I was younger. This "thing" lurking around Gravity Falls is highly dangerous and could potentially kill one of us — so it would be a risk to bring you with me.
Dipper: (In protest) B-But I take risks all the time! It's in my blood to put myself in danger!
Grunkle Ford: I know. But you would only slow me down if you were coming with me.
Dipper: B-B-But...
Grunkle Stan: (Strictly) Listen to your adults, Dipper! It's about time that you find out what it's like to socialize with other people — it's something I'm terrible at doing, myself!
Grunkle Ford: Do you understand what we're saying?
[Dipper looks at both of his great uncles and wants to protest about their decision. But after a bit of consideration, he sighs and accepts the inevitable.]
Dipper: (In defeat) I understand, Grunkle Ford...
Grunkle Stan: Great! Now be aware that Mabel is on the other side of the door, waiting to remind you about Jollysharing. Pretend like we never told you about it and try to act as surprised as possible!
Dipper: (Grumpily) Yeah, whatever.
[Behind Grunkle Stan, a door to the house is shown. Dipper opens said door, which leads into the hallway.]
Mabel: HEYOO!!!
Dipper: (Acts startled) Wah!!
[Like Grunkle Stan predicted, Mabel is standing on the other side of the door, as she was waiting for him to open it. She has already prepared herself for the day out by wearing an ugly, pink Christmas sweater with reindeers stitched into the wool, completed with her regular skirt and shoes.]
Mabel: (Happily) What do you think of my outfit? I'm gonna have this on for today's special event!
Dipper: W-What event?
Mabel: (She giggles) Hehe! I already knew you wouldn't know! So guess what — today is December 18th, right?
Dipper: Right...
Mabel: And on this day specifically, the citizens of Gravity Falls have their own tradition one week before Christmas! And it's called: Jollysharing!
...
...
...
[Dipper makes no expression at first — but then, he glances over his shoulder and sees Grunkle Stan watching him.]
Dipper: (He acts surprised) Oh, um... J-Jeez, what's that all about? I've never heard about Jollysharing before.
Mabel: It's a good thing you have a SISTER that knows everything! It's a yearly tradition where you invite citizens over for a gathering and enjoy the evening with each other! I already have your daily outfit ready upstairs!
Dipper: T-Thanks, but I don't think--
Mabel: (She interrupts) Since you love Christmas so much, already, you can come and enjoy the evening with me, Candy, and Grenda again.
Dipper: W-Wouldn't it be more beneficial if you three went without me? (Unsurely) I think I might have gotten the flu from the rough winter...
(Cough!) (Cough!)
[Dipper fakes a cough, trying to come up with an excuse to not go outside.]
Dipper: (He also fakes a raspy voice) I don't want to infect you and your friends with my illness.
Mabel: (She inspects him suspiciously) I see... But you were outside cutting wood just a second ago, so that shouldn't stop you!
Dipper: B-But what if I accidentally stop us from getting invited when the residents see that I'm sick? I don't want to be an obstacle for you!
[Mabel smiles nonchalantly, already knowing that Dipper is lying.]
Mabel: (She nods understandably) Dipper, I already know you're not sick. And just because the tradition sounds weird, doesn't mean that it's actually weird! It's a great way for you to find new friends to talk to, since you don't have many of them.
Dipper: Like whom, exactly?
Mabel: Remember the party you wanted to go to at Summerween last summer because Wendy was going to be there? I can assure you that someone will be hosting a Jollysharing party over at their place, where you can find tons of other people! And you could also hang out with Candy and Grenda if you ask them nicely.
[Dipper gets a bad memory from last Summerween — he remembers how he hurt Mabel's feelings when he would rather go to the party with Wendy than spending time with his sister.]
Dipper: I, um... I guess that's true.
[Mabel notices Dipper's hesitant expression on his face.]
Mabel: (Empathetically) ... That's of course if you want to hang out with us. You can always stay home tonight if you don't want to go.
[Dipper ponders about the offer. He rotates his head back to Grunkle Stan and sees that he is now frowning at him from the back porch. through the open doorway.]
[He faces Mabel again.]
Dipper: (He sighs) Okay, fine — I'll come with you.
Mabel: (Cheerfully) Great!! I knew you wouldn't turn down my offer!
Dipper: ...But I'll only come with if we find a party to go to! I don't want to get invited to an old lady's house and sit around with a bunch of senior citizens...
Mabel: (She nods) I completely understand that. There's probably a gathering with only teenagers like us, too!
Dipper: So what happens, now?
Mabel: I'll go prepare your clothes for tonight. I'll come back to you when it's ready!
[Mabel becomes full of energy and rushes for the stairs at the end of the corridor. She runs up the stairs, leading to the second floor.]
Dipper: (He shouts after Mabel) I'll wait here while you're at it!
[Dipper winces when he makes sure that Mabel is gone, already regretting his decision.]
[Meanwhile Ford nods at Stanley and proceeds to leave through the backyard in order to begin his important research. Grunkle Stan steps inside, closes the back door and puts a hand on Dipper's shoulder.]
Grunkle Stan: Hey, don't look so miffed about it! You have all the time in the world to go on other adventures with Grunkle Ford, tomorrow!
Dipper: (Desperately) Didn't you hear what Mabel just said? She said that I could stay at home if I wanted to!
Grunkle Stan: (Apathetically) Eh, all siblings say stuff like that. And when you proceed to do as they suggest, they become mad at you and won't talk to you for a week — Mabel is no different!
Dipper: But what if she--
Grunkle Stan: No "buts"! I won't risk you two getting on bad terms like you did last year. (He points to his right) Now go and get yourself ready!
[Grunkle Stan points toward the open doorway leading into the living room with a certain expression.]
[Dipper gives him a sullen look before he grumpily walks away by entering the living room. Scene ends.
[Meanwhile, in another part of Gravity Falls...]
[A property involving a luxurious mansion with many windows is shown in another neighborhood, surrounded by an iron fence that is tall enough to keep trespassers out. A fountain with a mermaid shooting water out of its mouth has been installed in the front yard right in front of the entrance. A metal mailbox adjacent to the gate has a text engraved into it that says: "The Northwests". This text hints that this is the Northwests' new property after they were forced to sell their mansion a year ago.]
[Inside the mansion, a family consisting of only three people — a father, a mother, and a daughter — are enjoying dinner around the table in their dining room that has plain white walls and decorations. The Father and Mother, their names respectively being Preston and Priscilla, have been served Beef Wellington on a silver platter by one of their many butlers.]
Butler: Enjoy your meal, Northwests.
Priscilla: Beef Wellington again?! (Annoyed) The last time we had this was only four months ago!
Preston: (Calmly) Priscilla, please... We have to make justifications after we sold our old mansion to that lunatic. Do I have to remind you twice?
Priscilla: I still think we can be treated better than this after all the struggle we've been through.
Preston: Don't make a scene with the butlers, now, honey...
[Preston and Priscilla eat from their served dinner. Their daughter, named Pacifica, is sitting across from them. She is staring down at her beef wellington while being lost in thought. Priscilla looks at her concerned.]
Priscilla: Pacifica, quit staring at your beef wellington and eat it before it gets cold.
Pacifica: (She snaps back from her daydream) Wha-?! What were you saying??
Preston: (He looks up from his food) What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost, or something.
Pacifica: I-It's nothing, really. I was just thinking about some things.
Preston: ...And would you like to share those "Things" with your family?
Pacifica: Yeah, perhaps I could.
[Preston continues eating while listening.]
Pacifica: Soooo... Remember yesterday when I switched roles with the butlers and did a bunch of chores around the mansion?
Priscilla: We haven't heard of this--what kind of chores?
Pacifica: From what I can recall — I cleaned my room, did the dishes, mowed the lawn, took my poodles for a walk, took my pony for a walk and I took my personal butler for a walk when he didn't have anything to do!
Preston: Hmm... After listing all of that in a single rant, I must say... that is very impressive, Pacifica!
Priscilla: (She raises an eyebrow suspiciously) But at the same time, that is very rare for you to perform a bunch of chores. What exactly was your reason behind it?
Pacifica: Well, I was thinking if I could get a small reward from you two after all the hard work I did!
[Pacifica grins, waiting for an answer. Preston and Priscilla stop eating and glance at each other, unsurely.]
Preston: (He nods) I can't see why that would be an issue! Since we are still slightly rich, you can choose any reward you like, Pacifica!
[Preston reaches for his crystal glass standing nearby, filled with red wine. He takes a sip out of it while letting Pacifica speak.]
Pacifica: Great! So does that mean I can be the host of the Jollysharing party here, tonight?
Preston: PFFFTTTT!!!
[Preston immediately spits his wine out of his mouth upon hearing Pacifica's request. Priscilla gets splattered, and gets wine all over her face and white dress.]
Preston: That's your request?! (Hostile) Over my dead body!!
Priscilla: (Angered) How dare you say such a thing in front of your Father?! He has always been the host of Jollysharing every year, no matter what the circumstances are!
Pacifica: Oh, come on! (Indignantly) The only people he invites are always the rich families from neighboring towns — he doesn't invite any of our neighbors!
[Preston becomes increasingly frustrated.]
Preston: Do we have to keep reminding you of what you pulled off this summer?! There's no way you're holding a party after you ruined our soirée at our old manor!
Pacifica: (She points at Preston) That was your own fault for not listening to the ghost, Dad! If you had just let the common folks inside like our family promised, I wouldn't have pulled that lever in the first place!
Priscilla: That is still no excuse to go against your parents' words! We hosted that ceremony for ONLY rich people!
Preston: We, Northwests, have to uphold our reputation by not associating with the poorer people! (He slams his fist into the table) And I am NOT letting you host anything until you stop doing that!
[Pacifica decidedly stands up on her chair and leans over the table.]
Pacifica: (She groans) Ugh! You two are the worst! When will you stop acting like power-hungry freaks all the time??
[Preston also stands up from his chair.]
Preston: (He outbursts) THAT'S ENOUGH!! Go to your room this instant!
...
[It goes quiet. Pacifica glowers at her father with her eyebrows lowered, then hops off from her chair and leaves the table. She silently walks toward the stairs leading up to the second floor.]
[When she's walked upstairs and disappeared, Preston and Priscilla look at each other, both concerned.]
Preston: ...Did I do good, Priscilla?
Priscilla: (She pats Preston on the shoulder) You did good, Honey...
(Slam!!)
[Pacifica slams the door shut once she's entered her room. As shown, her room is decorated with pink wallpapers and pink furniture, along with a giant, white and fluffy teddy bear next to her king-sized bed. An old, white vintage make up desk has been placed next to the entrance.]
Pacifica: I wasn't even hungry to begin with...
[On said make up desk, a portrait has been placed of her two parents Preston and Priscilla. Pacifica, as a toddler, is standing in-between them in the picture, wearing a blue gown.]
[Pacifica grumpily walks up to the desk.]
Pacifica: (Muttering) Stupid parents, thinking that they are the center of the universe all the time...
[She picks up the portrait and stares at it thoughtfully — Pacifica ponders to herself what to do next, deciding what to do in order to make her the host.]
[Then, she gets an idea.]
Pacifica: I didn't want to do this, but those dorks leave me no other choice...
[She puts the portrait aside and rotates to her left — she strolls toward an old wardrobe, painted in the same color as the make up desk, placed next to the bed on the right side.]
[Pacifica opens the wardrobe's doors once she's advenced to it — a bunch of her clothes have been thrown into a large pile inside.]
Pacifica: Now where did I put that stupid thing?
[She digs her hands into the pile and begins to fumble around, looking for a specific item.]
[Pacifica feels a handle of some sort after searching for a while — she pulls the mysterious item out of the pile and it reveals to be an ax. The axe looks oddly familiar to the one that was stuck in the head of the Northwest Manor Ghost.]
Pacifica: There it is!
[She wipes dust off from the axe's head... but when she does, it starts glowing in vibrant, blue colors.]
Pacifica: Ow!!
[The handle becomes hot to the touch, making Pacifica burn her hands — she flinches and drops the axe.]
[She rubs her hands in pain. An echoing, deep and gruff voice speaks from inside the glowing axe.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (From inside the axe:) I am the Great Spirit of Archibald. Who dares disturb my eternal slumber?!
Pacifica: (Impatient) I know you're in there. Stop hiding from me, you freak!
Lumberjack Ghost: (From inside the axe:) Ah, I recognize that sarcastic voice! Very well...
[The axe levitates up in the air and glows brighter as the ghost sealed inside of it begins to emerge. Pacifica is forced to cover her eyes.]
...
[The ghost reveals itself in its bodily form, and it is quickly shown to be the same lumberjack Ghost that haunted Northwest Manor at their ceremony all those months ago. The axe retracts into his head again, sinking into the open cavity in his skull.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Pacifica Northwest, the great successor — why did you call for me after all these months?
Pacifica: I called you because I need your help with something urgent, lumberjack.
Lumberjack Ghost: (Pleasantly) Certainly! I shall do anything for the one who fulfilled the ancient promise of your family's name!
Pacifica: Great! But first, let me start by asking you a question... are you familiar with a Holiday tradition called "Jollysharing"?
Lumberjack Ghost: Why, of course! (He rambles) It's a yearly celebration here in Gravity Falls that dates back to the Middle Ages, where the citizens would share their shelter with other common folk, as a reminder that not everyone are capable of--
Pacifica: (She interrupts him) Yeah, yeah, I already know what it's all about! The point I wanted to make is that Jollysharing is today, but my parents won't let me be the host of it — they only want to invite rich people tonight instead of the common folk!
Lumberjack Ghost: I see... (He rubs his long beard, thinking) ...so you want me to figure out a way to make you the entertainer, I presume?
Pacifica: Yes, but only for tonight! I just need my parents to get out of the way, that's all!
Lumberjack Ghost: Well, I could always turn them into wooden statues, using my solidification curse!
[Pacifica's eyes widen from the ghost's suggestion, thinking back on how all the guests turned into wood during the Northwest Manor Incident.]
Pacifica: (Weirded out) W-Will that hurt them?
Lumberjack Ghost: Yes, but only temporarily — the curse will lift on my own command, but only if I find it acceptable to get rid of it!
Pacifica: And like, how exactly will that make me the host?
Lumberjack Ghost: It's actually very simple... if I turn your parents into wood, they won't be present to tell you what to do and what not to do! Does that sound like a fair deal?
Pacifica: (She gestures frantically) Wait, let me think about your offer for a sec!
[Pacifica rotates away from the ghost and talks to herself, now unsure of what to do.]
Pacifica: (Quietly) Do I really want to risk my parents dying from a stupid curse? I only want to scare them into letting them do what I want — I don't want to get rid of them forever!
[Pacifica makes her decision and turns back to the ghost again, determined.]
Pacifica: Okay, fine, you can do it! But you can only curse them for tonight — I want them back to normal again when the event is over!
Lumberjack Ghost: I'm glad to hear you had a change of heart, dear Northwest! (He deeply inhales)
[...The ghost suddenly glows brighter again — he looks up at the ceiling and floats higher up.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (In a deep, echoing voice) THE REQUEST FOR THE CURSE SHALL BE DONE!!
[He fades away into nothingness. Pacifica gets startled again when he disappears — she then looks over her shoulder and hears muffled cackling coming from another room through the walls.]
Pacifica: (She gasps) My parents! That laughter must be coming from their room.
[She slams the door open and hurries out of her bedroom.]
[In the parents' bedroom, Preston is now adjusting his tie by the mirror after dinner, as he is dressed in a sharp, black suit while Priscilla is sitting on her bed, having a black evening gown as attire. The bed has been placed in front of the mirror. A fireplace is burning softly in the corner next to the window, lighting up their room filled with taxidermy animals installed on the walls.]
Preston: (To Priscilla:) Do you think I went too hard on Pacifica, before?
Priscilla: Aw... are you still fed up about that, honey?
Preston: (Unsurely) I feel like it's out of our control to decide what she wants to do with her life... maybe it's our job as parents to let her do what she desires?
[Preston turns away from the mirror to face Priscilla. Priscilla stands up from the bed and approaches him — she grabs his hands and holds them firmly.]
Priscilla: Oh, stop it! You're talking crazy, Preston.
Preston: How so?
Priscilla: (She adjusts Preston's tie) Right now, Pacifica's biggest desire is to help the poorer citizens of this town — she is yet to realize that we don't associate with the common folk under our family's name!
Preston: So what should we do to change her mind?
Priscilla: We need to be stricter towards her and re-educate her... we need to teach her that us Northwests are only obliged to help people of our own kind, and no one else.
[As she finishes her sentence, Priscilla finishes with Preston's black tie, adjusting it sharply around his neck.]
Priscilla: It will be tough, but we're going to do everything to get our daughter back.
Preston: (He sighs) I suppose you're right...
Lumberjack Ghost: MWAHAHAHA!!
[Suddenly, an unnerving and echoing laughter can be heard. The bed begins to shake rapidly, while the fire in the fireplace burns out, darknening the bedroom.]
Preston: (He hugs Priscilla, frightened) W-What's happening??
[The bed begins to levitate, lifted up by an invisible force. The mirror Preston was using shatters into pieces.]
[Still floating in the air, the ghost phases through the wall and enters the room — his blue glow illuminates the area again.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Rhyming) Your dirty deeds, they will NOT affect your daughter's needs!
Priscilla: (Dismayed) I-Is that really him?
Preston: You again!! (Hostile) I thought we got rid of you after we opened the gates!
Lumberjack Ghost: I faded away, but remained, coming back for the one who calls my name!
Preston: (Angered) What do you want from us, this time?! Are you here to ruin another one of my great ceremonies?!
Lumberjack Ghost: With a promise broken, a century since, a broken gathering answered for your sins!
[Priscilla takes a step forward to try and resonate with the ghost.]
Priscilla: Look, Mr. Ghost... we did everything you wanted, back at our old mansion. So why are you still haunting us?
Preston: (Whispering loudly) Priscilla, what are you doing?! Are you giving him questions?!
Priscilla: (She hisses) I'm trying to save our butts, you idiot!
Lumberjack Ghost: Your daughter proved herself, but not you two, so that's why she asked me to get rid of you!
Priscilla: Wait, Pacifica? (In disbelief) S-She wanted to get rid of us??
Preston: That's impossible! Why would she ever say something like that?
Lumberjack Ghost: (He stops rhyming and yells) IT IS POSSIBLE! THAT IS WHY YOU MUST PERISH!!
[Out of his fingertips, the ghost shoots out lighting bolts, which strikes Preston and Priscilla in the chests.]
Preston: Wait, wait, wait!!
Priscilla: Not this again!
[After getting hit, the parents begin to freeze, as every part of their body is turning into wood, starting by their feet.]
[Preston cries out for help one last time before the transformation reaches up to his face.]
Preston: Pacifica... Pacifica, HELP UUUUSSS!!--
[Ultimately, Preston and Priscilla turn into wooden statues, frozen completely in place. The bed stops levitating thereafter, and drops to the floor again.]
[Pacifica opens the door to their room from the hallway. She gets met with the horrified faces on her parents' statues, both letting out one final scream before becoming immovable.]
Pacifica: (She gasps) Oh, no!
Lumberjack Ghost: (He notices Pacifica) Your request has been fulfilled, my dear — now you can be a hostess without worrying about any traitors obstructing you!
Pacifica: W-Will they be okay? (Unsurely) T-They don't look very okay to me.
Lumberjack Ghost: I can assure you that your parents are right where they belong — you can come back to me once the ceremony is over! Happy Jollysharing!
(Slam!)
[The ghost waves at Pacifica before slamming the door on her with his telekinetic powers, closing her out of the bedroom.]
...
[In horror, she stares at the closed door, already regretting what she has pulled off.]
Pacifica: ...What have I done?
[Back in the Mystery Shack again, Dipper is in the living room, sitting leisurely in the armchair. He is reading a comic book while having a frown on his face.]
Dipper: (He groans) Can't believe my own Great Uncle is forcing me to do things... he doesn't even have legal authority over me!
[He hears someone rushing down the stairs, coming from the hallway. When he looks up from his comic book, he sees Mabel standing in front of him with a huge grin on her face.]
Mabel: (Cheekily) Guess what I got for you, Dipper!
Dipper: (He rolls his eyes) What is it...?
Mabel: Ta-daa!
[She holds up a blue sweater for Dipper to see — the sweater has Santa Claus sewn onto it, putting down presents by a Christmas tree. Above the Santa Claus, there's a text on the shirt that reads: HOLLY JOLLY JOLLYSHARING.]
Mabel: It's the sweater you're going to wear for the evening! What do you think?
Dipper: (Bluntly) Sorry, Mabel, but I think it looks terrible.
Mabel: That's the point of Ugly Christmas Sweaters, silly! They're meant to look ugly!
[Reluctantly, Dipper accepts the ugly sweater and grabs it.]
Dipper: Do you really think we should have these on, tonight?
Mabel: Yeah, why not? When you and I wear them together, we're going to be remembered as the twins with matching styles!
[He puts on the sweater over his regular T-shirt.]
Dipper: We're also going to be the next bullying victims of this town... (Seriously) You told me before that I should socialize at the party — are you sure people are going to talk to me when I look like this?
Mabel: (Nonchalantly) Eh, I wouldn't worry if I were you, because I found a party with an Ugly Sweater theme!
Dipper: (He feels a bit relieved) Oh, that's good to hear! That means everyone will have the same outfits as us!
Mabel: Eeexactly! (She points towards the hallway) But we should probably get going — the party starts in fifteen minutes!
[Dipper puts the comic book aside and leaps off the armchair.]
Dipper: So who's hosting the party, then? (Energetically) Is it Wendy hosting it?
Mabel: Nope, it's Grenda hosting it at her house!
...
...
[Dipper lowers his eyebrows when he hears the name "Grenda", already thinking that the party is going to be boring.]
Dipper: Why Grenda, exactly?
Mabel: (She shrugs, embarassed) She was the only one who agreed with having an itchy sweater on...
[Dipper frowns even more, but then he remembers what Grunkle Stan said about what Mabel would do if he stayed home — he decides to go with the flow.]
[Next scene shows Dipper and Mabel in the hallway by the front door, getting ready to go outside by putting on mittens over their hands and beanies on their heads, completed with a pair of winter boots each.]
[Grunkle Stan shouts from the living room.]
Grunkle Stan: (Distant) Are you kids going out?!
Mabel: (She shouts back) We're heading out to celebrate Jollysharing!
Grunkle Stan: (Distant) Have fun, you two! And try to be home again as late as possible!
Mabel: Bye! (She opens the front door and heads outside)
[Dipper is about to follow her out, but then Grunkle Stan peeks his head into the hallway through the doorway.]
Grunkle Stan: Oh, and Dipper?
[Dipper halts and unwillingly turns around to face him.]
Grunkle Stan: (Seriously) Remember what we talked about, okay?
Dipper: (He sighs, annoyed) Yes, Grunkle Stan...
[He leaves and shuts the door behind him. With the kids gone, Grunkle Stan runs back to the living room again.]
[He plops himself back down in his armchair again. Grunkle Stan grabs a bowl of chips sitting on the table next to the chair and relaxes.]
Grunkle Stan: (Exhales, relieved) Ahh... finally, I have some time alone, away from the kids and the annoying brother.
[He eats from his chips and turns on the television with the remote. An old black and white movie plays on the TV-screen.]
[As Dipper and Mabel are now walking through a neighborhood in the streets of Gravity Falls, it shows that everyone has hung up "Holly Leaves" with red berries on their doors, using the leaves as a symbol for Jollysharing.]
[Dipper and Mabel are both shown to be wearing mittens over their hands and beanies on their big heads, but no jacket to cover their ugly sweaters.]
Mabel: (Overjoyed) I can't believe it! It's the first time we ever experience Jollysharing, and we're already invited to someone else's house!
Dipper: (He is slightly miffed) Yeah... I just wish it was at a stranger's house and not your friend's house.
Mabel: Why so?
Dipper: Because getting to know other strangers is basically the whole point of this tradition.
Mabel: (Apathetically) Well, you barely even talk to Candy and Grenda, so they're basically strangers to you as it is.
Dipper: I guess that's sort of true.
Mabel: And besides... there's gonna be LOTS of other thirteen-year-olds at her house that we can get to know!
Dipper: (He glance to the left) Look, there's her house over there.
[Grenda's large and brown house is decorated on the outside with twinkling Christmas lights installed on the roof gutters. However, the and the surrounding area seems to be lacking guests.]
Dipper: Why does it look so empty...?
Mabel: (Nonchalant) All the guests are probably inside, already!
[They enter Grenda's family's property and walk up to the front porch.]
(Knock! Knock!)
[Mabel knocks two times on the door.]
...
[One second later, the door gets swung open forcefully by Grenda, who is wearing a green ugly Christmas sweater with snowmen on it.]
Grenda: (Energetically) Holly jolly Jollysharing!!
Mabel: Grendaaa!
[Mabel throws herself into Grenda's arms and they greet each other with a long hug.]
Grenda: Happy Jollysharing to you, Dippie!
Dipper: Gah!
[Grenda takes off Dipper's beanie and rubs his head with her fist. When she stops, his hair is completely disheveled.]
Dipper: (He puts the beanie back on) Ehehe... n-nice meeting you, too, Grenda.
Mabel: Where's Candy, Grenda?
[Candy appears behind Grenda, wearing two oven mitts. She is holding a trey of gingerbread cookies, fresh out of the oven.]
Candy: Evening, Mabel! (In a sing-song voice) Guess who made gingerbread cookieees!
Mabel: (She gasps in awe) I'm already in love with you, Candy! NOM-NOM-NOM!!
[Mabel snatches several cookies from the tray and eats them one by one savagely, getting crumbs all over her face.]
[She immediately stops eating when she notices something behind Grenda — something odd about her house. It is shown that the entire living room, connected to the hallway, doesn't have a single guest present in there.]
Mabel: Wait... where is everybody?
Grenda: Oh, um... (Awkwardly) I didn't want to tell you this before you arrived — but it seems like you two are the only guests here, so far.
[Both shocked, Dipper and Mabel exclaim at the same time.]
Dipper and Mabel: WHAT?!?
Dipper: Why hasn't anyone else showed up, yet?!
Grenda: (She shrugs) I don't know! I invited everyone I could find on my friend's list — but they all went to another party, instead!
Mabel: What other party??
Candy: The one over there, across the street!
[Candy points at a house across the street and everyone turns to it — it is revealed to be the new Northwest Manor, which so happens to be located on the same street as Grenda's house. Loud music is blasting from inside the mansion and a whole line of people are waiting on her front porch to get inside.]
Grenda: A family moved into that mansion about four months ago, but I haven't been able to catch a single glimpse of them outside!
Mabel: I can understand why they wanted to go there, instead...
Dipper: (Intrigued) It looks promising, at least. Maybe we should go there, instead?
Grenda: (Unsurely) I dunno... I prepared a lot of things for us. It would be a shame to leave it all behind.
Candy: We can still have a party of our own, just us five! (She points toward the living room) I have some charade cards ready for us!
Mabel: (She nods) I agree with the girls — there's lots of things we can do in such a small group.
[Dipper sighs when no one agrees with him.]
Dipper: (Miffed) Mabel, can I talk to you for a minute?
Mabel: Sure, what is it?
[Dipper pulls Mabel aside, away from Candy and Grenda, talking to her secretly.]
Dipper: (He whispers) Have you already forgotten why we went out in the first place?
Mabel: (She whispers back) I-I may have forgotten.
Dipper: (Hissing) We were supposed to find a fun gathering! That party over there looks just right for us.
Mabel: What's so different about Grenda's party and the other party??
Dipper: N-No offense, but... I don't think we're going to have fun with only us five.
Mabel: But what if the girls don't wanna go?
Dipper: Could you at least try to convince them to come with us?
[Mabel scoffs, but then nods understandably. She strolls back to Grenda.]
Mabel: Girls, how about we go and check out the party! If it turns out to be boring, we can come back here, again.
[Grenda thinks about it. Even though she's reluctant about leaving her party preparations behind, she decides to come with them.]
Grenda: Well... that sounds good to me, I guess.
Candy: (Worried) I just hope my gingerbread cookies won't turn soggy while we're gone!
[The group decides to join the party at the mansion. Grenda closes the door to her house when Candy steps out. Alongside each other, Mabel, Dipper and the girls walk across the road, advancing towards Northwest Manor.]
[When they arrive, they stand in line with the other teenagers. The line is exceptionally long, continuing down the sidewalk from the mansion's open gates.]
Grenda: (Upset) Aw, come on! The party's going to be over, once we get inside!
[Camera changes to Pacifica standing by the front entrance, inviting the people from the line one by one when they step up to the porch. She waves at them to go inside when she finds them acceptable.]
Pacifica: (She gestures to a blonde girl) Happy Jollysharing! Please, come inside.
[A boy with freckles is next in line. Pacifica gestures to him.]
Pacifica: You're welcome inside — haunting Jollysharing!
[The boy steps inside. Next up is a girl with round glasses and red hair.]
Pacifica: Have fun in there... hiding Jollyparents!
[Pacifica finally realizes that she's mispronouncing things unintentionally. She covers her mouth — the girl with glasses stare questionably at her.]
Red-haired girl: Umm... okaaay, then?
[The girl walks inside. Pacifica comes to the conclusion that she can't stop thinking about her parents locked away in their bedroom.]
Pacifica: (Nervously) T-They're probably fine, up there... I just have to go back to the poltergeist and he'll change them back on my command! ... Right?
[Back on the sidewalk again, Mabel squints her eyes when she spots someone familiar standing on the front porch.]
Mabel: Is that who I think it is...?
Dipper: (He glances at Mabel) Who are you talking about?
Mabel: Look over there!
[Mabel points at the entrance. Dipper looks in the direction of her finger and sees Pacifica standing there, inviting everyone into her mansion.]
Dipper: That looks like Pacifica, doesn't it??
Mabel: It is Pacifica! (Envious) Gosh, she's gotten prettier since last time...
Grenda: (She exclaims) Wait, what?! The Northwests are living here?!
Dipper: Yeah, it looks like they do! (Excitedly) And since we're sort of Pacifica's friends, maybe she'll let us inside if we ask nicely!
Candy: B-But how are we going to gain her attention, from all the way over here?
Dipper: It's simple — we'll just have to make everyone else move out of the way!
[Dipper begins cutting through the line by walking into everyone in front of him and pushing them out of the way.]
[Mabel is forced to follow him. Candy and Grenda follow along with them as well.]
Mabel: Dipper, you can't just--
[Dipper continues cutting through and pushing everyone.]
Dipper: Alright, everyone — we're coming through! We are important guests on Pacifica's list.
[They give him and his twin sister sullen looks when they pass by.]
Chubby kid: (Angrily) Hey!! Wait in line like the rest of us!
Dipper: (He waves at Pacifica) Pacifica! We're over here!
Pacifica: Huh?
[Pacifica turns to face the crowd and sees Dipper forcing his way towards her.]
Pacifica: (Stammering) D-D-Dipper?
Dipper: Ouf!
[Stepping up to her, Dipper accidentally trips and falls on his face. The other girls are shortly behind him.]
[He gets back up on his feet again, unscathed.]
Dipper: What a pleasant surprise to run into you, here!
Pacifica: W-What are you doing here? (She notices Mabel, Grenda and Candy) Scratch that, what are the four of you doing here??
Mabel: We're here to celebrate Jollysharing, just like you! What are you doing, standing out in the cold like this?
Pacifica: Well... (Apathetically) I'm out here inviting everyone inside, I guess.
Dipper: On your Father's request?
Pacifica: No, I requested myself to it — I'm the one hosting a party here, not them!
Dipper: Oh? So where are your parents, then?
Pacifica: (She shrugs) They have nothing to do with this party — I have the entire house to myself.
[Mabel is surprised about hearing Pacifica doing something on her own, after the reputation her parents have gained.]
Mabel: Wow. That's very unexpected, coming from your parents.
Pacifica: (She chuckles nervously) Eheh... I guess you're right about that.
Dipper: Great! So if you're in charge today, does that mean we're invited??
Pacifica: (Hesitant) I don't think I can invite you guys after you cut the line a second ago.
[Dipper glances behind him and sees the other students in line all frowning at him.]
Dipper: (He faces Pacifica again) Yeah, but we're your friends... that means we go in first, right?
Grenda: (Annoyed) Isn't the whole point of Jollysharing that everyone should feel equally accepted?
Mabel: Yeah, maybe we should just stand in line like everyone else, Dipper?
Pacifica: Wait! Hold on a second!
[Pacifica turns away from them and ponders to herself, whispering out loud.]
Pacifica: (Quietly) Since Dipper helped me get rid of the ghost at the last ceremony, maybe he could help me get rid of him again once the curse has been lifted?? Oh, you're a genius, Pacifica!
Mabel: ...Who are you talking to?
[Pacifica shifts back to Dipper again and inspects him thoroughly. Dipper raises an eyebrow.]
Dipper: (Weirded out) Why are you staring at me like that?
Pacifica: (She shakes her head) N-Nevermind, ignore what I just said. You guys are welcome inside!
Dipper: (Surprised) Really?? Aw, that's sweet of you!
[Pacifica gets behind Dipper and pushes him through the doorway.]
Pacifica: (To Dipper:) And since you're a special guest, you should go inside, first — make yourself at home, Dipper!
Dipper: I feel honored... thanks, Pacifica!
[Dipper walks inside.]
Mabel: I didn't expect Pacifica to change her mind so quickly.
Grenda: (Disgruntled) I can't believe we're going to a ceremony at Pacifica's — she's our sworn enemy!
Mabel: (She pats Grenda on the shoulder) That was a long time ago, Grenda... let's walk inside.
[Mabel, Grenda and Candy steps through the doorway respectfully. Pacifica talks to herself again when they've made it inside.]
Pacifica: (Mischievously) Now when he's here, the evening is finally saved. I don't have to worry about that paranormal freak anymore!
[Pacifica hears someone stepping up to the porch. When she glances over her shoulder, she sees a duke with blonde hair and a toothy grin, dressed in a neckerchief and black suit. The man was present at the last Northwest Manor soirée.]
Pacifica: Woah, woah, woah, hold it right there!
[She runs up to the duke and stops him.]
Swiss Duke: (In a Swiss accent) What? Am I not allowed here?
Pacifica: This party is for the common folk only! Dorks like you are NOT invited here!
Swiss Duke: (Stuttering) B-B-But Preston Northwest told me I was on his guest list!
Pacifica: My dad put me in charge for tonight, and you aren't on my list! (Angrily) NOW GET OUT OF HERE!!
Swiss Duke: Uhuhuhu!
[The duke runs away, crying loudly. Pacifica walks back to her spot again and continues inviting the others.]
[When everyone has finally been welcomed inside, the party is finally underway, half an hour later — in the living room, one of the old butlers is blasting music from a DJ stand, while all the teenagers are dancing together nearby.]
[Meanwhile Mabel, Grenda and Candy are sitting together by the couch, sitting around a stack of cards on the table while holding a few cards each. The card game they are playing together is UNO.]
Candy: Guess what, Mabel — pick up four more cards!
[Candy puts down a 4 card on the table.]
Mabel: (Annoyed) Aww, again?! How many wild cards do you have there, Candy?
Candy: (Cheekily) I have enough wild cards to make you lose!
[Mabel picks up four cards from the stack on the table.]
Mabel: Grenda, it's your turn!
Candy: ...Grenda?
[Grenda doesn't answer — she is looking down at the floor, grumpily, not paying attention to the game.]
Mabel: What's wrong, Grenda? Has Marius been rejecting you lately, or something?
Grenda: (Miffed) I have been rejected, but not by him... I have been rejected from arranging the biggest Christmas event of Gravity Falls! Why did we agree to do what Dipper wanted?
Candy: Yeah... why did we do that, Mabel?
[Candy and Grenda gives Mabel a sullen look.]
Mabel: (She explains:) Dipper... he is a bit of an awkward sausage, alright? He doesn't have any friends the same age as us, which is why he's here to talk to other teenagers. He wouldn't have that chance if it was only the five of us.
Grenda: What's so wrong about us being his friends? Me and Candy wanted him to come, and yet he barely wants to talk to us!
Mabel: I'm sure he'll come to us, eventually — we just gotta be patient.
Grenda: (She sighs) I guess so...
[Dipper is present next to the dance floor they have arranged in the living room — he's having a conversation with Pacifica, standing next to her as well. Both of them are holding a plastic cup filled with a red beverage.]
Dipper: (Impressed) I can't believe your parents let you host something like this!
Pacifica: Why's that?
Dipper: Your father usually hates the other Gravity Falls residents... He would've gone nuts if he saw us in his house like this!
[Pacifica realizes that Dipper is right — she winces for a second.]
Pacifica: Well, I guess he's finally willing to do anything for his favorite child — and that includes letting me be in charge!
Dipper: (He smirks) Pacifica, you're his ONLY child!
[They laugh loudly with each other.]
Pacifica: I know, I know... (She changes the subject) Say, are you enjoying yourself, so far?
Dipper: Heh! Well, I've only been here for thirty minutes, so I haven't been able to tell.
Pacifica: (She giggles) I'm aware of that, but I'm just checking. It's important for you to get comfortable as soon as possible!
Dipper: (Stops acting cheeky — becomes confused) Hm? Why me, exactly?
Pacifica: Because you're now the special guest, ever since you showed up at my doorstep!
[Dipper becomes even more puzzled when he once again hears the word "Special guest", having no idea what it means.]
Dipper: (He nods happily) I have no idea why I'm special, but it sounds enthralling!
Mysterious voice: Ha ha ha ha haaaa...
[Dipper and Pacifica subsequently hear a distant laughter coming from upstairs.]
Dipper: (He looks up at the ceiling) What was that??
Pacifica: Erm-- I couldn't hear anything. D-Did you hear something?
Dipper: (Deadpan) I could clearly hear someone laughing upstairs.
Pacifica: Oh, that? (Nervously) It was, um... It-- It was the sound of the surprise that I'm going to show you!
Dipper: You-- You have a surprise for me?!
Pacifica: Yes! (Stammering) ...but you're not allowed to see it until later!
[Pacifica frantically runs away, heading towards the stairway.]
Pacifica: I have to go check if the surprise is ready — come see me upstairs in a bit!
[She runs up the stairs and disappears to the second floor. Dipper follows Pacifica with his sight as she disappears.]
Dipper: (Even more puzzled) O-Okay. S-See you later, then, I guess...
[Dipper becomes slightly suspicious while looking back at the teens going crazy in the dance floor. He now has to decide between two options: Should he try to talk to someone else, or should he follow Pacifica and see what the "Big surprise" is all about?]
[He rotates his head to Mabel and her friends by the sofa and the table.]
Mabel: (She slams down a card) UNO! I'm close to winning.
Grenda: Oh, come on! Stop cheating!
Candy: You had like, twenty cards just a second ago!
Mabel: (Smugly) It's called "Being good at the game", Candy.
[Obviously, Dipper goes for the second choice and decides to follow Pacifica — he walks in the same direction as her, reaching for the stairs.]
[Dipper makes it to the second floor. He gets presented with a long corridor, being the first area of the floor he's on. Just like in Preston and Priscilla's bedroom, this corridor is also decorated with animal heads hanging on the walls.]
Dipper: (Shouting) Pacifica?! Pacifica, where did you go?
[Dipper approaches the head of a lion on the wall — the taxidermal creature has its jaw open, showing its fangs.]
Dipper: (Sarcastically) It's nice that Preston decorated this mansion to be just as creepy as the last one.
[He continues checking around, walking down the silent corridor.]
Dipper: Pacifica, where are you?! I want to continue our conversation with each other.
Mysterious voice: Ha ha ha ha haaaaaa...
[He hears the same laughter again as before, more clear this time.]
Dipper: Pacifica...?
[He advances to the source of the laughter, which leads him to a closed wooden door. A blue light is shining through the gap underneath the door, emitting from a hidden source inside the room on the other side.]
Dipper: (He shouts again) Are you in there, Pacifica?!
...
[Dipper slowly moves his right hand toward the door handle. He grabs the handle and prepares to open the door...]
Pacifica: (Distant) Don't touch that door!!
[His action gets disrupted by Pacifica yelling at him. Dipper retracts his arm and spots Pacifica approaching him down the hallway.]
Pacifica: (Hostile) What do you think you're doing?!
Dipper: (Apologetic) S-Sorry, I was just-- there's this glow coming from inside this room, and I thought--
Pacifica: (She rebukes Dipper:) That "Weird glow" has nothing to do with you! I told you to wait downstairs, but you didn't listen to me.
Dipper: I-- I was just curious about what the surprise was — that's why I came to investigate!
Pacifica: It's not going to be a surprise if you know what it is, you idiot! Go and wait downstairs, and I'll come get you later.
Dipper: Okay, okay! Jeez!
[Dipper starts heading back to the stairs again... but his curiosity takes over halfway, he halts and rotates to Pacifica again.]
Dipper: Could you at least tell me what's on the other side of that door?
Pacifica: (She calms down) If I told you what it is, I would be ruining the surprise for you.
Dipper: So why are you in the corridor if the "surprise" is behind that closed door?
Pacifica: That's none of your business. (She facepalms, frustrated) Just go, okay?
[Dipper gives her a suspicious stare before strolling to the stairs and going back down to the party again. When she's gone, Pacifica exhales.]
Pacifica: (Eased) That was waaaay too close...
[Dipper steps down to the living room area again. Taking a look around, he sees that the everyone has stopped dancing, taking the opportunity to talk with each other.]
[He thinks about what he discussed with Mabel earlier: to try and interact with other people — he spots a red-haired boy dressed as Santa Claus, drinking from a red plastic cup.]
Dipper: (Shrugs his shoulders) I might as well interact with someone else while she's busy upstairs.
[He approaches the boy and confronts him, starting with a conversation subject.]
Dipper: Are you having fun?
...
[The red-haired boy doesn't answer — he starts texting someone on his phone.]
Dipper: (He clears his throat) Are you having fun, here?
Red-haired boy: (He looks up from his phone) What, were you talking to me?
Dipper: (Slightly annoyed) Uh, yeah? I was asking you if you were having fun, here!
Red-haired boy: Oh yeah, dude, totally! (Relaxed) I was dancing like an animal before, so I'm taking a break until I feel hyped up again!
Dipper: That's cool... I'm not really into dancing, myself.
Red-haired boy: Why not? It's a fun way to get rid of all the energy in your body.
Dipper: I know, but I'd rather go out and hunt some ghosts, instead. (Grumpily) Me and my Great Uncle hunt ghosts together — but for some reason, he ditched on me, tonight.
...
[The red-haired kid says nothing and gawks at Dipper in utter bewilderment — he slowly backs away from him.]
Red-haired boy: (Discomforted) I think I'm gonna stay away from you as far as possible.
[He runs away, dropping his red Santa hat in the process.]
Dipper: (He shouts after the boy) D-Did I say something wrong??
[Dipper growls in frustration over his failure. When he looks around to find another person to talk to, he notices that Mabel, Candy and Grenda are sitting together on the floor next to the couch.]
[He walks up to Mabel.]
Dipper: (He sighs) Mabel, this isn't working out... I tried to talk to someone, but that guy ran away from me.
Mabel: Aww, why did that happen?
Dipper: I guess I said something wrong.
Mabel: (Nonchalant) Eh, don't worry about it! You can play with us if you don't have someone else to talk to.
Dipper: I guess I could do that--
[Dipper sees that the girls are playing with Barbie dolls, which is why they are sitting on the floor.]
Dipper: (He frowns) Are you guys playing with dolls??
Mabel: Yeah, we found these lying around in the basement. It was Grenda's idea to play with them!
[Grenda and Candy starts a scenario involving their female dolls. Grenda makes her doll walk over to Candy's doll.]
Grenda: (She talks for the doll) Oh, Canbie! What is that scent? It smell s like strawberry and vanilla in the air!
Candy: (She talks for the doll as well) It is my coat of perfume that gives off that scent, Grenbie! I picked it up yesterday in the mail.
[Grenda stops playing and reveals a male barbie doll behind her back, showing it to Dipper.]
Grenda: (Tempting) Here, Dipper — I have a doll for you if you wanna play with us!
[The doll is covered in old dust and spider web. The tuxedo the doll is wearing also has a bunch of holes in it.]
Dipper: (Disinterested) I might just go and grab a glass of water, instead. You three have fun doing... whatever you're doing.
Mabel: Oh, okay. But will you come back to us, later?
Dipper: Yeah, probably.
[Dipper walks away, strolling towards the doorway that leads into the kitchen behind the DJ table.]
[When Grenda makes sure she's gone, she growls.]
Grenda: Grrgh! (She throws the doll away and turn towards Mabel) I told you he doesn't wanna be with us!
[Few hours later, Dipper is still roaming around in the kitchen. He turns on the faucet by the sinks and fills a fancy crystal glass with water while staring out the window. The current time right now, seen on the watch is 11 PM.]
[Outside, Dipper sees that it is snowing again, along with it being foggy. He gets a good view of the Northwest mansion's empty backyard from where's he's standing.]
Dipper: (Grumpy) What a boring mess of a party... why did Stan force me to go out if there's nothing fun to do? It's been like three hours and Pacifica still hasn't showed me the surprise, either.
[Dipper drinks from his glass — and while he's chugging his water, a familiar man gets uncovered through the thick fog. That man is none other than Grunkle Ford himself.]
Dipper: PPFT!!
[He spits water everywhere when he sees him standing there in the snow. Grunkle Ford is searching around with a metal detector while wearing a pair of headphones.]
Dipper: (Shocked) Speaking of my great uncles... what the heck is Ford doing here?!
[Dipper runs to the back door next to the sink and slams it open. He doesn't mind that he's only wearing a sweater and shorts and sprints outside in the snow.]
Grunkle Ford: Laa-de-da-de-daa~
[Ford is humming on a tune while his metal detector is glowing red and beeping.]
Dipper: Grunkle Ford!
[Dipper runs and confronts him.]
Grunkle Ford: Dipper?! (He chuckles) What are you doing here?
Dipper: I could ask you the same question-- why are you using a metal detector in the Northwest's backyard?!
Grunkle Ford: Why are you here on their property to begin with? (He raises an eyebrow suspiciously) You didn't follow me here, did you?
Dipper: No, of course not — I was invited to the Jollysharing gathering going on inside!
[Ford looks towards the windpw, seeing some teenagers lurking in the kitchen.]
Grunkle Ford: Oh. Well, that's quite the coincidence! Remember when I told you about the ghost that I'm hunting down?
Dipper: (He scowls) You mean the ghost that we're hunting down?
Grunkle Ford: (Unsurely) Uh... sure... anyways, the coincidence is that the soirée is happening while our little poltergeist is roaming nearby.
Dipper: Y-You mean it's present here in the mansion as we speak?
Grunkle Ford: Well, I'm not certain where it could be, which is why I'm doing my research. (He explains) According to what I could find, this ghost has been haunting the Northwest family for over 150 years!
[Dipper glances back at the mansion behind him, knowing exactly which ghost Ford is talking about. He gets the feeling that something bad might happen soon.]
Dipper: (Apprehensive) I know which ghost you're talking about... but that's impossible! The Lumberjack disappeared after Pacifica fulfilled her promise to him!
Grunkle Ford: Yes, I'm quite aware of that — but since I'm picking up signals from it on my radar, it must have followed the Northwests here after they moved.
Dipper: (He ponders) So what exactly does Archibald want from them if he's still hunting them?
Grunkle Ford: You should start by asking those fellows over there — they know the Northwests better than I do.
[Grunkle Stan points towards a group of people sitting around a campfire while taking shelter from the snowfall underneath a tree. The group reveals to be some of the wealthy guests from the last Northwest Manor incident.]
Dipper: What the heck are they doing here?!
[Dipper confronts them. The group consists of four rich folk: The duke and duchess from the Netherlands, the basketball player, and an Arabic Sultan wearing a Kavuk.]
Basketball Player: Yo, waddup, little fella! You got some more firewood for us?
Dutch Duchess: Our poor fire is close to burning out!
Dipper: I remember you — you're the guests from the last ceremony! Why are you people sitting out here in the freezing cold?
Dutch Duke: (Shivering from the cold) W-We tried to go i-inside like Preston told us, b-but the g-g-girl told us to go away.
Dipper: What "girl"?
Dutch Duchess: Oh, I thought she would be so innocent towards us... (Aggrieved) I never thought she would throw us onto the street like filthy animals!
Sultan: (Vengeful) I promise, when I return home to Arabia again, I will declare war on the Northwest Family!
Basketball Player: Well said there, sultan.
Dipper: Are you talking about Pacifica? Why did she kick you guys out?
Basketball Player: Our man Presto told us that we were invited to the Jollysharing ceremony... but when we arrived, her daughter told us that "Only the Common Folk are welcome inside".
Dutch Duchess: And now we're stuck here, because our plane to Holland doesn't arrive until tomorrow.
Sultan: My plane back to the Middle East hasn't arrived, either.
Basketball Player: (Happily) I can leave whenever I want, but I like to stick around!
Dipper: (He concludes everything, thinking to himself.) So if Preston sent you the invites, but Pacifica kicked you out, that means her parents were originally supposed to host the ceremony... something terrible might've happened to them!
[Dipper stares in horror at the mansion once again.]
Dipper: (Gasps in realization) Archibald!
[He hurries away from the shivering rich folk by the fire.]
Basketball Player: Wait, where are you going?!
[He runs to the back door. Before entering the house again, Dipper looks back at Ford one last time.]
Dipper: I'll be right back, Ford! Try not to get cursed while I'm gone.
Grunkle Ford: (Annoyed) Dipper, have you already forgotten that you were supposed to celebrate Christmas, tonight?!
[Dipper runs inside, not paying attention to what his Great Uncle just said.]
Grunkle Ford: Eh, whatever. (Acceptant) At least he's having fun...
[Ford takes out his phone from his pocket and starts to play Christmas Jazz music — the music can be heard through his headphones. He then continues searching around with his metal detector.]
Chubby kid: Hey, watch it!!
[Dipper bumps into everyone while he frantically moves across the kitchen area.]
Dipper: Sorry, coming through!
[Meanwhile in the living room, Mabel is putting down a Twister play mat on the floor while Candy and Grenda are watching.]
Grenda: Why are you folding out a carpet with a bunch of colorful dots on it, Mabel?
Mabel: The game is called Twister, Grenda! Me and Dipper used to play it all the time when we were younger.
Grenda: (Miffed) I don't understand why you're putting effort into him when he's just going to ignore us, anyways!
Candy: I agree with Grenda — do we really want to risk him walking away for the third time?
Mabel: (She stands up from the mat) Dipper wanted to come with us, so we have to make him entertained. And you have to admit, our other activities were pretty lame...
[Dipper enters the living room after barging through the crowded kitchen.]
Candy: Look, there he is!
Mabel: Dipper, over there!
Dipper: (Alarmed) The stairs... where were the stairs, again?
[Looking to his left, the spots the staircase by the other end of the living room.]
Dipper: There it is!
[When he tries to run to the stairs leading to the upper floor, he gets interrupted by Mabel blocking his path by stepping in front of him.]
Mabel: Heyoo!
Dipper: (Hurriedly) What do you want now, Mabel??
Mabel: I was thinking-- since you didn't like our last play with the dolls, how about we do something that you love?
[Mabel gestures towards the Twister mat.]
Mabel: (She grins) Look, it's Twister! You used to LOVE that game when we were toddlers.
[Dipper pushes her to the side and continues heading to the stairs.]
Dipper: (While running away) I can't play with you right now, Mabel — I'm in the middle of something else!
Mabel: W-Why not?!
Dipper: I'll explain later! Find something else to do, in the meantime!
[He heads upstairs. Mabel gets a disheartened look on her face, thinking that she has failed trying to amuse Dipper.]
Grenda: (Sarcastic, again) Oh, and there he goes again. What a surprise...
[Pacifica is sitting on the floor, guarding the door to her parents' bedroom while holding a coathanger as a weapon. As it is getting close to midnight, she is having droopy eyes and a tired look on her face.]
Pacifica: Remember, Pacifica — you just have to guard this room until the party's over. They'll all leave soon (She yawns) ...they'll all...leave...soon...
[She falls asleep where she's sitting after her eyelids become heavy.]
Dipper: PACIFICA!!
Pacifica: Huh?!
[She wakes in a jerk, startled from Dipper's yelling. Dipper storms up the stairs with heavy steps.]
Dipper: (Furiously) You've got some major explaining to do!!
Pacifica: Like, about what exactly?
[Dipper advances towards her with slow steps.]
Dipper: You told me that your parents let you hold the ceremony — but then you proceeded to prevent the rich people from entering!
Pacifica: (She scoffs) A-Are you telling me that's not a good thing?
Dipper: Yes... it is a good thing. But why isn't your father here for the party if he was the one who sent them the invites?
Pacifica: Ehh... (She shrugs and smiles nervously) He had other things to do, I guess?
Dipper: Are you telling me someone would just leave after asking someone to come over. I think your parents have disappeared, somewhere... and you are denying that.
Pacifica: What do you mean?! I-It's my duty to take care of things while they are away... but I don't think they are gone for good.
Dipper: (Warily) So where do you think they are, then?
Pacifica: (She shrugs with her shoulders) Like, I don't know? They could be anywhere at this point.
Dipper: Or maybe they are behind that door you wanted me to stay away from...
[Pacifica rotates and knows that Dipper's talking about the closed door she's guarding. Despite Dipper only being mere inches from her face, she gets up on her feet and dashes in-between him and the door.]
Pacifica: Wait — like I said, your surprise is in this room! I am very certain that they're not somewhere in there!
Dipper: Have you even checked if they're in there, or not?
Pacifica: (Stammering) N-No, but why does that matter?
Dipper: Then maybe they're behind this door. Let me check!
[Dipper tries to reach for the door handle, but Pacifica pushes him back.]
Pacifica: Dipper, stop it! If you go in there, you'll see what I'm hiding from you!
Dipper: (Irritated) Pacifica, I appreciate the surprise... but I need to make sure your parents are safe! Let's just pretend I didn't see the surprise, later.
Pacifica: No! Because then it wouldn't be very fun to show you!
Dipper: Let me get through!
Pacifica: Never!!
[Dipper tries once again to break past Pacifica and reach for the door handle — but Pacifica is giving him resistance as she wraps her arms around his waist, trying to pull him away.]
Dipper: (Grunting) Hnghh!!
[Dipper strains his arm reaching for the handle while Pacifica is holding him in place behind his back.]
[Finally, he manages to open the door when he tilts the handle...]
Dipper: Sweet mother of--
[When the door slowly opens, Dipper finally gets a good glimpse of what is inside: Archibald, the Lumberjack ghost, is resting and lying down on a levitating bed while a blue glow illuminates the room. Near the door, Pacifica's parents are still stuck as wooden statues, making shrieking faces.]
[The ghost sees that Pacifica has entered the room — he floats closer to them.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Ah! The youngest Northwest is finally back to meet me once again. And I see you've brought your escort from the last ceremony with you, as well.
Dipper: (In dismay) I can't believe it — it's actually him, again! Was this the surprise you wanted to show me?
Pacifica: (Lying) Yeah-- bah- I mean, no! I had no idea he was hiding in my parents' room.
Dipper: Speaking of your parents... look what he did to them!
[Dipper spots Preston and Priscilla's bodies as they've turned into wood by Archibald. Pacifica doesn't say anything, refraining from telling him the truth about the curse she originally set on them.]
Pacifica: (Acts innocent) Well, now we know what happened to them, at least?
[Dipper faces up to the ghost by taking a step forward.]
Dipper: (Determined) Archibald! Why are you here again?! We saw you leave after you got what you wanted!
Lumberjack Ghost: Haha! (He smiles) I may have left back then — but I have remained adjacent, waiting for a lass to find me, again!
[Dipper knows he's talking about Pacifica.]
Dipper: (To Pacifica:) What is he talking about?
Pacifica: He's saying a bunch of nonsense — don't listen to him!
Dipper: (To the ghost:) Why are Pacifica's parents turned into wood, even after they fulfilled their promise??
Lumberjack Ghost: I cursed those two after I got a request from a humble soul... but I also turned them into wood after contemplating my own desires!
Pacifica: (She also steps forth) Well, guess what — I have a desire to bring my parents back to normal! So you better uncurse them right now!
Lumberjack Ghost: (Cooing) Ooh, I'm afraid that won't be possible.
Pacifica: What?! You promised that you would let them go!!
Dipper: When did Archibald promise that?
Pacifica: (She lies again) I-- um... I was referring to the last event.
Lumberjack Ghost: I told you that I would lift the curse if I found it acceptable to do so... but after reconsidering, why would I let the most dishonorable people in this town come back to life again? Don't you agree that it would be a shame to do so, Pacifica?
Pacifica: (She sighs) Yes, I'm fully aware that they can be corrupt jerks sometimes — but the party's over, so could you bring them back again?
Lumberjack Ghost: (Surprised) Oh? You still want me to bring back those who have a history of lying and deceiving?
Pacifica: Yes! Because I'm pretty sure they've been taught a lesson, now. (Strictly) So get through with it!
[The ghost shakes his head. He ascends higher up in the air and gestures his arms outwards.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Disappointed) I really thought you were different from the others, youngest Northwest... but since you want to save the corrupt, my eyes have finally been opened.
Dipper: Watch out!!
[The room suddenly lights on fire as the ghost becomes angry. He flings a ball of fire at Pacifica, but Dipper saves her by wrapping his arms around her and moving her out of the way.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Deep voice) THIS FOOLISH ACT WILL NOT GO UNFORGOTTEN!!
[Archibald fades away. Still hugging her, Dipper checks on Pacifica.]
Dipper: Are you okay?
Pacifica: (Becomes shy when she sees Dipper hugging her) Y-Yeah... yeah, I think I am.
Lumberjack Ghost: HAA-HAHAHA!!
[Another distant cackle is heard again, this time coming from the party downstairs.]
[Dipper stops hugging Pacifica.]
Dipper: Where did that laughter come from?
Pacifica: I think I heard it downstairs. (She gasps in realization) The guests!! They're gonna get hurt!
[Pacifica tries to run off, but Dipper grabs her hand and pulls her back to him.]
Dipper: Wait, what about your parents?! We can't just leave them here.
[Pacifica glances at the wooden statues of her parents.]
Pacifica: (Glaring) My parents can wait — the guests are more important than them!!
Dipper: Um... okay?
Pacifica: Come on, let's go!
[Pacifica forces Dipper to follow her by pulling on her shirt. They head for the stairs.]
[In the living room, Candy and Grenda are consoling Mabel, as she's sitting back on the couch, gloomy about Dipper ignoring her.]
Mabel: (Distressed) I don't understand why Dipper wanted to join us for Jollysharing when he doesn't even want to hang out with us... he has barely talked to anyone else either, so what's his problem??
Grenda: Maybe there's something he hasn't told you? ...He has been pretty absent ever since we got here.
Mabel: Don't you think it's because our games were too boring?
Candy: You said it yourself before, Mabel — he loves playing Twister, and yet he turned us down. There's clearly something else he's upset about!
Mabel: I understand what you're saying... (She sighs, disheartened) I'm gonna talk to him as soon as I see him, again.
((Rumbling))
[Then suddenly, the floor underneath them begins to shake rapidly. All the guests fall over from the intense tremble.]
[The furniture starts to levitate from an invisible force lifting them up. As the living room couch floats, Mabel falls to the ground.]
[Then, the ghost reveals himself — he makes his entrance by ascending through the floor.]
Lumberjack Ghost: HAA-HAHAHA!!
Grenda: What the heck is that thing?!
Candy: (Wary) Is that part of Pacifica's party, or is that a real ghost?!
[The boy with red hair and a Santa costume that Dipper talked to earlier looks at the ghost in approval.]
Red-haired boy: Hey, that's a nice hologram of a ghost! Pacifica really knows how to stir up a party, dude!
Lumberjack Ghost: (Furiously) I'm a real ghost, you fools!
[Archibald shoots a lightning bolt, which strikes the boy in the chest. Shortly after, he turns completely into wood.]
Female guest: ...AAAAAHHHH!!
[The kids around him scream and try to run away through the front door, but the ghost seals it shut, along with the back door and all of the windows.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (He rhymes again) Caused by the foolish desires of the Northwest, I will now put all of her guests to rest!
Candy: (To Mabel:) What do we do?
Mabel: We need to find Dipper and get out of here!!
Grenda: Where is he, then?!
[Candy and Grenda get struck with a lightning bolt each.]
Candy: Ow! What was that?!
[Starting from their feet and upwards, they slowly get turned into wood.]
Grenda: Oh no! W-What's happening to us?!
Candy: (Frantic) Why is this happening?!
[Grenda falls over and grasps onto Mabel's shirt. The wooden transformation is reaching her face.]
Grenda: Mabel, you have to get out of here! Save yourself! (She screams) SAVE YOURSEEeeelfff...
[Candy and Grenda both become wooden statues when the curse engulfs them completely.]
Mabel: Haah... Haaah!--
[Mabel whimpers and backs away from Grenda's frozen body. She gazes upon the ghost before sprinting away in order to find an exit.]
[Archibald continues shooting lightning bolts at the guests and butlers while they desperately try to run away.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Ominously) With the Father still deceiving and lying to this day, Pacifica has to abandon them and accept her new FATE!!
[Dipper and Pacifica dash down the stairs, and they can hear the ghost rambling loudly.]
Dipper: He's rhyming again — that means he's up to something horrible!
Pacifica: Let's just hope it's not as bad as I think it is.
[They halt when they've made it halfway down the stairs. Looking over the railing, Dipper and Pacifica can see everyone frantically running and screaming, while Archibald is in the middle of the living room, wreaking havoc.]
Pacifica: (Flatly) ...Okay, it was way worse than I expected.
Dipper: But where could Mabel be?! I can't see her anywhere--
Mabel: (Distant) Dipper?! Where are you?!
[Mabel is screaming for his name, and Dipper can see her sprinting through the doorway leading into the kitchen.]
Dipper: I see her! She's trying to find an exit!
[Dipper leaps over the railing and advances towards the kitchen.]
Pacifica: Dipper, wait!
Dipper: (To Pacifica, while running:) I need to get to Mabel before she gets hurt! Stay here in the meantime!
[He manages to sneak past Archibald while he continues to look for Pacifica and woodifying everyone.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Pacifica, where art thou? If you don't accept your new destiny, then EVERYONE will perish — no matter if they're rich or poor!
[Dipper enters the kitchen area.]
Dipper: Mabel, where'd you go?
[He finds Mabel sitting next to the sealed back door.]
Dipper: (He runs to Mabel and squats down next to her) Mabel, we need to get out of here! I can't leave this place without you.
[Looking at her face, Dipper sees that Mabel is crying, smudging her christmas sweater with tears.]
Mabel: (Sniffling) It's no use... the front door and the back door are sealed shut... we're going to die in here.
Dipper: Hey, don't say that! We still have to try to find an exit!
Mabel: (He looks at Dipper with teary eyes) I can't believe I'm going to die, knowing that you couldn't find anyone to be with... I was also too boring for you to hang out with me.
Dipper: (He smiles) What? I don't think you're boring at all, Mabel!
Mabel: S-So why did you ignore me, Candy and Grenda for most of the evening?
Dipper: It's because I haven't been completely honest with you!
[Instead of being sad, Mabel looks at Dipper questionably. Dipper begins to tell her the truth.]
Dipper: The truth is that--
[But before he can continue saying any further, Mabel gets suddenly struck with a lightning bolt. She gets instantly turned into a wooden statue.]
Dipper: MABEL?!
[He becomes petrified, seeing Mabel's frozen body.]
[He stops squatting and looks out the window — through the fog, he can see Ford still searching around with a metal detector.]
Dipper: (He bangs on the window) GRUNKLE FORD!! You need to help us!!
[Ford is unable to hear Dipper's banging, as he is still listening to Christmas music through his headphones.]
Frank Sinatra: (Singing from the headphones) Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow~...
Grunkle Ford: (Relaxed) Man, I sure do love Frank Sinatra!
Lumberjack Ghost: Hahahaha...
[Archibald reveals himself in front of Dipper and Mabel's frozen body. Dipper turns away from the window and faces him.]
Lumberjack Ghost: The boyfriend has been found, so perhaps he will lead me to the girl who's hiding around?
Dipper: (Angrily) I will never show you where Pacifica is!
[Dipper slides underneath the ghost and runs off. Archibald doesn't follow him, instead watches as he leaves into the living room again.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (He grins creepily) Yes... try to run away! It's useless to do so!
[Dipper halts and anxiously looks for a place to hide.]
Dipper: How do I get out of here?!
Pacifica: (Hissing) Psst! Dipper, over here!
[Dipper checks to his right and sees Pacifica peeking out from behind a door, leading into another room.]
[Dipper quickly sprints to her and enters the other room before the ghost sees him. Pacifica closes the door when he's inside.]
[He pants and turns on the light. It is now shown that Dipper and Pacifica are standing in a fancy walk-in closet with dresses, heels, shoes and tuxedos everywhere.]
Pacifica: Did Archibald see you come in here?
Dipper: (Still panting) No... I think we're safe in here.
[Dipper defeatedly sits down on the carpet and Pacifica sits next to him. Both of them are visibly concerned.]
Dipper: (Hopelessly) There might actually be a chance that we're not making it out of here alive... the ghost got to Mabel and her friends, and he has cursed your parents as well.
[Dipper looks down at the carpet.]
Dipper: At least now we know what happened to your parents...
Pacifica: (She hesitates) Dipper, um... there's something I haven't told you. Like, I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but I think it's about time that you know.
Dipper: (He glimpses at Pacifica again) What did you want to tell me?
Pacifica: (Sighs before confessing) The ghost didn't curse my parents by himself — I was the one who told him to do it.
Dipper: (He exclaims) What?! Why did you do that for?!
Pacifica: I summoned Archibald from his ax in order to curse my father after he didn't let me host the Jollysharing ceremony... (Grumpily) He was only going to invite stupid rich people, anyways!
Dipper: (In realization) Oooh! So that's why you rejected those rich folk from entering the house! But was it really necessary to summon a ghost on them?
Pacifica: (Upset) I know it was wrong of me to curse them, but I had no other choice — they don't want to associate with the other citizens of this town, and they are still trying to take control over my life! It's like they haven't learned anything since the last ceremonial incident.
[Pacifica leans her head against the wall and looks up at the ceiling. Dipper tries to relate with her feelings.]
Dipper: (Empathetic) Look, I know how you feel about your parents. I didn't actually want to go out for Jollysharing, but Grunkle Stan forced me to go out, anyways. I wanted to go out on an adventure with my other Great Uncle, but they wanted me to hang out with Mabel and the rest, anyways.
[Pacifica looks him in the eyes again.]
Dipper: But even though I don't like what my Grunkles tell me to do, they are still part of my family. You might not always agree with your parents, but I can assure you that they still love you.
Pacifica: So if they love me, then why do they never show it to me?
Dipper: (He chuckles) Family usually has good intentions, even though they might not always show it — Grunkle Stan wanted me to go out because he wanted me to make new friends and also connect with Mabel, so what are your parents' intentions?
Pacifica: (Miffed) Right now, it feels like they want me to hate everyone that isn't as wealthy as me... but that is not what I want.
Dipper: M-Maybe that is their intention... but if you don't like how they see on other people, you could always try to persuade them to be more open towards others.
[Pacifica is doubtful if that's going to work or not — But her feelings change when Dipper grabs her hand and holds it firmly.]
Dipper: (Caringly) It's going to be a tough journey, but you are their daughter — I'm sure you'll be able to convince them.
Pacifica: (She smiles warmly) Maybe I should do that... thanks for the good advice, Dipper.
[Dipper stands up and helps Pacifica get up on her feet by pulling her hand.]
Dipper: Eh, no worries! I'm always there if you need someone to talk to.
Pacifica: Now when we've sat here and confessed some things to each other... (Uplifting) ...how about you and I hunt down a poltergeist like old times?
Dipper: Heh, sometimes I wish I had the same spirit as you... but yeah... let's do it. (Thinking) What exactly can we work with, in here?
[Dipper rotates his head around, looking for weapons.]
Pacifica: It depends on what we used to get rid of him last time... what did we use?
Dipper: I remember we used a silver mirror! Does your family still use those?
[Pacifica sees a box filled with a silver fabric of her parents' favorite carpet pattern. She fumbles in the box while Dipper keeps searching around — after a few seconds, she grabs the handle of a silver mirror and pulls it up.]
Pacifica: Ahem!
[Dipper turns to her.]
Pacifica: Look what I found! (She smirks and reveals the mirror to Dipper)
Dipper: Hmm... That might actually work. (In approval) Good find, Pacifica!
[Pacifica smiles from the appreciation.]
[When the pair is all set, Dipper and Pacifica are finally ready to hunt down the ghost.]
[Meanwhile, Archibald is roaming around by the couch — he's still searching for the place Dipper ran off to.]
Lumberjack Ghost: It seems like I didn't pay attention to where he went. (He rubs his bald head) At least I don't have to do the rhyming while no one is around.
[Dipper and Pacifica opens the door to the closet slowly and peek outside, getting a good look at the ghost.]
Pacifica: (Whispering) Okay, so what's the plan here? We have to find a way to get the mirror to Archibald without him noticing it.
Dipper: (Whispering) I think I know what to do — we need to find a good way to get his attention!
Pacifica: What do you have in mind?
Dipper: If one of us walks up to him and distracts him, the other person can approach him from behind and use the mirror on him!
Pacifica: That sounds like a solid idea... but maybe you should use the mirror? (Honest) I have zero experience when it comes to capturing a ghost.
Dipper: (Unsure) Sure, but there's a small risk that you'll be turned into oak when you speak to him.
Pacifica: (She sighs) ...That's a risk I am willing to take.
[Pacifica steps out from hiding and approaches the ghost by sneaking.]
[She's right behind Archibald while he's looking away. Pacifica gulps nervously before she speaks.]
Pacifica: Hey, lumber-freak! Turn around and face me!
[He rotates his body around while still in the air and inches closer to Pacifica's face. The ghost inspects her closely with enlarged eyes.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Ah! It looks like you finally made it out of your hiding place! Are you finally ready to accept your fate once and for all?
Pacifica: (Hostile) If you think I'm going to accept anything from you, then you are completely wrong! I am here to stop you once and for all!
Lumberjack Ghost: (He chuckles, hugging his stomach) Ahahaha! And how are you going to do that?! I am the Spirit of Archibald — the mightiest lumberjack in all of Gravity Falls! You are just a deceitful Northwest, so how are you going to stop me??
[While he is monologuing, Dipper tip-toes silently while holding the mirror in his arms, approaching the area behind Archibald.]
Pacifica: I don't know how I'll stop you, but I'll do whatever it takes — even if I die doing so!
Lumberjack Ghost: Very well... if you are willing to die in order to make me perish, then THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!!!
[Archibald prepares to charge his glowing fist at Pacifica. Pacifica freezes in horror when he raises his finger towards her.]
Dipper: Hey, leave her alone!
[The ghost hears Dipper behind his back and rotates to him, instead.]
Dipper: You want to kill the Northwest?! You'll have to go through your worst enemy, first — the Silver Mirror!!
[He reveals the mirror behind his back and raises it closer to the ghost's face. He braces for impact, expecting Archibald to get sucked into the mirror magically.]
...
[But nothing happens — the silver mirror isn't working on the ghost.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Puzzled) What exactly are you trying to do?
Dipper: Wait, what?! Why aren't you getting sucked into the mirror?
Lumberjack Ghost: (He laughs) Ohohoho!! Did you really expect that witless mirror to work on me? If you wanted to capture me, I've have to walk right into it! But I'm standing still, aren't I?
Dipper: Actually you're floating, but whatever.
[The ghost uses an invisible force to break the mirror in pieces. He then shoots a lightning bolt towards Dipper and it strikes him.]
[The curse takes its toll on Dipper as his feet and legs transform into wood.]
Dipper: No, no, wait! Not this again!
Pacifica: Dipper!
[Archibald observes Dipper as the wooden curse works its way towards his arms and throat.]
Dipper: Pacifica, do something!!
Lumberjack Ghost: (He rhymes again) A manor in shambles, the lass made it worse, her fellow escort will now suffer my CURSE!!
Pacifica: Wait!!
[The curse slows down. Archibald looks at Pacifica.]
Pacifica: I'll accept my fate!
...
Lumberjack Ghost: Good choice.
[The wooden transformation gets paused, stopping by Dipper's neck. However, every part of his body, except for his head, remains wooden. He is also immovable.]
Dipper: Pacifica, are you insane?! Why would you accept your parents dying??
Pacifica: (To the Ghost) But I'll only accept my fate if you turn everyone else back to normal!
Lumberjack Ghost: Your conditions work well for me! The world will be a better place with two less Northwests in it.
Pacifica: How do I know if I can trust you?
Lumberjack Ghost: Let's shake hands on it! As soon as our hands cross each other, the curse shall be lifted on your guests.
[Archibald reaches out his hand. Similar to Bill Cipher, his hand lights on blue fire, ready to make a deal.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Are you ready to make an agreement?
Pacifica: (Determined) Yes... yes I am.
Dipper: (Anxious) Pacifica, don't go through with it! You'll be living as an orphan for the rest of your life!
[Pacifica extends her right hand as well, moving it towards the burning hand. She sweats and her arm trembles while things get closer and closer to making the deal come true.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Hey, what the--
[Thereafter, the ghost can feel that his right leg is stuck in something unknown. Archibald checks on it and he sees that his foot has phased right through another silver mirror.]
Lumberjack Ghost: Wait, what's this?
[It reveals that another person striked the mirror into his foot. That man is none other than Ford himself, as he has finally heard what is going on inside the house.]
Grunkle Ford: Ah, there you are, my old friend! I've been looking everywhere for you.
Dipper: (Gasps, overjoyed) Grunkle Ford!!
[Ford's mirror pulls the ghost into the reflection, starting from his leg. He slowly gets sucked into it.
Lumberjack Ghost: No! This wasn't part of the plan!
[Archibald strains himself to pull himself out, but to no avail — his body is pulled halfway into the mirror.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Panicking) I don't wanna go back! No! NNNOOOOOOOO--!!
[Pacifica covers her face as the ghost flails his arms, trying to escape. Finally, the mirror swallows him whole and he gets sealed inside the mirror's interior.]
[Ford tilts the mirror to himself to see if he's sealed inside. Luckily for them, Archibald is in there, banging his fists on the inside walls on the mirror.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Echoing voice) No!! Not this again! Free me! FREE ME!!
[And as the ghost is sealed away for good, the ax that was stuck to his head falls to the ground and makes a hole in the wooden floor — his curse on everyone gets lifted. All the teenagers and butlers fade back from their wooden forms and they return back to normal. The curse also gets lifted from Dipper, as the transformation disappears from his arms, legs, torso and neck.]
Dipper: Thank goodness I didn't have to go through with that, again!
[The wooden forms fade away from Candy and Grenda as well.]
Candy: Whoa!
Grenda: (She rubs her head) What... happened to us?
[Camera changes to the kitchen. Mabel fades back from her curse.]
Mabel: (Inhales sharply) Wait-- was I turned into wood?!
[The ghost watches in horror as his curse stops working.]
Lumberjack Ghost: My curse... my powers... they're-- they're fading away!!
[In Pacifica's parents' room, Preston and Priscilla fade back to normal. Preston rubs his lower back in pain.]
Preston: (Hurting) Urgh... my back.
Priscilla: (Dazed) How long were we gone?
[Meanwhile as the parents get a hold of themselves, Ford puts the silver mirror in a plastic bag.]
Grunkle Ford: Man, if I hadn't taken off those headphones, I would've never heard all the lightning bolts coming from the house. (Relieved) It's a good thing I found this old silver mirror in the ground with my metal detector!
Lumberjack Ghost: You can't seal me away in here, forever, you old fool! (He rants again) Don't you know who I am?! I am the Spirit of Archibald — the greatest lumber--
Grunkle Ford: (Tiredly) Yeah, whatever.
[Ford puts the mirror inside his coat so he doesn't have to listen to Archibald. Dipper and Pacifica stand next to each other.]
Pacifica: I never thought Stan was a ghost hunter, as well.
Dipper: That is my other Great Uncle — his name is Ford.
Pacifica: Oh, that explains it.
Mabel: Girls!!
Grenda and Candy: (Together) Mabel!!
[Dipper sees how Mabel runs out of the kitchen, happy about seeing her best friends. Candy and Grenda run towards her in the opposite direction.]
[When they meet in the middle of the living room, they hug each other.]
Mabel: (Overjoyed) Oh, I was so scared being away from you!
Grenda: (With tears running down her face) I thought I lost you two for good!
Dipper: Mabel!
[Mabel glimpses over at Dipper as he takes a small step in her direction.]
Mabel: Dipper!!
[Mabel throws herself into Dipper's arms and hugs with with a tight grip.]
Dipper: Oh, I'm so happy you're alright! (He smiles and looks at Grenda and Candy) I'm happy you two are alright, as well.
[Candy and Grenda looks at each other, confused about Dipper suddenly caring about them.]
Mabel: (She stops hugging Dipper) Um... Dipper? What did you want to tell me before I got frozen?
Dipper: Oh yeah, about the truth... (He exhales sharply) look, I'm really sorry if I have been absent from you guys tonight. The truth is that I didn't want to go out, tonight, but I did so anyways.
Mabel: What? But I told you that you didn't have to come if you didn't want to!
Dipper: (Slightly upset) I know, but Grunkle Stan forced me to go out anyways — and that's why I've been abstaining myself from you, Candy and Grenda. I was very angry at the situation, and I didn't want to risk ruining the evening for you girls.
[Candy and Grenda smiles from Dipper's sweet words.]
Mabel: (She shakes her head and grins) Dipper — just because Grunkle Stan says one thing, doesn't mean you have to listen to him. You're old enough to decide what's best for you, even if it involves sitting at home and reading comic books all day.
Dipper: Hehe! I guess that's sort of true.
[It goes quiet. Mabel thinks about what to say next.]
Mabel: (Timidly) ...But do you have different thoughts about hanging out with me, now, after everything we've been through today?
Dipper: Hm... (Pondering) You know what? After this whole crazy party, I think I might just hang out with you more often.
[Mabel makes an even bigger grin, showing her braces. Dipper includes Candy and Grenda as well.]
Dipper: (To Candy and Grenda:) And that includes you two, as well.
Candy: Heh, I'm glad to be involved!
[Pacifica is nearby with a smirk on her face, observing Dipper and Mabel sorting things out.]
Priscilla: PACIFICA!!
[Her eyes widen and she rotates to the staircase. Pacifica sees Preston and Priscilla storming down the stairs.]
Pacifica: Uh oh...
Preston: (Furiously) What is all this?! Did you host the Jollysharing ceremony without my consent while I was frozen?!?
Priscilla: (Frustrated) All these guests are also common folk! What happened to the rich people we invited?!
Pacifica: (Sucks in her breath, embarrassed) Ssss... I might have thrown them out earlier.
[Preston turns to all the teenagers.]
Preston: (Strictly) Everyone, get out of my manor!!
Male Guest 1: Aw, maan!
Male Guest 2: That blows!
[Everyone leaves through the front door, which isn't sealed anymore. Dipper, Mabel, Candy, Grenda and Ford are also forced to leave.]
[Pacifica is the last one who tries to leave — but she gets stopped by Preston.]
Preston: Eh, not you, Pacifica. (Stern) You're not going anywhere until I've had a serious talk with you!
[Pacifica looks down at the floor in guilt, facing Preston.]
Pacifica: Lay it on me, already... am I in trouble?
Priscilla: Trouble?! Words cannot even explain how much trouble you're in!! (She counts her fingers) You ruined your father's ceremony, you forced our rich guests to leave, you turned all our butlers against us and you summoned a GHOST to put a curse on us!
Preston: And that's not even the worst part of it — the worst thing you've done, tonight, is being disloyal towards your parents by breaking our trust! You also damaged our family name by inviting common folk to the party! ...
[Pacifica cringes at herself, preparing for how much trouble she's in...]
[...but the next thing Preston says will shock her and her mom for the rest of the evening.]
Preston: (In approval) ... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually quite proud of you for that.
Pacifica: WHAT?!?
Priscilla: WHAAAT?!?
Preston: (He scoffs) Us Northwests have a history of being false and deceitful towards other people! Since you were disloyal towards me once again, you're starting to grow up to be just like your parents!
[Pacifica is shocked and she realizes that her father is somewhat right. She feels how the tension disappears from her body.]
Pacifica: Great! So does that mean I'm not in trouble?
Preston: (With eyebrows lowered) No. You're still grounded for three months.
Pacifica: Oh... (Apathetic) Eh, that's a punishment I'm willing to accept!
Preston: You can go out and say goodbye to your friends — but then I want you back in the house, again.
[Preston winks at Pacifica and leaves. When he walks away, Priscilla follows him and rebukes him.]
Priscilla: (Angrily) I can't believe you would say that! You're PROUD of Pacifica for summoning a ghost into the house?!
Preston: Relax, sweetheart — it's not like he damaged the house, or anything.
Priscilla: Did you not listen to what I said in the bedroom, earlier?! We were supposed to be stricter towards her, not encourage her!
Preston: Was I not strict enough when I grounded her?
[Pacifica stops listening to their argument and runs outside. By the open gates, Dipper is waiting for her.]
Dipper: Did it go well with your parents, or are they going to ship you away in a small package?
Pacifica: Weeell... I'm still grounded, but it actually went better than expected. It seems like my dad is finally starting to appreciate me.
Dipper: Yeah, see? I told you that you were able to convince them!
Pacifica: Yeah, maybe I should listen to you more often. (Sweetly) Thanks again for everything, Dipper!
Dipper: Heh, anytime!
[Pacifica looks back at the mansion.]
Pacifica: I should probably head back before Dad grounds me for another three months.
Dipper: Yeah, I guess so.
[Then unexpectedly, Pacifica hugs Dipper intentionally. Dipper's eyes widen in surprise, as he never expected her to hug him again.]
Pacifica: (She stops hugging him and runs back to the front door) Happy Jollysharing, Dipper!
Dipper: Yeah, happy Jollysharing! (He whispers to himself) I did NOT see that one coming!
[When Pacifica is gone, Grunkle Ford greets Dipper again.]
Grunkle Ford: Good thinking when you distracted the ghost so that I could finish it off! (Intrigued) Say, you were doing good teamwork with that young Northwest girl... so maybe you and I could go hunt down another ghost by midnight, now when you've made a new friend like Stanley wanted?
[Dipper looks at Ford, first — then he looks at Mabel, Candy and Grenda behind him. He is unsure of what to choose.]
Dipper: I'd love to go on an adventure with you, Grunkle Ford-- but I think I'm gonna spend the rest of the night hanging out with my sister and her fellow girlfriends!
[Dipper puts his arms around all the girls.]
Grenda: (Cooing) Aww! Come here, you little twerp!
Dipper: Hnghh!
[Grenda hugs Dipper strongly and almost manages to break his spine. Candy and Mabel hugs him as well.]
Candy: (Softly) I don't have a crush on you, anymore — but it still feels nice to hug you.~
Grunkle Ford: Well, I can understand that. I should probably go home and store Archibald in my lab before I proceed with anything else...
[Ford leaves the scene. As he strolls off, he looks at the silver mirror and communicates with the ghost one last time. Archibald is crying inside the mirror.]
Lumberjack Ghost: (Sniffling) Uhuhu! All I wanted to do was to give a nice Christmas to everyone, by killing off some of the lying rich people!
Grunkle Ford: (Forthright) See, that's the problem with you, Archibald — you judge people for what they are, and not what they could become! You need to realize that everyone could become better people!
Lumberjack Ghost: (He rubs his beard) I see... maybe you are right. I should probably spend the time in my prison to contemplate my choices.
[Meanwhile Dipper, Mabel, Candy and Grenda are still outside the manor, deciding how to spend the rest of Jollysharing.]
Dipper: So what should we do for the rest of the evening?
Mabel: Oh! We could always return home to Grenda's house.
Grenda: (Unsure) I dunno... I think my parents may have returned home, already.
Candy: W-Where else could we go, then?
[Dipper gains an idea.]
Dipper: Don't worry, I think I know where we could go!
[All the other teens that were invited are walking away from the mansion together, depressed about being kicked out. Dipper shouts at them.]
Dipper: Hey, everyone — Jollysharing isn't over, yet! (Energetic) Come follow me and I'll show you where the next party is!
Female guest: Woo-hoo!
Red-haired boy: Another party?! Sweet, dude, let's go!
[The large group of teens persuade Dipper and the girls as they run away, heading in the direction of the Mystery Shack.]
[Back in the Mystery Shack again, Grunkle Stan is still sitting in his armchair, watching old black and white movies on the TV.]
Grunkle Stan: (He turns off the movie with the remote) Well, that was the third soap opera for the evening! Let's see what else is on TV.
[The front door opens and Dipper and Mabel steps inside the house. They have also brought Candy and Grenda along with them.]
Dipper: Hey, Grunkle Stan!
Grunkle Stan: (Peeks over to them) You guys are home already? It's not even midnight, yet!
Mabel: Eh, Jollysharing was pretty lame. We'd rather sit home and play with Grenda and Candy.
Grunkle Stan: Did you at least have fun? Were you socializing a lot, Dipper?
Dipper: (Shrugs with his shoulders) Yeah, I thought about your advice about making new friends.
Grunkle Stan: Heh! That's good to hear, my boy!
[Grunkle Stan relaxes in his chair, closing his eyes.]
Dipper: (Excitedly) ...And that is why I made friends with everyone!!
Grunkle Stan: WHAT?!?
Mabel: (She opens the front door again and shouts) Alright, everyone — you can come inside!
[A rumbling is heard. Mabel moves out of the way as dozens of teenagers barge through the door. They dash into the living room and surrounds Grunkle Stan.]
Grunkle Stan: (In dismay) This wasn't supposed to happen!
[Mabel steps up on top of the TV and poses dramatically.]
Mabel: (Stating) Thank you, everyone, for coming here! Now, remember — let's party all night and have as much fun as possible! Happy Jollysharing!
Everyone: (Together) HAPPY JOLLYSHARING!!
[The guests start the party by blasting loud music, eating from the fridge, spraying graffiti on the walls and so on. Grunkle Stan gets up from his chair and realizes in horror that he's surrounded by hysterical teenagers everywhere.]
Grunkle Stan: (He shouts in agony) NOOOO!! I hate Jollyshariiiiing!
[The screenplay ends.]