Chapter 6: Sonic's Scream Test
(Scene: An old castle)
(Throughout the castle, faint, childlike laughter can be heard. The camera zooms in toward one of the doors.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(The camera zooms out of Sonic's mouth as he yawns from his reclining place atop one of the battlements. Lindsey Thorndyke is preparing for a shoot for her movie.)
(To Lindsey) "You were fantastic in that last take, Lindsey, but I would like to give it one more go. Take it slower, and let those tears go this time." (To the lead actor) "And Roger, please try to show some feeling in this take." the Director said
"I think we should go with the 65-millimeter here." the Cameraman said
(True, Chris and their friends and Ella are attending the film shoot. Ella approaches wearing a different outfit, and her hair is done up.)
"Ella? What happened to your hair?" Amy asked
"Did Mom get you a part in the movie?" Chris asked
"That's right. They needed someone to play an extremely young and beautiful housekeeper, so they type-cast me. How do I look?" Ella asked
"We almost didn't recognize you with it." True said
"All right, let's go. Places, please!" the Director said
(Filming is underway. In the act, Lindsey's character is begging the lead actor's character to stay.)
"But Bret, what will I do without you? You can't leave me now! I need you, Bret!" Lindsey acted
(The lead actor walks away.)
"Bret, don't go!" Lindsey acted
(Lindsey cries)
"And cut! Print it!" the Director shouted
"She sounds like she's really into that guy Bret." Amy said
(Amy giggles while Chris blushes and laughs nervously. His mom approaches.)
"Was I good?" Lindsey asked
"Great." Chris said
"You were really good in that scene, ms. Thorndyke." Zee said
"Oh, I thought you were bringing your friends. Where are they?" Lindsey asked
"We're right here." Tails said
"My, you look like a real fox. It's amazing what the makeup department can do with a little hair and a pot of glue these days." Lindsey said
"Uh, didn't you tell her about them yet?" True asked
(Shrugs) "I tried, but Mom's clueless, sometimes. Hey, I haven't seen Cream and Cheese. I wonder where they went?" Chris asked
(Shrugs) "Don't ask me." Tails said
(The director is reviewing the shot.)
"Rewind that! ... Hold it!" the Director shouted
(The cameraman stops on a certain frame.)
"There. You see?" the Director asked
(The director points to a certain part of the frame. There, watching Lindsey crying, are Cream and Cheese. True, Zee and Chris gasp.)
"I didn't call for animals in this shot!" the Director said
"Don't worry, D.B. We can erase it digitally in post." the Cameraman said
"Good idea. Let's print it. All right, let's move on to the next scene, people!" the Director said
(True, Zee and Chris breathed a sigh of relief.)
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(Sonic enters the castle and begins to explore it.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(The next scene is being set up. True, Chris, their friends and Ella are sitting on some stone steps nearby.)
"We'll be out of camera range over here." Chris said
"Okay, rehearse it!" a man said
(Lindsey begins running forward.)
"Please, Bret, don't leave me! Come back! What will I do? Where shall I go?" Lindsey acted
(The camera bumps an object that is right next to it. The object is a pedestal with a talisman on top of it. The top of the talisman depicts a moon.)
"I didn't notice this thing before. What is it? Some kind of crazy sculpture? ... Guess I'll have to move it out of the way." the Cameraman said
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(A strange sensation falls on Sonic.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
"On second thought, I'll move the camera." the Cameraman said
(The cameraman moves the camera back a few feet.)
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(The sensation ends.)
"I don't think this is part of the movie..." Sonic said
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(The next take is on. Lindsey is once again running.)
"Come back! What shall I do? Where shall I go?" Lindsey acted
(This time, however, the talisman gets in the way of the shot.)
"It's still in the way." the Cameraman said
(The cameraman removes the talisman from the pedestal and places it on the ground.)
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(Sonic feels the sensation ending again. He looks down the dark hallway.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
"Places, everybody!" a man said
"And... action!" the Director said
(Scene Change: Inside the castle, night)
(The film crew are filming inside the castle. Lindsey is carrying a candle.)
"Uh, DB? There's a noise." the Sound Guy said
"Cut!" the Director shouted
(Elsewhere, Sonic looks out the window at the courtyard. Back at the shoot, Ella has since changed into her normal outfit.)
"Chris asked for my autograph." Ella said
"Can't find anything wrong with the sound on my end." the Sound Guy said
"Are we good to go here?" a man asked
"Yeah. Let's try it again." the Sound Guy said
"All right, Lindsey. Action!" the Director shouted
(Once again, Lindsey walks down the hall with the candlestick.)
"Sorry. There's still noise." the Sound Guy said
"Cut! That's a wrap! I hate working on location..." the Director said
(Later, Lindsey has changed into her normal outfit, and is busy removing the makeup from her face, when Chris enters.)
"I just came to say good night." Chris said
"You're such a considerate young man." Lindsey said
"Yeah. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, I guess." Chris said
"Chris!" Lindsey said
(She runs over and hugs Chris.)
"Sweet dreams, my darling son." Lindsey said
"You too, Mom. Good night." Chris said
(They break the hug.)
"Off you go." Lindsey said
"We'll see you on the set in the morning, Mom." Chris said
"Until the morrow, my love." Lindsey said
(Chris leaves the room. Meanwhile, the sound guy is walking the halls with a microphone and headphones, searching for the source of the sound.)
"I can't sleep 'til I find that noise." the Sound Guy said
(Chris heads to his room to see that the only one there is Zee and Tails, who are reading some books.)
"Where is everybody, guys?" Chris asked
"The girls are having a sleepover in Ella's room." Zee said
"And Sonic?" Chris asked
"He's probably exploring around as usual." Tails said
"I sure hope Sonic doesn't get into any trouble..." Chris said
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(Sonic is walking around outside when he notices the talisman on the ground. He walks over and picks it up.)
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(The sound guy finally finds the source of the noise, which is coming from behind a door.)
"Oh! It's here." the Sound Guy said
(Suddenly four ghosts, known as Booms, appear behind the sound guy. They laugh.)
"Sounds like some kids are playing." the Sound Guy said
(He turns around, but the Booms disappear. Meanwhile, Lindsey is continuing with her makeup removal, when she hears the sound of children laughing.)
"Chris, honey?" Lindsey asked
(The laughing continues. Lindsey stands up.)
"All right, come out here. This little joke has gone far enough." Lindsey said
(She looks around, but no one is there.)
"I thought I heard something. Perhaps it was just the wind." Lindsey said
(She turns back to her makeup removal.)
"It's been such a long day..." Lindsey said
(Suddenly Lindsey's reflection, which had been looking away from her, looks back towards her. The reflection's face has the features of an aggressive Boom.)
"Well hello there." Lindsey's Reflection said
(She screams)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(Sonic is examining the moon side of the talisman. He turns it over.)
"I wonder what this thing is for?" Sonic asked
(Soon, everyone is desperately searching for Lindsey. The sound crew are searching outside.)
"Can you hear me? Lindsey! Answer me! Are you all right?" the Director asked
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
(Zee, Chris and Tails are searching one of the rooms.)
"Hey Mom!" Chris shouted
(True, Ella, Amy, and Cream are searching the halls.)
"Are you here, Mrs. Thorndyke?" Ella asked
"Hey, Mrs. Thorndyke! Are you okay?" Amy asked
"We're all worried about you!" Cream shouted
"Chao chao chao chao chao chao!" Cheese shouted
"Do you hear something, Cheese?" Cream asked
(They hear laughter.)
"I don't like the sound of this, Ella." True said
"It's coming from behind this wall." Ella said
(Ella knocks on the wall.)
"Excuse me! Is that you, Mrs. Thorndyke?" Ella asked
"I better go get some help!" Amy said
(She starts to race off, but ghostly hands shoot out of the wall, cutting her off. She screams.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
"Sounds like Amy!" Sonic said
(Scene Change: Inside the castle)
"True, Amy, what's happening?" Chris asked
(Cream and Cheese are gone. True and Amy are trying to keep Ella's arm from going through the wall too.)
"Help us save Ella!" Amy shouted
(Not even the combined forces of True, Zee, Chris, Tails, and Amy can stop Ella from being pulled into the wall - which causes them to be thrown backwards.)
"Something pulled them all right through the wall!" True shouted
(Sonic arrives. He is still carrying the talisman.)
"What's goin' on?" Sonic asked
"We were looking for Chris' mom and all of a sudden, we were attacked by ghosts!" Amy shouted
"I don't believe in ghosts." Sonic said
(Four Booms poke themselves out of the walls, as if to taunt Sonic. He attacks the wall. A chunk of it breaks off, revealing a purple portal.)
"Whoa. What is that?" Chris asked
"Don't know, but It's nothing good." Zee said
(A group of ghostly hands emerge from the portal. As True, Zee, Chris, Tails, and Amy flee, Sonic tries to attack the hands, but to no avail.)
"Maybe there is such a thing as ghosts after all!" Sonic said
(The hands grab Zee and Tails and pull them through the portal.)
"It grabbed Tails and Zee!" True, Chris and Amy shouted
"Bring him back!" Sonic shouted
(The hands attack again. Sonic dodges them, but they grab him anyway and start to pull him through the portal.)
"Sonic!" True, Chris and Amy shouted
"Chris, catch!" Sonic shouted
(He tosses the talisman to Chris, who catches it.)
"What's this, Sonic?" Chris asked
(Suddenly the broken pieces of the wall begin to seal back together and repair the wall.)
"I'm not sure, but it fell off the pedestal outside and I think it's got something to do with all this!" Sonic shouted
"No! Sonic!" Amy shouted
(Amy hammers the now-completely sealed wall.)
"Bring him back, you hear me?! You can't! Take! My!" (Crying) "Sonic!" Amy shouted
(The camera zooms towards the talisman in Chris' hands.)
(Scene Change: Outside the castle)
(True, Chris and Amy are inspecting the pedestal. Chris is holding the talisman.)
"This must be where Sonic found that thing. But I don't see what this has to do with those ghosts." Amy said
"Well... I'm not sure, but there's something written here. 'Appears under the moon. Disappears under the sun.' I wonder what that means?" True asked
(Chris bends down and feels a spot at the base of the pedestal.)
"What, Chris?" Amy asked
(Chris stands up.)
"I feel a breeze coming from the base." Chris said
"There must be a hidden passageway underneath it." True said
(Amy suddenly draws her hammer and slams into the pedestal, knocking it aside and revealing a hidden staircase.)
"Whoa... You think we should go take a look?" Chris asked
"We may be able to rescue Sonic. Let's go." Amy asked
(She starts to head down the staircase, but Chris grabs her arm.)
"Hold on. It could be dangerous down there." Chris said
"I know that." Amy said
"But... don't you think we should let the police check it out? I mean..." Chris said
"Hmph." Amy said
(She heads down the stairs.)
"But, Amy, we..." True didn't get to say
(She doesn't respond.)
"All right..." Chris said
(They had no choice but to follow her.)
(Scene Change: The Basement)
(True, Chris and Amy are descending the stairs together.)
"I thought you guys were scared." Amy said
"Of course we're scared. Aren't you?" Chris asked
(Shrugs) "No." Amy said
(She flinches from hearing True scream after a drop of water falls from a stalactite and onto her.)
(Scene Change: An unknown location)
(Sonic, Ella, Lindsey, Zee, Tails, Cream, Cheese, and Ella, are all unconscious and floating around. Nearby are King Boom Boo and the Booms, who are laughing. Suddenly the Booms change to their aggressive forms.)
(Scene Change: The Basement)
(True holds onto Chris for security as the trio continue their descent.)
"Remember, guys, ghosts love it if they see you're scared, so if you run into one, stay calm." Amy said
"I'll pretend like I don't even notice them." Chris said
"I just hope there aren't any ghosts around." True said
(They reach the bottom of the stairs. Suddenly four Booms come from the door at the end of the hall and speed toward them, then change into their aggressive forms. Amy grabs the talisman from Chris and holds it above her head. This causes the Booms to retreat back to where they came from.)
"It seems like they're scared of that thing." Chris said
"All right... Let's show those ghosts that we can spook them!" Amy said
(She runs towards the door.)
"Amy, wait!" True shouted
(True and Chris follows her into another room, which appears to be massive.)
"Where'd the ghosts go?" Amy asked
"They must be around here someplace..." Chris said
"They can go through walls. Maybe they already escaped." True said
(Pointing) "They're heading down those stairs!" Chris said
(They see the Booms flying through another door. One of them stops to look at them before proceeding.)
(Scene Change: An unknown location)
(They see the Booms flying through another door. One of them stops to look at them before proceeding.)
(Scene Change: The Basement)
(True, Amy and Chris are standing before the door.)
"Are you ready?" Chris asked
"Let's do it." Amy said
"Here we go." True said
(Amy opens the door slightly and holds the talisman out in front of her, before the three enter the room.)
"Is anybody here?" Amy asked
(They walk further into the room.)
"It looks like the ghosts led us to a dead end." True said
"Sonic must be here." Amy said
"But there's nobody around. Where could they be keeping him?" Chris asked
(Calling) "Sonic! ... Soooniiic!" Amy shouted
(Off-screen calling) "Amy! Chris! True! I'm up here!" Sonic shouted
(They look up to see Sonic looking down at them from the portal on the ceiling.)
"Sonic!" True, Amy and Chris shouted
"There's not much time, so listen!" Sonic said
(mutes Sonic's voice to trick the other three) "I've always loved you, Amy." a mysterious voice said
"Well, I'm sure you know how I feel..." Amy said
"You can free me if you place that stone into the space in the wall." a mysterious voice said
"Right, Sonic. I sure am glad we brought this thing along." Amy said
(She finds the hole in the wall.)
"That must be where it goes." Amy said
"I said don't put that thing over there, Amy! That's how the ghosts get power!" Sonic said
(Amy reaches the window.)
"Is this where it goes?" Amy asked
"Wonderful, Amy. Now place that stone in the space in the wall with the moon side facing upwards." a mysterious voice said
"What do you mean, 'the moon side'?" (She flips the talisman over.) "Oh, I see." Amy said
"I don't think this is a good idea..." Chris said
"It'll be fine. Sonic knows exactly what he's doing." Amy said
"No, Amy! Don't!" Sonic shouted
(But Amy places the talisman into the hole anyway.)
"You're the best, Amy." a mysterious voice said
(Blushing) "Oh, it was nothing. I'm just glad we're going to be back together again." Amy said
(Suddenly the moon on the talisman glows, filling the room with a bright light. When it dies down, King Boom Boo and his Booms are there in the room.)
"Where'd he come from?!" True asked in fright
"Thank you, Amy." King Boom Boo said
(He and the Booms laugh.)
"Hey! That was you pretending to be Sonic!" Amy shouted
"You don't have a chance against that thing! Don't even think about taking it on!" Sonic shouted
(To King Boom Boo) "I'm not letting some ghoul make a fool out of me!" Amy shouted
(She leaps towards King Boom Boo and tries to attack him with her hammer, but he disappears as she reaches him, causing her attack to fail. She struggles to keep her balance upon landing. Then suddenly, he reappears behind her and grabs her.)
"Oh!" True, Sonic and Chris said
"No! Let me go!" Amy shouted
(She struggles to free herself, but a Boom possesses her, and she faints. King Boom Boo places her on the ground, and True and Chris run up to her.)
"Amy! Please, Amy, open your eyes for us!" Chris said
(Her eyes snap open. Her face now has the features of a Boom.)
(King Boom Boo's voice) "Stop interfering with my plans or you'll never leave this castle!" Amy shouted
"Amy!" Chris shouted
(Suddenly Amy chases after them, swinging her hammer. True and Chris flees, but trips over a stone.)
"Amy, please don't do it!" True shouted
(Amy raises her hammer for the finishing blow, but True and Chris narrowly dodges, gets up, and continues running. Amy swings her hammer, but they narrowly dodges, gets up, and continues running.)
"Sonic! Help us!" Chris shouted
"I'll help you, but first you have to get me out of here!" Sonic said
(True and Chris stops in front of the talisman.)
"Please... Stop, Amy!" True said
(Amy, who is about to deliver another hit, stops, her face frozen with a look of paralyzed fear on it upon seeing the talisman is in the way and at risk of being harmed. True and Chris takes notice once they see it themselves and why she's hesitating to deliver the finisher.)
"Now I get it..." Chris said
(Flashback) "Wonderful, Amy. Now place that stone in the space in the wall with the moon side facing upwards." King Boom Boo said
(To himself) "The moon side upwards... What did it say on that pedestal? 'Appears under the moon. Disappears under the sun.'" (Out loud) "Hey, that's it!" Chris said
"What's it?" True asked
(He grabs hold of the talisman.) "The ghosts show up when the moon's facing up!"
(King Boom Boo and the Booms race towards Chris in a last-ditch attempt to stop him.) "And when the sun is up, they're in big trouble!" Chris shouted
(He flips the talisman over. The room is bathed in a light so bright that Chris is forced to squint, and Sonic is finally freed from the portal. He rushes over to Amy as she opens her eyes, the Boom that possessed her having been exorcised from her head, returning her to normal.)
"Amy, are you okay?" Sonic asked
(Sees Sonic and smiles.] Oh, Sonic!" (She hugs him.) "OH, SONIC!" Amy shouted
"Please, Amy, we still have to stop the ghost attack!" Sonic said
"OH!" Amy said
(He turns to the Booms that are approaching.)
"I'll show you!" (He punches and kicks them, and they drop like flies. Next he turns to King Boom Boo.) "Bring it on!" Sonic shouted
"You spooks better split right away!" (She attempts to hammer the other now-sweatdropping Booms, but her hammer goes right through them. Then the Booms merge to form a larger Boom.) "You creeps can't creep me out anymore!" (She prepares for a hammer attack.) "It's time to say goodbye!" Amy shouted
(She slams her hammer into the Boom with all her might, send it into the opposite wall, before striking a smug pose. Chris wakes his mother.)
"Mom! Wake up!" Chris said
"Chris...?" (She opens her eyes to see True, Zee, Ella, Chris and Tails looking at her, concerned.) "How was I in that take?" Lindsey asked
(The others smile in amusement.)
"This isn't a movie, Mom." Chris said
"Chris! Get goin' now!" Sonic shouted
"Here, Sonic!" Tails shouted
(He tosses Sonic a Power Ring, and Sonic catches it.)
"Thanks!" Sonic shouted
(The others leave the room, but Chris stops.)
"Go on; I'll catch up with you guys later." Chris said
"What are you doing?" True asked
(True watches as Chris runs back into the room. As Sonic charges his ring power, Chris grabs the talisman and heads out. Sonic then home attacks King Boom Boo, sending him into the wall and showering him with rocks.)
"See ya!" Sonic said
"Let's go, Mom. We gotta hurry." Chris said
"If we're going to film an action scene, can't I have more comfortable shoes?" Lindsey asked
(The others stare. Sonic stops in front of them.)
"I thought you guys would be out of this place by now." Sonic said
"Did you stop the ghosts?" True asked
(Shrugs) "They didn't stand a ghost of a chance." (Suddenly King Boom Boo emerges from the rubble...) "What?!" (...and starts eating the stairs in a last-ditch effort to stop them. Sonic carries Lindsey up the stairs, and Chris follows closely behind with True in his arms.) "Okay, maybe I was wrong!" Sonic shouted
(Everyone makes it out. True and Chris is the last to emerge into daylight.)
"Hurry, Chris!" Sonic shouted
(Amy brings her hammer out and slams the pedestal back into place just as King Boom Boo is about to escape. Then Chris places the talisman back onto the pedestal, causing a bright light. Chris covers his eyes.)
"Amy... Did I put the right side up?" Chris asked
(Amy takes a look)
"It's the moon side!" Amy said
"So I messed up..." Chris said
(Sonic gives a wink and thumbs-up.)
(sarcastically) "Yeah, big time." Sonic said
"That was fun, but I didn't know this was a fantasy film. Those special effects were incredibly realistic!" Lindsey said
(Off-screen) "Hey!" the Police officer shouted
(The director, a police officer, and another film crew member run up to the group.)
"You really had us worried." the Director said
"Did something go wrong?" Lindsey asked
"Nobody ever got away from the ghosts down there before." the Police officer said
"Who are they? Where did they all come from?" True asked
"Well... some folks say this place sits on an ancient burial ground. When the man who built the castle heard legends about ghosts, he laughed and said they were nonsense. Then the man disappeared the first night he stayed here, and nobody ever saw him again." the Police officer said
(Two laughing Booms appear in one of the windows before disappearing.)