05x12 - The Tale of the Jagged Sign

[bunniefuu]

[Child's laughter]

What's
with the--

Don't ask.

Stig's not
taking off the bag

until you can accept
him for who he is.

Yeah, a psycho!

You're not making
points this way.

And you're not getting in the
Midnight Society this week,

'cause Kiki's up,
so take it off.

Stig says go ahead.
He can wait.

Go on, Kik.

OK.

I got my idea
from a book on symbols.

Like in a band?
Ha ha.

Short book!

No, slick. Symbols.

Like signs,

drawings.

It showed how
ancient Egyptians

used symbols
to communicate.

Yeah. They drew pictures
instead of letters.

Exactly.

So I was thinking about
how much we use symbols, too.

This is a symbol.

And this.

Even this.

We all know
what they mean...

Unless you have a bag
over your head.

But imagine a symbol
you've never seen before.

It could mean anything.

Good news...

A party...

Friendship...

Or it could be a sign
of something else...

Maybe a warning

of unspeakable evil.

Submitted for the approval

of the Midnight Society,

I call this story...

Everyone Claudia knew

was doing something really
cool for summer vacation...

Except for Claudia.

Claudia,
is that you?

Hi, Aunt Yvonne.

I almost didn't
recognize you.

You're getting
way too big!

Spending a few weeks
with her aunt Yvonne

in the middle of nowhere

wasn't exactly her idea
of an exciting time.

How was the flight?
Were you nervous?

Oh, no. I'm used to
traveling by myself.

Sorry I couldn't
pick you up.

It has been
a crazy morning.

We have a new guest on ,
and the boiler man's here.

Never a dull moment.

[Laughs]
I bet.

A world traveler like you

must think that scenic
vista is pretty boring.

But we have our share
of excitement.

Do you play
backgammon?

Um--um--

You'll learn.

Let's say hi first.
Everyone's dying to meet you.

Attention,
everyone.

I'd like you to meet
my niece, Claudia.

'Bout time we had
some new blood around here.

We have the bridge club
and gardening club

and bingo on Fridays.

Uh, Aunt Yvonne,

I know this is a place for
old people and everything,

but, I mean,
am I the only--

Oh! The boiler man! I
forgot all about him!

Your room's in there.
I'll be back in a sec.

[Music plays]

¶¶¶

Pretty hair.

Such pretty hair.

I once had hair like
that, too, you know.

I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to--

Claudia, it's OK.

Marjorie,
this is my niece.

She'll be staying
with us for a while.

How nice.

You can have
a chat later.

[Music stops]

Is she OK?

Oh, sure.

She just gets confused
once in a while.

¶¶¶

go on! Eat the Brussels
sprouts, I told him.

But don't say
I didn't warn you

when the gas starts
acting up!

Aunty Yvonne, are there
any, like, younger people

staying here?

Hmm. Well, Ralph
Krieger's only .

I know what you mean.

There's a girl next door
named Kate,

and I told her
you were coming.

Thanks, Aunt Yvonne.

Hi.

Do you wanna
play baseball?

I really hope
you're not Kate.

No, I'm Kate.
That's Nikki.

Hi, I'm Claudia.

Hi. Your aunt told me
you were coming.

Your parents
went on a trip?

Yeah, to South America.
I got dumped here.

South America?
Cool!

They travel all over
for work.

They're botanists. You know,
studying plants and stuff.

That's so great! Do
you ever go with them?

Um, sometimes--

Come on, let's play.

Later. I want to
talk to Claudia.

Nothing exciting
ever happens around here.

Same old, same old.

Yeah. My aunt's place is
kinda like old folks central.

I know. I help out
there sometimes.

Did Mr. Duncan
talk about his gas yet?

As a matter of fact,
yeah.

There's lots of
woods around here.

Are there any good
hiking trails?

Are you kidding? That's all
there is. You wanna see?

Yeah!

It's not exactly
the Amazon.

No, it's great. I love
being in the woods.

What's over
that way?

Nothing.
Just some more woods.

Let's check it out
then.

Come on.

We shouldn't go too far
from the path.

Whoa!

Just don't look down.

Don't look down.

[Laughter]

What's so funny?

What?

Why are you laughing?

I'm not.

Maybe we should
go back.

Whoa!

What is this?

Let's go, OK?

But what's that symbol?

You'll think
it's silly.

Try me.

People say
this used to be

some kind of ancient
burial ground.

Cool!

And something bad
happened here years ago.

Someone was m*rder*d.

No way. Really?

Yeah. And apparently, that
sign just appeared overnight.

But... what's it mean?

Everyone calls it
the Jagged Sign.

They say it's the
mark of the dead man.

Ooh!

I love it!

And if you stare
at it too long,

you wake the ghost,
and it possesses you.

Lemme guess. Then it lures
you up to fall to your doom,

right?

Uh, yeah. Something
like that.

Where you going?

I wanna go up
and check it out.

I don't think
you should.

Why not? You don't believe
in that ghost stuff, do you?

Well, no, but I'm sorta
scared of heights.

So I'll go myself.

Don't!

I don't think
there's a way up.

Yeah?

Then how'd he
get up there?

Don't look at him!

What? Why?!

It's the ghost!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Kate, Kate.

I thought you didn't
believe in that stuff.

I lied.

It was probably some high
school guy from around here.

We'll go back, and--

Claudia!

Aah!

Kate, just relax, OK?

He didn't follow us.

Where'd he come from?
How'd he get down so fast?

I don't know. We
should have asked him.

Forget it!

Oh, be real. I don't
believe in ghosts.

Aah!

Whoa, sorry!

I'm going into town.
I won't be long.

Oh, uh, Aunt Yvonne.

Claudia! Do you
know anything about--

What?

What's
the matter?

Do you know anything about that
Jagged Sign thing in the woods?

Kate, did you take
her up there?

Uh, yeah, sorta.

I don't want you girls
out there.

Why? You don't think it's
really haunted, do you?

Of course not.

But that cliff's
dangerous,

and it's no place for
young girls to be--

[sniffs] To be--

What's that smell?

Something's burning!

Marjorie, no!

I was just making
some soup,

and then all of a
sudden, all this smoke.

I'm sorry, Yvonne.

Oh, I'm so sorry!

It's OK, Marjorie.
It's OK.

Now you go on. We'll
take care of this.

Oh...

[Sobs]
Oh...Oh...

Oh... this kind of thing
is happening more and more.

I can't watch her
every minute!

We'll help
clean up.

No. Thanks.

I'll do it.

Just do me a favor and
stay close to the house.

I don't want to worry
about you, too.

[Stairs creak]

[Creak]

[Thunk]

[Creak]

Hello?

Can't sleep.

Maybe some milk.

Thanks for coming
over.

Is the sign
still there?

No. It disappeared.
But I drew this.

You're not supposed
to look at it.

I don't believe
in curses.

Well, you didn't believe
in ghosts, either.

I'm going back
to the cliff.

Are you with me?

No!
Your aunt said--

You wanted something exciting to
happen around here. This is it.

But it's dangerous.

What could he
do to us?

It's not him. It's the
cliff. That place is hairy.

Well, maybe you're afraid
of heights, but I'm not.

Girls.

Can I see you for a sec?

I just spoke
to Marjorie's nephew,

and he agreed
that it's best

to move her someplace where
they can look after her properly.

You mean like
a rest home.

Someplace with
medical care.

Her health
is really failing.

That's so sad.

Yeah. She's been here
a long time.

Anyhow, I need help packing
up some of her things

to go to
the thrift shop.

You didn't have any
plans for the day, did you?

Excuse me, Marjorie.

I just wanted
to make sure

you meant to
give this away.

Oh...

I know it's old
and everything, but...

I thought it might have some
kind of sentimental value

or something.

Oh!

Whoa!

Eew, gross!

Oh...

Whaddaya know?

An old love knot.

A love knot?

Oh... ladies used to

tie up a lock
of their hair

and give it to
their boyfriends.

It was a sign
of undying love.

Eew!

Marjorie had beautiful strawberry
blonde hair when she was young.

You mean like
Claudia's?

Uh-huh.

I saw a picture
of her.

She looked very much
like Claudia.

Here it is.
Right here.

Who's the guy?

I don't know.
Must be her Beau.

Hello?

Hey!

Where are you?

Marjorie,
can I come in?

Marjorie,
who is this?

Ohh...

Joshua.

How I must have
hurt you.

But I couldn't
help it.

Wait!

Don't move.

Joshua and I were
hoping to be married,

but we knew our parents
would never allow it

because we were
so young.

So we decided
to elope.

We were going to meet at our
secret place in the woods.

Wait. Marjorie...

Where was
your secret place?

The cliff.

We were going to meet
at the foot of the cliff.

My parents
discovered our plan

and prevented me
from meeting him.

He d*ed believing
that I chose not to come...

When it was because
they wouldn't let me.

He d*ed?

What happened?

He always used to say

he wanted the whole world
to know how much he loved me.

So...

He climbed up
on the ledge

to draw the symbol
of our love

for everyone to see.

But the ledge
is dangerous,

and before
he could finish,

he fell.

Before he could
finish.

I never loved
anyone else!

And he d*ed

thinking
I rejected him.

Marjorie...

Can I borrow this?

Excuse me.
Has anyone seen Claudia?

I did. Ran out a few minutes
ago like a Jack Rabbit.

Where'd she go?

Seems like she was
heading for the woods.

The woods!

Hey! We need
a fourth for bridge.

Claudia!

Hello?

Hey, where are you?

[Rock falls]

Aah!

Aah!

Claudia?

Kate!

Help!

Claudia!

Kate, hurry!

Kate, help!

Kate, hurry!

Hurry, Kate!

Aah!

Just don't look down.

Don't look down.

Kate, hurry!

Claudia, I can't!

Aah!

Kate!

Hurry!

Look!

Who are you?
What do you want?

I waited for you,
Marjorie.

Why did you take so long
to come? Don't you love me?

What's he talking
about?

She's not Marjorie,
Joshua.

Marjorie couldn't come.

Her parents
stopped her.

He thinks
I'm Marjorie?

She kept this all
these years, Joshua,

as a sign of
her love for you

just like the sign
you never finished.

She still loves me?

Yes, Joshua.
You should go to her.

What happened?

He finished what he
started a long time ago.

[Gasps]

Look!

Marjorie passed away
that very afternoon.

Everyone said how peaceful
she looked at the end,

even happy.

They all thought it was because
she was going on to a better place,

but only Claudia
and Kate knew

just how true that was.

The end.

Good story.

What do you think,
Stig?

He says
he can't breathe.

What?!

I'm going next time. This
bag thing ain't making it.

All right.
Stig's up next,

and we'll take
a final vote

of whether he
gets in or not.

Sorry.

You're not in yet.

Keep the bandanna.