[Child laughs]
Guys?
Hey, guys?
[Pop]
Very funny, guys.
Surprise!
I can't believe
you remembered!
Look, how could
we forget?
You only reminded us
a zillion times.
He did not!
We'd never forget
your birthday.
Dave even has
a special story for you.
Really?
Let's go.
Yeah.
I know how much
you like magic,
so I kind of borrowed one
of your magical characters.
Which one?
Sit down, my friend,
and you'll find out.
My story is indeed
about magic--
the kind Gary likes,
the kind that
dazzles and amazes
but is still strangely real.
But the magic in my story
is more intense
than the kind that comes from
incantations or elixirs.
It's the kind of magic
that comes from inside of us,
a magic that
can be used for good...
Or incredible evil.
Submitted for the approval
of the Midnight Society,
I call this story...
Hi.
Hi. Got something
for you.
Choc
-- chocolate-covered blueberries?
Where did
you get these?
My dad got them.
I knew you liked them,
so I pinched a couple.
You're the best.
So you going to
the dance Friday?
Uh, no. I'm not
much of a dance guy.
I'm more of
a sit-and-watch guy.
That's it!
That's it!
[Girl]
Shh!
Hey, Keith.
Hi, Gary.
There's Shelly.
Whoa...
We're having a fight.
Get out of here.
Yeah. She says
I take her for granted.
Come on.
Let's go.
Get it, Keith.
Sorry, man.
That was rude.
That's OK.
Let's go.
[Bell rings]
[Boy] Keith Saunders
was in a bad car crash.
It messed up his leg so bad
that he'd never walk
without a limp.
But the accident
didn't just damage his leg.
It hurt his
entire outlook on life.
Ohh!
Oh, man, I'm sorry.
It's OK.
I'll get them.
No, no. It's OK.
I can do it.
Sometimes I can be
such a klutz.
Yeah. Me, too.
So, uh, are you going
to the dance on Friday?
Maybe. I don't know.
Gary's being a pain.
Well, if you ever need anyone
to fill in or anything...
You're sweet.
Bye.
Yeah, bye.
[Music playing]
Shelly.
[Voice not heard]
"You can bring out
the best in yourself...
"Have the courage to walk
"through the doors of
Sardo's Magic Mansion...
for the potion."
[Bell jingles]
[Man] Don't just
stand there! Come in!
Um...
is there
a Mr. Sourdough here?
That's Sardo!
No "mister,"
accent on the "do."
Now... what is it?
What can I do for you?
I came for the potion.
The potion! The potion!
The potion!
What potion?
The potion that brings
out the best in people.
Oh, the potion! Yes!
That potion! Of course!
Silly me!
It's right over here.
Uh...
What else does it do?
The ad said it could
make me more confident,
it could make me
more powerful.
Right. Got it.
Oh, the potion.
Why didn't you say so?
It's my number one
bestseller.
Now, this is
very powerful stuff,
very powerful indeed.
You must only use one
drop at a time. Understand?
How much
does it cost?
Well, it's
very difficult
to put a value on just
what this will do for you,
but if I were
pressed, I'd say... $.
$!
All right--! But I'm
losing on the deal.
Thanks just the same.
How much you got?
$.
Done!
I'll get you a receipt.
One drop at a time.
[Slurping]
All right!
Aah! Harold!
...
...
.
Ohh!
Yes!
Whoa-oa! Who is that?
Hi.
I'm K.C.
You know
Keith Saunders?
Yeah.
He's my cousin.
So are you going to
ask me to sit down?
Yeah, sure.
[Alarm clock ringing]
Ohh!
Little warm for that,
isn't it?
Oh, I got a cold.
So who was that guy yesterday?
He ran from your house--
What guy?
He was at the charcoal
pit, flirting with Shelly.
He looks kind of like--
It's no one.
It's no one.
But I'm sure that I--
Look... let's just walk
to school, OK?
Sure.
Hey, Keith!
See you later.
Your cousin K.C.
Is great!
Yeah?
Hi! Is he going to be at the
charcoal pit after school?
Uh, if you
want him to be.
Tell him we'll
all be there. See ya!
You never told me
you had a cousin.
He's not from
around here.
So how did
the geometry test go?
I flunked it.
You flunked a test?
It wasn't easy.
I mean,
the test was hard.
Well, is everything
all right?
The doctor said it's
normal to be a little bummed
after
the accident.
Dad...
I'm fine.
Really.
I got homework.
Keith.
[Telephone rings]
Hello?
Hi, Keith?
This is Shelly.
Is K.C. There?
Who?
Oh, yeah.
K.C., um, hang on.
Hey, how you doing?
Great. I was wondering if
you weren't doing anything,
why don't you come over
and watch TV or something?
Yeah, sure.
I mean, uh...
I think I'm free.
Hold on.
I'll be over
in a little while.
Great. See ya.
Thanks for coming over.
I had a really
good time tonight.
When do I get
to see you again?
How about Friday night?
But that's the, uh...
Dance. I know.
Come with me.
But Gary...
Has he asked you?
No.
Well, I'm asking.
I, uh...
I'd love to.
Terrific.
Well... goodnight.
[Alarm clock ringing]
Ohh! Ohh!
Was it tight?
Yeah. It's
really tight,
and it goes just
above my knees.
Shelly? Have you seen
Keith? He wasn't in school.
No.
How about
his cousin K.C.?
No. But I'll see him
tonight at the dance.
So tell me more
about the dress.
This is what you call bringing
out the best in somebody?
Well, I must admit
it is a bit unusual.
What happened
to the others?
What others?
You mean...
Frankly, you're the
only person who's ever...
Bought the stuff.
What?
But I'm sure there's
something we can do.
I'm looking, I'm looking,
I'm looking.
Here it is!
Here, here, here!
"Bring out the best...
only one drop at a time.
Very powerful..."
I don't know what
could have gone wrong.
Are you sure you're not
taking any other potion?
No. And I wish
I didn't...
What's this?
Oh.
"Caution--
turn page."
You mean
there's more?
"Before bringing
out the best,
one must fight the Dark
Dragon from within."
Funny, I didn't
notice that.
What's
the Dark Dragon?
I'm sure
I don't know.
But I'm afraid you're
about to find out.
So what time should I
pick you up for the dance?
You never bothered
to ask me.
See ya.
So I'm asking
you now.
I'll pick you up
at
I'm going with
someone else.
What?
Keith?
[Loud groan]
Keith?
It's me.
I need to talk.
Something's wrong.
I know it.
Mariah...
Open the door.
I can't, Mariah.
You need help,
Keith.
Let me help you.
No one
can help me now.
Let me try.
Just go away! Just go!
Aah!
[Groaning]
[Groaning]
[Music playing]
Hi.
Whoa! You're beautiful.
Hi.
I think this could be the
best moment of my life.
All right, kids.
This is the time during
the annual homecoming dance
when we award the trophy
for the best athlete in school.
The envelope, please.
And the winner is...
Who else?
Gary March! Yeah!
Congratulations, Gary!
I'd like to dedicate this award
to Shelly Bergman.
I'd just like her to know she's
got first place in my heart.
And, uh, I'd give anything
if she'd dance
the next dance with me.
[Music playing]
I'm sorry, K.C.
Ask me to dance...
please.
Isn't it gross to be
stared at like this?
Mariah...
The potion...
Isn't it wonderful?
Now you can fall
in love with me.
What are you
talking about?
I could never
tell you this before,
but I love you.
So if you want a
pretty girl like Shelly,
I'll be a pretty girl.
Isn't it wonderful?
[Groaning]
What's going on?
Nothing, sir.
It's OK.
I'm fine.
I think I need air.
This feels awful.
How much did you take?
[Panting]
I-- I drank
the whole bottle.
No! Why did
you do it?
I did it for you.
You wanted
a beautiful girl.
Mariah!
Keith, what's happening?
It's my fault.
I'm the one who's supposed
to change, not you.
Why?
I didn't want
to be me anymore.
My leg, the brace...
I'm sick of it.
I can't be normal.
People stare at me.
I hate myself.
I don't hate you.
I didn't want this
to happen to you.
Mariah...
Please don't go.
Keith?
It's you.
It's really you.
What happened?
I think I b*at
the Dark Dragon.
I don't understand.
It's been inside me
since the accident,
but it's gone now.
The potion did exactly
what it said it would.
Keith? Mariah?
What are you doing here?
I was, uh, just taking
my girl to the dance.
The end.
Happy birthday, Gary.
[All]
Happy birthday, Gary!