08x02 - Part Two: Opening Night

[bunniefuu]

[scorpion chittering]

[overlapping chatter]

- It seems that one
of your fellow classmates

went missing this morning.

[overlapping chatter]

- No, no, no.

♪ ♪

- I am sufficiently spooked.

[locker squeaks]

[overlapping chatter]

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[train horn blaring]

[ethereal music]

♪ ♪

- I've never seen this
in the daytime before.

- Yeah, looks super different.
Like, less spooky.

- I prefer it spooky.

- Guys.

- Take a seat.

- I just wanna say that--

- Explain yourself.

- Yeah, seriously,
What's going on?

- I'm just as in the dark
as the rest of you.

- What?

- How is that possible?

- Rachel, it's just-- none of
this makes any sense.

- None of this makes any sense
to me either.

I made up the story.

I have nightmares
about a creepy carnival,

and I turned those nightmares
into a story.

That's it.

- And now the creepy carnival
is real.

- Maybe it's not
the same carnival.

Mr. Tophat's not on the flier.

- It's literally called
the Carnival of Doom.

Maybe it's a coincidence?

- I went there before this
meeting to check it out.

- Bring the chain link fence
here now!

- Two more in the back
of the truck!

That stays with the top!

Bring it down as soon
as he's done framing it.

It is just like I imagined it.

- And I Googled
the Carnival of Doom.

- Ditto.
- Yeah, same.

- Okay, we all did.
We're not dumb.

- The point is

the Carnival of Doom
has no social media presence.

Nothing at all.

No website, no Wikipedia,
nothing, nada, zip.

- Maybe we're gonna have to
look in places more physical.

- So are you suggesting we look
in old newspapers

or go to the library?
- Yeah.

- [blows]

I already did that.

[coughs]

[upbeat instrumental music]

♪ ♪

[microfilm reader winding]

There's nothing anywhere.

Okay, I spent the entire
lunch period looking.

- There's only one way
we're gonna find out

if this is the same
carnival from my story.

We should go tomorrow night.

Together.

- This Thursday?

I really-- I really can't.
I have lots of plans?

Really serious plans.

- Yeah, and I'm not going
to an evil carnival.

- Sounds fun, but hard pass.

- Yeah, no offense, Rachel,

but I'm staying far away
from that place.

- There's something else
you guys need to consider.

I don't even wanna say it out
loud because I hope I'm wrong.

Nearly all of my nightmares
about Mr. Tophat

involve him taking kids.

Just like my story.

If this carnival is the
carnival from my nightmares,

the same carnival
from my story--

Adam went missing the same day
the carnival came to town.

I think Mr. Tophat took him.

[suspenseful music]

Now, am I still going alone,

or are you all going
to join me?

- Nope
- No.

- The hardest no imaginable.

- Yeah, what you just said
made it ten times worse.

- I declare this meeting of
the Midnight Society closed.

- Come on, let's go.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

[eerie music]

♪ ♪

[distorted laughter]

♪ ♪

[sighs]

- I hate to say it,

but maybe inviting Rachel
to join the Midnight Society

was a mistake.

- I don't know.

- I think we should have
a vote at the next meeting.

- Let's talk at school
tomorrow, okay?

- Fine.

- [echoing]
Maybe inviting Rachel

to join the Midnight
Society was a mistake.

- [gasps]

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[gasping]

[continues gasping]

[gasping]

[breathes deeply]

[bell ringing]

[overlapping chatter]

- I think we should have a vote
at the next meeting.

- Oh, hey, sorry.

Hey, I knocked
on your door but--

- I decided to walk by myself.

- Oh, I--

- I'm used to doing
things alone, Gavin.

[melancholy music]

♪ ♪

[overlapping chatter]

[copy machine humming]

[phone ringing]

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- When this is all over,

we will have
some issues to discuss.

But someone...

Convinced us that
we shouldn't let you

go to the carnival
alone tonight.

We'll help you find Adam.

- Can I help you with those?

- I'll-- I'll help too.

- Me too.

- Studies show signs
like these don't work.

But sure, I'll tape some
litter to the walls,

why not?

- Where to?

- Town square.

- I was in the Boy Scouts
with Adam,

and whenever we went camping,
he'd wander off to pee

and end up getting lost.

- So, by the fifth time,
they asked him to stay home.

- Thanks, young lady.

- So, maybe,
Mr. Tophat isn't real.

- Maybe the carnival's
completely normal,

and he's just wandering around
the forest enjoying...nature.

- And if he's not?

If it is a super evil carnival?

What are we supposed to do
about it?

[police siren whooping]

- We should talk
to your brother.

- [laughs] What a laugh.

He'd never help us
in a thousand years.

- Her brother is a cop.

- Maybe someone else can ask
him for help.

[playful orchestral music]

[ringtone plays]

- I'm doing everything
I can, ma'am, I promise.

Officer Hideo Yamato speaking.

- Hi, this is Jonathon Townsend
the Third speaking.

[as Scottish adult] And I'm
calling about a hot tip

about a crime.

I am-- I'm an adult,
not a child.

- Uh, okay, Mr., um--
Mr. Townsend the Third,

to what case
are you referencing?

- Uh, if you're looking
for the missing child,

I think you should go to the
opening night of the carnival.

You might find some clues.

- The carnival?

What makes you think there's
a connection between the two?

- Uh...

I don't-- I don't know.
J- just go to the carnival.

B- bye.

- Jonathan Townsend the Third?

- That went really well.

- No, it did not.

- We should all head home.

Let's meet at the carnival
at : , okay?

- All right.

- You're such a weirdo.
Kidding.

- Later.

- That was stupid.
- You're stupid.

- [laughs] Please.

[ominous music]

♪ ♪

[light bulb buzzing]

[breathes heavily]

[gasping]

[wheels squeaking]

[breathing heavily]

[gasps]

[knocking]

- You ready?

- Sure.

- You seem tense.

- Nightmare.

- Mr. Tophat?

- The one and only.

- Everything's gonna be
all right, Rachel.

We'll figure this out.

Together.

- You sound like the parents
in my story.

We all know
how that turned out.

- Yeah.

Speaking of parents,

you think your mom would give
us a ride to the carnival?

What?

I like your mom.
She seems really nice.

Actually she's the weirdest
person I've ever met.

- Mm-hmm.

[laughter]

[ambient music]

♪ ♪

- Sorry.

- So, you're going
to the carnival together, huh?

- Mom.

- Gavin, what do your
parents think

about you dating
at this age?

- We're just meeting friends,
you know, it's not a date.

- I remember my first date.

I mean, it was not
that long ago,

but I was
so nervous.

Oh, sweating everywhere.

- I'm really sorry
about my mom.

- Rachel, I had no idea
you liked me like that.

- I-- I don't, no,
I swear we're just friends.

That's it, that's all we are.

Just friends-- friends,
that's it.

- Okay, relax, I know.
I'm kidding.

[laughs]

[laughter]

Of course.
[chuckles]

We're just...buddies.

[alternative rock music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- ♪ I'm not dead yet ♪

- Well, looks like we're here.

- Love you, Rachel.

[overlapping chatter]

- Akiko, you brought
one of your crew?

- I wouldn't usually slum it
in the documentary space,

but a good story's
a good story.

- Cool.
You make movies?

- No, I make films.

- This is Josie.

- 'Sup.

- My cinematographer.

- You know,
I like documentaries.

- I like cinema.

- I don't know what that means.

- Hey.

- To be clear,
we did not come here together.

- To be clear,
I don't know why that matters.

- Josie, I need a moment
with my acquaintances.

You go ahead.

- You've called me your friend
on, like, many occasions.

- Don't be needy.

Look, I know we all agreed
to come here together,

but Josie and I are gonna do
our own thing.

If this really is
a super evil carnival,

and Mr. Tophat
is kidnapping kids,

it will be
mega helpful to get

video evidence
of the whole thing.

- Akiko.

Akiko, what're you doing here?

- Um, going to the carnival.

What else would I be doing?

- Can we talk?

- [sighs]

What do you want?

- I got some weird tip today

from some goofy kid who was
pretending to be an adult.

And Irish?

- It was clearly Scottish.

- Okay, the accent was great.
- That accent was horrible.

- Anyway, he claimed that
Adam's disappearance

has something to do
with the carnival.

And it seemed
like nonsense at first,

but then I talked
to Adam's mom,

and she said that Adam walks
the same route every morning

with his dog, and that route
would have led him right here.

I- I thought I should look
into it.

You know, they don't call us
Argenta's finest for nothing.

- That wasn't supposed
to be a compliment, you know.

- I know, just-- okay,

let me know if you kids see
anything odd tonight, okay?

Please?
- Yeah, whatever.

- Hey, be safe, call me
if you need anything, yeah?

- So, four of us are going
on a detective mission,

and one of us is
making a documentary?

- Slash exposé,
but sure.

- Ramblers, let's get rambling.

- You've always wanted
to say that, haven't you?

[hard rock music]

♪ ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Whoa-oh ♪

♪ ♪

[distant cheers]

[cheers]

- Akiko, you can't film here.

- Please, I'm a rebel.

- Louise!

Hi.

- Ah!

- Why are you hiding?

- Who is she with?

- What if someone sees me
hanging out with him?

- Graham?

- Tonight could mess up
the social status

I spent years creating.

- Relax.

You're not "Loser-ese" anymore.

And besides,
Graham isn't even that bad.

- Guys, there's a clown
with glasses.

Just like Rachel's story.

This is insane.
He's not gonna have eyes.

- Graham, Graham, shh!
- He's not gonna have eyes!

I'm gonna freakin' cry.
This is so scary.

- Graham!
- I'm trying to calm down.

- Tickets, tickets.

What?

- Would you mind
taking off your glasses?

- My glasses?

- Yeah.

- [chuckles] Why would I wanna
do that?

- Just do it, please?

- [sighs]

- Cool, thanks.

- Excuse me, have you seen
this kid?

- What kid?

[eerie music]

♪ ♪

- Next.

[ominous music]

♪ ♪

- That's disgusting.

- Do you always carry these
around with you?

- Be prepared, Rachel.

That's the Boy Scouts motto.

Be prepared.

- Are you prepared
for the carnival?

- Absolutely not.

- Okay.

[overlapping chatter]

[evil laughter]

[overlapping chatter]

- Documentary time.

Let's go!

- I never knew organ music
could be so terrifying.

I might have to use it
sometime.

- Use it?

For what?

- Well, I'm a composer.
Aspiring, sort of?

Or at least I use basic stuff.

Little Tangerine Dream, little
Vangelis, a lot of Wang Chung.

- I'd love to hear it sometime.

- So, what are we thinking?

- I'm thinking
I should have stayed home

and watched a Hammer movie.

- Could it be
the same carnival?

Maybe, I don't know.

- No sign of Mr. Tophat.

- Everyone enter the big tent.

- [together]
Tonight's spooky festivities

will begin right inside.

Everyone report directly
to the big tent.

- I'm going to the big tent.

Who's going with me?

[eerie music]

♪ ♪

[crowd screaming]

[overlapping chatter]

[mic feedback]

- Welcome to
tonight's main event.

It is my honor
to introduce to you

the master of ceremonies...

- Please don't be him,
please don't be him.

- The king of the carnival,
and friend to no man.

You may call him
Mr. Tophat.

[cheers and applause]

- It's him.

It's really him.

- [gasps]

- Oh, hello, Rachel.

Welcome to the show.

[laughs]

[spooky music]

- No.

- No!

[cheers and applause]

- Ladies and gentlemen,

boys and girls,

my enemies, my children,
my people.

Tonight is
a very special night.

And when I say that tonight is
a very special night,

I mean it is a very
special night indeed.

Because tonight
is opening night.

You came here
for an experience.

You came here
to live your fullest life.

You came here because the
outside world is dull

and dreary

and safe.

You are here because--

- Free admission, baby!

[laughter]

- Yes, it did not
cost you money,

but nothing
in this world is free.

And it may
cost you everything else.

So, now that I have your
undivided attention,

I'd like to ask you
for a little bit more.

I'd like to ask
for your obedience.

I'd like to ask you
for your allegiance.

And I'd like to ask you all

to have
the greatest time imaginable.

Welcome to the
Carnival of Doom.

[crowd ohhs]

Now of course, you know, there
will be thrills and chills,

but remember no matter how
these things may seem,

it's all part of the show.

- How do you know when you're
having a heart att*ck?

'Cause I think I'm
having a heart att*ck.

Am I too young
to have a heart att*ck?

- Now, among the rides
and attractions

here at the carnival,
is a very small golden coin.

It looks-- what, oh, just--

[laughter]

It looks a bit like this.

This golden coin...

- I've seen that coin
in my nightmares.

- grants you admission to
a secret part of the carnival.

Will you be the lucky one
to find it?

Will you find this
passport to paradise?

Good luck.

And remember...

It's all part of the show.

[laughs]

[cheers and applause]

- Adam?

- Where is Rachel going?

- Excuse me, excuse me.
Sorry. Adam! Adam!

Excuse me.
Adam!

- Cotton candy!
Cotton candy here!

- Excuse me.
Sorry. I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

[overlapping chatter]

- You, young lady!
Right here.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

- Rachel.

- I saw Adam.

- Wait, where?

Are you sure?

- I don't know, I-- uh--

[evil laughter]

- Oh, hello, Rachel.

Welcome to the show.

- Rachel!
Rachel, hey, hey.

- I think I'm losing my mind.

- Or maybe we're both
losing our minds

because I see him too.

- That smile will haunt
my dreams forever.

- Wait, where'd he go?

- I think he was headed towards
the tunnel of love.

- No, no, no, he was going
to the Ferris wheel.

I'm sure of it.

- Remember the special opening
night hours

The park closes at : PM.

- We don't have much time.

- Okay, let's split up
into two groups of two.

One group goes
to the Ferris wheel,

the other to
the tunnel of love.

- I'll go with Rachel.

- You want me to hang out with
Graham, alone, in public?

- Let's hurry, guys.

Keep an eye out
for that gold coin.

[screaming]

- We are?
Okay, that'll work out.

- Yeah, just text them
and tell them where we are.

- Do you see Adam?

- Maybe he got on the ride.

- Hey, let's take five
and hydrate.

Can I see your phone?

What the--

This is amateur hour
operating.

Mr. Tophat's not even
in the frame.

- What?
That makes no sense.

He was standing right there.

- Are you saying
he's invisible?

Wait, he might be invisible.

- Yes, it did not cost--

- No way.
He is.

- Oh, my God, that's Adam.

- And it may cost you
everything.

- [growls]

[phone ringing]

- Akiko.
- Hideo.

You still at the carnival?

- Something wrong?

- Adam is here at the carnival.

I have proof.

Okay, I was recording
Mr. Tophat's show and I--

- Akiko.

Akiko, is something wrong?

- I think there are two scary
clowns staring at us right now.

[evil laughter]

[overlapping chatter]

- I count four.

- A little direction
would be helpful, Akiko.

- Um, I'm thinking-- run!

[laughing]

- This is Akiko,
don't leave a message.

- Hey, I need to speak
to someone in charge.

Now, boys, please,
come on.

[romantic music]

♪ ♪

- Hey, I'm sorry about
what I said in the car.

- It's no biggie.

Yeah, we're chill.

Totally, yeah.

[screams]

[echoing laughter]

- So did you have someone
back in your old town?

- Someone?

- Like a boyfriend.

- No.
No, I didn't.

- I could've.

But-but life is about choices.

And I-I choose to not have one.

- Same.

- Like, on purpose?

- Yeah.
Why be impatient?

Eventually the right girl
will come along.

[both scream]

- She's here.

Fine, fine.

Fine.

[sighs]

- There is a young constable
here to see you.

- Send him in.

- So--
- I know why you're here.

[grunts]

It's about the boy

who went missing,
isn't it?

- How'd you--
[door slams]

- Now, let's see if I can't

shed a little light
on the situation.

[laughs]

[laughter]
- [screaming]

[romantic music]

♪ ♪

- I don't see Adam anywhere.

[metallic rattling]

Did you hear that?

- It's just the ride.

Hey, is that the--

- It's the gold coin.

[grunting]

I can't reach it.

- I'm-- I'm afraid of heights.
- You're afraid of everything.

- But I'm really afraid
of heights.

- Do I look like I care?

- I think, maybe, you should.

- It's a little late now,
Graham, we're here.

[Ferris wheel clanks]

- Why'd it stop?

- Is this supposed to stop?

- This is too high, Louise.
This is entirely too high.

- Nothing bad is gonna happen
on this ride, Graham.

Just relax.

- Uh, this is weird.
- What's going on?

- I got you.

- I've almost got it,
it's just too far.

Feels like it's stuck to the
bottom like you can't even--

[water splashes]

[screams]

- Rachel!
I got you!

- [growls]
- Get off!

- Hold on!

- [laughing]

- Go, go!

[evil laughter]

[screams]

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[metal creaking]

- Come on!
We're waiting!

- Oh, my gosh.

Louise.
Louise.

[bolt squeaking]

Nothing bad is gonna happen
on this ride?

That counts as bad.
This is really, really bad.

[metal rattling]

It's up, up high,
we're dead.

We're gonna die.
We're gonna die!

- [screaming]

- Get off!
- Help!

Help!

- [grunting]
- [screaming]

[bolt squeaks]

- [crying] We're gonna die.

- Graham, there's another one.

Bolts don't unscrew
themselves, right?

- How many people do you think
touch this in a day?

- We've got bigger issues

than your germophobia
right now, Graham.

- I can freak out about
multiple things at once.

[screams indistinctly]

- It's okay, it's okay.
Breathe, breathe,

come on, come on, come on,
please just breathe.

- Stop talking!

[evil laughter]
- [screaming]

- [laughing]

- [screams]
- [grunting]

No!
Ugh!

- Help!
[monster snarling]

- Get off of her!

- Over here!
Hide!

Are we good?

- Shh.
I think so.

- Boo.

[both scream]

[laughing]

- [screaming]
- [grunting]

- Somebody help!
It's got me!

- [screaming]
- [grunting]

[mechanical whir]

[beeping]

- Graham.

- Is anyone gonna help us?
- Help?

[screw squeaking]

- It's about time.

- When you entered the park,

you agreed not to record
anything you saw

with a phone or camera.

- Thus you forfeited the right
to your own property.

Fork it over.

- Not our phones.

- A fate worse than death.

- Have a great night
at the Carnival of Doom.

Good-bye.

- Wait, was this--

- All part of the show?

Why did we go
to a free carnival?

- The skeletons were obviously
a part of the ride.

- [laughs] Do you think anybody
fell for that?

- [laughs]
I knew that.

- Yeah.
M- me too.

It was s-super...obvious.

- Yeah.

[nervous laughter]

[laughter]

- This is too wild for me.
I'm going home.

- Wait.

What about Adam?

- Who knows what you saw
in that video.

It could've been anyone.

- Is this a mutiny?

Are you abandoning
your captain?

- I'm tired, I have no camera,
there's nothing to abandon.

- Clowns suck.

- [laughs]

- Akiko, hey.

- Okay, so we thought
we were gonna die,

and then we didn't die,

and then we realized it was
all part of the show.

- We had basically
the same experience.

Except we knew it was part
of the show the entire time.

- Wow.

- Yeah, totally what he said.

- Okay, we were recording
the show,

and I realized we got
footage of Adam.

- Can we see it?

- A bunch of creepy clowns
took our phones.

This was not a successful
evening in my book.

- The carnival closes
in five minutes.

Five minutes, everyone.

- I am not going anywhere
until I find Adam.

- Hideo!

Hey,
sorry I couldn't call you back.

Clowns took my phone.

- You called me?

- Earlier.
About Adam?

I told you I saw him.

- Oh, yeah, yeah, Adam.

The missing kid
from your school.

Why would he be here?

- That's why you came.

You were looking for him.

- Nah, no, I just came
to check out the festivities.

Now, you kids get home safe.

- That was mega creepy.

- Okay, we are definitely
coming back here tomorrow

and getting
to the bottom of this.

- Let's go.

- You okay?

Listen, we'll find Adam.

Okay?

I promise.

- If we do find him,

after, are you guys gonna
cut me loose?

- What do you mean?

- I overheard Akiko and Louise
last night.

They were talking about a vote.

- Oh, that.
No, no, look.

As soon as you joined,
everything got crazy so fast,

and Akiko-- she's
just being protective.

Y'know, she cares about us.

But it's not personal.

- It felt personal.

- One of the older kids
in the group gave this to me

when he graduated.

He said it'd been passed down

The Midnight Society
for decades.

I was the new kid
around the campfire.

You know, always nervous.
I wasn't sure if I belonged.

But it was like
he wanted me to know

that I was one of them,
you know?

As long as I'm
in the Midnight Society,

there will always be a place
for you around that fire.

- Thanks.

- Can I walk you to school
in the morning?

- Absolutely.

- Come on.
Let's go home.

- Am I driving you?

- Not today.

[doorbell rings]

- That's Gavin, we're going
to school together.

- Ooh, Gavin.

- No, Mom.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Uh, sorry to bother you.

I'm Theo, your neighbor,
Gavin's father.

- Hello there, Gavin's father,

- Uh,
you can just call me Theo.

- Is there a
Mrs. Gavin's Father?

- No, no, no, nope.
Not anymore.

- Hmm, the plot thickens.

- Mom!

- Why did you decide to grace
us with your presence,

this morning?

- Why did I decide
to grace you?

Well, Gavin, my son-- have
either of you seen him?

He wasn't in his bed this
morning when I woke up.

- Oh, he wasn't.

- No.

Maybe he wanted to get
an early start,

and he's already
at school.

He's done that before.

He hasn't always been
the best at communication.

- Oh, communication is very
important in any relationship.

Wouldn't you say?

- Well if either of you hear
from him, please let me know.

It was good meeting you-- both
of you.

- It was, indeed.

[exhales]

Wow.

That man is ten kinds
of handsome.

Oh, honey.
What's wrong?

Are you okay?

- Gavin said he would walk with
me to school this morning.

- Oh, sweetie.

Rejection isn't
always personal.

You know, a young boy's mind
is a complicated labyrinth

filled with hormones
and insecurities.

It's gonna be okay.

- He took him.

- Who took him?

- Mr. Tophat.

- Mr. Who, now?

- The carnival.

- I'm confused.

- The one you drove us
to last night.

- Who drove?
Drove who?

- Me and Gavin.

- Oh, you and Gavin
went on a date?

- Oh, I'm so proud of you.

- You need to take me
to school right now.

[overlapping chatter]

Excuse me.

Excuse
me.

- Louise, Louise,
thank God.

- Oh, hey.
Are you okay?

- What did we do last night?

- We?

- The five of us,
where did we go?

- We didn't go anywhere.

I stayed at home.
I went to bed early.

- No, no, no, not you.
Please.

- What's going on?
And have you seen Gavin?

- Excuse me, please
excuse me, sorry.

Graham.
- Hey.

- I'm gonna ask you a question.

I need you to just tell me the
truth, please, I--

- Okay, okay.
Slow down.

What-- what's happening?

- Do you remember
the Carnival of Doom?

- Yeah, yeah.

- You remember?
Thank God.

- Yeah, it starred Bela Lugosi,

and it was like
eight out of ten.

Great movie.

- No, no, Mr. Tophat.
The big tent.

Does any of this ring a bell?

- No.

Was that in the movie?

[wind howling]

[train horn blaring]

- This has to be a dream.

This has to be some kind
of nightmare.

It's all part of the show.

It's all part of the show.
It's all part of the show.

[grunts]

I'm going to end this.

[echoing laughter]

♪ New school new life
new locker ♪

♪ With notes that make you
wonder ♪

♪ What kinds of stories likes
the Midnight Society ♪

♪ She told the tales
of Mr. Tophat ♪

♪ A man that's friends
to no one ♪

♪ It's all part of the show ♪

- You've all told scary stories
for longer than I even know.

But right now, you're in the
middle of a real one.

And we've reached
the final act.

- After them!

- [screams]

- [screams]

[chainsaw buzzing]

- [laughs]

- Mr. Tophat must be destroyed.

- Were you in our out?

- sh**t.

- I hope you are ready
for the main event.