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04x16 - Family Reunion

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Tales from the Darkside". Aired: October 29, 1983 – July 24, 1988.*
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The series spans various genres of speculative fiction, including science fiction and fantasy in addition to horror, and many episodes have darkly comic elements.

04x16 - Family Reunion

Post by bunniefuu »

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR:
Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

[radio broadcast
playing indistinctly]

[phone ringing]

[phone continues ringing]

RADlO ANNOUNCER:
More of the same tomorrow,

with a high of only 60.

And now, here are
today's top stories.

Chasbury police are looking
for the man or animal

whose savage attack has left
a man in critical condition

-[ringing continues]
-at Mercy Hospital.

The spokesman for
the sheriff's office says

the attack may be linked
to the bizarre slaying

of a dog in an area home,
late last night.

Chief of Police Merle Johnson
is asking local residents

to report any sightings
of wild animals or dog packs

to his office immediately,
and to keep children inside.

[ringing continues]

[sighs]

[ringing continues]

Hello?

[whispering]: Janice,
how did you get this number?

No, you cannot talk to Bobby.

You're gonna have to believe

that l'm acting
in our boy's best interests.

l cannot be more specific!

There's a problem.

A terrible problem.

But l'm gonna take care of it.

Nobody's gonna get hurt,
l'm gonna see to that.

l know what has to be done.

No. l...

Of course l'd never harm him.

l'm not crazy.

l wished l were.

Oh, never mind.

l'm s...

l'm exhausted.

Look, l got to hang up now.

We're gonna be
leaving here soon.

No, l will not tell you
where we're going.

You've got to stop
following us.

Janice... we...

we're not a family anymore.

Good-bye.

[hangs up]

[footsteps approaching]

-[door creaks]
-Son?

That was your mother.

That means we're gonna
have to be leaving here

as soon as you can.

Trust me, l know what's best.

lt wouldn't even be safe...
for Mom to come.

We don't want anything
to happen to her.

Right?

One of these days,
we're gonna find a cure for you,

and then everything will be
just like it used to be.

[crow cawing in distance]

[sofa creaking]

[bird hooting]

[softly]: Dad?

Dad?

[bird trilling quietly]

[panting softly]

[raspy snarling]

[snarling]

[growling]

[growling, snarling]

[deep, vicious growling]

[deep, echoing howl]

[deep snarl]

[deep snarling]

[low growling, snarling]

[deep growling]

[fierce snarl]

[low growling]

[bolting door]

[muffled growling]

[howling]

WOMAN: Now, let's see,
you're Mrs. Perry?

Please, call me Janice.

Fine. Janice.

Now, how can l help you?

[exhales]

My husband has kidnapped
our son.

lt happened about
six months ago.

We were on vacation
in lreland.

There was a hunting accident.

Both my son and l
ended up in the hospital.

Bobby was very badly hurt.

[sobs]
lt was terrible.

But he's all right now?

Oh, yeah.

l had a head injury.

When l came out of it,
the doctors told me that Robert

had just taken Bobby late
one night and run off with him.

No explanation? Nothing?

[exhales]

A letter.

Wild and very vague.

Something about Bobby
had some kind of problem

and l had to trust him.

l think he's
out of his mind.

He just left his job.

Didn't give any notice,
didn't call anybody.

He's literally been on the run

with Bobby
since they left lreland.

He's dragging that boy
all over the country.

l'm afraid Bobby hasn't had
a decent meal in six months,

let alone been in school.

You've got to help us.

Why don't you go to the police?

No. Not the police.

l don't want to cause
any serious problems

for my husband.

l just want my son back.

[sighs]
l know where he is.

l found the house
that they've rented.

Maybe if you would go to him...

tell him he can't
do this anymore,

that-that what he's doing
is against the law

and he must give Bobby up,
he might do it.

l don't think this is something
l can help you with.

l am reporting
a clear-cut case

of negligence, if not abuse.

This is the Child Service
Department, isn't it?

What else do you do here?!

You're absolutely sure

that your husband
has been abusing your son?

[quietly]:
Yes.

l've spoken to Robert
a few times on the phone.

He's got this idea that there's
something wrong with Bobby

and he has to lock him up!

lt's insane!

l'm afraid he's gonna hurt him.

You see...

my son and l
have always been very close.

l think Robert
is jealous of that.

All right.

We won't make this official.

We'll just pay your husband
an informal visit,

see if we can
make him see reason.

[quietly]:
Thank you.

[sniffles] l'm sure
you're doing the right thing.

A mother should never
be separated from her child.

[bird trilling]

[low, deep heartbeat]

[deep growling]

-[heartbeat continues]
-[chains rattle]

[latch echoing]

[heartbeat continues]

[raspy, hollow breathing]

[deep voice]:
Bobby...

ROBERT:
Bobby? Wake up, son.

-[birds chirping]
-Oh, Dad.

What time is it?

lt's almost 3:00.

You nearly slept
the whole day away.

l brought you some food.

Do you feel okay today?

Feel great!

[birds chirping]

l'd like to get out of here
for a while.

l feel like taking a nice,
long run in the country.

No.

We can't take a chance
on your being seen by anyone.

Besides, it's gonna
get dark real soon.

Okay.

Bobby, you know that
bad feeling you get

when it happens.

That's gone now, right?

You feel like yourself again?

l guess so.
l don't know.

l've been feeling a little...
different lately.

How?

Well, always before
when it happened,

l didn't want it to,
but l couldn't stop it.

Even when l was right
in the middle of it,

l wanted it to stop.

l remember looking down
at my hands,

and them looking
like an animal's.

l was really scared.

But the past couple of times,
it's been different.

lt still hurts
when it first happens,

but after the pain goes away,

and l start changing,

l feel like l want it to happen,
and that l rea...

No, you don't.

You're just not
remembering right.

Yes, l am.

l feel wild and crazy

and really strong,
like l could do anything.

Bobby...

do you remember anything
about last night?

[car drives up]

-[car doors open, shut]
-No matter what happens,

l want you to promise me
you'll stay in this room;

you won't come out that door.

-Dad!
-Promise me.

[footsteps approaching]

Promise.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

WOMAN:
Why all the bolts and bar?

[Robert sighs]

What's behind that door,
Mr. Perry?

He's got my boy in there.

Just go away.

Just open the door
and let us take a look.

We'll be happy to leave
when we see what's inside.

l'm not a child, miss.

Or an incompetent.

We both know who's in there.

My son is in there!

And that's where
he's gonna stay.

Why are you doing this, Robert?

What's happened to you?

ROBERT:
lt's not me.

Don't you understand?

lt's Bobby.

Bobby's changed,

and l'm the only one
who can help him.

You shouldn't have brought
an outsider into this.

Mr. Perry, your wife
is very worried about her son.

Surely you can understand that.

She hasn't seen him
for six months. Please!

Just let us take a look,
see that he's okay.

Then we'll leave.

No.

Get away from that door!

-Mom!
-Oh, Bobby!

Get out of here.

Right now!

No! Dad, what are you doing?

They can't stay here.

Come on, Janice.

We're leaving, Mr. Perry.

Janice, let's go.

Let's go, Janice.

You are not gonna get away
with this!

He's my son, too!

You're crazy.

You're a maniac!

They're gonna lock you up!

l'll be back for you, Bobby.

You know that.

[whispers]:
l'll be back.

ROBERT:
Bobby?

What?

Think l'm gonna buy a couple
tickets to Miami this time.

Be a nice change
from all this cold weather.

What do you think?

Fine.

Buy two tickets
to the Moon, if you like.

Son, l can understand
you being angry.

BOBBY:
You pulled a g*n on Mom!

l had to. To protect her.

BOBBY: That's what you keep
saying, and l'm sick of it!

l'd never hurt Mom!

What's that for?
What are you doing?

Let go of my arm, son.

You're keeping me here like
some type of animal in the zoo.

You got out of here again
last night.

Good.

You don't know what you're like
when it happens.

Yes, l do, and l love it.

You little idiot...

you k*lled a man last night.

What?

lt's not your fault.

Wow.

Guess l am kind of dangerous.

Yeah, l can see why
you're so scared, Dad.

Where's Mom?

l don't know.

l want to see her!

No!

You calm down.

l'm coming right back.

[door closes]

[wind whistling]

[insects chirring]

[door rattles]

ROBERT:
Bobby?

[door rattling]

Bobby?! Bobby.

-[door rattling]
-Open the door!

[snarling]

[growling]

[howling]

Janice.

What are you doing here?

Did you get the court order?

The sheriff will serve it
to Robert tonight.

Fine.

l want to be there.

l'm afraid
he's gonna hurt Bobby.

Wait.

l'll go with you.

Okay.

[wind whistling]

[knocking]

Mr. Perry, are you there?

Oh...!

What happened here?

Mr. Perry?

Bobby?!

[woman gasps]

Take it easy.

[Janice whimpering]

Just... take it easy.

Here.

You wait here.

l'll be right back.

l'll go in and see about Bobby.

Don't move.

[door creaking]

[rustling]

Bobby?

Bobby?

[panting]

Bobby... Bobby, come on.

We have to go now.

[panting continues]

WOMAN: Don't worry.
Everything will be all right.

-[Bobby snarling]
-Bobby?

[snarling]

[growling]

[growling continues]

[fierce growl]

[howling]

[screaming, growling]

Help me! Help me, please!

l can't get this thing...

Can't...

Get out of here!

Your husband was right.

He's some sort of a monster!

Get away.

l'll take care of it.

No!

[g*nsh*t]

[snarling]

[growling]

No...

No!

-[growling]
-[woman whimpering]

[woman screaming]

[growling continues]

[fierce growl]

[both howling]

[howling continues]

NARRATOR:
The dark side is always there.

Waiting for us to enter.

Waiting to enter us.

Until next time,
try to enjoy the daylight.