Halloween Hounds/Transcript

Oliver and Company: The Series

Halloween Hounds

Act I

(Wide shot of New York at night. An overhead shot of the docks as shone as the camera pans into an abandoned warehouse. Several stray dogs, as well as Dodger, Oliver, Rita, Tito, Francis and Einstein are gathered, as an old, mixed-breed dog is telling a ghost story.)

Dog: (narrating o.c. at first) And they approached slowly, and then the monster...

Dodger: This is the best part!

Oliver: What is it?

(The audience waits, with baited breath, anticipating what comes next.)

Dog: The monster....pounced!

(The crowd cry out, barking, yowling and yelping in terror. The dog, Old Murphy, gives a throaty laugh as the commotion calms down. The crowd then starts to calm down.)

Old Murphy: (laughing) I got you all good!

(Dodger, Oliver and the gang have landed in a heap. They get up and recompose themselves.)

Dodger: Wooh! Nearly had a heart attack.

(Later, the gang are exiting the warehouse, following the crowd of strays.)

Oliver: Admit it, you were scared!

(The gang make their way through the streets of Manhattan. Several buildings have Halloween decorations, like pumpkins, skeletons and bats hanging up in the windows. They approach the Foxworth house.)

Rita: You sure you don't wanna have a sleepover with us, Oliver?

Oliver: No, thanks. I'll probably see you tomorrow, though.

(Oliver heads inside. The gang continue on their way.)

Rita: Admit it, Dodger, I heard you screaming like a little baby back there.

Dodger: Hey, Old Murphy's stories are the highlight of the stray community.

Francis: (sarcastically) Oh yes. What a cultural high point.

(The gang arrive back at the houseboat. Fagin is snoring on the armchair, watching the television. Dodger slumps onto his bed, with his legs sticking in the air.)

Dodger: Hey, I personally enjoy Old Murphy's stories.

Rita: Come on, you actually believe them?

Dodger: I don't have to confess anything to you!

Rita: You need to live more, Dodge.

Dodger: Oh yeah. I'll show you. Tomorrow, I'm gonna find the Wailing Ghost of Staten Island. It's said he haunts the old housing projects.

Rita: To be a fly on the wall for that one.

Dodger: Goodnight, guys.

(Dodger turns his back to Rita. She rolls her eyes at him. She settles down. Fade to a shot of the gang, who are sleeping.)

Dodger (to himself): Think I'm some big chicken? I'll show you!

(Dodger bounds out of the houseboat, while the gang are still asleep. At the Foxworth house, he is outside Jenny's room, talking to Oliver.)

Oliver: Are you sure you wanna go through with this?

Dodger: Don't tell me you're chickening out on me, kid.

Oliver: No, but, ya see--

Dodger: Oliver, just last weekend, Jenny had two friends stay for a sleepover, and they were watching Moonlight Madness: The Beast of Brooklyn, probably the most bloody, nasty horror movie ever; and she's only nine! That takes guts.

Oliver (laughs nervously): Well, yeah. Her friend did end up getting grounded for a month, so--

Dodger: My point is, are you in or out?

(Oliver hesitates. Dodger cocks his eyebrow at him waiting for him to make his decision.)

Oliver: Alright, Dodge. I'm in. Let's go on a ghost hunt.

Dodger: (cheers) Yes!

(Oliver and Dodger high five each other.)

Oliver: This'll definitely be a Halloween experience and then some!

Dodger: You said it, kid.

(Cut to exterior shot of the Foxworth house, the next evening. Jenny heads out of the door dressed as a witch, following Winston.)

Jenny: Bye mom! Bye dad! I'll see you after the party!

Mrs. Foxworth: (off-camera) Alright, honey.

(They exit the house. Dodger and Oliver watch as Winston drives off.)

Oliver: She's gone.

(He jumps down from the windowsill. Dodger stretches and jumps off the couch.)

Dodger: Jen's goin' out.

Oliver: And so are we.

(Sancho enters the room, smiling confidently.)

Sancho: Good luck with your little ghost hunt, amigos.

Dodger: Trust me, Sancho. We will.

(Cut to a shot of the streets of Manhattan. Dodger and Oliver make their way through a crowd of trick or treaters dressed in costume.)

Oliver: (taken aback) Woah, they've gone all out tonight!

(The two weave through the crowds, knocking some people over in the process. They arrive at the harbor, and board a passing ferry. Dodger and Oliver hide under a passenger's seat, so as not to be detected.)

Oliver: (whispering) What's going on?

Dodger: (shushing) Don't make a sound! You'll find out soon.

(Oliver looks at him, perplexed. As soon as the boat docks, the two animals disembark, following a group of passengers.)

Dodger: Welcome to Staten Island, Ollie.

(Cut to the streets of Staten Island. Dodger and Oliver make their way through a crowd of people dressed up in costume, including a group of teenagers dressed as a vampire, a zombie and a mummy. They arrive at a dilapidated block of apartments, surrounded by a chain-link fence; several of the apartments have windows that have been smashed in, and head inside.)

Oliver: This is where we're going?

Dodger: Yup. It's the Paterson housing projects. Abandoned since '63.

Oliver: It looks creepy.

'Dodger: See, Ollie, here's a little history. The housing projects here were established way back in 1894, to house the poor families of Staten Island.

Oliver: OK. Interesting. (He swallows) How come it was abandoned?

Dodger: Well, here's where it gets spooky.

Oliver: Well? How?

Dodger: Summer of 1963. Electrical fire in apartment 32. It rages so fast, and most of the people got, except for one guy, a vet from World War Two, and his dog; they never made it out. Some say that the dog's ghost haunts these apartment blocks to this day.

Oliver: (clearly terrified) OK...well, I'm gonna go, so...

Dodger: Oh, what's wrong? (in a patronizing tone) Little baby wet his diaper?

'Oliver: (sarcastically) Ha ha. Very funny. Remind me to buy you a new joke book.

(The two make their way up the staircase and into the upper floors of the apartment. It is dark, and most of the apartments look empty and overrun with cobwebs.)

Oliver: You know, Dodger, if this ghost isn't real, I'm gonna get you get you back for that!

Dodger: What? You'll make me go on a date with Georgette? Or, even better, I have to jump up on one leg?

Oliver: Maybe, maybe. In fact, do it now.

Dodger: OK, if it'll shut you up.

(Dodger tries to jump up and down on one of his hind paws, with difficulty. Oliver gives a smug smile.)

Oliver: Oh, and you have to make a noise like an orangutan.

(Dodger inhales; he resumes jumping on his hind left paw, all the while making loud monkey noises. He shoots a dirty look at Oliver.)

Dodger: You're really milking this for all it's worth, aren't ya?

(Fade to the houseboat. The gang-minus Dodger-are watching a horror movie on TV, as Fagin is slumped on his armchair, hiding his eyes. Tito flinches at the gruesome sounds, and hides between Francis's paws.)

Rita: Tito, you big wimp!

(She cackles as Tito cowers underneath Francis. He scowls at Tito, as he quivers and his teeth chatter. Rita shakes her head at him.)

Rita: Honestly, you're worse than Dodger! All talk he is, but he ain't half a wimp! (She snickers, as Tito glares at her) Dodge freaked out watching Aladdin!

(The sound of a scream comes off the TV. The gang flinch at the horrifying sounds. Suddenly, it goes quiet; Rita has an expression of awe on her face. Francis and Tito are petrified, and stare at the screen, helplessly. Einstein stares at the screen, with a mixture of confusion and horror on his face. Fagin peeks out through his fingers. Francis breathes slowly and slightly; Tito hides his eyes in his paws. Suddenly, the sounds resume; the sound of a guttural roar emits from the TV; Rita shakes her head as Einstein jumps into Fagin's arms, a la Scooby Doo.)

Francis: I'm sorry, but Aladdin?

Rita: The moment where the guy turns into a snake. Bit weird, considering the time he went to the Central Park Zoo and got into a fight with a python!

(Rita cackles loudly, as Francis shakes his head at her. Cut to an exterior shot of the housing projects. The camera pans in. Dodger and Oliver make their way through the empty hallways. A bat flies overhead, vocalizing. Oliver looks around at the empty apartments. He and Dodger enter one of them.)

Oliver: I can't believe this place has been empty for thirty-five years!

(Dodger jumps onto the sofa, which has obviously seen better days, and lies on his back staring up at the ceiling. He glances at Oliver.)

Dodger: Although, one thing I will say, whoever lived here clearly had some terrible tastes in decor.

(Suddenly, the silence is broken by a guttural moaning sound. Oliver and Dodger are suddenly alert, and tentatively exit the apartment, trying to find the source of the sound.)

Oliver: What was that sound?

Dodger: I don't know.

(The two tiptoe into the hallway, clearly frightened. Suddenly, a menacing voice emits from nowhere.)

Voice: (o.c.) Who dares to enter the home of the Wailing Ghost?

(Oliver and Dodger are utterly petrified, and unable to move. Dodger's mouth is trembling and he is close to soiling himself in fright.)

Dodger: OK, maybe this wasn't such a good idea!

(The two stand stock still. The sounds of moaning and howling wind can be heard in the background. Cut to an exterior shot of the housing projects, with the sound of a wolf howling in the background. Fade to commercial break.)

Act II

(When the show returns, Oliver and Dodger have exited the apartment, and have now worked up the courage to continue tracking the sound. They are now running at breakneck speed through the halls; the two come to a section of the floor that has caved in, exposing one of the abandoned apartments. Oliver jumps over the gap, followed by Dodger, who struggles at first, but hoists himself up.)

Oliver: Should we split up? (Dodger looks confused) You take the...

(He gets cut off by the sounds of ghostly moaning. Oliver and Dodger stare up. In the lower levels of the apartment, they can see something moving, and the sound of snarling emanating from below. Oliver flinches, and Dodger gets into a defensive pose, ready to attack.)

Dodger: I've seen enough horror movies to know that never works. Stay with me!

(The two take off together, trying to get ahead of the pursuer. Not looking where he is going, Dodger stands on a fragile floorboard, and falls through to the lower level.)

Oliver: Dodger!

(Cut to Dodger, who is struggling to stand up. Oliver watches from above, helplessly. The sound of growling emanates from o.c.; the ghost is ready to attack.)

Oliver: Dodger! (Dodger cocks his head up) Are you okay?

Dodger: I'm fine, kid. Just fine. But I've got a plan.

Oliver: What is it?

Dodger: Trust me.

(Oliver nods, uncertain. Dodger winks at him. He lets out a series of pained howls and whimpers, while Oliver stares on slightly confused.)

Dodger: My leg! I can't stand up!

(Oliver cocks his eyebrow; Dodger mouths "play along" to him; Oliver gets it. From the shadows, a canine figure approaches.)

Dodger: Oh, I'm in such pain! My leg's broken, someone please help me. Help!

(At this point, Oliver jumps down and approaches Dodger, who is clearly milking the situation for all it's worth; Oliver shakes his head, disapprovingly.)

Oliver: OK, you can stop now. (Helps Dodger up)

Dodger: Fooled 'im good.

(Dodger gives a smug grin. Suddenly, his victory is cut short by the sound of growling.)

Voice: Think again!

(The "ghost" pounces out of the shadows; he is an elderly, mixed-breed dog, with mangy fur of grey and brown; his right eye is milky white, and his left eye appears to have been sewn shut. He wrestles Dodger to the floor.)

Dodger: Wanna fight, old timer?

(Dodger tussles with his opponent, knocking over furniture in the process. Oliver watches on, nervously, as the two dogs bite and swat at each other with their paws. They barrel into a TV stand, and the TV itself comes crashing to the floor.)

Oliver: Dodger! Look out!

Dodger: I got this, kid!

Elder dog: You think so?

(He tosses Dodger aside like a rag doll. Dodger gets into a fighting pose, ready for round two. He pounces on his opponent, and their fight continues out into the hallway. Oliver watches with a nervous expression on his face. Dodger and the elder dog end up in another apartment, where he pushes his opponent into a bookshelf, knocking him out.)

Oliver: You OK?

(Dodger rights himself, and approaches Oliver. He stares back confidently at his unconscious opponent. Cut to the houseboat, where Tito is quivering in fear. Rita stands over him, with a smirk on her.)

Rita: Admit it, Tito! You were scared.

Tito: I wasn't!

Rita: Oh really? (She cocks her eyebrows) My mistake then.

Francis: Tito, you were hiding your eyes, and screaming like a little girl.

Rita: Ya kinda sounded like Georgette, when she saw Dodger eating her dog-friendly candies!

(Cut back to Oliver and Dodger in the housing projects. They walk away confidently, unaware that the elderly dog has gotten up, and is following them.)

Oliver: Dodger?

Dodger: Why do I get the feeling I'm being followed?

(They turn around and see the elder dog. Dodger gets ready to fight him, and Oliver hangs back. Dodger pounces and wrestles him to the ground; Oliver gets a nervous expression on his face, and the elderly dog pushes Dodger off of him, before righting himself.)

Dodger: Alright. (He breathes in, confidently) Want more?

(Cut to an interior shot of the houseboat. The gang are continuing their conversation as Fagin sits in front of the TV, gibbering in horror.)

Tito: I'm tellin' you, senorita, it was just a silly horror movie.

Rita: How come you were screaming when the guy turned into a werewolf?

Tito: I know that it ain't real!

Rita: What about the time we watched Curse of the Pharaoh?

Tito: (scoffs) Didn't so much as flinch, mamacita.

Francis: What about The Beast from Chicago?

Tito: (defensive) Look, I know subconsciously they ain't real. It's just a guy wearing a silly costume and covered in make-up. (He turns away and saunters off) And I don't care to discuss it further.

(Rita and Francis stare at each other, confused. Tito jumps onto Einstein's back, as he hides his eyes with his paws, as the TV flickers. Dodger and Oliver are at the apartment, cornered by their attacker. The elderly dog approaches Dodger, ready to fight; Oliver claws his cheek, and he yelps in pain.)

Oliver: Now would be a good time to run!

Dodger: Agreed.

Elder dog: (poised to fight) I don't think so.

Dodger: (uncertain) What was that?

Oliver: Uhh, Dodge. I think we should be moving on.

(The two run away, tearing through the apartment block. Suddenly, the elderly dog catches up to them, and blocks their path; Oliver and Dodger stop dead in their tracks.)

Dodger: Oh, we are f--

(Oliver elbows Dodger. He shoots him a look. Oliver turns to the camera, addressing the home audience.)

Oliver: Hey, Dodger! Not in front of the kids.

Dodger: Didn't realize. Whoops!

(The elderly dog stalks toward Oliver and Dodger, like a tiger creeping upon a deer. The two back away, terrified; Dodger swallows nervously.)

Dodger: We are so dead.

(Fade to black. Cut to interior shot of the houseboat. Francis hides his eyes at the sounds of a horror movie playing on TV. Rita and Tito cock their heads towards him with smug smiles on their faces.)

Tito: Now, who's the big wimp?

(He and Rita high-five each other. Cut back to the housing projects. Dodger and Oliver are falling over each other trying to escape.)

Dodger: (begging) Please, don't kill me! Eat the cat, I'm too gamey! He's got more meat on his bones! I mean, if ya want--

(Oliver shoots him a disapproving look. The elderly dog looks at Dodger as if he's crazy.)

Elderly dog: Wait, back up? You think I'm some sort of monster?

(He gives a hearty, gravelly laugh. Dodger looks perplexed.)

Dodger: Okay. Now, I am just plain confused. What the heck's going on?

(Dodger and Oliver cock their heads, as the elderly dog regains his composure.)

Elderly dog: Name's Bud. Blind Bud.

(He extends his paw to Dodger.)

Dodger: (confused) Uhhh...Dodger. And this is Oliver.

(Bud gestures to Oliver and Dodger, who follow him, albeit looking confused.)

Oliver: Huh?

(They enter an abandoned apartment with the number 32, hanging off it. Oliver and Dodger sit down on a sofa.)

Bud: It's time you learned the truth.

(He stands on a well-worn armchair, addressing Oliver and Dodger, in the manner of a teacher talking to students. Oliver and Dodger's attention is piqued.)

Dodger: This should be...interesting.

(Oliver and Dodger stare on with interest. Cut to commercial break.)

Act III

(When the show returns, we see Oliver and Dodger listening to Bud recounting the events of the night. Their expressions are a mix of interest and confusion.)

Bud: I'm gonna tell you the truth behind this little ghost story.

(Oliver and Dodger stare at each other, shrug, but then draw their attention back to Bud. He paces back and forth across the room, Oliver and Dodger's heads keeping in time with his movements. He continues to address his audience, who are drawn in by his story.)

Bud: The Ghost of Staten Island is popular among the street dogs. But, do you actually know that I am the actual Wailing Ghost?

(Oliver and Dodger have dumbfounded expressions on their faces. Fade to the houseboat. Francis is cowering and hiding his eyes from the horror movie. Tito whispers something into Rita's ear; a devilish smile spreads across her face. She darts off, and Francis looks up uncertainly; Rita approaches, hiding under a sheet, and whispering spookily.)

Francis: (terrified) Rita, is that--?

'Rita: (in a spooky voice) I am NOT Rita! I am the ghost of Queen Nesetari, Pharaoh of Egypt!

Francis: Please! Stop it!

Rita: Those who disturb my tomb will be punished for eternity and cursed forevermore! (cackles) Fear my curse, mortal fool!

Francis: Please! Stop! I can't take it!

(He darts under a tarpaulin. Rita throws the sheet off off, and gives a cocky grin at Francis. She saunters off as Francis cowers. Cut back to the apartment, where Bud is recounting the story to Oliver and Dodger. Bud is sitting on the armchair in kingly fashion, while Oliver and Dodger look utterly confused.)

Oliver: You're the Wailing Ghost?

(Bud nods his head. Oliver is completely confused. He looks to Dodger to give him an answer, but he shrugs. Bud continues the story and leaps down from the armchair.)

Bud: Yup. I actually made the whole thing up myself.

(What Bud describes next is shone in monochrome, and his story continues on as a voice-over; there are shots of Bud walking the empty streets.)

Bud: See, I ran away from my owner back in '91. Made friends with a stray called Murphy.

(In the flashback, we see images of Bud and Murphy on the streets, engaging in conversation. Another shot shows Bud among a group of street dogs listening to one of Murphy's anecdotes, he is clearly very engaged. Another shot shows Bud hiding in the abandoned apartment. Flashback to present with Dodger and Oliver, listening.)

Bud: I was a fan of Murph's little anecdotes. (Turns to Oliver and Dodger) So, I'd been living in the projects, which folks say are haunted, and I took full advantage.