Vasilika Vanya Marinkovic
Secret World Entertainment ©
NARRATOR
The Old Pueblo High School is decorated festively for Halloween. Blaring horns on vehicles show their approval for the Halloween fun that is happening right now as there is a line of a few dozen people forming outside the school. Some people are dressed in costume, some are not-particularly a number of homeless people.
NEWS ANCHOR (Addressing some cameras)
Hello Tucson! The Old Pueblo High School is hosting a trick or treating, fun and feeding event. Not only can trick or treaters get candy, but the high school and students raised money so needy families and homeless people can get food and candy! Come on by and Happy Halloween!
MR. PREACHER SCIENCE TEACHER
All right students, get ready for the masses. Love your costume Billy, you really look like a zombie!
BILLY
Thanks Mr. Preacher. By the way, since I’m helping serve meals and pass out candy all day, can I get out of my science exam on Monday?
MR. PREACHER
Haha ha-ha ha ha ha ha! You’re too funny Billy! Oh, there’s a family for you.
KID
Mommy, Mommy, I want some candy!
MOTHER
Sure, but we need food too. With Dad gone, things are very tough for us.
BILLY
Here is some candy for you guys and a frozen turkey, can of yams, pumpkin pie, canned vegetables, loaf of bread, milk, cereal and some frozen meals.
MOTHER
Thank you so much. You guys have saved us for the next week. What do you say honey?
KID
Thank you!
LANA
Mr. Preacher, there’s two homeless people headed my way.
BILLY
Don’t be a wuss, give them candy and some groceries.
HOMELESS LADY
Actually, I need a shower too.
LANA
We are handing out candy and groceries, not showers.
MR. PREACHER
Lana, this is the season for giving.
LANA
It’s Halloween, not Thanksgiving or Christmas.
SECURITY GUARD
I’ll take her to the shower, while this Halloween scrooge loads these homeless individuals with candy corn, m & M’s, peanut butter, jelly, bread, easy to open cans and other goods that are easy for homeless people to utilize.
LANA
I am not a Halloween scrooge!
MISS ROBERTS-MATH TEACHER
Oh, my goodness, look at these adorable costumes! You’re Deadpool right?
FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY
Yeah!
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL
And I’m Princess Fiona.
FATHER
Thank you for the candy. What do you say kids?
KIDS
Thank you, thank you!
FATHER
And we brought twelve bags of groceries and five Christmas trees.
LANA
It is not Christmas!
HOMELESS LADY (back from shower)
We’ll take a tree.
LANA
Now why the heck do you need a tree when you’re already outside and around a bunch of trees and cacti?
MR. PREACHER
Lana, I think you need some Halloween spirit.
LANA (witch laugh)
Hee hee hee hee!
HOMEELSS MAN
We’ll also take a frozen turkey please. We can build a bonfire to cook it.
LANA
You can’t be serious.
MISS ROBERTS
I’m going to have to side with Lane here. She is right. Fires cannot be built outside of designated areas like campgrounds.
HOMELESS LADY (BACK FROM SHOWER)
Fine. We’ve been invited to a friend’s home for Thanksgiving and would like to bring a turkey.
LANA
That’s bull!
BILLY
All right, her you guys go, candy, groceries, turkey and a Christmas tree. Have a good Halloween!
HOMEELSS MAN
Thanks.
LANA
How are they going to transport all that?
BILLY
In their shopping cart do-do!
FATHER
Now I can finish telling you everything I’m donating to your wonderful efforts and your high school.
MR. PREACHER
This is so kind of you sir.
FATHER
I went to this high school. And the fact that you guys have done such a great thing for the community, I wanted to make sure you had even more things to give to trick or treaters and the needy.
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL
My father also brought two dozen pumpkins, dishware, gourmet candy, baked hams, corn on the cob, ten microwaves and seven huge plasma screen TVs.
BILLY
Can I have one of the TV sets?
LANA
Where is your holiday Halloween spirit Billy? These things are for the needy, not you!
MISS ROBERTS
Break up the fight kids. There are people waiting in line.
MR. PREACHER
Sir, thank you so much for this wonderful donation and gourmet candy. We appreciate you sincerely.
FATHER
You’re very welcome. And Happy Halloween.
SECURITY GUARD
I got this family out of the line outside. They were shivering. Do we have winter clothes for them?
MR. PREACHER
You bet! Lana, have the family pick out some warm clothing and jackets, scarves and boots and gloves. Then we’ll get them situated with groceries.
PRE-TEEN BOY
Mom, will we be able to get some candy too?
MOTHER-POOR FAMILY
I hope so.
MISS ROBERTS
Of course you will! Now go look at the clothing and bundle up. Then we’ll get some food and gourmet candy bagged up for you.
MR. PREACHER
Wow, cinnamon milk and dark chocolate covered pretzels! Ghirardelli chocolate covered fried candy corn!!
LANA
No, Mr. Preacher, it’s for the trick or treaters and the needy.
MISS ROBERTS
Yes, we can actually have some candy, Lana. Don’t be over dramatic.
NARRATOR
The poor freezing family got all bundled up with winter clothing, new blankets, pillows, a microwave oven, one of the plasma TV sets, lots of groceries and candy. And since they didn’t have a car and had taken the bus to the high school, the school principal had Lana transport the family and their goods to their home in one of the school SUV’s.
MR. PREACHER
My goodness, that rich high school alumni that donated all the stuff to us was still out there, speaking with the media.
SECURITY GUARD
Yeah, when he heard about that poor family’s situation, he phoned in the landlord of their apartment building and paid three months rent for them. The mother was in tears.
MISS ROBERTS
That is fantastic! Oh look, what do we have here? It’s Winnie the Poo and Tigger Too. Let’s get you guys some candy.
BILLY
Uh, Mr. Preacher, Miss Roberts.
MR. PREACHER
Yes?
BILLY
This group of junior high school students are asking for tricks.
MR. PREACHER
Well, we’re going to give you guys a brand-new huge plasma screen TV!
JUNIOR HIGH KIDS
Cool!
MR. PREACHER
No, we’re not! Ha ha ha!
JUNIOR HIGH KID
Lame.
BILLY
Ha ha!
MISS ROBERTS
You did ask for treats.
NARRATOR
Lana has just gotten back from transporting the poor family and has heard this conversation. Presently, she carries a baked ham over to the teens. A huge butcher knife is stabbed into it and a bottle of ketchup splattered on the ham make it look gruesome.
LANA
Here you go. Trick or treat, unhappy Halloween!
MISS ROBERTS
Lana, you’re taking this too far.
JUNIOR HIGH KID
You suck.
LANA
You do!
MR. PREACHER
Lana, anymore attitude out of you and you are going to get detention.
LANA
Fine.
BILLY
Chill Lana.
JUNIOR HIGH KID
Yeah, chill out.
MISS ROBERTS
Here’s some candy for your kids. Hope you can settle for the treats.
JUNIOR HIGH KIDS
I guess. Thanks.
NARRATOR
The security guard comes in looking worried.
SECURITY GUARD
Uh, the rich father that donated a bunch of stuff should have kept his mouth shut to reporters.
LANA
Oh boy. Here it comes.
SECURITY GUARD
About a hundred people have gotten in line and want help with their rent. Some need new furniture, help for daycare, medical. It’s bad.
MR. PREACHER
Uh-oh.
MISS ROBERTS
Not to worry, we will find a way to help everyone.
LANA
Oh, this is going to be interesting.
MR. PREACHER
Lana and Billy handle the kids who just want candy and people just needing food. We’ll tend to the miracle seekers.
BILLY
Good one, Mr. Preacher. I’d like a Lamborghini by the way.
LANA
I want a Ferrari, custom built.
MISS ROBERTS
You guys.
DESPERATE PERSON
Hi, I saw the news broadcast. I’m having a lot of trouble with my bills. I don’t think I can make this month’s mortgage payment.
LANA
Wow, you’ve got a house, must be nice.
DESPERATE PERSON
Yeah? What do you know of bills? Must be nice to just live at home and let Mommy and Daddy pay for everything.
BILLY
We’re in high school idiot. We still live at home. This is considered normal, while kids are at home still growing up.
LANA
And I only have my dad. My mom passed away from cancer when I was six.
BILLY
I didn’t know that, Lana. I’m sorry.
DESPERATE PERSON
Well, I really need some help here. And since that guy on the news paid three months rent for that family-
MR. PREACHER
Actually sir, just because one person or family got a break, doesn’t mean the miracle hits everyone. And you’re being rude. So, we’re going to have to ask you to leave.
DESPERATE PERSON
You guys are stupid! I’m reporting all of you!
SECURITY GUARD
Right this way please. Let’s go.
DESPERATE PERSON
Suckers!
MISS ROBERTS
Happy Halloween, Halloween scrooge!
NARRATOR
A news caster with another news station is getting ready to address his cameras.
NEWS CASTER
I’m here with School Principal Victor Malone. He’s going to address the issue of seeking financial help regarding the Old Pueblo High School. Hello Vice Principal Malone.
PRINCIPAL MALONE
Hello. Well, we know that this is a time of giving, um, Halloween candy. And our school has gone above and beyond this year to not only hand out candy, but also food and groceries and clothing.
NEWS CASTER
But you ran into a sweet, ha ha, surprise when a visiting family, two children and their father, let’s call him Father Warbucks-
PRINCIPAL MALONE
Yes, yes Father Warbucks was generous indeed. And not only brought tons of groceries, household items, Christmas trees-
NEWS CASTER
Sorry to interrupt Principal Malone, but did you just say he brought Christmas trees, um, during Halloween?
CROWD SPECTATOR
Hey! I need some money, well lots of money. I’m facing eviction. And I’d like some delicious gourmet candy too.
PRINCIPAL MALONE
Ah yes, it is indeed the nightmare before Christmas.
NEWS CASTER
Ha ha ha ha ha! sure is!
SPECTATOR TWO
We need money too. And a smart TV, so we can stream and stuff. Our cable bill makes it hard to buy groceries!
SPECTATOR THREE
Who cares about your cable bill and your need to stream shows? I’ve got four kids to feed. Bug off man!
SECURITY GUARD
All right, everybody calm down now.
NARRATOR
A police car rolls up, the siren alerting its presence.
POLICE OFFICER
Everything okay here?
PRINCIPAL MALONE
Yes officer, everything is fine. Thank you.
SPECTATOR
No, everything is not fine. That family got three months rent paid, while the rest of us have to put our pennies together for a prayer to even pay one month’s rent.
PRINCIPAL MALONE
All right, that’s enough. I’m only going to say this once. Our special donor, Daddy Warbucks, out of the kindness of his heart, has decided to donate even more.
SPECTATOR TWO
Yes! I need to talk to him right away. Our internet service is terrible, and we need the new iPhone, five of them and a nice car.
SPECTATOR THREE
I have medical bills and mouths to feed. If you’re just wanting stupid iPhones and a new car, you have not right to be here!
SPECTATOR FOUR
That’s right!
POLICE OFFICER
Everyone calm down and let Principal Malone finish speaking, or I’ll take you all into county jail myself.
PRINCIPAL MALONE
But the point that that spectator brought up is right on point. Our donor will be vetting out bogus requests for help. And if you are lying and saying your need is serious, his investigators will research it, just to make sure.
KID
Yeah, but the new X-Box is serious!
PRINCIPAL MALONE
And we are cutting the line off right now.
FRAZZLED MOM
Oh no! but we just got here. My kids ae all dressed up and everything. We’re just here to trick or treat!
NARRATOR
The mother was there with two kids, a preteen girl of twelve dressed like Barbie. And her little brother that was a scary ghost. And because the little boy had heard what the principal just said, the boy began to have a hollering fit crying and screaming.
LITTLE BOY
Wah, wah, boo hoo, boo hoo!
PRINCIPAL MALONE
All right, one more group is okay.
NARRATOR
Back inside the school, where Billy, Lana, Miss Roberts and Mr. Preacher tended to two lines of people.
LANA
Can this day get any stranger?
BILLY
Of course it can. It’s Halloween.
MR. PREACHER
Well at least now, we are organized; one line for trick or treating, another for food and treats.
MISS ROBERTS
And another line just for Daddy Warbucks investigators to find out whether or not a family or individual truly needs goods, services, or financial and rental assistance.
NARRATOR
As the school volunteers handed out candy, food or directed folks to the investigators, a TV set was on for everyone with the newscaster speaking outside.
NEWS CASTER
Well, it really is a miracle on Halloween Street today.
LANA
I think I just threw up in my mouth.
MISS ROBERTS
Lana really. Sometimes I think you’re seventeen going on thirty-seven, honestly.
BILLY
Really Lana. And you can’t do that, because thirty-seven would be too old for me.
LANA
Huh?
BILLY
I wanted to ask you out. Do you want to get a hamburger Saturday night and do some bowling?
NARRATOR
Lanas’ cheeks flushed as the teachers pretended to ignore the student’s conversation.
LANA
I guess.
LITTLE BOY
Yummy! Yum, yum, yum! This chocolate covered candy cane is delicious!
LANA
Why do we have candy canes? It’s Halloween, not Christmas!
EVERYBODY
Shut up Lana!
LANA
All right fine. I’ll show you some spirit! Come on kid, you and I are having a candy cane easting contest!
KID
It’s on!
NARRATOR
Lana and the kid have been downing candy canes for three minutes straight, when the kid slams the remainder of his uneaten candy cane down and looks pissed off.
LANA
Yeah, I won!
KID
No fair, you’re bigger than me!
NARRATOR
Suddenly, Lana looked sick to the stomach and raced to the bathroom. Everyone looked concerned watching her making a run for it.
MISS ROBERTS
Well, I guess it’s a sickly-sweet Christmas Halloween too, proof in the pudding that there can be too much of a good thing!
MR. PREACHER
Happy Halloween everyone!
THE END Vasilika Vanya Marinkovic
Secret world entertainment 