Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) - full transcript
In Green Town, Illinois, the twelve year-old boys Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are neighbors and best friends. Will's father Charles Halloway is an old man and the local librarian while Jim and his mother wait for the return of the return of their father and husband that will never occur. The boys know everyone in town, including their school teacher Miss Foley that misses her beauty and youth; the lonely barber Mr. Crosetti that has no girlfriend or wife; the greedy owner of a cigar store Mr. Tetley that is obsessed with money; and the bartender Ed that has severed arm and leg and dreams on being a football hero. One day, Jim buys a lightning rod from the salesman Tom Fury that tells that a storm is coming. During the night, the boys overhear a mysterious train and they run through the woods to see the arrival but they do not see a living soul. However, they find the Mr. Dark's Pandemonium Carnival ready to be enjoyed and they snoop around. Soon they realize that frustrated and greedy people are vanishing in town and the evil Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch make their dreams come true. In return, Mr. Dark seizes their souls. Now Mr. Dark is seeking them out but Charles Halloway has a journal from his father about the autumn carnival that might be their last chance to defeat the evil.
[♫ intro]
A rare month for boys
full of cold winds, long nights
dark promises.
Days get short.
The shadows lengthen.
The wind warms in such a way
you want to run forever
through the fields
because up ahead
10,000 pumpkins lie waiting to be cut.
[horn honks]
It was the October of my 12th year
when the seller of lightning rods
came along the road
toward Green Town, Illinois
sneaking glances over his shoulder.
Somewhere not far back
was a terrible storm.
Even now
on those special autumn days
when the air smells like smoke
and the twilights
are orange and ash gray
my mind goes back to Green Town
the place where I grew up.
In my memory
I'm back on Main Street again
among the neighbors
who gave me my first glimpses
into the fearful needs
of the human heart.
The cigar store
was owned by Mr. Tetley
a man obsessed with money.
Morning, Mr, Crosetti
Mr. Crosetti, our barber
cut my hair a thousand times
always talking about faraway ladies
he would never know.
I remember Ed the barman
yesterday's football hero
still haunted by 40-yard runs
down the dark fields of his dreams.
Our teacher was Miss Foley.
We couldn't believe it, but folks said
that once, before we were even born
she had been
the most beautiful woman in town.
And of course
I can still see Jim Nightshade
my best friend
my blood brother, my shadow.
- Finished?
- Yes, Miss Foley
- Then you may leave
- Thank you, Miss Foley
Quietly
And let this be a lesson to both of you:
I will not have whispering
- Never
- Of course I can, I'm older
You 're not older
We were born on the same night
Yeah, I was born one minute to midnight
and you weren't born till one minute after
- You see?
- I won't always be younger than you
- Hey, Mr, Crosetti
- Hello, boys
- Hello, Mr, Tetley
- [horn honks]
Don't be messin' up my work
Come on, I'll race ya...
Hellfire storm's a-comin'
An electric storm
To clean your streets
and wash away your troubles
- So buy one of these lightning rods...
- Tie!
Some folks need special protection
I can sniff out
which of your old homes is in danger
Some folks draw lightning to 'em
as a cat sucks in a baby's breath
But I suppose that this is
really the story of my father
and that strange, leaf-whispery autumn
when his heart was suddenly
too old and tired
and too full of yearning and regrets
and he didn't know what to do about it.
- Hello, son
- You saw me
Well, what can I find you
that'll keep you awake all night?
Let's see, Travelers to the North Pole?
Wild West. Zane Grey, huh?
- I don't think so, Dad
- Well, I thought all boys liked adventure
- I don't know, Do all fathers?
- [Jim] Mine sure does
He's in Africa right now
The Gold Coast of Africa
But he's coming back real soon
and he's bringing me a present
He's bringing me a parrot
The letter said a green and yellow one
And a native spear and a war drum
and a necklace made of human teeth
Oh, yes, and a shrunken head
- Have you ever seen a shrunken head?
- Only yours
Shh, boys, Now, young Jim Nightshade
what can I find you?
Something from the Arabian Nights
now, full of magicians and monsters? No?
Let's see, Drums of Doom?
The Saga of the Thunder Lizards?
No, thanks, Mr, Halloway
Something about headhunters
They're my father's friends right now
Look, who are you fooling?
Your father doesn't ever write
- That's better than a father who's afraid,
- My father's not afraid of anything
He's just a bit old, that's all
It doesn't mean he's afraid
- Doesn't it?
- Anyway, my father's here
Yours isn't coming back, is he?
Not ever
One day, You'll see
- [♫ distant music]
- Shh, listen, Can you hear?
- What is it?
- Listen, Why don't you ever listen?
- I am
- Like music
I don't hear no music
It must be that old wind again
[laughing]
- Oh, do you live hereabouts, boys?
- These are our houses
One of which, as I listen to it
has murmuring timbers
Can't you hear it? Who tells ya?
Tom Fury tells ya
Your house is in need of protection
Which house?
- This one
- It's his house
- Now, your names, gentlemen?
- Will Halloway
- Jim Nightshade
- Well, Mr, Nightshade, sir
You just go right in and tell your father
that Mr, Tom Fury of the lightning rods
presents his compliments
and your house is in very
urgent need of protection
- All right, I'll tell my father that
- Jim!
You want to say something, Will Halloway?
Will, what kept you so late?
- Your supper's ready
- Coming, Mom
- Later
- Yeah
- Jim? Is that you, Jim?
- Yes, Mom
Darling, can you get yourself
something to eat out of the icebox?
There's a ham in there
and some peanut butter
Mother's just all tired out, darling
Jim, what are you doing?
Cat got your tongue?
- Oh, we're buying a lightning rod, Mom
- Don't make jokes, please
Well, my father said yes
Well done
Now, which one will you have?
This one's got old Chinese hen tracks
on her, A rod invented to catch...
I'll have this one with the beetles on there
Like an Egyptian scarab
Good boy, Once the lightning rod
on the pyramids of Egypt
Trained for 3,000 years to pitch the
lightning back to the high heavens
And it's yours for...
How much you got there, boy?
- It's yours
- Thank you
You're welcome...
Mr, Nightshade, sir
[horn honks/dog barking]
"Eight, seven, zero..."
... which surely has to be lucky
Do you ever play the numbers, Mr
Halloway?
- Me? No, Never take risks
- Well, you should, sir
One day, I'm gonna win
that ♫100,000 number
And it won't be ten-cent cigars
for us then, Mr, Halloway
It'll be the big imported Havana Specials
rolled on the plump, smooth thighs
of Cuban ladies
Mr, Halloway
- You can't smell it, can you?
- Smell what?
Powder, Lady's powder and perfume
The sweet smell of rustling petticoats
Smells to me like
we're going to have visitors
- Elegant visitors, Beautiful ladies
- You'll have to make do with
the ladies you've got here, Mr, Crosetti
We don't get any visitors in this town
Not in October, Or any other
time of the year, come to that
[car horn honks]
Do you know what you need
Mr, Halloway?
A touch of Crosetti's Color Restorer
Make you feel years younger
I wish it were that easy
Oh, Doc, did you see what
Northwestern did last week?
Northwestern, 20 seconds to go, they
got the ball, he fades back for a pass
- Touchdown, Wins by two!
- Ed, Doc
Charlie, do you have any idea what
Northwestern's gonna do this week?
Now, you remember your heart
Just one drink and one cigar
Come on now, You know what they'll
do? They'll kill 'em
That's what they're gonna do
Boy, I wish I was out there
to run, to throw, tackle... touchdowns
There's nothing like it
- to smell that grass, to run on the field!
- Hey, Ed
- Boy, ain't you somethin'
- Always was, always was
- To your health, Doc
- Wait a minute, To Northwestern
Northwestern
[Will] Jim!
[banging]
- Jim
- [banging continues]
Jim, why don't you ever answer?
I've got half a mind to throw
this darn thing away
- And get yourself burned?
- Yeah
Hey, look, A carnival
Saturday, 24th
Why, that's tomorrow!
[crow caws]
[distant thunder]
Pretty big wind blowin' today
huh, Will boy?
One of the stone lions
blew off the library steps
Prowlin' around town now
Lookin' for some juicy, tender young
Christian to eat, I don't wonder
You got something there, Dad?
Huh? No
You seem sad tonight
Oh, it's Will
He makes me feel so darn old
A man should be able to
play baseball with his son
Baseball is not necessary
not with a heart like yours
He'll forgive you that, hmm?
Hmm, Maybe so
You know...
I feel restless
Must be a storm comin'
[wind howling]
[door slams shut]
[whispers] Dad?
[bell tolls]
Will!
Will, the carnival's come
The carnival's come!
- In the middle of the night?
- Hell, yes, Come on!
[train approaches/whistles]
[howling]
[thunderclap]
- But how could it...
- Come on!
[creaks]
[whispers] Jim, don't
[both scream]
[♫ calliope music]
[♫ calliope music
continues in the distance]
What is it, son? Can't sleep?
Well, me neither
I thought I heard a train
Couldn't be, though
Not this time of night
No, it couldn't have been
Couldn't be a carnival, could it?
Not in October
I mean, you never saw
no scraps of paper, did you?
Not about any carnival comin'
[clock chimes]
3:00
They call it "the soul's midnight,"
- Do they? Why?
- I don't know
I guess it's the time
when a lot of people die
Uh, old people
I only meant old people
Old people?
Will...
... we should have a talk sometime
just you and I
- What about?
- Oh, about when you were small
That... picnic that we took
down by Indigo River
- Look son, I know you got a fright then...
- I better get back to bed now
Mom wouldn't like us up this late, talking
She'd say we got to think of tomorrow
Yeah, yeah
Guess you're right, son
[♫ calliope music]
[woman] I want you to remember
you boys have to stay with your father
[man] Now, Billie, don't start
picking on them already
[Will] It's nothing but
a plain, ordinary old carnival
[Jim] No, it can't be, It can't be ordinary
We couldn't see it last night in the dark
- It's Ed
- Hey, Ed
[dings]
Your prize, sir, A free pass
to our fabulous Mirror Maze
Thank you, Come on
[Ed's voice] I tell ya, I wish I was
out there, to run, to throw, tackle...
touchdowns. I mean, there's nothin' like
the smell of that grass, to run on the field.
- [Jim] Want to go in?
- [Will] No
- No?
- Those mirrors...
- ... they're like last night
- Miss Foley
Are you all right, Miss Foley?
Here we are, Miss Foley, Are you OK?
Jim, Will, My two whisperers
I'm all right now
Yes, of course I am, Silly
I must be tired out, I guess
Why, it's so bright in there
So beautiful, so strange...
It must have dazed me
I don't quite remember
I must get home
My little nephew's arriving
- Is she ill?
- I don't know
Must be a shock, though
staring in all those mirrors
especially if you have a face like that
I can see your place of work, my good sir
and a red, white and blue pole turning
It's a miracle
Your eyes see everything
Only I think there is something
missing from your life
Something that could make you so happy
Ladies
You have lived here a long time
without the scent of a lady's skin
They're waiting for you, my good sir
Call them
- Number two
- Two! Number two, that's me
Excuse me, that's me!
That's my number, I won it
- So it is, sir, So it is
- I won it at last!
- No need to agitate yourself
- Oh, you don't know how long...
1000, Now, here's one
two, three, four, five
six, seven, eight, nine, ten
♫1000, And may I offer you a cigar, sir?
- Oh, thank you
- A genuine Havana Special
rolled for you on the smooth
plump thighs of Cuban beauties
And a free pass to our magnificent Ferris
wheel, compliments of the management
Oh, thank you, Oh, number two
Who would have believed it?
Ohh, this is my lucky day
This is my lucky day
Uh, may I, uh... join you?
Oh, this is my lucky day
I just won ♫1000, and I have it here
And now I get to sit next to, if I may say so
a very beautiful... woman
It's a lucky day
Number two, I won on number two
Did you know that?
[barker] Step up, step up
ladies and gentlemen
- See the exotic dancers from the erotic...
- Come on, Jim
You don't want to see this, Come on!
... you've never seen before
These are dancers that will
thrill you, chill you...
Jim, come on
[laughing]
Sorry, boys, too young
Come back in ten years
- I just saw...
- Shut up
[man] Lucky, lucky, lucky...
Ooh, look at this one
Wow!
This one's my favorite!
Put them down, Mr, Cooger
Bring them back to earth again
The sign says "out of order," boys
Or don't they teach you reading
at this town's academy?
Introductions all around?
My name is Mr, Dark
- I advise you to respect it
- [hissing]
Of Dark's Pande-minium Carnival?
Isn't he the brave one?
Show's over, boys
All that's fit for you to see
Why don't you come back later
for free rides on these exotic animals?
See all the fun of the fairground
What do you say?
Go on, Go on, take them
I bet you somethin'
goes on after sundown
We gotta stay and see
We can't stay after it closes
They'll chuck us out
Not if they can't find us
they won't, Come on
Come on
[Dark] Mr, Cooger, are you ready?
[♫ Blue Danube Waltz plays]
My gosh, Look
- It's going the wrong way
- Backwards
[buzzing]
[buzzing continues]
Look at Mr, Cooger
[music/buzzing stop]
It's late, Time to go about your work...
... Mr, Cooger
[Jim] Come on!
- Look, it's Miss Foley's house
- Will
Look, look, There
Who's that kid she's got in there with her?
Don't you know, Will?
- What are you playin' at?
- I want to warn Miss Foley
Don't you lie to me, Jim
That's not what you want to do
- You want to meet that... that... thing
- [rings bell]
No! No, oh, my gosh, Come on
Land sakes, who is it?
My two little whisperers?
We wanted to see...
... if you were quite all right, Miss Foley
Yeah, we were kinda worried
That's very considerate of you boys
I was just a little faint, I guess
Why don't you step inside?
Come in, Will, come in
My nephew Robert just arrived
and I baked a whole batch of cookies
Come in, Robert?
I'd like you to meet
my young nephew, Robert
[clears throat]
- Miss Foley...
- Swell, Hi, Glad to meet you
Miss Foley, we came to warn you
- Warn?
- Yes
He won't be in school Monday, He's sick
- Oh?
- Yeah, See ya!
What you up to, Jim?
You touched his hand
His horrible, devil's hand
and you touched it
- Oh, shh
- [door opens]
Will Halloway
you wicked, wicked hooligan
- But I didn't...
- Little liar
You stay right there
I'm coming down
Come back here
Come back here this minute
I'm going to call your mother!
[screams]
- Dad
- What's the trouble, boy?
[murmuring]
Mom?
Jim, Oh, honey
supper's over, It's late
Well, we've already had our supper
But I'll fix you something real nice
- OK? You hungry?
- No, It's all right, I guess
Jim?
Well, just now
you seemed kinda glad to see me
- Well, at least you weren't the, uh...
- Mmm, I wasn't the devil? Was that it?
I guess
Will...
... about that picnic
down by the Indigo River...
- It's getting late...
- Now, you sit, son
Sit until this is finished and done with
- What?
- The talk we were tryin' to have last night
It's one we should've had a long time ago
About that strong old current that swept
you way out in the middle of the river
And I stood there and watched...
... tied to the riverbank and helpless
'Cause I had a dad who didn't think
it was right to teach boys to swim
Well...
... there was a man standin'
drinkin' liquor out of a stone bottle
on the other side of the river
and he dove in after you
Dove in without even taking his boots
off and pulled you out of danger
You must've been all of
four years old at the time
I knew someone caught hold of me
Someone who wasn't me
No one else knew who it was, but I did
It was Harry Nightshade, son
Your friend Jim's dad
A couple of years before
he lit off across the seas
and was never seen in this town again
Mr, Nightshade did your father's work
Can't forgive myself for that
Or him either, I guess
But I'll tell you somethin', son
When you see the end of things
comin' close and starin' at you
it's not what you've done that you regret
it's what you didn't do
And most of all...
... that afternoon at the river
when there was nothin' I could do, Will
Blame my father if you like, blame me
We gotta stop blaming sometime
I wish you could be happy
Well... just tell me I'll live forever
Then I'll be happy
Dad, don't talk death
Someone'll hear you and...
Dad...
Guess I kept you up kinda late
Up you go
- Do you want to come up this way?
- Hmm? Uh, I don't think so
- Because you're welcome
- Uh, no, I want to finish my cigar
- I don't want to ditch you
- I gotta lock up, Will
Why do boys always keep
their windows open?
Warm blood
Warm blood?
That was your father's problem
What are you doing still awake?
Do I look like him?
I mean, do I look like my father?
Too like
The day you leave home
my Harry will be dead forever
Go to sleep now, sweet dreams
- Good night, mom
- Good night, darling
[clock ticking]
Yes, please!
Please
Please
Help me!
Please, help me!
Please, help me!
[bell tolling]
Jim, you're ditching me, Jim!
- Where are you goin'?
- Back to the merry-go-round
Oh, no you ain't
He'll be there, that Mr, Cooger
Making himself so big and tall
and strong that he'll kill us
Let go, Let go, or so help me...
I'll remember this when...
- When what?
- When I'm older, darn it, older
When you're older?
- I didn't mean...
- Oh, yes you did!
If that darn merry-go-round
could make Mr, Cooger younger...
... why, you think you'd be older
if you got on it and went
the other way around
Is that what you figured out
in your little mind, Jim Nightshade?
You'd be 2 feet taller, looking down at me
And you'd ditch me
Wait!
[thunder]
[Mr. Cooger] That's the trouble
those two boys, Should we...
[Dark] Just make certain
they don't interfere in our work
Oh, doom, damnation
death and destruction
Who tells you?
Tom Fury tells you
Tell me when, you old fool
When is the lightning due?
I am Tom Fury
Did I take the name?
No, sir, The name took me...
I must know
Lightning reveals our dark corners
Rain washes away our dust
Tell me when
What color is lightning?
Where does the thunder go when it dies?
- [Will] Mr, Crosetti
- [Jim] And Mr, Tetley!
What country does the rain come from?
Who knows? Tom Fury knows
If I show her to you, your bride...
... you will tell me when
the storm is coming
Most beautiful
More beautiful than Pocahontas
and Helen of Troy...
[Dark] You will tell me
when the storm is coming
When comes the storm?
Oh, Tom Fury says the lightning
shall jump the world
and make men hop and skip
like scalded cats
You fool, Lightning shall make you
hop and make you tell!
Ohh, Tom told to... aah...
- Tom Fury has a secret!
- When?
So does the lightning and the thunder
Aah!
Stop, Stop it!
[both scream]
[Dark] Those boys...
They've seen too much
Hunt them down...
... and bring them back to me
It's that Jim Nightshade, And take
your hat off, He's a bad influence
- But mom...
- Don't you "but mom" me
How dare you sneak out this late?
I want no excuses
Now march right upstairs
Best go up, son
You know, I never liked my father either
a lot of the time
- Was Grandpa a good man?
- Everyone thought so
- He knew about evil?
- Sure talked a lot about it
Really knew?
We had devils for breakfast
lunch, and supper in our house
I believe in devils
But if you're a good person
they can't hurt you, can they?
Am I... a good person?
I wouldn't count on your mother's answer
right now, but I think you are
Yeah... Drink your milk, then
Maybe we'll talk tomorrow
- Dad?
- Hmm?
Be careful, Dad
Something's going on
- Something?
- Just be careful, OK?
OK
[buzzing]
[thunder/buzzing]
Quick, Will, quick!
[rumbling]
Listen to that
[creaking]
[rumbling]
[thumping]
[rumbling grows louder]
[glass breaking]
[screaming]
Quick, Jim, this way
Look out!
[screaming]
[screams]
[♫ organ music]
♫ of endless light is waking
♫ and shades of evil
[♫ band music]
Hey, a parade!
No, a search... for us
We can't go home
They'd follow us and kill our folks
[rings]
- Hello?
- Dad, they're after us
- Look son, you come home, And...
- I can't.
Will?
- [Will] They're coffins
- [Jim] Yeah, kid size
[chattering]
[man] Hi there!
[chattering continues]
Ma?
[woman] I love your parade!
- Hey, Charlie
- Huh, Doc?
Charlie, look here, The bar is empty
First time in 20 years, there's nobody
there, Ed must've just taken off
He wouldn't do that, That's not like Ed
[elephants trumpeting]
[dog barking]
[barking continues]
- Now, that's odd
- It sure is
Hey Doc, have you seen Will and Ji...
Excuse me, gentlemen, I am a stranger
in this town, perhaps you could help me
My name is Dark
I'm looking for two young boys
- Town's full of them
- Yes, No doubt, sir, No doubt
But these boys in particular
they're two of a kind
Much of a height, One towheaded
the other black as pitch
You could take them for blood brothers
- What have they done?
- Done, sir? Why, nothing wrong, surely
No, they're two lucky lads
who've won prizes at the carnival
I merely wish to give them the valuable
rewards that they so richly deserve
Can you help me?
Excuse me, See you, Doc
Charlie
[whispers] Dad
- Lose something, sir?
- Uh...
Uh, folks around here all seem
to be taking a holiday, hmm?
- Must be the carnival
- These boys I'm looking for
- perhaps you know them?
- Won prizes, I think you said
- Lucky fellas, Have a cigar?
- No
Well now, I wouldn't want a couple of
kids to miss out on their good fortune
Let me see, that one
Yes, I know him well
- His name's, uh...
- Yes?
Uh, Milton Blumquist
And that... oh, why, Avery Johnson
Yeah, Fine boys, fine, Both of 'em
quite a credit to this little town
if you want to know the truth
I do want to know the truth, sir
And the truth is that you are lying
You see, I already have their names
I got them from a blind girl
used to be a teacher hereabouts
A poor creature by the name of Foley
Will is the fair-haired
and Jim, the dark
Now tell me, old man
- what's your name?
- Halloway, sir
- Charles William Halloway
- Oh, yes, The town's librarian
- I have the honor, sir
- And have had for many years, I believe
All that time spent living
only through other men's lives
Dreaming only other men's dreams
What a waste
Sometimes a man can learn more
from other men's dreams
than he can from his own
Come visit me, sir, if you would
wish to improve your education
I will, And I may improve yours
[♫ funeral dirge]
Boys, what the hell's goin' on?
Come to the library tonight
[Will] That's why they had the parade
so they could find us and kill us
And so, we had to hide
because, well... who'd believe us?
- [Mr. Halloway] I believe you
- [Jim] You do? But we're not grownups
That's why I believe you
Now, listen to this
Diary of my father, Charles Herbert
Halloway, minister of this town:
"October, 1891
"We have had no good fortune
since there arrived here
"the autumn carnival
"It seems strange to speak of such
things in these enlightened days
"A poor, lame servant girl went to the
fortuneteller to inquire how she might run
"Her leg mended...
"... and then she ran mad
"It seems they destroy people
"by granting their dearest wishes
"as has been the way of the devil
"since God created the world
"Old folks of this town
"say they remember
such a carnival of evil
visiting many autumns past
in the days of their youth,"
[humming]
"The traveling people swore
"they would return, some other autumn
Each time their visit ended
with a most unusual storm,"
[door opens]
It's Mr, Dark
[Mr. Halloway] Boys, hide, quick
"By the pricking of my thumbs
something wicked this way comes,"
"Then rang the bells both loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,"
"The wrong will fail, the right, prevail
with peace on earth, good will to men,"
It's a thousand years
to Christmas, Mr, Halloway
You're wrong, It's here in this library
tonight, and can't be spoiled
Did Will and Jim bring it with them
on the soles of their shoes?
Then we shall have to scrape them
Will?
Jim?
Free rides on the merry-go-round
How would you like to be
king of the carnival, Jim?
The ruler of the rides?
How would you like to be grown up, Jim?
How would that feel, huh?
Not to be looked down at
Not to be told to run away and play
To be trusted, To be feared
To know what grownups do behind
locked doors when children are asleep
Come out to me, Jim
I'm the father you've been waiting for...
... my son
I know who you are
You are the autumn people
Where do you come from? The dust
- Where do you go to? The grave
- Yes
We are the hungry ones
Your torments call us like dogs in the night
And we do feed, and feed well
To stuff yourselves
on other people's nightmares
And butter our plain bread
with delicious pain
So, you do understand a little
You are known in this town
My father knew you
Your father, The preacher?
That half-man?
- He lived on goodness
- Tasteless fare
Funerals, bad marriages
lost loves, lonely beds
That is our diet
We suck that misery and find it sweet
We search for more, always
We can smell young boys
ulcerating to be men 1000 miles off
And hear a middle-aged fool like you
groaning with midnight despairs
from halfway around the world
Your books cannot hurt me, old man
Yes, old, Because your heart is old
Listen to it
You tell me where the boys are hiding
and I can make you young again
I could turn your years back for you to...
... let's say, 30?
Now speak, or you've missed it
Going...
it's gone
32, 32?
Year of a man's prime
loved by many women
You might still learn to swim
32, going... gone
33... 34... 35... 35?
Oh, 35
Time to father a family, build a fortune
35... a year when you could run up
the stairs without panting for breath
35... gone
36... 37...
Where are they? 38...
Hear your heart, hear my count
39... Now, 39, a fine year
Still young, 39... gone
Oh, oh! 40
40, and hear your old, old heart!
Dad, no, Don't listen!
And is that the voice
of green grass and sunshine?
Sweet Eden's child
the innocent young Will?
42... 43...
44... 45... 46...
47, 48, 49, 50, 52
Your loss!
- You fool
- Damn you
- A taste of death?
- [groaning]
So you'll know it when
it comes again, soon
Jim? Will?
Time to go
Jim Nightshade
What a good...
what a proper name for a carnival
Dark and Nightshade's
Pandemonium Carnival
That's your name, Jim
Mr, Nightshade
Will, then
Will?
Your mother was at the carnival tonight
She rode the carousel
She went backwards and forwards
until she was quite, quite mad
You should've heard the one
single sound she made
Come out now
Jim?
Jim, you're the clever one
You tell me where your friend is hiding
and I can guarantee you
a very special reward
Now, where would you be filed, I wonder?
Under "A" for Adventure, or "B" for boys?
"J" for Jim, or "N" for Nightshade?
"H" for Halloway...
... or "H" for hidden?
[both scream]
Well, here's a couple of fine new books
I'll enjoy cutting this one's pages
Mom!
Seems I made a little mistake
It must've been your mother
Jim, at the carnival
Poor thing, What a tragedy
Still, you won't be needing her anymore
Look, You have a fine, new mother now
Time to quiet these two chatterers
Time to still these two whisperers
Lose their tongues until
I choose to find them again
Quiet, you two chatterers
Still, you two whisperers
[groans]
And give him a brief taste of death
so that he may recognize
it when it comes again
[thunder rumbles]
Old man, hear your heart beating
Slow, now
Slower...
Slower...
Slower...
... slowest
What times we're
going to have, Jim, you and I
Dark and Nightshade
Nightshade and Dark
And Will...
... we'll ride him backwards, shall we?
Turn him into a little baby
a plaything for our little friend here
[laughs]
[thunder rumbles]
[thunderclap]
[thunderclap]
Harry, is that you?
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr, Halloway
I... I was expecting somebody else
See, I have a message, I have a ticket...
Whatever the messages, they'll be lies
Go home
- No, I have to wait here for Harry...
- For God's sake, go home
The man coming for you
isn't your husband
But... they told me...
[thunderclap]
[echoing] Dad!
[Dark] Not dead yet, Mr. Halloway?
Come looking in my mirrors
for another chance?
Shall I help you find it?
Would you know it if you saw it?
Here the mirror of dreams, of beauty.
Can Crosetti tell you of
incredible loves he never lived?
Over here...
...see the mirror of
riches beyond wishing
where Mr. Tetley's buried.
Halloway, look.
Look here for the great and famous.
Ed, the barman hero
of all the football years.
All his cheering crowds gone.
Here, the looking glass
of pride and ruined vanity
where wars of time are fought and lost.
And now this.
This is your glass of darkness
Mr. Halloway.
Its name, regret.
Its sum, despair.
Drink deep its funeral sights and sounds.
Your failure as a father and as a man.
Your son hates you.
You've lost him. He's mine.
And young Jim Nightshade, too.
Drown, Halloway.
Drown in your regrets.
Dad!
Dad, please!
[echoing] I...
[echoing] I love you
[echoing] I love you!
[splash]
[echoing] Dad! Dad!
[breaking glass]
[Will echoing "I love you"]
[thundering]
[buzzing]
[yelling]
[buzzing/breaking glass]
[♫ distant calliope music]
King of the carnival, my son
- My partner, forever
- Jim!
Jim! Jim, no!
Don't ditch me!
[thunderclap/explosion]
[screaming]
[thundering]
Jim, please, Don't die
Stop that, do you hear? Stop it
Tears, that's what they like!
My God, how they like tears!
Look, that's no way to save young Jim
[buzzing]
Jump around, eh?
Whoop and holler
Come on, look at me, eh?
Look at me
I'm the great whooping crane
Whoop, whoop, whoop
Come on, happiness makes 'em run
[whirring]
Dad, look
Hey Dad, he's alive! Jim!
Let's get the hell outta here
[buzzing]
[neighing]
[buzzing]
[screaming]
[screaming continues]
[calliope music stops]
[thundering]
[screaming continues]
[laughing]
And, tie!
[♫ harmonica music]
[adult Jim] For my father
being old was all right now.
He had freed himself from the shadows
and liberated our town.
So, I think he knew
on that bright morning
that he'd made a memory...
that would live as long as sons tell sons
'about fathers they love.
A rare month for boys
full of cold winds, long nights
dark promises.
Days get short.
The shadows lengthen.
The wind warms in such a way
you want to run forever
through the fields
because up ahead
10,000 pumpkins lie waiting to be cut.
[horn honks]
It was the October of my 12th year
when the seller of lightning rods
came along the road
toward Green Town, Illinois
sneaking glances over his shoulder.
Somewhere not far back
was a terrible storm.
Even now
on those special autumn days
when the air smells like smoke
and the twilights
are orange and ash gray
my mind goes back to Green Town
the place where I grew up.
In my memory
I'm back on Main Street again
among the neighbors
who gave me my first glimpses
into the fearful needs
of the human heart.
The cigar store
was owned by Mr. Tetley
a man obsessed with money.
Morning, Mr, Crosetti
Mr. Crosetti, our barber
cut my hair a thousand times
always talking about faraway ladies
he would never know.
I remember Ed the barman
yesterday's football hero
still haunted by 40-yard runs
down the dark fields of his dreams.
Our teacher was Miss Foley.
We couldn't believe it, but folks said
that once, before we were even born
she had been
the most beautiful woman in town.
And of course
I can still see Jim Nightshade
my best friend
my blood brother, my shadow.
- Finished?
- Yes, Miss Foley
- Then you may leave
- Thank you, Miss Foley
Quietly
And let this be a lesson to both of you:
I will not have whispering
- Never
- Of course I can, I'm older
You 're not older
We were born on the same night
Yeah, I was born one minute to midnight
and you weren't born till one minute after
- You see?
- I won't always be younger than you
- Hey, Mr, Crosetti
- Hello, boys
- Hello, Mr, Tetley
- [horn honks]
Don't be messin' up my work
Come on, I'll race ya...
Hellfire storm's a-comin'
An electric storm
To clean your streets
and wash away your troubles
- So buy one of these lightning rods...
- Tie!
Some folks need special protection
I can sniff out
which of your old homes is in danger
Some folks draw lightning to 'em
as a cat sucks in a baby's breath
But I suppose that this is
really the story of my father
and that strange, leaf-whispery autumn
when his heart was suddenly
too old and tired
and too full of yearning and regrets
and he didn't know what to do about it.
- Hello, son
- You saw me
Well, what can I find you
that'll keep you awake all night?
Let's see, Travelers to the North Pole?
Wild West. Zane Grey, huh?
- I don't think so, Dad
- Well, I thought all boys liked adventure
- I don't know, Do all fathers?
- [Jim] Mine sure does
He's in Africa right now
The Gold Coast of Africa
But he's coming back real soon
and he's bringing me a present
He's bringing me a parrot
The letter said a green and yellow one
And a native spear and a war drum
and a necklace made of human teeth
Oh, yes, and a shrunken head
- Have you ever seen a shrunken head?
- Only yours
Shh, boys, Now, young Jim Nightshade
what can I find you?
Something from the Arabian Nights
now, full of magicians and monsters? No?
Let's see, Drums of Doom?
The Saga of the Thunder Lizards?
No, thanks, Mr, Halloway
Something about headhunters
They're my father's friends right now
Look, who are you fooling?
Your father doesn't ever write
- That's better than a father who's afraid,
- My father's not afraid of anything
He's just a bit old, that's all
It doesn't mean he's afraid
- Doesn't it?
- Anyway, my father's here
Yours isn't coming back, is he?
Not ever
One day, You'll see
- [♫ distant music]
- Shh, listen, Can you hear?
- What is it?
- Listen, Why don't you ever listen?
- I am
- Like music
I don't hear no music
It must be that old wind again
[laughing]
- Oh, do you live hereabouts, boys?
- These are our houses
One of which, as I listen to it
has murmuring timbers
Can't you hear it? Who tells ya?
Tom Fury tells ya
Your house is in need of protection
Which house?
- This one
- It's his house
- Now, your names, gentlemen?
- Will Halloway
- Jim Nightshade
- Well, Mr, Nightshade, sir
You just go right in and tell your father
that Mr, Tom Fury of the lightning rods
presents his compliments
and your house is in very
urgent need of protection
- All right, I'll tell my father that
- Jim!
You want to say something, Will Halloway?
Will, what kept you so late?
- Your supper's ready
- Coming, Mom
- Later
- Yeah
- Jim? Is that you, Jim?
- Yes, Mom
Darling, can you get yourself
something to eat out of the icebox?
There's a ham in there
and some peanut butter
Mother's just all tired out, darling
Jim, what are you doing?
Cat got your tongue?
- Oh, we're buying a lightning rod, Mom
- Don't make jokes, please
Well, my father said yes
Well done
Now, which one will you have?
This one's got old Chinese hen tracks
on her, A rod invented to catch...
I'll have this one with the beetles on there
Like an Egyptian scarab
Good boy, Once the lightning rod
on the pyramids of Egypt
Trained for 3,000 years to pitch the
lightning back to the high heavens
And it's yours for...
How much you got there, boy?
- It's yours
- Thank you
You're welcome...
Mr, Nightshade, sir
[horn honks/dog barking]
"Eight, seven, zero..."
... which surely has to be lucky
Do you ever play the numbers, Mr
Halloway?
- Me? No, Never take risks
- Well, you should, sir
One day, I'm gonna win
that ♫100,000 number
And it won't be ten-cent cigars
for us then, Mr, Halloway
It'll be the big imported Havana Specials
rolled on the plump, smooth thighs
of Cuban ladies
Mr, Halloway
- You can't smell it, can you?
- Smell what?
Powder, Lady's powder and perfume
The sweet smell of rustling petticoats
Smells to me like
we're going to have visitors
- Elegant visitors, Beautiful ladies
- You'll have to make do with
the ladies you've got here, Mr, Crosetti
We don't get any visitors in this town
Not in October, Or any other
time of the year, come to that
[car horn honks]
Do you know what you need
Mr, Halloway?
A touch of Crosetti's Color Restorer
Make you feel years younger
I wish it were that easy
Oh, Doc, did you see what
Northwestern did last week?
Northwestern, 20 seconds to go, they
got the ball, he fades back for a pass
- Touchdown, Wins by two!
- Ed, Doc
Charlie, do you have any idea what
Northwestern's gonna do this week?
Now, you remember your heart
Just one drink and one cigar
Come on now, You know what they'll
do? They'll kill 'em
That's what they're gonna do
Boy, I wish I was out there
to run, to throw, tackle... touchdowns
There's nothing like it
- to smell that grass, to run on the field!
- Hey, Ed
- Boy, ain't you somethin'
- Always was, always was
- To your health, Doc
- Wait a minute, To Northwestern
Northwestern
[Will] Jim!
[banging]
- Jim
- [banging continues]
Jim, why don't you ever answer?
I've got half a mind to throw
this darn thing away
- And get yourself burned?
- Yeah
Hey, look, A carnival
Saturday, 24th
Why, that's tomorrow!
[crow caws]
[distant thunder]
Pretty big wind blowin' today
huh, Will boy?
One of the stone lions
blew off the library steps
Prowlin' around town now
Lookin' for some juicy, tender young
Christian to eat, I don't wonder
You got something there, Dad?
Huh? No
You seem sad tonight
Oh, it's Will
He makes me feel so darn old
A man should be able to
play baseball with his son
Baseball is not necessary
not with a heart like yours
He'll forgive you that, hmm?
Hmm, Maybe so
You know...
I feel restless
Must be a storm comin'
[wind howling]
[door slams shut]
[whispers] Dad?
[bell tolls]
Will!
Will, the carnival's come
The carnival's come!
- In the middle of the night?
- Hell, yes, Come on!
[train approaches/whistles]
[howling]
[thunderclap]
- But how could it...
- Come on!
[creaks]
[whispers] Jim, don't
[both scream]
[♫ calliope music]
[♫ calliope music
continues in the distance]
What is it, son? Can't sleep?
Well, me neither
I thought I heard a train
Couldn't be, though
Not this time of night
No, it couldn't have been
Couldn't be a carnival, could it?
Not in October
I mean, you never saw
no scraps of paper, did you?
Not about any carnival comin'
[clock chimes]
3:00
They call it "the soul's midnight,"
- Do they? Why?
- I don't know
I guess it's the time
when a lot of people die
Uh, old people
I only meant old people
Old people?
Will...
... we should have a talk sometime
just you and I
- What about?
- Oh, about when you were small
That... picnic that we took
down by Indigo River
- Look son, I know you got a fright then...
- I better get back to bed now
Mom wouldn't like us up this late, talking
She'd say we got to think of tomorrow
Yeah, yeah
Guess you're right, son
[♫ calliope music]
[woman] I want you to remember
you boys have to stay with your father
[man] Now, Billie, don't start
picking on them already
[Will] It's nothing but
a plain, ordinary old carnival
[Jim] No, it can't be, It can't be ordinary
We couldn't see it last night in the dark
- It's Ed
- Hey, Ed
[dings]
Your prize, sir, A free pass
to our fabulous Mirror Maze
Thank you, Come on
[Ed's voice] I tell ya, I wish I was
out there, to run, to throw, tackle...
touchdowns. I mean, there's nothin' like
the smell of that grass, to run on the field.
- [Jim] Want to go in?
- [Will] No
- No?
- Those mirrors...
- ... they're like last night
- Miss Foley
Are you all right, Miss Foley?
Here we are, Miss Foley, Are you OK?
Jim, Will, My two whisperers
I'm all right now
Yes, of course I am, Silly
I must be tired out, I guess
Why, it's so bright in there
So beautiful, so strange...
It must have dazed me
I don't quite remember
I must get home
My little nephew's arriving
- Is she ill?
- I don't know
Must be a shock, though
staring in all those mirrors
especially if you have a face like that
I can see your place of work, my good sir
and a red, white and blue pole turning
It's a miracle
Your eyes see everything
Only I think there is something
missing from your life
Something that could make you so happy
Ladies
You have lived here a long time
without the scent of a lady's skin
They're waiting for you, my good sir
Call them
- Number two
- Two! Number two, that's me
Excuse me, that's me!
That's my number, I won it
- So it is, sir, So it is
- I won it at last!
- No need to agitate yourself
- Oh, you don't know how long...
1000, Now, here's one
two, three, four, five
six, seven, eight, nine, ten
♫1000, And may I offer you a cigar, sir?
- Oh, thank you
- A genuine Havana Special
rolled for you on the smooth
plump thighs of Cuban beauties
And a free pass to our magnificent Ferris
wheel, compliments of the management
Oh, thank you, Oh, number two
Who would have believed it?
Ohh, this is my lucky day
This is my lucky day
Uh, may I, uh... join you?
Oh, this is my lucky day
I just won ♫1000, and I have it here
And now I get to sit next to, if I may say so
a very beautiful... woman
It's a lucky day
Number two, I won on number two
Did you know that?
[barker] Step up, step up
ladies and gentlemen
- See the exotic dancers from the erotic...
- Come on, Jim
You don't want to see this, Come on!
... you've never seen before
These are dancers that will
thrill you, chill you...
Jim, come on
[laughing]
Sorry, boys, too young
Come back in ten years
- I just saw...
- Shut up
[man] Lucky, lucky, lucky...
Ooh, look at this one
Wow!
This one's my favorite!
Put them down, Mr, Cooger
Bring them back to earth again
The sign says "out of order," boys
Or don't they teach you reading
at this town's academy?
Introductions all around?
My name is Mr, Dark
- I advise you to respect it
- [hissing]
Of Dark's Pande-minium Carnival?
Isn't he the brave one?
Show's over, boys
All that's fit for you to see
Why don't you come back later
for free rides on these exotic animals?
See all the fun of the fairground
What do you say?
Go on, Go on, take them
I bet you somethin'
goes on after sundown
We gotta stay and see
We can't stay after it closes
They'll chuck us out
Not if they can't find us
they won't, Come on
Come on
[Dark] Mr, Cooger, are you ready?
[♫ Blue Danube Waltz plays]
My gosh, Look
- It's going the wrong way
- Backwards
[buzzing]
[buzzing continues]
Look at Mr, Cooger
[music/buzzing stop]
It's late, Time to go about your work...
... Mr, Cooger
[Jim] Come on!
- Look, it's Miss Foley's house
- Will
Look, look, There
Who's that kid she's got in there with her?
Don't you know, Will?
- What are you playin' at?
- I want to warn Miss Foley
Don't you lie to me, Jim
That's not what you want to do
- You want to meet that... that... thing
- [rings bell]
No! No, oh, my gosh, Come on
Land sakes, who is it?
My two little whisperers?
We wanted to see...
... if you were quite all right, Miss Foley
Yeah, we were kinda worried
That's very considerate of you boys
I was just a little faint, I guess
Why don't you step inside?
Come in, Will, come in
My nephew Robert just arrived
and I baked a whole batch of cookies
Come in, Robert?
I'd like you to meet
my young nephew, Robert
[clears throat]
- Miss Foley...
- Swell, Hi, Glad to meet you
Miss Foley, we came to warn you
- Warn?
- Yes
He won't be in school Monday, He's sick
- Oh?
- Yeah, See ya!
What you up to, Jim?
You touched his hand
His horrible, devil's hand
and you touched it
- Oh, shh
- [door opens]
Will Halloway
you wicked, wicked hooligan
- But I didn't...
- Little liar
You stay right there
I'm coming down
Come back here
Come back here this minute
I'm going to call your mother!
[screams]
- Dad
- What's the trouble, boy?
[murmuring]
Mom?
Jim, Oh, honey
supper's over, It's late
Well, we've already had our supper
But I'll fix you something real nice
- OK? You hungry?
- No, It's all right, I guess
Jim?
Well, just now
you seemed kinda glad to see me
- Well, at least you weren't the, uh...
- Mmm, I wasn't the devil? Was that it?
I guess
Will...
... about that picnic
down by the Indigo River...
- It's getting late...
- Now, you sit, son
Sit until this is finished and done with
- What?
- The talk we were tryin' to have last night
It's one we should've had a long time ago
About that strong old current that swept
you way out in the middle of the river
And I stood there and watched...
... tied to the riverbank and helpless
'Cause I had a dad who didn't think
it was right to teach boys to swim
Well...
... there was a man standin'
drinkin' liquor out of a stone bottle
on the other side of the river
and he dove in after you
Dove in without even taking his boots
off and pulled you out of danger
You must've been all of
four years old at the time
I knew someone caught hold of me
Someone who wasn't me
No one else knew who it was, but I did
It was Harry Nightshade, son
Your friend Jim's dad
A couple of years before
he lit off across the seas
and was never seen in this town again
Mr, Nightshade did your father's work
Can't forgive myself for that
Or him either, I guess
But I'll tell you somethin', son
When you see the end of things
comin' close and starin' at you
it's not what you've done that you regret
it's what you didn't do
And most of all...
... that afternoon at the river
when there was nothin' I could do, Will
Blame my father if you like, blame me
We gotta stop blaming sometime
I wish you could be happy
Well... just tell me I'll live forever
Then I'll be happy
Dad, don't talk death
Someone'll hear you and...
Dad...
Guess I kept you up kinda late
Up you go
- Do you want to come up this way?
- Hmm? Uh, I don't think so
- Because you're welcome
- Uh, no, I want to finish my cigar
- I don't want to ditch you
- I gotta lock up, Will
Why do boys always keep
their windows open?
Warm blood
Warm blood?
That was your father's problem
What are you doing still awake?
Do I look like him?
I mean, do I look like my father?
Too like
The day you leave home
my Harry will be dead forever
Go to sleep now, sweet dreams
- Good night, mom
- Good night, darling
[clock ticking]
Yes, please!
Please
Please
Help me!
Please, help me!
Please, help me!
[bell tolling]
Jim, you're ditching me, Jim!
- Where are you goin'?
- Back to the merry-go-round
Oh, no you ain't
He'll be there, that Mr, Cooger
Making himself so big and tall
and strong that he'll kill us
Let go, Let go, or so help me...
I'll remember this when...
- When what?
- When I'm older, darn it, older
When you're older?
- I didn't mean...
- Oh, yes you did!
If that darn merry-go-round
could make Mr, Cooger younger...
... why, you think you'd be older
if you got on it and went
the other way around
Is that what you figured out
in your little mind, Jim Nightshade?
You'd be 2 feet taller, looking down at me
And you'd ditch me
Wait!
[thunder]
[Mr. Cooger] That's the trouble
those two boys, Should we...
[Dark] Just make certain
they don't interfere in our work
Oh, doom, damnation
death and destruction
Who tells you?
Tom Fury tells you
Tell me when, you old fool
When is the lightning due?
I am Tom Fury
Did I take the name?
No, sir, The name took me...
I must know
Lightning reveals our dark corners
Rain washes away our dust
Tell me when
What color is lightning?
Where does the thunder go when it dies?
- [Will] Mr, Crosetti
- [Jim] And Mr, Tetley!
What country does the rain come from?
Who knows? Tom Fury knows
If I show her to you, your bride...
... you will tell me when
the storm is coming
Most beautiful
More beautiful than Pocahontas
and Helen of Troy...
[Dark] You will tell me
when the storm is coming
When comes the storm?
Oh, Tom Fury says the lightning
shall jump the world
and make men hop and skip
like scalded cats
You fool, Lightning shall make you
hop and make you tell!
Ohh, Tom told to... aah...
- Tom Fury has a secret!
- When?
So does the lightning and the thunder
Aah!
Stop, Stop it!
[both scream]
[Dark] Those boys...
They've seen too much
Hunt them down...
... and bring them back to me
It's that Jim Nightshade, And take
your hat off, He's a bad influence
- But mom...
- Don't you "but mom" me
How dare you sneak out this late?
I want no excuses
Now march right upstairs
Best go up, son
You know, I never liked my father either
a lot of the time
- Was Grandpa a good man?
- Everyone thought so
- He knew about evil?
- Sure talked a lot about it
Really knew?
We had devils for breakfast
lunch, and supper in our house
I believe in devils
But if you're a good person
they can't hurt you, can they?
Am I... a good person?
I wouldn't count on your mother's answer
right now, but I think you are
Yeah... Drink your milk, then
Maybe we'll talk tomorrow
- Dad?
- Hmm?
Be careful, Dad
Something's going on
- Something?
- Just be careful, OK?
OK
[buzzing]
[thunder/buzzing]
Quick, Will, quick!
[rumbling]
Listen to that
[creaking]
[rumbling]
[thumping]
[rumbling grows louder]
[glass breaking]
[screaming]
Quick, Jim, this way
Look out!
[screaming]
[screams]
[♫ organ music]
♫ of endless light is waking
♫ and shades of evil
[♫ band music]
Hey, a parade!
No, a search... for us
We can't go home
They'd follow us and kill our folks
[rings]
- Hello?
- Dad, they're after us
- Look son, you come home, And...
- I can't.
Will?
- [Will] They're coffins
- [Jim] Yeah, kid size
[chattering]
[man] Hi there!
[chattering continues]
Ma?
[woman] I love your parade!
- Hey, Charlie
- Huh, Doc?
Charlie, look here, The bar is empty
First time in 20 years, there's nobody
there, Ed must've just taken off
He wouldn't do that, That's not like Ed
[elephants trumpeting]
[dog barking]
[barking continues]
- Now, that's odd
- It sure is
Hey Doc, have you seen Will and Ji...
Excuse me, gentlemen, I am a stranger
in this town, perhaps you could help me
My name is Dark
I'm looking for two young boys
- Town's full of them
- Yes, No doubt, sir, No doubt
But these boys in particular
they're two of a kind
Much of a height, One towheaded
the other black as pitch
You could take them for blood brothers
- What have they done?
- Done, sir? Why, nothing wrong, surely
No, they're two lucky lads
who've won prizes at the carnival
I merely wish to give them the valuable
rewards that they so richly deserve
Can you help me?
Excuse me, See you, Doc
Charlie
[whispers] Dad
- Lose something, sir?
- Uh...
Uh, folks around here all seem
to be taking a holiday, hmm?
- Must be the carnival
- These boys I'm looking for
- perhaps you know them?
- Won prizes, I think you said
- Lucky fellas, Have a cigar?
- No
Well now, I wouldn't want a couple of
kids to miss out on their good fortune
Let me see, that one
Yes, I know him well
- His name's, uh...
- Yes?
Uh, Milton Blumquist
And that... oh, why, Avery Johnson
Yeah, Fine boys, fine, Both of 'em
quite a credit to this little town
if you want to know the truth
I do want to know the truth, sir
And the truth is that you are lying
You see, I already have their names
I got them from a blind girl
used to be a teacher hereabouts
A poor creature by the name of Foley
Will is the fair-haired
and Jim, the dark
Now tell me, old man
- what's your name?
- Halloway, sir
- Charles William Halloway
- Oh, yes, The town's librarian
- I have the honor, sir
- And have had for many years, I believe
All that time spent living
only through other men's lives
Dreaming only other men's dreams
What a waste
Sometimes a man can learn more
from other men's dreams
than he can from his own
Come visit me, sir, if you would
wish to improve your education
I will, And I may improve yours
[♫ funeral dirge]
Boys, what the hell's goin' on?
Come to the library tonight
[Will] That's why they had the parade
so they could find us and kill us
And so, we had to hide
because, well... who'd believe us?
- [Mr. Halloway] I believe you
- [Jim] You do? But we're not grownups
That's why I believe you
Now, listen to this
Diary of my father, Charles Herbert
Halloway, minister of this town:
"October, 1891
"We have had no good fortune
since there arrived here
"the autumn carnival
"It seems strange to speak of such
things in these enlightened days
"A poor, lame servant girl went to the
fortuneteller to inquire how she might run
"Her leg mended...
"... and then she ran mad
"It seems they destroy people
"by granting their dearest wishes
"as has been the way of the devil
"since God created the world
"Old folks of this town
"say they remember
such a carnival of evil
visiting many autumns past
in the days of their youth,"
[humming]
"The traveling people swore
"they would return, some other autumn
Each time their visit ended
with a most unusual storm,"
[door opens]
It's Mr, Dark
[Mr. Halloway] Boys, hide, quick
"By the pricking of my thumbs
something wicked this way comes,"
"Then rang the bells both loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep,"
"The wrong will fail, the right, prevail
with peace on earth, good will to men,"
It's a thousand years
to Christmas, Mr, Halloway
You're wrong, It's here in this library
tonight, and can't be spoiled
Did Will and Jim bring it with them
on the soles of their shoes?
Then we shall have to scrape them
Will?
Jim?
Free rides on the merry-go-round
How would you like to be
king of the carnival, Jim?
The ruler of the rides?
How would you like to be grown up, Jim?
How would that feel, huh?
Not to be looked down at
Not to be told to run away and play
To be trusted, To be feared
To know what grownups do behind
locked doors when children are asleep
Come out to me, Jim
I'm the father you've been waiting for...
... my son
I know who you are
You are the autumn people
Where do you come from? The dust
- Where do you go to? The grave
- Yes
We are the hungry ones
Your torments call us like dogs in the night
And we do feed, and feed well
To stuff yourselves
on other people's nightmares
And butter our plain bread
with delicious pain
So, you do understand a little
You are known in this town
My father knew you
Your father, The preacher?
That half-man?
- He lived on goodness
- Tasteless fare
Funerals, bad marriages
lost loves, lonely beds
That is our diet
We suck that misery and find it sweet
We search for more, always
We can smell young boys
ulcerating to be men 1000 miles off
And hear a middle-aged fool like you
groaning with midnight despairs
from halfway around the world
Your books cannot hurt me, old man
Yes, old, Because your heart is old
Listen to it
You tell me where the boys are hiding
and I can make you young again
I could turn your years back for you to...
... let's say, 30?
Now speak, or you've missed it
Going...
it's gone
32, 32?
Year of a man's prime
loved by many women
You might still learn to swim
32, going... gone
33... 34... 35... 35?
Oh, 35
Time to father a family, build a fortune
35... a year when you could run up
the stairs without panting for breath
35... gone
36... 37...
Where are they? 38...
Hear your heart, hear my count
39... Now, 39, a fine year
Still young, 39... gone
Oh, oh! 40
40, and hear your old, old heart!
Dad, no, Don't listen!
And is that the voice
of green grass and sunshine?
Sweet Eden's child
the innocent young Will?
42... 43...
44... 45... 46...
47, 48, 49, 50, 52
Your loss!
- You fool
- Damn you
- A taste of death?
- [groaning]
So you'll know it when
it comes again, soon
Jim? Will?
Time to go
Jim Nightshade
What a good...
what a proper name for a carnival
Dark and Nightshade's
Pandemonium Carnival
That's your name, Jim
Mr, Nightshade
Will, then
Will?
Your mother was at the carnival tonight
She rode the carousel
She went backwards and forwards
until she was quite, quite mad
You should've heard the one
single sound she made
Come out now
Jim?
Jim, you're the clever one
You tell me where your friend is hiding
and I can guarantee you
a very special reward
Now, where would you be filed, I wonder?
Under "A" for Adventure, or "B" for boys?
"J" for Jim, or "N" for Nightshade?
"H" for Halloway...
... or "H" for hidden?
[both scream]
Well, here's a couple of fine new books
I'll enjoy cutting this one's pages
Mom!
Seems I made a little mistake
It must've been your mother
Jim, at the carnival
Poor thing, What a tragedy
Still, you won't be needing her anymore
Look, You have a fine, new mother now
Time to quiet these two chatterers
Time to still these two whisperers
Lose their tongues until
I choose to find them again
Quiet, you two chatterers
Still, you two whisperers
[groans]
And give him a brief taste of death
so that he may recognize
it when it comes again
[thunder rumbles]
Old man, hear your heart beating
Slow, now
Slower...
Slower...
Slower...
... slowest
What times we're
going to have, Jim, you and I
Dark and Nightshade
Nightshade and Dark
And Will...
... we'll ride him backwards, shall we?
Turn him into a little baby
a plaything for our little friend here
[laughs]
[thunder rumbles]
[thunderclap]
[thunderclap]
Harry, is that you?
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr, Halloway
I... I was expecting somebody else
See, I have a message, I have a ticket...
Whatever the messages, they'll be lies
Go home
- No, I have to wait here for Harry...
- For God's sake, go home
The man coming for you
isn't your husband
But... they told me...
[thunderclap]
[echoing] Dad!
[Dark] Not dead yet, Mr. Halloway?
Come looking in my mirrors
for another chance?
Shall I help you find it?
Would you know it if you saw it?
Here the mirror of dreams, of beauty.
Can Crosetti tell you of
incredible loves he never lived?
Over here...
...see the mirror of
riches beyond wishing
where Mr. Tetley's buried.
Halloway, look.
Look here for the great and famous.
Ed, the barman hero
of all the football years.
All his cheering crowds gone.
Here, the looking glass
of pride and ruined vanity
where wars of time are fought and lost.
And now this.
This is your glass of darkness
Mr. Halloway.
Its name, regret.
Its sum, despair.
Drink deep its funeral sights and sounds.
Your failure as a father and as a man.
Your son hates you.
You've lost him. He's mine.
And young Jim Nightshade, too.
Drown, Halloway.
Drown in your regrets.
Dad!
Dad, please!
[echoing] I...
[echoing] I love you
[echoing] I love you!
[splash]
[echoing] Dad! Dad!
[breaking glass]
[Will echoing "I love you"]
[thundering]
[buzzing]
[yelling]
[buzzing/breaking glass]
[♫ distant calliope music]
King of the carnival, my son
- My partner, forever
- Jim!
Jim! Jim, no!
Don't ditch me!
[thunderclap/explosion]
[screaming]
[thundering]
Jim, please, Don't die
Stop that, do you hear? Stop it
Tears, that's what they like!
My God, how they like tears!
Look, that's no way to save young Jim
[buzzing]
Jump around, eh?
Whoop and holler
Come on, look at me, eh?
Look at me
I'm the great whooping crane
Whoop, whoop, whoop
Come on, happiness makes 'em run
[whirring]
Dad, look
Hey Dad, he's alive! Jim!
Let's get the hell outta here
[buzzing]
[neighing]
[buzzing]
[screaming]
[screaming continues]
[calliope music stops]
[thundering]
[screaming continues]
[laughing]
And, tie!
[♫ harmonica music]
[adult Jim] For my father
being old was all right now.
He had freed himself from the shadows
and liberated our town.
So, I think he knew
on that bright morning
that he'd made a memory...
that would live as long as sons tell sons
'about fathers they love.