[Creaking]
[Clattering]
[Child's laughter]
I'm gonna cut right to it.
Uh, I want to go out with you next Friday.
Do you want to go out with me?
Do I have anything to say about this?
Sure. You could say, "what time?"
[Miming speech]
I'm not getting in the middle of this.
[Tucker laughing]
Whoa, big, fella, whoa.
What are you doing?
Gary's my servant for a week.
Down, boy.
Why?
We made a deal. Don't ask.
I found a poem he wrote.
Tucker!
A poem?
I promised not to show it to anybody if he'd be my servant.
Enough, you little spud.
One more word, and the deal's off.
No sweat.
Hurry up and tell your story.
I've got some dirty socks that you've gotta wash.
OK.
I've got a special story tonight.
There's an old saying:
What goes around, comes around.
In my story, a kid finds out
that no matter what you do, good or bad,
it always comes back at you.
It's great if you do something nice,
but if you do something rotten,
watch out-- it's coming back,
and probably, when you least expect it.
Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,
I call this story...
Mike was a pretty average kid
who worked a paper route.
It was the day before
his mother's birthday,
and he managed to save $70 to buy her a gift.
Come on. We got to go to the store before it closes.
Go yourself. I'm watching something.
Sam, it's Mom's birthday tomorrow.
We have to get her a present together. Let's go.
Go where?
Um, skating, skating. Just for a little while.
Yeah. Wouldn't want to get too chilly skating, would we?
Now, keep your eye on your brother,
and be home at 6:00.
OK.
Oh, yeah.
Skates. I guess we'll need these, won't we?
See you.
[Crash]
Oh, sorry, ma'am, sorry.
Here, I'll get the door.
Have a nice day. Bye.
What a bunch of crud. Don't buy anything here.
Sam.
I'm going to the toy store.
I'm supposed to watch you.
No sweat. Watch me leave.
Sam, we got to get Mom's present.
No, you got to get Mom's present.
Forget it.
Would you lighten up? I'm only going next door.
Just go next door,
and don't leave till I come and get you.
Yes, ma'am.
100 bucks. Right.
Can I help you?
Oh, um, yeah, um...
I'm, I'm looking for a birthday gift for my mom.
I see.
Well, my friend, how much are you willing to spend?
Um, 70. $70.
Let me see now.
Oh, yeah. How about this little prize?
It's perfect.
Sam, what do you think?
Sam?
It's OK.
I'll take it. How much is it?
For you? $50.
All right.
OK.
Is there a problem?
Um...
Well, my money's gone.
Oh, I must have left it at home.
I'm sure I brought it.
I see.
Maybe another time.
OK.
Sam, have you seen my money?
Sam.
Where did you get this?
The toy store.
With what money?
My birthday money.
You spent that on a bike.
I had some left over.
No, you didn't. You spent it all.
You stole my money.
Let's consider it a loan.
Sam, that money was for Mom's birthday gift.
It was all I had.
Oh, well, too late now.
No, it's not. We're getting it back.
No! Can't we just return something?
Oh, well, guess you missed your chance.
No, I didn't. Come on.
Can I pay you tomorrow?
I swear, please, it's my mom's birthday.
Sorry. Come back when you got the money.
Does this mean we can go home now?
Do you know what happens to bad kids?
I mean really bad kids, like you.
No. Why don't you tell me?
Whenever you get snotty with somebody,
whenever you hurt someone,
whenever you're selfish or insult somebody--
yeah, yeah, I better not pout, I better not shout,
'cause Santa Claus is coming to town.
Sam, whenever you're bad,
and that means when you steal...
The Crimson Clown is watching you.
Ooh.
Watch out, Sam, or it'll get you.
Ooh, I'm scared.
Don't believe me? You'll see.
[Buzzing]
Now we're late, and Mom's gonna be ticked.
Who cares?
You should. Because of you,
we don't have a gift for her.
Just put some cash in a card.
You stole my cash, remember?
Why don't you ask your pal, the Crimson Clo...
Come on. Come on, let's go.
Tell Mom I'll be right down.
Yeah, whatever.
Where have you been? Look at the time.
Where's Michael?
Um, upstairs.
I told you to be back at 6:00.
I'm sorry, Mom.
I wanted to come home,
but Mike said he wanted to see his friends,
and he didn't care how late we'd be.
Oh, is that right?
Well, we'll just see about that.
Michael, get down here right now!
Yeah, Mom?
Why are you so late? And what's this I hear
about your not caring what time you get home
when you have your brother to look after?
How many times do I have to tell you this?
You have to do your homework,
you have to have a bath, we haven't even had dinner--
I've been telling this since you were 5 years old.
I have to be able to count on you.
You're the man of the house.
Look at me, young man, when I talk to you.
Get up in your room!
I don't want one word out of you!
Is that clear?
[Chuckles]
Ha ha, got you.
[Knock on door]
Yeah?
Supper will be ready soon.
Wash up.
OK.
Are you OK?
Sure, Mom. Just mad at Mike for getting you so upset.
Don't worry about it. Let's go.
Aaaaaagggggghhhhhh!
Mike, Mike!
Get that thing out of here!
What thing?
That.
Very funny. Dinner's ready.
Don't make Mom any madder than she already is.
[Laughing]
Help me clean up, Mike.
But, Mom.
Mike.
All right.
Can I watch TV?
Sure, honey.
TV: [Animal barking]
Man: Ha ha ha, you'll never escape.
Come, brutus, time for dinner.
Man 2: Aaaaagggggghhhhhh!
[Chomping]
Aaaaaggggggghhhhhh!
[Crackling and buzzing]
[Muted laughter]
[Laughter grows louder]
[Louder still]
[Laughter continues]
[Door slams]
Hello, Sam.
Stay tuned. You're next.
[Laughing]
You rotten kid. Help, help.
[Laughing]
Oh, is the baby afraid of a little old movie?
What? But a hand... It... came out.
What are you staring at, turd face?
All right, Sam. It's time for bed.
Can't I stay up a little bit longer?
Yeah, Mom. He could watch
a really scary horror movie.
Sam would love that.
That's OK.
Wimp.
I'm not, you overgrown dirt bag.
Whoa. Keep it up, and the Crimson Clown'll get you.
Cut it out with this stupid clown stuff.
I know what you're doing, and I'm not scared.
What's wrong with him?
I don't know.
We were at the sto-- ice rink,
and he was being a pain,
so I told him that a Crimson Clown will get him.
Mike.
I didn't even think he was listening.
Just give him a break, sweetie.
He's still little.
Yeah, a little jerk.
You're the jerk, Mike. You geek.
Now what?
Mike?
What? What?
Nothing.
[Wind howls]
[Sighs]
Finally.
[Crackling]
[Door opens]
[Creaking]
Better get to sleep, or Mom'll kill you.
[Sighs] Oh.
What do you care?
Hey, Sam. That stuff I said about the clown...
It isn't true, you know.
I was just mad at you.
Yeah, whatever.
Where am I?
Store manager: Come back when you got the money.
Oh, my god.
[Rattles door knob]
Let me out of here!
What's going on? What am I gonna do?
Let me out of here.
[Evil laughter]
Sam, you're a bad kid.
Do you know what we do to kids like you?
[Laughing]
Oh, man.
It was a dream.
[Gasps]
Mike! Mike!
Mike can't help you, Sam.
Mike?
[Laughter]
Help!
[Laughter]
Mike? Mike?
Mike?
Mike? Wake up, Mike. It's the clown, Mike.
It's the Crimson...
[Laughing]
Aaaaagggggghhhhhh! Aaaaagggggghhhhhh!
Nobody will help you, Sam.
Nobody wants to.
[Laughing]
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
No! No!
[Laughing]
Help!
There's nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
[Laughing]
No!
[Laughing]
I got you, Sam. You're lying.
[Laughing]
No! No!
[Laughing]
[Crying out]
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
[Moans]
[Laughing]
Help!
No one will help you, Sam.
[Laughs]
You're a bad kid.
No one wants to help a bad kid.
I'm sorry for everything I did.
I'm sorry.
No, you're not. I am!
I'm sorry I stole Mike's money
and ruined Mom's birthday.
I'm sorry. Please give me another chance.
I'll be good.
Give me another chance.
Mike?
Mike, where are you?
Come on. Hurry up.
Mike. You're here.
Yeah.
Everything's OK. I'm OK.
I got another chance. I got it.
What?
I got another chance.
Ha ha. All right.
Sam.
Can I open it now?
Sure.
[Gasps]
Oh!
It's from me and Sam.
Oh, it's beautiful.
Thank you both.
Sam got what he asked for...
Happy birthday, Mom.
Another chance.
Happy birthday, Mom.
Every kid deserves another chance,
and the Crimson Clown gave him his,
with a little help from Mike.
That is a great story.
Yeah. What did you think, Tucker?
I'll do my own socks.
Yes!
[Sighs]
What are you doing? You might need it.
I doubt it.
So, are we going out, or what?
Well, like Gary said, what goes around comes around.
It's a real hot offer,
r but...I just think
you need to cool off.
[Laughing]
Uh, can I walk you home?
Sure.
Captioned by Grant Brown