[Children giggling]
[Laughing]
Hi, guys. Who's up tonight?
Kiki.
Kiki? She just told one!
So?
So, what happened?
Did she threaten to pound you if you didn't give her another turn?
She probably could, too.
Ahem! Wait till you guys see this.
Wow.
[Whistles]
Chill out, guys. It's no big deal.
I don't believe it!
Y-y-you look like...
Like... Like a girl.
What did you think I was, squirt?
Did you do this for your story?
Whoa. This can be really scary.
I'm doing this to make a statement.
Everybody's got more than one side,
so don't think you know everything about someone
by looking at them one way.
If you do that, you could miss out
on a whole lot beneath the surface.
And that could be a major mistake,
because what you don't know about somebody
could turn out to be the one thing
your life depends on.
Submitted for the approval
of the Midnight Society.
I call this story...
Stacey was smart, funny, pretty,
and better at hoops
than just about every guy at school.
But some kids didn't see any of that.
No way. Forget it.
This isn't your call, Billy.
We've got signals, and we've got plays.
She never gets it until someone repeats it,
and then it's too late.
You act like she's dumb or something.
You said it. I didn't.
He's just being a jerk.
What'd she say?
She says maybe you're the one who doesn't understand.
Exactly. We can't win
if we've got to do everything special for her.
Stace, come on.
Way to go, jerk.
It's not my fault
she's sensitive about being deaf.
I can't believe him.
He's so... Ugh!
[Footsteps]
No geeks, no nerds,
no freaks.
Meaning?
[Beeping sound]
Adolescent phraseology indicative of non-generic,
behavioral or physical characteristics to be avoided.
[Zapping sound]
Pass to him--
what a move!
Yes! This kid's unstoppable.
[Zapping sound]
Yo. Kid.
You talking to me?
You've got excellent moves on the court, dude.
What are you guys?
Scouts?
Yes. Something like that.
In your dreams.
Please. Come with us.
Yeah, right.
What are you gonna do, change my channel?
[High-pitched noise]
I say. What ho.
Jolly good.
Stop right there!
[Zap]
Malfunction?
Negative. You missed her.
Hey! Let me go!
[Screeching noise]
The alarm! Turn it off!
The alarm! Turn off the alarm!
Turn to the left! Turn it off!
[Squelching noise stops]
We won't miss again.
[Computerized voice] You are now approaching the 21st-century earthling.
This specimen is of the younger species.
[Beep]
Smile.
We don't want you to disappoint your public.
Interesting.
Hmm.
As you can see, by the display
I had been expecting a boy.
In case your small mind is curious,
you are among the first specimens we've collected.
But soon we'll be fully operational.
Natural habitats.
Exotic specimens.
A foray of refurbished snack bars.
Oh, for the delectation of...
Humph.
Well, let's just say there are those
who will pay handsomely for such an educational experience.
Do you do any tricks?
Not very bright, are you?
Well, that may be to your advantage.
In my experience, the bright ones don't last.
If you're thinking of escape...
[Screeching noise]
Understand?
At first, the sound merely paralyzes.
After that, your mind will feel
as if it's seeping out of your ears.
Make yourself at home.
You're going to be here for quite some time.
Come on, stop pointing that thing at me.
I'm going in, see?
Stacey?
Where are we?
What is this place?!
Perfect. I get stuck with someone who can't even talk.
I am out of here.
What?
Grrraah.
Look--I don't get it.
You're an animal?
In a cage?
A zoo!
This is a zoo?
Where are all the animals?
Yeah, right. Like I really believe that--
Who are they?
I'm gettin' outta here.
[Squelching noise]
That new girl.
Something odd about her.
I'm afraid she will need to be eliminated.
But don't alarm the others.
We don't want an uprising on our hands.
This really is a zoo, isn't it?
What is this?
Hurry, or they won't feed you!
Oh, man. Someone who can talk.
Where are we?
We call it the future.
They call it the past.
It's not bad if you don't look at it.
How long have you been here?
Just a couple of days, I think.
I was first, but new kids are coming all the time.
There's gotta be a way out.
No. The sound bars are everywhere.
What's wrong with her?
She's deaf.
Wow.
[Whispers] She's deaf.
I don't get it! What's the big deal?
Don't you see?
The keepers use sound to keep us in.
Man: Silence!
[Screeching sound]
For the benefits of our new guests,
at feeding time children should be seen
and not heard!
Not hungry?
You will be.
Feeding time is over!
Get back to this place.
When you finish cleaning up,
collect that one.
We have to get rid of her.
What happened?
What's the matter?
You can read lips. What'd that guy say?
Are you sure?
Then run for it!
The sound can't hurt you. Nothing's keeping you here.
What?
What's keeping you here?
They'll hear the alarms and they'll get you anyway.
Yeah, maybe you're right. What's the second thing?
Me?
You wanna stay because of me?
Why? I haven't been exactly nice to you.
That's because I can hear
but you don't listen.
Well, I'm listening now.
Have any idea how to get out of this place?
You lost me.
You want a mirror?
I'm doing my best, ok?
Slow down! That's gotta last!
What are you doing?
I get it. The mirror! The foil!
But why?
Look out!
The alarm didn't go off.
The light reflected--
the mirror.
That's why you need the mirror.
You're a genius.
It's stuck.
[Crash]
Uh-oh! We're being watched!
What about me?
Hey, you really are a genius.
Come on! They've got cameras! We've gotta move.
Stop!
Run!
[Squelching noise]
Now what? They'll be here any second.
Oh! The door!
I don't get it.
I think I do. Not bad.
Where do you come from?
Man, you are good.
Come on! Hurry up!
Billy: Where do you come from?
We've gotta hurry!
Come on! Hurry up!
[Banging on door]
Move!
Man: Children! Open this door!
Come on! We've gotta get going!
Move!
Good bye. Thank her for me.
Come on, stace. Let's book!
Going somewhere?
[Screeching noise]
Primitive responses.
I see I was right about you.
[Screeching noise]
That's more like it.
You disrupted my zoo.
You freed my specimens.
Now you're going to pay!
No!
You wouldn't want to hurt your friend, would you?
Stacey, please.
Hit it!
No-o-o-o-o-o!
I'm going to find you!
And bring you back!
We're back. It worked.
They're gone.
I don't know how to thank you.
Oh. I get it.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
After their strange adventure,
Stacey and Billy became friends.
No one believed their story about the zoo,
but they always knew they could talk about it
with each other.
The end.
I declare this meeting of the Midnight Society closed.
Kiki, you want to go shopping tomorrow?
Get real.
Let's get out of here.
Captioned by Grant Brown