[Muffled heartbeat]
[Child laughs]
Guys?
Hey, guys?
[Pop]
Very funny, guys.
Surprise!
I can't believe you remembered!
Look, how could we forget?
You only reminded us a zillion times.
He did not!
We'd never forget your birthday.
Dave even has a special story for you.
Really?
Let's go.
Yeah.
I know how much you like magic,
so I kind of borrowed one of your magical characters.
Which one?
Sit down, my friend, and you'll find out.
My story is indeed about magic--
the kind Gary likes,
the kind that dazzles and amazes
but is still strangely real.
But the magic in my story is more intense
than the kind that comes from incantations or elixirs.
It's the kind of magic that comes from inside of us,
a magic that can be used for good...
Or incredible evil.
Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,
I call this story...
Hi.
Hi. Got something for you.
Choc -- chocolate-covered blueberries?
Where did you get these?
My dad got them.
I knew you liked them, so I pinched a couple.
You're the best.
So you going to the dance Friday?
Uh, no. I'm not much of a dance guy.
I'm more of a sit-and-watch guy.
That's it! That's it!
[Girl] Shh!
Hey, Keith.
Hi, Gary.
There's Shelly.
Whoa...
We're having a fight.
Get out of here.
Yeah. She says I take her for granted.
Come on. Let's go.
Get it, Keith.
Sorry, man. That was rude.
That's OK.
Let's go.
[Bell rings]
[Boy] Keith Saunders was in a bad car crash.
It messed up his leg so bad
that he'd never walk without a limp.
But the accident didn't just damage his leg.
It hurt his entire outlook on life.
Ohh!
Oh, man, I'm sorry.
It's OK. I'll get them.
No, no. It's OK. I can do it.
Sometimes I can be such a klutz.
Yeah. Me, too.
So, uh, are you going to the dance on Friday?
Maybe. I don't know.
Gary's being a pain.
Well, if you ever need anyone to fill in or anything...
You're sweet.
Bye.
Yeah, bye.
[Music playing]
Shelly.
[Voice not heard]
"You can bring out the best in yourself...
"Have the courage to walk
"through the doors of Sardo's Magic Mansion...
for the potion."
[Bell jingles]
[Man] Don't just stand there! Come in!
Um...
is there a Mr. Sourdough here?
That's Sardo!
No "mister," accent on the "do."
Now... what is it?
What can I do for you?
I came for the potion.
The potion! The potion! The potion!
What potion?
The potion that brings out the best in people.
Oh, the potion! Yes! That potion! Of course!
Silly me! It's right over here.
Uh...
What else does it do?
The ad said it could make me more confident,
it could make me more powerful.
Right. Got it.
Oh, the potion. Why didn't you say so?
It's my number one bestseller.
Now, this is very powerful stuff,
very powerful indeed.
You must only use one drop at a time. Understand?
How much does it cost?
Well, it's very difficult
to put a value on just what this will do for you,
but if I were pressed, I'd say... $40.
$40!
All right--35! But I'm losing on the deal.
Thanks just the same.
How much you got?
$20.
Done!
I'll get you a receipt.
One drop at a time.
[Slurping]
All right!
Aah! Harold!
1...
2...
3.
Ohh!
Yes!
Whoa-oa! Who is that?
Hi.
I'm K.C.
You know Keith Saunders?
Yeah.
He's my cousin.
So are you going to ask me to sit down?
Yeah, sure.
[Alarm clock ringing]
Ohh!
Little warm for that, isn't it?
Oh, I got a cold.
So who was that guy yesterday? He ran from your house--
What guy?
He was at the charcoal pit, flirting with Shelly.
He looks kind of like--
It's no one. It's no one.
But I'm sure that I--
Look... let's just walk to school, OK?
Sure.
Hey, Keith!
See you later.
Your cousin K.C. Is great!
Yeah?
Hi! Is he going to be at the charcoal pit after school?
Uh, if you want him to be.
Tell him we'll all be there. See ya!
You never told me you had a cousin.
He's not from around here.
So how did the geometry test go?
I flunked it.
You flunked a test?
It wasn't easy.
I mean, the test was hard.
Well, is everything all right?
The doctor said it's normal to be a little bummed
after the accident.
Dad...
I'm fine.
Really.
I got homework.
Keith.
[Telephone rings]
Hello?
Hi, Keith?
This is Shelly. Is K.C. There?
Who?
Oh, yeah. K.C., um, hang on.
Hey, how you doing?
Great. I was wondering if you weren't doing anything,
why don't you come over and watch TV or something?
Yeah, sure. I mean, uh...
I think I'm free. Hold on.
I'll be over in a little while.
Great. See ya.
Thanks for coming over.
I had a really good time tonight.
When do I get to see you again?
How about Friday night?
But that's the, uh...
Dance. I know. Come with me.
But Gary...
Has he asked you?
No.
Well, I'm asking.
I, uh...
I'd love to.
Terrific.
Well... goodnight.
[Alarm clock ringing]
Ohh! Ohh!
Was it tight?
Yeah. It's really tight,
and it goes just above my knees.
Shelly? Have you seen Keith? He wasn't in school.
No.
How about his cousin K.C.?
No. But I'll see him tonight at the dance.
So tell me more about the dress.
This is what you call bringing out the best in somebody?
Well, I must admit it is a bit unusual.
What happened to the others?
What others?
You mean...
Frankly, you're the only person who's ever...
Bought the stuff.
What?
But I'm sure there's something we can do.
I'm looking, I'm looking, I'm looking.
Here it is! Here, here, here!
"Bring out the best... only one drop at a time.
Very powerful..."
I don't know what could have gone wrong.
Are you sure you're not taking any other potion?
No. And I wish I didn't...
What's this?
Oh.
"Caution-- turn page."
You mean there's more?
"Before bringing out the best,
one must fight the Dark Dragon from within."
Funny, I didn't notice that.
What's the Dark Dragon?
I'm sure I don't know.
But I'm afraid you're about to find out.
So what time should I pick you up for the dance?
You never bothered to ask me.
See ya.
So I'm asking you now.
I'll pick you up at 7:00?
I'm going with someone else.
What?
Keith?
[Loud groan]
Keith?
It's me.
I need to talk.
Something's wrong. I know it.
Mariah...
Open the door.
I can't, Mariah.
You need help, Keith.
Let me help you.
No one can help me now.
Let me try.
Just go away! Just go!
Aah!
[Groaning]
[Music playing]
Hi.
Whoa! You're beautiful.
Hi.
I think this could be the best moment of my life.
All right, kids.
This is the time during the annual homecoming dance
when we award the trophy for the best athlete in school.
The envelope, please.
And the winner is...
Who else?
Gary March! Yeah!
Congratulations, Gary!
I'd like to dedicate this award to Shelly Bergman.
I'd just like her to know she's got first place in my heart.
And, uh, I'd give anything
if she'd dance the next dance with me.
[Music playing]
I'm sorry, K.C.
Ask me to dance... please.
Isn't it gross to be stared at like this?
Mariah...
The potion...
Isn't it wonderful?
Now you can fall in love with me.
What are you talking about?
I could never tell you this before,
but I love you.
So if you want a pretty girl like Shelly,
I'll be a pretty girl.
Isn't it wonderful?
[Groaning]
What's going on?
Nothing, sir. It's OK.
I'm fine. I think I need air.
This feels awful.
How much did you take?
[Panting]
I-- I drank the whole bottle.
No! Why did you do it?
I did it for you.
You wanted a beautiful girl.
Mariah!
Keith, what's happening?
It's my fault.
I'm the one who's supposed to change, not you.
Why?
I didn't want to be me anymore.
My leg, the brace...
I'm sick of it.
I can't be normal.
People stare at me. I hate myself.
I don't hate you.
I didn't want this to happen to you.
Mariah...
Please don't go.
Keith?
It's you.
It's really you.
What happened?
I think I beat the Dark Dragon.
I don't understand.
It's been inside me since the accident,
but it's gone now.
The potion did exactly what it said it would.
Keith? Mariah?
What are you doing here?
I was, uh, just taking my girl to the dance.
The end.
Happy birthday, Gary.
[All] Happy birthday, Gary!
Captioned by Grant Brown