[Muffled heartbeat]
[Thunder]
[Child laughs]
[Footsteps]
Come on, guys.
Full moon on a leap year. Watch out.
What's that supposed to mean?
Tonight's the night the spirits are free
to take innocent victims away.
Aw, come on. You made that up.
Shh!
That's it. I'm out of here!
Wait, wait, wait.
Guys.
[Collective sigh]
Great idea.
Cool.
What are you doing?
Don't you know about tonight?
It's a full moon...
On leap year.
Oh, no. Not you, too.
This mask... Within this circle...
Is our only protection.
Sounds like a pretty dumb joke to me.
You don't have to believe me,
but it's an old superstition.
My story takes place on February 29th--
leap year.
It happens every four years,
and when it comes with a full moon, watch out.
The spirits who prowl on a full moon leap year
are hunting,
and it may be for you.
Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,
I call this story...
Claire and Andrew Dickens were on their way home
from a trip to the amusement park with Louise,
their favorite babysitter.
Aw, the laugh in the dark ride was awesome.
When zebo jumped out, I almost croaked.
You're so childish.
Be nice, little schmunkins,
or I won't take you to Molly's.
Banana Splits!
All you can eat!
Only if you're good and stop fighting.
Ah, your teeth are going to rot.
At least I don't have onion breath,
miss hot dog.
Remember, love is greatest when words are few.
What does that mean?
It means shut up.
That's strange.
I thought the number 9 highway was back there.
Isn't that sign supposed to be blue?
What do you know?
Let's just go. I'm hungry.
You're always hungry.
Oh, I don't recognize any of this.
I need to get directions.
Hello? Hello? Anyone here?
This place is creepy. I'm gone.
[Man] Shut that door!
I... loathe drafts.
Sorry. We don't mean to bother you,
but we're lost.
Lost?
But you're precisely... on time.
We're looking for highway 9 to Victor Heights.
Highway 9?
You've strayed quite far.
But I know a shortcut.
Take the dirt road outside.
It travels through the woods
and will cut... miles off your trip.
[Whirring]
[Chimes ring]
Anything else... I can do for you?
No, but thanks for your help.
Ha ha ha!
What a creep.
He was just a little eccentric, that's all.
Eccentric? What does that mean?
It means he was a creep.
[Engine dies]
[Engine not starting]
Did we run out of gas?
No. I don't know what happened.
We'll never have Banana Splits.
We're stuck here,
and all you can think about is eating?
Let's ask if we can use their phone.
Why don't we walk back to that tavern
and use their phone?
Because we can use the one here.
Come on.
I don't want to go.
Why? You scared?
No.
Don't move. I'll be back in a flash.
Chicken.
[Creaking]
She should be back by now.
I'm going in.
But Louise said to wait here.
You really are chicken.
I won.
Winner has to knock.
No way. Loser does.
Louise.
Shh. Listen.
[Creaking]
It's her!
I don't like haunted houses.
[Music box playing]
It's a party!
Awesome!
Excellent, I'm starved.
Louise planned this. I know it.
Come on out, Louise.
Hey, let me try some.
Get your own!
Look what you made me do now, dork.
[Sizzling]
Ha ha ha!
Do you realize we could be dead right now?
Good thing you were a pig
and tried to eat my ice cream.
So, what do we do now?
Well, I don't know.
I guess we'll have to go back to that tavern
and ask that guy for help.
I thought you said he was a creep.
Do you have a better idea?
[Music playing]
Excuse me.
[Music stops]
We came from that house in the woods.
Louise, our babysitter,
I think she's lost there.
There, there, dearie.
Have some punch.
[Music starts]
No, thank you.
Uh, can you help us?
Relax, darling.
That nanny of yours,
she'll be fine...
Once the sun sets.
Now, you know that's not true.
What do you mean?
It's leap year...
And a full moon.
We wouldn't be here otherwise,
would we?
You remind me so much
of my dear little Jane.
So sad.
Pay no attention.
They're just pulling your leg.
About what?
I don't get it.
Lighten up there, little sister.
It's a party.
The sun's going down, and we can live.
Who lives in that house?
Better question is,
who's the house living in?
It's master Raymond's house--
has been for years
and for years to come.
Want to buy a brush?
What a bunch of Loony Tunes.
What are we going to do?
Go home.
How?
What about Louise?
We'll call Mom and Dad.
They'll come and pick us up.
Did they have a phone in there?
They must.
Come on.
Excuse me, could we use your...
Where did they all go?
I don't know.
Claire, this is weird.
What are we going to do?
There's only one thing we can do.
We got to go get Louise.
[Creaking]
[Whispering voices]
Maybe she already left.
But her car's still outside.
[Whispering voice] ...Forever!
You will never leave this house!
[Laughter]
[Louise] Claire. Andrew.
Are you there?
Louise.
Louise, is that you?
[Louise] Over here.
In the living room.
I'm over here.
Louise?
I'm upstairs.
Please come help me.
Please.
How did you get in there?
Ha ha ha!
Aah! Aah!
[Claire] That guy!
He's from the tavern. He must be Master Raymond.
Who cares? He was a creep, remember?
Now he's a ghost creep!
We have to find Louise.
How about you find her, I stay here?
No.
I need you.
You do?
Yeah. Y-you're smart.
You think of the things that I don't.
Yeah. Yeah. I do, don't I?
Come on. We have to look upstairs.
It's OK. Come on.
[Humming]
Louise, is that you?
Of course, little schmunkin head.
Come in.
It really is you.
What happened?
Don't worry.
I'm OK.
I found this little baby,
and we can go just as soon as he's asleep.
I thought for sure that you were hurt
or even--
No. I'm fine.
I've... never been better.
It's Master Raymond.
[Deep voice] Here. This is for you!
Aah!
[Maniacal laughter]
Andrew!
You so remind me of my dear little Jane.
So sad. So sad.
Aah!
Louise!
[Louise] Yes?
Help me.
Louise?
It's me. It's really me.
I'm trapped.
Claire! Louise!
Hey, guys, the door's open.
Shut that door.
He hates drafts!
Louise?
Claire!
Andrew?
[Andrew] Where are you?
[Claire] I'm on the other side of the wall.
I found Louise.
Go to the candlesticks.
Pull on them--
hard. Hurry.
[Laughing maniacally]
Cool!
Come on.
Welcome.
Leave her alone. She's coming with us.
Big words for such a small boy.
I'm not small, and I'm not scared of you.
[Master Raymond] No matter.
When the sun sets,
her soul... will be mine.
[Claire] Who are you?
What do you want?
Her energy will keep me alive,
keep this house alive,
and she'll be part of us...
forever.
You're a monster.
[Master Raymond] I would choose my words carefully
if I were you,
or you... might be next.
Don't touch that!
Take a hike, buddy.
Where did he go?
Who cares? Let's bolt.
Hurry up. He'll come back.
There's no use in running.
The sun is almost down.
She...
is...
mine.
Don't count on it, buddy.
[Master Raymond laughs]
Silly boy with silly toys.
You won't fool me again.
Come along, dear.
[Andrew] Louise.
You, too... little one.
Claire!
Run along, little boy.
They're mine now.
Ha ha ha!
[Woman] No!
Violet...
What are you doing?
I won't let you do this.
You dare go against my wishes?
They're so young.
This is not your concern.
Return to the walls.
She's so like my poor little Jane.
Violet, no!
No!
Aah!
What happened?
Go quickly!
Thank you.
Still want Banana Splits?
[Claire and Andrew] No! Let's get out of here!
Yes!
It works! Punch it.
[Engine not starting]
The house still stands,
and to this day,
people still disappear when the moon is full
on February 29th.
Ah, time to go.
Y-you go first.
Uh, no. After you.
Not me. You go, Frank.
[Frank] I'll go after Gary goes.
[Gary] I'm not going first.
Captioned by Grant Brown