[Child laughs]
[Muffled heartbeat]
Hey, you did this yourself?
All right, Dave.
What are you, like, sick?
He must want something.
Whatever it is, forget it.
You OK?
I'm fine.
Why don't you just tell them?
What's the matter?
Poor Davy upset about something?
That's why.
What's going on?
His family moved across town,
and he had to change schools.
Oh, poor baby
doesn't like being the new kid.
If you think it's funny,
why don't you try changing schools?
You don't know anybody. You get lost.
The kids treat you like you're invisible
because they already have their own friends.
If that means I'm being a baby,
then I guess I'm being a baby.
It will get better.
Yeah. You'll get used to it.
I figured I might as well make the best of this,
so I came up with a story.
Now you're talking.
It's about two kids who have to go to a new school.
It's strange for them at first, too,
but what they find out is this school
is far stranger than they could ever imagine.
Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,
I call this story...
[Thump]
[Dog whimpers]
[David] The Blackbrook School
was supposed to be
one of the best boarding schools around,
so when Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had to go away on business,
they thought it would be
the perfect place to send their kids.
The perfect place to send their kids.
So...
What do you think?
Classic postindustrial, prewar construction.
I think it's charming.
I think it's a pit.
Well, I think we should go
and try and find the Taylors. Come on.
[David] Augie and Jasmine
had never been to a boarding school,
and they weren't too happy about it.
If they had only known what was waiting for them,
they never would have set foot inside.
Why can't we just go with you?
Honey, we've been through this.
We don't want to disrupt school.
So you ditch us in this prison?
We're not ditching you, and it's not a prison.
It's a very well-known, highly respected--
[girl screams]
Oh, my god. What was that?
[Girl screams]
What's the matter?
Calm down. It's OK.
Who are you?
We're parents. You OK?
Yeah, I'm OK.
It was just a nightmare.
In the day?
Marie?
I knew we shouldn't have left you alone here,
poor dear.
Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.
She was having a nightmare.
Marie's been running a fever.
She should be in the infirmary.
[Augie] Delusionary dreams are often caused
by elevated temperatures.
You must be Augie...
And Jasmine.
Welcome to Blackbrook.
I'm OK, really. It was just a dream.
Well, we're not going to take any more chances.
Off to the infirmary you go.
[Buzzing]
What's that?
Class change.
Shall we all meet in my office?
Some call us old-fashioned...
and they're right,
but at Blackbrook,
we believe an orderly environment
is essential to the learning process.
[Buzzing]
What's with the buzzing?
Why, it's our tone system.
It signifies the end of classes,
mealtimes, wake-up calls,
just about everything.
Different frequencies
for different events?
Exactly. The tones are soothing,
not like the typical jangling bells
in most schools.
I'll bet you were adopted.
Now, if we can...
[Watch beeping]
[Screaming]
[Beeping stops]
Mr. Taylor, are you all right?
[Mr. taylor] Uh...
Y-yes.
Thank you.
Um, forgive me.
I've been having migraines.
It doesn't happen often,
but when it does, watch out.
Well, is there something we can get you?
No, no, I'm-- I'm quite all right.
Please...
Let's continue.
I don't want to stay here.
I'm afraid we don't have a choice.
Oh! Yes, we do.
Why do you always accept things without a fight?
Because things happen for a reason,
and I understand that.
Yeah? What's the reason that guy went nuts in there?
Did one of his little tones
tell him to freak out?
No. He had a headache.
Headache? I thought his brain was going to explode,
and if I got to stay here,
my brain's going to explode, too.
Look, jazz, you can get crazy
and make a big stink like you always do,
but it's not going to change things.
If Mom and Dad could take us with them, they would,
but they can't, so get over it.
Augie, I've never been away from home.
It's only for six months.
We can handle it.
We have to do it for Mom and Dad.
Yeah, well, I'm not wearing
one of those lame uniforms.
Well, it's official.
I'm a geek.
I'm going to miss you so much.
Me, too, Mom.
Promise to write once a week?
We promise.
You guys be good, now.
We will.
I love you. See you in about a month.
Bye.
I'm really depressed.
[Buzzing]
I think that means dinner.
My programming tells me you are correct.
I will follow.
What is this?
Spunge.
Sponge...
Like what you clean with?
No, spunge with a "U."
It's great. Try it.
No, thanks.
It's some sort of grain-meal, like grits.
Doesn't look so hot, but it's good.
We get it for dessert every night.
I think I'll pass as well.
[Buzzing]
I'll show you where to put your plates.
That buzzer is going to make me nuts.
[David] All the other kids were pretty cool,
and they seemed to like the place,
so Augie and Jazz figured they might as well kick back
and try and fit in.
Still, there was something just a little bit off
about the Blackbrook School,
like some very strange rules.
[Beeping]
Willie!
We've talked about this before, young man.
Now...
No sad faces.
We'll just remember next time, won't we?
Whoa. Are you nuts?
Excuse me?
Don't let anybody see this.
I'm not bothering anybody.
Doesn't matter.
We're not allowed to listen to music on school grounds.
Why?
Rules. The Taylors say it gets in the way
of the learning process or something.
It's bogus,
but they're pretty strict about it.
If you're going to listen, be cool about it.
[David] After a couple of weeks,
they got used to the rules
and even started to like the place.
[Buzzing]
Then one night, things took a strange turn.
Marie!
What's going on?
Augie.
Augie, wake up. Aug--
Shh.
Don't scare me like that.
What is going on?
You're the genius. Tell me.
This tone went off,
and all the guys got out of bed
and started walking off like zombies.
Yeah. Same with the girls.
Let's alert the Taylors.
No.
Let's see where they're going. Come on.
Jazz, please. I don't want to get into trouble.
Then go back.
Oh, man, this is not a normal school.
Fascinating.
It's some sort of containment system for water.
This is wrong.
We've got to get the authorities.
Don't be such a chicken.
Kit?
Kit, you OK?
Amazing.
Marie.
What are you doing?
What is this?
[Gasp]
I told you not to scare me like that.
This is incredible.
It's like they're all hypnotized
into knowing exactly what to do.
Yeah, but what are they doing?
Don't!
It's an egg.
Excellent!
There they are, dear.
I knew they'd fit in.
Thank goodness.
I didn't think they'd eaten their spunge.
Ha ha ha!
They all do.
It's just too good to resist.
Come on.
Let's just call the police, OK?
I want to find out what's going on first.
[Keys jingling]
[Unlocking door]
Our work is finally going to pay off, my dear.
The incubation is nearly complete.
We won't be alone much longer.
The master is pleased.
She's been patient these 100 years.
Her Patience will soon be rewarded.
Then we can shed these infernal trappings.
A toast--
to our troubled past
and our glorious future.
To the master.
Did you see that?
They're lizards.
This isn't real. It can't be.
It's real, all right.
When those eggs hatch,
this place is going to be crawling with them.
I don't understand. Are they aliens?
I don't know, and I don't care.
All I know is we got to get out of here and tell somebody.
We can't. They'll catch us!
Look, all you ever do is follow the rules.
Well, the rules just went
out of the window, pal.
You talked me into staying here,
and now you're going to get us out.
I am going to go get dressed.
You get a grip!
Jazz, let's go.
I got a plan. If we hook-- Aah!
You children have been naughty.
You should have eaten your spunge
like all the others.
You're a monster.
Oh. Ha ha! Me?
You haven't seen anything yet.
Aah! Ooh!
[Groaning]
You can't leave now.
The excitement's just begun.
Ha ha ha!
No!
That's the way back to the eggs.
There.
I don't like this.
We can hide here.
They'll think we escaped
and stop chasing us.
[Metal rattling]
What's that?
The pipes.
They make funny noises.
[Thump]
Augie.
You children should have eaten your spunge.
I'm afraid we can't let you out to tell our secret.
Ooh...
What are you?
The last of a race that was doomed to extinction...
Until now.
[Mrs. Taylor] We've nurtured the eggs for ages.
Soon they'll hatch,
and once again we can populate the earth.
And you use the kids to take care of them.
Genius, don't you think?
It's ironic.
We're a race of meat-eaters--
all kinds of meat.
Once the eggs are hatched,
the children will serve...
Another purpose.
The young ones will be very hungry.
[Laughter]
[Growl]
We're trapped.
Very few children have caused problems
the way you two have,
but when they do,
they always end up down here.
You're very lucky.
You get to meet the mother.
The mother?
[Growling]
Augie...
What's that?
You've stumbled on the lair of our master,
and she hasn't eaten in days.
Ha ha ha!
Augie...
Bon appetit!
Ha ha ha!
What are you doing?
Getting us out of this. Here.
It's high-frequency sound.
They can't stand it.
No!
Don't! No!
Don't! Please! Hurry!
Do it!
[Rock and roll blaring]
[Roaring]
[Screaming]
Louder!
[Music getting louder]
You did it.
You did it!
Oh, yuck.
This better not stain.
The Taylors.
Gross.
How did you know?
They couldn't stand high-frequency sound,
like when my watch went off.
And no one could play music in school.
It just fit.
I may be a chicken...
But I'm smart.
Ha ha ha!
Kit?
What happened?
Where are we?
Wait outside.
We'll take you upstairs.
I guess when we got the mother,
we got them all.
This is like a dream.
It is,
and you're not going to have nightmares anymore.
The end...
Or is it?
I declare this meeting
of the Midnight Society closed,
and, uh, make sure to go straight home, guys.
Why?
Because tonight's...
A school night.
[Laughter]
Captioned by Grant Brown