[MG17] Scary Stories

Scary Stories                                          Written by Matt Groening
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[$Id: mg17 1.1 92/03/15 13:18:43 Unknown Exp Locker: Unknown $]
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> Didja notice...
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    Voice credits:
        NANCY CARTWRIGHT as Bart
        YEARDLEY SMITH as Lisa

    Animators were Wesley Archer, Bill Kopp, and David Silverman.

    The credits list the casting director as BONNIE PIETILA rather
    than BONITA PIETILA.

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> Assorted comments and observations
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Brian Howard {bh} gives the timing for this short as 1:38, whereas the
syndication package contains only 1:37 of animation.  Probably just some
discrepancy between exactly when we each a started our watches.

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> Quotes and scene summary
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% B = Bart, L = Lisa, A = Maggie
%
% The Simpsons living room.  Bart stands by the archway.  Maggie on the
% floor playing with her toys.  Lisa holds a rabbit doll.  Above the
% couch is a large portrait of the family.

B: Want to hear a scary story?

% (*click*)  The room turns pitch black, save for the kids' glowing eyes.
% Bart walks between the girls as he talks.  Many changes of eye shape.

B: Once upon a time, there was an evil, insane maniac...

% During ``evil insane maniac'', Bart's right eyeball turns insane.

L: Bart, why can't you tell the story with the lights on?

% Bart glances skyward for strength.

B: Okay, you little babies.

% He walks back to the archway, then he turns around frantically, his
% eyes darting every which way.

B: I can't find the light switch!

% Bart's breath gets shallower.

B: It's gone!

% Bart wanders towards the right-hand side of the screen.
% Lisa walks calmly to the archway and flicks on the lights.  (*click*)
%
% Bart stands, trembling.
%
% [End of Act One.  Time: 0:23]
%
% Same initial conditions.

B: Everybody... comfy...?

% (*click*)  The lights are off.  Bart walks between the girls.

B: Once upon a time, there was a psychopathic strangler on the loose...
   In a dark house...  They couldn't see him, but they could hear his
   breathing...

% Bart breathes Darth Vader-like, as we see Maggie's eyes wandering
% towards Bart, then upward.

B: *urk*  *aaaack*  *gag*

% Lisa screams and runs for the light switch.  (*click*)
%
% A wide-eyed Maggie clutches Bart's neck.
%
% [End of Act Two.  Time: 0:48]
%
% ``Places, everyone.''

B: It was dark...

% (*click*)

B: All was silent.  And then...  They heard it.
   The sound of the crafty vampire sucking blood from the
   neck of his latest victim!

% (*suck*)  (*suck*)  (*suck*)  (*suck*)  (*suck*)  (*suck*)

B+L: [gasp!]

% The elder siblings rush together as Maggie dashes for the light
% switch.
%
% (*click*)
%
% Bart and Lisa are huddled together, quaking.
%
% [End of Act Three.  Time: 1:08]
%
% One last time.

B: And now, for the scariest story of all.

% (*click*)

B:  Once upon a time, three little children sat shivering in the dark.

% Lisa and Maggie are very, very scared by this story.

B: Suddenly, they heard footsteps... Listen... You can almost hear them...

% And indeed, we hear footsteps.  Bart's eyes begin to show signs of fear.

B: Coming closer...  And closer...

% The footsteps come closer... and closer...
% By now, all three kids are looking around frantically.

B: And then, the footsteps stopped.

% The footsteps stop.  The kids zip towards the back of the room.
%
% (*creeeeeak*)
%
% The door opens.  Two long shadows are cast into the room.

B+L+A: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

% One of the shadowy forms turns on the light.  It's Marge.  The other
% shadowy form is Homer.  They are mystified as to why their children
% are hiding behind the couch, screaming.
%
% [End of Act Four.  Time: 1:37]
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Shorts summaries Copyright 1992 by Raymond Chen.  Not to be redistributed
in a public forum without permission.  (The quotes themselves, of course,
remain the property of The Tracey Ullman Show, and the reproduced articles
remain the property of the original authors.  I'm just taking credit for the
compilation.)