Lady in White

TWA Flight number 817,

now arriving Gate 12.

This is the final boarding call

for TWA Flight number 716.

Taxi.

-Where to?

-Willowpoint Falls, please.

You got it.

My wife's gonna have a fit

when I tell her that you were in my cab.

Because she reads everything.

She reads all the time.

She read your last book,

what do you call that, A Fog in the Night?

-Right.

-lt scared the living daylights out of her.

I told her, "Take it easy. It's just a story."

-I hear they're gonna make a movie.

-Yeah, that's right.

That's great.

Small town boy makes good, right?

So tell me,

what's it like living in Los Angeles?

-It's different.

-Yeah.

Would you pull in here for a minute, please?

You knew them?

Long time ago.

You don't really believe all that

spooky stuff you write about, do you?

Willowpoint Falls

was just like any other small town.

At least, that's the way it seemed to me.

Hey, Chuck, where's my paper?

Will you guys wait a minute?

I got this whole counter to take care of.

Why am I getting you coffee?

You should be drinking milk.

-Rosie, how about a fork?

-Use your wife's, okay?

Mary, she calls in sick,

I'm the one who's stuck here.

5:
.30 I come in this morning.

These people don't care when I come.

Come on, will you.

-Where's my eggs?

-I'm coming.

What're you doing in here?

The city was 25 miles southwest of town.

And on a clear day, you could see

the skyscrapers reaching for the clouds.

It was Halloween, 1962.

That was the year she came into my life.

And Willowpoint would never be the same.

Frankie, where you going?

To school.

-Why you no eat something?

-I'm not hungry.

-Don't you want to take this with you?

-Thanks, Dad.

Bye, Dad.

You've got the prettiest brown eyes.

Come on, get up.

See you, Grandpa.

Charlie!

-Go easy on him, Ma.

-Sure.

-Where'd you get those cigarettes?

-What cigarettes?

I am on fire.

Hi, Mrs. Chuley.

Hey! Don't get run over.

-Hey, watch it. What're you doing?

-Get out of my way.

Ignore him. Children.

Get out of the way!

No, children, stop.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I'm sorry, Frankie.

What're you trying to do? Kill me?

-And don't swear!

-Don't be such a holy roller.

-Are you hurt?

-What's it look like? Ketchup?

Look, don't tell Dad. He'll kill me.

Good. Then maybe I'll get to

live a normal life!

Don't worry. I won't tell Dad.

-Where are you going?

-I'm gonna buy some toilet paper and soap.

It's Halloween.

I've got a reputation to live up to.

Now, children, settle down,

go back to your seats.

Stop that noise.

You go back to your place.

And now, class, Frankie Scarlatti...

has written a new story,

especially for this occasion.

Frankie.

"The Beast that Destroyed London

by Frankie Scarlatti."

Be quiet.

"Once upon a time, in a city called London...

"a horrible sea monster

terrified the citizens...

"just because he wanted to.

"One day, the prehysterical beast...

"rose from the watery depths,

covered with seaweed...

"and began to swallow the London citizens

by the dozen."

-Did he brush with Crest to prevent cavities?

-Be quiet, Donald.

"The London Bridge crumpled

under the monster's huge lizard feet.

"The citizens were trampled on

by the hundreds.

"And if I told you what that looked like,

you'd probably throw up.

"But just when everyone had given up...

"thrown in the towel

and really become depressed...

"a miracle occurred.

"The ground began to open up...

"and the monster,

who weighed at least a million tons...

"sank into the huge hole.

"Eaten up by the only thing bigger than him:

"the Earth.

"And the depressed citizens of London

applauded and cheered...

"and there was nothing

to be frightened about anymore."

"That is, of course...

"unless the monster had a baby.

"But that's impossible.

"Or is it?"

Thank you, Frankie,

for that very unusual story.

And now, people, you may go

to the cloakroom to get your coats.

Alphabetically. "A" through "E," please.

And have a safe and happy Halloween.

All right. Let's go.

Hey, what're you doing?

That's Frankie's cap.

Now we'll see how brave Frankie really is.

And remember to dress warmly on Monday.

They're installing a new furnace

and we may be without heat for a while.

You wanna go trick-or-treat?

I really liked your story, Frankie.

Thanks.

I wish I was as weird as you.

Thank you for helping me

after school today, Frankie.

That's okay.

So, when do I get

those greeting cards I ordered?

Mr. Lowry said...

since they've got to come

all the way from Nebraska...

it'll probably be after Thanksgiving.

Mr. Lowry's certainly been a postman

long enough to know.

Yeah. I had to sell 24 boxes.

It was hard, but luckily

my dad bought the last 10.

You should be very proud of yourself.

You're a very enterprising young man

for your age, and that's very unusual.

I know.

Thank you, Frankie.

And say hello to your father for me.

Ask him to call me sometime.

I'm in the book. It's under Grace.

Grace La Della. Page 39.

Would you like me

to write that down for you?

That's okay. I'll tell him.

Hey, Frankie!

Okay, here he comes. Just do

what I told you. Let me do the talking.

Hi, guys.

-Hey, Frankie, that was an okay story.

-Real cool, man.

Jeez, it's getting colder

than a witch's tit out here.

Yeah. It's cold enough to snow I'll bet.

Frankie, ain't you got something

to keep your head warm?

Yeah. My dad bought me

this new ski cap, and....

Oh, no.

-What's the matter?

-I must've lost it.

-What do you mean?

-I put it in my pocket, and now it's gone.

It probably fell out in the cloakroom.

How much you wanna bet?

I'm going home.

-Where's he going?

-I don't know.

Wait a minute!

-Where're you going? What about your hat?

-I'll get it tomorrow.

I can't go back in there now.

Miss La Della already left.

So what? The door's still open.

Besides if Williams the janitor gets it...

he might give it

to one of those n*gger kids he's got.

-The word is "Negro," Donald.

-Sorry, "Negro, Donald."

Forgot that you're in love with one.

I mean, that's what she looks like to me

with all that Brillo hair.

Whose hair?

Who do you think, lover boy?

Mary Ellen Paio.

I wish I were in love.

I'm going to get my cap.

-Donald, get up, man.

-What is it?

-Come on.

-Where'd he go?

-He went back in the room.

-Come on.

-Yeah!

-All right.

Hey, guys! What's going on?

Hey, guys. Let me out of here.

The bells of Saint Andrew's

were soothingly familiar...

even in those unfamiliar surroundings.

And it wasn't long before I drifted to sleep...

comforted by their ancient voices.

And I began to dream.

I dreamt of my mother's funeral.

Frankie.

-Marianna, is dinner almost ready?

-Yeah, Mom, I'm hungry.

Okay, just a minute, guys.

Show me your stuff.

There you are. Come over here, you.

Look at this. It's finished.

Try it on. Here.

Let's see.

You look very handsome.

Don't leave.

How could I ever leave you?

It was All Hallows Eve, and I...

still locked behind the cloakroom door...

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