Ajay
So you’re going to kill me.
Ben
In Scarlett Johansson’s limo.
Ajay
I’m in the McGuiness murder house on Dean Street!
Ben
You were supposed to wait for me!
Ajay
The door was OPEN. I couldn’t NOT walk in.
Ajay
But this is embarrassing…I’m stuck. The door shut behind me and it won’t open.
Ben
I hope the ghost of Mrs. McGuiness doesn’t appear in a broken mirror or something.
Ben
She killed her husband and threw herself off the roof. Total haunting potential.
Ajay
Shut up. So do you think you could come down and help your pal out?
Ben
I’m grounded. It’s a school night.
Ajay
You used to be less of a wimp.
Ben
If I were trapped in a creepy, probably haunted house and had only one friend, I’d be a little nicer to that one friend.
Ben
And those sweet new headphones you got.
Ben
I’ve got some real important stuff happening on Minecraft right now…
Ajay
Fine! You can have the headphones.
Ben
On the bus now. Should take me about a half hour.
Ajay
I think there are rats in here.
Ben
It’s an abandoned building in Brooklyn. There are most definitely rats.
Ajay
Thanks for the reassurance.
Ajay
I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
Ajay
EVERY NIGHT, SOMEONE DIFFERENT WHILE I’M AT HOME WITH THE KID! I CAN SMELL THEM ON YOU WHEN YOU GET HOME!
Ben
Yes, what’s going on???
Ajay
My phone is acting weird.
Ben
Were you sending me those texts?
Ben
The ones about how you just can’t take it anymore?
Ben
No, you stop it. I’m risking so much to come out there and get you right now.
Ajay
OK. Definitely heard a door slam. I’m switching rooms.And Ben, I swear I didn’t text you that.
Ajay
I WOULDN’T TALK LIKE THAT TO ME, IF I WAS YOU.
Ajay
IF YOU WERE ME! IF ONLY WE COULD TRADE PLACES. WHAT I WOULDN’T GIVE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON MY MIND BESIDES THIS FAMILY FOR ONCE.
Ben
You are going to think I’m absolutely crazy.
Ben
But those horror movies we watch all the time, I mean, they have to be based on a grain of truth, right?
Ben
I think I’m picking the fight that Mr. and Mrs. McGuiness had on the night of the murder through your phone.
Ajay
I’m just going trust you, because I just saw a shadow and it most definitely was not a rat.
Ajay
I saw her. I’m going to be sick. She was all white, and…oh god.
Ben
Ajay, you need to calm down. Breathe.
Ajay
I just saw a ghost with a crushed skull and you’re asking me to BREATHE?
Ben
Just think about all the movies we’ve watched together. Think about the ghost logic.
Ben
They’re all we have. Why do ghosts haunt something?
Ajay
Well, because they have some attachment to it.
Ajay
Or the house was built on an Indian burial ground.
Ajay
Or someone summoned them in a séance.
Ajay
Or they want the truth to be known.
Ben
Good. Now we just have to figure out what THESE ghosts want.
Ajay
PUT THAT DOWN, I’M TELLING YOU. THERE’S NO NEED FOR THAT. GIVE IT HERE.
Ben
I think one of them just picked up a gun.
Ajay
That must be Mrs. McGuiness, picking up the gun that she shot him with before throwing herself off the roof.
Ajay
Ok. I’m in what looks like a study. There’s a calendar on the wall by the desk. The year reads…1973
Ajay
HENRY, GO BACK TO BED. WE’RE JUST HAVING A LITTLE TALK HERE IS ALL.
Ajay
SON, LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. THERE, MARIANNE, I PUT DOWN THE GUN, ARE YOU HAPPY?
Ben
Their son Henry just came into the room.
Ajay
This is creeping me out. I’m going to look for another escape plan.
Ajay
The trapdoor to the roof is open! Climbing up.
Ben
Good! You can probably find a fire escape. All those old brownstones have them.
Ajay
On the roof now. I can see the Manhattan skyline. But something’s…off.
Ajay
I can see the Twin Towers.
Ajay
If I’m trapped in some haunted wormhole for the rest of eternity...
Ajay
I just want you to know that high school has been terrible but you’ve been a really great friend.
Ajay
I don’t think I would have survived it without you.
Ben
Look on the bright side…I can text you winning lotto numbers and you can become a millionaire.
Ben
Just don’t accidentally prevent yourself from being born.
Ajay
They’re coming up to the roof.
Ben
That’s not how it happens.
Ben
You watched that hokey crime drama about the house with me. She kills him and then throws herself off the roof.
Ben
So theoretically he should be dead. Unless…
Ajay
Well, there are definitely two people up here. And they look like Mr. and Mrs. McGuiness.
Ajay
I can’t hear what they’re saying. It’s like they’re behind a wall of soundproof glass.
Ben
Maybe the cops got the order wrong. Maybe Mrs. McGuiness didn’t do it.
Ajay
JUST CALM DOWN, BILL. PLEASE.
Ajay
NO MARIANNE, I’M NOT CALMING DOWN.
Ajay
Holy crap! He just pushed her off the roof!
Ajay
Ok, ok! He’s back in the study now. And there’s someone else there…
Ajay
HENRY, PUT THAT DOWN! NO!
Ben
It was Henry who did it! Mr. McGuiness pushed his wife on the roof, Henry heard it happen, and he killed him!
Ajay
That’s what they wanted to show us. The truth.
Ben
I’m outside. Can you hear me?
Ajay
Yes! The house is back to normal now.
Ben
Just kicked the door open. It was pretty badass.
Ben
You still owe me those headphones.
