Eastwood: The Untold Stories, Episode 1
Plot Synopsis: Brent is an introverted, shy freshman who moved to Wittendale Hills, California. Upon arriving, he notices that his new home is adjacent to a well-known eerie street called Eastwood Street. Together, he, Leo, and Quincy form a ghost-hunting team and learn the value of friendship, trust, and discipline.
EXT. COUNTRY CLUB HILLS HIGH SCHOOL - AFTERNOON
A chilly, windy Halloween Day with light rain. The school is decorated with Halloween POSTERS and LIGHTS.
INT. COUNTRY CLUB HILLS HIGH SCHOOL - HOMEROOM 112B - AFTERNOON
A classroom decorated with math posters of multiplication tables, shapes, and formulas. BRENT (14), an African-American teenager is looking out the window anxiously as LEO (15) and QUINCY (14) are planting FAKE SPIDERS in the teacher's desk.
BRENT
How long does it take to put fake spiders on a desk?
LEO
Quit ya worryin'. It takes time to set them up.
QUINCY
Yeah, it's code five of our prankster handbook: precision is key.
LEO
Right next to code four: always have a lookout.
BRENT
Just hurry up, the teacher's comin'.
Leo and Quincy put the remaining spiders in the teacher's desk. The teacher, MR. BELL (34) enters the room.
MR. BELL
Alright, I have printed your homework assignments.
Mr. Bell puts a PILE OF PAPERS in his desk drawer. BAM! Spiders jump out of the drawer, scaring him. The class erupts in LAUGHTER.
MR. BELL
Okay, normally I would be mad. But since it's Halloween, I'm not.
The bell RINGS.
INT. COUNTRY CLUB HILLS HIGH SCHOOL - HOMEROOM 112B - MOMENTS LATER
Leo and Quincy hi-five each other as they're walking out of the classroom.
BRENT
Now, y'all know that was wrong.
LEO
But that's what makes it fun.
QUINCY
Point two of our handbook: pranks shall be fun, even if they're wrong.
BRENT
Eh. Excited for tonight?
QUINCY
Oh yes. I'll be getting the biggest candy bag this year.
BRENT
Now, you say that and Leo always comes out on top.
QUINCY
We shall see.
BRENT
Oh, brother, this is going to be an interesting Halloween.
CUT TO:
INT. BRENT'S HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT
BRENT
What do you mean we can't go trick-or-treatin'?
Brent's mother, TORI (40), takes a PUMPKIN PIE out of the OVEN.
TORI
I'm sorry, son. I got called into work tonight.
BRENT
On Halloween?
TORI
On Halloween. But don't worry, your cousin's comin'.
BRENT
Uh no. Remember the last time you left me with him?
TORI
He was just tryin' to help you. After all, how did he know that you would wet your pants at the spelling bee?
BRENT
That's beside the point.
TORI
Well, if you want to go trick-or-treatin', you'll have to go with him.
BRENT
But-
TORI
No buts.
Tori picks up her PHONE and dials a number.
INT. BRENT'S HOME - LIVING ROOM - LATER
Brent stands in the living room dressed as Harry Potter.
KNOCK! KNOCK! occurs at the door. It's Brent's cousin, DJ (24) dressed as a scarecrow.
BRENT
Hey DJ.
DJ
Hey, ready for your trick-or-treatin' adventure.
BRENT
(sarcastically)
Eh, I guess so.
DJ
Don't be a bummer, dude. It's going to be fun.
BRENT
Just don't embarrass me like last time.
DJ
Dude, get over it. I said I was sorry a thousand times.
BRENT
I still remember it!
DJ
Anyways, your mom says that you can trick-or-treat until midnight tonight. Where are your friends?
BRENT
Since they're pranksters, they should appear in--
FOG begins to form on the porch, Brent opens the door and...
QUINCY
BOO!
LEO
BOO!
Leo is seen as a firefighter with a TOY AXE and Quincy is dressed as a baseball player.
BRENT
Zero seconds.
LEO
Like our intro?
Brent pulls a WHITEBOARD from the living room table and writes 5/10.
QUINCY
Man, you are strict.
BRENT
Come harder than that, bro.
DJ
We should get going.
EXT. PLEASANT GROVE STREET - CONTINUOUS
Brent, Leo, DJ and Quincy walk down their home street, going door-to-door for candy.
While they're trick-or-treating, DJ receives a text from his phone.
DJ
Oh snap, I gotta go.
BRENT
Wait, huh? What do you mean go?
DJ
Oh yeah, I didn't tell you but... I'm going to a party.
BRENT
What?
DJ
Well, I didn't know I would be taking you trick-or-treating tonight.
BRENT
Then, why'd you say yes?
DJ
I forgot. But, I--
BRENT
No buts! You said--
DJ
I know what I said, Einstein. But, I'm still going. It's a once in a lifetime party.
BRENT
You said that about the last five parties you went to.
A CAR pulls up.
BRENT
So, you're just going to leave us here?
DJ
I'm mean you're 14. I think you can handle one trick-or-treatin' by yourself for once.
BRENT
You don't know that. Anything could happen.
DJ
You'll be fine, dude. But stay on this block... or else. I'll be back by midnight.
DJ leaves.
BRENT
Unbelievable.
QUINCY
What do you mean? Your mom's at work and your cousin's gone.
BRENT
So?
QUINCY
This means we can finally have some fun by ourselves.
BRENT
(nervously)
I don't know.
LEO
Come on, Brent. How many people our age get to go trick-or-treating without supervision?
BRENT
Hmmm.
QUINCY
...and we get to have our own adventure.
BRENT
But...
LEO
...and we'll be legends going trick-or-treating as a squad.
Leo and Quincy give Brent puppy eyes.
BRENT (CONT'D)
Alright, alright. Hate it when y'all do that.
Leo and Quincy cheer in excitement.
LEO
Where should we go?
QUINCY
(pointing North)
Hmmm, how about that street?
Quincy points at the adjacent street, where it's dark and poorly lit.
BRENT
(stammering)
Eastwood Street?
QUINCY
What's wrong? Chicken?
BRENT
No. I just don't think it's safe.
Quincy and Leo begin the make chicken noises.
BRENT (CONT'D)
I'm not chicken, we don't have any flashlights or emergency tools.
Leo pulls out an emergency preparedness kit.
LEO
Always come prepared, point 10 of our handbook.
QUINCY
Right next to point 9: always have a backup plan.
BRENT
Damn it.
Leo, Quincy, and Brent proceed to walk to Eastwood Street.
JUMP CUT TO:
EXT. EASTWOOD STREET - CONTINUOUS
The trio makes it to the corner of Eastwood Street. The street is poorly lit with three streetlights, abandoned homes and dogs BARKING.
BRENT
You know I've heard some scary stories about this street.
LEO
Like what?
BRENT
Well, I know that one of these houses down this street is supposedly haunted.
QUINCY
Oh yeah, legends say that a popular singer on this block died and since then the place has been haunted. No one knows why though.
LEO
Sounds interesting, let's go.
Brent pulls Leo by his collar.
BRENT
Uh, hold it, Lightning McQueen. We're not going there.
QUINCY
But, what if, and hear me out, what if there's... a ghost.
BRENT
That's never been proven and I don't believe in ghosts. You two should know *that.*
LEO
You'll never know. Plus, it'll be great to find a real ghost. With the right tools, we'll be able to capture it.
BRENT
I'll admit. That would be different and cool.
LEO
So you're in?
QUINCY ^
So you're in?
BRENT
I guess. What could go wrong?
The trio continues to walk down Eastwood street.
EXT. PORCH - NIGHT
The trio makes it to the porch of the haunted house, which has broken floorboards and shattered bits of glass.
QUINCY
There it is.
A two-story run-down home that stands coiled between trees with small glass fragments on the ground. CREAKS from the door are heard.
LEO
This is going to be fun!
BRENT
(nervously)
Yeah.
LEO
Don't be so nervous, man. We've seen ghost movies before.
BRENT
Yeah, but that's all fiction.
LEO
Fine, let's make it interestin'.
BRENT
Do tell.
LEO
How much you wanna bet that I'll be the last person out?
QUINCY
Not before me. I put $20 on that bet.
BRENT
You know what? Count me in 'cause I never give up money that easily.
Each person takes $20 and places it in Leo's hand, totaling $60. Brent takes out his FLASHLIGHT and slowly enters the home.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
In the living room, there is broken furniture, spider webs on the walls, a chandelier with broken strings of crystals, and mildew.
BRENT
Man, whoever lived in this house really let it go.
LEO
Tell me about it. The floors are disgusting.
QUINCY
Not to mention the smell is ugh.
Brent looks at his WATCH.
BRENT
It is 10 o'clock. We have two hours to get back to home base before my party animal cousin returns. Let's find some clues on this 'ghost.'
QUINCY
Good call. I call basement! After all that's where most secrets are hidden.
LEO
I call upstairs! Maybe there's some property that could give us an idea.
BRENT
Looks like I'm down on this level. Please be careful.
LEO
We're pranksters. We know safety.
BRENT
Says the people who almost covered the entire science lab with elephant's toothpaste.
LEO
It was *your *fault. You said more than two drops of fluoride.
BRENT
No. I said *no more* than two drops of fluoride. You never listen.
LEO
Whatever.
Leo walks up the broken stairwell and Quincy walks downstairs.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - BASEMENT - NIGHT
Quincy makes it downstairs to a slightly flooded basement, with water leaking from the pipes and a smell of rust. He takes out a WALKIE-TALKIE and radios Leo from upstairs.
QUINCY
(into walkie-talking)
Mack Dog to Batman. Over.
LEO (O.S.)
Just say my name, you idiot.
QUINCY
Fine. Take the joy out of everything. Anyway, what's the plan?
LEO (O.S.)
Our plan is to prank Brent by any means necessary.
QUINCY
Copy. What pranks have we got?
LEO (O.S.)
I have a noise generator, fake blood and one of those novelty knives going through the head props.
QUINCY
It's a lil' flooded down here. But I got fake blood, too.
LEO (O.S.)
Roger. Operation: trick Brent out of $60 is a go.
QUINCY
Copy. See ya soon.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Brent is observing the living room and comes across an old LETTER from 1981.
Brent opens the letter and reads:
BRENT
"Dear diary, Today is a big day as I'm performing my first concert. hopefully all goes well. Ciao! Dinah Jane."
BRENT (CONT'D)
Hmmm, this could be a clue. But what could it mean?
Shortly after reading, Brent hears a loud CRASH coming upstairs. He jumps.
LEO (O.S.)
HELP MEEEEEE!!!!
BRENT
Leo, are you alright?!
LEO (O.S.)
HELP MEEEEEE!
Brent puts the letter in his pocket and runs to the top of the stairwell.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - UPSTAIRS - CONTINUOUS
Brent is seen at the top of the landing, where there are three bedrooms.
BRENT
(quietly)
Leo?
Beat.
He tiptoes from the landing and reaches the first bedroom on the left. He slowly pushes the door open to see nothing in it. A shadow is seen passing the window. Brent begins to tremble.
BRENT (CONT'D)
(stuttering)
Who's there?
He walks back into the hallway, still tiptoeing. He sees another door and pushes it open. He hears rustling coming from the closet. He walks towards it.
Leo appears with the FAKE KNIFE going through his head and he falls down to the floor. Brent screams.
BRENT
Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!! LEO!
Brent begins to cry. Leo is heard snickering and bursts out in laughter. He then pulls the knife from his head.
LEO
I can't breathe! Dude, you are *so* easy to scare.
BRENT
Dude, that's not funny!
LEO
Come on, bruh. Your face was priceless!
BRENT
Because I thought you got hurt! Ugh, I can't stand you. Wait, we haven't heard from Quincy.
LEO
Oh snap, you're right. Maybe he found the ghost in the basement.
BRENT
For the 800th time, there... is... no... such... thing... as ghosts!
LEO
Oh you'll see.
The two head downstairs to the basement.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - BASEMENT - MOMENTS LATER
The two enter the basement. Brent takes out his flashlight and searches the area for Quincy.
BRENT
Quincy, where are you?
LEO
You sure he went down here?
BRENT
If I wasn't sure, we wouldn't be down here would we?
LEO
Look.
Leo spots a FAKE BLOOD trail that leads to a door.
BRENT
I'm beyond scared.
LEO
No lie, I am too.
Brent and Leo make it to the door and slowly opens the door.
Beat.
They open the door to see Quincy, covered in fake blood. Both Leo and Brent scream at the top of their lungs.
BRENT
I told you this place was haunted!
LEO
What are we going to do?!
BRENT
Don't look at me! I told you I didn't want to come in the first place.
LEO
What?! You can't place this whole thing on me.
The two continue to argue while Quincy lies on the floor, motionless.
He then jumps up, scaring the two. Leo and Quincy both erupt in laughter.
LEO
Gotcha!
QUINCY ^
Gotcha!
BRENT
(panting)
Ya gotta be frickin' kiddin' me. You both tried to scare me out.
QUINCY
Clearly, it didn't work. But, you should have seen the look on your face.
LEO
We were sure you'd leave.
BRENT
Ughhhh. I'm out of here.
Brent abruptly goes up the stairs angrily.
INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
LEO
Oh come on, Brent. We said we were sorry. Right, Quincy?
QUINCY
Uh, yeah. We're sorry.
BRENT
I don't care. I'm leavin'.
Just as Brent is about to walk out the door, SLAM! The door shuts.
BRENT (CONT'D)
Let me out this instant.
LEO
That one wasn't us.
BRENT
Guys?
QUINCY
We swear.
Brent attempts to pull the front door open to no avail. In the process, Dinah Jane's letter falls out of his pocket.
LEO
What's that?
BRENT
Oh, it's a letter I found from someone named Dinah Jane.
LEO
The community singer?
BRENT
Huh?
LEO
I've heard she was the best singer on this block that died right before her concert. She was supposed to sing a cover of her favorite song.
QUINCY
She also wore an antique necklace that gave her good luck.
BRENT
How did y'all know that?
LEO
Rumors. They're everywhere.
QUINCY
But, what could it mean?
BRENT
I don't know, I've been trying to decipher it. Did you two knuckleheads find anything?
LEO
While I was upstairs, I found old clothes and a watch.
QUINCY
I did find this in the basement.
Quincy pulls out a GOLD NECKLACE.
BRENT
Holy crap! Where did you find this?
QUINCY
It was in a small closet.
Quincy gives Brent the necklace.
BRENT
Huh. It's still in great condition.
LEO
I know. It's beautiful.
BRENT
She seemed like a nice lady.
QUINCY
Yeah, I wonder what cover she would have sung.
BRENT
Hmmm. It says she was born in 1976. There could be one song she would've performed.
LEO
How did it go?
QUINCY
It went something like "what I want, you've got..."
BRENT
"...And it might be hard to handle..."
They continue to remember the song. As they sing, the house begins to shake.
Beat.
Beat.
The floor fills with fog, thunder strikes and ominous MUSIC begins to play. Brent, Leo and Quincy hold each other as the fog becomes more intense.
DINAH JANE (100), a light-skinned, old spirit ghost appears. Brent, Leo and Quincy are shocked in pure panic.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
I am the ghost of Dinah Jane, a community singer of Eastwood street.
BRENT/LEO/QUINCY
The ghost of Dinah Jane!
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Who enters the home of Dinah Jane?
BRENT
(stammering)
Uh, I'm Brent Ellington and these are my friends Leo and Quincy.
LEO
Hi there.
QUINCY
How do you do?
Dinah Jane focuses on Brent, holding the gold necklace around his neck.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Why do you have my necklace?
BRENT
Uhh.. We found it. Wait, this is *your *necklace?
Dinah Jane levitates the necklace from Brent and places it on her neck.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Yes, it has been in my family for generations. I lost it right before my big performance. Anyway, why are you here?
BRENT
We were just explorin'...
LEO
We came across the house on our trick-or-treating adventure.
BRENT
...and we were just leavin'.
Brent, Leo and Quincy dash to the back door, which is slightly opened. Before they can leave, the door slams shut.
BRENT
Please, let us out.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Oh, I'll let you out... on one proposition.
LEO
What?
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Since you guys decided to come into my home, you have to do one thing to prove yourself.
BRENT
How can we do that?
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
I want to hear your vocals. Show me what your musical talents are.
BRENT
(to Leo and Quincy)
HUDDLE!
QUINCY
Shoot.
Brent looks at his WATCH and notices that it's 11:00 pm.
BRENT
Dude, if we don't get back to home base, we're going to be in so much trouble.
QUINCY
Yeah, but you do *not *a see a ghost in front of us?!
LEO
We can't leave until we show her our musical talent.
BRENT
But how could we do that?
LEO
Hmm. What was that song we were singing earlier?
BRENT
This is no time for singing!
LEO
No, really. If we can sing that song, maybe it will quell the spirit.
BRENT
Worth a shot.
The group breaks from their huddle.
BRENT (CONT'D)
Hey Dinah Jane, we're ready to show you our singing skills.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Alright, show me what ya got.
BRENT
Okay, a five, six. A five, six, seven, eight.
Brent, Leo and Quincy perform a cover of Daryl Hall and John Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True."
Brent and Leo being singing the lyrics and Quincy follows suit with backup vocals. Then, Brent begins to clap in sync while they're singing.
Toward the end of the song, all three begin to sing in unison and are dancing. The song ends and Dinah Jane is in shock.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
That was AH-MAZING. You guys did good!
The trio is out of breath.
BRENT
(panting)
Glad you liked it.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
You really should form a band and title it "*The Eastwood Singers." *
LEO
Oouu, I like that name.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
You have successfully passed my test *and *found my necklace. But, I'll back. Sooner than you know. Ciao!
BRENT
WAIT! Before you go, would you mind being in a photo with us?
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Aww shucks, you're too kind. Sure!
Brent takes out his phone and takes a selfie with all of them in it.
BRENT
We will never forget you Dinah Jane.
LEO
Yeah, you rock!
QUINCY
Totally.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
No mention it. Oh and maybe you should think twice about entering someone's house, whether it's vacant or not.
Brent looks at Leo and Quincy.
BRENT
Yeah, we'll be thinking twice about that.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Well, ciao!
With that, Dinah Jane vanishes into thin air, the house returns to normal. Brent, Leo and Quincy does a celebratory victory dance and cheers around the house.
BRENT
I can't believe I'm saying this. But, that.. was.. exhilarating!
LEO
I'm still scared stiff.
BRENT
And you thought I was scared.
Brent's phone alarm RINGS. He checks it and the time is 11:50pm.
BRENT (CONT'D)
Ohh, we better get going!
The three make a break for the backdoor, which is still stuck.
BRENT (CONT'D)
Ugh, the door is still stuck.
LEO
I got it!
He attempts to break the door down with his axe.
BRENT
NOOOOO. What are you nuts? Let me try it.
Brent wiggles the door and the lock until it is unstuck. With enough effort, the door unlocks and the three make it out of the house. Brent shuts the door behind them. They run up the street, trick-or-treating at houses before they make it back to their home street.
EXT. PLEASANT GROVE STREET - NIGHT
Brent, Leo and Quincy make it back to the corner where they started with five minutes to spare.
BRENT
(panting)
We made it! Now, pay up.
QUINCY
Huh?
BRENT
Our bet. Remember we said that the last person to leave the house gets the $60?
QUINCY
Yeah.
BRENT
Well, I was the last person out closing the door, which is a technicality.
Leo and Quincy groan and hand Brent the money.
LEO
Stupid technicalities.
BRENT
Well, next time make better bets.
Brent focuses on the candy bags.
QUINCY
Oh would you look at that. I have the biggest candy bag this year, bro.
LEO
Damn it!
A car pulls to the corner. DJ gets out, drunk.
BRENT
DJ!
DJ
(drunkly)
Heyyy, Brent! How was your first solo trick-or-treating adventure?
BRENT
Are you drunk?
DJ
Whaaattt? Nooooooo.
BRENT
Drunk. Noted. Uhh, it went good. Just your normal trick-or-treating adventure. Nothing *too *big. Look at our bags.
DJ
(drunkly)
I see. Your teeth are going to be so rotten. Anyway, we need to get home. I had a liiittleee too much fun.
BRENT
(snickering)
I see, you can barely stand.
DJ
Shut up!
BRENT
Alright guys, let me get my party animal of a cousin home.
DJ
I heard that!
BRENT
You were supposed to.
Leo and Quincy part ways. Brent walks with DJ and then Dinah Jane reappears, stopping him in his tracks.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
(singing)
Brent...
BRENT
Dinah Jane!
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Just thought I'd drop in and give you something.
Dinah Jane gives Brent the gold necklace.
BRENT
Oh, I can't accept this. It's your family heirloom.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
I insist. You did a great job singing the cover *I *was supposed to sing at my concert.
BRENT
Wow.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Plus, you seem like the good samaritan of your group. You didn't make a mess of things.
BRENT
How did-
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
I'm a spirit ghost, trust me we see everything. I'm grateful you all found my necklace. Thanks again.
BRENT
Any time. I'll always remember you, Dinah Jane.
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Likewise. Just keep your friends in line. They may annoy you, but friends like them come once in a lifetime.
BRENT
Thank you, Dinah Jane!
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Oop, gotta go! The other spirit ghosts and I are going to a comedy club.
BRENT
Have fun!
GHOST OF DINAH JANE
Likewise. Happy Halloween, Brent. Ciao!
Dinah Jane vanishes.
DJ
Brent, hurry up!
BRENT
Comin'!
DJ and Brent continue to walk down the street, with "You Make My Dreams Come True" playing in the background.
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. BRENT'S HOME - MOMENTS LATER
Brent and DJ are home, where DJ is seen slumped on the couch, recovering from the party he attended. Brent is seen heading to his room, still thinking about the night.
He heads to his bedroom, looking at the photo he took of Dinah Jane. He prints it out and sticks it to his wall, which has more photos on it. He dials a number.
QUINCY (O.S.)
Hello?
BRENT
Think there are other ghosts out there?
FADE TO BLACK.
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