ADULT ADAM: Ah, the Halloween couple's costume!
From Alien vs. Predator to Little Shop of Horrors,
back in the day, dressing up was always better in pairs...
Well, for everyone except Erica.
Boom! This year, you and me are going
as the white-hot hit-making duo,
Daryl Hall and John Oates!
No and no.
I don't get it either.
In my day, there were only two costumes,
a ghost and a witch.
Please, Erica!
You know it's always been my dream to go to the Halloween dance
in a bad-ass couple's costume
based on clever wordplay!
Geoff, I love you.
But your dream is beyond embarrassing.
I knew you'd be resistant and nasty,
which is why I came up with some backups so good you can't possibly say no!
Terrific!
I always enjoy a good presentation!
Look, we can be Tim Burton's best movie!
Beetlejuice! I'm the beetle. You're the juice.
Falcon Crest.
Doctor. J.
John. Candy.
LEGO my EGGO.
Corn. Dog.
Or we circle back to Daryl Hall and John Oates!
Comments?
What's happening right now?
Good question, Pops.
Trust me, this will make sense if you just wear the cough drops.
Geoff, listen to me. I am not going to some corny high-school Halloween dance.
Fine! But just so you know,
I find it very hurtful that you insist
that my innovative ideas are always embarrassing!
Aah!
* I'm twisted up inside
* But nonetheless I feel the need to say
* I don't know the future
* But the past keeps getting clearer every day *
ADULT ADAM: It was October 23rd, 1980-something,
and I was ready for a Halloween horror marathon
with my girlfriend, Jackie.
Okay, so, I narrowed it down
to these 29 horror movies.
I think all we need is one.
Nightmare on Elm Street.
Yeah, I'm not so sure.
Something about Freddy Krueger really freaks me out.
It could be the face or the claws
or the whole fall-asleep- and-you-die concept.
Oh, don't worry. I'll protect you.
No. That's my job.
And you know my number-one rule...
No scary movies.
That's the thing, it's not scary.
Elm Street is actually a very charming rom-com.
"High school friends are slaughtered in their sleep
"by the predatory monster of their shared nightmares"?
Gah! What's the worst that can happen?
I don't know. Why don't you ask Joyce Dimarco's son Anthony?
He didn't sleep for three years
after watching The Exorcist,
so his body never grew.
Well, now he's a 4'7" adult man
who needs a special stool to use a sink!
Mom, I've slept enough to reach every sink!
I'm old enough to see this movie!
Okay, fine. You wanna rent a scary movie?
Here. An American Tail?
It's bone chilling.
It's about a Russian-Semitic mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz
who emigrates to America.
How is that scary?
Well, he gets separated from his mama.
But don't worry. He finds her again.
Ohh! I just ruined the whole thing!
Well, it doesn't matter, 'cause you're gonna love it!
I'm gonna get us some cheesy snacks for my little mouse man.
Don't worry. We'll still get to watch us some Freddy.
Really? How?
I had a feeling your mom would make us go PG,
so I had my parents rent it for us.
Unless you're too scared?
Are you kidding? It's cool.
I mean, how scary can a little claw glove be?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS) ADAM: Oh, God!
That claw is really freaking me out, man!
Tell me when the claw's off the screen!
Hey, pumpkins! Having fun?
Mmm... Yeah, fun stuff.
Dad, you've gotta see this movie. It's totally terrifying.
That's 'cause it's based on a true story.
Wait, what?
(IMITATING FREDDY KRUEGER) Freddy's coming for you!
You can sleep when you're dead! What?
(NORMAL VOICE) I'm just messing with you.
But the movie is terrifying. Have fun!
ADULT ADAM: It's true. Freddy scared me to my core.
Meanwhile, Geoff was still afraid
he'd never get his couple's costume.
Please, all I'm asking for is five measly minutes
as Daryl Hall and John Oates!
For the millionth time, I'm not going to some lame high-school dance.
But it won't be lame because you make everything cooler.
That's why you're Halls! It's known for its icy-cold penetrating vapor action!
I made a promise the day I graduated
to never return to this hellhole again.
Which reminds me... Get out.
Here? But this is the auxiliary parking lot.
If you wanna bum rides off me,
this is the best you're gonna get.
'Cause the last thing I need is for someone to spot me...
Well, well! If it isn't one of our illustrious alumni,
Erica Goldberg!
Hey, Mr. Glascott.
Um, don't you have your own, like, teacher's spot or something?
I do, but there's always a student parked in it,
so I park here and then wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes.
Cool stuff, very sad, gotta go!
Oh, wait, before you run off,
do you mind coming in and talking to the kids?
It's very inspiring for them to hear a success story
from one of our former students.
I would, but being back here is depressing,
so no way never?
(LAUGHS) That's the sassafras I remember!
Come on, we can walk together!
Young minds, look who it is! Erica Goldberg!
(CHUCKLES) She's here to tell you all about
the magical and exciting chapter after high school!
Well, I went to college in DC...
Ooh! Where the president lives.
And then I dropped out to follow my real dream,
which is being a rock star.
Intriguing. Could you expound on the risks and rewards
of leaving academia behind?
Good Lord, no!
So in your experience, would you say college was a waste of time?
I would say high school was a waste of time.
No, no, no, no, no! I knew it!
The whole American educational system is bogus!
Man, this really turned on me! Please just leave!
You were right, Schwartz. Coming back to school wasn't so bad after all.
(SIGHS) Later, turds!
(CRUNCHES)
She just ate my new apple.
ADULT ADAM: Turns out, going back to the place Erica used to rule
was just the ego boost she needed.
Some days I just wake up and I go, "You know what? I'm gonna do nothing today,"
and I go right back to sleep.
You're my hero.
Yep, that fateful day, she was back to being the Queen of Cool.
This bad boy stuck again? Mmm-hmm.
Some things never change.
Wow! You're like the Fonz but hot!
Aay! 'Cause Fonzie.
ADULT ADAM: That is, until the Queen of Cool
became the Master of Just Not Leaving.
'Sup! (CHUCKLES)
My dude!
Hey, hang in there, bro!
Like the bangs, random girl!
Ruben Jr., doin' what you do!
Wait, I thought that girl graduated? That's 'cause she did.
ADULT ADAM: While Erica was overstaying her welcome, I was over-caffeinating.
Who's up for Pancake Dippers?
Whoa-whoa! Take off that striped Freddy sweater right now!
Oh, dammit. Are you strung out on Jolt Cola again?
Gimme the can. No, no, no, no!
I need my wakey juice!
My God, you look schluffy.
A Mama can always tell.
What's going on with you? Okay, fine!
I'm too exhausted to mount a defense!
I watched Nightmare on Elm Street at Jackie's house.
What? Where were Vinny and Lynn?
They rented it for us.
Knowing full well that it's a terrifying movie about Fredward Kroeger?
Yes! 'Cause they trust Jackie and respect her opinion
'cause she's an adult who can make her own decisions.
Sweet God! What else happens in this lawless house
built on the trust of children? Nothing!
Vin and Lynn are cool and thoughtful
and political and go to protests...
Whoa, whoa, wait, they're hippies?
Oh, no! Don't mix in, too!
Just go back to napping!
You never told me that your girlfriend comes from hippie stock!
Oh, no!
Great, now you got your father all riled up.
My God! Why do you hate hippies so much?
Because back in college, they were all off making free love,
while I was making $2 an hour slicing rye bread in a deli!
Enough with the rye bread, Murray. Take a walk.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, there go my big plans for the day,
haranguing Erica and then Barry if there was time.
Hmm, it's all hands on deck to get you sleeping like a snuggle bug again.
It's just a few nightmares. I don't need your help.
Tonight we're gonna start with a relaxing bubble bath.
No baths. I'm a shower man now.
After that, I'm gonna toast up your jammies real nice in the dryer,
and then I'll tuck you in real tight to seal in the safeness.
You do know that none of this will actually help me.
For your information, science has proven
that mamas can love away the fear.
What science proves that?
At Yale, they scared a thousand kids.
Half were given mama love.
Half were given a placebo.
Guess which kids stopped having nightmares?
None, 'cause it never happened!
I could've been a scientist. I rest my case.
'Cause I could've been a lawyer as well.
I don't care what fancy career you gave up to raise me.
I'll get over my nightmares by myself
and without a bath.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)
Stupid loving mother and her soothing science.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS)
Aah! Gah!
Aah! No more sleep!
Never ever again will there be sleep!
C'mon, losers! Let's see some Quaker spirit
and support your girls' volleyball team!
Oh, my God, I can't believe she's back here again!
Dang. Dude, I never thought I'd see the day
where you would be embarrassed by her.
Embarrassed? No. What? C'mon. Erica's my dream girl.
And now the dream is over
and you're left with a sad sack girlfriend
stuck in thirteenth grade.
That's a thing? Oh, yeah.
See, Erica's become one of those losers
who still hangs around after she's graduated.
Get your cookies!
Matt, tell me it's gonna be okay!
I usually try and find a positive spin on things,
but, um, this one's hard.
Oh, no, even eternal optimist Matt Bradley lost hope? What do I do?
Hey, JTP! Over here!
ANDY: Oh, she sees us! ROB: Good luck, man!
ANDY: Flee!
Brownie on the house for my number-one customer.
And as your number one,
I feel like it's my job to tell you
that people are calling you
a lame-ass sad sack stuck in thirteenth grade.
Not me! People.
What people?
Wait, is it Dan? Honestly, it's not.
Oh, I am gonna make this school year
a living hell for that goofus!
No! You can't go around school terrorizing goofuses!
You're an adult now! It's a crime!
Dan brought this on himself!
If he wants to dance, then we'll dance!
Don't dance with Dan!
It's me! I'm the people who think it!
Stop covering for Dan! I'm not!
I didn't know how to tell you,
but graduation usually marks the end of a high-school career,
which seems kinda lost on you.
The only thing that's lost is your grip on reality!
I am worshipped here!
Watch!
Attention, adoring fans!
I'm gonna be throwing a kick-ass pre-party for the dance!
Keg's on me!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) Hear that?
Who's in thirteenth grade now?
Thirteenth grade?
Dammit, I was assured high school stopped at twelfth!
ADULT ADAM: Desperate to escape my Freddy nightmares,
I visited the girl of my dreams after chugging a case of Jolt Cola.
Hey, Lynnie. Hey, Vinny. Jackie home?
Uh. She's upstairs watching Elm Streets two through five. Have at it.
Um, I-I'm kind of Freddy'd out.
Maybe I can wait for her in one of your many well-lit rooms.
(WHISPERING) Just gonna grab this. You okay, big guy?
Jackie said you haven't been sleeping much lately.
No, I've been getting about seven, eight m-minutes a night.
Look, I teach kids. It's what I do.
Do you know the best way to conquer your deepest fears?
Facing your fear head on.
Here. Fangoria magazine?
They go behind-the-scenes on all the horror movies
and show you the special effects and the makeup,
and they show you how they make it.
Not so scary now, huh? That's Freddy Krueger?
He's just a classically trained actor named Robert.
This is awesome!
ADULT ADAM: It really was. Thanks to Jackie's dad, my nightmares were over...
Or so I thought.
Aah! (CHUCKLES)
Looks like my little fun-size Snickers is awake!
Mom! You know it's not okay
to stare at me for hours as I sleep!
It's hard not to admire my handiwork.
What are you talking about?
I got you sleeping again!
You know, a mother's love really is the best medicine!
To be clear, Vin and Lynn Geary helped me, not your creep-o stuff.
I'm sorry... Vin and Lynn what, now?
You heard me. They used Fangoria
to help me face my fears head on.
Ho-no!
How dare they successfully parent my child?
Murray, get in here! Which moron did what?
Just yell it to me! It's those damn Gearys again!
They mixed in with our baby!
The chutzpah! Those stinkin' hippies!
They don't follow the rules of society!
Really? You guys are that threatened by them
just 'cause they're better parents than you in every way?
Wha-a-a-a-at did you just say?
N-Not in every way!
I meant most ways, some ways! One way?
Those Gearys are gonna get a crash course
in real parenting from the Goldbergs.
Oh, please stay away from those nice, better people!
Please, no. Please, no. Please, no. Please, no.
Please, no. Gearys, we need to talk.
Hey, Goldbergs! Just bobbing for some apples. You want a turn, Mur?
Do I want communal fruit from a hippie tub? I'm good.
Play time's over, Gearys.
Oh, you have got some nerve.
I'm sorry, what exactly are you worked up about?
(WHISPERING) We have to do something fast.
Because of you people, my son stopped having night terrors.
You're welcome? MURRAY: How shocking,
the hippie doesn't get it!
Why does he keep calling us hippies?
Because of your head-in-the-sand
loosey-goosey parenting style!
Which is the reason my little angel
started having nightmares to begin with!
Well, maybe if he wasn't an over-mothered
bubble-wrapped veal child,
he wouldn't be having nightmares in the first place!
(WHISPERING) Our parents are fighting!
Do something! Look!
They have hay rides! Hay makes everything better!
Tell that to Rachel Hublitz's nephew who went on a hay ride
and the open-air wagon turned over.
They had to saw him out of the wreckage,
and they accidentally cut the poor boy in half.
Now he's just a torso and has to ride a special medical skateboard
to his job at the DMV. No, thanks.
Look, it's a corn maze! Let's split up by family!
Are you sure it's safe? I bet your mom knows someone
who was impaled by a pointy cob.
Move, move, move.
I was not done speaking to you people. Come on, Murray.
ADULT ADAM: While my parents were on a mission to school the Gearys,
Erica's only goal was to prove she wasn't a lame thirteenth grader.
Hello, fine purveyor of spirits.
I would like nine kegs of your cheapest and frothiest beer, please.
Gonna need to see some ID. I was prepared for that.
Pla-dow!
This is a freshman college ID.
Which proves I'm not some high-school bozo off the street.
It also proves that you're not 21.
Would it help if I told you that I really need a keg to look cool?
It would not. Would it matter if I cried and/or begged?
Still a no. Please! I am in a really bad place, man!
The validation that I'll get from some random high-school kids
is all that's getting me by right now!
So, please, I gotta get a keg!
I could just fill one up with some crappy non-alcoholic beer.
Seriously, dude? No one would stoop that low.
What up, party people?
Guess who got a real keg
of genuine alcoholic beer?
Look, the girl that was getting on our nerves finally did something cool!
Okay, you have seriously lost it!
You can't bring a keg-wagon to school just to prove me wrong!
All I'm proving is these people love me
and I'm not in the thirteenth grade.
Hey, pre-party before the dance is at the water tower!
Now cheer for me!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Nothing can touch you, Erica! You're untouchable!
Miss Goldberg, you are in serious trouble!
My office right now!
STUDENTS: Ooh.
Well, I no longer go here so you can't tell me what to do.
STUDENTS: Ooh!
Well, I'll just have you arrested for criminal trespassing
and providing alcohol to minors!
STUDENTS: Ooh.
Please stop.
VINNY: Ohh. I think we've been here already.
Well, clueless people, clueless parents.
Okay! That's it, Beverly!
You have seriously crossed the line!
Please, all I did was question
whether you should bring another child into this world.
And a hippie child no less. Ugh, we get it!
You hate hippies 'cause you were lame in college!
I worked two jobs to get through Penn State.
You don't think I wanted to dance and wear beads?
No. Can't imagine you wanting any of that.
You have no idea what this complicated man wants!
What do we do? We gotta split 'em up!
Hurry! Goldbergs, this way!
BEVERLY: And I'm sorry if this sounds harsh,
but I don't trust you people, and frankly...
I'm not comfortable with Adam spending
any more unsupervised time at your madhouse!
Tell ya what, maybe our kids
shouldn't see each other at all!
What? Jackie Renee Geary, get to the car!
I bet it's a Volkswagen love bus.
It's a Saab, so suck it!
I can't believe you two!
Look, we are your parents,
and we know what's best for you...
But you don't! The Gearys helped me, not you!
Honestly, I wish they were my parents!
You don't mean that...
I've never meant anything more.
**
Dead end! Still mad!
Okay, I know all this looks super bad,
but this isn't even real beer!
I'm a fraud and I'm lame!
So you'd fool a bunch of kids
with a fake keg just to seem cool?
You've sunk pret-ty low, Ms. Goldberg.
Well, whadaya know!
Johnny G scored us a keg-irino
for the teacher's lounge Halloween mixer!
Oh, um, this is...
And here you guys insisted this man
was nothing but a button-down cornball.
Well, shows what you all know! (CHUCKLES)
Why don't we tap this very alcoholic bad boy, people? (CHUCKLES)
Mr. G brought the fun.
Unbelievable! They just stole my keg!
How am I supposed to impress the seniors now?
That's your takeaway here? God, why are you yelling at me?
Because this is all beyond embarrassing!
Not just for you, but for me, too! Especially for me!
Wait, I embarrass you? What's that supposed to mean?
It means there's a reason that I didn't tell anyone that we were dating
for the first three months of our relationship.
You said it's because secrets make it hotter.
Well, here's the truth.
I didn't tell anyone because I was popular
and the last thing I wanted
was for people to see me with my brother's puppy dog friend
who followed me around for a decade until I caved!
Well, don't worry. That ends now.
**
ADULT ADAM: After I disowned my mom for ruining things with Jackie,
she decided to try and reconnect with me
using the thing I loved most, movies.
Adam? Where'd you go?
* One, two
* Freddy's coming for you...
* Three, four
* You better lock your door *
Excuse me. Hi, um...
I lost my little baby.
His name's Adam, goes by "Schmoo."
Schmoo's not here. (CACKLES)
I...take it you work here.
Try again.
Yeah, I don't have time for games. I lost my son.
Ooh. Bad mommy lost her little brat.
(CHUCKLING) I'm sorry, who do you think you are?
Your worst nightmare.
(LAUGHS EVILLY)
(SNORING)
(LAUGHING EVILLY)
Oh...
**
Gotta hide.
What the...
My sweaters!
You got good taste, lady.
(GASPS)
(LAUGHS EVILLY)
Whatever, I don't care what happens to me.
I'm already living my worst nightmare.
Huh?
I-I thought I was doing a... A pretty damn good job here.
No, you're great with the knifey hands and the melting-candle face.
It's just... (SIGHS)
Adam said he wished I wasn't his mother.
Oh, geez. That's an awful thing to say. Mmm.
I'm-a kill him.
No.
The more I think about it, I deserved what Adam said.
I was terrible to Jackie's parents.
Parents. (CHUCKLING) Who needs 'em?
I never knew any of my fathers, and I turned out just fine.
I don't see how that applies to me,
but I couldn't stand the Gearys
because of the way they parented.
But then, they were able to help Adam, and I wasn't.
Eh, this is getting way too touchy-feely for this cowboy.
(BLEEP) it, time to die!
No.
Time to get my (BLEEP) son back.
Hey! I say the (BLEEP) around here, lady!
Not anymore, Mr. Kroeger.
Krueger! It's Krueger!
Aah!
(GASPS) Oh! What?
What... What happened with the thing?
Oh, I had the worst nightmare.
I got to go talk to Adam. (SNORING)
Okay.
I know you said you didn't want to talk to me anymore,
but I... It's fine, all is forgiven!
No, it's not. I just had this crazy awful dream,
and it made me realize... Well, live and learn!
Life's a journey, thanks for popping in!
Uh. What's that?
Oh, balls.
That is my Halloween mask.
I'm Garfield.
Lasagna.
Oh, balls.
Oh, hi, Mrs. Goldberg!
Is Adam home?
Hey! It's Jackie!
Crazy girl! This is my house, not hers.
Stop talking.
Yeah, t-this one's hard to spin.
(DOORBELL RINGS)
Trick or Treat.
You can just take two and be on your way.
I don't want candy, Geoff. I want to make this right.
Why?
You were very clear. I'm an embarrassment.
Look, I know I hurt you,
but I was just lashing out because I couldn't admit the truth...
I am embarrassed.
Of me.
Of what I've become.
A loser who peaked in high school.
Maybe you think saying all that fixes this, but it really doesn't.
I know.
But I'm hoping that going with you to that dance does.
Depends.
(HALL & OATES' YOU MAKE MY DREAMS PLAYS)
You ready to make my dreams come true?
(LAUGHS) No.
**
(LAUGHS) Darn it.
* What I want, you've got
* And it might be hard to handle
* But like the flame that burns the candle
* The candle feeds the flame
Hi. We're here to pick up our lying, deceitful daughter who we stupidly trusted.
(SIGHS) Guess you were right. We're the bad parents.
Go ahead. Rub it in our hippie faces.
No, all I want to do is apologize.
Really? Why? I was jealous.
I thought you were the better parents.
But both our kids are pretty great,
so maybe there's more than one right way to raise them.
'Cause I realized as good as we are with our own kids, we're even better as a team.
We really are.
I wanted to see Arlo Guthrie.
BOTH: What?
Yeah. At Woodstock!
But I had to work, and all my friends got to jam and dance and bongo.
Oh. That sucks, man. I'm sorry.
Eh, whadaya gonna do?
Well, Arlo's coming to Philly next month.
I could get us some tickets maybe?
Maybe.
* You make my dreams come true
ADULT ADAM: So often, we're afraid of things
because they're different from what we know.
But when we learn to embrace the unfamiliar, that's when we can truly grow,
shed the old versions of ourselves
and leave our comfort zone behind.
'Cause in the end, the things that scare us the most
can bring us closer than we ever imagined.
And that's when our dreams really do come true.
* You make my dreams... *
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS)
Oh, no.
It's the keyboard. It's evil!
Aah!
Ohh.
Ohh. Oh. Bad dream.
Keg's kicked, pal. Can you spot me a ride?
Oh. I guess that is the responsible thing to do
after you drank all of these very real beers.
Uh, where do you live? Paramus.
That's like two hours away!
Not if we make a pit stop in Secaucus.
I got to pick up my special protein powder from my protein guy.
You're gonna like that guy. He is ripped.
And then, we can go see my Aunt Stephanie.
You're gonna like her. She's ripped.
Okay, look. The beer is fake.
You're fine.
Get home safe.