...just in time for Christmas.
I can't think of a better gesture.
Celebrating birthdays today, Jennifer Beals is 26...
Do you hear that music, Mr. Zipper?
Yeah, no, I said I was gonna take care of it.
Come on, sweetie, you gotta eat, please.
Yes, I will be right in.
Come on, sweetie, please?
-Just take one bite.
-Come on, Mommy's got to get to work.
Why did that work when you did it?
-You didn't do it right. -Yeah. You didn't do it right.
Look, and I know this isn't our old house, but give it a chance.
I liked growing up here... most of the time.
Oh, God, that stupid floorboard.
We'll get it fixed.
They add character.
Where did you come from, hmm?
How did I get this glass-half-full girl?
Uh, don't you remember?
You ordered me from the glass-half-full catalog.
Oh, hey.
Last day of summer break. You got any big plans?
Oh, yeah. Huge.
I was gonna take some boxes, break them down.
Maybe take them to the recycling bin.
Look, I know it's been hard ever since your dad and I...
...you know.
Mom, you can say "divorce".
I won't break into a million pieces.
I just want you to know I appreciate it.
-How big a help you've been. -Mom, I'm fine.
Seriously.
Do you mind?
You're blocking my light.
-Oh, sorry, I, I didn't... -I'm kidding.
How could you possibly be blocking my light from all the way over there?
Are you seriously that uptight?
-Um, I... -That was rhetorical.
Graham.
And you are?
Oh, Olivia.
Olivia.
I'm coming over.
That looks tedious.
You... you could help me, you know.
Yah, I know.
Oh, good, my new neighbor's a cheerleader. Yay.
-Hey! What's that supposed to mean? -No, nothing.
No, I'm sure you're a fascinating conversationalist.
I'll have you know, not all cheerleaders are ditzes.
I was captain of the debate team.
Uh-huh.
The outside of this house always creeped me out.
I have to say,
the inside does not disappoint.
It has that "something bad happened here a long time ago" vibe.
I'm into it.
-I'm a big fan of the macabre.
Then you'd love it here.
I've been seeing and hearing weird things since we moved in.
I need examples.
Shadows, like, flickering lights, weird music.
That stuff.
But, I mean, that's just what old houses do, right?
Like, ghosts aren't real, right?
They're not "not real".
Could be nothing.
Or... could be a poltergeist.
GRAHAM This is bad.
I mean, this is really bad, Olivia.
I mean, the mask is one thing, but the suit...
There's nothing more dangerous than a maniac with taste.
What's wrong?
Uh, I mean, besides the seven-foot demon in your kitchen.
Nothing.
Just... first day at a new school, you know?
Ah, don't worry.
Not like your whole life's riding on making a good first impression.
Jade!
This is Olivia. Olivia, meet Jade.
Jade is one of our resident queen bees and, uh, fellow cheerleader.
So, uh...
My work here is done. Bye!
Ah. So, where are you from?
Uh, Chicago. Basically.
I mean, like, right outside.
But my mom's from here, so...
Party time.
-Hey, I'm Chloe. -Oh, I'm Olivia.
Olivia is trying out for the squad.
Please tell me you're a flyer. We need another good flyer.
-I'm a flyer. -Amazing.
Well, flyer, if you have Saturday plans, cancel them and come to my party.
Thrill n' Chill, baby!
-Thrill n' chill? -It's an amusement park.
They have the most insane roller coaster.
Wait, roller coaster?
The Dragon's Tongue.
It's, like, the oldest roller coaster ever.
My brother said, like, 50 people get thrown off of it every year.
Anyway, my mom got us priority passes, so we can ride as many times as we want.
Olivia.
-Mm?
Are you okay?
What?
Oh, yeah, I'm just not the hugest fan of roller coasters.
Uh, it's fine.
It's no biggie.
-It was nice meeting you.
-Try "tall guy, strange music."
-No, no, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait, no.
-Tall guy, strange music, and a mask. -Shh. Patience.
Please, a little patience.
A paranormal investigator can take years to solve the case.
Can't expect me to solve this in one study hall.
Oy vey.
Speaking of being summoned by evil forces...
Sophomore love triangle just went critical,
so I'm being called in to mediate.
Honestly, you solve one crisis,
and suddenly, you're everyone's personal therapist.
Word of advice, Olivia.
Never be great at anything.
It's exhausting.
-Watch my stuff? -Yeah.
No. No...
Come on, come on.
Listen. Okay, okay.
No, no. Please.
No!
-Come on.
Please, please, please, please, please.
No!
Olivia.
-Huh? -Olivia, see this.
-Look how insane... -Eight percent of riders
-...that is. -lose their lunch,
but one hundred percent lose their minds from our insane loops,
borderline dangerous drops, and one-of-a-kind flaming Spiral of Death.
So hurry, before we get our permits revoked.
Come ride the Dragon.
All right, second years, you're up.
Everybody else, watch and learn.
Coach, we're short a flyer.
What about Olivia?
Yeah, Olivia's a flyer.
-Yeah, but I-- -MRS.All right.
On the mat.
I don't know the routine.
You'll be fine, it's easy. One, two, three, step.
One, two, three, up, heel stretch, liberty, heel stretch, basket.
-Got it? -MRS.Ready, and...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Here comes the step up.
Oh, my God. Olivia, are you okay?
Okay, so it haunts you at home, it haunts you at school.
Sometimes you hear music, sometimes you don't.
-Yeah. -It chases you, it doesn't chase you.
Whatever this thing is, it's not very consistent.
But why is it haunting me?
I don't know. Maybe it's an enemy from a past life?
No? Maybe... maybe your grandparents built your house
on top of a haunted orphanage.
Or maybe it is one of your grandparents,
and they came back from the dead to steal your life force.
Whatever the reason is, I give you about a 40 percent chance of seeing graduation.
Thanks, Graham. Makes me feel so much better.
Hey, look on the bright side, right? At least you'd be going out on top.
First day of school and you get an invite to Chloe's birthday party?
You won the popularity Powerball.
Yeah, I don't think I'm going.
Excuse me?
Did I just hear you say you were gonna turn down
an invite from Chloe Gallo?
The Dragon roller coaster thing they wanna ride?
It looks terrifying.
Kid, I guarantee you that it will be less scary
than spending the next four years of your life in social Siberia.
Do yourself a favor, Olivia.
Ride the Dragon.
Come ride the only roller coaster condemned by the United Nations.
No height restrictions,
-no age restrictions.
-We don't even care if... -I just got called back to the office.
I know, I know.
Movie night.
Worst mom ever.
-Can't you just work from home? -I wish.
But there's this big presentation tomorrow.
Everyone is melting down.
And, of course, I am the only one who can deal with it.
Please don't leave.
Livvy, is something wrong?
No, no, no, it's nothing. It's fine. I...
I think I was just really looking forward to movie night, so...
-Oh.
That must be Mrs. Lipton.
Seriously?
Mom, I'm 14.
I don't need a babysitter,
especially not Mrs. Lipton.
What's wrong with Mrs. Lipton?
Butterscotch?
My number's on the fridge. Help yourself to anything.
-And thanks again.
Oh, it's no bother at all.
You know, I remember babysitting you when you were a little girl.
Where on Earth are my keys?
-They're upstairs on your dresser. -Oh.
So...
You knew my mom when she was little?
Hmm?
So you knew my mom when she was little?
Oh, yes. Nervous little thing, used to insist this house was haunted.
Haunted?
MRS. Never could get her to go to bed.
"There's a monster in my closet, there's a monster outside my window."
Children and their imaginations.
Did she ever say what the monster looked like?
Looked like? Hmm.
No, I don't recall her saying.
Oh, but I do remember her saying she would hear music.
That's right. She would hear music whenever it was nearby.
MRS.Oh, goodness, dear.
You're just as wound up as she was.
God, where is it?
-I don't see...
My life-saver.
Livvy?
You saw it too.
The monster.
You'd hear the music before it came.
You saw it when you were my age, didn't you?
The man in the mask.
What is it?
Come here, honey.
I used to call it my nervous monster
because it only showed up when I was worried about something.
I would hear the music.
And then he would appear.
So, are we, like... cursed?
No.
No. We're not cursed.
We're just different.
Your grandma used to call it my Squeamber
because it showed up when I was squeamish or somber.
That's a really dumb name.
I think that was the point.
She thought that if it sounded silly, it would be less scary.
And she was right.
When does it stop showing up?
Honey, they never stop.
I still see it from time to time, but we have an understanding.
It's almost like... we're old friends.
Livvy, why didn't you tell me?
I didn't wanna worry you.
I'm your mother, you're allowed to worry me.
You're also allowed to have bad days and be upset.
You know what?
I'm gonna tell work I can't make it.
No.
If you can face yours, I can face mine.
-I'll be back as soon as I can.
I love you.
Livvy!
Olivia!
No.
No!
Hey. Stop!
Stop!
I said stop!
Back off.
Turn around.
Keep turning.
Stop.
Olivia, Jade's here!
Olivia!
You ready to lick the Dragon's Tongue?
Uh, so ready.
Bye, Mom. Bye, Aaron.
The Dragon's Tongue?
Yeah, I'll be fine.
Have a great time.
I will.
Wear your seat belt.
Sorry, that seat's taken.
Who are you talking to?
Friend.
I didn't know you were invited.
I wasn't.