Applejack's Halloweenby JM
Chapters
- ACT 1 SCENE 1
- ACT 1 SCENE 2
- ACT 1 SCENE 3
- ACT 1 SCENE 4
- ACT 1 SCENE 5, 6, & 6a
- ACT 3 SCENE 1
- ACT 3 SCENE 2
- ACT 3 SCENE 3
- Act 2 - High Points
ACT 1 SCENE 1
-----ACT 1 SCENE 1
----- EXT. CANTERLOT HIGH STADIUM – ABOUT NOON
The sun beats strong on the varied hues of the changing leaves as they dance in a light breeze. A few clouds drift past on the horizon. It’s beautiful, perfect in a way, and it smells wonderful… like fall… but in spite of everything, it’s just so provincial!
Kanon reclines on an upper bench. Ever since he’d arrived at Terry Town he’d had plenty to do, trying to fit in, and with the madness at the Friendship games and all, but there was always this nagging feeling that New York was where he belonged. Bright lights, big city… that’s where I want to be…
<Sigh!
AJ>Somethin’ wrong?
Kanon sits up. Applejack Jackson, the strongest blond at school, stands a few rows down and looks the slightest bit concerned.
<No, I just got a lot on my mind.
AJ>Like what?
Kanon’s reluctant to say ‘homesick’.
<Just worried about that report due in History class.
AJ>Yeah, heh-heh. Mr. Gleason doesn’t put up with no nonsense, that’s fer sure.
<What are you doing up here?
AJ>Oh-uh- I was just gonna, uh- did y’ hear we’re all throwin’ a party?
AB> Hey KANON!?
<Applebloom!?
AB>Are y’ comin’ to the party tomorrow?
<Party? You mean the ‘Bash’ all those posters around school were going on about?
AB>A-yep! Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell helped me make them. We’re gonna clean out the barn n’ have a dance, n’ watch a movie, n’ there’ll be food and contests! You comin’?
<Contests?
AJ>A scary story tellin’ contest, and maybe a dance competition.
<No bobbing for apples?
AB>*gasp* That’s good thinkin’! We’re apple farmers, right?
<I was joking.
Applebloom half-pouts, but the ‘cute girl’ act was never her strong point.
AB>You comin’ or not?
<*sigh*…sure, why not?
AB>You don’t sound too excited.
AJ>What’s’a matter?
<Is Pinkie gonna be there?
AJ> Aw, you and Pinkie Pie need to get over each other.
<Yeah, yeah… I never really liked parties anyway.
AB>Don’t like parties?
Too many people.
<It’s a long story.
AB>But this is a Halloweeeen party! And I’ll tell you what! Tell the door man you’re my boyfriend and you don’t have to pay cover.
<What?
AJ>Applebloom!
Applebloom smiled.
<Oh, it’s THAT kind of a party.
AJ>What she meant to say is… that since you…. since you’re a such a good friend and all-
<Naw, naw, naw; I don’t need any special treatment, I can pay. My uncle is rich, remember.
AJ>Well that’s… mighty big of yuh!
AB>No it’s not! Tell ‘em you’re my boyfriend and ah’ll pay the cover out of my own allowance.
AJ> Apple-BLOOM!
<I’m NOT going to tell anybody that I’m dating a 6 year old.
AB>Ah’m THIRTEEN!
<Yeah, well you don’t look a day over seven.
Applejack smiles, while Applebloom pouts for real. Kanon sighs again.
<You have your costumes picked out yet?
AB>Yeah. Ah’m going as a vampire!
<Kanon looked at Applejack.
AJ>…Cowgirl.
Kanon bursts out laughing.
AJ>What’s so funny?
<Uh! Talk about the obvious choice!
AJ>What d’you mean?
<You’re a cowgirl everyday.
AJ>No, I’m a farmer there’s a difference!
<Same difference! And besides, I’M going as a cowgirl, so now YOU have to be something different.
Applejack smirked, Applebloom smiled.
<Aw, come on, cowgirl’s too obvious. At least smear some fake blood on your clothes and say you got mauled by a cow or something.
AB>What are you comin’ as?
<…that’s a good question.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
-----ACT 1 SCENE 2
-----INT. CANTERLOT HIGH HALLWAY – LATER
Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy are talking to each other as Kanon passes by. He reels back.
<Hey are you guys going to the party?
RD>Obviously.
Fluttershy nodded.
RR>Of course.
<You’re going?
RR>Why wouldn’t I?
<I don’t know, you just seem like the… ‘I wouldn’t be caught DEAD at a barn dance’ type.
RR>I am totally egalitarian, thank you very much! And even if I wasn’t, this is Applejack’s ‘barn dance’. …so I’ll make an exception.
<So, who’s gonna win the dance off?
RD>Me, obviously.
<Heh! This is going to be easier than I thought!
RD>What’s that supposed to mean?
RR>Kanon, are you a dancer?
<I can shake a hoof… when I wanna. Do you dance?
RR>Of course I dance. All sorts, in fact. Waltzes, Ballroom, Salsa.
RD>Salsa?! Rarity, he’s talking about ‘real’ dancing, break dancing, not-
RR>Don’t be ridiculous, salsa and waltzes and ballroom are ‘real’ dances, ‘break’ dancing is-
Rarity stopped as Fluttershy mumbles something. All eyes turn to her. Her eyes go wide and she blushes then looks at the floor.
<Well I guess we’re just going to have to settle this on the dance floor then.
RD>Enjoy losing.
<Oh you will.
Random CHS Student #23>Hey everybody Kanon think’s he’s a dancer!
A small group of eavesdroppers laugh.
<Oh, I see. It’s the conspiracy again!
Random CHS Student #05>Yeah, yeah.
<You losers going to the party?
#23>No, are you.
<Yes! It figures, this party is cool people only!
Random CHS Student #85>How can you tell who’s cool and who’s not?
<We’ll be taking roll call. Once at seven, once at eight.
#23>Oh, so everyone that shows up is cool.
<People that aren’t cool already know it, so they won’t bother trying. It’s like their motto or something. Anybody that shows up can’t be that un-cool.
#23>Well I guess I’ll see you there.
#05>Me too.
<Spread the word!
The bell rings and people take off (some quite fast) for the final class of the day.
<Hey Rainbow Dash, where are you going? Geography’s this way!
RD>I’m going to the bathroom, creep!
(INDIGNANT)<SOR-RY!
Kanon starts leave as well, but Fluttershy is still standing there, very timidly waving goodbye.
<Uh… see-yuh, Fluttershy.
She smiles, and plays with her hair as she starts down the hall. Kanon gives her backside a look of consternation before leaving for class.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
-----ACT 1 SCENE 3
-----EXT. JACKSON FARMHOUSE – AFTERNOON
Applejack and Applebloom stand outside their open garage as Big Mac carries boxes out of the garage to somewhere behind the house. The girls are looking towards the forest some distance beyond the orchard.
AB>Y’think he’ll show up tomorrow? It is Halloween.
AJ>I hope not, Applebloom. Some spook-a-boo scarin’ off the guests is about the last thing we need.
<Boo!
AJ & AB >Ahhh!
<Did I scare you?
AJ & AB >Kanon!
<What? Hey, what were you guys just talking about?
Applebloom opens her mouth to speak, but Applejack cuts her off.
AJ>Nothing. What’re you doin’ here Kanon?
<I came to help out.
AJ>We don’t-ow!
Applebloom steps on her foot.
AB>Well that’s awfully nice of yuh. Pinkie Pie and Granny are bakin’ goodies in the house, so y’ can help there, or y’ can help Big Mac clear out the garage.
<And what are you two doing?
AB>Yardwork.
Kanon looks between his options.
<…I think I’ll help Big Mac with the heavy labor. And Applebloom… I just ‘LOVE’ a woman that doesn’t let pride get in the way of good business decisions.
Applejack frowns and Applebloom half-smiles, half-smirks as Kanon heads over to the barn/large garage.
<Hey Big Mac.
MAC>Eeeyup.
<Need some help?
Big Mac raises an eyebrow at Kanon, then raises a very large box with an ‘oof!’
<I meant ‘want’ some help? Heh. I’ll just follow your lead.
Kanon lifts a box and follows Big Mac around to the back. Short montage of the two of them emptying the garage while the girls clean up outside. As the montage ends the garage is almost empty and they’re getting to the older looking boxes. Kanon picks one up and the handle breaks, spilling several photo albums.
<Aaah!
MAC>Hey!
<S-sorry, the handle broke.
Big Mac picks up one of the albums from perhaps twenty or twenty-five years ago. He opens it. It looks like wedding pictures. Kanon starts putting the rest of the albums back in the box and picks it up from the bottom.
Mac>Leave it. I’ll finish up, you go help inside.
Kanon looks at the boxes that are left. There aren’t THAT many, but…
<A few more loads.
Mac>Nnnope!
<… okay… sorry.
Big Mac turns back to the picture book. He seems absorbed in it. Kanon heads inside.
ACT 1 SCENE 4
-----ACT 1 SCENE 4
-----INT. APPLE FAMILY ABODE – A MINUTE LATER
Inside Granny naps in a comfy rocking chair while Pinkie Pie puts the finishing touches on a four-layered cake that has been frosted to look like a jack-o-lantern.
<But how do we put a candle inside?
PK>Ack!
GNY>What?! What?
<It’s nothing, I just startled Pinkie Pie.
Granny settles back in her chair.
GNY>Alright then youn… un… zzz.
Pinkie Pie makes snake eyes at Kanon, and hisses:
PK>Kanon, what are you doing here?
<I’m here to help out.
PK>I don’t need help. Go away.
<If I’m not going to help you cook something, then I’m just going to have to cook something myself. I think I’ll start with a cake. Where’s the laundry detergent?
PK>Laundy det- Uh, fine! The cake in the oven is almost done baking, so we need to get started on the next one anyway.
<This one looks really good.
PK>Shut up.
Kanon rolls his eyes. Pinkie Pie flips a cookbook to another page.
PK>Here. Gather and measure these ingredients and put them on the table. Most of the stuff is already out except for whatever has to stay in the fridge.
<Okay.
Insert another short montage of Kanon helping Pinkie Pie make cake batter, pour it in a pan, pull a finished cake out of the oven and replace it with the new cake to be, then frost the finished one. As they sort of wrap up Pinkie smiles.
PK>Huh! I guess that was a little faster.
<How many cakes are you going to bake today?
PK>Just a few more. Then it’s on to cupcakes and cookies.
<Uh! I’m drooling at the very thought.
Pinkie blushes, lightly.
PK>Shut up~. And I can take it from here, go see if Big Mac needs more help in the garage. It needs to be empty and clean before we can start decorating.
Kanon>Okay.
Kanon walks off. Pinkie smiles behind him.
ACT 1 SCENE 5, 6, & 6a
-----ACT 1 SCENE 5
-----EXT. JACKSON FARMHOUSE – EARLY EVENING
Kanon enters the garage to find it exactly as he left it, except with Big Mac staring glassy eyed at several photo albums splayed over the table.
<Big Mac!
Big Mac snap his attention to Kanon.
<What are you doing, we need to get this place empty and cleaned so we can decorate for the party!
Big Mac turns his stare to the remaining boxes and looks surprised to see them.
MAC(QUIETLY)>Eeyup…
<Okay, breaks over, let’s go.
Big Mac sniffs.
Mac>Eeyup.
He starts closing photo albums and putting them in the broken box.
<*sigh* okay, one more montage…
Another montage of Kanon and Big Mac moving boxes, then, with Applejack and Applebloom’s help, cleaning out the garage. When that’s done, Pinkie joins the fun and they have several mishaps as they decorate the house and garage. The day grows very late as they finish.
-----ACT 1 SCENE 6
-----EXT. JACKSON FARMHOUSE – TWILIGHT
The sun has just set, and the farmhouse and garage are looking pretty spooky. Applejack, Applebloom and Kanon are standing besides Pinkie Pie as she directs Big Mac in adjusting the final light.
PK>A little more to the left!
Big Mac turns the light and the garage looks positively haunted!
PK>That’s it! We’re finished!
Everyone cheers.
PK>Good job everyone.
<Pinkie Pie, you’re a decorating superstar! You should seriously go into business or something.
AJ>Uh-huh!
AB>Yeah!
MAC>Eeeeeyup!
Pinkie at first looks very flattered, blushing and looking at the ground, her eyes darting up to peek at Kanon once or twice. Then she turns even more red as she frowns and her eyebrows furrow.
PK>Y-yeah? So what? Lots of people are good at putting up spider webs and- and setting up lights and stuff. Maybe you should just... Erugh!
Pinkie storms off to the house, as AJ, AB and MAC look dumbstruck.
<*sigh* I guess that’s my cue to leave. See you tomorrow.
AJ>What?
AB> Aren’t y’gonna stay fer grub?
<You guys are eating right now?
MAC>Eeyup.
AJ>Stick around. You helped set up, the least we can do is feed yuh.
<Naw, I got homework to do. Applejack, tell Pinkie I wasn’t kidding. See yuh tomorrow!
MAC>See-yup!
AB>Bye bye…
Kanon starts to walk home…
-----ACT 1 SCENE 6a
But before he’s past the first neighboring house (which is some distance away) he hears:
AJ>Kanon! Wait!
Kanon stops as Applejack catches up.
AJ>T… Thanks for helpin’ partner. And you don’t have to pay cover tomorrow, that’s fer sure.
<I’m NOT telling people Applebloom’s my girlfriend.
AJ>No, I-
<I’m kidding. And don’t be silly, I’m paying a cover. My uncle is rich.
AJ>Y-yeah, but after everything y’did n’all-
<Oh brother, it was nothing, I barely helped at all… See you tomorrow, AJ. I just hope I’ll recognize you in that sexy cowgirl costume you have picked out!
Kanon laughs as he walks into the dark, leaving Applejack to stare after him. Just before he disappears from view she touches her lips.
ACT 3 SCENE 1
-----ACT 3 SCENE 1
-----EXT. JACKSON FAMILY BARN
Applebloom and Pinky are busy counting money while Kanon, Big Mac and AppleJack clean up. A storm is blowing in so they’re hurrying to clean up as much of the outside as they can.
AB>We’re through!
The five of them gather round to hear the night’s tally. Applebloom clears her throat.
AB>Well, like Pinkie was sayin’, it takes money to make money, and we had a lot more people show up than we were countin’ on so we had to spend more on food. In total we spent two hundred dollars on decorations, and three hundred fifty dollars on food.
Applejack and especially Big Mac looked very anxious at hearing that.
AB>BUT we had somethin’ like two or three hundred people show up, and our total money made was two thousand forty dollars!
AJ>W-What?
Mac>Uhhh-huh?
PK>I TOLD you it would work!
AJ>So that’s, like, fifteen hundred dollars?
PK>There, see? It might not ‘save the farm’ but at least you’ll be a little better off for winter.
<What about Pinkie Pie?
AJ>What do y’mean?
<Pinkie Pie helped a lot; she should get a cut.
PK>Oh, no, I-
AJ>How much?
<Maybe fifty dollars?
Big Mac opened his mouth to say something, but Applebloom spoke first.
AB>And how much do you want?
<Heh! I don’t need your money. But I might take that story telling cake you swindled everyone out of.
AJ>What do you mean swindled?
<Oh, come on. You think I can’t tell Big Mac wearing an ape mask from a giant simian?
AJ>What are you sayin’?
Big Mac, Pinkie and Applebloom looked very guilty.
<Nothin’. I’m not saying anything. Look it’s late. You can pay Pinkie later, and it’s time for Applebloom to go to bed.
AB>Aw, I can help clean up.
Applejack nods with her head.
AJ>Git!
AB>Awww.
<See yuh at school on Monday!
AB>See y’all!
Applebloom heads to the house with the money box while the others look at each other.
AJ>There’s still a lot of cleanin’ up to do.
Pinkie sighs.
PK>I’ll go get started on the kitchen.
MAC>I’ll finish up outside. You two start in here.
As they all go their different ways, Applejack and Kanon are left staring at each other. Applejack gulps. Kanon smiles congenially as he picks up a broom from the corner.
ACT 3 SCENE 2
-----ACT 3 SCENE 2
-----EXT. JACKSON FAMILY GARAGE – NIGHT
After watching Kanon clean up a little bit Applejack can’t take it anymore and walks up to him.
AJ>P-p-partner?
<Huh?
AJ>Kanon, stop.
Kanon blinks several times then stops sweeping.
AJ>Ah really do want to thank you for everythin’ y’ did today. Spreading that rumor around school, and helpin’ out and callin’ off that huntin’ party. Y’know as far as Applebloom and Big Mac and… and me are concerned you’re pretty much a member of the family around here.
<Oh brother, I-
AJ>Now don’t interrupt. Things have been hard since… well, almost forever, for the Jacksons, and that two thousand dollars is pennies from heaven. We might even be able to buy food next month.
<Where have you been getting food?
AJ>Well… We’ve sort of been borrowin’… from the school.
Kanon felt his insides cringe as his grip involuntarily tightened on the broom handle. Too much information, thanks!
Applejack looked ashamed.
AJ>It’s just the food they were goin’ t’ throw out is all. A lot of people turn a blind eye when they hear how poor we are. But you… you don’t seem to let it get to you or nothin’. You don’t mind that we’re so poor.
<Of course not, I used to be even poorer than you are.
AJ>I don’t think that’s possible.
KAN THINKS>’Says the girl living in a heated house, in a good neighborhood, with clean food, stolen or not.”
<It’s complicated.
AJ>But we need help. Big Mac thinks he can turn the farm around with some labor, but we can’t afford no labor. Do you think you could help out around the farm?
This whole time Applejack had been moving steadily closer to Kanon, while he had discreetly been edging back. Now his back was to the wall and Applejack was a breath away, drawing with her finger on his chest. She mostly avoids his steady gaze, though she does glance up every now and then.
AJ>We couldn’t pay you just yet, but maybe… maybe there’d be something else you’d want… in the mean time.
She looked up one last time and their eyes connected.
Big Mac strides in through the door:
MAC>Outside’s done… uh!
His eyes go wide as their eyes turn to him. Kanon flips Applejack around and grabs her by the waist.
<Big Mac!
MAC>Huh?
<Applejack was just telling me how you needed some help around the farm but couldn’t afford to pay for it. Is that true?
Big Mac looks at Applejack who nods, then tries to stick his chin out, bravely… before bowing his head in shame. He nods.
<Well why didn’t you just say so. I can’t help out a lot, but I can put in a few hours here and there. Don’t worry buddy we’ll turn this place around.
Big Mac looks up, and Applejack is smiling.
MAC>Y’… Y’ think so?
<I know s-
Kanon stopped. There was a sound at the window. They all looked. And there it was. The thing.
Now for just an instant Kanon thought that it was Big Mac playing tricks again, but there were several evidences that this was not so. Firstly, Big Mac was standing right there. Secondly, the window frame was at least six feet tall, and maybe seven, and that thing, that… CREATURE, was clearly bending down just to look inside. A giant hand pressed against the window pane.
AJ & MAC & KAN>AAAAAAAHHHHH!
They bolted for the farmhouse.
Kanon got there first and held open the door as he waved them inside.
<Hurry, hurry!
The lot of them peeked out the window at the thing, but it was already gone. Later they all went out as a group to turn off the lights and lock up, then for the first time in forever, Kanon called a cab to take him and Pinkie home. What WAS that thing!
ACT 3 SCENE 3
-----ACT 3 SCENE 3
-----INT. APPLEJACK’S ROOM – EARLY MORNING
That night Applejack sits at a table in her room, sighing as she writes in her diary. She was amazed Kanon had figured out her name. It had been a long time since she’d heard anyone call her that, but in truth she only ever wanted one person to call her that. One very special person.
She sighed again she closed the diary, then threw herself on the bed. She looked out the window at the night sky then turned off her light and hugger her pillow. She didn’t want anyone calling her that except for one very special person. And that very special person… was Kanon.
END
Act 2 - High Points
ACT 2
Stuff Happens.
Kanon finds out 'Applejack' Jackson's real first name.
Applejack is related to a lot of people.
A lot of people show up
Work in progress...