-----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! Next Chapter: ACT 3 SCENE 3 Estimated time remaining: 1 Minutes