(THUNDER AND HEAVY RAIN)

In a stormy night, Kyla and E.B. hang in the basement.

Kyla is in her mid-teens, with long slightly wavy brown hair. She wears jeans, a gray T-shirt and a floral bomber jacket.

E.B. is in his mid-teens with curly brown hair in an afro and he wears jeans, a white T-shirt with red and blue stripes and a red hoodie.

Kyla says CHECK IT OUT.

Kyla puts a puts a file box on the table.

E.B. reads the tag on it and ++says "THE UNDEAD ARE ALIVE!"?

Kyla says YEAH! KINDA SPOOKY.

E.B. says WHAT?

Kyla opens the box and says HUH. LOOKS LIKE A VOODOO DOLL.
AND VAMPIRE TEETH?
AND AN INVITATION
TO A ZOMBIE WALK.
I ALREADY LOVE THIS MYSTERY.

E.B. says I DON'T.

Kyla says HERMIONE FOUND PROOF
THAT ZOMBIES AND VAMPIRES
ARE REAL? AWESOME.

E.B. says NO, NO, NO. THAT CAN'T BE.
CREATURES LIKE THAT ARE
JUST MAKE-BELIEVE.
RIGHT? AREN'T THEY?

Kyla says THEY COULD BE REAL.
THE STORIES MUST COME
FROM SOMEWHERE.

(THUNDER)

E.B. says NO, NO, NO. THIS MYSTERY
SOUNDS TOO DANGEROUS.
LET'S JUST CLOSE THIS UP AND
NOT LOOK AT THAT EVER AGAIN.

Kyla says COME ON.
IT'S THE BEST MYSTERY EVER.

E.B. says UH... I THINK WE SHOULD
PICK SOMETHING ELSE. LIKE, UH...
"THE HISTORY OF CUPCAKES" OR...
"THE MYSTERY OF PUPPIES"?

Kyla says IF WE CAN PROVE THAT
UNDEAD CREATURES LIKE VAMPIRES
AND ZOMBIES ARE REAL,
WE'LL BE WORLD FAMOUS.

E.B. says BUT...

Kyla says WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN MONSTER
MOVIES WITH REAL MONSTERS.

E.B. says BUT... BUT...

Kyla says IF HERMIONE FOUND PROOF
THAT CREATURES LIKE ZOMBIES AND
VAMPIRES ARE REAL, DON'T WE OWE
IT TO THE WORLD TO TELL THEM?

E.B. says I GUESS SO. I JUST HOPE
WE SURVIVE THIS MYSTERY.

Kyla says LET'S DO IT!

(THUNDER)

(E.B. GULPS.)

Music plays as the opening of the show rolls.

A song goes HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY

Aunt Hermione stands next to a knight’s armour. She’s in her fifties, with short white hair and wears glasses, beige trousers, a belted white short-sleeved shirt, an explorer’s hat. She carries a cross-body bag.

The song goes YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY

Clips show images of power lines, an abacus and a computer.

The song continues SHE WAS GOING TO WRITE A BOOK
CALLED "MYSTERY FILES."
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED

She writes down notes on a notebook, holds a globe, travels by jeep, flies an airplane.

The song continues ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND
WAS A HOUSE FULL OF CLUES
BUT E.B. AND KYLA HAVE A PLAN

In the basement, a drawer in a chest opens and random objects come out.

The song continues THEY'RE GONNA SOLVE
EACH MYSTERY FILE
AND FINISH
WHAT HERMIONE BEGAN
THEY'LL SOLVE

E.B. and Kyla appear looking through Hermione’s notes.

The song continues THE MYSTERY FILES
UNRAVEL ALL THE MYSTERIES
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILES
UPLOAD HIDDEN HISTORIES
THEY'LL SOLVE
THE MYSTERY FILES

E.B. and Kyla high-five.

The title of the show reads "The Mystery Files."

(music plays)

(THUNDER)

Kyla says LET'S DIVIDE UP THE CLUES.
YOU WANT ZOMBIES OR VAMPIRES?

E.B. says YOU KNOW WHAT? DOESN'T
EVEN MATTER, BECAUSE NEITHER ONE
IS REAL. I CAN'T FIND ANY
WEBSITE THAT I TRUST THAT PROVES
THAT THEY ARE.

Kyla says MAYBE HERMIONE WAS
THE FIRST TO DISCOVER IT.

E.B. says MAYBE.

Kyla says CAN I HAVE THE VOODOO DOLL?

E.B. says YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON
STICKING PINS IN IT, ARE YOU?

Kyla says OF COURSE NOT. I THINK
IT'S RELATED TO THE ZOMBIE CLUE.
IN MOVIES I'VE SEEN, YOU USE
VOODOO DOLLS TO CONTROL A ZOMBIE.
SO MAYBE IT'LL LEAD ME
TO A REAL ZOMBIE. BRAINS...

Kyla starts walking like a zombie.

E.B. says NOT FUNNY, KYLA.
I WONDER WHO COULD HELP US
FIND OUT IF ZOMBIES ARE REAL.
WELL, THE ONLINE ENCYCLOPAEDIA
SAYS VOODOO COMES FROM HAITI.

Kyla says A GIRL AT MY SCHOOL IS FROM
HAITI. MAYBE I COULD ASK HER
IF SHE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

E.B. says YOU DO THAT, AND I'LL TRY
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VAMPIRES.

Kyla says BRAINS... BRAINS...

E.B. says KYLA!

Kyla says BRAINS...

(E.B. SIGHS.)

Kyla meets Tayana on the street.

Tayana is in her late teens, with curly brown hair in a bun. She wears a white headscarf, black trousers, a white top and a gray jacket.

Kyla says HEY, TAYANA.

Tayana says HEY.

Kyla says HI. HOW ARE YOU?

Tayana says I'M GOOD.

Kyla says MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

Tayana says OF COURSE YOU CAN.

Kyla says YOUR FAMILY IS HAITIAN, RIGHT?

Tayana says LAST TIME I CHECKED, THEY ARE.

Kyla says OKAY. SO MY GREAT AUNT
HERMIONE, SHE WAS GONNA WRITE
A BOOK, AND ONE OF THE CHAPTERS
WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT "THE
UNDEAD." AND ONE OF OUR FIRST
CLUES IS THIS VOODOO DOLL.
I'M WONDERING IF IT HAS
SOMETHING TO DO WITH ZOMBIES.

Tayana says I MEAN,
VOODOO DOES COME FROM HAITI,
BUT THAT'S NOT REAL VOODOU.

Kyla says IT'S NOT?

Tayana says NO, I... WE PRACTICE
IT AT MY HOUSE. I CAN SHOW YOU
EVERYTHING WE HAVE.

Kyla says YOU DO VOODOO AT YOUR HOUSE?

Tayana says YEAH. ME AND MY MOM
AND MY GRANDMA. WE'RE ALL
INITIATED PRIESTESSES.

Kyla says YOU'RE A VOODOO
PRIESTESS? BUT YOU'RE MY AGE.

Tayana says ACTUALLY, I WAS
INITIATED AT FIVE, SO...

Kyla says WOW. I HAD NO IDEA.
I'D LOVE TO GO TO YOUR HOUSE.

Tayana says LET'S GO RIGHT IN.

(music plays)

They go to Tayana’s house.

Tayana says WELCOME TO OUR HOME.

Kyla says HI. I'M KYLA.

Belle says I'M LA BELLE DEESSE JUNIOR.
NICE TO MEET YOU, KYLA.

La Belle is in her forties, with long wavy blond hair. She wears a white head scarf, a white sweater and a statement necklace.

Kyla says SO BOTH OF YOU ARE
VOODOO PRIESTESSES?

La Belle says YES, WE ARE. I'M A
FOURTH GENERATION. SHE'S A FIFTH
GENERATION. MY MOM IS A THIRD.

Kyla says COOL. AND SO WHAT IS
VOODOO, IN YOUR OPINION?

La Belle says VOODOO IS MORE THAN
A RELIGION. I WOULD SAY THAT
IT'S BEYOND RELIGION, BECAUSE
IT'S OUR DAILY LIVES. THIS IS
SOMETHING WE LIVE BY EVERY DAY.
IT'S NOT JUST EVERY SUNDAY.
IT'S EVERY DAY.

Kyla says TAYANA SAID THAT
THIS DOLL ISN'T REAL VOODOO.

La Belle says LET'S SEE. TO US,
THIS IS JUST A DOLL THAT THEY
MADE FOR TOURISTS. HERE, AND IN
HAITI AS WELL, WE DON'T REALLY
USE THIS TO DO HARM TO PEOPLE,
OR TO EVEN PRAY WITH IT.
IT'S NOTHING TO US.

Kyla says COOL. WHAT ABOUT
ZOMBIES? AREN'T THEY REAL.

La Belle says IT'S SOMETHING THEY
USE FOR... TO MAKE MOVIES, BUT
IT'S NOT REALITY. IT'S NOT PART
OF WHAT WE REALLY DO IN VOODOO.

Kyla says COULD YOU GUYS SHOW ME
SOME REAL VOODOO?

La Belle says IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE
TO SHOW YOU HOW WE SERVE.

The three of them walk down to a Voodoo temple.

(music plays)

Kyla says A VOODOO TEMPLE! WOAH.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF STATUES AND ART.

La Belle says THAT'S THE THING WITH VOODOO.
IT'S A MIXTURE OF CATHOLICISM
AND BUDDHISM, HINDUISM.
IT'S A MIXTURE OF EVERYTHING.
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

Kyla says OH, YEAH.
AND THERE I SEE A BUDDHA.

La Belle says YES, BECAUSE HE'S
ALSO THE GOD IN JAPAN AND CHINA
AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES.
JUST BECAUSE WE'RE HAITIAN,
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE
RESPECT FOR THE OTHER SPIRITS
THAT THERE IS AROUND THE WORLD.

Kyla says THE ANCESTORS OF
BLACK HAITIANS LIVED IN AFRICA
BUT WERE ENSLAVED AND SENT
TO THE NEW WORLD. THEY WERE
FORCED TO BECOME CATHOLIC,
BUT THEY PROBABLY TRIED TO
KEEP AS MUCH OF THEIR ORIGINAL
RELIGION AS POSSIBLE.
SO VOODOO'S A MIX OF MANY THINGS.
SOME AFRICAN RELIGIONS USE
SCULPTURES CALLED "NAIL
FETISHES," SO VOODOO DOLLS MIGHT
HAVE BEEN MADE BY ENSLAVED
AFRICANS TRYING TO DO RELIGIOUS
CEREMONIES THAT THEY REMEMBERED
FROM THE LAND THEY CAME FROM.
EUROPEANS SAW AFRICAN SLAVES
DOING THESE AND GOT SCARED
BY VOODOO. THAT MIGHT BE HOW
THE STORIES ABOUT ZOMBIES
GOT STARTED.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT I COULD
EXPERIENCE ONE OF YOUR RITUALS,
OR IS THAT LIKE AGAINST
THE RULES?

La Belle says IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE. YOU
CAN WATCH AND HELP. OKAY. SO,
KYLA, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA
DO. THIS IS A VEVE, MEANING...
THE FIRST THING WE DO BEFORE WE
DO ANY CEREMONY, WE DRAW A VEVE
TO LET THE SPIRIT KNOW THAT WE
NEED THEIR PRESENCE FOR WHATEVER
IT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO,
WHETHER WE'RE GONNA BE PRAYING
OR DO MEDITATION.

A drawing appears on the floor, along with bottles and candles.

La Belle says SO WE USE
WATER AND CANDLE. CANDLES TO
LIGHT THE WAY, SO WE CAN ALWAYS
BE IN THE LIGHT, NOT IN THE
DARK. AND THE WATER IS THE FIRST
THING THAT THE UNIVERSE GIVES
US, AND WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT IT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AND SALUTE.
ME AND TAYANA WILL SALUTE FIRST.
AND AFTER THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO POUR THE WATER AS WELL.
(DRUMMING)

La Belle and Tayana start doing a dance. Then poor water in the bottles.

(DRUMMING)

La Belle says YOU CAN NOW POUR WATER.
IN HERE.

Kyla helps them poor water in the bottles.

La Belle says AND HERE.
AND THAT'S IT. THAT WAS EASY.

Kyla says YEAH.

La Belle says THAT'S HOW WE GREET
AND SALUTE, AND WE ASK
FOR WHAT WE WANT.

Kyla says I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF SAINTS, BUT WHY ALL THE
SKULLS? THEY SEEM A BIT SCARY.

Tayana says IN OUR RELIGION,
WE DON'T FEAR DEATH. FOR US,
IT'S JUST A TRANSITION.
YOU KNOW? IT'S ANOTHER LIFE.
WE DON'T THINK THAT DEATH IS THE
END. AND WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID.

La Belle says THE OUTSIDERS DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND OUR RELIGION. BECAUSE
OF ALL THE SKULLS AND THE COFFIN
WE USE, THEY THOUGHT IT'S THE
WRONG THING, THAT WE DO WRONG
TO PEOPLE. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE
CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE USE THAT
CAN BE VERY SCARY. BUT IN THE
END WE USE IT FOR POSITIVITY.
THAT'S THE REASON WE WEAR WHITE.
YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS DO GOOD.
POSITIVE.

Kyla says SO IT'S NOT ABOUT
STICKING PINS IN VOODOO DOLLS
OR TURNING PEOPLE INTO ZOMBIES?

La Belle says NO IT'S NOT. IN
HAITI, ZOMBIES ARE JUST FOLKLORE
FOR STORYTELLERS. BUT THERE
ISN'T ANY ZOMBIES WALKING OUT
THERE IN HAITI.
(KYLA AND LA BELLE LAUGH.)

Kyla says NOW I'M SORT OF
EMBARRASSED THAT I ASKED
ABOUT THE VOODOO DOLL.

Tayana says NO. IT'S MY PLEASURE
TO BE ABLE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT
HOW MY RELIGION ACTUALLY IS.

Kyla says WELL, THANK YOU.

Outside the house, Kyla calls E.B.

E.B. says KYLA. WHAT'S UP?

Kyla says HEY, E.B.

E.B. says DID YOU FIND A ZOMBIE?

Kyla says NOPE. TURNS OUT ZOMBIES
AREN'T A REAL PART OF VOODOO.

E.B. says AND I'M STILL NOT
FINDING ANYTHING ABOUT
VAMPIRES BEING REAL.

Kyla says BUT HERMIONE'S FILE IS
CALLED "THE UNDEAD ARE ALIVE!"
MAYBE WE JUST NEED
TO LOOK HARDER.

E.B. says WELL, I LOOKED THROUGH
HERMIONE'S OLD ADDRESS BOOK, AND
LISTED UNDER "VAMPIRE" I FOUND
THE NAME OF AN ANTHROPOLOGIST.

Kyla says OH! JUST LIKE HERMIONE.
MAYBE THE ANTHROPOLOGIST
IS
A VAMPIRE.

E.B. says MMM... NO. SHE'S AN EXPERT
ON THE UNDEAD IN DIFFERENT
CULTURES, SO SHE KNOWS ABOUT
VAMPIRES. BUT I DOUBT SHE HAS,
YOU KNOW, FANGS OR ANYTHING.
I'M ON MY WAY TO MEET HER.

Kyla says LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT.

The call ends.

E.B. records a video and says I'M MEETING ANTHROPOLOGIST
KAREN MCGARRY AT...
TRAPPED!?

He calls Kyla.

Kyla says HEY, E.B.

E.B. says KYLA, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A
PLACE CALLED "TRAPPED!" BEFORE?

Kyla says YEAH. IT'S AWESOME.
THE DOORS ARE ALL LOCKED, AND
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO ESCAPE. WHY DO YOU ASK?

E.B. says WELL THAT'S WHERE THE
VAMPIRE EXPERT WANTS TO MEET ME.

Kyla says WOAH. YOU'RE GONNA BE
IN A LOCKED ROOM WITH A VAMPIRE.

E.B. says SHE CAN'T BE
A REAL VAMPIRE, RIGHT?

Kyla says WELL, IN MOVIES, YOU CAN TELL
IF SOMEONE'S A VAMPIRE BECAUSE
THEY DON'T REFLECT IN MIRRORS.

E.B. says I MEAN, THAT'D BE GREAT
IF I HAD A MIRROR.

Kyla says OH! THEY ALSO DON'T
SHOW UP IN PHOTOGRAPHS.

E.B. says OKAY. SO AS LONG AS
I CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF HER,
SHE'S NOT A VAMPIRE.
GREAT. THANKS, KYLA.
(E.B. SIGHS.)
HERE GOES NOTHING.
(CREEPY MUSIC)

He opens a creaky door.

(DOOR CREAKS.)

He gets in and says KAREN?
HI. I'M E.B. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Karen is in her late thirties, with long straight red hair and she wears beige trousers and a burgundy sweater.

Karen says IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

E.B. says SO WHY ARE WE MEETING
IN THIS CREEPY HALLWAY?

Karen says WELL I THOUGHT THAT
SINCE YOUR MYSTERY IS ALL ABOUT
THE UNDEAD... THAT WE SHOULD
MEET IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE
ACTUALLY LIKE TO GET SCARED.

E.B. says GOOD... IDEA? BEFORE
WE CONTINUE, DO YOU THINK
I COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU?

Karen says SURE.

He takes the photo.

E.B. says OKAY. GOOD.
YOU DO SHOW UP IN PHOTOS.

Karen says OKAY.

E.B. says GUESS IT'S SAFE TO GO IN.
(DOOR CREAKS.)
OH BOY. I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE
IN THIS ROOM WITH A VAMPIRE.

They enter a small room with exposed ventilation tubes, chipped paint walls and an old mattress on the floor.

Karen says SO DID YOU THINK
I WAS A VAMPIRE?

E.B. says NO. YES. MAYBE. BUT IT
DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S JUST AUNT
HERMIONE HAD YOU LISTED IN HER
ADDRESS BOOK UNDER "VAMPIRES,"
SO I JUST ASSUMED THAT...
(E.B. MAKES HISSING NOISE.)
YOU KNOW?

Karen says I'M AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, AND
I STUDY THE UNDEAD IN DIFFERENT
CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD.

E.B. says WOW. THAT'S
A PRETTY UNUSUAL JOB.

Karen says IT IS, I SUPPOSE.

Suddenly, the door shuts.

E.B. says UH-OH. HERE WE GO.
UH...
HERMIONE'S VAMPIRE FANGS LED ME
TO KAREN, WHO LED ME TO TRAPPED!
THIS GAME IS ABOUT SAVING THE
WORLD FROM A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.
YOU HAVE TO SOLVE A BUNCH OF
PUZZLES TO FIND A VACCINE AND
THE KEY TO ESCAPE THIS ROOM.
THIS IS THE JOURNAL OF
A SCIENTIST. THERE'S BEEN
A TERRIBLE VIRUS THAT'S
BEEN SPREADING AROUND.

Karen says HMM...

E.B. says HERE, HE'S SAYING
HE GOT INFECTED.

Karen says OOH...

E.B. says OH, NO. I THINK HE
TURNED INTO A ZOMBIE AT THE END.
IS THAT LIKE A... LIKE A HATCH
YOU CAN CRAWL THROUGH?

Karen says IT LOOKS LIKE IT.

E.B. says YOU CAN GO AHEAD, KAREN.
YOU CAN GO THROUGH FIRST.

Karen says NO, YOU GO THROUGH.

E.B. says OH, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

He gets in the hatch.

E.B. says AGH! AGH! IT'S A ZOMBIE!
(E.B. SCREAMS.)
JUST KIDDING. HEY!
THERE'S A BOX. NO WAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'VE GOT A BOX
WITH ONE, TWO, THREE LOCKS.
SO I'M THINKING THAT'S THREE
PUZZLES, AND ONCE WE SOLVE THEM
WE CRACK THE CASE?

Karen says I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

E.B. says IT'S LIKE I HAVE
TWO MYSTERIES TO SOLVE NOW.

Karen says WELL WHAT'S THE MYSTERY
THAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH?

E.B. says WELL, THE LABEL AUNT
HERMIONE PUT ON HER MYSTERY
WAS "THE UNDEAD ARE ALIVE!" OUR
FIRST CLUE WAS ABOUT ZOMBIES,
BUT IT TURNS OUT ZOMBIES
AREN'T ACTUALLY REAL. SO NOW
I'M THINKING THAT VAMPIRES
ARE REAL. RIGHT?

Karen says WELL LOTS OF DIFFERENT
CULTURES HAVE STORIES ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE CURSED
OR ABOUT THE UNDEAD.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF A WENDIGO.

E.B. says WENDIGO?

Karen says YEAH. THESE ARE CREATURES
THAT WERE BELIEVED TO BE USUALLY
HALF-HUMAN AND HALF-ANIMAL IN
A LOT OF FIRST NATIONS CULTURES.
AND THEY WERE USUALLY VERY TALL,
BIG. OFTEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
WEREN'T BEHAVING AS THEY WERE
EXPECTED TO BEHAVE, IT WAS
THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD BE
TURNED INTO WENDIGOS.

E.B. says AH, I GET IT. IT COULD
HAVE BEEN A WAY TO EXPLAIN WHY
SOMEONE WAS ACTING STRANGELY.

Karen says YEAH. AND TO TEACH
PEOPLE RIGHT WAYS OF THINKING
AND BEING IN THEIR CULTURE.

E.B. says OH.

Karen says AND THE WENDIGO ACTUALLY WAS
AN INSPIRATION FOR A LOT OF
WEREWOLVES IN HOLLYWOOD FILMS.

E.B. says OH.

Karen says SO THEY BORROWED THIS IMAGE
AND CHANGED IT A LITTLE BIT.

E.B. says NOW YOU SAID EARLIER THAT, IN
FIRST NATIONS LEGENDS, WENDIGO
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURSED,
SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT VAMPIRES
ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE CURSED?

Karen says WELL, VAMPIRES ARE
CURSED TO FEED ON THE BLOOD
OF OTHER PEOPLE. THEY ORIGINATE
FROM AN AREA IN EUROPE CALLED
THE BALKANS, AND SO PEOPLE
BELIEVED IN VAMPIRES.

E.B. plays and animated video and says KAREN TOLD ME ABOUT A
WHOLE BUNCH OF LEGENDS OF UNDEAD
CREATURES. IN CHINESE LEGENDS,
THE JIANGSHI IS A KIND OF
HOPPING VAMPIRE THAT STEALS
PEOPLE'S LIFE FORCE. IN PLACES
LIKE ENGLAND AND IRELAND, PEOPLE
USED TO BELIEVE IN REVENANTS,
DEAD BODIES THAT RETURNED
FROM THE GRAVE TO SEEK REVENGE.
(GARBLED ZOMBIE NOISES)
AND IN SCANDINAVIA, UNDEAD
CREATURES CALLED DRAUGRS
SUPPOSEDLY LIVED IN THEIR GRAVES
AND GUARDED THE TREASURES
THEY WERE BURIED WITH. YIKES.
BUT EVERYONE KNOWS THESE ARE
JUST FICTION, RIGHT?

Karen says OR ARE THEY?

Karen appears wearing a monster mask.

(E.B. GASPS.)

Karen takes the mask off and says JUST KIDDING. MOST PEOPLE TODAY
DON'T BELIEVE IN VAMPIRES.
THEY DID IN THE PAST IN SOME
CULTURES. BUT, YEAH, TODAY
MOST PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE IT.

E.B. says SO THERE'S NO REAL EVIDENCE
OF WEREWOLVES OR VAMPIRES
OR ANY OTHER UNDEAD CREATURES?

Karen says I'M AFRAID NOT.

E.B. says WELL, IF VAMPIRES AREN'T
REAL, THEN HOW COME WE HAVE
SO MANY STORIES ABOUT THEM?

Karen says WELL, BECAUSE PEOPLE
LIKE A GOOD HORROR STORY, AND
SOMETIMES THEY LIKE EXPLANATIONS
FOR THINGS THEY CAN'T
OTHERWISE EXPLAIN.

RIGHT. IT'S PEOPLE TELLING
EACH OTHER THOSE STORIES FOR ALL
KINDS OF REASONS THAT KEEP THOSE
LEGENDS ALIVE. SO WHAT DO YOU
SAY WE GET OUT OF HERE?

Karen says LET'S DO IT.

E.B. says SWEET.
I'M NOT GIVING AWAY THE SECRET
OF GETTING OUT OF THE LOCKED
ZOMBIE ROOM. LET'S JUST SAY WE
HAVE TO SOLVE SOME COOL PUZZLES
TO FIND THE SECRET COMBINATIONS.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN
FIND GREEN EYES.

Karen says YEAH.

They search all over the room.

E.B. says ONE, TWO, THREE.

Karen says OH. OOH...
HOW ABOUT THESE FOUR NUMBERS?

E.B. says tries the numbers and unlocks the box.

He finds a sample tube with a blue liquid inside.

E.B. says IT WORKED! IT HAS TO BE
2, 2, 7. YES! IT'S THE CURE
FOR THE ZOMBIE VIRUS.
AND HERE'S THE KEY.
LET'S BREAK OUTTA HERE.

He unlocks the door and says FREEDOM! YES!
WOO!

(KYLA'S PHONE RINGS.)

Kyla says HEY, E.B.

E.B. says HEY, KYLA.

Kyla says GLAD TO SEE YOU WEREN'T
EATEN BY A VAMPIRE.

E.B. says YEAH, WELL, I THINK WE MUST BE
DOING SOMETHING WRONG. IT TURNS
OUT VAMPIRES AREN'T REAL.

Kyla says AND NEITHER ARE ZOMBIES.
BUT I'M CHECKING OUT THIS ZOMBIE
WALK INVITATION. THE ORGANIZER
SAID TO MEET ME HERE. SO, I'LL
LET YOU KNOW WHAT I DISCOVER.

A monster appears from behind her and says NOT REAL?

Kyla says AGH!

E.B. says KYLA? KYLA!

Thea is dresses as a skeleton with long white hair, a crown in the shape of a spider web and a pale blue dress.

Thea says I'M SORRY I SCARED YOU.
I'M THEA MUNSTER.

E.B. says DID YOU SAY
SHE'S THE MONSTER!?

Kyla says THEA MUNSTER.
SORRY, E.B. FALSE ALARM. I'LL
LET YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND OUT.

E.B. says OKAY.

Kyla says THEA MUNSTER HELPED
ORGANIZE HUGE ZOMBIE WALKS
FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

Pictures of the zombie walks appear on screen.

Kyla says HI.

Thea says HI.

Kyla says SO... I'M HOPING YOU CAN
HELP WITH OUR MYSTERY. EARLIER
TODAY A VOODOO PRIESTESS TOLD ME
THAT ZOMBIES AREN'T REAL.
BUT MY GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
SEEMED TO THINK THEY WERE.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF THAT
ZOMBIES ARE REAL, DO YOU?

Thea says I DON'T.

Kyla says I'M SO STUMPED
BY THIS MYSTERY.

Thea says WELL, I CAN'T HELP YOU
FIND A ZOMBIE, BUT I COULD
CALL SOME FRIENDS AND WE COULD
HAVE A ZOMBIE WALK.

Kyla says I GUESS IF I CAN'T SOLVE THE
MYSTERY I CAN AT LEAST HAVE FUN.

Thea says AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE CEMETERY IS THE PERFECT
PLACE TO DO IT. COME ON.

Thea starts putting makeup on Kyla.

Thea says YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK
REALLY PALE AND KINDA DEAD.
(KYLA LAUGHS.)

(music plays)

Thea says A LITTLE YELLOW
FOR SOME BRUISING.
I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD.

Kyla says THAT LOOKS AWESOME.
I'M READY TO SHAMBLE.
(CREEPY MUSIC)

Kids dresses as zombies start coming from behind the gravestones. They crawl and shuffle around the cemetery.

(ZOMBIES GROWLING.)
(ZOMBIES GROWLING.)

Kyla says UH-OH. ARE THESE YOUR FRIENDS?
IS THIS...
ARE WE OKAY? IS THIS...

Thea says YEAH.

Kyla says THIS IS COOL.

ZOMBIES: HI, GUYS. WELCOME.

Kyla says HEY. YOU SCARED ME
FOR A SECOND.

Thea says HI.

Kyla says HI.

The zombies say HI.

Thea says YEAH, IT'S REALLY COOL.
LIKE, THERE'S YOUNG ZOMBIES, OLD
ZOMBIES. WE ALL COME TOGETHER AS
A COMMUNITY AND WALK TOGETHER.
AND PLUS, IF A ZOMBIE EATS
YOUR BRAINS, THAT JUST MEANS
THEY WANT YOU TO JOIN THEM.

THAT'S THE BRIGHT SIDE OF IT!

Thea says IT IS.
(ZOMBIE NOISES)

Kyla says SO, WHY DO YOU GUYS
LIKE TO PRETEND TO BE ZOMBIES?

A girl says WELL, WE LIKE TO PRETEND
TO BE ZOMBIES BECAUSE IT GIVES
US A FEELING OF MAKE-BELIEVE,
AND ALSO IT'S REALLY FUN.
(ZOMBIE GIRL GROWLS.)

A boy says IT'S LIKE THE MAKE-UP AND
THE FACT THAT IT'S JUST FUNNY.
(ZOMBIE BOY GROWLS.)

Kyla says DO YOU GUYS LIKE
BEING SCARED YOURSELVES?

The girl says WELL, MOST OF THE TIME.
MAYBE NOT AT NIGHT.
(KYLA AND THE GIRL LAUGH.)

Another boy says MY FAVOURITE PART IS
WHEN EVERYONE IS HERE AND
YOU CAN LIKE WALK WITH THEM
AND YOU CAN LIKE TALK WITH THEM.

Kyla says I GUESS IF YOU WERE
SCARED OF ZOMBIES OR MONSTERS,
PRETENDING TO BE ONE WOULD
MAKE YOU FEEL BRAVER.

Thea says OR NOT.

Kyla says WHAT?

The kids come at them.

(ZOMBIES GROWLING.)

Kyla says WOAH. WOAH, WOAH, WOAH.
THEY'RE ATTACKING ME! ALL OF
THEM. DON'T EAT MY BRAINS.
I STILL NEED THEM.

Back in the basement, Kyla shows E.B. a video of the zombie walk.

A boy says IT'S GOOD TO LIKE PRANK
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN LIKE
A GRAVEYARD, LIKE BURIED.
AND THEN YOU LIKE... (GROWLS)
JUMP OUT, LIKE THINKING THAT
YOU'RE LIKE A REAL LIFE ZOMBIE.
(E.B. AND KYLA LAUGH.)

E.B. says THAT'S PRETTY FUNNY.
BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE WE FAILED.
WE DIDN'T FIND ANY PROOF
THAT HERMIONE WAS RIGHT
THAT "THE UNDEAD ARE ALIVE!"

Kyla says I WONDER WHAT WE MISSED.

E.B. says I DON'T KNOW.

The fangs say IF I'M NOT REAL, HOW
COME I SCARED ALL OF EUROPE?

The doll says I MAY NOT BE REAL,
BUT I AM A REAL LEGEND.

E.B. says I'VE GOT IT!
I KNOW WHAT HERMIONE MEANT.

Kyla says WHAT?

E.B. says THE UNDEAD AREN'T "REAL,"
BUT THEY COME FROM REAL LEGENDS
AND REAL CULTURAL PRACTICES.

Kyla says THAT'S IT! ALL AROUND
THE WORLD, CULTURES HAVE LEGENDS
ABOUT THE UNDEAD.

E.B. says RIGHT. AND SOME LEGENDS
MAY HAVE BEEN STARTED BY PEOPLE
WHO WERE AFRAID OF A CULTURE
THAT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

E.B. shows Kyla side by side pictures of a conqueror and a monster.

Kyla says BUT TODAY WE TELL
STORIES ABOUT THE UNDEAD
BECAUSE IT'S FUN TO BE SCARED.

E.B. says I HAVE TO ADMIT, THAT
ZOMBIE WALK LOOKED PRETTY FUN.

Kyla says IT WAS. BUT I'M STILL
A LITTLE SAD THOUGH THAT THE
UNDEAD AREN'T REAL. IT WOULD'VE
BEEN SUPER-FUN TO MAKE OUR OWN
MOVIE WITH REAL VAMPIRES
AND REAL ZOMBIES.

E.B. says WELL WE COULD STILL
MAKE A MOVIE. UH-HUH.

A sepia movie rolls. Dressed as a zombie, E.B. says BRAINS...

Wearing fangs, Kyla says I VANT TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD.

E.B. says I NEED BRAINS.

Kyla says THAT'S TRUE.
YOU DO NEED BRAINS.

E.B. says HEY. THAT'S NOT NICE. ARGH...

(KYLA LAUGHS.)

(E.B. LAUGHS.)

They both say MYSTERY SOLVED! POSTING
TO
THE MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.

Music plays as the end credits roll.

Cast, Ethan Burnett as E.B. and Kyla Madeira as Kyla.

Producers, Jean-Louis Coté and Joan Taketman.

Director, Zsolt Luka.

An Apartment 11 production.

Produced in association with TVO Kids.

Logo: TVO Kids.