The Traveller Creeped Out

The Curious.

They say he collects strange tales, and if you ever hear his whistle...

HE WHISTLE EERIE TUNE

..you know something creepy is about to unfold.

No-one knows where he's from or where he's going to,

but apparently he can keep perfect time

in his head to the second.

Some believe that if you do something bad,

then eventually something bad will happen to you.

But what if this wasn't just the universe at work,

but a being, a creature that you couldn't outrun?

Look who it is.

Bonnie and Clyde.

Uh, it's actually Brandon and Jodie.

I know who you are, genius.

And I know what you've been doing.

Red-handed.

It's a slippery slope, kids.

One day you're harmless little hooligans,

the next, you're Baz Warren.

Is that what you want?

I know I don't. I look terrible in bright colours.

How do you think he ended up doing community service?

I caught him stealing...

..like I just caught you.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Oh, Mrs Gunson. Always a pleasure.

And what's my darling daughter done now?

I really hate doing this, June. You understand?

-Sure you do.

-Really hate it.

It is a slippery slope, isn't it?

One day, they're harmless hooligans, the next they're...

Baz Warren. I know.

You have mentioned it once or twice.

When Baz was your girl's age, he was stealing chocolate bars.

Now it's TVs and computers.

It'll all catch up with them one day. Mark my words.

I'll take it from here, Mrs Gunson. Thanks so much.

You better head home, Brandon.

I'll make sure he gets there.

-Good luck.

-Chat time, young lady.

"You don't want to end up like Baz Warren."

That busybody can talk.

She has been stealing from charity boxes for years.

-Only difference is, she gets away with it.

-Mm.

But that doesn't mean she's wrong about you.

Whose side are you on?

Look, Mum, we weren't...

Doing anything? I know.

Hey, you should have that printed on a T-shirt.

Well, I would rock that.

Big head.

THEY LAUGH

What is going on, Jodes?

I cannot seem to get through a single day

without a phone call or someone knocking my door.

You're popular! Look who's got the big head now.

It is not a good thing.

They're complaining about you.

Here, at school. I mean, everywhere you go, trouble seems to follow.

SHE SIGHS

I've been on a 12-hour shift,

I look like the walking dead and you're obviously grounded.

-What?!

-Amazing!

You sound surprised every time.

PHONE RINGS

-What happened? ON PHONE:

-My parents weren't home.

You should have seen Gunson's face.

-Totally ruined her fun.

-HE LAUGHS

-What about you?

-Grounded, obvs.

But...she never said I wasn't allowed visitors.

I thought you said you were good at football.

Real football. You take this down the park, I'll thrash you.

You wish. Not with them chicken legs, you wouldn't.

-Oh, it's on now.

-SHE CLUCKS

-Yeah, whatever.

-You better watch out, chicken boy.

Better come and tackle me, cos here...it...comes!

No. No!

Boom, 6-0.

It's awesome, this.

I wish I could have the place to myself all the time.

Do what I want, when I want.

What about me? I better be included in this made-up world of yours.

Like I need you hanging about annoying me all day.

Yeah, yeah. You'd miss me, really.

Oi! You are so going to get it.

No! Don't! Truce! Truce!

What's going on?

-What are you doing?

-I'm so sorry...

Home, Brandon, now.

It was an accident, honest.

And Brandon coming over when you're grounded, that was an accident too?

Do you care about me at all?

-It's only a TV.

-Only a...?

I need to clear this up.

You better get out of here now.

He came for me! He came for me!

What? Who did?

The thing with blue skin, he did this to me with his hand.

I'm sorry, I've got to go.

It is me, Jodie.

Baz. Baz Warren.

I was frozen, but I could move when...

-The hand!

-Look, do you need some help, or...?

I took it. He can't punish any more.

Punish?

Wait!

"Take and I'll take from you."

That is not yours. I just saw that old man leave it.

It looks antique.

Expensive.

-I'll see he gets it back.

-No, you won't.

You'll steal it, like you do with everything else round here.

Let's call it payment, shall we?

For not telling these kind folks

who's been water-bombing their windows.

I know a man that pays a good price for this old stuff.

SNORING

Let's see what's inside.

That's it?

Useless.

Oh, you're home. We need to...

What's that?

Oh, this? Erm...

It's nothing. I just found it.

And so why are you hiding it?

Jodie, for once, can you please just tell me the...

Mum?

..truth?

Tell me what this case is.

Er, it's...a disappearing box.

When you press the button, it disappears.

OK! Enough with the g...

..ames.

-What have you done with it?

-With what?

Jodie, please!

I feel like you're taking years off me, Jodie.

You're not going to see Brandon for a while.

-What?

-I've already spoke with his parents.

And you're not leaving this room for the rest of the weekend.

Aren't I?

SHE LAUGHS

SHE LAUGHS

-PHONE RINGS

-Oh!

SHE LAUGHS

-How'd you do that?

-Oh, this is amazing.

You know how we were always saying how cool it would be

if we could do anything we wanted without anyone stopping us?

Brando, this thing freezes time.

Yeah, course it does.

No, come on, press it with me.

-What? Why?

-Well, it doesn't freeze the person pressing.

Must just be how it works.

Come on! And press.

This is nuts.

I know.

-Where'd you get that thing?

-Online.

-Seriously?

-No.

You are so gullible.

This old guy chucked it. He said his name was Baz Warren.

-What?

-Don't ask.

Do you want to go and have some fun?

Oh, yeah.

OK. I see where we're going.

SHE CHUCKLES

Much tastier!

I think someone needs a shower.

THEY LAUGH

And...now.

Press it, quick.

This is so cool.

So quiet.

It's like we've been left alone in the world.

Zombie apocalypse, more like.

They're not dead. Just stuck in a moment.

So, what now? We can literally do anything.

Do you want to raid some fridges?

STOMACHS CHURN NOISILY

Your mum and dad have so much junk food.

I've got a serious sugar crash.

Me, too.

Think about it. The whole world's frozen right now.

Everyone in Australia, the President of America, the Queen.

People right now are in the middle of jumping out of an aeroplane

or giving birth.

-Or going to the toilet.

-Ew.

HE LAUGHS

METALLIC CLANGING

Tell me that was your belly.

Not this time.

-What are you doing?

-Come on, chicken legs.

Let's go check it out.

This is Gunson's locker.

Who did this?

I thought we had the world to ourselves.

FOOTSTEPS

Tell me you can hear that.

Come on!

-It's coming!

-Brandon, freeze.

JODIE INHALES

What was that?

-The guy with the blue skin.

-What?

The old guy with the case mentioned it.

He said he had skin like that.

WOMAN SCREAMS

It's Gunson's place.

ELECTRICITY BUZZES

-What's that noise?

-Shh!

What are you doing to me?!

I wasn't stealing, I was borrowing!

What is he looking for?

Run.

What was all that stuff? The electric hands bit?

-I don't know.

-It was like he was turning her into an old lady.

Like Baz Warren. That old guy was him!

Look. Baz gave me this.

That thing must have left it. Same as Gunson.

"Take and I'll take from you."

Punished. That's what he meant.

Baz was a thief, right? "Take and I take from you."

That freak punished Baz for stealing.

And he did the same to Gunson because she stole the keys.

And I stole it from her.

Oh, he's going to find me, too.

-Not if we give it back.

-What are you talking about?

Jode, he can't punish you for stealing something

if we give it back.

That's just borrowing.

-WHISPERS:

-Where is he?

Look, you've got your case.

Now just leave me alone.

-Now what does he want?

-What do you want?

He's got what you took. Why is he still coming?

Come on!

Come on, come on!

If it's not the case, then what did you take?

I don't know. I've never stolen anything!

We need to find somewhere to hide.

Jodie, come on!

-What do we do?

-Hide!

Mum?

I...didn't know about any holiday fund.

Jodes...

Quick, Brandon, run!

Go!

Wait, what are you doing?

No, wait! Wait, please!

I'm the one who took the case.

Me. But please, please don't hurt him.

I mean, if you take him...

..then I have nothing.

I mean, that's it, isn't it?

You're punishing me by taking away what matters to me.

But please don't hurt Brandon.

I need him.

What did she take?

You've got your case. What did she take?

I feel like you're taking years off me, Jodie.

It wasn't about taking the case.

That's not why you're after me.

"Take and I take from you."

You don't just punish someone for doing one thing.

It's...

everything put together.

But what did you take?

My mum's happiness.

I mean, I never stopped having fun to know

that I was stealing it from her.

But please, don't take Brandon.

I need him!

I'm the one you want!

Wait, wait! What if she fixes it?

What if she gives the happiness back?

She gets it now. She'll make it right. Promise, Jodie?

I promise.

Deal.

You'll be pleased to hear my mate paid full price,

so that's your games console...

and my one bit of happiness gone.

-Thanks, Brandon.

-So that's it.

There's nothing left of yours to sell.

It's OK. I think this is enough.

Yesterday, what you said to that thing...

am I really your best friend?

-Well?

-You are so gullible, Brandon.

-You'd miss me, really.

-Get out of here, chicken legs.

HE CLUCKS

The next time you're alone

and you think no-one is going to find out,

be sure to choose your actions carefully.

Because there's something out there, waiting, in between time.

And it knows if you've been good.

And it will certainly find you if you haven't.