House II: The Second Story

Clarence, they're here.

I'll be there in a minute.

- Clarence! - I hear ya!

- Clarence, they're waiting! - I'm coming. I'm coming.

Clarence, could it be him?

No. It was probably just those punks that broke in Tibbits' house last Halloween.

What do you want?

I want the skull.

I don't know where it is.

It's not here.

Give me the skull.

Wow.

I don't believe it.

- Wow! It's big, isn't it? - Yep.

It's definitely not built to code.

How many generations of your family lived here?

I don't know.

Who decorated this place?

Wow.

Looks like something's missing.

Great... I thought the electricity was supposed to be on, Jesse.

Yeah, it is. The switch must be out.

Is there a phone in here?

Great.

John Statman, please.

- 'Hello.' - John, hi. It's Kate.

- 'Hey.' - Sorry I couldn't call you earlier.

- The car phone doesn't work out here. - What's the house like?

Well, it's a pit, but Jesse's completely in love with it.

How did the meeting go? Is he interested?

No?

Great! We could have had him recording in the studio by early next month.

- 'What should we do? - We've got to find somebody fast.

Did you go see that new band down at the Miner's Club?

Raw indie, don't you think?

You're absolutely right. Hey did you get that letter from...?

I don't believe it.

That's my mom and dad.

Hey, I was pretty cute.

That was my grandfather.

So he must have been my great-great-grandfather,

Jesse McLaughlin. They named me after him.

What on earth were you doing?

I couldn't sleep, so I went downstairs to just look around.

What is that?

But I don't do it.

Oh, my God.

Quit it!

Oh!

- Aw! Hey, you didn't have to do this. - Sure, I did.

You're the only person I know that's ever been famous.

Hardly famous, Charlie. Nobody reads this magazine.

Oh well, you know. I mean, I have to admit, I don't look at the pictures.

I only read it for the interviews.

What? No, you don't!

Hey, look at this couch, nice and comfortable.

Wait, wait, right there.

- Here? - Yeah.

What?

Can you hold on for just a second?

- Excuse me. - Oh, hi, Kate. Hey.

The music too loud? It's bothering you?

- What is this you're playing? - That's "Puce Glitz and the Avoiders."

- "Puce Glitz"? - Yeah, that's my stage name.

- This is you? - Yeah and I'm her manager.

Kate, I uh feel compelled to tell you we are weighing several offers

from some big producers, but to drop names would be tacky.

But you don't have a contract yet. I mean you haven't signed anything yet, have you?

Oh no! We don't believe in success.

We want to make a lot of money and be real famous but no success.

No, there's a very subtle difference, you know?

John? I've got to get back to you.

I think I may have found what we're looking for.

Ow!

Hmm.

They're different.

This one's got jewels in its eyes.

- They're not the same skull. - Hey, Jess, what you doing there, huh?

- Come on Charlie, give it. It's private. - Hey, this is cool.

- Looks like it's old. What is it? - Come on Charlie, give it.

- Not until you tell me what it is. - It's nothing.

- Promise you won't laugh? - Yeah.

- You'll never believe me, anyway. - Sure, I will. OK, here take it.

Fine. See this guy?

It's my great-great-grandfather. He has the same name as me.

He was an outlaw in the old west.

- OK, I can buy that. - Yeah, look at this skull he's holding.

It's made completely out of raw crystal.

And this guy in the background, this is Jesse's partner Slim Reeser.

Now, he and Jesse had a falling out over the skull

and became bitter enemies.

Slim died without ever getting the skull from Jesse.

Now, look at this. See this skull?

And now it's different from the one here in the book, right?

I mean this one has got jewels in the eyes.

- Wait, wait a minute. - But, listen to this. OK.

Um, all right.

Legend has it, that there was a second skull

that had untold powers that could unlock the mysteries of the universe

and bring eternal life to those who possessed it.

So, question is

if this is the legendary second skull, where is it?

Uh, why you asking me? I mean, how am I supposed to know?

Charlie, Charlie, um... there's an old cemetery up on the hill.

Jesse was buried there in 1916.

But look here. It says, that when the Aztecs buried their dead

they wrapped the bodies in several layers of cloth

and they surrounded them with their weapons and jewels.

It was worth millions? Was it a lot?

I say, let's go for it.

There's nothing down here.

Let's quit.

I don't care if all the money in the world is down here.

I just want some sleep. I'm really tired.

- (Whispers) Charlie. - Huh?

- We got it. - Oh, no.

No.

- You got it, Charlie? - Yeah.

I give up. I can't feel anything. Please, let me die.

Please, let me die.

Charlie.

Jess, what?

Come on.

I don't have time for this, Jess. What's in there?

Charlie!

Help me, you idiot.

Oh, oh, oh, Jesse!

It's me.

- I'm your great-great-grandson. - Huh?

They named me after you. My name is Jesse, too.

Huh?

My-great-great-grandson?

- What year is it? - I don't know.

Now, don't you mess with me, boy.

Uh, 1986.

It's October 30th, 1986.

Well!

Goddamn.

You know I've been waiting over 70 years for some jackass

to get the sense to come dig me up.

Thank you, boy.

Well.

There she is.

There is something special about this old house.

Can't you feel it? I can.

Come on.

Let's go this way.

Where you going?

There.

Remember boys, this house is a temple,

as fantastic as any pyramid or castle you'll ever see.

It don't know time or space or any of that hogwash,

but the forces of evil are always after this skull

and you've got to help me to protect it.

So don't let no one touch the dang thing, ya hear?

Here.

You can sleep on this.

Is this the way you treat family?

Making him hide down in the basement like some slimy old lizard?

Well, I'm sorry. I must be out of practice.

- I don't have any family, sir. - Don't call me sir.

I ain't no politician.

Heck, I'm your great-great-grandfather.

You can call me Gramps.

That's what your granddaddy used to call me.

All right. Gramps.

Well.

- Uh, we better hit the hay. - But I'm not tired.

I don't need no sleep.

Well, let's get me cleaned up and then we go out on the town

and do a little high steppin'.

- I don't know if that's such a good idea. - Why not?