If There Be Thorns

Hey! Freak-boy. Have a nice trip!

See you next fall!

Leave him alone, jerk-off.

Oh, or what?

You gonna kick my ass with some ballet moves?

Hey, get a life! Moron.

Don't listen to them, okay, Bart?

Hey, Melodie and I are gonna go for a hike.

I'll be home in a bit. Don't tell mom and dad, okay?

See you at home, buddy.

Hey, Emma.

Hi, Dr. sheffield. Here's your mail.

Thank you.

Hey. Dad.

Hey, kiddo.

This kid on the bus...

why don't you give us a second, go inside and get a snack?

Thanks, buddy.

"Hello" to you, too, Bart!

You sure Cathy hasn't seen these?

No, sir.

I've kept it from her like you asked.

Miss Cathy, is it my turn?

Yes.

Why's she here again?

Bart, sweetie.

Her mom's in the hospital.

The cancer's come back so she needs us right now.

Can't she stay with someone else?

No.

Because there is no one else.

Don't eat too many cookies.

You'll spoil your appetite.

Okay, sweetie.

Show me what you did.

Stupid jocks.

See you tonight.

Emma tells me you've already

sold all the tickets for your show.

Yes, I have.

I really think it's gonna boost enrollment in the studio.

You've already got a waiting list!

Well, I think that's because all the girls

are lining up to dance with

my very handsome assistant instructor.

Hey, peanut. Your babysitter's outside.

- Okay. - Go.

Say "bye" to miss Cathy. Bye, sweetie.

Bye, miss Cathy. See you tomorrow.

She's so cute.

Yes, she is.

Hey, Jory.

Where's your brother?

Oh, he's out in the treehouse, I'm sure.

Come on.

He's always in that treehouse.

He's 12.

Do you remember what you were doing at that age?

I think I've totally forgotten.

- Really? - Yeah.

Maybe I need a reminder.

Maybe I can help with that.

Yeah?

Hey, Bart?

Hey, you up there?

Where are you?

Come on. Clover, where is he?

Good boy.

Come on, clover.

Bart?

Got ya!

You scared the crap out of me!

Hey, I found your girlie magazines.

That's not mine.

Yeah?

Relax! I'm not gonna tell mom and dad.

Where'd you get it, though?

In the basement of the Dracula house next door.

Come and see.

Come on, clover.

Come on.

This place is really creepy.

I wonder if people died here, and it's haunted.

Maybe that's why no one's bought it.

Hey, where are you taking me?

Oh, man. That's gross.

I know. How do you think they died?

Don't know.

Maybe they came in through the chimney

and got trapped.

No! Clover! Bad dog!

You okay?

Yeah. Man...

Get out of here!

Go home, you stupid mutt!

Hey, hey.

Looks pretty nasty.

As soon we get home,

you've got to let dad clean it.

No! Don't tell mom or dad.

They'll wonder where I got it.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

What are you boys doing in here?

This is private property.

Do you know what happens to trespassers?

Nobody lives here.

They do now.

It's been bought.

I suggest you leave right now.

Yeah. Come on, Bart. Let's go.

I just have to review for my midterm next week,

and I'm set.

Good man.

What about you, Bart?

How'd you do on that geometry test?

Fine.

Oh, come on. You know we have

a "no secrets" policy in this family.

I got a "c."

Oh, Bart...

Now, now, that's okay.

I got some "c" s in my day.

You can work through that.

You just have to study more. Right, Jory?

You know what I think would really help me work hard?

Is if I had a pet python to help keep me company

while I study.

Again, no.

Nice try, though.

Honey, no, I'm not having those things in my house.

Don't they eat mice and rats?

Oh, by the way, I heard that someone's moving in next door.

- They are? - Mm-hmm.

It's about time.

I hope they fix that place up.

As it is, it's really hurting our property values.

I'm sure they will.

Boys, if you're finished,

why don't you help Emma with the dishes?

Yeah. Yeah.

Thanks, honey.

They're good kids.

We're blessed, aren't we?

We are.

Thank you, gentlemen.

That was good.

What's bothering you?

It's just thinking about little Cindy.

How is Melissa doing?

Not well.

The cancer's metastasized.

What happens when her mother dies, Chris?

There would be background checks,

interviews, people looking into our past.

There are ways around that.

Melissa wants it, too.

She's offered to have custody transferred in her will.

Cathy, it's too risky.

Plus, we already have so many expenses.

The house, the car, the kids, Emma.

Please, Chris.

That little girl is all alone. She has no one.

Melodie, you're shivering.

No, we can't.

Your parents' room is right there.

Come on. This way. We're going to the attic.

- Jory! - What?

They're here.

She looks like a witch.

She must be rich, though. Look.

That guy's her Butler.

Let's get closer.

Bart!

Where are my scrapbooks?

I can't see anything.

Yeah, but I can hear people.

I'll unpack them tomorrow.

Come on. Let's get outta here. This place is creepy.

It's okay, they won't see us.

- You don't think so? - No.

We weren't spying. We swear.

We just live next door and we saw somebody moving in.

Would you like to come in for some tea and cookies?

Bart! Put that down.

John Amos!

John Amos?

Tea and cookies at once!

Good help is so hard to find these days.

Is there something wrong with your face?

Bart, that's rude.

No, I like directness.

It shows strength.

My face long ago decided it would reflect my regret.

What is that supposed to mean?

It means "time ravages."

Can't you fix it?

Bart.

There's no point

in trying to bring back what's gone.

I am but a nun.