History Recap / AreYouAfraidOfTheDarkSeason1TheTaleOfTheNightlyNeighbours

One dark evening, Dayday Toll watches ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead''. His sister Emma sneaks up on him, and warns against too much television. Through the window, they peak into the night. Before the house opposite, a removal van is approached by a man, woman, and young boy, all dressed entirely in black. The new neighbours turn their heads in unison to regard the young observers.

...

...

Back at the Tolls', the doorbell rings. Dayday opens to find on the doorstep all three Brauns. Mrs Toll cordially invites them in. Over ASpotOfTea, Mr and Mrs Braun explain their shared job - alongside paramedics, they study healthcare methods for potential import to their homeland. Meanwhile, in the Braun's basement, Emma finds a large, sheet-covered rectangular object, which turns out to be...a refrigerator. Curiously, its lid is padlocked. Emma cracks the lock,looks round, sees Dayday, and the two scream in fright. Before they leave, Emma opens the fridge. Stacked inside are numerous glass bottles of some dark red liquid...

Emma and Dayday climb out of the basement window and onto the daylighted driveway. From the garage emerges Mrs Braun, followed by Mr Braun, who carries a box marked with a first aid cross. How come they're out in daylight? Mrs Braun brightly greets the two. With their schedule having changed, their storing in their basement some hospital blood.

Down in their basement, Mr and Mrs Braun load the refrigerator with new bottles. Through the padlocked metal door, they enter a vault, in which stands a coffin. It creaks open to reveal Lex. They praise their Master's wisdom in coming to these shores - here, no one believe a little boy can be a vampire! In an exultant grin, Lex bares his fangs.

Why do things seem scarier at night? If things are scary, should nightfall make a difference? Betty Anne assures the others that things are scarier at night - especially in her story. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls it "The Tale of the Nightly Neighbours.

High above the crackling campfire, dark clouds drift across a full moon.

-->'''Kristen:''' Why do we always tell scary stories at night? I mean, if they're scary, they should be just as scary during the day, right?
-->'''Gary:''' No way. Things are always scarier at night.
-->'''Kristen:''' Yeah, but... why?
-->'''David:''' Because... you can't see things at night.
-->'''Kiki:''' ''{grabs his shoulders from behind}'' Yeah, like some ghouls could sneak up on you in the dark, and you wouldn't know until it was too late, ha, ha-ha-ha-ha!
-->'''Eric:''' Yeah!
-->'''Frank:''' So, who's going tonight?
-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{just arriving}'' I am.
-->'''Eric:''' Oh, man.
-->'''Betty Anne:''' What's the matter?
-->'''Eric:''' You always tell the same kind of story. It's kinda gross, but everyone always lives happily ever after. Bor-ing!
-->'''Frank:''' So what's your problem? You're kinda gross and boring too.
-->'''Eric:''' Yuk-yuk-yuk.
-->'''Kiki:''' ''{doubles over with laughter}''
-->'''Betty Anne:''' Things are scarier at night. Especially in my story. You can be scared during the day. But don't bother. Because the real terror never begins until night falls.


Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society - except for Eric - she calls this story "The Tale of the Nightly Neighbours."

With a bowl of popcorn, Dayday Toll nervously watches ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead''.

From behind the sofa sneaks the hand of his older sister Emma. She abruptly leaps up.

-->'''Emma:''' Boo!!

With a startled yell, Dayday sends his popcorn flying.

-->'''Emma:''' ''{grins}'' Did I scare you?
-->'''Dayday:''' Not funny.
-->'''Emma:''' ''{turns off television:'' You sit in front of the TV all day and you're gonna turn into Dad.
-->'''Dayday:''' Great. If that happens, I'll send you to your room. Forever.

She approaches the window, and peaks into the night. Before the house opposite, a removal van is approached by a man, woman, and young boy, all dressed entirely in black.

-->'''Emma:''' Hey, new neighbours moving in.
-->'''Dayday:''' At night? ''{joins her at the window}'' What's with the black clothes?
-->'''Emma:''' I think they look cool. Maybe they're artists. Or foreign diplomats.

The new neighbours turn their heads in unison to regard the young observers.

-->'''Emma and Dayday:''' Whoa! ''{both duck beneath window}''

-->'''Dayday:''' Tell me that wasn't creepy! I think I'm going to avoid our new neighbours.

Next day, on their way to greet the new neighbours, the find a delivery workman wheeling a huge crate.

-->'''Emma:''' Need a hand?
-->'''Delivery Workman:''' I need a new back.
-->'''Dayday:''' What's in the box?
-->'''Delivery Workman:''' Whatever it is, they got two of 'em. ''{parks crate by newly occupied house}'' Know these people?
-->'''Emma:''' Nah. They just moved in Friday night. We're coming over to say 'hi'.
-->'''Dayday:''' What's their name?
-->'''Delivery Workman:''' ''{consults clipboard}'' Uh, Braun. Look at this. '{proffers clipboard}''
-->'''Emma:''' ''{reads}'' They're from the Ukraine!
-->'''Dayday:''' That near Disneyworld?
-->'''Emma:''' No, dip, it's near Russia.
-->'''Delivery Workman:''' Must've wanted these refrigerators pretty bad if they ordered them when they were still in Russia.
-->'''Emma:''' That's what they are? Refrigerators?
-->'''Delivery Workmam:''' Mm-hmm. ''{rings doorbell, and retreats from door}''
-->'''Dayday:''' You're just gonna leave 'em?
-->'''Delivery Workman:''' Mm-hm. That's what the order says - nobody home, leave 'em in the driveway. See ya. ''{wals off}''
-->'''Emma:''' That's weird.
-->'''Dayday:''' What?
-->'''Emma:''' There car's still here - they gotta be home! Why didn't they answer the door? ''{walking home with Dayday}'' What if they're KGB agents who had to bolt when the Soviet Union crumbled? Or gypsies searching for a new home?
-->'''Dayday:''' Oh, get real.


As they approach their house, their mother stumbles out.

-->'''Emma:''' Hi -
-->'''Mrs Toll:''' I'm late! Um, don't forget to tell your father about - ''{hastily backs into postman, who falls to his knees}'' Oh! Oh, I'm sorry! I'm late.
-->'''Emma:''' ''{kneels with Dayday to pick up letters}'' Sorry, Mr Mitchell! When Mom's in a rush, she's a little crazy.
-->'''Mr Mitchell:''' It's okay! I know the feeling. ''{sinks into seated position on post}''
-->'''Dayday:''' You okay?
-->'''Mr Mitchell:''' Uh, yeah. I just got a touch of something. I'm as weak as a kitten... well, mail must go through...
-->'''Emma:''' ''{on his neck sees a large sticking plaster}'' Uh, have you met the new neighbours yet?
-->'''Mr Mitchell:''' Oh, yeah. They stopped by my house the other night just to get acquainted. That's the night I'll never forget.
-->'''Emma:''' Why, were they strange or something?
-->'''Mr Mitchell:''' No... it's the night I started getting sick. Hope I can shake it off.

-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{narrating}'' Emma started paying close attention to the Brauns. She watched them every chance she got. And the more she watched, the more she realised that the new neighbours were just a little bit strange. They didn't talk to anyone. And no one ever saw them during the day. Only at night. Even their kid Lex was never seen during the day.


Emma takes out the garbage one night, and is startled from behind by a soft young voice.

-->'''Lex:''' Hello.
-->'''Emma:''' ''{gasps and whirls around}''
-->'''Lex:''' Can I come in and play?
-->'''Emma:''' Um... it's kinda late.
-->'''Lex:''' Maybe some other time.
-->'''Emma:''' ''{nods uneasily]}''
-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{narrating}'' Lex never started school. No one had even heard of him. And the strange disease that hit Mr Mitchell was spreading through the neighbourhood like crazy.

Onto a doorstep, the postman wearily sinks into a seated position.

...

On a park bench, a woman with a sticking plaster on her neck lolls onto the shoulder of her partner.

-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{narrating}'' People were losing their energy. It was like an epidemic going around, but no one knew what it was. And it started the same night the Brauns moved in. Emma had a great imagination, but this was a little weird, even for her. Then one night, all the pieces of the puzzle came together...


Emma lies in bed. The bedroom window flies open. Fog billows into the room. Emma opens her eyes. Above the fog effortlessly rises the figure of Mr Braun, to survey the room.

Emma sees him glide, in a stoop, towards her bed. As he bears down on her, his eyes widen, and his lips part to reveal a set of fangs. Emma screams and sits up, awake, in daylight: it was just a dream.

Shaken, she rubs her neck, runs to Dayday’s bedroom, and rouses him with a nearby megaphone.

-->'''Emma:''' I know what's wrong with the Brauns.
-->'''Dayday:''' Me too. They have a crazy neighbour - you.
-->'''Emma:''' Listen - why is it they're never out during the day? And where are they from? ''{backs to the huge world map on the wall behind, and indicates}'' Here. Rovno, Ukraine. That's right in the middle of all those "ia" places. Romania, Bulgaria, ''Transylvania''. An what about those people? They're all getting sick. Weak and pale, and all have band aids on their necks. There's only one explanation.
-->'''Dayday:''' What?
-->'''Emma:''' Our neighbours are vampires.
-->'''Dayday:''' Oh, I'm dreaming.
-->'''Emma:''' No, you're not. They're vampires, alright. They gotta be.
-->'''Dayday:''' There's no such thing as vampires. ''{speaks into megaphone}'' Now go away.
-->'''Emma:''' Remember those big crates that guy delivered? I think I know what was in 'em.
-->'''Dayday:''' Me, too. Refrigerators
-->'''Emma:''' No. I'll bet it was their coffins. And I'm gonna check. Tonight. I'm gonna weight 'til they leave, then get into their basement. I find refrigerators, then I'm a jerk and you can bust on me all you want. But if I'm right and I find coffins, then our neighbours are vampires, and we are in big time trouble.

...

By the Midnight Society campfire, Eric, from a yellow flash, pours reddish fruit juice into a plastic cup.

-->'''Eric:''' She's going into a vampire's basement? At night? Adios, Emma.
-->'''David:''' ''{peers into his own cup}'' But they might not be vampires.
-->'''Kristen:''' ''{passes flask}'' Then why are all those people getting sick?
-->'''Kiki:''' Yeah, like blood was being sucked from their necks! I love it!
-->'''David:''' What happened?
-->'''Betty Anne:''' Emma didn't know for sure if they were vampires. So she had to investigate. And that night, she did.

...

Just as Emma finishes hanging garlic cloves on her bedroom curtains, Dayday arrives.

-->'''Dayday:''' What are you doing?
-->'''Emma:''' Vampires don't like garlic.
-->'''Dayday:''' Neither do I. Maybe I'm a vampire!
-->'''Emma:''' We're safe as long as you remember one thing - a vampire can't come into someone's home unless it's been invited, so never, ever invite the Brauns inside, got it?
-->'''Dayday:''' ...Yeah. I'll try and remember that... You're not really going into their basement, are you? What if you get caught?
-->'''Emma:''' ''{dons jacket}'' I won't! Don't worry, look!''{indicates window, through which the Brauns now leave their house}'' They leave the same time every night. Probably in search of their next victims.

...

Emma steals across the Brauns' moonlight lawn, slips through a low window, and climbs down into the basement. Through the darkness, her flashlight illuminates the face of an ancient wooden statue. She gasps and falls back...


Back at the Tolls', the doorbell rings. Dayday opens to find on the doorstep all three Brauns.

-->'''Mr Braun:''' Hello, we're your new neighbours.
-->'''Mrs Braun:''' Might we come in?
-->'''Dayday:''' ...Sure, come on in... no, wait! My dad's not home, and... maybe you should come back another time. Bye!

His mother sees him shut the door, and re-opens it to cordially admit the visitors. Over ASpotOfTea, Mrs Toll discusses late shifts with Mr and Mrs Braun, who, alongside paramedics, study healthcare methods for potential import to their homeland.

Meanwhile, in the Braun’s basement, Emma finds a large, sheet-covered rectangular object, which turns out to be...a refrigerator. Curiously, its lid is padlocked.

Back at the Tolls', the Brauns prepare to leave.

-->'''Mrs Toll:''' I'm so glad we've finally met! Please, drop by any time.

A very nervous Dayday attempts, unsuccessfully, to stall them with a share for Lex in a bout of videogaming.

-->'''Mr Braun:''' Don't worry, Dayday - now that we've been invited, I promise you we'll be back.

...

In the Braun’s basement, Emma, having cracked the lock,looks round, sees Dayday, and the two scream in fright.

-->'''Emma:''' What are you doing here?
-->'''Dayday:''' Brauns are coming home! Come on!

Before they leave, Emma opens the fridge. Stacked inside are numerous glass bottles of some dark red liquid. At a sound from upstairs, they close the lid, replace the sheet, and flee.

Next day, Emma procures a set of wooden spikes, and two wooden crosses.

-->'''Emma:''' We havre to find the coffins, and drive the wooden spikes through their hearts.
-->'''Dayday:''' ''{overwhelmed}'' Ah-ah! This is too gross for me.
-->'''Emma:''' ''{hands him a cross}'' Dayday, if we don't stop them today, they may come for us tonight.

...

That afternoon, on the other side of the Braun's house, they sneak basement, where they find a padlocked metal door. Emma starts to work on the padlock.


As the upstairs door opens, they take cover. Light floods the basement, and black-clad legs descend to patrol in painfully slow inspection. A distant car horn suddenly draws them away.

Emma and Dayday climb out of the basement window and onto the daylighted driveway. From the garage emerges Mrs Braun, followed by Mr Braun, who carries a box marked with a first aid cross.

-->'''Daday:''' ''{whispering}'' I thought vampires couldn't go in the sun!
-->'''Emma:''' ''{whispering}'' They can't!
-->'''Mrs Braun:''' Hello, children!

Emma cautiously raises her cross.

-->'''Mrs Braun:''' ''{laughs disarmingly}'' You must be Dayday's sister Emma.

With a contrite frown, Emma lowers her cross.

-->'''Dayday:''' I thought you worked at night.
-->'''Mr Braun:''' We did. But the schedule changed, thank goodness!
-->'''Dayday:''' What's that?
-->'''Mr Braun:''' It's blood from the hospital. They have a surplus, and we've been storing the extra units here for them.
-->'''Mrs Braun:''' Dayday, Lex is still not feeling very well. We thought having a friend might help. Would it be alright if he came over to your house to play video games with you tonight?
-->'''Daday:''' ...Yeah, sure.
-->'''Mrs Braun:''' Wonderful! Maybe we'll see you later, too! Nice to meet you, Emma.
-->'''Mr Braub:''' Ciao!


Dayday has a good, long laugh at Emma’s suspicions.

-->'''Emma:''' Alright! I made a mistake!
-->'''Dayday:''' I'm never gonna let you forget this!

...

Down in their basement, Mr and Mrs Braun load the refrigerator with new bottles. Through the padlocked metal door, they enter a vault, in which stands a coffin.


-->'''Mrs Braun:''' Wake up, Master! The sun is gone.

The coffin creaks open to reveal Lex.

-->'''Mr Braun:''' You'll feel better soon, Master. You've been invited in by new victims!
-->'''Mrs Braun:''' ''{sniffs bottled blood}'' You were wise in coming to this country! There is so much more fresh blood here!
-->'''Mr Braun:''' And no one believes that a little boy can be a vampire!

They laugh.

In an exultant grin, Lex bares his fangs.

...

-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{to stunned silence}'' With ghosts and ghouls, there are no rules... but a vampire's bite... only comes at night. The end.

-->'''Dayday:''' ...Sure, come on in... no, wait! My dad's not home, and... mayebe you should come back another time. Bye!

They steal back into the Brauns’ basement, where they find a padlocked metal door. As the upstairs door opens, they take cover. Light floods the basement, and black-clad legs descend to patrol in painfully slow inspection. A distant car horn suddenly draws them away.

Emma and Dayday run out onto the daylighted driveway. From the garage emerges Mrs Braun, followed by Mr Braun, who carries a box marked with a first aid cross. Mrs Braun brightly greets the two. Emma raises her cross, and Mrs Braun laughs disarmingly. Mr Braun explains their schedule to have changed. Dayday asks about the box. It’s blood, says Mr Braun, which he and his wife are analysing for the hospital. Mrs Braun asks if they might take up Dayday’s offer of some shared videogaming with Lex, who isn’t feeling too well. Lex cautiously agrees. The Brauns happily bid the kids farewell, and take their wares inside. Dayday has a good, long laugh at Emma’s suspicions.

Down in their basement, Mr and Mrs Braun load the refrigerator with new bottles. Through the padlocked metal door, they enter a vault, in which stands a coffin. Mrs Braun assures their “master” that the sun is gone. The coffin creaks open to reveal Lex. Mr Braun happily reports invitation by new victims. With abundant fresh blood and disbelief in child vampires, these shores are proving to be prosperous hunting grounds. In an exultant grin, Lex bares his fangs.

Rather taken aback by this conclusion, the Midnight Society douse the fire with their reddish fruit juice, and Gary closes the meeting.

Now assured of the vampirism of the new neighbours, Emma procures a set of wooden spikes, and two wooden crosses. Overwhelmed by the prospect of having to stab people through the heart, Dayday is persuaded by Emma that it’s the only way to escape the threat. They steal back into the Brauns’ basement, where they find a padlocked metal door. As the upstairs door opens, they take cover. Light floods the basement, and black-clad legs descend to patrol in painfully slow inspection. A distant car horn suddenly draws them away.

Back at the Tolls’, the doorbell rings. Dayday opens to find on the doorstep all three Brauns, who politely request entry. Dayday politely complies, but quickly thinks better of it, and adds now not to be a good time, as his dad’s not home. His mother sees him shut the door, and re-opens it to cordially admit the visitors. Over ASpotOfTea, Mrs Toll discusses late shifts with Mr and Mrs Braun, who, alongside paramedics, study healthcare methods for potential import to their homeland.

Meanwhile, in the Braun’s basement, Emma finds a large, sheet-covered rectangular object, which turns out to be...a refrigerator. Curiously, its lid is padlocked. Back at the Toll’s, the Brauns prepare to leave. A very nervous Dayday attempts, unsuccessfully, to stall them with a share for Lex in a bout of videogaming. In the Braun’s basement, Emma, having cracked the lock,looks round, sees Dayday, and the two scream in fright. Emma opens the fridge. Stacked inside are numerous glass bottles of some dark red liquid. At a sound from upstairs, they close the lid, replace the sheet, and flee.

Having bedecked her bedroom window with garlic cloves, Emma urges Dayday to remember that a vampire may only enter a residence by invitation. Once the Brauns have left at their usual time, Emma sneaks in through their basement window. Back at the Tolls’, the doorbell rings. Dayday opens to find on the doorstep all three Brauns, who politely request entry. Dayday politely complies, but quickly thinks better of it, and adds now not to be a good time, as his dad’s not home. His mother sees him shut the door, and re-opens it to cordially admit the visitors. Over ASpotOfTea, Mrs Toll discusses late shifts with Mr and Mrs Braun, who, alongside paramedics, study healthcare methods for potential import to their homeland.

-->'''Betty Anne:'' ''{narrating}'' People were losing their energy. It was like an epidemic going around, but no one knew what it was. And it started the same night the Brauns moved in. Emma had a great imagination, but this was a little weird, even for her. Then one night, all the pieces of the puzzle came together...

Shaken, she rubs her neck, runs to Dayday’s bedroom, and rouses him with a nearby megaphone. The recent tiredness epidemic, and the nocturnality of the Brauns, she argues, can be traced to their having come from a region of Eastern Europe near Transylvania: they’re vampires. Tonight, she plans to sneak into their house, where she expects to find not refrigerators, but coffins.

Emma takes out the garbage one night, and is startled from behind by a soft young voice. Young Lex asks if he might come in and play. Uneasy, Emma apologetically notes the late hour. Lex, Betty Anne narrates, never started school, and was unknown to anyone.

The strange disease caught by Mr Mitchell, characterised by inordinate tiredness, spreads quickly. One night, as Emma lies in bed, the bedroom window flies open. Fog billows into the room. Emma opens her eyes. The figure of Mr Braun rises effortlessly above the fog to survey the room. Emma sees him glide, in a stoop, towards her bed. As he bears down on her, his eyes widen, and his lips part to reveal a set of fangs. Emma screams and sits up, awake, in daylight: it was just a dream. Shaken, she rubs her neck, runs to Dayday’s bedroom, and rouses him with a nearby megaphone. The recent tiredness epidemic, and the nocturnality of the Brauns, she argues, can be traced to their having come from a region of Eastern Europe near Transylvania: they’re vampires. Tonight, she plans to sneak into their house, where she expects to find not refrigerators, but coffins.

-->'''Delivery Workman:''' Mm-hm. That's what the order says - nobody home, leave 'em in the driveway. See ya. ''wals off}''

Their mother stumbles out of the house, backs into postman Mr Mitchell, apologises, and hurries off. Emma and Dayday help pick up the dropped letters. On Mr Mitchell’s neck is a large sticking plaster. Since the night the Brauns called, he’s been feeling a touch under the weather.

From a distance, Emma keeps an eye on the new neighbours, who keep to themselves, and, including their son Lex, are never seen in daylight. Emma takes out the garbage one night, and is startled from behind by a soft young voice. Young Lex asks if he might come in and play. Uneasy, Emma apologetically notes the late hour. Lex, Betty Anne narrates, never started school, and was unknown to anyone.

When the doorbell is unanswered, the delivery man leaves the refrigerator in the driveway. On the way home, as Dayday dismisses Emma’s fanciful speculations, their mother stumbles out of the house, backs into postman Mr Mitchell, apologises, and hurries off. Emma and Dayday help pick up the dropped letters. On Mr Mitchell’s neck is a large sticking plaster. Since the night the Brauns called, he’s been feeling a touch under the weather.

Next day, on their way to greet the new neighbours, the two curiously watch a huge crate wheeled by a delivery man who notes the new arrivals to be named Mr and Mrs Braun, and to hail from the Ukraine. When the doorbell is unanswered, the delivery man leaves the refrigerator in the driveway. On the way home, as Dayday dismisses Emma’s fanciful speculations, their mother stumbles out of the house, backs into postman Mr Mitchell, apologises, and hurries off. Emma and Dayday help pick up the dropped letters. On Mr Mitchell’s neck is a large sticking plaster. Since the night the Brauns called, he’s been feeling a touch under the weather.

-->'''Betty Anne:'' ''{just arriving}'' I am.

Over a bowl of popcorn, Dayday Toll watches ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead''. From behind the sofa, his older sister Emma sneaks up and shouts “boo!” She cautions against watching too much television, and tips the rest of the popcorn over Dayday’s head. Through the window, across the darkened road, they see the arrival of new neighbours: a man, woman, and young boy, all dressed entirely in black. As Emma wonders what exotic occupation they might have, the three turn their heads in unison to regard the young observers.

Why, Kristen wonders, do things seem scarier at night? Up tonight is Betty Anne, who, according to Eric, always tells the same kind of story. Betty Anne assuredly maintains that things are scarier at night - especially in her story. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society - except for Eric - she calls it “The Tale of the Nightly Neighbours.”

Why, Kristen wonders, do things seem scarier at night? Up tonight is Betty Anne, who, moans Eric, always tells the same kind of story. Betty Anne assuredly maintains that things are scarier at night - especially in her story. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society - except for Eric - she calls it “The Tale of the Nightly Neighbours.”

* ActuallyNotAVampire: This may be the case with [[spoiler: the two adults, as they, unlike Lex, traverse daylight]].

* TheBadGuyWins: Contrary to Eric’s expectations, Emma’s vampire theory is proven right, unbeknownst to anyone, albeit in an unexpected way: [[spoiler: while Mr and Mrs Braun seem not to be vampires, Lex definitely is]].

* TheRenfield: [[spoiler: Mr and Mrs Braun subserviently attend to Lex, but seem not to share his vampirism.]]

* SlasherSmile: [[spoiler: Lex]], at the end.

* OurVampiresAreDifferent:

Over a bowl of popcorn, Dayday Toll watches ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead''. From behind the sofa, his older sister Emma sneaks up and shouts “boo!” She cautions against watching too much television, and tips the rest of the popcorn over Dayday’s head. Through the window, across the darkened road, they see the arrival of new neighbours: a man, woman, and young boy, all dressed entirely in black. As Emma wonders what exotic occupation they might have, the three turn their heads in unison to regard the young observers. Next day, on their way to greet the new neighbours, the two curiously watch a huge crate wheeled by a delivery man who notes the new arrivals to be named Mr and Mrs Braun, and to hail from the Ukraine. When the doorbell is unanswered, the delivery man leaves the refrigerator in the driveway. On the way home, as Dayday dismisses Emma’s fanciful speculations, their mother stumbles out of the house, backs into postman Mr Mitchell, apologises, and hurries off. Emma and Dayday help pick up the dropped letters. On Mr Mitchell’s neck is a large sticking plaster. Since the night the Brauns called, he’s been feeling a touch under the weather.

From a distance, Emma keeps an eye on the new neighbours, who keep to themselves, and, including their son Lex, are never seen in daylight. Emma takes out the garbage one night, and is startled from behind by a soft young voice. Young Lex asks if he might come in and play. Uneasy, Emma apologetically notes the late hour. Lex, Betty Anne narrates, never started school, and was unknown to anyone. The strange disease caught by Mr Mitchell, characterised by inordinate tiredness, spreads quickly. One night, as Emma lies in bed, the bedroom window flies open. Fog billows into the room. Emma opens her eyes. The figure of Mr Braun rises effortlessly above the fog to survey the room. Emma sees him glide, in a stoop, towards her bed. As he bears down on her, his eyes widen, and his lips part to reveal a set of fangs. Emma screams and sits up, awake, in daylight: it was just a dream. Shaken, she rubs her neck, runs to Dayday’s bedroom, and rouses him with a nearby megaphone. The recent tiredness epidemic, and the nocturnality of the Brauns, she argues, can be traced to their having come from a region of Eastern Europe near Transylvania: they’re vampires. Tonight, she plans to sneak into their house, where she expects to find not refrigerators, but coffins.

Having bedecked her bedroom window with garlic cloves, Emma urges Dayday to remember that a vampire may only enter a residence by invitation. Once the Brauns have left at their usual time, Emma sneaks in through their basement window. Back at the Tolls’, the doorbell rings. Dayday opens to find on the doorstep all three Brauns, who politely request entry. Dayday politely complies, but quickly thinks better of it, and adds now not to be a good time, as his dad’s not home. His mother sees him shut the door, and re-opens it to cordially admit the visitors. Over ASpotOfTea, Mrs Toll discusses late shifts with Mr and Mrs Braun, who, alongside paramedics, study healthcare methods for potential import to their homeland. Meanwhile, in the Braun’s basement, Emma finds a large, sheet-covered rectangular object, which turns out to be...a refrigerator. Curiously, its lid is padlocked. Back at the Toll’s, the Brauns prepare to leave. A very nervous Dayday attempts, unsuccessfully, to stall them with a share for Lex in a bout of videogaming. In the Braun’s basement, Emma, having cracked the lock,looks round, sees Dayday, and the two scream in fright. Emma opens the fridge. Stacked inside are numerous glass bottles of some dark red liquid. At a sound from upstairs, they close the lid, replace the sheet, and flee.

Now assured of the vampirism of the new neighbours, Emma procures a set of wooden spikes, and two wooden crosses. Overwhelmed by the prospect of having to stab people through the heart, Dayday is persuaded by Emma that it’s the only way to escape the threat. They steal back into the Brauns’ basement, where they find a padlocked metal door. As the upstairs door opens, they take cover. Light floods the basement, and black-clad legs descend to patrol in painfully slow inspection. A distant car horn suddenly draws them away. Emma and Dayday run out onto the daylighted driveway. From the garage emerges Mrs Braun, followed by Mr Braun, who carries a box marked with a first aid cross. Mrs Braun brightly greets the two. Emma raises her cross, and Mrs Braun laughs disarmingly. Mr Braun explains their schedule to have changed. Dayday asks about the box. It’s blood, says Mr Braun, which he and his wife are analysing for the hospital. Mrs Braun asks if they might take up Dayday’s offer of some shared videogaming with Lex, who isn’t feeling too well. Lex cautiously agrees. The Brauns happily bid the kids farewell, and take their wares inside. Dayday has a good, long laugh at Emma’s suspicions.