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Removed per cleanup
.
.Deleted line(s) 52 (click to see context) :
* AnAesop: Inordinate focus on appearance may constrain all else.
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None
Added DiffLines:
* WickedWitch: Valenti is even explicitly called one at the end.
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None
Added DiffLines:
* SpottingTheThread: Cindy spots Laurel's watch that Vikki borrowed, even though Ms. Valenti previously stated that she never arrived at her home.
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fixing page capitalization
Changed line(s) 66 (click to see context) from:
* VampiricDraining: Once they've been primed to look their most beautiful, Miss Valenti feeds her employees a potion which turns them into dogs. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
to:
* VampiricDraining: Once they've been primed to look their most beautiful, Miss Valenti feeds her employees a potion which turns them into dogs. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.her.
----
----
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Baleful Polymorph was renamed per TRS
Deleted line(s) 54 (click to see context) :
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti turns her employees into dogs.
Added DiffLines:
* ForcedTransformation: Miss Valenti turns her employees into dogs.
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None
Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Downplayed. Though she comes across as vain, Miss Valenti also gives the impression of possessing an [[BenevolentBoss affable personality]] and kindly generosity. It doesn't hurt that these personality traits are only matched by her beauty. However, as the story progresses, it's clear that it's [[FauxAffablyEvil all a front]] to make her victims lower their guard. In reality, she's quite literally a witch whose [[VainSorceress vanity]] is complemented by her cruel willingness to turn her employees into dogs and kill them in order to stay young and beautiful forever. By the end of the story, it's lampshaded by Cindy how appearances aren't a good basis to judge if someone is "a beauty or a beast".
to:
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Downplayed. Though she comes across as vain, Miss Valenti also gives the impression of possessing an [[BenevolentBoss affable personality]] and kindly generosity. It doesn't hurt that these personality traits are only matched by her beauty. However, as the story progresses, it's clear that it's [[FauxAffablyEvil all a front]] to make her victims lower their guard. In reality, she's quite literally a witch whose [[VainSorceress vanity]] is complemented by her cruel willingness to turn her employees into dogs and kill ritualistically slaughter them in order to stay young and beautiful forever. By the end of the story, it's lampshaded by Cindy how appearances aren't a good basis to judge if someone is "a beauty or a beast".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 53 (click to see context) from:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti ritualistically slaughters dogs - who are actually transformed employees.
to:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti ritualistically slaughters dogs - who are actually transformed employees.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
* CompellingVoice: On lending them one of her mirrors, Miss Valenti softly entrances employees with promised fulfilment of the ideals it invokes.
to:
* CompellingVoice: On lending them one of her mirrors, Miss Valenti softly entrances employees with promised fulfilment of the ideals it invokes.offers.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Downplayed. Though she comes across as vain, Miss Valenti also gives the impression of possessing an [[GoodBoss affable personality]] and kindly generosity. It doesn't hurt that these personality traits are only matched by her beauty. However, as the story progresses, it's clear that it's [[FauxAffablyEvil all a front]] to make her victims lower their guard. In reality, she's quite literally a witch whose [[VainSorceress vanity]] is complemented by her cruel willingness to turn her employees into dogs and kill them in order to stay young and beautiful forever. By the end of the story, it's lampshaded by Cindy how appearances aren't a good basis to judge if someone is "a beauty or a beast".
to:
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Downplayed. Though she comes across as vain, Miss Valenti also gives the impression of possessing an [[GoodBoss [[BenevolentBoss affable personality]] and kindly generosity. It doesn't hurt that these personality traits are only matched by her beauty. However, as the story progresses, it's clear that it's [[FauxAffablyEvil all a front]] to make her victims lower their guard. In reality, she's quite literally a witch whose [[VainSorceress vanity]] is complemented by her cruel willingness to turn her employees into dogs and kill them in order to stay young and beautiful forever. By the end of the story, it's lampshaded by Cindy how appearances aren't a good basis to judge if someone is "a beauty or a beast".
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Shortening my recaps.
Changed line(s) 3,35 (click to see context) from:
By the fire, Tucker heats a twig-skewered sausage. He and Stig are told by Gary to stop. Meanwhile, to Sam, Betty Anne confides unease about an imminent obligation. Stig wonders what’s in her paper bag. It’s makeup, assigned by her mother for a family portrait. Uncomfortable with cosmetics, she fears a human tendency to put too much importance on looks. But looks can be deceiving - and sometimes, mirrors lie. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls this story "The Tale of the Mystical Mirror."
Beneath a full moon, a young woman, Tannis, runs through a wood. A female voice, distant yet eerily clear, calls her name. She stops to rest. Suddenly, a black-cloaked, hooded figure touches her shoulder. She screams, runs, and reaches a clearing where, past bare trees strewn with some kind of pale strand, mounted torches surround a short wooden cage.
Suddenly, before Tannis, looms the black-cloaked figure. Tannis runs, trips to her knees, and drops a strangely engraved black disc. She screams…
One day, by the Elysian Beauty Store, Laurel assures prospective employee Cindy of Miss Valenti’s agreeability, and mentions Cindy’s predecessor to have suddenly ran away from home.
At the shop’s counter, Vicki paints her nails, and aloofly disclaims knowledge of Ms Valenti’s whereabouts.
Laurel proceeds to apply nearby cosmetics to Cindy’s face. Vicki questions the use of free stuff on a non-employee. Cindy accidentally knocks a bottle onto Vicki, who wearily chides the two of them.
The tension is diffused by the arrival of Ms Valenti, whom Laurel and Vicki brightly greet. Ms Valenti happily announces the arrival of the new fashions, and invites her staff to see them at her place around seven.
While Vicki eagerly agrees, Laurel has a date. She introduces Cindy, who submits her interest in the job vacancy. Miss Valenti explains her clientele to expect of staff a certain… style.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' We cater to the very finest, and present ourselves accordingly.\
Cindy apologetically makes to leave.
With an encouraging smile, Miss Valenti offers a sample of her own private cosmetics, and leads Cindy and Laurel to a domestically furnished back room, rowed with framed photographs of models.
Cindy asks how long Miss Valenti has run this place.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Seems forever.
-->'''Laurel:''' My grandma said she used to shop here.\
Miss Valenti gazes into a small, round, ornately framed mirror, and explains the store to have been in her family for years - and holds beauty to be a woman’s most important asset… “something that must be held onto - and nurtured.”
Cindy meekly supposes herself to be unsuitable for the job -
With a smile, Miss Valenti whirls around, and, having been waiting for someone just like Cindy, keenly offers it to her.
Beneath a full moon, a young woman, Tannis, runs through a wood. A female voice, distant yet eerily clear, calls her name. She stops to rest. Suddenly, a black-cloaked, hooded figure touches her shoulder. She screams, runs, and reaches a clearing where, past bare trees strewn with some kind of pale strand, mounted torches surround a short wooden cage.
Suddenly, before Tannis, looms the black-cloaked figure. Tannis runs, trips to her knees, and drops a strangely engraved black disc. She screams…
One day, by the Elysian Beauty Store, Laurel assures prospective employee Cindy of Miss Valenti’s agreeability, and mentions Cindy’s predecessor to have suddenly ran away from home.
At the shop’s counter, Vicki paints her nails, and aloofly disclaims knowledge of Ms Valenti’s whereabouts.
Laurel proceeds to apply nearby cosmetics to Cindy’s face. Vicki questions the use of free stuff on a non-employee. Cindy accidentally knocks a bottle onto Vicki, who wearily chides the two of them.
The tension is diffused by the arrival of Ms Valenti, whom Laurel and Vicki brightly greet. Ms Valenti happily announces the arrival of the new fashions, and invites her staff to see them at her place around seven.
While Vicki eagerly agrees, Laurel has a date. She introduces Cindy, who submits her interest in the job vacancy. Miss Valenti explains her clientele to expect of staff a certain… style.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' We cater to the very finest, and present ourselves accordingly.\
Cindy apologetically makes to leave.
With an encouraging smile, Miss Valenti offers a sample of her own private cosmetics, and leads Cindy and Laurel to a domestically furnished back room, rowed with framed photographs of models.
Cindy asks how long Miss Valenti has run this place.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Seems forever.
-->'''Laurel:''' My grandma said she used to shop here.\
Miss Valenti gazes into a small, round, ornately framed mirror, and explains the store to have been in her family for years - and holds beauty to be a woman’s most important asset… “something that must be held onto - and nurtured.”
Cindy meekly supposes herself to be unsuitable for the job -
With a smile, Miss Valenti whirls around, and, having been waiting for someone just like Cindy, keenly offers it to her.
to:
One day, by the Elysian Beauty Store, Laurel assures prospective employee Cindy of Miss Valenti’s agreeability, and mentions Cindy’s predecessor to have suddenly ran away from home.
At the shop’s counter, Vicki paints her nails, and aloofly disclaims knowledge of Ms Valenti’s whereabouts.
The tension is diffused by the arrival of Ms Valenti, whom Laurel and Vicki brightly greet.
While Vicki eagerly agrees, Laurel has a date. She introduces
Cindy asks how long
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Seems forever.
-->'''Laurel:''' My grandma said she used to shop here.\
Miss Valenti gazes into a small, round, ornately framed mirror, and explains the store to have been in her family for years - and holds beauty to be a woman’s most important asset… “something that must be held onto - and nurtured.”
Cindy meekly supposes herself to be unsuitable for the job -
With a smile, Miss Valenti whirls around, and, having been waiting for someone just like Cindy, keenly
Changed line(s) 38,45 (click to see context) from:
While a woman and uniformed schoolboy leave, Vicki and Laurel argue over custody of Cindy’s watch, which Laurel needs for a date with Ron. Just then, Miss Valenti arrives, and presents their new colleague.
While Vicki looks uneasy, Laurel heartily appraises Cindy’s new aspect, and with a final word of esteem, goes to attend customers.
Ms Valenti presents Cindy with a ceremonial black disc, emblazoned with a crescent moon - a token awarded to all employees. As Ms Valenti hands it over, her hand involuntarily shakes. With a look of unease, she peers at her hand. Ms Valenti assures Cindy of her well-being, directs Laurel to show Cindy around the store, and withdraws to the back room.
While Laurel finishes serving a customer, Cindy peaks through the back room curtain, and sees Miss Valenti hunched over the round mirror, upon whose surface gradually shines a convulsing yellow glow…
While Vicki looks uneasy, Laurel heartily appraises Cindy’s new aspect, and with a final word of esteem, goes to attend customers.
Ms Valenti presents Cindy with a ceremonial black disc, emblazoned with a crescent moon - a token awarded to all employees. As Ms Valenti hands it over, her hand involuntarily shakes. With a look of unease, she peers at her hand. Ms Valenti assures Cindy of her well-being, directs Laurel to show Cindy around the store, and withdraws to the back room.
While Laurel finishes serving a customer, Cindy peaks through the back room curtain, and sees Miss Valenti hunched over the round mirror, upon whose surface gradually shines a convulsing yellow glow…
to:
While Vicki looks uneasy, Laurel heartily appraises Cindy’s new aspect, and with a final word of esteem, goes to attend customers.
While Laurel finishes serving a customer, Cindy peaks through the back room curtain, and sees Miss Valenti hunched over the round mirror, upon whose surface gradually shines a convulsing yellow glow…
Changed line(s) 48,63 (click to see context) from:
As the night falls, Vicki, at Miss Valenti’s semi-stately house, peers in glee at an ornately fashioned hat. Ms Valenti invites her to try it on, gifts it to her with a smile, and offers her a handheld mirror. Entranced, Vicki examines her reflection.
With a knowing smile, Miss Valenti asserts the hat’s power to present any image Vicki desires, and offers her a steel goblet. Vicki drinks. Suddenly disorientated, she staggers across the room. She falls, and opens her eyes - which glow white. She screams…
Through a wood, Laurel and Cindy walk the path to Miss Valenti’s. As they wait by the door, something, from between the trees, watches them…
Suddenly, a smiling Miss Valenti approaches them from behind. Inside, she claims Vicki never to have arrived.
While Cindy looks around the room, Laurel inspects the newly shipped hat. Miss Valenti invites her to try something on.
By a wooden statuette, Cindy finds Laurel’s watch, as borrowed by Vicki. Miss Valenti senses Laurel’s unease. Laurel asks to use the bathroom.
On the way, she passes a curtain-framed, rather sinister-looking portrait of Miss Valenti. Above the stairs hangs a framed black and white photograph of Miss Valenti, wearing a pageant sash emblazoned with the title "MISS ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1952". Above the landing hangs a similar photo, whose sash is dated 1923.
Meanwhile, as Laurel stairs into the round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti offers an exclusive promotion.
With a knowing smile, Miss Valenti asserts the hat’s power to present any image Vicki desires, and offers her a steel goblet. Vicki drinks. Suddenly disorientated, she staggers across the room. She falls, and opens her eyes - which glow white. She screams…
Through a wood, Laurel and Cindy walk the path to Miss Valenti’s. As they wait by the door, something, from between the trees, watches them…
Suddenly, a smiling Miss Valenti approaches them from behind. Inside, she claims Vicki never to have arrived.
While Cindy looks around the room, Laurel inspects the newly shipped hat. Miss Valenti invites her to try something on.
By a wooden statuette, Cindy finds Laurel’s watch, as borrowed by Vicki. Miss Valenti senses Laurel’s unease. Laurel asks to use the bathroom.
On the way, she passes a curtain-framed, rather sinister-looking portrait of Miss Valenti. Above the stairs hangs a framed black and white photograph of Miss Valenti, wearing a pageant sash emblazoned with the title "MISS ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1952". Above the landing hangs a similar photo, whose sash is dated 1923.
Meanwhile, as Laurel stairs into the round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti offers an exclusive promotion.
to:
Through a wood, Laurel and Cindy walk the path to Miss Valenti’s.
Suddenly, a smiling
While Cindy looks around the room,
Inside, Laurel inspects the newly shipped hat.
By a wooden statuette,
On the way, she passes a curtain-framed, rather sinister-looking portrait of Miss Valenti.
Changed line(s) 68,77 (click to see context) from:
On the stairs, Cindy holds the mirror to the framed portrait - whose oil-woven face, in the mirror, appears elderly.
Cindy sneaks to the doorway of the living room, and holds the mirror to where Miss Valenti sits. Sure enough, her reflected head appears to be that of an elderly woman. As Cindy stares, the reflected head turns to face her, and in the voice of Miss Valenti, and asks if something is wrong. Cindy closes the vanity case, and reports all to be well.
By the sofa, she urges Laurel to leave with her. Laurel, entranced by the round-framed mirror, declines. Miss Valenti reassuringly shows Cindy out. Suspicious, Cindy hides behind a tree, and creeps towards a window.
To the entranced Laurel, Miss Valenti offers the silver goblet. She drinks from it. Cindy cries out in despair, bangs on the window, and yells at Laurel to flee. Roused from her trance, Laurel runs to the door. She and Cindy run through the woods.
Suddenly, Laurel stops and doubles up and closes her eyes - she thinks the goblet was poisoned. With a pained grimace, her eyes snap open - and glow brilliant white. Her strangled scream lowers into a canine wail. When Cindy next looks, her friend has transformed into a husky.
Cindy sneaks to the doorway of the living room, and holds the mirror to where Miss Valenti sits. Sure enough, her reflected head appears to be that of an elderly woman. As Cindy stares, the reflected head turns to face her, and in the voice of Miss Valenti, and asks if something is wrong. Cindy closes the vanity case, and reports all to be well.
By the sofa, she urges Laurel to leave with her. Laurel, entranced by the round-framed mirror, declines. Miss Valenti reassuringly shows Cindy out. Suspicious, Cindy hides behind a tree, and creeps towards a window.
To the entranced Laurel, Miss Valenti offers the silver goblet. She drinks from it. Cindy cries out in despair, bangs on the window, and yells at Laurel to flee. Roused from her trance, Laurel runs to the door. She and Cindy run through the woods.
Suddenly, Laurel stops and doubles up and closes her eyes - she thinks the goblet was poisoned. With a pained grimace, her eyes snap open - and glow brilliant white. Her strangled scream lowers into a canine wail. When Cindy next looks, her friend has transformed into a husky.
to:
Cindy
By the sofa, she
Suddenly, Laurel
Changed line(s) 82,91 (click to see context) from:
From behind a tree, Cindy watches.
As Miss Valenti to the caged Laurel, Cindy seizes the mirror, and demands the dogs’ release.
A suddenly serene Miss Valenti invites her to embrace the offers of the mirror.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?
With a dazed smile, Cindy slowly becomes entranced. She then snaps out of it, demands her friend back, and throws the mirror aside, where, with a spark, it shatters.
As Miss Valenti to the caged Laurel, Cindy seizes the mirror, and demands the dogs’ release.
A suddenly serene Miss Valenti invites her to embrace the offers of the mirror.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?
With a dazed smile, Cindy slowly becomes entranced. She then snaps out of it, demands her friend back, and throws the mirror aside, where, with a spark, it shatters.
to:
As Miss Valenti to the caged Laurel,
A suddenly serene Miss Valenti invites her to embrace the offers of the mirror.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?
With a dazed smile, Cindy slowly becomes entranced.
Changed line(s) 96,97 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Cindy:''' Guess you can’t tell by looks if you’re a beauty - or a beast.
to:
Deleted line(s) 100,104 (click to see context) :
-->'''Tucker:''' So what are you? A beauty or a beast?
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\
At weary permission from Gary, Tucker and Stig bring forth a hotdog-festooned branch.
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\
At weary permission from Gary, Tucker and Stig bring forth a hotdog-festooned branch.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Downplayed. Though she comes across as vain, Miss Valenti also gives the impression of possessing an [[GoodBoss affable personality]] and kindly generosity. It doesn't hurt that these personality traits are only matched by her beauty. However, as the story progresses, it's clear that it's [[FauxAffablyEvil all a front]] to make her victims lower their guard. In reality, she's quite literally a witch whose [[VainSorceress vanity]] is complemented by her cruel willingness to turn her employees into dogs and kill them in order to stay young and beautiful forever. By the end of the story, it's lampshaded by Cindy how appearances aren't a good basis to judge if someone is "a beauty or a beast".
Changed line(s) 119 (click to see context) from:
* VampiricDraining: Miss Valenti feeds clients a potion which turns employees into dogs. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
to:
* VampiricDraining: Once they've been primed to look their most beautiful, Miss Valenti feeds clients her employees a potion which turns employees them into dogs. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Recap/ pages are Spoilers Off, and trope entries go in alphabetical order by trope name.
Deleted line(s) 106 (click to see context) :
Changed line(s) 108,109 (click to see context) from:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] dogs - who are actually [[spoiler: transformed employees]].
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti [[spoiler: turns her employees into dogs]].
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti [[spoiler: turns her employees into dogs]].
to:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] slaughters dogs - who are actually [[spoiler: transformed employees]].
employees.
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti[[spoiler: turns her employees into dogs]]. dogs.
* TheBeautifulElite: Miss Valenti requires her staff to maintain a certain "...style."
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti
* TheBeautifulElite: Miss Valenti requires her staff to maintain a certain "...style."
Deleted line(s) 111 (click to see context) :
* TheBeautifulElite: Miss Valenti requires her staff to maintain a certain "...style."
Changed line(s) 113 (click to see context) from:
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: While bloodless,[[spoiler: Miss Valenti's]] death is quite gruesome.
to:
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: While bloodless,[[spoiler: bloodless, Miss Valenti's]] Valenti's death is quite gruesome.
Changed line(s) 118 (click to see context) from:
* StrippedToTheBone: When a mirror is smashed, [[spoiler: Miss Valenti]]'s flesh evaporates.
to:
* StrippedToTheBone: When a mirror is smashed, [[spoiler: Miss Valenti]]'s Valenti's flesh evaporates.
Changed line(s) 120 (click to see context) from:
* VampiricDraining: Miss Valenti feeds clients a potion which [[spoiler: turns employees into dogs]]. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
to:
* VampiricDraining: Miss Valenti feeds clients a potion which [[spoiler: turns employees into dogs]].dogs. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 113 (click to see context) from:
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: [[spoiler: Miss Valenti's]] death is quite gruesome.
to:
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: [[spoiler: While bloodless,[[spoiler: Miss Valenti's]] death is quite gruesome.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 116 (click to see context) from:
* ReallySevenHundredYearsAgo: Various framed photos show Miss Valenti to be at the same apparent age throughout the twentieth century.
to:
* ReallySevenHundredYearsAgo: ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Various framed photos show Miss Valenti to be at the same apparent age throughout the twentieth century.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ReallySevenHundredYearsAgo: Various framed photos show Miss Valenti to be at the same apparent age throughout the twentieth century.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 108 (click to see context) from:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] dogs - who are actually [[transformed employees]].
to:
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] dogs - who are actually [[transformed [[spoiler: transformed employees]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[nvokedTrope Invoked by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
to:
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[nvokedTrope Invoked by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 110 (click to see context) from:
* BeautyIsBest: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's aspiration to the social supremacy offered by lauded appearance.
to:
* BeautyIsBest: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] Invoked by Miss Valenti's aspiration to the social supremacy offered by lauded appearance.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 96,97 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Cindy:''' Guess you can’t tell by looks if you’re a beauty - or a beast.\
to:
-->'''Cindy:''' Guess you can’t tell by looks if you’re a beauty - or a beast.\
beast.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 88,89 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\\
to:
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\\
want?
Changed line(s) 101,102 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\\
to:
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\\
stuff!\
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 88,89 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\
to:
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\
want?\\
Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[InvokedTroped Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
to:
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[InvokedTroped Invoked]] [[nvokedTrope Invoked by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_2020_08_26_at_211737.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"Sometimes, mirrors lie."]]
By the fire, Tucker heats a twig-skewered sausage. He and Stig are told by Gary to stop. Meanwhile, to Sam, Betty Anne confides unease about an imminent obligation. Stig wonders what’s in her paper bag. It’s makeup, assigned by her mother for a family portrait. Uncomfortable with cosmetics, she fears a human tendency to put too much importance on looks. But looks can be deceiving - and sometimes, mirrors lie. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls this story "The Tale of the Mystical Mirror."
Beneath a full moon, a young woman, Tannis, runs through a wood. A female voice, distant yet eerily clear, calls her name. She stops to rest. Suddenly, a black-cloaked, hooded figure touches her shoulder. She screams, runs, and reaches a clearing where, past bare trees strewn with some kind of pale strand, mounted torches surround a short wooden cage.
Suddenly, before Tannis, looms the black-cloaked figure. Tannis runs, trips to her knees, and drops a strangely engraved black disc. She screams…
One day, by the Elysian Beauty Store, Laurel assures prospective employee Cindy of Miss Valenti’s agreeability, and mentions Cindy’s predecessor to have suddenly ran away from home.
At the shop’s counter, Vicki paints her nails, and aloofly disclaims knowledge of Ms Valenti’s whereabouts.
Laurel proceeds to apply nearby cosmetics to Cindy’s face. Vicki questions the use of free stuff on a non-employee. Cindy accidentally knocks a bottle onto Vicki, who wearily chides the two of them.
The tension is diffused by the arrival of Ms Valenti, whom Laurel and Vicki brightly greet. Ms Valenti happily announces the arrival of the new fashions, and invites her staff to see them at her place around seven.
While Vicki eagerly agrees, Laurel has a date. She introduces Cindy, who submits her interest in the job vacancy. Miss Valenti explains her clientele to expect of staff a certain… style.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' We cater to the very finest, and present ourselves accordingly.\
Cindy apologetically makes to leave.
With an encouraging smile, Miss Valenti offers a sample of her own private cosmetics, and leads Cindy and Laurel to a domestically furnished back room, rowed with framed photographs of models.
Cindy asks how long Miss Valenti has run this place.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Seems forever.
-->'''Laurel:''' My grandma said she used to shop here.\
Miss Valenti gazes into a small, round, ornately framed mirror, and explains the store to have been in her family for years - and holds beauty to be a woman’s most important asset… “something that must be held onto - and nurtured.”
Cindy meekly supposes herself to be unsuitable for the job -
With a smile, Miss Valenti whirls around, and, having been waiting for someone just like Cindy, keenly offers it to her.
Miss Valenti applies, to Cindy, a selection of cosmetics, fashions and jewellery.
While a woman and uniformed schoolboy leave, Vicki and Laurel argue over custody of Cindy’s watch, which Laurel needs for a date with Ron. Just then, Miss Valenti arrives, and presents their new colleague.
While Vicki looks uneasy, Laurel heartily appraises Cindy’s new aspect, and with a final word of esteem, goes to attend customers.
Ms Valenti presents Cindy with a ceremonial black disc, emblazoned with a crescent moon - a token awarded to all employees. As Ms Valenti hands it over, her hand involuntarily shakes. With a look of unease, she peers at her hand. Ms Valenti assures Cindy of her well-being, directs Laurel to show Cindy around the store, and withdraws to the back room.
While Laurel finishes serving a customer, Cindy peaks through the back room curtain, and sees Miss Valenti hunched over the round mirror, upon whose surface gradually shines a convulsing yellow glow…
As Laurel and Cindy leave for the day, Laurel remembers having failed to get back her watch from Vicki - and, as a gift from Ron, had planned to wear it to their date. Since Vicki is to visit Miss Valenti’s house tonight, Cindy suggests they meet Vicki there.
As the night falls, Vicki, at Miss Valenti’s semi-stately house, peers in glee at an ornately fashioned hat. Ms Valenti invites her to try it on, gifts it to her with a smile, and offers her a handheld mirror. Entranced, Vicki examines her reflection.
With a knowing smile, Miss Valenti asserts the hat’s power to present any image Vicki desires, and offers her a steel goblet. Vicki drinks. Suddenly disorientated, she staggers across the room. She falls, and opens her eyes - which glow white. She screams…
Through a wood, Laurel and Cindy walk the path to Miss Valenti’s. As they wait by the door, something, from between the trees, watches them…
Suddenly, a smiling Miss Valenti approaches them from behind. Inside, she claims Vicki never to have arrived.
While Cindy looks around the room, Laurel inspects the newly shipped hat. Miss Valenti invites her to try something on.
By a wooden statuette, Cindy finds Laurel’s watch, as borrowed by Vicki. Miss Valenti senses Laurel’s unease. Laurel asks to use the bathroom.
On the way, she passes a curtain-framed, rather sinister-looking portrait of Miss Valenti. Above the stairs hangs a framed black and white photograph of Miss Valenti, wearing a pageant sash emblazoned with the title "MISS ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1952". Above the landing hangs a similar photo, whose sash is dated 1923.
Meanwhile, as Laurel stairs into the round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti offers an exclusive promotion.
In the bathroom, Cindy sees another framed photograph of Miss Valenti, this time in a broad-hooded black cloak. Cindy wonders how the vain Miss Valenti can neglect to have a mirror in her bathroom. From her bag, she takes the ceremonial black disc, which splits open, revealing its function as a vanity case. She lifts its mirror level with her face. It catches the reflection of the photograph behind her - whose reflected face now appears elderly.
Alarmed, Cindy turns to inspect the photo directly. Its face is now youthful.
On the stairs, Cindy holds the mirror to the framed portrait - whose oil-woven face, in the mirror, appears elderly.
Cindy sneaks to the doorway of the living room, and holds the mirror to where Miss Valenti sits. Sure enough, her reflected head appears to be that of an elderly woman. As Cindy stares, the reflected head turns to face her, and in the voice of Miss Valenti, and asks if something is wrong. Cindy closes the vanity case, and reports all to be well.
By the sofa, she urges Laurel to leave with her. Laurel, entranced by the round-framed mirror, declines. Miss Valenti reassuringly shows Cindy out. Suspicious, Cindy hides behind a tree, and creeps towards a window.
To the entranced Laurel, Miss Valenti offers the silver goblet. She drinks from it. Cindy cries out in despair, bangs on the window, and yells at Laurel to flee. Roused from her trance, Laurel runs to the door. She and Cindy run through the woods.
Suddenly, Laurel stops and doubles up and closes her eyes - she thinks the goblet was poisoned. With a pained grimace, her eyes snap open - and glow brilliant white. Her strangled scream lowers into a canine wail. When Cindy next looks, her friend has transformed into a husky.
In her hooded cloak, a leering Miss Valenti arrives. Cindy cries out in fear, and runs.
Miss Valenti approaches the torchlit clearing, where numerous wooden cages each hold an imprisoned dog. At a small table, before a round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti sharpens a vicious-looking knife, and recites a sinister incantation.
From behind a tree, Cindy watches.
As Miss Valenti to the caged Laurel, Cindy seizes the mirror, and demands the dogs’ release.
A suddenly serene Miss Valenti invites her to embrace the offers of the mirror.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\
With a dazed smile, Cindy slowly becomes entranced. She then snaps out of it, demands her friend back, and throws the mirror aside, where, with a spark, it shatters.
Miss Valenti cries out in horror. At the sight of what’s happening to the beautician’s face, Cindy also screams in horror. The youthful face instantaneously contracts and wrinkles. With a shimmer, teeth and hair recede, and fade from existence. With another shimmer, the flesh dematerialises, to reveal a rotted skull. Beneath, the bones crumble, and the cloak falls to the forest floor.
Laurel’s voice calls to Cindy - in their cages, the dogs have transformed back into Laurel, Vicki and Tannis. They stare at the smoking cloak.
-->'''Cindy:''' Guess you can’t tell by looks if you’re a beauty - or a beast.\
Both the house and the beauty store, closes Betty Anne, disappeared, leaving nothing of the spell but dust and rubble.
-->'''Tucker:''' So what are you? A beauty or a beast?
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\\
At weary permission from Gary, Tucker and Stig bring forth a hotdog-festooned branch.
!!This episode provides examples of:
* AnAesop: Inordinate focus on appearance may constrain all else.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] dogs - who are actually [[transformed employees]].
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti [[spoiler: turns her employees into dogs]].
* BeautyIsBest: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's aspiration to the social supremacy offered by lauded appearance.
* TheBeautifulElite: Miss Valenti requires her staff to maintain a certain "...style."
* CompellingVoice: On lending them one of her mirrors, Miss Valenti softly entrances employees with promised fulfilment of the ideals it invokes.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: [[spoiler: Miss Valenti's]] death is quite gruesome.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[InvokedTroped Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
* MagicMirror: The mirrors in Miss Valenti's house reveal her magically hidden agedness.
* ShoutOut: The premise somewhat recalls the legend surrounding UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory, said to have bathed in the blood of peasant girls to gain eternal youth.
* StrippedToTheBone: When a mirror is smashed, [[spoiler: Miss Valenti]]'s flesh evaporates.
* VainSorceress: Miss Valenti uses magic to pursue her cosmetic obsession.
* VampiricDraining: Miss Valenti feeds clients a potion which [[spoiler: turns employees into dogs]]. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
[[caption-width-right:350:"Sometimes, mirrors lie."]]
By the fire, Tucker heats a twig-skewered sausage. He and Stig are told by Gary to stop. Meanwhile, to Sam, Betty Anne confides unease about an imminent obligation. Stig wonders what’s in her paper bag. It’s makeup, assigned by her mother for a family portrait. Uncomfortable with cosmetics, she fears a human tendency to put too much importance on looks. But looks can be deceiving - and sometimes, mirrors lie. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls this story "The Tale of the Mystical Mirror."
Beneath a full moon, a young woman, Tannis, runs through a wood. A female voice, distant yet eerily clear, calls her name. She stops to rest. Suddenly, a black-cloaked, hooded figure touches her shoulder. She screams, runs, and reaches a clearing where, past bare trees strewn with some kind of pale strand, mounted torches surround a short wooden cage.
Suddenly, before Tannis, looms the black-cloaked figure. Tannis runs, trips to her knees, and drops a strangely engraved black disc. She screams…
One day, by the Elysian Beauty Store, Laurel assures prospective employee Cindy of Miss Valenti’s agreeability, and mentions Cindy’s predecessor to have suddenly ran away from home.
At the shop’s counter, Vicki paints her nails, and aloofly disclaims knowledge of Ms Valenti’s whereabouts.
Laurel proceeds to apply nearby cosmetics to Cindy’s face. Vicki questions the use of free stuff on a non-employee. Cindy accidentally knocks a bottle onto Vicki, who wearily chides the two of them.
The tension is diffused by the arrival of Ms Valenti, whom Laurel and Vicki brightly greet. Ms Valenti happily announces the arrival of the new fashions, and invites her staff to see them at her place around seven.
While Vicki eagerly agrees, Laurel has a date. She introduces Cindy, who submits her interest in the job vacancy. Miss Valenti explains her clientele to expect of staff a certain… style.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' We cater to the very finest, and present ourselves accordingly.\
Cindy apologetically makes to leave.
With an encouraging smile, Miss Valenti offers a sample of her own private cosmetics, and leads Cindy and Laurel to a domestically furnished back room, rowed with framed photographs of models.
Cindy asks how long Miss Valenti has run this place.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Seems forever.
-->'''Laurel:''' My grandma said she used to shop here.\
Miss Valenti gazes into a small, round, ornately framed mirror, and explains the store to have been in her family for years - and holds beauty to be a woman’s most important asset… “something that must be held onto - and nurtured.”
Cindy meekly supposes herself to be unsuitable for the job -
With a smile, Miss Valenti whirls around, and, having been waiting for someone just like Cindy, keenly offers it to her.
Miss Valenti applies, to Cindy, a selection of cosmetics, fashions and jewellery.
While a woman and uniformed schoolboy leave, Vicki and Laurel argue over custody of Cindy’s watch, which Laurel needs for a date with Ron. Just then, Miss Valenti arrives, and presents their new colleague.
While Vicki looks uneasy, Laurel heartily appraises Cindy’s new aspect, and with a final word of esteem, goes to attend customers.
Ms Valenti presents Cindy with a ceremonial black disc, emblazoned with a crescent moon - a token awarded to all employees. As Ms Valenti hands it over, her hand involuntarily shakes. With a look of unease, she peers at her hand. Ms Valenti assures Cindy of her well-being, directs Laurel to show Cindy around the store, and withdraws to the back room.
While Laurel finishes serving a customer, Cindy peaks through the back room curtain, and sees Miss Valenti hunched over the round mirror, upon whose surface gradually shines a convulsing yellow glow…
As Laurel and Cindy leave for the day, Laurel remembers having failed to get back her watch from Vicki - and, as a gift from Ron, had planned to wear it to their date. Since Vicki is to visit Miss Valenti’s house tonight, Cindy suggests they meet Vicki there.
As the night falls, Vicki, at Miss Valenti’s semi-stately house, peers in glee at an ornately fashioned hat. Ms Valenti invites her to try it on, gifts it to her with a smile, and offers her a handheld mirror. Entranced, Vicki examines her reflection.
With a knowing smile, Miss Valenti asserts the hat’s power to present any image Vicki desires, and offers her a steel goblet. Vicki drinks. Suddenly disorientated, she staggers across the room. She falls, and opens her eyes - which glow white. She screams…
Through a wood, Laurel and Cindy walk the path to Miss Valenti’s. As they wait by the door, something, from between the trees, watches them…
Suddenly, a smiling Miss Valenti approaches them from behind. Inside, she claims Vicki never to have arrived.
While Cindy looks around the room, Laurel inspects the newly shipped hat. Miss Valenti invites her to try something on.
By a wooden statuette, Cindy finds Laurel’s watch, as borrowed by Vicki. Miss Valenti senses Laurel’s unease. Laurel asks to use the bathroom.
On the way, she passes a curtain-framed, rather sinister-looking portrait of Miss Valenti. Above the stairs hangs a framed black and white photograph of Miss Valenti, wearing a pageant sash emblazoned with the title "MISS ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1952". Above the landing hangs a similar photo, whose sash is dated 1923.
Meanwhile, as Laurel stairs into the round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti offers an exclusive promotion.
In the bathroom, Cindy sees another framed photograph of Miss Valenti, this time in a broad-hooded black cloak. Cindy wonders how the vain Miss Valenti can neglect to have a mirror in her bathroom. From her bag, she takes the ceremonial black disc, which splits open, revealing its function as a vanity case. She lifts its mirror level with her face. It catches the reflection of the photograph behind her - whose reflected face now appears elderly.
Alarmed, Cindy turns to inspect the photo directly. Its face is now youthful.
On the stairs, Cindy holds the mirror to the framed portrait - whose oil-woven face, in the mirror, appears elderly.
Cindy sneaks to the doorway of the living room, and holds the mirror to where Miss Valenti sits. Sure enough, her reflected head appears to be that of an elderly woman. As Cindy stares, the reflected head turns to face her, and in the voice of Miss Valenti, and asks if something is wrong. Cindy closes the vanity case, and reports all to be well.
By the sofa, she urges Laurel to leave with her. Laurel, entranced by the round-framed mirror, declines. Miss Valenti reassuringly shows Cindy out. Suspicious, Cindy hides behind a tree, and creeps towards a window.
To the entranced Laurel, Miss Valenti offers the silver goblet. She drinks from it. Cindy cries out in despair, bangs on the window, and yells at Laurel to flee. Roused from her trance, Laurel runs to the door. She and Cindy run through the woods.
Suddenly, Laurel stops and doubles up and closes her eyes - she thinks the goblet was poisoned. With a pained grimace, her eyes snap open - and glow brilliant white. Her strangled scream lowers into a canine wail. When Cindy next looks, her friend has transformed into a husky.
In her hooded cloak, a leering Miss Valenti arrives. Cindy cries out in fear, and runs.
Miss Valenti approaches the torchlit clearing, where numerous wooden cages each hold an imprisoned dog. At a small table, before a round-framed mirror, Miss Valenti sharpens a vicious-looking knife, and recites a sinister incantation.
From behind a tree, Cindy watches.
As Miss Valenti to the caged Laurel, Cindy seizes the mirror, and demands the dogs’ release.
A suddenly serene Miss Valenti invites her to embrace the offers of the mirror.
-->'''Miss Valenti:''' Beauty can bring you anything you want. You can be popular... successful... young. You can be young for all eternity! Tell me, Cindy, what is most important to you? What do you really want?\
With a dazed smile, Cindy slowly becomes entranced. She then snaps out of it, demands her friend back, and throws the mirror aside, where, with a spark, it shatters.
Miss Valenti cries out in horror. At the sight of what’s happening to the beautician’s face, Cindy also screams in horror. The youthful face instantaneously contracts and wrinkles. With a shimmer, teeth and hair recede, and fade from existence. With another shimmer, the flesh dematerialises, to reveal a rotted skull. Beneath, the bones crumble, and the cloak falls to the forest floor.
Laurel’s voice calls to Cindy - in their cages, the dogs have transformed back into Laurel, Vicki and Tannis. They stare at the smoking cloak.
-->'''Cindy:''' Guess you can’t tell by looks if you’re a beauty - or a beast.\
Both the house and the beauty store, closes Betty Anne, disappeared, leaving nothing of the spell but dust and rubble.
-->'''Tucker:''' So what are you? A beauty or a beast?
-->'''Betty Anne:''' I’m just me - even if I’m wearing this stuff!\\
At weary permission from Gary, Tucker and Stig bring forth a hotdog-festooned branch.
!!This episode provides examples of:
* AnAesop: Inordinate focus on appearance may constrain all else.
* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Miss Valenti, in pursuit of indefinitely sustained youth, Miss Valenti [[spoiler: ritualistically slaughters]] dogs - who are actually [[transformed employees]].
* BalefulPolymorph: Miss Valenti [[spoiler: turns her employees into dogs]].
* BeautyIsBest: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's aspiration to the social supremacy offered by lauded appearance.
* TheBeautifulElite: Miss Valenti requires her staff to maintain a certain "...style."
* CompellingVoice: On lending them one of her mirrors, Miss Valenti softly entrances employees with promised fulfilment of the ideals it invokes.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: [[spoiler: Miss Valenti's]] death is quite gruesome.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: [[InvokedTroped Invoked]] by Miss Valenti's offers of the acclaim offered by cosmetic refinement.
* MagicMirror: The mirrors in Miss Valenti's house reveal her magically hidden agedness.
* ShoutOut: The premise somewhat recalls the legend surrounding UsefulNotes/ElizabethBathory, said to have bathed in the blood of peasant girls to gain eternal youth.
* StrippedToTheBone: When a mirror is smashed, [[spoiler: Miss Valenti]]'s flesh evaporates.
* VainSorceress: Miss Valenti uses magic to pursue her cosmetic obsession.
* VampiricDraining: Miss Valenti feeds clients a potion which [[spoiler: turns employees into dogs]]. Their subsequent slaughter is implied to transfer their age to her.
