History Recap / AreYouAfraidOfTheDarkSeason1TheTaleOfTheSorcerorsApprentice

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Alex entreats Dean to resist the spell.

[[caption-width-right:350:”The return of Goth is at hand!”]]

Back in chemistry, the class begins another test. Dean, bold as brass, gets up and puts his blank paper on Miss Crenshaw’s desk. As her ire rises, Dean stares commandingly. She abruptly calms, and distractedly awards his test an A+. In the corridor, Alix asks him what in the world is going on. Dean coldly rails at her underestimation of his abilities, and storms off. In the next few days, he stops talking to her, and falls in with a new crowd. From the chemistry classroom, Dean steals a bottle of mercuric acid. Alix follows him to the school basement.

She runs in search of Dr Oliver. Ms Crenshaw explains the archeologist to have left, and gently urges Alix to [[WhamLine join Goth]]. Alix screams. In the corridor, Dean’s cronies back her into the assembly hall. Dean steps down from the stage, and gloats of his empowerment. On Alix’s desperate entreaties, he takes pity, and promises to spare his friend.

Around the campfire, they pass around the skull of the spring-loaded prop. In the stone chair, Betty Anne announces a story about a different sort of head.

-->'''Betty Anne:''' An ancient wizard's good luck charm. Pick it up, and the world can be your oyster. But let the holder beware - this charm may be more than you bargained for.


Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls this story “The Tale of the Sorcerer's Apprentice.”

In the present day, Dean Berkham takes a Chemistry test.

-->'''Betty Anne:''' ''{narrating}'' Dean Berkham was the kind of guy who blended in. He didn't have many friends, he didn't do sports, and he never joined anything. He just kind of... was. And he wasn't so great with schoolwork either.

With the rest of the class having left, Dean still struggles with the test. Ms Crenshaw proffers an impatient hand, snatches the test, and frowns.

-->'''Ms Crenshaw:''' Mr Berkham, you are sinking to perdition.


By the lockers, Dean finds his best friend Alix.

-->'''Dean:''' I studied hard for this. I don't get it, Al - I can't catch a break.
-->'''Alix:''' Hey, if you keep thinking that way, you're always gonna get dumped on. I have a feeling you're luck's gonna change soon.
-->'''Dean:''' Great, as long as it doesn't get any worse.

In World Cultures class, archaeologist Dr Oliver introduces various Babylonian artefacts, including a golden, cobra-headed staff.

-->'''Dr Oliver:''' This little prize was recently excavated from an ancient Babylonian sorcerer's temple. Inscriptions say that this sceptre belonged to Goth, a particularly nasty magician who enslaved thousands to do his evil bidding. The writings say that following Goth would bring you incredible fortune and good luck. Crossing him will lead to your destruction. Of course, we don't believe in such silly things to day, do we?

...

While Alix visits the library, Dean, in the empty classroom, examines the artefacts.

Dr Oliver pops back in, and invites him to take his time.

Dean peers at the cobra staff. Embedded in its head, two red gemstones serve as eyes. They suddenly glow. Entranced, Dean stares.

That night, he visits the school basement. From beneath a tile, he retrieves the metal basket, and sets to work…

Back in chemistry, the class begins another test. Dean, bold as brass, gets up and puts his blank paper on Miss Crenshaw’s desk. As her ire rises, Dean stares commandingly. She abruptly calms, and distractedly awards his test an A+. In the corridor, Alix asks him what in the world is going on. Dean coldly rails at her underestimation of his abilities, and storms off. In the next few days, he stops talking to her, and falls in with a new crowd. From the chemistry classroom, Dean steals a bottle of mercuric acid. Alix follows him to the school basement.

Before a seated congregation of his new cronies, Dean drops into a metal drum acid and belladonna leaves. He spies Alix. While his audience chases her, she gives them the slip, and returns to watch Dean. In the steaming concoction stands the cobra staff. Into its gaping mouth, Dean fits an orb, which, along with the staff’s eyes, glow. From the green vapours rises the spectral head of a man. Goth commands his young apprentice, to for tonight, prepare another cauldron of mystic vapours. They hear Alix knock something over.

She runs in search of Dr Oliver. Ms Crenshaw explains the archeologist to have left, and gently urges Alix to [[WhamLine join Goth]]. Alix screams. In the corridor, Dean’s cronies back her into the assembly hall. Dean steps down from the stage, and gloats of his empowerment. On Alix’s desperate entreaties, he takes pity, and promises to spare his friend.

Dr Oliver pops back in, and invites him to take his time. Dean peers at the cobra staff. Embedded in its head, two red gemstones serve as eyes. They suddenly glow. Entranced, Dean stares. That night, he visits the school basement. From beneath a tile, he retrieves the metal basket, and sets to work…

In the woods near the campfire, the Midnight Society find a mound of disturbed earth. Have they stumbled upon a murdered corpse? Suddenly, from beneath the soil, up jerks a skeleton. Aaargh! Frank and Kiki, who put it there, hoot with laughter. Around the campfire, they pass around the skull of the spring-loaded prop. In the stone chair, Betty Anne announces a story about a different sort of head: an ancient wizard’s good luck charm - which may bring more than luck. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, she calls this story “The Tale of the Sorcerer's Apprentice.”

In 1966, a student of Linden High sneaks, after hours, into the school basement, and, from a metal basket, takes the components of some kind of ritual. Pursued, she desists, and vanishes. In the present day, Dean Berkham does badly on a chemistry test. His best friend Alex urges him to take heart. In World Cultures class, archeologist Dr Oliver introduces various Babylonian artefacts, including a golden, cobra-headed staff, owned by a sorcerer by the name of Goth, said to have enslaved thousands. While Alex visits the library, Dean, in the empty classroom, examines the artefacts. Dr Oliver pops back in, and invites him to take his time. Dean peers at the cobra staff. Embedded in its head, two red gemstones serve as eyes. They suddenly glow. Entranced, Dean stares. That night, he visits the school basement. From beneath a tile, he retrieves the metal basket, and sets to work…

Back in chemistry, the class begins another test. Dean, bold as brass, gets up and puts his blank paper on Miss Crenshaw’s desk. As her ire rises, Dean stares commandingly. She abruptly calms, and distractedly awards his test an A+. In the corridor, Alex asks him what in the world is going on. Dean coldly rails at her underestimation of his abilities, and storms off. In the next few days, he stops talking to her, and falls in with a new crowd. From the chemistry classroom, Dean steals a bottle of mercuric acid. Alex follows him to the school basement.

Before a seated congregation of his new cronies, Dean drops into a metal drum acid and belladonna leaves. He spies Alex. While his audience chases her, she gives them the slip, and returns to watch Dean. In the steaming concoction stands the cobra staff. Into its gaping mouth, Dean fits an orb, which, along with the staff’s eyes, glow. From the green vapours rises the spectral head of a man. Goth commands his young apprentice, to for tonight, prepare another cauldron of mystic vapours. They hear Alex knock something over.

She runs in search of Dr Oliver. Ms Crenshaw explains the archeologist to have left, and gently urges Alex to [[WhamLine join Goth]]. Alex screams. In the corridor, Dean’s cronies back her into the assembly hall. Dean steps down from the stage, and gloats of his empowerment. On Alex’s desperate entreaties, he takes pity, and promises to spare his friend.

That night, Alex follows Dean and co across town, to find them stealing barrels of mercuric acid. The minions seize her. Dean leads them to the school’s disused swimming pool, where, over twenty-five years ago, a girl is said to have gone mad.

The minions pour the acid into the pool. Dean adds the belladonna leaves, and green vapours fill the air. Within their depths emerges the corporeal body of the Babylonian sorcerer. Goth [[EvilGloating presents]] his [[TakeOverTheWorld intentions]], and demands subservience. Alex tries throwing the staff’s orb at him. He realises her to have conspired against him, and declares her doom. Dean, suddenly free of the spell, finds himself immobilised.

As Goth rises above the vapours, Dean calls to Alex to use the chlorine. As the sorcerer advances upon her, Alex tips in the chlorine. The green glow fades. As the nightshade dies, Goth falls back into the mist, and with a small explosion, is gone. In the now-darkened room, Dean meekly confesses to Alex his involuntary subservience. Chlorine, he realised, would neutralise the organic leaves, and break the spell. The two suddenly burst out laughing. Alex hugs her restored friend. They, and the disorientated others, quietly leave. By the pool, the abandoned staff is approached by Dr Oliver. Having planted orbs in schools nationwide, her restoration of Goth remains possible.

* RightRedHand: Dr. Oliver had a cobra tattooed on her forearm when she was younger. When we see it again, it acts as a tell-tale sign that she was indeed the little girl in the beginning of the story.

* EvilSorceror: Goth, a Babylonian sorcerer who enslaved thousands.

Before a seated congregation of his new cronies, Dean drops into a metal drum acid and belladonna leaves. He spies Alex. While his audience chases her, she gives them the slip, and returns to watch Dean. In the steaming concoction stands the cobra staff. Into its gaping mouth, Dean fits an orb, which, along with the staff’s eyes, glow. From the green vapours rises the spectral head of a man. Goth commands his young apprentice, to for tonight, prepare another cauldron of mystic vapours. They hear Alex knock something over. She runs in search of Dr Oliver. Ms Crenshaw explains the archeologist to have left, and gently urges Alex to [[WhamLine join Goth]]. Alex screams. In the corridor, Dean’s cronies back her into the assembly hall. Dean steps down from the stage, and gloats of his empowerment. On Alex’s desperate entreaties, he takes pity, and promises to spare his friend.

That night, Alex follows Dean and co across town, to find them stealing barrels of mercuric acid. The minions seize her. Dean leads them to the school’s disused swimming pool, where, over twenty-five years ago, a girl is said to have gone mad. The minions pour the acid into the pool. Dean adds the belladonna leaves, and green vapours fill the air. Within their depths emerges the corporeal body of the Babylonian sorcerer. Goth [[EvilGloating presents]] his [[TakeOverTheWorld intentions]], and demands subservience. Alex tries throwing the staff’s orb at him. He realises her to have conspired against him, and declares her doom. Dean, suddenly free of the spell, finds himself immobilised. As Goth rises above the vapours, Dean calls to Alex to use the chlorine. As the sorcerer advances upon her, Alex tips in the chlorine. The green glow fades. As the nightshade dies, Goth falls back into the mist, and with a small explosion, is gone. In the now-darkened room, Dean meekly confesses to Alex his involuntary subservience. Chlorine, he realised, would neutralise the organic leaves, and break the spell. The two suddenly burst out laughing. Alex hugs her restored friend. They, and the disorientated others, quietly leave. By the pool, the abandoned staff is approached by Dr Oliver. Having planted orbs in schools nationwide, her restoration of Goth remains possible.