History Recap / AreYouAfraidOfTheDarkSeason4TheTaleOfTheFireGhost

* AnAesop: Sometimes, there's no blame to be had.

* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Jimmy bitterly laments his dad's demanding career. Dan vows to somehow manage more time.

* SlasherSmile: A gloating, [[JustForPun simmering]] leer.

* CreepyGood: [[DownPlayedTrope Downplayed]] - in the darkened fire station, Jake's mystique is initially unnerving, but he's gruffly affable, and entirely benevolent.

* CreepyGood: [[DownPlayedTrope Downplayed]] - in the darkened fire station, Jake's mysteriousness is initially unnerving; but he's gruffly affable, and entirely benevolent.

* DaddyHasAGoodReasonForLeavingYou:

* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForLeavingYou:

One evening, fireman Dan Preston reclines on his bunk with a book. The alarm rings. He springs into action and slides down the pole. With a chorus of "surprise!" the lights come on: behind a party table are his fellow firemen, divorced wife Linda, daughter Roxy, and son Jimmy.

In the near-darkness of the candlelit party table, Roxy asks if Jake has heard of such a thing as a Fire Ghost. Jake solemnly reflects to have learned, in his long career, that fire is like a wild animal - it lives, it dies, and it thinks. Fire does anything to survive and grow. On extinguishment, it looks for revenge on firefighters. The only way for a Fire Ghost to reach this world if for its prospective victims to look right into the flames. Jimmy says his dad denies such phenomena.

He takes a candle and slides down the pole. Across the fire garage, through the windowed door of the equipment room, he sees the glow of flames. As he approaches, the door swings open. As a stray gust of wind snuffs his candle, the flames in the equipment room instantly fade. They then reappear. Jimmy’s candle then reignites. As he looks back to the equipment room, the candle, with a whoosh, flares into a towering stream of flame. A deep, heavy whoosh, like breath - or laughter - repeats. The crazed candle flame retracts and fades.

Behind them, the phantom firefighter swings the axe, and severs the murderous hose. Roxy and Jimmy flee upstairs. In the bathroom, they hide behind a curtain. The helmeted spectre follows, inspects each toilet cubicle, and draws the shower curtain. He lifts his visor - it’s Jake. He urges the two to flee the building. How does he know so much about ghosts? Takes one to know one. With a soft whoosh, he fades into thin air.

* AshFace: PlayedForHorror: The Fire Ghost, in human form, appears as a charred policeman.

* PrimalFear: Fire, depicted as a sentient predator, returns a sadistically vengeful ghost.

* ManOnFire: The apparition of the charred policeman begins to revert to its natural fiery state.

Kiki's sweater, lent to Sam, has been stolen. Towards their blazing row, Tucker hurries forth the bucket - and trips, dropping it. As Gary and Tucker fuel the furore, Betty Anne gives a piercing whistle, and calmly calls for grievances to be postponed.

While most of the party watches Dan open presents, Jimmy eats cake by the window. While his divorced parents remain friends, he finds the split hard to deal with. Burdened by anger, he largely blames his dad.

Linda is called to hospital. As the wind picks up, the lights flicker. A tree branch outside the window by which sits Jimmy repeatedly thumps the window. Captain Bill half-seriously suspects a return of the station's Fire Ghost.

The branch then violently shatters the window. With a yell, Jimmy falls. Dan hurries over, inspects his son's hand, and takes him for bandaging.

Dan apologises for having missed Jimmy’s ball game, having had to fill in for someone. Jimmy bemoans his dad’s frequent absence. Dan pledges to make amends, and invites Jimmy to the rec room to try out the new video game. Cheered, Jimmy gives a small grin.

However, the fire alarm then rings. Captain Bill announces a call to the warehouse. Dan gives Jimmy an apologetic pat on the shoulder, grabs a helmet, and leaps onto the departing engine.

The lights flicker, and the station falls into darkness. Atop the nearby pole, a silhouetted figure looms into view, and slides down. The figure approaches, and strikes a match. He introduces himself as Jake Griffin; explains his role as watchman, and reassures the nervous youngsters with a gruff invitation to make themselves at home.

Dan, sighs Jake, is well aware of the Fire Ghost haunting this very station - it’s just not a nice thing to talk about. As the children of one of the best firefighters around, Jake solemnly warns them to take care while in the station, and leaves.

Some time later, the two each lie awake on two spare beds. Jimmy asks Roxy whose fault she thinks the divorce was. She vexedly dismisses the value of blame. Jimmy then hears a low, distant whoosh. On the darkened wall above the pole, he sees the flickering glow of a distant fire.

He takes a candle and slides down the pole. Across the fire garage, through the windowed door of the equipment room, he sees the glow of flames. As he approaches, the door swings open. As a stray gust of wind snuffs his candle, the flames in the equipment room instantly fade. They then reappear. Jimmy’s candle then reignites. As he looks back to the equipment room, the candle, with a whoosh, flares into a towering stream of flame. Jimmy stares. A deep, heavy whoosh, like breath - or laughter - repeats. The crazed candle flame retracts and fades. In the equipment room, the blaze persists.

As Jimmy approaches, the spectral fire fades. Roxy’s hand falls on his shoulder.The phone rings. As Jimmy takes the receiver, from out of the equipment room door, a fire hose glides towards Jimmy. From the phone, a deep, coarse voice threatens revenge. The hose then hooks Jimmy's leg, pulls him to the floor, and drags him into the equipment room. The door slams shut.

As Roxy bangs on the door, on a nearby wall, the coat of a visor-helmeted fire suit bulges, until noticeably occupied. Beneath the sleeve, a hand lifts a fire axe. Roxy bursts into the equipment room to find Jimmy on the floor, entangled in the hose.

Behind them, the phantom firefighter swings the axe, and severs the murderous hose. Roxy and Jimmy flee upstairs. They hide behind a curtain in the bathroom. The helmeted spectre follows, inspects each toilet cubicle, and draws the shower curtain. He lifts his visor - it’s Jake. He urges the two to flee the building. How does he know so much about ghosts? Takes one to know one. With a soft whoosh, he fades into thin air.

Roxy picks up the phone, but finds it dead. The lights flicker, and the station falls into darkness.Atop the nearby pole, a silhouetted figure looms into view, and slides down. The figure approaches, and strikes a match. He introduces himself as Jake Griffin; explains his role as watchman, and reassures the nervous youngsters with a gruff invitation to make themselves at home.

The officer leads them back inside, and switches on the light. The officer calls to whomever might be lurking in the equipment room; opens the door, and reveals the room to be free of fire.

The officer sternly orders them inside while he takes a look around. They fearfully hesitate. The officer touches Roxy’s shoulder. With a hiss of spectral flame, the lights once more fail. In fright, the two turn to face the officer. His uniform, now singed black, exudes wisps of smoke. Scorched red around the eyes, his face is now ash-black. In the equipment room, a huge spurt of flame whooshes into life. With a warped, booming laugh and a billow of smoke, the "officer" fades into thin air.

The Fire Ghost spreads its hands. Its head and hands ignite in balls of flame. It bellows with laughter.

As the flames engorge, they catch the overhead sprinkler - which showers the room with a heavy spray of water. The Fire Ghost chokes its death agony, writhes, compacts, and sinks into a heap of sodden ash.

As Sam and Kiki argue furiously, Betty Anne explains to Frank that Kiki lent her favourite sweater to Sam, which was then stolen out of her locker. An inquisitive Tucker hurries forth with the bucket - and trips, dropping it. As Gary and Tucker fuel the furore, Betty Anne gives a piercing whistle, and calmly calls for grievances to be postponed. Tucker takes to the stone chair, and announces a story about fire. Their own merrily flickering campfire gives light, heat and sound. But given the chance, fire can cause horrible destruction - not just as it burns, says Tucker, but after it’s been put out. Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, he calls his story "The Tale of the Fire Ghost."

One dark evening, firefighter Dan Preston reclines on his bunk with a book. The alarm rings. He springs into action, slides down the pole, and in the darkened garage, seizes a fire extinguisher.

With a chorus of "surprise!" the lights come on: behind a laid party table are his fellow firemen, divorced wife Linda, daughter Roxy, and son Jimmy.

While most of the party watches Dan open presents, Jimmy eats cake by the window. While his divorced parents remain friends, he especially finds the split hard to deal with. Burdened by anger, he largely blames his dad.

Suddenly called into hospital, Linda warns against too much hyperactivity-inducing birthday cake. Roxy then hands her dad a bonus present: to his polite bemusement, and his colleague’s amusement, a nose ring.

As the wind picks up, the lights flicker. A tree branch outside the window by which Jimmy repeatedly thumps the window. Captain Bill half-seriously suspects a return of the station’s Fire Ghost. Roxy uncertainly echoes the curious term. Dan assures her against such hokum.

The branch then violently shatters the window. With a yell, Jimmy falls sideways. Dan hurries over, inspects his son’s hand, and takes him for bandaging.

As Dan unwraps a bandage, Jimmy irritably takes hold of it. Dan delicately thanks him for the present. Jimmy guardedly admits his mother to have chosen it. Dan apologises for having missed Jimmy’s ball game, having had to fill in for someone. Jimmy bemoans his dad’s frequent absence.

Dan softly admits the situation, pledges to make amends, and invites Jimmy to the rec room to try out the new video game. Cheered, Jimmy gives a small grin, and they head off.

However, the fire alarm then rings. As the men march to the fire engine, Captain Bill announces a call to the warehouse.

Dan tells Roxy to call Linda, gives Jimmy an apologetic pat on the shoulder, grabs a helmet, and leaps onto the departing engine. He calls a pledge to do something next weekend.

Roxy picks up the phone, but finds it dead. The lights flicker, and the station falls into darkness. She joins her brother by the door. Atop the nearby pole, a silhouetted figure looms into view, and slides down.

With some unease, Roxy wonders who this might be. The figure approaches, and strikes a match, revealing himself to be a balding, grey-haired fireman. He introduces himself as Jake Griffin, explains his role as watchman, and reassures the nervous youngsters with a gruff invitation to make themselves at home.

As they sit in near-darkness at the candlelit party table, Roxy tentatively asks if Jake has heard of such a thing as a Fire Ghost.

Jake solemnly reflects to have learned, in his long career, is that fire is like a wild animal - it lives, it dies, and it thinks. Jimmy perplexedly queries this last trait.

-->'''Jake:''' Fire will do anything to survive and grow. 'Course, it’s our job to stop it. But that doesn’t mean it’s dead. The spirit of the fire remains - the Fire Ghost. It follows firefighters back to the station, looking for revenge.\\

Roxy is sceptical. Jake explains the only way for a Fire Ghost to reach this world if for its prospective victims to look right into the flames. Jimmy says his dad denies such phenomena.

Jake ruefully reveals Dan to be well aware of the Fire Ghost haunting this very station - it’s just not a nice thing to talk about. As the children of one of the best firefighters around, Jake solemnly warns them to take care while in the station, and leaves.

Spooked, Jimmy asks Roxy’s opinion. Roxy suspects Jake to have been wearing his helmet a little too tight.

Some time later, they each lie awake atop two spare beds. Jimmy cautiously asks Roxy whose fault she thinks the divorce was. She vexedly dismisses the value of blame.

Jimmy then hears a low, distant whoosh. On the darkened wall above the pole, he sees the flickering glow of a distant fire. He takes a candle and slides down the pole. Across the fire garage, through the windowed door of the equipment room, he sees the deep yellow glow of flames.

As he approaches, the door swings open. As a stray gust of wind snuffs his candle, the flames in the equipment room instantly fade. They then reappear. Jimmy’s candle then reignites. As he looks back to the equipment room, the candle, with a whoosh, flares into a towering stream of flame. Jimmy stares. A deep, heavy whoosh, like breath - or laughter - repeats. The crazed candle flame retracts and fades. In the equipment room, the blaze persists.

As Jimmy approaches, the spectral fire fades. Roxy’s hand falls on his shoulder. Just then, the phone rings.

As Jimmy takes the receiver, from out of the equipment room door, a fire hose glides stealthily towards Jimmy. From the phone comes a deep, coarse voice.

-->'''Fire Ghost:''' ''Jimmy! You’re the son of a murderer, and your time has come!''\\

The hose then hooks around his leg, pulls him to the floor, and drags him into the equipment room. The door slams shut.

As Roxy bangs on the door, on a nearby wall, the coat of a visor-helmeted fire suit bulges, until noticeably occupied. Beneath the sleeve, a hand lifts a fire axe.

Roxy bursts into the equipment room to find Jimmy on the floor, entangled in the hose.

Behind them, the phantom firefighter swings the axe, and severs the murderous hose. Roxy and Jimmy flee upstairs. They hide behind a curtain in the bathroom.

The helmeted spectre follows, inspects each toilet cubicle, and draws the shower curtain. He lifts his visor - it’s Jake.

Shaken, Jimmy reports the Fire Ghost to be here. Jake knows, and solemnly urges the two to flee the building as soon as possible.

Flustered, Roxy asks how Jake knows so much about ghosts.

-->'''Jake:''' Takes one to know one.\\

And with that, he lowers his visor, and, with a soft whoosh, fades into thin air.

Round the side of the building, a policeman strides into view. The two yelp in fright.

The officer reassures them, and sternly asks about the smashed window. Still shaken, they confess their flight from the Fire Ghost.

The officer leads them back inside, and switches on the suddenly functional light. Jimmy fearfully indicates the equipment room. The officer calls to whomever might be lurking inside, opens the door, and reveals the room to be innocently free of fire.

The officer sternly orders them inside while he takes a look around. They face the open doorway, and fearfully hesitate.

The officer touches Roxy’s shoulder. With a hiss of spectral flame, the lights once more fail. In fright, the two turn to face the officer. His uniform, now singed and charred black, exudes wisps of smoke. Scorched red around the eyes, his face is now ash-black. In the equipment room, a huge spurt of flame whooshes into life. With a warped, booming laugh and a billow of smoke, the "officer" fades into thin air.

They pelt across the garage, to find Jake seated at the party table. Roxy fearfully asks to be spared any ghostly vengeance. With an airy scoff, Jake stresses his aim to protect them. Abruptly, he instantaneously appears behind them, and gently chides Jimmy’s incautious gaze into the spectral flame.

Having released the Fire Ghost, says Jake, Jimmy must be the one to stop it. Jake lifts a fire extinguisher, and warns that this won’t be easy - this one’s crafty. Having kept the Fire Ghost at bay for years, he’s glad his task nears its end.

Jimmy asks who Jake really is.

Jake explains that he used to be a member of this engine company. One day, he and another firefighter rescued an old woman from a burning house. As his colleague carried her out, Jake went back inside in search of more people. His colleague shouted from outside that the roof was about to go - which it did. Jake didn’t make it. The fire he helped put out that day was the one this Fire Ghost came from. The other firefighter was Dan Preston, Roxy and Jimmy’s father. Dan took the loss hard, and blamed himself for his colleague’s death. Jake heavily ponders the occasional futility of blame.

They need to stop the Fire Ghost before the firefighters return. Alone, Jimmy faces the door of the equipment room, and yells a challenging taunt.

Behind the door’s window, phantom flames blaze. The door opens, and in a cloud of smoke, the Fire Ghost, in the form of the charred officer, looms forth. It calmly rages against its death by the hand of Jimmy’s father. With a gloating leer, it decides to start with Jimmy, and finish with the firefighters.

As it speaks, Roxy sneaks up behind it with the fire extinguisher. She discharges it, and with a yawning groan, the Fire Ghost fades.

With a grin, brother and sister high five.

Jake arrives, and praises Roxy’s deft use of the extinguisher - but with a heavy whoosh and a cloud of smoke, the Fire Ghost is back.

Jake demands the Fire Ghost leave the kids alone. Free of Jake’s resistance, it leers at its imminent revenge.

Overhead, Jimmy spots a sprinkler. He begs the Fire Ghost not to use fire - Jimmy’s greatest fear.

The Fire Ghost spreads its hands. Its head and hands ignite in balls of streaming flame. It bellows with laughter.

As the flames engorge, the catch the overhead sprinkler - which showers the room with a heavy spray of water. The Fire Ghost chokes its death agony, writhes, compacts, and sinks into a heap of sodden ash.

With a laugh of relief, brother and sister hug. Jake turns off the sprinkler. He smiles, and announces his work to be done.

Jimmy earnestly thanks him for his help.

-->'''Jake:''' Hey, that’s my job. Firefighters always stick together. Remember me to your father.\\

And with that, he contentedly fades.

Just then, the garage door lifts, and the firefighters return.

Dan, his face covered in soot, lifts his visor, and perplexedly surveys the wet floor.

Roxy and Jimmy laugh with relief, and give their dad a hug.

The Fire Ghost, closes Tucker, was seen at the station no more - and Jimmy and Roxy started spending a lot more time with their dad. In a rare moment of open praise for Tucker, Frank smiles his appreciation. Sam meekly approaches Kiki with some bank notes as payment for her sweater, having aimed to offer them earlier. Kiki admits the loss not to be entirely Sam’s fault, and they split the money. Alone by the fire, Gary and Tucker throw some douse the flames with some handfuls of soil. Relieved, they head off. ''The remains of the fire continue to smoke''...

* AmicablyDivorced: Having split up, Dan and Linda remain good friends.

* BriarPatching: Jimmy begs the Fire Ghost not to revert to its natural fiery form. [[{{Sadist}} Delighted]], it bursts into flame, and [[spoiler: sets of the sprinkler.]]
* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Jake Griffin]], ostensibly a [[spoiler: retired firefighter turned watchman]]; actually the ghost of [[spoiler: a member of the engine company]].

* FriendlyGhost: [[spoiler: Jake]], a dutifully caring fireman.
* GhostlyGoals: [[spoiler: Jake]], to hold at bay the brutal vengeance of the Fire Ghost.

* SurvivorGuilt: Dan is sorely burdened by his inability to have saved [[spoiler: Jake]].

* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler: Jake Griffin]], ostensibly a [[spoiler: retired firefighter turned watchman]], actually the ghost of [[spoiler: a member of the engine company]].

* AshFace: PlayedForHorror: The Fire Ghost, in human form, manifests a charred policeman.

--> '''In memory of Jake Griffin (1945-1990) from all his proud friends at Station 214'''

-->'''Jake:''' Fire will do anything to survive and grow. 'Course, it’s our job to stop it. But that doesn’t mean it’s dead. The spirit of the fire remains - the Fire Ghost. It follows firefighters back to the station, looking for revenge.

-->'''Fire Ghost:''' ''Jimmy! You’re the son of a murderer, and your time has come!''

-->'''Jake:''' Takes one to know one.

-->'''Jake:''' Hey, that’s my job. Firefighters always stick together. Remember me to your father.

* EvilSoundsDeep: On reverting to his charred form, the Fire Ghost’s voice lowers to a thunderously deep growl.

--> '''In memory of Jake Griffin (1945-1990) from all his proud friends at Station 213'''

And with that, he contentedly fades from view.

* RetiredBadass: Jake, an older firefighter, who keeps the Fire Ghost at bay, and looks out for Jimmy and Roxy.

* BriarPatching: Jimmy begs the Fire Ghost not to revert to its natural fiery form. [[{{Sadist}} It can’t resist his terror]], turns into fire, and [[spoiler: sets of the sprinkler.]]

* EvilLivingFlames: A possible [[SubvertedTrope subversion]]: fire is characterised as a sentient predator, with the one that returned as a Fire Ghost having been a particularly vicious, although not necessarily malicious, specimen. As a Fire Ghost, however, it’s a consciously sadistic, indiscriminately murderous fiend.
* EvilSoundsDeep: On reverting to his fiery form, the Fire Ghost’s voice lowers to a thunderously deep growl.

* RetiredBadass: Jake, an older firefighter, who looks out for Jimmy and Roxy.
* {{Sadist}}: The Fire Ghost wants nothing more than brutal vengeance.

* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Jimmy bitterly laments his dad’s demanding career. Dan vows to amend this.

The Fire Ghost, closes Tucker, was seen at the station no more - and Jimmy and Roxy started spending a lot more time with their dad. In a rare moment of open praise for Tucker, Frank smiles his appreciation. Sam meekly approaches Kiki with some bank notes as payment for her sweater, having aimed to offer them earlier. Kiki admits the loss not to be entirely Sam’s fault, and they split the money. Alone by the fire, Gary and Tucker throw some douse the flames with some handfuls of soil. Relieved, they head off. ‘’The remains of the fire continue to smoke’’...

* TheBrairPatch: Jimmy begs the Fire Ghost not to revert to its natural fiery form. [[{{Sadist}} It can’t resist his terror]], turns into fire, and [[spoiler: sets of the sprinkler.]]

* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Jimmy bitterly laments his dad’s demanding career. Dan vows to amend this.
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[[TheEndOrIsIt'''Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh''']]...
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[[TheEndOrIsIt '''Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh''']]...

* TheBriarPatch: Jimmy begs the Fire Ghost not to revert to its natural fiery form. [[{{Sadist}] It can’t resist his terror]], turns into fire, and [[spoiler: sets of the sprinkler. Oops!]]

’’’[[TheEndOrIsIt Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh...Whoosh]]’’’...