Ice Station Sabrina

Int. Spellman kitchen. Another bright and breezy morning at the Spellman residence. Sabrina comes down stairs in a particularly happy mood.

Sabrina- Good morning to all creatures great (scratching Salem’s head) and small.

Hilda- You’re in a frothy mood.

Sabrina- Yeah well, Harvey promised me a romantic surprise for this weekend.

Zelda- Ooh!

Hilda- Another heart shaped corn-dog?

Sabrina- Hey! That was good!

Zelda- When he says romantic, Does he mean Brad free?

Sabrina- Yep, just me, my guy and no witch-hunter and if dinner comes on a stick, it’s fine with me.

Salem- Yeah-Yeah-Yeah, enough chick talk. Sabrina, as the man of the house I must insist you let me spend the weekend watchin’ rootin’ tootin’ westerns on your TV.

Sabrina- Once again Salem, your approach is as pathetic as it is appalling but here’s how good a mood I’m in.

She points and Salem vanishes in a swirl of sparkles.

Int. Sabrina’s bedroom. Salem materialised among a heap of comfy cushions dressed in a pink, silk house-coat trimmed with pink feathers. The TV is on and bullets ricochet of rocks.

Salem- Huh! Ghe! Yes! Cow-pokes, cattle, manly men in mortal combat with even manlier men. Ha-ha! Ooh, these pillows are cuddly soft.

Run opening credits.

Int. Bean there, Brewed that coffee house. Sabrina’s working behind the counter as Brad and Harvey enter. Brad barely glances her way but Harvey comes over smiling.

Harvey- Ready for your romantic surprise?

Sabrina- Reassure me that it doesn’t suddenly involve Brad.

Harvey- Only indirectly.

She stamps her foot.

Sabrina- Oh but you promised it was just gonna be us this weekend!

Harvey- Brad’s lending me his skis.

Sabrina- But you... Skis? As in we’re going skiing?

Harvey- One of my dads extermination customers owns a mountain cabin. He’s giving it to us for the weekend.

Sabrina- I never knew pest-control could lead to such romance.

She comes round the counter and gives him a big, snugly hug.

Harvey- Powdery slopes, warm firesides, whispering pines... and of course my mom and dad.

Sabrina- Of course.

She set’s about making two cups of coffee for Harvey and Brad.

Harvey- But we can drive up together tomorrow after school, just the two of us. My folks are going up tonight so my dad can kill the roaches.

Sabrina- So we don’t even have to drive in the back of the station-wagon with the dog smell? This is by far the most romantic idea you’ve ever had.

She hands him the coffee.

Harvey- Thank you.

He heads off smiling proudly towards Brad just as another coffee house waitress loses her grip on a mug.

Sabrina- Hot coffee!

She points and the mug bounces back up into the startled hand of the customer without spilling a drop. Brad leaps from his seat sensing something very strongly.

Brad- What happened?!

Customer- Wow! Lively floor-board!

Brad- (To Harvey) Did you see that?

Sabrina watches on feeling suddenly scared and nervous. Harvey looks down at the floor.

Brad-No-no-no-no-no! Sabrina, she did something.

Harvey- She’s all the way across the room.

Everyone in the shop looks at Sabrina and she turns away self-consciously.

Sabrina- (To herself) Of all the coffee houses in all the towns in all the world, that witch-hunter has to walk into mine.

Int. Spellman living room. Sabrina goes to answer the front door ready for off. She’s dressed up warm for the trek and has a napsack over her shoulder with her skis slung under her other arm. Harvey, equally warmly dressed stands smiling.

Sabrina- Hey. Good news, you don’t have loiter nervously in the hallway making small-talk with my aunts because I am entirely ready.

He takes her skis from her.

Harvey- Great. There was one tiny problem but it’s already solved.

Brad comes up to the door in his cold weather gear.

Brad- Hey.

Sabrina- Brad?

Harvey- He’s just gonna drive us up to the mountains then turn around and drive all the way back. Is that a friend or what?

Brad- I’ll go and get your stuff.

He gets her other bag from the bottom of the stairs.

Harvey- (Whispering) It’s better than not going right?

Brad- Okay look, I got a date with Susan McCormick tonight and her curfew is ten-thirty. So if we leave right now, I can get back in time for a good solid twenty minute date.

Sabrina- Er you know what? Er I’m not as ready as I thought I was. I’ll be right back.

She dashes off upstairs.

Brad- (To Harvey) Ten minute date.

Int. Spellman upstairs landing.

Sabrina- I’m gonna be in the car with Brad for over two hours! What if I use my magic?

Zelda- What if you don’t?

Sabrina- Oh but if I point without thinking? Like I did at the coffee house the other day? I mean all Brad has to do is look at me and say ‘You’re a witch’ and I get turned into a mouse for a hundred years!

She has a sudden flash of what to expect. Grass so tall it stretches high above her. Scents strong in her nose. Whiskers twitching, sampling the air. Ears flicking back and forth, all searching for the threat of sudden death.

Sabrina mouse- Aunt Zelda! Aunt Hilda! I think I’m lost!

Unfortunately she doesn’t look up as the hawk stoops. Razor sharp talons slice into her sides as her scream of terror is cut short. A powerful hooked beak rips away chunks of furry flesh... Suddenly the vision fades leaving her wide eyed and even more frightened on the landing.

Zelda- Don’t panic.

Sabrina- Oh I’m way past panic and looking for a parking space near terror!!

Hilda- Since Brad’s witch-hunter gene is effected by atmospheric conditions I suggest we consult the witch weather channel.

Int. Sabrina’s bedroom. The wagon train is under attack by the red-skins on Sabrina’s TV when the channel is suddenly flipped showing a map of North America under the grip of freezing weather.

Salem- Hey!

Zelda- Let’s see. Factoring in high and low pressure systems, the magnetic influence of the asteroid belt and the pollen count. Unless things shift drastically, Brad’s witch-hunting gene wont be active for the next seventy-two hours.

Hilda- And it looks like a good weekend to plant bulbs.

Salem- We interrupt this pabulum to return to the Howard Hawks classic ‘Rio Bravo’

He hits the remote and the gunfight commences again.

Zelda- I’m sure it’s safe for you to ride with Brad and even safe for you to use your magic. Just be careful.

Hilda- But as an extra safety precaution, take Salem with you.

Salem & Sabrina- Salem?!

Sabrina- Oh, throw the witch-hunter off with a talking cat?

Hilda- Well it’s hard to believe but Salem was an experienced witch for many years.

Zelda- And as a cat, he’s particularly sensitive to subtle changes in the atmosphere.

Hilda- And we get rid of him for the whole weekend.

Zelda dumps him into Sabrina’s knapsack.

Salem- (Sob!) But I haven’t seen Angie Dickinson yet! (Sob!)

Int. Spellman living room.

Harvey- You’re bringing your cat?

Sabrina- Er yeah, allergies. He-he needs mountain air.

Salem coughs on cue

Zelda- His poor lungs, clogged with pollution.

Brad- (Checking his watch) Dating Susan McCormick! Let’s move it!

They head for the car.

Zelda- (Calling after) Wear your seat-belts! Observe all posted traffic signs! And watch for ice! And don’t pass on mountain roads!

Hilda- (To Zelda) Have fun?

Zelda- Well that’s implied.

Int. Spellman kitchen. Zelda enters to find Hilda at the counter pealing an apple.

Zelda- You know Hilda, Brad’s witch-hunting gene has set me thinking. What if Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune...

She takes fruit from the bowl and sets them on the counter top to play the parts of the planets.

Zelda- (Cont.) ... were all to align within the ninth parallel of the seventh quadrant and we lose all our powers?

Hilda- That happens once a millennium.

Zelda- Yes but what if it happened and then there was a flood. We have no idea how to survive a natural disaster without magic.

Hilda- I can’t even make an English muffin without magic.

Zelda- Precisely, which is why I think we should prepare now before a disaster occurs. It’s like the story of the ant and the grasshopper.

Hilda- (Sarcastic) Oh I don’t know that story.

Zelda- Of course you know that story.

Hilda walks away and heads upstairs. Zelda follows behind.

Zelda- (Cont.) There was this hard working ant and this lazy, lazy grasshopper and winter was coming...

Hilda- (To herself) I lied and I left and it still didn’t stop her.

Int. Brad’s truck. Sabrina sits between the boys on the bench seat. They drive along the darkened mountain roads in silence. until.

Sabrina- (To Harvey) Nobody’s saying anything.

Harvey- Guys just don’t say much when they ride in cars together.

Sabrina- Why?

Brad- Are you gonna talk the whole way?

Harvey- (Whispering) It’s better than not going.

As the silent boredom continues Sabrina reaches to turn on the radio.

Brad- Radios busted.

Sabrina- Oh. Well maybe I can fix it... unless there’s some change in atmospheric conditions that’ll make it unsafe to fix the radio?

Salem stays quiet while Brad looks at her strangely. She takes Salem’s silence as an okay.

Sabrina- Here goes nothing.

She bends forward to see under the dashboard and after making sure that Brad’s eyes are on the road and not her, she zaps the radio and sits back up. Music fills the car for the first time in two years.

Brad- Nice! How’d ya do that?

Sabrina- I’m sorry, I don’t talk in cars.

She smiles smugly.

Brad- Now you’ve got that working I can listen to my favourite show.

Harvey- Sox talk!

Brad- And nothing but.

Radio- It’s another great Red Sox innings...

Sabrina’s smile fades to a grimace.

Int. Spellman living room. Hilda comes in and finds Zelda and a half constructed tent taking up most of the living room.

Hilda- I’d grown accustomed to the couch... but this might be interesting.

Zelda- I’m practising in case we’re ever caught somewhere without our magic and we have to construct our own shelter.

Hilda- Where’d ya get the tent?

Zelda- I zapped it in. The stores were closed but we’re going to pitch it ourselves.

Hilda- No, you’re going to pitch it. I’m going to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and wait for you to recover from your episode.

She leaves Zelda struggling with the tent.

Int. Brad’s Truck. Heavy snow flakes are making the wipers work overtime.

Sabrina- I can see my own breath in here. Can we turn on the heat?

Brad- Heaters busted.

Harvey- Maybe Sabrina can fix it. She fixed your radio.

Sabrina quickly looks round at Salem. His snores signify the depth of his knapsack nap, but if it was okay before, surely it’s still okay to use a little magic. She leans forward close to the heater controls just as Salem wakes.

Salem- (Urgent) Meow!!

But the warning comes too late as a small zap of magic leaps from Sabrina’s finger into the heater.

Brad- Hey! What are those sparks?

Sabrina- Er static electricity?

Brad- No way! It came out o’ your finger!

Harvey- Hey Brad! Look out!

Brad’s eyes look back at the road but it’s too late. The bends on them. He tries desperately to recover but the snow covered road doesn’t allow any grip. The car slides out of control. The three teenagers scream in terror as the car goes off the road nose first into a large snowdrift and jolts to a stop. The engine stalls and for a long while the silence is only broken by the ongoing sports commentary.

Harvey- Is everybody okay?

Sabrina- Yeah, well I didn’t hear a voice saying ‘Go into the light, Sabrina’ So I guess I’m fine.

Brad’s reply is to try to fire up the engine but it just chugs over, not catching.

Harvey- Let’s go see what’s wrong.

He reaches for his door handle.

Brad- Did you see that? (To Sabrina) You did something with your finger.

Sabrina- Oh, so now I can’t pick my nose or talk?

The boys get out of the car and pop the hood. While they’re busy Sabrina turns to Salem.

Sabrina- What happened?

Salem- According to bum knee, there was an atmospheric shift. The witch-hunter gene is active. You never should o’ tried magic!

Sabrina- But you were supposed warn me!

Salem- I was supposed to be in the middle of ‘Stagecoach’ right now!

Brad appears at her window with his torch.

Brad- Hey! Who’re you arguing with?

Sabrina- Er... the radio! I think the Red Sox will win the pennant.

Int. Spellman living room. Zelda’s almost there with the tent while Hilda sits reading a magazine. Zelda climbs inside.

Zelda- You didn’t even try to help me.

Hilda- I’m leaving that to your therapist.

Zelda- Oh come on, you’ll love what I’ve done with the place.

Hilda gets up and joins her sister inside the tent.

Hilda- Oh well, this is kind of cosy. I wonder what it’s like with the door closed all the way?

She zips up the entrance flap.

Hilda- (Cont.) A body bag.

Zelda- If you don’t like my life saving tent, you can leave.

She tries to but without success.

Hilda- The zippers stuck.

Zelda- You can’t do anything for yourself.

Hilda- Oh I’ll just zap it open!

Zelda- No! We can figure it out!

She tugs on the zipper but with no result. It’s well and truly jammed. She starts to yank at it as hard as she can.

Hilda- Oh I see, the scientific approach.

Ext. The woods. Night. The trio trudge through the snow. Harvey carries a lantern, Brad, a torch and Sabrina, her knapsack with Salem bundled up in it. The wind howls, an owl hoots and the snow and temperature fall.

Salem- (Sob! Sob! Sob! Sob!)

Brad- Is that cat crying?

Sabrina- No, that’s it’s meow. I got it at a really cheap pet store.

Salem- (Whispering) Zap in a magic compass, or a helicopter, or at least warm socks.

Brad turns to look at her again.

Sabrina- (Whispering) I can’t do magic. I could be turned into a mouse!

Salem- (Whispering) Then we’re going to die.

The owl hoots again as they come out of the trees into a clearing.

Sabrina- Hey look! A fire tower! There’s got to be a forest-ranger up there, at least a phone.

They reach the base of the tower with a rusty steel ladder stretching up to the lookout post.

Brad- This looks kinda old.

Sabrina- Well if you big strong men are scared, I’ll just go up by myself.

She starts to climb the ladder. Brad and Harvey look at each other.

Brad- I’m not scared.

Harvey- Me either.

A wolf howls in the distance. They look at one another again and both rush for the ladder trying to push each other out of the way. Harvey’s football training tells and he goes up first followed closely by Brad. As Brad starts his climb, his foot catches a sheet of metal that falls into the snow. It’s old and badly weathered but the writing on the sign can still be made out. It reads:-

Int. Fire Tower. Sabrina shines her torch round the room. Dust covers everything. It’s clearly not been used for many years. There’s no light and, more importantly, no heat. Harvey climbs up with his lantern rubbing his gloved hands for warmth.

Harvey- Great! It’s abandoned.

Sabrina- Not necessarily, maybe the ranger’s just a terrible housekeeper.

Brad climbs up through the floor hatch and takes a look through the window.

Brad- Er, I have to go down. I forgot somethin’

Harvey- What?

Brad- I forgot I’m afraid o’ heights!

He runs for the ladder but as he puts his foot on the rung, the badly corroded fittings give way and the ladder drops from beneath him. He grabs for the edge of the hole and just manages to hang on, saving himself from a fifty feet drop. He let’s out a scream of terror. Harvey leaps forward grabbing Brad’s wrist and pulls him back up as Sabrina watches anxiously until he’s safely back in the freezing death trap.

Brad- Okay. Okay, we’re trapped and we’re way off the ground!

Harvey- Hang in there man. (Looking at Sabrina) Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all?

Salem- (Sob! Sob! Sob!)

Brad- What was that?

Sabrina- (Covering) Me-he-he-he! (Sob!) But I’ll pull myself together.

Int. Spellman living room. Hilda and Zelda are still stuck inside the tent. All Zelda’s pulling on the zipper hasn’t loosened it at all. Panting she takes a rest.

Zelda- I know. Let’s go to the kitchen and get a knife and cut ourselves out.

Hilda- I’ll wait here.

The entire tent and it’s occupants leap up into the air and turns towards the kitchen. It hops forward in a series of bounces.

Hilda- Ouch!... Aw!... Aw!... Aw!

As they reach the dinning room doors the front door bell rings. On the next bounce the tent spins round and starts bouncing towards the door.

Hilda- Oh!... Aw!... Aw!

But there’s not enough room between the furniture for the tent to fit through.

Zelda- I’ll just zap it!

Thankfully she does and it opens up straight away. Life so much simpler with a little magic. They get out and go to answer the door as it rings again.

Zelda- (Relieved) Oh.

Hilda- See? You needed magic didn’t you?

Zelda- Oh pipe down!

She opens the door to a rugged looking middle-aged man who’s just heard her last comment.

Zelda- (Cont.) Not you. Depending, of course, on who you are. Perhaps you need to pipe down. Ha-ha-ha-ha!... Who are you?

Frank- Frank Alcerro, Brad’s father.

He walks in un-invited. Talk about rude.

Frank- (Cont.) I’ve called five times but there was no answer. What’s with the tent?

Zelda- We were er practising our survival techniques.

Hilda- We had no idea what a hostile environment our living room could be.

Frank- Try the Mekong Delta. I’ve heard about this house, people say a lot of weird things go on here.

Hilda- I think what you heard is ‘Weird people say things go on here’

Zelda- Erm What can we do for you Mr. Alcerro?

Frank- We got a call from the Kinkle’s. The kids are late getting to the cabin.

Zelda- Oh dear.

Frank- I’m sure it’s fine. We called the sheriff. No deaths reported.

Hilda- (Sarcastic) Hurray.

Frank- He’s gonna keep an eye out. I don’t think you need to worry. You got any coffee?

Zelda- Er sure! Black?

Frank- And real, I don’t go for that wimpy decaf stuff.

Hilda- (Tough) Same here, the hard stuff for me... Out of a dirty mug.

Zelda grabs Hilda’s arm and drags her away. Hilda seems to have something against tough guys who speak in short, clipped, sentences.

Zelda- Excuse us.

Int. Spellman kitchen. Zelda leads Hilda in from the dining room.

Hilda- I’ll just zap myself to Sabrina and make sure she’s okay.

But Zelda grabs her finger before she can carry out the spell.

Hilda- (Cont.) Aw!

Zelda- Hilda, that’s Brad’s father out there. Brad is a witch-hunter. That means his father probably has the witch-hunting gene. He’s already suspicious of us.

Hilda- Perhaps because we’re camping next to our piano?

Zelda- The weather must have changed. We can’t risk doing magic or...

Ext. The open fields. Two little field mice forage through the grass.

Hilda mouse- Maybe you’re right about him being a witch-hunter.

Zelda mouse- You think?

A hawk cries out as it stoops, long curved talons extended. Ah, lunch.

Hilda and Zelda mice- Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!

Int. Spellman kitchen.

Hilda- What are we supposed to do? Just stand around and worry like ordinary mortals? That blows!

Int. Fire tower. Sabrina and the boys resort to the time honoured ritual of the imperilled.

Sabrina & The Boys- HELP!!! HELP!!! HEEEELLLLPPP!!!

Their cries just echo back at them mockingly from the freezing darkness of the forest.

Harvey- It’s no use, there’s no-one around. It’s getting cold in here.

Brad- (To Sabrina) We should o’ stayed in the truck! At least it’s got a heater and a radio!

Sabrina- Thanks to me!

Brad- For the record, how long did those soccer players have to stay in the Andes before they started eating each other?

Salem- (Whispering) No heat, no blankets, we’ll freeze to death. Oh why didn’t I eat more Nut-rageous bars when I had the chance? (Sob! Sob!)

Sabrina pulls out a hanky and holds it to Salem’s cold little nose. He blows loudly. Brad turns to look suspicious.

Sabrina- Runny nose. Er, must be the high altitude.

Harvey- Hey look! Maybe we can call for help on this?

This is an old radio set that probably didn’t work when the fire tower was in use. It looks dead as the dodo with no power. He fiddles with the nobs and dials while Brad gives it a helpful slap on the top. Not so much as a crackle.

Brad- Great! It’s busted!

Harvey- Hey maybe Sabrina can fix it? She fixed the radio in your car.

He hands her a screwdriver.

Harvey- (Cont.) Come on, you’re our only hope.

The boys leave her to it but Brad keeps a watchful eye on her.

Sabrina- Great! I get to disappoint everyone, then... Die.

She sees Brad watching her so she starts poking the screwdriver around hopefully.

Int. Spellman living room. Hilda and Zelda return with the coffee to find Frank switching off the phone.

Hilda- Please help yourself to our phone.

Frank- I just talked to Kinkle again, no sign o’ the kids. I think I’ll drive up there, I don’t like to just sit around and wait for trouble to happen.

Zelda- What a refreshing attitude.

Frank- Besides, this old dump gives me the creeps.

Hilda- (Aside to Zelda) It seems to attract them.

Zelda- Mr. Alcerro, please wait!

He stops at the door impatiently

Hilda- Let him go and when he’s gone we can zap ourselves to Sabrina.

Zelda- But what if we materialise right next to Brad?

Hilda- He’d identify us as witches and we’d all be turned into mice. Bad plan.

Zelda- Sabrina is all alone up there with a witch-hunter and another one is on the way. We’ve got to go up there to protect her. (To Frank) Mr. Alcerro, we’re going with you.

Frank- Bring some gas money.

Hilda- I’ll stay here and fold up the tent.

Zelda tosses Hilda her warm coat and scarf.

Hilda- (Cont.) Oh, well I thought you two wanted to be alone together.

Int. Fire tower. Sabrina’s managed to get the back off the old radio and is now poking her screwdriver around inside the radio. Salem whispers helpful comments to her.

Salem- Try sparking those two wires together.

Sabrina- Well then the whole thing would be on fire.

Salem- And we’d be warm.

Harvey comes over.

Harvey- Hey, any luck? Brad thinks one of his toes feels frost bitten.

Sabrina- Oh and I suppose that’s my fault too?

Harvey- I-I’m not interested in whose fault this is. Though if you wanna get technical, it was your idea to climb up here.

Sabrina- It wasn’t my idea to go skiing and it wasn’t my stupid car that wouldn’t start.

Harvey- Again, I’m not interested in blaming anyone.

He goes back to join Brad in a shivering contest. Sabrina blows on her gloved hands and gets back to pocking the radio a little more violently.

Salem- (Whispering) My paw has turned black!

Sabrina- You’re paws always black!

Salem- D’oh!

Sabrina- I can’t get this stupid thing to work!

She gives it an angry wrap with the screwdriver. The dials light up and static comes from the speaker. Harvey and Brad come over to see.

Sabrina- (Cont.) It’s working! Huh! And they say violence never solves anything.

Int. Frank’s 4x4 pick up. The snows coming down heavier as his headlights and array of spot-lights cut through the darkness of the bumpy mountain road. Hilda sits between Zelda and Frank on the bench seat.

Frank- Relax ladies, I’m ready for anything in this baby.

Zelda- Well that’s good to hear. You know I’ve been trying to impress upon my sister the importance of being prepared for disaster.

Frank- I’ve got enough food to last four months in this rig.

Hilda- Oh great, so if we get hit by an asteroid right now, we die with enough powdered milk to last until April.

Int. Fire tower. Sabrina turns the dial looking for anyone who might be listening.

Sabrina- (Down Microphone) Hello? Is there anybody there?

Child- Hello?

Sabrina- (To the boys) Hey! We got someone.

Harvey- (Aside to Brad) See? She’s not gonna get us killed.

He’s not quiet enough and Sabrina turns to glare at them before turning back to the radio.

Sabrina- (To child) We’re stuck in an abandoned fire tower and we need to talk to your mother or your father or your step-parents depending on your family situation.

Child- I’m not supposed to play with this radio. If I do, dad yells.

Sabrina- (Frantic) But this is an emergency! We’re stuck! We’re freezing and we can’t get down!

Child- You’re yelling at me! Over and out.

The Child is gone and in frustration Sabrina slams the microphone down on the radio. All the dials go dark. Harvey and Brad glare down at her and reconsider their earlier comments

Sabrina- Well he yelled at me. (Sob!)

Int. Frank’s 4x4 pick up. Frank pulls to a halt and the aunts look at him questioningly.

Zelda- Why are we stopping?

Hilda- Did we get a flat in our giant tyres?

Frank- Snow. Have to put the chains on.

Hilda- Oh well can you leave the heater on please while you go out there?

Frank- Yeah, I’ve got a cracked vertebrae. Either you two put them on or we turn back.

He drags the heavy snow chains from under the seat and dumps them in Hilda’s lap.

Zelda- (Aside to Hilda) Good, as we can’t use our magic this’ll be an excellent learning experience.

Hilda- Just so you know, I’m not getting you anything for your birthday.

Int. Fire tower. Flurries of snow blow through where the windows used to be as the three lost souls move around stamping their feet and rubbing their arms to try and keep warm. Sabrina hugs Salem to her to keep him warm.

Harvey- My lungs have never been cold before.

Brad- I think we should share the cat.

Salem- No.

Sabrina- No. Er... he has issues with men.

Harvey- You know you could be a little nicer to Brad. After all, it’s not his fault we’re up here.

Sabrina- Wish I had never agreed to this stupid trip.

Harvey- Wish I’d never asked you on this stupid trip.

Sabrina- You know this is definitely not better than not going!

There’s a creak! Suddenly the whole tower shifts, nearly throwing all three to the floor. The metal fixings of the ladder are not the only things that are corroded. Years of neglect and harsh weather have rotted the towers support beams. Just the six hundred or so pounds of additional weight provided by the kids has caused one to splinter and shift.

Brad- We’re going down!

But the tower settles at a slight angle and they look at each other with terror in their eyes.

Ext. The mountain road. With a grunt of effort Zelda gets the last chain seated on the rear drivers side and stands up to join Hilda at the rear of the pick up proudly brushing her gloved hands.

Zelda- We did it! I feel such a sense of accomplishment! We’re empowered now Hilda! We’ll never be stuck in the snow again! Ha-ha!

She bangs on the side of the pick up.

Zelda- (Cont.) Okay, fire her up!

Frank turns on the engine and revs up. The wheels spin in the snow even with the chains and send a spray of dirty snow and mud all over Zelda and Hilda.

Hilda- And nothing for Christmas!

Int. Fire tower. Death looms at every corner. They may not have time to freeze to death before the tower gives up on the idea of vertical and sends them plummeting to their end. It shifts and tilts once more and Harvey, who had been hanging onto an old table loses his grip and staggers, Sabrina with her legs braced and a firmer grip on the radio manages to grab hold of him and pulls him close to her. They cling to each other in desperation. The fear fuelled row they have had seems inconsequential with their impending fate.

Brad- Don't move!

Sabrina- I’m sorry we had a fight.

Harvey- I am too. I-If I have to fall to an untimely death in the middle of nowhere, I’d rather do it with you than with anyone else... Except maybe a paramedic.

The tower begins to shift again, the angle getting close to the point of no return. All they can do is hang on and pray. Salem, who’d been sitting on the radio table with Sabrina leaps down as the table shifts. Even his tiny weight has a drastic effect on the unstable tower and it rocks violently.

Sabrina- Salem freeze!!

The cat stops instantly and the tower stops precariously balanced. No-one dare so much as breath for fear that it’ll signal the end.

Harvey- Wow! That’s a well trained cat.

Int. Frank’s 4x4 pick up. They’re back on the road. At least they think they are. It’s hard to tell exactly where the road is with the snow.

Hilda- All right, you’ve made it clear that you don’t wanna stop, but do you think we could use one of your two hundred rolls of toilet paper to dry off with?

Frank- Nope, don’t wanna break the seal.

An infuriated Hilda launches herself at Frank’s throat but after the snow-chain fiasco Zelda is the one seated in the middle. She intercepts her sister and pushes her back in the seat.

Zelda- (Aside to Hilda) You catch more fly’s with honey that with vinegar. (To Frank) Do you have a rag we could use?

Frank- Sure.

He reaches into the glove box and pulls out a filthy, oil stained piece of cloth and hands it to Zelda.

Zelda- Thank you... very much.

Hilda- Imagine the fly’s you can catch with that rag.

Int. Fire tower. One of the legs gives way completely. only some of the stronger cross spars are keeping it at roughly a sixty degree angle.

Brad- Hold on!

Sabrina- (To Salem) What am I gonna do? I can’t cast a spell! I’ll be turned into a mouse for a hundred years.

The tower begins it’s final slow shift.

Harvey- This is it! We’re going over!

Sabrina- (Whispering) That’s it! I’ve gotta save you guys. I don’t care what happens to me.

Salem- (Whispering) I promise, while you’re a mouse, I wont eat you.

When the tower reaches forty five degrees and starts to accelerate towards the ground and the boys scream their final screams, Sabrina waves her finger and they all vanish in a swirl of sparkles. The tower completes it’s fall, ending up as so much match-wood and sending up a large cloud of snow. Some feet away, over a deep snow drift, two guys, a girl and a cat materialise from thin air a few feet above and fall into the snow with grunts. They lie there stunned for a moment before finally catching on that they’re still alive.

Harvey- Is everyone okay?

Sabrina- Fine. Wow! The snow must have broken our fall.

Brad- But we fell fifty feet. How can we all be fine?

Sabrina- Clean living?

Brad- No-no-no-no-no! This is all too weird. First you fixed my radio without even using any tools, then when she fixed my heater, I swear I saw sparks fly out of her finger!

Sabrina- Oh, and you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.

Brad- (To Harvey) And I swear that darned cat of hers was talking and then the whole tower blows over and we come out of it without a scratch?

Harvey- It was kinda like a miracle.

Sabrina- Well then we should all bow our heads and give thanks.

She bows her head... but to pray that there are no hawks lurking around the woods or her new life as a mouse will be a lot shorter than a hundred years.

Brad- It wasn’t a miracle, it was like-like magic. Like Sabrina has some sort of magical powers.

Sabrina- Sheesh! Talk about overreacting to your brush with death huh?

Hear it comes. He’s going to say it. The witch-finder has found her out.

Int. Frank’s 4x4 pick up.

Frank- So you’re not Sabrina’s mother, you’re her aunt huh?

Zelda- That’s right.

Frank- Yeah I know how that can be. I’m Brad’s step-father but I raised him from a baby.

Hilda- Step-father?

Zelda- You’re not Brad’s biological father? That’s wonderful.

Frank- (Defensive) Hey! I am capable of being a biological father!

Zelda- Oh! Oh! Oh of course! (Aside to Hilda) So he doesn’t have the witch-hunter gene.

Hilda- So we can use magic to save Sabrina.

Zelda wastes no more time. She raises her finger.

Int. The forest by the ex-fire tower. Sabrina mentally prepares to say good-bye to two legs and hello to four... and a long tail and whiskers. She closes her eyes, not wanting to see herself change.

Brad- I know what you are! Sabrina Spellman, you’re a....!

A blinding bright light fills the forest as Sabrina braces herself for the words. Brad winces and shields his eyes for a moment.

Brad- (Cont.) What’s that light?

A frown crosses Sabrina’s face and she tentatively opens one eye to see what saved her. Harvey looks up and sees that the snow clouds have parted and a large full moon shining down on them.

Harvey- It’s the moon. I guess the weathers clearing up.

Sabrina looks at her gloved hands, amazed that they’re still hands and not tiny paws. Brad looks across at Harvey.

Brad- What was I about to say?

Just then two more lights sweep across them.

Harvey- Look! Headlights!

Sabrina- Somebody’s here! We’re saved!

Harvey- It’s your dad... and Sabrina’s aunts.

Brad- Wait a second! That light wiped out my memory. What was I about to say? I can’t remember.

Harvey- I know the feeling. Don’t worry, you’ll get over it. I always do. (Calling out) Hey over here!

They rush towards the car. Sabrina follows with Salem.

Salem- That was close.

Sabrina- Y’know, you save a guys life and he turns on you. Glad we screwed up his date.

She joins her aunts at the car.

Later.

Sabrina- (To her aunts) So you changed the weather and that turned off the witch-hunter gene?

Hilda- Yes. We used our magic to save you.

Zelda- But we were able to help because we took the precaution of coming up here.

Hilda- But we used our magic!

Zelda- But we prepared for disaster!

Sabrina- Can I say something? Thank you for rescuing me.

Zelda- Oh you’re welcome sweetheart.

She gives her niece a kiss on the cheek.

Hilda- We’d do anything for you Sabrina, you know that.

She kisses the other cheek.

Salem- May I say something? I want my westerns!

Three fingers raise simultaneously and Salem vanishes.

Int. Sabrina’s bedroom. Salem arrives, 0nce again dressed in his fluffy pink house-coat, in front of the TV.

Salem- Oh yes!

Announcer- That concludes our western marathon.

Salem- Ghe!!

Announcer- Please stay tuned for classic romance.

Salem- (Sob! Sob! Sob!)

Announcer- First up, The other side of the mountain.

Salem- Ooo! Marilyn Hassett alert!

Int. Brad’s truck. Harvey’s at the wheel with one arm draped round Sabrina’s shoulder as she leans into him.

Harvey- I know you and Brad don’t get along too well but you have to admit. It was pretty cool of him to drive home with his dad and your aunts and let us have his truck.

Sabrina- And now we’ve got the romantic weekend we were hoping for.

Harvey- With my mom and dad.

Run Credits

Sabrina- Hey, it’s better than not going.

Harvey- Now if I could just find the turn off for the cabin on this dark road.

Sabrina points at the glove-compartment before opening it and pulling out...

Sabrina- Oh hey look! Brad has a satellite navigation system.

She pokes a few buttons on the hand held device.

Sabrina- (Cont.) We take the next left.

Harvey- Wow! I cannot believe he forgot he had that.

Sabrina- Yeah well, y’know Harvey, I have to tell you the truth. Brad is weird.

He nods and Sabrina rests her tired head against his shoulder smiling. It’s been a long night but things are definitely looking up.