Haunted Hotel (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
-What is this device?
-The blender? It makes smoothies.
Usually not with
my prize-winning heirloom tomatoes, but--
It takes all the guesswork
out of stabbing.
Question five.
Oh, that's Kennedy. Vietnam.
No idea. That happened after I died.
-You said I'm a co-owner.
-And you are.
So why can't I work the front desk?
I'm great with people and dogs.
-What about lizards?
-Ben, I'm a lizard wizard.
You can't work at the front desk
because you can't pick up a key,
and the second you try,
the guest will run screaming.
-What guests?
-Ha! Got her.
Esther, what'd I say about
making ghosts do your homework?
Keep it a secret.
Can you at least get help
from a living classmate?
Come on, Mrs. K. School doesn't matter.
I dropped out in fifth grade
and turned out fine.
Phoebe, I say this with kindness.
There's a hatchet in your head.
Ugh!
She really doesn't like to talk
about the hatchet.
Come on. I don't want to be
one of those lazy owners
who gets half the profits
for none of the work.
Uh, you're not getting
half of the profits.
Also, there are no profits.
I killed a prophet once.
Ripped his head off.
Ended the religion right then and there.
Nathan, I'd love
if you could do something,
but I don't have time to figure out what
because I'm busy doing everything.
-So not everything.
-The blender's not working!
Arise.
Would you arise?
I said arise!
Ooh, what are we summoning?
Bell Witch? Red Ghost? Leprechaun!
We're summoning light in the hallways
until the power is back.
I'll handle distribution.
Ben, please prepare to write down
my plan for distribution.
Ben?
Does anyone feel an urge
to light this one, like, right now?
We'll stick to flashlights.
So what's the plan
if the power doesn't come back?
Buy a generator to run the TV?
Buy a battery-powered TV?
Is this you asking or Annabelle?
Annabelle says that as a couple,
her needs are my needs,
which is why I really need
a 1920s ball gown.
Want me to go to the power company
and crack some heads?
Phoebe's teaching me how to
threaten people. I'm getting pretty good.
-Right?!
-Yep!
I don't want you hanging out with Phoebe.
She's a bad influence.
I mean, she's an influence,
but good or bad, who's to say?
Me, which is why I invited over
a good influence from your class, Heather.
She gets straight A's,
and equally importantly, is alive.
Her dad says you've been dodging
her texts about a group project.
Heather's great at dioramas.
Phoebe always says never do anything
if someone else'll do it for you.
-Ugh.
-Kids. You can't choose their friends.
But when their friends are alive,
you can send them home.
-Phoebe is in this hotel forever.
-True.
Unless someone finishes her business.
Wait, unfinished business is real?
Oh, real as a banana peel.
If a ghost has
unresolved hopes and/or dreams,
and you make those hopes
and/or dreams happen, they can move on.
And maybe Phoebe just wants
to watch the sunset or meet a baby.
Or murder a rival. For a lot of ghosts,
it's murdering a rival.
Well… …problem's not with the box.
You got no power coming in.
I'll call the city.
City? This hotel isn't on the grid.
Power comes from the forest water mill.
If there's a problem, it's up there.
A water mill, like with the paddles?
Are you sure?
Ma'am, I was electrocuted by this hotel.
I think I know how it works.
Now I have to figure out
how to fix a water mill.
Not if I fix it first.
I mean, I'll need help from someone
who can hold a hammer.
And probably a drill. Do we have a drill?
I may need someone to buy a drill.
Or I hire a handyman
who comes with his own drill.
Shouldn't you handle that first?
No, no, no, no, no.
Thank you for your trust!
Ben? You wanna be a hero?
Always.
Hi, I'm Heather.
My dad said I have to be here.
Is it always this dark in here?
Hi, Heather. I'm Esther's mom.
Sorry for touching you.
-I'll have Esther meet you in the parlor.
-Okay, cool. Which way is…
I'll find it!
Esther, where's Phoebe?
Phoebe?
Oh, you mean the woman
I'm not allowed to talk to
because of your outdated idea
ghosts and humans can't be friends?
-It's because she's a bad influence.
-Why, because she was murdered?
-I don't care how she died.
-Wow!
I care that she's teaching you to cheat,
threaten your brother,
and possibly die by hatchet.
She's nice and listens when I complain
about how I never wanted to move here.
That's… fair.
I guess we all need to adjust
our concept of normal.
How did they all die?
Cliff. It was foggy.
Promise you'll be careful.
Always.
-What's that light?
-What light?
Goin' down?
-Yeah, I'm going down.
-There are things behind this wall.
Terrible, weird things
that mortal eyes aren't meant to see.
And you've seen them?
Like, in passing.
A ghost speakeasy.
Is that a ghost piano?
Actually, it's the ghost of a guy
whose bones were turned into a piano.
Ha ha ha!
I'll be back when I've saved television.
I'll wait inside a clock
to count every second until you return.
That's actually very sweet.
Abaddon… in a coat that appears
to have recently been underground.
I'm coming with you.
Though the danger will be great,
it is a worthy quest… for Blender.
This is the first I'm hearing of danger,
let alone great danger.
Relax. I'm sure it's a normal water mill
in an average forest
on the grounds of a deeply haunted hotel.
Wait, you've never been?
I was too busy when I was alive.
And once I died, well, inside ghosts
and outside ghosts don't really mix.
Something about dying outside
makes you, uh… mm, funny.
Bugs eat your bones.
Yeah, maybe it's because
bugs eat your bones. Now, let's go.
How did you find this place?
-Phoebe showed me.
-Ugh!
I didn't realize
they were letting the living in here.
Who is "they"? Nope. Don't care.
Phoebe, I'll make this fast
since there's a ghost
trying to pick my pocket.
Enjoy the penny.
If you're here to make me stop
hanging out with Esther, forget it.
She's the most useful member of my gang.
-You're in a gang?
-Not a gang gang.
Just a group of friends
that control a territory
and make other ghosts pay for protection.
That's exactly a gang.
Wait, how do ghosts pay you?
In secrets, sometimes a dance.
Speaking of, Angela, you owe a jig.
What about a traditional Shinto dance
called a kagura?
Boo!
-Boo! Boo!
-Boo!
A lucky penny, and it's mine.
All my life I always wanted a lucky--
He finished his business.
Esther, Heather is in the parlor.
-Good for her. Hope she enjoys it.
-Go.
Ugh!
Phoebe, let's get to know each other.
Yeah… You know,
I can actually get TV on my phone,
so from
a "hero to my girlfriend" perspective--
You know what you can't get on your phone?
The self-worth that comes
from proving you're useful.
Do I need that?
We all need that.
Look, I know
your mom thinks I'm a goofball,
a rogue, a charmingly loose cannon.
But when I was alive, I got stuff done.
Was it all good stuff? Frequently, no.
But I was making a difference.
In hell, I could chop the limbs off
of a man with my mind.
Now I can't even chop
the limbs off of a bird.
Exactly. That's my point.
To go from being the only man
to sneeze into the mouth of a living pope
to spending eternity
just watching people run a hotel…
I can't accept that. I won't.
And you don't have to.
-Oh, I don't have an idea.
-Well, I do.
We support each other.
I don't understand
why Abaddon wants to chop off limbs,
but I understand it matters to him.
And I support him like a brother.
And you are my brother as well?
I mean, within reason.
See? That…
that's what the woods is all about, huh?
Brothers from different mothers
supporting each others.
I smell evil.
If anyone's out there,
I'm as weak as I am cooperative!
Relax. Any monsters in these woods
are just as afraid of a ghost,
demon, and young teen
as a ghost, demon,
and young teen are of them.
Stop calling me a young teen.
You're 13.
That's as young as teens get, my friend.
I see it.
Uncle Nathan, what's that?
All good, fellas. That's Cora.
Cora, it's Nathan!
We haunted that brunch last year.
Not Cora. Sorry!
We should really go back. We can't fix
the water mill. We're not even licensed.
I don't say this lightly,
but that guy is mean.
I don't care
if he's the king of Australia.
Whatever's out there is just a ghost.
And ghosts don't scare other ghosts.
Uh… Uncle Nathan?
So tell me about yourself.
I know how things ended,
but what was your life before that?
There's not much to tell.
Dad ran off before he got to see me dance.
Mom was a drunk
who told me I'd never be famous.
My sister stole my boyfriend.
My brother stole my car.
And I had a parrot
that turned out to be a real narc.
Wow. That is a lot of unresolved issues.
What feels most important?
Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!
Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!
Oh my God!
Whoa! Argh!
This is for my girlfriend's TV shows.
Ben? You didn't chicken out.
Oh! I owe Abaddon a five-minute dance.
I realized they're just ghosts.
They can't actually do anything.
Oh, well, I… I mean,
they can do things. Uh…
Screaming, singing, observing.
Gosh, where is Abaddon?
Ah, probably got lost.
The good news is he's immortal.
I once saw him sit at the bottom
of a lake for two days. Let's mill it up.
Okay, that's a full Thanksgiving dinner
because your parents kicked you out
on Thanksgiving morning
and you never ate turkey again.
We've sent angry letters
to all your old teachers.
And good news, the nursing home
was able to wake up your dad.
Hello, Daddy?
Phoebe? It can't be.
Why? Because I never call?
Because you're dead.
And happier than ever!
Also, I don't forgive you.
All my problems are your fault.
Also, you don't control me!
That seems like enough yelling
at what has to be a very old man.
I do feel better.
And…
And… thank you?
If you wanna join our gang,
you have to spend a night
in the well where Oscar died.
A fox chased me in, but he died first.
No, they let me in the gang for no reason.
Mom, why are you
hanging out with Phoebe?
Because she's a hoot.
Did you know she has a gun in her pocket?
She showed it to me multiple times.
No Thanksgiving meal is complete
without a pie. Eat up.
Maybe it needs to be a ghost pie.
Oh my God! Will you just stop
trying to finish her business?
Wait, you knew?
-Did you seriously think I didn't?
-I don't know.
If I did, maybe I'd understand
why you're in a gang of ghosts.
Why do you even care?
Ben's dating a ghost.
And I worry about that too.
I'm your mother. What do you want?
I want you to trust me!
And I thought you did.
I have a diorama to finish.
Did you say
your brother is dating a ghost?
Not right now, Heather.
Oh God.
I'm just gonna scooch you.
Rest in peace!
Hey, the mill keeper's diary.
Maybe there's something about mill repair.
But is that worth violating
someone's privacy?
"Diary of Josiah Banquest,
Mill Keeper and Servant of Böþorn."
"I found the infant god…"
…sleeping beneath the water.
I know it is a sin, but I will awaken him.
Blah blah blah. Skip ahead.
"The infant's hunger is great."
It has taken of my flesh,
but I can give no more.
-I have begun a cycle I…
-"…cannot stop."
"Forgive me."
No tips there. Maybe the problem's
all these vines in the gears.
Are we sure these are vines?
Ben!
Ha!
Damn it. I'm useless!
Go limp.
Or rigid. Limp limbs, strong core!
Ben! Just hang on!
Don't let Mom open my laptop.
Just throw it away!
Abaddon?
Hello, brother.
-You chopped a limb. Good for you.
-Where'd you get a hatchet?
Skull of a woman in a shallow grave.
Sounds like you found
the body of Esther's new friend.
Why would they bury her
with the thing that killed her?
Unless it was her favorite axe.
Oh God. Run!
-I'm a bad mom.
-Yeah, maybe.
All I want is a good life for my kids,
but is that even possible here?
My daughter's best friend
was killed with a hatchet.
If it makes you feel better,
this was actually an accident.
Don't believe men when they say
they're good at throwing hatchets.
Maybe I wasn't fair to you.
You can't judge someone
by the hatchet in their head. I'm sorry.
Apology accepted.
-So what's your unfinished business?
-I'm still alive, Phoebe.
Yeah, and life is where
unfinished business comes from.
So what do you wanna do before you die?
Honestly, I just want one day
where I'm not afraid.
I'm always afraid.
Afraid of the things in this hotel,
afraid my kids are in danger.
I'm even afraid of heights.
I can help with one of those.
What are we doing up here?
Facing your fear of heights.
Come on, the view's incredible!
Wow. Windy up here.
And steep.
Phoebe? Phoebe?
This is for trying to finish my business.
No!
No! Phoebe!
Let me in or so help me,
I will finish so much business,
it sends you straight to hell!
Huh!
We're gonna die.
Can't die. Believe me, I have tried.
Well, can you be ripped apart?
Because that's what's about to happen!
Find something to barricade the door!
Oh, this is all my fault. I just wanted
to prove I can still do things.
No presh, but now would be
a good time to prove it.
-I said make a barricade!
-Bones can be a barricade.
The spirits in the woods.
These are their bodies.
They weren't trying to attack us.
They were trying to help us
by driving us off.
Feels a little late
for that to be useful. Gah!
Ben, it's never too late to be useful.
Human sacrifice coming through!
No! My blender!
Oh-ho-ho-ho!
Beast, you have made a powerful enemy.
He doesn't have enough context.
Ha! Is that your best chasing?
I gotta say, for an ancient water beast,
I'm a bit dis--
Teeth inside your throat.
You don't see that a lot.
Aw, am I not spurting blood and screaming
as my arms get torn from their sockets
as easily as you hoped?
Ha! You just got ghosted.
-Ah, no, that already means something.
-Get revenge later!
Uh, so… so,
I saw a lot of skeletons back there,
Now, uh, do you eat around the bones,
or do you swallow the whole person
and poop the bones?
Ben, if you can hear me, that's a problem!
You're just gonna watch me fall?
You were gonna force me out of existence.
Once you die
and become a ghost, we're even.
It's a three-story drop.
I can survive that.
Esther!
She treats me like an idiot!
Would an idiot know how to rig
the partner selection
to get paired with Heather P.,
who gets A's?
-Wait, did you do that?
-I did, Heather.
-And that moon looks incredible.
-Yeah, it's a plant cell.
Esther!
-Mom?
-Esther!
Is this a lesson
about the dangers of reckless behavior?
Phoebe tricked me
onto the roof to kill me.
I tricked you onto the roof
to teach you a lesson!
Falling and dying is on you.
-Oh God.
-Hang on!
-We need more yarn.
-I'll be right back.
Because you're getting more yarn?
Okay, you can fall now!
I really can't.
You can! Fall into the painting.
That's insane and makes no sense!
It's not insane. It's the only way!
-Boo.
-Oh!
Mom!
Esther, there's a ladder in the shed.
I want you to get it.
And I want you to trust me!
Just trust me.
Huh?
There you are!
You've been gone for two weeks.
-What?!
-Nah. I'm just messing with you.
Why are the lights out again?
-Go on without me!
-Okay, sounds good.
Run! This beast and I
have a score to settle.
Sorry, who are you?
Josiah Banquest. Water-mill keeper.
I may not have legs,
but I've got one last dance in me.
Drive him back, boys!
He's scared now.
Oh, thank God! My boys.
My beautiful boys.
Oh, I did not want to explain to Katherine
why you were coming back
to the hotel as a ghost
and a skeleton in knee-high socks.
We made it out because of you
and the ghost of that water-mill keeper.
Why did he help us?
Because one act of kindness
deserves another.
Thank you for laying my body to rest.
You mean when I pushed your body
and it accidentally fell into the hole--
Go with it, just go with it.
It was an honor.
-How did you know about this?
-I know lots of things.
Those paintings are cursed,
and if you go inside again,
you'll be possessed
by the man in the tunnel.
I'm sorry I didn't trust you.
And I'm sorry
I didn't listen to you about Phoebe.
Also that she tried to kill you.
Oh, you're still alive?
Next time I'll pick a taller roof.
Come on, Esther.
We're gonna go jump in front of cars.
Before we do that, look what I found.
Is that the shawl my sister borrowed
and never gave back?
I thought it was lost forev--
That was her unfinished business?
And you knew.
Like I said, I know lots of things.
Like what'll happen to any ghost
that messes with my mom!
I run this hotel!
Do you hear me, Oscar?
My dad's here.
I'll finish the diorama at home.
-Enjoy your A.
-Thank you, Heather.
Finally! Did you figure out
the power problem?
Better. We figured out that
I don't have to touch things to be useful.
And that you really gotta get
this hotel on the grid.
Blend, my wicked ones.
Blend until all the world is pulp!
So then this monster says,
"I don't want your girlfriend
to ever watch TV again."
And for me, well,
let's just say that was unacceptable.
What's unacceptable
is the things I wanna do to you.
So that's still happening, huh?
One enormous problem at a time.
So what's your unfinished business?
Well, I don't know.
I mean, I've always wanted
to run a successful hotel.
Uncle Nathan's staying forever!
But I also always wanted
to run with the bulls,
and run for office.
I had a lot of dreams about running,
including running from my problems.
That's a joke, but based in truth.
The blenders aren't working!