- The Mayor lives here. - My house is in Blairsville?! - I've been instructed to strip you of your title. - Oh. - Mayor Pershing, the city is yours. - SAM: What is it you love? - I like writing and photography. I like that a lot. - Then do more of that. - (SIGHS) - All of it, and just figure out what you like the best. - So, what kind of ring do you want? - Something any Merriwick woman would want. The Merriwick ring. (GASPS) It's perfect. - Yeah. (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) (MYSTICAL MUSIC) It was October 31 1818. In those days, Middleton and Blairsville lived in harmony. Well, that was all about to change. Patience Merriwick's hand was promised to Roderick Davenport. Upon their exchanging of vows, the most prominent family in each town would be forever joined, but Patience's heart belonged to someone else, William Spry. (ROMANTIC MUSIC) William worked in the mines. It was there he unearthed a ruby like no other. Some say it held a magic inside. They would need every ounce of that magic after their secret was discovered by Roderick's family. (WISTFUL MUSIC) (HORSE WHINNIES) That night at Grey House, William was conscripted into the war, his hasty departure cleverly orchestrated by the Davenports. William vowed to return before Patience's wedding day. He promised, no matter where he was in the world, the ruby would lead his heart back to hers. Patience's father was worried she would sneak out to try and find William, so he confined her to Grey House, or so he thought. One year later, on Allhallows Eve, that night before her wedding to Roderick, Patience was waiting for William to come back for her, and then she vanished. Neither Patience or William were ever seen again. Roderick and his family never got over the slight, causing a rift between Blairsville and Middleton that exists to this day. No one knows for sure how Patience made her way out of Grey House. Some say it was the power of the ruby. Some say it was the power of true love. (CHUCKLES) William wrote these letters to Patience, but they stopped when she vanished. Some say he never made his way to her, and others say... - ...that they were reunited and that she left the ruby behind to allow true love to blossom in Middleton every Halloween since. - And you have finished that story for me ever since you were 8. - I can't help it. I just love it so much. - (DOOR OPENS, FOOTSTEPS APPROACH) - Wow, that really is the Heart of Middleton. I` I saw a picture once, but it didn't do it justice. - Yeah, some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes the real thing can leave you speechless. (CHUCKLES) I'm Cassie Nightingale. Welcome to Grey House. You must be Karen Alexander. - The one and only. - Mm. I was on the museum-curator hiring committee, and your resume was very impressive, especially your internship at the Louvre. - Paris changed my life. May I? - Oh, sure. This ruby's been in my family for 200 years. - And I have been in her family for 18 of those. I'm Grace. - Grace is my daughter. - Spectacular. - Hmm, I've been called worse. - What? Sorry, I` I'm always doing that. Sometimes I'm better with objects than I am with people. - Well, you clearly love your work. I hope I find something that I love that much. - I know what I'd love. A cup of coffee and a piece of Martha's pumpkin pie. (CHUCKLES) Halloween can't come soon enough. I wish she'd bake that pie more than once a year. - Well, there are pumpkin scones in the dining room if that helps. - I think I could force myself to eat a couple. - (DOORBELL CHIMES) - After I answer the door. - Uh, shall we? - Yeah. - (DOOR OPENS) - You are gonna love it in Middleton. You picked the best time of year to be here. - I kind of feel like Middleton picked me or, at least, the museum committee did. - Well, you're welcome to stay at Grey House until you find a place to call home. - Great, because I'm gonna be putting all my energy into the History of Halloween exhibit at the museum ` the Cotton Perriwood Prophecy, the gargoyles, Infinity Brick, not to mention the most important thing ` how to properly display this glorious ruby. - Wow, you really did your homework. - Middleton is a fascinating place. And I love that you're having a black-tie gala on Halloween Eve. - Oh, yes. Well, it's a masquerade black-tie gala, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the rivalry between Middleton and Blairsville. - Ooh! Abigail just texted pictures of the flowers. - Oh. - Are those for the gala? - Uh, my mom's wedding. She's getting married the next day. - How exciting! - It is exciting, though true love is tested when you're trying to find a cake that you both like. - (CHUCKLES) - I know the cake I'd pick. I saw it at a cafe in Paris. - Oh, I adore Paris. And I adore this place. I'm Addison Brubaker. - Cassie Nightingale. Welcome to Grey House. - I'm so glad I'm staying here while I visit my Edward. I hope my room is ready, because I have to make myself amazing. - Sam? (DOWNBEAT MUSIC) What's wrong? - So, I just got off the phone with Barry. There's a problem at Cypress Villa. - The chairs didn't arrive? - Oh, no, the chairs got there, just in time for the flood. - Sam, no. - The whole place is under 3 feet of water. - No wedding? - No, not unless we use snorkels. (BIRDS CHIRP) - This is my favourite time of year. I don't want it to feel this way. - I don't either. - Let's not give up. We'll find the perfect place. - I would never give up, and I love how you do that. - Do what? - Find the best in everything. - Mm. It's easy to do when you're marrying the man of your dreams. - (BOTH CHUCKLE) - Let's just go to City Hall. - (SIGHS) Oh, it's not fair to our guests or us. Stressing out, trying to find a place last minute is not how I wanna remember our wedding. - (SIGHS) I can't believe we're gonna have to wait again. - Well, at least we have the black-tie gala this weekend at the museum. - You still wanna go? - I do. You? - I do. I now pronounce us man and date. - You may now kiss your plus-one. - (BOTH CHUCKLE) (ROMANTIC MUSIC) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023 (UPLIFTING MUSIC) - Let's take the pedestal up about 6 inches. - Oh, I don't know how it's possible, but that ruby gets more stunning every year. - They do say things get better with age. - Well, you and I are living proof of that. (CHUCKLES) Oh dear. I can see you're not quite our Cassie today. - Oh, I'll be fine. - Fine? Oh, no, no, no, no. That will not do. You live in Middleton, and Middleton lives for Halloween. So, wedding or not, you will be transported, transfixed, dare I say, transformed, from the beautiful bride you would've been into the belle of the Halloween ball, or gala in this case. - Thanks, Martha. - Believe me, you will be thoroughly distracted once you're deep in the trenches, helping us to defeat Blairsville in our Halloween Harvest Festival brouhaha. - Uh, I thought the Heart of Middleton was supposed to inspire romance, not competition. - And it most certainly does. Oodles and oodles of couples are married because of that ruby. - It works on couples, not necessarily rival towns. - Well, our Halloween feud has reached legendary status. It's gone viral, as the kids say, which is why this year a victory is crucial. Of course, we haven't lost in the last 20 years. - Thank you. I appreciate you calling. See you soon. - (PHONE BEEPS) Ronnie Sue Campbell will be judging the 'best pumpkin pie' contest at the black-tie gala. - The chef from Baking with Ronnie? - Mm-hm. - I love that show. - Everybody loves that show, and everybody is gonna love me for bringing her to Middleton. - Oh, how quickly they forget. I was the one who put in countless calls and emails to Ronnie Sue about coming to Middleton while you were off gallivanting about town. - If you're talking about Phil, that's over, and I'm fully committed to my duties as mayor. - Just so you know, I was the mayor until a small snafu with the town's boundary lines made me a citizen of Blairsville, and I was rudely removed from office. - You were asked nicely to hand over your gavel. - Oh. - Even so, no one bangs a gavel quite like you. - Thank you, Cassie. You always know exactly the right thing to say. Oh, no, no, no. You cannot put a doom-and-gloom prophecy next to the source of true love in Middleton. - I need you to trust me, Mrs Tinsdale. I care about the Heart as much as you do. - Oh. - How about we give Karen some space and give her some time to work her magic? - Absolutely. It's nice to see someone working as hard as I do. - Martha worked pretty hard getting the Halloween festivities up and running. I'm sure you can appreciate that, Abigail. - I appreciate how easy it's gonna be for me to get re-elected after the gala is a smashing success. So thank you, Martha. - You've been mayor for all of, what, two minutes, and you're already talking about re-election? - I like to plan ahead. - Uh... Well... - (CLEARS THROAT) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - (PEOPLE CHATTER) - STEPHANIE: Have a great day. Oh, hey. - Hey. - How you holdin' up? - I'm actually OK. You know, maybe this happened because Sam and I need to be focused on the gala. - Well, here is some organic iced strawberry green tea. - I'm guessing this is to soften the blow that you couldn't stop the wedding-food delivery. - The truck literally arrived as I hung up the phone with you. I tried, but they wouldn't take it back. - I'm gonna need a few more of these. - (CHUCKLES) - I'll write you a cheque. - I just` I feel horrible. At least let me make you and Sam dinner. The leftovers would last you a year. - That looks good. I'll have one of those. - Hello to you too. - I come with good news for the both of you. - Oh, does your news involve taking 150 lobster tails off my hands? - As a matter of fact, the caterer for the museum gala accidentally double-booked the night. - Oh. - The city will buy all your wedding food and consider hiring your caterer. Do you have any references? - Oh, do you have any idea how much I'm gonna charge you, since it's so last minute? - I'm willing to pay a premium if you can turn a fancy wedding feast into a Halloween-themed affair. - You're kidding, right? - I don't do that. - And I don't do themed food with two days' notice. - You don't or you can't? - You want me to admit I can't, fine. But good luck finding someone who can. - I think she already has. I've seen you make 400 cupcakes in two hours for the high-school homecoming. If anyone can do this, you can. - Looks like I'm turning filet mignon into ghoulish grill. - Thank you. (CHUCKLES) (GENTLE MUSIC) - OK, what's wrong? - (GRUNTS, SIGHS) With wanting to get a little exercise? Nothing. - You haven't shot baskets in, like, forever. - I've been busy. - Well, you can go back to work. - Dr Holland's covering for me. The next couple days were supposed to be the final push before the wedding. - Kind of hard to adjust? - Well, I'm more worried about Cassie. - Well, Cassie's not the one playing basketball in the middle of the day. - You know, it's like when you spend all your time studying for a test. When it's over, then you don't really know what to do. - Well, I wouldn't know. I never study for tests, so` - I know. I've seen your grades. - (CHUCKLES) But... have you seen my double-clutch reverse lay-up? - (CHUCKLES) Hey. Thanks. - Let's see if you're still thanking me after I beat you one-on-one. - (CHUCKLES) (PLAYFUL MUSIC) (PEOPLE CHATTER) - Oh my gosh, this place is so adorable! And what's that smell? - I'm diffusing wild orange and cinnamon essential oils. - Absolutely love it. Eddie, we should get some. - Yeah, I mean, if` if you love it, I can learn to love it too. - You're the best. - Looking for something special? - I've already found it, mm. - (CHUCKLES) She` She loves jewellery. - Oh. Oh, is there an occasion? - Maybe. There could be. - (CHUCKLES) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - Wow. Edward, look at this. This is beautiful. - Oh, it just came from an estate sale. - What does it say? - Uh... 'Mon coeur est pour toujours a toi.' - 'My heart is forever yours.' - It's totally meant to be. What's that word? - Kismet? - No, it's like fate or something. - It's definitely something. Yeah, we'll, um... We'll take it. - (GASPS) Thank you, Eddie. (CHUCKLES) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - Hey, you busy? - (SIGHS) Very. - Yeah. You're surfing for shoes? - And eating a scone. Multitasking is exhausting. - I'm sure. - But... Seriously? There's a whole plate of them inside. - What's up? You seem kind of down. - I feel bad for my mom. I mean, you know how she is about Halloween. A wedding this time of year was gonna be perfect. - Well, it can still be perfect. It's just postponed, kind of like when you get rained out in baseball. - You are such a guy. - And? - And... why are you here? - Come with me. It's more of a visual thing. But you have to keep your eyes closed. - What? - (BOTH CHUCKLE) - What is happening? - Keep them closed. - They are. (SIGHS) (CURIOUS MUSIC) - Ready? - I'm opening my eyes. (MUSIC CONTINUES) What? Uh, you decorated your house? - Cool, right? - Really cool! (GASPS) You did all this? - It's no biggie. - Who are you? You have never cared about Halloween before. - I know how much it means to your mom. I thought this would make her happy whenever she sees it. - Look at you, acting like part of the family. - I can do the family thing. (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - This feels kind of ironic. - Mm, I've never heard of an ironic pumpkin patch. - (CHUCKLES) Us taking a walk. - (CHUCKLES) - We've been so busy planning our lives together, we haven't seen much of each other lately. - Yeah, now that you mention it, I have kind of missed you. - I'm not surprised. I'm pretty great company. - Let me clarify. I missed you, not your sense of humour. - (BOTH LAUGH) - Ouch. I've missed you too. - Mm. (BIRDS CHIRP) That's strange. - Gotta be honest ` not the reaction I was lookin' for. - Not you, the pumpkin. It's heart-shaped. - Oh. - Oh, Martha's calling. - I didn't hear anything. - (PHONE RINGS) Hi, Martha. What? Whoa, slow down. We'll be right there. - What happened? - (SIGHS) The Heart of Middleton was stolen. (PENSIVE MUSIC) - The day doesn't begin until we've got our coffee order in. Yup, we've become a nation of coffee snobs, which is why Z's trained baristas use Well, this is disastrous! The festival is in two days! The Heart of our beloved Middleton could not have disappeared at a worse time of year. - There was no sign of a break in. - Oh. - Could've been an inside job, meaning the thief had a key. It narrows down the suspects. - Unfortunately, it doesn't. We have security cameras at the front and back entrances, and no one used a key to get in or out. - Hmm. - Oh my, it sounds like we have a real mystery on our hands. - We? I'm the mayor. I'm the one who's gonna get blamed here. - The Heart of Middleton was stolen on my watch. If anyone should be blamed... - The only person who should be blamed is the one who actually took it. - Well, they should be ashamed of themselves. This will undoubtedly affect all of us. I shudder to think Cupid's arrow will not be shooting straight this Halloween. - Please don't start spreading those rumours. - I'm sorry, are you calling me the town gossip? - No, because technically you don't live in town any more. - (GASPS) - Just because your house is in Blairsville, doesn't mean your home isn't in Middleton. - Thank you, Cassie. I appreciate that. But I'm not so sure. - (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSION) - (PEOPLE MURMUR) - Morning. Mm. - Hey. - Now, I'm sure that you've heard about the Halloween Harvest Festival competition between Middleton and Blairsville, right? - (CHUCKLES) You mean that thing that happens every four years for bragging rights? Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous. - First of all, it's not ridiculous. It's tradition. And, second of all, I signed you up for the 'scariest scarecrow' competition. - You did what? But why can't you do that? - Because I already signed up for the face-painting. And I have seen your decorating skills. - You should do it, pal. Show some town pride. - Yeah, that's not really my thing. - Sounds like a yes to me. - Oh, thanks, Nick. - Wait, what just happened? - Good morning. Can I help you find something? - I'm in the mood for a cafe noisette. - Ooh. I have no idea what that is, but it sounds exotic. - It's an espresso with a dash of hot milk. - We don't have an espresso machine, but we can do the hot-milk part. - How about some tea? - That we've got. - Good morning. Fresh-cut herbs in case anyone wants them with their eggs. - Oh, I do. - Yeah, OK. Nick, I saw your Halloween decorations. They're incredible. Thank you. - How do you know I didn't do it? - Doesn't take a psychic to figure that one out. - I went to a psychic once. She told me the love of my life was a dermatologist. She was way off. The next day, I met Eddie. - Mm. We have to be careful about our expectations. - You see? If you stop expecting so much from me, then you wouldn't get disappointed. - Well, I'm expecting this to be the most romantic weekend of my life. - Let's hope that it still can be with the Heart of Middleton gone. - Even without the ruby, we still have to believe that true love is out there. I'll get that. (KNOCK AT DOOR) Hello, Edward. Addison's in the kitchen. - Oh. - Actually, I'm right here. - Hey. - Hi. - You ready? - I thought we'd take a romantic stroll. There's a wishing well in Middleton Park. I have a hunch you know my wish. - Um, actually, I made a reservation for a haunted hayride. - Oh. You know I have hayfever, don't you? - Yeah, um... - The town square is decorated for Halloween. It's really a great walk this time of year and also a good compromise. - Works for me. - As long as we're together. - Sometimes that's all it takes. (QUIRKY MUSIC) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - (GRUNTS) - Wow! - (CHUCKLES) I know. - (SIGHS) - What do you think? - I think that Blairsville is probably taking this a lot more seriously than you are. - What? You signed me up without asking. What did you expect? - I expected it to be more like this. - I did that for your mom because I know how important Halloween is to her. - (SIGHS) Halloween is important to all of us. - Grace, don't you think Middleton takes the whole Halloween thing just a little too far? - Not when our town pride is on the line. - (CHUCKLES) - (SIGHS) (SIGHS) Never mind. You don't have to do it. I just... I thought that maybe you would wanna do more as a family. But I guess that we're not really family yet, so... - Wait. Are you trying to guilt me into this? - Yes. Is it working? (QUIRKY MUSIC) - Unfortunately. - (SIGHS) Great. I mean thank you. You've got this. (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Hey. - Hey. - What have you got there? - Uh, this is one of the letters discovered with the Heart of Middleton 200 years ago. Patience Merriwick's true love, William Spry, wrote this for her. (SIGHS) 'My beloved Patience, as darkness falls on this cold and bitter sea, 'thoughts of you are like the warm sun. 'Time and distance cannot separate our hearts but only strengthen our yearning for one another.' - Wow, that William definitely had a way with words. - OK, so, I'm very sad about your wedding. But as my favourite cousin, Cassie, likes to say, everything happens for a reason, and I need your help. - With what? - Boosting my approval rating by defeating Blairsville in the Halloween Harvest Festival. I can't be the first mayor to lose to them in 20 years. - Not really the end of the world if we don't win a pumpkin-carving contest. - It's not just a pumpkin-carving. And if we don't win, you're right, it's not the end of the world. Just the end of my bright and promising future as a politician. - (CHUCKLES) - It might help us take our minds off postponing the wedding. - I couldn't agree more. - Bet you carve a mean pumpkin. - (SIGHS) Let's do this. - Great. (PEOPLE CHATTER) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - Oh my! What a absolutely delightful array. - (GROANS) - Oh dear. You look troubled. - Is it that obvious? I just` I don't know how I'm supposed to repurpose all this wedding food for the Halloween gala. And then Abigail blows through here like a tornado, almost destroying everything in her path, not to mention her unreasonable demands. I... I just feel completely unappreciated. - Oh, please. You're preaching to the choir. There's nothing like pouring your heart and soul into the people of Middleton and then having it trampled upon by the new regime. - Mm. - Oh, food, glorious food. One of life's great comforts. It's probably why my pumpkin-pie recipe is so coveted at this time of year. Be sure to make your presentation visual so it blends seamlessly with the decor and... There I go again, trying to be helpful. I suppose it's just who I am. - You know, Martha, since you have planned some of the most fabulous and beloved events this town has ever known, maybe you could help me out with all this. - You know that sentiment is much appreciated, but I have dilly-dallied here for far too long. So if you'll excuse me, I think it's time that I take my rightful place in this world. - OK. - (SIGHS) That is so gross. - (BOTH CHUCKLE) - Well, if you can't handle pumpkin guts, you're gonna have a tough time being a surgeon. - When did you know that you wanted to be a doctor? - Well, I always knew I wanted to help people. Somehow making them feel better made me feel better. But I didn't really know I wanted to be a doctor until after college. - Really? - Really. - I'm not sure what I wanna do. - You don't have to have your whole life planned out. Wouldn't be much fun if you did. - I just` I wanna be really great at something, like you are. - (CHUCKLES) You know how I got to be that way? Making mistakes ` a lot of 'em. - Well, maybe people would make fewer mistakes if they had the right teacher? - You know who the best teacher in the world is? Failure. So find something you love and fail till you're great at it. - You should give Nick the same advice. - Yep, but Nick doesn't listen to anything I say, so maybe you could be a good influence on him. - Well he is going to be my younger brother, so I can straighten him out. - (CHUCKLES) - (PEOPLE CHATTER) - CASSIE: There's Team Blairsville. (GENTLE MUSIC) - This seems a little intense for a Harvest Festival rules meeting. - Wait until the actual Harvest Festival. - People, I need your game faces. - Wait, we can't start. Martha's not here. - That's because I'm over here. - (SIGHS) - You're supposed to be on this side. - Dear Grace, I realised that Abigail was right. I'm a citizen of Blairsville now. And since their illustrious mayor just so happens to be out of town, the good people of this lovely community have appointed me their grand marshal. - You've gotta be kidding me. - Au contraire. Blairsville does not kid when it comes to competition. So, without any further delay, may the best town win. (QUIRKY MUSIC) - Wait, we didn't even go over the rules! (MUSIC CONTINUES) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP) Hey, you. - Hey. - Hey. - You look familiar. Have we met? - Oh, I have to stop you. I have a fiance. - Oh, that's so weird. I do too. - Mm. - I was hoping to have lunch with mine. - I'm sure she would love that. - Well, she won't love that I have to go get my tux, buy some shoes, oh, and finish carving a pumpkin, because she got me involved in this Fall Harvest town vs town battle royale. - If it helps, she appreciates it. - Mm. And we thought we'd get to spend more time together now that the wedding was postponed. - We have the gala. - I'll be the one in the tux. (GENTLE MUSIC) (PEOPLE CHATTER) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Hi. You must be the new museum curator. - News travels fast around here. - Oh, you have no idea. (CHUCKLES) It's a shame about the ruby. Hopefully our police will be able to track it down. - Oh, just in case, I've been rearranging the entire Halloween museum exhibit. Been at it non-stop. - Well, in that case, how about a coffee on the house? - You're a life-saver. - (CHUCKLES) - Oh, rough day? - Not as romantic as I hoped. - It's not surprising. With the Heart of Middleton missing, you're not the only one feelin' it. - Do you really think the ruby has that much power? - My Eddie bear definitely has been a little distant. I can't explain it, but the more time we spend together, the less we seem to get along. - I think losing the ruby heart has caused Middleton to lose its heart. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) - Hey, Sam. - Hey. Didn't expect to see you here. - Abigail is full of surprises. You should be used to that by now. - (CHUCKLES) Well, that would take away all the fun. - How's it goin', doc? - I'm hanging in there. - You sure you don't want a second opinion? - (CHUCKLES) How about some help picking out flowers? - Sure thing. What's the occasion? - Something to brighten a beautiful lady's day. - Well, Cassie's never met a flower she didn't love, so how about a nice bouquet? - Sounds like you know what you're talking about. - Not really. - (CHUCKLES) - Let me see what I can do. - (DOORBELL CHIMES) - Hey, Edward. Good to see you. - Hey, doc. You too. Listen, uh, I'm sorry to hear about your wedding being postponed. - Oh, yeah. Me too. - Listen, do you mind if I ask your opinion on something? I promise it's not medical-related. - Well, then I'm probably useless to you. - (CHUCKLES) - But sure. Shoot. - How did you know that Cassie was, you know, the one? - Mm. Well, after I met her, I just couldn't imagine living my life without her. - Huh. - Here you go. (QUIRKY MUSIC) Yeah, uh, they're not really gonna brighten up anyone's day, are they? - (BOTH CHUCKLE) (WISTFUL MUSIC) (MUSIC FADES) - (PEOPLE MURMUR) - Order, order. As mayor, I'd like to commence this emergency town-hall meeting by asking you all to remain calm. - How? Martha's defected. - We don't need Martha. - We may need her more than she thinks. - All we need to do is win three out of five festival events, and we still have got our ace in the hole. - Martha's pumpkin-pie recipe. - Which, I'll have you know, is sitting comfortably in the mayor's Rolodex. This Rolodex. - Hmm. - Grace, would you do the honours? - Yes. (CLEARS THROAT) (QUIRKY MUSIC) - It's probably under the letter P. - That's where I'm looking. There's nothing here but a note on Martha's letterhead. - Well, don't keep us in suspense. What does it say? - 'Let the games begin.' - (ALL EXCLAIM) (MUSIC CONTINUES) - Hmm. - Believe it or not, there are moments where I almost feel sorry for Middleton. - Well, why is that, Mrs Tinsdale? - Well, in the last 24 hours, they've lost me and my pumpkin-pie recipe. - Well, perhaps we should keep the recipe in the archives to make sure it doesn't get` - Uh, uh, uh, uh. All in good time. My first order of business is to make sure that my fellow Blairs... villains are training properly for the upcoming events. (CHUCKLES) - We prefer Blairsvillers. It's a little friendlier. - Oh. (CLEARS THROAT) - And may I say, with the mayor being out of town, recruiting you for Team Blairsville was a huge win. - (CHUCKLES) - We've never had a Halloween captain. I apologise. A grand marshal. - Hmm. Oh. Well, that scarecrow doesn't look scary. It looks scared. (BLOWS WHISTLE) Come on, people. Up the scare factor. (SIGHS) Oh. Oh, at last, the pumpkin-tossing. Blairsville's strongest suit. I'm sorry. I don't understand. I was told that we were a shoo-in. Don't we have anyone just a tad more impressive? - Mrs Tinsdale, meet Denny. (QUIRKY MUSIC) - Oh my. (CHUCKLES, CLEARS THROAT) Charmed, I'm sure. (CHUCKLES) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (PEOPLE CHATTER) - (SIGHS) I'm comin' for you next. (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) Looks like someone had a rough day. (CHUCKLES) What happened? - The biggest crow you've ever seen. Tossed him around like a rag doll. - Oh. - Hmm. - Fall cleaning? - Oh, just bringing some books over to the hospital for the kids. - Oh. - Uh, Nick? - I know. The scarecrow is not gonna scare anyone. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. - The Headless Horseman ` totally creepy. - The headless scarecrow. - Nick, you OK? - Yeah, I'm great. - How's it going with the food? - Oh, I have a serious case of baker's block. - Baker's block. (CHUCKLES) That's funny. - It's not funny when you have to turn the purity of a wedding cake into some sort of freaky frosting. (SIGHS) I don't suppose he has any ideas? - Um... He says you could do black crows and candy corns. Or you could even make the cake one big cauldron with a tasty witch's brew. - Huh. You should tell him he's pretty smart. (CHUCKLES) - (SIGHS) Well, I'd better get these books to the hospital. I just wanted to check in on you. - How did you even know I was here? - Hmm. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) - I'll help you with those, Karen. - Oh, Cassie. I didn't wanna disturb you. - Are you leaving already? Before the gala? - I'm not sure I belong here. - Hmm. Where do you think you belong? - I'm still trying to figure that out. - Hmm. Well, the people of Middleton put their trust in you. If you leave, who's gonna finish the Halloween exhibits? - I'm really sorry. - Mm. Yeah, me too. I hope you find what you're looking for. (PENSIVE MUSIC) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) Is everything OK? - My car won't start. - Hmm. I guess Middleton wasn't ready to let you go. Welcome back to Grey House. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) (PEOPLE CHATTER) - Teamwork ` lovin' it. We are gonna slay Blairsville. I can feel it. - Thanks. - Now, not to be a perfectionist, but that clavicle is listing to the left. The clavicle. It's the bone that` You know what? Let me up there. I'm just gonna DIY this. (PEOPLE CHATTER) - Madam Mayor, imagine running into you here. - Martha. - Isn't it a glorious Halloween? Oh, by the way, did you have a chance to meet my pumpkin-tosser, Denny? Very impressive young man. - Martha, if you've come to gloat, you're a little early, don't you think? - Indeed. I know the competition hasn't even begun yet, but, for some reason, I feel like I should start preparing my victory speech. - (GASPS) - (YELPS) Oh dear! Oh, well, it looks like everything is just falling apart. I'll leave you to it. I'd say break a leg, but... Aw. (CHUCKLES) (QUIRKY MUSIC) - Hey, Sam. - Hey, guys. You two out causing trouble? - I'm getting some stuff to up my game on the scarecrow. - I'm along for moral support, then maybe he'll help me with my event. - (CHUCKLES) - Well, just keep working your magic on him, Grace. - Hmm. - Oh. Well, that's perfect (!) I thought you put money in the meter. Uh, I don't wanna hear it. - Wow. That's, like, the third couple I've seen fighting today. - Makes sense. The Heart of Middleton is missing. Love is out of whack. - You seriously think a ruby being gone can affect relationships? - It's pretty obvious. - Or just a coincidence. - Mm. Tell that to them. - Oh, it's Edward and his girlfriend, Addison. - They do not look happy. (PENSIVE MUSIC) - I rest my case. (MUSIC CONTINUES) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) - Hi. How's it going? - Oh, I'm just dropping off some cookies and other sweets to The Bistro's festival booth. Uh, now, I have finished the desserts for the gala. I just still need to do the appetisers, the main course, the sides... Don't worry. It's gonna be perfect. (CHUCKLES) - Have I told you that you're doing a great job? - I doubt you've ever told anyone that. - You seem stressed. Here, let me help you. - OK, you're freaking me out. What do you need? - Me? I don't need anything. Middleton, on the other hand, needs your help. - Cut the drama. What's up? - I want you to enter the pumpkin-pie contest in Martha's absence. - Oh, that's what this is about. Just give me Martha's recipe. I'll have your pie done before you can say boo. - (SIGHS) Yeah, um, about that... - Martha took the recipe, didn't she? (CHUCKLES) - I think you could come up with one that will knock Ronnie Sue Campbell's socks off. - Ronnie Sue Campbell, the celebrity chef? - Oh, did I not mention that she's judging the pumpkin-pie contest? - Uh, no, you didn't. A` And, yes, I'll do it. (CHUCKLES) Just as soon as I finish all this other food. - Perfect. - You're welcome! (QUIRKY MUSIC) (SIGHS) Unbelievable. - 'My love, another battle is on the horizon. My will to live is only for you. 'No pain compares to being separated from the one I love. Holding you again is all I think about.' - Keep reading. - If I didn't know any better, I would say you're a hopeless romantic. - (SCOFFS) I'm just a sucker for a happy ending. Mm. (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) - (KNOCK AT DOOR) - Come in. (PENSIVE MUSIC) - Hi. You seem to have a lot on your mind, so I brought you some tea. - Oh, thank you. That's very kind. - Hmm. Oh, we like our guests to feel at home at Grey House. Enjoy. - Uh, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. It's heartbreaking to be separated, to lose your chance at true love. - Hmm. You sound like you speak from experience. - Mm. - What happened? - I met him in a small cafe on the Champs-Elysees. We talked all night, until they kicked us out. It was raining, but we didn't care. We walked for hours, holding hands. We shared one perfect kiss on the Pont Neuf bridge at sunrise. We had a napkin from the cafe that he wrote his number on. I thought the rain was so romantic, but by the time I got home, it had turned to lint. (SIGHS) I understand Patience's longing to be reunited with her one true love. - Waiting can be painful but also worth it. - You think William returned to Patience? - I believe the ruby led his heart back to hers. - Patience was lucky to have it. - Mm. She had it because it was given to her honourably. She didn't try to force the magic. (MAGICAL MUSIC) Let me know if you need anything else. - Thanks. (WISTFUL MUSIC) (DOOR SHUTS) (MUSIC CONTINUES) (PEOPLE CHATTER, LAUGH) - MAN: That was an excellent throw, his personal best ` about 6 inches further than he threw last year. Things really heating up now. - (PEOPLE CHATTER, LAUGH) Here comes the big man, throwing for Blairsville. - Do it for Blairsville! - (GROWLS, GRUNTS) - (PEOPLE CHEER) - It looks good. He beat it by a mile. Blairsville, one. Middleton, nothing. - (APPLAUSE) (QUIRKY MUSIC) (SPOOKY MUSIC) (PEOPLE CHATTER) Give me a mirror. - Shh. I'm doing your stitches. - I wanna see what it looks like. - It looks awesome. - Then let me see. - Nope. - Come on, there's gonna be two whole cities judging me. - No. They're judging me. - Actually, they're judging me. What am I lookin' at here? - Frankenstein. - Is it gonna win? - I hope so. - If you have doubts, the judges will have doubts. - It's definitely gonna win. - (SIGHS) Definitely. - That is what I like to hear. - Face-painting time! - Go, go! (SPOOKY MUSIC) (PEOPLE CHATTER) - (SIGHS) - Well, this one was very close. The detail was quite impressive. And the winner for creative face-painting is... Blairsville! - (PEOPLE CHEER, CHATTER) - I'm` I'm really sorry, you guys. - About what? There's nothing wrong with second place. - (SCOFFS) There were only two of us. - Mm. But, hey, someone once told me fail till you're great at it. - Sounds like good advice. - It was the best. - Come on, cotton candy's on me. - I need to wash Frankenstein off first, so I'll meet you over there. - Oh. - Does anybody else realise we're one pumpkin away from total humiliation? - OK, I'm gonna take this in. Can you finish loading that cart? - Yeah, I'm on it. OK. - OK. Oh. Edward! - Hey. - Hey. (PEOPLE MURMUR) - This town is really missing that ruby, huh? I hear the police still don't have any leads. You know, even without the Heart of Middleton, I think the exhibit looks amazing. - Thank you. - (CHUCKLES) (PENSIVE MUSIC) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) (MUSIC SLOWS, FADES) - You know, when I first met Addison, everything just clicked. - Mm. - She loved my art. I loved her energy. (SIGHS) But now... I don't know. Everything's... different. - Mm. - Hey, do you want a`? Do you want a hand? - Uh, sure. (CHUCKLES) New love is often blind love, right? - Yeah. She's so sweet, and I really do care about her. - Yeah, but you're not sure she's the one? - (SIGHS) I'm just not sure about a whole lot right now. - I have a feeling you'll figure it out. Hmm. Uh, but right now, would you grab that tray of appetisers, uh, way in the back there? - Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure. - Thanks. (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) (ROMANTIC FRENCH-STYLE MUSIC) Great, thank you. Just put it right there. - No problem. - (CHUCKLES) Um, would you help me wheel this in there? - Yeah. Least I can do. - OK. (MUSIC CONTINUES) (MYSTERIOUS MUSIC) Captions by Able. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.