[INTRO — quiet retail ambience, distant cart wheels, soft spooky synth] [GHOST — whispered, airy, curious] Guys... [WITCH — whispered, playful] What? [GHOST — whispering, increasingly concerned] Look behind you. [SKELETON — low theatrical voice] ...Is that Christmas? [CAT — calm, deadpan] It's August. [WITCH — incredulous] It's not even Halloween. [SKELETON — offended, theatrical] Fat man can wait his turn. [CAT — matter-of-fact] I agree. [Beat kicks in] [VERSE 1 — SKELETON, theatrical lead] We've been sitting here since August Waiting for our night We've got pumpkins on the shelves And everything is right Then they roll in Christmas Before we've had our day Somebody tell the fat man He needs to wait his turn and stay away [WITCH — playful, sarcastic] Tinsel in the corner Trees beside the wall They haven't even finished Halloween And Christmas wants it all [GHOST — airy, amused] I don't think they like us. [CAT — calm] Why? [GHOST] They're looking at us. [CAT] I would too. [PRE-CHORUS — growing tension] [SKELETON] Here they come... [WITCH] Wait... [GHOST] They're running. [CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS — PANICKED ENSEMBLE, frightened voices] RUN! GET OUT! MOVE! [Sound of tiny running footsteps] [CHRISTMAS TIN SOLDIER — panicked male voice] Everybody move! [GINGERBREAD MAN — high, frantic voice] I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE! [CHRISTMAS TRUCK — frantic engine sound] VRRRRMMMM! [CAT — calm, confused] Are they... [SKELETON] Running away? [WITCH] Yes. [CAT] We haven't even done anything. [CHORUS — HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS, confident ensemble] Fat man can wait his turn It's not even Halloween We've been here since August And Christmas ain't taking our scene Let the gingerbread run Let the tin soldiers flee If the Christmas trucks want out That's perfectly fine by me Fat man can wait his turn Christmas can wait a little while We've got Halloween in Aisle Blue And we're staying in our aisle [VERSE 2 — chaos continues] [TIN SOLDIER — frantic, distant] KEEP MOVING! [GINGERBREAD MAN — panicked] WHERE'S THE EXIT?! [CHRISTMAS TRUCK — frantic engine] VRRRRMMMM! [WITCH — laughing] They're really scared. [GHOST — sympathetic] Maybe we should tell them we're friendly. [SKELETON] Do you want to? [GHOST] No. [CAT] Good. [WITCH — laughing] Look at the trucks! [CHRISTMAS TRUCKS — frantic mechanical sounds] VRRRR! BEEP! VRRRR! [CAT — observational] They're trying to escape the aisle. [SKELETON] I respect their decision. [BRIDGE — music drops, curious] [GHOST — softer] Wait... What about the big guy? [WITCH] Santa? [SKELETON] He's still sitting there. [CAT] Why isn't he running? [WITCH] Maybe he's brave. [CAT] Maybe he's unplugged. [Beat] [SKELETON] Check. [CAT — deadpan] He's unplugged. [GHOST] Oh. [WITCH] Poor guy. [CAT] Smart guy. [HALLOWEEN ENSEMBLE — quiet chuckle] [CHORUS — bigger, energetic] Fat man can wait his turn It's not even Halloween We've been here since August And Christmas ain't taking our scene Let the gingerbread run Let the tin soldiers flee If the Christmas trucks want out That's perfectly fine by me Fat man can wait his turn Christmas can wait a little while We've got Halloween in Aisle Blue And we're staying in our aisle [BREAKDOWN — Christmas chaos in background] [TIN SOLDIER — distant, terrified] KEEP RUNNING! [GINGERBREAD MAN — distant] I SEE THE EXIT! [CHRISTMAS TRUCK — distant engine] VRRRRRRMMMM! [WITCH — laughing] They made it. [GHOST] Good for them. [SKELETON] Should we tell them they'll be back in December? [CAT] No. [SKELETON] Why not? [CAT] Let them have hope. [ALL HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS — laughing] [FINAL CHORUS — huge ensemble] Fat man can wait his turn It's not even Halloween We've got ghosts and witches And pumpkins on the scene Let the gingerbread run Let the tin soldiers flee Christmas has a whole month They can wait patiently Fat man can wait his turn Don't bring him down our aisle We've got Halloween in Aisle Blue And we're staying for a while [OUTRO — music fades into quiet aisle ambience] [GHOST — whispering] Think they'll come back tomorrow? [WITCH — whispering] Probably. [SKELETON — whispering] Definitely. [CAT — whispering] They'll bring more of them. [Pause] [GHOST] What do we do? [CAT — calm] Nothing. [Beat] [CAT — slightly mischievous] We let them run. [FOOTSTEPS / TINY RUNNING SOUNDS IN DISTANCE] [TIN SOLDIER — very distant, terrified] AAAAAAAH! [HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS — quiet laughter] [Final spooky synth flourish]
