[The special begins as dawn breaks on the Arbuckle's street. The view shifts toward the Arbuckle residence and zooms into the house. A view into the window is Garfield asleep in his bed box, with his blue blanket covering his head. A "Please Stand By" message is displayed on the screen. An instrumental tune starts to play as the screen changes to a WBOR title]
Announcer: Good morning, viewers. Welcome to another broadcast day at WBOR, the Easy-Viewing, Easy-Listening Station. We begin our broadcast with: [A titlecard for The Binky The Clown show appears on the TV screen] The Binky the Clown Show. Have a nice day. [Binky's face appears on screen]
Binky The Clown: HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY, KIIIIIIIIDS!!!!! [Grins; Garfield jumps out of his bed in fright]
Garfield: WHAAAAAA! [He looks to his left then to the television.]
Binky: Get your lazy bottoms outta bed, and do jumping jacks with Binky the [Spreads his arms] Clown! [The TV screen changes to Binky doing the jumping jacks] One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! One, two! [Garfield starts to flap his arms in the air as Binky notably starts to quicken] One, two! One, two! One, two! [Garfield stops before looking at his arms]
Garfield: What am I doing?
Binky: Remember, kids: If you don't exercise with Binky, you're gonna grow up to be... WORTHLESS! [Garfield points toward the TV screen]
Garfield: I hate you, Binky! [Binky's face turns to surprise as Garfield turns his back.] Where's my remote control?
Binky: Put it in gear, [Garfield starts to throw different stuff out of his bed] you losers! You don't want to be LAZY [Garfield turns toward Binky again while angrily showing his teeth] do ya? You gotta get into good shape for tonight, kids, [Points toward the screen] because this is the night, you can get a lot of CANDY! [Spreads his arms again. Garfield pulls up the remote]
Garfield: Take that, Binky! [Turns the TV off] Ha-ha! [Gasps] Wait a minute... Did he say we could get a lot of candy tonight? [Garfield turns the TV on again, while quickly going through channels] Binky! Binky, come back! Where are ya, Binky, old buddy? [He finally gets it to the right channel]
Binky: That's right, kids! Tonight is Halloween night, and we want to be in great shape [Flexes] to trick-or-treat for all that candy, DOOOOOOOOOON'T WE? [Garfield lifts his arms and head up]
Garfield: Yes we doooooooo!!! [Turns off the TV again. He begins dancing as "This is the Night" begins to play. The title card also shows up during the song]
[Lou Rawls & Desirée Goyette]
This is the night, (This is the night.)
I was created for,
I'm gonna put on my best disguise,
And go knockin' on everybody's door.
This is the night, (This is the night.)
I'm gonna hit the street,
Cause this the night,
Folks are givin' away,
So many good things to eat.
Oh, oh, you know life could be so sweet,
If every night, was a night to go trick or treat. (Trick or Treat.)
Wouldn't it be sweet, (Trick or Treat.)
Just trick or treat, (Trick or Treat.)
Wouldn't it be sweet, (Trick or Treat.)
Just trick or treat.
Garfield: [Sighs] Halloween's my kind of a holiday. Not like those other stupid holidays. I don't get pine needles in my paws, there's no dumb bunnies, no fireworks, no relatives, just candy. Boom! You go out, you get candy. It's as simple as that. [Sighs] Simple, that's me. [Plops back into bed, and the screen fades to black]
[The next morning...]
Garfield: Candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy. [Stands up] Hello, Halloween. What a glorious day and a glorious night to go trick-or-treating for...candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy. Steady yourself, Garfield. First, you gotta get a costume, then you gotta get a sack. A sack to hold all that candy, candy, candy. Easy, boy. First, first you gotta get up. [Looks around, then covers himself with his blanket. He crawls away like a slug]
[In the kitchen, Jon is busy gutting a jack-o-lantern when Garfield slinks up to him. Jon notices, but is too busy with the pumpkin]
Garfield: Boo!
Jon: Wa-a-a-ah! [Throws his jack-o-lantern and it lands on his head. Garfield reveals himself from under the blanket]
Garfield: Gotcha!
Jon: That's not funny, Garfield.
Garfield: Then how about this? [Makes a funny face at Jon, sticking his tongue out and spinning his eyes]
Jon: [Laughs] Now that's funny. [Laughs more, then sighs] [Pats Garfield's back] Why can't I stay angry with you, Garfield?
Garfield: Cuz I'm a cat.
Jon: What's with the blanket? You practicing for Halloween?
Garfield: Practicing? Practicing?? Huh! I'll have you know Halloween's my middle name. Gar-Halloween-field. [Realizes how ridiculous that sounds] Oh, well.
Jon: You're probably wondering what I'm doing with this pumpkin on my head.
Garfield: [Sarcastically] Wha-hoo! There's a pumpkin on your head. I hadn't noticed.
Jon: I was carving a jack-o-lantern until you arrived. [Odie walks up behind him] What do you think?
Garfield: It's you.
Jon: Well, [Takes the pumpkin off his head, which falls onto Odie] this one's ruined.
Garfield: [Grabs some pumpkin innards] Mmmm, this stuff appears to be of the lasagna persuasion. [Eats it]
Jon: Since when did you like pumpkin innards?
Garfield: [Spits it out] Ptooey! Since never! Blech! [Drops the bowl on the floor, shattering it]
Jon: How about some breakfast? [Pushes a tray of food towards him]
Garfield: Oh, no thank you, I must save room for all that candy. [Walks away] Candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy, candy. [Returns] Ohhh, maybe I'll have a sweet roll to tide me over. [Leaves again, then returns] Perhaps some bacon and a croissant. [Leaves, and returns once more] Oh, what the heck. [Takes the tray and leaves]
[Later, Odie, who still has a pumpkin on his head, licks up some water from his bowl. Garfield, now hiding in his blanket, sneaks up on him]
Garfield: Boo!
Odie: [Turns around and yelps]
Garfield: Ha! [Lowers his blanket] Gotcha, didn't I? [Screams; He hides behind his blanket, only to realize that it’s just Odie] Oh, I knew it was you all the time, Odie.
Odie: [Pants]
Garfield: It's not nice to scare people, you know.
Odie: [Pants as Garfield walks away]
Garfield: Phew, grim. Odie's so stupid he'd have to stand on a chair to raise his IQ. [Lightly chuckles; rimshot plays] He's ugly, too. It would take two of 'im to get any uglier. [Lightly chuckles; rimshot plays] He's so ugly, he wouldn't have to wear a mask to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. [Lightly chuckles; rimshot plays] Hey, wait a minute. That's it! If I take Odie out trick-or-treating with me tonight, there'll be two sacks to fill, not one. I'll get twice the candy. [Runs towards Odie] Candy, candy, candy, candy, candy. Garfield, you are a genius. [Stops] I know that. [Rimshot; Garfield walks up to Odie, who still has a pumpkin on his head] Hey Odie, ol' boy! You know what Halloween night is?
Odie: [Burbles as he shakes his head no]
Garfield: Yeah, well take that stupid pumpkin off your head, and I'll tell ya.
Odie: [Grunts as he takes the pumpkin off]
Garfield: Better. That's a night when dogs have to help cats go out and get candy.
Odie: Hmm?
Garfield: That's right. And if a dog does a good job, he gets a whole piece of candy of his very own.
Odie: [Barks]
Garfield: Well, do you wanna go, boy? Huh? Huh?
Odie: [Barks excitedly while jumping]
Garfield: Wanna go out and get candy? Huh? Do ya? Do you wanna go? Huh? Huh? Huh? [Odie continues barking and jumping] Okay. Let's go to the attic and find some costumes for tonight.
Odie: [Barks and runs off]
Garfield: Ya know, just between you and me, there are times when I love that dog.
[Later, Garfield and Odie enter the attic]
Garfield: There should be some great Halloween costumes up here somewhere, Odie. Jon has never thrown anything away. [Finds a box. He blows some dust off of it, causing him to cough. He opens it and takes out a bowtie] Here's Jon's first bowtie. Tacky. [Tosses it and starts digging through other items] Some sunglasses, Cousin Wanda's wig, Aunt Orpha's false teeth, yuck, Roy Ogle's root, string, sealing wax, and all that funny stuff. Well, I guess there's nothin' here. [Sees Odie wearing all the stuff he tossed] YAAHHH! Very funny, Odie. Come on. Let's keep lookin'. [Walks off. Odie shakes off the stuff off and follows him. Garfield then stumbles upon a chest, which he opens]
Garfield: [Gasps] Eureka. The motherload. [Pulls out some costumes] Look at all this great stuff, Odie! With these costumes we can be...anything we want!
Odie: [Whines happily]
[Garfield then breaks into song as he tries out various costumes]
[Garfield]
What should I be?
There's so many sides to me.
I could be handsome or brave.
A king or a slave.
It's all up to me.
So what should I be?
What could I be?
What should I be?
I could be a scaaaary vampire!
And turn myself into a bat. (Flap, flap.)
Or I could put on black pajamas
Go as a big fat Halloween cat.
What should I be?
There's so many sides to me.
I could be an astronaut, a robot,
A hobo, a clown,
Or an alien creature going out on the town.
What should I be?
It's all up to me.
What should I be?
Let's go.
Garfield: [Gets a couple costumes] I think I have just the costumes for us, Odie.
[Scene cuts to Jon eating some lasagna. Garfield walks up to him wearing a pirate costume]
Garfield: Arrgh! It do be a landlubber who be shoving lasagna in his face. I declare this booty property of the Queen. [Grabs lasagna with his sword and eats it]
Jon: Hey! Who do you think you are?
Garfield: Rrr! I be Orange Beard, the pirate captain, and this be me first mate, Odie the Stupid.
Odie: [Shows up in a pirate costume] Arr!
Garfield: You be havin' a might too many peglegs there, matey. [Knocks them all off]
Jon: [Giggles] You guys look ridiculous.
Garfield: Arrr! I've killed men for saying less than that, but I'll let yer live, seein' as you're the only man, who'll change me kitty litter.
Jon: I suppose you boys are dressed up to go out trick-or-treating, huh?
Garfield: We don't be the welcome wagon if that's what yer mean.
Jon: [Lightly chuckles] Well, here's a couple of sacks. [Hands them a couple] Have a good time.
Garfield: Lootin' always be a good time. [Begins to walk out] Come along, matey. We got a village to pillage. Argh!
Jon: Don't be out too late. [Garfield returns, stealing Jon's lasanga with his pegleg]
[Next scene, Garfield and Odie are out in the neighborhood, as the former begins singing a sea shanty]
Garfield: [Singing] Sixty men, all lost at sea. All of them drunk except for me. 'Twas I who had to face the storm. With nothing in sight to keep me warm. Yo ho ho ho! Over the raging sea we go. Yo ho ho ho! Wherever the four winds blow! Hey!
[Garfield and Odie pass by some children in costumes. Odie then sees a kid wearing a scary mask, and starts to get nervous]
Odie: [Whimpers as he nudges against Garfield]
Garfield: Odie, will you stop crowding me? [Shoves him away] There's nothing to be frightened of. These are kids, just like us, who are out trick-or-treating for candy, just like us. Look. [A kid with a mask walks by]
Odie: Hmm?
Garfield: See? A kid. [Pulls the kid's mask, proving his point]
Kid: [Garfield releases his mask, causing it to hit his face] Ow!
Garfield: See? Ha-ha. I'm no scaredy cat.
[They resume walking. "Scaredy Cat" plays as the two encounters various "kids" in costumes, getting scared when they're revealed to be monsters]
[Lou Rawls]
I may be lazy, I may be fat.
I don't do laps, and I do not chat.
I may be selfish, yeah, and all of that.
But the one thing I'm not is a scaredy cat.
Garfield & Odie: [Screams]
Desirée Goyette: The one thing he's not is a scaredy cat.
[Lou Rawls]
I may be bossy, I may lack grace.
I don't do sit-ups to trim my waist.
I may be thoughtless, yeah, and all of that
But the one thing I'm not is a scaredy-cat.
Garfield & Odie: [Screams]
Desirée Goyette: The one thing he's not is a scaredy cat.
[Lou Rawls]
I don't have charm or much pizzazz
I don't chase mice and all that jazz
I may be sassy, yes, and all of that.
But the one thing I'm not
Yeah, the one thing I'm not
I said the one thing I'm not is a scare-dy....
Garfield & Odie: [Screams]
Desirée Goyette: The one thing he's not is a scaredy cat!
[Scene transition as Garfield and Odie walk up to a house]
Garfield: Observe carefully, Odie. I'll teach you some of the finer points of trick-or-treating. [Knocks on the door; A woman comes out] Gimme.
Woman [Off-screen]: Oh, how cute. Here ya go, kids. [Gives them one candy each]
Garfield: Methinks yer be a mite stingy with your candy, miss. If yer don't reconsider your contribution, I'll give your living room drapes a taste of me broadsword. [The woman ends up giving them more candy] Thank you. A thousand blessings upon your home, ma'am. [They walk away]
[Brief montage of Garfield and Odie going to various people's houses and getting candy. Later, they stop at the dock to look at their candy]
Garfield: Well, Odie, we've had a pretty successful evening.
Odie: [Barks]
Garfield: [Takes his pegleg off] Hang on, Odie. I just had a brilliant idea. [Points to the river] Look at all those houses across the river over there.
Odie: [Pants]
Garfield: If we can make it across the river, the candy is all mine, do ya hear me? All mine--! [Stops] Ah, wait a minute. Am I being too greedy? Should I share my candy with those less fortunate than me? Am I missing the spirit of Halloween? Nah! All mine! Mine, I tell you! [Laughs] Mine!
[Odie shakes his head, before coming with Garfield to a nearby boat]
Garfield: Argh! What have we here? Why, it do be a pirate ship for us to get across the river. [Gets in] I commandeer this ship in the name of Orange Beard the pirate. Free them oars and shove off, matey! [Odie pulls off the rope and pushes the boat further into the water] Hm-hm.
[Transition to later as they travel across the river]
Garfield: Dah, appears we're caught up in the current, matey. Put out the oars.
Odie: [Barks, then pushes the oars off the boat]
Garfield: Oh…I'd make him walk the plank if I had one. [To Odie] We be at the mercy of the sea, matey. Topside...Topside, batten the hatches! Trim the main! Slip the sheets! Flibber the gibbets! I want my mommy!
[They disappear into the mist as the screen fades to black. Later, we see them on the boat, as Garfield looks bored and Odie is seen panting]
Garfield: [Sighs] Some pirate captain I am. I can't even get a rowboat across a river. Now I'll probably float out to sea and never be heard from again. If I ever get back to land, I'm going to give up this pirate business. I'm gonna stop pretending I'm something I'm not. I'm just gonna be me. Garfield the house cat. Gourmet Bon vivant. World traveler. Jet-sitting playboy. [Odie starts tapping his shoulder] Leave me alone, Odie. I'm busy wallowing in self-pity.
[It's shown that Odie was pointing to a house across shore]
Garfield: [Doing the pirate voice again] Arrr! And shiver me timbers! It be land ho! [They arrive at shore. An owl and thunder is heard as Garfield looks at the audience] Nice touch. [They hop off the boat] Look, Odie. There's a light in the window up there.
Odie: [Pants]
Garfield: Someone must actually live in that old house.
[Odie barks the screen zooms in on the house. Scene then cuts to Garfield and Odie looking out the window, as an old empty living room is shown]
Garfield: Hey, Odie. I know. Let's investigate. [The two head to the door] Okay, Odie. Here's the plan. I'll kick the door open, you jump in and secure the place. Are ya ready?
Odie: [Barks in agreement]
Garfield: [Off-screen, he attempts to kick open the door, but fails] OW! [Screen cuts to him bouncing on his foot] Hey, tell you what. Let's quietly slip in.
[The door creaks opens as lightning strikes. They look around and see a ticking clock, a large chair in front of the fireplace, and various other furniture like a dresser and bookshelf]
Garfield: It looks as though the place is deserted. Let's warm ourselves by the fire. [They do so] Ah, this is more like it.
[Garfield turns around and he sees an old man sitting on the chair behind him]
Garfield: [Screams]
Odie: [Panicked barking]
Garfield: Watch it! [They run around in circles until the man interrupts them]
Old Man: Shut up, you two! [They stop] That's enough to stop an old man's ticker.
Odie: [Whimpers as he and Garfield hold each other in their arms]
Old Man: You've picked a poor night to come visiting, my friends. This could be the worst night of your lives.
Garfield: I knew it. Let's not bother the man any longer, Odie. [They begin to leave, but the man stops them]
Old Man: Stay! [They return to their spot] What I'm about to tell you has never been told to another living soul. [Thunder strikes]
Garfield: Catchy beginning.
Old Man: This island...has a secret. A deep, dark secret that has been held for a hundred years. One hundred years ago tonight, a ruthless band of pirates held up in this very house. [Flashback of the pirates begin as the man continues narrating] They had looted many ships and were pursued by government troops. [The pirates spot the island in front of them] They were so heavily laden with their ill-gotten gains, they had to bury the treasure before making their escape. [Lightning transitions to a note] However, before they left this island on that stormy night, [Flashback ends] they signed a contract written in blood. They vowed to return for the treasure 100 years from Halloween night at the stroke of midnight. Even if it meant returning from the grave. [Lightning strikes. Garfield glances at the grandfather clock, which reads 11:55, five minutes until midnight. Garfield looks at the audience]
Garfield: Do you believe this-?
Old Man: Belieeeeeve it, my friends! The pirates had a ten-year-old cabin boy. I was that boy. I was there. I never took the treasure because they would have found me. There's no escaping them! They know we're here! They know who we are!
Garfield: Well, that made my mind up. Come on, Odie, let's blow this joint. [They start to leave. He speaks to the old man] You wanna come, too? [The old man is gone. Lightning strikes again as Garfield begins to worry] Uh, where'd he go? Oh, well. Never mind. Let's get to the boat. [They run outside, only to see the old man sailing away with their boat] [Gasps] Rats! There goes my boat.
Odie: [Whimpers]
Garfield: Rats! There goes my candy! [He and Odie sit down] My boat's gone, my candy's gone, dead pirates are coming any minute, it's past my bedtime. I wanna go home.
[A loud bong is heard from the grandfather clock. Garfield and Odie race back to the clock as they both start try and stop it]
Garfield: It's midnight. [Gets off the clock] Ha! Just as I suspected. That old man was just some kinda lunatic.
[Lightning strikes again as they rush back outside. A ghostly white pirate ship approaches the shore, and soon the ghost skeletons of the pirates begin rushing to the house.. Garfield and Odie noiselessly scream and rush back inside]
Garfield: [Screams as they run around a footstool] Ahhh! Watch it!
Odie: [Panicked barking]
Garfield: We gotta hide, Odie. We haven't much time. We gotta find a good place to hide. Don't worry, that…[In a menacing tone] they know where we are.
Garfield & Odie: [Resume running in circles] Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah! [Scene cuts to Odie with his head shoved in a flower pot]
Garfield: Not there, dummy!
[They hide inside a cabinet. The ghost pirates begin entering the house, swirling around like a whirlpool until they dive under the floor. The floor busts open as the treasure chest, and the loot inside, is revealed. Meanwhile in the cabinet, Odie holds his nose, trying not to sneeze. He sniffles for a bit, before finally letting it out.]
Odie: Ah-CHOO! [The doors open, and the pirates look over at them]
Garfield: [He and Odie close the doors] Maybe they didn't see us.
[Beat. A ghost suddenly comes at them, and they run out the cabinet in fright. They run outside to the shore as the ghosts chase them. They slowly walk over to the edge of the dock; Odie breaks a weak board and nearly falls, but manages to get up. He walks over to Garfield, who's standing at the edge of the dock]
Garfield: This is it, pal! We swim for it! One, two, three... [They jump into the water] Rats! I forgot...I can't swim!
[He struggles to stay afloat, but eventually sinks headfirst. His pirate hat bops out of the water as Odie tries to search for Garfield. He looks in the hat briefly before tossing it aside, then sees Garfield nearby. Garfield attempts to grab onto a twig, but it breaks. Odie dives in after him and takes him to shore]
Garfield: I owe you one, old buddy. [They smile at each other. Scene transitions to them walking home] The old man was right, Odie. This was the worst night of my life. I've had nightmares that looked like birthday parties compared to tonight. [Odie taps his shoulder, and points to their boat, which still has the candy]
Garfield: Well, looky here! [Pirate accent] It do be me candy! Arr!
Odie: [Barks]
Garfield: I guess this story do have a happy ending after all, matey! Let's be shovin' off for home now!
[They take their respective candy bags and begin walking home]
Garfield: So the pirate ghosts got the treasure, and we got the candy, candy, candy, candy!
[Scene cuts to them back at the house. Garfield is in his bed with the bags of candy as he speaks to Odie]
Garfield: Odie, I'm about to do something that is totally out of character for me, but, seeing as how you saved my life about 18 zillion times tonight, I wanna give you somethin'.
Odie: [Pants as Garfield speaks]
Garfield: Somethin' of great personal worth. Somethin' that represents a great personal sacrifice on my part. [Sighs] Here's your half of the candy. [Hands him his bag]
Odie: [Barks and licks Garfield]
Garfield: Yeah, I love you. Now get outta here.
Odie: [Takes the bag and leaves]
Garfield: What a night. Boy, am I wired. I think I'll see what's on TV. [Turns the TV on. The old man from earlier is on, wearing Garfield’s pirate hat that he lost]
Old Man: Good evening, and welcome to our all-night pirate movie festival.
Garfield: [Turns the TV off] Boy, am I tired. [Goes to bed] Arrrr.
[Credits roll. Garfield sings his sea shanty again as various screencaps from the special appear]
Garfield: [Singing] Sixty men, all lost at sea. All of them drunk except for me. 'Twas I who had to face the storm. With nothing in sight to keep me warm. Yo ho ho ho! Over the raging sea we go. Yo ho ho ho! Wherever the four winds blow! Hey!
[Fade to black. End of special]