Scene 1

A few houses further ahead on Grant Avenue, a green-skinned zombie in tattered clothes was gesturing frantically toward a dark driveway between the pooled light of the streetlights. "Over here!" he shout-whispered into the late-evening silence of the suburbs.

A cheerleader covered with blood and ragged bite marks, a youthful Mark Twain in an ill-fitting white suit, and a convincing imitation of Hunter S. Thompson in a red Hawaiian shirt ran up, out of breath and unable to speak, and dodged into the welcoming darkness of the driveway. The zombie pushed them behind an almost invisible row of pine trees and help his finger up to his lips before realizing nobody could see him in the darkness. Over the next minute the chorus of heavy breathing subsided and the night was quiet once more.

In the darkness the zombie whispered, "Let's stay here for a few minutes and keep an eye out for cops."

"We're blocks away from Pete's." said Twain, dropping his characteristic drawl for the first time since the group first arrived at the party three hours ago.  "I doubt they're still patrolling the neighborhoods this far out."

The cheerleader sounded worried. "Probably not, but if the police drive by and see us out here walking in costume this close to midnight they're going to stop and talk to us for sure. Let's get off the street as quick as we can."

Hunter S. Thompson whispered, "Seth, your parents are out of town right now, aren't they? And you live the closest to here. Can we hang at your place for a couple hours, ditch the costumes, and walk home afterwards? The streets will definitely be empty at that point."

Seth smiled in the darkness behind his bushy white mustache, which was barely hanging on after the frantic run. "Yes, great idea." he said. "In fact, I've got a perfect way to pass the time while we wait. I picked it up at the thrift store last week when I was shopping for this amazing costume. Follow me, I know a way back to my place that will keep us off the bigger streets." Without another word he disappeared into the darkness with his friends following close behind.