A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge — Adaptation Excerpts

Adapted by Bob Italia
Transcribed by Rob Nimmo
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FOUR

The next morning, Jesse stormed from the house and rushed to his car. Ken was standing on a ladder, unbolting a set of security bars from the windows. “Jesse, please,” Shirley said from the doorway, “let’s talk about this!” “I’m okay,” Jesse insisted. “Just leave me alone.” He climbed into his car and began starting it. Shirley turned to Ken. “He needs professional help. I think we should take him to a psychiatrist.” “Are you nuts or something?” Ken said. “What is that going to do?” “I don’t know! I just feel he needs help and we don’t know how to give it to him. Don’t fight me on this.” Ken shifted on the ladder. “He needs a kick in the butt, is what he needs. He needs a methadone clinic!”

Jesse’s car backfired, and it rumbled down the street. He drove as quickly as he could to Lisa’s house. She was waiting for him at the curb. Lisa climbed in, then they headed for school. Jesse remained silent the entire time. “Jesse, please tell me what’s wrong!” Lisa said as they approached the school parking lot. Jesse stared straight ahead. “I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.” “You didn’t say more than two words to me the whole way here. You had another nightmare, didn’t you?” “Yeah, I had a bad night.” “You want to talk about it?” Jesse looked at her. “My dad thinks I’m on drugs. My mom thinks I’m crazy and I’m not sure I don’t agree with her.” Jesse turned a corner into the school parking lot. Then he slammed on the brakes. A crowd of students gathered in a ring outside the gymnasium doors leading to the practice field. “Oh, God,” Jesse muttered. He threw open the door, jumped out and ran toward the crowd. Bewildered, Lisa chased after him. As Jesse drew closer, he could see the entire area was cordoned off with yellow plastic ribbons. Police officers and officials came in and out of the gym. A teacher tried to disperse the students, clapping his hands together and pushing through the crowd. Jesse stopped at the edge of the barricade and craned his neck to see what was going on. Suddenly, Grady appeared at his side. “Hey, man, where have you been?” Grady said. “Schneider got wasted last night!” Jesse swallowed hard and tried to regain his composure. “Oh, God. I’m gonna be sick.” “He must’ve been working late and some fruitcake came in and sliced him up like a kielbasa,” Grady said. “In the shower! Left bloody footprints all over the—” Jesse clamped his hand over his mouth and broke for some bushes against the building. Grady looked at a horrified Lisa and gave a puzzled shrug.

—

Later that day, in the school cafeteria, Lisa and Kerry were on the lunch line, sliding their trays along the rails. Kerry was wearing a Walkman. The volume was turned up. “That was something this morning, huh?” Kerry said. “About Schneider, I mean.” Lisa nodded and took a plate of macaroni and cheese from one of the kitchen staff. “Jesse sure took it bad, didn’t he?” Kerry said. Lisa shrugged and moved her tray toward the cashier. Then Lisa and Kerry joined Jesse and Grady at a lunch table. Jesse sat motionless, a tray of food in front of him, untouched. “Look,” Grady said, his mouth full, “I’m sorry about Schneider, man. I didn’t know you were so close.” Jesse didn’t respond. “You want to go out to a movie or something tonight?” Grady said. “Get your mind off things?” Jesse shook his head. “You going to Lisa’s party tomorrow night?” Kerry asked Grady. “I can’t,” Grady said. “I’m grounded.” “How come?” Kerry asked. “For throwing my grandmother down a flight of stairs,” Grady said jokingly. Kerry nodded gravely. “You should eat something,” Lisa said to Jesse. “You’ll feel better.” “I’m not hungry,” Jesse replied. “I wish you’d talk to me,” Lisa said. “We can figure it out, you know. We could figure it out together.” “There’s nothing to figure out.” “You’re wasting your time,” Grady said. “The guy’s a basket case.” “Shut up, Grady,” Jesse snapped. Grady pushed his tray aside. “You want me to shut up? Fine, I’ll shut up. See you around, buddy.” Grady stormed from the table. Deeply pained, Lisa looked at Jesse. He avoided her stare until he dropped his head into his hands and tried not to cry in front of the others. He composed himself quickly and dug into his lunch, forcing down some macaroni.

—

That night, in Jesse’s house, an intruder rushed up the basement steps to the main floor. Its steps quickened as it crossed the foyer and began climbing the stairs to the bedroom level. Then it stopped at Angela’s room and opened the door. Angela was sleeping soundly, peacefully. The intruder crossed the room to the bed. Its menacing shadow crept over Angela’s sleeping form. A taloned glove pulled off the blankets. Then it emitted a guttural, inhuman voice. “Wake up, little girl,” it said. Angela’s eyes fluttered open. She looked up at the intruder and smiled. “What time is it?” Jesse’s glazed eyes cleared. He was drenched in sweat and hunched over as if all the muscles in his body were twisted around each other. The sound of Angela’s voice softened him. He slowly straightened up and looked about the room in confusion. “It’s… it’s late,” he whispered. “Go back to sleep.” Angela nodded and closed her eyes. Jesse started to pull the covers over her—then stopped as he stared in disbelief at his right hand. He was wearing Freddy’s glove. Jesse covered his sister and left for his room. He shut the door, turned on a desk light, then clicked on the TV. Jesse sat on the floor in front of the door, knees against his chest. There was no way he was going back to bed.

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