A Tenor in Aisle Three
Armed with EMF meters and a thermos of weak tea, the Brampton Paranormal Society prepares for a long night in a haunted convenience store. They're not prepared for Mr. Henderson and his love for Puccini.
# A Tenor in Aisle Three
**Format:** Short Film / Anthology Episode | **Est. Length:** 10-12 minutes
## Logline
A team of earnest but amateur paranormal investigators staking out a supposedly haunted supermarket discover that the terrifying wails and poltergeist activity are the work of a lonely night-shift worker with a love for opera and a talent for pranks.
## Themes
* **Perception vs. Reality:** The tension between a desperate belief in the supernatural and the often more charming and comical mundane truth.
* **The Extraordinary in the Ordinary:** Discovering wonder, magic, and profound human connection in the most unexpected and everyday settings.
* **The Human Need for Story:** How people create narratives—whether ghost legends or elaborate pranks—to combat loneliness, boredom, and the monotony of life.
* **Disappointment as Discovery:** How the initial letdown of a debunked myth can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful human encounter.
## Stakes
The team's professional credibility and their fundamental belief in the supernatural are at risk of being shattered by a mundane explanation.
## Synopsis
A small team of paranormal investigators—CHLOE, the passionate believer; RAJ, the tech-savvy skeptic; and BRENDA, the pragmatic snacker—investigates the "Stop & Shop" supermarket, site of a local legend about the "lady of the lard," a ghost who died in a pastry-related accident. Chloe is convinced they're on the verge of a major discovery, while Raj attributes the strange energy readings to faulty wiring.
Their investigation is interrupted by classic paranormal phenomena: lights flicker and die, and a tub of strawberry yoghurt flies off a shelf and splatters against a wall. A low, mournful moan then echoes through the aisles, matching the description from a previous witness. Chloe is ecstatic, believing it's the ghost making contact. Raj, though intrigued by the anomalies, remains skeptical of the "death by baked goods" origin story.
Following the escalating, operatic wails to the back of the store, they trace the sound to the staff stockroom. Bracing themselves for a supernatural confrontation, Chloe throws the door open. Inside, they find not a ghost, but MR. HENDERSON, an elderly night-shift worker, sitting on a stool and singing his heart out to an opera aria playing on an ancient Walkman.
The "haunting" is revealed to be an elaborate prank. Henderson, aware of their visit, used a remote to control the lights and fishing line to launch the yoghurt and other items. The ghost was just him, enjoying Puccini to pass the long hours. Chloe's initial, crushing disappointment gives way to amusement and then fascination. The film ends with the team sharing snacks with Henderson in his stockroom, captivated by his thirty-two years of stories about the real, human eccentricities of the store, which prove to be far more compelling than any ghost.
## Character Breakdown
* **CHLOE (30s):** The leader and true believer. She desperately wants to prove the existence of the paranormal, armed with EMF meters and unwavering faith. She is earnest, passionate, and sees the world through a lens of wonder.
* **Psychological Arc:** Chloe begins in a state of fervent, almost dogmatic belief, seeking external validation for her worldview by capturing definitive proof of a ghost. She ends in a state of enlightened appreciation, realizing that the richness of human stories, connection, and eccentricity can be just as magical and fulfilling as any supernatural encounter.
* **RAJ (30s):** The tech expert and pragmatist. He approaches every investigation with scientific skepticism, trusting his audio waveforms and thermal cameras over feelings. He provides dry, witty commentary but is secretly thrilled when something unexplainable happens.
* **BRENDA (40s):** The no-nonsense muscle and lookout. Brenda is along for the ride, more concerned with the quality of the snacks than the presence of specters. She is the grounded, unimpressed anchor of the group, offering blunt, comedic observations.
* **MR. HENDERSON (70s):** The "ghost." A long-serving night-shift employee. Seemingly a simple, quiet old man, he possesses a mischievous spirit, a theatrical flair, and a powerful tenor voice. He is lonely but resourceful, creating his own entertainment in the dead of night.
## Scene Beats
1. **THE STAKEOUT:** Night. Inside the silent "Stop & Shop." Chloe sweeps with an EMF meter, Raj analyzes data, and Brenda eats crisps. They debate the legend of the "lady of the lard."
2. **FIRST CONTACT:** The dairy aisle lights flicker and die. A tub of yoghurt sails through the air and splatters. It's a classic poltergeist event. Chloe is thrilled; Raj is perplexed.
3. **THE WAIL:** A mournful, operatic moan echoes through the store. It's exactly what was reported. The team is on high alert.
4. **THE HUNT:** They follow the sound, creeping through the dark, shadowy aisles. The moaning grows louder, more sorrowful and intense, leading them to the stockroom door.
5. **THE REVEAL:** Chloe flings the door open to confront the spirit. They find Mr. Henderson, lost in the ecstasy of singing along to Puccini on his Walkman. The wailing stops as he removes his headphones.
6. **THE CONFESSION:** Henderson calmly explains everything. He demonstrates the remote for the lights and the nearly invisible fishing line used to move objects. He admits he heard they were coming and wanted to "give them a show."
7. **THE REAL STORIES:** An hour later. The team sits with Henderson in the stockroom, sharing snacks. He regales them with tales from his 32 years on the night shift. Chloe listens, a genuine smile on her face, completely captivated. The mundane has become magical.
## Visual Style & Tone
The film opens with the familiar aesthetic of a low-budget paranormal investigation show: shaky-cam POVs, green-tinged night vision, and the sterile glow of electronic monitors. This creates a sense of suspense and manufactured authenticity. The lighting is dark and atmospheric, using the long shadows of the supermarket aisles to build tension.
Upon the reveal, the style shifts dramatically. The lighting becomes warm and singular in the cramped, cluttered, and deeply human space of the stockroom. The camera becomes stable and observational, focusing on character and connection.
The tone begins as a tongue-in-cheek homage to the ghost-hunting genre but quickly subverts expectations, transitioning into a warm, character-driven comedy. The film's tone blends the mockumentary style of *What We Do in the Shadows* with the gentle, charming humor of *Detectorists*, subverting paranormal tropes in a way reminiscent of a lighthearted *X-Files* "monster-of-the-week" episode.
**Format:** Short Film / Anthology Episode | **Est. Length:** 10-12 minutes
## Logline
A team of earnest but amateur paranormal investigators staking out a supposedly haunted supermarket discover that the terrifying wails and poltergeist activity are the work of a lonely night-shift worker with a love for opera and a talent for pranks.
## Themes
* **Perception vs. Reality:** The tension between a desperate belief in the supernatural and the often more charming and comical mundane truth.
* **The Extraordinary in the Ordinary:** Discovering wonder, magic, and profound human connection in the most unexpected and everyday settings.
* **The Human Need for Story:** How people create narratives—whether ghost legends or elaborate pranks—to combat loneliness, boredom, and the monotony of life.
* **Disappointment as Discovery:** How the initial letdown of a debunked myth can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful human encounter.
## Stakes
The team's professional credibility and their fundamental belief in the supernatural are at risk of being shattered by a mundane explanation.
## Synopsis
A small team of paranormal investigators—CHLOE, the passionate believer; RAJ, the tech-savvy skeptic; and BRENDA, the pragmatic snacker—investigates the "Stop & Shop" supermarket, site of a local legend about the "lady of the lard," a ghost who died in a pastry-related accident. Chloe is convinced they're on the verge of a major discovery, while Raj attributes the strange energy readings to faulty wiring.
Their investigation is interrupted by classic paranormal phenomena: lights flicker and die, and a tub of strawberry yoghurt flies off a shelf and splatters against a wall. A low, mournful moan then echoes through the aisles, matching the description from a previous witness. Chloe is ecstatic, believing it's the ghost making contact. Raj, though intrigued by the anomalies, remains skeptical of the "death by baked goods" origin story.
Following the escalating, operatic wails to the back of the store, they trace the sound to the staff stockroom. Bracing themselves for a supernatural confrontation, Chloe throws the door open. Inside, they find not a ghost, but MR. HENDERSON, an elderly night-shift worker, sitting on a stool and singing his heart out to an opera aria playing on an ancient Walkman.
The "haunting" is revealed to be an elaborate prank. Henderson, aware of their visit, used a remote to control the lights and fishing line to launch the yoghurt and other items. The ghost was just him, enjoying Puccini to pass the long hours. Chloe's initial, crushing disappointment gives way to amusement and then fascination. The film ends with the team sharing snacks with Henderson in his stockroom, captivated by his thirty-two years of stories about the real, human eccentricities of the store, which prove to be far more compelling than any ghost.
## Character Breakdown
* **CHLOE (30s):** The leader and true believer. She desperately wants to prove the existence of the paranormal, armed with EMF meters and unwavering faith. She is earnest, passionate, and sees the world through a lens of wonder.
* **Psychological Arc:** Chloe begins in a state of fervent, almost dogmatic belief, seeking external validation for her worldview by capturing definitive proof of a ghost. She ends in a state of enlightened appreciation, realizing that the richness of human stories, connection, and eccentricity can be just as magical and fulfilling as any supernatural encounter.
* **RAJ (30s):** The tech expert and pragmatist. He approaches every investigation with scientific skepticism, trusting his audio waveforms and thermal cameras over feelings. He provides dry, witty commentary but is secretly thrilled when something unexplainable happens.
* **BRENDA (40s):** The no-nonsense muscle and lookout. Brenda is along for the ride, more concerned with the quality of the snacks than the presence of specters. She is the grounded, unimpressed anchor of the group, offering blunt, comedic observations.
* **MR. HENDERSON (70s):** The "ghost." A long-serving night-shift employee. Seemingly a simple, quiet old man, he possesses a mischievous spirit, a theatrical flair, and a powerful tenor voice. He is lonely but resourceful, creating his own entertainment in the dead of night.
## Scene Beats
1. **THE STAKEOUT:** Night. Inside the silent "Stop & Shop." Chloe sweeps with an EMF meter, Raj analyzes data, and Brenda eats crisps. They debate the legend of the "lady of the lard."
2. **FIRST CONTACT:** The dairy aisle lights flicker and die. A tub of yoghurt sails through the air and splatters. It's a classic poltergeist event. Chloe is thrilled; Raj is perplexed.
3. **THE WAIL:** A mournful, operatic moan echoes through the store. It's exactly what was reported. The team is on high alert.
4. **THE HUNT:** They follow the sound, creeping through the dark, shadowy aisles. The moaning grows louder, more sorrowful and intense, leading them to the stockroom door.
5. **THE REVEAL:** Chloe flings the door open to confront the spirit. They find Mr. Henderson, lost in the ecstasy of singing along to Puccini on his Walkman. The wailing stops as he removes his headphones.
6. **THE CONFESSION:** Henderson calmly explains everything. He demonstrates the remote for the lights and the nearly invisible fishing line used to move objects. He admits he heard they were coming and wanted to "give them a show."
7. **THE REAL STORIES:** An hour later. The team sits with Henderson in the stockroom, sharing snacks. He regales them with tales from his 32 years on the night shift. Chloe listens, a genuine smile on her face, completely captivated. The mundane has become magical.
## Visual Style & Tone
The film opens with the familiar aesthetic of a low-budget paranormal investigation show: shaky-cam POVs, green-tinged night vision, and the sterile glow of electronic monitors. This creates a sense of suspense and manufactured authenticity. The lighting is dark and atmospheric, using the long shadows of the supermarket aisles to build tension.
Upon the reveal, the style shifts dramatically. The lighting becomes warm and singular in the cramped, cluttered, and deeply human space of the stockroom. The camera becomes stable and observational, focusing on character and connection.
The tone begins as a tongue-in-cheek homage to the ghost-hunting genre but quickly subverts expectations, transitioning into a warm, character-driven comedy. The film's tone blends the mockumentary style of *What We Do in the Shadows* with the gentle, charming humor of *Detectorists*, subverting paranormal tropes in a way reminiscent of a lighthearted *X-Files* "monster-of-the-week" episode.