— Tom talking about the death of Jane Perkinssrc“ "The night Jane died, I was driving. If she'd been driving, she would've seen the other car sliding into the intersection. And she would've stopped. It's my fault. It's my fault she's dead. I killed my family." ”
Tom Houston is a character in the Hatchetfield Universe. He was the husband of Jane Perkins and is the father of Tim Houston. He is also the old childhood sweetheart of Becky Barnes. Tom appears in Black Friday, Forever and Always, Time Bastard, Jane's A Car and Yellow Jacket. He is played by Dylan Saunders.
| Production | Played by | Song | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday | Dylan Saunders | What Tim Wants | ||
| Our Doors Are Open | ||||
| Feast or Famine | ||||
| Take Me Back | ||||
| Do You Want To Play? | ||||
| If I Fail You | ||||
| What If Tomorrow Comes | ||||
| Nightmare Time | Season 1 | Forever and Always | None | |
| Time Bastard | ||||
| Jane's A Car | Jane's A Car | |||
| Season 2 | Yellow Jacket | None | ||
The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals[]
Tom is first referenced in TGWDLM when Emma is explaining her relationship with her sister. Emma gives an example of how organized her sister's life was, saying that she had a Lisa Frank binder when she was little, in which she mapped out her entire life: job, husband, house, kids.
Black Friday[]
In the musical, Tom leaves his son, Tim, with Paul and Emma, so he can get him a Tickle Me Wiggly doll. When he arrives at the mall, he meets up with his student, Lex Foster, who tells him that she started flunking school after he left to grieve over the death of his wife. When Lex refuses to save him a Wiggly doll and tells him to wait in line with everyone else, he tries cutting the line. It is at this moment he is reunited with his ex girlfriend, Becky Barnes.
The toy store then opens and the customers enter the mall. However, after they begin giving out the dolls, the customers start fighting over them. When the fighting turns into a riot, Tom and Becky flee to the Cineplex with a Wiggly doll, where they discover a badly beaten Ethan Green (Lex's boyfriend), who Tom immediately recognizes. They check up on him to make sure he's okay, but they're too late and he dies on the floor. Shocked and upset over Ethan's death, Tom fails to notice the man in a hurry sneaking up behind him, and stabs Tom in order to steal the Wiggly doll from him.
Becky takes the now injured Tom into the Cineplex, where they are playing, "Santa Claus Is Goin To High School", which both he and Becky agree is a horrible movie. They fall in love with each other once again and proceed to have sex in the movie theater.
Later on, he and Becky discover Hannah with a Wiggly doll. Becoming brainwashed by the doll's influence, he and Becky begin to terrorize Hannah and try to lure her into giving the doll to them. However, when Becky attempts to drug Hannah and put her to sleep, she stabs herself with the needle instead and begins to fall asleep on top of her. Tom, desperate to give the doll to his son and still under it's control, double crosses Becky and runs off.
Lex soon encounters Tom and tells him to get rid of the doll. When he refuses to listen, Lex tells him that Tim doesn't even want the toy, in fact no kid wants the doll (they're all into Fortnite, dude). The only people who wanted the dolls all along were the adults. Realizing how ridiculous he has been, Tom throws the doll away and releases himself from its control. He then tells Lex that Hannah and Becky have been kidnapped by Linda and her cult of Wiggly followers and takes off with her to go save them (but not before moving some boxes).
They head towards Linda and her cult and are able to defeat them, thanks to Becky shooting Linda in the head. Tom and Becky reunite and make up. Lex then sets the last Wiggly doll on fire and burns the last of the brainwashed cultists, as well as the rest of the Hatchetfield Mall.
Paul and Emma hear about the crisis at the mall and rush over to see if Tom is okay, leaving Tim in the car (due to them originally wanting to skip town with him). Emma then suggests that he and everyone else stay at her professor's house until the whole Wiggly thing passes over. The musical ends with Tom and the rest of the cast counting down the end to Black Friday and hearing a wooshing noise above their head, as the stage fades to black.
Forever and Always[]
Tom is a guest at Emma Matthews and Paul Perkins wedding. He is mentioned in Emma's wedding vows and after she insults him she apologizes.
Time Bastard[]
When Ted Spankoffski breaks into Emma and Paul's wedding Tom kicks him out of the venue.
Jane's A Car[]
We first see Tom at Pizza Pete's where he and Tim are waiting for Becky Barnes. Becky arrives and while Tom orders food Tim and Becky play Zombie House. Later that night while Tim is asleep upstairs Tom and Becky have sex to Santa Claus is Goin' to High School (again). The next day Tom collects his car from Tony Green who offers to find Tom a seller. He declines. When his car is back in his own garage Tom speaks to his car expressing how he missed it before turning to the passenger seat and saying he misses Jane also. A ghostly voice responds to him but Tom thinks nothing of it.
The next day; Tom drives Tim to school but after Tim gets out the car, honks it's horn reminding Tim of his lunch which he forgot. Tom later bumps into Becky at the book store looking into the voice he heard. Becky flirts with him but Tom seems closed and cut off. Later that day Tom discovers that Jane's spirit was transferred to the car due to the tape they were listening to during the crash. Jane takes Tom around town looking at women to run over so she can possess them. Jane eventually settles on Greenpeace Girl but she gets away due to Tom's protests. Once they're home Tom and Jane have sex before Tim appears.
Tom suggests they go see a movie just the three of them (meaning he, Tim and Jane) but Tim interprets it as him meaning Becky. Jane is angered by Tom's relationship with Becky and makes him go break things of with her. Becky seems concerned for Tom's mental well-being as he tells her everything. After the breakup Jane lures Becky outside before chasing her into the woods and ultimately hitting her with the car.
Later Becky wakes up and discusses with Doug the Cop the events of the previous night. It's revealed that Tom has been arrested.
Yellow Jacket[]
Tom features in Yellow Jacket as the teacher of Hannah Foster's shop class. When Hannah is being bullied by Brad Callahan, he yells at him and threatens to stop him playing in the football game on Friday if he doesn't leave her alone. He then discuss with Hannah about her project and points out the shelf Lex Foster made when she was a student at the school. He tells Hannah that the Foster girls are special and that they have a gift.
Personality and Traits[]
On the surface, Tom comes across as a very serious and bitter man. The grief and survivors guilt over the loss of his wife causes Tom to come across as very closed off to those who don't know him as well as those who he loves. Tom also suffers from PTSD due to the loss of his wife and the two tours he did as a part of the army in Iraq. Despite this, underneath Tom has a genuine care for those who he loves and wants the best for them in life, he is willing to sacrifice anything in order to ensure their welfare including his own life. As well as this, Tom is a force of moral good who is primarily motivated by his love for his family and despite the influence of malevolent entities ultimately is willing to do what is right. When Tom opens up to those who he loves, he has the capacity to be kind, caring and loving as well as blatantly open with his emotions however this is rare. Furthermore, as a teacher, Tom has a genuine care for his students and wants them to succeed in life and is always willing to believe in them. Ultimately, despite his hard exterior Tom is a force of moral good who does genuinely care for others, especially those he loves.
Skills[]
- Woodwork- As a woodwork teacher at Hatchetfield High, Tom is very skilled at woodwork and at using tools.
- Gun use- As a former solider, Tom is able to use guns expertly though this does sometimes trigger his PTSD.
Relationships[]
Becky Barnes[]
Becky and Tom during Take Me Back
Becky Barnes is Tom's high school sweetheart and current girlfriend. The two got together in high school and were very well known around town due to their positions as cheer captain and quarterback. However, the two eventually broke up after Tom enlisted in the military as they thought it would be better to be apart than do long distance[1]. The two eventually reunited after years apart and formed a romantic relationship.
In Black Friday, the couple reunite and clearly still have feelings for each other eventually getting together. It is implied that either she or Tom are foretold "Warriors of Light", due to General MacNamara's line in Black Friday :"There is a warrior of light trapped in a deep sleep, wake the warrior, kill the prophet, save the world" (this is either Becky or Tom due to the fact that Becky drugged herself and is literally trapped in sleep, or the fact that Tom is under the influence of Wiggly, and in a metaphorical sleep).
They couple are together in Jane's A Car and appear happy with Becky slowly becoming more involved in the Tom's life such as meeting his son Tim. However, the intervention of Jane the couples relationship becomes strained.
Jane Perkins[]
Jane and Tom in Jane's A Car
Jane Perkins is Tom's former wife. The two had a deep love and care for each other and were married for many years, having a son together Tim. Tom is very devoted to Jane and remained so after her death. Despite this, the two still had their qualms with Jane being the clear leader in the relationship, often giving Tom tasks to do that she could likely do better herself in order to improve his self-esteem which greatly irritated Tom.
After her returning as a car, Jane and Tom's relationship becomes very strained as a result of her jealousy of Tom's relationship with Becky Barnes. Jane is also very harsh with Tom often nagging and insulting him. Despite this, Tom is just grateful to have his wife back and is very attentive to Jane, willing to do what ever she wants. He later becomes very scared of Jane and what she's doing. Meanwhile, Jane cares very little for Tom and is willing to use him as a pawn to get what she wants: a new body and her freedom.
Tim Houston[]
Tim and Tom in Black Friday
Tom Houston is Tim's father. Tom cares so much for his son and Tim is Tom's main driving force in life. Tom just wants Tim to be okay in life and is constantly concerned about him. Many of the decisions Tom makes in his life are governed by the effect they will have on Tim and whether this will be good for him. Tom's love for Tim is what allows him to break out of Wiggly's spell. Tim also really cares for his dad and understands his mental health issues and always wants to make sure he's okay.
Emma Perkins[]
Emma and Tom in Black Friday
Emma Perkins is Tom's sister-in-law. Despite not having a relationship prior to Jane's death, the two are actively attempting to build one after her death. While it's awkward, the two generally appear to care for each other.
Lex Foster[]
Lex and Tom in Black Friday
Lex Foster is Tom's former student and friend. Lex was one of Tom's favourite students in school as she worked hard. Tom genuinely cares for Lex and is one of the only adults who recognises her potential and wants to help her realise that. Lex is reluctant to open up to anybody, including Tom, but ultimately does trust him to help her and do what's right.
Tom's Dad[]
Tom had quite a strained relationship with his father. The two spent little time together but this mean that any time Tom did spend with his dad when he was younger meant so much more.
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Trivia[]
- The name 'Tom' can be of Hebrew origin, meaning 'innocence', 'naivety', 'simplicity' or 'the end'; alternatively, the name also has a separate Aramaic origin, either as an independent name or shortened form of 'Thomas', both names meaning 'twin'. The surname 'Houston' is of Scottish origin, meaning 'the son of Hugh' or 'the settlement belonging to Hugh'. As a result, the name Tom Houston could be interpreted in a multitude of ways.
- Tom was born in 1984.[2]
- Tom Houston marks Dylan Saunders's return to StarKid, as it was his first role with them after a six-year absence following his turn as Ja'far in Twisted.
- During the November 30th performance of Black Friday, when Dylan Saunders was out sick for the night, fellow castmate Jeff Blim filled in for Saunders, learning the role of Houston in under a day and playing him that night.
- During his time at Hatchetfield High, Tom was a quarterback.[3]
- As the Hatchetfield High quarterback dating the cheer captain, Tom and Becky used to be significant figures of the local community.[3]
- Tom joined the military after he graduated from Hatchetfield High.[4]
- Tom and Becky split up after Tom joined the military, as they decided that they would rather be apart than do long-distance.[4]
- Tom has PTSD, and tries to avoid things that bring up bad memories.[5]
- After leaving teaching due to Jane's death Tom becomes unemployed, and resorts to living off life savings and insurance money.[6]
- Tom and Gary Goldstein are acquaintances, but not best buds because they don't have much in common: Tom is a good person whereas Gary is easily inclined to evil.[7]
- Tom doesn't feature in Monsters and Men as he's just been stabbed.[8]
- The ticking at the end of Black Friday is Tom's watch.[9]
- Tom loves Jane to an unspeakable degree, and always will, but there's an unspeakable pain that she's gone; contrarily, Tom also loves Becky, and has done since high school. In Take Me Back Tom is longing for a simpler time, when he felt pure, when he didn't hurt every day. As Tom's a fiercely loyal person, he unfairly blames himself for Jane's death and doesn't think that he deserves to be happy. The only person besides Jane that Tom can love romantically is Becky because he developed those feelings for her before he shut himself off from happiness.[10]
- Every time that Tom thinks about his wife Jane's death, an underscore version of either "What Tim Wants" or "If I Fail You" plays in the background, further elaborating on the fact that his son Tim is the main focus and priority of his life.
- Tom was said to appear in a potential future Nightmare Time episode named Becky Barnes Climbed A Tree.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ThePupp53560874/status/1255295301100933125
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Kiana_Apples/status/1250405136133804032
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://twitter.com/NickLangTweets/status/1235782377240170502
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://twitter.com/ThePupp53560874/status/1255295301100933125
- ↑ https://twitter.com/witchssin4/status/1247029988102037504
- ↑ https://twitter.com/forest_solitude/status/1254759945448435712
- ↑ https://twitter.com/NickLangTweets/status/1238296258118209536
- ↑ https://twitter.com/pronouncedcvon/status/1238628298793594880
- ↑ https://twitter.com/curenotindoubt/status/1235843198674554881
- ↑ https://twitter.com/otakiie/status/1254780135460368385