"SCREAM" (1996)

STATS120pages135scenes18,978words32%dialogue45characters

Words

  • dialogue6,11732%
  • action11,84562%
  • other1,0165.4%

Scenes

location
  • INT 50
  • EXT 37
  • UNKNOWN 48
time
  • CONT 23
  • UNKNOWN 112
3

EXT. CASEY'S HOUSE - NIGB'L'-ESTABLISHING

ON A RINGINGTELEPHONE.

A hand reaches for it,bringing the receiver up tothe face of CASEY BECKER, ayoung girl, no more than sixteen. A friendly face with innocenteyes.

CLICK1 She bangsup the phone. The CAMERA PULLSBACK to reveal Casey in a livingroom, alone. She moves from the living room to thekitchen. It's a nice house. Affluent.

The phone RINGS again.

Casey grabsthe portable•

Caseystands in front of a slidingglass door. It's pitch blackoutside.

CLICK l Casey hangs up. A grin on berface.

A big, country home with a huge sprawlinglawn full of big oaktrees. It sits alone with no neighborsin sight.

Thephone RINGS again.

Popcorn SIZZLES in a pot on the stove. Casey covers it with a lid,reaching for the portablephone.

CASEY
Bello.

~ --

MAN
Whydon't you want to talk tome?
CASEY
Who is this?
MAN
You tellme your name, I'll tellyou mine.
CASEY
(shakingthe popcom)
Idon't think so.
MAN
What's that noise?

Casey smiles, playing along,innocently.

Popcorn.

MAN
You're making popcorn?

CASEY

I Uh-huh.

r MAN

I only eat popcorn at themovies.

CASEY
I'm getting ready towatch a video.
MAN
Really? What?
CASEY
Just some scary movie.
MAN
Do you like scary movies?
CASEY
Uh-huh.
MAN
What's your favorite scarymovie?

Be's flirting vi thher. Casey moves awayfrom the stoveand takes a seat at the kitchencounter, directly in front ofthe glaaa door. r.· ~·

CONTINUEDz( 2 )

CASEY
Idon't know.
MAN
You haveto have a favorite.

Casey thinks for a second.

CASEY
Uh ••HALLOWEEN. You know, theone with the guy with the white mask who just sortawalks around and stalksthe baby- sitters. What's yours?
MAN
Guess.
CASEY
Uh •••NIGHTMAREON ELM STREET.
MAN
Isthat the one where the guyhad knives forfingers?
CASEY
Yeah •• FreddyKrueger.
MAN
Freddy--that's right. I likedthat movie. It was scary.
CASEY
The firstone was, but the restsucked.
MAN
so,you gotta a boyfriend?
CASEY
(giggling)
Why? You wanna ask me out?
MAN
Maybe. Do you have a boyfriend?
GIRL
No.
MAN
You nevertold me your name.

CaseyBDLiles,twirling her hair.

CONTINUED: (3)

CASEY
Why do you want to knowmy name?
MAN
Because I want to knowwho I 'm looking at.

Casey spins around likelightning facing the glass door.

CASEY
What did you say?
MAN
I want to knowwho I 'mtalking to.
CASEY
That•s not what yousaid.
MAN
What do you think Isaid?

Casey CLICKS on theoutside light. A flood lightilluminates the backyard. Her eyessurvey the grounds. But it'sempty. No one's there. Sheturns the light out.

on the stove, thepopcorn POPS.

CASEY
I have to go now.
MAN
Wait •• Ithoughtwe weregonna go out.
CASEY
Nah, I don't thinkso •.•
MAN
Don't hang up onme.
CASEY
Gotta go.

MAN

CLICKI Casey hangsup. She checks the glass doormaking sure it•s locked andthen moves to the stove as•••

THE PHONE RINGS.

She slides the popcornfrom the stove, reaching forthe phone.

CONTINUED:(4)

CASEY
Yes?
MAN
I told you not to hang up onme.
CASEY
What do you want?

To talk.

CASEY
Dial someone else, okay?
MAN
You getting scared?
CASEY
No--bored.

CLICK. She hangs up. The phoneRINGS again. She grabs it.

CASEY
Listen, asshole•••
MAN
(deadlyserious)
NO, YOU LISTEN, YOU LITTLEBITCH. IF YOU BANG UP ON ME AGAIN I'LL GUTYOU LID A FISH. UNDERSTAND?

Total silence. Be has gottenher full attention.

CASEY
Ia this some kind of a joke?
MAN
More of a game, really.

Casey eyes the glass doors, thenlooks up the hallway to the frontdoor ••• movingtoit. It'sunlocked. She bolts it.

CASEY
I •mtwo seconds from callingthe police.
MAN
They'd never make it in time.

Casey moves her face flush againstthe door, her eye looking through the peephole.

CONTINUED1 ( 5 )

ANGLE THROUGH PEEPHOLE.

A distorted view ofthe front porch. It is empty. She relaxes a bit,relieved.

CASEY
What do youwant?
MAN
(pure evil)
TO SEE WHAT YOURINSIDES LOOK LIKE.

Casey•s jaw drops astotal fear storms her face. She hangs up the phone, throwingit down on a Bide tablewhen •••

THE DOORBELL CHIMES.

Casey leaps out ofher skin. She turns to the dooras it CHIMES again.

, CASEY

(calling out) Who's there?

Another CHIME. She movesto it.

CASEY
(louder)

~ ••-·

Who's there?

No answer. Fuck this. It's time for the police. She goes for the portable phone. Just as she picks itup •••

IT RINGS. ·

Casey almost dropsit, losing her breath•••

She brings it toher ear with trembling hands,saying nothing••• listening,waiting••.

A long silence. And then.

MAN
You should neversay •Who's there?•• Don't you watch scarymovies? It's a death wish.

Casey clutches thewall, nearly collapsing. Shetries her damndest to hangtough.

~--·

e.

CONTINUEDz (6 )

CASEY
Look, enough is enough. You had yourfun now you better leave me aloneor else.
MAN
or else what?

CLOSEON her face, hermind thinking, calculating•••

CASEY
My boyfriend will_be hereany second and he'll be pissed when I tellhim •••
MAN
I thought you didn't havea boyfriend.

Busted. She holds steady.

CASEY
I lied. I do have a boyfriendand he'll be here any second and yourass better be gone.
MAN
Sure •••

-<?:::, :::~: CASEY

4

I swear it. And he' sbigand plays football and will beat theshit out of you.

MAN
I'm getting scared.
CASEY
I'm telling the truth. Ilied before•••
MAN
I believe you •••
CASEY
So you better leave.
MAN
Bis name wouldn't be Steve,would it?

Silence. Casey buckles at theknees, losing it.

CASEY
Bow do you know his name?

CONTINUED: ( 7 )

~-- MAN \ ' Go to the back door and turnon the porch

light-again •

5

CASEY,TERRIFIED, FORCES HERSELFTO MOVE••• STAGGERINGTO THE

kitchen ••• totheglass doors. Ber shaky hand finds the light switch •••shehits it. The backyard is lit.

Sitting in a lawn chair inthe middle of the backyard is a big, line backer of a guy, herboyfriend•••

STEVE

tied and gagged. Be"s beenroughed up, but he s alive. CLOSEON his eyes •• wideinfear••staringat his girlfriend, pleading with her.

CASEY
Oh Goddddd•••

Casey SCREAMS. Ber hand moves tothe lock on the door.

MAN
I wouldn't do that if Iwere you.

Terror rides Casey•s face. She's petrified.

CASEY
Where are you?
MAN
Guess.

Ber eyes search the yard, combingbushes, trees. Be could be anywhere--anywhere.

CASEY
(begging)
Please don't hurt him.
MAN
That all depends on you.
CASEY
Why are you doing this?

Tears find their way, streamingdown Casey's face.

MAN
I wannaplay a game.

~ :-: \ ''

CONTINUED:(8)

CASEY
No •••
MAN
Then he dies. Right now.
CASEY
NOOOl
MAN
Which is it?

A long silence. Casey touchesthe glass•••ataring at Steve ••• thisbigjock of a guyis crying too.

CASEY
What kind of game?
MAN
Turn off the light.

Her hand goes to the switch••• Stevetugsand pulls at his straps •••asif begging her ••• hisfacesweatand tears•••

CLICK

He disappears in the darkness. Casey moves away from the glass, back towards the livingroom, unbelieving,,horrified.

MAN
Here"s how we play. I ask aquestion. If you get it right--Steve lives.

Three curtainless windows line onewall. Casey crouches down behind the couch, ripping a lampcord from it's socket, darkening the room. Her bodyquivers.

CASEY
Please don't do this•••
MAN
Come on. It'll be fun.
CASEY
No •••please.
MAN
It's an easy category. Movie trivia.
CASEY
(begging)
••please•••
6

--.•,·

~ :

CONTINUED: ( 9 )

HAN
I'll even give you awarm up question.
CASEY
Don't do this. Ican't ••
MAN
Name the killer inHALLOWEEN.
CASEY
No •••
MAN
Come on. It's yourfavorite scary movie, remember? Be had awhite mask, he stalked the baby-sitters.

Casey goes silent•••anervous wreck•••she can barely speak much less think.

CASEY
I don't know•••
MAN
Come on, yes you do.
CASEY
Please•• stop•••

Casey is SOBBING.

MAN
What's his name?
CASEY
I can't think.

Casey has officially reachedhysteria, petrified beyond a11 · reality.

MAN
Steve•s counting on you.

Suddenly •••throughtears...Godsent•••

CASEY
(a whisper)
Michael •••MichaelMyers.
MAN
YESt

CONTINUED: (10)

Casey SIGHS••• relieved.

MAN
Now for the real question.
CASEY
NOOOO••••
MAN
But you•re doing sowell.
CASEY
Please go awayl Leaveus alone!
MAN
Then answer the question. Same category.

Casey is a blubbering,wet mess on the floor.

CASEY
•• please•• no •••
MAN
Name the killer in FRIDAYTHE 13TH.

A mad smile purses Casey• slips. She knows this. She leaps ..-·.. 1·' ,.- up, through tears, screaming••• (""

CASEY
JASON lJASONt•••JASON 1

A slight PAUSE.

MAN
I 'msorry. That's thewrong answer.
CASEY
No it's not. It was Jason.
MAN
Afraid not.
CASEY
It was Jason. I sawthat goddamned movie twenty ti.mes. It wasJason.
MAN
Tben you should knowJason•a MO'l'HER--Mrs. Vorhees was the originalkiller. Jason didn't show up until thesequel.

,. Casey is stupefied. I·:•:•:•• ~--

CONTINUED: (11)

CASEY
You trickedme•••
MAN
Lucky, foryou there's a bonus round. But poorSteve••~•m afraid•• he'sout.

This implicationsends Casey running tothe kitchen••• tothe glassdoors. She flips on the porchlight to see •••

STEVE

eyeswide, sitting in the lawn chair••• hisbellygaping open •••amassof blood and ripped flesh••• hisinsideslay on the groundbetween his feet•••ateamrising.

A SCREAMerupts from the bottom of hersoul as Casey collapsesto the floor••• nearlypassing out. CLOSEON her face •••paleandghostly white. She SOBS.

MAN
Final question. Are you ready?

She doesn'tanswer. A long, maddeningailence. Casey, reachesup and CLICXS off the light,making Steve go away••• wishing,hoping •••

CASEY
•• leaveme alone •• please•••
MAN
Answerthe question and I will.

Caseyis curled up on the floor likean infant, rocking slowlyback and forth.

MAN
What dooram I at?
CASEY
What?
MAN
There aretwo doors to your house. A front doorand a back one. If you answer correctly--youlive.

Fromwhere Casey sits ahe can see bothfront and back doors. She deliberates••• withherlast bit ofstrength she tries to strategize. Eyeing both, the frontdoor ••• theback door ••• tryingtodecidebetween thetwo.

(CON'l'INOED)

CONTINUED: ( 12 )

CASEY
Don't make me•• Ican't••• Iwon"t.
MAN
Your call.

In the darkness, Casey crawlstot.he kitchen counter--she leans up and grabs a long,sharp knife.

Casey looks around her ••• ahelooksdownthe hall to the front door ••• thenturnsback tothe kitchen glass door as it suddenly•••

SHATTERS TO BITS •••

as a lawn chair comes flyingthrough it. Exploding glass sprays everywhere.

This incites Casey like fire. She springs to her feet••• boltingout of thekitchen as a SHADOW moves quickly through the shattereddoorframe.

ANGLE ON CASEY

Somewhere in the house,back flat against a window, listening to FEET ON CRACRING GLASS. She turns and unlocks the latch, quietly sliding it up. She canhear him move to the foyer ••• tothefront door.

Casey lifts herself up and putsher legs through the window. She holds the ~fe in one hand,the phone in the other.

Casey eases out the window,fumbling, dropping the knife back inside the house. She startsto reach for it. Fuck it, she takes off •••

7

EXT. SIDE OF BOUSE

Casey is at the back cornerof the house.

MAN
I can hear you. I knowyou're here.

Casey eases along a narrowpath between a tall fence and the side of the house •••goingfor thefront yard. She must pass the three curtainleaa windows. She gets to the first one and peeks in•••

The FIGURE has pulled openthe foyer cloBet, searching for her. .

Casey creeps a1ong, to thenext window, she looks in••• the FIGURE is completely on theother side of the room moving ~ · · toward the hall that leadsto other parts of the house.

8

15.

CONTINUED1

She movesfurther along thehouse •••squeezingby hedges••• to ~ · the third window ••• shepeeksinto see the FIGURE••• \ -·· STARING BACK AT BER•••

Bis face covered with a ghostlywhite mask, inches from her ••• hiseyespiercing through••• soulless•••caseySCREAMS BLOODY MURDER as a hand•••

CRASHES through the glass window grabbinghold of her neck •••shebeats at him tryingto free herself••• hernails dig into his &J:m•••shewrenchesfrom side to side••• finally breaking free as the handsdisappear inside the house •••

9

EXT. CORNER OF HOUSE

Casey sails around the corner ofthe house, eyeing the front door. It remains closed. Her eyes cover the sprawling, country yard when suddenly•••

HEADLIGHTS APPEAR

in the distance, coming down theroad towards the house ••• she recognizes them instantly. Mom •••Dad••• shetearsoff across the yard toward them••• movinglikelightening•••

The car turns into the driveway••• caseySCREAMS,waving madly, rushing by a tree as •••

THE GHOST MASKED FIGURE APPEARS

caeey stumbles back, catching herbalance••• theFIGURE moves on her, arm poised high•••a flashof silver••• andCasey is struck, across the chest. She looksdown to see her shirt blossoming red ••• alookof bewildermentas she drops to one Jenee.

The knife rises again••• caseythrowsher hand foxward•••the blade comes down••• butit's blockedby the port.ablephone still in her hand. She turns,staggering to •••

10

EXT. DRIVEWAY

A MIDDLE-AGED COUPLEemerge from theparked car. They move to the front door completely unawareof what's happening to their daughter, only feet framthem.

Err. FRONT YARD

casey stumbles fon,ard•••ber parentsten feet away •••she opens her mouth to scream butno sound resonates••• sheis beyond words•••ataggering, swaying•••theFIGURE moving behind bar.

12

EXT. FRONTDOOR

Ber parentsapproach the door.

FATHER
That fishsmelled strong.
MOTHER
I told you tosend it back.

The fatherdiscovers the front door ajar. A puzzled look. Casey isright behind them with one armoutstretched. If they'd onlyturn around •••

They enterthe house and close the dooras ••.

Casey collapseson the ground, clutchingher bloody chest••• theFIGUREupon her.

The fathersees straight back into thekitchen••• the shatteredpatio door.

FATHER
Jesus •••

Cl.1iER What is it? Where's Casey?

FATHER
(callingout)
Casey? Casey?

In a splitsecond they•re both panic stricken. The father begins searchingthe house frantically. The mother is hysterical.

13

EXT. FRONTYARD

CLOSEON Caaey •••ahe'adragged by her feetthrough damp aoil••• thelifegoing fast from herbody ••• herhandstill clutchingthe phone.

Back inthe house.

M0'l'BER Where is she?

FATHER

~ · Callthe police. \ .

Themother moves to the phone inthe foyer, picks it up ••• there'sno dialtone. She jigglesthe base.

FATHER
(searching)
Casey? Where are you honey? Call the police,goddammit.
MOT'HER
~hephone's dead.

Then••• thesoftest•••faintestvoiceis heard•••

CASEY
(fromphone)
Mom •••

MO'l'HER Oh dear God•• Caseybaby.

The slightest breath••••a whimperingalmost ••• fromthe receiver.

CASEY
(fromphone)
•• helpme•••
MOTHER
She 'ahere,God, I can hear her. Where'a my baby?

The husband returns to the foyer findinghis wife clinging to the phone.

FATHER
Where ia she?

Ol'SER I canhear her. Oh Mother of God, Ican hearher.

The fatherupturns the living room.

FATHER
Caseyl CASEYI
MOTHER
Notmy daughter••• notmy•••

r"•.

CON'l'!NUED:( 2 )

The husband grabs holdof his wife.

FATHER
Get in the oar and drivedown to the Mackenzie's.

The mother throws the frontdoor open and rushes out ••• the father moves through the housewhen a SCREAM echoes out. That of his wife. Be tears off for the front door.

14

EXT. FRONT DOOR

The father rushes out thedoor to find his wife, on her knees, bent over, retching. Bis eyes move beyond to a tree in the front yard••• hisstoma.chfailshim ••• hiedinner rises••• ashe bareswitness to the single, most horrifying sight he'11 ever see.

That of his only daughter asshe hangs from a big, oak tree•••strung up •••verymuc::hdead •••herstomachrippedopen.

BLACKOUTJ

BEGIN MAIN TITLES

FADEIN:

15

INT. BEDROOM - SAMENIGHT

A teenage girl'e room. Neat and pinkish. on the bed, amongst age-old stuffed an.iJDalslieopenedschool books. The CAMERA PANS to a deskagainst the wall where•••

SIDNEY PRESCOTT

a young girl of 17, sits,her face glued to the computer monitor in front of her. CLOSE ON her face. Sharp and clever with deep, lonely eyes. She" scomfortable in a plain, flannel nightgown.

Her bands are at.work,typing feverishly, when suddenly•••

CRASB--BOOM

A noise behind her. She turnsabruptly, eyeing an open window across t.heroom. A SCRATCHING sound. She stands and moves toward it.

16

EXT. ~

Sidney sticks her head outthe window. The late night wind bits her face as a SHADOW appearsjust to the left of her, a band reaches out, grabs her andsuddenly a FIGURE is on top ~ ·· of her•••

17

INT. BEDROOM

Sid SCREAMS••• pullingawayfrom the FIGURE•••breaking free, falling back onto the floor.

VOICE (o.s.) Bey ••• it'sjustme.

Sid looks up to see •••

BILLY LOOMIS

A young, strapping boy ofseventeen. Handsome and alluring. A star quarterback/class presidenttype of guy. He sports a smile that could last fordays.

SIDNEY
Billy? What the •••
BILLY
I'm sorry. Don't hateme.
SIDNEY
What are you doing here?
BILLY
You sleep in THAT?

Billy pulls himself throughthe window.

SIDNEY
(whispering)
My dad's in the otherroom.
BILLY
I'll only stay a sec.

Suddenly•••

The bedroom door BURSTS open. The doorknob catches on the open closet door behind it jammingit, holding it in place.

VOICE (frombehind door) What'a going on in there?

Billy quickly rolls out ofsight behind the bed. Sidney unjams the doorto reveal•••

MR. PRESCOTT, late 40's, asevere presence. A distracted man, nervous and pre-occupied.

(CONTINtJED)

{.. MR. PRESCOTT

Are you okay? •

".··l'

SIDNEY
Can you knock?
MR. PRESCOTT
I heard screaming.
SIDNEY
No you didn't.

MR. PRESCOT'l' No? Oh, well•••I•m hittingthe sack. My flight leaves first thingin the morning. Now the expo runs allweekend so I won• t be back til Sunday. There"s cash on the table and I'll be stayingat the Raleigh Hilton•••

SIDNEY
•• outatthe airport•••
MR. PRESCOTT
•• socallif you needme.
SIDNEY
Got it.

He gives the bedroom a quickonce over.

MR. PRESCOTT
I coulda swore I heardscreaming.

Sidney distracts him, givinghim a peck on the cheek.

SIDNEY
Have a good trip.
MR. PRESCOTT
Sleep tight, sweetie.

Be gives her a wink and pullsthe door closed. Billy reappears.

BILLY
Close call.
SIDNEY
What are you doing here?

Billy tak~s a flying leap andlands on the bed. ·'

CONTINUEDa (2 )

BILLY
It just occurredto me that I've never snuck through yourbedroom window.
SIDNEY
Now that it"sout of your system.
BILLY
And I was home,bored, watching television, THEEXORCIST was on and it got me thinkingof you.
SIDNEY
Oh it did?
BILLY
Yeah, it wasedited for TV. All the good stuff was cutout and I started thinking about us andhow two years ago, we started off kindahot and heavy, a nice solid •R• ratingon our way to an NC17. And how thingshave changed and, lately, we' rejust sortof ••• editedfor television.
SIDNEY
So you thoughtyou could sneak in my window and we wouldhave a little bump-. bump.
BILLY
No, no. I wouldn'tdream of breaking your underwear rule. I just thought we might do some on topof the clothes stuff.

She snuggles upnext to him, planting a kisson his lips. Passionate and gentle. He, however, responds likea shark, moving on topof her, his hands everywhere ashe presses into her •••Sidneybreaksaway.

SIDNEY
Time to go, studbucket.

Billy sitsup. His heart isn't racing••• it'sPOUNDING.

BILLY
See what you doto me.

Sweat has poppedout all over his forehead,his breathing heavy.

CONTINUED:( 3)

SIDNEY
You know whatmy dad will do toyou?

BILLY ·

I' I'mgoing •• I'mgoing.

Be moves to the window. She follows,motioning to his wound.

SIDNEY
Iappreciate the romantic gesture.

She gives him a kiss goodnight. Sweet and simple.

BILLY
(whisper)
Bey ••aboutthe sex stuff. I"m nottrying to rush you. I was onlyhalf serious.

She kisses him again as he easesthrough the window.

SIDNEY
Would you settle for a PG-13 relationship?
BILLY
What's that?

She pulls her flannel gown openfor a split second••• flashing her left breast. Bis mouth dropsopen ••• surprise,shock. 'l'heireyesmeet. 'l'heyshareasmile~

SIDNEY
Get outa here.
CUTTO:
18

INT.SIDNEY'S BEDROOM - EARLYMORNING

CLOSEon Sidney snuggling herpillow, sleeping peacefully when •••

'l'HERADIOALARM BLASTS from thenight table loud enough to wake the dead. Sidney bolts up.

DISC JOCKEY
(fromradio)
•• foundbrutallymurdered •••

CLICK. Sidney, quick with thereflexes, shuts it off instantly. A car trunk SLAMS shutoutside.

Sidneypulls herself out of bed andleans to the window just intime to see her Dad jumping inhis car. She half waves (":·

~·· down at him but hedoesn •tsee her. Be's as goodas gone, pulling out of thedriveway and disappearing down theroad.

A moment as Sidneystands at the window, staringout after him.

19

EXT. SCHOOL -MORNING

CLOSE ON A SIGN

"BAYBORO HIGH SCHOOL.HOME OF THE FIGHTINGBULLDOGS"

THE CAMERA PULLSBACR TO REVEAL a picture perfectsmall town school. Old andchuming. Students come and go,moving e.bout. Nothingunusual, except for the •••

six police cars, fournews vans, flashing cameras,and crowds and crowds of lookie-loo'sgathered just off campus.

20

EXT. SIDEWALR

Sidney approaches theschool seeing the commotion. Four different REPORTERS standin front of four differentcameras giving four differentnews reports.

She moves passeda policeman standing guard. Ber interest peaked, she stops atthe first reporter who is •••

GALE WEATHERS

Thirties. Ber smartface is overshadowed by a flashysmile and a massivemane of chemically enhanced.hair.

GALE
(for the camera)
The small townof Bayboro, North Carolina was devastated lastnight when two young teenagers were foundbrutally butchered. Authorities have yetto issue a statement but our sources tallus that no arrest has been made and themurderer could strike again•..

ON SIDNEY. Moved,disturbed. From behind, a fingertaps her shoulder. She spinsaround to see •••

TATUM RILEY, same age,feisty, carefree.

TATUM
Do you believe thisshit?
SIDNEY
What happened?

'l'heybreakaway from the crowdand bead for school.

TATUM

Oh God 1 You don t know? Casey Becker and Steve Forrest were killedlast night.

SIDNEY
No way.

'l'ATUM And not.just killed, Sid. We're talking splatter movie killed--splitopen end to end.

SIDNEY
Casey Becker? She sits nextto me in English.
TATUM
Not anymore. Her parentsfound her hanging from a tree. Her ins ideson the outside.
SIDNEY
Do they know who did it?

TA'l'tJM Fucking clueless--they"reinterrogating the entire school. Teachers,students, Btaff, janitors•••

SIDNEY
They think it•s school-related?
TATUM
They don• tknow. Dewey saidthis is t.he worse crime they've ever seen. Even worse than•••
(stoppingherself)
Well it's bad. They'rebringing in the :feds. Thie is big.

Sidney looks back at Gale,her face deeply pained.

IN'l'.CLASSROOM- LATER

A frumpy old woman, MRS. TATE,faces her class. Ber hands clasped together. A tragiclook upon her face.

(·"· ~ -, \ .

•• aterribletragedy. An unbearable loss. It•sdays like today we need prayer inschool•••

Sidney sitsnear the rear of the room. The desk in front of her sitsvacant. Sidney can't.take hereyes off it.

The dooropens and a student enters with aslip of paper. Be hands itto Mrs. Tate.

Sidney. Itappears to be your turn,dear.

21

INT.PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

The room isat capacity••• walltowall with police, and the likes. Some sit, stand, lean •••

SHERIFFBURKE, a round man in his fifties,wipes the stress from hisface.

SHERIFFBURXE
Who'sup next?

A youngofficer looks at a clipboard. This is DEPUTY RILEY, betterknown as DEWEY. He's a big guy,20's, handsome in a ~···· scrubbed-cleanboyish way. r .·

DEWEY
SidneyPrescott.

SheriffBurke gestures to bring her in. PRINCIPAL HIMBRY, 50' s,anold codger of a man wearinga sour face speaks up.

SidneyPrescott. She was daughter of •••

DEWEY
We allknow Sidney, Mr. Himbry.
SHERIFFBURXE
Bow shedoin •?

She's adjustedwell. Maintains an •A• average. You'd never know she ••••

Bimbry stopsshort, seeing Sidney in thedoorway. Be rises and seatsher.

~·•. \

SHERIFF BURKE
Hi Sidney.
SIDNEY
Sheriff Burke. Dewey.

Dewey shakes his headseriously.

DEWEY
I'm Deputy Riley today,Sid.

SHERIFF BUR!CE Bow is everything?

SIDNEY
Good.
SHERIFF BURKE
And your Dad? How'she doing?
SIDNEY
We' refine. Thanks.
MR. BIMBRY
We' 11be brief Sidney. The police have a few questions they'd liketo ask you•••

Sidney eyes them allnervously.

22

EXT. SCHOOL COURTYARD-LATER

Students sit at outdoortables eating lunch. Crowded atone table is the "gang". This consists of·Sidney and Billyand Tatum.

Next to Tatum, sits herboyfriend STUART, with his armdraped across her back. Be'aa Billy wannabe. Almost the jock, almost handsome, almost cool. Be tries way too hard.

Across the table i• thefifth wheel, RANDY. A tall and gangly kid with no suchBilly-like aspirations. Awitty jokester who elevatesgeek to coolness.

TATUM
Bunt? Why would theyask you if you like to bunt?
STU
I don't know, they justdid.

CONTINUED,

~- .. RANDY \ ·.·.

Because their bodieswere gutted.

Sidney flinches.

BILLY
Thanks Randy.
TATUM
They didn't askme if I liked to hunt.
STU
Because there'sno way a girl could have killed them.
TATUM
That is so sexist. The killer could easily be female--BASICINSTINCT.
RANDY
That was an icepick--not exactly the same.
STU
Yeah, Casey andSteve were completely hollowed out. Takes a man to do something likethat.
TATUM
Or a man'smentality.
SIDNEY
(quiet, almostto herself)
How do you gutsomeone?

All eyes turn toSidney. A serious silence. And then:

STU
You take a knifeand slit from the groin to the sternum.

Sidney shivers downto her soul. The wholetable rolls their eyes at Stu.

STU
What? She asked.
BILLY
It'• called tact,you fuckrag•

........

r<"':

28

CONTINUED: (2 )

STU
Sorry.
RANDY
Remember in JAWSwhen they caught the wrong shark at firstand Richard Dreyfuss cut it open toto lookfor body parts and all they found was alicense plate and all this white milkygoo.

Stu leans over and socksRandy in the arm.

STU
You heard Billy--shutthe fuck up.
SIDNEY
Bey, Stu? Didn'tyou use to date Casey?

Stu's taken back, a littleoff guard.

STU
For about two seconds.
RANDY
Before she d~ him forSteve.

Tatum turns to Stu,surprised.

TATUM
I thought you dumpedher for me.
STU
I did. Be 'sfullof shit.
RANDY
And are the police awareyou dated the victim?
STU
(offended)
What are you saying? That I like killed her or something?
RANDY
It would certainly improveyour high school Q.
TATUM
Stu was with me lastnight.

·.·::--:::.'.··... ..•.• ' ·...· •,•. ... .•.,....

CONTINUED: (3)

RANDY
Oooooh•••betore or afterhe sliced and diced.
TATUM
Fuck you, nut case. Where were you last night?
RANDY
Working, thank you.
TATUM
I thought Blockbuster firedyou.
RANDY
Twice.

~ STU r .

I didn't kill anybody.

BILLY
No one's saying you did.
RANDY
Besidea--
(perfectStu mimic)

·· ·.

•Takesa man to do somethinglike that.w

( :··· .

STU
I•m gonna gut your ass in asecond.
RANDY
(toStu)
Did you really put her liver inthe mailbox? I hear they found her liverin the mailbox.
24

· ··.·..:..-~-~-~

TATOM
(eyeingSidney)

····.···... Randy, you goon-fuck, x•m eatinghere.

25

·. . .:

·.·. .. .·.·..•,·. , • .• .•·· · Stu nibbles at 'l'atum.•aneck•

STU
Yeah, Randy, ahe'a getting mad. Ithink you better liver alone.

Stu cracks up at hie own joke .The others just MOAN. Sidr isabout to crawl out of her skin,trying hard to ignore i1 all. .

26

EXT. SIDNEY'S HOUSE- LATER

r- A huge twostory country home with a spaciouslawn.

A yellowschool bus stops in front ofthe house and Sidney steps off.

The houselooks big and lonely as Sidneymoves up the walk to the frontdoor.

IN'r.BEDROOM- LATER

Sidney ison the telephone.

SIDNEY
(intophone)
You sureI can stay over? My dadwon't beback til Sunday.
TATUM
(throughphone)
No prob. I'll pick you up after practice.
SIDNEY
Tell yourmom I said thanks.
TATUM
Yeah,yeah •••look,are you okay?
SIDNEY
Uh-huh, it'sjust••• you know, thepolice and reporters•••itbrings it all back.
TATUM
I'll bethere by seven. I promise.
SIDNEY
Thanks,Tatum.
TATUM
Later.

Sidney hangsup. She takes a seat ather computer and boots it up. She sits in front of it staringat the blue acreen•••herown reflection staring back.

27

INT. LIVINGROOM - LATER

Sidney comesdown the stairs, her arms canying a change of clothes,toothbrush, make-up•••

' .

r

She opens thehall closet and pulls asmall overnight bag from the topshelf. Moving into the livingroom she loads it up, ploppingdown on the sofa, hittingthe TV remote.

CLOSEON THE SCREEN

A news repo~er fades in.

REPORTER#1 (on TV) The entirenation was shocked todayby the teenmurders in North Carolina•••

Sidney switcheschannels.

REPORTER#2 The StateBureau Of Investigation has joined forceswith local authoritiesto help catchwhat the Governor has called themost heinous•••

The channelswitches again. Galeweathers appears, standing in frontof the school. Ber whiteteeth gleaming.

GALE
This isnot the first time the smalltown of Bayborobas endured such tragedy.Only a year ago,Maureen Prescott, wife and mother,was found raped and murdered •••

An oldblack and white snapshot fillsthe screen--a woman, beautiful andfamiliar.

CLOSE ONSIDNEY

eyes frozen,mesmerized by the image. Suddenly she CLICKS the TV off. Her eyes go to the clockon the end table. 5i45 PM. Bereyes then move to the framedphoto next to it .•.the same blackand white photo stares ather •••ahealthy, vibrant woman. An older version of Sidney.

Sidney curlsup on the sofa, cloBingher eyes tight•••

28

INT. LIVINGROOM - LATER

The clock onthe end table reads 7: 15 PM.Sidney is fast asleep on thecouch. The phone RINGS. Sidney leaps up grabbing theportable phone.

TATUM
(from phone)
Practice ran late. I• m onmy way.
SIDNEY
(eyesclock)
It'spast seven.
TATUM
Don• tworry. ca ·seyandSteve didn•tbite it tilway after·10.
SIDNEY
I'mnot worried.
TATUM .
Good, 'causeI wanna awing byBLOCKBUSTER and getus a video. I was thinkin'Tom Cruisein ALL '1'HERIGHTMOVES. You know, ifyou pause it just right you can see hispenis.
SIDNEY
Whatever. Just hurry.
TATUM
Bye.

She hangsup the phone. It immediatelyRINGS again.

SIDNEY
(intophone)
Tatum?
MAN'S VOICE
(fromphone)
Bello,Sidney.

IT'SHIM. THE VOICE FROM BEFORE.

SIDNEY
Hi. Who is this?
MAN
Youtell me.

Sidneythinks, trying to place hisvoice. It's sounds a littledistorted.

SIDNEY
Ihave no idea.
MAN
Scarynight, isn't it? With themurders and all,it's like right out of a horror movieor something.

r-·-·

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

SIDNEY
Aha,Randy, you gave yourself away. Are you callingfrom work? Tatum"s onher wayover.
MAN .
Do youlike scary movies, Sidney?
SIDNEY
I likethat thing you're doingwith your voice,Randy. It's sexy.
MAN
What'syour favorite scary movie?
SIDNEY
Don't start. You know I don'twatch that shit.
MAN
And why isthat?
SIDNEY
(playingalong)
Becausethey're all the same. It's alwayssome stupid killer stalkingsome bigbreasted girl--who can't act--who alwaysruns up the stairs when sheshould be goingout the front door. They• re ridiculous.

A brief silence.

MAN
Are youalone in the house?
SIDNEY
That isso unoriginal. You disappointme Randy.
MAH
Maybethat's because I'm not Randy.
SIDNEY
So whoare you?
MAN
The questionisn't who am I. The question iswhere am.I?

CONTINUEI>i( 3)

SIDNEY
so where are you?
MAN
Your front porch.

This gives her pause. She moves to the window andpulls aside the drapes.

SIDNEY
Why would you be callingme from my front porch?
MAN
That's the originalpart.

ANGLE THROUGH WINDOW. She can.t quite see all of theporch.

SIDNEY
Oh yeah? Well Icall your bluff.

Sidney goes to the frontdoor. She unlocks thebolt, unsnags the chain, and pullsthe door open •••• revealingthefront porch •••

COMPLETELY EMPTY.

She steps out onto it,phone still in hand. A singlelight shines overhead illuminatingthe porch, but littlebeyond. Darkness is all around.

SIDNEY
So where are you?
MAH
Right here.

Sidney peers out intothe darkness past thick shrubsthat grow on either side ofthe porch.

SIDNEY
Can you see me rightnow?
MAN
Uh-huh.
SIDNEY
What am I doing?

She sticks her fingerup her nose, pretending to pick. Silence. No answer.

CONTINUED: (4)

SIDNEY
Good try, Randy. Tell Tatum to hurry. Bye now.
MAN
If you hang up,you'll die juat like your mother.

Sidney's stops dead inher tracks, speechless.

MAN
(deadly)
Do you want to die,Sidney? Your mother didn't.

His seriousness unnervesher. Sid flies off the handle.

SIDNEY
FUCK YOU1 YOU CRETINI

She hangs up on him. Moves back inside the house. Locks, chains, and bolts thedoor when•••

A FIGURE COMES LEAPINGOUT OF THE HALL CLOSET

rushing her,rarnmingintoher side •• thephoneflies•••the FIGORE is on topof her as she goes down•••SCREAMING•••

She looks up to seethe FIGURE, darkly dressed with apale, distorted face, whiteand ghostly••• amask.

Her instincts surface and shekicks up with her footmaking contact with his leg ••• he topplesover •••comingrightather, his hand finding herneck. Suddenly,.a long, silverblade appears above her.

Sidney pulls, jerks,twists ••• finallyshelifts hertorso forward knocking theFIGURE off her •••sendinghimreeling into the living room. Wasting no time,,Sidney leaps toher feet.

She moves to the frontdoor, unlocke it ••• pullsitopen •••it catches on the chain. Shit! She pushes it closed again looking behind her••theFIGURE has risen, knife in hand. Sidney pulla on thechain and then--inexplicably turnsand •••

RUNS UP 'l'BESTAIRS.The FIGURE right behind her.

29

INT. UPSTAIRS LANDING

The FIGURE leaps at Sidneytaking bold of her foot, shegrabs madly at the wall•••herhands grasp a framed painting--a

30

I':.~_::: QUIET COUNTRY HOME, AW:X1UEDCOLORS,DONE IN OILS--SHE RIPSIT

~ ,: from the wall swinging itbehind her•••

(CONTINUEI>)

33

·...-•,._.' . ··.·. .· ·-......·•

~ -·

It catches theFIGURE head on, smashing againsthis skull, sending him backwards,tumbling down the stairs. Sidney races to herbedroom •••

34

INT. BEDROOM

She locks the doorshut, then pulls her closet dooropen, placing the edge rightat the door knob just as •••

'1'BEFIGUREPOUNDSAGAINST THE BEDROOM DOOR••• •

ramming it, it ripsopen, but the closet door catches itin a crazy vice-likehold.

Sidney grabs thedesk phone. It's dead •• offthehook downstairs.

The figure rushesthe door several times•• theframe ·,:• _.··:-. splinters•• butwon'tgive. · ...._.-:_;. -~ l Sidney is at hercomputer, she punches at the keypadmadly.

CLOSEON SCREENAS WORDS APPEAR.

FAX MODEM

35

. .-

...I ·.. 9-1-1 SEND \.·· ·.·. ·

The knife slashes throughthe crack in the doorwildly.

ON SCREEN AGAIN

HELP KILLER

34 ELM ST

Sidney presses SEND when itoccurs to her--all is quiet. The FIGURE is gone. A fearful silence. She looks around ••• the only sound her ownrapid, terrified BREATHING. ·... ·-.-·.-·-'·.._:· - ON THE SCREEN

•stay calm. Policeenroute.•

·: ·,:· .·-.· ·.·.•· ·.·,.·.• :.· ·, Suddenly a NOISE atthe window•••Sidney looks up to see •••

BILLY

ber boyfriend, staring atber, surprised.

Sit>NEY Oh Billy••• please•••God •••

BILLY
I heard screaming. The door was locked. Are you okay •••
SIDNEY
Be's here. Be"strying to kill me•••

Billy pulls himself throu9hthe window. As he does ,asmall black object falls fromhis dark jeans. It hits thefloor as· Sidney eyes it•••asleek, compact cellular phone.

Sidney stops inher tracks. Their eyes meet •••anetemity. A SIREN is heard inthe distance. Sidney bolts•••

BILLY
Hey •••wait••• what'sgoin ••

Billy reaches for her. Sidney unblocks the bedroomdoor and tears out of theroom.

36

INT. LANDING

Sidney nearly fallsdown the stairs•••

37

INT. FOYER

She rips the chainoff the door, pulls it opens,coming face to face with awhite, ghostly mask. A massiyeSCREAM erupts from her gut as •••

THE CAMERA PULLS BACK

to find Oewey--DeputyRiley, holding it. Red lightsflash, sirens BLAST as carafter car surrounds the house.

Sidney falls·into thesafety of Dewey's arms.

38

EXT. FRONT YARD -MINUTES LATER

The yard is awhirlwind of activity. An amJ:>ulance,squad cars, cops everywhere•••

CLOSE ON BILLY'SFACE

as it SMASHES againstthe hood of a police car. His hands are 1:>eingcuffed,hisrights being read.

BILLY
(screaming)
I didn't do anything1 Sid ••• where• s Sid? Ask her, she'lltell ya •..

Dewey holds acar door open as Sheriff Burkesteps out.

DEWEY
We got him, Sheriff. Billy Loomis.

SHERIFF BtJRKE Bank Loomis'kid? Aw•• Jesus•••

DEWEY
Be's herboyfriend.

They approachBilly as he's being placed in asquad car.

BILLY
Sheriff••• Ididn'tdo it...please, call my Dad•• please•••

The squad cardisappears with Billy as anothercar comes to a stop in frontof the house. Tatum getsout, freaked beyond belief.

Baek to theSheriff and Dewey as they stormacross the yard.

DEWEY
I was firstto respond.
SHERIFF BURKE
What were youdoing out here?
DEWEY
Drive by patrol.
SHERIFF BURKE
Bow is she?
DEWEY
She's tough.
SHERIFF BURD
&ave to be. The shit she's gone through. ·

Across the yard,sits Sidney, in the back ofan ambulance as PARAMEDICS checkher out.

Sheriff Burke andRiley approach.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

SHERIFF BURKE
We're seeing a lot ofyou today.

She tries to smile butfails.

DEWEY
You gonna be able tocome down to the station and talk tous a bit?
SIDNEY
••yeah.••

Tatum appears, barrelingpast an OFFICER.

TATUM
What happened? OhGod •••

Tatum rushes to her, grabbinghold of her.

DEWEY
(to Tatum)
What are you doinghere?
TATUM
Ob, God, Sid, I'm sorryI was late.
DEWEY
You can' tbe here, Tatum. This is an official crime scene.
SIDNEY
It•s okay. She wassupposed to pick me up.

'.rATtJM Ber dad's out of town. She's staying with us.

J)EWEY Does mom know?

'1'ATUM Yes, you doofus.

Two news vans came drivingup the street.

SHERIFF BURKE
The vultures are coming. Let•a get you out of here.

~ -

40. .

A big,white news van comes to a stopin front of the house. The sidedoor slides open and GaleWeathers hops out just in time tosee Sidney being escorted toa squad car.

GALE
I'llbe damned.

Jumpingfrom the driver's seat isKENNY, Gale's cameraman and flunky. An earnest, young chap on thechubby side.

KENNY
What? What?
GALE
JesusI The camera-hurry l

But it'stoo late. Sidney is asgood as gone. Gale sees Tatum movingquickly to her car.

GALE
Excuseme?

Tatumlooks up to see Gale Weathersrushing her.

GALE
Was that Sidney Prescott they tookaway?
TATUM
Idon't know.

Tatumhops in her car, ignoringher.

GALE
What happened to her?
TATUM
I'mnot talking to you.

Tatum'scar peels out as Kenny comesrunning up with his camera.

DNNY
Where'dshe go?

Galespins around, flashing herpearly whites.

GALE
Look,Kenny, I know you're about fifty poundsoverweight but when I sayhurry pleaseinterpret that as•••MOVE YOURFAT

~-·,:

T'O'BOFLARDASS NOW1

Gale moves backto the van leaving Kennymiffed.

39

INT. POLICE STATION- LATER

A small town station. The bull pen is alittle square room with four desksand tonight--it's hopping. Cops everywhere.

IN'.r.SHERIFF'SOFFICE

Sidney sits at a deskdrinking a cup ofwater. She wears the Sheriff•s jac:ketoverher shoulders. Dewey approaches.

smNEY Did you reachmy Dad?

DEWEY
You're sure itwas the Hilton?
SIDNEY
At the airport.
DEWEY
He' snot registered. could he have gone to another hotel?

SIDNEY

,Ii_:> I don't know. I guess. c-

DEWEY
We'll find him,Sid. Don't worry.

Sidney staresblankly, numb.

40

INT. SHERIFF'SOFFICE

Billy sits oppositeSheriff Burke. Next to Billy,sits his father, BANK LOOMIS,an older version of Billy.

SHERIFF BURKE
What are you doingwith a cellular telephone, son?
MR. LOOMIS
It•s my phone. Se was just playing around with it.
SHERIFF BURKE
You got some ideaof playing around, boy.
BILLY
I didn't call anyonewith it. I just took it for fun.

(CON'l'INUED)

CONTINTJEOi

MR. LOOMIS
Everybody' s gotone now. Why don• tyou check the phonebill for chrissakes. Call my carrier--AirFoneComp. They• 11 have records ofevery number dialed.
SHERIFF BURKE
Thank you, Hank. We're on it. What were you doing outat Sidney's tonight?
BILLY
I just wantedto see her, that's all.
SHERIFF BURKE
You_rode yourbike out there?
BILLY
Yes, sir.
SHERIFF BURKE
And last night? Sidney said you crawled through herwindow last night too?
MR. LOOMIS
(surprised)
You were outlast night?
BILLY
I watched TV forawhile but then I felt like going fora bike ride.
SHERIFF BURKE
Did you ridepast Casey Becker•s house?
BILLY
No, I didn't. I didn't kill anyone., Sheriff. ·
SHERIFF BURKE
We•re gonna haveto keep you, Billy. The governor's gotSBI, FBI, and god knows who else ontheir way down here.

Billy fightstears.

BILLY
This is crazy. I didn't do it.

Sheriff Burke eyeshim up and down, verycarefully.

(.·:. ~ -

41

INT. POLICE BULLPEN - MINUTES LATER

Tatum has joinedSidney. The sheriff•s dooropens and Billy is led out bya coupla UNIFORMS. Burke andDewey appear in the doorwatching Tatum comfort Sidney.

OUT or EARSHOT

DEWEY
That ghostmask is sold at both Kroger's and WalMart. Neither of which keep purchase records.
SHERIFF BURD
What aboutthe cellular phone bill?
DEWEY
They• repullingLoomis' account. But it'll be morningbefore we see something. You think he didit?
SHERIFFBURKE
Twenty yearsago I woulda said not a chance. But thesekids today•••damn if I know.
TATUM
(o.s.)
Bey •• Dewey.Canwe go now?
DEWEY
Bold up a sec•••
SHERIFFBURKE
She stayingwith you?
DEWEY
We haven't locatedher Dad yet.
TATUM
(0.1.)
Goddammit,Dewey t

Dewey turns toher, his face red.

DEWEY
(screaming)
What did Mamatell you? When I wear this badge you treatme like a man of the law.

~ --

_, TATUM

I'm sorry,Deputy Dewey-boy but we're

~· ready to go.

SHERIFFBURKE
use theback way. Avoid the circus.
42

EXT. POLICE STATION- SIDE DOOR

The door opensand Sidney, Tatum, Dewey, anda coupla OFFICERS exitavoiding the horde of REPORTERSthat can be seen aroundthe corner waiting anxiously atthe front entrance.

DEWEY
I ' 11getthecar. Wait here.

Dewey takesoff. From .thedarkness ofthe alley, Gale Weathers appearswith Kenny and his camera. They've been waiting.

GALE
Bello Sidney.

Sidney spinsaround to see Gale, standing,smiling at her. Sidney's bodytightens and her face goestaut.

GALE
Some night. Are you alright.?

Their eyesmeet in a cold familiar stare. Sidney says nothing. She's visibly shaking.

GALE
What happened?
TATUM
She's not answeringany questions. Just leave usalone, okay?
SIDNEY
It' sokay,Tatum. She' ajust doing her job. Right,GALE?
GALE
Yes, that'•right.

Dewey, in asquad car, turns into the alley andpulls up. The othernews people have wisened up. Theybegin to flock the alley.

SIDNEY
How's the book?
GALE
It'll be out later thisyear.

Sidney tries to contain herself•• squeezingaclenched fist.

SIDNEY
I'll look for it.
GALE
I'll send you a copy.

In a blurred, unexpected instant,Sidney brings her fist forward,SMASHING it hard intoGale Weathers's face. The impact sends Gale reeling backwards,knocking into Kenny as

43

·, THEY BOTH TUMBLE TO THEPAVEMENT •

ON SIDNEY•••breathing deep, a senseof satisfaction on her face.

44

INT.TATUM'S BEDROOM - LATER

A spacious bedroom. Typical. Tatum and Sidney lay on the bed. They both wear night shirts.

TATUM
God, I loved it. "I'll sendyou a copy.• BAM l Bitch went down. •I •11 sendyoua copy.• BAMl Sid--SuperBitcht

Dewey appears in the doorway holdinga bag of ice.

DEWEY
Ithought you might want some icefor thatright book.

Sidneysits up, takes the ice, andputs it on her hand.

DEWEY
I' 11beright next door. Try toget some sleep.

Dewey moves backout the door.

SIDNEY
Anyword on my Dad?
DEWEY
(turningto her)
Notyet, but we're looking. If you need anything•••

I,._,..,T.,-rl

/·. TATUM r--- Yeah, yeah,yeah •••

Dewey smiles, pullingthe door closed on his way out. Sidney lies back down.

SIDNEY
Just another sleepoverat the Riley's.
TATUM
Just like oldtimes, ain't it?
SIDNEY
No, nothing's likeit used to be.

Sidney rolls overon her side, away from Tatum.

A telephone RINGS somewherein the house.

TATUM
Do you reallythink Billy did it?
SIDNEY
He was there,Tatum.

TATUM

..·

I knew the guywas too perfect. He was

r· destined to havea flaw.

A KNOCK at thedoor. It opens and a friendly,graying woman pops in. This isMAMA RILEY. She wears a comfortingsmile.

MAMA RILEY
Telephone, dear.
TATUM
Who is it?
MAMA JULEY
It's for Sid.
SIDNEY
My Dad?

Mama Riley shakesher head sadly.

TATUM
Take a message.
SIDNEY
It's alright. 1•11get it.

r.::· ~- (

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

Sidney takes off out thedoor. Mama Riley motions to Tatum.

MAMA RILEY
(whispers)
How is she?

Tatum shrugs.

45

INT. HALLWAY

Sidney grabs the phone atthe end of the hall.

SIDNEY
Bello?
MAN
( fromphone)
Bello Sidney.

IT'S HIM. The CAMERAdoes a Hitchcock as Sidney's entire body goes weak••hisVOICE moving through her •• invadingher. She CRIES OUT.

SIDNEY
NOOOOOOO•••

Mama Riley turns in th~doorway. Tatum comes bolting out of the bedroom.

MAN
(from phone)
Poor Billy-boyfriend. An innocent guy doesn't stand a chancewith you.
SIDNEY
LEAVEMEALONE1
MAN
Looks like you fingeredthe wrong guy••• aqain.
SIDNEY
Who are you?
TATUM
Bang up, Sid.
MAN
Don't.worry. You'll :findoutsoon enough. I promise.

Mama Riley BEATS on a closedbedroom door.

MAMARILEY
DeweyI Dewey 1

r·-

MAN
This isgonna be fun, Sidney. Just like oldtimes.

CLICK.

Dewey fliesout of his room wearingonly his boxers•• holding hisgun.

DEWEY
What? What?

Thephone goes dead. Sidney standsfrozen.

46

EXT.BAYBORO MAIN STREET- DAWN -ESTABLISHING

The morningsun shines high overBayboro Townsquare. Cars cometo life, townsfolk stir as thepicture postcard communityawakens from a restless sleep.

47

INT.KITCHEN - MORNING

Sidneyand Tatum sit at the kitchentable, dressed and ready forschool as Mama Riley serves up breakfast. A small televisionsits on the counter BLARING.

Dewey, inuniform, stands near thedoor, talking on the phone.

MAMARILEY
Ithink you girls really should stayhome today. .
TATUM
Your objectionis duly noted.
SIDNEY
I'drattierbe around a lot of people, MamaRiley.

Fromthe TV, Sidney hears her name, •SIDNEYPRESCOTT•••• All eyesgo to the television.

REPORTER
(onTV)
•• whoescapeda vicious attack last night was thedaughter of Maureen Prescottwho was brutallykilled last year when .convictedmurderer Cotton Weary•••

CONTINUEDs

INSERTof COT'l'ONWEARY,inprison fatigues. A once handsome man, now haggard and worn.

REPORTER

•• brokeintotheir home andsavagely raped and tortured thedeceased. Cotton Weary is currently awaitingappeal for the death sentence handeddown after the young Sidney testified againsthim. She was the key witness inthe state•s prosecution••• ·

SIDNEY
It's never gonna stop. Isit?

Dewey is off the phone.

DEWEY
Billy was released. Bis cellular bill was clean. Be didn•tmake those calls.
SIDNEY
Somebody called me, Dewey. I•m not making it up.
DEWEY
I know. we•re checkingevery cellular account in the county. Any calls made to you or Casey Becker arebeing cross- referenced. It's gonnatake time but we'll find him.
SIDNEY
And my Dad? Any wordon him?

Riley shakes his head •no•.

48

EXT. SCHOOL STREET - LATER

once again, REPORTERS linethe street attacking students as they make their way toschool, asking questions, hungry for that teenage insight.

Dewey's patrol jeep cruisesby. Sidney watches from the passenger•s window.

49

INT. PATROL JEEP

Dewey pulls up in front ofthe school. Tatum hops outwhile Sid lingers, suddenly unsure. Dewey takes notice.

so.

DEWEY
Hey, it's school. You'll be safe here.

Sidney forcesherself cut of the jeep asa microphone is shoved inher face •••

REPORTER
Bow does itfeel to almost be brutally butchered?

Dewey leapsfrom the car, i.nterceptingthereporter.

DEWEY
Leave the girlalone, will ya? She wants to go toschool.

Sidney eyesthe newsvan that's pulled upbehind her. The side doorslides open and Gale Weatherssteps out.

TATUM
Come on,Sid.
SIDNEY
Just a sec ••• Ineedtotalk to.someone.

She headsover to Gale.

50

EXT. NEWSVAN- STREET

Sidney,puts her head down, hiding herface ••• avoidingother reporters asshe makes her wa:yto •••

Galewho sits in the open door, checking her facein a mirror. Makeup tries hard to hide Sid'shandiwork--a swollen black andblue right cheek.

Gale spotsSidney immediately and leaps toher feet..

GALE
Stop rightthere.

Sidney throwsher bands up in surrender.

SIDNEY
I"m not hereto fight.
GALE
Just stayback.
SIDNEY
I want to talkto you.
GALE
(callinginto the van)
Kenny. Camera. Now.

Kenny'shead darts out from thevan.

SIDNEY
Off the record. No cameras.
GALE
Forget it.

Sidney contains herself.

SIDNEY
Please. You owe me.
GALE
Iowe you shit.

Gale moves inside the van. But Sidney is relentless.

SIDNEY
You owe my mother.
GALE
Your mother's murder was lastyear's hottest court case. Somebodywas gonna write a book about it.
SIDNEY
And it had to be you with allyour lies and bullshit theories.
GALE
What is your problem? You gotwhat you wanted. Cotton Weary is in jail• They're gonna gas him. A bookis not gonna change that.

smNEY Do you still think he's innocent?

Gale I ainterestis peaked. Sheeyes Sidney suspiciously.

GALE
He was convicted in a court oflaw. tour test.illlonyputhimaway. Itdoesn't matter what I think.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

SmNEY

[·:·

During thetrial, you did all those stories aboutme. You called me a liar.

GALE
I thinkyou falsely identified him. Yes.

smNEY Haveyou talked to Cotton?

GALE
Many times.
SIDNEY
Basbis story changed?
GALE
Not oneword. He admits to having sex withyour mother but that's all.
SIDNEY
He' slying. She woulcln•thavetouched him. Be raped her, then butcheredher. Herblood was all over his coat.
GALE
Be wasdrunk that night. Be lefthis coat atyour house, after yourmother seducedhim •••
SIDNEY
I sawhim leave wearing it.
GALE
Butcouldn't it have been someoneelse you saw wearingthat coat? The same personwho planted it in Cotton·scar, framinghim? The same personwho really killedyour mother?

A longbeat. Sidney considers thisfor the millionth time.

SIDNEY
No,Cotton murdered my mother.

Butthere's doubt in her voice. Gale'sface lights up.

GALE
You'renot so sure anymore, are you?

..•,... Sidneyclams up •

CONTINOEDt( 3)

SIDNEY

~--

No, it was Cotton.

\ .

Tatum comes waltzing up.

TATUM
(toGALE)
Nice welt.

Gale ignores her, zeroing inon Sidney, half realizing.

GALE
The killer is still on theloose, isn't he? These murders arerelated.
TATUM
Yo--let•s rock.

Sidney starts to fidget.

SIDNEY
I'm sorry I mangled your face.

She takes off with Tatum. Gale calla after her.

GALE
Wait, Sidney, don't go •••

But Sidney and Tatum have alreadydisappeared in the crowd of students moving across campus.

Gale looks to Kenny.

GALE
Jesus Christf An innocentman on death row. A killer still on theloose. Kenny, tell me I'm dreaming.
KENNY
You want to go live?

Gale"s mind races with possibilities.

GALE
No, not eo fast. We havenothing concrete.
KENNY
When did that ever atop you? You can• t sit on this. This is huge.

CONTINtJED:(4 )

GALE
If I'mgonna blow this up--I needhard proof.
KENNY
But it•sso much easier when we make it up.
GALE
Notthis time. I owe Cottonthat much. Bell,even I thought the manwas guilty.
51

EXT.SCHOOL CAMPUS - SECONDS LATER

Tatumand Sidney make their way acrosscampus.

TATUM
Justrelax. You' reat school now. No onecan get you here.
SIDNEY
But if it wasn't Billy it couldbe ilnybody.He could be here atschool rightnow.

They move up the walk as a FIGUREfalls in step behind them, sportinga WHITE GHOST MASK.

TATUM
Serialkillers are smart by definition. They minimize their risk. Theyplan and pre-calculate everything. Showingup herewould be like the most lame-brain move he could make.
SIDNEY
Be promised me he'd be back.

As easy as the figure appeared,it disappears--falling out of sight, unseen by either of them.

TATUM
I wouldn'tput too much stock in a psycho'a promise.

They move up the front steps towardthe main doors of the schoolas the GHOST MASKED FIGUREreappears•••standing at the topof the stepa•• Sidneysees it first,stopping dead in her tracks. ·

She stepsback, spinning aroundto find •••

52

::-·.·.

·=·•

A GHOST FACE .behindheras well, both of themapproaching, closing in on her. Sidney starts to SCREAMwhen the two ghosts bust upLAUGHING, tearing off across campus.

53

EXT. STREET

In front of the schoolwe catch a REPORTER doing alive remote. Be holds amask in his hand.

REPORTER
This morning severalstudents, in what appears to be aprank, have been spotted wearing masks. School officials have yet to comment but thisis the same type of mask worn by thekiller•••

' INT. HALLWAY -MINUTES LATER ·.A.::·· c-··, Just before the bell. The hallway is congestedwith students heading to class. Tatum is at her locker with Sidney.

SIDNEY
This is a mistake. I shouldn•t be here.
TATUM
I want you to meet me righthere after class, okay?

Billy appears in thecrowd, with Stu tagging behind. Tatum. spots him first.

TATUM
Shit, what is he doingher~?
SIDNEY
I bet he's pissed.
TATUM
Just ignore him. Youhad good reason to

·..·· ..·.....

think what you did.

Billy and Stu approach. Billy's face is solemn.

BILLY
Bi, Sid. Can we talk a sec?

Sidney says nothing. She canbarely look at him. Tatum intervenes.

TATUM
You know if I were accused ofcarving up .twopeople, I'd take the opportunityto skip school.

S6.

STU
Hey, go easy, Tatum. He didn't do it.
BILLY
Talk to me, Sid.

Suddenly, a SCREAM erupts•.All eyes 90 to aGHOST MASRED STUDENT running downthe hall, screamingwildly, running amuck.

SIDNEY
Why are they doingthis?
STU
Are you kidding? 'l'hisislike Christmas.

Billy punches Stu inthe side.

STU
Owwww•••
BILLY
You open yourmouth and stupidity pours out.
STU
Sorry.

Sidney, clearly upset,takes off.down the ball. Billy races off after her.

TATUM
(yelling)
Stay away fromher, Billy•
54

TATUM SLAMS HER LOCKERSHUT AS THE BELL RINGS.

55

INT. CORRIDOR -SECONDS LATER

With first periodunderway, the halls have cleared. One or two straggling studentscan be seen rushing toclass.

Sidney moves quicklydown the hall, rounding a comer, running smack into•••

BILLY

They collide hard catchingSidney off guard, scaringthe life out of her. Shef allabackwards, l:NtBilly catchesher fall.

CON'l'I:NtJ'ED:

I SIDNEY

Jesus, SHIT!

r

BILLY
Bey, hey,it's just me.

Sidneypulls away from him ·quickly.Billy feels the slight.

BILLY
What? You don't still think it'sme?

Sidneycatches her breath.

SIDNEY
No•• Idon•t••• it'sjust••• Oh God,Billy, someonewas there, someone tried tokill me.
BILLY
The policesay I scared him off. It wasn'tme, Sid.
SIDNEY
Iknow. He called again last nightat Tatum'shouse.

,'.·-....

BILLY
See, itcouldn't have been me. I wasin jail. Rememt>'!r?
SIDNEY
I'mso sorry•••please understand.
BILLY
Understandwhat? That I got a girlfriend who wouldrather accuse me of beinga psychopathickiller than touchme.
SIDNEY
You JcnCNthat'snot true.
BILLY
Thenwhat is it? Ia there somebodyelse?
SIDNEY
No•••
BILLY
Is itthe aex thing? Am I beingtoo pushy?

(. ~ -·

S8.

CONTINUED: ( 2)

SIDNEY
No, it's me, Billy. I needtime. I'm still adjusting to my mom.
BILLY
It's been a year since shedied.
SIDNEY
(correctinghim)
Tomorrow. One year tomorrow.
BILLY
When are you gonna let thatgo, Sid? When my momleft my dad--Ijust accepted it. This is the way it is. She"s not coming back.
SIDNEY
(sharply)
Your parents split up. It'snot the same thing. Your mom left town,she• a notin a coffin somewhere.
BILLY
You have to move on, Sid.

()}: Sidney starts to walk away butturns back, angry. r:>

SIDNEY
I'm glad to know you•recoping so well with life, Billy. But some ofus aren't so perfect. Some of us arejust trying to hold on.

Sidney disappears through adoor marked GIRL'S BATHROOM, leaving Billy alone in thehallway. He•s SMACKS his forehead, pissed at himself.

56

INT. GIRL'S BATHROOM

Large and spacious. Closedbathroom stalls line one wall facing a row of sinks and ahuge mirror. Sidney enters as 'l'WOGIRLS tinkleand talk--eachfrom their respective stalls.

GIRL #1 She was never attacked. Ithink she made it all up.

GIRL #2 Why would she lie about it?

~ -- '·

CONTlNtJED:

,: ::':, GIRL #1 \ .•'

For attention. Thegirl has some serious issues.

Sidney listens intently.

A toilet FLUSHES. Sidneyquickly jumps in a stall,hiding, just as GIRL #1 appears froma stall. She looks likeher voice--a snotty littletwit.

GIRL #1 What if she did it? What if Sidney killed Casey and Steve?

GIRL #2 And why would shedo that?

GIRL #1 Maybe she was hot forSteve and killed them both in a jealousrage.

Another toilet FLUSHES.

GIRL #2 What would Sidneywant with Steve? She has her own bubble-buttboyfriend Billy.

GIRL #1 Maybe she•s a slut justlike her mom.

INSIDE 'l'HESTALLSidneylistens. Ber faceweakening.

GIRL #2 You•re evil.

GIRL #1 Please, it•s common knowledge. Ber mother was a trollop.

GIRL #2 appears from herstall-another twit. Theyboth stand in front of themirror adjusting two snotty faces.

GIRL #2 cut acme alack. Shewatched her mcm get butchered.

Gltu.#1 And it fucked her uproyally. Think about it. It makesperfect sense. Ber men•a death leaves herdistraught and hostile at a cruel andinhumane world, she'a disillusioned, where 'aGod, etc. Completely suicidal. And one day she (MORE)

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

GIRL#1 (cont'd) snaps. She wants to kill herselfbut realizesteen suicide is outthis year. And homicide is a much healthier therapeuticexpression.

From thestall, Sidney listens,her heart pounding, jaw quivering.

GIRL#2 Where do you get this shit?

GIRL#1 Ricki Lake.

The two girls exit. Sidney movesout of the stall, catching herreflection in the mirror.

SIDNEY
Pathetic.

Water DRIPS somewhere from a leakypipe as wind WHISTLES in fromthe cracked transom above thebathroom door. It sounds almostlike a whisper, •siddneey••••

Sidneyspins around. What the... She checks out the bathroom. The doors to the stallsare all closed. She bends downand scans beneath them, lookingfor feet. No one. Nothing.

Sidneyturns back to the mirror. Suddenly•••

MAN
(o.c.whisper)
Siddneey••.

Unmistakable this time. The VOICE strikesSidney like a nail throughthe eye. It comes from one ofthe stalls. She standsthunderstruck, eyeing the stallsthru the mirror.

SIDNEY
Issomeone there?

A long, morose silence. And t.heni

MAN
(softly,simply)
It'sme, Sidney.

Sidneyspins around. Fuck nol BE•SHERE. Terror floods her face. She eyes the exit door, thenthe raw of stalls she mustpass to get to it.

CONTINUED: (3)

~: She checks underthe stalls again. Nothing ••• wherethefuck r-·. is he? She takesa step fonrard when •••

TWO FEET step down from a toiletonto the floorin the last stall. Sidney's facedraws tight as the stalldoor begins to CREAK open. She bolts forward, making abreak for it ••• but slips on wet floor••• herfeetflying out from under •••

Sidney reachesout •••grabshold of a sink ••• savesherself from falling••• sheglimpsesa GHOST MASK inthe mirror coming for her. A hand grabs her shoulder as sheSLAMS her body through theexit door••• narrowlyescaping.

57

INT. CORRIDOR- CONTINUOUS

Sidney flies outof the bathroom door SCREAMING•••burningup the hallway, notlooking back. A TEACHER, hearingher SCREAM, peers outfrom an open doorway ••• asSidneysprintsby him, not stopping••• runningmadly.

58

INT. PRINCIPAL'SOFFICE - CONTINUOUS

CLOSEon a red-faced Principal Bimbry as be readssomeone the riot act.

MR. BIMBRY

1_.•·. I'm sickened. Your whole havoc-inducing, r· thieving, whoringgeneration disgusts me.

The CAMERA SWINGSAROUND to reveal two GHOSTMASKED STUDENTS standing at attention. Mr. Himbry rips themask off of one of the student"sheads.

MR. BIMBRY
Two studentshave been savagely murdered. And this is howwe express our compassion and sensiti vi ty?

He rips themask off the other student.

MR. BIMBRY
We throw on a maskand dance around campus just hopingsomeone else gets butchered beforewe get bored again. You're DOth expelled.

The GHOSTS dothprotest •••

GHOST #1 Aw, come on, Mr.Himbry, it was just a joke.

__i"' r··

-. .. GHOST#2 r Yeah, that'snot fair.

A deep rootedhostility has taken overMr. Bimbry"s face. Neither studentbudges, scared to even breathe.

No, it'snot fair. Fairness would be to rip your insidesout and hang you from a tree soyou can be exposed for the desensitized,heartless little shits that you are.

Suddenly thedoor BURSTSopen and Sidneyappears, hysterical.

SIDNEY
(crying)
Be"s here ••• Isaw him ••• he'shere •••

Mr. Bimbryrushes to her, 8%D1Soutreached.

MR. BIMBRY
Easy child.

Sidney collapsesin his a%'1DS. ,1 .·•

59

EXT. SCHOOLSTREET - MINUTES LATER

r' '· Dewey's patrol jeepis parked in front of theschool. Be stands inthe open driver's door talking onthe radio.

SHERIFF BURKE
(from radio)
She'a okay. Looks like sOJneboys were teasing her. Himl:>ry•sshuttin'down the school though. I want you to take a look around.
DEWEY
Yes, air, sheriff.

Dewey shuts the jeepdoor and heads for campuswhen Gale Weathers appears,her fake face aglow.

GALE
Bil Galeweathers. Field Correspondent, INSIDE STORY.
DEWEY
I know who youare, ma'am. Bow'a the eye?
GALE
Productive. so they'reclosing down the school?
DEWEY
Well •• uh •• yesma•am.Forthetime being.

Dewey heads for the schoolbuilding. Gale scurries along side him flirtatiously.

GALE
And why is that? ·Hassam.ethinghappened?
DEWEY
You' renot supposed tobe here, ma'am.
GALE
I know, I should be inNew York covering the Sharon Stone stalkerbut who knew? Please, call me Gale. You look awfully young to be a policeofficer.

Dewey's eyes wander down toGale's long legs, the way her hips move as shewalks ••• he'sclearlydistracted.

DEWEY
I'm twenty-five years old,ma'am.
GALE
Twenty-five, huh? Ina demographic study I proved to be most popularamongst males, ll-24. I just missedyou. Of course, you don•t looka day over twelve, except in the upper torsoarea. Does the force require that youwork out?

Dewey looks away, blushinga bit.

DEWEY
No, ma'am. Because ofmy boyish good looks, muscle mass hasincreased my acceptance aa a seriouspolice officer.

They approach the school•a frontentrance. Suddenly, Mr. Himbry'a VOICE is amplifiedthrough interc~ acrosscampus via the PA system. Theystop to listen.

MR. HIMBRY
(viaPA)
"Yourattention please. Due to the recent events that haveoccurred and until it comes to a resolve-effective immediately--all classesare suspended
(MORE)

(CONTINtJED)

64•,

CONTINUEDz ( 2)

MR. HIMBRY (cont•d)
til further notice. The Bayboro Police Dept. has also askedme to announce a city wide curfew beginningat 6 o'clock PM. I repeat••••

Gale speaks overMr. Himbry •s VOICE.

GALE
Boy, you people suredo make a fuss over a aerial killer.

t>EWEY Serial killer isnot really accurate, ma'am. The killerhas yet to strike twice.

GALE
Well, we can hope,can't we? We certainly don't haveany leads. A ghost mask, a cellularphone--not much there.
DEWEY
We're tracking thecellular phone bill.
GALE
Really? You smalltown guys are good. And have you locatedSidney's father?
DEWEY
No, not yet.
GALE
He•s not a suspect,is he?
DEWEY
We haven't ruledout that possibil•••

Dewey, realizing he's saidtoo much, clams up.

DEWEY
If you'll excuseme, ma•am.
GALE
Am I keeping you? I •m sorry.
DEWEY
That's quite i!llright.IfI may say so, ma'am, you're much prettierin person.

Dewey starts up the school'sfront ateps as the bell RINGS.

f

CONTINUED: ( 3 )

/.. . I GALE ( So you do watch the show?

Be turns to her earnestlyas STUDENTS come pouring outthe front doors.

DEWEY
I just turned 25. I was 24 fora whole year.
GALE
You are precious. Please,call me Gale.

She smiles deliciously, giveshim a wink, then struts off as Dewey, like a nervous littleschool boy watches her go.

60

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR -SECONDS LATER

School is clearing out. The halls have begun to empty as Tatum escorts Sidney downthe hallway.

TATUM
It was just some sick fuckhaving a laugh.
SIDNEY
It was him, Tatum.· Iknow it.

Tatum wants to believeher but •••

TATUM
You are not to be aloneagain. Is that clear? If you pee--I pee.

Stu appears.

STU
Is this not cool orwhat? • Bey, Sid, what happened?

'l'ATUM For once, Stu, drop it.

S'rO Okay, but whatever you did--theentire student body thanks you.

Stu moves to Tatum and givesher a kiss.

STU
And to celebrate this impromptufall

( . t>reak,I propose we havea party.

Tonight, my house.

~ ·

SIDNEY
Are you serious?

S'l'O My parents are out of town. It'll be like my hurricane bash lastyear. Nothing·extreme. Just a fewof us, bangin'.

Tatum warms to the idea.

'l'A'l'UM This could be good. Whatdo you think, Sid?

SIDNEY
I don •tknow •••
TATUM
Come on. Pathos has it'sperks.

Sidney considers trying hardto be good spirited.

STU
Reinember,there's safety innumbers.
SIDNEY
(givingin)
Yeah, okay ••• whatever.
STU
Cool. See you guys tonight. Bring f~.

Stu speeds off, sliding down theempty hallway.

61

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE -I.ATER

Mr. Himbry sits at his desk staringat the ghost masks before him. He picks one of themup, snickering.

MR. BIMBRY
Damn•••

Be stands and moves to thecloset next to bis office door. Be pulls it open to reveal amirror hooked inside the door. Be tries the mask on, pulling itover his face, looking in the mirror when ••

A KNOCK AT 'l'BEDOORstops him. Be rips the mask off his bead, turns to his office doorand opens it to reveal•••

~·. AN EMPTY DOORWAY. He pokes hishead into the outer off ice area and looks around. Butno one's there.

MR. HIMBRY
Yes? Hello?

Theplace is empty. A littleauspicious he closes the door, catchinghis reflection in the closetmirror. He looks at themask in his hands. Jesus,even he's jumpy. Two seconds later•••

ANO'l'HERKNOCKAT THE DOOR. Bimbrygrabs the door quickly, thistime throwing it open. Againno one• sther_e. He steps outinto the outer office determinedto catch a prankster.

62

INT.OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Completely empty. Mr. Himbrymoves through the outer office andinto the school corridor. The overhead lights have been turnedoff and the corridor is now darkand deserted. He looksup and down the hall. Onlya JANITOR is seen in the distancepushing a broom.

MR. HIMBRY
Little shits.

Mr. Himbry retums to his office.

63

INT.OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Himbry reenters his office, movingto his desk, when he spots the closet door NOW CLOSED SHUT.

This gives him pause--he had leftit open. Hadn •the? Suddenly,he can• tremember. Be shifts,uneasy, reaching for thedoor knob, pulling the dooropen to reveal•••

AN EMPTY CLOSET. Be stands stilla moment, suddenly realizingsomeone could easily nowbe standing behind the opencloset door. Nervously, hepushes it shut to reveal•••

NOTHING. Bimbry shakes away hisjitters, realizing he's spookedhimself. He continues tohis desk, pushing his officedoor ahut when•••

A GHOST MASKED FIGURE lunges frombehind it••• knifein hand. Quickand easy. Three quick jabsto the st01118.chandBimbry goesdown. The GHOST MA.SUD FIGUREtowering above him.

Erl'.TATUM'SBOUSE - AF'l'ERNOON-LATER

Thelate afternoon sun is quicklydisappearing.

Tatumand Sidney rock on the frontporch looking out onto the ····_:•.. smalltown neighborhood. Dewey'spatrol jeep is parked in -.•.. :,-· thedriveway.

CONTINUED1

~--,. C .. Despite loud music, BLARING from an insidestereo, this is a quiet moment.

TATUM
Maybe Cotton Weary is tellingthe truth. Maybe he!!!!.having anaffair with your mom.
SIDNEY
So you think my momwas a slut too?
TATUM
I didn•t say that, Sid. But you know there ware rum.ore. Yourdad was always out of town on business. Maybe your mom was a very unhappywoman.
SIDNEY
If they were having an affairhow come Cotton couldn't prove itin court?
TATUM
You can• tprove a rumor. That's why it's a rumor.

SIDNEY

~-:·' Created by that little tabloidtwit Gale r .

Weathers.

TATUM
(delicately)
It goes further back, Sid. There"s been talk about other men.
SIDNEY
And you believe it.?
TATUM
Well ••• you canonlyhearthat Richard Gere-gerbil story so manytimes before you have to start believingit.

A long silence as Sidney agonizesover all of this. She stands up and moves to theedge of the porch and stares out onto the neighborhood.

SIDNEY
If I was wrong Cotton, thenhe"s still out there.

(·.. \"'·:·.

CONTINUEDi (2 )

TATUM
Don'tgo there, Sid. You• restartingto soundlike some Wes Carpenter flick. Don'tfreak yourself out--we•ve gota longnight ahead of us.
SIDNEY
You' reright. I•m cracking up. Ignore me.
TATUM
Cameon, let's rock.

Sidfollows Tatum inside the housenever seeing the GBOST MASKED FIGURE that stands across thestreet, under a tree. Bispresence so subtle and unobstrusiveyou'd have to see thismovie a second time to knowhe was there all along.

64

EXT.MAIN STREET - LATER

Stuis moving along main streetwhen Billy comes barreling up nextto him.

BILLY
Bow'd you do?
STU
Piece of cake. She' 11be there.
BILLY
Thanks,butt wart. You did good.
STU
So yougonna try and make up withSid?
BILLY
Duh•• that's quick.
STU
Iwas just asking. Why are youalways at me?
BILLY
BecauseI •mtrying to build rourself- esteem. You' refar too sens tive.

STtJ Oh••••

Billythumps Stu's forehead.

;::·---. "' .., r

..·:,,.

BILLY
You ready to party hardtonight?
STU
You know it.

They come to a building centrallylocated in the heart of Main Street. A huge, bluemonstrosity that's bigger thanthe local bank and post officecombined. 'l'hesignin frontreads BLOCKBUSTER.

65

INT. BLOCKBUSTER - CONTINUOUS

Your typical Bloc:kbuster--hugeand crowded. Randy, in his Blockbuster get up, is busyreshelving returns when Stu appears--knocking the videosout of his hand.

STU
Jesus, this place ispacked.
RANDY
(pickingup videos)
We had a run in themass murder section.
STU
You coming tonight?
RANDY
Yeah, I'm off early--curfewyou know.
(lookingoff)
Now that•s in poor taste.

S'l'O What?

Randy refers to Billy who's standsdown the aisle talking to 11'WOGIRLS. ('l'he twitsfrom thebathroomperhaps.)

RANDY
If you were the only suspect ina senseless bloodbath would yoube standing in the horror section?
STU
It was all a misunderstanding. Be didn •t do anything.
RANDY
You•re such the little lap dog. Be'a got killerprinted all over his forehead.
STU
Then why'd the policelet him go?
RANDY
Because, obviously,they don't watch enough movies. This is standard horror movie stuff. PROMNIGHT revisited.

Randy moves downthe aisle, reshelving videos.

STU .
Why would he wantto kill his own girlfriend?
RANDY
There's always some stupidbullshit reason to kill yourgirlfriend. That's the beauty of itall. Simplicity. Besides, if it's toocomplicated you lose your target audience.
STU
So what's his reason?
RANDY
Maybe Sidney wouldn'thave sex with him.
STO
She's saving herself foryou.
RANDY
Could be. Now thatBilly's tried to mutilate here, you thinkSid would go out with me?
STU
I think her father didit. Bow come they can't find his ass?
RANDY
Because he•a probablydead. Bis body will come popping out inthe last reel somewhere••• eyesgauged. see, the police are always off trackwith this shit, if they'd watch PROM NIGHTthey'd save time. -there'sa formula to it. A very simple one. Everyone's alwaysa suspect-the father, the principal,the town derelict... ·

CONTINUEDi ( 2 )

c··:_ STU

Which isyou •••

RANDY
So whilethey're off investigating adead end, Billy,who's been written off asa
66

•'I

.. , suspect,is busy planning his next

huntingexpedition.

'.t

BILLY

t ~o.c.) ·..I How do weknow you're not the killer? )

Randy spinsaround to find Billy rightbehind him. Busted.

-.::,:;:,

RANDY
Uh••• hi,Billy•

:•:··:\}i~

BILLY
Maybeyour movie-freaked mind lost it's realitybutton?
67

·TI

Randyshrugs, laughing it off.

[s⇒Jg~: RANDY

You•reabsolutely right. I'm the first

..·..)?{}_\:-:..- to admitit. If this were a scarymovie,

69

,.;·,·:.·.;:-...·. I'D BETHE PRIME SUSPECT•

STU
And what wouldbe your motive?
RANDY
It's 1995--motivesare incidental.
70

EXT.MAIN STREET - LITTLE LATER

Dewey's patroljeep makes it's way downmainstreet. It's almost dark. The street is close todeserted.

71

INT. PATROLJEEP - CONTINUOUS

Dewey•sbehind the wheel having a heatedconversation with Tatum whileSid stares out the window.

DEWEY
A party? Mom•s gonna kill you. Then me.
TATUM
Don't beso self-righteous. It's just a little blowout--we'11 be perfectly safe.

tt"'nl.1'T'TW

·· .:.. ..,, ..... ...,.'··.::·

72

·.·.::·..·.·.;.

Sid stares out the window. CLOSEDSIGNS fill the storefronts, a few people rush totheir car,.in a hurry to beat curfew.

SIDNEY
God, look at this place, it'sTHE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN.
DEWEY
Bey, I saw that movie. Truestory, 'bout some killer in Texas.
TATUM
Bey, Sid. Just think if theymake a movie about you. Who•s gonna playyou?
SIDNEY
Oh, god •••
73

L

·I Dewey comes to a stop, parking thecar in front of the police --~ station. He looks to Sidwith a brotherly smile.

DEWEY
I see you as a young Meg Ryan myself.
SIDNEY
Thanks, Dewey. But with my luckthey'd cast 'l'oriSpelling.
74

EXT. PATROL JEEP - CONTINUOUS

They pile out of the jeep. Deweyheads for the station.

DEWEY
I •11justbe a few minutes• Don•t go far.

:·..:.....·.::". The girls take off for the localsupermarket that sits across

.:-.:.·.: the street.

~·:.·.,

SIDNEY
IaBilly going to be there tonight?

· ·.·:·.•··· TATUM -:::::..:.;. ·· :.·.·.. Be betternot be. I told Stu to keep his

mouthshut. I think we can livewithout EVERYBODY'SALL AMERICAN for one night•

.....,

They approach the grocery store. Small andsimple. Sid and Tatum graba shopping cart from the bin andenter the store, pushingthe cart through two sliding glass doors. (_

A lone CHECKOUTLADY behind the counter,big and frumpy, r- looks up from countingmoney.

CHECK OUTLADY
You girls gonnahave to hurry it up. We're undercurfew.
TATUM
'l'wominutestops.

They make abee-line for the junk food sectionjust as the automated doors slideshut behind them and a •••

GHOST MASKEDFIGURE appears, out of nowhere,standing just outside,watching, quietly through the glassstore windows.

75

EXT. POLICESTATION - SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Burke'sface heats up as DeputyRiley marches in, hurriedly•.

SHERIFFBORU: Dewey! Where the hell you been, boy?

DEWEY
Keeping myeye on Sidney.

~.:

SHERIFFBURKE
Listen up,Dewey, because it•s bad. Real bad. Aircomp just faxed us. The calls were listedto Neil Prescott--Sidney's father. Hemade the calls with his cellular phone. It's confil=med.
DEWEY
Couldn't hiscellular number have been cloned?
SHERIFFBURKE
There's more. ·Guesswhat tomorrow is? The anniversaryof his wife's death. It all fits. Be's our man.
DEWEY
Have you contactedthe bureau?
SHERIFF BURKE
They believe he'sout of state by now. We'll keeproadblocks and curfew in effect throughthe night. If he's not picked up bymorning--we'll do a house to house.
DEWEY
You thinkhe could still be in town?
SHERIFFBURXE
He"d haveto be crazy. Where"s Sidney?
DEWEY
She 'swithmy sister. Should I bringher in?
SHERIFFBURJCE
Bold off fornow. Just stay close to her.
DEWEY
She'll bewith her friends over at Stu Maker'stonight.
SHERIFFBURKE
Watch her. Don't let on--just keepyour eye out.
DEWEY
Yes, sir.
76

INT. SUPERMMKET - FEW MINU"L'ESLATER

Sidneyand Tatum push a basket throughthe junk food section. The storeis completely empty. The girlsgab freely.

SIDNEY
Billy•e right. Whenever he touches me, I just can"trelax.
TATUM
You havea few intimacy issues as a resultof your mother"s untimely death. It•a no bigdeal. You' 11 thawout.
SIDNEY
But he'sbeen so patient with me, Tatum. You know,with all the sex stuff. Bow many guyswould put up with a girlfriend whose sexuallyanorexic?

'l'ATUM Billy andhis penis don't deserve you.

Sidney grabssame chips and salsa from theshelf. Down the aisle, throughthe storefront window theGBOS'l'MASREDFIGURE still standswatching their every move. ,-.._ l. .

7.6.

77

EXT. SUPERMARKET

Sid pushes the cart out the glassdoor with Tatum riding it. The GHOST MASKED FIGURE is nowhereto be found.

SIDNEY
What do you think aboutwhen you"re having sex?
TATUM
With Stu, there's little timeto stop and reflect. But sometimes before,to relax and get in the mood, I thinkabout Grant Goodeve.

Sid pushes the cart and Tatumacross the street.

SIDNEY
Who?
TATUM
Grant Goodeve--the oldestbrother on EIGHT IS ENOUGH. Remember thatshow? Be was the one who lived off alone. Be would come around every nowand then with his guitar and sing •Eight isenough to fill our lives with love •••"Be had all these brain dead sisters andthat idiot brother from CHARLES IN CHARGE.God, I was in love with Grant, he wasso hot. The show came on every dayafterschool right during _mypuberty years. Grant Goodeve was very instrumental inmy maturing as a woman.
SIDNEY
How does that get you inthe mood with Stu?
TATUM
During foreplay, I sing thetheme song to myself, •Eight is enough to fillour lives with love •••• It's a realturn on •.
SIDNEY
No way.
TATUM
Grant wrote the song himself. I'm

/''·,. convinced the lyrics had a secret ~-· meaning, "Eight is enough •••• (

CONTIN't.JEO:

Sidpushes the cart up to Dewey'sjeep. Tatum hops off.

SIDNEY
What secret meaning? Likea Satanical thing?
TATUM
Watch the show, Sid. Hisbasket.is bigger than the one you'repushing.
SIDNEY
TATUM!
TATUM
Oh Sidney. WHAT? A guy cantalk tits til he's dead but the minuteyou mention an eight inch weenie. Watchout.

Sidney stops just short of a laugh. Tatum pulls the back jeepdoor, loading the groceriesin. Behind her, the GHOST MASKED FIGURE appears, just outof their sight, behind the jeep'sopen back door.

TATUM
There's that sense of humor. Iknew it still existed. Ohh, Sid, let'shave some fun tonight.
SIDNEY
Deal.

Sidney moves to the back doorand closes it shut, when from behind•••

DEWEY stands. Sid jumps, startled.

DEWEY
You girls ready.
SIDNEY
Yeah.
DEWEY
Looks like I'm your personalbodyguard tonight, Sid.
TATUM
No, Dewey. You• 11ruin thewhole night.
DEWEY
Sorry, police orders. I'll stayout of the way, I promise.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

TATUM
Shit.

Tatum kicksthe shopping cart out of theway, blindly. It rollsdown the road by itself, gaining speedon a decline running smackinto the GHOST MASKED FIGUREwho stops the cart coldwith one hand. ·

78

EXT.COUNTRY ROAD - NIG!RL'

Dewey's jeepmakes ·it•sway .down a long,windingroad. Headlights illuminatethe thick woods that lineeach side. Followingbehind them at a discreet distance is ahuge white newsvan.

Dewey comes tothe end of the road. It deadends at •••

STU'S HOUSEwhich sits alone in a clearing, bigand ominous with noneighbors in sight. A huge old home justripe for a night offun and •••terror.

From the looksof things the party has alreadystarted. Music isBLARING. A few KIDS hang on the porch.

79

INT. LIVING ROOM- MINUTES LATER

@_<:. A bigroom with KIDS sprinkled throughout--smoking,drinking, cutting up. A stereo BLASTS music while the TV airsaround the clockkiller coverage.

Tatum and Sidenter with groceries. Various FRIENDSgreet them.

TATUM
Caterer's here.

The girls carrybags through a hallway that opens up ontoan enormous kitchen. Stu and some GUYS are leaning overthe sink drinking beerfrom a funnel.

TATUM
That's mature.
STU
Where you guys been? We had to start

··. without you •

81

EXT. S'L'U*SBOUSE-ROAD

The newsvan pullsup and parks unobtrusively on the sideof ...•-·.• the road a few feetdown from the front yard • r--,,, ,_:__,

Kenny andGale move around inside thevan. Kenny hovers over a controlpanel complete with videomonitors.

KENNY
What'sthe plan?
GALE
Prepthe compact, we'll hide it in a windowand tape all of tonight•a festivities.

Kenny picksup a compact video camerathe size of his fist. Hechecks its battery pack.

ltENNY The controlboard's glitched. Youknow we can't carry a live picture.

GALE
What's the delay?
KENNY
About thirty seconds.
GALE
As longas it records I don't givea shit. We're not doing a remote.

Gale slides open the side door andsteps out into the darkness,not seeing the FIGURE thatstands behind her. A handgrabs her shoulder, Gale's heartstops as she spins aroundto find•••

Dewey, smiling, extremely pleased tosee her.

DEWEY
Evening,ma'am.
GALE
Deputy ••• goodevening.
DEWEY
What brings you out to theseparts?
GALE
You neverknow when or where a storywill break•

r.t...··..

82

·..·.:.·· .·.··.._

.. .:' ..

83

•··.

...:.....:.·,;·-···_.·.. ·. ·.,.·.·-... . ·...

~

( :· DEWEY

Not much story here. Just a bunch of kids cutting loose.

GALE
Then what areyou doing here?
DEWEY
Keeping an eyeon things. Checking the place out.

GALE

-.l Mind if I joinyou?

Dewey considers fora whole two seconds. ··I

DEWEY
Not at all.

Gale leans in thevan, grabs the camera from Kenny'shand, and throws it in herbag. She gives Kenny awink.

84

INT. KITCHEN

CLOSEON a microwave. Popcorn POPS inside. CAMERAWIDENS TO REVEAI,••• ("·_"·.. ·..·. Sid, Stu, and Tatum movingabout the kitchen, preparinga ......- junk food feast. Other TEENS pop in and out. Randy appears .. - ·..:···. amongst them. He carriesan armful of videos.

RANDY
I thought we'dmake it a BLOCKBUSTER night.

·..··_-_..·..:._--.:::.·.: Be lets the videos splatteracross the kitchen counter. Stu and Tatum dive in.

STU
I thought everythingwas checked out •
85

·:·,:·.·.•.-···.·.__.

RANDY
I had 'em hid in theforeign section.

Sidney peruses thevideos.

SIDNEY
THE FOG, TERROR TRAIN,PROM NIGHT-How come Jamie Lee Curtis isin all these movies?
RANDY
She's the Scream Queen.
STU
With that set.oflungs--she should be.
TATUM
(to Sid)
Tits--see.
86

INT. LIVING ROOM- FEW MINUTES LATER

The party is goingstrong. Ten maybe fifteenpeople stand, sit, lean. Somecrowd around the floor in frontof the television. Randy istaking a vote.

RANDY
Bow many EVILDEAD'S?
(hands go up)
How many HELLRAISER'S?

Bands go up. BICKERING AD-LIB, etc.

The doorbell RINGS. Stu goes for it.

STU
I got it. Tatumget me a beer. They're in the fridge inthe garage.
TATUM
What am I? Thebeer wench?
STU
(o.c.)
Hey, guess who'shere? It"s that chick from INSIDE STORY?

They look up thehallway to see Dewey and Gale standingin the foyer..

TATUM
Shit, Dewey 1

EVeryone perks up,eyeing Gale.

TATOM
What is she doinghere?
DEWEY
She• swith me. Ijust wanted to check on things.

,I The GUYS in the room aredrooling over Gale. Including Stu. (

TATUM
So you clid--nowleave ••• andtakeyour media muff with you.

Tatum takes off for the kitchen.

Gale has quickly become the focusof the party. All eyesare on her.

SOME TEEN
I watch your show religiously.
STU
This must be big news tobe on INSIDE S'l'ORY.
GALE
Huge.
ANOTHER TEEN
Wanna interview us?
RANDY
We could be like two griefstricken students and we'll say reallynice things about our good friendswho were slaughtered senselessly.
STU
I can cry on cue.

Gale eyes the bookshelf abovethe television.

GALE
.Maybelater?

Suddenly, Gale st.artsto COUGH.

GALE
can I trouble you for somewater?
STU
Bow •bouta beer? Randy--getthe lady a beer.
RANDY
You. getit.

Galeslips the camera from herbag--hita the ON switch and I holdsit behind her •••waitingforthe right moment. \.· (

BACKIN FOYER

SIDNEY
Havethey found my father?
DEWEY
Afraid not.
SIDNEY
ShouldI be worried?
DEWEY
Not yet.

Tatum isalone in the kitchen. She emptiespopcorn into a bowl,then pulls open the refrigerator•••looksquickly, then remembers•••

Shemoves through the adjoining laundryroom to the •••

The kitchen door opens and light floodsthe darkened garage. Tatum stands in the doorway searching fora light switch.

She findsa button and hits it. BRRRRMMMI The electric garagedoor starts to rise. Wrong switch. She hits it again andit closes.

She finds another switch. CLICK. A small lightbulb overhead comes on, barely lighting the largetwo-car garage, leaving pockets of shadows along the wall. ·

Tatum spots the refrigerator against afar wall and heads for it,not seeing t.hekitchen door,quietly, slowly, closing behindher, sealing her off from therest oft.he house.

Tatumstumbles to the refrigerator andthrows it open. It•s lightcasts a glow across her face.

CRASB-BOOMI

Tatum jumps,spinning around just intime to see a cat escape througha large pet door that'sbuilt into the garage door. She smilesat her jumpiness.

Tatumloads up with as many beer asher hands will carry and headsback to the kitchen.

At the kitchen door, she jugglesthe beer, reaching for the knob. It"s locked.

.....-·..• -•, •.

TATUM
SHIT!

She KICKS itwith her foot several times.

TATUM
Hey, Shi theadsl

A moment. No answer.

TATUM
OH, SHIT PISSI

Tatum leans overand, with her elbow, hits the garagedoor ·J button. BRRRRMM1 It.begins to rise.

:) She moves towardsthe rising door, beer in hand. Suddenly, I CRR-BRRRMl The garage door RESETS, reversingdirection, moving down, closing.

TATUM
What the•••

Tatum spins aroundto see •••

('· ·.. A GHOST MASKEI>FIGURE

silhouetted in thedark, next to the kitchen door,his hand on the switch. Tatum at.once, GASPS, taken back, butthen relaxes.

TATUM
Ia that you, Randy? Cute.

The FIGURE staresat her, blankly.

TATUM

·-· · -·..-... And what movie isthis fran? I SPIT ON

YOUR GARAGE.

Tatum takes a steptowards the FIGURE.

TATUM
Lose the mask. IfSidney sees it, she"ll flip..

The FIGURE shakes hishead slowly t~ aide to side.

..•, TATUM

Oh you wanna play psychokiller?

The FIGURE slowly nods.

es.

CONTINOED: (2)

TATUM
Can Ibe the helpless victim?

TheFIGURE slowly nods again.

TATUM
Okay,let's see. •No, please,don't kill me, Mr. Ghost.face. I want tobe in the sequel."

Tatum takesa step to move aroundthe FIGURE, but he steps too,blocking her. ·

TATUM
cut, Casper. That's a wrap.

Tatummoves again, sidestepping theFIGURE, but he's faster andcuts her off.

Tatumjuggles the beer against herchest with one hand and with the other pushes the FIGUREhard, knocking him aside.

TATUM
Randy--will you stop?

But the FIGURE.intercepts, lungingforward, grabbing her wrist hard ••• Tatumstumbles••• beercanshitthe floor•••spewing•••

TATUM
You little shit.

Tatum yanks hard, releasing his holdwhen a flash of silver catchesher eye. She looks down,glimpsing a long, sharp blade as it darts forward, cuttinginto her forearm•••

Tatum pulls back, horrified, asthe moment turns deadly serious.

The FIGURE advances on her--knifeout, ready. She staggers backwards, holding her bloody arm,backing into the refrigerator,SCREAMING.

TATUM
Who are you?

TheFIGURE lashes out with the knife. Tatum dodges it, leapingback against the fridge. The FIGURE advances. Instinctively,she rips the topfreezer door open, BASHING theFIGURE in the face, sendinghim backwards, reeling.

Tatumbolts to the•••CLOSED GARAGEDOOR. In a panic, she BEATS and PULLS on it, trying tomake it lift. She eyes the FIGURE•••he'arecovering.

CONTINUED: (3)

She goesfor the pet door, droppingto the floor, diving for it ••• she wedgesherupperbody through,her head, shoulders, torso justas the •••

FIGUREpounces, grabbing hold of her feet. Tatum goes crazy SCREAMINGand KICKINGtrying to getthrough.

87

EXT.GARAGE DOOR

Tatum ishalf in/half out the pet door. She BEATSand JERKS wildly, unable to see the FIGURE on theother side•••

A true fighter, Tatum kic:kahard,making direct contact with theFIGURE, knocking him away.

She takesthe moment to pull herselfthrough further••• but shestops •••stuc:k.She pulls and tugsbut can't move. She listensbut hears nothing. Where didhe go? An agonizing silence. And then •••

CRR-BRRRMl The garage door is activated. It begins to rise upward,taking Tatum with it. SheSCREAMS MADLY.

TATUM
NOOOOOO••••
89

TATUM'SARMS AND LEGS FLY ABOUT VIOLENTLYAS SHE TRIES TO

f freeherself from the door, but itmoves too fast, carrying herup •••

She looksabove to see where the doorrolls back into the garagerafters just as her neck hitsthe first beam, SNAPPING instantly.

90

INT.FOYER - MINUTES LATER

It•sgetting late and SOME KIDS leavethrough the front door, muttering, •parentsand curfew" etc. The door hangs open wide. Sid moves to close it when•••

BILLY appearsin a classic fake scare.

SIDNEY
Billy? Jesus, you scared me.

Stuappears.

STU
(witha wink)
Dude. What are you doing here?

r-•. ~-·· BILLY \ .·· I washoping Sid and I couldtalk.

SIDNEY
IfTatum sees you--she•11 drawblood.
STU
You guys can go up to myparents room? To talk and•••whatever.
BILLY
Subtlety, Stu. Look it up.
SIDNEY
It• sokay. We need to talk.

Sid grabs his hand and leads himup the staircase. Randy appears from the kitchen just intime to see Sid and Billy disappear upstairs.

RANDY
What's Leatherface doinghere?
STU
Be came to make up.
RANDY
There goes my chance withSid.
STU
Like you had one.

IN'l'.NEWSVAN

Kenny fidgets at the control board. He hits a coupla buttons, bangs the side ofthe monitor and a picture emerges •••theliving room. The camera is positioned just above the television•••

ON SCREEN

The party is in full swing. Several TEENS sit right in front of the television. Becauseof the camera's position they appear to be staring right intothe lens.

Suddenly, the van's side door slidesopen and Gale pope in.

ta:HNY Got a picture. Perfectplacement. We can see everything.

Gale is ecstatic.

92

·•.:::. -· ·.:.

~ ...... ·. -·.-·:-: { .,\. ::-. . ..-..··..·.,..

GALE
Tell me, Kenny, hasa cheesy tabloid journalist ever won thePUlitizer?
93

INT. BEDROOM

A large, master bedroom with glassdoors that lead out onto a

balcony.

Sidand Billy stare at eac:h otherfora long moment. Awkward.

SIDNEY.
so.••
BILLY
so •••I'msorry. I've been a selfish shit and I ' msorry.
SIDNEY
No, Billy. I'm the one who'sbeen selfish and self absorbedwith all of my post traumatic:stress.
BILLY
You lostyour mom•••
94

-..-··

SIDNEY
But you'reright--enough is enough. I c:an'twallowin the grief process forever and I can'tkeep lying to myself about who my mom was.

Billy boWS his headquietly, ltnowing_ly.

SIDNEY
I think in someweird analytical, psychological bullshit way I'mac:ared that I'm gonna turn out just likeher,

.. you know? Like the bad seed ·or .. · something•••

BILLY
Oh Sidney•••
SIDNEY
zverytime I getclose to you I see my mom. I know itdoesn't make sense •
BILLY
sure it does. It•s like·JodieFoster in SILENCE OF '1'HELAMBSwhen shekept having. flashbacks of her dead father.

CONTINUEDz

SIDNEY
But this is life. This isn't a movie.
BILLY
Sure it is, Sid. It•sall a movie. Life's one greatbig movie. only you can't pick your genre.

Billy moves to her. They embrace, tenderly.

SIDNEY
I wanna let go. Ido •••
BILLY
Ssshh ••• everything•sgonnabeokay. I promise.

Sidney takes the iniative,acting on impulse, kissing him long and hard. Shebreaks away passionately, out ofbreath.

SIDNEY
Why can't I be aMeg Ryan movie?

Billy nibbles her neck.

BILLY
Sshh••it's okay.
SIDNEY
or even a good porno.
BILLY
(shocked)
What?

She stares at him, hereyes sexually charged.

SIDNEY
You heard me.
BILLY
(incredulous)
Are you serious?
SIDNEY
(surprising herself)
Yeah•••I think so.

They smile at each other.

95

INT. LIVINGROOM - MINUTES LATER

The camerasits on the book shelf lodgedbetween two knick knacks, completelyinconspicuous. The CAMERAWIDENS to the reveal severalTEENSwatching the TV--the horrordiehards.

TEEN#1 Look, here itcomes. SPLAT1

TEEN#2 'l'heblood•snotthe right color. Why do they dothat? It's too red.

RANDY
-Here comesanother•••

TEEN#3 Predictable. Knew he was going to bite it.

BOREDTEEN
How canyou watch this shit over and over?

RANDY

(. Shhhhh.

STU

~ I wanna seeJaime Lee's breasts. When do

we seeJaime Lee's breasts?

RANDY
Not untilTRADING PLACES in •83. Jaime Leewas alwaysthe virgin in horror movies. She didn •tshow her ti tstil she went legit.
BOY TEEN
Noway.
RANDY
'!'hat•a whyshealwayslived. only virgins canoutsmart the killer in the big chase scenein the end. Don't you know therules?

Stu finisheshis beer.

STU
What rul.es?

Randy hitsthe pause button on the remote andstands in front of thetelevision, explaining.

CONTINUED,

RANDY
There are certainrules that one must abide by in orderto successfully survive a horror movie. For instance: 1. You can never have sex. The minute you get a little nookie--you•reas good as gone. Sex always equalsdeath. 2. Never drink or do drugs. The sinfactor. It's an extension of numberone. And 3. Never, ever, ever, underany circumstances, say •I"ll be rightback."
STU
Wanna anotherbeer?
RANDY
Yeah.
STU
I'll be rightback.

Everybody "ooohhs".

RANDY
There he goes folks--adead man. Wave bye-bye.
96

INT. NEWSVAN -CONTINUOUS

Gale and Kennywatch the monitor. The party isclearing out some.

A RAP at thevan door. Gale pulls it open tosee Deputy Riley standing, hisface all smiles.

DEWEY
Sheriff just radioedme. I'm gonna cheek out a possible lead. Thought you might like to joinme. ·
GALE
What kind of lead?
DEWEY
A car was spottedin the bushes a little ways up the road.
GALE
I'd love to. Ifyou"re sure it's alright?

·•....-·...·•·.·: · •, .. ·....:.-\?.-.-.·:··:-.~----:.~-··;::·::•'·.... .·. . ..·__:,:_=.·_:_,_:_:_:__~--,·_._;_:~~--- --·_.-.-._.:.->,_:·._-,.:~--'___-_.··_·._·_-_·__··. . . ·.·_·._·::_:_;::__·:...... . ..·_·. . .-.'.:::-~·...:--:·-·... ..·:'":.:·.·:.:.,-.~:-·_,;,·.··_..::.-·..;_.·:::...

·;~;•i:<.i>L···..•.••y:~;:,·,yx,E>·:··:.·.··.·...·.' · •:;.,;.-;._ .

DEWEY
Ma'am, I am theDeputy of this town.
GALE
Can I bring Kenny?
DEWEY
(too quickly)
N01 I mean•••I shouldprobably take just you •
97

I

I Gale steps out of the van turningback to Kenny•

99

:·,

_.--:;_ GALE

I'llbe back.

-~

100

·:...·::; SHE SLIDESTHE VAN DOO~ CLOSED•

102

EXT. ROAD -CONTINUOUS

Gale heads for oewey•apatrol jeep.

DEWEY
Actually, I thought wecould walk. It's not -toofar.

Gale appears skeptical, but smilesanyway. She•s genuinely

C

smittenby this young guy.

103

INT.LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

SCARY MUSIC fillsthe room. The party isreduced to the diehards in frontof the television.

RANDY
(pointing toTV)
Look, here comesthe obligatory tit shot.

O'l:BERGUYS Beautifull Finallyl

105

=:.·_-.-:·.

..·_:_:~

Billyand Sidney are going at it •••passionately.Be has h head buriedin her neck•

_·._·.·.. .

SIDNEY

:·.::_ (to herself)

•Eight isenough to fill our lives with love••••

- -.rorking.Sidneypushes Billy off her as she pulls ~...~head.She fumbles with the clasp of he:r

CAMERARUSHES IN on her breasts. Just as Sid· s brastraps slideoff her shoulders•••

Billy moves in front of theCAMERA, pulling his jeans off, blocking Sidney from view.

106

INT. LIVING ROOM - SECONDS.LATER

Back in the living room, thehorror fest continues when the phone RINGS. Everyone ignores it. It RINGS again.

Finally, Randy grabs the receiverfrom the side table.

RANDY
Bello? Yeah••••HOLY SHIT.

Randy, freaked, drops the phone, finds the TV remote and pauses the movie, the othersprotest "Hey, Put it back •••" etc.

RANDY
Listen up. They foundPrincipal Bimbry dead. Be was gutted and hung from the goal post on the footballfield.

This stills the room. Completesilence as the news sinks in. ON different faces••• a moment ofdevastation••disbelief.And then:

TEEN #1 So what are we waiting for?

TEEN #2 Let's get over there beforethey pry him down.

And in seconds, the room isempty as everyone bolts for the door •• HOOTIN'andHOLLERIN'•••leavingRandy, near drunk, alone in the living room. Be returns to the movie.

RANDY
We were just getting to thegood part.
107

INT. NEWSVAN - MINUTES LATER

Kenny is barely watching themonitor, he reached boredom some time ago. He finds a bag ofCheetos and chows down when he bears SCREAMI·NGfrom outside. Be peers out the window to see the last of the PARTY KIDSpile into two cars and race off down the road • ..,

108

: .

,' Be chews a Cheeto slowly,his interest piqued.

109

INT. BEDROOM- MINUTES LATER

The sex isover ••• andbothSid and Billyare dressing respectively. That post-sex awkwardness.

Sid brushesout her hair as her eyes cometo rest on the telephoneon the nightstand••• itpuzzles heras a stark revelation crossesher face. She turns toBilly who's sits on the floor,putting on his shoes.

SIDNEY
Who didyou call?
BILLY
What?

SIDNEY

111

' ....·),: WHEN YOU'REARRESTED--YOU"RE ALLOWED ONE

phone call? Who did you call?

--~ ·.:.·I BILLY

I calledmy dad.

SIDNEY
No, SheriffBurke called your dad. I saw him.
BILLY
Yeah•••andwhen I called no one answered.
SIDNEY
Uh-huh.
BILLY
You don't stillthink it was me?
SIDNEY
No, but if itwere you, that would have been ave~ clever way to tbrow me off track. Usingyour one phone call to call me so I wouldn'tthink it was you.

Billy stands up.

BILLY
What do I haveto do to prove to you I'm not a killer?

Be makes a movetoward her when••from behind, in asplit instant, from theopen t,,alconydoorscomes•••

'l'HEGHOSTFIGURE

r· Sidneysees the FIGURE immediately,SCREAMING. Billy tries r ·· tocalm her, oblivious to the advancingGHOST.

SIONEY
BILLYWATCHOUTl111

Billy barely turns as a long steelyblade rises high in the air. It strikes down with force••• hittinghischest as blood sprays the air.

ON SIDNEY as red crimson splattersacross her faee•••as the · knife is thrust in and out of Billywho tries hard to put up a fight•• butit's useless••• he neverhad achance. Bis body falls to the floor•• lifeless.

ANGLE ON GHOST

as he watches Billy's body come toa still before quietly, calmly turning his attention to •••

SIDNEYwho stands, numb••• scaredto death. And only when the GHOST takes a step forward does Sidneybreak. She takes off like a rocket••• leapingover the bed andout the door.

112

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Sidney tears out the door and downthe hall, c04-tedin Billy's blood.

ANGLE ON THE GHOST

as he catches up with her, grabbinghold of her collar. She pulls away from him••• hershirt rippingdown the back .

Ber hands find a door knob and shegoes for it, pulling the door open •••movingquickly inside•••lock.ingitbehind her.

113

INT. DARK SPACE - CONTINUOUS

Total darkness. Sidney ' shandss_courthewall for a light switch. The doorknob turns•••the lockholds••as the door is nearly SHAKEN from it's hinges•••andthen •••

NO'l'BING.All goes silent. only Sidney's rapid BREATHING fills the space around her.

Sidney, trembling, shaking, reachesabove her, feeling•• until she finds a string. She pullsit ...asa lightl:>ulbSWITCHES on overhead.

She's in a small box of a room. 'l'hedooris on one aide, a (:·>. small, narrow staircase on the other. She eyes the doorknob, ~ -.,,.-:: then the staircaae••• contemplating••• butit'san easy C•.

decision. There•s no fucking way she'sgoing up to the attic.

She unlocksthe door and pushes on it. But it won't give ••• shepusheson itagain. It'slocked from the other side. Shit. She turns to the staircase.

114

EXT.DA.RXROAD - CONTINUOUS

A long,deserted country road. Inthe distance, a single flashlightbeams ahead, the only lightin the black night. Gale andDewey can be heard.

GALE
So isDewey your real name?
DEWEY
Dwight. Dewey was something I got stuck with a longtime ago.
GALE
I likeit. It's•••sexy.
DEWEY
Nah•••it's justthis town's way of not takingme serious.
GALE
What aboutGale weathers? I sound likea meteorologist•••

CLOSEON Gale and Dewey, walking closely,side by side-- flirtatiously. Gale is surprisinglynervous.

GALE
People treatme like the Antichrist of televisionjournalism.
DEWEY
I don'tthink you're so bad.

Gale smiles.

GALE
Are all thelocal boys as sweet as you?

Dewey blushes. Be starts to say somethingwhen headlights appear behindthem. They both spin aroundas TWO CARS loaded with 1t10s·comeracingright at them.

Dewey grabsGale and pushes her off theroad •••juatas the cars speedby, oblivious to them.

CONTINUED,

IN THE DITCH

Gale lands face up with Dewey righton top of her. Be steals a glance in her eyes beforerolling off her.

DEWEY
You okay?

Something takes Gales attention.

GALE
What's that?

Dewey looks to where Galepoints. He finds the flashlight

115

I AND AIMS IT INTO THE BRUSH. THE TAIL END OF A CAR IS JUST

visible.

DEWEY
Looks like a car.
116

·.,:,

Dewey helps her up and theymove to it. Be shines the ·.)} flashlight on the plates but it'salready obvious to the CAMERA. This is the samecar we last saw Sidney•s father driving away in.

DEWEY
Shit. It's Neil Prescott'scar.
GALE
Sidney's father?
DEWEY
We gotta get back. Jesus. Be'shere. What the fuck is he doing here?

Dewey is panicked. Be grabsGale and they race off down the road.

117

INT. LIVING ROOM - CON'RINUOUS

Randy continues to watch TV. Be isnow sloppy drunk, completely involved in the movieon screen. ·:•:-·:._;.,;·.ll

118

:;-,..•,. SCARY MUSIC SWELLS, FILLING THEROOM.

·/'.<:.;\ ·...····.·•··.· ·

RANDY

\\:/'.?:~ (toTV)

119

···:.....:·.·..

:\}.:/ No, Jaime. Look behind yout Watchoutl ::.:..•····· Behind you!

120

•. ·.

:-. And if he followed his own advice, he wouldsee the GBOST MASKED FIGURE that stands directlybehind him•••knife poised

\,...~,_:.,; INT. NEWSVAN -CONTINUOUS

Xenny finishes off a sodaand crushes the can inhis hand. Be tosses it to thefloor when a movement fromthe monitor catches his eye.

ON TBE MONITOR isRandy, still on the couch, engrossedin the movie. Directly behindhim••• theGHOST. Kenny doesa double-take. No fuckingway. He watches as theGHOST stands still, unmoving, kniferaised.

KENNY
JESUS•••FUCK•••

'l'he GHOSTtakesasilent step fo%Ward.

KENNY
(screaming atmonitor)
BEHIND YOUI LOOK BEHIND YOO!

This kid needs help. Kenny bolts out of his seatand goes for the side door. He slides it open and stickshis head out as •••

A LONG, SHARPBLADE 1 :· r,;. comes at Kenny, fastand furious•••slicing intohia throat. Kenny falls forward••• outthedoor as the GHOSTMASKED FIGURE is upon him.

TBE CAMERA PANS TOTHE MONITOR

just in time to seethe GHOST MASKED.FIGURE turnaway from Randy, leaving himunharmed, moving instead, outthe front door, on a thirtysecond walk to the newavan.

121

INT. ATTIC -CONTINUOUS

'l'heatticis longand narrow•••cluttered withfurniture, boxes, and the likes•••moonlightfilters in througha small, raised window on thefront wall of the house.

Sidney moves throughthe attic•••BOMPING into this,KNOCKING over that••• shepassesa dusty mirror, jumping ather own reflection. She cringesat her image, drenched inBilly•s blood. She stareslong and hard•••something aboutthe blood, the redness of it. She moves on, determined.

She eyes the raisedwindov above her ••• awayout•••ifshe could only reach it •••

122

EXT. FRONT YARD

Gale and Dewey come runningup the drive, frantic.

DEWEY
I'll call for backup.
GALE
I'll get my camera.

They split up. The CAMERA FOLLOWS GALE as she rushesto the newsvan, throwing openthe door.

GALE
Kennyl Camera1 Quick 1

The van is empty.

GALE
Kenny?

A CAR HORN goes off. Gale spins around. It camefrom the patrol jeep in thedriveway.

GALE

,•:·.. (calling out) :··.'

123

DEWEY?

f She moves across theyard to the jeep, the doorhangs open•••Dewey is nowhereto be found.

GALE
Dewey? Where areyou?

A look of puredread comes over Gale.

124

INT. ATTIC -CONTINUOUS

Sidney has stackedobject after object building aladder to the window. Sheclimbs to the top, holding ontothe window frame.

She spots Gale almostilllmediately.She SCREAMSOUT, looking •for the window latch. But there's not one. Itdoesn't open. Sidney starts beatingon it...trying to break it•••

125

EXT. FRON'L'DOOR-CONTINUOUS

Gale, hanging tough,approaches the front door,unable to bear Sidney's SCREAMSthree floors up. Gale reachesfor the door just as shehears LOUD, HORRIBLE SHRIEKS fromjust inside. She backsaway.

t'-. INT.LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

ANEAR-ct1RDLINGJAIME LEE CURTIS SCREAMBLASTS through the. empty livingroom as the horror movieon TV comes to it's horrifyingclimax.

Randy isnow gone.

126

EXT.FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

Galeraces across the yard puttingdistance between her and thehouse. She moves back to thevan •••

127

INT.ATTIC - CONTINUOUS

Sidneyhas found an old tennis racket. She swings a solid forehandat the window.

THEWINDOW SPRAYS GLASS

Sidneymoves quickly, lifting herselfup over broken glass andpulling herself through thewindow frame.

128

EXT.SIDE OF BOUSE

Sidnefwastes no time. She looks forGale, SCREAMING, but ~ : \ ... Galeis gone.

Sidlowers herself down the ledge,sliding down a sloped portionof the roof onto •••

'l'BEMASTERBEDROOM'SBALCONY.

Thenshe eases herself over therailing and lowers herself, lettingherself hang as low as shecan ••• thenshelets go, free-fallingthe rest of the way••• butina split instant•••

fflEGHOSTAPPEARS

grabbingher wrists in midair.

Berbody hangs, dangling against the sideof the house. The· GHOSTbegins to lift her, pulling herback onto the balcony.

Sidney jerks,pulls, twiats•••but theBANDS have her, hoistingher up ••• SidneySCREAMSMADLY•••yankingone last time, freeingherself.

SHE DROPS'1'0THEGROUND, a good sevenfeet, landing on her back, hittinghard. She grabs at apained leg and brings herselfupright. ,ijJ' r~·

129

INT. NEWSVAN -CONTINUOUS

Gale is frantic. Shestarts the engine up andhits the headlights when shediscovers she can't see outof the windshield.

Gale rubs at theglass. Sure enough, something ison the windshield outside,blocking her sight. Gale hitsthe wipers as BLOOD SMEARS acrossthe glass, it drips downfrom above.

Gale SCREAMS as aHAND reaches in through theopen window••• shelooksup to see •••

RANDY, staring ather madly.

RANDY
What•s goingon?

A sheer moment offear as Gale hits the gasplummeting the car forward, intoa ditch. She hits the BRAKES. Randy is thrown forward, awayfrom the van.

Gale reverses,backs up, hits the brakes again ••• justas Kenny's face comes slidingdown the outside ofthe windshield••• eyeswide,face distorted, bloodeverywhere.

Gale hits thegas, and yanks the wheel, sendingKenny's corpse flying offthe top of the van.

Gale spins thevan around, onto the road, hitsthe gas madly, gaining speed justas •••

SII>NEYAPPEARS

in the middleof the road, drenched in blood,very much resembling a youngSissy Spacek.

Gale sw8%Ves tomisa her, but she turns too sharpand the van veers off theroad at top speed •••flippingoveron its side, sliding off intothe thick foliage.

130

EXT. ROAD -CONTINUOUS

Sidney races towhere the van lay on it's aide. Sidney peers through thewindshield •••Gale'sbody lay limpand bloody.

SIDNEY CRIES OUT,turning, limping to the driveway. She sees the patr~l jeepwith it's open door ••• shegoesforit.

131

INT. JEEP

Sidney hops in,reaches for the ignition•••NO KEYSl Shit. ~ .· f' . Just then, Sidney•seyes go to the front porch. She watches

asthe front door opens and aFIGURE appears in the darkness, ~ -- undetectable.

Sidneythrows the headlights•••illuminatingthe front sideof the house, revealing•••

DEWEY STANDING IN THE DOORWAY.

SIDNEY
DEWEY!

Sidney opens the jeep door,·moving tohim, notici ng hisbody, slumped, knees buckled •••

And then his body falls forward,slowly, deliberately, hitting the porch hard. Standingbehind him is ...

THE GHOST

SIDNEY SCREAMS FROM THE BOTTOMOF HER SOUL.

SIDNEY
NOOOOOOOOl 1111

Sid jumps back inside the jeep,closing the door, locking it. She reaches over and locksthe passenger's door and then she ••• waits.

And watches as the GHOST leansover Dewey•s still body, fumblingwith something. Then theFIGURE stands upright, in his hands he holds •••

THE KEYS

They jingle in the wind, theGHOST toying with her, enjoying this•••

Sidney, hysterical, locks eyeswith the FIGURE as he moves to the door, Sidney leaps on it,holding the lock button down, making it impossible to unlock. Her face is pressed against the glass•••inches from theMASKED FIGURE.

She usesevery ounce of strengthwhen suddenly, the GHOST DISAPPEARS, dropping down, belowthe window, out of her view.

Sidneymoves to the center ofthe jeep •••tryinghard to listenover her own RAPID BREATHING,every sound AMPLIFIED.

Then she hears it, the soft JINGLINGof keys near the passenger's side door. She pounceson the lock, holding it down.

CONTINUED:(2)

~·;-. A shadow cutsthe beam of theheadlights, unseen by Sidney. f' :: The lockturns on the other side. Sidney leaps over and holdsit down, securing it. This is beyond nerve-racking. Sidneyis certifiable.

Ber eyes spot the police radio forthe first time. She grabs the mouthpiece and hits theswitch.

SIDNEY
Belpl Please! I'm atStu Maker's house on Turner Lane. Please,HE•s GONNA KILL MEI
132

EXT. FRON'!'OF'1EEP

ANGLE through front windshield. Sidney RANTING into the police band. She doesn•t seethe •••

GHOST FIGURE open the tailgatedoor of the jeep and slowly crawl in behind her.

The GHOST FIGUU reaches outand grabs hold of Sidney's neck.

Sidney, with surprising strength,spins around and attacks the GHOST.

She falls back against thedash, legs out, kicking wildly at him.

Ber hand reaches for the door,finds the lock, the door lever, she pulls•••

The door swings open •••

Sidney falls out of the door,bitting the ground.

133

EXT. FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

Sidney, on. berstomach, squirmsaway from the jeep. She brings herself up to her handsand knees, looking behind her to see nothing•••

'1'BEGHOSTHAS DISAPPEARED.

Sidney•s e1es roam the yardbut he•s nowhere. Completely gone. Vanished.. Sid crawlsto the front porch where •••

DEWEY•S BODY LAY

Thinking quickly, precisely, shereaches to Dewey•s holster and grabs his gun when aVOICE ECHO'S behind her ••• /·

t"·

CON'l'INUEDz

VOICE (o.c.) Sidney!

She turns tosee Randy racing to her, limping. He appears stone coldsober.

RANDY
Jesus, Sid. We gotta get out of here.

Sidney throwsthe gun forward.

SIDNEY
Stop. Right there.
RANDY
Don't shoot. It's me.
SIDNEY
Don't come any closer.
RANDY
Listen tome, Sid. I found Tatum. She's dead, she'sbeen killed••• Ithink Stu did it.

Be takesa step forward when anotherVOICE SPEAKS UP.

VOICE (o.c.) Don't believehim, Sid.

Sidney spinsaround to see Stu movingup the walk.

STU
Be's lying. Be killed Tatum. AndBilly.

Stu moves closerto Sidney.

SIDNEY
Stay away.

She aimsthe gun in his direction.

STU
Bis movienut mind has snapped, Sid. Be's gonepsycho.
RANDY
Don't listento him. It's him. Be's the one.

t:\ ~'.,:. \ .

CONTINUED:( 2)

f'. Sidneyhas lost it, she doesn'tknow who to trust. She aims r--· thegun at Stu ••thenRandy•• thenStu •••

STU
Come on, Sid. Give me the gun.
RANDY
No, Sid.

'!'heybothmove toward her. There'sno time. She must act now. Finally•••

SIDNEY
Fuck you both.

And with that, Sidney steps backinto the house and SLAMS the frontdoor shut.

134

INT.LIVING ROOM/FOYER

Sidlocks and bolts the door. From the other side she can hear Randy SCREAMING.

RANDY
NO, SID. OPEN UP. PLEASE•••BEI sGONE CRAZY.

Bis fists POUND against the door. Sidney, stumbling in the , darkness, rushes to the phone inthe living room. Just as she reaches for it••• itRINGS. Itscares the life out of her. She SCREAMS, yanking it up.

SIDNEY
Please I God1 Help mel

VOICE (fromthe phone) Havingfun Sidney?

Sidneyfalls apart, SCREAMING.

SIDNEY
NOOOOOOOO III

Shethrows the phone down, disconnectingthe call.

I

Sidmoves back to the door. RANDY s SCREAMS ARE MADDENING. Sheeyes the lock, deliberating.

SIDNEY
(atthe door)

,_.C GOAWAYLEAVEMEALONEI \

CLUNK1 A NOISE UPSTAIRS.

Sidney looksup the staircase, into thedarkness, her faced SHOCKEDto see •••

BILLY

emerging fromthe shadows, stumbling down thestairs. Very much alive.

SIDNEY .
Oh God. Billy!

Be's blood-soakedand dazed. Sidney meetshim at the landing, grabbinghim, holding him•••

SIDNEY
I thoughtyou were •••
BILLY
I'm alright. Gotta •••get••• help.

Billy goesfor the door.

SIDNEY
Be's outthere.

Randy continuesPOUNDING ON THE DOOR, SCREAMINGAT THE TOP OF BIS LUNGS.

RANDY
(throughdoor)
Please, you gottalet me in. Be's gonna kill me.

Billy goes forthe door. Sidney blocks him.

SIDNEY
NO1 Don'tbelieve him.
BILLY
It•s okay. Give me the gun.

Sidney bands himthe gun. Billy turns andunlocks the door, opening it. Randy rushes in, grabbingBilly, pleading•••

RANDY
Help me•••
BILLY
(eaJming him)
Shhhh. It'sokay.

CONTINUED:(2)

RANDY
Stu's flipped out. He'sgone mad.

Slowly, a small smile creepsacross Billy's face.

BILLY
•weall go a littlemad sometimes.•

Randy squints, confused, as Billyaims the gun at Randy and pulls the trigger. TheBLASTS throws Randy's body against the wall before sliding toa heap on the floor••• still.

BILLY
Anthony Perkins--PSYCHO.

BILLY 'l'URNSTOSIDNEY•••

Who stands only feet away,face aghast•••

Fuck, no ••• thiscan'tbe happening. Billy's eyes are on her, unmoving. .

Be sticks his tongue out and slowlylicks the blood driedto his face••• tastingit.

BILLY
Corn syrup. Same stuffthey used for pig's blood in CARRIE.

Sidney is dumbfounded. Slowly,she takes a step back,moving into the dark refines ofthe kitchen.

Billy, lurches forward ina fake-out, baiting her. Shetakes another step back--petrified.

CLOSEON BILLY'S FACE. Itis no longer familiar to Sidney. There is something inhumannow about his features. His expression is pure evil.

She takes another step back,shrinking into the darkkitchen.

'1'HECAMERATAKES A MOMENT'l'0 ADJUSTTOTHE DARKNESS asthe outline of a FIGURE appears•••

STANDING RIGHT BEHIND SIDNEY.

She continues to back up,moving right into the armsof •••

STU

Sidney spins around•••hermouth open in speechless horror.

CONTINUED:( 3 )

SIDNEY
Stu ••• please••• helpme•••

Stustares back at her, eyeswide, lips curled in a subtle smileas he holds a small compactCELLULAR PHONE up to his face.

STU
(whisperinginto phone)
Surprise, Sidney.

His VOICE sounds affected ncw••• theVOICE ofthe killer.

Sidney looks back to Billy, thento Stu, then to Billy again. It'sbecome all too clear.

She stands between them, hermind racing, calculating•••

SHE BOLTS INTO THE LIVING ROOM

If for no other reason thanto put space between her and them ••• theystandin the entryway,trapping her in.

BILLY
Where ya going? It's notover yet. We've got one more surprise-~stu, Ibelieve it's your turn.

~··

STU
Oh yeah.

Stu disappears into the kitchen.

BILLY
(toSidney)
What's wrong? You look likeyou've seen a ghost.

Sidney st8:Dds,trying hard to holda calm resolve.

A NOISE comes from the kitchen. A low, DRAGGING sound. Stu reappears from the front hall•••wrestlingwith something••• someone•••

CLOSE ON STU••• hehas a body intow, he thrusts it forward and it rolls into the living room. Sidney looks down to find•••

BER FATHER

bound and gagged. Bia eyes widein fear, very much alive.

CONTINUED:(4)

SIDNEY

~ -- Daddy!

Shestarts for him.

BILLY
Close enough.

Stu places the cellular phone inMr. Prescott's shirt pocket.

STU
Guess, I won't be needing thisanymore.
SIDNEY
Why are you doing this?
STU
It'sall part of the game.
BILLY
It'8called GUESS BOWI'M GOINGTO DIE 1
SIDNEY
Fuck you.
BILLY
We already played that game. You lost, rememt>'!r?
STU
You have to play, Sid. Don•twant to disappoint your dad. Be'sbeen waiting around all night.
BILLY
It•s aneasy game. We ask you a question. If you get itwrong--you die.
STU
And if you get it right--you die.
SIDNEY
You•recrazy--both of you.

S'l'U Theofficial term is •psychotic•.

SIDNEY
You'llnever get away with this.

CONTINUED: ( 5 )

BILLY
Tell thatto Cotton Weary. You wouldn't believe how easyit was to frame him.

S'l'U Yeah,we justwatched a few movies. Took a fewnotes. It was fun.

Billy and Sturelish their madness,proud of themselves.

Sidney looksto her dad, sees the tearsin his eyes. She looksback to Billy, unflinching•• adeterminedlook on her face.

SIDNEY
Why didyou kill my mother?
BILLY
Wh:y?WHY? Did you hear that, Stu? I think shewants a motive. Hmmm••• Idon't really believein motives, Sid. Imean, didNoxman Bates have a motive?

Stuplays along, shaking his head.

STU
Nope.
BILLY
And didthey really ever explainwhy HannibalLeeter liked to eatpeople? Don't thinkso. You see, it's scarier when there'sno motive, Sid.
SIDNEY
(fightingtears)
I don• tunderstand•••
BILLY
We didyour mom a favor, Sid. Thewoman was aslut bag whore who flashed hershit all overtown like ahe·was Sharon Stone or something.
STU
(laughing)
•• soweput her out of her misery. I mean, let'sface it, your mom was no SharonStone.

Stu cracksup over this while Billyturns very serious.

CONTINtJEDz(6)

BILLY
Is thatmotive enough for you? Or how about this? Did you know your slut mother was sleepingwith my dad and she's the reasonmy mom moved out and deserted me.

A suddensilence. Sidney is rigid with shock,bis words resonantwith truth.

SIDNEY
What?

Even Stuis surprised with his seriousness.

BILLY
Think about it. On the off chance I get caught--amotive like that could divide a jury foryears, don't you think? You took my mother,so I took yours. Big sympathy factor. Maternal abandonment causes seriousdeviant behavior. It certainly fuckedyou up. It made you have sexwith a psychopath.
STU
That's rightand now that you're no longer avirgin. You gotta die--those are therules.

Billy sitsthe gun down on the table near thefoyer. And thenmoves to Sidney with the butcher knifein hand.

BILt.Y Pretend this isall just a scary movie, Sid. How doyou think it's going to end?

Sidney doesn'trespond.

STU
(excited)
This is thebest part, Sid. Billy's got it all figuredout. Why do you think we kept your fatheralive so long? Why did we saveyou torlast?

BtLLY You knowwhat time it.is, Sid? It's ·after midnight. It•s your mother•a anniversary. We killed her exactly one year ago today.

CONTINUED: ( 7)

Billy turns to Stuwith the knife. They eye eachother.

BILLY
Ready?
STU
Yeah•••

Billy pulls the knifeback and brings it forward quickly, slicing into Stu. Bestumbles to his knees, WINCING inpain.

STU
Jesus•••

Sidney SCREAMS•••as bloodgushes•• realblood, a dark,deep red. Stu inspectsthe wound to his side••• thenhesmiles •••

STU
Good one. My turn.

Be takes the knife fromBilly.

BILLY
Don't forget--stay tothe side and don't go too deep.

Stu stabs at Billy's.belly,puncturing him••• Billydoubles over•••

135

BILLY

Jesus•••fuck, thathurt.

SIDNEY
Stop itl
BILLY
(squelching thepain)
Got the ending figuredout yet? Times running out.
STU
Come on, Sid. Thinkabout it. Your Father is the chiefsuspect. We cloned his cellular. Theevidence is there.

Billy takes the knife andslashes at Stu's Hm, twoquick cuta••• hedoubles over •••

BILLY
What if your father snapped? Your mom's anniversary set him offand be went on a murder spree, killingeveryone•••
136

,

CONTINUEDi (8 )

STU
(in majorpain)
Except forme and Billy••• we wereleft for dead •••
BILLY
And then hekills you and then shoots himself in thehead. It's a perfect ending.
STU
Everyone diesbut us. we get to carry on and plan thesequel. Let's face it, these daya--yougotta have a sequel.

Stu takesthe knife and cuts at Billy.

SIDNEY
You sick fucks--you'veseen one too many movies.

Billy looksat her, bent over, crued.

BILLY
Oh Sid,don't blame the movies ••• Movies don• tcreatepsychos. Movies just make

~ .-:.

psychosmore creative.

r --

Stu staggersa bit.

STU
That's it, Billy. I can"t take any more. I'm feelingwoozy.
BILLY
Get the gun. I'll untie Pops.

Billy moves toSidney's father.

STU
Where'd you putit?

Stu is searchingthe foyer for the gun.

BILLY
It"s on the table.
STU
No, it's not.

Billy hobbles over. 'l'hegunis gone. ~ :-': r - '

CONTINUEDz (9)

/

BILLY

~ .. Where the fuckis it?

VOICE (off camera) Right here,asshole.

Billy andStu look up in unison to see•••

GALEWEATBERS--CORRESPONDENT FROM INSIDESTORY

standing inthe front door way, gun inhand. Her body, tattered and bloody. Ber hair a mess.

BILLY
I thought shewas dead.
STU
She lookeddead. Still does.

Gale holdsthe gun firm, in total control.

GALE
I've got an endingfor you. The reporter left for deadin the newsvan comes to, stumbles upon youtwo dipshits, findsthe gun, fumblesyour plan, and saves the day.

Sidney stepsforward.

SIDNEY
I like thatending.

Billy lungesat Gale, but she holds steady. Billy and Stu eye eachother.

BILLY
She can't getboth of us.
STU
Odds are--she'llmiss anyway.

In a madrush, they storm ·Gale,heading straightat her. She pulls thetrigger, but nothing happens••• thesafetyis on.

Billy charges forward,grabbing hold of thefront door, SLAMMING IT SHUT. It catches Gale inthe face, knocking her backwards outthe door. She goes down••• out.

(: ~·:

CONTINUED: ( 1O)

,· STU

Coolmove.

Billy stepsout the front door andretrieves the gun from whereGale lays. Then he turns backinside the house to find •••

SIDNEYGONE.

BILLY
Where'dshe go?

Stu looksaround, staggering now, bleedingheavily••• Sidney hascompletely disappeared. only herfather, bound and gaggedremains in the living roam.

STO
I don•tknow Billy but I •mhurtin• •
BILLY
Where thefuck did she go?

Suddenly,the phone RINGS. Billy andStu look at each other. Completelysurprised. Billy scramblesover to the phone.

BILLY

I

(pickingup phone) Bello?

r

SIDNEY
(fromphone)
Are you alonein the house?

Billylooks to Mr. Prescott. Thecellular phone is gone.

BILLY
You bitch--wherethe fuck areyou?
SIDNEY
Not sofast. We"re gonna play alittle game. It'a called GUESS WHOJUST CALLED 'l'BEPOLICEANDREPORTED YOUR SORRY MOTHERFUCKINGASS?

Billy looksaround the living room.

BILLY
Findher.

Billyia fuming now•••slightly ataggering•••andstarting to lose it. Be SCREAMS at Stu who hasfallen to his knees.

(CONTINtJEO)

CONTINUED:(11)

~''. BILLY \ .

FINDHER YOU DIPSHIT!

STU
Ican't ••• I'mbadoff, Billy. You cut too deep.

Billy throws the phone at Stu. He mouths to him, so Sid can't hear. -Talk to her•••- Then Billy takes off for the kitchen. Stu takes the phone.

SIDNEY · (aware) so Stu, what's your motive? Billy's got one. The police are on theirway. What are you going to tell them?

STU
Peer pressure••• I'm waytoosensitive.

Billy flies back in the room,grabbing the phone from Stu. Be's completely nuts now, staggering,bleeding, totally insane.

BILLY
(SCREAMINGin phone)
I'm gonna rip you up bitch. Just like your slut whore mother.
SIDNEY
Gotta find me first, youpansy-assed Kama's boy.

Billy starts ripping the roomup, overturning furniture ina mad fit of rage••• whenhe noticesthe hall closet. Touchel Be smiles deliriously, heading forit, ripping it open as•••

A GHOST MASKED FIGURE strikes fromwithin, with an umbrella, the sharp end hitting him in thechest as it fans out. Billy stumbles back, stunned, as theGHOST comes at him again••• the umbrella lodges in his chest,and he goes down.

Sidney rips the GHOST MASR offher head. She looks at Billy, disgusted, throwing the mask on Billy'anow still body. A movement behind her sends herreeling around to find•••

RANDY slowly sitting up. Biabody drenched in blood. Be's alive •••barely. Be looksto Sidney•••through pain...

RANDY
You know what I hate mostabout horror

/'~:-·. movies? The final scene••• itjustgoes ~\ ::, ;•· on and on ••• anditgets so stupid•••

CONTINUEDi (12 )

Randy manages to standwhen a FIGURE COMESLEAPING at him, completely unexpected••• it'sStu •••barrelingintohim.e.they fall back into theliving room. Sidney grabsthe gun next to Billy and turnsto the living room to find •••

Randy and Sturolling across the floor in adead lock, fighting, both seriouslyirijured••• sidtriesto findaim when a •••

BAND GRABS BOLD ofSidney's ankle, toppling herto the floor••• onceagainshe finds Billy on topof her •••

IN THE LIVING ROOM

Randy and Stupound at each other, beatingand clawing•••

ON SIDNEYas she fights.viciously, attackingwith everything she's got •••

Randy is desperatelytrying to pry away from Stu ••• hegrabs hold of the televisionset and tries to pullhimself off the floor out ofStu's clutch•••

Bis hands findthe top of the 'l!Y•••theVCR••• heyankson it, gripping it withhis hands, bringing it aroundwith force-- CRASHING the VCR intoStu•s head. Stu drops.

ON SIDNEY as shedigs her hand into Billy'sopen chest wound. He CRIES OUTBLOODY MURDER. Her other handbrings the gun up to his face••• buthe headbunts it out the front door ••• suddenlya flashofsilver appears aboveSidney.

Billy has graspedthe butcher knife••• he risesithigh above Sidney ready to strike•••whena bullet RIPSTHROUGH THE FOYER striking Billy knockinghim back into the livingroom.

Sidney looks up tosee •••

GALE WEA'?HERS,holdingthe gun in a death gripas smoke rises above the gun's chamber.

Sidney sits up asGale moves to her, helpingher. Their eyes meet. A lifetruce.

137

INT. LIVING ROOM- CONTINUOUS

Billy and Stu lay faceup, head to head. Sidand Gale move over them, staringdown. Randy joins them.

RANDY
Sid, you foundme out ••• I'mavirgin. And pretty happyabout it right now.

~. Sidney nudges their bodies. They both stir. r :.

RANDY
Careful. This is themoment when you think the killer"s dead,but then he springs back to ~ife forone last scare.

Sidney grabs the gun fromGale.

SIDNEY
Not this time.

She positions her foot on Stu'schest and aims.

SIDNEY
This is for my Mom, asshole.

She SHOO'l'Shimin the forehead,a clean and perfect shot. Then she aims the barrelat Billy who"s eyes suddenly open, blinking up at her, bloodbubbling frem his lips. He's not yet dead. Their eyes lock.

SIDNEY
And this Billy stud-bucketis for having an incredibly smallweenie.

She FIRES another perfect shot. They're both goners.

Sidney drops the smoking gun,standing silent over the bodies. A quiet momentwhen suddenly•••

A FIGURE LUNGES AT THEM

Both Sid and Gale and RandySCREAM in·epic, final scare proportions as Mr. Prescottleaps forward, still bound and gagged.

Sid catches her breath,relaxing.

SIDNEY
Oh Daddy •••

She rushes to him, untyinghim ••• whileGalemoves to the bookcase and retrieves thehidden camera.

GALE
I wanna close-up.

Randy appears by Sidney's side,helping her untie her father.

ll~.

CONTINUED: ( 2 )

RANDY
I know thisis probably aninappropriate moment, but you think you'dwant to maybe go outwith me aometime••• likeona date?

Sidneylooks at him, dumbfounded.

_,.. RANDY Maybe catch a movie?

A long moment as Sidney's face goesfram disbelief to resignationto the slight tra _ceofasmile.

SIDNEY
Only ifit's a nice Meg Ryan movie.
RANDY
You gotit.

Besmiles at her ••• watchingasSidneygrabs hold of her father,holding him tight as GaleWeathers, with camera in hand,gets one hell of an endingto this SCARY MOVIE.

_.,•:. · . ~- ---