FADE IN

ON A RINGING TELEPHONE.

A hand reaches for it, bringing the receiver up to the face of CASEY BECKER, a young girl, no more than sixteen.  A friendly face with innocent eyes.

 			CASEY
 	Hello.

 			MAN'S VOICE
 		(from phone)
 	Hello.

Silence.

 			CASEY
 	Yes.

 			MAN
 	Who is this?

 			CASEY
 	Who are you trying to reach?

 			MAN
 	What number is this?

 			CASEY
 	What number are you trying to reach?

 			MAN
 	I don't know.

 			CASEY
 	I think you have the wrong number.

 			MAN
 	Do I?

 			CASEY
 	It happens. Take it easy.

CLICK! She hangs up the phone.  The CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal Casey in a living room, alone.  She moves from the living room to the kitchen.  It's a nice house.  Affluent.

The phone RINGS again.

INT.  KITCHEN

Casey grabs the portable.

 			CASEY
 	Hello.

 			MAN
 	I'm sorry. I guess I dialed the wrong number.

 			CASEY
 	So why did you dial it again?

 			MAN
 	To apologize.

 			CASEY
 	You're forgiven. Bye now.

 			MAN
 	Wait, wait, don't hang up.

Casey stands in front of a sliding glass door.  It's pitch black outside.

 			CASEY
 	What?

 			MAN
 	I want to talk to you for a second.

 			CASEY
 	They've got 900 numbers for that. Seeya.

CLICK!  Casey hangs up.  A grin on her face.

EXT.  CASEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING

A big country home with a huge sprawling lawn full of big oak trees.  It sits alone with no neighbors in sight.

The phone RINGS again.

INT.  KITCHEN

Popcorn sizzles in a pot on the stove.  Casey covers it with a lid, reaching for the portable phone.

 			CASEY
 	Hello.

 			MAN
 	Why don't you want to talk to me?

 			CASEY
 	Who is this?

 			MAN
 	You tell me your name, I'll tell you mine.

 			CASEY
 		(shaking the popcorn)
 	I don't think so.

 			MAN
 	What's that noise?

Casey smiles, playing along, innocently.

 			CASEY
 	Popcorn.

 			MAN
 	You're making popcorn?

 			CASEY
 	Uh-huh.

 			MAN
 	I only eat popcorn at the movies.

 			CASEY
 	I'm getting ready to watch a video.

 			MAN
 	Really? What?

 			CASEY
 	Just some scary movie.

 			MAN
 	Do you like scary movies?

 			CASEY
 	Uh-huh.

 			MAN
 	What's your favorite scary movie?

He's flirting with her.  Casey moves away from the stove and takes a seat at the kitchen counter, directly in front of the glass door.

 			CASEY
 	I don't know.

 			MAN
 	You have to have a favorite.

Casey thinks for second.

 			CASEY
 	Uh...HALLOWEEN. You know, the one with the 
 	guy with the white mask who just sorta walks around
 	and stalks the baby sitters. What's yours?

 			MAN
 	Guess.

 			CASEY
 	Uh...NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

 			MAN
 	Is that the one where the guy had knives 
 	for fingers?

 			CASEY
 	Yeah...Freddy Krueger.

 			MAN
 	Freddy-that's right. I liked that movie.
 	It was scary.

 			CASEY
 	The first one was, but the rest sucked.

 			MAN
 	So, you gotta boyfriend?

 			CASEY
 		(giggling)
 	Why? You wanna ask me out?

 			MAN
 	Maybe. Do you have a boyfriend?

 			CASEY
 	No.

 			MAN
 	You never told me your name.

Casey smiles, twirling her hair.

 			CASEY
 	Why do you want to know my name?

 			MAN
 	Because I want to know who I'm looking
 	at.

Casey spins around like lightning facing the glass door.

 			CASEY
 	What did you say?

 			MAN
 	I want to now who I'm talking to.

 			CASEY
 	That's not what you said.

 			MAN
 	What do you think I said?

Casey CLICKS on the outside light.  A flood light illuminates the backyard.  Her eyes survey the grounds.  But it's empty.  No one's there.  She turns the light out.

On the stove, the popcorn POPS.

 			CASEY
 	I have to go now.

 			MAN
 	Wait...I thought we were gonna go out.

 			CASEY
 	Nah, I don't think so...

 			MAN
 	Don't hang up on me.

 			CASEY
 	Gotta go.

 			MAN
 	Don't...

CLICK!  Casey hangs up.  She checks the glass door making sure it's locked and then moves to the stove as...

THE PHONE RINGS.

She slides the popcorn from the stove, reaching for the phone.

 			CASEY
 	Yes?

 			MAN
 	I told you not to hang up on me.

 			CASEY
 	What do you want?

 			MAN
 	To talk.

 			CASEY
 	Dial someone else, okay?

 			MAN
 	You getting scared?

 			CASEY
 	No-bored.

CLICK.  She hangs up.  The phone RINGS again.  She grabs it.

 			CASEY
 	Listen, asshole...

 			MAN
 		(deadly serious)
 	NO, YOU LISTEN, YOU LITTLE BITCH. IF YOU
 	HANG UP ON ME AGAIN I'LL GUT YOU LIKE
 	A FISH. UNDERSTAND?

Total silence.  He has gotten her full attention.

 			CASEY
 	Is this some kind of a joke?

 			MAN
 	More of a game, really.

Casey eyes the glass doors, then looks up the hallway to the front doors...moving to it.  It's unlocked.  She bolts it.

 			CASEY
 	I'm two seconds from calling the police.

 			MAN
 	They'd never make it in time.

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

ANGLE THROUGH PEEPHOLE.

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

 			CASEY
 	What do you want?

 			MAN
 		(pure evil)
 	TO SEE WHAT YOUR INSIDES LOOK LIKE.

Casey's jaw drops as total fear storms her face.  She hangs up the phone, throwing it down on a side table when...

THE DOORBELL CHIMES.

Casey leaps out of her skin.  She turns to the door as it chimes again.

 			CASEY
 		(calling out)
 	Who's there?

Another CHIME.  She moves to 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 it up...

IT RINGS.

Casey almost drops it, losing her breath...

She brings it to her ear with trembling hands, saying nothing...listening, waiting...

A long silence.  And then.

 			MAN
 	You should never say "Who's there?".
 	Don't you watch scary movies? It's a
 	death wish.

Casey clutches the wall, nearly collapsing.  She tries her damndest to hang tough.

 			CASEY
 	Look, enough is enough. You had your fun
 	now you better leave me alone or else.

 			MAN
 	Or else what?

CLOSE ON her face, her mind thinking, calculating...

 			CASEY
 	My boyfriend will be here any second and
 	he'll be pissed when I tell him...

 			MAN
 	I thought you didn't have a boyfriend.

Busted.  She holds steady.

 			CASEY
 	I lied. I do have a boyfriend and he'll 
 	be here any second and your ass better
 	be gone.

 			MAN
 	Sure...

 			CASEY
 	I swear it. And he's big and plays 
 	football and will beat the shit out
 	of you.

 			MAN
 	I'm getting scared.

 			CASEY
 	I'm telling you the truth.
 	I lied before...

 			MAN
 	I believe you...

 			CASEY
 	So you better leave.

 			MAN
 	His name wouldn't be Steve, would it?

Silence.  Casey buckles at the knees, losing it.

 			CASEY
 	How do you know his name?

 			MAN
 	Go to the back door and turn on the porch 
 	light--again.

Casey, terrified, forces herself to move.. staggering to the kitchen...to the glass doors.  Her shaky hand finds the light switch...she hits it.  The back yard is lit.

Sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of the backyard is a big, line backer of a guy, her boyfriend...

STEVE

tied and gagged.  He's been roughed up, but he's alive.
CLOSE ON his eyes..wide in fear..staring at his girlfriend, pleading with her.

 			CASEY
 	Oh Goddddd...

Casey SCREAMS.  Her hand moves to the lock on the door.

 			MAN
 	I wouldn't do that if I were you.

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

 			CASEY
 	Where are you?

 			MAN
 	Guess.

Her eyes search the yard, combing bushes, trees.  He 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, streaming down Casey's face.

 			MAN
 	I wanna play a game.

 			CASEY
 	No...

 			MAN
 	Then he dies. Right now.

 			CASEY
 	NOOO!

 			MAN
 	Which is it?

A long silence.  Casey touches the glass...staring at STEVE...this big jock of a guy is crying too.

 			CASEY
 	What kind of game?

 			MAN
 	Turn off the light.

Her hand goes to the switch...Steve tugs and pulls at his straps...as if begging her...his face sweat and tears...

CLICK

He disappears in the darkness.  Casey moves away from the glass, back toward the living room, unbelieving, horrified.

 			MAN
 	Here's how we play. I ask a question. If
 	you get it right-Steve lives.

Three curtainless windows line one wall.  Casey crouches down behind the couch, tipping a lamp cord from it's socket, darkening the room.  Her body quivers.

 			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...

 			MAN
 	I'll even give you a warm up question.

 			CASEY
 	Don't do this. I can't..

 			MAN
 	Name the killer in HALLOWEEN.

 			CASEY
 	No...

 			MAN
 	Come on. It's you favorite scary movie,
 	remember? He had a white mask, he
 	stalked the baby-sitters.

Casey goes silent...a nervous 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 reached hysteria, petrified beyond all reality.

 			MAN
 	Steve's counting on you.

Suddenly...through tears...Godsent...

 			CASEY
 		(a whisper)
 	Michael...Michael Myers.

 			MAN
 	YES!

Casey SIGHS...relieved.

 			MAN
 	Now for the real question.

 			CASEY
 	NOOOO....

 			MAN
 	But you're doing so well.

 			CASEY
 	Please go away! Leave us alone!

 			MAN
 	Then answer the question. Same category.

Casey is a blubbering, wet mass on the floor.

 			CASEY
 	..please..no...

 			MAN
 	Name the killer in FRIDAY THE 13TH.

A mad smile purses Casey's lips.  She knows this.  She leaps up, through tears, screaming...

 			CASEY
 	Jason! Jason!...JASON!

A slight PAUSE.

 			MAN
 	I'm sorry. That's the wrong answer.

 			CASEY
 	No it's not. It was Jason.

 			MAN
 	Afraid not.

 			CASEY
 	It was Jason. I saw that godamned movie
 	twenty times. It was Jason.

 			MAN
 	Then you should know Jason's MOTHER
 	-Mrs.Vorhees was the original killer. Jason
 	didn't show up until the sequel.

Casey is stupefied.

 			CASEY
 	You tricked me...

 			MAN
 	Lucky, for you there's a bonus round.
 	But poor Steve...I'm afraid...he's out.

This implication sends Casey running to the kitchen...to the glass doors.  She flips on the porch lights to see...

STEVE

eyes wide, sitting in the lawn chair...his belly gaping open...a mass of blood and ripped flesh...his insides lay on the ground between his feet...steam rising.

A SCREAM erupts from the bottom of her soul as Casey collapse on the floor...nearly passing out.  CLOSE ON her face...pale and ghostly white.  She SOBS.

 			MAN
 	Final question. Are you ready?

She doesn't answer.  A long, maddening silence.  Casey reaches up and CLICKS off the light, making Steve go away...wishing, hoping...

 			CASEY
 	..leave me alone..please...

 			MAN
 	Answer the question and I will.

Casey is curled up on the floor like an infant, rocking slowly back and forth.

 			MAN
 	What door am I at?

 			CASEY
 	What?

 			MAN
 	There are two doors to your house. A
 	front door and a back one. If you answer
 	correctly-you live.

From where Casey sits she can see both front and back doors.  She deliberates...with her last bit of strength she tries to strategize.  Eyeing both, the front door...the back door trying to decide between the two.

 			CASEY
 	Don't make me...I can't...I won't.

 			MAN
 	Your call.

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

Casey looks around her...she looks down the hall to the front door...then turns back to the kitchen glass door as it suddenly...

SHATTERS TO BITS...

as a lawn chair come flying through it.  Exploding glass sprays everywhere.

This incites Casey like fire.  She springs to her feet...bolting out of the kitchen as a SHADOW moves quickly through the shattered doorframe.

ANGLE ON CASEY

Somewhere in the house, back flat against a window, listening to FEET ON CRACKING GLASS.  She turns and unlocks the latch, quietly sliding it up. She can hear him move through the foyer...to the front door.

Casey lifts herself up and puts her legs through the window.  She holds the knife in one hand, the phone in the other.

Casey eases out the window, fumbling, dropping the knife back in the house.  She starts to reach for it.  Fuck it, she takes off...

EXT.  SIDE OF HOUSE

Casey it at the back corner of the house.

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

Casey eases along a narrow path between a tall fence and the side of the house...going for the front yard.  She must pass the three curtainless windows.  She gets to the first one and peeks in...

The FIGURE has pulled open the foyer closet, searching for her.

Casey creeps along, to the next window, she looks in...the FIGURE is completely on the other side of the room moving toward the hall that leads to other parts of the house.

She moves further along the house...squeezing by hedges...to the third window...she peeks in to the FIGURE...

STARING BACK AT HER...

His face covered with a ghostly white mask, inches from her...his eyes piercing through...soulless...Casey SCREAMS BLOODY MURDER as a hand...

CRASHES through the glass window grabbing hold of her neck...she beats at him trying to free herself...her nails dig into his arm...she wrenches from side to side...finally breaking free as the hands disappear inside the house...

EXT.  CORNER OF HOUSE

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

HEADLIGHTS APPEAR

in the distance, coming down the road towards the house...she recognizes them instantly.  Mom...Dad...she tears off across the yard toward them...moving like lightning...

The car turns into the driveway...Casey SCREAMS, waving madly, rushing by a tree as...

THE GHOST MASKED FIGURE APPEARS

Casey stumbles back, catching her balance...the FIGURE moves on her, arm poised high...a flash of silver...and Casey is struck, across the chest.  She looks down to see her shirt blossoming red...a look of bewilderment as she drops to one knee.

The knife rises again...Casey throws her hand forward...the blade comes down...but it's blocked by the portable phone still in her hand.  She turns staggering to...

EXT.  DRIVEWAY

A MIDDLE-AGED COUPLE emerge from the parked car.  They move to the front door completely unaware of what's happening to their daughter, only feet from them.

EXT.  FRONT YARD

Casey stumbles forward...her parents ten feet away...she opens her mouth to scream but no sound resonates...she is beyond words...staggering, swaying...the FIGURE moving behind her.

EXT.  FRONT DOOR

Her parents approach the door

 			FATHER
 	That fish smelled strong.

 			MOTHER
 	I told you to send it back.

The father discovers the front door ajar.  A puzzled look.  Casey is right behind them with one arm outstretched.  If they'd only turn around...

They enter the house and close the door as....

Casey collapses on the ground, clutching her bloody chest...the FIGURE upon her.

INT.  FOYER

The father sees straight back into the kitchen...the shattered patio door.

 			FATHER
 	Jesus...

 			MOTHER
 	What is it? Where's Casey?

 			FATHER
 		(calling out)
 	Casey? Casey?

In a split second they're both panic stricken.  The father begins searching the house frantically.  The mother is hysterical.

EXT.  FRONT YARD

CLOSE ON Casey...she's dragged by her feet through damp soil...the life going fast from her body...her hand still clutching the phone.

INT.  FOYER

Back in the house.

 			MOTHER
 	Where is she?

 			FATHER
 	Call the police.

The mother moves  to the phone in the foyer, picks it up...There is no dial tone.  She jiggles the base.

 			FATHER
 		(searching)
 	Casey? Where are you honey? Call the
 	police, goddammit.

 			MOTHER
 	The phone's dead.

The...the softest...faintest voice is heard...

 			CASEY
 		(from phone)
 	..help me...

 			MOTHER
 	She's here, God, I can hear her.
 	Where's my baby?

The husband returns to the foyer finding his wife clinging to the phone.

 			FATHER
 	Where is she?

 			MOTHER
 	I can hear her. Oh Mother of God,
 	I can hear her.

The father upturns the living room.

 			FATHER
 	Casey! Casey!

 			MOTHER
 	Not my daughter...not my...

The husband grabs hold of his wife.

 			FATHER
 	Get in the car and drive down to 
 	the Mackenzie's.

The other throws the front door open and rushes out...the father moves through the house when a SCREAM echoes out.  That of his wife.  He tears off for the front door.

EXT.  FRONT DOOR

The father rushes out the door to find his wife, on her knees, bent over, retching.  His eyes move beyond to a tree in the front yard...his stomach fails him...his dinner rises...as he bares witness to the single, most horrifying sight he'll ever see.

That of his only daughter as she hangs from a big oak tree...strung up...very much dead...her stomach ripped open.

BLACKOUT!

BEGIN MAIN TITLES

FADE IN:

INT.  BEDROOM - SAME NIGHT

A teenage girl's room.  Neat and pinkish.  On the bed, amongst age-old stuffed animals lie opened school books. The CAMERA PANS to a desk against 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's comfortable in a plain, flannel nightgown.

Her hands are at work, typing feverishly, when suddenly...

CRASH-BOOM

A noise behind her.  She turns abruptly, eyeing an open window across the room. A SCRATCHING sound.  She stands and moves toward it.

EXT.  WINDOW

Sidney sticks her head out the window.  The late night wind hits her face as a SHADOW appears just to the left of her, a hand reaches out, grabs her and suddenly a FIGURE is on top of her...

INT.  BEDROOM

Sid SCREAMS...pulling away from the figure...breaking free, falling back onto the floor.

 			VOICE
 		(o.c.)
 	Hey...it's just me.

Sid looks up to see...

BILLY LOOMIS

A young, strapping boy of seventeen.  Handsome and alluring.  A star quarterback/ class president type of guy.  He sports a smile that could last for days.

 			SIDNEY
 	Billy? What the...

 			BILLY
 	I'm sorry. Don't hate me.

 			SIDNEY
 	What are you doing here?

 			BILLY
 	You sleep in THAT?

Billy pulls himself through the window.

 			SIDNEY
 		(whispering)
 	My dad's in the other room.

 			BILLY
 	I'll only stay a sec.

Suddenly...

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

 			VOICE
 		(from behind door)
 	What's going on in there?

Billy quickly rolls out of sight behind the bed.  Sidney unjams the door to reveal...

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

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	Are you okay?

 			SIDNEY
 	Can you knock?

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	I heard screaming.

 			SIDNEY
 	No you didn't.

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	No? Oh, well...I'm hitting the sack. My
 	flight leaves first thing in the morning.
 	Now the expo runs all weekend so I 
 	won't be back til Sunday. There's cash 
 	on the table and I'll be staying at the
 	Raleigh Hilton...

 			SIDNEY
 	..out at the airport...

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	..so call if you need me.

 			SIDNEY
 	Got it.

He gives the bedroom a quick once over.

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	I coulda swore I heard screaming.

Sidney distracts him, giving him a peck on the cheek.

 			SIDNEY
 	Have a good trip.

 			MR. PRESCOTT
 	Sleep tight, sweetie.

He gives her a wink and pulls the door closed.  Billy reappears.

 			BILLY
 	Close call.

 			SIDNEY
 	What are you doing here?

Billy takes a flying leap and lands on the bed.

 			BILLY
 	It just occurred to me that I've never
 	snuck through your bedroom window.

 			SIDNEY
 	Now that it's out of your system.

 			BILLY
 	And I was home, bored, watching
 	television, THE EXORCIST was on 
 	and it got me thinking of you.

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh it did?

 			BILLY
 	Yeah, it was edited for TV. All the good
 	stuff was cut out and I started thinking
 	about us and how two years ago, we started
 	off kinda hot and heavy, a nice solid "R"
 	rating on our way to an NC17. And how
 	things have changed and, lately, we're just
 	sot of...edited for television.

 			SIDNEY
 	So you thought you could sneak in my
 	window and we would  have little bump-
 	bump.

 			BILLY
 	No, no. I wouldn't dream of breaking your 
 	underwear rule. I just thought we might do
 	some on top of the clothes stuff.

She snuggles up next to him, planting a kiss on his lips. Passionate and gentle.  He, however, reacts like a shark, moving on top of her, his hands everywhere as he presses into her...Sidney breaks away.

 			SIDNEY
 	Time to go, stud bucket.

Billy sits up.  His heart isn't racing...it's POUNDING.

 			BILLY
 	See what you do to me.

Sweat has popped out all over his forehead, his breathing heavy.

 			SIDNEY
 	You know what my dad will do to you?

 			BILLY
 	I'm going...I'm going.

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

 			SIDNEY
 	I appreciate the romantic gesture.

She gives him a kiss goodnight.  Sweet and simple.

 			BILLY
 		(whisper)
 	Hey..about the sex stuff. I'm not trying
 	to rush you. I was only half serious.

She kisses him again as he eases through the window.

 			SIDNEY
 	Would you settle for a PG-13
 	relationship?

 			BILLY
 	What's that?

She pulls her flannel gown open for a split second...flashing her left breast.  His mouth drops open...surprise, shock.  Their eyes meet.  They share a smile.

 			SIDNEY
 	Get outa here.

INT.  SIDNEY'S BEDROOM - EARLY MORNING

CLOSE on Sidney snuggling her pillow, sleeping peacefully when...

THE RADIO ALARM BLASTS from the night table loud enough to wake the dead.  Sidney bolts up.

 			DISC JOCKEY
 		(from radio)
 	..found brutally murdered...

CLICK.  Sidney, quick with the reflexes, shuts it off instantly.  A car trunk SLAMS shut outside.

Sidney pulls herself out of bed and leans to the window just in time to see her Dad jumping in his car.  She half waves down at him but he doesn't see her.  He's as good as gone, pulling out of the driveway and disappearing down the road.

A moment as Sidney stands at the window, staring out after him.

EXT.  SCHOOL - MORNING

CLOSE ON A SIGN

"BAYBORO HIGH SCHOOL.  HOME OF THE FIGHTING BULLDOGS"

THE CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL a picture perfect small town school.  Old and charming.  Students come and go, moving about.  Nothing unusual, except for the...

six police cars, four news vans, flashing cameras, and crowds and crowds of lookie-loo's gathered just off campus.

EXT.  SIDEWALK

Sidney approaches the school seeing the commotion.  Four different REPORTERS stand in front of four different cameras giving four different news reports.

She moves passed a policeman standing guard.  Her interest peaked, she stops at the first reporter who is...

GALE WEATHERS

Thirties.  He smart face is overshadowed by a flashy smile and a massive mane of chemically enhanced hair.

 			GALE
 		(for the camera)
 	The small town of Bayboro, North Carolina
 	was devastated last night when two young
 	teenagers were found brutally butchered.
 	Authorities have yet to issue a statement
 	but our sources tell us that no arrest
 	has been made and the murderer could 
 	strike again...

ON SIDNEY.  Moved, disturbed.  From behind, a finger taps her shoulder.  She spins around to see...

Tatum Riley, same age, feisty, carefree.

 			TATUM
 	Do you believe this shit?

 			SIDNEY
 	What happened?

They break away from the crowd and head for school.

 			TATUM
 	Oh God! You don't know? Casey Becker
 	and Steve Forrest were killed last night.

 			SIDNEY
 	No way.

 			TATUM
 	And not just killed, Sid. We're talking
 	splatter movie killed-split open end to
 	end.

 			SIDNEY
 	Casey Becker? She sits next to me in
 	English.

 			TATUM
 	Not anymore. Her parents found her
 	hanging from a tree. Her insides on the
 	outside.

 			SIDNEY
 	Do they know who did it?

 			TATUM
 	Fucking clueless-they're interrogating
 	the entire school. Teachers, students,
 	staff, janitors...

 			SIDNEY
 	They think it's school-related?

 			TATUM
 	They don't know. Dewey said this is
 	the worst crime they've ever seen. 
 	Even worse than...
 		(stopping herself)
 	Well it's bad. They're bringing in the 
 	feds. This is big.

Sidney looks back at Gale, her face deeply pained.

INT.  CLASSROOM - LATER

A frumpy old woman, MRS. TATE, faces her class.  Her hands clasped together.  A tragic look upon her face.

 			MRS. TATE
 	..a terrible tragedy. An unbearable
 	loss. It's days like today we need 
 	prayer in school...

Sidney sits near the rear of the room.  The desk in front of her sits vacant.  Sidney can't take her eyes of it.

The door opens and a student opens with a slip of paper.  He hand s it to Mrs. Tate.

 			MRS. TATE
 	Sidney. It appears to be your turn.

INT.  PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

The room is at capacity...wall to wall with police, and the likes.  Some sit, stand, lean...

SHERIFF BURKE, a round man in his fifties, wipes the stress from his face.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Who's up next?

A young officer looks at the clipboard.  This is DEPUTY RILEY, better known as DEWEY.  He's a big guy, 20's, handsome in a scrubbed-clean boyish way.

 			DEWEY
 	Sidney Prescott.

Sheriff Burke gestures to bring her in.  PRINCIPAL HIMBRY, 50's, an old codger of a man wearing a sour face speaks up.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Sidney Prescott. She was daughter of...

 			DEWEY
 	We all know Sidney, Mr. Himbry.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	How she doin'?

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	She's adjusted well. Maintains an "A"
 	average. You never know she...

Himbry stops short, seeing Sidney in the doorway.  He rises and seats her.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Hi Sidney.

 			SIDNEY
 	Sheriff Burke. Dewey.

Dewey shakes his head seriously.

 			DEWEY
 	It's Deputy Riley today, Sid.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	How is everything?

 			SIDNEY
 	Good.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	And your Dad? How's he doing?

 			SIDNEY
 	We're fine. Thanks.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	We'll be brief, Sidney. The police have a
 	few questions they'd like to ask you...

Sidney eyes them all nervously.

EXT.  SCHOOL COURTYARD - LATER

Students sit at outdoor tables eating lunch.  Crowded at one table is the "gang".  This consists of Sidney, Billy and Tatum.

Next to Tatum, sits her boyfriend STUART, with his arm draped across her back.  He's a Billy wannabe.  Almost the jock, almost handsome, almost cool.  He tries way to hard.

Across the table is the fifth wheel, RANDY.  A tall and gangly kid with no such Billy-like aspirations.  A witty jokester who elevates geek to coolness.

 			TATUM
 	Hunt? Why would they ask if you like
 	to hunt?

 			STU
 	I don't know, they just did.

 			RANDY
 	Because their bodies were gutted.

Sidney flinches.

 			BILLY
 	Thanks Randy.

 			TATUM
 	They didn't ask me if I like to hunt.

 			STU
 	Because there's no way a girl could have
 	killed them.

 			TATUM
 	That is so sexist. The killer could
 	easily be female-BASIC INSTINCT.

 			RANDY
 	That was an ice pick-not exactly the
 	same.

 			STU
 	Yeah, Casey and Steve were completely
 	hollowed out. Takes a man to do
 	something like that.

 			TATUM
 	Or a man's mentality.

 			SIDNEY
 		(quiet, almost to herself)
 	How do you gut someone?

All eyes turn to Sidney.  A serious silence.  And then:

 			STU
 	You take a knife and slit from the groin
 	to the sternum.

Sidney shivers down to her soul.  The whole table rolls their eyes at Stu.

 			STU
 	What? She asked.

 			BILLY
 	It's called tact, you fuckrag.

 			STU
 	Sorry.

 			RANDY
 	Remember in JAWS when they caught the 
 	wrong shark at first and Richard Dreyfuss
 	cut it open to look foe body parts and all
 	they found was a licence plate and all this
 	white milky goo.

Stu leans over and socks Randy in the arm.

 			STU
 	You heard Billy-shut the fuck up.

 			SIDNEY
 	Hey, Stu? Didn't you use to date Casey?

Stu's taken back, a little off guard.

 			STU
 	For about two seconds.

 			RANDY
 	Before she dumped him foe Steve.

Tatum turns to Stu, surprised.

 			TATUM
 	I thought you dumped her for me.

 			STU
 	I did. He's full of shit.

 			RANDY
 	And are the police aware you dated the 
 	victim?

 			STU
 		(offended)
 	What are you saying? That I killed 
 	her or something?

 			RANDY
 	It would certainly improve your high
 	school Q.

 			TATUM
 	Stu was with me last night.

 			RANDY
 	Oooooh...before or after he sliced and
 	diced.

 			TATUM
 	Fuck you, nut case. Where were you last
 	night?

 			RANDY
 	Working, thank you.

 			TATUM
 	I thought Blockbuster fired you.

 			RANDY
 	Twice.

 			STU
 	I didn't kill anybody.

 			BILLY
 	No one's saying you did.

 			RANDY
 	Besides-
 		(perfect Stu mimic)
 	"Takes a man to do something like that."

 			STU
 	I'm gonna gut your ass in a second.

 			RANDY
 		(to Stu)
 	Did you really put her liver in the
 	mailbox? I hear they found her liver
 	in the mailbox.

 			TATUM
 		(eyeing Sidney)
 	Randy, you goon-fuck, I'm eating here.

Stu nibbles at Tatum's neck.

 			STU
 	Yeah, Randy, she's getting mad. I think
 	you better liver alone.

Stu cracks up at his own joke.  The others just MOAN.  Sidney is about to crawl out of her skin, trying hard to ignore it all.

EXT.  SIDNEY'S HOUSE - LATER

A huge two story country home with a spacious lawn.

A yellow school bus stops in front of the house and Sidney steps off.

The house looks big and lonely as Sidney moves up the walk to the front door.

INT.  BEDROOM - LATER

Sidney is on the telephone.

 			SIDNEY
 		(into phone)
 	You sure I can stay over?  My dad won't
 	be back til Sunday.

 			TATUM
 		(through phone)
 	No prob. I'll pick you up after
 	practice.

 			SIDNEY
 	Tell your mom I said thanks.

 			TATUM
 	Yeah, yeah...are you okay?

 			SIDNEY
 	Uh-huh, it's just...you know, the police
 	and reporters...it brings it all back.

 			TATUM
 	I'll be there by seven. I promise

 			SIDNEY
 	Thanks, Tatum.

 			TATUM
 	Later.

Sidney hangs up.  She takes a seat at her computer and boots it up.  She sits in front of it staring at the blue screen...her own reflection staring back.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - LATER

Sidney comes down the stairs, her arms carrying a change of clothes, toothbrush, make-up...

She opens the hall closet and pulls a small overnight bag from the top shelf.  Moving into the living room she loads it up, plopping down on the sofa, hitting the TV remote.

CLOSE ON THE SCREEN

A news reporter fades in.

 			REPORTER #1
 		(on TV)
 	The entire nation was shocked today by
 	the teen murders in North Carolina...

Sidney switches channels.

 			REPORTER #2
 	The State Bureau of Investigation has
 	joined forces with local authorities to
 	help catch what the Governor has called
 	the most heinous...

The channel switches again.  Gale weathers appears, standing in front of the school.  Her white teeth gleaming.

 			GALE
 	This is not the first time the small town
 	of Bayboro has endured such tragedy. Only
 	a year ago, Maureen Prescott, wife and 
 	mother, was found raped and murdered...

An old black and white snapshot fills the screen-a woman, beautiful and familiar.

CLOSE ON SIDNEY

eyes frozen, mesmerized by the image.  Suddenly she CLICKS the TV off.  Her eyes go to the clock on the end table.  5:45 PM.  Her eyes then move to the framed photo next to it...the same black and white photo stares at her...a healthy, vibrant woman.  An older version of Sidney.

Sidney curls up on the sofa closing her eyes tight...

INT.  LIVING ROOM - LATER

The clock on the end table reads 7:15 PM.  Sidney is fast asleep on the couch.  The phone RINGS.  Sidney leaps up grabbing the portable phone.

 			TATUM
 		(from phone)
 	Practice ran late. I'm on my way.

 			SIDNEY
 		(eyes clock)
 	It's past seven.

 			TATUM
 	Don't worry. Casey and Steve didn't bite 
 	it til way after ten.

 			SIDNEY
 	I'm not worried.

 			TATUM
 	Good, 'cause I wanna swing by BLOCKBUSTER
 	and get us a video. I was thinkin' Tom Cruise in
 	ALL THE RIGHT MOVES. You know, if you
 	pause it just right you can see his penis.

 			SIDNEY
 	Whatever. Just hurry.

 			TATUM
 	Bye.

She hangs up the phone.  It immediately RINGS again.

 			SIDNEY
 		(into phone)
 	Tatum?

 			MAN'S VOICE
 		(from phone)
 	Hello, Sidney.

IT'S HIM.  THE VOICE FROM BEFORE.

 			SIDNEY
 	Hi. Who is this?

 			MAN
 	You tell me.

Sidney thinks, trying to place his voice.  It sounds a little distorted.

 			SIDNEY
 	I have no idea.

 			MAN
 	Scary night, isn't it? With the murders
 	and all, it's like right out of a horror
 	movie or something.

 			SIDNEY
 	Aha, Randy, you gave yourself away. Are
 	you calling from work? Tatum's on her
 	way over.

 			MAN
 	Do you like scary movies, Sidney?

 			SIDNEY
 	I like that thing you're doing with your
 	voice, Randy. It's sexy.

 			MAN
 	What's your favorite scary movie?

 			SIDNEY
 	Don't start. You know I don't watch that 
 	shit.

 			MAN
 	And why is that?

 			SIDNEY
 		(playing along)
 	Because they're all the same. It's
 	always some stupid killer stalking some 
 	big breasted girl-who can't act-who 
 	always runs up the stairs when she should 
 	be going out the front door. They're 
 	ridiculous.

A brief silence.

 			MAN
 	Are you alone in the house?

 			SIDNEY
 	That is so unoriginal. You disappoint me,
 	Randy.

 			MAN
 	Maybe that's because I'm not Randy.

 			SIDNEY
 	So who are you?

 			MAN
 	The question is not who am I. The
 	question is where am I?

 			SIDNEY
 	So where are you?

 			MAN
 	Your front porch.

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

 			SIDNEY
 	Why would you call me from my
 	front porch?

 			MAN
 	That's the original part.

ANGLE THROUGH WINDOW.  She can't quite see all of the porch.

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh yeah? Well I call your bluff.

Sidney goes to the front door.  She unlocks the bolt, unsnags the chain, and pulls the door open...revealing the front porch...

COMPLETELY EMPTY.

She steps out onto it, phone still in hand.  A single light shines overhead illuminating the porch, but little beyond.  Darkness is all around.

 			SIDNEY
 	So where are you?

 			MAN
 	Right here.

Sidney peers out into the darkness past thick shrubs that grow on either side of the porch.

 			SIDNEY
 	Can you see me right now?

 			MAN
 	Uh-huh.

 			SIDNEY
 	What am I doing?

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

 			SIDNEY
 	Good try, Randy. Tell Tatum to hurry.
 	Bye now.

 			MAN
 	If you hang up, you'll die just like your 
 	mother.

Sidney stops dead in her tracks, speechless.

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

His seriousness unnerves her.  Sid flies off the handle.

 			SIDNEY
 	FUCK YOU! YOU CRETIN!

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

A FIGURE COMES LEAPING OUT OF THE HALL CLOSET

rushing her, ramming into her side..the phone flies..the FIGURE is on top of her as she goes down...SCREAMING...

She looks up to see the FIGURE, darkly dressed with a pale, distorted face, white and ghostly...a mask.

Her instincts surface and she kicks up with her foot making the contact with his leg...he topples over...coming right at her, his hand finding her neck.  Suddenly, along, silver blade appears above her.

Sidney pulls, jerks, twists...finally she lifts her torso forward knocking the FIGURE off her...sending him reeling into the living room.  Wasting no time, Sidney leaps to her feet.

She moves to the front door, unlocks it...pulls it open...it catches on the chain.  Shit!  She pushes it closed again looking behind her..the FIGURE has risen, knife in hand.
Sidney pulls on the chain and then-inexplicably turns and...

RUNS UP THE STAIRS.  The FIGURE right behind her.

INT.  UPSTAIRS LANDING

The FIGURE leaps at Sidney taking hold of her foot, she grabs madly at the wall...her hands grasp a framed painting-a quiet country home, subdued colors, done in oils-she rips it from the wall swinging it behind her...

It catches the FIGURE head on, smashing against his skull, sending him backwards, tumbling down the stairs.  Sidney races to her bedroom...

INT.  BEDROOM

She locks the door shut, the pulls her closet door open, placing the edge right at the door knob just as...

THE FIGURE POUNDS AGAINST THE BEDROOM DOOR...

ramming it, it rips open, but the closet door catches it in a crazy vice-like hold.

Sidney grabs the desk phone.  It's dead...off the hook downstairs.

The figure rushes the door several times..the frame splinters..but won't give.

Sidney is at her computer, she punches at the keypad madly.

CLOSE ON SCREEN AS WORDS APPEAR.

 	FAX MODEM

 	9-1-1 SEND

The knife slashes through the crack in the door wildly.

ON SCREEN AGAIN

 	HELP KILLER

 	34 ELM ST

Sidney presses SEND when it occurs to her-all is quiet.  The FIGURE is gone.  A fearful silence.  She looks around...the only sound her own rapid, terrified BREATHING.

ON THE SCREEN

 	"Stay calm.  Police enroute."

Suddenly a NOISE at the window...Sidney looks up to see...

BILLY

her boyfriend, staring at her, surprised.

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh Billy...Please...God...

 			BILLY
 	I heard screaming. The door was locked.
 	Are you okay...

 			SIDNEY
 	He's here. He's trying to kill me...

Billy pulls himself through the window.  As he does, a small black object falls from his dark jeans.  It hits the floor as Sidney eyes it...a sleek, compact cellular phone.

Sidney stops in her tracks.  Their eyes meet...an eternity.  A SIREN is heard in the distance.  Sidney bolts...

 			BILLY
 	Hey...wait...what's goin..

Billy reaches for her.  Sidney unblocks the bedroom door and tears out of the room.

INT.  LANDING

Sidney nearly falls down the stairs...

INT.  FOYER

She rips the chain off the door, pulls it open, coming face to face with a white, ghostly mask.
A massive SCREAM erupts from her gut as...

THE CAMERA PULLS BACK

to find Dewey-Deputy Riley, holding it.  Red lights flash, sirens BLAST vas car after car surrounds the house.

Sidney falls into the safety of Dewey's arms.

EXT.  FRONT YARD - MINUTES LATER

The yard is a whirlwind of activity.  An ambulance, squad cars, cops everywhere...

CLOSE ON BILLY'S FACE

as it SMASHES against the hood of a police car.  His hands are being cuffed, his rights being read.

 			BILLY
 		(screaming)
 	I didn't do anything! Sid...where's Sid?
 	Ask her, she'll tell ya...

Dewey holds a car door open as Sheriff Burke steps out.

 			DEWEY
 	We got him, Sheriff. Billy Loomis.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Hank Loomis' kid? Aw..Jesus...

 			DEWEY
 	He's her boyfriend.

They approach Billy as he's being placed in a squad car.

 			BILLY
 	Sheriff...I didn't do it...please, call
 	my Dad..please...

The squad car disappears with Billy as another car comes to a stop in front of the house.  Tatum gets out, freaked beyond belief.

Back to the Sheriff and Dewey as they storm across the yard.

 			DEWEY
 	I was first to respond.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	What were you doing out here?

 			DEWEY
 	Drive by patrol.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	How is she?

 			DEWEY
 	She's tough.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Have to be. The shit she's gone through.

Across the yard sits Sidney, in the back of an ambulance as PARAMEDICS check her out.

Sheriff Burke and Riley approach.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	We're seeing a lot of you today.

She tries to smile but fails.

 			DEWEY
 	You gonna be able to come down to the
 	station and talk to us a bit?

 			SIDNEY
 	..yeah...

TATUM appears, barreling past an OFFICER.

 			TATUM
 	What happened? Oh God...

Tatum rushes to her, grabbing hold of her.

 			DEWEY
 		(to Tatum)
 	What are you doing here?

 			TATUM
 	Oh, God, Sid, I'm sorry I was late.

 			DEWEY
 	You can't be here, Tatum. This is an
 	official crime scene.

 			SIDNEY
 	It's okay. She was supposed to pick me 
 	up.

 			TATUM
 	Her dad's out of town. She's staying
 	with us.

 			DEWEY
 	Does mom know?

 			TATUM
 	Yes, you doofus.

Two news vans come driving up the street.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	The vultures are coming. Let's get you
 	out of here.

EXT.  STREET

A big, white news van comes to a stop in front of the house.  The side door slides open and Gale Weathers hops out just in time to see Sidney being escorted to a squad car.

 			GALE
 	I'll be damned.

Jumping from the driver's seat is KENNY, Gale's cameraman and flunky.  An earnest young chap on the chubby side.

 			KENNY
 	What? What?

 			GALE
 	Jesus! The camera-hurry!

But it's too late.  Sidney is as good as gone.  Gale sees Tatum moving quickly to her car.

 			GALE
 	Excuse me?

Tatum looks up to see Gale Weathers rushing her.

 			GALE
 	Was that Sidney Prescott they took away?

 			TATUM
 	I don't know.

Tatum hops in her car, ignoring her.

 			GALE
 	What happened to her?

 			TATUM
 	I'm not talking to you.

Tatum's car peels out as Kenny comes running up with his camera.

 			KENNY
 	Where'd she go?

Gale spins around, flashing her pearly whites.

 			GALE
 	Look, Kenny, I know you're about fifty
 	pounds overweight but when I say hurry
 	please interpret that as...MOVE YOUR
 	FAT TUB OF LARD ASS NOW!

Gale moves back to the van leaving Kenny miffed.

INT.  POLICE STATION

A small town station.  The bull pen is a little square room with four desks and tonight--it's hopping.  Cops everywhere.

INT.  SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sidney sits at a desk drinking a cup of water.  She wears the Sheriff's jacket over her shoulders.  Dewey approaches.

 			SIDNEY
 	Did you reach my Dad?

 			DEWEY
 	You're sure it was the Hilton?

 			SIDNEY
 	At the airport.

 			DEWEY
 	He's not registered. Could he have gone
 	to another hotel?

 			SIDNEY
 	I don't know. I guess.

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

Sidney stares blankly, numb.

INT.  SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Billy sits opposite Sheriff Burke.  Next to Billy, sits his father, HANK LOOMIS, an older version of Billy.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	What are you doing with a cellular
 	telephone, son?

 			MR. LOOMIS
 	It's my phone. He was just playing 
 	around with it.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	You got some ideas of playing around, boy.

 			BILLY
 	I didn't call anyone with it. I just
 	took it for fun.

 			MR. LOOMIS
 	Everybody's got one now. Why don't you
 	check the phone bill for chrissakes.
 	Call my carrier--AirFone Comp. They'll
 	have records of every number dialed.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Thank you, Hank. We're on it. What were 
 	you doing out at Sidney's tonight?

 			BILLY
 	I just wanted to see her, that's all.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	You rode your bike out there?

 			BILLY
 	Yes, sir.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	And last night? Sidney said you crawled
 	through her window last night too?

 			MR. LOOMIS
 		(surprised)
 	You were out last night?

 			BILLY
 	I watched TV for awhile but the I felt 
 	like going for a bike ride.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Did you ride past Casey Becker's house?

 			BILLY
 	No, I didn't. I didn't kill anyone,
 	Sheriff.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	We're gonna have to keep you, Billy. The
 	governor's got SBI, FBI, and god knows
 	who else on their way down here.

Billy fights tears.

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

Sheriff Burke eyes him up and down, very carefully.

INT.  POLICE BULL PEN - MINUTES LATER

Tatum has joined Sidney.  The sheriff's door opens and Billy is led out by a coupla UNIFORMS.  Burke and Dewey appear in the door watching Tatum comfort Sidney.

OUT OF EAR SHOT

 			DEWEY
 	That ghost mask is sold at both Kroger's
 	and WalMart. Neither of which keep
 	purchase records.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	What about the cellular phone bill?

 			DEWEY
 	They're pulling Loomis' account. But
 	it'll be morning before we see something.
 	You think he did it?

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Twenty years ago I woulda said not a
 	chance. But these kids today...damn if I 
 	know.

 			TATUM
 		(o.s.)
 	Hey...Dewey. Can we go now?

 			DEWEY
 	Hold up a sec...

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	She staying with you?

 			DEWEY
 	We haven't located her Dad yet.

 			TATUM
 		(o.s.)
 	Goddammit, Dewey!

Dewey turns to her, his face red.

 			DEWEY
 	What did Mama tell you? When I wear this
 	badge you treat me like a man of the law.

 			TATUM
 	I'm sorry, Deputy Dewey-boy but we're
 	ready to go.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Use the back way. Avoid the circus.

EXT.  POLICE STATION - SIDE DOOR

The door opens and Sidney, Tatum, Dewey, and a coupla OFFICERS exit avoiding the horde of REPORTERS that can be seen around the corner waiting anxiously at the front entrance.

 			DEWEY
 	I'll get the car. Wait here.

Dewey takes off.  From the darkness of the alley, Gale Weathers appears with Kenny and his camera.  They've been waiting.

 			GALE
 	Hello Sidney.

Sidney spins around to see Gale, standing, smiling at her.  Sidney's body tightens and her face goes taut.

 			GALE
 	Some night. Are you alright?

Their eyes meet in cold familiar stare.  Sidney says nothing.  She's visibly shaking.

 			GALE
 	What happened?

 			TATUM
 	She's not answering any questions. Just
 	leave us alone, okay?

 			SIDNEY
 	It's okay, Tatum. She's just doing her
 	job. Right, GALE?

 			GALE
 	Yes, that's right.

Dewey, in a squad car, turns into the alley and pulls up.  The other news people have wisened up.  They begin to flock the alley.

 			SIDNEY
 	How's the book?

 			GALE
 	It'll be out later this year.

Sidney tries to contain herself..squeezing a clenched 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 into Gale Weathers's face.  The impact sends Gale reeling backwards, knocking into Kenny as they both tumble to the pavement.

ON SIDNEY...breathing deep, a sense of satisfaction on her face.

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 send you a copy."
 	BAM! Bitch went down. "I'll send you a
 	copy." BAM! Sid--SuperBitch!

Dewey appears in the doorway holding a bag of ice.

 			DEWEY
 	I thought you might want some ice for
 	that right hook.

Sidney sits up, takes the ice, and puts it on her hand.

 			DEWEY
 	I'll be right next door. Try to get some
 	sleep.

Dewey moves back out the door.

 			SIDNEY
 	Any word on my Dad?

 			DEWEY
 		(turning to her)
 	Not yet, but we're looking. If you need
 	anything...

 			TATUM
 	Yeah, yeah, yeah...

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

 			SIDNEY
 	Just another sleepover at the Riley's.

 			TATUM
 	Just like old times, ain't it?

 			SIDNEY
 	No, nothing's like it used to be.

Sidney rolls over at her side, away from Tatum.

A telephone RINGS somewhere in the house.

 			TATUM
 	Do you really think Billy did it?

 			SIDNEY
 	He was there, Tatum.

 			TATUM
 	I knew this guy was too perfect. He was
 	destined to have a flaw.

A KNOCK at the door.  It opens and a friendly, graying woman pops in.  This is MAMA RILEY.  She wears a comforting smile.

 			MAMA RILEY
 	Telephone, dear.

 			TATUM
 	Who is it?

 			MAMA RILEY
 	It's for Sid

 			SIDNEY
 	My Dad?

Mama Riley shakes her head sadly.

 			TATUM
 	Take a message.

 			SIDNEY
 	It's alright. I'll get it.

Sidney takes off out the door.  Mama Riley motions to Tatum.

 			MAMA RILEY
 		(whispers)
 	How is she?

Tatum shrugs.

INT.  HALLWAY

Sidney grabs the phone at the end of the hall.

 			SIDNEY
 	Hello?

 			MAN
 		(from phone)
 	Hello Sidney.

IT'S HIM.  The CAMERA does a Hitchcock as Sidney's entire body goes weak..his VOICE moving through her..invading her.  She CRIES OUT.

 			SIDNEY
 	NOOOOOO...

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

 			MAN
 		(from phone)
 	Poor Billy-boyfriend. An innocent guy
 	doesn't stand a chance with you.

 			SIDNEY
 	LEAVEMEALONE!

 			MAN
 	Looks like you fingered the wrong
 	guy...again.

 			SIDNEY
 	Who are you?

 			TATUM
 	Hang up, Sid.

 			MAN
 	Don't worry. You'll find out soon
 	enough. I promise.

Mama Riley BEATS on a closed bedroom door.

 			MAMA RILEY
 	Dewey! Dewey!

 			MAN
 	This is gonna be fun, Sidney. Just like
 	old times.

CLICK.

Dewey flies out of his room wearing only his boxers...holding his gun.

 			DEWEY
 	What? What?

The phone goes dead.  Sidney stands frozen.

EXT.  BAYBORO MAIN STREET - DAWN - ESTABLISHING

The morning sun shines high over Bayboro Townsquare.  Cars come to life, townsfolk stir as the picture postcard community awakens from a restless sleep.

INT.  KITCHEN - MORNING

Sidney and Tatum sit at the kitchen table, dressed and ready for school as Mama Riley serves up breakfast.  A small television sits on the counter BLARING.

Dewey, in uniform, stands near the door, talking on the phone.

 			MAMA RILEY
 	I think you girls really should stay home
 	today.

 			TATUM
 	Your objection is duly noted.

 			SIDNEY
 	I'd rather be around a lot of people,
 	Mama Riley.

From the TV, Sidney hears her name, "SIDNEY PRESCOTT..."  All eyes go to the television.

 			REPORTER
 		(on TV)
 	..who escaped a vicious attack last night
 	was the daughter of Maureen Prescott who
 	was brutally killed last year when
 	convicted murderer Cotton Weary...

INSERT of COTTON WEARY, in prison fatigues.  A once handsome man, now haggard and worn.

 			REPORTER
 		(cont'd)
 	..broke into their home and savagely
 	raped and tortured the deceased. Cotton
 	Weary is currently awaiting appeal for
 	the death sentence handed down after the
 	young Sidney testified against him. She
 	was the key witness in the state's 
 	prosecution...

 			SIDNEY
 	It's never gonna stop. Is it?

Dewey is off the phone.

 			DEWEY
 	Billy was released. His cellular bill
 	was clean. He didn't make those calls.

 			SIDNEY
 	Somebody called me, Dewey. I'm not
 	making it up.

 			DEWEY
 	I know. We're checking every cellular 
 	account in the county. Any calls made to
 	you or Casey Becker are being cross-
 	referenced. It's gonna take time but
 	we'll find him.

 			SIDNEY
 	And my Dad? Any word on him?

Riley shakes his head "no".

EXT.  SCHOOL STREET - LATER

Once again, REPORTERS line the street attacking students as they make their way to school, asking questions, hungry for that teenage insight.

Dewey's patrol jeep cruises by.  Sidney watches from the passenger's window.

INT.  PATROL CAR

Dewey pulls up in front of the school.  Tatum hops out while Sid lingers, suddenly unsure.  Dewey takes notice.

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

Sidney forces herself out of the jeep as a microphone is shoved in her face...

 			REPORTER
 	How does it feel to almost be brutally 
 	murdered?

Dewey leaps from the car, intercepting the reporter.

 			DEWEY
 	Leave the girl alone, will ya? She wants
 	to go to school.

Sidney eyes the newsvan that's pulled up behind her.  The side door slides open and Gale Weathers steps out.

 			TATUM
 	Come on, Sid.

 			SIDNEY
 	Just a sec...I need to talk to someone.

She heads over to Gale.

EXT.  NEWSVAN - STREET

Sidney, puts her head down, hiding her face...avoiding other reporters as she makes her way to...

Gale who sits in the open door, checking her face in a mirror.  Makeup tries hard to hide Sid's handwork-a swollen black and blue right cheek.

Gale spots Sidney immediately and leaps to her feet.

 			GALE
 	Stop right there.

Sidney throws her hands up in surrender.

 			SIDNEY
 	I'm not here to fight.

 			GALE
 	Just stay back.

 			SIDNEY
 	I want to talk to you.

 			GALE
 		(calling into the van)
 	Kenny. Camera. Now.

Kenny's head darts out from the van.

 			SIDNEY
 	Off the record. No cameras.

 			GALE
 	Forget it.

Sidney contains herself.

 			SIDNEY
 	Please. You owe me.

 			GALE
 	I owe you shit.

Gale moves inside the van.  But Sidney is relentless.

 			SIDNEY
 	You owe my mother.

 			GALE
 	Your mother's murder was last year's
 	hottest court case. Somebody was gonna 
 	write a book about it.

 			SIDNEY
 	And it had to be you with all your lies
 	and bullshit theories.

 			GALE
 	What is your problem? You got what you
 	wanted. Cotton Weary is in jail.
 	They're gonna gas him. A book is not
 	gonna change that.

 			SIDNEY
 	Do you still think he's innocent?

Gale's interest is peaked.  She eyes Sidney suspiciously.

 			GALE
 	He was convicted in a court of law. Your
 	testimony put him away. It doesn't 
 	matter what I think.

 			SIDNEY
 	During the trial, you did all those 
 	stories about me. You called me a liar.

 			GALE
 	I think you falsely identified him. Yes.

 			SIDNEY
 	Have you talked to Cotton?

 			GALE
 	Many times.

 			SIDNEY
 	Has his story changed?

 			GALE
 	Not one word. He admits to having sex
 	with your mother but that's all.

 			SIDNEY
 	He's lying. She wouldn't have touched
 	him. He raped her, then butchered her.
 	Her blood was all over his coat.

 			GALE
 	He was drunk that night. He left his
 	coat at your house, after your mother
 	seduced him...

 			SIDNEY
 	I saw him leaving wearing it.

 			GALE
 	But couldn't it have been someone else
 	you saw wearing that coat? The same
 	person who planted it in Cotton's car,
 	framing him? The same person who 
 	really killed your mother?

A long beat.  Sidney considers this for the millionth time.

 			SIDNEY
 	No, Cotton murdered my mother.

But there's doubt in her voice.  Gale's face lights up.

 			GALE
 	You're not so sure anymore, are you?

Sidney clams up.

 			SIDNEY
 	No, it was Cotton.

Tatum comes waltzing up.

 			TATUM
 		(to GALE)
 	Nice welt.

Gale ignores her, zeroing in on Sidney, half realizing.

 			GALE
 	The killer is still on the loose, isn't 
 	he? These murders are related.

 			TATUM
 	Yo--let's rock.

Sidney starts to fidget.

 			SIDNEY
 	I'm sorry I mangled your face.

She take off with Tatum.  Gale calls after her.

 			GALE
 	Wait, Sidney, don't go...

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

Gale looks to Kenny.

 			GALE
 	Jesus Christ! An innocent man on death
 	row. A killer still on the loose.
 	Kenny, tell me I'm dreaming.

 			KENNY
 	You want to go live?

Gale's mind races with possibilities.

 			GALE
 	No, not so fast. We have nothing
 	concrete.

 			KENNY
 	When did that ever stop you? You can't
 	sit on this. This is huge.

 			GALE
 	If I'm gonna blow this up-I need hard
 	proof.

 			KENNY
 	But it's so much easier when we make it
 	up.

 			GALE
 	Not this time. I owe Cotton that much.
 	Hell, even I thought that man was guilty.

EXT.  SCHOOL CAMPUS - SECONDS LATER

Tatum and Sidney make their way across campus.

 			TATUM
 	Just relax. You're at school now. No
 	one can get you here.

 			SIDNEY
 	But if it wasn't Billy it could be
 	anybody. He could be here at school
 	right now.

They move up the walk as a FIGURE falls in step behind them, sporting a WHITE GHOST MASK.

 			TATUM
 	Serial killers are smart by definition.
 	They minimize their risk. They plan and
 	pre-calculate everything. Showing up
 	here would be the most lame-brain
 	move he could make.

 			SIDNEY
 	He promised me he'd be back.

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

 			TATUM
 	I wouldn't put too much stock in a
 	psycho's promise.

They move up the front steps toward the main doors of the school as the GHOST MASKED FIGURE reappears...standing at the top of the steps...Sidney sees it first, stopping dead in her tracks.

She steps back, spinning around to find...

A GHOST FACE behind her as well, both of them approaching, closing in on her.  Sidney starts to SCREAM when the two ghosts bust up LAUGHING, tearing off across campus.

EXT.  STREET

In front of the school we catch up a REPORTER doing a live remote.  He holds a mask in his hand.

 			REPORTER
 	This morning several students, in what
 	appears to be a prank, have been spotted
 	wearing masks. School officials have yet
 	to comment but this is the same type of
 	mask worn by the killer...

INT. HALLWAY - MINUTES LATER

Just before the bell.  The hallway is congested with 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 here right after
 	class, okay?

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

 			TATUM
 	Shit, what is he doing here?

 			SIDNEY
 	I bet he's pissed.

 			TATUM
 	Just ignore him. You had good reason to 
 	think what you did.

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

 			BILLY
 	Hi, Sid. Can we talk a sec?

Sidney says nothing.  She can barely look at him.  Tatum intervenes.

 			TATUM
 	You know if I were accused of carving up
 	two people, I'd take the opportunity to
 	skip school.

 			STU
 	Hey, go easy, Tatum. He didn't do it.

 			BILLY
 	Talk to me, Sid.

Suddenly, a SCREAM erupts.  All eyes go to a GHOST MASKED STUDENT running down the hall, screaming wildly, running amuck.

 			SIDNEY
 	Why are they doing this?

 			STU
 	Are you kidding? This is like Christmas.

Billy punches Stu in the side.

 			STU
 	Owwww...

 			BILLY
 	You open your mouth and stupidity pours
 	out.

 			STU
 	Sorry.

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

 			TATUM
 		(yelling)
 	Stay away from her, Billy.

Tatum SLAMS her locker door shut as the bell RINGS.

INT.  CORRIDOR - SECONDS LATER

With first period underway, the halls have cleared.  One or two struggling students can be seen rushing to class.

Sidney moves quickly down the hall, rounding a corner, running smack into...

BILLY

They collide hard catching Sidney off guard, scaring the life out of her.  She falls backwards, but Billy catches her fall.

 			SIDNEY
 	Jesus, SHIT!

 			BILLY
 	Hey, hey, it's just me.

Sidney pulls away from him quickly.  Billy feels the slight.

 			BILLY
 	What? You don't still think it's me?

Sidney catches her breath.

 			SIDNEY
 	No...I don't...it's just...Oh God, Billy,
 	someone was there, someone tried to 
 	kill me.

 			BILLY
 	The police say I scared him off. It
 	wasn't me, Sid.

 			SIDNEY
 	I know. He called again last night at
 	Tatum's house.

 			BILLY
 	See, it couldn't have been me. I was in
 	jail, remember?

 			SIDNEY
 	I'm so sorry...please understand.

 			BILLY
 	Understand what? That I got a girlfriend
 	who would rather accuse me of being a 
 	psychopathic killer than touch me.

 			SIDNEY
 	You know that's not true.

 			BILLY
 	Then what is it? Is there somebody else?

 			SIDNEY
 	No...

 			BILLY
 	Is it the sex thing? Am I being too
 	pushy?

 			SIDNEY
 	No, it's me, Billy. I need time. I'm
 	still adjusting to my mom.

 			BILLY
 	It's been a year since she died.

 			SIDNEY
 		(correcting him)
 	Tomorrow. One year tomorrow.

 			BILLY
 	When are you gonna let that go, Sid?
 	When my mom left my dad--I just accepted
 	it. This is the way it is. She's not coming
 	back.

 			SIDNEY
 		(sharply)
 	Your parents split up. It's not the same
 	thing. Your mom left town, she's not in
 	a coffin somewhere.

 			BILLY
 	You have to move on, Sid.

Sidney starts to walk away but turns back, angry.

 			SIDNEY
 	I'm glad to know you're coping so well
 	with life, Billy. But some of us aren't so
 	perfect. Some of us are just trying to
 	hold on.

Sidney disappears through a door marked GIRL'S BATHROOM, leaving Billy alone in the hallway.  He SMACKS his forehead, pissed at himself.

INT.  GIRL'S BATHROOM

Large and spacious.  Closed bathroom stalls line one wall facing a row of sinks and a huge mirror.  Sidney enters as TWO GIRLS tinkle and talk--each from their respective stalls.

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

 			GIRL #2
 	Why would she lie about it?

 			GIRL #1
 	For attention. The girl has some serious 
 	issues.

Sidney listens intently.

A toilet FLUSHES.  Sidney quickly jumps in a stall, hiding, just as GIRL #1 appears from a stall.  She looks like that voice--a snotty little twit.

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

 			GIRL #2
 	And why would she do that?

 			GIRL #1
 	Maybe she was hot for Steve and killed
 	them both in a jealous rage.

Another toilet FLUSHES.

 			GIRL #2
 	Why would Sidney want to be with Steve?
 	She has her own bubble-butt boyfriend Billy.

 			GIRL #1
 	Maybe she's a slut just like her mom.

INSIDE THE STALL Sidney listens.  Her face weakening.

 			GIRL #2
 	You're evil.

 			GIRL #1
 	Please, it's common knowledge. Her
 	mother was a trollop.

GIRL #2 appears from her stall--another twit.  They both stand in front of the mirror adjusting two snotty faces.

 			GIRL #2
 	Cut some slack. She watched her mom get
 	butchered.

 			GIRL #1
 	And it fucked her up royally. Think
 	about it. It makes perfect sense. Her
 	mom's death leaves her distraught and
 	hostile at a cruel and inhumane world,
 	she's disillusioned, where's God, etc.
 	Completely suicidal. And one day she
 	snaps. She wants to kill herself but
 	realizes teen suicide is out this year.
 	And homicide is a much healthier
 	therapeutic expression.

From the stall, Sidney listens, her heart pounding, jaw quivering.

 			GIRL #2
 	Where do you get this shit?

 			GIRL #1
 	Ricki Lake.

The two girls exit.  Sidney moves out of the stall, catching her reflection in the mirror.

 			SIDNEY
 	Pathetic.

Water DRIPS somewhere from a leaky pipe as wind WHISTLES in from the cracked transom above the bathroom door.  It sound almost like a whisper,   "Siddneey..."

Sidney spins around.  What the...  She checks out the bathroom.  The doors to the stalls are all closed.  She bends down and scans beneath them, looking for feet.  No one.  Nothing.

Sidney turns back to the mirror.  Suddenly...

 			MAN
 		(o.c. whisper)
 	Siddneey...

Unmistakable this time.  The VOICE strikes Sidney like a nail through the eye.  It comes from one of the stalls.  She stands thunderstruck, eyeing the stalls thru the mirror.

 			SIDNEY
 	Is someone there?

A long, morose silence.  And then:

 			MAN
 		(softly, simply)
 	It's me, Sidney.

Sidney spins around.  Fuck no!  HE'S HERE.  Terror floods her face.  She eyes the exit door, then the row of stalls she must pass to get to it.

She checks under the stalls again.  Nothing...where the fuck is he?  She takes a step forward when...

TWO FEET step down from a toilet onto the floor in the last stall.  Sidney's face draws tight as the stall door begins to CREAK open.  She bolts forward, making a break for it...but slips on the wet floor...her feet flying out from under...

Sidney reaches out...grabs hold of a sink...saves herself from falling...she glimpses a GHOST MASK in the mirror coming for her.  A hand grabs her shoulder as she SLAMS her body through the exit door...narrowly escaping.

INT.  CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Sidney flies out of the bathroom door SCREAMING...burning up the hallway, not looking back.  A TEACHER, hearing her SCREAM, peer out from an open doorway...as Sidney sprints by him, not stopping...running madly.

INT.  PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

CLOSE on a red-faced Principal Himbry as he reads someone the riot act.

MR. HIMBRY
I'm sickened. Your whole havoc-inducing,
thieving, whoring generation disgusts me.

The CAMERA SWINGS AROUND to reveal two GHOST MASKED STUDENTS standing at attention.  Mr. Himbry rips the mask off of one of the student's heads.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Two students have been savagely murdered.
 	And this is how we express our compassion
 	and sensivity?

He rips the mask off the other student.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	We throw on a mask and dance around
 	campus just hoping someone else gets
 	butchered before we get bored again.
 	You're both expelled.

The GHOSTS doth protest...

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

 			GHOST #2
 	Yeah, that's not fair.

A deep rooted hostility has taken over Mr. Himbry's face.  Neither student budges, scared to even breathe.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	No, it's not fair. Fairness would be to
 	rip your insides out and hang you from 
 	a tree so you can be exposed for the
 	desensitized, heartless little shits that
 	you are.

Suddenly the door BURSTS open and Sidney appears, hysterical.

 			SIDNEY
 		(crying)
 	He's here...I saw him...he's here...

Mr. Himbry rushes to her, arms outstretched.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Easy child.

Sidney collapses in his arms.

EXT.  SCHOOL STREET - MINUTES LATER

Dewey's patrol jeep is parked in front of the school.  He stands in the open driver's door talking on the radio.

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 		(from radio)
 	She's okay. Looks like some boys were
 	teasing her. Himbry's shutting down the
 	school though. I want you to take look 
 	around.

 			DEWEY
 	Yes, sir, sheriff.

Dewey shuts the jeep door and heads for campus when Gale Weathers appears, her fake face aglow.

 			GALE
 	Hi! Gale Weathers. Field Correspondent,
 	INSIDE STORY.

 			DEWEY
 	I know who you are, ma'am. How's the
 	eye?

 			GALE
 	Productive. So they're closing down the
 	school?

 			DEWEY
 	Well..uh...yes ma'am. For the time being.

Dewey heads for the school building. Gale scurries along side him flirtatiously.

 			GALE
 	And why is that? Has something happened?

 			DEWEY
 	You're not supposed to be here, ma'am.

 			GALE
 	I know, I should be in New York covering
 	the Sharon Stone stalker but who knew?
 	Please, call me Gale. You look awfully
 	young to be a police officer.

Dewey's eyes wander down to Gale's long legs, the way her hips move as she walks...he's clearly distracted.

 			DEWEY
 	I'm twenty-five years old, ma'am.

 			GALE
 	Twenty-five, huh? In a demographic study
 	I proved to be most popular amongst
 	males, 11-24. I just missed you. Of course,
 	you don't look a day over twelve, except 
 	in the upper torso area. Does the force
 	require that you work out?

Dewey looks away, blushing a bit.

 			DEWEY
 	No, ma'am. Because of my boyish good
 	looks, muscle mass has increased my
 	acceptance as a serious police officer.

They approach the school's front entrance.  Suddenly, Mr. Himbry's VOICE in amplified through intercoms across campus via the PA system.  They stop to listen.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 		(via PA)
 	"Your attention please. Due to the
 	recent events that have occurred and
 	until it comes to a resolve--effective
 	immediately--all classes are suspended
 	til further notice. The Bayboro Police
 	Dept. has also asked me to announce a
 	city wide curfew beginning at 6 o'clock
 	PM. I repeat..."

Gale speaks over Mr. Himbry's voice.

 			GALE
 	Boy, you people sure do make fuss over
 	a serial killer.

 			DEWEY
 	Serial killer is not really accurate,
 	ma'am. The killer has yet to strike 
 	twice.

 			GALE
 	Well, we can hope, can't we? We
 	certainly don't have any leads. A ghost
 	mask, a cellular phone--not much there.

 			DEWEY
 	We're tracking the cellular phone bill.

 			GALE
 	Really? You small town guys are good.
 	And have you located Sidney's father?

 			DEWEY
 	No, not yet.

 			GALE
 	He's not a suspect, is he?

 			DEWEY
 	We haven't ruled out that possibil...

Dewey, realizing he's said too much, clams up.

 			DEWEY
 	If you'll excuse me, ma'am.

 			GALE
 	Am I keeping you? I'm sorry.

 			DEWEY
 	That's quite alright. If I may say so,
 	ma'am, you're much prettier in person.

Dewey starts up the school's front steps as the bell RINGS.

 			GALE
 	So you do watch the show?

He turns to her earnestly as STUDENTS come pouring out the front doors.

 			DEWEY
 	I just turned 25. I was 24 for a whole
 	year.

 			GALE
 	You are precious. Please, call me Gale.

She smiles deliciously, gives him a wink, then struts off as Dewey, like a nervous little school boy watches her go.

INT.  SCHOOL CORRIDOR - SECONDS LATER

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

 			TATUM
 	It was just some sick fuck having a
 	laugh.

 			SIDNEY
 	It was him, Tatum. I know it.

Tatum wants to believe her but...

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

Stu appears.

 			STU
 	Is this not cool or what? Hey, Sid,
 	what happened?

 			TATUM
 	For once, Stu, drop it.

 			STU
 	Okay, but whatever you did--the entire
 	student body thanks you.

Stu moves to Tatum and gives her a kiss.

 			STU
 	And to celebrate this impromptu fall
 	break, I propose we have a party.
 	Tonight, my house.

 			SIDNEY
 	Are you serious?

 			STU
 	My parents are out of town. It'll be
 	like my hurricane bash last year.
 	Nothing extreme. Just a few of us,
 	hangin'.

Tatum warms to the idea.

 			TATUM
 	This could be good. What do you think,
 	Sid?

 			SIDNEY
 	I don't know...

 			TATUM
 	Come on. Pathos has it's perks.

Sidney considers trying hard to be good spirited.

 			STU
 	Remember, there's safety in numbers.

 			SIDNEY
 		(giving in)
 	Yeah, okay...whatever.

 			STU
 	Cool. See you guys tonight. Bring food.

Stu speeds off, sliding down the empty hallway.

INT.  PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - LATER

Mr. Himbry sits at his desk staring at the ghosts masks before him.  He picks one of them up, snickering.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Damn...

He stands and moves to the closet next to his office door.  He pulls it open to reveal a mirror hooked inside the door.  He tries the mask on, pulling it over his face, looking in the mirror when...

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR stops him.  He rips the mask off his head, turns to his office door and opens it to reveal...

AN EMPTY DOORWAY.  He pokes his head into the outer office area and looks around.  But no one's there.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Yes? Hello?

The place is empty.  A little suspicious he closes the door, catching his reflection in the closet mirror.  He looks at the mask in his hands.  Jesus, even he's jumpy.  Two seconds later...

ANOTHER KNOCK AT THE DOOR.  Himbry grabs the door quickly, this time throwing it open.  Again no one's there.  He steps out into the outer office determined to catch a prankster.

INT.  OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Completely empty.  Mr. Himbry moves through the outer office and into the school corridor.  The overhead lights have been turned off and the corridor is now dark and deserted.  He looks up and down the hall.  Only a JANITOR is seen in the distance pushing a broom.

 			MR. HIMBRY
 	Little shits.

Mr. Himbry returns to his office.

INT.  OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

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

This gives him a pause-he had left it open.  Hadn't he?  Suddenly, he can't remember.  He shifts uneasy, reaching for the door knob, pulling the door open to reveal...

AN EMPTY CLOSET.  He stands still a moment, suddenly realizing someone could easily now be standing behind the open closet door.  Nervously, he pushes it shut to reveal...

NOTHING.  Himbry shakes away his jitters, realizing he's spooked himself.  He continues to his desk, pushing his office door shut when...

A GHOST MASKED FIGURE lunges from behind it...knife in hand.  Quick and easy.  Three quick jabs to the stomach and Himbry goes down.  The GHOST MASKED FIGURE towering above him.

EXT.  TATUM'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON - LATER

The late afternoon sun is quickly disappearing.

Tatum and Sidney rock on the front porch looking out into the small town neighborhood.  Dewey's patrol jeep is parked in the driveway.

Despite loud music, BLARING from an inside stereo, this is a quiet  moment.

 			TATUM
 	Maybe Cotton Weary is telling the truth.
 	Maybe he was having an affair with your
 	mom.

 			SIDNEY
 	So you think my mom was a slut too?

 			TATUM
 	I didn't say that, Sid. But you know
 	there were rumors. Your dad was 
 	always out of town on business. 
 	Maybe your mom was a very unhappy
 	woman.

 			SIDNEY
 	If they were having an affair how come
 	that Cotton couldn't prove it in court?

 			TATUM
 	You can't prove a rumor. That's why it's 
 	a rumor.

 			SIDNEY
 	Created by that little tabloid twit Gale
 	Weathers.

 			TATUM
 		(delicately)
 	It goes further back, Sid. There's been
 	talk about other men.

 			SIDNEY
 	And you believe it?

 			TATUM
 	Well...you can only hear that Richard
 	Gere-gerbil story so many times before
you have to start believing it.

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

 			SIDNEY
 	If I was wrong Cotton, then he's still
 	out there.

 			TATUM
 	Don't go there, Sid. You're starting to
 	sound like some Wes Carpenter flick.
 	Don't freak yourself out--we've got a
 	long night ahead of us.

 			SIDNEY
 	You're right. I'm cracking up. Ignore
 	me.

 			TATUM
 	Come on, let's rock.

Sid follows Tatum inside the house never seeing the GHOST MASKED FIGURE that stands across the street, under a tree.  His presence so subtle and unobtrusive you'd have to see this movie a second time to know he was there all along.

EXT.  MAIN STREET - LATER

Stu is moving along main street when Billy comes barreling up next to him.

 			BILLY
 	How'd you do?

 			STU
 	Piece of cake. She'll be there.

 			BILLY
 	Thanks, butt wart. You did good.

 			STU
 	So you gonna try and make up with Sid?

 			BILLY
 	Duh...that's quick.

 			STU
 	I was just asking. Why are you always at
 	me?

 			BILLY
 	Because I'm trying to build your self-
 	esteem. You're far too sensitive.

 			STU
 	Oh....

Billy thumbs Stu's forehead.

 			BILLY
 	You ready to party hard tonight?

 			STU
 	You know it.

They come to a building centrally located in the heart of Main Street.  A huge, blue monstrosity that's bigger than the local bank and post office combined. The sign in front reads BLOCKBUSTER.

INT.  BLOCKBUSTER - CONTINUOUS

You typical Blockbuster--huge and crowded.  Randy, in his Blockbuster get up, is busy reshelving returns when Stu appears--knocking the videos out of his hand.

 			STU
 	Jesus, this place is packed.

 			RANDY
 		(picking up videos)
 	We had a run in the mass murder section.

 			STU
 	You coming tonight?

 			RANDY
 	Yeah, I'm off early--curfew you know.
 		(looking off)
 	Now that's poor taste.

 			STU
 	What?

Randy refers to Billy who stands down the aisle talking to TWO GIRLS.  (The twits from the bathroom perhaps.)

 			RANDY
 	If you were the only suspect in a
 	senseless bloodbath would you be standing
 	in the horror section?

 			STU
 	It was all a misunderstanding. He didn't
 	do anything.

 			RANDY
 	You're such a little lap dog. He's got
 	killer printed all over his forehead.

 			STU
 	The why'd the police let him go?

 			RANDY
 	Because, obviously they don't watch 
 	enough movies. This is standard horror
 	movie stuff. PROM NIGHT revisited.

Randy moves down the aisle, reshelving videos.

 			STU
 	Why would he want to kill his own 
 	girlfriend?

 			RANDY
 	There's always some stupid bullshit
 	reason to kill your girlfriend. That's
 	the beauty of it all. Simplicity.
 	Besides, if it's too complicated you lose
 	your target audience.

 			STU
 	So what's his reason?

 			RANDY
 	Maybe Sidney wouldn't have sex with him.

 			STU
 	She's saving herself for you.

 			RANDY
 	Could be. Now that Billy's tried to
 	mutilate her, you think Sid would go out
 	with me?

 			STU
 	I think her father did it. How come they
 	can't find his ass?

 			RANDY
 	Because he's probably dead. His body
 	will come popping out in the last reel
 	somewhere...eyes gauged. See, the police
 	are always off track with this shit, if they'd 
 	watch PROM NIGHT they'd save time.
 	There's formula to it. A very simple one.
 	Everyone's always a suspect--the father,
 	the principal, the town derelict...

 			STU
 	Which is you...

 			RANDY
 	So while they're off investigating a dead
 	end, Billy, who's been written off as a
 	suspect, is busy planning his next
 	hunting expedition.

 			BILLY
 		(o.c.)
 	How do we know you're not the killer?

Randy spins around to find Billy right behind him.  Busted.

 			RANDY
 	Uh...hi, Billy.

 			BILLY
 	Maybe your movie-freaked mind lost it's
 	reality button?

Randy shrugs, laughing it off.

 			RANDY
 	You're absolutely right. I'm the first
 	to admit it. If this were a scary movie,
 	I'd be the prime suspect.

 			STU
 	And what would be your motive?

 			RANDY
 	It's 1995--motives are incidental.

EXT.  MAIN STREET - LITTLE LATER

Dewey's patrol jeep makes it's way down mainstreet.  It's almost dark.  The street is close to deserted.

INT.  PATROL JEEP - CONTINUOUS

Dewey's behind the wheel having a heated conversation with Tatum while Sid stares out the window.

 			DEWEY
 	A party? Mom's gonna kill you. Then me.

 			TATUM
 	Don't be so self-righteous. It's just a 
 	little blow out--we'll be perfectly safe.

Sid stares out the window. CLOSED SIGNS fill the storefronts, a few people rush to their car, in a hurry to beat curfew. 

 			SIDNEY
 	God, look at this place, it's THE TOWN 
 	THAT DREADED SUNDOWN. 

 			DEWEY
 	Hey, I saw that movie. True story, 'bout 
 	some killer in Texas. 

 			TATUM
 	Hey, Sid. Just think if they make a 
 	movie about you. Who's gonna play you? 

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh, god... 

Dewey comes to a stop, parking the car in front of the police station. He looks to Sid with a brotherly smile. 

 			DEWEY
 	I see you as a young Meg Ryan myself. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Thanks, Dewey. But with my luck they'd 
 	cast Tori Spelling. 

EXT.  PATROL JEEP - CONTINUOUS 

They pile out of the jeep.  Dewey heads for the station. 

 			DEWEY
 	I'll just be a few minutes. Don't go 
 	far.

The girls take off for the local supermarket that sits across the street. 

 			SIDNEY
 	Is Billy going to be there tonight? 

 			TATUM 
 	He better not be. I told Stu to keep his 
 	mouth shut. I think we can live without 
 	EVERYBODY'S ALL AMERICAN for 
 	one night. 

They approach the grocery store.  Small and simple.  Sid and Tatum grab a shopping cart from the bin and enter the store, pushing the cart through two sliding glass doors. 

A lone CHECKOUT LADY behind the counter, big and frumpy, looks up from counting money. 

 			CHECK OUT LADY 
 	You girls gonna have to hurry it up. 
 	We're under curfew. 

 			TATUM 
 	Two minutes tops. 

They make a bee-line for the junk food section just as the automated doors slide shut behind them and a... 

GHOST MASKED FIGURE appears, out of nowhere, standing just outside, watching, quietly through the glass store windows.

EXT.  POLICE STATION - SHERIFF'S OFFICE 

Sheriff Burke's face heats up as Deputy Riley marches in, hurriedly. 

 			SHERIFF BURKE
 	Dewey! Where the hell you been, boy?

 			DEWEY 
 	Keeping my eye on Sidney. 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	Listen up, Dewey, because it's bad. Real 
 	bad. Aircomp just faxed us. The calls 
 	were listed to Neil Prescott--Sidney's 
 	father. He made the calls with his cellular 
 	phone. It's confirmed. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Couldn't his cellular number have been 
 	cloned? 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	There's more. Guess what tomorrow is? 
 	The anniversary of his wife's death. It all 
 	fits. He's our man. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Have you contacted the bureau? 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	They believe he's out of state by now. 
 	We'll keep roadblocks and curfew in 
 	effect through the night. If he's not 
 	picked up by morning--we'll do a house 
 	to house. 

 			DEWEY 
 	You think he could still be in town? 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	He'd have to be crazy. Where's Sidney? 

 			DEWEY 
 	She's with my sister. Should I bring her 
 	in? 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	Hold off for now. Just stay close to 
 	her. 

 			DEWEY 
 	She'll be with her friends over at Stu 
 	Maker's tonight. 

 			SHERIFF BURKE 
 	Watch her. Don't let on--just keep your 
 	eyes out. 

 			DEWEY
 	Yes, sir. 

INT.  SUPERMARKET - FEW MINUTES LATER 

Sidney and Tatum push a basket through the junk food section.  The store is completely empty.  The girls gab freely. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Billy's right. Whenever he touches me, I 
 	just can't relax. 

 			TATUM 
 	You have a few intimacy issues as a 
 	result of your mother's untimely death.
 	It's no big deal. You'll thaw out. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	But he's been so patient with me, Tatum. 
 	You know, with all the sex stuff. How 
 	many guys would put up with a girlfriend 
 	who's sexually anorexic? 

 			TATUM 
 	Billy and his penis don't deserve you. 

Sidney grabs some chips and salsa from the shelf.  Down the aisle, through the storefront window the GHOST MASKED FIGURE still stands watching their every move. 

EXT.  SUPERMARKET 

Sid pushes the cart out of the glass door with Tatum riding it.  The GHOST MASKED FIGURE is nowhere to be found. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	What do you think about when you're 
 	having sex? 

 			TATUM 
 	With Stu, there's little time to stop and 
 	reflect. But sometimes before, to relax 
 	and get in the mood, I think about Grant 
 	Goodeve. 

Sid pushes the cart and Tatum across the street. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Who? 

 			TATUM 
 	Grant Goodeve--the oldest brother on 
 	EIGHT IS ENOUGH. Remember that show? He 
 	was the one who lived off alone. He would come 
 	around every now and then with his guitar and 
 	sing "Eight is enough to fill our lives with love..."
 	He had all these brain dead sisters and that idiot 
 	brother from CHARLES IN CHARGE. God, I 
 	was in love with Grant, he was so hot. The show 
 	came on every day after school right during my 
 	puberty years. Grant Goodeve was very instrumental 
 	in my maturing as a woman. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	How does that get you in the mood with 
 	Stu? 

 			TATUM 
 	During foreplay, I sing the theme song to 
 	myself. "Eight is enough to fill our lives 
 	with love..." It's a real turn on. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	No way. 

 			TATUM 
 	Grant wrote the song himself. I'm 
 	convinced the lyrics had a secret
 	meaning, "Eight is enough..." 

Sid pushes the cart up to Dewey's jeep.  Tatum hops off. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	What secret meaning? Like a Satanical 
 	thing? 

 			TATUM 
 	Watch the show, Sid. His basket is 
 	bigger than the one you're pushing. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	TATUM! 

 			TATUM 
 	Oh, Sidney. WHAT? A guy can talk tits 
 	til he's dead but the minute you mention 
 	an eight inch weenie. Watch out. 

Sidney stops just short of a laugh.  Tatum pulls the back jeep door, loading the groceries in.  Behind her, the GHOST MASKED FIGURE appears, just out of their sight, behind the jeep's open back door. 

 			TATUM 
 	There's that sense of humor. I knew it 
 	still existed. Ohh, Sid, let's have some 
 	fun tonight. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Deal. 

Sidney moves to the back door and closes it shut, when from behind... 

DEWEY stands.  Sid jumps, startled. 

 			DEWEY 
 	You girls ready. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Yeah. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Looks like I'm your personal bodyguard 
 	tonight, Sid. 

 			TATUM 
 	No, Dewey. You'll ruin the whole night. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Sorry, police orders. I'll stay out of the 
 	way, I promise. 

 			TATUM 
 	Shit. 

Tatum kicks the shopping cart out of the way, blindly.  It rolls down the road by itself, gaining speed on a decline running smack into the GHOST MASKED FIGURE who stops the cart cold with one hand. 

EXT.  COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT 

Dewey's jeep makes it's way down a long, winding road.  Headlights illuminate the thick woods that line each side.  Following behind them at a discreet distance is a huge white newsvan. 

Dewey comes to the end of the road.  It dead ends at... 

STU'S HOUSE which sits alone in a clearing, big and ominous with no neighbors in sight.  A huge old home just ripe for a night of fun and...terror. 

From the looks of things the party has already started.  Music is BLARING. A few KIDS hang on the porch. 

INT.  LIVING ROOM - MINUTES LATER 

A big room with KIDS sprinkled throughout-smoking, drinking, cutting up.  A stereo BLASTS music while the TV airs around the clock killer coverage. 

Tatum and Sid enter with groceries.  Various FRIENDS greet them. 

 			TATUM 
 	Caterer's here. 

The girls carry bags through a hallway that opens up onto an enormous kitchen.  Stu and some GUYS are leaning over the sink drinking beer through a funnel. 

 			TATUM 
 	That's mature. 

 			STU 
 	Where you guys been? We had to start 
 	without you. 

EXT.  STU'S HOUSE - ROAD 

The newsvan pulls up and parks unobtrusively on the side of the road a few feet down from the front yard. 

INT.  NEWSVAN 

Kenny and Gale move around inside the van.  Kenny hovers over a control panel complete with video monitors. 

 			KENNY 
 	What's the plan? 

 			GALE 
 	Prep the compact, we'll hide it in a 
 	window and tape all of tonight's
 	festivities. 

Kenny picks up a compact video camera the size of his fist.  He checks its battery pack. 

 			KENNY 
 	The control board's glitched. You know 
 	we can't carry a live picture. 

 			GALE 
 	What's the delay? 

 			KENNY 
 	About thirty seconds. 

 			GALE 
 	As long as it records I don't give a 
 	shit. We're not doing a remote. 

Gale slides open the side door and steps out into the darkness, not seeing the FIGURE that stands behind her.  A hand grabs her shoulder, Gale's heart stops as she spins around to find... 

Dewey, smiling, extremely pleased to see her. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Evening, ma'am. 

 			GALE 
 	Deputy...good evening. 

 			DEWEY 
 	What brings you out to these parts? 

 			GALE 
 	You never know when or where a story will 
 	break. 

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

 			GALE 
 	Then what are you doing here? 

 			DEWEY 
 	Keeping an eye on things. Checking the 
 	place out. 

 			GALE 
 	Mind if I join you? 

Dewey considers for a whole two seconds. 

 			DEWEY 
 	Not at all. 

Gale leans in the van, grabs the camera from  Kenny's hand, and throws it in her bag.  She gives Kenny a wink. 

INT.  KITCHEN 

CLOSE ON a microwave.  Popcorn POPS inside.  CAMERA WIDENS TO REVEAL... 

Sid, Stu, and Tatum moving about the kitchen, preparing a junk food feast.  Other TEENS pop in and out. Randy appears amongst them.  He carries an armful of videos. 

 			RANDY 
 	I thought we'd make it a BLOCKBUSTER 
 	night. 

He lets the videos splatter across the kitchen counter.  Stu and Tatum dive in. 

 			STU 
 	I thought everything was checked out. 

 			RANDY 
 	I had 'em hid in the foreign section. 

Sidney peruses the videos. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	THE FOG, TERROR TRAIN, PROM NIGHT 
 	--How come Jamie Lee Curtis is in all these 
 	movies? 

 			RANDY 
 	She's the Scream Queen. 

 			STU 
 	With that set of lungs--she should be. 

 			TATUM 
 		(to Sid) 
 	Tits--see. 

INT.  LIVING ROOM - FEW MINUTES LATER 

The party is going strong.  Ten maybe fifteen people stand, sit, lean.  Some crowd around the floor in front of the television.  Randy is taking a vote. 

 			RANDY 
 	How many EVIL DEAD'S? 
 		(hands go up) 
 	How many HELLRAISER'S? 

Hands go up.  BICKERING AD-LIB, etc. 

The doorbell RINGS.  Stu goes for it. 

 			STU 
 	I got it. Tatum get me a beer. They're 
 	in the fridge in the garage. 

 			TATUM 
 	What am I? The beer wench? 

 			STU 
 		(o.c.) 
 	Hey, guess who's here? It's that chick 
 	from INSIDE STORY? 

They look up the hallway to see Dewey and Gale standing in the foyer. 

 			TATUM 
 	Shit, Dewey! 

Everyone perks up, eyeing Gale. 

 			TATUM 
 	What is she doing here? 

 			DEWEY 
 	She's with me. I just wanted to check on 
 	things. 

The GUYS in the room are drooling over Gale.  Including Stu. 

 			TATUM 
 	So you did--now leave...and take your 
 	media muff with you. 

Tatum takes off for the kitchen. 

Gale has quickly become the focus of the party.  All eyes are on her. 

 			SOME TEEN 
 	I watch your show regularly. 

 			STU 
 	This must be big news to be on INSIDE 
 	STORY. 

 			GALE 
 	Huge. 

 			ANOTHER TEEN 
 	Wanna interview us? 

 			RANDY 
 	We could be like two grief stricken 
 	students and we'll say really nice things 
 	about our good friends who were 
 	slaughtered senselessly. 

 			STU 
 	I can cry on cue. 

Gale eyes the bookshelf above the television. 

 			GALE 
 	Maybe later? 

Suddenly, Gale starts to COUGH. 

 			GALE 
 	Can I trouble you for some water? 

 			STU 
 	How 'bout a beer? Randy--get the lady a 
 	beer. 

 			RANDY 
 	You get it. 

Gale slips the camera from her bag--hits the ON switch and holds it behind her...waiting for the right moment. 

BACK IN FOYER 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Have they found my father? 

 			DEWEY 
 	Afraid not. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Should I be worried? 

 			DEWEY 
 	Not yet. 

INT.  KITCHEN 

Tatum is alone in the kitchen.  She empties popcorn into a bowl, then pulls open the refrigerator...looks quickly, then remembers... 

She moves through the adjoining laundry room to the... 

INT.  GARAGE 

The kitchen door opens and light floods the darkened garage.  Tatum stands in the doorway searching for a light switch. 

She finds a button and hits it.  BRRRRMMM!  The electric garage door starts to rise.  Wrong switch.  She hits it again and it closes. 

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

Tatum spots the refrigerator against a far wall and heads for it, not seeing the kitchen door, quietly, slowly, closing behind her, sealing her off from the rest of the house. 

Tatum stumbles to the refrigerator and throws it open.  Its light casts a glow across her face. 

CRASH-BOOM! 

Tatum jumps, spinning around just in time to see a cat escape through a large pet door that's built into the garage door.  She smiles at her jumpiness. 

Tatum loads up with as many beer as her hands will carry and heads back to the kitchen. 

At the kitchen door, she juggles the beer, reaching for the knob.  It's locked. 

 			TATUM 
 	SHIT! 

She KICKS it with her foot several times. 

 			TATUM 
 	Hey, Shitheads! 

A moment.  No answer. 

 			TATUM 
 	OH, SHIT PISS! 

Tatum leans over and, with her elbow, hits the garage door button.  BRRRMM!  It begins to rise. 

She moves towards the rising door, beer in hand.  Suddenly, CRR-BRRRM!  The garage door RESETS, reversing direction, moving down, closing. 

 			TATUM 
 	What the... 

Tatum spins around to see.. 

A GHOST MASKED FIGURE 

Silhouetted in the dark, next to the kitchen door, his hand on the switch.  Tatum at once GASPS, taken back, but then relaxes. 

 			TATUM 
 	Is that you, Randy? Cute. 

The FIGURE stares at her, blankly. 

 			TATUM 
 	And what movie is this from? I SPIT ON 
 	YOUR GARAGE. 

Tatum takes a step towards the FIGURE. 

 			TATUM 
 	Lose the mask. If Sidney sees it, she'll 
 	flip. 

The FIGURE shakes his head slowly from side to side. 

 			TATUM 
 	Oh, you wanna play psycho killer? 

The FIGURE slowly nods. 

 			TATUM 
 	Can I be the helpless victim? 

The FIGURE slowly nods again. 

 			TATUM 
 	Okay, let's see. "No, please don't kill 
 	me, Mr. Ghostface. I want to be in the
 	sequel." 

Tatum takes a step to move around the FIGURE, but he steps too, blocking her. 

 			TATUM 
 	Cut, Casper. That's a wrap. 

Tatum moves again, sidestepping the FIGURE, but he's faster and cuts her off. 

Tatum juggles the beer against her chest with one hand and with the other pushes the FIGURE hard, knocking him aside. 

 			TATUM 
 	Randy--will you stop? 

But as the FIGURE intercepts, lunging forward, grabbing her wrist hard, Tatum stumbles...beer cans hit the floor, spewing... 

 			TATUM 
 	You little shit. 

Tatum yanks hard, releasing his hold when a flash of silver catches her eye.  She looks down, glimpsing a long sharp blade as it darts forward, cutting into her forearm... 

Tatum pulls back, horrified, as the moment turns deadly serious. 

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

 			TATUM 
 	Who are you? 

The FIGURE lashes out with the knife.  Tatum dodges it, leaping back against the fridge.  The FIGURE advances.  Instinctively, she rips the top freezer door open, BASHING the FIGURE in the face, sending him backwards, reeling. 

Tatum bolts to the...CLOSED GARAGE DOOR.  In a panic, she BEATS and PULLS
on it, trying to make it lift.  She eyes the FIGURE...he's recovering... 

She goes for the pet door, dropping to the floor, diving for it...she wedges her upper body through, her head, shoulders, torso just as the... 

FIGURE pounces, grabbing hold of her feet.  Tatum goes crazy SCREAMING and KICKING trying to get through. 

EXT.  GARAGE DOOR 

Tatum is half in/half out of the pet door.  She BEATS and JERKS wildly, unable to see the FIGURE on the other side... 

A true fighter, Tatum kicks hard, making direct contact with the FIGURE, knocking him away. 

She takes the moment to pull herself through further...but she stops...stuck.  She pulls and tugs but can't move.  She listens but hears nothing.  Where did he go?  An agonizing silence.  And then... 

CRR-BRRRM!  The garage door is activated.  It begins to rise upward, taking
Tatum with it.  She SCREAMS MADLY. 

 			TATUM 
 	NOOOOOOOO..... 

Tatum's arms and legs fly about violently as she tries to free herself from the door, but it moves too fast, carrying her up... 

She looks above to see where the door rolls back into garage rafters just as her neck hits the first beam, SNAPPING instantly. 

INT.  FOYER - MINUTES LATER 

It's getting late and SOME KIDS leave through the front door, muttering, "parents and curfew", etc.  The door hangs open wide.  Sid moves to close it when.... 

BILLY appears in a classic fake scare. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Billy? Jesus, you scared me. 

Stu appears. 

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

 			BILLY 
 	I was hoping Sid and I could talk. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	If Tatum sees you--she'll draw blood. 

 			STU 
 	You guys can go up to my parents room? 
 	To talk and...whatever. 

 			BILLY 
 	Subtlety, Stu. Look it up. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	It's okay. We need to talk. 

Sid grabs his hand and leads him up the staircase.  Randy appears from the kitchen just in time to see Sid and Billy disappear upstairs. 

 			RANDY 
 	What's Leatherface doing here? 

 			STU 
 	He came to make up. 

 			RANDY 
 	There goes my chance with Sid. 

 			STU 
 	Like you had one. 

INT.  NEWSVAN 

Kenny fidgets at the control board.  He hits a coupla buttons, bangs the side of the monitor and a picture emerges...the living 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.  Because of the camera's position they appear to be staring right into the lens. 

Suddenly, the van's side door slides open and Gale pops in. 

 			KENNY 
 	Got a picture. Perfect placement. We 
 	can see everything. 

Gale is ecstatic. 

 			GALE 
 	Tell me, Kenny, has a cheesy tabloid 
 	journalist ever won the Pulitzer? 

INT.  BEDROOM 

A large, master bedroom with glass doors that lead out onto a balcony. 

Sid and Billy stare at each other for a long moment.  Awkward. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	So... 

 			BILLY 
 	So...I'm sorry. I've been a selfish shit 
 	and I'm sorry. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	No, Billy. I'm the one who's been 
 	selfish and self-absorbed with all of my
 	post traumatic stress. 

 			BILLY 
 	You lost your mom... 

 			SIDNEY 
 	But you're right--enough is enough. I 
 	can't wallow in the grief process forever 
 	and I can't keep lying to myself about 
 	who my mom was. 

Billy bows his head quietly, knowingly. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	I think in some weird analytical, 
 	psychological bullshit way I'm scared 
 	I'm gonna turn out just like her, you 
 	know? Like the bad seed or something... 

 			BILLY 
 	Oh Sidney... 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Everytime I get close to you I see my 
 	mom. I know it doesn't make sense. 

 			BILLY 
 	Sure it does. It's like Jodie Foster in 
 	SILENCE OF THE LAMBS when she 
 	kept having flashbacks of her dead father. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	But this is life. This isn't a movie. 

 			BILLY 
 	Sure it is, Sid. It's all a movie. Life's 
 	one great big movie. Only you can't 
 	pick your genre. 

Billy moves to her.  They embrace, tenderly. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	I wanna let go. I do... 

 			BILLY 
 	Ssshh...everything's gonna be okay. I 
 	promise. 

Sidney takes the initiative, acting on impulse, kissing him long and hard.  She breaks away passionately, out of breath. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Why can't I be a Meg Ryan movie? 

Billy nibbles her neck. 

 			BILLY 
 	Sshh..it's okay. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	Or even a good porno. 

 			BILLY 
 		(shocked) 
 	What? 

She stares at him, her eyes sexually charged. 

 			SIDNEY 
 	You heard me. 

 			BILLY 
 		(incredulous) 
 	Are you serious? 

 			SIDNEY 
 		(surprising herself) 
 	Yeah...I think so. 

They smile at each other. 

INT.  LIVING ROOM - MINUTES LATER 

The camera sits on the book shelf lodged between two knickknacks, completely inconspicuous. The CAMERA WIDENS to reveal several TEENS watching the TV--the horror diehards. 

 			TEEN #1 
 	Look, here it comes. SPLAT! 

 			TEEN #2 
 	The blood's not the right color. Why do 
 	they do that? It's too red. 

 			RANDY 
 	Here comes another... 

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

 			BORED TEEN 
 	How can you watch this shit over and 
 	over? 

 			RANDY 
 	Shhhhh. 

 			STU 
 	I wanna see Jamie Lee's breasts. When do 
 	we see Jamie Lee's breasts? 

 			RANDY 
 	Not until TRADING PLACES in '83. Jamie 
 	Lee was always the virgin in horror movies. 
 	She didn't show her tits until she went legit. 

 			BOY TEEN 
 	No way. 

 			RANDY 
 	That's why she always lived. Only 
 	virgins can outsmart the killer in the
 	big chase scene in the end. Don't you 
 	know the rules? 

Stu finishes his beer. 

 			STU 
 	What rules? 

Randy hits the pause button on the remote and stands in front of the television, explaining. 

 			RANDY 
 	There are certain rules that one must 
 	abide by in order to successfully survive 
 	a horror movie. For instance: 1. You 
 	can never have sex. The minute you get a 
 	little nookie--you're as good as gone. 
 	Sex always equals death. 2. Never drink 
 	or do drugs. The sin factor. It's an 
 	extension of number one. And 3. Never, 
 	ever, ever, under any circumstances, say 
 	"I'll be right back." 

 			STU 
 	Wanna another beer? 

 			RANDY 
 	Yeah. 

 			STU 
 	I'll be right back. 

Everybody "ooohhs". 

 			RANDY 
 	There he goes folks--a dead man. Wave 
 	bye-bye. 

INT.  NEWSVAN - CONTINUOUS

Gale and Kenny watch the monitor.  The party is clearing out some

A RAP at the van door.  Gale pulls it open to see Deputy Riley standing, his face all smiles.

 			DEWEY
 	Sheriff just radioed me. I'm gonna check
 	out a possible lead. Thought you might 
 	like to join me.

 			GALE
 	What kind of lead?

 			DEWEY
 	A car was spotted in the bushes a little
 	ways up the road.

 			GALE
 	I'd love to. If you're sure it's
 	alright?

 			DEWEY
 	Ma'am, I am the Deputy of this town.

 			GALE
 	Can I bring Kenny?

 			DEWEY
 		(too quickly)
 	NO! I mean...I should probably take just 
 	you.

Gale steps out of the van turning back to Kenny.

 			GALE
 	I'll be back.

She slides the van door closed.

EXT.  ROAD - CONTINUOUS

Gale heads for Dewey's patrol jeep.

 			DEWEY
 	Actually, I thought we could walk. It's
 	not far.

Gale appears skeptical, but smiles anyway.  She's genuinely smitten by this young guy.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

SCARY MUSIC fills the room.  The party is reduced to the diehards in front of the television.

 			RANDY
 		(pointing to TV)
 	Look, here comes the obligatory tit shot.

 			OTHER GUYS
 	Beautiful! Finally!

INT.  BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Billy and Sidney are going at it...passionately.  He has his head buried in her neck.

 			SIDNEY
 		(to herself)
 	"Eight is enough to fill our lives with
 	love..."

It's working.  Sidney pushes Billy off her as she pulls her shirt over her head.  She fumbles with the clasp of her bra as the...

CAMERA RUSHES IN on her breasts.  Just as Sid's bra straps slide of her shoulders...

Billy moves in front of the CAMERA, pulling his jeans off, Blocking Sidney from view.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - SECONDS LATER

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

Finally, Randy grabs the receiver from the side table.

 			RANDY
 	Hello? Yeah....HOLY SHIT.

Randy, freaked, drops the phone, finds the TV remote and pauses the movie, the others protest
"Hey, Put is back..." etc.

 			RANDY
 	Listen up. They found Principal Himbry
 	dead. He was gutted and hung from the
 	goal post on the football field.

This stills the room.  Complete silence as the news sinks in.  ON different faces...a moment of devastation..disbelief.  And then:

 			TEEN #1
 	So what are we waiting for?

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

And in seconds the room is empty as everyone bolts for the door..HOOTIN' and HOLLERIN' ...leaving Randy, near drunk, alone in the living room.  He returns to the movie.

 			RANDY
 	We were just getting to the good part.

INT.  NEWSVAN - MINUTES LATER

Kenny is barely watching the monitor, he reached boredom some time ago.  He finds a bag of Cheetos and chows down when he hears SCREAMING from outside.  He peers out the window to see the last of the PARTY KIDS pile into two cars and race off down the road.

He chews a Cheeto slowly, his interest piqued.

INT.  BEDROOM - MINUTES LATER

The sex is over...and both Sid and Billy are dressing respectively.  That post-sex awkwardness.

Sid brushes out her hair as her eyes come to rest on the telephone on the nightstand...it puzzles her as a stark reveleation crosses her face.  She turns to Billy who sits on the floor, putting on his shoes.

 			SIDNEY
 	Who did you call?

 			BILLY
 	What?

 			SIDNEY
 	When you're arrested-you're allowed one 
 	phone call? Who did you call?

 			BILLY
 	I called my dad.

 			SIDNEY
 	No, Sheriff Burke called your dad. I saw
 	him.

 			BILLY
 	Yeah...and when I called no one answered.

 			SIDNEY
 	Uh-huh.

 			BILLY
 	You don't still think it was me?

 			SIDNEY
 	No, but if it were you, that would have
 	been a very clever way to throw me off
 	track. Using your one phone call to call
 	me so I wouldn't think it was you.

Billy stands up.

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

He makes a move toward her when..from behind, in a split instant, from the open balcony doors comes...

THE GHOST FIGURE

Sidney sees the FIGURE immedietely, SCREAMING.  Billy tries to calm her, oblivious to the advancing GHOST.

 			SIDNEY
 	BILLYWATCHOUT!!!!

Billy barely turns as a long steely blade rises high in the air.  It strikes down with force...hitting his chest as blood sprays the air.

ON SIDNEY as red crimson splatters across her face...as the knife is thrust in and out of Billy who tries hard to put up a fight..but it's useless...he never had a chance.  His body falls to the floor..lifeless.

ANGLE ON GHOST

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

SIDNEY who stands, numb...scared to death.  And only when the GHOST takes a step forward does Sidney break.  She takes off like a rocket...leaping over the bed and out the door.

INT.  HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Sidney tears out the door and down the hall, coated in Billy's blood.

ANGLE ON THE GHOST

as he catches up with her, grabbing hold of her collar.  She pulls away from him...her shirt ripping down the back.

Her hands find a door knob and she goes for it, pulling the door open...moving quickly inside...locking it behind her.

INT.  DARK SPACE - CONTINUOUS

Total darkness.  Sidney's hands scour the wall for a light switch.  The doorknob turns...the lock holds..as the door is nearly SHAKEN from it's hinges...and then...

NOTHING.  All goes silent.  Only Sidney's rapid BREATHING fills the space around her.

Sidney, trembling, shaking, reaches above her, feeling, until she finds a string.  She pulls it...as a lightbulb SWITCHES on overhead.

She's in a small box of a room.  The door is on one side, a small, narrow staircase on the other.  She eyes the doorknob, then the staircase...contemplating...but it's an easy decision.  There's no fucking way she's going up to the attic.

She unlocks the door and pushes on it.  But it won't give...she pushes on it again.  It's locked from the other side.  Shit.  She turns to the staircase.

EXT.  DARK ROAD - CONTINUOUS

A long, deserted country road.  In the distance, a single flashlight beams ahead, the only light in the black night.  Gale and Dewey can be heard.

 			GALE
 	So is Dewey your real name?

 			DEWEY
 	Dwight. Dewey was something I got stuck
 	with a long time ago.

 			GALE
 	I like it. It's... sexy.

 			DEWEY
 	Nah... it's just this town's way of not
 	taking me serious.

 			GALE
 	What about Gale Weathers? I sound like a
 	meteorologist...

CLOSE ON Gale and Dewey, walking closely, side by side-flirtatiously.  Gale is surprisingly nervous.

 			GALE
 	People treat me like the Antichrist of
 	television journalism.

 			DEWEY
 	I don't think you're so bad.

Gale smiles.

 			GALE
 	Are all the local boys as sweet as you?

Dewey blushes.  He starts to say something when headlights appear behind them.  They both spin as TWO CARS loaded with KIDS come racing right at them.

Dewey grabs Gale and pushes her off the road... just as the cars speed by, oblivious to them.

IN THE DITCH

Gale lands face up with Dewey right on top of her.  He steals a glance in her eyes before rolling off her.

 			DEWEY
 	You okay?

Something takes Gale's attention.

 			GALE
 	What's that?

Dewey looks to where gale points.  He finds the flashlight and aims it into the bush.  The tail end of a car is just visible.

 			DEWEY
 	Looks like a car.

Dewey helps her up and they move to it.  He shines the flashlight on the plates but it's already obvious to the CAMERA.  This is the same car we last saw Sidney's father driving away in.

 			DEWEY
 	Shit. It's Neil Prescott's car.

 			GALE
 	Sidney's father?

 			DEWEY
 	We gotta get back. Jesus. He's here.
 	What the fuck is he doing here?

Dewey is panicked.  He grabs Gale and they race off down the road.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Randy continues to watch TV.  He is now sloppy drunk, completely involved in the movie on the screen.

SCARY MUSIC SWELLS, filling the room.

 			RANDY
 		(to TV)
 	No, Jamie. Look behind you! Watch out!
 	Behind you!

And if he followed his own advice, he would see the GHOST MASKED FIGURE that stands directly behind him...knife poised.

INT.  NEWSVAN - CONTINUOUS

Kenny finishes off a soda and crushes the can in his hand.  He tosses it to the floor when a movement from the monitor catches his eye.

ON THE MONITOR is Randy, still on the couch, engrossed in the movie.  Directly behind him...the GHOST.  Kenny does a double-take.  No fucking way.  He watches as the GHOST stands still, unmoving, knife raised.

 			KENNY
 	JESUS...FUCK...

The GHOST takes a silent step forward.

 			KENNY
 		(screaming at the monitor)
 	BEHIND YOU! LOOK BEHIND YOU!

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

A LONG, SHARP BLADE

comes at Kenny, fast and furious...slicing into his throat.  Kenny falls forward...out the door as the GHOST MASKED FIGURE is upon him.

THE CAMERA PANS TO THE MONITOR

just in time to see the GHOST MASKED FIGURE turn away from Randy, leaving him unharmed, moving instead, out the front door, on a thirty second walk to the newsvan.

INT.  ATTIC - CONTINUOUS

The attic is long and narrow...cluttered with furniture, boxes, and the likes...moonlight filters in through a small raised window on the front wall of the house.

Sidney moves through the attic...BUMPING into this, KNOCKING over that...she passes a dusty mirror, jumping at her own reflection.  She cringes at her image, drenched in Billy's blood.  She stares long and hard...something about the blood, the redness of it.  She moves on, determined.

She eyes the raised window above her...a way out...if she could only reach it...

EXT.  FRONT YARD

Gale and Dewey come running up the drive, frantic.

 			DEWEY
 	I'll call for backup.

 			GALE
 	I'll get my camera.

They split up.  The CAMERA FOLLOWS GALE as she rushes to the newsvan, throwing open the door.

 			GALE
 	Kenny! Camera! Quick!

The van is empty.

 			GALE
 	Kenny?

A CAR HORN goes off.  Gale spins around.  It came from the patrol jeep in the driveway.

 			GALE
 		(calling out)
 	Dewey?

She moves across the yard to the jeep, the door hangs open...Dewey is nowhere to be found.

 			GALE
 	Dewey? Where are you?

A look of pure dread comes over Gale.

INT.  ATTIC - CONTINUOUS

Sidney has stacked object after object building a ladder to the window.  She climbs to the top, holding onto the window frame.

She spots Gale almost immedietely.  She SCREAMS OUT, looking for the window latch.  But there's not one.  It doesn't open.  Sidney starts beating on it...trying to break it...

EXT.  FRONT DOOR - CONTINUOUS

Gale, hanging tough, approaches the front door, unable to hear Sidney's SCREAMS three floors up.  Gale reaches for the door just as she hears LOUD, HORRIBLE SHRIEKS from just inside.  She backs away.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

AN EAR-CURDLING JAMIE LEE CURTIS SCREAM BLASTS through the empty living room as the horror movie on TV comes to it's horrifying climax.

Randy is now gone.

EXT.  FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

Gale races across the yard putting distance between her and the house.  She moves back to the van...

INT.  ATTIC - CONTINUOUS

Sidney has found an old tennis racket.  She swings a solid forehand at the window.

THE WINDOW SPRAYS GLASS

Sidney moves quickly, lifting herself up over broken glass and pulling herself through the window frame.

EXT.  SIDE OF THE HOUSE

Sidney wastes no time.  She looks for Gale, SCREAMING, but Gale is gone.

Sid lowers herself down the ledge, sliding down a sloped portion of the roof onto...

THE MASTER'S BEDROOM BALCONY.

Then she eases herself over the railing and lowers herself, letting herself hang as low as she can...then she lets go, free-falling the rest of the way...but in a split instant...

THE GHOST APPEARS

grabbing her wrists in midair.

Her body hangs, dangling against the side of the house.  The GHOST begins to lift her, pulling her back onto the balcony.

Sidney jerks, pulls, twists...but the HANDS have her, hoisting her up...Sidney SCREAMS MADLY...yanking one last time, freeing herself.

SHE DROPS TO THE GROUND, a good seven feet, landing on her back, hitting hard.  She grabs at a pained leg and brings herself upright.

INT.  NEWSVAN - CONTINUOUS

Gale is frantic.  She starts the engine up and hits the headlights when she discovers she can't see out of the windshield.

Gale rubs at the glass.  Sure enough, something is on the windshield outside, blocking her sight.  Gale hits the wipers as BLOOD SMEARS across the glass, it drips down from above.

Gale SCREAMS as a HAND reaches in through the open window...she looks up to see...

RANDY, staring at her madly.

 			RANDY
 	What's going on?

A sheer moment of fear as Gale hits the gas plummeting the car forward, into a ditch.  She hits the BRAKES.  Randy is thrown forward, away from the van.

Gale reverses, backs up, hits the brakes again...just as Kenny's face comes sliding down the outside of the windshield...eyes wide, face distorted, blood everywhere.

Gale hits the gas, and yanks the wheel, sending Kenny's corpse flying off the top of the van.

Gale spins the van around, onto the road, hits the gas madly, gaining speed just as...

SIDNEY APPEARS

in the middle of the road, drenched in blood, very much resembling a young Sissy Spacek.

Gale swerves to miss her, but she turns too sharp and the van veers off the road at top speed...flipping over on its side, sliding off into the thick foliage.

EXT.  ROAD - CONTINUOUS

Sidney races to where the van lay on it's side.  Sidney peers through the windshield...Gale's body lay limp and bloody.

SIDNEY CRIES OUT, turning, limping to the driveway.  She sees the patrol jeep with it's open door...she goes for it.

INT.  JEEP

Sidney hops in, reaches for the ignition...NO KEYS!  Shit.  Just then, Sidney's eyes go to the front porch.  She watches as the front door opens and a FIGURE appears in the darkness, undetectable.

Sidney throws the headlights...illuminating the front side of the house, revealing...

DEWEY STANDING IN THE DOORWAY.

 			SIDNEY
 	DEWEY!

Sidney opens the jeep door, moving to him, noticing his body, slumped, knees buckled...

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

THE GHOST

SIDNEY SCREAMS FROM THE BOTTOM OF HER SOUL.

 			SIDNEY
 	NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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

And watches as the GHOST leans over Dewey's still body, fumbling with something.  Then the FIGURE stands upright, in his hands he holds...

THE KEYS

They jingle in the wind, the GHOST toying with her, enjoying this...

Sidney, hysterical, locks eyes with 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 the MASKED FIGURE.

She uses every ounce of strength when suddenly, the GHOST DISAPPEARS, dropping down, below the window, out of her view.

Sidney moves to the center of the jeep, trying hard to listen over her own RAPID BREATHING, every sound AMPLIFIED.

Then she hears it, the soft JINGLING of keys near the passengers side door.  She pounces on the lock, holding it down.

A shadow cuts the beam of the headlights, unseen by Sidney.  The lock turns on the other side.  Sidney leaps over and holds it down, securing it.  This is beyond nerve-racking.  Sidney is certifiable.

Her eyes spot the police radio for the first time.  She grabs the mouthpiece and hits the switch.

 			SIDNEY
 	Help! Please! I'm at Stu Maker's house
 	on Turner Lane. Please, HE'S GONNA
 	KILL ME!

EXT.  FRONT OF JEEP

ANGLE through front windshield.  Sidney RANTING into the police band.  She doesn't see the...

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

The GHOST FIGURE reaches out and grabs hold of Sidney's neck.

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

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

Her hand reaches for the door, finds the lock, the door lever, she pulls...

The door swings open...

Sidney falls out of the door, hitting the ground.

EXT.  FRONT YARD - CONTINUOUS

Sidney, on her stomach, squirms away from the jeep.  She brings herself up to her hands and knees, looking behind her to see nothing...

THE GHOST HAS DISAPPEARED.

Sidney's eyes roam the yard but he's nowhere.  Completely gone.  Vanished.  Sid crawls to the front porch where...

DEWEY'S BODY LAY

Thinking quickly, precisely, she reaches to Dewey's holster and grabs his gun when a VOICE ECHO'S behind her...

 			VOICE
 		(o.c.)
 	Sidney!

She turns to see Randy racing to her, limping.  He appears stone cold sober.

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

Sidney throws the gun forward.

 			SIDNEY
 	Stop. Right there.

 			RANDY
 	Don't shoot. It's me.

 			SIDNEY
 	Don't come any closer.

 			RANDY
 	Listen to me, Sid. I found Tatum. She's
 	dead, she's been killed...I think Stu did
 	it.

He takes a step forward when another VOICE SPEAKS UP.

 			VOICE
 		(o.c.)
 	Don't believe him, Sid.

Sidney spins around to see Stu moving up the walk.

 			STU
 	He's lying. He killed Tatum. And Billy.

Stu moves closer to Sidney.

 			SIDNEY
 	Stay away.

She aims the gun in his direction.

 			STU
 	His movie nut mind has snapped, Sid.
 	He's gone psycho.

 			RANDY
 	Don't listen to him. It's him. He's the
 	one.

Sidney has lost it, she doesn't know who to trust.  She aims the gun at Stu..then Randy..then Stu...

 			STU
 	Come on, Sid. Give me the gun.

 			RANDY
 	No, Sid.

They both move toward her.  There's no time.  She must act now.  Finally...

 			SIDNEY
 	Fuck you both.

And with that, Sidney steps back into the house and SLAMS the front door shut.

INT.  LIVING ROOM / FOYER

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

 			RANDY
 	NO, SID. OPEN UP. PLEASE...
 	HE'S GONE CRAZY.

His fists POUND against the door.  Sidney, stumbling in the darkness, rushes to the phone in the living room.  Just as she reaches for it...it RINGS.  It scares the life out of her.  She SCREAMS, yanking it up.

 			SIDNEY
 	Please! God! Help me!

 			VOICE
 		(from the phone)
 	Having fun Sidney?

Sidney falls apart, SCREAMING.

 			SIDNEY
 	NOOOOOOOOO!!!

She throws the phone down, disconnecting the call.

Sid moves back to the door.  RANDY'S SCREAMS ARE MADDENING.  She eyes the lock, deliberating.

 			SIDNEY
 		(at the door)
 	GOAWAYLEAVEMEALONE!

CLUNK!  A NOISE UPSTAIRS.

Sidney looks up the staircase, into the darkness, her face SHOCKED to see...

BILLY

emerging from the shadows, stumbling down the stairs.  Very much alive.

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh God. Billy!

He's blood-soaked and dazed.  Sidney meets him in the landing, grabbing him, holding him...

 			SIDNEY
 	I thought you were...

 			BILLY
 	I'm alright. Gotta...get...help.

Billy goes for the door.

 			SIDNEY
 	He's out there.

Randy continues POUNDING ON THE DOOR, SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS.

 			RANDY
 		(through door)
 	Please, you gotta let me in. He's
 	gonna kill me.

Billy goes for the door.  Sidney blocks him.

 			SIDNEY
 	NO! Don't believe him.

 			BILLY
 	It's okay. Give me the gun.

Sidney hands him the gun.  Billy turns and unlocks the door, opening it.  Randy rushes in, grabbing Billy, pleading...

 			RANDY
 	Help me...

 			BILLY
 		(calming him)
 	Shhhh. It's okay.

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

Slowly, a small smile creeps across Billy's face.

 			BILLY
 	"We all go a little mad sometimes."

Randy squints, confused, as Billy aims the gun at Randy and pulls the trigger.  The BLAST throws Randy's body against the wall before sliding to a heap on the floor...still.

 			BILLY
 	Anthony Perkins--PSYCHO

BILLY TURNS TO SIDNEY...

Who stands only feet away, face aghast...

Fuck, no...this can't be happening.  Billy's eyes are on her, unmoving.

He sticks his tongue out and slowly licks the blood dried to his face...tasting it.

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

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

Billy, lurches forward in a fake-out, baiting her.  She takes another step back--petrified.

CLOSE ON BILLY'S FACE.  It is no longer familiar to Sidney.  There is something inhuman now about his features.  His expression is pure evil.

She takes another step back, shrinking into the dark kitchen.

THE CAMERA TAKES A MOMENT TO ADJUST TO THE DARKNESS as the outline of a FIGURE appears...

STANDING RIGHT BEHIND SIDNEY.

She continues to back up, moving right into the arms of...

STU

Sidney spins around...her mouth open in speechless horror.

 			SIDNEY
 	Stu...please...help me...

Stu stares back at her, eyes wide, lips curled in a subtle smile as he holds a small compact CELLULAR PHONE up to his face.

 			STU
 		(whispering into phone)
 	Surprise, Sidney.

His VOICE sounds affected now...the VOICE of the killer.

Sidney looks back to Billy, then to Stu, then to Billy again.  It becomes all too clear.

She stands between them, her mind racing, calculating...

SHE BOLTS INTO THE LIVING ROOM

If for no other reason than to put space between her and them...they stand in the entryway, trapping her in.

 			BILLY
 	Where ya going? It's not over yet. We've
 	got one more surprise--Stu, I believe it's 
 	your turn.

 			STU
 	Oh yeah

Stu disappears into the kitchen.

 			BILLY
 		(to Sidney)
 	What's wrong? You look like you've seen
 	a ghost.

Sidney stands, trying hard to hold a calm resolve.

A NOISE comes from the kitchen.  A low dragging sound.  Stu reappears from the front hall...wrestling with something...someone...

CLOSE ON STU...he has a body in tow, he thrusts it forward and it rolls into the living room.  Sidney looks down to find...

HER FATHER

bound and gagged.  His eyes wide in fear, very much alive.

 			SIDNEY
 	Daddy!

She starts for him.

 			BILLY
 	Close enough.

Stu places the cellular phone in Mr. Prescott's shirt pocket.

 			STU
 	Guess, I won't be needing this anymore.

 			SIDNEY
 	Why are you doing this?

 			STU
 	It's all part of the game.

 			BILLY
 	It's called GUESS HOW I'M GOING TO DIE!

 			SIDNEY
 	Fuck you.

 			BILLY
 	We already played that game. You lost,
 	remember?

 			STU
 	You have to play, Sid. Don't want to
 	disappoint your dad. He's been waiting
 	around all night.

 			BILLY
 	It's an easy game. We ask you a
 	question. If you get it wrong--you die.

 			STU
 	And if you get it right--you die.

 			SIDNEY
 	You're crazy--both of you.

 			STU
 	The official term is "psychotic".

 			SIDNEY
 	You'll never get away with this.

 			BILLY
 	Tell that to Cotton Weary. You wouldn't
 	believe how easy it was to frame him.

 			STU
 	Yeah, we just watched a few movies. Took
 	a few notes. It was fun.

Billy and Stu relish their madness, proud of themselves.

Sidney looks to her dad, sees the tears in his eyes.  She looks back to Billy, unflinching..a determined look on her face.

 			SIDNEY
 	Why did you kill my mother?

 			BILLY
 	Why? WHY? Did you hear that, Stu? I
 	think she wants a motive. Hmmm...I don't
 	really believe in motives, Sid. I mean, did
 	Norman Bates have a motive?

Stu plays along, shaking his head.

 			STU
 	Nope.

 			BILLY
 	And did they really ever explain why
 	Hannibal Lecter liked to eat people?
 	Don't think so. You see, it's scarier
 	when there's no motive, Sid.

 			SIDNEY
 		(fighting tears)
 	I don't understand...

 			BILLY
 	We did your mom a favor, Sid. The woman
 	was a slut bag whore who flashed her shit
 	all over town like she was Sharon Stone or 
 	something.

 			STU
 		(laughing)
 	..so we put her out of her misery. I
 	mean, let's face it, your mom was no
 	Sharon Stone.

Stu cracks up over this while Billy turns very serious.

 			BILLY
 	Is that motive enough for you? Or how
 	about this? Did you know your slut
 	mother was sleeping with my dad and she's
 	the reason my mom moved out and deserted
 	me.

A sudden silence.  Sidney is rigid with shock, his words resonant with truth.

 			SIDNEY
 	What?

Even Stu is surprised with his seriousness.

 			BILLY
 	Think about it. On the off chance I get
 	caught-a motive like that could divide a
 	jury for years, don't you think?. You took
 	my mother, so I took yours. Big sympathy 
 	factor. Maternal abandonment causes 
 	serious deviant behavior. It certainly 
 	fucked you up. It made you have sex with 
 	a psychopath.

 			STU
 	That's right and now that you're no 
 	longer a virgin. You gotta die--those
 	are the rules.

Billy sits the gun down on the table near the foyer.  And then moves to Sidney with the butcher knife in hand.

 			BILLY
 	Pretend this is all just a scary movie,
 	Sid. How do you think it's going to end?

Sidney doesn't respond.

 			STU
 		(excited)
 	This is the best part, Sid. Billy's got 
 	it all figured out. Why do you think we
 	kept your father alive so long? Why did
 	we save you for last?

 			BILLY
 	You know what time it is, Sid? It's 
 	after midnight. It's your mother's 
 	anniversary. We killed her exactly one
 	year ago today.

Billy turns to Stu with the knife.  They eye each other.

 			BILLY
 	Ready?

 			STU
 	Yeah...

Billy pulls the knife back and brings it forward quickly, slicing into Stu.  He stumbles to ho his knees, WINCING in pain.

 			STU
 	Jesus...

Sidney SCREAMS...as blood gushes..real blood, a dark, deep red.  Stu inspects the wound to his side...then he smiles...

 			STU
 	Good one. My turn.

He takes the knife from Billy.

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

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

 			BILLY
 	Jesus...fuck, that hurt.

 			SIDNEY
 	Stop it!

 			BILLY
 		(squelching the pain)
 	Got the ending figured out yet? Time's
 	running out.

 			STU
 	Come on, Sid. Think about it. Your
 	father is the chief suspect. We cloned
 	his cellular. The evidence is there.

Billy takes the knife and slashes at Stu's arm, two quick cuts...he doubles over...

 			BILLY
 	What if your father snapped? Your mom's
 	anniversary set him off and he went on a
 	murder spree, killing everyone...

 			STU
 		(in major pain)
 	Except for me and Billy...we were left 
 	for dead...

 			BILLY
 	And then he killed you and then shoots
 	himself in the head. It's a perfect
 	ending.

 			STU
 	Everyone dies but us. We get to carry on
 	and plan the sequel. Let's face it, these
 	days--you gotta have a sequel.

Stu takes the knife and cuts at Billy.

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

Billy looks at her, bent over, crazed.

 			BILLY
 	Oh Sid, don't blame the movies...Movies
 	don't create psychos. Movies just make
 	psychos more creative.

Stu staggers a bit.

 			STU
 	That's it, Billy. I can't take any more.
 	I'm feeling woozy.

 			BILLY
 	Get the gun. I'll untie Pops.

Billy moves to Sidney's father.

 			STU
 	Where'd you put it?

Stu is searching the foyer for the gun.

 			BILLY
 	It's on the table.

 			STU
 	No, it's not.

Billy hobbles over.  The gun is gone.

 			BILLY
 	Where the fuck is it?

 			VOICE
 		(off camera)
 	Right here, asshole.

Billy and Stu look up in unison to see...

GALE WEATHERS-CORRESPONDENT FROM INSIDE STORY

standing in the front door way, gun in hand.  Her body tattered and bloody.  Her hair a mess.

 			BILLY
 	I thought she was dead.

 			STU
 	She looked dead. Still does.

Gale holds the gun firm, in total control.

 			GALE
 	I've got an ending for you. The reporter
 	left for dead in the newsvan comes to,
 	stumbles upon you two dipshits, finds the
 	gun, fumbles your plan, and saves the day.

Sidney steps forward.

 			SIDNEY
 	I like that ending.

Billy lunges at Gale, but she holds steady.  Billy and Stu eye each other.

 			BILLY
 	She can't get both of us.

 			STU
 	Odds are--she'll miss anyway.

In a mad rush, they storm Gale, heading straight at her.  She pulls the trigger, but nothing happens...the safety is on.

Billy charges forward, grabbing hold of the front door, SLAMMING IT SHUT.  It catches Gale in the face, knocking her backwards out the door.  She goes down...out.

 			STU
 	Cool move.

Billy steps out the front door and retrieves the gun from where Gale lays.  Then he turns back inside the house to find...

SIDNEY GONE.

 			BILLY
 	Where'd she go?

Stu looks around, staggering now, bleeding heavily...Sidney has completely disappeared.  Only her father, bound and gagged remains in the living.

 			STU
 	I don't know Billy but I'm hurtin'.

 			BILLY
 	Where the fuck did she go?

Suddenly, the phone RINGS.  Billy and Stu look at each other.  Completely surprised.  Billy scrambles over to the phone.

 			BILLY
 		(picking up phone)
 	Hello?

 			SIDNEY
 		(from phone)
 	Are you alone in the house?

Billy looks to Mr. Prescott.  The cellular phone is gone.

 			BILLY
 	You bitch--where the fuck are you?

 			SIDNEY
 	Not so fast.  We're gonna play a little
 	game. It's called GUESS WHO JUST
 	CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED 
 	YOUR SORRY MOTHERFUCKING ASS?

Billy looks around the living room.

 			BILLY
 	Find her.

Billy is fuming now...slightly staggering...and starting to lose it.  He SCREAMS at Stu who has fallen to his knees.

 			BILLY
 	FIND HER YOU DIPSHIT!

 			STU
 	I can't...I'm bad off, Billy. You cut
 	to 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 their way. What
 	are you going to tell them?

 			STU
 	Peer pressure...I'm way to sensitive.

Billy flies back in the room, grabbing the phone from Stu.  He's completely nuts now, staggering, bleeding, totally insane.

 			BILLY
 		(SCREAMING in phone)
 	I'm gonna rip you up bitch. Just like
 	your slut whore mother.

 			SIDNEY
 	Gotta find me first, you pansy-assed
 	Mama's boy.

Billy starts ripping the room up, overturning furniture in a mad fit of rage...when he notices the hall closet.  Touche!  He smiles deliriously, heading for it, ripping it open as...

A GHOST MASKED FIGURE strikes from within, with an umbrella, the sharp end hitting him in the chest as it fans out.  Billy stumbles back, stunned, as the GHOST comes at him again...the umbrella lodges in his chest, and he goes down.

Sidney rips the GHOST MASK off her head.  She looks at Billy, disgusted, throwing the mask on Billy's now still body.  A movement behind her sends her reeling around to find...

RANDY slowly sitting up.  His body drenched in blood.  He's alive...barely.  He looks to Sidney...through pain...

 			RANDY
 	You know what I hate most about horror 
 	movies? The final scene...it just goes on
 	and on...and it gets so stupid...

Randy manages to stand when a FIGURE COMES LEAPING at him, completely unexpected...it's Stu...barreling into him...they fall back into the living room.  Sidney grabs the gun next to Billy and turns to the living room to find...

Randy and Stu rolling across the floor in a dead lock, fighting, both seriously injured...Sid tries to find aim when a...

HAND GRABS HOLD of Sidney's ankle, toppling her to the floor...once again she finds Billy on top of her...

IN THE LIVING ROOM

Randy and Stu pound at each other, beating and clawing...

ON SIDNEY as she fights viciously, attacking with everything she's got...

Randy is desperately trying to pry away from Stu...he grabs hold of the television set and tries to pull himself off the floor out of Stu's clutch...

His hands find the top of the TV...the VCR...he yanks on it, gripping it with his hands, bringing it around with force-CRASHING the VCR into Stu's head.  Stu drops.

ON SIDNEY as she digs her hand into Billy's open chest wound.  He CRIES OUT BLOODY MURDER.  Her other hand brings the gun up to his face...but he head bunts it out the front door...suddenly a flash of silver appears above Sidney.

Billy has grasped the butcher knife...he rises it high above Sidney ready to strike...when a bullet RIPS THROUGH THE FOYER striking Billy knocking him back into the living room.

Sidney looks up to see...

GALE WEATHERS, holding the gun in a death grip as smoke rises above the gun's chamber.

Sidney sits up as Gale moves to her, helping her.  Their eyes meet.  A life truce.

INT.  LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Billy and Stu lay face up, head to head.  Sid and Gale move over them, staring down.  Randy joins them.

 			RANDY
 	Sid, you found me out...I'm a virgin.
 	And pretty happy about it right now.

Sidney nudges their bodies.  They both stir.

 			RANDY
 	Careful. This is the moment when you
 	think the killer's dead, but then he
 	springs back to life for one last scare.

Sidney grabs the gun from Gale.

 			SIDNEY
 	Not this time.

She positions her foot on Stu's chest and aims.

 			SIDNEY
 	This is for my Mom, asshole.

She SHOOTS him in the forehead, a clean and perfect shot.  The she aims the barrel at Billy who's eyes suddenly open, blinking up at her, blood bubbling from his lips.  He's not yet dead.  Their eyes lock.

 			SIDNEY
 	And this Billy stud-bucket is for having
 	an incredibly small weenie.

She FIRES another perfect shot.  They're both goners.

Sidney drops the smoking gun, standing silent over the bodies.  A quiet moment when suddenly...

A FIGURE LUNGES AT THEM

Both Sid and Gale and Randy SCREAM in epic, final scare proportions as Mr. Prescott leaps forward, still bound and gagged.

Sid catches her breath, relaxing.

 			SIDNEY
 	Oh Daddy...

She rushes to him, untying him...while Gale moves to the bookcase and retrieves the hidden camera.

 			GALE
 	I wanna close-up.

Randy appears by Sidney's side, helping her untie her father.

 			RANDY
 	This is probably an inappropriate
 	moment, but you think you'd want 
 	to maybe go out with me sometime...
 	like on a date?

Sidney looks at him, dumbfounded.

 			RANDY
 	Maybe catch a movie?

A long moment as Sidney's face goes from disbelief to resignation to the slight trace of a smile.

 			SIDNEY
 	Only if it's a nice Meg Ryan movie.

 			RANDY
 	You got it.

He smiles at her...watching as Sidney grabs hold of her father, holding him tight as Gale Weathers, with camera in hand, gets one hell of an ending to this SCARY MOVIE.

THE END