Scream 2 early draft - Movies - http://maxpages.com/scream5/Scream_2_early

SCREAM AGAIN

EXT. MOVIE THEATRE - NIGHT
An old preserved movie theatre. The kind only found in a small town. Very picturesque.
The marquee in front reads:

SNEAK PREVIEW TONIGHT
"STAB"
Rated R

A line has formed around the block, GUYS and GIRLS--mostly college age. CLOSE on a girl,
MAUREEN, no more than 18. A friendly face with innocent eyes. She stands in line with her
boyfriend PHIL, same age. A handsome counterpart.

MAUREEN
I hate scary movies.

PHIL
It'll be okay, baby, I'll hold your hand.

MAUREEN
If we hurry, we can still catch the Sandra Bullock movie.

PHIL
We got free tickets.

He pulls her close, snuggling with her.

EXT. BOX OFFICE
Maureen and Phil reach the box office, presenting their tickets.

They pass through the front doors where an USHER stands randomly handing out GHOST MASKS.
A Hollywood variation of a most familiar one. Phil takes one.

MAUREEN
What's that?

USHER
The studio sent them.

INT. THEATRE - A MINUTE LATER
The small theatre is nearly packed to capacity. Maureen and Phil enter, moving down the
aisle searching for two seats. A YOUNG GIRL SCREAMS, whizzing by them as a GHOST MASKED GUY
chases after her. The crowd LAUGHS. Everyone is having fun.
Maureen and Phil find aisle seats down towards the screen just as the lights DIM.
People FAKE SCREAM in terror. A very lively crowd.

ON SCREEN
Credits roll as the movie begins. The studio logo appears followed by...

A ROBERT RODRIGUEZ FILM

IN THE THEATRE
Maureen turns to find a GHOST MASK in her face. Phil has slipped it on.
MAUREEN
I don't think so.

Phil gets in her face, playing with her. She swats him.

MAUREEN
Take it off.

PHIL
But...

MAUREEN
Now.
He obliges.

ON SCREEN
More credits.

BASED ON THE BOOK "THE WOODSBORO MURDERS" BY GALE WEATHERS

Maureen looks behind her, toward the rest of the audience. A sea of white ghost faces fill
the theatre. The publicity masks actually glow in the dark. A chilling sight that leaves
Maureen extremely spooked.

ON SCREEN
The movie begins. A house in the middle of nowhere. Lights burn from within.

Inside the house, a YOUNG GIRL, Alicia Silverstonish is taking a shower. The water cascades
over her nubile body. Suddenly, a FIGURE is glimpsed through the curtain. It's all very PSYCHO.

MAUREEN
Now why does she have to be naked? How does that serve the plot?

PHIL
Sssshhh.
ON SCREEN
The phone RINGS. The young girl pulls the shower curtain aside to reveal a robe hung on a hook.
She grabs it, running from the bathroom, into the living room, grabbing the phone.

GIRL
Hello?

A menacing VOICE responds.

VOICE
Hello?

GIRL
Who is this?

VOICE
You tell me.

IN THE THEATRE
Maureen is not having a good time. She's already spooked.

MAUREEN
I hate this shit.

ON SCREEN
The phone rings again.

VOICE
Why did you hang up on me?

GIRL
Who is this?

IN THE THEATRE
Maureen shifts in her seat.

MAUREEN
Why doesn't she just hang up and call the police? Stupid..

PHIL
Shush.

MAUREEN
I'm gonna pee. You want anything?

He nods. Maureen stands and moves up the aisle.

INT. LOBBY - SECONDS LATER
Maureen emerges from the theatre and into the small lobby. It is dark and shadowed.
She moves down a long hallway to a staircase. A BATHROOM sign with an arrow points downstairs.

Maureen hits the stairs to...

INT. BASEMENT LOUNGE - SAME
A small lounge leads to two bathroom doors. Very low lighting. Maureen descends the stairs,
heading for the...

INT. GIRL'S RESTROOM - SAME
A large bathroom. Five stalls line one wall. The door CREAKS open. Maureen enters and shoots
for a stall.

INSIDE THE STALL - MOMENTS LATER
Maureen finishes up, fastening her pants. Suddenly, the bathroom door CREAKS open. Maureen
listens. FOOTSTEPS are heard. Loud and heavy.

Maureen eyes the crack in the stall door. Not much is visible. Suddenly, a SHADOW sweeps by.
The footsteps stop.

Maureen finishes up quickly. She flushes, throws the stall door open and rushes out to find...

THE BATHROOM EMPTY.

The stall doors are all closed. Maureen shoots for the door. She rips the door open as a
FIGURE rushes her...

A YOUNG GIRL followed by her FRIEND, both perky and loud. They hurl past Maureen, LAUGHING and
carrying on.

GIRL #l
I got so scared my bladder rolled.

GIRL #2
You chicken shit. It's just a movie.

GIRL # l
No, it really happened. It's a true story.

Maureen is out the door. Now thoroughly spooked.

INT. BASEMENT LOBBY - SAME
Alone, Maureen moves for the stairs when a FIGURE emerges from the shadows. A GHOST MASKED
SHAPE appearing behind her...

LUNGING FOR HER, grabbing her, spinning her around. She SCREAMS MADLY as the Ghost starts
LAUGHING. The mask comes off. It's Phil.

MAUREEN
You ass.

PHIL
I'm sorry, I'm sorry but I had to. It was too easy.

MAUREEN
You are so not funny.

Phil takes her in his arms.

PHIL
Come on, baby. Lighten up a little, will ya?

MAUREEN
I get scared really easy, okay.

PHIL
You gotta go with it. Scary movies are great foreplay.

He's sincere. He leans down and plants a kiss on her. She caves, kissing him back. Sweet and
sensual.

MAUREEN
I just have a hard time with insipid, sexist violence.

PHIL
(nibbling her neck) We can still Sandra Bullock it.

MAUREEN
(nibbling back) Sandra started without us. We can stay.
He kisses her again, then breaks away.

PHIL.
Yeah? Okay. I gotta whizz. Meet me upstairs?

MAUREEN
Want some popcorn?

PHIL
Butter.

Maureen moves up the stairs out of sight. Phil turns, reaching for the bathroom door just
as a...

GHOST MASKED FIGURE appears in his path. Phil steps back, surprised. Suddenly, a flash of
silver shoots forth as Phil is pierced with a long sharp knife. Quick and silent. He bellies
over just as the Ghost Shape strikes again. Phil goes down without a scream.

CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY - SECONDS LATER
Maureen is at the concession. A GIRL at the counter hands her change and Maureen is off with
soda and a tub of popcorn.

INT. DARK THEATER - SECONDS LATER
SCREAMS and GASPS from the audience as the movie plays on.

ON SCREEN
A patio chair comes flying through a glass door. The young girl in the movie tears off running,
SCREAMING, flying through the room.

IN THE THEATER
The crowd is really with the movie. Some even talk to the screen. "You dumb bitch. Get out of
the house." etc.

Maureen makes her way back to her aisle seat. She sits down next to...

PHIL

who sits with the mask on. The reflection from the movie bouncing against it in the darkness.

MAUREEN
Give it up.

She sits down, with the popcorn.

MAUREEN
How many stabs did I miss?

ON SCREEN
The young girl slips out a side door, completely terrified. In her hand, she holds a portable
phone.

IN THE THEATER
Maureen offers Phil popcorn.

MAUREEN
Why doesn't she run?

Phil turns to her, bringing his finger to his masked lips, SSSHHING her.

ON SCREEN
The young girl runs by a window. She looks in. A GHOST MASKED KILLER stares back. The Figure
CRASHES through the window attacking her. She fights him off, getting away, running...

IN THE THEATER
Everyone in the theater is SCREAMING. Maureen tries her best to detach herself from the movie.
She eats her popcorn.

MAUREEN
This is so tired.

She turns her attention to Phil.

MAUREEN
Hey, you...pasty face...

Phil ignores her. She reaches over in the darkness putting her hand on his knee. She inches it
up. The Ghost-masked Phil just stares ahead.

MAUREEN
Whatsa the matter? Can't I get your ghost?

ON SCREEN
The young girl is running through the yard. The Ghost Killer is right behind her, chasing
her...she SCREAMS....

IN THE THEATER
Maureen pretends to watch the movie while her hand continues to move between Phil's legs. She
stares ahead, WINCING at what's about to happen to the girl on screen.
She doesn't notice as Phil pulls a long sharp hunting knife from inside his coat jacket.
Maureen's hand moves up Phil's jacket...something stops her. She feels something on her
fingers...something wet. She pulls her hand back, the reflected movie illuminating bloody
fingers.

Maureen stares at her hand...

ON SCREEN
The Ghost advances on the young girl, grabbing her, pulling her to him, raising high a long,
hunting knife. The young girl is helpless...

IN THE THEATER
Maureen looks at Phil, confused...as if seeing for the first time...IT'S NOT PHIL. She pulls
away when, the Ghost-masked Figure grabs her with one hand, the other one clutching the
hunting knife.
Maureen sees it, her mouth billowing forth a LOUD SCREAM
That is matched by the entire audience as they SCREAM at the screen.

ON SCREAM
The young girl is stabbed in the heart.

IN THE THEATER
Maureen is helpless. The knife comes fast and furious, striking her in the stomach.
She falls forward, into the aisle as...

ON SCREEN
The young girl, clutching her bloody chest...drags herself, crawling across wet grass...the
killer behind her...raising his knife again.

IN THE THEATER
Popcorn flies as Maureen falls forward, into the aisle, clutching her bloody stomach.
She's speechless, unable to SCREAM. She holds her bloody hand out for all to see, begging for
help. She stumbles down the aisle. Someone YELLS "Sit down." Maureen turns to several
PEOPLE who begin to react. She turns behind her to see the Ghost Face coming at her
again...knife raised.

ON SCREEN
The young girl is slashed again.

IN THE THEATER
The knife slices into Maureen again...then again. The theatre audience is starting to take
note as the Ghost keeps slashing at her repeatedly with the knife. A horrifying,
sickening sight.

Maureen stumbles forward, her bloody body moving down to the front of the theater. Suddenly,
the entire audience begins...

APPLAUD AND CHEER
Maureen, swaying from side to side,
turns to the crowd and emits a HORRENDOUS BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM as...

ON SCREEN
The young girl lets out an enormous EAR SCREECHING SCREAM that mirrors Maureen's as the killer
attacks one last time, stabbing her, silencing her forever.

IN THE THEATER
The Ghost slashes out one last time, direct and fierce. Maureen falls back against the movie
screen...very much dead. Her arms flail across the screen...smearing blood over the wide screen
image of the GHOST MASK.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.
SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

TITLE CARD "SCREAM 2"
FADE IN:

INT. DORM ROOM - MORNING

A typical college dorm room. Industrial strength furniture. There's two of everything.

A RINGING phone stirs a YOUNG GIRL in bed, asleep under a mound of blankets and pillows.
The girl starts to rise as the phone is answered. A VOICE is heard. Brass and sassy.

VOICE
(o.c.) Hello...uh-huh... Who is this? Well, we identify ourselves around here. No, you can't.
Uh-huh...yeah, right...

The girl rolls out of bed, her hair falls away to reveal her face--It's SIDNEY PRESCOTT.
Two years older has brought a maturity to this beautiful young woman. Her face posses a
survivor's edge. Stronger and more determined, she appears to have weathered the storm.

SIDNEY
I got it.
She stands and moves to...

HALLIE

her roommate and friend. An attractive young black woman. Twenty at most. Brazen. Fun.
Full of life. She hands the phone to Sidney.

HALLIE
Knock yourself out.

SIDNEY
Hello?
(silence)
Hello?

VOICE
Hello Sidney.

A VOICE spits out of the phone. Deep and haunting. Sidney doesn't flinch.

SIDNEY
Yes?

VOICE
What's your favorite scary movie?

SIDNEY
Who is this?

VOICE
You tell me.

Sidney grabs a small device hooked to the phone. She takes a look at its display.

SIDNEY
Cory Gillis. 442-8730.
Silence.

SIDNEY (cont'd)
Hot flash, Cory--prank phone calls are a criminal offense prosecuted under penal code 653M...

CLICK! The phone goes dead.

SIDNEY (CONT'D)
Enjoy the movie.

She hangs the phone up, turning to Hallie.

HALLIE
Time to change numbers again?

SIDNEY
Nah...I think it'll die off. It's opening weekend. Let's see how it goes.

Sidney grabs her robe and shower bucket as Hallie channel surfs. Various morning news programs
are on their small TV. Snippets are heard.

REPORTER
(from TV) "..The two victims, Maureen Evans and Phil Stevens..."

The channel switches. A YOUNG MAN is being interviewed. Attractive, sullen. Sad.

YOUNG MAN (from TV)
Please, I just wanna be left alone.

His voice stops Sidney cold. She turns to the television.

HALLIE
He sure gives a lot of interviews for someone who wants to be left alone.

Hallie hits the remote. The man's image disappears as the TV goes off. Hallie turns, all smiles.

HALLIE
Get your ass in gear. You're late. Don't forget we've got rush at the Deltas tonight. Don't
wear anything you don't want trashed. Sid? Sid?

Sidney turns from the television. Momentarily lost. Recovery is immediate.

SIDNEY
I can't believe I let you talk me into going Greek.

Sid moves to the door and throws it open. A GHOST FIGURE LEAPS at her. She SCREAMS but then
stops herself.

It's just a costume hung from her doorframe. Preset, to scare. Another prank. Sidney rips it
down, turns to Hallie, throwing the costume at her.

SIDNEY
Pumps. Nice handbag. Whaddya think?

Sid is surprisingly cool. She exits out the door, leaving Hallie staring at the Ghost Mask
in her hands.

CUT TO:

EXT. DORMITORY - MORNING - LITTLE LATER
Sid steps outside of her dorm. The morning sun shines down as Sid breathes in, taking in the
day just as FIFTY NEWS REPORTERS NOB HER.

REPORTER #2
Sidney, did you know the victims?

REPORTER #1
Do you feel responsible for the murders?

SIDNEY
What murders?

Microphones are shoved in her face as Sidney is seiged upon by journalists and TV cameras.
She starts to panic.

REPORTER #3
Do you think there will be more murders?

Sidney is mortified. She pushes and shoves but there is no escape. The questions come at her
like lightning. She sees a whole in the crowd and goes for it as a REPORTER, a
flashy woman--all hair and teeth, thick sunglasses, moves in her way.

FLASHY REPORTER
Did you kill them last night, Sid? Has it gotten to you? Have you finally snapped?

Sidney's eyes flare. Her fist starts to clench when...
BAM! Someone beats her to it. A fist flies out from the crowd, connecting with the flashy
woman's face. She drops. Sid spins around to find...

GALE WEATHERS

standing, tight-fisted. Their eyes meet. A quick moment. Sidney is happy to see her.

The onslaught continues. Cameras flash, reporters shove. Gale moves in front of Sid, holding
the crowd at bay. The reporters begin to throw questions at Gale.

GALE (to Sid)
Quick, get outta here.
SIDNEY
What's going on?
GALE
Just go. l'll find you later.

Sid wastes no time. She takes off, running around the side of the building. She stops, takes a
breath, but the reporters are on her tail. She looks up to see a...

SMALL CAMPUS SECURITY VEHICLE

appear, moving towards her. It slows down.

MAN'S VOICE (from the vehicle)
Hop on, Sid.

Sid goes for it as two hands reach out to help her. One smooth move and Sidney is in the arms
of...

DEWEY RILEY

She looks at him. Her face a book of questions.

SIDNEY
What's going on, Dewey?

He smiles at her. A safe, warm smile. His face as cute as ever.

DEWEY
It'll be alright.

CUT TO:

EXT. SECURITY CART - MINUTES LATER
The security cart trots along, passing STUDENTS coming and going. Dressed smartly in a campus
security outfit, Dewey maneuvers the cart across the campus grounds. Sidney rides beside him,
horrified as she listens to him.

SIDNEY
Three hundred people watched? Nobody did anything?

DEWEY
They thought it was a publicity stunt.

SIDNEY
Oh my God. How could it happen?

DEWEY
They don't know. It was carefully planned. Earlier in the day the victims received anonymous
passes to the movie.

SIDNEY
It's a copycat killer I knew this would happen. That fucking movie.

The cart comes to a stop in front of a building.

DEWEY
As of now, they don't see any relation. But they're checking it out. The state, Special Task
Force, FBI--they're all here. They'll find the guy.

SIDNEY
Yeah, right.

DEWEY
Look, Sid, why don't you take off? Disappear for a few days. I'll come with you.

SIDNEY
No. I will not crawl under a rock. This is a fucked-up world and people kill people all the
time. I'll just get used to it.

Dewey steps down off the security cart and helps Sid off.

DEWEY
Nothing will happen to you. I promise.
Sid's tough demeanor is cracking. She takes a deep breath.

DEWEY
That's why I'm here, right? We take care of each other. C'mon, I'll walk you to class.

He starts off, for the first time, a severe limp is visible as his left leg drags behind him.

SIDNEY
You go, it's all stairs, I can take it from here.

DEWEY
Don't worry...

SIDNEY
Dewey, I'm completely equipped with mace, alarm whistle, keyring, knife, a degree in
defensive combat...

DEWEY
Just in case...

SIDNEY
No. This is nothing, Dewey. I'll be okay. Go back to work and let me get back to my quasi
pseudo-happy existence.

Sidney reaches up and gives her pseudo-brother a kiss, then takes off for the building.
Dewey watches until she disappears inside, then limps back to his security cart.

CUT TO:

EXT. STUDENT UNION PARKING LOT - MINUTES LATER
A newsvan pulls up and parks next to a trough of other newsvans and REPORTERS. Some are doing
live remotes, others ready themselves for the next onslaught.

Gale gets out of the newsvan, her cellular affixed to her ear.

GALE
I don't know...no one's talking. What's the studio's position? Never happen. They'd be stupid
to pull the movie. With all this free press--they're gonna have huge numbers this weekend.
It'll break box office records. Of course I have bumps.

Gale's CAMERAMAN can be seen behind her, in the van fussing with equipment.

GALE (cont'd)
I need two minutes at six o'clock.
I wanna do a piece on the slain kids--no sympathy shit--let's stick with the movie angle.
I wanna pull a clip from an old film...

Gale turns to her cameraman, snapping her fingers.

GALE (cont'd)
Hey, what was the name of that movie?

The guy looks up at her. It's RANDY. Two years older but still the charming jokester.

RANDY
HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE. MGN/UA. 1980. Tom Hanks' first film.

GALE (cont'd)
(into phone)
HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE. Yeah, find it. Don't worry, I've got it covered...I have a plan.
Yeah, I'll get it. Give it a rest--I said I'll get it. Later.

She hangs up, turning to Randy.

GALE (cont'd)
Pressure's on. You ready for this?

RANDY
I'm there, man. No worries. I got ya covered. I'm so there. That's why I'm here--because
I'm there.

Randy holds up his camera--stoked.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL OF FILM - LATER
Sidney moves down a hallway. Not your typical school building. Through open doorways, film
equipment is glimpsed. Editing bays and the like. She's in the Film Department.
She comes upon an open door and peers in. A large room, a class is in progress.
She slips in quietly.

INT. CLASSROOM - SAME
Sidney takes a seat at the back of the room. A handful of FILM STUDENTS sit around on torn
couches heavy in discussion. Sid goes unnoticed as she watches a whirlwind debate.
A SNOTTY GUY is pontificating a point.

SNOTTY GUY
Sequels are too handicapped. By definition alone, they're inferior films.

Hallie sits on a couch next to MICKEY, 20's, atheletic, cool and rowdy. Arms enwrapped.

MICKEY
Bullshit generalization. Many sequels have surpassed their original.

SNOTTY GUY
Name one.

MICKEY
ALIENS Far better than the original.

ANOTHER GUY
Subjective.

SOME GIRL
Life's subjective. I much prefer Ridley Scott.

The conversation overlaps, everyone arguing..making their point about ALIENS VS. ALIEN.

HALLIE
No way. ALIENS rocked. "Stay away from her--you bitch."

SNOTTY GUY
I'll give you that one. Name another.

MICKEY
T2.

SOME GIRL
You've got a hard-on for Camer

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Page Updated Sat Feb 26, 2000 8:45am EST