S C R E 5 M

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. SIMONE'S HOUSE - NIGHT

A ringing phone.

On the sofa nearby is a young SIMONE CREED. She has a book at eye level, called "OUT OF DARKNESS", with a picture of a fresh faced woman on the cover, which seems to embody an iconic essence.

SIMONE'S concentration breaks, and she reaches for the phone.

SIMONE
(STILL READING)
Hello?

THE VOICE
(SINISTER)
Hello.

SIMONE
May I ask who's calling?

THE VOICE
You could; but what would be the fun in that?

SIMONE puts the book aside.

SIMONE
If I didn't know any better, I'd say this is a raspier than usual Ghostface.

THE VOICE
Do you?

SIMONE
Do I what?

THE VOICE
Know any better.

SIMONE stands and walks into the kitchen. She pulls out a cigarette from a wrinkled pack on the counter, and lights it.

SIMONE
(INHALING)
I think I do.

THE VOICE
Thinking's for IQ tests – do you know better or don't you?

SIMONE
Depends on the situation.

THE VOICE
Oh. Good answer.

SIMONE
Did I impress mister Ghostface?

THE VOICE
You did.

SIMONE
Oh really? What was so impressive?

THE VOICE
Confidence. It's exactly how a heroin would respond.

SIMONE
A heroin, huh? Is that what I sound like to you?

THE VOICE
That's what you are, if I need you to be. I'm auditioning new roles for my movie.

SIMONE
A new cast so soon? I thought you already knew about breaking the rules of an original.

THE VOICE
It's a reboot.

SIMONE
Tsk tsk, mister Ghostface. You should know better than to reboot a franchise in the same decade as its latest installment.

THE VOICE
Don't count it out so soon. I've got big plans for this picture.

SIMONE
Yea, I'm sure that's exactly what Marvel told Raimi before they typed the termination letter.

THE VOICE
This movie's different. It's like the script is writing itself. Raimi didn't exactly have the creative control that I do.

SIMONE
And what makes you so powerful?

THE VOICE
Decent investors, and a big budget. By the way, you might wanna ash that.

SIMONE'S eyes widen, as she realizes she's being watched.

THE VOICE
What's wrong? Nervous about the audition? Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do fine. Not many girls left in Woodsboro that are into the horror genre; let alone, ones' that can survive to be the reoccurring star.

SIMONE throws her cigarette into the sink, and goes to lock the front door.

THE VOICE
Don't bother, it's locked. I already tried. See, you still continue to impress.

SIMONE
I have to go now. It's been great talking to you.

THE VOICE
Aw, hanging up so soon? Come on, I was just starting to like you. It's always good to leave a lasting impression on your director.

SIMONE
I'm not an actress.

THE VOICE
You are now. I need an unknown name, celebrities are too vulnerable, and have no will to live. They're lonely and no one cares. I need someone the world cares about, till you fuck up, and taint your reputation.

SIMONE
But I'm not an actress.

THE VOICE
Consider this you being discovered. You nailed your audition, now it's time for the screen test.

A piece of paper slides under the front door. SIMONE is frozen in place, and cannot decide whether to retrieve it.

THE VOICE
Take it. It's just a side – wouldn't want the actual script getting out and ruining the ending. We've got a lot of pressure on our shoulders to make this one work, Simone.

SIMONE
How do you know my name?

THE VOICE
You never cast your leading lady without at least reading her bio. Now go on, read it.

SIMONE
What if I don't?

Silence on the other end.

THE VOICE
(EERIE WHISPER)
Do it.

SIMONE
Fuck you! If you really are Ghostface, then why haven't you killed me yet.

THE VOICE
I told you Simone, I've got big plans for you. Your face is really going to take you places. You could even be a bigger star than my current prodigy. She's still history in the making. I see you're a big fan.

SIMONE turns around and notices her novel standing upside on the kitchen counter.

SIMONE
How did you…?

THE VOICE
You feel that in the pit of your stomach? That isn't fear; it's fire and talent!

The door CRASHES open from behind SIMONE, and GHOSTFACE gets a grip around her.

She struggles, and very quickly realizes the potential weapon she bares.

SIMONE smashes the phone into GHOSTFACE'S mask. He grunts and falls to his side, allowing SIMONE to get away. She runs into the kitchen and shields herself with a large blade. When SIMONE turns back to GHOSTFACE, he is gone.

The phone rings from across the floor.

SIMONE is making no sudden movements to answer, so the phone continues to ring.

With the knife held in a firm grip, she makes her way to the phone and answers.

THE VOICE
(LAUGHING)
Welcome to the cast!

SIMONE
(DISTRAUGHT)
Why? Why me?

THE VOICE
I need a new Sidney. Think of tonight as your initiation.

SIMONE
Sidney? What does Sidney have to do with this? And with me?

THE VOICE
It's ALL about Sidney. Always has been. But now, it's about you. Enough time has passed, and she needs to be brought another message.

SIMONE
What message?

THE VOICE
You.

The lights go out.

SIMONE panics, and begins to stumble over furniture. She keeps an eye on the open front door, and debates making her move, but fear makes the best of her.

Instead she continues to stumble backward, and bumps into the basement door.

SIMONE reaches behind her for the knob, and turns it open. From the doorway GHOSTFACE forces his large hunting knife into her back!

She screams as the blade exits.

SIMONE drops to the floor. GHOSTFACE hovers, raising the blade into the air, as she finds strength within herself and stabs him in the leg.

GHOSTFACE drops to his knees, and SIMONE acts quickly, kicking him directly in the face. He falls into the blackness of the basement, and crashes loudly down the trail of stairs.

SIMONE struggles to stand. She grips the wall for balance, and notices the bloody hunting knife at her feet.

CUT TO:

EXT. SIMONE'S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS

SIMONE exits with a stiff limp. She's clutching the hunting knife so tight, that her fingers are flushed in a purple color of suffocation.

Blood gushes from the wound in her lower back, down her leg. She would seem to be defeated if she wasn't so victorious in the presence of her stance, and her head held high.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – MINUTES LATER

The air is thin and alone. The neighborhood is lifeless in a chilled midnight of sleep.

SIMONE moves slower. The amount of blood loss has her weak. Still with the hunting knife clutched tight, a light reflects off of it from a near distance.

A police car approaches, with a spot light highlighting her abused figure.

The police officer stalls the car a few paces ahead of her, and exits. He approaches her slowly, hand at the ready to draw his weapon, and his other in the air making a motion of surrender.

OFFICER
Miss, are you alright?

SIMONE is in a zombie state. She stops.

OFFICER
I can help you.

SIMONE makes no eye contact. She focuses on a crack in the cement.

OFFICER
If you could just hand that over, I'll get you some help, okay?

SIMONE'S hand trembles from holding the knife so tight for the period of time.

The OFFICER tenses up, and is ready to act if she makes any grave attempts.

OFFICER
I'm gunna come closer, alright?

No response.

The OFFICER edges toward her, never releasing his readied hand from his holster, until he reaches SIMONE and carefully pulls the hunting knife from her clutches.

OFFICER
(RELIEVED)
There that's better. Now let's get you cleaned up.

CUT TO:

INT. POLICE CAR

ANGLE on the jagged hunting knife in the passenger side - the blood stains are starting to dry along the edge.

SIMONE is dazed in the prison of the back seat.

The OFFICER is watching her through the rear view mirror. He doesn't know how to approach the situation with a question.

OFFICER
You okay?

SIMONE doesn't look up from the floor.

OFFICER
Do you talk?

No response.

OFFICER
It's ok, I talk enough as it is. I could probably speak for the both of us and still have more shit to complain about.

SIMONE blinks.

OFFICER
You look like you're in pretty bad shape. Boyfriend?

SIMONE
(WHISPER)
No.

The OFFICER smiles.

OFFICER
She speaks.

SIMONE picks up gaze, and looks out of the window. She winces at the sudden movements.

OFFICER
How bad are you hurt?

The OFFICER'S gaze PANS down her leg and notices the blood gushing onto the seat from behind her.

OFFICER
Fuck. Put on your seat belt; we'll be getting to the hospital quicker than I thought.

SIMONE obeys, making very slow movements, careful not to aggravate the wound any further.

The POLICE CAR heightens its speed, barreling down the road through stop signs.

The OFFICER looks back in the mirror at SIMONE, assessing her blood continuing to flow out.

OFFICER
You should put some pressure on that wound. You're gunna bleed to death.

Looking in the mirror at SIMONE, the OFFICER doesn't notice the oncoming car heading directly at them in the windshield.

CRASH!

The POLICE CAR flips forward and lands on its head, sliding inches away from the opposite vehicle.

For moments, there is only silence, then…

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS

SIMONE chokes out. She's strapped in, upside down. Her hair is tangled in the broken window.

As she attempts to untangle, blood drains from her wound, and makes its way up her face and stains the lightness of her hair.

SIMONE wipes her eyes clean and notices she's alone in the car. The OFFICER is nowhere in sight.

She releases the safety belt and lands on the reverse roof.

SIMONE crawls slowly onto the concrete, leaving a blood trail following behind.

A hand takes hold of her shoulder. She tries to scream, but nothing can escape her.

OFFICER
It's ok. It's me.

SIMONE struggles for a moment until the voice registers within her. She turns and is greeted by a familiar, now blood stained face, only this time, there's five inches of the blade of a hunting knife protruding from the OFFICER'S forehead.

GHOSTFACE throws the body of the OFFICER aside and moves closer to SIMONE.

A clean hunting knife slides out from the sleeve of his robes, and he bends down to grab her.

SIMONE is far too weak to fight him away, so she just surrenders herself to fate.

GHOSTFACE puts her down and brings a round device to the mouth of his mask.

GHOSTFACE
Congratulations Simone, you made the cut. You'll do the Prescott family proud.

He places the book "OUT OF DARKNESS" on her chest.

GHOSTFACE
I hope you survive to deliver my message.

GHOSTFACE brings up the knife and forces it down into SIDNEY'S face. The image on the book begins to bleed.

CUT TO BLACK:

S C R E 5 M