Disclaimer: I do not own Scream; this is merely a fanfiction.

…

It is evening in downtown Woodsboro. Once a quiet, small town, the downtown has been transformed into a huge tourist attraction, due in part to the infamous Woodsboro Murders. Also due to the fact that tomorrow is Halloween – a prime time for tourists to check out the murder spots.

Judy Hicks walks down the sidewalk in regular street clothes, hiding the fact that she is a police officer. She has an important undercover role tonight.

Kincaid and Turner had given her the name of the snuff film vendor – Ernest Raw, a local guy. Judy remembers that he often stands on the streets of downtown, selling t-shirts and other Woodsboro Murder memorabilia.

He had also done some hard time for selling drugs.

Judy pulls her coat tighter over her shoulders – there he is, in sight. A grungy looking guy, wearing sunglasses - even in the evening. She sure hopes she doesn't blow it.

A HAND SHOOTS OUT OF AN ALLEYWAY AND GRABS HER!

Judy's screams are muffled in the palm of her assailant's hand. She reaches under her coat to withdraw her pepper spray, when she realizes who it is.

Gale.

Gale lowers her hand, allowing Judy to speak. "Gale? What are you doing here? I'm on an official investigation, you know!"

"Oh, I know." She looks around, thinking up a decent lie. "Listen, Dewey needs you back at the office. He says he … well, he needs you to go over some reports with him?"

Judy isn't really buying it. "While I'm on an undercover job? That isn't like him. And why didn't he just radio it to me?"

"Hello? You're undercover! Did you want him to blow your cover! Yea, I'm sure so many people have a direct walkie line to the Sheriff! Common sense, Judy!"

Judy puts her finger on her chin. "I suppose that does make sense …"

"Of course it does! And besides, it'll be just you and him," Gale adds seductively.

Judy raises an eyebrow. "Really …"

"The two of you … alone in the office … at night … but don't worry, I trust you implicitly, Judy. I know you'll respect our marriage and not make a move on my husband."

"Of course, Gale. But I suppose I'll be going now – Dewey will want me back at the office, asap."

Judy leaves the alleyway and goes the complete opposite direction.

Gale is standing there, shocked that it actually worked. "How gullible can a person be?" She shrugs and exits the alleyway, heading straight past a couple of tourists and right towards the vendor. She makes sure that her pepper spray is in her pocket, and she has a tape recorder going in her coat.

Ernest Raw surveys her behind his glasses as she approaches. "Hello, Miss! Listen, have I got a deal for you! Two Woodsboro Massacre t-shirts for the price of one!" He holds up two black t-shirts with Ghostface's mask printed on them.

Gale pretends to be interested. "Nice. I think I'll take one," she says, hoping to gain his trust. "But you know … I'm interested in a more … visceral … piece of memorabilia."

Ernest's eyebrow rises behind his sunglasses. "Visceral?"

"Something that'll really get the blood going … a video, perhaps?"

"Ah, I have just the thing! I have DVDs of STAB 1 – 6 if you're interested! Two for ten dollars."

"I was thinking something a little more … real."

"Real? Doesn't get much realer than STAB. The first three were actually based off of actual murders you know!"

Gale hesitates. "Listen … I hear you have several very … special … tapes in your possession. It would really make my blood boil to see actual Ghostface killings on Halloween night. And I'd pay big bucks."

Ernest looks at her oddly. "Are you a cop?"

"Do I look like a cop to you?"

"No. Still … there is something familiar about you. Were you ever on t.v.?"

Gale fumbles over her words. "No, no. I guess … I just have one of those faces, you know?"

"I suppose. You got money?"

Gale opens her purse, showing him wads of cash. "Good enough for me. But I don't actually sell these kinds of videos on the street … I got 'em in my apartment, if you come with."

Gale stops short. "A-apartment?"

"Don't be dumb, lady. Do you really think I would sell 'em out here and risk getting caught? It's a very secretive business."

Gale makes a split-second decision. "Fine. Let's go." She makes sure the pepper-spray in her pocket is secure.

"Cool. My apartment's just around the corner. Just give me a second to close down shop." Ernest spends a minute or so packing his t-shirts and STAB DVDs in a suitcase. He folds the table up, and puts it under his arm. "Ready to go?"

Gale nods. "Lead on."

Ernest leads her down the street, to a broken-down apartment building. They enter the front door to the building and he leads her up the stairs. As she goes up the rickety stair cases, she can hear babies crying and cats meowing and hissing.

"Are you sure we never met before?" Ernest questions again as they go up the stairs.

"Positive."

"If you say so. Anyway, here we are." He fumbles with his suitcase, his table and his apartment keys. After a few moments of jingling, he pushes the door open, and Gale follows him in.

…

Dewey is filing some papers in his office when he hears the door open. "Hello?"

He places his coffee down on the desk and steps out into the office. All of the other officers have gone home for the night, leaving Dewey there alone.

He steps out of his office into the main area. The lights are off, and the only sound is the sound of a malfunctioning circuit breaker.

His hand finds his pistol. "Hello?"

He hears footsteps coming from the other side of the room, and he cautiously moves towards them, pistol out.

The tension builds.

The footsteps stop. Then start up again. They can be coming from anywhere.

They stop again.

The soundtrack builds, adding to the tension.

Dewey sees a figure moving behind a door at the other end of the room. He advances towards it, gun raised.

He inches closer, the music intensifying.

His fingers trace the knob, before he bursts through.

The music stops.

The room is empty, and Dewey slowly lowers his gun.

He turns around -.

BAM!

Judy JUMPS into the camera's POV like a jack-in-the-box, causing Dewey to nearly stumble over.

"Sorry boss," she replies sheepishly.

"Don't … ever … do … that … again …" Dewey holsters his gun, wiping the sweat off his brow. "What are you doing back? You were supposed to be undercover!"

"I ran into Gale. She told me you needed me back at the office."

"That's ridiculous. I have everything under – wait, did you say Gale?"

Judy nods, and Dewey looks like he's about to blow a gasket.

"Sir, that vein of yours is beginning to throb."

Dewey lets out an animalistic cry, before running out of the office towards his squad car, Judy rushing after him.

…

Ernest is sitting on his couch with Gale next to him. His sunglasses are off now, revealing bloodshot eyes – as though he's a drug fiend. He probably is. He presses PLAY on the remote. "This one is relatively new – I just received it this morning. This'll be sure to get you going."

Gale watches the television screen as the snuff film begins. The latest victims – Doug and Evelyn – are in the back room of BLOCKBUSTER VIDEOS, making out, getting hot and heavy.

The film cuts to Doug walking down an aisle. Ghostface appears and stabs him through the head and neck.

Gale is repulsed and wants to look away, but she needs to convince Ernest that she is really into it. She is forced to watch as Ghostface disembowels Doug, removing his intestines by hand.

It cuts Evelyn being called by the killer, being chased and tackled and finally – her skull crushed by a cash register. The film ends, and Ernest is watching Gale's reaction.

Gale screws up her face to make it look like she was thrilled.

"You like that, huh?"

Gale nods slowly.

"Well, there's more where that came from. This particular tape – it'll run you about five hundred dollars."

"Five hundred?"

"That's the price for quality, hon. And doesn't get much more quality than the real thing."

Gale stands up. "Can I use your restroom, real quick?"

Ernest nods. "Second door on the left."

Gale stands up and enters the bathroom. She closes and locks the door, before taking out her cell phone, attempting to call Dewey.

Dewey's voice comes in on the other line. "Gale, I am so pissed right now! You've endangered this whole investigation!"

"Dewey, shut up and listen for a minute! This Raw guy, he's definitely involved in the snuff ring. He just showed me a video tape of the latest victims getting gutted by the killer."

"Gale … you need to get out of there right now!"

"Not without that tape. It could lead us right to the killer."

"Gale, I'm -." He never gets to finish the sentence. Gale hangs up, smoothes out her clothing, and exits the bathroom.

SHE FINDS A GUN POINTED RIGHT AT HER HEAD!

Ernest is standing there, holding a driver's license. "I knew you looked familiar, Mrs. Riley. Or, Miss Gale Weathers!"

It's then that Gale realizes she had left her purse on the couch to next to Ernest, and that he had gone through it.

…

"Son of a -." Dewey swears under his breath as he realizes Gale hung up on him. Judy is sitting next to him. "That woman is the stupidest, most … argh!" He turns and looks at Judy. "And you're no better, Deputy Hicks! I mean come on, since when do you believe anything Gale says?"

"Sorry, sir."

"We need to get there fast! Seatbelt – NOW!"

Dewey turns on his police siren, speeding right through a red light.

…

Ernest is circling Gale now, holding the gun level. "I should've known better," he snarls. "The boss always says I'm too trusting for my own good."

"Boss?" She needs to keep him talking. The tape recorder in her coat is still recording.

"The guy running this whole thing!"

"So there is a guy in charge. Tell me, is he the Ghostface killer?"

"How should I know? I've never seen him face to face! All I know is, he's some big business type of guy."

"Really …"

"But enough talk!" Ernest tilts his head curiously. "You know what … I think another film is in order. Yea, that's right. Guess what? You're about to become a star in your own movie!"

Still holding the gun at her, he reaches over to a shelf and takes out a video camera. "Smile for the camera!"

"Can I just have one last word?" Gale asks. She has the pepper spray palmed in her hand.

"Sure, let's make this tape more interesting. What's on your mind?"

"PEPPER!"

"What?"

The next thing he knows, Gale sprays him right in the eyes. He screams and drops to the ground, writhing. Gale jumps over him, heading for the door.

ERNEST'S HAND LASHES OUT, GRABBING HER ANKLE!

Gale struggles to maintain her balance. Ernest is still screaming, his eyes closed, but his fingers tighten around her ankle. He forces her to the ground.

Gale kicks herself free, but Ernest struggles to his feet, blocking her from the door.

She notices the fire escape by the window.

Ernest is blinded by the pepper spray, but he can still hear her. Gale kicks off her shoes and begins backing towards the window. She grabs a trinket from a nearby shelf and throws it towards the other side of the room.

Ernest reacts to the noise.

BAM!

He fires towards the source of the sound.

That is all the distraction Gale needs. She flings the window open and rushes out onto the fire escape.

Ernest hears the sound of the window opening.

Gale is going down the ladder into a back alley. She looks up to see Ernest in the window, trying to squint through his burning eyes.

BAM!

The bullet barely misses and dogs begin barking outside.

"Shit."

She finally scrabbles to the bottom, but now she's in a back alley.

Where's the main street?

She quickly races down the alley, looking frantically around. No sign of Ernest.

She is preparing to exit the alley slowly, taking her steps onto the nearby sidewalk.

BAM!

The bullet grazes the brick building, just an inch from her head. She turns around, her eyes up.

Ernest is advancing on her. His eyes are half open, but he's able to see somewhat. "You move another inch, and I'll blow your fucking brains out."

Gale raises her hands in a placating motion. "Okay … let's be cool … let's all be cool."

"Oh we're way past that now! First you trick me, then you mace me? Oh hell, that's just asking for your brains to be blown the fuck out!"

"Come on, Ernest. You don't really want to shoot me …"

"No, I think I really do." He raises the gun, taking aim.

BAM!

Gale winces, expecting the bullet to fly through her own head.

It never comes.

She looks up to see Dewey standing there, gun raised, smoke pouring from the barrel. Judy is next to him, struggling to pull her own gun out of its holster.

"Dewey!"

"Not now, Gale!"

Ernest is still alive, moaning and swearing. Dewey had shot him in the shoulder. Judy rushes over and turns him onto his back, cuffing him.

Dewey is talking into his walkie. "I'm going to need back-up. We have a man in custody. We need some guys to take a clean sweep of his apartment for evidence."

Gale is right there, embracing her husband. "Good timing, Dewey."

Dewey is not happy. "Gale, that was the stupidest thing you've ever done!"

"No, not the stupidest. But I got our guy – and there's mountains of evidence in there. He's got a whole stack of snuff films. If you just go in -."

Dewey cuts her off. "I strictly forbade you to get involved!"

Now Gale is getting pissed. "Forbade? Forbade? I'm a grown woman! Who are you to forbid me?"

"As Sherriff, you have a legal duty to obey my direct commands! I told you to stay out of this! You were almost just killed – again!"

"But I wasn't!"

"Well I'm not taking that risk!" He sighs. "Gale, I hate to do this, but I'm putting under house arrest!"

"House arrest? House arrest? You can't stop me from leaving my own home!"

"I sure can. If you step foot a hundred yards outside our house, you'll be under real arrest!"

"I am your wife! You can't treat me like this!"

Dewey turns to Judy. "Officer, Hicks, escort Gale back home please."

"Right away, sir. Come on, Gale." She grips Gale's arm and Gale glares at her.

"If you want to keep that arm, I suggest you remove it immediately," she growls. Judy's fingers spring open.

The Deputy escorts her towards a squad car and motions for her to get in. Gale spares a last glance at Dewey. "You better sleep with one eye open tonight, honey. Because the second you fall asleep, I'm getting a pair of scissors and you can kiss your penis goodbye!"

She blows him a kiss and then enters the squad car.

Dewey cringes at the thought.