SCENE TWENTY: ORIGINS

DARKNESS

*The scene is black; complete darkness, devoid of sound. Suddenly, a voice rings out through the haze. It is the voice of MICHELLE BLAKE (Kay Panabaker), all the way from Scream 5: Tour De Woodsboro.*

MICHELLE: Psst…Adam! Wake up!

*From Adam's POV, the scene slowly comes into focus. Groggily looking to the left, we see Michelle looking directly at the tutor, eyes occasionally darting back and forth from the professor at the front of the lecture theatre. The lecturer, PROFESSOR WILLIAMS (Chris Addison), clears his throat in disgust.*

WILLIAMS: Am I keeping you from something more important, you lot?

*From behind Adam, STEVE TAYLOR (Todd Lasance) snorts and flicks his pencil through the air.*

STEVE: Like some kids bell-end, you pedo…

MICHELLE (hissing): Steve!

*Michelle turns to Adam, concern over her face.*

MICHELLE: What's wrong? You haven't been yourself all week.

ADAM (yawning): I'm fine, Michelle. Just tired, is all.

DANIEL: They working you hard? Bout time someone did.

*DANIEL GAYLE (Corbin Bleu), to Adam's right, leans forward and smiles.*

DANIEL: You shouldn't complain. I'd have killed to get an internship at Steadman's.

MICHELLE (pouting): You'd think they'd have given it to the students with the higher marks.

ADAM: Who needs grades when you have talent like mine?

STEVE: Does this talent include reading clocks, genius?

*Adam looks at his watch, and jumps to his feet, quickly making his way out of the theatre.*

WILLIAMS: Somewhere better to be, Mr. Carroll?

ADAM: You have no idea, sir!

CUT TO – EXT. WESLEY COLLEGE – DAY

*Adam rushes through the campus. Whilst running across the grass, he spots TONY (Michael Cera) and VANESSA (Nina Dobrev) sitting on the grass. He slows down as he approaches. They are looking at a book together, Tony leaning in with nervous intent.*

VANESSA: Sigh…colo…vee…

TONY: No, no…sigh…colo…gee. Gee! Like gee whiz!

VANESSA: What is gee whiz?

ADAM: Making good progress, I see?

*The two look up; Vanessa beams a smile, Tony tries to look casual.*

TONY: I just think it's a good idea that if she is going to do psychology, then…

VANESSA: I will learn, Ton! Don't give up on me!

TONY (blushing): Never.

*A pair of hands pops up from behind Adam and covers his eyes. A familiar voice rings out.*

SARAH: Hey, stranger. Miss me?

ADAM: You know it.

*Adam spins around and kisses her. Sarah steps aside slightly, and we can see GINA BULLOCK (aka GEORGIA) standing behind her, hands in her pocket.*

GINA/GEORGIA: Adam.

ADAM: How's it going, Gina?

GINA/GEORGIA: Oh, a basket of puppies and a sky full of rainbows. How do you think it's going?

*Georgia walks away, and Sarah shoots Adam an apologetic smile.*

ADAM: What's wrong with her?

SARAH: Don't take it personally, babe…it's her brother. He's worse.

ADAM: Ah, geez. I thought he was in remission?

SARAH: Was; isn't anymore. Anyway…do I get to see you tonight? Don't you think it's about time we...?

*Sarah looks at Tony and Vanessa, who watch the two closely.*

SARAH (quietly): Well...you know...

ADAM: You know I'd love that...but I've got to get to Steadman's, babe; night shift tonight.

SARAH (pouty): Since when do interns do night shifts?

ADAM: Normal interns don't...exceptional ones do. I gotta go!

*Adam kisses Sarah on the cheek and runs off, winking at Tony.*

SARAH (calling out): I love you!

*Adam waves over his shoulder, ignoring Sarah's call.*

CUT TO – INT. CAR – NIGHT

*Adam sits in his car outside a large white building with the insignia 'Steadman's' on the front. The carpark is still full, even for that time of night. Adam pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks into the building, before putting them down again with a sigh. He picks up a file from the passenger's seat with 'Kirby Reed' written on the front. He opens it and begins to flip through.*

ADAM (reading): ...patient shows signs of post-traumatic stress disorder...intense physical therapy having a strong impact on the patient both physically and emotionally...father refuses to allow her to leave Woodsboro...family issues? Patient reacts negatively when 'Charlie' is raised...trust issues lingering?

*Adam flips the page and comes to a photo of Kirby. He rubs it tenderly, and then looks up just in time to see Kirby exiting the front door of the clinic. She is hiding her face, as though crying, and slowly makes her way towards her car.*

ADAM: There you are, beautiful...

*A flash of silver in the darkness raises Adam's attention. He ducks down lower into his seat before looking out into the lot. A shadowy figure is stalking Kirby; knife in hand, now only a few cars away. Without thinking, Adam throws the door of his car open and rushes towards the figure. As the figure is about to leap out and strike, Adam kicks the figure from behind, knocking them to the ground and the knife out of their hand. Kirby drives away as the two wrestle in the darkness, when Adam manages to spin the figure around, revealing Gina/Georgia.*

ADAM: Gina? What the hell!

GINA/GEORGIA: Get…off…me!

*Adam steps away, allowing Gina/Georgia to stand up.*

ADAM: Are you crazy? What are you doing here?

GINA/GEORGIA: What does it look like, Adam?

ADAM: Honestly? Like somebody looking to get herself killed.

*Adam points at the security camera stationed at the front of the building, pointing towards near where Kirby's car was parked.*

ADAM: I heard about your...

*Before he can finish his sentence, Gina/Georgia breaks out in tears, crying ferociously. Adam hugs her, keeping one eye on the knife that still lies nearby.*

ADAM: Hey...it's OK...come with me.

CUT TO – INT. CAR – NIGHT

*Adam speeds down the road with Georgia in the passenger's seat. He is careful to make sure Kirby's file is well-covered, in the backseat.*

ADAM: Why would you want to kill Kirby Reed?

GINA/GEORGIA: It's not about Kirby Reed. She was just an easy target...nobody would raise an eyebrow my way if she bit the dust.

ADAM: Well...then why would you want to kill anyone?

GINA/GEORGIA: Why should I tell you?

ADAM: What have you got to lose; besides, student-patient confidentiality.

GINA/GEORGIA: Why wouldn't I? My brother is near on dead...my parents are assholes...no guy has even looked at me in years...life isn't fucking fair.

ADAM: Tell me about it.

GINA/GEORGIA: You? Please, you've got it fucking made. Beautiful girlfriend, internship at the hottest place in the state, massive group of friends...

ADAM: Friends? Please. Michelle is happily dating perhaps the worst human being on the entire planet. Cherie is a selfish bitch, Vanessa is leading Tony on, whether she knows she's doing it or not...and look at this...

*Adam takes out his wallet and flips it open, revealing a photo of a younger Emily.*

ADAM: ...my sister, Emily. You wouldn't believe the fucked up shit that she's had to go through...what she's done...I'm sorry about your brother; about everything. But it doesn't mean you can go around sticking knives in people just to make yourself feel better.

GINA/GEORGIA: It was never about making me feel better. It was about getting me what I wanted the most...

ADAM: Which was?

GINA/GEORGIA: To get even with the world.

*Adam suddenly pulls the car over to the side of the road, glancing back at Kirby's file.*

GINA/GEORGIA: What are you doing?

ADAM: What if there was a way...a way for both of us to get what we wanted?

GINA/GEORGIA: What are you talking about?

ADAM: Imagine if we worked as a team...facilitated your sudden bloodlust and combined it with my obvious cleverness...and used it to get what you want...and, coincidentally, what I want.

GINA/GEORGIA: And what is it that you want?

ADAM (lying): To kill Kirby Reed myself.

GINA/GEORGIA: Why would you want to kill her?

ADAM: Don't worry about my motive. All you need to worry about is killing people.

GINA/GEORGIA: I...I dunno. Killing Kirby alone is one thing, but what you're talking about is too...

ADAM: Ambitious? You'll never get anywhere without ambition, Gina. Trust me...if you team up with me, then it'll all be smooth sailing.

GINA/GEORGIA: But what if something goes wrong?

ADAM: Then we get a fall guy...and I already know the perfect candidate. He'll agree to anything I tell him to do.

GINA/GEORGIA: I...

ADAM: The devil is in the details, Gina...

*Adam puts his hand between Gina/Georgia's legs and starts to rub. She moans and smiles.*

ADAM: ...let me take care of you.

*From outside the car, we can see it start to shake.*

END SCENE