OPEN ON:

INT. BROADWAY THEATER – LOBBY – MORNING

Lucy enters the lobby of the theater, a Starbucks coffee in her hand. She hums along with a tune, oblivious to the various theater members either crying or standing there shell-shocked. Oblivious to cops in the lobby taking statements.

ACE: (offscreen) Oh Luuu! Lucy!

Ace looks exhausted and harried. He spots the Starbucks cup in Lucy's hand.

ACE: Oh, is that for me? You shouldn't have!

He snags the cup and takes a huge gulp.

ACE: I am so exhausted! I had a late night!

LUCY: Why?

ACE: Let's see, hair appointment at six, meditation with a Shri Lanken monk at eight – you should try it sometime, have you ever levitated? Oh, I went up out of myself and was looking down on myself -.

LUCY: Ace, what are you doing here?

ACE: I'm here to support you, silly! Even though Nathan couldn't appreciate my talents, I am going to support you in your role, even if you are an understudy!

LUCY: Gee, thanks …

They walk through a pair of doors into the auditorium.

INT. AUDITORIUM – MORNING

They walk down the aisles towards the stage and are surprised to see cast and crew members standing on stage, each taking down statements by several cops. Nathan, the director, looks absolutely devastated. Lucy exchanges worried glances with Ace, before they climb the stage. Chris Malcolm and Brian Sheldon are talking to the cops. Chantelle Montgomery is on the side, seemingly unphased by the whole thing. Lucy approaches Nathan.

LUCY: What's going on?

NATHAN: You haven't heard …?

LUCY: Heard what?

NATHAN: Luna Gold was murdered last night!

LUCY: What?

NATHAN: In her own penthouse. In a really sick way. The police are questioning all of us. They'll want to take a statement from you too.

CUT TO:

INT. THEATER SOUND ROOM – MORNING

Lucy is led into a private booth by a cop. He sits her down on a stool and leaves. A stern-faced, older female detective enters, followed by a middle-aged red-headed man. We recognize them from Screammake 2 – the woman is DETECTIVE ROGERS and the man is DETECTIVE WAYNE. Reassigned several years ago from San Martin Inlet to New York City.

DETECTIVE ROGERS: … and you are?

LUCY: Lucy. Lucy Maple.

DETECTIVE WAYNE: And what was your association with the victim?

LUCY: We were castmates …

ROGERS: And what is your association with Miss Kirbiline Reed?

LUCY: She's my friend – wait, what does Kirby have to do with this?

ROGERS: Leave the questions to us.

LUCY: (realizing) Luna was called. Before she was killed, wasn't she?

ROGERS: We're -.

LUCY: This is another massacre, isn't it? It's happening again!

WANYE: (to Rogers) She's gonna find out anyway, eyewitnesses saw the killer on the balcony at the time of the murder.

LUCY: Witnesses?

ROGERS: Luna was thrown from the top of her penthouse onto the street. This is New York City, of course there were witnesses.

WAYNE: It was trending all morning.

LUCY: (guessing correctly) The killer was in a Ghostface costume.

ROGERS: And the calls appeared to come from one of your costars. Brian. But when we checked the IP, it wasn't his. It was getting bounced off his phone. A common tactic from phishers.

LUCY: Is this the first killing?

The two detectives look at each other. Rogers sighs.

ROGERS: A few days ago, four teenagers were slaughtered in a horror museum in Jersey. We didn't let the media get ahold of the story. We didn't want to start a panic. The museum was shut down.

LUCY: Then that was his opening. (realizing) Tatum Riley's Aunt Nessa had just passed away! There was a funeral in Jersey! All of them are there for the week! Tatum. Billy. Dewey and Gale. Even Nicholette and DJ! All in one region! The timing is perfect!

ROGERS: Too perfect. We'll be in touch again Ms. Maple. Wayne – I think it's time we paid our old friends Billy and Tatum a visit. As for you Ms. Maple – don't leave town. We may have more questions and -.

LUCY: Am I suspect?

ROGERS: As I said, don't leave town.

INT. THEATER AUDITORIUM – MORNING

The cast and crew is assembled. They either sit on stools on the stage or are sitting in the auditorium chairs. Lucy takes a seat on the floor; for some reason Ace feels compelled to linger. Nathan the director is absolutely stunned. He's pacing.

NATHAN: This is it – the show is over. In all my years as a director –

CHANTELLE: Relax. The show isn't over. Just replace her.

NATHAN: Just replace her? Replace Luna Gold?

CHANTELLE: I have some friends. I'll put in a call.

NATHAN: No. It's dishonoring to Luna's memory and I won't put my cast and crew in danger! I have to call the producers, excuse me!

Nathan storms offstage and vanishes behind a curtain. Chantelle glares daggers at him as he leaves.

CHANTELLE: This is ridiculous! Ending a show – my show, over something so stupid!

LUCY: Umm, what planet are you from? Your castmate was just murdered!

CHANTELLE: Oh, Luna? She's replaceable!

ACE: Okay, I'm getting those psycho-vibes again.

CHANTELLE: I'm sorry, who are you again?

ACE: I am Ace Rinaldo, superstar and –.

CHANTELLE: Yeah, I don't care.

Ace looks like he was slapped in the face. He pouts his lips and angrily swings his scarf around his neck.

CHANTELLE: Anyway, the cops told me that Chris was the last one to see Luna alive.

Chris, who's sitting next to Brian, throws his hands up in defense.

CHRIS: Oh no, you're not pinning this on me -.

CHANTELLE: Where were you last night, Chris?

CHRIS: I answered the cops. You on the other hand – I don't have to tell you shit.

CHANTELLE: Screwing around with Luna again, I'm sure.

CHRIS: You're such a bitch.

BRIAN: You're back with Luna?

CHRIS: Not back with her. Just … we hook up occasionally, okay? No biggie!

CHANTELLE: Uh-huh. That makes you Suspect #1.

CHRIS: No it doesn't!

CHANTELLE: Let's see … You go to Luna's penthouse last night. You want to end things. Luna won't let you. You get angry. Figure, hey, let's make it look like some Stab psycho went off. You put on the costume, give her a few calls –

LUCY: There were four other teens killed by a psycho in a Ghostface costume the other day. Why would Chris kill them if it was only about ending things with Luna?

CHANTELLE: An interesting question. How many side chicks do you have Chris?

CHRIS: You know what, you seem a little too interested in pinning the blame on me Chantelle! Who says you didn't kill Luna?

CHANTELLE: Oh, I'd have gladly killed that bitch, she was getting on my last nerves. But if I were to do it, I'd do something more subtle. Like poison.

CHRIS: You're sick. You are sick.

CHANTELLE: Hmm, and then who was your partner, Chris? Could it be our own Woodsboro resident, Brian Sheldon?

BRIAN: Now hold on –

CHANTELLE: After your gorgeous brother Trevor Sheldon was brutally butchered several years ago, maybe you're gunning for revenge.

BRIAN: I already got justice. Jenny Randall and Craig Harding are dead.

CHANTELLE: And what about Jill Roberts?

BRIAN: Locked away in the wacky-shack, never to see the light of day again.

CHANTELLE: And what of the other survivors of that massacre? Lucy dear, aren't you friends with Kirby Reed?

LUCY: Yes, but -.

KIRBY (V/O): How about you let Kirby Reed speak for herself?

Lucy brightens up as Kirby appears in the auditorium. She rushes forward and embraces her friend.

LUCY: You came -.

KIRBY: Got your texts and it's all over the news.

LUCY: It's happening again, isn't it?

KIRBY: Looks like it. And this time, it's going to go off in a completely different direction than the others.

CHANTELLE: Okay Miss Movie expert. Tell us. How is this one different? (leaning back) This ought to be interesting.

KIRBY: Part 5's are always the odd one out. Halloween 5, Nightmare on Elm Street 5: Dream Child, Friday the 13: A New Beginning.

CHANTELLE: And I'm bored.

LUCY: Then feel free to leave.

BRIAN: I used to watch all those old flicks with my brother back in Woodsboro. Heck, I joined Cinema Club after you graduated Kirby.

KIRBY: Yeah, I hear you became quite close friends with Nicholette.

BRIAN: Yeah, I did.

KIRBY: As in you had a crush on her?

BRIAN: Nothing wrong with that.

KIRBY: Not unless you're a psycho killer.

BRIAN: Well, not to implicate myself or anything.

LUCY: Okay Kirbz, if this is a Part 5, what are the rules? What can we expect?

KIRBY: That's the crazy thing – Part 5's are so odd, so off the beaten path, that pinning down the rules are the subject of some of the most intense online debates.

BRIAN: Off the beaten path. Like Dream Child, where the main character was pregnant with Freddy's kid. Seed of Chucky was also about Chucky having a kid. (Beat) Anyone pregnant? The dad's probably the killer … Chantelle?

CHANTELLE: As if.

KIRBY: Halloween 5 was the entry which introduced the Thorn concept.

LUCY: The what now?

KIRBY: Thorn was the stupid cult that Michael was revealed to be controlled by in Part 6. Halloween 5 was also controversial in that it killed off the new heroine from Part 4, Rachel Carruthers.

BRIAN: If I remember correctly, her death scene was originally so brutal it had to be reshot.

KIRBY: Yeah, scissors down the throat wouldn't have made it pass the censors for an R-rated movie.

LUCY: Which means what?

KIRBY: I hate to say it since it points at me … but one of the new heroines from Part 4 could very well bite it this time. Which means I'm very likely to be a victim.

BRIAN: (beat) Or Nicholette! Aaw crap, we've got to warn her!

KIRBY: Already taken care of. She's not picking up her phone but she did text back that she's safe and sound with her boyfriend Danny.

LUCY: Oh yeah, because Danny seems like such a safe and sound person to be with.

KIRBY: She and I will have to be more careful than usual. That also doesn't discount DJ from biting it either. Or my old pal Jill.

CHRIS: So … if I'm hearing this correctly, Halloween 5 introduced the plot of a cult and killed a survivor from the last movie.

KIRBY: Yup, but things don't end there. Jason's 5th movie also diverted from the typical narrative. In that one, Jason didn't even appear as a flesh and blood monster. The killer in that one was inspired by Jason but he wasn't Jason himself.

CHRIS: Which means?

BRIAN: Which means the franchise could've continued on without Jason. Just like Halloween 5 continued on without its new heroine Rachel.

KIRBY: Yup. We're at the point where the franchise could continue on without me, or Nicholette, or DJ. Or even Billy and Tatum at this point. Kinda odd timing that they're going through a separation right now. Heck, the franchise doesn't even need Ghostface himself at this point.

BRIAN: Whoa. Let's not go that far.

KIRBY: Which leads me to where I've been building up – Jill Roberts.

BRIAN: She's in jail.

KIRBY: Not anymore. The "Reclamation Initiative". She's been taken to some therapeutic camp setting to "reform juvenile offenders." She's surrounded by psychologists.

BRIAN: Which means -.

KIRBY: Hello Hellraiser 5. The main character Joseph Thorne was a deeply troubled man. Turns out his psychiatrist was Pinhead all along. Which means Jill is in just as much danger as the rest of us.

BRIAN: Interesting that his name was Thorne.

KIRBY: Good catch! Connects us right back with the Thorne Cult of Halloween 5. And isn't it interesting Jill is stuck in some camp. I'm willing to bet this "camp therapy" isn't what it appears to be. Under the surface is probably some real dark shit. My money's on her therapists being involved somehow.

CHANTELLE: And how does this connect to us? Or those four teens that were just murdered?

KIRBY: Haven't worked that out yet. For now, we'll have to hope Dewey and Gale's powers of investigation are still sharp.

CHRIS: (shaking his head) I should never have gone into acting.

INT. THEATER OFFICE – MORNING

Nathan is pacing on the phone with the producers.

NATHAN: Yes. Yes, I think we should pull the plug. Or at the very least, hit the pause button until the culprit's caught. Yes, okay, I'll call you later.

Nathan hangs up. He turns – CHANTELLE IS STANDING THERE.

NATHAN: Shit, you scared the crap out of me.

CHANTELLE: Nathan … now I know you aren't thinking of ending my show.

NATHAN: Your show? I –

Chantelle pushes him back onto a table. She straddles him, rips open his shirt.

CHANTELLE: You wouldn't ruin my big moment over something as silly as a little murder, would you?

Her hands go down his shirt. Nathan grows angry at her callousness, slaps her hand away, stands up and buttons his shirt up.

NATHAN: Enough. This – you and me – it ends now.

CHANTELLE: You say that now. But desire will flare again -.

NATHAN: Get out of my office! Get out and you're lucky I don't recast your part!

Chantelle remains stone-faced. She sighs, pulling out her phone.

CHANTELLE: I didn't want to do this, but you forced my hand.

NATHAN: What are you -.

She shoves her iPhone into his face. He watches the video – him and her hooking up from last time. His face goes white.

NATHAN: You can't! That's blackmail!

CHANTELLE: Call it what you want, but you're not ending this show. Or I'll end your entire career. You will effectively be – what's the word these days – cancelled.

She turns, a devious smile on her face as Nathan lowers his head.

CHANTELLE: Sleep on it tonight, why don't you? Tomorrow I'm sure you'll have a completely different perspective …

Nathan collapses in a chair, holding his head.