Disclaimer: I do not own Scream or make any money from it. This is merely a fanfiction.
Chapter 1:
OPEN ON:
EXT. GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER – NIGHT
Dozens of celebrities mill around outside the famed LA theater. They wave and smile as they walk up the red carpet.
SMASH ON:
RUBY ROZE, the premier MC, a middle-aged woman with a lot of facial work done. Not her real name – she based it on Ruby Rhod from The Fifth Element, though she looks more like Rita Skeeter from Harry Potter. Thick glasses, platinum blonde hair, mole on her chin – and yet her leopard print dress and long nails make her completely over the top.
RUBY ROZE: And we're here at the Gruaman's Chinese Theater, all anticipating the premiere of Stab! Oh look, look – guests are already arriving, full fashion! Who's that coming – oh, just Courtney Love, shot like usual. Moving on – and we have – my goodness, is that David Schwimmer?!
Actor DAVID SCHWIMMER slowly walks by, head down. Ruby Roze grabs him and he sighs.
RUBY ROZE: David Schwimmer!
DAVID SCHWIMMER: Oh … hey …
RUBY ROZE: Are you looking forward to the premiere tonight?
DAVID SCHWIMMER: (sighing, shrugging) I guess …
RUBY ROZE: If you could have one thing come out of tonight's premiere, what would it be?
DAVID SCHWIMMER: World peace …
Ruby shoves David Schwimmer aside and he staggers into a bunch of groupies as Ruby takes center stage on the red carpet.
RUBY ROZE: Who's coming up now? Is that – oh my goodness, it's Harrison Ford!
HARRISON FORD sees her coming. His eyes widen and he tries to rush past her into the building. Oh no, not on her watch.
RUBY ROZE: Harrison! Harrison, dear!
HARRISON FORD: Shit!
She grabs him, pulls him front and center.
RUBY ROZE: Harrison dear, it's been too long!
HARRISON FORD: I was hoping it would be longer.
RUBY ROZE: (gently whacking him) You're such a kidder.
HARRISON FORD: I wasn't -.
RUBY ROZE: (interrupting) Tell me dear, you made an unexpected return in the last Star Wars movie. Is this truly the end of Han Solo?
HARRISON FORD: (gritting his teeth) Yes, but I was told that last time too …
RUBY ROZE: Han Solo is dead, and yet you still get to play him! What a treat!
HARRISON FORD: More like my own personal hell. (points) Hey look at what Paula Abdul's wearing tonight!
RUBY ROZE: (spinning her head) Where?!
Harrison Ford takes the opportunity to take off running into the theater.
RUBY ROZE: And it looks like the premiere's director has arrived. Oh Roman – Roman Bridger!
ROMAN BRIDGER approaches in a suit, smiling warmly.
ROMAN: Ruby!
He kisses her on the cheek.
RUBY: Roman, dear – this is your directorial debut, isn't it?
ROMAN: Well, I mean I made several music videos, but –
RUBY: Tell me, dear – what do you say to those who accuse you of profiting from murder?
ROMAN: (looking directly into Ruby's camera) I say, you're wrong. These events were horrific, but we need to understand the why. Why did Sidney Prescott and Cotton Weary commit murder? What drove Bryson and Desirae to butcher those kids? That's what I'm going for.
RUBY: What about the pending lawsuit by Billy Loomis and Tatum Riley?
ROMAN: It'll blow over and they don't have any legal standing. I mean come on – this is a true story! Are we going to sueevery filmmaker who depicts historical events? Then we can't make any more World War 2 movies. This movie was artistically done –
RUBY: But you depict the deaths of their friends –
ROMAN: Tastefully. Tasteful depictions of the deaths of their friends. When Stu gets his head slammed into a bunch of knives, you have my word that it was filmed with the utmost respect.
RUBY: What about the guy who was eaten by a shark?
ROMAN: Well, he was douche.
RUBY: Now, is it true that the film has more than one ending?
ROMAN: Multiple endings. I had to ship out nearly a dozen different scripts. Not one cast member had the complete screenplay.
RUBY: Why was that?
ROMAN: Didn't want to spoil the surprise twist.
RUBY: Oh, come on Roman. We all know the identities of the killers. Sidney Prescott and Cotton Weary.
ROMAN: No, that's not the twist I had in mind. One final surprise, a final twist that's gonna blow everyone's minds.
RUBY: Can't wait to see it!
ROMAN: Oh, it'll be – and pardon the pun – to die for!
RUBY: (turning to someone else) And here's the star! Daisy Kean! Daisy! Tell me – what's it like to depict Tatum Riley?!
Roman steps aside as a young 22-year old blond girl, actress DAISY KEAN, approaches smiling.
DAISY: It was incredible! I feel like I'm one of the few people who really knows the true Tatum Riley!
RUBY: If I'm not mistaken, this is your first film appearance.
ROMAN: And she knocked it out of the park!
RUBY: But I understand that your personal life has been marked with tragedy – much like Tatum's?
DAISY: I lost my mother a few years ago … it was hard, but I threw myself into acting. Every performance, everything I did, is to her memory. It was my life dream to be an actress. My mother was always in my corner, always supportive.
Roman grabs Daisy's arm.
ROMAN: Ruby – if you'll excuse us, we have to cut this interview short. The premiere is starting momentarily.
RUBY: Of course – but before you go – one final question. Daisy – you've had some stalking incidents as of late.
ROMAN: As I said -.
DAISY: Yeah. Someone tried to break into my house the other night. My cell phone went missing for a while.
RUBY: Do you have any concerns at all that … well, maybe someone who can't tell fact from fiction might be inspired by these films … might copycat the murders and come after you, thinking you're the real Tatum?
ROMAN: Ruby – that's not appropriate -.
DAISY: It's something that keeps me up at night every now and again. I think that's what makes this movie so scary – that it could happen. That someone – anyone – could be inspired to don a ghost mask and take up the knife and go Michael Myers on everyone. It's a haunting thought.
RUBY: (turning to her camera) There you have it. Daisy Kean, Roman Bridger. Actress and director. And now, we turn to -.
Roman takes Daisy by the arm and leads her through the doors of the theater.
INT. GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATER – LOBBY – NIGHT
The two walk through the crowds of celebrities and directors in the lobby. Roman reprimands her as they walk.
ROMAN: You shouldn't have said all that. We don't need any more negative publicity about this film.
DAISY: Well, I was answering the question honestly.
ROMAN: You don't get it. Haven't you ever heard of Richard Delmer Boyer?
DAISY: Should I have?
ROMAN: He went nuts in '82 after watching Halloween II. Francis and Eileen Harbitz, an elderly couple – he stabbed 'em 43 times.
DAISY: What?
ROMAN: Claimed that the movie made him do it, that he was hallucinating. It was known as "The Halloween II Murders."
DAISY: My goodness.
ROMAN: And with Bryson and Desirae copycatting Sidney and Cotton, there's been an intense media blitz that this movie might inspire another copycat. I've already got to deal with a lawsuit from Billy and Tatum – could you imagine the liability if some nutjob went off? The media is already having a field day with us.
DAISY: They can't blame the movies. Movies don't create psychopaths -.
They reach the entrance to the auditorium. Roman sighs as he turns to her.
ROMAN: No. But they do make them more creative.
He turns into the auditorium, leaving her standing there.
INT. AUDITORIUM – NIGHT
Hundreds of movie stars, patrons, media personalities sit in the auditorium, talking amongst themselves. A hush falls over them as the lights dim, and Roman steps up to the stage.
ROMAN: Ladies and gentleman – thank you all for coming! (Spreads his arms out ) This is gonna be awesome! Who's ready for Stab?!
The audience cheers and goes nuts.
ROMAN: Now … the producer of this film, John Milton, should be here to introduce the film, but it looks like he's running late. (Looks worriedly over at the other members of his team, who shrug). So, I guess I'll have to fill in. Before we start rolling, I'd like to read to you all a quote from Wes Craven. (Pulls out a card, adjusts his glasses). "Horror … is like boot camp for the psyche. In real life, human beings are packaged in the flimsiest of packages, threatened by real and sometimes horrifying dangers, events like Columbine. But the narrative form puts these fears into a manageable series of events. It gives us a way of thinking rationally about our fears."
The room sits in silence as the audience remembers the famed movie maker.
ROMAN: Never forget, while we may jump, and laugh, and yell at the idiot blonde to not go behind the door that the killer is so obviously hiding behind – the characters in these movies were real. They lived. They breathed, got angry, sad, had dreams and aspirations. They were cut off in the most brutal of ways. Never forget that.
He sighs, adjusting his tie.
ROMAN: And now – we present Stab!
The cinema lights go off and the projector flares to life, the horrid green words STAB filling the screen. The movie opens … an actress is portraying Casey Becker, home alone, as she answers a fateful phone call …
ROMAN'S PHONE VIBRATES!
He looks down. Incoming call. From JOHN MILTON. Excusing himself, Roman vanishes behind a doorway with a neon EXIT sign.
INT. THEATER EXIT HALLWAY – NIGHT
Roman walks down the dark hallway behind the screen leading to an emergency exit. He stops behind the screen; the sounds from the movie are playing, but muted due to the padding of the walls. He puts the phone to his ear.
ROMAN: John – I swear you better be on your way! I had to step in and read your Wes Craven quote.
JOHN MILTON: I know! I know! I had a few things on my desk that I needed to take a stab at. I'm here though.
ROMAN: Well get in there! Investors are already worried with the lawsuits and if the producer doesn't show up -.
MILTON: I'm here, I'm here! Just, can you do me a favor? Can you go up to concessions and just grab me a small bag of popcorn?
ROMAN: John, I am not your little coffee-bellboy anymore!
MILTON: Oh, come off it. It'll be quick.
ROMAN: Damn it, Milton!
CUT TO:
INT. AUDITORIUM – NIGHT
Daisy Kean settles in, watching the film with several of her other cast members. They watch as the actress portraying Casey Becker is chased on screen by a ghost masked killer. Daisy, however, has other things on her mind.
She has her phone in her lap. She's texting her boyfriend, Brendan. This movie is gonna blow, she writes.
Her phone vibrates. Brendan responds. Come upstairs. I got the best seats in the house. The guy in the projector booth let me sit up here.
One of the perks of being a movie star. But I don't think we'll be doing much watching.
Oh, not if I have anything to say about it.
Smirking, she excuses herself, wading down her row. She stares up at the screen one final time – the killer's mask is front and center. She shudders, before pushing a door open in the rear of the theater and vanishing through.
CUT TO:
INT. LOBBY – NIGHT
Roman is standing at the concession booth. It is dark and no employees are around.
ROMAN: Hello! Hellooo?
He curses under his breath.
His phone begins ringing again. John Milton. He grumbles and answers.
ROMAN: John, the concession stand is closed for the night.
MILTON: That's okay … I've had more than my fill of popcorn already.
ROMAN: What are you -?
MILTON: Go behind the counter.
ROMAN: What?
MILTON: Don't worry, like you said, the concession employees closed down for the night. There's something there I want to show you … a gift for being such an awesome director.
ROMAN: (in disbelief) Awesome director? John, are you on something right now?
MILTON: Come on. Trust me.
Rolling his eyes, Roman swings his legs over the counter and is standing in the concession booth. Behind him are candy displays and an empty, ten-foot-long popcorn popping machine.
ROMAN: Okay, I'm behind the counter. Now what?
MILTON: Take a look in the popcorn popper.
Getting more frustrated by the second, Roman approaches the popper. Its bottom is deep and dark.
MILTON: Take a look … and see your surprise …
Roman steps up to the popper. The soundtrack is thudding. He stares down –
JOHN MILTON'S CORPSE IS STUFFED DOWN IN THE BOTTOM, STAB WOUNDS ALL OVER, HIS FACE HORRIBLY BURNED WITH POPPING OIL, HIS DEAD EYES WIDE AND BULGING!
Roman covers his mouth with his hand, backing up against the counter. There is a click on the other end of the phone and the voice on the other end changes to an all-too-familiar tone.
GHOSTFACE: DID YOU THINK IT WAS OVER ROMAN?! DID YOU?!
Roman is backing away.
ROMAN: What do you want? What the HELL do you want?!
GHOSTFACE: I know the twist ending of your little flick, Roman.
Roman is backing away, looking in all directions.
GHOSTFACE: You inserted yourself as a cast member in the finale.
ROMAN: How do you -?
GHOSTFACE: You reveal the truth at the end … Sidney Prescott had a brother. A long lost one.
Beat.
ROMAN: How -?
GHOSTFACE: Is that why you made this little flick, Roman? A guilty conscience? Was this your way of unburdening yourself? What really happened, Roman? You found out who 'Mommy Dearest' was? When she didn't welcome you with open arms, you went to little sissy Sidney, didn't you? You hoped if Mommy didn't accept you, maybe your long-lost little sister would. And how did that work out for everyone, Roman?
ROMAN: She -.
GHOSTFACE: But your little vindictive self found out a tad more about Mommy Dearest, didn't you? Billy's Father. And how did little Sidney like hearing about Mommy's affair with Billy-Boy's Daddy? Not one bit, huh? So answer me, Roman – who really killed Maureen Prescott?
Roman staggers to the end of the concession booth, past mountains of candy. He leans against a door, looking around frantically.
ROMAN: I never expected her to go off like that!
GHOSTFACE: She and Cotton drove the blades into her flesh – but it was you who held their arms!
ROMAN: No! I didn't know Sidney would kill her! I never meant -.
GHOSTFACE: You're responsible for all of this, Roman. You started a chain reaction that set Sidney off to kill her mother, her friends … you have so much blood on your hands. You created Sidney Prescott – and you created me! Well rest assured, Roman – your guilty conscience is about to be UNBURDENED!
The door behind Roman springs OPEN – Roman screams as a knife plunges into his back. The killer rips it out and Roman staggers forward into a candy display, strewing Junior Mints and M&Ms all over the lobby floor. He stumbles to his feet as Ghostface glides into the concession stand. The killer blocks his path into the auditorium. He can hear the movie playing over the loudspeakers, drowning out his cries for help.
He turns and sees a door – PROJECTION BOOTH. He staggers forward, blood dribbling from his mouth and limps towards it.
Behind him, Ghostface moves slowly, clearly enjoying every second of this.
Roman spares a glance at the killer and shoves his way through the door.
CUT TO:
INT. PROJECTION BOOTH – NIGHT
Daisy is walking the dark projection booth area, smirking, looking for her boyfriend.
DAISY: Brendan? Babe?
No response. All the sound that can be heard is the whirring of the projectors and the movie playing. She peers through the booth's window into the auditorium and raises an eyebrow as the Casey Becker actress screams as her phone rings.
DAISY: Talk about overacting.
A BLACK GLOVED HAND SHOOTS OUT AND GRABS HER!
She screams as she's spun around – GHOSTFACE is right there. Her eyes widen and she prepares to scream –
The killer unmasks himself. A handsome guy, her age. He's laughing and she hits him.
DAISY: You are such an asshole!
Brendan strips off the Ghostface robe and holds up the mask.
BRENDAN: Studio is giving these out for the premiere. (Nods in the auditorium) Look, see.
She glances down – many in the audience are wearing the horrific mask.
DAISY: Enough with the scares. Between you and Roman popping out on set in that mask –
Brendan grabs her and kisses her.
BRENDAN: That better?
DAISY: A little. (Shoving a finger in his face) But you're not forgiven!
He grins, his hands going lower, drawing her in for another kiss.
BEHIND THEM, THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN TO REVEAL A PANTING ROMAN!
DAISY: (frustrated) Roman! Perfect timing as always!
ROMAN: We gotta go!
BRENDAN: (Looking at Roman) Is that … is that blood?
DAISY: (completely unconvinced) Wow, you guys are really upping the quality of these pranks. Let me guess – that's corn syrup coming out of your mouth. Same stuff they used for pig's blood in Carrie.
Behind Roman, Ghostface appears. He stands there as Roman slowly staggers forward, losing lots of blood, his vision swimming.
DAISY: Wow, you guys really topped yourself this time.
Ghostface looks at her, then down at Roman who has sunk to his knees, bleeding out. The killer lifts his arm and SLUGS THE KNIFE BETWEEN ROMAN'S SHOULDER BLADES!
BRENDAN: Oh shit!
He watches horrified as Ghostface strikes again, and again, and again. Roman is no longer even moving.
Daisy folds her arms.
DAISY: That is so clearly corn syrup. Give it up, Roman. (Beat) Roman?
Roman is no longer even breathing. Brendan grabs her arm.
BRENDAN: This is no joke.
Ghostface's head shoots up as he stares at Brendan and Daisy. The young couple turn, running down the dark corridor. With a grunt, Ghostface yanks his knife out of Roman's back, darts to his feet and gives chase.
CUT TO:
INT. AUDITORIUM – NIGHT
Ruby Roze is watching Stab play out onscreen. She watches Casey Becker struggle with Ghostface. She sighs, clearly bored, and gets up.
INT. LOBBY – NIGHT
Ruby stands at the concession booth. She wants a snack.
RUBY: Hello? (frustrated) Doesn't anyone work here?
That's when her eyes fall on the floor and walls … blood stains. Confused, Ruby swings around the side of the concession stand. She follows the bloodstains and peers into the popper – She screams as she sees the body of John Milton stuffed inside. She staggers back – slips on a puddle of blood and cracks the back of her head on the floor. She lolls around, covered in Roman's blood as she loses consciousness.
CUT TO:
Brendan and Daisy run down the dark projection corridor. They come to a dead end.
DAISY: There's nowhere to go!
Brendan shoves her behind a large projector.
BRENDAN: Stay there! Don't come out 'till I tell you!
DAISY: Brendan …
She crouches down behind the machine. Brendan grabs a film reel, and crouches behind a table.
Ghostface storms into the area, his cloak flowing, head turning left and right looking for his victims. Brendan springs out from behind, slamming the film reel into the killer's head. The killer staggers into a machine and Brendan slams the reel down again and again. Ghostface lashes out, slashing Brendan along his stomach. Brendan staggers back, his shirt blossoming red. He raises the heavy reel again –
Ghostface charges, tackling him into a table. The killer slams him down facefirst into the table, before flipping him onto his back and striking downward. Thunk. Brendan's eyes glaze and his mouth goes slack as the knife impales him to the table. The killer yanks the blade from his chest.
ANGLE ON:
Daisy is huddled in a corner, behind a projector. She peers around the corner – Brendan and the killer are gone. Breathing deeply, she darts around the corner. Keeping her head low, she pulls out her cell, trying to dial 9-11.
HER PHONE RINGS MID-DIAL!
It's Roman's phone number. She answers.
DAISY: Please … please, just -.
GHOSTFACE: (singing) Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true …
Her eyes dart around. She peers through a window in the booth into the auditorium below. Ghostface is on screen, savaging Casey Becker beyond recognition as the movie continues to play.
GHOSTFACE: (singing) I'm half CRAZY over the likes of you …
DAISY: Please –
She begins BANGING on the glass panes. No use – soundproof, so the noise from the booth wouldn't disturb the audiences.
Ghostface SPRINGS UP behind her, grabbing her with a glove, his black hand covering her mouth, her phone clattering uselessly to the floor.
INT. AUDITORIUM – NIGHT
The theater audience is really into the movie. They watch as Casey Becker falls backwards, the Ghostface on screen raising his knife for the final blow.
THE MOVIE STOPS DEAD!
The audience murmurs, wondering what's happening. The screen remains blank.
Suddenly, the loudspeakers in the auditorium BLARE TO LIFE. Ghostface's voice echoes through the theater's sound systems.
GHOSTFACE: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Please excuse this interruption. I'll be your host for this evening's little half-time show the producers have put together for you!
The audience is clearly confused, but excited with anticipation. A half-time show? This was something new.
The movie screen blares to life. The quality is not as good, as though what is being projected is being recorded on a phone. It is – it's a livestream being projected onto the movie screen.
DAISY IS ON SCREEN, BOUND AND GAGGED!
GHOSTFACE: Now how about a little audience participation? Daisy – our little Tatum Riley actress – has kindly agreed to be the contestant for our live gameshow!
The audience is excited. They don't realize this is the real thing. They think this is some kind of a promotion for the movie.
GHOSTFACE: This is how we'll play … I'll ask a few questions and if the audience can answer, little Daisy here lives! Get it wrong – SHE DIES!
The audience is laughing, taking it all as a big joke.
GHOSTFACE: Can someone – anyone – name for me the killer from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (enthusiastically yelling) Leatherface!
GHOSTFACE: Yes! Now, enough with the warm-up questions. It's time for the speed round.
Daisy is struggling, crying behind her gag. The audience is buying it.
RANDOM GUY: Wow, she really is a great actress!
GHOSTFACE: The director of Let Me In?!
RANDOM GUY: (yelling) Matt Reeves!
GHOSTFACE: The 2014 adaptation of a science fiction novel starring Scarlett Johanson?
RANDOM WOMAN: (yelling) Under the Skin!
The audience applauds and cheers.
The doors to the auditorium SWING OPEN – RUBY ROZE staggers in, covered in blood!
RUBY: Stop! This isn't part of the show!
The audience watches her covered in blood. They laugh. They think Ruby is in on the game.
RUBY: John Milton's body is in concessions! Please!
She stares around in horror as the audience laughs, going along with it. One audience member dons a Ghostface mask and rushes her, fake stabbing her with a plastic knife.
RUBY: She's going to die! Please, you have to listen to me!
GHOSTFACE: (going along with it) Marvelous acting! Let's all give a hand for our MC Ruby Roze for being such a good sport and willing to be covered head to toe in corn syrup.
The audience applauds.
RUBY: Please – someone listen to me!
No one is listening. They're watching the screen now, as Daisy continues struggling.
GHOSTFACE: Enough with the trivia. Let's get to the good part! You all came to watch Stab! Who wants to see me gut our little Tatum Riley actress?
The audience applauds and cheers.
GHOSTFACE: I can't hear you!
RANDOM GUY: Do it! Split her open!
GHOSTFACE: If you insist …
RUBY: NOOO!
Ghostface appears on screen behind Daisy. He raises his knife – and stabs her in the chest.
The audience is applauding. They love it. But some stop. This seems … too real. Daisy's screams seem a little too genuine, the blood a little too real.
The audience goes silent as Daisy's head goes limp.
We angle on:
RUBY – absolutely horrified. She cries out with a nightmarish scream as the title page cuts into view:
SCREAMMAKE 3