Chapter 4:

INT. OFFICE BUILDING – NIGHT

Candace sits at her desk outside of Mr. Bartleby's office. It is well past work hours, approximately 9:00 pm. She's typing away furiously. Mr. Bartleby storms out of his office.

MR. BARTLEBY: We are so far behind! What about Loomis' reports?!

CANDACE: (Handing him a portfolio) He handed them in before he left.

Mr. Bartleby flips through them and sneers.

MR. BARTLEBY: He didn't even use the right format! And you – how are those TPO reports coming in?

CANDACE: Almost done.

MR. BARLTEBY: Damnit, almost isn't good enough! You promised me by Monday!

CANDACE: I'll be working overtime tonight, Mr. Bartleby.

MR. BARTLEBY: Too right you will be! I am sick of the incompetence of this place! Now you're going to finish those reports and I don't care if you're here all weekend! They better be on my desk, first thing Monday. And send an email to Loomis – he's gonna fix the formatting on these reports over the weekend and have them to me by 8:00 am sharp! Or he'll find his ass fired!

CANDACE: But it's his wedding weekend, sir -.

MR. BARTLEBY: I don't care what it is! I don't care if he has to cancel the whole damn wedding! Monday! 8:00 am! See ya!

Mr. Bartleby grabs a briefcase and storms off. Candace watches him slam the door on the way out.

CANDACE: Asshole.

She thinks for a moment.

CANDACE: Cancel the wedding, huh?

A gleeful smile fills her face as she begins typing away an email to Billy.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE LOBBY – NIGHT

Mr. Bartleby storms through the lobby. It's dark, the lights dimmed. Only Ross the security guard is still there. He waves at the grumpy man.

ROSS: Goodnight Mr. Bartleby!

MR. BARTLEBY: What's so good about it?!

Ross sighs as he presses buzzer button; the building's automated security locks deactivate, allowing Mr. Bartleby to leave. Mr. Bartleby slams his way through the doors as Ross simply shakes his head. He slides his reading glasses down and settles in with a book.

CUT TO:

INT. OFFICE – NIGHT

Candace is still typing away, now sipping a hot coffee.

There's a THUD from the other room.

Candace jumps up.

CANDACE: Mr. Bartleby?

No response.

CANDACE: Who's there?

She sighs. She must be losing it. She sits back down, trying to concentrate on the computer monitor. She takes another sip of coffee.

A FIGURE LUNGES OUT AT HER, GRABBING HER!

It's a handsome young man.

Candace angrily swats at him as he laughs.

CANDACE: Craig, you jerk!

CRAIG: Ol' Barlteby's got you working late too, huh?

CANDACE: He threatened to throw me out on my ass come Monday.

CRAIG: Oh, so the usual threats? He's all bluster.

Craig sits on her desk, blocking her view of the computer, biting his lip.

CANDACE: Craig – seriously – I need to get these reports done.

CRAIG: You got all weekend for that. You only got me for tonight.

Candace leans back in her chair.

CANDACE: As tempting as that offer sounds – I have work to do.

She swats at him and he stands up.

CRAIG: What happened to you? When I first started working here, you were all over me. I miss those cute little emails. Craig, I need your IT expertise.

CANDACE: It's not that I don't want you anymore, it's just that I have a lot of work.

CRAIG: Or that you've got your eye on a new prize.

Candace looks up at him, blushing.

CANDACE: What do you -?

CRAIG: Don't give me that crap. I see how you look at Billy Loomis, how you shamelessly throw yourself at him. He's engaged! He's getting married this weekend! If he wanted what you're pushing, he would have bitten already.

Candace stares at her monitor.

CRAIG: He's not interested. But me – come on, Candace. You would've jumped all over me a month ago. The offer still stands …

Candace stares ahead, nodding. Craig was right – Billy was out of her reach. So rebound sex is on the table again.

CANDACE: Fine – five minutes.

CRAIG: (eyes widening) Really? Same place?

CANDACE: (nodding) Same place.

Craig lights up like a schoolboy and darts out of the office. Candace hits SAVE on the file she was working on –

HER OFFICE PHONE RINGS!

She squints down at it. It's coming from Billy's office line. Was he still working tonight? She squints through the doorway towards Billy's office. The door was closed, the lights out and she could have sworn she saw him leave earlier.

The office phone still rings. She answers.

CANDACE: Billy? What's up? I thought you went home?

BILLY: I've been here all night. Bartleby's running me ragged. (Beat) So … you and Craig?

CANDACE: Not really. He's just a way to pass the time …

BILLY: That's a relief.

CANDACE: Oh? And why is that?

BILLY: Maybe I'm bored with my life. Maybe I want a way out of the old familiar places and to try something new … and exciting.

CANDACE: Oh? And what did you have in mind?

BILLY: Well for starters -.

There's a clicking sound. Billy's voice changes.

GHOSTFACE: HOW ABOUT I PULL YOUR SPINAL CORD OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH?!

Candace: Ah. Ghostface. Real original, Billy. You know, I thought you of all people wouldn't be into prank calls what with the last two murder sprees.

GHOSTFACE: Maybe you underestimated me. Or maybe this isn't FUCKING BILLY!

CANDACE: Oh? Then who is this? You Craig? This your idea of fun? 'Cause if it is, then you're not getting laid tonight! What do you have to say to that, Craig? Huh?

No response. The line has gone dead.

CANDACE: (slamming the phone down) Asshole.

She sits back down, typing away on her computer. Her personal CELL PHONE rings. It's CRAIG. She rolls her eyes.

CANDACE: Really? You have the nerve to call me after that stunt you just pulled?

CRAIG: Stunt? What are you talking about?

CANDACE: Try something more original.

CRAIG: Babe, I don't – gack!

There's a choking sound. The sound of a knife stabbing, a guy screaming.

CANDACE: Nice try, Craig.

The line goes dead. Candace places her phone back down and returns to her monitor and continues typing up her report.

The monitor flares to life, as though it has a mind of its own. A video pops up on her computer screen. She watches – CRAIG IS HANGING FROM A RAFTOR IN THE BOILER ROOM. She sees a robed and hooded figure in a ghost mask looking into a camera, cocking its head at her. Ghostface waves at her – before the camera winks out.

CANDACE: (realizing it's not a prank) Shit -.

She grabs her purse and rushes out of the office, the soundtrack building up.

CUT TO:

INT. LOBBY – NIGHT

Candace races through the lobby. She stops, looking at the security desk – ROSS is facedown at his desk, knife embedded into his back. Candace's hand goes to her mouth.

Her cell RINGS!

She looks down – it's coming from Billy Loomis' office line.

CANDACE: Fuck no!

She stuffs her cell phone back into her purse and storms to the lobby door. She presses in on it – it won't budge. She realizes that the automated locks are in place. She needs to be buzzed out. She turns to where Ross' body is lying, blood pooling around it.

Grimacing, she approaches and gently moves Ross' arm away from the buzzer button.

CANDACE: I'm sorry, Ross.

She presses the button.

No response. The security locks do not deactivate.

She hits it again and again, bursting into tears with each new failure.

CANDACE: Crap!

She looks around.

HER CELL PHONE GOES OFF AGAIN! BILLY LOOMIS' OFFICE LINE! She swipes it open.

CANDACE: I have pepper spray and I conceal carry! So just try something, fucker! Just try! You got the wrong one!

GHOSTFACE: No – I have the right one. You think your little pithy weapons can keep you safe from me? What about my predecessors? What about the Ghostfaces before me? Their victims were armed. They tried to defend themselves. So why is a precious little bitch like you any different?

CANDACE: You think you scare me?!

GHOSTFACE: Yes. I can hear it in your voice. You're trembling, but you try to hide it.

Candace backs away from the door. The dim lobby lights appear to grow dimmer.

GHOSTFACE: You're afraid because you know I control the security of this building. I have complete control over every exit, every hiding place. There is nowhere you can go to hide from me. I see all. I know all. (Beat) And I will find a way to you.

The lights of the building begin flashing on and off. Candace looks around in all directions, only getting glimpses of the lobby area with the bright flashing ceiling lights. On and off. On and off. She turns – running blindly in a random direction.

GHOSTFACE FLASHES IN THE DARKNESS, SHOTS OF THE MASK ONLY BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED IN THE FLARING LIGHTS. HE CHARGES HER, SLIDING HIS KNIFE INTO HER GUT.

Candace gasps, blood running from her mouth. She grips the black robe as the killer yanks the blade free. She stares up at the mask, only briefly lit by the flashing lights, and she slides to the ground in a heap.