Chapter 13:
EXT. WOODS – NIGHT
Billy and James rush through the woods at night, having escaped from the prison and the rampaging prisoners. They pause, catching their breath.
BILLY: I think we lost 'em.
JAMES: Yeah … Yeah, I think we did.
BILLY: Alright. Well see 'ya.
Billy begins walking in another direction.
JAMES: Where are you going?
BILLY: I'm going to find Tatum.
JAMES: That's great. So am I. We should go together.
BILLY: I am not going anywhere with you. You can go and get re-arrested or maybe shot or whatever. I don't really care.
JAMES: Wow, you really don't like me.
BILLY: Huh, I wonder why! Could it be that you murdered two people -.
JAMES: Fair point. But –
BILLY: Oh, how about the fact that you tried to steal Tatum from me?!
JAMES: Technically I didn't. You two were broken up.
BILLY: Whatever, man. You go on your own.
JAMES: You'll never make it on your own.
BILLY: Watch me.
JAMES: Okay, but just so you know – Woodsboro is that way. (points in the opposite direction)
Billy stops, then turns and walks in the direction of James' finger. James walks backwards with him, hands on his head.
JAMES: You're gonna need all the help you can get.
BILLY: In case you haven't noticed, I survived two of these. I think I can manage. Tatum and I. Together.
James stops him short.
JAMES: Don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only one cares about Tatum.
BILLY: Come on – she and I were going to be married this morning! What, you think you reappear, and she'll just jump into your arms?
JAMES: Maybe. (Beat) But truthfully, no. No, I accept that I've lost her for good.
Billy stares at him.
JAMES: What do you want from me? An apology tour? I lost! You won! You got her!
BILLY: She's not a prize!
JAMES: Maybe not in your eyes. Do you have any idea how lucky you are? I would kill for her to have chosen me!
Billy blinks.
JAMES: (sheepishly) Okay, bad choice of words. But come on – the first step to stopping this guy is to find out who he is. Unmask him for all to see.
BILLY: If that's so easy, why don't you do it?
JAMES: I intend to. Look, I'm a bit of a movie buff myself. It's what connected me and Tatum to begin with. This has all the earmarks of the concluding chapter in a horror saga.
BILLY: Oh?
JAMES: Let's see … exposition. Check. A killer that can hack and control the most advanced systems of technology – check. The original backstory having a few added wrinkles thrown in – check!
Billy stops. He holds an arm out.
BILLY: Wait – original backstory …
JAMES: Hmmm?
BILLY: (looking around) I recognize these woods. Back when I dated … was with Sidney, we used to walk these trails. When she used to take me to visit …
JAMES: Who?
BILLY: Her Aunt Kate …
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Dewey stares out the window of the hospital, down at Woodsboro. Rioters are engaged in full-on combat with the police. There's an orange haze in the sky and fires are burning out of control. The never-ending blaring of sirens is enough to drive one mad.
Dewey's cell phone blares non-stop. He turns the volume down and stares.
He turns – Gale's bedroom is behind him. He's torn. His town. Or his wife.
Tatum appears behind him.
TATUM: Dewey …
Dewey turns. He tries to put on a strong face.
DEWEY: Tatum – don't worry. I won't let the killer get you.
TATUM: Where are Mom and Dad?
DEWEY: They were arguing. They went off together yelling about something or other. Actually, haven't seen them for the last hour.
TATUM: Good. It's better this way. (Beat) I'm going to turn myself in, Dewey.
DEWEY: What? You can't!
TATUM: (pointing) Look out there, Dewey! This whole town is being torn apart and it's all my fault!
DEWEY: It is not! Don't let -.
TATUM: I'm going, Dewey. You can't stop me.
Dewey breaks down. His eyes are like slits and tears run freely.
DEWEY: I'm going to lose my wife, Tatum. Please … don't make me lose my baby sister too …
Tatum sighs. She looks down at the floor, resolving herself for what she needs to say.
TATUM: You're going to lose me either way, Dewey.
DEWEY: (blinking) What?
TATUM: I should've told you … I should've told everyone from the get-go. (sighs) I have cancer, Dewey.
DEWEY: Wait – what?
TATUM: That's why I've been disappearing to New York with mom. It could be a few months or even a few years.
DEWEY: Why didn't you tell me?
TATUM: I've been too scared … I couldn't put that burden on you or on Billy.
DEWEY: (taking a step forward) But that's what family is here for. To bear each other's burdens. (wipes Tatum's eyes) I will always be here for you, lil' sis.
TATUM: I know. But you need to be strong right now, Dewey. For Mom and Dad. And for Gale. She especially needs you. Please, Dewey.
DEWEY: You know I can't let you walk out those doors.
Tatum steps forward. She hugs her brother. Dewey pulls her in, resting his cheek on her head, his tears flowing, mixing with hers. He rocks her.
DEWEY: I can't even remember when you were born. You were always there, as far back as I can remember. I can't even imagine a life without you in it.
TATUM: (hand sliding down, grabbing his taser) I know. But you're going to have to.
BZZZTTT!
She strikes Dewey with his taser. He collapses to the ground in utter shock.
TATUM: I love you, Dewey. Too much to let you stop me.
She stares down and eyes his gun. Should she take it? No, Dewey will need it before the end.
Tatum spares one last look into Gale's room, then turns and, head held high, strides out of the hospital wing.
CUT TO:
EXT. OLD HOUSE - NIGHT
An old house in the outskirts of Woodsboro in a seemingly nice neighborhood. Billy and James are no longer in their prison uniforms, having gone and stolen some old jeans and t-shirts. Billy approaches the house and rings the doorbell.
The door slowly opens – A HAND HOLDING A GUN IS THERE!
WOMAN: Don't come any closer! I'll shoot!
BILLY: Whoa! Kate, it's me, it's me! Billy!
KATE: Billy?
The door opens slightly more. KATE ROBERTS, a middle-aged woman, is standing there eyeing him suspiciously.
KATE: You were arrested.
BILLY: Kate, you know me! Wrongfully so! Please, can we come in? I have to talk to you, ask you some questions!
Kate backs away.
BILLY: Kate, please … for Sidney …
Kate's features soften.
KATE: Sidney. (sighs) Okay, but I'm not putting the gun down. I'll put on some tea.
INT. KATE'S HOUSE – NIGHT
Billy and James sit awkwardly in the living room, the television is on with the news broadcasting Ghostface's threats. Video footage of downtown Woodsboro shows an absolute war zone.
BILLY: My God …
They hear a small voice.
LITTLE GIRL: You guys are dressed funny. Where are you from?
Billy and James turn to see not one, but two little girls standing there in the living room. The one girl who questioned them is blonde, kind of a tomboy in a t-shirt. The second girl is the spitting image of a little Sidney and has her eyes fixed on Billy, narrowed. Billy, however, brightens up.
BILLY: Jill! How the heck are you? I haven't seen you since you were this high!
JILL ROBERTS narrows her eyes.
JILL: You stopped coming by … after Sidney died. You said you would never stop being my pal. (points an accusing finger) You lied to me!
BILLY: I'm sorry, Jill. Things got out of control and –
JILL: (disposition changing completely) Wait, I heard they were making a movie about you and Sidney!
BILLY: (rubbing the back of his head) Uh … yeah. It's called Stab but it's way not appropriate for someone of your age.
SECOND LITTLE GIRL: We happen to be very mature for our age.
JILL: (nodding in agreement) Yeah, Kirby here and I watch horror movies all the time!
BILLY: And Kate lets you?
JILL: I'd like to see her stop us.
James sits there, eyes wide, a little weirded out by this kid.
Behind them, Kate returns.
KATE: Billy … we can talk in the parlor. (Looks over at James) You there – would you mind terribly watching Jill and Kirbiline? I don't like to leave them alone, Jill sometimes likes to play rough.
JILL: (baring her teeth at James) I'm a maniac!
INT. KATE'S PARLOR – NIGHT
Kate sits at a table, pouring hot tea. Billy stands by a mantle, looking at old photographs. Photos of Kate's sister, Maureen Prescott with Neil Prescott. They were smiling. But were they really happy together? If so, why did Maureen cheat with Billy's Father?
Billy continues walking, observing the photos – his heart stops. There's a photo of Sidney! And not just any photo – it's a photo of Sidney sitting under a tree, being held by Billy. Uncomfortable at the memory and still in pain over her betrayal and loss, but still somewhat touched that Kate kept a photo of him, Billy picks up the picture. He traces Sidney's face with his fingers.
KATE: Jill is a lot like her. Wouldn't you say?
BILLY: Well, in looks! Let's hope that's where the similarities end.
KATE: She wasn't always all bad. Sidney wasn't born a murderer. She became what her circumstances created her to be.
Billy places the picture back.
BILLY: No. She killed people because she chose to kill people. There's no other explanation.
KATE: That's true. We all bear the weight of our own choices. So, you had some questions for me and I'm guessing it has to do with my family tree?
BILLY: (joining her at the table) The murder – of my coworker. There was a message written: "Maureen Lied."
KATE: (sipping her tea) I'm not surprised. My sister lied about many things, even to me.
BILLY: What do you think the killer meant?
KATE: Could be anything. That victim a few days ago in the movie theater – Roman Bridger. One of Maureen's many sins.
BILLY: How so?
KATE: Of course, you wouldn't have seen Stab. It's already breaking box office records especially with the murders. In the end, Roman reveals the truth. He was Maureen's firstborn.
BILLY: Come again?
KATE: Of course, she gave him away for adoption. That was long before she met Neil. But it left a hole in her heart. She used to call me nightly, crying over how she gave away her only child. Yet what could she do – the nightmare was too much for her.
BILLY: What nightmare?
KATE: How can I put this delicately? Maureen was star-hungry. She wanted to be an actress. John Milton was only too happy to put her in some early films – for a price.
BILLY: You mean –
KATE: Sexual favors. Not intercourse, no not at first. But Milton eventually wanted more and he finally took it. Roman was the product of rape.
BILLY: No …
KATE: Maureen put him up for adoption, wanted no reminder of him, yet still felt the guilt. And the rape left her unable to conceive again. Oh, you should've heard her when she called me …
BILLY: But, I don't get – Sidney …?
KATE: Sidney was adopted, dear. I thought you knew?
BILLY: No. No, she never told me.
KATE: Hmm, wouldn't surprise me that Maureen would've kept that a secret from her. But I was with her at the agency. I had to sign off as a witness that she was an able mother. Sidney was a bright and beautiful baby.
BILLY: "Maureen lied." Sidney didn't know she was adopted! Maureen told her she was her biological mother!
KATE: Sounds like something my sister would do.
BILLY: Do you know who the parents were?
KATE: Maureen wouldn't tell me. Only said that the father was some loser who abandoned the mother and Sidney.
BILLY: Fuck.
KATE: You know I don't like that language dear.
BILLY: We killed Sidney. Now her real Father – or Mother – is back! They're not ashamed that their daughter is a killer! They're proud! And as Roman was going to reveal the truth that he was Maureen's son in the movie, the killer is going to reveal they're Sidney's real parent live – on national television! He wants a national audience for this! Then he'll kill me and Tatum in front of the entire nation! Oh it all makes sense!
KATE: Billy, you're getting a little too excited – maybe you should -.
BILLY: (standing up) Thank you for the tea and the info! I – I gotta go!
INT. KATE'S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
James is watching the television news with Jill and Kirby on either side of him. They watch as more fires rage.
KIRBY: Wicked!
JAMES: No, not wicked. Like I said, you guys are too young -.
KIRBY: Who invited this lame-o?
JAMES: Lame-o? I was in the front row of Led Zeppelin –
JILL: Who?
JAMES: Famous musician –
JILL: Oh. Fame. Who needs it?
JAMES: Who needs fame? Adoring fans? Lots of money? None of those sound appealing?
JILL: Yeah, but you gotta be a movie star or something to be famous.
JAMES: Billy's famous!
JILL: He is not!
JAMES: Oh yes he is! That movie Stab is about him and Tatum!
JILL: How did Billy get famous?
JAMES: All he had to do was survive a murder spree.
Jill sits there, pondering.
JILL: You don't say …?
KIRBY: Who wants to be famous if all your friends are dead?
JILL: Friends? Pffft. I'd rather have fans.
Kirby stares at her for a second, before turning her eyes back to the screen. Billy comes in.
BILLY: We gotta go!
JAMES: Did you learn anything?
BILLY: Yes and if I'm right – we gotta find Tatum fast!
James waves goodbye to the two little girls.
JAMES: Bye Jill! Bye Kirby!
The two kids wave but James can't help but wonder if he didn't accidentally plant the seeds of something more sinister in Jill, especially with that newfound gleam in her eye …