Chapter 3:

OPEN ON:

EXT. BEACH HOUSE – AFTERNOON

The beach house sits overlooking the ocean … it's a rural part of the beach town. The other houses in the neighborhood are separated by several blocks and large wooden fencing. A large pool sits behind the beach house, and the ocean sits on the other side. Perfect views.

A van pulls up. Three frat boys exit, whooping and high fiving.

BRYSON MITCHELL, athletic frat boy, muscular, football player, holds several kegs over his shoulders. He wears a guinea-t with a shell necklace. Typical beach bum.

He's joined by SHANE MCKONNEL, resident douchebag. Punchable face, thinks he's God's gift to well – everyone.

GREG MILLS, resident nerd. Handsome, in a dorky way. Perfect crew cut, thick framed glasses. He wears his laptop around his neck, constantly checking for updates.

BRYSON: Boys – welcome to the thunderdome.

SHANE: All of us – in that thing?

BRYSON: Hey … it's bigger than it looks.

GREG: Shouldn't the landlord be here to meet us?

BRYSON: Guys – Captain Louie never lets us down! My parents used to rent this place from him every spring break, and every summer.

SHANE: Rich kids …

BRYSON: Oh, I'm sorry my Dad's not in jail and my mom's not a stripper.

SHANE: She's not a fucking stripper! She's an exotic dancer.

GREG: Technically –

SHANE: Greg, I'm gonna be saying this a lot this week – shut the fuck up!

Bryson carries his keg to the door. He rings the bell. They hear shuffling inside, cursing. The door opens. CAPTAIN LOUIE opens the door. Shane's lip curls in disdain. Captain Louie is … well … dressed like a skipper. Blue polo tucked into white shorts, giant belly, shock-white hair sticking out from under a skipper's hat.

Bryson seems ecstatic to see him.

BRYSON: Cap'n, you ol' sea rat! Good to see 'ya!

CAPTAIN LOUIE: Y'all promise not to tear up the place, erh?

BRYSON: Cap'n – it's me.

CAPTAIN LOUIE: Yeah, that's what concerns me.

He opens an envelope.

CAPTAIN LOUIE: Here … keys to the place. She's all yours. If by the end of the week it's still standing, I'll be shocked. Why I let it out to a bunch o' kids, I'll never know.

BRYSON: It's 'cause you owe my Dad. He knows where the bodies are buried.

Captain Louie's face breaks into a laugh and he claps Bryson on the shoulder.

CAPTAIN LOUIE: Good one, kid. Come on, in.

INT. BEACH HOUSE – AFTERNOON

CAPTAIN LOUIE: Kitchen's over there. Three separate bathrooms. The one upstairs don't flush right … you remember where everything is, right boy?

BRYSON: Sure do.

He takes the room. Greg seems mildly interested. Shane is bored.

BRYSON: Say, Captain. Is the S.S. Rita still buoyant?

CAPTAIN LOUIE: My ol' gal's as sea-hardy as ever!

BRYSON: How about a fishing trip this afternoon? With the other roomies, like you used to with me and my Dad when I was little? For old times sake?

CAPTAIN LOUIE: I don't sail for free, boy.

BRYSON: (shrugging) Oh well, if the old girl can't handle, I completely understand.

CAPTAIN LOUIE: (nerve struck) The Rita can handle more than a bunch o' college jocks and little girls. 1:00 at the dock. I'll bring the grill, we'll have a cookout with what we catch.

The captain shuffles outside. Shane whistles.

SHANE: Where did you dig up that old fossil?

BRYSON: The Captain is a great man!

GREG: So … I should probably mention – I tend to get fairly seasick. Even if I'm not sailing. Heck, I'm not even allowed to watch Titanic.

Shane flops himself onto the couch.

SHANE: Where are the girls at, anyway? Ashley's newly single and on the rebound and I can't remember the last time I saw Carrie dating anyone …

BRYSON: Ashley hates your guts and Carrie's a lesbian.

SHANE: What? She is not.

BRYSON: Bro, I'm telling you –

SHANE: Shit, that just leaves Puddy Prudence.

GREG: Prudence is a lot of fun.

SHANE: Good. You can have her.

GREG: Oh no. (pats his laptop which he has now set up on the kitchen table) I got Mona.

SHANE: (wrinkles his nose) You named your laptop?

GREG: No! The girl I'm talking to online.

BRYSON: You met somebody? (high fives Greg) Props, bro!

SHANE: If 'Mona's' actually a real person.

GREG: Oh, she's real – and she's spectacular.

He spins the laptop to show a Facebook picture of a beautiful brunette. Bryson and Greg lean in close.

SHANE: That's a fake photo if I ever saw one.

BRYSON: Hate to break it to you, Greg (claps him on the shoulder). I gotta agree with the S-Man over here. Look at the bottom right corner … looks like there was a logo that was Photoshopped out. Probably taken from a supermodel pic or something.

GREG: (nose wrinkled) No way man. She's real. We chat every day.

BRYSON: Ever see her face to face?

GREG: No … but we've spoken on the phone loads of times.

BRYSON: (concerned) You … you never gave her money or anything, did you?

GREG: Of course not … okay, I did. Her Dad needed an operation, he lost his job and his insurance and she needed a quick 2k!

Bryson and Shane stare at him, mouths open.

SHANE: (rolling his eyes, going to the fridge) Dumbass.

EXT. SAN MARTIN INLET – AFTERNOON

Tatum sits on the back of James' bike. They take a look at the surroundings as they drive down Ocean Way, stopping at a light, taking in the sights. Restaurants, surf shops, hotels line the way. In the distance is an amusement park complete with a rollercoaster and a giant, towering Ferris Wheel. Tatum points.

TATUM: Bryson used to work there over the summers when he stayed here. Got me in for free a few times. I would ride the rollercoaster till I puked.

(Beat)

TATUM: You know – we are downtown …

JAMES: And?

TATUM: And you know who has a small shop here?

JAMES: Your aunt that looks like Elvira?

TATUM: She does not look like Elvira … I was thinking of getting inked, since we're here.

JAMES: Trying to stave off having to see Billy for as long as possible, huh?

TATUM: That. And I already promised her I'd stop in while we're here. (Beat) It'd be a great way for you to meet her, she already likes you from what I've told her. You need another family member in your corner against Dewey!

JAMES: (kicking the accelerator as the light goes green) Oh the things I do for love.

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL TATTOO SHOP – AFTERNOON

James parks the bike outside of a tattoo parlor. It's a small storefront and up top is a small apartment. Black cobwebs decorate the exterior along with skulls and skeletons in the window display.

Tatum heads for the door. James hesitates. She rolls her eyes and grabs his arm.

TATUM: Don't be bashful.

INT. TATTOO PARLOR – AFTERNOON

The two are greeted by LYSSA, a blonde girl their age. She has several tattoos on her arms, some hidden under the sleeve on her t-shirt.

LYSSA: Tatum? Good to see you! And … who's your friend?

TATUM: My boyfriend – James.

LYSSA: You always get the hot ones. Anyway, I'll let Des know you're here.

V/O AUNT DESIRAE: No need … the Eye told me they were coming.

They see Tatum's AUNT DESIRAE emerge from a back room behind a beaded door. She's a cool, tattooed aunt – no doubt in my mind played by Fairuza Balk. She hugs Tatum.

AUNT DESIRAE: The Eye never lies.

TATUM: Good to see you, Aunt Des. And what does 'The Eye' say about my new boyfriend here?

Aunt Desirae surveys James over Tatum's shoulder. She begins walking around him.

AUNT DESIRAE: The new guy, huh? Not a bad looker, you always knew how to pick them. His aura's a little dingy though.

JAMES: Aura?

Suddenly, Aunt Desirae grabs James' hand, looking at his palm. She traces the lines down his hand with her fingers.

AUNT DESIRAE: I see a lot of passion here, no doubt about that.

Tatum smiles apologetically at her boyfriend.

AUNT DESIRAE: (cont'd) Intelligence. (eyes soften) And a lot pain. (Looks up at him) You've lost someone, haven't you?

JAMES: Many people. My Dad and my sister. My mom's in rehab.

AUNT DESIRAE: (looking back down) But I also see a lot of strength.

JAMES: (eyes close) I've had to be.

Aunt Desirae turns, hands on her hips.

AUNT DESIRAE: Very well. I approve. (Claps her hands) So who's getting tatte'd?

CUT TO:

Tatum is lying facedown on a table, shoulder strap on her shirt slid down as Aunt Desirae sits there, now wearing glasses on the bridge of her nose, as she inks a new tattoo on Tatum's shoulderblade. James sits watching, very interested. Lyssa offers Desirae assistance.

AUNT DESIRAE: So why do you want a phoenix on your shoulder?

TATUM: C'mon Auntie … you know better than most. It's a sign of rebirth. That even though I faced death in the face, I survived, got stronger.

AUNT DESIRAE: (concentrating as she works) That's our family … tragedy. It's in our bloodline. Suicides, accidental deaths, murders. We're a family of anguish. (looks up thoughtfully) Except maybe Dewey – his pain is mostly self-inflicted. How's Gale treating you?

TATUM: Pretty good, believe it or not. I mean, she's still a mega bitch ready to kill for a story …

AUNT DESIRAE: I always liked her. She's good for him. Tell her I'd like to get together for coffee sometime.

TATUM: I will.

AUNT DESIRAE: Hasn't been easy in these parts either, these past few years. Watching my father – your grandpa – slip into dementia. Your grandmother shut down not too long after …

TATUM: If I remember correctly, wasn't Nan living with you when you had that ranch out in the country?

AUNT DESIRAE: That's right. We made the den a hospice room for her. I wanted her to pass among family. Your tribute to her was very beautifully written.

TATUM: (tears filling in her eyes) Thank you.

AUNT DESIRAE: But after she passed, I just couldn't live in that house. Evil - is drawn to tragedy.

TATUM: Wasn't the house haunted?

AUNT DESIRAE: That's why I moved. After she passed, weird shit started happening. I thought it was her … but the Eye said differently. A malevolent spirit was drawn to our house – it happens to our family. Malignant entities cling to us, they feed on the tragedies in our family. So I upped and moved out here and opened this shop and business has been fairly successful. And we're done!

Tatum sits upright as Lyssa holds up a mirror behind her. Tatum checks the tattoo out.

TATUM: Great job, Auntie! Nice!

AUNT DESIRAE: You'll come back and visit?

TATUM: Of course.

AUNT DESIRAE: (to James) Can she and I have a minute alone?

JAMES: You got it.

James goes off into a corner of the store. Lyssa shows him some other products they sell.

AUNT DESIRAE: (whispering) He's a good guy. I like him.

TATUM: That's a relief.

AUNT DESIRAE: But I saw something else on his palm … he has a short life-line, Tatum. Tragedy … is drawn to our family …

Tatum turns, staring at her boyfriend, the soundtrack thudding.

CUT TO:

James is at the tattoo parlor's counter, buying some stuff as Lyssa rings him up. He eyes Tatum and her aunt in the corner before turning back to the counter.

Lyssa is reaching for something above the counter. He watches as her sleeve rolls back, showing off one of her hidden tattoos.

IT'S A TATTOO OF THE GHOSTFACE MASK.

James's eyes widen as the soundtrack STINGS!