OPEN ON:
INT. BEACH HOUSE – AFTERNOON
A doorbell rings.
Shane spring up from the couch.
SHANE: Girls!
He shoves Bryson and Greg out of the way to be the first person to answer. He swings the door open.
ASHLEY BECKER – yes, that Becker, cousin to CASEY BECKER – gorgeous blonde, shoves her way through, handing Shane her suitcase without even looking at him.
ASHLEY: Bryson!
She flings her arms around him.
BRYSON: Hey Ash!
ASHLEY: I am so glad you got this house. Now that I dumped that loser Dylan, I am excited to begin my Spring Break officially as a SINGLE LADY!
SHANE: I'll drink to that!
ASHLEY: Ew, Shane, you're here? Ugh, Bryson, you have the worst taste in guy friends.
Shane sidles up to her.
SHANE: Give it time, Ash. After a few drinks, this ocean atmosphere … you'll begging to see the inside of my bedroom.
ASHLEY: Well, we all have our delusions. Hey Greg!
He waves cheerfully.
Behind them, CARRIE and PRUDENCE enter. Carrie – short-haired brunette and Prudence – more plain with a serious demeaner.
PRUDENCE: Where am I sticking these bags?
SHANE: Pheh, you and Carrie can take the bedroom in the basement.
PRUDENCE: Whatever … as long as Shane's room is as far away from ours as possible.
CARRIE: Who else is here? Tatum on her way with James?
BRYSON: She texted me a while ago. Should be here soon. Billy and Sarah too.
An uncomfortable silence falls on the room.
SHANE: Yo – they better not fuck up my spring break with their drama and shit …
ASHLEY: Ugh, the universe doesn't revolve around you, Shane.
BRYSON: Relax, they're well past it.
ASHLEY: I thought we agreed when they broke up, we'd try not to hang out with them together …
BRYSON: Well what, should I have gotten two beach houses? It's not exactly like I can keep them separate forever.
V/O BILLY: Keep who separate?
Billy and Sarah enter.
BRYSON: Man of the hour! Good to see you, bud!
BILLY: Everyone – this is my girlfriend – Sarah.
Everyone nods their hellos.
SHANE: Dude – she's hot!
ASHLEY: Shane -!
SHANE: What? It's a compliment! And if I'm complimenting her, I'm complimenting Billy really cause he did good!
ASHLEY: You are such an ass …
BILLY: (smiling sarcastically at Sarah) So these are my friends …!
Shane goes ahead and grabs Sarah's luggage.
SHANE: (mock voice) I will show you to your room, Madame.
ASHLEY: (to Carrie) He is such a pervert.
Shane is about to walk off with Sarah in tow when they find themselves face-face-face with Tatum and James who have just walked into the house.
TATUM: Hey guys! This is my new boyfriend, James!
James nods to everyone.
TATUM: Now let's get this party started …
She stops. She is face to face with Billy. The two glare at each other.
TATUM: Hey.
BILLY: Hey.
Their faces redden. Both have a lot to say to the other and it looks like they might come to a shouting match.
Sarah, however, intervenes.
SARAH: Billy … you didn't tell me that she would be here …
BILLY: (rubbing the back of his head) Oh, yeah … er, slipped my mind. Sarah, this is my ex.
SARAH: I know who she is, thanks. (turning to Shane) Er … you, put Billy and me as far from their room as possible.
Nodding, Shane leads Sarah to a room at the far end of the house, dragging her luggage. Billy gives Tatum and James a quick nod, before darting after them.
There's an awkward silence.
BRYSON: Well I think that well …
CUT TO:
EXT. DECK OF THE S.S. RITA – AFTERNOON
The S. S. Rita – a small fishing boat, cruises along the waters of the San Martin Inlet. Captain Louie is at the helm, Bryson laughing and whooping, clearly enjoying himself. Greg sits wearing a waterproof poncho with a hood, trying to keep from getting seasick.
Sarah is sitting with Ashley, Carrie and Prudence, chit-chatting, making friends. Billy leans over the edge of the railing, watching the horizon, arguing with Shane.
SHANE: No way man, it's real.
BILLY: It's a cardboard cutout!
SHANE: Why would a cardboard cutout of a child be on the set of Three Men and a Baby? Just hanging around for no reason. Next you're gonna tell me a Munchkin didn't really commit suicide on the set of The Wizard Oz.
Billy rubs the bridge of his nose.
BILLY: It' a peacock in the background.
Meanwhile, Tatum and James sit in the back, isolated from the rest.
JAMES: (gesturing towards the others) Don't you want to talk to your friends?
TATUM: (sipping a drink, ignoring his question) So Billy's girlfriend hates me. Guess he forget to mention the little detail that you and I would be here.
JAMES: Why do you care what she thinks?
TATUM: I don't. (seeing his raised eyebrows) I don't!
JAMES: Then go talk to her. I dare you.
TATUM: Fine.
She stands up, smooths out her t-shirt, then stands up –
THE BOAT LURCHES, skidding to a stop. Everyone steadies themselves. Above, Captain Louie waves his hands apologetically.
CAPTAIN LOUIE: Sorry, sorry she does that from time to time. How about we get fishing?
CUT TO:
An hour later, CAPTAIN LOUIE has a net full of fish flapping about on the deck. He picks one up, dangling it by its tail. Ashley wrinkles her nose.
CAPTAIN LOUIE: Alright – anyone know how to fillet a fish?
ASHLEY: Please tell me you're not …
CAPTAIN LOUIE: It's easy.
He flops a fish onto a small table, pulls out a long, think and sharp knife. In a moment, he has the flopping fish filleted and the cuts nicely put into a bag with ice.
CAPTAIN LOUIE: No volunteers to help me out?
Greg stands up.
GREG: I'll help.
He grabs the knife from the captain, grabs a fish and even faster than Louie, has the creature sliced open.
ASHLEY: Why is he good at this?
GREG: (shrugging) Meh, I'm trying to go to med school after graduation. Been practicing surgical skills.
They all wrinkle their noses as he effortlessly has gutted and filleted the fish.
CUT TO:
The group exits the ship, which is now parked at a marina. Captain Louie waves them off.
BRYSON: Thanks, Cap'n. It was fun!
CAPTAIN LOUIE: (Pointing) I live a few houses down from you guys. You need anything … and I'll be watchin' yeh so yeh better be on yer best behavior! I can see everything from my house!
BRYSON: Will do, Cap'n!
They watch as the ship pulls out of the marina and sails off in the other direction.
CUT TO:
INT. BEACH HOUSE – TATUM'S ROOM – EVENING
Tatum is folding clothes and putting them into a dresser in her room. James is hanging around behind her, on his phone.
TATUM: So today went well.
JAMES: Oh yeah, between you almost come to blows with Sarah, a crazy captain and a computer nerd who's obviously very good at gutting things. Recipe for a slasher flick.
The soundtrack thuds. Tatum looks at him very seriously.
TATUM: Please don't joke about things like that.
JAMES: You're right, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.
TATUM: Could you go check the bathroom? I might've left my phone charger in there.
Nodding, still checking out his phone, James walks away.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM – EVENING
James enters the bathroom. Tatum's charger is indeed on the counter, still plugged in. He sighs, and unplugs it. He turns –
A KNIFE IS EMBEDDED INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.
The knife is holding a leaf of paper in place. Cocking his head in confusion, James yanks the knife out and opens the piece of paper. It has his name written on it.
Confused, he opens the piece of paper … and nearly drops it. There's a picture. A picture of a beautiful girl smiling up at him. And written over the picture, in red writing:
I KNOW!
James is breathing deeply. He grabs the piece of paper, folds it up and sticks it into his back pocket. He takes a breath, regains his composure, and grabs the charger.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM
TATUM: James, you okay in there?
James emerges, completely fine, covering his shock with his characteristic smirk.
JAMES: Fine. Everything's fine.
We zoom on his face … there's a hint of concern …
JAMES: Couldn't be better.