Chapter 6:
EXT. THE HOT SPOT – NIGHT
The group of teens files around outside the club. Carrie is looking around frantically.
CARRIE: Has anyone seen Ashley?
PRUDENCE: She hasn't come back?
Shane and Bryson look at each other.
CARRIE: I told you we shouldn't have let her go off alone with Dylan.
She picks through her handbag.
CARRIE: She's not picking up …
BRYSON: Shit. Okay, keep trying. Greg, you and I scour the club. Shane, you and the girls go up the Boulevard. Stat!
They split up.
CUT TO:
Tatum and James are walking down Ocean Boulevard, completely laughing, without a care in the world, forgetting all their troubles now that they're engaged. He picks her up and spins her and they kiss.
JAMES: You have no idea how happy you've made me.
TATUM: No. You have no idea how happy you've made me!
She stops, looking at out the beach. She sees Billy, standing there, staring off into the horizon.
JAMES: He didn't take it too well …
TATUM: Well, it was a bit of a shock for him. (bites her lip) Why don't you go ahead? We'll celebrate later. I should just really talk to him, clear the air.
JAMES: You sure?
TATUM: Go ahead. If we're gonna be living with him for a week, I'd rather settle things now then let it blow up.
JAMES: Okay.
He kisses her forehead and heads back in the direction of the beach house. Tatum sighs, asking the universe for strength. She kicks off her heels and descends on the sandy shore.
EXT. BEACH – NIGHT
Billy is staring off into the horizon when Tatum approaches from behind.
TATUM: You okay?
Billy tosses a seashell into the water.
BILLY: Fine. Perfect.
TATUM: Where's Sarah?
BILLY: I'm guessing we just broke up …
TATUM: Really? Why?
BILLY: Don't worry about it.
TATUM: I'm sure you guys didn't really breakup. Look, it'll be fine. She'll cool down, you'll talk it over and you'll reconcile. Come on, let's go back to the house.
BILLY: (staring ahead) You said yes.
TATUM: Billy -.
BILLY: Why him?
TATUM: I love him.
BILLY: And you didn't love me?
TATUM: Let's not start this again … we fought, we moved on -.
BILLY: I thought you didn't want to rush things. That's what happened when I proposed last year. (turns to her) You felt we were moving too fast …
TATUM: Things were too fresh in my mind! Okay, do you know the amount of therapy I had to go through?! Mental! Physical! I'd wake up screaming, seeing Sidney in my room standing over me with a knife!
BILLY: You act like you went through it alone. I still see her, Tatum! Every day. Every night. Every waking second! I went through it too. And you know what – I still wanted to be with you. Despite everything. (Beat) So why the change now? Hmm? What's so special about Mr. Rocker that you'd say 'yes' after only a few months of dating? You felt we were rushing after a year of dating – heck, even longer than that! We were together sophomore year in high school, remember?! I got you pregnant back then … so how was I rushing things?
TATUM: We've been over this and over this, Billy. I'm not arguing with you anymore. I moved on. You did too. Can't we find a way past this? Can't you be happy for me? Can't we be friends …?
Billy starts walking past her.
BILLY: No, we can't.
TATUM: (exasperated) Billy …
BILLY: … we can't be just friends … because I'll always want more … and I know you won't be able to give it …
(Beat)
BILLY: I'll leave first thing tomorrow with Sarah. You shouldn't have your engagement weekend ruined with me hanging around. Congratulations, by the way.
He starts moving back toward the street. Tatum turns and sighs in frustration … that's when she sees it in the distance. Eerily gliding through the ocean water – The S. S. Rita. What was Captain Louie doing out this late? And what was that dangling from the mast?
She squints her eyes … and gasps.
TATUM: Oh shit! Billy! BILLY!
Billy stops. He whirls around.
BILLY: Tatum?
He stops short, sees the horror show before him.
CAPTAIN LOUIE'S CORPSE IS MOUNTED ON THE MAST LIKE A MERMAID ON A PIRATE SHIP … HIS BODY GUTTED AND HOLLOWED OUT, HIS EYES GOUGED OUT, HIS MOUTH HANGING LIMPLY OPEN IN A PERPETUAL SCREAM …
CUT TO:
The police are spread out on the beach. They carry Captain Louie's body away in a body bag. Tatum is sitting on the curb of the street, blanket around her shoulder. Billy is pacing, hands opening and closing in frustration.
She looks up at him, eyes puffy and red.
TATUM: It's happening again …
BILLY: It is not! This has nothing to do with us!
TATUM: Oh, wake up and smell the sequel, Billy! This is how it started last time, too.
BILLY: Sidney and Cotton were a pair of demented freaks!
TATUM: Right, because there are no other demented freaks out there that would love to be a copycat!
The two stop as a middle-aged woman and a young man approach. The female – DETECTIVE ROGERS. Stern-faced, no nonsense, but still very attractive. The younger man – DETECTIVE WAYNE – gangly, red-haired, Ron Weasley lookalike.
ROGERS: Tatum Riley? Billy Loomis? I'm Detective Rogers and this is my partner, Detective Wayne (he waves nervously). Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?
BILLY: I know how this turns out … I was suspected last time too. Shouldn't we have a lawyer present?
WAYNE: Why? Did you do something you need a lawyer for?
TATUM: We were together all night …
ROGERS: But you admit you were the last people with the victim?
TATUM: Uh, well I don't know, I imagine he encountered a few people after we cruised on his boat.
Behind them, Bryson and James come running up to them. James embraces Tatum. Billy rolls his eyes.
JAMES: Are you okay?
BRYSON: Holy shit, I can't believe it … Captain Louie was the baddest dude I knew …
ROGERS: (turning to him) You knew the victim? Wayne, write that down.
BRYSON: Well, yeah, I've known him for years, but –
Gale's voice blurts out from the night.
V/O GALE: Tatum!
She and Dewey are rushing over to them. Tatum is in absolute shock.
TATUM: Gale? Dewey? What are you doing here? (eyes narrow) You were spying on me!
DEWEY: We were not! Okay, we were. And good thing too – I think it's time to call this little vacation quits and come home.
ROGERS: 'Fraid I can't let you do that.
DEWEY: Detective – Deputy Riley, Woodsboro PD, - I really think -.
ROGERS: These kids were the last ones seen with the victim. I'm sorry, but I can't permit them to leave town. Not until we launch a full investigation.
WAYNE: We'll need you guys to come to the station tomorrow. All of you. Not under arrest – just a couple questions.
The two detectives turn and begin talking with several other cops. Tatum looks up at Gale and Dewey.
TATUM: In other news, congratulate me! I'm ENGAGED!
DEWEY: WHAT?
She holds up a diamond ring. Gale beams into excitement and hugs her as Dewey falls backward and faints. Billy kicks a rock in frustration.
CUT TO:
INT. BEACH HOUSE – NIGHT
Carrie, Shane, Greg and Prudence enter the beach house.
CARRIE: I am freaking out! No one seems to know where Ashley is!
SHANE: Can't believe she went off with that jerk …
CARRIE: That's why I'm worried! What if they had another fight and Dylan really hurt her this time!
V/O MALE: There's no fear of that.
They look up … they see DYLAN emerging from Ashley's bedroom, pulling up his pants and throwing on an overshirt.
DYLAN: She's fine … now that she's back with me …
He winks, before glaring at Shane.
CARRIE: Oh no the hell she isn't! And you – get the hell out of our house!
DYLAN: (raising his hand) I'm gone, I'm gone. But you ain't seen the last of me, that's for damn sure.
He backs out of the house. Carrie kicks Ashley's door open. Ashley is lying in bed in a drunken stupor, safe and sound, not a mark on her body.
The door to the house opens again. Carrie thinks it's Dylan – .
CARRIE: I swear.
They enter the living room, leaving Ashley snoring away in her bed. Tatum, James, Bryson and Greg enter the room. Billy is last of all. Bryson is shook up.
CARRIE: What happened?
BRYSON: Captain Louis was … was …
TATUM: - murdered.
CARRIE: What?
TATUM: We found him strung up like a fish on his boat, his insides on the outside.
CARRIE: My god …
PRUDENCE: Why would someone want to kill him? (Her eyes dart to Billy and Tatum) Unless …
BRYSON: (throwing himself onto a couch) That's what I can't figure out!
BILLY: He said something … when he dropped us off. That he was going to keep his eye on us … that he could see everything from his house.
BRYSON: Well yeah, he's up the street. He was a member of the neighborhood watch years ago …
PRUDENCE: What does that mean?
TATUM: It means, someone didn't want him watching out for us. Someone wants this neighborhood blinded …
PRUDENCE: But why?
TATUM: Because he plans to kill again.
(Beat)
PRUDENCE: Then why are we here? Shouldn't we leave? Go home?
BILLY: Can't. The detectives said that we were all the last ones to be seen with him. They want to question us all tomorrow. None of us can leave town till the investigation ends.
CARRIE: They can't do that!
TATUM: Oh, they can. My brother Dewey is here too, by the way, keeping an eye on us. He told us there's no way around it. We're stuck here.
PRUDENCE: If they're not letting us leave, that means we're all suspects! How can they think kids like us -.
BILLY: Because Sidney Prescott was our age too.
TATUM: Don't say that fucking name!
PRUDENCE: Then … the killer could be one of us?
BILLY: (shrugging) Everyone's a suspect.
PRUDENCE: Well damn … I was hoping to get laid this week.
The door opens again. Sarah enters, beaming.
SARAH: Billy dear, I've decided I forgive you, we can work through things right? (sees the look on all their faces) What'd I miss?