Chapter 11
OPEN ON:
EXT. SAN MARTIN INLET AQUARIUM – NIGHT
Bryson, Carrie, Ashley, Shane and Greg stand in line outside the aquarium. Bryson is jumping up and down with excitement.
BRYSON: I am so pumped to see Komandee Kah!
SHANE: Kamehameha what now?
GREG: Komandee Kah! Biggest captive great white on this side of the country. The most vicious too. Wasn't even bred in captivity. They caught it feeding on other, larger sharks, attacked even fishing boats.
CARRIE: Sounds just like Jaws.
BRYSON: Exactly! This shark is just like the great white in Jaws except even more vicious and I get to see him up close and personal!
ASHLEY: Why are we here again? With murders and -.
CARRIE: Because we need to get our minds off of things. Change of pace. I'd like to enjoy my vacation and do something besides sit in a police station!
They pay their entrance fees and enter.
INT. AQUARIUM – NIGHT
We watch them enter the aquarium above. Bryson and Greg are like kids in a candy store.
Above, on a second level, a shadow watches them.
CUT TO:
INT. AQUARIUM GROUND LEVEL – NIGHT
BRYSON: Okay, so the seals and penguins would be down that atrium.
ASHLEY: (gasps) I love penguins and seals!
SHANE: (trying to impress) Uh, so do I. Why don't we go see them together!
Ashley's smile falters.
BRYSON: That's a great idea! But don't linger – they'll be feeding Komandee Kah in a half hour and I want see him in action!
SHANE: Great! (links arms with Ashley who looks none to pleased)
Above, the shadow watches.
INT. SEAL AREA – NIGHT
Ashley watches with delight as an aquarium employee tosses fresh to the seals who clap their fins. On the other side of the atrium, there are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of squawking, blinking penguins standing on a fake iceberg. They are so fat, that they continually bump into each other and squawk.
ASHLEY: They're so cute! I've always wanted a pet penguin!
SHANE: Yeah, they're great … so … you and Dylan are back together?
ASHLEY: Ugh, really Shane?
SHANE: Come on … look, I know I'm no prize, but I've never hit a girl. Not once. I'm worried about you.
ASHLEY: Well you can allay your fears. We are not back together.
SHANE: But – what? You guys …
ASHLEY: Okay, so you can't freak out … at the club, he gave me a drink. I thought nothing of it. When I woke up, I was back at the beach house in my bedroom. He was getting dressed. I don't know what happened really, but …
SHANE: (aghast) He date-raped you!
ASHLEY: (holding in tears) I think so.
SHANE: Then you need to go the cops!
ASHLEY: No – you don't know what Dylan is like! In the past he … he threatened my mother if I ever broke up with him.
SHANE: Bruh …
ASHLEY: Please, you can't tell the roomies. Just …
MAN'S VOICE: Tell them what?
Ashley and Shane spin around to see DYLAN standing there, sipping a soda.
Shane's fists curl.
SHANE: Fucker! I'll kill you!
He swings his fist – Dylan ducks, grabs his arm, pins it behind him.
DYLAN: (into Shane's ear) Some advice – don't announce your moves ahead of time.
ASHLEY: (sheepishly to Shane) He teaches Jiu-Jitsu.
Dylan shoves Shane to the floor and points.
DYLAN: You better stay away from her! (he turns to Ashley, grabbing her by the back of the hair) And as for you … we should have a little chat. I don't like you telling tales on me …
Shane staggers to his feet. He looks around – sees an employee (oblivious to everything going on) pushing a trolley of fish guts to feed the marine life. He runs up to him, bumps him out of the way.
SHANE: Sorry, need to borrow this.
He takes aim.
SHANE: Let's see how you like this.
And he PUSHES the fish gut cart full force. Dylan turns, his eyes widen. He's struck head-on by the cart and falls face first in. Ashley laughs. Around them, other guests and the employee are also laughing as Dylan angrily climbs out, covered in fins and guts. He points angrily, flecking fish insides on the walls.
DYLAN: This ain't over! You better watch yourself!
He storms off.
Ashley is laughing and turns to Shane.
ASHLEY: You really should watch yourself … he's gonna be gunning for you.
SHANE: Yeah, well, it's a small price to pay to keep him from hurting you ever again.
ASHLEY: (smiling, newfound appreciation for Shane) You know, you're not that big of an asshole. You can actually be pretty sweet at times … you should try it more sometime …
SHANE: (smiling, can't believe his luck) Yeah … yeah I have my moments.
Their fingers intertwine.
CUT TO:
INT. KOMANDEE KAH TANK AREA – NIGHT
Bryson is practically dancing around in joy. Greg is holding in his enthusiasm. Carrie is mildly interested. Inside the tank, an enormous great white is swimming around, getting angrier and hungrier. Music blares loudly in this area, along with various educational videos about sharks.
Up above, on a catwalk, there's a bucket of fish. An employee is tossing the fish down one by one into the tank.
In the tank, Komandee Kah rushes forward, devouring the fish in great big gulps.
BRYSON: Sweet.
CARRIE: I was … expecting there to be a little more blood …
BRYSON: They don't do live feedings! Man, that would be epic though! I bet that bad boy could bite a whole man's head off!
Greg's phone vibrates. He looks down and smiles.
GREG: Mona … Hey guys, I'm gonna take this.
He wanders out of the Shark Tank area. Bryson is fixated on the tank, obsessed.
CARRIE: I'm gonna go look for Shane and Ashley. Plus, I want to see the penguins.
Bryson waves her away, completely amazed by the enormous shark.
CUT TO:
Shane and Ashley are walking hand in hand a few minutes later. They enter the shark tank area and see Komandee Kah. The others – including Bryson – are gone.
SHANE: Wow. Bryson was right. That thing is massive.
ASHLEY: It's kinda scary …
Shane smiles, intertwining his fingers with hers.
SHANE: I'll protect you.
ABOVE:
The employee leaves the catwalk, leaving the bucket of fish on top. We see Dylan emerge on the catwalk. He stands over the shark tank, sneering down at it. His eyes fixate on Ashley and Shane below. The two lean in … they're close to kissing. Dylan's fury builds …
He sees the bucket of fish … an idea forms in his head. He picks it up.
DYLAN: (to himself) Okay Mr. Badass, let's see how you like being knocked down a peg.
He prepares to dump the contents directly onto Shane's head.
Behind him, GHOSTFACE appears on the catwalk.
BELOW:
Shane and Ashley lean in, their lips part, he cups her face … their lips meet.
ABOVE:
Dylan grits his teeth.
GHOSTFACE SLAMS INTO HIM, WRAPPING HIS ARM AROUND HIS NECK! A KNIFE PLUNGES INTO HIS SHOULDER! BLOOD RUNS FREELY!
BELOW:
The music in the shark area and the educational videos drown out Dylan's screams above.
ABOVE:
Dylan grits his teeth, and BANGS his head back, knocking Ghostface on his rear. The killer sits up. Dylan's foot connects with his head. He grabs the knife, holding it.
DYLAN: You got the wrong one! You're fighting the Ninja now, baby!
Ghostface jumps up, turning, and running down the opposite end of the catwalk.
DYLAN: Oh no – you ain't getting away!
He starts running – but stops as he realizes that Ghostface is not trying to escape. The killer reaches the end of the catwalk and flicks his wrist. A second knife slides out. He reaches out with a gloved hand and grasps one of the ropes suspending the catwalk.
Dylan stops, realizing his imminent danger.
DYLAN: Oh no.
Ghostface raises his knife hand and waves "bye-bye" with his fingers before he SLICES the rope with a single jerk.
Dylan screams as the catwalk gives way beneath him. He loses his balance, falling down, down, down.
BELOW:
Shane and Ashley break apart their kiss at the sound of a SPLASH.
SHANE: What was that?
They turn.
ASHLEY: Is that … is that Dylan?
Dylan is in the shark tank, eyes wide, holding his breath. He tries to breaststroke up … but the wound on his arm is filing the tank with his blood …
SHANE: (realizing too late) Oh no …
Dylan never reaches the surface. He turns – KOMANDEE KAH is racing for him, his massive jaws widening.
CRUNCH!
SPLAT!
Shane grabs Ashley's head, turning her away into his chest, hiding her eyes from the carnage behind them.
And Dylan is officially fish food.