So I ended up cutting act seven into two halves, because I forgot how insanely long this act is until just now. You're welcome for not leaving you with too much of a cliffhanger at the end. ;) This reveal, and the story that will follow next week, got some mixed responses when I initially posted this script, so I hope you like it, and if not...well, I do, so oh well! As always, let me know what you think, but as we really get into the reveal, remember that even if you don't love everything here, there's still always a nice way to leave constructive criticism!
ACT SEVEN
EXT. WOODS OUTSIDE ROSEWOOD - EVENING
The sun is setting, and the woods are rapidly darkening. The girls hold their phones out in front of them, lighting the way as they trek through the trees.
EMILY
Does anyone see anything?
HANNA
Just a lot of trees.
Aria swats at something in front of her face, grimacing.
ARIA
God, and a really, really big mosquito.
Mona, who's leading the group, suddenly comes to a halt, and the other girls nearly ram into her.
MONA
I don't understand. This should be it.
SPENCER
No, it can't be.
Mona holds out her phone, showing Spencer the map on it.
MONA
I've been tracking how far we've walked according to the map's scale. We should be right on top of it.
Emily throws out her arms, clearly at the end of her rope.
EMILY
You must have gotten it wrong!
Mona raises her eyebrows dubiously, as if the very idea of this is ridiculous.
MONA
Trust me. I didn't.
ARIA
Maybe this really is a trap.
Hanna rubs at her arms.
HANNA
Okay, I officially have goose bumps. I say we turn back.
Emily whirls around to face her. Now that their only lead appears to be a bust, she's frantic again.
EMILY
No! This is all we've got. There has to be something.
SPENCER
I think I might have found it.
Her eyes are locked onto something several feet away. The girls turn to follow her gaze. There is a small, laminated piece of paper attached to a tree nearby. Cautiously, Spencer walks over and grabs it.
EMILY
What is that?
Spencer furrows her brow at the paper, then looks up, frowning.
SPENCER
You guys need to see this.
The girls crowd around her as she holds out the paper. We PAN IN on the words as Mona reads them aloud.
MONA
"Go back to the place where it all began. Kisses. -A."
Gasps of horror echo around the group as the girls stare at the message, written neatly in typerwriter font.
HANNA
Kisses?
ARIA
A?
SPENCER
So Alison's kidnapper really is some sort of copycat.
Emily's eyes scan the note frantically, as if she's trying to decipher a hidden meaning.
EMILY
Where it all began. What does that mean?
SPENCER
The barn?
Mona shakes her head thoughtfully.
MONA
There's no way Ali's trapped there. We were right next door all day, we would've gotten some indication.
SPENCER
What else could it be talking about?
HANNA
What is "it," anyway? Where what all began?
Aria suddenly straightens up, her eyes widening with realization. She lets out a little sound somewhere between a gasp and a squeak.
ARIA
Oh my God. I think I got it. I got the first ever A message in the high school.
MONA
In Ezra's classroom.
EMILY
Alison's classroom.
They exchange looks, then begin to run back through the woods in the direction they came.
INT. ROSEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - MAIN HALLWAY - EVENING
The school is eerily dark and silent. All of the lights have been turned off. The five girls group together near a row of lockers, looking a combination of freaked out and determined.
HANNA
How'd you know that the gym doors would be unlocked?
MONA
They always were when we went here.
Aria glances around. She can feel the hair on her arms standing up, and she wraps her arms tightly around herself.
ARIA
Does anyone else know that we're here?
SPENCER
Yeah, I texted Toby before we left the woods.
Aria lets out a long, anxious breath.
ARIA
Good.
EMILY
Ali's classroom is right around the corner. That must be where A - or whoever - is holding her hostage, right?
SPENCER
Only one way to find out.
She holds her phone, flashlight on, out in front of her, and is just starting to take a step forward when the school's intercom suddenly CRACKLES to life. The girls freeze, their faces paling.
HANNA
What the hell?
ARIA
Someone's in the main office.
Emily whips around. She makes a move to run in that direction, but Spencer grabs her arm to stop her just as -
ALISON (V.O.)
Hello?
DETECTIVE TANNER (V.O.)
Alison. This is Detective Tanner.
The girls stare up at the ceiling, from which the voices are echoing down.
EMILY
What is this?
ALISON (V.O.)
So I guess you got my email.
DETECTIVE TANNER (V.O.)
I did. Thank you. I'm not surprised that everyone's first priority was to get disposable phones.
ALISON (V.O.)
I wasn't sure how long we wouldn't have access to our real phones. And with everything going on, I wanted to know you were able to contact me.
The girls' confusion grows as they listen.
SPENCER
This must have been back when the police raided our houses.
MONA
Sounds like Alison gave Tanner the number to her burner phone.
HANNA
Why would she do that?
EMILY
I don't know. But we need to get to the office, now.
Before anyone can make a move, a SLAM echoes down the hallway. They all whip around, expressions of terror crossing their faces.
ARIA
That definitely didn't come from the front office.
SPENCER
Then we'll have to split up, check both.
Emily gives a sharp, determined nod. She's already started to turn away.
EMILY
I'll head down to Ali's classroom.
Aria immediately grabs her hand.
ARIA
I'll come with you.
Mona looks over at Hanna and Spencer.
MONA
You two go to the office. I'm going to check out guidance first. There's an intercom in there, too.
HANNA
Are you sure you should go by yourself?
For a moment, Mona looks flattered - finally they've started to show some concern for her, too. But then she waves the question away dismissively.
MONA
It's one room. All I have to do is take a quick look around. I'll catch up with you.
Spencer glances around at the group once more.
SPENCER
Send an SOS if anything happens.
HANNA
Yeah, or just scream.
Spencer rolls her eyes as Emily tugs Aria toward the hallway of classrooms. She, Hanna, and Mona then head off in the opposite direction.
INT. ROSEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - GUIDANCE OFFICE - NIGHT
Mona eases the door closed behind her, then illuminates the room with her phone's flashlight. A desk, several chairs, and a filing cabinet are the only pieces of furniture in the room. Everything is almost eerily silent. Mona steps further into the room and beams the light around, searching for any sign that something isn't right. After a few moments, satisfied, she turns back toward the door.
Suddenly, a female figure with wavy blond hair appears in the doorway, her face turned away. Mona frowns and takes a step forward cautiously.
MONA
Alison?
The figure begins to turn just as we CUT BACK TO Mona. She gasps, leaping back as her hand flies to her mouth. Then she blinks hard, and when she opens her eyes again, the person is gone. She lets out a breath, but still looks completely rattled.
INT. ROSEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - ALISON'S CLASSROOM - NIGHT
Aria and Emily burst into the classroom, which is as dark as the hallway. As soon as they hold their flashlights out, they both let out gasps of horror.
EMILY
Oh my God. Ali!
The CAMERA PANS AROUND to reveal Alison sitting in a chair in the center of the room. Her mouth isn't gagged, but her hands are tied behind her back and her hair lies flat around her face.
ALISON
Emily!
Emily runs over and kneels down in front of her. Aria follows on her heels. Emily puts her hands on Alison's arms, looking terrified.
EMILY
I'm so glad you're okay. What happened to you?
Alison looks toward the door.
ALISON
Where are Hanna and Spencer?
ARIA
Right down the hall. I'll text them now.
She pulls out her phone and begins texting.
EMILY
You have no idea how worried we've - I've - been.
ALISON
Trust me, I have some idea.
EMILY
I'll get you untied.
She stands and bends over the back of Alison's chair.
INT. ROSEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Spencer, Hanna, and Mona reconvene outside of the door to the front office. Spencer shakes her head.
SPENCER
Nothing. Someone must have preset that recording, or played it remotely.
MONA
Nothing in guidance, either.
She looks sick to her stomach. Hanna eyes her suspiciously as Spencer checks her phone. Her eyes widen.
SPENCER
Aria and Emily found Alison.
HANNA
Thank God.
Spencer immediately begins rushing down the hallway. Hanna moves to follow, then pauses and glances at Mona.
HANNA
Okay, why do you look like you just ate a bad tuna melt?
Mona checks to make sure that Spencer is out of earshot, then sighs and relents.
MONA
Remember yesterday, when I told you I'd had all those hallucinations?
Hanna shifts uncomfortably, getting the feeling she knows where this is going.
HANNA
You had another one?
MONA
I mean, unless...yeah. I must have.
Hanna sighs and gives her a sympathetic look.
HANNA
You'll get through this. You always do.
Mona tries to smile in return, but still looks unsettled as we CUT TO -
INT. ROSEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - ALISON'S CLASSROOM - NIGHT
Hanna and Mona slip into the room just as Emily breaks apart from Alison, who has been freed from the chair and is standing. Hanna lets out a breath of relief and immediately goes to hug her.
HANNA
God, I'm so glad you're alive.
Alison chuckles weakly as she pulls away.
ALISON
I can't believe you guys found me.
ARIA
Ali, what is going on? You were seriously kidnapped?
The girls gather around. Alison presses a hand to her mouth, looking nauseated and scared.
ALISON
I'm not really sure what happened. The last thing I remember is getting ready to go meet Jason. I woke up tied to this chair.
EMILY
You mean you've been here this whole thing?
Alison nods miserably. Emily immediately flings her arms around her once again.
MONA
And you have no idea who did this to you?
SPENCER
Or why?
Alison wraps her arms around herself and shudders.
ALISON
Nope. I...I haven't seen anyone since I've been here.
HANNA
Seriously?
Aria waves her hands in front of her face like she's trying to clear away the confusion.
ARIA
Why would someone kidnap you and just dump you in the school?
ALISON
You guys probably showed up before they could do whatever they had planned.
She grabs Emily's hand and pulls her gently toward the door.
ALISON (CONT'D)
Can we just get out of here? Please?
EMILY
Yeah, of course.
SPENCER
We need to be careful. Someone played that recording over the intercom.
Alison and Emily are just feet away from the door, the others following behind, when it suddenly slams shut with a BANG. Everyone jumps.
HANNA
Holy crap. Was that the wind?
MONA
We're inside, Hanna.
Aria rushes over to the door and yanks on the handle desperately.
ARIA
It's locked.
In the next moment, a small silver canister flies through the classroom's window, shattering it. The girls cry out in alarm, leaping back as the canister hits the ground and rolls to the center of the room. Immediately, a beeping sound begins to emanate from it.
ALISON
What is that?
EMILY
Why is it making that noise?
The beeping begins to get quicker. Spencer peers down at it curiously. Her eyes widen.
SPENCER
Whatever it is, it's about to detonate. Everybody get back!
The girls instantly back up against the walls. And they're just in time - with a deafening BANG, the canister explodes. Everyone shrieks, pressing themselves against the walls of the room as white smoke fills it. Emily and Alison clutch each other.
The smoke finally clears, and the girls turn away from the wall, breathless, squinting. Their faces drain of color, and pure shock overtakes their expressions. The canister is gone, and standing in its place in the very center of the room is none other than CHARLOTTE DRAKE.
CHARLOTTE
How's that for a grand entrance?
She smiles around at the girls, looking incredibly pleased with herself. Her hair is shiny, her skin is flawless, and she is indubitably, inarguably not dead.