SCREAM 5: RECALIBRATED

by OnlyHuman96

4 years have passed and things have been quiet in Woodsboro. The STAB franchise has been rebooted to everyone's dismay, unfortunately also bringing the inevitable return of Ghostface. Previous survivor, Kirby, and her friends find themselves struggling for their lives as they become targets of a masked killer, who seems to be rebooting the Stab franchise in their own twisted way.

5. The Killer's Message

EXT. WOODSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WCC) - COURTYARD - CONT'D

Gale storms through the broken up crowd of people and makes her way towards Dewey. She is then stopped by deputy Amerstead before crossing the police line.

LISA
I'm sorry Gale, but this is police business and you're not to get involved.

GALE
Oh God, blah blah, let me through dammit. I have something to show my husband.

LISA
I can't Gale. Sheriff's orders. (beat) I'm permitted to let any civilians through. That includes you.

GALE
Look deputy barbie, if you don't let me through, I will unleash 9 kinds of hell that not even Dewey has seen. I'm not in the mood for this right now.

Dewey sees Gale trying to get through, he lets out a deep sigh then heads over there.

LISA
Step back Gale.

DEWEY
What's going on here?

GALE
Dewey, please tell Paris Hilton here to let me through. (beat) I've got some important information.

DEWEY
Like what?

GALE
Let me through and I'll tell you.

Dewey sighs deeply.

DEWEY
Let her through.

Lisa steps back and lets Gale through. Gale sticks her tongue out at Lisa as she passes. Lisa just shakes her head at Gale's childishness.

DEWEY(CONT'D)
So what is it?

GALE
Oh yeah, about that. (beat) I don't actually really have anything. Yet anyway.

Dewey cuts Gale off with disappointment.

DEWEY
(sighs deeply)
Gale.

GALE
YET. I don't have anything yet. (beat) I was kinda hoping you could help out with that though.

DEWEY
You know I can't.

GALE
Come on, just something. (beat) Anything.

DEWEY
Please just go home Gale. (beat) Don't get involved in this.

GALE
When do you know me not to get involved in stuff like this?

GALE(CONT'D)
Exactly. (beat) Whatever happened to, "It's gonna be me and you from now on"?

DEWEY
There are just some things I can't do. And disclosing crime scene evidence is one of them.

GALE
Can't or won't?

Gale's words hit Dewey hard, as he's really just trying to keep her un-involved for her safety. But to her dismay, he gives in.

DEWEY
Fine. You can take a look at a few photos but that's it.

GALE
That's all I need. (beat) Well not all but it helps.

Dewey walks over to his police cruiser as Gale follows behind. He opens the door and reaches in then pulls out a folder and hands it to Gale.

Gale takes the folder.

DEWEY
This goes no further than here. What you see in there, you keep between you me.

GALE
Don't I always?

Gale looks at Dewey, who is staring seriously at her.

GALE(CONT'D)
Actually, don't answer that.

Gale opens the folder to the crime scene images. The first reveals Lacey being strung up, hanging dead in front of the silver screen.

DEWEY
There's one in particular that really gives me that uneasy feeling.

GALE
My God, this is sick.

Gale flips through each photo individually, carefully analyzing each one.

GALE(CONT'D)
Who could do something like this to someone?

DEWEY
Just about every psycho we've come in contact with.

GALE
No (beat) This is just sick and twisted. Their intentions weren't to just kill these kids. They did this for sport.
(beat) For fun.

DEWEY
Deputy Stross on the scene, said it looked staged. Like whoever did this, wanted it to play out exactly how it did.

GALE
Almost like as if it were being recreated.

DEWEY
What?

GALE
Kirby was right.

DEWEY
Kirby? Why is she...

Gale cuts Dewey off before he can finish his sentence..

GALE
Dewey, did you find anything unusual or out of the ordinary?

DEWEY
Like I said, there's one that gives me that uneasy feeling.

Gale flips through the crime scene photos until she comes to one from the bathroom. Blood is splattered everywhere, but most noticeably, inscribed in blood
on the wall is "WE ARE GHOSTFACE". Gale gets that uneasy feeling and clears her throat.

GALE
Well, "WE" points out that there's at least more than one killer.

DEWEY
We know there's two for sure.

GALE
Question is, are there more? (beat) This sounds like something of a cult.

Gale observantly analyzes the photo, staring anxiously and thinking to herself, "My God, this is really happening again."

[CUT TO]

EXT. WOODSBORO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (WCC) - CAMPUS QUAD - NOON

Sitting along the side of a marble and concrete water fountain, is Nikki, Chris, ANDREW "SETH" BUXTON(Seth), a 19 year old, dark brown haired(can't really see because it's covered by a dark red beanie), smaller framed guy, standing at about 5'11. Seth resembles a mixture of Robbie and Randy, as he shares an excessive knowledge of horror movies. Also a geeky film student, he carries a handheld video recorder with him at all times.

ALLYSON TAYLOR(Ally), a 19 year old, blonde haired(with black dyed tips), smaller framed girl, standing at 5'7. Ally has an innocent-like, but fun personality. Can be serious when needed to be. Also, she doesn't share the same amount of love for horror movies as much as everyone else in the group.

JAKE COLLINS(Jake), a 20 year old, black haired, athletic framed guy, standing at about 6'1. Jake is a bit of a jokester, as he always tries to find a reason to make something seem funny. He is also currently Nikki's boyfriend. Personality wise, they are alike in many ways, so it works for them.

They are talking about the current situation at hand. Ally, Seth, and Chris sit apart from one another, while Jake sits next to Nikki, with his arm around her. Chris just sits there, while Ally is glued to her phone, and Seth is tampering with his camcorder.

ALLY
God, Josh and Lacey. (beat) Who's next?

SETH
Oh man, I hope we don't have to find out.

JAKE
With everything going on here, someone's likely to drop soon.

Nikki backhands Jake's shoulder.

NIKKI
Don't say that.

JAKE
I'm just saying with all of this, the police being distracted and all, it would be the perfect opportunity. Nobody is safe.

CHRIS
You make it sound like you know who his next target will be?

JAKE
I really don't. I'm just pointing out the obvious.

SETH
Obviously.

Jake shoots Seth a look of stupidity. Seth doesn't see because he is still tampering with his camcorder.

ALLY
Obviously we're all just fucked because we all have some kind of a connection to Josh and Lacey.

JAKE
Whoa, whoa, chill sister. (beat) Let's not jump to conclusions just yet.

CHRIS
For real, Al. It could just be a coincidence.

NIKKI
Pretty big ass coincidence.

SETH
Whoever is behind this, is obviously trying to break new ground.

NIKKI
Which is kinda hard in this day and age.

SETH
Not exactly. Remakes offer a shit-ton of new ground to break. (beat) Only question is...

Ally cuts Seth off, finishing his sentence in her own words.

ALLY
... Only question is, who and when the killer will strike next?

SETH
Or Killer(s).

Nikki nods as if she knows Seth could be right.

JAKE
I'm not ruling anything or anyone out until something else happens.

SETH
So your plan is to just wait and see who drops next?

Seth turns his attention away from his camcorder.

ALLY
You guys are crazy, I swear.

Ally stays glued to her phone screen.

JAKE
No. (beat) My plan is to not get involved unless Nikki or any of my friends do.

CHRIS
So Josh wasn't your friend?

JAKE
Eh, I had trust issues with Josh.

ALLY
Doesn't mean that you shouldn't care that he's gone.

JAKE
I do care but the killer must have had his reasons.

NIKKI
You keep saying he, him, his. (beat) How do you know the killer isn't female?

JAKE
I don't but by stereotype, the killer is normally always a guy.

NIKKI
Sexist much?

ALLY
You guys are too cute.

Just then, a ringing emits. Everyone begins looking around, thinking that it may be their phone.

Chris has a puzzled look on his face.

CHRIS
Where the fuck is my phone?

NIKKI
It's mine.

Nikki reaches into her purse and pulls out her phone, which is the one that is the one that is ringing. She unlocks the screen on her Galaxy S6. The screen lights up with the caller ID reading, "JOSH".

The soundtrack stings.

This sends a chill down Nikki's spine.

JAKE
Who is it?

Nikki says nothing. As crazy as this is, she swipes the screen and answers it. She cautiously puts the phone to her ear.

NIKKI
(confused as hell)
Hello?

The menacing voice of Ghostface is heard.

GHOSTFACE(O.S.)
Hello Nikki. Beautiful day isn't it?

NIKKI
Um who is this?

GHOSTFACE(O.S.)
I need to deliver a message.

JAKE
Nikki?

Nikki looks to Jake.

GHOSTFACE(O.S.)
Watch closely.

Nikki has a look of pure shock on her face.

GHOSTFACE(O.S.)(CONT'D)
This message isn't for you though. You'll find out soon enough.

NIKKI
What?

[DIAL TONE]

JAKE
Who the fuck was that?

Nikki shakily runs her fingers through her hair.

NIKKI
I think it was the killer. (beat) Josh's name appeared on the caller ID.

ALLY
What the hell?

SETH
What did they say?

NIKKI
I'm not sure. I'm still trying to figure that out myself.

Chris sees Kirby approaching them from across the courtyard.

CHRIS
Not a word about this to Kirby, please.

Kirby meets up with everyone and sits next to Chris. He wraps is arm around her.

CHRIS
You okay?

KIRBY
Yeah, I'm Fine

NIKKI
Hey, you made it.

KIRBY
(briefly smiling)
Yay me.

NIKKI
You guys talk about anything else after I left?

KIRBY
Not really, just a moment of grief and sorrow.

NIKKI
Ouch.

KIRBY
Yeah. That's life though when your consciousness is completely fucked.

ALLY
I hear that.

There's silence for a moment.

KIRBY
So what were you guys talking about?

SETH
Nothing important, just psycho killer stuff.

KIRBY
Ah, gotcha.

ALLY
And on that note, I think I'm gonna head back to my dorm. This has been a cluster-fuck of a day.

KIRBY
I second that.

NIKKI
Third.

ALLY
Plus I have a 10 page research paper to turn in by tomorrow or I'm fucked.

Ally grabs her stuff and walks down the fountain steps.

ALLY(CONT'D)
Well I'll catch you guys later.

Everybody waves goodbye to Ally as she walks away.

KIRBY
Be careful girl.

NIKKI
(to Kirby)
You mind if I come over to your place? I'm a little scared shitless to be staying by myself tonight?

KIRBY
Yeah, sure.

Kirby and Nikki grab their things. Both kiss their boyfriends before leaving. Seth feels like the awkward 3rd and 4th wheel.

SETH
Oh come on, get a room.

Kirby and Nikki walk away, leaving Seth, Chris, and Jake still sitting by the fountain.

SETH(CONT'D)
(to Chris)
Seems like you and Kirby are growing apart.

CHRIS
I just respect what she's been through and how it changes her life.

JAKE
Well aren't you the sentimental one.

CHRIS
Fuck you dude. (beat) You know you would do the same for Nikki.

JAKE
(chuckles)
It was a joke dude. No need to get hostile.

CHRIS
It really has had a huge impact on her life. She tries to hide it but (beat) Things will get better. Once all of this is over.

Chris watches Kirby and Nikki in the distance as they proceed across the courtyard, making their way to the west side dorms.