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Transcript of 04- Screenplay
Retreat
By
Leah Kim, Seonghoi Kim, Doug Ponsot, Kristen Remley, and
Mackenzie Weaver
FADE IN:
1. EXT. LARGE HOUSE - MORNING 1
JEREMY WOODS, GEORGE EVANS, ODETTE MALCOLM, STEPHEN SAVAGE,
TOKKI TAKASHIRO, MICKEY ARNOLD, WILBER JAMESSON, MARCUS
ZEMMAN, COURTNEY COOPER, BARBARA SUMMERS, PUFF GREENE, and
NALA EVANS all slide out of three cars. All of them are
well-dressed in business casual wear, and all have various
amounts of luggage with them. Before them is a large
three-story white-paneled house, with gables and overhanging
eaves.
There’s a wrap around porch, and standing on it are DEANNA
HAWTHORNE and USHI PARK, both in formal business attire. The
two are talking while the others move to form an arc around
them.
USHI
You ready?
DEANNA
Let’s do this.
Ushi turns toward the group, folding his hands.
USHI
Zeta Omega Delta Presidents from
across the country. Good to see you
all made it in one piece.
SAVAGE
Yeah, Ushi, this is some bullshit
comin’ all the way out here. We’re
used to three things: keggers,
bbqs, and hot sorority ass -- not
retreats in the middle of fuckin’
nowhere.
USHI
Please, Savage, the fun’ll begin
shortly. Everyone follow me and
Deanna--please be polite, because
this house has been in her family
for several generations.
2.
2. INT. RECEPTION HALL - MORNING 2
Large and elegantly decorated -- a large banner that says
"WELCOME ZETA OMEGA DELTA" the only item marring the
formality of the locale.
All file into the room, everyone but Ushi and Deanna taking
seats at the various tables. Ushi and Deanna meanwhile make
their way for a raised dais in the middle of the room and
climb up on it.
DEANNA
Thank you all for coming. My great
grandfather founded this fraternity
and sorority in nineteen-twelve.
Over the years we have worked hard
to become the most respected and
well-connected alumni in the United
States.
Several people are already beginning to look bored.
DEANNA (CONT’D)
After this weekend, we presidents
will have a bond that will keeps us
forever linked. Now I’ll hand the
mic to Ushi, president of the NYU
chapter, and he will explain the
rules.
USHI
We shall be split into two
teams. Both teams shall be placed
twelve miles from this house in the
forest with Team One being one mile
north of Team Two. Each member of
the team is going to be given two
clues. Each two pertains to a
landmark and directions to get back
from there. No one has two hints in
a row, and no one is allowed to
know what the others’ hints are
before the locations are found.
Ushi begins to point to people as he says their names, and
pointing to the sides of the room to indicate what team
they’re on. When he finishes, Jeremy, George, Odette,
Savage, Tokki, Mickey, and Deanna are on one side, while
Ushi himself, Wilber, Marcus, Courtney, Barbara, Puff, and
Nala are on the other.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
MARCUS
This is bullshit! Why the fuck do
we have three girls? Who the fuck
made these groups? Was it you,
Ushi? You tryin’ to improve your
chances to get some tail on this
walk?
USHI
Enough, Marcus, Jesus. You played
quarterback in high school -- you
can handle leading a bunch of
girls.
(raises voice)
Everyone bring your bags to your
rooms! We start in two hours!
Brunch is up in twenty minutes.
Eat, ’cause it could be your last
meal for a while!
3. INT. RECEPTION HALL - HALF HOUR LATER 3
A banquet table is laid out with platters filled with brunch
food: scrambled eggs, sandwiches, pancakes, etcetera. Quite
a few of the presidents sit around the room at various
tables.
George sits near Deanna and leans toward her.
GEORGE
I really wanted to be on a team
with my sister. Could we maybe
switch that up so I am?
DEANNA
The teams are final.
Stephen sits nearby, listening intently. Tokki sits across
from him, her chin resting on her hand, and she keeps her
eyes focused on Stephen.
Barbara sits between Nala and Puff.
PUFF
Are you mute?
Barbara turns her head away from him.
NALA
I’ll pay you five bucks per word
you say.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
PUFF
Will you pay me five bucks for
every word I say?
NALA
No!
Marcus and Wilber are shuffling papers. Both look up to
watch Courtney walk across the room toward them.
Marcus shoves his papers to Wilber. Wilber shoves his papers
down the table to Ushi. Courtney arrives at the table and
looks the papers of. After a moment she frowns, lifts them,
and starts sorting them.
TWO YOUNG MEN enter the room.
YOUNG MAN #1
Hey! We’re ready to go!
Deanna rises from her seat and moves toward the podium still
set up in the center of the room. Everyone turns to watch
her.
DEANNA
These are Sam and Randy, my
brothers. They’ll be taking each of
our groups to their starting point.
Let the bonding begin!
4. EXT. FOREST ROAD - AFTERNOON 4
Two vans drive through a valley of trees and hills. At one
point, the vans reach a fork in the road, and one goes one
way while the other goes another.
5. EXT. GROVE/EXT. LAKE - SPLIT SCREEN - AFTERNOON 5
The bus loaded with Team #1 drives along a road that becomes
more and more crowded with trees, until finally it pulls up
to a wide grove toward the edge of the forest. Team #2 in
the interim drives along a road right on the edge of the
forest until they pull up in front of a large lake. Deanna
steps out of the van of team #1 and Ushi steps out of the
van of Team #2 and they begin leading their groups into the
forest. Once they’re out, the two pull out radios and put
them to their mouths.
DEANNA
Ushi--you ready?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
USHI
We’re go.
Jeremy of Team #1 becomes incredibly excited at this point
and begins running into the forest.
JEREMY
Yeah! Let’s get this thing going!
6. EXT. FOREST GROUP 2 - AFTERNOON 6
Group two starts moving through the forest.
USHI
Hey, Marcus--you take the lead.
Let’s follow that trail.
7. EXT. FOREST GROUP 1 - AFTERNOON 7
Jeremy runs through the trees.
JEREMY
C’mon! I think I see the first
clue, guys! Hurry!
JEREMY’S FOOT
hits a thin string. There’s a faint THWACK.
JEREMY’S FACE
goes slack and he falls.
BACK TO SCENE
Moves along, led by Odette as she skips along. She turns and
begins walking backward.
ODETTE
Come on, guys. We can do it, we’ll
be--
Odette trips then, falling backward on to her ass. She leaps
back up, laughing and embarrassed, and she turns.
ODETTE’S POV
Jeremy lies face down on the ground.
BACK TO SCENE
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
ODETTE
Jeremy, Jesus! You scared me!
Odette bends to grab Jeremy’s arm.
ODETTE
Come on, get up! We need to keep
moving -- we’ve barely got started.
The rest of the group catches up with Odette.
MICKEY
Get up.
Mickey moves to grab Jeremy’s arm, pulling on it. Jeremy’s
head limply turns. A nail sticks out of his temple. Jeremy’s
eyes are still open. Mickey drops Jeremy’s arm and turns to
cover Odette’s eyes, but it’s too late.
ODETTE
Oh my god!
TOKKI
Holy shit!
GEORGE
What the fuck?
DEANNA’S FACE
as her eyes widen and her face pales. She fumbles in her
pocket and removes her cellphone.
CELLPHONE
has no signal.
BACK TO SCENE
Deanna pulls her radio out.
DEANNA
Ushi! We have a--a situation!
Jeremy tripped or something
and...has a nail in his head!
He’s--he’s dead Ushi! He’s dead!
8. EXT. FOREST GROUP 2 - AFTERNOON
Group 2 is walking through the forest. Ushi is watching his
radio, but only STATIC comes through with the occasional
word from Deanna:
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
DEANNA
Ushi...somehow...Jeremy...
Ushi shakes his head and shoves the radio away. Team 2
continues climbing up a steep hill. All pant.
Nala and Barbara both pause to take a drink from their water
bottles. Puff takes a drag from a cigarette.
USHI
Marcus! Stop when you get to the
top! We need a few minutes of rest
and I need to try to figure out
what Deanna was saying!
As Marcus reaches the top we see a pond at the bottom of the
hill.
WILBER
Sweet! Anyone down for a little
dip?
Wilber dashes down the hill toward the pond. He kicks off
his shoes and socks and wades into the water, beginning to
swim slowly.
WILBER’S FOOT
swims through the water until it slips into a loop of rope.
BACK TO SCENE
WILBER
What the--
When his momentum keeps him moving forward, Wilber’s foot
pulls on the rope. The rope becomes instantly tight.
Wilber is suddenly jerked under the water.
Courtney stands at the waters edge, having just witnessed
what occurred.
COURTNEY
Wilber, I’m not taking off my
clothes to come get you. Stop
goofing off.
The group all comes to the top of the hill and look down.
After a few long beats, Ushi starts fidgeting. He and Marcus
run down the hill. Ushi tears off his backpack and leaps
into the pond.
8.
9. EXT. BENEATH THE POND’S SURFACE - CONTINUOUS 9
Ushi swims down, his head swiveling this way and that.
USHI’S EYES
widen.
WILBER’S HAND
floating lifelessly in the water.
WILBER’S FACE
is slack, his eyes and mouth wide open.
CUT TO:
10. EXT. FOREST GROUP 2 - AFTERNOON 10
Ushi’s splashing breaks the surface as he scrambles back to
shore.
NALA
Where’s Wilber?
USHI
Drowned. He drowned.
COURTNEY
What?! I--I thought he was just
goofing off!
Courtney collapses to her knees, staring at the lake. Marcus
moves to put his hand on her shoulder, looking sick.
COURTNEY (CONT’D)
I thought he was just goofing off.
Nala takes out her cell phone.
NALA
Why can’t I get service? Damn it!
Puff and Barbara check their phones.
PUFF
Huh. I can’t get signal either.
Barbara shakes her head.
Ushi frantically talks into his radio, though in response he
gets only STATIC.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
USHI
Deanna, do you copy?
CUT TO:
11. EXT. FOREST GROUP 1 - AFTERNOON 11
Deanna pacing with her radio. After a moment she snarls and
slams the radio into the ground. She takes her backpack off
and attempts to open it, but is unable to when her hands
quake.
Mickey takes the backpack from her.
DEANNA
Get me the map in my bag right now.
I need to try and track Ushi’s
team. I should be able to find
their position.
SAVAGE
And how do you plan to do that? We
don’t know what path they’re
taking.
DEANNA
You don’t. I planned this damn
thing.
12. EXT. FOREST GROUP 2 - AFTERNOON 12
Ushi pulls Courtney to her feet.
COURTNEY
I--how could this happen? Wilber
was--he was fourth in the state
swim meet in high school! He was
telling me about how he loved swim
team!
USHI
I don’t know. His foot was tangled
in weeds so...he probably just got
sucked right down.
COURTNEY
Oh my god...
USHI
I tried to pull him up but--
A few beats pass. Ushi turns toward the rest, looking sick.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
USHI
We need to find the other team and
check on them.
Marcus nods and begins to lead again, the rest of the group
falling behind him in morose silence. Marcus enters the
forest before the rest and they begin to stroll along a thin
path. A twig SNAPS and Marcus’s head turns.
CUT TO:
13. EXT. FOREST GROUP 1 - AFTERNOON 13
Deanna leads the group through the woods.
GEORGE
Hey--Deanna, where are we going?
The trees are getting thicker and
thicker.
DEANNA
An old iron fence is a mutual
checkpoint. We can get there and
wait on Ushi and Team two to show
up. It shouldn’t be long.
GEORGE
How do you know what they’ll be
doing? We haven’t been able to
communicate--
DEANNA
Shuttup George.
GEORGE
--with them. They could be lost or,
you know, dead. They’ve got three
girls on their team, remember?
DEANNA
Shut up, George!
Team 1 emerges from the forest to the sound of a scream.
An old iron fence surrounds a square garden. On the far side
of the fence from Team 1 is Marcus’s body. His eyes are
open, and a rabbit snare is wrapped around his leg. An iron
post is through his head, and another through his lower
back, while other iron posts are buried in his body, seen
only by their extending below him with his blood dribbling
down.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
Team 2 stands nearby, all looking aghast. Team 1 freezes on
the far side of the field, and then start hurrying toward
the others.
Courtney is the first to break the relative silence. She
starts screaming and turns, sprinting toward the forest.
PUFF
Courtney!
Puff takes off running after her. Mickey, from Team 1, keeps
sprinting as the rest of his team comes to a halt,
attempting to help Puff with Courtney.
Deanna, upon reaching the body, screams and sprints into the
forest as well.
USHI
Mickey, what happened?
Where’s--where’s Jeremy?
TOKKI
He--took a nail to the head.
Someone set up a trap wire in the
woods. They were probably hunting
elk or something but they got
Jeremy. Where’s--where’s Wilber?
USHI
He--went swimming. But his foot got
caught in some weeds or an old net
or something. We thought he was
goofing off and--he died.
SAVAGE
Who else knew we were coming out
here? Are we being targeted?
Savage gestures to Marcus’s body.
SAVAGE (CONT’D)
I mean, this can’t be coincidence.
This has to be murder.
USHI
We can’t speculate like that. It’s
just...a lot of horrible freak
accidents. We’ll just have to be
twice as careful.
Puff and Mickey slowly come back to the group, panting.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.
PUFF
We lost Courtney. All state cross
country runner. She just kept
going--we couldn’t even begin to
catch up.
MICKEY
Can’t say that joint you shared
with me earlier helped things...
Mickey and Puff laugh. Everyone else looks sickened by this.
USHI
Seriously? Now is not the time to
be joking. We have three people
dead, one body right here. Another
member was just lost. We gotta make
sure no one else dies. Anyway...
Ushi looks up at the sky, studying it for a moment. Mickey
and Puff look chastised.
USHI (CONT’D)
Okay. Courtney was heading toward
the halfway house checkpoint.
Mickey leans to look at Deanna’s map.
MICKEY
If we walk fast it looks like we
could make it in two hours. I mean,
if Courtny sees shelter she’ll take
it, right? At least to try and
contact the police.
USHI
(grimly)
Well, the halfway house doesn’t
have a landline. C’mon.
14. EXT. FOREST CLEARING - A FEW HOURS LATER 14
There’s a small cabin in a clearing. A tall brick chimney
stands to one side next to an overgrown path. Some old
chopped firewood is covered in moss and rot near the
chimney.
Ushi and Deanna enter the clearing, followed by Mickey,
Savage, Tokki, George, Nala, Puff, Barbara, and Odette.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
ODETTE
(lady-like)
I need to use the restroom.
DEANNA
(morosely)
There’s one inside. Hopefully
Courtney is here...
Odette moves forward and opens the front door. It’s dim and
musty inside the cabin. Puff moves up behind her.
PUFF
Turn on the lights. I can’t see a
damn thing.
Odette slides her fingers along the wall and then flips the
switch. The lights come on. Courtney hangs from the ceiling
fan, her hair caught in the blades and her neck broken.
Odette screams and backs up into Puff. Puff grabs her and
pushes her aside to try and block the others from entering.
FADE OUT.
15. INT. HALFWAY CABIN - AN HOUR LATER 15
FADE IN:
The cabin is bright. Courtney’s body is no longer hanging
from the fan. A covered figure is on the couch. Mickey and
George are panting. The rest of the group is in the kitchen,
sitting at a table. Deanna and Odette SOB.
MICKEY
Still no luck with the phones...?
Ushi puts his phone down.
USHI
Yeah. Still no signal. This was
supposed to be a fun retreat, not
a...survival mission.
PUFF
Well--at least we’ve got that gun I
found in the cabinet, now...
USHI
Yeah. I mean, if we’re being picked
off, if we see someone--
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
GEORGE
We’ve got--we can do groups of
three. That way if something
happens we’re...we won’t be alone
to deal with this.
NALA
You expect more to go wrong?
GEORGE
We’ve got four dead, Nala. I’m
pretty sure something is going to
go fuckin’ wrong.
Odette moves to get a cup out of the cabinet, and tries to
turn on the faucet at the sink.
ODETTE
There’s no water. Well, I don’t
need to get impaled by a
spear--I’ll just dehydrate.
DEANNA
There’s a well just inside the
trees on the far side of the
clearing.
GEORGE
I’ll go get us some water. Nala,
Tokki, you’re coming with. This is
our group. The rest of you get
together so we can leave by the
time the three of us get back.
16. EXT. WELL NEAR CABIN - AFTERNOON 16
Tokki, George, and Nala have filled several old metal
buckets of water from the well. George splashes some water
on Nala and laughs a bit.
NALA
Hey!
She splashes him back. Tokki shakes her head and leads the
way out of the trees, ducking under a branch. Nala grabs a
branch and pulls it out of the way, grinning.
NALA
Here George, I’ll hold this! Come
on through!
George moves through, smirking. As he does, Nala lets it go.
The buckets fall to the ground.
15.
17. INT. HALFWAY CABIN - AFTERNOON 17
USHI
I’m not sure we can make it to the
main house before nightfall.
MICKEY
Of course we can! We just gotta
double our pace--
USHI
You seriously think we can double
our pace? People are exhausted and
terrified as it--
A scream comes from outside. Everyone within immediately
hops to their feet.
CUT TO:
18. EXT. CABIN CLEARING - AFTERNOON 18
George’s arms and legs dangle from the tree. His neck is
broken and the tree branch is at a strong slanted angle.
Tokki stands by the cabin, shaking. Stephen dashes to her.
Barbara starts choking on sobs, covering her face.
Mickey pulls Nala away. Ushi and Puff -- looking grim --
stride forward to inspect George. Puff moves forward to
catch George as Ushi breaks the branch. Ushi then pulls away
pine needles on the branch and we see a long blade sticking
through the branch that goes into George’s skull. Puff and
Ushi step away from the body.
PUFF
I feel like I’m in Rambo but I’m
one of the cops being hunted. Fuck,
I always thought I’d be more of a
Rambo.
DEANNA
Well, the lone cop always gets
killed, so we’re staying in a pack.
Someone’s hunting us. Obviously.
We’re better off together.
A loud CRACK comes from the cabin as the fireplace detaches
from it.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.
ODETTE
Barbara, look out!
Savage pushes Tokki to the side. Ushi, Deanna, and Odette
cover their eyes as the dust and debris rises from the
falling fireplace. Blood oozes out from under the bricks.
TOKKI
What the--what the hell is going
on!?
DEANNA
Okay. Okay. That fireplace hasn’t
been touched in a hundred years
and...
(obviously struggling)
...so the framework was corroded
and this was all just bad timing.
Oh -god-. So many accidents.
MICKEY
Yeah, and I’m sure Courtney was
just doing chores in her noose
necklace and it got caught in the
fan somehow.
USHI
Mickey! Don’t be an asshole!
MICKEY
Sorry, it’s just how I handle this.
Let’s get the fuck out of here.
USHI
Agreed. We’ll get her body later.
Let’s go. Let me just get the map.
Ushi starts going through his backpack. After a moment, he
frowns and dumps it out. Then he snatches Deanna’s from her,
digging through it.
USHI (CONT’D)
Where the fuck are the maps!? Who
took them!?
Deanna hurries through her bag.
DEANNA
They aren’t anywhere in here.
USHI
We’ll just have to do without.
Let’s get moving.
17.
FADE OUT.
19. EXT. FOREST CLIFF - AN HOUR LATER 19
The group walks out of the surrounding forest and in to a
clearing--they’re low on a hill, but to the side is a cliff
that juts out a little from the surrounding landscape. The
group looks up at it.
ODETTE
I’ll climb it and look for signs of
the house.
USHI
No. There might be another trap--
ODETTE
How? Is this a fake cliff that’s
going to crash and crumble?
USHI
Maybe.
ODETTE
Well, we’ve got to risk it to get
out of here.
Odette takes a deep breath as she starts shaking. She puts
her hands on the rocks and begins to pull herself up. Each
member of the group watches silent and somber. Halfway up,
she slips on some loose rocks.
MICKEY
Be careful!
SAVAGE
Shit!
ODETTE
I’m fine! I just wasn’t paying
enough attention. It’s cool, I’ve
got this!
MICKEY
This isn’t the best time to be
spacing out. If you die, we’re
fucked. None of us can climb that
thing!
ODETTE
(muttered)
Your faith in me is astounding.
Odette nears the top of the cliff and cranes her head to
look around.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.
ODETTE
I think I see the roof of the
house, but I’m not sure. There’s
this ledge. I’m going to try and
climb it -- can one of you check
out the far side and make sure it’s
safe?
MICKEY
You mean make sure there aren’t any
freak-ass traps?
ODETTE
Mickey! Now isn’t the time
for being a smart ass!
Seven people are dead and I
don’t want to be next!
USHI
Mickey, Christ, stop being
an ass.
MICKEY
Sorry, sorry. This is just--my way
of dealing with it. I’ll go look.
USHI
If you see anything, call to Puff
since he’s got the gun.
MICKEY
Whatever. Like a gun will help us.
Mickey and Tokki go to the far side of the ledge. Tokki
stops twenty feet from the base while Mickey continues until
he’s no longer visible.
MICKEY (OC)
It looks fine from here. Go ahead.
ODETTE
You sure?
MICKEY
Now that you mention it, I think
there’s a killer stone waiting to
spring.
USHI/DEANNA/SAVAGE
Mickey!
TOKKI
Seven dead and you can’t take this
seriously? God dammit!
Odette continues to climb. Small rocks begin falling down
the cliff, unnoticed by the group.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.
MICKEY
You’ve got quite the mouth on you.
TOKKI
Wipe that out of your mind, you
dirty rat! Why the hell are you so
okay with all of this?! People are
dying!
USHI
Finish it later, guys! Mickey, keep
an eye on Odette or I’ll kill you
myself.
MICKEY
She’s fine! There’s nothing wrong
with the--
Mickey looks up. Odette steps on to the ledge and a piece of
rock shifts. There’s a SOFT CRINKLE SOUND and the ledge
ripples.
MICKEY (CONT’D)
Odette! Get the fuck off that
thing! Something’s wrong!
ODETTE
Shut up, you jerk! I can see the
house. It’s to the north ea--
The rock face crumples beneath Odette. A large piece of
paper painted to resemble the stone slides away and we see a
deep gab between the rock and ledge with a single bent board
holding up the rock Odette is standing on.
The board splits horizontally. Odette screams as the rock
tilts and falls, taking her with it. She falls, and the
others scream as she hits the ground head first, the slab of
rock landing on her back, pushing her leg against her
spine.
Tokki takes several steps back, horrified, as blood splashes
on to her face. There’s the CRASH of rock and CRACK of bone.
Tokki remains frozen.
DEANNA
No!
SAVAGE
Holy shit!
Mickey comes running around the base of the cliff, his eyes
wide and his face pale. He grips his hair in both of his
hands and stands away from the body.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
MICKEY
No! No! What--no!
Ushi runs at Mickey while Nala pulls Tokki to her.
USHI
You son of a bitch! You let her
die! You were fucking supposed to
be watching the ledge!
Ushi punches Mickey, who just takes it without fighting
back.
MICKEY
I didn’t see it. I swear to God I
didn’t see it.
(crying)
Oh shit, I didn’t see it. I should
have seen it.
USHI
Don’t you dare go weak on me now!
Don’t you dare feel sorry for
yourself! You’re the reason Odette
is dead!
DEANNA
That’s enough!
Deanna and Puff pull the two apart. Ushi puts up resistance,
attempting to shake Puff off; Mickey lets himself get
pulled.
MICKEY
Why didn’t I see it? It was just
paper. I should have seen it.
DEANNA
No one knew we were coming here.
That means--
PUFF
Deanna, we shouldn’t do this here.
Let’s--go back to the cabin before
anything else happens.
SAVAGE
He’s right. Out here we don’t know
where we’re going or what traps
there are.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
DEANNA
Three people have died at the
cabin! Do you honestly think it’s
safe there?
PUFF
I think it’s safer than it is here.
I’m scared shirtless of that place,
but it’s worse here in the forest.
USHI
I don’t want to go back to that
place ever.
SAVAGE
Ushi, it’s all we’ve got.
USHI
Odette said the house was to the
north east! We should just go that
way!
DEANNA
Don’t forget none of us have a
compass and the sun is getting
lower. I know it’s scary as fuck
out here, but do you really want to
be wandering at night with
everything that’s happened today?
USHI
Fine. Can we just hurry? I don’t
like walking slow. Makes me feel
like a target.
20. EXT. CABIN - DUSK 20
Ushi leads the group, followed by Deanna and Puff. Savage is
in the back with Nala and Tokki. Nala is hugging Tokki.
Tokki is blank-faced.
Ushi opens the cabin door part way and peers inside. The
inside is dark. He reaches in and flips on the lights,
jumping back. Nothing happens. He enters. The rest follow,
Savage entering last. He pulls the door closed and locks it.
22.
21. INT. CABIN HALL - CONTINUOUS 21
Everyone sits in a huddle in the center hall. Nala is
rubbing Tokki’s back, but Tokki is still not responding.
Savage leans in and whispers something in to her ear, looks
at her face, and then takes her hand.
DEANNA
Is she okay?
SAVAGE
(softly)
I think she’s in shock.
PUFF
We all are. I keep thinking about
what happened. All of us watching
with nothing we could do.
USHI
I know some of you have been under
the delusion that some of the
deaths were accidents -- old
hunting traps, foot caught on
seaweed. Are we all ready to let go
of that?
DEANNA
Ushi, none of us are dumb enough to
think seven deaths in a few hours
are accidents. And there’s no way
Courtney was an accident. She
didn’t accidentally wrap that rope
around her neck and hang herself.
USHI
I know, but the mind can make
people believe anything. I guess my
real question is -- can we discuss
the possibility of a murderer.
SAVAGE
I’ve been thinking about it since
we found Courtney. It has to be
someone following us. No one else
would have had the time to stash
Courtney in the house for us to
find. No one else knew Odette was
going to climb that ledge. The
killer has to be watching and
listening to us.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
MICKEY
I agree. But why would a random
psycho be all the way out here?
USHI
We’re all thinking the same thing.
It’s one of us. And my bet’s on
you, Mickey.
MICKEY
What the hell?! I wouldn’t kill
anyone. Maybe it was you!
USHI
What reason would I have to kill
anyone?!
MICKEY
I don’t know! You’re a
self-righteous ass! Your parents
made you into a stubborn
perfectionist and so after killing
one of us you had to kill the rest!
You could have any number of
reasons.
SAVAGE
Shut up both of you! I don’t think
it’s one of us. It doesn’t fit.
USHI
You’ve been completely fine with
all these deaths so far. You don’t
even look like it’s phased you!
DEANNA
Would you two be quiet for a
second?
Ushi and Mickey finally quiet down.
DEANNA (CONT’D)
Stephen, why don’t you think it’s
one of us?
SAVAGE
Courtney’s death is the key.
Everything else has just been traps
-- they could have been set up
whenever. But someone had to move
Courtney and hang her in here. Only
you were gone for any length of
time, Deanna, after she ran into
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.
SAVAGE (cont’d)
the trees, and I don’t mean to
sound rude or anything, but you’re
not strong enough to drag someone
Courtney’s size through the trees
and hang them.
NALA
Wasn’t she a scuba diver though?
DEANNA
What does that have to do with
anything?
NALA
Scuba divers are always stronger
than they look. They build up tons
of muscle from lifting the tanks
and the BSDs and stuff. Most scuba
diver’s look like sticks, but they
can carry twice their weight.
DEANNA
How the hell do you know so much
about divers?
NALA
I dated one freshman year.
Deanna and Nala glare at each other until Savage speaks up.
SAVAGE
No matter how strong she is, if she
had dragged a body through the
trees and hung it before running
all the way back she would have
been more out of breath than she
was. Deanna isn’t the killer. It
doesn’t fit.
USHI
She was the only one gone when
Courtney died. I believe her, but
that doesn’t leave anyone else.
SAVAGE
I know. At least part of Courtney’s
death must have been done with a
different trap. I can’t think of
anything that would drag a body
across a forest without leaving a
mark on the body, though...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.
NALA
One of her brothers could be in on
it. Or both of them. Have we
forgotten those two?
DEANNA
They dropped us off and left for
Vegas! By now they’re out of the
state!
NALA
Says you. We have no proof they
left.
USHI
Enough! I’m getting tired of this
shit! We should just stick together
and keep an eye on each other. When
we get back to the house we’ll call
the cops and let them sort this
shit out. Tonight, we stay here.
Tomorrow as soon as it’s daybreak,
we go.
SAVAGE
I agree with that.
NALA
Fine
DEANNA
Whatever.
Mickey and Puff nod in agreement. Savage stares at Tokki
again.
SAVAGE
She’s still got some blood on her
face. Is it okay if I get some of
the water we brought in earlier and
clean Tokki up?
DEANNA
Yeah. Don’t close the door, though,
and be as fast as you can. I don’t
want anything else happening here.
Savage puts his arm on Tokki’s shoulder and leans in to
speak with her before standing.
SAVAGE
(lotto cove)
I’m just going to the kitchen. I’ll
be back in a minute, all right?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.
Tokki gives no response, and Savage walks around the group
to the kitchen door on the far side. He opens it carefully
and turns on the light.
SAVAGE (CONT’D)
It looks okay. I’m just going to
grab the towel off the oven rack
and dunk it in the bucket. It
shouldn’t take five seconds.
DEANNA
Please be careful.
Stephen nods and enters the kitchen. Everyone sits in tense
silence. There is a SOUND of GLASS BREAKING and a SHOUT. A
beat passes, and then there is A THICK TEARING SOUND and
ANOTHER SHOUT, followed by MORE BREAKING GLASS.
NALA
No, oh god, oh god please no.
Ushi, Mickey, and Deanna leap to their feet and run into the
kitchen.
22. INT. CABIN KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS 22
There is blood all over the far side of the kitchen near the
oven. The towel is half off the oven door, splashed with
blood. The lower half of Stephens body is slumped in the
window, torn in two and pulled against the glass. A thick,
bloody trail goes into the trees.
Ushi, Mickey, and Deanna come to a halt, and then Ushi
pushes the other two back out.
23. INT. CABIN HALL - CONTINUOUS 23
Ushi pulls the door shut. He walks away from the group and
puts his hands on his knees. A moment later he vomits. Nala
is rocking in place.
NALA
Oh shit. Fucking shit. Shit shit
shit.
Deanna slumps down while Mickey simply looks around the
room, half-dazed.
MICKEY
Where’s Puff?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.
Ushi and Deanna’s heads snap up. Nala jumps to her feet. The
search and find Puff standing in the living room, holding
the gun. His eyes are red and glossy.
PUFF
We’re not going to make it back to
the house, are we?
DEANNA
Puff--Peter--put the gun down. Of
course we’ll make it to the house.
We can get there tomorrow morning
as soon as the sun is up, and then
we’ll call the--
PUFF
Do you really think any of us will
live that long?! Deanna, don’t be
so stupid! This morning there were
fourteen of us! Fourteen! Now look!
How many now, Deanna?
USHI
Peter, put the gun down.
PUFF
Shut the fuck up! Deanna! How many
now?
DEANNA
(lotto cove)
Six.
PUFF
I don’t want to die like them.
MICKEY
You won’t. Just put the fucking gun
down. Peter, do you really think we
want to see any more of this? Stop
thinking of only yourself!
PUFF
No! I won’t let some psycho take me
as a trophy!
Puff puts the gun to his chin and pulls the trigger. Ushi
grabs Deanna and turns her away as the gun goes off. Nala
screams and covers her face. Mickey just stares.
Deanna starts sobbing. Mickey moves to Nala and pulls her
against him. He glances over to Tokki -- who is still and
emotionless.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 28.
USHI
We can’t stay here. It isn’t worth
some imagined security to spend the
night in a house of corpses.
MICKEY
For once I agree with you. But we
don’t have anywhere to go.
USHI
Odette said the cabin was to the
north east of the cliff. So...from
here it should be north-north east.
If we hurry we’ll reach a clearing.
It was Team 2s last stop before the
house. I know the way from there.
MICKEY
We can’t risk sleeping in an open
field.
NALA
We’ll take shifts. Girls sleep
while you two keep watch, then we
guard while you sleep.
DEANNA
Why are dividing it on gender
lines? Whoever the killer is will
have their pick of victims when he
or she is on guard.
NALA
I can take you in a fight, but
Mickey and Ushi would take me down
easy. Meanwhile, they could take
each other down. So whoever the
killer is will be matched up on
guard with their equal. It makes it
harder to kill someone without the
others waking up.
USHI
Fine. That sounds fine.
DEANNA
You’re agreeing with her?
USHI
I don’t want to fight anymore.
Let’s get out of here.
29.
Each person picks up their pack. Ushi pulls out a compass
and stares at it for a second. He opens the door and walks
out first. The others follow. Nala is pulling Tokki with
her, and Mickey brings up the rear.
24. EXT. FOREST CLEARING - NIGHT 24
The moon is high in the sky. The night is clear. Tokki,
Nala, and Deanna sit in a triangle around Ushi and Mickey
who are sleeping facing way from each other. Nala yawns.
Deanna’s head bobs as she fights sleep.
25. EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY 25
Ushi wakes slowly. All of them are covered in morning dew.
The clearing is misty as if fog is clearing away. Ushi
stretches and kicks Mickey. Mickey jumps up.
MICKEY
Fuck, man! You scared the shit out
of me!
USHI
Well, now you know I’m not the
killer. Otherwise I’d have broken
your neck or something.
Deanna jumps slightly at the shouting and moans. She
awakens. Nala stirs as well.
DEANNA
Why are you two already fighting?
It’s too early.
MICKEY
You okay, Nala? You look rough.
NALA
It hasn’t exactly been a day at the
spa, you know. I have a headache,
I’m starving, and I need to brush
my teeth. Thank god nothing
happened out here last night.
Mickey moves to make sure Tokki is awake. He steps back from
her.
USHI
What?
DEANNA
Please, no...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 30.
Tokki stares off into the distance, her eyes unfocused. The
front of her is covered in blood from a deep slash across
her throat. The blood is shiny, but no longer drips from the
wound. Her face is pale and stiff.
NALA
Fuck.
USHI
Shit.
Deanna grabs Ushi’s hand, and Mickey takes Nala’s.
DEANNA
Come on! No more time to be
careful. We’re going to run for it.
The house should only be a couple
of miles. We can make it in ten
minutes if we push. Please!
The four run into the woods.
26. EXT. FOREST - DAY 26
The four run through the woods, Ushi and Deanna leading and
Mickey and Nala behind.
Slowly the main house becomes visible.
The four do not pause in front of it but run straight for
the back door. Deanna pulls her key out and fumbles until
she gets it into the lock. She rips the door open and runs
into the house, the others following.
27. INT. MAIN HOUSE - DAY 27
When all are inside, Ushi slams the door and locks it.
USHI
I’ll call the cops. You guys make
sure the doors and windows are
locked and arm the security system.
Deanna runs off while Ushi slides across the formal dining
room and into the main hall. He grabs the telephone off the
hook and listens intently. Mickey and Nala follow him.
USHI
(relieved)
A dial tone. Deanna, we have a dial
tone!
A cheer comes from somewhere in the house. Ushi dials 911.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 31.
OPERATOR (OS)
Nine one one, what is your
emergency?
USHI
Yes! Oh god, thank you. Listen!
We’re out at the Hawthorne estate!
Someone is trying to kill us. Ten
people are already dead!
OPERATOR (OS)
The police are on their way, sir.
They should be there in an hour.
Are you in a safe location? Is
anyone injured?
USHI
Just a second. Deanna, are you
done?!
Deanna appears on the stairs and rushes down them.
DEANNA
I’ve locked the windows. I’m about
to arm the system.
Deanna runs to the panel on the wall and begins to push
buttons.
USHI
Yeah, we’re all here, and no one is
injured. We’re arming the security
system.
OPERATOR (OS)
Please stay on the line with me--
The line goes dead.
USHI
Hello? Hello? Fucking shit!
MICKEY
What happened?
USHI
I got cut off.
Ushi slams down the phone. There’s a beat of silence.
DEANNA
At least we got through.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 32.
USHI
She said police would be here in an
hour.
MICKEY
So now I’m locked in a house with a
murderer just waiting for the cops.
Nala eyes Ushi and Deanna.
NALA
No way I’m waiting with you two.
Either one of you could be the
killer.
USHI
So could you two.
DEANNA
Shut up! I honestly don’t give a
shit anymore. Why don’t we just go
wait in different rooms until the
cops arrive? I can arm the security
system so that extra security is on
in the interior rooms. We can lock
ourselves in and no one can get in
without us hearing.
MICKEY
Are you saying we split up? Why the
fuck do you want to split all of
the sudden?
DEANNA
In here we’re safe. I just want to
put on dry clothes so I don’t get
pneumonia. And this way I don’t
have to worry about either of you
trying to kill me.
NALA
And we don’t have to worry about
you.
USHI
I’m not the killer. Do you
seriously trust Mickey over me?
Nala, think about it. He’s hardly
changed since people started to
die. He’s too calm!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 33.
NALA
So are you. I trust Mickey more
than I trust you or Deanna.
28. INT. DEANNA’S ROOM - NIGHT 28
Deanna is wearing fresh clothes. Her hair is wet. Ushi is
sitting on her bed wearing oversize girl’s sweatpants. He
walks to the window and looks out. We see the words "Sexy
Bitch" in silver across his butt.
DEANNA
This is going to sound stupid.
USHI
I could use stupid right now.
DEANNA
I think I should apologize to
Mickey and Nala for what I said. I
accused them of such horrible
murders and--and so soon after
Nala’s brother died.
USHI
You can apologize.
DEANNA
The police will be here any minute.
It shouldn’t do any harm to go see
them.
USHI
Damn it, fine. I’ll come too. I’m
not letting you walk over there
alone.
29. INT. HALLWAY - DAY 29
Ushi and Deanna stop in front of a door where Deanna knocks.
A radio next to the door sounds.
MICKEY (OS)
What do you want?
DEANNA
I want to apologize for accusing
you. May I come in?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 34.
MICKEY
Nope. Still don’t trust you.
DEANNA
Please. We shouldn’t treat each
other like this. There’s still a
chance it isn’t one of us. Let me
apologize to both of you.
MICKEY
Nala is in the bathroom. When she
comes back, we’ll go to you.
Ushi rolls his eyes and walks down the hall to a door and
knocks on it.
USHI
Nala. It’s Ushi. Deanna wants to
talk to you...Nala?
DEANNA
Is she not answering?
Ushi puts his ear to the door and frowns.
USHI
I don’t hear the fan.
Mickey opens his door.
MICKEY
So?
USHI
The fan is attached to the light so
if you turn on one the other has to
come on...
Ushi turns the knob and opens the door. The bathroom is
empty, the window open. He goes to it and looks down into
the yard.
30. EXT. BACK YARD - DAY 30
There is a tall oak tree. Tied to it is Nala, a gag in her
mouth, and her stomach slashed. Blood covers from front and
some internal organs hang down.
DEANNA (OS)
Holy fuck. No.
35.
31. INT. HOUSE - DAY 31
Ushi shouts and launches himself at Mickey. They hit and
fall to the floor. Ushi starts to beat Mickey.
Mickey lands a punch on Ushi’s nose, knocking him off
balance. Mickey jumps and runs down the hall, then turns to
face Ushi.
Ushi charges him down and Mickey knocks him to the side.
They both fall down the stairs.
Deanna runs after them. Mickey and Ushi untangle themselves.
A KNOCK is heard at the door.
POLICE
This is the police! Open the door!
Ushi punches Mickey in the gut. Mickey doubles over and
head-butts Ushi in the stomach, sending him flying into the
table with the phone on it. It crashes to the floor and Ushi
lands on his back on the wreckage.
Ushi shouts in pain. There is a LOUD BANGING SOUND and the
door is knocked open. A LOUD SIREN is heard.
Mickey picks up a piece of sharp, broken wood from the
table. He holds it over Ushi and goes to strike him with the
point.
A police officer shoots Mickey.
Ushi is sprayed with blood.
Mickey slumps and falls on to Ushi’s chest.
Ushi shoves Mickey off and Deanna runs down the stares,
kneeling by Ushi. She pulls him to her and the two hug.
32. INT. OFFICE - A FEW MONTHS LATER - DAY 32
Deanna and Ushi are clean and well-dressed, standing in an
office. They stand across from a man with a short beard and
dirty hands -- he’s holding a box. Behind them is the crest
of Zeta Omega Delta.
MAN
Just like you ordered.
Deanna takes the box from him and sets it on the desk. She
opens it carefully and unfolds the black velvet it is
wrapped in.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 36.
Inside the box is a dark oak plaque with twelve small golden
rectangles. Each rectangle bears a name of someone who has
died and a picture in their likeness, including Mickey’s at
the bottom.
DEANNA
It’s perfect. Thank you.
MAN
You’re most welcome, Ms. Hawthorne.
USHI
Please make eleven more of these.
We want one for each chapter.
MAN
That will be expensive...
DEANNA
It doesn’t matter. We need to
commemorate what has happened.
Please make sure it’s done.
MAN
Yes ma’am.
The craftsman leaves Ushi and Deanna alone. Deanna smiles up
to Ushi.
DEANNA
That was fun, wasn’t it?
USHI
You’re just lucky you weren’t found
out.
DEANNA
What are you talking about? You set
most of the traps.
USHI
And you’re the one who almost got
caught for hanging Courtney.
DEANNA
Please. Nala didn’t know anything
about scuba divers. Especially that
those who dive with Nitrous have
more oxygen in their blood.
USHI
Maybe next time we should use that
trick--it worked really well this
time.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 37.
DEANNA
It’s a date.
FADE OUT.