"PROM NIGHT" screenplay by J. S. Cardone WGA Regestered Revised 1-3-07»PROM NIGHT" FADE IN: OPENING TITLES OVER... EXT. QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD - EVENING Stars begin to peek through the cobalt blue evening sky as night, descends On this peaceful, small town, tree lined suburb... Where a FORD EXPLORER pulls to a stop in the street in front of a HOUSE at the end of a cul-de-sac that borders the edge of a thick Northwest forest... The rear car door crisp winter air. opens and DONNA KEPPEL emerges into the She's 14. Pretty as a picture. Young and full of life... She closes the back door of the Explorer and steps to the passenger window as it rolls down... Seated there is her closest girlfriend, LISA HINES, Also ja. A dark hair beauty with a wild streak that's just in its early stages. Her MOTHER drives DONNA hanks for taking us to the movies, Mrs. Hines. MRS. HINES You're welcome, Donna. Saved me from having to watch football all afternoon. LISA See you at school tomorrow. Remember we got cheerleading tryouts. That sweetness in Donna's face seems to darken ever so slightly... DONNA I'm gonna skip it this year. LISA Why? DONNA My mom doesn't think it's such a good idea... (beat) With all that's happened... (CONTINUED)she's probably right LISA (bummed) There's only one spot on the team and one of us has to get it so Crissy doesn't! Mrs. Hines shoots a hard look at her daughter... MRS. HINES What did that poor girl ever do to you two to make you hate her so much? Lisa rolls her eyes at Donna... LISA (sarcastic) Where do you want me to start? Donna laughs... and starts up the front walk to her house... DONNA See you tomorrow... INT. KEPPEL HOUSE - FOYER - EVENING park. ‘The SOUND of a FOOTBALL GAME plays, loud, on a TV in another room... And the CAMERA MOVES ACROSS PHOTOGRAPHS on an ENTRY TABLE... Father. Mother. Younger brother. Donna... Happy times. Vacations. School. Holidays... The All American moments of an All American family... The KEPPELS... The front door opens and Donna enters, closing it behind er... She slips off her COAT as she makes her way to the hall closet, with a passing glance inside the living room... The last few minutes of the SUPER BOWL plays on a LARGE SCREEN TW... 7 DONNA, I'm home! She opens the closet, hangs her coat up, closes the door and Sticks her head back’ in the living room, glancing around... “There's no one there... (CONTINUED)ANGLE - INSIDE LIVING ROOM Donna gazes at the game for a second, before moving away... And the CAMERA BOOMS DOWN TO REVEAL SPLATTERS OF BLOOD on the Keppel's brand new brocade couch... TO a terrifying sight at the foot of the couch... The BLOODIED BODY of Donna's father, MR. KEPPEL! FLASH CUTS A SLIGHTLY LONG HATRED, BEARDED MAN'S IMAGE REFLECTED IN A SILVER VASE AS HE SLASHES WITH A LARGE KITCHEN KNIFE. . MR. KEPPEL TUMBLES BACKWARD, BLOOD SEEPING THROUGH HIS FINGERS, CLUTCHING HIS THROAT, SHATTERING A GLASS COFFEE TABLE AS HE CRASHES TO THE FLOOR... HIS BLOOD SPLATTERED FACE SLAMMING INTO THE SHAG CARPET... INT. KEPPEL HOUSE - STAIRS - EVENING Blissfully unaware of the carnage downstairs, Donna jogs up to the second floor hallway... At the end of the hall is her parents’ bedroom. Door closed. Halfway down the hall is her bedroom on the right and her brother's on the left... Her door is open as is his. And the SOUND of the GAME BLARES from inside it... As Donna makes her way toward her room in the dim light, she doesn't notice the HAND PRINT SNEARS OF BLOOD on the walls... Entering her bedroom, she trips on something, stumbling with an OUCH! It's a BASEBALL BAT! which she picks up and carries into her brother's room with... DONNA Joey, I almost killed myself on this! Her brother lies on his bed, with his back to her. The SUPER BOWL plays on his TV, LOUDLY... Her eyes flash with a hint of anger that he ignores her and she crosses to him with... DONNA, Did you hear me, butthole? (CONTINUED)ANGLE - JOEY He lies there, eyes open in a death stare, as a PULSING RIVER OF BLOOD spreads across his sheets... FLASH CUTS JOEY'S EYES WIDEN IN SURPRISE AS HE REELS AROUND ON HIS BED... AS THE BEARDED, LONG HAIRED KILLER SNATCHES UP THE BASEBALL BAT THAT LEANS AGAINST THE WALL AND RUSHES AT THE BOY... INT. KEPPEL HOUSE - JOEY'S BEDROOM - EVENING Donna nudges her brother's back with the end of the bat and his body flops over towards her... DONNA. Turn the TV... down... land her words catch in her throat as her eyes rivet on his dead face! She instantly drops the bat, hand to mouth with a gasp, trying to quell the urge to vomit... And the blood freezes in her veins as her MOTHER'S SCREAM suddenly rattles the place! ANGLE - HALLWAY The Killer yanks the door to her parents’ bedroom open and drags Donna's MOTHER by her arm down the hall, across the floor, as she continues to SCREAM in terror... MRS. KEPPEL I swear to God Donna's not here! She's dressed in a bathrobe, hair still wet from a shower MRS. KEPPEL Please don't hurt us! The Killer brutally hauls her to her feet, SCREAMING back at her in an insane rage... KILLER You're lying! ANGLE - JOEY'S BEDROOM Donna stands there frozen for a split second Not sure what to do as her eyes dart around the room And then she instinctively drops to the floor and crawls under her brother's bed, hiding. (CONTINUED)ANGLE - HALLWAY Mrs. Keppel breaks free from the Killer's grip and runs down the hall. . ANGLE - INSIDE JOEY'S BEDROOM Mrs. Keppel enters, trying to slam the door shut and lock it but the Killer hits it with such a force that it blasts open and sends Donna's mother reeling to the floor... The Killer drops down on her and smashes her face into the carpet at the edge of the bed, inches from Donna who hides beneath it... KILLER You're trying to keep us apart! Her mother's eyes rivet on her daughter beneath the bed in shock. And like a terrified animal, they seem to flash a warning at her daughter! MRS. KEPPEL Please don't do this! Please! Donna lies there, frozen, unable to move, holding her breath, shivering with fear as she stares back at her mother... And the Killer suddenly leans in close, so close that Denna an see half his face as he raises that BLOODY KITCHEN KNIFE and places it ‘against her mother's cheek as tears streak her face. -+ MRS. KEPPEL (begging) Please don't! Inches away from Donna, he doesn't see her... But she can smell his fetid breath as he pants hard with rage... KILLER Where is she? Mrs. Keppel's eye dances between Donna and the blade of the knife... MRS. KEPPEL At a friend's house. A sleep over. She won't be back... till... And again her words trail off as the SOUND of a POLICE SIREN is HEARD in the distance. The Killer's crazed eyes flash with panic! And with lightning fast speed he whips the KNIFE from her face and STRIKES! (CONTINUED)6. Mrs. Keppel's eyes suddenly roll back into white as the life drains from her And Donna watches in abject horror as the Killer gets up off her mother and backs away... ANGLE - KILLER He continues to listen to the SIREN getting louder, gazing ewnat Mrs. Keppel's dead body as a pool of blood spreads beneath her... ‘And then he suddenly spins away and runs out of the bedroom and down the hall.. ANGLE - DONNA she lies there, still frozen with terror, as the SIREN gets louder... seconds pass like hours before she hears the FRONT DOOR slam shut with a LOUD THUNK! And the air rushes from her lungs as she steels her nerve and crawls out from under the bed... INT. KEPPEL HOUSE - FOYER - EVENING Donna appears at the top of the stairs and races down them as the POLICE SIREN grows even LOUDER... stumbling, hysterically, to the front door, she whips it open and gazes into the night in desperation as the POLICE CAR races past in the street at the end of the cul-de-sac on it's way to God knows where! KILLER (0.S.) I did it for us... In a blood freezing panic, Donna turns right into the KILLER, standing behind her! There's a flash of RAZOR SHARP STERL! Donna's eyes widen in horror... And everything seems to SLOW DOWN in TIME as the COLOR seeps out of the moment... DR. CROWE (V.O.) And then what happens? INT. DR. CROWE'S OFFICE - DAY We're suddenly IN THE PRESENT... In the office of DR. ELISHA CROWE. An attractive therapist in her mid-30s. (CONTINUED)7. ‘Three years have passed, and DONNA, now 17, who sits on the Zouch Gpposite the Doctor, is even’more beautiful, growing {nto a woman. With a fragile air about her... Still, after years of therapy, she dreams about it... DONNA. I wake up... just like I always did. Dr. Crowe jots something in her NOTE PAD... DR. CROWE Like I told you before, the nightmare is an associate form of reliving the real experience. It's to be expected DONNA But they stopped for such a long time and now they've started again. DR. CROWE Donna, we've been through this. It's going to take more than three years. You're doing amazingly well. He's only a phantom to you now. The only place he can hurt you is in your dreams. Donna takes a deep breath as she looks away, gazing out the window at nothing in particular... DONNA It's just... I thought they'd stopped? DR. CROWE Psychological trauma often heightens during times of transition. And you don't need me to tell you your lite fs in transition. High school coming to an end, college in the fall, the uncertainty that comes with being an adult... She suddenly fixes Donna with a very serious look... DR. CROWE The memories of that night will come and go and fade with time but you'll never forget it. dust like you'll never forget tomorrow night. But hopefully it will be a memory you'll always want to remember... And that serious expression gives way to a smile... DR. CROWE So, tell me... what color is your dress?INT, BEAUTY SHOP - DAY The sunlight filters in through windows looking out on small town Main Street USA... as Donna answers... DONNA, It's pale yellow, like the swatch T showed you, remember? Floor length, with a... kinda plunging neckline. DONNA'S STYLIST Sounds beautiful. Donna, and her two closest friends, LISA and CLAIRE sit, side-by-side-by-side, starting to get their hair washed. -- CLAIRE You wanna see a plunging neckline, you should see Lisa's... Claire shoots Lisa a grin... CLAIRE Ronnie's gonna love you in it and Lisa grins back like a Cheshire cat LISA He's gonna love me even more out of it. ‘They all burst out LAUGHING. Lost in their youthful innocent world... EXT. DONNA'S OLD NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY Where it all started three years ago. there's a FOR SALB SIGN in the middle of an overgrown yard. And the CAMERA WIDENS TO REVEAL the Keppel's two-story house. It's in disrepair, crumbling paint job, cracked driveway. The place has never recovered from those gruesome murders Abandoned to the ghosts of a cruel past..- And it's only now that we realize the CAMERA'S Pov is that of the Killer! Standing in the shadows of the trees. Thin and gaunt now. Gone is the longish hair and beard. His head nearly bald with that institutional look... He's almost unrecognizable... But THOSE EYES still dance with insanity as he stares at Donna's old house for a long moment... ‘And then he slides behind the wheel of a GREEN FORD TAURUS and slowly drives away... (CONTINUED)3. ‘As he does, the CAMERA RISES HIGH ABOVE the deserted homes on the cul-de-sac... INTO THE BRIGHT BLUE SKY of a spring day that makes you happy to be alive... And then BACK DOWN to... EXT. BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL - DAY Where a MARQUEE outside this small town High School reads: BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2008 SENIOR PROM SATURDAY MAY 17 HOTEL BRIDGEPORT 8:00 PM the campus is empty. After all, it's Saturday. The day of the pro ANOTHER ANGLE - ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL ‘The GREEN SEDAN pulls INTO FRAME and comes to a stop as the Killer stares at the High School and the Marquee. . And then he slowly drives off... INT. BEAUTY SHOP - DAY The girls are in the middle of an animated discussion, as they’have their hair snipped, sprayed, streaked and teased until it defies the laws of gravity... LISA I made sure that Ronnie got the biggest limousine he could find. CLAIRE I can't believe Michael actually sprung for a limo and a two bedroom suite with Bobby and Ronnie. He's always been so cheap. CLAIRE'S STYLIST It's Prom Night. That boy's planning on getting laid. CLAIRE In his dreams maybe. Laughter all around. DONNA'S STYLIST Alright, Donna, have a look..- (CONTINUED)10 She spins Donna around in the chair, and hands her a MIRROR eee pe Can use it to see the back of her hair reflected in the MIRROR behind her. DONNA It's perfect. I love it... And as she lowers the hand-held mirror, she can see through the beauty shop's windows out into the street .. What she sees makes the blood run cold in her veins... and Claire's VOICE seems’ like it's a million miles away... CLAIRE pia Bobby tell you when to be ready? Staring back at Donna from across the street is a MAN! HIM! The KILLER! and even though she's not sure who it is, his gaze sends an icy chill dancing up her spine. Just as a BUS streaks past... when it's gone, so is the Killer, the figment disappearing seemingly into thin air! was it all in her imagination? As Donna's Stylist spins her back around, Claire catches her dazed look... CLAIRE Donna? DONNA What? CLATRE You okay? Donna has to think about this for a moment. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and then another, and then opens them’ again... DONNA yeah, yeah, fine. LISA $0 did Bobby tell you when to be ready for the limo? Donna gazes back out through the windows, at the far side of the street... Another BUS passes. No sign of her phantom memory. .- DONNA, Yeah. 7:00...qt EXT, DONNA'S NEW NEIGHBORHOOD ~- EVENING Donna's NSW HOUSE in her new neighborhood. Everything is quiet and peaceful INT. TURNER HOUSE - EVENING ponna's AUNT and UNCLE, KAREN and JACK TURNER, sit at the kitchen table, in the middle of dinner... « A THIRD PLATS is also set, the FOOD completely untouched. - KAREN, Donna, your food's getting cold! From another part of the house, Donna yells back DONNA (0.5.) It's Prom, Aunt Karen! Dinner, then dance, remember? Her aunt and uncle gaze across the table at one another for a thoughtful moment, and then karen smiles... KAREN She's come so far. Going to her senior prom. With a boyfriend. JACK The boyfriend, I'm not so happy about. KAREN Will you stop it! He's a good kid. And he's stuck by her through some really bad times. I trust Bobby. Jack hits her with a teasing grin... JACK your dad probably trusted me, and look what happened on our prom night. and Karen grins back... KAREN ‘hat was purely out of pity. I was tired of listening to you beg..- INT. TURNER HOUSE - DONNA'S BATHROOM ~ EVENING Donna looks stunning in her PALE YELLOW PROM DRESS. Her eee is a vision of innocence and beauty as she stares at her reflection for a moment... Until a chill suddenly dances across her flesh for no special Untson and she opens the medicine cabinet, réaches for 3 reese PILLS, starts to undo the cap, and then stops, caught in a moment of indecision... (CONTINUED)12 As she closes the medicine cabinet, she's startled by the yeflection of SOMEONE standing behind her! She SCREAMS in surprise! And then realizes it's only her aunt and forces a nervous laugh... DONNA Sorry. I guess I'ma little nervous about tonight... INT. TURNER HOUSE - DINING ROOM - EVSNING Jack's concerned voice booms out... JACK Everything okay up there? INT. TURNER HOUSE - DONNA'S BATHROOM - EVENING Karen yells back down at him.. KAREN Everything's fine! And then she turns to her niece as Donna slips the VIAL of PILLS into her PEARL BEADED EVENING HANDBAG. . - KAREN Have you stopped taking your pills? DONNA For about a week now. KAREN You know what Dr. Crowe said. Donna stares back at her reflection in the mirror... DONNA t don't wanna be numb tonight. 1 wanna remember it. Everything that happens... (beat) Besides, it's my Prom, I'm supposed to be anxious, right? Kaen stares lovingly at her niece as Donna turns to her... KAREN Of course you are... (hugging her) You look so beautiful. This is going to be a great night. You're gonna have so much fun... Donna hugs her back. It's a sweet moment, which is broken by the sound of the DOORBELL! (CONTINUED)13. DONNA, oh my God, he's here! She turns back to the mirror for a last minute check... KAREN It's okay. Take your time. He's not going anywhere without you... Donna's aunt picks up a beautiful, exquisite ANTIQUE LACE SHAWL that is draped over the bathroom doorknob KAREN I want you to wear this tonight. DONNA Grandma's shawl? I can't wear that! What if T spill something or... KAREN You CAN and you will. It'll be perfect with your dress And she drapes it over Donna's shoulders DONNA, Are you sure? KAREN Positive. I'll go downstairs and tell Bobby you're almost ready And then she's gone, leaving Donna alone once more... ghe examines her reflection in the mirror. The Shawl's deep turquoise perfectly matches Donna's eyes, and she can’t help but emile as she reaches to turn off the bathroom light.. INT. TURNER HOUSE - FOYER - EVENING Jack and Karen stand at the front door with Donna's all American boyfriend, BOBBY... [A handsome, broad shouldered, clean cut young man, wearing a flashy vintage TUXEDO, holding a delicate CORSAGE in @ PLASTIC CONTAINER... BOBBY Their Coach told me I'd have to be a walk-on, and I wouldn't be getting a Scholarship or anything, not in my first year. But I think if : His words trail off as Donna suddenly appears at the top of the staircase She's a vision, and Bobby stands there, awe struck as she descends toward them... BOBBY Wow...14. EXT. TURNER HOUSE - EVENING Donna and Bobby emerge from inside with Jack and Karen on their heels... . JACK I'm trusting you, young man. T DONNA, uncle Jack! KAREN Jack! Bobby smiles, nervous... BOBBY Yes, Sir. I know. And Donna steps back to her father, planting a kiss on him..- JACK Right this moment, you're the most peautiful girl in the world. And her eyes well with emotion as she kisses her mom... she crosses back to Bobby and takes his hand as they walk joan to the STRETCH LIMOUSINE that waits at the curb... KAREN ‘There was a time when I never thought I'd see her this happy again.. gack glances over at his wife, seeing the tears in her eyes, fe wraps an arm around her and holds her close.. INT. LIMOUSINE - EVENING the Killers', Mr. Brightside blasts from the limo's stereo SPEAKERS as Lisa and her date RONNIE, and Claire and her date MICHAEL wait. qhey're all dressed to the nines, and Lisa's low-cut burgundy dress is incredibly sexy. ‘Phe DRIVER opens the door and Donna and Bobby climb in... CLAIRE {at Donna) You look awesome! And Ronnie HOWLS to the music... RONNIE, WE ALL LOOK AWESOME! IT'S THE GODDAMN PROM!18 EXT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - NIGHT The Hotel is the classiest lodgings in this quaint slice of Americana... ‘The MARQUEE out front reads WELCOME BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2008 SENIOR PROM NIGHT! PROM GOERS are arriving in bunches, some in LIMOUSINES, some Te tags they borrowed from their parents, all dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns, and buzzing with excitement... INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - BALLROOM - NIGHT he place is incredibly decorated. Way above and beyond what you'd expect in a small city... As the Prom Goers filter in from the hotel lobby they gaze Sound in amazement, finding their way to the many tables that are set up around a vaised CLEAR LUCITE DANCE FLOOR with PULSING LIGHTS in it.. Over which hangs the requisite MIRROR BALL..- on an equally impressive stage, a ROCK BAND pounds out covers Pook Audioslave, Method Man, The Fray, Nickelback, Panic at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, Scissor Sisters and more. .- INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - LOBBY - NIGHT Filled with Prom attendees and GUESTS checking out the kids and checking in... The lobby is elegant and comfortable with a long RECEPTION and CONCIERGE DESK. Beyond that is the entrance to the ballroom on one side and the hallway to the elevators on the other... Just inside the front doors are two of the night's chaperones. MS. WATERS, the girls P.E. teacher. And MR. HARRIS, a balding math teacher with Coke-bottle glasses. They've set up a make-shift checkpoint to confiscate any Zontraband the students might be trying to sneak in At the front of the line a GOTH COUPLE, dressed in ink black on head Lo toe, looks on with annoyance as Ms. Waters pulls eneorttE of GOLD SHLAGGER out of the YOUNG MAN'S long black lindertaker jacket, shaking her head with... MS, WATERS Nice try, Mr. Nichols16. EXT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT From a third floor, a KEG OF BEER is hoisted up with a rope from the parking lot, up to a balcony of a suite... INT, HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - THIRD FLOOR SUITE - NIGHT A PARTY is rocking... ‘he door to the hallway is wide open and there are about 30 the eeohs in here, Watching a GROUP of JOCKS as they struggle to lift the KEG over the railing of the balcony. .- Their excited VOICES are drowned out by the MUSIC blasting from an iPod and speakers... The CAMERA FOLLOWS THREE PROM GIRLS as they emerge from the room and press the "DOWN" BUTTON for the elevator... one is CRISSY LYNN, a darkly-tanned princess in a perfect SINK GOWN and a mane of glittering golden locks. She rules PINK Shool, Head Cheerleader. Most popular. You name it she's been it. With her are her ladies in waiting, APRIL and TAYLOR, these are the cream of the crop in the elite crowd... APRIL They are gonna get sococo busted! TAYLOR If Rick gets caught he could screw up your chances at King and Queen, Crissy! crissy glares back at one of the Jocks struggling with phe keg. RICK LELAND. Her significant other. “Handsome like an Andrew Marc model... CRISSY He does and I'll kill him. Swear to God! And the CAMERA FOLLOWS them as they step into the elevator The doors close and Crissy pounds on the "LOBBY" BUTTON in a rage... CRISSY My mother was Prom Queen. My sister was Prom Queen and I'll be damned if T'm not gonna be! She fumes, impatient, as the elevator descends... APRIL You deserve it. More than anybody. (CONTINUED)1t. CRISSY You're right! I've been head cheerleader since my junior year. Starred in every play since I was a sophomore. Honor roll all four years. President of the modeling club, Quill and Scroll and now the student body council. TAYLOR (chiming in) And FFA sweetheart! APRIL And voted Miss Most Likely to Succeed! The doors open on the lobby floor and Crissy struts out Like the Queen bee she is INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - LOBBY - NIGHT Crissy and the girls cross the lobby CRISSY tive given four years of my life to this stupid school and now, after all the work I've done to make this the best Prom ever, if Rick screws this up for me I'11 kill him... lana as they enter the Ballroom the CAMERA HOLDS on the Recepeion/Concierge Desk, where a MAN waits for the TRAVELERS ahead of him to finish their transaction... Wis back is to the CAMERA, and after the CLERK hands the Travelers their KEY CARD, he calls to the Man... CLERK May I help you, Sir? The Man starts to turn and... INT, BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT A FAX MACHINE spits out a PHOTOGRAPH of a man... It's the face of the Killer! As he looks now..- Two more PAGES follow... Amd a HAND snatches them up and we MOVE with DETECTIVE RUVOLO, a young cop in his late-20s... He reads the fax as he moves through the station, past the open bullpens, where a couple of COPS are typing up reports...18. INT, DETECTIVE WINN'S OFFICE - NIGHT Sitting behind the desk, with his feet up, reading reports gittprecrive WINN. Early 40s. His graying hair has been baesod in a crew cut, and there's a few extra pounds around the middle. Detective Ruvolo enters, dropping the FAK SHEETS on the desk in front of him... RUVOLO This just came in for you. winn turns away from his reading, rubbing his tired eyes. - WINN what is it? A cold sweat beads Detective Winn's flesh ag he lowers his hands and his eyes rivet on the fax photo of the Killer... RUVOLO You know him? Winn gits there, stunned for a moment. And then he slowly onches for the pages like they were a deadly snake..- He stares at the photo for a moment. And then he gazes at. the report pages. The blood running cold in his veins es he reads... WINN Sonofabitch! RUVOLO what? Instead of answering, Winn picks up his phone and dials a number that's on the fax After a couple RINGS someone answers. . WINN This is Detective Winn, Bridgeport PD. I'm calling about the fax T just got concerning the escape of... Someone on the other end interrupts him and he listens for someon moments, ail the while staring at the photo, a rage building... And then, finally.. WINN So why did it take three goddamned Gays for someone to notify us?!19. INT, HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - LOBBY - NIGHT At the Reception/Concierge's Desk, that same face from the fax stares back at the Clerk... CLERK All I need is your credit card. ‘he Killer hands the Clerk a CREDIT CARD, who reads the info and... CLERK, Thank you, Mr. Rillings. This will only take a moment. As the Clerk turns nis back to the Killer to process the transaction, the lobby suddenly erupts with LAUGHTER... And the Killer turns to see Donna, Bobby and the others entering from outside His eyes instantly rivet on Donna as she laughs at something, hugging Bobby warmly... ANGLE - DONNA AND THE OTHERS ‘they wait in line to be checked out by Ms. Waters and the other Chaperones... ponna just radiates with happiness. ‘Totally unaware of who watches her only fifty feet away... As they reach Ms. Waters, the P.B. teacher's eyes light up at the sight of Donna and the others... MS. WATERS Donna Keppel, don't you look incredible! And at Claire with... MS. WATERS And Claire, you too And Lisa with a special twinkle in her eye at the sight of her low cut dress... MS. WATERS And, Lisa... wow... that dress is SO... 50 CRISSY (O.S.) Inappropriate? ‘they all turn to Crissy and her girls as they step up, sarcasm dancing in Crissy's eyes. where's obviously ne love lost between these two as Lisa sizes her up... (CONTINUED)20. LISA crissy, don't you look... pink. crissy stares down at Lisa's exposed breasts with... cRISSY Are those a graduation gift? And then with a smug bitchiness... CRISSY My dad got me a car. MS. WATERS Girls! Enough... (to the guys) Gentlemen? Robby and the boys open their jackets to show her that they're not sneaking anything in. While Donna tries to smooth the situation... DONNA come on, Crissy, it's Prom Night. Let's all just have a good time and let go of the past. crissy ignores her, still pushing Lisa with... CRISSY As a fellow Prom Queen nominee, L Gust came to wish you luck tonight... (grinning) You're gonna need all you can get... April and Taylor giggle as Crissy turns away and they follow. LISA You think you got it all wrapped up, huh? and Crissy turns back with... CRISSY Well they're certainly not propped up and on parade like yours... that's for sure... Ronnie steps in just in time to stop Lisa from jumping her--- RONNIE, She's not worth it. You're gonna be Queen and I'm gonna be your King. (to the others) i'm gonna get the key to our suite. (CONTINUED)2i. ANGLE - RECEPTION/CONCIERGE DESK - NIGHT The Killer instantly turns away as they watch Ronnie cross to the desk. As he steps up right next to the Killer, the Clerk recurns the CREDIT CARD and hands the Killer a RECEIPT and PEN... CLERK Alright Mr. Rillings, if I could just get your autograph... And as the Killer signs... RONNIE can I get three keys to Suite 212? T have it reserved under Ronnie Heflin. CLERK One moment... qhe Clerk finds Ronnie's reservation and hands him THREE KEY CARDS... CLERK There you are, Mr. Heflin And as the Killer watches Ronnie cross back to his friends, the Clerk turns to him with CLERK Do you have a preference as to which floor, Mr. Rillings? ‘he Killer slides the receipt and pen back across the desk with a cold smile... KILLER Actually... the second floor would be fine. I have a thing about heights. The Clerk taps away at his computer... CLERK I can give you room 209... ‘he Clerk programs a KEY CARD and hands it to the Killer with... CLERK Just so you know, our fitness center Ys closed because of renovations being done on the Mezzanine level. An' if those kids get too loud_on your floor, just give me a call. The Killer takes the Key Card. (CONTINUED)22 CLERK can I get the Bellhop to take your bags? The Killer's cold eyes gaze back with KILLER the airline seems to have misplaced them. They'll deliver them later... ANGLE - DONNA AND THE OTHERS Ronnie returns, grinning, handing two of the KEY CARDS to Bobby and Michael... RONNIE All set! As they walk off towards the Ballroom, Ms. Waters calls after Lisa with a warm smile... MS. WATERS You really do look beautiful, Lisa. I just know you're gonna win Prom Queen. I would've voted for you if T wasn't faculty. Lisa forces a smile as she backs away.. LISA Thanks, Ms. Waters! And Claire shoots a teasing look back at her as she catches up with them... CLAIRE God, she's secooce in love with you. LISA Shut up! INT, BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT - WINN'S OFFICE - NIGHT Ruvolo watches Winn slam the phone down, hard. WINN, I don't believe this! RUVOLO. what? wina gets up from his desk, grabs his COAT off the chair and starts walking. .. With Ruvolo at his heels... WINN case I had about three years ago... (CONTINUED)23. He passes the fax photo back to Ruvolo... WINN A teacher at the High School Obsessed with a young female student. And I mean CRAZY OBSESSED. They fired him but that didn't stop it. Then the family got a restraining order and he went completely psycho. Walked into her house. Murdered her parents and little brother. When She came home from the movies he @idn't hear her. She hid under a bed. Had to watch him kill her mother. It was gruesome... Detective Winn stops at a wall of FILE CABINETS, opens one and searches for a file. WINN when he finally gave up and left the house the girl called us... BACK Detective Winn STEPS INTO FRAME holding a 35mm CAMERA wich TELEPHOTO LENS. He's inside the Killer's apartment, which is a filthy mess... WINN (V.0.) We nailed the sick bastard in his apartment... Other OFFICERS search the Killer's apartment as Winn garee Other hails, which are covered with COLLAGES of PHOTOGRAPHS of DONNA KEPPEL at 14. At school. Gym class. The Mall. With her friends... Every part of a young girl's daily life... WINN. (V.0.) His place was wallpapered with photographs of the girl... And then he turns his attention to stacks of NOTEBOOKS piled ant ehe Killer's desk, opening one and reading... WINN (V,0.) and he had journals filled with fantasies about her. About them together INT, BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT petective Winn finds what he's looking for and opens a thick PILE on top of the cabinet... (CONTINUED)24. WINN stuff that turned your stomach... That cop toughness softens as he thinks about her... WINN pretty goddamn hard on her. She had to 1.D. him... BACK Young Donna stands in the dark of a police 1-D. room, young ing at the sight of the Killer on the other side of the one way glass... His dark brooding eyes seem to be staring straight back at her... INT, BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT Winn finds the CRIM SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS and hands them to Ruvolo as he takes the FAX PHOTO back from the young Detective. WINN Even worse at the trial. Having to relive it all... BACK Young Donna sits on the stand in the Courtroans under the Tiveting gaze of the Killer, sitting at the defense table A sick smile creasing his expression... WINN (V.0.} We matched DNA. His prints were everywhere. Her I.D.ing him sealed the deal. We just figured he was a dead man... INT. BRIDGEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT - NIGHT Winn makes a COPY of the FAX PHOTO on a COPY MACHINE. WINN But not the jury. Came back with insanity. He's been locked away in a maximum security prison... For the Griminally insane..-until three days ago. winn takes the original and hands the copy to Ruvolg, who gazes at the grisly FILE PHOTOGRAPHS of the MURDER SCENE... RUVOLO Jesus! (CONTINUED)25 WINN Yeah, never seen anything like it and never want to again... He slips his coat on, slides his GUN into his holster and heads for the front doors... Ruvolo follows... RUVOLO what happened to the girl? WINN She has an aunt and uncle living here who took her in. After the trial, things settled down a bit.. (remembering) until she started getting the letters. RUVOLO Letters? WINN He sent her letters. Said a lot of really sick shit... : ‘and with that Winn pushes through the doors and they step outside into the cool night air... Ruvolo gazes down at the gruesome photos again..- RUVOLO What makes a guy kill like that? WINN Who knows? RUVOLO You think he might come back here? WINN I sure as hell hope not... (walking down the steps) tm gonna let the girl's aunt and uncle know he's out. I got pretty close to them during the trial and this is gonna rock their world INT, BRIDGEPORT HOTEL - BALLROOM - NIGHT Donna and the others stand there, gazing around in awe at the DECORATIONS... the BAND... the DANCE FLOOR... DONNA (over the music) You gotta hand it to Crissy! This is pretty awesome! (CONTINUED)26 CLAIRE I heard she went way over the Prom pudget and her father had to kick in the rest. DONNA. only the best for Crissy! Bobby turns to Lisa, smiling... BOBBY She's gonna be crushed when she loses to you ut Lisa's not so sure anymore, forcing a smile back.- RONNIE Let's get a table before they're all gone! LISA Give me the key to the suite. We're gonna go up and fix our faces. RONNIE You look great! Lisa lays out her hand for the Key Card... LISA qhat's correct. You're doing very well tonight. But I'11 look even’ better when I get back... INT. BRIDGEPORT HOTEL - ELEVATORS - NIGHT The girls enter the hall, see the doors of one of the elevators starting to close... and Claire calls out... CLAIRE Hold that door! A HAND reaches out and the elevator doors open again as they run down to it and squeeze in... DONNA ‘Thank you. whe elevator is full. Right behind them are a TRIO of YOUNG BUSINESSMEN. ponna starts to press the BUTTON for "2" when she realizes it's already glowing. And as the doors close again, one Businessman turns TO his friend, thumbs up, mouthing the words... (CONTINUED)27. BUSINESSMAN 1 H-o-t. Hot. : His buddies grin back. ‘They're bobbing and weaving a bit, had more than a few drinks... BUSINESSMAN 2 0... which one of you beautiful young women is my date? whe girls roll their eyes, doing their best to ignore them. And as the elevator lurches upward, no one notices who stands pohind the COUPLE behind the Businessmen, in the corner, at the very back of the elevator... It's the KILLER! His eyes riveted on Donna's reflection in the mirrored Elevator doors. Within reaching distance to her... ks they ascend, Businessman 3 ogles Lisa's breasts over her shoulder... He's creepy, but not as creepy as the Killer's cold dead gaze... BUSINESSMAN 3 We're taking our party upstairs, ladies. Room 404... No one says a word, the girls trying desperately not to break out laughing... lag the elevator finally stops at the second floor, the doors slide open and the giris fall out LAUGHING... LISA We'll be right up! And they HOWL all the way down to the door to their suite, never looking back... Never seeing the Killer step past the Couple and Businessmen as he exits the elevator... He walks down the hall in the opposite direction... Watching the girls as they stop at the door to their suite-.- ANGLE - DONNA, CLAIRE AND LISA As Lisa slides the Key Card into the door... LISA The one guy was kinda cute! CLAIRE My, God, would you stop already? (CONTINUED)28. and a strange chill suddenly dances up Donna's spine... making Ang urn back, gazing down the hall at the Killer. gust as he turns away and stops at the door to his room, Yeaching into his pocket for his Key Card... Her smile fades for no reason... except for that strange Her sng... as she turns back and follows Lisa and Claire into the suite... ANGLE - KILLER He listens to the sound of their door shutting behind them Bed then he gazes back down the hall for a moment... Until another sound startles him and he turns back, spotting UnEAID, who exits a room, closing the door behind her as she Crosses to her SERVICE CART... she doesn't notice him watching her as she takes out her MASTER KEY CARD and crosses to another room... qnetinct kicks in and he scratches his thumbnail across the AESSETIG STRIP on his own Key Card, gouging it deep, then slides it into the slot. the door won't open as the lock FLASHES RED, and the Killer tetiS out to the Maid just as she’s about to knock at the other door KILLER Excuse me? The Maid, whose name is MILLIE, looks back at him... KILLER Sorry to bother you, but my card doesn't seem to work. Can you help? Millie crosses to him, takes the Key Card from the Killer wid tries it. Again the lock FLASHES RED, and that's when she notices the scratch... MILLIE. There's your problem. It's got a scratch... She slips her MASTER KEY SCANNER in and opens his door... MILLIE call the front desk an' someone will bring you a replacement card. KILLER Thank you so much... He's a really genial guy when he wants to be And as she starts back to her cart, the Killer stops her with... (CONTINUED)29. KILLER one more thing... She turns back... KILLER I was wondering if I could get a couple extra towels? MILLIE sure. I might as well turn your bed down now too KILLER Great. He reaches in and switches on the entrance light in hig room He weilie crosses to her Cart, picks up an EXTRA SET of as MIS, walks back, enters his room and makes her way to the bathroom. . - INT. KILLER'S BATHROOM - NIGHT She switches on the light, drapes the towels over one of the sees without a hint of fear... until she turns to leave, ragtRels standing in the doorway, blocking her way out Her eyes are instantly drawn to the gleaming BLADE of the KNIFE that he holds by his side... and he strikes with the speed of a coiled snake... We never see the gore... just her eyes widening with every stab... And she suddenly staggers backwards, tumbling over the edge aeo the bathtub, down into it with a dull THUD. Her dead eyes stare up at, him as BLOSSOMS of BLOOD spread across her uniform from three wounds... And he reaches out and slides the shower curtain closed... He stands there for a moment... and then reaches down, picks up the MASTER KEY CARD she dropped on the floor, turns on up tne ot in the sink... slips the blade under the rush of tater... and watches the blood swirl down the drain. EXT. TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT Detective Winn gets out of his UNMARKED CRUISER, which 2s parked out front, makes his way up the walk and RINGS the DOORBELL A moment later, the door swings open and Jack is standing there... a bit surprised... JACK Detective Winn? (CONTINUED)30. WINN zvenin', Mr. Turner. Is Donna here? That doesn't feel right... SACK Donna's... at... ner Senior Prom. Why? What's going on? Winn shifts uncomfortably... WINN I need to have a word with you And Jack steps apprehensively onto the porch... INT. TURNER HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT karen, finishing drying the dishes, looks out the window, hoticing Jack and Detective Winn discussing something as they walk down to Winn's unmarked car... she can't hear what's being said, but her face goes pals when she sees the policeman show Jack the FAX PHOTOGRAPH. -- Jack slams his fist on the hood of Winn's Cruiser in a sudden fit of rage! And the PLATE she was drying slips from her paralyzed hands, SHATTERING at her feet! EXT. TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT Jack stares at the FAX PHOTOGRAPH in a horrified daze... JACK I don't understand why it took so Jong to find out he's out? WINN Inmates there, unlike a regular prison, live in solitary, confined Pooms with impenetrable steel doors BACK At the FACILITY a SECURITY GUARD pushes a FOOD CART down a Abid. steel corridor lined with impenetrable STEEL DOORS: Stopping at one to slide a MEAL TRAY halfway through 4 SLOT at the bottom of the door WINN (V.O.) Each room is self contained, and the guards deliver food on a tray that went into a slot in the door. ‘the Guard peers through the small glass window in the door at the INMATE inside (CONTINUED)a1 A MOUSY, THIN MAN who rushes at the tray like a wild hungry animal... WINN (V.O.) It seems he set up @ pattern of not eating for days at a time... ‘The Guard peers into another cell, and we see the Killer, on nee $ea*°pkek to the door, appearing to be fast asleep. -- che Guard pulls out the tray of uneaten food and replaces #* with a new one.. put the Killer doesn't stir, and the Guard continues on. -- ANGLE - INSIDE KILLER'S CELL one eye opens, as he listens to the cart voll away... WINN, The guards would leave food, and then pick it up in the morning, uneaten... Immediately he's on his feet, darting to the door and peering Uit’the window as he watches the Guard round a cornes and move out of sight... He then climbs on top of his TOILET, where he's able to reach the overhead LIGHT FIXTURE. . WINN (V.O.) His regular psycaiatric evaluations were on a three day rotation... CLUNK! The light fixture comes loose, REVEALING an opensng CoM arr DUCT that can just fit the Killer's thinner frame. . WINN (V.0.) So no one had personal contact with him for intervals of seventy-two hours, if he wasn't eating... ANGLE - INSIDE NEXT CELL Later The MOUSY THIN INMATE we saw is asleep. Behind him, the light fixture plate above his toilet pops Open and the Killer silently lowers bimsel£ down, descending Ghto the cell like the shadow of death. WINN (V.O.) Somehow... he found a way out through a light fixture plate in his cell, which led to an air duct. ANGLE - INSIDE SECURITY FACILITY HALL Morning... (CONTINUED)32. Another SECURITY GUARD pushes a MEAL CART, delivering the morning's meal to the Inmates... He peers into the Killer's room. Just like before, he lays unmoving in his bed... The Guard removes his last uneaten meal, replaces it with a new one, and moves on... And when he peers into the next cell, his eyes widen in shock! ‘That's because the INMATE is GONE! ANGLE - INSIDE KILLER'S CELL We see it's not the Killer but the other Inmate's lifeless corpse that's tucked snugly beneath the covers. The plood Gliba and crusted on the edges of his slashed throat. WINN (V.0.) They thought the other inmate was the one whe escaped and went looking for HIM. - EXT, TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT We're back with Winn and Jack... WINN, Tt was two days before they discovered who was really missing Then another Gay of failing to capture him before they alerted everyone. JACK This... can't be happening. INT. TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT xaren is still in the same spot, standing over the shards of broken plate, eyes riveted on the scene outside, unable to hear the conversation, but too terrified to go out.- EXT, TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT Jack and Winn stand there in the cool silence for a moment WINN 'm gonna put a unit on your house an! f'm thinking we should bring Donna home just in case jack considers this, noticing his wife watching them from the kitchen window... (CONTINUED)33. JACK This is the biggest night of her life. She's finally putting it all behind her. If we scare her for no reason... Jack turns back to Winn with a tormented look on his face.- JACK She's been in therapy three days a week for three years. You can't fmagine what it's been like for her... His eyes well with emotion as he stands there in the night Bniil’ desperately trying to decide what to do.. Until Winn makes the decision for him. WINN: Tell you what we'll do. I'1l put a man on your house like I said. And T'll cover the hotel with backup... JACK If she sees you she'll know something's wrong! WINN I'll make sure she doesn't... (trying to assure him) She won't know anything's up unless she absolutely has to. I promise. . INT. BRIDGEPORT HOTEL - SUITE 212 - NIGHT The Killer STEPS INTO FRAME outside the door to the suite, listening for a sound... And then he glances up and down the hall... before silently Slipping the MASTER KEY CARD into the door lock. te's CLICKS open and he stealthily opens the door and steps inside. There's lights on... but nobody there... INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - BALLROOM - NIGHT he Mirror Ball reflects streaks of twirling light down, op The pulsing dance floor filled with teens, dressed in their prom elegance, slow dancing to a rock ballad... crissy Lynn, her cohorts and their dates dance in the middle SE everyone of course. This is her night of nights. - Rick Leland, her jock boyfriend, holds her close, as they Hance past Ronnie and Lisa, who’ dance like two bodies melded together... (CONTINUED)34. RONNIE T£ we don't win King and Queen are you gonna be majorly bummed out? LISA Not really. Rick catches her eye and smiles, way too big... and she rolls her eyes and ignores him... LISA I just don't want HER to get it. RONNIE How long have you two been going at it? LISA since first grade. She's just always had everything she's ever wanted. RONNIE Yeah... but you got me. qhat brings a hint of sarcasm to her smile. LISA your point? He looks a bit confused, and as they dance OUT of FRAME we Ben Ske Michael and Claire dancing in the b.g. ‘They appear to be ARGUING about something. .- And suddenly, Donna and Robby dance INTO FRAME... DONNA, Thank you. BOBBY For what? DONNA, For tonight... (with a warm emotional smile) For everything... she presses her cheek against his as they continue to dance. -- Blissfully unaware of the eyes of the Killer, watching them eron the darkened shadows in the corner of the ballroom. .- on the far side of the dance floor, Michael and Claire's argument escalates... ponna notices them as she and Bobby dance past Ronnie and Lisa... DONNA, what's up with Michael and Claire? (CONTINUED)35. LISA game ol'. He's freakin' out about her going away to college. And, as if on cue, Claize suddenly pulls away from Michael ‘and pushes through the dancers... Towards Donna... and she watches her approach... DONNA, Great! Now what? Bobby glances over, just as Claire steps up and nudges Donna away with. CLAIRE I gotta talk to you... DONNA (to Bobby) Be right back... And Donna follows her off the dance floor... DONNA what's going on? CLAIRE Michael is making me so damn mad. And on top of that, I've got killer cramps. DONNA Don't let a stupid argument ruin your prom night. I have some Midol yy my purse upstairs. I'll go get it che turns away and starts back towards Bobby as he approaches her... BOBBY Everything okay? DONNA. yeah, let me have the key to the suite. I gotta get something for Claire. BOBBY I'11 go with you. DONNA, No. That's OK. I'll be right back. She kisses him on the lips and takes the KEY CARD... (CONTINUED)36. ANOTHER ANGLE As she makes her way through the crowd, the Killer vatches Be eee nett y, stepping farther back inthe shadows, as. she bEgsea not wore than five feet from him, exiting the Ballroom... INT. BRIDGEPORT LOBBY - NIGHT Donna crosses towards the elevators... ‘he Killer is not far behind her as she turns the commer) The Kehe hall to the elevators and punches the "up" BUTTON on one of them... the Killer stops at the corner of the hall, just out of sight, The Eillin see her REFLECTION in the HUGE ORNATE WINDOW et the entrance to the hallway to the elevators. .- ANGLE - DONNA ghe glances up at the FLOOR LIGHTS above the elevators. She Gian s eon the FIFTH FLOOR and she presses the other "UB" BUTTON on the other elevator As she waits, that unnerving feeling crawis across her flesh again and she gazes back down the hall towards the window. There's no one there... ANGLE - KILLER [At least she can't see him around the corner...- aut he can see her... and the STAIRWELL DOOR that he leans against and as she waits... he quietly slips inside it.-- EXT. TURNER HOUSE - NIGHT A POLICE PATROL CAR pulls to a stop in the shadows across the street from the house... INT, TURNER HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Jack gazes out at the PATROL CAR through the front window as Reen2sits on the couch with a haunted look in her eyes JACK The patrol car just pulled up..- KAREN, How could you not bring her home when that maniac is on the loose? Detective Winn wanted to bring Donna home. You said so yourself (CONTINUED)37. He turns away from the window, crosses to her and sits..- JACK and if we do that? Show up at her prom, in front of all her friends? What's that gonna do to all the progress she's made these last three years? Remember all the nights she woke up screaming? I don't ever want her to go back to that, do you? KAREN No, of course not... They sit there for a long, tense moment, neither saying 2 word, and then... KAREN t'm just so scared... he'll... Jack takes her hand in his. It's clear that even though, he pave see he's doing the right thing, he's tormented by the decision... JACK They'll protect her. He promised... INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - SUITE 212 - NIGHT TIGHT ON the DOOR LOCK as it CLICKS unlocked, and the door swings open with a rush of light as SOMEONE enters. INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - SECOND FLOOR HALL - NIGHT The door to Suite 212 closes at the very same moment that the elevator DINGS... ‘And Donna emerges and makes her way down the hall to the Suite, slips the Key Card in the lock and opens the door. - INT. HOTEL BRIDGEPORT - SUITE 212 - NIGHT Donna enters the living room of the suite, a bit suxprised py the darkness. Didn't they leave the lights on before? she searches the wall and switches on a light and gazes around the living room of the suite as the door closes behind her... Beyond the spill of light the interiors of the two bedrooms are pitch black... She shakes that silly feeling again and crosses to the closet, Spens one Of the MIRRORED SLIDING DOORS, behind which, on 3 Shelf, is her HANDBAG and her GRANDMOTHER'S SHAWL. . As she opens the handbag... She suddenly thinks she hears something... (CONTINUED)38. amd shoots a look back over her shoulder with. DONNA, Hello? No answer She's a little unnerved as she listens... But there's no movement. No sound... Go she steels her nerves and crosses to the small BAR AREA in the living room tt explodes with light as she switches another tight on and reaeee St her reflection in the mirror behind the sink Deciding she could use a little something herself. -- she runs some water into a glass, and as she takes ONE PILL from her PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE, a sudden uneasiness freezes her again She listens for a sound... Nothing... DONNA Is there somebody here? Claire? Deathly silent... land she exits the Bar area and crosses back to the closet, eyes darting about, tense with anticipation She takes a couple MIDOL pills from another bottle for Claire, Shen puts the bottle back in the Handbag and returns it te the shelf As she starts to close the MIRRORED SLIDING DOOR, we begin to SEE the REFLECTION of what's behind her, and you just £0 see nore's going to be something to scare the hell out of her... But there's nothing! No one! ponna's nerves are still on edge as she quickly crosses to the front door of the suite... Never noticing that SOMETHING seems to move in the darkness Nevehe bedroom to her left! A SHADOW! Coming out at her. And almost in a dead run, she reaches for the knob, yanks the door open, and runs smack dab into CLAIRE! Donna SHRIEKS! Claire SHRIEKS! DONNA You scared the hell outta me! (CONTINUED)