Friday the 13th

Alice leans into the shed to look.

The CAMERA TRACKS very slowly around behind her so that we can see behind the right-hand corner of the building. As we clear the edge, we see something hanging from a rope which runs down from a branch above.

The something turns slowly in the wind. It is Bill – dead – in a travesty of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian, shot with arrows.

Alice comes out of the shed, distraught.

ALICE

Bill?

She closes the door, and turns in the direction of the body.

REACTION SHOT: Alice. She is riveted with horror, unable to move or turn or run. The SOUNDTRACK screams with the THEME, the insistent STINGER, a shriek and a thunderclap.

Alice finally gives voice to her terror – again and again. She turns, leaving the lantern, and runs back towards the main cabin.

ALICE

(continuing)

Help! Help!

CUT TO:

INT. MAIN CABIN – NIGHT

Alice bursts through the front door into CAMERA.

ALICE

Jack! Marcie! Help me!

CUT TO:

INT. BIG MEETING ROOM – NIGHT

Alice races to the coffee table, looking for Bill's machete. It is not there.

ALICE

The knife!

She gets down on her hands and knees to look for it.

LOW ANGLE
 

As she scrabbles on all fours. Nothing under the couch.

Alice gets back up and rushes to the ping-pong table to get the lamp.

Just as she reaches the table – which is more or less against a window – a figure swings, pendulum-like, into the glass, shattering the pane in the window opposite Alice.

It is Brenda, long-since dead, dripping wet, white-faced.

Alice sees her, turns and runs as fast as she can for the front door.

Alice flings open the wooden door and runs into a rain-suited figure.

Alice screams. The figure holds Alice in a strong grasp.

When Alice focuses, she sees a kindly woman in her early forties. She is strong, fairly tall, and very nice-looking. This is MRS. VOORHEES. She wants Alice to stop shrieking long enough to tell her what the matter is. Alice sobs incoherently, pointing back to the rear window.

MRS. VOORHEES

There now, my dear. Please. I can't help you if you can't talk to me. There, there now...

Alice allows the woman to lead her back into the room.

Mrs. Voorhees leads Alice to the couch. In the B.G. we can see the broken window, but Brenda is not visible.

ALICE

He's dead... She's dead... all dead... Please save me... oh... poor Bill... Oh my God, oh my God... oh God...

MRS. VOORHEES

It will be all right. I'll take care of you.

ALICE

Jack? Marcie? Ned?

Mrs. Voorhees comforts her with a strong arm.

MRS. VOORHEES

It's just this place. The storm. That's why you're all upset.

ALICE

No, no, they're all dead...

Alice points over her shoulder towards the ping-pong table without looking.

Mrs. Voorhees looks, shrugs.

MRS. VOORHEES

I'll go look.

Alice's face registers the new terror.

ALICE

They'll kill you! Don't leave me!

Mrs. Voorhees smiles warmly.

MRS. VOORHEES

I'm not afraid.

Alice waits by the couch as Mrs. Voorhees crosses the room to the back window.

ALICE

All dead? Neddy? Oh, Marcie...

Alice stands close to the fireplace.

Mrs. Voorhees reaches the window and looks out. Brenda's body sways just out of reach. Mrs. Voorhees is shocked.

MRS. VOORHEES

Oh, my lord...

Mrs. Voorhees turns back and, as she passes the ping-pong table, she picks up the lantern.

Alice waits at the fireplace.

MRS. VOORHEES

(continuing)

So young, so pretty. What monster could have done such a thing?

ALICE

Bill – Bill – Bill is out there...

She lets Mrs. Voorhees take her in her arms.

MRS. VOORHEES

We shall go straight to the police.

Alice backs up.

ALICE

The killer is still out there.

MRS. VOORHEES

I will protect you.

Mrs. Voorhees looks around the room.

MRS. VOORHEES

(continuing)

Oh, this place... It should never have been a camp. Not for children. They had so much trouble here.

The fire glimmers slightly in the fireplace. A log burns through and rolls off, throwing up a small shower of sparks.

MRS. VOORHEES

(continuing)

Camp Blood.

Mrs. Voorhees has almost completely calmed the girl down. Strokes her soft hair.

MRS. VOORHEES

(continuing)

You know a boy drowned the year before those two others were killed? An accident? It was inadequate supervision. The counsellors were not paying enough attention... They were making love when that boy drowned.

Alice looks up as the woman strokes her hair.

 
ANOTHER ANGLE
 

MEDIUM CLOSEUP as the older woman's hand strokes the younger woman's hair. The hand is missing its little finger!

The THEME enters upon the TRACK in a lyrical, child-like version, echoing back to another era, pretty and light.

MRS. VOORHEES

(continuing)

We should go now.

ALICE

Maybe we should wait for Mr. Christy.

Mrs. Voorhees shakes her head gently.