Friday the 13th

Alice snaps around, sensing that she is being watched. In CLOSEUP her frightened face looks at the sun-drenched dusty pane. Her face relaxes until BANG! The sound of a door slamming echoes through the room.

The CAMERA ZOOMS BACK from her face to see someone standing in the doorway.

It is Bill.

BILL

Sorry. How you doing?

Alice smiles, then turns back to her job of taking inventory. Bill watches her.

ALICE

Did you want something?

She starts to take a box down from a high shelf. She doesn't realize that there is something on top of the box.

BILL

Steve said you were thinking of leaving. True?

ALICE

Un-hunh.

Alice lugs down the box and suddenly a bunch of leather-working tools clatters down, shattering the silence. Alice fends off the flying implements and Bill rushes to her side.

ALICE

(continuing)

Oh, my God...

BILL

You okay?

She nods.

BILL

(continuing)

You're lucky.

They stoop down to pick up the fallen tools from the floor. Bill looks at her while they work.

BILL

(continuing)

How come you're leaving?

ALICE

It's long and personal. It has nothing to do with you or the other kids.

BILL

Maybe I can help?

Alice looks at Bill and smiles. This really is a very nice, if naive, young man.

ALICE

And it's this place. It makes no sense, but it spooks me.

BILL

(smiling)

You're right. It makes no sense.

As Alice nods, she is interrupted by a shrill scream outside.

CUT TO:

EXT. ARTS & CRAFTS CABIN – DAY

Marcie is the source of the scream. She runs towards the CAMERA, dressed in cut-offs and a floral halter. Her feet are bare. When she get closer, we see that she is being chased by Jack and Ned who have found two giant green bullfrogs. The screams were not serious and Marcie is doing some of it for effect. Brenda brings up the rear. They are all dressed more or less for a frolic in the lake.

Bill and Alice stand in front of the Arts & Crafts cabin. Bill is smiling, Alice is a little bit amused.

MARCIE

Help me! Save me! The frog people are after me! It's swim time at Camp Crystal Lake. Come on, Alice, I need protection!

CUT TO:

EXT. CRYSTAL LAKE – DAY

A LONG WIDE SHOT reveals the cool, clear lake during the lull of a hot afternoon.

At the edge of the lake, in the shallows, are the members of the group: Marcie, Jack, Ned, Brenda, Bill and Alice. They are sitting or paddling or diving off the float. There is no real attempt to exert too much energy.

Gradually we become aware that this LONG WIDE SHOT is someone's POV. The CAMERA moves from its stable position, now hand-held, on a trajectory around the side of the lake, out of sight.

Branches, brush, and twigs are butted through. Occasionally, we can see part of the Prowler's arm fending off the underbrush.

CUT TO:

EXT. WATER – DAY

The group sits or lies in the cool water, more or less focused on Ned, who is acting as moderator.

NED

What do you want to be when you grow up?

BRENDA

Dancer.

MARCIE

Cowboy.

NED

Girls can't be cowboys.

MARCIE

Okay, Fireman.

Ned goes to Jack.

NED

Jack?

JACK

Coach, athletic director somewhere.

BILL

Filmmaker.

ALICE

Artist.

NED

Doctor. Now, if you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be?

MARCIE

Rocky Road.

They laugh.

CUT TO:

EXT. MAIN CAMP AREA – DAY

The Prowler looks in LONG SHOT down at the lake and we can just make out the CounsellorS.

The CAMERA PANS and we move toward cabins.

CUT TO:

EXT. LAKE – DAY

Alice is treading water, talking with Brenda, as Ned comes up out of nowhere.

BRENDA

Vitamin C's supposed to neutralize the nitrites or something.

Ned surfaces between them. He looks with googly eyes at Alice.

NED

There are sand sharks in this lake and they can eat the bathing suit right off you.

Alice laughs.

NED

(continuing)

See? I'm getting to you. Very slowly.

Ned does a porpoise drive and disappears.

Brenda is not laughing. She is looking off towards the cabin area.

Alice sees her and look where she looks.

ALICE

What'd you see?

BRENDA

I don't know. Marcie's got me paranoid.

She smiles.

CUT TO:

EXT. BEHIND Alice'S CABIN – DAY

The CAMERA, shooting from the Prowler's POV, moves to a place alongside Alice's cabin. There is underbrush about two feet tall and all around that area. The Prowler stops, leans down and reaches into FRAME with a gloved hand.

The gloved hand reaches into the underbrush for the tip of a burlap bag which has been secreted there. The hand lifts the bag, which has something in it that moves.

The CAMERA MOVES around to the side of the cabin right below the window. The window is open, making entry quite simple.

The Prowler's gloved hands untie the neck of the bag, reach in and haul out quickly a medium-sized snake. One hand has the animal firmly behind the jaws. The hand takes the snake and puts it through the open window, leaving it on the clean white coverlet. It slithers across the bed.

The Prowler's hand closes the window.

The CAMERA MOVES towards one of the sheds.

CUT TO:

EXT. EDGE OF LAKE – DAY

Bill and Alice are lying on the shore on their towels, watching the OTHERS in the water and grabbing some afternoon sun. Alice is on her stomach, tracing angular designs in the sand. Bill is on his back, listening.

BILL

It still hurts?

ALICE

I walked into it knowing I'd get hurt, but I thought I could stand anything.

(pause)

I just wasn't ready for that kind of pain. We were supposed to meet in L.A. When I got back there, he sent a telegram saying he was going back to his wife.

Bill turns over so he can look at her better.

BILL

What'll you do when you leave here?

ALICE

I don't know.

Various feet enter the FRAME. Bill and Alice look up to see Jack with his arm around Marcie, Ned toweling his head, and Brenda putting on her blue workshirt.