The Hours Before Dawn

*Note* Please see: http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1227133 (part 1)
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1227136 (part 2)

INT. HOUSE – HALLWAY – NIGHT

Paul looks through the doorway he gazes down both ways of the hall. A dark shadow is seen on the wall at the top of the stairs.

Paul steps out from the doorway. Mandy follows.

MANDY
Paul, be careful.

The dark shadow on the wall comes closer towards

Paul and Jaclyn who are standing away from the both walls.

MANDY
What is it?

Paul steps forward slightly Mandy cautiously walks behind him. The dark shadows move closer.

Mandy SCREAMS.

INT. HOUSE – BASEMENT – NIGHT

The SCREAMS continue. Elisa and Jaclyn search for Jessica.

ELISA
What was that?

JACLYN
I think that was Mandy.

Elisa and Jaclyn look at each other as another SCREAM is heard. They run up the stairs.

INT. HOUSE – HALLWAY – NIGHT

Jaclyn and Elisa run up the staircase. Paul comforts Mandy as Jaclyn and Elisa rush towards them.

ELISA
Everything okay?

MANDY
The killer he’s here!

JACLYN
What?

MANDY
Look around the room.

Jaclyn and Mandy turn around as notice the dark shadow on the wall.

A DARK FIGURE slowly approaches the group. Mandy turns to run, Paul stops her.

PAUL
Jason!

Mandy stops struggling and looks at Paul.

JACLYN
(To PAUL)
Jason? He’s dead!

PAUL
Is he?

Mandy looks at Jaclyn.

MANDY
What’s he talking about?

JACLYN
I have no idea!

Elisa stares at the DARK FIGURE.

ELISA
Jason?

JACLYN
It’s not Jason…he’s dead.

JASON
Am I!

The girls stare into the darkness at the DARK FIGURE.

JACLYN
(To PAUL)
What’s going on?
The DARK FIGURE’s hand goes to its head. The hand removes a dark shadowy hood Jason’s face is clearly seen.

JACLYN
Jason? I thought you died.

JASON
Did I?

MANDY
Jason what are you doing?

JASON
I’m trying to get what I want

MANDY
Which is?

JASON
Jackie you remember our deal?

JACLYN
Oh fuck you.

JASON
We were –

JACLYN
Is that what this is all about?

Mandy looks up at Paul

MANDY
You both are in this together?

PAUL
I’m sorry Mandy.

JACLYN
(To Paul)
Why did you do this? You never wanted me dead.
PAUL
Yea but I needed to follow Jason to complete his goal.

JACLYN
And what was that?

PAUL
To scare you

JACLYN
Well you went way to far…wait a minute…
(Looking at JASON)
…I saw your body hanging from a tree.

JASON
That wasn’t my body.

JACLYN
Well why did you kill our friends.

BRITTANY
And my cameraman

The group looks up to see Brittany Raymond.

ELISA
When did you get here?

BRITTANY
Just now.

JACLYN
I didn’t even here you coming.

Brittany stares at Jaclyn.

ELISA
You get help…where’s Steve?

BRITTANY
He went to get help. I came back to see that you guys were all right.
ELISA
That’s very thoughtful of you.

Brittany has an awkward expression on her face.

PAUL
Well you’re to late.

BRITTANY
Am I? ‘Cause the way I see it I just came back here on time.

JASON
Well now prepare to die.

BRITTANY
I’m not preparing for anything.

Jason looks PUZZLED

BRITTANY
Because I’m not going to die

PAUL
What makes you so dam sure?

BRITTANY
Because I said so

Brittany holds out a gun aiming it at Jason then to Paul…then to Jason.

PAUL
Oh shit

JASON
She’s only a girl

PAUL
She has a gun.

Mandy breaks free from Paul’s grip.

MANDY
Shoot him.

Brittany points the gun at Paul and then points it at Jason. Steve runs up the steps.

POLICE SIRENS are heard.

JACLYN
Steve!

STEVE
Hi!

Steve goes to Jaclyn and kisses her. Steve breaks off and eyes the gun.

STEVE
What’s going on here?

BRITTANY
What does it look like?

STEVE
I know what your doing but why are you aiming at Paul and Jason…

Steve stops quickly. He turns to Jaclyn.

STEVE
I thought you said he was dead.

JACLYN
Well I saw his body.

Jaclyn and Steve look at Jason.

STEVE
He’s the killer?

Brittany backs up into the wall, the gun hits the floor.

Steve and Jaclyn look at Paul.

The gun CLICKS.

Jaclyn and Steve turn around to find Jason holding a gun.

STEVE
You two are in this together?

JASON
Of course

STEVE
Why?

Mandy RUNS she CHARGES into Jason.

A gunshot is fired. It ricochets off of the corner of the wall and hits into Paul in the chest.

PAUL
What the fuck is wrong with you?

JASON
Well you got in the way

Paul’s bloody hands hold his head. He looks up at Jason; his big eyes STARE at him.

PAUL
I thought we were friends

JASON
Not anymore.

PAUL
What happened to you?

JASON
Just trying to pursue my goals in life.

PAUL
Of being known as a psychopathic killer?

JASON
That’s what it’s all about.

Mandy stares at Jason

MANDY
You sick bastard.

JASON
Am I?

A GUN SHOT is heard. Jason CLUTCHES his arm.

JASON
What the fuck

Brittany BLOWS on the gun.

BRITTANY
That’s done with.

Brittany throws the gun at Steve. He catches the gun and points it at Paul. Paul holds up his hands in surrender.

PAUL
Shoot Jason.

JASON
(Shouting)
I thought we were friends

PAUL
I guess we aren’t anymore.

A GUN SHOT is heard Jason CLUTCHES his shoulder blade.

JASON
What the fuck is wrong with you

STEVE
I’m not the one who went on a murderous rampage.

JASON
Fuck you

Steve THROWS the gun back to Brittany she catches it.

JACLYN
What happened to you Jason?

JASON
What?

JACLYN
What is the meaning of killing my friends?

JASON
I have no friends.

JACLYN
You think I was faking our relationship?

JASON
You still love me.

JACLYN
Not anymore.

JASON
Why not?

JACLYN
Are you fucking kidding me?

PAUL
Jackie didn’t you just say you weren’t faking the relationship.

JACLYN
That was before Jason started killing people.

JASON
Fuck you

JACLYN
Fuck you back.

ELISA
This isn’t getting us anywhere.

MANDY
You don’t care what Paul was doing?

ELISA
I care and you better believe it.

MANDY
Don’t get mad at me

ELISA
I’m not mad at you. It’s Paul.

MANDY
Just get over it.

ELISA
Just leave me alone.

Elisa walks down the stairs her eyes watery.

MANDY
Elisa wait.

Elisa keeps walking, not hearing Mandy’s CALLS.

MANDY
Aw that went well.
JACLYN
Should she be going alone?

MANDY
The killers are up here she’ll be fine.

Jaclyn looks at Mandy.

MANDY
This whole party was a blow. If you even call it a party.

JACLYN
Oh Mandy.

MANDY
I just wanted a fun party weekend and it blows up in my face.

Mandy turns towards the stairs and runs down the staircase her eyes tear.

Jaclyn runs down after her.

BRITTANY
You little shits

PAUL
He made me do it.

The gun slips from Steve’s hand.

Brittany DIVES for the gun.

Brittany holds the gun at Jason.

JASON
You don’t understand what this was all about—

BRITTANY
Fuck you
The gun slips from Brittany’s hand, it SLIDES across the floor.

BRITTANY
Shit

Paul and Jason both DIVE for the gun on the floor.

Jason and Paul fight over the gun.

Thr gun slips out of their hands and flies through the air. The gun CRASHES on the floor.

INSERT – GUN

It lies on the floor chipped. Blood DRIPS from it.

BACK TO SCENE

PAUL
Crap!

JASON
Don’t just look at the gun, grab it you fucken moron.

PAUL
Don’t you think I would of done that already?

JASON
Well, why don’t you?

PAUL
It’s broken you sick bastard.

JASON
Watch it!

PAUL
Well that’s for calling me a fucken moron.
JASON
You deserved it.

PAUL
You know what, don’t make me shoot you.

Paul picks up the gun.

PAUL
I’ll do it. You know I will.

An awkward PAUSE

JASON
With what gun

Paul looks at the gun in pieces he THROWS it to the side.

PAUL
Fuck that’s no help.

JASON
Of course it isn’t

Paul SIGHES.

PAUL
What the fuck are you going to do about it then?

JASON
Just shut the fuck up and do something about it then.

PAUL
What is there to do?

JASON
I don’t know. Just do something.

STEVE
Something wrong.
Jason and Paul PANIC.

JASON
Just fuck off.

STEVE
You little assholes need to shut up.

JASON
Paul do something

PAUL
Like what

JASON
Anything.

Brittany runs down the stairs.

A GUN SHOT is fired.

Brittany stops and looks behind her to see Paul collapsed leaning against the wall his shirt bleeding.

PAUL
What the fuck was that for?

STEVE
You killed my girlfriend.

PAUL
I didn’t kill her it was Jason

STEVE
Get out of my sight you little shit.

Steve drops the gun

JASON
I thought that was broken. Wasn’t it Paul?

PAUL
I just got shot so don’t fucken talk to me!

JASON
Just die, see what I care.

BRITTANY
You’re just going to watch him die like that.

JASON
What’s it to me?

BRITTANY
He is your friend isn’t he?

JASON
Well I don’t give a shit

STEVE
And why is that?

JASON
He was just being fucken gay for the entire thing.

BRITTANY
Did he want to kill his friends?

PAUL
Of course not

Steve runs towards PAUL

BRITTANY
(To STEVE)
He just killed someone and you are being all nice about it

PAUL
I didn’t kill anyone it was all Jason.

BRITTANY
And why should we believe you.

An object lies above Brittany’s head it lowers slowly down to her skull.

BANG

Brittany collapses onto the ground.

Jason drops the object.

Steve gets up.

STEVE
What the fuck was that for?

JASON
She was just getting on my nerves.

Jason collapses onto the ground.

Brittany holds the object above Jason’s head.

BRITTANY
Don’t fucken mess with me.

PAUL
Is he okay?

BRITTANY
Who fucken cares?

PAUL
I do

STEVE
Did you hear what he said right after you were shot

PAUL
Yea I heard it

BRITTANY
And you don’t care.

PAUL
Well I shouldn’t care

BRITTANY
And why is that

PAUL
Because I almost turned him into the police

BRITTANY
Why didn’t you?

PAUL
He threatened to kill me

BRITTANY
So better one loss than many innocent people

PAUL
I didn’t kill anyone.

A loud BANG is heard as the front door is kicked open.

POLICE OFFICER
Get down

The POLICE OFFICER holds a gun.

CLICK

The Police Officer reloads it.

Brittany CHARGES down the stairs.

BRITTANY
Oh officer you are here.

POLICE OFFICER
That’s my duty.

BRITTANY
We need paramedics.

POLICE OFFICER
Where is this sick bastard?

The Police Officer hits the gun.

CLICK

The Police Officer searches the room. He approaches a door and kicks it open. The closet is completely empty.

BRITTANY
He’s upstairs.

The Police Officer closes the door and makes his way up the steps.

PAUL
Oh officer I need help.

POLICE OFFICER
What happened?

STEVE
Gun shot.

POLICE OFFICER
What is this guy doing here?

The Police Officerkicks his boots into Jason who lies on the floor.

The Police Officer turns his body over with his feet.

Brittany runs up the stairs.

BRITTANY
He collapsed after I hit him with the baseball bat.

Brittany points to the baseball bat that lies in the corner.

POLICE OFFICER
How did he get shot?

BRITTANY
He wasn’t

POLICE OFFICER
Then why is he bleeding

BRITTANY
What?

Brittany looks up from the floor and realizes the Police Officer is referring to Paul.

POLICE OFFICER
How did he get shot?

BRITTANY
He was shot with a gun what else.

POLICE OFFICER
Who shot him?

Steve walks closer to the POLICE OFFICER

STEVE
I did

POLICE OFFICER
And why was that son

STEVE
He killed my girlfriend

The Police Officer walks closer to Steve
POLICE OFFICER
And why would he kill her

STEVE
I don’t know

POLICE OFFICER
Then what makes you so dam sure that he killed her

The Police Officer continues to harass Steve.

STEVE
Look I don’t know. All I know is that she was found dead.

POLICE OFFICER
Then why shoot him

STEVE
Because he was in on it also with this guy

Steve looks at Jason’s body making it clear to the Police Officer that is who he is talking about.

POLICE OFFICER
You need to calm down son

STEVE
Don’t tell me to calm down

Steve approaches the Police Officer in a harsh manner.

The Police Officer backs off Steve.

POLICE OFFICER
Just calm down

STEVE
Fine.
BRITTANY
Will both of you knock it off.

A loud BANG is heard. Paul holds a gun.

Elisa and Jaclyn RUN up the stairs.

There is a second BANG.

Mandy RUSHES up the steps.

ELISA
What’s going on here?

STEVE
I’m being harassed that’s what’s going on.

JACLYN
Steve you all right.

Mandy runs towards Paul she KNEELS beside him

MANDY
You all right Paul, what happened?

STEVE
Paul is a killer.

Mandy turns to look at Steve

MANDY
What?

STEVE
He killed Sarah.

PAUL
That was Jason.

The group confused looks at Paul.

PAUL
It was Jason

The Group look at Jason he lies on the floor.

Jaclyn RUNS towards his body.

JACLYN
Is he all right?

STEVE
He may be unconscious.

JACLYN
And you are just standing there

STEVE
There’s nothing we can do…and why do you want to help him he killed your friends.

JACLYN
Killing someone is one thing but I am not going to just stand here and not help him.

The Police Officer picks up the baseball bat in the corner and walks down the stairs.

JACLYN
What is going to happen to him?

Mandy turns to Jaclyn.

MANDY
Why do you fucken care

JACLYN
I am not going to be known as a murderer.

There is a loud BANG.

The door is kicked open as PARAMEDICS rush up the stairs.

PAUL
(To PARAMEDICS)
Please help me.

The Paramedics look at Paul and then to Jason’s body.

The Paramedics KNEEL down to Jason.

Paul bangs his head against the wall.

PAUL
You fuckers going to help me or not

PARAMEDIC
Well get to you. This guy is unconscious.

PAUL
(Calmly)
Okay I can wait…
(Shouting)
I’m just dying here.

A paramedic jumps to his feet and walks over to Paul he KNEELS down next to him.

PAREMEDIC
You’ll be okay.

The Paramedic next to Jason picks his body up to a stretcher.

PARAMEDIC 2 ditches Paul and helps the Paramedic bring the stretcher down the stairs.

PAUL
Fuck!

Paul BANGS his head onto the wall his shirt is covered with bloodstains.

MANDY
You’ll be okay.

STEVE
Just hang in there.

Steve KNEELS down next to Mandy.

STEVE
I’m sorry I shot you

Mandy gives Steve an evil look.

PAUL
I don’t blame you

JACLYN
Don’t say that

PAUL
Well his girlfriend’s dead and I’m still alive

BRITTANY
You didn’t kill her.

PAUL
I could have stopped Jason

BRITTANY
It isn’t your fault

PAUL
Well I helped kill the others.

JACLYN
What!

PAUL
I helped Jason kill the others.
STEVE
I thought you said you didn’t kill anybody.

BRITTANY
So why are we helping him live?

STEVE
Because he’s a jackass

JACLYN
No, we are helping him because… I don’t know but we’ve got to.

Jaclyn SIGHS

BRITTANY
He helped kill your friends.

JACLYN
He didn’t kill all of them though.

STEVE
Jackie, Nick and Jessica are dead.

JACLYN
Well killing him won’t bring them back.

STEVE
But you’ll get revenge on him.

Jaclyn sits down against the wall. She OUTSRECTCHES her hand. Steve walks over and pulls her up.

JACLYN
I don’t want revenge

STEVE
Look, let’s try to put this behind us.

Steve and Jaclyn walk down the stairs holding hands.
Mandy gets up and walks to Elisa.

MANDY
I guess we just need to put these matters behind us.

ELISA
Yea.

Elisa puts her hands in her pockets. Mandy comforts her.

MANDY
I’m so sorry about Nick

ELISA
Yea I know but what can I do.

Elisa and Mandy walk down the stars. Brittany follows.

PAUL
A little help

The Group continues to walk down the steps not looking back at Paul.

A nearby door slowly opens.

A DARK FIGURE appears holding a bloody knife.

EXT. MANDY’S HOUSE – DAY

Paramedics walk through the doorway they carry Paul on a stretcher.

Elisa runs towards them.

ELISA
Paul!

PAUL
Elisa!
EXT. MANDY’S HOUSE – YARD – DAY

Brittany walks across the lawn holding a microphone up to her mouth. A CAMERAMAN walks in front of her.

BRITTANY
(To CAMERAMAN)
Just last night several teens were innocently partying here at this home in Groton, Rhode Island…

Brittany continues to walk.

BRITTANY
This is a chilling tale about the events that shocked the state of Rhode Island…

The country home sits calmly in the background with no neighbors in sight.

BRITTANY
It is believed the killer attacked at this party for only one reason…

Brittany continues to walk across the lawn filled with REPORTERS and POLICE OFFICERS.

An ambulance rests on the lawn. The Paramedics carry Paul into the back on the ambulance. The trees BLOW through the breeze.

INT. HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT

Jaclyn sits at the table her head lowered she TAPS the table nervously.

The phone RINGS.

Jaclyn slowly walks to the phone she picks up the phone from the receiver.

JACLYN
Hello?

The Man’s Voice responds.

MAN’S VOICE
It looks like you fingered the wrong guy AGAIN. I’ll see you tonight.

The phone DIES.

An object is THROWN through the window the glass SHATTERS across the room.

Jaclyn SCREAMS.

FADE OUT



THE END