CUT TO
A brown van driving along the same rural road.
INT. VAN — DAY
Inside the van sit three individuals: TED, JEFF, and SANDRA. Ted, the one behind the wheel, is twenty-two years old, skinny, the dark-haired dweeb of the bunch. Jeff, a couple years younger than Ted, is Ted's antithesis — blond, with broad shoulders and modest muscle to go with them. Sandra, with her long, frizzy sandy hair, looks like she could be Jeff's sister; judging by the way she lovingly massages his shoulders, however, that's unlikely to be the case.
SANDRA: How about our last jay?
JEFF: Good call.
Opening the glove compartment, Jeff reaches in and fishes out a joint.
TED: What about the dope paragraph in Mr. Christy's letter?
JEFF: (lights joint) "Controlled substances are expressly forbidden. Possession or use of drugs or alcohol on campgrounds will mean instant dismissal."
SANDRA: We got two weeks before the kids even arrive; then I'll act responsibly. 'Til then, hit me.
Jeff takes a puff then hands the joint to his girlfriend.
TED: Sandra, you think there'll be other gorgeous women at Camp Crystal Lake besides yourself?
SANDRA: Is sex all you think about?
TED: There you are dead wrong.
JEFF: Ha!
TED: (cont'd) Sometimes I just think about kissing women.
EXT. RURAL ROAD — DAY
Alice is still out there on the road when the brown van comes barrelling down towards her. Spotting the van, she turns to face it, sticking her thumb out.
INT. VAN — DAY
SANDRA: (notices Alice) Guys, let's pick her up.
EXT. RURAL ROAD — DAY
The van pulls to a stop beside Alice.
INT. VAN — DAY
Sandra opens the side door. All three passengers look upon the redhead burdened with the oversized backpack.
ALICE: Hi. I'm going to Camp Crystal Lake.
TED: Well climb aboard, sister. We're headed that way ourselves.
Grinning, Alice takes off her backpack, tosses it in back, then climbs inside. As Sandra closes the door and they resume rolling, the four exchange introductions.
Jeff turns to Alice, offering her the joint.
JEFF: Care for a drag?
Shrugging, Alice accepts.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — ENTRANCE — DAY
The van passes through the entrance into Camp Crystal Lake. To the side of the archway stands a sign which reads "CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — Established 1935".
INT. VAN — DAY
Sandra looks out the van windows, examining their surroundings with awe.
SANDRA: It's beautiful….
TED: Yeah, and it also looks like it hasn't seen a coat of paint in sixteen years.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — CAMPGROUNDS — DAY
As the van pulls into the camp, we can see the buildings — all the cabins along with the loft where Barry and Claudette met their unfortunate ends. As Ted's comment implies, the buildings are rundown, weathered and aged from the long years of disuse.
As Ted parks the van in the small parking area right beside a blue Jeep, STEVE CHRISTY waves to them. Steve — a handsome, bespectacled, mustached thirty-year-old with curly blond hair — stands shirtless over a tree stump embedded in the ground, the skin of his face, arms, and chest glistening with sweat.
STEVE: Wanna give me a hand here?
As the four new counsellors climb out of the van, Ted and Jeff hurry over to lend Steve their hands. Together, the three men struggle to pry the stump out of the earth.
STEVE: (calling to someone offscreen) Brenda? (to Jeff & Ted) We wanna get this tree stump out. (points to different sides of stump) Get on this side; he pulls on that side; and I'm flack. On three, okay? (beat) Brenda‽
Working together, the three men manage to uproot the stump.
STEVE: That's great, that's great! (irate) Brenda!
BRENDA: (O.C.) Coming!
BRENDA wanders into frame. A tall, skinny brunette, she carries a shovel in one hand and a pail in the other.
STEVE: (offers hand to newcomers) I'm Steve Christy.
They exchange introductions.
STEVE: Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake. (nods to Brenda) This is Brenda.
BRENDA: Hi. (to Steve) Cabin B's all ready.
STEVE: Where's Bill? Has he finished clearing out the boathouse?
BRENDA: (shrugs) I haven't seen him in the past half hour.
STEVE: Well, I want him to start painting right away. (to newcomers) You got some grubby clothes? Climb into 'em. (beat) Well, c'mon! Let's go!
Steve runs off to start on another chore, leaving the quartet alone with Brenda.
TED: He neglected to mention that downtown they call this place Camp Blood.
SANDRA: Next you're going to tell us there're poisonous snakes in the outhouse. And crocodiles.
JEFF: No, the crocodiles are in the cabinets!
BRENDA: C'mon, I'll show you where you can get changed.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — SHORE — DAY
Finished at the boathouse, broad-shouldered, curly-haired BILL is taking a light break, standing on the shore with his hands in his pockets, watching the placid lake waters sparkle under the sun.
PROWLER'S P.O.V. — BILL
Sneaking through the woods, the Prowler spies Bill standing on the shore. Taking care not to be heard or seen, it begins slowly closing the distance between itself and him.
As Brenda comes traipsing through the trees, the Prowler stops and hurriedly ducks behind a tree.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — SHORE — DAY
Bills turns around as Brenda makes her presence known.
BRENDA: Steve said for you to start on the boats.
BILL: Alright. (beat) Brenda, the others show up?
BRENDA: Yeah, everyone.
BILL: You think they're gonna last all summer?
BRENDA: (laughs) I don't know if they're gonna last all week!
PROWLER'S P.O.V. — BILL & BRENDA
As Bill and Brenda leave, the Prowler watches them go, still hiding behind its tree.
INT. EQUIPMENT SHED — DAY
The door to the pitch black shed opens, revealing a dark silhouetted figure standing there. As the figure steps inside and turns on the light, we see that it is Jeff.
As Jeff begins looking around, in search of something amongst all the lanterns and cans of fuel and hibachis, he comes across a half-dozen hunting knives, all sheathed, hung up neatly upon one of the walls.
PROWLER'S P.O.V. — EQUIPMENT SHED
The Prowler has wandered deeper into the camp. Concealed in some spot safe from direct observation, it observes the shed with the door standing open and inviting.
INT. EQUIPMENT SHED — DAY
As Jeff continues his search, a new human silhouette fills the door behind him. Slowly, the owner of this silhouette steps inside and walks up to Jeff. Reaching out, it lays a hand on Jeff's shoulder. Startled, Jeff whirls around, chainsaw in hand. It is only Sandra.
SANDRA: (nods to knives) What are those for? An Indian raid?
JEFF: Steve's got a wood lore program.
SANDRA: You see any life rings?
Looking behind some piled up equipment, Jeff quickly finds two ring buoys.
JEFF: Here.
PROWLER'S P.O.V. — EQUIPMENT SHED
Sandra and Jeff leave the shed, buoys and chainsaw in tow. The Prowler watches them go, then leaves itself, creeping over to the Arts & Crafts cabin.
INT. ARTS & CRAFTS CABIN — DAY
A one-room cabin, there are a few easels set up here-and-there, though the interior is dominated by long tables and rough-hewn benches for the most part. Alice, hair held up in a bandana, is busy sweeping the dusty floor.
PROWLER'S P.O.V. — ALICE
Looking in through one of the cabin's dirty windows, the Prowler spies on Alice, whose back is turned to it.
INT. ARTS & CRAFTS CABIN — DAY
Alice stops her sweeping. Feeling as if she's been watched, she spins around. The windows behind her are all blank.
As Alice turns back 'round, Bill enters the cabin.
ALICE: (startled) AH!
BILL: God! Sorry!
Alice just laughs it off.
BILL: I'm Bill. (offers hand) You're Alice, right?
ALICE: (shakes hand) I'm Alice, right. (beat) Did you want something?
Bill points to one of the tables, atop which is lined several newly arrived, sealed cardboard boxes.
BILL: Steve wants me to take inventory.
ALICE: Oh, by all means….
Crossing over to the table, Bill takes out a pocketknife and cuts open one of the boxes. Fishing out the invoice, he then consults his list of items. Alice resumes sweeping.
BILL: Where're you from, Alice?
ALICE: California.
BILL: What inspired a Californian girl like you to come to the sticks?
ALICE: Why so curious?
BILL: (smiles) Just am.
ALICE: I wanted to make a change.
BILL: Just that? A change?
ALICE: (cocks eyebrow) Does a Californian girl need a better reason?
BILL: (shrugs) I can live with that answer.
The two return to their silent chores.
BILL: So ...
ALICE: What?
BILL: Aren't you going to ask for my life story?
Alice puts a hand on her hip, nonplussed. Bill just cocks an eyebrow and gives a sly smile.
ALICE: (grins) Alright. What's your story?
BILL: Not much to tell. I'm from Tacoma; my dad's an investment banker and I have five brothers and a sister.
Alice finds something in the way Bill relates his nondescript background funny. She laughs.
BILL: (grins) What?
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — ARCHERY RANGE — DAY
Brenda, sleeves rolled up, rolls a straw target out from under the lean-to shelter and heads for a tripod in the middle distance.
She lifts the heavy target up, her head close to the face of the target. As she gets it up, leaning back as the tripod take the weight, an arrow streaks into the centre of the gold, missing her head by inches.
Brenda whips around. Standing by the lean-to is a very cocky Ted, a bow in his hands and a feather in his hair.
BRENDA: (startled) Are you crazy‽
NED: (nocks two arrows) Wanna see my trick shot? It's even better.
BRENDA: (incredulous) I don't believe you!
Pulling the arrow out of the target, she storms towards him.
BRENDA: Did you come up here to help me or to scare me to death‽
NED: (imitating Bogart) Ya know, you're beautiful when you're angry, sweetheart.
BRENDA: (laughs) Yeah? If you do that again, I'm gonna tack you up on the wall to dry!
NED: God, but I love that sexy talk.
Snatching the bow from him, Brenda places it down next to the collection of arrows.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — SHORE — DAY
It is now late afternoon — close to the golden hour — yet everyone is still hard at work. Carrying a wooden swim raft, Steve and his six employees carry it across the shore down to the lake. After getting the raft on the lake, they drag it away from the shore, anchor it in place, then return to dry land.
STEVE: (looks at sky) Let's call it a day.
Everyone is relieved to hear that.
INT. MAIN CABIN/DINING ROOM — SUNSET
Steve, Bill, Brenda, Jeff, Sandra, and Ted are arranged around the rectangular dining table, poised over their empty place mats, eagrely anticipating their dinner.
INT. MAIN CABIN/KITCHEN — SUNSET
The kitchen and the dining room are really one in the same room, cut off by a partition. The kitchen has a couple of sinks, a heavy old stove, long shelves, a pantry/larder, and some windows which look out on the rear.
Alice has finished placing tonight's dinner on the seven plates: steak and mashed potatoes for herself, Sandra and the boys, mashed potatoes and a salad for Brenda. With practiced expertise, Alice takes up six of the dishes and balances them on both her arms.
INT. MAIN CABIN/DINING ROOM — SUNSET
Alice saunters up to the table laden with the plates. Without fumbling, she distributes each of the plates to their respective diners.
ALICE: Dinner is served.
SANDRA: (impressed) I see cooking is only one of your many talents.
ALICE: (smiles) My father runs a restaurant out of Concord. He had me waiting tables since I was twelve.
TED: You've got to teach me how you do it.
JEFF: Don't you have enough tricks in your little bag?
TED: (points at Sandra) That's what she said.
Taking a forkful of mashed potato, Jeff scores a direct hit in Ted’s eye.
STEVE: (raises hand) Okay, okay. There'll be enough opportunity for food fights once the campers arrive, alright?
Alice returns to the kitchen. In less than a minute she returns with her own plate and takes a seat between Brenda and Bill.
STEVE: Bow your heads. Let's say grace.
Some of the newcomers appear perturbed by Steve's request.
STEVE: (half-smiles) Kidding. How about a toast?
JEFF: What should we toast to?
STEVE: Let's make a toast to Camp Crystal Lake's grand reopening. (raises glass) To Camp Crystal Lake.
Everyone takes their glass of water and makes the toast. Alice notices that Brenda only half-heartedly makes the toast, looking none too enthusiastic while doing so.
INT. MAIN CABIN/STEVE & BRENDA'S BEDROOM — NIGHT
Steve and Brenda have retired to their shared bedroom for the night. Steve, having already stripped down to his underwear, checks himself out in the dresser mirror while Brenda gets out of her clothes and into a nightgown.
STEVE: What do you think of our new hands?
BRENDA: I'm trying not to.
STEVE: (turns to Brenda) You still want to leave.
BRENDA: It would be best for everybody.
STEVE: You may not care a lot about this place, Brenda, but I mean to make it my whole life. It's been my whole life.
BRENDA: Precisely why I'm leaving. This obsession of yours with the Christy family curse nonsense — I've tried to live with it, to make peace with it. I'm at my wit's end.
STEVE: Don't be ridiculous. You know perfectly well there isn't any curse.
BRENDA: That's right. I know it perfectly well and you know it perfectly well, so why isn't that enough? Why do you have to prove it to the people in this town? Who cares what they think?
STEVE: It isn't that. You don't understand —
BRENDA: (interrupts) And I never will. (beat) For heaven's sake, Steve, write it off. Put the camp up for sale, cut your losses, and let's do something with our lives.
STEVE: I can't.
BRENDA: Then I'm taking that Monday bus out of town and you'll never see me again.
Brenda turns away from Steve. Approaching her, he rests his hands on her shoulders.
STEVE: Gimme another chance. Stay another week. Next Friday, if you're still not happy, I'll put you on the bus myself. I'll be grateful.
Brenda turns to face her lover. She looks into his eyes, searching for a future together, but can make nothing out.
BRENDA: I'll think about it. You'll have an answer Sunday.
STEVE: Thanks, Brenda.
Brenda turns off the light and climbs into bed. As Steve goes to removes his briefs, she raises a hand.
BRENDA: Leave them on.
Steve complies. With his nether regions still hidden, he climbs under the covers with her. He puts his arm over her; she is unresponsive.
INT. ALICE'S CABIN — NIGHT
Alice is her one-room cabin, nestled under the covers of her slim bed. Asleep, her face is serene, innocent as a child's.
CHILD: (O.S.) Help me….
The voice, light, in the distance, almost inaudible, rouses Alice from her rest.
CHILD: (O.S.; cont'd) Help me….
Frowning, Alice pushes the covers aside and rises from her mattress.
EXT. CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE — ALICE'S CABIN — NIGHT
Alice steps outside and looks about. Very little can be made out in the darkness.
CHILD: (O.S.; cont'd) Help me!
ALICE: Hello?
CHILD: (O.S.; cont'd) Over here! Please, somebody, help me!
The voice appears to be coming from the woods. Leaving her cabin, Alice begins walking towards the trees.
ALICE: (worried) Hello? Hello‽
CHILD: (O.S.; cont'd) Come quickly! Please, come quickly! Help me!
ALICE: Where are you‽ Hello‽
EXT. FOREST — NIGHT
Alice is in the woods now, the camp grounds already obscured in the trees behind her. She begins running, heedless of the rough terrain under her bare feet. The child continues crying out for help.
ALICE: (frantic) Where are you‽
Eventually Alice stops, exhausted, panting, eyes bulging. The forest surrounds her on all sides, seemingly endless and impenetrable, the cries of the child falling upon her ears from all directions.
ALICE: (crying) Annie!
INT. ALICE'S CABIN — NIGHT
Alice bolts upright in bed.
Breathing rapidly, she looks about her. She is back in her cabin and back in her bed. The child crying out to her, her fruitless search through the forest — all just a terrifying nightmare.