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Trepidation
by Chase Carpenter (chasecarpenter@comcast.net)

Rated: R   Genre: Horror   User Review: **1/2
A 70's style horror with a new age twist. A short 10 minute film style for a local festival


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



TREPIDATION

FADE IN:

INT. LARGE BUILDING MIDDLE OF WOODS - NIGHT
                                                            
                       NATE
      (whispers to
       himself)
This can't be happening... This
can not be happening. It is a
dream Nate, it is all a Dream.
                                                            
NATE PEEKS AROUND THE SIDE OF BARN. MEGAN IS CURLED, CRYING
                                                            
                       NATE
      (relieved)
Megan, where the hell did everyone
go?
                                                            
MEGAN CRIES HARDER
                                                            
                       NATE
      (holding megan)
Megan it's me Nate. Everything is
going to be ok. Where did everyone
else go?...Megan!
                                                            
AS MEGAN LOOKS UP HER SADNESS TURNS TO COMPLETE FRIGHT
                                                            
SCREEN QUICKLY GOES BLACK AND A SCREAM IS HEARD
                                                            
 
INT. PAN OF A SCHOOL - DAY
                                                            
CAMERA PANS IN SCHOOL AS THE BELL RINGS AND EVERYONE LEAVES
                                                            
LANDS ON JOHN AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, THEIR CONVO RISES
                                                            
                       JOHN
      (cockily)
Yeah well, I have practice first.
Regionals are coming up and coach
is being an asshole
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (up-beat)
O.k. hun. I have to go study with
Nathan anyway. Just give me a call
when you are going to pick me up.
                                                            

2.

                       JOHN
      (under his breath,
       disgusted)
Why do you hang out with that
loser?
                                                            
MEGANS GLARE PIERCES THROUGH JOHN
                                                            
                       JOHN
      (apologetically)
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. He is just
kind of weird thats all.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Well weird is a good thing
sometimes John.
                                                            
AS THEY KEEP WALKING CAMERA FOCUSES ON ABBY WALKING OPPOSITE
                                                            
CAMERA FOLLOWS ABBY WHO IS READING AND ALONE
                                                            
ABBY RUNS INTO JENNY BY MISTAKE
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (sarcastically)
Oh, I'm sorry.
                                                            
JENNY AND HER FRIENDS SQUARE OFF TO ABBY
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (ditzy)
Well maybe you should watch where
you are going next time Angie.
                                                            
                       ABBY
My name i... It's not even worth
it.
                                                            
ABBY WALKS AWAY READING, ADAM COMES UP TO THE GIRLS
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (trying to be cool)
What's up ladies, you from out of
town?
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (angrily)
Eh, not in a million years
                                                            
JENNY AND FRIENDS WALK OFF. NATE COMES UP TO ADAM
                                                            
                       NATE
Maybe next time eh bro?
                                                            

3.

                       ADAM
      (still trying to
       be cool)
Maybe next time? She totally wants
me. You will learn some day Nate,
they play hard to get.
                                                            
                       NATE
Oh, yeah hopefully I will.
                                                            
SCENE FADES AS ADAM WALKS AWAY WITH NATE CLOSE BEHIND
                                                            
 
INT. BASEMENT COMPUTER ROOM - DAY
                                                            
MEGAN COMES IN. SNEAKS UP AND PUSHES NATE
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (sneaking up
       behind nate)
What's up loser?
                                                            
                       NATE
      (shyly)
Oh, ha. Hey megan. How are you?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (sits on couch)
I am fine. John has practice
though, so lets make this quick.
How about chemistry?
                                                            
                       NATE
      (lightening up)
Yeah Yeah. Ok. What cha...
                                                            
BEFORE NATE CAN FINISH, THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND GO OUT
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (jokingly)
Umm, what the was that?
                                                            
THE LIGHTS GO BACK ON REVEALING AN EMPTY SPOT WHERE NATE WAS
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (a little scared)
Hey, Nate?
                                                            

4.

NO ANSWER
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (still scared)
Nate, stop playing around. Where
are you?
                                                            
MEGAN GETS UP, WALKS AROUND TO HALL TO FIND AN OPEN DOOR
                                                            
MEGAN WALKS UP QUIETLY TO THE DOOR, AND RIGHT AS SHE STARTS
                                                            
TO GO AROUND
                                                            
                       NATE
      (suprising Megan)
Well, I don't know what that was
all about.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (startled)
Dammit Nate. You scared the hell
out of me. Where did you go?
                                                            
                       NATE
      (apologetic)
Oh I'm sorry. I went to check the
fuse box. For some reason it got
turned off...
                                                            
DOORBELL RINGS
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (happily)
Oh! That's probably John. I'll see
you tomorrow.
                                                            
AS THE TWO WALK UPSTAIRS A DARK FIGURE IS SEEN IN BACKGROUND
                                                            
 
INT. BUSY CAFE AROUND NOON - DAY
                                                            
NATE IN CAFE BY A POSTER IS WATCHING LONGINGLY
                                                            
MEGAN WALKS UP BEHIND NATE
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (cheering nate up)
You can come with John and I if
you want. We aren't gonna stay the
whole time. Just show up, be seen
and leave.
                                                            

5.

                       NATE
      (hiding his
       excitment)
Oh, I wouldn't want to be a bother
to you guys. Something tells me
John doesn't like me very much.
                                                            
JOHN WALKS UP
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (to john)
Nate is going to be joining us at
Jenny's party
                                                            
JOHN REALIZING IT IS AN ORDER NOT A CHOICE
                                                            
                       JOHN
      (hiding his anger)
Yeah ok. Your welcome to come dude
                                                            
                       NATE
      (excited)
OK, if you guys really don't mind.
I'll tag along
                                                            
AS THEY WALK AWAY CAMERA ZOOMS IN ON THE POSTER
                                                            
AFTER A PAUSE, THE POSTER IS SNATCHED BY GLOVED HAND
                                                            
 
INT. LARGE HOUSE PARTY - NIGHT
                                                            
JOHN AND MEGAN ARE IN BACKGROUND. NATE IS ON COUCH ALONE
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (handing john a
       drink)
Stop being so depressing Nate.
This is your time to get out
socially. That girl Abby over
there looks like she came alone.
Go for it
                                                            
                       JOHN
      (drunk as hell)
Yeha duude,go furit.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (mockingly)
I need to go watch this one. You
have a chance Nate. Take it
                                                            

6.

NATE FLIPS HAIR AND GOES OVER TO OTHER COUCH. SITS BY ABBY
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (running up to
       Nate)
Nate we gotta get out of here.
Cops are on their way. Someone
ratted the party out.
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (not even looking
       at nate)
Don't even try it.
                                                            
                       NATE
      (jokingly)
Man, shes good. I didn't even say
anything. One thing. Why did you
show up?
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (still staring at
       wall)
The best place to get a good laugh
on a Friday night is at a high
school party. Especially when
there are drinks.
                                                            
                       NATE
Yeah I guess your right.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (running up to
       Nate)
Nate we gotta get out of here.
Neighbors called the cops, they
are on their way. Come on, Abby
you can come with. We are going
back in the woods
                                                            
THE FOUR INCLUDING A DRUNK JOHN, RUN OUT THE BACK INTO WOODS
                                                            
SIRENS ARE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND
                                                            
THE GROUP LED BY MEGAN FINDS A SPOT BEHIND SOME BUSHES
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (to the group)
Ok everyone, just stay down and
don't speak... Wait, where the
hell is John?
                                                            

7.

EVERYONE LOOKS AROUND FRANTICALLY
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (calming herself
       down)
He must have gotten picked up by
one of his friends or something.
Just stay here everyone.
                                                            
AFTER A FEW MINUTES, A LARGE SPOT LIGHT SCANS THE WOODS
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (trying to hide
       her fear)
We can't stay here... We have to
keep going.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (disappointed)
Dammit. You're right. Come on
everyone, lets go
                                                            
EVERYONE TURNS TO LEAVE, THE GROUP GOES FARTHER AND FARTHER
                                                            
SUDDENLY A MANS SCREAM IS HEARD
                                                            
                       NATE
      (scared)
What the hell was that?
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (scared)
I don't want to know
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (trying to stay
       positive)
Let's go find out.
                                                            
THE GROUP WALKS TOWARDS THE PAINFUL SCREAMS TO FIND ADAM AND
                                                            
JENNY. ADAM IS UP AGAINST A TREE HOLDING HIS ARM
                                                            
AS THEY GET CLOSER, ADAMS WORDS BECOME AUDIBLE
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (screaming)
That wasn't the god damn police.
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (freaked out)
It must have been Adam. There is
no other expination.
                                                            

8.

                       ADAM
      (screaming still)
A cop wouldn't try and kill me. A
cop wouldn't kill John. This
person came at me, and swung. I
doged it, but he sliced my arm on
the way out. When I looked back he
was standing over John in the
corner.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (starting to lose
       her confidence)
Wait, John was in there? This guy
wasn't a cop?
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (freaking out)
He says that it was just one guy.
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (calming down a
       bit)
It was just one guy, and he sure
didn't look like he wanted to help
John up.
                                                            
                       NATE
      (just staring at
       his brothers
       bloody arm)
Who could it have been? Why would
he go after you? Was he looking
for us too?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (in a calming
       voice)
Nate calm down. Whether it was the
cops or not, we can't stay here.
Everyone follow me
                                                            
THE GROUP HELPS ADAM UP, AND CONTINUES ON THROUGH THE WOODS
                                                            
 
INT. LARGE BUILDING MIDDLE OF WOODS - NIGHT
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (worried)
Adam has lost a lot of blood. We
should rest here.
                                                            

9.

                       ADAM
      (sarcastically but
       weak)
Aww, you do care
                                                            
JENNY BLUSHES, BUT ABBY INTERVENES
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (losing it)
Stop it you two! Now is not a time
to screw around. Some lunatic just
killed one of our friends, and for
all we know could be after us too!
If we are going to rest make it
quick. We have to find someone who
can help us
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (trying to stay in
       control)
Everyone just relax. Jenny and
Abby you come with me, we will try
and find some help. Nate you stay
with your brother.
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (worried)
What if that person really is
after us? Is it really a good idea
to split-up?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
One way or another we have to find
someone.
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (reassured)
Ok, lets go
                                                            
THE GIRLS GO OFF INTO THE WOODS AGAIN. NATE STAYS WITH ADAM
                                                            
                       NATE
I'm really sorry bro. Can I do
anything for you?
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (cockily)
Not unless you happen to have some
morphine on you no. I don't know,
you were the boy scout. Make a
fire or something
                                                            

10.

                       NATE
Ok yeah... good, good idea
                                                            
NATE RUNS OFF TO GET WOOD. ADAM WINCES IN PAIN
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (looking around)
This is not what I had in mind for
tonight. Maybe some girls, some
drinks and a good nights sleep.
Instead I get targeted by some
wacko with too much time on his
hands.
                                                            
RIGHT AS ADAM FINISHES, A TWIG SNAPS IN THE WOODS
                                                            
                       ADAM
Nate? Is that you? Did you get
some wood bro?
                                                            
                       ADAM
Nate? Is that you? Did you get
some wood bro?
                                                            
NO ONE ANSWERS
                                                            
                       ADAM
      (scared, louder)
Nate? Nate is that yergghhhh
                                                            
BEFORE ADAM CAN FINISH, A LARGE HAND COMES DOWN AND GRABS
                                                            
ADAM'S NECK STRANGLING HIM, THEN THROWING HIM TO THE GROUND
                                                            
CAMERA ZOOMS OUT AS NATE COMES OUT OF FOREST WITH WOOD
                                                            
                       NATE
I guess that survival stuff was
actually usefu...
                                                            
NATE LOOKS UP AND SEES HIS DEAD BROTHER BEFORE HE CAN FINISH
                                                            
                       NATE
      (horrified)
Adam? ADAM!
                                                            
NATE DROPS WOOD AND RUNS TO HIS BROTHER'S SIDE
                                                            
                       NATE
      (calm but
       disturbed)
Adam, don't you be dead... Don't
you be dead dammit.
                                                            

11.

CAMERA FADES AS NATE HOLDS ADAMS HEAD IN HIS LAP
                                                            
 
INT. DESERTED ROAD - NIGHT
                                                            
                       ABBY
      (hysterically)
Someone has to come along, soon
someone will come and this will
all be over
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (losing it)
Abby we all have to calm down. We
don't know who or why this guy is
coming after us, and even if we do
find someone we have nothing to
tell them
                                                            
                       JENNY
She's right. What are we going to
say, Some guy killed one of our
friends and now is after us but we
don't know why or what he looks
like? They will think we are
crazy.
                                                            
REALIZING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION EVERYONE IS QUIET
                                                            
AFTER AWHILE A CAR IS HEARD IN THE DISTANCE
                                                            
ALL THE GIRLS STAND UP AND RUN INTO THE ROAD SCREAMING
                                                            
THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND STOPS ABOUT A MILE AWAY
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (confused)
What the hell is this guy doing?
Why did he stop?
                                                            
THE ENGINE IN THE CAR REV'S LOUDLY
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (screaming)
I don't think he wants to help us!
                                                            
AS THE GIRLS TURN TO RUN, THE CAR SQUEALS TOWARD THEM
                                                            
JENNY AND MEGAN DIVE INTO WOODS, ABBY FALLS HOLDING ANKLE
                                                            
THE CAR HEADS STRAIGHT FOR ABBY, AT LAST SECOND CAMERA
                                                            

12.

GOES TO ASTONISHED MEGAN AND JENNY AS ABBY SCREAMS
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (screaming)
Oh my god! Jenny come on
                                                            
JENNY STARES BLANKLY FRIGHTENED STIFF
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (pulling jenny)
Jenny come on, there is no chance
for her. We have to get moving
                                                            
JENNY COMES TO, AND THE GIRLS RUN BACK TOWARDS BARN
                                                            
HALFWAY DOWN THE ROAD, JENNY COLAPSES CRYING
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (bawling)
I can't do this anymore! Why did
this happen to us? Why me? Why?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (scared, but
       calming)
I don't know Jenny. I just don't
know. This guy might be crazy, he
might think we are other people,
there are too many possibilites at
this point.
                                                            
                       JENNY
      (still crying)
Can I tell you something Megan?
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Yeah, anything
                                                            
                       JENNY
I'm not what everyone thinks I am.
I'm not some stupid blonde who has
been planning on living off of
Daddy until I find a rich husband.
I want to be independent, I want
to own my own business, I don't
want people to copy my every move.
That's why I looked up to Abby. I
loved that girl. She did what she
wanted when she wanted. I always
dreamed of having her life. Now,
she's gone.
                                                            

13.

                       MEGAN
We all secretly looked up to Abby
Jenn. Sure we didn't talk about it
for fear of our own reputations,
but we all felt it.
                                                            
THE GIRLS GO SILENT
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (standing up)
Come on, we should get going.
                                                            
CAMERA FOLLOWS MEGAN AS SHE TURNS AWAY TO GET UP
                                                            
RUSTLING IS HEARD. MEGAN TURNS AROUND QUICKLY
                                                            
A LARGE MAN IS HOLDING JENNY IN A HEADLOCK. JENNY IS SQUIRMS
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (falling backwards)
It's you... Oh my god, please.
Please don't do it. Jenny did
nothing to hurt you
                                                            
                       MAN
      (disfigured voice)
None of you did anything right?
You are all innocent. Just a few
teenagers having a good time
right? Wrong.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (stumbles to her
       feet)
Please, I don't understand. Just
let her go and we can talk about
this.
                                                            
                       MAN
      (laughing)
Do you know what it is like
playing God? No you don't. He told
me the best way to bring you all
together was a day tainted by
blood. He was right
                                                            
                       MEGAN
Who is he? Please just let her
go... PLEASE
                                                            

14.

THE MAN SMILES AND TWISTS JENNY'S NECK
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (bawling)
NOOOOOO
                                                            
THE MAN DROPS JENNY AND RUNS OFF INTO THE WOODS
                                                            
MEGAN STARES AT JENNY THEN RUNS BACK TOWARDS THE BARN CRYING
                                                            
 
INT. LARGE BUILDING MIDDLE OF WOODS - NIGHT
                                                            
                       NATE
      (whispering to
       himself)
This can't be happening... This
can not be happening. It is a
dream Nate, it is all a Dream.
                                                            
NATE PEEKS AROUND THE SIDE OF BARN. MEGAN IS CURLED, CRYING
                                                            
                       NATE
      (relieved)
Megan, where the hell did everyone
go?
                                                            
MEGAN CRIES HARDER
                                                            
                       NATE
      (holding megan)
Megan it's me Nate. Everything is
going to be ok. Where did everyone
else go?...Megan!
                                                            
AS MEGAN LOOKS UP HER SADNESS TURNS TO HORROR
                                                            
MEGAN SCREAMS AND THE TWO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY OF AN AXE
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (screaming)
It's him! I just saw him kill Abby
and Jenny. Why are you doing this?
                                                            
                       NATE
It wasn't supposed to end up like
this? Why have you taken it this
far?
                                                            
                       MAN
      (voice distorted)
I am just doing what he told me to
                                                            

15.

                       MEGAN
      (still backing up
       with nate)
What are you talking about Nate?
                                                            
                       NATE
      (As the two back
       up to a wall)
There wasn't supposed to be any
killing. He was supposed to just
get us together.
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (astonished)
What the hell have you done Nate?
You set this up? What the hell are
you thinking?
                                                            
                       NATE
      (pleading)
It wasn't supposed to go this far,
only enough to scare everyone away
so I and save you and we could be
together
                                                            
MEGAN SLAPS NATE HARD. NATE GRABS HIS FACE
                                                            
                       MEGAN
      (yelling at nate)
You hired this freak, you did this
Nate? I can't believe you! I hate
you Nate! I hate you!
                                                            
                       NATE
      (getting mad)
If that is how you want it then
fine. We could have been perfect
together. We could of had
something real. But no. You went
along with John that oaf. I didn't
want this to happen
                                                            
THE MAN GRABS MEGAN BY THE THROAT, AND LIFTS HER IN THE AIR
                                                            
THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON NATE THROUGH MEGANS DANGLING FEET
                                                            
AS NATE TURNS AWAY, MEGAN FALLS AND A MANS SCREAM IS HEARD
                                                            
NATE SPINS TO FIND HIS MAN WITH AN AXE IN HIS BACK
                                                            
                       NATE
      (suprised)
What the hell?
                                                            

16.

                       ADAM
      (crawling to his
       feet)
You're sick friend forgot to make
sure I was dead. Why the hell
would you do this? How could you
do this to your best friend? Let
alone me. You're not my brother
anymore. You're nothing to me.
                                                            
ADAM PICKS UP MEGAN AND LIMPS OFF DOWN THE PATH
                                                            
ONLY NATE'S OUTLINE CAN BE SEEN, RAISING A HAND TO HIS HEAD
                                                            
THE SCREEN GOES BLACK AND A GUNSHOT IS HEARD
                                                            


THE END


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From Jackson Date 12/7/2007 0 stars
This was really bad. Of course no one saw the twist coming because it doesn't make any sense what so ever. Also, the format was all wrong. You don't write how the actor says each line. If you write well, the actors will figure it out themselves. Also, you used the wrong option for writing direction.

From james payton Date 4/4/2006 ****
wow good job! I liked the story and the characters.

From Stefan Smith Date 2/28/2006 ****
It was pretty good, but for now worry about the story, leave the camera angle stuff for later, I felt you spent more time on that then trying to devolop the story.

From rob Date 2/16/2006 **
ok, nothing special. grammar and spelling needs work. Too much on the nose dialogue. Some suspenseful parts, definitely needs a re-write and make it longer for a full length movie which will allow for character development.

From Glenn Date 2/16/2006 *1/2
Its another horror story where a variety of 1 dimensioal characters are picked off for some reason. I am a horror fan but there was many different ways you could have improved it. There is a lot missing as it seems to jump around alot and you really dont understand the characters, as you havent explained them properly. The structure was very good, just needs alot of improvment.

From Christopher Date 2/16/2006 ****
That was realy good! A good short film perfect twist at the end, I didn't see that coming!!!

From Julio Weigend Date 2/15/2006 1/2
Your story is somewhat good and you have few spelling errors, but you need to study on how to write a screenplay. Even with Scriptbuddy you still managed to mess up the format of your script. DON'T write the actions in caps. And sluglines (scene headings) merely tell the place we're in (Example: INT. HOUSE-DAY), not character emotions. Charaters, emotions (could be written in one or two words in parenthesis in the dialogue if you like) and actions are described in the action paragraphs. And just a suggestion, but maybe you should try lengthing it a bit after you correct your mistakes.

From Spencer LaPray Date 2/15/2006 ****
Um, its fairly good... but it's not even long enough to be a half hour T.V. episode, get more story, more plot and it'll be a lot better. A typical screenplay for a movie runs 95-114 pages so ya... call it a first try.. i'm not sure, but keep trying cause it is not quite long enough, just brain storm more ideas to make it longer.


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