Script Analysis - Scream

FADE IN

ON A RINGING TELEPHONE.

A hand reaches for it, bringing the receiver up to the face
of CASEY BECKER, a young girl, no more than sixteen.  A
friendly face with innocent eyes.

		CASEY
	Hello.

		MAN'S VOICE
		(from phone)
	Hello.

Silence.

		CASEY
	Yes.

		MAN
	Who is this?

		CASEY
	Who are you trying to reach?

		MAN
	What number is this?

		CASEY
	What number are you trying to reach?

		MAN
	I don't know.

		CASEY
	I think you have the wrong number.

		MAN
	Do I?

		CASEY
	It happens. Take it easy.

CLICK! She hangs up the phone.  The CAMERA PULLS BACK to
reveal Casey in a living room, alone.  She moves from the
living room to the kitchen.  It's a nice house.  Affluent.

The phone RINGS again.

INT.  KITCHEN

Casey grabs the portable.

		CASEY
	Hello.

		MAN
	I'm sorry. I guess I dialed the wrong number.

		CASEY
	So why did you dial it again?

		MAN
	To apologize.

		CASEY
	You're forgiven. Bye now.

		MAN
	Wait, wait, don't hang up.

Casey stands in front of a sliding glass door.  It's pitch
black outside.

		CASEY
	What?

		MAN
	I want to talk to you for a second.

		CASEY
	They've got 900 numbers for that. Seeya.

CLICK!  Casey hangs up.  A grin on her face.

EXT.  CASEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING

A big country home with a huge sprawling lawn full of big
oak trees.  It sits alone with no neighbors in sight.

The phone RINGS again.

INT.  KITCHEN

Popcorn sizzles in a pot on the stove.  Casey covers it with
a lid, reaching for the portable phone.

		CASEY
	Hello.

		MAN
	Why don't you want to talk to me?

		CASEY
	Who is this?

		MAN
	You tell me your name, I'll tell you mine.

		CASEY
		(shaking the popcorn)
	I don't think so.

		MAN
	What's that noise?

Casey smiles, playing along, innocently.

		CASEY
	Popcorn.

		MAN
	You're making popcorn?

		CASEY
	Uh-huh.

		MAN
	I only eat popcorn at the movies.

		CASEY
	I'm getting ready to watch a video.

		MAN
	Really? What?

		CASEY
	Just some scary movie.

		MAN
	Do you like scary movies?

		CASEY
	Uh-huh.

		MAN
	What's your favorite scary movie?

He's flirting with her.  Casey moves away from the stove and
takes a seat at the kitchen counter, directly in front of
the glass door.

		CASEY
	I don't know.

		MAN
	You have to have a favorite.

Casey thinks for second.

		CASEY
	Uh...HALLOWEEN. You know, the one with the
	guy with the white mask who just sorta walks around
	and stalks the baby sitters. What's yours?

		MAN
	Guess.

		CASEY
	Uh...NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

		MAN
	Is that the one where the guy had knives
	for fingers?

		CASEY
	Yeah...Freddy Krueger.

		MAN
	Freddy-that's right. I liked that movie.
	It was scary.

		CASEY
	The first one was, but the rest sucked.

		MAN
	So, you gotta boyfriend?

		CASEY
		(giggling)
	Why? You wanna ask me out?

		MAN
	Maybe. Do you have a boyfriend?

		CASEY
	No.

		MAN
	You never told me your name.

Casey smiles, twirling her hair.

		CASEY
	Why do you want to know my name?

		MAN
	Because I want to know who I'm looking
	at.

Casey spins around like lightning facing the glass door.

		CASEY
	What did you say?

		MAN
	I want to now who I'm talking to.

		CASEY
	That's not what you said.

		MAN
	What do you think I said?

Casey CLICKS on the outside light.  A flood light
illuminates the backyard.  Her eyes survey the grounds.  But
it's empty.  No one's there.  She turns the light out.

On the stove, the popcorn POPS.

		CASEY
	I have to go now.

		MAN
	Wait...I thought we were gonna go out.

		CASEY
	Nah, I don't think so...

		MAN
	Don't hang up on me.

		CASEY
	Gotta go.

		MAN
	Don't...

CLICK!  Casey hangs up.  She checks the glass door making
sure it's locked and then moves to the stove as...

THE PHONE RINGS.

She slides the popcorn from the stove, reaching for the
phone.

		CASEY
	Yes?

		MAN
	I told you not to hang up on me.

		CASEY
	What do you want?

		MAN
	To talk.

		CASEY
	Dial someone else, okay?

		MAN
	You getting scared?

		CASEY
	No-bored.

CLICK.  She hangs up.  The phone RINGS again.  She grabs it.