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Cast of Characters:

Age 21:

Anne Mayberry: White Wolf. She is tough, quiet, and always fighting with Taylor. She is the reluctant of the group, always regretting her past. Smart and cunning as well as brave and loyal.

Taylor McAlister: Blue Half-Dragon. He is tough, resilient, and always fighting with Anne. He is the die-hard member of the "conspirators" and doesn't want to admit he's wrong or the cause of problems. He is strong but reckless.

Kristin Moore: Black/Red Fox. She is calm, quiet, and has little to say about everything. Often, she is missing from action, causing others to question where she is.

Joshua Dorn: Black Wolf. He is smart, wise at times, and always hungry. He is a great thinker and doer when he isn't hungry, but he is always hungry or at least, always wanting to eat.

Jim Meadows: Caucasian Human. Jim is lusty, easily convinced, and in love with Danielle at the start. He is a terrible actor, though nobody will admit it to his face because he is always willing to fight anybody who says so.

Alex Graves: African Lion. He is a painter, a dreamer, and sometimes quiet. He wonders why nobody will help him do the things they could be doing themselves, finding himself at the wrong place at the wrong time sometimes. He is Corbin's twin.

Corbin Graves: African Lion. He is cool, emotional, and usually aggressive. He is in love with Maria, despite the gender difference, and is sometimes mean to her as well. He is Alex's twin.

Maria Otronto: Hispanic Human. She is outspoken, not a "conspirator", and has no idea what is going on at first. She is calculating, tragic (think Greek drama), and in love with Corbin. Despite their differences and their occasional fights, she is loyal to him and loves him still.

Danielle Newby: African Human. She is in love with music, Jim, and parties. She often is called for to fix things because she is the "Mr. Fix-It" usually around. She is lusty, busty, and occasionally immature.

Dusty Henderson: Black/Grey Bull. He was innocent, quiet, and faithful. He was then sent to death row and has waited for five years. Now he is calculating, sadistic, and completely evil. He wants his revenge on the "eight little actors" who set him up.

Age 29:

Christine Williams: Blue Wolf. She is determined to an extent to finish the play's final rehearsal, but never gets along with Dustin, the other director. She easily loses interest in the play, but when things go wrong, she becomes alert.

Age 32:

Dustin Grimsley: Blue-violet Bull. He is determined to finish the play more than anybody else. He is the lead director and the leader of the group within the auditorium. He is stubborn and ignorant of people's feelings or wants.

Age 50:

Renaldo Davenport: Red Half-Dragon. He is creepy, mysterious, and all-knowing, but he never uses his knowledge to help anyone. He remembers everything and is always busy cleaning the floors somehow or other. Plainly speaking, he just creeps everyone out.

Others:

Officer Grey: Age, 30. She is a grey/blue Husky. She is also a cop who comes to the survivors at the end.

Doctor Quinn: Age 54. He is an Asian Human. He always delivers bad news and is a doctor.

News Reporters: Humans of various descents that report the story that unfolds at the beginning.

Judge/Jury: The Judge is an Mountain Lion and the Jury are anything and everything. They handle the trial of Henderson.

1: Murder in Misty Falls

We open seeing the TV turn on. The person watching television, unseen, flips until the news comes on. The lady on TV is in front of a large building. The audio comes in at this point as we hear "Opening Theme" begin.

Reporter 1: Ron, I'm being told that the Misty Falls production of The Conspiracy is under a complete and utter stop at the moment. The reasons are unknown, but some witnesses have claimed that the school is locked from the inside and gunshots have been reported.

The TV flips channels to another news station. There is an older man in front of the same building from a different angle.

Reporter 2: The chief of police has just told me that there were indeed shots fired inside the auditorium only a few moments ago. Not many people are inside, Karen, but it is certain that the ones who are inside are in grave danger and probably imminent death unless the police can get inside.

We see the next reporter, who is running from the site as shots ring out behind them inside the building. He still reports the news as he runs.

Reporter 3: Oh, my God! Shots have been fired and the police are going to check out what is happening right now. (panting) I'm seeing the policemen head up to the main entrance and are about to break down the door. They're inside and all we can do is wait now.

We cut to the inside of the auditorium, where a small squad of policemen, fully armed, enter cautiously and begin to sweep the area. We see them approach the stage. There is a body on the floor with its head smashed open, almost as if it had fallen from a balcony. There are several bodies on the stage, many of them with bullet holes in their bodies. One officer gags on the smell of the bodies. One body is seen underneath the stage almost as if it had been thrown down there. Several more are backstage and in various positions. All of the bodies are filled with bullet holes. We cut to the top of the ropes where the only live person is climbing up a rope towards the top of the stage weights, fearing he may be killed. Dusty Henderson sees the cops and slips off of the rope, crashing into one of the cops and mortally wounding him. The other four cops all turn and place their sights on him, ready to fire. We see Henderson raise his hands in innocence.

Chief of Police: Put your hands up where I can see them! Do it now!

Henderson: I am! I am! (scared as he raises his hands) Please don't shoot me! I'm innocent!

Police Officer: Who did this son? Who killed all these people?

Henderson: (incoherent mumbling for a moment before) He killed himself. He fell out of the balcony.

Chief of Police: Here now, kid. What's your name?

Henderson: Dusty Henderson.... I was the crew manager in the play.

Chief of Police: Well, Mr. Henderson, we're going to take you to a hospital. We'll continue interrogation following your release. (he picks up Henderson) Come on, son. Walk with me.

Henderson: Is it all over, sir?

Chief of Police: Son, it'll be all over soon. Let's get you to a hospital now, shall we?

Henderson: Okay.

All of the policemen and Henderson exit. We see Reporter 1 again.

Reporter 1: I just saw the police carrying an injured man out of the auditorium, Ron. The man says his name is Dusty Henderson. He claims to be innocent and that the killer is dead now. The motives and victims of this crime are not yet determined; we'll keep you posted. (music ends)

2: Betrayal/The Conspiracy

We fade to a courtroom with everybody inside of it rising as the Bailiff calls for it.

Bailiff: All rise for the honorable Judge Martin.

The Judge comes in and sits down.

The Judge: You may be seated. What is the case that has been brought before me today?

The Plaintiff and his Attorney stand as the Attorney replies.

Attorney: Your Honor, this is my client Edward Griggs. He is here with me today to-

The Judge: I repeat. What is this case that I am handling today?

Attorney: The case of Griggs v. Henderson, your Honor.

The Judge: (reading his papers) I see. Henderson, approach the bench.

Henderson approaches the bench. The Judge looks at him sternly and coldly.

The Judge: How do you plead, Mr. Henderson?

Henderson: Not guilty, your Honor.

The Judge: Do you know of the charges that have been placed upon you?

Henderson: No sir. I was merely told that there would be a trial on the Misty Falls Auditorium Incident.

The Judge: Well, for goodness sake, you should not be here if you didn't know your charges. However, because of your lack of knowledge, I shall reveal them to you now, Mr. Henderson. You are hereby placed under trial for the murder of ten people in the Misty Falls Auditorium on the day of the fourth of May in the year 2003. You have been accused of these ten murders and it is this trial that shall determine your sentencing of guilty or not guilty from a jury of your peers. Do you understand these charges, Mr. Henderson?

Henderson is speechless. He then becomes enraged, wildly yelling about the courtroom.

Henderson: (maniacal) I am innocent! I didn't kill all of those people! I didn't do it!

The Judge attempts to restore order briefly as the guards rush in and subdue Henderson. The Plaintiff and Attorney are rising, but The Judge keeps them seated.

The Judge: Mr. Henderson! I will have you thrown out of this court if you cannot calm yourself immediately!

Henderson: (defensively and angrily) I'm innocent! I'm innocent!

The Judge: It will be decided if you are or not, Mr. Henderson. Calm yourself down this instant or I will throw you out of this court and sentence you accordingly.

Henderson becomes calm, fearing a worse sentence than he deserves. The Judge has the guards release him and Henderson sits. We see Alex, Corbin, Taylor, Kristin, Anne, Josh, Danielle, and Jim in the seats of the courtroom near Henderson. We pan from face to face as we see all of them horrified that their friend is on trial. We cut to the witness stand, which is empty until The Judge calls forth Henderson for his testimony. As he speaks, we see the eight people, now in the Attorney's space as witnesses, converse silently.

Henderson: -I was giving my soda to Harry, the stage manager for the play. He was backstage and thirsty so I got him a drink. We were on our final dress rehearsal before the show and he was busily running around and when he got thirsty he wanted me to get a drink for him. After I handed him the drink, (we focus on the eight people as they converse silently) he thanked me and sent me to the lights booth so that I could tell Kathy, the lights manager, that he wanted to try something different with the lights in this scene.

Attorney: What did he ask you to tell her, exactly?

Henderson: He wanted me to tell her that the lights should move right to left instead of left to right as we had been practicing before. (continuing his story as we focus on him again) Anyways, I got up there and that was when I heard the doors in the back of the theatre open and then guns started going off. The whole cast and crew downstairs were shot all at once and me and Kathy ran to get help, but we found the door was locked so we tried the backstage doors. She got shot in the back of the head and I climbed up the rope to evade being shot at, but-

Attorney: (interrupting sharply) The assailant didn't try to shoot you?

Henderson: I don't guess so; he missed if he had. So I climbed up the rope and when I got halfway up, he shot himself. I never even got to look at his face; I was so busy running from him. When I fell off the rope a few minutes later, I dropped onto one of the police officers investigating the scene.

The Attorney gestures to the eight people as we see a far shot of the courtroom.

Attorney: Mr. Henderson, do you recognize any of these people sitting before you?

Henderson: Yes, sir. I know them all. They were in the Auditorium prior to the shooting. They had all come to wish me luck only a few minutes before the shootings.

Attorney: Thank you Henderson. I rest my case, your Honor.

The Judge: (as we fade to outside the courtroom) The defense shall now-

Outside the courtroom, the eight people are grouped in a huddle talking before they are called to the stage.

Alex: There's no doubt that he had to have done it.

Danielle: Absolutely, Alex. There's no way he's innocent.

Taylor: (thinking hard) I've seen some of his hunting rifles before. They can blast a deer's head clean off from fifty yards.

Alex: I know. I've seen him use it on the hunting trips we've gone on together, right Corbin?

Corbin: Right, Alex. It's obvious he's guilty.

Anne: But we can't prove he's guilty. He's innocent unless we prove him guilty.

Jim: Anne's right. Unless we can make the jury believe he's guilty, he's off the hook-

Josh: (continuing Jim's thoughts) -And he might kill again. Everybody knows Dusty's a little crazy with his guns. He might've taken them to eliminate the whole play's crew and cast.

Anne: But why? He doesn't have a motive.

Taylor: Yeah he does. He hated to go to that play every day. I heard him say he'd kill to not have to go again.

Alex: Right. There's no way anybody would believe that he'd really do it.

Corbin: Alex, you might be right.

Anne: Guys, come on, do we really think he did this?

Danielle: Dusty is insane. Everybody knows that. He's been seen licking some... unsightly earthworms he keeps in his bedroom.

Anne: (disappointed) No way, Danielle. You're lying. He doesn't have any earthworms.

Danielle: (protesting) He did when I was at his house the other day.

Kristin: And besides, Anne, he's always wanted to use his rifle for other than hunting. He's told us all that before when we all went camping together, remember?

Anne: None of this is right. We can't just assume he did kill everyone. We need proof.

Taylor: (sternly) His mental state of mind is in question here, Anne. I believe he's mentally unstable enough to have done any of what he's said so far that he's done.

Josh: Anne, believe me, I know what you mean. There's only one way to convince the jury and judge of his guilt.

Anne: Proof, exactly.

Jim: (shaking his head) No, we have to make the jury feel convinced that he's the killer ourselves.

The more the others talk, the more Anne becomes appalled at their reactions and thoughts. Eventually, Jim comes to a conclusion.

Jim: He's the killer, there's no doubt about that. He's got to be shown as the killer he is.

Anne: How? We can't-

Jim: (finishing her statement) Frame him? That's exactly what we're going to have to do if we want justice to be delivered. Did you see the parents of that young girl who was killed? That Kathy girl's parents were crying so much. Tell me that if he's innocent that justice is served.

Anne: But-

Jim: No, Anne. He's guilty and that's that. Now we all have to make a pact right here and right now that no matter what we do or say in the courtroom, it will be to put Dusty behind bars.

Taylor: (adding quickly) And we'll never let anybody know that we're doing this.

Alex: Why not?

Taylor: Because, you idiot, if anybody knew we were setting it upon ourselves to bring justice in this case, we'd be put on trial and thrown in jail too. Civilians don't make these decisions.

Alex: Then, why are we doing it?

Josh: Because, Alex.

Corbin: It's to prove that Dusty's guilty.

Alex: Oh, I got you now. This is the right thing to do, isn't it?

Danielle: Yes, Alex.

Jim: So who's in this with me? Who's going to take the pact with me?

Alex: I will.

Danielle: I will.

Corbin: I will, too.

Josh: Yeah, I'm in.

Kristin: Me too.

Taylor: Count me in, of course.

After a pause, all look at Anne. She's shaking her head in disagreement.

Anne: No way, you guys. I can't do this to Henderson.

Taylor: Look, Anne, you've got to. If you don't, we can't trust that you won't rat us out.

Anne: (protesting) But this is wrong, you guys!

Taylor: (heading towards her) Anne, listen. It's for the best of the town. If Misty Falls has another massacre because Henderson got off easy, I'm blaming you and so will the rest of us. Now you've got to accept this plot.

Anne: No!

Taylor: (grabbing her arm forcefully) Anne, you have to. (he squeezes his hand on her arm) You've got to do it for Misty Falls.

Anne succumbs to the pain momentarily before she goes back to the group.

Anne: (reluctantly) Fine.... I'm in.

Jim: It's agreed then. We're going to go back in there and we're going to tell the jury and judge the truth behind this incident.

Back in the courtroom, the stories are all compiled together by the eight witnesses.

Jim: Dusty's always been a little crazy in the head. He's never had his right mind in anything. Not even his pets are right. Worms? Who keeps worms?

Cut to Danielle, who continues the story.

Danielle: Especially the one who licks them and eats them? I don't think so. Anybody like Dusty Henderson is capable of doing something like the murders in the auditorium that day.

Alex replaces her in the next shot.

Alex: He once told us that he'd always dreamed of using his hunting rifle for things other than hunting. Nobody believed him then, but I guess now we were wrong to disbelieve him.

Henderson is in shock at the treachery as the stories continue to stack against him. The next shot is seen showing Corbin in the seat.

Corbin: We went to help out with the play that day before the murders. He seemed quite jittery and he seemed to be running around like he was trying to hold everything together. But he's not the stage manager, he's just the janitor. It was odd seeing him respond to Harry and Kathy like he had been part of the crew.

Cut to Kristin, who continues.

Kristin: Then, we left for a few minutes and came back with lunch for him, as he described in his story. The time we spent with him made us all suspicious of him more than we usually are, and that's never.

We cut to Josh, who has finished taking a sip of water.

Josh: It seemed like he was up to something. So we asked him if anything was wrong, but he said nothing was wrong. (takes a sip of water again) So we didn't think anything of it.

Taylor is emotionless and expressionless when we cut to him.

Attorney: Mr. McAlister, can you tell the jury what you did before left exactly?

Taylor: We were backstage helping him to straighten up the ropes which were scattered about from being pulled off their levies and hooks for the play's purposes. He was quiet the whole time, muttering some kind of rhyme to himself.

We cut to Anne and we zoom in slightly as she is in tears, knowing what she is about to say is a lie, but her words cover her sadness. We see Henderson hoping that she'll be able to convince the jury single-handedly. His eyes gleam with hope as she talks.

Anne: (in tears and crying) Your Honor, he was... muttering about death... I heard him saying... "Eight little actors all going to die." He... he had to have murdered them. His actions and motives and opportunity were all perfect for him being able to do that kind of a crime. (she looks sadly at Henderson, still crying and points) He's the killer, everybody! He deserves his punishment!

Henderson is shocked and appalled at every word. As Anne steps down she passes him and he whispers to her.

Henderson: (whispering) Anne... how could you?

Anne: (brushing him off angrily) Shut up, Henderson. You're getting what's coming to you.

Henderson: (softly) But... Anne.

Anne: Henderson, you know you're guilty. (softly and angrily) I know you're guilty too. Just shut up. It'll be easier for me.

Henderson sits back shocked at what she says. We fade to the sentencing.

3: "I'm Innocent!"/Main Titles

Lead Juror enters the court room as The Judge comes over to the stand. "Theme Song" plays as the sentence is read.

The Judge: Has the jury reached a verdict?

Lead Juror: Yes, your Honor. We have. (reading) In the case of Griggs v. Henderson, we, the jury, find Henderson guilty of all ten accounts of first degree murder. We sentence Dusty Henderson to the death penalty by the state of electrocution.

Henderson, who has been sitting calmly all this time, jumps up in protest and anger as the guards grab him and begin to drag him from the courtroom.

Henderson: I'm innocent! I'm innocent! NO! You can't do this to me! I'm innocent!

He passes the eight people and forces the guards to momentarily stop.

Henderson: (furious) You! You all set me up! You all set me up! I'm gonna get you all back! I'm going to kill you myself right now! (he almost breaks free from the guards, but they begin to drag him away) I'm goin' to get you all back! You're all dead! You hear me! You're all dead!

Henderson is taken away as we focus on the eight people; all but Anne are satisfied, but Anne just looks away to avoid getting emotional. The opening credits come on screen one by one as we cut to black. The music and the credits end after the end of the credits.

4: Five Years Later

"Five Years" begins as we see a stop light. Then we pan to a blue SUV with Anne inside of it. The subtitle '5 years later' appears on the screen briefly. A grey Taurus pulls up behind her. She waits on the light to turn green as her cell phone rings. She answers it. We hear Taylor's voice on the other end.

Anne: Hello?

Taylor: (voice-over) Anne, don't hang up.

Anne: (agitated) And why not?

Taylor: (voice-over) 'Cause. I wanted to make sure you knew what was going down tonight. The final dress rehearsal for The Conspiracy, remember?

Anne: (agitated) Don't worry, Taylor, I haven't forgotten about it.

Taylor: (voice-over) Whatever. What's up with you today? You seem angrier than normal.

We see the light turn green and Anne begins to drive off.

Anne: (angrily) Nothing, okay! I'm fine!

Taylor: (voice-over) Sheesh, whatever. See you at the rehearsal tonight, Anne.

Anne hangs up her phone and tosses it into the passenger seat and begins to mumble.

Anne: (muttering) I hate him.

Suddenly, a prison bus makes a sudden and sharp lane change, causing Anne to slam on the brakes. She screams in surprise.

Anne: What the heck? Can this day get any worse?

We see her begin to gain her speed again as we fade to Alex and Corbin's condominium on the other side of town. We see the back of the bus as she continues to drive. We see Henderson looking at Anne through the bars on the back of the bus. She nearly stops again, gasping in horror. She blinks and Henderson is gone. She calms down a little bit. We see Alex painting a bowl of fruit on his art pad, with various attempts on the same painting in many other styles, including stipple, cross-contour, and even one in anime style. He continues to paint as we see Corbin on the balcony outside in a much more business-like manner on the phone. He talks to his girlfriend, Maria, however, and he hangs up after blowing kisses to the phone and hanging up. He enters the room with Alex painting and hangs the phone up. Corbin plops down onto the couch.

Alex: (not looking at Corbin, but at the fruit as he talks) So how's Maria?

Corbin: Doing pretty good, but she's excited about the play.

Alex: (beginning to mix a new color with his paints) Oh, that's good. (after a long pause) So when are you and her going to...?

Corbin: Tie the knot?

Alex: Yeah.

Corbin: Probably soon. Maria's turned me down a couple of times. She says she isn't ready yet. I don't see how. We've been together four years now. She knows everything about me and I know everything about her.

Alex: (referring to the Conspiracy against Henderson) Well, not everything.

Corbin: (understanding) Yeah, she doesn't know about the Conspiracy. We promised not to tell anybody about that. That's all she doesn't know though.

Alex: Well, I hope you two tie the knot soon. You can take the condo and I'll buy another one with the money I've saved up.

Corbin begins to get up and Alex finally looks at Corbin.

Alex: You do want to marry her, right?

Corbin: (nodding) Why not? I know when I'm ready. It's about her, though, too. I can't force her into something she doesn't want.

Alex: (nodding and heading towards the fruit) Yeah. I gotcha.

We see that the painting is finished as Alex grabs a pear and tosses it to Corbin, who catches it with his left hand. Meanwhile, Alex digs into a few grapes.

Corbin: Well, I'm off to meet Maria at the mall. She says we need to get ready for bikini season. (he laughs, picturing himself in one) I don't think I'll be buying anything for myself. I'll be sure to pick up some pizza for tonight before we leave for the play.

Alex: (sudden thought) Oh, that's right! That's tonight, isn't it?

Corbin: (nodding as he heads to the door) Well, I'll see ya about eight o'clock. (leaves)

We see Danielle and Jim making out in a movie theatre. The movie isn't shown, but we see the two of them making out with disregard for the others sitting beside them. The others get up and leave in disgust. One even goes so far as to tell them something.

Angry Moviegoer: Jesus, get a room, you two!

We see the two outside the movie theatre kiss once before they walk out towards their car. We notice the wedding ring on Jim's finger, but the lack of one on Danielle.

Jim: (breaking the kiss) I sure hope my wife doesn't figure this out before-

Danielle: (childishly protesting) You can't tell her! She'll be really mad at us!

Jim: I know. I'm curious as to how she's going to like us on stage together tomorrow night.

Danielle: (lustily demanding) Just shut up and get in the car.

The two get in the car and Jim starts to drive off with Danielle giving him an occasion kiss. They pull up behind Anne at a stop light, which winds up being the same one we saw her at previously. She pulls out her cell phone and starts talking to Taylor as she had previously. Danielle recognizes Anne and leans over Jim and honks the horn three times, but to no avail because Anne drives off and doesn't hear it. As the prison bus passes them by, Jim makes a right turn onto a smaller side street leading into the suburbs.

Jim: Well, we're here. (pulls up to Danielle's house) I'll see you at the play tonight, babe.

Danielle: (kissing him passionately) Just make sure the wife can't see you mean all those kisses on stage! (she gets out and blows him a final kiss before leaving)

Jim waves good-bye to her and circles the cul-de-sac before driving out onto the open road again.

Jim: (picking up his phone and dialing numbers) I'd better tell her I'm going to be late. (Jim's Wife answers) Hey, baby. (Jim's Wife angrily screams back into the phone at him as he holds it away from his ears) Easy, baby. Easy. What's going on?

We see Jim's Wife in the bedroom packing her suitcase full of her belongings. He talks to her on the phone.

Jim's Wife: I'm tired of you lying to me, Jim! I know you've been sleeping with that... that... Danielle girl!

Jim: (after a long pause; voice-over) Honey, I- I'm not with Danielle. How can you say something like that?

Jim's Wife: You lying piece of... (she calms herself a slight bit) I've seen you with her before. Shelly told me that she saw you two making out in the back of the theatre just the other day!

Jim: (stupidly correcting her as he tries to prove her incorrect knowledge; voice-over) It was today, not the other day, Megan!

Jim's Wife: (shocked to hear his confession) Jim Meadows! You cheating, lying husband of mine! I'm going to divorce you the first chance I get! And I'm going to make sure that you lose everything!

Jim: (voice-over) No, no baby!

Jim's Wife: I'm going to take everything you own!

Jim: (we cut back to him) No. Honey, please don't! (Jim's Wife hangs up) Baby? Rachel?

Jim hangs up his phone and we cut to Kristin's house. She is busily watching TV and doing a report for her medical school exams. The TV commercials playing advertise toothpaste, a new car, and the DVD release of The Conspiracy on the following Wednesday. Kristin gets up as her phone rings. She answers it on the second ring as the phone is near the desk she is sitting at.

Kristin: Hello?

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) Hey, sweetie. How are you?

Kristin: Oh, hey Mom. I'm doing well. How about yourself? Did you get in okay?

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) Yeah. That taxi driver was so nice. Do you know what he did?

Kristin: (laughing) What?

Kristin's Mom: (short pause and we cut to her in the hotel room) Yeah I got in okay. That taxi driver was so nice; do you know what he did?

Kristin: (calmly and happily; voice-over) What did he do Mom?

Kristin's Mom: (unpacking in a lavish hotel room) He took me straight to the hotel and didn't even charge me a dime. I paid him anyways. So how is your play going, Kristin?

Kristin: (we cut back to her) It's going great Mom.

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) That's great sweetie. (another short pause) How's your play going, Kristin?

Kristin: (laughs briefly) Mom, I just told you. It's going good.

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) Sweetie, you know I have a hard time remembering what I say.

Kristin: I know Mom. It's okay. Are you going to make it in for the opening night tomorrow night?

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) Front row, honey. (short pause) Don't worry, sweetie. I'll make it to the play and I'll sit in the front row.

Kristin: Okay Mom. I'll take a break from my studies and I'll come by and see you soon. Which hotel are you staying in?

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) I always stay in the same one, Kristin. You know that. How's your medical school coming?

Kristin: It's going good Mom. I'm almost finished with my final paper of the year.

Kristin's Mom: (voice-over) I'm sorry that your father couldn't be here for this play.

Kristin: It's okay Mom.

Kristin's Mom: (we see her staring out of the hotel window) I wish your father could have been here for this play. I know it wouldn't mean much to you, but it would've to him.

Kristin: (sadder than the last time; voice-over) I know. It is okay, Mom. I'll talk to you later on, okay? I'll stop by around 5 before I have to get going to the dress rehearsal.

Kristin's Mom: Okay, Kristin. I love you, sweetie.

Kristin: (we see her again as she hangs up) I love you too, Mom. (she hangs up and we see her go back to her papers on the desk) I'm just glad she could come.

We fade to Josh, who is munching on three double cheeseburgers and fries in his car in a fast-food parking lot. He listens to the radio and jams out with the occasional air guitar as he eats. Anne pulls in beside him and gets out. He quickly finishes his food after having seen her and hops out of his car. He is still munching as he calls after her. Anne continues to head into the fast-food restaurant.

Josh: (swallowing his food) Hey, Anne! Wait up!

Anne: (stopping) Huh? (turning to see Josh run up behind her) Oh, hey Josh! How's it going?

Josh: (catching up) Not too bad. Just got done filling my face. How about yourself?

Anne: Got off the phone with Taylor a little while ago. He's still being a jerk.

Josh: What did you do this time? (Anne stares him down hard) I mean, what did he do this time?

Anne: Nothing, just being an idiot and asking obvious questions. Like if I'm going to our rehearsal tonight. What an idiot he is. Of course I'm going. I'm the lead role, aren't I?

Josh: Well, I don't know. (he smiles) The supporting lead needs a female lead, doesn't he? (it's obvious he refers to himself; smugly) I couldn't carry on without you. (he reaches in for her hand)

Anne: (flattered but pulling her hand back) Thanks, Josh. I'm flattered. But I couldn't do it for you only. I have to show up too for me.

Josh: (slightly rejected) Ah, I gotcha. (she smiles and he walks with her to the entrance) So... can you spare me a few bucks? I need to get something to eat before the rehearsal tonight.

Anne: Hey... you just ate, didn't you?

Josh: You know me....

Anne: Josh, if you don't stop eating, you'll bust. (pokes his skinny stomach) Although I can't tell where you put it all.

Josh: (laughing) Don't worry, Anne. I'll let you know one day. (he flashes a goofy smile) Anyways, a few dollars?

Anne hands him a few extra dollars that she has with her. She then enters the restaurant and goes to the bathroom while Josh goes to order his food. We see Anne washing her hands. She looks down to see what she is doing and when she looks up, she see Henderson right behind her about to slit her throat with a very sharp knife. She screams and turns around to find he isn't there at all, nor is she bleeding. She shakes it out of her head.

Anne: (muttering to herself) I thought I got rid of those visions...

Anne walks outside the restroom and nearly bumps into Taylor on her way out. She brushes past him and doesn't give him a second glance. He tries to speak, but she moves out of his range. He runs outside to catch up with her as she gets in her car and starts it.

Taylor: Anne, wait!

Anne: (stopping to hear what he has to say but doesn't really seem to care) What is it, Taylor? You're going to be late for the rehearsal.

Taylor: (begging) Please, Anne, just gimme a chance here to say what I want to.

Anne: (coldly) You said all you had to say to me five years ago when you said what you did to Dusty. You told me to set him up, so I did. Now our friend's getting the chair cause of what we said in his defense.

Taylor: (equally cold) Anne, I'm not apologizing to you for that. It had to be done and you know that as much as I do. I've told nobody and neither has anybody else. We've all moved on and I expect you to do the same.

Anne: (she scoffs disgusted at him) Taylor... if you only knew how much pain you've caused Dusty and myself.

Taylor: Anne, don't start that again.

Anne: Taylor, I'm only telling you once. (she stares at him coldly and blankly) I'm not going to move on until everything is done.

Taylor: Done?

Anne: Yes. When Dusty's dead, I'll move on. Don't expect me to until then. Got it? (she pulls out and speeds off in the parking lot)

Taylor: (as she drives off) Screw you!

We see him angrily go to his car and start it up as he begins to leave.

5: A Late Rehearsal

We fade to the Misty Falls Auditorium, the same building that the massacre occurred in five years prior. It is sunset as we see the time, 8:30 P.M., appear on the screen. Dustin and Christine pull up in the same Ferrari together. However, neither of them are married to each other; in fact they're barely getting along as we see them get out of the car from a far shot. Dustin goes to unlock the auditorium entrance as the time disappears off the screen. He unlocks the doors and enters inside. We see a flashback of the massacre with the bodies on the floor as Dustin and Christine enter. Christine laughs, putting their previous arguments away as we see the auditorium now, clean and corpse-free.

Christine: (laughing) It's such a stupid fight, anyways. I mean, why are we fighting in the first place again?

Dustin: (sternly) Because you said you didn't need a ride even though you called me about an hour ago telling me to pick you up.

Christine: Well, whatever the case is, it's a stupid fight. What time's the cast getting here?

Dustin: They should already be here waiting on us. We're late by about ten minutes.

Christine: Oh. Well, this is quite odd....

Christine flips on the lights. The auditorium air conditioner turns on as well a few seconds later. It is barely audible, but then turns quiet as it runs silently. Dustin and Christine make their way into the actual auditorium from the entrance. Dustin sits down in a chair in the front row and pulls his cell phone out to start calling numbers. Suddenly, Anne and Josh enter hurriedly from the backstage area. She is shocked to see the stage directors sitting in the front row.

Anne: Oh... didn't expect you guys were coming for a while. We're all out backstage waiting on you guys to show up.

Dustin: I guess I was wrong. Nobody's late after all.

Josh: Oh, Maria and Corbin are late, but that's about it. (he goes to get a drink of water, turning once) And Jim called. He's having family troubles and he'll be here around nine.

Christine: Why didn't you guys wait out front like you're supposed to?

Anne: Well, we did. We just got tired of waiting and decided to wait for you guys to show up backstage.

Josh leaves the stage and goes into the hall beside the auditorium next to the bathrooms. Josh gets a drink of water and Danielle exits the bathroom, splashing some water on him from the fountain as he finishes.

Josh: Hey, Danielle.

Danielle: Josh, how's it hanging? Haven't seen you in a little while.

Josh: Well, how's it going with you?

Danielle: (laughing) I asked you first. It's going good; my job in the newspapers isn't getting very far though.

Josh: Yeah, I've read your articles. I liked the one about contaminated pizza and how we should avoid it.

Danielle: Well, that editorial almost got me a Pulitzer. I lost though to some broad in San Diego. Her article wasn't even half as good as mine.

Josh: (heading back to the backstage area) Oh? What was it on?

Danielle: (gets a drink of water before running to catch up with him) Something about weapons of mass chaos inside your own home... her article made as much sense as a two-year-old talking about physics.

Josh: You make no sense Danielle.

Danielle: Exactly.

Josh: Danielle, you're crazy.

Danielle: (laughing) I know, isn't it great?

They reenter the auditorium and then head backstage, where Anne, Dustin, and Christine have all headed. Taylor, Alex, and Kristin are also backstage, helping a few of the crew members backstage. Danielle and Josh approach Anne and the others who are all conversing on what to do and how to do it for the rehearsal tonight.

Dustin: Okay, this time, Taylor, I don't want you to go left to right, I want you to go right to left. You're having too much trouble getting around the table from left to right when you cross behind. This time get yourself on the right side while Anne gives her monologue and then cross in front of the table towards the other side. If I don't like it, we'll change it back to the other way.

Taylor: That's kinda last minute, isn't it?

Dustin: Deal with it, Taylor. Or find a way to get around that table faster.

Christine: Anne, your monologue is good, but try to use a little more sadness in it this time than you have been. The way you've been doing it is fine, but I think you can easily convince the audience better if you can force a tear or two in there.

Anne: (nodding) Sure thing, Christine.

Dustin: Oh, good. You're here Danielle. I need you to go up to the lights and music box and turn the equipment on for me and start testing the light sequences for Scene Five.

Danielle: (turning to leave) Gotcha. (she leaves)

Josh: So, where are the costumes?

Anne: Backstage is where they've always been, but they're not here. So where are they now, Dustin?

Dustin: We moved them to the prop room since it was starting to get cluttered backstage.

Josh: I'm going to go get ready for the introduction scene.

Christine: What about Jim and Corbin? Can we start without them?

Dustin: Yeah. Jim's scene is not until the end and Corbin and Maria have a scene around the climax. We can start, but we have to stop for them if they're not here by the second act.

Josh leaves and David, a stage crewmember, goes over to them, holding several large ropes in his hands. The rest of the group looks at him as he approaches.

David: Where do these go, Christine?

Christine: They go on the catwalk. They're for the big climbing scene at the end of the play. Taylor, go help him. (she tosses Taylor the keys to the catwalk)

Taylor: Yes ma'am. (David and Taylor leave)

Anne: (glad Taylor is gone) Whew thought he'd never leave.

Dustin: A word with you, Anne?

Christine goes over to help the other crew members: Megan, Xavier, Daniel, and Charlotte. Dustin and Anne move farther off away from the others towards the prop room near the right exit.

Dustin: Why haven't you tried getting along with Taylor like I suggested?

Anne: (agitated) I have, Dustin. But I can't get over the past things he's done to me and he's still being a jerk.

Dustin: Care to elaborate on the things he's done?

Anne is quiet for a while and she looks away from him. Dustin nods.

Dustin: Ah, I see... well... when you decide you want to tell me, I'm here to talk to you, okay?

Anne: I don't think now is the right time or place to discuss what all he's done.

Dustin: Mmm... okay. Well, like I said, whenever you want to talk I am here.

Anne: (a little upset) Right, I got that part.

Dustin: Go get dressed and good luck with your rehearsal tonight.

Anne exits the backstage area for the prop room. Dustin goes over to help the others setting up the weights for the backstage area.

6: Escape

We see the outside of a prison. It is nighttime now and a thunderstorm is raging outside. The time, 9:00 P.M., appears briefly on screen as we cut to the inside of E Block, the death row inmates clawing at their bars as we pan across three of the jail cells. We see Guard walking down the line as the time disappears off the screen. He stops shortly in front of a jail cell. We see Henderson sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. He appears to be crying, but we hear no noise from him. Guard taps on the bars with his nightstick.

Guard: Henderson, get over here.

Henderson: (after a long pause) Why should I? There's nothing left for me. All I keep thinking about is the same things. There's nothing left for me now except the chair.

Guard: Well, if you want to look it that way, fine. (he appears sitting beside Henderson) I was just going to help you escape.

Henderson's head jerks up suddenly and we see he is alone on his cot and the guard is still outside the cell.

Henderson: (cautiously) What did you say?

Guard: (frowning) I said I was going to go to sleep. You've been up forty-eight hours now and you need your sleep for the execution tomorrow.

Henderson: (returning to a depressed state) Thought you said that. I don't need any medication. I can sleep if I want to.

Guard: I don't care. (firmly) I am not going to listen to you talk about "eight little actors" anymore tonight.

Henderson: I told you, it's the only thing I can think about. But you wouldn't know... you never saw the entire production slaughtered before you. You never heard him say those words... never.

Guard: It doesn't matter. I've heard you say them more than enough and it's time for you to go to sleep for a change.

Henderson gets up off his cot and attempts to grab Guard from the bars, but fails as Guard jumps back.

Henderson: I'm only going to say it one more time. Leave me alone, you prick.

Guard: (threatening) I'll be back in the morning for you. You'd have better slept tonight as well. If I hear that rhyme one more time-

Henderson: (calmer and backing off) Don't worry, sir, I'll be a good little boy.

Guard: Good, now go back to bed.

Guard leaves and Henderson lies on his bed. A few minutes later, Guard turns the lights out and explains his actions.

Guard: Lights out, girls. Get some sleep.

Guard leaves, the metal door to the Block creaking open and closed. "Henderson Escapes" plays as Henderson jumps off his cot with incredible speed and dives under it where we see a hole in the wall that he has been carving for quite some time. Now complete, he crawls through it and comes out beside the piping with footings in the piping that Henderson placed over the times of plotting his escape. He climbs up them quickly and into the ventilation shaft at the top of the footings and the pipes, which curve off underneath the vent. He crawls through it slower than the rest of his movements, making no noise as he carefully crawls through the shafts, eventually making his way outside of the prison complex. He sees the bushes nearby and makes a dash towards them, narrowly avoiding the searchlights and flashlights of the patrolling guards as he dives into the bushes. The gates behind them shake and make a small noise and Henderson freezes. After a moment, nobody pays any attention to this new movement and he proceeds to open a hole in the gate as he has obviously done in the past. This whole process has been planned apparently since Henderson arrived in jail. He finally opens the gate enough for him to squeeze through. Once through, Henderson runs as fast as he can towards a nearby parking lot with some guards patrolling it as well. He stops as he sees one guard heading his way, unaware of Henderson's location, however. Nonetheless, Henderson proceeds to knocking the guard out with a rock and dashing towards the nearest car and hotwiring it. He carefully and calmly pulls out of the parking lot, nobody giving him a second look, not even the kiosk guard as he drives out. As he approaches the kiosk, he freezes up and waits until the guard turns his back to drive through the gate that had been lowered to prevent his easy escape. He breaks the gate open and the guard turns around, alarmed.

Kiosk Guard: (unaware it's Henderson) Hey, buddy! You have to sign out! Get back here! (the realization dawns on him as Henderson drives off still and he reaches for his walkie-talkie) All units! All units! We have a Code Orange! I repeat, Code Orange! Escaped convict is fleeing the prison; all units respond and somebody get the local police on hand too!

We see Henderson remove his convict clothing once he is away from the prison entrance. He searches the car for anything that could help him fit in with society better, finding only a baseball hat. He still wears his prison undergarments, but now throws on the hat as well. He drives on as the music ends. Henderson mutters to himself, smiling menacingly.

Henderson: Now then, where are my eight little actors?

He pulls up next to a clothing store, which is locked up for the night. He casually gets out of the car and breaks the glass on a side window, rushing inside and grabbing a pair of cargos and a black polo as well as a pair of discrete sunglasses to hide his eyes so that the police won't recognize him. He then puts all the clothes on quickly as the police sirens sound. We see him exit quickly and run into a nearby parking lot and highjack one more vehicle to complete his innocent disguise. He drives on and we see him eventually pull up at a local restaurant, the McWilliams Diner. He enters casually and nearly freezes as he sees a couple of cops hurry towards him, eventually running past him and out the door, not even considering he is the suspect the whole police force is now looking for. He strolls over to the register and smiles innocently, but deviously, at the cashier.

Cashier: Hi, welcome to McWilliams Diner. How many?

Henderson: None, I just need some information on a few people. Think you can help me out some?

Cashier: (blows a bubble after putting some chewing gum in her mouth) Sure thing, sweetie. Who are ya looking for?

Henderson: Well, for starters... (he notices the flyers for the upcoming play lying behind the counter) which play is that?

Cashier: (looking at the flyers in front of her stupidly) "The Conspiracy." Ya want a flyer?

Henderson: Oh, please. (Cashier hands him one and he takes it) Thanks, babe. You're a doll.

Henderson reads over it, remembering the bodies in the theatre. We see a flashback of him falling on the police and Jim getting up for testimony. He growls under his breath as the Cashier breaks his thought.

Cashier: Sir, you okay?

Henderson: (shaking off the feeling of anger) Yeah. Just hate that play is all. I'm from out of town.

Cashier: Oh. (blows another bubble) So who is it you're looking for? Maybe my boss knows them.

Henderson reads the flyer, seeing Anne, Taylor, Corbin, and Kristin as the lead stars in the play. He also sees Jim, Alex, Josh, and Danielle are also in the play as well. He smiles evilly and then looks at the lady, removing his sunglasses briefly to hand the flyer back to Cashier.

Henderson: Thanks, I found the couple I was looking for. Anne's working in the play.

Cashier: Oh yeah. I know Anne. She's a nice girl.

Henderson: Well, if she comes in, tell her Joe Hinson is staying in Gregory's Motel Two north of town, will ya?

Cashier: Oh, I will. She worked here a couple of years ago. She left though and-

Henderson: (puts his glasses back on and begins to leave coolly) Just tell her Joe's looking for her, all right?

Cashier: Sure thing, babe.

Henderson exits and climbs into the Jeep parked outside nearby where the other car he had just stolen was sitting. He is lucky to find that the keys are in the ignition and starts it immediately. He then starts towards the auditorium.

Henderson: (evilly) "Eight little actors, all going to die." I'm on my way....

We fade to black.

7: One Creepy Janitor

We see Danielle heading towards the light/sound booth when we reopen. She climbs the stairs to the catwalk floor and then even higher to the third floor of the auditorium, which is where the third level of the seats are as well. She goes to the back of the aisles where the door leads to the light/sound booth is located. She turns once to see the play far below. We see a quick-shot and a flashback of the victim falling off of the balcony to his death. She unlocks the booth with the keys hanging next to the door and enters the booth. She turns the lights on and heads over to the microphone, which is used to announce things over the intercom to the audience before and after the show. She turns the microphone on and begins to turn the lights on as well one by one. The stage lights all come on one by one as she turns them on. She then adjusts each light individually and we see Dustin standing on the stage with a megaphone as she finishes.

Dustin: Thank you, Danielle. Maria will take it from here. She's on her way up now to do her job.

Danielle: (speaking in the microphone) When did they get here?

Dustin: They all just got here in Corbin's Hummer. Jim says his car won't start, so he got a ride with Corbin.

Danielle: (muttering, but the microphone catches it) Corbin and his rich self.

Corbin, who is backstage with his brother, Alex, hears her. He heads over to Dustin and takes the megaphone and speaks into it.

Corbin: Shut up, Danielle! I heard that!

Danielle: Well, it's true! You and your brother both!

Alex comes to the stage now and steals the megaphone. Dustin, trying to ignore this dispute, leaves the stage.

Alex: Well, you know how it is, when your parents are successful doctors. (jokingly) Oh, that's right. You don't!

Danielle: (joking back, but has a serious tone) You stay right there, I'm coming down! We'll finish this fight outside.

She leaves the booth as Alex laughs into the megaphone. He slaps Corbin a high-five and the two of them head backstage once again to go get dressed. We see Maria in the hallways as she approaches the staircase. She runs into Renaldo, the janitor, by accident, nearly knocking the broom away from him. He gravely turns and faces her as he stops sweeping the floor.

Maria: (apologizing) Sorry, sir. I didn't see you there.

Renaldo: (grave and serious) It is fine. Please tell me, what time is it? My watch is broken.

Maria: (a little hesitant to answer before looking at her watch) Uhm, 9:30.

Renaldo: (reaching out to see the watch for himself) That's a nice watch you have.

Maria: Uhm... yeah. It's a Rolex. Corbin bought it for me last year.

Renaldo: Your friend Corbin is a good man if he buys you stuff like that.

Maria: Well... (nervous laughter) He's known for expensive gifts. I like that about him.

Renaldo: (still grave and serious) I used to be a rich man.

Maria: Oh?

Renaldo: Yes. But it was a long time ago. Lost it to my medical bills after 'Nam.

Maria: (increasingly uncomfortable) Uhm, right. Listen, I have to go, so I'll see you around.

Renaldo: (grave and startling laughter) Ah, the play. If you ask me, this play is doomed.

Maria: W-What do you mean?

Renaldo: (he turns cold and serious) Last time they tried to make this play, the whole crew died right before the play should've opened.

Maria: Well... (remembering the incident) that was a long time ago. And I'm sure not everyone died. There was that big controversy on the verdict of Griggs v. Henderson. Wasn't he involved?

Renaldo: Yes... they found him guilty and sentenced him to (as he says the last word, Maria becomes almost frightened) death.

Maria: That... that's nice. Look, I really have to go... bye! (she keeps from running away as he continues to clean)

Renaldo: (shouting after her) I still say this play is doomed, girl!

Maria arrives in the light/sound booth, passing Danielle in the stairwell. She enters the booth and shuts the door, locking it behind her.

Maria: What a creepy dude.

We see Renaldo mopping the floor as Danielle comes past him. He is chuckling to himself.

Renaldo: (muttering and chuckling) He loved that rhyme.

Danielle: (stopping) What?

Renaldo: That Henderson guy. He loved the rhyme that he kept repeating when he killed all those people.

Danielle remembers Henderson, going pale for a moment as the jury's verdict of "Guilty" echoes in her head. She shakes it off and smiles.

Danielle: Yeah. He was guilty all along. I knew that.

Renaldo: Do you think he could come back?

Danielle: (very uncomfortable and hesitant) Ye- I mean no! No way. He's going to be put to death tomorrow morning.

Renaldo: (gravely) I believe he's still here in spirit. He's watching this production, waiting for something to happen.

Danielle: L-Like what?

Renaldo: Like something bad.... (whistles as he gets back to work)

Danielle hurries back to the backstage area, where she bumps into Alex and Corbin, who joke about her paleness.

Alex: Still want to take this outside, D? You look like you need the fresh air!

Corbin: Yeah... I know my Maria didn't say anything to you, so do you suddenly want to back out of that fight you promised us?

Both laugh at Danielle, who then silences them quickly.

Danielle: (softly) The janitor, Renaldo, mentioned something about Henderson.

Alex: (serious) He did?

Corbin: (level-headed and calm) It's fine. Henderson is going to die tomorrow. We won't have to worry about him anymore anyways.

Danielle: What about the fact that this play was the one he slaughtered all those years ago?

Corbin: Don't worry. There's no way he can come back here and kill us all.

Danielle: How do you know he can't come back?

Alex: (laughing) D, trust me. He's as good as dead!

Danielle: (finally lightening up) Yeah, that's right. Now then, you two rich bums still think you can handle me?

We cut to the outside of the backstage area, where Renaldo mops care-free and still whistles, whistling the rhyme that Henderson was repeating to himself earlier. Anne hears it as she exits the bathroom, and rushes back inside, unaware it was Renaldo whistling, but believing it was Henderson. She takes a few moments to get herself together before exiting the bathroom and heading backstage again.

8: Scene 5 Problems

We fade to the front of the stage, where Anne stands in her costume, which coincidentally resembles the outfit she was wearing when Henderson was on trial. She is far downstage, going through her monologue. The time is revealed as 11:30 P.M briefly on screen before fading off. Taylor is behind her on stage sitting down on a bench in a similarly coincidental outfit.

Anne: "Rodney, I'm not going to partake in this scheme. This... conspiracy. Rodney, I cannot possible make anybody believe me, especially not this jury that watches our every move and hears every word we say. There is no way we're going to make it legitimate, you know." (she turns to Taylor, who is Rodney) "Rodney, why do you want me to do this?" (she heads towards him on stage in a much staged manner) "Is it not illegal to do something like this? Isn't it a crime to frame somebody?"

Taylor: (standing to cross to Anne, who is Julie) "Julie, I could never have pushed you into it, could I?"

Anne: (crossing behind him as he follows her gaze to the door) "No. In fact, I'm leaving right this moment."

Taylor: (rushing ahead of her to the door and blocking it) "No, I'm not going to let you walk out on the rest of us... guys! She's trying to foil our plans!"

Alex, Corbin, Danielle, Jim, Kristin, and Josh all come on stage. We see Maria in the light/sound booth adjusting the lights to all focus on her. We see her cell phone, on vibrate, buzzing near her soda can as it approaches it. The scene on stage continues.

Jim: "I'm afraid I can't let you leave, Julie."

Danielle: "And neither can I, we are all in this together. If you tell the jury of this decision, we're all going to jail."

Alex and Corbin grab Anne by her arms and drag her to Taylor against her will. She puts up a convincing struggle. Dustin and Christine, sitting in the front row watching the production and occasionally taking notes, are impressed.

Taylor: "So you see, Julie, you have to agree with us. There's no reason for you to walk out on all of your friends as you've known us all of your life. You cannot leave us hanging at this point. You've been there for us too much."

Anne: (fighting Alex and Corbin) "Come on, guys! Let me go! What you're planning could get us all killed!"

Jim: "Then we have to take that risk. But it's a rather small risk; plus I don't believe anybody will find out about it as long as we are all silent on the matter."

Maria's phone is seen again as it now vibrates against the soda can, pushing it to the edge slowly. She doesn't seem to notice this at all.

Dustin: (whispering to Christine) I have to tell Maria something, I will be right back.

Dustin gets up and walks away as the scene continues without a pause. We see Dustin walk out of the auditorium and up towards the stairwell. He passes Renaldo, who is now waxing the floor. We see Maria's phone one more time as she finally sees it moving the can, only hanging onto the edge and not falling over. She grabs the can and sets it near the sound machine, but not on it and answers her phone.

Maria: Hello? (the person on the other end is her father) Oh, hi Dad. (she pauses as he talks to her on the phone) Yeah, everything is just fine. No... look, I have to go. I'm in the middle of the final rehearsal. All right, I love you Dad. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye. (she hangs up and sets her phone in her back pocket of her jeans)

Dustin enters the booth and goes over to her. He sets his right hand next to the soda can, unknown to him.

Dustin: Now I want you to dramatically increase the lighting on Anne and Taylor.... Now!

Maria jerks her hand to do so, and thus Anne and Taylor are more highly illuminated than the others.

Dustin: (disapprovingly) No, no, no... that was a bad idea. Keep it the same as always.

Dustin's P.D.A. goes off suddenly, alarming him. His hands both fly to it in his coat pocket, but his right hand knocks the soda can over, the full can spilling onto the sound machine. Sparks fly from it and a small fire erupts briefly as Maria panics. Dustin grabs a fire extinguisher and puts the fire out, finding the can on the floor soon after. He picks it up and angrily tosses it away.

Dustin: (angrily) How many times do I have to tell you, Maria, to stop bringing drinks up here?

Maria: (apologizing quickly) Sorry, sir. Sorry!

Dustin: I'm going to get Renaldo in here and then I'm going to tell the rest of the crew that the sound booth is being repaired.

Maria: So... how long will that take?

Dustin: I don't know... (frustrated sigh) An hour, maybe two. It depends on how much of it is fried. Hopefully Danielle can fix it quickly with the patch we have in the storage closet.

Maria: (saddened) I'm sorry, sir. I didn't see that putting it there was such a problem....

Dustin: (angrily backlashes) Well, now you know!

Dustin angrily leaves and slams the door shut as he does. Maria sits back in her chair and thinks in silence for a moment as she wonders what to do next. She grabs another soda from the six pack she had to hide when Dustin came up to see her and begins to drink the soda. Back onstage, Dustin reenters and waves to the actors on stage.

Dustin: (angrily) Cut! Cut! Cut! Stop the show! Stop!

Although he had continued, the whole crew stops and looks at him after the first word. They see he is upset and fear the worst: their acting is poor.

Dustin: Maria's having some... (angrily) troubles with the sound system. Danielle, we need you to fix it if you can.

Danielle: (smiling at the thought of repairing the system) Sure thing, Dustin. (she leaves the stage)

Dustin: The rest of you can take a break 'cause we're stopped for a little bit.

Jim: Can't we just go home?

Dustin: Did we finish Scene Five?

Jim: Well, no. But my part is finished.

Dustin: Jim... no. Nobody's going home.

Josh: Dustin, dude, I'm starved. I haven't eaten in ages... (he stresses the next words) I'm goin' to die if I don't get some food soon.

Christine: (piping up) Dustin, I'm kind of hungry too. It's close to midnight and I haven't had any food in hours.

Dustin: Fine... I'll call a pizza delivery.

Jim: (already hopping off of the stage) Don't bother, I'll run down to McWilliams Diner and pick up some food for us all.

Anne: That's a great idea!

Taylor: That's perfect!

Josh: That's too long to have to wait... but the food is worth it! Hurry back, Jim!

Dustin: (stopping Jim) Oh no, you're not leaving now. Not in your costume. That costume is very expensive.

Jim: (frowning) Looks like something I bought at the local clothing store... and on discount.

Dustin: Jim... change your clothes and get some food. Then don't bother talking to me the rest of the night, got it?

Jim: (sighing angrily) Whatever.... (he goes to get changed)

9: Finding the First Victim

Jim exits the theatre through the front doors. He continues to Corbin's Hummer and starts it up. He proceeds to pulling out of the parking lot as we see Anne and Taylor heading to the costume room to change out of their costumes. Anne and Taylor enter the room together, silent for a few moments, then enter the dressing rooms in the back.

Anne: (calmly) Nice work tonight, Taylor....

Taylor: You too. Keep up the good work.

Anne: (removing her costume and stopping to hang it up while she grabs her regular clothes) Don't you think it's odd that we can't seem to keep a peace like this?

Taylor: Peace like what? (he begins removing his costume and starts to hang it up as well as change to his regular clothes)

Anne: Like right now... we are always fighting. Right now we're not even arguing a little bit. Why can't we stop fighting?

Taylor: (he comes out of the dressing room) I don't know... why are you always mad at me?

Anne: I don't know.... I guess it's because of... you know.

Taylor: Dusty Henderson's trial?

Anne: Yeah.

Taylor: Trust me, Anne. He's dead and gone in less than twelve hours. (we see Jim in the Hummer as Taylor continues) He can't affect us any more than he already has.

Jim stops suddenly at a red light and Taylor's words are halted with it. Jim slams his hands on the steering wheel.

Jim: (angrily) What kind of light is this! Just turns red whenever a car pulls up to it? This is a bunch of- (the light turns green and Jim is subdued)

Anne comes out of the dressing room and nods.

Anne: Sometimes... (she grows quieter) Sometimes, I see Henderson. In my dreams. Telling me that he's going to get me back for setting him up. (a long pause as we see Jim driving up to the fast food pickup window and getting the food) Do you think he knew?

Taylor: (defensively and fast) No way! There's no way he knew!

Anne: (we see Jim pulling out of the drive through) But... he promised. He promised he'd get us all. He said he'd kill us.

Henderson, we see, pulls up behind Jim in his own car and begins to stalk Jim closely as Taylor answers Anne.

Taylor: No. He's not that smart to get out of prison and track us all down and kill us one by one. This isn't a movie.

Anne: But... what if he was? What if he did escape?

Jim doesn't notice Henderson in the rearview mirrors as Henderson begins to speed up behind him.

Jim: (turning on the radio and turning the volume up as the rock music plays) Let's see what rich ol' Corbin has playin' in here. (he hears the music) Nice, Cor. Great stuff.

Taylor answers Anne as we see him put his hand on her shoulder.

Taylor: Don't worry, Anne. If he did, we'd be hard to track down. All eight of us don't interact that much together as a group.

Anne: (smiling gently) I guess so.

Taylor: Trust me, it'd be impossible. Now, let's get back to the others. (jokingly) Don't want Henderson to whack us off now when we're alone, do we?

Anne frowns.

Anne: I'm serious... he might be able to do that one day.

Taylor: (frowning) C'mon. It was a joke.

Anne: (aggravated) It was a bad joke.

Taylor: (angrily) Obviously. Jeez, take a joke once in a while. You'd be a better person.

Anne: (angrily and pushing Taylor) You're the one to talk! (she storms out of the room, pushing Taylor aside)

Taylor looks at her in disgust as we see Jim start tapping on the steering wheel rhythmically in sync with the music. Then, static on the radio interrupts the song. Jim looks at the radio dumbly, hitting it a couple of times.

Jim: Stupid radio!

Henderson continues to approach behind unseen, nearly on the bumper now. When we see Jim again, he hits the radio a third time before "Jim's Fate" plays on the radio as an instrumental piece. Jim is confused by this, scratching his head. He looks up to see where he's going, casually glancing in the rearview mirror to see who's behind him. We see Henderson in the car smiling evilly as Jim looks in the mirror. He waves menacingly. Jim, in disbelief, turns his head over his shoulders to confirm the animal. He brakes in shock.

Jim: (shocked) Oh, my God!

The Hummer stops and Henderson's car slams into the back of it, knocking Jim into the steering wheel and temporarily stunning him as the Hummer finally stops on the side of the empty road.

Jim: (moaning) Oh... my head.

Henderson gets out of the car he's driving and casually approaches Jim's side of the Hummer. Jim is too hurt to bother moving, believing it as imagination. The music intensifies as he nears the door. He whistles the first couple of lines in the rhyme as he does so. Jim finally comes to his senses, but it is too late as Henderson opens the door and drags Jim out into the street forcefully. Jim scurries back to his feet, only to be forced down once again by Henderson.

Jim: Dusty! Dusty! (he tries to talk sweetly to Henderson to avoid being hurt) How've you been, man?

Henderson: (ignoring Jim's small talk and starting to speak his rhyme) "Eight little actors, all in show...."

Jim: (growing serious and sliding away from Henderson on the pavement) Dusty! Henderson! What're you doing?

Henderson: (pulling out a wire coat hanger from the clothing store, now a strangling wire) ".... One was a bad actor and had to go."

Jim: (realizing the plan) Oh, God! Dusty! Stop, man! Stop!

They stand in the middle of the road now. For a brief moment there is nothing, not even the music. We see Henderson's face, cold and hard. We then see Jim's face, begging and nearly in tears. The music resumes, however, as Henderson bends down and begins to strangle Jim to death. We see this deed from a far shot. Then we see Henderson's feet dragging Jim's corpse towards the trunk of the Hummer, opening the Hummer, and dumping the corpse inside the trunk, all the while whistling his rhyme. He then gets in the Hummer and drives towards the theatre. The music ends as we cut back to the auditorium.

10: Danielle's "Bloody Song"

Maria goes into the sound/light booth where Danielle is fixing the sound box. Maria listens to her MP3 player, but stops suddenly as she enters the booth and starts searching for a song. When she doesn't find it, she turns to Danielle, who stops and wipes sweat from her forehead.

Maria: Hey, Danielle. (Danielle acknowledges her) You have a great song I can download to my MP3?

Danielle: Yeah. Hold on. (she yanks Maria's MP3 away from Maria and starts searching her own MP3 for the right song) What kind of song do you want to hear?

Maria: Something that sounds like the artist isn't cheap and well renowned.

Danielle: Maria, that's every song on my lists.

Maria: Something hard rock. Something new and fresh.

Danielle: Maria... (she grows weary) that's almost every song on my lists.

Maria: (frowning and thinking for a moment) Well, uhm... something that you don't have on every list or a lot of.

Danielle: Ah, okay.

Danielle begins to download a song for Maria almost instantly. Josh comes into the booth.

Josh: You guys seen Jim? I'm starved here.... (his stomach growls audibly and Maria is surprised) See? He should've been back a while ago.

Maria: No... I haven't seen him. How's my Corbin doing?

Josh: Uhm... good? You've only been separated five minutes, Maria. Trust me, he's not dead. Or cheating on you....

Danielle: (finishing the download) Okay, I'm finished. (she hands Maria's MP3 to Maria) There ya go.

Maria: (turning it to the song) Thanks, Danielle.

The song playing is "Maria and Corbin's Death," which is instrumental hard rock music. To Maria, it stinks. She frowns disapprovingly and turns the music off.

Maria: (disgusted) Thanks a lot, Danielle.

Danielle: (defensively) What?

We see Christine backstage as David and the rest of the crew members are walking out the front doors. She is frantic to keep them here in the auditorium.

Christine: Why are you guys leaving? Jim's only ten minutes late! He'll be back soon!

David: Mrs. Christine, with all due respect, he had the right idea. It's midnight. I'm tired. I'm going home too.

Christine: (pleading and frantic) But... he'll be back soon!

David: How do you know?

Christine is silent. She scratches her head, confused as she has nothing to say to that. David, satisfied with the answer, walks out and shuts the front doors behind him.

Christine: (opening the door and calling out after them) Wait! Guys! Get back here!

Dustin comes in and sees Christine halfway out the door.

Dustin: Christine? What's going on?

Christine: (calling) Fine, you bunch of quitters! (slams the door and turns to Dustin) The crew's left.

Dustin: (alarmed) What?

Christine: They said that since Jim isn't here yet, he might not be coming back. They suggested we just leave.

Dustin: (angrily, but sternly) They can't do that! They have to help the production.

Christine: That's what I told them, but they weren't listening. They just wanted to keep on with the whole "Leave" idea.

Dustin: Fine, we'll just have Maria and the cast pull some extra weight tonight. It'll take longer, but we'll get it done. One way or another, this final rehearsal isn't going home till it's finished.

Christine: (slyly) You know... I kinda agree with the crew. It is after midnight. Maybe we should call it a night and have a final rehearsal tomorrow afternoon before the show?

Dustin: (firmly) No! We're not going to have time tomorrow. We have only tonight.

Maria comes hurriedly into the room and heads towards the door, peering out, realizing that the rest of the crew has left her. She closes the door, bummed out she missed the others. She has a sudden thought and hands her MP3 to Dustin.

Maria: Dustin, tell me what you think of this. Danielle thinks it is good, but I hate it. (she plays Danielle's song)

Dustin listens as the song is played again. Dustin nods in agreement to the music.

Dustin: It's not that bad. Just needs some lyrics.

Maria: (surprised) Really?

Dustin: Yeah. It's a good song. Sounds like a bloody scene in a horror movie.

Maria: Oh... (takes her MP3 back) thanks, sir.

11: Anne's Vision

Anne sees Corbin and Maria making out backstage. Taylor plays an electronic handheld game vigorously. Anne makes her way past all of them to Kristin, who is sitting back in a chair in the front row, trying to sleep. Anne sits down and looks over at Kristin.

Anne: Trying to catch some sleep?

Kristin: (awake, but her eyes are closed) Mmhm. Yep.

Anne: So how long do you think Dustin's going to keep us here?

Kristin: Till the cows come home.

Anne: (laughing) Yeah, he's pretty determined to get this play finished. I think he's the only one now. Even Christine's trying to shut down somewhat.

Kristin: Well, I don't blame her. I'm dead tired myself.

Anne: Well, I'm tired too. I won't keep you from your sleep.

Kristin: (grateful) Thanks. Wake me when it's time to get back to work.

Anne gets up and starts backstage again. She passes Taylor, still playing his game. We see Corbin and Maria arguing silently suddenly and Anne stops. She turns in a full circle and finds everything else is frozen. She turns back to Corbin and Maria, who continue to fight quietly. As Anne approaches, Corbin throws his hands up in the air and tries to walk off, but Maria continues to argue, motioning for him to turn and face her. Angrily, Corbin turns back and slaps Maria, knocking her to the floor. Anne cries out in anguish and her hand stretches out futilely as if to help Maria. Suddenly, Corbin goes to Anne and shakes her violently, and Anne blinks a few times to find that Maria is standing up and uninjured at all. She blinks more and pushes Corbin off of her. Alex comes up behind Corbin.

Alex: What happened? What happened?

Corbin: Anne just zonked out. Thought she was sleeping standing up with her eyes open at first, but when she started screaming at me and Maria talking and putting her hand out like she did... I was starting to wonder.

Alex: Oh? Are you okay, Anne?

Anne: (she nods after much hesitation) Y-Yeah.

Alex: Are you sure?

Maria: We're all tired, but Dustin has the keys and he's locked us all in here until we finished. Not even Christine can get the keys from him.

Anne: (confused) What? When did that happen?

Maria: Just now. Didn't you see Alex throwing up his hands in defeat? He was upset that Dustin's locked us in here.

Anne: (still dazed) Oh. I- I thought that you two were... uhm... fighting.

Alex, Corbin, and Maria laugh.

Corbin: We never fight. And if we did, we'd make up. Isn't that right, Maria?

Maria: That's a sure thing, babe.

Maria and Corbin kiss gently before Alex smiles softly.

Alex: See? No fighting there except for when to break the kiss.

Anne: Oh... I guess so.

Corbin: You should try to get some sleep, Anne. Kristin is. We'll be back to work in a little bit. Danielle's a master at fixing things. You should know that by now.

Anne: (brief, nervous laughter) I guess I should. Okay then, I'll go and get some sleep. Somebody wake me up when it's time to start working, okay?

Corbin: We will. (he shoos Anne off)

Maria: Now, where were we?

Corbin: Right about here, baby. (they kiss) I love you, Maria.

Maria: (smiling happily) I know.

They continue to kiss.

12: On the Inside

We see Henderson pull up in the Hummer in front of the auditorium. He briefly pauses to remember the incident that sent him to prison before his face hardens and he frowns briefly. We see his feet step out of the Hummer and begin to head to the doors. Briefly, we see Jim's hand in the backseat of the Hummer, placed carelessly between the seats. We then see Henderson open the front doors and break them into locking behind him soundlessly. He then opens the window next to the doors and drives the Hummer over to the front and parks so that there is no escape through the front. He then whistles as he goes to continue to lock things up in the rest of the auditorium. We see Renaldo react to the whistling, but he doesn't see Henderson, who in turn doesn't see him. Renaldo walks towards the bathroom to finish waxing them up.

13: "How Unsupportive!"

We see Christine asleep in the chair she had sprawled out for herself. Dustin is on stage, shouting to Danielle with a megaphone.

Dustin: (shouting in the megaphone) Is it done yet?

Danielle: (over the intercom) No, Dustin. I'm almost done.

Dustin: (shouting in the megaphone) Danielle, hurry up!

Danielle: (protesting over the intercom) But Dustin-

Dustin: (shouting in the megaphone) Just do it!

Dustin sighs aggravated and heads over to Christine and shakes her slightly. She wakes up and looks around dazed before looking at Dustin.

Christine: Well, what's going on?

Dustin: You're sleeping, that's what's going on.

Christine: (trying to get comfortable again) Yeah, so?

Dustin: (angrier) I thought you said you were going to stay awake.

Christine: What's it matter? Nothing's going on right now. Anne's sleeping, Kristin's sleeping. Josh is sleeping. Why can't I?

Dustin: Because you promised you wouldn't!

Christine: (getting out of her chair) Well, I'm tired. What time is it anyways?

Dustin: (angrily) Does it matter? This show's going to go on whether we're here all night or not!

Christine: Heh... no it won't.

Dustin: What does that mean?

Christine: Well, sooner or later somebody's going to steal those keys from you and they're gonna make a break for the door. You can't hold us here all night, ya know.

Dustin: (angrily) I can sure try.

Christine quickly steals the keys from Dustin's pocket, but Dustin fails to react quickly enough and Christine races towards the front doors. Dustin holds her back at the last second though. Neither sees the Hummer parked next to the windows and therefore, turn and walk away as if nothing happened. Dustin angrily drags Christine by the arm towards the auditorium once again.

Dustin: (mumbling angrily) How unsupportive! You really are desperate to get out of here, eh? Well, we'll see about that! (throws her into a seat and shouts) You are so unsupportive of our play!

Christine: Dustin, shut up! You're forcing everyone to waste their energy by being here so late!

They continue arguing and we see the various cast members and Maria looking over at them. Even Anne, Josh, and Kristin wake up to see the fight. They are all surprised to see this.

Dustin: You're the one trying to quit and walk out on this play!

Christine: It has to be one or later in the morning! This is ridiculous, Dustin! Let us outta here!

Dustin: Not until the play has finished rehearsal!

Christine: We won't finish the play in time for breakfast then!

Dustin: (defeated) Whatever, Christine. We'll leave at two if we're not done by then.

Dustin sits in a seat and pouts to himself, Christine sitting down in a sit farther away from him and goes back to sleep.

14: Rehearsal Continues

Danielle fidgets with the sound booth, tying a paperclip to a rubber band and then hitting the power button. Amazingly, it turns on and begins to run, all the lights coming on and then going off to signal its startup. Danielle cheers happily and turns on the intercom.

Danielle: (happily into the intercom) Dustin, I fixed the sound booth!

Dustin gets on stage hurriedly and shouts into the megaphone.

Dustin: (into the megaphone) Great! Now come get dressed in costume again and we'll continue the play where we left off!

Danielle runs happily down the stairs, nearly running into Renaldo on the way back to the dressing room. The others are already in there getting everything set up to go on their costumes as well. Then, we see them all running back on stage where they were previously standing. Dustin and Christine sit back where they had to continue to view the play. Dustin begins to talk to them, giving the directions.

Dustin: Okay, everyone. It was the end of Scene Five, do we remember? (the cast nod) Well, the crew has run out on us. All but the wonderful Maria Otronto. (Maria laughs nervously) So let's start on Scene Six and we'll continue to the end and then we can all go home. (all cheer at this) All right. Places everyone!

The cast take their places with just Anne remaining on stage.

Dustin: Action!

Anne: (on stage) "I do hope that tomorrow the weather will be lovely."

Taylor knocks on the door. She goes to answer it.

Anne: "Ah! What a surprise! Rodney, how are you?"

Taylor: "Julie, I'm just here to tell you that I want you to stop calling me whenever you feel like it."

Anne: "But it is in my nature to call you." (angrily) "I have to call the one that set my friend up for life in prison."

Taylor: (entering the set through the door) "Well, if you had just gone along with it and not argued on it for so long, it wouldn't have happened that I had to force you."

Anne: (still angry) "Rodney, why did you really come?"

Taylor: (he crosses to the other end of the stage, but to the front as well as he talks) "My dear Julie, it has been some time since we last had a decent conversation together. And it has also been quite some time since we made it through the day without fighting over something. So I came to try to make peace with you." (he turns to face her)

Anne: "Well, you can keep trying because you aren't going to get it today."

Taylor: "Oh, but Julie!"

Anne: (pointing to the door) "Get out, Rodney! You aren't welcome back in my house just yet!"

Taylor: (facing the audience) "Yet?"

Anne: (heading towards him) "Yes, maybe one day I'll forgive you. Until then," (angrily begins to push him out the door) "get out of my house!"

Anne pushes Taylor outside of the set and slams the door in his face. She then crosses over to the window on the other end of the stage and stares out of it, pretending to cry as the lights go down and the curtains close. We see Anne after the curtains close as she races off stage. The backdrop changes and we see Josh and Kristin go on stage. We fade to the bathroom area where Anne brushes up on her make-up a small bit. Renaldo comes out of the stall behind her, scaring Anne and making her jump.

Anne: Oh, Davenport, it's you. Thank God.

Renaldo: (still waxing) Yeah. It is I. Go back to your business.

Anne goes back to doing her makeup and Renaldo finishes waxing in the bathroom. We see Josh and Kristin on stage again as Dustin and Christine are fast asleep in their chairs. Josh notices this, points on stage to show Kristin, and they both leave the stage.

15: Janitor in a Can

We see Renaldo push the waxing machine into the janitor's closet and lock it up. We hear Dustin shout from the auditorium.

Dustin: Darn it! How long was I asleep!

Renaldo: (gravely chuckling) That Dustin's going to be here longer than I am.

Renaldo walks towards the bathroom to use it. Nobody can be seen inside of it as Renaldo walks towards a urinal. We see his feet at the urinal as we pan left towards the stalls. The first three stalls are empty, but at the fourth one we see a pair of boots step down from the toilet seat. "Renaldo Dies" begins as we see Henderson get on his hands and knees and crawl out from under the stall. Renaldo finishes urinating and flushes the urinal before going to the sink to wash up. Henderson creeps up behind him and Renaldo doesn't notice this. Henderson hides behind a wall suddenly as Renaldo turns around and heads out of the door. Henderson follows him sneakily. The music intensifies as Renaldo casually walks up to the front doors and begins to reach for the keys, but notices the Hummer parked outside. Renaldo scratches his head.

Renaldo: Now what kind of idiot would do something like that?

Renaldo continues to ponder the question as the music stops and we see Dustin and Christine, now awake, in their chairs watching the play continue.

Kristin: (talking to Josh, who is Tony) "Tony, what are we going to do about Julie? She's still not talking to us."

Josh: (talking to Kristin, who is Regina) "Regina... trust me on this one. She's going to accept it eventually."

Kristin: "Are you sure?"

Josh: "Yes, I am. We made the right choice."

We see Renaldo go into the auditorium, with Henderson quickly reacting and rushing in after him. Anne knocks on the door of the set, to which Josh answers it. Anne comes in.

Anne: "What are we going to tell Rodney? He's still trying to get me to forgive him for forcing me into something I didn't want to do."

Josh: "Well, Julie, we can't do anything. It is only Rodney who can stop himself."

The music resumes as Henderson grabs Renaldo from behind just before he can get into the light and be seen. Henderson stabs Renaldo in the back and puts his hand over Renaldo's mouth as he drags him out of the auditorium. Renaldo screams in pain, but is muffled and cannot be heard. Henderson then drags a bleeding Renaldo back to the janitor's closet and, using Renaldo's keys, opens it up and goes inside. He closes the door and we see the door as we zoom in on it, hearing a sickening crunch and then Henderson comes out with a mop to clean the blood up. We briefly see Renaldo's corpse lying in the janitor's cart with blood all over the back wall.

Henderson: (mumbling to himself) Ah... this is too easy.

The music ends and we fade to the stage once again.

16: Maria and Corbin

We cut to backstage. A tired, but determined Dustin is walking over to Maria and Corbin, who are in their costumes waiting to get their scene onstage. The two of them are holding hands as Dustin approaches and immediately stand when he calls them by name.

Dustin: Maria, Corbin! (they stand) Stop cuddling and go do your scene. The sooner we get done the better.

Maria: Okay. C'mon Cor.

The two of them go to the stage entrance for their scenes and we get a glimpse of exactly how much the play is progressing. We see that the others are half-asleep and are moving sluggishly towards everything. The whole thing closely resembles a zombie movie as they stumble towards their positions, with the exception that Corbin and Maria are also moving sluggishly. They eventually get to their positions and we see the time is at 1:30 A.M. briefly before it dissolves off of the screen. Dustin returns to his chair and we see Alex onstage in his costume. Christine wearily wipes the sleep from her eyes as she awakens from having briefly fallen asleep.

Christine: Okay, Alex... take it from "We can't be found."

Alex: (nodding to the stage direction and beginning his monologue) "We can't be found." (he begins to pace around the table in the center of the stage, as if thinking to himself) "There's no way that the jury knew we were lying through our teeth. I only hope that eventually all will be forgotten. After all, he's going to be in jail for a long time. I don't believe I'll ever see him. I wish... no wishing isn't doing me good; I want to believe that everything is going to be okay. It just seems that we're all going to be busted each day. Like the whole town knows we're lying to them. Almost as if-" (the doorbell rings) "Well who could that be now?" (he goes to the door to see who is there and opens it) "Oh, hello guys!"

Maria and Corbin come through the door and head over towards the table. Corbin takes off his coat and Maria shudders as Alex quickly closes the door. The three of them sit at the table at the same time, Corbin greeting Alex as they head there.

Corbin: (heading towards the table) "Hello, cousin. How are you today? May we sit?"

Alex: (sitting himself) "Yes, go ahead. I'm doing well, Quinn. How about yourself?"

Maria and Corbin sit down, Maria facing the audience and Corbin facing Alex on the right side of the table.

Corbin: "Alan, everything is fine. But we're very tired from our long trip from Florida. Do you have anything to drink?"

Alex: (getting up from the table) "Yeah, I do."

We see Alex leave the room through the kitchen entrance. Maria and Corbin are on the stage alone now. Maria stays seated as Corbin gets up and continues his lines.

Corbin: "My dear sweet Melissa, you look lovely in this lighting." (he caresses her) "And you look so great everyday. I am glad you could meet my cousin Alan. He's really a fine sort of fellow, once you get to know him." (Corbin heads towards the photos on the wall, stopping near the front door) "What do you think of this place, Melissa?"

Maria: (blushes at Corbin's compliments) "I think..." (she struggles to say the right line, but fails to) they're just great, baby.

Dustin and Christine wince at Maria's wrong line. They write the note down quickly and quietly on their notepads. The scene continues.

Corbin: "Melissa, when are we going to move into a place like this?"

Maria: (she pauses for a quick moment to get up and heads to Corbin to wrap her arms around him) "One day when we're married."

Corbin: "Ah, but isn't our marriage coming up soon?"

Maria: (playfully) "Then we'll move into a house like this soon, too!" (she smoothes his tie down) "Have a seat on the couch."

Corbin: (smiling) "Yes sir. A fine house we'll have." (he heads towards the couch)

Maria and Corbin go to the sofa behind the table, but in a position that the audience can clearly see what is going on there. They begin to make-out on the couch, something that isn't a part of the script. Christine calls out in protest.

Christine: (yelling) Cut! Cut!

Maria and Corbin smile, but look over at the directors as they break the kiss.

Corbin: (innocent smile) What?

Christine: That's not in the script! Get this scene right or we'll never finish the play.

Dustin: (standing) And Maria, your line is "I think that this house is great. A perfect place for us."

Christine: (glaring at Dustin, then the two on stage) So let's take it from that line again, shall we?

Dustin: Just a minute, Christy. (he calls) Alex!

Alex: (returning to the stage) Yeah?

Dustin: Your exit was a little slow....

Alex: It's one-thirty in the morning; of course I'm slow!

Dustin: Well, half an hour from now and we'll get out of here, I promise.

Alex: (grumbles incoherently for a moment before speaking) Yeah. I'll move a little faster next time.

Maria: We were just doing what we thought should've been put into this part of the scene... is that so bad?

Christine: Yes! Maria, you and Corbin aren't married and it's the early nineties. You're not going to just make out wherever you want to! Especially not in this particular play. You two are supposed to sit on the couch and talk about your dream house.

Corbin: Sorry, Christine....

Christine: (threatening) Do it one more time and the understudies will replace you.

Corbin: (frowns) On such short notice?

Dustin: (angrily) They're better than you are.

Corbin frowns and goes back to the photos on the wall. Maria goes back to her spot at the table. Alex, sensing the scene is restarting, goes backstage.

Dustin: Action!

Maria forces herself to blush again.

Maria: "I think that this house is great. A perfect place for us."

Corbin: "Melissa, when are we going to move into a place like this?"

Maria: (she pauses for a quick moment to get up and head to Corbin to wrap her arms around him again) "One day when we're married."

Corbin: "Ah, but isn't our marriage coming up soon?"

Maria: (playfully) "Then we'll move into a house like this soon, too!" (she smoothes his tie down once more) "Have a seat on the couch."

Corbin: (smiling) "Yes sir. A fine house we'll have." (he heads towards the couch)

Maria: (sitting down) "Quinn, once we're married, do you think we'll be having kids?"

Corbin: "Possibly. In the meantime, why don't you go see what Alan's doing in the kitchen? I'll be here when you get back."

Maria: (as Corbin sits) "But baby, what about the kids?"

Corbin: (laughing) "We don't have kids yet, Melissa. When we do, we'll have a perfect house. Now why don't you go to see what Alan is doing in the kitchen?"

Maria: (standing up) "Trying to get rid of me?"

Corbin: "I have something for you upstairs and I'm going to get it. I want to surprise you."

They stand and Maria begins to head towards the kitchen while Corbin heads upstairs. The curtain closes and we see Anne closing the curtain. Behind the curtains the set rolls away quickly and the upstairs set comes in as Corbin, Alex, and Taylor push them. Maria, Anne, and Kristin place the props on the stage.

17: Corbin's Big Scene

The curtains rise again and we see Corbin on the stage. We see him as he sneaks onto the stage through the door and begins to approach the present on the bed. We hear Corbin's thoughts as we zoom in on his head.

Corbin: (thoughts voice-over) Gosh, what am I still doing here? It's so late. Can hardly focus on this play anymore. And this suit is so itchy... and tight in the shoulders. I told Alex to get it loosened up, but all he does is paint.

Dustin and Christine are shown quickly to have both passed out in their chairs. Neither of them is even awake enough to watch the show now. Dustin snores lightly and Christine's head is leaned back over her chair with her mouth open. Josh, who we see come in through the back of the auditorium, begins to approach them to sit and watch the show.

Corbin: (thoughts voice-over) And for God's sake, when am I going to get some sleep? (we see him again onstage) This is killing me. I haven't slept in so long. No wait, I slept last night.... God today's been a drag.

Corbin reaches down to pick up the gift, stretching his shirt to the limit as he does.

Corbin: "Ah, there you are my little gift of love. Come with me now."

Corbin smiles as we see Josh sit down. Josh looks over at the two sleeping directors and we get a close-up of a bag of peanuts in Christine's jacket pocket. Josh casually takes the bag and opens it, eating the peanuts as the scene continues. Corbin walks back towards the door, grabbing the door and then beginning to close it. We suddenly hear a loud rip and Corbin freezes automatically. We see a close-up of his ripped shirt. Then we see Corbin inspect his shirt to find the rip in the back of his shirt. He growls audibly and comes back to the set and slams the door to the set. Christine and Dustin jolt awake and begin to pretend like they heard the whole scene.

Dustin: Uhm, good job Corbin! Next scene!

Corbin: Hey, didn't you guys hear that rip from my shirt?

Josh: (munching on the peanuts) I did.

Christine looks at him and takes the peanuts back from him.

Dustin: No, sorry Corbin.

Corbin angrily takes his ripped shirt off, now shirtless on stage and tosses the ripped shirt at Dustin.

Corbin: Well if you idiots hadn't been sleeping, you might've heard it!

Christine: Calm down, Corbin! Everything's going to be okay.

Corbin: This is it! This is the last straw! I want out of here!

Dustin: (protesting) We're not done with the play rehearsal yet.

Corbin: I don't care! I need some sleep!

Christine: (as Anne comes out from backstage to see what's going on) Now Corbin, you're making a scene out of nothing!

Dustin: Exactly. Now just leave it alone and find some other shirt to wear. We'll get a new one tomorrow that fits. How's that?

Corbin: Whatever. I'm done for the night. I'm going home.

Corbin walks off stage and passes his brother, bumping into Alex on accident.

Alex: Hey... where's the fire man?

Corbin: (holding up a fist in anger and slamming against the wall) My shirt ripped. I'm going home, you coming?

Alex: Yeah, but when did Jim get back? He has your Hummer, remember?

Corbin: (slamming another fist into the wall) Crap! You're right.

Alex: Just get dressed and meet me up on the balcony. You can help me fix this light Danielle says is off.

Corbin: Sure... whatever.

Corbin goes to go get changed and runs into Taylor, who is changing out of his costume.

Corbin: What're you undressing for?

Taylor: It's two in the morning. I'm going to tell Dustin to let us out of here.

Corbin continues into the dressing room while a happier Taylor goes towards the auditorium.

18: Alex Has a Great Fall

We see Alex on the third floor balcony overlooking the stage. He stands on a tall ladder to fix the light above him. As he stands there we see Danielle in the sound/light booth behind him. She calls out to him.

Danielle: I'm going for a soda. Want one?

Alex: No thanks. I'm not thirsty.

Danielle: Okay, I'll be right back.

Alex: Okay... (Danielle leaves) idiot. Can't even bother to help me with this light. (he mumbles)

Josh stands with Christine and Dustin as Taylor enters the auditorium.

Josh: So, how many more scenes are there?

Dustin: Twelve.

Christine: I don't think we're getting it done tonight.

Dustin: (sighing defeated) No... we're not going to.

Taylor: (from afar) Hey, Dustin! Dustin!

Dustin: What is it?

Taylor goes over to them, running towards the edge of the stage as he does so. He trips over untied shoelaces and tumbles off the front of the stage. Josh, Dustin, and Christine all rush over to him as Anne, Kristin, Maria and Corbin all come out to see what happened. We see Alex again and hear a door behind him open. Henderson rushes in as the door closes. Alex turns once the door is closed and "Alex's Fall" begins to play. He sees nothing and goes back to working on fixing the light. He realizes he can't move it and so he jerks it a little bit. The bolts holding the light in place come loose, we see, but nothing else happens. Alex stands on his tip toes to reach the light as he turns it to where it needs to be at. Henderson, meanwhile, is approaching from behind him. He gets close enough to climb the ladder before Alex exclaims.

Alex: AH! Crap! (he shakes his hand, which was shocked) That's it. I'm hitting this thing with a wrench and that's it.

Alex begins to climb down the ladder and Henderson seizes the opportunity to grab Alex's foot. This makes Alex slip and look down. Henderson has resumed hiding again. Alex grabs his wrench and we see the group down by the front of the stage again as the music pauses.

Dustin: Oh, my God. Is he all right?

Taylor: (standing up) Yeah. I'm fine.

Everyone relaxes.

Anne: Glad to hear it. (Taylor looks at her questioningly and she grunts) I mean... yeah, sure. Glad to hear you're all right. Whatever... don't be such a klutz again.

Taylor: Hey!

Anne: I'm tired... I want to go home.

Dustin: Well, everyone go get undressed and hang your costumes up and I'll have the doors unlocked when you get back.

The music resumes as we see Alex stand on his tip toes again to reach the light. He grabs the light to tighten the loose bolts. Henderson comes out again and violently kicks the ladder from under Alex. The ladder falls over the edge of the balcony and lands with the small platform hitting the bottom first. Alex grabs the light and holds on, now hanging from the ceiling. He tries to grab the railing with his foot but the light slips more and nearly falls. Alex screams and the group on the ground looks up to see him hanging. Kristin screams in horror at this.

Christine: Alex!

Dustin: Hold on Alex, we're coming! (Dustin rushes out of the auditorium towards the staircase)

Alex tries to put his foot on the railing, more desperately this time, and succeeds. Henderson comes out from hiding to push Alex off the railing. Alex freezes in horror to see Henderson.

Alex: H-Henderson?

Henderson: Hehehe... (continuing his rhyme manically) "Seven little actors thrown into the mix; One painted death and now there are six."

Alex is frozen in fear as to what Henderson will do, holding onto the light for dear life. Suddenly, the light shakes loose and falls off the ceiling, hanging on by the wires. Alex is forcibly shaken off when this happens and falls down the three stories onto the upturned ladder, where he is impaled in the spine, killing him instantly. Kristin screams again, falling over in fear and is overwhelmed by tears. Maria goes to comfort her. The music ends as we see Alex from the third story balcony. Henderson laughs menacingly before leaving the balcony. Dustin rushes in to find that Alex, and Henderson, isn't upstairs. He peers over the railing to see Alex dead. We see the others' individual reactions in silence. Anne stands on stage, mouth slightly open and speechless. Her hand approaches her mouth to cover it as a tear falls. Taylor sinks to the ground, sad and silent. Corbin throws his arms around Alex and sobs over him. Maria and Kristin also cry. Christine stands perfectly still, her face solemn and sad. Danielle, who had heard the commotion, looks on with silence, tears flowing down her cheeks. Josh goes over to Corbin and Alex, dropping to take in Alex's body all at once. Dustin, still at the balcony, stands in fear, but mostly sadness. We see Henderson quietly slip out of the door behind Dustin and shut it quietly so as not to be heard. Then, Dustin goes to the door, unaware of Henderson's previous escape, and goes back to the auditorium.

19: Trapped!

Dustin reenters the auditorium and we follow him in. The group hasn't moved at all, Corbin is still crying over Alex. Josh manages to pull Corbin up for a moment and the group focuses on Dustin as he speaks, taking out the front door keys.

Dustin: All right, guys. We're gettin' outta here right now.

Christine: (relieved) Thank God.

Anne: It's about time!

Taylor: Never thought we'd get outta here!

Dustin: (holding the keys as he turns towards the back exit) I'm gonna call an ambulance and we'll get Alex taken care of. (to Corbin) He'll be taken care of, don't worry. (walking towards the back doors) Everybody get your things. We're going. Now!

Corbin composes himself and heads off with the rest of the group. "Trapped!" begins as they begin to leave. Anne grabs her jacket off of a seat in the front row. We see the others are already at the doors as Dustin opens them and steps through. Corbin enters last. We see the group approach the doors and we see the Hummer from the outside still blocking the entrance. Taylor peers out of a window and notices the doors are locked as Dustin, having not seen the car in front of the doors, fails to open them with his keys.

Taylor: Hey, when did Jim get back?

Anne: (pausing to look at him) He never came back, Taylor.

Taylor: (pointing to the Hummer) Well he must've. That's the Hummer he used, right? That's your Hummer, right, Corbin?

Corbin peers out of the window and confirms this with a nod.

Anne: He never came back inside. That's obviously somebody else's car.

Corbin: (shaking his head) No way. (we see the license plate on the Hummer) That's my plate on that car.

Taylor: Why would he block the doors like that if he came back?

Anne: Maybe he's drunk.

Kristin: (softly) Maybe he didn't park it there on purpose.

Dustin: No... (stops trying the doors) If he parked it there, he'd have done it on purpose. There's no way he just parked in front of a double door entrance.

Christine: Then what is that Hummer doin' there?

Dustin: I don't know, but it's there!

Maria: (not having seen the car) What? What's there?

Anne: (turning to face her) Corbin's Hummer is parked in front of the entrance.

Josh: (slowly thinking aloud) So Jim left in the Hummer to get our food... and he got out food and came back... but he parked in front of the doors where we couldn't get out.... That means he parked where he couldn't get in either.... So-

Taylor: (turning sharply to face Josh) So what?

Danielle: (getting Josh's idea) So he didn't park the Hummer there.

Taylor: Well then what idiot would steal the Hummer and park it there?

Danielle: I don't know....

Taylor: (accusingly) Oh I bet you do know!

Danielle: (protesting in a higher pitch) No I don't!

Taylor: (taking a few steps towards her) Then you'd better find somebody that does know, Danielle.

Dustin: (stepping between the two of them) Hey now! Let's just calm down. I'm sure we can find a second way out of here. Renaldo never left and he knows this building like the back of his hand. He knows where the exits are.

Danielle: (calming down) Yeah, but where is he? I haven't seen that creepy old guy in a few hours.

Christine: I don't know, but he was waxing here earlier.

Corbin: (thinking as he speaks) Well... I hope he knows where the phone is... I can't believe Alex fell. He's always had good balance.

Dustin: It's fine, Corbin. Accidents happen all the time. People die all the time. It's just a matter of who we have affect us is what gets us the most.

Corbin: (turning angrily to Dustin) This is your fault! If you'd have let us out earlier, Alex would still be alive! (lunging at Dustin angrily) You son of a-

Kristin dives in between the two men as they fight, effectively blocking Corbin's lunge. Corbin gets up and goes at Dustin again, but Josh and Taylor pull him back. We see Anne and Maria have left as the fight is broken up. Corbin threatens Dustin as he tries to break free, but is held back.

Corbin: (trying to break free) I'm going to kill you! I'm going to get you for what you've done to us! I'm goin' to kill you right now, you selfish, piece of crap!

Dustin: (cowardly sliding away) Well I'd like to see you try!

Corbin: You would, would you? Well (struggles to break free) lemme at him! Get offa me, guys! You heard him!

Taylor and Josh hold him back, but we cut to the janitor's closet. Anne and Maria stand outside of it as Anne knocks on the door.

Anne: (knocking) Mr. Davenport? Renaldo?

The door is locked as she tries to open it. Maria tries it as well, but to no avail. Anne knocks more frantically.

Anne: (knocking) Renaldo? Renaldo! Open up!

Maria: C'mon, Anne. Let's just give it a rest and go home.

Anne: (panicking) The doors are locked and we can't find the only guy who knows the way out of here... We can't go home yet!

Maria: Calm down, Anne. Calm down!

Anne: (nearly screaming) How can I calm down? How can I remain calm when we're stuck in this place!

Maria: Everything's going to be all right. You'll see. I bet they'll have the doors open when we get back. C'mon. (she takes Anne's arm and pulls gently back to the entrance)

Anne refuses at first, but gives in eventually. We cut back to the entrance, where Corbin, Taylor, and Josh have all left. Dustin, Christine, Kristin, and Danielle all try to open the doors at the same time, but they can't move them. Anne practically drops to the floor when she sees this and runs into the auditorium crying. The music ends.

Dustin: (grunting to try to open the door) Why is this door stuck? It should budge!

Christine: (giving up) This is pointless. It's not going anywhere....

Dustin: We can't give up!

Kristin: (giving up as well) Dustin, let's just forget about it... we have our cell phones. We can call for help.

Danielle: (hitting her forehead with the palm of her hand) Of course! Why didn't we think of that earlier?

Dustin: Because of the dead body in the auditorium, Danielle.

Danielle: (reaching for her cell phone) Okay, well, I'm calling the cops. (continues to search)

Kristin: (after a short pause) Well?

Danielle: (confused) I don't know where it is... I must've misplaced it.

Christine pulls hers out and sighs frustrated.

Christine: Mine's dead. Cheap battery!

Dustin: I don't have a cell on me. Just this old pager.

Kristin: I forgot mine at home. Maybe the others have one we can use?

Danielle goes into the auditorium and shouts loudly to the group.

Danielle: (shouting) Anyone have a cell phone!

Josh: No.

Corbin: (silently mouthing his words) No, not me. Alex had it, but it's busted now.

Anne: I do. Hold on, I'll get it.

We notice Taylor is gone. Maria looks around and discovers this.

Maria: Where's Taylor at?

Corbin: I dunno. I thought he was in the bathroom.

Dustin sighs frustrated. He exits the auditorium. Anne goes after him, cell phone in hand.

20: "Eight Little Actors"

Dustin and Anne go to the bathroom and find nothing unusual. Taylor isn't there, and the bathroom is spotless clean, as Renaldo had left it.

Anne: We couldn't find Renaldo, either, Dustin.

Dustin: Well, was he in the janitor's closet?

Anne: We couldn't get in there. Maria and I tried already. It was locked.

Dustin: Well, he sure didn't go home.

Anne: Don't know where he could be then.

Dustin grunts unimpressed and goes to the janitor's closet. He bangs on it.

Dustin: Hey, Davenport! Open up!

Dustin bangs on the door some more and eventually the door opens all by itself.

Dustin: Well... that was easy enough. Two of you couldn't open the door?

Anne: It was locked!

Dustin: (sarcastically) Yeah, with a "Do not enter" sign on it?

Anne: It was!

Dustin goes in and turns on the light. We see the janitor's bucket, with Renaldo dead inside. Anne screams in terror. Dustin recoils in fright and shock. Both leave quickly, just leaving the body there. Christine, meanwhile, is upstairs near the lights/sound booth. We see her open the door and go over to the main box where we then focus on a small piece of paper on it. She picks it up and reads aloud as Josh comes in behind her. "Eight Little Actors" plays as she speaks.

Christine: (reading) "Eight little actors, all in show. One was a bad actor and had to go. Seven little actors thrown into the mix; One painted death and now there are six." (Josh enters silently behind her, confused and frightened) "Six little actors all have a fright. Look out, one's in the light! Five little actors all going to die. One killed his friend, so his end was nigh. Four little actors all in dire need. One choked himself so now there are three. Three little actors to perform the show; now one more is about to go. Two little actors can't stand to fight. One was killed with all of my might. Just one little actor now, all alone. They can't run from Truth and now I have won!"

Josh: Holy crap! That's some scary stuff!

Christine: Who wrote this?

Josh: Not me. I'm not poetic.

Christine: Wasn't me either. Do you think somebody killed Alex?

Josh: I don't know. With something like that... I'd make a sure bet.

Christine: We'd better go tell the others.

Josh nods and begins to leave. As he does, we hear a loud thud behind Christine. She spins around and we focus on the closet on the left of the room. She approaches it and we see her do so from a far shot. She slowly opens it up and we see Jim stumble out dead. Christine jumps back and whimpers before turning to run. She gets caught up in Jim's twisted corpse and falls over to the ground, struggling and screaming as she attempts to free herself. She eventually does and runs out of the booth. The music ends and we see the whole group on stage as Christine comes in. She holds up the note.

Christine: Okay, now who wrote this?

Maria: What is it?

Christine: It's a death threat. Who wrote this cute little death rhyme?

Anne: (staring out into space, curled on the ground) He's dead... Renaldo's dead. Somebody murdered him.

Christine: (taken aback) Okay... that's not good. I just found Jim.

Josh: (eyes brighten up) Where's the food? Did you ask him why he parked in front of the-

Christine: (coldly) He's dead too.

The whole group is shocked. A sudden bright light shines on the group, blinding them all for a moment. The light flashes off again and then demonic, obviously altered, laughing comes over the microphone. Then nothing. All stand to see what has happened. Dustin turns and looks around. Taylor stands up from his squatting position near Kristin and goes over to the directors. Suddenly a loud voice, the same demonic voice, is heard.

Henderson: (altered voice over the microphone) Hello all! You may remember what happened here five years ago! I do... and now I want to see the re-enactment. You're all going to die here tonight. And don't bother searching for me; you'll die before you find me. HA!

There is a brief silence before Dustin goes to Christine and takes her aside.

Dustin: (whispering) We need to find this guy before he does kill us.

Christine: (whispering) Are you kidding me? He just threatened to kill us!

Dustin: (whispering) Don't worry, with this many people looking for him-

Christine: He's bound to have plenty of victims! (all look at her and she whispers) Look, Dustin... we need to call for help. Anne's got her phone, so let's call for the police. They'll be able to find this killer before we do.

Dustin: (whispering) Right. (to Anne) Okay, Anne, call the cops. Tell them of our situation.

Anne: (nodding as she dials 911) Right. (she waits for an answer briefly) 911? We need help. My name's Anne Mayberry and we need help now. We're in the Misty Falls Auditorium. A serial killer has us trapped. We're stuck here and he's already killed three people. We need help! (she grows upset as she pauses) What do you mean, there's an escaped convict that the whole state is looking for? Didn't you hear me? We need help now! We could all be dead soon! (we zoom in on her as she pauses again) I cannot wait four hours for help! I need help now. Send somebody! Anybody that can help us! Now! (another short pause) Just hurry! (she hangs up)

Josh: What? What's going on?

Corbin: What do you mean, "escaped convict?"

Anne: The police are on a manhunt for an escaped convict who just happened to have escaped earlier tonight. We'll have to wait four hours or more for help. That's the earliest anybody can get to us.

Kristin: (higher pitched yell) Four hours! Four hours! (she levels out, but continues to yell) Did you tell them we'll be dead in four hours?

Anne: I did, but they're too busy trying to keep the prison convict locked up rather than help us. The lady said to keep calm and that help would arrive soon.

Taylor: We'll all be dead by then. We have to do something. We have to find that guy ourselves and kill him before he gets to us.

Maria: But didn't you hear him?

Danielle: He said he'd kill us before we found him.

Taylor: (fiercely turning to Danielle) We're going to have to risk it. We have to find him before he gets us.

Dustin: Taylor's right. We have to split up and search for him. Christine and I will take the stage and backstage. Anne, Kristin, look around the bathrooms. Taylor, Corbin, and Josh can search the stairwells, janitor's closet, and the entrance. Danielle, go to the booth and see if you can find a vantage point to look for him from above. Maria, go search the balconies and the other floors. We're bound to find him somewhere around here.

Taylor: Sounds like a plan to me.

Christine: I'm for that.

Corbin: Forget that. I'm not going anywhere. My brother may have fallen to this guy, but that doesn't mean that I have to.

Maria goes over to Corbin and sits next to him. Eventually the two of them leave together.

Danielle: Well, I'm going to go search the booth. Be right back.

Everybody else leaves as well with the exception of Dustin and Christine, who remain on stage.

Christine: I'll go under the stage. You search the backstage area.

Dustin: Right, then we'll switch.

Christine: Okay, then.

21: Danielle's Music Box

Danielle heads up the stairs to the light/sound booth. She opens the door at the top of the stairs and passes around the corner to it and jumps back to find Jim's corpse lying on the floor. She lets out a startled cry.

Danielle: Oh my... Jim! (she kneels beside him and begins to mourn) Oh Christ. Why did this have to happen to you? Why?

We focus on Jim's lifeless scared face, frozen in fear. Danielle cries over Jim as we cut to the stairwells. Taylor and Josh are heading up the stairs while Corbin trails slowly behind, still saddened by his recent loss. Taylor checks the doors to make sure none of them are locked and we see Maria come out of the second story balcony. Corbin embraces her, holding onto her tightly.

Corbin: I love you, Maria! (he hugs her tightly)

Maria: Corbin... (she tries to soothe him) it's okay, baby. Everything is going to be okay. I love you too....

Corbin: I... I don't want to lose you too.

Maria: You won't, I promise.

Corbin: Are you sure?

Maria: Yeah, I am positive, baby.

Corbin: (continues to embrace her) Please, don't go. I can't stand to lose two loved ones.

Taylor: Hey you two lovebirds! We're searching for a killer here, not whispering sweet nothings.

Corbin: Shut up... this is my girl, not yours. I'll whisper whatever I want to her!

Josh: (turning to face them all) Hey! All of you just cut it out! I'm hungry, tired, and scared. As I'm sure you all are. Let's just find this dude and get outta here!

Taylor: Agreed.

Josh: You three search the catwalk; I'm going to help Danielle with the booth.

We see Corbin and Maria, who are embracing still, as they nod at Josh's words. We see Danielle again, searching the booth as we focus on the sound board. We especially focus on the wires that were temporarily fixed earlier and we notice the wires are right by a soda can, half-filled still from when Danielle was fixing the wires. The wires are exposed completely. Danielle turns around and also trips over Jim, stumbling a bit and knocking the soda can over, shorting out the circuits in the wires. "Triple Play" begins as she gets her balance back, using the wall as a place to hold onto. She doesn't notice the fried circuits on the floor by her shoe. She heads over to the light board, flipping every light on to get a better glimpse of things from above. The time, 2:30, appears on the screen briefly as we focus on the stage. We see from Danielle's point of view the stage. Dustin begins to head over to the right side of the stage when we see a large set of lights come falling down on top of him, crushing him instantly. Danielle screams in panic and takes a few steps back, tripping and falling over into the wires and becoming tangled in them, including the faulty wires. The soda drink on the floor touches one of the wires as we see a close-up of it and Danielle tears at the wires, screaming and crying as they fry her alive. Josh comes in at this point, sees what's going on, and immediately tries to help her. He approaches her as she reaches out towards him, her hair standing on edge and her body charred by the wires. He tries to grab her hand, but the current in her is too strong and he is shocked by this. He recoils.

Josh: AH! (holding his numb hand) Christ, my hand! I can't feel it! (he turns back to Danielle, who is still being shocked) Jesus Christ, Danielle! (he approaches, but stops) Hold on! I'll find something to get you outta there!

Josh looks for something, but after a quick moment, Josh spins around as the static shock and the electricity both cut off. Josh sees Danielle in the dark; she's dead. Josh falls down to his knees in shock and Taylor, Corbin, and Maria come in as well, all recoiling in fear. They look at Josh as the music ends.

Josh: She got tangled in the wires... she's dead.

Maria: Oh, my God! Danielle!

The whole room is dark for a moment and we see close to nothing. Then the emergency lights come on and we see Taylor has turned them all on. Maria screams as she looks towards the stage and we see the whole in the stage, Dustin's body splattered all over where the stage now has a whole in it with pieces of his body lying outside of the whole. The four run towards the door again to head towards the stage. We see Danielle's fried corpse once again before we cut to Christine and Dustin on stage.

22: Lights From Above

We see the time on Dustin's watch as it reads 2:20. He watches Corbin, Anne, Taylor, and the others walk out of the auditorium before her turns to Christine. He notices her earring is loose and points this out to her.

Dustin: Uhm, you really should stop wearing those earrings before they fall off.

Christine: Don't be silly, Dustin. These things are attached to me like my hand. I'm not going to lose them anytime soon.

Dustin: Okay, if you're sure of that.

Christine: (frowning) Why on Earth did you ever decide to lock us in and not let us all go home when Jim left?

Dustin: Because I'm ambitious. I'm not giving up on this play and it needs this final rehearsal. It needs it badly.

Christine: (sarcastically) So you decided to make everyone mad at you so we could finish the play at two in the morning?

Dustin: I hadn't intended on being here any longer than you. (sternly) You ought to know I'm not stupid.

Christine: Well, maybe not, but this idea of a late rehearsal sure was a stupid idea.

Dustin: (angrily) Your car broke down! I had to pick your sorry butt up!

Christine turns away from Dustin. Dustin, in turn, turns away from her. We cut to Maria, who is on the first balcony overlooking the stage. We zoom in slowly on her as she watches the two directors on stage. She frowns, unhappy that she is stuck here. "Triple Play" begins as she begins to leave. She turns around and begins to head out of the door. On the way, we see her pass by a baseball hat. She stops and realizes she's never seen it before.

Maria: Weird... what's this hat doing here? (she takes it) Interesting, it's brand new.

She puts it into her back pocket of her jeans and walks off. We see Henderson on a section of lights as Christine and Dustin converse unheard. Henderson laughs silently to himself, finishing his trap. Christine goes off into the orchestra and disappears. Henderson, realizing this is his chance, goes over to the ladder leading to the catwalk he's on, and slides down it, his feet landing with a loud thud on the ground. Dustin turns his head sharply towards the sound, not seeing Henderson, who suddenly dashes for the orchestra pit, his shoes making loud noises as he runs. Dustin turns his head to see where the sound came from before we hear screaming under the stage.

Dustin: Christine? That you? What's going on?

He approaches where he thinks the screams are coming from. He stops and we see Christine struggling underneath him, but he doesn't see her. Suddenly, there is a loud groaning sound. Dustin looks up to see the lights shaking violently.

Dustin: What in the-

The lights suddenly drop on top of Dustin. We see Danielle in the lights/sound booth scream as Dustin is crushed and a hole opens in the stage where the impact was. We see Dustin's arm go flying off away from the crash, severed at the elbow. We see his watch read 2:30 as the lights go out. The music ends and we see nothing but black.

23: Under the Stage

We see the time on screen briefly, 2:25 as we fade back in. Christine and Dustin stand on the illuminated stage alone. Christine turns to Dustin.

Christine: Do you think we'll ever find this killer?

Dustin: I don't think. (confidently) I know!

Christine: Well... I'm going to check under the stage then....

The two accidentally bump past each other and we see Christine's earring fall off and down a crack in the stage. Christine doesn't notice this, but she does notice the bump.

Dustin: My bad....

Christine goes over towards the orchestra pit in front of the stage. She goes down into it and then opens a small door leading to an area under the stage. She searches on her hands and knees for a moment as we see Anne and Kristin in the bathrooms.

Kristin: (as they enter) Hey, Anne... can I ask you something?

Anne: Yeah?

Kristin: Do you think this killer really knows who we are?

Anne: (softly) I hope not.

Kristin: And do you think he's really going to kill all of us?

Anne: He sure seems to be making a point. Three dead people isn't exactly petty... this guy knows what he's doing.

We see Anne open a bathroom stall door only to reveal it is empty. Kristin opens one next to her and it, also, is empty. Cut back to Christine as she crawls around. It is dark under the stage, with small cracks of light from the cracks onstage being the only source of light. We see Christine's earring again as she approaches it, unaware of its existence in front of her. We cut back to Anne and Kristin as they leave the bathrooms, satisfied nothing is there.

Anne: (as they leave) Yeah, Kristin, I believe this guy may kill us all.

Kristin: (terrified) I don't wanna die!

Anne: Get a hold of yourself. You're not going to die now. You're just going to make it harder on yourself if you keep telling yourself-

Kristin: (sharply cutting her off) But you just said we're all gonna die!

Anne: No... I said I believe he could do us all in, not that we're dead.

Kristin: (as we cut back to Christine) But what if somebody else dies?

Anne: Then it won't be me, and it won't be you. I'm not going to let anybody get killed while I'm around.

Christine suddenly pricks herself on her earring, the pin getting stuck in her palm. She cries out suddenly.

Christine: (recoiling) Ouch! What the- (she pulls her earring out) My... earring? What's that doing here?

"Triple Play" begins as we hear a strange noise coming from Christine's right. She jerks her head to the side and we see a dark form moving under the stage towards her. She screams out suddenly and we see Dustin go towards her screams, off to the right of the stage.

Christine: Oh, my God! Who are you?

We can see Henderson's eyes as he attaches a rope to Christine's foot, and then crawl off. Christine jerks her foot wildly to get free of the rope, which is held tightly in place by the other end. We then notice that the other end is attached to another rope, then another, then up the rope to a section of light. The lights are rigged to fall if the rope is pulled too hard. Christine continues to squirm and scream and we see her pulling the rope as we zoom in on Dustin as he searches for her. She suddenly pulls the rope and Dustin hears a loud clang. He looks up and sees the lights fall onto him, crushing him instantly. Christine, who was under the lights, is also killed. The music ends. Taylor, Maria, Corbin, and Josh run into the auditorium and Maria screams as she sees Dustin's arm on the stage. We zoom in on it slowly as we fade to the seats in front of the stage.

24: Remembering the Conspiracy

Anne, Corbin, Taylor, Josh, Kristin, and Maria all sit in the seats. The time is 3:30 according to Dustin's watch on his severed arm. The group is quiet. We pan from animal to animal. We see them in the order they are sitting in: Maria, Corbin, Josh, Kristin, Taylor, and Anne. They are quiet as we see them from different angles in the auditorium. Nobody speaks as we see the bodies lying around: Renaldo, Jim, Danielle, Alex, Christine, and Dustin. Finally, Taylor speaks softly.

Taylor: (softly) What's today?

Kristin: (softly) The fifth anniversary of that day.

Maria: (unaware of what their talking about) Yeah... five years have passed since that happened. (suddenly curious) What happened?

Corbin: (silently) Nothing.

Anne: You mean, you never told her, Corbin? Neither of you told her?

Corbin: No.

Taylor: What's the matter with you? (jokingly, but serious) Everybody needs to know about that, right? I mean, would defeat the purpose of our pact, but heck, let's just tell everybody anyways, right?

Corbin: I never told her, Taylor.

Josh: You never told Maria about Dusty Henderson, Corbin? It's probably best if you do now, before we're all dead.

Anne: (skeptically) We're not all going to die. This killer can't be serious about knowing who we are.

Josh: (shouting and jumping up) Well he definitely ain't kidding about killing us all! He's already killed half of us!

Kristin: Please, there's no need to shout. We're all right here.

Josh: I'll shout if I want to!

Maria: (questioningly) Who's Dusty Henderson?

Anne: A boy we once knew....

Corbin: (as his tone becomes harsher) A boy that witnessed the Misty Falls Auditorium Incident five years ago. (distastefully) He was our friend.

Anne: He's going to die in less than twelve hours.

Maria: What? Why? What happened to him?

Corbin: (sadly) We happened.

Anne: (sadly and quietly) We set him up and put him on death row.

Maria: (confused) What? Why?

Taylor: (jumping up out of his chair and taking Maria away from the others) Okay, Maria. Time for you to get out of here. You know too much already as it is.

Anne: (going after him) Taylor please! It's okay to tell her, she's our friend too.

Taylor: She didn't do anything though! She's not like us. She's not done what we've done.

Maria: What? (pulling away from Taylor) What's going on? (she goes to Corbin's aide) Corbin, baby, what's going on?

Corbin remains silent, looking at her with a hawk-eyed expression of intent. Maria becomes a little intimidated.

Anne: I think it's time we told her! Taylor, she has a right to know now. We've already brought her into it.

Kristin: Please, (quietly) just shut up, guys.

Maria: (demanding) No. I'm not shutting up until I know what you guys are talking about!

Josh: (shouting again) Shut up, Maria! This doesn't concern you!

Anne: (shouting to Josh) She has a right to know!

Josh: She doesn't have jack! And I'm not telling her that story.

Taylor: I agree. We're not telling her anymore than she already knows.

Maria: (angrily) Will somebody tell me what is going on? Why is Dusty Henderson about to go to death?

Anne: Can't we just tell her and make sure she never tells?

Kristin: (going over to Anne) No! We made a pact to never tell.

Maria: (heading over to Kristin) I'm not going to tell anybody. Why don't you spill already?

Anne: (shouting) Enough already! Everybody shut up!

Everybody becomes quiet again and all look to Anne. We zoom in on Anne from behind everybody else as she tells the story.

Anne: (explaining as she paces back and forth) It was five years ago when a murderer came into this very auditorium and shot everybody in it. He killed everybody with a hail of bullets; except Dusty Henderson. Dusty escaped death by climbing the ropes up to the catwalk. When they put him on trial, Danielle, Alex, Jim, Corbin, Taylor, Josh, Kristin, and I were all convinced he was the bad guy and killed everybody himself. We all decided to put him away because we were so sure of ourselves. We just... (she begins to tear up) we put him on death row with our testimonies and he knew we were lying.

Taylor: That's crap! He didn't know!

Anne: He did too, Taylor, and you know it! And it's been five years since we put him on trial and he went to death row because of it.

Taylor goes over to Anne and punches her, knocking her down as she curls into a ball on the floor.

Taylor: Just shut up! Shut up! I do not need to hear that story again! (Anne begins to get up) Just stay down! Shut up and don't say a word more!

Maria: (horrified by Taylor's actions) Is it true?

Taylor: No, it ain't true!

Corbin: (quietly) It's not true.

Maria turns to Corbin with fierce eyes.

Maria: Corbin, tell me it isn't true. Tell me that story is fake.

Corbin: (quietly) It's not true, Maria.

Maria: (demanding) Corbin... you aren't lying to me are you?

Corbin: (a little louder) It's not true.

Anne gets up and punches Taylor to the ground, temporarily stunning him.

Anne: Yes, Maria. That's a true story! It's all a lie to them, but I was there! I know it's a true story.

Kristin: We were there too!

Anne: Aha! So you admit it's true!

Kristin: No, it's just that-

Anne: (shouting) Just that what? Just that you're too ashamed to talk about it? Too ashamed to admit you're part of the reason a friend of ours is about to die in just a few hours!

Taylor: (weakly on the floor as he regains control) You... little....

Anne: (kicks Taylor) Shut up, Taylor! All of you know this is a true story! Now I want you all to confess to Maria that this is a true story!

Corbin nods.

Corbin: Okay... Maria, it is true. I lied. Anne's right. It's true.

Kristin: Yeah, Maria. (still tensely) It is true.

Josh: (sadly) Yes... I helped send him to death row.

Anne: (as all turn to Taylor) Your turn.

Taylor: No way. No way! It never happened.

Anne: (firmly placing her foot on Taylor's chest) Taylor McAlister!

Taylor coughs for a moment then says nothing. Anne presses harder on his chest until he coughs again and he wheezes out his confession.

Taylor: (wheezing) Okay... all right! It's true. It's true!

Anne steps off of Taylor and goes over to Maria, who clings tightly to Corbin for protection.

Anne: Now you know. You know what happened five years ago.

Taylor: (getting up) How about you just shut up, Anne! This didn't have to be said in the first place if-

Anne: If you hadn't asked what day it was!

Taylor: Just shut up already! You've said enough about everything to make us all go to prison forever, so just shut up, Anne!

Kristin: (fearful) P-prison?

Taylor: Yeah, and when Maria spills the beans to the cops in a few hours, we're all gonna be put on death row too!

Maria: (beginning to back away) But I-

Taylor: (sharply cutting her off) You know you will. You've always been a teller!

Kristin: (repeating fearfully, sliding into a chair) Prison? Death row?

Anne: Taylor, just stop it! You're scaring everybody more than they already are. Isn't it bad enough we have six corpses lying around and a killer that's locked up inside of here with us?

Taylor: (angrily as he turns away) Whatever, if we die, we die. But I know I'm not goin' to die by some punk who thinks he's gettin' off killing us all. I'm not goin' to let him get me.

Anne: Where are you going, Taylor?

Taylor begins to storm off, Josh rushing after him.

Taylor: I'm getting my act together and I'm going to find a way outta here.

Josh: I'm coming with you, Taylor.

Taylor: Fine, just don't screw around.

The two leave together. Kristin sits dazed and frightened in a chair.

Kristin: Death row?

Corbin: (sharply to Maria) You can't tell anybody, baby. You really can't tell anybody.

Maria: (still backing away) But, what you did... was wrong. You framed an innocent man. You... you... you're going to have to confess!

Corbin: Maria... give me your word. Tell me you won't tell. Promise me, baby.

Maria: (shocked and backing away) No... I- I can't.

Corbin: (pleading) Maria, baby... you've gotta promise. This is the biggest thing I've ever told you. You've got to keep it secret.

Maria: I can't, Corbin. I just can't let you guys go on like that, living a lie. You need to confess.

Corbin tries to grab Maria by the arm, but she jumps back. She looks very hurt, stunned at her boyfriend's actions. She runs off.

Corbin: (calling) Maria!

Corbin runs off after her. Anne and Kristin, alone in the auditorium now, sit together as they both grow silent. Kristin, still afraid and thinking of prison, sits with an agonized face while Anne sits with a determined and angry face next to her. We then hear the auditorium doors in the back close as Corbin runs out of them, and they close slowly behind him. All is silent once again.

25: Play Ties

We see the time, 4:15, briefly on screen before it fades off and we simultaneously fade to Taylor and Josh, who struggle to break open the front doors. They don't budge. We see them continue to strain with the handle of a mop they found in the janitor's closet. They continue to struggle until the mop handle snaps in half and the two men fall to the ground with it. Taylor gets up and sighs aggravated. They head back to the janitor's closet for another prying tool. We see Maria hiding from Corbin as she lies in a row of seats on the balcony, concealed from view. Corbin looks for her, but doesn't find her. We see him call out for her once.

Corbin: Baby? Maria?

He leaves dejectedly, and we see her crying softly to herself as he does so. We then cut to Anne and Kristin, who are still in their chairs. Anne now has a copy of the script to pass the time. She reads it and we slowly focus on her as she looks at it, reading intently once again. We focus on a specific page and we see the line "We find the defendant guilty of all charges. We sentence him to death row." A flashback of Henderson angrily being dragged out of court as he is taken away after his sentencing is seen. Anne, frightened, turns to a different page. We focus on the line she reads, "This play marks the fifth anniversary of that incident, Rodney. He'll be dead before noon, so then the secret will die." A flashback of Anne with her foot on Taylor is quickly shown. Anne gasps, but Kristin, depressed she may be going to jail, doesn't look over towards her. Kristin sits with her hands in her head. Anne quickly flips to an earlier page. The line "No, it can't be you! No! (Alan is dropped to his death)" in a very close shot. Anne turns back and we see Alex still on the ladder. She then turns to Kristin.

Anne: Oh, my God. Kristin... this play.

Kristin: I know... this play is the reason we're here.

Anne: No, you don't understand. This play-

Kristin: This play is nothing anymore. I'm quitting when we get out of here myself, and I suggest you do the same.

Anne: No, you idiot! (Kristin looks with a smirk) This play is real!

Kristin: (coldly) Well, you wouldn't be holding it if it wasn't.

Anne: No, Kristin, this play is real! We're living this play!

The realization dawns on Kristin and we zoom in on her frightened reaction as her eyes go wide with fear. She takes the script from Anne, flipping through it. The line "This is real life," which is spoken by Anne's character is seen. Kristin drops the script in fear, the papers coming undone and becoming cluttered on the floor as she drops them. Anne picks them up and begins to put them in order again.

Anne: Do you know what this means, Kristin?

Kristin: We can find out the ending and stop this whole nonsense?

Anne: Yes! Exactly! Now help me re-organize the papers.

Corbin enters through the back again, sighing as we follow him to the two women.

Corbin: I can't find Maria.

Anne: She's around here, somewhere, Corbin. (holding up a piece of paper that goes to the script) Read this and tell me you don't get déjà vu.

Corbin reads it. As he does, he eyes go wide.

Corbin: Oh, Christ... are you serious?

Kristin: We're dead serious. This play is what's happening to us right now.

Corbin: (putting his hands to his hips) And all this time I thought this play was just a waste of time!

Anne: Well... it's not. We've got to find the others and tell them.

Corbin: Maria's gone and Josh and Taylor aren't talking to anybody.

Anne: Well, maybe we can talk some sense into them.

Corbin: Don't. Taylor's pissed off at you anyways.

Anne: Well, let him be. I only did what had to be done.

Corbin: (frowning) What, putting us into jail? That was really smart of you.

Anne: Now don't start that crap! You should've told your girlfriend-

Corbin: (cutting her off) No way, Anne. No freaking way!

Kristin: We need to find some way to get out of here. We need to find out what happens next. This script can tell us.

Corbin: I know how the play ends, so we don't need that script. We all know how it ends, so why don't we look over our minds and not this paper?

Anne: Because this "paper" is the correct truth. Our minds could mess up a detail and then somebody else could die because of it.

Corbin: Well... you two have fun looking for the answers.

Kristin: You're not going to help us?

Corbin: Not now. I have to find Maria.

Anne: (softly and quietly) I doubt you'll change her mind, Corbin.

Corbin: Well I have to try.

Corbin leaves and we see the two women cleaning the floor of the script and putting it back together. We see Kristin and Anne from a closer shot as they begin to put the script back in order.

Anne: Okay, now. Let's get this over with.

26: Josh and Taylor's Hunger

We fade to Taylor and Josh at the janitor's closet. Josh lies on the ground, holding his stomach. Taylor stands in the doorway with his arms crossed, his face just as cross.

Josh: I can't believe Jim died. Now how am I supposed to get food?

Taylor: (in disbelief) Trapped in a building with a serial killer and all you can think about is food. You know, food is gonna be the death of you one day.

Josh: (coldly) Well until then I'm going to be a glutton.

Taylor: (his stomach audibly growls) Jesus, I didn't realize I was hungry too.

Josh: Maybe the vending machines have some food?

Taylor: Would it be enough though?

Josh: It's worth a try.

Josh stands up and passes Renaldo dead in the corner, the original position he was in having been moved since we last saw him.

Taylor: I still don't think you shoulda touched him. (points to Renaldo) He's dead. I don't think he'd have minded if you used the bucket with him in it.

Josh: (sternly) Shut up. It made the load lighter. (heading outside the room) Let's go find the vending machines, before I starve to death.

Taylor: You're not going to starve to death, Josh.

Josh: Shut up, Taylor. Ever since you got here.... Never mind.

The two continue down the hall briefly before Taylor looks at Josh questioningly.

Taylor: What on Earth do you mean?

Josh: I'm saying what I'm meaning. You've only caused trouble tonight.

Taylor: (defensively) I have not! I've been telling everyone not to tell Maria the story, which by the way was part of the pact we all made. I've been doing my job in this play. I've also been helping to find a way out of here. And-

Josh: (quickly and harshly) And you've been a prick to Anne ever since Henderson got death row.

Taylor: She and I don't get along anymore. I don't know what's wrong with her.

Josh: (pausing his steps) Maybe she's not the wrong one.

Taylor: (he squints at Josh menacingly) What do you mean?

Josh: I mean, maybe you are what's wrong with Anne.

Taylor: If I was the problem, don't you think she'd have said something to me by now?

Josh: (growls angrily) Shut up, Taylor. You're too stubborn to talk to.

Taylor: (as Josh continues walking) What?

Josh: Shut up! You're obviously too blind to see what's really going on.

Taylor: (catching up with Josh) I want to know what you're talking about. Right now.

Josh: (ignoring Taylor) Let's just find a way out of here, okay? First though I need some food.

Taylor stops Josh by forcing his hand onto Josh's shoulder and turning him around.

Taylor: (coldly) I want to know right now what you say I'm too blind to see.

Josh: Anne tries to tell you every day you're the problem. And yet you continue to torture her by forcing her to keep a pact she didn't want to commit herself to, nor did she want continue to listen to your angry comments to her every single time you two meet up.

Taylor: I'm not always mean.

Josh: (forcing Taylor off of him) Yet every time you two are in the same room, a fight breaks out. How do you explain that?

Taylor: (laughing) She's disagreeable!

Josh: Like I said, you're stubborn. I'm surprised the killer hasn't killed you yet.

Taylor: Is that a threat?

Josh: (angrily) It's a threat.

Taylor: So you're the killer, eh?

Josh: No. But if I was, you'd be dead next.

Taylor: (backing down) I see. Well... you're right. Let's find some food.

They get to a vending machine and find it's broken. All of the contents inside are gone. Josh falls down in front of it, trying to find a scrap of food. He finds none to his disappointment.

Josh: This isn't fair! This just isn't fair! How do we survive if we can't eat?

Taylor: (quietly) We don't.

Josh: (standing up) This sucks man! Where am I supposed to get food?

Taylor: There has to be food around here somewhere. The machine was stocked earlier. It was filled. The food is here somewhere.

Josh: We're all going to die, aren't we? Starvation is going to kill us all....

Taylor: I think we'll be outta here before then.

Josh: If the cops come. You ever think about that? That they won't come.

Taylor: They'll be here. (uncertainly) It just won't be for a little while.

Josh: You don't sound too convinced yourself.

Taylor: I'm not.

Josh and Taylor are silent for a moment before we see Josh begin to walk away from Taylor.

Josh: Whatever. We're all going to die then.

Taylor: Where are you going?

Josh: To find some food. (he turns) Stay here. You need to think about what I said earlier about you and Anne.

Josh walks around a corner. Taylor stands momentarily, disgusted with Josh's high need for food and low need for Taylor's presence.

27: Means for Murder

Taylor suddenly passes Maria as he leaves the vending machine area. She is startled to see him.

Maria: Oh! You scared me.

Taylor: Where have you been all this time?

Maria: Hiding from Corbin. He's really starting to scare me. You all are. Especially since you keep saying Henderson's going to die because of what you all did.

Taylor: I hope to God you don't tell.

Maria: You have to be reported to the authorities. And when they get here, I'll think about it.

Taylor: You can't do this to us. It's unjust!

Maria: Tell that to your friend who's going to die.

Taylor: That was different. We were sure he was the bad guy. We didn't know.

Maria: But I know you guys did it. It's right if I turn you all in.

Taylor: I'm going to call for Corbin if you don't shut up.

Maria: Go ahead. I'll slap him and run off again.

Taylor: So you really don't want to be with him now, do you?

Maria: Exactly the point of slapping him.

Taylor: You have to get over his secret. If he'd done what he should have done as a boyfriend a long time ago, you'd know about all of this and you wouldn't have told. Nothing would be bad about what we told you.

Maria: You're wrong. If he'd told me earlier, you'd all be joining Henderson right now.

Taylor: Maria, just go find Corbin and apologize to him.

Maria: Why? So he can get away with murder, just like you all have?

Taylor: Exactly.

Maria: I hope-

Taylor: (interrupting her) I hope for your sakes you don't say one more word about us going to jail.

Maria: No, I was going to say, I hope for your sakes Henderson doesn't live up to his promise.

Taylor: His promise? (remembering) Oh! No, he could never escape from prison, track us down, and kill us all tonight.

Maria: (suspiciously) Don't be too sure. He may have already killed three of his "little actors" tonight.

Taylor: I doubt-

Maria: You doubt what?

Taylor: I doubt that Henderson is trying to kill us all in a last ditch effort to fulfill his promise.

Maria: Don't be too sure. After all, it is just a bit too coincidental that all eight of you ended up together at the same place working on the same play and on the same rehearsal, not to mention on the same day as when Henderson witnessed those murders, since he never killed anybody.

Taylor: I'm starting to really despise your attitude.

Maria: Good! And I'm starting to hope that maybe our serial killer here is Henderson himself!

Taylor: (scared) H-How do you mean?

Maria: Think about what I just said. You're all in the same spot. Jim was killed on his way here with food. That means the killer must've found him and interrogated Jim or somebody else about where he was going and when he found out you all were here, he came here and killed Jim. He probably fried Danielle herself, pushed Alex off the balcony, stabbed Mr. Davenport, and rigged the lights on stage to crush our beloved directors.

Taylor: "Beloved?"

Maria: (continuing) Not only that, but he's probably watching us right now or planning somebody else's demise. Sooner or later he's going to kill all of you and maybe even me too. I hope that if he isn't the killer, you all die one way or another. You all deserve it.

Taylor: Now hold on. (putting it together in his mind) Christine mentioned a rhyme. Josh told me about the rhyme earlier when we were trying to get out. It was the same rhyme about the "eight little actors" that Henderson had stuck in his head during the trial. Maybe it is Henderson.

Maria: That's what I'm saying.

Taylor: And you're right. It is a little too convenient.

Maria: So what do you think it means?

Taylor: I know what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean that there is a serial killer just popping by. Henderson's out to get us....

Maria: I'm glad you think so. (frowning) Now what are we going to do about him?

Taylor: (facing her coldly) We do nothing. I'm going to round up the gang and we're going to confront Dusty himself. Try to work out a little deal.

Maria: (as Taylor walks off) So... like, what am I supposed to do?

Taylor: (bitterly) Don't get yourself killed and stay outta my way.

Maria watches Taylor go. She scoffs, shifting her weight as she does so. She crosses her arms and flips her hair.

Maria: Yeah, what a classic thing to say, Taylor. I was only kidding about Henderson. I doubt he'd want to kill me anyways. I didn't do anything to him to begin with!

Maria shouts at nobody and we see Corbin turn the corner. Maria turns away and begins to walk away.

28: Maria and Corbin No More

We see Anne and Kristin in the auditorium as Anne reads the play. She suddenly gasps as she has a cold chill go down her spine. She looks up and we see Corbin hitting Maria, knocking Maria to the floor. Anne jumps up suddenly, shocked to see this once more. Kristin turns to see, but doesn't see.

Kristin: Anne, what's wrong?

Anne: (shaking her head) Nothing... (thoughts voice-over) I wish these stupid visions would leave. (talking to Kristin) I think I just need to use the bathroom. If you find anything out about the script, let me know.

Kristin: Right, Anne. Will do that.

Anne leaves the auditorium. We cut to Corbin and Maria, who are near the vending machines. Corbin is trying to talk to Maria, who refuses him. He grows increasingly more upset as he speaks.

Maria: No, I won't listen to you.

Corbin: Baby, please. Maria, I don't want to go to jail. I did what I thought was right at the time. You gotta believe I thought he was the bad guy this whole time. Please, just believe me.

Maria: (shaking her head and turning away from Corbin) No, sorry, Corbin. I do not believe your lies this time.

Corbin: They're not lies! It's truth! Honest to God truth!

Maria: Yeah, like I believe that. How can I possibly believe you're not lying to me now?

Corbin: If I were lying, I wouldn't be making such a big deal out of it, Maria. You have to believe me.

Maria: You've had your chance, Corbin. For five years, you had the chance to set things right with Dusty Henderson. Five long years. How do you think your friend feels right now?

Quick-shot of Henderson, who hides easily behind a wall in the girl's bathroom, eavesdropping on the conversation. He holds a pocket knife in his hands. He grins evilly, listening to Maria and Corbin's pathetic excuses.

Corbin: God, Maria. You have to trust me. I only ask that you believe me on this. If you never believe anything else I say, believe me when I say that I did what I thought was right.

Another quick-shot of Henderson, from a new angle. He frowns.

Henderson: (muttering under his breath) What you thought was right, Corbin? You unimaginable-

Maria: (shouting as she faces Corbin again) No Corbin! I won't listen to you anymore! I've had enough of your lies to last me a lifetime.

Corbin: So what are you saying?

Maria: You know for a fact what I'm saying. (she pushes Corbin to a wall as she speaks) Corbin Graves, we... are... through!

As she finishes, she pushes him against the wall. Corbin becomes enraged and as Anne rounds the corner we see Corbin hitting Maria with a clean punch to the face, knocking her down. Anne's heart sinks and she goes rigid as she watches the conflict. Maria coughs slightly and tries to get up. Corbin kicks her in the gut, keeping her down.

Corbin: You can't leave me! You can't do this to me! I only want you to believe me! (he kicks Maria a second time) Without me and my helping you these few years, you'd still be working at the diner! (he kicks her a third time)

Maria: (sputtering) Corbin... stop!

Anne stands terrified, frozen in place, as the two of them fight. Corbin kicks Maria over onto her back. Maria coughs again, a small speck of blood coming out this time. Maria whimpers as she sees it.

Maria: Oh, God. Corbin... stop!

Corbin: Without me, Maria, you'd be nothing! I don't think you know how much I've done for you these past few years! All I ask now is your word you won't rat us out to the police.

Maria: But... it's the wrong thing to do, Corbin. You did the wrong thing....

Corbin: (angrily as he kicks her a fifth time) No, Maria, it is you who is wrong!

He goes to kick Maria again, but Anne flies out of nowhere and knocks Corbin to the ground, the two of them skidding several feet across the smooth waxed floor. Anne punches Corbin three times, we see each one is close to the same shot.

Anne: You are unbelievable! (first punch) I can't believe you'd hurt your own girlfriend like that! (second punch) And I certainly can't believe you're so adamant about not going to jail over your girlfriend's life right now! (third punch) Corbin, you always were the prodigal son! Now you have you to hurt Maria... defending what? Something that we won't have to deal with after tomorrow? I can't believe you would go to such lengths to make Maria-

Corbin: (angrily) Shut up, Anne.

Maria: (as she gets up) No. I want her to talk. Keep going, Anne!

Anne: (continuing) I can't believe that you would hurt Maria like that. I... should've known, I guess.

Corbin: What, some stupid vision? Thought you had gotten rid of those!

Anne: It doesn't matter... you still made it come true.

Corbin: Shut up, Anne! You're just making me want to hit you instead.

Anne punches Corbin and Corbin, on shear adrenaline, throws Anne off of him and goes to hit her back. Maria screams and the two fighting people stop.

Maria: Just stop it! All of you!

Corbin: Maria, shut up or I'll hit you again. (he threatens her further) And I'll make it hurt the most. This doesn't concern you anymore and it should never have concerned you.

Maria: How could I? (she speaks softly) How could I have ever?

Corbin: (ignoring Maria) Stay still, Anne. I'm going to miss you otherwise.

Corbin goes in to punch Anne, who is still in shock to move much more. Maria stands in bewilderment, her thoughts being spoken aloud.

Maria: (loudly, but to nobody) I can't believe I almost proposed to an unimaginable prick like Corbin.

Corbin, nearly hitting Anne, misses his shot when he hears Maria. His head jerks towards this new statement as she continues. Anne, too, is surprised to see this.

Maria: (to Corbin) I can't believe I almost proposed to you... I was going to do it after the show tomorrow... I was going to surprise you on stage while the show was ending. I was going to take your hand in marriage, Corbin. We were going to live a wonderful life together. We were going to... (she tears up) have kids and grow old together. I thought you were my soul mate, Corbin.... (screaming) I thought you were my soul mate! (she speaks quieter) I guess... I was wrong to believe anybody as dark and menacing as you truly are could ever be my soul mate. You're evil, Corbin. I hope you rot in Hell!

Maria turns and runs off, sobbing. We see Anne, shocked to hear this confession. We zoom in slightly on Corbin as we see him, fist still where he landed the punch on the wall, frozen in shock. He is too stunned to move after what he had just heard. His eyes begin to tear up finally and he moves off of Anne, who begins to come back to life, finding Maria's exit to be a rather poor decision. We focus on Corbin still, who falls onto his butt as she talks.

Anne: That's not something she ought to do. The killer could kill her easily. Maria, wait up!

Anne runs after her. Corbin stays in shock. We see him from a far shot as we fade out.

29: "Romeo and Juliet" Ending

We fade in and we see Josh, cradled in a corner of the boy's bathroom. He rocks himself mumbling incoherently.

Josh: (hysterical mumbling) Need food... need to eat... chocolate bars.... Hamburgers... yeah, yeah! And a big side order of fries! Yeah, that's the case. Hehehe... food! I need food!

Josh goes over to the sink and sees himself in the mirror. He slaps himself silly and turns on the sink to splash water on his face. He begins to calm down.

Josh: Just calm down, Joshy... you'll make it until morning. The cops will come and then you'll have food to eat aplenty. There's going to be food everywhere. Just get a grip and pull yourself together! You're going to make it to see another Twinkie. Be calm.

We cut to Maria and Anne, who walk together on the catwalk, searching for the killer. They see the trap, from above, that Henderson had clearly set to kill the stage directors. They quietly walk over the stage, trying to search for the killer. We then cut back to Corbin, who walks depressed into the boy's bathroom as Josh exits, not bothering to ask what the trouble was, to search for more food possibilities. The two girls talk as we see Corbin stare at himself in the mirror.

Anne: I'm sorry you had to find all of this out like you did.

Maria: Don't be sorry, I'm not.

Anne: Are you still going to turn us all in for what we did?

Maria: (sighing) Yeah. It's the right thing to do Anne.

Anne: I know it is, Maria. I want you to do the right thing. Don't make the same mistake we all did and frame the wrong people.

Corbin punches the mirror in anger, breaking the mirror and cutting his fist deeply. He doesn't even scream. He's feeling too many other emotions at once to even notice it now. The blood drips into the sink and we see Corbin staring in wonder at the smashed mirror now as the conversation continues between the girls.

Anne: It's okay if you want to turn us all in. Heck, I've wanted to turn myself in for a long time now, but I haven't because Taylor and the others are always telling me it would be a bad thing to do. I don't want to die, Maria, but it's the only justice that I can get at this point.

Maria: I understand, Anne.

Corbin turns around as "Lovers Die" plays. He goes into a bathroom stall and cries. Henderson enters and he silently approaches the stall Corbin cries in. Meanwhile, we see Maria and Anne climb down from the catwalks and we see in the background that Kristin is not in the auditorium. Neither Anne nor Maria notices that she is missing. Maria and Anne head towards the bathrooms again and we see Henderson kick open the door to Corbin's stall.

Corbin: (not looking up) What do you want?

Corbin looks up in surprise but doesn't have time to react as Henderson jams the pocket knife's blade into Corbin's chest several times before leaving it in there. Corbin barely struggles, not having enough strength to do so after the sixth stab. Henderson laughs as Corbin dies.

Henderson: (coldly) "Five little actors all going to die. One killed his friend, so his end was nigh." You ought to learn how to charm the ladies better, Corbin.

Corbin: (as he dies) Henderson... it was you all along....

Henderson: Surprised?

Corbin: No.... (a weak laughter before he dies)

Henderson, satisfied, hears the two ladies coming and he hides in an adjacent stall. He hears them come in.

Maria: Corbin? (sweetly) Corbin? You in here?

Anne: (after no response) He's not in here. Let's go find Taylor and Josh and get Kristin to help us find a way out of here.

Maria: I'll be along in a minute. I'm going to check both bathrooms.

Anne: Suit yourself.

Anne leaves the bathrooms. She walks down the hallway towards the janitor's closet. Maria continues to call out for Corbin. We see Henderson in the stall hidden.

Maria: Aw, c'mon Corbin. I'm- wait... (under her breath) I'm apologizing for something he did. What am I doing here?

Maria passes Corbin's open stall as she talks, not noticing him there.

Maria: He needs to calm down. I'm not going to talk to him if he's going to try to-

She sees Corbin's dead body on the toilet. She lets out a little scream and grabs the knife from him.

Maria: Oh, my God! Corbin! Why?

Maria sorrowfully cries over him, letting out her emotions, even though she no longer loves him. She holds the knife in her hand as the music grows louder.

Maria: (staring longingly at the blade) This is it... This is the end.... I'm not letting the killer get to me so he can whack me off... I'm not going to be hated or beaten because of my view on past secrets that aren't even mine. I'm going to end it right here.

Henderson, realizing he could peacefully get justice now, leaps out from the bathroom stall. Maria screams, accidentally stabbing herself in the neck. She falls down to the ground and quickly dies as the music ends.

Henderson: Well... this was unpleasant. She could've gotten the revenge for me. Oh well, (turning towards Corbin) one more actor off the stage.

Henderson quickly runs out of the bathroom and down the hall only seconds before Anne comes in, not having seen Henderson leave the same bathroom. She sees Maria dead on the floor and when she goes to mourn her body, she sees Corbin dead on the toilet. She screams loudly, but nobody comes to her aid. She mourns over them.

Anne: Always... why do they always do everything like Romeo and Juliet? The girl wasn't dead, but he killed himself anyways, and then she found him and killed herself. What am I going to tell the others?

Concluding both were killed by Maria, one from heartbreak and the other from her own hand, Anne gets up and leaves the bathroom, depressed that there were only four people left alive now.

Henderson: (reentering) Well, I'd better get that knife back.

Henderson retrieves his knife and begins to walk away. He stops and turns to face Maria one last time.

Henderson: A shame, really. Such a pretty face like that doesn't deserve the Romeo she got stuck with.

We focus on Corbin's dead body, and then Maria's frightened eyes as we zoom in on the pupil of her right eye and then we see, as we transition, Taylor and Josh waiting in the auditorium as Anne reenters it.

30: Puzzle Solved

Anne sees Taylor and Josh sitting around and notices that Kristin is not there. Anne lets out a frustrated sigh, wishing she could give up.

Anne: Not another one gone!

Josh: (taking note of Anne's words) What do you mean another one? Who died that I don't know about?

Anne: Maria....

Taylor: (relieved, but unknowingly cutting Anne off) Finally! I was hoping she'd shut up about ratting us out.

Anne: (continuing) ... and Corbin.

Taylor and Josh are thoroughly disturbed by the addition of Corbin also being dead.

Josh: Together?

Anne: Yeah, they killed themselves. Corbin couldn't bare the heartbreak Maria caused when they broke up, so he killed himself. Maria, feeling guilty for having cause Corbin's downfall, took her life too. They're both in the boy's bathroom.

Josh: Holy crap... you're serious?

Taylor: Of course she's serious! Why ask something so stupid!

Josh: It was rhetorical.

Taylor: Yeah, and my arm is made of chocolate.

Josh: (pointing at Taylor sternly) Don't tempt me to bite it to check. You know how hungry I am.

Taylor: Well your hunger is going to have to wait. We have to tell Anne the news.

Anne: (curious) News? What news?

Taylor: We have a good hunch who the killer is.

Anne: We do?

Taylor: Well, look at all the signs. The killer is obviously after us, he's narrowed it down to just us and Kristin, wherever she is. He tracked us down, because he killed Jim before he got back with the food. He knows this place like the back of his hand, that's why we can't find him anywhere. He knows we're all in the play, hence the rhyme. And the rhyme itself is a sign. Anne, how many people do you know that knows that rhyme by heart?

Anne: (sudden realization) Oh, my God. Dusty Henderson is here?

Josh: We think so. Think about it. All eight of his traitorous friends are in one easy to reach location, doing the same play he did when he witnessed the murders. All eight of his friends were working late on a play, and he had ample time to set things up before he took us down. That's how he got everything working against us. The lights falling on the directors, Alex's fall, probably Danielle's electric problems, and probably everybody else. He's probably planned all of this for so long; we just keep putting ourselves into harm's way rather than trying to get out of it. The killer locked our only main entrance out of here, and all the emergency exits are locked. Dustin's the only one who had the keys to the building, but the keys are gone. Taylor and I checked earlier. He's trapped us all in here and he's the only one who can get out.

Anne: He also is the reason we fought with Maria about being reported to the police. He knew that with Maria out of the way, he could exact his own justice. But Maria was on his side, why would he kill her?

Taylor: I don't know why, but I'll bet he's killed everybody tonight.

Josh: That's why we have to band together, lure him into a trap, and kill him.

Anne: I think this is a little far-fetched... I mean, do we have any physical proof that Henderson killed everybody?

Taylor: What more proof do you need? I just told you every little hunch and every clue there is to know....

Anne: I need more evidence than that to believe it. This is a needle in a haystack possibility here.

Taylor: Okay, you want some more answers? Well, why is it that the police are not here yet? Simple, they're helping to find an escaped convict. What was Henderson before he escaped? A convict. They're spending all night looking for a convict that doesn't even exist beyond these walls. He's here, and I'm surprised that the operator didn't take us seriously. I personally believe you made it up.

Anne: I didn't... she said that we're the second priority and the convict is number one.

Taylor: For Christ's sake, both priorities are sitting in this building!

Anne: Well, what's his motive?

Taylor: Hello? (in disbelief) That's the easiest thing to figure out! If your friends set you up on death row and you had the chance to exact revenge, wouldn't you?

Anne: I guess... but one more thing. If he's the killer, and he knows every step we take and everything we do, and he's planned all of this step by step, then why hasn't he shown himself to us yet?

Josh: (chuckling) Because he's a coward.

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) That's where you're wrong! Here I am, you bunch of traitors!

Anne, Taylor, and Josh all look up to see Henderson waving to them menacingly and laughing evilly into the microphone.

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) Taylor, Josh, Anne... my, my, my. We're all here. All except one. Where is my fourth actor?

Anne: If Kristin's smart, she's gotten away from here.

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) No matter. I've already gotten four little actors... I'm about to get four more.

Josh: (demanding) Why, Henderson? Why'd you kill the others?

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) I don't know... you tell me.

Anne: No, Dusty, you tell us!

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) Dustin and Christine were understudies for the cast and Dustin was supposed to take lead on the last rehearsal because the main actor was sick. Christine didn't show up either. Renaldo was always spooky, don't you think so? I thought so, too. He hated me and thought I was slow, but he was creepier than my mother. As for Maria, such a doll. I didn't want to kill her; I just have that effect on people whenever they see me.

Anne: It... was an accident? Maria wasn't supposed to die?

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) No. In fact, I was going to congratulate her and let her out, but when I came out, she stabbed herself accidentally and she's dead now.

Taylor: So... what? You're just going to kill us all and let yourself out before the police get here?

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker as we focus on him) Absolutely, my little actor.

Taylor: (defiantly) Screw that! Screw that! Somebody give me a knife, I'll show you who plays God! I'm in control of my life and you can't kill me now!

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) Oh, you're wrong, Taylor. In fact, if I wanted to, I could kill you this instant.

Taylor: Yeah right. You're too much of a coward to drop a dead body at my feet, let along come down here and fight me like a man.

Henderson: (smiling as he speaks over the loud-speaker) Dead body, eh?

Henderson tosses Danielle's fried body over the balcony. The corpse falls and lands with a sickening crunch at Taylor's feet. Taylor jumps back in fear, falling down partially as Josh catches him from falling the rest of the way.

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) Shall I throw another? Or have you decided to change your mind and be a good little actor and just die.

Taylor: (shaking Josh off) No way! I'm not coming down to your level so you can kill me.

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) On the contrary, I am above you. I will kill and you will submit to my killings.

Josh: (to Taylor) Just back down man, he's up there and we're right here, what can he possibly do to us from there?

Taylor: (ignoring Josh) Fine, come down here and kill me then!

Henderson: (over the loud-speaker) As you wish, it shall be done. By the time I finish this rhyme, you'll all be dead! (he laughs) You'll all see how cowardly I am then.

Henderson tosses Jim into the closet where he originally hid him and then turns on the loud-speakers once more. He begins to play a pre-taped recording, which will cycle over and over again, tormenting the others.

Recording: (Henderson's voice) "Eight little actors, all in show. One was a bad actor and had to go."

Taylor: (beginning to get upset) Do we have to hear that song again?

Anne: We need to split up and get him trapped. Corner him, you know? Josh... you need to find Kristin. Taylor and I-

Taylor: (refusing to work with Anne) "Taylor and I" nothing! I'm not working on taking down Dusty with you, Anne.

Anne: (not believing Taylor is arguing now) Taylor now's not the time for this.

Taylor: I don't care... we're getting out of here and I don't mind finding Kristin. If she's dead, though, I'm going to take Henderson out myself. You two can find a way out of here.

Anne: Taylor! This isn't the time for fighting. Just help me get Henderson!

Taylor: Whatever! Just, whatever!

Taylor runs out of the auditorium and begins to scream for Henderson. Anne, meanwhile, looks at Josh.

Anne: Josh, find Kristin. Tell her what's going on.

Taylor: (from the entrance) Henderson! You prick! Get out here!

Anne: I'm going to help Taylor catch Henderson.

Josh: If you two think you can handle him, okay. I'll search for her, don't worry.

They part their separate ways, Josh heading backstage and Anne leaving towards the entrance. She finds Taylor and looks at him. He turns to face her, quite angrily.

Taylor: Save it, Mayberry. We have to get out of here. (shouting) Henderson! Get down here or I'm going to go up after you!

Anne: I don't think that's such a good idea.

Taylor: Well then, you stay here. I'm going to flush him out of his hiding spot, wherever he is.

Anne: No, I'm coming with you.

Taylor: (frustrated) Then make up your mind and come on!

Recording: "Seven little actors all thrown into the mix; One painted death and now there are six."

Anne: I'm getting tired of hearing that rhyme....

Taylor: Me too, let's just find-

The door to the stairwell opens and then slams shut as Taylor is talking. He stops when it slams. Both turn to see what is going on. Nobody can be seen, but both approach the door. Taylor opens it and nobody is seen behind it. They both run up the staircase as we cut to Josh.

31: Josh Chokes

Josh goes into the bathrooms, one at a time, calling out for Kristin.

Josh: Kristin? Kristin!

He continues to search for her, running up and down the hall, passing the vending machines, which are still broken, a couple of times. He stops in the janitor's closet and sees a clock on the wall. It reads 5:00.

Josh: (relieved) Oh, thank God! One more hour and we're outta here!

Taylor: (shouting loudly in the background) Henderson!

Josh: (turning to see if the others are there) No... they're not there, Josh. They're still searching. Find Kristin, find her!

The clock is seen ticking as Josh leaves the closet. We see the clock read 5:05 on the wall by the vending machines as Josh passes them again. There is a large vending machine, unbroken, there now instead of the broken ones. Josh almost doesn't notice it, but when a bag of chips just happens to drop down into the slot, he stops and looks over at it. "Poisoned" plays as Josh approaches it quickly, greedily awaiting his food.

Josh: Oh, what luck!

He rips open the bag of chips and begins to munch on them greedily. The chips, though Original-flavored, are blue in color. Josh doesn't even notice until he's halfway through the bag and suddenly he freezes up.

Josh: What the... (grips his stomach) Oh my... God!

Josh falls to the ground, clutching his stomach. Henderson comes out as the recording can be heard in the distance.

Recording: "Six little actors all have a fright. Look out, one's in the light!"

Henderson: "Four little actors all in dire need. One choked himself so now there are three."

Josh: What... did you do!

Henderson: Cyanide... I made it myself.

Josh: You... tricked... me!

Henderson: And a lovely little trick, don't you agree?

Josh attempts to swing at Henderson, but fails. He then attempts to scream for help, but also fails.

Josh: (weakly) Guys! Guys, he's... here!

Henderson: (tauntingly) Hmm? I can't hear you, Josh... I can't hear the dead.

Josh: (weakly) You... suck!

Henderson: (tauntingly) Oh, your threats really scare me. I'm quaking in my boots.

Josh: (falling onto his face) You... are... go-going.... Down.

Henderson: (coldly) Just shut up and die, Josh. It'll be easier that way.

Josh tries to speak one more time, but Henderson angrily breaks Josh's neck with his foot, tired of hearing Josh speak. We see Henderson smirk evilly.

Henderson: And now you're dead, my little actor.

The music ends and we see the poisoned bag of chips as we fade to the stairwell.

32: Running From Henderson

"Henderson's Theme" plays as Henderson enters the staircase. Taylor and Anne are trying to open the door to the third floor balcony when they hear Henderson's footsteps coming. Anne looks over the railing and sees Henderson coming up the stairs, chuckling to himself.

Recording: "Five little actors all going to die. One killed his friend, so his end was nigh."

Taylor: (mumbling to himself) Oh, Christ... this entire rhyme is coming true one by one.

Anne: (worried) Taylor, get that door open, now!

Taylor: (slamming into the door as he continues to mumble) Jim, Alex, Danielle, Corbin. He's following his rhyme. Jim was the "bad actor," Alex "painted" a lot, Danielle was "fried" in the booth, and Corbin "killed his friend" Maria's heart. Oh, my God. The next lines are going to be how he kills us!

Anne: (as Henderson continues to approach) Taylor... (more rushed) Taylor McAlister, get this door open now!

Taylor: (the door won't budge) I can't! I can't get it!

Anne: (quickening her steps) What? What do you mean?

Anne, frightened, races over towards Taylor and the two of them slam on it to open the door together. Henderson begins to approach them on the landing as he arrives. The music begins to reach the climax and Anne turns around to see Henderson.

Anne: Oh, God!

Henderson: (laughing manically) My, my, my... two little actors trying to flee the show? What's the matter? Stage fright?

Anne: You killed them all!

Henderson: (angrily) And I'm not done yet! You all set me up, and you are all going to die! And I think you know the next four verses is how long before I win.

Taylor finally slams open the door, revealing that it had been blocked from the other side by Henderson with a few of the pieces of equipment from the booth. Then, Taylor and Anne run through and slam the door as Henderson tries to get in. The two struggle for a long time before Henderson finally bursts through and knocks both for a loop, sending them flying a few feet as Henderson uses all of his force to get in. Henderson slowly approaches them, the music matching the tempo of his steps. Anne regains her motions and begins to slide away, still on the ground, from Henderson. Taylor jumps up and punches Henderson in the face. We see Henderson, un-phased by this action. Taylor quickly jabs Henderson in the face, then a second time. Both reaction shots show Henderson is not harmed at all, only smiling. Taylor goes for an uppercut, but Henderson grabs his arm, twisting it and we hear a few bones in Taylor's arm snap and break as Henderson powerfully breaks Taylor's lower arm. Taylor screams in agony and crumples to the ground like a rock. Henderson smiles evilly at Anne and he begins to approach her. We see a glimpse of Taylor on the ground, sobbing in pain as he cradles his deformed and broken arm.

Henderson: My, Anne, how much you've changed since that day in court. So scared, so fearful of what I may do to you. Unlike that day when you shed false tears and were not afraid of what I could possibly one day do to you. How much wiser you are now than you were then...

Anne: (frightened) Henderson! Dusty, please, you don't understand. I didn't want to kill you! I never wanted to put you in jail. You have to believe me!

Henderson: Oh, I believe you... (coldly) I believe you aren't telling me the truth.

Anne: It is the truth, Henderson! What's so hard to understand that they set me up! I didn't want to agree to it! They made me!

Henderson: It's a crazy world... ain't it!

Henderson lunges at Anne and she dodges him, but ends up falling over the rail and grabbing onto it in fear of falling herself. Henderson places his foot on top of Anne's hands, one after the other, as he speaks. Anne cries out in pain as he does so.

Henderson: (first on the left hand) Make this easy on yourself, and just fall... (then on the right hand) "Three little actors-"

Anne, realizing that she is going to fall, looks down and sees she can easily jump to the catwalk, which covers the top of the whole stage and is also part of a service-way for fixing the lights. Anne decidedly jumps in hopes of making it to onto the catwalk, which is closest at the center of the third floor balcony. The music ends as she jumps, and we watch in slow motion as she falls. Henderson looks shocked to see her jumping off and even more shocked to see her land the fall onto the catwalk. She lands with a hard thud and she looks up, dazed. Henderson, angry he didn't kill her, turns and leaves, picking Taylor up as he leaves. Taylor doesn't struggle for a moment, but manages to once they are in the stairwell. Taylor kicks Henderson's shin with a loud thud and Henderson lets go of Taylor, clutching his knee as he cries out in surprise. Taylor hurriedly runs down the stairs, tumbling down the last set as he rounds the corner and slips. Taylor screams in pain as his broken arm hit's the ground first. Taylor clutches it and runs out of the stairwell, opening the door with his uninjured arm and then clutching it as he enters the auditorium. Henderson follows quickly down the stairs. We see Anne recover from the fall slowly as she gets up and then runs down the catwalk and grabs the rope meant for the stage and slides down it quickly, giving herself a rope-burn on her hands, but she fails to notice due to the adrenaline pumping in her system. She sees Taylor fleeing to the backstage area and Anne goes to help quickly. She and Taylor enter the stage together and hide backstage. Henderson comes into the auditorium from the foyer entrance and slams open the doors. He sees nobody, but smiles, knowing they'll be found sooner or later.

Henderson: You can't hide forever, my little actors....

33: Taylor Vs. Anne Vs. Henderson

Taylor and Anne sit behind on of the backdrops. Anne tries to tend to Taylor's wound, but he won't let her.

Taylor: (stubbornly) I'm fine. My arm's fine.

Anne: You're not fine, Taylor, you need to get this arm fixed back into place.

She touches his arm and he bites his shirt collar in pain, trying not to scream loudly. Anne takes note of this.

Anne: Just relax, Taylor. I took a few notes in Med. Class. I can just make a splint and it will hold until the police get here in... (she glances at her watch) a little while.

Anne grabs her shirt sleeve and rips it off, tying a make-shift splint around and his arm. He winces in pain, but appears okay afterwards.

Taylor: It's after five already?

Anne: Uh huh, so just relax. The police will be here soon.

Taylor: Well, I hope we can find Kristin before she finds Henderson.

Anne: Me too... (she thinks) if she's not dead already from food poisoning.

Taylor: What do you mean?

Recording: "Four little actors all in dire need. One choked himself so now there are three."

Taylor: (laughing) No, Kristin's not dead... poor girl never eats.

Anne: Then it's Josh who's dead.

Taylor: Don't be ridiculous. Neither of them is dead. I'm sure Josh has told Kristin everything and they're looking for a way out of here.

Anne: (shaking her head) No, right before I jumped onto the catwalk, (Taylor is surprised, not having seen the feat himself) Henderson said, "Three little actors," so I knew he had already killed another of us.

Taylor: Then maybe it was Josh. You know how much he loved to eat. Maybe that's what happened to him. He just choked with food in his mouth.

Anne: (sadly) Maybe.

Taylor: Why do we keep fighting, Anne? Josh tried to tell me earlier, but I didn't know what he was talking about.

Anne: (quietly) Maybe you just didn't understand what he meant.

Taylor: What?

Anne: Josh tried to tell you that you're the cause of us fighting all the time. You and I do it every time because you are always mad at me.

Taylor: (defensively) I'm not mad at you all the time.

Anne: But most of the time, we fight because you bring that upon yourself. I'm just defending myself.

Taylor: I wish you would stop lying to me. You know you're the cause of all our fights. Every time I try to call you, you're trying to blow me off here and there every chance you get.

Anne: Because I don't want to listen to you start fighting with me on every little thing I do wrong.

Taylor: (sternly) Come on, Anne. If you hadn't wanted to help set up Henderson, you and I would've been much worse off.

Anne: But I did help to set Dusty up, Taylor. I set him up, too. And I'm telling you now that if we'd have been worse off had I not helped you, I think I'd prefer to have not set him up in the first place!

Taylor: Will you shut up about Henderson before he finds us!

Anne: At this point, Taylor, I don't care! If he finds us, I hope he kills you first! At least then I won't have to listen to you fighting with me anymore!

Taylor: And if you don't move your sorry excuses into another part of this building, I'm going to-

Anne: (threatening) What are you going to do? Nothing, that's what! (she grabs his broken arm and squeezes tightly and Taylor winces) I'm in charge of what I say, and I don't move my "excuses" anywhere unless I want them to.

Taylor: You... you're nothing but a-

Anne: (twisting the arm slightly and Taylor is subdued) You listen here, Taylor. I've had enough of listening to your lies, your angry comments, your threats, your voice... to last me a lifetime. Now I want you to shut up and help me to defeat Henderson. If we can beat this guy, then we'll both tell the police the truth. And if we don't, I'll tell them myself. I'm not afraid to go to jail, Henderson doesn't know that. I'm not afraid to get what's coming to me, Taylor. I deserve death for what I did. And you do too.

Taylor: I'm going to kill you if you tell anybody-

Anne: You kill me, and I promise Kristin will call the cops on you.

Taylor: She'll be dead too. I'll kill you both at the same time.

Anne: Then you'd better just go ahead, because I doubt you're going to get me and Kristin together again after tonight. We're all going to die, Taylor. One way or another.

Taylor uses his uninjured arm and swings, landing a devastating blow onto Anne's face. She falls back onto her butt from the impact. Taylor gets up and stands over her.

Taylor: It's my turn to talk, now, Anne. It's been five years since that day that we set Henderson up. I was the die-hard member here. I'm the only one who hasn't moved on since that day, because I fear somebody is going to find me out. I don't want to go on and become the great celebrity who gets busted at the peak of his fame. I don't want my family to revere me any better than five years ago, nor do I want anything worse than that day. I've lived my life in fear, waiting for the bomb to drop and send me to prison for the rest of my life. You don't think I don't know how you feel about Henderson's sentencing? Well, I'll tell you it hurts me the most. And for a while, yes, I was mad at you for not first agreeing to the pact. I thought for a while you did it so I wouldn't kill you myself. Well, you'd be surprised to know that I eventually got tired of listening to you be angry with me, even after I stopped being angry at you. Now, here we are, with the two lead roles in our play, forced to work together on it every day. And just when I think it's possible we might make up, we don't. We continue to fight, same as ever. And tonight, after all that we've been through tonight, I figure we can finally end this nonsense, but no! (angrily) It's business as usual with us! Now I want you to shut up, and let's stop fighting.

Anne: Only if you agree that it's always been your fault.

Taylor: It's not always my fault!

Taylor goes to swing at her again, but Henderson comes from behind and holds Taylor down while Anne gets up.

Henderson: I've been listening. If you want your revenge, go ahead. (he holds Taylor down tightly) Go ahead, kill him. It'll save me the trouble. Of course... you're still going to die, too. But it'll give you the comfort of knowing you killed the one who's caused you more pain than me.

Anne: (growling) I'd never help you, Henderson. I was forced to stop doing that five years ago.

Henderson: (frowning) You don't even want the satisfaction of ending that suffering tonight, so I give you a chance to kill him before I kill you. You'll see how good it feels to kill another, and why you can't stop once you do.

Anne: Shut up, Dusty. You're not even the same kid I used to know.

Henderson: (his tone drips with irony) Well, five years on death row will do that to ya.

Recording: "Three little actors to perform the show; now one more is about to go."

Anne: You killed Josh, didn't you?

Henderson: He was a pleasure. Amazing how fast cyanide goes through your system, isn't it?

Anne: You sick, twisted... (she stops herself) I tell you what, Henderson. How about I kill you now and then turn myself in to the authorities when they arrive? How's that sound?

Henderson: Sounds good, but there's a problem with your plan.

Anne: (surprised) Oh? What's that?

Henderson: You can't turn yourself in if you're dead!

He lunges at her and the two scuffle for a moment. Taylor regains his composure and goes over into the fight as well. The three continue to fight, knocking each other around with heavy punches, kicks, and Henderson bites Taylor's broken arm once at one point in the battle. They move into the dressing room across the hall from the door to the backstage area. They continue to scuffle in there and Anne grabs a coat hanger and jabs the end into Henderson's eye. Henderson roars in pain and then rips it out, his whole eye coming off and we see it clatter to the floor with the hanger. Taylor trips Henderson up from behind and slams some make-up products onto Henderson, who retaliates by slamming Taylor into the mirrors, smashing one of them and knocking Taylor down to the ground, winded. Anne, angry that Henderson still hasn't gone down, kicks Henderson in the groin. Henderson painfully drops to his knees and then is swiftly kicked in the face by Anne. As she goes in to break his neck, he grabs her foot and throws her across the room with his arms, slamming her into a coat rack. She is temporarily disabled and Henderson gets up and begins to approach Anne, grabbing and twisting a coat hanger into a deadly weapon. As he approaches her, he crouches down and smiles evilly.

Recording: "Two little actors can't stand to fight. One was killed with all of my might."

Henderson: One less actor to worry about.

Suddenly, Kristin slams a metal folding chair onto Henderson's head, knocking him down to the ground. Anne, glad to see her, gets up and goes and gets Taylor. Taylor goes over to Kristin and Henderson to finish the deal as Henderson is hit again with the chair by Kristin. She continues to hit him and Taylor takes the chair from her and smacks Henderson one more time with it using his uninjured arm. The chair hits with such and impact it breaks, sending a piece of it into Henderson's leg and a piece into his back, piercing his chest. Henderson roars in pain and then ceases movement. He stops breathing and moving. Anne comes back for a final kick to make sure he's truly dead.

Recording: (Anne chimes in in relief) "Just one little actor now, all alone. They can't run from Truth and now I have won!"

Anne: (laughing in relief) It's over! It's over!

Taylor: Not quite, Anne, we still have to find our way out of here.

Kristin bends down and takes the emergency exit key from his pocket. She holds it up.

Kristin: Now let's get the heck outta here!

Kristin races out of the dressing room to leave. Taylor, limping and holding onto Anne for support, follows alongside Anne, moving slower as they begin to leave.

34: "I'm not dead yet!"

We zoom in on Henderson as they leave. We see his eyes, one bleeding and one not, as he opens them. He gets up and begins to head after them. He grabs his pocket knife and flips it open.

Henderson: I'm not dead yet, you conspirators!

Henderson laughs manically, although weaker than before, and begins to pull the chair pieces from him, removing the one from his leg first, then the one from his back, sliding it through his chest and then dropping both to the floor bloody. He limps out of the dressing room, beginning his rhyme again.

Henderson: (as he enters the hallway) "Eight little actors, all in show. One was a bad actor and had to go. Seven little actors thrown into the mix; One painted death and now there are six." (we focus on Henderson from various angles as he walks down the hallway) "Six little actors all have a fright. Look out, one's in the light! Five little actors all going to die. One killed his friend, so his end was nigh. Four little actors all in dire need. One choked himself so now there are three. Three little actors to perform the show; now one more is about to go. Two little actors can't stand to fight. One was killed with all of my might. Just one little actor now, all alone. They can't run from Truth and now I have won!" Just three little actors... and one more is about to go. Just you wait my little actors. I'll get you all. None of you can leave because I still have the key!

Henderson pulls the real key, with the logo on a keychain, indicating the real key, on it. He laughs and limps after the others.

35: Think it Over

Anne and Taylor limp towards the emergency exit. Kristin waits on them silently, twirling the key in her hand happily, humming to herself a nice happy song. As Taylor and Anne approach her, they converse.

Anne: Taylor, you really should've thought it over. Putting Henderson behind bars I mean.

Taylor: I did think it over, Anne. I was thinking that if we put him in jail for a crime we were all certain he committed, he would get what he had coming to them.

Anne: But that's not what happened, is it? He was innocent, wasn't he?

Taylor: Of course he was, you didn't have to remind me of that now.

Anne: So why did you set him up and then force me to do the same, Taylor? You knew I didn't want to be a part of it.

Taylor: Security. I had to make sure you wouldn't tell because I knew you would tell otherwise.

Kristin: (as they approach) Hurry up, guys! The faster we get out of here, the better!

Anne: We're trying.

Taylor: You try limping on a broken leg, Kristin. I don't even see a mark on you.

Kristin: Well, hurry up!

Anne: (going back to the conversation) Well, Taylor, I know you and I have to do something. Kristin too.

Taylor: I'm sorry, Anne. I'm not going to go to jail for what I've done, and I'm not turning myself in for you. You'll have to do it yourself.

Anne: Fine... (sternly) But you admit what we did was wrong and what we should do is turn ourselves in?

Taylor: (muttering) I guess.

Anne: I'm glad you're finally seeing it my way.

Taylor: I'm not seeing it your way, Anne. I'm just seeing the mistake.

Anne: That's "my way" Taylor.

Anne and Taylor approach Kristin. Taylor and Anne look solemnly at Kristin.

Kristin: What is it? Aren't you guys glad we're getting out of here?

Anne: It's nothing, Kristin. Don't worry about it.

Kristin: No, what's the matter?

Taylor: (letting go of Anne) Really, nothing's the problem... now.

Taylor sits himself down on a nearby bench and winces in pain as he grabs his broken arm gingerly and holds it close to him.

Kristin: (undeterred) You're both bad liars. Just thought you'd love to know that.

Anne: No, Kristin, the problem is what we've got to do now that we're free.

Kristin: (seriously) What? What do we have to do?

Anne: (letting her sentence trail) Well... we have to....

Kristin: What are you trying to say?

Taylor: She thinks that we ought to turn ourselves in for framing Dusty.

Kristin: (slight gasp) No way, are you kidding?

Anne: No, Kristin, it's the right thing to do.

Kristin: Taylor and I aren't going to die for our mistake. I'd rather live with the pain of that day rather than the pain of dying on death row.

Anne: (repeating) It's the right thing to do.

Kristin: No freaking way! (she goes to put the key in the door) I'm not doing anything like that.

Anne: I'll do it then... I'll turn us all in. No amount of threats (she glares at Taylor) can stop me. I'll just have to be dead for me to not do it.

Taylor: (seeing Henderson as we see him behind Anne) You're about to get that wish.

36: "Time for an encore!"

Henderson laughs evilly as he approaches from behind, grabbing Anne, who doesn't have time to react. He stares at Taylor and Kristin, who are frightened and don't move at all. Henderson smiles, using his pocket knife to threaten Anne's life.

Henderson: Drop the keys, Kristin. They're useless anyways. Do it before I kill her.

Kristin fumbles with the keys, trying to unlock the door, which fails to unlock. She pulls the key out and holds it to her face. It's a blank key, the wrong one, she realizes. Henderson laughs, holding the true key up as he still holds Anne hostage.

Henderson: Looking for this? HA! You'll have to pry it off my dead body!

Taylor: I'll do it, then! (he stands up)

Henderson: I doubt you can do anything with that leg, Taylor. (menacingly) But I can do whatever I want before either of you get her. By the time either of you moves wrong, I'll slit Anne's throat.

Taylor attempts to move towards Henderson, but his leg forces him to crumble to the ground in pain. He lies on the ground, holding his broken leg in pain. Kristin turns towards them, laughing suddenly as she goes over to Anne and kicks her, knocking her down to the ground. Henderson lets go of Anne and we focus on Kristin kissing Henderson as the realization dawns on Taylor and Anne.

Kristin: (turning) What, you didn't think Henderson could escape jail by himself, do you? And you really didn't think that I was going to let any of my friends die because of something I said, did you? (laughing as she turns to Henderson) Baby, you've put on one heck of a show tonight. I must say though, that I also made a few good cameos.

Flashbacks of Kristin sabotaging the wires in the booth, poisoning the chips Josh later eats, and producing the fake key instead of the real one after she hit Henderson. We also see a flashback of Henderson receiving a small trowel to dig a hole in at the prison as Kristin hands it to him behind a guard's back. She laughs evilly, kissing Henderson once again. Anne, in shock, and Taylor, in disgust, are both speechless.

Henderson: My, my, my... speechless are we? You shouldn't be. She was gone so long earlier, off setting up the rest of the traps for Josh and the others.

Kristin: I can't believe you never believed it could happen to you; that your friend would betray you in the way I have.

Henderson: You know, Kristin, you're a very bright, young woman. I admire your courage and spirit. You're everything I want in a girl.

Anne: What? Why are you doing this Kristin? He killed all of our friends!

Henderson: And that wouldn't have happened so easily if she hadn't helped!

Flashback shots of Dustin and Christine being bribed by Kristin to include the others in the show.

Kristin: I've been working with Henderson long enough to know that you're the bad guys here, not us.

Taylor: You... you betrayed us all along!

Anne: I can't believe I had you help me discover the ending of the play.

Kristin: Funky little script isn't it? Something Henderson and I wrote before we published it and then that killer just made it a reality. This isn't anywhere in your little play, Anne. You're not going to see it on any page. We're off script now.

Anne: But... why betray us?

Kristin: Sometimes... a girl has to protect the one she loves.

Taylor: You two are-

Henderson: (holding up his own hand to show the matching ring that Kristin has had on this whole time) Yes! Married!

Taylor: And you couldn't bare the thought of being a widow so early on in life, so you went against our pact that we made to help the one we set up!

Kristin: Well, we have a true Einstein. It's a shame you both have to die. I really liked you two. You were the most enjoyable to watch squirm as the walls closed in on you. Always fighting, going at it until the end. Well, now's the end for you both. Tonight you will die and we will walk out of here satisfied.

Henderson: (chuckling to himself) Yes, but there is still one flaw in your perfect little plan, baby cakes.

Kristin: (turning to face her husband) Yes, my love?

Henderson takes his pocket knife and rams it into Kristin's stomach and then into her chest. Kristin, out of shock, falls to the ground on her knees, then she looks up at him.

Henderson: Only one of us was supposed to walk out of here alive. That was the plan this whole time, remember? (Kristin falls onto her chest, the knife killing her) And now, my little actor is dead. "Three little actors to perform the show; now one more is about to go." (turning to the others) "Two little actors can't stand to fight. One was killed with all my might!" Which one of my fighting little actors wants to go next?

Taylor: You're out of your mind! You just killed your wife!

Henderson: Alas, (he removes the ring) she is no longer my wife. (faking tears) I'm a widow at such a young age. (laughing menacingly) She may have been my wife, but she was still one of my little actors, easily controlled by me. And now that I'm done with her, and the rest of them, I have time for an encore!

Anne: You're not getting away with this. The police will be here any minute and-

Henderson: Oh, right. The police....

We see the cops in town "searching" for Henderson. A few shots of the cops are seen and we see that a few of them are eating donuts, some are at home sleeping, and we see a check signed by Kristin for a few thousand dollars as one of them heads home. The check sits on the dashboard, the cop remembering when he got that check. Henderson laughs evilly as Anne gets to her feet.

Anne: I'm going to kill you!

Henderson: Don't you remember? I'm going to be dead in less than three hours! You set that date five years ago!

Anne: (angrily) I'm going to kill you now then!

Kristin's body is turned over by Anne as both she and Henderson go for the pocket knife. Henderson grabs it first and cuts Anne's left bicep deeply, causing blood to spill. Taylor angrily gets up and punches with his uninjured arm, knocking Henderson out and onto the floor. He quickly recovers as Taylor and Anne head quickly towards the stage.

37: Henderson Takes Center Stage

Henderson limps on his leg, pulling the knife from his chest and cleaning it. Anne and Taylor go onto the stage. Taylor stands on stage while Anne grabs a rope used for the final act of the play and begins to climb up towards the catwalk. She then calls out to Taylor as "Big Finale" begins to play.

Anne: What do I do with the lights?

Taylor: Make them drop onto him, but don't hit me!

Anne: How am I supposed to do that?

Taylor: I don't know! Figure it out!

Henderson enters the side door from backstage and roars in agony, and then laughs menacingly. We see from the catwalk as Henderson approaches a startled and frightened Taylor, who shakily back up to the far right of the stage, finally falling down and landing on his butt. Anne works quickly and furiously to loosen the lights above the stage all at once. She loosens every screw she can find with her fingernail. Henderson continues laughing as he approaches Taylor.

Henderson: Ah, my greatest little actor. You have two broken limbs and yet you still continue to want to fight me. You should know when to give up, but I admire your will to continue. (we see Anne continue to loosen the screws) And now I won't have to see your fighting anymore and then I'll kill that pretty little Anne Mayberry, wherever she may lie. (he chuckles evilly) Did she run off and leave you already? Tired of your bickering with her and your fighting constantly? Or did you just want to give up running on one broken leg?

Anne finishes with the screws, but now has to work on the bolts. She realizes that she doesn't know how to get rid of them, so she looks at the ropes holding the lights up. She takes a nail file from her back pocket and begins to file the ropes one by one. Henderson continues to give his speech.

Henderson: Do you know how long it's been Taylor? How long I've been waiting to see that look on your face, the submission you have as I approach you (wielding the bloody pocket knife) ready to take your life from you? Do you realize it's been five years since we were in the same room together, with you being the dominant one then and me being submissive and helpless? How does it feel now, Taylor, to be the one on the opposite side of the fence?

Taylor: (unable to move) I'm not going down without a fight!

Henderson: You've done so well so far with that creed. (stopping on center stage) And now, it's time for you to reap your rewards. A nice, quick, painless death. Well... maybe not painless.

Taylor: I hope you burn, Henderson, for what you've done!

Henderson: Like you shouldn't for what you've done?

Taylor: It's different! I haven't massacred a bunch of people tonight.

Henderson: But framing someone isn't a serious offense?

Taylor: What are you getting at Henderson?

Henderson: I'm saying we're alike. We're not that different, you and I. We're not going down yet. We've both taken heavy wounds, and we've both killed somebody. Your animal just isn't dead yet.

Taylor: And that's going to change once I kill you, Henderson!

Anne continues to file the ropes, she's almost there. The lights begin to shake violently above the two onstage. Taylor and Henderson both look up and we see her cut another rope free. Henderson smiles toothily.

Henderson: Maybe if I kill you now, she'll stop.

Taylor: Go ahead; you'll be dead before I am.

Henderson: (evilly) How about if I kill her first? You won't get far before I kill you afterwards.

Taylor: Go ahead; you'll still be dead before I am.

Henderson, smirking and puffing up his chest, begins to climb a rope up towards the catwalk. Anne sees this and begins to cut faster, but the ropes don't want to cut. Henderson is halfway up, laughing evilly to himself as she forces the rope free. The lights release a small bit, slanting to one side. Realizing she doesn't have that much time, she continues to cut along the ropes on one side. She cuts quickly and Taylor heads over to the ropes and starts to climb the other one. He quickly reaches Henderson, despite being as disabled as Henderson and having had a late start. Henderson has stopped to adjust the placement of his knife while Taylor approaches on the other rope. He doesn't see it coming until Taylor has already smacked Henderson, who falls a short ways before getting tangled in the ropes by the foot. Taylor and Henderson exchange light and heavy blows as Anne continues to cut the ropes, the lights quickly losing strength on one side, ready to fall. She gets to the last rope and begins to cut it. At the same time, Henderson and Taylor exchange heavy blows to the face and Taylor falls to the ground, unconscious. Henderson laughs evilly and manages to get his foot unstuck.

Anne: Henderson! (he looks at her) You've been cancelled!

Suddenly, Anne snaps the final rope and the lights fall sideways, heading straight towards Henderson, who briefly sees the light coming at him before it smacks him sideways and he flies far away into the nearest emergency exit door, slamming it open. We see a close-up of his face. He is fried from the lights having hit him on one side as well as crushed and broken on all sides from both impacts. Anne manages to laugh out loud in relief that Henderson finally is dead, and the music ends. She casually, although injured, makes it to Taylor onstage and makes sure he is still alive by checking his pulse. When she discovers he is, she goes over to Henderson and takes his knife from him, slitting his throat open so that he bleeds to death and then stabbing the knife in Henderson's temple to kill him.

Anne: The truth about death is... it can't be beaten. "Just one little actor now all alone. They can't run from Truth and now I have won!"

She returns to Taylor to help him come awake. He doesn't wake up, but she performs CPR and he suddenly comes back to life, gasping for air. She happily picks up Taylor's arm and drags him to her car, throwing him in the passenger seat. They pull out of the parking lot and begin to drive away. We see Henderson's dead body as we fade out.

38: Taylor's Apology

Dustin's arm is seen with the watch reading 6:00. The time becomes digitized and we zoom out from Anne's radio clock. The radio is off. Anne drives steadily down the road, ready to get to the hospital. Taylor comes to and he begins to mumble things incoherently, then he speaks louder.

Taylor: (weakly) You know something, Anne... you were right all along. You and I fight because I make us. (Anne nods) And you're right. We killed Henderson tonight. We both deserve to go to death row for that. And maybe my problems will be solved then.

Anne: What are you trying to say, Taylor? You trying to apologize to me?

Taylor: (nodding) Yeah. I'm sorry, Anne. I really am. I've caused you so much heartbreak in the past five years. I've caused all of your troubles since then, and I didn't want that to happen. I just thought all along that I was the good guy, that I couldn't be bad.

Anne: And you think differently now?

Taylor: I do. I know that I'm not going to make it one way or another. Henderson and you were right. I'm going to die one way or another. I'll either die in this car... or in prison.

Anne: (skeptical) Not in this car you won't. You're not going to die on me.

Taylor: You'd be surprised how crappy I feel. (weaker) I feel like it's about to be just the one little actor now.

Anne: (shaking Taylor awake) Don't you die on me, Taylor. We're almost there to the hospital. And we've gone through so much together that we can't possibly lose now, right?

Taylor: (nodding) Too much together....

Anne: And we're not going to die now, right?

Taylor: (shaking his head) Not gonna die....

Anne: Then, for God's sake, stay awake! (she shakes him awake)

Taylor: (continuing to apologize) Anne... as much harm and pain as I've caused, all the fights I picked with you, all the times I threatened you, and every bad thing I've done with you in the past five years... all from Henderson's trial. And yet you stick by my side. Why?

Anne: I'm a loyal friend, and a caring animal. You put me through all that to test our friendship.

Taylor: No, Anne... I put you through it to vent from Henderson's trial.

Anne: No, it doesn't matter. You tested our friendship in that way, and I'm a loyal friend first, and a caring animal second. I wasn't about to let Henderson go and ruin our lives even though he was already going to be put to death.

Taylor: Then, you and I are still cool?

Anne: We were, are, and will still be cool, Taylor. Just don't die on me now.

Taylor: Why not? I deserve it after what I did to Henderson. You said it yourself.

Anne: Maybe it's the right thing to do, is what I said.

Taylor: Then I guess we both know what we have to do then. Together.

Anne: Yes, we both know. (sudden thought) Why the change of heart suddenly, Taylor?

Taylor: If we suddenly die, I want you to know all of that beforehand. I've known all along, I just haven't wanted to admit it. I was too selfish to want to admit that you were right, that Josh was right, that Maria was right, that Henderson and Kristin were right, and heck... that everyone else was right too.

Anne: Well, we're not going to die suddenly, are we?

Taylor: (beginning to pass out again) Yeah, we're alive.

Taylor passes out completely. Anne looks over to see him there with his head leaned back and in a completely relaxed position. She drives on towards the hospital.

39: The Final Act

We see Anne in the hospital with Taylor, as he lies in bed, sleeping. His vitals are weak, but stable. He doesn't move. Anne sits across the room from him in a chair. She watches him tentatively, hoping he'll wake up soon. He never wakes up, but he doesn't die either. Anne finally falls asleep. We fade to later, when the clock reads 9:00. Anne is asleep and so is Taylor. The lights flicker, almost as if there was a power surge. The sudden change in lighting makes Anne wake up. She takes note of the lights almost instantly and gasps, realizing the time as she does so. She whispers in disbelief.

Anne: (whispering) Henderson... is he really dead? He's supposed to be frying in the chair right now.

Taylor: (soundly stirs) Anne...

Anne: (going quickly to his aid) Taylor?

Taylor: (only dreaming) Anne... Henderson's right behind you. He's going to kill you. Look out, he has a knife!

Taylor fitfully tosses and turns in the bed, his vitals going up as he does so. Anne doesn't know what to do and she begins to panic. She presses the "Call Nurse" button on the bed. She continues to try to help Taylor, who is now convulsing on his bed, by running out into the hallway.

Anne: Nurse! Nurse!

A nurse doesn't appear. Suddenly, Henderson appears behind Anne, grabbing her and slitting her throat. She falls to the ground and dies of blood loss moments later. Anne then wakes up halfway screaming in the same chair at the hospital. She feels her neck to realize that she isn't dead at all. She sighs in relief. Nurse is checking Taylor's condition as she wakes up, but turns to face Anne when she screams.

Nurse: Ma'am? Something wrong?

Anne: (still holding her neck) No... uhm, nothing. Nothing Nurse.

Nurse: Well if you get to feeling bad yourself, you can see me. Those injuries you suffered should have you in a bed too, ya know.

Anne: I- I'm fine, Nurse. Really. I just had a bad dream is all....

Nurse: Okay, well, you two get your sleep. When you wake up, Officer Grey is waiting in the waiting room for your statements.

Anne: I think I'll go now and give my statements. I won't take long, I hope.

Anne walks down the hallway, passing a doctor that looks like Corbin. She gets teary-eyed as she passes him. She then continues on down the hallway, taking a left and heading towards the waiting room. She passes Room 401; with the patient's name being James Meadows Sr. She quickens her pace and enters the waiting room. Officer Grey stands up as she enters and heads over to her. Anne takes Officer Grey's hand and the two of them sit down in a quiet room near the waiting room, but in a different and silent room altogether. Officer Grey rubs her head and sits down across a table from Anne, who sits down in front of Officer Grey. Officer Grey places a tape recorder on the table and pushes record.

Officer Grey: Now then, let us begin. I know what's at the auditorium, Anne. Tell me how they got there.

Anne: Who are you talking about? The bodies or Henderson?

Officer Grey: Both. Let's start with what you were doing there tonight.

Anne: Well, the majority of us were in that play. The others were Henderson, the janitor, and the stage directors.

Officer Grey: Can you tell me how you knew the victims?

Anne: Corbin, Alex, Danielle, Jim, and Josh were all my friends. Kristin betrayed us... after all we went through. Dustin and Christine were the directors. Maria was my friend, but she and I didn't know each other very well. Renaldo was the janitor. And Henderson... well, you should know about him.

Officer Grey: For the record, you were on the final dress rehearsal for the same play that was slaughtered five years ago to the day. That day, the killer was Henderson. Was Henderson the killer this time as well?

Anne: (knowing Henderson wasn't the first killer) Yes. He escaped prison and came after us. He had help, though. Kristin was his wife and they collaborated on him getting out of prison, and then getting us all in the auditorium together. She had the connections and he had the brutality for the killings. Both of them betrayed me.

Officer Grey: Can you tell me, in your own words, what happened starting from when you arrived at the theatre, in detail?

Anne: May I have a glass of water? This is going to be a long story....

Officer Grey gets a glass of water and we see her lay it on the table. Anne sips it once before continuing.

Anne: It was supposed to be our last dress rehearsal for "The Conspiracy." You know that play that was slaughtered five years ago on the same rehearsal? Well, Taylor McAlister, Corbin and Alex Graves, Joshua Dorn, Danielle Newby, Kristin Moore, and Jim Meadows were all part of that play with me. We were all the stars. Dustin was very determined to finish the play and we were all starting to get tired, all of us. The wiring was faulty in the lights/sound booth on the third balcony and Danielle had to fix it. While she was doing so, we all started to get hungry and the crew gave up on restarting the project altogether before the cast got the same idea. The crew, (mumbling) lucky, (continuing) all got to leave, but Dustin locked us all in before we could get a chance to pack up and go ourselves. I guess sometime during all of this, Dusty Henderson escaped prison and came after us. I know he was tracking us down because when Jim was allowed to leave to get food for us all, he killed Jim, and then he later admitted he tracked us down. When the wires were finally fixed, we resumed the show with Danielle being the one to utilize the booth for the rest of the night, as she only had a small role. A light needed changing and Alex went to change it. While he was up there, Henderson came from behind and kicked the ladder from him, or Alex did it himself, and then Alex fell to the ground and was impaled. He died instantly. We tried to escape, but Henderson had blocked the front doors on us, preventing us from doing anything to escape. We found Renaldo dead in the janitor's closet. Then Henderson set a trap on us and killed the directors on stage. When Danielle saw it, I guess she tripped and got fried in the faulty wiring that was still there.

Officer Grey: (as Anne sips some water) Danielle left the faulty wiring on the ground and plugged up?

Anne: (nodding) Yes. The wires were still good, and we couldn't use any different ones because we didn't have any. (continuing the story) We found Renaldo dead in the closet and we decided we had to search for the killer, who happened to be Henderson. We didn't find him for a while. Corbin and Maria fought, they were dating at the time, but after the fight, they broke up. Permanently because Henderson killed both of them in a bathroom a few moments later. We all thought they were suicides at first. Then, Kristin and I discovered that our play seemed to mirror what was going on in real life, so we tried to figure out the ending before it was too late. When Henderson did finally reveal himself, it was just the four of us, Josh, Taylor, Kristin and I. Josh went looking for Kristin while me and Taylor fought each other and Henderson. We never got along up until a few hours ago, you realize. It's been five years since- (stopping) well, I'll get to that in a minute. Josh found some food, I guess because he was poisoned by cyanide in the food and he didn't survive. Henderson finally was put down in the dressing room when Taylor and I knocked him down and then Kristin slammed a chair into Henderson. We thought he was dead and Kristin grabbed what she thought was the key to get us out of here. Henderson had stolen it from Dustin when he killed him. The three of us tried to get out and Henderson, who wasn't dead, came back for more. It was then we discovered that Kristin had been against us all along. She'd helped him escape prison and she'd help plan our downfalls and deaths this night. Henderson killed her, but I don't know why exactly. I guess he felt she deserved it. When Taylor and I went back to the stage, we set a trap of our own and killed him by launching some of the lights into him. He was killed on the impact and then when he landed, he opened a door for us to get out by slamming into it when he hit the ground. Taylor and I left in my car and we came to the hospital. And now I sit here talking to you, Officer Grey.

Officer Grey: You were starting to tell me something earlier. What was it?

Anne: (sadly as she puts her head down) Well, five years ago, Henderson was put to death row for a crime. He... (shakily) he did not commit that crime.

Officer Grey: (not realizing) Sure he did. With your testimony and with your friends' testimonies, we were able to book him for that-

Anne: They were all framing him. (confessing) I was framing him. We all thought he was the bad guy because only he survived. He was innocent the whole time, we should've known. (she begins to cry) It's just... they told me I had to do it to make sure Henderson couldn't kill again. Couldn't kill us. But he wasn't the killer. The eight of us framed an innocent man five years ago. We framed him and he got his revenge on six of us tonight. I think he might get his revenge on all of us, if what I think's going to happen happens.

Officer Grey: You're telling me that you and Taylor are the survivors of not only tonight, but the remaining members of a conspiracy against your friend? (Anne nods) And that five years ago, you set him up for something he didn't do because you thought he was guilty? (Anne still nods) So you're turning yourself in after all these years?

Anne: You have to realize, Taylor had threatened me from day one. The others occasionally did it too, but they didn't seem to mind it after a while. Taylor and I always fought because of it. But on the way here, I think he finally had a change of heart and he's finally ready to accept his own defeat. I know I am. Anything to get rid of the memories of tonight... and that God awful rhyme.

Officer Grey: He didn't win though. Henderson never got to follow through with his rhyme.

Doctor Quincy enters suddenly. Officer Grey turns the tape off and turns to face him. Anne stands up, fearing the inevitable.

Doctor Quincy: Taylor McAlister's dead, Officer Grey. He died from his injuries, despite our efforts. Our best efforts... he just seemed to give up hope. Almost like his body wanted to lose the right to heal itself, he just shut down and died. We're baffled, but he is dead. His wounds were just too severe, my guess is, and he couldn't begin to heal himself. Even if he had, he'd have been scarred for life. I thought you'd like to know, Grey.

Anne: (mumbling) "Two little actors can't stand to fight. One was killed with all of my might." Now it's just one little actor....

Officer Grey: (turning to Anne as she mumbles) What was that, Anne?

Anne: I said, now there's just one little actor left. Me.

Officer Grey: So, you're saying that Henderson had a rhyme for you eight who set him up? And it was the same rhyme that he heard when he witnessed the murders?

Anne: Yes, and he's completed his whole rhyme now. Jim wasn't a good actor in our play and he died first. Same as the actor in the rhyme. Alex, like the next actor, "painted." Danielle was in the light/sound box when she was killed by the wiring; the next actor was killed by "light." Corbin and Maria broke up, and he "killed" her heart, so his "end was nigh" just like the next little actor. Josh, like the next actor, "choked" on food poisoning. Kristin was next and she was the one that "had to go" like the next actor because she was also a conspirator to Henderson. Taylor and I have finally stopped fighting and Taylor, like the next actor, was killed from Henderson's "might" and injuries he gave Taylor. And that just leaves me and the last actor. Neither of us can run from "Truth." My truth is that I helped to frame an innocent man and now I must be killed as well for my actions. And thus... (she begins to cry) the rhyme is complete. (she sobs)

Officer Grey: (as the confused Doctor Quincy leaves, closing the door behind him) Oh, Anne! I know this must hurt for you to accept.

Anne: (she stops Officer Grey) No, it doesn't hurt anymore. I'm just sad that Henderson won.

Officer Grey: Are you sure you feel better right now? That you've accepted your future?

Anne: I haven't a choice. I accept it now or on the chair.

Officer Grey: (nodding) Then you know what I have to do, right?

Anne: (nodding, but still crying) Do your duty, ma'am.

Officer Grey goes over to Anne and handcuffs her, reading her the Miranda Rights.

Officer Grey: (as she handcuffs Anne) You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and may be used against in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney; if you can't afford one, one will be provided for you by the Misty Falls Police Department. Do you understand these rights, Anne Mayberry?

Anne nods and as Officer Grey grabs the tape recorder, the two of them leave the hospital together. We see various short shots of the two of them leaving the hospital and getting into the police car in the parking lot. The police car pulls off and drives away. We see a final short shot of the chair as Anne is put into it. We see a long shot of Officer Grey and Executioner standing behind a mirror to watch the execution. "Five years later" appears on screen for a brief moment.

Officer Grey: Yes, sir. You can throw the switch now. She's ready for her punishment. She's been waiting all this time for her dues.

Executioner: Yes ma'am. Throwing the switch now.

Executioner throws the switch and the lights flicker as Anne, unseen, is fried in the chair. The television suddenly turns to the local news station.

Weatherman: Tomorrow's highs for the Northeast are expected to reach the mid eighties, about normal for this time of year.

The channel flips again, back to the movie. Anne is being dragged out of the electric chair by Officer Grey and Executioner. Anne looks very grisly and Real Anne exclaims in fright as we see Real Taylor turning the television station in response to her reaction. Real Corbin and Real Maria kiss in the bathroom, making out, we see. Real Alex and Real Josh are playing a game of cards, though the shot doesn't allow us to see which one, only that they are holding five cards and that Real Alex is going to win. Real Kristin, Real Jim, and Real Danielle are all in the kitchen getting refreshments. We see a large banner that reads, "Congratulations on a successful show" over the large banister separating the kitchen from the living room. Real Danielle laughs at Real Jim's joke, which was just missed as Real Danielle grabs another soda from the fridge. Party music plays on a stereo in the living room.

Real Danielle: (laughing) Oh, God, that was so funny, Jim! I can't believe you thought of that yourself. Want another soda?

Real Jim: Sure.

Real Kristin: (shouting to Real Taylor) Hey, don't turn the dial, Taylor! I want to see how the movie ends!

Real Taylor: (we focus on him as he shouts to her) They all die at the end. That Anne girl was nothing like what you'd do Anne.

Real Anne: (chuckling) Yeah and why did they get somebody that creepy to play a part like that? She should've been dead long time ago!

Real Alex: (laying his cards down) Five aces! I win the whole bet.

We see a subtitle giving the date, May 21, 2008. The clock on the wall reads 7:00 and it is close to sunset now. Real Josh exclaims in protest as we see them again.

Real Josh: That's cheating! There isn't an ace of turkeys!

We see the fake card. Real Alex grins from ear to ear.

Real Alex: Like you had better than four regular aces then.

Real Josh: (laying down a pair of twos) No. But you cheated, I win by default.

Real Anne: C'mon guys. We give a successful final show and you guys blow off this party to play cards!

Real Taylor: You're kidding me! (turning to face them) Thought you guys were watching that movie with us!

Real Josh: Not after the one that looks like Tom Cruise was killed. Tom Cruise never gets killed in his movies.

Real Kristin comes into the room and opens the bathroom door. She sees Real Corbin and Real Maria making out. She quickly gasps and begins to close the door.

Real Kristin: If you're going to use my bathroom as your private make-out room, go home, guys!

Real Maria: (breaking the kiss) Sorry, Kristin! Didn't mean to take five minutes of your bathroom time.

Real Kristin: (opening the door briefly) Yeah, right. It's been more than that. (she closes the door)

Real Corbin: Oh, Maria... don't bother yourself with Kristin, she's just upset that she doesn't have a husband like you do.

We see the matching wedding rings on the two of them. Real Maria laughs for a short moment. We see them kiss again and Real Kristin sits down on the couch between Real Taylor and Real Anne.

Real Kristin: So she dies at the end? She looked so cute though!

Real Anne: But she was creepy, too....

Real Kristin: (laughing) Yeah, I can't believe they used our names in that film. Guess that disclaimer at the end actually has some use, huh?

Real Taylor: Hey, you got that other movie about the one with the people trapped in the hospital? What's it called?

Real Anne: Hospital Horror, Taylor.

Real Taylor: Oh, right. You have that, don't you, Kristin?

Real Kristin: Yeah, somewhere. Hold on.

She gets up and goes over into the bedroom. It is dark and she turns on the lights. She gasps in horror as she sees something on her bed. We see Real Henderson on the bed, lying seductively. He's wet and wearing a towel, indicating he just got out of the hot tub on the porch. Real Kristin scolds him.

Real Kristin: What are you doing on my bed wet, Dusty?

Real Henderson: I wanted to surprise you with a few... things.

Real Kristin: Like what kind of things?

She closes the door and we see the light to the bedroom turn off. A sudden scream comes from her. Real Taylor gets up and runs to the door and opens it, terrified from the horrific scream he just heard. Everyone stops what they're doing and looks over at him as he opens the door.

Real Taylor: Oh, my God! (he closes the door quickly) That was something I didn't want to see.

Real Anne laughs, looking at Real Maria.

Real Anne: Looks like they're going to give you guys some competition, Maria.

All laugh at this. The doorbell rings. Real Danielle answers it. Real Dustin and Real Christine come in, holding some more refreshments.

Real Dustin: We brought the refreshments, everyone.

Real Christine: This is for a great finale tonight. You guys really earned it. But I think it's missing something.

Real Jim comes in and laughs.

Real Jim: What's that?

We zoom in on Real Christine as she smiles evilly. We see behind her and Real Dustin's backs two very sharp knives, one for each director. We close out, hearing Real Anne scream in horror as we cut to black.

39: End Titles

The end titles begin to roll after these words. "Ending Theme Song" plays throughout the credits. The song ends when the credits do. A short shot of the stage and we see Henderson on stage as he turns and smiles at the camera evilly. We zoom in on him. He laughs evilly as well before cutting the screen diagonally. The screen turns blood red quickly and we fade to black, suggesting that Henderson has killed the camera.