EXT. green
creek- dawn
An extreme closeup of an open eye. Non- Diegetic music is
playing, a happy song eg. "Walking on Sunshine".
Zoom out to reveal a DEAD GIRL, pretty but dead, lying in
the shallows of the water. Cut to a young, ATTRACTIVE MALE jogging whilst
listening to his iPod. Foregrounded is the dead body. He
approaches it and stops running. We focus in on the dead girl's face. The music
quietens down creating the impression it is coming out of the boy's earphones.
He takes the earphones out and
the music stops.
INT.
Principal's office- midday
A MAN is holding a black and white photo of the dead girl.
detective Marshall
So you recognize this girl?
The THREE nod. Sitting in front and on the other side of the
desk from Detective Marshall is JAZ, 17 blonde, full face of makeup and wearing
an impeccable uniform. DAVE, 18 dark hair, effortlessly cool wearing a leather
jacket and aviators. KYLE, also 18 blonde wavy hair, surfer chic.
jaz
Lacey Cambridge.
kyle
She was a part of our gang.
Kyle is also dressed in school uniform, except he is also
wearing a bandanna and instead of school shorts he is wearing ripped denim
shorts. Kyle sparks Detective Marshall's interest, he looks Kyle up and down.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
(raised eyebrow)
I'm assuming that you were the "cool kids".
kyle
(smirking)
I guess you could say that...
INT. SCHOOL
HALL- MORNING
Fade out to the four(including the previously dead LACEY)
walking
down the school corridor. The
rest of the school are standing at their lockers all staring. Rock and roll
music
starts up. Clearly they are the center of attention, and they know it.
onlooker one
Lacey is soo pretty.
onlooker two
I know, I wish I had her hair.
Jaz notices the two girls fussing over Lacey and looks bitterly at her.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL (V/O)
So what happened on the night of the incident?
Int. cinema
hall- afternoon
Cuts from the four walking down the school corridor and fades
into the four walking in the same positions through the cinema, they are
holding drinks, popcorn etc.
dave (V/O)
The night began with the four of us at the movies.
Rock music fades out, black screen.
int.
Cinema- afternoon
The four are sitting in seats as images(O/S)
flash on their faces. Lacey looks scared. Dave
leans over and tops up her cup with a bottle of jack daniels he pulls from his
jacket. Jaz notices Dave lean over to fill up Lacey's cup, frowns and slaps his
arm. Kyle sees this and cockily laughs. A COUPLE behind the four stop making
out to shoot Kyle a look of
disapproval. A large scream from the movie (O/S) shocks them out of their group
dynamics, resulting in Dave accidentally pouring too much whiskey into Lacey's
cup. The group jump, creating more laughter.
INT. cinema
HALL- EVENING
The movie has finished and now the four are walking through
the cinema hall. It is clearly cold. Lacey appears very drunk.
kylE
That was intense.
dave
Intensly boring. Sequels always suck. Especially when it's
just the same shit over again, no twist, no anything.
jaz
Stay awake, Lace.
Lacey's teeth are chattering, Jaz helps Lacey pull her coat
tighter around her.
lacey
I love you, Jaz.
JAZ
You're drunk.
LACEY
No I do, you know I do. We've been best friends since we were little, and we will be best friends till we die.
Kyle wraps his arm around Dave's shoulder. And mimics Lacey.
KYLE
(fake- slurring)
You're my be-besst friend, I love you Dave. Bffls for like, life.
Kyle pretends to stumble and then falls on the floor. Dave laughs.
dave
Ah, Lace. These nights always result in you drinking more
than you can handle.
jaz
Fuck off, Dave! How much whiskey did you give her?
INT.
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE- MIDDAY
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
So by the time the movie had finished Lacey was intoxicated?
And Dave was the source?
jaz
Yes.
The Detective nods thoughtfully and scribbles in his book. He
looks up again.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Now, Jasmine I've heard reports that you and David used to go
steady?
DAVE
(laughing)
Yeah me and Jaz used to fuck, if that's what you mean. But even that was over a year ago, we've been purely "just friends" since.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
And it was clear that your ex- (coughs) boyfriend David, from what I've
gathered a "friend by association" with Lacey, was giving Lacey
more attention than you?
jaz
(confused)
I guess you could say that... Why, what are you implying?
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
It seems that motives are beginning to appear.
Dave stands up and hammers his fists onto the table where the
detective is sitting. His face is red.
DAVE
You're implying that one of us killed her! She drowned on her
own terms!
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
You seem like the aggressive type, Mr. Swanson. Getting girls
drunk, is that your usual style?
Dave opens his mouth to speak, Jaz pulls him from behind and sits him down.
JAZ
Shush, you raging isn't helping.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
So what happened after the movies?
EXT. Outside
cinema- evening
Kyle resting against a fence lights up a cigarette. Lacey is squatting, still cold. Jaz is rubbing her back. Dave lights up a joint, offers it to Lacey who takes a hit and then to Jaz who shakes her head.
DAVE
We should go to Green Creek.
Jaz
Fuck off, you stoned idiot.
kyle
That place scares the shit out of me... Let's go.
jaz
May I remind you both of the film we just watched.
DAVE
It was shit.
kyle
It was horrifying.
DAVE
No, the only thing horrifying about it was how bad it was.
kyle
I thought...
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE- MIDDAY
The two boys are now arguing over their thoughts on the film.
DAVE
C'mon Kyle, it was rubbish.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
I know I want details, but get back to the events leading up
to the death of Lacey Cambridge.
The glass of water on the desk turns a murky shade of green.
kyle
Well we decided to go to the infamous Green Creek.
EXT. GREEN
CREEK- night
The creek (true to its name) is green and murky, a
dilapidated old sign saying
"Green Creek" foregrounds the broken jetty that stands in the shallows. It
stretches out into mist. The four walk into the perspective shot, toward the
jetty.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL (V/O)
Tell me about Lacey, how was she acting?
jaz (V/O)
Like she always did, winging about how "ugly" she was. How no
boy would
ever love her. For the most beautiful girl in school she sure didn't act like
it, and she sure as hell never let anyone take her picture...
INT.
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE- MIDDAY
Closeup of Lacey's black and white forensic photo.
jaz (contd)
(smiling)
Not so much the case now, is it.
The detective looks at Jaz suspiciously, he squints his eyes,
as if trying to read her.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
What happened at the creek?
EXT. GREEN CREEK, jetty - NIGHT
The four are sitting on the jetty. They are clearly
interacting, but their voices are muted out.
kyle (v/o)
So basically we drank some more, smoked some more, talked
some more. Mainly about the awesome movie we had just seen, you know shooting
the shit.
DAVE
Sure you don't want anymore, Lacey?
Lacey, highly intoxicated shuts her eyes and shakes her head.
Dave and Kyle steal a look at each other.
KYLE
Let's play a drinking game!
DETECTIVE MARSHALL (V/O)
You mean to say you went to the creek to play drinking games.
KYLE (V/O)
Yeah, we wanted to play circle of death, kinda ironic now,
huh.
INT.
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE- MIDDAY
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
For Lacey's best friends you seem pretty apathetic about her
recent death. C'mon your best friend just died.
DAVE
(monotone)
Last time I checked lack of empathy wasn't a crime you could
go to jail for.
The detective looks back at Dave and closes his mouth, he
breathes in deeply.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Do you truly expect me to believe this. I've done background checks, Mr. Swanson you live with your single mother, an alcoholic I'm sure you could've drank at your house. We found markings and bruises all over Lacey's body, there must have been a struggle before she had "fallen" into the water. I know something was planned to go down that night, and an isolated creek seemed the perfect setting. Spare the drinking games bullshit and get talking.
EXT. GREEN
CREEK, jetty - NIGHT
Back to the four sitting on the jetty. Kyle is lighting up a
cigarette. Jaz is sitting next to Lacey, she is applying lip gloss in a compact mirror and fixing her hair.
JAZ
Look, Kyle I don't think that a drinking game is quite
appropriate right now, Lacey looks sick.
lacey
You're saying I look ugly Jaz?
Lacey takes a large swig from the bottle of Jack Daniels. Jaz packs her mirror away in her bag and rolls her eyes.
JAZ
Whatever Lacey, I don't even care anymore. I am so sick to
death of your attitude.
Jaz stands up and strings her little pink bag around her shoulder. She begins to walk off, Dave follows after her.
DAVE
Jazzy, come back and enjoy the party.
Kyle also follows Dave and Jaz to the foreshore.
lacey
I'm going to be sick.
Lacey stumbles to the end of the jetty, she holds onto a post
and leans over the water coughing. She is swaying uncontrollably. She then
stands up, swaying dangerously and as she tries to take a step forward. She
then lets go of the post and falls into the creek.
ext. green creek, foreshore- night
The three other teenagers hear a scream from the shore. They run back to the jetty.
EXT. GREEN CREEK, jetty - NIGHT
They run
over to the edge of the jetty and look down to see Lacey floating face down, head bleeding. Kyle
throws his cigarette into the water.
INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE- MIDDAY
Jaz looks at the principal blankly.
JAZ
By then there was nothing we could do.
Detective Marshall takes a moment to reflect.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
So why did you choose to get drunk this particular night, you
do realize it was a school night?
KYLE
(laughs)
It's not like it was different from any other night, I can't
remember the last time I attended maths class with out a hangover.
JAZ
(rolls eyes)
Why
is that even important?
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
I'm just trying to find out all the details here.
Kyle begins to look frustrated, he leans forward in his
chair.
KYLE
This is what happened, all three of us are telling you like
it is. Take it or leave it. She fell on her own terms. And as for the bruises
you found on her body, why that could be from anything, and you know it. Other
sea life, being badly knocked against the jetty, detriment to her body after
being in the water all night...
Dave outstretches his arm and calmly pushes Kyle back into
his chair, all the while Dave's eyes are glued to the detective.
DAVE
Look, you have no evidence it was us. We're all testifying as
innocent, so next time we see you detective, we'll need an attorney present
with us.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
I will definitely be seeing you in future. But look one more
thing doesn't sit right with me. You say it was an accident, why not report it?
More importantly if you're innocent why leave her there?
dave
(smiling)
Fish food?
The detective's face goes red, but he knows there's not
enough evidence to testify with. He lowers himself to a threat.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Your poker faces are impressive, I'll give you that. I hope you like orange jumpsuits Jasmine, 'cause
be seeing you three in Prison real soon.
ext. park- night
Underneath a flickering light post the three teenagers congregate
and discuss.
JAZ
He's onto us. We have to tell the truth, we have to tell
Detective Marshall
what really happened.
kyle
And what would that be?
JAZ
What happened! Dave, you got her intoxicated and Kyle you pushed her off the jetty... You knew she couldn't swim! I'm innocent.
Jaz begins crying.
JAZ (CONTD)
I can't go to jail, what would my parents
think. And I have to go to University next year.
This can't go on any further, I need a perfect record. You guys need to fess
up, and soon! And besides, have you seen me in orange it is not a flattering colour on me.
Jaz is now hyperventilating. Kyle does not look phased by Jaz's speech.
JAZ (CONTD)
It's only a matter of time before he puts the pieces together.
kyle
Dave, if this is what Jaz really believes why did she not
speak up in the principal's office?
DAVE
Well, Kyle, I would assume it has something to do with Jaz
not saving Lacey from drowning?
KYLE
Somehow I don't think that prestige university's accept an accessory to murder as a prerequisite.
EXT. GREEN
CREEK- NIGHT
Lacey is in the water screaming for help. The three teenagers
stand there.
lacey
Help me! Jaz! Help!
Jaz stands there, mouth agape. She looks frozen to the spot.
ext.
school carpark- night
JAZ
As I watched her there all I could think of was you always
making her the center of attention. And how ungrateful she was.
KYLE
Well don't feel too bad, we had to count on you to be the jealous, superficial bitch that you are.
KYLE
Girls will be girls, green with envy. Lacey would still be alive if you hadn't been so jealous to not jump in and
save her.
jaz
You had this planned?
dave
Why else would I have been pouring drinks down Lacey's throat
all night?
KYLE
We were literally killing her in front of your
eyes and all you could think of was yourself.
DAVE
Killing her.
JAZ
Why would you intentionally want this?
INT. SCHOOL HALL- night
Detective Marshall is walking through the dead school
hall, he comes across a GIRL who has just finished netball practice,
she is dressed in a sports uniform, holding a netball. Detective
Marshall, dripping with sweat grabs her by the shirt.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Do you know who Jasmine Whitall is?
girl
Who doesn't know Jaz? She's in the year above, like notorious for being a bad girl.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
And Lacey Cambridge?
girl
Oh yeah, the new girl. She is hot! Well I mean was hot... Apparently she was found dead in the river this morning. So sad.
EXT. QUIET ROAD- NIGHT
DAVE
It was a test and in a way a profound statement. To teach you a lesson. Which we did, what's funnier than you basically allowing that girl to die is that if you weren't such a self absorbed bitch you would've told Detective Marshall what had really happened at the creek today and you would still be alive as well.
KYLE
God, you only wanted us to fess up once you came into it,
once you realized that there was a possibility that you could go to jail, or
God forbid that perfect little personal record of yours would be tarnished.
DAVE
Look, we wanted you to live Jaz, we really did. I mean two
psychos like us belong in jail. But now I fail to see what the crime really is
here.
We didn't kill Lacey, she was still
alive in the water when she was screaming for help, so basically you killed
her. And for not telling the truth about what happened at Green Creek shows
just how horrible you really are.
KYLE
Two strikes and you're out.
DAVE
I guess we're just killing a killer here.
JAZ
I'm going to be sick.
DAVE
Baby, if you think this makes you sick then you haven't
seen anything yet.
Dave pulls a knife from his pocket. The two boys begin
walking toward Jaz who is standing in
front of the car. Jaz's eyes are wide with fear.
INT. SCHOOL HALL- NIGHT
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Were those two friends?
The girl laughs.
girl
I doubt it, those girls were polar opposites. Jaz hung out with the cool crowd, they were pretty into drugs.
INT. CINEMA HALL- EVENING (flashback)
lacey
I love you, Jaz.
JAZ
You're drunk.
LACEY
No I do, you know I do. We've been best friends since we were little, and we will be best friends till we die.
INT. SCHOOL HALL- NIGHT
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Why would they invite Lacey to the movies then?
girl
They invited her out? I wouldn't go with
them... Rumour has it that blonde guy... Kyle, stabbed a guy at his old
school and had to be transferred here.
Detective Marshall grabs his mobile phone out of his pocket and dials a number.
girl (contd)
Hey! Who are you anyway? What's goin' on?
Detective Marshall begins to run off.
DETECTIVE MARSHALL
Thank you, you've been very helpful.
EXT. quiet road- NIGHT
Black.
Jaz's phone begins to ring.
Zooms out from the pupil of an eye to reveal a still eye. Phone continues to ring.
Zooms out further to reveal Jaz, dead in the boot of Dave's mustang.
Kyle picks up the ringing phone off the ground and answers.
KYLE
(impersonating Jaz)
Hi it's Jaz, here. I can't get to the phone right now, 'cause I'm kinda, like, dead ATM.
Dave grabs the phone off of Kyle.
DAVE
(impersonating Jaz)
But leave a message at the beep and I'll get back to you. No promises though.
With that Dave smashes the phone onto the road. He slams down the boot and the two get in the car. The
same happy music from the start begins playing as we watch the mustang drive off into the sunset.
the end