THE PREDATOR

FADE IN:

EXT. DAVE'S STORE - NIGHT

We're outside a small store. There is only one car, a large van parked in the front. The ground is wet from a recent rainfall.

INT. DAVE'S STORE

We're inside the store. It's cramped, dark, and has limited supplies. It has two occupants. One is a heavy man, behind a counter, reading a book. This is DAVE. 

We move to the other occupant, a man, 20's, well-built, average-looking, with intense eyes. He's looking at axes and other dangerous things.

TIM (V.O.)
I was looking for something that would get the job done. I didn't want any of that old, rusty shit.
(beat)
The bitch was back at the house. She was tied up and gagged. She wasn't going anywhere.
(beat)
I came to Dave's because he was too dumb to think anything of it.
(picking up an axe)
This looks good.

He walks over to Dave, and sets the axe on the counter.

DAVE
Will that be it, Tim?

TIM
I think for now, yes. But you know me, Dave, I'll be back soon.

Dave rings it up.

DAVE
$17.44.

TIM
(handing him a twenty)
Keep the change.

DAVE
Thanks.

Tim leaves.

EXT. DAVE'S STORE - NIGHT

Tim walks to his car.

TIM (V.O.)
See what I mean? Too easy.

EXT. ROAD - NIGHT

Tim's van is gliding down the road. A few houses line each side. 

TIM (V.O.)
This should be fun.

The van suddenly turns into a driveway. We see a medium sized house. Tim gets out of the car, axe in hand, and heads into the house.

INT. TIM'S HOUSE - FOYER

Tim closes the door behind him, and takes off his shoes. He also hangs up his coat in the closet. He then takes the axe, and goes to the basement door.

INT. TIM'S HOUSE - BASEMENT

It's very dark down here, but we hear a girl WHIMPERING. The door opens, letting light in. Tim comes down the stairs. He turns on a light over a workbench. It lights what it can. 

We can now see a young girl in a large cage, CRYING. Her arms and legs have been bound with rope. A piece of cloth serves as her gag. Even through the ruined makeup, EMILY PERKINS, 18, is still pretty. 

Tim puts down the axe against the workbench, and picks up some scissors. He goes over to Emily's cage.

TIM
How you doing, Emily?

TIM (V.O.)
I didn't really care how she felt.

EMILY
(through gag)
Fuck you!

TIM
Fuck me? No, fuck you. Fuck you and your perfect little existance. You know that people like you always get what's coming to them? You think you're so perfect. We are humans, Emily. We are not perfect.

Tim moves around to the back of Emily, where she lays against the cage. He smells her hair. It must still smell nice, because he warms to it. He takes the scissors and cuts off some of her hair, being sure to get what he can. He grabs the hair and leaves for upstairs, but then turns back.

TIM
I'll be right back, darling.

Emily stares at him, wide-eyed.

Tim goes upstairs and into --

INT. STUDY

This is no ordinary study. It has a computer,and there are some paintings on the walls. But cluttered about are newspaper articles with headlines like:

YOUNG GIRL MISSING FOR MANY DAYS

and

NO LEADS IN MURDER INVESTIGATION

Large, strange jars are on the shelves of the bookcases, instead of books. Their mysteries intrigue us. 

A photo album is on a wooden table, it's open. We hover near it, but not close enough to see the contents. 

Tim is putting the hair in a square, tin canister labeled GIRLS. He has tied a wrap around the hair and has labeled it:

EMILY

Tim now goes back into the basement.

INT. BASEMENT

He comes down the stairs with a bit of glee. 

TIM (V.O.)
I just wanted to cause her a little pain before I finished her.

We briefly notice a camera on the workbench. He picks up a knife and proceeds to Emily's cage. 

Emily SQUEALS a bit. In one quick motion, Tim squats, unlocks the cage, opens the cage door, picks up Emily's arm, and cuts it, drawing blood. Emily SCREAMS through the gag. Tim takes all this in with alert eyes. 

TIM (V.O.)
I was done with her.

He thinks a moment, and then moves over to where the axe is sitting. He picks up the axe, drags Emily out of the cage, and swiftly beheads her. He is covered in blood.

TIM (V.O.)
It was quick and easy. She's in a better place, anyway.

Tim goes over to the workbench and picks up the camera. It's a polaroid camera. He takes a picture of Emily's body and it immediately comes out, not yet a picture. After a few seconds, we see the picture coming together, but we don't need to see any more. We've already seen what he took it of. He sets the polaroid and the camera on the workbench and goes to Emily. 

He picks her up and brings her over to an area that is very dark. He throws Emily's body in the darkness and we hear a THUMP, like she landed on something already there. 

Tim turns on a hanging ceiling light, and a lightbulb turns on above the darkness. We see many bodies, too many to count, one on top of each other, all dead, and all women. The sight is truly frightening. Emily is on top of the others.

ON TIM:

As he admires his handiwork, like he always does after tossing a body in.

His hand reaches for the light.

INT. STUDY

Tim has the finished polaroid and has written:

AFTER

on the top of it in red sharpie marker.

He puts it in the photo album in a little sleeve, right next to a photo of Emily in her cage, labeled:

BEFORE

on the top of it as well.

A strip lays on the top of both of the photo pages, labeled:

EMILY

in pen.

TIM (V.O.)
Maybe it is a bit dumb that I keep records of all this shit. But fuck it. I'm still going to do it, because I want to remember each one.

Tim now picks up the photo album and flips through it, remembering, and we can see all of his victims. WOMEN'S NAMES pop up at us, BEFORE and AFTER, with the AFTER'S being very grisly and bloody and the manner of the deaths sometimes staying the same, sometimes changing throughout the album. 

When he's finished, he puts it back where it was, and goes up some stairs. We see him enter what looks to be a bedroom, and he closes the door.

CUT TO:

INT. MCDONALD'S - DAY

Tim is sitting in a booth with a sandwich, and a soda. The place is packed with good looking people, and Tim is scanning the room, looking for someone.

TIM (V.O.)
I like to eat at fast food restaurants for lunch mostly because that's where a lot of the younger ones are. I can act normal, and just eat my lunch while just picking someone out.

ON TIM:

As he continues to scan the room.

TIM (V.O.)
(simply)
I like to think of myself as a predator.

His eyes find a girl at a booth with no food. She is watching one of the TV monitors.

TIM (V.O.)
I wonder...

PUSH IN:

On the girl. Still watching the TV. As --

her boyfriend sits down with their food. He gives her a kiss and we turn somewhere else.

TIM (V.O.)
Figures.
(beat)
I'm not scared of guys. I just prefer women.

Tim finishes up his sandwich and gets up. He throws his trash out and walks out of the doors.

CUT TO:

EXT. MOVIE THEATER - NIGHT

It's a new movie theater. State of the art, IMAX, and all that.

INT. BOX OFFICE

A small line has formed for tickets to any number of movies. We find Tim in the line, waiting patiently. Two girls in front of Tim are having a conversation about the movie they are seeing. But we hear Tim.

TIM (V.O.)
I like this place. Ever since they built it, I've been coming to more movies.
(beat)
Tonight it's a horror movie. That's what the two chicks in front of me are talking about.

ON THE CHICKS:

They are talking, but we can't hear them, all we can hear is Tim's voice, and the occasional --

TICKET WOMAN (O.S.)
Enjoy your movie.

Tim watches the girls intently. His stare is eerie.

TIM (V.O.)
They're probably sisters.

We can hear their conversation now.

ANNIE
I fucking hate scary movies, Tina.

TINA
Don't be such a pussy. It's just a movie.

Tim smiles. He likes these kinds of qualities.

TIM
Damn! It sounds like you two need someone to sort this out.

ANNIE
It does kinda sound that way, doesn't it?

TINA
I'm Tina and that's Annie.

TINA is the bigger of the two. She has brown eyes and black hair. ANNIE is slightly smaller, with green eyes and black hair.

TIM
I'm Tim. You guys are going to see that scary movie, too? Cool. Can I sit with you?

Tina exchanges a glance with Annie, then --

TINA
Yeah, we'll meet you in there.

They're at the ticket woman, who's waiting.

TIM
Goody.

They both GIGGLE and get their tickets.

They head into the main lobby and Tim steps up to the ticket woman.

CUT TO:

INT. THEATER

Tina, Annie, and Tim are sitting close to the front row. The theater is nearly empty. Tim sits in the middle of the two girls. They each have a soda. The movie has already begun.

ON SCREEN:

A lone highway surrounded by a desert. Nothing for a few seconds. Then a sound of a car SPEEDING really fast. It speeds by us doing at least 100.

IN THE THEATER:

Tim is moving in on the girls.

TIM
It's good so far, huh?

TINA/ANNIE
Sssh!

He retreats.

ON SCREEN:

A drug deal at a rusty old gas station. A man is testing drugs to see if they're real.

MAN
We're good.

Three men with a briefcase bring it over to him and exchange it for the drugs.

TIME CUT:

INT. THEATER - AN HOUR LATER

The movie is still going, but it probably is almost over. Tina, Annie, and Tim are all transfixed by the movie.

ON SCREEN:

A man holding a gun is standing, facing a younger man with his gun. They're in a cabin. It looks like a old western standoff.

OLDER MAN
Now, you didn't have to follow me. But you did, and since you did, you're gonna have to suffer the consequences. 

YOUNG MAN
You don't have to do this, Sheriff. Just give me back the money, and all of this will be forgotten.

IN THE THEATER:

Tim takes a drink from his soda. As does Tina, and their eyes meet, for a second. Then they continue watching the movie.

ON SCREEN:

SHERIFF
You haven't been in my shoes, Doug. When you see the shit I see, you have to get out.

DOUG
I understand. I do. But we need that money.

SHERIFF
FUCK YOU!

Suddenly, he SHOOTS the other man in the chest, twice.

IN THE THEATER:

Tim watches this.

TIM (V.O.)
Strange, the sheriff has a weird resemblance to me.
(beat)
I hate cops. Not because of what they do. Because of how they do it. Just like this movie showed, they're so fucking corrupt. Sure, there's some good cops out there. But they're a select few. Maybe I hate them because they think that they can be an authority just because of a badge. Or because they keep me from doing my job.
(beat)
And to think, I wanted to be a cop when I was growing up. Then again, who didn't want to be a cop or a firefighter.

ON SCREEN:

The sheriff cleans up the mess he made. He leaves the house, and gets in his police cruiser. The cruiser turns onto a highway and the movie ends.

IN THE THEATER:

The house lights are turned on. The trio stays behind to watch the credits.

TINA
That was good, don't you think?

ANNIE
Yeah, I was surprised at the ending, though.

TIM
Why, you didn't think the sheriff had it in him to kill that guy?

ANNIE
Exactly.

TIM
Maybe he just had his mind set on it.
(long beat)
Hey, I got an idea. Why don't you guys come back to my house, and we can watch another movie.

ANNIE
Yeah!

TINA
What kinda movie?

TIM
What kind would you want to watch?

TINA
(thinking)
A romance movie.

TIM
VANILLA SKY?

TINA
Perfect.

INT. TINA'S CAR - NIGHT

Tina and Annie are following Tim's car. Tina's driving. The radio plays a ROCK SONG.

TINA
This guy's perfect.

ANNIE
I know.

CUT TO:

EXT. TIM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Tim pulls in the driveway, and Tina pulls in right behind him.

They all get out of their cars, and walk towards the front door. Tim unlocks it for them and they enter.

INT. TIM'S HOUSE - FOYER

Everyone comes in, and takes off their coats, and shoes.

TIM
Follow me into the living room.

They do.

INT. LIVING ROOM

It's pretty big. It's clear that Tim spends a lot of his time here. A DVD collection stand is next to the TV. The DVD player is below the TV. Tim ejects the movie that was currently in there.

CLOSE ON:

PSYCHO DVD.

Tina and Annie exchange glances. Tim sees this.

TIM
What? Don't tell me you guys have never seen PSYCHO. The movie's a classic.

TINA
Sorry, nope.

ANNIE
(looking at the room)
Wow. You've got the whole thing, haven't you?

TIM
I don't have surround sound.

TINA
(laughs)
Awww, you poor baby.

He goes over to the collection and finds the case for PSYCHO. What he is doing is methodical, ritual. Like what we saw before, when he killed Emily. He finds the case for VANILLA SKY, opens it, and puts the DVD in the DVD player.

Tina sits down on the leather couch.

ANNIE
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.

TIM
It's down the hall to the --

ANNIE
Don't worry, I can find it.

Annie moves out of the room.

Tim looks worried.

TIM (V.O.)
Did I shut the study door? That bitch better not go in there. Fuck.

TINA
So, this is quite a collection you've got here.

INT. HALLWAY

Annie walks down the hallway to the bathroom. She notices that the study door is open, lights on. She peeks in, then enters.

INT. STUDY

Annie looks at all the paintings, then stops when she comes to the desk. She sees the photo album, the photo of Emily. She turns around to come face to face with:

EMILY'S HEAD

in one of the large jars on the bookcase.

She stifles a scream. She goes back into the hall, shutting the door behind her.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Tim and Tina are watching the opening credits.

TIM
I'm gonna go get some Sprite, you want some?

Tina shakes her head.

INT. HALLWAY

Tim peeks his head around the wall to the hallway.

The bathroom door is shut. The light is on from under it. Also, the study's door is shut. Tim notes this, and goes into the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN

Tim is getting his drink. 

We see Annie float by silently behind him, heading to the living room.

Tim gets out a glass.

INT. LIVING ROOM

Tina is watching the movie as Annie comes up behind her, covering her mouth as she gasps. They speak in whispers.

TINA
What is it?

ANNIE
The guy's a killer, he's a murderer, Tina.

TINA
What?

ANNIE
We have to get out of here.

They start running.

INT. FOYER

They open the front door, and race into the night.

We stay on the door for a few seconds, sure that Tim will come. And sure enough, Tim runs out of the house, butcher knife in hand.

EXT. TIM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

It is jet black outside. 

Tim chases the girls to their car, and we notice a gun tucked beneath his belt.

He gets to the car, where the girls are already inside.

He tries a door. Locked. He grabs his gun and aims it at the window. The girls duck. He FIRES, SHATTERING the glass.

The girls unlock the other door and start to jump out, but Tim grabs Annie's arm through the broken glass. She pulls back, trying to get free. He pulls even harder, but cuts himself on a broken shard. Surprised, he lets go.

Annie joins Tina, and they start running toward the open front door. Suddenly:

THWIP!

The butcher knife enters Annie's back.

We see Tim, back at the car, with an outstretched hand.

TIM (V.O.)
An exellent skill to learn.

Annie chokes a bit, then falls to the grass, face down. Tina, almost at the door, looks back and sees her. She sees the protruding handle.

TINA
ANNIE!

She starts back for her sister, but Tim is jogging towards them. 

INT. FOYER

Tina runs back into the house, shuts the door, and locks it.

EXT. TIM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Tim pulls the knife out of Annie. She crys out in pain.

He walks up to the house and tries the door.

TIM
Oh fuck.

TIM (V.O.)
I left my keys inside.

He thinks. Annie MOANS in pain.

TIM
Shut up!
(thinking)
Wait.

He knocks on the door.

TIM
Tina. I think I have something of yours. She's still alive, you know. Take her to a hospital, and those doctors, they'll sew her up good.
(beat)
But you gotta let me in.
(beat)
We gotta finish this.

He tries the door again. Shocked, he finds the door unlocked.

TIM
Attagirl.

He enters, leaving Annie behind.

INT. FOYER

He closes the door quietly.

INT. KITCHEN

He enters the kitchen, looks at his glass of sprite, waiting to be drank. He takes a couple of drinks and sets the glass down.

INT. LIVING ROOM

He enters the living room and turns on the light. As soon as he does so, Tina swings at him with the axe. 

He ducks, the axe narrowly missing him.

He stabs her in the shoulder with the knife. 

She recoils in pain.

He advances, but she isn't done yet. She swings the axe again, with all the strength that she has left.

She connects.

Tim goes down, the axe in his chest.

Tim and Tina share a moment, she almost feels sorry for him.

TIM
(with softness)
You animal.

She takes his gun, which is lying nearby.

She goes into the --

INT. KITCHEN

She finds a phone, picks it up and dials 911.

911 OPERATOR (V.O.)
911. Is there an emergency?

Tina is about to answer, but suddenly Tim appears in the doorway. 

He starts to pull the axe from out of his chest.

Tina is stuck, transfixed on the sight.

Tim gets the axe out of his chest and raises it high above his head.

TIM
Nothing personal, sweetie. I actually liked you.

Tina snaps out of her daze. 

She raises the gun, aims it, and FIRES.

It hits Tim in the head.

He falls back, dead.

Tina picks up the phone again.

TINA
I need an ambulance. Better get some police officers over here, too.

911 OPERATOR (V.O.)
They're already on their way, miss.

TINA
I have to check on my sister.

911 OPERATOR (V.O.)
Is it safe to do so?

TINA
Yes. Thank you for your help.

She hangs up, and heads outside.

EXT. TIM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Tina goes to her sister, who is still in the position that Tim left her in, face down. Tina turns Annie over, and is relieved to see that she is still alive. She looks like shit, but she's holding in there.

We hear the steady chant of SIRENS.

TINA
They're coming for us, Annie. Everything's gonna be fine.

We SLOWLY RISE UP, seeing the blue and whites coming closer.

Tina is saying something to Annie, but we can't hear it, all we hear is the SIRENS.

As we KEEP RISING, we slowly --

FADE TO BLACK