FADE IN:
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT
 
A quaint New England college... or so we think, until TWO STUDENTS, both wearing Halloween m asks, run past camera, HOWLING at the top of their lungs.
 
A title appears: Halloween Night, 1960
 
INT. COLLEGE LIBRARY - NIGHT
 
The library resembles a tomb tonight: dark, SILENT. Pools of dust settle in the streams of pale blue moonlight. Shadowy fingertips stretch across the rows of books.
 
A girl’s SCREAM suddenly pierces the silence. It is coming from the back of the library. We GLIDE through the library as if we were floating, past the front desk, down one of the aisles.
 
And there, in the back, we discover the source of the SCREAMS: a young lady, 20 years old, is using one of the tables for something other than studying. A young man has her pinned to the top of the table, his pants pulled down around his ankles.
 
We move closer...
 
The girl’s face is partially covered by her long, blonde hair, but we can tell by the smile on her face that she is rather enjoying herself. Her name is LAURA COOPER.
 
Closer...
 
The young man, DAVID PRICE, 21 is concentrating so hard, he doesn’t even notice the gun pointed at him until the cold metal barrel is pressed against the back of his head. He jumps, spins around...
 
DAVID: What the...?!
 
...to find JUSTIN SWEEDLOW standing behind him. Justin is only nineteen, but at the moment, he looks much, much older. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his hair is uncombed, a mess. His whole body is shaking, but the hand holding the gun is remarkably steady. Laura quickly gets up, covering herself with her scattered clothes, while David pulls his pants up.
 
LAURA: Justin, what are you doing?
 
JUSTIN: I followed you.
 
DAVID: Christ, man, put the gun down!
 
JUSTIN: Under the circumstances, I don’t think you have any right TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!!
 
LAURA: David, let me handle this... (a beat) Justin—
 
She takes a step forward, and Justin suddenly turns the gun on her.
 
JUSTIN: Don’t come any closer!
 
LAURA: Okay, okay.
 
She stops dead in her tracks, hands in the air.
 
LAURA: Justin, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you.
 
JUSTIN: Were you? It’s already been a month. How much longer did you think you could keep this from me?
 
DAVID: You said you told him!
 
LAURA: (to David, under her breath) You’re not helping...
 
JUSTIN: See, she’s already lying to you, too.
 
LAURA: Justin... David and I love each other. I didn’t tell you, because I knew it would tear you apart.
 
All of a sudden, David steps in front of her.
 
DAVID: Look, man, if it makes any difference, you can have her back. You win.
 
JUSTIN: It’s too late... I’ve already lost.
 
He pulls the trigger. There’s a flash as the gun EXPLODES. The shot hits David in the chest, pushing him back against the table. Laura SCREAMS and runs to him.
 
As the blood spreads across the front of his shirt, David SPUTTERS a few times, then quickly dies. Tears stream down Laura’s face.
 
LAURA: DAVID, NO! (screams at Justin) YOU CRAZY SON OF A BITCH!
 
JUSTIN: If I can’t have you, Laura...
 
He FIRES again, hitting Laura between the eyes. Blood splatters the back wall, and Laura’s lifeless body slumps to the floor.
 
Justin looks down at the bodies, his face cold, expressionless.
 
JUSTIN: ...nobody can.
 
He sticks the gun barrel in his own mouth, bites down on the metal and closes his eyes. As he pulls the trigger, we...

CUT TO: BLACK

A title appears, white on black: 40 Years Later...
 
FADE IN:
 
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - MORNING
 
The campus doesn’t look like it’s changed much in the last forty years. The buildings show the usual signs of wear and tear but otherwise look the same.
 
We stop in front of a dormitory, the words “COOPER HALL” carved into the gray stone above the double doors, as a young woman, 20 years old, exits the building. For a split second, we swear we’ve seen her before. Then, we realize she bears a striking resemblance to Laura Cooper, except her hair is brown, not blonde. Her name is LAUREN MOORE.
 
Lauren is dressed in faded blue jeans and an old “hand-me-down” sweater. She carries a heavy backpack over one shoulder and cradles a couple more books in her arms.
 
She walks fast, checking her watch. She looks up just in time to see the person coming toward her. Lauren tries to swerve out of the way but bumps into him anyway, knocking her books to the ground.
 
LAUREN: Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Are you all right?
 
ADRIAN KNIGHT, 19, with his goatee and black trench coat, looks more like the Una-Bomber than a college student.
 
ADRIAN: I’m fine.
 
He doesn’t help her pick up the books. Instead, he stares as she bends over to pick them up herself.
 
ADRIAN: You’re in Prof. Blume’s English Lit class, aren’t you?
 
LAUREN: Yes, I am.
 
She blushes and tries to stay cool. Her attraction for Adrian is obvious.
 
LAUREN: My name’s Lauren, by the way.
 
ADRIAN: I’m Adrian.
 
LAUREN: Sorry about running into you like that. It’s just that I’m late for work.
 
ADRIAN: It’s okay. I guess I’ll see you in class.
 
LAUREN: Yeah.
 
Adrian stuffs his hands into the pockets of his trench coat, lowers his head and walks away. Lauren watches until he finally disappears into the crowd of STUDENTS roaming the campus, then she runs up the steps to the library and goes inside.
 
INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS
 
Like the rest of the school, the library hasn’t changed a bit, except for the addition of another wing to accommodate forty years worth of reference books and fine literature.
 
JOSIE WAGNER, 21, watches from behind the front desk as Lauren quickly comes around, setting her backpack on top  of the desk.
 
Josie is a firecracker, whip-smart and sassy. She is always dressed in wild, colorful clothes and seems to wear her hair in a different (and often unique) style every day.

JOSIE: You’re late.
 
LAUREN: (catching her breath) I know.
 
JOSIE: Let me guess... you were up all night again reading your books?
 
Lauren just grins sheepishly, and Josie rolls her eyes.
 
JOSIE: How many this time?
 
LAUREN: Two, that’s all.
 
JOSIE: That’s all?! Shit, I haven’t read two books all year, and I’m an English major! What’d I tell you about that anyway? You gotta get out once in a while. It’s just not healthy!
 
LAUREN: Josie, who am I going to go out with?
 
JOSIE: A boy... or a girl, if you prefer.  LAUREN: If you hadn’t noticed, the boys aren’t exactly lining up to get my phone number.
 
JOSIE: Y’know, you don’t have to wait for them all the time. You could, heaven forbid, ask them out yourself.
 
LAUREN: I don’t think so.
 
She gets nervous just thinking about it, and Josie grins to herself.
 
JOSIE: Sure you could. Sweetie, it’s not that hard.
 
LAUREN: Maybe not for you, but for me... (shakes her head) ...forget it.  JOSIE: C’mon, girl, I know your nose can’t be buried inside a book all the time. Who do ya like?
 
Lauren is starting to squirm now. She busies herself by organizing the books from the overnight return bin.
 
LAUREN: I’m not going to discuss this with you—
 
JOSIE: What’s the big deal? There’s gotta be a guy on this campus you think is cute, right? (a beat) What about Matthew?
 
LAUREN: No way, Matthew’s not boyfriend material.
 
JOSIE: He is a boy and a friend, and those are the basic requirements, last time I checked.
 
LAUREN: I’ve known Matthew forever. He’s just a friend, and that’s the way I’d like to keep it.
 
JOSIE: Okay, fine. Somebody else then.
 
Lauren SIGHS. She knows she’s not getting off the hook until she gives Josie a name.
 
LAUREN: Well...
 
JOSIE: I’m waiting.
 
LAUREN: ...Adrian’s kinda cute.
 
JOSIE: Adrian? Who’s that?
 
LAUREN: Adrian Knight. He’s in our English Lit class.
 
JOSIE: You mean the weird, freaky guy, always dressed in black, president of the Marilyn Manson Fan Club? You’re kiddin’ me, right?
 
LAUREN: He’s not weird, he’s... mysterious.
 
JOSIE: Okay, whatever. But if you think he’s cute, that’s cool. Have you ever even talked to him?
 
LAUREN: Sure, I have.
 
JOSIE: When?
 
LAUREN: This morning, as a matter of fact. I kinda bumped into him on the way over here.
 
JOSIE: And...?
 
LAUREN: (shrugs) We talked.
 
JOSIE: Did he seem interested in you?
 
LAUREN: (sarcastic) Yeah, he asked me to marry him.
 
JOSIE: I’m serious. You should see what he’s doing Friday night. It’s Halloween, you know.
 
LAUREN: Yeah, well, we’ll see...
 
She grabs a stack of books, squeezing them between her hands and chin, and walks around the front desk, leaving Josie behind. We follow her into one of the rows and watch her put the books away.
 
All of a sudden, somebody wearing a grotesque monster mask jumps out from around the corner, SCREAMING in Lauren’s face, trying to scare her. She doesn’t even flinch.
 
LAUREN: Hey, Matthew.
 
MATTHEW HILGERS, 19, pulls off the mask to reveal the acne-scarred face underneath. His brown hair is matted down, and he runs his fingers through it a couple of times, trying to get it back in place.
 
MATTHEW: How’d you know it was me?
 
LAUREN: You’ve worn that same mask every Halloween since the third grade.
 
MATTHEW: (looks at mask) Yeah, so?
 
Lauren shakes her head and makes her way around him to slip another book into its slot on the shelf. She then goes into the next aisle, and Matthew follows close behind.
 
MATTHEW: So, um, do you have any plans for Halloween?
 
LAUREN: Not really.
 
MATTHEW: I hear there’s going to be some wild parties on campus.
 
LAUREN: I think I’d rather just stay in.
 
MATTHEW: Great idea! We could rent some scary movies and make popcorn—
 
LAUREN: Just because I don’t feel like going out, Matthew, doesn’t mean you should change your plans. I’d feel guilty if you missed a great party on my account.
 
MATTHEW: I’d just be a walking target for a horrible hazing incident anyway.
 
Lauren GIGGLES and puts away the last book.
 
LAUREN: I’ll talk to you later, Matthew.
 
MATTHEW: What about Friday night?
 
LAUREN: We’ll see...
 
She flashes him a smile over her shoulder as she returns to the front desk. Matthew looks down at the mask, which he now wears on his hand like a puppet.
 
MATTHEW: Did that sound too desperate to you?
 
The mask nods, and Matthew frowns to himself.
 
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
 
Later that day, and the library is HUMMING with activity. Students come here to study between classes, others just come to sleep.
 
Lauren and Josie man the front desk. Lauren is checking out some books for one of the students, while Josie keeps busy by filing her nails.
 
All of a sudden, DEREK DESOTO, 20, sneaks up behind them. Derek is a big boy, fit and muscular. It’s no surprise that he’s a linebacker on the school football team.
 
Lauren sees Derek first. She opens her mouth to say hi, but he puts a finger over his lips, then grabs Josie’s ass with both hands and squeezes. Josie SQUEALS, spins around and SLAPS him.
 
DEREK: Hey, what’d you do that for!?
 
JOSIE: You scared the shit outta me, asshole! Don’t ever sneak up on me like that!
 
By now everybody in the library is staring, and Josie SNAPS at them, too:
 
JOSIE: What are you lookin’ at?!
 
Everybody immediately goes back to work. Derek’s cheek is turning red with Josie’s handprint, and he rubs it.
 
DEREK: Hey, Lauren.
 
LAUREN: Hi, Derek. Bet you don’t even get knocked around like that during a game, huh?
 
DEREK: (laughs) Yeah.
 
He turns back to Josie, slipping his arms around her waist and kissing the back of her neck. This, she doesn’t seem to mind.
 
DEREK: We still on for tonight, baby?
 
JOSIE: Remind me... what’s tonight?
 
DEREK: You said you were gonna help me study for my chemistry test tomorrow.
 
JOSIE: C’mon, Derek, you know we never end up studying.
 
DEREK: Yeah, so what’s your point?
 
He sticks his tongue in her ear.
 
JOSIE: (giggles) Derek, stop it!
 
Lauren blushes and tries not to stare.
 
JOSIE: Hey, Lauren.
 
LAUREN: Yeah?
 
JOSIE: Isn’t that him?
 
LAUREN: Who?
 
JOSIE: Adrian.

LAUREN: Where?!
 
She looks up to find Adrian coming toward the desk. He is carrying a couple of books.
 
LAUREN: (to herself) Ohmygod!
 
JOSIE: Here’s your chance.
 
LAUREN: Shut up!
 
She smiles as Adrian stops in front of her, setting his books down on top of the desk. Next to her, Josie and Derek pretend they aren’t listening, but they hang on every word.
 
LAUREN: Hi, Adrian.
 
ADRIAN: Hey. So, this is where you work?
 
LAUREN: Yep, this is where I work.
 
ADRIAN: Cool. (a beat) I want to check these books out.
 
LAUREN: Sure.
 
She picks up the books, glancing at the titles. The first one is “A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO TALKING TO THE DEAD,” and the second one is “SÉANCES FOR DUMMIES.”
 
LAUREN: Are these for a class?
 
DEREK: Actually, it’s a hobby of mine.
 
LAUREN: Oh, that’s cool... I think.
 
Beside her, Derek makes a sound like a bomb CRASHING, and Josie elbows him in the stomach.
 
Lauren finishes checking the books out for Adrian, and she hands them back to him.
 
LAUREN: There you go.
 
ADRIAN: Thanks.
 
LAUREN: I’ll see you later.
 
ADRIAN: Yeah.

He leaves the library with his books, and Lauren turns to Josie and Derek.
 
JOSIE: Hey, you’re the one who said he was mysterious, not me!
 
INT. LAUREN’S DORM ROOM - NIGHT
 
Lauren is lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She is listening to a SARAH MCLACHLAN CD in the bg.
 
She SIGHS and grabs a book off the small table next to the bed, cracking it open to the first page. It is a battered paperback copy of “Wuthering Heights,” by Emily Bronte, and by the looks of it, Lauren has read it many times before.

CUT TO:

JOSIE: I don’t think you should do it.
 
LAUREN: What do you mean? I thought you’d be proud of me.
 
JOSIE: I just don’t trust a guy who’s gonna take you to a library on the first date.
 
LAUREN: It’s not a date.
 
JOSIE: Whatever. All I’m saying is that you have to be careful.
 
LAUREN: Don’t worry, I will.
 
Matthew shows up then, sitting down next to Lauren. His tray is overflowing with food.
 
MATTHEW: Hey, what’s goin’ on?
 
LAUREN: Hi.
 
JOSIE: Hungry, Matthew?
 
MATTHEW: Huh?
 
JOSIE: I said, are you hungry?
 
Matthew shrugs his shoulders and starts shoving food into his mouth. Josie wrinkles her nose and gets up to leave.
 
JOSIE: I’m outta here.
 
LAUREN: But we just got here.
 
JOSIE: I’ve got Poets of the 20th Century in fifteen minutes. I’ll see you tonight.
 
LAUREN: Okay.
 
JOSIE: Bye, Matthew.
 
MATTHEW: (with a mouth full of food) Bye bye.
 
Josie leaves, and Matthew slides his tray across the table, then gets up and takes her place so that he is now facing Lauren.
   
MATTHEW: So, I went to Blockbuster this morning and rented all of the “Scream” movies for Friday night—
 
LAUREN: Matthew, I’ve got other plans.
 
MATTHEW: What do you mean?
 
LAUREN: I mean, I’ve got other plans, that’s all.
 
MATTHEW: Oh.
 
He has suddenly lost his appetite, and he pushes his tray away.
 
LAUREN: I’m sorry, I know how much you’ve been looking forward to this.
 
MATTHEW: It’s just... we spend every Halloween together.
 
LAUREN: I know.
 
She gets up from the table.
 
LAUREN: Look, I’ve gotta go, but I’ll make it up to you.
 
MATTHEW: Yeah, right.
 
LAUREN: No, I will. Think about it, I’ll do anything you want.
 
She smiles and leaves the cafeteria, dumping her food into a nearby trash bin. Matthew SIGHS to himself.
 
MATTHEW: (under his breath) Does that include having my
children?
 
EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - NIGHT
 
Halloween Night. It sounds like there’s a party in every dorm. Streams of toilet paper hang from the branches of every tree. STUDENTS dressed in costume run across the campus, SCREAMING bloody murder and LAUGHING hysterically at the same time.
 
THE LIBRARY
 
is especially ominous tonight. Two shadowy figures are huddled together in front of the door. One of the figures is carrying a backpack.
 
All of a sudden, a campus SECURITY GUARD comes up behind them, shining his flashlight in their faces.
 
SECURITY GUARD: What in the world do you think you’re doing?
 
Lauren and Adrian spin around, hands in the air. They shield their eyes, blinded by the flashlight’s beam.
 
LAUREN: It’s okay, I work here.
 
She shows the guard her keys to prove it.
 
LAUREN: I, uh, forgot my purse inside,and we were just stopping to pick it up before going out tonight.
 
SECURITY GUARD: All right, make it quick.
 
LAUREN: Thanks.
 
They watch the guard walk away before turning around again. Lauren slips the key into the lock and opens the door.
 
ADRIAN: That was close.
 
LAUREN: You’re telling me.
 
They go inside, closing the door behind them.
 
INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT
 
The library looks different tonight, in the dark. Adrian waits for his eyes to adjust to the blackness. Behind him, Lauren locks the door.
 
LAUREN: Hold on, I’ll turn on some lights.
 
ADRIAN: No, leave them off.
 
LAUREN: Okay...
 
Adrian makes his way to the back of the library, and Lauren follows. He sets the backpack down on top of a table and opens it. She watches as he pulls out the two library books from the other day as well as several candles.
 
All of a sudden, Lauren hears something... a NOISE. She glances over her shoulder as a chill runs down her spine.
 
LAUREN: Did you hear that?
 
ADRIAN: What?
 
LAUREN: I thought I heard something.
 
ADRIAN: It’s probably outside.
 
LAUREN: Yeah...
 
But a second later, she hears it again.
 
LAUREN: There it is again!
 
ADRIAN: I didn’t hear anything.
 
LAUREN: Adrian... can’t we turn on some lights, please?
 
All of a sudden, two figures jump out of the shadows at them. Lauren SCREAMS, and even Adrian jumps. The figures double over, LAUGHING, and then we see who it is: Derek   and Josie. Derek is dressed as a caveman, and Josie is wearing a pussycat costume.
 
LAUREN: That’s not funny!
 
JOSIE: You’re right! That was hilarious!
 
DEREK: You shoulda seen your faces!
 
Lauren glances over at Adrian, who has no idea what’s going on.
 
LAUREN: These are my friends.
 
ADRIAN: Did you invite them?
 
LAUREN: No, I did not.
 
She glares at Josie, who is still LAUGHING at their little prank. Derek walks over to introduce himself to Adrian.
 
DEREK: Sorry about that, man. I’m Derek.
 
ADRIAN: Hi.
 
They shake hands. Lauren SLAPS Josie in the arm.
 
LAUREN: And this is Josie!
 
JOSIE: Hey! (a beat) So, are we gonna have a séance or
what?
 
Adrian pauses, then pulls Lauren to the side, away from the others.
 
ADRIAN: (whispers) I don’t think your friends should stay.
 
LAUREN: Why not?
 
Before Adrian has a chance to explain, Josie steps forward.
 
JOSIE: Look, if you want us to leave, just say so.
 
ADRIAN: If this is going to work, I need your full cooperation... no more games.
 
Josie glances over at Lauren and starts to GIGGLE uncon-trollably.
 
ADRIAN: I’m serious!
 
His voice is firm, and Josie stops laughing immediately.
 
JOSIE: Okay.
 
DEREK: Whatever you say, man.
 
Adrian looks at each of them in turn, making sure he can trust them. Finally, he walks back over to the table and starts pulling more candles out of the backpack.
 
ADRIAN: Okay, each of you grab a candle.
 
Lauren, Josie and Derek take a candle. Adrian lights the first one, then uses the flame to light the others.
 
ADRIAN: As far as I can tell, this is where it happened.
 
LAUREN: Where what happened?

ADRIAN: The murder.
 
JOSIE: Whoa, wait a minute! Murder?! What the hell are you talkin’ about!?
 
ADRIAN: You don’t know?
 
They each shake their heads, and Adrian smiles ever so slightly.
 
ADRIAN: Forty years ago tonight, a student named Justin Sweedlow followed his girlfriend and another guy into the library. He watched them having sex and murdered them, then killed himself.
 
DEREK: No way!
 
LAUREN: You’re kidding, right?
 
Adrian reaches into the backpack again and this time pulls out an old newspaper clipping, yellowed with age and frayed at the edges. He hands the clipping to Lauren, and Josie and Derek hover over her shoulder to take a look for them- selves.
 
THEIR POV:
 
The headline reads: “MURDER/SUICIDE SHOCKS SMALL-TOWN COLLEGE.” Next to the article are two pictures. The first is a grainy, black and white yearbook photo of Justin Sweedlow. He looks different in the picture, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. The second photo shows the library. Po-lice tape surrounds the building, and two COPS guard the door.
 
BACK TO SCENE:
 
Lauren quickly reads the article, but Josie and Derek don’t bother.
 
LAUREN: (to herself) Laura Cooper...
 
She looks up at the others.
 
LAUREN: My dorm was named after the girl who was murdered.
 
DEREK: How come we’ve never heard about this?
 
JOSIE: It’s not exactly the kind of thing you advertise in the college catalog.
 
LAUREN: Plus, that’s forty years ago... there probably aren’t too many people around who remember when it happened.
 
She suddenly looks at Adrian.
 
LAUREN: That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? You want to contact the dead?
 
ADRIAN: I’ve been doing a lot of research on séances, and I think it could work.
 
Josie suddenly hands her candle to Lauren and walks away from the table.
 
JOSIE: No way! Forget it! Let’s get outta here, Derek!
 
DEREK: Hold on, this might be kinda fun.
 
JOSIE: Fun?! You think this is gonna be fun!? You’re crazy!
 
She points a finger at Adrian. He doesn’t even flinch.
 
JOSIE: And so are you!
 
LAUREN: I have to agree with Josie. I don’t think this is something we should be messing with.
 
ADRIAN: Look, it’s just an experiment.
 
DEREK: Right, we don’t know if anything’s gonna happen.
 
JOSIE: But what if it does? What if you actually contact something? What are you gonna say to it?
 
ADRIAN: I don’t know about you, but I always wondered what it’s like to be dead.
 
The others stare at him, and he smiles again. A crooked, devious smile.
 

CUT TO:
 

INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT
 
Moments later, the four of them are sitting in a circle on the floor. There is a candle in front of each of them, plus another in the center of the circle.
 
JOSIE: (to herself) This is insane! I can’t believe I’m actually doing this!
 
Adrian sits with his hands folded calmly in his lap. He looks around at the others.
 
ADRIAN: From this moment on, don’t say a word. I will be the only one allowed to speak.
 
Josie rolls her eyes and glances over at Lauren, who is staring off into space, trying to figure out what she’s gotten herself into.
 
ADRIAN: Now, take your neighbor’s hand and close the circle.
 
He reaches out, taking Lauren’s hand, then Josie’s. Once the circle is complete, everyone looks to Adrian for further instructions.
 
ADRIAN: Concentrate on the candle in the center of the circle, and listen only to the sound of my voice.
 
Josie nervously glances around at the others. Lauren and Derek are staring at the candle in the middle of the circle.
 
ADRIAN: I will now attempt to contact the spirit world...
 
He closes his eyes.
 
ADRIAN: Spirits of the dead, hear my voice. We would like to speak to Justin Sweedlow. If you are there, please show us a sign...
 
He opens his eyes, as if expecting something extraordinary to happen. The candle’s flame flickers a bit, but that’s all.
 
ADRIAN: (louder) Spirits of the dead, hear my voice. We are trying to contact Justin Sweedlow...
 
Nothing happens, and Adrian is starting to think nothing will. So, he tries a different approach:
ADRIAN: Say it with me.
 
JOSIE: But I thought you said—
 
ADRIAN: Forget what I said! Say it with me!
 
He starts the incantation again, but only Derek joins him:
 
ADRIAN & DEREK: (in unison) Spirits of the dead, hear our
voices...
 
The clock on the wall behind Adrian suddenly stops, the second hand stuck between the nine and the twelve.
 
ADRIAN: Again!
 
The others join him:
 
ALL FOUR: Spirits of the dead, hear our voices...
 
The middle candle starts to flicker more violently. Lauren’s grasp tightens around Adrian’s hand, her knuckles turning white.
 
ADRIAN: AGAIN!
 
ALL FOUR: SPIRITS OF THE DEAD, HEAR OUR VOICES...
 
All of a sudden, the candle in the middle EXPLODES in a brilliant flash of blue flame. Lauren, Josie and Derek jump back, letting go of each other’s hands, breaking the circle.
 
Lauren quickly gets up and turns on the lights. Her face is white as a sheet.
 
Josie and Derek, on the other hand, are LAUGHING again.
 
DEREK: That was cool, man!
 
JOSIE: I have to admit, you really had me going!
 
They look over at Adrian, who slowly gets up and looks around the library, as if he forgot where he was. His legs are unsteady, and he looks like he’s about to pass out.
 
HIS POV:

The room is spinning. Josie and Derek are LAUGHING like hyenas as they blow out their candles.
 
BACK TO SCENE:

Lauren can tell something’s wrong, and she takes a step forward.
 
LAUREN: Adrian?
 
DEREK: How’d you get the candle to do that? Is it some sorta trick candle or what?
 
JOSIE: And the clock was a nice touch, too!
 
Adrian stares at them like he’s never seen them before in his life. Their words ECHO in his head.
 
LAUREN: Adrian, are you okay?
 
He looks at her, and there is a flicker of recognition in his eyes before he falls forward, face first.
 
LAUREN: Oh my god!
 
Adrian hits the floor with a dull THUD, and as his eyes roll back into his head, we...
 
FADE TO: BLACK
 
To Be Continued...

Read Séance: Part 2