Last Friday Night

Written by Christine Bernabe

FADE IN

EXT. WOODS - EVENING

Faint moonlight illuminates a clearing in the woods, but everything else is wrapped in darkness. A young woman with disheveled hair and clothes covered in mud stands in the middle of the clearing with her back turned. She turns while mumbling something inaudible, then screams.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

ANIKA BENNETT (26) wakes up with the worst hangover from her party last night. She touches her head as she gets up from the bed. She sees several bruises on her arms and legs and groans.

ANIKA

Uggghhh... I'm never drinking again!

Anika walks to the kitchen and grabs a glass of water when she hears a knock on the door.

ANIKA (cont'd)

Just a minute!

Anika places the glass down on the kitchen counter and heads to the door. She opens it to a man in a navy blue jacket and black slacks, and looks only a few years older than her.

MAN

Miss Anika Bennett?

ANIKA

Yes?

The man holds up his badge and shows it to Anika.

MAN

I'm DETECTIVE CLARK JORDAN. May I ask you a few questions?

ANIKA

Of course. What's this about, Detective?

DETECTIVE JORDAN

Miss Bennett, when was the last time you talked to Miss LISA CAMPBELL?

ANIKA

Lisa? She was here last night when I had a few friends over for dinner. Why? Did something happen to her?

DETECTIVE JORDAN

A couple of joggers reported a car parked on the side of Pinewoods Way and we have confirmed it was Miss Campbell's. We have not found the body, but we have reason to believe Miss Campbell is dead.

The worry on Anika's face was quickly replaced by devastation. She cries out.

ANIKA

No, no, no! It can't be... She was JUST here!

DETECTIVE JORDAN

I'm sorry, Miss Bennett. We are doing everything we can to find out what happened. Please, if you have any information that may help with the investigation, give us a call.

Detective Jordan hands Anika his business card. Anika takes the card with shaky hands and nods.

DETECTIVE JORDAN (cont'd)

Thank you for your time, Miss Bennett.

Anika just nods again and closes the door. Still crying, she calls her boyfriend, JAKE THOMPSON (30).

ANIKA

Jake...

JAKE

Baby, what's wrong?

ANIKA

Lisa... She's... dead. A detective came here asking questions... She can't be dead... She can't be!

JAKE

Are you home? Stay there, I'm on my way.

Anika drops to the floor and cries. INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON - LATER

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Anika opens it. Jake quickly wraps his arms around Anika before heading inside.

ANIKA

I can't believe this...

JAKE

I know. Did Lisa tell you anything before she left?

ANIKA

Yeah... No... I don't know... All she said was she needs to go and she'll call me when she gets home. But I was so out of it last night.

JAKE

Okay. What about Ashley and Mia, do they know where she went?

ANIKA

Probably not, they left before Lisa did.

JAKE

Or maybe she met with someone instead of-

ANIKA

No, you know her, she wouldn't do that without telling me. Can you please stop asking questions?

JAKE

I was just trying to help. Can you calm down so-

ANIKA

How could you expect me to calm down when my best friend might be lying dead in a ditch somewhere?!

JAKE

That's not what I meant and you know it. I'm sick of this bull-

ANIKA

Just go, Jake. Get out of my face!

JAKE

Fine! Figure this out yourself!

Jake stands up and walks out the door. Anika follows Jake and slams the door shut behind him. Anika looks around her apartment for clues to find out what

happened to Lisa. She heads back to her bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM - EVENING

Anika opens the bedroom door and sees the smashed vanity mirror. She looks around the room to check what could've caused it, but finds nothing. She bends down to pick up the broken pieces when her phone rings. Anika jumps from the sudden noise. She sees Lisa's name on the phone screen and quickly answers it.

ANIKA

Lisa! Where-

LISA

(Staticky)

Please... You don't understand... No, Stop!

Lisa screams and the line cuts.

ANIKA

NO, NO, NO... LISA!

Anika stares at the black phone screen when it rings again. This time, it's Jake.

JAKE

Babe... I'm sorry. Please, let me help.

ANIKA

(crying)

I- I'm sorry too. I don't know what's happening. I- got a call from Lisa and she was screaming. We have to find her!

JAKE

We will, okay?

ANIKA

Can- can we go to Pinewoods Way? That stupid Detective Jordan is not doing his job!

JAKE

(hesitates)

Oh... right, okay. I'll pick you up.

EXT. WOODS - EVENING - LATER

Jake and Anika arrive at Pinewoods Way. They see an area wrapped in yellow CAUTION tape and the rest of the road was blocked off from traffic.

JAKE

This must be it.

Jake pulls the car over and turns off the engine as Anika gets down from the car. They turn on their phone torches and start looking for any sign of Lisa. Anika suddenly races through the trees and Jake follows her.

JAKE (cont'd)

Anika, wait!

Anika reaches a clearing and stops. Jake catches up with her and grabs her arm.

JAKE (cont'd)

Why the hell did you run off like that?

Anika slowly takes Jake's hand off her arm and smirks.

ANIKA

Because... I'm excited to get here.

Anika walks to a spot behind several bushes and Jake follows her as she digs through it. Jake sees a muddied hand and his eyes grew wide.

JAKE

Anika, what the fuck?!

ANIKA

Oh, Jakey, Jakey... We can drop the act now. I know EVERYTHING. Lisa told me, before she dropped dead. Or should I say, before I made her drop dead.

JAKE

Damn it, what did you do?

ANIKA

I just made Lisa a nice dinner and even bought her favorite Merlot. I think it was around then when I MAY have slipped a little dessert for her to enjoy. And now, we're here!

JAKE

You fucking psycho!

ANIKA

No, I'm a fucking martyr for putting up with your bullshit while you fuck

around. And with my goddamn best friend too. Isn't that story already played out?

Jake was about to grab Anika but she manages to dodge him. Anika got a hold of a huge rock and bashes Jake on the head with it. Jake stumbles and falls to the ground.

ANIKA (cont'd)

You see, Jake. What I find most incredible is you had the audacity to do this to me. You were a hot mess when I met you, and this is the thanks I get?

Jake groans and Anika bashes Jake's head with the huge rock again. And again. And again. And again, until Jake is lying perfectly still on the ground. Anika pulls out her phone and calls Detective Jordan.

ANIKA (cont'd)

(crying)

Detective, please go to Pinewoods Way. Jake - he killed Lisa. And he tried to kill me too. I-I didn't know what else to do. They're dead! They're both dead!

DETECTIVE JORDAN

Just stay there, Miss Bennett. We'll be right there.

The call ends and Anika menacingly grins as Jake lies beside her, lifeless.

ANIKA

Night-night, Jakey. Rest in fucking peace.

FADE OUT