Cry Wolf (2005) Movie Script
1
And in related news,
local woman Becky Roberts
has been missing now
for more than 24 hours
missing now for more than 24 hours.
Is anyone there?
Hi.
Hi.
- Uh, where is everyone?
- In the assembly.
So, why aren't you?
Why aren't you?
I'm a transfer. I just got here.
- I know.
- Is it that obvious?
It's a small school. Word travels fast.
- So what's the assembly for?
- Major drama.
Some townie was screwing the wrong guy,
and she's gone missing.
So the police are here to teach us
about personal safety.
Like don't talk to strangers.
I'm Owen.
Dodger.
That's unique.
Blame my mom.
- She's a Dickens scholar.
- And your dad?
Let's just say he's not a scholar.
- So where'd you come from?
- England.
I meant what was your last school.
Bradford.
And before that Collegiate.
Webster before that.
So what'd you do?
I was dating this girl,
who happened to be the dean's daughter.
- Miss Allen?
- Uh, Miss McNally.
Since you seem to have
skipped the assembly,
- perhaps detention would be...
- I'm sorry. Miss McNally, is it?
- Uh-huh.
- I'm Owen Matthews, and this is my fault.
It's my first day,
and I asked Miss Allen here
if she could show me
the way to my dorm.
Not that I would ever
set foot in the boys' dorm.
No, just the dorm's front entrance.
Fine.
But as soon as you finish
showing Mr. Matthews around,
- make sure you contact your RA...
- I'll do just that.
Thank you for your help.
I guess you're stuck with me.
Mr. Matthews,
your son is on line one.
Uh, send him to voicemail, Cynthia.
You've reached Charles Matthews.
I'm away from my desk right now.
Please leave a message,
and I will return as soon as possible.
Hey, Dad.
Just wanted to let you know
that I'm all settled in.
The bus worked out fine,
though it would have been
nice to have seen you before I left.
I got a great work study shift
as a teaching assistant
in the physics department.
And I signed up for classes.
Mostly hard sciences, per your request.
And I just met my roommate, Tom.
I just wiped my ass.
Great guy.
Well, I guess that's it. So, um
You know, give me a call
if you have some time.
I hope you washed that hand.
We're sneaking out.
- Good for you.
- Do you wanna come?
Why would I want to do that?
Dodger asked me to bring you.
Where are we going?
The old chapel. Westlake tradition.
To do what, Bible study?
To play the game.
What up? Party's here!
I thought you went
missing like that townie.
Hey, Tom, who's your new boyfriend?
You'll have to excuse Randall here.
He doesn't know the difference between
a roommate and a cell mate.
Everybody, this is Owen.
Owen, this is everybody.
Hey, jungle fever, you guys wanna join us?
What's wrong, Graham?
Bad mood 'cause you blew the physics test?
I don't know, Lewis. Bad mood because
the only thing Mercedes blows is her hair?
Hate to be the bitch here,
but are we gonna play or what?
Come on, Regina. You love to be the bitch.
All right, everyone, put your money in.
Is someone gonna tell me how to play?
It's a lying game.
The object, avoid suspicion,
manipulate your friends,
eliminate your enemies.
Have a seat.
I'm gonna secretly pick
one person in the group
to be a liar, the wolf.
And everyone else is a sheep.
If you can find the wolf
and convince the rest
of the group to vote him out,
then the money is yours.
If the wolf survives, the cash is theirs.
So, how do we find the wolf?
Figure out who's lying.
Who's Dodger looking at?
I'm thinking of Texas T.
What? Dude, you'll never
borrow my car again.
As much as I'm sure
I'm gonna miss the PT ragtop,
I thought I heard Tom move when Dodger
was walking around to mark the wolf.
All right, Randall,
that an official accusation?
And if it is?
You can only send home
the accused or accuser,
but you can't win if you don't play,
so let's vote.
- That's right, and the defense?
- No, I'm not the wolf.
No, I swear to God, I'm not the wolf.
I swear on the Lone Star State,
I'm not the wolf.
Come on. Are you gonna listen to me
or this chump here,
whose buddy list reads
like the sex offenders' registry?
What?
I wanna see a show of hands.
Who thinks Tom is the wolf?
No, no, no, no, no!
- And Randall, our accuser?
- Yes, yes!
All right. Come on, come on.
We need one more for the majority, guys.
- One more for the majority.
- O-dog, help a brother out.
Listen. Just 'cause you're
Tom's new bunk buddy
doesn't mean you gotta be his bitch.
You don't really think the angry
homophobe thing is fooling anyone, do you?
Come on, Randall, you know the rules.
Show the group if you've got the mark.
Tell me I'm rich.
- Whoo!
- No mark.
Guess Randall's not the wolf.
- Watch your back, pretty boy.
- Dude, you know how gay you sound?
- Kiss my ass, Tom.
- Have a nice walk.
- Bye.
- Oh! Nighty-night, sheep boy.
- You guys all suck.
- Poor baby.
The wolf has survived.
Who wants to start round two?
Dodger felt up the new guy.
- She did ask me to bring him here.
- What a whore.
- Let's vote.
- Hey, I believe I'm allowed a defense.
Whenever someone lies,
they normally have a tell,
like my new friend Graham over here.
That's the most retarded thing
I've ever heard.
And there it is.
Haven't you guys realized he can't open
his mouth without taking a swig?
So?
It's empty.
Ooh.
Graham, you can't convince us
if you can't convince yourself.
You'd have noticed it if you didn't know
each other so well.
Are we voting or what?
One vote for Owen. And the accuser?
The new guy gets to stay,
and I have to go?
I cannot wait to go to college.
Bare it and share it, Graham.
Have fun with your new recruit.
- He's just pissed 'cause he's fat.
- I can still hear you!
- So was he the wolf?
- Money's still on the floor.
Who wants to start round three?
All right, this is it.
It's one vote for Owen.
Who's it gonna be, Lewis?
Say good night, Mercedes.
Congratulations, baby.
Tonight, you could have
gotten lucky, but instead,
you got screwed.
Not bad for your first day.
Yeah, I guess it's one way
to pay for college.
You think you're that good?
No, it's just bored rich kids
make it so easy.
They're like bickering siblings.
They tell on each other for no reason.
Graham's tell. Come on.
You're awfully quick to judge.
No, it's just that...
Those bored rich kids are my friends.
in Orson Welles's
"War of the Worlds"...
- Is this, uh, journalism class?
- Are you Owen Matthews?
- Yeah, I'm sorry. I was...
- Sleeping in.
- No, my alarm clock...
- Relax, Owen.
If being late is the worst thing
that happens to you in the first week,
you got off lucky.
Take a seat.
As I was saying,
does a reporter just go for the story,
or can we as the media
cover a tragedy like this
with both sensitivity and respect?
- Morning, Randall.
- Laura.
Um, what does that mean?
That means, if I may,
that if you happen upon some nasty
pictures of the victim on the Internet,
don't forward them to the whole school.
A resounding no to sensitivity
and respect from Mr. Hodge.
Feet down.
Just now discovering the Internet, Owen?
Match.com?
Mr. Matthews,
you're making it very hard for me
to pretend that I can't tell
you're not paying attention.
I'm gonna need these articles
by this Friday at the latest.
If any of you are having a hard time
thinking of something to write
other than the most recent
development in this local tragedy,
I'll be willing to meet
with you privately.
They only just found
that girl this morning
because her body was dragged through
the woods by a wolf.
Yeah, the guy blew her head off,
then let the wildlife go to town.
- Why does it have to be a guy?
- Please, serial killers are always men.
- Just the ones that get caught.
- "Serial" means more than one.
You're not taking your SAT book
to my lake house, are ya?
Oh, right. Owen, my dad...
- The senator.
- The senile drunk
is sending a limo to take us all
to the lake house on Friday.
Nobody ever stays here
on the weekends. You in?
- Yeah, sure.
- I'm not gonna make it. I got plans.
Oh, and by plans, you mean herpes, right?
Actually, by plans, I mean,
I'm going to State tomorrow
- to see the sweet Jenny Rider.
- It's Wednesday.
I know, and I'm declaring
my own "Randall Hooks Up Holiday Weekend."
- Oh! Thank you.
- Nice.
Can I borrow your car?
Yeah, man, um
Yeah, just, you know,
leave the keys on the tire and
don't spend the whole night
in the backseat.
I wouldn't dream of it.
Actually, I would like this to be special.
You know, like,
in the middle of the woods
up against a tree.
- You're a pig.
- You're a dyke.
Die a violent death.
- I weep for Jenny Rider.
- Oh, I bet you do.
So, we're gonna play the game
before the weekend?
Not sure I want to.
Well, what else are we
gonna do around here? Study?
Owen had a decent point last night,
about us knowing each other too well.
So incestuous.
So you just wanna stop,
because of the new guy?
- Thank you.
- Not necessarily.
Well, then what?
We'll play with the whole school.
They're the sheep, and we're the wolves.
I don't think they'll
all fit in the chapel.
Let me ask you a question.
- What's the best way to play the game?
- Lie your ass off.
- Defend your honor.
- Accuse your neighbor.
Exactly.
Nobody knows who killed that girl.
So why don't we make an accusation?
So what are you suggesting?
Let's convince them
the murderer's on campus,
and he's just getting started.
All right.
Uh, how do we do that?
You guys have no imagination.
It's like you're playing checkers,
and I'm playing chess.
I had fun last night.
Thanks for the invite.
Who said I invited you?
I thought Tom said.
Relax. I'm kidding.
I wanted to apologize, too.
I didn't mean to piss on you guys
with the bit about the tells.
Sure. You were just trying to impress me.
What makes you say that?
- I just...
- Relax. I'm kidding.
So I had an idea on how to convince
the rest of the school
there's a murderer on campus.
I'm listening.
What if this isn't a random murderer
but a serial killer?
You already lost me.
Let's just say
someone forwarded us an email,
about not one but a series of murders
that happened before.
Go on.
And the first victim died,
in identical fashion to our townie.
So it's happening again.
Why else would the police
be investigating Westlake?
- They're not.
- Telling the student body.
It would be our duty to warn them.
Meet me in the library.
We're gonna create a killer.
He needs a name.
- The Wolf.
- That works.
Okay. What else does every
good mass murderer have?
Something that he wears.
Something that covers his face
but anyone can buy.
- Pantyhose.
- Is he robbing a bank?
My old roommate, he used to go hunting.
He had one of those neon ski masks.
Orange doesn't exactly inspire fear.
- Come on. It's the new black.
- Okay.
There are plenty of deer hunters
around here.
- Give him a camo jacket, too.
- Okay.
What's his weapon of choice?
Well, the girl was shot.
Yeah, but a knife would be scarier.
Don't get me wrong.
I love the phallic imagery,
but serial killers rarely change their MO.
But don't you see? This is his pattern.
Remember, this is not the first time
our boy has struck.
Of course. He goes from campus to campus.
Following the exact same plan.
The first is always a townie.
- Which is just a warning shot.
- Before he attacks.
- And the massacre begins.
- On the full moon.
That's this weekend, right?
It's Halloween.
So obvious it's perfect.
So, who were the original victims?
So the first person killed
was obviously the town slut,
shot in the face while lost in the woods.
Okay. Who's next?
What if The Wolf waited for his prey
in the backseat of a car?
- What if you were any more clich?
- Like you can do better.
Dark hair, brown eyes,
killed while looking in the mirror.
A victim of her own narcissism.
- That means "conceited."
- Anyone else?
The self-mutilating de-virginizer,
eviscerated in the chapel.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It should be special for him.
Lock up the misogynist pig
and let him bleed to death,
right after castrating him.
Can The Wolf do microscopic surgery?
Ha-ha-ha-ha.
Laugh it up, drama boy. You're next.
Prima donna wannabe actor
trying to play the big balcony scene,
gets his intestines ripped out.
- Who else?
- Let's not forget the campus queen.
Her sharp wit was dulled when she choked
on her own severed tongue.
Oh.
You people are deeply unwell.
Four years in the same place
with the same people,
what do you expect?
Huh. Last but not least.
The good guy that fell for the bad girl.
Died of a broken heart.
I didn't know you were
such a romantic, Randall.
I'm not,
but I do love the irony.
We'll get this out tonight,
leaving plenty of time
for the rumors to spread.
Lights out.
If I get caught
in the boys' dorm again...
Yeah, that hasn't happened
since we hooked up, huh?
By hooking up, you mean stealing
my panties from the laundry room, right?
Dude, don't you want
to use an anonymous account?
Why? I'm just forwarding it along.
With sensitivity and respect?
Owen, Tom, I said lights out!
Hey, did you guys hear what I said?
Go to bed.
Do you think anyone will believe it?
I'm telling you, I read the email.
- It's happening, just like it did...
- at that other school.
The first girl, she was shot in the face.
- I forwarded it...
- to my brother.
He sent it to everyone he knows.
He told me to get off campus this weekend
if I didn't want to get gutted.
Owen. Just the man I want to see.
- You got a minute?
- Sure.
What's in the box?
Antique chess set.
Gotta love eBay.
Just now discovering the Internet?
So I read your email.
Someone forwarded that to you?
Sure did.
Someone also sent it
to the victim's mother,
and forwarded it to her attorney.
He called the headmaster's
office this morning.
She assumes it originated off-campus.
Don't worry.
I'm not inclined to inform her otherwise.
Why would I worry?
I glanced at your records this afternoon.
I see your father pulled some strings
to get you in here.
Dear old Dad.
I also saw that your status
here is probationary, so
you end up in the headmaster's office,
you might as well pack your bags.
Bringing the bitch out early?
Just keeping you on the defensive.
Speak for yourself.
The arrogance of youth.
Don't you mean "the confidence"?
Actually, I meant "the ignorance."
You know, it was just for fun.
Yeah, I do.
But you've got to know
it had some real consequences.
No offense, Mr. Walker.
This is high school. Nothing's for real.
To buy as many...
Sorry. One second.
Sorry. Just my son. Go ahead.
Hello, this is Charles Matthews.
I'm away from my phone right now,
but if you leave your name and number,
I will get back to you. Thank you.
What up, O-dog? Oh, sorry.
- I usually lock the door.
- Yeah, I got your message.
- What?
- Text messaging come in handy?
- Dude, I didn't send this.
- Yeah, right.
Well, if it was me, why would I deny it?
Wait Dude, it's Dodger.
- Doesn't really seem like her style.
- Are you kidding?
It was her idea to change the game.
She's just taking it a step farther
by coming after you.
Watch and learn.
She usually does laps after field hockey.
I'll bet she's on the computer
in the swim team office.
Dude
Dodger's been waiting
for a guy who'll bite back.
If you get laid after this,
you got me to thank, all right?
Relax, man.
Whoever it is knows your screen name.
It's gotta be someone on campus.
Hello?
Who's there?
Aim for the shallow end.
- We want to scare her, not kill her.
- Yeah, okay.
Shh. One, two...
- Did you hit her?
- What?
No dude, she's faking it.
Isn't she?
She's not coming up.
Geez.
Owen Matthews, you're my hero.
Wha You bitch!
Twice in one day. Not bad.
What's that supposed to mean?
Be careful what you wish for?
Talk sense, boys. You're losing me.
Someone sent Owen some IMs
claiming to be The Wolf.
Said they were gonna pick our bones clean.
- That's a little over-the-top.
- Yeah.
And pretending to drown isn't?
Look, I was with Regina
all afternoon studying AP Chem.
You can ask her.
No, I believe you.
Someone's just trying to scare you.
Oh, I'm late for the team run. I gotta go.
Okay, so if you were with Regina
and Randall's at State,
that leaves Mercedes and Lewis.
And Graham.
You did make him look like a chump.
Think he's trying to get me back?
And get back in the game?
Oh, God.
Your sum total would be about 51.
- Very funny, Graham.
- I'm glad you think so.
Do I look like I'm laughing?
Well, I had to do something.
Sure, I understand.
You had to send me threatening IMs
pretending to be a serial killer.
I have no idea what you could
possibly be talking about.
You didn't just IM as The Wolf
about an hour ago?
No, I've been here since sixth period.
Owen
"You can't convince me
if you can't convince yourself."
What were you just talking about,
the thing you had to do?
- I filed a noise complaint.
- For what?
Are you kidding?
Your room is directly above us.
It sounded like you were
having WWF tryouts up there.
Jesus, Tom.
What happened?
Did you do this?
Of course not. Somebody else must have.
Why didn't they touch your stuff, Tom?
I didn't touch your stuff.
Then who did?
- That's Randall's.
- I know.
That's disgusting.
Do you think something
happened to Randall?
Like what?
Like he died a violent death?
It's Regina.
She has a recipe for fake blood
she got off the Internet.
It's just corn syrup.
Used to be sweeter.
Hey, Re-genius,
I can't believe you got Randall
to let you borrow his tongue stud.
You know you're gonna buy me
a new computer, right?
What is it?
Hey, what's up?
I told Tom I've been on
an AP Bio field trip all afternoon.
- I thought you were in AP Chem.
- No, I took AP Chem junior year.
Who told you that?
Why are you doing this?
Not here.
- Look, I was in town.
- Oh, yeah? Doing what?
- I was visiting my mom.
- What was she doing in town?
She lives here, all right?
This is my home.
Go ahead. Laugh all you want.
The Dickens scholar.
Sixth-grade English teacher.
I'm not even gonna tell you
what my dad does.
- So how can you afford...
- Scholarship.
You think people would really care?
I'm a town.
Around here, a town means trash.
- You don't have to rub it in.
- Oh, it
It's not that.
It's just
You know, I wish my dad
taught school, lived in town.
The guy sent me here just
so he wouldn't have to deal with me.
I'm sorry I flipped out earlier.
But after what happened
at my last school...
Yeah, you told me.
The vengeful dean
and his darling daughter.
Mmm-hmm.
What I didn't tell you was
that I was charged with possession.
She got busted,
was freaked about her dad's job.
So I took the fall.
I'm not surprised.
Why's that?
You may not have a tell, Mr. Matthews,
- but you do have a weakness.
- Oh, yeah?
You're a good guy.
Makes you predictable.
Yeah, if it gets me
kicked out of Westlake,
I might as well sign up
for community college.
Then why'd you play
the game to begin with?
I mean, the sneaking out, the hoax email?
Oh.
At the pool,
you saved me.
You were faking.
I'm not now.
What?
- Someone's here.
- So?
They're wearing an orange ski mask.
You're kidding.
If the light's gone off,
it means he's gone, right?
Or standing very still.
Come on.
Who do you think it is?
Has to be someone we know.
He's wearing a ski mask indoors.
How the hell did he get over there?
He's coming this way.
Okay, don't move.
The light will go off,
and then we can jump him.
Try German philosophy.
No one will bother you there.
So I don't get it.
Okay, not to get all
fortune cookie on you,
but the most obvious answer
is usually the right one.
My gut, when I got the IM,
was that it was the real guy.
Why not?
I said the most obvious,
not the most ridiculous.
I don't know. Someone murdered
that girl in the woods.
Maybe he read our email.
Maybe he didn't get the joke.
- Maybe he's pissed.
- Maybe it's Randall.
It's his tongue ring, right?
It's hard to believe he'd give up
bragging rights to Jenny Rider
just to play killer in the stacks.
Like he could ever actually seal the deal.
I bet you 20 bucks
he didn't even go to State.
How about dinner?
As long as it's not over 20 bucks.
Damn, I left my book bag in the stacks.
I'll be right back.
You know, I, um,
I've got something I should go do.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, sorry.
Not a fan of the PDA.
It was a black JanSport backpack.
I left it on the lower level.
I'm sorry. I didn't see it.
If one of the staff had picked it up,
they'd have turned it in by now.
Uh, did you see any other students?
Maybe they picked it up.
Student information.
Hi, can you give me
Jenny Rider's phone number?
I believe she's in the freshman class.
I'll connect you.
- Hello?
- Hi, Jenny. Can I speak to Randall?
- Who is this?
- I'm a friend of his from school.
- I just wanted to tell him...
- Tell him yourself. He's not here.
Do you know how I can reach him?
I told you. He's not here.
He never showed up.
- Did he say where he...
- No, he didn't say anything.
He stood me up for my own formal.
Half my sorority
doesn't think he even exists.
- He didn't call?
- No.
There has to be something
really wrong with a guy
to just not show up like that.
I couldn't agree more.
Hey, Mercedes!
You know where I can find Dodger?
- Why?
- I have something of hers.
Well, she's on the floor below me.
I'm sure I'll see her before lights out.
Actually, I was kinda hoping
to give it to her myself.
I bet you were.
I saw her heading
toward the faculty building.
I think Mr. Walker's
going over her article with her.
Thank you.
Obi-Wan, what's up, man?
Hey, you seen
my shoulder pads around here?
Oh, by the way, uh,
librarian dropped your bag off.
Said someone turned it in
or something like that.
O-dog,
what do you think
a murder victim looks like?
- Owen.
- Tom, what do you want?
Chill, buddy. I'm just
trying to figure out what I'm gonna be
for the Halloween dance.
You figured out
what you're doing for a costume yet?
Yeah, I'm not sure I'm going.
- I've gotta work that night anyway.
- What?
Dude, well, we can both be murder victims.
I mean, Regina is a pro
with effects makeup.
And that's the night
The Wolf is supposed to strike.
Oh, come on, O-dog!
Don't make me chase you to this thing.
Look, I need to focus on this article.
It's due tomorrow.
Really?
On the Friday of Halloween?
What heartless bastard assigned that?
Nice job, ladies.
All right.
Thank you.
Owen, you have your assignment?
Sure do.
May I have it, please?
I emailed it to you
and the rest of the school.
Very funny.
All right, let's get down to business.
Pop quiz. Everybody take out
a pen and a piece of paper.
- Owen, put the knife back on the ground.
- No, wait.
This isn't mine.
Someone's trying to play a joke on me.
Put it down, Owen, now!
Can I explain? Please.
- Save it for the headmaster.
- Someone trashed my room, too.
- Did you report it?
- I think it was Randall.
- He wasn't even in class this morning.
- That's what I'm trying to tell you.
He's trying to make me think
the email's coming true.
Look, Owen, it's over.
You brought a weapon to my class.
My hands are tied.
By morning, you'll be on
to your next missed opportunity.
- I know.
- Good.
No, I know about you and Dodger.
I don't know what you're talking about.
- You're really gonna make me say it?
- She's a student.
Exactly.
No. She's a student in my class.
Anything you may have heard
about us is strictly...
What? Strictly what?
I saw you two last night.
- You have proof?
- No.
But I won't need it.
If word gets out about you and a student,
the administration
will invent a reason to fire you.
You know what, Owen?
What?
I like you.
But you think you're smarter than you are.
Hey, there you are.
I've been looking all over for you.
You okay?
Good, 'cause if you're lucky later on,
you can go over the river
and through the woods.
Sorry. Not a fan of the PDA.
Funny.
You gonna come to the dance?
The Wolf's supposed to strike tonight.
That's not funny. Besides, I have to work.
Come on.
We're all going
to Tom's lake house right after.
I'm not going.
- Why not?
- 'Cause I'm not playing anymore.
And I'm through with your friends.
Look, I'm really sorry about
what happened in Rich's class.
Randall sucks.
Good news is, I was right.
You owe me dinner.
I don't owe you anything.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah.
No, no. I work here. Not all the time.
Guess I'd better watch my back.
Randall?
- Boo!
- Someone just attacked me.
You sure it wasn't Tom?
Yeah, he said he was gonna give you
a scare for skipping out on the dance.
Yeah, he tried to chase me here.
Hey, if you talk to him,
let him know Randall's back.
- You saw Randall?
- No, but Tom's car is in the parking lot.
Keys just sitting on
the tire and everything.
See if you can find
your car tomorrow, T-dog.
Officer!
Officer!
Get on the ground!
Drop the weapon!
- Drop it.
- It's not real.
I was just joking.
I'm sorry.
- What's going on?
- That's what we're trying to figure out.
- What was that?
- A punch line.
Dead man walking.
I'm gonna keep you all
here for the remainder of the weekend
while I determine
the best course of action to take.
I'm at a loss to explain
how or why this happened.
- We thought that...
- Please, Mr. Matthews.
Mercedes has already told us
all we need to know.
I doubt if you're any better
able to explain how a juvenile prank
led to the police almost shooting
two of my students.
- No, ma'am.
- Let me be clear, Mr. Matthews.
Given your history,
you're in far more serious
trouble than your friends.
I don't care who your father knows.
I'm inclined to send you packing now.
Mr. Walker, however,
has spoken up in your defense.
He seems to feel that our...
- Trick or treat.
- Adam!
Please, Mommy has to work.
Come on, sweetie.
Yesterday wasn't Halloween.
It was just the Halloween dance.
Today's the 31st.
The full moon's tonight.
I'll be sure to set
my tide charts accordingly.
What's your point?
I think our original hoax,
the mass email,
was read by the person
who murdered that girl.
- Owen, please.
- No, I got another IM today.
I think something's going to happen.
Are you sure it's not just
another one of your friends?
Where's Mercedes?
She spent the whole day
talking to the cops.
No way she's sneaking out.
If you do see her, make sure you thank her
for getting us all stuck
on campus, all right?
What the hell was she doing
in my car anyway?
Trying to convince
the killer could be a girl.
Well, all I'm convinced is
that Randall's a dead man
for letting her touch my ride.
I mean, where the hell is he anyway?
Mercy gave him a ride to the bus station
so we could keep your car.
Randall never went to State.
I think something happened to him.
The IM said,
"Be careful what you wish for."
Good job, Scoob.
Figure that one all out by yourself?
- Or did you get some help from Shaggy?
- I don't think this is a joke.
You're the only one, then, man.
Mercedes pulled a stunt
with Tom's car, right?
She hid in the back.
I put the fake blood in the front.
Okay. So who was following
me and Dodger in the library?
Sorry.
I was really trying to scare Dodger.
You're always the shepherd.
I figured it was time
you felt like a sheep.
So you took my bag.
Yeah. I saw you left it there,
bumped into Tom
and figured he would give it to you.
- You put a knife in my bag?
- Only because you trashed my stuff.
Why would I trash our room?
You didn't trash our room, man,
you trashed my side!
It was all my stuff!
Look, Mercedes had an earring
that looked like Randall's tongue stud.
She figured it would be
a good setup for the car.
You smashed my laptop?
I got a little carried away.
I was in character.
In char Oh!
Dude, if I would have known
what you and the vocab ho were up to,
I would have gone after you
instead of Owen.
Tom, why do you make it easy for us
to hate you?
Same reason your girlfriend makes it easy.
Who sent the IMs from The Wolf?
It's not us, man.
It's gotta be Randall, all right?
If Randall was behind this,
don't you think
he would have shown up by now to gloat?
Are you sure he got on that bus?
I wasn't with him.
Mercy took him to the bus station.
Then call her.
Jesus. For what I paid for this thing,
you'd think I'd get more than one bar.
Wait a second.
How do we know
Owen's telling us the truth?
Excuse me?
I mean, he could be
making this whole thing up
to get back at us for the other stuff.
Why would I do that?
I'm the one they're about to expel.
Exactly.
This is it.
This is the new game.
Owen knows he's gonna take the fall,
brought us all here to confess.
Surprise, surprise. You all fell for it.
Victims of your own lies.
Is that what
you're going to tell Mr. Walker?
I saw you two, in his office.
Is that why you've been such a jerk?
You're the one who's screwing a teacher.
I was.
It's over.
After the library,
I went to Rich's office to end it.
But I saw you.
You kissed him back.
What else could I do?
He tried a lot more
before I pushed him off.
He told me I was too mature
for guys my own age.
He did what?
I guess he was right.
I don't believe it.
I do.
You should really get some sleep, baby.
I'm all congested from crying.
I think I'm gonna take a shower.
The steam might help.
Did your RA take off?
The whole dorm's empty
except for the incarcerated.
You okay?
Yeah. Just still a little spooked.
So what are you guys talking about?
Oh, uh, we're just trying to figure out
who the wannabe Wolf is.
Well, who is it?
They think it's Randall.
I told them you dropped him off
at the bus station.
Well, I didn't.
Not really. I
I left him in town.
He said he had some time to kill.
It was like an hour till the next bus.
He probably just needed to go buy condoms.
You, uh, getting in the shower?
Yes.
Oh, really?
I'm in my pajamas.
Which ones?
I'm wearing your favorites.
Take a picture.
Are you kidding?
Come on.
It's not like I'm gonna post it online.
Again.
- What's taking so long?
- Relax. I just sent it.
Mercy, someone's there.
What are you talking about?
You okay?
Tom just scared the crap out of me.
Still pissed about your car, Tommy boy?
- Hey, what's going on, man?
- We heard you shout.
Mercy, Tom's here in the chapel.
Mer Mercy was attacked!
She was getting in the shower.
Call for help!
Dude, it was just another joke.
He probably wasn't on the phone with her.
- It was the guy that shot the girl.
- Are you listening to yourself?
The first murder happened
in a bathroom, remember?
We wrote it.
The victims are us.
Campus Security. How can I help you?
I think someone's being attacked.
Please send the police right away.
Look, we're tired of the practical jokes.
If you put a member
of the staff on, I'll be happy...
- But there's no one here!
- Once I speak to your RA...
- Wait. Where are you going?
- I'm going back to my dorm.
Look, maybe I was right.
Maybe we should just take off.
No, we are not taking off.
Thomas, she's right.
We have to get out of here.
You keep out of this.
All she's trying to do
is make a bad situation worse.
Said the self-centered
loudmouth to no one in particular.
Do you ever shut up?
What? What?
What's on your face?
It's on my sweatshirt.
Oh, my God. Randall!
Randall!
We have to get out of here.
We have to get out of here!
What about Dodger?
What about her, man?
- I'm going to find her.
- What?
Will you wait for me?
You have 20 minutes, all right?
At 2:15, we are out of here
with or without you.
Hello?
Lewis! Are you okay?
Mercy She's gone.
I surprised him. I think I hurt him.
- Yeah, hold on. I'll be right there.
- No, no! Get help!
Tom and Regina are waiting.
We have to get...
Lewis!
Dodger?
Tom, stop! Tom! Tom!
Tom!
Mr. Walker.
Mr. Walker!
Hello?
Owen?
Dodger.
What are you doing in Rich's office?
I'm trying to get help. Where are you?
I just found Mercedes.
She's dead.
What do we do?
Tom and Regina already left.
- We have to find a way off campus.
- Where's Rich?
I don't know.
I think he keeps a set of car keys there.
- Look in his desk.
- Good, good.
I'll meet you in your room.
No, I'm on my way to you.
Be careful.
I will.
Owen, I'm sorry.
Me too.
- Just get here, okay?
- I can see you in the window.
I can't see you.
- I'm right here.
- Yes.
Run!
No! No!
God!
Oh, my God.
Keys... keys... keys....
I have a gun!
I've called the police.
They're on their way.
Owen, is that you?
Mr. Walker.
Look, I'm coming in.
Don't do anything.
Oh, God.
- Where'd you get that?
- Your desk.
- What?
- It's yours.
Why don't you give it to me?
Not a chance.
Relax, Owen. No one's gonna hurt you.
Look.
Where did you get those?
- I found them in the stairwell.
- Oh, God.
You did this, didn't you?
Look, I don't know
what you're talking about.
Dodger called me...
That's why you stood up for me
with the headmaster.
You wanted me here for this.
Why don't you give me the gun, son?
You killed them.
Mercedes, Randall, Lewis!
Dodger.
- I don't know what's going on.
- Yes, you do.
- No. Listen to me.
- Don't lie to me.
Your friends are probably
just screwing with you. Give me the gun.
Is this the gun that killed
that girl in the woods?
Becky?
Were you screwing her, too?
Dodger tell you that?
She didn't have to.
Oh, my God.
Owen.
Are you okay? We
It was, um
I don't know. It was, um
It was just for fun. We didn't
We had been playing this game,
and we decided that, um
We Yeah, we decided
to work together tonight.
Um, we were trying
to scare Owen and Mercedes
'cause they got everyone
in trouble before.
Um, listen, we didn't think
that anything was gonna happen.
How could you let Graham do that to me?
Baby, I didn't even know about it
till I left the chapel.
Dodger wasn't supposed
to hit me that hard.
Why did you hide
when Mr. Walker showed up?
Why didn't you say something?
No, thanks, Dad.
My attorney tells me the news is good.
They're going to drop the charges.
Self-defense.
It'll be a few years' probation, if that.
Dad, how is that possible?
They ran ballistics on the handgun.
Turned out to be the weapon
they were looking for
in the shooting of that local girl.
Really?
Appears you shot a wanted murderer.
How do they know it was him?
Seems he was involved
with the victim at some point.
They checked his credit card bill
and found out that he purchased
two airline tickets last month,
one in his name, the other in the girl's.
Do they know why he killed her?
My attorney says they're calling it
a crime of passion.
No one ever really knows
the truth with these things.
Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Matthews,
but one of your son's friends
is here to see him.
Go ahead, Owen.
It's gonna be okay, son. I promise.
Right over there.
I'm so sorry.
Whatever you think, I
I didn't mean to hurt you.
You have to believe me.
It's okay.
I wish I could make it up to you.
I know.
If I'd had known Rich
was involved with that girl,
I wouldn't have played this stupid joke.
What did you say?
If I had known Rich
was screwing that girl,
I wouldn't have talked
the others into this.
You're right.
You're absolutely right.
I don't understand.
You wouldn't play some game,
if you knew Rich was cheating on you.
That's what I just said.
You would get him back.
- I'm confused.
- No, you're not.
That's what you want me to believe.
Just like
you wanted me to believe
that you were off-campus,
when the first IM went out.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, you do.
In the chapel,
you said you'd ended it with Rich.
I don't think that's what happened.
I think you were still in love with him.
I think you knew that girl.
This is my home.
And you knew
she was still sleeping with Rich.
- Some townie was screwing the wrong guy.
- Dodger tell you that?
- You murdered her.
- The girl was shot.
Then you planted the gun.
I've got something I should go do.
- And told me where to find it.
- Look in his desk.
- I was your guy.
- Someone's just trying to scare you.
From the moment we met.
It's a small school. Word spreads fast.
You planned it.
It was her idea to change the game.
- We're gonna create a killer.
- The whole thing.
It's like you're playing checkers
and I'm playing chess.
Makes you predictable.
You knew I'd shoot him.
Owen, that's crazy.
Really?
I thought it was the object of the game.
Avoid suspicion,
manipulate your friends,
eliminate your enemies.
Honestly, Owen, even if that were true,
who would believe you?
And in related news,
local woman Becky Roberts
has been missing now
for more than 24 hours
missing now for more than 24 hours.
Is anyone there?
Hi.
Hi.
- Uh, where is everyone?
- In the assembly.
So, why aren't you?
Why aren't you?
I'm a transfer. I just got here.
- I know.
- Is it that obvious?
It's a small school. Word travels fast.
- So what's the assembly for?
- Major drama.
Some townie was screwing the wrong guy,
and she's gone missing.
So the police are here to teach us
about personal safety.
Like don't talk to strangers.
I'm Owen.
Dodger.
That's unique.
Blame my mom.
- She's a Dickens scholar.
- And your dad?
Let's just say he's not a scholar.
- So where'd you come from?
- England.
I meant what was your last school.
Bradford.
And before that Collegiate.
Webster before that.
So what'd you do?
I was dating this girl,
who happened to be the dean's daughter.
- Miss Allen?
- Uh, Miss McNally.
Since you seem to have
skipped the assembly,
- perhaps detention would be...
- I'm sorry. Miss McNally, is it?
- Uh-huh.
- I'm Owen Matthews, and this is my fault.
It's my first day,
and I asked Miss Allen here
if she could show me
the way to my dorm.
Not that I would ever
set foot in the boys' dorm.
No, just the dorm's front entrance.
Fine.
But as soon as you finish
showing Mr. Matthews around,
- make sure you contact your RA...
- I'll do just that.
Thank you for your help.
I guess you're stuck with me.
Mr. Matthews,
your son is on line one.
Uh, send him to voicemail, Cynthia.
You've reached Charles Matthews.
I'm away from my desk right now.
Please leave a message,
and I will return as soon as possible.
Hey, Dad.
Just wanted to let you know
that I'm all settled in.
The bus worked out fine,
though it would have been
nice to have seen you before I left.
I got a great work study shift
as a teaching assistant
in the physics department.
And I signed up for classes.
Mostly hard sciences, per your request.
And I just met my roommate, Tom.
I just wiped my ass.
Great guy.
Well, I guess that's it. So, um
You know, give me a call
if you have some time.
I hope you washed that hand.
We're sneaking out.
- Good for you.
- Do you wanna come?
Why would I want to do that?
Dodger asked me to bring you.
Where are we going?
The old chapel. Westlake tradition.
To do what, Bible study?
To play the game.
What up? Party's here!
I thought you went
missing like that townie.
Hey, Tom, who's your new boyfriend?
You'll have to excuse Randall here.
He doesn't know the difference between
a roommate and a cell mate.
Everybody, this is Owen.
Owen, this is everybody.
Hey, jungle fever, you guys wanna join us?
What's wrong, Graham?
Bad mood 'cause you blew the physics test?
I don't know, Lewis. Bad mood because
the only thing Mercedes blows is her hair?
Hate to be the bitch here,
but are we gonna play or what?
Come on, Regina. You love to be the bitch.
All right, everyone, put your money in.
Is someone gonna tell me how to play?
It's a lying game.
The object, avoid suspicion,
manipulate your friends,
eliminate your enemies.
Have a seat.
I'm gonna secretly pick
one person in the group
to be a liar, the wolf.
And everyone else is a sheep.
If you can find the wolf
and convince the rest
of the group to vote him out,
then the money is yours.
If the wolf survives, the cash is theirs.
So, how do we find the wolf?
Figure out who's lying.
Who's Dodger looking at?
I'm thinking of Texas T.
What? Dude, you'll never
borrow my car again.
As much as I'm sure
I'm gonna miss the PT ragtop,
I thought I heard Tom move when Dodger
was walking around to mark the wolf.
All right, Randall,
that an official accusation?
And if it is?
You can only send home
the accused or accuser,
but you can't win if you don't play,
so let's vote.
- That's right, and the defense?
- No, I'm not the wolf.
No, I swear to God, I'm not the wolf.
I swear on the Lone Star State,
I'm not the wolf.
Come on. Are you gonna listen to me
or this chump here,
whose buddy list reads
like the sex offenders' registry?
What?
I wanna see a show of hands.
Who thinks Tom is the wolf?
No, no, no, no, no!
- And Randall, our accuser?
- Yes, yes!
All right. Come on, come on.
We need one more for the majority, guys.
- One more for the majority.
- O-dog, help a brother out.
Listen. Just 'cause you're
Tom's new bunk buddy
doesn't mean you gotta be his bitch.
You don't really think the angry
homophobe thing is fooling anyone, do you?
Come on, Randall, you know the rules.
Show the group if you've got the mark.
Tell me I'm rich.
- Whoo!
- No mark.
Guess Randall's not the wolf.
- Watch your back, pretty boy.
- Dude, you know how gay you sound?
- Kiss my ass, Tom.
- Have a nice walk.
- Bye.
- Oh! Nighty-night, sheep boy.
- You guys all suck.
- Poor baby.
The wolf has survived.
Who wants to start round two?
Dodger felt up the new guy.
- She did ask me to bring him here.
- What a whore.
- Let's vote.
- Hey, I believe I'm allowed a defense.
Whenever someone lies,
they normally have a tell,
like my new friend Graham over here.
That's the most retarded thing
I've ever heard.
And there it is.
Haven't you guys realized he can't open
his mouth without taking a swig?
So?
It's empty.
Ooh.
Graham, you can't convince us
if you can't convince yourself.
You'd have noticed it if you didn't know
each other so well.
Are we voting or what?
One vote for Owen. And the accuser?
The new guy gets to stay,
and I have to go?
I cannot wait to go to college.
Bare it and share it, Graham.
Have fun with your new recruit.
- He's just pissed 'cause he's fat.
- I can still hear you!
- So was he the wolf?
- Money's still on the floor.
Who wants to start round three?
All right, this is it.
It's one vote for Owen.
Who's it gonna be, Lewis?
Say good night, Mercedes.
Congratulations, baby.
Tonight, you could have
gotten lucky, but instead,
you got screwed.
Not bad for your first day.
Yeah, I guess it's one way
to pay for college.
You think you're that good?
No, it's just bored rich kids
make it so easy.
They're like bickering siblings.
They tell on each other for no reason.
Graham's tell. Come on.
You're awfully quick to judge.
No, it's just that...
Those bored rich kids are my friends.
in Orson Welles's
"War of the Worlds"...
- Is this, uh, journalism class?
- Are you Owen Matthews?
- Yeah, I'm sorry. I was...
- Sleeping in.
- No, my alarm clock...
- Relax, Owen.
If being late is the worst thing
that happens to you in the first week,
you got off lucky.
Take a seat.
As I was saying,
does a reporter just go for the story,
or can we as the media
cover a tragedy like this
with both sensitivity and respect?
- Morning, Randall.
- Laura.
Um, what does that mean?
That means, if I may,
that if you happen upon some nasty
pictures of the victim on the Internet,
don't forward them to the whole school.
A resounding no to sensitivity
and respect from Mr. Hodge.
Feet down.
Just now discovering the Internet, Owen?
Match.com?
Mr. Matthews,
you're making it very hard for me
to pretend that I can't tell
you're not paying attention.
I'm gonna need these articles
by this Friday at the latest.
If any of you are having a hard time
thinking of something to write
other than the most recent
development in this local tragedy,
I'll be willing to meet
with you privately.
They only just found
that girl this morning
because her body was dragged through
the woods by a wolf.
Yeah, the guy blew her head off,
then let the wildlife go to town.
- Why does it have to be a guy?
- Please, serial killers are always men.
- Just the ones that get caught.
- "Serial" means more than one.
You're not taking your SAT book
to my lake house, are ya?
Oh, right. Owen, my dad...
- The senator.
- The senile drunk
is sending a limo to take us all
to the lake house on Friday.
Nobody ever stays here
on the weekends. You in?
- Yeah, sure.
- I'm not gonna make it. I got plans.
Oh, and by plans, you mean herpes, right?
Actually, by plans, I mean,
I'm going to State tomorrow
- to see the sweet Jenny Rider.
- It's Wednesday.
I know, and I'm declaring
my own "Randall Hooks Up Holiday Weekend."
- Oh! Thank you.
- Nice.
Can I borrow your car?
Yeah, man, um
Yeah, just, you know,
leave the keys on the tire and
don't spend the whole night
in the backseat.
I wouldn't dream of it.
Actually, I would like this to be special.
You know, like,
in the middle of the woods
up against a tree.
- You're a pig.
- You're a dyke.
Die a violent death.
- I weep for Jenny Rider.
- Oh, I bet you do.
So, we're gonna play the game
before the weekend?
Not sure I want to.
Well, what else are we
gonna do around here? Study?
Owen had a decent point last night,
about us knowing each other too well.
So incestuous.
So you just wanna stop,
because of the new guy?
- Thank you.
- Not necessarily.
Well, then what?
We'll play with the whole school.
They're the sheep, and we're the wolves.
I don't think they'll
all fit in the chapel.
Let me ask you a question.
- What's the best way to play the game?
- Lie your ass off.
- Defend your honor.
- Accuse your neighbor.
Exactly.
Nobody knows who killed that girl.
So why don't we make an accusation?
So what are you suggesting?
Let's convince them
the murderer's on campus,
and he's just getting started.
All right.
Uh, how do we do that?
You guys have no imagination.
It's like you're playing checkers,
and I'm playing chess.
I had fun last night.
Thanks for the invite.
Who said I invited you?
I thought Tom said.
Relax. I'm kidding.
I wanted to apologize, too.
I didn't mean to piss on you guys
with the bit about the tells.
Sure. You were just trying to impress me.
What makes you say that?
- I just...
- Relax. I'm kidding.
So I had an idea on how to convince
the rest of the school
there's a murderer on campus.
I'm listening.
What if this isn't a random murderer
but a serial killer?
You already lost me.
Let's just say
someone forwarded us an email,
about not one but a series of murders
that happened before.
Go on.
And the first victim died,
in identical fashion to our townie.
So it's happening again.
Why else would the police
be investigating Westlake?
- They're not.
- Telling the student body.
It would be our duty to warn them.
Meet me in the library.
We're gonna create a killer.
He needs a name.
- The Wolf.
- That works.
Okay. What else does every
good mass murderer have?
Something that he wears.
Something that covers his face
but anyone can buy.
- Pantyhose.
- Is he robbing a bank?
My old roommate, he used to go hunting.
He had one of those neon ski masks.
Orange doesn't exactly inspire fear.
- Come on. It's the new black.
- Okay.
There are plenty of deer hunters
around here.
- Give him a camo jacket, too.
- Okay.
What's his weapon of choice?
Well, the girl was shot.
Yeah, but a knife would be scarier.
Don't get me wrong.
I love the phallic imagery,
but serial killers rarely change their MO.
But don't you see? This is his pattern.
Remember, this is not the first time
our boy has struck.
Of course. He goes from campus to campus.
Following the exact same plan.
The first is always a townie.
- Which is just a warning shot.
- Before he attacks.
- And the massacre begins.
- On the full moon.
That's this weekend, right?
It's Halloween.
So obvious it's perfect.
So, who were the original victims?
So the first person killed
was obviously the town slut,
shot in the face while lost in the woods.
Okay. Who's next?
What if The Wolf waited for his prey
in the backseat of a car?
- What if you were any more clich?
- Like you can do better.
Dark hair, brown eyes,
killed while looking in the mirror.
A victim of her own narcissism.
- That means "conceited."
- Anyone else?
The self-mutilating de-virginizer,
eviscerated in the chapel.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It should be special for him.
Lock up the misogynist pig
and let him bleed to death,
right after castrating him.
Can The Wolf do microscopic surgery?
Ha-ha-ha-ha.
Laugh it up, drama boy. You're next.
Prima donna wannabe actor
trying to play the big balcony scene,
gets his intestines ripped out.
- Who else?
- Let's not forget the campus queen.
Her sharp wit was dulled when she choked
on her own severed tongue.
Oh.
You people are deeply unwell.
Four years in the same place
with the same people,
what do you expect?
Huh. Last but not least.
The good guy that fell for the bad girl.
Died of a broken heart.
I didn't know you were
such a romantic, Randall.
I'm not,
but I do love the irony.
We'll get this out tonight,
leaving plenty of time
for the rumors to spread.
Lights out.
If I get caught
in the boys' dorm again...
Yeah, that hasn't happened
since we hooked up, huh?
By hooking up, you mean stealing
my panties from the laundry room, right?
Dude, don't you want
to use an anonymous account?
Why? I'm just forwarding it along.
With sensitivity and respect?
Owen, Tom, I said lights out!
Hey, did you guys hear what I said?
Go to bed.
Do you think anyone will believe it?
I'm telling you, I read the email.
- It's happening, just like it did...
- at that other school.
The first girl, she was shot in the face.
- I forwarded it...
- to my brother.
He sent it to everyone he knows.
He told me to get off campus this weekend
if I didn't want to get gutted.
Owen. Just the man I want to see.
- You got a minute?
- Sure.
What's in the box?
Antique chess set.
Gotta love eBay.
Just now discovering the Internet?
So I read your email.
Someone forwarded that to you?
Sure did.
Someone also sent it
to the victim's mother,
and forwarded it to her attorney.
He called the headmaster's
office this morning.
She assumes it originated off-campus.
Don't worry.
I'm not inclined to inform her otherwise.
Why would I worry?
I glanced at your records this afternoon.
I see your father pulled some strings
to get you in here.
Dear old Dad.
I also saw that your status
here is probationary, so
you end up in the headmaster's office,
you might as well pack your bags.
Bringing the bitch out early?
Just keeping you on the defensive.
Speak for yourself.
The arrogance of youth.
Don't you mean "the confidence"?
Actually, I meant "the ignorance."
You know, it was just for fun.
Yeah, I do.
But you've got to know
it had some real consequences.
No offense, Mr. Walker.
This is high school. Nothing's for real.
To buy as many...
Sorry. One second.
Sorry. Just my son. Go ahead.
Hello, this is Charles Matthews.
I'm away from my phone right now,
but if you leave your name and number,
I will get back to you. Thank you.
What up, O-dog? Oh, sorry.
- I usually lock the door.
- Yeah, I got your message.
- What?
- Text messaging come in handy?
- Dude, I didn't send this.
- Yeah, right.
Well, if it was me, why would I deny it?
Wait Dude, it's Dodger.
- Doesn't really seem like her style.
- Are you kidding?
It was her idea to change the game.
She's just taking it a step farther
by coming after you.
Watch and learn.
She usually does laps after field hockey.
I'll bet she's on the computer
in the swim team office.
Dude
Dodger's been waiting
for a guy who'll bite back.
If you get laid after this,
you got me to thank, all right?
Relax, man.
Whoever it is knows your screen name.
It's gotta be someone on campus.
Hello?
Who's there?
Aim for the shallow end.
- We want to scare her, not kill her.
- Yeah, okay.
Shh. One, two...
- Did you hit her?
- What?
No dude, she's faking it.
Isn't she?
She's not coming up.
Geez.
Owen Matthews, you're my hero.
Wha You bitch!
Twice in one day. Not bad.
What's that supposed to mean?
Be careful what you wish for?
Talk sense, boys. You're losing me.
Someone sent Owen some IMs
claiming to be The Wolf.
Said they were gonna pick our bones clean.
- That's a little over-the-top.
- Yeah.
And pretending to drown isn't?
Look, I was with Regina
all afternoon studying AP Chem.
You can ask her.
No, I believe you.
Someone's just trying to scare you.
Oh, I'm late for the team run. I gotta go.
Okay, so if you were with Regina
and Randall's at State,
that leaves Mercedes and Lewis.
And Graham.
You did make him look like a chump.
Think he's trying to get me back?
And get back in the game?
Oh, God.
Your sum total would be about 51.
- Very funny, Graham.
- I'm glad you think so.
Do I look like I'm laughing?
Well, I had to do something.
Sure, I understand.
You had to send me threatening IMs
pretending to be a serial killer.
I have no idea what you could
possibly be talking about.
You didn't just IM as The Wolf
about an hour ago?
No, I've been here since sixth period.
Owen
"You can't convince me
if you can't convince yourself."
What were you just talking about,
the thing you had to do?
- I filed a noise complaint.
- For what?
Are you kidding?
Your room is directly above us.
It sounded like you were
having WWF tryouts up there.
Jesus, Tom.
What happened?
Did you do this?
Of course not. Somebody else must have.
Why didn't they touch your stuff, Tom?
I didn't touch your stuff.
Then who did?
- That's Randall's.
- I know.
That's disgusting.
Do you think something
happened to Randall?
Like what?
Like he died a violent death?
It's Regina.
She has a recipe for fake blood
she got off the Internet.
It's just corn syrup.
Used to be sweeter.
Hey, Re-genius,
I can't believe you got Randall
to let you borrow his tongue stud.
You know you're gonna buy me
a new computer, right?
What is it?
Hey, what's up?
I told Tom I've been on
an AP Bio field trip all afternoon.
- I thought you were in AP Chem.
- No, I took AP Chem junior year.
Who told you that?
Why are you doing this?
Not here.
- Look, I was in town.
- Oh, yeah? Doing what?
- I was visiting my mom.
- What was she doing in town?
She lives here, all right?
This is my home.
Go ahead. Laugh all you want.
The Dickens scholar.
Sixth-grade English teacher.
I'm not even gonna tell you
what my dad does.
- So how can you afford...
- Scholarship.
You think people would really care?
I'm a town.
Around here, a town means trash.
- You don't have to rub it in.
- Oh, it
It's not that.
It's just
You know, I wish my dad
taught school, lived in town.
The guy sent me here just
so he wouldn't have to deal with me.
I'm sorry I flipped out earlier.
But after what happened
at my last school...
Yeah, you told me.
The vengeful dean
and his darling daughter.
Mmm-hmm.
What I didn't tell you was
that I was charged with possession.
She got busted,
was freaked about her dad's job.
So I took the fall.
I'm not surprised.
Why's that?
You may not have a tell, Mr. Matthews,
- but you do have a weakness.
- Oh, yeah?
You're a good guy.
Makes you predictable.
Yeah, if it gets me
kicked out of Westlake,
I might as well sign up
for community college.
Then why'd you play
the game to begin with?
I mean, the sneaking out, the hoax email?
Oh.
At the pool,
you saved me.
You were faking.
I'm not now.
What?
- Someone's here.
- So?
They're wearing an orange ski mask.
You're kidding.
If the light's gone off,
it means he's gone, right?
Or standing very still.
Come on.
Who do you think it is?
Has to be someone we know.
He's wearing a ski mask indoors.
How the hell did he get over there?
He's coming this way.
Okay, don't move.
The light will go off,
and then we can jump him.
Try German philosophy.
No one will bother you there.
So I don't get it.
Okay, not to get all
fortune cookie on you,
but the most obvious answer
is usually the right one.
My gut, when I got the IM,
was that it was the real guy.
Why not?
I said the most obvious,
not the most ridiculous.
I don't know. Someone murdered
that girl in the woods.
Maybe he read our email.
Maybe he didn't get the joke.
- Maybe he's pissed.
- Maybe it's Randall.
It's his tongue ring, right?
It's hard to believe he'd give up
bragging rights to Jenny Rider
just to play killer in the stacks.
Like he could ever actually seal the deal.
I bet you 20 bucks
he didn't even go to State.
How about dinner?
As long as it's not over 20 bucks.
Damn, I left my book bag in the stacks.
I'll be right back.
You know, I, um,
I've got something I should go do.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, sorry.
Not a fan of the PDA.
It was a black JanSport backpack.
I left it on the lower level.
I'm sorry. I didn't see it.
If one of the staff had picked it up,
they'd have turned it in by now.
Uh, did you see any other students?
Maybe they picked it up.
Student information.
Hi, can you give me
Jenny Rider's phone number?
I believe she's in the freshman class.
I'll connect you.
- Hello?
- Hi, Jenny. Can I speak to Randall?
- Who is this?
- I'm a friend of his from school.
- I just wanted to tell him...
- Tell him yourself. He's not here.
Do you know how I can reach him?
I told you. He's not here.
He never showed up.
- Did he say where he...
- No, he didn't say anything.
He stood me up for my own formal.
Half my sorority
doesn't think he even exists.
- He didn't call?
- No.
There has to be something
really wrong with a guy
to just not show up like that.
I couldn't agree more.
Hey, Mercedes!
You know where I can find Dodger?
- Why?
- I have something of hers.
Well, she's on the floor below me.
I'm sure I'll see her before lights out.
Actually, I was kinda hoping
to give it to her myself.
I bet you were.
I saw her heading
toward the faculty building.
I think Mr. Walker's
going over her article with her.
Thank you.
Obi-Wan, what's up, man?
Hey, you seen
my shoulder pads around here?
Oh, by the way, uh,
librarian dropped your bag off.
Said someone turned it in
or something like that.
O-dog,
what do you think
a murder victim looks like?
- Owen.
- Tom, what do you want?
Chill, buddy. I'm just
trying to figure out what I'm gonna be
for the Halloween dance.
You figured out
what you're doing for a costume yet?
Yeah, I'm not sure I'm going.
- I've gotta work that night anyway.
- What?
Dude, well, we can both be murder victims.
I mean, Regina is a pro
with effects makeup.
And that's the night
The Wolf is supposed to strike.
Oh, come on, O-dog!
Don't make me chase you to this thing.
Look, I need to focus on this article.
It's due tomorrow.
Really?
On the Friday of Halloween?
What heartless bastard assigned that?
Nice job, ladies.
All right.
Thank you.
Owen, you have your assignment?
Sure do.
May I have it, please?
I emailed it to you
and the rest of the school.
Very funny.
All right, let's get down to business.
Pop quiz. Everybody take out
a pen and a piece of paper.
- Owen, put the knife back on the ground.
- No, wait.
This isn't mine.
Someone's trying to play a joke on me.
Put it down, Owen, now!
Can I explain? Please.
- Save it for the headmaster.
- Someone trashed my room, too.
- Did you report it?
- I think it was Randall.
- He wasn't even in class this morning.
- That's what I'm trying to tell you.
He's trying to make me think
the email's coming true.
Look, Owen, it's over.
You brought a weapon to my class.
My hands are tied.
By morning, you'll be on
to your next missed opportunity.
- I know.
- Good.
No, I know about you and Dodger.
I don't know what you're talking about.
- You're really gonna make me say it?
- She's a student.
Exactly.
No. She's a student in my class.
Anything you may have heard
about us is strictly...
What? Strictly what?
I saw you two last night.
- You have proof?
- No.
But I won't need it.
If word gets out about you and a student,
the administration
will invent a reason to fire you.
You know what, Owen?
What?
I like you.
But you think you're smarter than you are.
Hey, there you are.
I've been looking all over for you.
You okay?
Good, 'cause if you're lucky later on,
you can go over the river
and through the woods.
Sorry. Not a fan of the PDA.
Funny.
You gonna come to the dance?
The Wolf's supposed to strike tonight.
That's not funny. Besides, I have to work.
Come on.
We're all going
to Tom's lake house right after.
I'm not going.
- Why not?
- 'Cause I'm not playing anymore.
And I'm through with your friends.
Look, I'm really sorry about
what happened in Rich's class.
Randall sucks.
Good news is, I was right.
You owe me dinner.
I don't owe you anything.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah.
No, no. I work here. Not all the time.
Guess I'd better watch my back.
Randall?
- Boo!
- Someone just attacked me.
You sure it wasn't Tom?
Yeah, he said he was gonna give you
a scare for skipping out on the dance.
Yeah, he tried to chase me here.
Hey, if you talk to him,
let him know Randall's back.
- You saw Randall?
- No, but Tom's car is in the parking lot.
Keys just sitting on
the tire and everything.
See if you can find
your car tomorrow, T-dog.
Officer!
Officer!
Get on the ground!
Drop the weapon!
- Drop it.
- It's not real.
I was just joking.
I'm sorry.
- What's going on?
- That's what we're trying to figure out.
- What was that?
- A punch line.
Dead man walking.
I'm gonna keep you all
here for the remainder of the weekend
while I determine
the best course of action to take.
I'm at a loss to explain
how or why this happened.
- We thought that...
- Please, Mr. Matthews.
Mercedes has already told us
all we need to know.
I doubt if you're any better
able to explain how a juvenile prank
led to the police almost shooting
two of my students.
- No, ma'am.
- Let me be clear, Mr. Matthews.
Given your history,
you're in far more serious
trouble than your friends.
I don't care who your father knows.
I'm inclined to send you packing now.
Mr. Walker, however,
has spoken up in your defense.
He seems to feel that our...
- Trick or treat.
- Adam!
Please, Mommy has to work.
Come on, sweetie.
Yesterday wasn't Halloween.
It was just the Halloween dance.
Today's the 31st.
The full moon's tonight.
I'll be sure to set
my tide charts accordingly.
What's your point?
I think our original hoax,
the mass email,
was read by the person
who murdered that girl.
- Owen, please.
- No, I got another IM today.
I think something's going to happen.
Are you sure it's not just
another one of your friends?
Where's Mercedes?
She spent the whole day
talking to the cops.
No way she's sneaking out.
If you do see her, make sure you thank her
for getting us all stuck
on campus, all right?
What the hell was she doing
in my car anyway?
Trying to convince
the killer could be a girl.
Well, all I'm convinced is
that Randall's a dead man
for letting her touch my ride.
I mean, where the hell is he anyway?
Mercy gave him a ride to the bus station
so we could keep your car.
Randall never went to State.
I think something happened to him.
The IM said,
"Be careful what you wish for."
Good job, Scoob.
Figure that one all out by yourself?
- Or did you get some help from Shaggy?
- I don't think this is a joke.
You're the only one, then, man.
Mercedes pulled a stunt
with Tom's car, right?
She hid in the back.
I put the fake blood in the front.
Okay. So who was following
me and Dodger in the library?
Sorry.
I was really trying to scare Dodger.
You're always the shepherd.
I figured it was time
you felt like a sheep.
So you took my bag.
Yeah. I saw you left it there,
bumped into Tom
and figured he would give it to you.
- You put a knife in my bag?
- Only because you trashed my stuff.
Why would I trash our room?
You didn't trash our room, man,
you trashed my side!
It was all my stuff!
Look, Mercedes had an earring
that looked like Randall's tongue stud.
She figured it would be
a good setup for the car.
You smashed my laptop?
I got a little carried away.
I was in character.
In char Oh!
Dude, if I would have known
what you and the vocab ho were up to,
I would have gone after you
instead of Owen.
Tom, why do you make it easy for us
to hate you?
Same reason your girlfriend makes it easy.
Who sent the IMs from The Wolf?
It's not us, man.
It's gotta be Randall, all right?
If Randall was behind this,
don't you think
he would have shown up by now to gloat?
Are you sure he got on that bus?
I wasn't with him.
Mercy took him to the bus station.
Then call her.
Jesus. For what I paid for this thing,
you'd think I'd get more than one bar.
Wait a second.
How do we know
Owen's telling us the truth?
Excuse me?
I mean, he could be
making this whole thing up
to get back at us for the other stuff.
Why would I do that?
I'm the one they're about to expel.
Exactly.
This is it.
This is the new game.
Owen knows he's gonna take the fall,
brought us all here to confess.
Surprise, surprise. You all fell for it.
Victims of your own lies.
Is that what
you're going to tell Mr. Walker?
I saw you two, in his office.
Is that why you've been such a jerk?
You're the one who's screwing a teacher.
I was.
It's over.
After the library,
I went to Rich's office to end it.
But I saw you.
You kissed him back.
What else could I do?
He tried a lot more
before I pushed him off.
He told me I was too mature
for guys my own age.
He did what?
I guess he was right.
I don't believe it.
I do.
You should really get some sleep, baby.
I'm all congested from crying.
I think I'm gonna take a shower.
The steam might help.
Did your RA take off?
The whole dorm's empty
except for the incarcerated.
You okay?
Yeah. Just still a little spooked.
So what are you guys talking about?
Oh, uh, we're just trying to figure out
who the wannabe Wolf is.
Well, who is it?
They think it's Randall.
I told them you dropped him off
at the bus station.
Well, I didn't.
Not really. I
I left him in town.
He said he had some time to kill.
It was like an hour till the next bus.
He probably just needed to go buy condoms.
You, uh, getting in the shower?
Yes.
Oh, really?
I'm in my pajamas.
Which ones?
I'm wearing your favorites.
Take a picture.
Are you kidding?
Come on.
It's not like I'm gonna post it online.
Again.
- What's taking so long?
- Relax. I just sent it.
Mercy, someone's there.
What are you talking about?
You okay?
Tom just scared the crap out of me.
Still pissed about your car, Tommy boy?
- Hey, what's going on, man?
- We heard you shout.
Mercy, Tom's here in the chapel.
Mer Mercy was attacked!
She was getting in the shower.
Call for help!
Dude, it was just another joke.
He probably wasn't on the phone with her.
- It was the guy that shot the girl.
- Are you listening to yourself?
The first murder happened
in a bathroom, remember?
We wrote it.
The victims are us.
Campus Security. How can I help you?
I think someone's being attacked.
Please send the police right away.
Look, we're tired of the practical jokes.
If you put a member
of the staff on, I'll be happy...
- But there's no one here!
- Once I speak to your RA...
- Wait. Where are you going?
- I'm going back to my dorm.
Look, maybe I was right.
Maybe we should just take off.
No, we are not taking off.
Thomas, she's right.
We have to get out of here.
You keep out of this.
All she's trying to do
is make a bad situation worse.
Said the self-centered
loudmouth to no one in particular.
Do you ever shut up?
What? What?
What's on your face?
It's on my sweatshirt.
Oh, my God. Randall!
Randall!
We have to get out of here.
We have to get out of here!
What about Dodger?
What about her, man?
- I'm going to find her.
- What?
Will you wait for me?
You have 20 minutes, all right?
At 2:15, we are out of here
with or without you.
Hello?
Lewis! Are you okay?
Mercy She's gone.
I surprised him. I think I hurt him.
- Yeah, hold on. I'll be right there.
- No, no! Get help!
Tom and Regina are waiting.
We have to get...
Lewis!
Dodger?
Tom, stop! Tom! Tom!
Tom!
Mr. Walker.
Mr. Walker!
Hello?
Owen?
Dodger.
What are you doing in Rich's office?
I'm trying to get help. Where are you?
I just found Mercedes.
She's dead.
What do we do?
Tom and Regina already left.
- We have to find a way off campus.
- Where's Rich?
I don't know.
I think he keeps a set of car keys there.
- Look in his desk.
- Good, good.
I'll meet you in your room.
No, I'm on my way to you.
Be careful.
I will.
Owen, I'm sorry.
Me too.
- Just get here, okay?
- I can see you in the window.
I can't see you.
- I'm right here.
- Yes.
Run!
No! No!
God!
Oh, my God.
Keys... keys... keys....
I have a gun!
I've called the police.
They're on their way.
Owen, is that you?
Mr. Walker.
Look, I'm coming in.
Don't do anything.
Oh, God.
- Where'd you get that?
- Your desk.
- What?
- It's yours.
Why don't you give it to me?
Not a chance.
Relax, Owen. No one's gonna hurt you.
Look.
Where did you get those?
- I found them in the stairwell.
- Oh, God.
You did this, didn't you?
Look, I don't know
what you're talking about.
Dodger called me...
That's why you stood up for me
with the headmaster.
You wanted me here for this.
Why don't you give me the gun, son?
You killed them.
Mercedes, Randall, Lewis!
Dodger.
- I don't know what's going on.
- Yes, you do.
- No. Listen to me.
- Don't lie to me.
Your friends are probably
just screwing with you. Give me the gun.
Is this the gun that killed
that girl in the woods?
Becky?
Were you screwing her, too?
Dodger tell you that?
She didn't have to.
Oh, my God.
Owen.
Are you okay? We
It was, um
I don't know. It was, um
It was just for fun. We didn't
We had been playing this game,
and we decided that, um
We Yeah, we decided
to work together tonight.
Um, we were trying
to scare Owen and Mercedes
'cause they got everyone
in trouble before.
Um, listen, we didn't think
that anything was gonna happen.
How could you let Graham do that to me?
Baby, I didn't even know about it
till I left the chapel.
Dodger wasn't supposed
to hit me that hard.
Why did you hide
when Mr. Walker showed up?
Why didn't you say something?
No, thanks, Dad.
My attorney tells me the news is good.
They're going to drop the charges.
Self-defense.
It'll be a few years' probation, if that.
Dad, how is that possible?
They ran ballistics on the handgun.
Turned out to be the weapon
they were looking for
in the shooting of that local girl.
Really?
Appears you shot a wanted murderer.
How do they know it was him?
Seems he was involved
with the victim at some point.
They checked his credit card bill
and found out that he purchased
two airline tickets last month,
one in his name, the other in the girl's.
Do they know why he killed her?
My attorney says they're calling it
a crime of passion.
No one ever really knows
the truth with these things.
Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Matthews,
but one of your son's friends
is here to see him.
Go ahead, Owen.
It's gonna be okay, son. I promise.
Right over there.
I'm so sorry.
Whatever you think, I
I didn't mean to hurt you.
You have to believe me.
It's okay.
I wish I could make it up to you.
I know.
If I'd had known Rich
was involved with that girl,
I wouldn't have played this stupid joke.
What did you say?
If I had known Rich
was screwing that girl,
I wouldn't have talked
the others into this.
You're right.
You're absolutely right.
I don't understand.
You wouldn't play some game,
if you knew Rich was cheating on you.
That's what I just said.
You would get him back.
- I'm confused.
- No, you're not.
That's what you want me to believe.
Just like
you wanted me to believe
that you were off-campus,
when the first IM went out.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, you do.
In the chapel,
you said you'd ended it with Rich.
I don't think that's what happened.
I think you were still in love with him.
I think you knew that girl.
This is my home.
And you knew
she was still sleeping with Rich.
- Some townie was screwing the wrong guy.
- Dodger tell you that?
- You murdered her.
- The girl was shot.
Then you planted the gun.
I've got something I should go do.
- And told me where to find it.
- Look in his desk.
- I was your guy.
- Someone's just trying to scare you.
From the moment we met.
It's a small school. Word spreads fast.
You planned it.
It was her idea to change the game.
- We're gonna create a killer.
- The whole thing.
It's like you're playing checkers
and I'm playing chess.
Makes you predictable.
You knew I'd shoot him.
Owen, that's crazy.
Really?
I thought it was the object of the game.
Avoid suspicion,
manipulate your friends,
eliminate your enemies.
Honestly, Owen, even if that were true,
who would believe you?