Chapter 8 (The Figure of Death)

Chapter 8 (The Figure of Death) is the eighth chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Figure of Death. It was written by Donald Newton and published on May 14, 2021.

Plot
As Principal McKinley suspends the school, his past comes back to haunt him.

Full Chapter
INT. CLEARWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL - PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - DAY

McKinley is using his computer to type up a letter to parents.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

MCKINLEY: Come in.

His office door opens and peeking in his FEMALE SECRETARY (40s).

SECRETARY: Your daughter is here and I'm heading out for the day.

MCKINLEY: Thank you, Wanda. Let her in and drive safe.

The Secretary allows Jenna in and leaves the office.

JENNA: Dad...

MCKINLEY: I thought you left. I don't want any students at the school.

JENNA: I could leave with you.

MCKINLEY: No. I have to stay behind.

JENNA: We need to talk.

MCKINLEY: Can it wait until I get home?

JENNA: Possibly. But I don't think I can wait.

MCKINLEY: Okay, sweetheart. Make it quick.

JENNA: I heard that you talked to Andrew.

MCKINLEY: I did. I just gave him a simple warning.

JENNA: You threatened our relationship. It was not his fault.

MCKINLEY: He was being irresponsible and put you in danger. Your my daughter...

JENNA: (interupting)...Stepdaughter.

MCKINLEY: Either way. I love you. I adopted you and I've raised you since you were a toddler. Before you can even have memories of your biological father. I'm the only father you have ever known. Your safety is my concern.

JENNA: Either way...just so that you know...I volunteered. I offered to go with him. He didn't ask.

MCKINLEY: And if he was a good boyfriend who care about your safety like I do, he would have rejected your offer to tag along with him. Now, please, go home.

Jenna sighs. Defeated. She starts to head out the door when --

JENNA: Oh, by the way, I do remember my real father. He made smile in ways that you never could.

This comment by Jenna brings a hurt look on McKinley's face. He can't believe that she has just said that to him. Jenna leaves, closing the door behind her, not caring how much she just hurt her adoptive father.

McKinley sits back to think about what was just said to him.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

MCKINLEY: Yes?

The door opens -- Officer Glenn peeks in.

OFFICER GLENN: So I just checked all over school. Your daughter just left, all of the students have gone, and all of the staff and teachers as well. The only people here are the janitors and custodians.

MCKINLEY: Thank you, Glenn. You may leave, too.

OFFICER GLENN: Thank you, Mr. McKinley.

Officer Glenn leaves, closing the door.

A still hurt McKinley opens his drawer and pulls out a bottle of liquor that was hiding in his desk. He pours himself a glass and takes a drink.

McKinley pulls out a picture. It's a picture of -- HIMSELF along with KURT BERKMAN (Aaron's father), THOMAS REID (Cheryl's father), RICHARD BISHOP (Anthony's father), and SHANE BRIDGES (Kris's father).

Ominous music plays as we come to realize that everyone involved in putting Paul Brownwell in prison; from the witnesses claiming his presence, the prosecutor who prosecuted him, and the jury foreman who found him guilty -- ARE ALL FRIENDS.

What really happened on the night that Paul Brownwell allegedly set the Beamer house on fire?

McKinley suddenly has this guilty look on his face. Not the one of feeling bad type of guilt. But that of someone who knows what he has done wrong. But doesn't feel ashamed over it. Like he is proud of his wrongdoing.

INT. CLEARWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY

McKinley walks through the empty hallway to the men's bathroom. He is all alone. He enters the men's bathroom, which doesn't have a door.

Suddenly -- A DARK FIGURE pops out from across the bathroom.

INT. MEN'S ROOM - DAY

McKinley walks into a bathroom stall. We PAN over to the bathroom's entrance, FOCUSING DOWN the floor as -- The Figure walks into the bathroom. He's careful not make any loud footstep noises to avoid being heard by the Principal. McKinley's loud urinating drowns out any low footsteps by the Figure.

TOILET FLUSH

McKinley walks out of the bathroom stall and proceeds to wash his hands. He looks down as he lathers and scrubs the soap from his hands. After he has rinsed off the soap, he turns off the sink.

McKinley looks up at the mirror -- THE FIGURE IS BEHIND HIM.

MCKINLEY: What the...?

The Figure stabs him in the back. McKinley screams out over this. The Figure bashes his head against the mirror. A weakened McKinley is thrown to the floor.

MCKINLEY: Why are you doing this?

The Figure removes his googles, revealing GREEN EYES.

McKinley slowly starts to recognize the eyes as the Figure uncovers his face from the balaclava mask. But before we can see the Figure's face, we CUT TO --

OVER THE FIGURE'S SHOULDER

The black hood remains over the Figure's head, preventing us from seeing the truth. But McKinley sees the Figure's face. He is shocked by the identity of the Figure. It is somebody that he knows. And now he realizes why he's being targeted by the Killer.

MCKINLEY: I'm sorry...

Unmasked, the Figure, obviously, doesn't forgive McKinley and proceeds to stab him multiple times.

INT. CARTER HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY

Andrew is sitting on the couch and watching TV. Somebody is walking down the stairs to the basement. It's Jenna.

JENNA: Hey, Babe.

ANDREW: Hey. How did it go with your Dad?

Jenna comes and sits next to Andrew on the couch.

JENNA: Not as well as I hoped. He kicked me out of his office.

ANDREW: I'm sorry.

JENNA: Don't be. I've talked to Kris. Her parents are gone and Brett and I convinced her to throw a party.

ANDREW: Are you sure that's a good idea? I'm already in hot water with your father.

JENNA: Don't worry about him. I'll tell him you rejected and I made you. He can't threaten us.

ANDREW: As long as my Dad doesn't find out. I can only pray that he'll be too busy tonight.

JENNA: We can only hope. (pulling out her phone) I'll text Kris and let her know that you're in.

Jenna sends Kris a text message.

JENNA: Let's go get some food for the party.

ANDREW: Alright.

Andrew and Jenna get up from the couch and leaves through the basement door.

INT. CLEARWOOD POLICE STATION - DAY

Clarence is making a speech to his deputies.

CLARENCE: Because the school has been suspended until the killer is found, we can assume that many of the high school kids will throws parties. We are having an eight o'clock curfew for anyone under eighteen. I want you all out on the streets tonight and breaking up parties. We need to keep the kids safe tonight. A party would be the biggest opportunity for the killer to attack multiple teenagers. So keep your eyes open.

OFFICERS: Yes, sir!

CLARENCE: Good. Let's get back to work.

The Deputies turn back to their desk and continue working. Some are coming and going. Clarence walks back into his office.

INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - DAY

Clarence sits at his desk.

DING!

Clarence checks his phone. It's a text message from JOHN MCKINLEY. But McKinley is dead. How is he texting Clarence?

MCKINLEY ON TEXT: Clarence, we need to talk. It's very important. It's about Paul Brownwell. Meet me at the old Beamer house.

Clarence sighs over this. He doesn't understand why. But he'll do this anyways. Clarence replies back.

CLARENCE ON TEXT: On my way.

Clarence grabs his keys and leaves his office.

EXT. DOWNTOWN CLEARWOOD - DAY

Small businesses and small stores are closing for the curfew. People are not staying out in the public. Many people are locking themselves in their homes and not letting anyone in.

It looks like Clearwood, known for it's social gatherings, seems to be quarentining itself. With the curfew and the fear of the killer out there, people are attempting to keep things safe.

As the streets are being deserted by vehicles, one SUV that we're familiar with goes in the complete opposite direction. It's the Carter SUV, heading to the LARGE STORE as other people are driving away from it.

EXT. STORE PARKING LOT - DAY

The SUV is parked in an empty parking spot in the front. This wasn't hard to find as the majority of the parking lot is emptied.

Andrew and Jenna get out of the SUV and glances around their surroundings with surprise.

ANDREW: Never thought I'd see Clearwood look so empty and less active.

JENNA: I know. It's kinda sad actually. Even at night, this city is active.

ANDREW: Yeah.

The couple head into the store.

INT. LARGE STORE - DAY

The store isn't completely empty. There are still people shopping. Mostly teenagers and young adults preparing to party. Andrew and Jenna pass by many of their classmates that will be attending Kris's party.

As Jenna is pushing the cart, Andrew is grabbing chips, sodas, and other junk.

ANDREW: I just can't believe with all of this murder, people are partying. You know my Dad's police will be looking for parties.

JENNA: Hence why we are having the party at Kris's house. It's in the middle of nowhere. Police hardly go in that area.

ANDREW: We just witnessed someone being murdered yesterday. How can you be comfortable with a party? How can anyone?

JENNA: Release the stress and fear? Why else do they party in those stupid horror movies?

ANDREW: I guess you're right.

JENNA: I am right.

ANDREW: I wonder if Scott will be there.

JENNA: I hope so. Kris said that Charlie invited him.

Andrew and Jenna walk off screen to another aisle.

Deaths

 * CD = Chapter Death (Deaths in the chapter)
 * SD = Story Death (Overall deaths in the story)

Trivia

 * The Figure who murdered Principal John McKinley has GREEN EYES. The Figure who fought Scott had Blue Eyes. This means either the Figure is using colored contacts as Clarence suggested or there are possibly two Figures.
 * Final appearance of Principal John McKinley alive.