Chapter 7 (The Figure of Death)

Chapter 7 (The Figure of Death) is the seventh chapter of The Clearwood Murders: Episode I - The Figure of Death. It was written by Donald Newton and published on May 14, 2021.

Plot
Andrew discovers the Killer's pattern and how it is related to the past.

Full Chapter
EXT. ABANDONED SCHOOL BUILDING - DAY

The entire building is covered by the police. There has been no sign of The Figure. The Morgue staff are strolling the sheet covered body of Anthony Bishop. This is witnessed by Kris and Nick, whom are devastated by this, despite hardly knowing Anthony.

KRIS: I just can't believe that we saw someone get killed. Who could do something so horrible like this?

Nick puts his arm around Kris and kisses her head, attempting to comfort his girlfriend.

Scott and Clarence are arguing.

SCOTT: I saw his eyes. It's not Bud.

CLARENCE: I get that you don't want to believe that it was your brother. But the evidence says so otherwise.

SCOTT: The evidence is wrong. I know what I saw. I saw blue eyes. Not brown.

CLARENCE: Did it ever occur to you that he's trying to mess with your head? Maybe he put on color contacts to fool you...or...you saw what you wanted to see. Somebody else's eyes.

Scott is upset but also taken aback by this. Could this be true? Could Bud just be trying to mess with his head or does he just want to believe that the Figure is not his brother?

CLARENCE: I'm sorry, Scott. But until evidence proves otherwise, your brother Bud is still the prime suspect.

This clearly upsets Scott.

CLARENCE: You should get home and rest. Take care of yourself.

Clarence pats him on the shoulder before leaving him. Scott stands there, thinking to himself. What is the truth? Is Bud the Figure or not? And if he's not the Figure -- THEN WHO IS?

INT. CLARENCE'S POLICE CAR - DAY

Andrew and Jenna are sitting in the backseat. They are both upset by what happened.

ANDREW: I can't believe that we were tricked. And now another person is dead.

JENNA: We could have died, too.

ANDREW: We could have. But we didn't...Anthony did.

Andrew watches sadly as the morgue van drives off with Anthony's body.

ANDREW: Why couldn't I have stopped it? Why the fuck did I bring us here?

Andrew is clearly suffering from Survivor's Guilt.

INT. CARTER HOUSE - ANDREW'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Andrew is lying on his bed and watching TV.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

ANDREW: Come in.

The door opens -- It's CLARENCE.

CLARENCE: Hey, Buddy. How you doing?

ANDREW: You mean aside from being grounded? I feel like its my fault that an innocent kid was killed. I should have known that it was a trap. I was just trying to help someone.

CLARENCE: I get it. You wanted to do what's right. But you went about it the wrong way, son.

ANDREW: I'm sorry, Dad. I just wanted to help.

Clarence comes over to his son's bedside.

CLARENCE: Look, I've calmed down and thought it over. As you know, Bud also contact Scott, who brought his friend Anthony along with him. This means that you didn't get Anthony killed. Anthony came along. You shouldn't feel guilty about this.

ANDREW: I can't help it. I know if not Anthony, it could have been Jenna or Kris or Nick, who I did take with me.

CLARENCE: You're right. And that guilt alone is punishment enough. I won't punish you even further. Just next time...tell me about this before you do anything and getting yourself and others hurt.

ANDREW: I will, Dad. I'm sorry.

CLARENCE: No, I'm sorry that you had to go through this. You're a good young man and you tried to do what was best, even though it was a trap.

ANDREW: I'm just sorry for Anthony.

CLARENCE: So am I. He's the latest person to be murdered with a family connection to the Brownwell case.

ANDREW: Yeah.

Then it hits Andrew.

ANDREW: Wait, what? How was Anthony's family related to Paul Brownwell?

CLARENCE: Oh, his father was the Jury Foreman who influenced and convinced his fellow juriors that Brownwell was guilty. He was very adament about it.

Andrew is shocked. The possible truth behind the murders just hits Andrew -- Every single victim's parents had involvement in Paul Brownwell's case. But why? Why is the Figure killing everyone who helped put Paul Brownwell away?

EXT. CLEARWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL - COURTYARD - DAY

Andrew, Jenna, Cole, Paige, Kris, Nick, Brett, Charlie, and Scott are hanging out at the fountain in the middle of the school's courtyard. Andrew is leading a "meeting" with friends.

ANDREW: First, Aaron Berkman, whose father was the prosecutor that prosecuted Brownwell, then Cheryl, whose father witnessed Brownwell setting the house on fire, and now Anthony, whose father was the jury foreman who found him guilty.

JENNA: (realizing her own connection) Oh, shit!

ANDREW: I think whoever is doing this...is killing the children of those responsible for putting Brownwell away.

PAIGE: But why? Why would someone avenge Brownwell? And why would Bud, if it is him? What's his connection?

SCOTT: We have no connection. That's the thing. My brother is innocent. I didn't believe he was until I saw that Killer's eyes.

ANDREW: And I agree with Scott. I think Bud is the one that the Killer is trying to pin the murders on. Maybe he's hoping that nobody will see the connection.

KRIS: But it's too late. We know the connection now.

COLE: Perhaps if Bud was seen as the killer and all of us who knows that he's innocent were to be dead...it cannot be proven that Bud is NOT the killer and there is nobody to prove the truth about the Brownwell connection.

ANDREW: Which explains why Maya Sharpe, Jessie Dupree, and Robby Ranson, whose families were not involved with the case, were murdered. Make it seem like a random killing spree.

COLE: Which means Brett, Charlie, Paige, and Myself...who has no family connections to Brownwell...can become targets to make it look more random.

ANDREW: Exactly. No matter who we are, our past, or our present...as long as this killer is avenging Paul Brownwell, but killing random people to make it seem like Bud is a killing people at random...we are all targets.

Everyone is horrified by this realization. The Figure will kill them all to hide the true pattern from those blind to it.

INT. CLEARWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Principal McKinley and Vice Principal Dessler are sitting at a large table along with other major school administrative figures.

Andrew enters.

MCKINLEY: Hello, Andrew. Have a seat, please.

Andrew is confused. Why do they want to see him?

ANDREW: Am I in trouble?

MCKINLEY: No, no. We just want to talk.

ANDREW: Okay.

Andrew takes a seat.

MCKINLEY: I heard that you, Jenna, and a few others had an "adventure" at the old high school.

ANDREW: Yes, sir. I do apologize for bringing Jenna into that. My intention was to help Bud do what was best for him. I was hoping to convince him to turn himself in. I was just trying to help.

MCKINLEY: Of course. But you did put my daughter in danger and as a result...another student was murdered. If I am to let you continue to see my daughter...you must promise me to never put her in that kind of danger ever again.

ANDREW: I promise. I already promised my Dad to report any contact that any of us get from Bud Lane...or whoever the killer is.

McKinley and Dessler glance at each other. How can this kid doubt that Bud is the killer?

MCKINLEY: Well, if you can keep your promise, then I will allow you to continue to date my daughter. Now not only do I want you to keep her safe...but yourself, too. You are, afterall, one of my students. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you either, son.

ANDREW: Thank you, sir.

McKinley smiles at him.

MCKINLEY: Of course. You may go, Andrew. Be safe and have a good day.

ANDREW: Thanks.

Andrew gets up and leaves the conference room. McKinley turns to the staff members.

MCKINLEY: What should we do?

The SCHOOL OFFICER GLENN speaks up.

OFFICER GLENN: I spoke with Sheriff Carter this morning. He recommends that until the killer is caught that we suspend school for now.

DESSLER: I agree. It's possible that the killer is related to the school and we can't have that on us.

MCKINLEY: Do you all agree?

The rest of the staff nods in agreement.

MCKINLEY: Then it's settled. Effective immediately...

EXT. CLEARWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL - DAY

We get an establishing shot of the school as McKinley's voice is heard throughout the school's P.A. system. He is finishing the same speech that he was just giving to the staff in the previous scene.

MCKINLEY: (V.O.)...school is suspended until further notice.

All of the students CHEER all throughout the school.

BELL RINGS!

A stampede of students storm through the doors of the school. Released to freedom of school.

Andrew and Jenna are among the students walking out of the school.

ANDREW: I had a quick meeting with your Dad.

JENNA: About what?

ANDREW: Oh, he threatened our relationship over me putting you in danger yesterday.

JENNA: That's not your fault. I volunteered to come with you.

ANDREW: I know. But I have a feeling that everyone will blame me for this. I did the irresponsible thing by bringing you guys along.

JENNA: I'll talk to my Dad. I'll see you later.

ANDREW: Alright.

Andrew and Jenna kiss each other before separating. Andrew heads for the parking lot while Jenna walks back into the school building.

Deaths
None.

Trivia

 * Andrew figures out that all of the victims have so far been the children of the people involved with putting Paul Brownwell away for the murder of Phillip Beamer.
 * First appearance of the School's Police Officer Glenn.