THE NEXT VICTIM

Screenplay by

Vishalatchi Vellakannu

FADE IN:

EXT./INT. VALENCIA GIRLS HOSTEL, AKITAS DORMITORY– DAY

It is a beautiful morning. The little birds are chirping on a tree

branch. The five storey Valencia girls hostel have more than 10-12
rooms per floor, well built with brickworks and concretes. The
hostel building infuses with a contemporary feel and combines raw
materials with rustic furniture, enriched with contemporary modern
designs.

Since it is an exam break, none of the girls didn’t stay in the

hostel as most of them went back to their hometown, except AKITA.
She receives a call on her Samsung S20+ phone and answered her
mother’s call.

MRS HALEN (AKITA’S MOTHER):

“Hi honey. I know you are having the exam break. So when are you
coming back home?”

AKITA:

“Hi momma. I don’t think I’m coming back home. I’m busy preparing my
notes and doing my revision.

MRS HALEN:

“Oh I see. Anyways do give me a call if you want to come back home.
Take care and be safe honey. Bye and love you honey.”

AKITA:

“I will momma. Don’t worry. Bye and love you too momma.”

Akita supposes to go back to her hometown for exam break, instead

she stays in her room, trying to unlock the code of the box. She
keeps on trying to unlock the mysterious box to which she received
from her late best friend and her roommate, AIRAA. She stared at the

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six digits locks for hours, yet she is unable to find the correct
code for the lock.

AKITA:

“What did you want me to know?”

AIRAA (V.O.)

“HEY, Hamster!”

She turned around, as if she heard Airaa shouting her name from
nowhere. She recalls the day before Airaa’s death.

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. QUILL COMPLEX – DAY

Airaa ran towards Akita with her long messy hair, holding a square
box tightly in her arms. Akita saw the fear into Airaa’s brown eyes.
Airaa gave the box to her while panting heavily.

AIRAA:

“Akita, here. Keep this box with you.”

AKITA:

“Why? Is anything wrong?”

AIRAA:

“You will know the truth once you open it.”

AKITA:

“Airaa, I know you are trying to hide something from me. But tell
me, what is in the box? And, are you OK? You look petrified. Is
there anything you would like to confess?”

AIRAA:

“(mumbles) The truth that I wanted to tell you is…”

AKITA:

“The truth is…”

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Before Akita had the chance to ask Airaa, Akita’s boyfriend PREECIN
appeared behind them, slung his hand around Akita’s neck.

PREECIN:

“Hey, I heard you girls are talking. By the way, what is it all
about? Do you mind sharing the story?”

AKITA:

“Nah, nothing much. Speaking of which, are we supposed to go for a

night movie after having dinner at NTB Café?”

PREECIN:

“Of course my sugar. Why would I forget it? Anyways, can we go? It’s
getting late.”

AKITA:

“Yes sure. Hang on a minute.”

Akita was quite surprised to meet Airaa because she had never told
her anything about the date with Preecin previously. When Airaa saw
Preecin stood beside Akita, she smiled brightly as if she was trying
to hide something from them. Probably, Airaa didn’t want to
interrupt their date.

AIRAA:

“Well…err…Bye, see you guys. Have a good day.”

PREECIN & AKITA:

“See you, Airaa. Bye.”

Airaa left in an awkward way. Preecin noticed the box in Akita’s

arms.

PREECIN:

“Wow! It looks like a gift box! What is it inside in?”

AKITA:

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 “(shrugged) I don’t know. Maybe it is a gift from Airaa? I have no
idea.”

PREECIN:

“Oh well, Okay. Let’s get going.”

The next day, Airaa was unfortunately found dead in the backstreet
near the complex and there were signs of marks of being strangled
found on her neck. Akita had never expected that Airaa would die in
such a horrid way when she got the terrifying news from her parents.

This had reminded Akita about Airaa’s fearful eyes when Airaa passed
the box to Akita yesterday. After the movie date, Preecin sent Akita
home and they kissed before they were apart. Akita was tired that
she straight away lay down on her bed, leaving the square box on the
table without any curiosity.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTINOUS. AKITA’S DORMITORY – DAY

Akita walks back and forth in her room and stared at the box on the
table. It is not big in size but it has a six-digit lock, which may
have hidden something important inside. However, Akita is frustrated
as she repeatedly failed to unlock the code.

AKITA:

“Ugh, what would be the code are? Is it Airaa’s birthday date? No,
Airaa’s phone number? No. Airaa’s first day met with me in the
hostel? It is not the right code either. None of them is the correct
code for the lock of the box. What else the code are…!!”

As far as Akita knows, Airaa had always been a mysterious and a

quiet person ever since the day Akita met her in their hostel. They
were roommates but they take care of each other like sisters.
Although Akita could not understand Airaa’s actions, but she knew
that they were some reasons behind it.

AKITA:

“There is something that I don’t even know what it is all about.

Sooner or later I will unravel the truth behind the mystery.”

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 DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. TIVOLI PARK - DAY

Akita had tried her level best of unlocking the code of the box, but
she gives up and went for a walk at Tivoli Park. She walks for a

moment, finds a perfect place to settle herself down. She sits on a

bench, staring at the freshwater lake across from her. Akita thinks
for a long time figuring out the other way to unlock the code. As
she is about to move, her hands lost grip and accidentally dropped
the box onto the damp grass.

AKITA:

“Gasp! What is this code for?”

There were small hidden six numbers written below the square box.
Akita read the code aloud.

AKITA:

“981901. Yes, it must be the code for the box!”

CUT TO:

INT. CONTINOUS. AKITA DORMITORY – NIGHT

Without hesitation, Akita pick up the box and unlock the six digits
lock successfully. “Click!” The lock is opened and her hands
automatically pulled up the cover of the box. As soon as her eyes
locked onto the things of the box, cold perspiration drenched her
back as there are strands of different hair colours and lengths
along with a letter.

AKITA:

“What the heck? Whose hair is this? How does it relate with the hair
and the sudden death of Airaa?”

That is the first thing that crossed her mind. Immediately, she
recovers the letter from the box and reads it.

AIRAA (V.O) (THE LETTER)

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“Hamster, I’m sorry for not telling you any of these because I have
no proof. It was really weird when I saw Preecin always sniffed your
hair without knowing it on the day you introduced to me. I know that
you love him very much, but you deserve better than this. His
handsome features and built-up body are used to attract girls like
you!

By the way, these hairs you are looking at were found in Preecin’s
room.

My guess was right – Preecin is a psychopath!”

Akita shocked in misbelief after she read the letter Airaa left it
for her. She could not believe that her own boyfriend commits the
murder of her best friend. She plots a plan to ensure whether
Preecin really murders Airaa or not.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. VILLAGE BAR & PUB – NIGHT

On Saturday night, Akita meet Preecin at the pub. She wears a black
mini bodycon dress with a bow on her back. Whereas, Preecin wears
black leather jacket and white pants. Preecin approached Akita,
tries getting close with her.

PREECIN:

“My Oh My, are you born to be beautiful or grown to be beautiful?”

AKITA:

“That you might have to give an explanation for it.”

But Akita doesn’t fall the way he gives the sweet talk to her. All
she wants is her plan has to be work accordingly. She aware one
wrong move can lead into trouble.

AKITA:

“Enough of you and your sweet talks. Can we go in to the pub?”

PREECIN:

“As you please, my dear sugar.”

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Akita and Preecin are drinking all night and she acts as if she was
madly drunk. Preecin pours vodka with lemon juice on her highball
glass. While pouring the drink, she realizes that she saw Preecin
mixed something in the drink. Gasp! It is ecstasy drug. After mixing
the drug in the drink, he passes it to Akita.

PREECIN:

“Here you go. Your all-time favorite drink. Vodka with lemon juice.”

AKITA:

“Thank you. But no, I don’t think I can drink it. I think I drank
too much.”

PREECIN:

“Oh, come on. Don’t be a spoilsport. Drink it with a single gulp. I

promise this will be the last round.”

Akita has no choice. She has to think twice whether to drink or to

spill it. Preecin pulls a long face, waiting for Akita’s decision.

AKITA:

“Fine fine. I’ll drink this. But after this no more. I had enough
for the drink we consumed.”

PREECIN:

“Good girl. Cheers!”

There is a sound of “clink!” when Akita and Preecin clinked the

glass together. Preecin drinks and went to the party floor. Akita is
about to drink that Preecin had given to her, with a drug mixed in
her drink. Instead, she spills and throws the drink into liquid
disposal. She goes and joins with Preecin. They dance together,
leans on Preecin’s shoulder with her eyes closed. She can hear the
loud sniffing sound coming out from his breath. Akita acts to be
fainted.

PREECIN:

“Good lord! Akita, are you alright? I think you are heavily drunk.”

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 AKITA:

“(mumbles) Yeah, I am drunk. Take me back to my hostel. I’m having a

hangover. My head spins like a roller coaster.”

PREECIN:

“Shut up. I don’t think I can take you back to your hostel. Come on,
let me bring you to my hostel.”

“Thump! Thump!” her heartbeat is pounding hard when Preecin carries

her and walk away from the pub.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT./INT.88 HILLTOP BOYS HOSTEL, PREECINS DORMITORY - NIGHT

As soon as Akita and Preecin reach to his hostel, Preecin places her
onto his bed. She can sense that Preecin is trying to get close of
her. As he is about to be even closer, Akita mumbles with a drunken
act.

AKITA:

“Preecin, I think I’m starting to get vomit. I’m not feeling good at
all.”

PREECIN:

“Yeah, you are drunk. Probably because of your excessive drinking of

alcohol.”

AKITA:

“Not only that, it is also of your body odor. God, I can’t stand
with it. Your body smelled like a weed. It’s better if you take a
good shower.”

PREECIN:

“I am? But I don’t smell it at all…”

AKITA:

“For God’s sake please. Go and have a shower.”

PREECIN:

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 “OK OK. As your wish. I’m going to take a shower in the bathroom.
Meanwhile, take some rest. I’ll be back shortly”

Everything went according to her plan. After Preecin went to the

bathroom, Akita got up from his bed, searching his whole room
quickly and finds a few strands of tied hairs at the corner of his
room. She even finds a news snippet, quickly placed the hair and the
articles into her handbag and lay back onto the bed. The right time
is when Preecin come out of the bathroom, Akita acted like she is
awake.

AKITA:

“What the heck! Where am I?”

PREECIN:

“Akita, you are now in my room at the boys’ hostel.”

AKITA:

“How dare you Preecin? How come you can take me to your hostel
without my permission? Thank God I’m clear headed already?”

PREECIN:

“I’m sorry sugar. But I can’t help myself to leave you in the state
of being drunk in the pub. I tried to help you but…”

AKITA:

“Enough is enough Preecin. I have enough of your silly explanation.

At least you should have taken me back to my hostel. I can’t even
imagine what you would have done to me. Anyways, I’m fine now.”

PREECIN:

“I’m sorry. But…”

AKITA:

“There is no but. I’m fine. I guess I have to get back to my hostel

before it is too late. I’m going back now!”

PREECIN:

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 “Is it okay I can drop you at your hostel? Since it is late
already.”

AKITA:

“Thanks but no thanks. I can make it back to my hostel by myself. I

don’t want you to accompany me to go back there. Goodbye Preecin.”

She leaves his hostel as fast as she can, hoping that he did not
notice anything weird and caught me in the middle of the road.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTINOUS. AKITAS DORMITORY-DAY

Akita wake up the next morning, feeling fresh and relaxed. She takes
the news snippet found in Preecin’s room yesterday night. Akita
learns the shocking part where they are a few number of girls who
gone missing for months as it had reported in the news. What’s more,
it has match the same hair colours as the hair in her handbag.

AKITA:

“Oh my god? What do I do? What do I do now?”

In the silent room, she can hear her heart is beating rapidly as she
reminds the last sentence from the letter Airaa had given to her.

AIRAA (V.O):

“I will leave my choice over to you.”

Her vision went blur, as she never once thought before that this
lovely, handsome and a sense of humour guy who he always used to hug
and kissed would lie to her. She can’t even believe Preecin is the
psychopath killer who killed Airaa. She even recalls the moment
before Airaa’s death.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT./INT. QUILL’S COMPLEX, IMAXX THEATRE HALL– DAY

AKITA:

“Oh my God! I can’t wait to watch the movie! Isn’t it so exciting!”

PREECIN:

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 “Yeah me too! Ouh! Akita, my stomach pains. I can even hear the
growling sound from my stomach.”

AKITA:

“What’s wrong. Are you okay? Do you want to go to the restroom?”

PREECIN:

“Ouh yes. I think I should go. Hold this popcorn and the drinks. You
go inside the hall first. I’m coming later.”

AKITA:

“Okay. But come as soon as possible. I’m afraid the movie will start
soon. Make sure don’t make it for too long.”

PREECIN:

“Don’t worry. I will.”

She realizes that it was the perfect time for Preecin to murder,
giving excuse as he complaints of stomach pain, ends up killing
Airaa.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTINOUS. AKITAS DORMITORY-NIGHT

It is raining cats and dogs. Akita is now having the clear picture
of the happenings behind the murder. She bangs her hand on wall in
anger.

AKITA:

“FOOL! YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO THE POLICE!”

She shouts to the air while tears flowing down her cheeks. Without a
second thought, she calls the police.

AKITA:

“Hello, Serrate Highlands Police Station?”

POLICE OFFICER:

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 Yes, who’s speaking?”

AKITA:

“My name is Akita. Please come quickly to Valencia’s girls hostel.

I’m in a grave danger. Please help to save me officer.”

POLICE OFFICER:

“Calm down Miss. Be right over. We’ll coming there as fast as we

can.”

She grabs the box and her keys, trying to get out from the room
immediately. But it is too late. By the time Akita opens the door,
Preecin stood in front of her. She froze on the spot when Preecin’s
eyes are staring at her. Akita stammers trying to call out his name.

AKITA:

“P…P…P…PREECIN…”

She clearly knows that it was not the same Preecin she knew anymore.
Instead, the guy who is standing right in front of her is a cold-
hearted, psychopath murderer. Preecin appears in her room, tries to
get near of her.

AKITA:

“Stay away from me! Don’t you every dare to harm me!”

PREECIN:

“Well, look who’s talking. You are being trapped. There is no way to
escape, my sugar.”

AKITA:

“You’re such a horrible beast! You should be ashamed yourself of

killing Airaa and the rest of the girls for the brutal murder!”

PREECIN:

“Let me tell you something my sugar. For every good and bad which
happens around us, and at the back of every movement, there is a
“love”. That “love” may come on anything. Be it on a girl, on gold,

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 on status, on fame, on booze, on religion, etc. But to me, I love
killing! I just love killing!”

AKITA:

“You wretched man! So why did you kill Airaa and the rest of the
girls? What is the benefit of killing them?”

PREECIN:

“I have no motive on killing Airaa and the rest of the girls whom
have being murdered. In fact, killing has been an addiction to me.
Yes! I admit that I am addicted of killing girls!

AKITA:

“Do you know how much I loved you dearly? I even believed you. I
didn’t expect this from you of doing such a grave sin. You killed my
friend. You killed the rest of 13 innocent girls. How could you do
this even though for a sake of addiction? This is insane.”

PREECIN:

“It is true. I have killed 14 girls including Airaa. And so, the 15th
victim to be killed is none other than, YOU!”

Akira shocks in misbelief. She can’t believe she is going to be the

next victim to get killed by her own boyfriend.

AKITA:

“There is no way you can’t kill me. You are really going to pay for
this. I swear upon God. You are going to deserve a harsh
punishment.”

PREECIN:

“We’ll see about that later, my sugar. Now time to get killed.”

Preecin’s evil smile made Akita feel uncomfortable and she knew that
if she didn’t take any actions first, he will. Akita pushes Preecin,
trying to escape by closing the door as fast as she can. But,
Preecin’s built-up body is strong enough to push the door open. She
is thrown backwards as the impact is too strong. Fear and anger are
mixed in her body when Preecin grabbed both of her arms tightly.

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 AKITA:

“Let me go off. Leave me alone.!”

PREECIN:

“There is no way I let you go. You are going to be killed!”

Akita struggled with all her might. But it was of no use. Preecin
puts even more pressure on her arms.

AKITA:

“HELP! HELP! Somebody help me!”

PREECIN:

“Nobody is going to save you from me! You are going to die in a much
horrid way!”

She tries to shout but it is pointless as nobody will hear her from
the hostel since it is exam break still ongoing now.

PREECIN:

“Gotcha!”

Preecin said to Akita before he pushes her towards the wall.

AKITA:

“For God’s sake. Leave me alone. Spare me my life, Preecin. I’m

begging you”

PREECIN:

“It is too late. Time to prepare yourself to die in my own hands!”

As Akita hits her onto the wall, she feels a stinging pain on my
left arm while Preecin is about to kill Akita.

PREECIN:

“Goodbye, my sugar. I hope you will meet Airaa at heaven.”

All of a sudden, a voice appeared from nowhere and Akita saw Preecin
is thrown back.

AIRAA (V.O):

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 “STAY AWAY FROM MY FRIEND!”

AKITA:

“What? Who is that? Airaa?”

AIRAA (V.O):

“GO! DON’T STAY HERE ANYMORE. LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!”

The room temperature of the dorm drops rapidly and drastically.

Akita had listen to her voice; her heart is pounding so fast as she
saw Preecin is fling backwards by a mysterious force and locked
inside her dormitory in a second. Akita rushes out from her hostel.
Moments later, the police officer arrived at the spot.

POLICE OFFICER:

“Where is the criminal?”

AKITA:

“Inside my dormitory room.”

After for few minutes she opens her dormitory room, finds Preecin
lay unconscious. The police officer handcuffed Preecin. The next
day, Preecin is sent to the district court in Mount Serrate. The
court finds him guilty in the brutal murder of Airaa and the rest of
the 13 girls, and he is being sentenced to life imprisonment. Akita
almost to be the next victim, but also the last.

FADE OUT

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