Theta

By Joshua Patrick Dudley

When Jack finds out he's dying, there's only one thing he wants to knock off of his bucket list before he goes: killing his cheating ex.

He enlists the help of his best friend, Karen, and the two set out on a murderous rampage.

After a few coincidental mass murders, they become known as the "Theta" killers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781794736900

Book preview

Theta

Theta

By Joshua Patrick Dudley

COPYRIGHT

Theta

Copyright © 2019 by Joshua Patrick Dudley

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Ghost Face is used with permission from Fun World Div, Easter Unlimited Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ghost Face is a registered trademark of Fun World Div, Easter Unlimited Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Cover art by Joshua Patrick Dudley

First Edition: November 2019

ISBN 978-1-79473-690-0

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Published by JDuDs Productions

FOREWORD

Joshua Patrick Dudley

Where to begin with Theta? Theta is my absolute favorite thing that I have written to date. My first full-length, ORIGINAL horror/comedy film. As much as I love the Scream Franchise, it was nice to finally have some creative freedom. It breaks my heart that we couldn’t complete production on Theta, and I hope to someday find the time to revisit it with more committed actors.

Theta was shut down halfway through production because actors started quitting. The entire cast of the fraternity house was committed and showed up for all their filming, but when it came time to film the sorority house, numerous actresses disappeared or quit literally the day of filming. This cost us thousands of dollars (we had rented a house to film in and spent tons of money on props and special effects) and we weren’t able to continue production because we didn’t have enough money to rent another house and film with a new cast.

This is disappointing for so many reasons. One, obviously, I lost a ton of money. Two, we couldn’t finish my favorite script that I’ve written. And three, a lot of the girls that quit or didn’t show up were close friends of mine, so I took their lack of commitment very personally.

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Theta is actually based on a true story... minus all of the murder stuff. I had a been in a relationship, with a man who identified as straight, who eventually cheated on me with a woman... or two. So, at first, the film started off as a revenge film, a way for me to work through some issues as I was writing. Then it became something else, something bigger. It became my statement to the horror community about who I am as a horror writer. All my scripts are infused with comedy, but I think the comedy in this film really shines. I hope to continue writing more horror/comedy type films that (fingers crossed) we’re able to produce.

The main characters’ names, Jack and Karen, are based on mine and Rachel’s favorite characters from the TV show Will & Grace. In real life, we affectionately refer to each other as Jack and Karen. Another fun fact: aside from Mudd, Bubbatooie, Chuck and Beaver, Rachel actually created the names for all of the other characters based on the way I wrote the them, she also created the last names for our characters.

Thank you for watching and reading.

INT. JACK’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

There’s a horror movie playing on the TV. Couple of kids being chased by a masked maniac with a machete.

We see a beautiful man in his early 30’s with dark features, WILL TOWNSEND, lying shirtless in bed.

JACK CALLAGHAN, late 20’s, thin, ginger, attractive, enters carrying popcorn.

He climbs into bed with Will and puts the popcorn on Will’s stomach.

Will wraps an arm around Jack and pulls him in close. They kiss.

JACK Mmmm. That was nice. Now please turn this shit off so we can watch a real movie.

Jack rests his head on Will’s chest and munches on some popcorn.

WILL You used to love horror movies.

JACK I like them... but these old ones are all the same. Porn star level acting as an excuse to show off big fake titties with a few murders thrown in between the sex scenes. As a gay man, I don’t need to see that.

WILL As a straight man, currently dating a gay man, I don’t mind.

JACK That’s why I stopped watching Orange is the New Black. So much girl on girl action.

WILL I’ve been meaning to watch that!

JACK Shut up! It’s hot that you’re straight but it just makes me feel... I don’t know... like I’m not enough for you.

WILL I told you, Wifey. You’re all the lady I need.

Will kisses the top of Jack’s head.

A woman bursts out of the closet!

It’s BRIDGET KEPNER! A gorgeous brunette who has stolen Will away from Jack.

BRIDGET Except me! He needs me! And my pussy!!!

Jack screams!

Will smiles.

Bridget raises a knife into the air!

BRIDGET He loves me! Not you!

Will laughs!

WILL Get him, baby!

Jack screams!

Bridget slams the knife down into Jack’s chest and we

CUT TO:

INT. JACK AND KAREN’S HOUSE - EVENING

Jack wakes up, startled and dripping sweat.

JACK Fuck!

Jack tries to calm himself back down.

He looks at his phone and it’s displaying a photo of him and Will when they were happy.

JACK Piece of shit.

Jack throws his phone across the couch and lays back down.

There’s an envelope on the coffee table. Jack stares at it.

JACK Do you really want more bad news?

He doesn’t want to open it.

JACK Just do it, Jack.

He sits up and grabs the envelope.

We can see the return address is from sort of medical lab.

JACK Everything will be fine. Just read it. It’s good news. It has to be.

He slowly tears the envelope open and forces himself to read the letter inside.

It’s not good news and that’s painted all over Jack’s face.

We see the letter. Terminal. Two weeks to live.

JACK Fuck my life. Well, I guess you already have.

He shakes his fist toward God and then collapses back into the couch.

He pulls out a notebook and starts writing a bucket list. We don’t see what he writes.

He gets mad, rips out the page and tosses it across the room and starts another.

That doesn’t work out either, so he throws the whole notebook across the room.

He rests his head on a pillow and stares at a symbol hanging on the wall.

The THETA symbol.

He looks at it curiously.

JACK I know I’ve seen you before...

He picks up his phone and Snoggles the symbol he’s been staring it.

According to Snoggle, it’s the ancient Greek symbol of death.

His eyes light up, he has an idea.

MAGIC MONTAGE

Jack reads through witchcraft books, we see various spells and creatures, until he finds